WILLIAM AND MAllY.

33

breaking it.* The Hydes took different paths. .Rochester chap.complied with the law; but Clarendon proved refractory. Many - 168 ‘ -—thought it strange that the brother who had adhered to Jamestill James absconded should be less sturdy than the brotherwho had been in the Dutch camp. The explanation perhaps isthatRochester would have sacrificed much more than Clarendonby refusing to take the oaths. Clarendon’s income did notdepend on the pleasure of the Government: but Rochester hada pension of four thousand a year, which he could not hopeto retain if he refused to acknowledge the new Sovereigns.Indeed, he had so many enemies that, during some months, itseemed doubtful whether he would, on any terms, be sufferedto retain the splendid reward which he had earned by per-secuting the Whigs and by sitting in the High Commission. Hewas saved from what would have been a fatal blow to hisfortunes by the intercession of Burnet, who had been deeplyinjured by him, and who revenged himself as became aChristiaqdivine.**

In the Lower House four hundred members were sworn inon the second of March; and among them was Seymour. Thespirit of the Jacobites was broken by his defection; and theminority with very few exceptions followed his example.***

Before the day fixed for the taking of the oaths, the Com- Question,mons had begun to discuss a momentous question which ad- totheRo.mitted of no delay. During the interregnum, William had, ,cuue 'as provisional chief of the administration, collected the taxesand applied them to the public service; nor could the pro-

* Lords’ Journals, March 168$.

** See the letters of Rochester and of Lady Ranolagh to Burnet on thisoccasion.

*** Journals of the Commons, March 2. 168$. Ronqnillo wrote as fol-lows: “Es de gran consideracion que Seimor haya tornado el juramento;porqne es el arrengador y el director principal, cn la casa de los Commies,de los Anglicanos.” March 168$.

Macaulay, History. IV,

3