befell them. He continued his friendship with them to the last,
and accompanied Algernon Sidney to the scaffold. But even while
throwing himself heart and soul into politics he was continually
indulging in wild freaks which rendered him the talk of the town.

On the accession of King James he made his first speech in the
House of Peers against a standing army, and distinguished himself
alike by the eloquence and violence of his language. He was now
under the displeasure of the court, and his profuse generosity had
brought him into pecuniary trouble. In 1686, therefore, he quitted
England with the professed intention of accepting a command in the
Dutch fleet then about to sail for the West Indies, When he arrived
in Holland, however, he presented himself immediately to the Prince
of Orange, and first among the British nobility boldly proposed to
William an immediate invasion of England. He pushed his arguments
with fiery zeal, urged the disaffection of all classes, the hatred
of the Commons, the defection of the Lords, the alarm of the Church,
and the wavering loyalty of the army.

William, however, was already informed of these facts, and was not
to be hurried. Mordaunt remained with him till, on the 20th of
October, 1688, he sailed for England. The first commission that King
William signed in England was the appointment of Lord Mordaunt as
lieutenant colonel of horse, and raising a regiment he rendered
good service at Exeter. As soon as the revolution was completed,
and William and Mary ascended the throne, Mordaunt was made a privy
councilor and one of the lords of the bedchamber, and in April,
1689, he was made first commissioner of the treasury, and advanced
to the dignity of Earl of Monmouth. In addition to the other offices
to which he was appointed he was given the colonelcy of the regiment