ThesethenwerethetrueEnglishpatriots，themenwhocouldnotendureaforeigner，themenwhowouldnotsufferHisMajestytobestowamoderaterewardontheforeignerswhohadstormedAthlone，andturnedtheflankoftheCelticarmyatAghrim。Itnowappearedtheycouldbeonexcellenttermswithaforeigner，providedonlythathewastheemissaryofatyranthostiletotheliberty，theindependence，andthereligionoftheircountry。TheTories，vexedandabashed，heartilywishedthat，onthatunluckyday，theirfriendshadbeensuppingsomewhereelse。EventhebronzeofDavenant’sforeheadwasnotprooftothegeneralreproach。HedefendedhimselfbypretendingthatPoussin，withwhomhehadpassedwholedays，whohadcorrectedhisscurrilouspamphlets，andwhohadpaidhimhisshamefulwages，wasastrangertohim，andthatthemeetingattheBluePostswaspurelyaccidental。Ifhiswordwasdoubted，hewaswillingtorepeathisassertiononoath。Thepublic，however，whichhadformedaverycorrectnotionofhischaracter，thoughtthathiswordwasworthasmuchashisoath，andthathisoathwasworthnothing。
MeanwhilethearrivalofWilliamwasimpatientlyexpected。FromLoohehadgonetoBreda，wherehehadpassedsometimeinreviewinghistroops，andinconferringwithMarlboroughandHeinsius。HehadhopedtobeinEnglandearlyinOctober。ButadversewindsdetainedhimthreeweeksattheHague。Atlength，intheafternoonofthefourthofNovember，itwasknowninLondonthathehadlandedearlythatmorningatMargate。Greatpreparationsweremadeforwelcominghimtohiscapitalonthefollowingday，thethirteenthanniversaryofhislandinginDevonshire。Butajourneyacrossthebridge，andalongCornhillandCheapside，FleetStreet，andtheStrand，wouldhavebeentoogreataneffortforhisenfeebledframe。HeaccordinglysleptatGreenwich，andthenceproceededtoHamptonCourtwithoutenteringLondon。Hisreturnwas，however，celebratedbythepopulacewitheverysignofjoyandattachment。Thebonfiresblazed，andthegunpowderroared，allnight。IneveryparishfromMileEndtoSaintJames’swastobeseenenthronedontheshouldersofstoutProtestantportersapope，gorgeousinrobesoftinselandtriplecrownofpasteboard；andclosetotheearofHisHolinessstoodadevilwithhorns，clovenhoof，andasnakytail。
Eveninhiscountryhousethekingcouldfindnorefugefromtheimportunateloyaltyofhispeople。Reputationsfromcities，counties，universities，besiegedhimallday。Hewas，hewrotetoHeinsius，quiteexhaustedbythelabourofhearingharanguesandreturninganswers。ThewholekingdommeanwhilewaslookinganxiouslytowardsHamptonCourt。Mostoftheministerswereassembledthere。Themosteminentmenofthepartywhichwasoutofpowerhadrepairedthither，topaytheirdutytotheirsovereign，andtocongratulatehimonhissafereturn。ItwasremarkedthatSomersandHalifax，somalignantlypersecutedafewmonthsagobytheHouseofCommons，werereceivedwithsuchmarksofesteemandkindnessasWilliamwaslittleinthehabitofvouchsafingtohisEnglishcourtiers。Thelowerranksofboththegreatfactionswereviolentlyagitated。TheWhigs，latelyvanquishedanddispirited，werefullofhopeandardour。TheTories，latelytriumphantandsecure，wereexasperatedandalarmed。BothWhigsandTorieswaitedwithintenseanxietyforthedecisionofonemomentousandpressingquestion。Wouldtherebeadissolution？OntheseventhofNovembertheKingpropoundedthatquestiontohisPrivyCouncil。Itwasrumoured，andishighlyprobable，thatJersey，WrightandHedgesadvisedhimtokeeptheexistingParliament。Buttheywerenotmenwhoseopinionwaslikelytohavemuchweightwithhim；andRochester，whoseopinionmighthavehadsomeweight，hadsetouttotakepossessionofhisViceroyaltyjustbeforethedeathofJames，andwasstillatDublin。William，however，had，asheownedtoHeinsius，somedifficultyinmakinguphismind。HehadnodoubtthatageneralelectionwouldgivehimabetterHouseofCommons；
butageneralelectionwouldcausedelay；anddelaymightcausemuchmischief。Afterbalancingtheseconsiderations，duringsomehours，hedeterminedtodissolve。
Thewritsweresentoutwithallexpedition；andinthreedaysthewholekingdomwasup。Never——suchwastheintelligencesentfromtheDutchEmbassytotheHague——hadtherebeenmoreintriguing，morecanvassing，morevirulenceofpartyfeeling。Itwasinthecapitalthatthefirstgreatconteststookplace。ThedecisionsoftheMetropolitanconstituentbodieswereimpatientlyexpectedasauguriesofthegeneralresult。AllthepensofGrubStreet，allthepressesofLittleBritain，werehardatwork。