trading and inferior sort are for Presbytery; wherefore he bids me tell you, that if you will undertake to serve him to the purpose, that he is served here in England, he will take you by the hand, support the Church and order, and throw off the Presbyterians."
The Bishop expressed his thanks for the offer; but he added, that such a Revolution was not expected, and that consequently, having no instructions, he could only give his private opinion, which was, that the Bishops of Scotland would not consent to make the Prince their Sovereign. Compton replied, that the King must be excused "for standing by the Presbyterians." The Bishop did not speak to the Prince that day: but on the following morning he was admitted into his presence. "He came," says the Bishop, "three or four steps forward from his company, and prevented me by saying, my Lord, are you going for Scotland? My reply was, yes, Sir, if you have any commands for me: then he said, I hope you will be kind to me and follow the example of England: wherefore, being somewhat difficulted how to make a mannerly and discreet answer, without entangling myself, I readily replied, Sir, I will serve you so far as law, reason, or conscience will allow me. How this answer pleased I cannot well tell, but it seems the limitations and conditions of it were not acceptable, for instantly the Prince, without saying any more, turned away from me and went back to his company." The Bishop believes that the Prince would have cast off the Presbyterians, since they had committed themselves too far to return to King James. Duke Hamilton "told us, a day or two before the sitting down of the Convention, that he had it in special charge from King William that nothing should be done to the prejudice of Episcopacy in Scotland,
