Ibid.  Burnet. It was proposed, that the birth of the pretended prince might be examined into....  I was ordered to gather together all the presumptive proofs that were formerly mentioned:....  It is true, these did not amount to a full and legal proof:  Yet they seemed to be such violent presumptions, that, when they were all laid together, they were more convincing than plain and downright evidence:  For that was liable to the suspicion of subornation:  Whereas the other seemed to carry on them very convincing characters of truth and certainty.—­Swift. Well said, Bishop.

P. 817. Burnet. If there was no clear and positive proof made of an imposture, the pretending to examine into it, and then the not being able to make it out beyond the possibility of contradiction, would really give more credit to the thing, than it then had, and, instead of weakening it, would strengthen the pretension of his birth.—­Swift. Wisely done.

Ibid.  Burnet. [Some people] thought, it would be a good security for the nation, to have a dormant title to the crown lie as it were neglected, to oblige our princes to govern well, while they would apprehend the danger of a revolt to a Pretender still in their eye.—­Swift. I think this was no ill design; yet it hath not succeeded in mending kings.

Ibid.  Burnet. I have used more than ordinary care to gather together all the particulars that were then laid before me as to that matter [the birth of the Pretender].—­Swift. And where are they?

P. 818. Burnet, after relating a long conversation with Bentinck [afterwards Earl of Portland], adds—­Next morning I came to him, and desired my conge.  I would oppose nothing in which the Prince seemed to be concerned, as long as I was his servant.  And therefore I desired to be disengaged, that I might be free to oppose this proposition [to offer him the crown] with all the strength and credit I had.  He answered me, that I might desire that when I saw a step made:  But till then he wished me to stay where I was.—­Swift. Is all this true?

P. 819. Burnet. I heard no more of this; in which the Marquess of Halifax was single among the peers:  For I did not find there was any one of them of his mind; unless it was the Lord Colepeper, who was a vicious and corrupt man, but made a figure in the debates that were now in the House of Lords, and died about the end of them.—­Swift. Yet was not the same thing done in effect, while the King had the sole administration?

P. 819. Burnet. The Princess continued all the while in Holland, being shut in there during the east winds, by the freezing of the rivers, and by contrary winds after the thaw came.  So that she came not to England till all the debates were over.—­Swift. Why was she [not] sent for till the matter was agreed?  This clearly shews the Prince’s original design was to be king, against what he professed in his Declaration.