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| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 21:17:06 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 21:17:06 -0800 |
| commit | aeb83ae451087c85e1c258bdeb8795f34ecbf407 (patch) | |
| tree | a36e6108322526fefca4e31c81f8b64a01db7a4c /old/52045-h | |
| parent | 8431f1803979a6bdc32475840c08c01b16208a0b (diff) | |
Diffstat (limited to 'old/52045-h')
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- margin-left: 4em; - padding-left: 3em; - text-indent: -3em; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding: 1.5em; - margin-right: 10%; - margin-left: 10%; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -Project Gutenberg's Cassell's History of England. Vol III, by Cassell - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Cassell's History of England. Vol III - From the Great Rebellion to the Fall of Marlborough. - -Author: Cassell - -Release Date: May 11, 2016 [EBook #52045] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CASSELL'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND, VOL III *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h1><span class="small80">CASSELL'S</span><br /> - -<span class="smcap">History of England</span></h1> - -<p class="p5">FROM THE GREAT REBELLION TO<br /> -THE FALL OF MARLBOROUGH</p> - -<p class="p4">WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS,<br /> -INCLUDING COLOURED<br /> -AND REMBRANDT PLATES</p> - -<p class="p5">VOL. III</p> - -<p class="p5"><em>THE KING'S EDITION</em></p> - -<p class="p5">CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED<br /> -<span class="small80">LONDON, NEW YORK, TORONTO AND MELBOURNE</span></p> - -<p class="p4">MCMIX</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v"></a></span></p> - -<p class="p4">ALL RIGHTS RESERVED</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - -<h2>CONTENTS</h2> - -<hr class="r5" /> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">THE GREAT REBELLION. <span class="shiftright">PAGE</span></p> - -<blockquote> -<p>Condition of Ireland—Roger Moore's Pilgrimage—Negotiations of the Anglo-Irish with Charles—Hugh M'Mahon betrays -the Plot—Rising of the Native Irish—Massacre of Protestants—Measures taken by the English Parliament—Return -of Charles to London—The Grand Remonstrance—The King's Answer—His Lieutenant of the Tower—Riots in -London—Blunder of the Bishops—Attempted Arrest of the Five Members—Charles leaves London—The Queen goes -to Holland—Charles at York—His Repulse from Hull—Preparations for War—The Royal Standard Raised—Prince -Rupert's Headstrong Folly—Battle of Edge Hill—Charles marches on London—He returns to Oxford—Cromwell -in the East—The Queen in Yorkshire—Death of Hampden—Parliamentary Disasters—Battle of -Newbury—Death of Lord Falkland—Negotiations with the Scots and Irish—Death of Pym—Royal Parliament at -Oxford—Battle of Marston Moor—Disastrous Failure of Essex in Cornwall—Second Battle of Newbury—The Self-denying -Ordinance—The New-modelled Army <span class="shiftright">1</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">THE GREAT REBELLION (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The Assembly at Westminster—Trial and Death of Laud—Negotiations at Uxbridge—Meeting of the Commissioners—Impossibility -of a Settlement—Prospect of Help to the King from the Continent—Charles agrees to the demands of -the Irish Catholics—Discipline and Spirit of the Parliamentary Army—Campaign of the New-modelled Army—Hunting -the King—Battle of Naseby—Fairfax in the West—Exploits of Montrose—Efforts of Charles to join Him—Battle -of Kilsyth—Fall of Bristol—Battle of Philiphaugh—Last Efforts of the Royalists—Charles Offers to Treat—Discovery -of his Correspondence with Glamorgan—Charles Intrigues with the Scots—Flight from Oxford—Surrender -to the Scots at Newark—Consequent Negotiations—Proposals for Peace—Surrender of Charles to Parliament <span class="shiftright">34</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">END OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES I.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Differences between the Presbyterians and Independents—The King at Holmby—Attempt to Disband the Army—Consequent -Petitions to Parliament—The Adjutators—Meeting at Newmarket—Seizure of the King—Advance of the -Army on London—Stubbornness of the Presbyterians—The Army Marches through London—Its Proposals to Charles—Their -Rejection—The King throws away his best Chances—The Levellers—Cromwell's Efforts on behalf of Charles—Renewed -Intrigues of Charles—Flight to Carisbrooke—Attempts to Rescue the King—Charles Treats with the -Scots—Consequent Reaction in his Favour—Battle of Preston and Suppression of the Insurrection—Cromwell at Edinburgh—The -Prince of Wales in Command of the Fleet—Negotiations at Newport—Growing Impatience of the -Army—Petitions for the King's Trial—Charles's Blindness and Duplicity—He is Removed to Hurst Castle—Pride's -Purge—Supremacy of the Independents—The Whiggamores—Hugh Peters' Sermon in St. Margaret's, Westminster—Ordinance -for the King's Trial—Trial and Execution of Charles I. <span class="shiftright">59</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">THE COMMONWEALTH.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Proclamation of the Prince of Wales Forbidden—Decline of the Peerage—<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Ultimus Regum</i>—Establishment of a Republican -Government—Abolition of the House of Lords and the Monarchy—Council of State—The Oath Difficulty—The -Engagement—Religious Toleration—Trials of Royalists—Discontent among the People—The Levellers—Activity of -John Lilburne—Quelling the Mutiny in Whalley's Regiment—Lockyer's Funeral—Arrest of Lilburne—Spread of the -Disaffection to other Regiments—Suppression of the Insurrection—Cromwell appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland—Royalist -Movement in Scotland—Charles's Son proclaimed King—The Scottish Deputation at the Hague—Charles's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span> -Court—Assassination of Dr. Dorislaus—Affairs in Ireland—Cromwell's Campaign—Defeat and Death of -Montrose—Cromwell in Scotland—Battle of Dunbar—Movements of Charles—His March into England—Battle of -Worcester—Charles Escapes to France—Vigorous Government—Foreign Difficulties—Navigation Act—War with -Holland—Contest between Parliament and the Army—Expulsion of the Rump—The Little Parliament—Cromwell -made Protector <span class="shiftright">90</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">THE COMMONWEALTH (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Naval Victory over the Dutch—Death of Van Tromp—<em>Quasi</em>-Royal State of the Lord-Protector—Disaffection against -Cromwell—His Vigorous Rule—Charles II. offers a Reward for his Assassination—Rebellions in Scotland—Cromwell's -Dealings with the Portuguese Ambassador—Reform of the Court of Chancery—Commission for Purgation -of the Church—The Reformed Parliament—Exclusion of the Ultras—Dissolution of Parliament—Danger -from Plots—Accident to the Protector—Death of Cromwell's Mother—Royalist Outbreaks—Cromwell's Major-Generals—Foreign -Policy—War with Spain—Massacre of the Piedmontese—Capture of Jamaica—The Jews Appeal for -Toleration—Cromwell's Third Parliament—Plots against his Life—The Petition and Advice—Cromwell refuses the -Royal Title—Blake's Brilliant Victory at Santa Cruz—Death of Blake—Successes against Spain—Failure of the -Reconstructed Parliament—Punishment of Conspirators—Victory in the Netherlands—Absolutism of Cromwell—His -Anxieties, Illness, and Death—Proclamation of Richard Cromwell—He calls a Parliament—It is Dissolved—Reappearance -of the Rump—Richard Retires—Royalist Risings—Quarrels of the Army and the Rump—General -Monk—He Marches upon London—Demands a Free Parliament—Royalist Reaction—Declaration of Breda—Joyful -Reception of Charles <span class="shiftright">123</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">THE PROGRESS OF THE NATION UNDER JAMES I., CHARLES I., AND THE COMMONWEALTH.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Manufactures and Commerce—Trade under the Stuarts—English Commerce and Dutch Competition—The East India -Company—Vicissitudes of its Early History—Rival Companies—The American Colonies and West Indies—Growth -of London—National Revenue—Extravagance of the Stuarts—Invention of the Title of Baronet—Illegal Monopolies—Cost -of Government—Money and Coinage—Agriculture and Gardening—Dramatists of the Period—Shakespeare -and his Contemporaries—Poets of the Occult School—Herbert, Herrick, Quarles—A Wealth of Poetry—Prose-Writers—Bacon's -"Novum Organum"—Milton's Prose Works—Hales, Chillingworth, Jeremy Taylor, Fuller, and -other Theological Writers—Harrington's "Oceana"—Sir Thomas Browne—Historians and Chroniclers—First Newspapers—Harvey's -Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood—Napier's Invention of Logarithms—Music—Painting, -Engraving, and Sculpture—Architecture—Manners and Customs—Sports and Pastimes—Furniture and Domestic -Embellishment—Costumes—Arms and Armour—Condition of the People <span class="shiftright">165</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">CHARLES II.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Character of Charles II.—The King's First Privy Council—The Convention Parliament—Submission of the Presbyterian -Leaders—The Plight of those who took Part in the late King's Trial—Complaisance of the Commoners—Charles's -Income—The Bill of Sales—The Ministers Bill—Settlement of the Church—Trial of the Regicides—Their Execution—Marriage -of the Duke of York—Mutilation of the Remains of Cromwell—The Presbyterians Duped—The Revenue—Fifth-Monarchy -Riot—Settlements of Ireland and Scotland—Execution of Argyll—Re-establishment of Episcopacy—The -new Parliament violently Royalist—The King's Marriage—His Brutal Behaviour to the Queen—State of the -Court—Trial of Vane and Lambert—Execution of Vane—Assassination of Regicides—Sale of Dunkirk—The Uniformity -Act—Religious Persecution—Strange Case of the Marquis of Bristol—Repeal of the Triennial Act—The -Conventicle and Five Mile Acts—War with Holland—Appearance of the Plague—Gross Licentiousness of the Court—Demoralisation -of the Navy—Monk's Fight with the Dutch—The Great Fire <span class="shiftright">193</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">REIGN OF CHARLES II. (<em>continued</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Demands of Parliament—A Bogus Commission—Crushing the Covenanters in Scotland—The Dutch in the Thames—Panic -in London and at Court—Humiliation of England—Peace is Signed—Fall of Clarendon—The Cabal—Sir -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span>William Temple at the Hague—The Triple Alliance—Scandals at Court—Profligacy of the King and the Duke of -Buckingham—Attempt to Deprive the Duke of York of the Succession—Persecution of Nonconformists—Trial of -Penn and Mead—The Rights of Juries—Secret Treaty with France—Suspicious Death of Charles's Sister—"Madam -Carwell"—Attack on Sir John Coventry—National Bankruptcy—War with Holland—Battle of Southwold Bay—Declaration -of Indulgence—Fall of the Cabal—Affairs in Scotland and Ireland—Progress of the Continental War—Mary -Marries William of Orange—Louis Intrigues with the Opposition—Peace of Nimeguen—The Popish Plot—Impeachment -of Danby—Temple's Scheme of Government—The Exclusion Bill—Murder of Archbishop Sharp—Bothwell -Bridge—Anti-Catholic Fury—Charges against James—Execution of Lord Stafford <span class="shiftright">221</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">REIGN OF CHARLES II. (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Charles's Embarrassments—Exclusion Intrigues—Parliament Dissolved—The King again Pensioned by Louis—New Parliament -at Oxford—Violence of the Whigs—Charles Dissolves the Oxford Parliament—Execution of Archbishop -Plunket—Arrest of Shaftesbury—Dismay of the Gang of Perjurers—Oates turned out of Whitehall—Shaftesbury's -Lists—Visit of William of Orange—James in Scotland—Defeat of the Cameronians—Cargill's Manifesto—The -Duke of York's Tyranny—Flight of Argyll—The Torture in Edinburgh—Arrogance of Monmouth—Contest -between the Court and the City—Death of Shaftesbury—Rye House Plot—Suicide of the Earl of Essex—Trial of -Lord William Russell—Extraordinary Declaration of the University of Oxford—Trial of Algernon Sidney—The Duke -of Monmouth Pardoned—Base Conduct of Monmouth—Trial of Hampden—Trials in Scotland—Absolutism of -Charles—Forfeiture of Charters by the Corporations—Influence of the Duke of York—Opposition of Halifax—Sickness -and Death of the King <span class="shiftright">267</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">REIGN OF JAMES II.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>James's Speech to the Council—Rochester supersedes Halifax—Other Changes in the Ministry—James Collects the -Customs without Parliament—French Pension continued—Scottish Parliament—Oates and Dangerfield—Meeting of -Parliament—It grants Revenue for Life—Monmouth and Argyll—Argyll's Expedition—His Capture and Execution—Monmouth's -Expedition—He enters Taunton—Failure of his Hopes—Battle of Sedgemoor—Execution of -Monmouth—Cruelties of Kirke and Jeffreys—The Bloody Assize—The Case of Lady Alice Lisle—Decline of James's -Power—He Breaks the Test Act—Revocation of the Edict of Nantes—Prorogation of Parliament—Acquittal of -Delamere—Alienation of the Church—Parties at Court—The Dispensing Power Asserted—Livings granted to -Catholics—Court of High Commission Revived—Army on Hounslow Heath—Trial of "Julian" Johnson—James's -Lawlessness in Scotland and Ireland—Declaration of Indulgence—The Party of the Prince of Orange and the -Princess Mary—Expulsion of the Fellows of Magdalen College—New Declaration of Indulgence—Protest of the -Seven Bishops—Birth of the Prince of Wales—Trial and Acquittal of the Bishops—Invitation to William of -Orange—Folly of James—William's Preparations—Blindness of James, and Treachery of his Ministers—William's -Declaration—James convinced, makes Concessions—William lands at Torbay—His Advance to Exeter—Churchill's -Treason—Flight of the Princess Anne and her Husband—James sends Commissioners to Treat with William—Flight -of James—Riots in London—Return of James—His Final Flight to France—The Convention—The -Succession Question—Declaration of Rights—William and Mary joint Sovereigns <span class="shiftright">289</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">PROGRESS OF THE NATION FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE GREAT REVOLUTION.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Religion: Nonconformist Sects—Imprisonment of Bunyan—Fox and the Society of Friends—The Punishment of James -Naylor—Expulsion of Roger Williams—Other Religious Sects—Literature: Milton—His Works—Cowley—Butler—Dryden—Minor -Poets—Dramatists of the Restoration—Prose Writers: Milton and Dryden—Hobbes—Clarendon—Baxter—Bunyan—Waiton—Evelyn -and Pepys—Founding of the Royal Society—Physical Science—Discoveries of -Napier, Newton and Flamsteed—Mathematicians and Chemists—Harvey and Worcester—Painting, Sculpture, and -Engraving—Coinage—Music—Furniture—Costume—Manners and Customs—State of London—Sports and Amusements—Country -Life—Travelling—The Clergy—Yeomen—Village Sports—Growth of the Revenue and Commerce—Growing -prosperity of the North of England—The Navigation Act—Norwich and Bristol—Postal Arrangements—Advantages -Derived from the Industries of the Foreign Refugees—The East India Company—Condition of the -People: Wages—The Poor Law—Efforts of Philanthropists <span class="shiftright">352</span></p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">REIGN OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Accession of William and Mary—Discontent of the Church and the Army—William's First Ministry—His Dutch Followers—The -Convention becomes a Parliament—Oath of Allegiance—Settlement of the Revenue—Suspension of the -Habeas Corpus Act—The Mutiny Bill—Settlement of Religion—The Coronation—Declaration of War with -France—Violence of the Revolution in Scotland—Parties in the Scottish Parliament—Letter from James—Secession -of Dundee—Edinburgh in Arms—Settlement of the Government—Dundee in the Highlands—Battle of -Killiecrankie—Mackay Concludes the War—Revolution in Ireland—Panic among the Englishry—Londonderry -and Enniskillen Garrisoned—Negotiations of Tyrconnel—His Temporary Success—Landing of James—He Enters -Dublin—His Journey into Ulster—The Siege of Londonderry—It is Saved—Legislation of the Irish Parliament—Arrival -of Schomberg—Factiousness of the English Whigs—State of the English Army in Ireland—Renewed Violence -of the Whigs—The Corporation Act Thrown Out—William Threatens to Leave England—Dissolution of Parliament—Tory -Reaction—Venality of the New Parliament—Settlement of the Revenue—Whig Propositions—The Act of -Grace—Preparations for War—A Jacobite Plot—William goes to Ireland—Progress of the War under Schomberg—Gradual -Improvement of his Position and Ruin of the Jacobite Army—The Battle of the Boyne—Flight of James—William -Enters the Irish Capital—News from England—Siege of Limerick—Battle of Beachy Head—Landing -of the French in Torbay—Courage of the English People—Settlement of Scotland—Marlborough's Successes in -Ireland—Parliament Grants Liberal Supplies—Preston's Plot Thwarted—William Sets Out for Holland—Vigour of -Louis—Fall of Mons—Trial of Jacobite Conspirators—Treason in High Places—Punishment of the Non-Jurors—The -Continental Campaign—Condition of Ireland—Arrival of St. Ruth—Siege of Athlone—Battle of Aghrim—Second -Siege and Capitulation of Limerick <span class="shiftright">396</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">REIGN OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Proceedings in Parliament—Complaints against Admiral Russell—Treason in the Navy—Legislation against the Roman -Catholics—The East India Company—Treasons Bill—The Poll Tax—Changes in the Ministry—Marlborough is -deprived of his Offices—His Treachery—The Queen's Quarrel with the Princess Anne—William goes Abroad—Fall -of Namur—Battle of Steinkirk—Results of the Campaign—The Massacre of Glencoe—Proposed Invasion of -England—James's Declaration—Russell's Hesitation overcome by the Queen—Battle of La Hogue—Gallant Conduct -of Rooke—Young's Sham Plot—Founding of Greenwich Hospital—Ill Success of the Fleet—Discontent of the -People—Complaints in the Lords and Commons—The Land Tax—Origin of the National Debt—Liberty of the Press—The -Continental Campaign—Battle of Landen—Loss of the Smyrna Fleet—Attack on the Navy—New Legislation—Banking -Schemes of Chamberlayne and Paterson—The Bank of England Established—Ministerial Changes—Negotiations -for Peace—Marlborough's Treason and the Death of Talmash—Illness and Death of Queen Mary <span class="shiftright">448</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">Reign of WILLIAM III. (<em>continued</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Rising Hopes of the Jacobites—Expulsion of Trevor for Venality—Examination of the Books of the East India Company—Impeachment -of Leeds—The Glencoe Inquiry—The Darien Scheme—Marlborough's Reconciliation with William—Campaign -of 1695—Surrender of Namur—William's Triumphant Return—General Election and Victory of the -Whigs—New Parliament—Re-establishment of the Currency—Treasons Bill passed—A Double Jacobite Plot—Barclay's -Preparations—Failure of Berwick's Insurrection Scheme—William Avoids the Snare—Warnings and Arrests—Sensation -in the House of Commons—Trial and Execution of the Conspirators—The Association Bill becomes -Law—Land Bank Established—Commercial Crisis—Failure of the Land Bank—The Bank of England supplies -William with Money—Arrest of Sir John Fenwick—His Confession—William ignores it—Good Temper of the -Commons—They take up Fenwick's Confession—His Silence—A Bill of Attainder passes both Houses—Execution -of Fenwick—Ministerial Changes—Louis desires Peace—Opposition of the Allies—French Successes—Terms of -Peace—Treaty of Ryswick—Enthusiasm in England <span class="shiftright">476</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">REIGN OF WILLIAM III. (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>William Meets his Parliament—Reduction of the Standing Army—Visit of Peter the Great—Schemes of Louis—The -East India Company—Spanish Partition Scheme—Its Inception and Progress—Somers's Hesitation—The Treaty is -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span>Signed—New Parliament—Tory Reaction—Dismissal of the Dutch Guards—William forms an Intention of Quitting -England—Attack on the late Ministry—Jobbery in the Admiralty—Paterson's Darien Scheme—Douglas's Reasons -against It—Enthusiasm of the Scots—Departure of the First Expedition and its Miserable Failure—The Untimely -End of the Second Expedition—Second Partition Scheme—Double-dealing of the French—New Parliament—Attack -on Somers—Report on the Irish Grants—Resumption Bill passed—William's Unpopularity—Death of the -Duke of Gloucester—Conclusion of the New Partition Treaty and its Results—Charles makes over his Dominions -to the French Candidate—His Death—Disgust of William at Louis's Duplicity—Tory Temper of the House—The -Succession Question—Debates on Foreign Policy—The Succession Act passed—New Negotiations with France—Attack -on the Whig Ministers—Acknowledgment of the Spanish King—Impeachment of the Whigs—The Kentish -Petition—Its Reception by the House—The Legion Memorial—Panic in the House—Violent Struggle between -the two Houses—The Impeachments dropped—William goes Abroad—The Grand Alliance and its Objects—Beginning -of the War—Death of James II.—Louis acknowledges the Pretender—Reaction in England—New -Parliament and Ministry—The King's Speech—British Patriotism is Roused—Voting of Supplies—The Bills of -Attainder and Abjuration—Illness and Death of William—His Character <span class="shiftright">502</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Accession of the Queen—Meeting of the Houses of Parliament—Scotland and Ireland—Power of Marlborough—The -Revenue—Tory Colour of the Ministry—The Coronation—Declaration of War—Marlborough goes to the Seat of -War—General Aspect of Affairs—Marlborough's Difficulties—His Campaign—Operations by Sea—Meeting of -Parliament—Supply—Marlborough's Dukedom—The Occasional Conformity Bill—Dismissal of Rochester—Opening -of the Campaign of 1703—Fall of Bonn—Failure to take Antwerp—Savoy and Portugal join the Allies—Visit of -the Archduke Charles to England—The Storm—Jacobite Conspiracy—Ashby <em>versus</em> White—Queen Anne's Bounty—Marlborough's -Great Plans—The States-General hoodwinked—His March—Dismay of the French—Junction with -Eugene—Advance on the Danube—Assault of the Schellenberg—The Prince of Baden's Conceit—Approach of Tallard—The -Eve of Blenheim—The Battle—Conclusion of the Campaign—Marlborough's Diplomacy—Capture of Gibraltar—Battle -of Malaga—Proceedings in Parliament—The Campaign of 1705—Attempt to recover Gibraltar—Peterborough's -Exploits in Spain—Proposal to Invite the Electress Sophia to England—Consequent Legislation—Battle -of Ramillies—Eugene relieves Turin—Disasters in Spain—Meeting of the Commissioners for the Union—Condition -of the Treaty—Opposition in Scotland—Riots in Edinburgh—Conduct of the Opposition—The Measure carried by -Bribery—Its Discussion in the English Parliament—The Royal Assent given <span class="shiftright">535</span></p></blockquote> - - -<p class="p5"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a></p> - -<p class="p1">THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE (<em>continued</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Negotiations for Peace—The Ministry becomes Whig—Harley—Marlborough and Charles of Sweden—The Allies in Spain—Battle -of Almanza—The French Triumphant in Spain—Attack on Toulon—Destruction of Shovel's Fleet—Jacobitism -in Scotland—First Parliament of Great Britain—Abigail Hill—The Gregg Affair—Retirement of Harley -and St. John from the Ministry—Attempted Invasion of Scotland—Campaign of 1708—Battle of Oudenarde—Capture -of Lille—Leake takes Sardinia and Minorca—Death of Prince George of Denmark—The Junto—Terrible -Plight of France—Marlborough's Plans for 1709—Louis Negotiates with Holland—Torcy's Terms—Ultimatum of -the Allies—Rejection of the Terms—Patriotism of the French Nation—Fall of Tournay—Battle of Malplaquet—Meeting -of Parliament—Dr. Sacheverell's Sermons—His Impeachment resolved upon—Attitude of the Court—The -Trial and Sacheverell's Defence—The Riots—Dispersal of the Rabble—The Sentence—Bias of the Queen—The -Tories in Power—Renewed Overtures for Peace—Their Failure—The Campaigns in the Netherlands and -in Spain—Brihuega and its Consequence—Marlborough's Reign at an End—Unpopularity of Marlborough—Dismissal -of the Duchess—Triumph of the Tories—Guiscard's Attack on Harley—Popularity of Harley—Marlborough's -Last Campaign—Failure of the Attack on Quebec—The Ministry determine to make Peace—Overtures to the -Pretender—He refuses to Change his Religion—Gualtier's Mission to Versailles—Indignation of the Dutch—The -Basis of Negotiations—Signing of the Preliminaries—Excitement Abroad and at Home—Prorogation of Parliament—Strengthening -of the Ministry—Debates in the two Houses—The Whigs adopt the Occasional Conformity Bill—Creation -of Peers—Dismissal of Marlborough from his Employments—Walpole expelled the House <span class="shiftright">574</span></p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span></p> - - - -<h2><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> - - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS"> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="tdl"> </td><td class="tdr"><span class="small80">PAGE</span></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Christ Church, Oxford, from St. Aldate's (looking West)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Clock Tower, Dublin Castle</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_4">5</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Charles demanding the Surrender of the Five Members</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Lord Falkland</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_12">13</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">St. Mary's Church, Nottingham</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_17">17</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Hampden mortally Wounded at Chalgrove</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Archbishop Laud's Library, East Quadrangle, John's College,</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">Oxford</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Prince Rupert</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Siege-piece of Charles I.—Newark (Half-crown)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Siege-piece of Charles I.—Pontefract (Shilling)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Siege-piece of Charles I.—Beeston (Two Shillings)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Siege-piece of Charles I.—Colchester (Ten Shillings, Gold)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">St. Margaret's, Westminster</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Interview between Charles and the Earl of Denbigh</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Roundhead Soldiers</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Charles at the Battle of Naseby</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Cavalier Soldiers</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Raglan Castle</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Flight of Charles from Oxford</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Queen Henrietta's Drawing-room and Bedroom, Merton</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">College, Oxford</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Lord Fairfax</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Cornet Joyce's Interview with Charles</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Fairfax House, Putney</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Lord Clarendon</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Rising of the London Apprentices on behalf of Charles</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Execution of Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Arrival of Charles under Guard at Hurst Castle</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Trial of Charles</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Charles's Farewell Interview with the Duke of Gloucester</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">and the Princess Elizabeth</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Oliver Cromwell</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Assassination of Dr. Dorislaus</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Great Seal of the Commonwealth</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Dunbar</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Cromwell on his way to London after the Battle of Worcester</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Henry Ireton</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Royal Museum and Picture Gallery, The Hague</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Cromwell addressing the Long Parliament for the Last Time</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Token of the Commonwealth (Copper)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Broad of the Commonwealth (Gold)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Crown of the Commonwealth (Silver)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Great Hall, Hampton Court Palace</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">John Milton</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Royalist Plotters at Salisbury insulting the Sheriff</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Painted Chamber, Westminster</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Admiral Blake</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Cromwell refusing the Crown</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_141">141</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Arrest of Conspirators at the "Mermaid"</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">John Thurloe</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Manor House, Wimbledon (1660)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Richard Cromwell</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Reception of Monk in the City of London</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_157">157</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Interior of the Painted Chamber, Westminster (looking East)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Landing of Charles II. at Dover</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Cecil, Second Lord Baltimore</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Cheapside and the Cross in 1660</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The "Globe" Theatre, Southwark (with the "Rose"</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">Theatre in the Distance), in 1613</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Hawthornden in 1773</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Scene at the Funeral of Chillingworth</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">William Harvey</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Reduced Facsimile of Front Page of No. 26 of "A Perfect Diurnall"</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Shopkeeper and Apprentice in the Time of Charles I.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Great Seal of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Arrest of Argyll</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_200">200</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Shilling of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Halfpenny (with Figure of Britannia) of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Crown of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Five-Guinea Piece of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205">205</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Sir Harry Vane taking Leave of his Wife and Friends</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Great Plague: Scene in the Streets of London</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Thumbscrew</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_214">214</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Great Plague: The Maniac pronouncing the Doom of London</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Pie Corner, Smithfield, where the Great Fire reached its Limits</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">George Monk, Duke of Albemarle</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Tilbury Fort</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Samuel Pepys</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Assault on Sir John Coventry</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Anthony Ashley Cooper, First Earl of Shaftesbury</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_237">237</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">View in the Hague: The Gevangenpoort in which Cornelius</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">and John De Witt were imprisoned (1672)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_241">241</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Sir William Temple</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Titus Oates before the Privy Council</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Thomas Osborne, first Duke of Leeds</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Hôtel de Ville, Paris, in the Eighteenth Century</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Assassination of Archbishop Sharp</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_260">260</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Duke of Monmouth</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Arrival of Charles at Oxford</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Escape of Argyll</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_273">273</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Rye House</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_277">277</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Trial of Lord William Russell</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Bass Rock</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_284">284</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Great Seal of James II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_289">289</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">James II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Last Sleep of Argyll</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_297">297</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Cross, Bridgewater, where Monmouth was proclaimed King</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_300">300</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Monmouth's Interview with the King</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Judge Jeffreys</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_309">309</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Fourpenny Piece of James II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Five-Guinea Piece of James II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Windsor Castle, from the Brocas</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_313">313</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Parliament Hall, Edinburgh</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_317">317</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">John Dryden</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_321">321</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">James doing Homage to the Papal Nuncio</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_324">324</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Seven Bishops entering the Tower</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">View in the Hague: The Hall of the Knights in the Binnenhof</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">William of Orange embarking to join the "Brill"</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">William of Orange entering Exeter</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">James hearing of the Landing of William of Orange</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_345">345</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Roger Williams leaving his Home in Massachusetts</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_353">353</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Milton dictating "Paradise Lost" to his Daughters</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_357">357</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Samuel Butler</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_361">361</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">John Bunyan</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_364">364</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Gresham College, where the Royal Society was first Housed</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_365">365</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Sir Isaac Newton</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_369">369</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Evelyn "Discovering" Grinling Gibbons</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_372">372</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Costumes of the Time of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_377">377</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Chelsea Hospital</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_380">380</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">May-Day Revels in the Time of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_384">384</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Ships of the Time of Charles II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_385">385</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Old East India House in 1630</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_389">389</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Great Seal of William and Mary</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_396">396</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Kensington Palace</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_397">397</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">William III.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_400">400</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Mary II.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_401">401</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Covenanters evicting an Episcopalian Clergyman</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_405">405</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Battle of Killiecrankie: The Last Charge of Dundee</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_409">409</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The <em>Mountjoy</em> and <em>Phœnix</em> breaking the Boom at Londonderry</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_416">416</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Landing of Marshal Schomberg at Carrickfergus</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_417">417</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Five-Guinea Piece of William and Mary</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_420">420</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Crown of William and Mary</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_420">420</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Fourpenny Piece of William and Mary</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_420">420</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Halfpenny of William and Mary</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_420">420</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Henry VII.'s Chapel, Westminster Abbey</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_424">424</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">William Penn</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_425">425</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">James entering Dublin after the Battle of the Boyne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_429">429</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The French retreating from Torbay</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_433">433</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Edinburgh Castle in 1725</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_436">436</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Duke of Marlborough</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_441">441</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Assault of Athlone</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_444">444</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Scene at the Removal of the Irish Soldiers from Limerick</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_445">445</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">George Saville, Marquis of Halifax</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_449">449</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Lady Marlborough and the Princess Anne at the Queen's</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">Drawing-Room</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_453">453</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Glencoe: Scene of the Massacre</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_457">457</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Greenwich Hospital</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_464">464</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Burning of Blount's Pamphlet by the Common Hangman</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_465">465</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Louis XIV.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_469">469</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Costumes of the Time of William and Mary</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_473">473</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">William Paterson</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_477">477</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Five-Guinea Piece of William</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_480">480</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Half-Crown of William</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_480">480</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Surrender of Boufflers</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_481">481</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Conspirators landing at Romney Marsh</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_485">485</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Bishop Burnet</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_489">489</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Old Mercers' Hall, where the Bank of England was first</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">Established</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_492">492</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Lady Fenwick interceding for her Husband</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_493">493</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Lord Somers</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_497">497</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">William's triumphant Procession to Whitehall</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_500">500</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">View in the Hague: Old Gate in the Binnenhof, with the</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">Arms of the County of Holland</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_505">505</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Charles Montague, Earl of Halifax</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_509">509</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Scene at the Departure from Leith of the Darien Expedition</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_513">513</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Royal Palace of Whitehall, from the Thames, in the beginning</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">of the 17th Century</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_520">520</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Captain Kidd before the Bar of the House of Commons</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_525">525</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Pretender proclaimed King of England by Order of</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">Louis XIV.</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_529">529</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">View in the Hague: Chamber of the States-General in</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">the Binnenhof</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_533">533</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Bishop Burnet announcing her Accession to Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_537">537</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Lord Godolphin</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_541">541</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">View in Lisbon: The Práça de Dom Pedro</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_545">545</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The King of Spain at Windsor: His Gallantry to the</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">Duchess of Marlborough</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_549">549</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Prince Eugene of Savoy</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_553">553</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Battle of Blenheim</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_557">557</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_561">561</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Great Seal of Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_568">568</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The People of Edinburgh Escorting the Duke of Hamilton</td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdla">to Holyrood Palace</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_569">569</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Costumes of the Reign of Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_572">572</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Wreck of Sir Cloudesley Shovel's Fleet</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_577">577</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_581">581</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">London Coffee House in the Reign of Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_585">585</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Five-Guinea Piece of Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_588">588</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Farthing of Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_588">588</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Two-Guinea Piece of Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_588">588</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_589">589</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Drinking to the Health of Dr. Sacheverell</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_592">592</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Making Friends with Mrs. Masham</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_593">593</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Duke of Marlborough's Interview with Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_597">597</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">The Fracas in the Privy Council</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_601">601</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Marlborough House in the Time of Queen Anne</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_604">604</a></td></tr> -<tr><td class="tdl">Henry St. John (afterwards Viscount Bolingbroke)</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_605">605</a></td></tr> -</tbody> -</table></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="LIST_OF_PLATES" id="LIST_OF_PLATES"></a>LIST OF PLATES</h2> - - -<blockquote><p><span class="smcap">Charles I. on his Way to Execution</span>, 1649. (<em>By Ernest Crofts, R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright"><em>Frontispiece</em></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Map of England during the Civil War</span>, 1642-1649. <span class="shiftright"><em>To face p.</em> <a href="#Page_50">50</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Children of Charles I.</span> (<em>By Miss Margaret I. Dicksee</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_71">71</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Death of the Princess Elizabeth, Carisbrooke Castle, Sept.</span> 8<span class="smcap">th</span>, 1650. (<em>By -C. W. Cope, R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_102">102</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Cromwell Refusing the Crown.</span> (<em>By J. Schex</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_145">145</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Rescued from the Plague, London</span>, 1665. (<em>By F. W. W. Topham, R.I.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_209">209</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Charles II. and Nell Gwynn.</span> (<em>By E. M. Ward, R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_210">210</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Great Fire of London</span>, 1666. (<em>By Stanhope A. Forbes, A.R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_225">225</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Disgrace of Lord Clarendon after his Last Interview with the King -in Whitehall Palace</span>, 1667. (<em>By E. M. Ward, R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_233">233</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Ante-Chamber of Whitehall during the Last Moments of Charles II., -1685.</span> (<em>By E. M. Ward, R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_289">289</a></span><br /></p> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">After Sedgemoor.</span>" (<em>By W. Rainey, R.I.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_302">302</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Covenanters Preaching.</span> (<em>By Sir George Harvey, R.S.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_402">402</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">William III. at the Battle of the Boyne.</span> (<em>By Jan Wyck</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_430">430</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">A Lost Cause: Flight of James II. after the Battle of the Boyne</span>, 1690. -(<em>By Andrew C. Gow, R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_433">433</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">The Founding of the Bank of England</span>, 1694. (<em>By George Harcourt</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_471">471</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Peter the Great at Deptford Dockyard.</span> (<em>By Daniel Maclise, R.A.</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_503">503</a></span><br /></p> - -<p><span class="smcap">H.R.H. Princess Anne of Denmark, afterwards Queen of England.</span> (<em>By -W. Wissing and J. Vandervaart</em>) <span class="shiftright">" <a href="#Page_545">545</a></span><br /></p></blockquote> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[xiii]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 560px;"> -<img src="images/i_000sm.jpg" width="560" height="372" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left"><cite>By permission of Messrs. S. Hildesheimer & Co., Ld.</cite></p> - -<p>CHARLES I. ON HIS WAY TO EXECUTION, 1649.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">From the Picture by</span> ERNEST CROFTS, R.A.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_000.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_001sm.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD, FROM ST. ALDATE'S (LOOKING WEST.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_001.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - - - -<h2><span class="small90">CASSELL'S</span><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Illustrated History of England.</span></h2> - -<hr class="r10" /> - -<p class="p3"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</p> - -<p class="p1b">THE GREAT REBELLION.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Condition of Ireland—Roger Moore's Pilgrimage—Negotiations of the Anglo-Irish with Charles—Hugh M'Mahon betrays -the Plot—Rising of the Native Irish—Massacre of Protestants—Measures taken by the English Parliament—Return -of Charles to London—The Grand Remonstrance—The King's Answer—His Lieutenant of the Tower—Riots in London—Blunder -of the Bishops—Attempted Arrest of the Five Members—Charles leaves London—The Queen goes to Holland—Charles -at York—His Repulse from Hull—Preparations for War—The Royal Standard Raised—Prince Rupert's -Headstrong Folly—Battle of Edge Hill—Charles marches on London—He returns to Oxford—Cromwell in the East—The -Queen in Yorkshire—Death of Hampden—Parliamentary Disasters—Battle of Newbury—Death of Lord Falkland—Negotiations -with the Scots and Irish—Death of Pym—Royal Parliament at Oxford—Battle of Marston Moor—Disastrous -Failure of Essex in Cornwall—Second Battle of Newbury—The Self-denying Ordinance—The New-modelled Army.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>The causes which drove the Irish to rebellion were for the most -part of long standing. Their religion had been ruthlessly persecuted; -their property had been confiscated by whole provinces at a time; -their ancient chiefs had been driven from their lands, and many of -them exterminated. Elizabeth, James, and Charles, had proffered them -new titles on condition of making large sacrifices, but had never kept -their word, and at this moment, the graces promised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -by Charles to tolerate their religion and confirm the titles of their -estates, were unfulfilled. The example of the Scots had aroused them -to the hope of achieving a like triumph. Their great enemy the Earl -of Strafford had fallen, but, on the other hand, they were menaced by -Parliament with a still more fierce persecution, and even an avowed -extermination of their religion. They believed that the Scottish -Presbyterians would join with avidity in the attempt to subdue them, -and come in for a share of the plunder of their estates; and they -now seized on the idea of rising and reclaiming their ancient power -and property. True, they were not one united people like the Scots: -there were the ancient Irish, and the Anglo-Irish of the pale, that -is, English settled in Ireland holding the estates of the expelled -native chiefs, but keeping themselves aloof from the Irish. Yet many of -the pale were Catholics, and the Catholic religion was the unanimous -object of attachment on the part of the natives. The Parliament and -the Scottish settlers in the north were banded against this religion, -and this produced a counter-bond between the Catholic natives and the -Catholics of the pale. From the British Parliament neither of these -parties had anything to hope for on the score of religion; but the king -was in need of aid against this Parliament, and it occurred to them -that they might make common cause with him.</p> - -<p>Roger Moore, a gentleman of Kildare, entered into this scheme with -all the impetuosity of his nation. He saw the lands of his ancestors -for the most part in the hands of English and Scottish settlers, -and he made a pilgrimage into almost every quarter of Ireland to -incite his countrymen to grasp this opportunity, when the king and -Parliament of England were engrossed by their disputes, to recover -their rights. Everywhere he was listened to with enthusiasm, and the -natives held themselves ready to rise, and take a terrible vengeance -on the usurpers of their lands at the first signal. The great chiefs -of Ulster, Cornelius Maguire, Baron of Enniskillen, and Sir Phelim -O'Neil, who had become the chieftain of the sept of Tyrone after the -death of the son of the late persecuted Tyrone, fell into his views -with all their followers. The Catholic members of the pale were more -disposed to negotiate with Charles than to rush into insurrection -against his authority. They knew that it was greatly to his interest -at this moment to conciliate his Irish subjects, and they despatched -to him a deputation previous to his journey to Scotland, demanding -the ratification of those graces for which he had received the -purchase money thirteen years before, and offering in return their -warmest support to his authority in Ireland. Charles received them -very graciously, promised them the full satisfaction of all their -demands, and by Lord Gormanstown, who headed the deputation, and on -whom he lavished the most marked attentions, he sent word to the Earls -of Ormond and Antrim to secure in his interest the eight thousand -troops which had been raised by Strafford, to keep them in efficient -discipline, to augment rather than decrease their number, and to -surprise the castle of Dublin, where they would find twelve thousand -stand of arms.</p> - -<p>But the English Parliament were by no means unaware of the danger -from the army in Ireland, which consisted almost entirely of Catholics. -They insisted on its being disbanded, as promised by the king on the -Scottish pacification. He was not able to prevent this, and signed the -order; but at the same time sent secret instructions by Gormanstown to -Ormond and Antrim, to frustrate this by enlisting the whole body as -volunteers to serve the King of Spain in Flanders.</p> - -<p>At this juncture Sir William Parsons and Sir John Borlase were -at the head of the English Government in Ireland; they were in the -interest of the Parliament, and were detested by almost all classes -of Irish. Sir John Clotworthy, in the House of Commons, had openly -declared that "the conversion of the Papists in Ireland was only to be -effected by the Bible in one hand, and the sword in the other." Pym was -reported to have said that they would not leave a priest in Ireland; -and at a public entertainment Parsons had echoed those sentiments by -declaring that "in a twelvemonth not a Catholic would be left in that -country." The Irish were, therefore, delighted with their success with -the king, and Gormanstown and his associates hastened home again, with -two Bills signed by the king, granting the possession of lands which -had been held sixty years, and setting aside all the sequestrations -made by Strafford. But Parsons and Borlase, aware that the passing of -these Bills would attach Ireland to the interests of the king, defeated -the object by proroguing Parliament a few days before the arrival of -the deputies.</p> - -<p>It was now resolved by Ormond and Antrim to defer any movement till -the reassembling of the Irish Parliament in November, when they could -at the same moment secure Dublin castle and the persons of Parsons and Borlase, and issue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> -in the name of the two Houses his Majesty's concession to the people of -Ireland. But the native Irish, stimulated by the addresses of Moore, -could not wait so long. They determined to rise, without waiting for -the combined force, on the 23rd of October. Two hundred and twenty men -were to surprise the castle, but at the time appointed only eighty -appeared. They concluded to wait till the next day for the arrival of -the rest, but that night one Hugh M'Mahon, in a drunken fit, betrayed -the secret to Owen O'Connelly, a servant of Sir John Clotworthy, and -a Protestant. He instantly carried the news to Sir William Parsons; -the city gates were closed, and a quick search was made for the -conspirators. All but M'Mahon and Lord Maguire escaped, but the castle -was saved.</p> - -<p>Ignorant of the failure of the plot, the people of Ulster rose on -the appointed day. Charlemont and Dungannon were surprised by Sir -Phelim O'Neil, Mountjoy by O'Quin, Tanderagee by O'Hanlan, and Newry by -Macginnis. In little more than a week all the open country in Tyrone, -Monaghan, Longford, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Cavan, Donegal, Derry, and -part of Down, were in their hands. The other colonies in which there -were English or Scottish plantations followed their example, and the -greater part of Ireland was in a dreadful state of anarchy and terror. -The Protestant people on the plantations fell beneath the butchering -revenge of the insurgents, or fled wildly into the fortified towns. -The horrors of the Irish massacre of 1641 have assumed a fearful place -in history; the cruelties, expulsions, and oppressions of long years -were repaid by the most infuriated cruelty. Men, women, and children, -fell indiscriminately in the onslaught, and they who escaped, says -Clarendon, "were robbed of all they had, to their very shirts, and so -turned naked to endure the sharpness of the season, and by that means, -and for want of relief, many thousands of them perished by hunger and -cold."</p> - -<p>Great care has been taken by Catholic writers to contradict -these accounts, and to represent the atrocities committed as of -no extraordinary extent. They remind us that no accounts of these -barbarous slaughters were transmitted in the reports to the English -Parliament, which would have been only too glad to spread, and even -exaggerate bloody deeds of the Catholics. They reduce the number of -people slain during the whole insurrection to about ten thousand, -instead of the grossly exaggerated statements of Milton in his -"Iconoclastes," that there were one hundred and fifty-four thousand -in Ulster alone, or of Sir John Temple, that three hundred thousand -were slain or expelled altogether. But nothing less than a most -frightful massacre could have left the awful impression which still -lives in tradition, and the calculations of moderate historians do not -make the number massacred less than from fifteen thousand to twenty -thousand. The Earl of Castlehaven, a Catholic, says that all the water -in the sea could not wash from the Irish the taint of that rebellion. -Whilst remembering the vengeance, however, we must never forget the -long and maddening incentives to it. Much blame was attached to the -Deputy-Governors, Borlase and Parsons, who, shut up in security in -Dublin, took no measures for suppressing the insurgents. They were -charged with purposely allowing the rebellion to spread, in order that -there might be more confiscations, in which they would find their own -benefit; but it must not be forgotten that they had few soldiers on -whom they could rely, for these were nearly all Catholics; nor did -the insurgents escape without severe chastisement in many places, for -wherever there was a trusty garrison, the soldiers easily repelled the -disorderly mob of plunderers; and Sir Phelim O'Neil suffered during the -month of November severe losses.</p> - -<p>Before Charles reached England, O'Connelly, the discoverer of the -plot, arrived in London, with letters from the lords justices, and -was called before the House of Lords to relate all that he knew. They -immediately invited the House of Commons to a conference on the state -of Ireland, and on the better providing for the security of England. -They presented O'Connelly with five hundred pounds in money, and -settled on him an annuity of two hundred pounds a year. It was resolved -to look well after the Catholics in England, and to put the ports into -a state of defence. The Commons voted that two hundred thousand pounds -should be set apart for the requirements of Ireland; that six thousand -foot and two thousand horse should be raised for service there; and -that the fleet should carefully guard its coast. The Earl of Leicester, -the Lord-Lieutenant, was desired to furnish a list of the most suitable -officers for the service, and arms and ammunition were prepared in -haste, to be despatched to Dublin. A pardon was offered to all rebels -who laid down their arms by a certain day, at the same time that a -reward was set on the heads of the leaders. But the Commons did not -stop there; they passed a resolution never to tolerate the Catholic -worship either in Ireland or in any part of his Majesty's dominions. -Commissioners were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> -appointed to disarm the recusants in every part of the kingdom; -pursuivants were sent out in every direction to seize priests and -Jesuits; orders were given for the trial of all such persons; and the -king was advised not to pardon or reprieve them. The queen's chapel -was closed, her priests were dismissed, her confessor was sent to the -Tower, and no less than seventy Catholic lords and gentlemen were -denounced by the Commons to the Lords, as persons who ought to be -secured to prevent them from doing injury to the State.</p> - -<p>Such was the condition of things when Charles arrived in London. -He was well received by the Lord Mayor and aldermen of the city, and -in return gave them an entertainment at Hampton Court; but he was -greatly chagrined at the proceedings of the Commons, telling them that -they were converting the war in Ireland, which was a civil war, into -a war of religion. He took umbrage also at Parliament sitting with a -guard round their House. The Earl of Essex, on the king's arrival, -surrendered his command of the forces south of the Trent to the king, -and announced to the Lords that having resigned his commission, he -could no longer furnish the guard. A message was sent from the Houses, -requesting the king to restore them the guard, but he refused, saying -he saw no occasion for it; but the Commons let him know that many -dangerous persons, Irish and others, were lurking about, and that the -"Incident" in Scotland, and the late attempt to surprise the castle in -Dublin, warned them of their danger; and that not only must they have -a guard, but they must nominate the commander of it themselves.</p> - -<p>Whilst Charles was pondering on the answer which he should return -to this unwelcome message, Sir Ralph Hopton appeared at Hampton Court -with another address from the Commons yet more ominous. This bore the -alarming title of a "Remonstrance on the state of the kingdom." It had -been drawn up and passed by the Commons before the king came back from -Scotland, that is, on the 22nd of November; and it was resolved to -present it to him on his return. It was the act of the Commons alone, -and had not been carried even there without a violent debate, which -lasted till two o'clock in the morning, the House having sat that day -eighteen hours. The heat to which the proposal gave rise was such, that -Sir Philip Warwick says, "We had sheathed our swords in each others' -bowels, had not the sagacity and calmness of Mr. Hampden, by a soft -speech, prevented it." Cromwell is reported by Clarendon to have said -to Lord Falkland as they came out, that had it not been carried, he -would have sold all and gone to America. "So near," adds the Royalist -historian, "was the poor kingdom at that time to its deliverance."</p> - -<p>And yet this famous Remonstrance was only carried by a majority of -nine, according to Clarendon; according to others, by eleven. It was, -as Clarendon describes it, "a very bitter representation of all the -illegal things that had been done from the first hour of the king's -coming to the crown, to that minute." It consisted of two hundred -and six clauses, and dealt among other matters with the war against -the French Protestants; the innovations in the Church; the illegal -imposition of ship-money; forced loans; the cruelties of the Star -Chamber and High Commission; the forcing of episcopacy on Scotland; -the forcing of it on the Irish by Strafford, and all the other illegal -proceedings there; the opposition of the king and his ministers to -necessary reforms; and the plotting of the queen with the Papists at -home and abroad. It went on to remind the king of what they had done -in pulling down his evil counsellors, and informed him that other good -things were in preparation.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_005sm.jpg" width="473" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE CLOCK TOWER, DUBLIN CASTLE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_005.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The king the next day delivered his answer in the House of Lords, -protesting, as usual, his good intentions, telling the Commons, before -he removed evil counsellors, they must point out who they were and -bring real facts against them; at the same time he significantly -reminded them that he had left Scotland in perfect amity with him, so -that they might infer that they were not to look for support against -him there, and calling on them to stir themselves in aiding him to -put down the rebellion in Ireland. Matters continued getting worse -every day between the king and Parliament. From the 8th to the 20th of -December there was a sullen humour between them. So far from granting -the Parliament the usual guard, Charles had posted a guard of his own -near the Commons. They summoned the commander of the guard before them, -pronounced its being placed there a breach of their privileges, and -demanded that it should be removed. On the 14th of December Charles -objected to their ordering the impressment of soldiers from Ireland, -that being his prerogative, but that he would permit it for the time on -the understanding that his right was not thereby affected. The next day -the Commons passed an order for the printing and publishing of their -Remonstrance, which measure they had failed to carry at the same time -as the Remonstrance itself. This had a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> -great effect with the public, and the king, in a restless, angry -humour, prevailing in nothing against the House, sought to strengthen -himself by getting into the Tower a lieutenant of his own party. But -in this movement he was equally injudicious and equally unfortunate. -Charles dismissed Sir William Balfour, who had honestly resisted his -warrant and refused a bribe of Strafford to permit his escape; but -to have deprived the Commons of any plea for interfering in what -was unquestionably his own prerogative, he should have replaced him -by a man of character. Instead of that, he gave the post to Colonel -Lunsford, a man of desperate fortunes and the most unprincipled -reputation; outlawed for his violent attacks on different individuals, -and known to be capable of executing the most lawless designs. The City -immediately petitioned the Commons against the Tower being in the hands -of such a man; the Commons called for a conference with the Lords on -the subject, but the Lords refused to meddle in what so clearly was the -royal prerogative. The Commons then called on them to enter the protest -they had made on their books; but the Lords took time to consider it. -On Thursday, December 23rd, a petition was addressed to the Commons, -purporting to be from the apprentices of London, against Papists and -prelates, who, they contended, caused the destruction of trade by their -plots, and the fears which thence unsettled men of capital; whereby -they, the apprentices, "were nipped in the bud," on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> -entering the world. The Corporation waited on his Majesty on Sunday, -the 26th, to assure him that the apprentices were contemplating a -rising, and meant to carry the Tower by storm, unless Lunsford were -removed; and that the merchants had already taken away their bullion -from the Mint for fear of him, and the owners of ships coming in with -new would not carry it there. That evening Charles took the keys from -his new lieutenant, and appointed Sir John Byron in his place.</p> - -<p>And now, notwithstanding their reluctance, the Lords were compelled -to entertain this question, for they found Lord Newport, the Constable -of the Tower, also brought into controversy by the king. It appeared -that during Charles's absence in Scotland, at a meeting of a number -of the peers and members of the Commons at Kensington, regarding some -rumour of plots against Parliament, Lord Newport was reported to have -said, "Never mind, we have his wife and children." Newport stated in -the House that he had waited on the queen at the time, and assured her -that no such words had been spoken; yet on Friday last the king had -reminded him of it, and intimated his belief of it. It was now the -turn of the Lords to call for a conference with the Commons. This was -granted on Monday, and whilst it was sitting, the House of Parliament -was surrounded by tumultuous mobs, crying, "Beware of plots! No -bishops! no bishops!"</p> - -<p>Poor Williams, made Archbishop of York on the 4th of this month, -was surrounded by this mob and much frightened; but he got away -unhurt, any further than in his feelings, from the execrations -heaped on the bishops. One David Hide, however, a ruffian officer, -who had been in the army in the north, and was now appointed to the -service in Ireland, drew his sword, and swore that "he would cut the -throats of those <em>roundheaded</em> dogs that bawled against bishops," -and by that expression, says Clarendon, gave the first utterance to -the name "roundheads," which was at once universally applied to the -Parliamentary party; the term "cavaliers" soon being introduced to -designate the Royalists. The same day Lunsford had the insolence to -go through Westminster Hall with thirty or forty of his partisans at -his back. The mob fell on them, and they drew their swords and cut -right and left among the crowd. Presently there came pouring down to -Westminster hundreds of fresh apprentices, with swords, cudgels, and -other weapons, crying, "Slash us now! Slash us now!" And this was -renewed by thousands the next day, December 28th, with the same "Slash -us now, whilst we wait on the honourable House to request an answer to -our petition." Some of the youths were shut into the abbey and brought -before Williams, whilst those without cried that if they were not -released, they would break in and pull down the organs. This, however, -they were prevented from doing, by numbers of the bishop's men coming -out on the abbey leads, and flinging down stones upon them, by which -many were injured; and Sir Richard Wiseman, who happened to be passing, -was so much hurt that he died of his injuries.</p> - -<p>Williams, the archbishop, was so incensed at the cry against the -bishops, that he forgot his usual cunning, and got eleven other bishops -to join him in an address to the king, declaring that the bishops could -not get to their places for the riotous crowds, and from fear of their -lives from them; and therefore, as bishops had at all times formed -part and parcel of the Upper House, that House, so long as they were -detained from it, was no longer a competent House, and that all its -acts, of whatever kind, would be utterly invalid. This was supposed -to be a manœuvre of the king's to get rid of the authority of -Parliament for the present, and thus of his unfortunate surrender of -the powers of adjournment; but the Lords, taking no notice of the -protest of the bishops, desired a conference with the Commons, and then -denounced the protest of the bishops as subversive of the fundamental -rights of Parliament. The Commons, on their part, instead of contenting -themselves with passing a resolution condemnatory of the folly of the -bishops, at once declared them guilty of high treason, and called on -the Lords to apprehend them, which was at once done, and ten of the -bishops were committed to the Tower, and two, on account of their age, -to the custody of the Usher of the Black Rod.</p> - -<p>On the last day of this eventful year, Denzil Holles waited on his -Majesty, by order of the Commons, to represent to him, that whilst his -faithful Parliament was ready to shed the last drop of its blood in -defence of his Majesty, it was itself daily exposed to the danger of -plots and ruffians who had dared to shed the blood of the people coming -to petition at the very doors of the House. They demanded, therefore, a -guard. Charles had taken care to surround his own palace day and night -since the commotions. Such a guard was reluctantly granted three days -after.</p> - -<p>But if 1641 had been an astonishing year, 1642 -was destined to cast even it into the shade, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -its very opening was with nothing short of the first trumpet note -of civil war. On the 3rd of January Charles sent his answer to the -Commons respecting the guard, acceding to the request, but immediately -followed it up by a demand that electrified the Houses, and was soon -to electrify the nation. Whilst the Commons were debating on the -royal message, the king's new Attorney-General, Herbert, appeared -at the bar of the House of Lords, and presented articles of high -treason against six leading Members of Parliament, one peer and five -commoners. These members were, Lord Kimbolton in the Peers, and Holles, -Hazelrig, Pym, Hampden, and Strode, in the Commons. There were seven -articles exhibited against them of high treason and other misdemeanour. -These were stated in the following words:—"1st. That they have -traitorously endeavoured to subvert the fundamental laws and government -of the kingdom of England, to deprive the king of his royal power, and -to place in subjects an arbitrary and tyrannical power over the lives, -liberties, and estates of his Majesty's liege people. 2nd. That they -have traitorously endeavoured, by many foul aspersions upon his Majesty -and his Government, to alienate the affections of his people, and to -make his Majesty odious unto them. 3rd. That they have endeavoured to -draw his Majesty's late army to disobedience to his Majesty's commands, -and to side with them in their traitorous designs. 4th. That they -have traitorously invited and encouraged a foreign power to invade -his Majesty's kingdom of England. 5th. That they have traitorously -endeavoured to subvert the rights and the very being of Parliaments. -6th. That for the completing of their traitorous designs, they have -endeavoured, so far as in them lay, by force and terror, to compel the -Parliament to join with them in their traitorous designs, and to that -end have actually raised and countenanced tumults against the king and -Parliament. 7th. And that they have traitorously conspired to levy, and -actually have levied war against the king."</p> - -<p>"The House of Peers," says Clarendon, "was somewhat startled by this -alarm, but took time to consider it till the next day, that they might -see how their masters, the Commons, would behave themselves." Lord -Kimbolton declared his readiness to meet the charge: the Lords sent a -message upon the matter to the Commons; and at the same time came the -news that officers of the Crown were sealing up the doors, trunks, and -papers of Pym, Hampden and the other impeached members. The House -immediately ordered the seals put upon the doors and papers of their -Members to be broken, and they who had presumed to do such an act to -be seized and brought before them. At this moment the serjeant-at-arms -arrived at the door of the House; they ordered him to be admitted, -but without his mace, and having heard his demand for the delivery -of the five Members, they bade him withdraw, and sent Lord Falkland -and three other Members to inform the king that they held the Members -ready to answer any legal charge against them. But the next day the -Commons were informed by Captain Languish, that the king, at the head -of his gentlemen pensioners, and followed by some hundreds of courtiers -and officers, armed with swords and pistols, was advancing towards -the House. The House was well supplied with halberds, which they had -previously ordered into it when the king withdrew their guard; but they -saw the advantage of preventing an armed collision, and ordered the -accused Members to withdraw.</p> - -<p>Charles entered the House, his attendants remaining at Westminster -Hall, and at the door of the Commons. As he advanced towards the -Speaker's chair, he glanced towards the place where Pym usually sat, -and then approaching the chair, said, "By your leave, Mr. Speaker, I -must borrow your chair a little." The House, at his entrance, arose and -stood uncovered; Lenthall, the Speaker, dropped upon his knees, and -Charles, much excited, said, "Gentlemen, I am sorry for this occasion -of coming unto you. Yesterday I sent a serjeant-at-arms to apprehend -some that at my command were accused of high treason, wherewith I did -expect obedience, and not a message; and I must declare unto you here, -that albeit no king that ever was in England shall be more careful of -your privileges, to maintain them to the utmost of his power, than I -shall be; yet you must know that in cases of treason no person hath -a privilege, and therefore I am come to know if any of those persons -that I have accused, for no slight crime, but for treason, are here. -I cannot expect that this House can be in the right way that I do -heartily wish it, therefore I am come to tell you that I must have -them, wheresoever I find them." He looked earnestly round the House, -but seeing none of them, demanded of the Speaker where they were. -Lenthall, still on his knees, declared that he had neither eyes to see, -nor tongue to speak, but as the House directed. "Well," said the king, -"since I see all the birds are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -flown, I do expect that as soon as they return hither, you do send them -to me." And with mingled assurances that he meant no force, yet not -without a threat, he withdrew. As he walked out, there were raised loud -cries of "Privilege! Privilege!" and the House instantly adjourned.</p> - -<p>The Commons, to testify that they no longer felt themselves safe in -their own House, betook themselves to the City where, establishing a -permanent committee to sit at the Grocers' Hall, they adjourned till -the 11th of January. The next day Charles, taking his usual attendants, -went into the City, and at Guildhall demanded of the Lord Mayor and -aldermen that they should hunt out and deliver to him the accused -Members who had taken refuge amongst them. His demand was coldly -received, and after dining with one of the sheriffs he returned. His -passage through the city was attended by continued cries of "Privilege! -Privilege of Parliament!" And one Henry Walker, an ironmonger and -political pamphleteer, threw into his Majesty's carriage a paper -bearing the words, "To your tents, O Israel!" Scarcely had Charles -reached Whitehall, when a deputation from the Corporation waited on -him, complaining of the Tower being put into unsafe hands, of the -fortifying of Whitehall, the wounding of citizens on their way to -petition Parliament, of the dangerous example of the king entering the -House of Commons attended by armed men, and praying him to cease from -the prosecution of the five Members of Parliament, and to remove from -Whitehall and the Tower all suspicious personages.</p> - -<p>As Charles still persisted by proclamation in endeavouring to get -possession of the five Members, and as a hundred stand of arms, with -gunpowder and shot, had been removed from the Tower to Whitehall, a -thousand marines and boatmen signed a memorial to the committee of the -Commons sitting at Guildhall, offering to guard them on the appointed -day to their House in Westminster. The committee accepted the offer, -which was immediately followed by one from the apprentices. Seeing that -the City, the seamen, and everybody were of one mind in condemning his -violent invasion of the national sanctuary of the House of Commons, -Charles on the 10th of January, the day previous to the meeting again -of Parliament, quietly withdrew with his family to Hampton Court, -and the next day removed thence to Windsor. Little did he imagine, -deplorable as was his retreat, that he would never enter his capital -again till he came as a prisoner in the hands of this insulted -Parliament. Yet his feelings at this moment must have been melancholy -in the extreme. "In this sad condition," says Clarendon, "was the king -at Windsor; fallen in ten days from a height and greatness that his -enemies feared, to a lowness, that his own servants durst hardly avow -the waiting on him."</p> - -<p>Charles had now decided on war. But money was necessary, and to -obtain it he determined to send the queen abroad. A pretext was easily -found. The Princess Mary, who had been some time betrothed to the -Prince of Orange, though she was yet a mere child, only about ten -years of age, was to be delivered to the Dutch Court, and nothing was -more natural than that her mother should accompany her. Even the stern -reformers, who had forbidden her twice before leaving the kingdom, -could find no excuse for forbidding this maternal office. On the 9th of -February Charles and the Court returned from Windsor to Hampton Court, -and the next day the royal party set out for Dover, where, on the 23rd, -the queen and her daughter embarked for Holland. The Prince of Orange -received her majesty with all kindness, which he indeed owed her, for -she had always taken the part of him and his country against Richelieu; -but the civic authorities were not so glad to see her, fearing that -she might embroil them with the all-powerful Parliament of England. -They entered her presence with their hats on, seated themselves in her -presence, and took their leave without a bow or a word. But Henrietta -restrained her disgust better than her husband would have done, for -she had great interests at stake, and succeeded by her flattering -courtesies in so melting the Dutch phlegm, that she eventually -succeeded in borrowing of the authorities of Amsterdam eight hundred -and forty-five thousand guilders, at Rotterdam sixty-five thousand, of -the merchants at the Hague one hundred and sixty-six thousand, besides -pawning her pearls for two hundred and thirteen thousand, and six -rubies for forty thousand, thus raising for her husband two million -pounds sterling.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_009sm.jpg" width="413" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHARLES DEMANDING THE SURRENDER OF THE FIVE MEMBERS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_009.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Whilst the king was at Canterbury waiting for the queen's departure, -the Commons urged him to sign the two Bills for the removal of the -bishops from Parliament, and of them and the clergy from all temporal -offices, and for power to press soldiers for the service of Ireland. -He passed them, the second Bill to be in force only till the 1st of -November. The Commons expressed their satisfaction, but still urged the -removal of all Privy Councillors and officers of State, except such as -held posts hereditarily, and the appointment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> -of others having the confidence of Parliament. They then returned to -the subject of the Militia Bill, which would put the whole force of -the army into the hands of Parliament; but there Charles made a stand. -He sent orders that the Prince of Wales should meet him at Greenwich. -The Parliament—which watched his every movement and no doubt was -informed of his intentions—sent a message to the king, praying -him to allow the prince to remain at Hampton Court; but Charles, -complaining of these suspicions, ordered the prince's governor, the -Marquis of Hertford, to bring him to Greenwich. On Sunday, the 27th of -February, some of the Lords went to Greenwich, to endeavour to bring -the prince back; but Charles would not suffer it, declaring that the -prince should accompany him wherever he went. He removed to Theobalds, -and there again a deputation followed him, urging him to grant the -matter of the militia, or that the Parliament would feel compelled -to assume it for the safety of the kingdom. They also renewed their -request for the return of the prince. Charles expressed much surprise -at these importunities, and refused them both.</p> - -<p>On receiving this answer, the two Houses issued an order to fit out -the fleet, and put it into the command of the Earl of Northumberland, -as Lord High Admiral. The Lords, who had hesitated to join the Commons -in the demand of the control of the militia, now passed the ordinance -for it with very few dissentients. Fifty-five Lords and Commons were -named as lord-lieutenants of counties, many of them Royalists, but -still not such as the Commons feared joining the king in an open -rupture. The Commons then proceeded to issue a declaration, expressing -their apprehensions of the favour shown to the Irish rebels by the -Court; of the intention of evil advisers of the king to break the neck -of Parliament, and of the rumours of aid from abroad for these objects -from the Pope, and the Kings of France and Spain. The Lords, with only -sixteen dissentient voices, joined in this declaration, and the Earls -of Pembroke and Holland waited on the king with it at Royston. On -hearing this outspoken paper read, Charles testified much indignation, -pronouncing some assertions in it, in plain terms, lies; and when the -earls entreated him to consent to the granting of the militia for a -time, he exclaimed:—"No, by God, not for an hour. You have asked -that of me which was never asked of any king, and with which I should -not trust my wife and children." This was true, but he had formerly -said he would sooner lose his life than consent to the Bill against -the bishops, and yet he gave them up. That he would on the first -opportunity break his word, was certain; that at this very moment his -wife was moving heaven and earth abroad, and pawning her jewels for -money to put down Parliament and people, was equally well known. In -vain, therefore, were the solemn asseverations which he made, that he -desired nothing so much as to satisfy his subjects.</p> - -<p>At this moment he was stealing away towards the north. He got away -to Newmarket, thence to Huntingdon, next to Stamford, and from that -place wrote to the two Houses, informing them that he proposed to -take up his residence for a time in York. The deputies had strongly -importuned him to return to the neighbourhood of his Parliament; this -was his answer, accompanied by a positive refusal to put the militia -into their hands. The Houses were at once roused to action. War was -inevitable; the king was intending to take them by surprise. They -therefore voted that the king's absence was most detrimental to the -affairs of Ireland; that the king was easily advised, and that it was -necessary for Parliament that the power of commanding the militia must -be exercised by the sole authority of Parliament, and orders for that -purpose were issued to the lieutenants and deputy-lieutenants of the -counties.</p> - -<p>Charles had meanwhile proceeded by Doncaster to York, where he -arrived on the 19th of March. On the 26th the Lords Willoughby and -Dungarvan, with Sir Anthony Ereby, arrived from Parliament with a -justification of their proceedings. They admitted that he had passed -many satisfactory Bills at their instance, but that always at the same -time some attempts had been set on foot to render them abortive. They -informed him that they had certain information of preparations making -abroad, and of a design to enter Hull with foreign forces. Charles -denied the truth of these allegations, and assured them that he would -return and reside near his Parliament as soon as he was sure of the -safety of his person. He did not forget, however, the words dropped -about Hull. It was of immense consequence to obtain possession of that -place; but it was in the keeping of the stout Sir John Hotham and his -son, who had declared in Parliament "fall back, fall edge, he would -carry out the wishes of Parliament." As Charles could not hope to -obtain it by force, he conceived the idea of winning it by stratagem.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -He sent the Earl of Newcastle to request that the town and arsenals -might be put into his hands. Newcastle assumed the name of Sir John -Savage to obtain admission to the town, but was discovered, and this -clumsy trick only increased the suspicions of the people. Parliament -then sent an order for the removal of the arms and ammunition to -the Tower of London; but Charles told them that he claimed them as -purchased with money borrowed on his own account, and begged they -would leave him to look after his own property. He also sent them word -that it was his intention to pass over to Ireland, to suppress the -rebellion; that he should require all the arms and ammunition for that -purpose, and that they would be necessary for the use of his guard of -two thousand foot and two hundred horse, which he meant to embark there -for Ireland.</p> - -<p>On the 22nd of April he sent the Duke of York, the Prince Palatine, -his nephew, the Lords Newport, Willoughby, and some other persons of -distinction, but without any armed force, to see the town of Hull. -Sir John Hotham and the mayor received them with all honour, and -entertained them as became their rank. They were shown the place, -and were to dine with the governor on the morrow, being St. George's -Day. Just before dinner-time, however, Hotham was startled by the -sudden appearance of Sir Lewis Dives, brother-in-law of the outlawed -Lord Digby, who informed him that his Majesty intended to do him the -honour to dine with him, and was already within a mile of the town, -accompanied by three hundred horse. Sir John, who saw the trick, -instantly ordered the drawbridges to be raised, and shut the gates -in the king's face, for by this time he had arrived at the Beverley -gate.</p> - -<p>Charles commanded Sir John to open the gate and admit him and -his guard, but Sir John replied that, though a loyal subject of his -Majesty, he could not do so without consent of Parliament, which had -put the town into his keeping. If his Majesty would be pleased to enter -with the prince and twelve attendants he should be welcome; but Charles -refused to enter without the whole of his guard. He staid before the -gate from one o'clock till four, continuing the parley, trusting to the -people being affected by the sight of their sovereign, and compelling -the governor to admit him. But he was disappointed, and at four, going -away for an hour, he gave Hotham that time to consider of it. On his -return at five Hotham still refused entrance to more than before, when -Charles proclaimed him a traitor, and rode off with the prince and -his guard to Beverley. The next day he sent a herald to offer Hotham -pardon and promotion on surrender of the town, but in vain; and he then -returned to York.</p> - -<p>Each party now hastened to raise forces and prepare for the -struggle. On the 5th of May the Parliament issued a declaration that -as the king refused his consent to the Militia Bill, they called on -all men to obey their own ordinance for the raising of forces and the -defence of the king. In this ordinance they nominated the lieutenants -of counties, who nominated their deputy-lieutenants, subject to the -approbation of Parliament. Amongst these deputies appeared Hampden, -Whitelock, St. John, Selden, Maynard, Grimstone, and other leaders of -Parliament, who now became equally zealous enrollers and drillers of -soldiers. The king, on his side, denounced the order as traitorous and -illegal, forbade all men obeying it, and summoned a county meeting at -York for promoting the levy of troops for his service. At that meeting -we find Sir Thomas Fairfax stepping forward as a Parliamentary leader, -and laying on the pommel of the king's saddle a strong remonstrance -from the freeholders and farmers of Yorkshire, who advised the king to -come to an agreement with his Parliament.</p> - -<p>The country was now come to that crisis when every man must make -up his mind, and show to which side of the dispute he leaned. It was -a day of wonderful searching of characters and interests, and many -strange revolutions took place. Towns, villages, families, now appeared -in convulsion and strife, and some fell one way, some another, not -without much heart-ache and many tears, old friends and kindred parting -asunder, to meet again only to shed each others' blood. Then was there -a strange proclaiming and contradiction of proclamations, one party -denouncing and denying the proceedings of the other. The king raised -only a troop of horse and a regiment of foot; the Parliament soon -found themselves at the head of eight thousand men, consisting of six -regiments, commanded by zealous officers, and the month of May saw -the fields of Finsbury white with tents, and Major-General Skippon -manœuvring his train-bands.</p> - -<p>The next shift was for the fleet. The Earl of Northumberland being -ill, or more probably indisposed, the Commons ordered him to surrender -his command to the Earl of Warwick for the time. The Lords hesitated, -on account of the king's sanction being wanted for such an appointment; -but the Commons settled it alone.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -Clarendon says that the king remained passive, confiding in the -attachment of the sailors, whose pay he had advanced; but we hear from -other sources that Charles had contrived to alienate the mariners as -much as the rest of his subjects, by calling them "water-rats." His -popularity with them was soon tested, for he ordered the removal of -Warwick, and that Pennington should take his place; but the sailors -would not receive him. Without ammunition or arms, Charles's forces -were of little use, and the Commons proclaimed that any one who should -bring in such material without consent of Parliament, or should bring -in money raised on the Crown jewels, would be considered an enemy to -the country.</p> - -<p>The coasts being diligently watched by the fleet, Charles now turned -to the Scots, the leaders of whom he hoped to win over by the honours -and favours he had distributed on his last visit; and, in truth, the -members of the Council seemed quite inclined to fall in with his -wishes; but the English Commons being made aware of it, soon turned -the scale, letting both Council and people know that it was their -interest, as much as that of England, that the king should come to an -understanding with his Parliament, which, they asserted, sought only -the good of both king and people. The Parliament had now, however, to -witness considerable defections from its own body, for many thought -that they were driving matters too far; that the king had conceded -more than was reasonable, and that the Commons were themselves aiming -at inordinate power. Amongst those who had gone off to the king were -the Lord Falkland, Sir John Colepepper, and Mr. Hyde (afterwards Lord -Clarendon and historian of the Rebellion). Falkland and Colepepper, -Charles had, before leaving, made his ministers, and Hyde had long been -secretly seeing the king, conveying all the news to him at night, and -writing his declarations. The Commons had perceived well enough who -composed those papers by the style, yet they could not directly prove -it; but he was found by the Earls of Essex and Holland shut up with the -king at Greenwich, and by the Marquis of Hamilton at Windsor. In April -the king summoned Hyde to attend him at York; but even then, as if -afraid of the Parliament, he had gone in a very private way, pretending -that he sought the country for his health; and even after reaching -the neighbourhood of York, instead of openly avowing his adhesion to -the royal cause, he kept himself concealed in the neighbourhood, and -attended to the king's correspondence. He arrived in Yorkshire at -the end of May; but, before leaving London, he had contrived that the -Lord Keeper Lyttelton should run off with the Great Seal to the king, -a matter of no little importance, as regarded the authenticity of all -public documents.</p> - -<p>Numbers of both Lords and Commons continued to steal away to the -king, especially, says May, lawyers and clergy, "whose callings made -them capable of easier and greater gratifications from the king than -other men, and therefore apt to lean that way where preferment lies." -The Commons summoned nine peers, who had gone away to York, to appear -in their places in Westminster, and, on their refusing, impeached them -of high treason. These were Spencer, Earl of Northampton, the Earls of -Devonshire, Dover, Monmouth, and the Lords Howard of Charlton, Rich, -Grey of Ruthven, Coventry, and Capel.</p> - -<p>On the 2nd of June the Lords and Commons sent proposals to the king -for an amicable arrangement of the national affairs on a permanent -basis; but matters had so far changed with Charles, that he was in no -mood to listen. On that very day, one of the ships, freighted by the -queen in Holland with arms and ammunition, managed to elude the fleet -and land supplies on the Yorkshire coast. With these, and the prospect -of more, with a number of lords and courtiers around him, Charles at -once dropped the humble and conciliatory tone, called the Parliament a -nest of caballers and traitors, who had no right to dictate to him, the -descendant of a hundred kings, and protested that he would never agree -to their terms if he were bound and at their mercy.</p> - -<p>From this moment all hope of accommodation was at an end, and king -and Parliament went on preparing with all diligence for trying their -strength at arms. The question to be decided was, whether England -should be an abject despotism or a free nation. If the Parliament -were worsted, then must England sink to the level of the rest of the -king-ridden nations. On the part of the king, his adherents joined -him in his solemn engagement to maintain the Protestant religion, and -to claim nothing but his rightful prerogative; on the part of the -Parliament, an avowal as solemn was, that they fought not against the -king, but for him and his crown, as well as for the liberties and -privileges of the people, which were endangered by the evil counsellors -of the king.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_013.jpg" width="391" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LORD FALKLAND. (After the Portrait by Vandyke.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_013big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On the 10th of June the Commons issued an address, in which they -intimated that they would receive money and plate for maintaining the -struggle, engaging to pay eight per cent.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -interest, and appointing Sir John Wollaston and three other aldermen -of London treasurers. In a very short time an immense treasure was -accumulated in Guildhall, the poor contributing as freely as the -rich. Charles wrote to the Corporation of London, forbidding this -collection, but without effect. He made an attempt also to secure the -fleet, inducing the Earl of Warwick to surrender the command to Admiral -Pennington, but only five captains consented, and these were speedily -secured and superseded. On the 12th of July Parliament appointed -the Earl of Essex commander of the army, and many members of the -Parliament, both Lords and Commons, took commissions under him. Amongst -these were Sir John Merrick, Lord Grey of Groby, Denzil Holles, Sir -William Waller, Hampden, and Cromwell. Hampden's regiment was clad in -a green uniform, and carried a banner, having on one side his motto, -"<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Vestigia nulla retrorsum</i>;" on the other, "God is with us." Cromwell, -who was also appointed a colonel, was extremely active in the eastern -counties. The whole country was thrown into the most wonderful state of -confusion by the exertions of the noblemen and gentlemen endeavouring -to seize strong places, and engage the people, some for this side, some -for that. Never had there been such a state of anarchy, opposition, and -rending asunder of old ties. For the most part, the southern counties -and mercantile places were for the Parliament—the more purely -agricultural and remote districts for the king. In many, however, -there was a pretty equal division of interests, and fierce contests -for superiority. In Lincolnshire Lord Willoughby of Parham was very -successful for Parliament. In Essex the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -Earl of Warwick was equally so, and Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, and the -sea-coast of Sussex, were strongly Parliamentary. Cromwell did wonders -in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridge. In Berkshire Hampden and the Earl -of Holland were opposed by the Earl of Berkshire, Lord Lovelace, and -others; but the Earl of Berkshire was seized by Hampden, and sent up to -the Parliament. In Buckinghamshire Hampden had it nearly all his own -way. Colonel Goring, who was Governor of Portsmouth, after receiving -a large sum from Parliament to put that place in full condition of -defence, betrayed it, as he had before done the royal party; but the -Parliament seized the Earl of Portland, Goring's ally, and put the -Isle of Wight into the keeping of the Earl of Pembroke. Warwickshire -was divided between Lord Brooke for the Parliament, and the Earl of -Northampton for the king; Leicestershire between the Earl of Huntingdon -for the king, and the Earl of Stamford for the Parliament. Derbyshire -was almost wholly for the king, and so on northward; yet in Yorkshire -Lord Fairfax was zealous for Parliament, and so were Sir Thomas Stanley -and the Egertons in Lancashire. The Earl of Derby and his son, Lord -Strange, embraced the side of royalty; and the first blood in this war -was shed by Lord Strange endeavouring to secure Manchester, where he -was repulsed and driven out. Great expectations were entertained by the -Royalists of the assistance of the numerous Catholics in Lancashire and -Cheshire, but they were either indifferent or overawed. In the west -of England the king had a strong party. Charles, in his commission of -array, had appointed the Marquis of Hertford Lieutenant-general of the -West, including seven counties in Wales, and the second skirmish took -place in Somersetshire, between him and the deputy-lieutenant of the -county, where ten men were killed and many wounded.</p> - -<p>No exertions were spared by the Parliament at the same time to -induce the king to come to an arrangement; but he showed that he was -at heart totally unchanged, for he replied to their overtures by still -insisting that the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members of the Commons -should be given up to him, as well as Alderman Pennington, the Lord -Mayor of London, and Captain Venn, commander of the train-bands. He -demanded indictments of high treason against the Earls of Essex, -Warwick, and Stamford, Sir John Hotham, Major-General Skippon, and -all who had dared to put in force the ordinance of Parliament for -the raising of the militia. Yet at the same time he was in secret -negotiation with Hotham for the betrayal of Hull; and Hotham sullied -that reputation for patriotic bravery which he had acquired by -listening to him. He was, however, stoutly resisted by the inhabitants, -the garrison, and his own son. The king then invested Hull, and -intrigued with some traitors within to set fire to the town, so that he -might assault it in the confusion. But the plot was discovered, and the -incensed inhabitants made a sortie under Sir John Meldrum, and put the -king's forces to a precipitate flight.</p> - -<p>Charles then marched away to Nottingham, where he raised his -standard on the 25th of August, according to Clarendon; on the 22nd, -according to Rushworth. It was a most tempestuous time; the standard, -which was raised on the castle-hill, an elevated and exposed place, was -blown down in the night, an ominous occurrence in the opinion of both -soldiers and people, and it was three days before it could be erected -again, owing to the fierceness of the wind. Besides the prostration -of the standard, the condition of the king's affairs was equally -discouraging. The people showed no enthusiasm in flocking to the royal -banner, the arms and ammunition did not arrive from York, and the royal -arms had received a severe repulse at Coventry. News came that the Earl -of Essex was at the head of fifteen thousand men at Northampton, and -the Earl of Southampton and his other officers entreated the king to -make overtures of peace to the Parliament, telling him that if they -refused them, it would turn the tide of popular favour against them. -At first Charles listened to such counsels with anger, but at length -despatched Sir John Colepepper to London to treat. But the Parliament -would not hear of any accommodation till the king had pulled down his -standard, and withdrawn his proclamations of high treason against the -Earl of Essex, the accused Members of Parliament, and all who had -supported them. In fact, all attempts at agreement were become useless, -and were rendered more so by the conduct of Charles's nephew, Prince -Rupert, who, with his younger brother Maurice, sons of Charles's -sister, Elizabeth of Bohemia, had arrived in England, and were placed -at the head of the royal cavalry. Whilst Colepepper was trying to -effect a peace in London, Rupert, with that rashness which afterwards -grew so notorious, and so fatal to Charles's army, was making war -through the midland counties, insulting all who advocated peace, -ordering rather than inviting men to the king's standard, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -plundering towns and villages at will for the supply of his -troopers.</p> - -<p>About the middle of September Charles marched from Nottingham, -intending to reach the west of England and unite his forces with -those of the Marquis of Hertford. He conducted himself in a very -different manner to the fiery Rupert, or Robber, as the people named -him. He everywhere issued the most positive assurances of his love for -his people, and his resolve to maintain their liberties; but these -assurances were not well maintained by his actions betraying the fact -that he was playing a part. He in one place invited the train-bands to -attend his march as his bodyguard, but when they arrived, he expressed -his doubts of their loyalty, forcibly seized their arms, and sent them -away. In spite of his professions to respect his subjects' rights, -he still levied money and supplies in the old arbitrary manner. On -the 20th of September he was at Shrewsbury, where he assured the -inhabitants that he would never suffer an army of Papists, and on the -23rd he wrote to the Earl of Newcastle, telling him that the rebellion -had reached that height, that he must raise all the soldiers he could, -without any regard to their religion. He received five thousand pounds -in cash from the Catholics in Shropshire, sold a title of baron for six -thousand pounds more, and began minting money from plate with great -alacrity. And to put the finish to his insincerity, he despatched -orders to Ireland to send him as many troops thence as they could, who -were almost wholly Catholic.</p> - -<p>But the Earl of Essex was carefully watching the king's progress; -he had sent him the Parliamentary proposals of accommodation, which -he refused to receive from what he called a set of traitors. Essex -reached Worcester, in his march to cut off the king's movement towards -London, just as Prince Rupert and Colonel Sandys had had a skirmish -in that town, from which Rupert was forced to fly. There Essex lay -still for three weeks, till at length Charles, encouraged by his -inaction, ventured to quit Shrewsbury on the 20th of October, and by -a bold march by Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and Kenilworth, actually -shot past Essex's position on the road to London. The Parliamentary -general, however, gave quick pursuit, and on the 22nd reached Kineton, -in Warwickshire, just as the king encamped on Edge Hill, close above -him.</p> - -<p>Charles had the way open, but a council of war advised the attack -of Essex, who had marched at such a rate, that a great part of his -forces was left behind. On the following morning, the 23rd of -October—it was Sunday—Essex accordingly found the royal -army drawn up in order of battle on the heights of Edge Hill. It was -a serious disadvantage to the Parliamentary army to have to charge -up hill, and both parties were loth to strike the first blow. They -remained, therefore, looking at each other till about two o'clock -in the afternoon. Charles was on the field in complete armour, and -encouraging the soldiers by a cheerful speech. He held the title of -generalissimo of his own forces; the Earl of Lindsay was his general, -an experienced soldier, who had fought side by side in the foreign -wars with Essex, to whom he was now opposed. So much, however, was he -disgusted with the youthful insolence of Prince Rupert, that he gave -himself no further trouble than to command his own regiment. Sir Jacob -Astley was major-general of the horse, under Lindsay, Prince Rupert -commanding the right wing of the horse, and Lord Wilmot the left, two -reserves of horse being also under the command of Lord Digby and Sir -John Byron. In numbers, both of horse and foot, the royal army exceeded -that which Essex had on the field; but Essex had a better train of -artillery.</p> - -<p>Essex had drawn out his army at the foot of the hill in the broad -Vale of the Red Horse. Sir John Meldrum, who had so lately chased the -king's forces from Hull, led the van. Three regiments of horse were -posted on the right, commanded by Sir Philip Stapleton and Sir William -Balfour. On the left were the twenty troops of horse under Sir James -Ramsay. In the centre, behind the cavalry, were posted the infantry, -Essex's own regiment occupying the main position, flanked by two -reserves of horse under Lord Brooke and Denzil Holles.</p> - -<p>At two o'clock, according to one historian, Essex commanded his -artillery to fire on the enemy. According to another, the cavaliers -grew impatient of inaction, and demanded to be led against the foe; -and the king firing a cannon with his own hand as a signal for the -assault, the Royalists began to descend the hill. When they came within -musket shot, their spirits were greatly raised by seeing Sir Faithful -Fortescue fire his pistol into the ground, and range himself with two -troops of horse on their side. The Parliamentary cavalry made a charge -on the king's centre, and endeavoured to seize the standard, but could -not resist the pikes of the Royalists. Prince Rupert made a furious -charge on the left wing of the Parliamentarians, broke it, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -pursued it in headlong chase into the village of Kineton, where finding -the baggage of the enemy, he allowed his men an hour to plunder it. -This uncalculating conduct on the part of Rupert continued through the -whole war, and no amount of experience of the disastrous results of it -ever cured him of it in the least. Put him at the head of a body of -horse, and such was his valour and impetuosity that he would carry all -before him, but he was rarely seen again in the field till the battle -was over, when he returned from the headlong chase, often to find his -friends totally defeated.</p> - -<p>To-day, during Rupert's absence, the main bodies of infantry were -led into action by Essex and Lindsay, each marching on foot at the -head of his men. The steady valour of the Roundheads astonished the -Cavaliers. The left wing of Charles's army, under Lord Wilmot, sought -refuge behind a body of pikemen, but Balfour, one of the commanders -of the Parliamentary right wing, wheeled his regiment round on the -flank of the king's infantry, broke through two divisions, and seized -a battery of cannon. In another part of the field the king's guards -displayed extraordinary valour, and forced back all that were opposed -to them. Essex perceiving it, ordered two regiments of infantry and a -squadron of horse to charge them in front and flank, and at the same -time Balfour, abandoning the guns he had captured, attacked them in -the rear. They were now overpowered and broke. Sir Edward Varney, the -standard-bearer, was killed, and the standard taken; but this being -entrusted by Essex to his secretary, Chambers, was, by treachery or -mistake, given up to a Captain Smith, one of the king's officers, whom -Charles, for this service, made a baronet on the field. Charles beheld -with dismay his guards being cut to pieces by overwhelming numbers, -and advanced at the head of the reserve to their rescue. At this -moment Rupert returned from his chase, and the remnant of the guards -was saved. Lord Lindsay had received a mortal wound, his son, Lord -Willoughby, and Colonel Vavasour, were taken prisoners in endeavouring -to rescue him, and Colonel Monroe and other officers had fallen. Had -Rupert returned on having put to the rout the Parliamentary right wing, -all this might have been prevented. As it was, a check was given to the -vehemence of the Roundheads, the firing ceased, and both armies having -stood looking at each other till the darkness fell, each drew off, the -Royalists back to their hill, the Parliamentarians to Kineton.</p> - -<p>Both parties claimed the victory, but if remaining on the field -of battle, and being the last to march away, are any criterions of -success, these were on the side of Essex. His men lay in the field all -night, a keenly frosty one, without covering, but supplied with meat -and beer; and the next morning Charles marched away to Banbury. It -was said that gunpowder failed in Essex's army, or that he would have -pursued the royal army up the hill. As it was, though strengthened by -the arrival of most of his forces left behind under Hampden, he did not -think fit to follow Charles the next day, but allowed him to continue -his route, himself retreating to Warwick. This was not the part of a -victor, so that neither could be said to have won. The number of slain -has been variously estimated; most writers state it at about five -thousand, but the clergyman of Kineton, who buried the dead, reports -them only twelve hundred.</p> - -<p>Charles marched from Banbury to Oxford, where a number of gentlemen, -well mounted, having heard his engagement at Edge Hill represented as -a victory, came in, and thus recruited the wasted body of his cavalry. -Rupert, during the king's stay, kept up that species of warfare which -he had been taught to admire in Count Mansfeld, in Germany. He made -rapid rides round the country, to Abingdon, Henley, and other towns, -where he levied contributions without scruple from the Roundhead -partisans. The Londoners were in the greatest alarm at the tidings -of the king's growing army at Oxford, and sent pressing orders to -Essex to hasten to the defence of the capital. The train-bands were -kept constantly under arms, trenches were thrown up round the city, -forces were despatched to hold Windsor Castle, seamen and boatmen were -sent up the Thames to prevent any approach in that direction, and the -apprentices were encouraged to enrol themselves by the promise of the -time they served being reckoned in the term of their apprenticeship. -At length Essex reached London, posted his men about Acton on the -7th of November, and rode to Westminster, to give an account of his -campaign. It could not be said that he had shown much generalship, but -it was not a time to be too critical with commanders: the brilliant -military genius of Cromwell had not yet revealed itself, therefore the -Parliament gave him hearty thanks, voted him five thousand pounds, and -recommended the capital to his care.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_017.jpg" width="560" height="405" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ST. MARY'S CHURCH, NOTTINGHAM. (<cite>From a Photograph by Frith & Co.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_017big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Essex was scarcely arrived when news came -that Charles had quitted Oxford, and was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -directing his march on London. Henry Martin, a member of the Commons, -who commanded at Reading, considering that town untenable, fell back -on London. The panic in the capital was great. A deputation was sent, -consisting of the Earl of Northumberland and three members of the -Commons, to meet the king and present a petition for an accommodation. -They encountered him at Colnbrook: he received the petition very -graciously, and called God to witness that he desired nothing so much -as peace, and the sparing of his bleeding country. This being reported -to Parliament, they ordered Essex to suspend hostilities, and sent Sir -Peter Killigrew to request the same on the part of the king, supposing -that after this gracious message, in which he promised to reside near -London till the differences were settled, he would have ceased all -offensive operations. But scarcely was Killigrew gone, when Parliament -was startled by the sound of artillery, and Essex rushed from the -House and rode in the direction of the sound. He found Prince Rupert -closely followed by the king in the full attack of Brentford, which -was defended by a small force of Holles's horse. The king had taken -advantage of a thick November fog to endeavour to steal a march on -London; but Holles's horse though few were stout, and withstood the -whole weight of the attack till reinforced by the regiments of Hampden -and Brooke. Thus the king's object was defeated, and the next day, -the 13th of November, being Sunday, there was such an outpouring from -London of the train-bands, and of zealous citizens, that Essex found -himself at the head of twenty-four thousand men, drawn up on Turnham -Green. Hampden, Holles, and all the members of Parliament advised -sending a body of soldiers to make a detour and get into the king's -rear, and then to fall vigorously on in front, and Hampden with his -regiment was despatched on this service. But Essex speedily recalled -him, saying he would not divide his forces; and thus not only was the -retreat left open to the king, but three thousand troops, which had -been posted at Kingston Bridge, were called away to add to the force in -London. Charles therefore finding a very formidable body in front and -the way open behind, drew off his forces and retreated to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -Reading, and then again to his old quarters at Oxford. Again Essex -had displayed miserably defective tactics, or he might have readily -surrounded and cut up the royal force. It was in vain that the -Parliamentary leaders urged Essex to give instant pursuit of the -retreating army; other officers also thought it better to let the king -take himself away. The Parliament, in great indignation at the king's -conduct, passed a resolution never to enter into any negotiations with -him again; and Charles, pretending equal surprise and resentment, -declared that the Parliament had thrown three regiments into Brentford -after sending to treat with him. But it must be remembered that they -proposed this accommodation at Colnbrook, and what business, then, -had he at Brentford? The march, and the hour of it, were sufficiently -decisive of the king being the aggressor.</p> - -<p>Charles lay with his army at Oxford during the winter, and Prince -Rupert exercised his marauding talents in the country round. Of the -Parliamentary proceedings or preparations we have little account, -except that the Parliamentarians were generally discontented with -Essex, who was slow, by no means sagacious, and, many believed, not -hearty in the cause. Sir William Waller, however, drove Goring out -of Portsmouth and took possession of it, so that he was dubbed by -the people William the Conqueror, and it was agitated to put him at -the head of the army in the place of Essex. But another man was now -being heard of. This was Oliver Cromwell, who had quitted his farm -and raised a regiment of his own. He was Colonel Cromwell now. He had -told Hampden at the battle of Edge Hill, where they both were, that it -would never do to trust to a set of poor tapsters and town apprentices -for fighting against men of honour. They must have men, too, imbued -with a principle still higher, and that must be religion. Hampden said -it was a good notion if it could be carried out; and from that time -Cromwell kept it in view, and so collected and trained that regiment -of serious religious men, known as his invincible Ironsides. Cromwell -was active all this winter along the eastern coast, in Cambridgeshire, -Huntingdonshire, Essex, and elsewhere, raising supplies, stopping those -of the enemy, and forming Associations of counties for mutual defence. -Four or six were formed, but all soon went to pieces except that of the -counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridge, Hertfordshire, of which -Lord Grey of Wark was the commander, and Oliver, his lieutenant, the -soul. This Association maintained its district during the whole war. -In February we find Cromwell at Cambridge, the castle of which, with -its magazines, he had taken by storm, and had now collected there great -forces from Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk.</p> - -<p>The queen's arrival in Yorkshire early in February created immense -enthusiasm amongst the Cavaliers. Her spirit, her manners, her -condescension fascinated all who came near her. She was in every sense -now a heroine, and the fact of the Parliament having impeached her -of high treason, and her head being forfeited if she fell into their -hands, only raised her own resolution and the devotion of all around -her. She was conducted to York by a guard of two thousand Cavaliers, -headed by the Marquis of Montrose himself, and attended by six -pieces of cannon, two mortars, and two hundred and fifty waggons of -ammunition. The Lord Fairfax, who was the only Parliamentary general -with any force in the north besides the Governor of Hull, was gallant -enough to offer to escort her himself with his Roundheads; but she knew -she was outlawed, and declined the honour. She rode on horseback on the -march, calling herself the "she-majesty-generalissima," ate her meals -in the sight of the army, in the open air, and delighted the soldiers -by talking familiarly to them. She remained nearly four months at York, -doing wonderful service to the king's cause, and, as we shall find, -succeeding through the Earl of Newcastle even in corrupting the faith -of the Hothams at Hull. Her arrival gave new spirit to the royal cause, -but was undoubtedly, at the same time, the most fatal thing which could -have happened to it, as it strengthened the king in his obstinate -determination to refuse all accommodation with the Parliament.</p> - -<p>And although the Parliament, in its resentment at the king's -treachery at Brentford, had vowed never to treat with him again, in -March, 1643, it made fresh overtures to him. The deputation sent to -him consisted of the Earls of Northumberland, Pembroke, Salisbury, -and Holland, Viscounts Wenman and Dungarvan, John Holland and William -Litton, knights, and William Pierpoint, Bulstrode Whitelock, Edmund -Waller, and Richard Winwood, esquires. They were received by the king -in the garden of Christ Church, and permitted to kiss his hands. On -Waller performing that ceremony, Charles said graciously, "You are the -last, but not the worst, nor the least in my favour." In fact, Waller -at that moment was engaged in a plot for the king, whence the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -significant remark. As the two parties insisted on their particular -demands, the interview came to nothing. Courteous as the king was to -Waller, he was otherwise by no means so to the deputation. The queen -was in the country with abundant supplies of arms and ammunition, and -he was elated with the fact. He interrupted the Earl of Northumberland -so rudely and so frequently, whilst reading the Parliamentary -proposals, that the earl stopped, and demanded proudly whether his -majesty would allow him to proceed. To which Charles replied curtly, -"Ay! ay!" The negotiations continued for several weeks, but during -their abortive proceedings military movement was going on. Essex took -Reading after a siege of ten days, and Hampden proposed to invest -Oxford and finish the war at once, which Clarendon confesses would have -done it, for the town was ill fortified, was so crowded with people -that it could not long hold out, and Charles had not then received -his ammunition from the queen. The dilatory spirit of Essex, however, -and his officers prevailed, and this opportunity was lost. In May -the ammunition arrived, and whilst Charles was preparing to act, the -Parliament was busy in unravelling different plots against them. One -was that in which Waller was engaged. This was a most daring one. -Waller had been one of the most determined declaimers in Parliament -against the king; but now he had been won over by Lord Falkland, and -had entered into a scheme for betraying London to the Royalists, and -seizing the leaders of the opposition. Mixed up with this scheme, -besides himself, were Tomkins, his brother-in-law, Challoner, -Blinkhorne, and others. A commission of array was smuggled into the -City through Lady Aubigny, whose husband fell at Edge Hill, by which -all inclined to the king's service might receive due authority. But the -servant of Tomkins overheard the conspirators, carried the news to Pym, -and they were speedily in custody. Tomkins and Challoner were hanged -within sight of their own houses; Blinkhorne, White, Hasell, and Waller -were, by the intercession of Essex, reprieved, but Waller was fined ten -thousand pounds and confined in the Tower for a year.</p> - -<p>About the same time a similar plot for betraying Bristol was -detected by Colonel Fiennes, the governor, son of Lord Say and Sele. -The chief conspirators were Robert and William Yeomans, who were -condemned to be executed; but one of them was saved by the king -declaring that he would hang as many of his prisoners. The prospect -which was opened of terror and barbarity by such retaliation put an -end to it, and saved at this time Colonel Lilburne, who had been taken -at Brentford. Lilburne was an ultra-republican, and at the same time a -declaimer from the Bible on the mischief of kings. He had been whipped -in Westminster, but had only been made more outrageous, and was so -pugnaciously inclined, that it was said that if he were left alone in -the world, John would be against Lilburne, and Lilburne against John. -Charles ordered his execution, but the threats of the Parliament of -sweeping retaliation saved the democratic orator and soldier.</p> - -<p>The Parliament now made a new Great Seal, and passed under it no -less than five hundred writs in one day. All other events, however, -sank into comparative insignificance before one which now occurred. -Prince Rupert had extended his flying excursions of cavalry, and -committed great depredations in Gloucestershire, Wilts, Hants, and -even as far as Bath; and though the Earl of Essex had his forces lying -about Thame and Brickhill, in Buckinghamshire, yet he was so inert -that Rupert burst into both Bucks and Berkshire in his very face. -Colonel Hurry, who had gone over from Essex to the king, now informed -Rupert that two Parliamentary regiments were lying at Wycombe, apart -from the rest of the army and easy to be cut off. The fiery prince at -once determined to make a night attack upon them. He trotted away from -Oxford on the 17th of June with two thousand horsemen, rode past Thame, -where Essex was lying, without any opposition, and reached the hamlet -of Postcombe at three o'clock in the morning. Here, to their surprise, -they found a body of horse posted to stop them. Hampden, in fact, who -ought to have been at the head of the army, had been uneasy about -the unprotected condition of the two regiments at Wycombe, and had -in vain urged Essex to call in the outposts from Wycombe, Postcombe, -and Chinnor. Not being able to rouse him to this prudent measure, he -continued on the alert, and hearing of the march of Rupert in that -direction, despatched a trooper in all haste to Essex, to advise him to -move a body of horse and foot instantly to Chiselhampton Bridge, the -only place where Rupert could cross the Cherwell. Not satisfied with -this, he himself rode with some cavalry in that direction, and found -Rupert on the field of Chalgrove, in the midst of the standing corn. On -being checked at Postcombe, Rupert had diverged to Chinnor, surprised -the outpost there, killed fifty men, and captured sixty others. On -descrying Hampden's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -detachment coming down Beacon Hill, he posted himself in the wide -field of Chalgrove, where he was attacked by the troops of Captains -Gunter and Sheffield, with whom Hampden had ridden. They boldly charged -Rupert, but Gunter was soon slain, and Hampden, who was looking -impatiently but in vain for Essex's reinforcements, rode up to lead -on Gunter's troopers to the charge, and received a mortal wound. He -did not fall, but, feeling his death blow, wheeled round his horse, -and rode away towards the house of his father-in-law at Pyrton, whence -he married his first wife, whose early death had made such a change -in him. The soldiers of Rupert barred the way in that direction, and -he made for Thame, and reached the house of Ezekiel Browne. He still -continued to live for a week, and spent the time with what strength -he had in urging on Parliament a correction of the palpable military -errors of the campaign, and especially of the dilatory motions of -Essex, which in fact had cost him his life. He expired on the 24th of -June, and was buried in his own parish church at Hampden, followed to -the grave by his regiment of green-coats with reversed arms and muffled -drums.</p> - -<p>The news of this national disaster spread dismay through London and -over the whole country. The prudence, the zeal, and activity united -in Hampden, had made him one of the most efficient men in the House -and in the field. The suavity of his manners, the generosity of his -disposition, the soundness of his judgment, had won him universal -confidence. It was clearly seen that nothing but the deepest and most -patriotic concern for the real welfare of the country animated him. -Though he was conscientiously convinced of the mischief of political -bishops, he was attached to the doctrines of the Church of England; -and though he was, like Pym, firmly persuaded that nothing but the -strongest obligations, the most imperative necessity, would ever tie -down Charles to an observance of the limits of the Constitution, he -was far from dreaming of his death, or of sweeping away the monarchy -to make way for a republic. A little more time must have placed him -at the head of the army, and, with such a right-hand man as Cromwell, -must have soon terminated the campaign. His death seemed like a general -defeat, and struck the deepest and most lasting sorrow into the public -mind. Time has only increased the veneration for the name of John -Hampden, which has become the watchword of liberty, and the object of -popular appeal in every great crisis of his country's history.</p> - -<p>Other discouragements fell on the Parliament at the same period. The -Earl of Newcastle had established so strong a power in the North, that -he had reduced the resistance of the Fairfaxes to almost nothing. His -army abounded with Papists, and was officered by many renegade Scots, -amongst them, conspicuous, Sir John Henderson. He had possession of -Newark Castle, and even repulsed Cromwell in Lincolnshire. But his -greatest triumph was in seducing the Hothams, father and son, and -nearly succeeding in obtaining possession of Hull from their treason. -Newcastle had defeated the Fairfaxes at Atherton Moor, and if Hull -was lost, all was lost in the North. It was therefore proposed to put -Hull into the hands of Lord Fairfax and his son Sir Thomas, which -probably hastened the defection of the Hothams. The plot, however, was -discovered in time; the Hothams were seized, their papers secured, -their letters intercepted, the whole treason made open to the daylight, -and the delinquents shipped off to London. Great as had been their -services in Hull, their apostasy wiped away all past merits, and they -were condemned and executed on Tower Hill.</p> - -<p>These melancholy events were considerably softened by the growing -successes of Cromwell, who seemed to be almost everywhere at once, -always fighting, mostly successful. On the 13th of March he dashed -into St. Albans and seized the sheriff, who was enrolling soldiers by -the king's writ, and sent him off to London. On the 17th he marched -from Norwich and took Lowestoft, with a number of prisoners, amongst -them Sir Thomas Barker, Sir John Pettus, and Sir John Wentworth, who -were glad to compromise with good fines, Wentworth paying one thousand -pounds. He next made an attempt to wrest Newark Castle from the Earl -of Newcastle, but in vain (it stood out to the end of the war); but -he raised the siege of Croyland, made his appearance at Nottingham -and Lynn, and in July he defeated Newcastle's troops near Grantham, -took Burghleigh House and Stamford, and, before the month closed, -fought a stout battle under the walls of Gainsborough to relieve Lord -Willoughby, who was sorely pressed in that town by Newcastle's forces, -and but for Cromwell's timely march to his aid, would have been cut -to pieces. Cromwell attacked the besiegers on some sandhills near -the town, dispersed them, and killed General Cavendish, a cousin of -Newcastle's. After this exploit, however, Newcastle's main army came -down upon them, and they were compelled to retreat to Lincoln, and even -beyond it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_021.jpg" width="402" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HAMPDEN MORTALLY WOUNDED AT CHALGROVE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_021big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the Parliamentary affairs went greatly wrong in the West. -Waller, who had gained the name of Conqueror by his rapid reduction of -Portsmouth, Winchester, Malmesbury, and Hereford, was now defeated with -an army eight thousand strong by Prince Maurice, near Bath, and by Lord -Wilmot, near Devizes. His whole army was dispersed, and he hastened -to London to complain of the inaction of Essex as the cause of his -failure. Indeed, the army of Essex distinguished itself this summer so -far only by inaction, whilst Rupert in the west laid siege to Bristol, -and in three days made himself master of it, through the incapacity of -Fiennes, the governor, who was tried by a council of war and sentenced -to death, but pardoned by Essex with loss of his commission.</p> - -<p>It was imagined that Charles, being now reinforced by a number -of French and Walloons who came with the queen, and strengthened by -victory, would make a grand attempt on the capital. There was no -little alarm there. Essex, who had done nothing through the summer but -watch his men melt away from his standard, recommended Parliament to -come to terms with the king, and the Lords were of his opinion. Many -of them were ready to run off to Charles on the first opportunity. -Bedford, Holland, Northumberland, and Clare, father of Denzil Holles, -were strongly suspected, and soon after proved that these suspicions -were not unjust. Four nobles had been appointed to raise new forces, -but seeing how things were going, all declined their commissions -except Lord Kimbolton, now by the death of his father become Earl of -Manchester. He accepted the command of the Eastern Association, having -Cromwell and three other colonels under him, and soon had a fine force -in those counties.</p> - -<p>Parliament, listening to neither Essex nor the faint-hearted fears -of the peers, refused to open fresh negotiations with the king. They -called on the Londoners to invigorate their train-bands, and to put the -City into a state of defence; and their call was zealously responded -to. Ladies as well as gentlemen turned out and handled spades and -pickaxes in casting up an entrenchment all round the City. Pym and -St. John were sent to the army and seemed to infuse a new spirit into -Essex, pronouncing him sound in the cause. Charles, if he ever thought -of attacking London, seeing the spirit there, turned his attention to -the West and invested Gloucester. Essex was despatched to relieve that -city, and made a march much more active and efficient than was his -wont. He set out on the 26th of August, and on the night of the tenth -day—though he had been harassed on his way by the flying troopers -of Rupert and Lord Wilmot—that is, on the 5th of September, the -people of Gloucester saw his signal fires on the top of Prestbury Hill, -amid the rain and darkness. The king also saw them, fired his tents in -the morning, and marched away. From that hour the prospects of Charles -grew gloomier.</p> - -<p>Essex having relieved Gloucester, and left a good garrison there -under the brave governor, Colonel Massey, made the best of his way back -again, lest the king should outstrip him and take up a position before -London. Charles had not neglected the attempt to cut off his return. -At Auborne Chase Essex was attacked by the flying squadrons of Rupert, -and after beating them off he found the king posted across his path at -Newbury on the 20th of September. The royal army occupied the bank of -the river which runs through the place, to prevent his passage. Every -part where there was a chance of the Parliamentary forces attempting -to cross was strongly defended by breastworks, and musketeers lined -the houses facing the river. It was supposed that Charles could easily -keep the Roundheads at bay, and force them to retreat or starve. Essex -drew up his forces, however, with great skill upon an eminence called -Bigg's Hill, about half a mile from the town, and Charles was prepared -to wait for a chance of taking him at a disadvantage. But the rashness -of the young Cavaliers under Digby, Carnarvon, and Jermyn, led to -skirmishes with the Parliamentarians, and Charles soon found himself -so far involved, that he was obliged to give orders for a general -engagement. The royal horse charged that of Essex with a recklessness -amounting almost to contempt; but though they threw them into disorder, -they found it a different matter with the infantry, consisting of the -train-bands and apprentices of London. These received the Cavaliers on -their pikes, and stood as immovable as a rock, and showed such resolute -and steady spirit, that they soon allowed the horse to recover itself, -and the whole army fought with desperation till dark. The effect -was such, that Charles would not risk another day of it. Waller was -lying at Windsor with two thousand horse and as many foot, and should -he come up as he ought, the king would be hemmed in and placed in -imminent peril. But Waller lay perfectly still—purposely, as many -thought—leaving Essex to take care<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> -of himself, as the earl had formerly left him at Roundaway Hill. In -the morning, therefore, Essex found the king's forces withdrawn and -the way open. Charles had retreated again towards Oxford, having -deposited his guns and ammunition at Donnington Castle, Chaucer's old -residence, which lay within sight, and ordered Rupert to harass the -Parliament army on its march. Essex made his way to Reading, whence he -hurried up to town to complain of the neglect of Waller, and to offer -the surrender of his commission. This was not accepted, but the only -alternative was adopted, that of withdrawing the command from Waller, -which, after much reluctance, was done on the 9th of October.</p> - -<p>The Parliamentarians lost five hundred men in the battle, the king -three times that number and many officers; but the greatest loss of -all was that of the amiable and conscientious Lord Falkland, a man on -the Royalist side as much respected as Hampden was on the Parliament -side. He had gone with the Parliament till he thought they had -obtained all that they were justly entitled to, and pressed too hard -on the king, when he felt it his duty to support the Crown, and had -accepted office as Secretary of State. He was a man of a most cheerful, -cordial, courteous disposition; but from the moment the war broke -out, his cheerfulness fled. He seemed to feel in himself the wounds -and miseries of his bleeding country. He was constantly an advocate -of peace, and was often observed sitting in a state of abstraction, -uttering aloud and unconsciously the words, "Peace! peace!" As the war -went on his melancholy increased; he neglected his dress, and became -short and hasty in his temper. He declared that "the very agony of the -war, and the view of the calamities and desolation which the kingdom -did and must endure, took his sleep from him, and would break his -heart." Whitelock says that "on the morning of the fight he called -for a clean shirt, and being asked the reason of it, answered that -if he were slain in the battle, they would not find his body in foul -linen. Being dissuaded by his friends against going into the fight, as -having no call to it, being no military officer, he said he was weary -of the times, and foresaw much misery to his country, and did believe -he should be out of it ere night, and could not be persuaded to the -contrary, but would enter into the battle, and was there slain." His -death was deeply lamented by all parties. Besides him fell the Earls of -Sunderland and Carnarvon.</p> - -<p>When the king's affairs were in the ascendant by the successes in -the West, the taking of Bristol, and the defeat of Waller at Roundaway -Hill, near Devizes, the Earls of Bedford, Northumberland, Holland, and -Clare deserted the Parliament cause. Northumberland, being cautious, -retired to Petworth, to see how the other lords who meant to go over to -Charles should be received. Bedford, Clare, and Holland offered their -services to the king, and went to Wallingford, where they were suffered -to wait a great while, much to their chagrin. They then went to Oxford, -whilst Charles was in the West, and were ordered to await his return. -The queen and the courtiers, meanwhile, treated them not as valuable -and influential allies, whose good reception would certainly bring over -many more, but, with consummate folly, as renegades, who had forfeited -all respect by taking part with the king's enemies. They followed -the king to Gloucester, where they were coolly enough received, and -afterwards fought on his side at Newbury; but nothing winning them -that estimation which good policy would have granted them at once, -they made their peace with Parliament and went back to London, where, -however, they found they had sunk greatly in public opinion, and were -not permitted to take their seats in the House of Peers or hold office. -Their flight had lowered the public estimation of the Lords, and their -reception at Oxford had seriously injured the king's cause. Whilst the -king and queen retained their impolitic resentments, there was no hope -of winning over friends from the ranks of their opponents. It was clear -that neither time nor trouble had really taught them anything. Moreover -we also learn from the pages of Clarendon that there existed great -discord and division in the camp at Oxford. Every one was jealous of -the slightest promotion or favour shown to another; and the Cavaliers, -he says, had grown disorderly, and devoted to the plundering of the -people, just as the Parliamentary army was growing orderly, zealous, -and efficient. To such an extent was this the case that one side seemed -to fight for monarchy with weapons of confusion, and the other to -destroy the king and Government with all the principles and regularity -of monarchy.</p> - -<p>This was seen in nothing more than in the management with regard to -Scotland. To both parties it was of the highest consequence to have -the alliance of the Scots. Charles, on his last visit, had flattered -the people, given in to the notions of the Covenanters, and conferred -honours on their leaders. But Montrose, who knew the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -Covenanters well, assured the king that he would never get them -to fight on his side. They were too much united in interest and -opinion with the Puritan Parliament not to adhere to it. He proposed, -therefore, to raise another power in Scotland—that of the -nobility and the Highlanders, who should at least divide the country, -delay if not prevent the army of the Covenanters from leaving the -country, and thus save the king from the danger of an invasion in that -quarter, the first result of which would be the loss of his ascendency -in the northern counties of England. When the queen came to York, -Montrose waited on her, and did all in his power to awaken a sense of -peril in Scotland, and offered to raise ten thousand men there, and -paralyse the designs of the Covenanters. But when these representations -were made to Charles, the Marquis of Hamilton, now made duke, strongly -opposed the advice of Montrose, declared that it was monstrous to set -Scots against Scots, and that he would undertake to keep them quiet. -He prevailed, and Montrose, disappointed, retired again to Scotland to -watch the progress of events. Hamilton went to Scotland, with authority -from the king to take the lead in all movements of the Royalists.</p> - -<p>As was foreseen, the English Parliament made overtures to the -Scots for assistance, and the Scots were by no means loth to grant -it, provided they could make advantageous terms. A Commission was -sent to Edinburgh to treat, and the Scots on their part resolved -to call a Parliament to receive their offers. The time fixed for -the reassembling of the Scottish Parliament was not come by a full -year, and the Duke of Hamilton had most particularly pledged himself -to the king to prevent it from meeting. Yet on the 22nd of June, -notwithstanding his remonstrance, it came together, and on the 20th of -July the Commissioners from the English Parliament arrived, and were -received by both Parliament and General Assembly with exultation, and -their letters from the Parliament of England were read with shouts of -triumph—by many, with tears of joy. Their arrival was regarded as -a national victory.</p> - -<p>The conduct of Hamilton was now suspicious. If he was honest he had -misled the king, for he found he had no power to resist the popular -feeling in Scotland; but the general opinion coincided with that of -Montrose, that he was a traitor. The Royalists called upon him to -summon them to his aid, to assemble them in a large body, mounted and -armed, and, supported by them, to forbid the meeting of Parliament as -illegal. But that, Hamilton assured them, would frighten the people, -and lead to disturbance. He proposed that the meeting should take -place, that all the Royalist members should appear in their places, -and then he would declare the meeting illegal, and dismiss it. To -their astonishment, however, Hamilton did not dismiss it, but allowed -it to sit. On this Montrose posted away to England, followed the king -to Gloucester, and represented to him the conduct of Hamilton as -confirming all former declarations of his perfidy. After the battle of -Newbury, Charles listened more at leisure to these representations. He -was so far convinced that he thought of ordering the Earl of Newcastle -to send for Hamilton and his brother Lord Lanark, and to confine them -at York. But at that moment the two brothers, probably aware of the -proceedings of Montrose, appeared themselves at Oxford, where Charles -ordered the Council to examine into the charges against them. Lanark -managed to escape from custody, and hastened direct to London and to -the Parliament, which received him most cordially, a pretty strong -proof of mutual understanding. This satisfied Charles of Hamilton's -complicity, and he sent him in custody to the castle of Bristol, thence -to Exeter, and thence to Pendennis in Cornwall.</p> - -<p>The Commissioners sent to Scotland were Henry Vane the younger, -Armyn, Hatcher, Darley, and Marshall, with Nye, an independent. The -Scots proposed to invade England on condition that the Parliament -adopted the Covenant, and engaged to establish uniformity of religion -in both countries, "according to the pattern of the most reformed -Church," which, of course, meant Presbyterianism. But the Commissioners -knew that this was impossible, for though a considerable number of the -people were Presbyterian in doctrine, many more were Independent, and -just as sturdy in their faith, to say nothing of the large section -of the population which held conscientiously to both Episcopacy and -Catholicism. Vane himself was a staunch Independent, and he was at the -same time one of the most adroit of diplomatists. He consented that the -Kirk should be preserved in its purity and freedom, and that the Church -of England should be reformed "according to the Word of God." As the -Scots could not object to reformation according to the Word of God, -and "the example of the first Reformed churches," which they applied -especially to their own, they were obliged to be content with that vague<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -language. Vane also obtained the introduction of the word League, -giving the alliance a political as well as a religious character. -It was concluded to send a deputation with the Commissioners to -London, to see the solemn "League and Covenant" signed by the two -Houses of Parliament, at the head of which went Alexander Henderson, -the well-known Moderator of the Assembly. Whilst they were on their -journey, the ministers in Scotland readily proclaimed from their -pulpits that now the Lord Jesus had taken the field against antichrist, -that Judah would soon be enslaved if Israel was led away captive, and -that the curse of Meroz would fall on all who did not come to the help -of the Lord against the mighty.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_025.jpg" width="560" height="423" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ARCHBISHOP LAUD'S LIBRARY, EAST QUADRANGLE, JOHN'S COLLEGE, OXFORD.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_025big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On the 25th of September, the very day that Essex arrived in London -after the battle of Newbury, and received the thanks of Parliament, -the two Houses met with the Westminster divines in the church of St. -Margaret, where, after various sermons, addresses, and blessings, -the two Houses signed the League and Covenant, and their example was -followed by the Scottish Commissioners and the divines. It was then -ordered to be subscribed in every parish by all persons throughout the -country.</p> - -<p>It was agreed that the Estates of Scotland should send an army of -twenty-one thousand men into England, headed by the old Earl of Leven. -They were to receive thirty-one thousand pounds a month,—one -hundred thousand pounds of it in advance, and another sum at the -conclusion of peace. Sixty thousand pounds were soon remitted, -the levies began, and in a few months Leslie mustered his army at -Harlaw.</p> - -<p>The union of the Scots with the Parliament was an alarming blow to -the Royalists. If they had found it difficult to cope with Parliament -alone, how were they to withstand them and the Scots? To strengthen -himself against this formidable coalition, Charles turned his attention -to Ireland. There the army had actually grown to fifty thousand men. -As the restorers of the English influence, these were to be paid out -of the estates of the revolted Irish, and numbers of both English and -Scots had flocked over. A large body of Scots had landed under the -command of General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -Monro, eager to avenge the massacre of their Presbyterian brothers -in Ulster. The natives had been driven back, and the invaders were -busy parcelling out the evacuated lands. Two million and a half of -acres had been promised by the English Parliament as the reward of the -victors.</p> - -<p>To resist the tempest which threatened to exterminate them, the -Irish Catholics formed themselves into a confederation, and created -a kind of Parliament at Kilkenny. They imitated in everything the -measures by which the Scots had succeeded in enfranchising their -religion. They professed the most profound loyalty to the sovereign, -and asserted that they were in arms only for the protection of their -religion and their lives. They established a synod which assumed the -same religious authority as the Scottish Assembly, and ordered a -covenant to be taken, by which every one bound himself to maintain the -Catholic faith and the rights of the sovereign and the subject. They -appointed generals in each province, and all necessary officers for the -command of their force. Charles, who suspected the allegiance of the -Earl of Warwick, had contrived to remove him, and appointed the Marquis -of Ormond in his place. To him the confederate Catholics transmitted -their petition, avowing the most unshaken loyalty, declaring that they -had only taken up arms to defend their lives and properties from men -who were equally the enemies of the king and their own,—from the -same puritanic people, so they said, who were seeking to deprive the -king of his crown. These petitions, forwarded to Charles, suggested -to him the idea of deriving use from these forces. As they prayed him -to assemble a new Parliament in Ireland, to grant them the freedom of -their religion and the rights of subjects, he instructed Ormond to come -to terms with them, so that in their pacification they might be able -to spare a considerable body of troops for his assistance in England. -This was effected in September, 1643, and the confederates contributed -directly thirty thousand pounds for the support of the royal army, -fifteen thousand pounds in money, and fifteen thousand pounds in -pensions.</p> - -<p>This was not accomplished without exciting the notice of the English -Parliament, who sent over Commissioners to endeavour to win over the -Protestants in Ormond's army, but in vain. In November Ormond shipped -five regiments to the king. These were sent to Chester to garrison that -town under Lord Byron; but they were rather marauders than soldiers; -they had been raised by the Parliament, yet fought against it for -the king; and they were as loose in discipline as in principles. In -about six weeks after their arrival, they were visited by Sir Thomas -Fairfax at Nantwich, when fifteen thousand of them threw down their -arms, amongst them the afterwards notorious General Monk. Nor was this -the only mischief occasioned to the royal cause by these Irish troops. -Their arrival disgusted the royal forces under Newcastle in the North, -who declared they would not fight with Catholics and Irish rebels.</p> - -<p>Whilst the Scots were mustering to enter England, the Marquis of -Newcastle was bearing hard on the Parliament forces in Yorkshire. He -had cleared the country of them except Hull, which he was besieging; -and Lincolnshire was also so overrun with his forces, that Lord -Fairfax, governor of Hull, was obliged to send his son, Sir Thomas, -across the Humber, to the help of the Earl of Manchester. Fairfax -united with Cromwell near Boston, and at Winceby-on-the-Wolds, about -five miles from Horncastle, the united army under Manchester came to a -battle with the troops of Newcastle, and completely routed them, thus -clearing nearly all Lincolnshire of them. Cromwell had a horse killed -under him, and Sir Ingram Hopton, of Newcastle's army, was killed. The -battle was won by Cromwell and Fairfax's cavalry.</p> - -<p>The close of 1643 was saddened to the Parliament by the death of -Pym (December 8). It was, indeed, a serious loss, following that of -Hampden. No man had done so much to give firmness to the Commons, and -clearness to the objects at which they aimed. His mind was formed on -the old classic model of patriotic devotion. He had no desire to pull -down the Crown or the Church, but he would have the one restrained -within the limits of real service to the country, and the other -confined to those of its communion. Therefore he recommended, sternly, -resistance to the royal power—preferring civil war to perpetual -slavery—and the exemption of bishops and clergymen from all civil -offices. Seeing from the first the ends that he would attain, guided -by the most solemn and perspicuous principles, he never swerved from -them under pressure of flattery or difficulty, nor would he let the -State swerve. His eloquence and address, but far more his unselfish -zeal, enabled him to prevail with the Commons and intimidate the Lords. -He boldly told the Peers that they must join in the salvation of the -country, or see it saved without them, and take the consequences in the -esteem or the contempt of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -the people. They would have fared better had they profited by his -warning. Pym was the Aristides of the time: he sought no advantage -to himself, he gained nothing from his exertions or his prominent -position, but the satisfaction of seeing his country saved by his -labours. He derived no influence from his wealth or rank, for he had -none of either. His whole prestige was intellectual and moral. He wore -himself out for the public good, and died as poor as he commenced, the -only grant which he received from the State being an honourable burial -in Westminster Abbey.</p> - -<p>At the opening of 1644 Charles had devised a scheme for undermining -the authority of the Parliament, namely, by issuing a proclamation -for its extinction. Clarendon, who was now the Lord Chancellor, -very wisely assured him that the members of Parliament sitting at -Westminster would pay no heed to his proclamation, and that a better -measure would be to summon Parliament to meet at Oxford. That would -give every member of both Houses, who was at all inclined to again -recognise the royal authority, the opportunity to join him; and, on -the other hand, a Parliament assembling by call and authority of the -king at his court, would stamp the other as illegal and rebellious. -The advice was adopted, and at the summons forty-three Peers and one -hundred and eighteen Commoners assembled at Oxford. These, however, -consisted of such as had already seceded from the Parliamentary party, -and the king claimed as the full number of his Parliament at Oxford, -eighty-three Lords, and one hundred and seventy-five Commons. According -to Whitelock, there met at Westminster twenty-two Lords only, and -eleven more were excused on different accounts, making thirty-three; -of the Commons there were more than two hundred and eighty. The -king, in his Parliament, promised all those privileges which he had -so pertinaciously denied to all his past Parliaments, and a letter, -subscribed by all the members of both Houses, was addressed to the Earl -of Essex, requesting him to inform "those by whom he was trusted," that -they were desirous to receive commissioners, to endeavour to come to -a peaceable accommodation on all matters in dispute. Essex returned -the letter, refusing to forward a paper which did not acknowledge the -authority of the body addressed. The point was conceded, and Charles -himself then forwarded him a letter addressed to the Lords and Commons -of Parliament assembled at Westminster in his own name, soliciting, by -advice of the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Oxford, the -appointment of such commissioners "for settling the rights of the Crown -and Parliament, the laws of the land, and the liberties and property -of the subject." But there was no probability of agreement, and so the -Oxford Parliament proceeded to proclaim the Scots, who had entered -England contrary to the pacification, and all who countenanced them -guilty of high treason.</p> - -<p>The Scots passed the Tweed on the 16th of January, 1644. The winter -was very severe, and the march of the army was dreadful. They made -their way, however, to Newcastle, where the Marquis of Newcastle had -just forestalled them in getting possession of it. They then went on -to Sunderland. Newcastle offered them battle, but the Scots, though -suffering from the weather and want of provisions, having posted -themselves in a strong position, determined to wait for the arrival of -Parliamentary forces to their aid. The defeat of Lord Byron at Nantwich -permitted Sir Thomas Fairfax and Lord Fairfax, his father, to draw -towards them, and these generals having also defeated at Leeds the -Royalists under Lord Bellasis, the son of Lord Falconberg, Newcastle -betook himself to York, where he was followed by both the Fairfaxes and -the Scots.</p> - -<p>Charles was lying at Oxford with a force of ten thousand men; Waller -and Essex, with the Parliamentary army, endeavoured to invest him in -that city, but as they were marching down upon him from two different -quarters, he issued from it with seven thousand men and made his way -to Worcester. As these two generals detested each other and could not -act in concert, Essex turned his march towards the West of England, -where Prince Maurice lay, and Waller gave chase to the king. Charles, -by feint of marching on Shrewsbury, induced Waller to proceed in that -direction, and then suddenly altering his course at Bewdley regained -Oxford. After beating up the Parliamentary quarters in Buckinghamshire, -he encountered and worsted Waller at Cropredy Bridge, and then marched -westward after Essex.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_028.jpg" width="441" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>PRINCE RUPERT. (<cite>After the Portrait by Vandyke.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_028big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>While these manœuvres were in progress, the Earl of -Manchester, having as his lieutenant-general Oliver Cromwell, marched -northward to co-operate with Leslie and the Fairfaxes at York against -Newcastle. Charles, who saw the imminent danger of Newcastle, and the -loss of all the North if he were defeated, sent word to Prince Rupert -to hasten to his assistance. Rupert had been gallantly fighting in -Nottinghamshire, Cheshire, and Lancashire, and everywhere victorious. -He had compelled the Parliamentary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -army to raise the siege of Newark, had taken Stockport, Bolton, and -Liverpool, and raised the siege of Lathom House, which had been nobly -defended for eighteen weeks by the Countess of Derby. On receiving the -king's command, he mustered what forces he could, and reached York on -the 1st of July. The Parliamentary generals, at his approach, raised -the siege, and withdrew to Marston Moor, about four miles from the -city. Rupert had about twenty thousand men, with whom he had committed -dreadful ravages on the Lancashire hills; he had now relieved the -marquis, and might have defended the city with success, but he was -always ready to fight, and Newcastle having six thousand men, making, -with his own forces, twenty-six thousand, Rupert persuaded him to turn -out and chastise the Roundheads. The English and Scots had about the -same number. So little did the Parliamentarians expect a battle, that -they were in the act of drawing off their forces to a greater distance, -when Rupert attacked their rear with his cavalry. On this they turned, -and arranged themselves in front of a large ditch or drain, and the -Royalists posted themselves opposite. The Scots and English occupied -a large rye field bounded by this ditch, and they placed their troops -in alternate divisions, so that there should be no jealousy between -them. It was not till five o'clock in the afternoon of the 2nd of July -that the two armies had arranged themselves for the fight, and then -they stood gazing on each other for two hours, each loth to risk the -disadvantage of crossing the ditch first. Newcastle, who did not want -to fight, had retired to his carriage in ill-humour, and all began to -think that there would be no battle till the morrow, when Rupert, who was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -posted on the right wing with his cavalry, another body of cavalry -covering the flank of the infantry on the left, made one of his sudden -and desperate charges. Like all these exploits of his, it was so -impetuous, that it bore the Parliamentary cavalry on their left wing -clear away before it, and the officers and their horse were speedily in -full flight, pursued by the fiery Rupert, who, as was his wont, forgot -all but the fugitives before him, and with three thousand cavalry -galloped after them for some miles. The Royalist infantry followed up -the effect by attacking that of the Parliament with such fury, that the -latter was thrown into confusion, and the three generals, Manchester, -Lord Fairfax, and Leslie, believing all lost, fled with the rest, in -the direction of Tadcaster and Cawood Castle. Cromwell, who commanded -the right wing of the Parliamentary army, was thus left to fight or -flee, as might happen, but nothing daunted, he attacked the Royalist -cavalry with such vigour that he completely routed them, and then -turned again to oppose the horse of Rupert, who were just returning -from the chase, to find their side in flight. These and a body of -pikemen,—Newcastle's "white coats"—fought desperately. -The cavalry, on exhausting their charges, flung their pistols at the -enemies' heads, and then fell to with their swords. At length the -victory remained with Cromwell, Rupert drew off, and Cromwell remained -all night on the field. He sent messages after the fugitive generals -to recall them, but Leslie was already in bed at Leeds when the news -reached him, when he exclaimed, "Would to God I had died on the place!" -Cromwell won great renown by this action. He kept the field all night -with his troopers, who were worn out by the tremendous exertions of -the day, and were in expectation every moment of a fresh attack from -Rupert, who might have collected a large body of troops together to -overwhelm him. But he had lost the battle by his incurable rashness, -after having induced the unwilling Newcastle to risk the engagement, -and he made his retreat into Lancashire, and thence into the western -counties.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_029a.jpg" width="560" height="332" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SIEGE-PIECE OF CHARLES I.—NEWARK (HALF-CROWN).</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_029b.jpg" width="560" height="258" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SIEGE-PIECE OF CHARLES I.—PONTEFRACT (SHILLING).</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_029c.jpg" width="350" height="342" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SIEGE-PIECE OF CHARLES I.—BEESTON (TWO SHILLINGS).</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_029d.jpg" width="350" height="329" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SIEGE-PIECE OF CHARLES I.—COLCHESTER (TEN SHILLINGS, GOLD).</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Four thousand one hundred and fifty bodies of -the slain were buried on the moor; the greater -part of the arms, ammunition, and baggage of the -Royalists fell into the hands of Cromwell, with -about a hundred colours and standards, including -that of Rupert himself, and the arms of the -Palatinate. Newcastle evacuated York and retired -to the Continent, accompanied by the Lords -Falconberg and Widderington, and about eighty -gentlemen, who believed the royal cause was totally -ruined. This the bloodiest battle of the war was -fought on the 2nd of July, and on the morning of -the 4th the Parliamentary forces were again in -muster, and sat down before the walls of York. On -the 7th, being Sunday, they held a public thanksgiving -for their victory, and on the 11th being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -ready to take the city by escalade, Glenham, the -governor, came to terms, on condition that the -garrison should be allowed to march out with -all the honours of war, and retire to Skipton. On -the 16th they evacuated the city, and the Parliamentarians -entered, and marched directly to the -cathedral, to return thanks for their victory. The -battle of Marston Moor had indeed utterly destroyed -the king's power in the North. Newcastle -alone stood out; but this the Scots invested, and -readily reduced, taking up their quarters there -for the present.</p> - -<p>In the West, matters for awhile wore a better -aspect for the king. Essex, on the escape of the -king from Oxford, directed his course west. The -Royalists were strong in Devon, Cornwall, and -Somersetshire; but to effectually compete with -them, Waller should have united his forces with the -commander-in-chief. He was too much in rivalry -with him to do that. The king set off after Essex, -to support his forces in the western counties, and -Essex, as if unaware of the royal army following -him, continued to march on. The queen, who had -been confined of a daughter at Exeter, on the -approach of Essex requested of him a safe conduct -to Bath, on pretence of drinking the waters, -whence she proposed to get to Falmouth, and -thence back to France. Essex ironically replied -that he would grant her an escort to London, -where she could consult her own physicians, but -where he knew that she was proclaimed guilty of -high treason. Henrietta Maria, however, made -her way to Falmouth without his courtesy, and -thence in a Dutch vessel, accompanied by ten -other ships, she reached France, though closely -pursued by the English admiral, who came near -enough to discharge several shots at the vessel.</p> - -<p>Essex advanced to Lyme Regis, where he relieved -Robert Blake, afterwards the celebrated -admiral, who was there closely besieged by Prince -Maurice; and still proceeding, took Taunton, -Tiverton, Weymouth, and Bridport. This was -something like victory; but meanwhile, all men -were wondering at his apparent unconsciousness -that the Royalist forces were enclosing him, and -that with the exception of about two thousand -horse under Middleton, which kept at a distance -and never united with him, he was wholly unsupported -by Waller's troops. In this manner he -advanced into Cornwall, where Prince Maurice -joined his forces with those of the king to cut off -his return. At this crisis many began to suspect -that he meant to go over to the king's party, but -in this they misjudged him, for at this time Charles -made overtures to him, but in vain. He received -a letter from the king, promising him if he would -join him in endeavouring to bring the Parliament to -terms, he would guarantee both the liberties and -religion of the people; and another from eighty-four -of the king's principal officers, protesting that -if the king should attempt to depart from his engagements -they would take up arms against him. -Essex sent the letter to the Parliament, proving -his faith to them; but it would have been still -better if he could have proved to them also his -military ability. But near Liskeard, he suffered -himself to be hemmed in by different divisions of -the royal army, and his supplies to be cut off -by allowing the little port of Fowey to fall -into the hands of the king's generals, Sir Jacob -Astley and Sir Richard Grenville. He was now -attacked by Charles on the one hand, and Colonel -Goring on the other. Essex sent pressing demands -to Parliament for succour and provisions, but none -came; and one night in September his horse, -under Sir William Balfour, by a successful -manœuvre, passed the enemy, and made their -way back to London. Essex, with Lord Roberts -and many of his officers, escaped in a boat to -Plymouth, and Major-General Skippon, with the -fort, capitulated, leaving to the king their arms -and artillery.</p> - -<p>Essex had no right to expect anything but the -most severe censure for his failure; he retired -to his house, and demanded an investigation, -charging his disasters to the neglect of Waller. -The Parliament, however, instead of reproaching -him, thanked him for the fidelity which he had -shown when tempted by the king, and for his -many past services.</p> - -<p>To Cromwell the general aspect of things had -become well nigh intolerable. But it was in vain -that he endeavoured to move the heavy spirit of -his superior, the Earl of Manchester, and hence -they came more and more to disputes. Cromwell -was insubordinate because it was impossible that -fire could be subordinate to earth. In vain he -pointed out what ought to be done, and he grew -impatient and irritated at what was not done. -That irritation and impatience became the greater -as he turned his eyes on what Essex, Waller, and -the rest of the Parliamentary generals were doing. -It seemed to him that they were asleep, paralysed, -when a few bold strokes would bring the war to a -close.</p> - -<p>Charles having broken up Essex's army in -Cornwall, and put Essex himself to flight, made a -hasty march back again to Oxford to avoid being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -himself in turn cooped up in the narrow West. -Already the Parliament was mustering its forces -for that purpose. Essex and Waller were again -set at the head of troops, and the victorious -forces of Marston Moor, under Manchester and -Cromwell, were summoned to join them. They -endeavoured to stop the king in his attempt to -reach Oxford, and encountered him again near the -old ground of battle at Newbury. Charles was -attacked in two places at once—Shaw on the -eastern, and at Speen on the western side of the -town. The Earl of Essex was ill, or, as many -believed, pretended to be so; at all events, the -command fell to Manchester. On the 26th of -October, the first brush took place, and the next -morning being Sunday, the attack was renewed -more vigorously. The soldiers of Manchester, or -rather of Cromwell, went into the fight singing -psalms, as was their wont. The battle was fiercely -contested, and it was not till ten o'clock at night -that Charles retreated towards Wallingford. It -was full moonlight, and Cromwell prepared to -pursue him, but was withheld by Manchester. -Again and again did Cromwell insist on the necessity -of following and completing the rout of the -royal army. "The next morning," says Ludlow, -"we drew together and followed the enemy with -our horse, which was the greatest body that I saw -together during the war, amounting at least to -seven thousand horse and dragoons; but they had -got so much ground, that we could never recover -sight of them, and did not expect to see any more -in a body that year; neither had we, as I suppose, -if encouragement had not been given privately by -some of our party."</p> - -<p>In other words, there were strong suspicions -that the aristocratic generals did not want to -press the king too closely. This became apparent -ten days after. Charles, on retreating, had -done exactly as he did before at this same -Newbury; he had thrown all his artillery into the -Castle of Donnington, and now he came back -again to fetch it, nobody attempting to hinder -him, as nobody had attempted to reduce Donnington -and secure the artillery. So extraordinary -was the conduct of the Parliamentary generals, -that though Charles passed through their lines -both in going and returning from Donnington, and -even offered them battle, no one stirred. The -generals dispersed their army into winter quarters, -and both Parliament and people complained of -the affair of Newbury. The Parliament set on -foot an inquiry into the causes of the strange -neglect of public duty, and they soon found one -powerful cause in the jealousies and contentions of -the generals. It was time a new organisation -was introduced, and Cromwell saw that besides -the incapacity of the commanders, there were -aristocratic prejudices that stood in the way of -any effectual termination of the war.</p> - -<p>Cromwell was at the head of the Independents, -and these were as adverse to the dominance and -intolerance of the Presbyterians, as Cromwell was -to the slow-going generals. He knew that he -should have their support, and he determined to -come to a point on the vital question of the -arrangement of the war. He had declared -plumply, in his vexation, "That there never -would be a good time in England till we had -done with lords;" and he had horrified the milk-and-water -aristocrats, by protesting that "if he -met the king in battle, he would fire his pistol at -him as he would at another." He was now resolved -to have lords out of the army at least, and -therefore, on the 25th of November, 1644, he -exhibited a charge in the House of Commons -against the Earl of Manchester, asserting that he -had shown himself indisposed to finish the war; -that since the taking of York he had studiously -obstructed the progress of the Parliamentary -army, as if he thought the king already too low, -and the Parliament too high, especially at Donnington; -and that since the junction of the armies -he had shown this disposition still more strongly, -and had persuaded the Council not to fight at all.</p> - -<p>Manchester, eight days after, replied at great -length, accusing Cromwell of insubordination, and -was supported by Major-General Crawford, whom -the Scottish Presbyterians had got into the army of -Manchester, to counteract the influence of Cromwell -and the Independents. Crawford even dared -to charge Cromwell with leaving the field of Newbury -from a slight wound. Cromwell, on the 9th -of December, leaving such charges to be answered -by Marston Moor and his share of Newbury, proposed -a measure which at once swept the army of -all its deadweights. In the Grand Committee -there was a general silence for a good space of -time, one looking on the other, to see who would -venture to propose the only real remedy for getting -rid of the Essexes and Manchesters out of the -army, when Cromwell arose and proposed the celebrated -Self-denying Ordinance. It is now time to -speak, he said, or for ever hold the tongue. They -must save the dying nation by casting off all lingering -proceedings, like those of the soldiers of fortune -beyond the sea, who so pursued war because -it was their trade. "What," he asked, "did the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -nation say?" That members of both Houses had -got good places and commands, and by influence -in Parliament or in the army, meant to keep them -by lingering on the war. What he told them to -their faces, he assured them was simply what all the -world was saying behind their backs. But there -was a sure remedy for all that, and for himself, he -cared to go no farther into the inquiry, but to -apply that remedy. It was for every one to <em>deny -themselves</em> and their own private interests, and for -the public good to do what Parliament should -command. He told them that he would answer -for his own soldiers, not that they idolised him, -but because they looked to Parliament, and would -obey any commands the Parliament should lay -upon them for the Cause.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, the same day, Mr. Tate, of Northampton, -formally moved the Self-denying Ordinance—that -is, that no member of either House -should hold a command in the army or a civil -office. This was so surprising a measure, that -even Whitelock observed that "our noble generals, -the Earls of Denbigh, Warwick, Manchester, the -Lords Roberts, Willoughby, and other lords in -your armies, besides those in civil offices, and your -members the Lord Grey, Lord Fairfax, Sir William -Waller, Lieutenant-General Cromwell, Mr. -Hollis, Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir William Brereton, -Sir John Meyrick, and many others must be laid -aside if you pass this ordinance." The proposition -seen in these dimensions was daring and drastic. -Manchester, Essex, Denzil Holles, Meyrick, Stapleton, -and others, who had so long gone on side -by side with Cromwell, Whitelock, and others, -were now not only indignant at Cromwell's bold -and aspiring tone, but bitterly opposed to him on -the ground of faith and Church government. -They were for preserving Church and State, and -they were linked with the Scots, who were -vehement for the general acceptation of the Presbyterian -doctrine, if they could not carry its -formula. They met at Essex House, and concerted -how they were to put down not only this -troublesome man, but the troublesome party of -which he was the representative, the Independents, -who were for liberty in the Church and the State, -and would hear nothing of the domination of -synods and presbyteries any more than of bishops. -They sent to Whitelock and Maynard, to consult -them as lawyers, on nothing less than impeaching -Cromwell as an incendiary. The Lord Chancellor -of Scotland addressed them thus:—"Ye ken varra -weel that, Lieutenant-General Cromwell is no friend -of ours, and since the advance of our army into -England, he hath used all underhand and cunning -means to take off from our honour and merit with -this kingdom—an evil requital of all our hazards -and services; but so it is, and we are nevertheless -fully satisfied of the affections and gratitude of -the gude people of this nation in general. It is -thought requisite for us, and for the carrying on of -the cause of the twa kingdoms, that this obstacle -or <em>remora</em> may be moved out of the way, who, we -foresee, will otherwise be no small impediment to -us, and the gude design that we have undertaken. -He not only is no friend to us, and to the government -of our Church, but he is also no well-willer -to his excellency, whom you and us all have cause -to love and honour; and if he be permitted to go -on in his ways, it may, I fear, endanger the whole -business. Ye ken varra weel the accord atwixt -the twa kingdoms, and the union by the Solemn -League and Covenant, and if any be an incendiary -betwin the twa nations, how he is to be proceeded -against."</p> - -<p>Whitelock replied that the word "incendiary" -meant just the same thing in English as it did -in Scottish, but that whether Cromwell was -an incendiary, was a thing that could only be -established by proofs, and that, he thought, -would be a tough matter. Maynard agreed with -Whitelock, and though Holles and others of the -Presbyterian party urged an immediate impeachment, -the Scots cautiously paused.</p> - -<p>The question of the Self-denying Ordinance was -vigorously debated for ten days in the Commons. -Vane seconded the motion of Tate, and another -member observed that two summers had passed -over, and they were not saved. A fast was appointed -for imploring a blessing on the new project. -The people of London, on the 12th of -December, petitioned the House, thanking them -for their proceedings, and, after serious debate and -opposition, the Bill was passed on the 19th. On -the 21st it was sent up to the Peers, where it was -vigorously attacked by Essex, Manchester, and -the rest of the Lords affected. On the 13th of -January, 1646, the Lords threw it out. But the -Commons went on remodelling the army, fixed -its numbers at twenty-one thousand effective men, -namely, fourteen thousand foot, six thousand -horse, and one thousand dragoons. They then -nominated Sir Thomas Fairfax commander-in-chief -instead of Essex; Skippon, the old train-band -major, was made major-general; the -lieutenant-general was left unnamed, the Commons, -in spite of their own ordinance, resolving -that Cromwell should hold that post, but avoiding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -to increase the opposition to the general measure -by not mentioning him.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_033sm.jpg" width="560" height="523" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ST. MARGARET'S, WESTMINSTER. (1888.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_033.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On the 28th of January, the Commons, having -completed the organisation of the army and the -appointment of the officers, again sent the Ordinance -up to the Peers who, seeing that they -should be obliged to swallow it, moulded it into a -more digestible shape, by insisting that all officers -should be nominated by both Houses, and that no -one should be capable of serving who did not take -the Solemn League and Covenant within twenty -days. But the Lords were struck with an apprehension -that the Commons meant to do without -them in the end, and they therefore exercised -their rights in opposing the acts of the Lower -House. They refused to sanction one-half of the -officers appointed by Sir Thomas Fairfax, who -had been introduced to the Commons on the 18th -of February, thanked for his past services, and -complimented on his appointment. To remove the -suspicion of the Lords, the Commons assured them -by message that they had bound themselves to be -as tender of the honours and rights of the Peers as -they were of their own. This pacified the Lords, -and yielding to a necessity too strong for them, -Essex, Manchester, Denbigh, and the rest resigned -their commands, and on the 3rd of April the Self-denying -Ordinance was passed by the Peers. Sir -Thomas Fairfax proceeded to Windsor to remodel -the army according to this Act. He did not -find it an easy task; many, who were dismissed -by the Act or for their past conduct, were unwilling -to be cashiered; others would not serve -under the new officers; and Dalbier, who had -been one of the worst counsellors of Essex, lay -apart with eight troops of horse, as if he contemplated -going over to the king. At length, however, -he came in, and the work was completed.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> - -<p class="p6">THE GREAT REBELLION (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>The Assembly at Westminster—Trial and Death of Laud—Negotiations at Uxbridge—Meeting of the Commissioners—Impossibility -of a Settlement—Prospect of Help to the King from the Continent—Charles agrees to the demands of the Irish -Catholics—Discipline and Spirit of the Parliamentary Army—Campaign of the New-modelled Army—Hunting the King—Battle -of Naseby—Fairfax in the West—Exploits of Montrose—Efforts of Charles to join Him—Battle of Kilsyth—Fall -of Bristol—Battle of Philiphaugh—Last Efforts of the Royalists—Charles Offers to Treat—Discovery of his Correspondence -with Glamorgan—Charles Intrigues with the Scots—Flight from Oxford—Surrender to the Scots at Newark—Consequent -Negotiations—Proposals for Peace—Surrender of Charles to Parliament.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>Whilst these events were happening in the field -and the Parliament, other events were occurring also -both in England and Scotland, the account of which, -not to interrupt the narrative of the higher transactions, -has been deferred. From the month of June, -1643, the Synod of divines at Westminster had -been at work endeavouring to establish a national -system of faith and worship. This Westminster -Assembly consisted of one hundred and twenty -individuals appointed by the Lords and Commons. -They included not only what were called pious, -godly, and judicious divines, but thirty laymen, -ten lords, and twenty commoners, and with them -sat the Scottish commissioners. The Scottish -and English Presbyterians had a large majority, -and endeavoured to fix on the nation their -gloomy, ascetic, and persecuting notions; but -they found a small but resolute party of a -more liberal faith, the Independents, including -Vane, Selden, and others, whose bearing and -spirit, backed by Cromwell, Whitelock, St. John, -and others in Parliament, were more than a match -for this overbearing intolerance. On the subject -of Church government, therefore, there could be -no agreement. Cromwell demanded from the -House of Commons an act of toleration, and that a -Committee should be formed of deputies from both -Houses and from the Assembly to consider it. -The subject was long and fiercely debated, the -Lords Say and Wharton, Sir Henry Vane, and -St. John contending for the independence of the -Church from all bishops, synods, and ruling powers. -The only thing agreed on was, that the English -Common Prayer-book should be disused, and a Directory -of worship introduced which should regulate -the order of the service, the administration of -the Sacrament, the ceremonies of marriage and -burial—but left much liberty to the minister in -the matter of his sermons. This Directory was, -by an ordinance of both Houses, ordered to be -observed both in England and Scotland.</p> - -<p>Poor old Archbishop Laud, who was still in -prison, was in the turmoil of civil war almost totally -forgotten. But the Puritans of England and the -people of Scotland needed only a slight reminder -to demand the punishment of the man who, with so -high a hand, had trodden down their liberties and -their religion. This was given them by the Lords, -who, insisting on appointing ministers to livings -in his gift, called on Laud to collate the vacant -benefices to such persons as they should nominate. -The king forbade him to obey. At length, in -February, 1643, the rectory of Chartham, in Kent, -became vacant by the death of the incumbent, -the Lords nominated one person, the king another, -and Laud, placed in a dilemma dangerous to his -life under his circumstances, endeavoured to excuse -himself by remaining passive. But the -Lords, in the month of April, sent him a peremptory -order, and on his still delaying, sent a -request to the Commons to proceed with his trial. -There were fourteen articles of impeachment -already hanging over his head, and the Commons -appointed Prynne, still smarting under the ear-lopping, -branding, and cruelties of the archbishop, -to collect evidence and co-operate with a Committee -on the subject.</p> - -<p>What an apparition must that earless man, with -those livid brand marks on his cheeks, have been -as he entered the cell of Laud, and told him that -the day of retribution was come! Prynne collected -all his papers, even the diary which he had been so -long employed in writing, as the defence of his -past life, and sought everywhere for remaining -victims and witnesses of the archbishop's persecutions -and cruelties, to bring them up against -him. In six months the Committee had obtained -evidence enough to furnish ten new articles of impeachment -against him, and on the 4th of March, -1644, more than three years after his commitment, -Laud was called upon to take his trial. He demanded -time to consult his papers, and to have them for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -that purpose restored, to have counsel, and money -out of the proceeds of his estate to pay his fees -and other expenses. He was not likely to find -much more tenderness from his enemies than he -had showed to them; the Scots demanded stern -justice upon him, as the greatest enemy which -their country had known for ages. Time was given -him till the 12th of March, when he was brought -to the bar of the House of Lords. There, after -the once haughty but now humbled priest had -been made to kneel a little, Mr. Serjeant Wild -opened the case against him, and went over, at -great length, the whole story of his endeavours -to introduce absolutism in Church and State in -England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dreadful -cruelties and oppressions which he had inflicted -on the king's subjects in the Star Chamber and -High Commission Courts.</p> - -<p>When he had done, Laud defended himself -from a written paper, contending that though he -had leaned towards the law, he had never intended -to overthrow the laws, and that he had -in the Church laboured only for the support of -the external form of worship, which had been -neglected. But the hearers had not forgotten -the "Thorough," nor the utter suppression of all -forms of religion but his own, the sweeping -away utterly of the faith of Scotland, and the -substitution of Arminianism and the liturgy.</p> - -<p>It was not till the 2nd of September that -Laud was called to the bar of the Lords to deliver -his recapitulation of the arguments in -answer to his charges. Mr. Samuel Brown, a -member of the Commons, and a Manager of the -trial, replied to them. Laud was then allowed -counsel to speak to the parts of law, who took -the same course of defence as had been taken -in the case of Strafford, declaring that the -prisoner's offence did not amount to high treason, -and the Commons then adopted their plan in -Strafford's case, of proceeding by attainder. He -was, therefore, on the 2nd of November, brought -to the bar of their own House, where Mr. Brown -repeated the sum of the evidence produced in -the Lords, and Laud was called on to reply -himself to the charges. He demanded time to -prepare his answer, and obtained eight days. -On the 11th of November he was heard, and -Brown in reply; and the Commons the same -day passed their Bill of Attainder, finding him -fully convicted of the offences charged against -him. On the 16th they sent up this Bill to the -Lords; but it was not till the 4th of January, -1645, that the Lords also passed the Bill, and -soon after fixed the day of his execution for the -10th. The last effort to save the old man's life -was by the production of a pardon which had -been prepared at Oxford, as soon as the danger -of his conviction was seen, and was signed and -sealed by the king. This pardon was read in -both Houses, but was declared of no effect, the -king having no power to pardon a crime adjudged -by Parliament. On the appointed day, -the archbishop was beheaded on Tower Hill. -Meanwhile some useless negotiations had been -set on foot by the Presbyterian party at -Uxbridge.</p> - -<p>Charles had, during the last summer, after -every temporary success, proposed negotiations, -thus showing his readiness to listen to accommodation, -and throwing on the Parliament the -odium of continued warfare. At the same time -it must be confessed that he was by no means -inclined to accept terms which would surrender -altogether his prerogative, or sacrifice the interests -of those who had ventured everything -for him. He was constantly exhorted by the -queen from France to make no peace inconsistent -with his honour, or the interests of his -followers. She contended that he must stipulate -for a bodyguard, without which he could -enjoy no safety, and should keep all treaty -regarding religion to the last, seeing plainly the -almost insuperable difficulty on that head; for -since nothing would satisfy the Puritans but -the close binding down of the Catholics, that -would effectually cut off all hope of his support -from Ireland, or from the Catholics of England. -Charles, in fact, was in a cleft stick, and the -contentions of his courtiers added so much to -his embarrassments, that he got rid of the most -troublesome by sending them to attend the -queen in France. He then assembled his Parliament -for the second time, but it was so thinly -attended, and the miserable distractions which -rent his Court were so completely imported into -its debates, that he was the more disposed to -accept the offer of negotiation with the Parliament. -His third proposal, happening to be -favoured by the recommendation of the Scots, -was at length acceded to by Parliament, but the -terms recommended by the Scots—the recognition -of Presbytery as the national religion, and the -demands of the Parliament of the supreme control -not only of the revenue but of the army—rendered -negotiations from the first hopeless.</p> - -<p>In November, 1644, the propositions of the -Scots, drawn up by Johnston of Wariston, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -sent to the king by a Commission consisting of -the Earl of Denbigh, the Lords Maynard and -Wenman, and Mr. Pierpoint, Denzil Holles, and -Whitelock, accompanied by the Scottish Commissioners—Lord -Maitland, Sir Charles Erskine, -and Mr. Barclay.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_036sm.jpg" width="560" height="418" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>INTERVIEW BETWEEN CHARLES AND THE EARL OF DENBIGH. (<em>See p.</em> 36.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_036.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Charles probably received a private copy of the -propositions, for he received the Commissioners -most ungraciously. They were suffered to remain -outside the gates of Oxford in a cold and -wet day for several hours, and then conducted -by a guard, more like prisoners than ambassadors, -to a very mean inn. On the propositions -being read by the Earl of Denbigh, Charles -asked him if they had power to treat, to -which the earl replied in the negative, saying -that they were commissioned to receive his -majesty's answer. "Then," said Charles, rudely, -"a letter-carrier might have done as much as -you." The earl, resenting this, said, "I suppose -your majesty looks upon us as persons of -another condition than letter-carriers." "I know -your condition," retorted the king, "but I -repeat it, that your condition gives you no -more power than a letter-carrier." Whilst -Denbigh had read over the list of persons who -were to be excepted from the conditions of the -treaty, Rupert and Maurice, who were of the -excepted, and were present, laughed in the earl's -face. This insolence displeased even the king, -and he bade them be quiet. The interview terminated, -however, as unfavourably as it began. -The king gave them a reply but sealed up, and -not addressed to the Parliament or anybody. -The commissioners refused to carry an answer -of which they did not know the particulars, -on which Charles insolently remarked, "What -is that to you, who are but to carry what I -send; and if I choose to send the song of Robin -Hood or Little John, you must carry it?" As -they could get nothing else, not even an address -upon it to Parliament, the commissioners, wisely -leaving it to Parliament to treat the insult as -they deemed best, took their leave with it.</p> - -<p>When this document was presented to both -Houses on the 29th of November, 1644, assembled -for the purpose, it was strongly urged by many -to refuse it; but this was overruled by those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -who wisely would throw no obstacle in the way -of negotiation; and the king thought well immediately -to send the Duke of Richmond and -the Earl of Southampton with a fuller answer. -They, on their part, found a safe-conduct refused -them by Essex, then the commander, unless -he were acknowledged by the king as general -of the army of the Parliament of England, and -the Commons informed them that they would -receive no further Commission which was not -addressed to the Parliament of England assembled -at Westminster, and the Commissioners of the -Parliament of Scotland. With this the king -was compelled to comply; but at the same time -he wrote to the queen—"As to my calling those -at London a Parliament, if there had been two -besides myself of my opinion, I had not done it; -and the argument that prevailed with me was -that <em>the calling did no wise acknowledge them to -be a Parliament</em>, upon which construction and -condition I did it, and no otherwise."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_037sm.jpg" width="560" height="423" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ROUNDHEAD SOLDIERS.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_037.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Under these unpromising circumstances, Commissioners -on both sides were at length appointed, -who met on the 29th of January, in the little -town of Uxbridge. Uxbridge was within the -Parliamentary lines, and the time granted for -the sitting was twenty days. The Commissioners -on the part of the king were the Duke of -Richmond, the Marquis of Hertford, the Earls -of Southampton, Chichester, and Kingston, the -Lords Capel, Seymour, Hatton, and Colepepper, -Secretary Nicholas, Sir Edward Hyde, Chancellor -of the Exchequer, Sir Edward Lane, Sir Orlando -Bridgeman, Sir Thomas Gardener, Mr. Ashburnham, -Mr. Palmer, and Dr. Stewart. On -that of the Parliament appeared the Earls of -Northumberland, Pembroke, Salisbury, and Denbigh, -Lord Wenman, Sir Henry Vane the -younger, Denzil Holles, Pierpont, St. John, -Whitelock, Crew, and Prideaux. The Scottish -Commissioners were the Earl of Loudon, the -Marquis of Argyll, the Lords Maitland and -Balmerino, Sir Archibald Johnston, Sir Charles -Erskine, Sir John Smith, Dundas, Kennedy, -Robert Barclay, and Alexander Henderson. -John Thurloe, afterwards Oliver Cromwell's -secretary, and the friend of Milton, was secretary -for the English Parliament, assisted by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -Mr. Earle, and Mr. Cheesly was secretary for -the Scottish Commissioners.</p> - -<p>The four propositions submitted to the king -by the Parliament concerning religion were, that -the Common Prayer Book should be withdrawn, -the Directory of the Westminster divines substituted, -that he should confirm the assemblies -and synods of the Church, and take the Solemn -League and Covenant. These, contrary to the -warning of Queen Henrietta, were brought on -first, and argued with much learning and pertinacity, -and as little concession on either -side, for four days. Then there arose other -equally formidable subjects, the command of -the army and navy, the cessation of the war -in Ireland; and the twenty days being expired, -it was proposed to prolong the term, but this -was refused by the two Houses of Parliament, -and the Commissioners, separated, mutually -satisfied that nothing but the sword would -settle these questions. The Royalists had not -been long in discovering that Vane, St. -John, and Prideaux had come to the conference, -not so much to treat, as to watch the -proceedings of the Presbyterian deputies, and -to take care that no concessions should be -made inimical to the independence of the -Church.</p> - -<p>Gloomy as to the general eye must have -appeared the prospects of the king at this period, -he was still buoyed up by various hopes. He -had been using every exertion to obtain aid -from the Continent, and at length was promised -an army of ten thousand men by the Duke of -Lorraine, and Goffe was sent into Holland to -prepare for their being shipped over. On the -other hand, he had made up his mind to concede -most of their demands to the Irish Catholics, -on condition of receiving speedily an army thence. -He wrote to Ormond, telling him that he had -clearly discovered, by the treaty of Uxbridge, -that the rebels were aiming at nothing less -than the total subversion of the Crown and the -Church; that they had made the Earl of Leven -commander of all the English as well as Scottish -forces in Ireland, and therefore he could no -longer delay the settlement of Ireland in his -favour, through scruples that at another time -would have clung to him. He therefore authorised -him to grant the suspension of Poynings' -Act, and to remove all the penal acts against -the Catholics on condition that they at once -gave him substantial aid against the rebels of -Scotland and Ireland. At this moment, too, the -news of the successes of Montrose in Scotland -added to his confidence.</p> - -<p>The two armies in England now prepared to -try their strength. Charles, lying at Oxford, -had a considerable number of troops: the west -of England was almost entirely in his interest, -north and south Wales were wholly his, excepting -the castles of Pembroke and Montgomery. -He had still Scarborough, Carlisle, and -Pontefract; but his army, though experienced -in the field, was not well disciplined. The Parliamentary -army, now new-modelled, presented a -very different spectacle to that of the king. -The strictest discipline was introduced, and the -men were called upon to observe the duties of -religion. The officers had been selected from -those who had served under Essex, Manchester, -and the other lords; but having cleared the -command of the aristocratic element, a new -spirit of activity and zeal was infused into it. -The king's officers ridiculed the new force, which -had no leaders of great name except Sir Thomas -Fairfax, and was brought together in so new a -shape, that it appeared a congregation of raw -soldiers. The ridicule of the Cavaliers even infected -the adherents of the Commonwealth, and -there was great scepticism as to the result of -such a change. May, the Parliamentary historian, -says, never did an army go forth who -had less the confidence of their friends, or more -the contempt of their enemies. But both parties -were extremely deceived. Cromwell was now -the real soul of the movement, and the religious -enthusiasm which glowed in him was diffused -through the whole army. The whole system -seemed a revival of that of the pious Gustavus -Adolphus—no man suffered a day to go over -without religious service, and never commenced -a battle without prayer. The soldiers now -employed their time in zealous military exercises -and in equally zealous prayer and singing of -psalms. They sang in their march, they advanced -into battle with a psalm. The letters -of Cromwell to the Parliament, giving an account -of the proceedings of the army, are full of this -religious spirit, which it has been the custom -to treat as cant, but which was the genuine -expression of his feelings, and was shown by -effects such as cant and sham never produce. -Victory, which he and his soldiers ascribed only -to God, success the most rapid and wonderful, -attended him.</p> - -<p>It is remarkable that the very man who had -introduced the Self-denying Ordinance was the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -only man who was never debarred by it from -pursuing his military career. This has, therefore, -been treated as an artifice on his part; -but, on the contrary, it was the mere result of -circumstances. Cromwell was the great military -genius of the age. Every day the success of his -plans and actions was bursting more and more -on the public notice, and no one was more impressed -by the value of his services than the -new Commander-in-Chief, Sir Thomas Fairfax. -He had sent Cromwell, Massey, and Waller into -the West, before laying down their commissions, -to attack Colonel Goring, who was threatening -the Parliamentary lines. They had driven him -back towards Wells and Glastonbury, and not -deeming it safe to push farther with their small -force into a quarter where the Royal interest -was so strong, and Cromwell advising Parliament -to send more troops to Salisbury to defend that -point against Rupert, who was reported at -Trowbridge, he had returned to Windsor to -resign his command according to the Ordinance. -There, however, he found the Parliament had -suspended the Ordinance in his instance for forty -days, in order that he might execute a service -of especial consequence, and which it particularly -wished him to undertake. This was to attack -a body of two thousand men conveying the king's -artillery from Oxford to Worcester, to which -place Rupert had marched, having defeated -Colonel Massey at Ledbury.</p> - -<p>This was on the 22nd of April, and Cromwell -took horse the next morning, dashed rapidly -into Oxfordshire and at Islip Bridge routed the -enemy, consisting of four regiments of cavalry, -took many of their officers, and especially those -of the queen's regiment, seizing the standard -which she had presented to it with her own hands. -Many of the fugitives got into Bletchington -House, which Cromwell immediately assaulted -and took. The king was so enraged at the surrender -of Bletchington, that he ordered the -commander, Colonel Windebank, to be shot, -and no prayers or entreaties could save him. -Cromwell next sent off his cannon and stores -to Abingdon, and pushed on to Radcot Bridge, -or Bampton-in-the-Bush, where others of the -enemy had fled: here he defeated them, and -took their leaders Vaughan and Littleton. Cromwell -next summoned Colonel Burgess, the governor -of the garrison at Faringdon, to surrender; -but he was called away to join the -main army, the king being on the move.</p> - -<p>Charles, in fact, issued from Oxford, and, -joined by both Rupert and Maurice, advanced -to relieve Chester, then besieged by Sir William -Brereton. Fairfax, instead of pursuing him, -thought it a good opportunity to take Oxford -and prevent his returning there; but the king's -movements alarmed him for the safety of the -eastern counties, to which he had despatched -Cromwell to raise fresh forces and strengthen -their defences. Cromwell was recalled, and Fairfax -set out in pursuit of the king. Charles relieved -Chester by the very news of his march. Brereton -retired from before it, and the Scottish army, -which was advancing southward, fell back into -Westmoreland and Cumberland, to prevent a -rumoured junction of the king and the army of -Montrose. Whatever had been Charles's intentions -in this movement, he wheeled aside -and directed his way through Staffordshire into -Leicestershire, and took Leicester by assault. -From Leicester he extended his course eastward, -and took up his headquarters at Daventry, -where he amused himself with hunting, and -Rupert and his horse with foraging and plundering -the whole country round.</p> - -<p>Fairfax, now apprehensive of the royal intentions -being directed to the eastern counties, -which had hitherto been protected from the -visitations of his army, pushed forward to prevent -this, and came in contact with the king's -outposts on the 13th of June, near Borough Hill. -Charles fired his huts, and began his march towards -Harborough, intending, perhaps, to proceed -to the relief of Pontefract and Scarborough; but -Fairfax did not allow him to get far ahead. A -council of war was called, and in the midst of -it Cromwell rode into the lines at the head of -six hundred horse. It was now determined to -bring the king to action. Harrison and Ireton, -officers of Cromwell—soon to be well known—led -the way after the royal army, and Fairfax, -with his whole body, was at once in full chase. -The king was in Harborough, and a council -being called, it was considered safer to turn -and fight than to pursue their way to Leicester -like an army flying from the foe. It was therefore -resolved to wheel about and meet the enemy.</p> - -<p>At five o'clock the next morning, the 14th of -June, the advanced guards of each army approached -each other on the low hills a little more -than a mile from the village of Naseby, in Northamptonshire, -nearly midway between Market Harborough -and Daventry. The Parliament army -ranged itself on a hill yet called the Mill Hill, and -the king's on a parallel hill, with its back to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> -Harborough. The right wing was led by Cromwell, -consisting of six regiments of horse, and the left, -consisting of nearly as many, was, at his request, -committed to his friend, Colonel Ireton, a Nottinghamshire -man. Fairfax and Skippon took charge -of the main body, and Colonels Pride, Rainsborough, -and Hammond brought up the reserves. Rupert -and his brother Maurice led on the right wing of -Charles's army, Sir Marmaduke Langdale the left, -Charles himself the main body, and Sir Jacob -Astley, the Earl of Lindsay, the Lord Baird, and -Sir George Lisle the reserves. The word for the -day of the Royalists was, "God and Queen Mary!" -that of the Parliamentarians, "God our strength!" -A wide moorland, called Broad Moor, lay between -them. The Cavaliers made themselves very merry -at the new-modelled army of Roundheads, for -which they had the utmost contempt, having -nothing aristocratic about it, and its head being -farmer Cromwell, or the brewer of Huntingdon, as -they pleased to call him. They expected to sweep -them away like dust, and Rupert, making one of -his headlong charges, seemed to realise their anticipations, -for he drove the left wing of the Roundheads -into instant confusion and flight, took Ireton -prisoner, his horse being killed under him, and -himself wounded severely in two places; and, in -his regular way, Rupert galloped after the fugitives, -thinking no more of the main battle. But -the scattered horse, who had been diligently taught -to rally, collected behind him, returned to the defence -of their guns, and were soon again ready for -action. On the other hand, Cromwell had driven -the left wing of the king's army off the field, but -took care not to pursue them too far. He sent a -few companies of horse to drive them beyond the -battle, and with his main body he fell on the -king's flank, where at first the royal foot was -gaining the advantage. This unexpected assault -threw them into confusion, and the soldiers of -Fairfax's front, which had given way, rallying and -falling in again with the reserves as they came to -the rear, were brought up by their officers, and -completed the rout. Rupert, who was now returning -from the chase, rode up to the waggon-train -of the Parliamentary army, and, ignorant of the -state of affairs, offered quarter to the troops -guarding the stores. The reply was a smart volley -of musketry, and falling back and riding forward -to the field, he found an overwhelming defeat. -His followers stood stupefied at the sight, when -Charles, riding up to them in despair, cried frantically, -"One charge more, and the victory is ours -yet!" But it was in vain, the main body was -broken, that of Fairfax was complete; the artillery -was seized, and the Roundheads were taking prisoners -as fast as they could promise them quarter. -Fairfax and Cromwell the next moment charged -the dumfoundered horse, and the whole fled at full -gallop on the road towards Leicester, pursued -almost to the gates of the town by Cromwell's -troopers.</p> - -<p>The slaughter at this battle was not so great as -might have been expected. But though the loss -on the Parliamentarian side was small, amounting -to about two hundred men, the Royalists had one -thousand killed. Five thousand prisoners were -taken, including a great number of officers, and -a considerable number of ladies in carriages. -All the king's baggage and artillery, with nine -thousand stand of arms, were taken, and amongst -the carriages that of the king containing his private -papers: a fatal loss, for it contained the most -damning evidences of the king's double-dealing and -mental reservations, which the Parliament took -care to publish, to Charles's irreparable damage. -Clarendon accuses the Roundheads of killing -above a hundred women, many of them of quality, -but other evidence proves that this was false, the -only women who were rudely treated being a -number of wild Irish ones, who were armed with -skeans—knives a foot long—and who used them -like so many maniacs.</p> - -<p>The next day Fairfax sent Colonel Fiennes and -his regiment to London with the prisoners and the -colours taken, above a hundred of them, and he -prayed that a day of thanksgiving might be appointed -for the victory. But the most essential -fruit of the victory was the reading in Parliament -of the king's letters. In these the affair of the -Duke of Lorraine came to light—the attempt -to bring in the Lorrainers, the French, the Danes, -and the Irish to put down the Parliament, whilst -Charles had been making the most sacred protestations -to that body that he abhorred bringing -in foreign soldiers. There appeared his promise to -give the Catholics full liberty of conscience, whilst -he had been vowing constantly that he would -never abrogate the laws against Popery; and his -letter to his wife, showing that at the treaty of -Uxbridge he was merely conceding the name of a -Parliament, with a full determination, on the first -opportunity, to declare it no Parliament at all. -These exposures were so dreadful, and gave such -an assurance that the king was restrained by no -moral principle, that the Royalists would not -believe the documents genuine till they had examined -them for themselves; and for this examination<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a><br /><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -the Parliament wisely gave the amplest facilities. -There were copies of his letters to the queen, in -which he complained of the quarrels and harassing -jealousies of his own courtiers and supporters, and -of his getting rid of as many as he could by -sending them on one pretence or another to her. -The sight of these things struck his own party -dumb with a sense of his hollowness and ingratitude; -and the battle of Naseby itself was declared -far less fatal to his interests than the contents of -his cabinet. From this moment his ruin was -certain, and the remainder of the campaign was -only the last feeble struggles of the expiring -Cause. His adherents stood out rather for their -own chance of making terms than from any possible -hope of success.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_041sm.jpg" width="421" height="580" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHARLES AT THE BATTLE OF NASEBY. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_40">40</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_041.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The defeated and dishonoured king did not stop -to pass a single night at Leicester, but rode on to -Ashby that evening, and after a few hours' rest -pursued his course towards Hereford. At Hereford -Rupert, fearful of the Parliamentary army attacking -their only remaining strong quarter, the -West, left the king and hastened to Bristol to -put it into a state of defence. Charles himself continued -his march into Wales, and took up his headquarters -at Raglan Castle, the seat of the Marquis -of Worcester. There, pretty sure that Fairfax -was intending to go westward, he spent the time -as though nothing had been amiss, hunting like his -father, when he should have been studying the retrieval -of his affairs, and passing the evenings in -entertainments and giving of audiences. The most -probable cause of Charles thus spending his time -there and at Cardiff, to which he next retired, is -that he had been urging the despatch of an Irish -army, and was expecting it there. At the same -time he could there more easily communicate -with Rupert regarding the defence of the west of -England.</p> - -<p>The Parliament forces under Cromwell marched -on Bristol where Rupert lay, whilst Fairfax met -and defeated Goring at Langport, and then besieged -and took Bridgewater on the 23rd of July. -Matters now appeared so threatening that Rupert -proposed to Charles to sue for peace; but the -king rejected the advice with warmth, declaring -that, though as soldier and statesman he saw -nothing but ruin before him, yet as a Christian -he was sure God would not prosper rebels, and -that nothing should induce him to give up the -Cause. He avowed that whoever stayed by him -must do so at the cost of his life, or of being made -as miserable as the violence of insulting rebels could -make him. But by the grace of God he would -not alter, and bade Rupert not on any consideration -"to hearken after treaties." He would take -no less than he had asked for at Uxbridge.</p> - -<p>Charles, blind to the last, was still hoping for -assistance from Ireland, and was elated by the -news of successes from Montrose.</p> - -<p>It will be recollected that the Earls of Antrim -and Montrose had been engaged by Charles to -exert themselves in Ireland and Scotland on his -behalf. Their first attempt was to take vengeance -on the Covenanting Earl of Argyll, who had so -much contributed to defeat the king's attempts on -the Scottish Church and Government. Montrose, -therefore, unfurled the royal standard as the king's -lieutenant-general at Dumfries; but having before -been a strong Covenanter, he did not all at once -win the confidence of the Royalists. His success -was so poor that he returned to England. At -Carlisle he was more effective in serving the king, -and was made a marquis in consequence. After -the battle of Marston Moor he again returned into -the Highlands, and there learned the success of -Antrim's labours in Ireland. He had sent over a -body of fifteen hundred men under the command -of his kinsman Alaster Macdonald, surnamed -MacColl Keitache, or Colkitto. They landed at -Knoidart, but a fleet of the Duke of Argyll's -burnt their ships, and hung in their rear waiting a -fitting chance to destroy them. To their surprise -they received no welcome from the Scottish -Royalists. However, they continued their march -to Badenoch, ravaging the houses and farms of the -Covenanters, but every day menaced by the -gathering hosts of their foes, and learning nothing -of their ally Montrose. At last Montrose obtained -tidings of them: they met at Blair Athol, -in the beginning of August, 1644. Montrose -assumed the command, and published the royal -commission. At the sight of a native chief the -Highlanders flocked to his standard, and the -Covenanters saw to their astonishment an army of -between three and four thousand men spring at -once, as it were, out of the ground. Montrose -wrote to Charles that if he could receive five hundred -horse on his way, he would soon be in England -with twenty thousand men.</p> - -<p>The movements and exploits of Montrose now -became rather a story of romance than of sober -modern warfare. Argyll and Lord Elcho dogged -his steps, but he advanced or disappeared, with his -half-clad Irish and wild mountaineers, amongst the -hills in a manner that defied arrest. At Tippermuir, -in Perthshire, he defeated Elcho, took his -guns and ammunition, and surprised and plundered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -the town of Perth. As was constantly the case, -the Highlanders, once loaded with booty, slipped -off to their homes; and, left alone with his Irish -band, who were faithful because their way home -was cut off, he retreated northward, in hope of -joining the clan Gordon. Montrose found himself -stopped at the Bridge of Dee by two thousand -seven hundred Covenanters under Lord Balfour -of Burleigh, but he managed to cross at a ford -higher up, and, falling on their rear, threw them -into a panic. They fled to Aberdeen, pursued -by the Irish and Highlanders, and the whole -mass of pursuers and pursued rushed wildly into -the city together. The place was given up to -plunder, and for three days Aberdeen became a -scene of horror and revolting licence, as it had -been from an attack of Montrose four years before, -when fighting on the other side. The approach of -Argyll compelled the pillagers to fly into Banffshire, -and, following the banks of the Spey, he crossed -the hills of Badenoch, and, after a series of wild -adventures in Athol, Angus, and Forfar, he was -met by the Covenanters at Fyvie Castle, and compelled -to retreat into the mountains. His followers -then took their leave of him, worn out with their -rapid flights and incessant skirmishes, and he announced -his intention of withdrawing for the -winter into Badenoch.</p> - -<p>The Earl of Argyll, on his part, retired to Inverary -and sent his followers home. He felt secure -in the mighty barrier of mountains around, which -in summer offered a terrible route to an army, but -which, now blockaded with snow, he deemed impregnable. -But he was deceived; the retirement -of Montrose was a feint. He was busily employed -in rousing the northern clans to a sweeping vengeance -on Argyll, and the prospect of a rich -booty. In the middle of December he burst -through all obstacles, threaded the snow-laden -defiles of the mountains, and descended with fire -and sword into the plains of Argyleshire. The earl -was suddenly roused by the people from the hills, -whose dwellings were in flames behind them, and -only effected his escape by pushing across Loch -Fyne in an open boat. Montrose divided his -host into three columns, which spread themselves -over the whole of Argyleshire, burning and laying -everything waste. Argyll had set a price upon -Montrose's head; and Montrose now reduced -his splendid heritage to a black and frightful -desert. The villages and cottages were burnt -down, the cattle destroyed or driven off, and -the people slain wherever found with arms in -their hands. This miserable and melancholy -state of things lasted from the 13th of December -to the end of January, 1645.</p> - -<p>Argyll by that time had mustered the Clan -Campbell, and Lord Seaforth the mountaineers -of Moray, Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness, to bear -down on the invaders. Montrose, therefore, led -forth his Highlanders and Irish to encounter them, -and came first on Argyll and his army at Inverlochy -Castle, in Lochaber. There he totally -defeated Argyll, and slew nearly fifteen hundred -of his people. This success brought to his standard -the clan Gordon and others. The whole north -was in their power, and they marched from -Inverlochy to Elgin and Aberdeen. At Brechin -they were met by Baillie with a strong force, which -protected Perth; but Montrose marched to Dunkeld, -and thence to Dundee, which he entered, and -began plundering, when Baillie arrived with his -Covenanters and caused him to retire. Once -more he escaped to the mountains, but this time -not without severe losses, for his indignant foes -pursued him for threescore miles, cutting off many -of his soldiers, besides those that had perished in -the storming of Dundee. When he appeared again -it was at Auldearn, a village near Nairn, where, -on the 9th of May, he defeated the Covenanters -(under John Urry or Hurry) after a bloody battle, -two thousand men being said to be left upon the -field.</p> - -<p>The General Assembly addressed a sharp remonstrance -to the king, which was delivered to him -soon after the battle of Naseby, but it produced -no effect. In fact, it was more calculated to inflame -a man of Charles's obstinate temper, for it recapitulated -all his crimes against Scotland, from his -first forcing the Common Prayer upon them till -then, and called on him to fall down at the footstool -of the Almighty and acknowledge his sins, -and no longer steep his kingdom in blood. They -did not merely remonstrate; the Covenanters continued -to fight. But, unfortunately, their commanders -having divided their forces, as Urry was -defeated at Auldearn, so Baillie was soon afterwards -routed at Alford, in Aberdeenshire, with such -effect that scarcely any but his principal officers -and the cavalry escaped. Again the Covenanters -raised a fresh army of ten thousand men, and sent -them against Montrose; and the Scottish army, -which lay on the borders of England under the -Earl of Leven, commenced their march southward, -to attack the king himself. On the 2nd of July, -the very day on which Montrose won the battle of -Alford, they were at Melton Mowbray, whence -they marched through Tamworth and Birmingham<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -into Worcestershire and Herefordshire. On the -22nd they stormed Canon-Frome, a garrison of the -king's between Worcester and Hereford; and, as -they were pressing on, Charles sent Sir William -Fleming to endeavour to seduce the old Earl of -Leven and the Earl of Callender from their faith -to Parliament by magnificent promises, but they -sent his letters to the Parliament and marched on -and laid siege to Hereford.</p> - -<p>Charles, thus pressed by the Scottish army, -quitted Cardiff and made a grand effort to reach -the borders of Scotland to effect a junction with -Montrose. He flattered himself that could he -unite his forces with those of Montrose, by the -genius of that brilliant leader his losses would -be retrieved, and that he should bear down all -before him. But he was not destined to accomplish -this object. He at first approached Hereford, -as if he designed the attempt of raising the siege; -but this was too hazardous, and, dismissing his -foot, he dashed forward with his cavalry to cut -his way to the North. But the Earl of Leven sent -after him Sir David Leslie, with nearly the whole -body of the Scottish cavalry; and from the North, -the Parliamentarian commanders, Poyntz and -Rossiter, put themselves in motion to meet him. -He had made a rapid march through Warwickshire -and Northamptonshire to Doncaster, when these -counter-movements of the enemy convinced him -that to reach the Border was hopeless; and he -made a sudden divergence south-east, to inflict a -flying chastisement on those counties of the -Eastern Association, which had so long kept him -at bay, and sent out against him the invincible -Cromwell and his Ironsides. These were now -engaged in the West, and he swept through Cambridgeshire -and Huntingdonshire, ravaging and -plundering without stint or remorse. On the -24th of August he took Huntingdon itself by -assault; he did not delay, however, but continued -his marauding course through Woburn and Dunstable, -thence into Buckinghamshire, and so to -Oxford, where he arrived on the 28th. In this flying -expedition, Charles and his soldiers had collected -much booty from his subjects, and especially from -the town of Huntingdon, no doubt with much satisfaction, -from its being Cromwell's place of residence.</p> - -<p>At Oxford Charles received the cheering news -that Montrose had achieved another brilliant -victory over the Covenanters. He had, on again -issuing from the mountains, menaced Perth, where -the Scottish Parliament was sitting, and then -descended into the Lowlands. It was evident that -he was acting in concert with the king, who at -that very time was making his hurried march for -the Border. Montrose crossed the Forth near -Stirling, where at Kilsyth he was met by Baillie -and his new army. The Committee of Estates insisted -on Baillie giving battle. Fasting and prayer -for four days had been held, and they were confident -of success. But at the first charge the -cavalry of the Covenanters were scattered, the -infantry fled almost without a blow, and such was -the fury of the pursuit, that five thousand of them -were slain (August 15, 1645). This victory -opened all the Lowlands to the Royalists. Argyll -and the principal nobles escaped by sea to England. -Glasgow opened its gates to the conqueror, -and the magistrates of Edinburgh hastened to -implore his clemency towards the city, and to -propitiate him by liberating all the Royalist -prisoners, promising obedience to the king. Most -of these liberated prisoners, and many of the -nobility, joined the standard of Montrose.</p> - -<p>Had the king been able to effect a junction with -him at this moment, the result must have been -important, but it could only have occasioned more -bloodshed, without insuring any decided victory, -for all England was by this time in the hands of -the Parliament. Sir David Leslie, instead of -following the king with his cavalry southward -again, had continued his march northward, to prevent -any inroad on the part of Montrose, and the -Earl of Leven, quitting Hereford, advanced northward -to support him. Charles immediately -left Oxford, and advanced to Hereford, where -he was received in triumph. Thence he set out to -relieve Rupert, who was besieged by Fairfax and -Cromwell in Bristol; but on reaching Raglan -Castle, he heard the appalling news that it had -surrendered. The prince had promised to hold it -for four months, yet he surrendered it in the third -week of the siege. Fairfax having decided to -storm it on the 10th of September, 1645, this -was done accordingly. It was assaulted by the -troops under Colonel Welden, Commissary-general -Ireton, Cromwell, Fairfax, General Skippon, -Colonels Montague, Hammond, Rich, and Rainsborough, -from different sides at the same time. -The town was set on fire in three places by the -Royalists themselves, and Rupert, foreseeing the -total destruction of the city, capitulated. He was -allowed to march out, and was furnished with a -convoy of cavalry, and the loan of one thousand -muskets to protect them from the people on the -way to Oxford, for he had made himself so -detested by his continual ravagings of the inhabitants -that they would have knocked him and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -his men on the head. Even as he passed out of the -city the people crowded round with fierce looks, -and muttered, "Why not hang him?"</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_045sm.jpg" width="565" height="420" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CAVALIER SOLDIERS.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_045.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>We have Cromwell's account of the taking of -the place. He says that the royal fort was -victualled for three hundred and twenty days, and -the castle for nearly half as long, and that there -were abundant stores of ammunition, with one -hundred and forty cannon mounted, between two -and three thousand muskets, and a force of nearly -six thousand men in foot, horse, train-bands, and -auxiliaries. Well might Charles feel confounded -at the surrender. He was so exasperated that he -overwhelmed Rupert with reproaches: he even -accused him of cowardice or treason, revoked his -commission, and bade him quit the kingdom. -He ordered the Council to take him into custody -if he showed any contumacy. He arrested -Rupert's friend, Colonel Legge, and gave the -prince's office of Governor of Oxford to Sir Thomas -Glenham. And yet Rupert appears to have only -yielded to necessity. He was more famous at the -head of a charge of horse than for defending cities. -Bristol was carried by storm by a combination of -the best troops and the most able commanders of -the Parliament army, and was already burning in -three places. Further resistance could only have -led to indiscriminate massacre. But allowance -must be made for the irritation of Charles. The -fall of Bristol was a most disheartening event, and -it was followed by news still more prostrating.</p> - -<p>The success of Montrose had proved the ruin of -his army. A Highland force is like a Highland -torrent; under its clan chiefs it is impetuous and -overwhelming; but it is soon exhausted. The -soldiers, gathered only for the campaign, no sooner -collected a good booty than they walked off back -to their mountains, and thus no Highland force, -under the old clan system, ever effected any lasting -advantage, especially in the Lowlands. So it was -here; Montrose's descent from the hills resembled -the torrent, and disappeared without any traces -but those of ravage. He had secured no fortified -places, nor obtained any permanent possession. -He executed a few incendiaries, as they were -called, at Glasgow, and then advanced towards -the Border, still in hope of meeting the royal -forces. But the Gordon clan had disappeared;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> -Colkitto had led back the other Highlanders -to their mountains, and Montrose found himself -at the head of only about six hundred men, -chiefly the remains of the Irish. Meanwhile, -Sir David Leslie, with his four thousand cavalry, -was steadily advancing towards the Forth, to put -himself between Montrose and the Highlands, and -then suddenly wheeling westward, he returned on -the unwary marquis, and surprised the commander -who had before been accustomed to surprise every -one else.</p> - -<p>Montrose was in Selkirk busy writing despatches -to the king, and his little army was posted -at Philiphaugh. Leslie had approached cautiously, -and, favoured by the unvigilant carelessness of the -Royalists, came one night into their close vicinity. -Early in the morning, under cover of a thick fog, -he crossed the Ettrick, and appeared to their -astonishment in the encampment on the Haugh. -Notwithstanding their surprise, the soldiers formed -hastily into a compact body; and Montrose, being -informed of the danger, flew to the rescue at the -head of a body of horse; but the odds were too -great, the troops were surrounded and cut to -pieces. In vain they begged quarter. Sir David -consented, but the ministers raised a fierce shout -of indignation, denounced the sparing of a single -"malignant" as a sin, and the whole body was -massacred (September 13, 1645).</p> - -<p>Before receiving this disastrous news, Charles -resolved to make another effort to form a junction -with Montrose. He retraced his steps through -Wales, and advanced to the relief of Chester, -which was invested by the Parliamentarians. He -reached that place on the 22nd of September, and -posted the bulk of his cavalry on Rowton Heath, -near the city, under Sir Marmaduke Langdale, -himself being able to get into the city with a small -body of troopers. But the next morning his -cavalry at Rowton Heath was attacked by Poyntz, -the Parliamentary general, who had been carefully -following on the king's heels, and now, -having his little army penned between his troops -and those of the Parliamentary besiegers, a simultaneous -attack was made on the Royalists from -both sides. More than six hundred of Charles's -troopers were cut to pieces, one thousand more -obtained quarter, and the rest were dispersed on -all sides. The king escaped out of the city and -fled to Denbigh with the remnant of his cavalry. -By this blow the only port which had been left -open for his expected succours from Ireland was -closed. Still the news of Montrose's defeat at -Philiphaugh had not reached him, and Lord -Digby advised the king to allow him to make the -attempt to reach him with the seventeen hundred -cavalry still remaining. Charles accepted the -offer, but before Digby left, it was agreed that -the king should get into his castle of Newark, -as the securest place for him to abide the result. -Having seen his majesty safely there, Digby set -out northward. At Doncaster he defeated a -Parliamentary force, but was a few days after -defeated himself by another at Sherburn. Notwithstanding -this, with the remainder of his horse -he pushed forward, entered Scotland, and reached -Dumfries, but finding Montrose already defeated, -he returned to the Border, and at Carlisle disbanded -the troop. Sir Marmaduke Langdale -and the officers retired to the Isle of Man, the -men got home as they could, and Digby passed -over to Ireland, to the Marquis of Ormond. But -the greatest loss which Digby had made during -this expedition was that of his portfolio with his -baggage, at Sherburn. In this, as in the king's -at Naseby, the most unfortunate discoveries were -made of his own proceedings, and of his master's -affairs. There was a revelation of plottings and -agents in sundry counties for bringing foreign -forces to put down the Parliament. Goffe was in -Holland promoting a scheme for the marriage of -the Prince of Wales to the daughter of the Prince -of Orange, and for forces to be furnished in consequence. -There were letters of the queen to -Ireland, arranging to bring over ten thousand -men, and of Lord Jermyn—who was living in -Paris with the queen in such intimacy as to -occasion much scandal—to Digby himself, regarding -probable assistance from the King of Denmark, -the Duke of Lorraine, and the Prince of -Courland, and of money from the Pope. But -perhaps the most mischievous was a letter from -Digby, written a few days before, letting out how -much the Marquis of Ormond was secretly in the -king's interest, though appearing to act otherwise. -These disclosures were precisely such as must -wonderfully strengthen the Parliament with the -public, and sink the king still lower.