42

HISTORY OF ENGLAlH).

CHAP.

XI._

1689 .

The first

.Mutiny

Bill.

bravest warriors could not contend against fourfold odds. Themost active infantry could not outrun horsemen. Yet theleaders, probably despairing of pardon, urged the men to trythe chance of battle. , In that region, a spot almost surroundedby swamps and pools was without difficulty found. Here theinsurgents were drawn up; and the cannon were planted at theonly point which was thought not to be sufficiently protectedby natural defences. Ginkell ordered the attack to be madeat a place which was out of the range of the guns; and hisdragoons dashed gallantly into the water, though it was sodeep that their horses were forced to swim. Then the mutineerslost heart. They beat a parley, surrendered at discretion, andwere brought up to London under a strong guard. Their liveswere forfeit: for they had been guilty, not merely of mutiny,which was then not a legal crime, but of levying war againstthe King. William, however, with politic clemency, abstainedfrom shedding the blood even of the most culpable. A few ofthe ringleaders were brought to trial at the next Bury assizes,and were convicted of high treason; but their lives were spared.The rest were merely ordered to return to their duty. Theregiment, lately so refractory, went submissively to the Con-tinent, and there, through many hard campaigns, distinguisheditself by fidelity, by discipline, and by valour.*

This event facilitated an important change in our polity,a change which, it is true, could not have been long delayed,but which would not have been easily accomplished except ata moment of extreme danger. The time had at length arrivedat which it was necessary to make a legal distinction between

* London Gazette, March 25. 1GS9; Van Citters to the States General,~Z ^rii *\’ * betters Nottingham in the State Paper Office, dated July 23.and August 9. 1689; Historical Record of the First Regiment of Foot,printed by authority. See also a curious digression in the Compleat His-tory of the Life and Military Actions of Richard, Earl of Tyrconnel, 1689.