' ' * • ? J & U E C T I O S
B R I T I S H A U T H O R S .
tl . , I / - U J j [ v < — m ^ ¥ ' \ f
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VOL. CLXXIV.
T IIE H I S T O R Y OF E N G L A N D
BY
THO M AS BABIMGTON M ACAULAY.
V O L . I I I .
v i / V ' > W ' ,-Lvv i //V w > '\; /
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THE
HISTORY OF ENGLAND
F R O M
TD K ACCESSIO N OF JA M E S T H E SECOND,
nv
THO MAS B A B I N G T O N M A CA ULAY .
C O PYM G U I EDITION.
v o l
. in .
L E I P Z I G
B E K N H A U D T A U C H N I T Z
1 S 4 9.
C O N T E N T S
O F
T H E T H I R D V O L U M E .
C H A P T E R V I I .
F A G F
W i l l i a m , P rin ce o t O ra n g e ; his A ppearance . >
His early Life and E d ucation ...2 liis Theological O p i n i o n s ... • 3 Ilis M ilitary Q ualifications ...5 His Love o f D a n g er; his b ad H e a l t h ...
C oldness o f b isM an n ers a n d S trc n g th of h isE m o lio n s; his F rien d ship fo r B e n t i n c k ...8 M ary, P rin ce ss o f O r a n g e ... 11 G ilbert B u r n e t ...13 He brin g s a b o u t a good U nderstanding betw een the P rin ce and
P rin cess ... 13 R elations betw een W illiam and English P a rlie s . . . . 18 His Feelings tow ards E n g lan d ; his F eelings tow ards H olland and
F r a n c e ... 19 His Policy con sisten t t h r o u g h o u t ... 24 T reaty of A u g sb u rg ; W illiam becom es the H ead of the English
O p p o s i t i o n ... 23 M ordaunt pro p o ses to W illiam a D escent on E n g lan d ; W illiam
rejects the A d v i c e ...25 D iscontent in England a fte r th e F all of the llydcs . . . . 30 C onversions to P o p e ry ; P e te rb o ro u g h ; Salisb u ry . . . 31 W ycherley; T in d a l; H a i n e s ...82
71
C O N T E N T S .P A C K
D r y d e n ...33
T he Hind and P a n t h e r ... 35
Change In tho Policy o f the C ourt tow ards the P u rita n s . . 31
P a rtia l T oleration granted in S c o t l a n d ... 41
C loseting; It is u n s u c c e s s f u l ... 43
A dm iral H e rb e rt; D eclaration of I n d u l g e n c e ... 44
Feeling of the P ro te s ta n t D issenters ... 46
Feeling of the C hurch o f E n g l a n d ... 18
T h e Court and the C hurch contend fo r the F avour of the P u rita n s 40 L e tte r to a D is se n te r; C onduct of the D issenters . . . . 5?
Som e o i th em sid e w ith th e C o u rt; C aro ; A lsop; Itoscwell . . 55
L o b b ; P e n n ... 50
The M ajority o f the P u rita n s a re against the C o u rt; B ax ter; Howe 57 I l u n y a n ... 28
K i f G n ... 6»
Tho P rin ce and P rin cess of O range hostile to the D eclaration of I n d u l g e n c e ... 64
T h eir Views respecting th e E nglish R om an Catholics vindicated . 50 Enm ity o f Jam e s to B u r n e t ... 32
Mission of Dykvelt to England ... 14
N egotiations o f D ykvelt with E nglish S ta te s m e n ; D anby . . 15
N o t t i n g h a m ... 16
H alifax ...I 1 D evonshire ... 33
Edw ard R u s s e l l ... 81
C om pton; H e rb e rt; C h u r c h i l l ... 82
Lady C hurchill and the P rincess A n n e ... 84
Dykvelt re tu rn s to the H ague with L etters from m any em inent E n g l i s h m e n ...81
Z ulesteln's M i s s i o n ... 88
Growing Eum lly betw een Jam e s and W illiam . . . . 89
Influence of the Dutch P r e s s ... 90
C orrespondence of Stew art and F a g e l ...91
C astelraaine's Em bassy to Rom e . . . . 92
C O N T E N T S . V II
C H A P T E R V I II .
P A C K C onsecration of the N uncio at St. Ja m e s’s P a la c e ; his publio
R e c e p t i o n ...81
T he D uke of S o m e r s e t ... 9S D issolution of th e P a rlia m e n l; DfililaryOfTences illegally punished 9'J Proceedings of the High C om m ission; th e U niversities . . 102
P roceedings ag ain st the U niversity o f C am bridge . . . . lo t T he E a rl o f i l l u i g r a v e ... 108
S tate of O x f o r d ...108
M agdalene C ollege, O x f o r d ...I l l Anthony F a rm e r recom m ended by the King fo r P resid e n t . . 114
Election o f th e P r e s i d e n t ... 115
T he Fellows o f M agdalene cited b e fo re the High C om m ission; P a rk e r recom m ended as P r e s id e n t; the C h arterh o u se . 118 T he Royal P ro g re ss ... 118
T he King a t O x fo rd ; he rep rim an d s the Fellows of M agdalene . 120 Penn attem p ts to m e d i a t e ... 121
Special E cclesiastical C om m issioners sen t to O xford . . . 123
P r o te s t o f H o u g h ; In sta lla tio n of P o r k e r ... 124
Ejection o f the F e l l o w s ... 120
M agdalene College tu rn ed Into a Popish Sem inary . . . 127
R esentm ent of the Clergy ... 128
Schem es o f the Jesu itic a l C abal resp ectin g the Succession . . 130
Schem e o f Jam e s and T yrconnel fo r preventing the P rincess o i O range from succeeding to the Kingdom of Irela n d . 132 The Queen p re g n a n t; general I n c r e d u l i t y ... 133
F eeling o f the C onstituent Rodies, and of the P eers . . . 130
Jam es determ ines to pack a P a r l i a m e n t ...131
The Board o f R eg u lato rs; m any Lords L ieutenants dism issed . 139 The E a rl of O x f o r d ...110
The E a rl o f S h r e w s b u r y ... 141
The E a rl of D o r s e t ...143
Q uestions p u t to the M a g i s t r a t e s ... 140
T h e ir A nsw ers; F a ilu re o f the K ing's P l a n s ... 141
List of S h eriffs; c h a ra c te r of th e Rom an C atholic C ountry G en tlem en . . . ...151
Feeling of th e D i s s e n t e r s ... . 154
Regulation of C o r p o r a t i o n s ...155
V I I I C O N T E N T S .
In q u isitio n in all the P u b lic D ep artm en ts . . . . D ism ission of S a w y e r ...*
W illiam s Solicitor G eneral . . . .
Second D eclaration of I n d u l g e n c e ...
T h e Clergy ord ered to read i t ...
They h e sita te ; P atrio tism of the P ro te s ta n t N onconform ists o London ...
C onsultation of the London C l e r g y ...
C onsultation a t L am beth P a l a c e ...
P e titio n of the Seven Bishops presented to the Ring T he London Clergy disobey the Royal O rd er . . . . H esitation of th e G o v e r n m e n t ...
I t is determ ined to p rosecute the Bishops fo r a Libel They a re exam ined by the Privy Council . . . . They a re com m itted to the T o w e r ...
B irth of the P r e t e n d e r ...
He is generally believed to be supposititious . . . . T h e B ishops b ro u g h t befo re the King’s B ench, and bailed A gitation of the P u b lic M i n d ...
U neasiness of S u n d e r l a n d ... ...
H e professes him self a Hom an C ath o lic; T ria l of the Bishops T h e V erd ict; Joy of the P e o p l e ...
P e c u lia r S late of P u b lic Feeling a t this T im e 204
I'A O K 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 161 16S 111 113 114 175 111 118 119 183 . 186 181 188 199
C H A P T E R I X .
Change in the Opinion of the T ories concerning the Law fulness of R e s i s t a n c e ...
R ussell proposes to the P rin ce o f O range a D escent on England H enry Sidney ...
D ev o n sh ire; S h rew sb u ry ; H alifax; D anby . . . . Bishop C om pton; N ottin g h am ; L u m l e y ...
Invitation to W illiam despatched . . . .
C onduct of M a r y ...
Difficulties of W illiam ’s E n t e r p r i s e ...
