JAMES THE SECOND.

93

But he had none of the address which his post required;and, even had he been a diplomatist of the greatest ability,there was a circumstance which would have disqualifiedhim for the particular mission on which he had been sent.He was known all over Europe as the husband of themost shameless of women; and he was known in no otherway. It was impossible to speak to him or of him withoutremembering in what manner the very title by which he wascalled had been acquired. This circumstance would havemattered little if he had been accredited to some dissolutecourt, such as that in which the Duchess of Montespan hadlately been dominant. But there was an obvious improprietyin sending him on an embassy rather of a spiritual than of asecular nature to a pontiff of primitive austerity. The Pro-testants all over Europe sneered; and Innocent, already un-favourably disposed to the English government, consideredthe compliment which had been paid him, at so much risk andat so heavy a cost, as little better than an affront. The salaryof the Ambassador was fixed at a hundred pounds a week.Castelmaine complained that this was too little. Thrice thesum, he said, would hardly suffice. For at Rome the minis-ters of all the great continental powers exerted themselvesto surpass one another in splendour, under the eyes of apeople whom the habit of seeing magnificent buildings, deco-rations, and ceremonies had made fastidious. He alwaysdeclared that he had been a loser by his mission. He wasaccompanied by several young gentlemen of the best RomanCatholic families in England, Ratcliffes, Arundells and Tich-bornes. At Rome he was lodged in the palace of the houseof Pamfili on the south of the stately Place of Navona. Hewas early admitted to a private interview with Innocent: butthe public audience was long delayed. Indeed Castelmaine’spreparations for that great occasion were so sumptuous that,though commenced at Easter 1686, they were not completetill the following November; and in November the Pope had,or pretended to have, an attack of gout which caused anotherpostponement. In January 1687, at length, the solemn in-troduction and homage were performed with unusual pomp.

CtlAP.

VII.

1687 .