constitution of the Church and the State. They told their master
that he owed it to his religion and to the dignity of his crown
to stand firm against the outcry of heretical demagogues, and to
let the Parliament see from the first that he would be master in
spite of opposition, and that the only effect of opposition would
be to make him a hard master.

Each of the two parties into which the court was divided had
zealous foreign allies. The ministers of Spain, of the Empire,
and of the States General were now as anxious to support
Rochester as they had formerly been to support Halifax. All the
influence of Barillon was employed on the other side; and
Barillon was assisted by another French agent, inferior to him in
station, but far superior in abilities, Bonrepaux. Barillon was
not without parts, and possessed in large measure the graces and
accomplishments which then distinguished the French gentry. But
his capacity was scarcely equal to what his great place required.
He had become sluggish and self indulgent, liked the pleasures of
society and of the table better than business, and on great
emergencies generally waited for admonitions and even for
reprimands from Versailles before he showed much activity.53
Bonrepaux had raised himself from obscurity by the intelligence
and industry which he had exhibited as a clerk in the department
of the marine, and was esteemed an adept in the mystery of
mercantile politics. At the close of the year 1685, he was sent
to London, charged with several special commissions of high
importance. He was to lay the ground for a treaty of commerce; he
was to ascertain and report the state of the English fleets and
dockyards; and he was to make some overtures to the Huguenot
refugees, who, it was supposed, had been so effectually tamed by