charge most of the functions that usually devolve upon the generalissimo. However deficient in the other requisites of a commander, he exhibited no lack of zeal and activity, being in camp on the following morning soon after sunrise, on which occasion Walter was obliged to turn out, that his Majesty might be received with due honours; and afterwards attended him when with four thousand horse he marched, as a piece of gallantry, into Staines meadow, for the purpose of escorting the Queen thence to the camp, where she honoured Lord Arran, one of the Catholic commanders, by dining with him in his tent. After the health of their Majesties had been separately given, the King agreeably surprised the company by filling a bumper, and drinking to the Church of England as established by law; a condescension which excited a good deal of comment in the army, and was variously interpreted according to the feelings of the relaters, some adducing it as a proof that he had not the smallest wish to supersede Protestantism, while others attributed it to a tardy

desire to conciliate, now that people talked openly of an approaching invasion from Holland. It was indeed the misfortune, or rather the fitting punishment of this rash and impolitic monarch, that as he never relaxed in his measures of tyranny except when under the influence of fear, his compulsory concessions rather served to inspire contempt than to propitiate regard, or to win confidence.

Early on the following day, Walter received a visit from Seagrave, who informed him that the corps to which he himself belonged was attached to the camp, but that through the influence of his worthy patron, Lord Sunderland, he obtained leave of absence as often, and for as long periods as he pleased. Voluntarily recurring to the of subject the night attack made by the bravoes, he declared that his Lordship had been quite irritated out of his customary selfpossession by the relation of that daring outrage, believing it to have sprung from a gang of conspirators, who had leagued together to assassinate some of the leading members of the

administration, and perhaps the King himself, for the purpose of throwing every thing into disorder: a traitorous confederacy, of which some inkling had already reached the ear of government. "The Peer knew," added Seagrave" that I was able to give the police a clue to some of these villains, which is the reason he sent for me in such haste, and Sacre, mon cher! it was well he did, for if I mistake not, the very scoundrels who wanted to give you a taste of bilboa and ferrara, mistaking you probably for some of our magnificoes, are already in custody. It is his Lordship's wish that you should for the present preserve a strict silence upon all the occurrences of that night, for which he will give you a reason when he sees you at the Levee; and by the by, I am charged by our common patron to accompany you to the Court to-morrow, where, as I understand, you are to have the honour of being presented to his Majesty. Pardi, Mynheer Wouter! you are a lucky fellow! and when you come to be a grandee, which I reckon will

presently be the case, I hope you won't forget votre très humble serviteur-honest Bat. Seagrave."

Walter did not feel particularly flattered by having such a gentleman usher assigned to him, as he began to think the Captain a somewhat equivocal character; but such being his Lordship's instructions, he had nothing to do but to submit, and he accordingly arrayed himself next morning in his new regimentals, and accompanied Seagrave to Whitehall.

Many circumstances combined at this juncture to diffuse gloom and suspicion through the Court, although the attendances were never known to have been so numerous, nor the appearances of fealty more unequivocal and ardent. Almost every one, with the solitary exception of the monarch himself, foresaw that a crisis, perhaps a convulsion was approaching, and in an interested and corrupt age, the great mass of the courtiers only considered how it might be best converted to their own individual advantage. Some of the more generous and dar

ing Patriots had indeed already quitted the country, and joined the Prince of Orange, with the ultimate destination of whose extensive armaments they were well acquainted. Others, under various disguises and pretexts, and at the imminent hazard of their lives, were roaming through England, communicating with his adherents, securing new partizans, and making preparations for his reception; but there were scarcely any, whether engaged or not in these measures, who did not endeavour to conceal their machinations, their selfish indifference, or their timid irresolution, beneath a veil of the most outrageous loyalty. Never had the addresses from all parties been so fulsome, abject and crawling; never had the personal protestations of unbounded attachment and fidelity been so loud and enthusiastic, and never did an hypocrisy so palpable as to become have a laughing stock and a by-word at every private meeting, so completely succeed in hood-winking its infatuated object. The King was lulled by it into a fatal security, but this feeling was not