WILLIAM AND MARI’.

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Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux, who was regarded by the GallieanChurch as a father scarcely inferior in authority to Cyprian orAugustin, showed, by powerful arguments, both theologicaland political, that the scruple which tormented James wasprecisely of that sort against which a much wiser King hadgiven a caution in the words, “Be not righteous overmuch.”*The authority of the French divines W'as supported by the au-thority of the French government. The language held atVersailles was so strong that James began to be alarmed."What if Lewis should take serious offence, should think hishospitality ungratefully requited, should conclude a peace withthe usurpers, and should request his unfortunate guests to seekanother asylum? It was necessary to submit. On the seven-teenth of April 1693 the Declaration was signed and sealed.The concluding sentence was a prayer. “We come to vindicateour own right and to establish the liberties of our people; andmay God give us success in the prosecution of the one as wesincerely intend the confirmation of the other!”** The prayerwas heard. The success of James was strictly proportioned tohis sincerity. "What his sincerity was we know on the bestevidence. Scarcely had be called on heaven to witness thetruth of his professions, when he directed Melfort to send acopy of the Declaration to Rome with such explanations asmight satisfy the Pope. Melfort’s letter ends thus: “After all,the object of this Declaration is only to get us back to England.

* Life of James, ii. 509. Bossuet’s opinion will be found in the Ap-pendix to M. Mazure’s history. The Bishop sums up his arguments thus:“Je dirai done volontiers aux Catholiques, s’il y on a qui n’approuventpoint la declaration dont ii s’agit; Noli esse justus multum; ncque plussapias quam nccessc est, ne obstupescas.” In the Life of Jame3 it is as-serted that the French Doctors changed their opinion, and that Bossuet,though he held out longer than the rest, saw at last that he had been inerror, but did not choose formally to retract. I think much too highly ofBossuet’s understanding to believe this.

** Life of James, ii. 505.

CHAP.

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