Editing Glorious Revolution (section)

===Prelude: 1685 to June 1688===
[[File:Hugo Vogel - Empfang der Refugies (Hugenotten) durch den Großen Kurfürsten im Potsdamer Schloss, 1885.JPG|thumb|upright=1.0|[[Huguenot]] refugees, whose expulsion from France in 1685 helped create a sense that Protestant Europe was under threat]]

In 1677, James's elder daughter and heir Mary married her Protestant cousin [[William III of England|William III of Orange]], [[stadtholder]] of the main provinces of the [[Dutch Republic]]. The two initially shared common objectives in wanting Mary to succeed her father, while French ambitions in the [[Spanish Netherlands]] threatened both English and Dutch trade.{{Sfn|Miller|1978|pp=81–82}} Although William sent James [[Scots Brigade|troops]] to help suppress the 1685 [[Monmouth Rebellion]], their relationship deteriorated thereafter.{{Sfn|Troost|2005|p=175}}

The [[Franco-Dutch War]], continued [[War of the Reunions|French expansion]], and [[Edict of Fontainebleau|expulsion of the Huguenots]] meant William assumed another war was inevitable, and although the [[States General of the Netherlands]] preferred peace, the majority accepted he was correct. This view was widely shared throughout Protestant Europe; in October 1685, [[Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg]] renounced his French alliance for one with the Dutch. In July 1686, other Protestant states formed the anti-French [[League of Augsburg]], with Dutch support. Securing or neutralising English resources, especially the [[Royal Navy]], now became key to both sides.{{Sfn|Stapleton|2003|pp=63–64}}

Following a skirmish between French and Dutch naval vessels in July 1686, William concluded English neutrality was not enough and he needed their active support in the event of war.{{Sfn|Troost|2001|p=187}} His relationship with James was affected by the fact both men relied on advisors with relatively limited views; in William's case, mainly English and Scots Presbyterian exiles, the latter with close links to the Protestant minority in Ireland, who saw Tyrconnell's policies as a threat to their existence. Having largely alienated his Tory support base, James depended on a small circle of Catholic converts like [[Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland|Sunderland]], [[John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort|Melfort]] and [[James Drummond, 4th Earl of Perth|Perth]].{{Sfn|Glozier|2000|pp=233–234}}

[[File:Portret van Willem III (1650-1702), prins van Oranje, SK-A-879.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|[[William III of England]], [[stadtholder]] of Guelders, Holland, Zealand, Utrecht and Overijssel]]

Suspicions increased when James sought William's backing for repealing the [[Test Acts]]; he predictably refused, further damaging their relationship.{{Sfn|Miller|1978|pp=213–214}} Having previously assumed he was guaranteed English support in a war with France, William now worried he might face an Anglo-French alliance like during the ''[[Rampjaar]]'', despite assurances by James he had no intention of doing so. Historians argue whether these assurances were genuine, but James did not fully appreciate the distrust caused by his domestic policies.{{Sfn|Harris|2006|pp=256}} In August 1687, William's cousin [[William Nassau de Zuylestein, 1st Earl of Rochford|de Zuylestein]] travelled to England with condolences on the death of [[Mary of Modena]]'s mother, allowing him to make contact with the political opposition. Throughout 1688, his English supporters provided William detailed information on public opinion and developments, very little of which was intercepted.{{Sfn|Jones|1988|p=222}}

In October 1687, after fourteen years of marriage and multiple miscarriages, it was announced the Queen was pregnant, Melfort immediately declaring it was a boy. When James then wrote to Mary urging her to convert to Catholicism, it convinced many he was seeking a Catholic heir, one way or the other and may have been a deciding factor in whether to invade.{{Sfn|Hoak|1996|p=24}} Early in 1688, [[A letter, writ by Mijn Heer Fagel (Pensioner of Holland) to Mr. James Stewart (Advocate); giving an account of the Prince and Princess of Orange's thoughts concerning the repeal of the test, and the penal laws|a pamphlet]] circulated in England written by Dutch [[Grand Pensionary]] [[Gaspar Fagel]]; this guaranteed William's support for freedom of worship for Dissenters ''and'' retaining the Test Acts, unlike James who offered tolerance in return for repeal.{{Sfn|Harris|2006|pp=256–257}}{{Sfn|Fagel|1688}}

In April 1688, [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] announced tariffs on Dutch [[herring]] imports, along with plans to support the Royal Navy in the [[English Channel]]. James immediately denied making any such request, but fearing it was the prelude to a formal alliance, the Dutch began preparing a military intervention.{{Sfn|Troost|2005|p=191}} On the pretext of needing additional resources to deal with [[Dunkirkers|French privateers]], in July the States General authorised an additional 9,000 sailors and 21 new warships.{{Sfn|Prud'homme van Reine|2009|p=287}}