[1] On 5 November 1688,[a] William of Orange, the stadtholder of the Dutch Republic, landed in Torbay, Devon at the head of a Williamite army to overthrow the unpopular James II of England.

As wild rumours, known as the Irish Fright, asserted that Sarsfield's men were planning to massacre the residents of Reading, they sent word to William requesting help.

The Irish retreated in confusion, leaving an unknown number of dead behind, with reports varying widely from six to fifty killed, depending on the account.

He described how a squadron of "Irish dragoons" was routed by the "irresistible fury" of a Dutch force who chased many of the fleeing Irishmen to nearby village of Twyford.

[5] James was already convinced that only Irish troops could be relied on to defend him, but their defeat by an inferior force and the willingness of the people of Reading to support Dutch invaders against his army underlined his insecurity.

[citation needed] In light of proposals he had received from James while in Hungerford, William decided not to immediately proceed to London, but to accept an invitation from the University of Oxford.