第54章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The History of England from the Accession of James",免费读到尾

  BeforePayne’sarresttheEstateshadbeenadjournedafteraSessionasimportantasanythathadeverbeenheldinScotland。

  Thenationgenerallyacquiescedinthenewecclesiasticalconstitution。Theindifferent,alargeportionofeverysociety,weregladthattheanarchywasover,andconformedtothePresbyterianChurchastheyhadconformedtotheEpiscopalChurch。TothemoderatePresbyteriansthesettlementwhichhadbeenmadewasonthewholesatisfactory。MostofthestrictPresbyteriansbroughtthemselvestoacceptitunderprotest,asalargeinstalmentofwhatwasdue。TheymissedindeedwhattheyconsideredastheperfectbeautyandsymmetryofthatChurchwhichhad,fortyyearsbefore,beenthegloryofScotland。But,thoughthesecondtemplewasnotequaltothefirst,thechosenpeoplemightwellrejoicetothinkthattheywere,afteralongcaptivityinBabylon,sufferedtorebuild,thoughimperfectly,theHouseofGodontheoldfoundations;norcoulditmisbecomethemtofeelforthelatitudinarianWilliamagratefulaffectionsuchastherestoredJewshadfeltfortheheathenCyrus。

  Therewerehowevertwopartieswhichregardedthesettlementof1690withimplacabledetestation。ThoseScotchmenwhowereEpiscopaliansonconvictionandwithfervourappeartohavebeenfew;butamongthemweresomepersonssuperior,notperhapsinnaturalparts,butinlearning,intaste,andintheartofcomposition,tothetheologiansofthesectwhichhadnowbecomedominant。ItmightnothavebeensafefortheejectedCuratesandProfessorstogiveventintheirowncountrytotheangerwhichtheyfelt。ButtheEnglishpresswasopentothem;andtheyweresureoftheapprobationofalargepartoftheEnglishpeople。

  Duringseveralyearstheycontinuedtotormenttheirenemiesandtoamusethepublicwithasuccessionofingeniousandspiritedpamphlets。Insomeoftheseworksthehardshipssufferedbytherabbledpriestsofthewesternshiresaresetforthwithaskillwhichirresistiblymovespityandindignation。Inothers,thecrueltywithwhichtheCovenantershadbeentreatedduringthereignsofthelasttwokingsoftheHouseofStuartisextenuatedbyeveryartificeofsophistry。ThereismuchjokingonthebadLatinwhichsomePresbyterianteachershadutteredwhileseatedinacademicchairslatelyoccupiedbygreatscholars。Muchwassaidabouttheignorantcontemptwhichthevictoriousbarbariansprofessedforscienceandliterature。Theywereaccusedofanathematizingthemodernsystemsofnaturalphilosophyasdamnableheresies,ofcondemninggeometryasasouldestroyingpursuit,ofdiscouragingeventhestudyofthosetonguesinwhichthesacredbookswerewritten。Learning,itwassaid,wouldsoonbeextinctinScotland。TheUniversities,undertheirnewrulers,werelanguishingandmustsoonperish。Thebooksellershadbeenhalfruined:theyfoundthatthewholeprofitoftheirbusinesswouldnotpaytherentoftheirshops,andwerepreparingtoemigratetosomecountrywhereletterswereheldinesteembythosewhoseofficewastoinstructthepublic。Amongtheministersofreligionnopurchaserofbookswasleft。TheEpiscopaliandivinewasgladtosellforamorselofbreadwhateverpartofhislibraryhadnotbeentorntopiecesorburnedbytheChristmasmobs;andtheonlylibraryofaPresbyteriandivineconsistedofanexplanationoftheApocalypseandacommentaryontheSongofSongs。782Thepulpitoratoryofthetriumphantpartywasaninexhaustiblesubjectofmirth。Onelittlevolume,entitledTheScotchPresbyterianEloquenceDisplayed,hadanimmensesuccessintheSouthamongbothHighChurchmenandscoffers,andisnotyetquiteforgotten。ItwasindeedabookwellfittedtolieonthehalltableofaSquirewhosereligionconsistedinhatingextemporaneousprayerandnasalpsalmody。Onarainyday,whenitwasimpossibletohuntorshoot,neitherthecardtablenorthebackgammonboardwouldhavebeen,intheintervalsoftheflagonandthepasty,soagreeablearesource。Nowhereelse,perhaps,canbefound,insosmallacompass,solargeacollectionofludicrousquotationsandanecdotes。Somegravemen,however,whoborenolovetotheCalvinisticdoctrineordiscipline,shooktheirheadsoverthislivelyjestbook,andhintedtheiropinionthatthewriter,whileholdinguptoderisiontheabsurdrhetoricbywhichcoarsemindedandignorantmentriedtoillustratedarkquestionsoftheologyandtoexcitedevotionalfeelingamongthepopulace,hadsometimesforgottenthereverenceduetosacredthings。TheeffectwhichtractsofthissortproducedonthepublicmindofEnglandcouldnotbefullydiscerned,whileEnglandandScotlandwereindependentofeachother,butmanifesteditself,verysoonaftertheunionofthekingdoms,inawaywhichwestillhavereason,andwhichourposteritywillprobablylonghavereasontolament。

  TheextremePresbyterianswereasmuchoutofhumourastheextremePrelatists,andwereaslittleinclinedastheextremePrelatiststotaketheoathofallegiancetoWilliamandMary。

  Indeed,thoughtheJacobitenonjurorandtheCameroniannonjurorwerediametricallyopposedtoeachotherinopinion,thoughtheyregardedeachotherwithmortalaversion,thoughneitherofthemwouldhavehadanyscrupleaboutpersecutingtheother,theyhadmuchincommon。Theywereperhapsthetwomostremarkablespecimensthattheworldcouldshowofperverseabsurdity。Eachofthemconsideredhisdarlingformofecclesiasticalpolity,notasameansbutasanend,astheonethingneedful,asthequintessenceoftheChristianreligion。EachofthemchildishlyfanciedthathehadfoundatheoryofcivilgovernmentinhisBible。Neithershrankfromthefrightfulconsequencestowhichhistheoryled。Toallobjectionsbothhadoneanswer,——ThussaiththeLord。BothagreedinboastingthattheargumentswhichtoatheisticalpoliticiansseemedunanswerablepresentednodifficultytotheSaint。Itmightbeperfectlytruethat,byrelaxingtherigourofhisprinciples,hemightsavehiscountryfromslavery,anarchy,universalruin。Buthisbusinesswasnottosavehiscountry,buttosavehissoul。HeobeyedthecommandsofGod,andlefttheeventtoGod。Oneofthetwofanaticalsectsheldthat,totheendoftime,thenationwouldbeboundtoobeytheheiroftheStuarts;theotherheldthat,totheendoftime,thenationwouldbeboundbytheSolemnLeagueandCovenant;andthusbothagreedinregardingthenewSovereignsasusurpers。

  ThePresbyteriannonjurorshavescarcelybeenheardofoutofScotland;andperhapsitmaynotnowbegenerallyknown,eveninScotland,howlongtheycontinuedtoformadistinctclass。TheyheldthattheircountrywasunderaprecontracttotheMostHigh,andcouldnever,whiletheworldlasted,enterintoanyengagementinconsistentwiththatprecontract。AnErastian,alatitudinarian,amanwhoknelttoreceivethebreadandwinefromthehandsofbishops,andwhobore,thoughnotverypatiently,tohearanthemschauntedbychoristersinwhitevestments,couldnotbeKingofacovenantedkingdom。Williamhadmoreoverforfeitedallclaimtothecrownbycommittingthatsinforwhich,intheoldtime,adynastypreternaturallyappointedhadbeenpreternaturallydeposed。Hehadconnivedattheescapeofhisfatherinlaw,thatidolater,thatmurderer,thatmanofBelial,whooughttohavebeenhewninpiecesbeforetheLord,likeAgag。Nay,thecrimeofWilliamhadexceededthatofSaul。

  SaulhadsparedonlyoneAmalekite,andhadsmittentherest。

  WhatAmalekitehadWilliamsmitten?ThepureChurchhadbeentwenty—eightyearsunderpersecution。Herchildrenhadbeenimprisoned,transported,branded,shot,hanged,drowned,tortured。Andyethewhocalledhimselfherdelivererhadnotsufferedhertoseeherdesireuponherenemies。783ThebloodyClaverhousehadbeengraciouslyreceivedatSaintJames’s。ThebloodyMackenziehadfoundasecureandluxuriousretreatamongthemalignantsofOxford。TheyoungerDalrymplewhohadprosecutedtheSaints,theelderDalrymplewhohadsateinjudgmentontheSaints,weregreatandpowerful。ItwassaidbycarelessGallios,thattherewasnochoicebutbetweenWilliamandJames,andthatitwaswisdomtochoosethelessoftwoevils。Suchwasindeedthewisdomofthisworld。Butthewisdomwhichwasfromabovetaughtusthatoftwothings,bothofwhichwereevilinthesightofGod,weshouldchooseneither。AssoonasJameswasrestored,itwouldbeadutytodisownandwithstandhim。Thepresentdutywastodisownandwithstandhissoninlaw。

