The Embassy of Everaard van Weede 53 



He tells how these men, representing every department of national 

 activity, "met often at the earl of Shrewsbury's." 238 A characteristic 

 statement of Burnet follows this remark, and this statement has 

 led to a great deal of controversy on the part of historians. He adds, 

 then, that "there they concerted matters, and drew the declara- 

 tion on which they advised the prince to engage." It has been 

 shown how Dalrymple, too eager to accept Burnet's conclusions, 

 has fallen afoul of the actual situation. 239 The Editor of Mackin- 

 tosh doubts that these meetings ever accomplished anything so 

 startling as Burnet tells us. 240 The personnel of these meetings 

 made concert upon such a great consideration as a revolution im- 

 possible. Those whom Burnet records as attending these meet- 

 ings are Halifax, Shrewsbury, Devonshire, Danby, Nottingham, 

 Mordaunt, Lumley, Herbert, Russell, and Compton, the Bishop 

 of London. 241 The inherent timidity of Nottingham and Halifax 

 was always a hindrance. Halifax and Danby were political 

 rivals. 242 Even the Bishop of London was reluctant in his avowal 

 of the Prince's cause. 243 It was not until several months had 

 passed that the dispositions of the men were to be noted. Only 

 seven of the group were courageous enough to send the invitation 

 which brought the Prince of Orange to England. 244 On the other 

 hand, everyone who met at the home of Shrewsbury had a griev- 

 ance. Some had lost close relatives during James's campaign to 

 secure himself; others had been evicted from important offices. 

 Halifax stood in formal disgrace at the court. Devonshire was 

 suffering from a bitter insult. Compton had been deprived of his 

 clerical post. The conferences at the Shrewsbury home had their 

 import, and it is Mazure who gives a just estimate on this im- 

 portant phase of the revolutionary enterprise. 245 



238 Burnet, p. 452. 



239 Supra, p. 4. 



240 Mackintosh, Continuation, p. 463. 



241 Burnet, p. 452. 



242 Mackintosh, Continuation, p. 463. 



243 Infra, p. 60 f. 



244 The invitation is given in Dalrymple, p. 226 f. 



246 Mazure, Histoire de la Revolution de 1688 en Angleterre, vol. ii, p. 220 f. 



137 



