years. The 1st of July, the day of the battle of the Boyne, has ever since been observed as a holiday by the Irish Protestants, who call themselves Orangemen after William of Orange.

In 1692 another attempt was made by the French king to restore James, but the fleet that he had prepared for the invasion of England was defeated by William's admirals at the famous battle of La Hogue.

William himself was so skilful and brave that he was able to baffle the best of the French king's generals, and at last Louis became tired of war, and agreed to terms of peace. A treaty was therefore entered into between England and France at a place called Ryswick in Holland. The war with France had cost William a great deal of money, and as this could not be provided out of the ordinary taxes, Parliament caused money to be borrowed; and this was the

commencement of what is known as the National Debt of Great Britain.

Queen Mary was in the habit of governing England while her husband was engaged in his foreign wars; and she ruled so wisely and gently that the people loved her very much. In the year 1696, to the great grief of the King and the nation, she died of the small-pox. William III. lived seven years after his wife. His death was caused by a fall from his horse near Hampton Court. He expired on the 8th of March, 1702, in the fifty-second year of his age.

In order that the throne might not again be occupied by a Roman Catholic, an act had been passed by Parliament, whereby on the death of William and his successor Anne without issue, the crown was settled on a granddaughter of James I., named the Princess Sophia, and upon her children, all of whom were Protestants.

ANNE.

1702-1714.

On the death of William, the Princess Anne, the second daughter of James II., and the sister of Mary, ascended the throne.

The first act of Anne's government was to declare war against Louis XIV., King of France. This king was very ambitious, and much opposed to the Protestant religion. During the reign of William he had been kept in check; but now that that brave king was dead, Louis thought that there was no one who could oppose him. But the soldiers of William had been well trained, and there was one English general, who soon proved to Louis his mistake. This was the brave Duke of Marlborough, who in the reign of William had given proofs of his talents as a commander.

As soon as the English declared war against France, they were joined by both the Dutch and Germans. The Duke of

Marlborough was appointed commanderin-chief of the whole army. The command of the fleet was given to Prince George of Denmark, the husband of the Queen. Besides Marlborough, there was another famous general named Prince Eugene of Savoy, a cousin of the Queen. The first great battle that took place was fought at Blenheim on the 13th of August, 1704. Both armies fought bravely, and the contest lasted six hours. At the commencement of the fight a cannon-ball nearly hit the Duke of Marlborough; it struck the ground close to his feet, and it was thought that he was killed. At last the French were obliged to give way; they were defeated with great slaughter; above twenty-five thousand of them were killed, and half that