  Nothingmustbesaid,nothingmustbedonethatcouldbeconstruedintoarecognitionoftheauthorityofthemanfromHolland。Thegodlymustpaynodutiestohim,mustholdnoofficesunderhim,mustreceivenowagesfromhim,mustsignnoinstrumentsinwhichhewasstyledKing。AnnesucceededWilliam;

  andAnnewasdesignated,bythosewhocalledthemselvestheremnantofthetrueChurch,asthepretendedQueen,thewickedwoman,theJezebel。GeorgetheFirstsucceededAnne;andGeorgetheFirstwasthepretendedKing,theGermanBeast。784GeorgetheSecondsucceededGeorgetheFirst;GeorgetheSecondtoowasapretendedKing,andwasaccusedofhavingoutdonethewickednessofhiswickedpredecessorsbypassingalawindefianceofthatdivinelawwhichordainsthatnowitchshallbesufferedtolive。785GeorgetheThirdsucceededGeorgetheSecond;andstillthesemencontinued,withunabatedstedfastness,thoughinlanguagelessferociousthanbefore,todisclaimallallegiancetoanuncovenantedSovereign。786Solateastheyear1806,theywerestillbearingtheirpublictestimonyagainstthesinofowninghisgovernmentbypayingtaxes,bytakingoutexciselicenses,byjoiningthevolunteers,orbylabouringonpublicworks。787ThenumberofthesezealotswentondiminishingtillatlengththeyweresothinlyscatteredoverScotlandthattheywerenowherenumerousenoughtohaveameetinghouse,andwereknownbythenameoftheNonhearers。They,however,stillassembledandprayedinprivatedwellings,andstillpersistedinconsideringthemselvesasthechosengeneration,theroyalpriesthood,theholynation,thepeculiarpeople,which,amidstthecommondegeneracy,alonepreservedthefaithofabetterage。Itisbynomeansimprobablethatthissuperstition,themostirrationalandthemostunsocialintowhichProtestantChristianityhaseverbeencorruptedbyhumanprejudicesandpassions,maystilllingerinafewobscurefarmhouses。

  TheKingwasbuthalfsatisfiedwiththemannerinwhichtheecclesiasticalpolityofScotlandhadbeensettled。HethoughtthattheEpiscopalianshadbeenhardlyused;andheapprehendedthattheymightbestillmorehardlyusedwhenthenewsystemwasfullyorganized。HehadbeenverydesirousthattheActwhichestablishedthePresbyterianChurchshouldbeaccompaniedbyanActallowingpersonswhowerenotmembersofthatChurchtoholdtheirownreligiousassembliesfreely;andhehadparticularlydirectedMelvilletolooktothis。788ButsomepopularpreachersharanguedsovehementlyatEdinburghagainstlibertyofconscience,whichtheycalledthemysteryofiniquity,thatMelvilledidnotventuretoobeyhismaster’sinstructions。A

  draughtofaTolerationActwasofferedtotheParliamentbyaprivatemember,butwascoldlyreceivedandsufferedtodrop。789

  William,however,wasfullydeterminedtopreventthedominantsectfromindulgingintheluxuryofpersecution;andhetookanearlyopportunityofannouncinghisdetermination。ThefirstGeneralAssemblyofthenewlyestablishedChurchmetsoonafterhisreturnfromIreland。ItwasnecessarythatheshouldappointaCommissionerandsendaletter。SomezealousPresbyterianshopedthatCrawfordwouldbetheCommissioner;andtheministersofEdinburghdrewupapaperinwhichtheyveryintelligiblyhintedthatthiswastheirwish。William,however,selectedLordCarmichael,anoblemandistinguishedbygoodsense,humanityandmoderation。790TheroyallettertotheAssemblywaseminentlywiseinsubstanceandimpressiveinlanguage。\"Weexpect,\"theKingwrote,\"thatyourmanagementshallbesuchthatwemayhavenoreasontorepentofwhatwehavedone。Wenevercouldbeofthemindthatviolencewassuitedtotheadvancingoftruereligion;nordoweintendthatourauthorityshalleverbeatooltotheirregularpassionsofanyparty。Moderationiswhatreligionenjoins,whatneighbouringChurchesexpectfromyou,andwhatwerecommendtoyou。\"TheSixtyandtheirassociateswouldprobablyhavebeengladtoreplyinlanguageresemblingthatwhich,assomeofthemcouldwellremember,hadbeenheldbytheclergytoCharlestheSecondduringhisresidenceinScotland。

  ButtheyhadjustbeeninformedthattherewasinEnglandastrongfeelinginfavouroftherabbledcurates,andthatitwould,atsuchaconjuncture,bemadnessinthebodywhichrepresentedthePresbyterianChurchtoquarrelwiththeKing。791

  TheAssemblythereforereturnedagratefulandrespectfulanswertotheroyalletter,andassuredHisMajestythattheyhadsufferedtoomuchfromoppressionevertobeoppressors。792

  MeanwhilethetroopsallovertheContinentweregoingintowinterquarters。Thecampaignhadeverywherebeenindecisive。ThevictorygainedbyLuxemburgatFleurushadproducednoimportanteffect。OntheUpperRhinegreatarmieshadeyedeachother,monthaftermonth,withoutexchangingablow。InCataloniaafewsmallfortshadbeentaken。InthecastofEuropetheTurkshadbeensuccessfulonsomepoints,theChristiansonotherpoints;

  andtheterminationofthecontestseemedtobeasremoteasever。Thecoalitionhadinthecourseoftheyearlostonevaluablememberandgainedanother。TheDukeofLorraine,theablestcaptainintheImperialservice,wasnomore。Hehaddied,ashehadlived,anexileandawanderer,andhadbequeathedtohischildrennothingbuthisnameandhisrights。Itwaspopularlysaidthattheconfederacycouldbetterhavesparedthirtythousandsoldiersthansuchageneral。ButscarcelyhadthealliedCourtsgoneintomourningforhimwhentheywereconsoledbylearningthatanotherprince,superiortohiminpower,andnotinferiortohimincapacityorcourage,hadjoinedtheleagueagainstFrance。

  ThiswasVictorAmadeusDukeofSavoy。Hewasayoungman;buthewasalreadyversedinthoseartsforwhichthestatesmenofItalyhad,eversincethethirteenthcentury,beencelebrated,thoseartsbywhichCastruccioCastracaniandFrancisSforzarosetogreatness,andwhichMachiavelreducedtoasystem。NosovereigninmodernEuropehas,withsosmallaprincipality,exercisedsogreataninfluenceduringsolongaperiod。Hehadforatimesubmitted,withashowofcheerfulness,butwithsecretreluctanceandresentment,totheFrenchascendency。Whenthewarbrokeout,heprofessedneutrality,butenteredintoprivatenegotiationswiththeHouseofAustria。Hewouldprobablyhavecontinuedtodissembletillhefoundsomeopportunityofstrikinganunexpectedblow,hadnothiscraftyschemesbeendisconcertedbythedecisionandvigourofLewis。AFrencharmycommandedbyCatinat,anofficerofgreatskillandvalour,marchedintoPiedmont。TheDukewasinformedthathisconducthadexcitedsuspicionswhichhecouldremoveonlybyadmittingforeigngarrisonsintoTurinandVercelli。Hefoundthathemustbeeithertheslaveortheopenenemyofhispowerfulandimperiousneighbour。Hischoicewassoonmade;andawarbeganwhich,duringsevenyears,foundemploymentforsomeofthebestgeneralsandbesttroopsofLewis。AnEnvoyExtraordinaryfromSavoywenttotheHague,proceededthencetoLondon,presentedhiscredentialsintheBanquetingHouse,andaddressedtoWilliamaspeechwhichwasspeedilytranslatedintomanylanguagesandreadineverypartofEurope。TheoratorcongratulatedtheKingonthesuccessofthatgreatenterprisewhichhadrestoredEnglandtoherancientplaceamongthenations,andhadbrokenthechainsofEurope。\"Thatmymaster,\"hesaid,\"cannowatlengthventuretoexpressfeelingswhichhavebeenlongconcealedintherecessesofhisheart,ispartofthedebtwhichheowestoYourMajesty。Youhaveinspiredhimwiththehopeoffreedomaftersomanyyearsofbondage。\"793

  Ithadbeendeterminedthat,duringtheapproachingwinteraCongressofallthepowershostiletoFranceshouldbeheldattheHague。Williamwasimpatienttoproceedthither。ButitwasnecessarythatheshouldfirstholdaSessionofParliament。

  EarlyinOctobertheHousesreassembledatWestminster。Themembershadgenerallycomeupingoodhumour。ThoseTorieswhomitwaspossibletoconciliatehadbeenconciliatedbytheActofGrace,andbythelargesharewhichtheyhadobtainedofthefavoursoftheCrown。ThoseWhigswhowerecapableoflearninghadlearnedmuchfromthelessonwhichWilliamhadgiventhem,andhadceasedtoexpectthathewoulddescendfromtherankofaKingtothatofapartyleader。BothWhigsandTorieshad,withfewexceptions,beenalarmedbytheprospectofaFrenchinvasionandcheeredbythenewsofthevictoryoftheBoyne。TheSovereignwhohadshedhisbloodfortheirnationandtheirreligionstoodatthismomenthigherinpublicestimationthanatanytimesincehisaccession。HisspeechfromthethronecalledforththeloudacclamationsofLordsandCommons。794ThankswereunanimouslyvotedbybothHousestotheKingforhisachievementsinIreland,andtotheQueenfortheprudencewithwhichshehad,duringhisabsence,governedEngland。795ThuscommencedaSessiondistinguishedamongtheSessionsofthatreignbyharmonyandtranquillity。Noreportofthedebateshasbeenpreserved,unlessalongforgottenlampoon,inwhichsomeofthespeechesmadeonthefirstdayareburlesquedindoggrelrhymes,maybecalledareport。796ThetimeoftheCommonsappearstohavebeenchieflyoccupiedindiscussingquestionsarisingoutoftheelectionsoftheprecedingspring。Thesuppliesnecessaryforthewar,thoughlarge,weregrantedwithalacrity。Thenumberofregulartroopsforthenextyearwasfixedatseventythousand,ofwhomtwelvethousandweretobehorseordragoons。Thechargeofthisarmy,thegreatestthatEnglandhadevermaintained,amountedtoabouttwomillionthreehundredthousandpounds;thechargeofthenavytoabouteighteenhundredthousandpounds。Thechargeoftheordnancewasincludedinthesesums,andwasroughlyestimatedatoneeighthofthenavalandonefifthofthemilitaryexpenditure。797ThewholeoftheextraordinaryaidgrantedtotheKingexceededfourmillions。

