202

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

VIII.

1688 .

*

received a fatal blow. Finch, who had the day before been■ universally reviled, was now universally applauded. He hadbeen unwilling, it was said, to let the case be decided in away which would have left the great constitutional questionstill doubtful. He had felt that a verdict which should acquithis clients, without condemning the Declaration of Indul-gence, would be but half a victory. It is certain that Finchdeserved neither the reproaches which had been cast on himwhile the event was doubtful, nor the praises which he re-ceived when it had proved happy. It was absurd to blamehim because, during the short delay which he occasioned, thecrown lawyers unexpectedly discovered new evidence. It wasequally absurd to suppose that he deliberately exposed hisclients to risk, in order to establish a general principle: andstill more absurd was it to praise him forwhat would have beena gross violation of professional duty.

That joyful day was followed by a not less joyful night.The Bishops, and some of their most respectable friends, invain exerted themselves to prevent tumultuous demonstra-tions of joy. Never within the memory of the oldest, noteven on that evening on which it was known through Londonthat the army of Scotland had declared for a free Parliament,had the streets been in such a glare with bonfires. Boundevery bonfire crowds were drinking good health to theBishops and confusion to the Papists. The windows werelighted with rows of candles. Each row consisted of seven;and the taper in the centre, which was taller than the rest,represented the Primate. The noise of rockets, squibs, andfirearms, was incessant. One huge pile of faggots blazedright in front of the great gate of Whitehall. Others werelighted before the doors of Roman Catholic peers. LordArundell of Wardour wisely quieted the mob with a littlemoney: but at Salisbury House in the Strand an attempt atresistance was made. Lord Salisbury’s servants sallied outand fired: but they killed only the unfortunate beadle of theparish, who had come thither to put out the fire; and theywere soon routed and driven back into the house. None ofthe spectacles of that night interested the common people so