mnly promised that
he should not be used as an evidence against them, except with his own
consent. As the king did not go to Richmond on the day appointed, the
conspirators postponed the execution of their design till the Saturday
following. They accordingly met at different houses on the Friday, when
every man received his instructions. There they agreed, that after the
perpetration of the parricide, they should ride in a body as far as
Hammersmith, and then dispersing, enter London by different avenues. But
on the morning, when they understood that the guards were returned to
their quarters, and the king's coaches sent back to the Mews, they
were seized with a sudden damp, on the suspicion that their plot was
discovered. Sir George Barclay withdrew himself, and every one began
to think of providing for his own safety. Next night, however, a great
number of them were apprehended, and then the whole discovery was
communicated to the privy council. A proclamation was issued against
those that absconded; and great diligence was used to find sir George
Barclay, who was supposed to have a particular commission from James for
assassinating the prince of Orange; but he made good his retreat, and it
was never proved that any such commission had been granted.

DESIGN OF AN INVASION DEFEATED.

This design and the projected invasion proved equally abortive. James
had scarce reach Calais when the duke of Wirtemberg despatched his
aidecamp from Flanders to king William, with an account of the purposed
descent. Expresses with the same tidings arrived from the elector of
Bavaria and the prince de Vaude-mont. Two considerable squadrons being
ready for sea, admiral Russel embarked at Spithead and stood over to
the French coast with about fifty sail of the line. The enemy were
confounded at his appearance, and hauled in their vessels under the
shore, in such shallow water that he could not follow and destroy them;
but he absolutely ruined their design, by cooping them up in their
harbours. King James, after having tarried some weeks at Calais,
returned to St. Germain's. The forces were sent back to the garrisons
from which they had been drafted; the people of France exclaimed, that
the malignant star which ruled the destiny of James had blasted this and
every other project formed for his restoration. By means of the reward
offered in the proclamation, the greater part of the conspirators were
betrayed or taken. George Harris, who