</p> - -<p>The king's ruin was virtually complete. The -enemy was pressing close on his quarters, and at -midnight, on the 3rd of November, he quitted -Newark with five hundred horse, and reached -Belvoir, where the governor, Sir Gervas Lucas, -attended him with his troop till break of day. -Thence the king made a harassing and dangerous -journey to Oxford, pursued by detachments of -the enemy as he passed Burleigh-on-the-Hill, -the garrison sallying and killing some of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -attendants. In the evening Charles was obliged to -rest for five hours at Northampton, and then -push forward by Banbury, and so reached Oxford -the next evening, "finishing," says Clarendon, -"the most tedious and grievous march that our -king was exercised in." In truth, never was king -reduced to such a melancholy and pitiable condition—a -condition which cannot be contemplated -without commiseration, blind and incorrigible -believer as he was in the divine right of despotism.</p> - -<p>Whilst Charles had been making these unhappy -tours and detours, Fairfax and Cromwell had been -clearing away his garrisons, and driving back his -troops into the farthest West. Cromwell first -addressed himself by command of Parliament to -reduce Winchester, Basing House, Langford -House, and Donnington Castle. On Sunday, -September 28th, he appeared before Winchester, -which surrendered after a breach had been made; -and, on the 16th of October he also carried -Basing by storm. Basing House and Donnington -had long annoyed Parliament and the country -with their royal garrisons, so that there was no -travelling the Western road for them. Basing -House belonged to the Marquis of Winchester, -and was one of the most remarkable places in the -country. Hugh Peters, who was sent up by -Cromwell to give an account of the taking of it to -Parliament, declaring that its circumvallation was -above a mile in circumference. It had stood -many a siege, one of four years, without any one -being able to take it. Cromwell, however, now -bombarded and stormed it, taking prisoners the -marquis, Sir Robert Peak, and other distinguished -officers. Eight or nine gentlewomen of rank ran -out as the soldiers burst in, and were treated with -some unceremonious freedoms, but, says Peters, -"not uncivilly, considering the action in hand."</p> - -<p>Having demolished Basing, Cromwell next summoned -Langford House, near Salisbury, and -thence he was called in haste down into the West, -where Fairfax and he drove back Goring, Hopton, -Astley, and others, beating them at Langport, -Torrington, and other places, storming Bridgewater, -and forcing them into Cornwall, where -they never left them till they had reduced them -altogether in the spring of 1646.</p> - -<p>Charles lying now at Oxford, his council, seeing -that his army was destroyed, except the portion -that was cooped up by the victorious generals -in the West, and which every day was forced -into less compass, advised him strongly to treat -with the Parliament, as his only chance. They -represented that they had no funds even for -subsistence, except what they seized from the -country around, which exasperated the people, and -made them ready to rise against them. There were -some circumstances yet in his favour, and these -were the jealousies and divisions of his enemies. -The Parliament and country were broken up -into two great factions of Presbyterians and -Independents. The Presbyterians were by far -the most numerous, and were zealously supported -by the Scots, who were nearly all of that persuasion, -and desired to see their form of religion -prevail over the whole country. They -were as fiercely intolerant as the Catholics, -and would listen to nothing but the entire predominance -of their faith and customs. But the -Independents, who claimed and offered liberty -of conscience, and protested against any ruling -church, possessed almost all the men of intellect -in Parliament, and the chiefs at the head of -the army. Cromwell, in his letter from the field -of Naseby, called for toleration of conscience, -and Fairfax urged the same doctrine in all his -despatches from the West. There was, moreover, -a jealousy growing as to the armies of the Scots, -who had got most of the garrisons in the North -of England and Ireland into their hands. These -divisions opened to Charles a chance of treating -with one party at the expense of the other, -and in his usual way he made overtures to -all. To the Scots he offered full concession of -all their desires, and great advantages from the -influence which their alliance with him would -give. To the Independents he offered the utmost -toleration of religious opinion, and all the rewards -of pre-eminence in the State and the army. -To the Presbyterians he was particularly urged -by the queen to promise the predominance of -their Church and the like advantages. With the -Catholics of Ireland he was equally in treaty; -but whilst his secret negotiations were going on -in Ireland, the Scots endeavoured to bring theirs -to a close, by applying to the queen in Paris. -Three great changes had taken place, all favourable -to Charles. Both the king, Louis XIII., -and Richelieu, were dead. Richelieu had never -forgiven Charles's attempts on La Rochelle, -and his effort to raise the Huguenots into an -independent power in France, nor his movements -in Flanders against his designs. Mazarin, who -now succeeded as the minister of Louis XIV., -had no particular resentment against Charles, -and though cautious in taking direct measures -against the English Parliament, did not oppose -any of the attempts at pacification between the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -king and his subjects. The Scots had always -found Richelieu their ally, and they now applied -to his successor to assist them in bringing matters -to bear with Charles. In consequence of this, -Montreuil was sent over to London, who conferred -with the Scottish Commissioners, and then -conveyed to Charles their proposals. But the -king, who had promised them all concessions -consistent with his honour, found the very first -proposition to be that Episcopacy should be for -ever abolished not only in Scotland, but in -England, and Presbytery made the Established -Church. He had conceived that they would be -satisfied with the supremacy of their faith in -their own country, and he at once refused this -demand. It was in vain that Montreuil pointed -out to him that the Scots and the Presbyterians -of England were agreed upon this point, and -that consequently any arrangement with the -latter party must inevitably be upon the same -basis. Charles declared that rather than consent -to any such terms, he would agree with the -Independents. Montreuil replied that the Scots -sought only to make him king, first having their -own wishes as to religion gratified; but the -Independents, he was confident, contemplated -nothing less than the subversion of his throne. -He informed him that the queen had given to -Sir Robert Murray a written promise that the -king would accede to the demand of the Scots, -which promise was now in the hands of the -Scottish Commissioners; moreover, that this was -the earnest desire of the queen, the queen-regent -of France, and of Mazarin.</p> - -<p>Nothing, however, could shake Charles's resolution -on this head, and he therefore made a -direct application to Parliament to treat for an -accommodation. They received his offer coolly, -almost contemptuously. He desired passports for -his Commissioners, or a safe-conduct for himself, -that they might treat personally; but it was -bluntly refused, on the ground that he was not -to be trusted, having, on all similar occasions, -employed the opportunities afforded to endeavour -to corrupt the fidelity of the Commissioners. Not -to appear, however, to reject the treaty, they -sent fresh proposals to him, but so much more -stringent than those at Uxbridge, that it was -plain that they were rather bent on delaying -than treating. The king was now in a very -different position since the battle of Naseby and -the fall of Bristol; and it was obviously the -interest of Parliament to allow Fairfax and -Cromwell to put down his last remains of an -army in the West, when they would have nothing -to do but to shut up the king in Oxford, and -compel him to submit at discretion. Montreuil, -seeing this, again urged him to come to terms -with the Scots, and that not a moment was to -be lost. But nothing could move him to consent -to their demand of a universal Presbyterianism, -and he again, on the 26th of January, 1646, -demanded a personal interview with the Parliament -at Westminster. His demand, however, -arrived at a most unfortunate crisis, for the discovery -of his negotiations with the Irish Catholics -had just been made: the entire correspondence was -in the hands of the Commons, and the whole -House was in the most violent ferment of indignation. -The king's letter was thrown aside -and left without notice.</p> - -<p>On October 17th, 1645, the titular Archbishop -of Tuam was killed in a skirmish between two -parties of Scots and Irish near Sligo, and in -his carriage were discovered copies of a most -extraordinary negotiation, which had been going -on for a long time in Ireland between Charles -and the Catholics, for the restoration of popish -predominance in that country, on condition of -their sending an army to put down the Parliament -in England.</p> - -<p>We have already spoken of the confederate -Irish Catholics, who maintained an army for their -own defence, and had a council at Kilkenny. -Charles had instructed the Marquis of Ormond, -the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, to make a peace -with these Confederates: he had some time ago -obtained a cessation of hostilities, but they would -not consent to a permanent peace, nor to furnish -the king troops until they obtained a legal -guarantee for the establishment of their own -religion. Lord Ormond, in his endeavours, did -not satisfy the king, or rather his position disabled -him from consenting publicly to such a -treaty, as it would have roused all the Protestants, -and the Scottish and English Parliaments -against him. Charles, therefore, who -was always ready with some underhand intrigue -to gain his ends, and break his bargain when -it became convenient, sent over Lord Herbert, -the son of the Marquis of Worcester, and whom -he now created Earl of Glamorgan, to effect this -difficult matter.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_049sm.jpg" width="387" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>RAGLAN CASTLE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_049.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Glamorgan was as zealous in his loyalty as in -his speculative pursuits. He and his father had -spent two hundred thousand pounds in the king's -cause, and he was now engaged in an enterprise -where he risked everything for Charles—name,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -honour, and life. He was furnished with a -warrant which authorised him to concede the -demands of the Catholics regarding their religion, -and to engage them to send over ten -thousand men. After many difficulties he reached -Dublin, communicated to Ormond the plan, saw -with him the Catholic deputies in Dublin, and -then hastened to Kilkenny, to arrange with the -council there. But at this time occurred the -revelation of the scheme by the seizure of the -Archbishop of Tuam's papers. The Parliament -was thrown into a fury; the Marquis of Ormond, -to make his loyalty appear, seized Glamorgan, -and put him into prison, and the king sent -a letter to the two Houses of Parliament, utterly -disavowing the commission of Glamorgan, and -denouncing the warrant in his name as a forgery. -All this had been agreed upon before between -the king and Glamorgan, should any discovery -take place; and on searching for Glamorgan's -papers a warrant was found, not sealed in the -usual manner, and the papers altogether informal, -so that the king might by this means be able -to disavow them. But that Ormond and the -council of Kilkenny had seen a real and formal -warrant, there can be no question. The king, -by a second letter to the two Houses, reiterated -his disavowal of the whole affair, and assured -them that he had ordered the privy council in -Dublin to proceed against Glamorgan for his -presumption. The proceedings were conducted -by Lord Digby, who assumed a well-feigned indignation -against Glamorgan, accusing him of -high treason. The animus with which this -accusation appeared to be made has induced -many to believe that Digby was really incensed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> -because he had not been let wholly into the -secret of Glamorgan's commission; and his letter -to the king on the subject, noticed by Clarendon -as rude and unmanly, would seem to confirm -this. However, Glamorgan, on his part, took the -whole matter very cheerfully, allowed the king's -disclaimers without a remonstrance or evidence -of vexation, and produced a copy of his secret -treaty with the Catholics, in which he had inserted -an article called a <em>defeasance</em>, by which -the king was bound by the treaty no further -than he pleased till he had seen what the Catholics -did for him, and by which the Catholics were to -keep this clause secret till the king had done all in -his power to secure their claims.</p> - -<p>Surely such a system of royal and political -hocus-pocus had never been concerted before. -Ormond, on seeing the defeasance, declared that -it was quite satisfactory, binding the king to -nothing; in fact, he had to avoid the danger of -alarming the Catholics and losing their army for -the king; and the Protestants having seen the -affected zeal to prosecute Glamorgan had become -greatly appeased. Glamorgan was, therefore, -liberated, and hastened again to Kilkenny to -urge on the sending of the forces. But the late -disclosures had not been without their effect. -One part of the council insisted on the full -execution of the king's warrant, the open acknowledgment -of Catholicism as the established -religion, and the pope's nuncio, Runcini, who had -lately arrived, strongly urged them to stand by -that demand. But another part of the council -were more compliant, and by their aid Glamorgan -obtained five thousand men, with whom -he marched to Waterford, to hasten their passage -for the relief of Chester, where Lord Byron was -driven to extremities by the Parliamentarians. -There, however, he received the news that Chester -had fallen, and there was not a single port left -where Glamorgan could land his troops; he -therefore disbanded them.</p> - -<p>Despite the failure of his efforts, the unfortunate -monarch still endeavoured to negotiate some terms -for himself, first with one party and then with -another, or with all together. The Parliament -had treated with contempt two offers of negotiation -from him. They did not even deign him an -answer. But his circumstances were now such -that he submitted to insults that a short time before -would have been deemed incredible. On the -29th of January, 1646, he made his second offer; -he repeated it on the 23rd of March. He offered -to disband his forces, dismantle his garrisons—he -had only five, Pendennis in Cornwall, Worcester, -Newark, Raglan, and Oxford—and to take up his -residence at Westminster, near the Parliament, on -a guarantee that he and his followers should be -suffered to live in honour and safety, and his -adherents should retain their property. But the -Parliament were now wholly in the ascendant, and -they made the wretched king feel it. Instead of -a reply, they issued an order that if he should -come within their lines, he should be conducted to -St. James's, his followers imprisoned, and none be -allowed to have access to him. At the same time -they ordered all Catholics, and all who had borne -arms for the king, to depart within six days, or -expect to be treated as spies, and dealt with by -martial law.</p> - -<p>But whilst thus ignominiously repelled by Parliament, -Montreuil was still pursuing negotiations -on his behalf with the Scots. He obtained for -the purpose the post of agent from the French -Court to Scotland, and with some difficulty obtained -from the Parliament leave to visit the -king at Oxford with letters from the King of -France and the Queen Regent, before proceeding -northwards. He employed his time there in -urging Charles to agree with the Scots by conceding -the point of religion; and at length it was -concluded that Charles should force his way -through the Parliamentary army investing Oxford, -and that the Scots at Newark should send -three hundred horse to receive him, and escort -him to their army. Montreuil delivered to -Charles an engagement from the Scottish commissioners -for the king's personal safety, his conscience, -and his honour, as well as for the security -and religious freedom of his followers. This was -also guaranteed by the King and Queen Regent of -France on behalf of the Scots who had applied -to them for their good offices. Charles wrote to -Ormond in Ireland, informing him that he had -received this security, and on the 3rd of April, -1646, Montreuil set forward northwards.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_050sm.jpg" width="390" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ENGLAND -During the CIVIL WAR -1642-1649.</p> - -<p><cite>Artiste Illustrators. Ltd. 84</cite></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_050.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Montreuil carried with him an order from the -king to Lord Bellasis, to surrender Newark into -the hands of the Scots, but on arriving at Southwell, -in the camp of the Scots, he was astonished -to find that the leaders of the army professed -ignorance of the conditions made with the Scottish -Commissioners in London. They would not, therefore, -undertake the responsibility of meeting and -escorting the king—which they declared would be -a breach of the solemn league and covenant between -the two nations—till they had conferred -with their Commissioners, and made all clear.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -The security mentioned by Charles to Ormond -would, if this were true, have been from the -Commissioners only; and there must have been -gross neglect in not apprising the officers of it. -Montreuil was greatly disconcerted by this discovery, -burnt the order for the surrender of -Newark, and wrote to Charles to inform him of -the unsatisfactory interview with the Scots. It is -doubtful whether Charles ever received this letter. -At all events, impatient of some results, for the -Parliamentary army was fast closing round -Oxford, he snatched at another chance. Captain -Fawcett, Governor of Woodstock, sent to tell him -that that garrison was reduced to extremities, and -to inquire whether he might expect relief, or -whether he should surrender it on the best terms -he could obtain. Charles immediately applied to -Colonel Rainsborough, the chief officer conducting -the siege of Oxford, for passports for the Earl of -Southampton and Lindsay, Sir William Fleetwood, -and Mr. Ashburnham, to treat with him about the -surrender of Woodstock; but the main thing was -to propose the coming of the king to them on -certain conditions. Rainsborough and the other -officers appeared much pleased, but said they -could not decide so important an affair without -reference to their superior officers, but if the offer -were entertained, they would the next day send a -pass for them to come and complete the negotiation. -If the pass did not come, it must be understood -that the offer was not accepted. No pass -came, and the king was reduced to great straits, -for the Parliamentarian armies were coming closer -and closer. He applied then to Ireton who was -posted at Woodstock, but he returned him no -answer; to Vane, but he referred him to Parliament; -and thus was the humiliated king treated -with the most insulting contempt. It was believed -that it was the intention of Parliament to keep -Charles there till Fairfax and Cromwell, who -were now marching up from the west, should -arrive, when they would capture him and have -him at their mercy.</p> - -<p>At length Montreuil informed Charles that -deputies from the army had met the Commissioners -at Royston, and that it was settled to receive the -king. There are conflicting accounts of the -proceedings at this period. Clarendon and Ashburnham, -who have both left narratives, vary considerably. -Ashburnham, the king's groom of the -chambers, says that word was sent that David -Leslie would meet his majesty at Gainsborough -with two thousand horse, but Montreuil's message -was that the Scots would send a strong party to -Burton-on-Trent, beyond which they could not go -with that force, but would send a few straggling -horse to Harborough, and if the king informed -them of the day he would be there, they would -not fail him. As to a proposal that Charles was -impolitic enough to make to these Scottish Covenanters, -to form a junction with Montrose, a man -whom they hated with a deadly hatred for his -ravages and slaughters of their party, they treated -it with scorn; and, says Montreuil, "with regard -to the Presbyterian government, they desire his -majesty to agree with them as soon as he can. -Such is the account they make here of the engagement -of the king, my master, and of the promises -I had from their party in London." He adds -that if any better conditions could be had from any -other quarter, these ought not to be thought of. -Montreuil wrote twice more, the last time on the -20th of April, expressing no better opinion of the -Scots, and saying that they would admit none of -his majesty's followers save his two nephews, -Rupert and Maurice, and such servants as were -not excepted from the pardon; and that they -could not then refuse to give them up to the -Parliament, but would find means to let them -escape.</p> - -<p>A gloomier prospect for the king than the one -in that quarter could scarcely present itself. It -appears that he had not yet agreed to the ultimatum -of the Scots—the concession of the supremacy -of the Presbyterian Church—and therefore -there was no actual treaty between them. But -all other prospects were closed; Charles must -choose between the Scots and the Parliament, the -latter body pursuing a contemptuous and ominous -silence. Fairfax and Cromwell were now within -a day's march of the city, and Charles made his -choice of the Scots. Yet so undecided even at the -moment of escaping from the city was he, that he -would not commit himself irrevocably to the Scots, -by announcing to them his departure and the -direction of his journey. It is remarkable, indeed, -that he had not before, or even now, thought of -endeavouring to escape to Ireland, and making a -second stand there with the confederates, or of -getting to the Continent and awaiting a turn of -fortune. But he seemed altogether like a doomed -mortal who could not fly his fate.</p> - -<p>About two o'clock on the morning of the 27th -of April, Charles set out from Oxford, disguised -as the servant of Ashburnham. He had his hair -cut short by Ashburnham, and rode after that -gentleman and Hudson the chaplain, who knew -the country well and was their guide. They rode<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -out unsuspected over Magdalen Bridge, Charles -having, groom-like, a cloak strapped round his -waist. To prevent particular attention or pursuit, -several others of them rode out at the same time -in different directions. Charles and his pretended -masters got without suspicion through the lines of -the Parliamentary army, and reached Henley-on-Thames. -But now that he was in temporary safety, -he appeared more undecided than ever. He -did not attempt to send word to the Scots to -meet him; but, says Clarendon, he was uncertain -whether to go to the Scottish army, or to get -privately into London, and lie concealed there till -he might choose what was best. Clarendon declares -that he still thought so well of the City of London, -as not to have been unwilling to have found -himself there. But certainly the City had never -shown itself more favourable to him than the -Parliament; and now with the Parliament in -the ascendant, it was not likely that it would -undertake to contend with it for the protection -or rights of the king. Charles still trusted -that he might hear of Montrose making a -fresh movement on his behalf, in which case he -would endeavour to get to him; and he never for -long after abandoned the hope of still hearing -something from Ireland in his favour. From -Henley, he therefore directed his way to Slough, -thence to Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Brentford, so -near did he reach London, and then again off to -Harrow. His uncertainty increased more and -more. He proceeded towards St. Albans, and -near that town was alarmed by the sound of -horses' feet behind them. It was only a drunken -man; but to avoid danger they kept out of St. -Albans, and continued through the bye-ways to -Harborough, where he was on the 28th. Two -days afterwards he reached Downham in Norfolk, -and spent some time in inquiring after a vessel -that might carry him to Newcastle or Scotland. -He seems to have expected at Harborough some -message from the Scots or from Montreuil, but as -none was there, he had despatched Hudson to -Montreuil at Southwell. No prospect of escape -by sea offering—for the coasts were strictly -guarded by the Parliamentary vessels—Charles -determined to go over to the Scots on Hudson -returning with a message from Montreuil that -they still declared that they would receive -the king on his personal honour; that they -would press him to do nothing contrary to -his conscience; that Ashburnham and Hudson -should be protected; that if the Parliament -refused, on a message from the king, to restore -him to his rights and prerogatives, they would -declare for him, and take all his friends under -their protection; and that if the Parliament did -agree to restore the king, not more than four -of his friends should be punished, and that only -by banishment. All this Montreuil, according to -Hudson's own account afterwards to Parliament, -assured Charles by note, but added that the Scots -would only give it by word of mouth and not by -writing.</p> - -<p>At the best this was suspicious; but where -was the king to turn? He was treated with the -most contemptuous silence by the Parliament, -which was at this very moment hoping to make -him unconditionally their prisoner. Fairfax had -drawn his lines of circumvallation round Oxford -five days after the king's departure, ignorant that -he had escaped, and in the full hope of taking -him. For nine days Charles was wandering about, -nobody knowing where he was, and during that -time Clarendon says he had been in different -gentlemen's houses, where "he was not unknown, -but untaken notice of."</p> - -<p>On the 5th of May he resolved, on the report -of Hudson, to go to the Scots, and accordingly, -early on that morning he rode into Southwell, -to Montreuil's lodgings, and announced his intention. -The manner in which he was received -there is related in very contradictory terms -by Ashburnham and Clarendon. Ashburnham -says that some of the Scottish Commissioners -came to Montreuil's lodgings to receive him, and -accompanied him with a troop of horse to the headquarters -of the Scottish army at Kelham, where -they went after dinner, and were well received, -many lords coming instantly to wait on him with -professions of joy that his majesty had so far -honoured their army as to think it worthy of his -presence after so long an opposition. Clarendon, -on the other hand, declares that "very early in -the morning he went to the general's lodgings, and -discovered himself to him, who either was, or -seemed to be, exceedingly surprised and confounded -at his majesty's presence, and knew not -what to say, but presently gave notice to the committee, -who were no less perplexed."</p> - -<p>Both of them, however, agree that the Scots -soon convinced Charles that they considered that -he had surrendered himself unconditionally into -their hands; that he had not complied with their -terms, and that there was no treaty actually -between them; and from all that appears, this was -the case. Charles had trusted to the assurances -of Montreuil, and had really no written evidence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -of any engagement on the part of the Scots, nor -was any ever produced. Some of the lords, says -Ashburnham, desiring to know how they might -best testify their gratitude to his majesty for the -confidence he had reposed in them, he replied that -the only way was to apply themselves to the performance -of the conditions on which he had come -to them. At the word "conditions," Lord Lothian -expressed much surprise, and declared he knew of -no conditions concluded, nor did he believe any of -the Commissioners residing with the army knew of -such. On this Charles desired Montreuil to present -a summary of the conditions concluded with -the Commissioners in London, sanctioned by the -King of France. It should, however, be borne in -mind that since then the army Commissioners had -met with the commissioners from London at Royston, -and had agreed to the terms to be offered to -the king. When Ashburnham, therefore, affirms -that many of the Commissioners of the army still -protested their ignorance of these conditions, it -can only mean that such conditions were not concluded -with the king, either there or anywhere, -for Charles had never consented to accept them. -When Charles, therefore, asked them what they -meant, then, by inviting him to come to them, and -why they had sent word that all differences were -reconciled, and that David Leslie should meet him -with an escort of horse, they replied that this was -on the understanding that his majesty meant to -accept their terms, from which they had never -receded, and that they now thought that by his -coming to them he had meant to accept the cardinal -condition—the taking of the Covenant.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_053sm.jpg" width="560" height="423" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p><span class="smcap">FLIGHT OF CHARLES FROM OXFORD</span>. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_053.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Charles must have been well aware of the truth -of all this, but he was a man who played fast and -loose so constantly, that it was impossible to make -any treaty with him. At the very time that he -was preparing to leave Oxford, so alive were all -these quibbles and evasions in his mind, that he -wrote to Lord Digby, expressing his intention to -get to London if he could, "not," he says, "without -hope that I shall be able so to draw either the -Presbyterians or the Independents to side with -me, for extirpating one another, that I shall really -be king again." This proves that on setting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -out from Oxford, he had held himself loose from -any compact with the Scots, and did not mean to -go to them at all if he could manage to cozen the -Presbyterians or Independents to take his part, -and "extirpate one another."</p> - -<p>Such a man was as slippery as an eel. He now -insisted solemnly on the existence of the very conditions -that he had purposely kept clear of. The -Scots stood by their offered terms, and exhorted -him to accept the Covenant, entreating him with -tears and on their knees to take it, or to sanction -the Presbyterian worship if he could not adopt -it, and pledging themselves on that condition -to fight for him to the last man. But this -Charles would not do. He was still—though -beaten and voluntarily surrendered to his enemies—as -full of the persuasion of the divinity of kingship -as ever. He therefore undertook to give the -word to the guard, in virtue of his being the chief -person in the army; but old Leven quickly undeceived -him, by saying, "I am the older soldier; -your majesty had better leave that office to me."</p> - -<p>It was now necessary to apprise the Parliament -of the king having entered their camp—a piece of -intelligence which produced a wonderful sensation. -Fairfax had already announced to the Parliament -that the king had escaped out of Oxford, and was -believed to have gone towards London, whereupon -the two Houses had issued a proclamation forbidding -any one to harbour or conceal his person on -pain of high treason, and of forfeiting the whole -of their estate, and being put to death without -mercy. All Papists and other disaffected persons -were ordered, on the supposition that the king -might be in London, to remove before the 12th -of May to twenty-five miles' distance from the -metropolis, leaving, before they went, a notice -at Goldsmiths' Hall of the places to which they -intended to retire. When the letter arrived -from the Scottish Commissioners, the Parliament -was filled with jealousy and alarm. There had -long been a feeling of the design of the Scots, supported -by the Presbyterians, assuming an undue -power; and now to hear that they had the king -in their hands was most embarrassing. They -instantly sent word to the Scots that his majesty -must be disposed of according to the will of the -two Houses of Parliament, and that for the -present he must be sent to Warwick Castle; that -Ashburnham and Hudson, the king's attendants, -should be sent for by the sergeant-at-arms or his -deputy, to be dealt with as delinquents; and that -a narrative must be prepared of the manner in -which the king came to the Scottish camp, and -forthwith sent to the two Houses. To enforce -these orders, they commanded Poyntz to watch -the Scottish army with five thousand men, and Sir -Thomas Fairfax to prepare to follow him.</p> - -<p>The Scots were not prepared to enter into a -civil war with England for the restoration of the -king, who would not comply even with their propositions; -but they knew too well the power they -possessed in the possession of his person, to let -the Parliament frighten them out of their advantage -till they had secured their own terms -with them. They therefore immediately addressed -a letter to the Parliament, expressing their -astonishment at finding the king coming among -them, for which they solemnly but untruly protested -there had been no treaty nor capitulation. -Perhaps they saved their word by meaning -no treaty concluded. They assured the two -Houses that they would do everything possible -to maintain a right understanding between the -two kingdoms, and therefore solicited their advice, -as they had also sent to solicit that of the -Committee of Estates in Scotland, as to the best -measures to be adopted for the satisfactory settlement -of the affairs of the kingdom. Charles also -sent to Parliament, repeating his offers of accommodation -and requesting the two Houses to forward -to him the propositions for peace. To show -his sincerity, he ordered his officers to surrender -the fortresses still in their hands to the Committee -of both kingdoms for the English Parliament. -He had offered to surrender them to the Scots, -but they refused to accept them, knowing that it -must embroil them with the Parliament. This -surrender on the part of the king, on the 10th of -June, closed the war. The last to pull down the -royal standard was the old Marquis of Worcester, -the father of Glamorgan, who held Raglan Castle, -and who, though he was eighty years of age, was -compelled by Parliament to travel from Raglan to -London, where he immediately died. Worcester -had refused to give up Raglan, as it was his own -house. He did not surrender it till the 19th of -August. Oxford was given up on the 24th of -June. Rupert and Maurice were suffered to -withdraw to the Continent. The Duke of York, -Charles's second son, was sent up to London to -the custody of Parliament, and put under the care -of the Earl of Northumberland.</p> - -<p>Things being in this position, and both Charles -and the Scots being anxious to keep at a distance -from Fairfax and his army till the terms were -settled, the Scots rapidly retreated to Newcastle, -carrying the king with them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span></p> - -<p>The treaty between the Scots and the English -Parliament was now carried on with much diplomacy -on both sides, and was not finally settled till -the 16th of January, 1647. The Scots, soon after -leaving Newark, proposed a meeting with the -Parliamentary Commissioners, to explain the -reasons of their retreat northwards, and also for -not surrendering Ashburnham and Hudson; but -the meeting did not take place, and soon after -Ashburnham contrived to escape and get into -France, to the queen. Charles said that he -could have escaped, too, had he been so disposed; -but Hudson attempting it, was stopped.</p> - -<p>Charles did not neglect to try the effect of -brilliant promises on David Leslie and others of -the Scottish officers, if they would side with him -and make a junction with Montrose for his -restoration. He offered to make David Earl of -Orkney, but the Committee of Estates sent the -Earls of Argyll and Loudon, and Lord Lanark, to -Newcastle, to see that all was kept in order in the -camp; and they told Charles plainly that he -must take the Covenant, and order Montrose to -disband his forces in the Highlands, if he expected -them to do anything important for him. -Charles consented to order the disbanding of -Montrose's followers and his retirement to France, -but he could not bring himself to accept the -Covenant. In fact, on the same day that he gave -the order to surrender his remaining fortresses, he -sent a letter to the English Parliament, informing -them that he was in full freedom, and in a -capacity to settle with them a peace, and offering -to leave the question of religion to the Assembly -of Divines at Westminster, to place the -militia in their hands as proposed at Uxbridge, -for seven years, and, in short, to do all in his -power to settle the kingdom without further -effusion of blood. The Parliament, however, knew -that he was in no condition to make war on them, -and were too sensible of their power to notice such -overtures, further than that they thought his -terms now too high.</p> - -<p>At this very time Charles was in active secret -endeavour to obtain an army from Ireland and -France. Glamorgan and the Pope's nuncio were -busy in Ireland; the queen was equally busy in -France; Mazarin again promised her ten thousand -men, and incited Lord Jermyn to seize Jersey and -Guernsey; and the king, though he had ordered -Montrose to disband his forces and quit Scotland, -desired him to be ready to raise the royal -standard once more in the Highlands in conjunction -with the French and Irish. All these wild -schemes, however, were knocked on the head by -the Earl of Ormond making peace with the Parliament -on condition that he should recover his -estates. He surrendered the Castle of Dublin -and the fortresses to Parliament, went over to -England, and all hope of aid from Ireland was at -an end.</p> - -<p>Whilst these political designs were in agitation, -Charles was deeply engaged with the religious -difficulty of giving up Episcopacy and consenting to -the dominance of Presbyterianism. He consulted -Juxon, the ex-Bishop of London, and gave him -leave to advise with Dr. Sheldon and the late -Bishop of Salisbury, whether he might not accept -Presbyterianism as a man under compulsion, and -therefore not really bound by it; and he was at -the same time engaged with Alexander Henderson -on the Scriptural authority of Episcopacy or -Presbyterianism. During this dispute, in which -each champion supported his opinion with Scriptural -passages, and yet came no nearer than such -disputants ever do, the Scottish divine was taken -ill and died, and the Royalists declared that the -king had so completely worsted him that he died -of chagrin.</p> - -<p>On the 23rd of July the English Parliament at -length made proposals of peace, sending the Earls -of Pembroke, Denbigh, and Montague, and six -members of the Commons, to Newcastle, to treat -with him. The conditions were not so favourable -as those offered at Uxbridge, things, indeed, being -now very different; the great point, however, -being the abandonment of Episcopacy. They were -to receive an answer or return in ten days; but -the king would not yield the question of the -Church. The Scottish Commissioners were present, -and urged the king warmly to consent to the conditions, -and thus to restore peace. The Earls of -Loudon and Argyll implored it on their knees. -Then Loudon, Chancellor of Scotland, told him -"that the consequences of his answer to the propositions -were so great, that on it depended the -ruin of his crown and kingdoms; that the Parliament, -after many bloody battles, had got the -strongholds and forts of the kingdom into their -hands; that they had his revenue, excise, assessments, -sequestrations, and power to raise all the -men and money in the kingdom; that they had -gained victory over all, and that they had a -strong army to maintain it, so that they might do -what they would with Church or State; that -they desired neither him nor any of his race -longer to reign over them, and had sent these -propositions to his majesty, without the granting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -whereof the kingdom and his people would not be -in safety; that if he refused to assent, he would -lose all his friends in Parliament, lose the city, -and lose the country; and that all England would -join against him as one man to process and depose -him, and to set up another Government; and -that both kingdoms for safety would be compelled -to agree to settle religion and peace without him, -to the ruin of his majesty and posterity;" and he -concluded by saying, "that if he left England, he -would not be allowed to go and reign in Scotland." -This, it must be confessed, was plain and honest, -and therefore loyal and patriotic speaking. The -General Assembly of the Kirk had already come -to this conclusion; but all was lost on the king.</p> - -<p>Parliament now having proved that all negotiation -was useless, their Commissioners returned, -and reported that they could obtain no answer -from the king, except that he was ready to come -up to London and treat in person. A Presbyterian -member, on hearing this report, exclaimed—"What -will become of us, now the king has -rejected our propositions?" "Nay," replied an -Independent member, "what would have become -of us had he accepted them?" And really it is -difficult to see what could have been the condition -of the kingdom had a man of Charles's incorrigible -character been again admitted to power. The -Parliament returned thanks to the Scottish Commissioners -for their zealous co-operation in the -endeavour to arrange matters with the king—a -severe blow to Charles, who had till now clung to -the hope of seizing some advantage from the -jealousies which for many months had prevailed -between the Parliament and the Scottish army.</p> - -<p>On the 12th of August the Scottish Commissioners -presented a paper to the House of Lords, -stating that the kingdom of Scotland had, on the -invitation of both Houses, carefully undertaken -and faithfully managed their assistance in the -kingdom towards obtaining the ends expressed in -the covenant; and as the forces of the common -enemy were now broken and destroyed, through -the blessing of God, they were willing to surrender -up the fortresses in their hands, and retire into -their own country, on a reasonable compensation -being made for their sufferings and expenses. -They stated truly that many base calumnies and -execrable aspersions had been cast upon them by -printed pamphlets and otherwise, which they had -not suffered to turn them from that brotherly -affection which was requisite for the great end in -view, and which they trusted would yet be -effected, notwithstanding the lamentable refusal -of their propositions by the king. They claimed, -moreover, still to be consulted on the measure for -accomplishing the common object of peace for the -kingdom. The Commons appointed a committee -to settle the accounts between them. The Scots -demanded six hundred thousand pounds as the -balance due, but agreed to receive four hundred -thousand pounds, one half of which was to be paid -before quitting the kingdom.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had this amicable arrangement been -made, when the two English Houses of Parliament -passed a resolution that the disposal of the -king's person belonged to them. This alarmed -the Scots, who instantly remonstrated, saying that -as Charles was king of Scotland as well as of -England, both nations had an equal right to be -consulted regarding the disposal of his person. -This is a sufficient answer to the calumny so -zealously propagated by the Royalists that the -Scots had sold the king to the Parliament. On -the contrary, they had claimed a sum of money as -a just payment of their expenses and services, and -the person or liberty of the king had not entered -at all into the bargain. This bargain, in fact, was -made five months—that is, on the 5th of September—before -they delivered up the king, that is, -on the 30th of January, 1647, and during these -five months they were zealously engaged in contending -for the personal security of the monarch -to the very verge of a civil war. All this time -they strove equally to induce Charles to accept the -terms, which would have removed all difficulties. -From September 21st, when the English Parliament -voted this resolution, to October 13th, a -fierce contest was carried on on this subject, and -various conferences were held. The Scots published -their speeches on these occasions; the -English seized them, and imprisoned the printers; -there was imminent danger of civil war, and on -the 13th of October the Commons voted payment -for the army for the next six months, giving an -unmistakable proof of their resolve on the -question.</p> - -<p>All this was beheld with delight by Charles; -and he wrote to his wife that he believed yet that -they would have to restore him with honour. He -believed one party or the other would, to settle -the question, concede all to him, and with his -sanction put the other down. For some time the -public spirit in Scotland favoured his hopes. The -question was discussed there with as much -vehemence as in England. His friends exerted -themselves, the national feeling was raised in his -favour, and the Scottish Parliament passed a vote<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -on the 10th of December, under the management -of the Hamiltons, that they would exert all their -power and influence to maintain the monarchical -system of government, and the king's title to the -English crown, which it was now notorious that -the Independents sought to subvert. This gave -wonderful spirit to the royal party; but the Commission -of the Kirk instantly reminded Parliament -that Charles had steadily refused to take the -Covenant, and that even if he were deposed in -England, he could not be allowed to come into -Scotland; or if he did enter it, his royal functions -must be suspended till he had embraced the -Covenant, and given freedom to their religion. -This brought the Parliament to reflection, and the -next day it rescinded the resolution.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_057sm.jpg" width="424" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>QUEEN HENRIETTA'S DRAWING-ROOM AND BEDROOM, MERTON COLLEGE, OXFORD.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_057.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This dashed the last hopes of the king, and, -now that it was too late, he began seriously to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -contemplate escape to the Continent. Montreuil -wrote to the French Court on the 21st of January, -1647—the very day that the money was paid to -the Scots, and a receipt given previous to their departure—that -Charles still continued to dream of -escaping, though to himself it appeared impossible, -unless the Scots had rather see him do so than fall -into the hands of the Independents. The king -had arranged with Sir Robert and William -Murray his scheme of escape in disguise, but it -was found impossible. Once more, therefore, he -wrote to the Parliament of England for permission -to go to London and open a free debate with both -Houses for the settlement of all differences. The -message received no notice whatever; but the -two Houses went on debating as to the disposal of -the king's person. The Lords voted that he should -be allowed to come to Newmarket; the Commons -that he should go to Holmby, in Northampton, -one of his houses, to which he was considerably -attached. After further debate this was agreed -to by the Lords.</p> - -<p>The Scots, seeing that they must yield up the -person of Charles to the English Parliament or -prepare to fight for it, asked themselves what they -were to gain by a civil war for a king who would -not move one jot towards complying with their -wishes? They made one more effort to persuade -him to take the Covenant, but in vain. In reply -to their solicitation, he made this ominous reply:—"It -is a received opinion by many, that engagements, -acts, or promises of a restrained person, are -neither valid nor obligating; how true or false this -is I will not now dispute, but I am sure if I be -not free, I am not fit to answer your or any propositions." -And he demanded if he went to Scotland -whether he should be free, with honour and -safety. It was clear what was in his mind—that -if he did take the Covenant he would be at liberty -to break it when he had the power; and as the -Scots had determined that they would not receive -him into Scotland at the certain cost of civil -war, when they could with such a person have no -possible guarantee of his keeping his engagements -even were he brought to make them, they replied -that he must at once accept their propositions, or -they must leave him to the resolution of Parliament. -Two days afterwards (the 16th of January, -1647), the Parliament of Scotland acceded to the -demand of the English Parliament that the king -should be given up, a promise being exacted that -respect should be had to the safety of his person -in the defence of the true religion, and the liberties -of the two kingdoms, according to the Solemn -League and Covenant. More was demanded by -the Scots, namely, that no obstacle should be -opposed to the legitimate succession of his children, -and no alteration made in the existing government -of the kingdom. To this the Lords fully assented, -but the Commons took no notice of it.</p> - -<p>On the 5th of January the two hundred thousand -pounds, engaged to be paid to the Scots -before leaving England, arrived at Newcastle, in -thirty-six carts, under a strong escort, and having -been duly counted, a receipt was signed on the -21st at Northallerton, and on the 30th Charles -was committed to the care of the English Commissioners, -consisting of three lords and six commoners, -the Earl of Pembroke being at their head. -He professed to be pleased with the change, as it -would bring him nearer to his Parliament. The -Scots, having finished their business in England, -evacuated Newcastle, and marched away into their -own country.</p> - -<p>In all these transactions we have endeavoured -in vain to discover any ground for the common -calumny against the Scots, that they bought and -sold the king. On the contrary, we have shown -that all contract regarding their reimbursements -and remunerations was completed five months -before the delivery of the king; and that they did -all in their power to induce him to accept their -Covenant, and with that their pledge to defend -him to the last drop of their blood. Montreuil -says, that even at the last moment the Earls -of Lauderdale and Traquair again pressed the -king to consent to accept the Covenant and establish -Presbyterianism, and they would convey -him to Berwick and compel the English to be -satisfied with what he had thus offered them. He -stated that the Scots offered him (Montreuil) -twenty thousand Jacobuses to persuade the king -to comply, but that he could not prevail. It must -be remembered, too, that when they did surrender -him, it was only on promise of safety to his person, -and that they delivered him not to the Independents, -who made no secret of their designs -against the monarchy, but to their fellow believers, -the Parliament, which entertained no such -intentions, and had already offered Charles the -same terms on the same conditions.</p> - -<p>Before the close of this year, that is in September, -the Earl of Essex died; Ireton married -Bridget Cromwell, second daughter of Oliver -Cromwell; and a great number of officers in the -army were again in Parliament—the Self-denying -Ordinance, having served its turn, being no more -heard of.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> - -<p class="p6">END OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES I.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Differences between the Presbyterians and Independents—The King at Holmby—Attempt to Disband the Army—Consequent -Petitions to Parliament—The Adjutators—Meeting at Newmarket—Seizure of the King—Advance of the Army on London—Stubbornness -of the Presbyterians—The Army Marches through London—Its Proposals to Charles—Their Rejection—The -King throws away his Best Chances—The Levellers—Cromwell's Efforts on behalf of Charles—Renewed Intrigues of -Charles—Flight to Carisbrooke—Attempts to Rescue the King—Charles Treats with the Scots—Consequent Reaction in -his Favour—Battle of Preston and Suppression of the Insurrection—Cromwell at Edinburgh—The Prince of Wales in -Command of the Fleet—Negotiations at Newport—Growing Impatience of the Army—Petitions for the King's Trial—Charles's -Blindness and Duplicity—He is Removed to Hurst Castle—Pride's Purge—Supremacy of the Independents—The -Whiggamores—Hugh Peters' Sermon in St. Margaret's, Westminster—Ordinance for the King's Trial—Trial and -Execution of Charles I.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>For a long time the difference of opinion between -the Presbyterians and the Independents had been -growing more marked and determined. The -latter, from a small knot of Dissenters, had grown -into a considerable one, and the more influential, -because the most able and active, leaders of both -Parliament and army were of that sect. Under -the head of Independents, however, ranged themselves, -so far as politics were concerned, a -variety of other Dissenters—Arminians, Millenaries, -Baptists and Anabaptists, Familists, Enthusiasts, -Seekers, Perfectists, Socinians, Arians, -and others—all of whom claimed freedom of -worship, according to their peculiar faiths. On -the other hand, the Presbyterians, backed by the -Scots, were bent on establishing a religious despotism. -Their tenets and form of government were -alone to be tolerated. They were as resolute -sticklers for conformity as the Catholics, or -Charles and Laud themselves. They set up the -same claims to be superior to the State, and -allowed of no appeal from their tribunals to those -of the civil magistrate. Having established the -Directory for the form of worship, they erected an -assembly, with its synods, and divided the whole -kingdom into provinces, the provinces into classes, -the classes into presbyteries or elderships. They -declared that "the keys of the kingdom of heaven -were committed to the officers of the Church, by -virtue whereof they had power to retain and remit -sins, to shut the kingdom of heaven against the -impenitent by censures, and to open it to the -penitent by absolution." They claimed a right to -inquire into the private lives of persons, and of -suspending the unworthy from the Sacrament.</p> - -<p>All these assumptions the Independents denied, -and would not admit any authority over the free -action of individual congregations. The Commons, -through the influence of Selden and Whitelock, -proposed to the Assembly of Divines nine -questions respecting the nature and object of -the divine right to which they aspired, and before -they could answer these, the army and the Independents, -its leaders, had effected still more embarrassing -changes. The king being conquered, -and the Scots having withdrawn, the contest lay -no longer between the king and Parliament, but -between the Presbyterians and Independents, or, -what was nearly synonymous, the Parliament and -the Army.</p> - -<p>The king was conducted to Holmby by easy -journeys, and treated by his attendants with -courtesy. The people flocked to see him, and -showed that the traditions of royalty were yet -strong in them. They received him with acclamations, -uttered prayers for his preservation, and not -a few of them pressed forward to be touched for -the "evil." On his arrival at Holmby, he found -a great number of ladies and gentlemen assembled -to welcome him, with every demonstration of -pleasure, and his house and table well appointed -and supplied. He passed his time in reading, in -riding about the country, and in different amusements—as -chess and bowls, riding to Althorpe, or -even to Harrowden, because there was no good -bowling-green at Holmby. One thing only he -complained of, and requested to have altered. -The Parliament sent him clergymen of their own -persuasion to attend him; he begged that any two -out of his twelve chaplains might be substituted, -but was refused. The Presbyterian ministers -allotted him were Thomas Herbert, and Harrington, -the author of "Oceana," with whose conversation -Charles was much pleased on all subjects but -religion and form of government. But though -Charles passed the bulk of his time in relaxation, -he was not insensible to his situation; and when -he had been left there for three months without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> -notice, he addressed to Parliament a letter in -which he proposed to allow Presbyterian Church -government for three years, his own liberty of -worship being granted, and twenty clergymen of -the Church of England admitted to the Westminster -Assembly; the question of religion at the end -of that period was to be finally settled by himself -and the two Houses in the usual way, and -the command of the army was also to be left to -Parliament for ten years, and then to revert to -him. The Lords gladly assented to this offer, but -the Commons did not entertain it, and other -matters soon claimed their attention.</p> - -<p>The Presbyterians had, during the active engagements -of the army, and the consequent -absence of the leading Independents, strengthened -their ranks by many new members of Parliament, -and they now set about to reduce the power of -their opponents by disbanding the greater part of -the army. They decreed in February that three -thousand horse, twelve hundred dragoons, and -eight thousand four hundred foot, should be withdrawn -from Fairfax's army and sent to Ireland, -and that besides one thousand dragoons and five -thousand four hundred horse, all the rest of the -army should be disbanded, except as many soldiers -as were necessary to man the forty-five castles and -fortresses which remained. This would have completely -prostrated the power of the Independents; -and Cromwell, on whose shrewd character and -military success they now looked with terror, -would have been first sacrificed, as well as Ireton, -Ludlow, Blake, Skippon, Harrison, Algernon -Sidney, and others, who had fought the real battle -of the late contest. The heads of the Presbyterians -in Parliament consisted of unsuccessful -commanders—Holles, Waller, Harley, Stapleton, -and others—who hated the successful ones, both on -account of their brilliant success and of their -religion. Fairfax, though a Presbyterian, went -along with his officers in all the love of toleration.</p> - -<p>It was voted in the Commons, not only that no -officer under Fairfax should have higher rank -than that of colonel, but that no one should hold a -commission who did not take the Covenant and -conform to the government of the Church as fixed -by Parliament. This would have been a sweeping -measure, had the Parliament not had a very -obvious party motive in it, and had it paid its -soldiers, and been in a condition to discharge -them. But at this moment they were immensely -in arrears with the pay of the army, and that -body, feeling its strength, at once broke up its -cantonments round Nottingham, and marched -towards London, halting only at Saffron Walden. -This movement created a terrible alarm in the -City, Parliament regarded it as a menace, but -Fairfax excused it on the plea of the exhausted -state of the country round their old quarters. The -Commons hastened to vote sixty thousand pounds -towards the payment of arrears, which amounted -to forty-three weeks for the horse and eighteen -for the infantry. In the City, the Council and the -Presbyterians got up a petition to both Houses, -praying that the army might be removed farther -from London; but at the same moment a more -startling one was in progress from the Independents, -addressed to "the supreme authority of the -nation, the Commons in Parliament assembled." -It not only gave this significant hint of its -opinion where the real power of the State lay, -but denounced the House of Lords as assuming -undue authority, and complained of the persecution -and exclusion from all places of trust of those -who could not conform to the Church government -imposed. The House of Commons condemned this -Republican petition, and ordered the army not to -approach nearer than twenty-five miles of London. -A deputation was sent down to Saffron Walden, -where Fairfax summoned a convention of officers -to answer them. These gentlemen, on the -mention of being sent to Ireland, said they must -know, before they could decide, what regiments, -what commanders were to go, and whether they -were sure of getting their arrears and their future -daily pay. They demanded their arrears and -some recompense for past services. The Commissioners, -not being able to answer these demands, -returned and reported to the Commons, mentioning -also a petition in progress in the army. -Alarmed at this, the Commons summoned to their -bar some of the principal officers—Lieutenant-General -Hammond, Colonel Robert Hammond, his -brother, Colonel Robert Lilburn, Lieutenant-Colonel -Grimes, and Colonel Ireton, Cromwell's -son-in-law, a member of the House; and they -voted that three regiments, commanded by the -staunch Presbyterian officers Poyntz, Copley, and -Bethell should remain at home. But what roused -the army more than all besides, was a motion -made by Denzil Holles, and carried, that the -army's petition, which was not yet presented, was -an improper petition, and that all who were concerned -in it should be proceeded against as -enemies to the State and disturbers of the public -peace.</p> - -<p>This declaration of the 30th of March was little -short of an act of madness. It could only excite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -the indignation of a power against which the Parliament, -grown unpopular, and divided against itself, -was but as a reed in a whirlwind. The officers -pronounced it "a blot of infamy" upon them, and -the Parliament was glad to attempt to lay the -storm by voting, on the 8th of April, that the -regiments of Fairfax, Cromwell, Rossiter, Whalley, -and Graves, should remain in England. A week -afterwards the Commons sent down another deputation, -accompanied by the Earl of Warwick, -who harangued the officers earnestly to engage for -Ireland, promising that Major-General Skippon -should command them. Many were pleased with -them, but more cried out, "Fairfax and Cromwell! -Give us Fairfax and Cromwell, and then we all -go!"</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_061.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LORD FAIRFAX. (<cite>After the Portrait by Cooper.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_061big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On the return of the deputation without success, -the Commons debated whether they should not -disband the whole army. Holles strongly recommended -it, and that they should give the soldiers -six weeks' pay on disbanding. He thought it -would be easy then to engage the men to go to -Ireland under other officers, and that four of those -officers who were regarded as most hostile in this -movement should be summoned to the bar of the -House. How miserably he was mistaken was immediately -shown, for a petition was presented that -very day (the 27th of April), signed by Lieutenant-General -Hammond, fourteen colonels and -lieutenant-colonels, six majors, and one hundred -and thirty captains, lieutenants, and other commissioned -officers. It was drawn up in energetic -language, complaining of the calumnies spread -abroad regarding the army, and enumerating the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> -services they had done, the sacrifices they had -made for the Commonwealth, and praying for the -payment of the soldiers' arrears. It declared, -indeed, that this movement of petitioning had -commenced amongst the soldiers, and that the -officers had been induced to take it up to prevent -anything unacceptable to the House from being -put forward.</p> - -<p>But the petition of the officers did not prevent -the petition of the men. When they saw the -Commons did not immediately comply with the -petition of the officers, smarting under the vote of -disbandment, coupled with the withholding of -their pay, horse dragoons and infantry went on -their own way. They had lately entered into -an association to make their complaints known. -The officers had established a military council to -consult on and take care of the interests of the -army, and the men established a council too. Two -commissioned officers, but not exceeding in rank -ensigns, and two private soldiers from each regiment, -met from time to time to discuss the wants -of the army. They were called Adjutators or -assistants in the cause, and the word soon became -corrupted into Agitators. Thus there was a sort -of army Parliament—the officers representing the -Peers, the soldiers the Commons. The whole -scheme has been, and it is probable very justly, -ascribed to the genius of Cromwell. What confirms -the supposition is, that an old friend of his, -Berry, a captain, became its president, and that -Ayres and Desborough, his two particular friends, -the latter of whom had married his sister, were -in close communication with the leading officers -amongst the Agitators.</p> - -<p>These movements on the part of the army, and -the zealous manner in which Cromwell rose and -vindicated the conduct of the soldiers on this -occasion, warning the House not to drive so loyal -and meritorious a body as the army to desperation, -caused them to order him, Skippon, and Fleetwood -to go down to the army and quiet its discontent -by assuring the soldiers of pay and indemnification. -These three, on the 7th of May, -met the officers, who demanded time to prepare an -answer after consulting their regiments. There -appeared to have been doubts and dissension -sown by the Presbyterians, and as the different -regiments came to opposite conclusions, the Parliament -thought it might venture to disband them. -On the 25th it was settled that such regiments as -did not volunteer for Ireland should be disbanded -at fixed times and places. Fairfax, pleading indisposition, -left the House and hastened down to the -army, and immediately marched it from Saffron -Walden to Bury St. Edmunds. The soldiers -declared that they would not disband till they -were paid, and demanded a rendezvous, declaring -that if the officers did not grant it they would -hold it themselves. Fairfax announced this to -the Parliament, praying it to adopt soothing -measures; and that, though he was compelled to -comply with a measure out of order, he would do -what he could to preserve it. The House, on the -28th, sent down the Earl of Warwick, the Lord -Delaware, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, and three other -members of the Commons, to promise eight weeks' -pay, and to see the disbanding effected. On hearing -the terms from the Commissioners, the soldiers -exclaimed:—"Eight weeks' pay! We want nearer -eight times eight!" There was universal confusion; -the men refused to disband without full payment. -They hastened to their rendezvous at Bury -St. Edmunds, each man paying fourpence towards -the expenses; and they ordered that the army -should draw together, and a general rendezvous be -held on the 4th of June. At Oxford the soldiers -seized the disbanding money as <em>part</em> payment, and -demanded the rest, or no disbanding.</p> - -<p>On the 4th and 5th of June, accordingly, the -grand rendezvous was held on Kentford Heath, -near Newmarket. They entered into a covenant -to see justice done to one and all, and not till then -to listen to any other orders or terms. Meanwhile, -a still more extraordinary scene had taken place, -of which the direct springs may be guessed, but -which springs were so closely concealed that no -clever historian could ever lay them bare. -Scarcely was the honourable House of Commons -in possession of the news of the Kentford Heath -rendezvous, when it was paralysed by this still -more amazing announcement.</p> - -<p>The House of Lords, not liking the proceedings -of the army, had ordered the king for greater -safety to be removed from Holmby to Oatlands, -nearer the capital. The army anticipated that -move; and by whose orders no man knows, nor -ever will know, Cornet Joyce, of Whalley's regiment, -followed by a strong party of horse, presented -himself on the 2nd of June, a little after -midnight, at Holmby House. After surrounding -the house with his troop, said to be one thousand -strong, he knocked and demanded admittance, -telling Major-General Brown and Colonel Graves -that he was come to speak to the king. "From -whom?" demanded these officers, awoke from their -sleep. "From myself," said Joyce; whereat they -laughed. But Joyce told them it was no laughing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -matter. They then advised him to draw off his -troops, and in the morning he should see the Commissioners. -Joyce replied that he was not come -there to be advised by them, or to talk to the -Commissioners, but to speak to the king; and -speak to him he would, and that soon. At this -threat Brown and Graves bade their soldiers -stand to their arms and defend the place; but the -soldiers, instead, threw open the doors, and bade -their old comrades welcome. Joyce then went -direct to the chamber of the Commissioners, -and informed them that there was a design to -seize the king, and place him at the head of an -army to put down that under General Fairfax; -and that, to prevent another war, he was come to -secure the person of the king, and see that he was -not led into further mischief; for, added the -cornet, "there be some who endeavour to pull -down king and people, and set up themselves."</p> - -<p>The Commissioners desired him not to disturb -the king's sleep, but to wait till morning, and they -would tell his majesty of his arrival and business. -In the morning Joyce found that Brown had contrived -to send off Graves to fetch up the king's -guard; and "some of his damning blades did -say and swear they would fetch a party." But -Joyce—a stout fellow for a tailor, which he -had been—did not trouble himself about that, -for he knew the guard would not move, and at -length insisted on being admitted to the king himself.</p> - -<p>According to Joyce's own account, it was -ten o'clock in the evening again when he was -ushered, with two or three of his followers, into -the royal presence. The soldiers took off their -hats, and displayed no rudeness, but a blunt proceeding -to business. According to Clarendon, the -cornet told the king that he was sorry to have disturbed -his sleep, but that he must go with him. -Charles asked whither. He said to the army. -But where was the army, replied the king. The -cornet said they would show him. His majesty -asked by what authority they came. Joyce said -"By this!" and showed him his pistol, and -desired his majesty to cause himself to be dressed, -because it was necessary they should make haste. -The king sent for the Commissioners, who asked -Joyce whether he had any order from Parliament. -He said no. From the general? No. What, -then, was his authority? He gave the same reply -as to the king, by holding up his pistol. They -said they would write to the Parliament to learn -its pleasure, to which Joyce replied, they could -do so, but the king meanwhile must go with him.</p> - -<p>Finding that the soldiers sent for would not -come, and that the officers of the guard said that -Joyce's troop were not soldiers of one regiment, -but drawn from several regiments, and that Joyce -was not their proper officer, it was clear that there -was a general design in the affair, and the king -said he would go with them at six in the morning. -At the hour appointed the king appeared on horseback, -and found the troop all mounted and ready. -The king had overnight demanded of Joyce -whether he should be forced to do anything -against his conscience, and whether he should have -his servants with him; and Joyce replied that -there was no intention to lay any constraint on -his majesty, only to prevent his being made use of -to break up the army before justice had been done -to it. Before starting, Charles again demanded -from Joyce, in the presence of the troop, where -was his commission, enjoining him to deal ingenuously -with him, and repeating, "Where, I -ask you again, is your commission?" "Here," -said Joyce, "behind me," pointing to the soldiers. -Charles smiled, and said, "It is a fair commission, -and as well written as I have ever seen a commission -written in my life; a company of handsome, -proper gentlemen, as I have seen a great -while. But what if I should refuse to go with -you? I hope you would not force me. I am -your king; you ought not to lay violent hands on -your king. I acknowledge none to be above me -here but God." He then demanded again whither -they proposed to conduct him. Oxford and Cambridge -were named, to both of which places -Charles objected. Newmarket was next named, -and to that he consented. So the first day they -rode to Hinchinbrook, and the next to Childersley, -near Newmarket.</p> - -<p>The news of these proceedings of the army -carried consternation into the two Houses of Parliament, -and into the City, where the Presbyterian -party was in full strength. They ordered the -immediate arrest of Cromwell, which they had -been intending some time, but they were informed -that he left town the very same morning that -Joyce appeared at Holmby—a significant fact—and -was seen riding away with only one attendant. -He reached the headquarters of the army with his -horse all in foam. The House voted to sit all -the next day, though it was Sunday, and have -Mr. Marshall to pray for them. Rumour declared -that the army was on its march, and would be -there the next day at noon. The House ordered -the Committee of Safety to sit up all night, taking -measures for the protection of the City; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -train-bands to be called out, and all the lines of -communication guarded. The next day the shops -were shut, the town was in indescribable confusion, -and terror in every face, as though the army was -already there. The Parliament wrote to Fairfax, -commanding that the army should not infringe -the order of the two Houses, by coming within -twenty-five miles of London, that the king should -be returned to the care of the Commissioners -who attended him at Holmby, and that Colonel -Rossiter's regiment should guard his person. -Fairfax replied that the army had reached St. -Albans before he received their command, but it -should proceed no farther; that he had sent -Colonel Whalley with his regiment to meet his -majesty on his way from Holmby, and offered to -return him thither, but that he preferred the air -of Newmarket, and that all care should be taken -of his person.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_064sm.jpg" width="560" height="426" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CORNET JOYCE'S INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_064.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In fact, Charles was delighted with the change. -He had escaped from the harsh keeping and the -strict regimen of the Presbyterians, whom he detested, -and felt himself, as it were, a king again at -the head of an army: the dissensions now rushing -on so hotly between his enemies wonderfully encouraging -his hopes of making friends of the more -liberal party. He was in a condition of greater -freedom and respect in the army than he had -been at Holmby: there was a larger number of -troops and the officers were superior. He was -relieved from the presence of Cornet Joyce. All -restraint being taken off from persons resorting -to him, he saw every day the faces of many -that were grateful to him. No sooner did he ask -for the attendance of his own chaplains than -those he named (Drs. Sheldon, Morley, Sanderson, -and Hammond) were sent for, and performed the -service regularly, no one being forbidden to attend. -The king was left to his leisure and his friends, -only removing with the army as it moved, and in -all places he was as well provided for and accommodated -as he had been in any progress. The -best gentlemen, Clarendon admits, of the several -counties through which he passed, daily resorted -to him without distinction. He was attended -by some of his old trusty servants in the places -nearest his person. On hearing of his present -condition, the queen sent Sir John Berkeley from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -Paris, and his old groom of the chambers, who -had been living at Rouen, to be with him again, -and they were freely admitted by Cromwell and -Ireton. "Many good officers," says Clarendon, -"who had served his majesty faithfully, were -civilly received by the officers of the army, and -lived quietly in their quarters, which they could -not do anywhere else, which raised a great reputation -to the army throughout England, and as -much reproach upon Parliament." This was -raised still more by the army's address to Parliament, -desiring that "care might be taken for -settling the king's rights, according to the several -professions they had made in their declarations; -and that the royal party might be treated with -more candour and less rigour." Even the most -devoted of Royalists, Sir Philip Warwick, says, -"The deep and bloody-hearted Independents all -this while used the king very civilly, admitting -several of his servants and some of his chaplains -to attend him, and officiate by the service-book."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_065sm.jpg" width="560" height="428" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FAIRFAX HOUSE, PUTNEY. (<cite>From a Photograph by W. Field & Co., Putney.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_065.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Commons ordered all officers to attend -their regiments, and sent down Commissioners to -inform the army of the votes of the two Houses. -The army gave the Commissioners such a reception -as no Commissioners had ever witnessed before. -Twenty-one thousand men had assembled to a -rendezvous on Triploe Heath, near Royston; and -the General and the Commissioners rode to each -regiment, to acquaint them with the Parliamentary -votes as to their instalment of pay, their disbanding, -and their not approaching within twenty-five -miles of London. The answer was sent up in -shouts of "Justice! justice!" A petition also -from the well-affected people of Essex was delivered -on the field to the General in presence of -the Commissioners, against the disbanding, declaring -"that the Commonwealth had many enemies, -who watched for such an opportunity to destroy -the good people." A memorial was, moreover, -drawn up and signed by the General and all the -chief officers, to the Lord Mayor and Corporation -of London, warning them against false representations -of the intentions of the army, for that the war -being at an end, all that they desired and prayed -for was that the peace of the kingdom should be -settled according to the declarations of Parliament -before the army was called out, and that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -being done, the army should be paid before it was -disbanded.</p> - -<p>So far from pacifying the Parliament, these proceedings -alarmed it infinitely more, and it issued an -order that the army should not come within forty-five -miles of the capital. On its part, the army -collected addresses from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, -and the surrounding counties, praying the purgation -of the House from all such members as -were disqualified from sitting there by corruption, -delinquency, abuse of the State, or undue election; -and on the 16th of June, from its headquarters -at St. Albans, the army formally impeached of -high treason eleven of the most active Presbyterian -members. This impeachment was presented -to the House by twelve officers of the army—colonels, -lieutenant-colonels, majors, and captains. -Within a few days the General and officers sent a -letter to the House, informing it that they would -appoint proper persons to conduct the impeachment, -and make good their charges; and desired -the House to suspend the accused forthwith, as it -was not fitting that those persons who had done -their best to prejudice the army should sit as -judges of their own actions.</p> - -<p>This, says Clarendon, was an arrow out of their -own quiver, which the Commons did not expect; -and though it was a legitimate consequence -of the impeachments of Strafford, Laud, and -others, they endeavoured to set it at defiance. -The Parliament and its army were, in fact, come -to the pass which the brave old Royalist, Sir Jacob -Astley, had foreseen when he surrendered his -regiment at Stowe, in 1646:—"You have done -your work, my masters, and may go and play, -unless you will fall out amongst yourselves."</p> - -<p>The army, to settle the matter, marched from -St. Albans to Uxbridge, and at that sight the -eleven members withdrew from the House of -Commons, and the Commons assumed a modest -and complying behaviour, voting the army under -Fairfax to be the real army of England and -worthy of all respect. They sent certain proposals -to Fairfax, which induced him to remove -his headquarters from Uxbridge to Wycombe. -The eleven members, looking on this as a degree -of submission to Parliament, immediately plucked -up courage, and Holles and the rest appeared in -their places, preferring charges in return against -the officers, and demanding a fair trial. But they -soon perceived their mistake, and, soliciting the -Speaker's leave of absence and his passport to go -out of the kingdom, disappeared.</p> - -<p>The struggle between the army and Parliament—that -is, between the Presbyterian and Independent -interests—was all this time raging. For six weeks -the army was advancing or retiring, according as -the Parliament acted; the Parliament only giving -way through intimidation. According as affairs -stood, the City was either peaceful or in alarm, -now shutting its shops, now carrying on much -negotiation; the army lying still near, and paid -more regularly, out of terror, by the Parliament. -At length the army had so far succeeded as to have -the insulting declaration of Holles—"the blot of -ignominy"—erased from the journals of the House, -and the ordinance of the 4th of May—procured -by Holles—for the placing of the militia of the -City in more exclusively Presbyterian hands—revoked. -But towards the end of July the strong -Presbyterian element in London was again in -such ferment that it forgot its terrors of the army, -and proceeded to daring extremities. The Presbyterian -faction demanded that conventicles—that -is, the meeting-houses of all classes, except Presbyterians—should -be closed, and called on the citizens -to meet in Guildhall to hear the Covenant read, -and sign an engagement—soldiers, sailors, citizens, -and apprentices—to drive away the army and -bring the king to Westminster, and make a treaty -with him. A hundred thousand signatures were -put to this paper, and had the courage been -half as great as the bluster the army had been -swept to destruction. On the 26th of July, a -few days afterwards, a vast rabble surrounded -the Houses of Parliament, calling on both Lords -and Commons to restore the order regarding the -City militia; they crowded into the Houses with -their hats on, crying, "Vote! vote!" and their -numbers keeping the doors open. Under this -intimidation both Lords and Commons voted the -restoration of the Presbyterian ordinance for the -change of the militia, and adjourned to Friday.</p> - -<p>On Friday the two Houses met, but were -astonished to find that their Speakers had fled, -accompanied by several members of both Houses, -and were gone to the army. It was found that -Sir Henry Vane, the Earl of Northumberland, the -Earl of Warwick, and other Lords and Commoners -were gone. Had it been only Sir Henry Vane -and the Independents who had gone, it would -have astonished nobody; but neither Lenthall, the -Speaker of the Commons, nor the Earl of Manchester, -the Speaker of the Lords, was suspected -of any great leaning to the army, whilst Warwick -was a staunch Presbyterian, and Northumberland -so much in the favour of that party as to have -the care of the royal children. This circumstance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -showed the violence of the mob which had forced -Parliament, and rendered moderate men resolved -to escape rather than submit to be its puppets. -There were no less than fifteen Lords and a -hundred Commoners who had thus resented mob -intimidation.</p> - -<p>On making this lamentable discovery, the two -Houses elected temporary Speakers, and issued -orders forbidding the army to advance, recalling -the eleven fugitive members, and ordered Massey, -Waller, and Poyntz to call out the militia and -defend the City.</p> - -<p>No sooner had Fairfax heard the news of these -proceedings than he instantly sent the king to -Hampton Court, and marched from Bedford to -Hounslow Heath, where he ordered a general -rendezvous of the whole army. On Hounslow -Heath, at the appointed rendezvous, the Speakers -of the two Houses, with their maces, and attended -by the fugitive Lords and Commons, stated -to the general that they had not freedom in -Westminster, but were in danger of their lives -from tumult, and claimed the protection of the -army. The general and the officers received the -Speakers and members with profound respect, and -assured them they would reinstate them in their -proper places, or perish in the attempt. Nothing, -in fact, could have been such a godsend to the -army; for, besides their own grievances, they had -the grievances of the coerced members to redress, -and the sanctity of Parliament to defend. They -ordered the most careful accommodation for the -comfort of the members, and a guard to attend -them, consulting them on all their measures. -Fairfax quartered his army about Hounslow, -Brentford, Twickenham, and the adjacent villages, -at the same time ordering Colonel Rainsborough -to cross the Thames at Hampton Court with a -brigade of horse and foot and cannon, and to -secure Southwark and the works which covered -the end of London Bridge.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, never was London in more terrible -confusion. The Commons, having no mace of their -own, sent for the City mace. The colonels were in -all haste calling out the militia. On Saturday -and Monday, August 1 and 2, the shops were -all shut, nothing going on but enlisting and -mustering. St. James's Fields were in a stir -with drilling; news constantly coming of the approach -of the army. "Massey," says Whitelock, -"sent out scouts to Brentford; but ten men of -the army beat thirty of his, and took a flag from -them. The City militia and Common Council -sat late, and a great number of people attended -at Guildhall. When a scout came in and brought -news that the army made a halt, or other good -intelligence, they cried, 'One and all!' But if -the scouts brought word that the army was advancing, -then they would cry as loud, 'Treat! -treat! treat!' and thus they spent the night."</p> - -<p>Tuesday, August the 3rd, was a fearful day. -The people of Southwark declared that they would -not fight against the army, and went in crowds to -Guildhall, demanding peace, at which Poyntz lost -all patience, drew his sword, and slashed many -of them, some mortally.</p> - -<p>The Southwarkers kept their word, for they -received Rainsborough and his troops; the militia -openly fraternised with the soldiers, shaking hands -with them through the gates, and abandoned to -them the works which protected the City. Rainsborough -took possession, without opposition, of all -the forts and works on that side of the river from -Southwark to Gravesend. In the morning the -authorities of the City, finding that Southwark -was in possession of the army, and the City -gate on that side in their hands, were completely -prostrated and hastened to make their -submission. Poyntz, accustomed to conquest in -the field, and the hardihood of the Presbyterian -soldiers, was filled with contempt for these -cringing, cowering citizens. What! had they -not ten thousand men in arms, a loan of ten -thousand pounds arranged and orders to raise -auxiliary troops to the amount of eighteen regiments? -Had they not plenty of ammunition and -arms in the Tower, whence they had drawn four -hundred barrels of gunpowder and other material -for present defence? But all availed not; the -citizens hastened to lay themselves and the City -at the feet of Fairfax. He had fixed his headquarters -at Hammersmith, but he met the civic -authorities at Holland House, Kensington, where -he dictated the following conditions:—That they -should abandon the Parliament now sitting and -the eleven impeached members; should restore the -militia to the Independents; surrender all their -forts, including the Tower; recall their declarations, -and conduct themselves peaceably.</p> - -<p>On Friday, the 6th of August, Fairfax entered -the City, preceded by a regiment of infantry -and another of cavalry. He was on horseback, -attended by his body-guards and a crowd of -gentlemen. A long train of carriages, containing -the fugitive Speakers and members (Lords and -Commons), followed, and then another regiment -of cavalry. The soldiers marched three abreast, -with boughs of laurel in their hats. The late<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -turbulent multitudes completed their shame by -raising forced acclamations as they passed. Fairfax -thus proceeded through Hyde Park, where -the Corporation met him, and offered him a great -gold cup, which he curtly declined, and so rode -on to the Houses of Parliament, where he replaced -the Speakers in their respective chairs, -and the members in their old places. Not one -of the Lords who had remained, except the Earl -of Pembroke, ventured to appear, and he declared -that he considered the proceedings since the departure -of the Speakers as null. No sooner were -the Speakers in their places than Parliament voted -thanks to the general and the army; made Fairfax -commander of all the forces in England and -Wales, and Constable of the Tower. It ordered a -gratuity of a month's pay for the army, and that -the City militia should be divided, and Southwark, -Westminster, and the Tower Hamlets should command -their own. The Lords voted all Acts of -Parliament from the departure of the Speakers, -on the 26th of June, to their return on the 6th -of August, void; but the resolution did not pass -the Commons, where there was a large body of -Presbyterians, without much opposition.</p> - -<p>The eleven impeached members fled, and were -allowed to escape into France, whereupon they -were voted guilty of high treason, as well as the -Lord Mayor and four aldermen of London, two -officers of the train-band, and the Earls of -Suffolk, Lincoln, and Middleton, the Lords Willoughby, -Hunsdon, Berkeley, and Maynard. The -civic officers were sent to the Tower. The City -was ordered to find the one hundred thousand -pounds voted for the army. Fairfax distributed -different regiments about Whitehall and the -Houses of Parliament for their protection, and -others in the Strand, Holborn, and Southwark, -to keep the City quiet. His headquarters were -moved to Putney, with forces at Chelsea and -Fulham. On Sunday he and the officers attended -the preaching of Hugh Peters, the army chaplain, -at Putney Church, and thus the Independents -were in full power, and the Presbyterians signally -humbled.</p> - -<p>Before, and also whilst, these events had been -taking place, the army had made overtures to the -king for peace and a solid settlement of the kingdom. -As we have seen, from the moment that -the king came into their hands, they had treated -him in a far different style to the Presbyterians. -He seemed, in his freedom of action, in the admission -of his children and friends to his society, in -the respect and even friendliness shown him to -feel himself a king again. There were many -reasons why the Independents should desire to -close with the king. Though they had the army -with them, they knew that the Presbyterians were -far more numerous. London was vehemently -Presbyterian, and the Scots were ready to back -that party, because essentially the same in religion -as themselves. The Independents and all the -Dissenters who ranged themselves under their -banners were anxious for religious liberty; the -Scottish and English Presbyterians had no more -idea of such a thing as belonging to Christianity -than had the Catholics or the Church of England -as represented by Charles and Laud.</p> - -<p>From the moment that the king was received by -the army, he seems to have won on the goodwill -of the officers. Fairfax, on meeting him on his -way from Holmby, kissed his hand, and treated -him with all the deference due to the sovereign. -Cromwell and Ireton, though they did not so far -condescend, and kept a degree of distant reserve, -as remembering that they had to treat Charles as -an enemy, were soon softened, and Cromwell sent -him assurances of his attachment, and of his -desire to see his affairs set right. Many of the -officers openly expressed commiseration of his -misfortunes, and admiration of his real piety, and -his amiable domestic character. It was not long -before such relations were established with him, -and with his confidential friends Berkeley, Ashburnham, -and Legge, that secret negotiations were -commenced for a settlement of all the difficulties -between him and his people. The officers made -him several public addresses expressive of their -sincere desire to see a pacification effected; and -Fairfax, to prepare the way, addressed a letter to -the two Houses, repelling the aspersion cast upon -the army of its being hostile to the monarchy, -and avowing that "tender, equitable, and moderate -dealings towards him, his family, and his former -adherents," should be adopted to heal the feuds of -the nation.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_069.jpg" width="396" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LORD CLARENDON. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Peter Lely.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_069big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>It has been the fashion to consider Cromwell -as a consummate hypocrite, and to regard all that -he did as a part acted for the ultimate attainment -of his own ends. This is the view which Clarendon -has taken of him; but, whatever he might do at -a later period, everything shows that at this time -both he and his brother officers were most really -in earnest, and, could Charles have been brought -to subscribe to any terms except such as gave up -the nation to his uncontrolled will, at this moment -his troubles would have been at an end, and he -would have found himself on a constitutional<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -throne, with every means of honour and happiness -in his power. Nothing more convincingly demonstrates -this than the conditions which the Parliament -submitted to him. They, in fact, greatly -resembled the celebrated conditions of peace -offered at Uxbridge, with several propositions -regarding Parliament and taxation, which mark -a wonderfully improved political knowledge and -liberality in the officers. They did not even insist -on the abolition of the hierarchy, but merely -stipulated for the toleration of other opinions, -taking away all penalties for not attending -church, and for attending what were called conventicles. -The command of the army by Parliament -was to be restricted to ten years; only -five of the Royalist adherents were to be excluded -from pardon, and some less objectionable mode -of protecting the State against Catholic designs -than the present oppressive laws against recusants -was to be devised. Parliaments were to continue -two years, unless dissolved earlier by their own -consent; and were to sit every year for a prescribed -term, or a shorter one, if business permitted. -Rotten boroughs, or such as were insignificant, -were to be disfranchised, and a greater number -of members returned from the counties in proportion -to the amount of rates; and all that -regarded election of members or reforms of the -Commons should belong exclusively to the Commons. -There were very judicious regulations -for the nomination of sheriffs and of magistrates; -the excise was to be taken from all articles of -life at once, and from all other articles very -shortly: the land-tax was to be fairly and equally -apportioned; the irritating maintenance of the -clergy by tithes was to be done away with; suits<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -at law were to be made less expensive; all men -to be made liable for their debts; and insolvent -debtors who had surrendered all their property to -their creditors were to be discharged.</p> - -<p>The whole project was decidedly creditable to -the officers of the army. Charles's own friends -and advisers were charmed with it, and flattered -themselves that at length they saw a prospect of -ending all troubles; but they were quickly undeceived, -and struck down in dumb astonishment by -Charles rejecting them.</p> - -<p>Charles was still the same man; he was at the -same moment secretly listening to the overtures -of the Scottish Commissioners, who were jealous -of the army, and instead of seizing the opportunity -to be once more a powerful and beloved -king, he was flattering himself with the old idea -that he would bring the two great factions "to -extirpate each other." Sir John Berkeley, his -earnest adviser, says:—"What with having so -concurring a second as Mr. Ashburnham, and -what with the encouraging messages of Lord -Lauderdale and others from the Presbyterian -party and the city of London, who pretended to -despise the army, and to oppose them to death, -his Majesty seemed very much elated; inasmuch -that when the proposals were solemnly sent to -him, and his concurrence most humbly and earnestly -desired, his Majesty, not only to the -astonishment of Ireton and the rest, but even -to mine, entertained them with very tart and -bitter discourses, saying sometimes that he would -have no man suffer for his sake, and that he -repented of nothing so much as the Bill against -the Lord Strafford, which, though most true, -was unpleasant for them to hear; that he would -have the Church established according to law, by -the proposals. They replied it was none of their -work to do it; that it was enough for them to -waive the point, and, they hoped, enough for his -Majesty, since he had waived the government of -the Church in Scotland. His Majesty said that -he hoped God had forgiven him that sin, and -repeated often, 'You cannot be without me; you -will fall to ruin if I do not sustain you!'"</p> - -<p>It was still the old man; the old intolerable, -incorrigible talk. He could not give up a single -proposition to save all the rest—his life, his -family, his crown, and kingdom. The officers -looked at one another in amazement; the king's -friends in consternation. Sir John Berkeley -whispered in his ear that his Majesty seemed to -have some secret strength that they did not -know of, on which Charles seemed to recollect -himself, and spoke more softly; but it was too -late, for Colonel Rainsborough, who was least -inclined for the pacification, rode to the army -and made known the king's obstinacy. The -agitators rushed together in crowds, and, excessively -chagrined at the rejection of such terms, -burst into the bedchamber of Lord Lauderdale, -whom they suspected of having thus perverted -the king's mind, and compelled him, in spite of his -standing in his position as Commissioner from -the Estates of Scotland, to rise, and get off back -again to Edinburgh.</p> - -<p>At this crisis the alarm at the proceedings in -London, and the march upon it just related, took -place. Still the officers did not cease their exertions -to persuade the king to adopt the proposals; -but he was waiting to see what turn affairs would -take, and listening at the same time to the Scots -and the Irish Catholics. This idea was so little -concealed that, talking with Ireton, he let slip the -observation, "I shall play my game as well as I -can." On which Ireton replied, "If your Majesty -has a game to play, you must give us leave also to -play ours." As the bluster of the City seemed to -subside before the approaching army, Charles sent -Berkeley to ask the officers, "If he should accept -the proposals, what would ensue?" They said, -"We will offer them to the Parliament." "And -if they should reject them, what then?" The -rest of the officers hesitating to answer such a -question, Rainsborough said bluntly, "If they -won't agree, we will make them!" to which all -the rest instantly assented. Berkeley carried this -decisive answer to Charles, but there, he says, he -had very different work; he was just as unyielding -as ever. Cromwell and Ireton then begged -that though the king would not sign the proposals, -he would at least write a kind letter to the army, -which should show the country that they were -doing nothing contrary to his Majesty's mind. -With the co-operation of Berkeley, Ashburnham, -and others of the king's friends, they met at -Windsor, and drew up such a letter, but they -could not prevail on him to sign it till the City -had yielded, and it was too late. Still the officers, -to prove that their triumph had not altered in the -least their desire for agreement with the king, -again voted the proposals as their terms of settlement. -Charles renewed his discussion with them, -and was every day sending messages by Ashburnham -to Cromwell and Ireton, yet never -coming nearer; but, on the other hand, bringing -those officers into suspicion with a new and -fanatic party which had arisen, which originally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> -called themselves Rationalists, but soon after -Levellers.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_070sm.jpg" width="444" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE CHILDREN OF CHARLES I.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">From the Picture by Miss Margaret I. Dicksee, -in the Oldham Art Gallery</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_070.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Levellers were, in fact, a set of men -amongst whom Lilburne, now Colonel John -Lilburne, was a leading character. They had imbibed -from the Old Testament, which was their -favourite study, a spirit of Republicanism combined -with a wild fanatic style of language. They -found in the remarks on monarchs in the Scriptures, -on the election of Saul by Israel, a clear -denunciation of all kings, and they declared they -would no longer seek after kings, who aimed only -at absolute power; nor after lords, who sought only -honours and places; but they would have a free -government by a Parliament, and a free religion. -They drew up a paper called "The Case of the -Army," and another called "The Agreement of -the People," which were presented to the general -and the Agitators of the eleven regiments. -Religious Republicanism was abroad in the army, -and they drew up a new constitution, at which a -biennial Parliament, with six monthly sessions, a -widely-extended franchise, and a more equally-distributed -representation, was at the head. There -were to be neither king nor lords in their system. -Colonels Pride and Rainsborough supported their -views: Cromwell and Ireton strenuously opposed -them. They were, therefore, immediately the objects -of attack, and represented as being in a close -and secret compact with the king, the Ahab of the -nation, to betray the people. Lilburne was busily -employed in writing and printing violent denunciations -in flaming style, and strongly garnished with -Bible terms. Parliament denounced the doctrines -of the Levellers as destructive of all government, -and ordered the authors to be prosecuted.</p> - -<p>Whilst this fanatic effervescence had broken out -in the army, the Presbyterians in Parliament and -the Scottish Commissioners made one effort more -for the recovery of their ascendency. Regarding -the religious toleration proposed in the army conditions -as something horrible and monstrously -wicked, they drew up fresh proposals of their own, -and presented them to the king. If Charles could -not endure the army proposals, he was not likely -to accept those of the Presbyterians, who gave no -place to his own Church at all; and he told them -that he liked those of the army better. This -answer Berkeley showed to the officers of the -army before it was sent; they highly approved of -it, and promised to do all they could in the House -to get an order voted for a personal treaty, "and," -Berkeley adds, "to my understanding, performed -it, for both Cromwell and Ireton, with Vane and -all their friends, seconded with great resolution -this desire of his Majesty." Cromwell, indeed, he -says, spoke so zealously in its favour that it only -increased, both in the House and out of it, the -suspicion of his having made a compact with the -king to restore him. The more the officers argued -for a personal treaty, the more the Presbyterians -in the House opposed it; but at length a resolution -was carried for it. It was thought that it -would occupy twenty days, but it went on for two -months, and came to nothing—other and strange -events occurring.</p> - -<p>The Levellers, after this display of zeal on the -part of Cromwell, vowed that they would kill both -him and the king, whom they not only styled an -Ahab, a man of blood, and the everlasting obstacle -to peace and liberty, but demanded his head -as the cause of the murder of thousands of free-born -Englishmen. Cromwell declared that his -life was not safe in his own quarters, and we -are assured that Lilburne and another Agitator -named Wildman had agreed to assassinate him -as a renegade and traitor to liberty. To check -this wild and dangerous spirit in the army, -Cromwell and Ireton recommended that it should -be drawn closer together, and thus more under the -immediate discipline of its chief officers. This -was agreed upon, and a general rendezvous was -appointed to take place at Ware on the 16th of -November.</p> - -<p>During the interval Charles was royally lodged -at Hampton Court, and was freely permitted to -have his children with him, but all the time he -was at his usual work of plotting. The Marquis -of Ormond, having surrendered his command in -Ireland to the Parliament, was come hither; and -Lord Capel, who had been one of Charles's most -distinguished commanders, being also permitted -by Parliament to return from abroad, a scheme -was laid, whilst Charles was amusing the army -and Parliament with the discussion of the "Proposals," -that the next spring, through the Scottish -Commissioners, who were also in the plot, a Scottish -army should enter England forty thousand -strong, and calling on the Presbyterians to join -them should march forward. At the same time -Ormond should lead an army from Ireland, whilst -Capel summoned the rest of the king's friends in -England to join the converging forces, and plant -the king on the throne. But this wholesale conspiracy -could not escape the secret agents of -Cromwell; the whole was revealed to him, and -he bitterly upbraided Ashburnham with the incurable -duplicity of his master, who, whilst he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -was negotiating with the army, was planning its -destruction.</p> - -<p>From this moment, whatever was the cause, and -the preceding incidents appear both certain and -sufficient, Cromwell, Ireton, and the army in -general, came to the conclusion that all attempts -to bring so double-faced and intriguing a person -to honourable and enduring terms were vain; -that if he were restored to power, he would use it -to destroy every one who had been compelled to -oppose his despotic plans; if he were not restored, -they would be in a perpetual state of plottings, -alarms, and disquietudes, destructive of all comfort -or prosperity to the nation. As the officers -drew back from further intercourse with the king, -the menaces of the Levellers became louder; and -there were not wanting persons to carry these -threats to the king. He saw the Levellers growing -in violence, and in numbers; in fact, Leveller -and Agitator were synonymous terms; the infection -had spread through the greater part of the -army. The fact of the officers having been -friendly with him, had made them suspicious to -the men; they had driven Ireton from the council, -and there were loud threats of impeaching Cromwell. -Several regiments were in a state of insubordination, -and it was doubtful whether, at the -approaching rendezvous, Fairfax could maintain -the discipline of the army. The reports of the -proceedings of the Levellers (who really threatened -to seize his person to prevent the Parliament or -officers agreeing with him) and their truculent -manifestoes, were all diligently carried to Charles -by the Scottish Commissioners, who, according to -Berkeley, "were the first that presented his -dangers to him." He was assured by Mr. Ackworth -that Colonel Rainsborough, the favourite of -the Levellers, meant to kill him; and Clarendon -says that "every day he received little billets or -letters, secretly conveyed to him without any -name, which advertised him of wicked designs -upon his life;" many, he adds, who repaired to -him brought the same advice from men of unquestionable -sincerity.</p> - -<p>Charles resolved to escape, and, as he was in -some cases as religiously scrupulous of his word as -he was in others reckless of it, he withdrew his -promise not to attempt to escape, on the plea that -he found himself quite as rigorously watched as if -he were not on honour. Colonel Whalley, who -commanded his guard, at once ordered it to be -doubled, and dismissed all the king's servants -except Legge, refusing further admittance to -him. Notwithstanding this, he found means of -communicating with Ashburnham and Berkeley, -and consulted with them on the means of escape, -and the place to escape to. He suggested the City, -and Ashburnham advised him to go to the house -of the Lord Mayor, in London, there to meet -the Scottish Commissioners, agree with them on -their last propositions, and then send for the -Lords. Berkeley disapproved of this, believing -they would not bring over the Commons; and then -Ashburnham recommended the king to flee to the -Isle of Wight, and throw himself on the generosity -of Colonel Hammond, the governor there. This, -he says, he did, because Colonel Hammond had a -few days before told him he was going down to -his government, "because he found the army was -resolved to break all promises with the king, and -that he would have nothing to do with such perfidious -actions."</p> - -<p>This seems to have inspired a belief in these -men that Hammond was secretly in favour of the -king, strengthened, no doubt, by the fact that Dr. -Hammond, the king's chaplain, was his uncle, and -had lately introduced him to his Majesty as an ingenuous -and repentant youth, and, notwithstanding -his post, of real loyalty. They forgot that Hammond -had another uncle, Lieutenant-General -Hammond, who was as democratic as the chaplain -was loyal, and was a great patron of the Adjutators. -They seem to have reckoned as little on -the honour of the young man, who was a gentleman -and officer, and had married a daughter of -John Hampden.</p> - -<p>There were other schemes, one to seek refuge in -Sir John Oglander's House, in the Isle of Wight; -and there was a talk of a ship being ordered to be -somewhere ready for him; but when the escape -was made, it appeared to have been just as ill -contrived as all the rest of Charles's escapes. -Ashburnham and Berkeley had contrived to meet -the king in the evening in the gallery of Hampton -Court, and settled the mode of escape. It was -the king's custom, on the Mondays and Thursdays, -to write letters for the foreign post, and in the -evenings he left his bedchamber between five and -six o'clock and went to prayers, and thence to -supper. On one of these evenings, Thursday, the -11th of November, Whalley, finding the king -much later than usual in leaving his chamber, -became uneasy, went thither, and found him gone. -On the table he had left some letters, one to the -Parliament, another to the Commissioners, and -a third to Colonel Whalley. In the letter to the -Parliament he said liberty was as necessary to -kings as others; that he had endured a long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -captivity in the hope that it might lead to a good -peace, but that, as it did not, he had withdrawn -himself; that, wherever he might be, he should -earnestly desire a satisfactory agreement without -further bloodshed, and was ready to break through -his cloud of retirement and show himself the -father of his country whenever he could be heard -with honour, freedom, and safety.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_073sm.jpg" width="560" height="419" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CARISBROOKE CASTLE, ISLE OF WIGHT. (<cite>From a photograph by F. G. O. Stuart, Southampton.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_073.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>It appeared that he had escaped by way of -Paradise, a place so called in the gardens; his -cloak was found lying in the gallery, and there -were tramplings about a back gate leading to the -waterside. Legge accompanied him down the -backstairs, and Ashburnham and Berkeley joined -them at the gate. The night was dark and -stormy, which favoured their escape. They crossed -the river at Thames Ditton, and made for Sutton, -in Hampshire, where they had horses in readiness. -Why they had not provided horses at a nearer -point does not appear. In the night they lost -their way in the forest, and reaching Sutton only -at daybreak, and hearing that a county committee -on Parliamentary business was sitting -there, they got out their horses, and rode away -towards Southampton.</p> - -<p>That night Cromwell was aroused from his bed -at Putney with a startling express that the king -had escaped. He at once despatched a letter to -the Speaker, Lenthall, dated twelve o'clock, with -the tidings for Parliament, and the news was -announced next morning to both Houses. The -confusion may be imagined; orders were issued to -close all ports; and those who concealed the place -of the king's retreat, or harboured his person, -were declared guilty of high treason, and menaced -with loss of all their estate, and with death without -mercy. On the 13th of November Whalley -gave a narrative to the Lords of the particulars -of his escape as far as known. It appeared that -the repeated howling of a greyhound in the king's -chamber first assured them that he could not be -there. However, on Monday, the 15th, a letter -from Colonel Hammond, from the Isle of Wight, -much to the relief of Parliament and army, -announced that the absconded king was safe in -his hands at Carisbrooke Castle.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> - -<p>Charles was at first treated by Colonel Hammond -with great leniency, and again employed -the time on his hands in negotiation. As -the army had restored unity to itself, he sought -to obtain its concurrence to a personal treaty, -and sent Berkeley to Fairfax, Cromwell, and -Ireton, at Windsor. On his way there he fell -in with Cornet Joyce, who carried off the king -from Holmby, who informed him of an ominous -proposition discussed by the Agitators, namely, -to bring the king to trial; not, he said, with any -design of putting him to death, but to prove -on evidence who really bore the blame of the -war. This prelude too truly prefigured the -interview itself. Fairfax, Cromwell, and Ireton -received Berkeley with severe aspects and distant -coldness, and told him that they were but the -servants of the Parliament, and referred him to it. -He was not prevented by this, however, from -sending a secret message to Cromwell, reminding -him of his promises, and letting him know that -he had secret instructions from the king to him. -But Cromwell had now had convincing proofs -of the king's duplicity; he refused to receive the -letters, informed Berkeley that he would do all in -his power towards effecting a real peace, but was -not disposed to risk his head for the king's sake. -Repulsed here, Charles applied to Parliament, -which sent him four propositions as the basis of -agreement, namely, that his Majesty should concur -in the Bill for settling the militia; should recall -all the proclamations, oaths, etc., against Parliament; -should disqualify all peers made since the -renewal of the Great Seal from sitting in the -House of Peers; and should pass a Bill for the -adjournment of Parliament being placed in the -power of the Houses themselves. These Bills were -sent by Commissioners to Carisbrooke; but the -Scottish Commissioners, who dreaded the acceptance -of them as rendering the English Parliament -independent of the League and Covenant, -hastened there, too, with a modified treaty of -their own. Charles, thus encouraged, refused the -four Bills; the Commissioners kissed hands and returned, -and Charles signed the proposals of the -Scots, which guaranteed the independence of their -own religion, on condition of finding an army of -forty thousand men for the restoration of the king.</p> - -<p>Charles was not left long in ignorance of the -effect of his refusal of the Parliamentary proposals, -and of the discovery of his secret treaty with the -Scots. Colonel Hammond received orders to take -every measure for the safe keeping of the king, and -for preventing the lurking of suspicious vessels in -Southampton Water, as it was known that a ship -had been engaged by the queen to carry off Charles -and land him at Berwick, in readiness to co-operate -with the Scottish movement. Hammond -dismissed Ashburnham, Legge, and Berkeley, -with all other Royalists, from the island; sent -away a vessel, supposed to be the very one engaged -by the queen; and put the king under strict surveillance -and a double guard. He was no longer -an apparently free guest, but a close prisoner.</p> - -<p>This treatment only doubled his determination -to escape. Ashburnham, Berkeley, and Legge, -though banished from the island, kept saddle-horses -on the coast ready, in case of the king's -escaping from Carisbrooke; and his friends -from all quarters corresponded with him, and -their letters were conveyed to him by Henry -Firebrace, who was in some employment in the -castle, and was occasionally engaged by one of -the warders to take his place before the king's -chamber-door, when he put the correspondence -entrusted to him through a crevice of the door. -The whole island resented the incarceration of the -king, and there were loud threats of rising and -liberating him by force. One Captain Burley was -mad enough to make the attempt. At midnight a -drum was beaten. Burley put himself at the head -of a rabble in Newport, without, as reported, -having a single musket among them, and was -speedily taken and executed.</p> - -<p>On the 3rd of January, 1648, the two Houses -discussed the relations with the king, and in the -Commons the plainest Republican sentiments were -avowed. The refusal of the four Bills by the king -was deemed convincing proof that no possibility -was left of ever coming to agreement with him. -Sir Thomas Wroth declared that kings of late -had conducted themselves more like inmates of -Bedlam than anything else, and that he did not -care what government was set up if it were not -by kings or devils. Ireton contended that the relation -of king and subjects implied mutual bonds -and duties; the king was to protect the people, -and the people to maintain the king in his duty, -but that Charles had abandoned his duty, had -ceased to protect his people, nay, had made war on -them, and therefore had annulled the compact; -that, seeing this, the army was resolved to stand by -the Parliament for the establishment of national -right. Cromwell, after many had proceeded in -a like strain, asserted that it was time to fulfil the -wearied expectation of the people, and to show that -they could govern and defend the kingdom by -their own power, and to decide that there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -nothing to be hoped from a man whose heart God -had hardened in obstinacy. In fact, in Parliament, -almost as much as in the army, a large -party had come to the conclusion that it was odious -in the sight of God to be governed by a king.</p> - -<p>The result was a vote that Parliament would -make no further applications or addresses to the -king, nor receive any message from him, except by -full consent of both Houses, under penalty of high -treason. The Lords concurred in the vote, and a -public declaration was circulated to that effect; -and it was also agreed that the Committee of -Public Safety should again sit and act alone, without -the aid of any foreign coadjutors. This was -a plain hint to the Scots that Parliament knew of -their late treaty. Hitherto they had formed part -of the Committee of both kingdoms, so that they -had shared the government of England. This was -withdrawn; the Scots therefore demanded the -payment of the last one hundred thousand pounds -due to them by the treaty of evacuation, and -announced their intention to retire on receiving it.</p> - -<p>This decided step of Parliament, and the rigour -with which Charles was guarded, put the Scots, -the Presbyterians, the Royalists all on the alert. -They stirred up everywhere a feeling of commiseration -for him, as harshly and arbitrarily used; it -was represented that the vote of non-address -amounted to a declaration that all attempts at reconciliation -were at an end, and that the Independents -meant to give effect to the doctrines of -the army and put the king to death. These -efforts were productive of a rapidly and widely -spreading sentiment in the king's favour, and -soon formidable insurrections were on foot. The -king himself omitted no means of attempting his -escape. By his plans his second son, the Duke -of York, had made his escape from the care -of the Earl of Northumberland in female attire, -and got to Holland. Towards the end of March -Charles tried to escape out of the window of his -chamber. A silken cord was prepared to let him -down; and, to prove the safety of the descent, Firebrace -forced himself between the iron stanchions -of the window and let himself down; but the -king, in essaying to follow, stuck fast, and, after -violent efforts, found it impossible to get through. -Cromwell announced to Hammond, in a letter -still extant, that Parliament was informed that -aquafortis had been sent down to corrode this -obstructing bar; that the attempt was to be -renewed during the coming dark nights, and that -Captain Titus and some others about the king -were not to be trusted. At the same time he -informed him that the Commons, in reward of his -vigilance and services in securing and keeping the -king, had raised his pay from ten to twenty -pounds a week, had voted him one thousand -pounds, and settled upon him and his heirs five -hundred pounds per annum.</p> - -<p>The reaction in favour of the king now began to -discover itself on all sides. Charles published an -appeal to the nation against the proceedings of Parliament, -which seemed to cut off all further hope -of accommodation. Parliament issued a counter-statement, -and numerous rejoinders were the consequence—the -most able from the pen of Hyde, the -Chancellor, and Dr. Bates, the king's physician. -Whilst these elements of strife were brewing in -England, the Duke of Hamilton, released from -Pendennis Castle and restored to the favour of -the king, returned to Scotland, and the Marquis of -Ormond to Ireland, to muster forces to operate -with a simultaneous rising in England. The -Scottish muster proceeded with vigour, though -stoutly opposed by the Duke of Argyll, and the -work of revolt commenced in March, in Wales. -Poyer, the Mayor of Pembroke, and governor of -the castle, declared for the king, and at the summons -of Fairfax refused to yield up his command. -Powell and Langherne, two officers of disbanded -regiments, joined him, and many of their old -soldiers followed them. The Royalists ran to -arms, eight thousand men were soon afoot in the -Principality, Chepstow and Carnarvon were surprised, -and Colonel Fleming was killed. Cromwell -was despatched to reduce these forces at the head -of five regiments. He quickly recovered Carnarvon -and Chepstow, defeated Langherne, and summoned -Poyer to surrender. But Pembroke stood out, and -was not reduced till July, though Colonel Horton -encountered Langherne at St. Fagan's, near -Cardiff, and completely routed him.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, in other quarters insurrections broke -out. On the 9th of April a mob of apprentices -and other young fellows attacked the train-bands -in Moorfields, struck the captain, took his colours, -and marched with them to Westminster, crying, -"King Charles! King Charles!" There they -were attacked and dispersed, but they rallied again -in the City, broke open houses to obtain arms, and -frightened the mayor so that he took refuge in the -Tower. The next day Fairfax dispersed them, but -not without bloodshed. Soon after three hundred -men from Surrey surrounded the Parliament -houses, cursing the Parliament, insulting the -soldiers, and demanding the restoration of the -king. They were not repulsed without some of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -them being killed. Similar outbreaks took place -in Norwich, Thetford, Canterbury, and other -places. Pontefract Castle was surprised by eighty -cavaliers, each with a soldier mounted behind him.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_076sm.jpg" width="560" height="405" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>RISING OF THE LONDON APPRENTICES ON BEHALF OF CHARLES. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_75">75</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_076.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Parliament, at the same time, was besieged with -petitions for disbanding the army and restoring -the king. To allay the ferment in the capital, -whilst the army was engaged in the provinces, -Parliament passed a resolution that no change -should be made in the government by kings, Lords, -and Commons. Fairfax withdrew his troops from -the Mews and Whitehall, and Major-General -Skippon was made commander of the City militia, -to act in concert with the Lord Mayor and Corporation. -The men of Kent and Essex rose in great -numbers for the king. At Deal, off which -Colonel Rainsborough, now acting as admiral, was -lying, the people rose. The fleet, consisting of six -men-of-war, revolted, hoisted the royal colours, -and sailed to Helvoetsluys, where they called for -the Duke of York to take the command. The -effect of this event was neutralised, however, -by a victory, which Fairfax obtained on the 1st of -June over the Royalists at Maidstone, where, after -a hard fight of six hours, he slew two hundred in -the streets, and took four hundred prisoners. -This defeat prevented the junction of this body -with another under Colonel Goring, now Earl of -Newport, who marched to Blackheath, and demanded -entrance into the City. The Independent -party were in a perilous position there. There was, -as we have seen, a numerous body in London in -favour of the king, who had no reliance on the -militia. To conciliate public opinion, the Parliament -ordered the release of the aldermen imprisoned -at the desire of the army, and revoked the -impeachment against the six Lords and eleven -Commoners. Holles and his associates resumed -their seats and their old measures, voted for a -renewed negotiation with Charles on condition that -he should restore Presbyterianism, and give the -command of the army to Parliament for ten years. -Luckily for the Independents, the Lords rejected -these propositions, and voted a treaty without any -conditions. At the same time the Common -Council, showing a decided leaning towards the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -king, offered to protect him from danger and -insult if he would come to the capital. The danger -to the Independent interest was only repelled by -the obstinacy of their old enemy Holles, who -would consent to nothing which did not establish -Presbyterianism.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_077sm.jpg" width="560" height="421" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>EXECUTION OF SIR CHARLES LUCAS AND SIR GEORGE LISLE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_077.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Whilst these discussions agitated the City, Fairfax -marched on Goring, who quitted Blackheath, -crossed the Thames into Essex with five thousand -horse, where he was joined by Lord Capel, with -Royalists from Hertfordshire, and Sir Charles -Lucas, with a body of horse from Chelmsford. -They concentrated their united force at Colchester, -where they determined to hold out till the advance -of the Scots, and thus detain the commander-in-chief -in the south. The Scots were now in reality -on the march. The Duke of Hamilton had not -been able to muster more than a fourth of his -promised forty thousand. Though he proclaimed -everywhere that Charles had promised to take the -Covenant and uphold the Presbyterian religion, -Argyll and the old covenanting body wholly distrusted -these assurances; the Assembly of the -Kirk demanded proofs of the king's engagement; -the ministers from the pulpits denounced the -curse of Meroz on all who engaged in this unholy -war, and the women cursed the duke as he passed, -and pelted him with stones from their windows.</p> - -<p>The English Royalists under Langdale, about -four thousand brave Cavaliers, had surprised Berwick -and Carlisle, and awaited with impatience -Hamilton's arrival. Lambert, the Parliamentary -general, advanced and besieged Carlisle, and -Hamilton was urged to advance and relieve it. -He sent forward a detachment, and on the 8th of -July arrived himself, being already supported by -three thousand veterans from the Scottish army in -Ireland, and, now uniting with Sir Marmaduke -Langdale, he presented a formidable force. Lambert -retired at his approach, and had Hamilton -been a man of any military talent, he might have -struck an effective blow. But from the moment -that he crossed the Border, he appeared to have -lost all energy. His army was paralysed by internal -dissensions. The Scottish Presbyterian -soldiers were scandalised at having to fight side<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -by side with Langdale's Prelatists and Papists, -whom they had been accustomed to see ranged -against them as the enemies of the Covenant. In -forty days he had advanced only eighty miles, and -when he reached the left bank of the Ribble, -near Preston, Cromwell had reduced Pembroke, -marched rapidly northward through Gloucester, -Warwick, Leicester, to Nottingham, where he left -his prisoners with Colonel Hutchinson, governor -of the castle, and soon joined Lambert at Otley -Park, and forced back Langdale from Clitheroe -on the main body at Preston. Hamilton at the -last moment was all unprepared. Monroe, with -his veterans, lay still at Kirkby Lonsdale. Yet -Hamilton, with his fourteen thousand, should have -been a match for Cromwell, Lambert, and Lilburne's -nine thousand. But Cromwell attacked -them with such vigour that, after a hard battle -of six hours, he routed the whole force. The -Cavaliers fought like lions, and only retreated -from hedge to hedge before the foe; they called -repeatedly on the Scots for reinforcements and -ammunition, but not being able to get either, -retreated into the town. There they discovered -that their allies were engaged in a fierce contest -with the enemy for possession of the bridge. -Cromwell won the bridge, and the Scots fled in -the night towards Wigan. Hamilton retreated -with some of the English towards Warrington. -Lieutenant-general Baillie, with a great party of -the Scottish army, surrendered on quarter in that -town. Monroe, who was lying at Kirkby, ignorant -of the battle or of the coming up of the fugitives, -retreated to Scotland—the only body of Scots who -regained their country. Hamilton, on the 20th of -August, three days after the battle, was overtaken -by Lambert and Lord Grey of Groby, and surrendered -at Uttoxeter. Langdale's Cavaliers dispersed -in Derbyshire, and he himself, in woman's -apparel, was discovered at Widmerpool, in Nottinghamshire; -but by the contrivance of Lady -Saville, escaped dressed as a clergyman to London, -where he remained with Dr. Barwick in the -character of an Irish minister driven from his -parish by the Papists. So ended Hamilton's -boasted invasion. This blow totally annihilated -his party in Scotland; Argyll and the Covenanters -rose into the ascendant. Argyll soon after this -seized a ship containing ten thousand stand of -arms, which had been sent from Denmark for -Hamilton's expedition. He invited Cromwell to -Edinburgh, where he was received with great distinction, -and was honoured by the thanks of the -Scottish ministers as the preserver of Scotland -under God. The members of the faction of -Hamilton were declared enemies to religion and -the kingdom, and incapable of serving in Parliament -or the Assembly of the Kirk. On the 16th -of August Cromwell left Edinburgh, Argyll and -the nobles of that party accompanying him some -miles on his way, and taking leave of him with -many demonstrations of respect.</p> - -<p>At the same time that the Scots began their -march, a rising which had been made in concert -with Hamilton, took place in London. The Earl -of Holland, who had become contemptible to all -parties by twice going over to the Parliament -and twice returning to the king, entered London -with five hundred horse, and called on the citizens -to join him for Charles. The inhabitants had -been too recently punished for their apprentice -rising to make a second experiment. Holland -fell back, therefore, on Kingston-on-Thames, where -he was attacked and defeated by Sir Michael -Levesey, and Lord Francis Villiers, brother to the -young Duke of Buckingham, was slain. Holland -himself had induced the brother of Buckingham to -follow him; the latter escaped to the Continent, -and returned at the Restoration, like most of his -party, no better for his experience. Holland and -Colonel Dalbier retreated to St. Neot's, where a -party of soldiers sent by Fairfax from Colchester -met them, and took Holland and killed Dalbier, -who was cut to pieces by the soldiers on account -of his having been a renegade from the Parliamentary -army.</p> - -<p>The fate of the Scottish army decided that of -Goring at Colchester. There was nothing further -to stand out for; he surrendered at discretion, and -was sent to prison to await the award of Parliament, -with Lord Capel, and Hastings, the brother -of the Earl of Huntingdon. But two of his -officers, Sir George Lisle and Sir Charles Lucas—the -brother of Lord Lucas, and heir to his title and -estates—were shot. All sides were growing savage. -These two officers fell bravely and deserved a -better fate. Lucas, tearing open his doublet, -cried, "Fire, rebels!" and instantly fell. Lisle -ran to him, kissed his dead body, and then turning -to the soldiers, told them to come nearer. One of -them said, "I'll warrant you we shall hit you." -He replied, "Friends, I have been nearer, when -you have missed me." The death of these noble -fellows sullied the fair reputation of Fairfax, who -afterwards deeply regretted it.</p> - -<p>On the revolt of the ships at Deal, under the -command of Rainsborough, whom they left ashore, -the Parliament appointed the Earl of Warwick,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -the brother of the Earl of Holland, but more in -the confidence of the Reformers, Lord Admiral of -the Fleet, and sent him to oppose the insurgent -fleet. No sooner was it heard in Paris that the -English ships had sailed for Holland, and called -on the Duke of York to command them, than it -was thought highly expedient that the Prince of -Wales should hasten thither himself and take the -command. Accordingly, he travelled in all haste -to the Hague, accompanied by Prince Rupert, and -the Lords Hopton and Colepepper. The prince -was received with acclamations by the fleet at -Helvoetsluys, and with other vessels, making altogether -nineteen, he sailed to the coast of -England. It was thought by that party that it -was best to sail along the English coast, showing -their strength for some time, and then to proceed -to the mouth of the Thames. At that time the -insurrection in Kent was proceeding under Hales, -L'Estrange, and the Earl of Norwich, which Fairfax -soon dealt with at Maidstone; but whilst it -was in force the prince might have made a safe -descent on the Isle of Wight, and attempted the -rescue of his father. The castle of Carisbrooke -was not strong, and there were few forces besides -its garrison in the island; but though Charles -anxiously expected the fleet, and sent repeated -messages, no attention was paid to them. For -nearly a month the prince had the full command -of the coast. Fairfax was engaged with the -insurgents at Colchester, and the rest of the army -was occupied in Wales, and in waiting for the -approach of the invasion from Scotland; yet the -heir-apparent made no movement for the rescue of -his father, which everyone would have thought -would have been the first thing with him.</p> - -<p>Warwick posted himself at the mouth of -the Thames, to prevent any advance towards -London, or any relief to Colchester; but he did -not deem himself strong enough till he should -be joined by another fleet under Sir George -Ayscough, from Portsmouth. With this arrival -Warwick was in a condition to attack the prince's -fleet, but he lay still, nor did the prince appear -more inclined to assail him. He was satisfied to -intercept merchantmen coming into port, and -then demand their ransom from the City. This -occasioned a brisk correspondence between London -and the prince, under cover of which proposals -were made by the prince and his counsellors for -the City opening its gates and declaring for the -king. But the demand of the prince for ten -thousand pounds as ransom of the merchant ships -disgusted the City, and presently after came the -news of the total defeat of the Scottish army at -Preston. On this the prince sailed away again to -Helvoetsluys, without attempting anything more. -His fleet, according to Clarendon, like the Court -and army of his father, was rusted with factions, -and so incapable of any decided course of action. -But the Earl of Warwick did not present a more -flattering aspect. Though it is confessed that he -was amply strong enough after Ayscough's junction -to have beaten the prince, he satisfied himself -with watching him off, and followed him at a -respectful distance to the Dutch coast. He is -said there to have persuaded the disappointed -sailors to return to the service of the Parliament, -and thus recovered most of the ships. But the -public was greatly dissatisfied with his conduct, -and the Independents did not hesitate to declare -that they were always betrayed by the cowardice -or disaffection of noble commanders. The whole -war bore striking evidences of this fact; and -Clarendon asserts that Warwick had an understanding -with his brother Holland, and would -almost certainly have gone over had the Scottish -invasion succeeded. Clarendon declares that the -Parliament of Scotland had sent Lord Lauderdale -to the Hague, to invite Prince Charles to go to -Scotland and put himself at the head of affairs -there for his father, in order to encourage the -endeavour to put down the Independents, who -were at once hostile to the king and the Solemn -League and Covenant; but that the news of the -defeat of Hamilton defeated that object. By the -end of August all the attempts of the Royalists -were crushed.</p> - -<p>The Presbyterians took the opportunity while -Fairfax, Cromwell, and the leading Independents -were absent with the army, to propose a fresh -treaty with Charles. On hearing of this movement, -Cromwell wrote to the Parliament, to -remind it of its vote of non-addresses, and that to -break it and make fresh overtures to the king, -who would still adhere to his inadmissible demands, -would be an eternal disgrace to them. -But the immediate defeat of Hamilton so much -raised the terror of the Presbyterians at the overwhelming -weight which this would give to the -army and the Independent party, that they -hastened the business. Charles readily acceded to -it, and would fain have obtained his wish of carrying -on the negotiation in London, especially as a -large party there were urgent for accommodation -with him. But the Parliament dare not thus far -run counter to the victorious army, and a compromise -was effected. Charles was permitted to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -choose any place in the Isle of Wight where the -conference should take place, and he decided on -the town of Newport. From the Parliament five -Lords, including Northumberland and Pembroke, -and ten Commoners, including Vane the younger, -Grimstone, Holles, and Pierpoint, were appointed -Commissioners, and on Charles's part appeared the -Duke of Richmond, the Marquis of Hertford, the -Earls of Southampton and Lindsay, with other -gentlemen, and a number of his chaplains and -lawyers. These were not admitted to sit with the -Parliamentary Commissioners and the king, and -were not to interpose opinions or arguments -during the discussion, which were to be direct -from Charles; but they were suffered to be in the -room behind a curtain, where they could hear all, -and to whom Charles was at liberty to retire to -consult them. The conditions were the same as -were submitted at Hampton Court, and the king -again consented to the surrender of the command -of the army for ten years; but he would not -accede to the abolition of Episcopacy, but merely -to its suspension for three years; moreover, the -episcopal lands were not to be forfeited, but -granted on long leases, and he would not bind -himself to accept the Covenant. In fact, he stood -just as rooted to his own notions as if he had -as great a chance as ever of obtaining them. In -vain the Presbyterians prayed him with tears -to yield, to prevent the utter ruin of himself -and them. The Commission met on the 18th -of September, and it was limited to the 4th of -November; but that time arrived and nothing -further was concluded. The Commissioners took -their leave and proceeded to Cowes, but they were -met by a resolution of the Commons to prolong the -Conference to the 21st, which was afterwards extended -to the 25th of November.</p> - -<p>There were signs and circumstances enough -abroad to have brought any other man to make -the best terms he could. On the 11th of September, -before the meeting of the Commission, -a petition of many thousands of well-affected men -in the cities of London and Westminster, in the -borough of Southwark, and the neighbouring -villages, "had been presented, praying that justice -might be done on the chief author of the great -bloodshed which had been perpetrated in the -war." They called for the execution of Holland, -Hamilton, Capel, Goring, and the rest of the -Royalist officers now confined at Windsor. -Clarendon says that Capel, at the execution of -Lisle and Lucas at Colchester, had spoken so -fiercely about it, saying they had better shoot all -the rest of the prisoners, and had so upbraided -Ireton in particular, to whose vindictive disposition -he attributed the bloody deed, that the -army was vehement for the death of these men. -Numbers of other petitions to the same effect -came up from the country and from the regiments, -declaring that after so many miraculous deliverances -from their treacherous and implacable -enemies by the Almighty, it was sinful to delay -any longer the punishment of these instruments of -cruelty, and especially of the king, the chief -offender, the raiser of the war, and the stubborn -rejecter of all offers. The army was the more -vehement, because one of their most gallant and -long-tried leaders, Colonel Rainsborough, had been -foully murdered by a number of Royalists.</p> - -<p>No wonder that the army was become impatient -of further tolerance of such an enemy. Colonel -Ludlow, who was also a member of Parliament, -protested that it was time that the country laid to -heart the blood spilt, and the rapine perpetrated -by commission from the king, and to consider -whether the justice of God could be satisfied, or -His wrath appeased, if they granted an act of -oblivion as the king demanded. No; the blood of -murdered thousands cried from the ground; as the -Book of Numbers declared, "blood defiled the -land, and the land could not be cleansed except by -the blood of him who shed it." He failed in converting -Fairfax to his creed on this head; but -Ireton was a more willing listener, and he joined -his regiment in petitioning, on the 18th of -October, that crime might be impartially punished, -without any distinction of high or low, and that -whoever should speak or act in favour of the king, -before he had been tried and acquitted of shedding -innocent blood, should be adjudged guilty of high -treason. The example was followed by several -other regiments; on the 21st Ingoldsby's regiment -petitioned in direct terms for the trial of the -king, and declared the treaty at Newport a trap; -and on the 16th of November a long and stern -remonstrance was addressed by the assembled -officers of the army to the House of Commons, -demanding that "the capital and grand author of -all the troubles and woes which the nation had -endured should be speedily brought to justice for -the treason, blood, and mischief of which he had -been guilty; that the Lords should be abolished, -and the supreme power vested in the Commons; -that if the country desired any more kings, they -should be elected by the Commons; that a period -should be fixed for the close of this Parliament; -and that any future king should be sworn to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -govern by the aid of Parliament alone." This -startling remonstrance was signed by Rushworth, -the historian, secretary to Fairfax, the general -himself accompanying the remonstrance by a -letter. A violent debate upon this remonstrance -took place in the House; but Cromwell was now -fast advancing to the capital, and the House -adjourned.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_081sm.jpg" width="560" height="419" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ARRIVAL OF CHARLES UNDER GUARD AT HURST CASTLE. (<em>see p.</em> <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_081.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>All these ominous proceedings were lost on -Charles; whilst he was negotiating, he was, in his -usual manner, secretly corresponding with his -party in various quarters, apologising for the -smallest concessions, on the principle that he did -not mean to abide by them. On the 24th of -October, after conceding the command of the -army, he wrote to Sir William Hopkins, "To deal -freely with you, the great concession I made to-day -was merely in order to my escape, of which if -I had not hope, I would not have done it." He -had written on the 10th of October to Ormond in -Ireland, with which country he had agreed to have -no further intercourse, telling him that the treaty -would come to nothing, and encouraging him -privately to prosecute the scheme for a rising -there with all his vigour, and to let his friends -know that it was by his command, but not openly, -or this would, of course, knock the treaty on the -head. But a letter of Ormond's fell into the -hands of the Independents, by which they discovered -for what he had been sent over from -France to Ireland, and the Commissioners would -not proceed till Charles had publicly written to -deny any authority from him to Ormond. All the -while that the negotiations were proceeding, he -was expecting the execution of a plan for his -escape; and he told Sir Philip Warwick that if -his friends could not rescue him by the time he had -requested relief, yet he would still hold on, till he -had made some stone in that building his tombstone.</p> - -<p>With such a man all treaty had long been hopeless; -he would never consent to the demands upon -him, and without his consent the whole war had -been in vain; nay, did he consent, it was equally -certain that, once at liberty, he would break every -engagement. What was to be done? The Independents -and the army had come to a solemn -conviction that there was but one way out of it. -The king must be tried for his treason to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -nation, and dealt with as any other incorrigible -malefactor.</p> - -<p>Cromwell, on his way back from Scotland, had -called at Pontefract, to take vengeance on the -assassins of Colonel Rainsborough, but finding -affairs pressing in London, left Lambert to reduce -the place and secure the murderers, and hastened -towards the capital. He had relied much on -Colonel Hammond to keep the king safe, and not -to give him up into the hands of Parliament, till -full justice had been obtained. But no result -accruing from the treaty, the Commissioners prepared -to take their leave of the king on the 28th of -November. On the 25th Hammond had received -an order from Fairfax to proceed to headquarters at -Windsor, and on the 26th Colonel Ewer, a zealous -Republican, arrived at Newport to take charge of -the king, and confine him in Carisbrooke Castle, or -elsewhere.</p> - -<p>Hammond, who knew well what was the meaning -of this, refused to give up his charge, declaring -that in all military matters he would obey his -general, but that this charge was committed to -him by the Parliament, and that he would yield it -to no order but theirs. Ewer returned, but the -next day was the last day of the Commissioners. -Charles, seeing the desperate pass at which -matters had arrived, suddenly gave way, and -agreed that the seven individuals excepted from -pardon should take their trials—namely, the Marquis -of Newcastle, Sir Marmaduke Langdale, who -had been confined in Nottingham Castle, but had -escaped, Lord Digby, Sir Richard Grenville, Sir -Francis Doddrington, Lord Byron, and Mr. -Justice Jenkins; that the bishops should be -abolished, and their lands vested in the Crown till -a final settlement of religion.</p> - -<p>When the Commissioners took their leave, -Charles warned the lords of the party that in his -ruin they saw their own. Though he had given up -everything at the last moment, he could not flatter -himself that this would be accepted, because he -knew that the army, which held the real power, -had protested against this treaty altogether, as a -violation of the vote of non-addresses, and had no -faith in his observance of any conditions whatever. -With the Commissioners Hammond also departed, -and Charles was left in the hands of Major -Rolfe, a man who had been charged with a design -to take away the king's life six months before. -But Charles was not intended to remain in this -man's custody; a body of troops under Lieutenant-colonel -Cobbet was already on its way to receive -the charge. The friends of the king, on learning -this, once more implored him to endeavour to -escape. The Duke of Richmond, the Earl of -Lindsay, and Colonel Coke, urged him to instant -flight; they acquainted him with the watchword, -and Coke told him he had a boat and horses -ready. But all their persuasions were vain; -Charles would not move. He pleaded that he had -given his parole to the Parliament for twenty -days after the treaty. And this was the same -man who had been writing North and South -during the whole treaty, to assure his friends that -he meant to break his word on every point of the -treaty, the first moment that he was at liberty. -The real reason, we may believe, why Charles did -not attempt to escape, was, that he had no hope -of it. In all his attempts he never had escaped, -and must have had a full conviction that he never -could. At five in the morning Cobbet and his -troop arrived, and the king was informed that he -must arise and accompany it.</p> - -<p>The king, greatly agitated, demanded to see the -order for his removal, and to know whither they -designed to convey him. Cobbet told him they -should take him out of the island, but would not -show his order. His nobles, bishops, and officers -of his household crowded round in alarm and confusion, -but there was no alternative; the king -was obliged to take his leave of them, with much -sorrow, and was conducted to Hurst Castle, on -the opposite coast of Hampshire. "The place," -says Warwick, "stood in the sea, for every tide -the water surrounded it, and it contained only a -few dog-lodgings for soldiers, being chiefly designed -for a platform to command the ships." -The sight of this dreary place struck a serious -terror of assassination into his heart, for he never -would believe that, though the Levellers talked of -it, they would ever dare to bring an anointed king -to public trial. Unfortunately, his own officers -had lately been rendering assassination familiar to -the public mind, for besides the gallant Colonel -Rainsborough, they had murdered several other -officers of less note, and there was a rumour that -they had made a compact to get rid of the king's -enemies in this manner. Charles, however, was -to learn that the officers of the Parliamentary -army disdained murder, and dared arraign a king.</p> - -<p>The same day that Charles was transferred to -Hurst Castle, the Parliament negatived the -motion that the Parliamentary remonstrance -should be taken into consideration, and it voted a -letter of Fairfax's, demanding pay for the army, -or threatening to take it where it could be found, -a high and unbeseeming letter. The same day,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -too, the council of officers addressed a declaration -to Parliament, assuring it that, seeing that their -remonstrance was rejected, they were come to the -conclusion that the Parliament had betrayed its -trust to the people, and that the army would, -therefore, appeal from their authority "to the extraordinary -judgment of God, and all good people." -They called on all faithful members to put their -confidence in the army, and protest with them -against the conduct of their colleagues. Parliament, -on its part, sent to Fairfax an order that -the army should not advance any nearer to the -capital. But the army was advancing—several -regiments from the neighbourhood of York—with -the avowal that they were following the directions -of Providence.</p> - -<p>On the 1st of December the Commons met, and -as if indifferent to the advance of the army, voted -thanks to Holles, Pierpoint, and Lord Wenman, -for their care and pains in the good treaty at -Newport, and proceeded to read twice the report -of the Commissioners. Holles, who, with his -accused colleagues, was again in the House, moved -that the king's answer should be voted satisfactory; -but that question was postponed till the -next day, when the House adjourned again till -the 4th of December—Fairfax, in defiance of their -prohibition, having that day marched into the -City, and quartered his troops around Whitehall, -York House, St. James's, the Mews, and other -places. On the 4th they went into the question -of the treaty again, having debated all Friday and -Saturday; and on Monday they continued the -debate all day until five o'clock the next morning, -Tuesday. Such a debate of three days and a -night had not hitherto been known, for no subject -of such supreme importance had ever yet come -before Parliament. Oliver Cromwell arrived in -the midst of this memorable debate.</p> - -<p>Sir Harry Vane the younger said that the -treaty had been carried on for months, and that -although the king had appeared to concede much -at the last moment, yet they had his own declaration -that he did not hold himself bound by -promises which he might make, and that it was -the conviction of himself, and thousands of others, -that the king was not to be trusted; that he, -therefore, moved that the House should return at -once to its vote of non-addresses, which it ought -never to have violated, should cease all negotiations, -and settle the commonwealth on another -model. Sir Henry Mildmay said the king was no -more to be trusted than a caged lion set at liberty. -This was the conviction of the whole body of the -Independents, and no doubt a solid and rational -conviction. But the king did not lack defenders: -Fiennes, to the astonishment of his party, advocated -the adoption of the report, and even Prynne, -who had suffered so severely under it, became a -pleader for royalty, that he might chastise Independency -and the army. On a division it was found -that a majority of thirty-six, being one hundred and -forty against one hundred and four, had voted the -concessions of Charles at Newport satisfactory, -and offering sufficient grounds for settling the -peace of the kingdom. But the army—or, in other -words, the Independent and Republican cause—was -not going thus to be defeated.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 6th of December, Major-general -Skippon discharged the train-bands which -had guarded the two Houses of Parliament, and -Colonel Rich's cavalry and Colonel Pride's regiment -of foot took their places. Colonel Pride -took the lead in the proceeding, which has thence -acquired the name of Pride's Purge. The army -determined to purge the Parliament of all those -who were weak enough or mischievous enough to -consent to the return of the king on his own -promises, which had long ceased to mean anything -but deceit. Fairfax was engaged in conversation -with some of the members, and Colonel Pride, -placing some of his soldiers in the Court of -Requests, and others in the lobby of the Commons, -stood in the latter place with a list of its members -in his hand, and as they approached—Lord Grey -of Groby, who stood by him as one of the doorkeepers, -informing him who the members were—he -stopped such as were on his list, and sent them -to the Queen's Court, the Court of Wards, and -other places appointed for their detention by the -general and council of the army. Fifty-two of -the leading Presbyterians were thus secured, and -the next day, others who had passed the first -ordeal were also removed, so that Pride's Purge -had left only about fifty members for a House, -who were Independents, for others had fled into -the country, or hidden themselves in the City to -escape arrest. On the whole, forty-seven members -were imprisoned, and ninety-six excluded. The -purged remainder acquired the well-known name -of the Rump.</p> - -<p>The Independents were now uncontrolled; the -royal party in Scotland, weakened by the defeat -of Hamilton's army, were opposed by the -Covenanters, who again denounced the curse of -Meroz from the pulpit against all who did not rise -in defence of the Solemn League and Covenant. -Loudon and Eglinton were appointed commanders,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -and the Earl of Argyll, with his Highlanders, -joining them, they, with the forces of Cassilis -from Carrick and Galloway, marched to Edinburgh. -This wild army advancing from the west -were called the "Whiggamores," either from -<em>whiggam</em>, a phrase used in driving their horses, -or <em>whig</em> (whey), a beverage of sour milk, which -was one of their articles of food. Whichever it -was, the term was soon used to designate an -enemy of the king, and in the next reign was -adopted as a nickname for the opponents of the -Court, whence the political term "Whig." Lord -Lanark and Monroe were glad to treat with the -Whiggamores, and disbanded their troops, so that -Argyll being a great partisan of Cromwell's, -nothing more was to be feared in the North. On -Cromwell's visit Berwick and Carlisle had been -surrendered to him.</p> - -<p>On the sitting of the purged Parliament on the -6th, the first day of Pride's weeding out the suspected -members, Cromwell appeared in his place, -and was received with acclamations for his services -in the North. The 8th was kept as a solemn fast, -and a collection was made for the wives and -widows of the poor soldiers. They then adjourned -to the 11th, and on Sunday, Hugh Peters, the -great enthusiast of Republicanism, preached a sermon -in St. Margaret's, Westminster, from the -text, "Bind your king with chains, and your -nobles with fetters of iron;" and he did not -hesitate in the sermon to characterise the king as -Barabbas, the great murderer, tyrant, and traitor. -It was remarkable that not only four earls and -twenty commoners of note sat out this sermon, -but the Prince Palatine himself, Charles's nephew. -The king's own family, whatever their pretences, -had clearly given him up to his fate, or the prince, -with his powerful fleet, would never have scoured -the coasts of the south of England for several -weeks without a single attempt to save his father, -the impetuous Prince Rupert being on board, and -one of his chief counsellors.</p> - -<p>Instead of the House of Commons sitting according -to adjournment, on the 11th, the Military -Councils, the Select Committee, and the General -sat, and framed a new scheme of government. -It was called "A new Representative, or an Agreement -of the People." The composition was said to -be Ireton's, but had probably been framed by -Cromwell, Ireton, Peters, Vane, Pride, and the -leading Republicans. It was but an amplification -of the late remonstrance; it proposed that the -present Parliament, which had now sat eight -years, should be finally dissolved in April next, -and a new one elected according to this formula. -It declared that officers and malignants should be -incapable of electing or being elected; that the -House of Commons should consist of three -hundred members, and the representation of the -country should be more equal. These propositions, -having been sanctioned by the general council of -soldiers and inferior officers, were carried to Parliament. -The Commons the next day readily -voted these measures, as well as that both the -Commons and Lords, by violating the vote of -non-addresses, had committed an act most unparliamentary -and detrimental to the kingdom, -and that the treaty at Newport was a monstrous -error, disgrace, and peril to the country. They -again restored the order expelling the eleven -Presbyterian members from the House.</p> - -<p>On the 16th a strong party of horse was despatched -under Colonel Harrison to remove the -king to Windsor Castle. On the very day that -he reached Windsor, the House of Commons, -or the Rump fragment of it, appointed a committee -of thirty-eight "to consider of drawing up -a charge against the king, and all other delinquents -that may be thought fit to bring to condign -punishment." On the 1st of January, 1649, -the committee made the following report:—"That -the said Charles Stuart, being admitted King of -England, and therein trusted with a limited power -to govern by and according to the laws of the -land, and not otherwise; and by his trust, oath, -and office, being obliged to use the power committed -to him for the good and benefit of the -people, and for the preservation of their rights -and liberties; yet, nevertheless, out of a wicked -design to erect and uphold in himself an unlimited -and tyrannical power, to rule according to his will, -and to overthrow the rights and liberties of the -people; yea, to take away and make void the -foundations thereof, and of all redress and remedy -of misgovernment, which by the fundamental constitutions -of this kingdom were reserved on the -people's behalf, in the right and power of frequent -and successive Parliaments, or national meetings -in council; he, the said Charles Stuart, for accomplishing -of such his designs, and for the protecting -of himself and his adherents in his and their -wicked practices, to the same ends hath traitorously -and maliciously levied war against the -present Parliament, and the people therein represented." -The report, therefore, declared that he -should be brought to judgment for his treason to -the nation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_085sm.jpg" width="411" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>TRIAL OF CHARLES I. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_085.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The next day the ordinance of the Commons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -confirming the report was sent up to the Lords, or -at least to the few of them remaining, only -amounting to about a dozen, who rejected it without -a dissenting voice, and then adjourned. The -Commons immediately closed their doors, and -passed a resolution that the Commons of England -in Parliament assembled were, under God, the -origin of all just power as the representatives of -the people; that whatsoever they decreed was law, -and did not require any concurrence from the -Lords.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of January the Commons passed the -ordinance for the trial of the king. By it they -erected a High Court of Justice for trying him, -and proceeding to judgment against him. It consisted -of no less than a hundred and thirty-five -Commissioners, of whom twenty were to form a -quorum. Of these Commissioners no more than -eighty assembled. On the 8th, fifty assembled in -the Painted Chamber, Fairfax at their head, and -ordered that on the morrow the herald should proclaim -the approaching trial, and invite all people -to bring in what matters of fact they had against -Charles Stuart. Accordingly that was done both -at Westminster and in the City the same day, the -9th. The Commons ordered the Great Seal in use -to be broken up, and a new seal introduced, bearing -the inscription, "The Great Seal of England," -and on the reverse, "In the first year of Freedom, -by God's blessing restored, 1648" (<em>i.e.</em>, 1649, -new style). The Commissioners then appointed -John Bradshaw, a native of Cheshire, and a -barrister of Gray's Inn, who had practised much -in Guildhall, and had lately been made a serjeant, -Lord President of the High Court; Mr. Steel, -Attorney-General; Mr. Coke, Solicitor-General; -Mr. Dorislaus and Mr. Aske, as Counsel for the -Commonwealth; and, appointing the old Courts of -Chancery and King's Bench, at the upper end of -Westminster Hall, as the place of trial, they fixed -the day for the 19th of January. On the 20th -of January the Commissioners assembled in the -Painted Chamber to the number of sixty-six, and -proceeded in state to Westminster Hall.</p> - -<p>It may be imagined that such a spectacle drew -immense throngs. Every avenue to the hall was -guarded by soldiers, and others stood armed within -it. The open space below the bar was densely -crowded, and equally packed throngs of nobles, -gentlemen, and ladies, looked down from the -galleries right and left. A chair of crimson velvet -for the President stood elevated on three steps -towards the upper end of the hall, and behind and -in a line with him right and left the Commissioners -took the seats placed for them, which were covered -with scarlet. Before the President stood a long -table on which lay the mace and sword, and just -below him, at its head, sat two clerks. At the -bottom of the table, directly opposite to the President, -was placed a chair for the king.</p> - -<p>After the commission had been read, Bradshaw -ordered the prisoner to be brought to the bar. -He had been brought from Whitehall, to which he -had been removed from St. James's, in a sedan -chair, and the serjeant-at-arms conducted him to -the bar. His step was firm, and his countenance, -though serious, unmoved. He seated himself -covered, according to the wont, not of a prisoner, -but of a king; then rose and surveyed the court -and crowds around him. The Commissioners all -sat with their hats on, and Charles eyed them -sternly. He then glanced round on the people in -the galleries and those around him with an air of -superiority, and reseated himself. Bradshaw then -addressed him to this effect:—"Charles Stuart, -King of England,—The Commons of England, -being deeply sensible of the calamities that have -been brought upon this nation, which are fixed -upon you as the principal author of them, have -resolved to make inquisition for blood; and, according -to that debt and due they owe to justice, -to God, the kingdom, and themselves, they have -resolved to bring you to trial and judgment, and -for that purpose have constituted this High Court -of Justice before which you are brought." Coke, -the Solicitor-General, then rose to make the -charge against him, but Charles, rising and crying, -"Hold! hold!" tapped him on the shoulder with -his cane. In doing this the gold head dropped -from his cane, and though he took it up with an -air of indifference, it was an incident that made a -deep impression both on him and the spectators. -He mentioned the circumstance to the Bishop of -London, who attended him in private, with much -concern, and those who saw it regarded it as an -especial omen.</p> - -<p>Coke, however, went on, and desired the clerk -to read the charge, and whilst it was reading, -Charles again cried, "Hold!" but as the clerk -continued, he sat down, looking very stern; but -when the words of the charge declaring him to be -a tyrant and a traitor were read, he is said to -have laughed outright. When the charge was -finished, Bradshaw demanded what he had to say -in reply to it; but he in his turn demanded by -what authority he had been brought there? And -he asserted very forcibly that he was king; acknowledged -no authority superior to his own, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -would not by any act of his diminish or yield up -that authority, but leave it to his posterity as he -had derived it from his ancestors. He reminded -them that he had lately, in the Isle of Wight, -treated with a number of lords and gentlemen; -that they were upon the conclusion of that treaty, -and he wanted to know by what authority he had, -under such circumstances, been brought thence.</p> - -<p>This was very true, and would have been unanswerable, -had he, as he asserted, treated with -them honestly and uprightly; but we know that -at the very time that he was carrying on that -treaty, and to the very last, he was also carrying -on a secret correspondence with Ormond in Ireland, -his wife in France, and with other parties, -informing them that he was only doing this because -there was no help for it; but that he had -games to play which would still defeat the whole -affair. He was meaning nothing less, and -privately declaring nothing less, than that he -would, on the first opportunity, be as despotic as -ever. He continued, however, to demand, "By -what authority am I here? I mean lawful -authority, for there are many unlawful authorities -in the world—thieves and robbers by the highways. -Remember, I am your lawful king: let me -know by what lawful authority I am seated here; -resolve me that, and you shall hear more from -me." Bradshaw told him that he might have -observed that he was there by the authority of -the people of England, whose elected king he -was. That afforded Charles another answer. -"England," he said, "never was an elective but -an hereditary kingdom for nearly these thousand -years. I stand more for the liberty of my people -than any here that are come to be my pretended -judges." Bradshaw might have told him that the -people thought it time to put an end to the hereditary -form, and adopt a new one; but he replied, -"Sir, how well you have managed your trust is -known. If you do not acknowledge the authority -of the court I must proceed." Charles, however, -turned to another weak place in his adversary's -answer, and exclaimed, "I see no House of Lords -that may constitute a Parliament, and the king, -too, must be in and part of a Parliament." It was -unquestionable that Charles could not be answered -on the constitutional ground, but only on the revolutionary -one, on that principle of the power -and right of the people to revolutionise, and shape -anew their constitution (which in 1688 was acknowledged -and established as a great fact of -the rights of nations), and Bradshaw brought -forward that plea—"If you are not satisfied with -our authority, we are satisfied with it, which we -have from God and the people." He informed -Charles that he would be expected to answer, and -adjourned the court till Monday.</p> - -<p>The two following days were spent in receiving -evidence of the king's having not only commenced -the war on his subjects, but of his having commanded -personally in it, and in settling the form -of judgment to be pronounced. On the third day, -when Charles was again brought forward, the -same painful scene was renewed of the king's -denying the court, refusing to plead, and yet insisting -on being heard. Bradshaw told him in vain -that if he pleaded, admitting the authority of the -court, he would be at liberty to make any observation -in his defence that he pleased; but that in no -court could it be otherwise. He then demanded a -hearing before a committee of both Houses, but he -was reminded that the authority of the Lords was -no longer admitted. He assured him that though -he contended that he had no superior in the State, -the law was his superior, and that there was a -power superior to the law—the people, the parent -or author of the law—which was not of yesterday, -but the law of old; that there were such things -as parliaments, which the people had constructed -for their protection, and these Parliaments he had -endeavoured to put down and destroy; and that -what his endeavours had been all along for the -crushing of Parliament, had been notorious to the -whole kingdom. "And truly, sir," he continued, -"in <em>that</em> you did strike at all, for the great bulwark -of the liberties of the people is the Parliament -of England. Could you but have confounded -that, you had at one blow cut off the -neck of England. But God hath been pleased to -confound your design, to break your forces, to -bring your person into custody, that you might be -responsible to justice."</p> - -<p>He then combated Charles's argument, that -there was no law or example of people deposing or -destroying their kings. He quoted many instances -from foreign nations, in which they had -resisted, fought against, and destroyed their -kings. Charles's own country of Scotland, before -all others, abounded with instances of the deposition -and putting to death of their sovereigns. His -grandmother had been so set aside, and his own -father, a mere infant, put in her place. The Lord -President then referred to the depositions of Edward -II. and Richard II., which he contended were -effected by Parliament, and said that their crimes -were not a tenth part so capital against the nation as -those in this charge. As Charles again continued to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -reply and argue without submitting to plead, -Bradshaw told him the court had given him too -much liberty already, and ordered the sentence to -be read. But here John Downes, one of the Commissioners, -a citizen of London, said to those near -him, "Have we hearts of stone? Are we men?" -and then rising and trembling violently, exclaimed, -"My lord, I am not satisfied to give my -consent to the sentence. I desire the court may -adjourn to hear me." They therefore adjourned, -but in half an hour returned with a unanimous -verdict of guilty.</p> - -<p>Bradshaw then proceeded to pronounce the -sentence. When the names of the Commissioners -were read that morning, on that of Fairfax -being called, a female voice from one of the -galleries cried out, "He has more wit than -be here." When the name of Cromwell was -read, the same voice exclaimed, "A rogue and a -traitor." As Bradshaw now went on to say, the -king had been called to answer by the people, -before the Commons of England assembled in Parliament, -the same female voice shouted, "It is -false! not one half-quarter of them!" There was -a great excitement; all turned towards the gallery -whence the voice came, from amid a group of -masked ladies. Axtell, the officer commanding -the soldiers, brutally ordered them to fire into the -group; but the soldiers hesitated, and a lady rose -and walked out of the gallery. It was seen to be -Lady Fairfax, the wife of the commander-in-chief, -a woman of very ancient and noble family, the -Veres of Tilbury, who had come to object most -decidedly to the extreme measures of the army, -and had prevailed on her husband to keep away -from the court.</p> - -<p>After order had been restored, Bradshaw ordered -the charge to be read, the king still interfering; -and then Bradshaw passed the sentence, "That the -court being satisfied in conscience that he, Charles -Stuart, was guilty of the crimes of which he had -been accused, did adjudge him as a tyrant, traitor, -murderer, and public enemy to the good people of -the nation, to be put to death by severing his -head from his body."</p> - -<p>After the sentence was pronounced, Charles -again requested to be heard; but Bradshaw told -him that after the sentence it could not be -allowed, and ordered the guards to take him away. -The Royalist writers state that during the trial -the people had cried, "Justice! justice!" whilst -others cried, "God save the king!" but that after -the king was condemned, the soldiers, as he -passed, insulted him in the grossest manner, -spitting on him, blowing their tobacco in his face, -throwing their pipes at him, and yelling in his -ears, "Justice! justice! execution! execution!" -But the popular party utterly denied the truth of -these assertions; declaring that they were got up -to make the case of Charles resemble that of the -Saviour, to render his judges odious, and himself -a sacred martyr. One soldier, Herbert says, as -the king was proceeding to his sedan chair, said, -"God help and save your majesty!" and that -Axtell struck him down with his cane, on which -the king said, "Poor fellow! it is a heavy blow -for a small offence." To the hired hootings of -the military, Herbert says that he merely remarked, -"Poor souls! they would say the same -to their generals for sixpence."</p> - -<p>Charles went back to St. James's Palace, where -he spent the remainder of the day, Sunday, the -28th of January, and Monday, the 29th, the execution -being fixed for Tuesday, the 30th. He -had the attendance of Juxon, the late Bishop of -London, and the next morning he received the -last visit of his only two remaining children in -England, the Duke of Gloucester and the Princess -Elizabeth. The princess was not twelve, and the -king, setting her on his knee, began speaking to -her—"But, sweetheart," he said, "thou wilt forget -what I tell thee." The little girl, bursting -into tears, promised to write down all that passed, -and she did so. In her account, preserved in the -"<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Reliquiæ Sacræ</i>," she says, amongst other things, -that he commanded her to tell her mother that his -thoughts had never strayed from her, that his love -would be the same for her to the last; and that -he died a glorious death for the laws and religion -of the land. To the Duke of Gloucester he said, -"Sweetheart, now they will cut off thy father's -head. Heed what I say, they will cut off my -head, and perhaps make thee a king. But mark -what I say; you must not be a king as long as -your brothers Charles and James live; therefore, -I charge you, do not be made a king by them." -At which the child, sighing deeply, replied, "I -will be torn in pieces first." "And these words -coming unexpectedly from so young a child," says -the princess, "rejoiced my father exceedingly." -The whole interview was extremely affecting.</p> - -<p>Charles slept well, but woke early, and bade his -man Herbert rise and dress him with care, for it -was his second marriage day, and he would be as -trim as possible. Whilst Herbert dressed him, he -told him he had dreamt of Archbishop Laud, who, -on the king speaking seriously to him, had sighed -and fallen prostrate. Charles said, had he not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> -been dead, he might possibly have said something -to Laud to cause him to sigh; so that it is possible -he felt that Laud's proceedings and advice had -brought things to this pass. He desired to have -two shirts on, as the weather was very cold; for if -he shook, the rogues would think it was through -fear. He observed that he was glad he had slept -at St. James's, as the walk through the park -would warm him. At ten o'clock the summons -came—Colonel Hacker knocked at the door to say -they were ready. Hacker turned pale on seeing -the king come out, and was much affected. Ten -companies of infantry formed a double line on -each side of his path, and a detachment preceded -him with banners flying and drums beating.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_089sm.jpg" width="560" height="416" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHARLES'S FAREWELL INTERVIEW WITH THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AND THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_089.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On the king's right walked Juxon, on his left -the Parliamentary Colonel Tomlinson, bareheaded. -The king walked through the park at a brisk rate, -and said to the guard, "Come, my good fellows, -step on apace." He pointed out a tree planted by -his brother Henry, and on arriving at Whitehall, -he ascended the stairs with a light step, passed -through the long gallery, and went to his chamber, -where he remained with Juxon in religious -exercise. It was past one o'clock before he was -summoned to the scaffold, where the executioner, -Brandon, and Hulet, a sergeant appointed to -assist him, disguised in black masks, awaited -him. The scaffold was raised in the street, -in front of the Banqueting House at Whitehall, -and he passed through a window which had -been taken out, upon it. All was hung with black -cloth, and in the middle of the scaffold stood -the block, with the axe enveloped in black crape -lying on it.</p> - -<p>Charles made a speech, in which he denied -making war on the Parliament, but the Parliament -on him, by claiming the militia. Church, -Lords, and Commons had, he said, been subverted -with the sovereign power; if he would have consented -to reign by the mere despotism of the -sword, he asserted that he might have lived and -remained king. He declared that he forgave all -his enemies; and yet when the executioner knelt -and begged his forgiveness, he said, "No, I forgive -no subject of mine, who comes deliberately to shed -my blood." He said that the nation would never -prosper till they placed his son on the throne; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> -to the last moment, rooted in his theory of divine -right, he denied that the people ought to have any -share in the government—that being a thing -"nothing pertaining to them"—and yet that -"he died the martyr of the people."</p> - -<p>Whilst he spoke some one disturbed the axe, on -which he turned and said, "Have a care of the -axe; if the edge be spoiled, it will be the worse -for me." After concluding his speech, he put up -his hair under a cap, and the bishop observed, -"There is but one stage more, which, though -turbulent and troublesome, is yet a very short -one. Consider it will carry you a great way—even -from earth to heaven." "I go," said the -king, "from a corruptible crown to an incorruptible, -where no disturbance can take place." -"You are exchanged from a temporal to an -eternal crown—a good exchange," replied the -bishop. The king then took off his cloak, and -gave his <em>George</em> to Juxon, saying impressively, -"Remember!" The warning is supposed, as the -medallion of the George concealed a portrait of -Henrietta, to have regarded a message to his wife. -Having laid his head on the block, the executioner -severed it at a single stroke, and Hulet, the -sergeant, holding it up, cried, "Here is the head -of a traitor." At that sight a universal groan -seemed to go through the crowd.</p> - -<p>The body lay at Whitehall, to be embalmed, till -the 7th of February, when it was conveyed to -Windsor, and laid in the vault of St. George's -Chapel, near the coffins of Henry VIII. and Jane -Seymour. The day was very snowy, and the -coffin being deposited without any service, was -left without any inscription except the words, -"Carolus Rex, 1648," the letters of which were -cut out of a band of lead by the gentlemen -present, with their penknives, and the lead folded -round the coffin. In this condition it was discovered -in 1813, when George IV., attended by -Sir Henry Halford, had it opened, and found proof -that the head had been separated from the body.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> - -<p class="p6">THE COMMONWEALTH.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Proclamation of the Prince of Wales Forbidden—Decline of the Peerage—<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Ultimus Regum</i>—Establishment of a Republican -Government—Abolition of the House of Lords and the Monarchy—Council of State—The Oath Difficulty—The Engagement—Religious -Toleration—Trials of Royalists—Discontent among the People—The Levellers—Activity of John Lilburne—Quelling -the Mutiny in Whalley's Regiment—Lockyer's Funeral—Arrest of Lilburne—Spread of the Disaffection to -other Regiments—Suppression of the Insurrection—Cromwell appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland—Royalist Movement -in Scotland—Charles's Son proclaimed King—The Scottish Deputation at the Hague—Charles's Court—Assassination of -Dr. Dorislaus—Affairs in Ireland—Cromwell's Campaign—Defeat and Death of Montrose—Cromwell in Scotland—Battle -of Dunbar—Movements of Charles—His March into England—Battle of Worcester—Charles Escapes to France—Vigorous -Government—Foreign Difficulties—Navigation Act—War with Holland—Contest between Parliament and the Army—Expulsion -of the Rump—The Little Parliament—Cromwell made Protector.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>The king being put to death, it was necessary -that the Parliament should immediately determine -what sort of government should succeed. Had -they been disposed to continue the monarchy, -and receive the eldest son of Charles, it was still -necessary to take efficient means for obtaining -from him, before admitting him to the throne, a -recognition of all the rights for which they had -striven with his father. The very day, therefore, -of the king's execution, the House of Commons -passed an Act, making it high treason for any one -to proclaim the Prince of Wales, or any other -person, king or chief magistrate of England or -Ireland, without consent of Parliament; and -copies of this were immediately despatched to all -the sheriffs, to be proclaimed in the counties. -That done, they proceeded gradually, but -promptly, to develop and complete their design -of adopting a Republican form of government.</p> - -<p>The first step was to deal with the Lords. -That body, or the miserable remnant thereof, still -sat in the Upper House, and sent repeated -messages to the Commons, to which they deigned -no reply. The Lords, in fact, had become contemptible -in the eyes of the whole community. -They had sunk and trembled before the genius of -the Commons. Though strongly inclined to stand -by royalty, and though all their interests were -bound up with it, though they had been created -by royal fiat, and made all that they were by it,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -in honour, power, and estate, and though it required -no great sagacity to perceive that they -must fall with it, the king himself having repeatedly -assured them that such would be the -case, they had neither the policy nor the gratitude -to hold together and maintain the fountain of their -honour, nor the prescience to perceive their case -when the Crown must fall, and make a merit of -going over bodily to the conquering power. They -had gone to pieces, some holding with one side, -some with the other, some vacillating between -both, changing and rechanging as the balance -turned one way or the other. What was still -worse, they had discovered no talent whatever on -either side, with most rare exceptions, and these -not remarkable, even where they had adopted a -side and become partisans. Essex, Warwick, -Holland, Hamilton, Newcastle, Northumberland, -Ormond, and the rest, what had they done? -Fairfax and Montrose, out of the whole body—and -Montrose had personally been raised to it—had -alone won great names. Fairfax, indeed, -independent of Cromwell's hand and head, was -respectable, but nothing more. The whole peerage -had sunk into contemptible eclipse before the -bold and vigorous genius of the Commoners. -Without, therefore, deigning to answer their messages, -on the 5th of February they began to discuss -the question as to their retention or abolition, -and the next day they voted, by a majority of -forty-four to twenty-nine, that "the House of -Peers in Parliament was useless and dangerous, -and ought to be abolished; that the privilege of -peers, of being freed from arrest, should be declared -null and void, but that they might be -elected knights or burgesses for the Commons." -Henry Marten moved that the word "dangerous" -should be omitted, and the word "useless" only -be retained; or if the word "dangerous" were -retained, it should be only with "not" before it, -for the peers were certainly not dangerous, but -pitiably useless, and they had now come to see -verified what Holles had told them, that if they -would not heartily join in saving the nation, it -would be saved without them. An Act to this -effect was soon after brought in and passed.</p> - -<p>On the day following (the 7th), the Commons -proceeded to a more important question, and -voted that it had been found by experience that -the office of a king in this nation, and that to -have the power thereof in any single person, -was unnecessary, burdensome, and dangerous to -the liberty, safety, and public interest of the -nation, and therefore that it should be utterly -abolished; and to that purpose an Act should be -forthwith prepared. This was speedily followed -by a vote, on the motion of Henry Marten, that -the king's statues at the Royal Exchange and -other places should be taken down, and on the -places where they stood should be inscribed, -"<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Exit Tyrannus, Regum ultimus, Anno Libertatis -Angliæ restitutæ primo</i>, <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 1648, January 30" -(old style). There was, moreover, an elaborate -declaration drawn up, to justify the changing of -England into a Republic, translated into Latin, -French, and Dutch, and addressed to foreign -States. The custody of the new Great Seal was -entrusted to three lawyers—namely, Whitelock, -Keble, and Lisle; they were to hold it during -good behaviour, and to be called Keepers of the -Liberties of England, by authority of Parliament. -The King's Bench was henceforth named the -Upper Bench, and came to be called the Commons -Bench, and Oliver St. John, who had done so -much to bring about this revolution, was made -Chief Justice.</p> - -<p>The next great measure was to dissolve the Executive -Council, which had sat at Derby House, -and revive it in a more extended form as the Executive -Council of State, to consist of forty-one -members. Three-fourths of these had seats in the -House, and several of the late peers—Mulgrave, -Pembroke, Denbigh, Fairfax, Lisle, Grey of -Groby, Salisbury, and Grey of Werke. The chief -heads of the law and officers of the army were -included. The principal names were, the late -peers already mentioned, and Whitelock, St. John, -Cromwell, Skippon, Hazelrig, Midmay, Vane, -Marten, Bradshaw, Ludlow, and Colonel Hutchinson, -Governor of Nottingham. Milton, the great -national poet, was appointed its secretary, and -henceforth prepared its public acts, and employed -his mighty talents in the defence of the measures -of the Republican Government.</p> - -<p>It was necessary to have an oath, and one was -constructed which approved of the king's trial, of -the vote against the Scots and their English -associates, and of the abolition of monarchy and -the House of Lords. But as this would not only -exclude all conscientious Presbyterians, but called -on the Lords to pass an act of censure on themselves, -as well as on all to approve of Acts of -Parliament in which they had no concern, Fairfax -and some others refused to take it, and it had -to be reduced to the undertaking "to be true and -faithful to the Government established without -king or House of Peers, and never to consent -to their re-admission." This was called the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> -"Engagement," and still was effective in excluding -all Royalists, and such of the Presbyterian party -as would not consent to violate their favourite -Covenant. Of the twelve judges, ten had been -appointed by the revolutionary party, and the -whole of them had quietly continued their functions -through the war against the king; yet six of -these now resigned, probably having hoped to the -last for an accommodation with the king, and not -going in their minds the length of a commonwealth. -The other six consented to hold their -offices only on the condition that an Act of the -Commons should guarantee the non-abolition of -the fundamental laws of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>With regard to the Church, as the present -Government was decidedly in favour of ample -toleration, it satisfied itself with making a slight -modification of the existing Presbyterian power, -and allowing it to remain, at the same time that -it deprived its intolerant clergy of all temporal -power whatever. No holders of religious opinions -were to be molested, provided that they did not -attack the fundamental principles of Christianity, -and thus the Roman Catholics acquired more civil -as well as religious liberty than they had enjoyed -since the days of Queen Mary.</p> - -<p>The army remained in the same able hands -which had made it the finest army in Europe, and -had won with it such wonderful victories. Fairfax -still continued commander-in-chief, though he -had held aloof from the king's trial, and the navy -was put on a more efficient footing by removing -the Earl of Warwick and appointing Blake, who -had shown remarkable skill and courage on land, -with Popham and Dean as admirals. These great -changes were chiefly effected by the influence of -Cromwell, Ireton, Marten, and Bradshaw, assisted -by the talents of Vane, and the legal ability of -St. John and Whitelock. They also introduced a -Parliamentary measure, which essentially modified -the character of the House. On the 1st of -February they carried a vote that those who, on -the 5th of December, assented to the vote that -"the king's concessions were a sufficient ground -to proceed to a settlement," should be incapable of -sitting, but all others who should previously enter -on the journal their dissent from that motion -should be admissible. By this means they found -the number of members raised to one hundred and -fifty, and at the same time they were protected -from a wearying opposition from the Presbyterian -section.</p> - -<p>They now proceeded to bring to trial such of -the Royalist prisoners as had engaged in the last -insurrection, whom they regarded as disturbers of -the kingdom after it had once conquered the king, -and might have proceeded to a settlement. They -looked on them, in fact, as a species of rebels to -the party in power. And yet that party was not -constituted, even by its own formal enactments, as -a fully recognised Government, till these trials -were over. They terminated on the 6th of March, -and the Republic was not formally passed till the -19th of that month, in these words: "Be it declared -and enacted by this present Parliament, -and by the authority of the same, that the people -of England, and of all the dominions and territories -thereunto belonging, are and shall be, and -are hereby constituted, made, established, and confirmed -to be, a Commonwealth or Free State; and -shall from henceforth be governed as a commonwealth -and free state, by the supreme authority of -this nation, the representatives of the people in -Parliament, and by such as they shall appoint and -constitute officers and ministers under them for -the good of the people, and without any king or -House of Lords."</p> - -<p>Whilst this Act was preparing, the trials were -going on: the votes for the sitting of the Council -and the Commons were considered sufficient -authority. The trials were probably hastened by -the news that Charles II. had been proclaimed -in Scotland, and that the Scots were raising -an army to avenge the king's death, and "to -punish the sectaries of England for the breach -of the Covenant." The persons whom it was resolved -to try, were the Duke of Hamilton, the -Earl of Holland, Lord Goring, lately created Earl -of Norwich, Lord Capel, and Sir John Owen. The -High Court appointed to try these prisoners consisted -of fifty persons of both ex-Peers and Commons. -The Duke of Hamilton pleaded that he -was not within the jurisdiction of an English -court, that he was a subject of Scotland, and a -prisoner of war; but it was replied that he was -also an English peer, as Earl of Cambridge, and it -was proved that not only was his father naturalised -as an English peer, but he himself had been called -to sit as such, and had sat. The Earl of Holland -was ill, and therefore made little defence, except -pleading that he had free quarter given him when -he was taken at St. Neots; but this was fully disproved. -Lord Goring, or, as now called, the Earl -of Norwich, had been a steady partisan of the -king's, and had shown little lenity to the Parliamentarians; -but he now conducted himself with -great respect to the court, and seemed to leave -himself in their hands. Lord Capel was one of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -the bravest and proudest of the Royalist generals. -During his imprisonment he escaped from the -Tower, but was betrayed by the boatmen with -whom he crossed the Thames. He had expressed -great indignation at the deaths of Lisle and Lucas, -and had excited the resentment of Ireton by it. -He now demanded to be tried by court martial, -and declared that when Lisle and Lucas were adjudged -to die, Fairfax had declared that all other -lives should be spared, and had evidence to prove -it, if he were allowed. Ireton, who really seems -to have felt a stern resentment against the free-speaking -general, denied that Fairfax had given -any such promise, and that if he had, he had no -right to supersede the authority of Parliament. -He demanded that Fairfax should be sent for; -but the court satisfied itself with sending to the -general, who returned by letter a rather equivocating -answer, saying that his promise only -applied to a court martial, and not to any such -court as Parliament might see fit to appoint. -Bradshaw told Capel, who was not satisfied with -this, that he was tried by such judges as Parliament -thought proper to give him, and who had -judged a better man than himself.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_093.jpg" width="465" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>OLIVER CROMWELL.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_093big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Sir John Owen, who was a gentleman of Wales, -in the late outbreak had killed a sheriff. He -pleaded quarter, and that he had only done what -he thought his duty, in support of the king. As -to killing the sheriff, the sheriff had risen against -him with force, and was killed in the accident of -war, which he might have avoided if he had stayed -quietly at home. All five were condemned to lose -their heads, the Earl of Holland as a double turncoat, -and his conduct had certainly been anything -but consistent and noble. Sir John Owen, on -hearing the sentence, made a low bow and -thanked the judges; and being asked why, he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -replied, that it was a very great honour for a poor -gentleman of Wales to die like a lord, and he had -not expected anything better than hanging. No -sooner was the sentence passed, than the friends of -Hamilton, Holland, and Capel, made great exertions -to save their lives. The wives of Holland -and Capel appeared at the bar, attended by long -trains of females in mourning, to beg for their -lives. Two days' respite was granted, and every -effort, persuasion, and bribery was put in force. -Hamilton had fewer friends than the rest, but -it was urged that his death might occasion -trouble with Scotland; but Cromwell knew that -they had the interest of Argyll, and that Hamilton's -being out of the way would strengthen that -interest. The case of Holland occasioned a great -debate. The Earl of Warwick, his brother, on -one side urged his services to the Parliament for a -long period—his enemies, his revolt from it on -the other. Cromwell and Ireton were firmly -against them, and the sentences of these three -were confirmed. The votes regarding Goring were -equal, and Lenthall, the Speaker, gave the casting -vote in his favour, alleging that he formerly had -done him an essential service. Sir John Owen, -to the satisfaction of those who admired his -frank and quaint humour, was also reprieved, and -ultimately liberated. He had softened even the -heart of Ireton, and greatly moved the good -Colonel Hutchinson, and both spoke in his favour. -Hamilton, Capel, and Holland, were beheaded in -the Palace Yard on the 9th of March.</p> - -<p>The Parliament was soon called on to defend -itself against more dangerous enemies. The -country was groaning under the exhaustion of -the civil war. For seven years it had been -bleeding at every pore; and now that the war -had ceased, the people began to utter aloud -their complaints, which, if uttered before, had been -drowned in the din of conflict. There was everywhere -a terrible outcry against the burden of -taxation; and famine and pestilence—the sure -successors of carnage and spoliation—were decimating -the people. In Lancashire and Westmoreland -numbers were daily perishing, and the magistrates -of Cumberland deposed that thirty thousand -families in that county had neither seed- nor bread-corn, -nor the means of procuring either. What -rendered this state of things the more dangerous, -was the turbulence of the Levellers. The principles -of Republicanism which had borne on the -heads of the army, threatened in turn to overwhelm -them in their progress amongst the soldiers. -It is easier to set in motion revolutionary ideas, -than to say to them, "Thus far shall ye go and -no farther." In all revolutions, the class which -initiates them wishes to stop at the point that -is most convenient to itself; but other classes -beyond this line are equally anxious, and have an -equal claim to the benefit of levelling principles. -It is only power which limits their diffusion. The -power now had passed from the king and the -lords, and had centred in the leaders of the army. -It was not convenient or desirable for them that -it should go farther. But the soldiers and the -lower officers, with John Lilburne at their head, -claimed a Republic in its more popular sense. -They read in the Bible, and preached from it in -the field, that God was no respecter of persons; -that human rights were as universal as the human -race. They saw that Cromwell, Ireton, Harrison, -and a few others were the men who ruled in the -Parliament, the Council, and the Army; and they -conceived that they were no longer seeking the -common rights of the community, but the aggrandisement -of themselves. Colonel John Lilburne -was pouring out pamphlet upon pamphlet, and disseminating -them through the ranks and through -the people—"England's New Chains Discovered," -"The Hunting of the Foxes from Triploe Heath -to Whitehall by Five Small Beagles." These -foxes were Cromwell, Ireton, Fairfax, etc., who -had suppressed the mutiny at Triploe Heath—and -the five beagles those who had been made to -ride the wooden horse for their insubordination, -that is, set upon a sharp three-cornered wooden -machine, with weights or muskets tied to their -feet. News came to Parliament that one Everard, -a soldier passing for a prophet, and Winstanley, -another, with thirty more, were assembled on St. -George's Hill, near Cobham, in Surrey, and were -digging the ground and planting it with roots and -beans. They said they should shortly be four -thousand, and invited all to come and help them, -promising them meat, drink, and clothes. Two -troops of horse were sent to disperse them, of -which they loudly complained, and Everard and -Winstanley went to the general, and declared -"that the liberties of the people were lost by the -coming in of William the Conqueror, and that -ever since, the people of God had lived under -tyranny and oppression worse than our forefathers -under the Egyptians. But now the time of deliverance -was at hand, and God would bring His -people out of this slavery, and restore them to -their freedom in enjoying the fruits and benefits -of the earth. There had lately appeared to him -[Everard] a vision, which bade him arise and dig<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -and plough the earth, and receive the fruits thereof. -He said that their intent was to restore the earth -to its former condition; that, as God had promised -to make the barren fruitful, so now what they did -was to restore the ancient community of enjoying -the fruits of the earth, to distribute them to the -poor and needy; that they did not intend to break -down pales and destroy enclosures, as was reported, -but only to till the waste land, and make -it fruitful for man; and that the time was coming -when all men would willingly come in and give up -their lands and estates, and submit to this community -of goods."</p> - -<p>Lilburne had been engaged in the county of -Durham, and to win him over, three thousand -pounds were voted to him; but this did not move -him for a moment. On his return, he appeared at -the bar of the House with a petition against the -form of the newly adopted constitution, which the -officers had named, "The Agreement of the -People," but which the people did not accept as -their agreement. Lilburne protested against the -provision that Parliament should only sit six -months every two years, and that the Council -should rule the other eighteen. This example was -extensively followed, and the table of the House -was quickly loaded with petitions demanding a -new Parliament every year; a committee of the -House to govern during the recess; no member of -one Parliament to be a member of the next; the -Self-denying Ordinance to be enforced; the term -of every officer's commission in the army to be -limited; the High Court of Justice and Council of -State to be abolished as instruments of tyranny; -all proceedings in the courts of law to be in English; -lawyers reduced, and their fees too. Excise -and customs they required to be abolished, and the -lands of delinquents sold to remunerate the well -affected. Religion was to be "reformed according -to the mind of God;" tithes were to be abolished, -conscience made free, and the incomes of ministers -of the Gospel were to be fixed at one hundred -and fifty pounds each, and raised by a rate on -the parishioners.</p> - -<p>There was much sound sense and gospel truth -in these demands, but the day of their adoption -was much nearer to the millennium than to 1649. -It was resolved to send Cromwell to settle the -disturbances in Ireland, but it was necessary to -quash this communist insurrection first. Money -was borrowed of the City, and after "a solemn -seeking of God by prayer," lots were cast to see -what regiments should go to Ireland. Fourteen -of foot and fourteen of horse were selected by this -mode. The officers expressed much readiness to -go; the men refused. On the 26th of April -there broke out a terrible mutiny in Whalley's -regiment, at the Bull, in Bishopsgate. The men -seized their colours from the cornet, and refused -to march without many of the communist concessions. -Fairfax and Cromwell hastened thither, -seized fifteen of the mutineers, tried them on the -spot by court martial, condemned five, and shot -one in St. Paul's churchyard on the morrow. -This was Lockyer, a trooper, a brave young -fellow, who had served throughout the whole war, -and was only yet three-and-twenty.</p> - -<p>The death of this young man who was greatly -beloved, roused all the soldiers and the working -men and women of the City to a fearful degree. -He was shot on Friday, amid the tears and execrations -of thousands. On Monday his troop -proceeded to bury him with military honours. -Whitelock says, "About a hundred went before -the corpse, five or six in a file, the corpse was then -brought, with six trumpets sounding a soldier's -knell. Then the trooper's horse came, clothed all -over in mourning, and led by a footman. The -corpse was adorned with bundles of rosemary, one -half-stained in blood, and the sword of the deceased -along with them. Some thousands followed in -rank and file; all had sea-green and black ribbon -tied on their hats and to their breasts, and the -women brought up the rear. At the new church -in Westminster, some thousands more, of the -better sort, met them, who thought not fit to -march through the City."</p> - -<p>This was not a promising beginning for the -generals, but they were not men to be put down. -They arrested Lilburne and his five small beagles, -who published, on the 1st of May, their "Agreement -of the People," and clapped them in the -Tower, and hastened down to Salisbury to quell -the insurrection which had broken out in Oxfordshire, -Gloucestershire, and Wilts in the army. The -regiments of Scrope, Ireton, Harrison, Ingoldsby, -Skippon, Reynolds, and Horton, all declared for -the Lilburne "Agreement," and swore to stand by -each other. At Banbury, a Captain Thompson, -at the head of two hundred men, issued a manifesto -called "England's Standard Advanced," -demanding the completion of public freedom, -vowing justice on the murderers of Lockyer, and -threatening, if a hair of Lilburne's was touched, -they would avenge it seventy-and-seven fold. -Reynolds, the colonel of the regiment, attacked -Thompson, put him to flight, and prevailed on the -soldiers to lay down their arms; but another party<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> -of ten troops of horse, a thousand strong, under -cornet Thompson, brother of the captain, marched -out of Salisbury for Burford, increasing their -numbers as they went. But Fairfax and Cromwell -were marching rapidly after them. They -came upon them in the night at Burford, took -them all prisoners, and the next day, Thursday, -the 17th of May, shot Cornet Thompson and two -corporals in Burford churchyard. The rest were -pardoned, and agreed to go to Ireland. A few -days afterwards Captain Thompson was overtaken -in a wood in Northamptonshire, and killed. The -mutiny was at an end, if we except some local -disturbances in Devon, Hants, and Somersetshire. -Fairfax and Cromwell were received at Oxford in -triumph, and feasted and complimented, being -made doctors; and on the 7th of June a day of -thanksgiving was held in London, with a great -dinner at Grocers' Hall, given to the officers of the -army and the leaders of Parliament, and another -appointed for the whole kingdom on the 21st.</p> - -<p>Cromwell had already been made Lord-Lieutenant -of Ireland, and on the 10th of July he set -forth at five in the evening from London, by way -of Windsor to Bristol. He set out in state -approaching to royalty. He rode in a coach -drawn by six Flanders mares, whitish greys, a -number of carriages containing other officers -following, attended by a life-guard of eighty men, -the meanest of whom was a commander or esquire; -many of them were colonels in rich uniforms, and -the whole procession was attended by a resounding -flourish of trumpets. But before following the -farmer of Huntingdon, now risen to all but royal -grandeur, we must notice the affairs of Scotland.</p> - -<p>Though Argyll held the chief power in Scotland, -and was on friendly terms with Cromwell, he -could not prevent a strong public feeling showing -itself on the approaching trial of the king. The -Scots reproached themselves for giving up Charles -to the English army, and considered that heavy -disgrace would fall upon the country if the king -should be put to death. They demanded, therefore, -that a strong remonstrance should be sent to -the Parliament of England, and Argyll was too -timid or too cautious to oppose this. The Commissioners -in London received and presented the -remonstrance, but obtained no answer till after the -execution of the king, and that which they did -then receive was in most unceremonious terms. -Forthwith the authorities in Edinburgh proclaimed -Charles as king, and the Scottish Commissioners -in London, protesting against the -alteration of the Government into a Republic, -and declaring themselves guiltless of the blood of -the king, hastened to Gravesend, to quit the kingdom. -But the Parliament, resenting this language -as grossly libellous, and calculated to excite -sedition, sent an officer to conduct them under -guard to the frontiers of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>Passing over this insult, the Scots in March -despatched the Earl of Cassilis to the Hague, -attended by four commissioners, to wait on Charles -and invite him to Scotland. They found there the -Earl of Lanark, now Duke of Hamilton by the -execution of his brother, the Earls of Lauderdale, -Callander, Montrose, Kinnoul, and Seaforth. Some -of these were old Royalists, some of whom were -called "Engagers," or of the party of Hamilton. -The Court of Charles, small as it was, was rent by -dissensions, and both the Engagers and the Commissioners -under Cassilis joined in protesting -against any junction with Montrose, whose cruelties -to the Covenanters, they said, had been so -great, that to unite with him would turn all -Scotland against the king. They insisted on -Charles taking the Covenant, but this Montrose -and the old Royalists vehemently opposed, declaring -that to do that would alienate both -Catholics and Episcopalians, and exasperate the -Independents to tenfold bitterness.</p> - -<p>Whilst matters were in this unsatisfactory state, -Dr. Dorislaus arrived as Ambassador from the -English Parliament to the States of Holland. He -was a native of that country, but had lived some -time in England, had been a professor of Gresham -College, and drew up the charge for Parliament -against the king. That very evening, six gentlemen -with drawn swords entered the inn where he -was at supper, and desiring those present not to -alarm themselves, as they had no intention of -hurting any one but the agent of the English -rebels who had lately murdered their king, they -dragged Dorislaus from the table, and one of them -stabbed him with a dagger. Seeing him dead, -they sheathed their swords, and walked quietly -out of the house. They were known to be -all Scotsmen and followers of Montrose; and -Charles, seeing the mischief this base assassination -would do his cause, and especially in Holland, -prepared to quit the country. It was first proposed -that he should go to Ireland, where Ormond -was labouring in his favour, and where Rupert -was off the coast with a fleet; but he changed his -mind and went to Paris, to the queen, his mother. -Before doing that, he sent Chancellor Hyde and -Lord Cottington as envoys to Spain, to endeavour -to move the king in his favour, and he returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -an answer to the Scottish Commissioners, that -though he was and always had been ready to -grant them the freedom of their religion, he could -not consent to bind himself to the Covenant. -They admitted that he was their king, and therefore -they ought to obey him, and not he them, and -this obedience he must expect from the Committee -of Estates, the Assembly of the Kirk, and the -whole nation of Scotland. With this resolute -reply they departed in no very satisfied mood.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_097.jpg" width="560" height="422" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ASSASSINATION OF DR. DORISLAUS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_097big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The war in Ireland being now undertaken by -Cromwell, we must give a brief retrospective glance -at what had been passing there. Perhaps no -country was ever so torn to pieces by different -factions. The Catholics were divided amongst -themselves: there were the Catholics of the Pale, -and the Old Irish Catholics, part of whom followed -the faction of Rinuccini, the Pope's Nuncio, who -was at the head of the Council of Kilkenny, while -others followed General Preston and Viscount -Taaffe. The Irish Royalists—who consisted chiefly -of Episcopalians—ranged themselves under the -banner of Ormond. The approach of Cromwell -warned them to suppress their various feuds -and unite against the Parliament. To strengthen -the Parliament force, Jones, the Governor of -Dublin, and Monk, who commanded in Ulster, -made overtures to Owen Roe O'Neil, the head of -the Old Irish in Ulster. Ormond had arrived -in Ireland, and Inchiquin and Preston, the leaders -of the forces of the Irish Council, which had now -repudiated the Pope's Nuncio, joined him; but -O'Neil held back, not trusting Ormond, and he -sent a messenger to Charles in France, offering -to treat directly with him. But Ormond ordered -the Earl of Castlehaven to attack O'Neil, which -he did, and speedily reduced his garrisons of -Maryborough and Athy. Enraged at this whilst -he was offering his services to the king, O'Neil -listened to the proposals of Monk, who was himself -hard pressed by the Scottish Royalists, and -had been compelled to retire from Belfast to Dundalk. -Monk supplied O'Neil with ammunition, -and O'Neil undertook to cut off the communication -between the Royalists in the north and Ormond in -the south. Monk sent word of this arrangement,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -and the "grandees," as they were called, or -members of the Great Council, entertained the -plan in secret—publicly they dared not, for the -followers of O'Neil were those Ulster Irish who -had committed the horrible massacres of 1641. -No sooner, however, did the rumour of this coalition -become known, than the greatest excitement -prevailed. The army and the people were filled -with horror and indignation. They appealed to -the solemn engagement of the army to avenge -the blood of their fellow Protestants slaughtered -by these savages; they reminded the Council and -the Parliament of the invectives heaped by them -on the late king for making peace with these blood-stained -natives; and now <em>they</em> were expected -to become the allies and associates of these very -men. The Parliament saw how vain it was to -strive against the feeling, and annulled the agreement. -Hugh Peters harangued the public from -the pulpit, excusing the Council on account of the -real facts of the case having been concealed from -them, and the whole weight of the transaction -fell on Monk, who was just then in London, and -who was assured that nothing but his past services -saved him from the punishment of his indiscretion.</p> - -<p>Whilst matters were in this position, and the -Parliament was compelled to reject a very useful -ally, Ormond marched to besiege Jones in Dublin. -He advanced on both sides of the Liffey, and cast -up works at Bogotrath, to cut off the pasturage of -the horses of the Parliamentary force in Dublin. -Jones, however, made a sally an hour before sunrise, -and threw the enemy into such confusion -that the whole army on the right bank of the -river fled in headlong panic, leaving their artillery, -ammunition, tents, and baggage. In vain did -Ormond hasten to check the rout; his men followed -the example. Two thousand prisoners were taken -by Jones, of whom three hundred are said to have -been slaughtered in cold blood. Such was the defeat, -and such the inequality of the forces, that it cast -great disgrace on the generalship of Ormond, and -the Royalists made much talk about treason; -but Charles himself would not listen to any such -surmises: he hastened to send Ormond the Order -of the Garter, and to assure him of his unshaken -favour. The most exaggerated assertions were -made of the forces of Ormond, and of the number -of his men killed and taken. Ormond says -that he had only eight thousand men; but Cromwell, -no doubt from the assertions of Jones, states -that the number was nineteen thousand against -five thousand two hundred of Jones's, and that -Jones killed four thousand on the spot, and took -two thousand five hundred and seventeen prisoners, -of whom three hundred were officers. The battle -was fought at Rathmines on the 2nd of August, -1649, and contributed to quicken the movements -of Cromwell, who was collecting forces for the -passage at Milford Haven.</p> - -<p>Cromwell, with twelve thousand veterans, -sailed on the 13th of August, and arrived in -Dublin with the first division on the 15th, -Ireton following with the main body. He was -received with acclamations by the people of -Dublin, and made them a speech in the streets, -which greatly pleased them. He then allowed -his army a fortnight to refresh themselves after -the voyage, before leading them to action. At -this period, the only places left to the Parliament -in Ireland were Dublin and Derry. On the 9th of -September he bombarded Drogheda, and summoned -it to surrender. The governor of the place was -Sir Arthur Aston, who had about three thousand -troops, foot and horse, commanded by Sir Edmund -Varney, whose father was killed at Edge Hill. -Aston, who had acquired the reputation of a -brave and experienced officer, refused to surrender, -and the storm commenced, and on the second day -a breach was made. A thousand men entered by -the breach, but were driven back by the garrison. -On this Cromwell placed himself at the head of -his men, and made a second assault. This time, -after some hard fighting, they succeeded in getting -possession of the entrenchments and of a church. -According to Ormond, Carte, and others, Cromwell's -officers then promised quarter to all who -would surrender. "All his officers and soldiers," -says Carte, "promising quarter to such as would -lay down their arms, and performing it as long as -any place held out, which encouraged others to -yield. But when they had done all in their power, -and feared no hurt that could be done them, then -the word 'No quarter' went round, and the soldiers -were, many of them, forced against their wills to -kill their prisoners."</p> - -<p>This has always been regarded as a great -reproach to Cromwell. He himself, of course, does -not confess that he broke his word, or forced his -officers to break theirs; but he does something -very like it. He asserts plainly, in his letter to -Lenthall, the Speaker, that "our men, getting up -to them, were ordered by me to put them all to -the sword. And indeed, being in the heat of the -action, I forbade them to spare any that were in -arms in the town; and I think that night they -put to the sword about two thousand men." Some -of them escaping to the church, he had it set<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -fire to, and so burnt them in it; and he records -the exclamations of one of them in the fire. The -rest of the fugitives, as they were compelled to -surrender, were either slaughtered, or, to use his -own words, "their officers were knocked on the -head, and every tenth man of the soldiers killed, -and the rest shipped for Barbadoes." He says -that one thousand people were destroyed in the -church that he fired. He adds that they "put to the -sword the whole of the defendants. I do not think -thirty of the whole number escaped with their lives; -those that did are in safe custody for Barbadoes." -This is, perhaps, the most awful confession that -ever was made in cool blood, for these letters -were written about a week after the assault, and by -a man of such a thoroughly religious mind that -he attributes the whole "to the Spirit of God;" -says "this hath been a marvellous great mercy;" -and prays that "all honest hearts may give the -glory to God alone, to Whom, indeed, the praise -of this mercy belongs." Cromwell endeavoured -to justify this horrible massacre by the plea "that -it will tend to prevent the effusion of blood for -the future."</p> - -<p>The butchery of Cromwell had not frightened -men into surrendering their towns at his summons, -and thereby preventing shedding of blood. In fact, -great as were the merits of Cromwell, his barbarous -mode of warfare in Ireland cannot be defended on -any principles of reason, much less of Christianity -or humanity. In England he had been noted for -his merciful conduct in war, but in Ireland a deplorable -fanaticism carried away both him and his -army. They were now fighting against a Papist -population, and deemed it a merit to destroy them. -They confounded all Irishmen with the wild -savages of Ulster, who had massacred the Protestants -in 1641; and Cromwell, in his letters from -Drogheda, plainly expresses this idea, calling the -wholesale slaughter "a righteous judgment of God -upon those barbarous wretches, who have imbrued -their hands in so much innocent blood."</p> - -<p>From Drogheda Cromwell returned to Dublin, -and then marched on Wexford, taking and burning -minor places by the way. On the 1st of -October he summoned Wexford to surrender, and -though the governor refused, the officer who commanded -the castle traitorously yielded it. The -soldiers then perceiving the enemy quit the walls -of the town, scaled them with their ladders, and -encountering the forces in the market-place, they -made a stout resistance; but Cromwell informs -the Parliament that they were eventually all put -to the sword, "not many less than two thousand, -and I believe not twenty of yours from first to -last of the siege. The soldiers got a very good -booty; and the inhabitants," he says, "were -either so completely killed, or had run away, that -it was a fine opportunity for honest people to go -and plant themselves there." According to -various historians, no distinction was made between -the soldiers and the innocent inhabitants; -three hundred women, who had crowded around -the great cross, and were shrieking for protection -to Heaven, were put to death with the same ruthless -ferocity. Some authors do not restrict the -numbers of the slain like Cromwell to two thousand, -but reckon them at five thousand.</p> - -<p>Ormond now calculated greatly on the aid of -O'Neil to create a diversion in the north, and -divide the attention and the forces of Cromwell, -for that chieftain had begun to justify the treaty -made with him through Monk, by compelling -Montgomery to raise the siege of Londonderry, and -rescuing Coote and his small army, the only force -which the Parliament had in Ulster. But the cry -in London against this alliance with the Irish -Papist had done its work, and, after the victory of -Rathmines, the Parliament refused to ratify the -treaty made with O'Neil. Indignant at this -breach of faith, he had listened to the offers of -Ormond, and was on his march to join him at Kilkenny. -O'Neil died at Clonacter, in Cavan, -but his son took the command. By his assistance, -the operations of Cromwell's generals were greatly -retarded at that place, and at Duncannon and -Waterford.</p> - -<p>On the 17th of October, Cromwell sat down -before Ross, and sent in a trumpeter, calling on -the commander to surrender, with this extraordinary -statement, "Since my coming into Ireland, -I have this witness for myself, that I have -endeavoured to avoid effusion of blood;" which -must have been read with wonder, after the recent -news from Drogheda and Wexford. General -Taaffe refused. There were one thousand soldiers -in the place, and Ormond, Ardes, and Castlehaven, -who were on the other side of the river, sent in -fifteen hundred more. Yet on the 19th the town -surrendered, the soldiers being allowed to march -away. O'Neil had now joined Ormond at Kilkenny -with two thousand horse and foot, and -Inchiquin was in Munster. Soon after Cork and -Youghal opened their gates, Admiral Blake co-operating -by water. In the north, Sir Charles -Coote, Lord President of Connaught, took Coleraine -by storm, and forming a junction with -Colonel Venables, marched on Carrickfergus,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -which they soon after reduced. Cromwell marched -from Ross to Waterford, his army having taken -Inistioge, Thomastown, and Carrick. He appeared -before Waterford on the 24th of November. -Here, too, he received the news of the surrender -of Kinsale and Bandon Bridge, but Waterford -refused to surrender, and Cromwell was compelled -to march away to Cork for winter quarters. -His troops, however, took the fort of Passage -near Waterford; but they lost Lieutenant-General -Jones, the conqueror of Rathmines, by sickness at -Dungarvan.</p> - -<p>Cromwell did not rest long in winter quarters. -By the 29th of January, 1650, he was in the field -again, at the head of thirty thousand men. Whilst -Major-General Ireton and Colonel Reynolds -marched by Carrick into Kilkenny, Cromwell proceeded -from Youghal over the Blackwater into -Tipperary, various castles being taken by the way; -they quartered themselves in Fethard and Cashel. -On March 28th Cromwell succeeded in taking -Kilkenny, whence he proceeded to Clonmel. In -this campaign the Royalist generals accuse -him of still perpetrating unnecessary cruelties, -though they endeavoured to set him a different -example. "I took," says Lord Castlehaven, -"Athy by storm, with all the garrison (seven -hundred) prisoners. I made a present of them to -Cromwell, desiring him by letter that he would do -the same to me, if any of mine should fall into his -power. But he little valued my civility, for in a -few days after he besieged Gouvan, and the -soldiers mutinying and giving up the place with -their officers, he caused the Governor Hammond -and some other officers to be put to death." -Cromwell avows this in one of his letters. "The -next day the colonel, the major, and the rest of -the commissioned officers were shot to death; all -but one, who, being very earnest to have the -castle delivered, was pardoned." And this, he -admits, was because they refused to surrender at -his first summons. He seemed to consider a -refusal to surrender at once and unconditionally, -a deadly crime, and avenged it bloodily. On -the other hand, Ormond, in one of his letters, -says, "Rathfarnham was taken by our troops by -storm, and all that were in it made prisoners; and -though five hundred soldiers entered the castle -before any officer of note, yet not one creature -was killed; which I tell you by the way, to observe -the difference betwixt our and the rebels' -making use of a victory."</p> - -<p>The Parliament, seeing the necessity of having -their best general for the impending Scottish war, -sent towards the end of April the <em>President -Bradshaw</em> frigate, to bring over Cromwell from -Ireland, and to leave Ireton, Lord Broghill, and -the other generals to finish the war by the reduction -of Clonmel, Waterford, Limerick, and a -few lesser places. But Cromwell would not go -till he had witnessed the fall of Clonmel. There -Hugh O'Neil, the son of old Owen Roe O'Neil of -Ulster, defended the place gallantly with twelve -hundred men. The siege lasted from the 28th of -March to the 8th of May. Whitelock says, -"They found in Clonmel the stoutest enemy this -army had met in Ireland, and there never was -seen so hot a storm, of so long a continuance, -and so gallantly defended, either in Ireland or -England." The English troops had made a breach, -and endeavoured to carry the town by storm in -vain. On the 9th they stormed the breach a -second time. "The fierce death-wrestle," says a -letter from one of the besiegers, "lasted four -hours," and Cromwell's men were driven back -with great loss. But the ammunition of the -besieged was exhausted, and they stole away in -the night. The inhabitants, before this was discovered, -sent out and made terms of surrender. -On discovering the retreat of the enemy, pursuit -was made, and two hundred men killed on the -road. Oliver, however, kept his agreement with -the inhabitants.</p> - -<p>The siege of Clonmel finished, Cromwell set sail -in the <em>President Bradshaw</em>, and landed at Bristol -towards the end of May, where he was received -with firing of guns and great acclamations for his -exploits in Ireland. On the 31st of the month he -approached Hounslow Heath, where he was met -by the Lord-General Fairfax, and numbers of -other officers and members of Parliament, besides -crowds of other people. They conducted him to -London, and on reaching Hyde Park Corner he -was received by the discharge of artillery from -Colonel Barkstead's regiment, there drawn up; -and thus, with increasing crowds and acclamations, -he was attended to the Cockpit near St. -James's, a house which had been assigned to him, -and where his family had been residing for some -time. There the Lord Mayor and aldermen -waited on him, to thank him for his services in -Ireland. Thence, after rest and refreshment, -he appeared in his place in Parliament, where -he also received the thanks of the House. -Some one remarking what crowds went out to see -his triumph, Cromwell replied, "But if they had -gone to see me hanged, how many more there -would have been!"</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> - -<p>Prince Charles, though invited to assume -the crown of Scotland, was invited on such terms -as would have afforded little hope to a man of -much foresight. Those who were to support -him were divided into two factions, which could -no more mix than fire and water. The Covenanters, -and the Royalists under Montrose, hated -each other with an inextinguishable hatred. So -far from mixing, they were sure to come to strife -and bloodshed amongst themselves. If the Covenanters -got the upper hand, as was pretty -certain, he must abandon his most devoted -followers, the Old Royalists and Engagers, and -take the Covenant himself, thus giving up every -party and principle that his father had fought for. -He must take upon him a harsh and gloomy yoke, -which must keep him not only apart from his -Royalist and Episcopalian followers, but from his -far more valuable kingdom of England, where the -Independents and sectaries reigned, and which the -Scottish Covenanters could not hope to conquer. -But Charles was but a poor outcast and wanderer -in a world the princes of which were tired of both -him and his cause, and he was, therefore, compelled -to make an effort, however hopeless, to -recover his dominions by such means as offered. -He therefore sent off Montrose to raise troops and -material amongst the Northern Courts, and then to -pass over and raise the Highlands, whilst he went -to treat with the Covenanters at Breda.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_101.jpg" width="520" height="263" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GREAT SEAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Montrose was strongly suspected of having -headed the party who assassinated Dorislaus, a -very bad beginning, assassination being the fitting -business of thieves, and not of heroes. The fame -of Montrose, nevertheless, gave him a good reception -in Denmark and other Courts, and he is -said to have raised an army of twelve thousand -men, and embarked these, and much ammunition -and artillery, at Gottenburg, under Lord Kinnoul, -in the autumn. The equinoctial gales appeared -to have scattered this force in all directions, -dashing several of the ships on the rocks, so -that Kinnoul landed in October at Kirkwall, in the -Orkneys, with only eighty officers, and about one -hundred common men. Montrose followed with -five hundred more, and having received the Order -of the Garter from Charles as a token of his -favour, he once more raised his banner in the -Highlands, bearing on it a painting of the late -king decapitated, and the words, "Judge and -avenge my cause, O Lord!" But the Highlanders -had been taught caution by the repeated failures -of the Royalists, and the chastisements they had -received from the stern Covenanters; they stood -aloof, and in vain did Montrose march through -Caithness and Sutherland, calling on the natives -to rise and defend the king before the Covenanters -could sell him to the English, as they had done his -father. This was a fatal proclamation, for whilst -it failed to raise the Highlands, it added to the -already deep detestation of him in the Lowlands, -where his proclamation was burnt by the common -hangman.</p> - -<p>The Covenanters did not merely burn his proclamation, -they despatched a force of four thousand -men against him. Colonel Strachan came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -almost upon him in Corbiesdale, in Ross-shire, and -calling his men around him under the shelter of -the high moorland broom, he informed them that -God had given "the rebel and apostate Montrose, -and the viperous brood of Satan, the accursed of -God and the Kirk," into their hands. He gave -out a psalm, which they sang, and then he dispersed -them in successive companies, the whole -not amounting to four hundred men, the main -army being with David Leslie at Brechin. As -soon as Strachan's handful of men came in sight -of Montrose's levies, they were attacked by his -cavalry, but scarcely were they engaged, when a -second, and then a third detachment appeared. -On perceiving this, Montrose believed the whole -army of Leslie was marching up, and he ordered -his infantry to fall back and screen themselves -amongst the brushwood. But first his horse and -then the whole of his men were thrown into confusion. -His standard-bearer and several of his -officers were slain. The foreign mercenaries -demanded quarter and received it, the rest made -their escape as well as they could. Montrose had -his horse killed under him, and though he got -another horse, and swam across a rapid river, he -was compelled to fly in such haste, that he left -behind him the Star and Garter with which he had -been so newly invested, his sword, and his cloak. -He again made for the mountains of Sutherland -with Kinnoul, both disguised as peasants. Kinnoul -soon sank with fatigue, and was left behind and -perished. Montrose at length reached the house -of Macleod of Assynt, who had formerly served -under him; but this base man sold him to the -Covenanters for four hundred bolls of meal. This -treason was soon avenged by the neighbouring -Highlanders, who ravaged the lands of Assynt; -but the Scottish Parliament recompensed the -traitor with twenty thousand pounds Scots, to be -raised on the Royalists of Caithness and Orkney. -The Orkneys, as well as the Isles of Man, Scilly, -Jersey, the colony of Virginia, and the islands of -the Caribbean Sea, long held out for the royal -cause.</p> - -<p>Montrose was at once conveyed to Edinburgh, -where he arrived on the 18th of May; and having -been carried bareheaded through the city in an -open cart, and exposed to the insults and execrations -of the mob, he was condemned as a -traitor, and hanged on the 21st of May on a gibbet -thirty feet high, his head being fixed on a spike -in the capital, and his limbs sent for exposure in -different towns. Such was the ignominious end of -the gallant but sanguinary Montrose. But if the -conduct of his enemies was ungenerous, what was -that of his prince? No sooner did Charles hear -of his defeat, than fearing that his rising might -injure him with the Covenanters, he sent to the -Parliament, protesting that he had never authorised -him to draw the sword; nay, that he had -done it contrary to the royal commands. Thus -early did this worthless man display the meanness -of his character, and practise the wretched -maxims of the Stuart doctrine of kingcraft.</p> - -<p>Charles had now complied with the demands of -the Scottish Parliament, agreeing to take the -Covenant, never to tolerate the Catholic religion -in any part of his dominions, not even in Ireland, -where the Catholics were a majority; to govern -entirely by the authority of Parliament, and in -religious matters by that of the Kirk. Thus did -this man, for the sake of regaining the throne of -one of his kingdoms, bind himself to destroy the -religion of which he was at heart a believer, and -to maintain a creed that he abhorred and despised. -He landed in June in the Frith of Cromarty, and -a court was established for him at Falkland, and -nine thousand pounds sterling were allowed for its -expenditure monthly.</p> - -<p>But the pious Scots were speedily scandalised at -the debauched habits of their royal puppet. He -had delayed the expedition for some weeks, because -he could not tear himself from his mistress, -Mrs. Barlow, and now he came surrounded by a -very dissipated crew—Buckingham, Wilmot, and -others, whom nothing could induce him to part -with, though many others were forbidden the Court.