the compounders being anxious for some security from King James, that English religion and liberty would be preserved in case of his restoration; and the non-compounders being prepared to cast themselves entirely upon his honour and generosity. Lloyd, the deprived Bishop of Norwich, adopted the latter view, and would hear of no terms in a matter of Divine right.1

The Bill for Fenwick's attainder created much discussion in the House of Commons. The discussion took a theological turn upon the point of deficiency of evidence, the testimony of one witness not being backed by the testimony of a second. Much was said by the opponents of the attainder, respecting the eternal law of God and man, and of the Holy Scriptures requiring more witnesses than one to convict a person of a capital crime. "No man," it was repeated, "shall be condemned to die by the mouth of one witness, but by two or three witnesses he shall suffer." It was replied, that not the Levitical law, but the law of England, should be guide in such a case; then, some one rejoined, that he and those who thought with him, did not wish to base their argument simply on Scripture, but upon the fact that this law of Moses having been confirmed by our Saviour in the New Testament, it ought to be brought into connection with the law of the land. In spite of attempts made to save Sir John, the Bill passed both Houses. Robert Nelson interceded with Tenison to plead with the King. "My very good friend," returned the Primate, "give me leave to tell you, that you know not what spirit this man, nor I am of; I wish for his, nor no man's blood, but how can I do my duty to God and my King, should I declare a man

1 The substance of his discoveries is given in Tindal's History.
2 Parl. Hist., v. 1127-1130.

innocent; for my not being of the side of the Bill will convince the world that I think him so, when I am satisfied in my conscience, not only from Goodman's evidence, but all the convincing testimonies in the world, that he is guilty. Laws ex post facto may indeed carry the face of rigour with them, but if ever a law was necessary this is."1

An amusing circumstance occurred during the debate. Dr. John Williams, Rector of St. Mildred's, Poultry, accepted the Bishopric of Chichester, and was consecrated at Lambeth, by Tenison and others, the day before the third reading of the Bill. Rushing into the Bishops' chamber to robe himself, he was accosted by the Archbishop, "Brother, brother! you'll overheat yourself; what's the reason of all this pother?" "Nothing, may it please your Grace," said he ; "but I was fearful lest the Bill against Sir John Fenwick should be read before I could take my place in the House." "Fye, my Lord," said Tenison; "you might have spared yourself that labour, since you had not an opportunity of hearing the merits of the cause at the first and second reading; but since, as I perceive, you are come to give your vote, pray, brother, come in along with me, that you may hear it once read, before you do it." 2

After the Bill had passed, efforts were continued on the culprit's behalf. His Lady petitioned the House of Lords and the House of Commons; also she threw herself as a suppliant at William's feet in vain. Fenwick delivered a paper, supposed to have been drawn up by White, the deprived Bishop of Peterborough, in which he did not deny the facts sworn, but only complained of his attainder as unjust; at the same time declaring his loyalty to

King James and to the Prince of Wales, but denouncing, with horror, the idea of assassinating William.1

Fenwick suffered upon Tower Hill the 20th of January, 1697. That wintry morning, cold with storms, White appeared with him on the scaffold, not to pronounce absolution or lay on hands, but simply to pray with a dying man.2 Commending the King to the Divine protection-meaning James, but not using his nameFenwick, as he laid his neck on the block, cried, "Lord Jesus, receive my soul." His corpse was buried by torch-light in St. Martin's Church.

Others were hanged for treasonable practices, including Cranburne, who professed himself a member of the Church of England; and Rookwood and Lowick, Roman Catholics, whose Jesu Maria and Paternosters are particularly mentioned by the Protestant narrator of their last end.3

CHAPTER XI.

The Pence of; whis, a pu detached the latter THE

HE peace of Ryswick, which put an end to the war

from the cause of James, dispelled for awhile the visions which had tantalized and disappointed the nonjuring party; for the treaty, sanctioned by France, Spain, and the United Provinces, recognized the constitution of England, and William as a constitutional King. Some Clergymen, wearied by the bootless resistance of eight long years, now came to terms, and swore allegiance to the reigning Sovereign, adopting at last the principle which they had denounced, that a settled Government, though illegitimate in its origin, is binding in its authority.

Immense joy arose on this occasion; it prolonged itself during the month of November. The anniversary of the landing at Torbay of course set in motion peals of bells, lighted up candles in windows, kindled bonfires in market-places, and evoked shouts of glee from assembled multitudes. The 14th of November, the day of William's return and landing at Margate, became an additional season of joy. On the 16th, which turned out a bright morning, he entered his capital in state, attended by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, with a measure of the splendour which on past occasions brightened the City's dark and narrow streets; although some of the spectators of the sight noticed a decline

in the splendour of the pageantry.1 The triumph of the day was complete when the University of Oxford, to the unutterable chagrin of the Nonjurors, struck its colours, and in an adulatory address did homage to the hero.. This tide of joy flowed into the following month. The 2nd of December was held as a day of thanksgiving for the peace. The King and Court attended Divine service in the Chapel at Whitehall, where Burnet preached, or, as one who heard him says, "made a florid panegyric," founded on the words, "Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the Lord thy God: because thy God loved Israel to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice." The same day St. Paul's Cathedral was opened for Divine service, and William would have been there, instead of being in his own Chapel, but for fear lest the multitude, thronging the streets, should render his approach almost impracticable. The Corporation of London appeared in their civic pomp; Compton ascended his throne, just enriched by the carvings of Grinling Gibbons; and he afterwards preached from the appropriate text, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go up into the house of the Lord."3

A new Parliament, of a decidedly High-Church stamp, assembled on the 9th of December, amidst an atmosphere of hypocrisy and intrigue rarely equalled. A sermon preached before the Commons by the Rector of Sutton,

1 1 Evelyn notices, "16 Nov., the King's entry very pompous, but is nothing approaching that of King Charles II."

2 Evelyn's Diary, Dec. 2nd.

3 Milman's Annals of St. Paul's, 427. Evelyn says, "5th December was the first Sunday that St. Paul's had had service performed in it since it was burnt in 1666."