exertions had not been thrown away.17

The foreign embassies were all in a ferment. It was well
understood that a few days would now decide the great question,
whether the King of England was or was not to be the vassal of
the King of France. The ministers of the House of Austria were
most anxious that James should give satisfaction to his
Parliament. Innocent had sent to London two persons charged to
inculcate moderation, both by admonition and by example. One of
them was John Leyburn, an English Dominican, who had been
secretary to Cardinal Howard, and who, with some learning and a
rich vein of natural humour, was the most cautious, dexterous,
and taciturn of men. He had recently been consecrated Bishop of
Adrumetum, and named Vicar Apostolic in Great Britain. Ferdinand,
Count of Adda, an Italian of no eminent abilities, but of mild
temper and courtly manners, had been appointed Nuncio. These
functionaries were eagerly welcomed by James. No Roman Catholic
Bishop had exercised spiritual functions in the island during
more than half a century. No Nuncio had been received here during
the hundred and twenty-seven years which had elapsed since the
death of Mary. Leyburn was lodged in Whitehall, and received a
pension of a thousand pounds a year. Adda did not yet assume a
public character. He passed for a foreigner of rank whom
curiosity had brought to London, appeared daily at court, and was
treated with high consideration. Both the Papal emissaries did
their best to diminish, as much as possible, the odium
inseparable from the offices which they filled, and to restrain
the rash zeal of James. The Nuncio, in particular, declared that
nothing could be more injurious to the interests of the Church of
Rome than a rupture between the King and the Parliament.18