hrone. [814] When he found that
this appeal was disregarded, he put forth a solemn protest against the
validity of all treaties to which the existing government of England
should be a party. He pronounced all the engagements into which his
kingdom had entered since the Revolution null and void. He gave notice
that he should not, if he should regain his power, think himself bound
by any of those engagements. He admitted that he might, by breaking
those engagements, bring great calamities both on his own dominions and
on all Christendom. But for those calamities he declared that he should
not think himself answerable either before God or before man. It seems
almost incredible that even a Stuart, and the worst and dullest of the
Stuarts, should have thought that the first duty, not merely of his own
subjects, but of all mankind, was to support his rights; that Frenchmen,
Germans, Italians, Spaniards, were guilty of a crime if they did not
shed their blood and lavish their wealth, year after year, in his cause;
that the interests of the sixty millions of human beings to whom peace
would be a blessing were of absolutely no account when compared with the
interests of one man. [815]

In spite of his protests the day of peace drew nigh. On the tenth of
September the Ambassadors of France, England, Spain and the United
Provinces, met at Ryswick. Three treaties were to be signed, and there
was a long dispute on the momentous question which should be signed
first. It was one in the morning before it was settled that the treaty
between France and the States General should have precedence; and the
day was breaking before all the instruments had been executed. Then the
plenipotentiaries, with many bows, congratulated each other on having
had the honour of contributing to so great a work. [816]

A sloop was in waiting for Prior. He hastened on board, and on the
third day, after weathering an equinoctial gale, landed on the coast of
Suffolk. [817]

Very seldom had there been greater excitement in London than during the
month which preceded his arrival. When the west wind kept back the
Dutch packets, the anxiety of the people became intense. Every morning
hundreds of thousands rose up hoping to hear that the treaty was signed;
and every mail which came in without bringing the good news caused
bitter disappointment. The malecontents, indeed, loudly asserted that
there would be no peace, and that the negotiation would, even at this
lat