Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

158 The Earls of Middleton.
summoned. " This was the last act of Government,
if it deserves the name," says Oldmixon, " for nobody
minded it."
When James had retired to his chamber, he was
informed that Count Zulestein, who had followed him
from Rochester, had brought a letter from the Prince
of Orange. William wrote to require his uncle to
remain at Rochester while he went to London.
James replied that it was now too late, but that he
would have stayed at Rochester had he known that
his nephew wished it. His anger was aroused on
hearing that his messenger, Feversham, had been
imprisoned.
On the following day the peers and William held
a consultation at Windsor, as to the best course to
be pursued. That James should hold a Court at
Whitehall, and William at St. James's, they decided
to be out of the question. James must be induced
to leave London by some means or other. Some
proposed that he should be subjected to personal
restraint.
This night he was again disturbed whilst undress-
ing. Lord Craven, 1 who commanded the Life Guards,
came to tell him that the Dutch guards, under Count
Solms, 2 had arrived, with orders to take military
1 William, first Earl of Craven.
2 Clarke's Life of James ; Original Memoirs; Burnet; Oldmixon.