216 218 220 221 222
C O N T E N T S . IX
l ’ACX
C onduct of Jam es a fte r the T rial of the Bishops . . . . 228
D ism issions and P r o m o t i o n s ... 229
P roceedings o f th e H igh C om m ission; S p rat resigns his S eat . 231 D isco n ten t of the C lergy; T ran sactio n s a t O xford . . . . 232
D iscontent o f the G e n t r y ...233
D iscontent o f the A r m y ...234
Irish T roops b ro u g h t o v e r ... 235
P u b lic I n d i g n a t i o n ...230
L i l l i b u l l c r o ... 240
P o litics o f the United P r o v i n c e s ... 241
E rro rs of the F ren ch K in g ; bis Q u arrel with the P o p e concerning the F r a n c h i s e s ...241
The A rch b ish o p ric of C o l o g n e ... 240
Skilful M anagem ent of W i l l i a m ... 241
H is M ilitary and Naval P r e p a r a t i o n s ...243
Ho receives n u m ero u s A ssurances o f S u p p o rt from England . 249 S u n d e r l a n d ... 251
Anxiety of W illiam ; W arnings conveyed to Jam es . . . . 255
E x ertio n s o f Lewis to save J a m e s ...251
Ja m e s fru strate s t h e m ...258
T h e F ren ch Arm ies invade G e r m a n y ...200
W illiam o b tain s tho Sanction of th e S tates G eneral to his E xpedi tion ... 202
S c h o m b e rg ; B ritish A dventurers a t the H ague . . . . 203
W illiam 's D e c l a r a t i o n ... 205
Ja m e s ro u sed to a Sense o f his D a n g e r ... 201
His Naval M e a n s ... 208
His M ilitary M e a n s ... 209
H e a ttem p ts to conciliate bis S u b j e c t s ...210
n e gives A udience to the B i s h o p s ... 211
His Concessions ill r e c e i v e d ... 212
P roofs of the B irth of the P rin ce of W ales su b m itted to the Privy C o u n c i l . . . 215
D isgrace of S u n d e r l a n d ... 211
W illiam takes leave of the S tates of H o l l a n d ... 218
He e m b ark s and s a i l s ; he Is driven b ack by a Storm . . . 219
His D eclaration arrives In E n g la n d ; Jam e s questions the Lords . 280 W illiam sets sail th e second t i m e ...283
l i e passes the S t r a i t s ...284
He lands a t T o r b a y ... 285
H e e n te rs E x e t e r ... 289
X C O N T E N T S .
P A C K
C onversation of the King with the B ishops . . . . 29a
D isturbances in L o n d o n ...297
Men of Hank begin to re p a ir to the P r i n c e ... 298
Lovelace 289 C o lch ester; A b in g d o n ... 300
D esertion of C o r n b u r y ...301
P etition of the Lords for a P a rliam e n t . . . 308
The King goes to S a l i s b u r y ... 302
S ey m o u r; C ourt of W illiam a t E x e t e r ...303
N orth ern I n s u r r e c t i o n ...3,n Skirm ish a t W i n c a n l o n ...312
D esertion of C hurchill and G r a f t o n ...324
R etre at of the ltoyal Army from S a l i s b u r y ...3>6 D esertion of P rin ce G eorge and O rm o n d ; Flight of th e P rincess Anne ...321
Council of Lords held by J a m e s ... 32(1 lie appoints C om m issioners to tre a t with W illiam . . . . 322
T h e N egotiation a F e i n t ... 328
D artm outh refuses to send the P rin ce of W ales into F ran ce . . 322
Agitation of L o n d o n ; Forged P ro clam atio n . . . 323
Risings in various P a rts of the C o u n t r y ...330
C larendon joins the P rince a t S alisbury . . . 332
D issension in the P rin ce 's C a m p ...333
The P rin ce reaches liu n g e rfo rd ; Skirm ish a t R ead in g ; the King’s C om m issioners arrive a t l i u n g e r f o r d ...333
N e g o t i a t i o n ... 331
T he Queen and Prince of W ales sen t to F ran c e ; L auzun . . 332
T he King's P rep a ra tio n s for F l i g h t ...333
Ilis Flight . . . . 347
C H A P T E R X . The F lig h t of Jam es know n; g re a t A gitation; the Lords m eet at G u i l d h a l l ... .... • 343
Riots in L o n d o n ...352
T he Spanish A m bassador’s H ouse sacked . . . . . 343
P A G E
A rrest of J e f f r e y s ... 364
T h e Irish N i g h t ... 856
T h e King detained n e a r S h e e r n e s s ...360
T he Lords o rd e r him to bo set a t L i b e r t y ... 365
W illiam 's E m b a r r a s s m e n t ... 366
A rrest of F c v e r s h a m ... 361
A rrival of Jam e s in L o n d o n ... 368
C onsultation a t W in d so r . . . 370
T h e D utch T roops occupy W h i t e h a l l ... 373
M essage from the P rin ce delivered to J a m e s ; Jam e s sets o u t for R o c h e s t e r ... 374
A rrival of W illiam a t S ain t J a m e s ’s ...375
He is advised to assu m e the Crown by R ight of C onquest . . 377
He calls tog eth er the Lords and the M em bers of the P a rliam en ts of C harles the S e c o n d ... 379
F light o f Jam e s from R o c h e s t e r ... 382
D ebates and R esolutions of the L o r d s ... 383
D eb ates and R esolutions of the C om m oners sum m oned by the P r in c e ; a Convention c a lle d ; Exertions o f the P rin ce to re sto re O r d e r ... 385
His to le ra n t P o l i c y ...3S6 S atisfactio n of R om an C atholic P o w e rs; S ta te of Feeling in F r a n c e ...3S3 Reception o f the Q ueen of England in F r a n c e ...390
A rrival o f J am es a t S a in t G e r m a i n s ... 391
S ta le o f Feelin g in the L’niled P r o v i n c e s ... 393
E lection o f M em bers to serve in the Convention . . . . 394
Affairs o f S c o t l a n d ... 395
S tale o f P a rtie s in E n g lan d ... 398
S h erlo ck 's P la n . . . 400
S an cro ft’s P l a n ... .... 402
D anby's P l a n ... 4(M The W hig P l a n ... 406
M eeting of the C o nvention; leading M em bers of the H ouse of C o m m o n s ... 408
Choice of a S p e a k e r ... 410
D eb ate on the S late of the N a t i o n ... 4)2 R esolution d eclarin g the T h ro n e v acant . . . . 414
It is se n t up to the L o r d s ... 4)5 D ebate in the Lords on the P lan o f R e g e n c y ... 416
Schism betw een the W higs and th e Follow ers of D anby . . . 423
C O N T E N T S . X I
X II C O N T E N T S .
T A C R M eeting a t the E a rl of D evonshire’s ... 425
® D ebate In the Lords on th e Q uestion w hether the T h ro n e was vacant-, M ajority for the N egative; A gitation in London • 4-I L etter of Jam es to the C o n v e n t i o n ... 428 D e b ate s; N eg o tiatio n s; L e tte r of the P rin ce ss of O rango to
D a n b y ... ...
T he P rin cess Anne acquiesces in the W hig P la n . . . . 4-M>
W illiam c ip la in s bis Views . 431
T he C onference betw een the H o u s e s ...433 T he Lords yield ; new Laws proposed for the Security of L iberty . 435 D isputes and C o m p r o m is e ... 431 T h e D eclaration of B i g h t ... 438 A rrival of M a r y ... 440 T en d e r a nd A cceptance of th e C r o w n ... MI W illiam and M ary p ro c la im e d ; p ecu liar C h aracter of the E nglish
R e v o lu tio n ... 442
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.
CHAPTER VII.
Th e p la c e w h ich W illia m H e n r y , P r in c e o f O ra n g e N a ssa u , c ”^jp- o c c u p ie s in th e h isto ry o f E n g la n d an d o f m a n k in d is so g r e a t - 16SI' — th a t it m ay b e d e sir a b le to p o rtra y w ith so m e m in u ten ess th e wittum,
str o n g lin e a m e n ts o f h is ch a ra cter. * ohdj».0'
H e w as n o w in h is th ir ty -se v e n th y e a r . B u t b o th in b o d y nu ip_
a n d in m ind h e w as o ld e r than o th e r m en o f th o sa m e a g e . pearanco.
I n d e e d it m ig h t b e sa id th a t h e h ad n e v e r b e e n y o u n g . H is e x te r n a l ap p ea ra n ce is a lm o st as w e ll k n o w n to u s as to his ow n ca p ta in s a n d c o u n se llo r s . S c u lp to r s , p a in te r s, a n d m e d a llists e x e r te d th e ir u tm o st sk ill in th e w o rk o f tran s
m ittin g his fea tu re s to p o s t e r it y ; a n d h is fea tu re s w e r e su ch as n o artist c o u ld fa il to s e iz e , a n d su ch a s , o n c e s e e n , co u ld n e v e r b e fo r g o tte n . H is n am e a t o n c e ca lls up b e fo r e u s a s le n d e r a n d f e e b le fr a m e , a lo fty a n d a m p le fo r e h e a d , a n o se cu rv ed lik e t h e b ea k o f an e a g le , an d e y e r iv a llin g th a t o f an e a g le in b r ig h tn e ss a n d k e e n n e s s , a th o u g h tfu l an d so m ew h a t su lle n b r o w , a firm a n d so m ew h a t p e e v is h m o u th , a c h e e k p a le , t h in , a n d d e e p ly fu r ro w ed b y s ic k n e s s a n d b y care.
