Read Aloud the Text Content

This audio was created by Woord's Text to Speech service by content creators from all around the world.

Text Content or SSML code:

King James II took the throne in England in 1685, he was catholic. James, supported the freedom of worship for Catholics and appointed Catholic officers to the army. He also had close ties with France. In 1687, King James II issued a Declaration of Indulgence, which suspended penal laws against Catholics. Later that year, the king formally dissolved his Parliament and attempted to create a new Parliament that would support him. James's daughter Mary, a Protestant, was the rightful heir to the throne until 1688 when James had a son, whom he announced would be raised Catholic. The king's elevation of Catholicism, his close relationship with France, his conflict with Parliament and uncertainty over who would succeed James on the English throne led to whispers of a revolt and ultimately the fall of James II. Seven of King James's peers wrote to the Dutch leader, William of Orange, pledging their allegiance to the prince if he invaded England. William of Orange assembled an impressive armada for the invasion and landed in Devon, in November 1688. In December 1688, King James made an attempt to escape but was captured. Later that month, he made another attempt and successfully fled to France, he died in exile in 1701.