পাতা:সদগুণ ও বীর্য্যের ইতিহাস.djvu/৬৭

এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা প্রয়োজন।

[ 6: ) deprived of the throne and king William ad vanced to it. After this change, and the recog nition of William as king by the estates of the realm, it of course became a treasonable of. fence to correspond with the exiled king. One of the ministers of state, a particular friend of James was detected in corresponding with him. For this offence by the laws of the kingdom he deserved death, but William thought it wiser to make such a man his friend than to destroy him. He therefore sent for the Earl, produced those letters before him, and commending his fidelity to his former master, expressed a warm desire to have him for his friend. Having said this he threw the letters into the fire, and thus delivered the Earl srom all fear, for there was no proof of his crime beside the letters. The Earl, delighted with this magnanimity became one of the most faithsul servants of the new king.