T h a t p e n s iv e , s e v e r e , a n d so le m n a sp e c t c o u ld sc a r c e ly h a v e b e lo n g e d to a h a p p y o r a g o o d -h u m o u r e d m a n . B u t it in d ica tes
* T h e ch ief m a te ria ls from which I have taken my d escription o f the P rin ce of O range will b e found in B u rn et’s H isto ry , in T em ple’s and G ourville’s M em o irs, in the N egotiations o f the Counts of E slra d e s and A vaux, in S ir G eorge D ow ning's L etters to Lord C hancellor C larendon, in W agcnaar’s volum inous H isto ry , in Van H am p er’s K arak terk u n d e d e r V adcrlandsche G e sc b ie d en is, a n d , above a l l , «1 W illiam ’s own confi
dential c o rre sp o n d en c e , o f which the D uke of P o rtlan d p erm itted Sir Jam es M ackintosh to take a copy.
ifu ca ttla y, H istory. 111.
1
2
H IS T O R Y O F E N G L A N D .c h a p. i n a m ann er n o t to b e m ista k en ca p a city e q u a l to th e m o st
■■ )t8I." a rd u o u s e n te r p r ise s , an d fo rtitu d e n o t to b e sh a k en b y re v e r s e s or d a n g e r s,
nu cany N a tu re b a d la r g e ly e n d o w e d W illia m w ith th e q u a lities einc*-d a g r e a t ru le r ; a n d e d u c a tio n h a d d e v e lo p e d th o s e q u a litie s tioa. in n o co m m o n d e g r e e . W ith str o n g n a tu ra l s e n s e , an d rare
fo r c e o f w ill, h e fo u n d h im s e lf, w h en first h is m in d b e g a n to o p e n , a fa th e r le ss a n d m o th e r le s s c h ild , th e c h ie f o f a g r e a t b u t d e p r e s se d a n d d ish e a r te n e d party', a n d th e h e ir to v a st a n d in d e fin ite p r e te n sio n s , w h ich e x c ite d th e d r e a d an d a v ersio n o f th e o lig a rch y th e n su p rem o in th e U n ite d P r o v in c e s . T h e co m m o n p e o p le , fo n d ly a tta c h e d d u rin g a cen tu r y to his h o u s e , in d ic a te d , w h e n e v e r th e y saw h im , in a m ann er n o t to b e m ista k e n , th a t th e y r e g a r d e d him as th eir rig h tfu l h e a d . T h e a b le a n d e x p e r ie n c e d m in iste rs o f th e r e p u b lic , m ortal e n e m ie s o f b is n a m e , ca m e e v e r y d a y to pay th e ir fe ig n e d c iv ilitie s to h im , a n d to o b se r v e t h e p r o g r e ss o f h is m in d . T h e first m o v e m e n ts o f h is a m b itio n w e r e ca re
fu lly w a t c h e d : ev e r y u n g u a r d e d w o r d u tte r e d b y him w as n o te d d o w n ; n o r h ad h e n ea r him an y a d v ise r o n w h o se j u d g m e n t r e lia n c e c o u ld b e p la c e d . l i e w as sc a r c e ly fifte e n y ea rs o ld w h en all th e d o m e stic s w h o w e r e a tta c h e d to h is in te r e st, o r w h o e n jo y e d an y sh are o f h is c o n fid e n c e , w e r e r e m o v e d from u n d e r h is r o o f b y th e j e a lo u s g o v e r n m e n t. H e r e m o n stra ted w ith e n e r g y b e y o n d h is y e a r s , b u t in v a in . V ig ila n t o b se r v e r s saw th e tears m o re th a n o n c e r is e in th e e y e s o f th e y o u n g sta te p r iso n e r . H is h e a lt h , n a tu ra lly d e lic a t e , san k fo r a tim e u n d e r th e e m o tio n s w h ich h is d e so la te situ a tio n h ad p r o d u c e d . S u c h situ a tio n s b e w ild e r a n d u n n e r v e th e w ea k , bu t ca ll fo r th a ll t h e str e n g th o f th e s tr o n g . S u rro u n d ed by sn a re s in w h ich an ord in a ry y o u th w o u ld h a v e p e r ish e d , W illia m le a r n e d to tr e a d a t o n c e w arily a n d firm ly. L o n g b e fo r e h e r e a c h e d m a n h o o d h e k n e w h o w to k e e p se c r e ts, h o w to b afilo cu rio sity b y d ry an d g u a r d e d a n s w e r s, h o w to c o n c e a l all p a ssio n s u n d e r th e sa m e sh o w o f g r a v e tra n q u illity . M ea n w h ile h e m a d e little p r o fic ie n c y in fa sh io n a b le or litera ry a cc o m p lish m e n ts. T h e m ann ers o f th e D u tc h n o b ility o f that a g e w a n ted th e g r a c e w h ich w as fo u n d in th e h ig h e s t p e r fe c -
J A M E S T U E S E C O N D . 3 tio n a m o n g th e g e n tle m e n o f F r a n c e , a n d w h ic h , in an in fe r io r c h a p . d e g r e e , e m b e llish e d th e C ou rt o f E n g la n d ; a n d h is m an n ers ■
w ere a lto g e th e r D u tc h . E v e n h is co u n tr y m en th o u g h t him b lu n t. T o fo r e ig n e r s h e o fte n s e e m e d ch u rlish . In h is in te r c o u rse w ith th e w o r ld in g e n e r a l h e a p p ea red ig n o ra n t or n e g lig e n t o f th o s e arts w h ich d o u b le th e v a lu e o f a fa v o u r an d ta k e aw ay th e stin g o f a r efu sa l. H e w as little in te r e ste d in le tte r s or sc ie n c e . T h e d isc o v e r ie s o f N e w to n an d L e ib n itz , th e p o e m s o f D r y d e n an d B o ile a u , w e r e u n k n o w n to h im . D r a m a tic p erfo rm a n c es tir e d h im ; a n d h e w as g la d to turn a w a y from th e sta g e a n d to ta lk a b o u t p u b lic a ffa irs, w h ile O restes w as r a v in g , o r w h ile T a r tu ffe w as p r e s sin g E lm ira’s h an d . H e h a d in d e e d so m e ta le n t fo r sarcasm , an d n o t se ld o m e m p lo y e d , q u ite u n c o n sc io u s ly , a n atu ral r h e to r ic , q uaint, i n d e e d , b u t v ig o r o u s a n d o r ig in a l. H e d id n o t, h o w e v e r , in th e le a s t affec t th e ch a ra cter o f a w it or o f an ora to r. H is a tte n tio n h a d b een co n fin e d to th o s e stu d ie s w h ich form stren u o u s a n d sa g a c io u s m en o f b u sin e ss. F ro m a c h ild h o lis te n e d w ith in te r e st w h e n h ig h q u e stio n s o f a llia n c e , finance, a n d w ar w e r e d isc u s se d . O f g e o m e tr y h o le a r n e d as m uch a s w as n e c e s sa r y fo r th e c o n str u c tio n o f a ravelin or a h o rn - w o r k . O f la n g u a g e s, b y t h e h e lp o f a m em o r y sin g u la rly p o w e r fu l, h o le a r n e d as m uch as w as n e c e s sa r y to en a b le him to c o m p r e h e n d a n d a n sw e r w ith o u t a ss ista n c e e v e r y th in g that w as said to h im , an d e v e r y le tte r w h ich h e r e c e iv e d . T h e D u tc h w as h is o w n to n g u e . H e u n d e r sto o d L a tin , Italian , an d S p a n ish . H e sp o k e a n d w r o te F r e n c h , E n g lis h , an d G erm a n , in e le g a n tly , it is tr u e , a n d in e x a c tly , b u t flu e n tly and in te llig ib ly . N o q u a lifica tio n c o u ld b e m o re im p o r ta n t to a m an w h o se life w as to b e p a ss e d in o r g a n iz in g g r e a t a lli
a n ces , an d in co m m a n d in g arm ies a sse m b le d fro m d ifferen t co u n tr ies.
