William Carstares [pp. 581-603]

WILLIAM CARSTARES.
However, after twenty-eight years of persecution, during
which the best blood of Scotland was poured out like
water, the exhausted country, at the Revolution, seemed animated by one impulse. The principles of the Scottish Refor!nation were only driven deeper into the affections of the people
by the sufferings of the martyrs who had died for it. It is pertectly clear that the revolution would never have taken place had
not persecution driven both the Anglican and Scottish Churches
into rebellion, and the civil liberties of Englishmen would never
Ilave been secured had not religious liberty been previously
achieved by the broadsword of the Covenant. Mr. Buckle may
imagine that Scotchmen have a vein of Spanish fanaticism in
their natures, but he is candid enough to admit that it is comined with the sturdiest Anglo-Saxon independence. The history of the Covenanters proves it.
The Revolution was at length accomplished. The final blow
was struck that blotted out the name of Stuart from the catalogue of kings. William, Prince of Orange, reigned as King of
England. Carstares had apartments with the king in Kensing;on Palace, for he was, as Mr. Story says, "virtually Wiltiam's confidential adviser and secretary for Scotch affairs,
and as such wielded a greater power than that of any of the ostensible ministers and officers of State." This was the period
when he began to be called "The Cardinal," on account of his
great influence, and when Macky, the spy, speaks of him as "a
fat, sanguine-complexioned, fair man, always smiling when he
ldesigns most mischief "-as "the cunningest, subtle dissembler
in the world."
The ecclesiastical settlement of Scotland was one of the chief
tifficulties of William, and we now henceforth clearly trace the
hland of Carstares at every successive step of the negotiations
thiat led to the final establishment of Presbyterianism in that
country. Williamn was a latitudinarian in questions of church
governmnent: "a thorough Erastian, he would yield no recogni tion to dogmatic or hierarchic pretensions, which were advanced
by the avowed opponents of his government and policy; and
lis great idea was, if possible, to include both the Presbyter ians and the Episcopalians in one comprehensive establishment.
But he found himself, at length, compelled to repudiate Episco pacy on account of its opposition to his dynastic claims. The
Scotch bishops, who had for years made the doctrine of Divine
1874.]
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