It was their duty to communicate with each other, and to ascertain as far as possible the sense of the profession of which they were the heads before they took any step.

They were dispersed over the whole kingdom.

Some of them were distant from others a full week's journey.

James allowed them only a fortnight to inform themselves, to meet, to deliberate, and to decide; and he surely had no right to think himself aggrieved because that fortnight was drawing to a close before he learned their decision.

Nor is it true that they did not leave him time to revoke his order if he had been wise enough to do so.