  TheCommonsjustlythoughtthattheextraordinaryliberalitywithwhichtheyhadprovidedforthepublicserviceentitledthemtodemandextraordinarysecuritiesagainstwasteandpeculation。A

  billwasbroughtinempoweringnineCommissionerstoexamineandstatethepublicaccounts。Theninewerenamedinthebill,andwereallmembersoftheLowerHouse。TheLordsagreedtothebillwithoutamendments;andtheKinggavehisassent。798

  ThedebatesontheWaysandMeansoccupiedaconsiderablepartoftheSession。Itwasresolvedthatsixteenhundredandfiftythousandpoundsshouldberaisedbyadirectmonthlyassessmentonland。Theexcisedutiesonaleandbeerweredoubled;andtheimportdutiesonrawsilk,linen,timber,glass,andsomeotherarticles,wereincreased。799Thusfartherewaslittledifferenceofopinion。Butsoonthesmoothcourseofbusinesswasdisturbedbyapropositionwhichwasmuchmorepopularthanjustorhumane。

  Taxesofunprecedentedseverityhadbeenimposed;andyetitmightwellbedoubtedwhetherthesetaxeswouldbesufficient。

  Why,itwasasked,shouldnotthecostoftheIrishwarbebornebytheIrishinsurgents?HowthoseinsurgentshadactedintheirmockParliamentalltheworldknew;andnothingcouldbemorereasonablethantometetothemfromtheirownmeasure。TheyoughttobetreatedastheyhadtreatedtheSaxoncolony。EveryacrewhichtheActofSettlementhadleftthemoughttobeseizedbythestateforthepurposeofdefrayingthatexpensewhichtheirturbulenceandperversenesshadmadenecessary。Itisnotstrangethataplanwhichatoncegratifiednationalanimosity,andheldoutthehopeofpecuniaryrelief,shouldhavebeenwelcomedwitheagerdelight。AbillwasbroughtinwhichborebuttoomuchresemblancetosomeofthelawspassedbytheJacobitelegislatorsofDublin。BythisbillitwasprovidedthatthepropertyofeverypersonwhohadbeeninrebellionagainsttheKingandQueensincethedayonwhichtheywereproclaimedshouldbeconfiscated,andthattheproceedsshouldbeappliedtothesupportofthewar。AnexceptionwasmadeinfavourofsuchProtestantsashadmerelysubmittedtosuperiorforce;buttoPapistsnoindulgencewasshown。Theroyalprerogativeofclemencywaslimited。TheKingmightindeed,ifsuchwerehispleasure,sparethelivesofhisvanquishedenemies;buthewasnottobepermittedtosaveanypartoftheirestatesfromthegeneraldoom。HewasnottohaveitinhispowertograntacapitulationwhichshouldsecuretoIrishRomanCatholicstheenjoymentoftheirhereditarylands。Nay,hewasnottobeallowedtokeepfaithwithpersonswhomhehadalreadyreceivedtomercy,whohadkissedhishand,andhadheardfromhislipsthepromiseofprotection。AnattemptwasmadetoinsertaprovisoinfavourofLordDover。Dover,who,withallhisfaults,wasnotwithoutsomeEnglishfeelings,had,bydefendingtheinterestsofhisnativecountryatDublin,madehimselfodioustoboththeIrishandtheFrench。AfterthebattleoftheBoynehissituationwasdeplorable。NeitheratLimericknoratSaintGermainscouldhehopetobewelcomed。Inhisdespair,hethrewhimselfatWilliam’sfeet,promisedtolivepeaceably,andwasgraciouslyassuredthathehadnothingtofear。Thoughtheroyalwordseemedtobepledgedtothisunfortunateman,theCommonsresolved,byahundredandnineteenvotestoahundredandtwelve,thathispropertyshouldnotbeexemptedfromthegeneralconfiscation。

  ThebillwentuptothePeers,butthePeerswerenotinclinedtopassitwithoutconsiderableamendments;andsuchamendmentstherewasnottimetomake。Numerousheirsatlaw,reversioners,andcreditorsimploredtheUpperHousetointroducesuchprovisoesasmightsecuretheinnocentagainstalldangerofbeinginvolvedinthepunishmentoftheguilty。Somepetitionersaskedtobeheardbycounsel。TheKinghadmadeallhisarrangementsforavoyagetotheHague;andthedaybeyondwhichhecouldnotpostponehisdeparturedrewnear。Thebillwastherefore,happilyforthehonourofEnglishlegislation,consignedtothatdarkrepositoryinwhichtheabortivestatutesofmanygenerationssleepasleeprarelydisturbedbythehistorianortheantiquary。800

  Anotherquestion,whichslightlyandbutslightlydiscomposedthetranquillityofthisshortsession,aroseoutofthedisastrousanddisgracefulbattleofBeachyHead。Torringtonhad,immediatelyafterthatbattle,beensenttotheTower,andhadeversinceremainedthere。Atechnicaldifficultyhadarisenaboutthemodeofbringinghimtotrial。TherewasnoLordHighAdmiral;andwhethertheCommissionersoftheAdmiraltywerecompetenttoexecutemartiallawwasapointwhichtosomejuristsappearednotperfectlyclear。ThemajorityofthejudgesheldthattheCommissionerswerecompetent;but,forthepurposeofremovingalldoubt,abillwasbroughtintotheUpperHouse;

  andtothisbillseveralLordsofferedanoppositionwhichseemstohavebeenmostunreasonable。Theproposedlaw,theysaid,wasaretrospectivepenallaw,andthereforeobjectionable。Iftheyusedthisargumentingoodfaith,theywereignorantoftheveryrudimentsofthescienceoflegislation。Tomakealawforpunishingthatwhich,atthetimewhenitwasdone,wasnotpunishable,iscontrarytoallsoundprinciple。Butalawwhichmerelyaltersthecriminalproceduremaywithperfectproprietybemadeapplicabletopastaswellastofutureoffences。Itwouldhavebeenthegrossestinjusticetogivearetrospectiveoperationtothelawwhichmadeslavetradingfelony。ButtherewasnotthesmallestinjusticeinenactingthattheCentralCriminalCourtshouldtryfeloniescommittedlongbeforethatCourtwasinbeing。InTorrington’scasethesubstantivelawcontinuedtobewhatithadalwaysbeen。Thedefinitionofthecrime,theamountofthepenalty,remainedunaltered。Theonlychangewasintheformofprocedure;andthatchangethelegislaturewasperfectlyjustifiedinmakingretrospectively。

  Itisindeedhardlypossibletobelievethatsomeofthosewhoopposedthebillweredupedbythefallacyofwhichtheycondescendedtomakeuse。ThefeelingofcastewasstrongamongtheLords。Thatoneofthemselvesshouldbetriedforhislifebyacourtcomposedofplebeiansseemedtothemadegradationoftheirwholeorder。Iftheirnoblebrotherhadoffended,articlesofimpeachmentoughttobeexhibitedagainsthim:WestminsterHalloughttobefittedup:hispeersoughttomeetintheirrobes,andtogiveintheirverdictontheirhonour;aLordHighStewardoughttopronouncethesentenceandtobreakthestaff。

  TherewasanendofprivilegeifanEarlwastobedoomedtodeathbytarpaulinsseatedroundatableinthecabinofaship。

  ThesefeelingshadsomuchinfluencethatthebillpassedtheUpperHousebyamajorityofonlytwo。801IntheLowerHouse,wherethedignitiesandimmunitiesofthenobilitywereregardedwithnofriendlyfeeling,therewaslittledifferenceofopinion。

  Torringtonrequestedtobeheardatthebar,andspokethereatgreatlength,butweaklyandconfusedly。Heboastedofhisservices,ofhissacrifices,andofhiswounds。HeabusedtheDutch,theBoardofAdmiralty,andtheSecretaryofState。Thebill,however,wentthroughallitsstageswithoutadivision。802

