The Leading Facts of English HistoryMontgomery, D. H. (David Henry)
History
The Leading Facts of English History
Montgomery, D. H. (David Henry)
Great Britain -- History
[1] It was called a "Convention Parliament" because it had not been
summoned by the King (S491). Declaration of Right: see Summary of
Constitutional History in the Appendix, p. xxii, S24. On the
coronation oath see S380, note 1.
That document recited the illegal and arbitrary acts of the late King
James II, proclaimed him no longer sovereign, and resolved that the
crown should be tendered to William and Mary.[2] The Declaration
having been read to them and having received their assent, they were
formally invited to accept the joint sovereignty of the realm, with
the understanding that the actual administration should be vested in
William alone.
[2] William of Orange stood next in order of succession to Mary and
Anne (provided the claim of the newly born Prince James, the so-called
"Pretender," was set aside [SS490, 491]). See Genealogical Table,
p. 323.
495. Jacobites and Nonjurors (1689).
At the accession of the new sovereigns the extreme Tories (S479), who
believed the action fo the Convention unconstitutional, continued to
adhere to James II as their lawful King. Henceforth this class became
known as "Jacobites," from Jacobus, the Latin name for James. They
were especially numerous and determined in the Highlands of Scotland
and the south of Ireland. They kept up a secret correspondence with
the refugee monarch, and were constantly plotting for his restoration.
About four hundred of the clergy of the Church of England, including
the Archbishop of Canterbury and four more of the famous seven bishops
(S489), with some members of the universities and also some Scotch
Presbyterians, refused to take the oath of allegiance to William and
Mary. They became known on this account as the "Nonjurors," and
although they were never harshly treated, they were compelled to
resign their positions.
496. The Mutiny Act and the Toleration Act, 1689.
We have seen that one of the chief means of despotism on which James
II relied was the organization of a powerful standing army (S488),
such as was unknown in England until Cromwell was compelled to rule by
military force (S457). Charles II had perpetuated such an army
(S467), but it was so small that it was no longer formidable.
It was now evident that owing to the abolition of the feudal levies
(SS150, 482) a standing army under the King's command must be
maintained, especially as war was impending with Louis XIV, who
threatened by force of arms and with the help of the Jacobites (S495)
to restore James II to the English throne. To prevent the sovereign
from making bad use of such a power, Parliament passed a law called
the "Mutiny Act," 1689, which practically put the army under the
control of the nation,[1] as it has since remained. Thus all danger
from that source was taken away.
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