JAMES II.

79

what is of more importance, if we consider tiredisposition of men’s minds at home , every circum-stance would be found adverse to the cause ofliberty. That the country - party, during the latereign , by their violent, and in many respectsunjustifiable measures in parliament , by theirdesperate attempts out of parliament, had exposedtheir principles to general hatred, and had excitedextreme jealousy in all the royalists and zealouschurchmen, who now formed the bulk of thenation. That it would not be acceptable to thatparty to fee this king worse treated than his brotherin point of revenue, or any attempts made tokeep the crown in dependence. That they thoughtparliaments as liable to abuse as courts, and de-sired not to fee things in a situation, where theking could not, if he found it necessary, eitherprorogue or dissolve those assemblies. That ifthe present parliament, by making great conces-sions, could gain the king’s confidence, and en-gage him to observe the promises now giventhem , every thing would by gentle methods suc-ceed to their wishes. That if, on the contrary,after such instances of compliance , he formed anydesigns on the liberty and religion of the nation,he would , in the eyes of all mankind , renderhimself altogether inexcusable , and the wholepeople would join in opposition to him. Thatresistance could scarcely be attempted twice ; andthere Was therefore the greater necessity for wait-ing till time and incidents had fully prepared thenation for it,. That the king’s prejudices in favor

II A pLXX.168 ;.