  EarlyinDecemberTorringtonwassentunderaguarddowntherivertoSheerness。TheretheCourtMartialmetonboardofafrigatenamedtheKent。Theinvestigationlastedthreedays;andduringthosedaysthefermentwasgreatinLondon。Nothingwasheardofontheexchange,inthecoffeehouses,nayevenatthechurchdoors,butTorrington。Partiesranhigh;wagerstoanimmenseamountweredepending;rumourswerehourlyarrivingbylandandwater,andeveryrumourwasexaggeratedanddistortedbytheway。Fromthedayonwhichthenewsoftheignominiousbattlearrived,downtotheveryeveofthetrial,publicopinionhadbeenveryunfavourabletotheprisoner。Hisname,wearetoldbycontemporarypamphleteers,washardlyevermentionedwithoutacurse。But,whenthecrisisofhisfatedrewnigh,therewas,asinourcountrythereoftenis,areaction。Allhismerits,hiscourage,hisgoodnature,hisfirmadherencetotheProtestantreligionintheeviltimes,wereremembered。Itwasimpossibletodenythathewassunkinslothandluxury,thatheneglectedthemostimportantbusinessforhispleasures,andthathecouldnotsayNotoabooncompanionortoamistress;butforthesefaultsexcusesandsoftnameswerefound。Hisfriendsusedwithoutscruplealltheartswhichcouldraiseanationalfeelinginhisfavour;andtheseartswerepowerfullyassistedbytheintelligencethatthehatredwhichwasfelttowardshiminHollandbadventeditselfinindignitiestosomeofhiscountrymen。Thecrywasthatabold,jolly,freehandedEnglishgentleman,ofwhomtheworstthatcouldbesaidwasthathelikedwineandwomen,wastobeshotinordertogratifythespiteoftheDutch。Whatpassedatthetrialtendedtoconfirmthepopulaceinthisnotion。MostofthewitnessesagainsttheprisonerwereDutchofficers。TheDutchrealadmiral,whotookonhimselfthepartofprosecutor,forgothimselfsofarastoaccusethejudgesofpartiality。Whenatlength,ontheeveningofthethirdday,Torringtonwaspronouncednotguilty,manywhohadrecentlyclamouredforhisbloodseemedtobewellpleasedwithhisacquittal。HereturnedtoLondonfree,andwithhisswordbyhisside。AshisyachtwentuptheThames,everyshipwhichhepassedsalutedhim。HetookhisseatintheHouseofLords,andevenventuredtopresenthimselfatcourt。Butmostofthepeerslookedcoldlyonhim;Williamwouldnotseehim,andorderedhimtobedismissedfromtheservice。803

  TherewasanothersubjectaboutwhichnovotewaspassedbyeitheroftheHouses,butaboutwhichthereisreasontobelievethatsomeacrimoniousdiscussiontookplaceinboth。TheWhigs,thoughmuchlessviolentthanintheprecedingyear,couldnotpatientlyseeCaermarthenasnearlyprimeministerasanyEnglishsubjectcouldbeunderaprinceofWilliam’scharacter。ThoughnomanhadtakenamoreprominentpartintheRevolutionthantheLordPresident,thoughnomanhadmoretofearfromacounterrevolution,hisoldenemieswouldnotbelievethathehadfromhisheartrenouncedthosearbitrarydoctrinesforwhichhehadoncebeenzealous,orthathecouldbeartrueallegiancetoagovernmentsprungfromresistance。Throughthelastsixmonthsof1690hewasmercilesslylampooned。SometimeshewasKingThomasandsometimesTomtheTyrant。804WilliamwasadjurednottogototheContinentleavinghisworstenemyclosetotheearoftheQueen。Halifax,whohad,intheprecedingyear,beenungenerouslyandungratefullypersecutedbytheWhigs,wasnowmentionedbythemwithrespectandregret;forhewastheenemyoftheirenemy。805Theface,thefigure,thebodilyinfirmitiesofCaermarthen,wereridiculed。806ThosedealingswiththeFrenchCourtinwhich,twelveyearsbefore,hehad,ratherbyhismisfortunethanbyhisfault,beenimplicated,wererepresentedinthemostodiouscolours。Hewasreproachedwithhisimpeachmentandhisimprisonment。Once,itwassaid,hehadescaped;butvengeancemightstillovertakehim,andLondonmightenjoythelongdeferredpleasureofseeingtheoldtraitorflungofftheladderintheblueribandwhichhedisgraced。Allthemembersofhisfamily,wife,son,daughters,wereassailedwithsavageinvectiveandcontemptuoussarcasm。807Allwhoweresupposedtobecloselyconnectedwithhimbypoliticaltiescameinforaportionofthisabuse;andnonehadsolargeaportionasLowther。ThefeelingindicatedbythesesatireswasstrongamongtheWhigsinParliament。Severalofthemdeliberatedonaplanofattack,andwereinhopesthattheyshouldbeabletoraisesuchastormaswouldmakeitimpossibleforhimtoremainattheheadofaffairs。Itshouldseemthat,atthistime,hisinfluenceintheroyalclosetwasnotquitewhatithadbeen。

  Godolphin,whomhedidnotlove,andcouldnotcontrol,butwhosefinancialskillhadbeengreatlymissedduringthesummer,wasbroughtbacktotheTreasury,andmadeFirstCommissioner。

  Lowther,whowastheLordPresident’sownman,stillsateattheboard,butnolongerpresidedthere。ItistruethattherewasnotthensuchadifferenceastherenowisbetweentheFirstLordandhiscolleagues。Stillthechangewasimportantandsignificant。Marlborough,whomCaermarthendisliked,was,inmilitaryaffairs,notlesstrustedthanGodolphininfinancialaffairs。ThesealswhichShrewsburyhadresignedinthesummerhadeversincebeenlyinginWilliam’ssecretdrawer。TheLordPresidentprobablyexpectedthatheshouldbeconsultedbeforetheyweregivenaway;buthewasdisappointed。SidneywassentforfromIreland;andthesealsweredeliveredtohim。ThefirstintimationwhichtheLordPresidentreceivedofthisimportantappointmentwasnotmadeinamannerlikelytosoothehisfeelings。\"DidyoumeetthenewSecretaryofStategoingout?\"saidWilliam。

  \"No,Sir,\"answeredtheLordPresident;\"ImetnobodybutmyLordSidney。\"\"HeisthenewSecretary,\"saidWilliam。\"HewilldotillIfindafitman;andhewillbequitewillingtoresignassoonasIfindafitman。AnyotherpersonthatIcouldputinwouldthinkhimselfillusedifIweretoputhimout。\"IfWilliamhadsaidallthatwasinhismind,hewouldprobablyhaveaddedthatSidney,thoughnotagreatoratororstatesman,wasoneoftheveryfewEnglishpoliticianswhocouldbeasentirelytrustedasBentinckorZulestein。Caermarthenlistenedwithabittersmile。Itwasnew,heafterwardssaid,toseeanoblemanplacedintheSecretary’soffice,asafootmanwasplacedinaboxatthetheatre,merelyinordertokeepaseattillhisbetterscame。Butthisjestwasacoverforseriousmortificationandalarm。Thesituationoftheprimeministerwasunpleasantandevenperilous;andthedurationofhispowerwouldprobablyhavebeenshort,hadnotfortune,justatthismoment,putitinhispowertoconfoundhisadversariesbyrenderingagreatservicetothestate。808

  TheJacobiteshadseemedinAugusttobecompletelycrushed。ThevictoryoftheBoyne,andtheirresistibleexplosionofpatrioticfeelingproducedbytheappearanceofTourville’sfleetonthecoastofDevonshire,hadcowedtheboldestchampionsofhereditaryright。Mostofthechiefplotterspassedsomeweeksinconfinementorinconcealment。But,widelyastheramificationsoftheconspiracyhadextended,onlyonetraitorsufferedthepunishmentofhiscrime。ThiswasamannamedGodfreyCross,whokeptaninnonthebeachnearRye,andwho,whentheFrenchfleetwasonthecoastofSussex,hadgiveninformationtoTourville。

  Whenitappearedthatthissolitaryexamplewasthoughtsufficient,whenthedangerofinvasionwasover,whenthepopularenthusiasmexcitedbythatdangerhadsubsided,whenthelenityofthegovernmenthadpermittedsomeconspiratorstoleavetheirprisonsandhadencouragedotherstoventureoutoftheirhidingplaces,thefactionwhichhadbeenprostratedandstunnedbegantogivesignsofreturninganimation。Theoldtraitorsagainmusteredattheoldhaunts,exchangedsignificantlooksandeagerwhispers,anddrewfromtheirpocketslibelsontheCourtofKensington,andlettersinmilkandlemonjuicefromtheCourtofSaintGermains。Preston,Dartmouth,Clarendon,Penn,wereamongthemostbusy。Withthem,wasleaguedthenonjuringBishopofEly,whowasstillpermittedbythegovernmenttoresideinthepalace,nownolongerhisown,andwhohad,butashorttimebefore,calledheaventowitnessthathedetestedthethoughtofinvitingforeignerstoinvadeEngland。Onegoodopportunityhadbeenlost;butanotherwasathand,andmustnotbesufferedtoescape。TheusurperwouldsoonbeagainoutofEngland。Theadministrationwouldsoonbeagainconfidedtoaweakwomanandadividedcouncil。Theyearwhichwasclosinghadcertainlybeenunlucky;butthatwhichwasabouttocommencemightbemoreauspicious。

