CHAPTER XVII

William’s Voyage to Holland—­William’s Entrance into the Hague—­ Congress at the Hague—­William his own Minister for Foreign Affairs—­William obtains a Toleration for the Waldenses; Vices inherent in the Nature of Coalitions—­Siege and Fall of Mons—­ William returns to England; Trials of Preston and Ashton—­ Execution of Ashton—­Preston’s Irresolution and Confessions—­ Lenity shown to the Conspirators—­Dartmouth—­Turner; Penn—­Death of George Fox; his Character—­Interview between Penn and Sidney—­ Preston pardoned—­Joy of the Jacobites at the Fall of Mons—­The vacant Sees filled—­Tillotson Archbishop of Canterbury—­Conduct of Sancroft—­Difference between Sancroft and Ken—­Hatred of Sancroft to the Established Church; he provides for the episcopal Succession among the Nonjurors—­The new Bishops—­Sherlock Dean of Saint Paul’s—­Treachery of some of William’s Servants—­Russell—­ Godolphin—­Marlborough—­William returns to the Continent—­The Campaign of 1691 in Flanders—­The War in Ireland; State of the English Part of Ireland—­State of the Part of Ireland which was subject to James—­Dissensions among the Irish at Limerick—­Return of Tyrconnel to Ireland—­Arrival of a French Fleet at Limerick; Saint Ruth—­The English take the Field—­Fall of Ballymore; Siege and Fall of Athlone—­Retreat of the Irish Army—­Saint Ruth determines to fight—­Battle of Aghrim—­Fall of Galway—­Death of Tyrconnel—­Second Siege of Limerick—­The Irish desirous to capitulate—­Negotiations between the Irish Chiefs and the Besiegers—­The Capitulation of Limerick—­The Irish Troops required to make their Election between their Country and France--Most of the Irish Troops volunteer for France—­Many of the Irish who had volunteered for France desert—­The last Division of the Irish Army sails from Cork for France—­State of Ireland after the War

On the eighteenth of January 1691, the King, having been detained some days by adverse winds, went on board at Gravesend.  Four yachts had been fitted up for him and for his retinue.  Among his attendants were Norfolk, Ormond, Devonshire, Dorset, Portland, Monmouth, Zulestein, and the Bishop of London.  Two distinguished admirals, Cloudesley Shovel and George Rooke, commanded the men of war which formed the convoy.  The passage was tedious and disagreeable.  During many hours the fleet was becalmed off the Godwin Sands; and it was not till the fifth day that the soundings proved the coast of Holland to be near.  The sea fog was so thick that no land could be seen; and it was not thought safe for the ships to proceed further in the darkness.  William, tired out by the voyage, and impatient to be once more in his beloved country, determined to land in an open boat.  The noblemen who were in his train tried to dissuade him from risking so valuable a life; but, when they found that his mind was made up, they insisted on sharing the danger.  That danger proved more serious than