Abdruck eines aus Londen sub dato 22. Decembris, st. n. anno 1688 Abgelassenen Schreibens [“Copy of a letter from London on December 22, 1688.”]

Two letters: 1. From “N.” to James II (then Prince of Orange) of England…..William, Prince of Orange, enters England armed; King James II of Great Britain fled with his wife and son the Prince of Wales to France……….2. From James II of England (then Prince of Orange) to Louis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham. Written the day before he fled to France after being deposed. TEXT: “Whitehall, December 11 [22nd new style], 1688: Things being come to that extremity that I have been forced to send away the Queen and my son the Prince of Wales, that they might not fall into my enemies' hands (which they must have done had they stayed), I am obliged to do the same thing, and to endeavour to secure myself the best I can, in hopes that it will please God, out of his infinite mercy to this unhappy passion, to touch their hearts again with true loyalty and honour. If I could have relied on all my troops I might not have been put to this extremity I am in, and would, at least, have had one blow for it. But though I know there are amongst you very many loyal and brave men, both officers and soldiers, yet you know that both yourself and several of the general officers of the Army told me it was no ways advisable for me to venture myself at their head or to think to fight the Prince of Orange with them. And there remains only for me to thank you and all those, both officers and soldiers, who have stuck to me and been truly loyal, and hope you will still retain the same fidelity to me. And though I do not expect you should expose yourselves by resisting a foreign army and a poisoned nation, yet I hope your former principles are so rooted in you, that you will keep yourselves free from associations and such pernicious things. Time presses me so that I can say no more. J.R. I must add this, that as I have always found you loyal, so you have found me a kind master as you shall still find me.“