32

HISTORY OR ENGLAND.

CnAP.

XI.

1689 .

exiled dynasty hoped and confidently predicted that the re-cusants would he numerous. The minority in both Houses, itwas said, would be true to the cause of hereditary monarchy.There might be here and there a traitor; but the great body ofthose who had voted for a Regency would be firm. Only twoBishops at most would recognise the usurpers. Seymour wouldretire from public life rather than abjure his principles. Graftonhad determined to fly to France and to throw himself at the feetof his uncle. With such rumours as these all the coffeehousesof I.ondon were filled during the latter part of February. Sointense was the public anxiety that, if any man of rank wasmissed, two days running, at his usual haunts, it was im-mediately whispered that he had stolen away to Saint Ger-mains. *

The second of March arrived; and the event quieted thefears of one party, and confounded the hopes of the other. ThePrimate indeed and several of his suffragans stood obstinatelyaloof: but three Bishops and seventy three temporal peers tookthe oaths. At the next meeting of the Upper House severalmore prelates came in. Within a week about-a hundred Lordshad qualified themselves to sit. Others, who were preventedby illness from appearing, sent excuses and professions ofattachment to their Majesties. Grafton refuted all the storieswhich had been circulated about him by coming to be sworn onthe first day. Two members of the Ecclesiastical Commission,Mulgrave and Sprat, hastened to make atonement for theirfault by plighting their faith to William. Beaufort, who hadlong been considered as the type of a royalist of the old school,submitted after a very short hesitation. Aylesbury and Dart-mouth, though vehement Jacobites, had as little scruple abouttaking the oath of allegiance as they afterwards had about

* Both Van Cittcrs and Ronquillo mention the anxiety which was feltin London till the result was known.