O n e cla ss o f p h ilo so p h ic a l q u e stio n s h a d b e e n fo r c e d o n in. is co
ins a tten tio n b y c ir c u m sta n c e s, an d se e m s to h a v e in te r e ste d him m o re th a n m ig h t h a v e b e e n e x p e c t e d from his g e n e r a l c h a ra cter. A m o n g th e P r o te s ta n ts o f th e U n ite d P r o v in c e s, as a m o n g th e P r o te s ta n ts o f ou r is la n d , th e r e w e r e tw o g r e a t r e lig io u s p a rties w h ich a lm o st e x a c tly c o in c id e d w ith tw o
4 H IS T O R Y O F E N G L A N D . cnA P.
V I I .
1681.
g r e a t p o litic a l p a r tie s. T h e c h ie fs o f th e m u n icip al o lig a rch y w e r e A rm in ia n s, an d w e r e co m m o n ly r e g a r d e d b y th e m u lti
tu d e as litt le b e tte r than P a p is ts . T h e p r in c e s o f O ra n g e h ad g e n e r a lly b e e n th e p a tr o n s o f th e C a lv in is tic d iv in ity , an d o w e d no sm all p art o f th e ir p o p u la r ity to th e ir z e a l fo r th e d o c tr in e s o f e le c tio n an d final p e r s e v e r a n c e , a z e a l n o t a lw a y s en lig h te n e d b y k n o w le d g e or te m p e r e d b y h u m a n ity . W illiam h a d b e e n c a r e fu lly in str u c te d from a c h ild in th e th e o lo g ic a l s y s te m to w h ich h is fa m ily w as a tta c h e d , a n d r e g a r d e d th a t sy ste m w ith e v e n m o re than th e p a rtia lity w h ich m e n g e n e r a lly f e e l fo r a h e r e d ita r y fa ith . H e h a d ru m in a ted on th e g r e a t e n ig m a s w h ich h a d b e e n d isc u s se d in th e S y n o d o f D o r t , and h a d fo u n d in th e a u ste r e a n d in fle x ib le lo g ic o f th e G e n e v e s e B chool so m e th in g w h ich su ite d h is in te lle c t a n d h is tem p er . T h a t e x a m p le o f in to le r a n c e in d e e d w h ic h so m e o f h is p r e d e c e sso r s h a d s e t h e n e v e r im ita te d . F o r all p e r se c u tio n h e fe lt a fix e d a v e r sio n , w h ich h e a v o w e d , n o t o n ly w h e r e th e a v o w a l w as o b v io u sly p o litic , b u t on o c c a sio n s w h ere it s e e m e d th a t h is in te r e st w o u ld h a v e b e e n p r o m o te d b y d issim u la tio n or b y s ile n c e . H is th e o lo g ic a l o p in io n s , h o w e v e r , w e r e e v e n m o re d e c id e d th a n th o s e o f h is a n c e sto r s. T h e te n e t o f p r e d e stin a tio n w as th e k e y sto n e o f h is r e lig io n . H e o fte n d e c la r e d th a t, i f h e w e r e to a b a n d o n th a t t e n e t , h e m u st a b a n d o n w ith it a ll b e lie f in a su p e r in te n d in g P r o v id e n c e , an d m u st b e c o m e a m ere E p ic u r e a n . E x c e p t in th is s in g le in sta n c e , a ll th e sap o f h is v ig o r o u s m in d w as e a rly d raw n aw ay from th e sp e c u la tiv e to th e p r a c tic a l. T h e fa c u ltie s w h ic h a r e n e c e ssa r y fo r th e c o n d u c t o f im p o r ta n t b u sin e ss r ip e n e d in h im a t a tim e o f life w h e n th e y h a v e sc a r c e ly b e g u n to b lo ss o m in ord in a ry m en . S in c e O cta v iu s th e w o rld h a d s e e n n o su ch in sta n c e o f p r e c o c io u s sta tesm a n sh ip . S k ilfu l d ip lo m a tists w e r e su rp rised to h e a r th e w e ig h ty o b se r v a tio n s w h ic h a t s e v e n te e n th e P r in c e m a d e on p u b lic a ffa ir s, a n d s till m o re su rp rised to s e e a la d , in situ a tio n s in w h ich h e m ig h t h a v e b e e n e x p e c te d to b etra y stro n g p a ss io n , p r e se r v e a co m p o su re a3 im p e rtu rb a b le as th e ir o w n . A t e ig h te e n h e sa te a m o n g th e fa th e r s "of th e com m o n w ea lth , g ra v e, d isc r e e t, a n d ju d ic io u s as th e o ld e st a m o n g th e m . A t t w e n ty -o n e , in a d a y o f g lo o m a n d te r r o r , h e was
J A M E S T H E S E C O N D . 5 p la c e d a t th e h e a d o f th e a d m in istra tio n . A t tw e n ty -th r e e h e w as r e n o w n e d th r o u g h o u t E u r o p e as a s o ld ie r a n d a p o litic ia n . — H e h a d p u t d o m e stic fa c tio n s u n d e r h is fe e t : h e w as th e soul o f a m ig h ty c o a litio n ; a n d h e h a d c o n te n d e d w ith h o n o u r in th e field a g a in st so m e o f th e g r e a te s t g e n e r a ls o f th e a g e .
H is p erso n a l ta stes w ere th o se r a th er o f a w arrior than o f “ ¡JJ"
a sta tesm a n : b u t h e , lik e h is g r e a tg r a n d fa th e r , th e sile n t imcj- p rin ce w h o fo u n d e d th e B a ta v ia n c o m m o n w e a lth , o c c u p ie s a ' u'DI' far h ig h e r p la c e a m o n g sta te sm e n than a m o n g w arriors. T h e e v e n t o f b a ttle s, in d e e d , is n o t an u n fa ilin g te s t o f th e a b ilitie s o f a co m m a n d er; a n d it w o u ld b e p ec u lia r ly u n ju st to apply th is te st to W illia m : fo r it w as h is fo r tu n e to b e a lm o st alw ays o p p o se d to ca p ta in s w h o w e r e co n su m m a te m a sters o f th e ir a r t, a n d to tr o o p s far su p e r io r in d isc ip lin e to his o w n . Y e t th e r e is r e a so n to b e lie v e th a t h e w as b y n o m ea n s e q u a l, as a g e n e r a l in th e fie ld , to so m e w h o r a n k ed far b e lo w him in in te lle c tu a l p o w e r s. T o th o s e w h o m h e tr u ste d h e sp o k e on this su b je c t w ith th e m a g n a n im o u s fra n k n ess o f a m an w h o h ad d o n e g r e a t th in g s , a n d w h o c o u ld w e ll afford to a c k n o w le d g e so m e d e fic ie n c ie s. H e h a d n e v e r , h e s a id , se r v e d an ap
p ren tic e sh ip to th e m ilitary p r o fe ss io n . H e h a d b e e n p la ced , w h ile still a b o y , a t th e h e a d o f an arm y. A m o n g his officers there h ad b e e n n o n e c o m p e te n t to in stru ct h im . H is own b lu n d ers an d th e ir c o n se q u e n c e s h a d b e e n h is o n ly le s s o n s.
“ I w o u ld g i v e , ” h e o n c e e x c la im e d , ‘‘a g o o d p art o f m y e sta te s to h a v e se r v e d a fe w ca m p a ig n s u n d e r th e P r in c e o f Condd b e fo r e I h a d to com m an d a g a in st h im .” I t is n o t im p ro b a b le th a t t h e c ircu m sta n ce w h ich p r e v e n te d W illia m from a tta in in g a n y e m in e n t d e x te r ity in s tr a te g y m a y h a v e b e e n fa v o u r a b le to th e g e n e r a l v ig o u r o f his in te lle c t. I f h is b a ttles w e r e n o t th o s e o f a g r e a t ta c tic ia n , th e y e n t itle d him to b e c a lle d a g r e a t m a n . N o d isa ste r c o u ld fo r o n e m o m e n t d e p riv e him o f h is firm n ess or o f th e en tir e p o ss e s s io n o f a ll his fa c u ltie s. H is d e fe a ts w e r e r e p a ir e d w ith su c h m a r v ello u s c elerity th a t, b e fo r e h is e n e m ie s h a d su n g th e T e D e u m , h e w as again r e a d y fo r c o n flic t; n o r d id h is a d v e r se fo r tu n e ev er d ep riv e him o f th e r e s p e c t a n d c o n fid e n c e o f h is so ld iers.
