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20 that nothing would be so effectual as the interposition of the Prince; but they never contemplated the removal of his Majesty or the advancement of William to the throne. They pursued a uniform course of opposition to those measures, which were illegal, uninfluenced by any sinister considerations. They were anxious to preserve the Church; they wished also to preserve the rights of the King; consequently they were perfectly consistent in their refusal of the oaths, notwithstanding their previous refusal to express their abhorrence of the attempt of the Prince of Orange. The Nonjurors never objected to the interference of the Prince; but they neither invited him to come, nor would they express their disapprobation of his coming.

A singular circumstance occurred after the arrival of the Prince, which, as having a special bearing on the Revolution, merits a notice in this volume. The Prince issued a second Declaration; but in December another document, purporting to be a third, was published and circulated. No one appears to have doubted the genuineness of the paper. It contained some very strong allusions to the Roman Catholics; and Dr. Lingard and Ralph appear to attribute the flight of King James to this document. The Prince did not publicly disown the paper: neither did he avow it as his own. Thus the mystery remained unravelled, until some years after, when Speke, the real author, had the effrontery to claim it as his own production, and also to plead a merit for the fabrication. The document was dated from Sherbourne Castle, the 28th of November. Burnet, however, says, that the Prince disowned it as soon as he saw it; but this was only in private. Speke says he presented it to the Prince at Sherbourne Castle, and that all his attendants, after some consideration, be-