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History of the Nonjurors.

ceive. The Bishop was requested by Compton and the Viscount Tarbat to address the Prince on the subject: but it was admitted, that it would be necessary to compliment him on his coming to deliver the country from Popery and slavery. This he could not do, as he had received no such instructions. The Bishop continued in London until the vote of Abdication had passed, when he began to think of returning to Scotland. The Bishop of London, even at that time, before William was seated on the throne, designated him as the King, and was anxious to induce Rose to wait upon him, on behalf of the suffering Episcopal Clergy in Scotland: but he replied, that, as the Prince had been already addressed by several of the nobility, as well as by the sufferers themselves, it would be useless for him to make the attempt. He? however, consented to go to the Prince, if the Bishop of London considered it desirable. Accordingly the Bishop of Edinburgh and Sir George Makenzie attended, at Whitehall, where they were met by Compton. The Prince declined to see more than two at one time, lest the Presbyterians should be offended. From the Bishop of London's remark, we may infer the state of feeling at the time. "My Lord, you see that the King, having thrown himself upon the water, must keep himself a swimming with one hand. The Presbyterians have joined him closely, and offer to support him, and therefore he cannot cast them off, unless he could see how otherwise he could be served. And now the King bids me tell you that he now knows the state of Scotland much better than he did when he was in Holland: for while there he was made believe that Scotland generally, all over, was Presbyterian, but now he sees that the great body of the nobility and gentry are for Episcopacy, and it is the