suspected
there, must not be left out of the account if we would pass a just
judgment on the course taken a few months later by the Princess of
Orange. Those who pronounce her guilty of a breach of filial duty must
admit that her fault was at least greatly extenuated by her wrongs. If,
to serve the cause of her religion, she broke through the most sacred
ties of consanguinity, she only followed her father's example. She did
not assist to depose him till he had conspired to disinherit her.

Scarcely had Bonrepaux been informed that Lewis had resolved to assist
the enterprise of Tyrconnel when all thoughts of that enterprise were
abandoned. James had caught the first glimpse of a hope which delighted
and elated him. The Queen was with child.

Before the end of October 1687 the great news began to be whispered.
It was observed that Her Majesty had absented herself from some public
ceremonies, on the plea of indisposition. It was said that many relics,
supposed to possess extraordinary virtue, had been hung about her.
Soon the story made its way from the palace to the coffeehouses of the
capital, and spread fast over the country. By a very small minority the
rumour was welcomed with joy. The great body of the nation listened with
mingled derision and fear. There was indeed nothing very extraordinary
in what had happened.

The King had but just completed his fifty-fourth year. The Queen was
in the summer of life. She had already borne four children who had
died young; and long afterwards she was delivered of another child
whom nobody had any interest in treating as supposititious, and who was
therefore never said to be so. As, however, five years had elapsed since
her last pregnancy, the people, under the influence of that delusion
which leads men to believe what they wish, had ceased to entertain any
apprehension that she would give an heir to the throne. On the other
hand, nothing seemed more natural and probable than that the Jesuits
should have contrived a pious fraud. It was certain that they must
consider the accession of the Princess of Orange as one of the greatest
calamities which could befall their Church. It was equally certain
that they would not be very scrupulous about doing whatever might be
necessary to save their Church from a great calamity. In books written
by eminent members of the Society, and licensed by its rulers, it was
distinctly laid down that means even more shocking to all notions of
justice a