  InDecemberameetingoftheleadingJacobiteswasheld。809Thesenseoftheassembly,whichconsistedexclusivelyofProtestants,wasthatsomethingoughttobeattempted,butthatthedifficultiesweregreat。NoneventuredtorecommendthatJamesshouldcomeoverunaccompaniedbyregulartroops。Yetall,taughtbytheexperienceoftheprecedingsummer,dreadedtheeffectwhichmightbeproducedbythesightofFrenchuniformsandstandardsonEnglishground。Apaperwasdrawnupwhichwould,itwashoped,convincebothJamesandLewisthatarestorationcouldnotbeeffectedwithoutthecordialconcurrenceofthenation。France,——suchwasthesubstanceofthisremarkabledocument,——mightpossiblymaketheislandaheapofruins,butneverasubjectprovince。Itwashardlypossibleforanyperson,whohadnothadanopportunityofobservingthetemperofthepublicmind,toimaginethesavageanddoggeddeterminationwithwhichmenofallclasses,sectsandfactionswerepreparedtoresistanyforeignpotentatewhoshouldattempttoconquerthekingdombyforceofarms。NorcouldEnglandbegovernedasaRomanCatholiccountry。TherewerefivemillionsofProtestantsintherealm:therewerenotahundredthousandPapists:thatsuchaminorityshouldkeepdownsuchamajoritywasphysicallyimpossible;andtophysicalimpossibilityallotherconsiderationsmustgiveway。Jameswouldthereforedowelltotakewithoutdelaysuchmeasuresasmightindicatehisresolutiontoprotecttheestablishedreligion。UnhappilyeveryletterwhicharrivedfromFrancecontainedsomethingtendingtoirritatefeelingswhichitwasmostdesirabletosoothe。StorieswereeverywherecurrentofslightsofferedatSaintGermainstoProtestantswhohadgiventhehighestproofofloyaltybyfollowingintobanishmentamasterzealousforafaithwhichwasnottheirown。TheedictswhichhadbeenissuedagainsttheHuguenotsmightperhapshavebeenjustifiedbytheanarchicalopinionsandpracticesofthosesectaries;butitwastheheightofinjusticeandofinhospitalitytoputthoseedictsinforceagainstmenwhohadbeendrivenfromtheircountrysolelyonaccountoftheirattachmenttoaRomanCatholicKing。SurelysonsoftheAnglicanChurch,whohad,inobediencetoherteaching,sacrificedallthattheymostprizedonearthtotheroyalcause,oughtnottobeanylongerinterdictedfromassemblinginsomemodestedificetocelebrateherritesandtoreceiveherconsolations。AnannouncementthatLewishad,attherequestofJames,permittedtheEnglishexilestoworshipGodaccordingtotheirnationalformswouldbethebestpreludetothegreatattempt。Thatattemptoughttobemadeearlyinthespring。A

  FrenchforcemustundoubtedlyaccompanyHisMajesty。Buthemustdeclarethathebroughtthatforceonlyforthedefenceofhispersonandfortheprotectionofhislovingsubjects,andthat,assoonastheforeignoppressorshadbeenexpelled,theforeigndeliverersshouldbedismissed。Hemustalsopromisetogovernaccordingtolaw,andmustreferallthepointswhichhadbeenindisputebetweenhimandhispeopletothedecisionofaParliament。

  ItwasdeterminedthatPrestonshouldcarrytoSaintGermainstheresolutionsandsuggestionsoftheconspirators,JohnAshton,apersonwhohadbeenclerkoftheclosettoMaryofModenawhenshewasonthethrone,andwhowasentirelydevotedtotheinterestsoftheexiledfamily,undertooktoprocurethemeansofconveyance,andforthispurposeengagedthecooperationofahotheadedyoungJacobitenamedElliot,whoonlyknewingeneralthataserviceofsomehazardwastoberenderedtothegoodcause。

  ItwaseasytofindintheportofLondonavesseltheownerofwhichwasnotscrupulousabouttheuseforwhichitmightbewanted。AshtonandElliotwereintroducedtothemasterofasmacknamedtheJamesandElizabeth。TheJacobiteagentspretendedtobesmugglers,andtalkedofthethousandsofpoundswhichmightbegotbyasingleluckytriptoFranceandbackagain。Abargainwasstruck:asixpencewasbroken;andallthearrangementsweremadeforthevoyage。

  Prestonwaschargedbyhisfriendswithapacketcontainingseveralimportantpapers。AmongthesewasalistoftheEnglishfleetfurnishedbyDartmouth,whowasincommunicationwithsomeofhisoldcompanionsinarms,aminuteoftheresolutionswhichhadbeenadoptedatthemeetingoftheconspirators,andtheHeadsofaDeclarationwhichitwasthoughtdesirablethatJamesshouldpublishatthemomentofhislanding。TherewerealsosixorsevenlettersfrompersonsofnoteintheJacobiteparty。Mostoftheseletterswereparables,butparableswhichitwasnotdifficulttounriddle。Oneplotterusedthecantofthelaw。

  TherewashopethatMr。Jacksonwouldsoonrecoverhisestate。

  Thenewlandlordwasahardman,andhadsetthefreeholdersagainsthim。Alittlematterwouldredeemthewholeproperty。TheopinionsofthebestcounselwereinMr。Jackson’sfavour。AllthatwasnecessarywasthatheshouldhimselfappearinWestminsterHall。ThefinalhearingoughttobebeforethecloseofEasterTerm。OtherwritersaffectedthestyleoftheRoyalExchange。Therewasagreatdemandforacargooftherightsort。

  Therewasreasontohopethattheoldfirmwouldsoonformprofitableconnectionswithhouseswithwhichithadhithertohadnodealings。ThiswasevidentlyanallusiontothediscontentedWhigs。But,itwasadded,theshipmentsmustnotbedelayed。

  Nothingwassodangerousastooverstaythemarket。IftheexpectedgoodsdidnotarrivebythetenthofMarch,thewholeprofitoftheyearwouldbelost。Astodetails,entirereliancemightbeplacedontheexcellentfactorwhowasgoingover。

  Clarendonassumedthecharacterofamatchmaker。Therewasgreathopethatthebusinesswhichhehadbeennegotiatingwouldbebroughttobear,andthatthemarriageportionwouldbewellsecured。\"Yourrelations,\"hewrote,inallusiontohisrecentconfinement,\"havebeenveryhardonmethislastsummer。Yet,assoonasIcouldgosafelyabroad,Ipursuedthebusiness。\"

  CatharineSedleyentrustedPrestonwithaletterinwhich,withoutallegoryorcircumlocution,shecomplainedthatherloverhadleftheradaughtertosupport,andbeggedveryhardformoney。ButthetwomostimportantdespatcheswerefromBishopTurner。TheyweredirectedtoMr。andMrs。Redding:butthelanguagewassuchasitwouldbethoughtabjectinanygentlemantoholdexcepttoroyalty。TheBishopassuredtheirMajestiesthathewasdevotedtotheircause,thatheearnestlywishedforagreatoccasiontoprovehiszeal,andthathewouldnomoreswervefromhisdutytothemthanrenouncehishopeofheaven。Headded,inphraseologymetaphoricalindeed,butperfectlyintelligible,thathewasthemouthpieceofseveralofthenonjuringprelates,andespeciallyofSancroft。\"Sir,Ispeakintheplural,\"——thesearethewordsofthelettertoJames,——

  \"becauseIwritemyelderbrother’ssentimentsaswellasmyown,andtherestofourfamily。\"ThelettertoMaryofModenaistothesameeffect。\"Isaythisinbehalfofmyelderbrother,andtherestofmynearestrelations,aswellasfrommyself。\"810

  AlltheletterswithwhichPrestonwaschargedreferredtheCourtofSaintGermainstohimforfullerinformation。HecarriedwithhimminutesinhisownhandwritingofthesubjectsonwhichhewastoconversewithhismasterandwiththeministersofLewis。

  Theseminutes,thoughconciseanddesultory,canforthemostpartbeinterpretedwithoutdifficulty。Thevulnerablepointsofthecoastarementioned。Gosportisdefendedonlybypalisades。

  ThegarrisonofPortsmouthissmall。TheFrenchfleetoughttobeoutinApril,andtofightbeforetheDutchareintheChannel。

  Thereareafewbrokenwordsclearlyimportingthatsomeatleastofthenonjuringbishops,whentheydeclared,beforeGod,thattheyabhorredthethoughtofinvitingtheFrenchover,weredissembling。811

  EverythingwasnowreadyforPreston’sdeparture。ButtheowneroftheJamesandElizabethhadconceivedasuspicionthattheexpeditionforwhichhissmackhadbeenhiredwasratherofapoliticalthanofacommercialnature。Itoccurredtohimthatmoremightbemadebyinformingagainsthispassengersthanbyconveyingthemsafely。IntelligenceofwhatwaspassingwasconveyedtotheLordPresident。Nointelligencecouldbemorewelcometohim。Hewasdelightedtofindthatitwasinhispowertogiveasignalproofofhisattachmenttothegovernmentwhichhisenemieshadaccusedhimofbetraying。Hetookhismeasureswithhisusualenergyanddexterity。Hiseldestson,theEarlofDanby,abold,volatile,andsomewhateccentricyoungman,wasfondofthesea,livedmuchamongsailors,andwastheproprietorofasmallyachtofmarvellousspeed。Thisvessel,wellmanned,wasplacedunderthecommandofatrustyofficernamedBillop,andwassentdowntheriver,asifforthepurposeofpressingmariners。

  Atdeadofnight,thelastnightoftheyear1690,Preston,AshtonandElliotwentonboardoftheirsmackneartheTower。

