Editing Glorious Revolution (section)

==Dutch preparations: July to September 1688==
[[File:1672 Dutch War.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|The Dutch were concerned by their vulnerable eastern border. In 1672, an alliance with the [[Electorate of Cologne]] allowed France to nearly over-run the Republic.]]

William's key strategic purpose was creating a defensive coalition that would block further French expansion in Europe, an objective not shared by the majority of his English supporters. In 1672, an alliance with the [[Electorate of Cologne]] had enabled France to bypass Dutch forward defences and [[Rampjaar|nearly over-run]] the Republic, so ensuring an anti-French ruler was vital to prevent a repetition. As an [[Hochstift|ecclesiastical principality]] of the Holy Roman Empire, Cologne's ruler was nominated by [[Pope Innocent XI]], in conjunction with [[Emperor Leopold I]].{{Sfn|Miller|1978|p=153}} Both Louis and James were in dispute with Innocent over the right to appoint Catholic bishops and clergy; when the old Elector died in June 1688, Innocent and Leopold ignored the French candidate in favour of [[Joseph Clemens of Bavaria]].{{Sfn|Young|2004|pp=251–252}}

After 1678, France continued its expansion into the [[Rhineland]], including the 1683 to 1684 [[War of the Reunions]], additional territorial demands in the [[Electoral Palatinate|Palatinate]], and construction of forts at [[Landau]] and [[Traben-Trarbach]].{{Sfn|Duffy|1995|p=20}} This presented an existential threat to Habsburg dominance, guaranteeing Leopold's support for the Dutch, and negating French attempts to build German alliances.{{Sfn|Troost|2005|p=198}} William's envoy Johann von Görtz assured Leopold English Catholics would not be persecuted and intervention was to elect a free Parliament, not depose James, a convenient fiction that allowed him to remain neutral.{{Sfn|Young|2004|p=255}}

Although his English supporters considered a token force sufficient, William assembled 260 transport ships and 15,000 men, nearly half the 30,000 strong [[Dutch States Army]]. With France on the verge of war, their absence was of great concern to the States General and Bentinck hired 13,616 German mercenaries to man Dutch border fortresses, freeing elite units like the [[Scots Brigade]] for use in England.{{Sfn|Jardine|2008|p=38}} The increase could be presented as a limited precaution against French aggression, as the Dutch would typically double or triple their army strength in wartime;{{Efn|At the end of the year the Dutch army counted more than 70,000 men{{Sfn|Wijn|1950|p=6}}}} William instructed his experienced deputy [[Frederick Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg|Schomberg]] to prepare for a campaign in Germany.{{Sfn|Baxter|1966|pp=232–233}}