JAMES THE SECOND.

315

ceal his uneasiness. Before the day broke he fled to the CI ] 1 * P -Prince’s quarters, accompanied by Grafton.* 1688 .

Churchill left behind him a letter of explanation. It waswritten with that decorum which he never failed to preserve inthe midst of guilt and dishonour. He acknowledged that heowed everything to the royal favour. Interest, he said, andgratitude impelled him in the same direction. Under no othergovernment could he hope to be so great and prosperous as hehad been: but all such considerations must yield to a para-mount duty. He was a Protestant; and he could not con-scientiously draw his sword against the Protestant cause.

As to the rest he would ever be ready to hazard life and for-tune in defence of the sacred person and of the lawful rightsof his gracious master.**

Next morning all was confusion in the royal camp. TheKing’s friends were in dismay. His enemies could not concealtheir exultation. The consternation of James was increasedby news which arrived on the same day from Warminster.Kirke, who commanded at that post, had refused to obeyorders which he had received from Salisbury. There couldno longer be any doubt that he too was in league with thePrince of Orange. It was rumoured that he had actually goneover with all his troops to the enemy: and the rumour, thoughfalse, was, during some hours, fully believed.*** A newlight flashed on the mind of the unhappy King. He thoughtthat he understood why he had been pressed, a few daysbefore, to visit Warminster. There he would have foundhimself helpless, at the mercy of the conspirators, and in thevicinity of the hostile outposts. Those who might have at-tempted to defend him would have been easily overpowered.

He would have been carried a prisoner to the head quarters ofthe invading army. Perhaps some still blacker treason might

* Clarke’s Life of lames, ii. 222. Orig. Mem.; Barillon, 1088;

Sheridan MS.

** First Collection of Papers, 1688.

*** Letter from Middleton to Preston, dated Salisbury, Nov. 24.“Villany upon villany,” says Middleton, “the last still greater than thoformer.” Clarke’s Life of James, ii. 224, 225. Orig. Mem.