o perform the vilest of all
offices, that of watching the lips of a companion in order to report
his words to his ruin. The conversation in the hall had been purposely
turned to irritating topics, to the Exclusion Bill, and to the character
of the Earl of Shaftesbury, but in vain. Locke neither broke out nor
dissembled, but maintained such steady silence and composure as forced
the tools of power to own with vexation that never man was so complete
a master of his tongue and of his passions. When it was found that
treachery could do nothing, arbitrary power was used. After vainly
trying to inveigle Locke into a fault, the government resolved to punish
him without one. Orders came from Whitehall that he should be ejected;
and those orders the Dean and Canons made haste to obey.

Locke was travelling on the Continent for his health when he learned
that he had been deprived of his home and of his bread without a trial
or even a notice. The injustice with which he had been treated would
have excused him if he had resorted to violent methods of redress. But
he was not to be blinded by personal resentment he augured no good from
the schemes of those who had assembled at Amsterdam; and he quietly
repaired to Utrecht, where, while his partners in misfortune were
planning their own destruction, he employed himself in writing his
celebrated letter on Toleration. [342]

The English government was early apprised that something was in
agitation among the outlaws. An invasion of England seems not to have
been at first expected; but it was apprehended that Argyle would shortly
appear in arms among his clansmen. A proclamation was accordingly issued
directing that Scotland should be put into a state of defence. The
militia was ordered to be in readiness. All the clans hostile to the
name of Campbell were set in motion. John Murray, Marquess of Athol, was
appointed Lord Lieutenant of Argyleshire, and, at the head of a great
body of his followers, occupied the castle of Inverary. Some suspected
persons were arrested. Others were compelled to give hostages. Ships of
war were sent to cruise near the isle of Bute; and part of the army of
Ireland was moved to the coast of Ulster. [343]

While these preparations were making in Scotland, James called into his
closet Arnold Van Citters, who had long resided in England as Ambassador
from the United Provinces, and Everard Van Dykvelt, who, after the death
of Charles, had been sent by the State G