the fresh lease of life which she had granted to the Stuart dynasty after Cromwell’s death.  Tired of the disgraceful subservience of her Court to the schemes of Louis XIV., tired of fictitious plots and judicial murders, tired of bloody assizes and declarations of indulgence and all the strange devices of Stuart tyranny, England endured the arrogance of James but three years, and then drove him across the Channel, to get such consolation as he might from his French paymaster and patron.  On the 4th of April, 1689, the youthful John Winslow brought to Boston the news of the landing of the Prince of Orange in England.  For the space of two weeks there was quiet and earnest deliberation among the citizens, as the success of the Prince’s enterprise was not yet regarded as assured.  But all at once, on the morning of the 18th, the drums beat to arms, the signal-fire was lighted on Beacon Hill, a meeting was held at the Town-House, militia began to pour in from the country, and Andros, summoned to surrender, was fain to beseech Mr. Willard and the other ministers to intercede for him.  But the ministers refused.  Next day the Castle was surrendered, the Rose frigate riding in the harbour was seized and dismantled, and Andros was arrested as he was trying to effect his escape disguised in woman’s clothes.  Dudley and the other agents of tyranny were also imprisoned, and thus the revolution was accomplished.  It marks the importance which the New England colonies were beginning to attain, that, before the Prince of Orange had fully secured the throne, he issued a letter instructing the people of Boston to preserve decorum and acquiesce yet a little longer in the government of Andros, until more satisfactory arrangements could be made.  But Increase Mather, who was then in London on a mission in behalf of New England, judiciously prevented this letter of instructions from being sent.  The zeal of the people outstripped the cautious policy of the new sovereign, and provisional governments, in accordance with the old charters, were at once set up in the colonies lately ruled by Andros.  Bradstreet now in his eighty-seventh year was reinstated as governor of Massachusetts.  Five weeks after this revolution in Boston the order to proclaim King William and Queen Mary was received, amid such rejoicings as had never before been seen in that quiet town, for it was believed that self-government would now be guaranteed to New England. [Sidenote:  Fall of James II.] [Sidenote:  Insurrection in Boston, and overthrow of Andros, April 18, 1689]

This hope was at least so far realized that from the most formidable dangers which had threatened it, New England was henceforth secured.  The struggle with the Stuarts was ended, and by this second revolution within half a century the crown had received a check from which it never recovered.  There were troubles yet in store for England, but no more such outrages as the judicial murders of Russell and Sidney.  New England had still a stern ordeal to go through,