That respect and confidence he owed in no small measure to
6
H IS T O R Y O P E N G L A N D .C H A P . V I I . 1681.
h is p erso n a l c o u r a g e . C o u r a g e , in th e d e g r e e w h ich is n e cessa ry to carry a so ld ie r w ith o u t d isg r a c e th r o u g h a cam p a ig n , is p o s s e s s e d , or m ig h t, u n d er p ro p er tr a in in g , b e a c q u ir e d , b y th e g r e a t m a jo rity o f m en . B u t c o u r a g e lik e th a t o f W illiam is rare in d e e d . H e w as p r o v e d b y e v e r y te st; b y w a r , b y w o u n d s , b y p a in fu l a n d d e p r e s sin g m a la d ie s , b y r a g in g s e a s , b y th e im m in en t a n d c o n sta n t r isk o f assa ssin a tio n , a risk w h ich h as sh a k en v ery str o n g n e r v e s , a risk w h ich se v e r e ly tr ie d e v e n th e ad a m a n tin e fo r titu d e o f C ro m w ell.
Y e t n o n e c o u ld e v e r d isc o v e r w h a t th a t th in g w as w h ich th e P r in c e o f O ra n g e fe a r e d . H is a d v iser s c o u ld w ith d ifficu lty in d u c e him to ta k e any p reca u tio n a g a in st th e p isto ls a n d d a g g e r s o f c o n sp ir a to r s.* O ld sa ilo rs w e r e a m a z e d a t th e com p osu ro w h ich h e p r e s e r v e d a m id st ro a rin g b rea k ers o n a p e r ilo u s c o a st. In b a ttle h is b ra v ery m a d e him co n sp icu o u s e v e n a m o n g ten s o f th o u sa n d s o f b r a v e w a rrio rs, d rew forth th e g e n e r o u s a p p la u se o f h o s tile a r m ie s, a n d w as n e v e r q u e s
tio n e d e v e n b y th e in ju stic e o f h o s tile fa c tio n s. D u r in g h '13 first cam p aign s h e e x p o s e d h im s e lf lik e a m an w h o s o u g h t fo r d e a th , w as alw ays fo r e m o st in th e c h a rg e a n d la st in th e r e t r e a t, fo u g h t, sw o rd in h an d , in th e th ic k e st p r e s s, a n d , w ith a m u sk e t b a ll in h is arm an d th e b lo o d str e a m in g o v e r h is cu ir a ss, still s to o d h is g r o u n d a n d w a v e d h is h a t u n d e r th e h o tte s t fire. H is fr ie n d s a d ju r e d him to ta k e m o r e ca re o f a life in v a lu a b le to h is c o u n tr y ; a n d h is m o st illu strio u s a n ta g o n ist, th e g r e a t C o n d d , r e m a r k e d , a fte r th e b lo o d y day o f SeneflT, th a t th e P r in c e o f O ra n g e h ad in all th in g s b o rn e h im s e lf lik e an o ld g e n e r a l, e x c e p t in e x p o s in g h im s e lf lik e a y o u n g so ld ie r . W illia m d e n ie d th a t h e w as g u ilty o f te m e r ity . I t w a s , h e s a id , from a se n s e o f d u ty a n d on a c o o l c a lcu la tio n
* W illiam was earn estly in trra te d by his frie n d s , a fte r th e p e ac e of Ityswick, to speak serio u sly to the F ren ch a m b a ssa d o r a b o u t Ihe schem es o f assassination which th e Jaco b ites o f St. G erm ains were constantly contriving. T he cold m ag n an im ity with which these intim ations of d an g er were received is sin g u larly ch arac te ristic . To B en tin ck , who bad sen t from P aris very a la rm in g in te llig e n c e, W illiam m erely rep lied , a t the end of a long le tte r of b u s in e s s , — “ P o u r les assasin s je ne luy en ay pas voulu p a rlo r, c ro lan t q uc c ’dtolt au desous dc m o y ." Slay 1698, I keep th e original o rth o g ra p h y , if it is to be so called-
J A M E S T H E S E C O N D . 7 o f w hat th e p u b lic in te r e st r e q u ired th a t h e w as a lw a y s a t th e cJi*p.
p o st o f d a n g e r . T h e tro o p s w h ich h e co m m a n d ed h a d b e e n l687 little u se d to w a r , a n d sh ra n k from a c lo s e e n c o u n te r w ith th e v etera n so ld ie r y o f F r a n c e . I t w as n e c e ssa r y th a t th e ir le a d e r sh o u ld sh o w th e m h o w b a ttle s w e r e to b e w o n . A n d in truth m ore th a n o n e d a y w h ic h h a d se e m e d h o p e le ss ly lo st w as r e tr ie v e d b y th e h a r d ih o o d w ith w h ich h e r a llie d h is b ro k en b a tta lio n s a n d cu t d o w n w ith h is o w n h an d th e co w a rd s w h o s e t th e e x a m p le o f flig h t. S o m e tim e s , h o w e v e r , it se e m e d th a t h e h a d a str a n g e p le a su r e in v e n tu r in g h is p e r so n . It w as rem a rk ed th a t h is sp irits w e r e n e v e r so h igh a n d h is m anners n e v e r so g r a c io u s a n d e a sy as a m id st th e tum u lt a n d carn age o f a b a ttle . E v e n in h is p a stim e s h e lik e d th e e x c ite m e n t o f d a n g e r . C a r d s, c h e s s , a n d b illia r d s g a v e him n o p le a su r e . T h e c h a se w as h is fa v o u r ite r e c r e a tio n ; a n d h e lo v e d it m o st w h en it w as m o st h a z a r d o u s. H is lea p s w e r e so m e tim e s su ch th a t h is b o ld e s t co m p a n io n s d id n o t lik e to fo llo w h im . H e se e m s e v e n to h a v e th o u g h t th e m o st h a rd y field sp o rts o f E n g la n d e ffe m in a te , a n d to h a v e p in e d in th e G rea t P a rk o f W in d so r fo r th e g a m e w h ich lie h a d b e e n u s e d to d riv e to b a y in th e fo r e sts o f G u e ld e r s , w o lv e s , a n d w ild b o a r s, a n d h u g e sta g s w ith s ix te e n an tle rs.*
T h e a u d a city o f h is sp ir it w as th e m o re rem ark ab le b e - hi» tor«
ca u se h is p h y sic a l o rg a n iz a tio n w as u n u su a lly d e lic a te . F r o m ameer, a ch ild h e h a d b e e n w e a k a n d sic k ly . In th e p rim e o f m an- h o o d h is c o m p la in ts h a d b e e n a g g r a v a te d by%a se v e r e a tta ck o f sm a ll p o x . H e w as a sth m a tic an d c o n su m p tiv e . H is sle n d e r fram e w as sh a k en by a co n sta n t h o a r se c o u g h . H o c o u ld n o t s le e p u n less h is h e a d w as p r o p p e d b y se v e r a l p illo w s , an d c o u ld sc a r c e ly draw h is b rea th in any b u t th e p u r e st air.
C ruel h e a d a c h e s fr e q u e n tly to rtu re d h im . E x e r tio n so o n fa-
’ From W indsor he w rote to Ilc n tin c k , then a m b a ssad o r at P aris.
“ J ’ay p ris av an l h ie r un c e rf d an s la fo rest avec les chains du P r. de Denm . e t ay fait un a s s e t jo lie c b a s s e , a u ta n t quo ce vilain paiis le p e rm e st.” iC98. T he sp ellin g is b a d , b u t n o t worse th an N apoleon’s. M iliiam w rote in b e tte r h u m o u r from Loo. “ N o u sav o n s pris deux gros c e rfs , le p re m ie r dans D o rew aert, qui cst u n des plus gros q u e j e sach e avoir ja m a is p ris. II p o rte seize." j jjjy j - 1C8L
8
H IS T O R Y O F E N G L A N D .C\ u ' ' t!Su e d T h e p h y sicia n s co n sta n tly k e p t up th e h o p e s o f ' ~ c¿i7~ h ‘s en em ies by fix in g so m e d a te b e y o n d w h ic h , i f th e r e w e r e
a n y th in g certain in m e d ic a l s c ie n c e , it w as im p o ssib le that his b ro k en c o n stitu tio n c o u ld h o ld o u t. Y e t , th r o u g h a life w h ich w as o n e lo n g d is e a s e , th o fo r c e o f h is m ind n e v e r f a ile d , on an y g r e a t o c c a s io n , to b ea r up h is su fferin g a n d la n g u id b o d y .