  Theywereingreatdreadlesttheyshouldbestoppedandsearched,eitherbyafrigatewhichlayoffWoolwich,orbytheguardpostedattheblockhouseofGravesend。But,whentheyhadpassedbothfrigateandblockhousewithoutbeingchallenged,theirspiritsrose:theirappetitebecamekeen;theyunpackedahamperwellstoredwithroastbeef,mincepies,andbottlesofwine,andwerejustsittingdowntotheirChristmascheer,whenthealarmwasgiventhatavesselfromTilburywasflyingthroughthewaterafterthem。Theyhadscarcelytimetohidethemselvesinadarkholeamongthegravelwhichwastheballastoftheirsmack,whenthechasewasover,andBillop,attheheadofanarmedparty,cameonboard。Thehatchesweretakenup:theconspiratorswerearrested;andtheirclotheswerestrictlyexamined。Preston,inhisagitation,haddroppedonthegravelhisofficialsealandthepacketofwhichhewasthebearer。Thesealwasdiscoveredwhereithadfallen。Ashton,awareoftheimportanceofthepapers,snatchedthemupandtriedtoconcealthem;buttheyweresoonfoundinhisbosom。

  TheprisonersthentriedtocajoleortocorruptBillop。Theycalledforwine,pledgedhim,praisedhisgentlemanlikedemeanour,andassuredhimthat,ifhewouldaccompanythem,nay,ifhewouldonlyletthatlittlerollofpaperfalloverboardintotheThames,hisfortunewouldbemade。Thetideofaffairs,theysaid,wasontheturn,thingscouldnotgoonforeverastheyhadgoneonoflateanditwasinthecaptain’spowertobeasgreatandasrichashecoulddesire。Billop,thoughcourteous,wasinflexible。Theconspiratorsbecamesensiblethattheirneckswereinimminentdanger。Theemergencybroughtoutstronglythetruecharactersofallthethree,characterswhich,butforsuchanemergency,mighthaveremainedforeverunknown。

  Prestonhadalwaysbeenreputedahighspiritedandgallantgentleman;butthenearprospectofadungeonandagallowsaltogetherunmannedhim。Elliotstormedandblasphemed,vowedthat,ifheevergotfree,hewouldberevenged,and,withhorribleimprecations,calledonthethundertostriketheyacht,andonLondonBridgetofallinandcrushher。Ashtonalonebehavedwithmanlyfirmness。

  LateintheeveningtheyachtreachedWhitehallStairs;andtheprisoners,stronglyguarded,wereconductedtotheSecretary’soffice。ThepaperswhichhadbeenfoundinAshton’sbosomwereinspectedthatnightbyNottinghamandCaermarthen,andwere,onthefollowingmorning,putbyCaermarthenintothehandsoftheKing。

  SoonitwasknownalloverLondonthataplothadbeendetected,thatthemessengerswhomtheadherentsofJameshadsenttosolicitthehelpofaninvadingarmyfromFrancehadbeenarrestedbytheagentsofthevigilantandenergeticLordPresident,andthatdocumentaryevidence,whichmightaffectthelivesofsomegreatmen,wasinthepossessionofthegovernment。TheJacobiteswereterrorstricken;theclamouroftheWhigsagainstCaermarthenwassuddenlyhushed;andtheSessionendedinperfectharmony。OnthefifthofJanuarytheKingthankedtheHousesfortheirsupport,andassuredthemthathewouldnotgrantawayanyforfeitedpropertyinIrelandtilltheyshouldreassemble。Healludedtotheplotwhichhadjustbeendiscovered,andexpressedahopethatthefriendsofEnglandwouldnot,atsuchamoment,belessactiveorlessfirmlyunitedthanherenemies。HethensignifiedhispleasurethattheParliamentshouldadjourn。Onthefollowingdayhesetout,attendedbyasplendidtrainofnobles,fortheCongressattheHague。812

  FN1LetterfromLadyCavendishtoSylvia。LadyCavendish,likemostoftheclevergirlsofthatgeneration,hadScudery’sromancesalwaysinherhead。SheisDorinda:hercorrespondent,supposedtobehercousinJaneAllington,isSylvia:WilliamisOrmanzor,andMaryPhenixana。LondonGazette,Feb。141688/9;

  NarcissusLuttrell’sDiary。Luttrell’sDiary,whichIshallveryoftenquote,isinthelibraryofAllSouls’College。IamgreatlyobligedtotheWardenforthekindnesswithwhichheallowedmeaccesstothisvaluablemanuscript。

  FN2SeetheLondonGazettesofFebruaryandMarch1688/9,andNarcissusLuttrell’sDiary,FN3Wagenaar,lxi。HequotestheproceedingsoftheStatesofthe2ndofMarch,1689。LondonGazette,April11,1689;MonthlyMercuryforApril,1689。

  FN4\"Imaybepositive,\"saysawriterwhohadbeeneducatedatWestminsterSchool,\"whereIheardonesermonofrepentance,faith,andtherenewingoftheHolyGhost,Iheardthreeoftheother;and’tishardtosaywhetherJesusChristorKingCharlestheFirstwereoftenermentionedandmagnified。\"Bisset’sModernFanatick,1710。

  FN5ParisGazette,Jan26/Feb51689。OrangeGazette,London,Jan。10。1688/9

  FN6Grey’sDebates;Howe’sspeech;Feb。26。1688/9;Boscawen’sspeech,March1;NarcissusLuttrell’sDiary,Feb。23—27。

  FN7Grey’sDebates;Feb。26。1688/9

  FN8ThisillustrationisrepeatedtosatietyinsermonsandpamphletsofthetimeofWilliamtheThird。ThereisapoorimitationofAbsalomandAhitophelentitledtheMurmurers。

  WilliamisMoses;Corah,DathanandAbiram,nonjuringBishops;

  Balaam,Ithink,Dryden;andPhinchasShrewsbury,FN9Reresby’sMemoirs。

  FN10Here,andinmanyotherplaces,Iabstainfromcitingauthorities,becausemyauthoritiesaretoonumeroustocite。MynotionsofthetemperandrelativepositionofpoliticalandreligiouspartiesinthereignofWilliamtheThird,havebeenderived,notfromanysinglework,butfromthousandsofforgottentracts,sermons,andsatires;infact,fromawholeliteraturewhichismoulderinginoldlibraries。

  FN11Thefollowingpassageinatractofthattimeexpressesthegeneralopinion。\"Hehasbetterknowledgeofforeignaffairsthanwehave;butinEnglishbusinessitisnodishonourtohimtobetoldhisrelationtous,thenatureofit,andwhatisfitforhimtodo。\"——AnHonestCommoner’sSpeech。

  FN12LondonGazette,Feb。18。1688/9

  FN13LondonGazette,Feb。18。1688/9;SirJ。Reresby’sMemoirs。

  FN14LondonGazette,Feb。18。1688/9;Lords’Journals。

  FN15Burnet,ii。4。

  FN16Thesememoirswillbefoundinamanuscriptvolume,whichispartoftheHarleianCollection,andisnumbered6584。Theyareinfact,thefirstoutlinesofagreatpartofBurnet’sHistoryofHisOwnTimes。Thedatesatwhichthedifferentportionsofthismostcuriousandinterestingbookwerecomposedaremarked。AlmostthewholewaswrittenbeforethedeathofMary。BurnetdidnotbegintopreparehisHistoryofWilliam’sreignforthepresstilltenyearslater。Bythattimehisopinionsbothofmenandofthings,hadundergonegreatchanges。

  Thevalueoftheroughdraughtisthereforeverygreat:foritcontainssomefactswhichheafterwardsthoughtitadvisabletosuppress,andsomejudgmentswhichheafterwardssawcausetoalter。ImustownthatIgenerallylikehisfirstthoughtsbest。

  WheneverhisHistoryisreprinted,itoughttobecarefullycollatedwiththisvolume。

  WhenIrefertotheBurnetMS。Harl。6584,IwishthereadertounderstandthattheMS。containssomethingwhichisnottobefoundintheHistory。

  AstoNottingham’sappointment,seeBurnet,ii。8;theLondonGazetteofMarch7。1688/9;andClarendon’sDiaryofFeb。15。

  FN17LondonGazette,Feb。18。1688/9

  FN18DonPedrodeRonquillomakesthisobjection。

  FN19LondonGazette,March111688/9。

  FN20Ibid。

  FN21Ihavefollowedwhatseemstomethemostprobablestory。

  ButithasbeendoubtedwhetherNottinghamwasinvitedtobeChancellor,oronlytobeFirstCommissioneroftheGreatSeal。

  CompareBurnetii。3。,andBoyer’sHistoryofWilliam,1702。

  NarcissusLuttrellrepeatedly,andevenaslateasthecloseof1692,speaksofNottinghamaslikelytobeChancellor。

  FN22RogerNorthrelatesanamusingstoryaboutShaftesbury’sembarrassments。

  FN23LondonGazetteMarch4。1688/9

  FN24Burnetii。5。

  FN25TheProtestantMasktakenofffromtheJesuitedEnglishman,1692。

  FN26TheseappointmentswerenotannouncedintheGazettetillthe6thofMay;butsomeofthemweremadeearlier。

  FN27Kennet’sFuneralSermononthefirstDukeofDevonshire,andMemoirsoftheFamilyofCavendish,1708。

  FN28Seeapoementitled,AVotiveTablettotheKingandQueen。

  FN29SeePrior’sDedicationofhisPoemstoDorset’ssonandsuccessor,andDryden’sEssayonSatireprefixedtotheTranslationsfromJuvenal。ThereisabittersneeronDryden’seffeminatequerulousnessinCollier’sShortViewoftheStage。InBlackmore’sPrinceArthur,apoemwhich,worthlessasitis,containssomecuriousallusionstocontemporarymenandevents,arethefollowinglines\"Thepoets’nationdidobsequiouswaitForthekinddoledividedathisgate。