</p> - -<p>Whilst these things were taking place in Scotland, -in London as active measures were on foot -for putting to flight this Covenanting king. On -the 14th of June the Commons again appointed -Fairfax Commander-in-Chief, and Cromwell Lieutenant-General. -Fairfax, so far from favouring -the invasion of Scotland, strongly argued against it, -as a breach of the Solemn League and Covenant. -Fairfax's wife is said to have been resolute against -his taking up arms against the second Charles. -She had sufficiently shown her spirit—that of a -Vere, of the martial house of Vere—on his -father's trial; and now Fairfax, not only strongly -influenced by his wife, but belonging to the Presbyterian -party, resigned his command, and retired -to his estates in Yorkshire. It was in vain that a -deputation, consisting of Cromwell, Lambert, -Harrison, Whitelock, and St. John, waited on him -at Whitehall, opening their meeting with prayer. -Fairfax stood firm, and on the 26th, two days -afterwards, the Parliament appointed Cromwell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -Commander-in-Chief, in his place. On the 29th, -only three days subsequently, Cromwell set -out for the north. He had Lambert as Major-General, -Whalley as Commissary-General, Pride, -Overton, Monk, and Hodgson, as colonels of -regiments. The Scottish Parliament had appointed -the Earl of Leven generalissimo, but only -nominally so out of honour, for he was now old -and infirm. David Leslie was the real commander. -The Scottish army was ordered to amount to -sixty thousand men, and it was to lay waste all -the country between Berwick and Edinburgh, to -prevent the English from obtaining supplies. To -frighten the country people away from the English -army, it was rumoured that every male between -sixteen and sixty would have their right hands cut -off, and the women's breasts be bored through -with red-hot irons.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_102.jpg" width="403" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>DEATH OF THE PRINCESS ELIZABETH.</p> - -<p>Carisbrooke Castle, Sept. 8th, 1650.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">After the Painting by C. W. Cope, R.A.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_102big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Cromwell passed the Tweed at Berwick on the -22nd of July, with a force of sixteen thousand -men. They found the country desolate and -deserted, except by a number of women, who on -their knees implored mercy, and were set by the -officers to bake and brew for the soldiers. That -night the beacon fires of Scotland were lighted, -and the English army encamped at Mordington, -where they lay three days, and then marched to -Dunbar, and thence to Musselburgh. They found -the Scottish army under Leslie posted between -Edinburgh and Leith, and well defended by -batteries and entrenchments. Nothing could induce -the wary Scottish commander to quit his -vantage ground, and the country afforded no -supplies to the English army; but their fleet -followed them along the coast, and furnished them -with provisions.</p> - -<p>For a month Cromwell found it impossible to -draw the Scottish general out of his strong -position. He sometimes marched up close to his -lines to tempt him to come to action, but it was -in vain, and he did not think it prudent to attack -him in his formidable position, which must have -cost him an awful number of men even if he -carried it.</p> - -<p>The weather being very wet he fell back upon -Musselburgh, the enemy then making a sally, and -harassing his rear, and wounding General Lambert. -Cromwell and the Scottish Assembly, as -well as Cromwell and General Leslie, who lay in -the ground now occupied by the New Town of -Edinburgh, had a voluminous correspondence, in -which they quoted much Scripture, and each declared -himself the favoured or justified of heaven. -The Scots reproached Cromwell and his party -with breaking the League and Covenant, and -Cromwell retorted on them, that though they -pretended to covenant and fight against Malignants, -they had entered into agreement with the -head and centre of the Malignants himself, which -he said he could not understand. Cromwell, -leaving a force to invest Dunbar, which was said -to suffer extreme famine, being cooped by the -English both on land and sea, about the 13th of -August shifted his camp to the Pentland Hills to -the west of Edinburgh, in order to cut off Leslie's -supplies.</p> - -<p>Whilst lying there the young king himself -made a visit to the army at Leith, where he was -received by the soldiers with acclamations; but the -Assembly of the Kirk was soon scandalised by the -drunkenness and profanity which his presence -brought into the camp, and set on foot an inquiry, -the result of which was that eighty officers, with -many of their men, were dismissed that they -might not contaminate the rest of the army. -They also required Charles to sign a declaration -to his subjects in his three kingdoms, informing -them that he lamented the troubles which had -been brought on the realm by the resistance of his -father to the Solemn League and Covenant, and -by the idolatry of his mother; that for himself -he had subscribed the Covenant with all his heart, -and would have no friends or enemies but the -friends or enemies of the Covenant; that he -repented making a peace with the Papists of Ireland, -and now declared it null and void; that -he detested all popery, prelacy, idolatry, and -heresy; and finally, that he would accord to a free -Parliament of England the propositions agreed -upon by the Commissioners of the two kingdoms, -and would settle the English Church according to -the plan organised by the Westminster Assembly -of divines.</p> - -<p>Never was so flagrant a set of falsehoods forced -on a reluctant soul! Charles read the declaration -with indignation, and declared that he would -sacrifice everything rather than thus cast reproach -on his parents and their supporters, who -had suffered so much on their behalf, or belie -his own sentiments. But he was soon convinced -that he must see his cause totally abandoned if -he did not comply, and at the end of three days -he signed with tears and shame the humiliating -document. The exulting Kirk then proclaimed a -certain victory from heaven over "a blaspheming -general and a sectarian army."</p> - -<p>And truly, affairs appeared very likely to come -to such a conclusion. Cromwell found it difficult<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> -to feed his army; the weather continued stormy -and wet, and his soldiers suffered extremely from -fevers and other illness from exposure to the -weather. Cromwell made a sudden march in the -direction of Stirling, as though he intended to cut -off that town from communication with the capital. -This set Leslie in motion; he hastily sent forward -his forces, and the vanguards came to skirmishing, -but could not engage in complete battle on account -of the boggy ground between them. Cromwell -as suddenly retreated, and firing his huts on -the Pentlands, withdrew towards Dunbar. This -effectually roused the Scots; they knew his distress -from sickness and lack of supplies, and they -thought he meant now to escape into England. -To prevent that, and to make themselves masters -of the whole English army, as they now confidently -expected, they marched rapidly along the -feet of the Lammermuir Hills, and Leslie -managed to outstrip him, and hem him in between -Dunbar and Doon Hill. A deep ravine called -Cockburnspath, or, as Oliver pronounced it, -Copper's Path, about forty feet deep and as many -wide, with a rivulet running through it, lay -between Oliver and the Scottish army, which was -posted on Doon Hill. On Oliver's right lay -Belhaven Bay, on his left Broxmouth House, at -the mouth of a brook, and where there is a path -southward. Leslie had secured the passes of -Cockburnspath, and imagined that he had Cromwell -and his army secure from Sunday night to -Tuesday morning, the 3rd of September. But on -Monday afternoon, Cromwell observed Leslie -moving his right wing down into the plain -towards Broxmouth House, evidently intending -to secure that pass also; but Cromwell at once -espied his advantage. He could attack and cut -off this right wing, whilst the main body of Leslie's -army, penned between the brook and the hills, -could not manœuvre to help it. On observing -this, Cromwell exclaimed to Lambert, "The Lord -hath delivered us!" and arrangements were made -to attack the right wing of Leslie at three o'clock -in the morning. Leslie had twenty-three thousand -men—Cromwell about half as many; but by a -vigorous, unexpected attack on this right wing, -after three hours of hard fighting, the Scots were -thrown into confusion, and Cromwell exclaimed, -"They run! I profess they run!" In fact, the -horse of the Scots dashed frantically away over -and through their own foot, and there was a wild -flight in all directions. Three thousand slain lay -on the spot, the Scots army was in wild rout, and -as the sun just then rose over St. Abb's Head and -the sea, Oliver exclaimed to his soldiers, "Let -God arise, and let His enemies be scattered!" -"The Lord-General," says Hodgson, "made a halt -till the horse could gather for the chase, and sang -the 117th Psalm." Then the pursuit was made as -far as Haddington. Ten thousand prisoners were -taken, with all the baggage, artillery, and ammunition -of the enemy. A thousand men were slain in -the pursuit. By nine o'clock in the morning, David -Leslie, the general, was in Edinburgh, old Lord -Leven reached it by two, and what a city! The -general complained that the preachers had occasioned -the disaster; they would not let him -rest till he descended from his height to attack -the enemy on a disadvantageous ground. The -ministers, though all their prophecies of victory -were falsified, had yet plenty of other reasons for -it. They published a "Short Declaration and -Warning," in which they enumerated no less than -thirteen causes for this terrible overthrow—the -general wickedness of the country, the especial -wickedness of the king's house, and the number of -Malignants amongst the king's followers, and so -forth. Cromwell told them plainly in letters -addressed to them, that they had been punished -for taking up a family that the Lord had so eminently -lifted up His hand against, and for pretending -to cry down Malignants, and yet receiving -and setting up the head of them all. He advanced -to Edinburgh, where he closely blockaded -the castle, which was soon compelled to surrender.</p> - -<p>As for Charles II., he was rather delighted than -otherwise with the defeat of his fanatic friends at -Dunbar. He was grown most thoroughly tired of -imperious dictation and morose religion, and he -took the opportunity to steal away to join Murray, -Huntly, Atholl, and the Royalists in the Highlands. -On the afternoon of the 4th of October, -on pretence of hawking, he rode out of Perth, and -dashed away for the braes of Angus. After -galloping forty miles he came to a wretched hovel -at a place called Clova, where he had nothing but -a turf pillow to sleep on. There he was overtaken -by Colonel Montgomery—for Argyll had been -speedily apprised of his flight—and finding that -two regiments of horse were at hand, Charles knew -that escape was hopeless, and so he returned. But -"the Start," which Charles's elopement was called, -had opened the eyes of the Covenanters to the -danger of pressing him too far. They now considerably -relaxed their vigour towards him, admitted -him to their deliberations in Council, and -they thus induced him to prevail on Atholl, Middleton, -and the Highland forces to disband.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_105.jpg" width="560" height="396" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>DUNBAR.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_105big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Cromwell's attention was soon attracted towards -the West, where an army of five thousand men -was raised, by order of the Committee of Estates, -by Colonels Kerr and Strachan, in the associated -counties of Renfrew, Ayr, Galloway, Wigtown, and -Dumfries. These people were of strict whiggamore -notions, and were directly in correspondence -with John Warriston, the Clerk Register of Parliament, -and Gillespie and Guthrie, two ministers -of the Kirk, who protested against having anything -to do with the son of the beheaded Charles -Stuart, who was an enemy to the Kirk, and whose -son himself was a thorough Malignant. They -drew up a Remonstrance of the Western army, in -which they termed the king an incarnate solecism, -and refused to fight under either him or Leslie. -Cromwell, who saw little to prevent a union with -this party, professing his old veneration for the -Covenant, opened a communication with them, -arguing that Charles ought to be banished, and -thus remove the need of an English interference. -In order to effect a coalition with these commanders, -Cromwell marched to Glasgow, where he -arrived on Friday, October 18th; and on Sunday, -in the cathedral, listened to a violent sermon -against him and his army from the Reverend -Zachary Boyd. Coming to no agreement with -Kerr and Strachan, he returned on Monday towards -Edinburgh, and found many men advising -that they shall give up the "hypocrite," meaning -Charles, and make peace with England; but Kerr -and Strachan, though their Remonstrance was -voted a scandalous libel by Parliament, could not -agree to this. They, in fact, differed in opinion. -Strachan resigned his commission, and soon after -came over with eighty troopers to Cromwell. -Kerr showed a hostile aspect, agreeing with -neither one party nor another, and soon came to -nothing. Cromwell sent Lambert to look after -him with three thousand horse, and Lambert, -whilst lying at Hamilton, found himself suddenly -attacked by Kerr. He, however, repulsed him, -took him prisoner, killed a hundred of his men, -losing himself only six, and took two hundred -prisoners, horse and foot. The Western army was -wholly dispersed. The condition of the Covenanting -Scots was now deplorable; the Remonstrants, -though they had lost their army, still continued to -quarrel with the official or Argyll's party, and the -country was thus torn by the two factions, under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -the name of Remonstrants and Resolutionists, -when it should have been united against the -enemy. Cromwell was now master of all the -Lowlands, casting longing glances towards Stirling -and Perth, which were in the hands of the royal -party, and thus ended the year 1650.</p> - -<p>On the first day of the new year, 1651, Charles -rode, or rather was led, in procession, by his -partisans to the church at Scone, and there -solemnly crowned. There, on his knees, he swore -to maintain the Covenant, to establish Presbyterianism, -and embrace it himself, to establish it -in his other dominions as soon as he recovered -them. Argyll then placed the crown on his head, -and Douglas, the minister, read him a severe -lecture on the calamities which had followed the -apostacy of his grandfather and father, and on his -being a king only by compact with his people. -But the fall of the Western army had weakened -the rigid Presbyterian party. Argyll saw his -influence decline, that of the Hamiltons in the -ascendant, and numbers of the old Royalists pouring -in to join the army. Charles's force soon displayed -the singular spectacle of Leslie and Middleton -in united command, and the army, swelled by -the Royalists, was increased to twenty thousand -men. Having fortified the passes of the Forth, -the king thus awaited the movements of Cromwell. -But the lord-general, during the spring, -was suffering so much from the ague, that he -contemplated returning home. In May, however, -he grew better, and advanced towards Stirling. -Whilst he occupied the attention of Charles and -his army by his manœuvres in that quarter, he -directed Lambert to make an attempt upon Fife, -which succeeded, and Cromwell, crossing the -Forth, advanced to support him. The royal army -quickly evacuated Perth, after a sharp action, in -which about eight hundred men on each side fell, -and the Parliament colours were hoisted on the -walls of that city.</p> - -<p>If Cromwell's movement had been rapid and -successful, he was now in his turn astonished by -one as extraordinary on the part of the Prince. -Charles saw that all the south of Scotland and a -great part of England was clear of the enemy, and -he at once announced his determination to march -towards London. On the 31st of July his army -was actually in motion, and Argyll, denouncing -the enterprise as inevitably ruinous, resigned his -commission and retired to Inverary.</p> - -<p>On discovering Charles's object, Cromwell put -the forces to remain in Scotland under the command -of General Monk, sent Lambert from Fife to -follow the royal army with three thousand cavalry, -and wrote to Harrison in Newcastle to advance -and harass the flank of Charles's army. He -himself, on the 7th of August, commenced his -march after it with ten thousand men.</p> - -<p>Charles advanced at a rapid rate, and he had -crossed the Mersey before Lambert and Harrison -had formed a junction near Warrington, and -attempted to draw him into a battle on Knutsford -Heath. But Charles continued his hasty march -till he reached Worcester, where he was received -with loud acclamations by the mayor and corporation, -and by a number of county gentlemen, who -had been confined there on suspicion of their disaffection, -but were now liberated. But such had -been the sudden appearance of Charles, that no -expectation of it, and therefore no preparation for -it, had been made by the Royalists; and the -bigoted ministers attending his army sternly -refused all who offered to join them, whether -Presbyterians, Episcopalians, or Catholics, because -they had not taken the Covenant. It was -in vain that Charles gave orders to the contrary, -and sent forward General Massey to receive and -bring into order these volunteers; the Committee -of the Kirk rejected them, whilst Cromwell's -forces on their march were growing by continual -reinforcements, especially of the county militias. -Colonel Robert Lilburne met with a party of -Charles's forces under the Earl of Derby, between -Chorley and Wigan, and defeated them, killing -the Lord Widdrington, Sir Thomas Tildesley, and -Colonels Boynton, Trollope, and Throgmorton. -Derby himself was wounded, but escaped.</p> - -<p>Charles issued a proclamation for all his male -subjects between the ages of sixteen and sixty to -join his standard on the 26th of August; but -on that day he found that the whole of his forces -amounted to only twelve thousand men, whilst -Cromwell, who arrived two days after, was at the -head of at least thirty thousand. On the 3rd of -September, the anniversary of the battle of -Dunbar, Cromwell determined to attack the royal -army. Lambert, overnight, crossed the Severn at -Upton, with ten thousand men, and the next -morning Cromwell and Fleetwood, with the two -other divisions of the army, crossed, Cromwell -the Severn, and Fleetwood the Teme. Charles, -who had been watching their progress from the -tower of the cathedral, descended and attacked -Fleetwood before he had effected his passage; but -Cromwell was soon up to the assistance of his -general, and after a stout battle, first in the -meadows, and then in the streets of the city, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -forces of Charles were completely beaten. Charles -fought with undaunted bravery, and endeavoured -to rally his soldiers for a last effort, but they flung -down their weapons and surrendered. It was -with difficulty that he was prevailed upon to fly, -and save his life. Three thousand of the Royalists -were slain, and six or seven thousand made -prisoners, including a considerable number of -noblemen—the Duke of Hamilton, but mortally -wounded, the Earls of Rothes, Derby, Cleveland, -Kelly, and Lauderdale, Lords Sinclair, Kenmure, -and Grandison, and the Generals Leslie, Massey, -Middleton, and Montgomery. The Duke of Buckingham, -Lord Talbot, and others, escaped with -many adventures.</p> - -<p>It was an overthrow complete, and most -astonishing to both conquered and conquerors. -Cromwell, in his letter to the Parliament, styled it -"a crowning mercy." The Earl of Derby and -seven others of the prisoners suffered death as -traitors and rebels to the Commonwealth. Derby -offered the Isle of Man for his ransom, but his -letter was read by Lenthall to the House too late, -and he was executed at Bolton, in Lancashire.</p> - -<p>As for Charles himself, the romance of his -escape has been celebrated in many narratives. -After being concealed for some days at White-ladies -and Boscobel, two solitary houses in Shropshire, -and passing a day in the boughs of an oak, -he made his way in various disguises, and by the -assistance of different loyal friends, to Brighton, -whence he passed in a collier over to Fécamp in -Normandy, but this was not till the 17th of October, -forty-four days after the battle of Worcester.</p> - -<p>On the 12th of September Cromwell arrived in -town; Bulstrode, Whitelock, and three other -gentlemen had been sent down to meet him and -conduct him to London. They met him near -Aylesbury, and they all joined a hawking party by -the way. At Aylesbury they passed the night. -Oliver was very affable, and presented to each of -the commissioners a horse taken in the battle and -a couple of Scottish prisoners. At Acton, the -Speaker of the Commons, the Lord President, and -many other members of Parliament and of the -Council, the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheriffs, -and crowds of other people, met him, and congratulated -him on his splendid victory and his -successes in Scotland. The Recorder, in his -address, said he was destined to "bind kings in -chains and their nobles in fetters of iron." In -London he was received with immense shoutings -and acclamations. Parliament voted that the 3rd -of September should be kept ever after as a -holiday, in memory of his victory; and, in addition -to twenty-five thousand pounds a year already -granted in land, they settled on him another forty -thousand pounds a year in land.</p> - -<p>Thus the royal party was for a time broken -and put down. In Ireland Cromwell had left his -son-in-law Ireton as his deputy, who went on -with a strong hand crushing all opposition. The -Roman Catholic party growing weary of Ormond, -he had resigned his lord-deputyship, and Clanricarde -had succeeded him. Still the Catholic -party was divided in itself, and Ormond, and after -him Clanricarde, entered into a treaty with the -Duke of Lorraine, who agreed to send an army to -Ireland to put down the Parliament, on condition -that he should be declared Protector-royal of -Ireland, with all the rights pertaining to the -office; an office, in fact, never before heard of. -The Irish Royalists obtained, however, at different -times, twenty thousand pounds from Lorraine, -and his agents were still negotiating for his -protectorship, when the defeat of Charles at -Worcester showed Lorraine the folly of his hopes. -Disappointed in this expectation of assistance -from abroad, the Irish Royalists found themselves -vigorously attacked by Ireton. In June he invested -Limerick, and on the 27th of October it -surrendered. Ireton tried and put to death -seven of the leaders of the party. The court-martial -refused to condemn the brave O'Neil, -though Ireton urged his death for his stubborn -defence of Clonmel. When Terence O'Brien, -Bishop of Emly, was condemned, he exclaimed to -Ireton, "I appeal to the tribunal of God, and -summon thee to meet me at that bar." These -words were deemed prophetic, and were remembered -with wonder when, about a month afterwards, -Ireton fell ill of fever and died (Nov. 15, 1651).</p> - -<p>Cromwell appointed General Lambert his deputy -in Ireland. The appointment was cancelled -before Lambert could pass over to that country, -as it is said, through the management of Ireton's -widow, Cromwell's daughter Bridget. The handsome -wife of Lambert had refused—her husband -being now Lord-Deputy—to give precedence to -Mrs. Ireton in St. James's Park, where they met -one day. Mrs. Ireton took offence, and prevailed -on her father to revoke the appointment, and -give it to Fleetwood, whom she soon after -married, and so Lambert returned to Ireland -in his former position. It is believed that -Lambert never forgave the affront, though Cromwell -endeavoured to soothe him, and made him -compensation in money; for he was found to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> -one of the first to oppose Richard Cromwell after -his father's death, and depose him from the protectorate. -Ludlow and three others were joined -with Fleetwood, so far as the civil administration -of Ireland was concerned, and they were -ordered to levy sufficient money for the payment -of the forces, not exceeding forty thousand pounds -a month; and to exclude Papists from all places -of trust, from practising as barristers, or teaching -in any kind of school. Thus the bulk of the -natives were deprived of all participation in the -affairs of their own country, and, what was worse, -might be imprisoned or removed from one part of -the country at the will of these dictators.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_108.jpg" width="560" height="428" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CROMWELL ON HIS WAY TO LONDON AFTER THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_107">107</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_108big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In Scotland Monk carried matters with the -same high hand. On the 14th of August he compelled -Stirling to surrender, and sent off the royal -robes, part of the regalia, and the National -Records to London. He then commenced the siege -of Dundee, and whilst it was progressing he sent -Colonels Alured and Morgan to Alyth in Angus, -where he surprised the two Committees of the -Estates and the Kirk, with many other noblemen -and gentlemen, to the number of three hundred, -amongst them poor old Leslie, Earl of Leven, met -on Royalist affairs, and sent them after the regalia -to England. On the 1st of September Monk -stormed Dundee, and gave up the town to the -plunder and violence of the soldiery. There were -said to be eight hundred soldiers and inhabitants -killed, of whom three hundred were women and -children. The place had been considered so safe -that many people had sent their property there -for security, and this and the ships in the harbour -all fell into the hands of the conquerors. They -are said to have got two hundred thousand pounds -in booty, and perpetrated the most unheard-of -atrocities. The fate of Dundee induced Montrose, -Aberdeen, and St. Andrews to open their gates. -The Earl of Huntly and Lord Balcarres submitted, -and scarcely any noblemen of note, except -Argyll, held out; and he did so merely for the -purpose of making good terms with the Parliament.</p> - -<p>The most vigorous means were adopted to keep -the country in check. Military stations were appointed -throughout the Highlands, and sites fixed -upon for the erection of strong forts at Ayr, Leith<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>, -Perth, and Inverness. The property and estates -of the Crown were declared forfeited to Parliament, -as well as the lands of all who had taken -arms under the Duke of Hamilton or the king -against England. English judges were sent to go -the circuits, assisted by Scottish ones, and one hundred -and thirty thousand pounds a year were voted -for the maintenance of the army in Scotland, -which was raised to twenty thousand men. These -were galling measures for the Scots, who had -hoped to subject England again to the king, but -they were far from the most humiliating. Vane, -St. John, and six other commissioners were -appointed to settle a plan for the incorporation of -Scotland with England. They met at Dalkeith, -and summoned the representatives of the counties -and the burghs to assemble and consult with them -on the matter. The ministers thundered from -their pulpits against a union, and especially -against putting the Kirk under the power of the -State; but twenty-eight out of thirty shires, and -forty-four out of fifty-eight burghs complied, and -sent up twenty-one deputies to sit with the Parliamentary -commissioners at Westminster, to -settle the terms of the union. The power of the -English Parliament, or rather of the army, was -now so supreme, that both in Scotland and Ireland -resistance was vain.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_109.jpg" width="395" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HENRY IRETON. (<cite>After the Portrait by Cooper.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_109big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The all-absorbing interest of the events of the -last several unexampled years within the kingdom, -has prevented our noticing the transactions of the -Commonwealth with the other kingdoms of -Europe. We must now recount these. Prince -Rupert, by his cruising on the coasts of England -and Ireland, had not only kept the nation in -alarm, but had inflicted great injury on the coasts<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -and commerce of the realm. In the spring of -1649 he lay in the harbour of Kinsale, keeping -the way open for the landing of the foreign troops -expected to accompany Charles II. to Ireland. -But Vane, to whom was entrusted the naval -affairs, commissioned Blake, Dean, and Monk, -three army officers, who showed themselves as able -at sea as on land, to look after him, and the -victories of Cromwell in Ireland warned him in -the autumn to remove. He found himself blockaded -by the English fleet, but in his impetuous -way he burst through the enclosing squadron with -the loss of only three ships, and took refuge in the -Tagus. In the following March Blake presented -himself at that river, and demanded of the King -of Portugal permission to attack the pirate, as he -termed him, at his anchorage. The king refused; -Blake attempted, notwithstanding, to force his -way up the river to Rupert's fleet, but he was -assailed by the batteries from both shores, and -was compelled to retire. This was deemed a -declaration of war by the Republic, and Blake -was ordered to seize any Portuguese ships that -fell in his way. Don John thereupon seized the -English merchants in his dominions, and confiscated -their goods. But the ravages committed -by Blake on his subjects soon induced him to -order Rupert to retire from the Tagus, who sailed -thence into the Mediterranean, where he continued -to practise open piracy, capturing ships of almost -all nations. He afterwards sailed to the West -Indies to escape the English admirals, and inflicted -there great injuries both on the English -and Spanish. His brother Maurice was there lost -in a storm, and in 1652 Rupert, beset by the -English captains, made his way again to Europe, -and sold his two men-of-war to Cardinal Mazarin. -The Portuguese, freed from the presence of -Rupert, soon sent Don Guimaraes to London to -treat for a pacification, but the treaty was not -finally concluded till after Cromwell had attained -to supreme power.</p> - -<p>The King of Spain, who never forgave Charles I. -the insult put upon his sister and the whole kingdom, -acknowledged the Republic from the first -moment of its establishment by continuing the -presence of Cardenas, his ambassador. The King -of Spain made use of his ambassador in London to -excite the Commonwealth against Portugal and -the United Provinces, but an unlucky accident -threatened to disturb even this alliance, the only -one between the Commonwealth and the Courts of -the Continent. As Spain kept an ambassador in -London, the Parliament resolved to send one to -Madrid, and for this purpose they selected a -gentleman of the name of Ascham. He did not -understand Spanish, and therefore he employed -three friars, who accompanied him and informed -him of all that he wanted to know regarding -Spain. But he was no sooner arrived than half -a dozen Royalist English officers, who had served -in the Spanish army against Portugal, and in -Calabria, went to his inn, and finding him at -dinner, exclaimed, "Welcome, gallants, welcome!" -and ran him and Riba, one of the friars, through -with their swords. This was precisely what some -Royalists had done to Dorislaus, the Parliamentary -ambassador to the Hague, in 1649; for these -Cavaliers, with all their talk of honour, had no -objection to an occasional piece of assassination. -One of the servants of Charles II.'s ambassadors, -Hyde and Cottington, was one of the assassins, -which brought the ambassadors into suspicion; -but they protested firmly against any participation -in so base a business. The assassins fled to a -church for sanctuary, except one who got to the -Venetian ambassador's, and so escaped. The -other five were brought from their asylum, tried, -and condemned to die, but the courtiers sympathised -so much with the Royalists, that they were -returned again to their asylum, except a Protestant -of the name of Sparkes, who, being taken -a few miles from the city, was put to death. This -matter blowing over, the peace with Spain continued. -With Holland the case was different.</p> - -<p>Holland, being itself a Republic, might have -been expected to sympathise and fraternise with -the English Commonwealth, but the circumstances -of the Court prevented the spread of this feeling. -The Stadtholder, William II., had married the -Princess Royal of England, the daughter of -Charles I., and sister of Charles II. From the -first of the contest, therefore, Holland had supported -the claims of both the Charleses. The -second Charles had spent much of his exile at the -Hague, not being at all cordially received in -France, where his mother resided. His brother, -the Duke of York, had long resided there, as -Rupert and Maurice had done before. There was -thus a great league between the family of the -Stadtholder and the Stuart faction, and the -Stadtholders themselves were gradually making -themselves as despotic as any princes of Europe. -All the money which enabled the Stuarts in -England to make head and invade it from Scotland -came from the Hague. On the other hand, -the large Republican party in Holland, which was -at strife with the Stadtholder on account of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -regal and despotic doctrines, looked with favour -on the proceedings of the English Parliament, and -thus awoke a deep jealousy in the Stadtholder's -Court of the English Parliament, which entertained -ideas of coalescing with Holland into one -great Republic.</p> - -<p>From these causes no satisfaction could ever be -obtained from the Stadtholder for the murder of -Dr. Dorislaus, nor would he admit Strickland, the -ambassador of the Parliament, to an audience. -But on the 6th of November, 1650, William -died of small-pox, and on the 14th of that -month his widow gave birth to William III., who -afterwards became King of England. The infancy -of the Stadtholder now encouraged the Republican -party to abolish that office, and to restore the -more democratic form of government. On this, -the Parliament of England, in the commencement -of 1651, determined to send ambassadors to the -States, and in addition to Strickland sent St. -John, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. -But no good was done. There were numbers of -English Royalists still hanging about at the -Hague, and the Dutch, through the internal wars -of England, France, and Spain, had grown so -prosperous that they were become proud and -insolent, and had come to regard the English -Parliament, through the misrepresentation of their -enemies, as a power that they might treat with -contempt. St. John found insurmountable difficulties -in negotiating with the rude, haughty -States-General. He was openly insulted in the -streets of the Hague; the ignorant populace -hooted and hissed him and his colleague, and the -Royalists were suffered to annoy them with impunity.</p> - -<p>The Parliament of England had in good faith -proposed their scheme of confederacy against their -common enemies both by sea and land, but the -States-General made so many objections and -delays that the term fixed for the negotiation -expired, and the English ambassadors took their -leave in disgust. The battle of Worcester awoke -the Dutch to their mistake, and they then sent in -haste to propose terms of alliance on their part, -but it was too late. St. John, strong in his feelings -as he was deep in his intellect, had represented -their conduct in such terms that the -English Parliament received them with a cool -haughtiness the counterpart of their own in the -late attempt at treaty. St. John had also employed -himself in a measure of revenge on the -Dutch which was in its effects most disastrous to -them. Owing to the embarrassments of the other -European States, the Dutch had grown not only -to be the chief merchants of the nations, but the -great carriers of all mercantile goods. Parliament -passed a Navigation Act, by which it was forbidden -to introduce any of the products of Asia, -Africa, or America into England, except in -English vessels, or any of the manufactures of -Europe, except in English ships or the ships of the -countries which produced them. This at one blow -lopped off the greater part of the commerce of -Holland, and the demands of the ambassador that -this terrible Act should be repealed, or at least -suspended till the conclusion of a treaty, were -totally disregarded. But this was not the only -offensive weapon which St. John's resentment had -found. Letters of marque had been issued against -French vessels, and they were permitted to be -used against Dutch ones, on pretence that they -had French property on board. Still more, the -massacre of the English at Amboyna, which had -been lightly passed over, owing to the desire of -the English Court to maintain the alliance of -Holland against Spain, had never been forgotten -by the English people, and there were now loud -demands, especially from the sailors, that all survivors -of the Dutch concerned in that murder -should be given up. In fact, a determined spirit -of hostility had sprung up between the two maritime -nations. The Dutch, at the call of their -merchants for protection, prepared a fleet, and -placed at the head of it the three greatest admirals -that their nation ever produced—Van Tromp, De -Ruyter, and De Witt. The English Parliament, -on their part, ordered their admirals to insist on -the same homage being paid to their flag in the -narrow seas as had been paid to that of the king. -They also demanded indemnification for the losses -sustained in the East Indies from the Dutch, and -insisted on the stipulated contribution of the -tenth herring from the Dutch fishermen in the -British seas.</p> - -<p>It was impossible, under such circumstances, -that hostilities should be long deferred. Commodore -Young was the first to call on the convoy -of a fleet of Dutch merchantmen to salute the -British flag. They refused, and Young attacked -them so smartly that in the end they complied. -In a few days Van Tromp, who was a zealous -partisan of Orange, and therefore of the house of -Stuart, appeared in the Downs with two-and-forty -sail. To Commodore Bourne, whom he found -there, he disclaimed any hostile intentions, but -pleaded the loss of several anchors and cables for -putting in; but the next day, being the 19th of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -May, he encountered Blake off Dover, and that -commander, though he had only twenty ships, demanded -that Van Tromp should do homage to his -flag. Van Tromp refused, and sailed right on till -he came nearly opposite Blake, when the English -admiral fired a gun three successive times at the -Dutch admiral's flag. Van Tromp returned the -compliment by firing a broadside into Blake's -ship; and the two fleets were instantly engaged, -and a desperate battle was fought from three in -the afternoon till darkness separated them. The -English had taken two ships, one of which, on -account of the damage done it, was allowed to -sink.</p> - -<p>There was much dispute between the two -countries which was the aggressor; but it appears -the most probable fact that Van Tromp sought an -occasion to resist the demand of lowering the -Dutch flag to the English one, and found an -admiral as prepared to assert that superiority as -he was to dispute it.</p> - -<p>The English Parliament immediately issued -strict orders to all its commodores to pursue and -destroy all the ships of the Dutch fleet that they -could find on the seas; and in the space of a -month they took or burnt seventy sail of merchantmen, -besides several men-of-war. The Dutch -protested that the battle had not been sought -by them, and proposed inquiry, and the punishment -of whichever of the commanders should -be proved the aggressor; but the Parliament -replied that it was satisfied that the States were -bent on usurping the rights of England on the -seas, and on destroying the fleets, which were the -walls and bulwarks of the nation, and therefore -that it was necessary to stand on the defensive. -The States sent De Pauw to reiterate the assurances -of their peaceful intentions, and to urge the -court of inquiry; but the Parliament was now as -high as the States had been before, and insisted -on reparation and security. De Pauw demanded -what these terms meant, and was answered, full -compensation for all the expense that the Commonwealth -had been put to by the hostile preparations -of the States, and a confederation for the -mutual protection of the two nations. De Pauw -knew that the first of these terms would be declined, -and took his leave. On the 19th of July -the Parliament proclaimed war against the States.</p> - -<p>The Dutch were by no means afraid of the war, -though they dreaded the destruction of their trade -which it would occasion. They had acquired a -great reputation as a naval people, and the sailors -were eager to encounter the English, and revenge -their defeat upon them. Van Tromp once more -appeared with seventy sail of the line, and boasted -that he would sweep the English from the face of -the ocean. The Vice-Admiral Sir George Ayscough -(or Ayscue), had just returned victorious from the -reduction of Barbadoes, and was left in charge of -the Channel whilst Blake went northward, in -quest of the squadron which protected the Dutch -fishermen. Van Tromp could not come up with -Ayscough, owing to a change of wind; he, therefore, -went northward after Blake, who had captured -the Dutch squadron, and made the fishermen -pay the tenth herring, but a storm dispersed Van -Tromp's fleet, several of his ships falling into the -hands of the English. When he again returned -to port, he was received with great indignation by -the people, who had expected wonders from him, -and in his mortification he resigned.</p> - -<p>De Ruyter was advanced into his post, and put -to sea in charge of a merchant fleet, and in return -fell in with Ayscough off Plymouth, who broke -through his line, but was not followed up -vigorously by the captains of the other vessels, -and the Dutch ships escaped. Ayscough was -superseded, the Parliament suspecting him of a -royal tendency.</p> - -<p>De Ruyter joined De Witt, and attacked Blake, -who had under him Admirals Bourne and Penn, -and a fierce engagement took place, which lasted -the whole of the 28th of September. The next -morning the Dutch were seen bearing away for -their own coasts, several of their vessels having -gone down, and one of them being taken. Blake -gave chase as far as Goree, but could not pursue -them amongst the shoals and sandbanks, where -the small vessels of the Dutch had taken refuge. -Wherever English and Dutch ships now met, -there was battle. There was an affray between -them in the Mediterranean, where Van Galen, -with a greatly superior force, attacked and defeated -Captain Baily, but was himself slain; the -King of Denmark also joined the Dutch with five -ships, laid an embargo on English merchandise in -the Baltic, and closed the Sound against them. -There were, moreover, numerous vessels under the -French flag cruising about in quest of merchantmen.</p> - -<p>As winter, however, approached, Blake, supposing -the campaign would cease till spring, dispersed -a number of his vessels to different ports, -and was lying in the Downs with only thirty-seven -sail, when he was surprised by a fleet of eighty -men-of-war, and ten fire-ships. It was Van -Tromp, whom the States had again prevailed on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -to take the command, and who came vehement for -the recovery of his tarnished reputation. Blake's -stout heart refused to shrink from even so unequal -a contest; and he fought the whole Dutch -fleet with true English bulldogism, from ten in the -morning till six in the evening, when the increasing -darkness led to a cessation of hostilities on -both sides. Blake took advantage of the night to -get up the Thames as far as the quaint fishing -village of Leigh. He had managed to blow up a -Dutch ship, disable two others, and to do much -damage generally to the Dutch fleet; but he had -lost five ships himself. Van Tromp and De Ruyter -sailed to and fro at the mouth of the river, and -along the coast from the North Foreland to the -Isle of Wight, in triumph, and then convoyed -home the Dutch and French fleets. There was -huge rejoicing in Holland over the great English -admiral, which, considering the immense inequality -of the fleets, was really an honour to -Blake, for it showed how they esteemed his genius -and courage. The whole of Holland was full of -bravado at blocking up the Thames, and forcing -the English to an ignominious peace. Van Tromp -was so elated, that he stuck a besom at his masthead, -intimating that he would sweep the English -from off the seas.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_113.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ROYAL MUSEUM AND PICTURE GALLERY, THE HAGUE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_113big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The English Parliament, during the winter, -made strenuous efforts to wipe out this reverse. -They refitted and put in order all their ships, -ordered two regiments of infantry to be ready to -embark as marines, raised the wages of the seamen, -ordered their families to be maintained -during their absence on service, and increased the -rate of prize money. They sent for Monk from -Scotland, and joined him and Dean in command -with Blake.</p> - -<p>The Dutch navy was estimated at this period at -a hundred and fifty sail, and was flushed with -success; but Blake was resolved to take down -their pride, and lay ready for the first opportunity. -This occurred on the 18th of February, 1653. -Van Tromp appeared sailing up the Channel with -seventy-two ships of war and thirty armed traders, -convoying a homeward-bound merchant fleet of -three hundred sail. His orders were, having -seen the merchantmen safe home, to return and -blockade the Thames. Blake saved him the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> -trouble, by issuing from port with eighty men-of-war, -and posting himself across the Channel. Van -Tromp signalled the merchant fleet under his convoy -to take care of themselves, and the battle -between him and Blake commenced with fury. -The action took place not far from Cape La -Hogue, on the coast of France. Blake and Dean, -who were both on board the <em>Triumph</em>, led the -way, and their ship received seven hundred shots -in her hull. The battle lasted the whole day, in -which the Dutch had six ships taken or sunk, the -English losing none, but Blake was severely -wounded.</p> - -<p>The next day the fight was renewed off Weymouth -as fiercely as before, and was continued all -day, and at intervals through the night; and on -the third day the conflict still raged till four -o'clock in the afternoon, when the wind carrying -the contending fleets towards the shallow waters -between Boulogne and Calais, Van Tromp, -with his lesser ships, escaped from the English, -and pursued his course homewards, carrying the -merchant fleet safely there. In the three days' -fight the Dutch, according to their own account, -had lost nine men-of-war and twenty-four merchantmen; -according to the English account, -eleven men-of-war and thirty merchantmen. They -had two thousand men killed, and fifteen hundred -taken prisoners. The English had only one ship -sunk, though many of their vessels were greatly -damaged, and their loss of killed and wounded -was very severe. But they had decidedly beaten -the enemy, and the excitement in Holland, on the -return of the crest-fallen though valiant boaster -Van Tromp, was universal. It was now the turn -of the English sailors to boast, who declared that -they had paid off the Dutch for Amboyna. But -the defeat of their navy was nothing in comparison -to the general mischief done to their trade and -merchant shipping. Their fisheries employed one -hundred thousand persons: these were entirely -stopped; the Channel was now closed to their fleet, -and in the Baltic the English committed continual -ravages on their traders. Altogether, they had -now lost sixteen hundred ships, and they once -more condescended to seek for accommodation -with the English Parliament, which, however, -treated them with haughty indifference; and it -was, therefore, with great satisfaction that they -now beheld the change which took place in -England.</p> - -<p>The Reformers of various shades and creeds had -at first been combined by the one great feeling of -rescuing the country from the absolute principles -of the Stuarts. They had fought bravely side by -side for this great object; but in proportion as -they succeeded, the differences between themselves -became more apparent. The Presbyterians, Scots -and English, were bent on fixing their religious -opinions on the country as despotically as the -Catholics and Episcopalians had done before them. -But here they found themselves opposed by the -Independents, who had notions of religious freedom -far beyond the Presbyterians, and were not -inclined to yield their freedom to any other party -whatever. Their religious notions naturally disposed -them towards the same equalising system in -the State, and as the chiefs of the army were of -this denomination, they soon found themselves in -a condition to dictate to the parliament. Pride's -Purge left Parliament almost purely independent, -and it and the army worked harmoniously till the -sweeping victories of Cromwell created a jealousy -of his power. This power was the more supreme -because circumstances had dispersed the other -leading generals into distant scenes of action. -Monk and Lambert were in Scotland till Monk -was called to the fleet, Fleetwood was in Ireland, -Ireton was dead. The Long Parliament, or the -remnant of it, called the Rump, ably as it had -conducted affairs, was daily decreasing in numbers, -and dreaded to renew itself by election, because -it felt certain that anything like a free election -would return an overwhelming number of Presbyterians, -and that they would thus commit an act -of <em>felo de se</em>.</p> - -<p>At no period did what is called the Commonwealth -of England present any of the elements -of what we conceive by a republic, that is, by a -government of the free representatives of the -people. Had the people been allowed to send -their representatives, there would have been a -considerable number of Catholics, a much greater -number of Episcopalians, and both of these sections -Royalists. There would have been an overwhelming -number of Presbyterians, and a very -moderate one of Independents. The Government -was, therefore, speedily converted into an -oligarchy, at the head of which were the generals -of the army, and some few of the leaders of Parliament. -The army, by Pride's Purge, reduced -the Parliament to a junto, by turning out forcibly -the majority of the representatives of the people, -and the time was now fast approaching when it -must resolve itself into a military dictatorship.</p> - -<p>Cromwell had long been accused by his own -party of aiming at the possession of the supreme -power. At what time such ideas began to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -dawn in his mind is uncertain; but as he felt -himself rising above all his contemporaries by -the energy and the comprehensive character of -his mind, there is no doubt that he secretly -indulged them. Ludlow, Whitelock, Hutchinson, -and others, felt that such was the spirit -growing in him; and many of those who had -most admired his genius fell away from him, -and openly denounced his ambitious intentions -as they became more obvious. The excellent -Colonel Hutchinson and Sir Henry Vane charged -him with the ruin of the Commonwealth. But -Cromwell must have long felt that nothing but -a military power could maintain the ascendency -of those principles which he and his fellow Independents -entertained and held sacred. The world -was not prepared for them. The roots of royalty -were too deeply struck into the heart of the -nation by centuries of its existence, to be torn -out by the follies and tyrannies of one family. -But if a free Parliament, which it had been the -proud boast of the Reformers to be the sole seat -of the national power, could not exist; if the -sitting body calling itself a Parliament could -not even add to its members without endangering -its own existence either from itself or from the -jealousy of the army—what could exist? Clearly -nothing but a dictatorship, and the strongest man -must come uppermost. That strongest man was -without a question Cromwell.</p> - -<p>As early as 1649 two Bills had been brought -in to settle questions urgently demanded by the -people, an act for a general amnesty, and for -the termination of the present Parliament. On -his return from the battle of Worcester, Cromwell -reminded Parliament that these essential measures -had not been completed. He carried the amnesty, -so that all acts of hostility against the present -Government previous to the battle of Worcester -were pardoned, and the Royalists relieved from -the fear of fresh forfeitures. The termination of -Parliament was fixed for the 3rd of November, -1654, and the interval of three years was to be -zealously employed in framing a scheme for the -election of a new Parliament on the safest principles. -At the same time Cromwell was living -at Whitehall, in the house of the beheaded -king, and with almost the state and power of a -sovereign. He summoned, therefore, the council -of the army, and discussed amongst them what -they deemed necessary to be done.</p> - -<p>In this council it was agitated as to the best -form of government for England, whether a pure -republic, or a government with something of -monarchy in it. The officers were for a republic, -the lawyers for a limited monarchy. -Cromwell agreed that the government must have -something of monarchy in it, and asked who they -would choose if that were decided? The lawyers -said Charles Stuart, or if they found him too -much bent on power, his brother the Duke of -Gloucester. There can be little doubt but that -this was a feeler on the part of Cromwell, and -as he was never likely to acquiesce in the restoration -of a family which they had put down at so -much cost, it would have the effect of causing him -to proceed with caution. He had ascertained -that the army was opposed to a king; the lawyers -thought of no king but one from the old royal -line. These were facts to be pondered.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the Parliament, without proceeding -to lay a platform for its successor, evidenced a -jealousy of the ascendency of the army; it voted -a reduction of one-fourth of the army, and of -the monthly assessment for its support from one -hundred and twenty thousand pounds to ninety -thousand pounds. In June, 1652, it proposed -a fresh reduction, but this was opposed by the -military council, and in August the officers -appeared at the bar of the House with a petition, -calling the attention of the Parliament to -the great question of the qualifications of future -parliaments, to reform of the law and religious -abuses, to the dismissal of disaffected and scandalous -persons from office, to the arrears due to -the army, and to reform of malpractices in the -Excise and the Treasury.</p> - -<p>The contest between the army and the Parliament -was evidently growing every day more -active. The Commons had no desire to lay -down their authority and, to retain their existence, -even showed a leaning towards introducing -a number of Presbyterians under the name of -"Neuters." To such a project the army was -never likely to assent, and Cromwell proposed, -in the council at Whitehall, that Parliament -should be at once dissolved, and a national -council of forty persons, with himself at their -head, should conduct affairs till a new Parliament -could be called on established principles. -The opinion, however, was that such a proceeding -would be dangerous, and the authority -of the council be looked upon as unwarrantable.</p> - -<p>Whilst these matters were in agitation, Whitelock -says that Cromwell, on the 8th of November, -1652, desired a private interview with him, and -in this urged the necessity of taking prompt and -efficient measures for securing the great objects<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -for which they had fought, and which he termed -the mercies and successes which God had conferred -on the nation. He inveighed warmly -against the Parliament, and declared that the -army began to entertain a strange distaste to it; -adding that he wished there were not too much -reason for it. "And really," he continued, "their -pride, their self-seeking, their engrossing all -places of honour and profit to themselves and -their friends; their daily breaking forth into -new and violent parties and factions; their -delays of business, and designs to perpetuate -themselves, and to continue the power in their -own hands; their meddling in private matters -between party and party, contrary to the institution -of Parliament; their injustice and partiality -in these matters, and the scandalous lives of some -of the chief of them, do give much ground for -people to open their mouths against them, and -to dislike them." He concluded by insisting on -the necessity of some controlling power over them -to check these extravagances, or else nothing could -prevent the ruin of the Commonwealth.</p> - -<p>Whitelock admitted the truth of most of this, -but defended the Parliament generally, and reminded -Cromwell that it was the Parliament -which had granted them their authority, and to -Cromwell even his commission, and that it would -be hard for them, under those circumstances, to -curb their power.</p> - -<p>But Cromwell broke out—"We all forget God, -and God will forget us. God will give us up to -confusion, and these men will help it on if they be -suffered to proceed in their ways." And then, -after some further talk, he suddenly observed, -"What if a man should take upon him to be -king?" Whitelock saw plainly enough what -Oliver was thinking of, and replied as if he had -directly asked whether he should assume that -office himself. He told him that it would not -do, and that he was much better off, and more -influential as he was. "As to your person," he -observed, "the title of king would be of no -advantage, because you have the full kingly -power already concerning the militia." He reminded -him that in the appointment of civil -offices, though he had no formal veto, his will -was as much consulted as if he had, and so in -all other departments, domestic and foreign. -Moreover, he now had the power without the envy -and danger which the pomp and circumstance of -a king would bring.</p> - -<p>Cromwell still argued the point; contending -that though a man usurped the title without -royal descent, yet the possession of the crown -was declared by an Act of Henry VII. to make -a good title, and to indemnify the reigning king -and all his ministers for their acts. Whitelock -replied that, let their enemies once get the better -of them, all such bills and indemnifications would -be little regarded; and that to assume the crown -would at once convert the quarrel into one not -between the king and the nation, but between -Charles Stuart and Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell -admitted this, but asked what other course he -could propose. Whitelock said that of making -a good bargain with Charles, who was now down, -and might be treated with just on what terms -they pleased; or if they thought him too confirmed -in his opinions, there was the Duke of -York or the Duke of Gloucester. Cromwell did -not appear pleased with this suggestion; in fact, -he had resolved to seize the chief power in some -shape himself—and even had he not, he had too -much common sense to agree to admit any one of -the deposed family again to the throne, which -would be to put their necks in the certain noose -of royal vengeance. The death of Charles I. -could never be forgiven. From this time, Whitelock -says, though he made no accusation against -Cromwell, yet "his carriage towards me from -that time was altered, and his advising with me -not so frequent and intimate as before."</p> - -<p>Cromwell again, however, broached the subject -amongst the officers and members of the Council—St. -John, Lenthall the Speaker, Desborough, -Harrison, Fleetwood, and Whalley, not in so -direct a manner, but as that "a settlement, with -something of the monarchical in it, would be very -effectual." It does not appear that the project -was very unanimously received by them, but they -were agreed that a new representation must -take place, and no "Neuters" should be admitted. -Cromwell said emphatically, "Never shall any of -that judgment who have deserted the cause be -admitted to power." On the 19th of April the -debate on this subject was continued very warmly -till midnight, and they separated, to continue the -discussion on the next day. Most of the officers -had argued that the Parliament must be dissolved -"one way or another;" but the Parliament men -and lawyers, amongst them Whitelock and Widdrington, -contended that a hasty dissolution -would be dangerous, and Cromwell appeared to -lean towards the moderate view. But scarcely -had they met the next morning, and found a -strange absence of the members of Parliament, -and an almost equal absence of officers, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -Colonel Ingoldsby hastened in and informed them -that the Commons were hard at work pushing -forward their Bill for increasing their own numbers -by the introduction of Neuters; and that it -was evident that they meant to hurry it through -the House before the Council could be informed of -their attempt. Vane and others, well aware of -Cromwell's design, were thus exerting themselves -to defeat it.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_117.jpg" width="412" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CROMWELL ADDRESSING THE LONG PARLIAMENT FOR THE LAST TIME. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_117big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> - -<p>At this news Cromwell instantly ordered a file -of musketeers to attend him, and hastened to -the House of Commons, attended by Lambert, -Harrison, and some other officers. He left the -soldiers in the lobby of the House, and entering, -went straight to his seat, where he sat for some -time listening to the debate. He first spoke to -St. John, telling him that he was come for a -purpose which grieved him to the very soul, and -that he had sought the Lord with tears not to -impose it upon him; but there was a necessity, -and that the glory of God and the good of the -nation required it. He then beckoned Harrison -to him, and said that he judged that the Parliament -was ripe for dissolution. Harrison, who -was a Fifth-Monarchy man, and had been only -with much persuasion brought over to this design, -replied, "Sir, the work is very great and dangerous; -I desire you seriously to consider before you -engage in it." "You say well," answered the -general, and sat yet about a quarter of an hour -longer. But when the question was about to be -put, he said to Harrison, "This is the time; I -must do it;" and starting up, he took off his hat, -and began speaking. At first he spoke of the -question before the House, and commended the -Parliament for much that it had done, and well -he might; for whatever its present corruption, -it had nobly supported him and the fleet and -army in putting down all their enemies, and -raising the nation in the eyes of foreigners far -beyond its reputation for the last century. But -soon he came round to the corruption and self-seeking -of the members, accusing them of being -at that moment engaged in the very work of -bringing in the Presbyterians to destroy all that -they had suffered so much to accomplish. Sir -Harry Vane and Peter Wentworth ventured to call -him to order, declaring that that was strange and -unparliamentary language from a servant of the -House, and one that they had so much honoured. -"I know it," replied Cromwell; then stepping -forward into the middle of the floor, and putting -on his hat, and walking to and fro, casting angry -glances at different members, he exclaimed, "I tell -you, you are no Parliament. I will put an end -to your prating. For shame! get you gone! -Give place to honest men; to men who will -more faithfully discharge their trust. You are -no longer a Parliament. The Lord has done -with you. He has chosen other instruments for -carrying on His work."</p> - -<p>With that he stamped upon the floor, and the -soldiers appearing at the door, he bade Harrison -bring them in. The musketeers instantly surrounded -him, and laying his hand on the mace, -he said, "What shall we do with this bauble? -Take it away," and he handed it to a soldier. -Then looking at Lenthall the Speaker, he said -to Harrison, "Fetch him down!" Lenthall declared -that he would not move from his proper -post unless he was forced out of it. "Sir," said -Harrison, "I will lend you a hand," and taking -hold of him, he brought him down, and he walked -out of the House. Algernon Sydney, then but -a young member, happened to sit next to the -Speaker, and Cromwell said, "Put <em>him</em> out!" -Sydney, like the Speaker, refused to move, but -Cromwell reiterated the command, "Put him -out!" and Harrison and Worsley, the lieutenant-colonel -of Cromwell's regiment of Ironsides, laying -each a hand on his shoulder, the young patriot -did not wait for the ignominy of being dragged -from his seat, but rose and followed the Speaker. -Cromwell then went on weeding out the members, -with epithets of high reproach to each of -them. Alderman Allen bade him pause and send -out the soldiers, and that all might yet be well; -but Cromwell only replied, "It is you that have -forced me upon this. I have sought the Lord -day and night that He would rather slay me -than put me upon this work." He then charged -the alderman with embezzlement, as treasurer to -the army; and taking first one and then another -by the cloak, he said to Challoner, "Thou art -a drunkard!" To Wentworth, "Thou art an -adulterer!" To Martin, "Thou art a still more -lewd character!" Vane, as he was forced past -him, exclaimed, "This is not honest; yea, it is -against morality and common honesty." "O, -Sir Harry Vane, Sir Harry Vane!" exclaimed -Cromwell, "the Lord deliver me from Sir Harry -Vane!" Thus he saw the House cleared, no -one daring to raise a hand against him, though, -says Whitelock, "many wore swords, and would -sometimes brag high." When all were gone, -Cromwell locked the door, and put the key in -his pocket. He then returned to Whitehall, and -told the Council of officers, who yet remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -sitting, what he had done. "When I went to the -House," he said, "I did not think to do this, but -perceiving the spirit of the Lord strong upon me, -I resolved no longer to consult flesh and blood."</p> - -<p>Such was the manner in which the last vestige -of representative government was swept away by -Cromwell. Charles I. roused the fiery indignation -of Parliament, and of all England, as a violater -of the privileges of Parliament, by entering the -House to seize five members who had offended -him. Cromwell, who had been one of the first -to resist and to avenge this deed, now marched -in his soldiers and turned out the whole Parliament, -about fifty members, with impunity. -"They went away so quietly," said Cromwell, -"that not a dog barked at their going." Such -is the difference between a private man with a -victorious army at his back, and one who, though -with the name of a king, has lost a nation's -confidence by his want of moral honesty. The -act of Cromwell was the death of all constitutional -life whatever, it was in opposition to all -parties but the army; yet no man dared assume -the attitude of a patriot; the military Dictatorship -was accomplished (April 20, 1653).</p> - -<p>Cromwell's whole excuse was necessity; that -without his seizure of the supreme power, the -Commonwealth could not exist. It ceased to -exist by his very deed, and if he saved the faint -form of a republic, it was only for five years. -As we have seen the great example to the -nations of the responsibility of kings, we have -now to see an equally significant one of the -impossibility of maintaining long any form of -government that is not based on the mature -opinion and attachment of the people. Republicanism -was not the faith of England in the -seventeenth century, and therefore neither the -despotism of Charles could create a republic with -any permanence in it, nor the strenuous grasp -of Cromwell maintain it beyond the term of his -own existence.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of this celebrated <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">coup d'état</i>, -Cromwell proceeded to Derby House, accompanied -by Harrison and Lambert, where the Council was -still sitting, and thus addressed the members:—"Gentlemen, -if you are here met as private persons, -you shall not be disturbed; but if as a -Council of State, this is no place for you; and -since you cannot but know what was done at -the House this morning, so take notice that the -Parliament is dissolved." Bradshaw, who was -presiding, said that they knew, and that all England -would soon know; but that if he thought -that the Parliament was dissolved, he was mistaken, -"for that no power under Heaven could -dissolve them, except themselves. Therefore take -you notice of that." Sir Arthur Haselrig and -others supported this protest, and then the Council -withdrew.</p> - -<p>Cromwell and his party immediately held a -council as to what steps were to be taken, and -on the 22nd they issued a declaration in the name -of the Lord-General and his council of officers, -ordering all authorities to continue their functions -as before; and in return, addresses of confidence -arrived from generals and admirals. On the 6th -of June Oliver, in his own name as Captain-General -and Commander-in-Chief of all the armies and -forces, issued a summons to one hundred and forty -persons to meet and constitute a Parliament. -Six were also summoned from Wales, six from -Ireland, and five from Scotland. On the 4th of -July about one hundred and twenty of these -persons, of Cromwell's own selection—persons, -according to his summons, "fearing God, and of -approved fidelity and honesty"—met in the -Council-chamber at Whitehall. Many of these -were gentlemen of good repute and abilities—some -of them were nobles, others of noble families—as -Colonel Montague, Colonel Howard, and -Anthony Ashley Cooper. Others, however, were -of little worldly standing, but had been selected -on account of their religious zeal and character. -Amongst them was one Barbon, a leatherseller in -Fleet Street, who had acquired the cognomen of -Praise-God, and whose name being purposely misspelled -became Praise-God Barebone, and the -Royalist wits of the time, therefore, dubbed the -Parliament Barebone's Parliament.</p> - -<p>The more common appellation of this singular -Parliament was "The Little Parliament." Cromwell -opened their session with a very long and -extraordinary speech, in which he gave a history -of the past contest with the monarchy, and the -mercies with which they had been crowned at -Naseby, Dunbar, Worcester, and other places; -of the backslidings of the Long Parliament, and -the "necessity" to remove it and call this -assembly. He quoted a vast quantity of Scripture, -and told them that they were called of God -to introduce practical religion into State affairs; -and he then delivered into their hands an instrument, -consigning to them the supreme power -in the State till the 3rd of September, 1654, three -months previous to which date they were to elect -their successors, who were to sit only for a year, -and in turn elect their successors.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> - -<p>This resignation of the supreme power once in -his hands, has been described by historians as a -gross piece of hypocrisy, used to avoid the odium -of seizing for himself the power of the Parliament, -which he had forcibly dissolved. Whether that -were the case or not, it certainly was a prudent -policy, and a safe one, for he knew very well -that he possessed supreme power as head of the -army, and could, if necessary, dismiss this Parliament -as he had done the former one. In -their character of pietists or saints, as they were -called, this Parliament opened its session by -electing Francis Rouse their Speaker, and -by exercises of devotion, which continued from -eight in the morning till six at night. Thirteen -of the most gifted members preached and prayed -in succession, and they adjourned, declaring that -they had never enjoyed so much of the spirit -and presence of Christ in any meetings for worship -as they had done that day. It was moved -the next morning that they "should go on seeking -the Lord" that day too, but this was overruled, -and Monday, the 11th, was fixed for that purpose. -They then voted themselves the Parliament -of the Commonwealth of England, invited -Cromwell and four of his staff to sit as members -amongst them, and on the 9th of July re-appointed -the Council of State, amongst whom -we find the names of Colonel Montague, afterwards -Earl of Sandwich, the uncle of the poet -Dryden, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Lord Viscount -Lisle, brother of Algernon Sydney, Sir Ashley -Cooper, and other names of equal note; and however -they might be ridiculed on account of their -religion, they soon showed that they were conscientious -and independent men. The strongest -proof of this was that they did not shrink from -opposing the power and interests of Cromwell, -who had selected them. Scarcely were they met, -when they were appealed to to decide upon the -case of John Lilburne, who, on the dissolution -of the Long Parliament, petitioned Cromwell to -allow him to return from his banishment. Cromwell -gave no reply, but independent John took -the liberty of appearing in London. He was at -once seized and committed to Newgate. Lilburne, -supported by his friends, petitioned the -House to hear and decide the case, though it was -the proper business of a jury. They might now -have gratified their patron, whom Lilburne had -continually assailed as a "robber," a "usurper," and -a "murderer;" but they declined to interfere, and -left him to the ordinary criminal court. There -Lilburne so ably defended himself that he was -acquitted; but he was again seized on the plea -of libellous and seditious language used on his -trial, and the House could then no longer refuse, -at the instigation of the Council, to imprison him. -Being removed from the Tower to Elizabeth -Castle, in Jersey, and thence to Dover Castle, -he there became a convert to the principles of -George Fox, a remarkable end for so fiery and -democratic a character. The Parliament lost no -time in proceeding to assert that divine commission, -which Cromwell, in his opening speech, -had attributed to their call through him. They -declared that they were appointed by the Lord, -and would have greatly alarmed Cromwell had -he not taken care to include amongst them a -sufficient number of his staunch adherents. But -they excited the same alarm in a variety of other -classes. They set to work resolutely in cutting -down the expenditure of the Government; they -abolished all unnecessary offices; they revised the -regulations of the Excise; reformed the constitution -of the Treasury; reduced exorbitant salaries, -and examined thoroughly the public accounts; -they adopted measures for the sale of the confiscated -lands, and enacted rules for the better -registration of births, deaths, and marriages. -They went further; they made marriage by a -civil magistrate valid, and, indeed, necessary for -the enjoyment of the civil effects of marriage. -Marriage by a clergyman was left optional still.</p> - -<p>They next attacked the unequal and oppressive -modes of raising the one hundred and twenty -thousand pounds a month for the maintenance -of the army; the assessments in some cases -amounting to two, in others, to ten shillings in -the pound. From taxation they proceeded to -law, and prepared a Bill to abolish the Court of -Chancery, in which the abuses and delays had -been a constant source of complaint in petitions -to Parliament for years. But they were not -content with destroying the Court of Chancery, -they set about a general reform of the laws. -They contended that every Englishman should -understand the laws of his country, and that by -a proper digest they might be reduced to the -compass of a pocket volume. They, in fact, -anticipated Napoleon in his Code, and appointed -a committee to make the necessary revision, and -to weed the real and useful statutes out of the -chaotic mass of contradictory, obsolete, and unjust -laws which overlaid them; the dicta of judges -in many cases superseded and prevented the -original enactments, so that men's lives and properties -were at the mercy, not of the decrees of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> -Parliament, but the opinions of individuals. It -may be imagined what a consternation this daring -innovation excited throughout Westminster Hall, -and all the dusky, cobwebby cells of the lawyers. -A terrible cry was raised that a set of ignorant -men were about to destroy the whole noble -system of British jurisprudence, and to introduce -instead the law of Moses!</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_121a.jpg" width="400" height="179" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>TOKEN OF THE COMMONWEALTH (COPPER).</p></div> -</div> - -<p>But the projects of these radical Reformers were -cut short by the universal outcry from lawyers, -churchmen, officials, and a host of interested -classes. They were represented as a set of mad -fanatics, who in Parliament were endeavouring to -carry out the wild doctrines which the Anabaptists -and Fifth-Monarchy men were preaching out of -doors. Borne down by public opinion, Cromwell -was compelled to dissolve them, in fact to resume -the supreme power which he had committed to -them. Accordingly, on the 12th of December, -Cromwell's friends mustered in full strength, and -Colonel Sydenham moved that, as the proceedings -of Parliament were regarded as calculated to overturn -almost every interest in the country, they could -not proceed, and that they should restore their authority -to the hands whence they had received it. -The motion was vehemently opposed, but the Independents -had adopted their plan. The mover -declared that he would no longer sit in an assembly -which must be rendered abortive by general opposition. -He therefore rose: the Speaker, who was -one of the party, rose too, and the Independents, -forming a procession, proceeded to Whitehall, -and resigned their commission into the hands of -Cromwell. The staunch dissentients remained and -engaged in prayer, in which act two -officers, Goffe and White, sent to close -the House, found them. White asked -them what they did there. They replied, -"We are seeking the Lord." -"Then," said he, rudely, "you may go -somewhere else, for to my certain knowledge, -the Lord has not been here these -many years."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_121b.jpg" width="450" height="226" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>BROAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH (GOLD).</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_121c.jpg" width="500" height="248" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CROWN OF THE COMMONWEALTH (SILVER).</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Cromwell affected to receive with -reluctance the onerous charge of the -supreme power and responsibility; but -the officers urged its necessity, and the -document being soon signed by eighty -members, he acceded to it. The council of officers -and ministers decided that it was necessary to have -"a commonwealth in a single person;" and a new -constitution was drawn up; and on the 16th of -December Cromwell, dressed in a suit and cloak of -black velvet, with long boots and a broad gold -band round his hat, proceeded in his carriage from -Whitehall to the Court of Chancery. The way -was lined by files of soldiers, consisting of five -regiments of foot and three of horse. A long procession -followed, including the Lord Mayor, aldermen, -and City officers, the two Commissioners of -the Great Seal, the judges, the councillors of State -and of the army. On reaching the Court of -Chancery, Cromwell took his place before a chair -of State, which had been placed on a rich carpet, -the Commissioners of the Great Seal standing on -his right and left, the judges ranging themselves behind, -and the civil and military officers disposing -of themselves on each hand. Lambert then -stepped forward and addressed the Lord-General. -He spoke of the dissolution of Parliament, and of -the necessity of a strong Government, not liable -to be paralysed by contending opinions; and he -prayed the Lord-General, in the name of the army<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -and of the official authorities of the three kingdoms, -to accept the office of Lord-Protector of the -Commonwealth, and to govern it for the public -good by a constitution already drawn up. Cromwell -assented, and thereupon Jessop, a clerk of the -council, read what was called "The Instrument of -Government," consisting of forty-two articles. The -chief of these were, that the legislative power -should be invested in the Lord-Protector and the -Parliament; but chiefly in the Parliament, for -every Act passed by them was to become law at -the end of twenty days, though the Protector -should refuse it his consent. Parliament should -not be adjourned, prorogued, or dissolved without -its own consent, for five months; and there was to -be a new Parliament called within three years of -the dissolution of the last. The members of the -Parliament were adopted from a plan by Vane, -brought forward during the Long Parliament—namely, -three hundred and forty members for -England and Wales, thirty for Scotland, and thirty -for Ireland. The members were to be chosen -chiefly from the counties, and no papist, Malignant, -or any one who had borne arms against the -Parliament, was admissible. In the Protector -resided the power of making war or peace with -the consent of the Council; he held the disposal of -the militia, and of the regular forces and the navy, -the appointment of all public offices with the -approbation of Parliament, or during the recess of -Parliament with that of the Council, subject to the -after-approval of Parliament; but he could make -no law, nor impose taxes without consent of Parliament. -The civil list was fixed at two hundred -thousand pounds, and a revenue for the army -capable of maintaining thirty thousand men, with -such a navy as the Lord-Protector should deem -necessary. The elective franchise extended to -persons possessed of property worth two hundred -pounds, and sixty members of Parliament should -constitute a quorum. All persons professing faith -in Jesus Christ were to enjoy the exercise of their -religion except papists, prelatists, or such as -taught doctrines subversive of morality. Cromwell -was named Lord-Protector for life, and his successor -was to be elected by the Council, and no -member of the family of the late king, or any of -his line, should be capable of election. A Council -was specially named by the Instrument, to consist -of Philip, Lord Viscount Lisle, brother of Algernon -Sydney; Fleetwood; Lambert; Sir Gilbert -Pickering; Sir Charles Wolseley; Sir Anthony -Ashley Cooper; Edward Montague; John Desborough, -brother-in-law of Cromwell; Walter -Strickland; Henry Lawrence; William Sydenham; -Philip Jones; Richard Mayor, father-in-law -of Richard Cromwell; Francis Rouse; Philip -Skipton, or any seven of them, with power in the -Protector, and a majority of the Council, to add -to their number. Thurloe, the historian, was -secretary of the Council, and Milton Latin -secretary.</p> - -<p>This Instrument being ready, Cromwell swore -solemnly to observe it, and to cause it to be -observed; and then Lambert, kneeling, offered the -Protector a civic sword in the scabbard, which he -took, laying aside his own, as indicating that he -thenceforward would govern by the new constitution, -and not by military authority. He then -seated himself, covered, in the chair of State, all -besides standing uncovered; he then received from -the Commissioners the Great Seal, and from the -Lord Mayor the sword and cap of maintenance, -which he immediately returned to them. On this -the court rose, and the Lord-Protector returned in -state to Whitehall, the Lord Mayor bearing the -sword before him, amid the shouting of the soldiers -and the firing of cannon. The next day, the 17th -of December, the Lord-Protector was proclaimed -by sound of trumpet in Westminster and in the -City, and thus had the successful general, the -quondam farmer of Huntingdon, arrived at the seat -of supreme power, at the seat of a long line of -famous kings, though not with the name of king, -to which many suspected him of aspiring. Yet -even without the royal dignity, he soon found the -position anything but an enviable one, for he was -surrounded by hosts of men still vowed to his -destruction and the restoration of the monarchy; -and amongst those who had fought side by side -with him towards this august eminence, were -many who regarded his assumption of it as a -crime, to be expiated only by his death. Though -there is no reason to believe that the bulk of the -nation was otherwise than satisfied with the -change, his supporters were lukewarm while his -enemies were ardent. There was no disguising -the fact that until Parliament met his government -was one of naked absolutism. The Protector -forthwith established a body of "Triers" -who proceeded to examine the religious beliefs -of candidates for vacant benefices, and promptly -presented them if the result of the examination -was satisfactory. Before we proceed, however, -to notice his struggles with his secret or avowed -enemies, and with his new Parliament, we must -notice what had been doing meanwhile in the -war with Holland, which had still been raging.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> - -<p class="p6">THE COMMONWEALTH (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Naval Victory over the Dutch—Death of Van Tromp—<em>Quasi</em>-Royal State of the Lord-Protector—Disaffection against Cromwell—His -Vigorous Rule—Charles II. offers a Reward for his Assassination—Rebellions in Scotland—Cromwell's -Dealings with the Portuguese Ambassador—Reform of the Court of Chancery—Commission for Purgation of the -Church—The Reformed Parliament—Exclusion of the Ultras—Dissolution of Parliament—Danger from Plots—Accident -to the Protector—Death of Cromwell's Mother—Royalist Outbreaks—Cromwell's Major-Generals—Foreign -Policy—War with Spain—Massacre of the Piedmontese—Capture of Jamaica—The Jews Appeal for Toleration—Cromwell's -Third Parliament—Plots against his Life—The Petition and Advice—Cromwell Refuses the Royal Title—Blake's Brilliant -Victory at Santa Cruz—Death of Blake—Successes against Spain—Failure of the Reconstructed Parliament—Punishment -of Conspirators—Victory in the Netherlands—Absolutism of Cromwell—His Anxieties, Illness, and Death—Proclamation -of Richard Cromwell—He calls a Parliament—It is Dissolved—Reappearance of the Rump—Richard -Retires—Royalist Risings—Quarrels of the Army and the Rump—General Monk—He Marches upon London—Demands -a Free Parliament—Royalist Reaction—Declaration of Breda—Joyful Reception of Charles.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>In May, 1653, the fleets of England and Holland, -each amounting to one hundred sail, put to sea. -That of England was under the command of Monk, -Dean, Penn, and Lawson; that of Holland under -Van Tromp, De Ruyter, De Witt, and Evertsens. -At first they passed each other, and whilst Monk -ravaged the coast of Holland, Van Tromp was -cannonading Dover. At length, on the 2nd of -June, they met off the North Foreland, and a desperate -conflict took place, in which Dean was -killed at the side of Monk. Monk immediately -threw his cloak over the body, to avoid discouraging -the men, and fought on through the day. In -the night Blake arrived with eighteen additional -sail, and at dawn the battle was renewed. The -result was that the Dutch were beaten, lost one-and-twenty -sail, and had thirteen hundred men -taken prisoners, besides great numbers killed and -wounded. The English pursued the flying vessels -to the coast of Holland, and committed many -ravages amongst their merchantmen. But the -undaunted Van Tromp, on the 29th of July, appeared -again at sea, with above a hundred sail. -Monk stood out to sea for more battle-room, and -one of the Dutch captains, seeing this, said to -Van Tromp that they were running; but Van -Tromp, who knew the English better, replied -curtly, "Sir, look to your own charge, for were -there but twenty sail, they would never refuse to -fight us." Monk, on his part, ordered his captains -to attempt making no prizes, but to sink and -destroy all the ships they could. The battle, therefore, -raged furiously, from five in the morning till -ten; but at length the gallant Van Tromp fell dead -by a musket-shot, and the courage of the Dutch -gave way. In this fight the Dutch lost thirty -ships, about one thousand prisoners, besides great -numbers of slain, the English losing only two -vessels.</p> - -<p>These splendid victories enabled Cromwell to -conclude advantageous treaties with Holland, -France, Denmark, Portugal, and Sweden. Most of -these Powers sent over ambassadors to congratulate -him on his elevation, and these were received -at Whitehall with much state. The royal apartments -were furnished anew in very magnificent -style, and in the banqueting-room was placed a -chair of State raised on a platform with three -steps, and the Lord-Protector gave audience seated -in it. The ambassadors were instructed to make -three obeisances, one at the entrance, one in the -middle of the room, and the third in front of the -chair, which the Protector acknowledged with a -grave inclination of the head. The same ceremony -was repeated on retiring. Cromwell received the -ambassadors of Holland to dinner, sitting on one -side of the table alone, and the ambassadors with a -few of the lords of the Council on the other. The -Lady-Protectress at the same time entertained -their ladies. In his appearances abroad the Protector -assumed very much the state of a king with -State coaches, Life Guards, pages, and lacqueys -richly clothed. He took up his abode instantly in -the royal palaces, quitting the Cockpit altogether, -Whitehall being his town house, and Hampton -Court his country one, where he generally went on -Saturday afternoon, and spent the Sunday.</p> - -<p>It was not, however, without many heartburnings -and some plots for his destruction that his -wonderful elevation was witnessed by many of his -old comrades, as well as his natural enemies.</p> - -<p>The Anabaptists and Fifth-Monarchy men, who -carried their notions of political liberty as far beyond -Cromwell as the Chartists of more modern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -times carried theirs beyond the Whigs, were -exceedingly violent, and denounced him as an -apostate and deceiver. Feak and Powell, two -Anabaptist preachers in Blackfriars, thundered -from their pulpits against him as the "beast in -the Apocalypse," the "old dragon," and the "man -of sin." "Go, tell your Protector," they cried, -"that he has deceived the Lord's people, and is -a perjured villain." They declared that he was -worse than the last tyrant usurper, the crookback -Richard, and would not reign long.</p> - -<p>Having borne the violent abuse of these men -for some time, he at length sent them to the -Tower. But amongst his own generals and former -colleagues were men not less exasperated. Harrison -and Ludlow were Fifth-Monarchy men, who -believed that none but Christ ought to reign, and -they joined the most disaffected. Harrison being -asked if he would own the new protectoral government, -answered fiercely, "No!" and Cromwell -was obliged to send him to his own house in the -country, and afterwards to commit him also to the -Tower. Vane and others were not less angered, -though less openly violent.</p> - -<p>Cromwell expressed much sorrow at these symptoms -of resentment amongst his old friends, and -declared that he would much rather, so far as his -own inclinations were concerned, have taken a -shepherd's staff than that of the Protector. In -Scotland and Ireland there was much dissatisfaction -at the new revolution, as it was called. -Even Fleetwood, his son-in-law, scarcely knew -how to receive it, and Ludlow and Jones expressed -no unequivocal discontent. Colonel Alured had -been sent to Ireland to conduct certain forces to -Monk in the Scottish Highlands, but he was an -Anabaptist, and became so insubordinate that -Cromwell dismissed him both from his commission -and from the army. Ludlow refused to continue -on the Irish Civil Commission. Cromwell, however, -sent over his son Henry on a visit to Fleetwood, -so that he might learn the true state of the -army, and the most active or formidable of the -malcontent officers were removed to England, or -by degrees dismissed from the service.</p> - -<p>In Scotland similar disaffection was apparent, -but there active service against the Royalists, who -were also astir with fresh vigour on this occasion, -tended to divert their attention from their discontents. -Charles II., from Paris, about Easter, -issued a proclamation, supposed to be drawn up -by Clarendon, offering five hundred pounds a year -and a colonelcy in the army to any one who would -take off by sword, pistol, or poison, "a certain base, -mechanic fellow, by name Oliver Cromwell," who -had usurped his throne. His partisans in Scotland -seized the opportunity to renew the war. -The Earls of Glencairn and Balcarres, Angus, -Montrose, Seaforth, Atholl, Kenmure, and Lorne, -the son of Argyll, were up in arms. Charles sent -over General Middleton to take the chief command, -and Cromwell ordered Monk again from the victorious -fleet to hasten to the Highlands to oppose -him, Colonel Robert Lilburne having in the meantime -made a successful assault upon them. Monk -speedily defeated Middleton and his associates, and -the Scots lords lost no time in making their submission. -Cromwell had subdued the rebellion -completely by August, but still earlier he had -abolished all separate rule in Scotland. In April -he published three ordinances, by which he incorporated -England with Scotland, abolished the -Monarchy and Parliament in that country, and -absolved the people from their allegiance to Charles -Stuart, erecting courts baron instead of those suppressed. -The people who contended through so -many bloody wars against English monarchs who -had attempted the same thing, now quietly submitted -to this plebeian but energetic conqueror, -and the Kirk only defied his authority by meeting -in assembly in Edinburgh on the 20th of July. -But there presently appeared amongst them -Colonel Cotterel, who bade them depart, and -marched them a mile out of the city between -two files of soldiers, to the astonishment and -terror of the inhabitants, where he informed them -that if any of them were found in the capital after -eight o'clock the next morning, or attempted to sit -or meet more than three together, he would imprison -them as disturbers of the public peace. Our -old acquaintance, Baillie, beheld this amazing -spectacle with consternation. "Thus," he exclaimed, -"our General Assembly, the glory and -strength of our Church upon earth, is by your -soldiery crushed and trodden under foot. For this -our hearts are sad and our eyes run down with -water." Yet it does not appear that real religion -suffered at all by Cromwell's innovations, either -in Scotland or in England, for Kirkton says of the -Kirk, "I verily believe there were more souls converted -unto Christ in that short period of time -than in any season since the Reformation. Ministers -were painsful, people were diligent. At their -solemn communions many congregations met in -great multitudes, some dozens of ministers used to -preach, and the people continued, as it were, in a -sort of trance, so serious were they in spiritual -exercises, for three days at least." Baxter, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> -England, though a decided enemy of Cromwell, -confessed that, by his weeding out scandalous -ministers, and putting in "able, serious preachers, -who lived a godly life," though of various opinions, -"many thousands of souls blessed God" for what -was done.</p> - -<p>The proclamation of Charles, rendered abortive -in the Highlands, was not without its effects in -England. One Major Henshaw came over from -Paris, and proposed to assassinate Cromwell as he -went to Hampton Court. His plan was to get -thirty stout men for the purpose. A young enthusiastic -gentleman named Gerard undertook to -procure twenty-five of them, and Colonel Finch -and Henshaw were to bring the other five. Vowel, -a schoolmaster of Islington, was very zealous in -the plot, and aided in procuring arms; Billingsley, -a butcher of Smithfield, engaging to seize the -troopers' horses grazing in Islington fields. The -soldiers were then to be fallen upon at the Mews, -Charles II. was to be proclaimed, Rupert was to -appear with a large force of Royalists, English, -Irish, and Scots, and there was to be a general -rising. Saturday, the 20th of May, was the day -fixed for Cromwell's assassination; but before this -wild scheme could be commenced, forty of the -conspirators were seized, some of them in their -beds. Vowel was hanged, and Gerard was -beheaded on the 10th of July—the manner of the -latter's punishment being thus changed at his own -request, as being a gentleman and a soldier.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_125.jpg" width="560" height="416" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE GREAT HALL, HAMPTON COURT PALACE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_125big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The same day, and on the same scaffold as -Gerard, was executed Don Pantaleone Sa, the -brother of the Portuguese Ambassador. Sa had a -quarrel with this same Gerard, who was called -"Generous Gerard," an enthusiastic Royalist. -They came to fighting at the Royal Exchange, -where Gerard, drawing his rapier, forced the Don -to fly, whereupon the next day he returned to the -Exchange in search of Gerard, with a body of -armed followers, and mistaking a man of the name -of Greenway for Gerard, they killed him, wounded -Colonel Mayo, and were not subdued without -much riot. Sa was seized, tried, and condemned -for this deliberate murder. He pleaded that he -belonged to the embassy, and was therefore exempt -from the tribunals of this country, but neither this -nor the zealous exertions of his brother, the ambassador, -could save him; he was condemned to -die. Cromwell, though on the verge of concluding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -a treaty with Portugal, would not concede a pardon -to the bloodthirsty Portuguese, who had been -found guilty by a jury of half Englishmen and -half foreigners. He went to Tower Hill in a coach -and six, attended by numbers of the attachés of -the embassy in mourning, and his brother signed -the treaty and left the country. Such an exhibition -of firmness and impartiality, refusing to -make any distinction in a murderer, whether noble -or commoner, evinced great moral courage in -Cromwell; but another execution, which took -place a short time before—namely, on the 23rd of -June—was not so creditable to him. This was -the hanging of an old Catholic priest, named -Southworth, who had been convicted thirty-seven -years before, under the bloody laws of James -against Popish priests, and had been banished. -Being now discovered in the country, he was tried -for that offence and put to death. On the scaffold -he justly upbraided the Government with having -taken arms for liberty, yet shedding the blood -of those who differed from them on religious -grounds. The stern persecution of Popery was, -in fact, a blot on Cromwell's character; he had -not in that respect outgrown his age.</p> - -<p>Whilst these and other plots were exacting from -the Protector a severe compensation for his high -position, he was yet steadily prosecuting measures -for the better administration of the national -government. Being empowered by the Instrument -of government, with his Council, not only -to raise sufficient money for the necessary demands -of government, but also "to make laws and ordinances -for the peace and welfare of these nations," -he actually made no less than sixty ordinances, -many of them of singular wisdom and excellence. -He and his Council, in fact, showed that they -were in earnest to make the execution of justice -cheap and prompt, and to revive a pure and -zealous ministry of the gospel. In one of these -ordinances they effected the Herculean labour -which Barebone's Parliament had aimed at—the -reformation of the Court of Chancery, the -ordinance for this purpose consisting of no less -than sixty-seven articles. Well might Cromwell, -on the opening of Parliament, refer with pride to -this great event, an event which would have taken -our modern law-makers twenty years to accomplish, -which, in fact, they have not accomplished -yet. "The Chancery," he said in his speech, "is -reformed." What a speech in four words, sufficient -to have made the reign of any king famous! -"The Chancery is reformed—I hope to the satisfaction -of all good men." This had partly been -done by distributing the causes through the other -"courts of law at Westminster, where Englishmen -love to have their rights tried." In order, -too, to effect a most just and speedy discharge of -the laws, he put better judges on the Bench, -amongst them the pious Sir Matthew Hale, and -made Thurloe, the friend of Milton, Secretary of -State.</p> - -<p>Two others of his ordinances were intended to -purify the Church of unfit ministers, and to introduce -fit and pious ones. This established two -commissions, one for the examination of all clergymen -offering themselves for the incumbency of any -church living, and the other for inquiring after -and expelling any "scandalous, ignorant, or insufficient -ministers who already occupied such." -These commissioners were to be permanent, so -that the Church in all parts of the country should -be purged of improper preachers, and supplied -with able and good ones. The supreme commission -for the trial of public preachers consisted of -thirty-eight members—twenty-nine clergymen, nine -laymen—and these were both Presbyterians and -Independents, some even Anabaptists, for the -Protector was less interested in what sect they -belonged to, than in the fact that they were pious -and able men. The commission for purging the -Church consisted of from fifteen to thirty Puritan -gentlemen and Puritan clergymen for each county; -and when they dismissed a minister for unfitness, -his family had some income allowed them. -Many of the members of these last boards were -chosen indiscriminately from the friends or enemies -of the Protectorate, provided they were known men -of real piety and judgment. Amongst these were -Lord Fairfax, Thomas Scott, a zealous Republican, -Admiral Blake, Sir Arthur Haselrig, Richard -Mayor, the father-in-law of Richard Cromwell, for -whom Cromwell entertained a high regard and -respect, and had him in both Parliament, Council, -and various commissions. Baxter was one of -them, and, as we have said, spoke well of the -operation of the system.</p> - -<p>But the 3rd of September arrived, Oliver's -fortunate day, on which he had appointed the -meeting of Parliament. As the day fell on a -Sunday, the members met in the afternoon for -worship in Westminster Abbey, where they waited -on the Protector in the Painted Chamber, who -addressed them in a speech, and they then went -to the House and adjourned to the next morning. -Cromwell went that day to the House in great -State, in his carriage, with his Life Guards, a -captain of the guard walking on each side, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -the Commissioners of the Great Seal and other -State officers following in coaches. After a sermon -in the Abbey Church they proceeded to the -Painted Chamber, where the Protector made a -speech of three hours in the delivery. A chair of -State, marvellously resembling a throne, raised on -steps, and with a canopy, was placed for the -Protector, who sat with his hat on, whilst the -members sat bareheaded. On rising to speak he -took off his hat, and made what Whitelock -styles "a large and subtle speech." It was -largely illustrated by Scripture quotations, it is -true, for that was inseparable from the religious -temperament of Cromwell; but it gave a clear -review of the causes which had led to the overthrow -of the monarchy, the rise of the Commonwealth, -and particularly of its then form, as well -as of the measures which he had adopted in -Council, in the interim between his appointment -and the meeting of Parliament. He told them -that he regarded their greatest functions to be at -that time "healing and settling;" a profound -truth—for the nation, and in it every class of -men, had been so torn and rent in every fibre, -that to soothe and heal was the highest art and -policy. Every man's hand, and every man's head, -he justly observed, had been against his brother, -and no sooner had they put down despotism, than -liberty itself began to grow wild, and threaten -them with equal danger. The Levellers, the -Fifth-Monarchy men, the Communists of St. -George's Hill, had compelled them to put the drag -on the chariot wheels of freedom, or it would -soon have taken fire. In all such revolutions, the -principles of human right are pushed on by -sanguine men, beyond all chance of support from -a settled public opinion; and Oliver truly told -them that had they gained their object for a -moment, it could not have lasted long, but would -have in the meantime served the turn of selfish -men, who, having obtained public property, would -have "cried up property and interest fast enough."</p> - -<p>He referred with satisfaction to the means -taken to insure a pure ministry, and argued for -the necessity of State interference in religion, -but such interference should only be for promoting -a good and virtuous ministry, and by no -means infringe on "liberty of conscience and -liberty of the subject, two as glorious things as -any that God hath given us." His fears of -religious license were chiefly excited by Fifth-Monarchists; -yet he did not deny that such a -monarchy must come in process of time. "It is a -notion," he said, "that I hope we all honour, and -wait and hope for the fulfilment of, that Jesus -Christ <em>will</em> have a time to set up a reign in our -hearts, by subduing those lusts, and corruptions, -and evils that are there, which now reign more in -the world that I hope in due time they shall do. -And when more fulness of the Spirit is poured -forth to subdue iniquity, and bring in everlasting -righteousness, then will the approach of that -glory be. The cardinal divisions and contentions, -among Christians so common, are not the symptoms -of that kingdom. But for men on this -principle to betitle themselves, that they are the -only men to rule kingdoms, govern nations, and -give laws to people, and determine of property -and liberty, and everything else, upon such a pretension -as this is, truly they had need to give clear -manifestations of God's presence with them, before -wise men will receive or submit to their conclusions." -Still he recommended tenderness towards -them, and that if their extravagances -necessitated punishment, this should "evidence -love, and not hatred."</p> - -<p>He next referred to the treaties with foreign -nations, amongst which, he said, that with Portugal -had obtained "a thing which never before -was since the Inquisition was set up there—that -our people who trade thither have liberty of conscience, -liberty to worship God in chapels of their -own."</p> - -<p>He finally inculcated on them the necessity for -maintaining as much peace as possible, not only -that they might restore the internal condition of -the nation, and reduce the excessive taxation -occasioned by the war on land and sea, but also -to prevent foreign nations from depriving us of -our manufacturing status, as they had been busily -doing during our internal dissensions.</p> - -<p>To one of his assertions we are bound to demur. -"One thing more this Government hath done—it -had been instrumental to call a free Parliament, -which, blessed be God, we see here this day. I -say a free Parliament, and that it may continue -so, I hope is in the heart and spirit of every good -man in England, save such discontented persons -as I have formerly mentioned. It is that which, -as I have desired above my life, so I shall desire -to keep it above my life." The truth was that -it was as free a Parliament as the circumstances -of the times would admit; indeed, as was -soon seen, it was much too free. A free -Parliament would have brought back royalty in -the State, or Presbyterian absolutism in religion. -Republicanism and Independency, though in the -ascendant through the genius of Cromwell and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -power of the army, was in a minority. Republicanism -even was divided against itself, divided -into moderate Republicanism and Levelling, Fifth-Monarchy -and Communism in alliance. From -this so-called free Parliament, Episcopalians and -Catholics were excluded; this so-called free Parliament -had been carefully watched during the elections, -the lists of the returned had been sent up to -the Council, and such as were deemed too dangerous -were disallowed, amongst others Lord Grey of -Groby. But even then it was found too free, and -the very first thing that it set about was to call in -question the Government which had authorised it.</p> - -<p>There was a stiff contest for the Speakership, -but Lenthall was chosen instead of Bradshaw, -who was also nominated, because Lenthall had -been Speaker of the Long Parliament, and its old -members had still hope of restoring it. Amongst -the members were old Sir Francis Rouse, Lord -Herbert, the son of the Earl of Worcester, Fleetwood, -Lambert, the Claypoles, one of whom had -married a daughter of the Protector's, Cromwell's -two sons, his friends the Dunches, Sir Ashley -Cooper, and Lord Fairfax. Amongst the Republicans -there were Bradshaw, Haselrig, Scott, -Wallop, and Wildman, old Sir Henry Vane, but not -the younger; and amongst the Irish members were -Lord Broghill, who had fought so stoutly against -Charles, and Commissary-General Reynolds. No -sooner did they begin business than they opened a -debate on the question of sanctioning the present -form of government, a question from which they -were precluded by the very Instrument which -had made them a Parliament. The debate was -carried on for no less than eight days, during -which Bradshaw, Scott, Haselrig, and other -Republicans contended that the members of -the Long Parliament had been illegally deprived -of their right, and that the Government in one -person and a Parliament was but another form of -tyranny. One speaker declared that he had -fought to put down one tyrant, and was ready to -fight to put down another. What right but the -sword, it was asked, had one man to put down a -legal Parliament, to command his commanders? -They moved to go into committee on the subject, -and carried it.</p> - -<p>Cromwell was not the man to suffer this. He -sent to the Lord Mayor, and ordered him to take -measures to preserve the peace of the City, -marched three regiments into it, and then summoned -Lenthall, and bade him meet him in the -Painted Chamber, on Tuesday, the 12th of September, -with the Commons. Harrison, who was -zealously getting up petitions for the support of -the inquiry into the constitution, was clapped into -the Tower. When Cromwell met the Commons, -he expressed his surprise that a set of men from -whom so much healing management had been expected, -should immediately attempt to overturn -the Government which called them together. -The Instrument consisted of incidentals and -fundamentals. The incidentals they were at -liberty to discuss, but the fundamentals—of which -the article that the power resided in one person -and a Parliament was one—were out of their -range. He very zealously asserted that he had -been called to the head of the nation by God and -the people, and that none but God and the people -should take his office from him. His own wish -had been to lead the life of a country gentleman, -but necessity had forced him thence, and -three several times he had found himself placed by -the course of events at the head of the army, and -by them at the head of the Government. As to -the dismissal of the Long Parliament, he had been -forced to that by its endeavouring to perpetuate -itself, and by its tyranny and corruption. He said -"that poor men, under its arbitrary power, were -driven like flocks of sheep, by forty on a morning, -to the confiscation of goods and estates, without -any man being able to give a reason why two of -them had deserved to forfeit a shilling." He -had twice resigned the arbitrary power left in his -hands, and having established a Government -capable of saving the nation, he would sooner lie -rotting in his grave and buried with infamy -than suffer it to be broken up. They had now -peace at home and abroad, and it would be a -miserable answer to give to the people, "Oh, we -quarrelled for the liberty of England; we contested -and went to confusion for that."</p> - -<p>To prevent any such evil consequences, he informed -them that he had caused a stop to be put -to their entrance into the Parliament House; he -did not turn them out this time, he shut them out—and -that none would be readmitted that did not -first sign an Engagement to be true and faithful -to the Protector and Commonwealth of England, -Scotland, and Ireland, not to propose or consent -to alter the Government, as settled in a single -person and Parliament.</p> - -<p>On hearing this, the honourable members looked -at one another in amazement, but one hundred -and forty thought well to sign the Engagement, -which lay in the lobby of the House that day, and -within a month three out of the four hundred -had signed. Of course all the ultra Republicans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> -refused to sign, and were excluded—Bradshaw, -Haselrig, Scott, Wildman, and the rest.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_129.jpg" width="399" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JOHN MILTON. (<cite>After the Miniature by Samuel Cooper.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_129big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This summary dealing did not cure the Parliament -of considering the question for touching -which they had thus been purged of a hundred -members. On the 19th of September, only a -week after the check they had received, they went -into committee to discuss the "Instrument of -Government." They took care not to touch the -grand point which they had now pledged themselves -not to meddle with—the government by a -Protector and Parliament; but they affected to -consider all the other articles as merely provisional, -decreed by the Protector and the Council, but to -be confirmed or rejected by Parliament. They -discussed these one by one, and on the 16th of -October proceeded to the question, whether the -office of Protector should be elective or hereditary. -Lambert advocated the office being hereditary, -and pointed out the many disadvantages of the -elective form. He strongly recommended the -office being confined to the Cromwell family, and -this, of course, was attributed to the instigation of -Cromwell himself. They decided for the elective -form. On the 11th of December they voted that -the Protector should have a veto on Bills touching -liberty of conscience, but not such as suppressed -heresies, as if what they called suppressing heresies -were not direct attacks on liberty of conscience. -Thus they crept round the very roots of the Protectoral -authority, nibbling at the powers he had -forbidden them to discuss, and they proceeded to -give proof of their intention to launch into all the -old persecutions for religion, if they possibly could, -by summoning before them John Biddle, who may -be regarded as the father of the Unitarians. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -had been thrice imprisoned by the Long Parliament, -for holding that he could not find in Scripture -that Christ or the Holy Ghost was styled -God. The Parliament committed him to the -Gatehouse, and ordered a Bill to be prepared for -his punishment.</p> - -<p>It was high time that they were stopped in -their incorrigible spirit of persecution; and by -now proceeding to frame a Bill to include all their -votes on the articles of the Instrument they were -suddenly arrested in their progress. The Instrument -provided that Parliament should not be adjourned -under five months. On the 22nd of -January, 1655, the Protector chose to consider -that the months were not calendar but lunar -months, which then expired. The Parliament, -counting the other way, deemed themselves safe -till the 3rd of February, but on the 22nd of -January Oliver summoned them to the Painted -Chamber, and observed to them, that though he -had met them at first with the hope that their -hearts were in the great work to which they had -been called, he was quite disappointed in them. -He complained that they had sent no message to -him, taken no more notice of his presence in the -Republic than if he had not existed, and that with -all patience he had forborne teasing them with -messages, hoping that they would at length proceed -to some real business. "But," added he, -"as I may not take notice of what you have been -doing, so I think I have a very great liberty to -tell you that I do not know what you have been -doing; that I do not know whether you have been -dead or alive. I have not once heard from you -all this time. I have not, and that you all know."</p> - -<p>He then reminded them that various discontented -parties—the Royalists, the Levellers, and -others—had been encouraged by their evident disposition -to call in question the Government, to -raise plots, and that if they were permitted to sit -making quibbles about the Government itself, the -nation would soon be plunged again into bloodshed -and confusion. He, therefore, did then and there -dissolve them as a Parliament.</p> - -<p>The plots to which the Protector alluded had -been going on for some time, and even yet were in -full activity. We shall trace their main features, -but we may first notice an incident which showed -that Cromwell was prepared for them, resolved -to sell his life manfully if attacked. On the -24th of September, 1654, immediately after compelling -the Parliament to subscribe the Engagement, -the Protector was out in Hyde Park, -taking dinner under the shade of the trees, with -Thurloe, the secretary, a man whom he constantly -consulted on the affairs of the nation. After -this little rural dinner, which gives us a very -interesting idea of the simplicity of the great -general's habits and tastes, he tried a team of six -fine Friesland coach horses, presented to him by -the Duke of Oldenburg. Thurloe was put into -the carriage, Cromwell mounted the coachman's -seat, and a postillion rode one of the fore horses. -The horses soon became unruly, plunged, and -threw the postillion, and then, nearly upsetting -the carriage, threw the Protector from his seat, -who fell upon the pole and had his legs entangled -in the harness. On went the mad horses at full -gallop, and one of Cromwell's shoes coming off, -which had been held by the harness, he fell under -the carriage, which went on without hurting him, -except by some bruises. In the fall, however, a -loaded pistol went off in his pocket, thus revealing -the fact that he went armed.</p> - -<p>And indeed he had great need. His mother, -who died just now, on the 16th of November, and -who was ninety-four years old, used, at the sound -of a musket, says Ludlow, to imagine that her son -was shot, and could not be satisfied unless she saw -him once a day at least. Her last words to him -do not give us any idea of hypocrisy in mother or -son—"The Lord cause His face to shine upon you, -and enable you to do great things for the glory of -the Most High God, and to be a relief unto His -people. My dear son, I leave my heart with thee. -A good night!"</p> - -<p>Amongst the plotters were both Royalists and -Republicans. The ejected members of Parliament, -in their different quarters, were stirring up discontent -against Cromwell, and even declaring that -it were better to have Charles Stuart back again. -Colonel Overton, who had been questioned at the -time of Colonel Alured's dismissal, was once more -called up and questioned. In Scotland, where -he lay, the Protector discovered an agitation to -supersede Monk, and make the Republican Overton -Commander-in-chief, and leaving only the -garrisons, to march the rest of the army into -England on the demand of pay and constitutional -reform. Overton was committed to the Tower.</p> - -<p>Allen—who, with Sexby and another agitator, -in 1647 presented a remarkable petition from the -army to the Long Parliament, and had become -adjutant-general—was arrested at his father-in-law's -house, in Devonshire, at the end of January, -1655, on a charge of plotting disturbances in -Ireland, and exciting discontent in Bristol and -Devon. Allen was a zealous Anabaptist, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -excitement amongst them and other army republicans -was great and extensive. Pamphlets -were published, letters and agitators passed from -one regiment to another, and a general rising -was planned, with the seizure of Edinburgh Castle, -Hull, Portsmouth, and other strong places. -Cromwell was to be surprised and put to death. -Colonel Wildman, one of these fanatics, who had -been ejected from Parliament by refusing to sign -the Recognition, was taken on the 12th of -February at Exton, near Marlborough, in Wilts, -by a party of horse, as he was in his furnished -lodgings upstairs, leaning on his elbows, and in -the act, with the door open, of dictating to his -clerk, "A Declaration of the free and well-affected -people of England, now in arms against -the tyrant Oliver Cromwell." He was secured -in Chepstow Castle, and his correspondents, -Harrison, Lord Grey of Groby, and others, were -secured in the Tower. Colonel Sexby for the -time escaped.</p> - -<p>About the same time a Royalist plot was also -in progress. Charles Stuart, who had removed -from Paris to Cologne—the French Government -not wishing to give offence to Cromwell—had -concocted a plot with Hyde, his Chancellor, to -raise the Royalists in various quarters at once, -fancying that as Cromwell had given so much -offence to both people and Parliament, there was -great hope of success. Charles went to Middelburg, -on the coast of Holland, to be ready at -a call, and Hyde was extremely confident. In -Yorkshire there was a partial outbreak under -Lord Mauleverer and Sir Henry Kingsby, which -was speedily quelled, Kingsby being seized and -imprisoned in Hull. This abortive attempt was -under the management of Lord Wilmot, now -Earl of Rochester, who was glad to make his -escape. Another branch of the plot, under the -management of Sir Joseph Wagstaff, who came -over with Rochester, fared no better. Wagstaff -attempted to surprise Winchester on the 7th of -March, during the assizes. Penruddock, Grove, -and Jones, Royalist officers, were associated with -him, and about two hundred others entered -Salisbury about five o'clock on the morning of the -11th, posted themselves in the market-place, -liberated the prisoners from the gaol, and surprised -the sheriff and two judges in their beds. -Wagstaff proposed to hang the judges, but Penruddock -and the rest refused to allow it; he -then ordered the high sheriff to proclaim Charles -Stuart, but neither he nor the crier would do -it, though menaced with the gallows. Hearing -that Captain Unton Crook was after them with -a troop of horse, and seeing no chance of a -rising, they quitted the town about three o'clock, -and marched through Dorsetshire into Devonshire. -At South Molton Captain Crook came up -with them, and speedily made himself master of -fifty of the insurgents, including Penruddock, -Grove, and Jones, but Wagstaff escaped. They had -expected a body of conspirators from Hampshire -to join them at Salisbury, and these were actually -on their way when they heard of the retreat -of Wagstaff's band, and immediately dispersed. -Similarly feeble outbreaks took place in the -counties of Northumberland, Nottingham, Shropshire, -and Montgomery. Penruddock, Grove, and -Jones were beheaded at Exeter, and about fifteen -others suffered there and at Salisbury; the rest -of the deluded prisoners were sold to Barbadoes. -Charles returned crest-fallen to Cologne, and -Hyde, convinced that his plans had been betrayed, -attributed the treason to Manning, whom, -having secured, they had shot in the following -winter, in the territory of the Duke of Neuburg.</p> - -<p>To prevent more of these outbreaks, Cromwell -planned to divide the whole country into military -districts, over each of which he placed an officer, -who was to act chiefly with the militia, and not -with the Levelling regulars. These officers he -created major-generals, beginning first with Desborough -in the south-west, and, before the -year was out, he had despatched, each to his -district, the other major-generals—Fleetwood, -Skippon, Whalley, Kelsey, Goffe, Berry, Butler, -Wortley, and Barkstead, who effectually preserved -the peace of the nation. During the spring -also, undaunted by these disturbances, Cromwell -progressed with his internal reforms, and with -the greatest of all, the reform of Chancery. This -was no easy matter. The lawyers were as -turbulent as the Anabaptists in the army. Two -of the Commissioners of the Great Seal, Whitelock -and Widdrington, refused to enforce the -reform, and were obliged to resign. Lisle and -Fiennes, the other Commissioners, dared to carry -out the change. Lenthall, the Speaker, now -Master of the Rolls, protested that he would -be hanged at the Rolls gate before he would -obey; but he saw fit to alter his mind, and the -Protector, so far from bearing any ill-will to -the two conscientious Commissioners, Whitelock -and Widdrington, soon after made them Commissioners -of the Treasury.</p> - -<p>We may now look back a little, to observe -what Cromwell had been doing beyond the shores<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -of the kingdom. We have seen that almost all -the nations of Europe sent embassies to congratulate -him on his elevation to the Protectorate. -The vigour of his rule speedily made them more -anxious to stand on good terms with him. He -soon made peace with Sweden as a Protestant -country, and from natural sympathy with the -Protestant fame of the great Gustavus. He -concluded peace also with Holland, but with -France and Spain there were more difficulties.</p> - -<p>France had, both under Richelieu and Mazarin, -lent continual aid and refuge to the Royalist -cause against the Reformers. The queen, whom -the Republicans had chased from the throne, -was a princess of France, and was living there -with numbers of the Royalists about her. Charles, -the heir to the throne of England, was pensioned -by France, and maintained a sort of court in -Paris, whence continual disturbances and alarms -were coming. It is true, the French Court had -never been very munificent to the exiled Queen -of England and her family. Henrietta was found -by Cardinal Retz without fire, and almost without -food, and Charles and his countrymen were so -poor, that Clarendon, in June, 1653, wrote, "I -do not know that any man is yet dead for want -of bread, which I really wonder at. I am sure -the king owes all that he has eaten since April, -and I am not acquainted with one servant who -hath a pistole in his pocket. Five or six of us -eat together one meal a day for a pistole a -week; but all of us owe, for God knows how -many weeks, to the poor woman that feeds us." -He adds that he wanted shoes and shirts, and -that the Marquis of Ormond was in no better -condition. The Court of Charles was as much -rent with divisions and jealousies as it was poor. -His brave conduct in England raised great hopes -of him, but on his return to France he relapsed -into all sorts of dissipations and intrigues, which -made him contemptible. Amongst a troop of -mistresses, Lucy Walters, or Barlow, as she was -called, the mother of the afterwards celebrated -Duke of Monmouth, was the most notorious.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_132.jpg" width="560" height="421" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE ROYALIST PLOTTERS AT SALISBURY INSULTING THE SHERIFF. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_132big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>As Mazarin saw the growing power of Cromwell, -he was glad to get Charles removed from Paris, -and his abode transferred to Cologne; but, being -still the pensioner of France, Charles was equally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -capable of annoying England from that place, -as the late outbreaks showed. These circumstances -no doubt rendered it very difficult for -the conclusion of a peace between Cromwell and -France, for Cromwell insisted on the withdrawal -of the French support from the exiled -family, and though France was fully disposed to -abate the evil as far as possible, it could not -in honour entirely abandon them. Mazarin made -every possible concession on other points, and -the French ambassador, Bordeaux, urged the -progress of the treaty with all earnestness. But -besides the grand obstacle, there were others -raised by Spain. France and Spain were at war: -Spain was supporting the Prince of Condé and -the French insurgents, and the Spanish ambassador -was indefatigable in representing that -whilst Spain had been the very first to acknowledge -the English Commonwealth, France had -been constantly supporting the Royalist power, -and in 1653 he offered to seize Calais and make it -over to England as the price of the Commonwealth -making peace with Spain, and common cause -against France.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_133.jpg" width="560" height="418" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE PAINTED CHAMBER, WESTMINSTER.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_133big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But there were motives which always weighed -heavily with Cromwell—religion and the honour -of the English flag. He had an enduring repugnance -to the Catholic faith, and Spain was essentially -Catholic, and at the same time was maintaining -an insolent domination in the waters of -the West Indies. The fame of her exclusion thence -of the flags of all other nations from her colonies, -and of her many atrocities committed on English -colonies—as at St. Kitts in 1629, at Tortuga -in 1637, and Santa Cruz in 1650—was an -irresistible provocative to the combative spirit of -the Protector. He demanded of the Spanish -ambassador that Spain should abolish the Inquisition, -and admit the English flag to the West -Indian seas. De Leyda replied that he was -asking from his king his two eyes, and as Cromwell -would not concede either point, he demanded -his passports in June, 1654, and took his leave.</p> - -<p>Cromwell lost no time in enforcing his views -on Spain—as no doubt he felt bound conscientiously -to do on the great principle of suppressing -Popish cruelties, and spreading the triumph of -Protestantism. He sent Blake with a powerful -fleet in October of that year into the Mediterranean, -and another powerful armament under<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -Admirals Penn and Venables, with secret orders -which were not to be opened till they arrived in -certain latitudes. This fleet, whose preparation -and destination kept all Europe in wonder and -anxiety, sailed west, and was, in fact, destined for -the West Indies. Blake, with his fleet, passed -the Straits of Gibraltar, and presented to the inhabitants -of the shores of the Mediterranean a -spectacle such as they had not seen since the days -of the Crusades—a powerful English fleet. It consisted -of thirty sail, and its commission was to -seize the French vessels wherever it could find -them, especially to seek out and attack the fleet -under the Duke of Guise. It was besides this to -demand satisfaction from various offending Powers. -The Grand Duke of Tuscany had, whilst Parliament -was struggling with Charles, allowed -Prince Rupert to sell English prizes in his ports. -The Pope was, as the Antichrist, an object to be -humbled, or at all events impressed sensibly with -the fact that England could at any moment visit -him in his capital, and that the British power was -in hands both able and ready to do it. There -were many injuries to our merchantmen to be -avenged on the pirates of Tunis and Algiers. -Cromwell's favourite maxim was, that a ship of -the line was the most effective ambassador. Blake -sailed along the Papal shores, exciting a deep -terror, but he passed on and cast anchor before -Leghorn, and demanded compensation for the -offence against English honour and shipping, -which was speedily granted. Not being able -to discover the Duke of Guise, he proceeded to -Algiers, and compelled the Dey to sign an engagement -not to permit further violences by his -subjects on English vessels. Thence he sailed -to Tunis, and sent in the same demand, but the -haughty barbarian of that place sent him word -to give a look at his ports of Porto Farina and -Goletta, with their fleets, and take them if he -could. Blake sailed away as if in despair, but -suddenly returning, he entered the harbour of -Porto Farina, silencing the castle and batteries -as he advanced, and set fire to the whole fleet. -Both Tunis and Tripoli now found it the best -policy to give the required engagement, and Blake -left the Mediterranean, having given those lawless -pirates a specimen of the power of England, which -was not likely to be soon forgotten.</p> - -<p>Blake had orders to look out for the next -Spanish Plate fleet coming home, and he lay for -some time off Cadiz; but there was now at the -Court of Madrid Colonel Sexby, the Leveller, who -had long been engaged with Allen, Wildman, -and the Anabaptists. He had gone over to the -Continent to raise some force either in conjunction -with Charles or with Spain, to invade England -and kill Cromwell. Sexby revealed to the -Spaniards not only the object of Blake, but the -real design of the fleet under Venables and Penn. -More than thirty sail were mustered by the -Spanish under Don Pablos de Contretras, which -kept close watch on Blake. Blake longed to -attack them, but his orders did not sanction it; -and after hearing that the Plate fleet was detained -at Carthagena, he returned to England -to refit, his ships being in a sorry plight, and -his men suffering from bad provisions.</p> - -<p>During the absence of Blake, great excitement -had been occasioned in England by the news -of dreadful atrocities committed on the Protestants -of the mountains of Piedmont. The Protestants -called the Vaudois were a race who, through -all ages, had, in the obscurity of their Alpine -valleys, retained the doctrines of the Primitive -Church, and had set at defiance both the persuasions -and the persecutions of Rome. They were -said to be descended from the ancient Waldenses, -and were a bold, independent race of mountaineers. -It was pretended that the Duke of Savoy, whose -subjects they chiefly were, had granted them the -free exercise of their religion so long as they -remained in their ancient places of abode, the -valleys of the sources of the Po, in the Savoy -Alps; but that being found in Lucerna and other -places, these were decided to be beyond their -bounds, and they were ordered to be conformed -to the Church of Rome, or sell their lands and -retire from these territories. They refused to be -driven from their homes on account of their -religion, and being always an eyesore to the -Court of Rome, the fury of persecution was let -loose upon them. Friars were sent amongst them -to convert them, or to denounce their destruction; -they disregarded the friars, and then six regiments -of soldiers were sent to drive them into the mountains. -Amongst these were two regiments of -refugee Irish. These fellows, ardent Catholics, -smarting under the Protestant scourge which had -driven them from <em>their</em> native land, did their -work <i xml:lang="it" lang="it">con amore</i>. From the district of Lucerna -they were driven into the higher Alpine fastnesses -and pursued with the most terrible ferocities of -fanatic savagery, with fire and sword and extermination. -These horrors were aggravated by -winter and famine, and the news of this fearful -butchery rang through Protestant England with -a sensation which revived all the memory of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -Popish horrors in the Marian time. There was -one loud outcry for interference on their behalf. -Press and pulpit resounded with demands of sympathy -and redress: the ministers of all classes -waited on Cromwell in a body to solicit his protection -of the Vaudois: the army in Scotland and -Ireland sent up addresses. No one appeared, -however, more excited than Cromwell himself. -He immediately gave two thousand pounds, and -appointed a day of general humiliation, and a -collection on their behalf, which was observed, and -thirty-eight thousand two hundred and twenty-eight -pounds were speedily raised, and sent by -envoys to Geneva, to be conveyed to the sufferers. -Nor did Cromwell satisfy himself with having -done this. The day of the arrival of the news, -June 3rd, 1655, he was about to sign a treaty -of peace with France; but he refused to sign it -till he had seen whether the French king and -Mazarin would heartily unite with him in extorting -protection from the Duke of Savoy for the -sufferers. Mazarin was loth to stir in such a -business, but Cromwell soon let him see that -there would be no peace for France unless he -did, and he consented. Three Latin letters were -written by Milton at the order of the Protector to -different States of Europe, calling on them to co-operate -for this great end, and the mighty poet -sent forth also his glorious sonnet, commencing—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Avenge, O Lord, Thy slaughtered saints, whose bones</div> - <div class="i0">Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold!"</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>which shall remain like a perpetual trumpet-blast -through all time. The astonished Duke of Savoy -was soon compelled to give ample guarantee for -the religious liberty and security of his Protestant -subjects.</p> - -<p>The expedition to the West Indies, in its commencement, -did not meet with that success which -the Protector generally experienced. The fleet, consisting -of sixty sail, was bound for Hispaniola, and -carried four thousand troops; and in Barbadoes and -other English settlements the force was augmented -by volunteers, incited by promise of plunder, to ten -thousand. But these fresh forces were of the -worst possible description, being prisoners of a -loose description shipped thither; the commanders -were divided in opinion, and the attack was so -wretchedly managed, that it failed with great loss. -St. Domingo, which they intended to take, was -deserted on their approach, but instead of entering -it at once, they landed their forces forty miles off, -and marched them through woods towards the -town. The heat of the weather, the want of -water, and the consequent disorder of the troops, -prepared them for what ensued. They were suddenly -attacked in a thick wood, and repulsed with -great slaughter. Nothing could bring these ragamuffin -forces to renew the attempt, and the commanders -sailed away, but afterwards fell on -Jamaica and took it. That island was then, however, -considered of so little value, that it did not -satisfy the Government for the loss of Hispaniola, -and on their return Venables and Penn were committed -to the Tower. Notwithstanding this, however, -Cromwell determined to make secure the -conquest of Jamaica, and extend, if possible, the -West Indian possessions. Vice-admiral Goodson -was ordered to take the command at Jamaica, and -with him General Fortescue, Serle, Governor of -Barbadoes, and General Sedgwick, from New -England, were appointed Commissioners for the -management of the island.</p> - -<p>Cromwell's letters to these officers that autumn -inform us that there were twenty-eight men-of-war -on that station, and people from Barbadoes, from -New England, and from England and Scotland, -were being sent to occupy and settle the island. -A thousand Irish girls were sent out. Cromwell -pointed out to the Commissioners how advantageously -the island lay for keeping in check the -Spanish Main, and the trade with Peru and -Carthagena. His comprehensive glance was alive -to all the advantages of the conquest, and his -resolution engaged to make the most of it. -Whatever is the value of Jamaica now, we owe -it to him. He believed that he was not only -serving the nation but religion by humbling Spain. -He wrote to the Commissioners, "The Lord Himself -hath a controversy with your enemies, even -with that Roman Babylon of which the Spaniard -is the great underpropper. In that respect we -fought the Lord's battles, and in that respect the -Scriptures are most plain." Spain, of course, -proclaimed war against England, to her further -loss, and the glory of Cromwell and his invincible -Puritan admiral, Blake. Penn and Venables -resigned their commissions, and were set at -liberty. On October 24th, the day after the -Spanish ambassador quitted London, Cromwell -signed the treaty of peace with France, by which -Condé and the French malcontents were to be excluded -from the British dominions, and Charles -Stuart, his brother the Duke of York, Ormond, -Hyde, and fifteen others of the prince's adherents, -were to be excluded from France.</p> - -<p>Cromwell opened the year 1656 amid a multitude -of plots and discontents. The enemies of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -the Republic—Royalists, Anabaptists, Levellers—were -all busy in one quarter or another. Cleveland, -the poet, who had been taken prisoner nine -years before by David Leslie, at Newcastle, and -expected to be hanged for his tirades against -the Scots, but had been dismissed by Leslie -with the contemptuous words, "Let the poor -knave go and sell his ballads," was now seized -by Colonel Haynes for seditious writings at -Norwich; but Cromwell also dismissed him with -like indifference.</p> - -<p>At the close of the year the Jews, who had -been forbidden England, hopeful from the more -liberal mercantile notions of Cromwell, petitioned -to be allowed to reside in this country, under -certain conditions. Cromwell was favourable to -the petition, which was presented by Manasseh -Ben Israel, a leading Portuguese Jew, of Amsterdam, -though his Council was against it on -Scriptural grounds; but Cromwell silently took -them under his protection. There was also a -Committee of Trade in the House, under the -earnest advocacy of the Protector, for promoting -commerce. Meanwhile, Cromwell vigorously prosecuted -the war against Spain. Blake and -Montague were ordered to the coast of Spain, -to destroy the shipping in the harbour of Cadiz, -and to see whether Gibraltar could not be seized, -which Cromwell, in his letters to the admirals, -pointed out as admirably adapted to promote and -protect our trade, and keep the Spaniard in check. -Yet even this project was not carried out without -trouble from the Malcontents. Some of the -captains of the fleet, tampered with by Charles's -emissaries, declared their disapproval of the enterprise, -contending that we, and not the Spaniards, -were in fault. Cromwell sent down Desborough -to them, who weeded them out, and put others -in their places. Blake and Montague then set -sail, and reached the neighbourhood of Cadiz -and Gibraltar in April, but found their defences -too strong; they then proceeded to Lisbon, and -brought the treaty with the Portuguese to a -termination, and afterwards made an alarming -visit to Malaga, and to Sallee, to curb the Moors. -In July they returned to the Tagus, and in -September a part of the fleet, under Captain -Stayner, fell in with and defeated a fleet of -eight sail, coming from America. He destroyed -four of the vessels, and captured two, containing -treasure worth from two hundred and fifty -thousand pounds to three hundred thousand -pounds.</p> - -<p>Before this treasure reached England, Cromwell, -who had exhausted his finances to fit out -the fleet and prosecute the war with Spain, was -compelled to call a Parliament, not only to -obtain supplies, but to take measures for the -security of the nation against the designs of the -Royalists and their coadjutors, the Levellers. -This met on the 17th of September, 1656. But -Cromwell did not allow all the members elected -to sit in this Parliament, any more than in the -former ones. He knew well that his Government -and such a Parliament could not exist together. -The members elected, therefore, were not admitted -to sit except they had a certificate of their approval -by the Council from the Chancery clerk. -By the withholding of such certificates nearly -one-fourth of the members were excluded. This -created a terrible outcry of invasion of Parliamentary -privileges. Haselrig, Scott, Ashley -Cooper, and many other violent Republicans were -excluded. The excluded members signed an -indignant protest, and circulated it in all parts -of the country, with the list of their names -appended.</p> - -<p>The Protector opened this purged Parliament -with a very long speech, which was one of the -most remarkable speeches ever addressed to -Parliament by any ruler. It displayed a depth -and breadth of policy, an active, earnest spirit -of national business, a comprehension of and -desire for the establishment of such principles -and prosperous measures, a recognition of the -rights of the whole world as affected by the -conduct of this one great nation, which have no -parallel for true Christian philosophy since the -days of Alfred. We have since then had great -and valiant warriors, our Edwards and Henrys, -but not a man who combined with the highest -military genius and success a genuine, lofty, and -loving Christian sentiment, and an earnest -business-like mind like Cromwell. He at once -laid down the principle that all hostility to the -Commonwealth originated in the hatred of its -free and Christian character; and he showed -that all these enemies, of whatever theories, -had united themselves with Spain, which was -the grand adversary of this country, and had -been so from the Reformation, because she was -bigotedly wedded to the system of Popery, with -all its monks, Jesuits, and inquisitors. He recapitulated -its attempts to destroy Elizabeth and -her religion; the vain attempts of the Long -Parliament to make peace with it, because in -any treaty where the Pope could grant absolution, -you were bound and they were loose; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> -murder of Ascham, the Long Parliament's ambassador, -and no redress obtained: and now he -informed them, and offered to produce the proofs, -that Charles Stuart had put himself in league -with Spain, and, still more strange, that the -Levellers, pretending to demand a freer and more -Republican Government, had entered into the -unnatural alliance with Charles and Spain to -murder him and destroy the Commonwealth.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_137.jpg" width="397" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ADMIRAL BLAKE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_137big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>All this was perfectly true. Sexby, the Leveller, -had gone over to Charles, and thence to Spain, to -solicit aid towards a Popish invasion, offering first -to kill Cromwell himself. He obtained forty -thousand crowns for the use of his party, and a -promise of six thousand men when they were -ready to land in England, who should wait in -Flanders. Some of this money, when remitted to -the accomplices in England, Cromwell intercepted, -as he assured the Parliament. Sexby followed to -accomplish his design of assassinating the Protector, -as we shall find anon. Cromwell proceeded -to remind Parliament of the insurrections excited -by Charles's emissaries, Wagstaff and Rochester, -and the conspiracy of Gerard and Vowel, the outbreaks -at Salisbury, Rufford Abbey, and a score -of other places; of Wildman taken in the act of -penning his call to rebellion, of the design to -destroy Monk in Scotland, and of similar instigations -in the army in Ireland; of the plottings of -the Lord Taaffe with Hyde at Antwerp; and, -finally, that there had been an attempt to blow -him up with gunpowder in his own house, and -an officer of the Guard had been engaged to seize -him in his bed. These last he characterised as -"little fiddling attempts not worth naming," and -which he regarded no more than he did "a mouse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -nibbling at his heel." But he told them that the -animus altogether was of that un-English and un-Christian -character, that it became them to fight -manfully against it, and though they were low in -funds, they should still put forth all their energies -to crush this malignant power of Spain, whence -the other enemies drew their strength. He -informed them that France was well disposed to -them, and that all the rest of the world was at -peace with them.</p> - -<p>He then assured them that the major-generals -had done good service in every quarter, that the -improvement of the ministry had become manifest -through the exertions of the Commissioners, and -that the Presbyterians had themselves expressed -their approbation of what had been done in that -respect. He strongly recommended to them -further equalisation and improvement of the laws, -so that every one should have cheap and easy -justice, and that the purification of the public -morals should be carefully attended to—"the -Cavalier interest, the badge and character of continuing -profaneness, disorder, and wickedness in -all places," having worked such deplorable effects. -"Nobility and gentry of this nation!" he exclaimed; -"in my conscience it was a shame to be -a Christian, within these fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen -years in this nation; whether 'in Cæsar's -house' or elsewhere! It was a shame, it was a -reproach to a man, and the badge of 'Puritan' -was put on it." As they would maintain nobility -and gentry, he told them they must not suffer -these classes "to be patronisers or countenancers -of debauchery and disorders! And therefore," he -concluded, "I pray and beseech you, in the name -of Christ, show yourselves to be men; quit yourselves -like men! It doth not infer any reproach -if you do show yourselves men—<em>Christian</em> men, -which alone will make you quit yourselves."</p> - -<p>In the early days of the sitting of this Parliament—that -is, in the beginning of October—came -the news of Stayner's victory over the Spanish -Plate fleet, and the capture of the treasure; and -in the beginning of November the money arrived, -and thirty-eight waggon-loads of silver were sent -up from Portsmouth to the Mint to be coined, -amid universal rejoicings. Before the year closed, -also, Cromwell, by the help of Mazarin, effected a -temporary separation of interests between Charles -Stuart and the Duke of York; but it did not last -long. But by this time Colonel Sexby was in -England, watching his opportunity to murder -Cromwell. He was daring enough to introduce -himself amongst the Protector's escort in Hyde -Park, and he and his accomplices had filed nearly -through the hinges of the gates through which the -Protector was accustomed to pass, so that they -might create a sudden obstruction and confusion, -during which Sexby might shoot Cromwell. But -not being able to succeed to his mind, Sexby -returned to Flanders to consult with the royal -party, and left sixteen hundred pounds in the -hands of one Miles Sindercomb, a cashiered -quartermaster, who was to carry out the bloody -design. Sindercomb took a house in Hammersmith, -where the road by which the Protector -passed to and from Hampton Court was very -narrow, and there he prepared an "infernal -machine," consisting of a battery of seven blunderbusses, -which was to blow Cromwell's coach to -atoms as it passed; but the machine did not -answer, or could not be used from the crowd of -Guards; and then Sindercomb resolved to set fire -to Whitehall by night, and kill Cromwell as he -came out in the confusion. He had bribed a -great number of accomplices, many of them in -the palace itself, and had probably a considerable -number of fellow conspirators, for he had a hundred -swift horses in stables in the neighbourhood, -on which he and his confederates might escape, -the deed being done. All this was with the -privity and approbation of Charles, Clarendon, -and the rest of that Court, and shows the state of -moral principle in it, and which, after the Restoration, -broke over England like a pestilence. They -were constantly dabbling in attempts at assassination, -and in the Clarendon papers themselves we -have Clarendon's own repeated avowals of his -satisfaction in them. He styles these base -assassins "brave fellows and honest gentlemen," -and thinks it a pity that any agent of the Protectorate -abroad should not have his throat cut.</p> - -<p>But Sindercomb's wholesale bribery led to the -detection of the plot. Amongst those tampered -with was Henry Toope, a Life Guardsman, who -revealed the scheme. On the 8th of January, -1657, Sindercomb attended public worship in -the evening at Whitehall Chapel. Toope, Cecil—who -had been engaged in the construction of the -infernal machine—and Sindercomb were arrested, -and having been seen about General Lambert's -seat, it was examined, and there was found a -basketful of the most inflammable materials—strong -enough, it was said, to burn through stones—and -a lighted slow-burning match, calculated to -reach the combustibles about midnight. There -were found also holes bored in the wainscot, to -facilitate the communication of the fire, and of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> -draughts to encourage it. Toope and Cecil gave -all the information that they could, but Sindercomb -was obstinately silent, and being found -guilty by a jury of high treason, was condemned -to die on Saturday, the 13th. But the evening -before, his sister taking leave of him, contrived to -carry some poison to him, and the next morning -he was found dead in his bed.</p> - -<p>Parliament adjourned a week for the trial and -examination of the plot, and appointed a day of -thanksgiving on Friday, the 23rd. But though -Sindercomb was dead, Sexby was alive, and as -murderously inclined as ever, and to prevent interrupting -other affairs, we may now follow him -also to his exit. Though neither fleet nor money -was ready to follow up the blow if successful, the -gloomy Anabaptist once more set out for England -with a tract in his possession, called "Killing no -Murder," which was no doubt his own composition, -though Colonel Titus, after the Restoration, -claimed the merit of it. This tract, taking it as a -settled fact that it was a noble piece of patriotism -and virtue to kill a tyrant, pronounced Cromwell -a tyrant, and therefore declared that it was a -noble deed to kill him. It eulogised Sindercomb -as the Brutus or Cato of the time. Sexby, disguised -like a countryman, and with a large beard, -travelled about distributing this pamphlet, but he -was tracked, discovered, and lodged in the Tower. -There he either went mad or pretended it, made a -voluntary confession, found to be intended only to -mislead, and, falling ill, died in the following -January.</p> - -<p>One of the first things which this second Parliament -of the Protectorate did was to abolish the -authority of the major-generals. Cromwell had -assured them that they were doing good service in -suppressing disturbances, and he told them so -again; but there were many complaints of their -rigour, especially of levying heavy fines on the -Royalists; and Parliament, on the 29th of -January, voted their withdrawal. The next -matter, which occupied them for above three -months, was the case of James Naylor, the -mad Quaker, whom they sentenced to a punishment -that was simply diabolical in its inhumanity. -Before this was settled, Parliament entered on a -far more momentous question—no less than -whether they should not make Cromwell king.</p> - -<p>Those who take an unfavourable view of the -character of Cromwell, who regard him as a base -mixture of hypocrisy and ambition, accuse him of -having planned and manœuvred for this object; -but there appears no evidence of this, but rather -that the continual uneasiness created by the -Royalist and Anabaptist assassins led many -seriously to consider the peculiar position of -the nation, and the great dangers to which it -was exposed. There was nothing between the -nation and all its old confusions but the life of -one clear-headed, and strong-hearted, and strong-handed -man, a life which was environed with -perils. They deemed these dangers would be -diminished by altering the form of government, -and returning to a House of Lords and a Monarchy—but -not to the corrupt and murder-seeking -Stuarts. Had they their honest and earnest Protector -converted into a king, and the succession -settled on his family, the nation would jealously -guard his life, and the hopes of the exiled family -be diminished by the prospect of a successor of his -own blood, even if he fell.</p> - -<p>On the 23rd of February, 1657, suddenly Sir -Christopher Pack, late Lord Mayor of London, -craved leave to read a paper, which turned out to -be drawn up in the form of a Remonstrance from -Parliament to the Protector on the state of the -country, and proposing a new form of government, -including a House of Lords and himself as -king. No sooner did the officers of the army, -who had just lost their pro-consular dignity, and -the other Republicans hear the proposition, than -they rose, seized Pack, and hurried him from his -seat to the bar of the House as a traitor. But -those who were friendly to the proposition rose -also in his defence, and after much commotion, -the paper was not only read but debated. From -this moment this subject occupied the House, with -little intermission, till the 9th of May, or between -two and three months. The title of the paper -was changed from "A humble Address and Remonstrance," -to "The humble Petition and Advice -of the Parliament of England, Scotland, and -Ireland." Its clauses were debated and carried -one by one by a majority of a hundred to forty-four, -and on the last day of the debate, March -26th, the blank left for the word king was filled -in by a majority of one hundred and twenty-three -to sixty-two. On the 31st of March an address -was carried to the Protector at Whitehall by the -Speaker and the House, praying that his Highness -would be pleased to adopt their resolutions, -and take upon him the state and title of king.</p> - -<p>Unquestionably, this was the greatest temptation -which had ever been thrown in the way of -Cromwell. To have made his way by his energy -and talent from the simple condition of a gentleman-farmer -to the Dictatorship of the nation, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -now to have the crown and succession of these -great kingdoms offered to him and his family -by Parliament, was a matter which would not -have been much opposed by an ordinary man. -But Cromwell was not of a character lightly to -accept even a crown. He showed clearly that he -had a strong inclination to place himself and his -posterity in that august position, but he knew too -well that the honour had also its dangers and its -black side. His acceptance would at once darken -his fair fame by settling it in the conviction of -three-fourths of the kingdom that he had only -fought and put down the Stuarts to set up himself. -There was, moreover, a formidable party -opposed to kingship, and especially decided against -it were his generals and the army. A deputation -of a hundred of them had waited on him on the -27th, with an address on the subject, in which -they assured him that such a thing would be "a -scandal to the people, would prove more than -hazardous to his person, and would pave the way -for the return of Charles Stuart." Let the nation -but become once more accustomed to the name of -king, and it would recall the ancient race on the -first opportunity.</p> - -<p>Cromwell felt too well the truth of these -representations, and therefore he required of -the House time to reflect on their important -offer, though he had watched carefully the progress -of the debate. He desired that a committee -might be appointed to confer with him on all the -articles of the new Instrument of Government proposed -to him. A committee of ninety-nine persons -was accordingly appointed, amongst them Whitelock, -Glynn, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Broghill, -Nathaniel Fiennes, one of the Keepers of the -Great Seal, etc. They had many meetings, but -Cromwell, instead of giving his opinion upon the -subject, desired to know their reasons for recommending -this change. The chief reasons advanced -were, the ancient habits of the nation; that the -people were proud of the honour of their -monarchs; that that form of government had -prevailed from the most ancient period, and what -no doubt weighed greatly with them was that, by -the 9th of Edward IV. and the 3rd of Henry VII., -it was enacted that all who took up arms for or -obeyed the king <em>de facto</em>, were held guiltless; but -not so they who served a protector <em>de facto</em>.</p> - -<p>Cromwell admitted that this was a matter of -precaution which demanded serious consideration, -and that he regarded the proposal to him as "a -very singular honour and favour," and would return -such an answer as God should give him, or -as he should arrive at through discussion with -them; but that his conscience yet was not clear -upon the subject, and they must examine the -grounds for it further. Whitelock says the Protector -often advised about this matter of the kingship, -and other great businesses, with a select -number of the committee—Lord Broghill, Mr. -Pierpoint, brother of the Earl of Kingston, Thurloe, -Whitelock, and Sir Charles Wolseley,—and -would be shut up three or four hours together, -and none else were admitted to him. He sometimes -would be very cheerful with them, and, -laying aside his greatness, would be exceedingly -familiar; and, by way of diversion, would make -verses and play at crambo with them, when -every one had to try his fancy. He commonly -called for tobacco, pipes, and a caudle, and would -now and then take tobacco himself. Then he -would fall again to his serious and great business -of the kingship.</p> - -<p>They were interrupted, however, in their colloquies, -by a fresh outbreak of the Fifth-Monarchy -men. These religionists, who admitted the idea of -no king but Christ, were especially exasperated at -this attempt to set up an earthly king, and determined -to rise and prevent it. They fixed Thursday, -the 9th of April, for the rising. They issued -a proclamation called "A Standard set up," ordered -Mile End as the place of rendezvous, and, headed -by one Venner, a wine merchant, and other persons -of the City, calculated on introducing the reign -of the Millennium. They encouraged each other, -says Thurloe, with the exhortation that though -they were but worms, yet they should be made -instrumental to thresh mountains. They spoke, he -says, great words of the reign of the saints, and -the beautiful kingdom of holies which they were -to erect, and talked of taking away all taxes, -excise, custom, and tithes. They had banners -painted with the device of the lion of the -tribe of Judah, and the motto, "Who shall raise -him up?"</p> - -<p>But the wide-awake Thurloe had watched all -their motions. That morning at daybreak he -marched a troop of horse down upon the meeting -at Mile End, seized Venner and twenty other -ringleaders, with chests of arms, many copies of -the proclamation, and the famous war-flag of the -lion-couchant of Judah. Major-General Harrison, -Admiral Lawson, Colonel Rich, and others of the -leaders of the Fifth-Monarchy men were also -seized, and with these men shut up in the Tower, -but no further punished. Venner ended his days -for a similar attempt in the reign of Charles II.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_141.jpg" width="411" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CROMWELL REFUSING THE CROWN. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_141big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> - -<p>The discussions of Cromwell and the committee -were resumed, and, without coming to any conclusion, -on Tuesday, the 21st of April, the Protector -suddenly left the consideration of the -kingship, and examined the other articles of the -Instrument. The chief of these were, that men -of all classes should be capable of electing and -being elected to Parliament or to offices of -State, excepting Papists and Royalists, styled -Malignants, at least such Royalists as had been -in arms against the Parliament since 1642, -unless they had since given signal proof of repentance -by bearing arms for the Parliament; all -who had been concerned in the Irish rebellion -since 1650, or in any plot in England or Wales -since December, 1653; all in Scotland who had -been in arms against the Parliament of England -or Parliament of Scotland, except such as had -lived peaceably since the 1st of March, 1652. -Besides those thus excluded, all freeholders of -counties, and all burgesses and citizens of towns—constituting -in fact a household suffrage—could -vote for members of Parliament.</p> - -<p>All who were atheistical, blasphemous, married -to Popish wives, or who trained children, or -suffered their children to be trained in Popery, or -consented that their children should marry Papists, -who scoffed at religion or at religious people, who -denied the Scriptures to be God's Word, who -denied the Sacraments, ministers, or magistracy to -be divine ordinances (like the Fifth-Monarchy men), -who were Sabbath-breakers, swearers, haunters of -taverns and alehouses—in short, all who were -unchristian men—were excluded from electing or -being elected. All public preachers were excluded, -as better employed in their own vocation, -but at the recommendation of Cromwell this was -restricted to such preachers as had fixed livings, -and did not affect mere voluntary occasional -preachers, like himself and many other officers.</p> - -<p>A second House of Parliament was to be -organised, to consist of not less than forty members, -nor more than seventy, who were to be -nominated by the Protector, and approved by the -Commons. It was not to be called the House of -Lords, nor the Upper, but the Other House. The -same qualifications and disqualifications applied to -it as to the Commons. All judges and public -officers, as well as those of the army and navy, -were to be approved of by the two Houses; or -if Parliament were not sitting, by the Council. -Another article settled the revenue, and all relating -to it and—the most important one to the -Protector—he was authorised to name his successor -before his death. These matters being settled, -and the Instrument revised by Parliament, on the -8th of May Cromwell summoned the House to -meet him in the Banqueting-house, Whitehall, -where he ratified the rest of the Instrument, but -gave them this answer as to the kingship—that -having taken all the circumstances into consideration, -both public and private, he did not feel at -liberty in his conscience to accept the government -with the title of king; that whatever was not of -faith was sin; and that not being satisfied that he -could accept it in that form to the real advantage -of the nation, he should not be an honest man if -he did not firmly—but with every acknowledgment -of the infinite obligations they had laid him under—decline -it. This was his answer to that great -and weighty business.</p> - -<p>Whitelock assures us that Cromwell at one -time had been satisfied in his private judgment -that he might accept the royal title, but that the -formidable opposition of the officers of the army -had shown him that it might lead to dangerous -and deplorable results, and that therefore he believed -it better to waive it. Whatever the -motives, whether those of conscience or prudence, -or both, inciting the Protector, he surmounted his -temptation, and decided with the firmness characteristic -of him. Major-Generals Whalley, -Goffe, and Berry are said to have been for his -acceptance of the crown; Desborough and Fleetwood -were strenuous against it, but Lambert, -temporising, appearing to approve whilst he was -secretly opposing, and at length coming out strong -against it, was the only one whom Cromwell visited -with his displeasure. He dismissed him, but -with a pension of two thousand pounds a year, -and Lambert retired to Wimbledon, where it had -been happy for him had he remained in quiet.</p> - -<p>On the 26th of June, 1657, the grand ceremony -of the inauguration of the Protector as the head -of this new Government took place in Westminster -Hall. The Protector went thither from -Whitehall by water, and entered the hall in the -following manner:—First went his gentlemen, -then a herald, next the aldermen, another herald, -then Norroy, the Lords Commissioners of the -Treasury, and the Great Seal carried by Commissioner -Fiennes, then Garter, and after him the -Earl of Warwick, with the sword borne before the -Protector, bareheaded, the Lord Mayor carrying -the City sword at his left hand. Being seated in -his chair, on the left hand of it stood the Lord -Mayor and the Dutch ambassador; on the right -the French ambassador and the Earl of Warwick;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -next behind him stood his son Richard and his -sons-in-law Claypole and Fleetwood, and the Privy -Council. Upon a lower platform stood the Lord -Viscount Lisle, Lord Montague, and Whitelock, -with drawn swords. As the Protector stood -under the cloth of State, the Speaker presented -him with a robe of purple velvet, lined with -ermine, which the Speaker and Whitelock put -upon him. Then the Speaker presented him with -a Bible richly gilt and bossed, girt the sword -about his Highness, and delivered into his hand -the sceptre of massy gold. Having done this, he -made the Protector an address, and finally administered -the oath. Then Mr. Manton, one of -the chaplains, in prayer recommended his Highness, -the Parliament, the Council, the forces by -land and sea, and the whole Government and the -people of the three nations to the blessing and protection -of God. On that the trumpets sounded, -the heralds proclaimed his Highness Protector of -England, Scotland, and Ireland; and again the -trumpets sounded, and the people shouted, "God -save the Protector!" This closed the ceremony, -and the Protector and his train returned to -Whitehall as they came.</p> - -<p>The ceremony, it is clear, fell little short of a -royal ceremony, with the exception of the crown -and the anointing. Charles Stuart might have -used the words of James of Scotland to Johnny -Armstrong—"What lacks this knave that a king -should have?" With the exception of the name -of king, Cromwell, the farmer, was become the -monarch of Great Britain and Ireland. He had -all the power, and inhabited the palaces of kings. -He had the right to place his son in the supreme -seat after him; and one whole House of Parliament -was of his own creation, while the other -was purged to his express satisfaction.</p> - -<p>Cromwell had not enjoyed his new dignity more -than about six weeks, when he received the news -of the death of his great Admiral Blake. His -health had been for some time decaying. Scurvy -and dropsy were fast destroying him, yet to the -last he kept his command at sea, and finished his -career with one of the most brilliant victories -which had ever been achieved. During the winter -and spring he maintained the blockade of Cadiz, -but learning that the Plate fleet had taken refuge -in the harbour of Santa Cruz, in the Island of -Teneriffe, he made sail thither. He found the -fleet drawn up under the guns of seven batteries -in the harbour, which was shaped like a horseshoe. -The merchantmen, ten in number, were -ranged close inshore, and the galleons, in number -and of greater force than any of his own ships, -placed in front of them. It was a sight—seven -forts, a castle, and sixteen ships—to have -daunted any man but Blake. Don Diego Darques, -the Spanish admiral, was so confident of the impregnable -nature of his position, that he sent -Blake word to come and take his vessels. "But," -says Clarendon, "the illustrious genius of Blake -was admired even by the hostile faction of his -countrymen. He was the first man that declined -the old track, and made it manifest that the -science might be obtained in less time than was -imagined; and despised those rules which had been -long in practice, to keep his ship and men out of -danger, which had been held in former times a -point of great ability and circumspection, as if the -principal art requisite in the captain of a ship had -been to be sure to come safe home again; the first -man who brought the ships to contemn castles on -shore, which had been thought ever very formidable; -the first that infused that portion of courage -into the seamen, by making them see what mighty -things they could do if they were resolved, and -taught them to fight in fire as well as upon water."</p> - -<p>Blake did not hesitate. The wind was blowing -into the harbour on the 20th of April, 1657; and -trusting to the omnipotent instincts of courage, -he dashed into the harbour at eight o'clock -in the morning. Stayner, who had so lately -defeated the Spanish Plate fleet, and destroyed in -it the viceroy of Peru, now led the way in a -frigate, and Blake followed with the larger ships. -His fleet altogether amounted to twenty-five sail. -It was received with a hurricane of fire from the -batteries on both sides the harbour and the fleet -in front; but discharging his artillery right and -left, he advanced, silencing the forts, and soon -driving the seamen from the front line of galleons -into the merchant ships. For four hours the -terrible encounter continued, the British exposed -to a deadly hail of ball from the shore as well as -the ships, but still pressing on till the Spanish -ships were all in flames, and reduced to ashes, the -troops in them having escaped to land. The -question, then, was how to escape out of the -harbour, and from the fury of the exasperated -Spaniards on the land around. But Blake drew -his ships out of reach of the forts and, as if Providence -had wrought in his favour—as Blake -firmly believed He did—the wind about sunset -veered suddenly round, and the fleet sailed securely -out to sea.</p> - -<p>The fame of this unparalleled exploit rang -throughout Europe, and raised the reputation of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> -England for naval prowess to the greatest pitch. -Unhappily, death was fast claiming the undaunted -admiral. He was suffering at the moment that -he won this brilliant triumph, and, sailing homewards, -he expired (August 17, 1657) on board his -ship, the <em>St. George</em>, just as it entered the harbour -of Plymouth. Besides the high encomium of -Clarendon, he received that of a writer of his -own party and time, in the narrative of the -"Perfect Politician"—"He was a man most -wholly devoted to his country's service, resolute in -his undertakings, and most faithful in his performances -of them. With him valour seldom -missed its reward, nor cowardice its punishment. -When news was brought him of a metamorphosis -in the State at home, he would then encourage -the seamen to be most vigilant abroad; for, said -he, it was not our duty to mind State affairs, but -to keep foreigners from fooling us. In all his -expeditions the wind seldom deceived him, but -mostly in the end stood his friend, especially in -his last undertaking in the Canary Islands. To -the last he lived a single life, never being espoused -to any but his country's quarrels. As he lived -bravely, he died gloriously, and was buried in -Henry VII.'s Chapel, yet enjoying at this time no -other monument but what is raised by his valour, -which time itself can hardly deface."</p> - -<p>During this summer, Oliver had not only been -gloriously engaged at sea, but he had been busy -on land. He was in league with Louis XIV. of -France to drive the Spaniards from the Netherlands. -The French forces were conducted by the -celebrated Marshal Turenne, and the Spanish by -Don John of Austria, and the French insurgent -chief, the Prince of Condé. Cromwell sent over -six thousand men under Sir John Reynolds, who -landed near Boulogne on the 13th and 14th of -May. They were supported by a strong fleet -under Admiral Montague, the late colleague of -Blake, which cruised on the coast. The first -united operations were to be the reduction of -Gravelines, Mardyke, and Dunkirk, the first of -which places, when taken, was to belong to -France, the two latter to England. If Gravelines -were taken first, it was to be put into possession of -England, as a pledge for the conveyance of the two -latter. This bold demand on the part of Cromwell -astonished his French allies, and was violently -opposed by the French cabinets, who told Louis -that Dunkirk once in the hands of the English, -would prove another Calais to France. But -without Dunkirk, which Cromwell deemed necessary -as a check to the Royalist invasions from the -Netherlands, with which he was continually threatened, -no aid was to be had from the Protector, -and it was conceded, whence came the angry declaration -from the French, that "Mazarin feared -Cromwell more than the Devil."</p> - -<p>The French Court endeavoured to employ the -English forces on other work than the reduction of -these stipulated places. The young French king -went down to the coast to see the British army, -and having expressed much admiration of them -recommended them to lay siege to Montmédy, -Cambray, and other towns in the interior. Cromwell -was, however, too much of a man of business -and a general to suffer this. He ordered his ambassador, -Sir William Lockhart (who had married -the Protector's niece, Miss Rosina Sewster) to remonstrate, -and insist on the attack of Gravelines, -Mardyke, and Dunkirk. He told the ambassador -that to talk of Cambray and interior towns as guarantees -was "parcels of words for children. If they -will give us garrisons, let them give us Calais, -Dieppe, and Boulogne." He bade him tell the -Cardinal that if he meant any good from the -treaty with him, he must keep it, and go to -work on Dunkirk, when, if necessary, he would -send over two thousand more of his veterans. -This had the necessary effect: Mardyke was taken -after a siege of three days only, and put into the -hands of the English on the 23rd of September. -The attack was then turned on Gravelines; but -the enemy opened their sluices, and laid all the -country round under water. On this Turenne, -probably glad of the delay, put his troops at that -early period into winter quarters. During this -time attempts were made to corrupt the English -officers by the Stuart party. The Duke of York -was in the Spanish army with the English Royalist -exiles, and communications were opened as of -mere civility with the English at Mardyke. As -the English officers took their rides between -Mardyke and Dunkirk they were frequently met -by the duke's officers, and conversation took -place. Sir John Reynolds was imprudent enough -to pay his respects to the duke on these occasions, -and he was soon ordered to London to answer for -his conduct; but both he and a Colonel White, -who was evidence against him, were lost on the -5th of December on the Goodwin Sands. The -Duke of York now made a treacherous attack on -Mardyke, but was repulsed, and the affairs of -Charles II. appeared so hopeless, that Burnet -asserts, and the same thing is asserted also in the -"Orrery Letters," that he was now mean enough -to offer to marry one of Cromwell's daughters, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -thus settle all differences, but that Cromwell told -Lord Orrery that Charles was so debauched that -he would undo them all. Cromwell, indeed, just -now married his two remaining single daughters, -Frances and Mary, to the Lords Rich and Falconberg. -Frances married Lord Rich, the son of the -Earl of Warwick, and Mary Lord Falconberg, -of the Yorkshire family of Bellasis, formerly so -zealous for the royal party.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 560px;"> -<img src="images/i_144.jpg" width="560" height="464" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left"><cite>By permission of the Corporation of Liverpool.</cite></p> - -<p>CROMWELL REFUSING THE CROWN, 1657.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">From the Picture by J. SCHEX in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_144big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_145.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ARREST OF CONSPIRATORS AT THE "MERMAID." (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_145big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The year 1658 opened by the meeting of the -new Parliament. It was a critical venture, and -not destined to succeed better than the former -ones. To constitute the new House, called the -Other House, Cromwell had been obliged to remove -to it most of the best-affected members of the -Commons. To comply with the "Petition and -Advice," he had been forced to admit into the -Commons many who had been expelled from former -Parliaments for their violent Republicanism. The -consequences at once appeared. The Other House -consisted of sixty-three members. It included -six of the ancient Peers—the Earls of Manchester, -Warwick, Mulgrave, Falconberg, Saye and Sele, and -Lord Eure. But none but Eure and Falconberg -took their seats, not even the Earl of Warwick, -whose son and heir, Lord Rich, had just -married the Protector's daughter. He and the -others objected to sit in the same House with -General Hewson, who had once been a shoemaker, -and Pride, who had been a drayman. Amongst the -members appeared a considerable number of the -officers of the army, and the chief Ministers -of State. These included the Protector's two -sons, Richard and Henry Cromwell, Fiennes, -Keeper of the Great Seal, Lisle, Fleetwood, Monk, -Whalley, Whitelock, Barkstead, Pride, Hewson, -Goffe, Sir Christopher Pack, alderman of London, -General Claypole, St. John, and other old friends -of the Protector, besides the lords already mentioned. -As they had been called by writs, which -were copies of the royal writs used on such occasions, -the members immediately assumed that it -made them peers, and gave them a title to hereditary -rank. They were addressed by Cromwell in -his opening speech as "My Lords, and Gentlemen -of the House of Commons." His speech was very -short, for he complained of indisposition, the truth -being, that the life of excitement, struggle, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -incessant care for twenty years had undermined his -iron frame, and he was breaking down; but he -congratulated them on the internal peace attained, -warned them of danger from without, and exhorted -them to unity and earnestness for the -public good. Fiennes, after the Protector's retirement, -addressed them in a much longer speech -on the condition of the nation.</p> - -<p>But all hopes of this nondescript Parliament -were vain. The Other House no sooner met apart -than they began inquiring into their privileges, -and, assuming that they were not merely the Other -House, but the Upper House, sent a message, after -the fashion of the ancient peers by the judges, to -desire a conference with the Commons on the subject -of a fast. The Commons, however, who were -by the new Instrument made judges of the Other -House, being authorised to approve or disapprove -of it, showed that they meant the Other House to -be not an Upper House, but a lower House than -themselves. They claimed to be the representatives -of the people; but who, they asked, had -made the Other House a House of Peers, who had -given them an authority and a negative voice over -<em>them?</em> The first thing which the Commons did -was to claim the powers of the new Instrument, -and admit the most violent of the excluded -members, for none were to be shut out except -rebels or Papists. Haselrig, who had been appointed -one of the Other House, refused to sit in -it; but having been elected to the Commons, he -appeared there, and demanded his oath. Francis -Bacon, the Clerk of the House, replied that he -dared not give it him; but Haselrig insisted, and -being supported by his party, he at length obtained -his oath, and took his seat. It was then soon seen -that the efficient Government members were gone -to the Other House, and Haselrig, Scott, Robinson, -and the most fiery members of the Republican -section now carried things their own way, and commenced -a course of vehement opposition. Scott -ripped up the whole history of the House of -Lords during the struggle of the Commonwealth. -He said—"The Lords would not join in the trial -of the king. We called the king to our bar, and -arraigned him. He was for his obstinacy and -guilt condemned and executed, and so let all the -enemies of God perish! The House of Commons -had a good conscience in it. Upon this the Lords' -House adjourned, and never met again; and it was -hoped the people of England should never again -have a negative upon them." But the hostility of -this party was not to the Other House merely, it -was to the Protectorate itself, which it declaimed -against, and not only in the House, but out of it, -setting on foot petitions for the abolition of the -Protectorate by the Commons. Whitelock remarks -that this course boded the speedy dissolution -of the House. Cromwell summoned both Houses -to Whitehall January 25th, only five days after -their meeting, and in a long and powerful speech -remonstrated with the Commons on their frantic -proceedings. He took a wide view of the condition -of Europe, of the peace and Protestantism -of England, and asked them what were their -hopes, if, by their decision, they brought back the -dissolute and bigoted Court which they had dismissed. -He declared that the man who could contemplate -the restoration of such a state of things -must have the heart of a Cain; that he would -make England the scene of a bloodier civil war -than they had had before. He prayed, therefore, -that whoever should seek to break the peace, God -Almighty might root that man out of the nation; -and he believed that the wrath of God would prosecute -such a man to his grave, if not to hell.</p> - -<p>But all argument was lost on that fiery section. -Scott and Haselrig continued their assaults on the -whole frame of government more strenuously than -ever; and on the 4th of February, fifteen days -from the meeting of Parliament, amid the confused -bickering of Scott and Haselrig with the wearied -House, arrived the Usher of the Black Rod to -summon the members to the Other House, which he -called boldly the House of Lords. Haselrig, in -the midst of his harangue, was reminded of the -presence of the Black Rod. "What care I for -Black Rod?" he exclaimed, but he was compelled -to obey.</p> - -<p>The Protector expressed the intensity of his -disappointment that the very men who had importuned -him to assume the burden of Government, -and even the title of king, should now, instead -of attending to the urgent business of the nation, -endeavour violently to destroy that Government, -and throw everything into chaos. "I can -say in the presence of God," he continued, "in -comparison with Whom we are but like poor -creeping ants upon the earth, I would have been -glad to have lived under a wood-side, to have kept -a flock of sheep rather than have undertaken such -a Government as this. But undertaking it by the -advice and petition of you, I did look that you, -who had offered it unto me, should make it good." -He added, "And if this be the end of your -sitting, and this be your carriage, I think it high -time to put an end to your sitting; and I do -dissolve this Parliament." And thus closed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -last Parliament of Cromwell, after a session of a -fortnight.</p> - -<p>Having dismissed his Parliament, Cromwell had -to take summary measures with the host of conspirators -whom his refractory Parliaments had -only tended to encourage. Since the "Killing no -Murder" of Sexby, there were numbers who were -by no means careful to conceal that they loved -these doctrines, and persuaded the discontented -that to kill Cromwell was to cure all the evils of -the nation. The Royalists, on their part, who had -always been advocates and practisers of assassination, -were more than ever on the alert. In the -beginning of the year 1658 the plan of an invasion -was completed. The King of Spain furnished -one hundred and fifty thousand crowns -towards fitting it out: arms, ammunition, and -transports were purchased in Holland, and the -port of Ostend was to be the place of embarkation. -The greatest drawback to the hopes of the -Royalists were the dissipated and debauched -habits of the king. Ormond, writing to Hyde, -observed that he feared Charles's immoderate delight -in empty, effeminate, and vulgar conversation -was become an irresistible part of his nature, -and would never suffer him to animate his own -designs and the actions of others with that spirit -which was necessary for his quality, and much -more for his fortunes. Yet this was the man on -whom their hopes of the restoration of monarchy -were built. Ormond and O'Neil ventured to -England in disguise, in order to ascertain what -were really the resources and the spirit of the -Royalists in the country. Ormond had private -communication with all parties—with the Earls of -Manchester and Denbigh, with Rossiter and Sir -William Waller, as Presbyterians opposed to -Cromwell and the Independents; with Saye and -Sele and others, who were willing that Charles -should return on his signing the same articles that -his father had offered in the Isle of Wight; and -with such of the fanatic Levellers as held the -opinions of Sexby. But he found little that was -encouraging amongst any of them. If we are to -believe Clarendon, he was betrayed by one of -those in whom he most trusted, Sir Richard -Willis, who was high in the confidence of Charles, -but was at the same time a paid spy of Cromwell's. -It is certain that one day in March the -Protector said to Lord Broghill, "An old friend -of yours is in town, the Duke of Ormond, now -lodged in Drury Lane, at the Papist surgeon's -there. You had better tell him to be gone." -Broghill found that this was the case, and gave -Ormond the necessary hint, who hurried back to -Bruges, and assured Charles and his Court that -Cromwell had many enemies, but there was at -present no chance of a successful invasion.</p> - -<p>But if Cromwell was disposed to allow Ormond -to escape, he was compelled to make an example -of some other of the Royalist agitators. On the -12th of March the Protector sent for the Lord -Mayor and aldermen to Whitehall, informed them -that the Duke of Ormond had been lurking in the -City to excite rebellion, and that it was necessary -to take strict measures for putting down the -seditious of all sorts. At the same time he -ordered the fleet to sweep the coasts of the -Netherlands, which drove in there two fleets intended -for the Royalist expedition, and blockaded -Ostend. He then determined to bring to justice -some of the most incorrigible agitators. Sir Henry -Slingsby, who had been confined in Hull ever -since the outbreak of Penruddock, had not even -there ceased his active resistance, employing himself -to corrupt the officers of the garrison, who, -being instructed by the governor, appeared to -listen to his views, so that ere long he was emboldened -to offer them commissions from Charles -Stuart. Another person arrested was Dr. Hewit, -an Episcopalian clergyman, who preached at St. -Gregory's, near St. Paul's, and was a most indefatigable -advocate of a royal invasion. There -were numbers of the Royalist apprentices and -others in the City, who were not patient enough to -wait for the invasion; they resolved to rise on the -15th of May, fire the houses near the Tower, and -by sound of drum proclaim the king. The Protector -told Thurloe that "it was not fit that there -should be a plot of this kind every winter," and -Thurloe had made himself thoroughly aware of all -their proceedings. As the time approached, the -ringleaders were seized at the "Mermaid," in -Cheapside. A High Court of Justice was appointed -according to Act of Parliament, and Slingsby, -Hewit, and the City incendiaries were tried. -There was ample proof of their guilt. Hewit -denied the authority of the court and refused to -plead, but he was all the same condemned with -Slingsby and six of the City traitors to death.</p> - -<p>In the Netherlands Sir William Lockhart admirably -supplied the place of Sir John Reynolds, -acting both as ambassador and general. The -Allied army opened the campaign of 1658 with the -siege of Dunkirk. The Prince of Condé had in -vain assured the Spaniards that this would be the -case, whilst they imagined that the intention of -the Allies was to besiege Cambray. When Don<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> -John saw his mistake, he determined to attack -the Allies and raise the siege. But Turenne and -Lockhart would not wait to be attacked; they -marched to meet the Spaniards, and surprised -them before they had received their supply of -ammunition for the intended assault. Don John -hastily drew up his forces along a ridge of sandhills, -and gave the command of the right wing to -the Duke of York, and the left to Condé, himself -commanding the centre. Lockhart was too ill to -take the command, but gave it to Colonel Morgan, -who, with his English forces, found himself opposed -to the Duke of York. The English dashed -up the sandhill, and soon drove the infantry of -the enemy before them. They were then charged -by the Duke of York at the head of the Spanish -cavalry, and the battle was terrible, but nearly -half of the duke's men fell under the well-directed -fire of his countrymen. The left wing, however, -under Condé, had given way, and the duke, leaving -his rallied infantry to contend with the English in -front, directed the charge of his cavalry against -their flank. It was in vain; the centre gave way -without fighting, and the brave English defending -themselves against their numerous assailants till -relieved by a body of French horse, the whole line -of the Spaniards collapsed. The Duke of York, -who had fought gallantly, was saved in the first -charge only by the temper of his armour, and in -the second he was surrounded by the enemy, and, -according to his own account, only extricated himself -by assuming the character of a French officer, -and leading on several troopers to the charge till -he saw a chance of riding off. Marshal Turenne -gave the credit of the victory to the gallantry of -the English, who had, at the close of the battle, -scarcely a single officer left alive. At Whitehall -the victory was attributed to the prayers of the -saints at Court, for it happened that the Protector -had set apart that day for a solemn fast, -and, says Thurloe, "whilst we were praying, they -were fighting, and the Lord gave a signal answer."</p> - -<p>The Lord Falconberg was despatched to carry -congratulations to Louis XIV., who was at Calais, -and soon afterwards these were returned by the -Duke of Crequi and M. Mancini, the nephew of -Mazarin, who expressed his regret that, owing to -the urgency of affairs, he was unable to come himself, -as he said he had long desired; but he sent -a magnificent sword from the king, and a fine piece -of tapestry from himself. Dunkirk was given up -to the English, Gravelines was taken, Ypres -surrendered, and all the towns on the banks of -the Lys fell into the hands of the conquerors.</p> - -<p>Here closed the victorious career of Oliver -Cromwell; these were the last of his triumphs, -and nearly the last of his life. Though he now -stood apparently at the summit of fortune, both -domestic and foreign enemies being for the time -subdued, yet the grand platform of life and mortal -glory was already giving way beneath him. His -health was undermined by the long conflict with a -host of enemies, and circumstances around him -were gloom. Sickness had entered, death was -about to select its victims from his own house. -His daughter Frances was left a young widow by -the death of Lord Rich, son of the Earl of Warwick, -twelve days after the dissolution of Parliament; -his daughter Claypole, his favourite daughter, -was lying ill, and beyond the reach of medical -art at that period, and his own iron frame -was yielding. Around him, in his outward -affairs, the circumstances were full of anxiety. -He knew that he had repulsed, but not destroyed, -the domestic enemies of his Government. They -were as alert as ever to the chance of starting -up and again attempting to overturn his power. -All his three Parliaments had proved thoroughly -unmanageable, and had reduced him to the very -measures so strongly condemned in Charles I.—continual -interruption of the debates, invasion of -privileges, and abrupt dissolutions to prevent the -completion of hostile measures. The only circumstance -in his favour was that Charles's arbitrary -acts were for the formation of despotism; -his for that of a rational liberty. Under no previous -Government had the people enjoyed such -just laws, such just judges, and so much liberty, -especially religious liberty.</p> - -<p>But, like Charles, Cromwell was now governing -without a Parliament, and, like him, being without -a Parliament, he was without funds. The -wars on sea and land had emptied his exchequer, -and to raise supplies by arbitrary means would -cover him with the odium which had clung to the -king he had overthrown. He appointed a committee -of nine persons to consider as to the best -means of calling a Parliament likely to work with -the existing Government, and also to decide on -the successor to the Protectorate. But on this -committee there were secret enemies, and it came -to no conclusion as to the Parliament; but as -to the succession, it determined that since the -succession had been left to the Protector, it was a -matter of no consequence. Suspecting their -motives, and deriving no benefit from them, he -dismissed the committee towards the end of July, -and was left with no resource but the ingenuity of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -Thurloe, his secretary, who borrowed where he -could, but was often refused. This could not, -however, last. His army was his grand prop, and -so long as it was duly paid and clothed there was -no danger, but let payment fall into arrears, and it -would soon begin to listen to the suggestions of -the Republican and Anabaptist officers. With -these gloomy circumstances, his suspicions seem to -have grown of those about him, or of assassins -who might make more successful attempts than -before; as his health failed his fears acquired a -decided mastery. He is said to have worn -armour under his clothes: we know that he had -long carried loaded pistols. Clarendon says he -had become much "less easy of access, nor so -much seen abroad; and he seemed to be in some -disorder when his eyes found any stranger in the -room, upon whom they still seemed fixed. When -he intended to go to Hampton Court, which was -his principal delight and diversion, it was never -known till he was in the coach which way he -would go; and he was still hemmed in by his -guards before and behind; and the coach, in which -he went was always thronged as full as it could be -with his servants, who were armed, and he seldom -returned the same way he went, and rarely lodged -two nights together in one chamber, but had many -furnished and prepared, to which his own key conducted -him."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_149.jpg" width="390" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JOHN THURLOE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_149big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Though this is the statement of an enemy, we -can very well believe it, for Cromwell's life had -been for years aimed at by assassins, both Royalist -and Republican, by paid bravoes of Charles II., -and by fanatics. These various fears and anxieties<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -told strongly as his health failed. He reached -his fifty-ninth year in April, and was therefore -pretty advanced towards his sixtieth. For fourteen -days before the death of Mrs. Claypole, -the Protector was almost day and night by her -bedside, not being able to attend to any business -in his deep anxiety. Mrs. Claypole died on the -6th of August, and George Fox going to Hampton -Court, to represent to Cromwell the persecutions -of his friends, on the 20th of that month, met him -riding in Hampton Court Park at the head of -his Life Guards, and was so struck with his altered -appearance, that he said "he felt a waft of death -go forth against him, and when he came up to him -he looked like a dead man." On hearing George's -statement, he desired him to come to the palace to -him; but next day, when Fox went thither, he was -told that he was much worse, and that the physicians -were not willing he should speak with anybody.</p> - -<p>Cromwell died on the 3rd of September, the day -of Dunbar and Worcester, the day which he had -set down as his fortunate day, and which was -in nothing more so than in this last event. He -laid down a burden which he had often said "was -too heavy for man," and with the possession of -that form of government which he sincerely -deemed essential to truth and liberty still in his -grasp. It was a form of government which had -no foundation in the convictions of the people, -and which sooner or later was bound to fall; -and the old prejudices in favour of royalty -bring back a fresh lesson of martyrdom to its -votaries. The Dictatorship was at an end; it had -been maintained by Cromwell's innate vigour, and -could only last as long as he did. The day that -he died was a day of terrible wind, and his -enemies declared that the devil came in it to fetch -him away; but his friends said that Nature could -not witness the departure of so great a spirit -without marking its strong emotion. Many are -the sayings of his last hours reported by friends -and foes, but it is certain that he expressed his -firm belief that he died in the unbroken covenant -with God.</p> - -<p>On his deathbed the Protector had been asked -to name his successor. Empowered by the "Petition -and Advice," he had already named him in a -sealed packet, which now, however, could not -be found, and though he was supposed to say -Richard, it was so indistinctly, that it was by -no means certain. However, Richard was proclaimed -in London and Westminster, and then in -all the large towns at home, and in Dunkirk, -and the colonies abroad. At first all appeared -favourable for the peaceable succession of Richard. -All parties hastened to congratulate him. Foreign -ministers sent addresses of condolence and intimations -of their desire to renew their alliances. From -all parts of the country, and from the City, and -from one hundred congregational churches, poured -in addresses, conceived in the most fulsome affectation -of religion. Cromwell had been a Moses, -but his son was a Joshua. Elijah was gone, but -Elisha remained.</p> - -<p>The Royalists were confounded to find everything -pass over so smoothly, but all who knew the -retiring disposition of Richard, and the volcano of -raging materials which lay in the sects, factions, -and parties which at that moment divided and -agitated England, could only look on it as the -lull before the tempest. Richard Cromwell -had all his life long displayed a liking only for -a quiet country life. He had no ambitions, either -military or political. He had lived in his domestic -retirement, entering neither the field nor the -cabinet, and his father, in his letters, was continually -calling him "indolent Dick." It was -impossible that such a man could ever curb the -fierce and conflicting factions with which he was -surrounded; it is most probable that he only -longed to be well rid of the whole onerous burden.</p> - -<p>There were various leaders in the army so nearly -equal in rank and influence that there was sure -to be strife for the chief command. Fleetwood -had married a sister of the present Protector; -Desborough was his uncle; his brother Henry, who -was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, was a much more -resolute and able man than himself; and Monk, in -Scotland, had great power in his hands. The chief -command in the army lay, by the late Instrument, -in the Protector himself; but the officers of the -army met and drew up a petition that the chief -command should be conferred on some one of the -generals who had shown his attachment to the -cause by his services, and that no officer should be -deprived of his commission except by sentence -of a court-martial. Richard, by the advice of -Thurloe, replied that he had appointed General -Fleetwood lieutenant-general of the forces, but -that to give up the supreme command would be to -violate the "Petition and Advice," by which he -held his own authority. This did not content the -officers; they still held their meetings, a liberty -which Oliver had wisely suppressed, and there -were many suspicions expressed amongst them. -They asserted that Henry Cromwell would soon -be placed above Fleetwood, who, though conscientious, -was very weak and vacillating, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> -they demanded that Thurloe, St. John and Pierpoint, -Richard's ablest counsellors, should be -dismissed, as enemies to the army. It was clear -that a collision must take place between these -parties and Thurloe, and his friends advised -Richard to call a Parliament, by which he would -not only be able to curb the power of the officers, -but to raise money for the payment of the soldiers. -The nation was keeping a large fleet under Ayscue, -or Ayscough, part of which was cruising in the -Baltic, to protect the English allies, the Swedes, -against the Danes and Dutch, and another, under -Montague, was blockading the Dutch coast. Money, -therefore, was absolutely necessary to defray expenses, -and Richard consented to call a Parliament. -It was a necessary evil, a formidable -undertaking. For the five months that passed -before their meeting, Richard ruled with all the -outward state, and with more than the quiet of his -father. But his father, with all his vigour and -tact, had never been able to manage a Parliament, -most of the members of which immediately set -about to overthrow him; what hope, then, that -Richard could contend with such a restless and -domineering body? It was absolutely impossible, -and he was speedily made sensible of it. To -introduce as many members of the Commons as he -could favourable to his views, he departed from -his father's plan of only calling them from the -larger boroughs and the counties, and restored the -franchise to the lesser and decayed boroughs. -Every means was used besides to obtain the return -of men favourable to the Government; and in -Scotland and Ireland, from whence thirty members -each were admitted, the elections were conducted -under the eyes of the commander of the forces. -But, notwithstanding, from the very first assembling -of the Commons, they showed that they were -likely to be as unmanageable as ever. When -Richard summoned the Commons to meet him in -the Lords scarcely half the members attended, lest -they should sanction the existence of a body -which they disclaimed. The Commons were as much -divided as the army. There were the friends of -the Government, who were instructed to stand -firm by the "Petition and Advice," and the -Government, founded by it, of one ruling person -and two Houses of Parliament. Then there were -the Presbyterians and Republicans, who were for -no Lords nor Protector either, and were led on by -Haselrig, Scott, Bradshaw, Lambert, Ludlow, and -others of those united parties, with whom Vane -and Fairfax now co-operated. Fairfax, from the -moment when he showed his disapprobation of the -death of Charles I., had retired into private life, but -now he reappeared, and though become a Royalist -at heart, his spirited lady no doubt having roused -that feeling in him, he voted with the Republican -party, as most likely to prevail against the Protectorate, -and thus pave the way to monarchy. -Besides these, there were many neutrals or moderates, -and a considerable sprinkling of young -Royalists, who, by Charles's advice, had got in -under other colours.</p> - -<p>However much these parties differed amongst -themselves, there were sufficient of them adverse -to the Protectorate to commence an immediate -attack upon it. They fell at once to debating the -legality of the "Petition and Advice," and of -course Government by a single person and two -Houses. They asked what was the "Petition and -Advice," and they declared it to be an instrument -of no validity, passed by a very small majority of a -House from which a hundred members had been -forcibly excluded. The debates were long and -violent. Though Parliament met on the 27th -of January, 1659, it was the 14th of February -before they had decided that Richard's right to the -Protectorate should be settled by another Bill, but -with much restricted prerogative, and it was not -till the 28th of March that they allowed the right -of the other House to sit, but with no superiority -to the Commons, and with no authority to send -messages to it except by members of the House. -These points settled, there were high demands for -a searching inquiry into the management of all -departments of the State, with heavy charges of -waste, embezzlement, oppression, and tyranny, in -the collection of the excise. Threats of impeachment -were held out against Thurloe and the principal -ministers, as well as against Butler and -some others of the officers.</p> - -<p>This aroused the generals, who were themselves -divided into two great factions. One set met at -Whitehall under Ingoldsby, Whalley, Goffe, Lord -Charles Howard, and others favourable to the -Protector; another, under Fleetwood and Desborough, -met at Wallingford House, who, though the -Protector's own relations, were bent on their own -and the army's ascendency. They were joined by -Lambert, who, after being deprived of his commission, -had remained at Wimbledon, cultivating -his garden, and seeming to be forgotten; but now -he came forth again and was received with enthusiasm -by the soldiers, who had great confidence -in his ability. Desborough used also to meet with -a third party, consisting chiefly of the inferior -officers, at St. James's.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> - -<p>At this place of meeting a council of officers -was organised, which soon became influential with -the Wallingford House, or Fleetwood's, section. -Here they drew up an address to Richard, complaining -of the arrears of their pay being withheld, -and of the neglect with which the army was -treated; of the attempts to overthrow the Acts -passed by the Long Parliament, and the encouragement -thereby given to the Royalists, who were -flocking over from Flanders, and exciting discontent -against "the good old cause," and against the -persons and interests of those who had shed their -blood for the Commonwealth. This address was -presented on the 14th of April by Fleetwood, with -no less than six hundred signatures. Though it -did not even mention the name of this Parliament, -that body felt that it was directed entirely against -them, and immediately voted that no meeting or -general council of officers should be held without -the consent and order of the Protector, and that no -person should hold any command by sea or land -who did not forthwith sign an engagement that -he would not in any way disturb or prevent the -free meeting and debates of Parliament, or the -freedom of any member of Parliament. This was -certain to produce a retort from the army—it was -an open declaration of war upon it; and accordingly -Fleetwood and Desborough waited on -Richard and assured him that it was absolutely -necessary to dissolve Parliament; and Desborough, -who was a bold, rough soldier, declared that if he -did not do it, he felt sure the army would soon -pull him out of Whitehall.</p> - -<p>It may be questioned how far this declaration -was warranted by the real facts of the case. The -majority of the army was probably opposed to any -violence being shown to the son of the great Protector, -but in critical times it is the small knot of -restless, unscrupulous spirits who rule the inert -mass, and impose their own views upon the sluggish -and the timid; and Desborough well knew -the irresolute and impressionable character of -Richard Cromwell.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, many members of Parliament -protested that they would stand by him, -that if he allowed the army to suppress Parliament, -he would find it immediately his own -master, and would be left without a friend. Ingoldsby, -Goffe, and Whalley supported this view, -and one of them offered to go and kill Lambert, -who was the originator of all the mischief. -Richard called a council to consider the proposition. -Whitelock represented the danger of dissolving -Parliament, and leaving himself at the -mercy of the army; but Thurloe, Lord Broghill, -Fiennes, and Wolseley declared there was no -alternative, for if the army and Parliament came -to strife, the Cavaliers would rise and bring in -Charles. Richard reluctantly gave way, and on -the 22nd of April he signed a commission empowering -Fiennes, the Keeper of the Seal, to -dissolve Parliament. Fiennes summoned the -Commons to the Upper House by the Usher of -the Black Rod, but they shut the door in the face -of that officer, and refused to obey, adjourning -themselves for three days. Fiennes, however, declared -Parliament dissolved, the Commons having -been duly summoned to witness it, and a proclamation -was issued to that effect.</p> - -<p>The warning of Whitelock was at once verified; -the moment that the Parliament ceased, all -regard to Richard by the army ceased with it. -From that moment he was deserted except by -a small knot of officers—Goffe, Whalley, and -Ingoldsby,—and he was as completely annihilated -as Protector as if all parties had deposed him by -assent and proclamation. The council of officers -proceeded to take measures for the exercise of the -supreme power. They placed guards to prevent -the adjourned Commons from re-taking their seats at -Westminster as they proposed, and by their own -authority dismissed Ingoldsby, Goffe, Whalley, and -the other officers who had adhered to Richard, -from their commands in the army, and restored -Lambert and all the others who had been cashiered -by Oliver. Having thus restored the Republicanism -of the army, they determined to recall the -Rump, as a body which they believed they could -command; and they accordingly issued an order -for the reassembling of the House of Commons -which Oliver had so unceremoniously dismissed on -the 20th of April, 1653. At this call, Lenthall, -the old Speaker of the Rump, with about forty or -fifty members of the Rump, hastened the next day -to Westminster, where Lambert kept guard with -the troops, and after some discussion in the -Painted Chamber, they went in a body to the -House through two files of Lambert's soldiers, and -took their places as a real Parliament. But their -claim to this exclusive right was immediately disputed. -The same day, the 7th of May, a large -number of the members who had been excluded by -Pride's purge, in 1648, of whom one hundred and -ninety-four were still alive, and eighty of them -residing in the capital, assembled in Westminster -Hall, and sent up to the House a deputation of -fourteen, headed by Prynne, Annesley, and Sir -George Booth, to demand equal liberty to sit; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -as this would have overwhelmed them with a -Presbyterian majority, the doors were closed -against them: they were kept back by the soldiers -who filled the lobby, who were ironically called -"the keepers of the liberties of England," and -they were informed that no member could sit who -had not already signed the engagement. On the -9th, however, Prynne made his way into the -House, and kept his seat, in spite of all efforts to -dislodge him, till dinner-time; but going out to -dine, he found himself shut out on his return.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_153.jpg" width="560" height="426" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE MANOR HOUSE, WIMBLEDON (1660).</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_153big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Rump now proceeded to appoint a Committee -of Safety, and then a Council of State, -which included Fairfax, Lambert, Desborough, -Bradshaw, Fleetwood, Ashley Cooper, Haselrig, -Vane, Ludlow, St. John, and Whitelock. Letters -were received from Monk in Scotland, congratulating -the Rump on their return to power, but -hypocritically begging them to keep in mind the -services of Cromwell and his family. Lockhart -sent over from Flanders the tendered services of -the regiments there, and was confirmed in his -office of ambassador, and also commissioned to -attend a conference between the ministers of -France and Spain, to be held at Fuentarabia, -whither Charles Stuart had also betaken himself. -Montague sent in the adhesion of the fleet, and, -what was still more consoling, Henry Cromwell, -whose opposition in Ireland was much dreaded, -resigned his office, and was permitted to retire -into private life.</p> - -<p>The Wallingford House party of officers alone -created serious apprehension. They sent in a list -of fifteen demands, which were immediately taken -into consideration, and the Rump successively -voted, in compliance therewith, that a form of -government should be passed calculated to preserve -the liberties of the people, and that it should -contain no single person as Protector, nor House -of Peers. They also agreed that liberty of -conscience should be allowed to all believers in the -Scriptures who held the doctrine of the Trinity, -except Papists and Prelatists. But one of these -demands was for lands of inheritance to be settled -on Richard Cromwell to the value of ten thousand -pounds a year, and a pension on her Highness, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> -mother, of ten thousand pounds a year. On this -it was remarked that Richard was still occupying -Whitehall as if he were Protector, and they made -it conditional that he should remove thence. -They proposed that if he retired from the Protectorate, -they would grant him twenty-nine -thousand pounds for the discharge of his debts, -two thousand pounds for present necessities, and -ten thousand pounds to him and his heirs. Richard -cheerfully signed a formal abdication in May, -1659, but his pension was never paid. After the -Restoration he fled to the Continent, where he -remained for twenty years. He returned in 1680, -and lived peaceably on his estate at Cheshunt, or -at Mardon, in Hursley, near Winchester, which -he received with Dorothy Mayor, and there -spent a jolly life in old English state, dying -in 1712. During his father's life, he is said in -convivial hours to have drunk the health of his -father's landlord, Charles Stuart; and he possessed -a chest which contained the addresses and -congratulations, even the protestations of profound -fidelity from corporations, congregations, -and almost all the public men, and on this chest -he would seat himself in his jocund hours, amongst -his convivial friends, and boast that he was sitting -on the lives and fortunes of most of the leading -men of England. Henry Cromwell also passed -his life as a quiet country gentleman on his estate -of Swinney, near Soham, in Cambridgeshire, till -his death in 1673. His government of Ireland -was, on his resigning, put into the hands of five -commissioners, and the command of the army was -given to Ludlow.</p> - -<p>Charles and his party abroad, watching the -continual bickerings of their enemies in England, -put in motion all their machinery to create confusion, -and to seize the opportunity of taking -every possible means of procuring a revolt amongst -them. Charles, to encourage his partisans, announced -his intention of coming to England to -head them. The 1st of August was fixed on for a -rising, and Charles hastened into Boulogne, to be -ready to pass over into Wales or Cornwall. The -Duke of York was to lead over six hundred of the -Prince of Condé's veterans, and, crossing from -Boulogne, land on the coast of Kent, whilst the -Duke of Gloucester was to proceed from Ostend -with four thousand troops under Marshal Marsin. -Unfortunately for them, their plans had been -revealed to Thurloe by Sir Richard Willis, one of -the king's sealed knot of seven trusted confidants. -Convinced by this treason that the enterprise -would fail, Charles sent circular letters to stop the -rising. But these in some instances arrived too -late. Many appeared in arms, and were fallen -upon and routed or taken prisoners by the Parliamentarians. -Sir John Gore, the Lady Mary -Howard, daughter of the Earl of Berkshire, -in addition to many other persons of distinction, -were arrested on charges of high treason. In -Cheshire Sir George Booth raised the royal -standard, and took possession of Chester; but on -learning the news of the king's deferring the -enterprise, and that General Lambert was marching -against them, he and his associates fled to -Nantwich, where Lambert overtook and totally -routed them. Colonel Morgan, with thirty of his -men, fell on the field; the Earl of Derby was -taken disguised as a servant; Sir Thomas Middleton, -who was eighty years old, fled to Chirk Castle, -but soon surrendered; and Booth himself, disguised -as a woman, and riding on a pillion, was -betrayed and taken on the road to London, near -Newton Pagnell. This unlucky outbreak and -defeat threw the adherents of Charles abroad into -despair. Montague, the admiral, who had been -won over, and had brought his fleet to the mouth -of the Thames to facilitate the passage of the king's -troops, pretended that he had come for provisions, -and, though he was suspected, he was allowed to -return to his station. Charles himself, now almost -desperate, made a journey to Fuentarabia, where -Mazarin and Don Louis de Haro, the ministers -of France and Spain, were engaged in a treaty, -in the hope that, if it were concluded, he might -obtain some support from them. But he was -very coldly received; Mazarin would not even see -him. In fact, his fortunes were apparently at the -lowest ebb, but it was in reality only the dark -hour before the dawn. The day of his fortune -was at hand.</p> - -<p>Parliament, on Lambert's victory, voted him -thanks and one thousand pounds to purchase a -jewel in memory of it; but Lambert distributed -the money amongst his soldiers. Parliament -resenting this, regarded it as intended to win the -soldiers to his cause, that he might tread in Cromwell's -steps, and make himself Dictator. It was -well known that he had entertained hopes of -being named his successor, and this suspicion was -immediately confirmed by his officers, whilst on -their march at Derby, signing a petition, and -sending it up with a demand that Fleetwood -should be made permanently Commander-in-Chief, -and Lambert his lieutenant-general. No sooner -did Haselrig see this petition, than he denounced -it as an attempt to overturn Parliament, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -moved the committal of Lambert and its author -to the Tower. But Fleetwood repelled the charge -by assuring them that Lambert, who was already -in town when the petition was got up, knew -nothing of it. The House, however, ordered all -copies of the paper to be destroyed, and voted -that any addition to the number of officers was -needless, chargeable, and dangerous. At the -same time they proceeded to conciliate the soldiers -by advancing their pay, and, to discharge their -arrears, on the 5th of October they raised the -monthly assessment from thirty-five thousand -pounds to one hundred thousand pounds.</p> - -<p>Matters were, however, gone too far to be -thus settled between Parliament and the army. -Haselrig, Scott, and their associates were of that -class of sanguine Republicans, who in their zeal -think only of the principles they wish to establish, -without calculating how far the country is prepared -for them, and thus blindly rush on their -own defeat. The Wallingford House military -council prepared another paper called a petition, -but which was a far more hostile communication, -asserting that whoever cast scandalous imputations -on the army should be brought to condign -punishment. That was distinct enough, but -Haselrig and his party had got the adhesion of -three regiments, and relied on the promises of -Monk in Scotland, and Ludlow in Ireland. On -the 11th of October a vote was passed, declaring -it high treason to levy any money on the people -without consent of Parliament, and, therefore, as -the existing taxes expired on the first day of the -new year, Haselrig's following believed that they -had thus rendered the army wholly dependent on -them. Next day Haselrig moved and carried -a motion that Desborough, Lambert, six colonels, -and a major, should be deprived of their commissions -for signing the late petition. By another -vote Fleetwood was deprived of the office of Commander-in-chief, -but made president of a board of -seven members, for the management of the army. -The blind zealots had witnessed to little purpose -the history of late years, and the movements of -armies. On the next day Lambert, with three -thousand men, marched into Westminster, where -he found the Houses of Parliament guarded by two -regiments of foot, and four troops of horse. On -his way he met Lenthall, the Speaker, attended -by a guard. He ordered that official to dismount, -and on refusing, according to Clarendon, -pulled him from his horse, and sent him to his own -house. The soldiers, on the two parties meeting, -at once coalesced, and the Rump was again -dismissed. The officers at Wallingford House -took upon themselves to annul Haselrig's votes of -the last three days, and establish a provisional -Committee of Safety of twenty-three members. -There was a party amongst them for restoring -Richard Cromwell, who came up from Hampshire -escorted by three troops of horse; but this party -was outvoted by a small majority, and he retired.</p> - -<p>Whilst these confused changes were taking -place—eddies in the national affairs, but neither -progress nor honour, Parliament having no power -to restrain the army, nor the army any one -man of a genius capable of controlling the rest,—there -was at least one commander who was -silently and reservedly watching the course of -events, resolved to go with the strongest side, if -such a side could be found. This was General -Monk. He was originally a Royalist, and of a -strongly Royalist family. His elder brother, with -the rest of his relations, had always been zealously -devoted to the king, and it is said that his -wife was a most ardent advocate for the king's -interest. These circumstances had caused Charles -frequently to sound him by his emissaries; but -though he received them courteously, and listened -patiently to their statements, he gave no outward -evidence that he was likely to comply with their -entreaties. He was a man of deep and impenetrable -secrecy and caution, of few words, and -a gloomy, unimpassioned manner. Cromwell, -during his life, was quite aware of the overtures -and royal promises made to Monk, but could not -discover the slightest thing in him to warrant a -suspicion of his leaning in the smallest degree -that way, and he therefore contented himself with -jocularly remarking to him in a postscript in one -of his letters, "'Tis said there is a cunning fellow -in Scotland, called George Monk, who lies in wait -there to serve Charles Stuart; pray use your -diligence to take him, and send him up to me."</p> - -<p>There was not much likelihood of Monk swerving -from the Commonwealth while the strong man -Cromwell lived, but now, amid such scenes of -weakness, he no doubt began to feel that the royal -party would have to be recalled. Such a presentiment, -however, lay locked in his taciturn -breast. The officers sent Colonel Cobbet to Monk -in Scotland, who, however, expressed his firm -adherence to the Commons, and when he heard of -what Lambert and the officers had done, he wrote -strong letters to them, complaining of the violence -which they had done to the power and authority -of Parliament. He imprisoned Cobbet, and purging -his army of all who were fanatics or inclined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -to Lambert and his party, he sent them under -guard to the Border, and dismissed them into -England, under penalty of death if they returned. -He immediately placed strong garrisons in the -castle of Edinburgh and in the citadel of Leith, -and, collecting cavalry, marched to Berwick, where -he placed a strong garrison. Letters were written -to Lenthall in the name of himself and his officers, -assuring the Parliamentary party that "he called -God to witness that the asserting of the Commonwealth -was the only interest of his heart." Whilst -Haselrig, Lenthall, and the rest were gratified by -these protestations, they remarked with wonder, -and soon with deep suspicion, that he had cashiered -all those officers whom they had introduced into -his army, and restored those whom they had -expelled. There was no alternative, however, but -to act with him and watch him. In the meantime -Monk had called a convention of the Scottish -Estates at Berwick, and informing them that "he -had received a call from heaven and earth to -march into England for the better settling of the -Government there," he recommended the peace of -the kingdom to their care, and obtained from them -a grant of sixty thousand pounds, from the arrears -of taxes. He then took up his headquarters at -Coldstream, and waited the course of events.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_156.jpg" width="397" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>RICHARD CROMWELL. (<cite>After the Portrait by Walker.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_156big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Committee of Safety, on hearing of the -movements of Monk, despatched Lambert with an -army of seven thousand men to meet him on his -march, and if he could not win him to co-operation -with the rest of the army, to resist his advance by -force. But having seen Lambert on his way -northward, the committee sent directly to Monk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> a -deputation to endeavour to bring him over to their -views, by offers of many advantages. Monk received -the deputation very courteously, expressed -every desire to unite with the rest of the army, -provided there were some ruling power to whom -all parties might be subject, and sent three commissioners -to treat with the Committee of Safety -on the subject. This greatly encouraged the -Committee of Safety, who thought their sending -Lambert against Monk had frightened him, and -whilst they prepared to receive Monk's commissioners, -they ordered Lambert to hasten on -his march.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_157.jpg" width="560" height="427" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>RECEPTION OF MONK IN THE CITY OF LONDON. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_160">160</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_157big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But affairs nearer home were every day becoming -more disheartening. Haselrig and Morley -had gone down to Portsmouth, where they were -well received by the governor, and were looked up -to as representing the authority of Parliament. -Fleetwood sent down troops to oppose them, but -the troops themselves went over to them. This -success encouraged the apprentices and other dissatisfied -persons in London to rise, and demand -the restoration of Parliament; and though Colonel -Hewson attacked and killed some of them, -the spirit and the disturbance only grew the -stronger. To finish the matter, Admiral Lawson -appeared with the fleet in the Thames, and declared -for the Parliament on the 17th of December, -and, as soon as they heard this, Haselrig and -Morley marched with their forces to London. At -their approach the troops in Westminster revolted -from the Committee and joined them, declaring -that they would live and die with the Parliament. -They received those officers who had lately been -dismissed, and all marched into Lincoln's Inn -Fields, and so to Chancery Lane, where they -halted before Lenthall's house, fired three volleys -of musketry, and hailed him not only Speaker of -the Commons, but Lord-General of the army. This -was on Christmas Eve, and Desborough's regiment, -which Lambert had sent back to check these -counter-movements, on hearing this news, at St. -Albans, also declared for the Parliament, and sent -the Speaker word of the adhesion. During all this -reaction, Fleetwood had still sat with the Committee -of Safety, but exhibiting the strangest want<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -of courage and decision. When urged to go and -use his influence with the soldiers, to prevent their -defection, he fell on his knees and prayed, or declared -that it was useless, that "God had spit in -his face, and would not hear him."</p> - -<p>Whitelock relates that at this juncture he -strongly advised Fleetwood to join him and go -away to the king, convinced that Monk was deceiving -the Parliament, and that the return of -Charles was inevitable. He said, therefore, that -it was better to get away to him and make terms -for themselves and friends whilst the time allowed. -Fleetwood was convinced, and ordered Whitelock -to prepare for the journey; but Vane, Desborough, -and Berry coming in, he quickly altered his mind, -and declared that he had pledged his word to -Lambert before he marched to do nothing of the -kind without his consent. Whitelock repeated -that if he did not do it, then all was lost; but Fleetwood, -weak but honourable, replied he could not -help it; his word was pledged: and in the end he -submitted himself to the Parliament.</p> - -<p>Lenthall, the Speaker, at the head of a party of -soldiers who made themselves merry on their new -Lord-General, went into the City, informed the -Lord Mayor and Aldermen that the Parliament -was assembling, and, on his own authority, -ordered from the Tower the governor and officers -put there by the Committee of Safety, and placed -in command Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, who had -brought in Admiral Lawson, assisted by several -members of Parliament. On the 26th of December -the Rump met again in that House from -which they had been twice so ignominiously expelled. -Their first proceeding was to annul their -act against the payment of excise and customs, so -that they might not be without money, and their -next to dismiss Lambert, Desborough, Berry, and -other officers, and to order them to retire farther -from London; and they ordered Vane, who had -adhered to the Committee of Safety, to confine -himself to his house at Raby. Thus they were -throwing down with their own hands the very -bulwarks which should prevent their falling helplessly -into the power of Monk and his army. -Still more, they sent an order to Lambert's regiments -to quit their commander, and retire to such -quarters as they appointed. The soldiers having -heard of their comrades in the south having gone -over to the Parliament, did not hesitate to obey -its orders, and Lambert found himself left alone -with only about a hundred horse. At Northallerton -his officers took their leave of him with tears, -and he retired quietly to a house which he had in -the country. Thus the expectation of a sharp -encounter between Monk and Lambert was at an -end, and the road was open to Monk to march to -London without opposition.</p> - -<p>He had received assurances from Lord Fairfax, -that within twelve days he would join him or -perish in the attempt, and he forthwith called -together his friends, and demanded the surrender -of York. On the 1st of January, 1660, the gates -of York were thrown open to Fairfax and his -followers, and the same day Monk commenced his -march southward from Coldstream. Monk remained -five days at York in consultation with -Fairfax, who did not hesitate to avow his readiness -to assist in the restoration of the king. Clarendon -tells us that Charles had sent Sir Horatio Townsend -to Fairfax, expressing confident hopes of -Monk, and requesting him to co-operate with him; -and that Parliament had become so apprehensive of -him that before his arrival at York they wrote to -him, advising him to send back part of his forces, -as being needless now in England, while they -might prevent danger in Scotland. Monk paid no -attention, and the Parliament began to wish him -back in Scotland altogether. But it does not -appear that Monk in any way committed himself to -Fairfax by his words, whatever his conduct might -indicate. On the contrary, at York he caned an -officer who charged him with a design of bringing -in Charles Stuart. On his quitting York Fairfax -disbanded his forces, and Monk pursued his -march in the same mysterious silence. Parliament -had appointed a Council of State, and framed the -oath for its members to embrace a most stringent -abjuration of royalty and of the Stuart family. -The soldiers sympathising with Parliament, the -officers on reaching Nottingham proposed signing -an engagement to obey Parliament in all things -except the bringing in of Charles Stuart. Monk -declared this unnecessary, Parliament having expressed -itself so strongly on that head; and at -Leicester he wrote a reply to certain Royalist -petitioners in Devonshire, stating his confidence -that monarchy could not be reintroduced, that the -excluded members of 1648 could not be safely reinstated, -and that it was their bounden duty to -obey and support the present Government.</p> - -<p>At Leicester arrived two of the most democratic -members of Parliament, Scott and Robinson, to -watch his proceedings, but ostensibly to do him -honour. He received them with all respect, and -such was his apparent devotion to Parliament, that -they were thoroughly satisfied and highly delighted. -At every place he was met by addresses from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> -towns and counties, praying him to restore the -excluded members, and procure a full and free -Parliament. He replied on all occasions that he -was but the servant of Parliament in a military -capacity, and referred the applicants to the two -deputies for their answers. These gentlemen, who -were vehemently opposed to any such restoration -of the excluded members, gave very free denials, -with which Monk did not in any way interfere.</p> - -<p>This conduct, we are assured by Clarendon, extremely -confounded Charles and his partisans, who -had calculated greatly on Monk's secret inclinations, -but the dispersal of Lambert's forces, the -retirement of Fairfax, and the vigorous adherence -of Monk to Parliament, puzzled and depressed -them. It might have been supposed that though -Monk had so impenetrably concealed his designs -from the adherents of the Commonwealth, that he -had a secret understanding with Charles. Clarendon, -who was fully in the king's confidence, and his -great adviser, solemnly assures us that there was -nothing of the kind; that all attempts to arrive at -his purpose had been unavailing. By the consent -of Charles, Monk's brother, a clergyman in Devonshire, -had been induced by Sir Hugh Pollard and -Sir John Grenville, the king's agents, to visit the -general in the north, and endeavour to persuade -him to declare for the king. But Monk took him -up very shortly, and advised him to go home and -come no more to him with such propositions. To -the last moment this secret and solemn man kept -the same immovable, impenetrable course. There -is little doubt but that he felt, from the miserable -weakness and disunion of both the officers and the -Parliamentary leaders, the great all-controlling -mind being gone, that the king must come again, -and that he was ready to do the work at the safe -moment. But that till he was positively certain -the way was clear of every obstacle, no power on -earth should move him. It is probable that he -was indifferent to the fact whether the king or the -Parliament ruled, but that he would decide for the -stronger when it was unmistakably the stronger, -and not till then.</p> - -<p>To prevent alarm to the Parliament, he brought -only five thousand troops with him from York, -being much fewer than those which were quartered -in London and Westminster; but from St. Albans -on the 28th of January he wrote to the Speaker, -requesting that five of the regiments there might -be removed to other quarters before his arrival, -lest there should arise strife between his soldiers -and those so lately engaged in rebellion against -the Parliament. This startled the Parliament, -and dull must those members have been who did -not perceive that they committed a series of gross -blunders in destroying the greater part of the -army, and disbanding their best officers, to clear -the stage for a new master. But there was -nothing for it but complying. They ordered the -regiments to remove, but they refused. Why, -they asked, were they to quit their quarters to -make room for strangers? Was it expected that -they should march away with several weeks' pay -in arrear? But their officers, who should have -supported them, were dismissed or under restraint, -and by coaxing and the distribution of some -money, they were induced to go. The greatest -difficulty was found with a regiment which -occupied Somerset House, and declared they would -hold it as a garrison and defend it. But at length -they, too, were persuaded to retire, and the next -day, the 3rd of February, Monk marched through -the City into the Strand and Westminster, where -his soldiers were quartered, and himself conducted -to Whitehall.