C o ld n e s s H e w as b o rn w ith v io le n t p a ssio n s an d q u ic k se n sib ilitie s:
manners h u t th e str e n g th o f h is em o tio n s w as n o t su s p e c te d b y th e strength 'world. F r o m th e m u ltitu d e h is j o y an d h is g r ie f, h is affec tio n
o f his a n d h is r e s e n tm e n t, w e r e h id d e n b y a p h le g m a tic se ren ity , o tons. w j1;cjl m aj e ijjjn p asg f or t jje m o s(; c o ld -b lo o d e d o f m a n k in d . T h o s e w h o b r o u g h t him g o o d n ew s c o u ld se ld o m d e t e c t an y sig n o f p le a su r e . T h o s e w h o saw him after a d e fe a t lo o k e d in v ain fo r a n y tr a ce o f v e x a tio n . H e p ra ise d and rep rim a n d ed , r e w a r d e d a n d p u n is h e d , w ith th e ste r n tr a n q u illity o f a M o h aw k c h ie f: b u t th o s e w h o k n e w h im w e ll a n d saw h im n ea r w e r e aw are that u n d e r all th is ic e a fierce fire w as c o n sta n tly b u r n in g . I t w as se ld o m th a t a n g e r d e p r iv e d him o f p o w e r o v e r h im se lf. B u t w h en h e w as r e a lly e n r a g e d th e first o u t
b r e a k o f h is p a ssio n w as te r r ib le . I t w a s in d e e d sc a r c e ly sa fe to a p p ro a ch h im . O n th e s e rare o c c a sio n s, h o w e v e r , as so o n as h e r e g a in e d h is s e l f co m m a n d , h e m a d e su ch a m p le rep ara
tio n to th o se w h o m h e h a d w r o n g e d as te m p te d th e m to w ish th a t h e w o u ld g o into a fu ry a g a in . H is a ffec tio n w as as im p e tu o u s as h is w rath. W h e r e h e l o v e d , h e lo v e d w ith tho w h o le e n e r g y o f h is str o n g m in d . W h e n d ea th se p a r a te d him from w h a t h e l o v e d , th e few w h o w itn e ss e d h is a g o n ie s trem b le d fo r h is r e a so n a n d his life . T o a v e r y sm a ll c ir c le o f in tim a te fr ie n d s , o n w h o se fid e lity a n d se c r e c y h e co u ld a b so lu te ly d e p e n d , h e w as a d iffe r e n t m an from th e r e se r v e d and s to ic a l W illia m w h o m th e m u ltitu d e su p p o se d to b e d e stitu te o f hum an fe e lin g s . H e w as k in d , c o r d ia l, o p e n , e v e n c o n v iv ia l a n d j o c o s e , w o u ld s it a t ta b le m a n y h o u r s, an d w o u ld nu b e a r h is fu ll sh are in fe stiv e c o n v e r sa tio n . H ig h e s t in his
•hii°for l"avou r s to o d a g e n tle m a n o f h is h o u se h o ld n a m e d B e n tin c k , Benunck. sp ru n g from a n o b le B a ta v ia n r a c e , a n d d e stin e d to b e th e fo u n d e r o f o n e o f th e g r e a t p a tricia n h o u se s o f E n g la n d . T h o fid e lity o f B e n tin c k h a d b e e n tr ie d b y n o co m m o n te s t. It
J A M E S T H E S E C O N D .
9
was w h ile th e U n ite d P r o v in c e s w e r e str u g g lin g fo r e x is te n c e again st th e F r e n c h p o w e r th a t t h e y o u n g P r in c e o n w h o m a ll - th eir h o p e s w e r e fix e d w as s e iz e d b y t h e sm all p o x . T h a t d ise a se h a d b e e n fa ta l to m an y m em b er s o f h is fa m ily , a n d at first w o r e , in h is c a s e , a p ec u lia r ly m a lig n a n t a sp e c t. T h e p u b lic c o n ste r n a tio n w as g r e a t. T h e str e e ts o f th e H a g u e w e r e c r o w d e d from d a y b rea k to su n s e t b y p e r so n s a n x io u sly a sk in g h ow h is H ig h n e ss w as. A t le n g th h is co m p la in t to o k a fa v o u r a b le tu r n . H is e sc a p e w as a ttr ib u te d p a rtly to h is ow n sin g u la r e q u a n im ity , a n d p a rtly to th e in tr e p id an d in d e- la tig a b le frien d sh ip o f B e n tin c k . F r o m th e h a n d s o f B e n tin c k a lo n e W illia m to o k fo o d a n d m e d ic in e . B y B e n tin c k a lo n e W illia m w as lifte d from h is b e d a n d laid d ow n in it.
“ W h e th e r B e n tin c k s le p t or n o t w h ile I w as ill,” sa id W illiam to T e m p le , w ith g r e a t te n d e r n e s s , “ I k n o w n o t. B u t this I k n o w , th a t , th r o u g h s ix t e e n d a y s a n d n ig h ts , I n e v e r o n c e c a lle d fo r a n y th in g b u t th at B e n tin c k w as in sta n tly a t m y s i d e .” B e fo r e th e fa ith fu l se rv a n t h a d e n tirely p er fo r m e d h is ta s k , h e h a d h im s e lf c a u g h t th e c o n ta g io n . S till, h o w e v e r , h e b o r e up a g a in st d r o w sin e ss an d fe v e r till h is m a ster w as p r o n o u n c e d c o n v a le s c e n t. T h e n , a t le n g t h , B e n tin c k a sk e d le a v e to g o h o m e . I t w as tim e : fo r h is lim b s w o u ld n o lo n g e r su p p o rt h im . H e w as in g r e a t d a n g e r , b u t r e c o v e r e d , and, as so o n as h e le f t h is b e d , h a ste n e d to th e a r m y , w h ere, d u rin g m any sh arp c a m p a ig n s , h e w as e v e r fo u n d , as h e h ad b e e n in p e r il o f a d ifferen t k in d , c lo s e to W illia m ’s s id e .
S u ch w as th e o r ig in o f a frie n d sh ip as w arm a n d p u re as a n y th a t a n c ie n t o r m o d e rn h isto r y r e c o r d s . T h e d esc e n d a n ts o f B e n tin c k still p r e s e r v e m a n y le tte r s w ritten b y W illia m to th e ir a n c e sto r : a n d it is n o t to o m uch to sa y th a t n o p erso n w h o h a s n o t stu d ie d th o s e le tte r s can form a c o r r e c t n o tio n o f t h e P r in c e ’s ch a ra cter. H e w h om e v e n h is a d m irers g e n e r a lly a c c o u n te d th e m o st d ista n t a n d fr ig id o f m en h e r e fo r g e ts all d istin ctio n s o f r a n k , a n d p o u rs o u t a ll h is th o u g h ts w ith th e in g e n u o u sn e ss o f a s c h o o lb o y . H e im parts w ith o u t r e se r v e se c r e ts o f th e h ig h e s t m o m en t. H e e x p la in s w ith p e r fe c t sim p licity v a st d e sig n s a ffe c tin g a ll th e g o v e r n m e n ts o f E u r o p e . M in g le d w ith h is co m m u n ica tio n s on su c h su b je c ts are
c r u p . VII.
1687.
10 H IS T O K T O F E N G L A N D . CIMP.
VII.
ISST.
o th e r co m m u n ica tio n s o f a v e r y d iffe r e n t, b u t p erh ap s n o t o f a le s s in te r e stin g k in d . A ll h is a d v e n tu r e s, a ll h is p e r so n a l fe e lin g s , h is lo n g runs a fte r en o rm o u s s t a g s , h is c a ro u sa ls on S t. H u b e r t’s d a y , th e g ro w th o f h is p la n ta tio n s, th e failuro o f h is m e lo n s , th e sta te o f h is s t u d , h is w ish to p ro cu re an ea sy p ad n a g fo r his w if e , h is v e x a tio n a t le a r n in g th a t o n e o f h is h o u s e h o ld , a fte r r u in in g a g ir l o f g o o d fa m ily , r e fu se d to m arry h e r , his fits o f se a -s ic k n e s s , h is c o u g h s, h is h e a d a c h e s, h is d e v o tio n a l m o o d s , h is g r a titu d e fo r th e d iv in e p r o te c tio n a fter a g r o a t e s c a p e , h is str u g g le s to su b m it h im s e lf to th e d iv in e w ill a fte r a d isa s te r , arc d e sc r ib e d w ith an a m ia b le g a rru lity h ard ly to h a v e b e e n e x p e c te d from th e m o s t d isc r e e t a n d se d a te sta tesm a n o f th e a g e . S till m ore rem a rk a b le is th e c a r e le ss effu sio n o f h is te n d e r n e s s , a n d th e b ro th e rly in te r e st w h ich h e ta k e s in his fr ie n d ’s d o m e stic fe lic ity . W h e n an h e ir is b orn to B e n tin c k , “ h e w ill l i v e , I h o p e ,”
says W illia m , “ to b e as g o o d a fe llo w as y o u a r e ; a n d , i f I sh o u ld h a v e a s o n , ou r ch ild r e n w ill lo v e ea c h o th e r , I h o p e , a s w e h a v e d o n e .” * T h r o u g h life h e c o n tin u e s to r e g a r d th e litt le B e n tin c k s w ith p a te rn a l k in d n e s s. H o ca lls th e m b y e n d e a r in g d im in u tiv e s: h e ta k e s c h a r g e o f th e m in th e ir fa th e r ’s a b se n c e , a n d , th o u g h v e x e d a t b e in g fo r c e d to r e fu se th e m an y p le a su r e , w ill n o t suffor th e m to g o o n a h u n tin g p a r ty , w h e r e th e r e w o u ld b e risk o f a p u sh from a sta g ’s h orn , o r to s it up la te at a rio to u s supper.** W h e n th e ir m o th e r is ta k e n ill d u rin g h e r h u sb a n d ’s a b s e n c e , W i l i a m , in th e m id st o f b u sin e ss o f th e h ig h e st m o m e n t, find s tim e to se n d o ff se v era l e x p r e s se s in o n e d a y w ith sh o r t n o te s c o n ta in in g in te llig e n c e o f h e r s t a te .’ ** O n o n e o c c a s io n , w h en sh e is p r o n o u n c e d o u t o f d a n g e r a fte r a se v e r e a tta c k , th e P r in c e b rea k s fo r th in to fe r v e n t e x p r e s sio n s o f g r a titu d e to G o d .