  Laurusamongthemeagrecrowdappeared,Anold,revolted,unbelievingbard,Whothronged,andshoved,andpressed,andwouldbeheard。

  Sakil’shighroof,theMuses’palace,rungWithendlesscries,andendlesssonshesung。

  ToblessgoodSakilLauruswouldbefirst;

  ButSakil’sprinceandSakil’sGodhecurst。

  Sakilwithoutdistinctionthrewhisbread,Despisedtheflatterer,butthepoetfed。\"

  IneednotsaythatSakilisSackville,orthatLaurusisatranslationofthefamousnicknameBayes。

  FN30ScarcelyanymanofthatageismorefrequentlymentionedinpamphletsandsatiresthanHowe。InthefamouspetitionofLegion,heisdesignatedas\"thatimpudentscandalofParliaments。\"Mackay’saccountofhimiscurious。Inapoemwrittenin1690,whichIhaveneverseenexceptinmanuscript,arethefollowinglines\"FirstforJackHowewithhisterribletalent,Happythefemalethatscopeshislampoon;

  Againsttheladiesexcessivelyvaliant,ButveryrespectfultoaDragoon。\"

  FN31Sprat’sTrueAccount;North’sExamen;LettertoChiefJusticeHolt,1694;LettertoSecretaryTrenchard,1694。

  FN32VanCitters,Feb19/March11688/9

  FN33Stat。IW。&M。sess。i。c。I。SeetheJournalsofthetwoHouses,andGrey’sDebates。TheargumentinfavourofthebilliswellstatedintheParisGazettesofMarch5。and12。1689。

  FN34BothVanCittersandRonquillomentiontheanxietywhichwasfeltinLondontilltheresultwasknown。

  FN35Lords’Journals,March1688/9

  FN36SeethelettersofRochesterandofLadyRanelaghtoBurnetonthisoccasion。

  FN37JournalsoftheCommons,March2。1688/9Ronquillowroteasfollows:\"EsdegranconsideracionqueSeimorhayatomadoeljuramento;porqueeselarrengadoryeldirectorprincipal,enlacasadelosComunes,delosAnglicanos。\"March8/181688/9

  FN38Grey’sDebates,Feb。25,26,and27。1688/9

  FN39Commons’Journals,andGrey’sDebates,March1。1688/9

  FN40IW。&M。sess。Ic。10;Burnet,ii。13。

  FN41Commons’Journals,March15。1688/9Solateas1713,Arbuthnot,inthefifthpartofJohnBull,alludedtothistransactionwithmuchpleasantry。\"AstoyourVenireFacias,\"

  saysJohntoNickFrog,\"Ihavepaidyouforonealready。\"

  FN42Wagenaar,lxi。

  FN43Commons’Journals,March15。1688/9。

  FN44Reresby’sMemoirs。

  FN45Commons’Journals,andGrey’sDebates,March15。1688/9;

  LondonGazette,March18。

  FN46Astothestateofthisregioninthelatterpartoftheseventeenthandtheearlierpartoftheeighteenthcentury,seePepys’sDiary,Sept。18。1663,andtheTourthroughthewholeIslandofGreatBritain,1724。

  FN47LondonGazette,March25。1689;VanCitterstotheStatesGeneral,March22/April1LettersofNottinghamintheStatePaperOffice,datedJuly23andAugust9。1689;HistoricalRecordoftheFirstRegimentofFoot,printedbyauthority。SeealsoacuriousdigressionintheCompleatHistoryoftheLifeandMilitaryActionsofRichard,EarlofTyrconnel,1689。

  FN48Stat。IW。&M。sess。I。c。5。;Commons’Journals,March28。

  1689。

  FN49Stat。IW。&M。sess。I。c。2。

  FN50Ronquillo,March8/18。16S9。

  FN51SeetheaccountgiveninSpence’sAnecdotesoftheOriginofDryden’sMedal。

  FN52Guardian,No。67。

  FN53ThereisabundantproofthatWilliam,thoughaveryaffectionate,wasnotalwaysapolitehusband。ButnocreditisduetothestorycontainedintheletterwhichDalrymplewasfoolishenoughtopublishasNottingham’sin1773,andwiseenoughtoomitintheeditionof1790。Howanypersonwhoknewanythingofthehistoryofthosetimescouldbesostrangelydeceived,itisnoteasytounderstandparticularlyasthehandwritingbearsnoresemblancetoNottingham’s,withwhichDalrymplewasfamiliar。Theletterisevidentlyacommonnewsletter,writtenbyascribbler,whohadneverseentheKingandQueenexceptatsomepublicplace,andwhoseanecdotesoftheirprivateliferestedonnobetterauthoritythancoffeehousegossip。

  FN54Ronquillo;Burnet,ii。2。;DuchessofMarlborough’sVindication。InapastoraldialoguebetweenPhilanderandPalaemon,publishedin1691,thedislikewithwhichwomenoffashionregardedWilliamismentioned。Philandersays\"Butmanmethinkshisreasonshouldrecall,Norletfrailwomanworkhissecondfall。\"

  FN55Tutchin’sObservatorofNovember16。1706。

  FN56Prior,whowastreatedbyWilliamwithmuchkindness,andwhowasverygratefulforit,informsusthattheKingdidnotunderstandpoeticaleulogy。Thepassageisinahighlycuriousmanuscript,thepropertyofLordLansdowne。

  FN57MemoiresoriginauxsurleregneetlacourdeFredericI,RoidePrusse,ecritsparChristopheComtedeDohna。Berlin,1833。ItisstrangethatthisinterestingvolumeshouldbealmostunknowninEngland。TheonlycopythatIhaveeverseenofitwaskindlygiventomebySirRobertAdair。\"LeRoi,\"Dohnasays,\"avoituneautrequalitetresestimable,quiestcelleden’aimerpointqu’onrenditdemauvaisofficesapersonnepardesrailleries。\"TheMarquisdeLaForktriedtoentertainHisMajestyattheexpenseofanEnglishnobleman。\"Ceprince,\"saysDohna\"pritsonairsevere,et,leregardantsansmotdire,luifitrentrerlesparolesdansleventre。LeMarquism’enfitsesplaintesquelquesheuresapres。’J’aimalprismabisque,’dit—

  il;’j’aicrufairel’agreablesurlechapitredeMilord……maisj’aitrouvaaquiparler,etj’aiattrapeunregardduroiquim’afaitpasserl’enviedetire。’\"DohnasupposedthatWilliammightbelesssensitiveaboutthecharacterofaFrenchman,andtriedtheexperiment。But,sayshe,\"j’eusapertpreslememesortqueM。delaForet。\"

  FN58ComparetheaccountofMarybytheWhigBurnetwiththementionofherbytheToryEvelyninhisDiary,March8。1694/5,andwithwhatissaidofherbytheNonjurorwhowrotetheLettertoArchbishopTennisononherdeathin1695。TheimpressionwhichthebluntnessandreserveofWilliamandthegraceandgentlenessofMaryhadmadeonthepopulacemaybetracedintheremainsofthestreetpoetryofthattime。Thefollowingconjugaldialoguemaystillbeseenontheoriginalbroadside。

  \"ThenbespokeMary,ourmostroyalQueen,’MygraciouskingWilliam,whereareyougoing?’

  Heansweredherquickly,’IcounthimnomanThattellethhissecretuntoawoman。’

  TheQueenwithamodestbehaviourreplied,’IwishthatkindProvidencemaybethyguide,Tokeeptheefromdanger,mysovereignLord,Hewhichwillthegreatestofcomfortafford。’\"

  TheselinesareinanexcellentcollectionformedbyMr。RichardHeber,andnowthepropertyofMr。Broderip,bywhomitwaskindlylenttome;inoneofthemostsavageJacobitepasquinadesof1689,Williamisdescribedas\"Achurletohiswife,whichshemakesbutajest。\"

  FN59Burnet,ii。2。;Burnet,MS。Harl。6484。ButRonquillo’saccountismuchmorecircumstantial。\"Nadasehavistomasdesfigurado;y,quantasvecesheestadoconel,lehevistotosertantoqueselesaltabanlaslagrimas,yseponiamoxadoyarrancando;yconfiesanlosmedicosqueesunaasmaincurable,\"

  Mar。8/181689。AvauxwrotetothesameeffectfromIreland。\"Lasantedel’usurpateurestfortmauvaise。L’onnecroitpasqu’ilviveunan。\"April8/18。

  FN60\"HastadecirlosmismosHollandesesquelodesconozcan,\"

  saysRonquillo。\"Ilestabsolumentmalproprepourlerolequ’ilaajoueral’heurequ’ilest,\"saysAvaux。\"Slothfulandsickly,\"saysEvelyn。March29。1689。

  FN61SeeHarris’sdescriptionofLoo,1699。

  FN62EverypersonwhoiswellacquaintedwithPopeandAddisonwillremembertheirsarcasmsonthistaste。LadyMaryWortleyMontaguetooktheotherside。\"OldChina,\"shesays,\"isbelownobody’staste,sinceithasbeentheDukeofArgyle’s,whoseunderstandinghasneverbeendoubtedeitherbyhisfriendsorenemies。\"

