The Glorious Revolution: William of Orange vs. James II

The Inevitable Clash: Seeds of the Glorious Revolution

Taking the risk to go against the king until they know there are possibilities of winning. Putting all of this together, the number of supporters of William of Orange seems to be twice as big as the one of James' supporters (line 28). Moreover, the Immortal Seven dare to say that the current King's army is internally divided, many soldiers being only there for survival, but discontent with the actions of the king as well. This way, in case of a war, the troops of William would also have the support of a part of James' army, a "great number of deserters" would join (line 35).

Religious Tensions and the "Popish" Aversion

The text speaks of an "aversion to the popish religion" (line 34) referring to Catholicism, since the basis of the Anglican religion is the misrecognition of the authority of the Pope and the acceptance of the king as Head of the Church instead.

The Contentious Heir: A Catalyst for Change

On line 46, the text mentions "the birth of the child". This child is the son of James II's marriage to Mary of Modena, the Catholic heir. He was the little half-brother of Mary, daughter of the marriage with the Protestant Anne Hyde. As it appears in the letter, there are rumors that the Catholic child is a bastard.

A Nation on the Brink: Preparing for William's Arrival

The text ends with a reminder of the writers' wish to welcome William of Orange in England. They will prepare everything for his arrival, still in secret, not to be caught by the "intelligence or suspicious" (line 43). William and Mary planned a detailed invasion of England. James was obliged to abdicate and in 1688 Mary and William jointly accepted the throne of England.

The Glorious Revolution: A Bloodless Transition of Power

This is known as the Glorious or Bloodless Revolution, since it did not involve masses of the ordinary people. There were two clashes of ideology: Catholicism against Protestantism and absolutism, based on the Divine Right of Kings, against Parliamentary rule.

The Bill of Rights: A Cornerstone of Modern Democracy

The Bill of Rights was passed, which guaranteed the rights and liberties of the English people and restrained royal power. It especially prevented the presence of Catholics in the government. James' overthrow began modern English Parliamentary democracy.

The Jacobite Resistance: A Lingering Struggle

In Scotland and Ireland, Jacobites kept on trying to restore the Stuarts to the throne.

The Battle of the Boyne: A Decisive Victory

There was a confrontation of James and William across the Irish river of Boyne in 1690, in which William's army beat James.