264

EJSTOBY OP ENGLAND.

CIIAP.

XV.

Pennbold (o .bail.

Inter-view be-tweenWilliamand Bur-net.

the existing government had not a more obedient subject thanhe purposed to be.*

Among the letters which the government had interceptedwas one from James to Penn. That letter, indeed, was notlegal evidence to prove that the person to whom it was ad-dressed had been guilty of high treason; but it raised suspicionswhich are now known to have been well founded. Penn wasbrought before the Privy Council, and interrogated. He saidvery truly that he could not prevent people from writing to him,and that he was not accountable for what they might write tohim. He acknowledged that he was bound to the late King byties of gratitude and affection which no change of fortune coulddissolve. “I should be glad to do him any service in his privateaffairs: but I owe a sacred duty to my country; and thereforeI was never so wicked as even to think of endeavouring to bringhim back.” This was a falsehood; and William was probablyaware that it was so. He was unwilling however to deal harshlywith a man who had many titles to respect, and who was notlikely to be a very formidable plotter. He therefore declaredhimself satisfied, and proposed to discharge the prisoner. Someof the Privy Councillors, however, remonstrated; and Pennwas required to give bail.**

On the day before William’s departure, he called Burnetinto his closet, and, in firm but mournful language, spoke ofthe dangers which on every side menaced the realm, of the furyof the contending factions, and of the evil spirit which seemedto possess too many of the clergy. “But my trust is in God. Iwill go through with my work or perish in it. Only I cannothelp feeling for the poor Queen;” and twice he repeated withunwonted tenderness, “the poor Queen.” “If you love me,”he added, “wait on her often, and give her what help you can.

* Clarendon’s Diary, May 30. 1690.

** Gerard Croese.