JAMES TIIE SECOND.

335

them to Ills Declaration, and assured them that his views hadundergone no change since that instrument had been drawnup. So skilfully did he manage his followers that their discordseems rather to have strengthened than to have weakened hishands: but it broke forth with violence when his control waswithdrawn, interrupted the harmony of convivial meetings,and did not respect even the sanctity of the house of God.Clarendon, who tried to hide from others and from himself,by an ostentatious display of loyal sentiments, the plain factthat he was a rebel, was shocked to hear some of his newassociates laughing over their wine at the royal amnesty whichhad just been graciously offered to them. They wanted nopardon, they said. They would make the King ask pardonbefore they had done with him. Still more alarming anddisgusting to every good Tory was an incident which hap-pened at Salisbury Cathedral. As soon as the officiatingminister began to read the collect for the King, Burnet,among whose many good qualities self-command and a finesense of the becoming cannot be reckoned, rose from hisknees, sate down in his stall, and uttered some contemptuousnoises which disturbed the devotions of the congregation.*

In a short time the factions which divided the Prince’scamp had an opportunity of measuring their strength. Theroyal Commissioners were on their way to him. Several dayshad elapsed since they had been appointed; and it wasthought strange that, in a case of such urgency, there shouldbe such delay. But in truth neither James nor William wasdesirous that negotiations should speedily commence; forJames wished only to gain time sufficient for sending his wifeand son into France; and the position of William becameevery day more commanding. At length the Prince caused itto be notified to the'Commissioners that he would meet themat Ilungerford. He probably selected this place because,lying at an equal distance from Salisbury and from Oxford, itwas well situated for a rendezvous of his most important adhe-rents. At Salisbury were those noblemen and gentlemenwho had accompanied him from Holland or had joined him in• Clarendon’s Diary, Dec. 0, 7.1688.

CHAP.

IX.

1688 .