</p> - -<p>Soon after his arrival Monk, was led to the -House of Commons, where a chair was placed for -him within the bar, and Lenthall made him an address, -applauding his wisdom and services to the -Commonwealth, declaring his dispersal of their -enemies as a glorious mercy, and returning him -thanks. Monk replied, observing that there -were demands for a full and free Parliament, -but that while it was as well not to impose too -many oaths, care must be taken to keep out both -the Cavaliers and the fanatic party. Of course, -the section of the fanatic party already in the -House, with Scott and Haselrig at their head, -heard this with resentment; and Monk's sincerity -was immediately put to the test by the oath of -abjuration of the Stuarts, as a member of the -Council of State, being put to him. He parried -this, by observing that seven of the councillors -already sitting had not taken the oath, and that -as for himself, he had given sufficient proofs of his -devotion to Parliament. This increased the suspicion -against him, and a more explicit proof of his -sincerity was put upon him. The Common Council -of London had refused to raise money in the City -except at the order of a full and free Parliament. -The House, therefore, commanded Monk to march -into the City to seize ten of the leading opponents -in the Council, and to break down the gates and -portcullises of the City.</p> - -<p>On the 9th of February, two hours after midnight, -he received this trying order. If he -refused, his commission would be immediately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> -withdrawn, and his plans cut short; therefore he -obeyed, and marching into the City, began with -all coolness and imperturbability to remove the -posts and chains from the streets. The citizens, -who expected different conduct from him, and -entreated him to desist, assailed his men during -their labour with groans and hisses. The posts and -chains removed, Monk wrote to the Parliament -that he considered that sufficient had been done -to crush the spirit of the citizens, but he received -a peremptory order to complete the business, -which he did by destroying the gates and -portcullises, though the soldiers themselves expressed -their indignation. He then returned in -no agreeable mood to Whitehall. There, however, -news awaited him of conduct on the part of Parliament, -which seemed to him to show that they -now thought that they had made him their pliant -instrument, and destroyed at the same time his -popularity with the people. Whilst he had been -doing this ungracious work in the City, they had -been receiving with high approbation a petition -from the so-called fanatic or extreme party, headed -by the celebrated Barebone, praying that no man -might sit in Parliament, or hold any office under -Government, who did not take the oath to abjure -Charles Stuart, or any single person. This was -so plainly aimed at Monk, who had excused -himself from this oath, that a council of his -officers was at once called, whose resentment of -this ungrateful conduct was expressed in a letter -drawn up in his name, and despatched to the -House the next morning, complaining bitterly of -their allowing this attack upon him, and advising -that they should take immediate measures for filling -up all the vacancies in Parliament, as the only -measure which would satisfy the people. To show -that this was not a mere admonition but a command, -he instantly quitted Whitehall, marched -back into the City, summoned again the Common -Council, which he had dispersed, and assured them -that the conduct of Parliament had now convinced -him that they were betraying the interests of the -country, that he was sorry he had obeyed them so -far as to do injury to "that famous city, which in -all ages had been the bulwark of Parliament and -of general liberty;" and that therefore he had -determined to unite his lot with theirs, and to -obtain through them a full and free Parliament.</p> - -<p>This announcement was received not only with -astonishment, but with enthusiastic expressions -of joy. The Lord Mayor and Council plighted -their troth with him and the officers, he was invited -to dine at the Guildhall, and all the bells in -the City were set ringing in exultation. The -Corporation attended the general to his lodgings -amid the acclamations and the bonfires of the -people, at which they roasted rumps in ridicule of -the Parliament, and heaped on it every infamy -which wit and ribaldry could devise. This <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">coup -d'état</i> awoke the Parliament to their blunder; they -had made an enemy of the very man and army -into whose hands they had put a power which -could instantly crush them. There were some -zealots, the Haselrigs and Scotts, who advised -restoring Fleetwood to the chief command, and -bringing back the exiled regiments; but Sunday, -which intervened, enabled the more sober counsel -to prevail, and they sent a deputation to invite -the general to return to Whitehall, and promised -that the writs for the excluded members should be -ready by the day appointed. But these incidents -had made an advance in Monk's proceedings. He -had seen, as he came up the country, the universal -demand for the restoration of the Long Parliament, -and the unmitigated contempt for the present -one. He had felt the pulse of the country -also as to the return of the king, and his intercourse -with the City had only confirmed the impression -that the whole body of excluded members -must come back as a stepping-stone to the recall of -Charles. The Presbyterian interest in the City -was as strong as ever, and its enmity to the Independents -unabated. He therefore called together -his officers to discuss with the deputation -the points at issue, and the officers insisted that -the excluded members must be restored. Monk -then placed the City in a state of defence, and -returned to Whitehall. There he summoned the -excluded members who were in town, together -with the members of the sitting Parliament, and -read them a paper, in which he assured them that -the people at large demanded a full and free Parliament, -as the only means of settling these "bleeding -nations." He declared that he would impose -no restrictions on them himself, but that his -guards should freely admit all the excluded as -well as the other members, to take measures for a -dissolution of the present Parliament, and the -calling of a new one, full and free, on the 20th -of April next. He did not believe, he said, that -monarchy or prelacy would be tolerated by the -people, but that a moderate Presbyterian government, -with liberty of conscience, appeared most -likely to be acceptable. And as to the Peers, if -it were not proper to restore to them their House, -yet he thought their hereditary marks of honour -should be left them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> - -<p>This speech confounded Royalists and Extremists -alike. He recommended a Presbyterian -government and the exclusion of monarchy; but -he saw well enough what the effect of his measure -would be; the Royalist excluded members -would rush in, and the recall of the king would be -the inevitable consequence. Accordingly the excluded -members proceeded directly to the House -with the other members. The guard under Sir -Anthony Ashley Cooper opened and admitted -them. At this sight Haselrig, Scott, and the -Republican party thought it high time to consult -their own security, and disappeared from the -scene. The House at once set to work; annulled -all the orders by which they had been excluded; -elected a new Council of State, in which the most -influential members were Royalists; appointed -Monk Commander-in-Chief, and Commander of -the Fleet in conjunction with Montague; granted -him twenty thousand pounds in lieu of Hampton -Court, which the Rump had settled on him; freed -from sequestration Sir George Booth and his -associates, who had risen for the king, together -with a great number of Cavaliers and Scottish -lords taken at the Battle of Worcester; borrowed -sixty thousand pounds of the Common Council, -established for the present the Presbyterian confession -of faith; ordered copies of the Solemn -League and Covenant to be hung up in all -churches; placed the militia and all the chief -commands in the hands of the principal nobility -and gentry; and only stipulated that no person -should be capable of office or command who did -not subscribe to the confession—"that the war -raised by the two Houses of Parliament against -the late king was just and lawful, until such -time as force and violence were used upon the -Parliament in the year 1648."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_161.jpg" width="560" height="426" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>INTERIOR OF THE PAINTED CHAMBER, WESTMINSTER, LOOKING EAST.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_161big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But at this point it was contended by the -Royalists that the House of Lords was as much a -House as themselves, and that they could not -legally summon a new Parliament without them; -but Monk would listen to nothing of this kind. -He declared that as much had been conceded as -the country would bear; and the Parliament was -compelled to dissolve itself at the time fixed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> - -<p>There could certainly be no longer any uncertainty -as to whither things were tending. The -Royalists were again in full power all over the -kingdom, the very insurgents in the cause of -Charles were liberated, freed from all penalties, -and in many cases advanced to places of trust; -yet Monk still dissembled. Ludlow, a staunch -Republican, on the re-admission of the excluded -members, went to Monk to sound him as to his -intentions, and urged the necessity of supporting -the Commonwealth, which had cost them so much. -Monk replied with solemn hypocrisy, "Yea, we -must live and die together for a Commonwealth." -Yet Monk had now made up his mind: he saw -that all was prepared, all perfectly safe, and -during the recess he was busy arranging with the -king's agents for his return. Immediately on -Monk's joyful reception by the City, a Mr. Baillie, -who had gone through Cheapside amongst the -bonfires, and heard the king's health drunk in -various places, and people talking of sending for -the king, had posted off to Brussels, where Charles -was. On this Sir John Grenville and a Mr. -Morrice, a Devonshire Royalist, were instantly -sent over to Monk, with propositions for the -king's return. Clarendon assures us that so early -as the beginning of April these gentlemen were in -London, and in consultation with Monk, who told -them that if the king would write a letter to Parliament -containing the same statements, he would -find a fit time to deliver it, or some other means -to serve his Majesty; but that Charles must quit -Flanders to give his partisans confidence that he -was out of the power of the Spaniards, and would -be free to act on their call; that he must go to -Breda, and date his papers thence.</p> - -<p>All this was done, and so little secrecy was observed -by the Royalists on the Continent, that it -was immediately known at all the courts that the -king was about to be recalled, and Spaniards, -Dutch, French princes and ministers, who had -treated Charles with the utmost neglect and contempt, -now overwhelmed him with compliments, -invitations, flatteries, and offers. The Dutch -Court, where was his sister, the mother of the -young Stadtholder, had been as discourteous as the -rest, but they now united in receiving him and -doing him honour. Breda already swarmed with -English Royalists, who flocked from every quarter -to pay their respects.</p> - -<p>This was observed in England with a complacency -which sufficiently indicated that men's -minds were made up to the restoration of the -monarchy. The ultra-Republican party alone, -whose zeal never condescended to measure the -chances against them, endeavoured to raise the -soldiers to oppose the menaced catastrophe. The -army had on former occasions maintained the -Commonwealth. The emissaries of the Republicans, -therefore, spread themselves everywhere -amongst the soldiers, warning them of the certainty -of all their sacrifices, their labours, and -their victories being in vain if they did not once -more save the State. The old fire revived; the -soldiers contemplated the loss of their arrears if -the Royalists came into power, the officers the -loss of their lands and their commands. They -began to express vehement discontent, and the -officers flocked into the capital and called on -Monk to take measures for the maintenance of -the Commonwealth. He professed to be bound -to that object, though he had at the time -in his pocket a commission from Charles constituting -him Lord-General of all the military in -the three kingdoms. He ordered the officers to -return to their posts, and put an oath of obedience -to the Parliament to the privates—all who refused -it being discharged.</p> - -<p>Disappointed in this quarter, the Republicans -managed to effect the escape of Lambert, who had -been committed to the Tower, and who now -appeared in Warwickshire, where he induced six -troops of horse and some infantry to accept his -command. On the approach of General Ingoldsby, -however, who was sent against him, his troops -deserted him, he was captured, and conducted -back to the Tower with every indignity.</p> - -<p>On the 25th of April the new Parliament -assembled; the Royalists showed a decided -majority, and though the Presbyterian party -managed to carry the election of Sir Harbottle -Grimstone as Speaker, the Royalist tendency was -overwhelming as to the main objects. Ten of the -Peers assembled in their House, and elected the -Earl of Manchester Speaker, and on beholding -this the rest of the Peers hurried up to town, and -soon there appeared a full House, excepting such -Peers as had served in the king's Parliament at -Oxford, or whose patents dated subsequently to -the commencement of the civil war.</p> - -<p>But all the interest was concentrated on the -proceedings of the House of Commons. On the -1st of May Sir John Grenville presented himself -at the door of the House, and requested to speak -with the Lord-General. Monk went to him, and -received, as a matter of which he knew nothing, -a letter addressed to the Speaker. Looking at -the seal, and affecting to discover that it bore the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> -royal arms, he ordered the guards to take care -that the bearer did not escape. Grenville was -speedily called in, and asked how he became -possessed of this letter, and on replying that he -brought it from the king, he was ordered into -custody as a traitor. But here Monk interfered, -saying that this was unnecessary; he perceived -that he was a kinsman of his, and would be -security for him. The letters were now opened, -and proved to be really from the king, one -addressed to the Commons, another to the Lords, -a third to the Lord Mayor and Corporation, and -the fourth to Monk and Montague, lord-admirals. -In the letter to the Commons Charles informed -them that, in the present unhappy circumstances -of the nation, he recommended them to consider -whether the only way to restore peace and -prosperity was not to return to the ancient and -time-honoured constitution of king, Lords, and -Commons, under whom the kingdom had flourished -so many ages. He professed that no man had a -more profound veneration for Parliament and its -rights than himself, and that to convince them of -it, he had endorsed a declaration of his views, in -which he had left everything to their settlement.</p> - -<p>This paper was the celebrated Declaration of -Breda, to which the people afterwards so often -called Charles's attention, and which he took the -earliest opportunity to forget, and falsify by a -return to all the Stuart despotisms, oppressions, -and persecutions. In this paper he granted a free -pardon to all who should accept it within forty -days; the confirmation of all estates and titles, -and in religion "liberty to tender consciences, and -that no man should be disturbed or called in -question in any way regarding religion." But -these promises "on the word of a king" were -rendered perfectly nugatory, by excepting such -persons and such measures as Parliament should -in its wisdom see fit to determine otherwise. This -specious declaration, which had been drawn up by -Hyde, Ormond, and Nicholas, in fact secured -nothing, for once in power, a servile Parliament -might undo everything, as it eventually did. -Prynne, who was in the House, pointed all this -out, and warned them that Charles had been too -long under the counsels of his mother, and too -long in France and in Flanders—"the most -Jesuited place in the world"—to be in religion -anything better than a Papist; that at best he -would be found only a Prelatist, and that his -word had already been proved, on various occasions, -of no more value than his father's. The -Royalists, he said, would never cease instilling -into him that the Presbyterian religion, now the -religion of the nation, had destroyed his great-grandmother, -tormented his grandfather, and put -to death his father; and that as certain as there -was a restoration, there would be a destruction of -all the liberties of England, civil and religious. -The pious Sir Matthew Hale urged on them the -necessity of some better guarantee than this -declaration of constitutional rights before they readmitted -the king.</p> - -<p>But all warning was lost on the House: the -crisis was come, Parliament and nation seemed -smitten with a sudden oblivion of their past -miseries and oppressions under the Stuarts, and -every branch of the community seemed impatient -to be the first to put its neck once more under -their yoke, and under the foot of the most debauched, -unprincipled, and scandalous member -which the family had ever seen. Instead of -sending Grenville to the Tower, the Commons -voted him thanks and a present of five hundred -pounds. The Speaker, in communicating these -votes to Grenville, launched into the most extravagant -terms of joy on the prospect "of having -their king again." The Commons drew up a most -glowing letter to his Majesty, in which they declared -their thankfulness to God for putting the -thoughts of returning into the king's mind, "to -make him glorious in the eyes of his people;" -protesting that "the persons of their kings had -always been dear unto Parliaments," and that -they "could not bear to think of that horrid act -committed against the precious life of their late -king," and so forth. They not only delivered this -letter to Sir John Grenville, but appointed twelve -of their members to wait on his Majesty at the -Hague. The London Corporation were as enthusiastic -and as profuse of their proffered devotion; -they presented Grenville with three hundred -pounds, also appointed some of their members to -wait on the king, made haste to erect the royal -statue in Guildhall, and to pull down the arms of -the Commonwealth.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_163.jpg" width="421" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LANDING OF CHARLES II. AT DOVER. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_165">165</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_163big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Montague had long been prepared to go over to -the king on the first opportunity; and lest he -might seem to be sent by the Parliament, and not -by his own voluntary act, he set sail for the coast -of Holland, leaving Lawson to bring over the -deputations going to his Majesty. He lay to at -Scheveling, and sent word to the king that his -fleet was at his command. The Duke of York, -whom Charles had made admiral, went on board, -and was received with all respect and submission. -Soon after came up the other ships with six<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> -members of the Peers, twelve of the Commons, fourteen -from the City of London, and eight or ten of -the most popular ministers in London of the Presbyterian -party, including Reynolds, Calamy, Case, -and Marten. These gentlemen entered zealously -on the hopeless task of endeavouring to persuade -Charles to leave their form of worship in the -ascendant, and to abstain from the use of the -Common Prayer Book and the surplices; but they -got no further satisfaction than that he would -leave all that to the wisdom of Parliament. On -the 24th of May he embarked at Scheveling, in -the <em>Naseby</em>, which the day before had been rechristened -the <em>Royal Charles</em>, the rest of the ships -at the same time having doffed their republican -appellations of unpleasant memory, and assumed -right royal ones. On the 26th he landed at -Dover, where, amid the thunder of cannon, he -was received by Monk at the head of a splendid -assemblage of the nobility and gentry. From -Dover to Canterbury, and thence to London, the -journey was one triumphant procession. The -crowds of gentry and of shouting people presented -only the aspect of a most loyal nation, -amongst whom it was hard to imagine that such -a thing as a Commonwealth had ever existed. -On Blackheath Charles was received by the army -with acclamations. The Lord Mayor and Corporation -invited him to a splendid collation in a -tent prepared for the purpose. All the way to -Whitehall, attended by the chief nobility and -by his Life Guards, and several regiments of -cavalry, the houses being hung with tapestry, and -the windows crowded with applauding men and -women, the king riding between his two brothers, -beheld nothing but an enthusiastic people. When -he dismissed the last of his congratulators from -the hall where his father perished, he turned to -one of his confidants and said, "It surely must -have been my own fault that I did not come -before, for I have met no one to-day who did not -protest that he always wished for my restoration."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> - -<p class="p6">THE PROGRESS OF THE NATION UNDER JAMES I., CHARLES I., AND THE COMMONWEALTH.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Manufactures and Commerce—Trade under the Stuarts—English Commerce and Dutch Competition—The East India Company—Vicissitudes -of its Early History—Rival Companies—The American Colonies and West Indies—Growth of London—National -Revenue—Extravagance of the Stuarts—Invention of the Title of Baronet—Illegal Monopolies—Cost of -Government—Money and Coinage—Agriculture and Gardening—Dramatists of the Period—Shakespeare and his Contemporaries—Poets -of the Occult School—Herbert, Herrick, Quarles—A Wealth of Poetry—Prose-Writers—Bacon's -"Novum Organum"—Milton's Prose Works—Hales, Chillingworth, Jeremy Taylor, Fuller, and other Theological -Writers—Harrington's "Oceana"—Sir Thomas Browne—Historians and Chroniclers—First Newspapers—Harvey's Discovery -of the Circulation of the Blood—Napier's Invention of Logarithms—Music—Painting, Engraving, and Sculpture—Architecture—Manners -and Customs—Sports and Pastimes—Furniture and Domestic Embellishment—Costumes—Arms -and Armour—Condition of the People.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>In the reigns of James and Charles England -neither maintained the reputation of her navy -acquired under Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, nor -made great progress in foreign commerce. The -character of James was too timid for maritime or -any other war, and when he was forced into action -it was only to show his weakness. He put to -death the greatest naval captain of his time, -Raleigh, who, if well employed by him, might -have made him as much respected at sea as was -Elizabeth. Nevertheless, he built ten ships of -war, and for some years spent thirty-six thousand -pounds annually on the navy. The largest ship -which had yet been built in England was built -by him, but it was only of fourteen hundred tons. -As for commerce, he was too much engaged in -theological disputations, in persecution of Papists, -in wrangling with his Parliaments, and in following -his hawks and hounds, to think of it, and -consequently grievous complaints of the decay of -trade were heard every session. The Dutch were -fast engrossing both the commerce and the carrying -trade of England. During James's reign -they traded to England with six hundred ships, -and the English traded to Holland with sixty.</p> - -<p>The naval affairs of Charles were quite as inglorious -as those of his father. As James beheaded -the best admiral of England, so Charles chose for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> -his the very worst in Europe, and the disgrace of -Buckingham's expedition to the Isle of Rhé was -the consequence. Charles's contests with his Parliaments, -which terminated only with his life, -destroyed all chance of his promotion of naval -ascendency, and of the cultivation of commerce. -All this was wonderfully changed by the vigorous -spirits of the Commonwealth. The victories of -Blake, by which the naval greatness of Holland -and Spain was almost annihilated, raised the reputation -of the British arms at sea as well as on -land to the first place in the civilised world. St. -John was no sooner despatched by Parliament -to the Hague as ambassador, than, perceiving the -immense advantage which Holland obtained from -being the great carriers of Europe, he drew and -got passed the celebrated Navigation Act, which—providing -that no produce of Africa, Asia, or -America, nor of any English colony should be -imported into England except in English ships, -and that the manufactures or merchandise of no -country in Europe should be imported except in -English ships, or the ships of the nation where -they were produced—at once transferred an enormous -maritime business to England.</p> - -<p>Sir Walter Raleigh, in a treatise on the comparative -commerce of England and Holland, endeavoured -to draw the attention of James I. to the -vast benefits that the Dutch were obtaining from -our neglect. He showed that whenever there -was a time of scarcity in England, instead of -sending out our ships and supplying ourselves, we -allowed the Dutch to pour in goods, and reap the -advantage of the high prices; and he declared -that in a year and a half they had taken from -Bristol, Southampton, and Exeter alone, two -hundred thousand pounds, which our merchants -might as well have had. He reminded the king -that the most productive fisheries in the world -were on the British coasts, yet that the Dutch and -people of the Hanse Towns came and supplied all -Europe with their fish to the amount of two -million pounds annually, whilst the English could -scarcely be said to have any trade at all in it. The -Dutch, he said, sent yearly a thousand ships laden -with wine and salt, obtained in France and Spain, -to the north of Europe, whilst we, with superior -advantages, sent none. He pointed out equally -striking facts of their enterprise in the timber -trade, having no timber themselves; that our -trade with Russia, which used to employ a large -number of ships, had fallen off to almost nothing, -whilst that of the Dutch had marvellously increased. -What, he observed, was still more -lamentable, we allowed them to draw the chief -profit and credit even from our own manufactures, -for we sent our woollen goods, to the amount of -eighty thousand pieces, abroad undyed, and the -Dutch and others dyed them and reshipped them -to Spain, Portugal, and other countries as Flemish -baizes, besides netting a profit of four hundred -thousand pounds annually at our expense. Had -James attended to the wise suggestions of Raleigh, -instead of destroying him, and listening to such -minions as Rochester and Buckingham, our commerce -would have shown a very different aspect.</p> - -<p>It is true that some years afterwards James -tried to secure the profit pointed out by Raleigh -from dyed cloths; but instead of first encouraging -the dyeing of such cloths here, so as to enable the -merchants to carry them to the markets in the -South on equal or superior terms to the Dutch, he -suddenly passed an Act prohibiting the export of -any undyed cloths. This the Dutch met by an -Act prohibiting the import of any dyed cloths -into Holland; and the English not producing -an equal dye to the Dutch, thus lost both markets, -to the great confusion of trade; and this -mischief was only gradually overcome by our -merchants beginning to dye their yarn, so as to -have no undyed cloth to export, and by improving -their dyes.</p> - -<p>During the reign of James commercial enterprise -showed itself in the exertions of various -chartered companies trading to distant parts of -the world. The East India Company was established -in the reign of Elizabeth, the first charter -being granted by her in 1600. James was wise -enough to renew it, and it went on with various -success, ultimately so little in his time that at his -death it was still a doubtful speculation; but -under such a monarch it could not hope for real -encouragement. In its very commencement he -granted a charter to a rival company to trade to -China, Japan, and other countries in the Indian -seas, in direct violation of the East India Company's -charter, which so disgusted that Company, -as nearly to have caused them to relinquish their -aim. In 1614 they obtained a charter from the -Great Mogul to establish a factory at Surat, and -the same year they obtained a similar charter from -the Emperor of Japan. In 1615 Sir Thomas Roe -went as ambassador from England to the Great -Mogul, and resided at his court for four years. By -this time the Company had extensively spread its -settlements. It had factories at Acheen, Zambee, -and Tekoa, in Sumatra; at Surat, Ahmedabad, -Agra, Ajmere, and Burampore in the Mogul's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -territories; at Firando, in Japan; at Bantam, -Batavia, and Japara, in Java; and others in -Borneo, the Banda Isles, Malacca, Siam, and -Celebes; and at Masulipatam and Petapoli, on -the Coromandel coast; and at Calicut, the original -settlement of the Portuguese on the coast of -Malabar. Their affairs were, in fact, extremely -flourishing, and their stock sold at 203 per cent.; -but this prosperity awoke the jealousy of the -Dutch, who carried on a most profitable trade with -Java and the Spice Islands, and, in spite of a -treaty concluded between the two nations in -1619, the Dutch Governor-General attacked and -took from the Company the island of Pulo -Rangoon. This was only the beginning of their -envious malice, for in 1623 they committed the -notorious massacre of the English Company at -Amboyna, and drove the English out of all the -Spice Islands. Had this occurred in Cromwell's -days, they would soon have paid a severe retribution; -but James was just then anxious to -secure the aid of the Dutch in restoring his son-in-law, -the Elector Palatine, and these atrocities -were quietly smoothed over, and left unavenged. -The consequence was, that the affairs of the Company -fell into a most depressed condition, and -though in 1616, when their stock was worth 200 -per cent., they had raised a new stock of one -million six hundred and twenty-nine thousand and -forty pounds, which was taken by nine hundred -and fifty-four individuals, principally of the higher -aristocracy, at the close of James's reign the stock -had fallen to half its value.</p> - -<p>Charles was not a more far-sighted or a juster -patron of the India Company than his father. In -1631 they managed to raise a new stock of four -hundred and twenty thousand pounds, but whilst -they were struggling with the hostilities of their -rivals, the Dutch and Portuguese, the king perpetrated -precisely the same injury on them that -his father had done, by granting a charter to -another company, which embroiled them with the -Mogul and the Chinese, causing the English to be -entirely expelled from China, and injuring the -India Company to a vast extent. The Civil War -in England then prevented the attention of the -Government from being directed to the affairs of -this great Company. At the end of Charles's reign -the Company's affairs were at the worst, and its -trade appeared extinct. In 1649, however, Parliament -encouraged the raising of new stock, -which was done with extreme difficulty, and only -amounted to one hundred and ninety-two thousand -pounds. But in 1654, Parliament having -humbled the Dutch, compelled them to pay a -balance of damages of eighty-five thousand pounds -and three thousand six hundred pounds to the -heirs of the murdered men at Amboyna. It required -years, however, to revive the prosperity of -the Company, and it was only in 1657 that, obtaining -a new charter from the Protector, and -raising a new stock of three hundred and seventy -thousand pounds, it sprang again into vigour and -traded successfully till the Restoration.</p> - -<p>During this period, too, the Incorporated Companies—Turkey -Merchants, or the Levant Company; -the Company of Merchant Adventurers, -trading to Holland and Germany; the Muscovy -Company, trading to Russia and the North, where -they prosecuted also the whale fishery—were in -active operation, besides a great general trade -with Spain, Portugal, and other countries. The -Turkey Merchants carried to the Mediterranean -English cloths, lead, tin, spices, indigo, calicoes, -and other Indian produce brought home by the -East India Company; and they imported thence -the raw silks of Persia and Syria, galls from -Aleppo, cotton and cotton yarn from Cyprus and -Smyrna; drugs, oils, and camlets, grograms, and -mohairs of Angora. In 1652 we find coffee first -introduced from Turkey, and a coffee-house set up -in Cornhill. On the breaking out of the Civil -War, the Muscovy Company were deprived of their -charter by the Czar, because they took part with -the Parliament against their king, and the Dutch -adroitly came in for the trade.</p> - -<p>These great monopolies of foreign trade were -supposed to be necessary to stimulate and protect -commerce; but the system of domestic monopolies -which were most destructive to enterprise at home, -and which had arrived at such a height under -Elizabeth, was continued by both James and -Charles to the last, notwithstanding the constant -outcries against them, and their being compelled, -ever and anon, by public spirit to make temporary -concessions.</p> - -<p>The commerce of England was now beginning to -receive a sensible increase by the colonies which -she had established in America and the West -Indies. One of the earliest measures of James -was the founding of two chartered companies to -settle on the coasts of North America. One, called -the London Adventurers, or South Virginia Company, -was empowered to plant the coast from the -34th to the 41st degree of north latitude, which -now includes Maryland, Virginia, and North and -South Carolina. The other, the company of -Plymouth Adventurers, was authorised to plant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> -all from the 41st degree to the 45th, which -now includes the States of Pennsylvania, New -Jersey, New York, and New England. In 1612 -a settlement was made in Bermuda. The State of -New England was founded by the planting of -New Plymouth in 1620, and about the same time -the French were driven out of Nova Scotia, and -the island of Barbadoes was taken possession of; -and within a few years various other West India -islands were secured and planted. James granted -all the Caribbee Isles to James Hay, Earl of Carlisle, -and the grant was confirmed by Charles, -who also granted to Robert Heath and his heirs -the Bahama Isles and the vast territory of Carolina, -including the present North and South -Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and the south of -Louisiana. In 1632 Charles granted the present -Maryland to Lord Baltimore, a Catholic (the -charter being also renewed in favour of Cecil, -the second Lord Baltimore), which became the -refuge of the persecuted Catholics in England, -as the New England States did of the Puritans.</p> - -<p>These immense territories were gradually peopled -by the victims of crime. According as the storm -of religious persecution raged against the Catholics, -the Puritans, or the Episcopalians and Royalists, -they got away to New England, Maryland, or -Virginia. By degrees the Indians were driven -back, and cotton, tobacco, and (in the West Indies) -the sugar cane became objects of cultivation. -James abominated tobacco, and published his -"Counterblast" against it, laying various restrictions -upon its growth; but as the high duties imposed -upon it proved very profitable to the -revenue, gradually these restrictions were relaxed, -and cultivation of it at home was prohibited in -favour of the Colonies. The Dutch had managed, -under James and Charles, to engross the carrying -trade to the English American and West Indian -colonies, having a strong position at New Amsterdam, -afterwards known as New York; but of this -Parliament deprived them in 1646, and extended, -as we have seen, the famous Navigation Act of -1651 to all the foreign trade of England. In -1655 Cromwell's conquest of Jamaica completed -English power in the West Indies.</p> - -<p>The growth of English commerce was soon conspicuous -by one great result, the growth of -London. It was in vain that both James and -Charles issued repeated proclamations to prohibit -fresh building of houses, and to order the nobility -and gentry to live more on their estates in the -country, and not in London, in habits of such -extravagance, and drawing together so much loose -company after them. From the union of the -crowns of Scotland and England, this rapid increase -of the metropolis, so alarming to those -kings, was more than ever visible. When James -came to the throne in 1603, London and Westminster -were a mile apart, but the Strand was -quickly populated by the crowds of Scots who -followed the Court; and though St. Giles's-in-the-Fields -was then a distinct town, standing in the -open country, with a very deep and dirty lane, -called Drury Lane, running from it to the Strand, -before the Civil War it had become united to -London and Westminster by new erections in -Clare Market, Long Acre, Bedfordbury, and the -adjoining neighbourhood. Anderson in his "History -of Commerce," gives us some curious insight -into this part of London at that period. "The -very names of the older streets about Covent -Garden," he observes, "are taken from the Royal -family at this time, or in the reign of Charles II., -as Catherine Street, Duke Street, York Street. -Of James and Charles I.'s time, James Street, -Charles Street, Henrietta Street, etc., all laid out -by the great architect, Inigo Jones, as was also -the fine piazza there, although that part where -stood the house and gardens of the Duke of -Bedford is of much later date, namely, in the -reigns of King William and Queen Anne. Bloomsbury, -and the streets at the Seven Dials, were -built up somewhat later, as also Leicester Fields, -since the restoration of Charles II., as also -almost all of St. James's and St. Anne's parishes, -and a great part of St. Martin's and St. Giles's. -I have met with several old persons in my -younger days who remembered that there was -but a single house, a cake-house, between the -Mews-gate at Charing Cross and St. James's -Palace Gate, where now stand the stately piles -of St. James's Square, Pall Mall, and other fine -streets. They also remembered the west side -of St. Martin's Lane to have been a quickset -hedge; yet High Holborn and Drury Lane were -filled with noblemen's and gentlemen's houses and -gardens almost a hundred and fifty years ago. -Those five streets of the south side of the Strand, -running down to the river Thames, have all been -built since the beginning of the seventeenth -century, upon the sites of noblemen's houses and -gardens, who removed farther westward, as their -names denote. Even some parts within the bars -of the City of London remained unbuilt within -about a hundred and fifty years past, particularly -all the ground between Shoe Lane and Fewters, -now Fetter, Lane, so called, says Howell in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -'Londonopolis,' from Fewters, an old appellation of -idle people, loitering there, as in a way leading to -gardens; which, in Charles I.'s reign, and even -some of them since, have been built up into -streets, lanes, etc. Several other parts of the City -have been rendered more populous by the removal -of the nobility to Westminster, on the sites of -whose former spacious houses and gardens, whole -streets, lanes, and courts have been added to the -City since the death of Queen Elizabeth."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_169.jpg" width="393" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CECIL, SECOND LORD BALTIMORE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_169big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The extension of the metropolis necessitated the -introduction of hackney coaches, which first began -to ply, but only twelve in number, in 1625. In -1634 sedan-chairs were introduced to relieve the -streets of the rapidly increased number of hackney-coaches, -and other carriages; and in 1635 a post-office -for the kingdom was established, a foreign post -having been for some years in existence. In 1653 the -post was farmed for ten thousand pounds a year.</p> - -<p>The annual revenue of James I. has been calculated -at about six hundred thousand pounds, yet -he was always poor, and died leaving debts to the -amount of three hundred thousand pounds. He -was prodigal to his favourites, and wasteful in his -habits. He left the estates of the Crown, however, -better than he found them, having raised their -annual income from thirty-two thousand pounds to -eighty thousand pounds, besides having sold lands -to the amount of seven hundred and seventy-five -thousand pounds. He still prosecuted the exactions -of purveyance, wardship, etc., to the -great annoyance of his subjects. On the occasion -of his son being made a knight, he raised a tax on -every knight's fee of twenty shillings, and on -every twenty pounds of annual rent from lands -held directly of the Crown, thus raising twenty-one -thousand eight hundred pounds. On the -marriage of his daughter Elizabeth to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> -Elector Palatine, he levied an aid of twenty -thousand five hundred pounds, the last of these -odious impositions which were demanded. The -Customs on his coming to the throne brought in -one hundred and twenty-seven thousand pounds a -year; but towards the end of his reign, showing -the great increase of commerce, they amounted to -one hundred and ninety thousand pounds a year. -But this was the tonnage and poundage which -was so hateful to the nation, and which James -had greatly augmented by his own act and deed; -an encroachment which caused Parliament to -refuse to his son Charles the usual grant of those -duties for life; and his persistence in levying -them, in spite of Parliament, was one of the chief -causes of his quarrel with that body, and the loss -of his crown.</p> - -<p>James was also a great trader in titles of -nobility. His price for a <em>barony</em> was ten thousand -pounds, for the title of <em>viscount</em>, twenty -thousand pounds, and for that of <em>earl</em>, thirty -thousand pounds. He also invented the new title -of <em>baronet</em>, and raised two hundred and twenty-five -thousand pounds by it, at the rate of one -thousand and ninety-five pounds each baronetcy. -From so dignified a source do many of our aristocracy -derive their honours.</p> - -<p>Charles, though he was driven to such fatal -extremities to extort money from his subjects, is -calculated to have realised the enormous revenue -from 1637 to 1641 inclusive, of eight hundred and -ninety-five thousand pounds, of which two hundred -and ten thousand pounds arose from Ship-money -and other illegal sources. Both he and -his father dealt in wholesale monopolies to their -courtiers and others, the profits of which were so -embezzled by those greedy and unprincipled men, -that Clarendon says that of two hundred thousand -pounds of such income in Charles's time, only one -thousand five hundred pounds reached the royal -treasury. Charles raised two hundred thousand -pounds in 1626 by a forced loan, and another -hundred thousand by exacting the fees or compensation -for exemption from the assumption of -knighthood by every person worth forty pounds a -year.</p> - -<p>The income and expenditure of the Commonwealth -are stated to have far exceeded those of -any monarch who ever sat before on the throne of -England, and to have been not less than four -million four hundred thousand pounds per annum. -The post office, as already stated, brought in -ten thousand pounds per annum. A singular -tax, called the Weekly Meal, or the price of a -meal a week from each person, produced upwards -of one hundred thousand pounds a year, or -six hundred and eight thousand four hundred -pounds in the six years during which it was -levied. There was a weekly assessment for the -support of the war, which rose from thirty-eight -thousand pounds to one hundred and twenty thousand -pounds per week, which was continued as a -land tax under the Protectorate, producing from -1640 to 1659 no less than thirty-two million one -hundred and seventy-two thousand three hundred -and twenty-one pounds. The Excise also owes its -origin to this period, and produced, it is said, five -hundred thousand pounds a year. Large sums -were realised by the sales of Crown and Church -lands,—from the sale of Crown lands, parks, etc., -one million eight hundred and fifty-eight thousand -pounds; from the sale of Church lands, ten million -pounds; from sequestration of the revenue of the -clergy for four years, three million five hundred -thousand pounds; eight hundred and fifty thousand -pounds from incomes of offices sequestered -for the public service; four million five hundred -thousand pounds from the sequestration of private -estates or compositions for them; one million -pounds from compositions with delinquents in -Ireland; three million five hundred thousand -pounds from the sale of forfeited estates in -England and Ireland, etc. The ministers and -commanders are asserted to have taken good care -of themselves. Cromwell's own income is stated -at nearly two million pounds, or one million nine -hundred thousand pounds; namely, one million -five hundred thousand pounds from England, -forty-three thousand pounds from Scotland, and -two hundred and eight thousand pounds from -Ireland. The members of Parliament were paid -at the rate of four pounds a week each, or about -three hundred thousand pounds a year altogether; -and Walker, in his "History of Independency," -says that Lenthall, the Speaker, held offices to the -amount of nearly eight thousand pounds a year; -that Bradshaw had Eltham Palace, and an estate -of one thousand pounds a year, as bestowed for -presiding at the king's trial; and that nearly eight -hundred thousand pounds were spent on gifts to -adherents of the party. As these statements, -however, are those of their adversaries, they no -doubt admit of ample abatement; but after all -deduction, the demands of king and Parliament -on the country during the contest, and of the Protectorate -in keeping down its enemies, must have -been enormous. Notwithstanding this, the rate -of interest on money continued through this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> -period to decline. During James's reign it was -ten per cent.; in 1625, the last year of his reign, -it was reduced to eight per cent., and in 1651 it -was fixed by the Parliament at six per cent., at -which rate it remained.</p> - -<p>James issued various coinages. Soon after his -accession he issued a coinage of gold and one of -silver. The gold was of two qualities. The first -of twenty-three carats three and a half grains, -consisting of angels, half-angels, and quarter-angels; -value ten shillings, five shillings, and -two-and-sixpence. The inferior quality, of only -twenty-two carats, consisted of sovereigns, half-sovereigns, -crowns, and half-crowns. His silver -coinage (<em>see</em> Vol. II., p. 436) consisted of crowns, -half-crowns, shillings, sixpences, twopences, pence, -and halfpence. The gold coins, being of more value -than that amount of gold on the Continent, were -rapidly exported, and the value of the finest gold -was then raised from thirty-three pounds ten shillings -to thirty-seven pounds four shillings and sixpence. -The next coinage at this value consisted of a -twenty-shilling piece called the unit, ten shillings -called the double crown, five shillings or the -Britain crown, four shillings or the thistle crown, -and two-and-sixpence, or half-crown. (<em>See</em> Vol. II., -p. 432.) This value of the gold was not found -high enough, and the next year, in a fresh -coinage, it was valued at forty pounds ten -shillings, and consisted of rose rials of thirty -shillings each, spur rials fifteen shillings, and -angels at ten shillings each. But gold still rising -in value, in 1611 the unit was raised to twenty-two -shillings, and the other coins in proportion. -In 1612 there was a great rise in gold, and -James issued fresh twenty-shilling, ten-shilling, -and five-shilling pieces, known as laurels, from the -king's head being wreathed with laurel. The -unit and twenty-shilling pieces were termed hood -pieces. Besides the royal coinage, shopkeepers and -other retailers put out tokens of brass and lead, -which in 1613 were prohibited, and the first copper -coinage in England, being of farthings, was issued.</p> - -<p>The coins of Charles were, for the most part, of -the same nature as those of his father. During -his reign silver rose so much in value that it was -melted down and exported to a vast extent. -Though between 1630 and 1643 some ten million -pounds of silver were coined, it became so scarce -that the people had to give a premium for -change in silver. In 1637 Charles established a -mint at Aberystwith, for coining the Welsh -silver, which was of great value to him during -the war. From 1628 to 1640 Nicholas Briot, a -Frenchman, superintended the cutting of the dies, -instituted machinery for the hammer in coining -and his coins were of remarkable beauty. (<em>See</em> Vol. -II., p. 540.) Charles erected mints at most of his -headquarters during the war, as Oxford, Shrewsbury, -York, and other places, the coiners and dies -of Aberystwith being used, and these coins are distinguished -by the Prince of Wales's feathers. -Many of these coins are of the rudest character; -and besides these there were issued siege pieces, so -called from the besieged castles where they were -made, as Newark, Scarborough, Carlisle, and -Pontefract. Some of these are mere bits of silver -plate with the rude stamp of the castle on one -side and the name of the town on the other. -Others are octagonal, others lozenge-shaped, others -of scarcely any regular shape. (<em>See p.</em> 29.)</p> - -<p>The Commonwealth at first coined the same -coins as the king, only distinguishing them by a P -for Parliament. They afterwards adopted dies of -their own, having on one side a St. George's cross -on an antique shield encircled with a palm and -laurel, and on the other two antique shields, one -bearing the cross and the other the harp, surrounded -by the words <span class="smcap">God with us</span>. Their small -silver coins had the arms only without any legend.</p> - -<p>The coins of the Protectorate have on the -obverse a bust of Cromwell, round which is this -inscription: "<cite>Oliver D.G. R.P. Ang. Sco. Hib. &c. -Pro.</cite>" On the reverse they bear a shield, having -in the first and fourth quarters St. George's -cross, in the second St. Andrew's, in the third a -harp, and in the centre a lion rampant on an -escutcheon—Cromwell's own arms—surmounted -by an imperial crown. The legend on this side is -"<cite>Pax quæritur bello</cite>" (Peace is sought by war). -The larger silver pieces have this motto round the -edge: "<cite>Has nisi periturus mihi adimat nemo</cite>" -(<em>i.e.</em> "Let no one take from me these letters unless -about to die"). In those days the penalty for -clipping and filing money was death. (<em>See p.</em> 121.)</p> - -<p>The coins of the Commonwealth were the same -for Ireland and Scotland as for England. This was -not the case in the reigns of James and Charles, -and the coins, though bearing the same arms, -had generally a very different value. For Ireland -James coined silver and copper money of about -three-quarters the value of English, and called in -the base coinage used by Elizabeth in the time of -the rebellion. Charles only coined some silver in -1641, during the government of Lord Ormond, -and therefore called Ormonds. Copper halfpence -and farthings of that period are supposed to have -been coined by the rebel Papists of 1642.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> - -<p>In agriculture and gardening the English were -excelled by their neighbours the Dutch and -Flemings. Towards the latter part of this period, -however, they began to imitate those nations, -and to introduce their modes of drainage, their -roots and seeds. In 1652 the advantage of growing -clover was pointed out by Bligh, in his -"Improver Improved," and Sir Richard Weston -recommended soon afterwards the Flemish mode of -cultivating the turnip for winter fodder for cattle -and sheep. Gardening was more attended to, and -both vegetables and flowers were introduced. -Samuel Hartlib, a Pole, who was patronised by -Cromwell, wrote various treatises on agriculture, -and relates that in his time old men recollected -the first gardener who went into Surrey to plant -cabbages, cauliflowers, and artichokes, and to -sow early peas, turnips, carrots, and parsnips. -Till then almost all the supply of these things in -London was imported from Holland and Flanders. -About that time (1650), however, cherries, apples, -pears, hops, cabbages, and liquorice were rapidly -cultivated, and soon superseded the necessity of -importation; but onions were still scarce, and the -supply of stocks of apple, pear, cherry, vine, and -chestnut trees was difficult for want of sufficient -nurseries for them. There was a zealous endeavour -to promote the production of raw silk, and -mulberry trees and silkworms were introduced, but -the abundant supply of silk from India, and the -perfection of the silk manufactured in France, -rendered this scheme abortive.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_172.jpg" width="560" height="502" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHEAPSIDE AND THE CROSS IN 1660.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_172big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Whilst James was hunting and levying taxes -without a Parliament, and Charles was in continual -strife with his people for unconstitutional -power and revenue, literature and art were still at -work, and producing or preparing some of the -noblest and choicest creations of genius. Shakespeare -and Milton were the great lights of the -age; but around and beside them burned a whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> -galaxy of lesser, but not less exquisite, luminaries, -whose selected beauties are just as delightful now -as they were to their contemporaries. The names -of this period, to which we still turn with admiration, -reverence, and affection, are chiefly Shakespeare, -Milton, Bacon, Marlowe, Massinger, -Webster, Selden, Herrick, Herbert, Quarles, -Bunyan, Bishop Hall, Hales, Chillingworth, -Jeremy Taylor, Raleigh, Sir Thomas Browne, -Burton (of the "Anatomy of Melancholy"), and -Drummond of Hawthornden. But there are -numbers of others, more unequal or more scholastic, -to whose works we can occasionally turn, and -find passages of wonderful beauty and power.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_173.jpg" width="560" height="387" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE "GLOBE" THEATRE, SOUTHWARK (WITH THE "ROSE" THEATRE IN THE DISTANCE), IN 1613.</p> - -<p>(<cite>From a Contemporary Print.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_173big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>As we come first to Shakespeare, who figured -largely on the scene in the days of Queen Bess, -and whose poetry we have already reviewed (Vol. -II., pp. 373-5), we may take the drama of this -period also in connection with him. A formal -criticism on Shakespeare would be superfluous. -There are whole volumes of comment on this -greatest of our great writers, both in this language -and others. The Germans, indeed, pride -themselves on understanding him better than -ourselves. The Scandinavians equally venerate -him, and have an admirable translation -of his dramas. Even the French, the tone and -spirit of whose literature are so different from -ours, have, of late years, begun to comprehend and -receive him. The fact is, Shakespeare's genius is -what the Germans term spherical, or many-sided. -He had not a brilliancy in one direction only, but -he seemed like a grand mirror, in which is truly -reflected every image that falls on it. Outward -nature, inner life and passion, town and country, -all the features of human nature, as exhibited in -every grade of life—from the cottage to the throne—are -in him expressed with a truth and a natural -strength, that awake in us precisely the same -sensations as nature itself. The receptivity of his -mind was as quick, as vast, as perfect, as his -power of expression was unlimited. Every object -once seen appeared photographed on his spirit, and -he reproduced these lifelike images in new combinations, -and mingled with such an exuberance of -wit, of humour, of delicious melodies, and of exquisite -poetry, as has no parallel in the whole -range of literature.</p> - -<p>It has been said that his dramas cast into the -shade and made obsolete all that went before -him; but, indeed, his great light equally overwhelms -also all that has come after him. Where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> -is the second Shakespeare of the stage? He still -stands alone as the type of dramatic greatness and -perfection, and is likely to continue so. When we -recollect his marvellous characters—his Hamlet, -his Macbeth, his Lady Macbeth, his Othello, his -Shylock, his Lear, his Ophelia, his Beatrice, his -Juliet, his Rosalind—the humours and follies of -Shallow, Slender, Dogberry, Touchstone, Bottom, -Launce, Falstaff—or his ideal creations, Ariel, -Caliban, Puck, Queen Mab—we cannot hope -for the appearance of any single genius who -shall at once enrich our literature with such -living and speaking characters, such a profound -insight into the depths and eccentricities of human -nature, and such a fervent and varied expression -of all the sentiments that are dearest to our -hearts. But when we survey in addition the vast -extent of history and country over which he has -roamed, gleaning thence the most kingly personages, -the most tragic incidents, the most moving -and thrilling as well as the most amusing sensations -and fancies, our wonder is the greater. Greece has -lent him its Pericles, its Timon, its Troilus and -Cressida—Rome its Cæsar, Brutus, Antony, Coriolanus—Egypt -its Cleopatra. Ancient Britain, -Scotland, and Denmark; all the fairest cities of -Italy—Venice, Verona, Mantua; the forests of -Illyria and Belgium, and the isles of the Grecian -seas, are made the perpetually shifting arena of -his triumphs. Through all these he ranged with -a free hand, and, with a power mightier than ever -was wielded by any magician, recalled to life all -that was most illustrious there, giving them new -and more piquant effect from the sympathetic -nearness into which he brought them with the -spectator, and from the enchanting scenery with -which he surrounded them. All this was done -by the son of the woolcomber of Stratford—the -youthful ranger of the woods of Charlecote, and -the uplands of Clopton,—the merry frequenter of -country wakes, and then the player of London, -who, so far as we know, was never out of his -native land in his life.</p> - -<p>If we are to take it for granted that after the -year 1597, when he bought one of the best houses -in his native town for his residence, Shakespeare -spent his life there, except during the theatrical -season, the greater part of his last nineteen years -would be passed in the quiet of his country home. -We may then settle his <cite>Two Gentlemen of Verona</cite>, -<cite>The Comedy of Errors</cite>, <cite>Love's Labours Lost</cite>, <cite>All's -Well that Ends Well</cite>, <cite>Richard II.</cite> and <cite>Richard III.</cite>, -<cite>King John</cite>, <cite>Titus Andronicus</cite> (if his), the first -part of <cite>Henry IV.</cite>, and <cite>Romeo and Juliet</cite>, as -produced in the bustle of his London life. But -the far greater part, and the most magnificent -and poetical, of his dramas were composed in the -pleasant retirement of his native scenes; namely, -the second part of <cite>Henry IV.</cite>, <cite>Henry V.</cite>, <cite>A Midsummer -Night's Dream</cite>, <cite>Much Ado about Nothing</cite>, -and <cite>The Merchant of Venice</cite>, in 1598 and 1600; -the second and third parts of <cite>Henry VI.</cite>, <cite>Merry -Wives of Windsor</cite>, 1601; <cite>Hamlet</cite>, 1602; <cite>Lear</cite>, -1608; <cite>Troilus and Cressida</cite> and <cite>Pericles</cite>, 1609; -<cite>Othello</cite> (not published till after the author's death, -which was the case, too, with all his other plays, -though brought on the stage in his lifetime), <cite>The -Winter's Tale</cite>, <cite>As You Like It</cite>, <cite>King Henry VIII.</cite>, -<cite>Measure for Measure</cite>, <cite>Cymbeline</cite>, <cite>Macbeth</cite>, <cite>The -Taming of the Shrew</cite>, <cite>Julius Cæsar</cite>, <cite>Antony and -Cleopatra</cite>, <cite>Coriolanus</cite>, <cite>Timon of Athens</cite>, <cite>The -Tempest</cite>, and <cite>Twelfth Night</cite>. Shakespeare died -in 1616. Of the envy which the unexampled -splendour of Shakespeare's genius produced -amongst inferior dramatic writers, we have an -amusing specimen in the words of Robert Greene: -"There is an upstart crow, beautified with our -feathers, that, with his tiger's heart wrapped in a -player's hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast -out a blank verse as the best of you, and, -being an absolute Johannes Factotum, is, in his -own conceit, the only <em>Shakscene</em> in a country."</p> - -<p>Amongst the most remarkable dramatic contemporaries -of Shakespeare, or those who immediately -followed him, were Chapman, Ben Jonson, -Webster, Middleton, Dekker, Marston, Taylor, -Tourneur, Rowley, Ford, Heywood, Shirley, and -Beaumont and Fletcher. George Chapman (<em>born</em>, -1557; <em>died</em>, 1634) wrote sixteen plays, and, conjointly -with Ben Jonson and Marston, one more, -as well as three in conjunction with Shirley. The -tragedies of Chapman are written in a grave and -eloquent diction, and abound with fine passages, -but you feel at once that they are not calculated, -like Shakespeare's, for acting. They want the -inimitable life, ease, and beauty of the great dramatist. -Perhaps his tragedy of <cite>Bussy D'Ambois</cite> -is his best, and next to that his <cite>Conspiracy and -Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron</cite>. Of his comedies, -the best are, <cite>Eastward Ho!</cite> partly composed -by Jonson and Marston, <cite>Monsieur d'Olive</cite>, and -his <cite>All Fools</cite>. But Chapman's fame now rests -on his translation of Homer, which, with all -its rudeness of style and extreme quaintness, has -always seized on the imagination of poets, and -has been declared to be the best translation -of the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" that we possess. -Pope was greatly indebted to it, having borrowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -from it almost all the felicitous double epithets -which are found in him.</p> - -<p>The most celebrated of Webster's tragedies, -<cite>The Duchess of Malfi</cite>, was revived by Richard -Hengist Horne, and put on the stage at Sadler's -Wells by Phelps with considerable success. He -was the author of three tragedies, <cite>Appius and Virginia</cite>, -<cite>Duchess of Malfi</cite>, and <cite>The White Devil, or, -Vittoria Corombona</cite>; a tragic comedy, <cite>The Devil's -Law Case, or, When Women Go to Law, the Devil -is full of Business</cite>, besides two comedies in conjunction -with Rowley, and two others in conjunction -with Dekker. Webster exhibits remarkable -power of language, and an imagination of wonderful -vigour, but rather too fond of horrors. -Undoubtedly he was one of the best dramatists of -his age, and seemed fully conscious of it. That he -had a true poetic vein in him is evidenced by such -passages as the "Dirge of Marcello," sung by his -mother, which reminds one of the like simple -homely ditties in Shakespeare:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Call for the robin red-breast and the wren,</div> - <div class="i0">Since o'er shady groves they hover,</div> - <div class="i0">And with leaves and flowers do cover</div> - <div class="i0">The friendless bodies of unburied men.</div> - <div class="i0">Call unto his funeral dole</div> - <div class="i0">The ant, the field-mouse, and the mole,</div> - <div class="i0">To raise him hillocks that shall keep him warm,</div> - <div class="i0">And when grey tombs are robbed, sustain no harm."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>There are fine truths also scattered through his -dramas as:—"To see what solitariness is about -dying princes! As heretofore they have unpeopled -towns, divided friends, and made great houses inhospitable, -so now, O justice, where are their -flatterers? Flatterers are but the shadows of -princes' bodies; the least thick cloud makes them -invisible."</p> - -<p>Of Middleton, who wrote from twenty to thirty -plays, in some of which, according to a very prevalent -fashion of that age, he called in the aid of -Rowley, Dekker, Fletcher, and Massinger; of -Dekker, who wrote the whole or part of about -thirty plays; of John Marston, who wrote eight -plays; of Taylor, Tourneur, Heywood, and Ford, -we can only say that their dramas abound with -fine things, and would well repay a perusal. -John Fletcher (<em>born</em>, 1576; <em>died</em>, 1625) and Francis -Beaumont (<em>born</em>, 1586; <em>died</em>, 1616) require a -more specific notice. They worked together -on the same plays to the number of upwards -of thirty, whilst John Fletcher wrote fourteen or -fifteen himself. In fact, Fletcher, so far as can -be known, was the more voluminous writer of the -two, Beaumont having written little in his own -name, except a masque, a few farces, dramatic -pieces, and translations. The style of the two, -however, was so much alike, that there is little to -distinguish their productions from those of an individual -mind. Beaumont and Fletcher were, as -stated by Dryden, far more popular in their time -than Shakespeare himself. The truth is, that -they had less originality and were more compliant -with the spirit of their age. They sought their -characters more in the range of ordinary life, and -therefore hit the tastes of a large and commoner -class. They were extremely lively and forcible in -dialogue, and had a flowery and dignified style -which oftener approached the poetical than became -it. We are everywhere met by admirable writing, -and a finely-sustained tone, but we travel on without -encountering those original characters that can -never again be forgotten, and become a part of our -world, or those exquisite gushes of poetry and -poetic scenery which, like the music of Ariel, -ring in the memory long afterwards. At the -same time we are continually offended by extreme -grossness and jarred by slovenliness and incongruity. -They are of the class of great and able -playwrights who command the popularity of their -age, but whom future ages praise and neglect; -and who are only read by the curious for the -fragments of good things that they contain.</p> - -<p>The fate of Ben Jonson (<em>b.</em>, 1574; <em>d.</em>, 1637) -has been nearly the same. Excepting his comedies -of <cite>Every Man in his Humour</cite>, <cite>Volpone</cite>, <cite>The -Silent Woman</cite>, and <cite>The Alchemist</cite>, we are content -to read the bulk of his dramas, and wonder at -his erudition and his wit. His genius is most -conspicuous in his masques and Court pageants, -which were the delight of James's queen, Anne of -Denmark, and the whole Court. In them the -spirits of the woods seem to mingle with those of -courts and cities; and fancy and a hue of romance -give to royal festivities the impressions of Arcadian -life. But the living poetry of the <cite>Midsummer -Night's Dream</cite> or of <cite>Comus</cite> is yet wanting -to touch them with perfection. Hence their chief -charm died with the age which patronised them, -and having once perused them, we are not drawn -to them again by a loving memory, as we are to -the Shakespearean woodlands and lyrical harmonies. -In Jonson's graver dramas there is a cold -classical tone which leaves the affections untouched -and the feelings unmoved, while we respect the -artistic skill and the learned dignity of the -composition.</p> - -<p>Philip Massinger (<em>b.</em>, 1584; <em>d.</em>, 1640), who wrote -nearly forty dramatic pieces, is a vigorous writer, -eloquent and effective. He is trenchant in his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -satire, and delights in displaying pride and meanness -exposed and punished. Still he is greater as -a dramatist than a poet. His <cite>New Way to Pay -Old Debts</cite> and <cite>The Fatal Dowry</cite> are best known -to lovers of the drama. The <cite>City Madam</cite> is -a play which is full of strong features of the times. -Dekker assisted him in <cite>The Virgin Martyr</cite>, and is -supposed to have introduced a higher and richer -vein of feeling than belonged to Massinger himself.</p> - -<p>Altogether the dramatic writing of this period -has never been surpassed, and in Shakespeare has -never been equalled. There is mingled with much -licentiousness and coarseness a manly and healthy -strength in the writers of this department; and -though the bulk of these compositions have -vanished from the stage, they will be long -studied with enjoyment by those who delight in -living portraiture of past ages, and the strong -current of genuine English sense and feeling. The -arrival of the Commonwealth put down all theatres -and scenic amusements. The solemn religion of -the Puritans was death to what they called "the -lascivious mirth and levity of players." After -their suppression for six years, it was found that -the ordinance of the Long Parliament was clandestinely -and extensively evaded; and in 1648 an -Act was passed ordering all theatres to be pulled -down and demolished, and the players to be -punished "as rogues according to law." Towards -the end of the Protectorate, however, dramatic -representations again crept in cautiously, and Sir -William Davenant at first giving musical entertainments -and declamations at Rutland House, Charterhouse -Square, and afterwards in Drury Lane, -calling his entertainments "operas," at length gave -regular plays. The Restoration at last set the -imprisoned drama altogether free.</p> - -<p>Besides dramatic writers, poets abounded. It -has been calculated that from the reign of Elizabeth -to the Restoration, no less than four hundred -writers of verse appeared. Some of these, who -attained a great reputation in their day, and whose -works are still retained in our collections, were -rather verse-wrights than poets, and would now -tax the patience of poetical readers beyond endurance. -Such were William Warner, the author -of "Albion's England," a history of England in -metre extending from Noah's flood to the reign of -Elizabeth; Samuel Daniel, the author of the -"Civil Wars of Lancaster and York," in eight -books; and Michael Drayton, who also wrote the -"Barons' Wars" in verse, "England's Heroical -Epistles," and, above all, the "Polyolbion," a -topography in Alexandrine verse, in thirty books, -and thirty thousand lines. Next came Giles and -Phineas Fletcher, who employed their strength in -composing allegoric poems. Phineas, under the -delusive appellation of "The Purple Island," wrote -an anatomical description of the human body, with -all its veins, arteries, sinews, and so forth. This -was extended to twelve books, on which an -abundance of very excellent language was wasted. -Besides this, he composed "Piscatory Eclogues," -and other poems; and Giles, choosing a worthier -subject, wrote "Christ's Victory," in the Italian -<i xml:lang="it" lang="it">ottava rima</i>, or eight-lined stanzas. To such perversion -of the name of poetry had men arrived in -the age of Shakespeare.</p> - -<p>There were sundry poets who were also translators. -Of these, Edward Fairfax, of the same -family as Lord Fairfax, was the most distinguished. -He translated with singular vigour and -poetic feeling Tasso's "Jerusalem Delivered." It -is still referred to with intense pleasure by the -lovers of our old poetry. Joshua Sylvester—who -wrote like King James against tobacco, but in -verse, "Tobacco Battered"—translated, amongst -other things, "The Divine Weeks and Works" of -the French poet Du Bartas. Sir Richard Fanshawe -translated the "Lusiad," by the Portuguese -poet Camoens. Fanshawe, moreover, translated -the "Pastor Fido" of Guarini, from the -Italian, the "Odes" of Horace, the fourth book of -the "Æneid," and the "Love for Love's Sake," of -the Spaniard Mendoza. Fanshawe seemed to have -a peculiar taste for the European languages derived -from the Latin as for the Latin itself; thus -he translated from Roman, Spanish, Portuguese, -and Italian poets, and from all with much taste -and elegance.</p> - -<p>Sir John Denham was a popular poet of the -time, and his "Cooper's Hill" is still retained in -our collections, and finds readers amongst admirers -of descriptive poetry. Writers of much more -sterling poetry were Sir John Davies, Drummond -of Hawthornden, Bishop Hall, and Donne. Sir -John Davies was long Attorney-General, and Chief-Justice -of the King's Bench at the time of his -death (<em>b.</em>, 1570; <em>d.</em>, 1626). He is author of a poem -on dancing called the "Orchestra," but his great -work is his "<cite>Nosce Teipsum</cite>," or "Know Thyself," -a work which treats on human knowledge and -the immortality of the soul. It is written in -quatrains, or four-lined stanzas, and is one of the -finest philosophical poems in the language as it -was one of the first. There are a life and feeling -in the poem which make it always fresh, like the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> -waters of a pure and deep fountain. Speaking of -the soul, he says:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Yet under heaven she cannot light on aught,</div> - <div class="i1">That with her heavenly nature doth agree;</div> - <div class="i0">She cannot rest, she cannot fix her thought,</div> - <div class="i1">She cannot in this world contented be.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"For who did ever yet in honour, wealth,</div> - <div class="i1">Or pleasure of the sense, contentment find?</div> - <div class="i0">Who ever ceased to wish when he had wealth,</div> - <div class="i1">Or, having wisdom, was not vexed in mind?</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Then as a bee which among weeds doth fall,</div> - <div class="i1">Which seem sweet flowers with lustre fresh and gay,</div> - <div class="i0">She lights on that and this and tasteth all,</div> - <div class="i1">But pleased with none, doth rise and soar away."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_177.jpg" width="560" height="400" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HAWTHORNDEN IN 1773. (<cite>After an Etching by John Clerk of Eldin.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_177big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Drummond of Hawthornden, near Edinburgh, -wrote, besides considerable prose, some exquisite -poems and sonnets formed on the Italian model; -and Bishop Hall, in his satires, presents some -of the most graphic sketches of English life, -manners, and scenery. Dr. Donne, who was -Dean of St. Paul's, and the most fashionable -preacher of his day, was also the most fashionable -poet—we do not except Shakespeare. He -was the rage, in fact, of all admirers of -poetry, and was the head of a school of which -Cowley was the most extravagant disciple, and of -which Crashaw, Wither, Herrick, Herbert, and -Quarles had more or less of the characteristics. -In all these poets there was deep feeling of -spirituality, religion, and wit, and, in some of -them, of nature, dashed and marred by a fantastic -style, full of quaintnesses and conceits. In some -of them these were so tempered as to give them an -original and piquant air, as in Herrick, Herbert, -and Quarles; in others, as in Donne and Cowley, -they degenerated into disfigurement and absurdity. -But Donne (<em>b.</em>, 1573; <em>d.</em>, 1631) had great and -shining qualities, keen, bold satire, profound and -intellectual thoughts, and a most sparkling fancy, -embedding rich touches of passion and pathos, yet -so marred by uncouth and strange conceits, that one -scarcely knows how to estimate his compositions. -In a word, they are the exact antipodes of the -natural style, and this fashion was carried to its -utmost extravagance by Cowley. A stanza or -two from a parting address of a lover to his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -mistress may show something of Donne's quality -and manner:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"As virtuous men pass mildly away,</div> - <div class="i1">And whisper to their souls to go;</div> - <div class="i0">Whilst some of their sad friends do say</div> - <div class="i1">The breath goes now, and some say, no;</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"So let us melt and make no noise,</div> - <div class="i1">No tear-floods nor sigh-tempests move;</div> - <div class="i0">'Twere profanation of our joys,</div> - <div class="i1">To tell the laity of our love.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears,</div> - <div class="i1">Men reckon what it did and meant;</div> - <div class="i0">But trepidation of the spheres,</div> - <div class="i1">Though greater far, is innocent."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>George Wither (<em>b.</em>, 1588; <em>d.</em>, 1667) has much -less of what a contemporary happily styled the -"Occult School." He says himself that he took -"little pleasure in rhymes, fictions, or conceited -compositions for their own sakes," but preferred -"such as flowed forth without study;" and indeed, -he has far more nature. He was confined for -years in the Marshalsea prison, for publishing -a biting satire, called "Abuses Stripped and -Whipped," and there he wrote a long allegorical -poem, called "The Shepherds' Hunting," in which -his description of Poetry is a perfect gem of -fancy and natural feeling:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"By the murmur of a spring,</div> - <div class="i0">Or the least boughs rustling,</div> - <div class="i0">By a daisy, whose leaves spread,</div> - <div class="i0">Shut when Titan goes to bed;</div> - <div class="i0">Or a shady bush or tree,</div> - <div class="i0">She could more infuse in me</div> - <div class="i0">Than all Nature's beauties can</div> - <div class="i0">In some other wiser man."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Two songs of Wither's, quoted in Percy's -"Reliques"—"The Steadfast Shepherd," and the -one beginning</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Shall I, wasting in despair,</div> - <div class="i0">Die because a woman's fair?</div> - <div class="i0">Or make pale my cheeks with care</div> - <div class="i0">'Cause another's rosy are?</div> - <div class="i0">Be she fairer than the day,</div> - <div class="i0">Or the flowery meads in May;</div> - <div class="i0">If she be not so to me,</div> - <div class="i0">What care I how fair she be?"—</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>are exquisite lines, that no reader ever forgets.</p> - -<p>Crashaw (<em>b.</em>, 1616; <em>d.</em>, 1650) was of a deeply -religious tone of mind, and became a Catholic. His -finest poems are his religious ones, and they are -full of music and passionate reveries, yet disfigured -by the Donne fashion, which Dryden, and -after him Johnson, inaccurately termed the Metaphysical -School, instead of the Fantastic or -Singularity School. His very first poem, called -"The Weeper," shows how he treated even sacred -subjects:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i1">"Hail, sister springs!</div> - <div class="i0">Parents of silver-forded rills,</div> - <div class="i2">Ever-bubbling things!</div> - <div class="i0">Thawing crystal, snowy hills,</div> - <div class="i1">Still spending, never spent, I mean</div> - <div class="i1">Thy fair eyes, sweet Magdalene.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i1">"Heavens thy fair eyes be,</div> - <div class="i0">Heavens of ever-falling stars;</div> - <div class="i2">'Tis seed-time still with thee,</div> - <div class="i0">And stars thou sow'st, whose harvest dares</div> - <div class="i1">Promise the earth to countershine,</div> - <div class="i1">Whatever makes heaven's forehead shine."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Carew, Suckling, Lovelace are poets whose -merits, in their various styles, would deserve a -separate examination, but we must pass on to -three other poets, who have been more known to -modern readers, and who would of themselves have -stamped their age as one of genuine inspiration—Herbert, -Herrick, and Quarles. Herbert and Herrick, -like Donne, were clergymen, and in their quiet -country parsonages poured forth some of the -most exquisite lyrics which enrich any language. -Herrick may be said to be the born poet of nature—Herbert -of devotion. Robert Herrick (<em>b.</em>, 1591; -<em>d.</em>, 1674) was of an old family of Leicestershire. -His lyrics, so full of grace, are the very soul of -Nature's melody and rapture. He revels in all -the charms of the country—flowers, buds, fairies, -bees, the gorgeous blossoming May, the pathos and -antique simplicity of rural life; its marriages, its -churchyard histories, its imagery of awaking and -fading existence. The free, joyous, quaint, and -musical flow and rhythm of his verse have all that -felicity and that ring of woodland cadences which -mark the snatches of rustic verse which Shakespeare -scatters through his dramas. His "Night -Piece to Juliet," beginning—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee,</div> - <div class="i0">The shooting stars attend thee,</div> - <div class="i3">And the elves also</div> - <div class="i3">Whose little eyes glow</div> - <div class="i0">Like sparks of fire, befriend thee!"</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>is precisely of that character. His "Daffodils" -express the beautiful but melancholy sentiment -which he so frequently found in nature:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i2">"Fair daffodils, we weep to see</div> - <div class="i0">You haste away so soon;</div> - <div class="i0">As yet the early rising sun</div> - <div class="i0">Has not attained his noon.</div> - <div class="i4">Stay, stay,</div> - <div class="i2">Until the hastening day</div> - <div class="i4">Has run</div> - <div class="i2">But to the evensong,</div> - <div class="i0">And having prayed together, we</div> - <div class="i2">Will go with you along.</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"We have short time to stay as you,</div> - <div class="i0">We have as short a spring,</div> - <div class="i0">As quick a growth to meet decay</div> - <div class="i2">As you, or anything.</div> - <div class="i4">We die,</div> - <div class="i2">As your hours do; and dry</div> - <div class="i4">Away</div> - <div class="i2">Like to the summer rain,</div> - <div class="i0">Or as the pearls of morning dew,</div> - <div class="i2">Ne'er to be found again."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Herrick's works are his "Hesperides" and his -"Noble Numbers," the latter being religious, and -not equal to the former.</p> - -<p>In religious tone, intensity, and grandeur, -George Herbert (<em>b.</em>, 1593; <em>d.</em>, 1633) is his -superior. Herbert was in early life a courtier; -his eldest brother being the celebrated sceptical -writer, Lord Herbert of Cherbury. Herbert's -hopes of Court preferment fortunately ceasing with -the death of King James, he took orders, grew -extremely religious, married an admirable wife, -and retired to Bemerton parsonage, about a mile -from Salisbury, where he died of consumption -at the age of forty. Herbert was the very personification -of Chaucer's "Good Parson." His -life was one constant scene of piety and benevolence. -Beloved by his parishioners, happy in his -congenial wife, and passionately fond of music and -his poetry, his days glided away as already in -heaven. The music which he loved was poured -into his poetry, which overflows with tender and -profound feeling, the most chaste and seraphic -imagination, and the most fervent devotion. -James Montgomery, of later times, not a little -resembled him in his pure and beautiful piety; -but there is in Herbert a greater vigour, more -dignity of style, and finer felicity of imagery. -There is a gravity, a sublimity, and a sweetness -which mingle in his devotional lyrics, and endear -them for ever to the heart. His "Temple" is -a poetic fabric worthy of a Christian minstrel, -and stands as an immortal refutation of the oft-repeated -theory, that religious poetry cannot be -at once original and attractive. What can be -more noble than the following stanzas from his -poem entitled "Man"?—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i4">"For us the winds do blow;</div> - <div class="i0">The earth doth rest, heavens move, and fountains flow.</div> - <div class="i2">Nothing we see but means our good,</div> - <div class="i2">As our delight, or as our treasure:</div> - <div class="i0">The whole is either our cupboard of food</div> - <div class="i4">Or cabinet of pleasure.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i4">"The stars have us to bed;</div> - <div class="i0">Night draws the curtain which the sun withdraws,</div> - <div class="i2">Music and light attend our head.</div> - <div class="i2">All things to our <em>flesh</em> are kind</div> - <div class="i0">In their <em>descent</em> and <em>being</em>; to our <em>mind</em></div> - <div class="i4">In their <em>ascent</em> and <em>cause</em>.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i4">"Each thing is full of duty:</div> - <div class="i0">Waters united are our navigation;</div> - <div class="i2">Distinguished, our habitation;</div> - <div class="i2">Below, our drink—above, our meat:</div> - <div class="i0">Both are our cleanliness. Hath one such beauty?</div> - <div class="i4">Then how are all things neat!</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i4">"More servants wait on man</div> - <div class="i0">Than he'll take notice of: in every path</div> - <div class="i2">He treads down that which doth befriend him</div> - <div class="i2">When sickness makes him pale and wan.</div> - <div class="i0">Oh! mighty love! man is one world, and hath</div> - <div class="i4">Another to attend him."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Besides his "Temple," Herbert wrote a prose -work, "The Priest to the Temple; or, the Country -Parson," which is charmingly full of the simple, -child-like piety of the author. He also collected -a great number of proverbs, under the title of -"Jacula Prudentum."</p> - -<p>The third of the trio of poets who seem to -class themselves together by their quaintness, -their fancy, and their piety, is Francis Quarles, -(<em>b.</em>, 1592; <em>d.</em>, 1644) a man who has been treated -by many critics as a mere poetaster, but who -is one of the most sterling poets which English -genius has produced. Quarles was a gentleman -and a scholar; in his youth he was cup-bearer to -Elizabeth of Bohemia, and was finally ruined by -taking the Royal side in the Civil Wars. He wrote -various poetical works; "Argalus and Parthenia," -"A Feast for Worms," "Zion's Elegies," and a -series of elegies on the death of a friend, the son -of Bishop Aylmer. But the great work of -Quarles is his "Emblems," which originated in a -Latin poem by Herman Hugo, a Jesuit, called -"Pia Desideria." This book, condemned and -overlooked by the great critics, like Bunyan's -"Pilgrim's Progress," has, from generation to -generation, adorned with curious woodcuts, circulated -amongst the people in town and country, -till it has won an extraordinary popularity: and -that it has well deserved it, we need only read -such verses as these to convince ourselves:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"I love, and have some cause to love, the earth:</div> - <div class="i1">She is my Maker's creature—therefore good;</div> - <div class="i0">She is my mother—for she gave me birth;</div> - <div class="i1">She is my tender nurse—she gives me food.</div> - <div class="i0">But what's a creature, Lord, compared with Thee?</div> - <div class="i0">Or what's my mother, or my nurse, to me?</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"I love the air: her dainty sweets refresh</div> - <div class="i1">My drooping soul, and to new sweets invite me;</div> - <div class="i0">Her shrill-mouthed quires sustain me with their flesh</div> - <div class="i1">And with their Polyphonian notes delight me.</div> - <div class="i0">But what's the air, or all the sweets that she</div> - <div class="i0">Can bless my soul withal, compared to Thee?</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"I love the sea: she is my fellow-creature—</div> - <div class="i1">My careful purveyor; she provides me store;</div> - <div class="i0">She walls me round, she makes my diet greater;</div> - <div class="i1">She wafts my treasure from a foreign shore.</div> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> - <div class="i0">But, Lord of oceans, when compared to Thee,</div> - <div class="i0">What is the ocean, or her health to me?</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"To heaven's high city I direct my journey,</div> - <div class="i1">Whose spangled suburbs entertain mine eye;</div> - <div class="i0">Mine eye, by contemplation's great attorney,</div> - <div class="i1">Transcends the crystal pavement of the sky.</div> - <div class="i0">But what is heaven, great God, compared to Thee?</div> - <div class="i0">Without Thy presence, heaven's no heaven to me.</div> - </div> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Without Thy presence, earth gives no refection;</div> - <div class="i1">Without Thy presence, sea affords no treasure;</div> - <div class="i0">Without Thy presence, air's a rank infection;</div> - <div class="i1">Without Thy presence, heaven itself's no pleasure.</div> - <div class="i0">If not possessed, if not enjoyed in Thee,</div> - <div class="i0">What's earth, or sea, or air, or heaven to me?"</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>William Browne's "Britannia's Pastorals," -written at this period, have been much and justly -celebrated for their faithful transcripts of nature -and country life. There are others, besides, that -sue for recognition as among the genuine poets of -those times—Raleigh, as a lyrical poet; Sir Henry -Wotton; Henry Vaughan, the author of "Silex -Scintillans" and "Olor Iscanus," a disciple of -Herbert's, who would demand a notice were it -only to show how freely Campbell borrowed the -poem of "The Rainbow" from him:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"How bright wert thou when Shem's admiring eye</div> - <div class="i0">Thy burning, flaming arch did first descry!</div> - <div class="i0">When Zerah, Nahor, Haran, Abram, Lot,</div> - <div class="i0"><em>The youthful world's grey fathers</em> in one knot,</div> - <div class="i0">Did with attentive looks <em>watch every hour</em></div> - <div class="i0"><em>For thy new light</em>."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>And so Campbell:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"When on the green, undeluged earth,</div> - <div class="i2">Heaven's covenant, thou didst shine;</div> - <div class="i0">How came <em>the world's grey fathers</em> forth</div> - <div class="i2"><em>To watch thy sacred sign</em>."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Altogether, no age—not even our own—has -produced such a constellation of poets, nor such a -mass of exquisite, superb, and imperishable poetry. -Whilst Shakespeare was fast departing, Milton -was rising, and during this period wrote many -of his inimitable smaller poems. Even honest -Andrew Marvell, when freed from his labours in -the great struggle for the Commonwealth, solaced -himself with writing poetry, English and Latin, -and some of it of no contemptible order, as in his -boat-song of the exiles of the Bermudas:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Thus they sang in the English boat</div> - <div class="i0">A holy and a cheerful note,</div> - <div class="i0">And all the way, to guide the chime,</div> - <div class="i0">They with the falling oars kept time."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>So he forgot occasionally polemics and politics in -"a holy and a cheerful note" of his own. Even -the saturnine Sir Thomas Overbury, whom Somerset -and his wife had murdered in the Tower, could -brighten up in poetry as in his "Choice of a -Wife:"—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"If I were to choose a woman,</div> - <div class="i2">As who knows but I may marry,</div> - <div class="i0">I would trust the eye of no man,</div> - <div class="i2">Nor a tongue that may miscarry;</div> - <div class="i0">For in way of love and glory</div> - <div class="i0">Each tongue best tells his own story."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>The prose of the age was equally remarkable. -First and foremost stands Francis Bacon (<em>b.</em>, -1561; <em>d.</em>, 1626) with his "Novum Organum," -a new instrument of discovery in philosophy, -and other works of a kindred character. He -tells us that in his youth he took a great -aversion to the philosophy of Aristotle; being, he -said, a philosophy only strong for disputations -and contentions, but barren of the production of -works for the life of man; and in this mind he -continued through life. Besides other works of -less note, in 1605 he published one of great importance -on "The Advancement of Learning;" -soon after he published the outline or groundwork -of his "Organum," under the title of "Cogitata et -Visa; or, Things Thought Out and Seen," and -proudly boasted of it as the greatest birth of time. -He afterwards published the "Wisdom of the -Ancients," and it was not till 1621, and when he -had reached the summit of his profession, and -been made Viscount of St. Albans, that he -brought out his great work, "The Instauration of -the Sciences," of which the "Novum Organum" is -the second part. No work was so little understood -at the time or has occasioned such a variety -of opinions since. Bacon was well aware that -such would be the case, for in his will he says that -he leaves his name and memory to foreign nations, -and to his own countrymen after some time be -passed over. Bacon asserted that he had superseded -the Aristotelian philosophy, and introduced -a new and accurate method of inquiry, both into -mind and matter, by experiment and induction. -By one party he is declared to be the great -renovator of true knowledge, and the father of the -modern sciences by this method; by another, that -he is nothing of the kind, and that modern discovery -would have progressed as well without his -New Instrument; that Aristotle pursued this -method of induction himself, and that Galileo discovered -the motion of the earth by the same -means that Bacon taught at the same time. But -whoever has acquainted himself with the system -of Aristotle, and, still more, with the loose and -absurd method by which it was taught in the -schools before Bacon's time, must see that Bacon, -if he did not altogether introduce the system, -reduced it to precision and accuracy, and thus put -an end to the windy logic and abortive practice of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -the schools. They were accustomed to assume -false and visionary premises, and reason from -them by syllogisms which, of course, proved -nothing. Bacon, by proceeding by analysis and -synthesis—by first extracting from a substance, or -a topic, everything that did not really belong to it, -and then bringing these expurgated matters into -contrast—drew sure conclusions, and advanced -towards positive discovery. True, Galileo worked -by the same method; but Bacon taught it, and -made it clear to all understandings. To say, -therefore, that modern science owes nothing to -Bacon is to utter a self-evident falsity. Both in -experimental philosophy and in metaphysical inquiry, -it is Bacon's light, and not Aristotle's, -which is followed. That Bacon himself made no -great discoveries in prosecuting his own method -proves nothing; because, though he was not -sufficiently advanced in the actual knowledge -of the properties of Matter, he saw and taught -clearly how such knowledge was to be acquired, -and applied to the legitimate development of -Science. How completely ignorant was the age -of real experimental philosophy, is shown by -the ridicule and contempt which was cast on -the "Novum Organum." Such men as Ben -Jonson and Sir Henry Wotton expressed their -profound admiration of it, but by the wits of -the time Bacon was laughed at as little better -than a maniac. King James said, in his almost -blasphemous way, that it was like the peace of -God—passing all understanding; and Lord Coke -said—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"It deserveth not to be read in schools,</div> - <div class="i0">But to be freighted in the ship of fools."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_181.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SCENE AT THE FUNERAL OF CHILLINGWORTH. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_181big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>He was represented by men eminent in the -world's opinion as "no great philosopher—a man -rather of show than of depth, who wrote philosophy -like a lord chancellor." Abroad, as Bacon -had foreseen, his work was received in a different -manner, and pronounced by the learned one of the -most important accessions ever made to philosophy. -Whoever will carefully study it, will find not -merely the exposition of his method, but views -stretching into the heights and depths, not only -of our own nature but of the nature and life of -the Universe in which we move, thoughts which -stamp the mind of Bacon as one of the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -capacious, many-sided, and profound that ever -appeared.</p> - -<p>Next to Bacon's we should place the prose writings -of John Milton (<em>b.</em>, 1608; <em>d.</em>, 1674) in general -importance and intellectual greatness. As Bacon's -were directed to the advancement of true liberty in -philosophy, Milton's were directed to the liberation -of the Church and State from the tyranny of king -and custom. His "Areopagitica," a speech for the -liberty of unlicensed printing, is a grand plea for -the freedom of the press; his "Civil Power in -Ecclesiastical Causes," and the "Best Means of -Removing Hirelings out of the Church," go to the -root of all hierarchical corruption. Besides these, -his "Defence of the People of England" in reply -to Salmasius, his "Second Defence," in reply to -Peter du Moulin, and his "Eikonoklastes" in refutation -of the "Eikon Basiliké," attributed to -Charles I., but written by Dr. Gauden, and others -of his prose works, are written in a somewhat stiff -but lofty and massive style. They foreshow the -great national poet of "Paradise Lost;" and -cannot be read without a deep veneration for the -great Puritan champion of the liberties and fame -of England.</p> - -<p>Next to these we should name the great advocates -of Protestantism, Hales and Chillingworth. -The "Discourse on Schism" is the writing of -Hales which brought him into notice, and led to -the most important consequences. It struck at -the very root of tradition and submission to the -authority of the Fathers, which Laud and his party -had exerted themselves to establish; and it was -followed out by Chillingworth (<em>b.</em>, 1602; <em>d.</em>, 1644) -in his "The Religion of Protestants, a Safe -Way to Salvation." In this work, which has since -been styled the "bulwark of Protestantism," Chillingworth -endeavoured to prove the Divine authority -of the Bible on the basis of historic evidence, -and having done that to his satisfaction, he -declared that the religion of Protestants was the -Bible, and nothing but the Bible. By this rule -alone they are, in his opinion, to be judged; the -Scriptures alone are to be the standard of their -doctrines. He thus cut off all the claims of -Popery built on tradition, and established the right -of private judgment. In this he served not only -the Established Church, to which he belonged, but -every body of Christians whatever; for they had, -according to his reasoning, the same right to interpret -the Bible for themselves. This gave great -scandal to the bigoted party in the Church. They -declared that he had destroyed faith by reducing it -to simple reason. He was violently attacked by -both Catholics and Puritans. Knott, a Jesuit, -and Dr. Cheynell, one of the Assembly of Divines, -were his most determined opponents. Cheynell -wrote against him, "Chillingworthi Novissima; or, -the Sickness, Heresy, Death, and Burial of W. C., -with a Profane Catechism selected out of his -Works." Not satisfied with this, he attended his -funeral, made a violent harangue against him, and -flung the "Religion of Protestants" into his grave, -crying, "Get thee gone, thou cursed book, which -has seduced so many precious souls—get thee gone, -thou corrupt, rotten book, earth to earth, dust to -dust, go and rot with thy author." The Protestant -Church has fully acknowledged the services -of Chillingworth. Even those who deem that -there are other evidences of Christianity than the -historic evidences, or even the deductions of criticism, -admit that his arguments go far to demonstrate -the genuineness of the Bible records, and -therefore of the Christian religion. The highest -encomiums have been paid to the reasoning and -eloquence of Chillingworth, by Locke, Clarendon, -Gibbon, Dugald Stewart, and all our theological -writers.</p> - -<p>What Chillingworth did for Protestantism, Cudworth, -in his great work, "The True Intellectual -System of the Universe," did for religion in general, -demolishing most completely the philosophy of -atheism and infidelity. Barrow, Henry More, and -Jeremy Taylor, added much wealth to the theological -literature of the age. More and Barrow -belong more properly to the next period. Taylor -(<em>b.</em>, 1613; <em>d.</em>, 1677), who was the son of a barber, -became one of the most celebrated preachers of that -time, and both his sermons and his other works -have received from many of our chief critics and -historians the most encomiastic praises. He has -been represented as a modern Chrysostom. Much -of this praise he undoubtedly deserves, but -readers coming to him after such extravagant -laudation, experience a sensible disappointment. -His "Holy Living and Dying" may be taken as -the most favourable specimen of his writings; -and though grave, pleasing, and consolatory, it does -not strike us by any means as highly or brilliantly -eloquent. His sermons, especially on the "Marriage -Ring" and on the "House of Feasting," are -of the same character. They are full of piety, -sweetness, and grace, but they are not eloquence of -the highest class. His sentences are often wearyingly -long, his illustrations do not always appear -very pertinent, and his manner is too much that -of the father of the fourth century, whom he -appears to have greatly formed himself upon.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> - -<p>The writings of Archbishop Ussher and the -sermons of Bishop Andrews deserve mention; but -the works of Thomas Fuller, the author of the -"Worthies of England," "The Church History -of Great Britain," "The Holy and Profane -States," and other books, are undoubtedly the -most witty and amusing of the whole period. -Next to Burton's "Anatomy of Melancholy," a -work, too, of this time, they have furnished -to modern authors more original ideas, more frequent -and pregnant sentiments and allusions -than any others in the language. They have been -rivers of thought to men who had very little of -their own. Harrington's "Oceana"—a political -romance, written to illustrate the opinion that -the great power of nations consists in their -property—has ideas to repay a reader who has -leisure and patience. A writer who has always -taken a high rank for originality is Sir Thomas -Browne, the author of "Religio Medici," "Urn -Burial," "The Garden of Cyrus," etc. Browne -ranges freely from the "quincunx" of the gardens -of the ancients to the highest flights of metaphysical -speculation. He is quaint, abrupt, and singular, -but at the same time he is extremely suggestive of -thought, and extends the sphere of human inquiry -and sympathy far beyond the physical limits of -most writers of his class. There is also a school -of historians of this age of eminent merit, at the -head of which stands Sir Walter Raleigh with his -"History of the World;" Knowles with his able -"History of the Turks;" Daniel with his "History -of England" to the reign of Edward III.; -and Thomas May, with the "History of the Long -Parliament," and his "Breviary of the History of -Parliament," two invaluable works. Camden's -"Britannia" and "Annals" appeared at this epoch. -Various chronicles were also issued at this period—Hall's -"Union of the Families of York and -Lancaster," Grafton's "Chronicle," Holinshed's, and -Baker's. The works of Stow and Speed appeared -in the early part of it,—Stow's "Summary of the -English Chronicles," in 1565; his "Annals," 1573; -his "Flores Historiarum," an enlarged edition of -his chronicle, 1600; his "Survey of London," 1598. -Speed's "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain" -belongs to 1606; and his "History of Great -Britain" to 1614. Besides these appeared the -"Memoirs" of Rushworth. Thurloe's and Whitelock's -were written, but did not appear till a later -period. The commencement of the Long Parliament -marked also a remarkable era, that of the first -English newspapers, under the name of "Diurnals," -or daily records of Parliamentary proceedings. The -idea once started, newspapers rapidly spread, so -that between the Civil War and the Restoration, -nearly two hundred were published, but -none more frequently than once a week for some -time, nor afterwards oftener than twice or three -times a week. It was, moreover, an age of political -tracts and pamphlets. In science the discovery -of the circulation of the blood by Harvey, and the -invention of logarithms by Napier, were the -great events of that department. On the whole, -the intellectual development of the age was as -great and marvellous as was its political advance. -To no other modern nation can we point, which in -one and the same period has produced three such -men as Shakespeare, Milton, and Bacon, amid a -host of lesser, but scarcely less precious lights, at -the same time that it was working out one of the -most stupendous revolutions in human government, -and the imperishable principles of it, that the -world has seen. On reviewing this period, well -might Wordsworth exclaim:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Great men have been amongst us; hands that penned,</div> - <div class="i0">And tongues that uttered wisdom, better none;</div> - <div class="i0">The later Sydney, Marvell, Harrington,</div> - <div class="i0">Young Vane, and others who called Milton friend.</div> - <div class="i0">These moralists could act and comprehend;</div> - <div class="i0">They knew how genuine glory is put on;</div> - <div class="i0">Taught us how rightfully a nation shone</div> - <div class="i0">In splendour."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>And well did he add:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"We must be free, or die, who speak the tongue</div> - <div class="i0">That Shakespeare spoke: the faith and morals hold</div> - <div class="i0">That Milton held. In everything we are sprung</div> - <div class="i0">Of earth's best blood—have titles manifold."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Some of the eminent musical composers already -mentioned (<em>See</em> Vol. II., pp. 378-9) continued -to embellish the reign of James. Amongst these -were Ford, Ward, Weelkes, and Orlando Gibbons. -The first three are distinguished for their madrigals, -and Weelkes for ballads, which are unrivalled. -Ward's "Die not, Fond Man," is still -as popular as ever. Gibbons composed both -madrigals and cathedral music. He was organist -of the Royal Chapel, and was made Doctor of -Music by the University of Oxford. The sacred -music of Gibbons is enough of itself to exempt -England from the often advanced charge of -being unmusical. In 1622, Dr. Heyther, a friend -of Camden, the antiquary, established a professorship -of music at Oxford. Charles I. was not only -fond of music, but played himself with considerable -skill on the <em>viol da gamba</em>. Dr. William -Child, himself an excellent composer, was the -organist of his chapel, and Lawes, the friend of -Milton, who is referred to in his sonnets and in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -"Comus," was patronised by him. Lawes was -greatly admired, and justly, by other poets, -especially Herrick and Waller. Charles I., however, -set a bad example, by encouraging foreign -musicians instead of his own subjects. He made -Lanieri, an Italian, a man in real musical science -far inferior to several Englishmen then living, -"Master of our Music," and his example was only -too diligently followed by princes and nobles in -after times.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_184.jpg" width="372" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WILLIAM HARVEY.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_184big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The rise of the Commonwealth was the fall of -music in England. The stern Puritans, and -especially the Scottish Presbyterians, who dubbed -an organ "a kist o' whistles," denounced all -music as profane, and drove organs and orchestras -from the churches. Nothing was tolerated but a -simple psalm tune. Cromwell, however, did not -partake of this fanaticism. He was fond of -music, and frequently had musical entertainments -at Whitehall and Hampton Court. The great -organ which had been pulled out of Magdalen -College, Oxford, he had carefully conveyed to -Hampton Court, where it was one of his greatest -solaces. Under Cromwell the lovers of music -brought out their concealed instruments, and there -was once more not only domestic enjoyment of -music, but open musical parties.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_185.jpg" width="381" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>REDUCED FACSIMILE OF FRONT PAGE OF NO. 26 OF "A PERFECT DIURNALL." (<em>About three-fourths the size of the original.</em>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_185big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>If the Civil War in England was auspicious to -liberty, it was disastrous to art. From the time -of Henry VIII. the British monarchs had shown -a decided taste for the arts. Henry had munificently -patronised Holbein, and had made various -purchases of foreign <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">chefs-d'œuvre</i>. Prince Henry -inherited the taste of his mother, instead of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -coarse buffoonery of his father, and showed a -strong attachment to men of genius and to works -of genius. He began a collection of paintings, -bronzes, and medals, which fell to his brother -Charles. Charles was an enthusiast in art, and -had he not possessed his fatal passion for despotism, -would have introduced a new era in -England as regarded intellectual and artistic pursuits. -The study of Italian models, both in -literature and art, by the aristocracy, enabled -the nobles to embrace the tastes of the monarch; -and England would soon have seen the fine arts -flourishing to a degree which they had never -enjoyed before, and which would have prevented -the dark ages that succeeded. During -Charles's early rule the greatest artists of the -Continent flocked over to England, and found -a liberal reception there. Rubens, Vandyck, -Jansen, Vansomer, Mytens, Diepenbeck, Pölemberg, -Gentileschi, and others visited London, and -Vandyck, the greatest of them all, remained -permanently. The works of Vandyck, in England, -are numerous, and if we except his famous -picture of "The Crucifixion" at Mechlin, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -possess the best of his productions. At Windsor -Castle, Hampton Court, Blenheim, Wilton House, -and Wentworth House, the bulk of his finest -pictures are to be seen. His portraits of our -princes and the chief nobility of the time are -familiar to all English eyes, and place him only -second to Titian in that department. At Wilton -House alone there are twenty-five of Vandyck's -paintings; the portrait of Philip, Earl of Pembroke, -with his family, is declared by Walpole to -be itself a school of this master. His dramatic -portrait of Strafford and his secretary, Mainwaring, -at Wentworth House, Walpole asserts to -be his masterpiece. Charles had proposed to him -to paint the history of the Order of the Garter on -the walls of the Banqueting House at Whitehall, -but the sum he demanded—said to be eighty thousand -pounds, but more probably a misprint for -eight thousand pounds—caused Charles to delay it, -and his political troubles soon put an end to the -scheme. He painted several pictures of Charles -on horseback, one of which is at Windsor, and -another at Hampton Court.</p> - -<p>Rubens came to England only as an ambassador, -but Charles seized the opportunity to -get him to paint the apotheosis of James, on the -ceiling of the Banqueting House at Whitehall. -This he, however, merely sketched whilst in London -and painted it at Antwerp, receiving three -thousand pounds for it. The Duke of Buckingham -purchased Rubens's private collection of -pictures, chiefly of the Italian school, but containing -some of his own, for ten thousand pounds. -These were sold by the Long Parliament, and now -adorn the palaces of the Escurial at Madrid, and -the Belvedere at Vienna. The large pictures -in the latter gallery, "St. Francis Xavier preaching -to the Indians," and "Loyola casting out -Devils," are amongst the very finest of his productions.</p> - -<p>Charles, besides making collections, and drawing -round him great artists, projected the establishment -of an academy of arts on a princely scale. -But this remained only an idea, through the -breaking out of the Revolution. Parliament, -in 1645, caused all such pictures at Whitehall as -contained any representation of the Saviour or the -Virgin to be burnt, and the rest to be sold. Fortunately -there were persons in power who had -more rational notions, and much was saved. -Cromwell himself secured the cartoons of Raphael -for three hundred pounds, and thus preserved -them to the nation, and as soon as he had the -authority, he put a stop to the sale of the royal -collections, and even detained many pictures that -had been sold.</p> - -<p>The native artists of this period were chiefly -pupils of Rubens or Vandyck. Jamesone, called -the Scottish Vandyck, was a pupil of Rubens at -the same time with Vandyck—Charles sat to -him. William Dobson, a pupil of Vandyck, was -serjeant-painter to Charles, and Robert Walker, of -the Vandyck school, was Cromwell's favourite -painter, to whom we owe several admirable portraits -of the Protector. There were also several -miniature painters of the highest merit—the two -Olivers, Hoskins, and Cooper.</p> - -<p>Up to this period engravings had become by no -means prominent in England. That there had -been engravers we know from various books -having been illustrated by them. Geminus and -Humphrey Lloyd were employed by Ortelius, of -Antwerp, on his "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum." -Aggas had executed a great plan of London, and -Saxon county maps. Various Flemish and French -engravers found employment, as Vostermans, De -Voerst, and Peter Lombard. Hollar, a Bohemian, -was employed extensively till the outbreak of the -Civil War, and illustrated Dugdale and other -writers. But the chief English engraver of this -period was John Payne.</p> - -<p>Sculpture was by no means in great advance at -this period. There were several foreign artists -employed in England on tombs and monuments, -but as they did not at that date put their -names upon them, it is difficult to attribute to -every man his own. Amongst these Le Sœur, -who executed the equestrian statue of Charles I. -at Charing Cross, Angier, and Du Val were the -chief. John Stone, master mason to the king, was -by far the most skilful native sculptor. Amongst -his best efforts are the monuments of Sir George -Holles at Westminster, and the statue of Sir Finnes -Holles, also at Westminster. Sir Dudley Carleton's -tomb at Westminster, and Sutton's tomb at the -Charterhouse are also his. But the greatest boon -to sculpture was the introduction at this period, -by the Earl of Arundel, of the remains of ancient -art, hence called the Arundel Marbles.</p> - -<p>This was the epoch of the commencement of -classical architecture. The grand old Anglo-Gothic -had run its course. It fell with the -Catholic Church, or continued only in a mongrel -and degraded state, showing continually the progress -of its decline. From Henry VIII. to James -this state of things continued; the miserable -tasteless style, which succeeded the downfall of -the picturesque Tudor, being the only architecture.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -The change to the classical was destined to be -made by Inigo Jones, whose is the great name -of this period. Jones had studied in Italy, and -became aware of the graceful style which Vitruvius -had introduced by modulation of the ancient -Greek and Roman, and which Palladio had raised -to perfection. The merit of Jones is that he -imported Palladio's style substantially and completely, -ready as it was to his hands, and wholly -unknown in England. By this means Jones -acquired a reputation for genius to which nothing -that he has left justifies his claim. He was first -engaged in designing the scenery and machinery -of the masques which Ben Jonson wrote for the -queen of James I. He was appointed architect to -the queen and Prince Henry. On the death of the -prince he went back to Italy, but on his return to -London he was appointed Surveyor-General of the -Royal Buildings. The first thing which he planned -was the design for an immense palace for James on -the site of Whitehall. There is a simple grandeur -in the drawings of it which are left, which may -fairly entitle him to a reputation for the introduction -of an elegant domestic architecture, -although it does not warrant the extravagant -terms of eulogy which have been lavished on him. -The only portion of this palace which was built is -the Banqueting House (afterwards the Chapel -Royal) at Whitehall, being the termination of -the great façade, and which contains nothing -very remarkable. Jones added a chapel to -Somerset House, and a west front to St. Paul's, -neither of which remains. That he was far from -having conceived the true principles of architecture -was shown by the fact that his west front of -Old St. Paul's was a classical one engrafted on a -Gothic building, and this solecism he was continually -repeating. One of the most glaring -instances of the kind is a classical screen which -he raised in the Norman Cathedral of Durham. -Amongst the chief remaining buildings of Inigo -Jones from which an idea of his talent may be -drawn, are the Piazza and St. Paul's Church, -Covent Garden, of which Quatremere de Quincy -says that the most remarkable thing about it is the -reputation that it enjoys; Ashburnham House, -Westminster; a house on the west side of Lincoln's -Inn Fields originally built for the Earl of Lindsay; -an addition to St. John's College, Oxford; and by -far his finest work,—if his it be, which is doubtful—Heriot's -Hospital at Edinburgh. He also superintended -the erection of Old Greenwich Palace.</p> - -<p>The general aspect of the towns and streets -remained the same at this period as in the former. -James issued proclamation after proclamation, -ordering the citizens to leave off the half-timbered -style, and build the fronts, at least, entirely of -brick or stone; but this was little attended to, -and many a strange old fabric continued to show -the fashions of past ages.</p> - -<p>If we are to believe the memoir writers and -dramatists of this period, the national manners -and morals had suffered a decided deterioration. -Licentious as was the court of Queen Elizabeth, -there was a certain dignity and outward decorum -preserved, but James introduced such coarseness -and grossness of manner, such low debauch and -buffoonery, that even the salutary restraint which -fashion had imposed was stripped away, and all -classes exhibited the most revolting features. In -the reign of Henry, Edward, and Elizabeth, we had -such women as the daughters of Sir Thomas More, -Lady Jane Grey, Catherine Parr, and others, who -cultivated literature and philosophy, the Queens -Mary and Elizabeth themselves setting the example -in reading and translating the most illustrious -classical authors. But after James came in, -notwithstanding all his learned pedantry, you hear -nothing more of such tastes amongst the Court -ladies, and it is very singular that amid that blaze -of genius which distinguished the time under -review, we find no traces of feminine genius there. -On the contrary, both English dramatists and -foreign writers describe the morals and manners of -women of rank as almost destitute of delicacy and -probity. They are described as mingling with -gentlemen in taverns amid tobacco smoke, songs, -and conversation of the most ribald character. -They allowed liberties which would startle women -of the lowest rank in these times, were desperate -gamblers, and those who had the opportunity -were wholesale dealers in political influence. -Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, boasts of the -effect of the bribes that he was accustomed to distribute -amongst them. Whilst such women as the -infamous and murderous Countess of Essex and the -Dowager Countess Villiers were the leading stars -of the Court, the tone of morals must have been -low indeed. Whilst the ladies were of this stamp, -we cannot expect the gentlemen to have been -better, and there is no doubt but that the honours -and wealth and royal favour heaped on such men -as Somerset, Hay, Ramsay, and Buckingham, made -debauchery and villainy quite fashionable. The -character of Englishmen on their travels, Howell -tells us, was expressed in an Italian proverb:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"<i xml:lang="it" lang="it">Inglese Italianato</i></div> - <div class="i0"><i xml:lang="it" lang="it">E Diavolo incarnato.</i>"</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> - -<p>"An Italianised Englishman is a devil incarnate." -This was said of the debauched conduct of our -young men on their travels. At home they were -a contemptible mixture of foppery and profanity. -Buckingham and the other favourites led the way. -We have recorded the audacious behaviour of -Buckingham at the courts of France and Spain, -and the enormous foppery of his apparel. He had -a dress of uncut white velvet, covered all over -with diamonds, valued at eighty thousand pounds, -a great feather of diamonds, another dress of -purple satin covered with pearls, valued at twenty -thousand pounds, and his sword, girdle, hatbands, -and spurs were thickly studded with diamonds. -He had, besides these, five-and-twenty other dresses -of great richness, and his numerous attendants -imitated him according to their means. They -began now to patch their faces with black plaister, -because the officers who had served in the German -wars wore such to cover their scars; and the -ladies did the same. Duelling was now introduced, -cheating at play was carried to an immense -extent, and the dandy effeminacy of the Cavaliers -was unexampled. They had the utmost contempt -of all below them, and any attempt to -assume the style or courtesies of address which -they appropriated to themselves was resented as -actual treason. The term "Master" or "Mr." -was used only to great merchants or commoners of -distinction; and to address such as "gentlemen" -or "esquires" would have roused all the ire of the -aristocracy. In proceeding through the streets at -night, courtiers were conducted with torches, merchants -with links, and mechanics with lanthorns.</p> - -<p>We may imagine the feeling with which the -sober and religious Puritans beheld all this, and -the proud contempt with which their strictures -were received. When the Civil War broke out, -which was a war of religious reform as much as of -political, the Puritans displayed a grave manner, -a sober dress, and chastened style of speech; and -the Cavaliers, in defiance and contempt, swore, -drank, and indulged in debauchery all the more, -to mark their superiority to the "sneaking Roundhead -dogs."</p> - -<p>Charles endeavoured to restrain this loose and -indecent spirit, but it was too strong for him; -and though the Puritans put it effectually down -during the Commonwealth, it came back in a flood -with the lewd and ribald Charles II. Charles I. -also introduced a more tasteful style of Court -pageants and festivities. Under James all the -old fantastic masques and pageantries—in which -heathen gods, goddesses, satyrs, and giants figured—prevailed. -Charles gave to his pageantries -a more classical character, but when the Puritans -came in they put them all down, along -with Maypoles, and all the wakes, and church-ales, -and the like, which James had encouraged -by his "Book of Sports." The Court festivals, -so long as the monarchy remained, were marked -by all the profusion, displays of jewellery, and -dresses of cloth of gold and embroidery, which -prevailed in the Tudor times. The old-fashioned -country life, in which the gentlemen hunted and -hawked, and the ladies spent their leisure in giving -bread to the poor and making condiments, preserves, -and distilled waters, was rapidly deserted -during the gay days of James and Charles, and the -fortune-making of favourites.</p> - -<p>Merchants and shopkeepers were growing rich, -and though they still conducted their businesses in -warehouses which would appear mean and miserable -to City men of to-day, and in shops with -open fronts, before which the master or one of his -apprentices constantly paraded, crying, "What -d'ye lack?" had stately suburban houses, and -vied with the nobles in their furniture and mode -of living. The moral condition of the people of -London at this period, according to all sorts of -writers, was something inconceivably frightful. -The apprentices, as we have seen, were a turbulent -and excitable race, who had assumed a right to -settle political matters, or to avenge any imagined -attack on their privileges. At the cry of "Clubs!" -they seized their clubs and swords and rushed -into the streets to ascertain what was amiss. -They were easily led by their ringleaders against -any body or any authority that was supposed to -be invading popular rights. We have seen them -surrounding the Parliament House, demanding -such measures as they pleased, and executing -their notions of suitable chastisement of offenders -by setting fire to Laud's house, and breaking down -the benches of the High Commission Court. They -were equally ready to encounter and disperse the -constabulary or the City Guard, and to fight out -their quarrels with the Templars, or others with -whom they were at feud.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_189.jpg" width="560" height="421" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SHOPKEEPER AND APPRENTICE IN THE TIME OF CHARLES I. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_188">188</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_189big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The riots of the apprentices, however, had generally -something of a John-Bullish assertion of -right and justice in them; but the streets and -alleys of London were infested with an equally -boisterous and much more villainous crew of -thieves and cut-purses. Pocket-picking was then, -as now, taught as a science, and was carried to a -wonderful perfection of dexterity. All kinds of -rogueries were practised on country people, the -memory of which remains yet in rural districts, -and is still believed applicable to the metropolis. -These vagabonds had their retreats about the -Savoy and the brick-kilns of Islington, but their -headquarters were in a part of Whitefriars called -Alsatia, which possessed the right of sanctuary -and swarmed with debtors, thieves, bullies, and -every kind of miscreants, ready on an alarm, -made by the sound of a horn, to turn out in -mobs and defend their purlieus from constables -and sheriffs' officers. Walking the streets in the -daytime was dangerous from the affrays often -going on between the apprentices and the students -of the Temple, or between the butchers and -weavers, or from the rude jostling and practical -jokes of bullies and swashbucklers; but at night -there was no safety except under a strong guard. -Then Alsatia, the Savoy, and the numerous other -dens of vice and violence, poured forth their myrmidons, -and after nine o'clock there was no safety -for quiet passengers. If we add to this description -the narrowness of the roads and alleys, the -unpaved and filthy state of the streets, and undrained -and ill-ventilated houses, London was -anything at this period but an attractive place. -The plague was a frequent visitant, and we are -told that kites and ravens were much kept to -devour the offal and filth of the streets, instead of -scavengers. In the country, things were not much -better. The roads were terrible, and were infested -by sturdy bands of robbers. In the neighbourhood -of London, Finchley, Blackheath, Wimbledon, and -Shooter's Hill were places of widespread fame for -daring highwaymen. It was high time for the -Puritans to come into power, and to put both -town and country under a more wholesome discipline. -Cromwell's soldiers, quartered in various -parts of the metropolis, and his major-generals -administering martial law in different parts of the -country, soon altered the face of things. He shut -up Spring Gardens, a place of nocturnal resort for -assignations for traffickers in political corruption, -and for various licentiousness; and instead of -fellows prowling about the streets with sweetmeats -in their pockets to kidnap children, and sell them -to the plantations, he sent these scoundrels freely -thither themselves. Amongst the gloomy features -of this period was the relentless persecution of old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> -women, under the belief that they were witches; -a practice commenced by James, but continued by -the Puritans, who sent out Hopkins, the notorious -witchfinder, who, in the years 1645 and 1646, -traversed the country, condemning and putting to -death hundreds of them, till he himself was accused -of being a wizard, and was subjected to the same -fate. From 1640 to the Restoration, four thousand -persons are said to have perished under charge -of witchcraft. In Scotland this terrible practice -was carried on with even aggravated cruelties, in -order to extort confession.</p> - -<p>The sports of the aristocracy, gentry, and merchants -were much the same that they had been -hitherto. Hunting was the favourite pastime -of James, and therefore was not likely to be -neglected by the country gentry. He was also -fond of hawking, and kept alive that pastime, -which was dying out, some time longer. Ball -games had much superseded the jousts and tournaments -of other days. Tennis retained its high -favour, and billiards and pall-mall, or striking a -ball through a ring suspended to a pole, were becoming -fashionable. Bowling, cards, dice, dancing, -masques, balls, and musical entertainments varied -town life. The common people stuck to their -foot-ball, quoits, pitching the bar, cricket, shovel-board, -bull- and bear-baiting, and cock-fighting. -The Puritans put down May-games, Whitsun-ales, -morrice-dances, and all amusements that savoured -of a Catholic origin. They also humanely suppressed, -as far as they could, the savage sports of -bear and bull-baiting. Pride and Hewson killed -all the bears at the bear-garden to put an end to -that cruel pastime, and thence originated Butler's -"Hudibras." The bowling-greens of the English -were famous, and horse-racing was much in vogue. -In Scotland the Reformation put to flight all sorts -of games, dancing, and merry-makings, as sinful -and unbecoming of Christians, and polemic discussions -were the only excitements which relieved -the ascetic gloom.</p> - -<p>The interiors of houses were in this period -greatly embellished, and the splendour of hangings -of beds and windows had strikingly increased. -Rich velvets and silks embroidered with cloth of -gold and cloth of silver, and coloured satins of -the most gorgeous hues abounded. The cushions -of couches and chairs were equally costly, and -instead of the ancient tapestry, paper and leather -hangings, richly stamped and gilt, covered the -walls. The Flemish artists had been called in to -paint the ceilings with historical or mythological -scenes, and on the walls hung the masterpieces of -Flemish and Italian art. Carpets were beginning -to supersede rushes on the floors, but were more -commonly used as coverings for tables. In -addition to the carved cabinets of oak, ebony, and -ivory, and the richly-covered cushioned and high-backed -chairs of the Tudor dynasty, Flemish and -Dutch furniture of somewhat formal but still -elegant design abounded. Superb ornaments of -ivory and china had found their way from the -East, and became heirlooms in great mansions. -Altogether, the houses of the wealthy of those -times presented a scene of stately elegance and -luxury that has not since been surpassed.</p> - -<p>The costume of the reign of James was but a -continuation of that of Elizabeth. The men still -wore the stiff plated ruff, occasionally varied by a -plain horizontal one with lace on its edges. The -long peasecod-bellied doublet continued, and the -large stuffed Gallic or Venetian hose, slashed and -quilted, had assumed more preposterous dimensions -from James's timidity; he having both these -and the doublets quilted to resist the stabs of -the stiletto. Towards the end of his reign a -change was noticeable. Instead of the long-waisted -doublet there were short jackets, with -false hanging sleeves behind; the trunk hose were -covered with embroidered straps, tucked short at -the thigh, and the hose gartered below the knee. -We are told how they covered their cloaks and -dresses with jewels on State occasions. They -wore feathers at such times in their hats. Taylor, -the Water Poet, says the gallants of his time</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Wore a farm in shoestrings edged with gold,</div> - <div class="i0">And spangled garters worth a copyhold;</div> - <div class="i0">A hose and doublet which a lordship cost,</div> - <div class="i0">A gaudy cloak, three mansions' price almost;</div> - <div class="i0">A beaver band and feather for the head,</div> - <div class="i0">Prized at the church's tithe, the poor man's bread."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>The old cloth stockings were obsolete, and stockings -of silk, thread, or worsted used.</p> - -<p>The ladies of the Court were still in the stiff -Elizabethan farthingale, elevated collar, and hair -dressed in the lofty style. Anne of Denmark -was Elizabeth over again. But in domestic life -we find the ladies attired in a far more natural -style, without the farthingale, with falling collars, -plain or edged with lace, and the hair with -ringlets falling on each side; and this simple and -more elegant fashion became at length universal -in Charles's reign.</p> - -<p>The male costume of Charles's time was extremely -elegant. At the commencement of the -Civil War no contrast could be greater than that -of the appearance of the Cavaliers and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -Roundheads. The Cavalier dress consisted of a -doublet of silk, satin, or velvet, with large loose -sleeves slashed up the front, the collar covered by -a falling band of the richest point lace, with -Vandyck edging. The long breeches, fringed or -pointed met the tops of the wide boots, which were -also commonly ruffled with lace or lawn. A broad -Flemish beaver hat, with a rich hatband and -plume of feathers, was set on one side of the head, -and a Spanish rapier hung from a most magnificent -baldrick, or sword belt, worn sash-wise over -the right shoulder, and on one shoulder was worn -a short cloak with an air of carelessness. In war -this short cloak was exchanged generally for the -buff coat, which was also richly laced, and sometimes -embroidered with gold and silver, and round -the waist was worn a broad silk or satin scarf tied -in a large bow behind or over the hip; or a buff -jerkin without sleeves was worn over the doublet, -and the lace or lawn on the boots dispensed with. -The beard was worn very peaked, with small upturned -moustaches, and the hair long and flowing -on the shoulders. In contrast to this the Parliamentarians -wore their hair cut short—whence the -name of Roundhead—and studied a sober cut and -colour of clothes. The first appearance of Cromwell -in Parliament, described by Sir Philip Warwick, -has been taken as a sufficient specimen of -his costume when Protector. But Cromwell was -then but a gentleman-farmer, and appeared in -careless rustic habit. "I came one morning into -the House," says Warwick, "well clad, and perceived -a gentleman speaking whom I knew not, -very ordinarily apparelled, for it was a plain cloth -suit, which seemed to have been made by an ill -country tailor. His hat was without a hatband." -But no one knew better than Cromwell what was -necessary to the decorum of station, and very -different is the account of his appearance when -going to be sworn Protector. "His Highness was -in a plain but rich suit, black velvet, with cloak -of the same; about his hat a broad band of gold."</p> - -<p>The ladies' dresses of Charles's time rapidly -changed from the stiff ruffs and farthingales to -a more natural and elegant style. With Mrs. -Turner, their introducer, went out in James's -time the yellow starch ruffs and bands, for she -appeared, when hanged for her share in Sir -Thomas Overbury's murder, in her own yellow -ornaments at the gallows. But all ruffs grew -obsolete in Charles's reign, and a lady of that day -would scarcely be distinguished from a lady of -this. The hair was dressed much as in modern -manner, the dress fell naturally without hoops, and -the broad collar lay gracefully on the shoulders. -The citizens' and Puritans' wives, as well as -country women, wore the broad high-crowned hat, -and country women appeared still in plaited ruff, -and a muffler over the mouth in cold weather, tied -up to the back of the head. A lady had generally -her feather fan in her hand, as the modern one -has her parasol.</p> - -<p>Armour was fast disappearing; it was of little -use against cannon and matchlocks. James -thought armour a very good invention, for it -hindered a man as much from hurting his enemy -as it defended himself. But in his time little but -a cuirass for the body and a helmet or bonnet was -used. To the rest for the heavy matchlock in -this reign was affixed a long rapier blade, called a -"swine's feather," or "bristle," and used as a -soldier now uses the bayonet. In the Civil War -most of the officers wore only a cuirass over a -buff coat; and though some of the infantry were -almost fully sheathed in armour, it was soon -found to be too cumbersome for rapid movements, -and with the exception of the cuirassiers, who -were clad in armour except the legs, they were -seldom defended by more than a back- and breast-plate, -and a head-piece. During the war the -cavalry was divided into cuirassiers, lancers, -arquebusiers, carbineers, and dragoons, according -to the different weapon or armour which they -carried,—the cuirass, the lance, the musket, the -heavy arquebus, the carbine, or the dragon, a -sort of blunderbuss. At this period the firelock -was introduced by the poultry-stealers of Holland, -and called after them the snaphance, or hen-stealer. -The superiority of the flint-lock over the match- or -cumbrous wheel-lock was soon seen and adopted.</p> - -<p>The moral condition of the people, as we have -just seen, was at this period deplorable. The -neglect of education left the bulk of the working -class ignorant and depraved, and the long -peace which the reigns of Elizabeth and James -maintained had so greatly augmented the wealth -and prosperity of the nation, that the insolence of -illiterate abundance added to the public exhibition -of rudeness and riot. In one respect, however, -the whole people had become enlightened—they -had learned very extensively their political -rights. The rise and opulence of the merchants -and middle classes, through commerce and through -the confiscation of Church lands, had impressed -them with a feeling of their importance, and led -them no longer to bow and cringe before the -nobles, but to claim their proper authority as the -third, and, indeed, the greatest estate. From the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -time when Henry VIII. set agoing discussions -regarding religious liberty, and permitted the -Bible to appear in good plain English, the light -which sprang up on the subject of human rights -was wonderful, and could never be withdrawn or -extinguished. The mistake, as regarded royal -prerogative, was soon seen, and an endeavour was -made to limit the reading of the Bible to the -nobles and the learned only, but it was in vain. -Those who had the Scriptures soon spread abroad -knowledge of their great principles, and as -the Stuart government was daily found to be -weaker, the sense of popular right was growing -stronger and more general. So soon as Parliament -began to resist the encroachments of the -Crown, and even to do it with arms in their -hands, it became necessary to convince the people -at large that their rights were at stake, and to explain -what these rights were. Such knowledge as -this could never be taken back again, and accordingly -from this period the principle that all power -proceeds from the people and exists for the people, -became the great fixed sentiment of the nation.</p> - -<p>The physical condition of the kingdom, therefore, -during the reign of James, was evidently -much improved, and almost justifies the glowing -description of Clarendon, made to set off the mischiefs -of resistance to royalty. "For twelve years -before the meeting of the Long Parliament," he -says, "the kingdom enjoyed the greatest calm -and the fullest measure of felicity that any people, -in any age, for so long a time together, had been -blessed with, to the wonder and envy of all other -parts of Christendom." It was inevitable that -much of this prosperity must be overthrown, or -rather interrupted by a ten years' fierce contest, -like that which arose between the Crown and the -people. That the people were not only severely -pressed by taxation to support this contest, but -that they were harassed, plundered, and had their -agricultural operations impeded, and their crops -destroyed by the combatants is certain. Consequently, -during the great struggle, the price -of country produce rose extremely. Wheat, which -in the early part of Charles's reign was as low as -44s. a quarter, rose after 1640 to 73s.; to 85s. in -1648; and in 1649 it was 80s.; but no sooner was -the Commonwealth established, and peaceful operations -were renewed, than it fell as rapidly, being, in -1650, 76s. 8d., and falling so much that in 1654 it -was down to 26s. This was the lowest, and it -averaged during the remainder of the Protectorate, -45s., as nearly as possible its price at the commencement -of the war. Other articles of life rose -and fell from the same causes in the same proportion; -the prices of the following articles, except -during the War, may be regarded as the average -ones for this period:—A fat cygnet, about 8s.; -pheasants, from 5s. to 6s.; turkeys, 3s. to 4s.; fat -geese, 2s. each; ducks, 8d.; best fatted capons, -2s. 4d.; hens, 1s.; pullets, 1s. 6d.; rabbits, 7d.; a -dozen pigeons, 6s.; eggs, three for 1d.; fresh -butter, 6d. per pound. Vegetables, being so little -cultivated, were very dear: cauliflowers, 1s. 6d. -each; potatoes, 2s. per pound; onions, leeks, carrots, -and potherbs, dear, but not quite so high-priced. -Mutton and beef were about 3-1/2d. per -pound. The wages of servants hired by the year -and kept, were, for a farm servant man, from 20s. -to 50s. a year, according to his qualifications; -those obtaining more than 40s. were expected to -be able to do all the skilled work, as mowing, -threshing, thatching, making ricks, hedging, and -killing cattle and pigs for daily consumption. -Women servants, who could bake, brew, dress -meat, make malt, etc., obtained about 26s. a year, -and other women servants, according to age and -ability, from that sum down to 14s. a year. A -bailiff obtained 52s. Labourers, or artisans hired -by the day, during harvest, had, a mower, 5d. a -day and his food; a reaper, haymaker, hedger, or -ditcher, 4d.; a woman reaper, 3d.; a woman -haymaker, 2d.; if no food was given these sums -were doubled. At other times labourers received -from Easter to Michaelmas, 3d. a day with food, -or 7d. without; and from Michaelmas to Easter, -2d. with food, and 6d. without. Carpenters and -bricklayers received 8d. a day with meat, or 1s. -without; sawyers, 6d. with meat, or 1s. without; -and other handicrafts nearly the same, through -the year till Michaelmas, after that much less.</p> - -<p>The great extension of foreign commerce, and the -introduction of coffee, spices, cottons, and other -new tropical produce, increased the comfort of -domestic life. Yet, with all this prosperity, -there still abounded much pauperism and vagabondism. -The war naturally had this consequence—great -numbers of the dispersed Cavaliers and -royal troopers taking to the highways, and to a -loose and predatory life. Many parishes, too, were -not disposed to burden themselves with the imposition -of the poor laws, which had been strengthened -by various enactments since the 43rd of Elizabeth, -and they therefore drove out of their boundaries -the unemployed to seek work elsewhere. This but -increased the vagabondism and pilfering, and time -alone could enable the Government to bring the -poor-law into general operation.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_193.jpg" width="520" height="253" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GREAT SEAL OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> - -<p class="p6">CHARLES II.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Character of Charles II.—The King's First Privy Council—The Convention Parliament—Submission of the Presbyterian -Leaders—The Plight of those who took Part in the late King's Trial—Complaisance of the Commoners—Charles's -Income—The Bill of Sales—The Ministers Bill—Settlement of the Church—Trial of the Regicides—Their Execution—Marriage -of the Duke of York—Mutilation of the Remains of Cromwell—The Presbyterians Duped—The Revenue—Fifth-Monarchy -Riot—Settlements of Ireland and Scotland—Execution of Argyll—Re-establishment of Episcopacy—The -new Parliament violently Royalist—The King's Marriage—His Brutal Behaviour to the Queen—State of the -Court—Trial of Vane and Lambert—Execution of Vane—Assassination of Regicides—Sale of Dunkirk—The Uniformity -Act—Religious Persecution—Strange Case of the Marquis of Bristol—Repeal of the Triennial Act—The -Conventicle and Five Mile Acts—War with Holland—Appearance of the Plague—Gross Licentiousness of the Court—Demoralisation -of the Navy—Monk's Fight with the Dutch—The Great Fire.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>Charles II. did not want sense. He was naturally -clever, witty, and capable of a shrewd insight -into the natures and purposes of men. He gave -proof of all these qualities in the observation -which we have recorded, at the close of the day -when he was restored to his paternal mansion, -that everybody assured him that they had always -ardently desired his return, and that if they -were to be believed, there was nobody in fault -for his not having come back sooner but himself. -Yet, with many qualities, which, if united to a fine -moral nature, would have made him a most popular -monarch, he was utterly destitute of this fine -moral nature. He had had much, long, and varied -experience of mankind, and had alternately seen -their base adulation of royalty in power, and their -baser treatment of princes in misfortune. But -Charles had not the nobility to benefit by this -knowledge. He had familiarised himself with -every species of vice and dissipation. He was become -thoroughly heartless and degraded. His -highest ambition was to live, not for the good and -glory of his kingdom, but for mere sensual indulgence. -He was habituated to a life of the lowest -debauchery, and surrounded by those who were -essentially of the same debased and worthless character. -To such a man had the nation—after all -its glorious struggles and triumphs for the reduction -of the lawless pride of royalty, and after -the decent and rigorous administration of the -Commonwealth—again surrendered its fate and -fortunes, and surrendered them without almost any -guarantee. The declaration of Breda was the only -security which it had, and that was rendered -perfectly nugatory by the reservation of all decisions -on those questions to a Parliament which -the Court could control and corrupt.</p> - -<p>Monk presented to the king a paper containing -a list of names of such persons as he professed to -consider to be the most eligible for the royal -service either in the Council or the Ministry. But -Clarendon, who was the king's great adviser,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> -having adhered to him and his interests ever -since his escape to the Continent, perused the -catalogue with no little surprise. It consisted, he -tells us, "of the principal persons of the Presbyterian -party, to which Monk was thought to be -most inclined, at least to satisfy the foolish and -unruly inclinations of his wife. There were likewise -the names of some who were most notorious -in all the factions; and of some who, in respect of -their mean qualities and meaner qualifications, -nobody could imagine how they came to be -named." They were, in fact, such as had been -thrust on Monk by the Parliamentary leaders, who -were all striving to secure their own interests; -not even the Presbyterians foreseeing how severely -they were punishing themselves by the restoration -of the monarchy. Monk, on the Chancellor's remonstrance -as to many of these names—amongst -which only those of the Marquis of Hertford and -the Earl of Southampton belonged to men who -had at all adhered to the Royal cause—soon let -him into the secret, that they were such as had -importuned him to do them good offices with the -king, and that he never intended to do more than -forward the paper, and leave the king to do as he -pleased. Clarendon soon, therefore, made out a -very different list of names for the Privy Council, -though he found it politic to insert almost as many -names of Presbyterians as of Royalists, but with -the purpose of gradually changing them.</p> - -<p>The first Privy Council of Charles, therefore, -consisted of the king's brothers, the Dukes of -York and Gloucester, the Marquis of Ormond, the -Earls of Lindsay, Southampton, Manchester, St. -Albans, Berkshire, Norwich, Leicester, and Northumberland, -the Marquises of Hertford and Dorchester, -Lords Saye and Sele, Seymour, Colepepper, -Wentworth, Roberts, and Berkeley, Sir Frederick -Cornwallis, Sir George Carteret, Sir Anthony -Ashley Cooper, Sir Edward Nicholas, General -Monk, and Morrice, his creature, who had assisted -in the negotiations with the king, Colonel Charles -Howard, Arthur Annesley, Denzil Holles, and -Montague, general, or rather admiral, for as yet no -distinctly naval officer was known—military commanders -fought both on sea and land.</p> - -<p>Amongst these Clarendon was Lord Chancellor -and Prime Minister, the Duke of York was -already appointed Lord High Admiral, to which -was now added the Wardenship of the Cinque -Ports and other offices. Sir Edward Nicholas and -Morrice were joint Secretaries of State; the Earl -of Southampton was made Lord Treasurer, the -Marquis of Ormond Lord Steward, and the Earl -of Manchester Lord Chamberlain. Monk was -appointed Commander-in-Chief of all the forces in -the three kingdoms, according to stipulation, and -to this office was now added Master of the Horse, -and he was created Duke of Albemarle, in addition -to several inferior titles. His wife, who was originally -a milliner, and after that had been his mistress, -now figured boldly and ambitiously amongst -the ladies of the Court.</p> - -<p>The Parliament, both Lords and Commons, lost -no time in seizing all such of the late king's judges -as survived or were within the kingdom. The -Parliament, which had no proper election—having -been summoned by no lawful authority, but at -Monk's command, and had obtained the name of -Convention Parliament—passed an Act, which -Charles authenticated, to legalise themselves, notwithstanding -which it was still called by the old -name of the Convention. Before the king could -arrive, however, they had seized Clement, one of -the king's judges, and ordered the seizure of the -goods and estates of all the other regicides. On -the king's arrival Denzil Holles and the Presbyterians—whose -resentment against the Independents, -who had so often put them out of Parliament, -was blinded by desire of vengeance to the fact -that the Royalists would not be long in turning -on them who had done their best to dethrone -Charles I., though they had not joined in putting -him to death—now went in a body to Whitehall, -and throwing themselves at Charles's feet, confessed -that they were guilty of the horrid crime -of rebellion, and implored the king's grace and -pardon. Charles affected the most magnanimous -clemency, and advised them to pass a Bill of -Indemnity, which he had promised from Breda. -But this apparent liberality was only the necessary -step to the completion of his vengeance, for -the declaration left to Parliament such exceptions -as it thought proper; and in the present complying -mood of Parliament, these exceptions would -be just as numerous as the Court required. Monk -had, in negotiating with Charles and Clarendon, -recommended that only four should be excepted, -but Clarendon and the king had long made up -their minds that few of the king's judges should -escape; and in this they were boldly urged on by -the Royalists, who, says Clarendon, could not bear -to meet the men on the king's highways, now they -were the king's again, who rode on the very horses -they had plundered them of, and had their houses -and estates in possession.</p> - -<p>The Commons were as ready as the Court for -vengeance against their late successful rivals and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> -masters; and though Monk again urged that not -more than seven should be excepted on a capital -charge, they decided that ten should be tried for -their lives, namely, Scott, Holland, Lisle, Barkstead, -Harrison, Saye, Jones, Coke, the solicitor, -Broughton, clerk to the High Court of Justice, -and Dendy, who had acted as serjeant-at-arms -during the trial. They then requested the king to -order by proclamation all those concerned in his -late father's trial to surrender themselves within -fourteen days. About a score felt it much the -safest to escape across the sea, but nineteen surrendered—all, -but the ten doomed to death, imagining -they should escape with some minor punishment. -But the thirst for vengeance became every -day more violent. The Commons named twenty -more for exception, whose lives were to be spared, -but who were to suffer forfeiture of estate and -perpetual imprisonment. These were Vane, St. -John, Haselrig, Ireton, brother of the deceased -major-general, Desborough, Lambert, Fleetwood, -Axtel, Sydenham, Lenthall, Burton, Keeble, Pack, -Blackwell, Pyne, Deane, Creed, Nye, Goodwin, -and Cobbett. Moreover, all such as had not surrendered -to the late proclamation were excluded -from the benefit of the Bill of Indemnity.</p> - -<p>This sanguinary list, however, did not satisfy -the Lords when the Bill was sent up to them. -They had suffered such indignities from the Independent -leaders, that they could not bring themselves -to forgive, and they altered the Bill, voting -that every man who had sat on the king's trial, or -signed the death-warrant, should be tried as a -traitor for his life. They went even further, -and excepted six others, who had neither sat nor -voted—namely, Vane, Hacker, Lambert, Haselrig, -Axtel, and Peters; and, as if luxuriating in revenge, -they allowed the relatives of several of -their own body who had been put to death under -the Commonwealth, amongst whom were the Earl -of Derby and the Duke of Hamilton, to sit as -judges. The Commons accepted the Bill as thus -altered, and would have made it still more atrocious, -but Charles, who was extremely pressed for -money, sent desiring them to come to an end with -this Bill, and hasten the money Bill.</p> - -<p>The Commons voted the king seventy thousand -pounds a month for present necessities, and then -proceeded to pass not only the Indemnity Bill, but -to vote the king a liberal permanent revenue. -In striking contrast to the early Parliaments of -his father, they at once gave him the tonnage and -poundage for life. Although this was one of the -chief causes of the quarrel between Charles I. and -his Parliament, and one of the main causes of the -war and of his decapitation, this Parliament yielded -the point at once. They, moreover, ordered -that the army, of which Charles was afraid, -should be disbanded, and that the 29th of May -should be kept as a day of perpetual thanks -giving to Providence, for having restored his -majesty to the nation. All these favours to -Charles they offered with the humility of men -who were seeking favours for themselves, and -being urged by Charles to settle the amount of -his revenue altogether, they appointed a committee -of inquiry on the subject, which decided that, as -the income of his father had been about one -million one hundred thousand pounds, his income -should, considering the different value of money, -be fixed at the unexampled sum of one million two -hundred thousand pounds per annum. This -income was to be settled by a Bill in the next -session.</p> - -<p>The question of religion, and the question of -forfeited property, whether belonging to the -Crown, the Church, or individuals, was next -brought on, and led to most stormy discussions. -The result was that two Bills were passed, called -the Bill of Sales and the Ministers Bill. By the -Bill of Sales all the Crown lands were ordered to -be restored forthwith; but the Church lands were -left in abeyance for the present; the lands of individuals -were also deferred to a future session. -The Ministers Bill was intended to expel from the -pulpits of the Church all such ministers as had -been installed there since the Parliament came -into power. It did not, however, give satisfaction -to the Church, for it admitted all such as entered -on livings legally vacant at the time to retain -them. A considerable number of Presbyterian -clergymen thus remained in possession, but the -Independents were thoroughly excited by a clause -which provided that all ministers who had not -been ordained by an ecclesiastic, who had interfered -in the matter of infant baptism, or had been -concerned in the trial of the king, or in its justification -from press or pulpit, should be excluded. -Thus the Royalists were incensed at the Bill of -Sales, which they called an indemnity Bill for the -king's enemies, and of oblivion for his friends, and -the clergy of the Church were equally enraged to -see a great number of livings still left to the Presbyterians.</p> - -<p>On the 13th of September Charles prorogued -the Parliament till the 6th of November, and promised -during the recess to have what was called -the "healing question of religion," that is, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> -settlement of the Church, discussed by competent -parties, and to publish a declaration on the subject. -Accordingly the Presbyterians were very soon -promised a meeting with some of the Episcopalian -clergy, and they were quite willing, seeing that -they could no longer have matters their own way -in the Church, to accept a platform of compromise -laid down by Archbishop Ussher before his death, -in which scheme the Church was to be governed -by a union of suffragan bishops and synods or presbyteries, -so as to unite the two great sects. But -the foremost prelates and clergy of the Episcopalian -Church, who were resolved to have the -whole State Church to themselves, would listen -to nothing so liberal or unorthodox. They refused -to meet the Presbyterian clergy, and therefore -Charles summoned the leaders of this sect to meet -some of his chief privy councillors and ministers, -as well as various bishops, at Whitehall, where -Baxter and Calamy again proposed Ussher's -scheme, which was as zealously rejected by the -Episcopalians. The Presbyterians quoted the -Eikon Basilike, to show that Charles I. was favourable -to Ussher's plan, but Charles, who knew -very well that the book was Dr. Gauden's, and -not his father's, drily remarked that all in that -work was not gospel. But what proved a complete -damper to all parties, was a proposal read -by Clarendon as having the king's approbation, -namely, that others, besides the two parties in -question, should have full liberty for religious -worship, and should not be disturbed by magistrate -or peace officer, provided they themselves did not -disturb the peace. This was at once felt to mean -toleration to the Catholics as well as the Nonconformists, -and was received with silent repugnance.</p> - -<p>On the 25th of October was issued the promised -declaration for healing the strife. It went to -unite the Presbyterian form of government with -the Episcopal. There were to be presbyteries and -synods, and no bishop was to ordain ministers or -exercise the censures of the Church without the -advice and assistance of the presbyteries. Presbyters -were to be elected deans and canons; a -number of divines of each sect were to be chosen -by the king to revise the Liturgy, and all points -of difference should be left unsettled till this -revision was made; and no person should be -molested on account of taking the Sacrament -standing or kneeling, for making or not making -the sign of the cross in baptism, for bowing or not -bowing at the name of Jesus, for wearing or not -wearing the surplice. The Presbyterians were -delighted at the prospect thus afforded of free -admission to good livings and dignities; but the -Episcopalians intended nothing less than that any -such thing should ever come to pass.</p> - -<p>With more earnest intention the Government -proceeded to judge the Regicides, and soon stepped -up to the knees in blood. On the 9th of October -the trials commenced at the Old Bailey, before -thirty-four Commissioners appointed for the purpose. -True bills were found against twenty-nine -of the prisoners—namely, Sir Hardress Waller, -Harrison, Carew, Cook, Hugh Peters, Scott, Clement, -Scrope, Jones, Hacker, Axtel, Heveningham, -Marten, Millington, Tichbourne, Row, Kilburn, -Harvey, Pennington, Smith, Downes, Potter, Garland, -Fleetwood, Meyn, J. Temple, P. Temple, -Hewlet, and Waite.</p> - -<p>The first man tried was Waller, who pleaded -guilty, and had his life spared; the second was -Harrison, the late Major-General. Harrison was -a sincere and honest Fifth-Monarchy man. He -said, "I humbly conceive that what was done, -was done in the name of the Parliament of -England; that what was done, was done by their -power and authority; and I do humbly conceive -it is my duty to offer unto you in the beginning, -that this court, or any court below the High -Court of Parliament, hath no jurisdiction of -their actions." But all argument was useless -addressed to such ears. Sir Orlando Bridgeman, -Chief Baron of the Exchequer, who had the -management of the trials, told the grand jury in -his charge that no authority whatever, either of a -single person or of Parliament, had any coercive -power over the king. This man had received very -different treatment under the Protectorate. He -had submitted to Cromwell, who had not only -accepted his submission, but had allowed him -privately to practise the law, and in this capacity -he had acted as spy and agent for Cromwell. He -continually interrupted Scott, Carew, and others, -when they justified their conduct on the same -ground of Parliamentary sanction. The people, -notwithstanding their late acclamations, could not -help raising loud murmurs at these arbitrary interruptions. -The prisoners defended themselves with -calm intrepidity, and when Bridgeman retorted on -Carew that the Parliament that he talked of was -the Commons alone, a thing without precedent, -Carew replied, "there never was such a war, or -such a precedent;" and he boldly upbraided -Bridgeman with giving evidence as a witness whilst -sitting as a judge. All these were condemned to -death. The clever and facetious Harry Marten -made a most ingenious and persevering defence,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> -and extremely puzzled the Commissioners. He -took exception to the indictment, declaring that -he was not even mentioned in it. When he was -shown the name Henry Marten, he objected that -that was not his name, which was <em>Harry</em> Marten. -This was overruled, but he went on to plead that -the statute of Henry VIII. exempted from high -treason any one acting under a king <em>de facto</em>, -though he should not be king <em>de jure</em>; that the -Parliament at that time was the supreme power, -including the functions of both king and Parliament; -that it was, in fact, the only authority -there was in the country; and that it had from -age to age been contended and admitted that God -indicated the rightful power by giving it victory. -Such was the authority that God at the time had -set over them, and under that they had acted. -His arguments were thrown away, and it was on -this occasion that the absurd story—a typical -example of many other silly stories that continued -to be circulated for generations—was first given -in evidence by a soldier, of him and Cromwell, on -the signing of the death-warrant of the king, wiping -their pens on each other's faces.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_197.jpg" width="469" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_197big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>After a trial in which every ingenious and valid -plea was advanced by the prisoners to deaf ears, -all were condemned to death, but ten only were at -present executed—Harrison, Scott, Carew, Jones, -Clement, Scrope, Coke, Axtel, Hacker, and Hugh -Peters, Cromwell's chaplain. Peters, by his enthusiasm -and wild eloquence, had undoubtedly -roused the spirit of the Parliamentarians, and -especially of the army, but he had had no particular -concern in the king's death, and had often -exerted himself to obtain mercy and kind treatment -not only for the king, but for suffering -Royalists. He declared on the trial that he had -never been influenced by interest or malice in all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> -that he had done; that he never received a -farthing from Cromwell for his services; and that -he had no hand in exciting the war, for he was -abroad fourteen years, and found the war in full -action on his return. Peters, whose character has -been greatly maligned by the Cavaliers and their -historians, appears really to have been a sincere -and upright patriot; but his pleas were as useless -as those of all the others.</p> - -<p>Harrison was drawn first to Charing Cross on a -hurdle. His conduct was cheerful and even -animated, as with triumph he declared that many -a time he had begged the Lord, if He had any -hard, any reproachful, or contemptible service to -be done by His people, that he might be employed -in it; and that now his prayers were answered. -Several times he cried out as he was drawn along, -that he suffered in the most glorious cause in -the world; and when a low wretch asked him, -"Where's your good old cause now?" he replied, -"Here it is!" clapping his hand on his heart, -"and I am going to seal it with my blood." He -was put to death with all the horrors of the most -barbarous times, cut down alive, his bowels torn -out whilst he was alive, and then his quivering -heart held up to the people. Charles witnessed -this revolting scene at a little distance, and yet -that heartless man let the whole of the condemned -suffer the same bloody barbarities. They all went -to their hideous death with the same heroic spirit, -and in order to daunt the old preacher, Hugh -Peters, he was taken to see the hanging, drawing, -and quartering of Coke, but it only seemed to -animate him the more. The effect of this and -of the addresses of the undaunted Regicides from -the scaffold was such, that the people began to -show evident disgust of these cruelties; and when -Scott's turn came, the executioners endeavoured to -drown his words, so that he said it must be a very -bad cause that could not hear the words of a -dying man. But the words and noble courage of -these dying men, Bishop Burnet observes, "their -show of piety, their justifying all they had done, -not without a seeming joy for their suffering on -that account, caused the king to be advised not -to proceed further, or at least not to have the -scene so near the Court as Charing Cross."</p> - -<p>About a month before Harrison's execution, -the Duke of Gloucester died of small-pox; and -scarcely were the royal shambles closed for awhile -when the Princess of Orange, who had come over -to congratulate her brother, the king, died of -small-pox, too. "At Court," says Pepys, "things -are in very ill condition, there being so much -emulation, poverty, and the vices of drinking, -swearing, and loose amours, that I know not what -will be the end of it but confusion; and the clergy -are so high that all people that I meet with do -protest against their practice." Sober people -must have looked back with a strange feeling to -the earnest and manly times of the Protectorate. -But death and marriage merriments were oddly -mingled in this bacchanalian Court. The daughter -of old Clarendon, Ann Hyde, was married to the -Duke of York, and was delivered of a son just six -weeks afterwards. The queen-mother (Henrietta -Maria), the Princess of Orange, and the Princess -Henrietta, were violently opposed to so unroyal -a marriage, but the old Chancellor had the -influence with Charles to carry it through, and, -instead of a disgrace, to convert it into a triumph. -The wily politician pretended himself to have -been not only grossly deceived in the matter, but -to be intensely angry, and told Charles, according -to his own account in his autobiography, on hearing -the news, that if the marriage had really -taken place, he would advise that "the king -should immediately cause the woman to be sent to -the Tower, and to be cast into a dungeon, under -so strict a guard, that no living person should be -permitted to come to her; and then that an Act -of Parliament should be immediately passed for -cutting off her head, to which he would not only -give his consent, but would very willingly be the -first to propose it." This picture of the heroism -of a savage, however, ill agrees with the accounts -of the Chancellor's real concern in the matter. -Evelyn, in his diary, says, "The queen would fain -have undone it, but it seems that matters were -reconciled on great offers of the Chancellor's to -befriend her, who was so much in debt, and was -now to have the settlement of her affairs go -through his hands." Accordingly, about six -weeks after the arrival of Henrietta Maria at -Whitehall the marriage was publicly acknowledged.</p> - -<p>Amid all these disgraceful transactions Parliament -met on the 6th of November, 1660. They -proceeded to pass into a Bill the king's "healing -declaration" regarding religion. The Presbyterians -were in high spirits, but they were soon made -to feel their folly in bringing back the Episcopalian -Church with its Episcopalian head. The clergy -were not so high for nothing. They knew very -well what the king would do when the matter was -pressed to an issue, and accordingly the expectant -Presbyterians found the Court party not only -voting, but openly speaking against the Bill.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> -Morrice, the creature of Monk, and now Secretary -of State, and Heneage Finch, the Solicitor-General, -strenuously opposed it, Finch not scrupling to -avow that "it was not the king's desire that the -Bill should proceed." It was thrown out, and the -duped Presbyterians, instead of being persecutors, -found persecution let loose upon <em>them</em>. The Convention -Parliament, having satisfied the Court in -this measure, on the 8th of December voted the -attainder of Oliver Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw, -and, having got this sanction, on the 30th -of January, 1661, the Court, under cover of the -clergy's pious zeal, sent a rabble of constables to -tear open the graves of these great Regicides, to -drag their decaying corpses to Tyburn on hurdles, -to hang them, to cut them down and behead them, -and then, throwing their putrid bodies into a hole -under the gallows, to stick their heads on poles on -the top of Westminster Hall. They proceeded to -perpetrate the same revolting atrocities on the -bodies of innocent and virtuous women, and on -some of the most illustrious men of our annals. -The remains of the brave old mother of Cromwell; -of his amiable daughter, Lady Claypole; of Dorislaus, -the envoy of the Parliament who had been -murdered by the retainers of this Charles II. at -the Hague; of May, the historian of the Parliament, -and the excellent translator of Lucan's -"Pharsalia;" of Pym, the great and incorruptible -champion of English liberty; and of Blake, -the most famous admiral that the country had yet -produced, whose name alone gave it a world-wide -renown, were dragged forth out of their resting-places. -These, and every other body which had -been buried in the Abbey whilst the Commonwealth -lasted, were flung into a pit in St. Margaret's -churchyard.</p> - -<p>The settlement of the revenue by the Convention -Parliament was more successful than the legislation -with regard to the Church. It was determined at -all events to get rid of the vexatious duties of -feudal tenure; for, though they had long ceased to -have any real meaning, fines were still executed on -alienation of property, and reliefs exacted on the -accession to his property of each new Crown tenant. -Minors were still wards of the Crown, and were -still liable to the odious necessity of marrying at -the will of their guardian. All these claims of -the Crown were now abolished. Their place was -supplied, not as might naturally be supposed by a -land-tax, but by an excise upon beer and other -liquors, the landed interests thus finding means to -shift the burden upon the shoulders of the whole -nation. The sum at which the revenue was fixed -was one million two hundred thousand pounds a -year.</p> - -<p>This great bargain having been completed at the -close of the year, the Convention Parliament was -dissolved. The year 1661 opened with a Fifth-Monarchy -riot. Though Harrison and some others -of that faith were put to death, and others, as -Overton, Desborough, Day, and Courtenay, were in -the Tower, there were secret conventicles of these -fanatics in the City, and one of these in Coleman -Street was headed by a wine-cooper of the name of -Venner, who, as we have already seen, gave Cromwell -trouble in his time. On the night of the 6th -of January, Venner, with fifty or sixty other enthusiasts, -rushed from their conventicle, where he -had been counselling his followers not to preach, -but to act. They marched through the City towards -St. Paul's, calling on the people to come -forth and declare themselves for King Jesus. -They drove some of the train-bands before them, -broke the heads of opposing watchmen, but were -at length dispersed by the Lord Mayor, supported -by the citizens, and fled to Caen Wood, between -Highgate and Hampstead. On the 9th, however, -they returned again, confident that no weapons or -bullets could harm them, and once more they put -the train-bands and the king's life-guards to the -rout. At length, however, they were surrounded, -overpowered, and, after a considerable number -were killed, sixteen were taken prisoners, including -Venner himself. He and eleven others -were hanged, the rest being acquitted for want of -evidence. Pepys says there were five hundred of -the insurgents, and their cry was, "The King -Jesus, and their heads upon the gates!" that is, -the heads of their leaders who had been executed -and stuck there.</p> - -<p>Charles at the time was at Portsmouth with his -mother, and Clarendon made the most of the riot, -representing it as an attempt to liberate the Regicides -in the Tower, and restore the Commonwealth. -Fresh troops were raised and officered -with staunch Royalists, and a large standing army -of that stamp would soon have been formed, had -not strong remonstrances been made by the Earl -of Southampton and others, and equally strong -obstacles being existent in the want of money. -The House of Commons, moreover, spoke out -plainly before its dissolution, as to the raising of a -new army, saying, they were grown too wise to be -fooled into another army, for they had discovered -that the man who had the command of it could -make a king of himself, though he was none -before. The known intention to put the Duke of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> -York at the head of it was another strong objection. -So the design for the present was abandoned.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_200.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ARREST OF ARGYLL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_200big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In England, Scotland, and Ireland the king -was, of course, beset by the claims of those who -had stood by his father, or could set up any plea of -service. There were claims for restoration of -estates, and claims for rewards. Charles was not -the man to trouble himself much about such -matters, except to get rid of them. In Ireland -the Catholics and Protestants equally advanced -their claims. The Protestants declared that they -had been the first in Ireland to invite him back, -and the Catholics that they had been strongly on -the late king's side, had fought for him both in -Scotland and England, and had suffered severely -from the late usurpers. The Protestants, however, -were in possession of the forfeited estates, -and Charles dared not rouse a Protestant opposition -by doing justice to the Catholics, who, -though the more numerous, were far the weaker -party. Besides, the different interests of the -claiming parties were so conflicting, that to satisfy -all sides was impossible. Some of the Protestants -were Episcopalians, some Presbyterians. The -latter had been vehement for the Commonwealth, -but to ward off the royal vengeance they had, on -the fall of Richard Cromwell, been the first to -tender their allegiance to Charles, and propitiate -him by an offer of a considerable sum of money. -Then there were Protestant loyalists, whose property -under the Commonwealth had been confiscated, -and there were the Catholics, who had -suffered from both parties, even when ready to -serve the king. There were officers who had -served in the Royal army before 1649, and had -never received the arrears of their pay; there -were also the widows and orphans of such. To -decide these incompatible demands Charles appointed -a Commission. But little good could -possibly accrue from this, for though there were -lands sufficient to have pacified all who had -just claims, these had been lavishly bestowed on -Monk, the Duke of York, Ormond, Kingston, and -others. Every attempt to take back lands, however -unjustly held by Protestants, threatened to -excite a Protestant cry of a dangerous favouring -of Catholics, and of a design to reinstate the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> -Papists, who, they averred, had massacred a -hundred thousand Protestants during the rebellion. -Charles satisfied himself with restoring the -bishops and the property of the Episcopalian -Church, and left the Commission to settle the -matter. But appeals from this impassive tribunal -were made to himself, and he at length published -his celebrated declaration for the settlement -of Ireland, by which the adventurers and soldiers -who had been planted on the estates of the Irish -by the Commonwealth were to retain them, except -they were the estates of persons who had remained -entirely neutral, in which case adventurers and -soldiers were to have an equivalent from the fund -for reprisals. But this settled nothing, for so many -charges were advanced against those who pleaded -they were innocent, that few were allowed to -be so. The matter was next brought before the -Irish Parliament, and there again was division. -The Commons, who had been appointed through -the influence of the soldiers and adventurers, voted -that the king's declaration should pass into law. -The Lords, on the contrary, protested that it -would ruin all the old families, both Catholic and -Protestant. The contending parties once more -appealed to the king, who, wearied with the interminable -strife, seized the opportunity of the discovery -of a paper formerly signed by Sir Nicholas -Plunket, one of the agents of the appellants, offering -Ireland to the Pope or any Catholic power who -would defend them against the Parliament, to -dismiss their appeal, and the Bill, based on the -Royal declaration, was passed. It was soon found, -however, that it was not easy to carry this law -into execution.</p> - -<p>Scotland was restored to its condition of an independent -kingdom. The survivors of the Committee -of Estates, which had been left in management -on Charles's disastrous march into England, -previous to the battle of Worcester, were ordered to -resume their functions. Middleton was appointed -Lord Commissioner; Glencairn Lord Chancellor; -the Earl of Lauderdale Secretary of State; Rothes -President of the Council; and Crawford Lord -Treasurer. A Parliament was summoned to meet -in Edinburgh in January, 1661, and its first -measure was to restore the Episcopal hierarchy. -To completely destroy every civil right -of the Presbyterian Kirk, Middleton procured the -passing of an Act to annul all the proceedings of -the Scottish Parliament since the commencement -of the contest with the late king. Even the -Lord Treasurer Crawford opposed this measure, -declaring that as the late king had been present at -one of these Parliaments, and the present one at -another, therefore to repeal the Acts of these -Parliaments would be to rescind the Act of -Indemnity and the approval of the Engagement. -Middleton carried his point, and levelled every -political right of the Kirk at a blow. The ministers -of the Kirk in astonishment met to consult and to -protest; they sent a deputation to the king with a -remonstrance; but they arrived at a time likely to -inspire them with awe, and did not escape without -a painful evidence that they were no longer in the -proud position of their fathers. Charles had shed -the blood of vengeance plentifully in England, and -there were those in Scotland whom he looked on -with a menacing eye. The chief of these was the -Marquis of Argyll. Argyll had been the head -and leader of the Covenanters. He had counselled -with and encouraged the General Assembly -in its resistance to the late king's measures. -He had been his most persevering enemy, and, -finally, he had encouraged the invasion of -England by the Scots, and had been the first -to support Cromwell, even sitting in the Parliament -of his son Richard. Argyll was well -aware that he was an object of resentment, and -kept himself secure in the Highlands. But his -son, Lord Lorne, had been a steady and zealous -opponent of Cromwell and the Commonwealth, and -he was one of the first to congratulate Charles -on his restoration. To lay hold on Argyll in his -mountains was no easy matter, but if he could be -beguiled from his fastnesses to Court, he might be -at once punished. No symptoms of the remembrance -of the past, therefore, escaped the king or -his ministers, and Argyll deceived by this, and by -the friendly reception of his son, wrote proposing -to pay his respects to his sovereign in the capital. -Charles returned him a friendly answer, and the -unwary victim was not long in making his appearance -in London. But he was not admitted to an -audience at Whitehall, but instantly arrested and -committed to the Tower. He was then sent down -to Scotland to be tried by the king's ministers -there, some of them, as Lauderdale and Middleton, -hideous to their own age and to posterity for their -sanguinary cruelty. Besides, they were eager to -possess themselves of Argyll's splendid patrimony, -and they pursued his impeachment with an unshrinking -and unblushing ferocity which astonished -even the king.</p> - -<p>Argyll pleaded that he had only acted as the -whole nation had done, and with the sanction of -Parliament; that the late king had passed an -Act of Oblivion for all transactions prior to 1641,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> -and the present king had given an Act of Indemnity -up to 1651; that, up to that period, he could -not, therefore, be called in question; that he had -been out of the country during the time that most -of the barbarities alleged had been committed; and -that as to the Marquis of Montrose, he had been -the first to commence a system of burning and -extermination, and that they were compelled to -treat him in the same manner. And finally, his -compliance with Cromwell was not a thing peculiar -to himself. They had all been coerced by that -successful man; so much so, that his Majesty's -Lord Advocate, then his persecutor, had taken the -Engagement to him. This latter plea was the -most unfortunate one that he could have used, for -nothing but augmented malice could be the result -of it, and there was enough of that already in the -minds of his judges. Fletcher, the Lord Advocate, -was thrown into a fury by the remark, called -the marquis an impudent villain, and added an -additional article to the charges against him—that -of having conspired the late king's death.</p> - -<p>Lord Lorne procured a letter from Charles, -ordering the Lord Advocate to introduce no -charge prior to 1651, and directing that on the -conclusion of the trial, the proceedings should be -submitted to the king before judgment was given. -This would have defeated Argyll's foes had the -king been honest in the matter; but Middleton -represented to Charles that to stay judgment till -the proceedings had been inspected by the king -would look like distrust of the Parliament, and -might much discourage that loyal body. Charles -allowed matters, therefore, to take their course; -but Middleton was again disappointed by Gilmore, -the President of the Court of Sessions, declaring -that all charges against the marquis since 1651 -were less valid for the purposes of an attainder -than those which had excited so much controversy -in the cause of the Earl of Strafford, and he -carried the Parliament with him. Argyll and his -friends now calculated on his escape, but this was -not intended. A number of letters were hunted -out, said to have been written to Monk and other -Commonwealth men whilst they were in power, -expressing his attachment to their cause, and his -decided disapprobation of the king's proceedings. -These were decisive. Though the time was passed -when fresh evidence could legally be introduced, -these letters were read in Parliament, and the -effect was that of a thunderbolt falling in the -midst of Argyll's friends. They at once disappeared, -overwhelmed with confusion, and sentence -of death was passed on the marquis. That -no time might be allowed for an appeal to the -king, who wished to be excused refusing the -favour of his life to his son, Argyll's execution -was ordered in two days. In vain the unfortunate -nobleman pleaded for ten days, in order -that the king's pleasure might be ascertained; it -was denied him, and understanding from that the -determination of the king, he remarked, "I set -the crown on his head at Scone, and this is my -reward." He employed the short space left him -in earnest prayer, and in the midst of his devotions, -believing that he heard a voice saying, "Son, -be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee!" he -was wonderfully consoled and strengthened, and -ascended the scaffold with a calm intrepidity -which astonished and disappointed his enemies. -Before laying his head on the block, he declared -his ardent attachment to the Covenanters in -words which flew to every quarter of Scotland, -and raised him to the rank of a martyr in the -estimation of the people. His head was stuck on -the same spike that had received that of Montrose.</p> - -<p>Next to Argyll, the malice of the king and -Cavaliers was fiercest against Johnston of Warriston, -and Swinton. Warriston was the uncle of -Bishop Burnet, a most eloquent and energetic man, -who had certainly done his utmost for the maintenance -of the Covenant, and against the tyranny -of Charles I. He was now an old man, but he -fled to France, where, however, he was not long -safe, for the French Government gave him up, and -he was sent back and hanged. Swinton, who had -turned Quaker, escaped, perhaps through Middleton's -jealousy of Lauderdale, who had obtained the -gift of Swinton's estate, but more probably by a -substantial benefit from the estate to the Court.</p> - -<p>The wrath of Charles next fell on the deputation -of twelve eminent ministers, who had dared -to present a remonstrance against the suppression -of the privileges of the Kirk. They were thrown -into prison, but were ultimately dismissed except -Guthrie, one of the most daring and unbendable of -them. He had formerly excommunicated Middleton, -and had been one of the authors of the -tract, "The Causes of God's Wrath." Since the -Restoration he had called a public meeting to -remind the king of having taken the Covenant, -and to warn him against employing Malignants. -Guthrie was hanged, and along with him a Captain -Govan, who had, whilst the king was in Scotland, -deserted to Cromwell; but why he was selected -from among a host of such offenders no one could -tell. This closed the catalogue of Scottish -political executions for the present.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> - -<p>But in another form Charles and his brutal -ministers were preparing deluges of fresh blood -in another direction. Middleton assured Charles -that the restoration of prelacy was now the earnest -desire of the nation, and a proclamation was issued -announcing the king's intention. Only one of -the bishops of Laud's making was now alive, Sydserfe, -a man of no estimation, who was sent to the -distant see of Orkney, though he aspired to the -archiepiscopal one of St. Andrews. That dignity -was reserved for a very different man, Sharp, a -pretended zealot for the Kirk, who, at the same -time that he urged Middleton to restore episcopacy, -persuaded his clerical brethren to send him -up to London to defend the independence of the -Kirk. He went, and to the astonishment and indignation -of the ministers and people, returned -Archbishop of St. Andrews. He endeavoured, in -a letter to Middleton of May 28th, to prove that -he had served the Kirk faithfully till he saw that it -was of no avail, and that he took the post to keep -out violent and dangerous men. This, after such -a change, could be only regarded as the poor -excuse of an unprincipled man. His incensed and -abandoned friends heaped on him execrations, and -accused him of incontinency, infanticide, and other -heinous crimes. By this measure, and the co-operation -of Middleton and Lauderdale, all the old -bitterness was revived, and the horrors of a persecution -which has scarcely an example in history, -were witnessed. By Sharp's advice three other -bishops were appointed, Fairfowl to the see of -Glasgow, Hamilton to Galloway, and Dr. Robert -Leighton to Dunblane. Leighton was the son of -that Dr. Leighton whom Laud had so unmercifully -treated and mutilated for his tract against prelacy. -And now his son embraced prelacy, but was a very -different man to Sharp—pious, liberal, learned, and -a real ornament to the Church, though entering it -by such a change. The four bishops went up to -London to receive ordination, which was administered -to them by Sheldon, Bishop of London, at -Westminster, with a splendour which greatly -offended the Puritan simplicity of Leighton. -They were invited to take their seats in the House -of Parliament, where Leighton had very soon an -opportunity of opposing the introduction of the -oath of Allegiance and Supremacy, which, however, -all men were required to take. Sharp drove on -this and other irritating measures; all meetings of -presbyteries and synods were prohibited under -penalty of treason, and Sharp soon recommended -the enforcement of an oath abjuring the Solemn -League and Covenant; and with these terrible -weapons in their hands, Middleton, Sharp, and -Lauderdale drove the Presbyterians from all offices -in the Church, State, or magistracy, and many were -compelled to flee from the country. The most -astonishing thing was, that the spirit of the people -had been so subdued by the arms and supremacy of -Cromwell, that, instead of rising as their fathers -did, they submitted in passive surprise. It required -fresh indignities and atrocities to raise -them again to the fighting pitch, and they came. -In a short time the number of prelates was augmented -to fourteen, and the Kirk appeared to be -extinguished in Scotland.</p> - -<p>Whilst these things were taking place in Ireland -and Scotland, in England the king and his -Cavalier courtiers were running a high career, and -the new Parliament proved violently Royalist. -The old great families, the old gentry, the -Cavaliers, and the clergy, were all united to strain -every old corrupt practice to pack a Parliament of -their own fashion. Royalists, Cavaliers, and the -sons of Cavaliers predominated in the new Parliament, -which met on the 8th of May, 1661. Not -more than fifty or sixty of the Presbyterian party -were elected, for the Cavaliers everywhere proclaimed -them the enemies of the monarchy, and -they were scared into silence. This Parliament -acquired the name of the Pension Parliament, -and, to the disgrace of the country, continued to -sit much longer than the so-called Long Parliament, -of which the constitution was so altered as -occasion demanded that it could not be properly -regarded as <em>one</em> Parliament from 1640 to 1660—it -continued eighteen years. The Parliament and -the Church far outran the Court in zeal for the -destruction of liberty and the restoration of a -perfect despotism. The Commons commenced their -proceedings by requiring every member, on pain of -expulsion, to take the Sacrament according to the -rites of the Church of England. They ordered, in -conjunction with the Lords, the Solemn League -and Covenant to be burnt by the common hangman; -they proposed to annul all the statutes -of the Long Parliament, and restore the Star -Chamber and Court of High Commission, but in -this they failed. They passed a Bill declaring -that neither House, nor both Houses together, -had any legislative power without the king; that -in him resided the sole command of the militia, -and all other forces of land and sea; and that an -oath should be taken, by all members of corporations, -magistrates, and other persons bearing -office, to this effect:—"I do declare and believe -that it is not lawful upon any pretence whatever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> -to take arms against the king, and that I do -abhor that traitorous position of taking arms by -his authority against his person, or against those -commissioned by him." This was called the Corporation -Oath. They restored the bishops to their -seats in the House of Peers; they made Episcopalian -ordination indispensable to Church preferment; -they revived the old Liturgy without any -concession to the prejudices of the Presbyterians, -and thus drove two thousand ministers from the -Church in one day; they reminded the sufferers -that the Long Parliament had done the same, but -they did not imitate that Parliament in allowing -the ejected ministers an annuity to prevent them -from starving; they declared it a high misdemeanour -to call the king a Papist, that is, to -speak the truth, for he was notoriously one; increased -the rigour of the law of treason, and -knocked on the head the last chance of popular -liberty by abolishing the right of sending petitions -to Parliament with more than twenty names -attached, except by permission of three justices of -the peace, or the majority of the grand jury. When -this Parliament had done these notable feats, and -passed a Bill of Supply, Charles prorogued it till -the 28th of November.</p> - -<p>On assembling at this date Parliament was -alarmed by Clarendon with rumours of fresh -conspiracies in the country. The object was to -obtain the death of more of the Regicides. The -Commons fell readily into the snare. To make a -spectacle of disaffected men, they ordered three -eminent Commonwealth men—Lord Monson, Sir -Henry Mildmay, and Sir Robert Wallop, to be -drawn with ropes round their necks from the -Tower to Tyburn and back again, to remain perpetual -prisoners. But this did not satisfy them; -they must have more blood, and though Charles -had promised their lives to Sir Harry Vane and -General Lambert, they demanded their trial and -execution; and Charles, who had no more regard -for his word than his father, complied. They -were to be tried the next session. Parliament -then proceeded to draw up a more stringent Conformity -Bill, which passed both Houses. This -Bill enacted that every clergyman should publicly, -before his congregation, declare his assent to everything -contained in the Common Prayer Book, -and that every preacher who had not received -Episcopal ordination must do so before the next -feast of St. Bartholomew. They added some new -collects, in one of which they styled the lecherous -monarch "our most religious king." They made -the 30th of January a holiday for ever, in memory -of "King Charles the martyr;" and voted the -king a subsidy of one million two hundred thousand -pounds, and a hearth tax for ever. The -king then prorogued them on the 19th of May, -1662, with many professions of economy and -reformation of manners, one of which he observed -as much as the other.</p> - -<p>Of the improvement of his morals he soon -gave a striking example. The Duke of York, -as has been stated, had married Anne Hyde, -though she had been his mistress and was on -the point of being delivered of an illegitimate -child, which Charles Berkeley publicly claimed as -his own, and brought forward the Earls of Arran, -Talbot, Jermyn, and others to testify to her loose -conduct. Berkeley was afterwards brought to -contradict his own statement; but these circumstances, -and James's gloomy and bigoted temper, -rendered it desirable that Charles should marry. -Heirs and heiresses he had in abundance, had -they been legitimate. Besides Lucy Walters or -Barlow, by whom he had the Duke of Monmouth, -though the paternity of the child was generally -awarded to the brother of Algernon Sidney—for -Mrs. Walters or Barlow was very liberal of her -favours—Charles had, on arriving in London, -established a connection with the wife of a -Mr. Palmer, whose maiden name was Barbara -Villiers. The husband's connivance was purchased -with the title of Earl of Castlemaine, and -the countess was afterwards advanced to the -rank of the Duchess of Cleveland.</p> - -<p>As it was requisite for Charles, however, to -marry, his ministers looked about for a suitable -wife. Nothing could reconcile him to the idea of -a German bride, and the Catholic princesses of the -south were regarded by the nation with suspicion, -both from the memory of the last queen, and the -suspected tendency of Charles himself to Popery. -Whilst Charles was in France, in 1659, he made -an offer to the niece of Cardinal Mazarin, which -that shrewd politician—who showed himself, however, -a bad prophet—politely declined, for Charles -was then a mere fugitive, and the cardinal did not -foresee so sudden a change.</p> - -<p>On the recall of Charles to the throne, both -Mazarin and his master, Louis XIV., saw their -mistake, for they had not only treated Charles -with as much indifference as if it were a moral -certainty that he could never again reach the -throne of England, but had even sent him out of -the country at the demand of Cromwell. Mazarin -now offered his niece, but the scene was changed, -and Charles no longer stooped to the niece of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -cardinal. Louis, who had no suitable princess of France to offer him, -and who wanted to prevent Portugal from falling into the power of -Spain, recommended to him Donna Catarina of Braganza, the Portuguese -monarch's sister. Could he accomplish this match, Louis, who was bound -by treaty with Spain to offer no aid to Portugal, might be able to do -it under cover of the King of England. The king's ministers, after -some apprehension on the score of the lady's religion, were of opinion -that the match was desirable, if it were only for the great dowry -offered—five hundred thousand pounds, the Settlements of Tangier -in Africa, and Bombay in the East Indies, besides a free trade to all -the Portuguese colonies. De Mello, the Portuguese ambassador in London, -was informed that the proposal met the approbation of the king. To link -the interests of France and England closer, the Princess Henrietta, -Charles's youngest sister, was married to the Duke of Orleans, the only -brother of the French king.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_205a.jpg" width="300" height="146" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SHILLING OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_205b.jpg" width="300" height="137" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CROWN OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_205c.jpg" width="350" height="163" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FIVE-GUINEA PIECE OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>On the 13th of May the Portuguese princess arrived at Spithead; -Charles was not there to receive her, pretending pressure of -Parliamentary business, but he sent to request of her that the marriage -ceremony after the Catholic form, which he had promised, might be -waived. Catherine would not consent. On the 20th, Charles having -arrived at Portsmouth, they were, therefore, married in private by -Catherine's almoner, Stuart D'Aubigny, in the presence of Philip, -afterwards Cardinal Howard, and five other witnesses, and subsequently -in public by the Bishop of London.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_205d.jpg" width="350" height="168" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HALFPENNY (WITH FIGURE OF BRITANNIA) OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>On the journey to Hampton Court, and for a few days afterwards, -Charles appeared extremely pleased with his wife, who—though she -could not compete in person with the dazzling Lady Castlemaine, and -has been described by some contemporaries as a homely person, as "a -little swarthy body, proud, and ill-favoured"—is stated by others -also to have been "a most pretty woman." According to Lely's portrait -of her, she is a very pleasing brunette beauty, and by all accounts -she was extremely amiable; but the misfortune was, that she had been -brought up as in a convent, completely secluded from society, and -therefore was little calculated, by the amount of her information, or -the graces of her manners, to fascinate a person of Charles's worldly -and volatile character.</p> - -<p>How was such a woman to support her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> -influence with such a man against the beauty and -determined temper of Lady Castlemaine, a woman -as dissolute and unprincipled as she was handsome? -In her fits of passion she often threatened -the king to tear their children to pieces, and -set his palace on fire; and when she was in -these tempers, a contemporary says, "she resembled -Medusa less than one of her dragons." -Charles was the perfect slave of her charms and -her passions. She had wrung from him a promise -that his marriage should not cause him to withdraw -himself from her, and having borne him a son -a few days after his marriage, she only awaited -her convalescence to take her place as one of the -queen's own ladies. Catherine had heard of his -amour before coming to England, for it was the -talk of Europe, and her mother had bade her -never to allow her name to be mentioned in her -presence. But very soon the king presented her a -list of the ladies of her household, and the first on -the list she saw, to her astonishment, was Lady -Castlemaine. She at once struck it out and, notwithstanding -the king's remonstrances, declared -that sooner than submit to such an indignity, she -would return to Portugal. But she was not long -in learning that no regard to her feelings was to be -expected from this sensual and unfeeling monster. -He brought Lady Castlemaine into the Queen's -chamber, leading her by the hand, and presenting -her before the assembled Court. Such a scandalous -offence to public decorum, such a brutal insult -to a young wife in a strange land, was perhaps -never perpetrated before. Catherine, who did not -recognise the name uttered by the king, received -her graciously, and permitted her to kiss her -hand; but a whisper from one of the Portuguese -ladies made her aware of the outrage. She burst -into tears, the blood gushed from her nostrils in -the violent effort to subdue her feelings, and she -fell senseless into the arms of her attendants. -Instead of feeling any compunction for the pain -thus inflicted on his wife, the demoralised reprobate -was enraged at her for thus, as he called it, -casting a slur on the reputation of the fair lady. -He abused the queen for her perversity, and vowed -that she should receive Lady Castlemaine as a -lady of her bedchamber, as a due reparation for -this public insult. It was in vain, however, that -he stormed at his unhappy wife; she remained -firm in her resolve, either to be freed from the pollution -of the mistress's presence, or to return to -Portugal. Clarendon and Ormond ventured to -remonstrate with Charles on his cruelty, but -Charles was especially indignant that they should -"level the mistresses of kings and princes with -other lewd women, it being his avowed doctrine -that they ought to be looked upon as above other -men's wives." However opposed such a doctrine -may be to the more refined taste and purer -morality of the present age, it was quite in harmony -with the habits and feelings which regulated -the social system of Europe at that period. Charles -was at least no worse than Louis XIV., whose mistresses -were admitted to the intimacy of married -ladies of approved virtue and chastity. The same, -too, may be said of the English Court under the -first two kings of the House of Brunswick.</p> - -<p>The part which Clarendon played on this occasion -is greatly at variance with that reputation for -honour, wisdom, virtue, and true dignity with -which his admirers invest him. It shows that -however much he might recoil at it, however -deeply disgraceful and degrading he might feel it, -he was ready to stoop to this disgrace and degradation, -rather than sacrifice his interest at Court. -Accordingly Charles let him know that he expected -him not only to cease to object to his unmanly -conduct to his wife, but to make himself the instrument -of inducing her to submit to the ignominy; -and the hoary moralist, the great minister and -historian, showed himself humbly pliant, and set to -work in earnest to bend the mind of this virtuous -and outraged woman to the shame of receiving -her husband's harlot as her daily companion and -attendant. And this Clarendon did perseveringly, -and at length successfully. When Catherine -talked of returning to Portugal, he bade her understand -that she was utterly in the power of her -husband; that so far from going to Portugal, she -could not even go out of the palace without his -permission; and, in fact, he so worked upon the -poor creature's terrors, backed by the savage -threats of the king, that he broke her spirit, and -taught her to acquiesce in an example of profligacy, -which at once scandalised and corrupted the -morals of the age. Charles, when Catherine repeated -her determination to return to Portugal, -told her rudely that she must first see whether her -mother would receive her, and that he would send -her Portuguese servants to ascertain that point; -and he discharged all her attendants. Thus -abandoned in a foreign country, the miserable -queen told the Chancellor that she had to struggle -with greater difficulties than any woman of her -condition before; but that pattern minister only -showed her that it was the more necessary to -submit. And thus Clarendon complacently writes:—"In -all this the king preserved his point; the lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> -came to Court, was lodged there, was every day in -the queen's presence, and the king in continual -conference with her, whilst the queen sat untaken -notice of; and if her Majesty rose at the indignity, -and retired into her chamber, it may be one -or two attended her; but all the company remained -in the room she left, and too often said -those things aloud which nobody ought to have -whispered. She alone was left out in all jollities, -and not suffered to have any part of those pleasant -applications and caresses which she saw made -abroad to everybody else; a universal mirth in all -company but in hers, and in all places but in her -chamber, her own servants showing more respect -and more diligence to the person of the lady than -towards their own mistress, who, they found, could -do them less good. All these mortifications were -too heavy to be borne, so that at last, when it was -least expected or suspected, the queen of a sudden -let herself fall first to conversation, and then to -familiarity, and even in the same instant to a confidence -with the lady; was merry with her in -public, talked kindly of her, and in private used -nobody more friendly."</p> - -<p>Catherine was subdued to her yoke, and this -was the treatment of an English king to a -princess who brought him besides a splendid -money dowry, the Settlement of Tangier, which -might in any reign of sense and policy have been -made a commanding station in the Mediterranean, -and Bombay, our first Settlement in India, the -nucleus of our present magnificent Indian empire.</p> - -<p>Whilst these scenes had been passing in the -palace, the lives of Cromwell's supporters were -brought into question without. Vane and Lambert -were put upon their trial before the Court of -King's Bench on the 2nd of June. The prominent -actors in the drama of the late Rebellion -had both in their different ways done immense -damage to Royalty; and though the Convention -Parliament had requested Charles to leave them unpunished—notwithstanding -that they were not included -in the Bill of Indemnity—and Charles had -assented, the Cavaliers could not rest satisfied -without their blood. Lambert had been one of -Cromwell's chief generals—one of his major-generals—and -to the last he had done his best to -maintain the cause of the Commonwealth by his -sword, and had attempted to prevent the march of -Monk at the very time that he was planning -the return of the king. Vane had been one of the -very ablest counsellors and diplomatists that the -Commonwealth had had. True, he had not sat -on the trial of the king, he had had no hand -whatever in his death; but he had done two things -which could never be forgotten or forgiven by the -Royalists. He had furnished the minutes of the -Privy Council from his father's cabinet, which determined -the fate of Strafford, and the Court held -him to be the real author of his death; next, -though he did not assist in condemning the king, -he accepted office under what was now termed the -rebel Government. Besides and beyond these, he -was a man of the highest diplomatic abilities, and -of a spotless character and high religious temperament, -which caused the vile spirit and lives of -the new reigning power and party to look even -viler by the contrast. The prisoners were charged -with conspiring and compassing the death of the -present king, and the recent acts in proof of this -were alleged to be consulting with others to bring -the king to destruction, and to keep him out of his -kingdom and authority, and actually assembling in -arms. These were vague and general charges, -which might have been applied to all who had -been engaged in the late Government, and on the -same pleas all the Commonwealth men might have -been put to death.</p> - -<p>Lambert, who had been most courageous in the -field, appeared, before a court of justice, a thorough -coward. His late transactions had shown that he -was a man of no military genius, and now he -trembled at the sight of his judges. He assumed -a very humble tone, pretended that when he -opposed General Monk he did not know that -he was a favourer of the house of Stuart, and he -threw himself on the royal clemency. As there -was clearly nothing to be feared from such a man, -he received judgment of death, but was then sent -to a prison in Guernsey for life, where he amused -himself with painting and gardening.</p> - -<p>But Vane showed by the ability with which he -defended himself that he was a most dangerous -man to so corrupt and contemptible a dynasty as -now reigned. The nobility of his sentiments, the -dignity of his conduct, and the acuteness of his -reasonings, all marked a man who kept alive most -perilous and disparaging reminiscences. Every -plea that he advanced, and the power with which -he advanced it, which before a fair and independent -tribunal would have excited admiration, -and ensured his acquittal, here only inspired terror -and rage, and ensured his destruction. He contended -that he was no traitor. By all principles -of civil government, and by the statute of Henry -VII., he had only contended against a man who -was no longer king <em>de facto</em>. The Parliament, -he said, before his union with it, had entered on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> -the contest with the late king, and put him, on -what they held to be sufficient grounds, out of his -former position and authority. Moreover, by the -law of the land—the statute of the 11th of Henry -VII., and the practice based upon it—the Parliament -were become the reigning and rightful power. -Under that power, and by the constitutional, -acknowledged Government he had acted, taking no -part in the shedding of the king's blood; and -what he did after he did by the authority of the -only ruling Government. He therefore denied the -right of any court but the High Court of Parliament -to call him in question, and he demanded -counsel to assist him in any case in rebutting the -charges against him. But every argument that he -advanced only the more militated against himself. -The court was met to condemn him and get rid of -him, and the more he could prove its incompetence, -the worse must their arbitrary injustice -appear. The more he could prove the Commonwealth -a rightful Government, the more must the -present Government hate and dread him. The -judges declared that Charles had never ceased to -be king either <em>de facto</em> or <em>de jure</em> from the moment -of his father's death. That he was not king <em>de -facto</em>, but an outcast from England, deprived of -all power and name, was notorious enough, but -that mattered little; they were resolved to have -it so. In order to induce Vane to plead, they -promised him counsel, but when he had complied, -and pleaded not guilty, they answered his demand -for counsel by telling him <em>they</em> would be his -counsel.</p> - -<p>Before such a tribunal there could be but one -result—right or wrong, the prisoner must be condemned; -but Vane made so able and unanswerable -a defence, that the counsel employed against him -were reduced to complete silence: whereupon -Chief-Justice Foster said to his colleagues, "Though -we know not what to say to him, we know what to -do with him." And when he adverted to the -promise of the king that he should not be condemned -for what was past, and to his repeated -demand for counsel, the Solicitor-General exclaimed, -"What counsel does he think would dare -to speak for him in such a manifest case of treason, -unless he could call down the heads of his fellow -traitors—Bradshaw or Coke—from the top of -Westminster Hall?" He might have added—in -that vile state of things, that disgraceful relapse of -the English public into moral and political slavery—what -jury would dare to acquit him? The king -was so exasperated at the accounts carried to him -at Hampton Court of the bold and unanswerable -defence of Vane, that he wrote to Clarendon, "The -relation that hath been made to me of Sir Harry -Vane's carriage yesterday in the hall is the occasion -of this letter, which, if I am rightly informed, -was so insolent as to justify all that he had done, -acknowledging no supreme power in England but -Parliament, and many things to that purpose. You -have had a true account of all, and if he has given -new occasion to be hanged, certainly he is too dangerous -a man to let live, if we can honestly put -him out of the way. Think of this, and give -me some account of it to-morrow." What account -Clarendon gave we may imagine, for he is careful -in his own autobiography to pass over altogether -so small a matter as the trial and death of this -eminent man.</p> - -<p>Vane was condemned, and executed on Tower -Hill on the 14th of June, 1662, on the very spot -where Strafford suffered, thus studiously making -his death an act of retribution for his evidence -against that nobleman. On taking leave of his -wife and friends, Sir Harry confidently predicted—as -the former victims, Harrison, Scott, and Peters -had done—that his blood would rise from the -ground against the reigning family in judgment, on -earth as well as in heaven. "As a testimony and -seal," he said, "to the justness of that quarrel, I -leave now my life upon it, as a legacy to all the -honest interests in these three nations. Ten -thousand deaths rather than defile my conscience, -the chastity and purity of which I value beyond -all this world." So alarmed were the king and -courtiers at the impression which this heroic and -virtuous conduct was likely to make on the public, -that they took every means to prevent the prisoner -from being heard on the scaffold. They placed -drummers and trumpeters under the scaffold, to -drown his voice when he addressed the people. -When he complained of the unfairness of his trial, -Sir John Robinson, the Lieutenant of the Tower, -rudely and furiously contradicted him, saying, -"It's a lie; I am here to testify that it is a lie. -Sir, you must not rail at the judges." When he -began again, the drummers and trumpeters made -the loudest din that they could, but he ordered -them to be stopped, saying he knew what was -meant by it. Again, as he attempted to proceed, -they burst forth louder than ever; and Robinson, -furious, attempted to snatch the paper out of his -hand which contained his notes. Vane, however, -held it firmly, and then Robinson, seeing several -persons taking notes of what the prisoner said, -exclaimed in a rage, "He utters rebellion, and you -write it;" and the books were seized, or all that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> -could be discovered. They next, two or three of -them, attempted to wrest his papers from him, and -thrust their hands into his pockets, on pretence of -searching for others. A more indecent scene -never was witnessed, and Vane, seeing that it -was useless to attempt being heard, laid his head -on the block, and it was severed at a stroke.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_208.jpg" width="355" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>RESCUED FROM THE PLAGUE, LONDON, 1665.</p> - -<p class="smaller"><span class="smcap">From the painting by F. W. W. TOPHAM, R.I.</span></p> - -<blockquote><p class="block">"IT WAS THE CHILD OF A VERY ABLE CITIZEN OF GRACIOUS [GRACECHURCH] -STREET. A SADDLER, WHO HAD BURIED ALL THE -REST OF HIS CHILDREN OF THE PLAGUE, AND HIMSELF AND WIFE NOW BEING SHUT UP IN DESPAIR OF ESCAPING DID DESIRE ONLY -TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THIS LITTLE CHILD; I SO PREVAILED TO HAVE IT RECEIVED STARK NAKED INTO THE ARMS OF A FRIEND, WHO -BROUGHT IT (HAVING PUT IT INTO FRESH CLOTHES) TO GREENWICH."—<cite>Pepys's Diary.</cite></p></blockquote> - </div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_208big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But the effect of Vane's words and conduct died -not with him. The people, degraded as they had -become, could not avoid perceiving that the spirit -of evil was abroad; that revenge was being -taken for the virtue and the great principles of -the Commonwealth; that the base and worthless -were exterminating the true—those who were the -real glory of the nation. Burnet says, "It was -generally thought that the Government lost more -than it gained by the death of Vane;" and even -the gossiping Pepys said that he was told that -"Sir Harry Vane was gone to heaven, for he -died as much a saint and martyr as ever man -did, and that the king had lost more by that -man's death than he would get again for a long -while."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_209.jpg" width="560" height="426" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SIR HARRY VANE TAKING LEAVE OF HIS WIFE AND FRIENDS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_209big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But these plain signs could not stop the thirst -for blood. Colonels Okey, Corbet, and Barkstead, -three of the Regicides, had got away to Holland, -as Goffe, Whalley, and Dixwell had to the New -England settlements. The last three managed, in -various disguises, but in continual fears, to escape; -but Okey, Corbet, and Barkstead were hunted out -by Downing, who, having been Cromwell's ambassador -at the Hague, had made his peace with the -new Government, and was ready to earn favour by -making himself its bloodhound in running down -his former friends. He had once been chaplain to -Okey's regiment. Having secured them, the States -were mean enough to surrender them, and they -suffered all the horrors of hanging and embowelling -at the gallows. General Ludlow, Mr. Lisle, -and others of the Commonwealth men had retired -to Switzerland, which nobly refused to give them -up; but the Royalists determined to assassinate -them if they could not have them to hack and -mangle at the gibbet. Murderers were sent after -them to dog them, and though Ludlow escaped, as -by a miracle, from several attempts, Lisle was -shot, on Sunday of all days, as he was entering -the church at Lausanne; and the murderers rode<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -away shouting, "God save the king!" and made -their escape into France.</p> - -<p>If the country was discontented at the destruction -of its most eminent and virtuous men, it -found that it must prepare to see its foreign -prestige sold to France. The king wanted money; -Louis XIV. wanted Dunkirk back again, which -Cromwell had wrested from France, and which -remained a proof of the ascendency of England -under that great ruler. Clarendon, who should -have endeavoured to save the nation from that disgrace, -did not know where else to look for the -necessary supplies for Charles's pleasures, and if -he did not suggest, actually counselled the measure. -It was contended that Dunkirk was useless to -England, and that the expense of maintaining it -was onerous. But not only France, but Spain and -Holland, knew very well its value as a bulwark -against the notorious designs of Louis of adding -Belgium, and if possible Holland, to France. -Charles knew this very well, too, and was ready to -sell it to the highest bidder. Spain and Holland -were eager to make the purchase, but Charles was -expecting other favours from France, and could -not get them if he sold Dunkirk to either of those -nations. He was in treaty with Louis for ten -thousand foot and a body of cavalry, to enable him -to tread down the remaining liberties of the -people. He therefore gave the preference to -France—for not a patriotic feeling, but the most -base personal views swayed him in such matters—and -struck a bargain with D'Estrades for five -million livres. Charles struggled for the payment -in cash, but Louis would only give bills for -the amount; and then, knowing Charles's necessity, -he privately sent a broker, who discounted -the bills at sixteen per cent.; and Louis himself -boasts, in his published works, that he thus saved -five hundred thousand livres out of the bargain, -without Charles being aware of it. The indignation -of the public at this transaction was loud and -undisguised; the merchants of London had in vain -offered themselves to advance the king money, so -that Dunkirk might not be sacrificed, and now the -people openly said that the place was sold only to -satisfy the rapacity of the king's mistresses, of -whom he was getting more and more—Miss -Stewart, Nell Gwynn, and others of less mark. -The reprobation of the affair was so universal and -violent, and Clarendon was so fiercely accused of -being a party to it, that from this hour his favour -with the nation was gone for ever.</p> - -<p>Whilst the king was thus spilling the best blood, -and selling the possessions of the country, the -Nonconformists were vainly hoping for his fulfilment -of his Declaration of Breda, as it regarded -liberty to tender consciences. The Act of Uniformity -came into force on the 24th of August, St. -Bartholomew's Day, on which day the deprivation -of two thousand Presbyterian ministers would be -enforced. They therefore petitioned for three -months' delay, which Charles promised, on condition -that during that time they should use the -Book of Common Prayer. But no sooner was this -promise given than the Royalists, and especially -the bishops, contended that the king was under no -obligation to keep the Declaration of Breda, inasmuch -as it had only been made to the Convention -Parliament, which had never called for its fulfilment. -Clarendon did not venture to counsel -Charles to break his word, but he advised the summoning -of the bishops to Hampton Court, where -the question was discussed in the presence of -Ormond, Monk, and the chief law-officers and -ministers of State. The bishops expressed much -disgust at "those fellows," the Nonconformists, still -insisting on interrupting the king in the exercise -of his undoubted prerogative; they were supported -by the Crown lawyers, and the Act was enforced -in all its rigour, despite the royal promise, which -had over and over lost its slightest value. The -storm of persecution burst forth on the Nonconformists -with fury. Their meetings were forcibly -broken up by soldiery, and their preachers and -many of themselves thrust into prison on charges -of heresy and violation of the laws. Numbers -again prepared for flight to New England, and to -prevent this sweeping emigration of useful artisans, -the Earl of Bristol, the former impetuous and -eccentric Lord Digby of the Civil Wars, and -Ashley Cooper planned a scheme which should at -once relieve both Dissenters and Catholics. This -was to induce the king, on the plea of fulfilling his -Declaration of Breda, to issue a declaration of indulgence -of a broad and comprehensive character. -This was supported in the Council by Robartes, -Lord Privy Seal, and Bennet, the new Secretary -of State. Accordingly, Charles, on the 6th of -December, issued his declaration, called "a Declaration -for Refuting Four Scandals cast on the -Government"—namely, that the Act of Indemnity -had been merely intended to be temporary; that -there was an intention to keep a large standing -army; that the king was a persecutor; and that -he was a favourer of Popery. In answer to the -third scandal, he declared he would submit to -Parliament a Bill for ample indulgence to tender -consciences; and though he would not refuse to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> -make the Catholics, like the rest of his subjects, a -partaker in this privilege, yet to show the fallacy -of the fourth scandal, if they abused his goodness -he would pursue them with all the rigour of the -laws already existing against them.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 478px;"> -<img src="images/i_211.jpg" width="478" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left">CHARLES II. AND NELL GWYNN.</p> - -<p class="left"><span class="smcap">From the Picture by E. M. Ward, R.A.<br /> -In the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington.</span></p> - </div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_211big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This announcement was received with an outburst -of indignation by all parties except the Independents -and the other Dissenters who partook of -their ideas of general toleration. But the Presbyterians -adhered to their ancient bigotry so firmly, -that rather than Catholics should enjoy toleration, -they were ready to forego it themselves. The -Church, and a vast number of people of no religion -at all, joined in the cry out of their hereditary -alarm at Popery. The moment that the session of -1663 opened, on the 18th of February, both houses -attacked the Declaration, and the Commons, though -the Bill was not before them, sent an address to -the king, thanking him for the other parts of the -Declaration, but represented the third clause as -pregnant with schism, endless liberties and importunities -of sects, and certain disturbance of the -national tranquillity. In the Lords the Lord-Treasurer -led the opposition, and the bishops supported -him with all their energies, and, to the -astonishment of Charles himself, Clarendon, who -had been laid up with gout, on the second day -of the debate went to the House, and attacked it -with a vehemence of language which gave great -offence to the king. Probably Clarendon calculated -on more serious damage from the popular -feeling, of which his Dunkirk policy had recently -given him a sharp taste, than on any strong resentment -of Charles, but he was mistaken; the -Bill was defeated, but the king expressed his -wrath to Southampton, the Treasurer, and Clarendon, -in such terms as struck terror into them, and -from that time it was evident that neither of them -possessed his confidence any longer. Nor did he -spare the bishops. He reproached them with -bigotry and ingratitude. He told them that it was -owing to his Declaration of Breda that they owed -their restoration, and that now they were driving -him to break that promise. The intolerance of the -bishops in his father's time had caused, he said, the -destruction of the hierarchy, and done much to -ruin the monarchy itself; and no sooner were they -reinstated, than they were pursuing the same blind -and fatal course. From that day, too, his manner -to them changed, and his courtiers, quick to perceive -the change, imitated it, and, glad to excuse -their profligacy, indulged in ridicule of their -persons, and mockery of their sermons.</p> - -<p>But though Charles had boldly spoken much -severe truth in the moment of his resentment, all -parties calculated too well on the evanescence of -anything in him like a wise or virtuous perseverance, -and they pursued their object with an -obstinacy which compelled the ease-loving monarch -to give way. The Commons passed a Bill to check -the growth of Popery, and another that of Nonconformity, -but though strongly supported in the -Lords, they were defeated by the Presbyterian and -Catholic members. They then changed their tack, -and presented an address to the king, praying him -to put in force all the penal laws against the -Catholics and sectaries of every description. -Having expressed their wishes, the Commons -granted the king four subsidies, and he was about -to prorogue Parliament, when a strange incident -delayed this event for some time. The king, during -the discussion on the Supplies, made a statement -which seemed to commit the Earl of Bristol with -Parliament. The earl and the king becoming -warm in mutual explanation before Lord Arlington, -Charles used strong language, and Bristol, -losing his temper, reproached the king with his -amours, his indolence, and the sacrifice of his best -friends to the malice of Clarendon, and vowed that -unless justice was done him within twenty-four -hours, he would do a thing that would astonish -both the king and the Chancellor. This thing -was to impeach Clarendon of high treason on the -ground that he had, both publicly and privately, -endeavoured to fix the character of a papist on the -king, and had represented that he alone protected -the Protestant establishment. Bristol's hasty -temper had betrayed him into a charge which he -could not substantiate. He was foiled with disgrace, -and he only escaped being arrested by flight.</p> - -<p>When the next session of Parliament opened, on -the 16th of March, 1664, the Commons returned -with unabated animus, and circumstances in the -interim had occurred, which, as they favoured both -the orthodox scheme and a scheme of the king's, -enabled them to carry their point by conceding -his. In October, a trifling insurrection broke out -at Farnley Wood, in Yorkshire. The people, who -were of an obscure class, appeared to be Fifth-Monarchy -men and Republicans, who complained -of the persecutions for religion, and of the violation -of the Triennial Act, and contended that as -the present Parliament had sat more than three -years, it was illegal, and the people had nothing -to do but to elect another of their own accord. -This was a mistake; the Act did not limit the -duration of Parliament, but the interval between -one Parliament and another. The Triennial Act,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> -passed in the 16th of Charles I., when his Parliament -wrung a number of those guarantees from -him, authorised the sheriffs to issue writs for an -election after any Parliament had ceased to sit -three years, if the Government did not summon -one, and in default of the sheriffs issuing such -writs, the people might assemble, and proceed to -election without writs.</p> - -<p>The Government wanted to be rid of this Act, -and therefore the Duke of Buckingham set Gere, -sheriff of Yorkshire, and others, to send incendiaries -amongst the people to excite them to proceedings -of this sort. They were then arrested to -the number of about fifty persons in Yorkshire and -Westmoreland, on the plea that they were assembled -without lawful cause, the Parliament, so far -from having ceased to sit three years, being still -sitting. The ignorant people had been probably -purposely misinformed, and some of them were -hanged for it. The end of Charles was gained. -He told the Parliament that the Act thus encouraged -seditious meetings, and that though he -never wished to be without a Parliament for -three years, he was resolved never to allow of -a Parliament summoned by such means as prescribed -by that Act. The Parliament readily -repealed the Act, and passed another, still requiring -a Parliament at farthest after three years' -interval, but sweeping away what Charles called -the "wonderful clauses" of the Bill.</p> - -<p>In return for this favour, the Commons now -solicited his assent to the Conventicle Act, which -it was hoped would extinguish Dissent altogether. -This was a continuation of those tyrannic Acts -which were passed in this infamous reign, some of -which, as the Corporation and Test Acts, even -survived the revolution of 1688. The Test Act, -the Act of Uniformity, by which Bishop Sheldon, -the Laud of his time, ejected two thousand ministers, -now the Conventicle, and soon after this the -Five Mile Act, completed the code of despotism.</p> - -<p>Here was the king, who, in the last session of -Parliament, published his declaration for the indulgence -of tender consciences, now wheeling -round like a weathercock, and consenting to the -Conventicle Act. And what was this Act? It -forbade more than five persons to meet together -for worship, except that worship was according to -the Common Prayer Book. All magistrates were -empowered to levy ten pounds on the ministers, five -pounds on every hearer, and twenty pounds on the -house where this conventicle, as it was called, was -held. This fine, or three months' imprisonment, -was the punishment for the first offence; ten -pounds a hearer or six months' imprisonment for -the second offence; one hundred pounds a hearer -or seven years' transportation for the third; and -death without benefit of clergy in case of return or -escape. This diabolical Act Clarendon applauded, -and said that if rigorously executed, it would have -produced entire Conformity. What was Clarendon's -idea of rigour?</p> - -<p>Sheldon, the Bishop of London, let loose all the -myrmidons of the law on the devoted country. -The houses of Nonconformists were invaded by -informers, constables, and the vilest and lowest -rabble of their assailants. They broke open the -houses of all Nonconformists, in search of offenders, -but still more in search of plunder; they drove -them from their meetings with soldiery, and thrust -them into prisons—and such prisons! No language -can describe the horrors and vileness of -the pestiferous prisons of those days. The two -thousand Nonconformist ministers were starving. -"Their wives and children," says Baxter, "had -neither house nor home." Such as dared to preach -in fields and private houses were dragged to those -horrible prisons; those who ventured to offer them -food or shelter, if discovered, were treated the -same. To prevent the Nonconformist ministers -from remaining amongst their old friends, Sheldon, -the very next session, procured the Five Mile Act, -which restrained all dissenting clergy from coming -within five miles of any place where they had -exercised their ministry, and from teaching school, -under a penalty of forty pounds for each offence.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_213.jpg" width="416" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE GREAT PLAGUE: SCENES IN THE STREETS OF LONDON. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_213big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In Scotland it was not against sects, but against -the whole Presbyterian Church that the fury of the -persecutors was directed. The Presbyterians had -effectually crushed out all Dissenters, and now they -themselves felt the iron hand of intolerance. No -sooner did the Conventicle Act pass in England -than the Royalist Parliament passed one there in -almost the same terms, and another Act offering -Charles twenty thousand foot and two thousand -horse to march into England, to assist in putting -down his subjects there, if necessary. Sharp was -wonderfully elated by the Conventicle Act, and, -establishing what proved to be a High Commission -Court, he managed to place his creature, -Lord Rothes, at the head of the law department -as Chancellor, who brow-beat magistrates and -lawyers, and twisted the laws as Sharp thought -fit. The prisons were soon crammed as full as -those in England, and proceedings of the law -courts more resembled those of an inquisition -than anything else, till the peasantry rose and -endeavoured to defend themselves. The names -of Lauderdale and Archbishop Sharp are made -immortal for the infliction of infernal tortures; -their racks and thumbscrews, their iron boots and -gibbets are riveted fast and firm to their names.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figleft"> -<img src="images/i_214.jpg" width="250" height="237" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THUMBSCREW.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>And now the king was about to plunge into war -to serve the purposes of his paymaster, the ambitious -French king. Whatever could weaken or -embarrass Holland suited exactly the plans of -Louis XIV., and to have England contending with -Holland whilst he was contemplating an attack on -Spain was extremely convenient. The immediate -cause, however, came from the complaints of the -merchants, or rather of the Duke of York. The -duke was governor of an African company, which -imported gold dust from the coast of Guinea, and -was deeply engaged in the slave trade, supplying -West Indian planters with negroes. The Dutch -complained of the encroachments of the English, -both there and in the East Indies, and the English -replied by similar complaints. The duke advocated -hostilities against the Dutch, but found -Charles unwilling to be diverted from his pleasures -by the anxieties of war. He was worked on, however, -by appeals to his resentment against the -Louvestein faction in Holland, which had treated -him with great indignity whilst he was an exile, -and though the differences might have been readily -settled by a little honest negotiation, the duke was -desirous of a plea for further aggression on the -Dutch, and his plans were fostered by Downing, -the ambassador at the Hague, a most unprincipled -man, who under Cromwell had held the same post, -and traded most profitably on the fears of the -Dutch.