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3 (1849)
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JAMES TEE SECOND.

295

bind, mounted the pulpit, and there poured forth a fiery chap.infective against the King. The time for such follies had —goie by; and this exhibition excited nothing but derision anddisgust. *

Vhile these things were passing in Devonshire the ferment Conter-was g’eat in London. The Prince’s Declaration, in spite of , h0 Kingall precautions, was now in every man’s hands. On the sixth Ji‘‘J 0 l p S °of November James, still uncertain on what part of the coastthe invulers had landed, summoned the Primate and threeother Bshops, Compton of London, White of Peterborough,and Spr.t of Rochester, to a conference in the closet. TheKing listened graciously while the prelates made warm pro-fessions cf loyalty, and assured them that he did not suspectthem, “lut where,” said he, “is the paper that you were tobring me?', “Sir,” answered Sancroft, “we have brought nopaper. Wiare not solicitous to clear our fame to the world.

It is no new hing to us to be reviled and falsely accused. Ourconsciences cquit us: your Majesty acquits us: and we aresatisfied.” ‘Yes,” said the King; “but a declaration fromyou is necessav to my service.” He then produced a copy ofthe Prince’s m^;fe S to. “See,” hesaid, “how you are men-tioned here.” “Sir,” answered one of the Bishops, “notone person in 'we hundred believes this manifesto to begenuine.” “No” cried the King fiercely; “then those fivehundred would b^g the Prince of Orange to cut my throat.”

“Godforbid,” exlaimed the prelates in concert. But theKing’s understand^, never very clear, was now quite be-wildered. One oi^s peculiarities was that, whenever hisopinion was not abated, he fancied that his veracity wasquestioned. “This jper not genuine! ” he exclaimed, turn-ning over the leaves ‘th his hands. “Am I not worthy to bebelieved? Is my word 0 t t 0 be taken?” “At all events, Sir,”said one of the Bishop, “this is not an ecclesiastical matter.

It lies within the sphere eq, e civil power. God has entrustedyour Majesty with the sw.^. an d is not for us to invadeyour functions.” Then Archbishop, with that gentle and

•London Gazelle, Nov. 1 1688; Expedition of Hie Prince ofOrange.