“ I w r i t e , ” h e sa y s , “ w ith tea rs o f j o y in m y e y e s .” f T h e r o
* March 3. 1679.
’ * “ Voilà en peu de m ot le detail de n o stre St. H u b ert. E t j ’ay eu soin q u e M. W o o d sto c” (B entinck's eld est son) “ n 'a p o in t esté à la c h a s s e , b ien m oin au s o u p é , a u o y q u ’ii fut icy. Vous p o u y e ^ p o u rta n t c ro ire q ue de n'av o ir pas ch asse l'a un peu m o rtifié , m ais je ne l ’a y pas a u sé p re n d re s u r m oy, p u isq u e vous m ’aviez d it q u e vous ne le s o u h ai
tiez p a s." From boo, Nov. 4. 1691.
••• ü n the U lh o l J u u c , 16SS. f S ept. 6. 1679.
J A M E S T H E S E C O N D . 11 is a sin g u la r charm in su ch le t te r s , p e n n e d b y a m an w h o se c" *r'- irresistib le e n e r g y a n d in fle x ib le firm ness e x to r te d th e r e s p e c t | 687- o f h is e n e m ie s , w h o so c o ld an d u n g ra cio u s d em ea n o u r r e p e lle d th e a tta ch m en t o f a lm o st a ll h is p a r tisa n s, an d w h o se m ind w a s o c c u p ie d b y g ig a n tic sc h e m e s w h ich h a v e c h a n g e d th e fa c e o f th e w o rld .
H is k in d n e ss w as n o t m isp la ced . B e n tin c k w as early p r o n o u n c e d b y T e m p le to b e th e b e s t a n d tr u e st se rv a n t th at e v er p r in c e h a d th e g o o d fo rtu n e to p o s s e s s , an d co n tin u ed th r o u g h life to m erit th a t h o n o u r a b le ch a ra cter. T h e frien d s w e r e in d e e d m ad e fo r e a ch o th e r . W illia m w a n te d n eith e r a g u id e n o r a fla tterer. H a v in g a firm an d j u s t re lia n c e on his ow n j u d g m e n t, h e w as n o t p artial to c o u n se llo r s w h o d ea lt m uch in su g g e s tio n s an d o b je c tio n s . A t th e sam o tim e h e h ad to o m uch d isce rn m en t, an d to o m uch e le v a tio n o f m in d , to b e g ra tified b y sy c o p h a n c y . T h e co n fid a n t o f su ch a p rin ce o u g h t to b e a m a n , n o t o f in v e n tiv e g e n iu s or co m m a n d in g sp ir it, b u t b ra v e a n d fa ith fu l, ca p a b le o f e x e c u tin g ord ers p u n c tu a lly , o f k e e p in g se c r e ts in v io la b ly , o f o b se r v in g facts v ig ila n tly , a n d o f r e p o r tin g th e m tr u ly ; a n d su ch a m an w as B e n tin c k .
W illiam w as n o t le s s fo rtu n a te in m arriage than in fr ie n d - praT ’tM sh ip . Y e t h is m arriage h a d n o t a t first p ro m ised m uch of d o m e stic h a p p in e ss. H is c h o ic e h ad b e e n d e te r m in e d ch iefly b y p o litic a l co n sid e r a tio n s: n o r d id it se em lik e ly th a t an y str o n g a ffe c tio n w o u ld g r o w u p b e tw e e n a h a n d so m e g ir l o f s ix t e e n , w e ll d isp o se d in d e e d , a n d n a tu ra lly in te llig e n t, b u t ig n o r a n t a n d s im p le , an d a b r id e g r o o m w h o , th o u g h h e had n o t c o m p le te d h is tw e n ty -e ig h th y e a r , w as in co n stitu tio n o ld e r th a n h e r fa th e r , w h o se m a n n er w as c h illin g , a n d w h o se h e a d w as co n sta n tly o c c u p ie d b y p u b lic b u sin e ss or b y field sp o rts. F o r a tim e W illia m w as a n e g lig e n t h u sb a n d . H e w as in d e e d draw n aw ay from h is w ife b y o th e r w o m e n , p ar
ticu la r ly b y o n e o f h er la d ie s, E liz a b e th V illie r s , w h o , th ou gh d e stitu te o f p e r so n a l a ttr a c tio n s, an d d isfig u red b y a h id eo u s sq u in t, p o s s e s s e d ta le n ts w h ich w e ll fitted h er to p a rta k e his c a r e s.* H e w as in d e e d a sh a m ed o f h is e r r o r s, an d sp ared no
* See Swift’s a cc o u n t o f h e r in the Jo u rn a l to Stella.
12
H IS T O K Y O i E N G L A N D .C H A P . V I I . 1687.
p a in s to c o n c e a l th e m : b u t, in sp ite o f a ll h is p reca u tio n s, M ary w e ll k n ew th a t lie w as n o t str ic tly fa ith fu l to h e r . S p ie s a n d ta le -b e a r e r s, e n c o u r a g e d b y h e r fa th e r , d id th e ir b e st to in flam e h e r re se n tm e n t. A m an o f a v e r y d ifferen t ch aracter, th e e x c e lle n t K e n , w h o w as h e r ch ap lain a t th e H a g u e d u rin g so m e m o n th s, w as so m uch in c e n se d b y h e r w r o n g s that h e , w ith m o re z e a l th a n d is c r e tio n , th r e a te n e d to rep rim a n d h er h u sb a n d se v e r e ly .* S h e , h o w e v e r , b o re h e r in ju ries w ith a m e e k n e ss a n d p a tie n c e w h ich d e s e r v e d , a n d g r a d u a lly o b t a in e d , W illia m ’s e ste e m a n d g r a titu d e . Y e t th e r e still r em a in ed o n e ca u se o f e str a n g e m e n t. A tim e w o u ld p r o b a b ly c o m e w h e n th e P r in c e s s , w h o h a d b e e n e d u c a te d o n ly to w o rk em b ro id ery , to p la y on th e sp in e t, a n d to r e a d th e B ib le a n d th e W h o le D u ty o f M a n , w o u ld b e th e c h ie f o f a g r e a t m o n a r c h y , an d w o u ld h o ld th e b a la n c e o f E u r o p e , w liilo h e r lo r d , a m b itio u s, v e r se d in a ffairs, a n d b e n t o n g r e a t e n t e r p rises , w o u ld find in th e B r itish g o v e r n m e n t n o p la c e m a rk ed o u t fo r h im , a n d w o u ld h o ld p o w e r o n ly from h e r b o u n ty and d u rin g h er p le a su r e . It is n o t str a n g e th a t a m an so fo n d o f a u th o rity as W illia m , an d so c o n sc io u s o f a g e n iu s fo r co m m a n d , sh o u ld h a v e str o n g ly f e lt th a t j e a lo u s y w h ic h , d u rin g a fe w h ou rs o f r o y a lty , p u t d iss e n sio n b e tw e e n G u ild fo rd D u d le y an d th e L a d y .Jan e, an d w h ich p r o d u c e d a ru p tu re still m o r e tr a g ic a l b e tw e e n D a r n le y a n d th e Q u e e n o f S c o ts . T h e P r in c e ss o f O ra n g e h a d n o t th e fa in te s t su sp ic io n o f h er h u sb a n d ’s fe e lin g s . H e r p r e c e p to r , B is h o p C o m p to n , had in str u c te d h e r c a refu lly in r e lig io n , a n d h a d e sp e c ia lly g u a r d e d h e r m in d a g a in st th e arts o f R o m a n C a th o lic d iv in e s, b ut h a d le f t h er p r o fo u n d ly ig n o r a n t o f th e E n g lis h c o n stitu tio n a n d o f h e r ow n p o s itio n . S h e k n e w th a t h e r m arriage v o w b o u n d h e r to o b e y h e r h u sb a n d ; a n d it h a d n e v e r o c cu rred to h e r th a t th e r e la tio n in w h ic h th e y s to o d to e a ch o th e r m igh t o n e d a y b e in v e r te d . S h e h ad b e e n n in e y ea rs m arried b e fo r e sh e d isc o v e r e d th e c a u se o f W illia m ’s d isc o n te n t; n o r w o u ld sh e e v e r h a v e le a r n e d it fro m h im s e lf. In g e n e r a l his te m p er in c lin e d h im ra th er to b r o o d o v e r h is g r ie fs
* H enry Sidney’s Jo u rn a l of M arch 31. 1CS0 , in M r. Illencow e’s in terestin g collection.
