The King, in reply, assured the Bishops, that they might depend on his former promises, and he gave a new assurance that he would improve all occasions and opportunities for serving the Church of England. There also occurred in this Convocation, debates about proxies, complaints respecting the custody of Convocation records, and charges brought against the publication of books on the Athanasian Creed, contrary to the Canons. We are informed that a reverend person made a useless speech on behalf of the Bishops under suspension, wishing that something could be done to qualify them for sitting in Convocation without endangering the constitution of the Assembly; and Burnet tells us that the majority in Convocation refused to consider any compromise with the Dissenters, one argument being that it was derogatory to the Church to make overtures to them until they expressed a desire for reconciliation, and either offered proposals themselves, or showed a willingness to consider proposals made by others.[164] Committee meetings were held in Dr. Busby’s chamber, and in Dr. Tenison’s library there was an inspection of old books belonging to Convocation, but nothing important was effected in any way. Convocation adjourned on the 16th of December through successive prorogations, and remained inoperative for ten years. CHAPTER V. The periods prescribed by the Act which altered the Oaths of Allegiance--first for the suspension, and next for the ejectment of those who refused to swear--were the 1st of August, 1689, and the 1st of February, 1690. In the early part of the year events occurred which increased the importance of exacting the prescribed oaths. James left France in the month of March, 1689. Rumour ran that he had reached England, that he was in London, that he was secretly lodged in the house of Lloyd, the Nonjuror.[165] This proved to be a mistake. He landed at Kinsale in Ireland, trusting to his friends, and saying, “I will recover my own dominions with my own subjects, or perish in the attempt.” The French King speeded the parting guest with the equivocal compliment, “The best wish I can form for your service is, that I may never see you again.”[166] But with the people of Ireland James found little favour--the Protestants disliking him as a Papist, the Papists suspecting him because they considered his policy towards Protestants too lenient.[167] In support of his attempt to recover the crown, his army laid siege to Londonderry, and the French navy skirmished with an English squadron in Bantry Bay. This occurred in April. A Parliament, at his summons, met in Dublin the following month, and from the Castle, where he took up his residence, he issued a Declaration to his Irish subjects, exhorting them to support his claims. [Sidenote: NONJURORS.]