it was far too late, however, to recall abingdon to his allegiance to james. danby had signed the "invitation to william" in june, and many of the berties, including abingdon, had been drawn into the conspiracy by september. in november 1688, abingdon defected to join william, leading 50 horsemen out of oxford to william's headquarters in exeter, the first of the peers to openly take up arms on his behalf.