LONDON 1688

In December 1688 Dutch troops under the command of Prince William of Orange swarmed the City of London. King James II temporarily residing in Ham House, wondered whether to challenge his nephew or flee to France. When he finally chose the second option, the Prince had to deal with the greatest temptation of his life: the Crown of England was within reach.

When the Immortal Seven had invited William back in June, they envisioned the Prince as an arbiter between the King and his Parliament, perhaps to act as a Regent for the time being.

William, a Stuart prince, must have entertained hopes for the crown. But during the campaign he assured one of his closest advisers 'that through a Parliament these realms may be made useful in order to assist our State and her allies'.

The situation changed when the throne became 'vacant' in late December, and the Convention discussed the options. Clearly now the ambition of the Prince and his associates was the crown and nothing less.

But William didn't force his hand. One contemporary observer wrote: 'While the Convention was in session, the Prince kept silent, not enticing the members by promises, like many had expected. The Prince asks for nothing, neither promises nor threatens, but his friends labour.'

By February 1689 this tactic had paid off. Options were running out and the Convention was prepared to offer William and Mary the crown, pretty much on his own terms. William had stuck to his declaration, safeguarded Protestantism and Liberty, but in the process made sure his own ambition had been satisfied. In April he was crowned King of England, Scotland and Ireland.