Page:History of the Nonjurors.djvu/450

432 Oath of Allegiance, the Clergy and all official persons, should sign an assurance, in which William and Mary were recognized as lawful and rightful Sovereigns, or King and Queen De Jure, as well as De Facto. To this assurance many of the Presbyterians had a most decided objection, viewing it as involving a question which they could not decide. Endeavours were not wanting, though at first without success, to procure a dispensation in favour of the Presbyterians. A despatch was made up for Scotland, ordering that the Assurance should be imposed in all cases; but Carstairs, who resided in the court, and was high in favour with the king, ventured to keep back this particular document. When Carstairs acquainted his Majesty with what he had done, the King manifested some degree of anger; but in a short time he yielded to the representations of the Scotchman, and the Assurance was dispensed with in favour of the Presbyterians. It appears that some even of the Presbyterians could not take the Oath of Allegiance to William, on the ground that the terms of the Oath to King James were so strong, that they could not transfer their allegiance to another family: consequently the Oath of Assurance was much more unpalatable. It has indeed been supposed, that the Presbyterians would have excited a rebellion, if Carstairs had not interposed. Thus the Presbyterians