JAMES THE SECOND.

381

purpose of giving advice on legal points. It was resolved that chap,on the Monday the state of the kingdom should be taken into 16S3 yconsideration.*

The interval between the sitting of Saturday and the sit-ting of Monday was anxious and eventful. A strong partyamong the Peers still cherished the hope that the constitutionand religion of England might he secured without the deposi-tion of the King. This party resolved to move a solemn ad-dress to him, imploring him to consent to such terms as mightremove the discontents and apprehensions which his past con-duct had excited. Sancroft, who, since the return of Jamesfrom Kent to Whitehall, had taken no part in public affairs,determined to come forth from his retreat on this occasion,and to put himself at the head of the Royalists. Several mes-sengers were sent to Rochester with letters for the King. Hewas assured that his interests would be strenously defended,if only he could, at this last moment, make up his mind torenounce designs abhorred by his people. Some respectableRoman Catholics followed him, in order to implore him, forthe sake of their common faith, not to carry the vain contestfurther.**

The advice was good; but James was in no condition totake it. His understanding had always been dull and feeble;and, such as it was, womanish tremors and childish fanciesnow disabled him from using it. He was aware that his flightwas the thing which his adherents most dreaded and which hisenemies most desired. Even if there had been serious per-sonal risk in remaining, the occasion was one on which heought to have thought it infamous to flinch: for the questionwas whether he and his posterity should reign on an ancestralthrone or should be vagabonds and beggars. But in his mindall other feelings had given place to a craven fear for his life.

To the earnest entreaties and unanswerable arguments of theagents whom his friends had sent to Rochester, he had onlyone answer. His head was in danger. In vain he was assured

* Clarendon’s Diary, Dec. 21.1688; Cilters, same dale.

** Clarendon’s Diary, Dec. 21, 22. 1688; Clarke’s Life of James, ii.

268, 210 . Orig. Mem.