152

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CIIAP.

XIV.

, 1689 .

Compton

discon-

tented.

and the general good will of mankind: those advantages healready possessed; and he could not but be aware that, if hebecame primate, he should incur the bitterest hatred of apowerful party, and should become a mark for obloquy, fromwhich his gentle and sensitive nature shrank as from the rackor the wheel. William was earnest and resolute. “ It is neces-sary,” he said, “for my service; and I must lay on your con-science the responsibility of refusing me your help.” Here theconversation ended. It was, indeed, not necessary that thepoint should be immediately decided; for several months werestill to elapse before the Archbishopric "would be vacant.

Tillotson bemoaned himself with unfeigned anxiety andsorrow to Lady Russell, whom, of all human beings, he mosthonoured and trusted.* He hoped, he said, that he was notinclined to shrink from the service of the Church; but he wasconvinced that his present line of service was that in which hecould be most useful. If he should be forced to accept so highand so invidious a post as the primacy, he should soon sinkunder the load of duties and anxieties too heavy for his strength.His spirits, and with his spirits his abilities, would fail him.He gently complained of Burnet, v'ho loved and admired himwith a truly generous heartiness, and who had laboured topersuade both the King and Queen that there v'as in Englandonly one man fit for the highest ecclesiastical dignity. “TheBishop of Salisbury,” said Tillotson, “is one of the best andworst friends that I know'.”

Nothing that was not a secret to Burnet W'as likely to belong a secret to any body. It soon began to be whispered aboutthat the King had fixed on Tillotson to fill the place of Sancroft.The new's caused cruel mortification to Compton, who, not un-naturally, conceived that his own claims were unrivalled. Hehad educated the Queen and her sister; and to the instruction* Tillotson to Lady Russell, April 19. 1690.