9

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

XXI .

muo.

James, meanwhile, strictly prohibited all mourning at SaintGermains, and prevailed on Lewis to issue a similar prohibitionat Versailles. Some of the most illustrious nobles of France,and among them the Dukes of Bouillon and of Duras, wererelated to the House of Nassau, and had always, when deathvisited that House, punctiliously observed the decent cere-monial of sorrow. They were now forbidden to wear black;and they submitted: but it xvas beyond the power of the greatKing to prevent his highbred and sharpwitted courtiers fromwhispering to each other that there xvas something pitiful inthis revenge taken by the living on the dead, by a parent on achild.*

The hopes of James and of his companions in exile werenow higher than they had been since the day of La Hogue.Indeed the general opinion of politicians, both here and on theContinent, was that William xvould find it impossible to sustainhimself much longer on the throne. He would not, it xvas said,have sustained himself so long but for the help of his xvife. Heraffability had conciliated many who had been repelled by hisfreezing looks and short answers. Her English tones, senti-ments and tastes had charmed many xvho xvere disgusted by hisDutch accent and Dutch habits. Though she did not belongto the High Church party, she loved that ritual to which shehad been accustomed from infancy, and complied willingly andreverently with some ceremonies xx'hich he considered, notindeed as sinful, but as childish, and in xx'hich he could hardlybring himself to take part. While the war lasted, it wouldbe necessary that he should pass nearly half the year out ofEngland. Hitherto she had, xvhen he xvas absent, supplied hisplace, and had supplied it well. Who xvas to supply it noxv?Inxvhat vicegerent could he place equal confidence? To whatvicegerent would the nation look up with equal respect? All* Journal de Dangeau; Mdmoires de Saint Simon.