I desire, I must stand upon my own legs, and trust to myself and my own arms.” So they were dismissed.[40] [Sidenote: THE CRISIS.] One of the Bishops, writing on the 14th of October, had remarked, “All people’s mouths are now full of praises for our order, to whom they say they shall ever owe the preservation of our religion,”--a statement which should be considered in connection with what I have said as to letters of a different purport addressed to Sancroft. The fact seems to have been, that whilst some Churchmen were dissatisfied with irregularities in the Establishment which they blamed the Bishops for not correcting, others--a far larger number--looking chiefly at that moment to the religious and political liberties of the country, regarded certain of the Bishops as making a noble stand against the designs of James. The Bishops’ popularity increased the following month, and although Compton’s Jesuitical answer to the King must be condemned by everybody, and the doubts expressed by the Bishops present at the interview on the 6th, as to the genuineness of William’s Declaration, will appear to most people as reflecting either upon their judgment or their straightforwardness, still their determination not to submit to James’ dictation was in harmony with the spirit which had made the seven so popular. Their firmness in this respect--in connection with the resistance offered to James by other Prelates not present on this last occasion, and responsible neither for Compton’s equivocation or their brethren’s remarks about the Orange documents--certainly operated in favour of the approaching Revolution, the full nature of which, however, they did not foresee. [Sidenote: 1688.] The day before this 6th of November a momentous event had occurred, of which at the time they knew nothing. William had set sail from Holland on the 16th of October, with a flag floating over the quaint, high-built frigate, bearing an inscription, of which the first three words formed the motto of the House of Orange, “_I will maintain_--the liberties of England and the Protestant religion.” As it fluttered on the staff, the wind changed, the fleet had to put back; but the Declaration of the 10th, sent before him, announced his coming, and people, as they awaited the visitation, looked out to sea, and prayed for a “Protestant east wind” to waft over the desired Deliverer. Whilst James was talking to the Bishops on the 2nd of November, the ship had left Helvoetsluys, and after sailing northward, had tacked about a second time, and with a fair wind was making for the British Channel. [Sidenote: THE CRISIS.]