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Constitutional History of England, Henry VII to George II. Volume 3 of 3

Note 107 — Chapter XIV · THE REIGN OF JAMES II.

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Several proofs of this appear in the correspondence of Barillon. Fox, 135; Mazure, ii. 22. The nuncio, M. d'Adda, was a moderate man, and united with the moderate catholic peers, Bellasis, Arundel, and Powis. Id. 127. This party urged the king to keep on good terms with the Prince of Orange, and to give way about the test. Id. 184, 255. They were disgusted at Father Petre's introduction into the privy council; 308, 353. But it has ever been the misfortune of that respectable body to suffer unjustly for the follies of a few. Barillon admits, very early in James's reign, that many of them disliked the arbitrary proceedings of the court; "ils prétendent être bons Anglois, c'est-à-dire, ne pas désirer que le roi d'Angleterre ôte à la nation ses privilèges et ses libertés." Mazure, i. 404.

William openly declared his willingness to concur in taking off the penal laws, provided the test might remain. Burnet, 694; Dalrymple, 184; Mazure, ii. 216, 250, 346. James replied that he must have all or nothing. Id. 353.

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