WILLIAM THE THTRD.

23

would have been no House of Commons to impeach him; aboast so extravagant that it naturally made his hearers un-willing to allow him the praise which his conduct at the timeof the Revolution really deserved. As to the charge againsthim he said little more than that he was innocent, that therehad long been a malicious design to ruin him, that he wouldnot go into particulars, that the facts which had been proved■would bear two constructions, and that of the two constructionsthe more favourable ought in candour to be adopted. He with-drew, after praying the House to reconsider the vote whichhad just been passed, or, if that could not be, to let him havespeedy justice.

His friends felt that his speech was no defence, and did notattempt to rescind the resolution which had been carried justbefore he was heard. Wharton, with a large following, wentup to the Lords, and informed them that the Commons hadresolved to impeach the Duke. A committee of managers wasappointed to draw up the articles and to prepare the evidence.*

The articles were speedily drawn: but to the chain of evidenceone link appeared to be wanting. That link Robart, if he hadbeen severely examined and confronted with other witnesses,would in all probability have been forced to supply. He wassummoned to the bar of the Commons. A messenger went withthe summons to the house of the Duke of Leeds, and was thereinformed that the Swiss was not -within, that he had been threedays absent, and that where he was the porter could not tell.The Lords immediately presented an address to the King, re-questing him to give orders that the ports might be stopped andthe fugitive arrested. But Robart was already in Holland onhis way to his native mountains.

* As to the proceedings of this eventful day, April 27. 1695, see theJournals of the two Houses, and the Exact Collection.

CHAP.

XXL

1695.