186 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

c' it A i>. only one officer of the Dutch army and a fewrxxi. private soldiers fell in an accidental skirmish) had1688. dethroned a great prince, supported by a formid-able fleet and a numerous army. Still the moredifficult task remained , and what perhaps theprince regarded as not the least important: Theobtaining for himself that crown, which hadfallen from the head of his father-in-law. Somelawyers , entangled in the subtilties and formsof their profession, could think of no expedient;but that the prince should claim the crown byright of conquest; should immediately assume thetitle of sovereign ; and should call a parliament,which, being thus legally summoned by a kingin possession, could ratify whatever had beentraniacted before they assembled. But this measure,being destructive of the principles of liberty, theonly principles on which his future throne couldbe established , was prudently rejected by theprince , who , finding himself possessed of thegoodwill of the ruction, resolved to leave thementirely to their own guidance and direction. Thepeers and bishops, to the number of near ninety,made an address , desiring him to summon aconvention by circular letters; to assume, in themean time, the management of public affairs; andto concert measures for the security of Ireland.At the same rime, they refused reading a letter,which the king bad left ^ in order to apologizefor his late desertion, by the violence which hadbeen put upon him. This step was a sufficientindication of their intentions \vith regard to thatunhappy monarch.