legal schemes; but they did not adopt measures to set him aside: and no charge of inconsistency, between their conduct at this time and a subsequent period, can be sustained. The only inconsistent man was Compton, who said to his Majesty, "I am confident the rest of the Bishops will as readily answer in the negative as myself."[1] In the reasons which Compton assigned for not signing a Declaration of Abhorrence, he intimates, that, "as only few Bishops were in London, to sign any paper would lead the world to expect, that they were divided in opinion; who, we hope, are very well united." He also argues, that the clause in the Declaration joined the Lords temporal and spiritual; "so that if it has any meaning, it must intend, that there is a concurrence of both orders to invite them to this attempt, which would make it more improper in us, even though all the Bishops were here, to make a separate vindication, when the accusation is joined, and comprehends the temporal Lords in it."[2] This reasoning was intended to convey the impression, that he had not signed the Invitation to the Prince. Nothing could be more reprehensible than such conduct.
Of those, who refused to sign a Declaration of Abhorrence of the Prince's designs, several subsequently became Nonjurors: and their refusal to take the oaths has been considered as inconsistent with their conduct on this occasion. But surely this is a most groundless charge. They saw the necessity of some interference with King James: and they believed,
