"WILLIAM AXD MARY.

203

on condition that a general pardon should be granted to all po-litical offenders, and that the royal power should be placed-under strong constitutional restraints.

Before Middleton left England he had collected the senseof all the leading Compounders. They were of opinion thatthere was one expedient which would reconcile contendingfactions at home, and lead to the speedy pacification of Europe.This expedient was that Tames should resign the Crown infavour of the Prince of Wales, and that the Prince of Walesshould be bred a Protestant. If, as was but too probable, HisMajesty should refuse to listen to this suggestion, he must atleast consent to put forth a Declaration which might do awaythe unfavourable impression made by his Declaration of thepreceding spring. A paper such as it was thought expedientthat he should publish was carefully drawn up, and, after muchdiscussion, approved.

Early in the year 1G93, Middleton, having been put in fullpossession of the views of the principal English Jaeobites, stoleacross the Channel, and made his appearance at the Court ofJames. There was at that Court no want of slanderers andsneerers whose malignity was only the more dangerous becauseit wore a meek and sanctimonious air. Middleton found, onhis arrival, that numerous lies, fabricated by the priests whofeared and hated him, were already in circulation. Some Non-compounders too had written from London that he was at hearta Presbyterian and a republican. He was however verygraciously received, and was appointed Secretary of State con-jointly with Melfort.*

* As to tins change of ministry at Saint Germains see the very curiousbut very confused narrative in the Life of James, ii. 498—515.; Burnet,ii. 219.; Memoires do Saint Simon; A I'rench Conquest neither desirablenor practicable, 1693; and the Letters from the Nairne MSS. printed byMacphcrson.

CHAP.

XX.

TdiTaT'