In 1683 the Rye House Plot, to force on a constitutional government, was mixed up with a baser plot against the king's life; and Lord Russell and Algernon Sydney were executed.

JAMES II. 1685-1689.

The king began by promising to "preserve the government in Church and State as by law established." The Earl of Argyle landed in Scotland from Holland, but failing in raising a rebellion was executed at Edinburgh. A second rebellion was raised by Monmouth, who landed at Lyme (Dorset), from Holland, "for the Protestant religion." He was well received by the Nonconformists of the W., but was defeated at Sedgemoor and captured in a ditch-being soon after beheaded. Then followed a disgraceful persecution, in which Colonel Kirk shot the rebels under martial law; and Judge Jeffreys, in his "bloody campaign," put 300 to death, besides sending 1,000 others as slaves to the colonies.

The judges then enabled the king to nullify the Act of Uniformity and the Test Act-re-establishing the High Commission Court, under another name. The king also violated the liberties of the Universities in favour of the Roman Catholic party; and issued a Declaration of Indulgence, which he commanded to be read in all churches. This would be accepted as toleration in the present day, but the king wished to work the Act against the Protestants in favour of the Catholics. Seven bishops were prosecuted for libel for presenting a petition against the Act, but were acquitted; these were Sancroft, Lake, Ken, Turner, Lloyd, White, and Trelawney. The clergy almost unanimously refused to read the Declaration, and James stationed an army at Hounslow to overawe London. In the meantime William, Prince of Orange, had been corresponded with-he was now invited to England, and landed at Torbay with 15,000 men, upon which James fled to the continent, having been deserted by all-even by his own children. A brief interregnum followed,

until the coronation of William and Mary, Dec. 11— Feb 13, (1689), during which the Convention Parliament declared that James had abdicated by his act of flight, and the Act of Settlement and Declaration of Right were drawn up setting forth the rights of the people, on subscribing to which William and Mary were elected to the crown.

WILLIAM AND MARY.

1689-1702.

William was the son of William Stadtholder of Holland, and Mary daughter of Charles I., and also the son in law of James II.

His reign was much troubled by the Jacobites or adherents to the late king (Jacobus L. James); but William was most concerned to check Louis XIV. of France by means of Marlborough.

The Toleration Act gave religious liberty to all except Unitarians and Roman Catholics, but seven bishops and 400 clergy (called thence non-jurors) refused to take the oath to the new king. In the N. of Scotland, also, there was a party for James; and Viscount Dundee (Claverhouse) defeated the troops of William at Killiecrankie, but was himself slain. James landed in Ireland by means of the aid of Louis XIV., but was kept outside of Londonderry by its defenders for 105 days; next year William landed in Ireland, and defeated his rival at the Battle of the Boyne, but with the loss of his General Schomberg. After this Waterford, Cork, Kinsale and Athlone were captured; the Pacification of Limerick was concluded, by which 12,000 Irish Jacobites went to France to form the Irish Brigade.

In 1689 the Bill of Rights was passed; its chief clauses were, It is illegal to suspend laws without the consent of Parliament, or keep an ecclesiastical commission court; or raise money, or keep a standing army, without Parliament;-That Parliaments are free, and must be frequent ;-And that excessive bail and fines are illegal.

War with France ensued in consequence of the aid

given to James; and in 1690 Tourville defeated the English and Dutch off Beachy Hd., but was himself defeated by the English and Dutch at the Battle of La Hogue, 1692, winning, however, a second victory over Sir George Rooke at Lagos, 1694. Peace was finally concluded at Ryswick, 1697.

In 1691 the Highlands of Scotland were pacifieda free pardon being granted to the Jacobites; the M'Donalds of Glencoe were late in taking the necessary oath, and the massacre of Glencoe ensued in which most of the clan were murdered by the soldiery of William.

Queen Mary died in 1694. Plots against William and in favour of James were now very thick-Marlborough being one of the leaders.

