JAMES THE SECOND.

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it in charge to demand that Burnet should no longer be coun-tenanced at the Hague. William, who was not inclined to-part with a valuable friend, answered at first with his usualcoldness; “I am not aware, Sir, that, since the Doctor hasbeen here, he has done or said anything of which Ilis Majestycan justly complain.” But James was peremptory; the timefor an open rupture had not arrived; and it was necessary togive way. During more than eighteen months Burnet nevercame into the presence of either the Prince or the Princess:but he resided near them; he was fully informed of all thatwas passing; his advice was constantly asked; his pen wasemployed on all important occasions; and many of the sharpestand most effective tracts which about that time appeared inLondon were justly attributed to him.

The rage of James flamed high. He had always been morethan sufficiently prone to the angry passions. But none of hisenemies, not even those who had conspired against his life,not even those who had attempted by perjury to load him withthe guilt of treason and assassination, had ever been regardedby him with such animosity as he now felt for Burnet. HisMajesty railed daily at the Doctor in unkingly language, andmeditated plans of unlawful revenge. Even blood would notslake that frantic hatred. The insolent divine must be tor-tured before he was permitted to die. Fortunately he was bybirth a Scot; and in Scotland, before he was gibbeted in theGrassmarket, his legs might be dislocated in the boot. Pro-ceedings were accordingly instituted against him at Edin-burgh : but he had been naturalised in Holland : he hadmarried a woman of fortune who was a native of that province:and it was certain that his adopted country would not deliverhim up. It was therefore determined to kidnap him. Ruffianswere hired with great sums of money for this perilous and in-famous service. An order for three thousand pounds on thisaccount was actually drawn up for signature in the office ofthe Secretary of State. Lewis was apprised of the design,and took a warm interest in it. He would lend, he said, hisbest assistance to convey the villain to England, and wouldundertake that the ministers of the vengeance of James should

CHAP.

vn.

1687 .