James, meanwhile, was captured by the Dutch and forced into effective house arrest in Rochester. A week or so later, his guards deliberately turned a blind eye and let him escape to France. Soon after, in early 1689, a special ‘Convention Parliament’ declared that because James had fled, the crown should pass to William and his wife Mary, who would rule the country jointly. The crown of Scotland followed a few months later. London remained effectively under Dutch military occupation and a Dutch Prince ruled from the English throne. The Prince of Orange went on to rule England for nearly a
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