[2] William of Orange stood next in order of succession to Mary and Anne (provided the claim of the newly born Prince James, the so-called “Pretender,” was set aside [SS490, 491]).  See Genealogical Table, p. 323.

495.  Jacobites and Nonjurors (1689).

At the accession of the new sovereigns the extreme Tories (S479), who believed the action fo the Convention unconstitutional, continued to adhere to James II as their lawful King.  Henceforth this class became known as “Jacobites,” from Jacobus, the Latin name for James.  They were especially numerous and determined in the Highlands of Scotland and the south of Ireland.  They kept up a secret correspondence with the refugee monarch, and were constantly plotting for his restoration.

About four hundred of the clergy of the Church of England, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and four more of the famous seven bishops (S489), with some members of the universities and also some Scotch Presbyterians, refused to take the oath of allegiance to William and Mary.  They became known on this account as the “Nonjurors,” and although they were never harshly treated, they were compelled to resign their positions.

496.  The Mutiny Act and the Toleration Act, 1689.

We have seen that one of the chief means of despotism on which James II relied was the organization of a powerful standing army (S488), such as was unknown in England until Cromwell was compelled to rule by military force (S457).  Charles II had perpetuated such an army (S467), but it was so small that it was no longer formidable.

It was now evident that owing to the abolition of the feudal levies (SS150, 482) a standing army under the King’s command must be maintained, especially as war was impending with Louis XIV, who threatened by force of arms and with the help of the Jacobites (S495) to restore James II to the English throne.  To prevent the sovereign from making bad use of such a power, Parliament passed a law called the “Mutiny Act,” 1689, which practically put the army under the control of the nation,[1] as it has since remained.  Thus all danger from that source was taken away.

[1] The Mutiny Act provides:  (1) that the standing army shall be at the King’s command—­subject to certain rules—­for one year only; (2) that no pay shall be issued to troops except by special acts of Parliament; (3) that no act of mutiny can be punished except by the annual reenactment of the Mutiny Bill.

James’s next method for bringing the country under the control of Rome had been to issue Declarations of Indulgence (S488).  It was generally believed that his object in granting these measures of toleration, which promised freedom to all religious beliefs, was that he might place Roman Catholics in power.