“WILLIAM AND MAET.

263

some connection between the unhappy race and the powers ofdarkness. Sir James had a wry neck; and he was reproached -with this misfortune as if it had been a crime, and was told thatit marked him out as a man doomed to the gallows. His wife, awoman of great ability, art, and spirit, was popularly nicknamedthe Witch of Endor. It was gravely said that she had castfearful spells on those whom she hated, and that she had beenseen in the likeness of a cat seated on the cloth of state by theside of the Lord High Commissioner. The man, however, overwhose roof so many curses appeared to hang did not, as far aswe can now judge, fall short of that very low standard of mora-lity which was generally attained by politicians of his age andnation. In force of mind and extent of knowledge he wassuperior to them all. In his youth he had borne arms: he hadthen been a professor of philosophy: he had then studied law,and had become, by general acknowledgment, the greatestjurist that his country had produced. In the days of the Pro-tectorate, he had been a judge. After the Hestoration, he hadmade his peace with the royal family, had sate in the PrivyCouncil, and had presided with unrivalled ability in the Courtof Session. He had doubtless borne a share in many unjusti-fiable acts; but there were limits which he never passed. Hehad a wonderful power of giving to any proposition which itsuited him to maintain a plausible aspect of legality and even ofjustice; and this power he frequently abused. But he was not,like many of those among whom he lived, impudently and un-scrupulously servile. Shame or conscience generally restrainedhim from committing any bad action for which his rare inge-nuity could not frame a specious defence; and he was seldom inhis place at the council board when any thing outrageously un-just or cruel was to be done. His moderation at length gaveoffence to the Court. He was deprived of his high office, andfound himself in so disagreeable a situation that he retired to

CHAP.

XIII.

1689 .