</p> - -<p>In the spring of 1664, James's admiral, Sir -Robert Holmes, arrived on the coast of Africa with -a few small ships of war, to recover the castle of -Cape Coast, which the Dutch had claimed and -seized. He exceeded his commission as an officer -of the African Company, and not only reduced the -castle of Cape Coast, but the forts of Goree, and -then sailed away to America, and cast anchor at the -settlement of New Amsterdam, lately taken from -the Dutch by Sir Richard Nicholas, and named it -after his patron, New York. The Dutch ambassador -now presented the strongest remonstrances, -and the king, excusing himself on the plea that -Holmes had gone out on a private commission, -assured the ambassador that he would have him -recalled and put upon his trial. Holmes, indeed, -was recalled, and sent to the Tower, but was soon -after liberated. The Dutch were not disposed to -sit down under this indignity, and De Ruyter -attacked the English settlements on the coast of -Guinea, committed great depredations, and then, -sailing to the West Indies, captured above twenty -sail of English merchantmen. There was now a -vehement cry for war, and Charles appealed to -Parliament, which granted the unprecedented -supply of two millions and a half. The City of -London also presented several large sums of money, -for which they received the thanks of Parliament. -A very remarkable circumstance attended the Act -granting this Parliamentary supply. The ancient -mode of subsidies was abandoned, and a mode of -assessment, copied from the plan of the Commonwealth, -was adopted; the first time that the -Royalists practically paid homage to the Republican -superiority of finance. The tax was to be raised -by quarterly assessments. Moreover, the clergy, -instead of voting their money separately in Convocation, -were called upon to pay their taxes with -the laity, and thus ended the separate jurisdiction -of Convocation: it became a mere form.</p> - -<p>The Duke of York, who, with all his faults, was -by no means destitute of courage, took the command -of the fleet as Lord Admiral against the -Dutch, and showed much ability in his command. -He divided the fleet into three squadrons, one of -which he commanded himself, the second he gave -to Prince Rupert, who here again appeared in -English affairs, and the third to the Earl of Sandwich, -formerly Admiral Montagu. The whole -fleet consisted of ninety-eight sail of the line and -four fire-ships. On the 4th of June, 1665, he came -to an engagement near Lowestoft with the Dutch -under Admiral Opdam, a gallant and experienced -seaman, followed by a hundred and thirteen men-of-war, -manned by the most spirited and distinguished -youth of Holland. The battle was terrible, -but James, discharging all his guns into -Opdam's vessel, caused it to blow up, and thus -destroyed the admiral with five hundred men.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> -The Dutch having lost their chief commander, -drew off towards the Texel, but Van Tromp collected -the scattered vessels, and there was a prospect -of a second fight; but the duke went to bed, -and Lord Brounker, a gentleman of the bedchamber, -went on deck and ordered Penn to -slacken sail. The consequence was that the -Dutch were allowed to retire in safety, and much -of the honour won by the duke was lost again by -this circumstance. It was said that the duke -knew nothing of it, and that Brounker had given -the order of his own accord; but the prevailing -opinion was that the duke thought he had got -honour enough, and the Earl of Montague, who -was serving as a volunteer, said the duke had been -much impressed by seeing, in the heat of the action, -the Earl of Falmouth, Lord Muskerry, and Boyle, -son of the Earl of Burlington, killed by his side. -Penn, moreover, was said to have told the duke -that if they engaged again, the fight would be more -bloody than ever, for the Dutch would grow desperate -with revenge. The fleet, therefore, made -homeward, and, says Pepys, the duke and his -officers returned from sea "all fat and ruddy with -being in the sun." It was given out as a great -victory, and the duke received one hundred and -twenty thousand pounds for his services; but the -public was far from satisfied, and Lord Sandwich -far less so. He complained to Pepys that he had -borne the brunt of the battle, and that all the -honour was given to the duke in the printed -account. That there was much in these statements -was sanctioned by the fact that the duke -was removed from the fleet, and the command -restored to the brave but unprincipled Sandwich. -In the battle the Dutch are stated to have lost -seven thousand men, and eighteen sail burnt, sunk, -or taken. The English are reported to have lost -only one ship, and six hundred men in killed and -wounded. Amongst the slain were the Earls of -Marlborough and Portland, and Admirals Lawson -and Sampson.</p> - -<p>Sandwich was scarcely in independent command -when he heard of a most magnificent chance. Two -Dutch merchant fleets, one from the East Indies -and one from the Levant, to avoid the English -fleet at the Texel, united and sailed round the -north of Ireland and Scotland, and took shelter in -the neutral harbour of Bergen, in Norway. They -were jointly valued at twenty-five millions of -livres. Sandwich sailed thither after them, and -the King of Denmark, the sovereign of Norway, -though at peace with the Dutch, was tempted, by -the hope of sharing the booty, to let Sandwich -attack them in port. Sandwich, however, was not -satisfied to give the king half, as demanded, and -in spite of Alefeldt, the governor, who begged him -to wait till the terms were finally settled with -the monarch, he ordered Captain Tyddiman to -dash in and cut the ships out and all the Dutch -vessels. But Tyddiman found himself between two -fires; the Dutch defended themselves resolutely -and the Danes, resenting this lawless proceeding, -fired on them from the fort and batteries. Five of -Sandwich's commanders were killed, one ship was -sunk, much damage was done to the fleet, and it -was glad to escape out of the harbour. Sandwich, -however, was lucky enough soon after to secure -eight men-of-war and about thirty other vessels, -including two of the richest Indiamen, which were -dispersed by a storm whilst under the convoy of -De Witt. The unscrupulous Sandwich made free -to appropriate two thousand pounds' worth of the -booty, and allowed his officers to do the same, -which occasioned his dismissal from the fleet; but -to soften his disgrace, he was sent as ambassador -to Spain. Parliament, to carry on the war, -granted the king a fresh supply of one million -two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and, at -the same time, voted the one hundred and twenty -thousand pounds to the duke.</p> - -<p>Whilst these events had been transpiring the -plague had been raging in the City of London, and -had thence spread itself to various parts of the -country. It raged with a fury almost unexampled -in any age or nation. It had shown itself during -the previous winter in a few individual cases, and -as spring advanced, it terribly extended its devastations. -In May it burst forth with frightful -violence in St. Giles's, and, spreading over the -adjoining parishes, soon threatened both Whitehall -and the City. The nobility fled to the country, -the Court retreated to Salisbury, and left Monk to -represent the Government in his own person, and -he boldly maintained his ground through the whole -deadly time. As the hot weather advanced the -mortality became terrible, and the people fled in -crowds into the country, till the Lord Mayor refused -to grant fresh bills of health, and the people -of the neighbouring towns and villages declined to -receive any one from London into them. Those -who escaped out of the metropolis had to camp in -the fields, whichever way they turned the inhabitants -being in arms to drive them away. In June -the City authorities put in force an Act of James -I. They divided the City into districts, and allotted -to each a staff of examiners, searchers, nurses, -and watchmen. As soon as the plague was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> -ascertained to be in a house, they made a red cross -upon the door a foot in length, and wrote over, -"Lord, have mercy upon us!" No one was -allowed to issue out of the houses bearing that -fatal sign for a month, if they could keep them in. -Persons escaping out of these infected houses, and -mingling with others, were liable to suffer death as -felons. But to remain in these houses was to -perish of plague or famine, and numbers broke -wildly from them at all hazards, thus carrying the -infection on all sides. Many in their frenzy -jumped naked from the windows, rushed wildly -through the streets, and plunged into the river.</p> - -<p>It was calculated that forty thousand work-people -and servants were left destitute by the -flight of their employers, and subscriptions were -made to prevent them from starving, for they were -not allowed to leave the City. The king gave one -thousand pounds a week, the City, six hundred -pounds, the Queen Dowager, the Archbishop of -Canterbury, and many noblemen contributed -liberally. But the aspect of the place was -terrible. The dead carts were going to and fro -continually to collect the bodies put out into the -streets, announced by the tinkling of a bell, and -at night by the glare of links. The corpses were -cast into pits, and covered up as fast as possible. -The most populous and lately busy streets were -grass-grown; the people who walked through them -kept along the middle, except they were meeting -others, and then they got as far from each other -as possible. Amid all this horror, the sight of -ghastly death, and the ravings of delirium, whilst -some brave souls devoted themselves to the assistance -of the suffering and dying, crowds of others -rushed to taverns, theatres, and places of debauch, -and a strange maniacal mirth startled the silence -of the night, and added horror to the work of -death. The weekly numbers who perished rose -from one thousand to eight thousand. The wildest -rumours of apparitions and strange omens were -afloat. The ghosts of the dead were said to be seen -walking round the pits where their bodies lay; a -flaming sword was said to stretch across the -heavens from Westminster to above the Tower, and -men, raised by the awful excitement of the scene -into an abnormal state, went about, as was done at -the destruction of Jerusalem, announcing the judgments -of God. One man cried as he passed, "Yet -forty days, and London shall be destroyed;" -another stalked nakedly along, bearing on his head -a chafing-dish of burning coal, and declaring that -the Almighty would purge them with fire. Another -came suddenly from side streets and alleys in the -darkness of the night, or in open day, uttering in -a deep and fearful tone, the unvarying exclamation, -"Oh, the great and dreadful God!" The -confounded people declared that it was a judgment -of God on the nation for its sins, and especially -the sins of the King and Court, and the dreadful -persecution of the religious by the Government and -clergy. The Presbyterian ejected preachers frequently -mounted into the pulpits now deserted by -their usual occupants, and preached with a solemn -eloquence to audiences who listened to them from -amid the shadows of death, and thus gave great -offence to the incumbents, who had abandoned -their own charges. This was made one plea, after -the danger was over, for passing the Five Mile Act -in October of this year (1665). Many other metropolitan -clergy stood by their flocks, and displayed -the noblest characters during the pestilence. This -terrible plague swept off upwards of one hundred -thousand people during the year; and though it -ceased with the winter, it raged the following -summer in Colchester, Norwich, Cambridge, Salisbury, -and even in the Peak of Derbyshire.</p> - -<p>Whilst the plague had been raging, numbers of -the Republicans, Algernon Sidney among the -rest, had gone over to Holland and taken service -in its army, urging the States to invade England, -and restore the Commonwealth, and a conspiracy -was detected in London itself for seizing the Tower -and burning the City. Rathbone, Tucker, and six -others, were seized and hanged, but Colonel -Danvers, their leader, escaped. Parliament attainted -a number of the conspirators by name, -and also every British subject who should remain -in the Dutch service after a fixed day. But -neither plague nor insurrection had any effect in -checking the wild licence and riot of the Court. -The same scenes of drinking, gambling, and debauchery -went on faster than ever after the Court -removed from Salisbury to Oxford. The king -was in pursuit of a new flame, Miss Stewart, one -of the queen's maids of honour, and the Duke of -York was as violently in love with her. Charles -could not eat his breakfast till he visited both her -and Castlemaine; and even Clarendon complains -that "it was a time when all licence in discourse -and in actions was spread over the kingdom, to the -heart-breaking of many good men, who had terrible -apprehensions of the consequences of it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_217.jpg" width="419" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE GREAT PLAGUE: THE MANIAC PRONOUNCING THE DOOM OF LONDON. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_217big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The war, meanwhile, went on, and now assumed -a more formidable aspect, for Louis XIV. made a -sudden veer round in his politics, and joined the -Dutch. He was actually under conditions of -peace and assistance with them, and they called<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> -upon him to fulfil his engagements; but they -publicly would have called in vain, had not -Charles of late become too independent of his -French paymaster, by having received liberal supplies -from Parliament. Louis liked extremely to -see Holland and England exhausting one another -whilst he was aiming at the acquisition of the -Netherlands; but it was not his policy to leave -Charles free from his control. Charles, meanwhile, -had been neglecting the very sailors who were to -fight his battles against the united power of France -and Holland. The sailors who had fought so gallantly -last summer had lain during the winter in -the streets, having received no pay. Pepys says -that, whilst the plague was raging in London, they -were besieging the Navy Office with clamorous -demands. "Did business, though not much, at the -Navy Office, because of the horrible crowd and -lamentable moan of the poor seamen that lie -starving in the streets for lack of money, which do -trouble and perplex me to the heart; and more at -noon when we were to go through them, for then -above a whole hundred of them followed us, some -cursing, some swearing, and some praying to us."</p> - -<p>Whilst the royal duke had received one hundred -and twenty thousand pounds for fighting one battle -and leaving it unfinished, and the poor men were -thus turned adrift to starvation and danger of -death from the plague, the fleet had lost nearly all -its experienced officers, who had been turned off -because of their having helped the immortal Blake -to shed glory on the Commonwealth, and their -places were supplied by young, insolent, ignorant -sprigs of the aristocracy, who neither knew their -business, nor were disposed to do it if they did. -Pepys, who, as Secretary to the Admiralty, saw -all this, says that Admiral Penn spoke very freely -to him on the subject, and lamented the loss -which the fleet had experienced in the cashiered -officers.</p> - -<p>Such was the state of our navy when it put to -sea to face the enemy. The command was entrusted -to Monk and Prince Rupert. And here -were fresh proofs of the wretched management -of this miserable monarch. Monk had taken -desperately to drinking, and to this commander -the fortunes of England were entrusted in conjunction -with Rupert, who, with the courage of a -lion, was never in the right place at the right time. -On the 1st of June, 1666, Monk discovered the -Dutch fleet under De Ruyter and De Witt lying at -anchor off the North Foreland. They had eighty-four -sail, and Monk would have had an equal -number, but Rupert had received an order to go in -quest of the French fleet with thirty sail. Monk, -therefore, having little more than fifty sail, was -strongly advised by Sir John Harman and Sir -Thomas Tyddiman not to engage with such unequal -numbers, especially as the wind and sea were such -as would prevent the use of their lower tier of -guns. But Monk, who was probably drunk, would -not listen, and was encouraged by the younger and -more inexperienced officers. He bore down rapidly -on the Dutch fleet, having the weather gauge, and -the Dutchmen were taken so much by surprise -that they had not time to weigh anchor, but cut -their cables, and made for their own coast. But -there they faced about, and Monk, in his turn, was -obliged to tack so abruptly, that his topmast went -by the board, and whilst he was bringing his -vessel into order, Sir William Berkeley, who had -not noticed the accident, was amid the thick of -the enemy, and, being unsupported, was soon -killed on his quarter-deck, and his ship and a -frigate attending him were taken. Sir Thomas -Tyddiman refused to engage, and Sir John -Harman, surrounded by the Dutch, had his masts -shot away, and was severely wounded. The -masts and rigging of the English vessels were -cut to pieces by chain shot, a new invention -of Admiral De Witt's, and Monk, with his -disabled ships, had to sustain a desperate and -destructive fight till it was dark. He then -gave orders to make for the first English port, -but in their haste and the darkness they ran -upon the Galloper Sand, where the <em>Prince Royal</em>, -the finest vessel in the fleet, grounded, and was -taken by the Dutch. The next day Monk continued -a retreating fight, and would probably have -lost the whole fleet, but just then Rupert, with the -White squadron, appeared in sight. The next -morning the battle was renewed with more equal -forces till they were separated by a fog, and when -that cleared away the Dutch were seen in retreat. -Both sides claimed the victory, but the English -had certainly suffered most, and lost the most -ships. The only wonder was that they had not -lost the whole. Nothing, however, could exceed -the lion-like courage of the seamen. "They may -be killed," exclaimed De Witt, "but they cannot be -conquered." They very soon reminded him of his -words, for before the end of June they were at sea -again, fought, and defeated him and De Ruyter, -pursued them to their own coast, entered the -channel between Vlie and Schelling, and destroyed -two men-of-war, one hundred and fifty merchantmen, -and reduced the town of Brandaris to ashes. -De Witt, enraged at this devastation, vowed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> -Almighty God that he would never sheath the -sword till he had taken ample revenge.</p> - -<p>In August a French fleet, under the Duke of -Beaufort, arrived from the Mediterranean to join -the Dutch fleet, under De Ruyter, which was -already in the Channel watching for position. -Rupert, however, was on the look-out, and De -Ruyter took refuge in the roadstead of Boulogne, -but whilst Rupert was preparing to prevent the -advance of Beaufort up the Channel, a storm -obliged him to retreat to St. Helier, by which -Beaufort was enabled to reach Dieppe; and the -Dutch, severely damaged by the tempest, returned -home. But this storm had produced a terrible -catastrophe on land. A fire broke out in the night, -between the 2nd and 3rd of September, in Pudding -Lane, near Fish Street, where the Monument to -commemorate the event now stands. It occurred -in a bakehouse, which was built of wood and had -a pitched roof, and the buildings in general being -of timber, it soon spread. The wind was raging -furiously from the east, and the neighbourhood -being filled with warehouses of pitch, tar, resin, -and other combustible materials, the conflagration -rushed along with wonderful force and vehemence. -The summer had been one of the hottest -and driest ever known, and the timber houses -were in a state to catch and burn amazingly. -Clarendon says, "The fire and the wind continued -in the same excess all Monday, Tuesday, and -Wednesday, till afternoon, and flung and scattered -brands into all quarters; the nights more terrible -than the days, and the light the same, the light of -the fire supplying that of the sun." The timidity -of the Lord Mayor favoured the progress of the -flames. He at first refused to admit the military -to prevent the plunder of the houses, and to keep -off the crowds where efforts were attempted to stop -the fire; but nothing of this sort could be done, -for the pipes from the New River were found to -be empty, and the machine which raised water from -the Thames was burnt to ashes. It was proposed -to blow up some of the houses with gunpowder, to -arrest the progress of the fire; but the aldermen, -whose houses would be the first to be exploded, -would not allow it, and thus permitted the advance -of the raging element without saving their own -property. Nearly the whole of the City from the -Tower to Temple Bar was soon one raging mass of -fire, the glare of which lit up the country for ten -miles around.</p> - -<p>The terrors of the catastrophe were fearfully -aggravated by the wild rumours and suspicions -that flew to and fro. It was declared to be the -doings of the Papists in combination with the -French and Dutch, and the pipes of the New -River works at Islington being empty confirmed -it. One Grant, a Catholic and partner in the -works, was accused of having turned off the water -on the preceding Saturday, and carried away the -keys; but it was afterwards shown by the books of -the company that Grant was not a partner there -till the 25th of September, three weeks afterwards. -There were plenty of people ready to -depose that they had seen men carrying about -parcels of combustibles, which, on being crushed, -burst out in inextinguishable flame, and others -throwing fire-balls into houses. There were -twenty thousand French resident in the city, and -they were declared to be engaged with the Catholics -to massacre the whole population during the -confusion of the fire. Distraction and terror spread -on every side—some were labouring frantically -to extinguish the flames, others were hurrying out -their goods and conveying them away, others -flying from the expected massacre, and others -coming out armed to oppose the murderers. Not -a foreigner or Catholic could appear in the streets -without danger of his life. What made it worse, -an insane Frenchman, of the name of Hubert, -declared that it was he who set fire to the first -house, and that his countrymen were in the plot to -help him. He was examined, and was so evidently -crazed, the judges declared to the king that they -gave no credit whatever to his story, nor was there -the smallest particle of proof produced; but the -jury, in their fear and suspicion, pronounced him -guilty, and the poor wretch was hanged. The -inscription on the Monument after the fire, however—and -which was not erased till December, -1830—accused the Catholics of being the incendiaries, -for which reason, Pope, a Catholic, referring -to this particular libel, says:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Where London's Column, pointing at the skies,</div> - <div class="i0">Like a tall bully, lifts the head and <em>lies</em>."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>"Let the cause be what it would," says Clarendon, -"the effect was terrible, for above two parts -of three of that great city, and those the most -rich and wealthy parts, where the greatest warehouses -and the best shops stood, the Royal -Exchange, with all the streets about it—Lombard -Street, Cheapside, Paternoster Row, St. Paul's -Church, and almost all the other churches in the -City, with the Old Bailey, Ludgate, all Paul's -Churchyard, even to the Thames, and the greatest -part of Fleet Street, all which were places the -best inhabited, were all burnt without one house<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> -remaining. The value or estimate of what that -devouring element consumed over and above the -houses, could never be computed in any degree." -The houses were calculated at thirteen thousand -two hundred, covering, more or less, one hundred -and thirty-six acres. Eighty-nine churches were -consumed.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_220.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>PIE CORNER, SMITHFIELD, WHERE THE GREAT FIRE REACHED ITS LIMITS.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_220big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Towards the evening on Wednesday the wind -abated, and buildings were blown up to clear the -ground round Westminster Abbey, the Temple -Church, and Whitehall. The next day, the -weather being calm, the danger was thought to be -over, but in the night the fire burst out again in -the neighbourhood of the Temple, in Cripplegate, -and near the Tower. The king, the Duke of -York, and many noblemen assisted to blow up -houses in those quarters, and thus contributed to -save those places, and finally stop the conflagration. -Nothing is said so completely to have -roused Charles as this catastrophe, and both he -and the duke were indefatigable in giving their -personal attendance, encouragement, and assistance. -They placed guards to prevent thieving, -and distributed food to the starving inhabitants. -In the fields about Islington and Highgate two -hundred thousand people were seen occupying the -bare ground, or under huts and tents hastily constructed, -with the remains of their property lying -about them. Charles was indefatigable in arranging -for the accommodation of this unfortunate -mass of people in the neighbouring towns and -villages, till their houses could be rebuilt. But for -months afterwards the enormous field of ruins presented -a burning and smoking chaos. Had Charles -and his brother conducted themselves at other times -as during this brief but awful time, they had left -very different names and effects behind them. -The great misfortune for the moment even softened -down the acrimony of bigotry and party; but this -did not last long. An inquiry was instituted, both -by the Commons and the Privy Council, into the -cause of the calamity, but nothing was elicited to -prove it the work of incendiaries.</p> - -<p>The people at large firmly believed that the -plague and the fire were judgments for the sins -of the King and Court.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_221.jpg" width="401" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GEORGE MONK, DUKE OF ALBEMARLE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_221big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> - -<p class="p6">REIGN OF CHARLES II. (<em>continued</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Demands of Parliament—A Bogus Commission—Crushing the Covenanters in Scotland—The Dutch in the Thames—Panic -in London and at Court—Humiliation of England—Peace is Signed—Fall of Clarendon—The Cabal—Sir William -Temple at the Hague—The Triple Alliance—Scandals at Court—Profligacy of the King and the Duke of Buckingham—Attempt -to Deprive the Duke of York of the Succession—Persecution of Nonconformists—Trial of Penn and Mead—The -Rights of Juries—Secret Treaty with France—Suspicious Death of Charles's Sister—"Madam Carwell"—Attack on -Sir John Coventry—National Bankruptcy—War with Holland—Battle of Southwold Bay—William of Orange saves his -Country—Declaration of Indulgence—Fall of the Cabal—Affairs in Scotland and Ireland—Progress of the Continental -War—Mary Marries William of Orange—Louis Intrigues with the Opposition—Peace of Nimeguen—The Popish Plot—Impeachment -of Danby—Temple's Scheme of Government—The Exclusion Bill—Fresh Persecutions in Scotland—Murder -of Archbishop Sharp—Bothwell Bridge—Anti-Catholic Fury—Charges against James—Execution of Lord Stafford.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>The career of vice which Charles had run since -his restoration to the throne of England, the -scandalous scenes and ruinous extravagance at -Court, the loose women and debauched courtiers -who figured there, and the great calamities which -had latterly fallen on the nation, and, as it was -generally believed, in consequence of the flagrant -wickedness of the ruling persons, had by this time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> -produced a profound impression on the public -mind. Unprecedented sums had been voted for -the prosecution of the Dutch War, and some -terrible battles had been fought at sea; but these, -so far from bringing any solid advantage to the -nation, had ruined its finances, and greatly -damaged the navy. Besides this, there was a -general and well-founded belief that the money -which should have gone to fit out the navy and -pay the brave seamen, had been squandered on -the royal mistresses and minions. The sailors had -been left in destitution, and remained so; their -tickets, which had been given them as tokens of -their demands for wages, had to a large extent -never been redeemed, whilst the effeminate courtiers -made fortunes.</p> - -<p>When Parliament met on the 21st of September, -1666, more money was demanded, and the Commons -liberally voted one million eight hundred -thousand pounds, but on several conditions, one -of which was that the laws should be put in -force against the Catholics, who were suspected -to have fired the capital. Though a Committee -appointed to consider this charge failed to connect -the Papists with the Fire, yet the cry -remained, and Charles was compelled to order by -proclamation all priests and Jesuits to quit the -kingdom; all recusants to be proceeded against -according to law; all Papists to be disarmed, -and officers and soldiers to be dismissed from the -army who should refuse the oaths of Allegiance -and Supremacy. There had been a demand from -the aristocracy and their tenants in England, in -1663, to prevent the importation of cattle from -Ireland. The landlords wanted high rents, and -the tenants cried out that they could not pay them -if they were to be undersold by the Irish; as if -Ireland were not a part of the empire as well as -England, and justly entitled to the same privileges. -It was in vain that the more liberal and -enlightened members asked how Ireland was to -purchase our manufactured goods, if we would not -take her raw produce. The Bill was passed, and -sixty thousand beeves and a large quantity of -sheep were thus refused entrance annually at our -ports. To obviate this difficulty, the Irish -slaughtered the cattle, and sent them over as dead -carcasses. This was violently opposed, and this -session a Bill passed, also excluding the meat. -But the third and last demand on Charles was the -most alarming. It was no other than that a Parliamentary -Commission should be appointed to -examine and audit the public accounts. It was -well known that not only the king's mistresses, -but many other persons about the Court, had made -very free with the public revenue with the connivance -of Charles. Lady Castlemaine was commonly -declared to carry on a great trade in selling -favours, and receiving bribes from the subjects, -and lavish grants from the king.</p> - -<p>The alarm which the passing of a Bill for this -Commission of Inquiry through the Commons -carried into all the courtly recesses of corruption -was excessive. The whole Court was in a turmoil -of consternation; there was a terrible outcry that -if this were allowed, there was an end of the -prerogative. Lord Ashley, the Treasurer of the -Prize Money, and Carteret, the Treasurer of the -Navy, were aghast, and implored Charles to declare -openly that he would never consent to it. -The grave and virtuous Lord Clarendon strenuously -supported them, telling the king that he -must not "suffer Parliament to extend their jurisdiction -to cases that they had nothing to do with." -He desired the king to "be firm in the resolution -he had taken, and not to be put from it." And -he promised when the Bill came into the Lords -he would oppose it with all his power. And -this was the advice of a man who himself tells -us in his "Life" of the corruptions practised—of -the corruptions of these very men, Ashley and -Carteret; of the good round sums taken from the -privy purse by "the lady," as she was called, and -of the extensive grants to her of lands in Ireland, -where they were not so likely to be inquired -about; of the miserable condition of the navy; the -dissolute life of the king; his own remonstrances, -and the constant endeavours of the courtiers to -divert the king's attention from anything serious.</p> - -<p>But there was a cause much more influential -than public good or public virtue which forwarded -the Bill, in spite of the Court. The Duke of -Buckingham had a quarrel with "the lady," and -she prejudiced the king against him, and the -duke was determined to have his revenge by exposing -"the lady's" gross peculations. The Bill, -therefore, passed the Commons, and came into the -Lords, where Buckingham and his party supported -it, and Clarendon and the guilty courtiers opposed -it. Buckingham himself was as dissolute and -unprincipled a man as any about Court, not even -excepting the king and the licentious Lord -Rochester. The Bill passed, and the king, in his -resentment, disgraced Buckingham, deprived him -of all his employments, and ordered his committal -to the Tower, which he avoided only by absconding. -Buckingham, however, once out of the way, -the king and his virtuous Chancellor soon managed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> -to be allowed to appoint the Commission of Inquiry -themselves, by which the whole affair was converted -into a mockery, and came to nothing.</p> - -<p>During this session of Parliament, wild work -had been going on in the west of Scotland. The -people there had resisted the ejectment of their -ministers from their pulpits by Episcopalian -clergy; they received them with curses, and often -with showers of stones. When the Act against -conventicles was passed, they still met with their -old pastors in barns and moorlands, and then the -soldiery under Sir James Turner were let loose -upon them. They flew to arms and fought the -soldiers, and made a prisoner of Turner himself. -Their ministers, Semple, Maxwell, Welsh, Guthrie, -and others, incited them to wield the sword of the -Lord and of Gideon, and to resist the Malignants -to the death. Lauderdale was in London, and the -ministers told the people that the fire of London -had given enough to the Government to do at -home. But Sharp was in Scotland, and he put -himself at the head of two troops of horse and a -regiment of foot guards, and assisted by Dalziel, a -man of considerable military reputation, he pursued -the Covenanters to Rullion Green, in the -Pentlands. There, on the 28th of November, -1666, they came to a pitched battle, in which the -Covenanters were defeated, fifty being killed, -and a hundred and thirty taken prisoners. The -Covenanters had treated Turner and all others -who fell into their hands with great lenity, -but none was shown to them by Sharp. Ten -of them, were hanged on one gallows in Edinburgh, -and thirty-five were sent to Galloway, Ayr, -and Dumfries, and there gibbeted in the face of -their own friends. The implacable archbishop, -with the fury of a renegade, made keen search -after all who had been concerned in the affair; it -was declared that eternal damnation was incurred -by the rebels against the Church, and the -horrors of the rack, thumbscrews, and iron boot -were put vigorously into operation again. A -young preacher, Maccail, whom Sir Walter Scott -has represented under the name of Macbriar, was -hideously tortured, but died in a rapture of joy, -not a syllable of disclosure escaping him. Dalziel, -a brutal and drunken captain, revelled in cruelty -and outrage amongst the Whigs or Whiggamores, -as they were called; hanged a man because he -would not betray his own father; quartered his -soldiers on people to ruin them, and perpetrated -such atrocities that the Earls of Tweeddale -and Kincardine went up to Court to warn the -king against driving the people once more to -desperation. Their representations were not without -effect, but this leniency was of short duration.</p> - -<p>The war with the Dutch and French being still -continued, it was necessary for Charles to put his -fleet once more in order; but his Exchequer -exhibited its usual emptiness, and the Parliamentary -supply would be some time before it -reached the treasury. The customary resource had -been to send for the bankers and capitalists of -London, and make over to them some branches of -the public revenue for immediate advances, these -advances to be at the rate of eight per cent., and -to be repaid by the taxes till all were discharged. -But the losses by the fire had incapacitated the -money-lenders at this crisis, and Charles, therefore, -unwisely listened to the suggestion of -Sir William Coventry, to lay up the principal -ships in ordinary, and send out only two light -squadrons to interrupt the enemy's trade in the -Channel and the German Ocean. The Duke of -York at once declared that this was directly to -invite Holland to insult the English coasts, and -plunder the maritime counties; but the want of -money overruled the duke, and the consequences -were precisely what he foresaw.</p> - -<p>Charles hoped to evade the danger of this -unguarded state by a peace. Louis XIV., who -was anxious to conquer Flanders, made overtures -through Lord Jermyn, now Earl of St. Albans, -who lived in Paris, and was said to be married to -the queen-mother, and he also at the same time -opened negotiations with Holland, to enforce -an abstinence of aid to the Flemings from that -quarter, and to make peace between Holland and -England. These measures effected, he would be set -free from any demands of Holland to assist them -against England, and he would bind Charles to -afford no aid to the Spaniards. Charles was perfectly -willing to accede to these plans, so that he -might not be called on for more money, and after -a time it was agreed that Commissioners should -meet at Breda to settle the terms of peace. -France was to restore the West Indian Islands -taken from England, and England was to oppose -no obstacle to Louis' designs against Spain. But -as hostilities were not suspended, De Witt, the -Dutch minister, still burning for revenge for the -injuries committed by the English on the coast of -Holland, declared that he would "set such a mark -upon the English coast as the English had left -upon that of Holland."</p> - -<p>He knew the unprotected state of the Thames, -and he ordered the Dutch fleet, to the amount of -seventy sail, to draw together at the Nore. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> -command was entrusted to De Ruyter and the -brother of De Witt. The English, roused by the -danger, threw a chain across the Medway at the -stakes, mounted the guns on the batteries, and got -together a number of fire-ships: but here the consequence -of the heartless conduct of the Government -to the seamen and workmen who had been -employed by them hitherto and defrauded of their -pay became apparent. No sense of patriotism -could induce them to work for the Government. -The Commissioners of the Navy were nine hundred -thousand pounds in debt, notwithstanding the -liberal supplies of Parliament, and the merchants -would not furnish further stores except for ready -money. One portion of the Dutch fleet sailed up -as far as Gravesend, the other was ordered to -destroy the shipping in the Medway (June, 1667). -The fort at Sheerness was in such a miserable condition, -that it was soon levelled to the ground. -Monk had been sent down to defend the mouth -of the Medway, and he raised batteries, sank -ships in the narrowest part of the channel before -the boom, and placed guard-ships for its protection. -But the Dutch found out another -channel accessible at high water, and running -their fire-ships on the boom, broke the chain, -silenced the batteries, and burnt the guard-ships. -Monk retreated to Upnor Castle, but the Dutch -soon appeared before it with their squadron; the -castle was not supplied with powder, and few of -the ships in the river had any. The <em>Royal -Charles</em> was taken, the finest ship in the English -fleet, the <em>Royal James</em>, the <em>Royal Oak</em>, and the -<em>London</em> were burnt. A still greater mortification -was to find numbers of the incensed English -sailors manning the Dutch vessels, who shouted, -"Before we fought for tickets, now we fight for -dollars." Had De Ruyter pushed on for London, -he might have destroyed all the merchant ships in -the river; but Prince Rupert at Woolwich having -sunk a number of ships to block up the channel, -and raised batteries to sweep the passage, it was -easier to commit devastations on the southern -coast, and this squadron, under Van Ghent, -dropped down to the Nore and joined the main -fleet. For six weeks the Hollanders sailed proudly -along our coasts, harassing the inhabitants, and -attempting to burn the ships at Portsmouth, Plymouth, -and Torbay. Twice De Ruyter attempted -again to ascend the Thames, but by this time, in -addition to the force of Rupert, Sir Edward -Spragge was posted with eighteen sail of the line -to oppose him.</p> - -<p>But the panic on land was inconceivable. "The -people of Chatham," says Clarendon, "which is -naturally an array of seamen and officers of the -navy, who might and ought to have secured all -those ships, which they had time enough to have -done, were in distraction; their chief officers have -applied all those boats and lighter vessels, which -should have towed up the ships, to carry away -their own goods and household stuff, and given -what they left behind for lost." "Nothing," he -adds, "would have been easier than to have destroyed -Chatham, and all the ships which lay -higher up the river. But London was still worse. -The noise of this, and the flames of the ships -which were burning, made it easily believed in -London that the enemy had done all that they -might have; they thought they were landed in -many places, and that their fleet was come up as -far as Greenwich. Nor was the confusion there -less than it was in the Court itself, where they -who had most advanced the war, and reproached -all those who had been against it as men who had -no public spirit, and were not solicitous for the -honour and glory of the nation—and who had -never spoken of the Dutch but with scorn and -contempt, as a nation rather to be cudgelled than -fought with—were now the most dejected men -that can be imagined; railed very bitterly at those -who had advised the king to enter into that war, -which had already sacrificed so many gallant men, -and would probably ruin the kingdom, and wished -for a peace on any terms." All the world, he -says, rushed to Whitehall, and entered at pleasure, -some advising the Court to quit the metropolis, -and "a lord, who would be thought one of the -greatest soldiers in Europe, to whom the Tower -was committed, lodging there only one night, -'declared that it was not tenable,' and desired not -to be charged with it, whereupon those who had -taken their money there carried it away again."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_224.jpg" width="338" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="smaller"><cite>From the Design for the Wall Painting in the Royal Exchange.</cite></p> - -<p>THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON, 1666.</p> - -<p class="smaller">By STANHOPE A. FORBES A.R.A.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_224big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This is a melancholy picture of what a weak and -profligate Government can reduce a great country -to in less than six years. "It was said," observes -Macaulay, "that the very day of that great -humiliation, the king feasted with the ladies of his -seraglio, and amused himself with hunting a moth -about the supper-room. Then, at length, tardy -justice was done to the memory of Oliver. Everywhere -men magnified his valour, genius, and -patriotism. Everywhere it was remembered how, -when he ruled, all foreign powers had trembled at -the name of England; how the States-General, -now so haughty, had crouched at his feet, and -how, when it was known that he was no more, -Amsterdam was lighted up for a great deliverance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> -and children ran along the canals, shouting for joy -that the 'Devil' was dead. Even Royalists exclaimed -that the State could be saved only by -calling the old soldiers of the Commonwealth to -arms. Soon the capital began to feel the miseries -of a blockade. Fuel was scarcely to be procured. -Tilbury Fort, the place where Elizabeth had, with -manly spirit, hurled foul scorn at Parma and -Spain, was insulted by the invaders. The roar of -foreign guns was heard for the first and last time -by the citizens of London. In the Council it was -seriously proposed that, if the enemy advanced, the -Tower should be abandoned. Great multitudes of -people assembled in the streets, crying out that -England was bought and sold. The houses and -carriages of ministers were attacked by the populace, -and it seemed likely that the Government -would have to deal at once with an invasion and -an insurrection."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_225.jpg" width="560" height="366" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>TILBURY FORT.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_225big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>However, deliverance came from an unexpected -quarter, and the excitement in the public mind—which -had been naturally aroused and alarmed by -the disgraceful condition into which a corrupt and -feeble administration had allowed affairs to drift—gradually -subsided, and seldom has a great crisis -been so luckily overcome. For whilst the Dutch -had thus been humiliating England, Louis XIV. -had been pushing his conquests in Flanders. With -an army of seventy thousand men he compelled -Binche, Tournay, Oudenarde, Courtrai, and Douai -to surrender; and he was besieging Lille when the -States of Holland hastened to come to terms with -France and England to prevent the nearer approach -of Louis to their own territories. On the -21st of July peace was signed between England -and Holland and England and France, by which -the Dutch kept the disputed island of Pulerone, -and ceded to the English Albany and New York. -France restored Antigua, Montserrat, and part of -St. Kitts, and received back Nova Scotia. Denmark, -which had sided with the Dutch, also signed -a treaty of peace with England.</p> - -<p>The peace was immediately succeeded by the fall -of Clarendon. He had been the companion and -adviser of Charles from the very boyhood of the -king, and accordingly the mischief of every measure, -and the disgrace which had now fallen on the -nation, were all attributed to him. With great -talents Clarendon had too much virtue to approve, -far less flatter, the vices and follies of the Court -in which he lived, and not enough to make him -abandon it, and assume the character of a noble -and disinterested censor. He had the sternness -and gravity of Cato, but he lacked his great and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> -patriotic principles. He began as a liberal, but -went over to the Royalist cause, and was a rigid -advocate of the high prerogatives of the Crown, -and of the supremacy of the Church. The Puritans -looked on him as a combination of Strafford and -Laud. He certainly would not have so far -violated public right as to countenance the raising -of Ship Money, or the violation of the privileges of -Parliament by the seizure of its members. But -the Puritans hated him for the support that he -gave to the Act of Uniformity, and for so hotly -resisting the king's grant of indulgence to tender -consciences. On the other hand, the Royalists -hated him because he maintained the inviolability -of the Bill of Indemnity, by which they were restrained -from ousting the purchasers from their -estates lost during the Commonwealth; and they -hated him not the less because he had managed to -raise his daughter to the rank of Duchess of York, -and thus to give himself, although a commoner, -the appearance of being not only father-in-law -of the next king, but father of a line of kings. -They accused him of having selected the present -queen as one not likely to have children, in order -to favour the succession of his own, and probably -one of the real causes of Charles's change towards -him resulted from the courtiers having inspired -him with this belief. The Commons hated him -because he had uniformly endeavoured to repress -their authority. He never could be brought to see -the enlarged influence which the progress of wealth -and intelligence had given to the Commons; nor -had all that had passed under his eyes of their extraordinary -power under Charles I., awakened him -to the knowledge of their real position in the -State. In vain did more clear-sighted men point -out to him the concessions which were necessary -to enable the Parliament and the Government to -move on harmoniously together. The nobility disliked -him because he had, by his influence with the -king and the marriage of his daughter with the -heir-apparent, placed himself above them, and, -from the haughtiness of his nature, taken no pains -to conceal that invidious position. The people -detested him, for they believed that he ruled the -king, and therefore was the author of all their -miseries and disgraces. They accused him of selling -Dunkirk, and therefore called his splendid palace, -overlooking and every way outshining the royal one, -Dunkirk House. The Chancellor, undoubtedly, -had an incurable passion for money and acquisition -of wealth, and for displaying it in the grandeur of -his house, and the magnificent collection of his -pictures. When the Dutch fleet was riding in -the Thames, the enraged people turned all their -fury on him. They broke his windows, destroyed -the trees in his grounds, trod down his garden, and -erected a gallows at his door.</p> - -<p>But the intensity of aversion to him was felt at -Court. He was from his youth of grave and decorous -character. The lewdness and fooleries of -the courtiers excited his undisguised disgust. We -have seen that he could stoop to persuade the -queen to tolerate the most insufferable indignities, -yet he never ceased to speak to Charles of the -infamy and extravagance of his mistresses, and the -scandalous lives of the courtiers who fluttered -around them. The only wonder is, that the malice -of Castlemaine and her allies had not long ago -driven him from the Court; and it speaks volumes -for the hold which he had on the regard of the -monarch, that he could resist their hatred so long. -But now Buckingham, who had quarrelled with -Lady Castlemaine, and had done his best to expose -her, had made up the feud, and they directed their -common enmity against their common foe. Shaftesbury, -Monk, Clifford, Lauderdale, Sir William -Coventry, Arlington, and others, joined them in -one determined and concentrated attack. They -made their onslaught when all classes were uttering -their execrations upon him. He had advised the -king, when the Dutch fleet was at Chatham, to -dissolve Parliament, and maintain ten thousand -men that he had raised by forced contribution -from the neighbouring counties, to be repaid out of -the next Supplies; this caught wind, and was regarded -as returning to the idea of the king ruling -by a standing army and without a Parliament. -Charles had grown tired of his preachments about -the profligacy of his life and Court, and allowed -the old Chancellor to drift before the storm; he -was suspected more than all of sacrificing him to -his resentment for having brought about the -marriage of Miss Stewart with the Duke of -Richmond, though Clarendon, in a letter to -Charles, denied it.</p> - -<p>Clarendon, with his characteristic pride, refused -at first to resign. He waited on the king, and reminded -him of his long and faithful services, and -told him that he would not consent to appear -guilty by surrendering the seals. The king talked -of the power of Parliament. Clarendon replied he -did not fear Parliament, and told the king that Parliament -could do nothing against him without his -consent. But unfortunately the spirit of the censor -came over him, and, entreating the king not to -allow the cabal of the courtiers to prevail against -him, he broke out into some severe strictures<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> -on "the lady" and her abettors. The king rose -and quitted the room without saying a word, and -"the lady," quickly informed of the Chancellor's -disgrace, rushed to the window to watch, with -Arlington and May, the fallen minister retire in -confusion. Charles sent Sir Orlando Bridgeman -for the seals, and on the assembling of Parliament -on the 10th of October, Buckingham and Bristol, -who again came out of his hiding-place, urged his -impeachment. Accordingly the Commons presented -articles of impeachment at the bar of -the Lords, charging the Chancellor with cruelty -and venality in his office, with unlawful accumulation -of wealth, with the sale of Dunkirk, the -disclosure of the king's secrets, and the design of -ruling by military force. Still Clarendon stood -his ground; but the king let fall an expression in -the hearing of one of his friends, that he wondered -what Clarendon was still doing in England, and -the old man took the hint and got across the -Channel, though the proposal to imprison him till -his trial had been overruled. He did not go, however, -without leaving a written vindication of his -public conduct, which so offended Parliament, that -it ordered the paper to be burnt by the common -hangman. In this vindication he declared that he -had only retired for awhile, and should return at a -proper time to prove his innocence, "uncontrolled -by the power and malice of men who had sworn -his destruction." This caused the Commons to -pass a Bill ordering his trial on the 1st of February, -and declaring him, in default of appearance, -banished for life, incapable of ever after holding -office, and liable to all the penalties of high -treason. Clarendon boldly prepared to face his -enemies, but illness stopped him at Calais till it -was too late, and he was thus doomed to exile for -life. He lost his wife about the time of his fall, -which was a great blow to him, for they had lived -in great affection. He continued to live chiefly at -Montpellier and Moulins, engaged in writing his -history of the Rebellion and of his own life, as well -as a reply to Hobbes' "Leviathan" and other -works; but sighing for recall, and importuning the -king to allow him to return to his native country -and the society of his children. Charles, however, -paid no attention to his prayers, and he died at -Rouen in 1674.</p> - -<p>Clarendon being removed, the whole of the -ministry established at the Restoration was broken -up. Ormond was absent on his government in -Ireland, Southampton was dead, Monk was grown -incapacitated from drink and years, and Nicholas -had retired. The new ministry acquired the -notorious and appropriate name of the <em>cabal</em>, from -the initials of their names,—Sir Thomas Clifford, -First Commissioner of the Treasury, afterwards -Lord Clifford; the Earl of Arlington, Secretary of -State; the Duke of Buckingham, Master of the -Horse, which office he purchased from Monk; Lord -Ashley, Chancellor of the Exchequer, afterwards -Earl of Shaftesbury and Lord Chancellor; and the -Duke of Lauderdale. Before this time the word -cabal merely meant a cabinet. It is so used by -Whitelock, Pepys, and Evelyn, from the year -1650. The present cabinet was styled by -D'Estrades, "<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">la cabale d'Espagne</i>." The word -became infamous from the conduct of these men, -who were soon concerned in the king's sale of -himself to Louis XIV., and most of them received -large sums from France for their most treasonable -and unpatriotic services. Clifford was the -most honest and honourable, but he had the -knack of quarrelling with his colleagues, being of -a hot and overbearing temper. Bennet, Lord -Arlington, was a mere courtier, had spent much -time on the Continent, and picked up its frivolity -and vices. He could divert the king by his lively -sallies in conversation, please the ladies, and assume -an imposing gravity in public debate that deceived -the public. He was at heart a Romanist, but -took care to conceal it. As for Buckingham, he -was a most thoroughly debauched and unprincipled -character, not without certain talents and literary -tastes. He had written farces, and was a connoisseur -in music and architecture. But he was a -jaded man of pleasure, and having been out of -favour with the king, was now all the more bent -on complying with his humour to win his favour. -He and Arlington were bitter enemies, but put on -an appearance of friendship now they were in office -together. Ashley was a man who could change -sides, but always with an eye to the main chance. -He had been a zealous Republican, and now was as -zealous a Royalist; and, as for Lauderdale, he, too, -had been an out-and-out Covenanter, but was now -a coarse, brutal persecutor of those of his old faith, -and by his diabolical cruelties has acquired a name -in history amongst the most odious of inquisitors.</p> - -<p>One of the earliest acts of the cabal gave fairer -promise of sound and good policy than their after -proceedings. They sent Sir William Temple to -the Hague to endeavour to heal the difference with -Holland, which had inflicted such incalculable -evils on both countries. Not the least of those -ills was the opportunity which was afforded -Louis of pushing his ambitious designs on Flanders, -and ultimately on Holland and Spain. Both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> -England and Holland saw so clearly the gross folly -which they had displayed that Sir William soon -came to terms with the States, and by the 25th -of April, 1668, he had got definite treaties signed -between Holland and England, and between -these countries and Sweden, to make common -cause for checking the further advance of the -French, and to induce France to make peace with -Spain. There was also a secret treaty, binding -each other to make war on France for the defence -of Spain. This league became known as the Triple -Alliance. Louis, who made pretences to the crown -of Spain, was hoping, from the infirm health of -its young monarch, Charles II., to obtain that -kingdom, or to partition it between himself and -Leopold, the German emperor, with whom there -was a secret treaty for that very purpose. So far, -therefore, from opposing the plans of the new -allies, he fell in with them on certain conditions—namely, -that he should retain the bulk of his conquests -in the Netherlands. Holland beheld this -arrangement with alarm, and refused to sanction -it, upon which it was concluded without her approbation, -and to punish the States, Castel-Rodrigo, -the Spanish governor of the Netherlands, gave up -instead of Franche Comté, Lille, Tournay, Douai, -Charleroi, and other places in Flanders, so that the -French king advanced his frontier into the very -face of Holland. This was settled by the peace of -Aix-la-Chapelle.</p> - -<p>But whilst Charles was thus publicly pursuing a -policy much to the satisfaction of the nation, both -on account of the improved prospects for trade, -and because the Triple Alliance was an essentially -Protestant one, he was secretly agitating the question -whether he should not openly avow Popery, -and was bargaining with Louis to become his pensioner, -so as to relieve himself from any need to -apply to Parliament, and by this means to assume -absolute power. Parliament, which met on the -10th of February, 1668, made a rigid inquiry into -the proceedings of the late administration. They -accused Commissioner Pett of neglect when the -Dutch fleet entered the river, Admiral Penn of -the embezzlement of one hundred and fifteen -thousand pounds' worth of prize goods, and -Brounker, who had absconded, of giving orders to -shorten sail after the victory of the 3rd of June. -They then voted three hundred and ten thousand -pounds, much less than Buckingham had demanded; -and Charles, having in his opening -speech recommended some plan to be adopted, -the better to satisfy the minds of his Protestant -subjects, it immediately awoke a jealousy of -indulgence to the Papists and Dissenters. It -was found that Bridgeman, the Lord-Keeper, Sir -Matthew Hale, the Chief Baron, Bishop Wilkins, -and Buckingham and Ashley had been engaged in -a scheme to tolerate the Presbyterians and other -sects. All the old bigotry of the House burst forth; -there were violent denunciations of any liberty to -Nonconformists, and they again voted the continuance -of the Conventicle Act. They then -adjourned from the 8th of May to the 11th of -August.</p> - -<p>Buckingham, who, during the session of Parliament, -had not found himself very popular, now the -object of driving out Clarendon was accomplished, -in seeking to strengthen his party by removing -such as were not favourable to him, drove his plans -almost too far. He had a dread of Clarendon returning -through the influence of his daughter, the -Duchess of York, and he endeavoured to undermine -the duke with the king. He blamed the -conduct of the Admiralty, at the head of which -James was; he displaced James's friends, and put -his own dependents into offices in James's own department, -in spite of his remonstrances; he spread -rumours that the duke had lost the royal favour, -and was about to be dismissed from the office of -Lord Admiral. He even affected to go about with -armed followers, on the plea of being in danger -from the duke. But Charles soon convinced the -minister that these attempts were vain, and then -Buckingham began to pay court to the duke, which -was repelled with contempt. The only mode of -maintaining favour with Charles was to find plenty -of money, and as Buckingham had failed in that, -he recommended retrenchment and economy, which -suited Charles still less. For the rest, both Court -and minister went on their way of open profligacy, -and it would have been difficult to say which was -the most void of shame or principle, the king or -his chief servant. Charles was surrounded by -Sedley, Buckhurst, and other libertines, who -treated all the decencies of life with contempt, -and the monarch laughed and encouraged them. -Though Miss Stewart had become Duchess of -Richmond, he continued his attentions to her. He -had elevated actresses to places in his harem, who -bore the familiar names of Moll Davies and -Nell Gwynn. Moll Davies was a dancer, Nelly -was an actress of much popularity, and was a gay, -merry, and witty girl, who extremely amused the -king by her wild sallies. By Mary Davies he had -a daughter, who afterwards married into the noble -family of Radclyffe. Nell was the mother of the -first Duke of St. Albans; and Castlemaine, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> -had now a whole troop of little Fitzroys, was -during the next year made Duchess of Cleveland. -Another lady was already on the way from France, -sent by the cunning Louis XIV. for his own purposes. -As for Buckingham, he very successfully -imitated his royal master. In January of this -year he fought a duel with Lord Shrewsbury, -whose wife he had seduced; and Pepys says that -it was reported that Lady Shrewsbury, in the -dress of a page, held the duke's horse whilst he -killed her husband. He then took her to his own -house, and on his wife remarking that it was not -fit for herself and his mistress to live together, he -replied, "Why, so I have been thinking, madame, -and therefore I have ordered your coach to carry -you to your father's."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_229.jpg" width="401" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SAMUEL PEPYS. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_229big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In this precious Court the subject of religion -was just now an interesting topic. The Duke of -York told Charles secretly that he could no longer -remain even ostensibly a Protestant, and meant to -avow his Popery. Charles replied that he was -thinking of the very same thing, and they would -consult with the Lords Arundel and Arlington, -and Sir Thomas Clifford. They had a private -meeting in the duke's closet; but though their -three counsellors were Catholics open or concealed, -they advised Charles to consult with Louis XIV. -before taking so important a step. The French -king was apprehensive that his avowal of Popery -would occasion disturbances amongst his subjects, -but these might be put down by the assistance of -French money and French troops. That was the -object at which Louis knew that this abandoned -king was really driving, and the price of this -assistance was to be England's co-operation in -Louis's schemes of boundless ambition. Instead of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> -Charles inducing Louis to maintain peace with -Holland, it was the object of Louis to drive -Charles to break again the Triple Alliance, and -plunge once more into the horrors of a wicked and -mischievous war with that country. Charles -hated the Dutch for the treatment he had received -in Holland whilst an exile, and for the humiliations -he had been subjected to in the last war. -Louis wanted not only to swallow up the bulk of -that country in his vast plans of aggrandisement, -but also make himself master of Spain in case of -the death of the young Spanish king. The pretended -desire of Charles to adopt open Popery was -merely a feint to secure the French king's money, -and the next question which he raised was, -whether he should avow himself before the rupture -with Holland or afterwards. The Duke of -York was in earnest, Charles was only playing -with the Catholic scheme as a bait; and he afterwards -told his sister, the Duchess of Orleans, at -Dover, that "he was not so well satisfied with the -Catholic religion, or his own condition, as to make -it his faith." Lord Arundel and Sir Richard -Billings were sent to Paris to secure the promised -cash, and to keep up the farce of his conversion.</p> - -<p>Whilst these infamous negotiations were going -on, Buckingham was exerting himself to ruin the -Duke of York's prospects of the succession. He -observed the king's fondness for his natural son -by Lucy Walters, who had borne the name of -Crofts, and he caught at the idea of Charles legitimating -him. Charles had created him Duke of -Monmouth, and married him to the wealthy -heiress of Buccleuch. Buckingham asked the -king why not acknowledge a private marriage -with his mother, and suggested that plenty of -witnesses might be found to swear to it; but the -answer of Charles destroyed this vision, who declared -that he would see the lad hanged sooner -than own him as his legitimate son. Buckingham, -still not disconcerted, proposed an absurd scheme -of carrying the queen privately to the Plantations, -where she would never more be heard of; and -next a divorce from her on account of her barrenness, -and a second marriage. Bishop Burnet, -afterwards of Sarum, had decided that such cause -was sufficient for divorce, and that it only wanted -an Act of Parliament authorising the divorced -parties to marry again. Charles listened sufficiently -to cause them to attempt such an Act. -It was sought for in the case of Lord Ross, whose -wife was living in open adultery; but it was soon -rumoured what was the ultimate object of it. -The Duke of York, therefore, opposed the Bill -with all his might, and Charles supported it with -equal ardour, even taking his seat on the throne -in the Lords whilst it was discussed, to encourage -his party. The Bill was carried, and the right to -marry again has always since then been recognised -in Bills of Divorce; but Charles again disappointed -Buckingham, for he showed no desire to -make use of it in his own case.</p> - -<p>The King obtained from Parliament considerable -supplies in the spring Session of 1670, for his -consent to the renewal of the Conventicle Act, -and the fury of persecution was let loose against -the Nonconformists. Spies and informers were -everywhere, and many of the Dissenters, to save -their property, and their persons from prison, -were fain to forego their usual assembling for -worship in their chapels. The Society of Friends, -however, scorned to concede even in appearance to -this religious intolerance. They persisted in meeting -as usual. They were dragged thence before -magistrates, and on refusing to pay the fines were -thrust into prison. No sooner were they liberated, -however, than they returned, as usual, to their -meetings, and when the doors were locked against -them, assembled in the street, and held their -meetings there. On one of these occasions, -William Penn, son of Admiral Penn, and afterwards -the celebrated founder of Pennsylvania, was -taken with William Mead, another minister of the -Society, at an open-air meeting in Gracechurch -Street. They were thrust into Newgate, and -brought to trial in September, 1670, before the -Recorder of London, John Howell, and the Lord -Mayor, Samuel Starling. This trial forms one -of the most brilliant facts in the history of the -independence of trial by jury, and has often been -reprinted. Both Penn and Mead made noble -defences, and terribly puzzled the Recorder as -to the law of the case. They demanded to know -on what law the indictment was based. The -Recorder replied the "common law." They -begged to be shown it. On this he flew into a -passion, and asked them if they thought he -carried the common law on his back. It had -been founded on hundreds of adjudged cases, and -some of the ablest lawyers could scarcely tell what -it was. Penn replied that if it was so difficult to -produce, it could not be common law. He still -pressed for this law, and the Recorder replied, -"It is <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">lex non scripta</i>, that which many have -studied thirty or forty years to know, and would -you have me tell you in a moment?" "Certainly," -replied Penn; "if the common law be so hard to -be understood, it is far from being common."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> -And he proceeded to tell them what the law was, -and how the rights of prisoners were secured by -the Acts of Henry III. and Edwards I. and III. -On this the court became furious, and the Lord -Mayor said, "My lord, if you take not some -course with this pestilent fellow, to stop his mouth, -we shall not be able to do anything to-night."</p> - -<p>This was the style of treatment throughout the -trial, but the prisoners stood firm, and were therefore -taken away and thrust into the bail-dock -whilst the Recorder charged the jury. But as the -prisoners could catch what he was saying, which -was most grossly false, Penn shouted out that it -was contrary to all law to charge the jury in the -absence of the prisoners. He then told the jury -that <em>they</em> were his judges, and that they could not -return a verdict till they were fully heard. The -Recorder shouted, "Pull that fellow down, pull -him down." Under such circumstances of violence, -violence only too common in those days, the jury -proceeded to bring in their verdict, which was, -"Guilty of Speaking in Gracechurch Street." -"And is that all?" exclaimed the Lord Mayor. -"You mean guilty of speaking to a tumultuous -assembly." The foreman replied, "My lord, that -is all that I have in commission." In a fury, and -with much browbeating, the jury were sent back -to amend their verdict, but when again called into -court, they brought it in writing, with all their -signatures, only strengthening it by adding, "or -preaching to an assembly." As that was no -crime, the court in a rage ordered the jury to be -shut up all night without meat, drink, fire, candle, -tobacco, or any of the most necessary accommodations. -Penn enjoined them to stand firm, -and not give away their right, and one of them, -named Edward Bushell, declared they never -would. When brought up the next day, the jury -declared they had no other verdict. This infuriated -the Lord Mayor and Recorder beyond -patience, and they vowed they would have a -verdict out of them, or they should starve for it. -Bushell replied they had acted according to their -conscience, whereupon the Mayor said, "That -conscience of yours would cut my throat, but I -will cut yours as soon as I can." The Recorder -added, addressing Bushell, "You are a factious -fellow; I will set a mark upon you, and whilst I -have anything to do in the City, I will have -an eye upon you." The Lord Mayor, addressing -the jury, said, "Have you no more wit than to be -led by such a pitiful fellow? I will cut his nose."</p> - -<p>Penn protested against their jury being thus -insulted and abused. "Unhappy," he exclaimed, -"are these juries, who are threatened to be -starved, fined, and ruined if they give not in their -verdict contrary to their consciences." "My -lord," cried the Recorder, "you must take a -course with this fellow;" and the Mayor shouted, -"Stop his mouth! Gaoler, bring fetters and -stake him to the ground!" To which Penn -replied, "Do your pleasure: I matter not your -fetters!" On this the Recorder exclaimed, "Till -now I never understood the reason of the policy -and prudence of the Spaniards in suffering the -Inquisition among them; and certainly it will -never be well with us till something like the -Spanish Inquisition be in England." The jury -was again shut up all night under the same condition -of starvation, darkness, and destitution of -common conveniences; but like brave men, after -being thus imprisoned and starved for two days -and two nights, they shortened their verdict into -"Not guilty."</p> - -<p>Defeated by the noble endurance of this truly -English jury, the court fined every member of it -forty marks, for not doing as the bench required, -and committed them to prison till it was paid. -They also fined Penn and Mead for contempt of -court, and sent them to prison, too, till it was paid. -The parties thus shamefully treated, however, had -shown they were Englishmen, and were not likely -to sit down with this tyranny quietly. They -brought the case before the Lord Chief Justice -Vaughan, who pronounced the whole proceedings -illegal, and from the bench delivered a noble -defence of the rights of juries.</p> - -<p>This trial is a fair specimen of the spirit and -practice of those times. The greater part of the -magistrates and judges took their cue from the -spirit of the Government; and the scenes of -violence and injustice, of persecution for religion, -and of robbery by officials of the outraged people, -were of a kind not easily conceivable at this -day.</p> - -<p>Parliament being prorogued to October, Charles -was now engaged in completing the secret treaty -between himself and Louis, by which he was to be -an annual pensioner on France to an extent -releasing him in a great measure from dependence -on his own Parliament. On his part, he was to -employ the naval and military power of England -to promote the wicked designs of Louis against -his neighbours on the Continent. The conditions -of the treaty were these:—1st, That the King of -England should profess himself Catholic at such -time as should seem to him most expedient, and -after that profession should join Louis in a war on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -Holland when the French king thought proper; -2nd, That to prevent or suppress any insurrection -in consequence of this public avowal, Louis should -furnish him with two millions of livres (nearly one -hundred thousand pounds) and an armed force of -six thousand troops if necessary; 3rd, That Louis -should not violate the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, -and Charles should be allowed to maintain it; -4th, That if new rights on the Spanish monarchy -should accrue to Louis, Charles should aid him -with all his power in obtaining these rights; 5th, -That both monarchs should make war on Holland, -and neither conclude peace without the knowledge -and consent of the other; 6th, That the King of -France should bear the charge of the war, but receive -from England a force of six thousand men; -7th, That Charles should furnish fifty, Louis thirty -men-of-war, the combined fleet to be commanded -by the Duke of York; and that to support the -charge of the war, the King of England should, -during the war, receive annually three million of -livres, about one hundred and fifty thousand -pounds. England was to receive of the Dutch spoil -Walcheren, Sluys, and the Island of Cadsand, and -the interests of the Prince of Orange were to be -guaranteed. These were the chief provisions of -the Treaty of Dover.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_232.jpg" width="560" height="426" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE ASSAULT ON SIR JOHN COVENTRY. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_232big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Perhaps the whole history of the world does not -furnish a more infamous bargain, not even the -partition of Poland in later days. Here was a -King of England selling himself to the French -monarch for money, to enable him to put down -Protestantism and Parliament in Britain, to do -all and more than his father lost his head for -attempting—for Charles I. never plotted against -the Protestant religion. This was bad enough, -but the bargain went to enable France to put its -foot on the neck of England, and to employ its -forces to destroy Protestantism abroad—Protestantism -and liberty; to throw Holland, and -eventually all the Netherlands, and then Spain, -into the power of France, making of it an empire -so gigantic that neither freedom, nor Protestantism, -nor any political independence could ever -more exist. Had this infamous scheme come to -light in Charles's time, the Stuarts would not -have been driven out in 1688, but then and there. -But that this odious bargain did actually take -place, and was acted on, so far as Charles's domestic -vices and extravagance permitted, later times<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> -produced the fullest evidence. The above Treaty -was deposited with Sir Thomas Clifford; and Sir -John Dalrymple, seeking in the archives at Paris -for material for his "Memoirs of Great Britain -and Ireland," published in 1790, unexpectedly -stumbled on the damning evidences—under the -hands of Charles and his ministers themselves—of -this unholy transaction and its reward. The -Duke of York was at first said to be averse from -this secret treason and slavery, but he fell into it, -and received his share of the money, as well as -Buckingham, through whose agency a second treaty -was effected, raising the annual sum to five million -of livres, or nearly two hundred and fifty thousand -pounds a year; the article requiring the king's -change of religion being omitted altogether, -Charles, meanwhile, having shown his readiness to -engage in the Dutch war, which was the main -question. Ashley and Lauderdale, Clifford and -Arlington were also in the secret, and had their -reward. Many were the suspicions of this diabolical -business which oozed out, and much talk -was the consequence at times; the proofs were -preserved with inscrutable secrecy during the lives -of the parties concerned, discovery being utter and -inevitable destruction. The French copy of the -Treaty has hitherto escaped all research.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_233.jpg" width="560" height="404" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE DISGRACE OF LORD CLARENDON AFTER HIS LAST INTERVIEW WITH THE KING IN WHITEHALL PALACE, 1667.</p> - -<p class="smaller"><span class="smcap">From the Painting by E. M. WARD in the National Gallery of British Art.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_233big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>To induce Charles to declare war without -waiting for his confession of Catholicism, Louis -sent over Charles's sister, Henrietta, Duchess of -Orleans. The king met her at Dover, and the -point was discussed, but Charles would not move -another step till the Treaty was formally signed, -and the first payment made. The duchess, indeed, -was much more earnest on her own affairs. She -was most miserably married to the Duke of -Orleans, the brother and heir-apparent of Louis, -who treated her with cruelty and neglect for other -women. She was anxious for a divorce and to live -in England, but Charles would not hear of what -was so hostile to his interests. The unfortunate -duchess returned to Paris, and within three weeks -she was a corpse, though only twenty-six years of -age. There was every reason to believe that she -was poisoned, though the doctors, on a <em>postmortem</em> -examination, declared there were no signs of -poison; but what was the value of the testimony -of medical men given at the risk of their heads? -On her deathbed, when questioned by Montague, -the ambassador, as to her belief on that point, -though warned by her confessor to accuse nobody, -the poor woman would not say that she had no -suspicions, but only shrugged her shoulders, a -significant expression of her internal conviction.</p> - -<p>The duchess left behind her in England one of -her maids, a Mademoiselle Querouaille, or, as the -English came to call her, Madam Carwell, whom -Louis had selected as a spy and agent, feeling assured -that she would soon captivate this amorous -king, which she did at once, and became, in the -usual way, his mistress, and at the same time maid of -honour to the queen. She was soon advanced to -the title of Duchess of Portsmouth, and so well -did she serve the purposes of Louis, that in 1673 -he gave her also a French title and estate. It -was now thought by Charles and James that they -could venture to put down the liberties, and, as -James earnestly advocated, the religion of the -nation. It was proposed to fortify Portsmouth, -Hull, and Plymouth, at which towns French -soldiers might be introduced, and James having -the command of the fleet, no interruption to their -transit could take place. When Parliament met -in October, Charles observed that both Holland -and France were increasing their navies—he could -have told them really why—and on pretence of -necessary caution, he demanded large supplies to -place our own navy on a proper footing. There -were complaints of prodigality and hints of Popery -thrown out, but a sum of no less than two million -five hundred thousand pounds was voted, by taxes -on land, stock, law proceedings, and salaries—in -fact, an income and property tax. There -was a proposal to tax theatres, and when it was -objected that the theatres contributed to his -Majesty's pleasure, Sir John Coventry asked -sarcastically, "whether his Majesty's pleasure lay -amongst the men or the women players?"</p> - -<p>For this remark Sir John was made to pay -severely. The King and the whole Court were -furious at his hard hit against the Moll Davieses -and Nell Gwynns. The king declared that he -would send a detachment of the Guards to watch -in the street where Sir John Coventry lived, and -set a mark upon him. The Duke of York in vain -endeavoured to dissuade the king; the Duke of -Monmouth, who was living on terms of great professed -friendship with Coventry, yet undertook the -execution of the business. He sent Sandys, his -lieutenant, and O'Brien, the son of Lord Inchiquin, -with thirteen soldiers, who waited for Sir John -as he returned from Parliament on the evening -of the 21st of December, 1670, and encountering -him in the Haymarket, assaulted him. Sir John -placed his back to the wall, snatched the flambeau -from the hands of his servant, and with that in one -hand he so well plied his sword with the other, -that he wounded several of the soldiers, and got<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> -more credit by his gallantry than for any action in -his life. But he was overpowered by numbers in -the end, beaten to the ground, and then had his -nose cut to the bone with a penknife, to make a -mark for life, to teach him respect for the king. -They then went back to the Duke of Monmouth's, -where O'Brien, who was wounded in the arm, had -it dressed. Coventry had his nose so well sewed -up, that the trace of the outrage was scarcely discernible; -but the House of Commons, even such a -House, resented this dastardly attempt on one of -its members, and it passed an Act making it -felony without benefit of clergy to cut or maim the -person, and banishing for life the four principal -offenders unless they surrendered before a certain -day, as well as rendering the crime incapable of pardon, -even by Act of Parliament. But Monmouth -and his assistants got out of the way, and the Parliament -never had the virtue to enforce its own Act.</p> - -<p>The year 1671 was chiefly employed in preparing -for the war with Holland. Though Charles -was under condition to become an avowed Roman -Catholic, he published a proclamation, declaring -that, as he had always adhered to the true religion -as established, he would still maintain it by all the -means in his power. De Witt, who was aware of -what was going on, hastened to make a treaty with -Spain, and Louis demanded a free passage through -the Netherlands to attack Holland, or declared -that he would force one at the head of sixty -thousand men. Whilst war was thus impending, -the Duchess of York, Hyde's daughter, died. She -had been for some time a professed Catholic. -Henrietta Maria, the mother of Charles, had died -in August, 1669, at the Castle of Colombe, near -Paris.</p> - -<p>Charles and his ministers of the Cabal bribed by -Louis (who even pensioned the mistress of Buckingham, -Lady Shrewsbury, with ten thousand livres -a year) prepared to rush into the war against -Holland in the hope of retrieving past disgraces, -and securing some valuable prizes. At the close -of the last session, on pretence of maintaining the -Triple Alliance, the very thing they were intending -to betray, and of keeping Louis of France in check, -whom they were, in fact, going to assist in his -aggressions, they procured eight hundred thousand -pounds from the Commons, and then immediately -prorogued Parliament. But this most unprincipled -trick was nothing to what they were -preparing to perpetrate.</p> - -<p>During the recess of Parliament, it was suddenly -announced by proclamation on the 2nd of January, -1672, that the Exchequer was shut. To understand -what was meant by this most flagitious act, we -must recollect that Charles was in the habit of -anticipating the supplies voted, by borrowing of -the London bankers and goldsmiths, and granting -them some branch of revenue to refund themselves -with interest. He had at this time obtained -one million three hundred thousand pounds in this -manner, but calculating that the Dutch war could -not be carried on without larger means than the -recent Parliamentary grant, it was therefore announced -that Government was not prepared to -repay the principal borrowed, or, in other terms, -could not grant the annual security of the incoming -taxes, but the lenders must be content with the -interest. This would enable the Government to -receive the revenue themselves instead of paying -their just debts with it. The consternation was -terrible. The Exchequer had hitherto kept its -engagements honourably, and had thus obtained -this liberal credit. The lenders, in their turn, -could not meet the demands of their creditors. -The Exchange was in a panic, many of the bankers -and mercantile houses failed, a great shock was -given to credit throughout the kingdom, and many -annuitants, widows, and orphans, who had deposited -their money with them, were reduced to -ruin. Ashley and Clifford were said to have been -the authors of the scheme, but Ashley was a man of -infinite schemes, and probably was the original inventor. -Government declared that the postponement -of payment should only be for one year; but -the greater part of the money was never again repaid, -and this sum so fraudulently obtained became -the nucleus of the National Debt.</p> - -<p>The manner in which the Government commenced -the war on Holland was characterised by -the same infamous disregard of all honourable -principle. Though Charles had bound himself to -make war on the Dutch, he had no cause of quarrel -with them, whatever he pretended to have. When -Louis menaced them with hostilities, Charles -offered himself as a mediator, and the Dutch regarded -him as such. Under these circumstances -he sent Sir Robert Holmes with a large fleet to -intercept a Dutch fleet of merchantmen coming -from the Levant, and calculated to be worth a -million and a half. Holmes, in going out, saw the -squadron of Sir Edward Spragge at the back of the -Isle of Wight, which had lately returned from -destroying the Algerine navy; and though his -orders were to take all the vessels along with him -that he could find at Portsmouth, or should meet -at sea, lest Spragge should obtain some of the -glory and benefit, he passed on and gave him no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> -summons. The next day he descried the expected -Dutch fleet; but to his chagrin he found that it -was well convoyed by seven men-of-war, and the -merchantmen, sixty in number, were many of them -well armed. The vast preparations of Louis, and -some recent movements of the English, had put -them on their guard. Notwithstanding Charles's -hypocritical offers of friendly mediation, he had -withdrawn the honourable Sir William Temple -from the Hague, and sent thither the unprincipled -Downing, a man so detested there, that the mob -chased him away. Van Nesse, the Dutch admiral, -successfully resisted the attack of Holmes, who -only managed to cut off one man-of-war and four -merchantmen. The chagrin of Charles was equal -to the disgrace with which this base action covered -him and his ministers. Both his own subjects and -foreigners denounced the action in fitting terms, -and Holmes was styled "the cursed beginner of -the two Dutch wars."</p> - -<p>There was nothing now for it but to declare war, -which was done by both England and France. -Charles mustered up a list of trumpery charges, -which, bad as they were, would have come with a -better grace before attacking his allies without -any notice—the detention of English traders in -Surinam; the neglect to strike the Dutch flag to -him in the narrow seas; and refusal to regulate -their trade relations according to treaty. Louis -simply complained of insults, and declared his intention -to assert his glory. Under such thin veils -did Louis and his bond-slave Charles attempt to -hide their real intentions.</p> - -<p>The Dutch fleet was not long in appearing at sea -with seventy-five sail under De Ruyter. On the 3rd -of May the Duke of York, admiral of the English -fleet, consisting of only forty sail of the line, descried -this powerful armament posted between Calais and -Dover, to prevent his junction with the French -fleet. He managed, however, to pass unobserved, -and join the French squadron under D'Estrées, La -Rabiniere, and Du Quesne. On the 28th they came -to an engagement near Southwold Bay; the battle -was terrible—scarcely any of these sanguinary -conflicts of those times with the Dutch more so.</p> - -<p>Owing to the wind and tide, not more than -twenty of the English sail could engage the enemy. -The French squadron under D'Estrées formed in -opposition to the Zeeland squadron of Banker; but -they stood away under easy sail southward and -never came to action; in fact, it was the well-known -policy of Louis to allow the Dutch and -English to play the bulldogs with each other, and -to spare his own infant navy. The Duke of York, -with a part of the Red squadron, opposed De -Ruyter; the Earl of Sandwich, with part of the -blue, Van Ghent and the Amsterdam fleet. The -English were so surrounded by multitudes of the -enemy, that they could afford little aid to each -other, and were exposed on all sides to a most merciless -fire. By eleven o'clock the Duke of York's -ship was totally disabled, and had lost one-third of -her men. He himself escaped out of a cabin -window, and got on board the <em>St. Michael</em>, of -seventy guns. Poor old Admiral Montagu, Earl -of Sandwich, in the <em>Royal James</em>, did marvels of -valour. Surrounded by the enemy, he boarded a -seventy-gun ship that lay athwart his hawse, and -killed Van Ghent, the Dutch admiral; but assailed -by two fire-ships, he destroyed one, and the other -destroyed him. The <em>Royal James</em> was blown up, -and thus the old man, who had so long figured -both under the Commonwealth and Crown, finished -his career. He had a foreboding of his fate, and -told Evelyn, when he took leave of him to go on -board, that he would see him no more. Two -hundred of his men escaped.</p> - -<p>In the afternoon the <em>St. Michael</em>, to which the -Duke had fled, was also sinking, and he had to remove -to the <em>London</em>. In the evening the Dutch -fleet drew off, and the next morning the two divisions -of the English fleet joined and offered battle, but -De Ruyter tacked about and a chase commenced. -Twice the English were on the point of pouring -their broadsides into the enemy, when a fog saved -them, and on the second day the Dutch took refuge -within the Wierings. The duke showed unquestionable -courage on this occasion; no real advantage -to the country, however, but much cost and -damage, resulted from this unnatural war to prostrate -a Protestant country, in order to pander to the -mad ambition of the French king. Louis all this -time was taking advantage of the Dutch being thus -engaged. He marched upon Holland with one -hundred thousand men, assisted by the military -talent of Turenne, Condé, and Luxembourg. He -took Orsoi, Burick, Wesel, and Rhinberg on the -Rhine, crossed the river at Schneck in the face of -the enemy, and overran three of the seven united -provinces. The city of Amsterdam itself was in -consternation, for the fires of the French camp could -be seen from the top of the Stadt House. Even the -great De Witt was in despair; but at this crisis -Holland was saved by a youth whose family had -been jealously thrust from the Stadtholdership. -This was William of Orange, afterwards William -III. of England.</p> - -<p>William of Nassau was the nephew of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> -English King, being the son of Charles's sister. -He was then only twenty-one years of age, of -a sickly constitution, and at that time of no -experience in State or military affairs. The House -of Nassau had acquired almost sovereign power in -Holland, from having rescued the country from -the cruel yoke of Spain, and had rendered the -office of stadtholder almost synonymous with king. -The municipal body, the aristocracy of the -country, jealous of the powers and aims of the -House of Orange, at the death of William's father -had abolished for ever the office of stadtholder, -and placed the government of the country in the -hands of the Town Council, the Provincial States, -and the States-General. De Witt, the Grand -Pensionary of the Province of Holland, was made -Chief Minister, and conducted the government -with consummate ability. William of Orange -was a posthumous child and a ward of De Witt, -who was also at the same time at the head -of the Louvestein faction, which was violently -opposed to the House of Nassau. But William of -Orange stood high in the affections of the people. -They regarded with as much jealousy the municipal -oligarchy which ruled the country as that did -the House of Nassau. They felt that the Orange -family had achieved the independence of Holland, -and, being themselves shut out from all influence -in State affairs, they sympathised with the young -prince. Besides, he had a princely fortune, the -possession of territories entrenched behind the -river Maas, and the dykes of South Holland, not -easily invaded, and was not only a prince of the -German Empire, but of the royal blood of -England.</p> - -<p>The people, now seeing the critical condition to -which the Louvestein faction had reduced their -country, demanded that the command of the army -should be put into the hands of William. De -Witt, who could not prevent it, endeavoured to -persuade the people to bind the prince by an oath -never to aspire to the stadtholdership; but the -Orange party now seized their opportunity to -rouse the people against the oligarchy, and they -did it to such effect that De Witt and his -brother were torn to pieces by the populace before -the gates of the palace of the States-General at the -Hague (July 24, 1672). William, who had no share -in the murder, however, committed the same grave -error as he did afterwards in England, in the case -of the massacre of Glencoe—he rewarded the -murderers, and accepted the office of Commander-in-Chief. -Low as the country was reduced, its -very danger was its strongest means of rescue. -Germany and Spain, alarmed for the consequences -to Europe, sent promises of speedy assistance, and -even Charles II. seemed to perceive the folly of -his proceedings. The war at sea had brought -nothing but expense and bloodshed. If Spain -came to a rupture with France, England would lose -the benefit of its lucrative Spanish trade. Charles -had sent six thousand troops, according to treaty, -to assist Louis in Holland, under the command -of his son Monmouth, who displayed no talents as -a general, but plenty of courage—a quality of the -family. With him he sent Buckingham, Arlington, -and Saville as plenipotentiaries. These -ministers now hastened to the Hague, and expressed -the friendly feeling of England towards -Holland. The Dowager Princess of Holland, who -knew what friendliness had been shown towards -his nephew by Charles, who, Buckingham said, -did not wish to use Holland like a mistress, but -love like a wife, replied, "Truly, I believe you -would love us as you do your wife!"—a hard hit. -From the Hague they proceeded to the camp of -Louis, who, however, before he would treat with -the Dutch, made the English sign a new treaty -that they would not agree to any separate peace.</p> - -<p>The terms then proposed by these allies show -how little they were aware of the power yet lurking -in the invalid but stubborn and subtle young -Prince of Orange. Charles required, on his part, -the dignity of stadtholder for the prince, his -nephew, the acknowledgment of England's sovereignty -of the narrow seas, ten thousand pounds -per annum for liberty of fishing on the English -coasts, and the fortresses of Goree, Flushing, and -some others as a guarantee for the payment. -Louis demanded all the territory lying on the left -bank of the Rhine, all such places as the French had -formerly wrested from Spain, seventeen millions -of livres as indemnification of the costs of the -war, which he had himself commenced, and an -annual gold medal in acknowledgment of his -surrendering the three provinces he had now -taken, but in reality in retaliation for the medal -which the States had cast on the formation of the -Triple Alliance. They were also to grant freedom -of worship to the Catholics.</p> - -<p>William of Orange bade them reject the whole -of these conditions. He told them that even were -they beaten to the last, they could transport -themselves with their wealth to the Indian Archipelago, -and then erect in Java and the isles a new -and more resplendent Holland, with a new and -vast world around them for their empire. The -courage of the people rose at the dauntless spirit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> -of their young prince, and they resolved to resist -to the last man. William ordered the dykes to -be cut; the invaders were obliged by a precipitate -retreat to seek their own safety. Amsterdam was -saved, and the different towns of Holland stood -isolated amid a vast sea, which no enemy could -approach without a large fleet of flat-bottomed -boats, and supplies which must be conveyed by -the same mode. Meanwhile William, where he -could reach the French, beat them in several -smart actions, and thus further raised the courage -of his countrymen, whilst forces from Germany -were fast pouring down the Rhine to their aid.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_237.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, FIRST EARL OF SHAFTESBURY. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Peter Lely.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_237big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Louis XIV., who by no means relished a campaign -of this kind, returned to Paris, and left -Turenne to contend with the enemy, who, though -he displayed the highest military talents, and still -held many strong places, saw that the conquest of -Holland was little better than hopeless. At sea -the Duke of York arrived off the Dogger Bank, -to intercept the Dutch East India fleet in vain, -and De Ruyter lay snug in port.</p> - -<p>At home Charles had promoted his Cabal -Ministry, as if they had done some great deed, to -honours and titles. Clifford was called Lord -Clifford of Chudleigh; Lord Arlington, Earl of -Arlington; and Ashley, Earl of Shaftesbury. -Buckingham and Arlington received the honour -of the Garter. In order to protect the bankers -whom he had kept out of their money from the -suits commenced against them by their creditors -in Chancery, Charles desired Bridgeman to enter -an injunction there, but Bridgeman doubted the -rectitude of the proceeding, and he was removed, -and Shaftesbury put in his place (1672), who -at once issued the injunction, and appointed a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> -distant day for hearing evidence against it. -Ashley, as the new Lord Chancellor, displayed a -vanity and eccentricity which caused him to be -greatly ridiculed by the lawyers. He went to -preside on the bench in "an ash-coloured gown -silver-laced, and full-ribboned pantaloons." He at -first acted with much self-sufficiency and conceit, -but was soon brought to his senses by the lawyers, -and afterwards became one of the most tame and -complying judges that ever sat on the bench. -Violent altercation, however, arose between Ashley -and Arlington, who expected Ashley's place made -vacant in the Treasury, which was given to -Clifford.</p> - -<p>On the 5th of February, 1673, Parliament was -summoned after a recess of nearly a year and a -half. Ashley undertook to justify the shutting of -the Exchequer and the Dutch war. But the days -of the Cabal were numbered. The king, by their -advice, had, during the recess, issued a Declaration -of Indulgence. This was done with the hope -of winning the support of the Nonconformists and -the Papists. But of all subjects, that of indulgence -of conscience in religion, at that period, -was the most double-edged. The Nonconformists -were ready enough to enjoy indulgence, but then -the eternal suspicion that it was intended only as -a cloak for the indulgence of Popery made them -rather satisfied to be without it than enjoy it at -that peril. No sooner, therefore, had they -granted Charles the liberal sum of one million -two hundred thousand pounds, to be collected by -eighteen monthly assessments, than the Commons -fell on this Proclamation of Indulgence. The -members of the Church and the Nonconformists -united in their denunciation of it. On the 10th -of February they resolved, by a majority of one -hundred and sixty-eight to one hundred and -sixteen, that "penal statutes, in matters ecclesiastical, -cannot be suspended except by Act of -Parliament." Charles stood for awhile on his -prerogative, but the effervescence in the House -and country was so great that he gave way, and -his declaration, on the 8th of March, that what he -had done should not be drawn into a precedent, -was received with acclamations by both Houses, -and by rejoicings and bonfires by the people. -Shaftesbury immediately passed over to the -Country party, as the Opposition was called.</p> - -<p>The Cabal was now forced to submit to another -humiliation. The Country party introduced, at -the instance of Shaftesbury, an Act requiring -every person holding any office, civil or military, -not only to take the oath of Allegiance and -Supremacy, but also to receive the Sacrament in -the form prescribed by the Church of England, or -be incapable of accepting or holding such office. -All such persons were likewise required to make -a declaration against Transubstantiation, under a -penalty of five hundred pounds, of being disabled -from suing in any court of law, and from being a -guardian or executor. This Act was passed by -both Houses unanimously, the Nonconformists -being promised that another Bill should be introduced -to protect them from the operation of this. -But before it was done Parliament was prorogued -on the 29th of March, and they were caught in -their own trap.</p> - -<p>No sooner was this Act passed, which became -known as the Test Act, and continued in force -till the reign of George IV., than the Cabal fell to -pieces. Its immediate effect was to compel Lord -Clifford and Arlington to resign: the wedge was -thus introduced into the Cabal, and the Duke of -York, who resigned his office of Lord High -Admiral, became inimical to them. The office of -Lord Treasurer, resigned by Clifford, was given by -the king to Sir Thomas Osborne, a gentleman of -Yorkshire, who was created Earl of Danby, and -became in reality Prime Minister. The rise of -Danby was the certain destruction of the Cabal. -His foreign policy was entirely opposed to theirs: -he saw clearly enough the ruinous course of -aggrandising France at the expense of the Protestant -States of Europe; his views of domestic -policy were more profound, though not less unprincipled -than theirs. He saw the necessity of -combining the old Royalist and Church interests -for the support of the throne, but he set about -this process by buying up the favour of the -Cavaliers, the nobles, the country gentlemen, and -the clergy and universities. He was not the first -to bribe—the Cabal had done that so far as Parliament -members were concerned—but Danby, like -Walpole, and the ministers after him, bought up -by direct bribes or lucrative appointments any -and every man that could secure his views.</p> - -<p>When Parliament reassembled on the 7th of -January, 1674, there appeared alarming proofs of -some whispered disclosures having taken place -during the disruptions in the Cabal, regarding the -king's secret treaty with Louis. Charles solemnly -denied his having any secret engagement whatever -with France. Parliament also exhibited its uneasiness -regarding the practices of the Papists. -The Duke of York, since the prorogation of -Parliament on the 4th of November last, had -married Maria D'Este, a Catholic princess, sister of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> -the Duke of Modena. This had roused all the -fears of the country regarding the succession, -and the Commons recommended severe measures -against the Papists, and that the militia should be -ready at an hour's notice to act against any disturbances -on their part. They also demanded the -removal from the ministry of all persons Popishly -affected, and of those who advised the alliance -with France and the rupture with Holland, and -the placing a foreigner at the head of the army. -Both army and navy, in fact, were commanded by -foreigners—Prince Rupert had succeeded the -Duke of York as admiral; Schomberg was sent -with the army to Holland.</p> - -<p>Charles himself not having been able in the -autumn to draw his pension from Louis, and -Parliament now holding fast its purse-strings, he -was ready to listen to terms from Holland, -whereby the triumph of the Country party was -completed. On this the States offered, through -the Spanish ambassador, Del Fresno, the terms -which they had once already refused. The -conquests on both sides should be restored, the -honour of the flag conceded to England, and -eight hundred thousand crowns should be paid -Charles for indemnification for the expenses -of the war. Had the terms been far inferior, -the fact of the money would probably have -decided the matter with Charles. As to the -dignity of stadtholder for William, the States -themselves settled that, by conferring it on him -and his heirs for ever, before the time of their -treaty, and nothing whatever was said of the ten -thousand pounds for liberty to fish. On the 9th -of February the treaty was signed, and on the -11th announced to Parliament by Charles.</p> - -<p>We may now take a brief glance at proceedings -in Scotland and Ireland.</p> - -<p>In Scotland Archbishop Sharp had pursued his -persecuting and coercive system to such an extent, -that Charles was obliged to order him not to overstep -his proper duties, but to confine himself to -spiritual concerns alone. Such was the hatred -which this renegade Churchman had excited, that -in 1668 a young man of the name of Mitchell, who -had witnessed the horrible cruelties which followed -the battle of Rullion Green, believed himself called -upon to put Sharp to death. He therefore posted -himself in front of the archbishop's palace in St. -Andrews, and as the archbishop came out with -the Bishop of Orkney to get into his carriage, -he stepped up and fired at Sharp, who was just -seated; but at the same moment the Bishop of -Orkney raised his arm to enter the carriage, and -received the ball in his wrist. There was a cry -that a man was killed, but some one exclaimed, -"It is only a bishop!" and Mitchell, coolly -crossing the street, mixed with the crowd, -walked away, and changed his coat; and though -the Council offered a large reward for his apprehension, -it was six years before he was discovered.</p> - -<p>The Earl of Rothes had been removed from the -office of Royal Commissioner, and the Earl of -Tweeddale, who now occupied that post, endeavoured -to soften the spirit of persecution, -and granted a certain indulgence. This was -to admit the ejected ministers to such of their -livings as were vacant, or to appoint them to -others, provided they would accept collation -from the bishop, and attend the presbyteries -and synods. But this was to concede the -question of episcopacy, and the king's supremacy -in the Church. The more complying of the ejected -members, to the number of forty-three, accepted -the offer; but they found that by so doing they -had forfeited the respect of their flocks, who -deserted their churches, and crowded to other -preachers more stanch to their principles. Lauderdale -soon after returned to Scotland, and his -very first proceeding was to pass an Act to appoint -Commissioners to co-operate with English Commissioners, -to endeavour to effect a union of the two -kingdoms. His next was to pass another, converting -the Act of Allegiance into an act of absolute -Supremacy. This at once annihilated the independence -of the Kirk; and a third Act was to give the -king a right to maintain an army, and to march it -to any part of the king's dominions. This was so -evidently a step towards despotism, that not only -in Scotland, but in the English Parliament, the -indignation was great, and the English Commons -presented an address to the Crown, praying for -Lauderdale's removal. The address, however, -produced no effect. Lauderdale proceeded, plausibly -offering indulgence to such easy-principled -ministers as would accept livings subject to the -oath of Supremacy and the acknowledgment of -bishops, whilst at the same time he passed an -Act in July, 1670, more rigorously prohibiting -conventicles within private houses or in the open -air. Any minister preaching or praying at such -meetings was to suffer forfeiture of both life and -property. The Scots did not understand this -kind of indulgence, which allowed their ministers -to enter their churches by the sacrifice of their -moral principles, and put them to death if they -took the liberty of following their consciences.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> -The people took arms and went to their meetings, -determined to defend their preachers and themselves. -Lauderdale then, with the aid of Archbishop -Leighton, extended the "indulgence" to -all such ministers as would attend presbyteries, -where the bishops should have no negative voice; -but this did not deceive the people. The rigour -against their own chosen ministers and places -of worship was kept up, and they declared -that bishops, even without a negative voice in -the presbyteries, were bishops still; that such -assemblies had no resemblance to those previous -to 1638; that they had no power of the keys, -no ordination, no jurisdiction; that the whole was -but a snare to draw in unwary or self-interested -ministers, and after them their flocks. To assent -to such terms would be apostacy from the principles -of the Kirk. Lauderdale made another step in his -"indulgence" in 1673. He named eighty ejected -ministers, and ordered them to repair to their -churches and officiate there, but nowhere else, -under severe penalties. This was to lock up the -conventicles in which these preachers ministered. -About one-fourth of the number refused to obey, -and were confined by order of the Council to -particular places. But this did not diminish the -number of conventicles: it only excited a schism -between the complying and the non-complying. -He next passed an act of grace, pardoning all -offences against the Conventicle Acts committed -before the 4th of March, 1674; but this only -encouraged the people to fresh freedom in their -attendance on conventicles. They regarded his -concessions as certain proofs of his weakness, and -scorning any compliance with episcopacy and royal -supremacy, their independent meetings spread and -abounded more than ever. They assembled in -vacant churches, where they would not have -entered to listen to what they called an intrusive -minister, or in the open air in glen or mountain, -around a lofty pole erected as a signal. "The -parish churches of the curates," says Kirton, -"came to be like pest-houses, few went into any -of them, and none to some; so the doors were -kept locked." No policy, however severe or -plausibly insinuating, could induce the wary -Scots to swallow the hated pill of episcopacy.</p> - -<p>In Ireland, the prohibition of importing Irish -cattle into England was followed by a like prohibition -from the Scottish Parliament, and -the Irish Parliament retaliated by prohibiting -Scottish woollens being imported into Ireland. -These illiberal measures only spread mischief and -misery on all sides. So long as the Duke of -Ormond retained the lord-lieutenancy, he endeavoured -to mitigate these evils. He procured -the liberty of free trade between Ireland and all -foreign countries, whether at war or peace with -England; and five hundred families of Walloons -were induced to settle in Ireland and to establish -the manufacture of woollen and linen cloths. -But the many sufferers from the Act of Settlement, -which confirmed the possession of the Irish -lands in the hands of the English soldiers and -adventurers, complained greatly of Ormond, and -his enemies at Court procured his removal in -1669. After him succeeded Lord Robartes, and -next Lord Berkeley; but it mattered little who -governed, nothing could induce the natives to sit -down quietly under the loss of their estates, and -that, too, whilst they had been often firm loyalists -and the intruders rebels. In 1671 a Commission -was appointed to inquire into all alleged grievances, -consisting of Prince Rupert, Buckingham, Lauderdale, -Anglesey, Ashley, and others. This lasted -till March 26th, 1673, but ended in nothing. -The possessors of the Irish lands were too powerful -at Court, and no result followed but fresh -severities against the Catholics, who were expelled -from all corporations, and their priests banished -the kingdom.</p> - -<p>The war between France and the confederates—Holland, -Austria, and Spain—had now spread -all over Europe, both by land and sea. Louis -poured his soldiers in torrents into the Netherlands, -and excited insurrections in the dependencies -of Spain. He managed to excite sedition against -her in Sicily, and against Austria in Hungary. -De Ruyter, the famous admiral, was despatched -by the Prince of Orange to assist the Spaniards in -Sicily, and was killed at Messina. On the other -hand, Louis's great general, Turenne, was killed -at the battle of Salzbach, on the Rhine. After -his death, the Austrian general, Montecucculi, -defeated the French repeatedly, and recovered -Alsace. But Vauban, who introduced a new -system of fortification, recovered the ascendency -of Louis, by teaching the French how to defend -towns. Louis maintained this enormous war at -a cost which brought an immense burden on -France, and laid the foundation of the great -Revolution which horrified Europe. On the other -hand, William of Orange manfully maintained -the conflict under many disadvantages. His -authority at home was often questioned; the -governors of the Spanish Netherlands frequently -crossed his plans, and his German allies -frequently failed him. Yet reverse after reverse<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> -was not able to damp his spirit, or overcome his -imperturbable tenacity of purpose. Charles, -during this awful struggle of his nephew, was -enjoying peace, but a most inglorious peace, -purchased by the money of Louis, to allow him -to destroy all the independent States of Europe. -Not even the interests of his own subjects were -protected. In the course of seven months fifty-three -sail of merchantmen were captured by -the French cruisers. The sufferers made loud -complaints, and Charles promised to obtain -restoration, but very little was ever obtained. -He received his annual pension from Louis; and -though he drew it through Chiffinch, his pander -and man of the back stairs, the transaction was -well known to his ministers Danby and Lauderdale, -and his brother the Duke of York.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_241.jpg" width="397" height="520" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>VIEW IN THE HAGUE: THE GEVANGENPOORT IN WHICH CORNELIUS AND JOHN DE WITT WERE IMPRISONED (1672).</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_241big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>When he reassembled his Parliament on the -5th of February, 1677, the Country party, headed -by Shaftesbury and Buckingham in the Lords, -contended that the Parliament was legally at an -end. That, by two statutes of Edward III., -it was required that Parliaments should be -held once a year, or oftener; and this Parliament -having been prorogued for a period of fifteen -months, had ceased to exist. But Lord Chancellor -Finch truly replied, that by the Triennial Act of -Charles I. the vacations were extended to three -years. In the Commons there was also a motion -for a dissolution, but it was postponed. The motion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> -of Buckingham in the Lords to vote the present -Parliament effete was negatived, and he, Salisbury, -Shaftesbury, and Wharton, were ordered by the -House to retract their illegal opinions, and beg -pardon of the House and the king. They refused, -and were committed to the Tower. The -following day the motion for a dissolution in -the Commons was lost by a minority of one -hundred and forty-two to one hundred and -ninety-three. Defeated in the attempt to -break up this corrupt Pension Parliament, the -Opposition in the Lords next endeavoured to -secure the succession against a Catholic prince. -Charles had no children but illegitimate ones, -and James, therefore, was heir to the Crown. -The Bill passed the Lords, and provided that -on the demise of the king, the bishops should -tender a declaration against Transubstantiation -to the heir; and if he refused to take it, they -should appoint to all bishoprics and benefices, -and take charge of the education of the king's -children; but the Commons rejected the Bill on -the ground of the undue power which it conferred -on the bishops; and they immediately threw out -another Bill of the Peers for abolishing the -punishment of death for Popish recusancy. The -two Houses, however, agreed in abolishing the -detestable writ <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">De hæretico comburendo</i>.</p> - -<p>This Parliament has been accused of singular -inconsistency in calling upon the king to declare -war against France, in order to check that country -in its ominous progress against Holland and the -Netherlands, and yet refusing him money. A very -valid plea for anxiously desiring the declaration -of war, and yet shrinking from putting money -into Charles's hands, might have been advanced -had it been an honest Parliament. The nation -saw with great discontent and humiliation the -growing ascendency of France, the increase of -Louis's navy, the expansion of his ambitious -plans, the danger of Protestant Holland, and the -despicable position into which England had -fallen. It had fears of Popery, fears of absolutism -through a standing army. There were -dark rumours, though no direct proofs, of the -king's secret league with France. Whilst they, -therefore, would have willingly granted him -money for a war with France, they dreaded to -do it, knowing how it would go in folly, and -believing how it would go to strengthen despotism. -They did not leave him destitute; he had the excise, -and they now granted six hundred thousand -pounds for the building of new ships; but they -took care to tie it up, by proper securities, to -its legitimate purpose. How well they were -justified was shown by the first use which the -king made of the money now received from -France. The bulk of it went to purchase votes -in the House of Commons.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, this Parliament was little more -honest than the king himself; it was receiving -bribes on all sides. Dalrymple shows that Spanish, -Dutch, German, and French money was freely distributed -amongst the members. In 1673 three -leaders of the Opposition in the Commons were -bribed with six thousand pounds, to induce them -to vote unusually large supplies, and they did -it. They were now in the pay of all the chief -contending countries in Europe. When they -raised the cry of war on this occasion, the king -expressed his readiness, but demanded six hundred -thousand pounds at the least for the necessary expenditure. -Thereupon Spain bribed the patriots -to vote for it with twenty thousand pounds, and -the King of France bribed them against war with -a still larger sum. The proposal was thrown out, -Louis having feed not only the Parliament but the -ministers and the king. On receiving about two -hundred thousand pounds from Louis, Charles -adjourned Parliament on the 16th of April, and -did not call it together again till the next January. -Never, surely, had everything like principle or -patriotism so thoroughly abandoned the nation. -Soon after the adjournment, Buckingham, Salisbury, -and Wharton, made their submission to the -king, and were released; Shaftesbury held out -seven months longer, and then followed their -example.</p> - -<p>During the recess the Prince of Orange came to -England. Though William could place little dependence -on the alliance of his uncle Charles, yet -he could not be insensible that a marriage with -Mary opened up a prospect towards the throne -of England, and that an alliance between the two -Protestant nations must mutually strengthen their -position in Europe. He therefore began to cultivate -the friendship of Danby, the Prime Minister, -and then solicited the union which he had before -declined. The overture was received with a coldness -that the more sensibly impressed the prince -with the political blunder which he had committed. -He therefore humbled himself, and requested -permission to make a visit to London and -apologise for his past conduct and explain his -future views. Charles not only resented William's -refusal of his former offer, but he was jealous of -his intrigues with the popular leaders; and -though he did not forbid his coming, he stipulated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> -that he should return before the meeting of Parliament. -On the 9th of October he joined his uncle -at Newmarket, and, having the services of Danby -and Temple, Charles was soon persuaded to his -marriage with the princess. James appeared at -first averse from the connection, but he soon acquiesced; -and whilst Charles boasted of having -made this alliance to secure the religion of the -nation, James took credit to himself from his consent, -of proving how false were the suspicions -which had been expressed of his intention to -make changes in both the religion and the State. -The marriage gave universal satisfaction, and -during the festivities with which it was celebrated -at Court, in November, 1677, William engaged the -king in the project of a general peace. The following -were the proposals arrived at by them, to be -submitted to the different Powers: That Holland -and France should mutually restore the conquests -that they had made; that the Duchy of Lorraine -should be restored to the duke, its rightful sovereign; -and that France should keep possession of -the places won from Spain, except Ath, Charleroi, -Oudenarde, Courtrai, Tournai, Condé, and Valenciennes, -which should be restored, and form a chain -of fortresses between the new frontier of France -and the old ones of Holland. Charles despatched -Lord Feversham to lay the proposals before Louis; -but the French king would not listen to them, and -tidings reached William which caused him immediately -to hasten home.</p> - -<p>In spite of the season, the end of November, -Louis had taken the field, according to his novel -plan of winter campaign, and invested Guislain, -which was expected to fall in a few days.</p> - -<p>This decisive conduct on the part of Louis -roused the wrath of Charles; he had adjourned -Parliament from the 16th of April to the 15th of -January. He expressed his surprise to Louis at -the unreasonableness of his conduct, and despatched -directions to Hyde, the ambassador at the Hague, -to enter into a separate treaty with the States, on -the model of the Triple Alliance, engaging not -only to defend each other against all aggressors, -but to continue to force the other parties to come -to fair terms. Such a treaty was signed at the -Hague on the 31st of December. Louis, on -hearing of it, stopped the payment of Charles's -pension, but at the same time he proposed, through -Montagu, the English ambassador, a truce of -twelve months, during which all might be arranged, -and then he threw out a bait which he -knew would be extremely tempting to Charles,—that -if he could persuade his nephew to consent to -the cession of Condé, Valenciennes, and Tournai, -their full value should be paid to the king in bars -of gold, concealed in bales of silk, and any sum -that the Lord Treasurer might name in reward of -his services should be remitted in diamonds and -pearls. But both Danby and the Duke of York -set their faces against any such disgraceful compromise; -Danby remaining steady to his views of -the danger of the French ascendency, and the duke -being zealous for the interests of his new son-in-law, -and in the hope of receiving the command -of any auxiliary force sent from England to co-operate -with Holland. At the duke's suggestion -the English forces were recalled from the army of -France, a strong squadron was sent to the Mediterranean -to reinforce the fleet under Sir John Narborough, -and the Port of Ostend was demanded -from Spain as a depôt for the English army in -Flanders.</p> - -<p>This unusual vigour induced Louis to set in -motion the forces of the Opposition both in England -and Holland. To Barillon, his ambassador at -London, he sent over the younger Ruvigny, who -was related to Lady Vaughan, and intimate with -the Russell family. The ambassadors first tried to -bring Charles over again by the most liberal offers -of money; they warned him to beware of the -pernicious counsels of Danby, who was seeking -popularity; and to Danby himself they paid the -highest compliments, and begged him to use his -influence with the king. Charles, who never long -resisted the temptations of money, was not, however, -yet to be moved, and the ambassadors then -tried their influence with the Opposition. They -found Holles and Lord William Russell extremely -hostile to the Court, but suspicious of a secret -engagement between Charles and Louis. This suspicion -the ambassadors did their best to root out, -and Holles and Russell engaged to attach to the -supply conditions which should cause the king to -reject it. The ambassadors promised that Louis, -on his part, should use all his influence to cause a -dissolution of Parliament, and to ruin Danby, -measures which the Opposition desired. They -even offered money to the Opposition, and asked -Lord William Russell to give them the names of -such persons as they should reward for their services -in this matter. Russell repelled the offer -with indignation, and replied that he should be -sorry to have anything to do with men who could -be bought with money. They did not, however, -find others of the patriots quite so scrupulous. -Louis, at the same time, was at work at the Hague, -insinuating through his agents that William, now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> -connected with England, was joined with Charles, -whom the Dutch most cordially hated, in a -common scheme for ruling Holland and England -by a military force, and that their only safety lay -in peace and disbandment of troops. Their arts -were so successful, that the Dutch began to cry for -peace on any terms.</p> - -<p>When Parliament met on the 28th of January, -Charles announced that he had made a league, -offensive and defensive, with Holland, for the protection -of Flanders, and that if France would not -consent to a peace on fair terms, they would endeavour -to force it; but that he should require to -put ninety ships into commission, and raise thirty -or forty thousand troops, and a liberal supply -would be necessary to defray the cost. This was -the very thing that the Country party had been -clamouring for, but they had now been drawn into -a false position by the acts of Louis; and though -they could not condemn the proposals, they declared -that no peace ought to be made with France, -except such as should restrain that country to the -limits set by the treaty of the Pyrenees. This, -under the present circumstances, it would be folly -to ask of Louis, and Charles reproached the Opposition -with the inconsistency of their conduct, in -throwing obstacles in the way of the very measure -they had clamoured for, especially after he had -followed their own advice in making the treaty -with Holland. The Ministry, however, carried a -vote for the maintenance of the necessary fleet and -army, and a supply was granted on general taxes -to cover the expenditure.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Louis had pushed his military operations -forward in the Netherlands with a vigour -which confounded his enemies. Towards the end -of January he proceeded from Paris to Metz; -Namur and Mons were invested, and before the -end of March he had made himself master of -Ypres and Ghent. By this means he had opened -a road into the very heart of Holland, and exposed -Brussels to his attacks; and both on the Continent -and in England the cry was now for more -vigorous measures. Three thousand soldiers were -sent by Charles to Ostend, and the levy of forces -was proceeded with briskly. But the more -Charles exerted himself to raise troops and prepare -actively for war, the more the Opposition -expressed their suspicions of the use intended for -these troops. Russell talked of Popery, and Sir -Gilbert Gerrard declared that the forces would -never be used against any foreign enemy; that -their object was nearer home. They demanded, -therefore, that the king should at once declare -war against France, recall his Commissioners from -Nimeguen, and dismiss the French ambassador. -This language on the part of men many of whom -had been receiving their money to compel a peace -advantageous to France, surprised not a little -Barillon and Ruvigny, who remonstrated with -Holles and Russell, Shaftesbury and Buckingham. -But they were told that the real object was to -embarrass the king in raising these troops; for -that, once raised, he would secure the leaders of -the Opposition, and then would obtain from the -slavish Parliament any supplies that he might -demand, thus at once making himself independent -of Parliament and of Louis.</p> - -<p>That the Opposition had grounds for their fears -there was little question, and the French envoys -were obliged to be satisfied with this odd-looking -sort of friendship. Charles undoubtedly had -rather have the army and the supplies than go to -war with Louis; and the consternation of the confederates -now opened up to him a new chance of -obtaining Louis's money, and keeping the peace. -Both the Prince of Orange and Spain, by its ambassadors, -informed him that they would now no -longer object to the cession of Tournai and Valenciennes, -if France would restore the other five -towns, with Ypres and Ghent. Charles, who now -thought all difficulty removed, hastened to write -these conditions to Louis, and so confident was he -that they would be accepted, that he caused -Danby to add, in a private letter, that if the peace -were effected on these terms, he should expect a -pension of six millions of livres for the next three -years for his services. In a postscript the king -himself wrote, "This is writ by my order.—C. R." -This letter, afterwards produced against Danby, -occasioned his ruin.</p> - -<p>But Louis was not so easily satisfied after his -recent victories. He demanded Ypres and Condé -as well as Tournai and Valenciennes. Charles -professed to be disgusted with this grasping disposition, -but both Holland and Spain expressed -their willingness to yield. The conquest of -Ghent and French gold produced their effect, and -an armistice was entered into to allow time for -preparing the articles of peace. To satisfy -Charles, Louis assented to his demand of a pension -of six million livres, on condition that he bound -himself to break with Holland if it refused to sign -the treaty on the conditions now offered, to recall -his troops from Flanders, to reduce his army to -six thousand men, and to prorogue and then -dissolve Parliament.</p> - -<p>When Parliament met on the 23rd of May,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> -they demanded that Charles should immediately -declare war or disband the whole of the troops -recently raised. They voted two hundred thousand -pounds on condition that the troops should -be at once paid off with it, and two hundred thousand -pounds more for the navy. The king asked -for three hundred thousand pounds a year in -addition to his present income, to enable him to -punish the pirates of Algiers, and take that -position in the Continental politics which the rank -of England required; but to this the Commons -turned a deaf ear.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_245.jpg" width="399" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Peter Lely.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_245big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>By the middle of June the plenipotentiaries at -Nimeguen had settled all the preliminaries of -peace, and were on the point of signing, when -Louis started another difficulty—that he would -continue to hold the six towns stipulated to be -restored to Spain, till the Emperor of Germany -had restored the conquests made from his ally, the -King of Sweden. The confederates refused to -admit any such condition, and preparations were -again made for war. Charles sent over four thousand -men under the Earl of Ossory to join the -English forces in Flanders, and Temple hastened -to the Hague, to complete a fresh treaty with the -States, binding each other to prosecute the war -against Louis unless he abandoned the claim for -Sweden. This might have had effect with Louis, -had he not convincing evidence that Charles was -not in earnest. At the very moment of this -apparent spirit, Charles was bargaining for more -money with Barillon, in the chamber of his -French mistress, the Duchess of Portsmouth. At -Barillon's instigation, one Ducros, a French monk, -was sent to Temple, at Nimeguen, desiring him to -persuade the Swedish ambassadors to concede<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> -their claims and make peace; and Louis, by -giving a hint of this fact to the States General, so -alarmed them at the perfidy of their pretended -ally, that they hastened to sign the treaty with -France, without any stipulation in favour of -Spain. The Spanish Netherlands were at the -mercy of Louis, and the coalition against him was -completely broken up.</p> - -<p>William of Orange, who was extremely mortified -at having to treat for peace on such terms, and -rightly attributing the necessity to the conduct of -Charles, took the opportunity to give a parting -chastisement to the French, though he had not, -as has been asserted, knowledge of the conclusion -of the treaty. On the 4th of August, four -days after the signing of the peace by Beverning, -the Dutch plenipotentiary at Nimeguen, he -attacked the Duke of Luxembourg before Mons. -Luxembourg had reduced the city to great distress, -and had not relaxed his siege during the -armistice; William, therefore, knowing nothing, -or affecting to know nothing of the signing of -the peace—though at that time it was known -in London—fell on the duke with all the -forces he could muster, Dutch, English, and -Spanish, and a desperate battle took place. -William took the abbey of St. Denis in front of -the French camp; Villahermosa, the Spanish -general, took the ruined fortress of Casteau, but -was driven out of it again before night. The -English troops under Lord Ossory did wonders. -About five thousand men fell on one side or the -other. At night the two armies resumed their -places. It was expected that William the next -day would utterly rout Luxembourg; and had the -continuance of the war permitted, might have -made his long-contemplated march into France. -But the next day Luxembourg desired a conference, -and informed William that the peace was -concluded, and William retired towards Nivelles, -and the French towards Ath. He had managed -to prevent the important fortress of Mons falling -into the hands of France.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had these events taken place, when -William was surprised by an overture from -Charles, to unite with him, according to the -treaty between them, to compel Louis to grant the -Spaniards the terms formerly offered at Nimeguen. -The motive for this does not appear clear. If he -knew of its conclusion, as he must have done, he -could not expect William immediately to violate -the peace just made. Probably he wished to -appear to the Spaniards to be anxious to keep -his engagement to them, for he made the same -professions to them, and on the faith of that the -Spaniards demanded better terms; but equally -probable is the idea that he wanted an excuse for -not disbanding the army. William is said, however, -to have exclaimed to Hyde, who brought the -message, "Was ever anything so hot and so cold -as this Court of yours? Will the king never -learn a word that I shall never forget since my -last passage to England, when, in a great storm, -the captain all night was crying to the man at the -helm, 'Steady! steady! steady!' If this despatch -had come twenty days ago, it had changed the -face of affairs in Christendom, and the war might -have been carried on till France had yielded to -the treaty of the Pyrenees, and left the world in -quiet for the rest of our lives; as it comes now, it -will have no effect at all." Louis resented the -interference of Charles at this moment, and suspended -the payment of his pension. He, however, -receded from some of his terms, and referred the -settlement of the differences with the Spaniards -and the Emperor of Germany to the Dutch. -Before the end of October peace was concluded -with all parties. Holland had recovered all she -had lost, and obtained an advantageous treaty of -commerce with France. Spain had lost Franche-Comté, -and twelve fortresses in Flanders; Germany -had regained Philippsburg in exchange for -Freiburg; Sweden recovered what it had lost to -Denmark and the Elector of Brandenburg; and -Louis was left with a power and reputation that -made him the arbitrator of Europe.</p> - -<p>We now come to one of the most extraordinary -displays of a succession of plots, or pretended plots, -which ever occurred in the history of any nation. -From a small and most improbable beginning they -spread and ramified themselves in all directions, -involving the most distinguished persons of the -State, ascending to the royal house, threatening -the lives of the Duke of York, of the queen, and -even of the king. Though defeated in their -highest aims, they yet brought to execution a considerable -number of persons of various ranks, including -several noblemen and commoners of distinction. -When they appeared to be extinguished -for a short period, they broke out again with fresh -force, and struck down fresh victims; and whilst -much of the machinery of the agitators remained -in the deepest obscurity, the mind of the nation -was wrought up to a condition of the most terrible -suspicion, wonder, and alarm. In the half-absurdity -of the charges, the half-development of -ominous truths, the public was thrown into a long -fever of terror and curiosity, and seemed to lose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> -its judgment and discretion, and to be ready to -destroy its noblest citizens on the evidence of the -most despicable of mankind.</p> - -<p>From the moment that some obscure indications -of a secret league between the king and Louis of -France had emerged to the light, the people were -haunted by fears and rumours of plots, and designs -against the national liberty. Especially -since the Duke of York had avowed himself a -Catholic, and the king had a French Catholic -mistress, and spent much time with the French -ambassador, Barillon, in her apartments, there -were continual apprehensions of an attempt to -introduce Popery, and to suppress the public -freedom by a standing army. The country was -nearer the mark than it was aware of, and had it -come by any chance to the knowledge of the full -truth that their monarch was the bond-slave of -France, to favour its ambitious designs of averting -the balance of power on the Continent, and extending -the French empire, at the expense of its -neighbours, to the widest boundary of the Empire -of Charlemagne, the immediate consequence would -have been revolution, and the expulsion of the -Stuarts a few years earlier. But as the real facts -were kept in profound secrecy, all manner of vague -rumours rose from the facts themselves, like smoke -from a hidden fire.</p> - -<p>There was a party, moreover, in Parliament, -called the Country party, or, in our modern -phrase, the Opposition, which now included several -of the displaced statesmen of the Cabal, especially -Buckingham and Shaftesbury. These men had no -scruples to restrain them from embarrassing the -Government, and in particular from denouncing -their successful rival, the Lord Treasurer Danby. -They knew well the secret which the public only -suspected; but they had been too much mixed up -with it to render it safe to reveal too much of it. -But enough might be employed to destroy the -Prime Minister, and to gain another end—the -exclusion of the Duke of York and the prevention -of a Papist succession.</p> - -<p>To destroy Danby, who was thoroughly anti-Gallican -in his policy; to exclude James from the -throne and secure a Protestant succession; to compel -the king to rule by a Protestant Government, -and to have recourse to Parliament for support; -there certainly appeared nothing more likely than -to raise a terror of a Papist conspiracy, and to -link it sufficiently with suspicious connection with -France. This was done with marvellous success -amid a wonderful exhibition of strange events, -except that of excluding James from the throne, -and even this was all but accomplished. Probably -the conception of the scheme was due to the fertile -mind of Shaftesbury, and its execution to the -same master of chicane, assisted by the unscrupulous -Buckingham.</p> - -<p>On the 12th of August, as the king was walking -in the park, one Kirby, a chemist, who had been -occasionally employed in the royal laboratory, and -was therefore known to Charles, approached and -said, "Sir, keep within the company. Your -enemies have a design upon your life, and you may -be shot in this very walk." Charles stepped aside -with him, and asked him the meaning of his words. -He replied that two men, Grove and Pickering, -had engaged to shoot him, and that Sir George -Wakeman, the queen's physician, had agreed to -poison him. Charles showed very little change of -manner or countenance, but told Kirby to meet -him that evening at the house of Chiffinch, his -well-known procurer, and pursued his walk. In -the evening Kirby repeated what he had said, and -added that he received the information from Dr. -Tongue, rector of St. Michael's, in Wood Street, -who was well known to several persons about -the Court. This Dr. Tongue was a singular mixture -of cunning and credulity, who had long been -an alarmist, and who had printed yearly and quarterly -pamphlets against the Jesuits, "to alarm and -awaken his Majesty and the two Houses." Tongue -was sent for, and brought a mass of papers, divided -into forty-three articles, giving a narrative of the -conspiracy, which he pretended had been thrust -under his door. Charles referred him to Danby, -and to him Tongue repeated the story of Grove, -otherwise called Honest William, and Pickering, -and said he would find out their abode, or point -them out when walking, according to their daily -custom, in the park. Orders were given to arrest -these assassins, but they did not appear, and -Tongue gave various frivolous reasons for their -non-appearance. It was said that they were gone -to Windsor, but they could not be found there. -Charles came at once to the conclusion that the -whole was a hoax, and when Danby requested -permission to lay the narrative before the Privy -Council, he replied, "No, not even before my -brother! It would only create alarm, and might -put the design of murdering me into somebody's -head."</p> - -<p>The contempt which the king showed and expressed -for the whole affair might have caused it -to drop, but there was unquestionably a party at -work behind, which would not suffer it to stop. -Tongue informed Danby that he had met with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> -person whom he suspected of having drawn up -the papers; that he had given him a more particular -account of the conspiracy, but he begged -that his name might be concealed, lest the Papists -should murder him. He moreover assured Danby -that on a certain day a packet of treasonable -letters would pass through the post-office at -Windsor, addressed to Bedingfield, the confessor -of the Duke of York. Danby hastened to Windsor -to intercept the packet, but found it already in -the hands of the king. Bedingfield had delivered -them to the duke, saying that the papers appeared -to contain treasonable matter, and that they certainly -were not in the hands of the persons whose -names they bore. The duke carried them at once -to the king.</p> - -<p>These papers now underwent a close examination, -and the result was that all were convinced -that they were gross forgeries. One was clearly -in the same hand as the papers presented before -by Tongue; the rest, though in a feigned hand, -bore sufficient evidence of being the work of the -same person. The king was more than ever convinced -that the whole was a hoax, and desired that -no further notice might be taken of it. Kirby -frequently made his appearance at Court, but -Charles always passed him without notice. As -there appeared no prospect of proceeding with the -matter at Court, the person who had conveyed -the papers to Dr. Tongue now went to Sir -Edmundbury Godfrey, an active justice of the -peace at Westminster, and made affidavit, not only -of the truth of the former papers, but also of -thirty-eight more articles, making altogether -eighty-one articles. This mysterious person now -appeared as one Titus Oates, a clergyman, and it -was ascertained that he had been lodging at Kirby's, -at Vauxhall, and that Dr. Tongue had also retired -thither, on the plea of concealment from the -Papists. Godfrey, on perceiving that Coleman, -secretary to the late Duchess of York, and a friend -of his own, was named in the affidavit as a chief -conspirator, immediately communicated the fact to -Coleman, and Coleman communicated it to the -Duke of York.</p> - -<p>James was now more than ever convinced that, -whatever were the plot, its object was to bring the -Catholics into odium, and lead to his exclusion -from the throne, and demanded of Charles that it -should be inquired into. Danby now seemed to -favour the king's view of keeping it quiet, but this -only led James to suspect that the minister wished -to hold it back till Parliament met, when its -disclosure might be useful in an impeachment -with which he was menaced. Charles, at the -duke's renewed entreaty, reluctantly ordered -Tongue and Oates to appear before the Privy -Council. Accordingly Titus Oates, soon to become -so notorious, appeared before the Council on the -28th of September, 1678, in a clerical gown and a -new suit of clothes, and with an astonishing assurance -delivered in writing the following strange -story. The Pope, he said, claimed Great Britain -and Ireland, on the ground of the heresy of the -prince and people, and had commanded the Jesuits -to take possession of it for him. De Oliva, -general of the Order, had arranged everything for -this purpose, and had named under the seal of -the Society, all the persons to fill the offices of the -State. Lord Arundel was created Lord Chancellor; -Lord Powis, Treasurer; Sir William Godolphin, -Privy Seal; Coleman, Secretary of State; -Lord Bellasis, General of the Army; Lord Peters, -Lieutenant-General; Lord Stafford, Paymaster. All -inferior offices, and all the dignities of the Church -were filled up, many of them with Spaniards -and other foreigners. Moreover, the Jesuits were -dispersed throughout Ireland, organising insurrections -and massacres; in Scotland they were acting -under the guise of Covenanters; in Holland they -were raising a French party against the Prince of -Orange, and in England preparing for the murder -of the king, and of the duke, too, if he did not -consent to the scheme. They had no lack of -money. They had one hundred thousand pounds -in the bank, had sixty thousand pounds in yearly -rents, had received from La Chaise, the confessor -of the French king, a donation of ten thousand -pounds, and a promise from De Corduba, the Provincial -of New Castile, of as much more. In March -last a man named Honest William, and Pickering, -a lay brother, had been commissioned to shoot the -king at Windsor, and had been severely punished -for the failure of the attempt. On the 24th of -April a consultation had been held by Jesuits -from all parts, at the White Horse Tavern in -the Strand, to decide on the mode of killing the -king; when three sets of assassins were engaged—the -two already mentioned, two Benedictine -monks, Coniers and Anderton, and four Irishmen. -Ten thousand pounds had been offered to Wakeman, -the queen's physician, to poison the king, -but he had refused to do it for less than fifteen -thousand pounds, which was agreed to, and five -thousand pounds had been paid down. He had -often seen Wakeman since amongst the Jesuits. -The Irish assassins were to receive twenty guineas -each for stabbing the king. Honest William was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> -to receive fifteen hundred pounds, and Pickering -thirty thousand masses, valued at the same sum. -They were to shoot the king with silver bullets. A -wager, he said, was laid that the king should eat -no more Christmas pies, and that if he would not -become R.C. (Roman Catholic, or <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Rex Catholicus</i>), -he should no longer be C.R. Oates averred that -he had gone to the Jesuits at Valladolid, thence -with letters from them to Burgos, thence to -Madrid, back to England, thence had gone to St. -Omer, and back to England with fresh instructions. -They made him cognisant of their plans for the -murder, and he saw on their papers all the names -signed. Since his return he had discovered -that they set fire to London in 1666, and had -used seven hundred fire-balls, familiarly called -Tewkesbury mustard pills, as containing a notable -biting sauce. Their success encouraged them to -set fire to Southwark in 1676, by which they -had gained two thousand pounds above their expenses, -as they had by carrying off diamonds in -the London fire made fourteen thousand pounds. -They had now a plan to set fire to Wapping, -Westminster, and the ships in the river. There -were twenty thousand Catholics in London, who -had engaged to rise in twenty-four hours or less, -and could easily cut the throats of one hundred -thousand Protestants. In Scotland eight thousand -Catholics had agreed to take arms; a general -massacre of Protestants was planned in Ireland; -Ormond was to be murdered; forty thousand black -bills were provided for the Irish massacre, and -Coleman had sent thither two hundred thousand -pounds. Poole, the author of the "Synopsis," Dr. -Stillingfleet, and De Brunt were also to be put to -death.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_249.jpg" width="560" height="428" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>TITUS OATES BEFORE THE PRIVY COUNCIL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_250">250</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_249big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The recital of this astounding story was listened -to with amazement and incredulity. The listeners -looked at one another in wonder at the audacity -of the man who could relate such horrible and improbable -designs, and expect to be believed, after -the account which he gave of the mode by which -he professed to obtain his information. This was -that he had feigned a conversion to discover the -designs of the Jesuits; had been duly admitted to -the priesthood and to their monasteries, and finally -entrusted with the conveyance of their diabolical -messages. The Duke of York declared the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> -to be a most impudent imposture, but others -thought no man in his senses would come forward -with such a startling tale, and implicate so many -persons of consideration without some grounds. -Where, they asked, were his proofs? Where were -the papers that had been confided to him, which -would be evidence against the traitors? Oates -confessed that he had no such papers, but that he -would undertake to procure abundance if he were -furnished with warrants and officers to arrest the -persons whom he had accused, and seize their -papers. This was granted, and the next day the -inquiry went on. It was objected to the letters -seized at Windsor, that they were written in -feigned hands, and were full of orthographical -errors. Oates replied that that was the art of the -Jesuits, who gave such documents a suspicious -look, that if discovered they might pretend that -they were forged. But Charles, who became even -more persuaded that the thing was got up, asked -Oates what sort of a man Don John was, as he -professed to have been introduced to him at -Madrid. Oates replied at once that he was tall, -dark, and thin. The king turned to the duke and -smiled, for they both were well acquainted with -Don John's person, which had more of the Austrian -than the Spaniard, and was fair, stout, and short. -"And where did you see La Chaise," added -Charles, "pay down the ten thousand pounds -from the French king?" "At the house of the -Jesuits," replied Oates, unhesitatingly, "close to -the Louvre." "Man!" exclaimed Charles, who -knew Paris better than Oates, "the Jesuits have -no house within a mile of the Louvre."</p> - -<p>These palpable blunders confirmed Charles in -his opinion, and seemed to annihilate the veracity -of Oates. The king, certain of the whole affair -proving a sheer invention, went away to Newmarket, -and left the duke and Danby to finish the -inquiry. But they who had set Oates to work -knew more than he did, and presently such confirmation -was given to Oates's assertions as -astonished every one. At first, the clue appeared -broken. On examining the papers of Harcourt, -the Provincial of the Jesuits, nothing bearing -the slightest indications of a plot could be discovered; -but not so with the papers of Coleman. -This man was the son of a clergyman in Suffolk, -who had turned Catholic, and was not only -appointed secretary to the Duchess of York, but -after her death was much in the confidence of -James. Coleman was undoubtedly a great dabbler -in conspiracy. He had maintained a correspondence -with Father La Chaise, the confessor of Louis -XIV., with the Pope's nuncio at Brussels, and -other Catholics, for the re-establishment of the -Catholic religion in England, and he made himself -a centre of intelligence to the Catholics at -home and abroad. He lived in great style, and -his table was frequented by the Whig members -during the sitting of Parliament. He sent weekly -news-letters to the Catholics in various quarters, -and made in them the severest remarks on the -ambition of the French king and the conduct of -the English Government. Yet all this time he was -importuning Louis to furnish money for the establishment -of the Catholic Church in England -again. He obtained three thousand five hundred -pounds from the bankers whom Charles had -broken faith with on the shutting of the Exchequer, -on pretence of influence with Parliament, -and two thousand five hundred pounds -from Barillon, to distribute amongst members of -Parliament.</p> - -<p>In 1675 a foreigner of the name of Buchateau, -but who was called Louis Luzancy, had come to -England, pretending to be a Catholic who was -desirous of joining the English Church, and who -gave information to some of the Opposition leaders -that Father St. Germain, confessor to the Duchess -of York, had threatened to murder him if he did -not recant Protestantism. This made a great -sensation, and he then said he had made the -discovery of a Popish plot, in which the king -was to be killed, and the streets of London were -to run with the blood of massacred Protestants. -Though it was soon shown by Du Maresque, a -French Protestant clergyman, that Luzancy had -fled from France for forgery, and a swindling -transaction at Oxford soon proved that he was -a great scoundrel, yet his story won him much -patronage: he was ordained and presented to -the living of Dovercourt, in Essex, during this -present year. His pretended plot was very like -this of Oates's, and might possibly be its model. He -had accused Coleman of similar practices, but Coleman -had boldly faced him and put him to silence. -But now Coleman had fled, itself a sign of guilt; -amongst his papers were found abundant evidence -of his correspondence with the French Court in -1674, 1675, and 1676. In one letter he said to -La Chaise, "We have here a mighty work upon -our hands, no less than the conversion of three -kingdoms, and by that, perhaps, the utter subduing -of a pestilent heresy, which has for a long -time domineered over a great part of this northern -world. There never were such hopes of success -since the days of Queen Mary." He declared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> -the duke devoted to the cause and also to the -French king. He said, "I can scarcely believe -myself awake, or the thing real, when I think -of a prince in such an age as we live in -converted to such a degree of zeal and piety as -not to regard anything in the world in comparison -of God Almighty's glory, the salvation -of his own soul, and the conversion of our poor -kingdom." He declared that Charles was inclined -to favour the Catholics, and that money would -do anything with him. "Money cannot fail of -persuading the king to anything. There is nothing -it cannot make him do, were it ever so -much to his prejudice. It has such absolute -power over him he cannot resist it. Logic built -upon money has in our Court more powerful -charms than any other sort of argument." Therefore -he recommended three hundred thousand -pounds to be sent over on condition that Parliament -should be dissolved.</p> - -<p>These discoveries perfectly electrified the public. -That there was a plot they now had no doubt -whatever, and the information touching so close -on the real secret of Charles's pension, must have -startled even him. Coleman, in these letters, -stated that Parliament had been postponed in 1675 -till April, to serve the French designs, by preventing -Holland from obtaining assistance from -England. Yet when Oates had been confronted -with Coleman before his flight, though Oates pretended -great intimacy with him, he actually did -not recognise him. Another proof, if any were -wanted, that Oates was acting on the knowledge -of others, not on his own. Whoever they were, -they had become acquainted with Coleman's -French correspondence, and who so likely as -Shaftesbury and the Whigs who used to frequent -this man's house, and who were themselves -deep in a similar intrigue with the French Court?</p> - -<p>Still more astounding events, however, followed -close on this discovery. No sooner was this discovery -in the letters of Coleman made, than Sir -Edmundbury Godfrey, the magistrate before whom -Oates had made his affidavit of the plot, who was -a particular friend of Coleman's, and had warned -him of his danger, was missing, and was found -murdered amongst some bushes in a dry ditch -between Primrose Hill and Old St. Pancras -Church. Godfrey was of a sensitive disposition, -which sometimes approached to insanity. On -the apprehension of Coleman, Godfrey had been -seized with great alarm, and expressed his conviction -that he should be the first martyr of -this plot. On the 12th of October he burnt a -large quantity of papers, and that day he was seen -hurrying about the town in a state of serious -absent-mindedness. From that day he was -missing, and it was not till the sixth day that -his body was found. He lay forward, resting on -his knees, his breast, and the left side of his face. -His sword was thrust through his heart with -such violence, that it appeared at his back. His -cane was stuck upright in the bank, his gloves -lay near it on the grass, his rings were on his -fingers, and his money was in his purse. All these -circumstances seemed to indicate suicide; and to -confirm it, it was reported that when the sword -was withdrawn, it was followed by a rush of blood. -This, however, the doctors denied, and on being -stripped, the purple mark round his neck showed -that he had been strangled, and then thrust -through, and his body, cane, and gloves so disposed -as to persuade the parties that he had -killed himself.</p> - -<p>But who, then, were the murderers? This was -never discovered, but the public, putting together -all the circumstances, declared that the Papists -had done it, and that Oates's story was all true. -That Catholics, or at least such as were in the -scheme of Coleman, had done it, appears very -probable, although it has been argued that they -had no motive. But it must be remembered that -Godfrey was a friend and associate of Coleman's. -He had always been a partisan of the Catholics; -he gave Coleman warning to fly; he showed great -alarm himself, and commenced burning papers. -All these circumstances indicate complicity. That -he was deep in the secrets of the party, and had -dangerous papers in his possession, is clear. Coleman -was in custody, and something might be -drawn out of him. Godfrey might be arrested, -and a man of his nervous temperament might -reveal what concerned the lives of many others. -There were the strongest motives, therefore, for -those who had any concern in the dangerous -conspiracy of Coleman, to have Godfrey at least -out of the way.</p> - -<p>The public mind was in the wildest state of -alarm and fermentation. Every hour teemed -with fresh rumours. Murders, assassinations, and -invasions were the constant talk of the panic-struck -public. The City put itself into a posture -of defence; chains and posts were put up, and no -man deemed himself safe.</p> - -<p>In this state of the public mind Parliament met -on the 21st of October. Charles informed Parliament -that he had obtained more favourable terms -for Spain by his army in Flanders, but that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> -expense had been enormous; the supplies were not -only exhausted, but the revenue of the next year -was anticipated, and it would require a liberal -grant even to disband the army. He alluded but -passingly to the plot, for it touched too nearly on -the tender ground of his French secret, but said -he left the examination of the plot entirely to the -law. But both Danby and the Opposition rushed -into the question, contrary to the wish of Charles. -Danby was anxious to divert the House from the -threatened impeachment of himself, and the Opposition -to establish a Popish plot, to damage the -Duke of York's prospects in the succession.</p> - -<p>Oates was called before both Houses, as well as -Dr. Tongue, and such was the effect of their statements, -that guards were placed in the cellars -under the Parliament House, to prevent another -gunpowder plot; and Charles was implored to -order every Catholic, not a householder, to quit -London, to dismiss all Papists from his service, -and have his food prepared only by orthodox -cooks. Committees were appointed to search the -conspiracy to the bottom. Shaftesbury took the -lead in that of the Lords, and there was busy -work issuing warrants for searches and arrests, -sending out informers and officers, examining and -committing prisoners. In consequence of the -charges made by Oates against Lords Arundel, -Powis, Bellasis, Petre, and Stafford, as having -received appointments from the Pope of the chief -offices of State, they were arrested and committed -to the Tower.</p> - -<p>The Commons introduced a new Test Act to -exclude every Catholic from Parliament. This -had indeed been effected in the Commons in the -preceding session by the Oath of Supremacy, and -the declaration against Transubstantiation; but -the present test went to exclude the Catholic -peers from their House also. It prescribed the -taking of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, -and a declaration that the Church of Rome was -an idolatrous church. Such a test had been frequently -introduced before and thrown out, but in -this public <em>furore</em> it rapidly passed the Commons, -and reached a third reading in the Lords, when -James, with tears in his eyes, entreated them to -exempt him from so severe an exclusion, protesting -that his religion should always remain a thing -between God and his own soul. A proviso, exempting -him from its operation, was added to the -Bill; but in the Commons this passed by only two -votes. Thus the Catholic peers were excluded by -Titus Oates from their seats, and their successors -did not regain them till 1829.</p> - -<p>Under the stimulating effect of the repeated -summonses of Oates before Parliament, and his -continually augmenting disclosures, both Houses -voted that "There had been and still was a -damnable and hellish plot contrived and carried -on by the Popish recusants for assassinating and -murdering the king, and for subverting the -Government, and rooting out and destroying the -Protestant religion." Titus Oates was declared -"the saviour of his country," and a pension of -twelve hundred pounds a year was, at the instigation -of Parliament, settled on him. To increase -the effect of his disclosures, the funeral of the -murdered Godfrey was conducted with every circumstance -of public parade. He had been carried -from Primrose Hill to his own house, and thousands -had crowded thither to see the martyr -of Protestantism. Seventy-two divines, in full -canonicals, walked in procession to St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, -where he was buried, and they were -followed by a thousand gentlemen in mourning, -including many members of Parliament. Dr. -Lloyd, his friend and Rector of the parish, -preached a sermon from the text, "As a man -falleth before the wicked, so fellest thou." And -he had two stout fellows in the pulpit with him, -dressed as clergymen, to defend him from the -Papists.</p> - -<p>The fury against the Catholics now amounted to -a frenzy. Two thousand suspected traitors were -thrust into the prisons of the metropolis, and -thirty thousand Catholics, who refused to take the -obnoxious oaths, were compelled to quit their -homes in London, and remove to twenty miles' -distance from Whitehall. The train-bands and -volunteers, to the number of twenty thousand, -were occasionally kept all night under arms; -batteries were planted, and every military precaution -was taken to prevent a surprise. The -terror spread over the whole country; orders were -issued to disarm the Catholics everywhere, and -every one was compelled to take the oaths, or -give security for keeping the peace.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_253.jpg" width="406" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THOMAS OSBORNE, FIRST DUKE OF LEEDS. (<cite>From the Portrait by Van der Vaart.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_253big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>And who was this Titus Oates, who had been -able to conjure up such a storm? One of the -most loathsome of mankind. His real name was -Ambrose. He was the son of a ribbon weaver, -who turned Anabaptist preacher during the Commonwealth, -and managed to secure an orthodox -pulpit at the Restoration. Titus was sent to -Cambridge, where he took orders, and became a -curate in different parishes, and afterwards chaplain -on board a man-of-war. But wherever he -went, the worst of characters pursued him, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> -addicted to a mischievous and litigious temper, -and to the most debased and disgraceful vices. -Out of every situation he was expelled with -infamy, and was convicted twice of perjury by a -jury. Reduced by his crimes to beggary, he fell -into the hands of Dr. Tongue, and by him was -engaged to simulate the character of a convert to -Catholicism, so as to be able to discover all that -he could of the secret views and designs of the -Papists. He was reconciled, as the Catholics -term it, to the church by a priest of the name of -Berry or Hutchinson, who was first of one religion -and then of another, and nothing long, and sent to -the Jesuits' College at Valladolid, in Spain. But -he was successively ejected both from that college -and from St. Omer, with accumulated infamy. -Returning to England he became the ready tool -of Tongue, who no doubt was also the tool of -deeper and more distinguished agitators behind. -The Jesuits had held one of their triennial meetings -at the Duke of York's. This Tongue and -Oates converted into a special meeting, for the -prosecution of their great national plot, but fixed -it at the White Horse in the Strand. They then -forged their mass of letters and papers, purporting -to be the documents and correspondence of these -Jesuits, planning the assassination of the king. -These were written in Greek characters by Oates, -copied into English ones by Tongue, and communicated -as a great discovery to Kirby. Such were -the apparent unravellers of the alleged plot; but -these puppets had their strings pulled by far more -masterly men, who were constantly extending -their ground and linking up fresh machinery in -the scheme. The weak part of the affair was, -that on the testimony of Oates alone the whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> -rested. Those whom he incriminated, to a man, -steadily denied any knowledge or participation in -any such plot as he pretended. It was necessary -to have two witnesses for convicting traitors, and -other tools were not long wanting. Government -had offered a large reward and full pardon to any -one who could discover the assassins of Sir -Edmundbury Godfrey, and in a few days a letter -was received from one William Bedloe, desiring -that he might be arrested in Bristol and brought -to London to give evidence. The warrant for his -apprehension was, singularly enough, sent to -Bedloe himself, who caused his own arrest by -delivering it to the Mayor of Bristol. This Bedloe -turned out to be as thorough a scoundrel as Oates -himself. He had been employed as a groom by -Lord Bellasis, and afterwards in his house; had -travelled as a courier on the Continent, and occasionally -passed himself off as a nobleman. He -had been seized and convicted of swindling transactions -in various countries, and was just released -from Newgate, when his eye was attracted by the -reward of five hundred pounds for the discovery -of the murderers of Godfrey.</p> - -<p>In his first examination by the king and the -two Secretaries of State, he disavowed all knowledge -of the plot, but said he had seen the dead -body at Somerset House, where the queen lived, -and that Le Fevre, the Jesuit, told him that he -and Walsh, another Jesuit, a servant of Lord -Bellasis's and attendant in the queen's chapel, had -smothered him between two pillows, and that they -offered him two thousand pounds to assist in conveying -the body away. The next day, before the -House of Lords, he contradicted himself dreadfully, -for the story of the two pillows did not -accord with the state of the body when found. -Now he said that he was not smothered, but -strangled with a cravat. And so far from knowing -nothing of the plot, he confessed to knowing -all about the commissions offered to the Lords -Arundel, Powis, Bellasis, and others, and he added -wonders and horrors of his own. Ten thousand -men, he said, were to land from Holland in Bridlington -Bay, and seize Hull; Jersey and Guernsey -were to be invaded by a fleet and army from -Brest; an army from Spain of twenty or thirty -thousand men was to land at Milford Haven, -and there be joined by Powis and Petre with -another army. There were forty thousand men -ready in London, to kill all the soldiers as they -came out of their lodgings. He was to have -four thousand pounds for a great murder, meaning -no doubt that of the king, and the Government -was to be offered to <em>one</em>, if he would hold it of the -Church. The king, Monmouth, Ormond, Buckingham, -and Shaftesbury were to be killed. -Lords Carrington and Brudenel were named as -engaged in the plot, and were immediately -arrested. When Charles heard this astounding -story, so diametrically opposed to his former tales, -he exclaimed, "Surely the man has received -a new lesson during the last four-and-twenty -hours!" and no doubt he had. These additions -and improvements were constantly going on, without -regard to the most glaring self-contradictions; -but the temper of Parliament made them disregard -obvious falsehoods of the most flagrant -kind. So long as there was a chance of excluding -the Duke of York from Parliament, these horrible -stories were kept before the public imagination; -but the moment the proviso passed in his favour, -the attack was diverted into another and a -higher channel. Buckingham had formerly endeavoured -to induce Charles to divorce the queen: -now a deadly attack was made upon her.</p> - -<p>On the 23rd of November, a Mr. Lloyd sought -an interview with the king, and informed him that -Titus Oates was in possession of information that -would incriminate the queen. Charles, who had -shown more sense than any one through the -whole business, and might have crushed it in -a short time if he had had half the active exertion -that he had shrewdness, expressed his decided -disbelief, yet admitted Oates to make his -statement. It was this, that he saw a letter -in July, in which Wakeman, the queen's physician, -asserted that her majesty had given her consent -to the murder of the king; that he himself -was at Somerset House one day in August, with -several Jesuits, and was left in the antechamber -whilst they went in to the queen; that the door -being ajar, he heard a female voice exclaim, "I -will no longer suffer such indignities to my bed! -I will join in his death and the propagation of -the Catholic faith;" that when the Jesuits retired -he looked into the room and saw there only -the queen. Now Oates had repeatedly and distinctly -declared that he knew of no other persons -implicated except those he had informed of; and -when he made the charge against Wakeman, -had said not a word of this grave accusation. -Charles was certain that it was altogether false, -but to prove the man, sent the Earls of Ossory -and Bridgewater to make him point out the room -and antechamber; but he could not do it. Charles -again declared that the fellow had been instigated -by some interested person, and ordered strict guard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> -to be kept over him, and no one to be allowed to -speak with him. Bedloe, however, was brought forward -to confirm Oates's statement, and declared -that he had overheard a conversation between -Catherine and Lord Bellasis, Coleman, and some -French gentlemen, in the gallery of the queen's -chapel, in which she, after shedding tears, consented -to the king's murder. Bedloe had been careful not -to point out any private rooms for this scene, -because he had made a fatal blunder in laying -the scene of Godfrey's murder in a room always -occupied by the queen's footmen, and at the -very time that the king was there; and not -only was there a throng of persons all over the -palace, but a sentinel was posted at every door, -and a detachment of the Guards was drawn out in -the court.</p> - -<p>Bedloe, however, delivered his charge in writing -to the House of Commons, and then Oates appeared -at the Bar, and, with a front of brass and -in a loud voice, exclaimed, "I, Titus Oates, accuse -Catherine, Queen of England, of high treason." -The astounded Commons immediately sent an -address to Charles, requesting that the queen -might be removed from Whitehall, and desired -a conference with the Lords. The Lords, however, -were not so precipitate; they desired first -to see the depositions made before the Council, -then summoned Oates and Bedloe, and strictly -examined them. They particularly pressed them -to explain why this monstrous charge had not been -produced before, and as they could give no sufficient -reason, they declined any conference on the -subject. Shaftesbury exerted himself to overrule -this conclusion, but in vain; and the charge was -dropped, the king observing, "They think I have -a mind for a new wife; but for all that I won't -see an innocent woman abused." Impeachments, -however, were received by the Lords against the -peers whom these miscreants had accused.</p> - -<p>And now began the bloody work which these -villains had remorselessly elaborated for a number -of innocent persons, to serve the great end of their -employers. The first victim, however, was one -whom a third base wretch, thirsting for blood-money, -a broken-down Scotsman, of the name -of Carstairs, had accused. This was Stayley, a -Catholic banker, whom the man said he had heard -telling a Frenchman of the name of Firmin, of -Marseilles, in a tavern in Covent Garden, that -the king was the greatest rogue in the world, -and that he would kill him with his own hand. -Carstairs had gone to Stayley and told him what -he professed to have heard, but offered to suppress -the fact for two hundred pounds. Stayley treated -him with deserved contempt, but he was arrested -within five days and tried for his life. Burnet, on -hearing the name of the accuser, hastened to -Sir William Jones, the Attorney-General, and -told him that this Carstairs was a man of the -vilest character, and not to be believed on his -oath; but Jones asked him who had authorised -him to defame the king's witness, and Burnet -timidly withdrew. Firmin could have decided -what Stayley had really said, but he was kept -in custody and not allowed to appear on the -trial, and Stayley was condemned and hanged.</p> - -<p>Coleman perished next, on the evidence of -Oates and Bedloe, that he had been plotting -with the French Court; but he contended it was -only to obtain money for restoring Catholicism, -and not to injure any person. It was clear that -he had received money from the French king, -and therefore was guilty of a serious crime, but -it was equally clear that both Oates and Bedloe -fabricated much falsehood against him. His own -letters, however, were insurmountable evidence of -his guilt. Next came Ireland, Fenwick, Grove, -Whitbread, and Pickering. Ireland, a Jesuit -priest, was accused of having signed, with fifty -other Jesuits, a resolution to kill the king, and -the others of having engaged to assist in the -design. Oates swore to the guilt of the whole, -Bedloe only to that of Ireland, Grove, and -Pickering, who were condemned, and died protesting -that they, before their apprehension, had -never heard of such a thing as a plot, much -less had any concern in one. Bedloe claimed to -be the chief witness respecting the death of -Godfrey; but though he had unscrupulously seconded -the evidence of Oates, Oates would not -support him in this case. He was obliged, therefore, -to look out for a second witness, and it was -two months before he could find one. At length, -on the 21st of December, one Prance, a silversmith, -who had worked in the queen's chapel, was apprehended -on suspicion, he having absented himself -from his house for several days about the time -of Godfrey's murder. The moment Bedloe saw -him, he exclaimed, "That man is one of the -murderers." It was in vain that he denied it, -equally vain that he brought witnesses to prove -that he did not leave home at the time of Godfrey's -death, but a week before. He was thrown -into Newgate, and loaded with irons; some say he -was tortured, others that he was worked upon by -threats and promises. He confessed, and accused -three others—Hill, Green, and Berry, three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> -servants in Somerset House. But scarcely had he -done so, when he entreated to be brought before -the king and Council again, and there on his -knees, and with every sign of agony and remorse, -protested that all that he had said was false, that -he knew nothing whatever of either the murder -or the murderers. Afterwards, in prison, where -he was chained to the floor, the horror of his -feelings was such, that Dr. Lloyd, who preached -Godfrey's funeral sermon, and now was become -Dean of Bangor, said that he was occasionally -bereft of his reason. When urged to confess, he -again, however, repeated his former statement, -but with various strange additions; then Dr. -Lloyd declined to have anything more to do with -it, but left him to Boyce, the gaoler. Prance -afterwards said that Boyce wrote many things that -he copied after him, and he could see that Boyce -had been with Bedloe and Lord Shaftesbury, and -that he was told he must make his evidence -agree with Bedloe's, or he would be sure to be -hanged. The first story of Prance was that they -had killed Godfrey because he was an enemy to -the queen's servants; that Green strangled him -with a handkerchief, and punched him on the -breast with his knee: but finding him not dead, -wrung his neck; that on the following Wednesday -night, about twelve o'clock, the body was -put into a sedan chair and taken to the Soho, and -there conveyed on horseback before Hill to the -place in the fields where he was found, and where -they thrust his sword through him.</p> - -<p>Hill, Green, and Berry stoutly denied the whole -affair, and pointed out the gross contradictions -between the evidence of Bedloe and Prance; but -Chief Justice Scroggs, who presided at all these -trials, and showed himself a most brutal and -unprincipled judge, overruled all that. Mrs. -Hill, who brought witnesses into court in favour -of her husband, complained vehemently that -they were browbeaten and laughed at. "My -witnesses," she exclaimed, "are not rightfully -examined; they are modest, and are laughed at." -The unhappy victims were all condemned, and -died still protesting their innocence. Berry, who -was a Protestant, was respited a week, with a -promise of pardon if he would confess; but he -would not—a sufficient proof of the man's innocence, -who would not purchase life by a lie.</p> - -<p>These victims having suffered, the drama of -plots now produced a new act. It was one of the -great objects, as we have said, not only to damage -the succession of the Duke of York and to alarm -the king, but to ruin the Prime Minister, Danby, -who had superseded the Cabal. Intrigues were -entered into with Montagu, the ambassador at -Paris, for this purpose. Montagu was, of course, -in the secret of the money transactions between -the English and French Courts, and could, if it -were his interest, produce enough to destroy -Danby, without letting too much light in upon the -whole foul business; for not only the king on one -side, but the patriots and the Opposition on the -other, were equally implicated. A fortunate incident -facilitated their plans. Montagu and -Danby were at feud, and Danby only wanted a -fair pretext to remove Montagu from his post at -Paris. In this position of things Montagu furnished -ample ground for his recall. He had made -love to Charles's famous mistress, the Duchess of -Cleveland, now superseded by the Duchess of -Portsmouth. Cleveland was living in Paris a life -as little creditable as her life had been in England. -But Montagu deserted her for her daughter, and, -on her resenting this, threatened if she continued -to annoy him, to expose her intrigues in -the French Court, for she was become a great -political tool of Louis in his practices on England. -But Cleveland was not a woman to submit to be -snubbed and menaced even by a king, much less -by a minister: she wrote at once to Charles a -furious letter against Montagu, for she had still -great influence with the king. She alleged that -Montagu, who had been employed by Charles -to find out an astrologer, who had foretold -accurately Charles's restoration and entry into -London on the 29th of May, 1660, had bribed -this man to give such answers to the king as -suited his own purposes. He had often told -her that both the king and the duke were fools—one -a dull, governable fool, and the other a wilful -fool; that he wished the Parliament would send -them both on their travels again; that the king -always chose a greater beast than himself to -govern him, and much of the like kind.</p> - -<p>Montagu did not wait for the blow which was -sure to follow this missive, but suddenly, without -notice or permission, left Paris and appeared in -England. He put himself in communication -with Shaftesbury and his party, and also with -Barillon, who would be only too glad to get -Danby dismissed from office. Danby watched the -movements of Montagu with anxiety, knowing -that he had the power to make fatal disclosures. -To secure himself from the attack of the -Government, and at the same time to enable him -to effect his own purpose, Montagu offered himself -as a candidate for Parliament at Grinstead,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> -but was defeated by the influence of Danby. At -Northampton he was returned by the mayor, Sir -William Temple, while the Government nominee -was returned by the sheriff; but the popular party -defended his election, and Montagu gained his -seat. It was agreed with the Opposition that he -should lay a charge against Danby of treasonable -correspondence with France, and other offences, -and that they should move for his impeachment -on these grounds. Besides this, Montagu -had made a bargain with Barillon that one -hundred thousand livres should be paid to the -most powerful of the Opposition, for their -endeavours to crush Danby, and one hundred -thousand livres to himself, or forty thousand -livres of <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">rentes</i> on the Hôtel de Ville, or a -pension of fifty thousand livres—according to -the decision of the king—if Danby were excluded -from office.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_257.jpg" width="560" height="387" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HÔTEL DE VILLE, PARIS, IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. (<cite>From an Engraving by Rigaud.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_257big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Danby was not ignorant of the storm brewing, -and it was thought best not to wait for its bursting; -but the king sent and seized Montagu's -papers, on pretence that he had been intriguing -with the Pope's nuncio in Paris; and Erneley, the -Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced this fact -to the House. It was a very adroit proceeding, -but Montagu soon discovered that the precious -casket containing the most important papers had -been overlooked in the search. Montagu stated -to the House that Danby had missed his aim, that -the papers were safe, and a deputation was despatched -to fetch them. They returned with a -small despatch box, and from this Montagu produced -two letters of Danby, one of them the letter -in which Danby solicited a pension of six million -livres, on condition that he procured a peace from -the allies, and to which Charles had added the -words, "This is writ by my order.—C. R."</p> - -<p>On the reading of this letter the House was -thrown into a violent agitation. The secret dealings -of the king were partly brought to light. It -was now seen that Charles's zeal for the war was -only a pretence to extract money from the nation, -and, this obtained, that he was ready to sell the -honour of the country to France; and that -the minister had consented to the infamous -transaction. They immediately voted Danby's -impeachment by a majority of sixty-three, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> -appointed a committee—of which Montagu was -one—to draw up the articles. There was a -danger that Danby would retort on Montagu by -producing letters of his own, proving that he was -mixed up with these transactions from the beginning, -and had indeed been made the medium of -their proposal; but Montagu trusted to the impossibility -of detaching their evidence from such as -would have angered the country against the king. -He was right; yet two of his letters were sent by -Danby to the House, one giving information that -Ruvigny was sent to London to treat through -Lord William Russell with the Opposition, and -the other containing a proposal from Montagu of -a grant of money to Charles on the conclusion of -peace. These, at another time, would have produced -a wonderful sensation, but they were now -cast aside to pursue the higher game, and the -next day—December 21st—the impeachment of -Danby was sent up to the Lords.</p> - -<p>On the 23rd Danby replied to the charges by -pleading that he had written the letter from the -dictation of the king, who had certified the fact by -his own hand in the postscript; that it was well -known that he was neither a Papist nor a friend -to the French alliance, but that he had reason to -believe that his accuser, a man who, from his perfidy -and breach of the most sacred trust, all men -must abhor, had been assisted by French counsel -in getting up this impeachment. He denied any -guilty practices, and demanded only a fair trial. -There was a motion made to commit him to the -Tower, but this was overruled, and a day was -fixed on which the Lord Treasurer should make -his defence. But to defeat this, Danby now -advised the king to do that which he had repeatedly -dissuaded him from—namely, to dissolve -the Parliament. Accordingly, on the 30th of -December, it was prorogued for four weeks, and -before it could meet again, namely, on the 24th of -January, 1679, he dissolved it by proclamation, -summoning another to meet in forty days.</p> - -<p>This Pension Parliament had now lasted nearly -eighteen years. A wonderful change had come -over the spirit of this Parliament since its first -meeting. Soon after Charles's return no Parliament -could be more slavishly submissive. It had -restored to him almost everything that the Long -Parliament had taken from his father—the power -of the army, the customs, and excise; it had -passed the most severe and arbitrary Acts for the -supremacy of the Church, and the plunder and -persecution of Catholics and Dissenters. The Act -of Uniformity, the Corporation Act, the Test Act, -the Conventicle Act, the Five-Mile Act, the Act -which excluded Catholic peers from their House, -by which the Church and Crown had been exalted, -and the liberties of the people abridged, -were all the work of this Parliament. But in -time, a different temper displayed itself in this -very pliant House. It stiffened and became uncompliant. -But this was not at all by a growth -of virtue in it. Various circumstances had produced -this change. Buckingham, Shaftesbury, -and others of the Cabal ministry and their adherents, -had lost place and favour, and had -organised a stout Opposition. Their chief objects -were to mortify and thwart the king, to destroy -the prospect of the Popish Duke of York's succession, -and to overthrow their rival, Danby. In -the prosecution of these selfish ends, they had, as -usual, assumed the easy mask of patriotism, and -had been joined by the Republican and Patriot -party. They had got up the cry of Popery, and -driven the nation frantic by alarm of Popish plots, -and into much bloodshed, of which the end was -not yet. Their present attack on Danby was to -thrust down a much better man than themselves, -though by no means a perfect one. But Danby -had always detested the French alliance, and the -use made of it to ruin the Protestant nations on -the Continent and destroy the balance of power, -in favour of France. He had consented, it is -true, but most reluctantly, to write some of the -king's begging letters to Louis, and now the -Opposition, whose hands were filthy with handling -Louis's bribe, had contrived to make him -appear not the enemy, but actually the ally and -tool of France. Montagu, the great broker of -these corruptions, who had taken good care of -himself, was become the chastiser of a man who -was not a tenth part so guilty as himself. But -the darkest part of this story is the share which -the Patriotic party had in this receipt of French -money, and amongst them Algernon Sidney and -Hampden, the grandson of the great patriot. But -in excuse for them it may be urged that they did -not vote against their consciences.</p> - -<p>When the new Parliament met it was found to -be more violently anti-Roman than the old one. -The duke's known, the king's suspected, Popery -created a feeling in the nation that nothing could -remove, and which the recent excitements about a -Popish plot had roused into a universal flame. -This flame the popular party took every means to -fan; and though the Government exerted all its -power, its candidates were everywhere received -with execrations, and assertions of the bloody<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> -machinations of the Papists. The new Parliament, -therefore, came up with vehement zeal -against the plotters, and with unabated determination -to punish Danby. But the warning which -the progress of the election gave was not lost on -Danby. He considered that it would be one of -the most powerful means of abating the public -jealousy of Popery, if the king could be induced to -send the duke out of the kingdom. Charles recoiled -at so harsh a measure, and tried the vain -expedient of inducing James to pretend at least -conversion, by sending the Primate and other -bishops to persuade him to return to the Established -Church. It was of course useless, and -then Charles was obliged to advise James to withdraw -for awhile, and reside at Brussels. James -complied on two conditions—that the king should -give him a formal order to leave the kingdom, so -that he might not seem to steal away out of fear; -and that he should pledge himself publicly that he -would never acknowledge the legitimacy of Monmouth, -who had given out that he had four witnesses, -in case of Charles's death, to prove his marriage -with his mother. This was done in presence -of the Council, the members adding their signatures, -and Charles ordered the instrument to be enrolled -in Chancery. James quitted London with the -duchess on the 4th of March, leaving his daughter -Anne with her uncle, that the people might not -suppose that he sought to convert her to Popery -at Brussels.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of March Parliament met, and -the Commons were immediately engaged in a -dispute with the Crown regarding the election of -a Speaker. They elected their old one, Mr. Seymour; -the Lord Treasurer appointed Sir Thomas -Mears, one of his most active opponents in the -last Parliament. But during the interval since -the dissolution, Danby had been hard at work to -convert, by some means or other, some of his most -formidable enemies. After some altercation the -Commons gave way, and Mears was appointed.</p> - -<p>But this exercise of royal prerogative only embittered -the House to punish Danby and screen -Montagu. The Lords passed a resolution that the -dissolution of Parliament did not affect an impeachment—a -doctrine which has become constitutional. -Montagu had absconded, but reappeared -when his election to Parliament gave him personal -protection. Everything, therefore, portending the -conviction of Danby, Charles ordered him to resign -his staff, and then announced this fact to -Parliament, at the same time informing them that -as he had ordered him to write the letters in -question, he had granted him a pardon, and that -he would renew the pardon a dozen times if there -were a continued attempt to prosecute him for an -act simply of obedience to his sovereign.</p> - -<p>But this attempt to take their victim out of -their hands was resented by the Commons as a -direct breach of their privileges, and having -looked for a copy of this pardon in Chancery, and -not finding it, they learned from the Lord Chancellor -that the pardon had been brought ready -drawn by Danby to the king, who signed it; and -that the Seal had not been affixed by himself, but -by the person who carried the bag, at Charles's -own order. This irregularity the more inflamed the -Parliament. Powle, one of the French pensioners, -with that air of injured virtue which politicians -so easily assume, inveighed indignantly against -Danby, who, he said, had brought the country to -the brink of ruin by pandering to the mercenary -policy of Louis—the very thing he had opposed,—and -had raised a standing army and paid it with -French money. Moreover, he had concealed the -Popish plot, and spoken of Oates with contempt. -The Commons forthwith passed a Bill of -Attainder, and the Lords sent to take Danby into -custody; but he had absconded. On the 10th of -April, however, he surrendered himself to the -Lords, and was sent to the Tower. Lord Essex -was appointed Lord Treasurer in his stead, and -Lord Sunderland, Secretary of State, took the -station of Prime Minister. Essex was popular, -solid, and grave in his temperament, but not of -brilliant talent. Sunderland was a very different -man. He was clever, intriguing, insinuating in -his manners, but as thoroughly corrupt and unprincipled -as the worst part of the generation in -which he lived. He had long been ambassador at -the Court of France, and the very fact of his holding -that post between two such monarchs as Louis -and Charles, was proof enough that he was supple, -and not restrained by any nice sense of morals -or honesty. He was perfidious to all parties—a -Cavalier by profession, but at the same time that -he was serving arbitrary monarchs most slavishly, -he was Republican in heart. He was especially -attentive to the mother of Monmouth and the -Duchess of Portland, because he knew that they -had great influence with his master.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_260.jpg" width="404" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ASSASSINATION OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_260big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>At this crisis Sir William Temple proposed to -Charles a measure which he thought most likely -to abate the virulence of Parliament, and at the -same time prevent ministers from pursuing any -clandestine purposes to excite the suspicion of the -Parliament and nation. Temple had always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> -shown himself above and apart from the mere -interested ambitious and selfish objects of the -king's ministers. Whenever he was wanted, he -was called from his philosophic retreat of Moor -Park, in Surrey, to do some work of essential -benefit to the nation, which it required a man of -character and ability to accomplish. He had -effected the Triple Alliance and the marriage of -the Princess Mary with William of Orange; he -had refused to have any concern with the intrigues -of the Cabal; and now, when Parliament was -fast hastening to press on the prerogative, he -proposed that the Privy Council should be -increased to thirty members, half consisting -of officers of State, and half of leading and -independent members of the Lords and Commons. -All these were to be entrusted with every -secret movement and proposition of government; -and the king was to pledge himself to be guided -by their advice. Temple augured that nothing pernicious -could be broached by unscrupulous ministers -in a body where half were independent members -of Parliament, holding no office from the Crown; -and that, on the other hand, Parliament could not -so vehemently suspect the tendency of measures -which had first the approbation of their own -popular leaders. The House of Commons had -now driven three successive ministries from office—Clarendon, -the Cabal, and Danby—and was -still bent on a career violently opposed to the -Crown. If Temple had calculated that the effect -would be to neutralise or convert the democratic -members, he would have been right; but that -such a Council could ever work any other way was -impossible. The king would never long submit -measures, intended to maintain his prerogative, -to a Council which was not likely to carry his -views at once to both Houses; but he might, and -undoubtedly would, in many cases, succeed in -bringing over the Opposition orators to his interest. -This was the immediate effect on most of -them. Shaftesbury, Lord Russell, Saville, Viscount -Halifax, Powle, and Seymour, the late -Speaker, were included in the Council. But -Temple soon found that men of such contrary views -would not pull well together, and was compelled -to break his chief condition, and compose a sort -of inner council, of himself, Capel, Halifax, Essex, -and Sunderland, who prepared and really managed -everything. Halifax was a man of the most -brilliant talents, ambitious, yet not thinking himself -so, but so little swayed by mere party, that he -was called a trimmer, and gloried in the title. -For the rest—Capel, Cavendish, and Powle lost -the confidence of the Commons, which looked on -the new institution with distrust; Russell and -Shaftesbury alone spoke out as boldly as ever, and -retained more influence in the two Houses than -they gained in the Council. In fact, the Opposition -members soon found that they might propose, -but the king would not be outvoted in his own -Council. The very first measure suggested, was -that all persons of Popish tendencies should be -weeded out of office, out of the posts of lord-lieutenants, -the magistracy, and the courts of law; -but Charles, perceiving that the object was to -remove the staunchest supporters of the Crown, -quickly put an end to it. He called for the rolls, -and wherever he saw a name marked for removal, -gave such ludicrous and absurd reason for its retention, -that there was no gravely answering him. -One objected to, he said, was a "good cocker," -another an "expert huntsman," "kept good foxhounds," -or a "good house," "had always excellent -chines of beef," and the like. Arguments were -thrown away on the king, and the matter came to -nothing.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, Shaftesbury, who had been -made President of the Council by Charles himself, -undiverted by this from his great object, pursued -his Popery alarms out of doors, where the king -could not checkmate him. A fire broke out in a -printing-house in Fetter Lane, and the servant -was induced to confess that one Stubbs had -promised her five pounds to do it, who in turn said -Gifford, his confessor, had set him on, urging it -was no sin; and he added that London was to be -set on fire again by French Papists. The absurd -story soon grew into a rumour that the Duke of -York was coming with a French army to claim -the throne and re-establish Popery with all its -horrors. Shaftesbury declared in the Lords that -Popery must be rooted out if there was to be any -liberty left; that Popery and slavery, like two -sisters, went ever hand-in-hand; that one might -now go first, now the other; but wherever one -was seen, the other was certainly not far off. The -Commons eagerly seizing on the temper of the -nation, voted unanimously a Bill of Exclusion -against the Duke of York, and that a Protestant -successor should be appointed, as though the -duke were actually dead. Sir William Temple -attempted to weaken this movement by attributing -it to Monmouth and Shaftesbury, between -whom, it was asserted, there was a secret understanding -that if Monmouth's scheme of proving -his legitimacy succeeded, Shaftesbury should be -his Prime Minister. Probably by the advice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> -of Temple, Charles proposed a plan for a compromise—that -in case a Popish prince succeeded, -every power of altering the law should be taken -out of his hands; that no judges, justices, lord-lieutenants, -privy councillors, or officers of the -navy should be appointed without consent of Parliament; -and that no livings or dignities in the -Church should be at the option of the king, but of -a board of the most pious and Protestant divines. -Shaftesbury, however, ridiculed all these precautions, -as attempting to bind Samson with -green withes, which he could snap with the -greatest ease. The Commons were of that mind, -and on the 21st of May, 1679, passed their Exclusion -Bill by a majority of two hundred and -seven against one hundred and twenty-eight. The -Commons followed this up by proceeding in a -body to the House of Lords, and demanding judgment -against Danby. They also required that -the Prelates should not vote on Danby's case, -fearing that their numbers might give the Crown -a majority; but to this the Lords were opposed, -and though the bishops offered to concede the -point, the king forbade them, as the matter involved -his prerogative. The Commons persisting -in their demand, now instituted a strict inquiry -into the cases of bribery of members of Parliament -by the late minister, and ordered one of his -agents, Fox, the Treasurer of the Navy, to proceed -to Whitehall in company of three members, and -bring his books and papers for examination. The -king resented the searching of his house as a gross -insult, and the books and papers were refused; -but Fox was compelled to state how many -members he had paid money to, and he named -twenty-seven individuals. This was on the 24th -of May, and Charles, to cut the inquiry short, -suddenly sent for the Commons, and prorogued -Parliament for ten weeks. Shaftesbury was so -enraged at this unexpected obstruction to his -plans, that he vowed in the House of Lords that -it should cost the king's advisers of this measure -their heads.</p> - -<p>This prorogation was, on other accounts, one of -the most remarkable eras in our Parliamentary -annals, for before pronouncing the Parliament prorogued, -the king gave his consent to the Habeas -Corpus Act, and allowed the Act establishing the -censorship of the press to expire. The carrying of -the Habeas Corpus Act was owing mainly to the -influence of Shaftesbury, and was a benefit of such -magnitude, that it might cover a multitude of the -sins of that extraordinary man, who, with all his -faults, had a genuine substratum of patriotism in -him. The press had hitherto never been free. -Elizabeth cut off the hands of Puritans who -offended her, and her successors dragged them into -their Star Chamber. Even the Long Parliament, -when they abolished the Star Chamber, declined to -liberate the press, notwithstanding Milton's eloquent -appeal for the liberty of unlicensed printing. -The press was at length free, but only for a time, -being too dangerous an engine to the corrupt -government which so long succeeded.</p> - -<p>Whilst the blood of unfortunate victims of -imaginary plots was flowing in England, in Scotland -the same ruthless persecution had continued -against the Covenanters. Lauderdale had married -the Countess of Dysart, a most extravagant and -rapacious woman, who acquired complete influence -over him; and to find resources for her expense, -he levied fines on the Nonconformists with such -rigour and avidity, that it was believed that he -really sought to drive the people to rebellion, in -order to have a plea for plundering them. Such -was the woful condition of Scotland, delivered -over by the lewd and reckless king to a man who -combined the demon characters of cruelty, insult, -and avarice, in no ordinary degree. Complaints -from the most distinguished and most loyal inhabitants -were only answered by requiring them -to enter into bonds that neither they, nor their -families, nor tenants should withdraw from the -Established Church, under the same penalties as -real delinquents. The gentry refused to enter -into such bonds. Lauderdale, therefore, determined -to treat the whole West of Scotland as in an -actual state of revolt, and not only sent troops -with artillery to march into the devoted districts, -but let loose upon them bands of wild Highlanders, -and commanded even the nobility, as well -as others, to give up their arms. The outraged -population—left exposed to the spoliation of the -Highlanders, who, though they spared the lives, -freely robbed the inhabitants—sent a deputation -of some of their most eminent men to lay their -sufferings before the king himself. They were, -however, dismissed with a reprimand, Charles -replying, "I perceive that Lauderdale has been -guilty of many bad things against the people of -Scotland, but I cannot find that he has acted in -anything contrary to my interest."</p> - -<p>At length Lauderdale's confederate, Archbishop -Sharp, was murdered by a band of Covenanting -enthusiasts in Fife. There the cruelties of the -archbishop were pre-eminently intolerable. There -David Hackston of Rathillet, his brother-in-law, -John Balfour of Kinloch, or Balfour of Burley, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> -he is immortalised by Sir Walter Scott in "Old -Mortality," James Russell of Kettle, and six -others determined to take vengeance on a notorious -creature of Sharp's, one Carmichael, who -had pursued his levy of fines with such brutality, -as to have beaten and burnt with lighted matches -women and children, to compel them to betray -their masters, husbands, brothers, or fathers. On -the 3rd of May, 1679, Carmichael had been out -hunting, but hearing of Rathillet and his band -being on the watch for him, he left the field and -got home. The conspirators were returning disappointed, -when a greater prey fell into their -hands. The wife of a farmer at Baldinny sent a -lad to tell them that the archbishop's coach was on -the road, going from Ceres towards St. Andrews. -The delighted men gave chase, and, compelling the -old man to leave his coach, barbarously murdered -him. The assassins only crossed to the other side -of Magus Muir, where the bloody deed had been -perpetrated, and in a cottage they spent the -remainder of the day in prayer and praising God -for the accomplishment of what they deemed -this noble work. They then rode into the West, -where they joined Donald Cargill, one of the -most noted of the Cameronian preachers, with -Spreul, and Robert Hamilton, a young man -of good family, and a former pupil of Bishop -Burnet's, who had been excited by the persecutions -of the people to come out and attempt -their relief.</p> - -<p>The murder of the archbishop only roused the -Government to more determined rigour, and the -persecuted people, grown desperate, threw off in -great numbers all remaining show of obedience and -resolved to resist to the death. The more moderate -Presbyterians lamented and condemned the -murder of the Primate, but the more enthusiastic -looked upon it as a judgment of God. They -resolved to face the soldiery, and they had soon an -opportunity, for Graham of Claverhouse, a man -who acquired a terrible fame in these persecutions, -being stationed at Glasgow, drew out a troop of -dragoons and other cavalry, and went in pursuit -of them. He encountered them at a place near -Loudon Hill, in a boggy ground called Drumclog, -where the Covenanters, under Hamilton, Balfour, -and Cleland, defeated his forces, and put them to -flight, killing about thirty of them, including a -relative of Claverhouse's (June 11, 1679). The -insurgents under Hamilton, elated with their -victory, marched after Claverhouse into Glasgow -itself, but were repulsed. They went on, however, -increasing so fast, that Claverhouse evacuated -Glasgow, and marched eastward, leaving all the -west of Scotland in their hands.</p> - -<p>On the news reaching London, Charles despatched -the Duke of Monmouth, with a large -body of the royal guards, to quell the rebellion. -On the 21st of June, as the Covenanters lay near -the town of Hamilton, they received the intelligence -that Monmouth, with his forces joined to -those of Claverhouse, was approaching. The insurgents -had soon taken to quarrelling amongst -themselves, and the more moderate section were -now for submitting on favourable terms. Rathillet -and the more determined would not hear of any -surrender, but marched off and left the waverers, -who sent a memorial to Monmouth, declaring that -they were ready to leave all their complaints to a -free Parliament, and free Assembly of the Church. -The duke, who showed much mildness throughout -this campaign, replied that he felt greatly for -their sufferings, but that they must lay down their -arms, and then he would intercede for them with -the king. On the receipt of this answer the -greatest confusion prevailed; the moderate durst -not risk a surrender on such terms, remembering -the little mercy they had hitherto received from -the Government; the more violent, with a fatal -want of prudence, now insisted on cashiering -their officers, who had shown what they called a -leaning towards Erastianism, or, in other words, a -disposition to submit to the civil power.</p> - -<p>Whilst they were in this divided state, Monmouth's -army appeared in sight on the 22nd of -June. The Covenanters, therefore, compelled to -fight or fly, seized on the bridge of Bothwell, which -crossed the Clyde between the village of Bothwell -and the town of Hamilton. It was narrow, and -in the centre there stood a gateway. Here -Rathillet, Balfour, and others posted themselves -with about three hundred men to defend this pass. -But the army of Monmouth, on the slope of the -hill descending from Bothwell to the Clyde, commanded -the opposite hill, on which the Covenanters -were posted, with his artillery, and under its fire -a strong body of troops advanced to force the -bridge. Balfour and Rathillet defended their -post bravely, but the gate was at length carried, -and they were pushed back at the point of the -bayonet. They found themselves unsupported by -the main body, which, on the artillery playing -murderously upon them, had retreated to Hamilton -Heath, about a quarter of a mile distant. -There they rallied, and repulsed one or two -charges, and broke a body of Highlanders; but -undisciplined, disunited, and without artillery to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> -cope with that of Monmouth, they were only exposed -to slaughter. They turned and fled.</p> - -<p>Monmouth commanded a halt, to spare the fugitives. -But Claverhouse pursued and cut them -down to the number of four hundred men, besides -taking twelve hundred prisoners. Some of the -ministers and leaders were executed, the more -obstinate were sent as slaves to the Plantations, -many of them being lost at sea, and the rest were -liberated on giving bonds for conformity. The -efforts of Monmouth procured an indemnity and -indulgence, which might, after this severe chastisement, -have produced the most salutary effect; but -this was speedily superseded by the old, faithless, -and cruel <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">régime</i> of Lauderdale, and the still more -brutal rule of the Duke of York.</p> - -<p>During this time the Popish plot, with fresh -actors and ramifications, was agitated by the anti-Papal -party with unabated zeal. On the 24th -of April, 1679, a Protestant barrister, Nathaniel -Reading, was tried for tampering with the evidence -against Catholic noblemen in prison, in -order to reduce the charge from treason to felony. -It appeared that Bedloe had engaged him to do it, -and then informed against him. There appeared -on the trial many damning circumstances against -the character and veracity of Bedloe, yet Reading -was condemned to pay a fine of one thousand -pounds, and to suffer a year's imprisonment.</p> - -<p>Bedloe, Oates, and Prance were again, however, -brought forward in June against Whitbread and -Fenwick, who had been illegally remanded to -prison on their former trial, and three other -Jesuits—Harcourt, Gavan, and Turner—were now -also examined, and a new witness, one Dugdale, a -discarded steward of Lord Aston's, was introduced. -Oates had little to add to his former story, but -Bedloe and Prance were prolific in new charges. -It was in vain that the prisoners pointed out their -gross prevarications and palpable falsehoods. -They were all condemned, as well as Langhorne, -a celebrated Catholic barrister. The infamous -Jeffreys, now Recorder of London, sentenced -them, amid the loud acclamations of the spectators, -and they were all executed, after being -offered a pardon on condition of confessing the -plot, and disclosing what they knew. Langhorne -was promised his life if he would reveal the property -of the Jesuits, and on its proving only of -the value of twenty thousand or thirty thousand -pounds, he was told it was too insignificant -to save his life. A second time his life was -offered him if he would reveal the plot, but he -replied he knew of no plot, and all were executed -with the usual horrors. Next came up for trial -Sir George Wakeman, the queen's physician, and -Corker, Rumby, and Marshall, Benedictine monks; -but the diabolical perjury of Oates this time received -such an exposure, that the prisoners were -all acquitted. Philip Lloyd, the clerk of the -Council, deposed that when Oates had been questioned -by the Lord Chancellor whether he knew -anything personally of Sir George Wakeman, he -had solemnly sworn that he did not, yet this -morning he had charged him with different acts -of treason committed in his own presence.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding this rebuff to the despicable -informer, the three monks were recommitted on a -fresh charge, and in every quarter of the kingdom -similar persecutions were carried on, numbers were -thrown into prison, and eight other Catholics were -executed in different places.</p> - -<p>The Duke of York was every day becoming -more uneasy in his residence at Brussels. Knowing -the intrigues of Shaftesbury and his party to -advance the claims of Monmouth, he repeatedly -solicited the king to let him return, and Charles -falling ill in August, at Windsor, consented, and -James made his appearance at Court, much to the -consternation of Monmouth and his supporters. -The king recovering, to put an end to the intrigues -and feuds between the two dukes, Charles sent -Monmouth to Brussels, instead of James, and -ordered James to retire to Scotland. Being, as -usual, pressed for money, Charles again importuned -Louis for one million livres for three years; but -Louis replied that he did not see at this period -what services England could render him for that -expense: and James advised him to manage without -the money, by adopting a system of rigid -economy. In August he prorogued Parliament -for a year, and endeavoured to carry on without -the French king's pension. On seeing this, Louis, -through Barillon, renewed his offers, but Charles -felt too proud to accept them, and then the French -king once more turned to the Patriots, so-called, -to instigate fresh annoyances. Barillon paid to -Buckingham one thousand guineas, two thousand -five hundred guineas were distributed amongst Baber, -Littleton, Harbord, and Poole; and Montague -received fifty thousand livres in part payment of -his reward for overthrowing Danby. The consequences -were now seen. On the 17th of November, -the anniversary of the accession of Queen -Elizabeth, an anti-Popish procession was organised -by Shaftesbury and that party, though carried on -under the auspices of the Green Ribbon Club. -The bellman went first, ringing his bell, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> -exclaiming at intervals, "Remember Mr. Justice -Godfrey!" Then came a man in the habit of a -Jesuit, supporting before him on horseback an -effigy of the murdered magistrate, followed by a -long train of men and women, habited as monks, -nuns, priests, and Catholic bishops in capes and -mitres, and Protestant bishops in lawn sleeves, six -cardinals with their caps, and, lastly, the Pope on -a litter, with his arch-prompter, the Devil, by his -side. This procession, commencing in Moorgate, -traversed the streets at night with flambeaux, -amid a hundred thousand spectators, who were -frantic with cries of vengeance against Papists -and Popery. At Temple Bar, in front of the -club-house, they burnt the whole array of Popish -effigies, amid fireworks and rending shouts.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_265.jpg" width="405" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_265big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This exhibition of fury against the Catholics -was reported all over Europe with astonishment -and awe; but, on the other hand, it roused -Charles to dismiss Shaftesbury from the presidency -of the Council, and to order James to -assume his proper place at Court. Russell, -Capel, Cavendish, and Powle, seeing their party -reduced to impotence in the Council, resigned, and -Essex threw up the Treasury, and was succeeded -by Hyde, the second son of Clarendon. Sir -William Temple also retired again to his rural -retreat, and Sydney Godolphin became a leading -man in the Council. Both Hyde and Godolphin -were men of much talent, but decided Tories. The -character of Lawrence Hyde has been vigorously -sketched by Macaulay. He was a Cavalier of -the old school, a zealous champion of the Crown -and of the Church, and a hater of Republicans and -Nonconformists. He had, consequently, a great -body of personal adherents. The clergy, especially,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> -looked on him as their own man, and extended to -his foibles an indulgence of which, to say the -truth, he stood in some need, for he drank deep, -and when he was in a rage—and he was very often -in a rage—he swore like a trooper. "Godolphin," -says the same authority, "had low and frivolous -personal tastes, and was much addicted to racing, -card-playing, and cock-fighting."</p> - -<p>Between these new ministers and the Opposition -the contest grew more vehement. Shaftesbury -persuaded Monmouth to return in 1680, and much -rejoicing was got up for him in public. The -king was extremely angry, and ordered him to -retire, but Monmouth paid no attention to -the paternal command; and there was great -talk of a certain black box, in which the proofs -of the marriage of Monmouth's mother, Lucy -Walters or Barlow, were contained. Charles -summoned all the persons alleged to know of this -box and its contents, and questioned them, when -there clearly appeared to be no such box or such -evidence; and these facts were published in the -<cite>Gazette</cite>. Still, the duke was extremely popular -with the people, and occupied a prominent place in -the public eye. He was Duke of Monmouth in -England, of Buccleuch in Scotland, Master of the -Horse, Commander of the First Troop of Life -Guards, Chief Justice in Eyre south of Trent, a -Knight of the Garter, and Chancellor of the University -of Cambridge; and the Opposition did all -they could to enhance his importance. The war -of Whig and Tory, now the established terms, -was fierce.</p> - -<p>Of course the Popish plot continued to play its -part, its puppets being moved, and its victims -selected by the great political Oppositionists. -There was also another plot, called from the -hiding-place of the incriminating documents, the -Meal-Tub plot, in which the Presbyterians were -charged with conspiring to raise an army and -establish a Republic. The chief object of all -these got-up plots was to drive James from the -succession, and two parties were at work for this -purpose, who agreed so far as excluding James, -but were divided as to the successor to be set -up. Monmouth was the idol of Shaftesbury -and his party; William of Orange the selected -favourite of Temple, Hyde, Godolphin, and -their party—a far more intellectual and able -one. Against James this common object of his -exclusion told fearfully; for the rest, the deep and -cautious character of the Dutchman, and the light -and frivolous one of Monmouth, made William's -chance far the best. Shaftesbury, Buckingham, -and their adherents contrived to win over the -Duchess of Portsmouth to part of their views by -concealing the rest. They represented to her that -if the king were brought to nominate his successor, -as Cromwell had done, and as an Act of Parliament -would enable him to do, her eldest son might -be chosen. The bait took, especially when it was -coupled with the terrors of an impeachment in -default of compliance, which threatened her ruin -and that of her children. She flattered herself -that the illegitimacy of her son might be got over, -and went zealously into the affair. On the other -hand, Shaftesbury made himself sure that if this -plan were accomplished, Monmouth would be the -successor-elect. She pledged herself to use all her -influence with Charles, and she was empowered to -assure him of a large supply of money from Parliament, -and the same power of naming his successor -as had been given to Henry VIII.</p> - -<p>Charles appeared to fall into the scheme, but -demanded no less than eight hundred thousand -pounds. For this he probably would have sold his -brother's birthright. The question of James's exclusion -was discussed in the Council, and Charles -ordered James to return again to Scotland. But -what probably saved James was want of faith -between the leaders of the two exclusion factions -and Charles, and between each other. Each -faction knew that the other had its own successor -in view, and both doubted Charles too much to -trust him with the money before the Exclusion -Act was passed. Barillon, the French ambassador, -whose object was to maintain James, -also came in as a third party, with French money, -to embarrass and divide them. To cut the main -difficulty, Shaftesbury determined to damage -James irrevocably before the country; he, therefore, -on the 26th of October, 1680, brought forward -a wretch called Dangerfield to accuse the -duke, before the Commons, of having been at -the bottom of the late plot against the Presbyterians; -of having given him the instructions -to forge and distribute the lists and commissions; -of having presented him with twenty -guineas; given him a promise of much greater -reward; and ridiculed his hesitation to shed the -king's blood.</p> - -<p>The audacity of an Opposition that could bring -forward so horrible a charge against the heir-apparent, -on the evidence of a scoundrel branded -by sixteen convictions for base crimes, is something -incredible. But no sooner had Dangerfield -made the statement, than the House was thrown -into a wonderful agitation, and Lord William<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> -Russell rose and moved that effectual measures be -taken to suppress Popery and prevent a Popish -succession. From that day to the 2nd of November -a succession of other witnesses and depositions -were brought before the House to strengthen the -charge. The deposition of Bedloe, on his deathbed, -affirming all his statements, was read; one -Francisco de Faria, a converted Jew, asserted that -an offer had been made to him by the late Portuguese -ambassador, to whom he was interpreter, to -assassinate Oates, Bedloe, and Shaftesbury; Dugdale -related all his proofs against the lords in the -Tower; Prance repeated the story of the murder -of Godfrey, with fresh embellishments; and Mr. -Treby read the report of the Committee of inquiry -into the plot. The House, almost beside itself, -passed a Bill to disable the Duke of York, as a -Papist, from succeeding, and stipulating that any -violence offered to the king should be revenged on -the whole body of the Papists. But on the 15th -of November the Lords rejected it by sixty-three -against thirty. Shaftesbury then proposed, as the -last means of safety, that the king should divorce -the queen, marry again, and have a chance of -legitimate issue; but on this the king put an -effectual damper. Disappointed in both these -objects, the Opposition resorted to the cowardly -measure of shedding more innocent blood, in -order to have a fresh opportunity of exciting the -alarm and rage of the people against Popery. -They selected, from the five Popish lords in the -Tower, the Lord Stafford for their victim. He -was nearly seventy years of age, and in infirm -health, and they flattered themselves he would -not be able to make much defence. He was -arraigned in Westminster Hall before a Court -of Managers, as in the case of Lord Strafford. -The trial lasted seven days, and Oates, -Dugdale, Prance, Tuberville, and Denis, all men -of the most infamous and perjured character, -charged him with having held consultations with -emissaries of the Pope, and having endeavoured -to engage Dugdale to assassinate the king, and -so forth. The old earl made an admirable defence, -in which he dissected most effectually the -characters of his traducers; but he was condemned -by a majority of fifty-five to thirty-one, and was -beheaded on Tower Hill on the 29th of December, -1680. The sheriffs of London objected to -the order for his beheading, contending that he -ought to suffer all the horrors of the law against -traitors; but the king commanded them to obey -his order. On the scaffold the earl, whose mild -and pious demeanour made a deep impression on -the Popery-frightened people, declared his entire -innocence, and the people, standing with bare -heads, replied, "We believe you, my lord. God -bless you, my lord!"</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> - -<p class="p6">REIGN OF CHARLES II. (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Charles's Embarrassments—Exclusion Intrigues—Parliament Dissolved—The King again Pensioned by Louis—New Parliament -at Oxford—Violence of the Whigs—Charles Dissolves the Oxford Parliament—Execution of Archbishop Plunket—Arrest -of Shaftesbury—Dismay of the Gang of Perjurers—Oates turned out of Whitehall—Shaftesbury's Lists—Visit -of William of Orange—James in Scotland—Defeat of the Cameronians—Cargill's Manifesto—The Duke of -York's Tyranny—Flight of Argyll—The Torture in Edinburgh—Arrogance of Monmouth—Contest between the Court -and the City—Death of Shaftesbury—Rye-House Plot—Suicide of the Earl of Essex—Trial of Lord William Russell—Extraordinary -Declaration of the University of Oxford—Trial of Algernon Sidney—The Duke of Monmouth Pardoned—Base -Conduct of Monmouth—Trial of Hampden—Trials in Scotland—Absolutism of Charles—Forfeiture of Charters by -the Corporations—Influence of the Duke of York—Opposition of Halifax—Sickness and Death of the King.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>Amid the contending factions of his Court, and -in spite of the most absolute destitution of money, -Charles is described as being outwardly merry.</p> - -<p>Yet his situation would have embarrassed a -much wiser man. The Opposition, trusting to his -need of money, calculated on his giving way -on the Exclusion Bill; and they kept up their -warfare by speeches, pamphlets, and addresses to -the public, and by secret pressure on him through -his ministers, his mistress, his nephew, the Prince -of Orange, and his allies. Sunderland and Godolphin -urged his concession to the Opposition in -Parliament. The duchess, when he sought retirement -with her, harped on the same string.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> -Halifax, who had offended the Opposition greatly -by his determined resistance to the Exclusion Bill, -now proposed a Bill of Limitations of the authority -of James in case of his succession; and the Prince -of Orange warned the king on no account to adopt -this Bill, because it would undermine the very -foundation of the monarchy.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_268.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ARRIVAL OF CHARLES AT OXFORD. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_268big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Spaniards complained that Louis was violating -the Treaty of Nimeguen, and called on Charles -to act as their ally and a party to the Treaty. -To contend with Louis required money, even if -he were so disposed, and money he had none. -Instead of answering his demands for it, the Commons -expressed their resentment of his resistance -to the Exclusion Bill, by attacking all the supporters -of the king. They summoned various -Tory leaders on one pretence or another to their -bar; they demanded the removal of Jeffreys from -the office of Recorder of London, and he made -haste to submit; they voted impeachments -against Scroggs and North, the chief justices, and -Lewis Weston and other judges. They sent a -message to the king, that unless the Duke of -York was excluded, there was no safety to -Protestantism. They voted that the Marquis of -Worcester, Halifax, Clarendon, and Feversham, -were promoters of Popery; that they and Lawrence -Hyde, and Seymour, ought to be removed -from the king's council, and that till then no -money could be voted; and, moreover, that any -one lending the king money upon any branch -of the revenue, should be adjudged an enemy of -the country. As they were going on voting -still further resolutions of a like kind, Charles -prorogued Parliament, and then by proclamation -dissolved it, ordering another to assemble at the -end of two months at Oxford.</p> - -<p>The very naming of the place of meeting struck -the Opposition with alarm. In London they had -a great protection in a strongly sympathising -population; but Oxford was notorious for its -Royalist and Tory feeling; and there Charles, -amid a fiery mob of fortune-seeking gownsmen, -and a strong body of soldiery, might overawe -Parliament, and direct particular attacks against -the Opposition leaders. These fears were well -founded. But the king had, in the interim, also -strengthened himself in another manner. He had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> -first set to work every one of the duke's friends -that he possibly could, to induce him at least to -appear to conform to the demands of Parliament, -but finding this utterly unavailing, he had turned -to his old friend Louis. The French monarch, -who never liked to leave Charles at the mercy of -his Parliament, again gratified his desire, and -agreed to pay him two millions of livres this year, -and half a million of crowns in each of the two -following years, on condition that he should leave -the Spaniards to his overbearing encroachments. -The many hints thrown out of secret treaties between -Charles and Louis had not been lost, and no -written contract of this agreement was made, but -it was treated as a matter of honour, and only the -two monarchs, with Barillon on the one side, and -Hyde on the other, were included in the secret.</p> - -<p>Being thus made independent of his Parliament, -Charles disregarded the strongest remonstrances -against holding the Parliament in Oxford, and -on the day appointed appeared there, attended by -a troop of Horse Guards, besides crowds of armed -courtiers, and the Opposition members and their -party, likewise armed, and attended by armed -followers. It appeared more like a preparation for -war than for peaceful debate. Charles addressed -the assembled hearers in the tone of a man who -had money in his pocket. He spoke strongly of -the factious proceedings of the last Parliament, -and of his determination neither to exercise arbitrary -power himself, nor to suffer it in others; but -to show that he had every disposition to consult -the wishes of his subjects, he proposed to grant -them almost everything they had solicited. He -then offered the substance of the Bill of Limitations -proposed by Halifax, that James should be -banished five hundred miles from the British shores -during the king's life; that, on succeeding, though -he should have the title of king, the powers of -government should be vested in a regent, and this -regent, in the first instance, be his daughter, the -Princess Mary of Orange, and after her her sister -Anne; that if James should have a son educated -in the Protestant faith, the regency should continue -only till he reached his majority; that, -besides this, all Catholics of incomes of more than -one hundred pounds per annum should be banished, -the fraudulent conveyance of their estates be pronounced -void, and their children taken from them, -and educated in Protestantism.</p> - -<p>This was a sweeping concession; short of expelling -James altogether, nothing more could be expected, -and it was scarcely to be expected that -Charles would concede that. On this one point he -had always displayed unusual firmness, and it was -a firmness highly honourable to him, for by it he -maintained the rights of a brother, at the expense -of the aggrandisement of his own son. Nothing -would have been easier than to have, by a little -finesse, conveyed the crown to Monmouth, the -favourite of the Protestant bulk of the nation, -and for whom he had a real affection. But -the Whigs lost their opportunity; they were -blinded to their own interest by the idea of their -strength, and thought that, having so much offered, -they were about to gain all. This was the -culminating point of their success; but they rejected -the offer, and from that hour the tide of -their power ebbed, and their ruin was determined.</p> - -<p>There was another attempt to spur on the -country to carry the Exclusion Bill, by making use -of a miserable pretence of a plot got up by two -low adventurers, Everard and Fitzharris. First -these fellows pretended that the king was leagued -with the duke to establish Popery; but when -Fitzharris was thrown into Newgate, he got up -another story, that he had been offered ten thousand -pounds by the Duchess of Modena to murder -the king, and that a foreign invasion was to -assist the Catholic attempt. The Opposition were -ready to seize on this man as another Dangerfield, -to move the country by the disclosure of these -plots. But Charles was beforehand with them, -cut off all intercourse with the prisoner, and -ordered the Attorney-General to proceed against -him. The Commons claimed to deal with him, -and sent up an impeachment to the Lords; the -Lords refused to entertain it, and voted that he -should be tried as the king directed, by common -law. The Commons were exasperated, and declared -that this was a denial of justice, a violation -of the rights of Parliament, and any inferior court -interfering would be guilty of a high breach of the -privileges of their House. They were going on -with the reading of the Exclusion Bill, when suddenly -the king summoned them to the House of -Lords, and dissolved Parliament. He had, on -hearing of their proceedings, privately put the -crown and robes of State into a sedan-chair, and -hastened to the House. The astonishment and -rage of the Opposition were inconceivable. -Shaftesbury called on the members not to leave -the House, but it was in vain; they gradually -withdrew: the king rode off, attended by a detachment -of his Guards, to Windsor, and thus, after -the session of a week, ended his fifth and last -Parliament.</p> - -<p>If the Whigs had not been blinded by their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> -passions and their fancied success, they might have -seen the reaction that was taking place. The -long series of pretended plots had gradually opened -the eyes of the people; they began to wonder how -they could have believed them, and have consented -to the spilling of so much blood on the -evidence of such despicable characters. At the -execution of Lord Stafford, instead of those yells -of rage with which they had received some of the -previous victims, they cried that they believed -him, and prayed God to bless him. They might -have seen this change still more clearly in what -now followed. Charles issued a Declaration of his -reasons for dissolving this Parliament;—that he -had offered them everything that reasonable men -could desire, for which he had received only expressions -of discontent, and endeavours to usurp -his authority; that they had arrested Englishmen -for offences with which Parliament had -nothing to do; had declared the most distinguished -persons enemies to the king on mere suspicion; -had forbade any one to lend the king money in -anticipation of his revenue; had insisted on excluding -the heir apparent from the succession, notwithstanding -all possible guarantees; and that they -were endeavouring to create a quarrel between the -two Houses, because the Lords would not interfere -with the king's prerogative. This Declaration, -which was read in the churches, produced a strong -effect. The king was regarded as unreasonably -treated, and addresses of support were sent up from -all quarters. The University of Cambridge went -the length of saying that "our kings derive not -their titles from the people, but from God, and that -to Him only they are accountable. They had an -hereditary right of succession, which no religion, -no law, no fault, no forfeiture can alter or -diminish." The Whigs published a counter-address, -but, still drawing their arguments from -Oates's plot, it failed to tell; this delusion had -gone by, and the opposite one of Divine Right -was moving now, in consequence, with an exaggerated -impetus. The king persisted in bringing -Fitzharris to trial; the Whigs endeavoured to -defend him by pleading that, being impeached by -the Commons, no other court than Parliament -could try him; but this was overruled, he was -tried, condemned, and hanged.