JAMES II. 181

all perissi , in the rage which naturally succeedsto such popular panics.

While every one from principle, interest, oranimosity, turned his back on the unhappy king,who had abandoned his own cause, the unwel-come news arrived, that he had been seized bythe populace at Feverfham, as he was makinghis escape in disguise; that he had been muchabused, till he was known; but that the gentryhad then interposed and protected him , thoughthey still refused to consent to his escape. Thisintelligence threw all parties into confusion. Theprince sent Zuylestein with orders, that the kingshould approach no nearer than Rochester; butthe message came too late. He was alreadyaryved in London, where the populace, movedby compassion for his unhappy fate, and actuatedby their own levity, had received him withshouts and acclamations.

During the king’s abode at Whitehall, littleattention was paid to him by the nobility orany persons of distinction. They had , all osthem, been previously disgusted on account ofbis blind partiality to the catholics; and theyknew, that they were now become criminal inhis eyes by their late public applications to theprince of Orange. He himself showed not anysymptom of spirit, nor discovered any intentionof resuming the reins of government, which hehad once thrown aside. His authority was nowplainly expired; and as he had exercised hispower, while possessed of it, with verv precipitate

N 3

c H a r.

LXXI.

I68t>.

King seizedat Fevers,ham.