100

HISTOBY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XIX.

1631 .

emotions. That it was genuine could not be doubted: for itwas wai-rauted by the signatures of some of the most distin-guished military men living. That it was prompted by the hopeof pardon could hardly be supposed: for William had takenpains to discourage that hope. Still less could it be supposedthat the prisoner had uttered untruths in order to avoid thetorture. For, though it was the universal practice in theNetherlands to put convicted assassins to the rack in order towring out from them the names of their employers and asso-ciates, William had given orders that, on this occasion, therack should not be used or even named. It should be added,that the Court did not interrogate the prisoner closely, but suf-fered him to tell his (story in his own way. It is thereforereasonable to believe that his narrative is substantially true;and no part of it has a stronger air of truth than his accountof the audience with which James had honoured him at SaintGermains.

In our island the sensation produced by the news was great.The Whigs loudly called both James and Lewis assassins.How, it was asked, was it possible, without outraging commonsense, to put an innocent meaning on the words which Grandvaldeclared that he had heard from the lips of the banished Kingof England? And who that knew the Court of Versailles wouldbelieve that Barbesieux, a youth, a mere novice in politics,and rather a clerk than a minister, would have dared to dowhat he had done without taking his master’s pleasure? Verycharitable and very ignorant persons might perhaps indulge ahope that Lewis had not been an accessory before the fact.But that he was an accessory after the fact no human beingcould doubt. He must have seen the proceedings of the CourtMartial, the evidence, the confession. If he really abhorredassassination as honest men abhor it, would not Barbesieuxhave been driven with ignominy from the royal presence, and