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cnAi>.

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1688 .

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

Cornbury put himself at their head, and conducted them firstto Blandford and thence to Dorchester. From Dorchester,after a halt of an hour or two, they set out for Axminster.Some of the officers began to be uneasy, and demanded anexplanation of these strange movements. Cornbury repliedthat he had instructions to make a night attack on some troopswhich the Prince of Orange had posted at Honiton. Butsuspicion was awake. Searching questions were put, and wereevasively answered. At last Cornbury was pressed to pro-duce his orders. He perceived, not only that it would beimpossible for him to carry over all the three regiments, ashe had hoped, but that he was himself in a situation of con-siderable peril. He accordingly stole away with a fewfollowers to the Dutch quarters. Most of his troops returnedto Salisbury: but some who had been detached from the mainbody, and who had no suspicion of the designs of their com-mander, proceeded to Honiton. There they found them-selves in the midst of a large force which was fully preparedto receive them. Resistance was impossible. Their leaderpressed them to take service under William. A gratuity of amonth’s pay was offered to them, and was by most of themaccepted.*

The news of these events reached London on the fifteenth.James had been on the morning of that day in high goodhumour. Bishop Lamplugli had just presented himself atCourt on his arrival from Exeter, and had been most gra-ciously received. “My Lord,” said the King, “you are agenuine old Cavalier.” The archbishopric of York, whichhad now been vacant more than two years and a half, wasimmediately bestowed on Lamplugh as the reward of loyalty.That afternoon, just as the King was sitting down to dinner,arrived an express with the tidings of Cornbury’s defection.James turned away from his untasted meal, swallowed a crustof bread and a glass of wine, and retired to his closet. Heafterwards learned that, as he was rising from table, severalof the Lords in whom he reposed the greatest confidence were

* Clarke’s Life of James, ii. 215.; Orig. Mem.; Burnet, i. 190;Clarendon’s Diary, Nov. 15.1688; London Gazette, Nov. 11.