JA M E S T I Ï E S E C O N D .
13
tlian to g iv e u tte r a n c e to th e m ; a n d in th is p a rticu la r ca se h is ™ lip s w e r e s e a le d b y a v e r y n atu ral d e lic a c y . A t le n g th a 163I-~
c o m p le te ex p la n a tio n a n d r e c o n c ilia tio n w e r e b r o u g h t a b o u t by th e a g e n c y o f G ilb e r t B u r n e t.
T h e fam e o f B u r n e t h a s b een a tta c k e d w ith sin g u la r m a lic e an d p e r tin a c ity . T h e a tta ck b e g a n ea rly in h is l if e , a n d is still carried o n w ith u n d im in ish e d v ig o u r , th o u g h h e h as n ow b een m o r e th a n a c e n tu r y a n d a qu arter in his g r a v e . H e is in d e e d as fair a m ark as fa ctio u s a n im o sity a n d p etu la n t w it co u ld d e sir e . T h e fa u lts o f h is u n d e r sta n d in g an d tem p er lie on th e su r fa c e , a n d c a n n o t b e m isse d . T h e y w e r e n o t th e fa u lts w h ich are ord in a rily c o n sid e r e d as b e lo n g in g to h is cou n try. A lo n e a m o n g th e m any S c o tc h m e n w h o h a v e ra ised th e m s e lv e s t o d istin c tio n an d p r o sp e r ity in E n g la n d , h e h ad th a t ch a ra cter w h ich sa tir is ts, n o v e lis ts , a n d d ra m a tists h a v e a g r e e d to a sc rib e to Ir ish a d v e n tu r e r s. H is h ig h anim al sp ir its, h is b o a stfu ln e s s, h is u n d isse m b le d v a n ity , his p r o p e n sity to b lu n d e r , h is p r o v o k in g in d isc r e tio n , his u n a b a sh ed a u d a c ity , affo rd ed in e x h a u stib le su b je c ts o f rid icu le to th e T o r ie s . N o r d id h is e n e m ie s o m it to com p lim en t h im , so m e tim e s w ith m o r e p le a sa n tr y th a n d e lic a c y , on th e b rea d th o f h is sh o u ld e r s , th e th ic k n e ss o f h is c a lv e s , a n d h is su c c e ss in m atrim on ial p r o je c ts on a m o ro u s an d o p u le n t w id o w s. Y e t B u r n e t, th o u g h o p e n in m a n y r e s p e c ts to r id ic u le , an d e v en to se rio u s c e n su r e , w as n o c o n te m p tib le m an. H is p arts w ero q u ic k , h is in d u str y u n w e a r ie d , h is r e a d in g variou s a n d m o st e x te n s iv e . H e w as a t o n c e a h isto r ia n , an a n tiq u a r y , a th e o lo g ia n , a p r e a c h e r , a p a m p h le te e r , a d e b a te r , an d an a c tiv e p o litic a l le a d e r ; and in ev e r y o n e o f th e s e ch a ra cters m ade h im s e lf c o n sp ic u o u s a m o n g a b le c o m p e tito r s. T h e m a n y sp ir ite d tra cts w h ic h h e w r o te on p a ssin g e v e n ts are now k n ow n o n ly to th e c u r io u s: b u t h is H isto r y o f h is ow n T im e s , h is H isto r y o f th e R e fo r m a tio n , h is E x p o s itio n o f th e A r tic le s, h is D isc o u r se o f P a sto r a l C a re, h is L ife o f H a le , h is L ife o f W ilm o t, are still r e p r in te d , n o r is a n y g o o d p riv a te library w ith o u t th e m . A g a in st su ch a fa c t as this all th e efforts o f d e tractors are v a in . A w r ite r , w h o se v o lu m in o u s w o rk s, in se v era l b r a n c h e s o f lite r a tu r e , find n u m ero u s read ers a
l-'J H IS T O R Y O F E N G L A N D .
C n A P . V I I . 1537,
h u n d r ed an d thirty y ea rs a fte r h is d e a th , m ay h a v e h a d g r e a t f a u lts , b u t m u st a lso h a v e h a d g r e a t m e r its: a n d B u r n e t had g r e a t m e r its , a fe r tile a n d v ig o r o u s m in d , a n d a s t y le , far in d e e d r e m o v e d from fa u ltle s s p u r ity , b u t a lw a y s c le a r , o fte n l i v e l y , a n d so m e tim e s r isin g to so le m n an d fe r v id e lo q u e n c e . In th e p u lp it th e e ffe c t o f h is d isc o u r se s, w h ich w e r e d e liv e r e d w ith o u t a n y n o t e , w as h e ig h te n e d b y a n o b le fig u re an d b y p a th e tic a c tio n . H o w as o fte n in te r r u p te d b y th e d e e p hum o f his a u d ie n c e ; an d w h en , a fte r p r e a c h in g o u t th e h o u r g la ss, w h ich in th o s e d a y s w as p art o f th e furnitu re o f th e p u lp it, h e h e ld it up in h is h a n d , th e c o n g r e g a tio n cla m o r o u sly e n c o u r a g e d him to g o on till th e sa n d h a d ru n o ff o n c e m o re.*
In h is m o ra l c h a r a c te r , a s in h is in t e lle c t , g r e a t b le m ish e s w e r e m o r e th a n co m p e n sa te d b y g r e a t e x c e lle n c e . T h o u g h o fte n m isle d b y p r e ju d ic e an d p a s s io n , h e w as em p h a tica lly an h o n e st m a n . T h o u g h h e w a s n o t s e c u r e from th e se d u c tio n s o f v a n ity , h is sp irit w as r a ise d h ig h a b o v e th e in flu e n c e e ith e r o f c u p id ity or o f fea r. H is n a tu re w as k in d , g e n e r o u s , g ra tefu l, forgiving.** H is r e lig io u s z e a l , th o u g h 6tead y and a r d e n t, w as in g e n e r a l re str a in e d b y h u m a n ity , an d b y a r e s p e c t fo r th e r ig h ts o f c o n sc ie n c e . S tr o n g ly a tta c h e d to w h at h e r e g a r d e d as th e sp irit o f C h ristia n ity , h e lo o k e d w ith in d iffe r e n c e o n rite s, n a m e s, an d fo rm s o f e c c le s ia stic a l p o lity , an d w as b y n o m ea n s d isp o s e d to b e se v e r e e v e n o n in fid els
* Sp eak er Onslow's n o tc o n B u rn e t, I. 506.; Jo h n so n ’s Life o f S p r a t
*• No person has co ntradicted B u rn et m o re freq u en tly o r with m ore asp erity than D artm outh. Yet D artm outh w ro te, “ I do not think he d esignedly p u b lished anything he believed to b e fa lse." At a la te r p e riod D a rtm o u th , provoked by som e re m a rk s on him self in th e second volum e o f the B ishop's h is to ry , re tra c te d this p ra is e : b u t to such a re tra c ta tio n little im p o rtan c e can b e a tta ch e d . Even Swift has the ju stic e to s a y , “ A fter a l l , he was a m an of gen ero sity and g o o d -n a tu re ." — S h o rt R em arks on Bishop B u rn e t’s H istory.
I t is usual to cen sn re B u rn et as a sin g u larly in a c cu rate h isto ria n ; b u t I believe the charge to b e a lto g e th er u n ju s t. He ap p ears to b e s in gularly in a c cu rate only b ecau se his n a rra tiv e h as b een su b jected to a scru tin y singularly severe and unfriendly. If any W hig th ought w orth w hile to su b ject U eresby’s M em oirs, N orth’s E x a m e n , Slulgrave’s Ac
co u n t of th e R ev o lu tio n , o r the Life of Jam es th e S e c o n d , edited by C la rk e , to a s im ila r scru tin y , it would soon a p p e a r th a t B u rn e t was Tar indeed from being the m ost in ex act w riter of his tim e.
