He had, under the strong fear of being butchered by the populace, declared that he abhorred the thought of calling in the aid of France, and had invoked God to attest the sincerity of this declaration.

Yet, a short time after, he had been detected in plotting to bring a French army into England; and he had written to assure the Court of Saint Germains that he was acting in concert with his brethren, and especially with Sancroft.

The Whigs called loudly for severity.

Even the Tory counsellors of William owned that indulgence had been carried to the extreme point.

They made, however, a last attempt to mediate.