of the Scottish church: with a promise of submis- BOOK II. sion thereto-with a farther indulgence, that, if 1693. they took the oaths and refused the declaration, they should be suffered to retain possession of their benefices under the immediate protection of the king-an authority, as Bishop Burnet remarks, very like what they were wont to condemn as Erastianism; and, in fact, many were suffered so to do, who did not even take the oaths previous to the time appointed by the act. An oath of fidelity also, exclusive of the oath of allegiance was imposed upon all who held offices in church or state, to be tendered at the discretion of the council, who were empowered to fine and imprison such as should refuse. This was a measure of legislative violence and injustice but the mildness and wisdom of the executive power rendered it in fact only a law of salutary restraint. The session came to a speedy and calm conclusion, and all things seemed tending to a peaceable and permanent settlement. able Deci King The late DECLARATION of king James, when Remark he fancied himself on the eve of restoration, pre- ration of vious to the victory of La Hogue, was so impe- James. rious as to give much offence even to the most moderate of his own partisans. The earl of Middleton, therefore, having obtained his releasement from the Tower, was deputed to France in the spring of the present year (1693), to procure BOOK II. One of another complexion, and which, as far as 1693. words could go, gave universal satisfaction: for it made all manner of promises, and pardoned all manner of persons. In this most gracious and insidious of all the declarations promulgated by him, he says, "that, being sensible nothing had contributed so much to his misfortunes as the calumnies of his enemies--and reflecting upon the calamities of his kingdoms, he was willing to leave nothing unattempted that might reconcile his subjects to their duty. That though he would not enter into all the particulars of grace and goodness which he was willing to grant, yet he did assure them they might depend upon every thing that their own representatives should offer to make them happy; it being his noblest aim to do more for the constitution than the most renowned of his ancestors and in his opinion his chiefest interest to leave no umbrage for jealousy in relation to religion, liberty, and property." Intrigues of This declaration gave extreme offence to the earl of St. Ger- of Melfort, secretary to king James, and to the the Court maine's. whole party who were desirous of re-establishing the abdicated monarch without fettering him with terms and conditions. And the earl of Middleton being at the head of the opposite or moderate party, the court of St. Germaine's was divided into the two factions of cOMPOUNDERS and NONCOMPOUNDERS; the latter of whom were far more in the favor and confidence of the king: but the BOOK IL former being accounted more numerous and 1693. powerful, it was deemed politic to dismiss the earl of Melfort from his post of secretary, and transfer the seals to the earl of Middleton. It is curious to observe, that all who came under the denomination of COMPOUNDERS were regarded by James as of the republican party. In a memorial presented by this monarch to Louis XIV., November 1692, he affirms, There are two ostensible parties of protestants who are for him in England-the episcopals and the republicans. The first are against, the second for, concessions. These are to be suspected.-Nevertheless," he says, ALL who are of this party have not been traitors. The earl of Middleton, who was secretary of state when he left England, never did a false step; general Sackville never failed in his duty; and the earl of Shrewsbury, who was secretary of state to the prince of Orange, laid down that employment by his orders." These are men whom he extols as "equally clear-sighted and incorruptible*. At this period, if any credit is to be given to the secret correspondence kept up by the court of St. Germaine's with their friends or pretended friends in England, disaffection to the new go *Macpherson's State Papers, vol. i. p. 433-40. YOL. I. BOOK It. vernment had risen to an alarming height. The abdicated monarch in his MS. Memoirs, so 1693. far back as the preceding year 1692, writes: Many begin to be dissatisfied with the prince of Orange's government. The number of the king's friends increased daily-they proposed schemes for his restoration-the correspondence with CHURCHILL was kept up." We are assured, that the cities of Bristol and Exeter had signified their loyalty to James. The earl of Litchfield promised for the county and city of Oxford; the earl of Lindsey for the county of Lincoln; sir John Friend hoped to possess himself of the Tower; the marquis of Carmarthen, president of the council, engaged for Hull. Exclusive of the non-juring clergy, four-fifths of those who had taken the oaths were ready to join the king. The arch-traitor Sunderland wrote a letter to James, full of contrition for his past conduct, assuring him, "that an invasion could not fail of success, and promising to contribute all he could to his service." Godolphin, Marlborough, and Shrewsbury, also continued their clandestine and illegal intercourse with the late sovereign. Earl of Nottingham dismissed. The KING returned to England in the month of October 1693; and he was now prompted by various concurring motives to resolve upon a farther change in the administration. The unpopularity of the earl of Nottingham had so far in Sunderland with the creased as to make the ministry, of which he was BOOK II. considered as the head, collectively odious. It 1693. was therefore signified to him, that the king had no farther occasion for his services. And though WILLIAM was perfectly assured of the fidelity of that nobleman, and by no means ignorant of the cabals of his adversaries at the Court of St. Germaine's, he saw the necessity of again having recourse to the whigs. It is very remarkable, that Earl of the person with whom he chiefly advised upon in Favor this occasion, and by whose counsels he was sup- King. posed to be most influenced, was the earl of Sunderland; who had been for some time past rising into high favor with the king, and who stood in the singular situation of being trusted by two monarchs, both of whom he had betrayed, and neither of whom would avow their communication with him. It is probable that this extraordinary man was less insincere in his professions. of attachment to William than to James; though with him, and indeed with too many others, selfinterest was the rod which swallowed up the rest. At this period he undertook the important and arduous task of reconciling the monarch with the whigs, whose political confidence he possessed. For, though to the nation at large he appeared the most obnoxious minister of the late reign, ît was well known to the leaders of all parties that he was chiefly and purposely accessary to the ruin 1 |
