384

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP.

Vt._

16 S 6 .

Slow as James was, he could not but see that this wasmere trilling. He told Barillon that Rochester’s languagewas not that of a man honestly desirous of arriving at thetruth. Still the King did not like to propose directly to hisbrother-in-law the simple choice, apostasy or dismissal: but,three days after the conference, Barillon waited on theTreasurer, and, with much circumlocution and many ex-pressions of friendly concern, broke the unpleasant truth.“Doyoumean,” said Rochester, bewildered by the involvedand ceremonious phrases in which the intimation was made,“that, if I do not turn Catholic, the consequence will be thatI shall lose my place?” “I say nothing about consequences,”answered the wary diplomatist. “I only come as a friend toexpress a hope that you will take care to keep your place.”“But surely,” said Rochester, “the plain meaning of all thisis that I must turn Catholic or go out.” He put many questionsfor the purpose of ascertaining whether the communicationwas made by authority, but could extort only vague andmysterious replies. At last, affecting a confidence which hewas far from feeling, he declared that Barillon must have beenimposed upon by idle or malicious reports. “I tell you,” hesaid, “that the King will not dismiss me, and I will not resign.I know him: he knows me; and I fear nobody.” TheFrenchman answered that he was charmed, that he wasravished to hear it, and that his only motive for interferingwas a sincere anxiety for the prosperity and dignity of his ex-cellent friend the Treasurer. And thus the two statesmenparted, each flattering himself that he had duped the other.* *

Meanwhile, in spite of all injunctions of secrecy, the news

Second, ii. 100.; Dodd’s Church History. I have tried to frame a fairnarrative out of these conflicting materials. It seems clear to me, fromRochester’s own papers, that he was on this occasion by no means sostubborn as he has been represented by Burnet and by the biographerof James.

* From Rochester’s Minutes, dated Dec. 3. IC86.