JAMES THE SECOND.

253

who had not taken the test; but he knew them to be fit forpublic trust. He feared that artful men might avail themselves IcarTof this irregularity to disturb the harmony which existedbetween himself and his Parliament. But he would speakout. He was determined not to part with servants on whosefidelity he could rely, and whose help he might perhaps soonneed.*

This explicit declaration that he had broken the laws An oppo-

r * sition

which were regarded by the nation as the chief safe-guards formed

„ , , , , , in the

of the established religion, and that he was resolved to per- House ofsist in breaking those laws, was not likely to sooth the excited nons.feelings of his subjects. TlieLords, seldom disposed to takethe lead in opposition to a government, consented to vote himformal thanks for what he had said. But the Commons werein a less complying mood. When they had returned to theirown House there was a long silence; and the faces of many ofthe most respectable members expressed deep concern. Atlength Middleton rose and moved the House to go instantlyinto committee on the King’s speech: but Sir Edmund Jen-nings, a zealous Tory from Yorkshire, who was supposed tospeak the sentiments ofDanby, protested against this course,and demanded time for consideration. Sir Thomas Clarges,maternal uncle of the Duke of Albemarle, and long dis-tinguished in Parliament as a man of business and a vigilantsteward of the public money, took the same side. The feelingof the House could not be mistaken. Sir John Ernley, Chan-cellor of the Exchequer, insisted that the delay should notexceed forty-eight hours; but he was overruled; and it wasresolved that the discussion should be postponed for threedays.**

* Lords’ Journals, Nov. 9. 1685. “Vengo assicurato,” says Adda,“cheS.M.stessa abbia composto il discorso.”—Despatch ofNov.JJ; 1685.

** Commons’ Journals; Bramslon’s Memoirs; James von Leeuwento the Stales General, Nov. Jjj. 1685. Leeuwen was secretary of the Dutch