  FN63AstotheworksatHamptonCourt,seeEvelyn’sDiary,July16。1689;theTourthroughGreatBritain,1724;theBritishApelles;HoraceWalpoleonModernGardening;Burnet,ii。2,3。

  FNWhenEvelynwasatHamptonCourt,in1662,thecartoonswerenottobeseen。TheTriumphsofAndreaMantegnawerethensupposedtobethefinestpicturesinthepalace。

  FN64Burnet,ii。2。;Reresby’sMemoirs。Ronquillowroterepeatedlytothesameeffect。Forexample,\"BienquisieraqueelReyfuesemascomunicable,yseacomodaseunpocomasalhumorsociabledelosIngleses,yqueestubieraenLondres:peroesciertoquesusachaquesnoselopermiten。\"July8/181689。

  Avaux,aboutthesametime,wrotethustoCroissyfromIreland:

  \"LePrinced’OrangeesttoujoursaHamptonCourt,etjamaisalaville:etlepeupleestfortmalsatisfaitdecettemanierebizarreetretiree。\"

  FN65SeveralofhisletterstoHeinsiusaredatedfromHollandHouse。

  FN66NarcissusLuttrell’sDiary;Evelyn’sDiary,Feb。25

  1689/1690

  FN67DeFoemakesthisexcuseforWilliam\"WeblametheKingthathereliestoomuchOnstrangers,Germans,Huguenots,andDutch,AndseldomdoeshisgreataffairsofstateToEnglishcounsellorscommunicate。

  Thefactmightverywellbeansweredthus,Hehastoooftenbeenbetrayedbyus。

  HemusthavebeenamadmantorelyOnEnglishgentlemen’sfidelity。

  Theforeignershavefaithfullyobeyedhim,AndnonebutEnglishmenhavee’erbetrayedhim。\"

  TheTrueBornEnglishman,Partii。

  FN68RonquillohadthegoodsenseandjusticetomakeallowanceswhichtheEnglishdidnotmake。Afterdescribing,inadespatchdatedMarch1/11。1689,thelamentablestateofthemilitaryandnavalestablishments,hesays,\"DeestonotieneculpaelPrincipedeOranges;porquepensarquesehandepodervolverendosmesestresReynosdeabaxoarribaesunaextravagancia。\"LordPresidentStair,inaletterwrittenfromLondonaboutamonthlater,saysthatthedelaysoftheEnglishadministrationhadloweredtheKing’sreputation,\"thoughwithouthisfault。\"

  FN69Burnet,ii。4。;Reresby。

  FN70Reresby’sMemoirs;BurnetMS。Hart。6584。

  FN71Burnet,ii。3,4。15。

  FN72ibid。ii。5。

  FN73\"Howdoeshedotodistributehishours,SometotheCourt,andsometotheCity,SometotheState,andsometoLove’spowers,Sometobevain,andsometobewitty?\"

  TheModernLampooners,apoemof1690

  FN74Burnetii。4

  FN75RonquillocallstheWhigfunctionaries\"Gentequenotienenpracticaniexperiencia。\"Headds,\"Ydeestoprocedeelpasarseunmesyunotro,sinexecutarsenada。\"June24。1689。InoneoftheinnumerableDialogueswhichappearedatthattime,theToryinterlocutorputsthequestion,\"Doyouthinkthegovernmentwouldbebetterservedbystrangerstobusiness?\"TheWhiganswers,\"Betterignorantfriendsthanunderstandingenemies。\"

  FN76NegotiationsdeM。LeComted’Avaux,4Mars1683;Torcy’sMemoirs。

  FN77TheoriginalcorrespondenceofWilliamandHeinsiusisinDutch。AFrenchtranslationofallWilliam’sletters,andanEnglishtranslationofafewofHeinsius’sLetters,areamongtheMackintoshMSS。TheBaronSirtemadeGrovestins,whohashadaccesstotheoriginals,frequentlyquotespassagesinhis\"HistoiredesluttesetrivalitesentrelespuissancesmaritimesetlaFrance。\"Thereisverylittledifferenceinsubstance,thoughmuchinphraseology,betweenhisversionandthatwhichI

  haveused。

  FN78Thoughtheseveryconvenientnamesarenot,asfarasI

  know,tobefoundinanybookprintedduringtheearlieryearsofWilliam’sreign,Ishallusethemwithoutscruple,asothershavedone,inwritingaboutthetransactionsofthoseyears。

  FN79Burnet,ii。8。;Birch’sLifeofTillotson;LifeofKettlewell,partiii。section62。

  FN80Swift,writingunderthenameofGregoryMisosarum,mostmalignantlyanddishonestlyrepresentsBurnetasgrudgingthisgranttotheChurch。SwiftcannothavebeenignorantthattheChurchwasindebtedforthegrantchieflytoBurnet’sperseveringexertions。

  FN81SeetheLifeofBurnetattheendofthesecondvolumeofhishistory,hismanuscriptmemoirs,Harl。6584,hismemorialstouchingtheFirstFruitsandTenths,andSomers’slettertohimonthatsubject。SeealsowhatDr。King,Jacobiteashewas,hadthejusticetosayinhisAnecdotes。AmosthonourabletestimonytoBurnet’svirtues,givenbyanotherJacobitewhohadattackedhimfiercely,andwhomhehadtreatedgenerously,thelearnedanduprightThomasBaker,willbefoundintheGentleman’sMagazineforAugustandSeptember,1791。

  FN82OldmixonwouldhaveusbelievethatNottinghamwasnot,atthistime,unwillingtogiveuptheTestAct。ButOldmixon’sassertion,unsupportedbyevidence,isofnoweightwhatever;andalltheevidencewhichheproducesmakesagainsthisassertion。

  FN83Burnet,ii。6。;VanCitterstotheStatesGeneral,March1/111689;KingWilliam’sToleration,beinganexplanationofthatlibertyofconsciencewhichmaybeexpectedfromHisMajesty’sDeclaration,withaBillforComprehensionandIndulgence,drawnupinordertoanActofParliament,licensedMarch25。1689。

  FN84Commons’Journals,May17。1689。

  FN85SenseofthesubscribedarticlesbytheMinistersofLondon,1690;Calamy’sHistoricalAdditionstoBaxter’sLife。

  FN86ThebillwillbefoundamongtheArchivesoftheHouseofLords。Itisstrangethatthisvastcollectionofimportantdocumentsshouldhavebeenaltogetherneglected,evenbyourmostexactanddiligenthistorians。Itwasopenedtomebyoneofthemostvaluedofmyfriends,Mr。JohnLefevre;andmyresearchesweregreatlyassistedbythekindnessofMr。Thoms。

  FN87AmongtheTannerMSS。intheBodleianLibraryisaverycuriousletterfromComptontoSancroft,abouttheTolerationBillandtheComprehensionBill,\"These,\"saysCompton,\"aretwogreatworksinwhichthebeingofourChurchisconcerned:andI

  hopeyouwillsendtotheHouseforcopies。For,thoughweareunderaconquest,Godhasgivenusfavourintheeyesofourrulers;andtheymaykeepourChurchifwewill。\"Sancroftseemstohavereturnednoanswer。

  FN88ThedistasteoftheHighChurchmanfortheArticlesisthesubjectofacuriouspamphletpublishedin1689,andentitledaDialoguebetweenTimothyandTitus。

  FN89TomBrownsays,inhisscurrilousway,ofthePresbyteriandivinesofthattime,thattheirpreaching\"bringsinmoney,andmoneybuysland;andlandisanamusementtheyalldesire,inspiteoftheirhypocriticalcant。Ifitwerenotforthequarterlycontributions,therewouldbenolongerschismorseparation。\"Heaskshowitcanbeimaginedthat,while\"theyaremaintainedlikegentlemenbythebreachtheywilleverpreachuphealingdoctrines?\"——Brown’sAmusements,SeriousandComical。

  SomecuriousinstancesoftheinfluenceexercisedbythechiefdissentingministersmaybefoundinHawkins’sLifeofJohnson。

  IntheJournaloftheretiredcitizen(Spectator,317。)Addisonhasindulgedinsomeexquisitepleasantryonthissubject。TheMr。Nisbywhoseopinionsaboutthepeace,theGrandVizier,andlacedcoffee,arequotedwithsomuchrespect,andwhoissowellregaledwithmarrowbones,oxcheek,andabottleofBrooksandHellier,wasJohnNesbit,ahighlypopularpreacher,whoaboutthetimeoftheRevolution,becamepastorofadissentingcongregationinflareCourtAldersgateStreet。InWilson’sHistoryandAntiquitiesofDissentingChurchesandMeetingHousesinLondon,Westminster,andSouthwark,willbefoundseveralinstancesofnonconformistpreacherswho,aboutthistime,madehandsomefortunes,generally,itshouldseem,bymarriage。

  FN90See,amongmanyothertracts,Dodwell’sCautionaryDiscourse,hisVindicationoftheDeprivedBishops,hisDefenceoftheVindication,andhisParaenesis;andBisby’sUnityofPriesthood,printedin1692。SeealsoHody’stractsontheotherside,theBaroccianMS。,andSolomonandAbiathar,aDialoguebetweenEucheresandDyscheres。

  FN91Burnet,ii。135。Ofallattemptstodistinguishbetweenthedeprivationsof1559andthedeprivationsof1689,themostabsurdwasmadebyDodwell。SeehisDoctrineoftheChurchofEnglandconcerningtheindependencyoftheClergyonthelayPower,1697。

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