NA p'r'ps Spoiler Topick

[Vaska]

Sojourner writes: 

>I'm on page < 100 and I believe there's a Dutch character (one of the
>Vrooms?) who makes reference to England "stealing" William of Orange.  If I
>was home I could look up more historical info, but I do believe there is a
>bit of cheek in jowl sort of poke there.  James Michener's "Covenant" comes
>to mind, what with the struggle in Zuid Afrika even today between the
>Afrikaaner "Dutch" and the English "Boers" (or literally, "red neck" hehehe).  
>
>Anyone care to follow on more historickal info?

The year is 1688.  James II, the last of the Stuarts, having established a
standing army, alianated the parliament, and made all the right moves to
ensure a Catholic succession to the throne, thinks he's home dry.  The
parliamentary party, however, still have one up their sleeve: William of
Orange, husband to Mary [one of James's daughters].  The moment William
lands in England, James II takes off for France; shortly thereafter [in
1689], the parliament asks William to sign a pledge respecting the Bill of
Rights [basically its right to elect the monarch], and lets him reign
conjointly with Mary.  Potted history of the Glorious Revolution.  

Vaska