2. William of Orange invades England landing at Torbay November 5th 1688

2. England was invaded by the Protestant husband of James' elder daughter Mary - later Joint Sovereign as Queen Mary II

At Brixham, Torbay, today there's an impressive statue of William of Orange landing his invasion force on November 5, 1688. He flourished a Bible at the waiting Devonians "as all the people shouted for joy and huzzas did now echo into the air many amongst them throwing up their hats and all making signs with their hands". (London Gazette). The Union flag shown is an anachronism of course including as it does the red cross of St Patrick which was not added until 1801.



Much of the relevant historical documentation held by the University of Nottingham is to be found linked DIRECTLY HERE

Jan Dyck also captured the scene.



At Honiton, where William’s army was billeted, Dutch soldiers were heard grumbling about the poor condition of East Devon’s roads. "Frost bit the mud churned roads from Exeter... manhandling cannon and stores along icy wheelruts on the road to Axminster..."

William's route from The Netherlands to Torbay and eventually London is shown below:



It was whilst William was at Honiton that King James 'harangued' his troops at his HQ in Salisbury, but recognised the turning point at the 'Defection' there of his own 'Royal' Dragoons. Lord Cornbury, James' brother-in-law, switched sides and offered his Dragoons to William.

…. and the men sang - was this the first time that the famous tune Lilliburlero* was heard in England?

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*Traditional Lilliburlero verses …

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
Lero, lero, lilliburlero, Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
Lero, lero, lilliburlero, Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
Ho, by my soul it is the Talbot,
And he will cut all the English throat.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lillibulero ….
Though by my soul the English do prate,
The law’s on their side and Christ knows what.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero….
But if dispense do come from the Pope,
We’ll hang Magna Carta and them on a rope.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero….
And the good Talbot is made a Lord,
And he with brave lads is coming abroad.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy.
Who all in France have taken a swear,
That they will have no Protestant Heir.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero ….
Oh, but why does he stay behind?
Ho, by my soul ‘tis a Protestant wind.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero …. Now Tyrconnel is coming ashore,
And we shall have commissions galore.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburero…. , And he that will not go to Mass,
Shall turn out and look like an ass.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero …
Now, now the heretics all go down,
By Christ and St Patrick the nation’s our own.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero….
There was an old prophecy found in a bog,
That we should be ruled by an ass and a dog.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero …
Now the old prophecy has come to pass,
Talbot’s a dog, Tyrconnel’s the ass.

Ho, brother Teague, dost hear the decree? Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
That we shall have a new deputy. Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
Lero, lero, lilliburlero, Lilliburlero, bullen a la.
Lero, lero, lilliburlero, Lilliburlero, bullen a la.