14G

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XIV.

I6S9.

The

clergy ex-asperatedagainstthe Dis-sentersby theproceed-ings oftheScotcliPresbyte-rians.

William had too much sense to be duped, and too muchhonesty to hear a part in what he knew to he an imposture.“It is a silly superstition,” he exclaimed, when he heard that,at the close of Lent, his palace was besieged by a crowd of thesick: “Give the poor creatures some money, and send themaway.”* On one single occasion he was importuned into layinghis hand on a patient. “ God give you better health,” he said,“and more sense.” The parents of scrofulous children criedout against his cruelty: bigots lifted up their hands and eyes inhorror at his impiety: Jacobites sarcastically praised him fornot presuming to arrogate to himself a power which be-longed only to legitimate sovereigns; and even some Whigsthought that he acted unwisely in treating with such markedcontempt a superstition which had a strong hold on the vulgarmind: but William was not to be moved, and was accordinglyset down by many High Churchmen as either an infidel or apuritan.**

The chief cause, however, which at this time made even themost moderate plan of comprehension hateful to the priesthoodstill remains to be mentioned. What Burnet had foreseen andforetold had come to pass. There was throughout the clericalprofession a strong disposition to retaliate on the Presbyteriansof England the wrongs of the Episcopalians of Scotland. Itcould not be denied that even the highest churchmen had, inthe summer of 1688, generally declared themselves willing togive up many things for the sake of union. But it was said, andnot without plausibility, that what was passing on the other side

persons who had slight and transient maladies were brought to the king,and the recovery of these persons kept up the vulgar belief in the efficacyof his touch.

* Paris Gazette, April 23. 1689.

** See Whiston’s Life of himself. Poor Whislon, who believed in everything but the Trinity, tells us gravely that the single person whom Williamtouched was cured, notwithstanding His Majesty’s want of faith. See alsothe Athenian Mercury of January 16. J.G91.