JAMES THE SECOND.

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the King. “ Some of the temporal peers have been with you, c, ^ p ’and have persuaded you to cress me in this matter.” The 1688Bishops solemnly averred that it was not so. But it would,they said, seem strange that, on a question involving gravepolitical and military considerations, the temporal peersshould be entirely passed over, and the prelates 'alone shouldbe required to take a prominent part. “But this,” said James,

“ is my method. I am your King. It is for me to judge whatis best. I will go my own way; and I call on you to assist me.”

The Bishops assured him that they would assist him in theirproper department, as Christian ministers with their prayers,and as peers of the realm with their advice in his Parliament.

James, who wanted neither the prayers of heretics nor theadvice of Parliaments, was bitterly disappointed. After along altercation, “I have done,” he said, “I will urge youno further. Since you will not help me, I must trust to myselfand to my own arms.” *

The Bishops had hardly left the royal presence, when acourier arrived with the news that on the preceding day thePrince of Orange had landed in Devonshire. During the nisiurb-following week London was violently agitated. On Sunday, London*the eleventh of November, a rumour was circulated thatknives, gridirons, and caldrons, intended for the torturing ofheretics, were concealed in the monastery which had beenestablished under the King’s protection at Clerkenwell. Greatmultitudes assembled round the building, and were about todemolish it, when a military force arrived. The crowd wasdispersed, and several of the rioters were slain. An inquestsate on the bodies, and came to a decision which strongly in-dicated the temper of the public mind. The jury found thatcertain loyal and well disposed persons, who had gone to putdown the meetings of traitors and public enemies at a masshouse, had been wilfully murdered by the soldiers; and thisstrange verdict was signed by all the jurors. The ecclesiasticsat Clerkenwell, naturally alarmed by these symptoms of po-pular feeling, were desirous to place their property in safety.

* Clarke’s Life of James, ii. 210. Orig. Mem.; Sprat’s Narrative;

Cillers, Nov. y’ (; . 1688.