The audacious zeal of James in the support of Popery reached its climax in the summer of 1687. Monsignor Ferdinando D’Adda, described by a Jesuit as a mere boy, a fine showy fop, to make love to the ladies,[190] after having for some time privately acted as Papal Nuncio, had, in the spring of this year, been publicly consecrated at Whitehall, titular Archbishop of Amasia. He had immediately afterwards been received in his archiepiscopal vestments by the Sovereign of England, who, in the presence of the Court, prostrated himself before the Italian prelate to receive his benediction. The prelate being thus prepared by his new dignity, the King determined that he should be publicly received as an ambassador from His Holiness; and he caused arrangements to be accordingly made for his reception in that capacity at Windsor Castle, on the 3rd of July. At the Whitehall reception of the Archbishop, the Spanish Ambassador had warned James against being priest-ridden, when the latter asked, “Is it not the usage in Spain that Kings consult their Confessors?” “Yes, Sire,” replied the Minister, “and hence it is that our affairs go so badly.” In prospect of the Windsor ceremonial, the Duke of Somerset received orders to be in attendance to introduce the dignitary. He begged to be excused, lest compliance should be construed into a breach of law. “Do you not know,” said James, “that I am above the law?” “Your Majesty may be,” rejoined the Duke, “but I am not.” This nobleman being dismissed for his frankness, people remarked in gossip, that a Duke of Somerset “had put out the Pope, and now the Pope had put out the Duke.” “It would have been more remarkable,” said Sir John Bramston, “if the Duke had brought him in.”[191] [Sidenote: PROMOTION OF ROMANISTS.]