In 1701 commenced the War of the Spanish Succession, in which the following battles were fought:

The king died in 1702 from fracture of the collar bone, received from a fall from his horse.

ANNE. 1702-1714.

Anne was the daughter of James II., and wife of Prince George of Denmark. Throughout her reign she was much influenced by Lady Marlborough, continuing her husband the general of all her forces. She governed by a party only-Godolphin, the lord high treasurer, being the leader of the Tories.

The first effort of the reign was the Union of England and Scotland, but the Scotch Parliament refused to settle the Scottish crown on the heir to the English throne, till bribery secured a majority for the Union

which came into force 1707. By this Act the Presbyterian religion and the Scottish Law Code were left uncontrolled in Scotland, which country was to send 45 Commoners and 16 Peers to the joint House of Parliament.

From the beginning of the reign war with France and Spain was entered on, 1702, in which Marlborough captured Liege, and Sir G. Rooke destroyed the French fleet in the B. of Vigo; and Admiral Benbow did the same in the W. Indies. The war was continued by Marlborough during 1703, and in 1704; the victory of Blenheim (Bavaria) was won by him and Eugene of Savoy against Marshal Tallard and the French-the marshal himself being taken prisoner. Blenheim House was granted to Marlborough and his heirs as a reward for his complete victory, on the annual presentation to the sovereign of a flag. Sir G. Rooke the same year captured Gibraltar and held it against the Spanish and French fleets, while the gallant Earl of Peterborough and Sir Cloudesley Shovel captured Barcelona, 1705.

In 1706 Marlborough defeated Marshal Villeroy at Ramilies, Marshal Vendome at Oudenarde, 1708, and Marshal Villars at Malplaquet, 1709. The fleet also captured the islands of Majorca, Ivica, Sardinia, and Minorca, &c. Peace was finally concluded at Utrecht, 1713. Among the domestic events we notice the violent party-spirit between the High and Low Church, and Lady Marlborough's influence over the queen gave way to that of Mrs. Masham, under whose advice the Tories were replaced by Whigs for a brief time.

A party was raised against Marlborough, who was charged with corruption aud dismissed from his offices, retiring to the continent during the remainder of the reign.

Queen Anne's Bounty was a provision made by the queen for the augmentation of the stipends of poor livings. In her reign the General Post Office was established, 1710.

HOUSE OF BRUNSWICK OR HANOVER.

GEORGE I. 1714-1727

George I. was the son of the elector of Hanover and grandson of Elizabeth, daughter of James I., and came to the throne when 54 years of age. He had no knowledge of or sympathy with England or Englishmen, and preferred Hanover. He put himself into the hands of Whig advisers, and the opposite party were dealt with severely.

A rebellion early took place in favour of the Pretender, the Chevalier de St. George; the Earl of Mar rising in Scotland, and Lords Derwentwater, Nithisdale and others in Lancashire; the former was defeated at Sheriffmuir, 1715, the latter at Preston; and the Pretender escaped to France again. Nearly 30 lost their heads in this ill-fated rebellion, but Philip of Spain took up the cause of the Pretender, and a Spanish war ensued. Their fleet was destroyed off C. Passaro by Admiral Byng, and the Armada sent to convoy the Pretender to England was dismantled by

a storm.

In 1720 the South Sea Bubble Scheme burst; this company had been formed ten years previously to meet a deficit in the public accounts, in return for doing which they received the monopoly of trade with the South Seas. Stock which had risen to 1,000 fell to 300, and thousands were ruined in the mania.

From this time Sir Robert Walpole took the helm for 20 years, punishing those who had encouraged the South Sea scheme and had profited by it. In 1721 George I. died of apoplexy.

GEORGE II. 1727-1760.

The early part of the reign offers little of historical interest.

1729. The Treaty of Seville-peace with Spain. 1736. The Porteous Riots broke out in Edinburgh, arising out of a smuggling affair and outbreak which Captain Porteous had suppressed; the unfortunate captain was hung in revenge by a mob.