44

HISTOBY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XVIII.

1692.

even by the boldest and most acrimonious libellers among thenonjurors.*

Indeed, some of the nonjurors were so much alarmed byobserving tlie effect which this manifesto produced, that theyaffected to treat it as spurious, and published as their master’sgenuine Declaration a paper full of gracious professions andpromises. They made him offer a free pardon to all his peoplewith the exception of four great criminals. They made himhold out hopes of great remissions of taxation. They made himpledge his word that he would entrust the whole ecclesiasticaladministration to the nonjuring bishops. But this forgeryimposed on nobody, and was important only as showing thateven the Jacobites were ashaihed of the prince whom they werelabouring to restore.**

No man read the Declaration with more surprise and angerthan Russell. Bad as he was, he was much under the influenceof two feelings, which, though they cannot be called virtuous,have some affinity to virtue, and are respectable when com-pared with mere selfish cupidity. Professional spirit and partyspirit were strong in him. ITe might be false to his country,

* A Letter to a Friend concerning a French Invasion to restore the lateKing James to his Throne, and what may be expected from him should hobe successful in it, 1692; A second Letter to a Friend concerning a FrenchInvasion, in which Ihc Declaration lately dispersed under the Title of HisMajesty’s most gracious Declaration to all his loving Subjects, commandingtheir Assistance against the P. of 0. and his Adherents, is entirely andexactly published according to the dispersed Copies, with some shortObservations upon it, 1692; The Pretences of the French Invasionexamined, 1692; Reflections on the late King James’s Declaration, 1692.The two Letters were written, I believe, by Lloyd Bishop of Saint Asaph.Sheridan says “The King’s Declaration pleas’d none, and was turn’d intoridicule burlesque lines in England.” I do not believe that a defence ofthis unfortunate Declaration is to be found in any Jacobite tract. A virulentJacobite writer, in a reply to Dr. Welwood, printed in 1693, says, “As forthe Declaration that was printed last year, ... I assure you that it was asmuch misliked by many, almost all, of the King’s friends, as it can boexposed by his enemies.”

** Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary, April 1692.