</p> - -<p>At the same time suffered the titular Archbishop -of Armagh; the last victim of the Popish -plot, and perhaps the most hardly and unjustly -used. Oliver Plunket, the archbishop, was imprisoned -merely for receiving orders in the Catholic -Church, contrary to the law; but whilst in prison -some of the Irish informers charged him with -being concerned in the Popish plot; but instead of -trying him in Ireland, where he was well known -and could produce his witnesses, he was brought to -England, and before his evidence could arrive, was -tried and executed (July 1, 1681). A more shameful -proceeding has never been recorded. The -Earl of Essex, who had been Lord-Lieutenant in -Ireland, solicited his pardon, saying to Charles, -that from his own knowledge, the charge against -him was undoubtedly false. "Then," retorted the -king, "on your head, my lord, be his blood. You -might have saved him if you would. I cannot -pardon him, because I dare not." The storm, in -fact, was about to burst on the heads of those who -had raised it. There was no Parliament to defend -them, and the Government now proceeded to -retaliate. The miscreants who had served Shaftesbury -in running down his victims now perceived -the change of public opinion, and either slunk -away or offered their services to Government -against their former employers.</p> - -<p>The first to be arrested were Shaftesbury himself, -College, surnamed the "Protestant joiner," -and Rouse, the leader of the mob from Wapping. -Lord Howard was already in the Tower on the -denunciation of Fitzharris. The Grand Jury refused -to find the Bill of Indictment against Lord -Howard; they did the same in the case of Rouse, -but College was tried, and the same witnesses -who had been deemed worthy enough to condemn -the Catholics were brought against him. -But the jury now refused to believe them against -a Protestant, and acquitted him. College, however, -was not permitted to escape so easily. He -was a noisy and determined leader of the people, -sang songs and distributed prints, ridiculing the -king and Court, and was celebrated as the inventor -of the Protestant flail. It was found that -some of his misdemeanours had been committed in -Oxfordshire, and he was sent down and tried -there, where the Tory feeling was not likely to let -him off again. There the miserable wretches, -whose concocted evidence had doomed to death so -many charged by them as participators in the -Popish plot, were now arrayed against each other. -Dugdale, Tuberville, and Smith swore against -College; Oates, Bolron, and others committed the -political blunder of contradicting them, and representing -them in colours that in truth belonged to -the whole crew. For this proceeding Oates was -deprived of his pension and turned out of Whitehall; -but College was condemned amid roars -of applause from the gownsmen. The execution<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> -of College was the commencement of a murderous -retaliation on the Whigs, as savage as had been -theirs on the Catholics. Shaftesbury, through the -influence of the sheriffs, and the vehement demonstrations -of the City made in his favour, was saved -for the present by the jury ignoring the indictment, -amid the acclamations of the people, and the -event was celebrated by bonfires, ringing of bells, -and shouts of "Monmouth!" "Shaftesbury!" and -"Buckingham!"</p> - -<p>But the arrest of Shaftesbury had led to consequences -which were fatal to him, and most disastrous -to the Whig party generally. Amongst -his papers were found, in particular, two which -roused the indignation of the Tory and Catholic -parties to a perfect fury. One was the form of an -Association for excluding James and all Catholics -from the throne, and from political power, and including -a vow to pursue to the death all who -should oppose this great purpose. The other contained -two lists of the leading persons in every -county, ranged under the heads of "worthy men," -and "men worthy," the latter phrase being supposed -to mean worthy to be hanged. When this -was published, the "men worthy" sent up the -most ardent addresses of loyalty, and readiness to -support the Crown in all its views; and many of -the "worthy men" even hastened to escape from -the invidious distinction. The king lost no time -in taking advantage of this ferment. He availed -himself of the information contained in these lists, -and struck out the most prominent "worthy men" -in office and commission. As the Dissenters had -supported Shaftesbury and his party, he let loose -the myrmidons of persecution against them, and -they were fined, distrained upon, and imprisoned -as remorselessly as ever. He determined to -punish the City for its partisanship, and by a -<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">quo warranto</i> to inquire into its many different -privileges.</p> - -<p>At this critical moment William of Orange proposed -to pay a visit to his uncles, which his loving -father-in-law, James, strenuously opposed, but -which the easy Charles permitted. It was soon -seen that William, though his ostensible object -was to induce Charles to enter into a league -against France—whose king continued, in spite -of treaties, to press on his encroachments,—yet -was courted by the Exclusionists, even by Monmouth, -as well as Lord William Russell and other -Whigs. With all his habitual caution he could -not avoid letting it be seen that he was proud of -the courtship. He even consented to accept an -invitation from the City to dinner, to the great -disgust of the Court, which was in high dudgeon -at the conduct of the sheriffs, and William soon -returned. His object was to ascertain the -strength of the Whig party, and though the tide -was rapidly running against it at that moment, -he went back with the conviction that some -violent change was not very far off. Though -Charles promised William to join the alliance -against France, and call a Parliament, no sooner -was the prince gone than he assured Louis that he -was his friend, and received a fresh bribe of a -million of livres to allow France to attack Luxembourg, -one of the main keys of Holland.</p> - -<p>James, during these months, had been distinguishing -himself in Scotland in a manner which -promised but a poor prospect to Protestantism -should he ever come to the throne. After the -battle of Bothwell Bridge, the Covenanting party -seemed for awhile to have sunk into the earth and -disappeared; but ere long there was seen emerging -again from their hiding-places the more determined -and enthusiastic section which followed -Donald Cargill and Richard Cameron. These so-called -Cameronians believed that Charles Stuart, -by renouncing the Solemn League and Covenant, -had renounced all right to rule over them; and -Cameron, with some twenty of his adherents, -affixed (June, 1680) on the cross of Sanquhar "a -declaration and testimony of the true Presbyterian, -anti-prelatic, anti-erastian, and persecuted party in -Scotland." In this bold paper they disowned -Charles Stuart, who ought, they said, to have been -denuded years before of being king, ruler, or magistrate, -on account of his tyranny. They declared -war on him as a tyrant and usurper; they also -disowned all power of James, Duke of York, in -Scotland, and declared that they would treat their -enemies as they had hitherto treated them.</p> - -<p>The host of Israel, as they styled themselves, consisted -of six-and-twenty horse and forty foot. At -Aird's Moss, this knot of men, who spoke such loud -things, were surprised by three troops of dragoons, -and Cameron, as bold in action as in word, rushed -on this unequal number, crying, "Lord, take the -ripest, spare the greenest." He fell with his -brother and seven others (July 20, 1680). -Rathillet, who was there, was wounded and taken -prisoner, but Cargill escaped. Rathillet was tried -and executed for the murder of Archbishop Sharp. -His hands were first cut off at the foot of the -gallows; after hanging, his head was cut off, and -fixed on a spike at Cupar, and his body was hung -in chains at Magus Moor. Cargill reappeared in -September, 1680, at Torwood, in Stirlingshire, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span> -there preached; and then, after the sermon, pronounced -this extraordinary excommunication:—"I, -being a minister of Jesus Christ, and having -authority from Him, do, in His name and by His -spirit, excommunicate, cast out of the true Church, -and deliver up to Satan, Charles II., King of -Scotland, for his mocking of God, his perjury, his -uncleanness of adultery and incest, his drunkenness, -and his dissembling with God and man." -He also excommunicated the Duke of York for -idolatry, Monmouth for his slaughter of the Lord's -people at Bothwell Bridge, Lauderdale for blasphemy, -apostasy, and adultery, and other offences.</p> - -<p>The Government thought it time to hunt out -this nest of enthusiasts, and put to death, as a -terror, the prisoners taken at Aird's Moss. Two of -these were women, Isabel Alison and Marian -Harvey, who went to the gallows rejoicing. The -Duke of York offered to pardon some of them if -they would only say, "God save the king," but -they refused, and congratulated each other that -they should that night sup in Paradise. Cargill -and four followers were hanged in July, 1681.</p> - -<p>James now professed great leniency and liberality. -Instead of persecuting the Cameronians, -he drafted them off into a Scottish regiment which -was serving abroad in Flanders, in the pay of -Spain. He put a stop to many of Lauderdale's -embezzlements, and turned out some of the worst -of his official blood-suckers. He promised to -maintain episcopacy, and to put down conventicles, -and brought into Parliament a new Test -Act, which was to swear every one to the king's -supremacy, and to passive obedience. His leniency -was then soon at an end, and the object he was -driving at was too palpable to escape the slightest -observation. But Fletcher of Saltoun, Lord Stair, -and some other bold patriots, opposed the design, -and carried a clause in the Test Act for the defence -of the Protestant religion, which was so -worded as to make it mean Presbyterianism of -the Confession of Faith of 1560. This so little -suited James that he was impelled to add -another clause, excusing the princes of the blood -from taking his own test. But Lord Belhaven -boldly declared that the object of it was to bind a -Popish successor. At this frank avowal, James's -assumed liberality deserted him, and he sent -Lord Belhaven prisoner to Edinburgh castle, and -ordered the Attorney-General to impeach him. -He removed Lord Stair from his office of President -of the Court of Session, and commenced -prosecutions against both him and Fletcher of -Saltoun. The Earl of Argyll, however, whose -father had been executed by Charles soon after -his restoration, made a decided speech against the -Test, and James called upon him at the Council -board to take it. Argyll took it with certain -qualifications, whereupon James appeared to be -satisfied, and invited Argyll to sit beside him at -the Council board, and repeatedly took the opportunity -of whispering in his ear, as if he bestowed -his highest confidence on him. But this was but -the fawning of the tiger ere he made his spring. -Two days after he sent him to the castle on -a charge of treason for limiting the Test. James, -however, when some of the courtiers surmised that -his life and fortune must pay for his treason, exclaimed, -"Life and fortune! God forbid!" Yet -on the 20th of November, 1681, instructions arrived -from England to accuse him of high treason, and -on the 12th of December he was brought to trial. -To show what was to be expected from such a -trial, the Marquis of Montrose, the grandson of -the celebrated Montrose, whom the father of -Argyll and the Covenanters hanged, and who was, -in consequence, the implacable enemy of the present -earl and all his house, was made foreman of -the jury, and delivered the sentence of guilty. -The whole Council were called on to endorse this -sentence; even the bishops were not allowed to -be exempt, according to their privilege, from being -concerned in a doom of blood; and the earl's own -friends and adherents had not the firmness to -refuse selling their names. Argyll, however, disappointed -his enemies, by escaping from his cell in -Edinburgh Castle in the disguise of a page to his -daughter-in-law, Lady Lindsay, and made his way -to England, and thence to Holland, where, like -many other fugitives from England and Scotland, -he took refuge with William of Orange.</p> - -<p>James now, whilst the Parliament was terror-stricken -by this example of royal vengeance, -brought in a Bill making it high treason in any -one to maintain the lawfulness of excluding him -from the throne, either on account of his religion or -for any other reason whatever. By this he showed -to the Exclusionists that they must expect a civil -war with Scotland if they attempted to bar his -way to the throne of England. Deeming himself -now secure, he gave way to his natural cruelty of -temper, and indulged in tortures and barbarities -which seemed almost to cast the atrocities of Lauderdale -into the shade. It was his custom to have -the prisoners for religion so tortured in the Privy -Council, that even the old hardened courtiers who -had witnessed the merciless doings of Lauderdale -and Middleton, escaped from the board as soon as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> -the iron boots were introduced. But James not -only seemed to enjoy the agonies of the sentenced -with a peculiar satisfaction, but he made an order -that the whole of the Privy Council should remain -during these more than inquisitorial horrors. He -was thus employing himself, when he was summoned -to England by Charles, who assured him -that he should be allowed soon to return permanently, -on condition that he made over part of -his Parliamentary allowance to the French mistress, -the Duchess of Portsmouth.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_273.jpg" width="560" height="422" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ESCAPE OF ARGYLL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_272">272</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_273big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The duke being allowed to return, and being -restored to the office of Lord High Admiral, and -lodged in St. James's Palace, Monmouth, who had -been assured that James should be retained in -Scotland, also returned from abroad, in spite of -the positive command of the king. On the Duke -of York's return, the Tories, who regarded it as a -proof of the ascendency of their principles, framed -an address of congratulation, and of abhorrence of -Shaftesbury's scheme of Association. When Monmouth -arrived, the Whig party received him with -still more boisterous enthusiasm. The City was -in a turmoil of delight, but in the blaze of his -popularity, Monmouth, conceiving that the Whig -influence was on the decline, endeavoured to follow -the example of Sunderland, who had made his -peace with the king, and the Duke was readmitted -to the Cabinet. But Monmouth was too narrowly -watched, and though he had sent offers of reconciliation -through his wife, the reproaches of -Shaftesbury, Russell, and his other partisans, made -him draw back, and under pretence of paying a -visit to the Earl of Macclesfield, he set out, as in -1680, on a tour through the provinces.</p> - -<p>Nothing could exceed Monmouth's folly in -this progress. Had he been the undoubted heir -apparent to the crown, he could not have assumed -more airs of royalty; and at a moment when the -eyes of both the king and James were following -him with jealous vigilance, this folly was the more -egregious. Wherever he came he was met by the -nobles and great landowners at the head of their -tenantry, most of whom were armed, and conducted -in royal state to their houses. He was -thus received by the Lords Macclesfield, Brandon, -Rivers, Colchester, Delamere, and Grey, as -well as by the leading gentry. He travelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span> -attended by a hundred men on horseback, one -half of whom preceded, and the other followed -him. As he approached a town, he quitted his -coach and mounted his horse, on which he rode -alone in the centre of the procession. On entering -the town, the nobles, gentry, and city officials -took their places in front, the tenantry and -common people fell in behind, shouting, "A Monmouth! -a Monmouth! and no York!" Wherever -he dined he ordered two hundred covers to be laid -for the guests, and the people, conducted by proper -officers, passed through the room in at one door -and out at another, in order to see him, as if he -were a king. At Liverpool he did not hesitate to -touch for the king's evil. Wherever there were -fairs, races, or other public assemblies, he was sure -to appear, and ingratiate himself with the populace, -not only by his flattering bows and smiles, -but by entering into their sports. He was a man -of amazing agility, and ran races on foot with the -most celebrated pedestrians, and after beating -them in his shoes, he would run again in his -boots against them in their shoes, and win still. -The prizes that he thus gained he gave away at -christenings in the evening.</p> - -<p>Whilst he was thus exciting the wonder of the -common people by his popular acts, accomplishments, -and condescensions, the spies of Chiffinch, -his father's old agent for secret purposes, were -constantly around him, and sent up hourly reports -to Court. Jeffreys, who was now Chief Justice of -Chester, and himself addicted to much low -company, buffoonery, and drunkenness off the -bench, and the wildest and most insulting conduct -upon it, seized the opportunity of some slight -disturbances, which occurred during Monmouth's -stay there, to win favour with the Duke of York, -by taking into custody and punishing some of his -followers. At Stafford Monmouth had engaged to -dine in the public streets with the whole population; -but as he was walking towards the appointed -place, a king's messenger appeared, and -arrested him on a charge of "passing through the -kingdom with multitudes of riotous people, to the -disturbance of the peace and the terror of the -king's subjects." Shaftesbury was not there, or -Monmouth might have been advised to throw himself -on the protection of the people, and the rebellion -which he stirred up a few years later -might have occurred then, for Shaftesbury was -now advising all the leaders of his party to rise; -but Monmouth surrendered without resistance, -and was conveyed to the capital, where he was -admitted to bail himself in a bond of ten thousand -pounds, and his sureties in two thousand pounds -each. The king, with that affection which he -always showed for this vain and foolish young -man, appeared satisfied with having cut short his -mock-heroic progress.</p> - -<p>But though the British Absalom for the present -escaped thus easily, the war of royalty and reassured -Toryism on the long triumphant Whigs -was beginning in earnest. Shaftesbury, since his -discharge from the Tower, had seen with terror -the rapid rising of the Tory influence, the vindictive -addresses from every part of the country -against him, and the undisguised cry of passive -obedience. The circumstances seemed not only to -irritate his temper, but to have destroyed the cool -steadiness of his judgment. He felt assured that -it would not be long before he would be singled -out for royal vengeance; and he busied himself -with his subordinate agents in planning schemes -for raising the country. These agents and associates -were Walcot, formerly an officer under the -Commonwealth in the Irish army; Rumsey, -another military adventurer, who had been in the -war in Portugal; Ferguson, a Scottish minister, -who deemed both the king and the duke apostates -and tyrants, to be got rid of by almost any means; -and West, a lawyer. These men had their agents -and associates of the like views, and they assured -Shaftesbury they could raise the City at any time.</p> - -<p>But the tug of war was actually beginning between -the Court and the City, and the prospect -was so little flattering to the City, that Halifax -said there would soon be hanging, and Shaftesbury -even thought of attempting a reconciliation with -the duke. He made an overture, to which James -replied, that though Lord Shaftesbury had been -the most bitter of his enemies, all his offences -should be forgotten whenever he became a dutiful -subject of his Majesty. But second thoughts did -not encourage Shaftesbury to trust to the smooth -speech of the man who never forgot or forgave.</p> - -<p>So long as the Whigs were in the ascendant, -their sheriffs could secure juries to condemn their -opponents and save their friends. Charles and -James determined, whilst the Tory feeling ran so -high, to force the government of the City from -the Whigs, and to hold the power in their own -hands. Sir John Moore, the then Lord Mayor, -was brought over to their interest, and they -availed themselves of an old but disused custom to -get sheriffs nominated to their own minds. Thus -the Government had a complete triumph in the -City; and they pursued their advantage. A prosecution -was commenced against Pilkington, one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> -of the late sheriffs, who in his vexation unguardedly -said, "The Duke of York fired the City -at the burning of London, and now he is coming -to cut our throats." Damages were laid at one -hundred thousand pounds, and awarded by a -jury at Hertford. Pilkington, whose sentence -amounted to imprisonment for life, and Shute, his -late colleague, Sir Patience Ward, Cornel, Ford, -Lord Grey, and others were tried, Ward for perjury, -the rest for riot and assault on the Lord -Mayor, and convicted. In all these proceedings -Mr. Serjeant Jeffreys was an active instrument to -promote the Government objects.</p> - -<p>But these triumphs were only temporary. The -Court determined to establish a permanent power -over the City. It therefore proceeded by a writ -of <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">quo warranto</i> to deprive the City of its franchise. -The case was tried before Sir Edward -Sanders and the other judges of the King's Bench. -The Attorney-General pleaded that the City had -perpetrated two illegal acts—they had imposed an -arbitrary tax on merchandise brought into the -public market, and had accused the king, by adjourning -Parliament, of having interrupted the -necessary business of the nation. After much -contention and delay, in the hope that the City -would voluntarily lay itself at the feet of the -monarch, judgment was pronounced that "the -City of London should be taken and seized with -the king's hands." When the authorities prayed -the non-carrying out of the sentence, the Lord -Chancellor North candidly avowed the real object -of the proceeding,—that the king was resolved to -put an end to the opposition of the City, by -having a veto on the appointment of the Lord -Mayor and sheriffs; that he did not wish to -interfere in their affairs or liberties further, but -this power he was determined to possess, and -therefore the judgment was confirmed June 20th, -1683, and London was reduced to an absolute -slavery to the king's will. It was equally determined -to proceed by the same means of a <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">quo -warranto</i> to suppress the charters of the other -corporations in the kingdom.</p> - -<p>Shaftesbury had seen the progress of this -enormous change with the deepest alarm. He -retired to his house in Aldersgate Street, and not -feeling himself secure there, hid himself successively -in different parts of the City, striving, -through his agents, to move Monmouth, Essex, -and Grey to rise, and break this progress of -despotism. He boasted that he had ten thousand -link-boys yet in the City, who would rise at the -lifting of his finger. It was proposed by Monmouth -that he should engage the Lords Macclesfield, -Brandon, and Delamere to rise in Cheshire and -Lancashire. Lord William Russell corresponded -with Sir Francis Drake in the west of England, -Trenchard engaged to raise the people of Taunton. -But Monmouth had more than half betrayed the -scheme to the king, and the progress of events -in the City grew formidable. Shaftesbury was -struck with despair, and fled in November, -1682. He escaped to Harwich in the guise of a -Presbyterian minister, and got thence over to -Holland. He took up his residence at Amsterdam, -where he was visited by Oates and Waller; -but his mortification at the failure of his grand -scheme of "walking the king leisurely out of his -dominions, and making the Duke of York a vagabond -like Cain on the face of the earth," broke his -spirits and his constitution. The gout fixed itself -in his stomach, and on the 21st of January, 1683, -he expired, only two months after his quitting -England.</p> - -<p>The fall of this extraordinary man and of his -cause is a grand lesson in history. His cause was -the best in the world—that of maintaining the -liberties of England against the designs of one of -the most profligate and despotic Courts that ever -existed. But by following crooked by-paths and -dishonest schemes, and by employing the most -villainous of mankind for accomplishing his object, -he ruined it. Had he and his fellows, who had -more or less of genuine patriotism in them, combined -to rouse their country by high, direct, and -honourable means, they would have won the confidence -of their country, and saved it, or have -perished with honour. As it was, the great -national achievement was reserved for others.</p> - -<p>The flight and death of Shaftesbury struck -terror into the Whig party. Many gave up the -cause in despair; others of a timid nature went -over to the enemy, and others, spurred on by their -indignation, rushed forward into more rash and -fatal projects; and at this moment one of the extraordinary -revelations took place which rapidly -brought to the gallows and the block nearly the -whole of Shaftesbury's agents, coadjutors, and -colleagues, including Lord William Russell and -Algernon Sidney.</p> - -<p>We have seen that Shaftesbury and his party -had been seriously contemplating an insurrection -to compel Charles to adopt measures for securing -a Protestant succession which they could not -persuade him to, and that the efforts of the -arch-agitator and his agents, West, Ferguson, -Rouse, Rumsey, Walcot, and others, to excite the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span> -nobles of the Whig party to action, had proved -abortive and induced Shaftesbury to fly. Unfortunately, -the royal party being now in the full -tide of retribution, the more contemptible portion -of those who had been most active in carrying on -the Whig aggressions began to consider what was -to be gained by betraying their associates. On -the 1st of June a Scotsman was arrested on -suspicion at Newcastle, and on him was found a -letter, which indicated agreement between the -Opposition parties in Scotland and England. A -quick inquiry was set on foot after further traces -of the alarming facts; and on the 12th, the very -day on which judgment was pronounced against -the City, Josiah Keeling, a man who had been -extremely prominent in the late contests about -the sheriffs, and who had displayed his zeal by -actually laying hands on the Lord Mayor Moore, -for his support of the Government, now waited on -Lord Dartmouth, the Duke of York's close friend, -and informed him of particulars of the late -schemes, as if they were yet actively in operation -against the king's life. Dartmouth took the -informer to Sir Leoline Jenkins, Secretary of -State, who had been extremely active in the -proceedings against the City. The story which -Keeling laid before Sir Leoline was to the following -appalling purport:—That in the month of -March last, when the king and Duke of York -were about to proceed to Newmarket, to the races, -Goodenough, the late Under Sheriff, one of -Shaftesbury's most busy men in the City, lamenting -the slavery to which the City was fast being -reduced, asked him how many men he could -engage to kill the king and the duke too; that -he had repeated the same question to him whilst -the king and the duke were there; and that he -then consented to join the plot, and to endeavour -to procure accomplices. Accordingly, he engaged -Burton, a cheesemonger, Thompson, a carver, and -Barber, an instrument-maker of Wapping. They -then met with one Rumbold, a maltster at the -"Mitre" Tavern, without Aldgate, where it was -settled to go down to a house that Rumbold had, -called the Rye House, on the River Lea, near -Hoddesdon, in Hertfordshire, and there execute -their design. This house lay conveniently by -the wayside, and a number of men concealed -under a fence could easily shoot down the king's -postilion and horses, and then kill him and the -duke, and the four guards with them. If they -failed to stop the carriage, a man placed with a -cart and horse in a cross lane a few paces farther -on was to run his horse and cart athwart the road, -and there stop it, till they had completed their -design. From this circumstance the plot obtained -the name of the Rye House Plot.</p> - -<p>At a subsequent meeting at the "Dolphin," -behind the Exchange, there was a disagreement as -to the time when the king would return, and thus -they missed the opportunity, for Rumbold, who -went down, said the king and duke passed the -place with only five Life-Guards. Various other -plans were then laid—one to cut off the king -between Windsor and Hampton Court.</p> - -<p>Secretary Jenkins, after listening to this recital, -told Keeling that it would require another witness -to establish a charge of treason against the conspirators, -and Keeling fetched his brother John, -who swore with him to these and many other particulars—namely, -that Goodenough had organised -a plan for raising twenty districts in the City, -and that twenty thousand pounds were to be distributed -amongst the twenty managers of these -districts; that the Duke of Monmouth was to -head the insurrection, a person called the colonel -was to furnish one thousand pounds, and different -men in different parts of the country were to raise -their own neighbourhoods; that the murder was -now to come off at the next bull-feast in Red Lion -Fields. Two days afterwards they added that -Goodenough had informed them that Lord William -Russell would enter heart and soul into the design -of killing the king and the Duke of York.</p> - -<p>A proclamation was immediately issued for -the arrest of Rumbold, Colonel Rumsey, Walcot, -Wade, Nelthorp, Thompson, Burton, and Hone; -but it was supposed that John Keeling, who had -been reluctantly dragged into the affair by Josiah, -had given them warning, and they had all got out -of the way. Barber, the instrument-maker of -Wapping, however, was taken, and declared that -he had never understood that the design was -against the king, but only against the duke. -West soon surrendered himself, and, in hope of -pardon, gave most extensive evidence against -Ferguson and a dozen others; like Oates and -Bedloe, continually adding fresh facts and -dragging in fresh people. He said Ferguson had -brought money to buy arms; that Wildman had -been furnished with means to buy arms; that -Lord Howard of Escrick had gone deeply into it; -that Algernon Sidney and Wildman were in close -correspondence with the conspirators in Scotland; -that at meetings held at the "Devil Tavern," it -was projected to shoot the king in a narrow street as -he was returning from the theatre; that they had -hinted something of their design to the Duke of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> -Monmouth, but not the killing part of it, but that -he had sternly replied they must look on him as a -son; and then the relations of this wretched turncoat -lawyer assumed all the wildness of a Bluebeard -story. Ferguson would hear of nothing -but killing. The new Lord Mayor, the new -sheriffs Rich and North, were to be killed, and -their skins stuffed and hung up in Guildhall; the -judges were to be flayed, too, and their skins -suspended in Westminster Hall and other great -traitors were to have their skins hung up in the -Parliament House.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_277.jpg" width="560" height="453" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE RYE HOUSE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_277big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Next, Rumsey turned informer, and, improving -as he went on, he also accused Lord William -Russell, Mr. Trenchard, Roe, the Sword-Bearer -of Bristol, the Duke of Monmouth, Sir Thomas -Armstrong, Lord Grey, and Ferguson. He had, -he said, met most of these persons at Shepherd's, -a wine-merchant, near Lombard Street, -and nothing less was intended by most of them -than killing the king and his brother. Trenchard -had promised a thousand foot and three -hundred horse in the West, and Ferguson had -engaged to raise twelve hundred Scots who had -fled to England after the battle of Bothwell -Bridge. Shepherd, the wine-merchant, was called, -and said that Shaftesbury, before going to Holland, -the Duke of Monmouth, Lords William -Russell and Grey, Armstrong, Rumsey, and Ferguson -had met at his house, and, he was informed, -had talked about securing his Majesty's Guards, -and had walked about the Court end of the town -at night, and reported a very remiss state of the -Guards on duty. He added that as the design -had not obtained sufficient support, so far as he -knew, it was laid aside.</p> - -<p>On the 26th of June a proclamation was -issued for the apprehension of Monmouth, Grey, -Russell, Armstrong, Walcot, and others. Monmouth, -Grey, Armstrong, and Ferguson escaped; -Lord William Russell, Sidney, Essex, Wildman, -Howard of Escrick, Walcot, and others were -taken, then or soon after. Russell was the first -secured. He was found quietly seated in his -library, and though the messengers had walked to -and fro for some time before his door, as if wishing -him to get away, he took no steps towards it, -but as soon as the officer had shown his warrant,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span> -he went with him as though he had been backed -by a troop. When examined before the Council, -he is said, even by his own party, to have made -but a feeble defence. He admitted having been -at Shepherd's, but only to buy wines. He -understood that some of those whom he had seen -there were a crowd of dangerous designers; he -should not, therefore, mention them, but only the -Duke of Monmouth, against whom there could be -no such charge. He denied that he had heard -there anything about a rising in the West or in -Scotland, but only that in the latter country there -were many people in distress, ministers and others, -whom it would be a great charity to relieve. He -was committed to the Tower, and on entering it -he said he was sworn against, and they would -have his life. His servant replied that he hoped -matters were not so bad as that, but he rejoined, -"Yes! the devil is loose!" He saw the course -things were taking; the spirit that was in the -ascendant; he knew that he had entered into -revolutionary schemes sufficiently for his condemnation, -and that the Duke of York, who had -an old hatred for him, would never let him escape.</p> - -<p>Lord Howard was one of the last arrested. He -went about after the arrest of several of the -others, declaring that there really was no plot; -that he knew of none; yet after that it is asserted, -and strong evidence adduced for it, that to save -his own life he had made several offers to the -Court to betray his kinsman Russell. Four days -before Russell's trial, a serjeant-at-arms, attended -by a troop of horse, was sent to Howard's -house at Knightsbridge, and after a long search -discovered him in his shirt in the chimney of his -room. His conduct when taken was most -cowardly and despicable, and fully justified the -character that he had of being one of the most -perfidious and base of men. He wept, trembled, -and entreated, and begging a private interview -with the king and duke, he betrayed his -associates to save himself. Russell had always -had a horror and suspicion of him, but he had -managed to captivate Sidney by his vehement professions -of Republicanism, and by Sidney and -Essex he had been induced to tolerate the traitor. -The Earl of Essex was taken at his house at -Cassiobury, and was escorted to town by a party -of horse. He might have escaped through the -assistance of his friends, but he deemed that his -flight would tend to condemn his friend Russell, -and he refused.</p> - -<p>He was a man of a melancholy temperament, -but he bore up bravely till he was shut up in the -Tower, in the same cell where his wife's grandfather, -the Earl of Northumberland, in the reign -of Elizabeth, had died by his own hands or -those of an assassin, and from which his father, -the Lord Capel, had been led to execution under -the Commonwealth. He now became greatly -depressed. The rest of the prisoners—Sidney, -Hampden, Armstrong, Baillie of Jerviswood, and -others, both Scottish and English—displayed the -most firm bearing before the Council, and refused -to answer the questions put to them. Sidney told -the king and his ministers that if they wished to -incriminate him, it was not from himself that they -would get their information.</p> - -<p>Lord William Russell was brought to trial on -the 13th of July, at the Old Bailey. He was -charged with conspiring the death of the king, and -consulting to levy war upon him. Intense interest -was attached to this trial, in consequence of the -high character of the prisoner, and because it -must decide how far the Whig leaders were concerned -in the designs of lower conspirators. He -requested a delay till afternoon or next morning, -because material witnesses had not arrived, but -the Attorney-General, Sir Robert Sawyer, replied, -"You would not have given the king an hour's -notice for saving his life; the trial must proceed." -He then requested the use of pen, ink, and paper, -and for permission to avail himself of the documents -he had with him. These requests were -granted, and he then asked for some one to help -him to take notes; and the court replied that he -might have the service of any of his servants for -that purpose. "My lord," said Russell, addressing -Chief Justice Pemberton, "my wife is here to -do it." This observation, and the lady herself -then rising up to place herself at her husband's -side to perform this office, produced a lively sensation -in the crowd of spectators. The daughter of -the excellent and popular Lord Southampton thus -devoting herself to assist her husband in his last -extremity, was an incident not likely to lose its -effect on the mind of Englishmen, and the image</p> - -<p class="center">"Of that sweet saint who sat by Russell's side"</p> - -<p>has ever since formed a favourite theme for the -painter and the poet.</p> - -<p>The witnesses first produced against him were -Rumsey and Shepherd. Rumsey deposed that the -prisoner had attended a meeting at Shepherd's for -concerting a plan to surprise the king's Guards at -the Savoy and the Mews, and Shepherd confirmed -this evidence. Russell admitted the being at -Shepherd's, and meeting the persons alleged, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span> -denied the object stated so far as he himself was -concerned, or so far as he had heard or understood. -The last and most infamous witness was -Lord Howard of Escrick, a man of ability and -address, but a thorough profligate, and generally -despised, and by Russell himself long suspected. -Yet even he seemed to feel the infamy of his -position, and to give his evidence with shame. -Whilst in the midst of it, the Court was electrified -by the news that the Earl of Essex -had that moment committed suicide in his cell. -He had called for a razor, shut himself up in a -closet, and cut his throat so effectually that he had -nearly severed his head from his body. When the -news, however, reached the court of the Old -Bailey, the sensation was intense. The witness -himself was greatly agitated by it, and Jeffreys, -who was counsel for the Crown, seized upon -it to damage the cause of the prisoner at the -bar. He argued that the very act showed the -conscious guilt of Essex, who had been constantly -mixed up in the proceedings of Russell.</p> - -<p>Howard swore that he had heard from Monmouth, -Walcot, and others, that Russell had -been deeply concerned with the conspirators, and -especially their head, Lord Shaftesbury. He -alleged that Russell had taken part in two discussions -at Hampden's, where they had arranged -the treasonable correspondence with the Earl of -Argyll and his adherents in Scotland; and was -aware of the agent, one Aaron Smith, being sent -to Scotland for the purpose of organising their co-operation. -Being pressed to say whether Lord -William took an active part in these discussions, -he did not plainly assert that he did, as he said -he was well known to be cautious and reserved in -his discourse, but that all was understood, and -he appeared to consent to everything. Russell -admitted having been at those meetings, but again -denied any knowledge of any such designs, and -declared that Lord Howard's evidence was mere -hearsay evidence, and of no legal weight whatever; -and that, moreover, Howard had positively -declared repeatedly that there was no plot, and -had sworn to his (Russell's) innocence. On -this Howard was recalled, and explained that it -was before his arrest that he had ridiculed and -denied the plot—which, under the circumstances, -was natural enough—and he had sworn to Lord -William's innocence only as far as regarded a -design of assassination of the king and duke, but -not as regarded his participation in the general -plot. West and the serjeant-at-arms, who had the -Scottish prisoners in custody, were also called to -prove the reality of the plot, and of their looking -chiefly to Lord William Russell to head it.</p> - -<p>On his part the prisoner contended that none of -the witnesses were to be relied on, because they -were swearing against him in order to save their -own lives. He also argued that, according to the -statute of 25 Edward III., the statute decided not -the design to levy war, but the overt act, to constitute -treason. But the Attorney-General replied -that not only to levy war, but to conspire to levy -war against the king, to kill, depose, or constrain -him, was treason by the statute. Before the jury -retired, Russell addressed them, saying, "Gentlemen, -I am now in your hands eternally; my -honour, my life, and all; and I hope the heats -and animosities that are amongst you will not so -bias you as to make you in the least inclined to -find an innocent man guilty. I call heaven and -earth to witness that I never had a design against -the king's life. I am in your hands, so God direct -you." They returned a verdict of guilty, and -Treby, the Recorder of London, who had been an -active Exclusionist, pronounced the sentence of -death. In spite of the efforts of his relatives, the -sentence was carried out on the 21st of July, 1683.</p> - -<p>On the day of Lord William Russell's death, -the University of Oxford marked the epoch by -one of those rampant assertions of Toryism -which have too often disgraced that seat of -learning. It published a "Judgment and Declaration," -as passed in their Convocation, for the -honour of the holy and undivided Trinity, the -preservation of Catholic truth in the Church, and -that the king's majesty might be secured both -from the attempts of open bloody enemies and the -machinations of treacherous heretics and schismatics. -In this declaration they attacked almost -every principle of civil and religious liberty, which -had been promulgated and advocated in the -works of Milton, Baxter, Bellarmin, Owen, Knox, -Buchanan, and others. They declared that the -doctrines of the civil authority being derived from -the people; of there existing any compact, tacit or -expressed, between the prince and his subjects -from the obligation of which, should one party -retreat, the other becomes exempt; of the sovereign -forfeiting his right to govern if he violate -the limitations established by the laws of God and -man, were all wicked, abominate, and devilish -doctrines, deserving of everlasting reprobation. -And they called upon "All and singular the -readers, tutors, and catechists, diligently to instruct -and ground their scholars in that most -necessary doctrine, which in a manner is the badge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span> -and character of the Church of England, of submitting -to every ordinance of man for the Lord's -sake, teaching that this submission and obedience -is to be clear, absolute, and without exception of -any state or order of men." This doctrine of -slaves, which Oxford would have fixed on the -nation as the badge of Englishmen, they were -in a very few years, under James, taught the -practical blessing of. They had, when their turn -came, quickly enough of it, flung the badge to the -winds, and made a present of their plate to the -Dutch prince, who came to drive their sovereign -from the throne.</p> - -<p>Before the trial of Algernon Sidney took place, -Sir George Jeffreys was made Lord Chief Justice -in place of Sanders, who was incapacitated by -sickness. Before this alternately laughing and -blackguarding demon Algernon Sidney, the last of -the republicans, was arraigned at the bar of the -King's Bench on the 7th of September, 1683. -Rumsey, Keeling, and West were brought against -him, as against Russell, but the main witness was -the despicable Lord Howard, whom Evelyn truly -calls, "That monster of a man, Lord Howard of -Escrick." On their evidence he was charged with -being a member of the Council of six, sworn to -kill the king and overturn his Government; with -having attended at those meetings already mentioned -at Hampden's, Russell's, and Shepherd's; -and with having undertaken to send Aaron Smith -to Scotland, to concert a simultaneous insurrection, -and to persuade the leading Scottish conspirators -to come to London, on pretence of proceeding to -Carolina.</p> - -<p>Sidney, after Howard had delivered his evidence, -was asked if he had any questions to put to -the witness, but he replied with the utmost scorn, -that "he had no questions to ask such as him!" -"Then," said the Attorney-General, "silence—you -know the rest of the proverb." The difficulty remained -to prove Sidney's treason, for there were -no two witnesses able or willing to attest an overt -act. But if it depended on the existence of fact, -there was not one of the Council of six who was -not guilty of really conspiring to drive out the -next successor to the Crown. Neither Russell, -nor Hampden, nor Sidney, though they laboured -in self-defence to prove the plot improbable, -ever really denied its existence. They knew -that it did exist, and were too honest to deny it, -though they notoriously sought to evade the -penalty of it, by contending that nothing of the -kind was or could be proved. But what said -Hampden himself after the Revolution, before a -committee of the House of Lords? Plainly, -"that the coming into England of King William -was nothing else but the continuation of the -Council of Six." The conspiracy by that time -was become in the eyes of the Government no -longer a crime, but a meritorious fact. The injustice -thus done to these patriots was not that -they had not committed treason against the -existing Government, but that they were condemned -on discreditable and insufficient evidence. -When men conspire to get rid of a tyrannous -government by force, they commit what is legally -rendered treason, and must take the consequence, -if detected by the ruling powers. But that circumstance -does not render the attempt less meritorious, -and if it succeeds they have their reward. -In this case the prisoners knew very well that if -their real doings could be proved against them, -they must fall by the resentment of those whom -they sought to get rid of; but they resisted, and -justly, being condemned on the evidence of traitors -like Lord Howard, and even then by evidence less -than the law required.</p> - -<p>To make out the two necessary witnesses in -this case, the Attorney-General brought forward -several persons to prove that the Scottish agents -of conspiracy for whom Sidney had sent had -actually arrived in London; but he relied much -more on a manuscript pamphlet which was found -in Sidney's desk when he was arrested. This -pamphlet appeared to be an answer to Filmer's -book, which argued that possession was the only -right to power. Three persons were called to -swear that it was in Sidney's handwriting; but -the chief of these was the same perfidious Shepherd, -the wine-merchant, who had so scandalously -betrayed his party. He had seen Sidney sign -several endorsements, and believed this to be his -writing. A second, who had seen him write once, -and a third, who had not seen him write at all, -but had seen his hand on some bills, thought it -like his writing. This was by no means conclusive, -but that did not trouble the Court; it went on to -read passages in order to show the treasonableness -of the manuscript, and then it was adroitly handed -to the prisoner on the plea of enabling him to -show any reasons for its being deemed harmless; -but Sidney was not caught by so palpable a trick. -He put back the book as a thing that no way concerned -him. On this Jeffreys turned over the -leaves, and remarked, "I perceive you have -arranged your matter under certain heads; so, -what heads will you have read?" Sidney replied -that the man who wrote it might speak to that;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span> -and asked with indignation whether a paper found -in his study against Nero and Caligula would -prove that he had conspired against Charles II.? -What credit, he asked, was due to such a man as -Lord Howard, who had betrayed every one that -had anything to do with him, and had said that -he could not get his pardon till the drudgery of -swearing was over? He contended that Howard -was his debtor, that he had a mortgage on his -estate, and to get rid of repayment was now -seeking his life. He commented on the oldness -of the work in the manuscript, and asked the -Attorney-General how many years the book of -Filmer's, which it replied to, had been written. -Jeffreys told him they had nothing to do with -Filmer's book; the question was, would he acknowledge -the authorship of the pamphlet? Sidney -replied, "No;" that it was neither proved to be -his, nor contained any treason if it had been.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_281.jpg" width="560" height="383" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>TRIAL OF LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_278">278</a>.)</p> - -<p>(<cite>After the Picture by Sir George Hayter.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_281big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span></p> - -<p>Jeffreys, after a parade of humanity, declaring -that the king desired not to take away any man's -life which was not clearly forfeited to the law, but -had rather that many guilty men should escape -than one innocent man suffer, concluded, nevertheless, -by telling the jury that <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">scribere est agere</i>—that -they had evidence enough before them, and -they, accordingly, brought in a verdict of guilty.</p> - -<p>When the prisoner was brought up on the 26th -of November to receive sentence, he pleaded in -arrest of judgment that he had had no trial, that -some of his jurors were not freeholders, and that -his challenges had not been complied with; yet he -seems to have exercised that right to a great -extent, for the panel contains the names of eighty-nine -persons, of whom fifty-five were challenged, -absent, or excused. As jurymen, however, then -were summoned, there might still be much truth -in his plea. He objected, too, that there was a -material flaw in the indictment, the words in the -king's title—Defender of the Faith—being left -out. "But," exclaimed Jeffreys, "that you would -deprive the king of his life, that is in very full, I -think." But this plea had a certain effect, and a -Mr. Bampfield, a barrister, contended that the -judgment should not be proceeded with whilst -there was so material a defect in the indictment. -Sidney also insisted that there was no proof of the -manuscript being his, or of its being treason, and -demanded that the Duke of Monmouth should be -summoned, as he could not be earlier found, and -now was at hand. But Jeffreys overruled all his -pleadings, and declared that there was nothing -further to do than to pass sentence. "I must -appeal to God and the world that I am not -heard," said Sidney. "Appeal to whom you will," -retorted Jeffreys, brutally, and with many terms -of crimination and abuse, passed on him sentence -of death with all its butcheries. On the 7th of -December he was led to execution.</p> - -<p>A very different man at this epoch obtained his -pardon, and played a very different part. The -weak, impulsive, ambitious, and yet vacillating -Monmouth was by means of Halifax reconciled -to his father. Halifax, who was known as a -minister by the name of the Trimmer, though he -had aided the Tories in gaining the ascendant, no -sooner saw the lengths at which they were driving, -than he began to incline to the other side. His -tendency was always to trim the balance. When -the Whigs were in the ascendant he was a decided -Tory; he did his best to throw out the Exclusion -Bill, and when it was thrown out he was one of -the first to advocate measures for preventing the -mischiefs of a Popish succession. His genius was -not to stimulate some great principle, and bear it -on in triumph, but to keep the prevailing crisis -from running into extravagance. He was, like -Danby, an enemy to the French alliance; he -loathed the doctrine of passive obedience; he was -opposed to long absence of Parliaments; he dared -to intercede for Russell and Sidney, when the -Tory faction were demanding their blood; he saw -the undue influence that the Duke of York had -acquired by the late triumph over the Whigs, and -he began to patronise Monmouth as a counterpoise; -he wrote some letters for Monmouth, professing -great penitence, and Monmouth copied and -sent them, and the king at once relented. On the -25th of October Charles received him at the house -of Major Long, in the City; and though he -assumed an air of displeasure, and upbraided him -with the heinous nature of his crimes, he added -words which showed that he meant to forgive. -On the 4th of November there was another -private interview, and Halifax laboured hard to -remove all difficulties. The king offered him full -forgiveness, but on condition that he submitted -himself entirely to his pleasure. On the 24th of -November he threw himself at the feet of the -king and the Duke of York, and implored their -forgiveness, promising to be the first man, in case -of the king's death, to draw the sword for the -maintenance of the duke's claims. The duke had -been prepared beforehand for this scene, and -accorded apparently his forgiveness. But Monmouth -was then weak enough to be induced to -confirm the testimony of Lord Howard against -his late associates, and to reveal the particulars of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span> -their negotiations with Argyll in Scotland. This -he did under solemn assurances that all should -remain secret, and nothing should be done which -should humiliate him. Having done this, his outlawry -was reversed, a full pardon formally drawn, -and a present of six thousand pounds was made -him by the king to start afresh with.</p> - -<p>No sooner, however, was this done than he saw -with consternation his submission and confession -published in the <cite>Gazette</cite>. He denied that he -had revealed anything to the king which confirmed -the sentences lately passed on Russell and Sidney. -The king was enraged, and insisted that he should -in writing contradict these assertions. He was -again cowardly enough to comply, and immediately -being assailed by the reproaches of his late friends, -and especially of Hampden, whose turn was approaching, -and who said that Monmouth had -sealed his doom, he hastened to Charles, and in -great excitement and distress demanded back his -letter. Charles assured him that it should never -be produced in any court as evidence against the -prisoners, and advised him to take some time to -reflect on the consequences to himself of the -withdrawal. But next morning, the 7th of -December, renewing his entreaty for the letter, it -was returned him in exchange for a less decisive -statement, and Charles bade him never come into -his presence again. He then retired to his seat in -the country, and once more offered to sign a paper -as strong as the last. Even Charles felt the infamy -of this proceeding, and refused the offer.</p> - -<p>But still it was determined to make use of him, -and he was subpœnaed to give evidence on the -approaching trial of Hampden. He pleaded the -promise that his confession should not be used -against the prisoners, but he was told that he had -cancelled that obligation by his subsequently withdrawing -his letter. Seeing by this that he would -be dragged before a public court to play the disgraceful -part of Lord Howard, he suddenly disappeared -from his house in Holborn, and escaped -to Holland, where he was well received by Prince -William, who was now the grand refuge of -English and Scottish refugees of all parties and -politics. As Monmouth's escape deprived the -court of his evidence, and only one main witness, -Lord Howard, could be obtained, the charge of -high treason was abandoned, and that of a misdemeanour -was substituted. Howard was the -chief witness, and Hampden was found guilty and -punished by a fine of forty thousand pounds, and -imprisoned till paid, besides having to find two securities -for his good behaviour during life. When he -complained of the severity of the sentence, which -was equivalent to imprisonment during the life of -his father, he was reminded that his crime really -amounted to treason, and therefore was very mild.</p> - -<p>On the return of the Duke of York to Scotland, -the persecutions of the defeated Covenanters had -been renewed there with a fury and diabolical -ferocity which has scarcely a parallel in history. -Wives were tortured for refusing to betray their -husbands, children because they would not discover -their parents. People were tortured and -then hanged merely because they would not say -that the insurrection there was a rebellion, or the -killing of Archbishop Sharp was a murder. The -fortress of the Bass Rock, Dumbarton Castle, and -other strongholds were crammed with Covenanters -and Cameronians. Witnesses, a thing unheard -of before, were now tortured. "This," says Sir -John Lauder of Fountainhall, "was agreeable to -the Roman law, but not to ours; it was a barbarous -practice, but yet of late frequently used -amongst us." He also informs us that Generals -Dalziel and Drummond had imported thumbscrews -from Russia, where they had seen them -used, by which they crushed the thumbs of -prisoners to compel them to confess. All the -laws of evidence were thrown aside, and the -accused were condemned on presumptive evidence. -On such testimony the property of numbers was -forfeited, and the notorious Graham of Claverhouse -was enriched by the estate of a suspected -Covenanter.</p> - -<p>By these torrents of blood, these diabolical -engines of iron boots, thumbscrews, and other -tortures; by witnesses forced to implicate their -neighbours, and a herd of vile caitiffs brought -forward to swear away the lives and fortunes of -every man who dared to entertain, though he -scarcely ventured to avow, a free opinion; by the -Church preaching passive obedience; by servile, -bullying, and brutal judges; Charles had now -completely subdued the spirit of the nation, and -had, through the aid of French money, obtained -that absolute power which his father in vain -fought for.</p> - -<p>One of the first uses which he made of this -beautiful tranquillity was to destroy the ancient -seminaries of freedom—the corporations of the -country. Writs of <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">quo warranto</i> were issued, and -the corporations, like the nation at large, prostrate -at the foot of the polluted throne, were -compelled by threats and promises to resign their -ancient privileges. "Neither," says Lingard, -"had the boroughs much reason to complain. By<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span> -the renewal of their charters they lost no franchise -which it was reasonable they should retain; -many acquired rights which they did not previously -possess; but individuals suffered, because -the exercise of authority was restricted to a -smaller number of burgesses, and these, according -to custom, were in the first instance named by the -Crown."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_284.jpg" width="560" height="418" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE BASS ROCK.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_284big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>There, indeed, lay the gist and mischief of the -whole matter. Charles cared little what other -privileges they enjoyed so that he could deprive -them of their most important privilege—their -independence, and make them not only slavish -institutions, but instruments for the general enslavement -of the country. "In the course of -time," says the same historian, "several boroughs, -by the exercise of those exclusive privileges, which -had been conferred on them by ancient grants -from the Crown, had grown into nests or asylums -of public malefactors, and on that account were -presented as nuisances by the grand juries of the -county assizes." This was a good reason why -those "several boroughs" should have been reformed; -but none whatever why all boroughs -should be compelled to surrender their independence -to a despotic monarch. The great instrument -in this sweeping usurpation was the Lord Chief -Justice Jeffreys, a man admirably calculated for -the work by his power of coaxing, jeering, browbeating, -and terrifying the reluctant corporations. -Before he set out on his summer circuit this year, -Charles presented him with a ring from his own -finger, as a mark of his especial esteem, at the -same time giving him a very necessary piece of -advice, Chief Justice as he was, to beware of -drinking too much, as the weather would be hot. -The ring was called Jeffreys' bloodstone, being -presented to him just after the execution of Sir -Thomas Armstrong.</p> - -<p>Though blood had ceased to flow, persecution of -the Whigs had not ceased. Sir Samuel Barnardiston, -the foreman of the grand jury which had -ignored the Bill against Lord Shaftesbury, was -not forgotten. He was tried for a libel, and fined -ten thousand pounds, and ordered to find security -for his good behaviour during life. Williams, the -Speaker of the House of Commons, was prosecuted -for merely having discharged the duties of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span> -office, in signing the votes; Braddon and Speke -were tried and punished severely for slandering -the king and duke by charging them with the -murder of Essex. And James now indulged -his spleen against Titus Oates for his proceedings -against the Catholics, and his endeavour -to exclude James from the succession. The pretence -seized upon was, that Oates and Dutton -Colt had declared that the Duke of York was a -traitor, and that before he should come to the -succession, he should be banished or hanged, the -hanging being the fitter. Jeffreys, who tried -them, had a particular pleasure in sentencing -Oates, who, in the days of his popularity, had hit -the rascally lawyer hard. In 1680 Jeffreys had -fallen under the censure of Parliament for interfering -in its concerns, and they had not only -brought him to his knees at their bar, but had -compelled him to resign the recordership of -London. On the trial of College, the "Protestant -joiner," Oates had appealed to Jeffreys, then Serjeant -Jeffreys, to confirm a part of his evidence. -Jeffreys indignantly said he did not intend becoming -evidence for a man like him; whereupon Oates -coolly replied, "I don't desire Sir George Jeffreys -to become an evidence for me; I have had credit -in Parliaments, and Sir George had disgrace in -one of them." Jeffreys was stunned by this -repartee, and merely replied, "Your servant, -doctor; you are a witty man and a philosopher." -But now the tide had turned; Jeffreys had the -witty man at his mercy, and he fined him and Colt -one hundred thousand pounds, or imprisonment -till paid, which meant so long as they lived.</p> - -<p>Tardy justice was also done to the Catholic -peers who were in the Tower. Lord Stafford had -fallen the victim of Protestant terrors during the -ascendency of the Whigs; Lord Petre died, worn -out by his confinement, but the Lords Powis, -Arundel, and Bellasis, after lying in durance vile -for five years, were brought up by writ of Habeas -corpus, and were discharged on each entering into -recognisances of ten thousand pounds for himself, -and five thousand pounds each for four sureties, -to appear at the bar of the House if called for. -The judges, now that the Duke of York, the -Catholic prince, was in power, could admit that -these victims of a political faction "ought in -justice and conscience to have been admitted to -bail long ago." Danby, too, was liberated on the -same terms, though he never could be forgiven by -the king or duke for his patronage of Oates, and -his zeal in hunting out the plot.</p> - -<p>The influence of James was every day more -manifest. Charles restored James to his former -status by placing him at the head of the -Admiralty; and, to avoid subjecting him to the -penalties of the Test Act, himself signed all the -papers which required the signature of the Lord -High Admiral. Seeing that this was received -with perfect complacency, he went a step farther, -and, in defiance of the Test Act, introduced -James again into the Council. This, indeed, -excited some murmurs, even the Tories being -scandalised at his thus coolly setting aside an Act -of Parliament.</p> - -<p>No sooner was James reinstated in the Council, -than he planned yet more daring changes. Under -the plea which he afterwards carried so far in -his own reign, of relieving the Dissenters, he -sought to relieve the Catholics from their penalties. -What his regard was for the Dissenters has -been sufficiently shown by their cruel persecution -in England, and by his own especial oppression of -the Covenanters in Scotland.</p> - -<p>One morning, however, Jeffreys, who had lately -been admitted to the Council, appeared at the -board with an immense bundle of papers and -parchments, and informed the king that they -were the rolls of the names of the recusants that -he had collected during his late circuit. He declared -that the gaols were crammed with them, -and that their case deserved the serious attention -of the king. Lord Keeper North, who saw instantly -the drift of the motion, and who had a -profound jealousy of Jeffreys, who, he knew, was -anxiously looking for the Seals, asked whether all -the names in the list belonged to persons who -were in prison? Jeffreys replied no, for the -prisons could not hold all the persons convicted of -recusancy. North then observed, that besides -Catholics there were vast numbers of Nonconformists -and other persons included in those lists, -who were professed enemies of the king, and of -Church and State, and that it would be far easier -and safer to grant particular pardons to Catholics, -than thus at once to set at liberty all the elements -of commotion in the kingdom. The blow was -struck. Strong as was the Government then, it -dared not give a measure of exemption exclusively -to the Catholics. The scheme, it was obviously -seen, was transparent, and there was a significant -silence. Neither Halifax, nor Rochester, nor the -more Protestant members having occasion to open -their mouths, the Council passed to other business.</p> - -<p>But Halifax saw with alarm the advancing -influence of the duke, and trembled for his own -hold of office, for the duke, he knew, hated him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span> -mortally. He, therefore, as a certain resource -against this advancing power, advised Charles to -call a Parliament, but that Charles had resolved -never to do. He still received a considerable sum -from Louis, though not so large in amount nor so -regularly paid as when his services were more -needful; and to decrease his expenditure, he had, -during the last year, sent a squadron under Lord -Dartmouth to destroy the fortification of Tangier, -which he had received as part of the dowry of the -queen. Had that Settlement been well managed, -it would have given England great advantages in -the Mediterranean; but nothing of that kind was -well managed by this unpatriotic king. To spare -the expenditure necessary for its maintenance, he -thus destroyed the defences, and left the place to -the Moors, to the great indignation of Portugal, -which thought rightly that, if he did not value it, -he might have restored it.</p> - -<p>Defeated in that quarter, Halifax next endeavoured -to stop the advancement of Lord Rochester. -This was Lawrence Hyde, the second son of the -late Lord Chancellor Clarendon, and the especial -favourite of the duke. He had (in 1682) -not only been created Earl of Rochester, but -made First Commissioner of the Treasury. Halifax -beheld in his rise an ominous competitor, -especially as the duke was the mainspring of his -prosperity. He therefore accused Rochester of -negligence or embezzlement in his office, and -succeeded in removing him (1684) from the -Treasury board to the Presidency of the Council. -This Halifax called kicking a man upstairs. Nor -did Rochester's promotion end here. He was soon -after appointed to the government of Ireland, the -old and veteran colleague of Rochester's father, -and the staunch champion of Charles in the days -of his adversity, being removed to make way for -him. The great object, however, was not simply -Rochester's promotion, but the organisation of a -powerful Catholic army in Ireland, for which it -was deemed Ormond was not active enough, this -army having reference to James's views on -England, which afterwards proved his ruin.</p> - -<p>By this appointment Rochester was removed -from immediate rivalry with Halifax; but sufficient -elements of danger still surrounded that -minister. Halifax and his colleagues had succeeded -in strengthening the Protestant succession -by the marriage of the second daughter of the -duke, Anne, to a Protestant prince; but even in -this event the influence of Louis had been active. -Through the medium of Sunderland, who continued -in office, and maintained a close intimacy -with the French mistress, the Duchess of Portsmouth, -Louis took care that, though the nation -would not tolerate any but a Protestant prince for -Anne's husband, it should be one of no great importance. -George, Prince of Hanover, afterwards -George I., had been selected, and made a visit to -London, but returned without the princess. The -fortune, it had been suggested, was not enough for -the penurious German; his father recalled him to -marry the Princess of Zell, a circumstance which -Anne never forgot or forgave. In the midst of -the agitation of the Rye House Plot, and but two -days before the execution of Lord William Russell, -another wooer appeared in George, brother of the -King of Denmark. This young man also had the -approbation of Louis, and the match took place a -week after his arrival.</p> - -<p>Still Halifax felt a growing insecurity in the -royal favour. The whole influence of the Duke of -York was exerted to ruin him, and he therefore -determined once more to attempt to re-establish -Monmouth in the king's favour. This popular -but weak young man was living in great honour -at the Court of the Prince of Orange. Many remonstrances -had been made by the Duke of York -to his daughter and son-in-law, against their encouragement -of a son who had taken so determined -a part both against his own father, the -king, and himself, their father. But the prince -and princess were well aware of Charles's affection -for his undutiful son, and therefore did not fear -seriously offending him. Under the management -of Halifax, Van Citters, the Dutch ambassador in -London, went over to the Hague on pretence of -negotiating some measure of importance between -the two countries. The Prince of Orange affected -to comply with the wishes of Charles for the removal -of Monmouth. But this nobleman, instead -of taking up his residence at Brussels, as was -given out, suddenly returned to London privately, -had an interview with his father, and as suddenly -returned to the Hague, saying that in three -months he should be publicly admitted at Court, -and the Duke of York be banished afresh. -Charles, meantime, had proposed to James to go -and hold a Parliament in Scotland, as if conferring -a mark of particular honour and confidence -on him. But the private visit of Monmouth had -not escaped James, nor the correspondence of -Halifax with him, and this caused a fresh energy -of opposition to that minister to be infused into -the duke's creatures at Court. Halifax had recommended -a most enlightened measure to the -king as regarded the American colonies, which,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span> -had it been adopted, might have prevented their -loss at a later period. He represented that the -grant of local legislatures to them would be -the best means of developing their resources, -and governing them in peace; but on this -admirable suggestion the duke's partisans seized as -something especially anti-monarchical and injurious -to the power of the king. The duke, the Duchess -of Portsmouth, and the Earl of Sunderland -re-echoed these opinions, and drew from Charles a -promise that unless Halifax retired of himself, he -should be dismissed on the first plausible occasion. -The influence of the French king was also at work -to effect the overthrow of Halifax. It was in -vain that Louis had endeavoured to buy him as he -had done the king, the duke, and the other -ministers; and as he could not be bought, the -only alternative was to drive him from office. He -was feebly supported by the Lord Keeper North; -he was actively and zealously undermined by his -colleagues, Sunderland and Godolphin; but still -Charles hesitated. He enjoyed the wit and -brilliant conversation of Halifax; he knew well -his ability, and, still more, he was in a most indolent -and undecided frame of mind. Macaulay -has well described him at this moment:—"The -event depended wholly on the will of Charles, and -Charles could not come to a decision. In his perplexity -he promised everything to everybody. He -would stand by France, he would break with -France; he would never meet another Parliament; -he would order writs for a Parliament without -delay. He assured the Duke of York that -Halifax should be dismissed from office, and -Halifax that the duke should be sent to Scotland. -In public he affected implacable resentment -against Monmouth, and in private conveyed to -Monmouth assurances of unalterable affection. -How long, if the king's life had been protracted, -his hesitation would have lasted, and what would -have been his resolve, can only be conjectured."</p> - -<p>But his time was come. It was not likely that -a man who had led the dissipated life that Charles -had, would live to a very old age. He was now in -his fifty-fifth year, and the twenty-fifth of his reign, -that is, reckoning from the Restoration, and not -from the death of his father, as the Royalists, who -would never admit that a king could be unkinged, -did. His health, or, more visibly, his spirits, had -lately much failed—no doubt the consequence of -that giving way of his debilitated system, which -was soon to carry him off. His gaiety had quite -forsaken him; he was gloomy, depressed, finding -no pleasure in anything, and only at any degree of -ease in sauntering away his time amongst his -women. It was thought that his conscience -began to trouble him for the profligacy of his life, -and the blood that had been shed under his rule; -but Charles was not a man much troubled with a -conscience; he was sinking without being aware -of it, and the heaviness of death was lying on him. -On Monday, the 2nd of February, 1685, he rose at -an early hour from a restless couch. Dr. King, a -surgeon and chemist, who had been employed by -him in experiments, perceived that he walked -heavily, and with an unsteady gait. His face was -ghastly, his head drooping, and his hand retained -on his stomach. When spoken to he returned no -answer, or a very incoherent one. King hastened -out, and informed the Earl of Peterborough that -the king was in a strange state, and did not speak -one word of sense. They returned instantly to -the king's apartment, and had scarcely entered it -when he fell on the floor in an apoplectic fit. As -no time was to be lost, Dr. King, on his own responsibility, -bled him. The blood flowed freely, -and he recovered his consciousness. When the -physicians arrived they perfectly approved of -what Dr. King had done, and applied strong -stimulants to various parts of his body. The -Council ordered one thousand pounds to be paid to -Dr. King for his prompt services, but the fee was -never paid.</p> - -<p>As soon as the king rallied a little, he asked for -the queen, who hastened to his bedside, and -waited on him with the most zealous affection, till -the sight of his sufferings threw her into fits, and -the physicians ordered her to her own apartment. -Towards evening Charles had a relapse, but the -next morning he rallied again, and was so much -better, that the physicians issued a bulletin, expressing -hope of his recovery; but the next day he -changed again for the worse, and on the fourth -evening it was clear that his end was at hand. -The announcement of his dangerous condition -spread consternation through the City; the momentary -news of his improvement was received -with unequivocal joy, the ringing of bells, and -making of bonfires. When the contrary intelligence -of his imminent danger was made known, -crowds rushed to the churches to pray for his -recovery; and it is said the service was interrupted -by the sobs and tears of the people. In -the royal chapel prayers every two hours were -continued during his remaining moments.</p> - -<p>James was never a moment from the dying -king's bedside. He was afterwards accused of -having poisoned him—a suspicion for which there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span> -does not appear the slightest foundation; but, -apart from natural brotherly regard, James was -on the watch to guard the chances of his succession. -Every precaution was taken to secure the -tranquillity of the City, and to insure an uninterrupted -proclamation of his accession. In the -room, too, were as constantly a great number of -noblemen and bishops. There were the Archbishop -of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, -Durham, and Ely, and Bath and Wells, besides -twenty-five lords and privy councillors. A bishop, -with some of the nobles, took turns to watch each -night.</p> - -<p>Early on the Thursday morning, Ken, of Bath -and Wells, ventured to warn the king of his -danger, and Charles receiving the solemn intelligence -with an air of resignation, he proceeded to -read the Office for the Visitation of the Sick. He -asked Charles if he repented of his sins, and -on replying that he did, Ken gave him absolution -according to the prescribed form of the Church of -England, and then inquired whether he should -administer the Sacrament. To this there was no -answer. Ken, supposing that the king did not -clearly comprehend the question, repeated it more -distinctly. Charles replied there was yet plenty -of time. The bread and wine, however, were -brought, and placed on a table near him; but -though the question was again repeatedly asked -by the bishop, Charles only replied, "he would -think of it."</p> - -<p>The mystery was, however, solved by the French -mistress, who, drawing Barillon, the French ambassador -into her boudoir, said, "Monsieur l'Ambassadeur, -I am going to tell you the greatest -secret in the world, and my head would be in -danger if it were known here. The king, in the -bottom of his heart, is a Catholic, and nobody tells -him the state he is in, or speaks to him of God. I -can no longer with propriety enter into his chamber, -where the queen is almost constantly with -him; the Duke of York thinks about his own -affairs, and has no time to take the care that he -ought of the king's conscience. Go and tell him -that I have conjured you to warn him to do what -he can to save the soul of the king, his brother. -He is master in the royal chamber, and can make -any one withdraw from it as he lists. Lose no -time, for if you delay ever so little, it may be too -late."</p> - -<p>When Barillon whispered this to James, he -started as from a lethargy, and said, "You are -right, there is no time to lose. I will rather hazard -all than not do my duty." A priest was found in -Huddleston, who had been with the king in the -battle of Worcester, and accompanied him in his -flight. He had become a Benedictine monk, and -had been appointed one of the chaplains of the -queen.</p> - -<p>The duke, stooping to the king's ear, had inquired -in a whisper whether he should bring him -a Catholic priest, and Charles instantly replied, -"For God's sake, do!" The duke then requested, -in the king's name, all the company to retire into -an adjoining room, except the Earl of Bath, Lord -of the Bedchamber, and Lord Feversham, Captain -of the Guard, and as soon as this was done, Huddleston, -disguised in a wig and gown, was introduced -by the backstairs by Chiffinch, who for so -many years had been employed to introduce very -different persons. Barillon says that Huddleston -was no great doctor, which is probably true -enough, having originally been a soldier, but he -managed to administer the Sacrament to the king, -and also the extreme unction. Charles declared -he pardoned all his enemies, and prayed to be pardoned -by God, and forgiven by all whom he had -injured.</p> - -<p>This ceremony lasted three-quarters of an hour, -and the excluded attendants passed the time in -much wonder and significant guesses. They looked -at one another in amazement, but spoke only with -their eyes, or in whispers. The Lords Bath and -Feversham being both Protestants, however, seemed -to disarm the fears of the bishops. But when -Huddleston withdrew, the news was speedily -spread. That night he was in much pain; the -queen sent to excuse her absence, and to beg that -he would pardon any offence that she might at -any time have given him. "Alas! poor woman!" -he replied, "she beg my pardon! I beg hers with -all my heart; take back to her that answer." He -then sent for his illegitimate sons, except Monmouth, -whom he never mentioned, and recommended -them to James, and, taking each by -the hand, gave them his blessing. The bishops, -affected by this edifying sight, threw themselves -on their knees, and begged he would bless them -too; whereupon he was raised up and blessed them -all. Having blessed the bishops, he next blessed -the ladies of his harem, and particularly recommended -to his successor the care of the Duchess of -Portsmouth, who had been pretty active for his -exclusion, and also the Duchess of Cleveland, -hoping, moreover, that "poor Nelly"—Nell -Gwynne—would not be left to starve. Three -hours afterwards this strange monarch breathed -his last on the 6th of February, 1685.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 560px;"> -<img src="images/i_288.jpg" width="560" height="387" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left"><cite>By permission of the Corporation of Liverpool.</cite></p> - -<p>THE ANTE-CHAMBER OF WHITEHALL DURING THE LAST MOMENTS OF CHARLES II., 1685.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">From the Picture by E. M. WARD, R.A., in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_288big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span></p> - - - - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_289.jpg" width="520" height="251" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GREAT SEAL OF JAMES II.</p></div> -</div> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> - -<p class="p6">REIGN OF JAMES II.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>James's Speech to the Council—Rochester supersedes Halifax—Other Changes in the Ministry—James Collects the Customs -without Parliament—French Pension continued—Scottish Parliament—Oates and Dangerfield—Meeting of Parliament—It -grants Revenue for Life—Monmouth and Argyll—Argyll's Expedition—His Capture and Execution—Monmouth's -Expedition—He enters Taunton—Failure of his Hopes—Battle of Sedgemoor—Execution of Monmouth—Cruelties of -Kirke and Jeffreys—The Bloody Assize—The Case of Lady Alice Lisle—Decline of James's Power—He Breaks the Test -Act—Revocation of the Edict of Nantes—Prorogation of Parliament—Acquittal of Delamere—Alienation of the Church—Parties -at Court—The Dispensing Power Asserted—Livings granted to Catholics—Court of High Commission Revived—Army -on Hounslow Heath—Trial of "Julian" Johnson—James's Lawlessness in Scotland and Ireland—Declaration of -Indulgence—The Party of the Prince of Orange and the Princess Mary—Expulsion of the Fellows of Magdalen College—New -Declaration of Indulgence—Protest of the Seven Bishops—Birth of the Prince of Wales—Trial and Acquittal of -the Bishops—Invitation to William of Orange—Folly of James—William's Preparations—Blindness of James and -Treachery of his Ministers—William's Declaration—James convinced, makes Concessions—William lands at Torbay—His -Advance to Exeter—Churchill's Treason—Flight of the Princess Anne and her Husband—James sends Commissioners -to Treat with William—Flight of James—Riots in London—Return of James—His Final Flight to France—The -Convention—The Succession Question—Declaration of Rights—William and Mary joint Sovereigns.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>To the reign of merry cruelty now succeeded the -reign of gloomy, ascetic, undisguised ferocity. -Charles could laugh and sport with his ladies, -whilst his subjects were imprisoned and tortured. -James, who never laughed, pursued his cruel -bent with a settled butcher-like mood, and would -have extirpated nations, were it in his power, to -restore Catholicism, and establish the political -absolutism adored by the Stuarts. Yet he began -the reign of the Inquisition with the hypocrisy of -the Jesuit. When the breath had left the body of -Charles, James retired for a quarter of an hour to -his chamber, and then met the Privy Council with -a speech which promised everything that he was -most resolved not to perform. He began by eulogising -the deceased "as a good and gracious king." -If he really thought his late merry, debauched, -and despotic brother good and gracious, it was an -evil omen for the nation, whose ruler had such -conceptions of what was good and gracious. He -then added, "I have been reported to be a man -fond of arbitrary power; but that is not the only -falsehood which has been reported of me; and I -shall make it my endeavour to preserve this -Government, both in Church and State, as it is by -law now established. I know the principles of -the Church of England are favourable to monarchy, -and the members of it have shown themselves good -and loyal subjects; therefore I shall take care to -defend and support it. I know, too, that the laws -of England are sufficient to make the king as -great a monarch as I can wish; and as I shall -never depart from the just rights and prerogatives -of the Crown, so I shall never invade any man's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span> -property. I have often before ventured my life in -defence of this nation, and shall go as far as any -man in preserving it in all its just rights and -liberties."</p> - -<p>The first thing which scandalised the people was -the miserable economy of the late king's funeral. -It was said to be scarcely befitting a private gentleman, -and the Scottish Covenanters asserted -that the dead tyrant had been treated, as the -Scriptures declared tyrants should be, to the "burial -of an ass." The first thing which James set about -was the rearrangement of the Cabinet. There was -but one man in the Cabinet of the late king who -had his entire confidence—this was Rochester, the -second son of the late Lord Clarendon. To him -he gave the office of Lord High Treasurer, thus -constituting him Prime Minister; to Godolphin, -who had held this office, he gave that of Chamberlain -to the Queen. Halifax was deprived of the -Privy Seal, and was made President of the -Council, a post both less lucrative and less influential, -a circumstance which highly delighted -Rochester, who now saw the wit who said he had -been kicked upstairs, served in precisely the same -way. Sunderland, the late Secretary of State, -was suffered to retain his office. He had intrigued -and acted against James; both he and -Godolphin had supported the Exclusion Bill, but -Sunderland now with his usual supple artifice, represented -that he could have no hope of the -king's favour but from the merit of his future -services; and as he possessed some dangerous -secrets, he was permitted to keep his place. He -did not, however, content himself with this, but -cherished the ambition of superseding Rochester -as Lord Treasurer, and therefore represented himself -to the Catholics as their staunch friend, whilst -they knew that Rochester was the champion of -the Church of England. For the present, nevertheless, -from having been at high feud with both -Rochester and Clarendon, he cultivated a strong -friendship with them to make his position firm -with the king. Halifax had opposed the Exclusion -Bill, but he had become too well known as a -decided enemy of Popery and of the French -ascendency. James, therefore, tolerated him for -the present, and whilst he assured him that all -the past was forgotten, except the service he had -rendered by his opposition to the Exclusion Bill, he -told Barillon, the French ambassador, that he -knew him too well to trust him, and only gave him -the post of President of the Council to show how -little influence he had.</p> - -<p>The Great Seal was retained also by Lord -Guildford, who, though he was by no means a -friend of liberty, was too much a stickler for the -law to be a useful tool of arbitrary power. -James secretly hated him, and determined to associate -a more unscrupulous man with him in the -functions of his office. This was his most obedient -and most unflinching creature, the Lord Chief -Justice Jeffreys, of whose unexampled villainies -we shall soon hear too much. Guildford was by -the overbearing Jeffreys at once thrust back into -the mere routine of a judge in equity, and all his -State functions and patronage were usurped by -this daring man. At the Council board Jeffreys -treated him with the most marked contempt, and -even insult, and poor Guildford soon saw all influence -and profit of the Chancellorship, as well as -the Chief Justiceship, in the hands of Jeffreys, and -himself reduced to a cipher.</p> - -<p>But the most ungenerous proceeding was that -of depriving the old and faithful Lord Ormond of -the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland. Ormond had not -only stood firmly by Charles I., but had suffered -unrepiningly the evil fortunes of Charles II. He -had shared his exile, and had done all in his power -for his restoration. He had opposed all the endeavours -by the Popish Plot and the Exclusion -Bill to get rid of James, and was highly respected -in his office in Ireland. He had lately lost his -eldest son, Lord Ossory, and, though aged, was -still vigorous and zealous in discharge of his -duties. But he had the unpardonable faults of -being a firm Protestant and as firm an advocate -for the constitutional restrictions of the Crown. -James recalled him from his Lord-Lieutenancy on -the plea that he was wanted at Court in his other -office of Lord Steward of the Household. But the -ancient chief felt the ungrateful act, and, at a -farewell dinner at Dublin to the officers of the -garrison, in toasting the health of the king, he -filled a cup of wine to the brim, and, holding it -aloft without spilling a drop, declared that whatever -the courtiers might say, neither hand, heart, -nor reason yet failed him—that he knew no -approach of dotage.</p> - -<p>Having made these changes in the ministry, -James lost no time in letting his subjects see that -he meant to enjoy his religion without the restraints -to which he had been accustomed. He -had been used to attend Mass with the queen in -her oratory, with the doors carefully closed; but -the second Sunday after his accession he ordered -the chapel doors to be thrown wide open, and went -thither in procession. The Duke of Somerset, -who bore the sword of State, stopped at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span> -threshold. James bade him advance, saying, "Your -father would have gone farther." But Somerset -replied, "Your Majesty's father would not have -gone so far." At the moment of the elevation of -the Host, the courtiers were thrown into a strange -agitation. The Catholics fell on their knees, and -the Protestants hurried away. On Easter Sunday -Mass was attended with still greater ceremony. -Somerset stopped at the door, according to custom, -but the Dukes of Norfolk, Northumberland, -Grafton, Richmond, and many other noblemen, -accompanied the king as far as the gallery. -Godolphin and Sunderland also complied, but -Rochester absolutely refused to attend. Not -satisfied with proclaiming his Catholicism, James -produced two papers, which he said he had found -in the strong box of the late king, wherein Charles -was made to avow his persuasion that there could -be no true Church but the Roman, and that all -who dissented from that Church, whether communities -or individuals, became heretic. James -declared the arguments to be perfectly unanswerable, -and challenged Sancroft, Archbishop of -Canterbury, to attempt it. This was not very -consistent with his speech as regarded the -Church of England, and his next step was as -great a violation of his assurance that he would -not invade any man's property. Funds for -carrying on the Government were necessary, and -James declared that as the customs and part of -the excise had only been granted to Charles for -his life, they had now lapsed, and that it would -produce great inconvenience to wait for the -meeting of Parliament for their re-enactment. -Nothing prevented him from calling Parliament -at once, but James undoubtedly had a fancy for -trying his father's favourite measure of levying -taxes without Parliament. It was contended that -as no law for customs or excise now existed, all -goods newly imported would come in duty free, -and ruin the merchants who had to sell goods -which had paid the duty. North, Lord Guildford, -recommended that the duties should be levied as -usual, but the proceeds kept in the Exchequer till -Parliament met and authorised their appropriation; -but Jeffreys was a councillor much more -after the king's heart. He recommended that an -edict should at once be issued, ordering the duties -to be paid as usual to his Majesty, and this advice -was carried, every one being afraid of being -declared disloyal, or a trimmer, who voted against -it. The proclamation was issued, but, to render it -more palatable, it announced that a Parliament -would be very soon called, and as many addresses -as possible from public bodies, sanctioning the -measure, were procured. The barristers and -students of the Middle Temple, in their address, -thanked the king for preserving the customs, and -both they and the two universities expressed the -most boundless obedience to the king's sovereign -and unlimited power. But the public at large -looked on with silent foreboding. "The compliments -of these bodies," says Dalrymple, "only -served to remind the nation that the laws had -been broken."</p> - -<p>Before venturing to assemble Parliament James -endeavoured to render Louis of France acquiescent -in this step. He knew from the history of the -late reign how averse Louis was from English -Parliaments, which were hostile to his designs -against the Continental nations. He therefore -had a private interview with Barillon, in which he -apologised most humbly for the necessity of -calling a Parliament. He begged him to assure -his master of his grateful attachment, and that he -was determined to do nothing without his consent. -If the Parliament attempted to meddle in any -foreign affairs, he would send them about their -business. Again he begged him to explain this, -and that he desired to consult his brother of -France in everything, but then he must have -money by some means. This hint of money -was followed up the next day by Rochester, and -Barillon hastened to convey the royal wishes. -But Louis had lost no time in applying the -effectual remedy for a Parliament, the moment -the assembling of one became menaced. He sent -over five hundred thousand crowns, which Barillon -carried in triumph to Whitehall, and James wept -tears of joy and gratitude over the accursed bribe. -But he and his ministers soon hinted that the -money, though most acceptable, would not render -him independent of Parliament, and Barillon -pressed his sovereign to send more with an -urgency which rather offended Louis, and rendered -it possible that the ambassador had a pretty good -commission out of what he obtained. James -sent over to Versailles Captain Churchill, already -become Lord Churchill, and in time to become -known to us and all the world as the Duke of -Marlborough. He was to express James's gratitude -and his assurances of keeping in view the -interests of France, and so well did the proceedings -of Churchill in Paris and of Barillon in -England, prosper, that successive remittances, -amounting to two millions of livres, were sent -over. But of this, except four hundred and -seventy thousand livres, the arrears of the late<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span> -king's pension, and about thirty thousand pounds -for the corruption of the House of Commons, -Louis strictly forbade Barillon paying over more at -present to James without his orders. In fact, he -was no more assured of the good faith of James -than he had been of that of Charles; and he had -ample reason for his distrust, for at the very same -time James was negotiating a fresh treaty with -his son-in-law, the Prince of Orange.</p> - -<p>It is impossible to comprehend the full turpitude -of this conduct of James without keeping -steadily in view the aims of both James and -Louis. James's, like that of all the Stuarts, was -simply to destroy the British constitution and -reign absolutely. To do this the money of -France was needed to render them independent -of Parliaments, and a prospect of French troops -should the English at length rebel against these -attempts at their enslavement. The object of -Louis was to keep England from affording any aid -to any power on the Continent, whilst he was -endeavouring to overrun it with his armies.</p> - -<p>On the day of the coronation in England -(April 23rd), St. George's Day, the Parliament -in Scotland met. James called on the Scots to -set a good example to the approaching Parliament -of England in a liberal provision for the Crown; -and the Scottish Estates, as if complimented by -this appeal, not only responded to it by annexing -the excise to the Crown for ever, and offering him -besides two hundred and sixty thousand pounds a -year for his own life, but declared their abhorrence -of "all principles derogatory to the king's sacred, -supreme, sovereign, and absolute power and authority." -They did more, they passed an Act making -it death for any one to preach in a conventicle, -whether under a roof or in the open air. In -England the elections were going on most -favourably, and therefore James seized on the -opportunity, whilst all appeared smiling and secure, -to indulge his appetite for a little vengeance.</p> - -<p>On the 7th of May, Titus Oates, the enemy of -James and of Popery, the arch-instrument of the -Whig agitators, was brought up to the bar of the -King's Bench, before the terrible Jeffreys. When -he was now brought up, the Court was crowded -with people, a large proportion of them being -Catholics, glad to see the punishment of their ruthless -enemy. But if they expected to see him depressed -or humbled, they were much disappointed. -He came up bold and impudent as ever. -Jeffreys flung his fiercest Billingsgate at him, but -Oates returned him word for word unabashed. -On his last trial he had sworn he had attended a -council of Jesuits on the 24th of April, 1671, in -London, but it was now proved beyond doubt -that on that very day Oates was at St. Omer. He -had sworn also to being present at the commission -of treasonable acts by Ireland, the Jesuit, in -London, on the 8th and 12th of August, and on -the 2nd of September of the same year. It was -now also clearly proved that Ireland left London -that year on the 2nd of August, and did not -return till the 14th of September. Oates was -convicted of perjury on both indictments, and was -sentenced to pay a thousand marks on each indictment; -to be stripped of his clerical habit; to be -pilloried in Palace Yard, and led round Westminster -Hall, with an inscription over his head -describing his crime. He was again to be pilloried -in front of the Royal Exchange, and after that -to be whipped from Aldgate to Newgate, and -after two days' interval whipped again from -Newgate to Tyburn. If he survived this, which -was not expected, he was to be confined for life, -but five times every year he was to stand again -in the pillory.</p> - -<p>If the crimes of this wretch were monstrous, his -punishment was equally so. He had the assurance -on his trial to call many persons of distinction, -including members of Parliament, to give -evidence in his favour, but he was answered only -by bitter reproaches, for having led them into the -spilling of much innocent blood. The lash was -applied the first day so unmercifully, that though -he endured it for some time, it compelled him to -utter the most horrible yells. Several times he -fainted, but the flagellations never stopped, and -when the flogging ceased, it was doubted whether -he was alive. The most earnest entreaties were -made to the king and queen to have the second -flogging omitted, but they were both inexorable. -Yet the guilty wretch survived through all, -though he was said to have received seventeen -hundred stripes the second day on his already -lacerated body. So long as James reigned, he -was subjected to the pillory five times a year, but -he lived to be pardoned at the Revolution, and -receive a pension of five pounds a week in lieu of -that granted him by Charles II. He died in 1705.</p> - -<p>Dangerfield, who had not only succeeded in -destroying so many innocent victims, but had -displayed villainy and ingratitude of the blackest -dye, was also convicted, and sentenced to pay -five hundred pounds, and to be pilloried twice and -whipped twice over the same ground as Oates. -He was extremely insolent on his trial, but on -hearing his sentence he was struck with horror,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span> -flew into the wildest exclamations, declared himself -a dead man, and chose a text for his funeral -sermon. Singularly enough, his end was really at -hand. On returning from his whipping a gentleman -named Robert Francis, of Gray's Inn, stepped -up to the coach and asked him how his back -was. Dangerfield replied by a curse, and Francis -thrusting at him with his cane, wounded him in -the eye; the wound was declared to occasion his -death, though the unmerciful flogging was probably -the real cause, and Francis was tried for the -murder, and hanged.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_293.jpg" width="413" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JAMES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_293big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The meeting of Parliament on the 19th of May -drew the public attention from these barbarities. -Every means had been exerted to influence the -elections. In the counties the reaction of Toryism, -and the effects of the Rye House Plot in defeating -and intimidating the Whigs, gave the Court every -advantage. In the corporations the deprivation -of their ancient charters made them the slaves -of Government. But even with these advantages -James was not satisfied. Wherever there appeared -likely to be any independent spirit shown, agents -were sent down to overawe the people, and to -force a choice of the Government candidate. On -the 22nd of May James went to the House of -Lords in great state to open Parliament. He took -his seat on the throne with the crown on his head, -and his queen, and Anne, his daughter, Princess of -Denmark, standing on the right hand of the -throne. The Spanish and other Catholic ambassadors -were present, and heard the Pope, the -Mass, the worship of the Virgin Mary, and the -saints all renounced, as the Lords took their oaths. -James then produced a written speech and read it. -He repeated in it what he had before declared to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span> -the Council, that he would maintain the Constitution -and the Church as by law established, and -added that, "Having given this assurance concerning -their religion and property, they might -rely on his word." Although it had been the -custom to listen to the royal speech in respectful -silence, at this declaration the members of both -Houses broke into loud acclamations. He then -informed them that he expected a revenue for life, -such as they had voted his late brother. Again -the expression of accord was loud and satisfactory, -but what followed was not so palatable. "The -inclination men have for frequent Parliaments, -some may think, would be the best secured by -feeding me from time to time by such proportions -as they shall think convenient, and this argument, -it being the first time I speak to you from the -throne, I will answer once for all, that this would -be a very improper method to take with <em>me;</em> and -that the best way to engage me to meet you often -is always to use me well. I expect, therefore, -that you will comply with me in what I have desired, -and that you will do it speedily." This -agreeable assurance he followed up by announcing -a rebellion to have broken out in Scotland under -Argyll and other refugees from Holland.</p> - -<p>When the Commons returned to their own -House, Lord Preston entered into a high eulogium -of the king, telling the House that his name spread -terror over all Europe, and that the reputation of -England was already beginning to rise under his -rule; they had only to have full confidence in him -as a prince who had never broken his word, and -thus enable him to assert the dignity of England. -The House went into a Committee of Supply, and -voted his Majesty the same revenue that Charles -had enjoyed, namely, one million two hundred -thousand pounds a year for life. But when -several petitions against some of the late elections -were presented, a serious opposition asserted -itself in a most unexpected quarter. This was -from Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy -Castle, the member for Exeter. Seymour was -both a Tory and a High Churchman, proud of his -descent from the Lord Protector Seymour, and -who had great influence in the western counties. -He was a man of indifferent moral character, -but able and accomplished, and a forcible debater. -He was now irritated by the Government proceedings -in the elections which had interfered with -his interests, and made a fierce attack on the -Government pressure on the electors; denounced -the removal of the charters and the conduct of -the returning officers; declared that there was -a design to repeal the Test and Habeas Corpus -Acts, and moved that no one whose right to sit -was disputed should vote till that right had been -ascertained by a searching inquiry. There was no -seconder to the motion, and it fell to the ground; -for the whole House, including the Whigs, sat, as -it were, thunderstruck. But the effect was deep -and lasting, and in time did not fail of its end.</p> - -<p>For the present, however, things went smoothly -enough. The king informed the House—through -Sir Dudley North, the brother of the Lord Keeper -Guildford, and the person who had been elected -Sheriff of London by the influence of Charles -for his ready and ingenious modes of serving the -royal will—that his late brother had left considerable -debts, and that the naval and ordnance -stores were getting low. The House promptly -agreed to lay on new taxes and North induced -them to tax sugar and tobacco, so that the king -now had a revenue of one million nine hundred -thousand pounds from England, besides his pension -from France, and was strong in revenue.</p> - -<p>The Lords were employed in doing an act of -justice in calling before them Lord Danby, and -rescinding the impeachment still hanging over his -head, and also summoning to their bar Lords -Powis, Arundel, and Bellasis, the victims of the -Popish plot, and fully discharging them as well -as the Earl of Tyrone. They also introduced a -Bill reversing the attainder of Lord Stafford, who -had been executed for treason and concern in the -Popish plot, now admitting that he had been unjustly -sacrificed through the perjury of Oates. -The Commons were proceeding to the third reading -of this Bill, when the rebellion of Monmouth was -announced, and the question remained unsettled -till the trial of Warren Hastings more than a century -afterwards, when men of all parties declared -that Oates's Popish plot was a fiction, and the -attainder of Stafford was then formally reversed.</p> - -<p>The political refugees who had fled to Holland -and sought protection from Prince William were -numerous, and some of them of considerable distinction. -Monmouth and the Earl of Argyll were -severally looked up to as the heads of the English -and Scottish exiles. The furious persecution -against the Covenanters in Scotland and the -Whigs in England had not only swelled these -bands of refugees, but rendered them at once -ardent for revenge and restoration. Amongst -them Ford; Lord Grey of Wark; Ferguson, who -had been conspicuous among the Whig plotters; -Wildman and Danvers, of the same party; -Ayloffe and Wade, Whig lawyers and plotters;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span> -Goodenough, formerly Sheriff of London, who -gave evidence against the Papists; Rumbold, -the Rye House maltster, and others, were incessantly -endeavouring to excite Monmouth to -avail himself of his popularity, and the hatred of -Popery which existed, to rebel against his uncle -and strike for the crown. Monmouth, however, -for some time betrayed no desire for so hazardous -an undertaking. On the death of Charles he had -returned from the Hague, to avoid giving cause of -jealousy to James, and led the life of an English -gentleman at Brussels. William of Orange strongly -advised him to take a command in the war of -Austria against the Turks, where he might win -honour and a rank worthy of his birth; but Monmouth -would not listen to it. He had left his -wife, the great heiress of Buccleuch, to whom he -had been married almost as a boy from royal policy, -and had attached himself to Lady Henrietta Wentworth, -Baroness Wentworth of Nettlestede. The -attachment, though illicit, appeared to be mutual -and ardent. Monmouth confessed that Lady Henrietta, -who was beautiful, amiable, and accomplished, -had weaned him from a vicious life, and -had their connection been lawful, nothing could -have been more fortunate for Monmouth. In her -society he seemed to have grown indifferent to -ambition and the life of courts. But he was -beset by both Grey and Ferguson, and, unfortunately -for him, they won over Lady Wentworth -to their views. She encouraged Monmouth, and -offered him her income and her jewels to furnish -him with immediate funds. With such an advocate, -Grey and Ferguson at length succeeded. Grey -was a man of blemished character. He had -run off with his wife's sister, a daughter of the -Earl of Berkeley, and was a poor and desperate -adventurer, notoriously cowardly on the field of -battle. Ferguson was a fiery demagogue and -zealot of insurrection. He had been a preacher -and schoolmaster amongst the Dissenters, then a -clergyman of the Church, and finally had become -a most untiring intriguer, and was deep in the Rye -House Plot. Under all this fire of rebellion, however, -there was more than a suspected foul smoke -of espionage. He was shrewdly believed, though -not by his dupes, to be in the pay of Government, -and employed to betray its enemies to ruin.</p> - -<p>Monmouth having consented to take the lead in -an invasion, though with much reluctance and -many misgivings, a communication was opened -with Argyll and the Scottish malcontents. We -have seen that Argyll, after his father had been -inveigled from his mountains and beheaded, had -himself nearly suffered the same fate from James -when in Scotland. He had been imprisoned and -condemned to death on the most arbitrary -grounds, and had only managed to escape in disguise. -He had purchased an estate at Leeuwarden, -in Friesland, where the great Mac Cailean -More, as he was called by the Highlanders, lived -in much seclusion. He was now drawn from it -once more to revisit his native country at the -head of an invading force. But the views of the -refugees were so different, and their means so -small, that it was some time before they could -agree upon a common plan of action. It was at -length arranged that a descent should be made -simultaneously on Scotland and England—the -Scottish expedition headed by Argyll, that on -England by Monmouth. But to maintain a correspondence -and a sort of unison, two Englishmen, -Ayloffe and Rumbold the maltster, were to accompany -the Scots, and two Scotsmen, Fletcher of -Saltoun and Ferguson, the English force. Monmouth -was sworn not to claim any rank or reward -on the success of the enterprise, except such as -should be awarded him by a free Parliament; and -Argyll was compelled, although he had the -nominal command of the army, to submit to hold -it only as one of a committee of twelve, of whom -Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth was to be president.</p> - -<p>In fact, Argyll at the outset displayed a fatal -want of knowledge of human nature or firmness of -resolution, in consenting to accept a command on -so impossible a basis. To expect success as a -military leader when hampered with the conflicting -opinions of a dozen men of ultra views in -religion and politics, and of domineering wills, -was the height of folly. Hume, who took the -lead in the committee, was a man of enormous -conceit, a great talker, and a very dilatory actor. -Next to him was Sir John Cochrane, the second -son of Lord Dundonald, who was almost equally -self-willed and jealous of the power of Argyll. -With their Republican notions, they endeavoured -to impose such restrictions on the power of the -earl as were certain to insure the ruin of the -attempt, in which everything must depend on the -independent action of a single mind.</p> - -<p>We have already noticed the character of Ferguson, -one of the twain selected to accompany -Monmouth. Fletcher of Saltoun, the other, was -a far different man—a man of high talent, fine -taste, and finished education. At the head of a -popular senate he would have shone as an orator -and statesman; but he had those qualities of lofty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span> -pride and headstrong will which made him by no -means a desirable officer in an army of adventurers, -although his military skill was undoubted. -What was worse, from the very first he foreboded -no good result from the expedition, and accompanied -it only because he would not seem to desert -his more sanguine countrymen. When Wildman -and Danvers sent from London flaming -accounts of the ripeness of England for revolt, -and said that just two hundred years before the -Earl of Richmond landed in England with a mere -handful of men, and wrested the Crown from -Richard, Fletcher coolly replied that there was all -the difference between the fifteenth century and -the seventeenth.</p> - -<p>These men, Wildman and Danvers, represented -the country as so prepared to receive Monmouth, -that he had only to show his standard for whole -counties to flock to it. They promised also six -thousand pounds in aid of the preparations. But -the fact was that little or no money came, and -James and his ministers were duly informed of -the measures of the insurgents, and were at once -using every means with the Dutch Government to -prevent the sailing of the armaments, and taking -steps for the defence of the Scottish and -English coasts. We may first follow the fortunes -of Argyll and his associates, who sailed first. He -put out from the coast of Holland on the 2nd of -May, and after a prosperous voyage, sighted Kirkwall, -in Orkney, on the 6th. There he very unwisely -anchored, and suffered two followers to -go on shore to collect intelligence. The object of -his armament then became known, and was sure -to reach the English Government in a little time. -The Bishop of Orkney boldly ordered the two -insurgents to be secured, and refused to give -them up. After three days lost in endeavouring -to obtain their release, they seized some gentlemen -living on the coast, and offered them in exchange. -The bishop paid no regard to their proposal or -their menaces, and they were compelled to pursue -their voyage.</p> - -<p>The consequence of this ill-advised measure was -that news of the armament was sent to Edinburgh -with all speed, and whilst the invading force was -beating round the northern capes and headlands, -active preparations were made for defence. The -whole of the militia, amounting to twenty thousand -men, were called out; a third of these, accompanied -by three thousand regulars, were marched -into the western counties. At Dunstaffnage, -Argyll sent his son Charles ashore to summon the -Campbells to arms, but he returned with the -report that many of the chiefs had fled or were in -prison, and the rest afraid to move. At Campbelltown, -in Kintyre, Argyll published a proclamation, -setting forth that he came to suppress Popery, -prelacy, and Erastianism, and to take the crown -from James, whom he accused of persecution of -the Covenanters, and the poisoning of his brother. -He sent across the hills the fiery cross to summon -all true men to his standard, and appointed Tarbert -as the place of rendezvous. About eighteen hundred -men mustered at the call, but any advantage -to be derived from this handful of men was far -more than counterbalanced by the pertinacious interference -of Cochrane and Hume. They insisted -on arranging everything, even the appointment of -the officers over Argyll's own clan. They insisted -also that the attack should be directed against the Lowlands, -though Argyll wisely saw that they had -no chance whatever in the open country with their -present force. He contended that having first -cleared the Western Highlands of the national -soldiery, they should soon have five or six thousand -Highlanders at their command, and might then -descend on the Lowlands with effect. Rumbold -advocated this prudential course, but all reasoning -was lost on Hume and Cochrane, who insolently -accused Argyll of wanting only to secure his own -territories, and sailed away with part of the troops -to the Lowlands. They found the coast, however, -well guarded by the English ships, and escaped up -the Clyde to Greenock. There they again quarrelled -between themselves, and finding the people not -at all disposed to join them, they returned to -Argyll. But they had learned no wisdom: the -earl again proposed to endeavour to secure Inverary—they -as firmly opposed it. They, therefore, -fixed on the castle of Ealan Ghierig as their -present headquarters, landed their arms and -stores, and made an officer named Elphinstone -commander of the fort. Argyll and Rumbold now -drove back the troops of Athol, and prepared to -march on Inverary; but from this they were -diverted by a call from Hume and Cochrane at the -ships, who were about to be attacked by the -English fleet. Argyll hastened to them, and proposed -to give fight to the English, but was again -prevented by these infatuated men. The earl, -therefore, in utter despair, passed into Dumbartonshire, -and was the very next day followed by the -news of the capture of all his ships, and the -flight of Elphinstone from Ealan Ghierig, without -striking a blow. As a last desperate attempt, -Argyll proposed to make a rush on Glasgow and -secure a strong footing there; but the very men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span> -who had so strongly urged the attempt on the -Lowlands now deserted him in numbers, and on -the march nothing but disasters from the insubordination -of the little army ensued. They were -attacked on all sides by the militia, and when the -earl and Ayloffe advised a bold attack on the -enemy, Hume and his partisans protested against -it. The end of all was that, becoming involved -amongst morasses, the army was seized with panic, -and rapidly melted away. The wrong-headed -Hume escaped, and reached the Continent; Cochrane -was taken, and soon after Rumbold, Major -Fullerton, and Argyll himself were seized.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_297.jpg" width="560" height="484" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE LAST SLEEP OF ARGYLL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.)</p> - -<p>(<cite>From the Fresco by E. M. Ward, R.A., in the House of Commons.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_297big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The conduct of Argyll after his capture was distinguished -by a calm dignity which showed how -superior he was to the factious, pugnacious men -who had baffled all his plans. With his arms -pinioned behind him, he was led bareheaded -through the streets of Edinburgh, from Holyrood -to the castle. The Royalists thus revelled in revenging -on the son the act of his father thirty-five -years before, when he caused Montrose to be -conducted over the very same ground. The headsman -marched before him with his axe, and on -reaching his cell in the castle Argyll was put into -irons, and informed that his execution would quickly -follow. This was the 20th of June; his execution -did not take place till the 30th. During the ten -days the orders of James were that he should be -tried all ways to compel him to confess the full particulars -of the invasion, its originators, supporters, -and participators. It was understood that James -meant that his favourite application of the boots -and thumbscrews should be used, but this was not -attempted. Argyll was menaced, but his firm -refusal to reveal anything that would incriminate -others, convinced his enemies that it was useless, -and could only cover them with odium. The -last day of his life he lay down to rest, ere the -hour of his execution should arrive. During his -sleep, a renegade Privy Councillor insisted on -entering his cell. The door was gently opened, -and there lay the great Argyll in heavy chains -and sleeping the happy sleep of infancy. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span> -beholder turned and fled, sick at heart. His former -sentence of death was deemed sufficient to supersede -any fresh trial, and being brought out to the -scaffold, and saying that he died in peace with all -men, one of the Episcopalian clergymen stepped to -the edge of the scaffold and exclaimed to the -people, "My lord dies a Protestant." "Yes," said -the earl, also going forward, "a Protestant, and -cordial hater of Popery, prelacy, and all superstition." -His head was fixed on the top of the Tolbooth, -where that of Montrose had formerly stood.</p> - -<p>On the 30th of May, nearly a month after the -sailing of Argyll, Monmouth left the Texel. His -squadron consisted of a frigate of thirty-two guns, -called the <em>Helderenbergh</em>, and three small tenders, -a fourth tender having been refused by the -Dutch. He was attended by about eighty officers, -and a hundred and fifty men of different degrees, -fugitives from England and Scotland. With such -a force he proposed to conquer the crown of -England! All the fine promises of money by -Wildman and Danvers had ended in smoke, and -he had only been able, chiefly through the revenues -of Lady Henrietta Wentworth, to supply -himself with arms and stores for a small body of -cavalry and infantry. The voyage was long and -tedious, the weather was stormy, and the Channel -abounded with the royal cruisers. On the morning -of the 11th of June his little fleet appeared off the -port of Lyme, in Dorsetshire.</p> - -<p>Monmouth was extremely popular with the -people, and on discovering that it was their -favourite hero come to put down the Popish -tyrant, he was received with loud acclamations. -"Monmouth and the Protestant religion!" was -the cry. There was a rush to enlist beneath his -banners, and within four-and-twenty hours he was -at the head of fifteen hundred men. Dare, one of -the adventurers, had been put ashore as they came -along the coast to ride across the country and -rouse the people of Taunton, and he now came in -at the head of about forty horsemen, with the -news that the people of Somersetshire were in -favour of his cause. But with this arrival came -the tidings that the Dorsetshire and Somersetshire -folk were mustering at Bridport to attack them, -and Monmouth ordered Lord Grey, who was the -commander of the cavalry, to march there at once, -and disperse them before they had collected in -strength. But here an incident occurred which -showed the unruly materials that he had to work -with. Dare had mounted himself on a fine horse in -his expedition to Taunton, and Fletcher of Saltoun, -who was second in command of the cavalry under -Grey, without asking leave of Dare, as superior -officer, and being himself badly mounted, took -possession of his horse. Dare refused to let him -have it, they came to high words, Dare shook his -whip at Fletcher, and the proud Scot drew his -pistol and shot Dare dead on the spot. This summary -proceeding, which might have passed in the -ruder country of Scotland, created a violent outburst -amongst the soldiers of Monmouth. They -demanded of the duke instant execution of the -murderer, and it was only by getting on board the -<em>Helderenbergh</em> that Fletcher escaped with his life. -He returned to Holland, and thus was lost to the -expedition almost its only man of any talent and -experience.</p> - -<p>The next morning Grey, accompanied by Wade, -led forth his untrained cavalry to attack the militia -at Bridport. There was a smart brush with the -militia, in which Monmouth's raw soldiers fought -bravely, and would have driven the enemy from -the place, but Grey, who was an arrant coward in -the field, turned his horse and fled, never drawing -bit till he reached Lyme. The men were indignant, -and Monmouth was confounded with this -conduct of his chief officer; but nevertheless he -had not moral firmness to put some more trusty -officer in his place. Four days after his landing, -the 15th of June, Monmouth marched forward to -Axminster, where he encountered Christopher -Monk, Duke of Albemarle, the son of the first -General Monk, at the head of four thousand men -of the trained bands. Though daunted at first, -Monmouth accepted the situation, and disposed his -men admirably for a fight. He drew up the main -body in battle array on advantageous ground, sent -out his skirmishers to the front, and, as a last precaution, -lined the hedges of a narrow lane, through -which Albemarle must pass to come at him, with -musketeers. Monk, however, was too cautious to -risk a pitched battle on these terms—the more -especially as his own forces were untrustworthy. -There appeared so much enthusiasm for Monmouth -amongst his troops that, fearing their desertion, -he drew back. The result was that the whole -body was speedily thrown into disorder, that panic -seized them, and that they fled pell-mell towards -Exeter, flinging away their arms and uniforms to -expedite their escape. Monmouth, however, probably -not aware of the extent of the rout, steadily -pursued his march to Chard, and thence to Taunton, -where he arrived on the 18th of June, just a week -after his landing, and was received by the whole -place with the warmest demonstrations of joy.</p> - -<p>All this seemed auspicious and encouraging, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span> -it did not satisfy Monmouth. He knew that, without -the adhesion of the army and the leading gentry, -he should never make his way to the crown. Their -adhesion had been promised him, but where were -they? Not a regiment had given a sign of being -ready to join him. Lords Macclesfield, Brandon, -Delamere, and other Whig noblemen—who, -he had been assured, would instantly fly to his -standard—lay all still. Trenchard of Taunton, who -had promised to join him, unlike his townsmen, fled -at his approach, and made his way into Holland, -to the Prince of Orange. Wildman, who had -promised such wonders of county support and of -money, did not appear. On the contrary, the -nobility and gentry from all parts of the country, -with the clergy, were pouring in addresses of -attachment and support to James. Parliament, -both Lords and Commons, displayed the same -spirit.</p> - -<p>The common people might believe that the -son of Lucy Walters was legitimate, but the educated -classes knew better, and that Monmouth -could never be king. Parliament, therefore, at -once voted James four hundred thousand pounds -for present necessities, and laid new taxes for -five years on foreign silks, linen, and spirits. -They ordered Monmouth's declaration to be -burnt by the hangman, and rapidly passed -against him a Bill of Attainder, setting a reward -of five thousand pounds on his head. They were -ready to go farther, and the Commons actually -passed a Bill for the preservation of the king's -person and government, making it high treason to -say that Monmouth was legitimate, or to make -any motion in Parliament to alter the succession. -But James, knowing the uselessness of any such -Act, adjourned Parliament without waiting for the -Act passing the Lords, and dismissed the nobles -and gentry to defend his interests in their different -localities. He took care, however, to revive the -censorship of the press, which had expired in -1679.</p> - -<p>When Monmouth, with consternation, noted -these adverse circumstances, Ferguson was ready -with a reason. It was that Monmouth had committed -a capital error in not taking the title of -king. The style and title of king, he asserted, -carried a wonderful weight with the English. But -of this right he had deprived himself by abjuring -this title and leaving it entirely to James. The -majority would fight for the man who was in -possession of the royal name, but for whom were -they to fight who fought for Monmouth? Nobody -could tell, and the result must be discouragement. -Grey seconded Ferguson: Wade and the Republicans -opposed the scheme. But probably Monmouth -was only too willing to be persuaded, and, -accordingly, on the 20th of June, he was proclaimed -in the market-place of Taunton. As the -names of both rivals were James, and James II. -would continue to mean James who now had that -title, Monmouth was styled King Monmouth. -Immediately on taking this step, Monmouth issued -four proclamations. Following the example of -James, he set a price on the head of James, late -Duke of York; declared the Parliament sitting at -Westminster an unlawful assembly, and ordered it -to disperse; forbade the people to pay taxes to the -usurper; and proclaimed Albemarle a traitor, -unless he forthwith repaired to the standard of -King Monmouth, where he would be cordially -received.</p> - -<p>Almost every part of this proceeding was a -gross political blunder. By assuming the royal -title he lost nearly everything, and gained nothing. -He offended the Republican party, and divided -the allegiance of his little army, some of the most -energetic of whose officers, as Wade and others, -were of that political faith. He offended that -great Protestant party which was looking forward -to the Protestant succession of William of Orange -and the Princess Mary, and in case of their want -of issue to the Princess Anne. He cut off all retreat -to Holland in case of failure, and all hope of -mercy from James if he fell into his hands. By -pledging himself on landing not to aspire to the -crown, and thus immediately breaking his pledge, -he inspired the thinking portion of the people with -deep distrust, as inducing the same disregard of -his word as had been so long conspicuous in the -Stuarts. With all the influential Protestants who -might have joined him, so soon as events gave hope -of success, considering him the champion of a Protestant -succession, he had placed himself in a hopeless -position, because that succession could only -come through a legitimate issue. By denouncing -the Parliament that body became his mortal -foes. The only party from which he could now -expect any support was the people, and without -means, without leaders, without military training, -the result could only be failure, utter and fearful.</p> - -<p>And despite the persuasions of Ferguson, the -melancholy truth seemed already to stare the unhappy -Monmouth in the face. He received a -secret answer from Albemarle, addressed to James -Scott, late Duke of Monmouth, telling him that -he knew who was his lawful king, and that he had -better have let rebellion alone. As he rode out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span> -Taunton on the 22nd of June towards Bridgewater, -it was remarked that he looked gloomy and -dejected; the very people who crowded in the -road to greet him with huzzas, could not help remarking -how different was the expression of his -countenance to what it had been in his gay procession -there five years before. The only man who -seemed elated with anticipation of triumph was -Ferguson, and if, as is suspected to have been the -case, he were playing the traitor to the unfortunate -Monmouth, he might now well grow confident of -his diabolical success.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_300.jpg" width="560" height="414" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE CROSS, BRIDGEWATER, WHERE MONMOUTH WAS PROCLAIMED KING.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_300big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On reaching Bridgewater, where there existed a -strong Whig body, Monmouth was again well received. -The mayor and aldermen in their robes -welcomed him, and preceded him in procession to -the Cross, where they proclaimed him king. He -took up his abode in the castle, encamped his army -on the castle field, and crowds rushed to enlist in -his service. His army already amounted to six -thousand men, and might soon have been doubled -or trebled; but his scanty supply of arms and -equipments was already exhausted. He had no -money, and men without weapons were useless. -Numbers of them endeavoured to arm themselves, -mob-fashion, with scythes, pitchforks, and other -implements of husbandry and of mining.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, troops were drawing from all -quarters, and preparing to overwhelm the invaders. -Lord Feversham and Churchill, afterwards Marlborough, -were ordered to march with strong bodies -of troops to the West. Churchill was already -arrived, and Feversham rapidly approaching. The -militias of Sussex and Oxfordshire were drawing -that way, followed by bodies of volunteer gownsmen -from Oxford. To prevent any of the Whig -party from affording Monmouth aid, they and the -Nonconformists were closely watched, and many -seized and imprisoned.</p> - -<p>From Bridgewater Monmouth advanced to Glastonbury, -and thence to Wells and Shepton Mallet. -He appeared to have no precise object, but to seek -reinforcements; from Shepton Mallet he directed -his march on Bristol, which was only defended by -the Duke of Beaufort and the muster of his -tenantry. Bristol, once gained, would give them -a strong position, and afford large supplies of -money, stores, and arms. But Churchill harassed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span> -his rear on the march, and to reach the Gloucestershire -side of the town, which was easiest of -assault it was necessary to march round by Keynsham -Bridge, which was partly destroyed. Men -were despatched to repair it, and Monmouth following, -on the 24th of June was at Ponsford, -within five miles of the city. On reaching Keynsham -Bridge, it was found to be repaired, but they -were there encountered by a body of Life Guards -under Colonel Oglethorpe, and Bristol having received -reinforcements, the attack on it was abandoned. -It was then proposed to get across the -Severn and march for Shropshire and Cheshire, -where he had been enthusiastically received in his -progress; but the plan was not deemed practicable, -and he advanced to Bath, which was too -strongly garrisoned to make any impression upon. -On the 26th they halted at Philip's Norton.</p> - -<p>Feversham was now at their heels, and attacked -them, the charge being led by the Duke of -Grafton—the son of Charles and the Duchess of -Cleveland—who fought bravely, but was repulsed. -Monmouth, however, took advantage of the night -to steal away to Frome, which was well affected -to his cause, but had been just visited and disarmed -by the Earl of Pembroke with the Wiltshire -militia. The night march thither had been -through torrents of rain and muddy roads; Frome -could afford neither assistance nor protection; -and, to add to his disappointment, here news -reached him of the total failure of Argyll's expedition -into Scotland, and that Feversham was -now joined by his artillery and was in pursuit of -him. Under these disastrous circumstances, and -not a man of note, not a regiment of regulars or -militia (as had been so liberally promised him by -Wildman and Danvers) having come over to him, -Monmouth bitterly cursed his folly in having -listened to them, and resolved to ride off with his -chief adherents, and get back to the Continent -and his beloved Lady Wentworth. But from this -ignominious idea he was dissuaded by Lord Grey, -and they retreated again towards Bridgewater, -where a report represented fresh assembling of -armed peasantry. They reached that town on the -2nd of July, and, whilst throwing up trenches for -defence, on the 5th Feversham arrived with about -five thousand men, and pitched his tents on Sedgemoor, -about three miles from the town. Feversham -himself, with the cavalry at Weston Zoyland, -and the Earl of Pembroke with the Wiltshire -militia, about fifteen hundred in number, -camped at the village of Middlezoy. Monmouth -and his officers ascended the tower of the church -and beheld the disposition of the enemy. Sedgemoor -had formerly been a vast marsh, where -Alfred, in his time, had sought a retreat from the -triumphant Danes, and it was now intersected by -several deep ditches, as most fen lands are, behind -which the royal army lay. Near Chedzoy were -some regiments of infantry which Monmouth had -formerly commanded at Bothwell Bridge.</p> - -<p>It was reported that the soldiers were left, by -the reckless incapacity of the general, to drink -cider and preserve little watch; and Monmouth, -who saw that they lay in a very unconnected condition, -conceived that by a skilful night attack he -could easily surprise them. The gormandising -incapacity of Louis Duras, now Lord Feversham, -a foreigner who had been advanced by Charles II., -was notorious, and the transcendent military -talents of Churchill, who was in subordinate command, -were yet little known. Preparations were -therefore instantly made for the surprise. Scouts -were sent out to reconnoitre the ground, who -reported that two deep ditches full of mud and -water lay between them and the hostile camp, -which would have to be passed. At eleven -o'clock at night the troops, with "Soho" for their -watchword, marched out of Bridgewater in profound -silence, taking a circuitous route, which -would make the march about six miles. It was a -moonlight night, but the moor lay enveloped in a -thick fog, and about one in the morning the -troops of Monmouth approached the royal camp. -Their guides conducted the soldiers by a causeway -over each of the two ditches, and Monmouth -drew up his men for the attack, but by accident a -pistol went off; the sentinels of the division of the -army—the Foot Guards—which lay in front of -them, were alarmed, and, listening, became aware -of the trampling of the rebels as they were forming -in rank. They fired their carbines and flew to -rouse the camp. There was an instant galloping -and running in all directions. Feversham and the -chief officers were aroused, and drums beat to -arms, and the men ran to get into rank. No time -was to be lost, and Monmouth ordered Grey to -dash forward with the cavalry, but he was -suddenly brought to a halt by a third dyke, of -which they had no information. The Foot Guards -on the other side of the dyke demanded who was -there, and on the cry of "King Monmouth!" -they discharged a volley of musketry with such -effect, that the untrained horses of Grey's cavalry -became at once unmanageable; the men, thrown -into confusion, were seized with panic and fled -wherever they could find a way or their horses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span> -chose to carry them. Grey, as usual, was in the -van of the fugitives. But, on the other hand, -Monmouth came now rushing forward with his -infantry, and, in his turn, finding himself stopped -by the muddy dyke, he fired across it at the -enemy, and a fierce fight took place, which was -maintained for three-quarters of an hour. Nothing -could be more brave and determined than Monmouth -and his peasant soldiers. But day was -now breaking, the cavalry of Feversham, and the -infantry of Churchill, were bearing down on their -flanks from different quarters, and Monmouth, -then seeing that his defeat was inevitable, forgot -the hero and rode off to save his life, leaving his -brave, misguided followers to their fate. If anything -could have added to the base ignominy of -Monmouth's desertion of his adherents, it was the -undaunted courage which they showed even when -abandoned. They stood boldly to their charge; -they cut down the horsemen with their scythes, -or knocked them from their saddles with the butt -end of their guns; they repulsed the vigorous -attack of Oglethorpe, and left Sarsfield for dead -on the field. But, unfortunately, their powder -failed, and they cried out for fresh supplies in -vain. The men with the ammunition waggons -had followed the flight of the cavalry, and driven -far away from the field. Still the brave peasantry -and soldiers fought desperately with their scythes -and gunstocks, till the cannon was brought to -bear on them, and mowed them down in heaps. -As they began to give way the royal cavalry -charged upon them from the flank, the infantry -poured across the ditch, the stout men, worthy of -a better fate and leader, were overwhelmed and -broke, but not before a thousand of them lay dead -on the moor, or before they had killed or wounded -more than three hundred of the king's troops.</p> - -<p>The unfortunate rebels were pursued with fury, -and hunted through the day out of the neighbouring -villages, whither they had flown for concealment. -The road towards Bridgewater was -crowded with flying men and infuriated troopers -following and cutting them down. Many of those -who rushed frantically into the streets of Bridgewater -fell and died there of their wounds, for the -soldiers, who were treated by the farmers to hogsheads -of cider, were drunk with drinking, with -blood and fury. A vast number of prisoners were -secured, for they were a profitable article of merchandise -in the Plantations; five hundred were -crowded into the single church of Weston -Zoyland, and the battle and pursuit being over, -the conqueror commenced that exhibition of -vengeance which was always so dear to James. -Gibbets were erected by the wayside, leading from -the battle-field to Bridgewater, and no less than -twenty of the prisoners were hanging on them. -The peasantry were compelled to bury the slain, -and those most suspected of favouring the rebels -were set to quarter the victims who were to be -suspended in chains. Meanwhile Monmouth, Grey, -and Buyse, the Brandenburger, were flying for -their lives. They took the north road, hoping -to escape into Wales. At Chedzoy Monmouth -drew up a moment to hide his George and procure -a fresh horse. From the summit of a hill they -turned and saw the final defeat and slaughter of -their deluded followers. They pushed forward for -the Mendip Hills, and then directed their course -towards the New Forest, hoping to obtain some -vessel on that coast to convey them to the Continent. -On Cranborne Chase their horses were -completely exhausted; they therefore turned them -loose, hid their saddles and bridles, and proceeded -on foot. But the news of the defeat of the rebels -had travelled as fast as they, and in the neighbourhood -of Ringwood and Poole parties of cavalry -were out scouring the country, in hopes of the -reward of five thousand pounds for Monmouth. -Lord Lumley and Sir William Portman, the commanders, -agreed to divide the sum among their -parties if successful, and early on the morning of -the 7th, Grey and the guide were taken at the -junction of the two cross roads. This gave proof -that the more important prize was not far off. -The officers enclosed a wide circle of land, within -which they imagined Monmouth and Buyse must -yet be concealed; and at five the next morning -the Brandenburger was discovered. He confessed -that he had parted from Monmouth only four -hours before, and the search was renewed with redoubled -eagerness. The place was a network of -small enclosures, partly cultivated and covered -with growing crops of pease, beans, and corn, -partly overrun with fern and brambles. The -crops and thickets were trodden and beaten down -systematically in the search, and at seven o'clock -Monmouth himself was discovered in a ditch -covered with fern.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 560px;"> -<img src="images/i_302.jpg" width="560" height="337" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left">"AFTER SEDGEMOOR."</p> - -<p class="left"><span class="smcap">From the Painting by W. Rainey, R.I.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_302big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Monmouth, though mild and agreeable in his -manners, had never displayed any high moral -qualities. Indeed, if we bear in mind the -frivolous and debauched character of the Court -in which he had grown up, whether it were the -Court of the exile or of the restored king, it -would have been wonderful if he had. He was -handsome, gay, good-natured, but dissolute and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span> -unprincipled. He was ready to conspire against -his father or his uncle, to profess the utmost contrition -when defeated, and to forget it as soon as -forgiven. He has been properly described as the -Absalom of modern times. If he merely deserted -his miserable followers on the battle-field, he now -more meanly deserted his own dignity. He continued, -from the moment of his capture to that -when he ascended the scaffold, prostrating himself -in the dust of abasement, and begging for his life -in the most unmanly terms. He wrote to James -instantly from Ringwood, so that his humble and -agonised entreaties for forgiveness would arrive -with the news of his arrest. James admitted the -crawling supplicant to the desired interview, but -it was in the hope of the promised word of -wondrous revelation, not with any intention of -pardoning him. He got him to sign a declaration -that his father had assured him that he was never -married to his mother, and then coolly told him -that his crime was of too grave a dye to be forgiven. -The queen, who was the only person -present besides James and the two Secretaries of -State, Sunderland and Middleton, is said to have -insulted him in a most merciless and unwomanly -manner. When, therefore, Monmouth saw that -nothing but his death would satisfy the king and -queen, he appeared to resume his courage and fortitude, -and rising with an air of dignity, he was -taken away. But his apparent firmness lasted -only till he was out of their presence. On his -way to the Tower he entreated Lord Dartmouth -to intercede for him—"I know, my lord," he said, -"that you loved my father; for his sake, for -God's sake, endeavour to obtain mercy for me." -But Dartmouth replied that there could be no -pardon for one who had assumed the royal title. -Grey displayed a much more manly behaviour. -In the presence of the king he admitted his guilt, -but did not even ask forgiveness. As Monmouth -was under attainder, no trial was deemed necessary, -and it was determined that he should be -executed on Wednesday morning, the next day -but one. On the fatal morning of the 15th he -was visited by Dr. Tenison, afterwards archbishop, -who discoursed with him, but not -very profitably, on the errors of his ways. -Before setting out for the scaffold, his wife and -children came to take leave of him. Lady Monmouth -was deeply moved; Monmouth himself -spoke kindly to her, but was cold and passionless. -When the hour arrived, he went to execution with -the same courage that he had always gone into -battle. He was no more the cringing, weeping -supplicant, but a man who had made up his mind -to die. A disgusting scene of butchery followed, -owing to the nervousness of the executioner. The -populace were so enraged at the man's clumsiness, -that they would have torn him to pieces -if they could have got at him. Many rushed -forward to dip their handkerchiefs in Monmouth's -blood, and the barbarous circumstances -of his execution and the unfeeling persecution of -the prelates, did not a little to restore his fame -as a martyr to liberty and Protestantism.</p> - -<p>Whilst these things were going on in London, -the unfortunate people in the West were suffering -a dreadful penalty for their adherence to Monmouth. -Feversham was called to town, and -covered with honours and rewards, though it was -notorious that he had done nothing towards the -victory. Buckingham even declared that he had -won the battle of Sedgemoor in bed. In his place -was left one of the most ferocious and unprincipled -monsters that ever disgraced the name of soldier. -This was Colonel Kirke, who had been governor of -Tangier until it was abandoned, and now practised -the cruelties that he had learned in his unrestrained -command there. In that Settlement, left -to do his licentious will on those in his power, he -acquired a name for arbitrary, oppressive, and dissolute -conduct, which in ordinary times would have -insured his death. He now commanded the demoralised -soldiers that he had brought back with -him, and who, whilst they were capable of every -atrocity, were called "Kirke's lambs," because, as a -Christian regiment sent against the heathen, they -bore on their banner the desecrated sign of the -Lamb. His debauched myrmidons were let loose -on the inhabitants of Somersetshire, and such as -they could not extort money from, they accused -on the evidence of the most abandoned miscreants, -and hanged and quartered, boiling the quarters in -pitch, to make them longer endure the weather on -their gibbets. The most horrible traditions still -remain of Kirke and his lambs. He and his officers -are said to have caused the unhappy wretches -brought in, who were not able to pay a heavy -ransom, to be hanged on the sign-post of the inn -where they messed, and to have caused the drums -to beat as they were in the agonies of death, saying -they would give them music to their dancing. To -prolong their sufferings, Kirke would occasionally -have them cut down alive, and then hung up -again; and such numbers were quartered, that the -miserable peasants compelled to do that revolting -work, were said to stand ankle deep in blood. All -this was duly reported to the king in London, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span> -directed Lord Sunderland to assure Kirke that -"he was very well satisfied with his proceedings." -It was asserted in London that in the single week -following the battle, Kirke butchered a hundred of -his victims, besides pocketing large sums for the -ransom of others, yet he declared that he had not -gone to the lengths to which he was ordered. -On the 10th of August he was sent for to Court, -to state personally the condition of the West, -James being apprehensive that he had let the rich -delinquents escape for money, and the system of -butchery was left to Colonel Trelawny, who continued -it without intermission, soldiers pillaging the -wretched inhabitants, or dragging them away to -execution under the forms of martial law. But a -still more sweeping and systematic slaughter was -speedily initiated under a different class of exterminators—butchers -in ermine.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_304.jpg" width="560" height="417" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>MONMOUTH'S INTERVIEW WITH THE KING. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_304big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys, the most diabolical -judge that ever sat on the bench—now rendered -furious by nightly debauch and daily commission of -cruelties; in his revels hugging in mawkish and -disgusting fondness his brutal companions; in his -discharge of his judicial duties passing the most -barbarous sentences in the most blackguard and -vituperative language; in whose blazing eye, -distorted visage, and bellowing voice raged the -unmitigated fiend,—was sent forth by his delighted -master to consummate his vengeance on -the unhappy people whom the soldiers had left -alive and cooped up in prison. He was already -created Baron of Wem, dubbed by the people Earl -of Flint, and, the Lord Keeper just now dying, he -was promised the Great Seal if he shed blood -enough to satisfy his ruthless king. Four other -judges were associated with him, rather for form -than for anything else, for Jeffreys was the -hardened, daring, and unscrupulous instrument on -whom James confidently relied.</p> - -<p>Jeffreys' Bloody Assize, as it was then and always -has been termed, both from its wholesale slaughter -and from the troops which accompanied him -throughout the circuit—a name constantly used by -the unfeeling king himself—was opened at Winchester -on the 27th of August, and commenced -with a case of hitherto unexampled ruthlessness. -Mrs. Alice Lisle—or, as she was generally -called, Lady Alice, her husband, one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span> -judges of Charles I., having been created a -lord by Cromwell—was now an infirm and aged -woman, deaf and lethargic. Her husband had -been murdered, as we have related, by the Royalists, -as he was entering the church at Lausanne. -Lady Alice was known far and wide for her benevolence. -Though her husband was on the other -side, she had always shown active kindness to the -followers of the king during the Civil War, and -on this account, after her husband's death, his -estate had been granted to her. During the rebellion -of Monmouth her son had served in the king's -army against the invader; yet this poor old lady -was now accused of having given a night's shelter -to Hicks, a Nonconformist minister, and Nelthorpe, -a lawyer, outlawed for his concern in the Rye -House Plot. They were fugitives from Sedgemoor, -and the law of treason was that he who -harbours a traitor is liable to death, the punishment -of a traitor. Mrs. Lisle had no counsel, and -pleaded that though she knew that Hicks was a -Presbyterian minister, she did not know that he -and Nelthorpe were concerned in the rebellion, -and there was no direct proof of the fact.</p> - -<p>Jeffreys terrified the witnesses, and then came -the turn of the jury. They retired to consult, but -not coming to a speedy conclusion, for they were -afraid of the judge, and yet loth to condemn the -prisoner, Jeffreys sent them word that if they did not -agree he would lock them up all night. They then -came into court and expressed their doubts of Mrs. -Lisle knowing that Hicks had been with Monmouth. -Jeffreys told them that their doubt was -altogether groundless, and sent them back to agree. -Again they returned, unable to get rid of their -doubt. Then Jeffreys thundered against them in -his fiercest style, and declared that were he on the -jury, he would have found her guilty had she been -his own mother. At length the jury gave way -and brought in a verdict of guilty. The next -morning Jeffreys pronounced sentence upon her -amid a storm of vituperation against the Presbyterians, -to whom he supposed Mrs. Lisle belonged. -He ordered her, according to the rigour of the old -law of treason, to be burned alive that very afternoon.</p> - -<p>This monstrous sentence thoroughly roused the -inhabitants of the place; and the clergy of the -cathedral, the staunchest supporters of the king's -beloved arbitrary power, remonstrated with -Jeffreys in such a manner, that he consented to -a respite of five days, in order that application -might be made to the king. The clergy sent a deputation -to James, earnestly interceding for the -life of the aged woman, on the ground of her -generous conduct on all occasions to the king's -friends. Ladies of high rank, amongst them the -Ladies St. John and Abergavenny, pleaded tenderly -for her life. Feversham, moved by a bribe of -a thousand pounds, joined in the entreaty, but -nothing could move that obdurate heart, and all -the favour that James would grant her was that she -should be beheaded instead of burnt. Her execution, -accordingly, took place at Winchester on the -2nd of September, and James II. won the unenviable -notoriety of being the only tyrant in -England, however implacable, who had ever dyed -his hands in woman's blood for the merciful deed -of attempting to save the lives of the unfortunate. -What made this case worse was, that neither -Hicks nor Nelthorpe had yet been tried, so that -the trial of Mrs. Lisle was altogether illegal, and -the forcing of the jury completed one of the most -diabolical instances of judicial murder on record.</p> - -<p>From Winchester Jeffreys proceeded to Dorchester. -He came surrounded by still more -troops, and, in fact, rather like a general to take -bloody vengeance, than as a judge to make a just -example of the guilty, mingled with mercy, on -account of the ignorance of the offenders. The -ferocious tyrant was rendered more ferocious, from -his temper being exasperated by the agonies of the -stone which his drunken habits had inflicted on -him. He had the court hung with scarlet, as if to -announce his sanguinary determination. When -the clergyman who preached before him recommended -mercy in his sermon, he was seen to make -a horrible grimace, expressive of his savage disdain -of such a sentiment. It was whilst preparing to -judge the three hundred prisoners collected there, -that he received the news of his elevation to the -woolsack. He had received orders from James to -make effectual work with the rebels, and he now -adopted a mode of despatching the unhappy -wretches in wholesale style. As it would be a -very tedious work to try all that number one -by one, he devised a more expeditious plan. He -sent two officers to them into the prison, offering -them mercy or certain death. All who chose to -make confession of their guilt should be treated -with clemency, all who refused should be led to -immediate execution. His clemency amounted to -a respite of a day or two—he hanged them all the -same. Writing to Sunderland, Jeffreys said on -the 16th of September:—"This day I began with -the rebels, and have despatched ninety-eight." Of -the three hundred, two hundred and ninety-two -received sentence of death. Eighty only were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span> -hanged, the rest were, for the most part, sent to -the Plantations as slaves.</p> - -<p>From Dorchester he went to Exeter, where -two hundred and forty-three prisoners awaited -their doom. He proceeded in the same way, and -condemned the whole body in a batch, and as they -saved him much trouble, he did not hang so many -of them. Taunton, the capital of Somersetshire, -the county where the rebellion was the strongest, -presented him with no fewer than a thousand -prisoners. Here he perfectly revelled in his bloody -task. The work seemed to have the effect of -brandy or champagne upon him. He grew every -day more exuberant and riotous. He was in such -a state of excitement from morning to night, that -many thought him drunk the whole time. He -laughed like a maniac, bellowed, scolded, cut his -filthy jokes on the astounded prisoners, and was -more like an exulting demon than a man. There -were two hundred and thirty-three prisoners -hanged, drawn, and quartered in a few days. The -whole number hanged in this bloody campaign -has been variously stated at from three to seven -hundred. Probably the medium is the most correct. -But so many were hung in chains, or their -jointed quarters and limbs displayed on the highways, -village greens, and in the market-places, that -the whole country was infected with the intolerable -stench. Some of their heads were nailed on the -porches of parish churches; the whole district was -a perfect Golgotha. It was in vain that the most -distinguished people endeavoured to check the infuriated -judge's rage; he only turned his evil -diatribes on them, and gave them what he called -"a lick with the rough side of his tongue." -Because Lord Stowell, a Royalist, complained of -the remorseless butchery of the poor people of his -neighbourhood, he gibbeted a corpse at his park -gate.</p> - -<p>The fate of the transported prisoners was worse -than death itself. They were eight hundred and -forty in number, and were granted as favours to -the courtiers. Jeffreys estimated that they were, -on an average, worth from ten pounds to fifteen -pounds apiece to the grantee. They were not to -be shipped to New England or New Jersey, because -the Puritan inhabitants might have a sympathy -with them on account of their religion, and -mitigate the hardship of their lot. They were to -go to the West Indies, where they were to be -slaves, and not acquire their freedom for ten -years. They were transported in small vessels -with all the horrors of the slave trade. They -were crowded so that they had not room for lying -down all at once; were never allowed to go on -deck; and in darkness, starvation, and pestiferous -stench, they died daily in such quantities that the -loss of one-fifth of them was calculated on. The -rest reached the Plantations, ghastly, emaciated, -and all but lifeless. Even the innocent school -girls, many under ten years of age, at Taunton, -who had gone in procession to present a banner to -Monmouth, at the command of their mistress, -were not excused. The queen, who had never -preferred a single prayer to her husband for -mercy to the victims of this unprecedented proscription, -was eager to participate in the profit, -and had a hundred sentenced men awarded to her, -the profit on which was calculated at one thousand -pounds. Her maids of honour solicited a -share of this blood-money, and had a fine of seven -thousand pounds on these poor girls assigned to -them.</p> - -<p>The only persons who escaped from this sea of -blood were Grey, Sir John Cochrane, who had -been in Argyll's expedition, Storey, who had been -commissary to Monmouth's army, Wade, Goodenough, -and Ferguson. All these owed their -escape to money or their secret services in giving -information against their old friends, except Ferguson, -who by some means escaped to the Continent. -On the other hand, Bateman, the surgeon -who had bled Oates in Newgate after his scourging, -and by his attentions saved his life, was, for a -mere duty of his profession, arrested, tried, hanged, -and quartered.</p> - -<p>James now seemed at the summit of his ambition. -He had established an actual reign of -terror. The dreadful massacre of the West struck -dumb the most courageous, and this gloomy tyrant -gave full play to his love of cruelty. The Nonconformists -were everywhere beset by informers, -who imprisoned, robbed, and abused them at -pleasure. They could only meet for worship in -the most obscure places and in the most secret -manner. Their houses were broken into and -searched on pretence of discovering conventicles. -Their ministers were seized and thrust into prison. -Baxter was there; Howe was obliged to escape -abroad. Never, even in the time of Laud, had -the oppression been so universal and crushing. -All spirit of resistance appeared to be quenched in -terror. The close of the year 1685 was long remembered -as one of indescribable and unexampled -depression and speechless misery.</p> - -<p>James, on the contrary, never was so triumphant. -He believed that he had now struck -effectual terror into the country, and might rule<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span> -at will. He had increased the army, and openly -declared the necessity of increasing it further. -He had in many instances dispensed with the -Test Act in giving many commissions in the army -to Catholics, and he resolved to abolish both that -Act and the Habeas Corpus Act. His great design -was to restore the Roman religion to full liberty -in England; he believed that he was able now to -accomplish that daring deed. Parliament was to -meet in the beginning of November, and he -announced to his Cabinet his intention to have -the Test Act repealed by it, or, if it refused, to -dispense with it by his own authority. This -declaration produced the utmost consternation. -Halifax, however, was the only member who dared -to warn him of the consequences, and avowed that -he would be compelled to oppose the measure. -James endeavoured to win him over to his -views, but finding it vain, determined to dismiss -him from office. His more prudent Councillors -cautioned him against such an act on the eve of -the meeting of Parliament, on the ground that -Halifax possessed great influence, and might head -a dangerous opposition. But James was the last -man to see danger ahead, and Halifax ceased to -be President of the Council. The news was -received with astonishment in England, with exultation -in Paris, and with discontent at the -Hague.</p> - -<p>The dismissal of Halifax produced a great -sensation out of doors. The Opposition gathered -new courage. Danby and his party showed themselves -early to coalesce with the adherents of -Halifax. The whispered assurance that Halifax -was dismissed for refusing to betray the Test and -Habeas Corpus Acts created general alarm, and -even the leading officers of the army did not -hesitate to express their disapprobation. Just at -this crisis, only a week before Parliament would -assemble, came the news of the revocation of the -Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV. This Edict had -been issued under the ministry of Richelieu, and -had closed the long and bloody war between -Catholic France and its Protestant subjects. -Under certain restrictions the Huguenots were -tolerated, and were contented. But Louis, urged -by the Jesuits, had long been infringing on the -conditions of the treaty. He had dismissed all -Huguenots from his service, had forbade them to -be admitted to the profession of the law, and -compelled Protestant children to be educated by -Catholics. Now at length he abolished the Edict -altogether, by which the Huguenots were once -more at the mercy of dragoons and ruffian -informers and constables. Their ministers were -banished, their children torn from them, and sent -to be educated in convents. The unhappy people -seeing nothing but destruction before them, fled -out of the kingdom on all sides. No less than -fifty thousand families were said to have quitted -France, some of them of high rank and name, the -bulk of them weavers in silk and stuffs, hatters, -and artificers of various kinds. Many settled in -London, where they introduced silk weaving, and -where their descendants yet remain, still bearing -their French names, in Bethnal Green and Spitalfields. -Others carried their manufacturing industry -to Saxony, and others emigrated to the -Cape as vine growers. France, by this blind act -of bigotry, lost a host of her best citizens, and had -her arts carried to her rivals.</p> - -<p>This was a terrible blow to the scheme of James -for restoring Romanism to power in England. -The people justly said, if a politic monarch like -Louis could not refrain at such a serious cost from -persecuting Protestants, what was England to -expect should Romanism gain the ascendency -here, under a bigoted and narrow-minded king -like James? James himself saw the full extent -of the, to him, inopportune occurrence, and professed -to join heartily in the universal outcry of -Europe, not excepting the very Pope himself, and -Spain, the land of Jesuits and inquisitions; for -those parties who were suffering from the aggressions -of Louis found it, like James, convenient to -make an outcry. What more irritated James was -an address which the French clergy in a body had -presented to Louis, applauding the deed and declaring -that the pious king of England was looking -to Louis for his aid in reducing his heretical -subjects. This address was read with astonishment -and terror by the English people, and James -hastened to condemn the revocation of the Edict, -and to promote and contribute to the relief of -the refugees who had sought shelter here. This -affected sympathy did not last long.</p> - -<p>On the 9th of November James met his Parliament. -He congratulated them on the suppression -of the rebellion in the West, but observed that it -had shown how little dependence could be placed -on the militia. It would be necessary to maintain -a strong regular force, and that would, of course, -require proportionate funds. He had, he observed, -admitted some officers to commissions who -had not taken the test, but they were such as he -could rely on, and he was resolved to continue -them there. On their return to their House the -Lords tamely voted him an address of thanks, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span> -with the Commons a demur on this head arose, -and a delay of three days was voted before considering -an address. This was ominous, and -during the interval the ambassadors of Austria -and the Pope advised James not to quarrel with -the Parliament. Barillon, on the contrary, urged -him towards the fatality, for which he required -little stimulus. If he quarrelled with his Parliament, -he must become Louis's slave, and leave -Austria, Spain, and Italy at his mercy. When -the Parliament resumed the question, the members, -both Whigs and Tories, who were alike -opposed to James's projected aggressions, carefully -avoided any irritating topic except that of the -army. They took no notice of the atrocities committed -in the west; they did not revert to the -illegal practices by which members in the interest -of Government had been returned, but they skilfully -proposed improvements in the militia, so as -to supersede the necessity of a standing army. -When the vote for Supply was proposed, the -House carried a motion for bringing in a Bill -for rendering the militia more effective, and on -this motion Seymour of Exeter, a Tory, as well as -Sir William Temple, and Sir John Maynard, who -had taken a leading part in the Parliamentary -struggle against Charles I., and was now upwards -of eighty years of age, took part: several -officers of the army, including Charles Fox, Paymaster -of the Forces, voted on the popular side of -the question. Of course they were dismissed. -But the House now having broken the ice, voted -an address to the king on the subject of maintaining -inviolate the Test Act. When they went into -Committee for the Supply, the king demanded one -million two hundred thousand pounds, the House -proposed four hundred thousand pounds. They -were afterwards willing to advance the sum to -seven hundred thousand pounds, but the Ministers -put the motion for the original sum to the vote, -and were defeated. The next day the Commons -went in procession to Whitehall, with their -address regarding the test. James received them -sullenly, and told them that whatever they pleased -to do, he would abide by all his promises. This -was saying that he would violate the Test Act as -he had done. On returning to their House, John -Coke of Derby said he hoped they were all -Englishmen, and were not to be frightened from -their duty by a few high words. As the House -had been careful to avoid any expressions disrespectful -to the king, they resented this manly -but incautious speech, and committed Coke to the -Tower. The Court took courage at this proceeding, -but though the Commons had not all at once -recovered their independent tone, the discontent -was strongly fermenting, and though Seymour had -at first in vain called on them to examine the -abuses of the franchise during the last election, -they now took up the question, and Sir John -Lowther of Cumberland, another Tory member, -headed this movement. The same spirit in the -same day broke out in the Lords. Though they -had voted thanks for the address, Halifax now contended -that that was merely formal, and the Earl -of Devonshire, William Cavendish, the bosom -friend of Lord William Russell, and Viscount -Mordaunt, afterwards the celebrated Earl of -Peterborough, proposed to consider the king's -speech, and vehemently denounced a standing -army. What was still more significant was, that -Compton, the Bishop of London, a Royalist, and -the son of a Royalist—that Earl of Northampton -who had fought for Charles I.,—and who had, -moreover, been the educator of the two princesses, -not only spoke for himself, but for the whole -bench and Church, and declared that the constitution, -civil and ecclesiastic, was in danger. Here -was a quick end of the doctrine of Non-resistance. -Jeffreys endeavoured to reply to these ominous -harangues, but the bully of the bench, where he -had it all his own way, here cut a very different -figure. He was scarified in a style of refined -sarcasm, against which his coarse Billingsgate was -worse than harmless; it recoiled upon his own -head, and this brutal monster, cowardly as he was -insolent, sank prostrate before the whole House, -and even gave way to a dastardly flood of tears of -shame. James, astonished and enraged, but not -warned by this first breath of the rising tempest, -the next morning hurried to the House of Lords -and prorogued Parliament till the 10th of February; -but it never met again, being repeatedly -prorogued, till the national spirit arose which -drove him from the throne.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_309.jpg" width="400" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JUDGE JEFFREYS. (<cite>After a Painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_309big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The prorogation of Parliament was followed -by the trial of three Whig leaders of eminence. -These were Gerard, Lord Brandon, the eldest son -of the Earl of Macclesfield, Hampden, the grandson -of the patriot, and Henry Booth, Lord Delamere. -Hampden and Gerard were accused afresh -of having been concerned in the Rye House Plot, -Delamere of having been in league with Monmouth. -Grey, Earl of Stamford, had been on the -eve of being tried by the Peers on a similar charge -of concern in the Rye House Plot, but the prorogation -defeated that, and he was soon after -liberated. These were the men against whom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span> -Grey had been induced to give information, and -who, with Wade and Goodenough, were witnesses. -Hampden and Gerard were tried at the Old -Bailey and condemned. But Grey had stipulated -that their lives should be safe, and they were -redeemed by their relatives at a heavy price. -Delamere, as a peer of the realm, was tried by a -High Court of Peers, and as he was accused of -having been engaged with Monmouth, his life was -in danger. Jeffreys was appointed Lord High -Steward, and he selected thirty peers as triers, all -of whom in politics were opposed to Delamere, -and half of them ministers and members of the -royal household. He did not stop there, but as -he had a personal spite against Delamere for -having complained of him to Parliament when -Chief Justice of Chester, and called him a -"drunken jackpudding," he did his best personally -to condemn him. But in spite of the murderous -bias with which the villainous judge had contrived -the prisoner's death, the Lords Triers unanimously -acquitted him. This was a fact that -equally electrified James and the country. Both -saw that there was a spirit abroad that was no -longer to be trifled with. The people openly -rejoiced; the infatuated tyrant raged, but took no -warning. The very Tories who had carried the -Crown hitherto through every attempt, the Established -Church which had preached Non-resistance, -saw the gulf, to the edge of which their -principles had brought them. Their loyalty -paused at the threshold of Romanism, and the -destruction of the safeguards of the liberty of the -subject. The deadly artifices which an abandoned -judge and a lawless monarch had employed against -the life of Delamere, might soon be practised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span> -against every one of them. The spell of despotism, -therefore, was broken. The spirit of an -unconquerable suspicion had reached the very -cabinet and the household of the Romish king, -and his power was at an end.</p> - -<p>But the greater the danger the more recklessly -the bigotry-blinded monarch rushed upon it. His -father had been bent on destroying the Constitution, -but stood firm to the Anglican Church; -James was resolved to root out both Church and -Constitution together; but to his narrow intellect -it never occurred that if his father lost his head in -attempting half of this impossible enterprise, his -danger was double in aiming at the whole. At -the very beginning of the year 1686 he took a -sudden stride in the direction of avowed Romanism, -and during the whole year he marched forward -with an insane hardihood that struck the -boldest and most adventurous of his friends with -consternation. The fact as to whether Charles II. -had died a Catholic or a Protestant was still a -matter of dispute. A few knew the truth, more -surmised, but the bulk of the people still believed -him to have been a Protestant. James determined -to sweep away the remaining delusion. He therefore -brought forth the two papers from Charles's -strong box, and challenged the whole bench of -bishops to refute them. He especially called on -Sancroft, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to do it; -but as the Primate from policy declined it, James -took it for granted that they were secretly admitted -to be unanswerable. He therefore had -them printed in magnificent style, and appended -to them his own signature, asserting that they -were his late brother's own composition, and left -in his own handwriting. He had this proof of -Charles's Romanism distributed liberally to his -courtiers, to the prelates and dignitaries of the -Church, and amongst the people, even delivering -them out of his coach window to the crowds as he -drove about. He thus at once made known that -his late brother had been secretly a Romanist, and -that he was himself an open and uncompromising -one.</p> - -<p>His next step was to throw all the power of the -Government into the hands of the most unscrupulous -Catholics. His brother-in-law, Rochester, -the Lord Treasurer, was nominally his Prime -Minister, but Sunderland and a knot of Catholics -were the really ruling junto. Sunderland, one of -the basest men that ever crawled in the dust of a -Court's corruption, was the head of this secret -cabal. Sunderland, in the last reign, had been a -violent Exclusionist. He had intrigued with the -Duchess of Portsmouth, through her, if possible, to -bring Charles to consent to this measure; but so -soon as James was on the throne, he became his -most servile tool, declaring that as he had nothing -to hope but from the king's clemency and his own -efforts to make compensation for the past, James -could have no more efficient servant. James, who -was a mean soul himself, did not spurn this meanness, -but made use of it, and truly Sunderland -earned his dirty bread. Avarice was his master -vice, and he would have sold two souls for money -if he had them. He retained the post of President -of the Council, and held with it his old one -of Secretary of State; whilst observing the course -which James was taking, he did not despair to -wrest from the staunch Protestant Rochester his -still more lucrative office of Lord Treasurer. He -had not the foresight to perceive that the project -which James entertained to restore Romanism -must bring speedy destruction on them all. This -sordid minister was, at the same time, in the -pay of Louis, at the rate of six thousand pounds a -year, to betray all his master's most secret counsels -to him.</p> - -<p>With Sunderland were associated in the secret -Romish junto—Sunderland himself not being -an avowed Catholic, but a private professor—some -of those Catholic lords who had been imprisoned -on account of the Popish plots—Arundel, -Bellasis, and William Herbert, Earl of Powis. To -these were added Castlemaine, the man who for a -title and revenue had sold his wife to Charles II. -He had been imprisoned, too, on account of the -Popish plot, and was ready to take vengeance by -assisting to destroy his Protestant enemies and -their Church together. With him were associated -two of the most profligate and characterless men -of that profligate age—Jermyn, celebrated for his -duels and his licentious intrigues, and lately -created by James Lord Dover, and a man familiarly -named Dick Talbot—whom James had also -for these crimes, which were merits in James's -eyes, made Earl of Tyrconnel. These merits were, -that Talbot was ready for any service of unmanly -villainy that his master could desire. Like another -prime favourite and associate of James, Lord -Chancellor Jeffreys, Tyrconnel was notorious for -his drinking, gambling, lying, swearing, bullying, -and debauchery. He was equally ready to lie -away a woman's character or to assassinate a -better man than himself. In the last reign, when -it was desired by the Court to ruin the character -of James's wife, Anne Hyde, that she might be -got rid of, he joined with Colonel Berkeley in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span> -infamous assertion that they had had the most -familiar intrigues with her. When they did not -succeed with James, they as readily confessed that -the whole was a lie. A man with the least spark -of honour in him would have remembered this unpardonable -villainy to his now deceased wife, and -have banished the wretch from Court. James promoted -him, and made him one of his most intimate -companions. Tyrconnel offered to murder -the Duke of Ormond, and was rewarded for his -readiness by being made commander of the forces -in Ireland; but his services were chiefly at -present demanded at Court.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_311a.jpg" width="400" height="179" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FOURPENNY PIECE OF JAMES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>To this precious cabal was added Father -Petre, the Jesuit Provincial, brother of Lord -Petre, and the organ of the Jesuits at Court. -The Pope, too, had his agents at Court, Adda, -his nuncio, and a vicar-apostolic; but these -advocated cautious measures, for Innocent -XI. had a difficult card to play in the -Popedom. Louis, the greatest of the Catholic -kings, was the most dangerous enemy -of the temporal power of the Pope, as of -every other temporal power, and the Jesuits -were all at variance with him, because he leaned -toward the Jansenist party, which at this time -was in the ascendency, through the triumphant -attacks on the Jesuits by Pascal in his "<cite>Lettres -Provinciales</cite>." The Jesuits, on the contrary, advocated -all James's views. These generally subtle men -seemed driven, by their falling estimation all over -Europe, to clutch at a hope of power in England, -and they had at all times been famed for their sly -policy of insinuation rather than for their caution -and moderation when successful. For their high-handed -proceedings they had then, as they have -since, been driven again and again from almost -every Christian country. They did not display -more than their ordinary foresight in the affairs -of James.</p> - -<p>But we should not possess a complete view of -the position and character of James's Court if we -did not take in a few other actors—the French -king's agents, and the king's mistresses. To -Barillon, who had so long been ambassador at the -English Court, and the agent of Louis's bribes, the -French king had sent over Bonrepaux; and -whilst Barillon attached himself to Sunderland -and the secret Catholic cabal, Bonrepaux devoted -his attentions to Rochester and his section of the -ministry, so that Louis learned the minutest movements -and opinions of both parties. These parties, -in their turn, made use of the king's mistresses; for -James, although in disposition the very opposite -of Charles, was, with all his morose profession of -zealous piety, just as loose in his adulteries.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_311b.jpg" width="500" height="247" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FIVE-GUINEA PIECE OF JAMES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>With the aid of the Council of his Catholic cabal, -James now began in earnest to put down Protestantism -in this kingdom, and restore Romanism. -As there was no hope of money from Parliament, -he made his peace with the King of France, -stooped his shoulder to the burden, and became -once more a servant unto tribute. He abandoned -all the best interests of England, apologised to -Louis for having received the Huguenots, and took -measures to defeat the very subscription in their -favour which he had commenced and recommended. -He arrested John Claude, one of the refugees who -had published an account of the persecutions of -the Huguenots by Louis, and caused his book to -be publicly burnt. In spite of this and his open -discouragement, the subscription amounted to -forty thousand pounds, but he took good care that -the unfortunate Huguenots should never get the -money, by ordering every one who applied for it to -first take the Sacrament according to the Anglican -ritual, which he knew differed so much from their -own mode, as to form an effectual bar, which it -did. And this was the man who complained of -the Test Act as a violation of conscience. He had -himself dispensed with this Act in defiance of the -law, but he now sought to obtain a sanction from -the judges for the breach of the Act. To Parliament -he durst not appeal; he therefore called -on the twelve judges to declare that he possessed -this dispensing power as part of his prerogative. -The judges to a man refused; he dismissed them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span> -and appointed more pliant ones. But the law -officers of the Crown were equally stubborn. -Sawyer, the Attorney-General, told the king that -he dared not do it, for it was not to abolish a -statute, but the whole statute law from the accession -of Elizabeth. Sawyer was too useful to be -dismissed, but Heneage Finch, the Solicitor-General, -was turned out, and Powis, a barrister of -no mark, was put in his place. A case was immediately -tried in the Court of King's Bench, to -obtain the judges' sanction. Sir Edward Hales -was formally prosecuted for holding a commission -in the army, being a Catholic; but the Lord Chief -Justice, Sir Edward Herbert, took the opinion of -the new judges upon it, which was, that the king -possessed the power to dispense with the Act, -and judgment was given accordingly. No sooner -was James in possession of this decision of the -King's Bench, than he appointed the four Catholic -lords of his secret cabal members of the Privy -Council—namely, Arundel, Bellasis, Powis, and -Dover.</p> - -<p>Having perpetrated this daring act in the -Council, James hastened to exercise the same -power in the Church. Encouraged by the known -opinions and intentions of the king, several clergymen -who had outwardly conformed to the Church -of England and held livings, now threw off the -mask and proclaimed themselves of the Catholic -Church, and applied to James to authorise them -still to hold their livings. These were Obadiah -Walker, Master of University College, Oxford; -Boyce, Dean, and Bernard, fellows of different colleges; -and Edward Sclater, curate of Putney and -Esher. The king granted them dispensations to hold -their livings, despite their avowed conversion to -the doctrines of another Church, on the plea that -he would not oppress their consciences. But to -support men in holding livings in a Church which -they had abandoned was so outrageous a violation -of that Church's conscience, that it was impossible -long to be submitted to. James, in his very contracted -mind, imagined that, because the bishops -and ministers had so zealously advocated absolute -submission to his will, they would practise it. -How little could he have read human nature. -Of these sudden converts, Sclater and Walker as -suddenly reconverted themselves at the Revolution.</p> - -<p>James having now his hand in, went on boldly. -He had permitted professed converts to Catholicism -to retain their Protestant livings, he next appointed -a Catholic to a Church dignity. John -Massey, a Fellow of Merton, who had gone over to -Rome, was, in violation of every local and national -statute, appointed Dean of Christ Church. Massey -at once erected an altar and celebrated Mass in -the cathedral of Christ Church, and James told -the Pope's nuncio that this should soon be the -case in Cambridge. It remained now only to fill -the sees of the Church with Catholic bishops as -they fell vacant; and to enable him to do that, it -was necessary, in the first place, to possess himself -of a power in the Church like that which he had -assumed in the State. He must have a tribunal -before which he could summon any refractory -clergy, as he could now by his pliant judges control -any appeal to the bench. He therefore determined -to revive the Court of High Commission, that terrible -engine of the Tudors and the Stuarts, which -the Long Parliament had put down. This court -had power not only to cite any clergyman before -it who dared to preach or publish anything reflecting -on the views or measures of the king, but -"to correct, amend, and alter the statutes of the -universities, churches, and schools," or where the -statutes were bad to make new ones, and the -powers of the Commission were declared to be -effectual for these purposes, "notwithstanding any -law or statute to the contrary." In fact, all the -powers of the High Commission were revived, -and the old device and motto were adopted on -the seal.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_313.jpg" width="560" height="374" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WINDSOR CASTLE, FROM THE BROCAS.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_313big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This was a direct and daring declaration of war -on the Church. The Act of Supremacy was thus -turned against it, and every clergyman, professor, -and schoolmaster, from the Primate to the simple -curate and tutor, was laid at the mercy of this -insane tyrant. The alarm of the whole Court and -country when this outstanding fact was made -known, was indescribable. The staunchest courtiers -trembled at the temerity of the monarch: the -French ministers and the Jesuits alone applauded. -The new and terrible power of the tribunal was -quickly brought into play. The Commission was -made known about the middle of July, and -seven commissioners were named. At their head -stood Jeffreys, who was now to display his -truculent spirit in the character of a Grand Inquisitor. -The six other commissioners were -Archbishop Sancroft, Bishops Crewe of Durham -and Sprat of Rochester, Lords Rochester, Sunderland, -and the Chief Justice Herbert. Sancroft -excused himself from acting on the plea of ill-health, -and James in anger immediately ordered him to be -omitted in the summons to the Privy Council, -saying, if his health were too bad to attend the -Commission, it was equally so to attend the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span> -Council, and Cartwright, Bishop of Chester, was -put on the Commission in his stead. These pliant -Churchmen and courtiers were quickly shown what -work they had to do. Amongst the clergymen -who had ventured to preach against the Roman -Church, and to reply to the attacks which the -Romish preachers were now emboldened to make -on the Anglican Church, beginning at Whitehall -itself, Sharp, Dean of Norwich, and one of the -royal chaplains, had been honest enough to defend -his own faith, and expose the errors of Rome, in a -sermon at his own Church of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields. -Compton, the Bishop of London, was immediately -called upon by Sunderland to suspend -him. But Compton, though he had lately fallen -under the royal displeasure for opposing James's -designs in the House of Lords, and had been dismissed -from the Privy Council, and from his post -of Dean of the Royal Chapel, replied that he could -not suspend Sharp without hearing him in his -defence. Thereupon Compton was at once summoned -before the new Commissioners. He demurred, -declared the Court illegal, that he was a -prelate, and amenable only to his peers in the -Church, or, as lord of Parliament, to his peers in -Parliament. Consenting, however, at length to -appear, he was abruptly asked by Jeffreys why he -had not suspended Sharp. Compton demanded a -copy of the Commission, to see by what right they -summoned him. This roused the base blood of -Jeffreys, who began to insult the prelate, as he -had done many a good man before, declaring that -he would take another course with him; but the -rest of the Commissioners recalled the brutal bully -to a sense of the respect due to the bishop. After -the hearing of the case, Rochester, Herbert, and -Sprat declared for his acquittal; but James, enraged -at his Treasurer, vowed if he did not give -his vote against Compton, he would dismiss him -from his office. The place-loving minister gave -way. Compton was suspended from his spiritual -functions, but dared the Court to touch his revenues; -and the Chief Justice warned James that -did he attempt to seize them, he would be defeated -at common law. For awhile, therefore, James was -obliged to restrain his proceedings till, as he resolved, -he had put the laws more completely -under his feet.</p> - -<p>But enough had already been done to produce a -change such as never had been seen in England -since the days of Queen Mary. Encouraged by -the king's countenance and proceedings, the -Catholics now openly set at nought all the severe -laws against them, their chapels, and priests. -Though it was still death by the law for any -Romish clergyman to appear in England, and all -meetings of Catholics for worship were forbidden -under the severest penalties, the streets now -swarmed with the clergy in full canonicals, and -Popish chapels were opened in every part of the -kingdom. The Protestant public gazed in astonishment -at sights which neither they nor their -fathers had beheld in England. The frieze cowls, -and girdles of rope, crosses, and rosaries, passed -before them as apparitions of an almost fabulous -time. James threw open the old chapel at St. -James's, where a throng of Benedictine monks -located themselves. He built for himself a public -chapel at Whitehall, and induced Sandford, an -Englishman, but the envoy of the Prince Palatine, -to open a third in the City. A brotherhood of -Franciscans established themselves in Lincoln's -Inn Fields; another of Carmelites appeared in the -City; a convent was founded in Clerkenwell, on -the site of the ancient cloister of St. John, and a -Jesuit church and school were opened in the -Savoy, under a rector named Palmer.</p> - -<p>The same ominous change appeared all over -the country, especially in those districts where -Catholics were numerous. But neither in town -nor country were the common people disposed to -see the whole empire of Popery thus restored. -They assembled and attacked the Catholics going -into their chapels, insulted them, knocked down -their crosses and images, and turned them into -the streets. Hence riots ran high and fiercely in -London, Worcester, Coventry, and other places. -The Lord Mayor ordered the chapel of the Prince -Palatine in Lime Street to be closed, but he was -severely threatened by the king and Jeffreys. -The mob then took the matter into their hands; -they attacked the chapel at high Mass, drove -out the people and priests, and set the cross -on the parish pump. It was in vain that the -train bands were ordered out to quell the riot; -they refused to fight for Popery.</p> - -<p>But this spirit, which would have caused a -wiser monarch to pause, only incensed James, and -he assembled an army of thirteen thousand men -on Hounslow Heath to overawe the City, and conveyed -thither twenty-six pieces of artillery, and -ample supplies of ammunition from the Tower. -But it boded little prospect of support from his -army that the people of London immediately -fraternised with it, and the camp became the -great holiday resort of all classes, resembling, in -the strange concourse of strange characters who -appeared there, Schiller's description of the camp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span> -of Wallenstein. James, however, was proud of -his army, and flattered himself that from his -having formerly been a general in the French -service, he could command it to some purpose. -But there were as clever tacticians as himself at -work. He allowed Mass to be publicly celebrated -in the tent of Lord Dumbarton, the second in -command, and this, with the known fact that -many officers were Catholics, and the sight of -priests and friars strolling about amongst the -tents, roused the zeal of Protestant patriots. Foremost -amongst these was Dr. Samuel Johnson, who -had been chaplain to Lord William Russell, and -was a man of liberal ideas of government, and -a sturdy champion of Protestantism. In the last -reign he had written a severe satire on James, -under the title of "Julian the Apostate," in which -he drew a vigorous parallel between the Roman -apostate and the English one. Julian, according -to him, an idolater even when he pretended not to -be, was a persecutor when he pretended freedom -of conscience, and robbed cities of their municipal -charters, which were zealous for the true faith. -For this daring philippic he was prosecuted and -imprisoned in the King's Bench, but this did not -prevent him from still making war on the Popish -prince. "Julian" Johnson, as he was called, had -found, while imprisoned in the King's Bench, congenial -society in the companionship of a fellow-prisoner, -whose name was Hugh Speke. This -man, Speke, being of a gloomy, seditious temperament, -furnished "Julian" Johnson with money to -print, and encouraged him by every kind of argument -in endeavouring to excite in the Hounslow -camp an active spirit of hostility to the Romish -schemers. Thereupon Johnson wrote and published -a stirring address to the soldiers, which was -distributed in thousands amongst the army. -There could be no mistake concerning the style of -this document, even if the writer and his friend -had kept their counsel, as they did not. The -publication was speedily traced to Johnson, who -was thereupon brought up to the bar of the -King's Bench, and, after a long examination, condemned -to stand three times in the pillory, to be -whipped from Newgate to Tyburn, and to pay a -fine of five hundred marks.</p> - -<p>Johnson was one of those sturdy, uncompromising -reformers—always found, like the petrel, just -before the occurrence of a storm—who are regarded -with almost more terror and aversion by -men of more moderate views or weaker nerves, -than by the national offenders whom they attack. -When assured by the judge that he might be -thankful to the Attorney-General that he had not -arraigned him of high treason, he indignantly -replied that he thanked him not; that he did not -consider himself favoured by being degraded and -whipped like a hound, when Popish writers disseminated -with impunity what they pleased. -This was denied by the Attorney-General and the -bench; but Johnson was prepared for them, and -pulling a whole mass of such publications from his -pocket, which were issued by permission of the -royal censor, he read their titles aloud, saying, -"There, let Mr. Attorney-General now show -whether he will do his duty by them." To spare -the priesthood degradation in the person of Johnson, -he was cited, at the command of the High -Commission, before Crewe and Sprat, the royal -Commissioners, accompanied by the Bishops of -Rochester and Peterborough, to the chapter-house -of St. Paul's, and personally degraded from his -order. In having the Bible taken from him in -the ceremony, Johnson shed some tears, but said, -"You cannot deprive me of its blessed promises." -He received two hundred and seventeen lashes in -enforcing his punishment, but bore it stoutly, and -declared that he could have sung a psalm had he -not deemed that it might appear like bravado.</p> - -<p>Though the clergy blamed Johnson, and stood -aloof from him as a firebrand, because he preached -resistance to Popery, which they were soon to do -themselves, they were now loud in their pulpits -in replying to its attacks, and exposing its lying -legends, and its mummery of relics, its tricks -of priestcraft, its denial of the Scriptures and the -Cup to the laity, the celibacy of the clergy, the -abuse of the confessional, and the idolatry of -image worship, and prayers to saints. Distinguished -amongst these declaimers were Tillotson, -Tenison, Stillingfleet, Sherlock, Prideaux, Wake, -Atterbury, and many lesser lights in the pulpit. -But this zeal was not confined to preachers, for -the printing presses of the Universities were -kept constantly going. The Catholics, under -royal patronage, replied as actively, and the -war of pamphlets and pulpits foreshadowed a war -of actual arms. James, as blind to all signs of -the times as his father had been, went insanely on -his way, now eagerly endeavouring to convert his -daughter Anne, and now as resolutely scheming -to deprive his daughter Mary of the succession. -In Scotland and Ireland his crusade against the -constitution of the realm and the Protestant -religion was equally fierce and reckless.</p> - -<p>To Scotland James sent down orders to the -Government to dispense with the test and admit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span> -Catholics to all offices, and nothing was to be -published without the Chancellor's licence, so that -no reflections might be made on the Catholic -religion or the king's order. The Duke of Queensberry—who -was Lord Treasurer, and therefore -regarded as Prime Minister—though a Tory, declared -that he would not undertake to do anything -against the Protestant religion, but there -were not wanting sycophants who were ready to -attempt just what the king pleased, in the hope of -supplanting Queensberry. These were Lord Perth, -the Chancellor, and his brother Lord Melfort, -Secretary of State. They went over to Romanism -as a means of preferment, and were imitated -by the Earl of Murray, a descendant of the -Regent, and a member of the Privy Council. -Perth opened a Catholic chapel in his house, and -soon received a cargo of priests' dresses, images, -crosses, and rosaries. The incensed mob attacked -the house during Mass, tore down the iron bars -from the windows, chased the worshippers from -their shrine, and pelted Lady Perth with mud. -The soldiers were called out, and considerable -bloodshed followed. James, irritated instead of -being warned, sent down orders to punish the -rioters severely, to screen the Catholics from -penalties, and to renew the persecution of the -Covenanters with all rigour. Alarmed at these -insensate commands, three members of the Privy -Council—the Duke of Hamilton, Sir George Lockhart, -and General Drummond—hastened up to -London to explain to James the impossibility of -enforcing them, but made no impression.</p> - -<p>On the 29th of April the time arrived for the -meeting of the Scottish Parliament, when a letter -from James was read calling on the Estates to pass -a Bill freeing the Catholics from all penalties; -but so far from the Parliament accepting such a -proposition, the Lords of the Articles, whose business -it was to introduce the propositions for new -measures, and who had been chosen by James -himself, declined to comply with the proposal. In -vain they were urged by Perth, Melfort, and -Murray; they remained refractory for three -weeks, and then only dared to recommend that -the Catholics should be permitted to worship in -their own houses. But even this the Parliament -would not consent to, and, after a week's debate, -threw out even this very much modified scheme. -James, who had during this discussion seen the -intense anxiety in England to learn the news of -the progress of the debate, perpetrated one of the -most audacious acts of arbitrary power that -modern times have witnessed. He sent for the -mail bags from the North regularly, and detained -all correspondence thence till the matter was -ended. No single Scottish letter was issued in -London for a whole week.</p> - -<p>When at last the news, in spite of him, burst -forth amid loud rejoicings, he was enraged, but, -like his father, he declared that he would do by -his own royal authority what he wanted; that he -had been only foolish in asking for what the Act -of Supremacy gave him in Scotland as perfectly -as in England. He therefore launched the bolts -of his vengeance at those who had disputed his -will. Queensberry was dismissed from all his -offices, the Bishop of Dunkeld ejected from his -see, and crowds of Papists were appointed to the -posts of those who had refused to obey the royal -mandate. Without the ceremony of an Act of -Parliament, James proceeded to usurp the rights -of boroughs, and to appoint provosts and town -councillors at his will; he ordered the judges to -declare all the laws against Catholics void, and -announced his intention of fitting up a Roman -Catholic chapel in Holyrood. These measures -struck a momentary terror and deep silence into -the Scottish people, but it was only the silence -preceding the storm.</p> - -<p>In Ireland James had a preponderating body of -Catholics eager to receive justice and the restoration -of their estates at his hands. But only a -wise and cautious monarch could succeed in -making decent recompense to the native Irish for -their many sufferings and spoliations. Their -lands, by the Act of Settlement, were for the -most part in the hands of a sturdy race of -Englishmen, both Episcopalians and Presbyterians, -who had been placed there at successive periods, -and extensively by the Commonwealth. To -announce that he would repeal this Act, and reinvest -the natives with their ancient demesnes, was -at once to rouse to arms a body of such pluck and -nerve as the Celtic race had no chance with, notwithstanding -their numbers. At the news that -the Act was to be revoked, and the Church and -Government of Ireland to be put into the hands -of Catholics, the timid English gentry fled, the -trade of the island received a paralysing blow, -and the sturdy Saxon population prepared not -only to defend their possessions, but to exterminate, -if necessary, the aboriginal tribes.</p> - -<p>Clarendon, the Lord-Lieutenant, the brother of -Rochester, the Prime Minister of England, in -great alarm wrote to James, detailing the immediate -effects of this announcement; but James -persisted in his obstinate course. He declared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span> -that the Protestants were his enemies, and that it -was necessary to fortify himself with his friends; -that his father had lost his head by conceding—he -should have said by conceding too late,—and -that he would concede nothing. He went on -putting Catholics into the Privy Council, into the -corporations and the army, dismissing Protestants -to make room for them. He then sent out -Tyrconnel, as his unscrupulous instrument, to -occupy the post already his, of head of the army; -he was at the same time furnished with instructions -to take virtually all the functions of -government into his hands, and reduce Clarendon -to a cipher. Clarendon, like all the Hydes, was -meanly attached to office and its emoluments, or -he would at once have resigned rather than suffer -the indignity of beholding his office usurped by a -bullying ruffian like Tyrconnel. This desperate -gambler, duellist, and debauchee, soon began to -talk of the Act of Settlement as a damned and -villainous thing; set about remodelling the army -so as to exclude all Protestants, and replace them -by Catholics; officers and men of the Protestant -faith were dismissed by wholesale; he was in -league with the priests to drill the entire Papist -population, so as to confer the whole power of the -island on them, and place every Protestant throat -at their mercy. In a very few weeks he had -introduced two thousand Popish soldiers into the -army, and gave out that by Christmas the whole -of the troops would be native Catholic. In the -Church and the State he pushed on rudely the -same measures, and with a violence of conduct and -of language which appeared more like drunken -madness than anything else. Taking the cue -from him, and instructed by the priests, everybody -treated Clarendon with marked insult and -contempt. Still clinging meanly to office, he -appealed to his brother in London to obtain for -him more honourable treatment, but was thunderstruck -by the news that Rochester himself had -been dismissed.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_317.jpg" width="560" height="393" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>PARLIAMENT HALL, EDINBURGH.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_317big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Rochester, the champion to whom the Protestants -of the Anglican Church looked up for -aid, had, as miserably as his brother, disgraced -himself by suffering his honour to be compromised -by the love of office and income. He -saw the career which James was running, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span> -which no remonstrance or popular menace could -arrest, and instead of resigning with dignity when -his counsels became useless, he had even flattered -James with the hope of his conversion. But he -did not deceive the Jesuit Cabal which surrounded -and governed James. They assured the king that -nothing would ever make Rochester a genuine -supporter of Catholic views, and the sooner he -cut himself loose from the connection the better. -Accordingly, on the 19th of December, the king, -with many professions of regard, took from his -brother-in-law Rochester the Treasurer's staff, but -softened his fall by granting him out of Lord -Grey's estate lands to the yearly value of seventeen -hundred pounds, and an annuity of four -thousand pounds for his own life and that of his -son. He was spared also the mortification of -seeing his rival Sunderland invested with his -office; the Treasurership was put in commission; -Lord Arundel received the Privy Seal, and -Bellasis was made First Lord of the Treasury, -whilst Dover, a ruined gambler, and Godolphin -received places at the board.</p> - -<p>The fall of Clarendon followed rapidly on that -of Rochester. On the 8th of January, 1687, he -received the order to resign his post to Tyrconnel. -Such was the panic at this news, that no less than -fifteen hundred families of gentlemen, merchants, -and tradesmen, are said to have fled from Dublin -to England in a week, and a reign of terror commenced -all over Ireland. The known intentions -of the king, and the character of his Lord-Lieutenant, -were the signals for proscription to all -Protestants, and they were turned out of the -army, the offices of State, from the bench, and the -magistracy, with an indecency which astonished -the moderate Catholics themselves. Law and -justice appeared to be at an end. The worst -passions of a population long loaded with every -species of injustice were let loose, and the once -dominant race now saw themselves the objects of -unconcealed hatred and recrimination. The wild -population drove off their cattle, set fire to their -houses, and the newly-raised soldiery devoted -themselves with the gusto of vengeance to pillaging, -murdering, and outraging the Protestant -settlers with a frightful exultation.</p> - -<p>Such were the ominous circumstances under -which the year 1687 opened. By driving from -him his relatives, the Hydes, James had severed -the last ties between him and Protestantism; had -demolished the last guarantees of Protestant -security. The whole Protestant public, and many -of the more clear-sighted Catholics, looked forward -with an awful sense of impending mischief, and -they were only too correct in their apprehensions.</p> - -<p>James was determined to push forward his -schemes for the restoration of Romanism in -defiance of every long-cherished prejudice of the -people, and of every constitutional principle. -Besides the conversions which interest had made -amongst the courtiers, there were a few other -persons of more or less distinction who for royal -favour had apostatised, but the number was most -insignificant. The Earl of Peterborough, and the -Earl of Salisbury—the descendant of Cecil, Elizabeth's -minister,—had embraced Catholicism, and -amongst literary men some half dozen. There -were Wycherley, the obscene dramatist, Haines, a -low comedian, and Tindal, who afterwards became -a professed deist; but the most remarkable and -deplorable instance was that of the poet Dryden. -Dryden had sufficiently degraded his fine talents -by plays and other compositions which could not -be read now without a blush; but his compliance -with the impure taste of the age had not enriched -him. He enjoyed a pension of one hundred -pounds a year from Charles, but that expired with -Charles, and James, on renewing it, withdrew the -usual butt of sack which accompanied it. After -that no further notice was taken of the poet who -had rendered such services to the royal cause, and, -pressed by his needs, Dryden declared himself a -Papist, and was speedily rewarded by royal notice -and emolument. Henceforward his pen was employed -to defend the royal religion, and the most -remarkable result of his labours remains in his -celebrated poem of "The Hind and Panther."</p> - -<p>Slight as were these triumphs over the steadfast -minds of Englishmen, James began now to be -aware that he must win over bodies which he -really hated, and had hitherto persecuted with all -his might, if he meant to succeed. We have had -occasion to relate the horrible cruelties and sanguinary -ferocity with which he had pursued the -Covenanters in Scotland and the Puritans in -England, but he now deemed it necessary to pretend -himself their friend. The Church had so -uniformly and vehemently proclaimed the doctrine -of Non-resistance, that he imagined he was pretty -sure of it; but in Scotland and England the Nonconformists -were a numerous and sturdy race, and -danger from them might be apprehended in case -Romanism was too exclusively reinstated. He -therefore concluded to make his approaches to this -object by feigning a love of religious liberty. He -commenced first in Scotland by issuing a Declaration -of Indulgence, on the 12th of February, 1687<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span>, -but with an avowal of absolutism and a niggardly -concession of religious liberty, which were not -likely to be very gratefully received by the Scots. -"We, by our sovereign authority, prerogative royal -and absolute power, do hereby give and grant -our royal toleration. We allow and tolerate the -modern Presbyterians to meet in their private -houses, and to hear such ministers as have been or -are willing to accept of our indulgence; but they -are not to build meeting-houses, but to exercise in -houses. We tolerate Quakers to meet in their form -in any place or places appointed for their worship; -and we, by our sovereign authority, suspend, stop, -and disable all laws and Acts of Parliament made -and executed against any of our Roman Catholic -subjects, so that they shall be free to exercise -their religion and to enjoy all; but they are to -exercise in houses or chapels; and we cass, disannul, -and discharge all oaths by which our subjects -are disabled from holding offices."</p> - -<p>Thus James had declared himself absolute, -above all laws, and at liberty to discharge any Act -of Parliament. The same breath which gave a -decree of religious liberty, annihilated every other -liberty, and made the whole nation dependent on -the will of one man. But whilst thus sweeping -away all the labours of all past Parliaments at his -pleasure, he with an inconsistency which betrayed -a secret feeling that the power of Parliament was -not so easily set aside, even then contemplated -calling Parliament together if he could have but a -prospect that it would confirm what he had done -in Scotland, and proposed immediately to do in -England. He therefore commenced a system of -what has been called "closetings." He sent for -the Tory members of Parliament, who were in -town, one by one, and taking them into his closet -at Whitehall, tried by personal persuasions and by -bribes—for though dreadfully penurious, he now -all at once became liberal of promises, and tolerably -liberal of money—and entreated the members -to oblige him by voting for the abolition of the -laws against Catholics, which he told them had -been, in truth, directed against himself; and whilst -he promised, he threatened, too, in case his wishes -were not complied with. Whilst he made this experiment -in town, the judges now on circuit were -ordered to send for the members in the country to -the different county towns, and use the same persuasions. -The result was by no means satisfactory. -If there was one feeling stronger than -another which had taken possession of the public -mind, it was, then and long after, that the Catholics -were not to be trusted with power, and that -to grant them opportunity would be to restore the -horrors of Queen Mary's days. James himself met -with some signal rebuffs, and in every instance he -dismissed the refusers from any office that they -held; amongst them Herbert, Master of the Robes, -and Rear-Admiral of England.</p> - -<p>As no good was to be obtained from Parliament, -he at once prorogued it again till November, -asserting that he would grant toleration on his -own authority; and on the 8th of April he issued -his "Declaration of Indulgence for England." -This Declaration, though in not quite positive -and reiterated terms, set forth the same principle -of absolutism, and independence of Parliament. -"We have thought fit, by virtue of our royal prerogative, -to issue forth this our declaration of indulgence, -making no doubt of the concurrence of -our two Houses of Parliament when we shall -think it convenient for them to meet." He made -no secret in it of wishing to see Catholicism the -religion of the land; but, as the people did not -seem willing to accept it, he had resolved to give -to all professions of religion the same freedom. -He talked like a philosopher about the virtues and -justice of entire toleration, and the impolicy as -well as injustice of persecution—conveniently -ignoring that his practice, whenever he had had -the power, had been in direct opposition to these -smooth maxims. He not only then proceeded to -abolish all the penal acts which had ever been -passed, giving free right of worship, public or -private, to all denominations, but denounced the -utmost vengeance of the laws against any one who -should disturb any congregation or person in the -exercise of their religion.</p> - -<p>The substance of the Declaration was admirable; -it was so because it was the Christian truth; but -the deed had two defects, and they were fatal -ones. It was granted at the expense of the whole -Constitution; and to admit that it was valid was -to abandon Magna Charta and the Petition of -Right, and accept instead the arbitrary will of -the monarch. The second and equally fatal -objection was that every one knew, from James's -practice, and his proved deceitfulness, and his -obstinate persistency, that the whole was but -a snare to introduce Romanism, and then tread -down every other form of religion. James -boasted to the Pope's nuncio that the Declaration -would be a great blow, and that in -a general liberty of conscience the Anglican -Church would go down, for persecution of the -Dissenters would then be revenged upon her, and, -unsupported by the Crown, she would meet with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span> -deserved contempt. And, had the toleration been -legitimately obtained and guaranteed, after the -servile conduct of the Church at that time, this -might have been the case. The Dissenters had -every reason to be thankful for toleration. They -had been trodden down by the Anglican hierarchy; -they had been dragged before the arbitrary High -Commission, and plundered and imprisoned at -pleasure. The bishops had supported every unrighteous -act against them—the Conventicle Acts, -the Test Act, the Five-Mile Act, the Act of Uniformity; -and now they could enjoy their property, -the peace of their firesides, their liberty, and their -worship in the open sight of God and man. These -were great boons, and, therefore, a great number -of Nonconformists expressed their gratitude for -them. The Quakers in particular sent up a grateful -address, which was presented by Penn with an -equally warm speech; but both they and the other -Dissenters restricted themselves to thanking James -for the ease they enjoyed, without going into the -question of his right to grant it. Some few individuals, -in their enthusiasm, or worked upon by -the Court, went beyond this; but the general -body of the Nonconformists were on their guard, -and some of the most eminent leaders refused even -to address the king in acknowledgment of the -boon. Amongst these were Baxter, who had been -so ignominiously treated by Jeffreys; Howe, who -had had to flee abroad; and Bunyan, who had -suffered twelve years' imprisonment for his faith; -they boldly reminded their followers of the unconstitutional -and, therefore, insecure basis on which -the relief rested; that a Protestant successor might -come—even if before that Popery, grown strong, -had not crushed them—and again subject them to -the harsh dominance of the Anglican hierarchy.</p> - -<p>No exertions were omitted to induce the Dissenters -to send up addresses; and they were -actively canvassed by members of their different -bodies, as Carr, Alsop, Lobb, and Rosewell, the -last of whom was liberated from prison for the -purpose. James took care to throw all the blame -of the past persecutions on the Church, which, he -said, had been at the bottom of all those councils. -The Church, on the other hand, deserted by the -Crown, retorted the accusation, and attributed -every act of persecution to the Government, to -which it professed unwillingly to have submitted. -Thus was seen the edifying sight of the two arch-oppressors -quarrelling, and in their bitter recriminations -letting out the confession that they -both knew very well how base and un-Christian -their conduct had been.</p> - -<p>But there was a third party to which all alike -looked with anxiety in this crisis, and this consisted -of William of Orange and his wife. As -Protestants, and the probable successors of James, -if they approved of the Indulgence, they would -greatly strengthen the king; if they disapproved -of it altogether, it would give a shock to the -Protestant interest in England. But William was -too politic not to see all the bearings of the question, -and he and the princess jointly avowed their -entire approval of complete toleration of all phases -of the Christian religion, but their disapproval of -the illegal means by which James aimed to effect -it, and of Catholics being admitted to place and -power. These were precisely the views of the great -majority of Englishmen; and accordingly James -sank still deeper in public odium on this publication, -and William and Mary rose in popularity. -They seized the opportunity to organise a most -powerful party in their favour, and thus pave the -way to an accession to the throne, which their -sagacity assured them would much sooner arrive -than the natural demise of the king. Mary has -been censured for so readily uniting in a plan to -drive her father from the throne. So long as -the policy of James promised a continuance of -his power, no steps were taken by Mary to supersede -him; so soon as it became evident that no -earthly power, to say nothing of justice or right, -could keep him on the throne, it became a mere -act of prudence to take care that no alien interest -usurped her own. That Mary contemplated -or committed any act of personal cruelty -or harshness towards her father beyond securing -her succession against an intruder, remains to be -shown. Her husband, with all his virtues, was not -proof against allowing, if not perpetrating, questionable -acts; and he had been so jealous of his -dignity and power, that for years he brooded in -gloomy discontent on the prospect of Mary's succession -to the crown of England without his having -any claim to share it, not even communicating his -splenetic feeling to her. But this secret was penetrated -by Burnet, explained to Mary and, through -her generosity, at once the difficulty was dissipated -by her engaging to admit him to a full share of -her hereditary authority. From that moment -William redoubled his zeal to secure the succession; -but there is no question that Mary -exerted her filial regard to secure her father -against any personal injustice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_321.jpg" width="403" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JOHN DRYDEN. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_321big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>William now despatched to England orders to -his ambassador, Dykvelt, to use his endeavours to -knit up the different sections of the discontented -into one paramount interest in his favour. The -scattered elements of an overwhelming power lay -around the throne, which James, by his blind folly -and tyranny, had made hostile to himself, and -prepared ready to the hand of a master to combine -for his destruction. Danby, who had fallen in -the late reign for his opposition to the French -influence, and who had been the means of uniting -Mary to William, had regained extensive influence -amongst both Tories and Whigs, and was driven -by James into determined opposition. Halifax, -who had been the chief champion of James's accession -by opposing the Exclusion Bill, and whose -dangerous eloquence made him especially formidable, -had been dismissed and neglected by him. -Finch, Earl of Nottingham, a zealous Tory and -Churchman, and one of the most powerful orators -of the House of Lords, he made his enemy by his -dismissal of his younger brother from the post of -Solicitor-General for not acquiescing in the king's -dispensing powers, and by his attacks on the -Church and the Constitution. The Earl of Devonshire -he had managed, by imprisonment and a -monstrous fine, equally to disgust; and the Earl -of Bedford he had completely alienated by -the execution of his son, Lord William Russell. -Compton, the Bishop of London; Herbert, lately -Rear-Admiral of England; Clarendon, Rochester, -Lumley, Shrewsbury, had all, by a most insensate -folly, been offended by dismission and private injuries. -There was not a man of any talent or -influence whom this fatuous tyrant had not driven -from him in his obstinate resolve to set Romanism -and despotism along with him on the throne, except -Lord Churchill, upon whom he continued to -heap favours, but who was too worldly-wise not to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span> -see that his benefactor was running headlong to -ruin, and who was by no means the man to share -ruin out of gratitude. Dykvelt executed his -mission so well, that in four months he returned -to the Hague with a packet of letters in his possession -from all those noblemen, bishops, and -others, including Admiral Russell, the cousin of -the decapitated Lord William Russell, promising -William their most enthusiastic support. From the -Princess Anne, who was bound up heart and soul -with Churchill and his clever wife—afterwards the -celebrated Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough—her -sister Mary also received the most cordial assurances -that nothing should induce her to abandon -her religion, or her attachment to her sister's -rights.</p> - -<p>Dykvelt returned from England on the 9th of -June; and, to continue the effect produced in that -country, on the 8th of August another agent in -the person of General Zulestein was despatched -thither. His ostensible mission was to offer an -address of condolence on the death of the queen's -mother, the Duchess of Modena; but his real one -was to strengthen the connection with the malcontents, -which he could the more unsuspectedly -do from his military character, and from his -having taken no particular part in diplomacy. -Zulestein was completely successful; but these -proceedings could not entirely escape James or his -envoy at the Hague, the Catholic Marquis of -Abbeville, who succeeded in getting Burnet, the -active adviser of William, removed from open -intercourse with the Court. But Burnet was still -not far off, and through his chief counsellors, -Bentinck and Halweyn, William still consulted -with him on every step of the plans regarding -England. James also sought to reach William -through Stewart, a Scottish lawyer, who had fled -from his persecutions of the Covenanters to the -Hague, but who, on the appearance of the Declaration -of Indulgence, most suddenly went to the -king's side, in hopes of promotion. Stewart wrote -a letter to Fagel, the Grand Pensionary, who had -great influence with William, which he confessed -was at the suggestion of the king, strongly urging -him to use his power with William to persuade -him to support James's act; but Fagel, with a -dexterous policy, replied in another letter, stating -that the prince and princess were advocates for -the most ample toleration, but not for the abolition -of the Test, or of any other Act having the -inviolability of the Anglican Church for its object. -This was calculated to satisfy the Catholics -of every privilege which they could reasonably -expect from the laws and the public opinion of -England, whilst it fully assured the Church of its -safety under William and Mary.</p> - -<p>Every fresh movement thus contributed to -strengthen the position of William, and to show -to James, had he had sufficient mind to comprehend -it, how completely his conduct had deprived -him of the confidence of his subjects. Even the -Pope took no pains to conceal how suicidal he -deemed his policy. He would have sufficiently -rejoiced in any rational prospect of the return of -England to the Church of Rome, but he was not -dull enough to imagine the sentiment of the king -the sentiment of the nation; on the contrary, he -was persuaded that the rash cabals of the Jesuits -were inevitably hastening a crisis which must the -more deeply root the Anglican antipathy to -Popery. James had despatched Castlemaine as -ambassador to Rome with a splendid retinue. It -was not enough that this open affront was done to -his country by sending a Catholic ambassador to -the Pope, and in the person, too, of a man who -had no distinction except the disgraceful one of -having purchased his title by the prostitution of -his wife; but Castlemaine was deputed to solicit -a dispensation from Innocent for Father Petre to -receive the Episcopal dignity, which was forbidden -to a Jesuit. James contemplated nothing less -than making Petre Archbishop of York, which see -he kept vacant for the purpose; but the Pope was -too much at enmity with the Jesuits, as well as -with James for his impolitic conduct, and his -alliance with the great French aggressor, to concede -any such favour. Castlemaine, who was -living in pomp at Rome, threatened to take his -departure if this request was not granted, and -Innocent only sarcastically replied by bidding him -start in the cool of the morning, and take care of -his health on the journey.</p> - -<p>This discourtesy shown him by the head of that -religion for which he was putting everything to -the hazard, had, however, only the effect of -further raising the pugnacity of James. He -determined only the more to honour and exalt -Popery in England. The nuncio, Adda, had been -made Archbishop of Amasia—a mere title of -honour, in consequence of James's desire that he -should be publicly acknowledged at his Court. -Hitherto both he and the Vicar-Apostolic, Leyburn, -had been instructed by the Papal Court to -keep a careful incognito; but James would no -longer consent to this; and, accordingly, on the -1st of May, 1686, Adda had been publicly consecrated -at Whitehall, by the titular Archbishop<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span> -of Ireland, assisted by Leyburn, the Vicar-Apostolic. -In the evening of that day the -nuncio was received into the royal circle, in the -queen's apartments; and James shocked and disgusted -his courtiers by falling on his knees before -him and imploring his blessing. It was the first -time that an English Court had seen their -monarch, for a very long period, doing homage at -the feet of a Papal nuncio, and the effect was -humiliating. On the 3rd of July the nuncio was -favoured with a public reception at Windsor. He -went thither attended by a numerous procession -of the ministers and of officials of the Court, -and was conveyed in a royal coach, wearing a -purple robe, and a brilliant cross upon his breast. -In his train were seen with surprise and contempt -the equipages of Crewe, Bishop of Durham, and -Cartwright, Bishop of Chester. The Duke of -Somerset, as First Lord of the Bedchamber, -was expected to introduce him; but he declined, -representing the penalties to which the act would -expose him. This refusal was the less expected, -because he had not objected to carry the sword of -State before his Majesty when the king had gone -to the royal Papal chapel. James was indignant. -"I thought," he said, "that I was doing you a -great honour by appointing you to escort the -minister of the first of all crowned heads." -Somerset, moved to a firmness of demeanour and -language unusual even in him, declared that he -dared not break the law. James replied, "I will -make you fear me as well as the law. Do you -not know that I am above the law?" "Your -Majesty," replied Somerset, with commingled -dignity and affected humility, "may be above the -law, but I am not; and I am only safe while I -obey the law." The king, not used to being -thwarted, much less to language of so plain a sort, -turned from him in a rage, and the next day -issued a decree depriving him of his posts in the -Household and of his command in the Guards.</p> - -<p>This most impolitic conduct James followed, -on the 1st of February, 1687, by a still more -absurd and ludicrous, but equally mischievous, -reception. It was that of Cocker, an English -Benedictine monk, who, being more deeply implicated -in treason than his friends cared to confess, -had narrowly escaped with his life in the -trials of the Popish plot. This man the Elector -of Cologne had appointed his Resident at the -English Court—probably at the suggestion of -James, and in defiance of public opinion; and -James now insisted that he should receive a -public introduction to Court, in the habit of his -order, and attended by six other monks in a like -costume. Thus James took a pleasure in violating -the laws and insulting public opinion at every -turn, to show that he was independent of both; -and he now prepared to commence in earnest the -destruction of the Church.</p> - -<p>Before advancing to this dangerous experiment, -however, he deemed it necessary to tighten the -discipline of the army, which had shown no little -disgust at his proceedings.</p> - -<p>Many of James's soldiers had deserted, and it -was found that they were under no oath or -obligation which rendered such desertion liable to -serious punishment. But James determined to -punish them, even condignly, in order to strike a -sufficient terror into the whole army. He consulted -the judges as to whether he did not possess -this power; they said that he did not. Instead of -accepting this answer, James dismissed Herbert, -the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, Sir John -Holt, another judge of the same bench and Recorder -of London, and put in their places Sir -Robert Wright, a creature of Jeffreys', a man of -ruined and base character, Richard Allibone, -and Sir Bartholomew Shower as Recorder. With -these infamous instruments he went to work; and, -instead of trying the offenders by court-martial, -he brought them before these men in the King's -Bench and in the Old Bailey, and hanged them in -sight of their regiments. By these outrages on -every law and principle of constitutional safety -James thought he had terrified the army into -obedience; and he now attacked the very existence -of the Universities, in order to give the -education of the country into the hands of Popery.</p> - -<p>James commenced his encroachments on the -Universities by ordering one Alban Francis, a -Benedictine monk, to be admitted a Master -of Arts of Cambridge. That many persons -not strictly admissible by the rules of the University -had received honorary degrees, including -foreigners of different forms of faith, and even a -Turk, was indisputable; but the object of these -favours was so clear that no mischief could arise -from the practice. But now the Universities -were but too well aware that James aimed at a -thorough usurpation of these schools by the -Catholics to lightly pass the matter by. The -heads of colleges sent hastily to Albemarle, their -Chancellor, begging him to explain to the king -that the person named could not be admitted -according to the statutes; at the same time they -conceded so far as to offer to admit Francis on -his taking the Oaths of Supremacy and Obedience.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span></p> - - -<p>He refused. James menaced the authorities, but -in vain, and he summoned them before the High -Commission Court. John Pechell, the Vice-Chancellor -of the University, attended by eight -fellows, including the illustrious Isaac Newton—afterwards -Sir Isaac—appeared, and were received -by Jeffreys with all his devilish bluster. Pechell -was soon terrified at this most brutal monster, -whose employment alone would have sufficiently -stamped the character of James; and, when any -of the other fellows attempted to speak, Jeffreys -roared out, "You are not Vice-Chancellor; when -you are, you may talk; till then, hold your -tongue." Finding, however, that, though he could -embarrass, he could not bend the Vice-Chancellor, -Jeffreys, by order of James, declared Pechell dismissed -from the office of Vice-Chancellor, and all -his emoluments suspended. This was a gross -violation of the rights of the University, and -Jeffreys added to the outrage a piece of his -usually blasphemous advice to the fellows—"Go -your way and sin no more, lest a worse thing -befall you."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_324.jpg" width="560" height="418" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JAMES DOING HOMAGE TO THE PAPAL NUNCIO. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_324big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The decease of the President of Magdalen -College, Oxford, enabled James to follow up his -plans without loss of time. Magdalen was one -of the very richest of the English foundations, and -consisted of a president, forty fellows, and thirty -scholars, called Demies. It was the law of the -foundation that the President could only be -elected from those who were or had been members -of that college, or of New College. The President -died in March, 1687, and the 13th of April was -fixed for the election of the new one. A Dr. -Smith, a learned Orientalist, and an enthusiastically -loyal man, applied for the royal consent, -but was informed that the king was determined to -give it only to one of his own religion; and, to -the astonishment and disgust of the college, one -Anthony Farmer was named as the royal nominee. -The choice seemed made to insult the University -in the highest degree possible, for not only was -Farmer a Popish convert, but a man of the most -drunken, debauched, and infamous character that -could have been picked from the vilest haunts of -unnamable wickedness. The astounded fellows -humbly but earnestly remonstrated, but in vain. -On the appointed day, despite the king's positive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span> -injunctions, and the presence of his agent, the -choice fell on a distinguished and highly virtuous -member of the college, John Hough.</p> - -<p>The irate king summoned the fellows before the -beastly Jeffreys and the High Commission, as he -had summoned the heads of the University of -Cambridge. There Jeffreys exhibited his wonted -display of insufferable Billingsgate; and when Dr. -Fairfax, one of the fellows, had the boldness to -call in question the legality of the High Commission, -he lost all patience. "Who is this man? -What commission has he to be impudent here? -Seize him; put him into a dark room. What -does he do without a keeper? He is under my -care as a lunatic. I wonder nobody has applied to -me for the custody of him." But, after all, the -character of Farmer was shown to be so vilely -reprobate, that he was dropped, and the college -ordered to receive Dr. Parker, Bishop of Oxford.