Question 1
1 ‘It was James’ actions in the autumn of 1688 that led to the loss of his throne.’
Use the four sources in their historical context to assess how far they support this view.
Source A: In October 1688, the diarist John Evelyn gives an account of popular responses to the king’s actions.
In the meantime, [the king] called over 5,000 Irish, and 4,000 Scots, and continued to remove Protestants and put in Papists at Portsmouth and other places of trust, and retained the Jesuits about him, increasing the universal discontent. It brought people to so desperate a pass, that they seemed passionately to long for and desire the landing of that Prince, whom they looked on to be their deliverer from Popish tyranny, praying incessantly for an east wind, which was said to be the only hindrance of his expedition with a numerous army ready to make a descent. To such a strange temper, and unheard-of in former times, was this poor nation reduced, and of which I was an eye-witness.
John Evelyn, Diary, 7 October, 1688
Source B: The French Ambassador describes the situation at Court in London.
I can never forget the confusion the court was in. The king knew not whom to trust and the fright was so great that they were apt to believe an impossible report just then brought in that the prince of Orange was come with twelve thousand horses, between Warminster and Salisbury. Everybody in this hurly-burly was thinking of himself and nobody minded the king, who came up to Dr Radcliffe and asked him what was good for the bleeding of his nose.
The French Ambassador, letter to Louis XIV, December 1688
Source C: A Whig bishop remembers the king’s flight and considers the different contemporary opinions as to why he did so.
It was strange that a great king, who had a good army and strong fleet, should choose rather to abandon all than either try his fate with that part of the army that stood firm to him, or stay and see the issue of Parliament. This was variously believed to be his lack of courage, his consciousness of guilt, or the advice of those about him; but so it was that his deserting in this manner, and leaving them to be pillaged by an army that he had ordered to be disbanded without pay, was thought the forfeiture of his right and the expiration of his reign.
Gilbert Burnet, History of His Own Time, written before 1715
Source D: A Tory MP reports the king’s explanation as to why he fled to France.
The king at his going away writ to the general officers of the army to this effect, that things being come to extremity, and being forced to send away the queen and prince, he was forced to follow himself; that if he could have trusted in his troops he would in the least have had one blow for it. But though there were some loyal and brave men amongst them, yet it was their advice not to venture himself or to fight the prince of Orange with them.
John Reresby, Memoirs, 12 December 1688
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