btain, for the professors of his religion, a large measure of relief.
Penal statutes would go first. Statutes imposing civil incapacities
would soon follow. In the meantime, the English King and the English
nation united might head the European coalition, and might oppose an
insuperable barrier to the cupidity of Lewis.

Innocent was confirmed in his judgment by the principal Englishmen who
resided at his court. Of these the most illustrious was Philip Howard,
sprung from the noblest houses of Britain, grandson, on one side, of an
Earl of Arundel, on the other, of a Duke of Lennox. Philip had long
been a member of the sacred college: he was commonly designated as the
Cardinal of England; and he was the chief counsellor of the Holy See in
matters relating to his country. He had been driven into exile by the
outcry of Protestant bigots; and a member of his family, the unfortunate
Stafford, had fallen a victim to their rage. But neither the Cardinal's
own wrongs, nor those of his house, had so heated his mind as to make
him a rash adviser. Every letter, therefore, which went from the Vatican
to Whitehall, recommended patience, moderation, and respect for the
prejudices of the English people. [248]

In the mind of James there was a great conflict. We should do him
injustice if we supposed that a state of vassalage was agreeable to his
temper. He loved authority and business. He had a high sense of his own
personal dignity. Nay, he was not altogether destitute of a sentiment
which bore some affinity to patriotism. It galled his soul to think that
the kingdom which he ruled was of far less account in the world than
many states which possessed smaller natural advantages; and he listened
eagerly to foreign ministers when they urged him to assert the dignity
of his rank, to place himself at the head of a great confederacy, to
become the protector of injured nations, and to tame the pride of that
power which held the Continent in awe. Such exhortations made his heart
swell with emotions unknown to his careless and effeminate brother.
But those emotions were soon subdued by a stronger feeling. A vigorous
foreign policy necessarily implied a conciliatory domestic policy. It
was impossible at once to confront the might of France and to trample
on the liberties of England. The executive government could undertake
nothing great without the support of the Commons, and could obtain their
support only by acting in conformity with their o