</p> - -<p>Parker was not an openly acknowledged Papist, -but was understood to be really one; but he was -neither a fellow of Magdalen nor of New College, -and the fellows were firm enough to stand by their -own election of Dr. Hough. James determined -to go in person to Oxford and overawe these -obstinate men; and he was the more bent upon it, -having in the meantime suffered a similar defeat -in endeavouring to force a Catholic into the -hospital connected with the Charterhouse School. -The trustees refused, and were called before -Jeffreys. There he began browbeating the master, -Thomas Burnet, but was unexpectedly opposed by -the venerable Duke of Ormond. At this the -bully swagger of this most hideous and contemptible -judge that ever sat on a bench at once -gave way, for he had no real courage. He stole -from the court, and the scheme failed for the day. -But the High Commission having sentenced -Hough to be deposed from the presidentship of -Magdalen, and Fairfax from his fellowship, -again met, and summoned the trustees of the -Charterhouse. Here again they were awed by a -letter addressed to the king, signed by the -trustees, including the names of Ormond, Halifax, -Danby, and Nottingham, the chiefs of all the -great parties who secured to James his crown, and -still by their forbearance kept it on his head, so -that they were compelled to pause before proceeding -farther.</p> - -<p>On the 16th of August James set out on a progress, -with every display of royal state which -could impress on the minds of his subjects an idea -of his kingly position. He proceeded to Portsmouth, -Southampton, Bath; thence by Gloucester -and Worcester to Ludlow, Shrewsbury, and -Chester; whence he again turned south, and -reached Oxford on the 3rd of September. Everywhere -he had been attended by the High Sheriffs -of the counties with splendid retinues; and the -clergy in the towns had flocked around him in -great numbers, though he continued on his progress -to neglect their preaching for Mass. If outward -circumstances could be relied on, it might -have been supposed that the king had never been -more popular; and, with all the <em>prestige</em> of this -tour, he summoned the refractory fellows of Magdalen -before him, and rated them soundly on -their disobedience. They knelt and offered him a -petition, but he haughtily refused to look at it, -bidding them go that instant and elect the Bishop -of Oxford, or expect his high displeasure. But -the fellows could not be thus brought to submission, -and James quitted the town in high -dudgeon.</p> - -<p>On the 20th of October James sent down a -special commission, consisting of Cartwright, -Bishop of Chester, Wright, Chief Justice of the -King's Bench, and Jenner, a baron of the Exchequer, -attended by three troops of cavalry, with -drawn swords, to Oxford, to expel Hough and -instal Parker. Parker was installed, but the fellows -would not acknowledge him. James, therefore, -ejected them altogether. In a few weeks Parker -died, and then the king proceeded to put -the whole college into the hands of Papists, appointing -Gifford, one of the four vicars-apostolic, -president; for now, in the regular progress of his -system, James had admitted four vicars-apostolic -instead of one, which had been the case -before. It may be imagined what resentment -this arbitrary proceeding occasioned, not only in -the Universities themselves, but amongst the clergy -in every quarter of the kingdom, who now saw -that nothing would deter the king from uprooting -the deepest foundations of the Church.</p> - -<p>Still more daring and atrocious schemes were -agitated by James and his Popish cabal. Soon -after his accession it had been proposed to set -aside the claims of the Princess of Orange, and -make Anne heir-apparent, on condition that -she embraced Popery. Anne refused. It was -then proposed to make over Ireland to Louis of -France in case Mary of Orange could not be prevented -from succeeding to England; and Louis expressed -his assent to the proposal. Tyrconnel was to -make all necessary preparations for this traitorous -transfer. But at this moment a new light broke -on James, which quashed these unnatural and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span> -unnational projects: the queen was declared pregnant. -The news of this prospect was received by -the public with equal incredulity and suspicion. -The queen had had several children, who had died -in their infancy; and there was nothing improbable -in the expectation of another child, although -five years had elapsed since her last confinement. -The prospect of an heir, however, true or false, -drove James on further and more desperate -projects. Should a son be born, and live, -which none of the queen's children had done -hitherto, the Popish heir would be exposed to -the danger of a long minority. James might die -before the son had been firmly rooted in the -Catholic faith, and the Protestant bishops and -nobles would surround him with Protestant instructors, -and most likely ruin all James's plans -of perpetuating Popery. To obviate this, he determined -to have an Act of Parliament, settling -the form of the child's guardianship and education, -and vesting all the necessary powers in Catholic -hands. Any prudent man would at least have -waited to see the birth and probable life of the -child before rushing on so desperate a scheme; for, -to have an Act, he must call a Parliament; and -to call a Parliament in the present feeling of -the nation was to bring together one of the most -determinedly Protestant assemblies of men that -had ever been seen. But James was of that mole-eyed, -bigot character which rushed headlong on the -most perilous issues. He determined to pack a -Parliament by means which none but a madman -would have attempted. Whether from county or -borough, he could expect nothing but a most obstinate -and universal demonstration in favour of -the Church and Constitution. His brother Charles, -for his own purposes, had deprived the towns of -their charters, because they were Whig and often -Nonconformist, and had given them others, which -put them into the hands of the Tories and Churchmen, -and these were the very men who now would -resist James's plans to the death. The country -was equally Church and Tory, but all this did not -daunt James. He determined to remodel the corporations, -and to change every magistrate in the -counties that was not ready to carry out his -views. He appointed a Board of Regulators at -Whitehall to examine into the state of the corporations -and introduce new rules and new men as -they thought fit. These regulators were seven in -number, and all Catholics and Jesuits, except the -king's incarnate devil, Jeffreys. These men appointed -deputations of chosen tools to visit the -different corporations, and report to them; and -James issued a proclamation announcing his intention -to revise the commissions of the peace, and -of the lieutenancy of counties. In fact, James -proceeded like a man who was satisfied that he -could do just as he pleased with the Constitution -of a country which, through all ages, had shown -itself more jealous of its Constitution than any -other in the world.</p> - -<p>He sent for the lords-lieutenants, and delivered -to them a paper of instructions, with which they -were each to proceed to their several counties. -They were to summon all the magistrates, and -tell them what his Majesty expected from them on -the ensuing election of Parliament, and to send -him up their individual answers, along with the -list of all the Catholic and Dissenting gentlemen -who might take the place of those who should -dare to object to the king's plans on the bench or -in the militia. The proposal was so audacious, -that the greater proportion of the lords-lieutenants -peremptorily refused to undertake any such commission; -these included the noblest names in the -peerage, and they were at once dismissed. The -sweeping measure of turning out the Duke of -Somerset, the Viscounts Newport and Falconberg, -the Earls of Derby, Dorset, Shrewsbury, -Oxford, Pembroke, Rutland, Bridgewater, Thanet, -Abingdon, Northampton, Scarsdale, Gainsborough, -and many others, showed how far James was gone -in his madness. As the king could not get any -noblemen to take the places of the dismissed, he -filled them up as he could, and even made his -butcher, Jeffreys, lord-lieutenant of two counties. -But all was in vain; he soon received answers -from every quarter that the whole nation, town -and country, absolutely refused to obey the king's -injunctions. Even those who had gone most zealously -to work were obliged to return with most -disconsolate reports, and to assure the king that, if -he turned out every magistrate and militia officer, -the next would still vote against Popery. Catholics -and Nonconformists, though glad of indulgence, -would not consent to attempt measures -which could only end in defeat and confusion. -The Nonconformists would not move a finger to -endanger Protestantism. It was the same in the -corporations. Some of these James could deprive -of their charters, for the new ones frequently contained -a power of revocation; but when he had -done this he found himself no forwarder, for the -new ministers upon the points that he had at -heart were as sturdy as the old. Other towns -from which he demanded the surrender of their -charters refused. Wherever James could eject<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span> -the Church members of corporations he did so, -from London to the remotest borough, and put in -Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists. It was -perfectly useless; they were as Protestant as the -Church. Even where he obtained a few truckling -officials, they found it impossible to make the -people vote as they wished; and in the counties -the Catholic or Dissenting sheriffs were equally indisposed -to press the Government views, or unable -to obtain them if they did. He changed the -borough magistrates in some cases two or three -times, but in vain. Some of the people in the -towns did not content themselves with mere passive -resistance; they loudly declared their indignation, -and the tyrant marched soldiers in upon them; -but only to hear them exclaim that James was -imitating his dear brother of France, and dragonading -the Protestants.</p> - -<p>Whilst these things were going on all over the -country, James was putting on the same insane -pressure in every public department of Government. -The heads of departments were called on -to pledge themselves to support the wishes of the -king, and to demand from their subordinates the -same obedience. The refractory were dismissed, -even to the highest law officers of the Crown; and -James demanded from the judges a declaration -that even the Petition of Right could not bar the -exercise of his prerogative; but the bench consulted -in secret, and the result was never known. -He even contemplated granting no licences to -inns, beer-houses, or coffee-houses, without an engagement -to support the king, in spite of Church -or magistrate; but another of his measures now -brought things to a crisis.</p> - -<p>James determined to make his intentions known -for fully restoring Popery by a new Declaration of -Indulgence, in which he reminded his subjects of -his determined character, and of the numbers of -public servants that he had already dismissed for -opposing his will. This Declaration he published -on the 27th of April, 1688, and he ordered the -clergy to read it from all pulpits in London on the -20th and 27th of May, and in the country on the -3rd and 10th of June. This was calling on the -bishops and clergy to practise their doctrine of -Non-resistance to some purpose; it was tantamount -to demanding from them to co-operate in the overthrow -of their own Church. They were, as may -be supposed, in an awful dilemma; and now was -the time for the Dissenters—whom they had so -sharply persecuted and so soundly lectured on the -duty of entire submission—to enjoy their embarrassment. -But the Dissenters were too generous, -and had too much in common at stake. They -met and sent deputations to the clergy, and exhorted -them to stand manfully for their faith, declaring -that they would stand firmly by them. A -meeting of the metropolitan clergy was called, at -which were present Tillotson, Sherlock, Stillingfleet—great -names—and others high in the -Church. They determined not to read the Declaration -on the 20th, and sent round a copy of this -resolution through the City, where eighty-five incumbents -immediately signed it.</p> - -<p>The bishops meanwhile met at Lambeth, and discussed -the same question. Cartwright of Chester, -one of the king's most servile tools, and a -member of the High Commission, took care to be -there, to inform the king of what passed; but -during his stay nothing but a disposition to compliance -appeared to prevail, and he hurried away -to Whitehall with the news. No sooner, however, -was he gone than letters were secretly despatched, -summoning the bishops of the province of Canterbury; -and another meeting took place on the 18th, -or two days prior to the Sunday fixed for the -further reading of the Declaration. The bishops -concluded not to read it, and six of them waited -on the king with the written resolution. James -was confounded, having assured himself that they -meant to comply. He used the most menacing -language, and declared that they had set up the -standard of rebellion; and ordered them from his -presence to go at once and see that he was -obeyed. To prevent the publication of the resolution, -he detained it; but that very evening it -was printed and hawked through the streets, where -it was received with acclamations by the people. -Any but a mad bigot, seeing the feelings of the -public, would have instantly revoked the declaration; -but James was not that man. Sunday -arrived, and out of all the hundred churches, the -Declaration was only read in four, and with the -effect of instantly clearing them, amid murmurs of -indignation. Still it was not too late to recall the -Order in Council; and even James himself, with -all his folly and infatuation, was now staggered. -It was strongly recommended in the Council to -abandon the Declaration; but James listened to -his evil genius, the brutal Jeffreys, and determined -to bring the seven signing bishops to trial before -the Court of King's Bench, on a charge of seditious -libel. The fatal counsel was adopted, and -they were summoned to appear before the Privy -Council on the 8th of June.</p> - -<p>In the interval the bishops and clergy in all -parts of England, with few exceptions, showed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span> -the same resolute spirit. The Bishops of Gloucester, -Norwich, Salisbury, Winchester, Exeter, -and London, signed copies of the same petition. -The Bishop of Carlisle regretted that, not belonging -to the province of Canterbury, he could not -do the same. The Bishop of Worcester refused -to distribute the Declaration amongst his clergy; -and the same spirit showed itself amongst the -parochial clergy, who almost to a man refused to -read it.</p> - -<p>On the evening of the day appointed, the seven -prelates—namely, Sancroft, the Archbishop of -Canterbury, Lloyd of St. Asaph, Ken of Bath -and Wells, Turner of Ely, Lake of Chichester, -White of Peterborough, and Trelawney of Bristol—attended -the Privy Council. Jeffreys took up the -petition, and, showing it to Sancroft, asked him -if that was not the paper which he had written, -and the six bishops present had signed. Sancroft -and his colleagues had been instructed by the -ablest lawyers in England as to the course they -should pursue, and the dangers to be avoided. -The Primate, therefore, instead of acknowledging -the paper, turned to the king and said—"Sir, I -am called hither as a criminal, which I never was -before; and, since I have that unhappiness, I -trust your Majesty will not be offended if I decline -answering questions which may tend to criminate -me." "This is mere chicanery," said James. "I -hope you will not disown your own handwriting." -Lloyd of St. Asaph said that it was agreed by all -divines that no man in their situation was obliged -to answer any such question; but, as James still -pressed for an answer, Sancroft observed that, -though he were not bound to accuse himself, yet, -if the king commanded it, he would answer, -taking it for granted that his Majesty would not -take advantage to bring his admission there in -evidence against him. James said he would not -command him; but Jeffreys told them to withdraw -for awhile, and when they were called back, -James commanded the Primate, and he acknowledged -the writing. They were then again sent -out, and, on coming back, were told by Jeffreys -that they would be proceeded against, not before -the High Commission, but, "with all fairness," -before the King's Bench.</p> - -<p>They were then called upon to enter into recognisances, -but they refused, on the plea that they -were peers of Parliament, and that no peer of -Parliament could be required to enter into recognisances -in case of libel. This greatly disconcerted -James, for it compelled him to send them -to prison, and he justly feared the effect of it on -the public. But there was no alternative; a -warrant was signed for their commitment to the -Tower, and they were sent thither in a barge.</p> - -<p>The scene which immediately took place showed -that James had at length a glimmering of the -danger which he had raised. The whole river -was crowded with wherries full of people, who -crowded round the bishops to entreat their blessings, -many rushing breast-high into the water to -come near enough. James, in terror, ordered the -garrison and guards of the Tower to be doubled; -but the same spirit animated the soldiers, who -knelt at the approach of the prelates, and also -solicited their blessing. Presently the soldiers -were found carousing to the health of their -prisoners; and when Sir Edward Hales, who had -been made Lieutenant of the Tower for his going -over to Popery, desired the officers to put a stop -to it, they returned and told him that it was impossible, -for the soldiers would drink nobody's -health but the bishops'. Every day the gates of -the Tower were besieged by the equipages of the -chief nobility. The very Nonconformists came in -bodies to condole with their old persecutors; and -Tower Hill was one constant throng of people -manifesting their sympathy.</p> - -<p>Two days only after the bishops were sent to -the Tower—namely, the 10th of June—was announced -what, under other circumstances, would -have been a most auspicious event for James—the -birth of an heir. But the nation was so full of -suspicion, both of the monarch and the Jesuits -that he had around him, that it would not credit -the news that the healthy boy which was born -was the actual child of James and his queen. It -was certainly of the highest moment that James -should have taken every precaution to have the -birth verified beyond dispute; but in this respect -he had been as singularly maladroit as in all his -other affairs. As the Protestants were, of course, -highly suspicious, he should have had the usual -number of Protestant witnesses ready. But the -queen, who sat playing cards at Whitehall till -near midnight, was suddenly taken ill a month -before the calculated time, and there was neither -the Princess Anne present—she was away at -Bath,—nor the Archbishop of Canterbury, nor the -Dutch ambassador—whom it was so necessary to -satisfy on behalf of the Prince and Princess of -Orange,—nor any of the Hyde family, not even -the Earl of Clarendon, the uncle of Mary and -Anne. On the contrary, there were plenty of -Jesuits, and the renegades Dover, Peterborough, -Murray, Sunderland—who directly afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span> -avowed himself a Catholic—Mulgrave, and others. -The consequence was that the whole people declared -the child spurious; that it had been introduced -into the bed in a warming-pan; and when -the public announcement was made, and a day of -solemn thanksgiving was appointed, there was no -rejoicing. Fireworks were let off by order of -Government; but the night was black and tempestuous, -and flashes of lurid lightning paled the -artificial fires, and made the people only the more -firm in the belief that heaven testified against the -imposture. And yet there was no imposture. -There were some Protestants present—sufficient -to prevent any collusion, and particularly Dr. -Chamberlain, the eminent accoucheur; but James, -by his folly and tyranny, had deprived himself of -the public confidence, and fixed on his innocent -offspring a brand of disavowment, which clung to -him and his fortunes, and has only been removed -by the cooler judgment of recent times. William -of Orange sent over Zulestein to congratulate -James on the birth of an heir; but that minister -brought back the account that not one person in -ten believed the child to be the queen's.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_329.jpg" width="409" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE SEVEN BISHOPS ENTERING THE TOWER. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_328">328</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_329big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On Friday, the 15th of June, the first day of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span> -term, the bishops were brought from the Tower to -the King's Bench, and, pleading not guilty, they -were admitted to bail till the 29th of June. -During this fortnight the public excitement continued -to augment, and from every quarter of the -kingdom—even from the Presbyterians of Scotland, -who had shown themselves such determined -opponents of prelacy, and had been such sufferers -from it—came messages of sympathy and encouragement -to the bishops. On that day immense -crowds assembled to receive their blessings, and to -utter others on their way to Westminster Hall; -and this homage was the warmer because the prelates -had resisted the demand of Sir Edward -Hales, the Lieutenant of the Tower, for his fees, -this renegade having shown them little courtesy, -and now plainly letting them know that, if they -came again into his hands, they should lie on the -bare stones.</p> - -<p>Every means had been taken to pack a jury. -Sir Samuel Astrey, the Clerk of the Crown, had -been summoned to the palace, and been instructed -by James and his great legal adviser, Jeffreys. -The judges, too, were of the most base and complying -character. They were such as had been -raised from the very lowest ranks of the bar for -their servile fitness, and because the more eminent -lawyers would not stoop to such ignominy. They -were Wright; Allibone, a Papist; Holloway and -Powell; the Attorney-General, Sir Thomas Powis, -an inferior lawyer; the Solicitor-General, Sir -William Williams, a man of ability and vigour, -but rash, imperious, and unpopular. Ranged -against these were the most brilliant lawyers of -the time—Sawyer and Finch, formerly Attorney- and -Solicitor-General; Pemberton, formerly Chief -Justice; Maynard; Sir George Treby, who had -been Recorder of London, and others. Somers, -afterwards Lord Chancellor in William's reign, -was the bishops' junior counsel. The foreman of -the jury was Sir Roger Langley. On the side -of the prosecution, the judges, and even the -blustering Jeffreys, betrayed a sense of terror.</p> - -<p>The trial commenced at nine in the morning, -and not till seven in the evening did the jury -retire to consider their verdict. The lawyers for -the prisoners raised great difficulties as to proving -the handwriting of the libel, and next in proving -its being published in Westminster. The Crown -lawyers were obliged to bring into court Blathwayt, -a clerk of the Privy Council, for this object; and -then the counsel for the prisoners stopped him, and -compelled him to state what had passed there between -the bishops and the king—much to the -chagrin of the Government party. Before the -publication could be proved, even Sunderland was -obliged to be brought into court in a sedan. He -was pale, trembled violently from fright and -shame of his late apostacy, and gave his evidence -with his eyes fixed on the ground. But even then, -when the judges came to consider the bishops' -petition, they were divided in opinion. Wright -and Allibone declared it a libel, and contended for -the royal right of the dispensing power; but Holloway -conceded that the petition appeared to him -perfectly allowable from subjects to their sovereign; -and Powell set himself right with the -public and wrong with the Court—a significant -sign—by boldly declaring both the Dispensing -Power and the Declaration of Indulgence contrary -to law.</p> - -<p>With such sentiments developing themselves on -the bench, there could be little doubt what the -verdict would be; yet the jury sat all night, from -seven o'clock till six the next morning, before -they were fully agreed, there being, however, only -three dissentients at first. When the court met at -ten o'clock, the crowd, both within and without, -was crushing and immense; and when the foreman -pronounced the words "Not guilty," Halifax -was the first to start up and wave his hat; and -such a shout was sent up as was heard as far -as Temple Bar. The news flew far and wide; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span> -shouting and rejoicing broke out in every quarter -of the town. The whole population, nobility, -clergy, people, all seemed gone mad. There were -more than sixty lords who had stood out the trial, -and now threw money amongst the throngs as they -drove away. The people formed a line down to -the water's edge, and knelt as the bishops passed -through, asking their blessing. The Attorney-General, -Williams, was pursued in his coach with -curses and groans; and Cartwright, the Bishop of -Chester, and James's tool of the High Commission, -being descried, was hooted at as "That wolf in -sheep's clothing!" and, as he was a very fat man, -one cried, "Room for the man with the Pope in -his belly!"</p> - -<p>The whole town was in an intoxication of delight. -Bonfires were lit, guns fired, bells rung all -night, and the Pope in effigy was burnt in several -places—one before the door of Whitehall itself; -another was kindled before the door of the Earl of -Salisbury, who had lately gone over to Popery; -and his servants, in their ill-timed zeal, rushing -out to extinguish it, were attacked, and, firing on -the people, killed the parish beadle, who was come -to attempt what they themselves were attempting—to -put out the fire. That morning James had -gone to review his troops on Hounslow Heath. -He received the news of the acquittal by a special -messenger while in Lord Feversham's tent. He -was greatly enraged, and set out at once for -London. Before, however, he was clear of the -camp the news had flown amongst the soldiers, -and a tremendous cheering startled him. "What -noise is that?" demanded James. "Oh!" said -the general, "it is nothing but the soldiers -shouting because the bishops are acquitted." -"And call you that nothing?" asked James; -and added angrily, "but so much the worse for -them."</p> - -<p>The very day which pronounced the acquittal of -the bishops saw signed and despatched an invitation -from the leading Whigs to William of Orange to -come over and drive the tyrant from the throne. -The Whigs had long been contemplating and preparing -for this end; they now saw that the crisis -was come. The brutal and besotted king had effectually -alienated all hearts from him. From him -nothing but destruction of every liberty and sentiment -that Englishmen held dear was to be expected; -and in the heir which was now, as was -generally believed, foisted on the nation by the -king and the Jesuits, there was only the pledge -of the reign of Popery and proscription, and of -the extermination of all those high hopes and -privileges which were entwined with Protestant -freedom. The Whig leaders had sent repeatedly to -William to stimulate him to the enterprise; but, -apart from his habitual caution and the salutary -fear that Monmouth's reception had inspired, -the Prince of Orange had many difficulties to contend -with from the peculiar constitution of the -Dutch Republic, and the peculiar views and interests -of his allies. Though at the head of the -Dutch confederation, he had always experienced -much opposition from individual states and cities, -especially Amsterdam, which his great enemy, -Louis of France, managed to influence. This invitation -called him to expel from his throne a -Catholic king, and replace his Government by a -Protestant one, though the Pope and Spain, the -most Catholic of countries, were his close allies, -and must not be offended. He had, therefore, -stipulated that he should receive such an invitation -under the hands and seals of the Whig leaders as -should leave little doubt of his reception, and that -he should be regarded as the saviour from an intolerable -ruler, and not forced to attempt a conquest -which must in its very success bring ruin by -wounding the national pride of England.</p> - -<p>He now received a paper, signed by the Earls of -Shrewsbury, Devonshire, and Danby, Lord Lumley, -Bishop Compton, Edward Russell, the Admiral of -England, and Henry Sidney, the brother of the -late Algernon Sidney, and afterwards Earl of -Romney. This paper, which had been furnished -at William's request, was but the result of negotiations -between himself and the Whig leaders -for some time. He now called into council with -the English envoy his confidential friends, Bentinck -and Dykvelt, and it was resolved that -the time for action was come, and that the invitation -should be accepted. In the meantime, whilst -William began in earnest, but as secretly as circumstances -would allow, his preparations, James -at home did everything which a foolish and obstinate -ruler could do to complete the alienation of -the affections of his subjects. He returned from -his camp to his capital only to find it in transports -of delight over his own defeat, and resounding -with the explosions of guns and crackers, -with drinkings of the health of the bishops in the -streets, and with the effigy of the Pope blazing -before his own gate. So far from making him -pause at the contemplation of the avowed and -universal spirit of his people, he was only the more -exasperated, and continued muttering, "So much -the worse for them." He determined to take summary -vengeance on the clergy, on the lawyers who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span> -had opposed or deserted him, on the army, and on -the people. He at once promoted Mr. Solicitor-General -Williams, for his unscrupulous conduct -on the trial of the bishops, to a baronetcy, and -would have placed so convenient a man on the -bench could he have spared him at the bar. He -dismissed Powell and Holloway; he determined to -visit with his vengeance all the clergy throughout -the kingdom who had refused to read the Declaration; -and an order was issued to all the chancellors -of the dioceses and the archdeacons to make a -return of them. No matter that they approached -ten thousand in number; if necessary, he would -drive them all from their benefices. The judges -on the circuits were ordered to denounce these refractory -clergy, and to speak in the most derogatory -terms of the bishops. He broke up his camp, -the soldiers of which had been intended to overawe -the capital, and stand by whilst he destroyed -the national Constitution and the national religion; -but had now terrified and disgusted him by -drinking the healths of the liberated bishops.</p> - -<p>But all his angry attempts only recoiled on himself, -and showed more clearly than ever that the -reins of power were irrecoverably slipping from his -fingers. The spell of royalty—a people's respect—was -utterly broken. The chancellors and archdeacons -paid no attention to the order for reporting -their independent brethren; the High -Commission met, and, so far from finding any returns, -received a letter from one of the most -truckling of their own body, Sprat, Bishop of -Rochester, resigning his place in the High Commission. -If such a man saw the handwriting on -the wall, the warning, they felt, must be imminent, -and they departed in confusion. The judges, on -their part, found themselves deserted on their circuits; -nobody but the sheriff and his javelin men -came to meet them, and then went through their -duties amid every sign of indifference to their -dignity. They were treated, not as the high-minded -judges of England, but as the base and -venal tools of a most lawless and mischievous -monarch. The soldiers were as bold in their separate -quarters as they had been in camp. James -thought he could deal with them separately, and -tried the experiment by ordering a regiment of -infantry, which had been raised in the Catholic -district of Staffordshire, to sign an engagement to -support him in dispersing all the rest, or to quit -the army. Almost to a man they piled their arms, -and the confounded king was obliged to withdraw -the order. But James had a remedy even for the -defection of the army. In Ireland the brutal and -debauched Tyrconnel had been busily engaged in -drilling Irish Celts, and preparing an army so -strongly Catholic that he might by this means -carry out the royal design of repealing the Act of -Settlement, and driving the Protestant colonists -from their lands. These troops James sent for, -regiment after regiment, and the people of -England saw, with equal indignation and alarm, -that their liberties, their religion, their laws, were -to be trodden down, and the kingdom reduced to -a miserable abode of slaves by the wild tribes of -the sister island, vengeful with centuries of unrequited -oppressions. This put the climax to the -national resentment, and still more pressing messages -were sent over to William to hasten his -approach, and leaders of party in large numbers -contemplated a speedy transit to his standard. It -was at this juncture that the wild genius of -Wharton gave vent to the pent-up feelings of -Protestant wrath, by the adaptation of the old -Irish tune of "Lillibullero" to English words.</p> - -<p>William, meanwhile, was making strenuous preparations -for his enterprise. He formed a camp at -Nimeguen, collecting troops and artillery from the -different fortresses. Twenty-four additional ships -of war were fitted out for service, and arms and -accoutrements were in busy preparation in every -manufactory in Holland. He had saved up -unusual funds for him, and had money also -pouring in from England and from the refugee -Huguenots, who hoped much from his enterprise -in favour of Protestantism. It was impossible -that all this preparation could escape the attention -of other nations, and especially of the quick-sighted -Louis XIV. of France. But William had a ready -answer—that he wanted an extra squadron to go -in pursuit of a number of Algerine corsairs which -had made their appearance off the Dutch coasts. -The military preparations were not so easily explained; -but though Louis was satisfied that they -were intended against England, James, blind to -his danger, as strongly suspected that they were -meant to operate against France. The only -enemies which William had to really dread were -Louis and the Council of Amsterdam, which Louis -had so long influenced to hostility to William, and -without whose consent no expedition could be permitted. -But the ambition and the persecuting -bigotry of Louis removed this only difficulty out -of William's way in a manner which looked -like the actual work of Providence. The two -points on which Amsterdam was pre-eminently -sensitive were trade and Protestantism. Louis contrived -to incense them on both these heads. His<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span> -unrelenting persecution of the Huguenots, including -also Dutch Protestants who had settled in -France, raised an intense feeling in Amsterdam, -stimulated by the outcries and representations of -their relatives there. To all appeals for tolerance -and mercy Louis was utterly deaf; and whilst -this feeling was at its height, he imposed a -heavy duty on the importation of herrings from -Holland into France. Sixty thousand persons in -Holland depended on this trade, and the effect -was, therefore, disastrous. In vain did the French -envoy, Avaux, represent these things; Louis continued -haughty and inexorable.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_333.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>VIEW IN THE HAGUE: THE HALL OF THE KNIGHTS IN THE BINNENHOF.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_333big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>These circumstances, in which the pride and -bigotry of Louis got the better of his worldly -policy, completed the triumph of William of -Orange. He seized on them to effect a removal of -the long-continued jealousies of the Council of -Amsterdam against him. He entered into negotiations -with the leading members of the Council -through his trusty friends Bentinck and Dykvelt, -and as they were in the worst of humours with -Louis, the old animosities against William were -suffered to sleep, and he obtained the sanction of -the States-General to his proposed expedition for -the release of England from the French and -Catholic influences, and its reception into the confederation -of Protestant nations. Another circumstance -just at this crisis occurred to strengthen all -these feelings in Holland and Germany, and to -account for any amount of troops collected at -Nimeguen. The aggressions of Louis had roused -and combined all Europe against him. Powers -both Catholic and Protestant had felt themselves -compelled to unite in order to repress his attempts -at universal dominion. The King of Spain, the -Emperor of Germany, the King of Sweden had -entered into the League of Augsburg to defend the -empire; and to these were added various Italian -princes, with the Pope Innocent XI. himself at -their head. Louis had not hesitated to insult -the Pope on various occasions, and now he saw -the pontiff in close coalition with heretic princes -to repel his schemes.</p> - -<p>In May of this year died Ferdinand of Bavaria, -the Elector of Cologne. Besides Cologne, the -elector possessed the bishoprics of Liége, Münster, -and Hildesheim. In 1672 Louis had endeavoured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span> -to secure a successor to the Elector in the French -interest. He therefore proposed as his coadjutor -the Cardinal Furstemberg, Bishop of Strasburg; -and he would have succeeded, but it was necessary, -in order to his choice, that Furstemberg -should first resign his bishopric; to this the Pope, -in his hostility to Louis, would not consent; he -refused his dispensation. But now, the Elector -having died, the contest was renewed. Louis -again proposed the cardinal; the allies of the -League of Augsburg nominated the Prince -Clement of Bavaria, who was elected and confirmed -by the Pope, though a youth of only seventeen -years of age. The allies were equally successful -in the bishoprics of Liége, Münster, and -Hildesheim; but the principal fortresses, Bonn, -Neutz, Kaiserswerth, and Rheinberg, were held -by the troops of Furstemberg, and therefore were -at the service of France. Louis was, however, -exasperated at the partial defeat of his plans, and -complained loudly of the partiality of the Pope, -and began to march troops to the support of Furstemberg.</p> - -<p>But whilst Louis was actually planning a -sweeping descent on the German Empire, in -which William of Orange lay pre-eminently in his -way, he was at the same time in danger of a more -momentous occurrence—that of William leaving -the way open by sailing for England. If William -should succeed in placing himself on the throne of -England, he would be able to raise a far more formidable -opposition to his plans of aggrandisement -than he had ever yet done. Even with his small -resources he had proved a terrible enemy, and had -arrayed all Europe against him; what would he -do if he could bring all the powers of England by -land and sea to co-operate with Holland, Spain, -Austria, Sweden, and the Netherlands? The -stupidity of James and the offended pride of Louis -saved William in this dilemma, and led Louis to -commit on this occasion the cardinal blunder of -his reign.</p> - -<p>It was impossible that Louis could be ignorant -of what William was doing. The preparations of -ships and troops were indications of a contemplated -attack somewhere. It might be directed -to resist the French on the side of Germany; but -other facts equally noticeable demonstrated that -the object was England. Avaux, the French -envoy at the Hague, in the absence of Abbeville, -who was on a visit to England, noticed, in the -months of April and May, a swift sailing boat, -which made rapid and frequent passages between -England and Rotterdam; and he noticed that, -after every arrival from England, there were -closetings of William and the English Whig -leaders at the Hague, especially Russell. After -the birth of the heir-apparent of England, William -despatched Zulestein to London with his professedly -warm, though they could not be very -sincere, congratulations on the event; but soon -after, on the escape to the Hague of Rear-Admiral -Herbert, who was supposed to carry the invitation -of the leading Whigs to William, the prince -omitted the child's name in the prayers for the -royal family of England, and openly expressed his -doubts of his being the real child of the queen.</p> - -<p>These circumstances, the continued activity of -the military preparations, the constant sailings of -this mysterious boat, and the subsequent closetings, -with the continual growth of the number of -distinguished English refugees at the Hague, -satisfied the French envoy that a descent on -England was certain and nigh at hand. Avaux -not only warned Louis of the imminent danger, -but he warned James by every successive mail -from the Hague, through Barillon. Louis took -the alarm. He despatched Bonrepaux to London -to arouse James to a due sense of his peril, and -offered to join his fleet with an English one to -prevent the passage of the Dutch armament. He -held a powerful body of troops ready to march to -the frontiers of Holland, and ordered Avaux to -announce to the States-General that his master -was fully cognisant of the warlike preparations of -the Stadtholder; that he was quite aware of their -destination, and that, as the King of England -was his ally, he should consider the first act of -hostility against James as a declaration of war -against himself. He at the same time declared -the Cardinal Furstemberg and the Chapter of -Cologne under his protection. Simultaneously -the same message was delivered to the Spanish -Governor of Flanders, and Marshal d'Humières -was despatched to take the command of the -French army in that quarter.</p> - -<p>This plain declaration fell like a thunderbolt -into the midst of the States-General. There was -the utmost evident confusion. A poor and embarrassed -excuse was made, and a courtier sent -post haste to fetch William from Minden, where -he was in secret negotiation with the Elector of -Brandenburg. If James took the alarm, and -Louis, as was his intent, went heartily into the -coalition to defeat the enterprise, it must become -a most hazardous undertaking, even if it were at -all feasible. But the folly of that most wrong-headed -of the Stuarts again saved the Prince of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span> -Orange, and removed the last difficulty out of the -way of his enterprise. James would not believe a -word of the warning. He would not believe that -his own daughter would sanction an attempt at -his dethronement. He would not believe that -William's armament had any other object than -the King of France himself. He highly resented -the declaration of Louis that there was an alliance -between them, as calculated to alarm his own subjects, -especially his Protestant ones. He received -Bonrepaux with cold hauteur in return for his -offers of assistance; and Van Citters, the Dutch -ambassador, with proportionate cordiality, who -hastened on the part of the States to assure him -that the French communications were sheer inventions. -He gave orders that all the foreign -ministers should be informed that there was no -such league between France and England as Louis -had pretended for his own purposes.</p> - -<p>In fact, James was living all this time in the -midst of a set of traitors, who, even to his most -confidential minister, Sunderland, had secretly -gone over to William, and were putting him in -possession of every daily thought, word, and -intention of their master. Besides the seven that -had signed, and of whom Admiral Russell was -already with William, the Earl of Shrewsbury -had fled to him, having mortgaged his estates and -taken forty thousand pounds with him, and offered -it to the prince. The two sons of the Marquis -of Winchester, Lord Wiltshire, and a younger -brother; Halifax's son, Lord Eland; Danby's son, -Lord Dumblaine; Lord Lorne, the son of the unfortunate -Earl of Argyll; Lord Mordaunt, Gerard, -Earl of Macclesfield, and Admiral Herbert were -already with him. Herbert had been appointed -Admiral to the Dutch fleet, with a pension of six -thousand pounds a year. Wildman, Carstairs, -Ferguson, Hume, who had escaped from the -Argyll and Monmouth expeditions, went there; -and, whilst the sons of Halifax and Danby were -with William, they themselves, though remaining -in England with Devonshire, Lumley, and others, -were sworn to rise in his favour the moment he -landed. But the worst of the unsuspected traitors -at his own Court were the Lords Churchill and -Sunderland. James had made Churchill almost -everything that he was; on Sunderland he had -heaped benefits without stint or measure. He had -scraped money together by all possible means; -and James did not merely connive at it, he -favoured it. This meanest of creeping things was -in the pay of France to the amount of six thousand -pounds per annum; he had a pension from -Ireland of five thousand pounds more; as President -of the Council he occupied the post of -Prime Minister, and derived immense emoluments -from fines, forfeitures, pardons, and the like. -Rather than lose his place, he had openly professed -Catholicism; but scarcely had he thus sold -his soul for his beloved pelf and power, when he -saw as plainly as any one else that the ground -was sliding from under the feet of his foolish -master, and was overwhelmed with consternation. -He hastened again to sell himself to William, on -condition that his honours and property should -be secure; and thus had James his very -Prime Minister, his most confidential and trusted -servant, at every turn drawing out all his plans -and thoughts, and sending them to his intended -invader. Sunderland's wife was the mistress of -Sidney, who was at the Hague; and, through her, -this most contemptible of men sent constantly his -traitorous communications to her paramour, and -so to William.</p> - -<p>With such snakes in the grass about him, -James was completely blinded to his danger. -Churchill and Sunderland persuaded him that -there was no danger from Holland, and inflamed -his resentment at what they called the presumption -of Louis. They were completely successful; -and Sunderland, after the establishment -of William in England, made a boast of this -detestable conduct. Louis was so much disgusted -by the haughty rejection of his warning, that he -himself committed a gross political error. Instead -of preventing the descent on England, and the -aggrandisement of his great opponent William—by -far the most important measure for him—by -directly attacking the frontiers of Holland, and -keeping William engaged, in his vexation he -abandoned the besotted James, and made an -attack on the German Empire. Dividing his -army, one portion of it, under the Marquis of -Boufflers, seized Worms, Mainz, and Treves; a -second, under Humières, made itself master of -Bonn; and a third, under the Duke of Duras and -Marshal Vauban, took Philippsburg by storm. -The greater part of the Rhine was at once in -Louis's hands, and great was the triumph in Paris. -But not the less was the exultation of William of -Orange; for now, the French army removed, and -the mind of Louis incensed against James, the -way was wide open for him to England.</p> - -<p>No time was now lost in preparing to depart. -A Memorial, professing to be addressed by the -Protestants of England to the States, but supposed -to have been drawn up by Burnet, was published,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span> -accompanied by two declarations in the name -of William to the people of England and -Scotland. These latter were the work of the -Grand Pensionary Fagel, but condensed and -adapted more to the English taste by Burnet. In -the Memorial the people of England were made to -complain of the wholesale violation of the Constitution -and the liberties of his subjects by James, -and of the attempt to fix a false and Popish heir -on the nation. They called on William to come -over and vindicate the rights of his wife, and at -the same time to rescue the country of her birth -and her rightful claims from Popery and arbitrary -power.</p> - -<p>The Declaration to England and Scotland in -reply was drawn with consummate art. William -admitted that he had seen with deep concern the -fundamental and continual violations of the laws -of the kingdom. The contempt of Acts of Parliament; -the expulsion of just judges from the -bench to make room for the servile instruments of -oppression; the introduction of prohibited persons -into both the State and Church, to the jeopardy -of freedom and true religion; the arbitrary -treatment of persons of dignity by the illegal -High Commission Court; the forcible introduction -of Papists into the colleges; the removal of lords-lieutenants, -and the destruction of corporations -which stood firmly for the rights and religion of -the nation; the attempt to impose a spurious and -Popish issue on the throne, and the equally -atrocious attempt to tread down English liberties -by an army of Irish Papists: for these reasons -William declared himself ready to comply with -the prayers of the English people, and to come -over with a sufficient force for his own protection, -but with no intention or desire of conquest, but -simply to restore freedom by an independent Parliament, -to inquire into the circumstances attending -the birth of the pretended prince, and to leave -everything else to the decision of Parliament and -the nation. He declared that he should endeavour -to re-establish the Church of England -and the Church of Scotland, and at the same -time to protect the just rights of other professors -of religion willing to live as good subjects in -obedience to the laws.</p> - -<p>When copies of these papers were sent to -James by his ambassador, Abbeville, from the -Hague, the delusion of the affrighted monarch -was suddenly and rudely dissipated. He gazed -on the ominous documents—in which his subjects -invited a foreign prince to take possession of his -throne, and that prince, his son-in-law, accepted -the proposal—with a face from which the colour -fled, and with a violently trembling frame. Fear -at once did that which no reason, no accumulation -of the most visible signs of his vanishing -popularity could ever effect. He at once -hastened to make every concession. He summoned -his Council, and forwarded a despatch to -the Hague, declaring that he regarded the siege of -Philippsburg by Louis as a breach of the Treaty of -Nimeguen, and that he was ready to take the field -against him in conjunction with the forces of -Spain and Holland. Before an answer could be -received, James hurried forward the work of retractation. -When he looked around him there -was not a power or party that he had not -alienated—the Cavaliers and Tories who fought -for his father, and supported his brother through -a thousand arbitrary measures; the Church, the -Dissenters, the army, the navy, the bench, the -bar, the whole people, held in constant terror of -being made the abject victims of Popish domination, -he had, in his insane rage for his religion, -offended, injured, and alarmed beyond measure. -He now sought to win back the able Halifax; he -issued a proclamation, protesting that he would -protect the Church, and maintain the Act of -Uniformity; that Catholics should no longer be -admitted to Parliament or the Council. He sent -for the bishops, and asked for their earnest advice -in the restoration of public affairs. He ordered -the restoration of the deposed magistrates and -lords-lieutenants; he reinstated Compton, Bishop -of London; he gave back the charter to the City, -and, a few days after, the charters of the provincial -corporations; he immediately abolished the -Court of High Commission; and finally replaced -Dr. Hough and the ejected fellows of Magdalen -College in full possession of their house and -privileges.</p> - -<p>These sweeping concessions showed plainly that -the tyrant knew very well how odious his encroachments -had been, and that nothing but fear -could force their abandonment from his ungenerous -soul. They had, therefore, the less -effect. There was public rejoicing, indeed, but it -was for the victory over the mean despot, not for -gratitude for concessions which it was felt would -be resumed the moment danger should pass; and -this feeling was deepened by an accident. The -Bishop of Winchester was sent down to Oxford to -formally reinstate the principal and fellows of -Magdalen, but was as suddenly recalled; and -this event, coupled with a rumour that the Dutch -fleet had put to sea, but was dispersed by a storm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span> -and put back, made the people more firmly conclude -that no faith could be reposed in the words -of James. The bishop, it was contended, had -been temporarily recalled on urgent affairs; but -the effect remained the same. Still, the City of -London celebrated the recovery of its charter -with much rejoicing, and sent a deputation to -express their gratitude to the king. The Dukes -of Somerset, Ormond, and Newcastle, the Marquis -of Winchester, the Earls of Derby, Nottingham, -and Danby, and the Bishop of London, declared -their fidelity, and the prelates issued a form of -prayer for the safety and prosperity of the royal -family.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_337.jpg" width="560" height="418" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WILLIAM OF ORANGE EMBARKING TO JOIN THE "BRILL." (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_337big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Whilst James was exerting himself to conciliate -his subjects, he was equally industrious in putting -the kingdom into a posture of defence. He made -Lord Dartmouth Commander of the Fleet, which -consisted of thirty-seven men-of-war, and seven -fire-ships—a naval force inferior to that of the -prince, and, still worse, weak in the principles of -loyalty, though Dartmouth himself might be relied -on. His army, including about six thousand Irish -and Scots, amounted to forty thousand men—more -than enough to repel the force of the invaders, -had the hearts of the men been in the -cause.</p> - -<p>William was compelled to delay his embarkation -for more than a week by tempestuous -weather. His fleet, under the command of -Herbert, which was lying off Scheveningen, on the -28th of September, was compelled to seek shelter -in Helvoetsluys. The wind raged furiously till -the 15th of October, and public prayers were -offered in the churches for more favourable -weather. All attempts to invade England had, -since William of Normandy's enterprise, been -notoriously defeated by storms; and the people -became so superstitious on this head that it was -found necessary, under severe penalties, to forbid -foreboding language. On the 16th, the wind -abating, William took a solemn leave of the -States-General. He thanked them for their long -and devoted support of him in his endeavours for -the independence of Europe, and committed his -wife to their protection whilst he was absent for -the same great object, and the security of the -Protestant religion. He declared that if he died<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span> -it would be as their servant; if he lived, it would -be as their friend. The Pensionary Fagel, now -old and failing, replied with great emotion; and, -amid the tears of most present, William stood -like a stoic, without any visible agitation. The -deputies of the principal towns accompanied him -to the water side, and that evening he went on -board his frigate the <em>Brill</em>. The next day a -public fast was held in the Hague, with sermons -and prayers for the success of the expedition, and -Mary continued to retain her place in the church -in public during the long service from half-past -ten in the morning till half-past seven in the -afternoon.</p> - -<p>On the afternoon of the 19th the fleet sailed -from Helvoetsluys, the men-of-war, in three -divisions, forming a long line out at sea, and -the transports driving before the breeze nearer -land. The day was fine, the wind steady from -the south-west; and as the eventful squadron -passed the sandy downs of Scheveningen, the inhabitants -of the Hague crowded them in thousands, -and raised acclamations of anticipated -success. But the scene rapidly changed. By ten -o'clock at night a furious tempest was again -raging, which dispersed the fleet, sank one ship, -damaged many others, compelled them to throw -overboard great quantities of stores, and destroyed -a thousand horses through their being closed down -under hatches. The fleet managed to regain -Helvoetsluys, which William himself reached on -the 21st. He refused to go on shore, but sent to -the States for fresh supplies, and busied himself in -pushing on his repairs.</p> - -<p>The news of this disaster reached England with -many aggravations, so that it was imagined that -the expedition would be given up for that season; -and James declared with much satisfaction that -it was what he expected, the Host having been -exposed for several days. He seized, however, -the time afforded by this delay to assemble an -extraordinary body, the members of the Privy -Council, the peers who were in or near London, -the judges, the law officers of the Crown, the Lord -Mayor and aldermen, the queen-dowager, and -two-and-twenty women—some ladies about the -queen, some menials. The Princess Anne was -summoned, but excused herself on account of -indisposition. "I have called you together," said -James, "upon a very extraordinary occasion; but -extraordinary diseases must have extraordinary -remedies. The malicious endeavours of my -enemies have so poisoned the minds of many of -my subjects, that, by the reports I have from all -hands, I have reason to believe that many do -think this son which God has pleased to bless me -with be none of mine, but a supposititious child." -The witnesses were all examined on oath except -the queen-dowager, and presented such a mass of -evidence as was undoubtedly complete, and it was -enrolled in chancery and published. But such -was the intense prejudice of the age that it failed -to convince the public at large. As Anne was -not present, the Council waited on her with a -copy of the evidence, on which she observed, "My -lords, this was not necessary; the king's word is -more to me than all these depositions." Yet her -uncle, Clarendon, assures us that she never -mentioned the child but with ridicule, and only -once was heard to call it the Prince of Wales, and -that was when she thought it was dying. Anne, -in fact, was devoted to the cause of the Prince of -Orange; and Barillon says that she avoided every -opportunity of convincing herself of what she did -not wish to believe.</p> - -<p>This singular deed of verification of the child's -identity was the last act of the ministry of Sunderland. -His treason had not escaped observation. -A letter of his wife's had been intercepted and -shown to him by the king, in which she was found -in close correspondence with Sidney. He strictly -denied all knowledge of it, and did not hesitate to -advert to his wife's <em>liaison</em> with Sidney as sufficiently -exculpatory of himself. For a time he -lulled James's suspicions, but they again revived; -and, on the very evening of this extraordinary -council, James sent Middleton and demanded the -Seals. To the last Sunderland acted the part of -injured innocence; but was not long in getting -away to the Hague, not, however, in time to join -William before his second embarkation. His -office of Secretary to the Southern Department -was given to Middleton, and of Secretary to the -Northern Department to Lord Preston, both Protestants. -Petre was dismissed from the Council, -but retained his post as Clerk of the Closet at -Whitehall. But all this did not alter the tone of -public feeling. The very day before the assembling -of the extraordinary council, the London -mob demolished a new Catholic chapel; and on -the 14th of October, the king's birthday, there had -been no sign of rejoicing, not even the firing of -the Tower guns; but the people reminded one -another that it was the anniversary of the landing -of William the Conqueror. Their thoughts were -running on the landing of another William.</p> - -<p>On the 1st of November the Prince of Orange -again set sail, and this time with a favourable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span> -though strong gale from the east. Besides the -English noblemen and gentlemen whom we have -mentioned, including also Fletcher of Saltoun, -William had with him Marshal Schomberg, an -able and experienced general, who was appointed -second in command; Bentinck, Overkirk, and -Counts Solmes and Sturm. Herbert was the -chief admiral, much to the chagrin of the Dutch -admirals, but very wisely so determined by -William, who well knew the hereditary jealousy -of the Dutch fleet, and the remembered boast and -besom of Van Tromp in England. He resolved -that, if they came to conflict with Lord Dartmouth, -it should be English commander against -English, or his cause might receive great prejudice. -For twelve hours William drove before the -breeze towards the coasts of Yorkshire, as if intending -to land there; then, suddenly tacking, he -stood down the Channel before the gale. Dartmouth -attempted to issue from the mouth of the -Thames to intercept him, but the violent wind -which favoured William perfectly disabled him. -His vessels as they came out to sea were driven -back with much damage, compelled to strike yards -and top-masts, and to lie abreast the Longsand; -whilst William, leading the way in the <em>Brill</em>, -sailed rapidly past with his whole fleet and a -crowd of other vessels that had gathered in his -rear, to the amount of nearly seven hundred. It -was twenty-four hours before Dartmouth could -give chase, and on the 5th of November William -reached Torbay, his real destination.</p> - -<p>William took up his quarters in a cottage whilst -his troops were landing, and from its thatched -roof waved the flag of Holland, bearing the significant -motto, "I will maintain the Protestant Religion -and the Liberties of England." Burnet was -one of the first to congratulate William on his -landing on English soil; and, at the recommendation -of Carstares, the first thing on the complete -disembarkation was to collect the troops, and return -public thanks to Heaven for the successful -passage of the armament. The next day William -marched in the direction of Exeter; but the rains -continued, and the roads were foul, so that he -made little progress. It was not till the 9th that -he appeared before the city. The people received -him with enthusiasm, but the magistracy shrank -back in terror, and Bishop Lamplough and the -dean had fled to warn the king of the invasion. -The city was in utter confusion, and at first -shut its gates; but as quickly agreed to open -them, and William was accommodated in the -vacated deanery. But the people of the West -had suffered too much from the support of -Monmouth not to have learnt caution. A service -was ordered in the cathedral to return thanks for -the safe arrival of the prince; but the canons -absented themselves, and only some of the prebendaries -and choristers attended, and, as soon as -Burnet began to read the prince's declaration, these -hurried out as fast as they could. On Sunday, -which was the 11th, Burnet was the only clergyman -that could be got to preach before the prince, -and the Dissenters refused the fanatic Ferguson -admittance to their chapel. This extraordinary -person, however, who appears to have been -one-third enthusiast and two-thirds knave, called -for a hammer, and exclaiming, "I will take the -kingdom of heaven by storm!" broke open the -door, marched to the pulpit with his drawn sword -in his hand, and delivered one of those wild and -ill-judged philippics against the king which did -so much mischief in the attempt of Monmouth.</p> - -<p>Altogether, so far the cause of William appeared -as little promising as that of Monmouth had done. -Notwithstanding the many earnest entreaties from -men of high rank and of various classes—nobles, -bishops, officers of the army and navy,—a week -had elapsed, and no single person of influence had -joined him. The people only, as in Monmouth's -case, had crowded about him with shouts of -welcome. William was extremely disappointed -and chagrined; he declared that he was deluded -and betrayed, and he vowed that he would re-embark, -and leave those who had called for him to -work out their own deliverance, or receive their -due punishment. But on Monday, the 12th, his -spirits were a little cheered by a gentleman of -Crediton, named Burrington, attended by a few followers, -joining his standard. This was immediately -followed, however, by the news that Lord Lovelace, -with about seventy of his tenants and neighbours, -had been intercepted by the militia at Cirencester, -taken prisoners, and sent to Gloucester -Castle. The slow movement of the disaffected -appears to have originated in William's not having -landed in Yorkshire, as was expected, but in the -west, where he was not expected. In the North -Lords Delamere and Brandon in Cheshire, Danby -and Lumley in Yorkshire, Devonshire and Chesterfield -in Derbyshire, in Lancashire the Earl of -Manchester, in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire -Rutland and Stamford, and others were all waiting -to receive him. The very army which had been -encamped on Hounslow Heath was the seat of a -secret conspiracy of officers, with Churchill himself -at their head, who kept up constant communication<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span> -with the club at the "Rose" tavern in Covent -Garden, of which Lord Colchester was president. -But all this concert was paralysed for a time by -William's appearance in so distant a quarter.</p> - -<p>But the elements of revolt, which had suffered -a momentary shock, now began to move visibly. -The very day that Lord Lovelace was captured, -Lord Colchester marched into Exeter, attended by -about seventy horse, and accompanied by the hero -of "Lillibullero," Thomas Wharton. They were -quickly followed by Russell, the son of the Duke -of Bedford, one of the earliest promoters of the -revolution, and still more significantly by the Earl -of Abingdon, a staunch Tory, who had supported -James till he saw that nothing but the reign of -Popery would satisfy him. A still more striking -defection from the king immediately followed. -Lord Cornbury, the eldest son of the Earl of -Clarendon, pretended to have received orders to -march with three regiments of cavalry stationed at -Salisbury Moor, to the enemy in the west. He -was a young man entirely under the influence of -Lord Churchill, having been brought up in the -household of his cousin, the Princess Anne, where -Churchill and his wife directed everything; and -there can be no doubt that this movement was the -work of Churchill. As the cavalry proceeded -from place to place by a circuitous route to -Axminster, the officers became suspicious, and demanded -to see the orders. Cornbury replied that -his orders were to beat up the quarters of the army -in the night near Honiton. The loyal officers, who -had received hints that all was not right, demanded -to see the written orders; but Cornbury, -who had none to produce, stole away in the dark -with a few followers who were in the secret, and got -to the Dutch camp. His regiment, and that of the -Duke of Berwick, James's own (natural) son, with -the exception of about thirty troops, returned to -Salisbury; but the third regiment, the Duke of St. -Albans', followed the colonel, Langton, to Honiton, -where General Talmash received them; and most -of the officers and a hundred and fifty privates declared -for the prince, the rest being made prisoners, -but soon afterwards discharged.</p> - -<p>The news of this defection of one so near to the -king's family created the greatest consternation in -the palace. In his terror James summoned a military -council. He was anxious to receive the assurances -of fidelity from his other officers—as if any -assurances, under the circumstances, anything but -leading them against the enemy, could test the -loyalty of these men. He told them that he -wished to be satisfied that there were no more -Cornburys amongst them; and that if any had -scruples about fighting for him, he was ready -to receive back their commissions. Of course -they protested the most ardent devotion to his -cause, though there was not a man of them that -was not already pledged to desert him. Churchill, -recently made a lieutenant-general, and the Duke -of Grafton, the king's nephew, were especially -fervid in their expressions of loyalty; so, too, were -Trelawney, smarting secretly over the persecution -of his brother, the Bishop of Bristol, and the -savage Kirke, who, when James had importuned -him to turn Papist, had replied that he "was sorry, -but he had already engaged to the Grand Turk -that if he changed his religion he would become a -Mussulman." Reassured by these hollow professions, -James gave orders for joining the camp at -Salisbury; but the next morning, before he could -set out, he was waited on by a numerous deputation -of lords spiritual and temporal, with Sancroft -at their head, praying that a free Parliament -might be immediately called, and communication -opened with the Prince of Orange.</p> - -<p>James received the deputation ungraciously. In -all his hurried concessions he had still shown his -stubborn spirit by refusing to give up the Dispensing -power; and now, though he declared that -what they asked he passionately desired, he added -that he could not call a Parliament till the Prince -of Orange quitted the kingdom. "How," he -asked, "can you have a free Parliament whilst a -foreign prince, at the head of a foreign force, has -the power to return a hundred members?" He -then fell foul of the bishops, reminding them that -the other day they refused to avow under their -hands their disapproval of the invasion, on the -plea that their vocation was not in politics; and -yet here they were at the very head of a political -movement. He charged them with fomenting the -rebellion, and retired, declaring to his courtiers that -he would not concede an atom. He then appointed -a council of five lords—of whom two were -Papists, and the third Jeffreys—to keep order -during his absence, sent off the Prince of Wales to -Portsmouth to the care of the Duke of Berwick, the -commander, and set out for Salisbury. He reached -his camp on the 19th of November, and ordered a -review the next day at Warminster, of Kirke's -division. Churchill and Kirke were particularly -anxious that he should proceed to this review, and -Kirke and Trelawney hastened on to their forces, -on pretence of making the necessary preparations. -On the other hand, Count de Roye as earnestly -dissuaded James from going to Warminster. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span> -told him that the enemy's advanced foot was at -Wincanton, and that the position at Warminster, -or even that where they were at Salisbury, was -untenable. James, however, was resolved to go; -but the next morning, the 20th, he was prevented -by a violent bleeding at the nose, which continued -unchecked for three days.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_341.jpg" width="426" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WILLIAM OF ORANGE ENTERING EXETER. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_341big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Scarcely had this impediment occurred when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span> -news came that the king's forces had been -attacked at Wincanton, and worsted by some of -the division of General Mackay. James was now -assured that, had he gone to Warminster, he -would have been seized by traitors near his person, -and carried off to the enemy's quarters. He -was advised to arrest Churchill and Grafton; but, -with his usual imprudence, he refused, and summoned -them along with the other officers to a -military council, to decide whether they should -advance or retreat. Feversham, Roye, and Dumbarton -argued for a retreat; Churchill persisted -in his recommendation of an advance to the post -at Warminster. The council lasted till midnight, -when Churchill and Grafton, seeing that their -advice was not followed, felt the time was come to -throw off the mask, and therefore rode directly -away to the prince's lines. The next morning the -discovery of this desertion filled the camp with -consternation, and this was at its height when it -was known that Churchill's brother, a colonel, -Trelawney, Barclay, and about twenty privates -had ridden after the fugitives. It was said that -Kirke was gone too, but it was not the fact; and -he was now arrested for having disobeyed orders -sent to him from Salisbury; but he professed such -indignation at the desertion of Churchill and the -others, that the shallow-minded king set him -again at liberty. The deserters were received by -William with a most gracious welcome, though -Schomberg remarked of Churchill that he was -the first lieutenant-general that he had ever heard -of running away from his colours.</p> - -<p>In James's camp all was confusion, suspicion, -and dismay. There was not a man who was sure -of his fellow, and the retreat which commenced -more resembled a flight. Numbers who would have -fought had they been led at once to battle, now -lost heart, and stole away on all sides. The news -that found its way every hour into the demoralised -camp was enough to ruin any army. From every -quarter came tidings of insurrection. The Earl of -Bath, the Governor of Plymouth, had surrendered -the place solemnly to William; Sir Edward -Seymour, Sir William Portman, Sir Francis -Warre—men of immense influence in Devon, -Somerset, and Dorset—were already with William -at Exeter; a paper had been drawn up and signed -by the leading persons there to stand by the -prince, and, whether he succeeded or whether he -fell, never to cease till they had obtained all the -objects in his declaration; Delamere had risen in -Chester, and had reached Manchester on his way -south; Danby had surprised the garrison at York; -the town had warmly welcomed him, and a great -number of peers, baronets, and gentlemen were in -arms with him. Devonshire had called together -the authorities and people of Derby, and published -his reason for appearing in arms, calling on them -to assist all true men in obtaining a settlement of -the public rights in a free Parliament. At Nottingham -he was met by the Earls of Rutland, -Stamford, Manchester, Chesterfield, and the Lords -Cholmondeley and Grey de Ruthyn.</p> - -<p>These were tidings of a reaction as determined -as James's headstrong career had been; but the -worst had not yet overtaken him. On the evening -of November 24th he had retreated towards -London as far as Andover. Prince George of Denmark, -the husband of the Princess Anne, and the -Duke of Ormond, supped with him. Prince George -was a remarkably stupid personage, whose constant -reply to any news was, "Est-il possible?" When -the intelligence of one desertion after another -came he had exclaimed, "Est-il possible?" But -the moment supper was over and the king gone -to bed, Prince George and Ormond rode off to -the enemy too. When James the next morning -was informed of this mortifying news, he coolly -replied, "What! Is 'Est-il possible' gone too? -Were he not my son-in-law, a single trooper would -have been a greater loss." With the prince and -Ormond had also fled Lord Drumlanrig, the eldest -son of the Duke of Queensberry, Mr. Boyle, Sir -George Hewit, and other persons of distinction. -The blow was severe; and though James at the -first moment, being stunned, as it were, seemed to -bear it with indifference, he pursued his way to -London in a state of intense exasperation. There -the first news that met him was the flight of his -own daughter Anne. Anne was bound up, soul -and body, with the Churchills, and it had no -doubt been for some time settled amongst them -that they should all get away to the prince her -brother-in-law.</p> - -<p>It was towards evening of the same day that -Anne fled that James arrived at Whitehall, agitated -by the awful desertions of his highest officers -and his nearest relatives. This announcement put -the climax to his torture. He exclaimed, "God<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span> -help me! My very children have forsaken me." -Severe as the punishment of his desperate treason -against his people deserved to be, this certainly -was a cruel fate. For some days a lady near his -person records that she thought she saw in him -occasional aberrations of intellect. That night he -sat late in council, and it was urged on him to call -together such peers and prelates as were in London -to consult on the necessary steps in this crisis. -The next day came together nearly fifty peers and -bishops, and James asked their advice as to calling -a Parliament. On this head there appeared no -difference of opinion; but Halifax, Nottingham, -and others, urged with equal earnestness that all -Catholics should be dismissed from office, and a -general amnesty published for all in arms against -him. James assented to the calling a Parliament, -but his eyes were still not opened to the folly of -his past conduct, and he would give no assurance -of dismissing the Papists, and broke out into -vehement language at the proposal to pardon his -enemies. "My lords," he said, "you are wonderfully -anxious for the safety of my enemies, but -none of you troubles himself about my safety." -And he vowed that he would yet take vengeance -on those who had deserted him, and, above all, on -Churchill. Clarendon, who was on the eve of -running off to William, took the opportunity to -utter the bitter feelings which his dismissal from -the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland to make way for -Tyrconnel had no doubt long left in his mind. -He upbraided James with his dogged and incurable -Popery, with sacrificing everybody and -everything for it; declaring that, even at that -moment, James was raising a regiment from which -Protestants were rigorously excluded. He taunted -him with running away from the enemy, and -asked him who was likely to fight for him when -he himself was the first to flee.</p> - -<p>After this severe treatment by his closest connections, -James appeared to comply with the -advice of the lords. He sent for Halifax, Nottingham, -and Godolphin, and informed them that he -had appointed them Commissioners to treat with -William. He dismissed Sir Edward Hales from -the Tower, and placed Bevil Skelton, a Protestant, -there. But the nature or the intention of this -most obtuse of bigots was by no means changed; -he was internally as determined as ever to reverse -every concession on the first possible occasion. -Barillon tells us that he assured him that all this -was a mere feint; that he only sent the Commissioners -to William in order to gain time for -sending his wife and child into France; that as to -calling a Parliament, that would only be to put -himself into their power, and compel him to submit -to their conditions; that he had no faith in his -troops, except the Irish; none of the rest would -fight for him; and, therefore, as soon as the queen -and young prince were safe, he should get away to -Ireland, Scotland, or France, and await the turn -of events. Such was the utterly hopeless character -of the Stuart race!</p> - -<p>To clear the way for the escape of the royal -infant, Lord Dover was put in command at Portsmouth, -and James sent orders to Lord Dartmouth -to see that the child was safely conveyed to the -French coast. In anticipation of the accomplishment -of this object, he made every preparation for -his own flight. He sent to Jeffreys to bring the -Great Seal, and take up his quarters with it in the -palace, lest by any means it should fall into the -hands of the invader, and thus give an air of authority -to his proceedings. But his escape was -delayed by unpleasant news from Lord Dartmouth. -The announcement of the calling of a -Parliament, and of attempted agreement with the -Prince of Orange, had spread exultation through -the navy, and the officers had despatched an -address of fervent thanks to James, when the -arrival of the infant prince awoke a general suspicion -that all was still hollow, and that James -meant nothing but escape. The officers were in -great agitation, and plainly pointed out to Dartmouth -his heavy responsibility if he allowed the -prince to quit the kingdom. Dartmouth, therefore, -wrote James, declaring that he would risk -his life for the support of the Crown, but that he -dared not undertake to facilitate the escape of the -Prince of Wales. This was confounding news, -and James took instant measures for the return -of his son to London, and for his escape by another -means to France.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile William was gradually advancing -towards the capital, and, on the 6th of December, -the king's Commissioners met him at Hungerford, -where they found the Earls of Clarendon and -Oxford already swelling the Court of the invader. -They were received with much respect, and submitted -their master's proposal that all matters in -dispute should be referred to the Parliament for -which the writs were ordered, and that, in the meantime, -the Dutch army should not advance nearer -than forty miles from London. The Whigs in -William's Court were decidedly averse from reconciliation -with James, whose implacable nature -they knew; but William insisted on acceding to -the terms, on condition that the royal forces should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span> -remove the same distance from the capital, and -that the Tower of London and Tilbury Fort -should be put into the keeping of the City -authorities. If it were necessary for the king -and prince to proceed to Westminster during the -negotiations, they should go attended only by -a small guard. Nothing could be fairer; but -William knew well the character of his father-in-law, -and felt assured that he would by some -means shuffle out of the agreement, and throw the -odium of failure on himself; and he was not deceived. -Never had James so fair an opportunity -of recovering his position and securing his throne, -under constitutional restraints, for his life; but he -was totally incapable of such wisdom and honesty.</p> - -<p>On the very day that the royal Commissioners -reached William's camp, James received the -Prince of Wales back from Portsmouth, and prepared -to send him off to France by another route. -On the night of the 10th of December he sent the -queen across the Thames in darkness and tempest, -disguised as an Italian lady, and attended by two -Italian women, one of whom was the child's nurse, -and the other carried the boy in her arms. They -were guarded by two French refugees of distinction—Antonine, -Count of Lauzun, and his -friend Saint Victor. They arrived safely at -Gravesend, where a yacht awaited them, on board -of which were Lord and Lady Powis. Saint -Victor returned to inform James that they had -got clear off, and in a few hours they were safely -in Calais.</p> - -<p>Scarcely did Saint Victor bring the cheering -news of the auspicious sailing of the yacht, when -the Commissioners arrived with the conditions -that had been agreed on by William. Here was -the guarantee for a speedy adjustment of all his -difficulties; but the false and distorted-minded -James only saw in the circumstance a wretched -means of further deceit and contempt of his -people and of all honourable negotiation. He -pretended to be highly satisfied, summoned for the -morrow a meeting of all the peers in town, and of -the Lord Mayor and aldermen, and directed that -they should deliberate freely and decide firmly for -the good of the country. This done, he retired to -rest, ordered Jeffreys to be with him early in the -morning, said to Lord Mulgrave, as he bade him -good night, that the news from William was most -satisfactory, and, before morning, had secretly -decamped, leaving his kingdom to take care of -itself rather than condescend to a pacification -with his son-in-law and his subjects, which should -compel him to rule as a constitutional king.</p> - -<p>But James was not satisfied with this contemptible -conduct; he indulged himself before -going with creating all the confusion that he -could. Had the writs, which were preparing, -been left for issue on the 15th of January, 1689, -a new Parliament would be in existence, ready to -settle the necessary measures for future Government; -he therefore collected the writs and threw -them into the fire with his own hands, and annulled -a number which were already gone out, by -an instrument for the purpose. He also left a -letter for Lord Feversham, announcing his departure -from the kingdom, and desiring him no longer -to expose the lives of himself and his soldiers "by -resistance to a foreign army and a poisoned -nation;" then, taking the Great Seal in his hand, -he bade the Earl of Northumberland, who was the -Lord of the Bedchamber on duty, and lay on a -pallet bed in the king's room, not to unlock the -door till the usual hour in the morning, and then, -disguised as a country gentleman, disappeared -down the back stairs. He was waited for by Sir -Edward Hales, whom he afterwards created Earl -of Tenterden, and they proceeded in a hackney-coach -to Millbank, where they crossed the river in -a boat to Vauxhall. When in mid-stream, he -flung the Great Seal into the water, trusting that -it would never be seen any more; but it was -afterwards dragged up by a fishing-net. James, -attended by Hales and Sheldon, one of the royal -equerries, drove at a rapid pace for Elmley Ferry, -near the Isle of Sheppey, having relays of horse -ready engaged. They reached that place at ten -in the morning, and got on board the Custom -House hoy which was waiting for them, and -dropped down the river.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_345.jpg" width="560" height="385" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JAMES HEARING OF THE LANDING OF WILLIAM OF ORANGE. (<cite>After the Painting by E. M. Ward, R.A.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_345big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In the morning, when the Duke of Northumberland -opened the king's chamber door, and it was -discovered that James had fled, the consternation -in the palace may be imagined. The courtiers -and the numbers of persons who were waiting to -fulfil their morning duties, and the lords who had -been summoned to council, spread the exciting -tidings, and the capital became a scene of the -wildest and most alarming confusion. Feversham -obeyed the orders of the king left in his letter, -without pausing to ask any advice, or to calculate -what might be the consequences. These were as -serious as might have been expected. There was -no Government, no constituted authority to appeal -to. Lord Rochester had continued loyal to the -last; but the base desertion of James and the imminent -danger at once decided him. He bade the -Duke of Northumberland muster the Guards, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span> -declare for William. The officers of the other regiments -in London followed the advice, and endeavoured -to keep together their men, declaring -for the Prince of Orange. The lords who had -been summoned to Council hastened into the City -to concert measures with the Lord Mayor and -aldermen for the public safety. A meeting was -hastily called in Guildhall, where the peers, -twenty-five in number, and five bishops, with -Sancroft and the new Archbishop of York at their -head, formed themselves into a provisional council -to exercise the functions of Government till the -Prince of Orange should arrive, for whom they -sent a pressing message, praying him to hasten -and unite with them for the preservation of the -Constitution and the security of the Church. The -two Secretaries of State were sent for, but Preston -alone came; Middleton denied the authority of the -self-created Council. The Lieutenant of the Tower, -Bevil Skelton, was ordered to give up the keys to -Lord Lucas, and an order was sent to Lord Dartmouth, -desiring him to dismiss all Popish officers -from the fleet, and attempt nothing against the -Dutch fleet. But no measures could prevent the -outbreak of the mob in London. The feeling -against the Catholics displayed itself on all sides. -Under pretence of searching for Papists, the -hordes of blackguards from every low purlieu of -London swarmed forth and broke into houses, and -plundered them at their pleasure. The vile -Jeffreys was with difficulty saved from the fury of -the mob.</p> - -<p>James, his heartless master, was also seized. -The Custom House hoy in which he embarked -was found wanting in ballast, and the captain was -obliged to run her ashore near Sheerness. About -eleven at night on the 12th of December, before -the hoy could be floated again by the tide, she was -boarded by a number of fishermen who were on -the look-out for fugitives, and the appearance of -the king immediately attracted their notice. -"That is Father Petre," cried one fellow; "I -know him by his hatchet face." James was immediately -seized and searched; but, though he had -his coronation ring in his pocket, besides other -jewels, they missed them, and did not recognise -him. They carried him ashore at Feversham, -where, at the inn, amid the insults of this rabble, -he declared himself their king. The Earl of Winchelsea, -hearing of the king's detention, hastened -to his assistance, had him removed to the house -of the Mayor, and sent word of his capture to -London.</p> - -<p>When the countryman who carried the messages -from Lord Winchelsea arrived at Whitehall, the -news of the king's detention occasioned the greatest -embarrassment. The lords had sent for William, -and hoped that they were well rid of the foolish -king. Nothing could have been easier than their -course if James had got over to the Continent. -The throne would be declared vacant, and the -Prince and Princess of Orange invited to occupy it, -on giving the necessary guarantees for the maintenance -of the Constitution. But now the whole -question was involved in difficulties. If James -persisted in his right to the throne, in what capacity -was William to be received? Could any safe -measures be arranged with a man like James? -Was he to be deposed, and his son-in-law and -daughter forcibly placed on his throne? The -dilemma was equally embarrassing to the lords -and prelates, and to the prince himself. When the -messenger was introduced, and delivered a letter -from James, but without any address, Halifax -moved that they should instantly adjourn, and -thus leave the letter unnoticed. Halifax was -deeply incensed at the trick which James had -played off upon him in sending him to negotiate -with William merely that he might get away, -and was now resolved to adhere to the prince; -but Lord Mulgrave prevailed on the lords to -retain their seats, and obtained from them an -order that Lord Feversham should take two hundred -Life Guards, and protect the king from -insult. Feversham demanded the precise powers -of his order, and was told that he must defend the -king from insult, but by no means impede the -freest exercise of his personal freedom. This -meant that they would be glad if he facilitated his -escape. Halifax immediately left London, and -joined the Prince of Orange, who was now at -Henley-on-Thames. Sancroft and the clergy, as -soon as they were aware that the king had not -left the country, retired from any further participation -in the Council. William and his adherents -were extremely chagrined at this untoward turn -of affairs. When the messenger arrived at Henley -he was referred to Burnet, who said, "Why did -you not let the king go?"</p> - -<p>But when Feversham arrived at the town whose -name he bore, the king was no longer disposed to -escape. His friends who had gathered about him, -Middleton and Lord Winchelsea especially, had -endeavoured to show him that his strength lay in -remaining. Had he vacated the throne by quitting -the kingdom, it had been lost for ever; but -now he was king, and might challenge his right; -and the prince could not dispossess him without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span> -incurring the character of a usurper, and throwing -a heavy odium of unnatural severity on himself -and his wife. James had sufficient mind left to -perceive the strength thus pointed out to him. -He resolved to return to his capital, and from -Rochester despatched Feversham with a letter to -William, whom he found advanced to Windsor, -proposing a conference in London, where St. -James's should be prepared for the prince. By -this time William and his Council had determined -on the plan to be pursued in the great difficulty. -He had calculated on James's being gone, and had -issued orders to the king's army and to the lords -at Whitehall in the style of a sovereign. His -leading adherents had settled amongst themselves -the different offices that they were to occupy as -the reward of their adhesion. It was resolved, -therefore, if possible, to frighten James into a -second flight. No sooner had Feversham delivered -his despatch than he was arrested, and thrown into -the Round Tower on the charge of having disbanded -the army without proper orders, to the -danger of the capital, and of having entered the -prince's camp without a passport. Zulestein was -despatched to inform James that William declined -the proposed conference, and recommended him to -remain at Rochester.</p> - -<p>James, however, was now bent on returning to -London. He had not waited for the prince's -answer, but on Sunday, the 16th of December, he -entered his capital in a sort of triumphal procession. -He was preceded by a number of gentlemen, -bareheaded. Immense crowds assembled as -if to welcome him back again. They cheered him -as he rode along. The bells were rung, and bonfires -were lit in the streets. Elated by these -signs, as he imagined them, of returning popularity, -he no sooner reached Whitehall than he -called around him the Jesuits who had hidden -themselves, stationed Irish soldiers as guards -around his palace, had grace said at his table by a -Jesuit priest, and expressed his high indignation -at the lords and prelates who had presumed to -usurp his functions in his absence—who had, in -fact, saved the capital from destruction when he -had abandoned it. His folly, however, received -an abrupt check. Zulestein was announced, and -delivered the stern message of William. James -was confounded, but again repeated his invitation -for his nephew to come to town, that they might -settle all differences in a personal conference. -Zulestein coldly assured him that William would -not enter London whilst it contained troops not -under his orders. "Then," said James, "let him -bring his own guards, and I will dismiss mine, for -I am as well without any as such that I dare -not trust." Zulestein, however, retired without -further discussion, and the moment he was gone, -James was informed of the arrest of Feversham.</p> - -<p>Alarmed at these proofs of the stern spirit of -William, James sent in haste to Stamps and -Lewis, the leading members of the City Council—the -Lord Mayor had never recovered his terror -of Jeffreys' presence,—to offer to place himself -under their protection till all necessary guarantees -for the public liberties had been given and -accepted. But the Common Council had not -had time to forget his seizure of their charter, -and they prudently declined to enter into an -engagement which, they said, they might not be -able to fulfil. Whilst James was thus learning -that though the City acclamations might be proofs -of regret for his misfortunes, they were by no -means proofs of a desire for his continuing to -reign, William, on the same day, the 17th, bade -all his leading adherents hold a solemn council, to -consider what steps should be taken in this crisis. -It was understood that he would never consent to -enter London whilst James was there, and it was -resolved that he should be removed to Ham -House, near Richmond, which the brutal Lauderdale -had built out of the bribes of Louis XIV. -and the money wrung from the ravaged people -of Scotland. Halifax, Shrewsbury, and Delamere -were despatched to James with this intimation, -though Clarendon had done all in his power to -have James seized and confined in some foreign -fortress till Tyrconnel surrendered Ireland to the -prince's party.</p> - -<p>Simultaneously with the three lords, William -ordered his forces to advance towards London. -In the evening of the 17th James heard that the -Dutch soldiers had occupied Chelsea and Kennington. -By ten o'clock at night Solmes, at the head -of three battalions of infantry, was already -making across St. James's Park, and sent word -that his orders were to occupy Whitehall, and -he advised the Earl of Craven, who commanded -the Coldstream Guards, to retire. Craven—though -now in his eightieth year, was still possessed of -the courage and chivalry which he had displayed -in the wars of Germany, and which had won him -the heart of Elizabeth of Bohemia, who was said -to be married to him—declared that, so long as he -retained life, no foreign prince should make a -King of England a prisoner in his own palace. -James, however, ordered him to retire. The Coldstream -Guards withdrew, and the Dutch guards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span> -surrounded the palace. James, as if there were -no danger to his person, went composedly to bed, -but only to be roused out of his first sleep to -receive the deputation from the prince. On reading -the letter proposing his removal to Ham, -which Halifax informed him must be done before -ten o'clock in the morning, James seems to have -taken a final resolve to get away. He protested -against going to Ham, as a low, damp place in -winter, but offered to retire to Rochester. This -was a pretty clear indication of his intention to -flee—the very object desired. A messenger was -despatched in all speed to the prince, who returned -with his full approbation before daybreak.</p> - -<p>The morning of the 18th was miserably wet -and stormy, but a barge was brought to Whitehall -Stairs, and the wretched monarch went on -board, attended by the Lords Arran, Dumbarton, -Dundee, Lichfield, and Aylesbury. The spectators -could not behold this melancholy abdication—for -such it was—of the last potentate of a most unwise -line, who had lost a great empire by his incurable -infatuation, without tears. Even Shrewsbury -and Delamere showed much emotion, and -endeavoured to soothe the fallen king; but -Halifax, incurably wounded in his diplomatic -pride by the hollow mission to the prince at -Hungerford, stood coldly apart. Boats containing -a hundred Dutch soldiers surrounded his -barge as it dropped down the river. James -landed and slept at Gravesend, and then proceeded -to Rochester, where he remained four days.</p> - -<p>Though his advisers entreated him not to fly, -James had now sunk the last manly feeling of a -monarch who would dare much and sacrifice more -to retain a noble empire for his family. A -dastardly fear that if he remained he would be -put to death like his father took possession of -him. He made a last offer to the bishops, -through the Bishop of Winchester, as he had done -to the City of London, to put himself into their -hands for safety, but they also declined the -responsibility, and he then gave all over as lost. -On the evening of the 22nd of December he sat -down before supper, and wrote a declaration of -his motives for quitting the kingdom. About -midnight he stole quietly away with the Duke of -Berwick, his natural son, and, after much difficulty, -through storm and darkness, reached a -fishing smack hired for the purpose, which, on -Christmas Day, landed him at Ambleteuse, on the -coast of France. Thence he hastened to the -castle of St. Germains, which Louis had appointed -for his residence, and where, on the 28th, -he found his wife and child awaiting him. Louis -also was there to receive him, had settled on him -a revenue of forty-five thousand pounds sterling -yearly, besides giving him ten thousand pounds -for immediate wants. The conduct of Louis was -truly princely, not only in thus conferring on the -fallen monarch a noble and delightful residence, -with an ample income, but in making it felt by -his courtiers and all France, that he expected the -exiled family to be treated with the respect due -to the sovereigns of England.</p> - -<p>The flight of James had removed the great difficulty -of William—that of having recourse to some -measure of harshness towards him, as imprisonment, -or forcible deposition and banishment, -which would have greatly lowered his popularity. -The adherents of James felt all this, and were -confounded at the advantage which the impolitic -monarch had given to his enemies. The joy of -William's partisans was great and unconcealed. -In France the success of William was beheld with -intense mortification, for it was the death-blow to -the ascendency of Louis in Europe, which had -been the great object of all his wars, and the -expensive policy of his whole life. In Holland -the elevation of their Stadtholder to the head of -the English realm was beheld as the greatest -triumph of their nation; and Dykvelt and -Nicholas Witsen were deputed to wait on him in -London and congratulate him on his brilliant success. -But, notwithstanding all these favourable -circumstances, there were many knotty questions -to be settled before William could be recognised -as sovereign. The country was divided into -various parties, one of which, including the Tories -and the Church, contended that no power or law -could affect the divine right of kings; and that -although a king by his infamy, imbecility, or open -violation of the laws might be restrained from -exercising the regal functions personally, those -rights remained untouched, and must be invested -for the time in a regent chosen by the united Parliament -of the nation. Others contended that -James's unconstitutional conduct and subsequent -flight amounted to an abdication, and that the -royal rights had passed on to the next heir; and -the only question was, which was the true heir—the -daughter of James, the wife of William, or -the child called the Prince of Wales? The more -determined Whigs contended that the arbitrary -conduct of the House of Stuart, and especially of -James, who attempted to destroy both the Constitution -and the Church, had abrogated the -original compact between prince and people, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span> -returned the right of electing a new monarch into -the hands of the people; and the only question -was, who should that choice be? There were not -wanting some who advised William boldly to -assume the crown by right of conquest; but he -was much too wise to adopt this counsel, having -already pledged himself to the contrary in his -Declaration, and also knowing how repugnant such -an assumption would be to the proud spirit of -the nation.</p> - -<p>To settle these points he called together, on -the 23rd of December, the peers, all the members -of any Parliament summoned in the reign of -Charles II. who happened to be in town, and the -Lord Mayor and aldermen, with fifty other -citizens of London, at St. James's, to advise him -as to the best mode of fulfilling the terms of his -Declaration. The two Houses, thus singularly -constituted, proceeded to deliberate on the great -question in their own separate apartments. The -Lords chose Halifax as their Speaker; the Commons, -Henry Powle. The Lords came to the conclusion -that a Convention was the only authority -which could determine the necessary measures; -that in the absence of Charles II. a Convention -had called him back to the throne, and therefore -a Convention in the absence of James might -exercise the same legitimate function. When the -Lords presented an address to this effect on the -25th, William received it, but said it would be -necessary to receive the conclusion of the Commons -before any act could take place. On the -27th the Commons came to the same decision, -and William was requested to exercise the powers -of the executive till the Convention should -assemble.</p> - -<p>In issuing orders for the election of the members -of the Convention, William displayed a most -politic attention to the spirit of the Constitution. -He gave direction that no compulsion or acts of -undue persuasion should be exercised for the -return of candidates; no soldiers should be -allowed to be present in the boroughs where the -elections were proceeding; for, unlike James, -William knew that he had the sense of the -majority of the people with him. The same -measure was adopted with regard to Scotland. -There, no sooner had William arrived in England, -than the people rose against James's Popish -ministers, who were glad to flee or conceal -themselves. Perth, the miserable renegade and -tyrant, endeavoured to escape by sea; he was -overtaken, brought ignominiously back, and flung -into the prison of Kirkcaldy. The Papists were -everywhere disarmed, the Popish chapels were -attacked and ransacked. Holyrood House, which -swarmed with Jesuits, and with their printing -presses, was not exempt from this summary visitation; -and bonfires were made of all sorts of Popish -paraphernalia—crosses, books, images, and pictures. -William now called together such Scottish noblemen -and gentlemen as were in London, who -adopted a resolution requesting him to call a Convention -of the Estates of Scotland, to meet on -the 14th of March, and in the meantime to take -on himself the same executive authority as in -England. William was, therefore, the elected -ruler of the whole kingdom for the time. This -power he proceeded to exercise with a prudence -and wisdom which were in striking contrast to the -antagonism of James. All parties and religions -were protected as subjects; Feversham was released, -and the administration of justice proceeded -with a sense of firmness and personal security -which gave general confidence.</p> - -<p>On the 22nd of January, 1689, the Convention -met. The Lords again chose Halifax as Speaker, -the Commons, Powle. The Catholic lords had not -been summoned, and were not there. In the -Lords, Bishop Sherlock and a small knot of Tories -were for recalling James, and attempting the impossible -thing of binding him to the Constitution; -another party, of which Sancroft was known to -be the head, though he had not the courage to go -there and advocate it, were for a regency; whilst -Danby contended for proclaiming the Princess -Mary in her own right; and the Whigs were for -nominating William as an elective prince. In the -Commons, similar parties appeared; but the great -majority were for declaring the throne vacant, -and, on the 28th, they passed a resolution to that -effect, and the next day another, that no Popish -king could possess the throne. These carried up -to the Lords were, after a debate of two days, -also adopted, but only by small majorities.</p> - -<p>James now sent a letter to each House, declaring -that he had not abdicated, but had been compelled -to withdraw by necessity; and he offered to -return and redress every grievance. Both Houses -refused to receive the letters; but in both the -question as to who should be the successor to the -throne was violently debated. Lord Lovelace and -William Killigrew presented a petition to the -Commons, demanding that the crown should be -given to the Prince and Princess of Orange -jointly. A member asked if the petition were -signed, and Lovelace replied "No," but added -that he would soon procure signatures enough.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span> -In fact, there were noisy crowds about the -House; and Lovelace was suspected of having -brought the mob from the City to intimidate the -opponents. His proceedings were strongly protested -against, and William himself sent for -him and expressed his disapprobation of bringing -any such influence to force the deliberations of -the Convention. The Earl of Devonshire then -gathered a meeting of the advocates of the prince -and princess at his house, where the question was -discussed, and where Halifax concluded for -William and Danby for Mary. To obtain, if -possible, some idea of the leaning of William, who -had preserved the most profound silence during -the debates, Danby put the question to a friend -and countryman of William's present what was -the real wish of William. He replied that it was -not for him to say, but that, if he must give an -opinion, he did not believe that the prince would -consent to be gentleman-usher to his wife. This -opened the eyes of Danby, who said, "Then you -all know enough, and I far too much." In fact, -blind must all have been who had studied the -character of William not to have seen from the -first that he came there to be king, and that on -equal terms at least with his wife. The man who -had for years brooded in jealous secrecy over the -idea that his wife would one day be raised over -his own head by her claim on the British crown, -was not likely to accept less than an equal throne -with her.</p> - -<p>Whilst this question was still agitating both -Houses, Mary herself settled it by a letter to -Danby, in which she thanked him for his zeal in -her behalf; she declared that she was the wife of -William, and had long resolved, if the throne fell -to her, to surrender her power, by consent of Parliament, -into his hands. This was decisive, and -the enemies of William had only the hope left -that the Princess Anne might protest against -William, and insist on the precedence of her rights -and those of her issue. But Anne had long been -perfectly accordant with William and Mary, and -declared herself entirely willing that William -should hold the throne for his life.</p> - -<p>Mary and Anne having spoken out, William -now sent for Halifax, Danby, Shrewsbury, and -the other leaders, and told them that, having -come for the good of the nation, he had thought it -right to leave the nation to settle its election of a -ruler, and that he had still no desire to interfere, -except to clear their way so far as he himself was -concerned. He wished therefore to say that, if -they decided to appoint a regent, he declined to -be that man. On the other hand, if they preferred -placing the princess, his wife, on the -throne, he had nothing to object; but if they -offered to give him during his life the nominal -title of king, he could not accept it; that no man -respected or esteemed the princess more than he -did, but that he could never consent to be tied to -the apronstrings of any woman, even the very -highest and best of her sex; that if they chose to -offer him the crown for life, he would freely accept -it; if not, he would return cheerfully to his own -country, having done that which he had promised. -He added that he thought, in any case, the rights -of Anne and her issue should be carefully protected.</p> - -<p>This left no doubt as to what must be the -result. A second conference was held on the 5th -of February between the two Houses, where the -contest was again renewed as to whether the -throne was actually vacant, and they parted -without coming to any agreement; but the Lords, -on returning to their own House, yielded, and -sent down to the Commons the new oaths, and -the resolution that the prince and princess should -be declared king and queen. The Commons, who -had already come to this conclusion, would not, -however, formally pass it till they had taken -measures for securing the rights of the subject -before finally conferring the crown. They therefore -drew up what was called the "Declaration of -Rights," by which, while calling William and -Mary to the throne, they enumerated the constitutional -principles on which the crown should -be held. This Declaration was passed on the 12th -of February, and about a year afterwards was -formally enacted, under the title of the "Bill of -Rights," which contains the great charter of the -liberties of the English people.</p> - -<p>The Declaration stated that, whereas the late -king, James II., had assumed and exercised a -power of dispensing with and suspending laws -without consent of Parliament, and had committed -and prosecuted certain prelates because -they had refused to concur in such arbitrary -powers; had erected an illegal tribunal to oppress -the Church and the subject; had levied taxes, and -maintained a standing army in time of peace -without consent of Parliament; had quartered -soldiers contrary to law; had armed and employed -Papists contrary to law; had violated the freedom -of election, and prosecuted persons in the King's -Bench for causes only cognisable by Parliament; -and whereas, besides these, the personal acts of -the late king, partial and corrupt juries had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span> -returned, excessive fines had been imposed, illegal -and cruel punishments inflicted, the estates of -persons granted away before forfeiture or judgment; -all these practices being utterly contrary -to the known laws, statutes, and freedom of the -realm:</p> - -<p>And whereas the said king, having abdicated -the throne, and the Prince of Orange, who under -God had delivered the realm from this tyranny, -had invited the estates of the realm to meet and -secure the religion and freedom of the kingdom; -therefore, the Lords spiritual and temporal, and -the Commons in Parliament assembled, did, for -the vindication and assertion of their ancient -rights, declare—That to suspend the execution of -the laws, or to dispense with the execution of -laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament, -that to erect boards of commissioners, -and levy money without Parliament, to keep a -standing army in time of peace without the -will of Parliament, are all contrary to law; that -the election of members of Parliament ought to -be free, speech in Parliament free, and to be impeached -nowhere else; no excessive bail, or excessive -fines, nor cruel or unjust punishments can -be awarded; that jurors ought to be duly impanelled, -and, in trials for high treason, be freeholders; -that grants and promises of fines before -conviction are illegal and void; and that, for -redress of grievances and the amendment of laws, -Parliaments ought to be frequently held. All -these things are claimed by the Declaration as the -undoubted rights and inheritance of Englishmen; -and, believing that William and Mary, Prince and -Princess of Orange, will preserve from violation -all these rights and all other their rights, they -resolve and declare them to be King and Queen of -England, France, and Ireland for their joint and -separate lives, the full exercise of the administration -being in the prince; and, in default of heirs -of the Princess Mary, the succession to fall to the -Princess Anne of Denmark; and, in the default -of such issue to the Princess Anne of Denmark, -to the posterity of William. On the same 12th of -February on which this most important document -was passed, the Princess Mary landed at Greenwich.</p> - -<p>The next morning, Wednesday, the 13th of -February, 1689, the two Houses waited on -William and Mary, who received them in the -Banqueting room at Whitehall. The prince and -princess entered, and stood under the canopy of -State side by side. Halifax was speaker on the -occasion. He requested their Highnesses to hear -a resolution of both Houses, which the Clerk of -the House of Lords then read. It was the Declaration -of Rights. Halifax then, in the name of -all the Estates of the realm, requested them to -accept the crown. William, for himself and his -wife, accepted the offer, declaring it the more -welcome that it was given in proof of the confidence -of the whole nation. He then added for -himself, "And as I had no other intention in -coming hither than to preserve your religion, laws, -and liberties, so you may be sure that I shall -endeavour to support them, and be willing to -concur in anything that shall be for the good of -the kingdom, and to do all that is in my power -to advance the welfare and the glory of the -nation."</p> - -<p>This declaration was no sooner brought to an -end than it was received with shouts of satisfaction -by the whole assembly, and, being heard -by the crowds without, was re-echoed by one universal -"Hurrah!" The Lords and Commons, as -in courtesy bound, then retired; and, at the -great gate of the palace, the heralds and pursuivants, -clad in their quaint tabards, proclaimed -William and Mary King and Queen of England, -at the same time praying for them, according to -custom, "a long and happy reign." The dense -mass of people, filling the whole street to Charing -Cross, answered with a stunning shout; and thus, -in three months and eight days from the landing -of William at Torbay, the Great Revolution of -1688 was completed.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> - -<p class="p6">PROGRESS OF THE NATION FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO THE GREAT REVOLUTION.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Religion: Nonconformist Sects—Imprisonment of Bunyan—Fox and the Society of Friends—The Punishment of James Naylor—Expulsion -of Roger Williams—Other Religious Sects—Literature: Milton—His Works—Cowley—Butler—Dryden—Minor -Poets—Dramatists of the Restoration—Prose Writers: Milton and Dryden—Hobbes—Clarendon—Baxter—Bunyan—Walton—Evelyn -and Pepys—Founding of the Royal Society—Physical Science—Discoveries of Napier, Newton, -and Flamsteed—Mathematicians and Chemists—Harvey and Worcester—Painting, Sculpture, and Engraving—Coinage—Music—Furniture—Costume—Manners -and Customs—State of London—Sports and Amusements—Country Life—Travelling—The -Clergy—Yeomen—Village Sports—Growth of the Revenue and Commerce—Growing prosperity of the North of -England—The Navigation Act—Norwich and Bristol—Postal Arrangements—Advantages Derived from the Industries of the -Foreign Refugees—The East India Company—Condition of the People: Wages—The Poor Law—Efforts of Philanthropists.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>The struggles of the Church we have sufficiently -traced in our recent chapters. With the Restoration -it came back to full power and possession of -its revenues and honours, and held them firmly -against all rivals till James menaced them with -the recall of the Roman hierarchy, when, joining -with the alarmed public, it compelled the monarch -himself to fly, and continued on its own vantage-ground. -The only notice of religious phenomena -at this period demanded of us is rather what -regards the sects which now became conspicuous.</p> - -<p>The leading sects, the Presbyterians, the Independents, -and the Baptists—then called Anabaptists—differed -little in their faith. They were -all of the Calvinistic school, whilst the Episcopal -Church was already divided by the contending -parties of Calvinists and Arminians. We have -related the struggles of the Presbyterians, -English and Scottish, for the possession of the -Establishment in England to the exclusion of all -other faiths; the triumph of the Independents, -with more liberal views, through Cromwell and -the army, and the expulsion of both these parties -from the national pulpits following on the Restoration. -The Baptists, though many of them -were high in the army and the State during the -Commonwealth, never displayed the political -ambition of the other two great denominations. -They cut, indeed, no figure in the secular affairs -of the nation, but they were most honourably distinguished -by their assertion of the right of -private opinion. They were as tolerant of religious -liberty as the Independents, or more so, -from whom they differed only in their views of -the rite of Baptism. Their early history in England -was adorned by the appearance in their -pulpits of one of the most extraordinary men of -modern times—John Bunyan, whose "Pilgrim's -Progress" continues to delight all classes of men, -and will continue to do so as long as the English -language is read. Bunyan, a tinker by trade, was -serving in the Parliamentary army at Leicester, -at the time of the battle of Naseby; and when -Charles I. fled to that town John was ordered -out as a sentinel, and his life was saved by -another soldier volunteering to take his duty, -who was shot at his post. Bunyan was thrown -into prison for daring to preach under Charles II., -and lay in gaol twelve years and a half, solely -because he had a conscience of his own; and was -only liberated on the Declaration of Indulgence -by James II. A Mr. Smyth, a clergyman of the -Church of England, who adopted their faith, was -the first to open a chapel for the Baptists in -London, and, encouraged by his example, others -were soon opened, and the views of the denomination -soon spread over England and Wales, in later -times to be eloquently expounded by Robert -Robinson and Robert Hall.</p> - -<p>But the most remarkable organisation of a -religious body was that of the Society of Friends, -or, as they soon came to be nicknamed, Quakers, -whose founder, George Fox, was born at Drayton, -in Leicestershire, in 1624. His father was a -weaver, and George was apprenticed to a shoemaker, -who also had a little farm. He informs -us in his own journal that he preferred the farming, -and chiefly devoted himself to it. When he -was about nineteen he became deeply impressed -with a religious feeling. It was a time when -religious discussion was making rapid progress -amongst the people from the more general access -to the Bible, and many were dissatisfied with the -different churches, which seemed too much engaged -in attempts at worldly aggrandisement, -and at achieving a dominance over each other.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span> -George was one of these. In seeking for clear -views of religious faith, such as could set his mind -at rest, he went to various clergymen of the -Established Church first, but he found no light. -One of them bade him take tobacco and sing -psalms; and another, Cradock of Coventry, was -beginning to speak comfortably to George as they -walked in the garden, when the embryo reformer -unluckily happened to set his foot on a flower-border, -which threw the clergyman into such a -rage that the discourse was abruptly brought to -an end.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_353.jpg" width="560" height="366" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p><span class="smcap">ROGER WILLIAMS LEAVING HIS HOME IN MASSACHUSETTS.</span> (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_353big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Finding no relief or illumination from professors, -as he called them, Fox wisely took his -Bible, and used to retire into a hollow tree in the -fields, where he read and prayed earnestly to God -to enlighten his understanding to comprehend the -sacred volume, and the genuine will of the Lord. -The result was that he came to a clear and steadfast -conviction that Christianity was strictly a -spiritual thing, having nothing specifically to do -with States and Governments, with worldly pomp -and power, and strivings after mortal honours -and high places; that Christ simply and strictly -defined it when He said, "My kingdom is not of -this world." He saw that it was the grand principle -by which the soul of man is intended to be -regenerated—born again, in fact, and made fitting -to enter into the kingdom of disembodied souls, in -the presence of God and His angels. He found -himself, in a word, called back from the conflicting -views and empty ceremonies of the time to -Christianity as it existed among the Apostles—a -perfectly spiritual, and holy, and disinterested -thing, embodying the wisdom and the truth of -God, and inhabiting, not formal creeds and outward -ceremonies, but the heart of man, and -thence influencing all his thoughts and actions for -good. George perceived that all fixed creeds, all -rites and ceremonies, all investments in State -power, were but as cobwebs and old rags with -which the self-interest and self-love of men had -enveloped, encumbered, and degraded it; and he -felt himself called to go forth and proclaim this, -which he emphatically styled "the truth."</p> - -<p>Fox carried his great Christian text into -every act and department of life. He was the -first to elevate woman to her true place—an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span> -intellectual, moral, and political equality with man; -basing his principle on the apostolic declaration -that male and female are all one in Christ -Jesus. Acting on this principle, the women -of his Society became preachers, and transacted -their own affairs of association in their own -meetings. He refused to take an oath before -a magistrate, because Christ expressly forbade -His disciples to swear at all under any circumstances; -he refused to say "Thou" to a poor man, -and "You" to a rich one, as was then the odious -practice; he refused to take off his hat as a mark -of homage to the wealthy and great, on the same -principle that it was a custom of pride and invidious -distinction; and he addressed prince or -magistrate with the respectful boldness which became -a man sensible that the only true dignity -was the dignity of truth. The sufferings which -were brought upon him and his followers by these -novel doctrines and practices from all parties were -terrible. About three thousand of them were imprisoned, -even under the more liberal rule of the -Commonwealth, and as many under Charles II. -Their property was spoliated, their meeting-houses -were pulled down, and their families grossly insulted -in their absence. Yet the doctrine spread -rapidly, and many eminent men embraced it; -amongst others, William Penn, the son of Admiral -Penn, and the learned Robert Barclay, who wrote -the celebrated vindication of their faith.</p> - -<p>At the same time the violent agitation of the -period, and the enthusiasm of this new doctrine, -led some of Fox's followers into considerable extravagances. -The most prominent case was that -of James Naylor, who for a time was undoubtedly -led into insanity by the effervescence of his mind -under his religious zeal; and allowed women to -lead his horse into Exeter, crying "Holy! holy! -holy!" and spreading their scarves and handkerchiefs -in the way before him, as if he had been -the Saviour come again. Naylor professed that -this homage was not offered to him personally, -but to Christ within him. His case occupied the -House of Commons for nearly two months altogether. -There were violent debates on it from -morning till night; but at length, on the 17th of -December, 1656, it was voted that he should be -set in the pillory in Palace Yard for two hours; -then be whipped from Westminster to the Old -Exchange, London, twice, wearing a paper containing -a description of his crimes; should have -his tongue bored through with a hot iron by the -hangman for his blasphemy; be branded on the -forehead with the letter B; that he should be sent -to Bristol, and there whipped through the city on -a market-day, paraded face backwards on a saddleless -horse, and then sent back to Bridewell, in -London, where he should be kept to hard labour, -and debarred from the visits of his friends, and -from access to pens, ink, and paper.</p> - -<p>All this was rigidly inflicted upon him, and -borne heroically. After two years' confinement in -Bridewell he was dismissed, thoroughly cured of -his hallucination, ready to admit it, but as firm in -his adhesion to the principles of Quakerism as -ever; and the Society, pitying his fall, never withdrew -from him their sympathy or the enjoyment -of his membership. He died soon after his release.</p> - -<p>In America, in New England, the Quakers -were more fiercely persecuted than in England by -the Puritans, who had themselves fled from persecution. -In Massachusetts and Connecticut they -were ordered to have their ears cut off if men, to -be publicly whipped if women; and for a second -offence to have their tongues bored through if -they dared to come into these colonies; and this -not deterring them, they hanged several men and -women. Endicott, the Governor of Connecticut, -when one of them quoted the words of St. Paul, -"For in Him we live, and move, and have our -being," irreverently replied, "And so does every -cat and dog."</p> - -<p>This intolerance of the Puritans was equally -exerted against one of their own members, the -venerable Roger Williams, who was driven from -Massachusetts for courageously advocating the -doctrine of perfect freedom of conscience. In -fact, Roger Williams was one of the very first, if -not the first man, who proclaimed this great -doctrine; and therefore deserves to be held in -eternal remembrance. The honour of being the -earliest publisher of the right of spiritual freedom -must, perhaps, be awarded to Leonard Busher, -who published a work on the subject in 1614, and -dedicated it to King James. Roger Williams, -expelled from Massachusetts, proceeded to Narraganset -Bay, and became the founder of the -colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, -where the most perfect freedom of religious -faith was allowed.</p> - -<p>Besides the sects in England already enumerated, -there were many minor ones. The "Millenarians," -or "Fifth Monarchy Men," whose views -we have already explained. To this sect Major-General -Harrison belonged; and they created a -riot under Venner, the wine-cooper. There was a -sect called "The Seekers," amongst whom Fox<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span> -once fell, and many of them joined him, believing -they had found what they sought. There -were the "Ranters," a body noted for their noise -and vociferation; "Behmenists," or disciples of -the German mystic, Jacob Behmen; "Vanists," -followers of the religious views of Sir Harry -Vane; and lastly, "Muggletonians," the disciples -of one Ludovick Muggleton and John Reeve.</p> - -<p>Muggleton was a journeyman tailor, and he and -Reeve pretended to be the two witnesses mentioned -in the eleventh chapter of "The Revelation." -They were fanatics of the wildest and most -furious character, and professed to have power -to save or damn all whom they pleased, and they -"dealt damnation round the land" with the -utmost freedom. The Quakers and Behmenists -were the objects of their most violent denunciations, -probably because Fox and Penn protested -against their wild and fanatic doctrines, which -were the antipodes of those of Fox; for, instead -of representing God as a pure spirit, they asserted -that He had a corporeal body, and came down to -earth in it as Christ, leaving the prophet Elias -in heaven to rule in His absence. They contended -that man's soul is inseparably united to his -body, dies and rises again with it. They professed -to have an especial knowledge of "the -place and nature of heaven, and the place and -nature of hell;" with the persons and natures of -devils and angels. The truculent ravings of these -fanatics may be seen in the works and letters of -Muggleton, still extant. In one letter he delivers -sentence of damnation on six-and-twenty Quakers -at once. "Inasmuch," he says, "as God hath -chosen me on earth to be the judge of blasphemy -against the Holy Ghost, therefore, in obedience to -my commission from the true God, I do pronounce -all these twenty-six persons whose names are -above written, cursed and damned in their souls -and bodies from the presence of God, elect men, -and angels in eternity." But this was little: he -declared all Quakers, and Behmenists, and numbers -of other people damned and cursed for ever.</p> - -<p>This repulsive apostle of perdition was tried at -the Old Bailey, and convicted of blasphemy in -1676, and died in 1697, at the age of eighty-eight.</p> - -<p>We have seen with what a desolating sweep the -bloody conflicts of the Parliament against the -encroachments of kingship prostrated the pursuits -of literature and art. We might have expected -that the return to established tranquillity under -restored monarchy would have caused a new -spring of genius. But in no reign in England, -and in no country except France, have debauchery -and the most hideous grossness so defiled the productions -of poetry and the drama.</p> - -<p>Amid the satyr crew of degraded men and -women who then represented the literary world of -England, some few, however, maintained a pure -and dignified career. At the head of these, -equally exalted above the rest by genius and -purity of life and morals, stood John Milton (<em>b.</em> -1608; <em>d.</em> 1674), one of the greatest epic poets, if not -the greatest, that the world has produced. Milton -had saturated himself with the poetic spirit, -imagery, and expression of the Prophetic bards, as -well as with knowledge of those of Greece and -Rome; and he brought to bear an immense mass -of varied learning on his subject with a power of -appropriation that gave to it a new and wonderful -life instead of the aspect of pedantry. The names -of people and places which he moulds into his -diction seem to open up to the imagination regions -of unimagined grandeur and beauty amid strains -of solemnest music; and the descriptions of -scenery, such as abound in "Comus," "Lycidas," -and "Arcades," as well as those diffused through -"Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Regained," -are like the most exquisite glimpses into the most -fair and solitary landscapes, breathing every rural -fragrance, and alive with all rural sounds and -harmonies.</p> - -<p>But it was when he was old, and poor, and -blind, and living among the hatred and the ribald -obscenity of the Restoration, that he had scaled -those sublime altitudes of genius, and seemed to -walk on the celestial hills amid their pure and -glorious inhabitants, rather than on earth surrounded -by rankest impurities and basest natures. -It was when</p> - -<p class="center">"His soul was like a star, and dwelt apart,"</p> - -<p>when he had fallen on evil days, that he had -alone allowed himself leisure to work out these -the earliest of his aspirations. Long before—when -he had returned from his pleasant sojourn in -Italy, where he saw Galileo in his prison, and was -himself received and honoured by the greatest -men of the land, as in anticipation of his after -glory, and was now engaged in defending the -sternest measures of the Republicans—in his -"Reasons of Church Government urged against -Prelacy" he unfolded the grand design of his -master work, but kept it self-denyingly in his -soul till he had done his duty to his country. The -views which he cherished in his literary ambition -are as exalted in their moral grandeur as his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span> -genius was in its native character. These were, -he said, "That what the greatest and choicest arts -of Athens, Rome, or modern Italy and those -Hebrews of old did for their country, I, in my -proportion, with this over and above of being a -Christian, might do for mine, not caring to be -named once abroad, though perhaps I could attain -unto that, but content me with these British -islands as my world." At this period, it seems, -he had not made up his mind whether he should -adopt "the epic form, as exemplified by Homer, -Virgil, and Tasso, or the dramatic, wherein -Sophocles and Euripides reign; or in the style of -those magnificent odes and hymns of Pindarus -and Callimachus, not forgetting that of all those -kinds of writing the highest models are to be -found in the Holy Scriptures in the Book of Job, -in the Song of Solomon, and the Apocalypse of -St. John, in the grand songs interspersed throughout -the Law and the Prophets." But in one thing -he was fixed—that the work should be one "not -raised from the heat of youth, or the vapours of -wine, like that which flows at waste from the pen -of some vulgar amorist, or the trencher fury of -some rhyming parasite, nor to be obtained by -the invocation of Dame Memory and her siren -daughters, but by devout prayer to that Eternal -Spirit who can enrich with all utterance and -knowledge, and sends out His seraphim with the -hallowed fire of His altar, to touch and purify the -lips of whom He pleases."</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"So prayed, more gaining than he asked, the bard,</div> - <div class="i0">Holiest of men."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>So he waited, fighting the battles of his country -side by side with Cromwell and Hampden, Pym -and Marvell; and when at length he found leisure -to achieve his last great triumph, he was left alone -in the field. He had outlived the long battle of -king and people, in which extraordinary men and -as extraordinary events had arisen, and shaken the -whole civilised world. Blind, poor, and old, as if -some special guardianship of Providence had -shielded him, or as if the very foes who had -dragged the dreaded Cromwell from his grave -feared the imprecations of posterity, and shrank -from touching that sacred head—there sat the -sublime old man at his door, feeling, with grateful -enjoyment, the genial sunshine falling upon him; -or dictating immortal verses to his daughters, as -the divine <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">afflatus</i> seized him.</p> - -<p>Much has been said of the small sum received -for his "Paradise Lost," and the slow recognition -which it met with. But it is not a fact that -"Paradise Lost" was coolly greeted. Long before -Addison gave his laudatory critique in the <cite>Spectator</cite>, -the glory of Milton's great poem had been -attested by Barrow, Andrew Marvell, Lord Anglesea, -who used often to visit him in Bunhill Fields, -by the Duke of Buckingham, and by many other -celebrated men. Sir John Denham appeared in -the House of Commons with a proof-sheet of -"Paradise Lost" in his hand, wet from the press, -and, being asked what it was, replied, "part of -the noblest poem that ever was written in any -language or age." The poem went into two -editions during the author's life, and he corrected -it for a third, which was published soon -after his death. In fact, Milton's fame had to -rise from under piled heaps of hatred and ignominy -on account of his politics and religion, for he -had attacked the Church as formidably as the -State in his treatise on "The Best Mode of Removing -Hirelings" out of it, as well as in his book -against prelacy; but it flung off all that load of -prejudice, and rose to universal acknowledgment.</p> - -<p>We need not detain ourselves with much detail -of his other poetical works, which are now familiar -to all readers. They consist of his early poems, -including the exquisite "L'Allegro" and "Il -Penseroso," his "Comus" and "Lycidas," a mask -and an elegy: his magnificent sonnets, his -"Samson Agonistes," a sacred drama, but constructed -strictly on the Grecian model. It has -been often said that Milton had no genius for the -drama; the "Samson" is a sufficient refutation of -that opinion. It is full of dramatic power and -interest; it is like some ancient piece of sculpture, -unique, grand, massive, and solemn; and, indeed, -had Milton devoted himself to the drama, it would -have been rather in the style of Sophocles than -of Shakespeare, for he was too lofty and earnest in -his whole nature for real humour, or for much -variation in mood and manner. He could never -have been a comic poet, but, had he willed it, -would undoubtedly have been a great tragic one. -The epic character, however, prevailed in him, and -decided his career.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_357.jpg" width="560" height="378" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>MILTON DICTATING "PARADISE LOST" TO HIS DAUGHTERS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.)</p> - -<p>(<cite>After the Picture by Munkacsy.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_357big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Besides these poetical works, were his odes, including -the splendid ones of the "Nativity" and -the "Passion," and a great number of translations -from the chief poets of Greece, Rome, and Italy, -original poems written in Latin and Italian, portion -of the Psalms "done into metre," and "Paradise -Regained." This last poem, though bearing -no degree of equality to the "Paradise Lost," is -yet a noble poem, and would have made a great -reputation for any other man. It is clearly not so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span> -well thought out and elaborated as the "Paradise -Lost," which was the dream of his youth, the love -and the labour of his prime. "Paradise Regained," -on the other hand, was the chance suggestion of -Thomas Elwood, his Latin reader, and closed with -the temptation of Christ in the wilderness, instead -of including the Crucifixion and Ascension, which -might have given the poet a scope equal in magnificence -to that of his former great epic. Of his -prose works we shall speak presently.</p> - -<p>The most popular of all poets of this period was -Abraham Cowley (<em>b.</em> 1618; <em>d.</em> 1667). He is a -striking example of those authors whom the critics -of the time cry to the skies, and whom more -discriminating posterity are willing to forget. -Cowley, in his lifetime, had ten times the fame of -Milton. Johnson, so unjust to many of our poets, -can hardly be said to be so to Cowley. He says—"Though -in his own time considered of unrivalled -excellence, and as having taken a flight beyond all -that went before him, Cowley's reputation could -not last. His character of writing was not his -own; he unhappily adopted that which was predominant. -He saw a certain way to present -praise; and, not sufficiently inquiring by what -means the ancients have continued to delight -through all the changes of human manners, he -contented himself with a deciduous laurel."</p> - -<p>He, in fact, for popularity's sake, preferred art, -or rather artifice, to nature. Yet there are many -beautiful thoughts, much real fancy and wit scattered -through his poems; but they are too often -buried in outrageous conceits and distorted metre. -He never seems really in earnest, but always -playing with his subject, and constructing gewgaws -instead of raising immortal structures.</p> - -<p>Cowley was a zealous Royalist; he went over -to France when the queen of Charles I. retired -thither, and became her secretary for her -private correspondence with Charles. Afterwards -he was sent over in the character of a spy on the -Republican party and its proceedings. "Under -pretence of privacy and retirement, he was to -take occasion of giving notice of the posture of -things in this nation;" but became suspected, and -was arrested. He then fawned on Cromwell, -wrote verses in his honour, which, however, were -only shown in private; and, when the Commonwealth -began to exhibit signs of dissolution, he -again hastened to the exiled Court in France, and -came back in the crowd of Royalists eager for promotion. -But his flattering of Cromwell had been -reported, and he was treated with coldness. Yet -after some time, through Buckingham and the Earl -of St. Albans, he obtained a lease of some lands, -and, after the ill reception of his play of "The -Cutter of Colman Street," he retired into the -country, first to Barn Elms, and next to Chertsey, -in Surrey, where he died in his forty-ninth year.</p> - -<p>The great satirist of the age was Samuel Butler -(<em>b.</em> 1600; <em>d.</em> 1680), who in his "Hudibras" introduced -a new kind of poetry—a comic doggerel, now -styled, as <em>sui generis</em>, Hudibrastic. Butler was -the son of a yeoman, and had been educated for -the Church without those connections which lead -to promotion. With an immense accumulation of -learning, and talent enough to have made half a -dozen bishops, he became at one time a clerk to -one Jeffreys, a justice of the peace at Earl's -Coomb, in Worcestershire, and afterwards to Sir -Samuel Luke, at Woodend, in Bedfordshire. In -these situations he gleaned the characters and -materials for his "Hudibras," a burlesque on the -Puritans. Sir Samuel Luke was the actual Hudibras. -The poem ridicules the Puritans in every -way, but especially for attempting to put down -bear-baiting; and accordingly the first canto—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"The adventure of the bear and fiddle</div> - <div class="i0">Is sung, but breaks off in the middle."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>Hudibras and his man Ralpho attack the bear, but -are defeated, and then Hudibras retires and makes -love to a rich widow. He is a Presbyterian, and -Ralpho an Independent; and in the course of the -story all the leading characters of the Commonwealth, -Cromwell, Fleetwood, Desborough, Lambert, -are ridiculed by name, as are Pym, Calamy, -Case, Byfield, Lentham, and the rest under -more or less transparent nicknames, as Ashley -Cooper, under the name of the "politician," and -John Lilburne, under that of "brother haberdasher." -The first part was published in 1663, -the second in 1664, and the third in 1678, -fourteen years later. Still the poem remained unfinished. -It did not require, however, even the -second part to make it famous. It was received -with one universal burst of laughter and applause -by the Royalists. Charles II. and his courtiers -were merrier over it than all, and Charles quoted -it continually with unfailing gusto. The Earl of -Dorset resolved to seize the opportunity, and introduce -the author, through Buckingham, to -Charles. Buckingham gave him an audience, but -just as they were entering on conversation, Buckingham -saw some ladies of loose character going -past, ran out after them, and the poet was not -only forgotten, but could never get a second interview. -Clarendon, however, promised to see him -duly rewarded, but never kept his word, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span> -Butler lived poor and died neglected, at the age -of eighty. This shameful neglect has been much -commented on; but no one seems to have reflected -that there may have been more in this than mere -neglect. Butler, in his double-edged satire, made -some very hard hits at the Church, and, while -ridiculing the Puritans, gave some not very light -back-strokes to the licentiousness of the Royalists. -He wrote an avowed "Satire on the Licentiousness -of the Age;" and in his third part so far vented -his resentment at his neglect as to satirise Charles -himself for being led by the apronstrings of his -numerous mistresses. He laughed at the sages -of the newly established Royal Society in his -"Elephant in the Moon;" and such a man is more -frequently kicked than rewarded. The Church -did not forget his sallies against it, and refused -him burial in Westminster Abbey. When he -wrote the questions and answers between the man -disguised as a devil and Hudibras—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"What makes a church a den of thieves?—</div> - <div class="i0">A dean, a chapter, and white sleeves.</div> - <div class="i0">What makes all points of doctrine clear?—</div> - <div class="i0">About two hundred pounds a year.</div> - <div class="i0">And that which was proved true before,</div> - <div class="i0">Prove false again?—Two hundred more"—</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>though the sting was intended for the Puritans, -the Puritans laid hold on the passage, and quoted -it against the Church, and this and like blows -rebounded, no doubt, on the poets head.</p> - -<p>The most illustrious name of this period next to -that of Milton is that of John Dryden (<em>b.</em> 1631; -<em>d.</em> 1701). He wrote almost every kind of poetry—satires, -odes, plays, romantic stories—and translated -Juvenal, Persius, the epistles of Ovid, and -Virgil. It was unfortunate for the genius of Dryden -that he was generally struggling with poverty, -and by marrying an aristocratic and uncongenial -wife, the sister of Sir Robert Howard, he was all -the more compelled to exert his powers to live -in the style which their circumstances demanded. -Hence he produced an immense mass of writings -which added little to his fame. Foremost amongst -these are his plays, nearly thirty in number, -which were mostly unsuccessful, and which -abound with such gross indecencies that, had they -even high merit otherwise, they would be found to -be unperusable. He had the presumption to new-model -Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" -and the "Tempest"—two of the most poetical compositions -in existence—and blurred them with the -foul leprosy of obscenity. He treated the "Paradise -Lost" in the same way; nor did his necessities -lead him to these enormities only; but there -is little doubt they drove him to apostatise from -his religion, and from his original political faith. -His first poem of any note was a most eulogistic -elegy on the death of Cromwell, in which, amongst -many other such things, he said—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Heav'n in his portrait showed a workman's hand,</div> - <div class="i1">And drew it perfect, yet without a shade."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>His very next poem, and that of some length, was -"Astræa Redux; a Poem on the Happy Restoration -and Return of his Sacred Majesty Charles -II.," immediately followed by "A Panegyric on -his Coronation," in which he heaps still more -glowing praise on the young royal libertine, and -flings dust as liberally at his late idol:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"While our cross stars denied us Charles's bed,</div> - <div class="i0">Whom our first flames and virgin love did wed,</div> - <div class="i0">For his long absence Church and State did groan,</div> - <div class="i0">Madness the pulpit, faction seized the throne;</div> - <div class="i0">Experienced age in deep despair was lost,</div> - <div class="i0"><em>To see the rebel thrive</em>, the loyal crossed."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>The accomplished sycophant received as his reward -the office of Poet Laureate, with three -hundred pounds a year; and he paid officiously -more than his peppercorn of praise in the "Annus -Mirabilis, or Year of Wonders, 1666," in which -the sea fights with the Dutch and the Fire of -London were commemorated in elegiac stanzas, -and the most fulsome and almost impious adulation -was poured in showers on both the king and -his heir apparent, the Duke of York—not forgetting -an especial poetical address to the duchess -on her husband's victories over the Hollanders. -No doubt Dryden made himself sure that his -Laureate salary was safe, but he was mistaken. -James, though "the best who ever bore the -name," could forget benefits, and even flatteries; -but he never forgot an ill turn, or anything that -endangered his great design of restoring Popery; -and Dryden, to please the Church and the late -king, whom he did not know to be at heart a -Papist, had written his "Religio Laici," in which -he had pulled the Catholic Church to pieces, -and lauded superlatively the Anglican hierarchy. -James first took away his butt of sack, and then -his salary; whereupon Dryden directly turned -Catholic, and wrote "The Hind and the Panther," -to beslaver Popery, kick down Protestantism, and -reconcile the public to James's invidious scheme -of abolishing the Test Act for his own purposes. -This succeeded, and Dryden continued to receive -his pay, and do his dirty work during James's -reign. It was expected that he would wheel -round again on William and Mary's success; but -he lived and died Catholic.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span></p> - -<p>With all respect for the genius of Dryden, it is -thus impossible for a truthful historian to take -any but a melancholy view of his personal character, -and of the mass of his writings. They are, -in fact, mostly on subjects that do not fall within -the legitimate province of true poetry. His -"Absalom and Achitophel"—written to ridicule -Monmouth and Shaftesbury, with their accomplice, -Buckingham, under the name of "Zimri," and to -damage the Whig party generally—is transcendently -clever; but even the highest satirical and -political verse is not poetry—it is only cleverness -in verse; and this is the grand characteristic of -Dryden's poetry—it is masterly verse. There is -no creative faculty in it; it is a matter of style -rather than of soul and sentiment; and in style -he is a great master. This made Milton say -that Dryden was a good rhymester, but no poet; -and in Milton's conception of poetry, and in -that which has taught us to venerate Homer, -Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Shelley, and -others, Dryden was not a poet of the highest -rank. A modern critic has given him great -credit for "creative power and genius" in his -adaptations of some of Chaucer's tales; but this -is a mistake. The creative genius is Chaucer's; -Dryden has only remodelled the tales in modern -language; the ideas, the invention, are all Chaucer's; -Dryden's share consists in his wonderful, -elastic, musical diction, in which he undoubtedly -excels every English author in the heroic measure. -Pope's is more artificial, but is far behind in -musical rhythm and elastic vigour. Dryden's -heroic verse is music itself, and music full of its -highest elements. In it the trumpet sings, the -drum beats, the organ blows in solemn thunder, -the flute and fife shrill forth eloquence, and all -mingled instruments seem to chorus in a combination -of blissful sounds and feelings. In the latter -part of his life Dryden, standing independent of -all Government drudgery, shows more worthily -both in life and verse. His translation of Virgil -yet remains the best in our language. He had -done with his contemptible squabbles with Elkanah -Settle and Shadwell, who won from him the -honours and profits of the theatre; and his -"Fables," as he called them—tales from Chaucer—seemed -to inspire him with a more really poetic -feeling. In them he seemed to grow purer, and -to open his soul to the influences of classical -and natural beauty, to the charms of nature, and -of old romance. These tales will always remain -the truest monuments of Dryden's fame. His -odes, much as they have been praised, are rather -feats of art than outpourings of poetic inspiration. -His "Alexander's Feast" is but a description of -the effects of music on a drunken conqueror and a -courtesan. Who now would dream of placing it -by the side of Coleridge's "Ode to France," or -Wordsworth's "Intimations of Immortality from -Recollections of Childhood"? But any one turning -to "Palamon and Arcite" will find himself in a real -fairyland of poetry, and perceive how much Keats, -Leigh Hunt, and other modern poets have formed -themselves on his style, and have even adopted his -triplets.</p> - -<p>We have given so much space to these the -greatest poets of this period, that we have little -for the rest. We have mentioned Andrew Marvell's -beautiful ballad, "The Emigrants" (p. 180), -and Wither's poems (p. 178), in our previous review. -Sir John Denham's descriptive poem, -"Cooper's Hill," had great popularity, and is a -good specimen of that class of verse. Waller was a -reigning favourite for his lyrics, which are elegant, -but destitute of any high principle or emotion, as -the man was, who wrote a panegyric on Cromwell -and another on Charles II.; and when Charles -told him he thought that on Cromwell the better, -replied, "Sir, we poets never excel so well in -writing truth as in writing fiction." Amongst the -courtiers of Charles, Buckingham and Rochester -were poets. Buckingham's comedy, "The Rehearsal," -which was written to ridicule the heroic -drama copied by Dryden from the French, still -finds admirers; and the genius of Rochester was -unquestionable, but still inferior to his obscenity. -Sir Charles Sedley, another courtier, wrote comedies -and songs almost equally famous for their dissoluteness. -Charles Cotton, the author of "Virgil -Travestied," was a writer of much wit, but nearly -equal grossness, though he was the intimate friend -of Izaak Walton, who was also no mean poet. -The Earls of Roscommon and Dorset were popular, -the first for his "Essay on Translated Verse," -written in verse, and the other for his splendid -ballad written at sea, commencing "To all you -ladies now on land." Pomfret, a clergyman, wrote -a didactic poem called "The Choice," which Dr. -Johnson declared to be more frequently read than -almost any poem in the language, and which -Southey believed to be the most popular poem in -the language. It is, in reality, one of the common-places -gone by. Sir William Davenant, a reputed -son of Shakespeare, wrote "Gondibert," a -heroic poem in elegiac stanzas, which has good -parts, but, as a whole, is intolerably dull. Sir -Richard Fanshawe was celebrated as a translator,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span> -especially of Guarini's "Pastor Fido." Another -translator from Greek and Spanish was Thomas -Stanley, the learned editor of Æschylus, and the -author of "The History of Philosophy." Besides -these may be mentioned Bulteel, a popular songwriter; -Philip Ayres, a lyrical poet; Dr. Henry -More, author of a poem, "The Life of the Soul," -in Spenserian stanzas; and Flatman, an imitator -of Cowley.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_361.jpg" width="406" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SAMUEL BUTLER.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_361big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The dramatic writing of the period was rather -voluminous than first-rate. Davenant wrote -above twenty plays, masks, etc.; but the most -eminent dramatists were the unfortunate Otway, -Nathaniel Lee, Sir George Etherege, Wycherley, -Crowne, Southern, and Jasper Mayne. Otway's -"Orphan" and "Venice Preserved" still maintain -their fame; he wrote altogether ten plays. -Nathaniel Lee wrote ten tragedies, a great mixture -of talent and bombast. The most celebrated -of them are his "Theodosius" and his "Rival -Queens." Crowne wrote seventeen plays, in -which the selections made by Charles Lamb in his -"Dramatic Specimens" show that there exists -perhaps the most pre-eminent dramatic genius of -the age. Etherege is the author of three comedies -of great polish and brilliancy, and set the pattern -for Wycherley, and for Congreve, Farquhar, and -Vanbrugh in the next period. Wycherley wrote -four comedies equally remarkable for vigour and -indecency. In fact, it is scarcely necessary to -repeat that the whole of the dramatic literature -of this period is thoroughly disfigured with -the coarsest and most revolting sensuality and -obscenity. Southern belongs properly to the -next era, as he produced only two of his plays -during this period—his tragedy of "The Loyal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span> -Brother," and his comedy of "The Disappointment." -Shadwell and Settle inundated the stage -with worthless plays; and Mrs. Aphra Behn, a -courtesan as well as writer, was the author of a -whole host of comedies, novels, and poems. Of the -two comedies by Jasper Mayne—who, by-the-by, -was a clergyman—"The City Match" is the better. -Perhaps we ought not to close this review of the -poets without a mention of the most successful -poetaster of the age, Nahum Tate, who was in -such estimation as to be allowed to supply our -churches with his most wretched version of the -Psalms, and to be employed by Dryden to continue -his satire of "Absalom and Achitophel."</p> - -<p>At the head of the prose writers of this period, -as of the poets, we must place Milton. Though -his writings are for the most part on controversial -subjects, they were subjects of such immense importance -that they acquired a lasting value. They -bear a certain relation to his poetry. This in its -highest exhibition celebrated the triumph of the -Deity over the powers of evil. His prose writings -were employed to support the struggle of -liberty against the advocates of all political evil—absolutism. -Poetry seemed to have become the -habitual expression of his mind, and, therefore, -there is in his prose style a certain awkwardness -and stiffness. He moves like David in armour -that he had not well proved; and his utterance, -solemn and full of deep thought and erudition, is, -as it were, forced and formal. But when he -warms up with the greatness of his subject, he -runs into a strain of grave eloquence which has -scarcely an equal in the language.</p> - -<p>The great prose works of Milton comprise his -"History of England" from the earliest times -to the Conquest, including all the old legends -of the chroniclers, the arrival of Brute from -Rome, the story of King Lear, and those fine -fables which have been the storehouses of poets -and dramatists; his "Tractate on Education;" -his magnificent "Areopagitica;" his "Tenure of -Kings and Magistrates;" the "Eikonoklastes;" -the "Defensio pro Populo Anglicano" and -"Defensio Secunda"—vindicating the conduct of -England in deposing impracticable kings; his -"Treatise on the Best Manner of Removing Hirelings -out of the Church;" his essay on "Civil -Power in Ecclesiastical Causes;" his "State -Letters," written at the command of Cromwell; -an "Art of Logic;" a "Treaty of True Religion, -Heresy, Schism, Toleration, and what Best Means -may be used against the Growth of Popery;" and -his "Familiar Letters," in Latin. Besides these he -left in manuscript a "Brief History of Muscovy," -and a "System of Theology"—both since published. -It may be safely said that scarcely any -other writer has left such a sound and profound -body of knowledge of all that is necessary for the -maintenance of freedom, civil and religious, in -the State.</p> - -<p>Dryden is also a vigorous prose writer; but -nothing can be more characteristic of the two men -than the prose of Milton and Dryden. The one is -grave, solemn, independent, upholding the sacred -interests of religion and liberty; the other, that of -Dryden—besides short lives of Polybius, Lucian, -and Plutarch, and an "Essay on Dramatic Literature"—consists -chiefly of a mass of his dramatic -writings, couched in the most extravagant and -unmanly terms of flattery. It is in vain to say -that this was the spirit of the time; we have only -to turn to Milton and behold that a great soul -despised such sycophancy as much then as now.</p> - -<p>Clarendon's "History of the Rebellion" and -Memoirs of his own life assume a permanent importance -from the position which he occupied in -the struggles of those times; as literary compositions -they are unique in style, but as historical -authority, it is necessary to read them with -caution.</p> - -<p>Hobbes (<em>b.</em> 1588; <em>d.</em> 1679), the celebrated philosopher -of Malmesbury, was one of the most powerful -minds of the age. By his works, called the -"Leviathan," his treatise on "Human Nature," on -"Liberty and Necessity," and his "Decameron -Physiologicum," with others of the like kind, he -became the head of a great school of writers, which -found wide acceptance in France, Germany, and -England. Mr. Mill says—"Hobbes is a great -name in philosophy, on account both of what he -taught, and the extraordinary impulse which he -communicated to the spirit of free inquiry in -Europe." But, on the other hand, it has been well -observed by a modern writer that, "as for what is -properly to be called his system of philosophy—and -it is to be observed that in his own writings -his views in metaphysics, in morals, in politics, -are all bound and built up together into one consistent -whole—the question of the truth or falsehood -of that seems to be completely settled. Nobody -now professes more than a partial Hobbism. -If so much of the creed of the philosopher of -Malmesbury as affirms the non-existence of any -essential distinction between right and wrong, the -non-existence of conscience or the moral sense, -the non-existence of anything beyond mere sensation -in either emotion or intelligence, and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span> -similar negatives of his moral and metaphysical -doctrine, has still its satisfied disciples, who is -now a Hobbist either in politics or mathematics? -Yet certainly it is in these latter departments -that we must look for the greater part of what is -absolutely original in the notions of this teacher. -Hobbes's philosophy of human nature is not amiss -as a philosophy of Hobbes's own human nature. -Without passions or imagination himself, and -steering his own course through life by the mere -calculations of an enlightened selfishness, one half -of the broad mass of Humanity was to him nothing -better than a blank."</p> - -<p>Hobbes was a thorough advocate of personal -monarchy, as is testified by his "De Corpore -Politico," his "Leviathan," and "Behemoth," the -last being a history of the Civil War from 1640 -to 1660. Hobbes lived to a great age, praised by -his admirers as an example of independence. His -arguments were ably answered by Cudworth, by -Clarendon, Bishops Cumberland, Bramhall, and -Tenison, by Dr. Henry More in his "History of -Philosophy;" by Eachard, and others.</p> - -<p>A writer who has had a different influence was -Richard Baxter (<em>b.</em> 1615; <em>d.</em> 1691). Baxter held -the same position in the religious world as Halifax -in the political one. Halifax gloried in the name -of a "Trimmer." He was constantly occupying -the middle post in the world of party. Sometimes -one party congratulated itself that it had him, but -presently it found him defending measures of its -opponents. In fact, he was an independent -thinker, and, extending his hand to either party -as he thought it right at the moment, he turned -the balance of conflicting opinions. Exactly so -with Baxter; a clergyman of the Church of -England, he was yet a decided Nonconformist. -He was a Monarchist in theory, but was so disgusted -with the Royalists for their licentiousness -and notions of absolutism, that he went over to -the camp of Cromwell and preached in it. But -when Cromwell assumed the supreme power, again -Baxter was on the other side, condemning to his -face his usurpation. Baxter's mediating views led -him to hope, on the return of Charles II., that -Nonconformity and the Church might shake -hands. He believed in Charles's "Healing -Declaration," and drew up an accommodating -Liturgy, but found himself deceived; the Hierarchy -rejected such compromises. He became a sufferer -from Nonconformity, and yet remained an advocate -of Conformity to a certain extent. So was -it in his theological views; with one hand he -embraced Calvin, with the other Arminius. He -rejected Calvin's doctrine of Reprobation, yet accepted -his theory of Election—that is, that certain -persons are pre-ordained from all eternity as instruments -for certain work by God; but he -agreed with Arminius's assertion that all men -whatever are capable of salvation, for that Christ -distinctly declared that He died for all, and that -whoever believed should be saved. The views of -Baxter were adopted by large numbers, who became -a sect under the name of "Baxterians;" but -they were gradually absorbed into the different -denominations of the Independents, Baptists, etc., -who may now be considered as generally holding -Baxter's mild and amiable opinions. Watts -and Doddridge were eminent professors of Baxter's -creed. The chief works of Baxter are his -"Methodus Theologiæ," his "Catholic Theology," -and his "Saints' Everlasting Rest." The last is -by far the most popular. It has been circulated -by tens of thousands into all quarters where the -English language reaches, and, like the "Pilgrim" -of Bunyan, is to be found on the shelves of the -cottage and the farm in the remotest nooks. Perhaps -no book ever gave so much consolation to -the spirits of so many simple and earnest seekers -after religious rest as this work of the venerable -Richard Baxter.</p> - -<p>Bunyan (<em>b.</em> 1628; <em>d.</em> 1688) was a contemporary -of Baxter, but a man of a more robust and sturdy -temper. Lying twelve years in Bedford gaol for -his religious faith, he there produced his immortal -"Pilgrim's Progress," a work which, as the production -of an illiterate tinker, was contemptuously -ignored by the critics and the learned of the time, -till it had spread like a flood over the whole land -and was become the delight of the nation. The -"Pilgrim" is a wonderful work for any man, and -Bunyan was undoubtedly a genius of the very first -class.</p> - -<p>With Baxter and Bunyan, the gentle angler, -Izaak Walton (<em>b.</em> 1593; <em>d.</em> 1683), claims a place -for his "Lives of Religious Worthies," and not less -for his "Complete Angler," one of the first works, -along with "Percy's Reliques of Ancient English -Poetry," which awoke the love of nature.</p> - -<p>Side by side with these worthies stands John -Evelyn (<em>b.</em> 1620; <em>d.</em> 1706), a man who mixed -with the Court in Charles II.'s reign without -defiling himself. He was the model of a -true English gentleman—pious, honourable, and -exerting himself at once to maintain sound morals -and to promote science. His Memoirs present a -lively picture of the dissolute age in which he -lived; and he sought to draw men away from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span> -sink of corruption by encouraging them to plant -and cultivate their estates. For this he wrote his -"Sylva; or, a Discourse of Forest Trees," still a -standard and most delightful work. He was one -of the first members and promoters of the Royal -Society, and wrote "Numismata, a Discourse of -Medals;" a "Parallel of Ancient and Modern -Architecture;" a work on Theology; and the first -"Gardener's Almanac."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_364.jpg" width="404" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JOHN BUNYAN.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_364big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>As a memoir-writer of the same period Samuel -Pepys (<em>b.</em> 1632; <em>d.</em> 1703) is more popular than -Evelyn. Pepys was Secretary to the Admiralty -in the reigns of Charles II. and James II.; and -his inimitably-gossiping volumes of whatever he -saw during those times have been often reprinted -and read everywhere with great unction. Pepys, -besides this, continued a most invaluable collection -of old ballads begun by Selden, from which Bishop -Percy amply helped himself in collecting his -"Reliques;" so that to Pepys and John Selden we -really owe much of that great revolution in taste -and poetry which we ascribe almost exclusively -to Percy. Another Memorialist of this period -was Sir William Temple, a man who, like Evelyn, -maintained a high moral status, and was held in -great esteem for his philosophical essays. In -Scotland Sir George Mackenzie stood conspicuous -for his "Institution of the Laws of Scotland," -and not less for various works of taste, as his -"Aretina; or, The Serious Romance," and his -"Religio Stoici; or, The Virtuoso." Burnet, the -author of "The Sacred Theory of the Earth," also -belongs to this period. In his work the Biblical -account of the origin of the earth is made the -foundation of a scientific treatise.</p> - -<p>The Church at this period possessed great and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span> -eloquent men—Tillotson, Sherlock, Barrow, South, -Stillingfleet, and others. Their sermons remain -as storehouses of religious argument. They were -nearly all of the Arminian school. Barrow was, -besides, one of the ablest geometricians that have -appeared.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_365.jpg" width="560" height="430" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GRESHAM COLLEGE, WHERE THE ROYAL SOCIETY WAS FIRST HOUSED.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_365big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>During the period now under review a great -step in the progress of science was made by the -foundation of the Royal Society. The honour of -originating this famous society belongs to Mr. -Theodore Haak, a German, who was resident -in London. At his suggestion a number of -scientific gentlemen, including Dr. Goddard, a -physician in Wood Street, but also a preparer -of lenses for telescopes; Dr. Wallis, the mathematician; -Dr. Wilkins, afterwards Bishop of -Chester; Drs. Ent, Gisson, and Merrit, and Mr. -Samuel Foster, professor of astronomy in Gresham -College. These meetings began in 1645, -and were held at one of their houses, or in -Gresham College, or at apartments in Cheapside. -Though some of these gentlemen were -removed by promotion, others continued to -join it, as Boyle, Evelyn, Wren—afterwards Sir -Christopher. In 1662 a royal charter was obtained, -and in the following year additional privileges -were granted under a second charter. The -first President was Lord Brouncker, and the first -council consisted of Mr.—afterwards Lord—Brereton, -Sir Kenelm Digby, Sir Robert Moray, -Sir William Petty, Sir Paul Neile, Messrs. Boyle, -Slingsbey, Christopher and Matthew Wren, Balle, -Areskine, Oldenburg, Henshaw, and Dudley -Palmer, and Drs. Wilkins, Wallis, Timothy -Clarke, and Ent. Balle was the first treasurer, -and Wilkins and Oldenburg the first secretaries. -The Society was pledged not to meddle with -questions of theology or State, and their chief -subjects of notice were the physical sciences, anatomy, -medicine, astronomy, mathematics, navigation, -statistics, chemistry, magnetism, mechanics, -and kindred topics. In the spring of the second -year the Society numbered a hundred and fifteen -members; amongst them, besides many noblemen -and gentlemen of distinction, we find the names -of Aubrey, Dr. Barrow, Dryden, Cowley, Waller, -and Sprat, afterwards Bishop of Rochester. -The Society commenced the publication of its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span> -Transactions in 1665, which became a record of the -progress of physical and mathematical science for -a long series of years.</p> - -<p>During the short period over which the present -review ranges—that is, from the Restoration in -1660 to the Revolution in 1688, that is, only -twenty-eight years—some of the greatest discoveries -in science were made which have occurred -in the history of the world; namely, the discovery -of the circulation of the blood by Dr. William -Harvey; the improvement of the tables of -logarithms constructed by Napier; the invention -of fluxions by Newton, and the calculus of -fluxions, or the differential calculus, by Leibnitz; -the discovery of the perfected theory of gravitation, -by Newton; the foundation of modern -astronomy, by Flamsteed; and the construction of -a steam-engine by the Marquis of Worcester, -originally suggested by Solomon de Caus, a -Frenchman.</p> - -<p>Napier (<em>b.</em> 1550; <em>d.</em> 1617) published his tables -of Logarithms in 1614, under the title of "Mirifici -Logarithmorum Canonis Descriptio," and in the -same or the next year he and his friend, Henry -Briggs, gave them their improved and perfect -form, for from that time to the present they -have admitted of no further improvement. They -came from the hands of their author and his -assisting friend perfect. The principle of their -construction Napier did not declare; but this -important revelation was made by Briggs and -Napier's son in 1619. By these tables Napier -superseded the long and laborious arithmetical -operations which great calculators had previously -to undergo, and which the most simple trigonometrical -operations demanded. Without this -wonderful aid even Newton could not have lived -to formulate the principles that he drew from, -and established for ever upon, the material accumulated -by prior mathematicians. Napier in fact -furnished by these tables a scale by which not only -the advantages which he proposed of shortening -arithmetical and trigonometrical labour were effected, -but which enabled his successors to weigh -the atmosphere and take the altitudes of mountains, -compute the lengths and areas of all curves, -and to introduce a calculus by which the most -unexpected results should be reached. "By -reducing to a few days the labour of many -months," says Laplace, "it doubles, as it were, -the life of an astronomer, besides freeing him -from the errors and disgust inseparable from -long calculations."</p> - -<p>We are not, however, to suppose that Napier -was the first who had a perception of the nature -of logarithms. In almost all grand discoveries the -man of genius stands upon the shoulders of preceding -geniuses to reach that culminating point -which brings out the full discovery. In very -early ages it was known that if the terms of an -arithmetical and geometrical series were placed in -juxtaposition, the multiplication, division, involution, -and evolution of the latter would answer to -and might actually be effected by a corresponding -addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division -of the former. Archimedes employed this principle -in his "Arenarius," a treatise on the number -of the sands. Stifel, in his "Arithmetica Integra," -published at Nürnberg in 1644, exhibits -a still clearer notion of the use of this principle; -but the merit of Napier was this—that whilst -those who preceded him could only apply the -principle to certain numbers, he discovered the -means of applying it to all, and thus was enabled -to construct and bring to perfection at once his -admirable tables. There was an attempt to show -that he had stolen the idea from Longomontanus, -but that great mathematician settles this matter -by himself attributing the whole invention to -Napier.</p> - -<p>Besides the Logarithms, Napier—or, to give -him his full title, Lord Napier of Merchiston—is -also noted for his elegant theorems, called -his "Analogies," and his theorem of "the five -circular parts," which furnishes a ready solution -of all the cases of right-angled spherical -triangles. He also invented what are called -"Napier's Bones," to facilitate the performance -of multiplication and division; instruments of -such value, that had he not discovered the -logarithms, they would have, to a certain extent, -supplied their place.</p> - -<p>The discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (<em>b.</em> 1642; -<em>d.</em> 1727), however, put the crown to the glories -of this period. Their extent can only be learnt -by a perusal of his "Principia; or, Mathematical -Principles of Natural Philosophy," containing his -complete theory of the laws of the universe, based -on the grand doctrine of Gravitation, of which he -published afterwards a popular view under the -title of "De Mundi Systemate," enunciating the -truths contained in the third book of the "Principia;" -his "Optics," containing his theories of -light and colour, founded on a host of curious experiments; -his "De Quadratura Curvarum," containing -an exposition of his method of fluxions; -his "Method of Fluxions and Analysis by Infinite -Series." A great many of those discoveries were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span> -made known to the public through his communications -to the Royal Society. The announcement of -his binomial theorem, by which he was able to determine -the area and rectification of curves, the surface -and contacts of the solids formed by their revolution -and the position of their centre of gravity—a -theory of infinite avail in his determination of the -laws of the planetary bodies—is dated 1664, that -of his "Method of Fluxions," 1665; but he did -not claim this till 1669. He professed to have -written a tract on the subject in 1664, but he did -not produce this tract till he had seen some of the -same results published in Mercator's "Logarithmotechnia," -four years afterwards. In 1666 he -demonstrated the great law of gravitation, and -applied it to the planets, but was baffled in his -attempts to apply it to the moon through a false -estimate of the earth's diameter. This was corrected -by Picard's measurement of an arc of the -meridian, with which Newton became acquainted -in 1682, and then after sixteen years' delay he -completed his system. But his "Principia" was -not published collectively till 1687; his "Optics" -till 1704, with his "De Quadratura Curvarum."</p> - -<p>Unparalleled as were the achievements of Newton, -these were not accomplished, any more than -any other great performances, without substantial -hints and assistance from preceding or contemporary -genius. The very principle of gravitation -had been pointed out by Robert Hooke, and Newton -was compelled to admit, and offered to publish -a scholium acknowledging the fact, that Hooke, -Wren, and Halley had already deduced this law—that -the gravitation of the planets was as the -curvic square of the distance—from Kepler's -second law of analogy between the periodic times -and the mean distances of the planets. Newton's -defenders say that he probably made this concession -for the sake of peace; but was Newton -likely to surrender a great truth, vitally affecting -his fame for science and discovery, if there were -not solid grounds for it?</p> - -<p>Still less to the credit of Newton was his conduct -towards Leibnitz in the dispute regarding -the Differential Calculus. Leibnitz having heard -through Oldenburg that Newton had made discoveries -as to the measurement of tangents, in -fact, as to his binomial theorem, and as to -fluxions, desired to have some account of them, -and Newton, through Oldenburg, communicated -to Leibnitz his binomial theorem, but concealed -his knowledge of fluxions under a most abstruse -anagram, which was formed from the words, -"<i xml:lang="la" lang="la">Data Equatione quotcunque fluentes quantitates -envolvente fluxiones invenire, et vice versâ</i>." It -has been well observed that if Leibnitz could draw -any light from that anagram, he must have -possessed superhuman sagacity. Leibnitz, however, -having himself made most important discoveries -in fluxions, at once and candidly communicated -the theory of what he called, and what -is still called, the differential calculus, to Newton. -This, Newton, in a scholium included in his "Principia," -admitted to be a method hardly differing -from his own except in the form of words and -symbols. Yet in the third edition of the -"Principia" he omitted this confession, claimed -the exclusive invention of the differential calculus -for himself, and branded Leibnitz as a plagiarist. -The fact was, that Leibnitz had gone a step -beyond Newton. Newton had discovered fluxions, -but Leibnitz had discovered the fluxionary calculus, -or, as he termed it, the differential calculus.</p> - -<p>Still more discreditable was the conduct of Newton -to Flamsteed (<em>b.</em> 1646; <em>d.</em> 1719). Flamsteed -was the first Astronomer Royal. Charles II. established -an observatory at Greenwich, one of -the best things he ever did. The observatory -was, in fact, the queen's house in Greenwich -Park, and Flamsteed was appointed Astronomical -Observator, with the magnificent salary of a -hundred pounds a year, and not a single instrument, -not even a telescope. It was in vain that -he applied for instruments; and his appointment -might have been a sinecure had he not procured -instruments at his own expense, and taught pupils -to maintain himself. But through all these difficulties -he went on making observations, and in -time not only made a mass of the most valuable -lunar observations, but had made a map and -catalogue of the stars, such as there had never -been before for completeness and accuracy. His -catalogue included three thousand three hundred -stars, "whose places were more accurate than any -determined in the next fifty years, and whose -selection and nomenclature has served as a basis -to every catalogue since that time." Bailey, -Flamsteed's biographer, claims—and very justly -claims—that the commencement of modern -astronomy dates from his observations, for no -one would care to go beyond them to compare -any made in our day.</p> - -<p>Newton was very intimate with Flamsteed, and -with good cause, for he depended on his supplying -him with the necessary observations to enable -him to establish his lunar theory, and it is on -evidence that Flamsteed furnished him with every -lunar observation that he made. When Flamsteed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span> -had completed his catalogue, he proposed to -publish it, and Prince George of Denmark, knowing -that Flamsteed had expended on his instruments -two thousand pounds more than his salary, -offered to pay for the printing. A committee, -consisting of Newton, Sir Christopher Wren, Dr. -Arbuthnot, Dr. Gregory, and Mr. Roberts, was -appointed to superintend this publication. The -whole story, based on letters and documents of -the time found at Greenwich observatory, is too -long to be detailed here; but the upshot of it -is, that the catalogue and observations of Flamsteed -were printed and published, not as his own, -but as those of Halley. In vain did Flamsteed -protest against this most scandalous deed. Newton -and his associates were strong in the favour -of the queen and Halifax, and Newton used -the most opprobrious language to the man by -whose labours he had so greatly benefited, and -whom he had now helped to rob of his dearest -possession—his fame. The softest name that he -gave him was that of "puppy." Flamsteed could -obtain no redress—though they had broken his seal -to come at his catalogue—till after the death of -Queen Anne and Halifax, when he was enabled to -get possession of the remainder of the books called -Halley's, styled, "Historia Celestis libri duo." -He immediately began preparations for publishing -them himself, and demanded his MSS. from Newton, -who refused, and was sued for them by Flamsteed. -In the meantime, to avoid being compelled -to give up the MSS. to the rightful owner, Newton -handed them over to Halley! Every insult -was offered to Flamsteed. He was summoned -before the Royal Society to answer whether he -had his instruments in order, a matter in which -the Society had no authority, and what made the -matter more atrocious, the instruments were -Flamsteed's own. Newton even twitted Flamsteed -with his one hundred pounds a year salary, -at which Flamsteed indignantly reminded him -that he had been receiving three hundred pounds -a year himself ever since he came to London. -Flamsteed's work was not completed till after his -death, when it appeared under the name of "Historia -Cœlestis Britannica."</p> - -<p>It is difficult to conceive more overbearing, unjust, -and unworthy proceedings than those of Newton -against Flamsteed. Sir David Brewster, in -his "Life of Newton," endeavoured to defend -him by asserting that Flamsteed did not appreciate -Newton's theory; as if Flamsteed was -not quite at liberty to have his own opinion, an -opinion shared by many at the time, and which -theory, in the first edition of the "Principia," the -only one then out, was in some respects grossly incorrect—"rejected," -as Flamsteed remarked, "by -the heavens." Brewster also urged that Flamsteed -showed unwillingness to furnish Newton with the -requisite lunar observations. He was under no -obligation whatever to do so; yet, as proved, he -furnished him with all he had made. It is contended -also that the committee had a right to -break the seal of Flamsteed to get at his catalogue—an -assertion than which nothing can be -more immoral.</p> - -<p>On the whole view of this case, as it rests on -broad facts, we are compelled, in justice between -man and man, to declare our opinion that Flamsteed -was not only one of the most illustrious -astronomers which England has ever produced, but -also one of the most ill-used of men; and without -derogating an iota from the scientific merits of Sir -Isaac Newton, it is clear, from his conduct to both -Leibnitz and Flamsteed, that he adds another -proof to that of Bacon, that intellectual greatness -and moral greatness do not necessarily reside in -the same mind.</p> - -<p>Amongst the other men of mathematical note in -this period we may mention Henry Briggs, the -coadjutor of Napier. His "Trigonometrica Britannica" -showed that he had had a near view of -the binomial theorem afterwards discovered by -Newton. This work was published after his -death by his friend, Henry Gellibrand, also an -able mathematician. Thomas Harriott, author of -a work on algebra—"Artis Analyticæ Praxis"—is -said to have discovered the solar spots before -Galileo, and the satellites of Jupiter only a few -days after Galileo. Jeremiah Horrocks was beforehand -with Newton in the theory of the lunar -motions, which Newton afterwards demonstrated -to be the necessary consequence of gravitation. -Dr. Wallis, Crabtree, Gascoigne, Milbourn, Shakerley, -and Gunter—the author of Gunter's Scale—were -all men of high merit in those branches of -science. Barrow we have already mentioned as a -distinguished geometrician as well as a theologian. -He was only excelled in optics by Newton himself; -and in his "Sectiones Geometricæ" he nearly -anticipated Newton's principle of fluxions. James -Gregory, professor of mathematics at Edinburgh, -the first constructor of a reflecting telescope; and -his nephew, David Gregory, of Oxford; John -Collins, author of various philosophical works and -papers; Roger Cotes, author of "Harmonia Mensurarum," -etc.; and Dr. Brook Taylor, author of -"Methodus Incrementorum," were all substantial<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span> -contributors to the higher sciences at this era. -Halley, whose name occurs so unfavourably in -the affair with Flamsteed, succeeded him as -Astronomer Royal, and is noted as being the first -to find out the exact return of a comet which -bears his name, and for his catalogue of the -southern stars, published in 1679. Besides his -profound astronomical talents, he added in various -ways to the knowledge of the time. He was the -first to construct tables of mortality; introduced -improvements in the diving-bell; and wrote -treatises on the variations of the compass, on the -trade winds, and other subjects.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_369.jpg" width="418" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SIR ISAAC NEWTON.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_369big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In pneumatics and chemistry the Honourable -Robert Boyle made some discoveries, and considerably -improved the air-pump; and Robert -Hooke, already mentioned as one of the earliest -theorists of gravitation, also had a pretty clear -notion of the gas now termed oxygen. Thomas -Sydenham is a great name in medicine of this -time; and the department of natural history took -a new start under the hands of Ray, Willoughby, -Lester, and others. Ray published his "Historia -Plantarum," and edited Willoughby's works on -birds and fishes. Conchology was advanced by -Martin Lester, and Woodward opened up the -new region of mineralogy. The two most extraordinary -discoveries, however, next to those of -Newton, were those of the circulation of the blood -by Harvey (<em>b.</em> 1578; <em>d.</em> 1657), and of the steam-engine -by Solomon de Caus, introduced into England -by the Marquis of Worcester (<em>b.</em> 1601; <em>d.</em> 1667).</p> - -<p>The theory of the circulation of the blood, like -almost every other great theory founded on fact, -was not left for Harvey to think out <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">ab origine</i>. -That the blood flowed from the heart to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span> -extremities was known to the ancients, and stated -by Aristotle. Galen even had argued, from the discovery -of valves in the pulmonary artery, that the -blood was also returned to the heart. Servetus, of -Geneva, the same who was put to death for heresy, -had demonstrated the circulation through the -lungs, and again this theory had been propounded -by Rualdus Columbus in 1559. In 1571 Cæsalpinus -of Arezzo came still nearer to the true theory, -from observing the swelling of veins below a ligature—thence -inferring that the blood flowed from -the extremities as well as to them. It is clear, -therefore, that all but positive demonstration was -arrived at when Harvey appeared. But though -this demonstration was all that was now needed, it -was a work of no ordinary courage and genius. -The few facts known were overlaid by such a mass -of absurd and contradictory notions amongst -medical men, that nothing but the nicest and -completest experiments could establish the truth. -This Harvey undertook to do, and accomplished -it. He informed Boyle, as we learn from that -philosopher's "Treatise on Final Causes," that -the idea of the true circulation was first suggested -to him when studying under Fabricius Aquapendente, -at Padua, by noticing the valves in the veins—the -same that had attracted the attention of -Galen. To ascertain the fact, he made numerous -accurate experiments on both dead and living -animals, and the result was the clearest proof of -the fact that the blood is propelled from the heart -through the arteries, and returned to it through -the veins. Besides this, his experiments threw a -flood of light on the action of the heart, on its -diastolic and systolic functions, as observed both -in adult subjects and in the fœtus; on the true -action of the lungs on the blood, and other important -points. His completed views were so -opposed to the notions of the Faculty at the time, -that a stupendous prejudice was raised against -him, and his practice fell off greatly from the -clamour which was raised against what his fellow-practitioners -called his wild speculations. It is a -well-known fact that not one medical man who -had passed his fortieth year ever admitted the -discovery of Harvey. The most famous anatomists -abroad joined in the outcry against his -theory. Primrosius, Parisanus, Riolanus, professors -of anatomy at Paris, and Plempius, professor -at Louvain, were violent against it. Harvey -very modestly permitted the storm to blow, certain -that a truth built on positive facts would in the -end prevail. He refused to answer the attacks of -any one but Riolanus; but his friend, Dr. Ent, -ably wielded the pen in his defence, and Harvey -had the pleasure to see Plempius before long -confess himself a convert, and many others then -followed.</p> - -<p>Besides Harvey's great discovery, he made many -other anatomical investigations with great care -and ability, and especially on a vital subject, detailed -in his treatise "De Generatione." His -merits became so fully acknowledged that he was -elected President of the College of Physicians.</p> - -<p>But the gifted men of this age who could determine -the laws of worlds, and systems of worlds, -and the vital principles of the living body, failed -to perceive the wondrous capabilities of another -invention destined to revolutionise society at a -later day. The Marquis of Worcester, whom we -have seen figuring conspicuously as the Earl of -Glamorgan, in the civil strife of Charles I.'s reign, -constructed a steam-engine—a very rude one, of -course—which Sorbiere, a Frenchman, saw at -work at his lordship's house at Vauxhall in 1663. -It was capable of throwing up water to a great -height. This engine is described by the marquis -in his "Century of Inventions," published this -same year, 1663. It is the sixty-eighth in the -catalogue, and entitled "An admirable and most -forcible way to drive up water by fire." He used -a cannon for his boiler, and says he has seen -"water run like a constant fountain-stream forty -feet high. One vessel of water rarefied by fire -driveth up forty of cold water."</p> - -<p>The marquis had learned this invention from -the work of a Frenchman, Solomon de Caus, entitled -"Les Raisons des Forces Mouvantes." This -De Caus had travelled in England, and had importuned -his own countrymen to examine what he -deemed a wonderful discovery—the power of -steam; but, like Thomas Gray, when urging on -England a system of railroads, he was treated as -a bore and a maniac. The marquis found De Caus -actually confined in the Bicêtre in Paris as a -madman, for wanting to convince his countrymen -of the marvellous powers of steam. The marquis's -own notion appeared to be that the engine might -be employed chiefly for the raising of water—a -trait attributed to him by Stuart, in his "Anecdotes -of Steam-Engines," published in 1651, in -which the writer mentions a little engine at work -at his house in Lambeth, which "might be applied -to draw or hale ships, boates, etc., up rivers against -the stream; to draw carts, wagons, etc., as fast -without cattel; to draw the plough without cattel, -to the same dispatch, if need be."</p> - -<p>The views of the marquis were thus rapidly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span> -expanding on the subject; and it is wonderful that -the invention should have been suffered to sleep a -century and a half longer. Still more wonderful -is it that the powers of steam slept so long, when, -according to Gibbon, the architect of St. Sophia, -Constantinople, centuries ago, was so well aware -of it that he used to shake the house of his -neighbour, an enemy of his, with steam machinery.</p> - -<p>Of architecture there was none belonging to -this period. The glorious old Gothic had closed -for the time its career, and even the most -eminent architects despised it. Inigo Jones -introduced an Italian style, and committed the -atrocity of erecting Grecian screens in Gothic -cathedrals; and we shall find Wren, the architect -of the noble classical fabric of St. Paul's, equally -incapable of perceiving the beauty of Gothic. To -him it was barbarian.</p> - -<p>With Charles II. came in French taste, and -almost all the professors of painting, sculpture, -and engraving were foreigners. The whole art of -painting was expended in portraiture and on the -decorations of walls and ceilings after the fashion -of Le Brun, but not with his genius. Verrio and -Sir Peter Lely engrossed the patronage of the -Court, and the admiration of the public.</p> - -<p>Antonio Verrio, a Neapolitan painter, who -transferred himself to France and then to England, -covered immense spaces of wall and ceiling at -Windsor Castle and other places with his gods, -goddesses, and similar figures, pouring them out, -as Walpole observes, without much invention and -as little taste, but certainly with a great show of -colour. He painted most of the ceilings at -Windsor, one side of the Hall of St. George and -the chapel, most of which works are now destroyed. -On the ceiling of St. George's Hall he -drew Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, as -Faction dispersing libels; and the housekeeper, -Mrs. Marriott, as Fury, because she had offended -him. He was paid an enormous sum for these -works, and spent it in ostentation. He had a -house in St. James's Park, and was also master -gardener to the king. Walpole gives an extraordinary -example of his freedom in demanding -money of the king. He had just received a thousand -pounds when he appeared at Court, and -found Charles in such a circle that he could not -approach him; but, nothing daunted, he called -out to him that he desired to speak to him. Being -asked what he wanted, he replied, "Money." The -king smiled, and reminded him of the thousand -pounds just had. "Yes," said he, "but pedlars -and painters cannot give long credit; that was -soon paid away, and I have no gold left." "At -that rate," said Charles, "you would spend more -than I do." "True," replied the impudent -foreigner; "but does your majesty keep an open -table as I do?"</p> - -<p>Being a Tory, at the Revolution he refused to -paint for King William; but was employed by -the Earl of Exeter at Burleigh House, and the -Earl of Devonshire, at Chatsworth, where plenty -of his works remain. Dr. Waagen says he received -more from Lord Exeter alone than Raphael -or Michael Angelo received for all their immortal -works. The earl paid him for twelve years one -thousand five hundred pounds a year—that is, -eighteen thousand pounds, besides his keep and -equipage at his disposal. At length the earl persuaded -him to work for King William at Hampton -Court, where, besides other things, he painted the -staircase so badly that he was suspected to have -done it on purpose.</p> - -<p>In the wake of Verrio came Jacques Rousseau -and Charles de la Fosse, the painters of the dome -of the Invalides in Paris. Some few Englishmen, -too, were employed in fresco-painting. Among -them were Isaac Fuller, remains of whose performance -may be seen in the dome of St. Mary -Abchurch, in London; John Freeman, a scene -painter; and Robert Streater, a man of superior -skill, who painted the ceiling of the theatre at -Oxford, and many other ceilings, besides historical -subjects, and even still life.</p> - -<p>Lely, the painter of Charles's beauties, now at -Hampton Court, was a native of Germany, but -had studied chiefly in Holland, where Charles is -supposed to have met with him. His ladies are -endowed with remarkable beauty and grace, -but there is a certain likeness running through -them all, especially in the complexion, the tone -and tint of the flesh, as well as the disposal -of the drapery, which gives one the inevitable -impression that they are to a great degree got up, -and made rather after his peculiar model than -their own real appearance. However, whether -they are striking likenesses or not, they are beautiful -pictures. His draperies are arranged in broad -folds, and he relieves his figures by a landscape -background, which made Walpole say, "His -nymphs trail fringes and embroidery through -meadows and purling streams." The essence of -Lely's painting is Court artifice. It is showy, -affected, and meretricious. Besides his Court portraits -he occasionally attempted the historic, one of -the best of this kind which he executed being -"Susannah and the Elders," at Burleigh House.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span> -Amongst a crowd of foreigners who sought to -share Sir Peter Lely's popularity were Henry -Gascar, James Huysman, and Sunman, from the -Netherlands—all excellent portrait painters. -Netscher also came to England for a time; and -William Wissing, of Amsterdam, an admirable -artist, succeeded Lely at his death, and was only -eclipsed by the rising fame of Kneller, a German, -who afterwards became King William's Court -painter. Of the French school was Philip Duval, -a pupil of the celebrated Le Brun.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_372.jpg" width="560" height="437" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>EVELYN "DISCOVERING" GRINLING GIBBONS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_372big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Amongst native portrait painters may be mentioned -Michael Wright, a Scotsman, who painted -the judges for the Guildhall of London; though -he is more noted for his portrait of Lacy, the -actor, in three characters; of Henry Anderton, -a pupil of Streater's, who became very popular; -of John Greenhill, and Thomas Flatman, the last -being also a poet of some note.</p> - -<p>A number of Dutch and Flemish painters of -still life were also employed in England at this -period, of whom the most celebrated were Vansoon, -Hoogstraten, Roestraten, and Varelst, who -also attempted portraiture. There were also -Abraham Hondius, animal painter, and Danker, -Vosterman, Griffier, Lancrinck, and the two -Vanderveldes, landscape painters. The Vanderveldes -were justly in high esteem; Lancrinck was -the painter of Lely's backgrounds.</p> - -<p>The two great sculptors were Caius Gabriel -Cibber, a native of Holstein, and Grinling Gibbons, -whom Macaulay calls a Dutchman, but who, -though supposed to be of Dutch extraction, was -an Englishman, born in Spur Alley, London. -Cibber—who was the father of Colley Cibber, -afterwards Poet Laureate, and immortalised by -Pope in the "Dunciad"—is now chiefly known by -his two figures of "Raging" and "Melancholy -Madness," which adorned the principal gate of -old Bethlehem Hospital, and were afterwards removed -to South Kensington—works of real -genius. He also erected the bas-reliefs on the -pedestal of the London Monument, and did much -work at Chatsworth.</p> - -<p>Grinling Gibbons was found by John Evelyn in -a cottage at Deptford, carving his celebrated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span> -"Stoning of St. Stephen," after Tintoretto, and -by him introduced at Court. He executed a marble -statue of Charles II. for the area of the Royal -Exchange, and another in bronze of James II. for -the garden at the back of Whitehall, which fixed -his high merit as a sculptor; but his unrivalled -genius in carving soon drew him from sculpture, -and he became extensively employed at Windsor, -Chatsworth, Petworth, and other great houses, -carving flowers, feathers, foliage, and like ornaments, -which rival in wood the lightness and -accuracy of nature. In the chapel at Windsor he -executed abundance of carving of doves, pelicans, -palm-branches, etc. At St. Paul's he did much of -the foliage and festoons of the stalls and the -side aisles of the choir. At Chatsworth there are -feathers in lime-wood that rival those of the living -goose; and he there executed in wood a point-lace -cravat of marvellous delicacy. At Southwick, -in Hants, he embellished an entire gallery, and a -room at Petworth, which is generally regarded as -amongst his very finest performances.</p> - -<p>Engraving at this era fell also greatly into the -hands of foreigners. Loggan, Booteling, Valet, -Hollar, and Vanderbank were amongst the chief; -but there were two Englishmen who were not less -patronised by their countrymen. Robert White -was a pupil of Loggan's, and, like his master, excelled -in portraits. Walpole enumerates two -hundred and fifty-five works of this artist, many -of them heads drawn by himself, and striking -likenesses. But William Faithorne was unquestionably -at the head of his profession. Faithorne -in his youth fought on the royal side, and was -taken by Cromwell at the siege of Basing House -along with Hollar. Hollar left England during -the Commonwealth, and resided at Antwerp, -where he executed his fine portraits from -Leonardo da Vinci, Holbein, and other great -masters. On the Restoration he returned to -England, and did the plates in Dugdale's "Monasticon," -"History of St. Paul's," and "Antiquities -of Warwickshire," and in Thoroton's "Nottinghamshire;" -and he made drawings of the town -and fortress of Tangier for Charles, which he engraved, -some of these drawings still remaining -in the British Museum. Faithorne took refuge -in France, and there studied under Nanteuil, and -acquired a force, freedom, richness, and delicacy -in portrait engraving which were unequalled in -his own time, and have scarcely been surpassed -in ours. He drew also in crayons.</p> - -<p>The art of mezzotint was introduced at this -period by Prince Rupert, who was long supposed -to have invented it; this, however, has since then -been doubted; but its introduction by him is -certain; and it became so much cultivated as to -become almost exclusively an English art.</p> - -<p>The coins of this period were the work of the -Roteri family. Of these there were John and -Norbert (his son), Joseph and Philip. Their father -was a Dutch banker, who had obliged Charles -during his exile by the loan of money, on condition -that, in case of restoration, he should -employ his sons. They were men of much taste -and skill, as their coins show, though by no -means equal to Simon, the coiner of Cromwell. -They, however, introduced some decided improvements -into our coin, particularly that of graining -or letters on the rims of the coin. Charles called -in all the Commonwealth money, and coined fresh. -In 1662 the gold coin called a guinea was first -invented, from gold brought from the coast of -Guinea, and bore the stamp of an elephant under -the king's head, in honour of the African company -which imported it. In the last year of Charles's -reign he coined farthings of tin, with only a bit of -copper in the middle. The figure of Britannia -still retained on our copper coinage was first introduced -in the copper coinage of Charles (<em>see p.</em> 205), -and was modelled by Philip Roteri from -Miss Stuart, afterwards Duchess of Richmond, -of whom Charles was deeply enamoured, much -to the scandal of all decent subjects.</p> - -<p>James II. followed the fashion of Charles in -coining tin halfpence and farthings with copper -centres. After his abdication he was reduced in -Ireland to the necessity of coining money out of -old brass cannon, and pots and pans, and, when -these failed, out of pewter.</p> - -<p>With the Restoration came back mirth and -music, which had been banished by the Puritans -from both churches and private houses. However, -it is but just to except Cromwell and Milton from -censure. Cromwell was especially fond of the -organ, and gave concerts in his own house when -at the head of the Government. Milton, as might -be supposed from his poetical nature, and the -solemn music of his verse, was equally attached to -harmony of sounds. He was the friend of Henry -Lawes, one of the greatest composers of the time, -and addressed to him the well-known sonnet on -the publication of his airs, beginning</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"Harry, whose tuneful and well-measur'd song</div> - <div class="i0">First taught our English music how to span</div> - <div class="i0">Words with just note and accent."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>But perhaps the Royalists were all the more -musical on their return to power to mark their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span> -contempt of the gloomy Puritans, and music burst -forth in church and chapel, in concert, and -theatre, and private house with redoubled energy. -The theatres and operas did not delay to draw the -public by the charms of music as well as of representation. -Even during the latter years of the -Commonwealth Sir William Davenant opened a -kind of theatre under the name of masque and -concert, and enlivened it by music. The Royalists -at Oxford during the time Charles I.'s Court was -there, held weekly musical parties with the members -of the University; and no sooner was the -Commonwealth at an end than the heads of -houses, fellows, and other gentlemen renewed -these parties, and furnished themselves with all -necessary instruments, and the compositions of the -best masters. But what marks the musical <em>furore</em> -of this period more than all was the flocking of -the aristocracy and the finest musical performers -to the miserable house of a dealer in coal-dust in -Clerkenwell, where musical parties were held. -"It was," says Dr. John Hawkins, "in Aylesbury -Street, Clerkenwell. The room of the performance -was over the coal-shop; and, strange to tell, -Tom Britton's concert was the weekly resort of -the old, the young, the gay, the fair of all ranks, -including the highest order of nobility." Dr. -Pepusch and frequently Handel played the harpsichord -there—though this must have been at a later -period, for he did not arrive in England till 1710. -Mr. Needler, Accountant-General of the Excise; -Hughes the poet, Wollaston the painter, and -many other amateurs were among the performers. -Walpole says Britton took money from his visitors, -but Hawkins entirely denies it.</p> - -<p>The example of Tom Britton was contagious, -and similar places of musical entertainment, but -on the principle of professional emolument, were -soon opened east and west. Amongst the first of -these was Sadler's Wells.</p> - -<p>One of the finest composers for the theatre and -opera was Matthew Lock. He was appointed -Composer in Ordinary to Charles II., and composed -a church service and some anthems; but he -was much more famous for his setting of songs, -and the music to plays. He wrote that to -Davenant's alteration of "Macbeth," to Shadwell's -opera, "Psyche," and various other dramas. He -received a salary of two hundred pounds a year as -Director of the King's Music. He became a convert -to Catholicism, and was made Organist to -Catherine, the queen of Charles. But the rage -for everything French was growing, and Lock -was succeeded in his office by a Frenchman, -Cambert, who produced an English opera; and he -by Louis Grabut, another Frenchman, who set -Dryden's "Albion and Albanius," a satire on -Shaftesbury—a poor performance. After Charles -quarrelled with Louis XIV., Italian taste superseded -the French, and Italian music and musicians -were patronised. Amongst the latter Nicola -Matteis was a popular violinist.</p> - -<p>But that which possessed the most decided -merit was the church music of this period. It -was not that which one would have expected in -the reign of Charles II., but we must do him the -justice to say that he seems to have encouraged -greatly the musical services of the Church. He -united all the distinguished composers and performers, -to assist in restoring this service to its -former glory; and, amongst the survivors of his -father's reign, reappeared Dr. Child, Dr. Christopher -Gibbons, Dr. Rogers, Dr. Wilson, Henry -Lawes, Milton's friend, Byrne, Lowe, and Cook, -commonly called Captain Cook, from his having -borne a commission in the Royalist army. Cook -was made Master of the Children of the Choir, in -the Royal Chapel; Child, Gibbons, and Lowe, -Organists; Lawes, Clerk of the Cheque; Rogers, -Organist at Eton; Byrne, Organist at St. Paul's; -and Wilson was attached to the service in Westminster -Abbey.</p> - -<p>By these means the church musical service was -soon raised to a high pitch of excellence; a spirit -was diffused through the whole kingdom from the -king's chapel, and the cathedral services became -as fine as ever. Captain Cook trained his boy-choristers -to admiration, and out of them arose -some of the best composers of sacred music that -England possesses. Amongst them are Pelham -Humphrey, Michael Wise, John Blow, and, -superior to them all, Henry Purcell. Some of -these produced anthems whilst mere striplings, -which still remain in use. Amongst these Pelham -Humphrey greatly distinguished himself; and -was, therefore, sent by Charles to Paris, to study -under the famous Lulli, and then made gentleman -of his chapel. At the death of Cook, his master, -he succeeded to his office. Michael Wise became -for a time, Organist of Salisbury Cathedral, but -returned to the Royal Chapel as one of the gentlemen. -His anthems are still greatly admired. -Blow succeeded Humphrey as Master of the -Children, and was Organist of Westminster -Abbey. He published various compositions, both -sacred and secular, some of which are yet in much -esteem, while others have fallen into neglect.</p> - -<p>But the musical master of the age was Henry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span> -Purcell (<em>b.</em> 1658; <em>d.</em> 1695), organist of Westminster -Abbey, and afterwards of the king's -chapel. His sacred music, especially his "Te -Deum" and "Jubilate," has never been surpassed. -Dr. Burney declared him superior to all the -foreign composers of the day—Carissimi, Stradella, -Scarlatti, Keiser, Lulli, and Rameau; but others -do not except any composers of any previous age. -In his secular music he again surpassed himself. -His music of the drama is voluminous. He set -the songs in Nahum Tate's "Dido;" the music for -Lee's "Theodosius;" that for the "Tempest," as -altered by Dryden, which is still heard with delight; -that for the "Prophetess," altered by Dryden -and Betterton, from Beaumont and Fletcher; -the songs of Dryden's "King Arthur," in which -are the lovely air "Fairest Isle," the charming -duet "Two Daughters of this Aged Stream are We," -and the inimitable frost-scene. He furnished the -music for Howard's and Dryden's "Indian Queen." -In Dryden's altered "Boadicea," the duet and -chorus "To Arms," and the air "Britons, strike -home," are still heard with acclamations on all -occasions of patriotic excitement. Besides these -he wrote airs, overtures, and set tunes for numerous -other dramas, as Dryden's and Lee's "Timon -of Athens," "Œdipus," "The Fairy Queen," altered -from the "Midsummer Night's Dream," and Dryden's -"Tyrannic Love." He wrote many odes, -glees, catches, rounds, many single songs and -duets, twelve sonatas for two violins and a bass, -etc. The air of "Lillibullero" is attributed to -him. His widow published many of these after -his death, in two folio volumes called "Orpheus -Britannicus." The music of Purcell is national -property, and, in spite of more recent genius, will -long continue to be heard with rapture.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding Charles II.'s restoration of -church music, he endeavoured to degrade it by -the introduction of French customs, and at one -time introduced a band of twenty-four fiddlers -into his chapel, in imitation of Louis XIV. Tom -D'Urfey ridiculed it in the song, "Four-and-twenty -Fiddlers all in a Row;" and Evelyn -describes his disgust at witnessing this strange -sight, "more fit for a tavern or playhouse than a -church." The public feeling, indeed, soon caused -the king to withdraw the Gallic innovation.</p> - -<p>Amongst the musical productions of this time -we may note Blow's "Amphion Anglicus," Roger -North's "Memoir of Music," still in manuscript; -Sir Francis North's "Philosophical Essay on -Music," Lord Brouncker's translation of Descartes' -"Musicæ Compendium." Marsh, Archbishop of -Armagh, was the first to treat acoustics methodically, -in a paper in the "Philosophical Transactions." -Dr. Wallis, one of the founders of the -Royal Society, and an eminent mathematician, -wrote much in the "Philosophical Transactions" -on musical subjects, and published an -edition of "Ptolemy's Harmonies." Thomas -Mace, John Birchensha, Christopher Simpson, -and John Playford are musical authors of that -age.</p> - -<p>The furniture of this period had the general -characteristics of the last age. Cane backs and -seats began to be used in chairs, and the beautiful -marqueterie work adorned tables, cabinets, clock-cases, -wardrobes, and other rich pieces of furniture. -The Louis Quatorze style, with its rich sweeps -and abundance of carving and gilding, began to -appear in England, but did not attain to general -use till a later period. The floors began to be -covered with gay-coloured mats and carpets, but -the richest pieces of Turkey carpet were still more -frequently used for table-covers. Oil-cloth was -now introduced from Germany, and manufactured -in London. The Gobelins tapestry manufactory -was established in France in 1677, and towards -the end of this period the walls of the great -mansions of England were covered with the products -of its looms.</p> - -<p>The costume of gentlemen underwent rapid -and various metamorphoses in Charles II.'s time. -From the rich and elegant costume of Charles I. -it degenerated first into one with an exceedingly -short doublet, without any under waistcoat, loose -petticoat breeches, with long drooping lace ruffles -at the knee. This costume, however, still retained -much of the Vandyke style. It had the -high-crowned hat and plume of feathers, the falling -lace collar, and the natural hair. But soon -came the monstrous peruke, or periwig, as the word -was corrupted to in England, copied from the -fashion of the Court of Louis XIV., which superseded -the natural hair in both men and women, -the women appearing to have adopted it first. -Then followed the square, long coat, and huge -jack-boots, and cocked hat, which became the -general dress of the next century. False hair -had been worn by both sexes in the times of -Elizabeth and James I., but never to the same -preposterous extent as now. Charles II., though -adopting the periwig fashion himself, and thus confirming -it, yet refused to allow the clergy to use -it. He wrote a letter to the University of Cambridge, -ordering the clergy neither to wear periwigs, -nor smoke tobacco, nor read their sermons;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span> -and, on a fellow of Clare Hall venturing to preach -before him in a wig and holland sleeves, he -ordered the statutes concerning decency of apparel -to be put in force against him and similar -offenders.</p> - -<p>The high-crowned hat or broad-leaved sombrero -of Spain not harmonising well with the periwig, -the crown was suddenly lowered, the brim -turned up, and a drooping feather thrown backwards -over it. The petticoat breeches came in as -early as 1658; and, in the following year, Randal -Holmes thus describes a gentleman's dress:—"A -short-waisted doublet and petticoat breeches, the -lining being lower than the breeches, is tied above -the knees; the breeches are ornamented with -ribands up to the pocket, and half their breadth -upon the thigh. The waistband is set round -with ribands, and the shirt hanging out over -them." These petticoat breeches soon grew into -actual skirts, and the doublet or jacket, which at -the beginning of the reign scarcely came below the -breast, towards the end of it was so elongated that -it was an actual coat, and had buttons and buttonholes -all down the front.</p> - -<p>Along with a particular costume described by -Evelyn, which Charles adopted in 1666, consisting -of a long close vest of black cloth or velvet pinked -with white satin; a loose surcoat over it of an -Oriental character, and instead of shoes and stockings, -buskins or brodequins; he also wore small -buckles instead of shoestrings. Charles was so -proud of this dress that he vowed he would never -wear any other; but it did not last long, and -buckles did not become the general fashion till the -reign of Queen Anne.</p> - -<p>Long and short kersey stockings were an -article of export in this period, as well as stockings -of leather, silk, or woollen, and worsted for -men and children. Socks also occur under the -name of "the lower end of stockings." Amongst -the imports were hose of crewel, called Mantua -hose, and stockings of wadmal. Neckcloths or -cravats of Brussels and Flanders lace were worn -towards the end of the "Merry Monarch's" reign, -and tied in a knot under the chin, the ends hanging -down square.</p> - -<p>The costume of Knights of the Garter assumed -its present shape, the cap of estate, with its -ostrich and heron plume, and the broad blue -ribbon worn over the left shoulder and brought -under the right arm, where the jewel or lesser -George hangs, being introduced just before the -publication of Ashmole's "History of the Order." -The baron's coronet dates from this reign.</p> - -<p>The costume of James II.'s reign varied little -from that of Charles. The hats indeed assumed -various cocks, according to the fancy of some -leader or party. One cock was called the Monmouth -cock.</p> - -<p>The ladies in the voluptuous reign of Charles -II. abandoned the straight-laced dresses with the -straight-laced manners of their Puritan predecessors. -Bare bosoms and bare arms to the elbows -were displayed, and the hair, confined only by a -single bandeau of pearls, or adorned by a single -rose, fell in graceful profusion upon their snowy -necks. The rounded arm reclined on the rich -satin petticoat; whilst the gown of the same rich -material extended its voluminous train behind. -Lely's portraits are not to be regarded as representing -the strict costume of the age, but they give -us its spirit—a studied negligence, an elegant -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">déshabillé</i>. The starched ruff, the steeple-crowned -hat, the rigid stomacher, and the stately farthingale -were, however, long retained by less -fashionable dames of the country; and when the -ruff was discarded, a rich lace tippet veiled the -breast. The women of ordinary rank also still -retained much of this costume, with the hood and -tippet.</p> - -<p>In their riding habits the ladies imitated the -costume of the men as nearly as they could. Evelyn -says that he saw the queen in September, -1666, going to take the air "in her cavalier -riding-habit, hat, and feathers, and horseman's -coat." This seems to be a very rational dress for -the occasion, yet the sight did not please Mr. -Pepys, for he remarks about the same time—"Walking -in the galleries at Whitehall, I find the -ladies of honour dressed in their riding garbs, -with coats and doublets, with deep skirts—just for -all the world like men, and buttoned in their -doublets up to the breast, with periwigs and with -hats. So that only for a long petticoat dragging -under their men's coats, nobody could take them -for women in any point whatever, which was an -odd sight, and a sight that did not please me."</p> - -<p>Yet Mrs. Stuart, afterwards Duchess of Richmond, -<em>did</em> please him:—"But, above all, Mrs. -Stuart, in her dress, with her hat cocked and a -rich plume, with her sweet eye, and little Roman -nose, and excellent taille, is now the greatest -beauty I ever saw, I think, in my life."</p> - -<p>The military costume of the period remained -much the same as during the civil wars and Commonwealth; -but vambraces were abandoned by -the arquebusiers, and defensive armour was -gradually falling into disuse. The helmet and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span> -corset, or cuirass, or the gorget alone, worn over -a buff coat, formed all the defence of steel worn -by the officers at this period. "The arms, offensive -and defensive," says the statute of the 13th -and 14th of Charles II., "are to be as follows:—The -defensive armour of the Cavalry to consist of -a back, breast, and pot, and the breast and pot to -be pistol-proof. The offensive arms a sword, and -case of pistols, the barrels whereof are not to be -under fourteen inches in length. For the Foot, a -musketeer is ordered to have a musket, the barrel -not under three feet in length; a collar of bandeliers, -with a sword. Pikemen to be armed with a -pike of ash, sixteen feet long, with a back, breast, -head-piece, and sword."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_377.jpg" width="560" height="433" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>COSTUMES OF THE TIME OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_377big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The familiar names of several of the regiments -of the British army commence from Charles II.'s -reign. The Life Guards were raised in 1661—composed -and treated, however, like the Gardes -du Corps of the French,—being principally gentlemen -of families of distinction, who themselves, or -their fathers, had fought in the Civil War. In -the same year the Blues were embodied, and called -the Oxford Blues, from their first commander, -Aubrey, Earl of Oxford. The Coldstream Guards -date their formation from 1660, and two -regiments were added to the one raised about ten -years previously by General Monk at Coldstream, -on the borders of Scotland. To these were added -the 1st Royal Scots, brought over from France at -the Restoration; the 2nd, or Queen's, raised in -1661; the 3rd, or Old Buffs, so named from their -accoutrements being composed of buffalo leather, -embodied in 1665; the Scottish Fusiliers, afterwards -the 21st, raised in 1678, and so called from -their carrying the fusil, invented in France in -1630—being a firelock lighter than the musket, -but about the same length; and the 4th, or -King's Own, raised in 1680.</p> - -<p>During this reign the bayonet—so called -from Bayonne, where it was invented—was -sometimes three-edged, sometimes flat, with a -wooden hilt like a dagger, and was screwed -or merely stuck into the muzzle of the gun. -The bayonet superseded the rapier attached to -the musket-rest in James's reign. Even then -the bayonet was a far inferior weapon to what it -subsequently became, as it had to be removed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span> -to fire and charge again. The Grenadiers were -introduced in 1678, and were so called from being -practised to fling hand grenades, each man having -a pouch full. To these James added, in 1685, -the 1st, or King's regiment of Dragoon Guards, -the 2nd, or Queen's Dragoon Guards, and the -5th and 7th regiments, called the Royal Fusiliers; -and in 1688, the year of the Revolution, -the 23rd, or Welsh Fusiliers, were raised.</p> - -<p>We need not repeat what has been so frequently -stated in these pages about the profligacy of -the Court and aristocracy in Charles II.'s reign, -which soon polluted the spirit of the greater part -of the country. However harsh and repulsive -were the manners and social maxims of the -Puritans, they were infinitely preferable to the -licentiousness and blasphemy of the Cavaliers, who -mistook vulgarity and obscenity for gentility. -Notwithstanding the traditionary feeling left by -the Royalist writers of these times, and too faithfully -taken up by such writers as Sir Walter Scott, -it is now beginning to be perceived that the Cavaliers -were, in reality, the vulgar of the age. If -to swear, gamble, bully, murder, and use the most -indecent language, and lead the most indecent -lives, be marks of vulgarity, these were the distinctive -marks of too many of the Cavaliers. The -Puritans, with all their acerbity and intolerance, -had a reverence for sound and Christian principles -at the core of their system. Virtue and moral -piety were their admiration, however rudely they -demonstrated it. But the Cavaliers gloried -in every opposite vice the more, because the -Puritans, whom they despised, denounced them. -We have seen the spirit of private assassination -which animated them, and led them -to the murder of Dorislaus, the Commonwealth -ambassador in Holland; of Ascam, its minister -at Madrid; of Colonel Lisle, at Lausanne; and -their repeated attempts on the life of Cromwell, -in pursuance of their avowed doctrine of -assassination shown in the tract called "Killing no -Murder." This does anything but justify their -high claim to the title of men of honour, and finds -no parallel in the principles or practices of the -Puritans of England, though the Scottish Covenanters -stooped to this base practice in the murder -of Archbishop Sharp.</p> - -<p>Then as to profane swearing, their conversation, -larded with oaths, would have disgraced the most -uncouth trooper of to-day. "The new band of -wits and fine gentlemen," says Macaulay, "never -opened their mouths without uttering a ribaldry -of which a porter would now be ashamed, and -without calling on their Maker to curse them, sink -them, confound them, blast them, and damn them." -"No man," says Lord Somers, "was accounted a -gentleman, or person of any honour, that had -not in two hours' sitting invented some new -modish oath, or found out the late intrigue between -the Lord B. and the Lady P., laughed at -the fopperies of priests, and made lampoons and -drollery on the sacred Scriptures themselves." As -to drinking and gambling, these vices were beyond -conception; and the plunder of the people by the -Cavalier troopers was carried on as if they had -been in an enemy's country.</p> - -<p>We have only to refer to the abandoned -character of the women of Charles's Court, -and amongst the aristocracy, who imitated the -monarch in selecting mistresses and even wives -from the stage, to remind the reader of the immoral -character of the age. As we have already -said, any one who would convince himself of -the sink of infamy and obscenity which society -was then, has only to look at the plays which -were acted; at their language, declaimed by -women without a blush or any evidence of disgust; -plays written even by such men as Dryden. -"Whatever our dramatists touched," says Macaulay, -"they tainted. In their imitations the houses -of Calderon's stately and high-spirited Castilian -gentlemen became sties of vice, Shakespeare's -'Viola' a procuress, Molière's 'Misanthrope' a -ravisher, Molière's 'Agnes' an adulteress. -Nothing could be so pure or so heroic, but that it -became foul and ignoble by transfusion through -those foul and ignoble minds." The same writer, -making a few exceptions—and a noble one in the -case of Milton—says of the poets of that age -that "from Dryden to D'Urfey the common -characteristic was hard-hearted, shameless, swaggering -licentiousness, at once inelegant and -inhuman."</p> - -<p>Whilst such was the condition of the Court, the -aristocracy, the theatre, and the literature of the -country, we may imagine what was the condition -of the lower orders. The state of London was -little, if anything, improved in civilisation—by -no means improved in its moral tone—since the -days of James I. The city was rising in a -more healthy and substantial form from the fire, -with wider streets, and better drainage; but it -was still badly lighted, and disgraced by filthy -kennels.</p> - -<p>At the close of Charles II.'s reign London was -lighted, by contract, by one Herring, who engaged -to place a lamp at every tenth door, when there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span> -was no moon, from six to twelve o'clock at night, -from Michaelmas to Lady-Day; and this was -thought to be a wonderful advance. To us it -would appear just darkness visible; and vast -tracts of population were destitute of even this -feeble glimmer. Whitefriars still continued the -haunt of thieves, bullies, desperate debtors, and -abandoned women, who rushed out and defended -themselves from any visitations of duns or constables. -The neighbourhood of Whitehall itself -was little better, from the resort of the bully-mob -of those who called themselves gentlemen. -These young men, often belonging to good -families, or the sons of wealthy citizens, assembled -for noise and mischief in theatres and -in the streets. They had been successively -known as the "Darr Hearts," "the Heroics," "the -Muns," "Tityre Tu's," "the Hectors," "the -Roaring Boys," and "Bonaventors," so continually -figuring in the comedies of the time. They now -bore the name of "the Scourers," and frequented -the theatres to damn plays, and the coffee-houses -to pick up the last sayings of the wits, which -were commonly not very cleanly, when such men -as Rochester, Sedley, Dryden, and Wycherley -were the stars there. They then sallied into the -streets in bands, breaking windows, tearing off -knockers, defacing signs, upsetting stalls, fish- or -fruit-sellers, storming taverns, beating quiet passengers, -and rudely insulting respectable women. -Frequently they came to a regular fight with some -other mob of "Scourers," and then rushed headlong, -knocking down all whom they met. The -watchmen carefully kept out of their way, and the -military had to disperse them when they became -particularly riotous. One great delight of these -genteel ruffians was to hustle passengers into the -kennel, or into Fleet Ditch and its tributaries, -which ran then in open Styx-like blackness along -the streets. To add to these dangers of walking -the City in the evening thieves and pickpockets -assaulted the passers by from dark entries below; -and it was the common practice to empty -all sorts of filth out of chamber windows. The -City apprentices still kept up their riotous character. -On one occasion, having attacked and -beaten their masters, they were some of them -put into the pillory; whereupon they tore down -the pillory, and when set up again they again -pulled it down. There were feuds and street encounters -everywhere. The weavers and butchers, -the frequenters of bear-gardens and theatres, or -sword-players, were continually falling into parties -and ending the dispute by a general <em>mêlée</em>.</p> - -<p>The aristocracy had evacuated the City-especially -since the fire—and had located themselves -along the Strand, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Bloomsbury, -Soho, and all quarters tending towards -Whitehall; others located themselves in Covent -Garden; and in the fields now covered by the -piles of Bedford Square and the British Museum -stood the magnificent mansions of Bedford House -and Montague House. But most of the sites of -the splendid squares and streets of our now West -End were open country, or the rubbish-heaps of -the neighbourhood. Club-life was just beginning. -There were numbers of political clubs, the most -famous of which was the King's Head, or Green -Ribbon Club, from the members wearing a green -ribbon in their hats, to distinguish them from -their opponents. There was the club of Shaftesbury -and the Whig party, which was engaged in -the design of excluding the Duke of York from -the succession, and which raised all the Titus -Oates plots to accomplish their object. It met at -the King's Head Tavern opposite to the Temple -Gate. But coffee-houses, now become general, -were in reality clubs; and every class and party -had its coffee-house, where its members met. -There was the literary coffee-house, called Will's, -situate between Covent Garden and Bow Street, -where Dryden was the great man, and where -literary lords, literary lawyers, dramatists, players, -and wits of all sorts met to settle the merits of -literature and the stage. There were lawyers' -coffee-houses, citizens' coffee-houses, doctors' coffee-houses, -the chief of them Garraway's; Jesuits' -coffee-houses, Puritans' coffee-houses, and Popish -coffee-houses, where every man found his fellows, -and partisans met and learned the news; and in -these haunts the spirit of party and of religious -antagonism was carried to its fiercest height. The -chief place of public lounging was the New Exchange -in the City, and Spring Gardens, Hyde -Park, and the Mulberry Garden, which were continually -occurring in the comedies of the day as -the places of assignation, as well as the fashionable -masquerades.</p> - -<p>But whilst such were the most marked features -of life in London at that day, we are not to suppose -that there was not a large number of the -population who retained a love of virtue, purity, -and domestic life. The religious were a numerous -class; and the stern morality of the Nonconformists -beheld with pity and indignation the dissipated -flutterings of the corrupt world around them. -Besides these there was a numerous population of -sober citizens, who, though they did not go with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span> -the Puritans in religion, were disgusted with the -French manners, maxims, houses, and cookery, -and stood by their native modes and ideas with -sturdy John Bullism. The musical taste of the -age tended to draw them together to more rational -enjoyments than debauchery and the tainted -stage, and the increasing use of coffee and tea -gave to musical and social parties a more homelike -and refined character.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_380.jpg" width="560" height="399" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHELSEA HOSPITAL.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_380big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The popular sports and amusements still, -however, were of the usual description. All the -old cruel sports of bear-baiting, bull-baiting, and -cock-fights, which the Puritans had suppressed, -came back with royalty. Horse-racing was in -vogue; and gambling was such a fever amongst -the wealthy, that many great estates were -squandered at cards; and the Duke of St. Albans, -when more than eighty years of age, and quite -blind, used to sit at the gaming-table from day to -day, with a man beside him to tell him the cards. -Billiards, chess, backgammon, and cribbage were -in great request; and bowls, ninepins, boat-racing, -yacht-racing, running at the ring, were sports -both with the people and the gentry. Ladies -joined in playing at bowls; skating was introduced -by the courtiers, who had spent much time -in Holland. Swimming and foot-races were -fashionable. Colonel Blood planned to shoot -Charles once when he went to swim in the -Thames near Chelsea, and the Duke of Monmouth, -as we have seen, in his popular tour ran -races against all comers, first without boots, and -then beat them running in his boots whilst the -others ran without.</p> - -<p>Charles prided himself on his pedestrian feats. -The common people were as much delighted as -their ancestors with all the exhibitions of Bartholomew -Fair and Smithfield, of fire-eaters, jugglers, -rope-dancers, dancing dogs and monkeys, -Punch, feats of strength, and travelling theatres, -where some Scripture story was represented, as is -yet the case on the Continent.</p> - -<p>In the country, life continued to move on at its -usual rate. Land had not approached to anything -like its present value, and education was an -immense way farther behind, so that a large -number of the aristocracy, including nearly the -whole of the squirearchy, continued to live on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span> -their estates, and rarely made a visit to London. -The ravages which the Civil War had made in all -parts of the country had left traces on many a -rental which were yet far from being obliterated; -and the contempt into which the clerical office had -fallen since the Reformation, and absorption of -the Church lands, left one outlet for the sons of -the squirearchy at this time little available. The -landed gentry, therefore, for the most part continued -to occupy a position of much local importance, -but, with few exceptions, did not mingle -with the great world of London, or aspire to -lead in social or political rivalry on the national -arena. The squire was on the bench and at -the quarter sessions; he was often colonel of the -militia, and knew his importance in the country; -but beyond that he was little heard of except -when civil strife called him out to defend the altar -and the throne. But within his own little world -he was all in all, proud of his power, and prouder -of his pedigree; but if the Squire Westerns of -Fielding's time are faithfully portrayed, how much -more rustic, Toryfied, and confined in the range of -their ideas and experience must they have been -nearly two hundred years before. Few of them -had the ambition to distinguish themselves by -literary attainments—such accomplishments they -left to the Drydens and Danbys of the metropolis. -Many heirs of estates, therefore, at this era never -went to a university, or, if they did, made but a -brief abode there, and returned little better for -the sojourn, depending on their property to give -them all the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">éclat</i> they aspired to. To enjoy the -sports of the field, attend the county race meeting -and county ball, to live surrounded by huntsmen -and gamekeepers, to keep a coarse but exuberant -table, and to terminate the day's sport by -a drunken carouse, included the pursuits and -habits of three-fourths of this class.</p> - -<p>As these gentry went little to town, their -manners were proportionally rustic, and their -circle of ideas confined, but from their confinement -the more sturdy. Toryism of the extremest -type was rampant amongst them. Church and -State, and the most hearty contempt of everything -like Dissent and of foreigners, were regarded as -the only maxims for Englishmen; and the most -absolute submission of the peasantry to the -despotic squirearchy was exacted. In a justice-room -if a man was poor it was taken for granted -that he was wrong. Justice Shallows and Dogberrys -were not the originals of the pages of -Shakespeare, but of the country bench of magistrates -and its constabulary. Ideas travelled -slowly, for books were few. A Bible, a Common -Prayer-book, and a "Guillim's Heraldry" were -the extent of many a gentleman's library. Newspapers -were suppressed by the restrictions on the -press during the latter part of Charles's reign; -and the news-letters which supplied the country -contained a very meagre amount of facts, but no -discussion.</p> - -<p>There were few coaches, except in the districts -immediately round London, or to the distance of -twenty or thirty miles, and the roads were in -general impassable in winter. On all but the -main lines of highway, pack-horses carried the -necessary merchandise from place to place through -deep narrow tracks, some of which remain to our -time. It took four or five days to reach London -by coach from Chester, York, or Bristol, and -this was attended by perils and discomforts that -made travellers loth to encounter such a journey, -and often to make their wills before starting. -Macaulay has summed up the terrors of the -road, as given by our Diarists, in the following -passage:—"On the best lines of communication -the ruts were deep, the descents precipitous, and -the ways often such that it was hardly possible to -distinguish them in the dusk from the unenclosed -heath and fen on both sides. Ralph Thoresby, -the antiquary, was in danger of losing his way on -the Great North Road between Barnby Moor and -Tuxford, and actually lost his way between Doncaster -and York; Pepys and his wife, travelling -in their own coach, lost their way between Newbury -and Reading. In the course of the same -tour they lost their way near Salisbury, and were -in danger of having to pass the night on the plain. -It was only in fine weather that the whole breadth -of the road was available for wheeled vehicles. -Often the mud lay deep on the right and the left, -and only a narrow track of firm ground rose above -the quagmire. At such times obstructions and -quarrels were common, and the pass was frequently -blocked up during a long time by carriers -neither of whom would give way. It happened -almost every day that coaches stuck fast, until a -team of cattle could be procured from some neighbouring -farm to tug them out of the slough. But -in bad seasons the travellers had to encounter inconveniences -still more serious. Thoresby, who -was in the habit of travelling between Leeds and -the capital, has recorded in his Diary such a series -of perils and disasters as might suffice for a -journey to the Frozen Ocean, or to the desert of -Sahara. On one occasion he learned that the -floods were out between Ware and London, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span> -passengers had to swim for their lives, and that a -higgler had perished in the attempt to cross. In -consequence of these tidings he turned out of -the high road, and was conducted across some -meadows, when it was necessary for him to ride -to the skirts in water. In the course of another -journey he narrowly escaped being swept away by -an inundation of the Trent. He was afterwards -detained at Stamford four days, on account of the -state of the roads, and then ventured to proceed -only because fourteen members of the House of -Commons, who were going up in a body to Parliament, -with guides and numerous attendants, -took him into their company. On the roads of -Derbyshire travellers were in constant fear for -their necks, and were frequently compelled to -alight and lead their beasts. The great route -through Wales to Holyhead was in such a state -that, in 1685, a viceroy, going to Ireland, was five -hours travelling fourteen miles—from St. Asaph -to Conway. Between Conway and Beaumaris he -was forced to walk a great part of the way, and -his lady was carried in a litter. His coach was, -with much difficulty, and by the help of many -hands, brought after him entire. In general, -carriages were taken to pieces at Conway and -borne on the shoulders of stout Welsh peasants to -the Menai Straits. In some parts of Kent and -Sussex none but the strongest horses could, in -winter, get through the bog, in which at every -step they sank deep. The markets were often inaccessible -during several months. It is said the -fruits of the earth were sometimes suffered to rot -in one place, while in another place, distant only -a few miles, the supply fell short of the demand. -The wheeled carriages in this district were -generally pulled by oxen. When Prince George -of Denmark visited the stately mansion of Petworth -in wet weather he was six hours going nine -miles; and it was necessary that a body of sturdy -hinds should be on each side of his coach, in order -to prop it. Of the carriages which conveyed his -retinue several were upset and injured. A letter -from one of the party has been preserved, in -which the unfortunate courtier complains that, -during fourteen hours, he never once alighted, -except when his coach was overturned or stuck -fast in the mud."</p> - -<p>To avoid the nuisance of carriages on such -roads the habit prevailed of travelling on horseback; -but then it was necessary to go well armed, -and, if possible, in company, for the country -was infested with highwaymen. The adventures -of horsemen were commonly as numerous -and exciting as those of the folk who used carriages, -though mails and carriages were also frequently -stopped by the highwaymen of the day. -To abate the difficulties of the road, on the Restoration -the turnpike system was adopted—a new -era in road-making—and what were called flying -coaches were put on the amended ways, which -conveyed passengers at a better rate.</p> - -<p>During the Commonwealth, travellers met -equally provoking impediments in passing through -towns, if they dared to travel on Sundays. There -was a fine for such a breach of the Sabbath; and -Elwood describes his ludicrous dilemma when -riding to a Friends' Meeting on Sunday, on a -borrowed horse, with a borrowed hat and great-coat; -for his father had locked up his own horse, -hat, and coat to keep him from the conventicle. -Being stopped and brought before a magistrate, -he was ordered to pay the fine; but he replied -that he had no money. "You have a good horse, -however," observed the magistrate. "That is -borrowed," said Elwood. "Well, you have a good -great-coat." "That is borrowed, too," added -Elwood. "Nay, then, we must have your hat, it -is a good one." "That also is borrowed," continued -the young Quaker. At which the magistrate, -declaring that he never saw such a traveller -in his life, who had nothing but what was -borrowed, ordered him to be detained till the -morrow, and then sent back again.</p> - -<p>In the times we are now reviewing the tables -were turned, and the Royalist churchmen and -squirearchy were employing their country leisure -in breaking up the conventicles of all sorts of Dissenters, -pulling down the meeting-houses of the -obstinate Quakers, and sending them to prison by -shoals. Sir Christopher Wren, by order of the -king, tried his hand at pulling down Quakers' -meeting-houses, before he built St. Paul's. The -spirit of political and ecclesiastical party violence -raged through the country, and formed a strange -contrast, in the cruelties and oppression practised -on the truly religious portion of the community, -to the profligacy of the gentry and, above all, of -the Court. What rendered this condition of -things more gloomy was the low position which -the country clergy then occupied. The property -of the Church having fallen into the hands of the -aristocracy, the generality of country livings were -poor, and depended chiefly on the small tithes and -a miserable glebe of a few acres. Whilst some -few men of distinguished abilities, like Burnet, -Tillotson, Barrow, and Stillingfleet, rose to distinction -and occupied the few wealthy dignities<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span> -and livings, the parish clergymen were too commonly -men of low origin and little education. -Men of family disdained the office, and the -chaplain of a great house was looked on as little -better than a servant; he married the cook or the -housekeeper, and became the hanger-on of some -country hall, joining in the rude riot and the -ruder jests of his patron. Even so late as Fielding's -time, the relative position of the squire and -the parson were those of Western and parson -Adams.</p> - -<p>Perhaps the most pleasing feature of country -life was that of the position of the yeoman, or -man of small independent property. This class -had been increased by the various distributions of -great estates; and it is calculated that at this -time one-seventh at least of the population consisted -of men with their families who lived on -their own little demesnes producing from fifty to a -hundred pounds a year. The number of men who -farmed the lands of the aristocracy at that time is -affirmed to have been much fewer than those who -farmed their own. This independence of condition -gave them independence of mind, and it -was amongst this class that the strongest resistance -to the dominance and intolerance of the -squirearchy was found. Many of them during -the Civil War and the Commonwealth adopted -the Puritan faith, and continued to maintain -it in defiance of Five-Mile Acts, Conventicle -Acts, and Acts of Uniformity. From them descended -the sturdy spirit which, uniting with a -kindred spirit in towns, continued to vindicate -the liberties and manly bearing of the British -population.</p> - -<p>Nor amid the corruptions and bitternesses of -the times had all the ancient poetical customs of -the people disappeared. Neither the asceticism of -the Puritan nor the profligacy of the Cavalier had -been able to utterly extinguish such customs as -had a touch of nature in them. The Londoners -made their swarming excursions to Greenwich, -and Richmond, and Epping Forest, where they -gave way to all their pent-up fun and frolic, and -enlivened the banks of the Thames with their -songs as they rowed to and fro. The old holidays -of the departed church still survived. Valentine's -Day was still a day of love missives, and of presents -of gloves, jewellery, silk stockings, and ornamental -garters from gentlemen to their valentines. -Mayday reassumed its jollity; may-poles, put -down by the Commonwealth, again lifted their -heads; and Herrick's beautiful verses resumed -their reality:—</p> - -<div class="container"> -<div class="poem"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="i0">"There's not a budding boy or girl this day</div> - <div class="i0">But is got up and gone to bring in May;</div> - <div class="i1">A deal of youth ere this is come</div> - <div class="i1">Back, and with whitethorn laden, home."</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>The Puritans beheld the return of the custom -with horror. In 1660, the year that Charles II. -and may-poles came back again, a Puritan, writing -from Newcastle, says:—"Sir,—The country as -well as the town abounds with vanities, now the -reins of liberty and licentiousness are let loose. -Maypoles, and players, and jugglers, and all -things else now pass current. Sin now appears -with a brazen face." Just as Charles and James -were landing in the merry month of May, at -Dover, Thomas Hall published his "Funebria -Floræ, the Downfall of May Games"—a most -inopportune moment. With equal horror, the -Puritans beheld the old sports at village wakes -and Whitsuntide, the jollity of harvest homes, -and the mirthful uproar of Christmas, come back. -New Year's Day, with its gifts—a Roman custom -as old as Romulus—not only reappeared as a -means of expressing affection amongst friends, -but as a source of great profit to the king and -nobility. For as Numa ordered gifts to be given -to the gods on that day, so gifts were now presented -by the nobility to the king, and long after -his time by the dependents of the nobility, and -those who sought favour from them, to the -nobles. Pepys says that the whole fortunes of -some courtiers consisted in these gifts. But -Christmas boxes, which originated in New Year's -gifts, and have become confounded with them in -England, have survived the New Year's gifts -of the time we are reviewing.</p> - -<p>The great evidences of the growth of a nation -are the increase of its trade, its population, and -its governmental revenue. When these three -things continue to augment, <em>pari passu</em>, there can -be no question of the substantial progress of a -nation. All these had been steadily on the increase -during this period, and the advocates of -royalty point to these circumstances to prove the -mischiefs of the Civil War and the Commonwealth. -It would be enough in reply, even did we admit -the reality of the alleged facts, to observe that the -mischief, whatever it was, was necessitated by the -crimes and tyrannies of royalty. But we have -only to look carefully at the whole case to see -that the prosperity following the Restoration had -its source in the Commonwealth. In spite of the -violent changes and dislocations of society during -the period of the conflict with Charles I., these -upheavings and tempests threw down and swept<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span> -away a host of things which cramped and -smothered the free action of commerce and internal -industry. The lava which burst in fiery -streams from the volcano of revolution, though it -might for a time destroy life and property, only -required a little more time to moulder and fertilise -the earth. A host of mischievous monopolies were -annihilated in this convulsion. The foreign commerce -was carefully extended. Not only at home -were Englishmen relieved from the incubus of -Government absolutism, and interference with -private speculation, but the haughty fleets of -Dutch, and French, and Spaniards were swept from -the ocean, and English merchants were encouraged -to extend their enterprises, not only by the greater -security at sea, but by the act of the Long Parliament -allowing the import of commodities from its -colonies and possessions in America, Asia, and -Africa, only in English bottoms. This, it has -been contended, did us no good, because it compelled -the Dutch to turn their attention to the -Baltic trade, and enabled them to get the precedence -of us there. But this is a mistake; for the -removal of the overbearing fleets of the Dutch, -and the stimulus given to our commerce by this -privilege, led to a far greater amount of mercantile -activity in England, and helped us to assume -a position in which at a later date we could safely -introduce the principles of free navigation.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_384.jpg" width="560" height="426" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>MAY DAY REVELS IN THE TIME OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_384big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Cromwell fostered British commerce by all the -means in his power, and most successfully; and -the commercial activity thus excited acquired -power, and continued to increase ever afterwards. -He encouraged and extended the colonies, -especially by the acquisition of Jamaica, and the -trade with the West Indies and American colonies -added increasingly, during the period now under -review, to our commercial wealth and navy. The -writer of "The World's Mistake in Oliver Cromwell," -published in the "Harleian Miscellany," -says:—"When this tyrant, or Protector, as some -call him, turned out the Long Parliament in April, -1653, the kingdom had arrived at the highest -pitch of trade it ever knew. The riches of the -nation showed itself in the high value of land and -of all our native commodities, which are the -certain marks of opulence." Besides this, the -great quantity of land thrown into the hands of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span> -small proprietors, from time to time, and from a -succession of causes, ever since the breaking up -of the Roman Church, and all its monasteries -and convents by Henry VIII., was every day -telling more markedly on the wealth and spirit of -the people. We have just seen what a powerful -body the yeomanry had grown; and, from the -same causes, a large accession of capital had -flowed into trade. The culture of these divided -lands was enormously increased; instead of lying -as vast deserts and hunting grounds, they now -were become fertile farms. The internal resources -of the country were rapidly and constantly developing -themselves; and from the cool transfer -of the taxation from the aristocracy to the people -at large, it had become the interest of the -monarchs, if they did little positively to accelerate -the growth of national wealth, at least to leave in -freedom the capital-increasing exertions of the -population. The more the people traded abroad, -the greater were the proceeds of the customs; the -more they consumed, the greater the proceeds of -the excise; now the chief items of the royal -revenue. All the sources of national wealth -originated in the Long Parliament and the Commonwealth, -for the transfers of the customs and -excise were first made then, and only resumed after -the Restoration.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_385.jpg" width="560" height="430" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SHIPS OF THE TIME OF CHARLES II.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_385big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>We may now notice the rapid growth of these -items of revenue. In the first year of Charles II.'s -reign—namely, 1660—the proceeds of the customs -were £361,356; in the last year of James's reign, -1688, they were £781,987. Thus, in twenty-eight -years the customs had more than doubled -themselves. We have not the same complete -accounts of the excise, imports and exports, for -the same period; but those which we have -show the same progressive ratio. In 1663, -the imports and exports together amounted to -£6,038,831; in 1669, or only six years afterwards, -they were £6,259,413; and, since 1613, -they had risen up to this amount from £4,628,586. -This showed a steady increase of consumption in -the nation. During this time the imports exceeded -the exports considerably, demonstrating -the fact that the internal wealth was greater -than the export of goods; but the balance of trade -gradually adjusted itself, and, in 1699, the excess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span> -of exports over imports was £1,147,660; showing -that even exportable articles of manufacture, of -raw produce, or of commodities the growth of our -colonies and settlements, had continued to increase. -The proceeds of the excise in 1660, when Charles -became possessed of it, amounted only to about one -million; but increased so rapidly that in little -more than a century it reached ten millions.</p> - -<p>The value of land, and of all kinds of property, -rose in proportion. Davenant, in his "Discourses -on Trade," shows that the value of the whole -rental of England in 1660 was but £6,000,000; -in 1688 it was £14,000,000. So that, in 1660, -the whole land of England, at twelve years' purchase, -was worth only £72,000,000; but, in 1688, -at fourteen years' purchase, its then estimated -value, it was worth £254,000,000.</p> - -<p>As to the mercantile shipping of the country, -its tonnage in 1688 was nearly double what -it was in 1666. Sir William Petty, in his -"Political Arithmetic," published in 1676, states -that, within the previous forty years, the houses -in London had doubled themselves: the coal -trade from Newcastle had quadrupled itself, -being then 80,000 tons yearly; the Guinea and -American trades had grown up from next to -nothing to 40,000 tons of shipping; the customs -were trebled; the postage of letters increased -from one to twenty; the whole income of Government, -in short, was trebled; and the number and -splendour of coaches, equipages, and household -furniture were wonderfully increased.</p> - -<p>These effects were surely no results of the wise -measures of such monarchs as Charles and James; -they were traceable, as clearly as light to the sun, -to the bold and able heads of the Long Parliament -and Commonwealth, to their victories over the -enemies and rivals of the nation, and to the able -regulations which they had made in all quarters -for the honourable maintenance of our name and -the prosperity of our commerce. What such men -as Charles and James did may be seen by examining -the condition of what fell under their own -management. What the nation at large did by its -native energy we have just seen; what these -monarchs did let us now see. The royal navy, in -1666, amounted only to 62,594 tons; but in 1685, -the last year of Charles, it amounted to 103,558 -tons; and, though it fell off a little under James, -in 1688, the last year of James, it still reached -101,892 tons. This looks admirable on the surface; -but it is necessary to look under the surface, -and then we perceive a marvellous difference. The -nation had become justly proud of its navy, which -had destroyed the great Armada, and, under -Blake, had put down the supremacy of Holland -and Spain at sea; and though the Commons were -averse from trusting Charles II. with money, after -they saw that it all went to concubines and -parasites, they were never appealed to on the -subject of the navy in vain. When Danby was -minister, they voted at once £600,000 for the -building of thirty new men-of-war. On the evidence -of Pepys, the Secretary of the Admiralty, -we have it, that scarcely any of this magnificent -array of ships were fit for use. The very thirty -new vessels for which the £600,000 had been -voted had been built of such villainous timber that -they were absolutely unseaworthy; and the rest -were so rotten and worm-eaten that they would -have sunk if they were carried out of port. The -same testimony was borne by the French ambassador, -Bonrepaux, who, when Charles made a -bluster as if he would go to sea, in 1686, examined -our fleet, and reported to his Government that it -need not trouble itself about the English navy, for -that both ships and men were merely nominal. -In fact, the money which should have repaired -the ships and paid the officers and men had gone -the way of all Charles's money. Pepys was pursued -in the streets by starving sailors, who demanded -the redemption of their tickets; shoals -of them lay in the streets, without food or means -of procuring shelter; many of them perished of -hunger, and some officers are said to have shared the -same fate. The whole was the most shameful scene -of waste of the public money, neglect of vessels -and of men, of utter indolence on the part of the -Crown, and consequent negligence on the part of -the authorities; of scandalous corruption in many -of them, and knavery and peculation in contractors. -Such was the state of things that, in -1667, or seven years after the Commonwealth, the -Dutch, under De Ruyter, entered the Thames, -destroyed the fortifications at Sheerness, took and -burned some of our largest ships, and threw the -capital into paroxysms of terror. "Many English -sailors," says Pepys, "were heard on board the -Dutch ships, crying, 'We did heretofore fight for -tickets—now we fight for dollars!'"</p> - -<p>Besides the causes already enumerated for the -rapid progress of England in wealth and prosperity -at this period, the persecutions of Protestants -abroad, which drove hither their weavers and -artisans, and the union with Scotland, giving -internal peace and security, had a wonderful influence. -De Witt, the celebrated Dutch minister, -refers to these causes in a remarkable passage of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span> -his work called "The Interest of Holland," published -in 1669. "When," he says, "the compulsive -laws of the Netherland Halls had first driven -the cloth-weaving from the cities into our villages, -and, by the cruelty of the Duke of Alva, the say-weaving -went also after it, the English by degrees -began to send their manufactures throughout -Europe; they became potent at sea, and no -longer to depend on the Netherlands. Also by -that discovery of the inexpressibly rich cod-bank -of Newfoundland, those of Bristol in particular -made use of that advantage. Moreover, the long -persecution of Puritans in England has occasioned -the planting of many English colonies in America, -by which they derive a very considerable foreign -trade thither; so that this mighty island, united -with Ireland under one king, seated in the midst -of Europe, having a clear, deep coast, with good -havens and bays, in so narrow a sea that all -foreign ships that sail either to the eastward or -the westward are necessitated, even in fair weather, -to shun the dangerous French coast, and sail along -that of England, and in stormy weather to run -in and preserve their lives, ships, and merchandise -in the bays—so that England now, by its conjunction -with Scotland, being much increased in -strength, as well as by manufactures as by a great -navigation, will in all respects be formidable to -all Europe."</p> - -<p>The clear-sighted Dutch diplomatist has summed -up the grand points of England's advantages at -that and succeeding periods, and some of these deserve -our particular attention. The union with -Scotland, though yet dependent only on the Crown -of the two countries resting on the same head, was -a circumstance of infinite advantage. It gave a -settlement and security to all the northern portions -of the island which they had never enjoyed before. -Till James VI. of Scotland became James I. of -England, not only agriculture but all kinds of -manufacturing and commercial enterprise were -kept in check by the frequent hostile inroads of -the Scots. Even when there was peace between -the Crowns, the fierce people inhabiting both sides -of the Border were in continual bickerings with -each other; and a numerous body of mosstroopers, -whose only profession was plunder, harassed the -rich plains of England by their predatory raids. -The state of things described by Sir Walter Scott -as existing in these regions only about a century -ago, gives us a lively idea of what must have been -the savagery of the Borderers at the time we are -describing. If he himself, as he tells us, was -probably the first who drove a gig into Liddesdale, -and if at that time the wilds and moorlands of -the Border were peopled by tribes of freebooters as -lawless as savages, what must have been the state -of the northern counties whilst the two countries -were at feud? We are told that even the -judges and king's officers could not reach the towns -on the Border without a strong military guard.</p> - -<p>But as the union of the Crowns became settled -and consolidated, a new era commenced north of -the Trent. These counties, full of coal and ironstone, -abounding with streams and all the materials -for manufacture, began to develop their resources, -and to advance in population and activity at an -unexampled rate. Birmingham and Sheffield extended -their hardware trade; Leeds and its neighbouring -villages, its cloth manufactures; Manchester, -its cotton-spinning, though yet little aided -by machinery; and Liverpool was rapidly rising -as a port by its trade with Ireland. The union of -the Crowns was, in fact, the beginning of that marvellous -impetus which has at this day covered all -the north with coal-works, iron-works, potteries, -spinning and weaving factories, and towns, which -have grown up around them with their 530,000 -people, like Birmingham; their 425,000, like -Sheffield; their 445,000, like Leeds; their 780,000, -like Manchester (with Salford); and 716,000, like -Liverpool. It was the same security amid attendant -advantages which raised the immense commercial -and manufacturing population of Glasgow, -Paisley, Greenock, and neighbouring towns on the -other side of the Border—Glasgow alone now -numbering its 787,000 people.</p> - -<p>In the south and west Norwich and Bristol -were most flourishing towns. Norwich owed its -growth and prosperity to the establishment of the -worsted manufacture, brought thither by the -Flemings as early as the reign of Henry I., in the -thirteenth century, and to the influence of four -thousand other Flemings, who fled from the -cruelty of the Duke of Alva in Elizabeth's -time, bringing their manufacture of bombazines, -which has now expanded itself into a great trade -in bombazines, shawls, crapes, damasks, camlets, -and imitations of Irish and French stuffs. Norwich -had its fine old cathedral, its bishop's palace, its -palace of the Duke of Norfolk, adorned with the -paintings of Italy, and where the duke used at -this time to live with a state little less than -royal. It had also a greater number of old -churches than any town in England, except London: -old hospitals and grammar schools, and -the finest market-place in the kingdom.</p> - -<p>Bristol, next to London, was the great trading<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span> -port, and the commerce with America and the -West Indies was fast swelling its importance. -One of its most lucrative and, at the same -time, most infamous sources of commerce was the -conveyance of convicts to the Plantations of -America and Jamaica. We have seen the eagerness -of the courtiers of James II., and even the queen -and ladies, for a share of this traffic, and the -numbers of the unfortunate men implicated in the -insurrection of Monmouth who were sent off thither -and sold. Jeffreys himself condemned eight hundred -and forty of them to this slavery, and calculated -that they were worth ten pounds apiece to -those who had to sell them to the British merchants, -who probably made much more of them. -That the profits were enormous is evident by the -avidity with which victims were sought after, and -with which innocent persons were kidnapped for -the purpose. Bristol, indeed, at that time was -engaged in a veritable white slave-trade, and the -magistrates were deep in it, which fact coming to -Jeffreys' knowledge, he made it a plea for extorting -money from them.</p> - -<p>To understand, however, the immense difference -between the England of that day and of the -present, we have only to state that the population -of none of these pre-eminent towns amounted to -30,000, few county towns exceeded 4,000 or -5,000, and the whole population of England was, -according to various calculations, at the most five -millions and a half, nor was it increasing at all -rapidly.</p> - -<p>To protect the trade of England, Charles II. -passed an Act (statute 12 Car. II., c. 18), commonly -called the Navigation Act, carrying out the principle -of the Act of the Commonwealth already -referred to, confining the import of all commodities -from Asia, Africa, or America to English bottoms, -and also all goods from Europe to English ships, -or the ships of the particular country exporting -them. The next year a similar Act was passed -by the Scottish Parliament. The Act of the -Commonwealth had effected its purpose—the depression -of the Dutch carrying trade—and it was -now time to relax these restrictions, but we shall -see that even at a later day it required a -struggle to repeal these laws, and to convince -people, by the subsequent immense increase of foreign -commerce, of the impolicy of them. Charles's -Government went further, and, in 1662, forbade -any wine but Rhenish, or any spirits, grocery, -tobacco, potashes, pitch, tar, salt, resin, deals, firs, -timber, or olive oil, to be imported from Germany -or the Netherlands. In 1677, alarmed at the vast -importation of French goods and produce, his -Government prohibited every French article for -three years; but the Act remained unrepealed till -the 1st of James II., by which our merchants and -shopkeepers were deprived of great profits on -these silks, wines, fruits, and manufactured -articles, and the public of the comfort of them.</p> - -<p>Another evidence of the growth of the country -was the increase of the business of the post-office. -The origin of the English post-office is due to -Charles I., who, at the commencement of his disputes -with the Parliament, established a system of -posts and relays. This the Civil War put an end -to; but the Commonwealth, in 1656, established -the post-office, with several improvements. At -the accession of Charles, a new Act was passed -(12 Car. II., c. 25); and three years afterwards -the proceeds of this office and of the wine duties -were settled on the Duke of York and his heirs -male. The duke farmed it out at £21,500, but on -his accession the revenue amounted to £65,000. -By this post a single letter was carried eighty -miles for twopence; beyond eighty miles threepence -was charged, and there was an advance -according to the weight of packets. The privilege -of franking was allowed, though not expressly -granted in the Act, to peers and members of Parliament. -There were mails, however, only on -alternate days, and in distant and difficult parts of -the country, as on the borders of Cornwall and -the fens of Lincolnshire, only once a week. -Wherever the Court went mails were sent daily; -this was the case, also, to the Downs, and, in the -season, to Bath and Tunbridge Wells. Where -coaches did not run, men on horseback carried the -bags. The increasing business of London soon -demanded a more frequent delivery, and the -penny post was first started by William Dockwray, -which delivered letters six times a day in -the City, and four times in the outskirts. At this -time the post-office business included the furnishing -of all post-horses—whence the name; and the -Governments on the Continent generally retain -more or less of this practice. The growth of -England from the time of the Stuarts till now -receives a significant proof in the present gross -revenue for letters, stamps, telegrams, and other -post office business being upwards of £16,000,000 -a year.</p> - -<p>The transmission of the mails made it necessary -to improve the roads, and hence arose the toll-bar -system, by an Act of 15 Car. II., which -ordered the repairing of highways and the erection -of bars or gates upon them, in Hertfordshire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span>, -Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire, owing to -the Great North Road being so much cut up by the -heavy malt and barley waggons going to Ware, -whence their contents were forwarded by water to -London and other towns. The system was found -so advantageous that it gradually became general.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_389.jpg" width="560" height="405" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE OLD EAST INDIA HOUSE IN 1630.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_389big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The extension and improvement of our manufactures -was greatly promoted by the persecution -of the Protestants in France and the Spanish -Netherlands. The revocation of the Edict of -Nantes, in 1685, compelled thousands of citizens -to seek refuge in England, who, as we have seen, -were at first warmly patronised by James II., but -afterwards as much discouraged. Their value to -the country was, however, too obvious for the -community to sanction this neglect. They settled -in Spitalfields, and introduced the weaving of -silks, brocades, and lutestrings; and the trade and -the descendants of these refugees until lately distinguished -the same quarter of London. It is supposed -that they also brought with them the art of -making the finest kinds of writing paper, which -was previously imported from France.</p> - -<p>Before this, and from the very beginning of this -period, other foreigners—refugees tempted by -liberal offers—had introduced other manufactures. -In the year of Charles's accession, the -Anglo-French population of Jersey and Guernsey -were allowed to import wool from England duty -free, and pushed their manufacture—worsted -hosiery—to great perfection. In 1660 some -Flemings introduced the improved arts of dyeing -and dressing woollen cloths, by which they raised -our cloths to an equality with the Continental -ones. Other foreigners in the same year were -encouraged to commence the manufacture of linen -and tapestry. Some others settled at Ipswich, in -1669, and the Scots, who had carried the linen-weaving -to Ireland, were at this time making great -progress with it there. In 1670 the Duke of -Buckingham brought from Venice men skilled in -the manufacturing of glass; the Dutch loom was -brought over, and, in 1676, the printing of -calicoes, now so vast a trade at Manchester, was -commenced in London, in imitation of those -brought from India. In 1680 machines for ribbon-weaving -were introduced, to which Coventry -owed so much of her trade. The art of tinning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span> -sheet-iron was brought over from Germany by natives -of that country, at the instigation of Andrew -Yarranton, the agent of an English company. A -Dutchman erected the first wire-mill in England -at Sheen, near Richmond; and pinchbeck was introduced -by its inventor under the patronage of -Prince Rupert. In fact, the seeds of many of the -greatest branches of English manufactures were -sown during this period.</p> - -<p>One of our largest trading companies also was -fast growing, and was destined to lay the foundation -of the grandest colonial territory which the -world ever saw. Most of the companies which -had previously existed were now gone down, -or were broken up by the increasing aversion -of the nation to monopolies; but the East India -Company were every day acquiring fresh life -and power. The scene of their operations lay so -distant from public observation, particularly at that -day when the means of communication were so -tardy and partial, and the Press did not maintain -an instant and perpetual attention upon everything -concerning the realm, that the Government -were only too glad to leave with the Company the -whole management of those remote affairs, especially -as they poured so much profit into the -country, of which the Government had their share. -Accordingly, Charles had scarcely seated himself -on his throne than he renewed the charter of the -Company granted by Cromwell in 1657, with augmented -powers. This charter, dated the 3rd of -April, 1661, gave the Company the most absolute -and unconditional power. They were authorised to -seize and send home any Englishman presuming to -trade in the East, and found so trading either in -India or the Indian seas. They were empowered to -appoint their own judges, and conduct the whole -civil and military establishment; to make war or -peace with any of the native powers, or any -powers not Christian; to build any ports they -pleased there or in St. Helena for their accommodation -and defence. In short, the most complete -absolutism was conferred on them in their territories, -or such as they should gain, and the most -entire secrecy of transactions, by shutting out -every individual who might be disposed to pry -into or criticise their proceedings.</p> - -<p>Bombay, which Charles had received with -Catherine from Portugal, as part of her marriage -portion, was, in 1667, handed over to the Company, -and the effect of this addition of territory -and of power was soon seen. In 1676 their accumulated -profits had doubled their capital, and -the price of their stock rose to 245 per cent. The -following facts, drawn from a publication supposed -to be written by Sir Josiah Child, entitled "The -East India Trade a most Profitable Trade to this -Kingdom," which appeared in 1667, will show the -extraordinary traffic of the Company at that early -period. They employed, the writer said, from -thirty to thirty-five ships of from three hundred to -six hundred tons burden. Their annual exports -amounted to £430,000, and their imports to -£860,000; consisting of silks, raw and wrought, -calico, drugs, pepper, indigo, saltpetre, etc. They, -moreover, licensed other traders, who brought -from India diamonds, pearls, musk, ambergris, -etc., to the amount of £150,000, and took out -goods from England to double that amount.</p> - -<p>The writer proceeds to show how profitable this -trade was to the public as well as to the Company:—"The -pepper I reckon at eightpence a -pound weight; so necessary a spice for all people, -which formerly cost us three shillings and fourpence -a pound, being nowhere to be had but in -India; and were we obliged to have it from the -Dutch, they would probably raise it as high as -they do their other spices; yet, supposing it so -low as one shilling and fourpence a pound, it -would be a further expense of £6,000 to the -nation. Saltpetre is of that absolute necessity -that, without it, we should be like the Israelites -under the bondage of the Philistines—without the -means of defending ourselves. Possibly, if we -had no Indian trade, we might, in time of peace, -purchase it, though it would cost us double what -it does now. But, in case of war, where could we -have sufficient? Not surely from our enemies. -Or would our gentlemen, citizens, and farmers be -willing to have their cellars and rooms dug up, as -in Charles I.'s reign, and be deprived of freedom -in their own houses, exposed and laid open to -saltpetre-men? Which method would be, besides, -by no means equal to the affording us the -necessary supplies. Raw silk we might possibly -be supplied with from other parts, though not so -cheap as from India; and Indian wrought silks -serve us instead of so much Italian or French silks, -which would cost us almost treble the price of -Indian silks, to the kingdom's loss of about £20,000 -a year. Calicoes serve instead of the like quantity -of French, Dutch, and Flemish linen, which would -cost us thrice as much; hereby £200,000 or -£300,000 is saved to the nation."</p> - -<p>Amongst the articles of the greatest luxury -which the Company imported was tea. So long as -we procured tea from the Dutch merchants it was -too dear for general use. So late as 1666—that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span> -is, six years after the Restoration—it cost fifty -shillings a pound from the Dutch East India Company; -but the English Company soon afterwards -made their way to China, in 1678, and imported -four thousand seven hundred pounds of it; and -from this period we may date the more frequent -use of tea. It was long, however, before it became -the formidable rival of beef and beer at breakfast, -or superseded these articles at the afternoon meal. -It was at first sold in the liquid state in London, -and it was many years before it made its way -through the country; many ladies, in ignorance of -its true use, committing the mistake of boiling the -leaves, and serving them up as greens, throwing -away the liquid!</p> - -<p>In 1677, under the privilege of a new charter -from Charles, the Company began to earn money -in their Indian territories. These privileges were -again extended by a fresh charter from Charles in -1683, and by James in 1686. In 1687 the Company -laid the foundations of Calcutta, and went -on rapidly acquiring trade and territory, to be -noticed at a later period.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, the trade with our American and -West Indian colonies was becoming valuable. -During the latter years of the Stuart dynasty, the -exports to these colonies had risen to the amount -of about £400,000 per annum, in different manufactures, -provisions, household furniture, etc.; and -the imports thence in tobacco, sugar, ginger, -cotton wool, fustic, indigo, cocoa, fish, furs, and -timber to nearly a million. Thus the trade and -wealth of England at the close of this period were -in a condition of healthy and rapid development, -and our colonial system was beginning to attract -the "envy and admiration of the world." What -this has grown to by a steady progression in our -time may be seen by comparing the revenue of -the country now with what it was then. Then it -amounted to about £1,500,000; now it amounts -from all sources to over £141,000,000.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the rapid growth of the -country in commerce and internal wealth, it -would be a false indication that the working -classes were well off. They were a body without -education, without political rights, and, consequently, -without that intelligence and union -which can alone insure the fair reward of their -labour; nor was the humanity of the most civilised -portion of the community at that period of a -degree which regarded the sufferings of others -with much feeling. All accounts of it leave the -impression that it was a hard and cruel age; as -is usually the case, when sensuality and barbarity -go hand in hand. The sanguinary vengeance -which Charles took on the leaders of the Commonwealth -immediately on his restoration; the savage -persecutions for religion in England and Scotland; -the terrible use of the iron boot and the thumbscrew -in the latter country; the bloody campaign -of Jeffreys in England; the sale of convicts, and -the kidnapping of innocent people for the Plantations; -public whippings, pilloryings, brandings, -and tongue-borings, as in the case of James -Naylor—all indicate a brutal and unfeeling tone -of society. Macaulay quotes from writers of the -age many other revolting traits of this stamp. -"Whigs were disposed to murmur because Stafford -was suffered to die without seeing his bowels -burned before his face. Tories reviled and insulted -Russell as his coach passed from the Tower -to the scaffold in Lincoln's Inn Fields. As little -mercy was shown by the populace to sufferers of a -humbler rank. If an offender was put into the -pillory, it was well if he escaped with life, from -the shower of brickbats and paving-stones. If he -were tied to the cart's tail, the crowd pressed -round him, imploring the hangman to give it the -fellow well, and make him howl. Gentlemen -arranged parties of pleasure to Bridewell, on -court days, for the purpose of seeing the wretched -women who beat hemp there whipped. A man -pressed to death for refusing to plead, or burned -for coining, excited less sympathy than is now felt -for a galled horse or an overdriven ox. Fights, -compared with which a boxing-match is a refined -and humane spectacle, were the favourite diversions -of a large part of the town. Multitudes -assembled to see gladiators hack each other to -pieces with deadly weapons, and shouted with -delight when one of the combatants lost a finger -or an eye. The prisons were hells on earth—seminaries -of every crime and every disease. At -the assizes, the lean and yellow culprits brought -with them from their cells to the dock an atmosphere -of stench and pestilence which sometimes -avenged them signally on the bench, bar, and -jury. But on all this misery society looked with -profound indifference."</p> - -<p>But we shall soon find that this conclusion is, -on the whole, too sweeping. Even that age had -its philanthropists, and we may name the crowds -who flocked to witness the agonies of a hanging -man to point in some degree the wide distance -between the mobs of this age and that. But, as -concerns the condition of the people, the important -difference is that the humanity which now -pervades the community was scarcely to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span> -recognised then. The poor were treated with -little tenderness. Though four-fifths of the working -people were engaged in agriculture, agriculture -was then extended over a very small portion of -the country. There was a surplus of hands, and -these, therefore, were poorly paid, whilst their -clothing and provisions were comparatively high. -Not more than half the area of the island was -then, it is supposed, in cultivation, and the tillage -was rude and slovenly. The rate of wages for -agricultural labourers, wood-cutters, shepherds, -and the like, differed in different parts of England, -but in the best it did not average more -than four shillings a week with food, or six -shillings without. In 1661, the magistrates of -Essex fixed the rate of wages from March to -September at eightpence a day with food, and -one shilling and twopence without; and for the -other months, sixpence with food, and a shilling -without. Women had, of course, less. In most -counties a similar scale was fixed by the magistrates; -and an Act of Elizabeth empowered them -to punish whoever gave more or less, and the -labourer who received more or less. Wheat at -that time was seventy shillings a quarter—a price -enormously in excess of current prices. All kinds -of clothing that they could make themselves were -much higher than with us, because manufacturing -was not so extensive.</p> - -<p>The wages of artisans were but little better, -except in London, where first-rate bricklayers and -carpenters could earn two shillings or two-and-sixpence -a day. In many counties, indeed, they -were restricted to the same rate as that of the -labourers. In 1685 this was the case in Warwickshire, -where the daily wages of masons, bricklayers, -carpenters, shinglers, and other handicraftsmen, -were fixed with those of ploughmen, -miners, ditchers, etc., at only sixpence a day. A -shilling a day is quoted as extravagant wages. -The consequence was that children were compelled -to work as early as six years of age. This was -very much the case at Norwich; and writers of -the time refer with pride to the fact that before -nine years of age children earned more than was -necessary for their own support by twelve -thousand pounds a year! The consequence of -the miserable pay and the dearness of food and -clothing was an amount of pauperism scarcely less -than in the reign of Henry VIII. or Elizabeth. -The poor rates amounted at that period to from -seven to nine hundred thousand pounds a year.</p> - -<p>The condition of the poor was rendered infinitely -worse two years after the restoration of -Charles II. than it had been, by an Act which -was passed to prevent them from settling in any -other place than the one where they had previously -resided. This was the origin of the law -of settlement, which continued down to 1834 -to harass the poor, and to waste the parochial -funds in litigation. In fact, Sir Frederick Eden, -in his work on "The State of the Poor," asserts -that it caused more litigation, and was more -profitable to the lawyers, than any other Act -ever passed.</p> - -<p>The preamble of the Act of 1662 recounts the -prevalence of pauperism, and at the same time -professes that this enactment "is for the good of -the poor"! "The necessity," it says, "number, -and continued increase of the poor, not only -within the circles of London and Westminster, -with the liberties of each of them, but also -through the whole kingdom of England and -dominion of Wales, is very great and exceeding -burdensome, being occasioned by reason of -some defects in the law concerning the settlement -of the poor, and for want of due provision -of the regulations of relief and employment in -such parishes or places where they are legally -settled, which doth enforce many to turn incorrigible -rogues, and others to perish for want, -together with the neglect of the faithful execution -of such laws and statutes as have formerly been -made for the apprehension of rogues and vagabonds, -and for the good of the poor."</p> - -<p>It was therefore provided that any two justices -of the peace should, on complaint made by the -churchwardens and overseers of the poor, within -forty days after the arrival of any new comer in -the parish, proceed to remove him by force to the -parish where he had last a legal settlement, either -as native, householder, sojourner, apprentice or -servant, unless he either rented a house of ten -pounds a year, or could give such security against -becoming chargeable as the judges should deem -sufficient. This was made more stringent by a -subsequent Act, 1 James II. c. 17, which, to -prevent any one from getting a settlement by the -neglect or oversight of the parish authorities, -dated the day of his entrance into the parish -only from the time that he gave a written -notice of his new abode and the number of his -family.</p> - -<p>These enactments, in fact, converted the free -labourers of England into serfs. They were -bound to the soil, and could not move from the -spot unless by the will of the overseers and -justices. It was not necessary that a man should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span> -become chargeable to the parish in order to effect -his removal; it was enough that the authorities -could assume that he might become so; and -it was not till 1795—in fact, till the reign of -George III.—that this oppressive law was ameliorated, -allowing working people to change their -abode as they saw a better chance of employment -elsewhere, so long as they did not come upon the -parish.</p> - -<p>The unsatisfactory state of pauperism to which -the law of settlement brought the kingdom set -numbers of heads at work to plan schemes of employing -the destitute poor; and Sir Josiah Child -proposed that persons should be appointed for this -purpose, to be called "the fathers of the poor." -This seems to be the origin of the modern guardians -of the poor. It was too early in the history -of endeavour to educate and employ the poor, for -these recommendations to receive much general -attention; but there were some individuals who -set themselves zealously to work to convert the -swarming paupers into profitable workers and respectable -members of society. The most eminent -of these were two shopkeepers of London, Andrew -Yarranton and Thomas Firmin. Yarranton was -a linendraper; and, being employed by "twelve -gentlemen of England" to bring over men from -Saxony and Bohemia who understood the art of -tinning sheet-iron, he there made close observation -of the manufacture of linen, and conceived the -idea of introducing the linen manufacture, and -employing the unemployed poor upon it and the -manufacture of iron. He went to Ipswich, to see -whether the linen manufacture could not be established -there; but he found the poor already so -well employed in the stuff and say and Colchester -trade, that he did not think it a suitable place. -He calculated the paupers at that time at a hundred -thousand, and reckoned that by employing -this number at fourpence a day each would -occasion a profitable outlay amongst them of -upwards of six hundred thousand pounds, by -which means almost the whole of the poor-rates -would be saved. In 1677 he published a book -containing his views called "England's Improvement -by Sea and Land," showing how to set at -work all the poor of England, with the growth -of our own lands; to prevent unnecessary -suits at law, with the benefits of a voluntary -register; where to procure vast quantities of -timber for the building of ships, with the advantage -of making the great rivers of England navigable. -He gave rules for the prevention of fires -in London and other cities, and informed the -several companies of handicraftsmen how they -might always have cheap bread and drink. In -short, Mr. Yarranton was a regularly speculative -man, but one who had a good share of calculating -common sense in the midst of his manufacturing -and philanthropic schemes. Apparently he -travelled the kingdom well, and made careful -observations as to the best localities for carrying -on his proposed trades; and he seems to have -come to the conclusion that the midland counties -would be the best for the linen manufacture, and -that most people might be employed on it. The -midland counties he regarded as admirably -adapted for the growth of flax, from the fertility -of the land, and for the trade, because of -the easy conveyance of goods by water on the -rivers Trent, Soar, Avon, and Thames, from the -counties of Nottingham, Leicester, Warwick, -Northampton, and Oxford. He found many -parts of England already so well supplied with -manufactures, that he did not think the poor -required more work there; and his descriptions -of the manufactures going on in different parts -of the island give a lively view of the manufacturing -industry of the time. "In the West of -England," he says, "clothing of all sorts, as -in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, -Staffordshire, and a small portion of Warwickshire; -in Derby, Nottingham, and Yorkshire, -the iron and woollen manufactures; in Suffolk, -Norfolk, and Essex, the woollen manufacture; -in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, some cloth, iron, -and materials for shipping. Then the counties -to raise provisions and to vend them at London, -to feed that great mouth, are Cambridge, Huntingdon, -Buckingham, Hertford, Middlesex, and -Berks."</p> - -<p>A publication like this of Andrew Yarranton -was calculated to produce the most beneficial -change in the condition of the people. It pointed -out the true resources and wealth of the nation, -and showed a way to get rid of pauperism, and at -the same time to raise and enrich the whole realm. -It made landowners aware of the extent to which -their estates would be augmented in value by the -introduction of popular industries; and one of -its most immediate effects seems to have been its -influence on Yarranton's fellow London shopkeeper, -Mr. Thomas Firmin.</p> - -<p>In "The Life of Mr. Thomas Firmin, late citizen -of London, written by one of his most intimate -acquaintance," 1698, we learn that he was a shopkeeper -of Leadenhall Street. We learn, moreover, -that he was born at Ipswich in 1632, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span> -began the world as a tradesman with a hundred -pounds. His character for probity and ability was -already such that he flourished, married a citizen's -daughter with five hundred pounds, and in process -of time occupied superior premises in Lombard -Street. Here, though a confirmed Unitarian, and -entertaining the celebrated Unitarian leader, Mr. -Biddle, and procuring him an allowance of one -hundred crowns from Cromwell whilst he was kept -prisoner in Scilly, yet he was on intimate terms -with Dr. Tillotson, and many other eminent -Churchmen. Though not bearing on our main -subject, the following extract is worth diffusing -amongst the religious of to-day:—"During the -imprisonment of Mr. Biddle at Scilly, Mr. Firmin -was settled in Lombard Street, where first Mr. -Jacomb, then Dr. Outram, was minister. With -these two, being excellent preachers and learned -men, he maintained a respectful and kind friendship. -Now also he grew into intimacy with Dr. -Whichcot, Dr. Worthington, Dr. Wilkins, afterwards -Bishop of Chester; Mr. Tillotson (for he -was not yet doctor), Archbishop of Canterbury; -but in their dignity, and to their very last, Mr. -Firmin had the same place and degree in their -friendship and esteem that at any time formerly he -had. While Dr. Tillotson preached the Tuesday's -lecture at St. Lawrence, so much frequented by all -the divines of the town, and by a great many -persons of quality and distinction, when the -doctor was obliged to be at Canterbury, where he -was dean, or was out of town, either for diversion -or health, he generally left it to Mr. Firmin to -provide preachers for his lecture; and Mr. Firmin -never failed to supply his place with some very -eminent preacher, so that there never was a complaint -on the account of Dr. Tillotson's absence; -and this Mr. Firmin could easily do, for now there -was hardly a divine of note, whether in London or -in the country, that frequented London, but Mr. -Firmin was become acquainted with him; which -thing helped him much to serve the interests of -many hopeful young preachers and scholars, candidates -for lectures, schools, cures, or rectories, for -whom he would solicit with as much affection and -diligence as other men do for their sons or other -near relations. See here a trader, who knew no -Latin or Greek, no logic or philosophy, compassed -about by an incredible number of learned friends -who differed so widely in opinion from him."</p> - -<p>The secret of it was Firmin's freedom from -bigotry, and his perfectly benevolent character. -When the Plague broke out in 1665, which -carried off nearly a hundred thousand people, -and left vast numbers destitute from the flight of -the employers, Firmin seized on the plan of manufacturing -linen, so earnestly recommended by Yarranton, -and this upon a method first set on foot by -Thomas Gouge, the clergyman of St. Sepulchre's. -This was to buy up both flax and hemp rudely -dressed, and give it out to the poor to spin at -their own homes. He built a house in Aldersgate, -which he called his great work-house, or -spinning-house, and there he gave out the flax -and hemp, and took in the yarn. The object of -Firmin was not to make money by the speculation, -but to allow the poor people all the profit; and, -indeed, he allowed them more, for he sank a considerable -sum of money in it. But he was fast -growing rich, and he was too wise to allow himself -to become the slave of riches; and though from -six hundred pounds his capital had grown to -twenty thousand pounds, he determined not to -leave more than five thousand pounds behind him. -His object was to employ the people instead of -giving them money as a charity; and he observed -that he found it greatly to the relief of the poor; -for that they could earn threepence or fourpence -a day, working only such times as they could spare -from any other occupations, "who, being at work -in their own homes, and where they could with -convenience attend it, many of them became so -much pleased with it, that so much money given -them for doing nothing would not have done them -half so much good as that which they got by their -own labour in this employment."</p> - -<p>But Firmin had not studied the dry rules of -political economy, and had, therefore, no objection -to give money too where he saw it was needed. -He had studied in the school of Christ, who said, -"The poor ye have always with you"; and -"What you do to one of these little ones you do -also unto me." He was not opposed to all almshouses -and hospitals, lest people should calculate -on them and grow lazy. Concerning this work-house -and the spinners, he would often say that -"to pay the spinners, to relieve 'em with money -begged for 'em, with coals and sheeting, was to -him such a pleasure as magnificent buildings, -pleasant walks, well-cultivated orchards and gardens, -the jollity of music and wine, or the charms -of love or study, are to others."</p> - -<p>The East India and Guinea Companies, as well -as many private persons, took his goods; and -the Fire of London, following the Plague, gave -him plenty of work to do in the way of assisting -the destitute. Firmin added woollen spinning -and weaving to the spinning of flax and hemp;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span> -but, after all, he considered the making of linens -the most adapted to employ the people in such -circumstances. "I know of no commodity of the -like value," he says, "that can be set up with less -stock. Three parts of four, even of that cloth -which comes not to above two shillings an ell, will -be paid for work to the spinner and weaver; and -many times a woman will spin a pound of flax that -cost but sixpence or sevenpence to that fineness, -that she will receive twelvepence or fourteenpence -for her pains, which will make an ell of cloth -worth three shillings; at which rate five parts of -six will be paid for labour: nay, sometimes I have -seen a pound of flax, not worth above one and -sixpence at most, spun to that fineness that it hath -been worth ten shillings; and in other parts I -have seen a pound of flax of not much higher value -spun to that fineness that it hath been worth three -or four pounds sterling."</p> - -<p>Firmin next set children to work in schools of -industry—a plan again introduced as new in our -own day. The idea, he confesses, came from -abroad, but he had the honour of introducing it in -England. "I have," he says, "at this time some -children working for me, not above seven or eight -years old, who are able to earn twopence a day, -and some, that are a little older, two shillings a -week; and I doubt not to bring any child about -that age to do the like; and still, as they grow up -and become proficients, even in this poor trade of -spinning, they will be able to get more and spin -better than older people. Neither would I have -those schools confined only to spinning, but to -take in knitting, and make lace or plain work, or -any other work which children shall be thought -most fit for." He then refers to the foreign practice, -and to the fact of children being employed at -Norwich, where it was computed that they had -earned twelve thousand pounds more than they -had spent in knitting fine Jersey stockings.</p> - -<p>This was a plan admirable for teaching children -all kinds of businesses and household work, but -liable to enormous abuses; and the trading community -seized on it and carried it into coal mines, -and cotton and other factories, to that fearful -extent of cruelty that compelled the Legislature of -our time to step in and protect the unhappy -children. Firmin's honest and benevolent mind -did not foresee this evil use of the idea; yet he was -by no means incautious. He used to beg often as -much as five hundred pounds a year, and distribute -it amongst the poor; but he always took -pains to inquire into cases of real necessity, and -visited the sufferers in their own houses to convince -himself of their actual distress.</p> - -<p>In Yarranton, Gouge, and Firmin we see the -pioneers of that great host of philanthropists who -have from time to time followed in their steps, till -now the whole country is alive with schools, ragged -schools, reformatories, schemes of industry, and -the numerous institutions which are on foot to -improve the condition of the poor. In that age we -see the germs of the vast manufacturing system -which has made one great workshop of Britain, -and caused its redundant population to overflow to -the amount of nearly a quarter of a million a -year into other countries and hemispheres, carrying -their industrious habits and skill to found new -nations. Indeed, taking altogether the age under -review, notwithstanding the dissoluteness of the -Government and the selfishness of the upper and -middle classes, and the roughness of the lower, it -was an epoch in which the elements of future -greatness were rife. The rigour and independence -which punished the tyranny of Charles I., -and created the Commonwealth, though they -seemed to recede in Charles II.'s reign, again displayed -themselves under James II., and driving -away the impracticable Stuarts, established an -elective monarchy, the Bill of Rights, and religious -freedom. In that period philanthropy became -united with manufacturing and commercial -enterprise, whence have sprung the glory and -greatness of England; and then, too, in the -writings of Child, Davenant, Petty, and others, -dawned the first principles of political economy, -afterwards elaborated into a system by Adam -Smith, and still perfecting itself as a science by -the correction of its errors, and the blending of a -spirit of humanity with its original exactness of -deduction. The great principles of the Commonwealth -moulding the monarchy at the Revolution -to its demands, settled permanently the liberties -and the ascendency of the English race.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_396.jpg" width="500" height="245" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GREAT SEAL OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p></div> -</div> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> - -<p class="p6">REIGN OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Accession of William and Mary—Discontent of the Church and the Army—William's First Ministry—His Dutch Followers—The -Convention becomes a Parliament—Oath of Allegiance—Settlement of the Revenue—Suspension of the Habeas Corpus -Act—The Mutiny Bill—Settlement of Religion—The Coronation—Declaration of War with France—Violence of the -Revolution in Scotland—Parties in the Scottish Parliament—Letter from James—Secession of Dundee—Edinburgh -in Arms—Settlement of the Government—Dundee in the Highlands—Battle of Killiecrankie—Mackay Concludes the -War—The Revolution in Ireland—Panic among the Englishry—Londonderry and Enniskillen Garrisoned—Negotiations -of Tyrconnel—His Temporary Success—Landing of James—He Enters Dublin—His Journey into Ulster—The Siege of -Londonderry—It is Saved—Legislation of the Irish Parliament—Arrival of Schomberg—Factiousness of the English Whigs—State -of the English Army in Ireland—Renewed Violence of the Whigs—The Corporation Act Thrown Out—William -Threatens to Leave England—Dissolution of Parliament—Tory Reaction—Venality of the New Parliament—Settlement -of the Revenue—Whig Propositions—The Act of Grace—Preparations for War—A Jacobite Plot—William goes to Ireland—Progress -of the War under Schomberg—Gradual Improvement of his Position and Ruin of the Jacobite Army—The -Battle of the Boyne—Flight of James—William Enters the Irish Capital—News from England—Siege of Limerick—Battle -of Beachy Head—Landing of the French in Torbay—Courage of the English People—Settlement of Scotland—Marlborough's -Successes in Ireland—Parliament Grants Liberal Supplies—Preston's Plot Thwarted—William Sets Out for -Holland—Vigour of Louis—Fall of Mons—Trial of Jacobite Conspirators—Treason in High Places—Punishment of -the Non-Jurors—The Continental Campaign—Condition of Ireland—Arrival of St. Ruth—Siege of Athlone—Battle of -Aghrim—Second Siege and Capitulation of Limerick.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>William of Orange had now fully succeeded in -his enterprise. By the resolution of the two -Houses of Parliament on the 13th of February, -1689, he was admitted to hold the Crown for his -life in conjunction with his wife, who was not -merely queen consort, but queen regnant. They -were declared to be elected to that office and -dignity by the free choice of the nation. They -could neither of them claim the Crown by direct -succession, for James was alive, and protesting -against the idea of his abdication. Mary could not -claim by succession, even if James had abdicated; -for, although there had been much endeavour to -prove the infant son of James a supposititious -child, the effort had failed. There was no -sufficient proof of the fact, but much evidence -against it; and nobody now doubts that the infant -who afterwards acquired the name of the Pretender -was the real son of James and the queen. Had -the right of succession been admitted, neither -William nor Mary could have succeeded; but this -right was now, in fact, denied. The right for the -subjects to elect their own monarchs was proclaimed -by the Bill of Rights; and by that right, -and no other, William and Mary sat on the English -throne.</p> - -<p>But splendid as was the position which William -had achieved—that of the monarch of one of the -very first kingdoms of the world—his throne was -no bed of roses. The Catholics and the Tories<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span> -still retained their old leaning towards James. -True, many of the Tories had been greatly embittered -against James by his later measures, but -now that he was deposed, and a monarch sat on -the throne who had been notoriously brought in -by the Whigs, a strong reaction took place in -them. They professed surprise at William assuming -the sceptre; they pretended that they had -expected from his declaration that he intended -only to assist them in bringing James to reason, -and in putting him under proper constitutional -restraints. Numbers of them were already in full -correspondence with the banished prince. The -clergy were equally disaffected. They had resisted -the attempts of James to bring in Popery, -but they had now got a Presbyterian king, and -were not very sanguine of his support of the -hierarchy.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_397.jpg" width="560" height="442" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>KENSINGTON PALACE. (<cite>From a Photograph by F. G. O. Stuart, Southampton.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_397big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Similar feelings prevailed in the army. It -had been powerful in numbers, but had done -nothing to withstand a foreign prince at the head -of foreign troops marching through the country, -and placing himself on the throne. They had not -been exactly defeated, because they had not come -to a regular engagement; but they saw a foreign -prince, supported by his foreign troops, presiding -in the country; and though not beaten, they felt -humbled, and were now as near to mutiny as they -had been ready to revolt under James.</p> - -<p>As for the Whig party, which had invited -and supported William, they were only eager for -office and emolument. It was not patriotism in -the bulk of them which animated them, but the -triumph of their party; and they thought that -nothing could ever pay them for the favour they -had conferred on William. The accounts of those -writers who were present and cognisant of their -proceedings represent them as clamorous for place, -honour, and emolument, no one thinking that -William could do enough for them, and every -one ready to upbraid him for giving to others -those posts to which they thought they were more -entitled.</p> - -<p>His first public measure was to announce that -all Protestant subjects who were in office on the -1st of December last should retain their posts -till further notice. On the 17th of February he -published the list of his Privy Council, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span> -contained men of almost all parties—Danby, -Halifax, and even old Sancroft, the Archbishop of -Canterbury, in order to show the Church that its -interests would be protected. This and all other -endeavours, however, failed to win over the High -Church prelate.</p> - -<p>If some of the members of the Council gazed at -each other in astonishment to find themselves included -in one body, still more was that the case -with the Ministry. Danby, though a Tory, was -made President of the Council; but whilst this -offended others, who remembered that he had -opposed the idea of the throne being vacant, -though he had resisted the appointment of a -regency, he himself was woefully disappointed in -not receiving the White Staff. But William -neither now nor till the end of his reign entrusted -the office of Lord High Treasurer to a -single person, but put it in commission. On -the other hand, Halifax, who had not joined -William's party till the last moment, received -again the Privy Seal, and was continued Speaker -of the House of Lords, to the great disgust of the -Whigs, who remembered how long he had deserted -them, and how successfully he had opposed them -on the question of the Exclusion Bill. To add to -their chagrin, the Earl of Nottingham was made -Secretary of State. Nottingham had been foremost -amongst those who had maintained the -doctrine of passive obedience; who had denied -that the throne could for an instant become -vacant; who had declined to give up James or to -call in William, but had also led this party in -submitting to the decision of the Convention in -favour of William and Mary, on the ground that -we are enjoined by the New Testament to be -subject to the powers that be. The other Secretary, -the Earl of Shrewsbury, was indeed a Whig, -and in the highest favour with that party. He -had been foremost in calling in William; but then -he was a mere youth, only eight-and-twenty years -of age. Admiral Herbert expected to be appointed -Lord High Admiral, and to have the -entire control of the Admiralty; but he had the -mortification to see a number of others placed at -the Board of Admiralty to share his authority, -though he bore nominally the name of First -Lord of it. Churchill expected to be made -Master of the Ordnance for his treason to James; -but William had too certain evidence that he was -at this very moment a traitor to himself; was in -correspondence with the Court of St. Germain's, -and believed that he would be one of the first to -run if any future success warranted a hope of -James's restoration. He was therefore appointed -only to a post in the household, along with Devonshire, -Mordaunt, Oxford, Dorset, Lovelace, and -others; whilst the gallant foreigner Schomberg -was made Master of the Ordnance.</p> - -<p>Whilst the leaders, therefore, were deeply disappointed, -all aspirants to favour were extremely -jealous of the three staunch Dutch adherents of -William—Bentinck, Overkirk, and Zulestein—whom -William kept about him with a very -natural feeling, for they had been faithful to him -through all his arduous struggles in his own -country, and were now, indeed, almost the only -men in whom he could put implicit confidence. -The main thing in which Danby, Halifax, Nottingham, -and Shrewsbury agreed was in complaining -that William did not make them his confidants, -but preferred the secret advice of Bentinck, whom -he soon made Earl of Portland, and the counsel of -Sidney, whom he created Lord Sidney. William -had but too much cause for keeping the knowledge -of his thoughts and intentions from those around -him, for many amongst his privy councillors and -chief ministers would have betrayed them at once -to the exiled monarch. Danby had been heard to -say, even after James had quitted England, that -if he would only abandon his priests, he might -come back again; and others besides Churchill -were in regular traitorous correspondence with -James's Court. With all William's caution, not -a thing was discussed in his council but was immediately -transmitted to St. Germain's. To his -trusty countrymen already mentioned William -gave profitable offices near his person. His great -friend Bentinck was made Groom of the Stole, -with five thousand pounds a year; Overkirk -Master of the Horse; and Zulestein had charge -of the robes.</p> - -<p>These arrangements being made, on the 18th of -February, William, for the first time, addressed -the two Houses of Parliament. It is remarkable -that the very subject which he introduced to them -was a demand for liberal supplies to carry on the -war on the Continent. He had, he said, no choice -in the matter, as France had already begun war on -England.</p> - -<p>William reminded them, too, that their domestic -affairs would demand serious attention, and especially -the condition of Ireland, where a strong -feeling was known to exist for the fallen dynasty, -through the interests of the Catholic religion. He -exhorted them, moreover, to take immediate measures -for securing the despatch of business. This -alluded to the settlement of the great question<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span> -whether the Convention could continue to sit -legally after the deposition of the monarch who -had called it. The question had been debated in -the Council, and now, on the king's retiring, the -lords immediately laid on the table of the House a -Bill declaring the Convention a valid Parliament. -It was speedily carried and sent down to the -Commons; but there it excited a warm debate. -The Whigs were vociferous for it; the Tories, who -believed that the calling of a new Parliament -would be in their favour, were as vehemently -against it. The depositions of Edward II. and -Richard II. were referred to and strongly argued -upon; but the case in point was the Convention -which recalled Charles II., and continued to sit -and act long after. Sir John Maynard moreover -contended that, as they were like men who found -themselves in a trackless desert, it was not for -them to stand crying, "Where is the king's highway?" -but to take the track that would lead them -out of it. That track was the precedent of -Charles II.'s reign. The House passed the Bill -without a division, and it received the Royal -assent on the tenth day after the accession.</p> - -<p>A clause in this Bill provided that, after the 1st -of March, no person could sit or vote in either -House until he had taken the new oath of allegiance -to their majesties. Great excitement was -occasioned by this oath. It was hoped by the -Tories and High Church there would be found a -sufficient number of persons of influence who would -refuse the oath, so as to render the seat of the new -monarchs unstable, and open the way to the return -of James. Care was taken to consult the prejudices -of the adherents to the old notions of right -divine as much as possible, and the words "rightful -and lawful sovereigns," after deliberation were -omitted; but this did not prevent many from refusing -it. As the day approached for taking the -oath, the capital was full of rumours. It was said -that the Duke of Grafton had escaped to France -in order to reconcile himself to his uncle; and -numerous other persons were supposed to have -followed his example. When the day arrived, however, -Grafton was one of the first to present himself; -and the number of the lords who declined it, -amongst them the Earls of Clarendon, Lichfield, -and Exeter, with the Archbishop of Canterbury -and some of the bishops, was small. Of the -bishops, five were of those who refused to obey the -commands of James to publish his Indulgence, and -had been sent to the Tower. Rochester, the -brother of Clarendon, was expected to refuse the -oath, as he had adhered to James after Clarendon -had abandoned him; but Clarendon's income was -secure from his estate. Rochester had a pension -of four thousand pounds a year, which he would -lose if he refused the oath—a strong argument, -which seems to have proved convincing, for he -took the oath. Four hundred of the Lower House -had taken the oath on the 2nd of March, and -amongst them Seymour, who had led the Tory -Opposition; but when the oath was extended to -the clergy and other individuals in office, above -four hundred of the clergy, including some of the -most distinguished dignitaries, refused it; and -thus began the great schism of the non-jurors, who -long continued to figure as the unswerving advocates -of divine right.</p> - -<p>The next great question was that of the revenue. -The Parliaments of Charles and James had been -exceedingly munificent in their grants of income. -In the heat of their loyalty at the Restoration, -the Commons forgot all the salutary fears of their -predecessors, and gave up every point for which -they had contended with Charles I. Tonnage and -poundage were granted for life, and afterwards -confirmed to James. They settled on these -monarchs half of the excise in perpetuity, and half -for life. The fixed revenue of Charles and James -had been one million two hundred thousand -pounds, but the actual revenue had been a great -deal more. It was now found by examination of -the accounts that James had been in the annual -receipt of no less than two millions, of which -ninety thousand pounds had been expended in -secret service money. William had, since arriving -at Whitehall, been in the habit of collecting and -applying this magnificent revenue as chief of the -State; and seemed to expect that it would be now -settled on him. The first question discussed was, -whether an income granted to a monarch for life -could be received legally by his successor in case -of his abdication so long as he lived. Many of -the chief lawyers contended that the revenue -was granted to the monarch in his political capacity, -and not to the man, and that, therefore, -the prince who came to discharge his official -duties so long as he lived was rightfully in receipt -of it. But the more common sense opinion prevailed, -that the prince who superseded another by -the call of the nation must receive all his rights as -well as his call from the nation. The House -therefore passed to the question of the amount of -the revenue, and they did not appear very much -disposed to use the same lavish folly towards -William as they had done towards the late -monarchs. Instead of granting him a life revenue,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span> -they granted him one million two hundred thousand -pounds, the sum allowed to Charles II., but -only for three years, one half of which was to be -appropriated to the civil list, the other half to the -public defences. William was sensibly chagrined -by this caution, and complained much of want of -confidence in him, and of unusual parsimony. He -presented a claim of seven hundred thousand -pounds from the Dutch, the cost of the expedition -which had placed him on the throne. The Commons -consented to pay six hundred thousand -pounds, and William received the sum for his -careful countrymen with a very ill grace. The -Commons did not the less displease him by reducing -his demand for the navy from one million -one hundred thousand pounds to seven hundred -thousand pounds, and by granting the supply for -the army for only six months; Sir Edward Seymour -all the time warning them that it was the -foolish liberality of Charles II.'s Parliament which -enabled him to enslave the nation as he had done.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_400.jpg" width="404" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WILLIAM III.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_400big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>One thing which did William great credit, however, -was the recommendation to the Commons to -abolish the abominable hearth-tax. As he had -advanced from Torbay to London, the people had -importuned him on all sides to set aside this -detestable tax, which had been farmed out to rapacious -collectors, who treated the people with every -species of insult, cruelty, and violence in enforcing -payment of it. It was a most unequal tax, which -fell with disproportionate weight on the very poor; -for as it was levied, not by the value of the property, -but by the number of chimneys, the peasant -in many cases paid nearly as much as a man of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span> -really great substance; and where the money was -not ready when called for, the tax-gatherers forced -open even bedrooms, and sold the very bed from -beneath the sick, and the table at which the family -sat. William was much impressed by its injustice, -and, at his special desire, the Act was repealed.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_401.jpg" width="413" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>MARY II.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_401big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Whilst in the midst of the money debates, a -circumstance occurred which materially hastened -the decision, and no doubt increased the liberality -of the Commons. William announced to them -that James had sailed from Brest, with an armament, -for Ireland. But the alarm of James's -descent on Ireland, and the disaffection in the -army, roused the Commons from their tone of -caution. They passed resolutions of patriotic devotion -to the Crown, and in an address assured -William that their lives and fortunes were at his -service in its defence. They went further. As -there were great numbers of political persons in -custody—persons openly disaffected to the present -dynasty having been prudently secured during the -progress of the revolution,—now that the revolution -was completed, and authorised judges were once -more on the bench, it was feared that these prisoners -would demand their habeas corpus, and come -forth at the very moment when all the adherents -of James were on the alert to watch the effect of -his reception in Ireland. The Commons, therefore, -passed an Act to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act -for the present.</p> - -<p>But simultaneously the Commons were passing -another Act of scarcely less significance. Hitherto -there had been no military power of controlling -and punishing soldiers or officers who offended -against discipline or their oath. They were subject -only to the civil tribunals, and must be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span> -brought there, and tried and punished as any other -subjects. James had obtained from his servile -judges a decision that he might punish any deserter -from his standard summarily; but this was not -law, and the Commons, now alarmed by an affair -at Ipswich, where a regiment of Scottish soldiers -had mutinied, passed an Act called the Mutiny -Bill, by which any military offenders might be -arrested by military authority, and tried and condemned -by court-martial in perfect independence -of the civil authority. This Bill, which passed -without a single dissentient vote, at once converted -the soldiers into a separate class, and in effect -founded what all parties disclaimed and affected to -dread—a standing army. Like the Act for the -suspension of the Habeas Corpus, it was only for a -limited period; but the unsettled state of the -kingdom at the moment of its expiration caused it -to be renewed, and it became a permanent institution, -though to this day we annually go through -the ceremony of formally renewing the Mutiny -Bill.</p> - -<p>The passing these extraordinary measures excited -the alarm of many even well-disposed to the -revolution; but to the adherents of the Stuart -dynasty they afforded the opportunity for the most -vehement declamation against the new monarch. -The person, the manners, the spirit, and intentions -of William were severely criticised. He was undeniably -of a close and gloomy temperament, and -found it impossible to assume that gaiety and -affability of demeanour which to Charles II. were -natural. He had the manners and the accent of -a foreigner, and chilled all those who approached -him at Court by his cold and laconic manners. In -fact, he knew that he was surrounded by traitors, -and could unbend only in the company of his -Dutch favourites. He became extremely unpopular, -and not all the endeavours and the -agreeable and cordial manners of the queen could -prevent the serious effect of his own reserved -temper. At the same time more was truly to be -attributed to the force of circumstances than to -any bias of William towards tyranny. In one -direction William was anxious to extend the liberties -of the nation. He was for establishing the -utmost freedom of religious opinion. He would -have abolished the Test Act, and granted free enjoyment -of all Christian creeds and of office to -members of all denominations; but though there -was no fear of a leaning to Popery in him, he -found himself stoutly opposed in these intentions -by his subjects. The Church was split into High -Church and Low Church, jurors and non-jurors; -but every party in the Church, and almost every -body of Dissenters, was averse from conceding -any liberty of creed or capability of office to the -Catholics. Again, the Church was bent against -admission of any one to office who refused to subscribe -to the Thirty-nine Articles, and to take the -oaths, not only of Allegiance but of Supremacy. -Under these circumstances William found it impossible -to set aside the Test Act or the Corporation -Act; but he brought in and passed the celebrated -Toleration Act. Yet even this Act, from -which we still date our enjoyment of religious -liberty, was circumscribed. It did not repeal -the obnoxious Act of Uniformity, the Five Mile -Act, the Conventicle Act, and those other statutes -which so harassed and oppressed the Dissenters; -but it exempted them from their operation on -certain conditions. They must subscribe thirty-four -out of the Thirty-nine Articles, which most of -them could do; the Baptists were excused from -professing belief in the efficacy of infant baptism; -and the Quakers from taking an oath if they -professed a general belief in Christianity, promised -fidelity to the Government, and made a declaration -against transubstantiation. This Act, therefore, -cautious and meagre as it appeared, gave a freedom -to the Dissenting world which it had hitherto -been destitute of.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 560px;"> -<img src="images/i_402.jpg" width="560" height="430" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left">COVENANTERS PREACHING.</p> - -<p class="left"><span class="smcap">From the Picture by Sir George Harvey, R.S.A.,<br /> -in the Corporation Art Gallery, Glasgow.</span><br /> -</p> - </div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_402big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>William made a resolute effort also to heal the -great schism of the Church, and admit, by a comprehensive -Bill, the main body of Nonconformists. -By this Bill as introduced, it was proposed to -excuse all ministers of the Established Church -from the necessity of subscribing the Thirty-nine -Articles; they were only to make this declaration: -"I do approve of the doctrine, and worship, and -government of the Church of England by law established, -as containing all things necessary to -salvation; and I promise in the exercise of my -ministry to preach and practise according thereunto." -The same looseness of declaration was -extended to the two universities. Presbyterian -ministers could be admitted to the pulpits and -livings of the Church by accepting from a bishop a -simple command to preach, administer the sacraments, -and perform all the ministerial offices of -the Church. Except in a few churches, the clergyman -might wear the surplice or not, as he wished; -might omit the sign of the cross in baptism; might -christen children with or without godfathers and -godmothers; might administer the Sacrament to -persons sitting or kneeling, as they pleased. Besides -this, the Bill proposed a Commission to revise -the liturgy, the canons, and the constitution<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span> -of the ecclesiastical courts. But it was soon found -that no such sweeping changes could be effected. -There was no determined opposition to the revision -of the liturgy, but the danger to the rites -on which the High Church laid so much stress -soon called forth powerful resistance. It was represented -that all manner of anomalous and contradictory -practices would soon rend to pieces -the harmony and decorum of the Church. Presbyterian -and Puritan would set at defiance the -most honoured practices of the Establishment. The -Dissenting body were as much alarmed as the -High Church. This wide door of admission to the -Church, it was feared, would draw away a whole -host of their ministers and members; and as the -Test Act was by no means to be removed, they -would thus become additionally unable to contend -for its future abolition. The Bill, after much -discussion and many modifications, fell to the -ground.</p> - -<p>The next attempt was to modify the Oaths of -Allegiance and Supremacy, so as to accommodate -the consciences of the Non-jurors; but it was finally -agreed that all persons holding ecclesiastical or -academical preferment who did not take the oaths -before the 1st of August should be suspended, a -pecuniary allowance to the deprived, in some cases -to be at the option of the king, but not to exceed -one-third of the income forfeited. This was followed -by the passing of a new Coronation Oath, by -which their majesties bound themselves to maintain -the Protestant religion as established by law, and -the coronation took place on the 11th of April.</p> - -<p>These domestic matters being thus settled, war -was declared against France on the 13th of May. -The inhuman desolation of the Palatinate in the -preceding winter, where Louis's general, Duras, -had laid waste the whole country, burned down -the towns, leaving all of that fertile and populous -district one black and terrible desert, had -roused the powers of Europe against him. Germany, -Spain, Holland, and England all prepared -for vengeance, and the people and Parliament of -England were equally loud in denunciation of the -worthless desolator.</p> - -<p>Whilst these affairs had been progressing in -England, Scotland had been equally active. The -Scots had even more profound cause of hatred to -James, and more hope of effectual relief from -William, than the English. In England the -Church had managed to maintain its ascendency, -and the fierceness of persecution had been somewhat -restrained. There the iron boot and thumbscrews, -and the fury of Tory troopers, had not -perpetrated the horrors that they had done north -of the Tweed. The Scots had had the hateful -yoke of Episcopacy forced on them, their Church -completely put down, and their liberties in a -variety of ways crushed by the authorised licence -of James's delegated ministers.</p> - -<p>No sooner, therefore, had James fled than the -suppressed feeling of the people burst forth. At -Edinburgh crowds assembled, took down the heads -of the slaughtered Whigs from the gates, and committed -them in solemn ceremony to the earth. -The episcopal clergy were set upon in many parts -of Scotland, especially in the West, where the -Covenanters prevailed, and where they had -suffered so much from the emissaries of the -Church. The Covenanters now chased them away -from their manses, ransacked them, turned their -wives and children out, broke all the furniture, or -set fire to it. They tore the gown from the back -of the clergyman if they could catch him, destroyed -all the prayer-books they could find, locked up the -church, and warned ministers not to be found -there again. Two hundred clergymen were thus -forcibly ejected. Christmas Day was selected for -the commencement of this summary process, to -mark their abhorrence of such superstitious festivals. -As amid this violence many began to -plunder, the Presbyterian ministers and elders -assembled, and resolved that in future every incumbent -of a parish should have due notice served -on him to quit his parsonage peaceably, to avoid -the necessity of being driven out by force.</p> - -<p>The bishops and dignitaries made an instant -appeal to William for protection, and a proclamation -was issued—for William had no military force -in Scotland—ordering the people to desist from -further violence towards the clergy till the Parliament -should determine the form of the establishment. -But so little regard was paid to it, that -on the same day that it was published at Glasgow, -the mob rushed to the cathedral, and drove out the -congregation with sticks and stones.</p> - -<p>On the 14th of March the Scottish Convention -of Estates met. By the able management of Sir -James Dalrymple of Stair—afterwards Lord Stair—and -his son, Sir John Dalrymple, who was an -able debater, it was so managed that chiefly Whigs -were returned. Sir James was a man of great -legal learning, and consummate talent, though of -doubtful character, who had been deprived of his -position as a privy councillor and Chief Lord -of the Court of Session, and had gone over -to Holland, and was William's main adviser as -to Scottish affairs. His son, Sir John, longer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[404]</a></span> -continued to side with the Stuarts, and was made -Lord Advocate; but at the Revolution he appeared -in the other party, and was supposed to have been -for some time in effect pledged to William's cause -in secret through his father. He at once declared -for William on his landing, and exerted -himself zealously for his interests in Scotland.</p> - -<p>With the Dalrymples was associated George -Lord Melville, who had also been for some time -with William in Holland. On the other hand, -the celebrated Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount -Dundee, and Colin Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres, -were the chief agents of James in Scotland. These -two leaders had pretended to go over to William, -or at least to acquiesce in the change of dynasty; -had waited on him on his arrival at Whitehall, -and been well received by him. William was -urged to arrest these noblemen, as too deeply implicated -in the tyrannies of James and the murder -of the Covenanters ever to be allowed to mingle -with the new order of things; but William would -not listen to the advice, determining to give every -one a fair trial of living peaceably. So far did -they promise this, that William granted them an -escort of cavalry on their return to Scotland, without -which they would not have been allowed by -the Covenanters to reach Edinburgh alive. The -name of Claverhouse was a horror in every -Scottish home in the Lowlands, where he was -loathed for his terrible cruelties towards the -Presbyterian population.</p> - -<p>No sooner did they reach Edinburgh than they -set to work with all possible activity to assist the -interests of James in the Convention and the -country. The Duke of Gordon, who held the -castle for James, was on the point of surrendering -it when they arrived; but they exhorted him to -hold out, and called upon all the Royalists who -were elected at the Convention to take their places -and defend the absent king's interests. When the -Estates met, the Earl of Argyll, who had been proscribed -by James, took his seat amid the murmurs -of the Jacobites, who declared that, as a person -under legal attainder, he was incapable of performing -any office in the State. This was, however, -overruled by the majority. Melville, who -had been living abroad too, and had reappeared -with William, presented himself, but without any -opposition. The Duke of Hamilton was put in -nomination by the Whigs for the presidency of the -Convention, and the Duke of Athol by the -Jacobites. Neither of them was a man whose -conduct in the late reign was entitled to respect. -Hamilton had adhered to James to the last, and -had acquiesced in many invasions of the laws and -liberties of Scotland; Athol had not only been a -violent partisan of James, but had fawned on -William immediately on his arrival, and, being -coldly received, had wheeled round again. Hamilton -was chosen president; and the moment this was -discovered twenty of the Jacobites instantly went -over to the stronger side. It was a striking fact -that in Scotland, while the great body of the -people had stood to the death for their principles, -the nobility had become so corrupt through compliance -with the corrupt Court, and in eagerness -for office, that public principle was at the lowest -ebb amongst them.</p> - -<p>The Convention having thus organised itself, -sent a deputation to the Duke of Gordon demanding -the surrender of the castle, as its cannon might at -any moment knock in the roof of the Parliament -House, and drive thence the Convention. Gordon -requested twenty-four hours to consider the proposition; -but Dundee and Balcarres again succeeded -in inducing him to hold out. The Convention determined -to try the force of arms. They summoned -the castle to surrender in due form, and pronounced -the penalties of high treason on all who -dared to occupy it in defiance of the Estates. They -called out a guard to stop communication with -the castle, and made preparations for a regular -siege of the fortress. The next day a messenger -arrived from King James with a letter, which, on -being read, was found to be a furious denunciation -of the Convention, and of every one who had -shown a willingness to receive William. At the -same time it offered pardon to all traitors who -should return to their duty in a fortnight, with -the alternative, if they refused, of the utmost -vengeance of the Crown. There was no regret for -any past acts which might have tended to alienate -his subjects, no promises of future redress. The -very friends of the king, whom nothing could alter -or improve, were astonished and dispirited, and -they stole away out of the Convention, pursued -through the streets by the groans and curses of -the crowd. At the same time, a letter was read -from William, modest and liberal, trusting to the -result of the free deliberations of the Estates. -James, as was always the case with him, had done -incalculable service to the cause of his rival. His -most bigoted adherents could not avoid seeing -that, were he restored to the throne, he would only -continue to pursue the blind and foolish course -which had already driven him from it. What -added to the disgust of all parties was, that -the letter was countersigned by Melfort, James's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span> -Secretary of State—a furious Papist and apostate -from Protestantism, and nearly equally abhorred -by both Protestants and Catholics.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_405.jpg" width="560" height="416" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>COVENANTERS EVICTING AN EPISCOPALIAN CLERGYMAN. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_405big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Royalists, thus hopeless of effecting anything -in the Convention, and yet unwilling to -yield up the cause, adopted the advice of Dundee -and Balcarres, who had the authority of James to -open a rival Convention at Stirling. Athol consented -to go with them; but on Monday, the 18th, -he showed a fear of so far committing himself, and -requested the party to wait for him another day. -But the case of Dundee did not admit even a day's -delay. The Covenanters of the West, whom -Hamilton, and the Dalrymples had summoned to -Edinburgh, and who for some time had come -dropping in in small parties, till all the cellars and -wynds of the city were thronged with them, vowed -to kill the hated persecutor; and he made haste -to flee, accompanied by his dare-devil followers, all -as well-known to, and as detested by, the Covenanters -as himself for their atrocities in the West. -Whilst the Convention was in deliberation, sentinels -from the castle hurried in to say that -Claverhouse had galloped up to the foot of the -fortress on the road to Stirling, accompanied by a -detachment of his horsemen, and that he had -climbed up the precipice high enough to hold a -conversation with Gordon.</p> - -<p>At this news the Convention was thrown into a -tumult of indignation. Hamilton ordered the -doors to be locked, and the keys laid on the table, -so that no one should go out but such persons as -should be sent by the assembly to call the citizens -to arms. By this means all such Royalists as -were in became prisoners till such time as the -citizens were ready. Lord Leven, the second son -of Lord Melville, who inherited the title of old -General Leslie in right of his mother, was sent to -call the Covenanters to arms; and presently the -streets were thronged with the men of the West in -rude military array, sufficient to ensure the safety -of the Estates. As the drums beat to arms, -Dundee descended from the rock and, waving his -cap, with the cry that he went to where the spirit -of Montrose called him, rode off towards Stirling.</p> - -<p>The Convention now proceeded with their business. -They sent a letter of thanks to William, -which the bishops to a man refused to sign; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span> -Bishop of Edinburgh having, as chaplain, before -prayed for the return of James. William has -been said to have privately wished that Episcopacy -might be established in Scotland; but, if so, -such specimens of the prelatic spirit there must -have gone far to extinguish that desire. Other -symptoms of opposition were not wanting, even -yet. The Duke of Queensberry arrived from -London, and revived the spirits of the Jacobites. -Again they urged the Duke of Gordon to fire on -the city, but he refused; and the chances of resistance -were now taken away by the arrival -of General Mackay with the three regiments of -Scots who had served under William in Holland. -The Convention immediately appointed Mackay -general of their forces; and, thus placed at their -ease, they proceeded to arrange the government. -They appointed a committee, after the manner of -the Lords of the Articles, to draw up the plan -which should be adopted. As a last means of -postponing this business, a proposal was made by -the Jacobites to join with the Whigs to concert a -scheme of union of the kingdom with England. -This was a scheme which was now growingly -popular. During the Commonwealth the trade of -England had been opened to Scotland. All -custom-houses, and levying of duties on goods -imported or exported between the countries, had -been removed. The Scots had been admitted to -perfect freedom of foreign trade with England, -and the benefit had become too apparent to be -lightly relinquished. But, on the Restoration, all -this had been altered. The old and invidious restrictions -had been renewed, and the great loss of -wealth thus induced had wonderfully modified -the spirit of national pride which opposed the -abandonment of the ancient independence of the -nation. The Dalrymples and Lord Tarbet were -favourable to this proposition, but the Convention -at large was too wise to endanger the defeat -of the acknowledgment of the new sovereign by an -indefinitely-prolonged debate on so vital a question. -They proceeded to declare that James, by his misconduct, -had "forfaulted" his right to the crown; -that is, that he had forfeited it—a much more -manly and correct plea than that James had -"abdicated," which he continued to protest that -he never had done, and he was at this moment -in arms with Ireland asserting his unrelinquished -claim to it. As the term "forfaulted," according -to Scottish law, would have excluded all his -posterity, an exception was made in favour of -Mary and Anne, and their issue. This resolution -was warmly defended by Sir John Dalrymple, -and as warmly by Sir James Montgomery, the -member for Ayrshire, who had been a determined -champion of the Covenanters; and was resisted -by the bishops, especially by the Archbishop of -Glasgow. It was carried with only five dissentient -voices, and was then read at the Market -Cross, in the High Street, by Hamilton, attended -by the Lord Provost and the heralds, and the Earl -of Argyll, the son of James's decapitated victim. -Sir John Dalrymple and Sir James Montgomery -were deputed to carry it, with the second resolution -that the crown should be offered to William -and Mary, to London. To define on what principles -this offered transfer of the crown was made, -a Claim of Right, in imitation of the English -Bill of Rights, was drawn up and accompanied it.</p> - -<p>But with the acknowledgment of William as -King of Scotland he was far from having acquired -a state of comfort. In both his Governments his -ministers and pretended friends were his continual -tormentors. In England his Council and his chief -ministers were at daggers drawn—every one dissatisfied -with the post he occupied, jealous of the -promotion of his rivals, and numbers of them in -close correspondence with the Court of James. -In Scotland it was precisely the same; it was impossible -to satisfy the ambition and the cupidity -of his principal adherents. The Covenanters were -exasperated because the Episcopalians were merely -dismissed from the Establishment, and were not -handed over to retaliation of all the injuries they -had received from them. Sir James Montgomery, -who expected a much higher post, was offered that -of Chief Justice Clerk, and refused it with disdain. -He at once concerted plans of opposition, and -made his attack amidst a whole host of similarly -disappointed aspirants. Amongst these were two -who had been in the insurrections of Monmouth -and Argyll—Sir Patrick Hume and Fletcher of -Saltoun, men of great ability, but of reckless and -insubordinate character. A club was formed, in -which these men, with Montgomery, the Lords -Annandale and Ross, and a whole tribe of minor -malcontents, did all in their power to thwart and -embarrass the government of William. The chief -promotion had been conferred on the Duke of -Hamilton, who was made Lord High Commissioner; -the Earl of Crawford, a very indigent, -but very bitter Presbyterian, who before this -appointment did not know where to get a dinner, -was made President of Parliament; Sir James -Dalrymple was appointed the Principal Lord of -Session, and his son, Sir John, was restored to his -office of Lord Advocate. Lord Melville became<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span> -Secretary of State, and Sir William Lockhart -Solicitor-General. But whilst some of these -thought they ought to have had something higher -or more lucrative, there were scores for whom the -limited administration of Scotland afforded no -situation in accordance with their own notions of -their merits, and these hastened to join the opposition.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Dundee was exerting himself in the -Highlands to rouse the clans in favour of King -James. But this he found an arduous matter. -The Highlanders, at a distance from the scenes -and the interests which divided both England and -the Lowlands of Scotland, occupied with their -hunting and their own internal feuds, cared little -for either King James or King William. If anything, -they would probably have given the preference -to William, for James had more than once -sent his troops after them to chastise them for -their inroads into the domains of their Saxon -fellow-subjects. Dundee himself had retired to -his own estate, and offered to remain at peace if -he received from William's ministers a pledge that -he should not be molested. But, unfortunately -for him, an emissary from James in Ireland, bearing -letters to Dundee and Balcarres, was intercepted, -and immediately Balcarres was arrested, -and Dundee made his escape into the Highlands. -There, though he could not move any of the clans -by motives of loyalty to declare for James, he -contrived to effect this object through their own -internal enmities. Most of them had an old and -violent feud with the clan Campbell. The Argyll -family had, through a long succession of years, -extended its territories and its influence over the -Western Highlands at the expense of the other -clans, some of which it had nearly extirpated; and -now the head of the family came back from exile -in the favour of the new monarch, and all these -clans, the Stuarts, the Macnaghtens, the Camerons, -the Macdonalds, the Macleans, were in alarm -and expectation of a severe visitation for past -offences, and for unpaid feudal dues. They were, -therefore, moved from this cause to unite against -William, because it was to unite against MacCallum -More, the chieftain of Argyll. If William -was put down, Argyll was put down. Whilst -Dundee was busy mustering these clans, and -endeavouring to reconcile their petty jealousies -and bring them to act together, he sent earnestly -to James in Ireland to despatch to him a tolerable -body of regular troops, for without them he -despaired of keeping long together his half savage -and unmanageable Highlanders. Till then he -avoided a conflict with the troops sent by the Convention -under Mackay against him. It was in -vain that Mackay marched from one wild district -to another; the enemy still eluded him amongst the -intricate fastnesses and forests of the Highlands -till his troops were wearied out with climbing -crags, and threading rugged defiles and morasses; -and he returned to quarters in Stirling, Aberdeen, -and other towns at the foot of the mountain -district.</p> - -<p>It was the opinion of Lord Tarbet, who understood -the statistics of the Highlands well, that, if -William would send about five thousand pounds to -enable the clans to discharge their debts to the -Earl of Argyll, and obtain from that chieftain an -assurance that he would abstain from hostilities -against them, they would all submit at once, -and leave Dundee to find support where he could. -But his advice was attempted to be carried out in -so absurd a manner, by choosing an agent from -the clan Campbell as the mediator on the occasion, -that the clans refused to treat with him, and became -all the more devoted to the interests of -James.</p> - -<p>Things were in this position when in June a -civil contention broke out in Athol. The marquis, -unwilling to declare for either side, had retired to -England, and his eldest son, Lord Murray, who -had married a daughter of the Duke of Hamilton, -and declared for King William, was opposed by -the marquis's steward, who declared for King -James. The steward held Blair Castle, and Lord -Murray besieged him in it. This called out -Dundee to repel Murray and support the steward, -the adherent of James; and Mackay, hoping now -to meet with him, put his forces in march for the -place of strife. The two armies, in fact, at length -came into contact in the stern pass of Killiecrankie, -near Dunkeld. This was then one of the -wildest and most terrible defiles in the Highlands; -the mountain torrent of the Garry roaring through -its deep and rocky strait.</p> - -<p>The forces of Dundee consisted of about three -thousand Highlanders, and a body of Irish, under -an officer of the name of Cannon, amounting to -about three hundred, an ill-armed and ragged -rabble whom James had sent over instead of the -efficient regiments for which Dundee had so -earnestly prayed. On the other hand, Mackay -commanded about the same number of regular -troops; these were the three Scottish regiments -which he had brought from Holland, a regiment -of English infantry—afterwards the Thirteenth of -the Line—and two regiments of Lowland Scots,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span> -newly raised, commanded by the Lords Kenmore -and Leven. He had, besides, two troops of horse, -one of which was led by Lord Belhaven.</p> - -<p>On the morning of Saturday, the 17th of June, -Mackay had just struggled through the pass of -Killiecrankie, his twelve hundred baggage-horses—for -no wheel-carriages could approach such a -place—were scarcely through, when the enemy -was upon them. The men had thrown themselves -down on an open space on the banks of the Garry, -to recover from their fatigue, when they were -called to resume their arms by the appearance of -Dundee leading on his troops of wild Highlanders. -Cameron of Lochiel, a man of distinguished -bravery and ability, was second in command, and -urged Dundee to come to an engagement without -the least delay. The two armies drew up, that -of Mackay with the Garry on its left, that of -Dundee with the stream on its right. Lord -Murray and the few forces with him united with -the forces of Mackay.</p> - -<p>It was early in the afternoon when the hostile -parties began to fire on each other, and the -regular troops of Mackay did considerable execution -on the Highlanders; yet it was seven o'clock -in the evening before Dundee gave the order to -charge. Then the Highlanders raised a wild -shout, which was returned by the enemy with a -cry so much less lively and determined, that -Lochiel exclaimed, "We shall do it now; that is -not the cry of men who are going to win." The -Highlanders dropped their plaids and rushed forward. -They were received by a steady fire of the -Lowlanders; but, as these prepared to charge -with the bayonet, they were so much delayed by -the nature of the operation—having, according to -the practice of the time, to stick the bayonets into -the muzzles of their guns, instead of, as now, -having them already fixed beneath them—that -the Highlanders were down upon them before -they were prepared, and cut through and through -their lines. Having discharged their fire-arms, the -Celts threw them away, and assailed the Lowland -troops with dirk and claymore. The whole of the -Scottish regiments broke, and were scattered like -leaves before a whirlwind. Balfour was killed at -the head of his regiment; Mackay's brother fell -whilst gallantly endeavouring to keep together his -men; and Mackay himself was compelled to give -way. The English horse were yet on the ground, -and Mackay spurred towards them, and called on -them to charge and break the onslaught of the -furious Highlanders on the foot; but he called in -vain; in spite of the brave example of Belhaven, -the horse fled as fast as their steeds could carry -them. There was nothing for it but for Mackay to -endeavour to save himself; and, followed by only -one servant, he managed to cut his way through -the enemy and reach a neighbouring height.</p> - -<p>There the scene that presented itself was astounding. -His whole army had vanished except -the English regiment, which kept together in perfect -order, and a few of the troops of Lord Leven. -These had poured a murderous fire into the ranks -of the Highlanders, and still shot numbers of -them down as in fiery rage they pursued the flying -Lowlanders down the ravine, where the confused -mass of enemies were plunged in chaotic strife—one -violent, horrid effort to escape or to kill. In -this strange <em>mêlée</em> were involved the twelve -hundred pack-horses, which alone effected a diversion -for the fugitives, the Highlanders stopping to -make themselves masters of so rich a booty.</p> - -<p>Mackay lost no time in getting the English -regiment, with Lord Leven and his remnant of -men, and such few others as he could collect, -across the Garry. This being effected he halted, -and again looked back, expecting that he should -be hotly pursued, but no such thing; the Highlanders -were, in fact, too agreeably detained by -the plunder. But this supposition did not account -to him for the easy manner in which such -a general as Dundee allowed of his retreat, and he -declared to his guards that he was sure Dundee -must have fallen. And in this opinion he was -right. Dundee had fallen in the very commencement -of the general charge. He had led it on, -contrary to the advice of Lochiel, who had -urged on him the necessity of not exposing himself -too much. Waving his hat, and calling his -soldiers to follow him, he dashed forward, when a -bullet struck him below the cuirass, which was -raised by his action of rising in his stirrups and -waving his arm, and he fell to the ground. The -tradition of the Highlands is, that Dundee was -believed to have made a compact with the devil, -and bore a charmed life, which no ball of lead or -iron could touch; that a soldier of Mackay's army, -seeing him galloping unharmed amid showers of -flying balls, plucked a silver button from his own -coat, and fired at him with instant effect. The -fall of the general was observed only by a few -of his own soldiers who were near him, and one -of them caught him in his arms. He asked, -"How goes the day?" "Well for King James," -said the man, "but I am sorry for your lordship." -"If it be well for the king," replied Dundee, "it -matters the less for me," and expired.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_409.jpg" width="400" height="548" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>BATTLE OF KILLIECRANKIE: THE LAST CHARGE OF DUNDEE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_409big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span></p> - -<p>Mackay made his way over the mountains by -Weem Castle and Castle Drummond to Stirling. -On the way he overtook the fugitives from -Ramsay's regiment, who had fled at the first -onset. They were completely cowed and demoralised; -and it was only by threatening to -shoot any man that left the track that he could -prevent them from dispersing amongst the hills. -Many of them, after all, managed to elude his -vigilance, and were killed by the Highlanders -for their clothes. It was reported that Mackay -lost two thousand men in the battle, and that five -hundred were made prisoners; but, on the other -hand, a great number of the Highlanders fell on -the field. The rest, before retreating with the -booty, piled a great heap of stones on the spot -where Claverhouse fell. This is still shown, and -is the only monument of John Graham, Viscount -Dundee, for the Church of Blair Athol in which -he was buried has long since disappeared, and his -tomb with it.</p> - -<p>The news of the defeat of Mackay caused consternation -throughout the Lowlands, and even -in London, whither it was carried by couriers -charged with earnest appeals to the king to hasten -forces on to Scotland, to protect the people from -the torrents of victorious barbarians from the -mountains, who were with terror expected to -devastate the whole country. The Scottish Convention -urged Hamilton to dismiss them, that -they might provide for their safety; but fast on -the heels of the first news came that of the certain -death of Dundee, which at once reassured the -country; for, without him, the Highlanders were -regarded as comparatively innocuous, as a body -without a head. And this was very near the -truth; for the command had now fallen on the -Irish officer Cannon, who, with his ragamuffin -brigade, was not likely to remain long very formidable. -In fact, he very soon managed to disgust -the proud Highland chieftains. Lochiel -returned home, and many of the Celts, satisfied -with their plunder, followed his example. Others, -however, stimulated by the hope of similar good -fortune, came rushing from their hills, adding, by -their conflicting prejudices and wild insubordination, -only to the weakness of the force. Cannon -dispatched a party of the Robertsons into the -Lowlands to collect cattle and provisions for his -army; but Mackay came upon them at St. Johnstone's, -and killed one hundred and twenty of -them, and took thirty prisoners. This revived the -spirit of his troops, and infused new confidence -through the country. In fact, Mackay was an -excellent general, and was unremitting in his -exertions to renew the courage and discipline of -his troops. He had seen the fatal effect of the -clumsy use of the bayonets at Killiecrankie, and -he lost no time in having them made to screw -upon the muskets, so that these could be fired -with them ready fixed.</p> - -<p>And very soon he had need of all his generalship. -The ministers at Edinburgh had ordered -him to garrison Dunkeld with the Cameronian -regiment newly raised. The town was unfortified; -and in vain Mackay protested against exposing -his men thus to the attack of the whole body of -the Highlanders encamped at Blair Castle. But -the Highland army, led on by Cannon, were -received with a spirit worthy of the old race -of Covenanters, were repulsed, and driven back -with great slaughter. The young commander -Lieutenant-Colonel Cleland, and after him Captain -Monro, fell at the head of the besieged; but the -victory was decisive. The Highlanders dispersed -with their booty to their homes; Cannon, with his -disorderly Irish, escaped to the Isle of Mull; the -fame of Mackay and his troops was higher than -ever, and the war in Scotland was at an end.</p> - -<p>We have continued to this point the affairs of -Scotland, that we might not interrupt the still -more important transactions which at the same -time took place in Ireland. On the 12th of March, -two days before the opening of the Scottish Convention, -James had landed in Ireland. That -island was peculiarly open to the influence of -James, for the bulk of the population were Catholics, -and they were thrown into a state of great -excitement by the hope of being able to drive the -Protestants from their estates by his appearance -there with a French army, of wreaking vengeance -on them for all their past oppressions, and of regaining -their ancient patrimony.</p> - -<p>From the moment almost that James had -mounted the throne of England, he began his preparations -for putting down Protestantism in -Ireland, and raising a military power there which -should enable him to crush it also in England. -The Protestant judges had been removed one after -another from the bench, so that little justice could -be obtained in Irish tribunals by Protestant -suitors. The Protestants were diligently weeded -out of the army, and lying Dick Talbot, the Earl -of Tyrconnel, James's most obsequious tool, was -his Lord-Lieutenant, and bent on carrying out his -plans to the fullest extent. There arose a terrible -panic amongst the Protestants that a general massacre -was contemplated, and the Englishry began<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span> -to collect whatever of value they could carry with -them, and escape across the Channel into England -or Wales. Tyrconnel sent for the leading Protestants -to Dublin, and protested with many oaths -that the whole rumour was a malicious and -groundless lie. Nobody, however, put any faith -in his assurances, and the exodus rapidly increased, -whilst such Protestants as possessed any means of -defence in towns, armed themselves, threw up fortifications, -and determined to sell their lives dear. -Such was the case at Kenmare, in Kerry; at -Bandon, Mallow, Sligo, Charleville, Enniskillen, -and Londonderry.</p> - -<p>Such was the state of Ireland at the time of the -landing of William at Torbay. Tyrconnel despatched -a body of Popish infantry in December, -1688, to take possession of Enniskillen. The inhabitants -summoned the Protestants of the surrounding -country to their aid, rushed out on the -soldiers as they approached the gates of the town, -and defeated them. They then appointed Gustavus -Hamilton, a captain in the army, their -governor, and determined to hold their own against -the lieutenant-governor. Londonderry likewise -shut its gates in the face of the Earl of Antrim, -who armed a Popish regiment to garrison their -town. This exploit was the work of thirteen -apprentices, whose bold and decisive deed was -quickly imitated by the rest of the inhabitants. -The town was put into a posture of thorough -defence, the country round was alarmed, the Protestant -gentry flocked in with armed followers, -horse and foot, and Antrim thought it prudent to -retire to Coleraine.</p> - -<p>At another time Tyrconnel would have taken -a bloody vengeance on the courageous Protestants -of Ulster, but matters in England appeared too -critical to permit him such indulgence. He had -recourse, therefore, to artifice. He despatched -Lord Mountjoy, the Master of the Ordnance, with -his regiment, which included many Protestants, to -Londonderry. Mountjoy was a Protestant himself, -though an adherent of King James; had much -property in Ulster, and was highly respected there. -The citizens of Londonderry willingly admitted -him within their walls, and suffered him to leave -a garrison there, consisting solely of Protestant -soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel -Lundy as governor. To the people of Enniskillen -Mountjoy was less courteous; he somewhat curtly -treated a deputation thence, and advised them -to submit unconditionally to James. Tyrconnel -even affected to enter into negotiation with -William, and General Richard Hamilton was not -very wisely despatched by William to Ireland to -treat with him. Hamilton had been in command -under Tyrconnel till a recent period, and had -been sent by him with reinforcements to James -in England. There, finding James had fled, he -coolly went over to William, and, strangely enough, -was deemed sufficiently trustworthy to be returned -to his old master as negotiator. He no sooner -arrived than he once more declared for King James. -Tyrconnel, however, did not himself so soon throw -off the mask of duplicity. He protested to the -Prince of Orange that he was quite disposed to -treat for the surrender of Ireland, and to the -alarmed Catholics of Ireland—who got some wind -of his proceedings—that he had not the most -distant idea of submitting. On the other hand, he -prevailed on Lord Mountjoy, who had so well -served him at Londonderry, to go on a mission to -James at St. Germains, professedly to procure a -concession from James that his Irish subjects -should submit to William for the present, and not -rush into a contest to which they were unequal, -but wait for better times. The real truth was, -that James had already despatched Captain Rush -from St. Germains to Tyrconnel to assure him that -he was coming himself with all haste with a -powerful fleet and army. Tyrconnel was, therefore, -desirous to get Mountjoy secured, as he was -capable of uniting the Protestants and heading -them against the bloody butchery that James and -Tyrconnel destined for them. Mountjoy somewhat -reluctantly fell into the snare. He proceeded to -France, accompanied by Chief Baron Rice, a -fanatical Papist, who had boasted that he would -drive a coach and six through the Act of Settlement. -Rice had secret instructions to denounce -Mountjoy as a traitor, and to recommend James to -make him fast. No sooner, therefore, did he present -himself at St. Germains than he was clapped -into the Bastille.</p> - -<p>This act of diabolical treachery being completed, -Tyrconnel now abandoned further disguise, and -prepared to hand over the whole Protestant population -of Ireland to the exterminating fury of the -Catholic natives. "Now or never! now and for -ever!" was the watchword of blood and death to -all the Englishry. It was embroidered on the -viceregal banner, and floated over the castle of -Dublin. The Catholics were called on to arm and -secure Ireland for the Irish. The call was obeyed -with the avidity of savages. Those who had not -arms manufactured them out of scythes, forks, and -other rural implements. Every smithy was aglow, -every hammer resounding in preparation of pike<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span> -and skean, the Irish long knife. By February, -1689, the army of Ireland was swelled with regulars -and irregulars to a hundred thousand men. -There was one universal shout of Bacchanalian -acclaim, and rush to secure the plunder of the -Protestants. The houses of the wealthy were ransacked, -the cattle driven off, the buildings, and -even the heaths set fire to. The wild marauders -roasted the slaughtered cattle and sheep at huge -fires often made of timbers of the buildings, -emptied the cellars, and sang songs of triumph -over the heretic Englishry, and of Ireland restored -to its legitimate owners. What an Ireland it -was likely to become under them was soon evident. -They were not content to kill enough to -satisfy their hunger; these children of oppression -and ignorance, like wolves, destroyed for the -mere pleasure of destroying; and D'Avaux, the -French ambassador, who accompanied James over -the country from Kinsale to Dublin, describes it -as one black, wasted desert, for scores of miles -without a single inhabitant, and calculates that in -six weeks these infuriate savages had slaughtered -fifty thousand cattle and three or four hundred -thousand sheep.</p> - -<p>Before such an inundation of fury and murder, -the few Protestant inhabitants were swept away -like chaff before the wind. All the fortified -towns and houses in the south were forced by the -ruthless mob and soldiery, or were abandoned, and -the people fled for their lives to seek an asylum in -Ulster. Those of Kenmare managed to get across -in a small vessel to Bristol.</p> - -<p>In all this fearful scene of devastation Hamilton, -who had come over as the emissary of William, -was one of the most active and unpitying agents. -Enniskillen and Londonderry were the only Protestant -places which now held out, and Hamilton -commenced his march northward to reduce them. -This march was only another wild blast of desolation, -like that which had swept the south, and left -the country a howling wilderness. In addition to -Hamilton's regular troops, hosts of the self-armed -and merciless Irish collected on his track, and -burnt, plundered, and murdered without mercy. -The people fled before the rout, themselves burning -their own dwellings, and laying waste with fire the -whole district, so that it should afford no shelter -or sustenance to the enemy. The whole of the -Protestant population retreated northwards, leaving -even Lisburn and Antrim deserted. Thirty -thousand fugitives soon found themselves cooped -up within the walls of Londonderry, and many -thousands were shut up in Enniskillen.</p> - -<p>At this crisis James landed at Kinsale, and -marched to Cork. He had brought no army, but -a number of officers to command the Irish troops. -His General-in-Chief was Count Rosen, a man of -much military experience. Next to him were -Lieutenant-General Maumont, Brigadier-General -Pusignan, and four hundred other officers of -different ranks. He was accompanied by Count -D'Avaux, who had been ambassador in England, -a man clever, shrewd, keenly observant, and -with little mercy or principle. His object was to -secure Ireland rather for Louis than for James, -and he served his master with cunning and -zeal. James brought with him arms for ten -thousand men, abundance of ammunition, and a -military chest of about a hundred and twenty -thousand pounds sterling. Before quitting St. -Germains Louis XIV. himself had paid James -a parting visit, displayed towards him the most -marked friendship, embraced him at parting, and -told him, in his epigrammatic way, that the greatest -good that he could desire for him was that they -might never meet again.</p> - -<p>James landed on the 12th of March, and two -days after was in Cork. The Irish received him -with enthusiastic acclamations as a saviour; but -the effects of his anticipated arrival, and the -measures concerted by himself and carried out by -the brutal Tyrconnel, met him on the instant. -He was anxious to push on to Dublin; but the -whole country was a desert, and horses could not -be procured in sufficient numbers to convey his -baggage, nor food to sustain them on the way. -During the detention consequent on this, Tyrconnel -arrived to welcome His Majesty to Ireland. -On the 24th of March he entered Dublin amid the -hurrahs and the festive demonstrations of flowers, -garlands of evergreens, of tapestry and carpets -hung from the windows, of processions of young -girls in white, and friars and priests with their -crosses, and with the host itself. At sight of -that, James alighted, and, falling on his knees in -the mud, bared his head in humble devotion. The -next morning James proceeded to form his Privy -Council. This was composed of his natural son, -the Duke of Berwick, the Duke of Powis; the -Earls of Abercorn, Melfort, Dover, Carlingford, -and Clanricarde; the Lords Thomas Howard, -Kilmallock, Merrion, Kenmare; Lord Chief -Justice Herbert, the Bishop of Chester, General -Sarsfield, Colonel Dorrington, and, strangely -enough, D'Avaux, who should have retained the -independent position of ambassador; the Marquis -D'Abbeville, and two other foreigners. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[413]</a></span> -Protestant Bishop of Meath, at the head of his -clergy, appeared before him, imploring his protection, -and permission to lay before him the -account of the injuries they and their flocks had -received. James affected to declare that he was -just as much as ever desirous to afford full -liberty of conscience, and to protect all his -subjects in their rights and opinions; but he -said it was impossible to alter what had already -taken place, and he gave an immediate proof of -the impartiality which Protestants were likely to -receive at his hands by dismissing Keating, Chief -Justice of the Common Pleas, the only Protestant -judge still remaining on the bench.</p> - -<p>These measures dispatched, it became the question -whether, in the interval before the meeting -of Parliament, James should continue in Dublin, -or should proceed to the army besieging Londonderry, -and encourage it by his presence. This -called forth the conflicting views and interests of -his adherents, and his whole court became rent by -struggling factions. The English exiles warmly -urged the king to proceed to Ulster. They cared -little for the fate of Ireland, their views and -wishes were fixed on England. In the north, as -soon as Londonderry was put down, it was easy -for James to go across to Scotland, there to -commence the campaign for the recovery of the -English crown. But this was the very thing -which his Irish partisans dreaded. They felt -certain that if James recovered the English -throne, they should be left to contend with the -colonists of Ulster themselves; and the victorious -ascendency of that small but sturdy body of people -was too vividly burnt into their minds by ages -of their domination. They therefore counselled -James to remain as a king at Dublin, and leave -his generals to put down the opposition in the -north; and in this they were zealously seconded by -D'Avaux and the French. James on the throne -of England would be a very different person to -James on the throne of Ireland only. In the one -case, if he succeeded, he might ere long become -independent of Louis; if he failed, the English -Protestant king would soon subdue Ireland to -his sway. But if James continued only monarch -of Ireland, he must continue wholly dependent on -Louis. He could only maintain himself there by -his aid in men and money, and then Ireland would -become gradually a French colony—a dependence -most flattering to the pride and power of France—a -perpetual thorn in the side of England.</p> - -<p>The contention between the two parties was -fierce, and Tyrconnel joined with the French and -Irish in advising James to remain at Dublin. On -the other hand, Melfort and the English pointed -out to him the immense advantage to his prospects -to settle the last remains of disaffection in the -north, and to appear again in arms in his chief -kingdom, where they persuaded him that the Highlanders -and all the Catholic and Royalist English -would now flock to his standard. William, they -assured him, was to the highest degree unpopular; -a powerful party in Scotland were opposed to him, -and in the ascendant. These views prevailed. -James, attended by D'Avaux and the French -officers, set out for Ulster. The journey was again -through a country blasted by the horrors of war -and robbery. There was no fodder for their -horses, scarcely a roof to shelter the heads of -the travellers; and, after a long and terrible -journey, plunging and struggling through deep -roads, and bogs where there was no road at all, -famished and worn out by fatigue, they reached -Charlemont on the 13th of April. When James -at length arrived before Londonderry, the fall of -that place did not appear likely to be quite so -early an event as he had been led to believe. -Rosen, however, treated lightly the resistance -which the inhabitants could make. The walls of -the town were old, the ditches could scarcely be -discerned, the gates and drawbridges were in disorder, -and the town was commanded at various -points by heights from which artillery might -play upon it. What was still more favourable -to James, it was well known that Lundy, the -governor, was a traitor. Rosen was placed in -the chief command, and Maumont next to him -over the head of Hamilton. Lundy meanwhile -depressed the spirits of the people within by -telling them that it was useless to attempt to -defend such a place, and kept up a secret correspondence -with the enemy without, informing them -of all that passed there, and of its weak points -and condition. He did more—he contrived to -send away succours which arrived from England. -Colonel Cunningham appeared in the bay with a -fleet having on board two regiments for the -defence of the place. Cunningham and his chief -officers went on shore and waited on the governor. -Lundy called a council, taking care to exclude -all but his own creatures; and these informed -Cunningham that it was mere waste of men and -money to land them; the town was perfectly indefensible; -and that, in fact, he was going to -surrender it. His supporters confirmed this view -of the case, and Cunningham and his officers withdrew, -and soon after made sail homeward, to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[414]</a></span> -despair of the inhabitants; Lundy, as he saw -them depart, sending word into the enemy's camp -that he was ready to surrender.</p> - -<p>But the spirit of the inhabitants was now -roused. They openly declared Lundy a traitor, -and, if they could have found him, would have -killed him on the spot. He had, however, concealed -himself, and at night was enabled, by -connivance of his friends, to escape over the -walls in disguise. As night approached, the -people, to their astonishment, found the gates -set open, and the keys were not to be found. -People said they had seen the confederates of -Lundy stealing out, and the alarm flew through -the place. The townsmen came together, and -called all to arms by beat of drum. A message -was despatched to Cunningham to bring in his -forces; but he was already on the move, and -declared that his orders permitted him only to -follow the commands of the governor.</p> - -<p>Thus deserted, the inhabitants courageously resolved -to depend on their own energies. They -placed Major Baker and Captain Murray at the -head of the armed citizens, who amounted to -seven thousand, many of them Ulster gentlemen -of family, and endowed with all the dauntless -spirit which had made them so long masters of -the north of Ireland. At this moment, too, the -Rev. George Walker, the Rector of Donaghmore, -who had been driven in along with the -rest of the fugitives, displayed that spirit, eloquence, -and ability which inspired the whole place -with a wonderful enthusiasm, and which have -made his name famous amongst the Protestant -patriots of Ireland. Walker was appointed -joint governor with Major Baker, and they set -themselves to work to organise their armed people -into military bodies with their proper officers, to -place cannon on all the most effective points, and -post sentinels on the walls and at the gates. The -forces of James were already drawn up before the -place, expecting the promised surrender of Lundy. -Presently a trumpeter appeared at the southern -gate, and demanded the fulfilment of the governor's -engagement. He was answered that the -governor had no longer any command there. The -next day, the 20th of April, James sent Lord -Strabane, a Catholic peer of Ireland, offering a -free pardon for all past offences on condition of -an immediate surrender, and a bribe to Captain -Murray, who was sent to hold a parley with -him, of a thousand pounds and a colonelcy in -the royal army. Murray repelled the offer with -contempt, and advised Strabane, if he valued -his safety, to make the best of his way out of -gunshot.</p> - -<p>At this unexpected answer, James displayed the -same pusillanimity which marked his conduct -when he fled from England. Instead of ordering -the place to be stormed, he lost heart, and, though -he had been only eleven days before the town, set -off back to Dublin, taking Count Rosen with him, -and leaving Maumont in command, with Hamilton -and Pusignan under him. Then the siege was -pushed on with spirit. The batteries were opened -on the town, to which the townsmen replied -vigorously; and, on the 21st of April, made a -desperate sally under Captain Murray, killed -General Maumont and two hundred of the Irish, -and, under cover of a strong fire kept up by a -party headed by Walker, regained the town. The -siege under Hamilton, who succeeded to the -command, then languished. On the 4th of May -the townspeople made another sally, and killed -Pusignan. After this sallies became frequent, -the bold men of Londonderry carried off several -officers prisoners into the town, and two flags of -the French, which they hung up in the cathedral. -It was at length resolved by the besiegers to carry -the place by storm, but they were repelled with -great loss, the very women joining in the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">mêlée</i>, -and carrying ammunition and refreshments to the -defenders on the walls. As the storming of the -town was found to be impracticable, Hamilton -commenced a blockade. The troops were drawn -round the place, and a strong boom thrown across -the river, and the besiegers awaited the progress -of famine.</p> - -<p>All this time the people of Enniskillen had been -making a noble diversion. They had marched -out into the surrounding country, levied contributions -of provisions from the native Irish, and -given battle to and defeated several considerable -bodies of troops sent against them. They took -and sacked Belturbet, and carried off a great -quantity of provisions; they made skirmishing -parties, and scoured the country in the rear of the -army besieging Londonderry, cutting off straggling -foragers, and impeding supplies. The news of the -continued siege of Londonderry, and the heroic -conduct of the people of both these places, -raised a wonderful enthusiasm in England on -their behalf. Lundy, who had reached London, -and Cunningham, who had brought back his -regiments, were arrested, and Lundy was thrown -into the Tower and Cunningham into the Gatehouse. -Kirke was also dispatched with a body of -troops from Liverpool to relieve the besieged in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[415]</a></span> -Londonderry. On the 15th of June his squadron -was discerned approaching, and wonderful was the -exultation when it was ascertained that Kirke had -arrived with troops, arms, ammunition, and supplies -of food.</p> - -<p>It was high time that relief should have come, -for they were reduced to the most direful extremities, -and were out of cannon-ball, and nearly out -of powder. But they were doomed to a horrible -disappointment. Kirke, who could be bold enough -in perpetrating barbarities on defenceless people, -was too faint-hearted to attempt forcing the boom -in the river, and relieving the place. He drew off -his fleet to the entrance of Lough Foyle, and lay -there in tantalising inactivity. His presence, instead -of benefiting them, brought fresh horrors -upon them; for no sooner did James in Dublin -learn that there was a chance of Kirke's throwing -in fresh forces and provisions, than he dispatched -Rosen to resume the command, with orders to -take the place at all costs.</p> - -<p>This Rosen, who was a Russian, from Livonia, -was a brutal savage, and vowed that he would -take the place, or roast the inhabitants alive. -He first began by endeavouring to undermine -the walls; but the besieged so briskly attacked -the sappers, that they soon killed a hundred of -them, and compelled them to retire. Filled with -fury, Rosen swore that he would raze the walls to -the ground, and massacre every creature in the -town,—men, women, and children. He flung a -shell into the place, to which was attached a -threat that, if they did not at once surrender, he -would collect from the whole country round all -the people, their friends and relatives, the women, -the children, the aged, drive them under the walls, -and keep them there till they perished. He knew -that the besieged could give them no support, for -they were perishing fast themselves from famine, -and its attendant fevers and diseases. The fighting -men were so weak that they often fell down -in endeavouring to strike a blow at the enemy. -They were living on dogs, rats, any vile thing -they could seize. They had eaten up all the -horses to three, which were mere skin and bone. -They had salted the hides and chewed them to -keep down their ravening hunger. There were -some amongst them who began to talk of eating -the bodies of those who fell in the action. -Numbers perished daily in their houses of exhaustion, -and the stench arising from the unburied -dead was terrible and pestilential. Many of their -best men had died from fever, amongst them -Major Baker, their military governor, and Colonel -Mitchelbourne had been elected in his place. -They were reduced to fire brickbats instead of cannon-balls; -and their walls were so battered, that -it was not they but their own spirit which kept -out the enemy. Yet, amid these horrors, they -treated the menace with silent contempt, and sent -out an order that any one even uttering the word -"Surrender," should be instantly put to death.</p> - -<p>The savage Rosen put his menace into force. -He drove the wretched people from the country, -at the point of the pike, under the walls. On the -2nd of July this melancholy crowd of many -hundreds was seen by the besieged from the -walls, hemmed in between the town and the army—old -men incapable of bearing arms, miserable -women, and lamenting children, where, without -food or shelter, they were cooped up between their -enemies and their friends, who could not help -them. Many of these unhappy people had protections -under James's own hand, but Rosen -cared not for that. For two days and nights this -woful throng of human beings was kept there, in -spite of the strong remonstrances of Hamilton and -other English officers, who were not accustomed to -such devilish modes of war. The indignant men -in Londonderry erected gallows on the walls, and -sent Rosen word that, unless he let the perishing -people go, they would hang up the principal of -their prisoners. But it was not till many of the -victims had died, and a storm of indignation at -this unheard-of barbarity assailed him in his own -camp, that Rosen opened his ranks and allowed -the poor wretches to depart.</p> - -<p>James, who was himself by no means of the -melting mood, was shocked when he heard of this -diabolical barbarity, and the comments upon it -amongst those around him. He recalled Rosen -and restored the command to Hamilton. Then -the siege again went on with redoubled fury, and -all the last expiring strength of the besieged was -required to sustain it. Hamilton also terrified -them by continual <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">ruses</i> and false rumours. He -ordered his soldiers to raise a loud shout, and the -besieged to be informed that Enniskillen had -fallen, and that now there was no hope whatever -for them. The besieged were so depressed by this -news, for they had no means of testing it, that -they offered to capitulate, but could obtain no -terms that they could accept. And all this time -the imbecile or base Kirke was lying within a few -miles of them with abundance of provisions, and a -force capable with ease of forcing its way to them. -He had even the cruelty to send in a secret -message to Walker that he was coming in full<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[416]</a></span> -force, and then to lie still again for more than a -fortnight. At length, however, he received a -peremptory order from William to force the boom -and relieve the town. No sooner did this order -reach him than he showed with what ease he -could have accomplished this at first, six weeks -ago. The boom was burst asunder by two vessels—the -<em>Mountjoy</em> and <em>Phœnix</em>—dashing themselves -against it, while they were covered by a third, the -<em>Dartmouth</em>, and the place was open (July 30) to -the conveyance of the troops and the provisions. -Kirke was invited to take the command, and the -Irish camp, despairing of any success, drew -off on the 1st of August, and raised this most -memorable siege, in which four out of the seven -thousand defenders perished, besides a multitude -of other inhabitants, amounting, according to -some calculations, to eight or nine thousand -souls. On the side of the Irish as many are said -to have fallen; and of the thirty-six French -gunners who directed the cannonade, all had been -killed but five. Besides the miseries endured in -the town, those of the poor people who survived -being driven under the walls found, on their -return to what had been their homes, that they -were their homes no longer. Their villages, crops, -ricks, buildings, all had been burnt down, and the -whole country laid waste.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_416.jpg" width="560" height="418" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE "MOUNTJOY" AND "PHŒNIX" BREAKING THE BOOM AT LONDONDERRY. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_416big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Enniskilleners had meanwhile been actively -engaged against other detachments of James's -army, but had bravely beaten them off, and on -the same day that Londonderry was relieved had -won a signal victory over them at Newton Butler, -attacking five thousand Irish under General -Macarthy, though they themselves numbered only -about three hundred, and killing, it is said, two -thousand, and driving five hundred more into -Lough Erne, where they were drowned. This -decisive defeat of the Irish hastened the retreat of -the army retiring from Londonderry. They fled -towards Dublin in haste and terror, leaving behind -their baggage. Sarsfield abandoned Sligo, -and James was on the very point of abandoning -Dublin in the midst of the panic that seized it. -At the same time came from Scotland the news of -the death of Dundee at Killiecrankie; and on the -13th of August Marshal Schomberg landed at -Carrickfergus with an army of sixteen thousand,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[417]</a></span> -composed of English, Scots, Dutch, Danes, and -French Huguenots. Matters were fast assuming -a serious aspect for James; his affairs not only in -the field, but his civil government, falling every -day into a more ominous condition.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_417.jpg" width="560" height="421" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LANDING OF MARSHAL SCHOMBERG AT CARRICKFERGUS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_416">416</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_417big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>One reason for James quitting the siege of Londonderry -in person was that the time for the -assembling of his Irish Parliament drew near. -No sooner did he reach Dublin than he was met -by the news that the English fleet under Admiral -Herbert had been beaten by the French at Bantry -Bay. Herbert had been ordered to intercept the -French fleet between Brest and Ireland; but he -had missed it, and James had safely landed. -Whilst he was still beating about, a second -squadron, under Chateau Renard, had also made -its way over, and anchored with the first in Bantry -Bay. On Herbert discovering them there, confident -in their superior numbers, they came out, -and there was a sharp fight. In the evening -Herbert sheered off towards the Scilly Isles, and -the French with great exultation, as in a victory, -returned into the bay. James found the French at -Dublin in high spirits at the unusual circumstance -of beating English sailors; but his English -adherents were by no means pleased with this -triumphing over their countrymen, hostile though -they were; and James, who had always prided himself -on the English navy, is said, when D'Avaux -boasted how the French had beaten the English, -to have replied gloomily, "It is the first time." -Even the English exiles in France showed a -similar mortification, though the French victory, -such as it was, was in their cause. Both sides, -however, claimed the victory. In England Parliament -voted thanks to Herbert; in Dublin -James ordered bonfires and a <em>Te Deum</em>.</p> - -<p>On the 7th of May, the day after the <em>Te Deum</em>, -James met his Parliament. What sort of a Parliament -it was, and what it was likely to do in -Ireland may be surmised from the fact that -there were only six Protestants in the whole House -of Commons, consisting of two hundred and fifty -members. Only fourteen lords appeared to his -summons, and of these only four were Protestants. -By new creations, and by reversal of attainders -against Catholic peers, he managed to add seventeen -more members to the Upper House, all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[418]</a></span> -Catholics, so that in the whole Parliament there -were only ten Protestants, and four of these -were the Bishops of Meath, Ossory, Cork, and -Limerick. The majority of these members were -not only Catholic, eager to visit upon the Protestants -all the miseries and spoliations which the -latter had inflicted on them, but they were men -totally unaccustomed to the business of legislation -or government, from having been long excluded -from such functions, and condemned to pass their -time on their estates in that half savage condition -which qualified them rather for bandits than for -lawgivers and magistrates.</p> - -<p>James's first act was that of complete toleration -of liberty of conscience to all Christian denominations. -This sounded well, and was in perfect -keeping with his declarations and endeavours in -England for which he had been driven out, and -England had now an opportunity of observing -with what justice; of judging whether or not his -real object had been wrongfully suspected. In his -speech from the throne, he reverted with great -pride to these endeavours, and to his determination -still to be the liberator of conscience. This was -language worthy of the noblest lawgiver that ever -existed; but, unfortunately, James's English subjects -never could be persuaded of his sincerity, and -did not believe that this happiness would arrive -as the result of his indulgence. The very next -Act which he now passed decided that they had not -mistrusted him without cause. Scarcely had he -passed the Act of Toleration, when he followed it -up by the repeal of the Act of Settlement, by -which the Protestants held their estates, and -their rights and liberties in Ireland. This just -and tolerant monarch thus, at one stroke, handed -over the whole Protestant body to the mercy of the -Irish Catholics, and to one universal doom of confiscation. -The Bill was received with exultation by -this Parliament, which portended all the horrors -which were to follow.</p> - -<p>But there were other parties whose estates were -not derived from the Act of Settlement, but from -purchase, and another Act was passed to include -them. It was a Bill confiscating the property of -all who had aided or abetted the Prince of Orange -in his attempt on the Crown, or who were absent -and did not return to their homes before the 5th -of October. The number of persons included in -this great Act of Attainder, as it was called, -amounted to between two and three thousand, -including men of all ranks from the highest -noble to the simplest freeholder. All the property -of absentees above seventeen years of age was -transferred to the king. The most unbounded lust -of robbery and revenge was thus kindled in the -public mind. Every one who wanted his neighbour's -property, or had a grudge against him, -hurried to give in his name to the Clerk of the -House of Commons, and, without any or much inquiry, -it was inserted in the Bill.</p> - -<p>To make the separation of England and Ireland -complete, and to set up the most effectual barrier -against his own authority, should he again regain -the throne of England, James permitted his -Parliament to pass an Act declaring that the -Parliament of England had no power or authority -over Ireland, and this contrary to the provisions -of Poynings' Act, which gave the initiative power -to the English Council, and made every Irish Act -invalid unless first submitted to the King and -Council of England.</p> - -<p>Having transferred the property of the laity -back to the Irish, another Act made as sweeping -a conveyance of that of the Church from the Protestant -to the Catholic clergy. Little regard had -been had to Catholic rights in piling property on -the Protestant hierarchy, and as little was shown -in taking it back again. The Anglican clergy -were left in a condition of utter destitution, and -more than this, they were not safe if they appeared -in public. They were hooted, pelted, and sometimes -fired at. All colleges and schools from -which the Protestants had excluded the Catholics -were now seized and employed as Popish seminaries -or monasteries. The College of Dublin was -turned into a barrack and a prison. No Protestants -were allowed to appear together in numbers -more than three, on pain of death. This was -James's notion of the liberty of conscience, and a -tender regard for "every man's rights and liberties." -It was a fine lesson, too, for the clergy and -gentry who had welcomed him to Ireland as the -friends of passive obedience. They had now -enough of that doctrine, and went over pretty -rapidly to a different notion. The Protestants -everywhere were overrun by soldiers and rapparees. -Their estates were seized, their houses plundered, -their persons insulted and abused, and a -more fearful condition of things never existed in -any country at any time. The officers of the army -sold the Protestants protections, which were no -longer regarded when fresh marauders wanted -more money.</p> - -<p>This model Parliament voted twenty thousand -pounds a year to Tyrconnel for bringing this -state of things about, and twenty thousand pounds -a month to the king. But the country was so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[419]</a></span> -completely desolated, and its trade so completely -destroyed by this reign of terror and of licence, -that James did not find the taxes come in very -copiously; and he resorted to a means of making -money plentiful worthy of himself. He collected -all the old pots, pans, brass knockers, old cannon, -and metal in almost any shape, and coined clumsy -money out of them, on which he put about a -hundred times their intrinsic value. The consequence -was that shopkeepers refused to receive -this base coin. All men to whom debts were -due, or who had mortgages on other men's property, -were opposed to having them discharged by a heap -of metal which in a few weeks might be worth only -a few pence a pound. Those who refused such -payment were arrested, and menaced with being -hanged at their own doors. Many were thrown -into prison, and trade and intercourse were -plunged into a condition of the wildest anarchy. -The whole country was a scene of violence, confusion, -and distress. Such was the state of Ireland -and of James's Court when, as we have seen, -Schomberg landed with his army at Carrickfergus -on the 23rd of August, and roused James, his -Court, and the whole country to a sense of their -danger, and of the necessity for one great and -universal effort. A spirit of new life seemed to -animate them, and James, receiving fresh hope -from the sight, marched from Dublin at the head -of his troops to encounter Schomberg.</p> - -<p>During the summer the Court of William had -not been an enviable place. In the spring the -Parliament had proceeded to reverse the judgments -which had been passed in the last reign -against Lord William Russell, Algernon Sidney, -the Earl of Devonshire, Cornish, Alice Lisle, and -Samuel Johnson. Some of the Whigs who had -suffered obtained pecuniary compensation, but -Johnson obtained none. He was deemed by the -Whigs to be too violent—in fact, he was a Radical -of that day. The scoundrel Titus Oates crawled -again from his obscurity, and, by help of his old -friends the Whigs, managed to obtain a pension of -three hundred pounds a year. This done, there -was an attempt to convert the Declaration of -Rights into a Bill of Rights—thus giving it all the -authority of Parliamentary law; and in this Bill -it was proposed, in case of William, Mary, and -Anne all dying without issue, to settle the succession -on the Duchess Sophia of Brunswick Lüneburg, -the daughter of the Queen of Bohemia, and -granddaughter of James I.; but it failed for the -time. A Bill of Indemnity was also brought in as -an Act of oblivion of all past offences; but this -too was rejected. The triumphant Whigs, so far -from being willing to forgive the Tories who had -supported James, and had been their successful -opponents during the attempts through Titus -Oates and his fellow-plotters to exclude James -from the succession, were now clamorous for -their blood and ruin. William refused to comply -with their truculent desires, and became, in consequence, -the object of their undisguised hatred. -They particularly directed their combined efforts -against Danby, now Earl of Caermarthen, and -Halifax. They demanded that Caermarthen -should be dismissed from the office of President of -the Council, and Halifax from holding the Privy -Seal, and being Speaker of the House of Lords. -But William steadfastly resisted their demands, -and declared that he had done enough for them -and their friends, and would do no more especially -in the direction of vengeance against such as were -disposed to live quietly and serve the State -faithfully.</p> - -<p>On the 19th of October the second session -of William's first Parliament met. The Commons -were liberal in voting supplies; they granted at -once two million pounds, and declared that they -would support the king to the utmost of their -ability in reducing Ireland to his authority, and -in prosecuting the war with France. The required -sum was to be levied partly by a poll-tax, -partly by new duties on tea, coffee, and -chocolate, partly by an assessment of one hundred -thousand pounds on the Jews, but chiefly by a tax -on real property. The Jews, however, protested -that they would sooner quit the kingdom than -submit to the imposition, and that source was -abandoned. The Commons next took up the Bill -of Rights, and passed it, omitting the clause respecting -the succession of the House of Brunswick, which -measure was not brought forward again for eleven -years. They, however, took care, at the suggestion -of Burnet to insert a clause that no person who -should marry a Papist should be capable of ascending -the throne; and if any one on the throne -so married, the subjects should be absolved from -their allegiance.</p> - -<p>After thus demonstrating their zeal for maintaining -the throne in affluence and power, the -Commons next proceeded to display it in a careful -scrutiny of the mode in which the last supplies -had been spent. The conduct of both army and -navy had not been such as to satisfy the public. -The Commons had, indeed, not only excused the -defeat of Herbert at Bantry Bay, but even -thanked him for it as though it had been a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[420]</a></span> -victory. But neither had Schomberg effected anything -in Ireland; and he loudly complained that -it was impossible to fight with an army that was -not supplied with the necessary food, clothing, or -ammunition. This led to a searching scrutiny -into the commissariat department, William himself -being the foremost in the inquiry, and the -most frightful peculation and abuses were brought -to light. The muskets and other arms fell to -pieces in the soldiers' hands; and, when fever and -pestilence were decimating the camp there was -not a drug to be found, though one thousand seven -hundred pounds had been charged Government for -medicines. What baggage and supplies there -were could not be got to the army for want of -horses to draw the waggons; and the very cavalry -went afoot, because Shales, the Commissary-General, -had let out the horses destined for this -service to the farmers of Cheshire to do their -work. The meat for the men stank, the brandy -was so foully adulterated that it produced sickness -and severe pains. In the navy the case was the -same; and Herbert, now Lord Torrington, was -severely blamed for not being personally at the -fleet to see into the condition of his sailors, -but was screened from deserved punishment -by his connections. The king was empowered -by Parliament at length to appoint a Commission -of Inquiry to discover the whole extent -of the evil, and to take remedies against its -recurrence.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_420a.jpg" width="500" height="244" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FIVE-GUINEA PIECE OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_420b.jpg" width="500" height="238" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CROWN OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p></div> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_420c.jpg" width="403" height="200" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FOURPENNY PIECE OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>Then the Commons reverted again to their -fierce party warfare. Whigs and Tories manifested -an equal desire to crush their opponents -if they had the power, and they kept William -in a constant state of uneasiness by their -mutual ferocity, and their alternate eagerness to -force him into persecution and blood. Edmund -Ludlow, one of the regicides, who had managed -to escape the murderous vengeance of Charles -and James, but whose companion, John -Lisle, had fallen by the hands of Charles's -assassins at Lausanne, had been persuaded -that he might now return to England unmolested. -But he soon found that he was mistaken. -The Tories vehemently demanded -his arrest of the king, and William -was obliged to promise compliance; but he -appeared in no haste in issuing the warrant; -and probably a hint was given to -Ludlow, for he escaped again to the Continent, -and there remained till his death.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_420d.jpg" width="450" height="213" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HALFPENNY OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>On the other hand, the Whigs were as unrelaxing -in their desire of persecuting the Tories. -They refused to proceed with the Indemnity Bill, -which William was anxious to get passed as a -final preventive of their deadly intentions. They -arrested and sent to the Tower the Earls of Peterborough -and Salisbury for going over from their -party to that of James in the last reign, in order -to impeach them of high treason. The same was -done to Sir Edward Hales and Obadiah Walker. -They appointed a committee to inquire into the -share of various individuals in the deaths of -Lord William Russell, Sidney, and others of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[421]</a></span> -Whig party. The committee was termed "the -Committee of Murder," and they summoned such -of the judges, law officers of the Crown, and -others as had taken part in these prosecutions. -Sir Dudley North and Halifax were called before -them, and underwent a severe examination; but -they did not succeed in establishing a charge sufficient -to commit them upon. Halifax had already -resigned the Speakership of the House of Lords, -and they sought to bring William to deprive him -of the Privy Seal. In these proceedings of the -Commons, John Hampden, the grandson of the -great patriot, and John Howe, were the most -violent. Hampden went the length of saying -that William ought to dismiss every man who had -gone over to him from the late king, and ought -not to employ any one who entertained Republican -principles. This declaration, from a man -who had himself been a full-length Republican -and the friend of Sidney, threw the House into a -roar of laughter; but that did not abash Hampden. -On behalf of a committee of the Commons, -he drew up an address so violent that it was altogether -dropped, calling on the king to dismiss the -authors of the late malversations and the consequent -failures of the army and navy.</p> - -<p>The Whigs next brought in a Bill to restore to -the corporations their charters, which had been -taken away by Charles II.; but, not content with -the legitimate fact of the restoration of these -ancient rights, they again seized on this as an -opportunity for inflicting a blow on the Tories. -They introduced at the instigation of William -Sacheverell, a clause disqualifying for seven years -every mayor, recorder, common councilman, or -other officer who had been in any way a party to -the surrender of these charters. They added a -penalty of five hundred pounds and perpetual disqualification -for every person who, in violation of -this clause, should presume to hold office in any -corporation. They declared that if the Lords -should hesitate to pass this Bill, they would withhold -the supplies till it was acquiesced in.</p> - -<p>But William did not hesitate to express his -displeasure with the Bill, and with the indecent -hurry with which it was pushed forward. A -short delay was interposed, and meanwhile the -news of the intended passing of the Bill was -carried into every quarter of the kingdom, and the -Tories, Peers and Commons, who had gone down -to their estates for Christmas, hastened up to town -to oppose it. The battle was furious. The Whigs -flattered themselves that, if they carried this Bill, -the returns to the next Parliament would be such -that they should be able to exclude their opponents -from all power and place. After a fierce -and prolonged debate, the Bill was thrown out, -and the Tories, elated by their victory, again -brought forward the Indemnity Bill; but this -time they were defeated in turn, and the Whigs -immediately proceeded with their design of converting -this Bill into one of pains and penalties; -and to show that they were in earnest, they summoned -Sir Robert Sawyer before the House for -his part in the prosecution of the Whigs in the -last reign. He had been Attorney-General, and -conducted some of the worst cases which were -decided under Jeffreys and his unprincipled colleagues, -with a spirit which had made him peculiarly -odious. The case of Sir Thomas Armstrong -was in particular brought forward—a very flagrant -one. Sir Thomas had been charged with being -engaged in the Rye House plot. He had escaped -to the Netherlands, but the authorities having -been bribed to give him up, he was brought back, -and hanged, without a hearing, as an outlaw. -It was a barbarous case, and deserved the severest -condemnation. But it was pleaded, on the other -hand, that Sawyer had rendered great services to -the Whig cause; that he had stoutly resisted the -attempts of James to introduce Popery and despotism; -that he had resigned his office rather than -advocate the Dispensing Power, and had undertaken -the defence of the seven bishops. No -matter; he was excepted from indemnity and expelled -the House. A committee of the whole -House proceeded to make out a complete list of all -the offenders to be excluded from the benefit of -the Bill.</p> - -<p>This brought William to a resolve which, if -carried into effect, would have given a death-blow -to the Whig party, and have neutralised the glory -of their accomplishment of the Revolution. He -sent for his chief ministers, and announced to -them his determination to relinquish the fruitless -task of endeavouring to govern a country thus -torn to pieces by faction; that he was weary of -the whole concern, and would return to Holland, -never more to meddle with English affairs, but -abandon them to the queen; that for ten months -he had been vainly endeavouring to make peace -between the factions of Whig and Tory, and to -prevent them from rushing at each other's throats; -that they clearly regarded nothing but their -mutual animosities, for in their indulgence they -utterly neglected the urgent affairs of the nation. -Their enemy was in Ireland, yet it had no -effect in bringing them to their senses. Still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[422]</a></span> -worse, every department of the Government was -overrun with corruption, peculation, and neglect. -The public service was paralysed; the public -peace was entirely destroyed; and as for himself, -with far from robust health and with the -duty of settling the Government upon him, it was -useless further to contend; he could contend no -longer. A squadron was ready to bear him away, -and he could only hope that they would show -more regard to the wishes of the queen than they -had to his.</p> - -<p>Whether William was in earnest, or whether he -only had recourse to a ruse to bring the combatants -to their senses, the result was the same. The -ministers stood confounded. To drive the king -from the country by their quarrels, and that at a -time when the old and implacable enemy of Protestantism -and liberty was at their doors, would -be a blow to freedom and to their own credit from -which the most disastrous consequences must flow. -They entreated him on their knees and with tears -to forego this design, promising all that he could -desire. William at length consented to make one -more trial; but it was only on condition that the -Bill of Indemnity should pass, and that he should -himself proceed to Ireland, and endeavour, by his -own personal and determined effort, to drive -James thence.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, on January 27, 1690, he called -together the two Houses, and, announcing his -intention to proceed to Ireland, declared the -Parliament dissolved, amid the utmost signs of -consternation in the Whigs, and shouts of exultation -from the Tories. This act of William's to -defeat the malice of the Whigs, and his continued -firm resistance to their endeavours to fine and disqualify -the Tories, had a wonderful effect on that -party. A numerous body of them deputed Sir -John Lowther to carry their thanks to the king, -and assure him that they would serve him with all -their hearts and influence. Numbers of them -who had hitherto stood aloof began to appear at -Court, and attended the levee to kiss the king's -hand. William gave orders to liberate those whom -the Whigs had sent to prison on charges of treason.</p> - -<p>On the 1st of February the hour arrived in -which all ecclesiastics who had neglected to take -the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy would be -deposed. A considerable number of them came -in in time; but Sancroft, the Primate, and five of -his bishops, stood out, and were deprived of their -bishoprics, but were treated with particular lenity.</p> - -<p>It was soon found that the conduct of the -Whigs had alienated a great mass of the people. -Their endeavours, by Sacheverell's clause, to disqualify -all who had consented to the surrender of -the corporation charters, had made mortal enemies -of those persons, many of whom were at the -moment the leading members of the corporations, -and therefore possessing the highest influence on -the return of members to the new Parliament. -The same was the case in the country, amongst -those who had been sheriffs or other officers at -that period. The consequence was that the Tories -returned a decided majority to the new House, -and amongst them came up Sir Robert Sawyer -from Cambridge, whilst the violence of Hampden -had caused his exclusion.</p> - -<p>The revival of the Tory influence introduced -great changes in the ministry. Halifax resigned -the Privy Seal. Mordaunt—now Earl of Monmouth—Delamere, -Sidney Godolphin, and Admiral -Herbert—now Earl of Torrington—were -dismissed. Caermarthen was continued Lord -President of the Council, and Prime Minister. -Sir John Lowther was appointed First Lord of -the Treasury, in place of Monmouth. Nottingham -retained his post as Secretary of State; -and Thomas Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, was -placed at the head of the Admiralty, Torrington -having, to his great discontent, to yield that position, -but retaining that of High Admiral, and -being satisfied by a splendid grant of ten thousand -acres of Crown land in the Peterborough fens. -Delamere, too, was soothed on his dismissal by -being created Earl of Warrington. Richard -Hampden became Chancellor of the Exchequer.</p> - -<p>Parliament met on the 20th of March, and the -Commons, under the new Tory influence, elected -Sir John Trevor Speaker, who was besides made -First Commissioner of the Great Seal. In this -man is said to have commenced that system of -Government corruption of Parliament—the buying -up, or buying off of members, which grew to such -a height, and attained its climax under Sir Robert -Walpole. Trevor was an unscrupulous Tory, and -Burnet says he was "furnished with such sums of -money as might purchase some votes." He undertook, -accordingly, to manage the party in the -House. The Whigs were in the worst of -humours, but they had now learnt that it was -not wise to push matters with the Crown too -far, and as a body they watched their opportunity -for recovering by degrees their ascendency. -Some of the more violent, however, as -the Earl of Shrewsbury and the notorious Ferguson, -entered into immediate correspondence -with James.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[423]</a></span></p> - -<p>William, in his opening speech, dwelt chiefly -on the necessity of settling the revenue, to enable -him to proceed to Ireland, and on passing the Bill -of Indemnity; and he was very plain in expressing -his sense of the truculent spirit of party, -which, in endeavouring to wound one another, -injured and embarrassed his Government still -more. He informed them that he had drawn up -an Act of Grace, constituting the Bill of Indemnity, -and should send it to them for their -acceptance; for it is the practice for all such -Acts to proceed from the Crown, and then to be -voted by the Peers, and finally by the Commons. -He then informed them that he left the administration -during his absence in Ireland in the hands -of the Queen; and he desired that if any Act was -necessary for the confirmation of that authority, -they should pass it. The Commons at once -passed a vote of thanks, and engaged to support -the Government of their Majesties by every -means in their power. On the 27th of March -they passed unanimously the four following resolutions—namely, -that all the hereditary revenues -of King James, except the hearth-tax, were vested -now in their present Majesties; that a Bill should -be brought in to declare and perpetuate this investment; -that the moiety of the excise granted -to Charles and James should be secured by Bill to -their present Majesties for life; and finally, that -the customs which had been granted to Charles -and James for their lives should be granted for -four years from the next Christmas. William -was much dissatisfied with the last proviso, and -complained that the Commons should show less -confidence in him, who had restored their liberties, -than in Charles and James, who destroyed them. -Sir John Lowther pressed this point on the -Commons strongly, but in vain; and Burnet told -King William that there was no disrespect meant -towards him, but that the Commons wished to -establish this as a general principle, protective of -future subjects from the evils which the ill-judged -liberality of past Parliaments had produced.</p> - -<p>The next measure on which the Whigs and -Tories tried their strength was a Bill brought in -by the Whigs to do what was already sufficiently -done in the Bill of Rights—to pronounce William -and Mary the rightful and lawful sovereigns of -this realm, and next to declare that all the acts of -the late Convention should be held as valid as -laws. The first part, already sufficiently recognised, -was quietly passed over; but the Tories -made a stout opposition to extending the Act -beyond the year 1689, on the plea that nothing -could convert the self-constituted Convention into -a legal Parliament. But the distinction was a -mere party distinction; for, if the Convention was -not a legal body, nothing could render its acts so. -The Earl of Nottingham, who headed this movement, -entered a strong protest on the journal of -the Lords against it, and this protest was signed -by many peers, and amongst them the Whig peers, -Bolton, Macclesfield, Stamford, Bedford, Newport, -Monmouth, Herbert, Suffolk, Warrington, -and Oxford. The Bill, however, was carried, -and with still more ease in the Commons.</p> - -<p>The Tories, mortified at the triumph of the -Whigs, now brought in a Bill to change the -military government of the City of London as the -lieutenancy of the counties had been changed. -They thanked the king for having by his measures -brought in so many Churchmen and thrown out -so many Nonconformists. This Bill the Whigs -managed to impede till the session closed; but -not so with another from the Tory party, ordering -payment of the five hundred pounds fines incurred -by all who had taken office or served as magistrates -without taking the necessary Oaths of Allegiance -and Supremacy. This was carried, and the -money ordered to be paid into the Exchequer, and -a separate account of it to be kept.</p> - -<p>The defeat of the Whigs only infused more -fierceness in the party warfare. They hastened to -bring in a Bill compelling every person in office, -civil, ecclesiastical, or military, to take an oath to -abjure King James and his right to the Crown, -thence called the Abjuration Oath. This oath -might, moreover, be tendered by any magistrate -to any subject of their Majesties whatever, and -whoever refused it was to be committed to prison, -and kept there till he complied. It was hoped by -the Whigs that this Bill would greatly embarrass -the Tories who had taken office under the present -monarchy, and accordingly it met with a decided -opposition in the Commons, and was thrown out -by a majority of one hundred and ninety-two to -one hundred and seventy-eight. It was then, with -some alteration, introduced as a fresh Bill into the -Lords. William went down to the Lords to listen -personally to the debate; and several of the peers -made very free and pertinent remarks on the uselessness -of so many oaths to bind any disloyal or -unconscientious person.</p> - -<p>The Bill was defeated in the Lords by being -committed, but never reported, for on the 20th of -May, after King William had given his consent to -the Bill, which he had recommended, for conferring -on the queen full powers to administer the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[424]</a></span> -government during his absence in Ireland, and -also to that revising the <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">quo warranto</i> judgment -against the City of London, the Marquis of -Caermarthen appeared in the House with an Act -of Grace ready drawn and signed by the king.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_424.jpg" width="398" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HENRY VII.'S CHAPEL, WESTMINSTER ABBEY.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_424big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>William had tried in vain to curb the deadly -animosities of the contending parties by Bills of -Indemnity. These could be discussed and rejected, -not so an Act of Grace: it issued from the -sovereign, and came already signed to Parliament. -It must be at once accepted or rejected by each -House, and in such a case as the present, where it -was meant as a healing and pacifying act, it could -not be rejected without a disloyal and ungracious -air. Accordingly it was received with the deference -which it deserved, and both Houses gave -their sanction to it, standing bareheaded, and -without one dissenting voice. From the benefit of -this Act of Grace, pardoning all past offences, -were, it is true, excepted thirty names, prominent -amongst whom were the Marquis of Powis, the -Lords Sunderland, Huntingdon, Dover, Melfort, -and Castlemaine; the Bishops of Durham and -St. Davids; the Judges Herbert, Jenner, Withers, -and Holloway; Roger Lestrange; Lundy, the -traitor governor of Londonderry; Father Petre; -and Judge Jeffreys. This last monster of infamy -was already deceased in the Tower, but it was -well understood that if the others named only -kept themselves at peace they would never be inquired -after. Neither party, however, thanked -William for the constrained peace. The Whigs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[425]</a></span> -were disappointed of the vengeance they burned -to enjoy; the Tories, and even those who had the -most narrowly escaped the intended mischief, ungenerously -said that if William had really anything -to avenge, he would not have pardoned it.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_425.jpg" width="406" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WILLIAM PENN.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_425big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The day after the passing of this important -Act he prorogued Parliament. The Convocation -which had been summoned, and met in Henry -VII.'s Chapel—St. Paul's, its usual meeting-place, -having been burnt down in the Great -Fire, was not yet rebuilt—had been prorogued -some time before. Its great topic had been the -scheme of comprehension, which was warmly advocated -by Burnet and the more liberal members, -but the High Church was as high and immovable -as ever. Nothing could be accomplished, and -from this time the Nonconformists gave up all -hope of any reunion with the Church.</p> - -<p>William now made preparations for the Irish -campaign. It was time, for Schomberg had -effected little, and the English fleet had done -worse than nothing at sea. It was not only in -Ireland that the danger of William lay, or whence -came his troubles. He had to maintain the contest -on the Continent against Louis XIV., against -James in Ireland, against corruption and imbecility -in his fleet, against the most wholesale mismanagement -and peculation in every department -of the English Government, and against the feuds -and disaffection of his own courtiers and servants. -Whilst the contests which we have just related -were agitating Parliament, William was vigorously -at work inquiring into the malversation -all around him. Shales, the Commissary-General, -was dismissed, and a new spirit was introduced -into the commissariat under the vigilant eye of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[426]</a></span> -William himself. Instead of the vile poisons and -putrid meats, excellent provisions were supplied to -the army. The villainies by which the poor soldiers -had been robbed of their clothing, and bedding, -and tents, terminated, and they were soon well -clothed, lodged, and equipped. The road to -Chester swarmed with waggons conveying wholesome -supplies, and a fleet lay there ready to -convey the king over, with additional troops and -stores. Before he set out himself, the army in -Ireland amounted to thirty thousand effective -men.</p> - -<p>But the affairs of the Channel fleet were in the -worst possible condition. William there committed -the error of continuing Torrington, better -known as Admiral Herbert—who had been suspected -of a leaning towards James, and who had -been already beaten at Bantry Bay—in the chief -command, when he removed him from his post of -First Lord of the Admiralty. Herbert was a -debauched, effeminate fellow, indulging in all sorts -of license and luxury, whilst his sailors were -suffering the most atrocious treatment. They had -such meat served out to them that neither they -nor even dogs could touch it. They were ill-fed, -ill-clothed, ill-paid; the contractors and the officers -were enriching themselves at their expense; and, -what was worse, they were compelled to bear the -disgrace of having our commerce interrupted in all -directions by the French cruisers. Whilst they lay -inactive in Portsmouth, the French scoured the -English coast, and captured trading vessels with -their cargoes to the value of six hundred thousand -pounds.</p> - -<p>William had, however, difficulties at home to -surmount before he could depart for Ireland. Just -as he was prepared to set out, the discovery was -made of an extensive traitorous correspondence -between a number of concealed Jacobites and the -Court of St. Germains. Some of his own ministers -and courtiers were deep in it. Two messengers -had been despatched from James's queen from -St. Germains, with letters to the conspiring -Jacobites. One of these, of the name of Fuller, -was induced by some means to betray the secret. -He went boldly to Whitehall, and delivered his -despatches to William. Crone, the other, was -arrested, and soon after another messenger of the -name of Tempest. The disclosures made through -this means revealed an extensive ramification of -treason that was enough to appal the stoutest -heart and coolest brain. The queen's own relative, -Clarendon, was one of the most zealous -plotters; Ailesbury and Dartmouth, who had both -taken the oaths to the new monarchs, were among -the most guilty; and the latter, though an admiral, -was prepared, in connection with other officers, to -betray the coast defences, and to carry over their -ships to the enemy. William Penn was arrested -on account of an intercepted letter to James, and -charged with treason; but he denied any treasonable -intentions, and said he only corresponded with -James as an old friend. Nothing of a criminal -nature could be proved against him, and he was -soon liberated. Viscount Preston, who had been -raised to that dignity by James, but was not admitted -by the peers to possess a valid patent of -nobility, was another; and what was far more -mortifying, the Earl of Shrewsbury, who had so -recently resigned the seals as Secretary of State, -was discovered to be deeply implicated. It was -found that the conspiracy was spread far and wide -throughout the country, and that the Jacobites in -Worcestershire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and other -northern counties, were laying in arms and ammunition, -and gentlemen who had received commissions -from James were actually mustering and -drilling troops on the solitary moorlands. The -correspondence was as active between England and -Ireland, as between England and France.</p> - -<p>Amid dangers of such magnitude it may seem -strange that William should venture to leave -England, and burthen his wife with the cares and -responsibilities of such a crisis, amid the machinations -of so many determined enemies; but his -affairs as imperiously demanded his presence in -Ireland, and he therefore took the best measures -that he could for the assistance and security of the -queen. He appointed a council of nine of the -most efficient and trusty persons he could think of, -some Whigs, some Tories. They were Devonshire, -Dorset, Monmouth, Edward Russell, Caermarthen, -Pembroke, Nottingham, Marlborough, and -Lowther. In making this selection William must -have put aside many personal prejudices. Marlborough -was appointed as most likely to advise the -queen as to military affairs, though he was the -known partisan and adviser of Anne. Russell, who -was an admiral and Treasurer of the Navy, was -the person to advise her in naval matters, and Caermarthen -was, from his experience, and as having a -great regard for the queen, the man on whom she -could most rely for the management of the main -business of the State. William solemnly laid upon -them the great trust which he reposed in them, -and called upon them as men and statesmen, to -afford the queen every assistance which her being -left under such trying circumstances demanded for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[427]</a></span> -her. He likewise informed Rochester that he -was well acquainted with the treasonable practices -of his brother Clarendon, and bade him warn him -from him to tempt him no further to a painful -severity.</p> - -<p>Having arranged this matter, William set out -on the 4th of June for Chester, where he embarked -on the 11th, and landed at Carrickfergus on the -14th. He proceeded immediately towards Belfast, -and was met by Schomberg on the way. William -was attended by Prince George of Denmark, the -Duke of Ormond, the Earls of Oxford, Scarborough, -and Manchester, Mr. Boyle, and many other -persons of distinction. He appointed the whole -of his army to rendezvous at Loughbrickland, and -immediately set about organising his plans, and -preparing his stores for an active campaign. Before -we enter upon that, however, we must take a -hasty glance at what Schomberg had done during -the autumn, winter, and spring.</p> - -<p>This was little for so numerous an army, commanded -by so experienced a general. Schomberg -was, it is true, eighty years of age, and many complained -that time had diminished his fire, and that -much more ought to have been effected. But -William, who may be supposed a most competent -judge, cast no blame upon him; on the contrary, -he thanked him for having preserved his army -at all, his troops having had to contend with the -horrors of a deficient and most villainous commissariat, -as we have already shown.</p> - -<p>Schomberg on landing had taken Carrickfergus, -Newry, and Dundalk, where he entrenched himself. -He had found the country through which -he passed a perfect waste. It could afford him no -provisions, and, if he were compelled to fall back, -no shelter. James, on his landing, had advanced -from Dublin to Drogheda, where he was with -twenty thousand men, besides vast numbers of -wild Irish, armed with scythes, pikes, and skeans. -But Schomberg found himself in no condition for -fighting. His baggage could not reach him for -want of waggons, and from the state of the roads. -His arms were many of them good for nothing, -being the vile rubbish furnished by the contractors -under the management of the fraudulent -Ministry and the infamous Commissary-General -Shales. His soldiers were suffering from want of -proper clothing, shoes, beds, and tents. Worse still, -the soldiers were fast perishing with fever. Bad -food, bad clothing, bad lodging, and drenching and -continual rains without proper shelter, were fast -doing their work on the English army. Schomberg -did his best. He stimulated his soldiers to -make roofs to their huts of turf and fern, and to -make their beds of heather and fern, raised on dry -mounds above the soaking rains. But all was in -vain. The soldiers were become spiritless and -demoralised. They were either too listless to -move or too excited by whisky, which they -managed to get, to follow his recommendations. -Scenes like those which appeared in London -during the Plague now horrified his camp. The -soldiers gave way to wild license, drank, swore, -sang bacchanalian songs, drank the Devil's health, -and made seats of the corpses of their dead comrades -at their revels, which they declared were -the only ones they had to keep them out of the -wet.</p> - -<p>The sickness appeared at the same time in the -English fleet which lay off the coast at Carrickfergus, -and swept away almost every man from -some of the vessels. By the commencement of -November, Schomberg's army could not number -more than five thousand effective men. The Irish -in James's army did not suffer so much, and they -rejoiced in the pestilence which was thus annihilating -their heretic enemies. But the weather at -length compelled James to draw off, first to Ardee, -and then into winter quarters in different towns. -Schomberg, thus set at liberty, quickly followed -his example, and quartered his troops for the -winter in the different towns of Ulster, fixing his -headquarters at Lisburn. His army had, however, -lost above six thousand men by disease.</p> - -<p>In February, 1690, the campaign was begun by -the Duke of Berwick, James's natural son, who -attacked William's advanced post at Belturbet; but -he met with such a reception that he nearly lost his -life, being severely wounded and having his horse -killed under him. In fact, the condition of the -two armies had been completely changed during -the winter by the different management of the -two commanders. Schomberg had been diligently -exerting himself to restore the health and to -perfect the discipline of his troops. As spring -advanced he received the benefit of William's -exertions and stern reforms in England. Good, -healthy food, good clothing, bedding, tents, and -arms arrived. Fresh troops were from time to -time landing, amongst them regiments of German -and Scandinavian mercenaries. By the time -of William's arrival the army was in a fine and -vigorous condition, and amounted to thirty thousand -men.</p> - -<p>Not so the army of James: it had grown more -and more disorderly. James and his Court had -returned to Dublin, where they spent the winter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[428]</a></span> -in the grossest dissoluteness and neglect of all -discipline or law. Gambling, riot, and debauchery -scandalised the sober Catholics, who had hoped for -a saviour in James. Of all the army, the cavalry -alone had been maintained by its officers in discipline. -The foot soldiers roamed over the country -at pleasure, plundering their own compatriots. -James's own kitchen and larder were supplied by -his foragers from the substance of his subjects, -without regard to law or any prospect of payment. -It was in vain that remonstrances were made; -James paid no attention to them. His bad money -was gone; he had used up all the old pots, pans, -and cracked cannon, and applied to Louis for -fresh remittances, which did not arrive. To complete -the ruin of his affairs, he requested the withdrawal -of Rosen and D'Avaux, who, heartless as -they were, saw the ruinous course things were -taking, and remonstrated against it. Lauzun, an -incompetent commander, was sent over to take -their place, accompanied by about seven thousand -French infantry. When Lauzun arrived in Ireland, -the desolation of the country, the rude -savagery of the people, and the disorders of the -Court and capital, were such as to strike him and -his officers with astonishment and horror. He -declared in his letters to the French minister, -Louvois, that the country was in so frightful a -state that no person who had lived in any other -could conceive it; that James's chief functionaries -pulled each his different way, instead of assisting -the king; and that "such were the wants, disunions, -and dejection, that the king's affairs -looked like the primitive chaos."</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, Lauzun was not the man to -reduce chaos to order. He had accompanied -Mary, the queen of James, in her flight from -London to Paris, and had there too won the good -graces of Madame Maintenon; and by the influence -of these ladies, who imagined him a great -general, he obtained this important command. He -had to fill the place of both D'Avaux and Rosen, -of ambassador and general, without the sagacity -and skill which would have fitted him for either. -He conceived the greatest contempt and hatred of -the Irish, and was not likely to work well with -them. Such was the condition in which James -was found on the landing of King William.</p> - -<p>William, we have said, pushed on immediately to -Belfast, and thence, without permitting himself to -be delayed by the congratulatory multitudes that -surrounded him, he hastened forward to his main -army at Loughbrickland. The soldiers of his -army consisted of a variety of nations, many of -whom had won fame under great leaders. There -were Dutch, who had fought under William and -his great generals against those of Louis of -France; Germans, Danes, Finlanders, French -Huguenots, now purged of their false countrymen; -English and Scottish troops, who had fought -also in Holland, in Tangier, at Killiecrankie; -and Anglo-Irish, who had won such laurels at -Londonderry, Enniskillen, and Newton Butler. -All were animated by the presence of the king, -and of his assembled generals of wide renown, -and with the confidence of putting down the -Popish king, and his French supporters and -Irish adherents, who had robbed and expelled -them and their families. The Germans and -Dutch burned to meet again the French invaders -of their country, the desolators of the Palatinate; -and the French Protestants were as much on fire -to avenge themselves on their Catholic countrymen, -who had been their oppressors. It was not -merely English troops acting on ordinary grounds -of hostility against Irish ones, but representatives -of almost all Protestant Europe collected to -avenge the wrongs of Protestants and of their own -countries.</p> - -<p>William was confident in his army, and declared -that he was not come to Ireland to let the grass -grow under his feet. Schomberg still recommended -caution when it was no longer needed, -and thus gave a colour to the words of those who -accused him of having shown too much caution -already, which they insinuated was but the result -of old age. On the 24th of June, only ten days -after landing, William was in full march southwards. -James did not wait for his coming, but -abandoned Dundalk and retreated into Drogheda. -His generals, indeed, represented to him that -caution and delay were his best policy against so -powerful a force, and even recommended that he -should retreat beyond Dublin and entrench himself -at Athlone, as a more central and defensible -position; but James would not listen to this, and -Tyrconnel strengthened him in the resolution.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[429]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_429.jpg" width="410" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>JAMES ENTERING DUBLIN AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_431">431</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_429big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The morning of the 1st of July, destined to become -a great epoch in Ireland, rose brilliantly, and -the opposing armies were in motion by four o'clock. -William overnight had given the word "Westminster" -as the recognition sign, and ordered -his men to wear each a green sprig in his hat, to -distinguish them from the enemy, who, out of -compliment to France, wore a white cockade, -generally of paper. According to William's disposition -of battle, Meinhart Schomberg, the son of -the old general, supported by Portland and Douglas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[430]</a></span> -with the Scottish guards, was to take the right -and secure the bridge of Slane. He himself headed -the left wing near Drogheda with a strong force -of cavalry, and Schomberg the centre, which was -opposite Oldbridge, where he was supported by -the Blues of Solmes, and the brave Londonderries -and Enniskilleners, and on his left the French -Huguenots under Caillemot, and between them -and William the Danes. Meinhart Schomberg -found the bridge of Slane already occupied by Sir -Neil O'Neil, with a regiment of Irish Dragoons; -but the English charged them briskly, killed -O'Neil, and made themselves masters of the -bridge. This was a grand advantage at the outset. -It enabled the English to attack the right -wing of James, and endangered their seizure of -the pass of Duleek, a very narrow defile in the -hills, about four miles in their rear, by which they -would cut off altogether their retreat. Lauzun, -who had posted the main strength of the Irish -infantry at the foot of Oldbridge, and supported -them by Sarsfield's horse, was compelled to despatch -the horse towards Slane Bridge, to guard -against this danger, thus weakening his centre.</p> - -<p>Nearly at the same moment that this movement -took place, William put himself at the head of his -cavalry, and with his sword in his left hand, for -his right arm was too sore and stiff from a gunshot -received on the previous day to hold it, he -dashed into the river and led his wing across. -At the same moment Schomberg gave the word, -and the centre was in motion. Solmes' Dutch -Blues led the way, and their example was instantly -followed by the men of Londonderry and -Enniskillen, and at their left the Huguenots. -The men waded through the stream, holding aloft -their muskets and ammunition. The brunt of the -encounter was there, for there the enemy had expected -the main attack, and had not only concentrated -their forces there, horse and foot, but -had defended the bank with a breastwork and -batteries. The English had to advance against -the deadly fire from these defences, and from the -thronging Irish, who raised the wildest hurrahs, -whilst they could return no fire till they were -nearly across and sufficiently raised from the -water. Then they saw the breastwork and the -batteries lined with one mass of foes. They, however, -pushed resolutely forward, fired, charged the -foe, and in an instant the whole demoralised Irish -broke and fled. Never was there so complete and -ignominious a rout. These men, on whom so -much depended, but who, despite all warnings to -James, had been suffered to plunder and riot -without restraint or discipline, now dispersed with -so dastardly a rapidity that it was more like a -dream than a reality.</p> - -<p>The engagement was now general, from the left -where William commanded, almost under the -walls of Drogheda, to the bridge of Slane. The -English and their allies had forced their way -across the river, and were engaged in fierce contest -with the Irish horse and the French cavalry -and foot. When Schomberg saw the cavalry of -Tyrconnel and Hamilton bear down upon his -centre, and that they had actually driven back -Solmes' Blues into the river, he dashed into the -river himself, to rally and encourage them. Probably -stung by a generous sense of shame, for he -had discouraged the attempt to attack the Irish -army in that position, the old man now exhibited -an opposite degree of incaution, for without defensive -armour he rushed into the <em>mêlée</em>, disregarding -the advice of his officers to put on his cuirass. -As he rode through the river, Caillemot was borne -past him to the north bank mortally wounded, but -still crying to his brave Huguenots, "On! on! -my lads! To glory! to glory!" Schomberg took -up the cry of encouragement to the men, appalled -by the loss of their general, and said, "Allons, -messieurs, voilà vos persécuteurs!" But scarcely -had he uttered the words when he, too, received a -mortal wound and fell. When he was found he -was dead, with a bullet wound through his neck, -and a couple of sword gashes on his head.</p> - -<p>For half an hour the battle raged with a fury -such as the oldest soldiers of the Netherlands now -declared they had never seen surpassed. Hamilton -and Tyrconnel led on their cavalry against Schomberg's -forces with a steadiness and bravery that -were as much to their credit as their conduct in -civil life had been disgraceful. William, on his -part, had found a warm reception on the left. -The Irish horse withstood him stoutly, and drove -back his guards and the Enniskilleners repeatedly. -On his first coming up to the Enniskilleners, he -was mistaken for one of the enemy, and was near -being shot by a trooper. The mistake being rectified, -the Enniskilleners followed him with enthusiasm. -William threw away all thought of -danger, and led them into the thickest of the fight. -At one moment a ball carried away the cock of -his pistol, at another the heel of his boot, but he -still led on. The Enniskilleners fought desperately, -and the horse of Ginkell charged brilliantly.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 452px;"> -<img src="images/i_430.jpg" width="452" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left">KING WILLIAM III. AT THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE.</p> - -<p class="left"><span class="smcap">From the Painting probably by Jan. Wyck,<br /> -in the National Portrait Gallery.</span></p> - </div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_430big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>They were thus fighting their way towards the -centre, and had advanced as far as Plottin Castle, -about a mile and a half from Oldbridge, when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[431]</a></span> -Irish horse made a last furious effort, drove back -the Enniskilleners, and killed a number of them. -William rallied them, and again led them to the -charge, broke the Irish cavalry, and took prisoner -Hamilton, who had been heading this gallant -charge. When William saw, wounded and a prisoner, -the man who had proved so traitorous to him -when sent to Ireland, he said, "Is this business -over, or will your horse make more fight?" "On -my honour, sir," replied Hamilton, "I believe -they will." "<em>Your</em> honour, indeed!" muttered -William; but ordering the wounded man to be -properly attended to, he rode forward to join the -main body and end the fight.</p> - -<p>That was now soon over. The centre and the -right wing had done dreadful execution. They -had nearly annihilated whole regiments. One of -them had only thirty men left without a wound. -They had fought in a manner worthy of a better -cause and a better leader, for James had early -abandoned the field, and left his deluded followers -to the mercy of the enemy. No sooner did he see -the Irish fly before the enemy at Oldbridge than, -from his safe position on the hill of Donore, he -gave orders for all the baggage and the artillery, -except six pieces, already in full employ in the -engagement, to be conveyed with all speed on the -road to Dublin, so as to effect their passage -through the defile of Duleek; and, escorted by -Sarsfield's horse, he made all haste after them.</p> - -<p>If James was one of the worst and most infatuated -monarchs that ever reigned in time of -peace, in war he was the most dastardly. In -England he fled disgracefully on the approach of -William, without a blow, and here again he -showed the same utter want of spirit and energy. -He had taken no care to keep his soldiers disciplined -and in proper tone for the coming war, and -he deserted them at the first symptoms of reverse. -If the English had pushed on briskly from the -bridge of Slane, they might still have intercepted -him, and brought him prisoner to William; but, -the conflict over, they relaxed their efforts, and -William gave orders to spare the flying troops as -much as possible. When Lauzun and Tyrconnel -approached the pass of Duleek with their retreating -cavalry, they found it choked with a confused -mass of waggons, artillery, and terrified fugitives. -They therefore faced about, and repelled the pursuers -till the rout had got through. The cavalry -of William still followed the flying throng as far -as the Neale, a second pass, and till it grew dark, -when they returned to the main army. James -continued his panic flight, however, never stopping -till he reached Dublin. The city had all day -been in a state of intense excitement. First had -come the news that William was wounded, then -that he was dead; amid the rejoicing of the -Jacobites came the horrid news of the defeat, -followed about sunset by James himself, attended -by about two hundred cavalry, haggard, wayworn, -and covered with dust. All that night kept pouring -in the defeated troops, and early in the morning -James, not deeming himself safe, took leave of -the mayor, aldermen, and officers of his army, upbraiding -the Irish with their cowardice in having -deserted him almost without a blow, and vowing -that he would never trust to an Irish army again. -The Irish returned the compliment, and declared -that, if the English would exchange kings, they -were ready to fight again, and to conquer too. If -any man had ever caused his own misfortune and -defeat, it was James; but he never took the -means to avoid discomfiture, and he never saw, or -at least, never seemed to see, that the blame lay -with himself. Without, therefore, making another -effort, though he had a large army still on foot, -and all the south of Ireland to employ it in, he -continued his flight towards Waterford, in terror -all the way lest he should be overtaken by -William's cavalry, and, reaching Waterford on -the third day, he got away by water, without loss -of time, to Kinsale, whence he sailed for France, -quitting Ireland at the spot where he had entered -it.</p> - -<p>It might have been expected that Tyrconnel -and Lauzun would yet rally their forces at Dublin, -and make a resolute stand there. But the decisive -defeat of the Boyne, the untrustworthiness -of the Irish infantry, the loss on the field amounting -to upwards of one thousand five hundred, and -those chiefly cavalry, the desertion of vast numbers -of infantry on the road southward, and the precipitate -flight of James, discouraged them. Towards -evening of the same day that James left, Tyrconnel -and Lauzun mustered their forces and -marched out of the city, determining to make -their stand on the Shannon, within the strong -defences of Athlone and Limerick. No sooner -had they evacuated the city than the Protestants -issued from their retreats, liberated all the -prisoners, and sent off messengers to invite -William to enter his new capital in triumph. -This he did on the 6th of July, and then made -for Waterford.</p> - -<p>William's object in reaching Waterford was to -take ship for England—not, like James, to abandon -his army out of mere cowardice—but in order<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[432]</a></span> -to protect England too. He had received news -that the French, under Tourville, were hovering -on the southern coast of England; that they had -again defeated the British fleet under the wretched -Torrington, and were meditating invasion of the -country. He hastened on; the Irish troops at -his approach abandoned Clonmel and Kilkenny. -Waterford was similarly evacuated, and William, -nominating Count Solmes commander-in-chief -during his absence, was about to embark, when -he received further intelligence. Tourville had -made a partial descent at Teignmouth in Devonshire, -sacked it, and then drawn off in consequence -of the menacing attitude of the inhabitants of the -western counties. He therefore hastened to rejoin -his army, which was on the way towards Limerick, -where Douglas had found such resistance that he -had been compelled to raise the siege. On the -9th of August he sat down before that town, and -found the Irish determined to make a resolute -defence of it.</p> - -<p>The Irish, ashamed of their conduct at the -battle of the Boyne, and seeing their Saxon -masters once more rapidly recovering their ascendency -in the island, one and all, men and officers, -determined on here making a stand to the death. -They did not owe their spirit to their French -allies, for Lauzun and his officers ridiculed the -idea of defending the place, which they regarded -as most miserably fortified. Tyrconnel joined -them in that opinion; but Sarsfield encouraged -his countrymen, and exhorted them to cast up -breastworks of earth, which, in our times—as -at Sebastopol—have convinced military men -that they are far more impervious to cannon -than stone or brick walls. He could not convince -the French, who had lost all faith in Irish -prowess, and who pined to return to France -from the miseries and privations of Ireland; nor -Tyrconnel, who was old, and completely dispirited -by the action of the Boyne. He and the French -drew off with the French forces into Galway; and -Boisseleau, a Frenchman, who <em>did</em> sympathise with -the Irish, and Sarsfield, were left to defend the -place. They had yet twenty thousand men, who -were animated by a new spirit, and were destined -to make the defence of Limerick as famous as that -of Londonderry.</p> - -<p>Limerick stood partly on an island in the -Shannon; and to take that part it was necessary -to have boats, for only a single bridge connected -the two parts of the town, or the two towns, as -they were called—the English and the Irish. -William had a quantity of tin boats on the way -for this service, and his cannon and ammunition -were also following him. Sarsfield seized immediately -on this circumstance when it came to his -knowledge. He got out of the city in the night, -surprised the escort of the guns, and destroyed the -guns, blew up the powder, and made good his -return to the town. This exploit raised Sarsfield -wonderfully in the opinion of his countrymen, and -at the same time raised their own spirits.</p> - -<p>William sent for fresh guns from Waterford, -and pressed on the siege; but the autumnal rains -began to deluge the low, marshy banks of the -Shannon, and to sweep away his men with fever. -The Irish, on the other hand, had received a fresh -stimulus to exertion in the arrival of Baldearg -O'Donnel, the chief of one of the most famous old -races of Ulster, who had been in the service of -Spain, and had returned to assist his countrymen -in this last effort to throw off the yoke of the -Saxon. The high veneration for the name of the -O'Donnel, and the character of the man, placed -him at the head of a large class of the Irish in -Limerick. There was a prophecy that an -O'Donnel was to conquer the English, and the -enthusiastic Celts believed that this was the time. -And, in truth, the prediction appeared beginning -to verify itself, for, after a desperate attempt to -take the town by storm on the 27th of August, -William resolved to raise the siege, and place his -troops in healthy quarters for the winter. During -this attempt, William had another narrow escape -from a cannon-ball. His men, too, after breaching -the walls in several places, and carrying the -counterscarp, or covered way, suffered great loss. -On the 30th the siege was raised, and William -hastened to Waterford, and thence to England. -He left the government of the island in the care -of three Lords Justices, namely, Viscount Sidney, -Lord Coningsby, and Sir Charles Porter. About -the same time Tyrconnel and Lauzun quitted Ireland -for France, leaving the affairs of James in a -council of civilians, and the army under a commission, -at the head of which stood the Duke of -Berwick as commander-in-chief, and in the very -lowest place the brave Sarsfield, of whom the aged -Tyrconnel entertained a jealousy worthy of himself -and of his master.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 560px;"> -<img src="images/i_432.jpg" width="560" height="432" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="right"><cite>Reproduced by André & Sleigh, Ld., Bushey, Herts.</cite></p> - -<p>A LOST CAUSE: THE FLIGHT OF JAMES II. AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE, 1690.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">By ANDREW C. GOW, R.A. From the Painting in the National Gallery of British Art.</span></p> - </div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_432big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_433.jpg" width="560" height="424" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE FRENCH RETREATING FROM TORBAY. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_434">434</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_433big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>We must now take notice of what had been -passing in England and Scotland during William's -campaign in Ireland. Immediately after his departure -the traitor Crone was brought to the bar, -and, after a full and fair trial, convicted and condemned -to death. Pardon, however, was offered -him on condition of his revealing what he knew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[433]</a></span> -of the Jacobite machinations. After a violent -struggle with himself, and after two respites, he -complied, and gave important information to the -Privy Council. The evidences of an active conspiracy -of the Jacobites were too prominent to be -overlooked. Tourville, the French admiral, was -hovering on the coasts of Devon and Dorsetshire, -and the Jacobites, as expecting a descent of a -French force, were all in a state of the greatest -excitement. It was deemed necessary to arrest -a number of the most dangerous conspirators, -amongst whom was Clarendon, the queen's uncle; -and he and the rest were committed to the Tower. -Torrington was ordered to join the fleet in the -Downs, and chase the French admiral from the -coast. At St. Helens he was joined by a powerful -Dutch squadron, under the command of Admiral -Evertsen, and they lay off Ventnor, whilst Tourville -with his fleet lay off the Needles. An engagement -was expected every hour, when Torrington -was seen to draw off from the coast of the -Isle of Wight, and retreat before the French -admiral towards the Strait of Dover. The alarm -in London became excessive. The scheme of the -Jacobites, as it was revealed to the Council, was to -enter the Thames; the Jacobites in London had -agreed to rise and seize the queen, and proclaim -James. James himself had engaged to leave -Ireland to Lauzun and Tyrconnel, and throw himself -once more amongst his adherents in England. -Another squadron of the French was to land at -Torbay; and the country once in their possession, -the united French fleet was to cut off the return -of William from Ireland. With a knowledge of -these plans, and the doubtful conduct of Torrington, -the Privy Council was in a state of great -agitation. Caermarthen was for the most decisive -measures, in which he was energetically supported -by Monmouth. They proposed that Russell, who -was not only a first-rate officer, but a determined -one, should be sent over to the fleet, and Monmouth, -at his own request, as a military officer, -was sent with him. A dispatch, however, was -sent before them, ordering Torrington to come to -an engagement at all hazards, and this compelled -him to act before Russell and Monmouth could -get on board. On the 30th of June, the day -before the battle of the Boyne, he felt himself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[434]</a></span> -compelled to come to an engagement with Tourville -off Beachy Head. Tourville had eighty-two men-of-war; -the united fleet of England and Holland -did not exceed sixty; but a Blake or Russell -would have thought little of the difference. -Torrington, as had been too plainly evident in -the affair of Bantry Bay, was a man of very -different stuff. When compelled to fight, he -determined that the Dutch should bear the brunt -of it. He therefore placed the Dutch vessels in -the van, and gave the signal to engage. The -Dutch fought with their usual bravery, and for -many hours sustained almost the whole fury of -the battle, little supported by the English. Torrington -showed no inclination to engage, but -appeared rather disposed to see the Dutch, whom -he hated, annihilated. A few of the English -captains did their duty gallantly; but, so far as -Torrington was concerned, had it not been for the -Dutch, the French might have ascended the -Thames, as Van Tromp formerly did, and insulted -the whole seaboard of the country at their -pleasure. When the Dutch had lost two admirals -and many other officers they drew off, -their ships being in a terribly shattered condition. -One of their dismantled ships fell into -the hands of the French, the others Torrington -ordered to be either burnt or towed away; -and, ignominiously retiring into the Thames, -he pulled up the buoys, to prevent the French -from following. Tourville, however, had suffered -so much from the Dutch, that he drew off towards -his own coast, and left the Londoners to -suffer all the alarms without the danger of invasion. -London, indeed, was in the same state of -terror as in the time of the Dutch invasion of the -Thames. The wildest rumours were every hour -arriving. The confidence in Torrington was gone, -and he was generally denounced as being a traitor -to the Government. Either he was a most incompetent -commander or his heart was not in the -cause: and the latter was no doubt the fact; for, -though his treason was not patent at this time, -it afterwards became certain enough that he maintained -a close correspondence with the Courts of -both St. Germains and Versailles. But, whether -traitor or imbecile, London was in no degree confident -of his being able to repel the French. It -was believed by numbers that the dockyards at -Chatham would be destroyed, the ships in the -Thames under protection of the Tower be set fire -to, and the Tower itself be cannonaded. To add -to the gloom and affright, the news of the defeat -of Count Waldeck at Fleurus, in the Netherlands, -by Luxemburg, Louis's general, just then arrived. -Paris was ablaze with fireworks and rejoicings; -London was all gloom and panic.</p> - -<p>And truly there were menacing circumstances. -Tourville was bearding the English on their own -coasts; Torrington dared not or would not go to -encounter him; and Marshal Humières lay with -a strong force on the opposite shores, not far from -Dunkirk, in readiness, it was believed, to go on -board Tourville's fleet and make a descent on -England, where the Jacobites were prepared to -join the invaders. But on the fourth day after -the battle of Beachy Head arrived the news of -William's splendid victory on the Boyne, and the -spirit of the nation rose at once. It was felt that -the ascendency of James was over, and the news -of his ignominious flight, which soon followed, completely -extinguished the hopes of his partisans, and -gave stability to the throne of William and Mary.</p> - -<p>And this was soon strikingly demonstrated. -Tourville triumphantly ranged along the English -coasts, after his victory at Beachy Head, -without opposition, and he now imagined that -nothing was necessary to the restoration of James -but a descent on England with a tolerable force, -which was certain to be welcomed by the expectant -Jacobites. Accordingly Tourville took on -board a considerable body of soldiers, and made -for the coast of Devon. His fleet numbered a -hundred and eleven sail, but of these a large -number were mere Mediterranean galleys, rowed -by slaves, and sent as transports to carry over the -troops. On the 22nd of July he landed at Torbay, -where William himself had landed; but, instead of -finding the gentry or the people ready to join him -in support of King James, the whole west rose as -one man at the glare of the beacon signals which -blazed on the hill-tops. Messengers were spurring -from place to place all night to carry the -exact intelligence to the authorities; and the next -morning all Devonshire appeared to be marching -for Torbay. Tourville speedily beheld numbers of -armed horsemen, the gentry and yeomanry of the -neighbourhood, assembled on the hills, and everything -warned him to embark again as quickly as -possible. But he would not retire without leaving -some trace of his visit. He despatched a number -of his galleys to Teignmouth, where the French -landed, set fire to the town, burned down a hundred -houses, destroyed the fishing-boats in the -harbour, killed or drove away all the live stock -they could find, and demolished the interior of the -churches, the pulpits, the communion-tables, and -the Bibles and Prayer-books, which they tore up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[435]</a></span> -and trampled under foot in their hatred of Protestantism. -This specimen of what England was -to expect if she received back James at the point -of French bayonets produced the most salutary -effects on the whole nation.</p> - -<p>Mary showed herself equal to the emergency in -the absence of her husband. She applied to the -Lord Mayor to know what state of defence the -City was in, and received the most prompt and -satisfactory answer. His lordship assured her -that the City would stand by her to a man; that -it had ten thousand men, well armed and disciplined, -prepared to march, if necessary, at an -hour's notice; that it would raise six regiments of -foot and two regiments of horse at its own cost, -and pay besides into the royal treasury a hundred -thousand pounds. The country everywhere displayed -the same loyalty. The yeoman cavalry of -the different counties assembled in arms; those -of Suffolk, Essex, Hertford, and Buckingham, -marched to Hounslow Heath, where Mary received -them amid acclamations of loyalty; she -received the cavalry troops of Kent and Surrey on -Blackheath. The militia was called out; noblemen -hurried to their counties to take command -of the forces there; and others, amongst whom -was the lately recreant Shrewsbury, flocked -to Whitehall to offer their lives and fortunes for -the defence of the throne. The miners of Cornwall -appeared, ten thousand in number, armed as -best they might be, ready to expel the invaders. -Those of the Jacobites who stubbornly retained -their faith in James, who still designated him as the -"stone which the builders had foolishly rejected," -and who by their secret press urged the people to -the assassination of William, and to vengeance on -his Protestant supporters, slunk into hiding-places -and remained prudently quiet. Even the non-juring -clergy and bishops excited the indignation -of the masses as men who encouraged by their -conduct the hopes of the Papists; and the Bishop -of Norwich was attacked in his palace, and was -only rescued by the prompt measures of the -authorities. The non-jurors were suspected of -leaning not only to James, but to Popery; and a -new liturgy, which had been printed and industriously -circulated, praying, in no ambiguous words, -for the restoration of James by a foreign invasion, -and for the murder of William, was widely believed -to proceed from them, although they strenuously -denied it.</p> - -<p>Such was the position of things in England -when William returned from Ireland. In Scotland -great changes had taken place. The remains of -the Jacobite force in the Highlands had been -effectually put down. In the spring of 1690 -James had sent over an officer with the commission -of General-in-Chief of the Jacobite forces in Scotland. -General Buchan, therefore, took precedence -of the drunken and incompetent Cannon; but all -the troops that he could muster were not more -than one thousand four hundred, and these were -surprised and crushed by William's general, Sir -Thomas Livingstone, who occupied Inverness. -General Mackay completed the subjugation of the -Highlands by building a fort at Inverlochy, called, -after the king, Fort William, which effectually -held the Camerons and Macdonalds in check. The -last chance of James was over in that quarter.</p> - -<p>At Edinburgh the battle with the disaffected -politicians came very soon to a similar end. The -most prominent of them, Montgomery, Ross, and -Annandale, offered to yield their opposition if -William would admit them to favour and office; -but William disdained to purchase their adhesion, -and they then, in resentment, flung themselves into -the arms of James. The treaty was carried on -through the medium of James's agent in London, -one Neville Payne; and Mary, James's queen, sent -over dispatches, creating Montgomery for his -treason Earl of Ayr and Secretary of State, with -a pension of ten thousand pounds to relieve his -immediate necessities, for he was miserably poor -and harassed by creditors. Ross was to be made -an earl, and have the command of the Guards; -and Annandale was to be a marquis, Lord High -Commissioner, and Governor of Edinburgh Castle. -But this measure, which the Court of St. Germains -fondly fancied was going to give them the -ascendency in the Scottish Parliament, produced -an exactly contrary effect. The old Tory Jacobites -were so much incensed at this favour shown to -these renegade Whigs, whilst they themselves were -passed over, that the whole plot went to pieces in -an explosion of jealousy, and on the meeting of -the nobles the new proselytes of Jacobinism, who -were to have turned the scale in favour of the -Stuart dynasty, were found to be utterly helpless -and abandoned.</p> - -<p>This turbulent and factious party being thus -broken up, and some of them going over to the -new Government voluntarily as the means of -safety, and others being brought over by timely -offers of place or money, the settlement of the -affairs of Scotland became tolerably easy. The -Presbyterian religion was declared the established -religion of Scotland. Contrary to the will of -William, a Toleration Act for that kingdom had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[436]</a></span> -been rejected. The confession of faith of the Westminster -Assembly was adopted; the remaining -Presbyterian ministers who had been rejected at -the Restoration, now reduced from three hundred -and fifty to sixty, were restored, and the Episcopalian -ministers were forcibly ejected in turn, and -Presbyterians installed. The old synodal polity -was restored, and the sixty old restored ministers, -and such as they should appoint, were ordered to -visit all the different parishes, and see that none -but godly ministers, sound in the Presbyterian -faith, were occupying the manses and the pulpits. -This, however, did not satisfy a section of the old -Cameronian school. They complained that the -Parliament had betrayed the Solemn League and -Covenant, and had sworn, and had caused others -to swear, to a non-Covenanting monarch, and they -refused to bow the knee to this Baal. Thus a non-juring -party sprang up also in Scotland. In -William's opinion, however, too much had been -done in the way of conformity; and on his return -from Ireland he selected as Lord High Commissioner -to Scotland Lord Carmichael, a nobleman of -liberal mind, and accompanied this appointment -by a letter to the General Assembly, declaring that -he would never consent to any violent or persecuting -measures, and that he expected the same -from them. "We never," he nobly observed, -"could be of the mind that violence was suited to -the advancing of true religion; nor do we intend -that our authority shall ever be a tool to the irregular -passions of any party. Moderation is what -religion enjoins, what neighbouring churches expect -from you, and what we recommend to you." -And the determination of the monarch put a -strong and beneficial restraint on the spirit of the -religious zealots of the North.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_436.jpg" width="560" height="361" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>EDINBURGH CASTLE IN 1725. (<cite>From a Print of the Period.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_436big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>William had returned from Ireland with a great -accession of power and <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">éclat</i>. He had shown that -the imbecile and bigoted James could not stand for -a moment before him; he had reduced Ireland to -such general subjection that the remaining insurgents -in the south could not long hold out. To -hasten this result, and to cut off the access of -fresh reinforcements from France, he now sent out -an expedition, which had been some time preparing -under Marlborough, to reduce Cork and -Kinsale, and garrison them for himself. That -strange but able man, Marlborough, though he -was at this very moment in full correspondence -with the Court of St. Germains so as to meet all -chances, and even the now remote one of James -ever regaining the throne, though he was disliked -and suspected by William and Mary, yet himself -proposed this expedition, anxious to grasp -some of the glory of re-conquering Ireland, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[437]</a></span> -perhaps not inattentive to the equally attractive -prospect of winning booty. Marlborough was -already lying at Portsmouth with his squadron -when William reached London; and sailing thence -on the 18th, he landed at Cork on the 21st of -September, with five thousand men. The Duke of -Würtemberg there joined him with his four thousand -Danes, together making a strong force, but -which was in danger of becoming paralysed by the -German duke insisting on taking the chief command -on account of his superior rank. Marlborough -was not a man willingly to resign any -position likely to do him honour; but he consented -to share the command, taking it on alternate days. -With him he had also the Duke of Grafton, one of -Charles II.'s illegitimate sons, who had fallen -under suspicion of leaning to his uncle James, but, -to prove his loyalty to William, came out as a -volunteer. Cork was vigorously attacked, and in -forty-eight hours it capitulated. The garrison, between -four and five thousand men, surrendered as -prisoners, and Marlborough promised to use his -endeavours to obtain the favour of William for -both them and the citizens. He forbade his troops -to plunder, but was obliged to use force to repel -the hordes of wild people who rushed in and began -ransacking the Catholics. The Duke of Grafton -fell in the attack.</p> - -<p>Without losing a day, Marlborough sent forward -his cavalry to Kinsale to demand its surrender, -and followed with his infantry. The Irish -set fire to the town, and retired into two forts, the -Old Fort and the New Fort. The English, however, -managed to put out the fire, and Marlborough -arriving, invested the forts, and took the -Old Fort by storm, killing nearly five hundred -men, who refused to surrender. The garrison of -the New Fort, after seeing Marlborough prepared -to storm that too, yielded on condition that they -might go to Limerick. They were twelve hundred -strong. In this fort was found abundance of provisions, -a thousand barrels of wheat, and eighty -pipes of claret.</p> - -<p>Having executed this mission, and secured the -two forts for the king, Marlborough re-embarked, -and reached London again in little more than a -month from the day that he sailed from Portsmouth. -William, astonished at the rapidity of -this success, declared that there was no officer -living who had seen so little service, who was so -qualified for a general as Marlborough. The English -people went still further, and declared their -countryman had achieved more in a single month -than the king's Dutch favourites in two campaigns.</p> - -<p>On the 2nd of October William opened the new -session of Parliament. He was received with the -warmest demonstrations of attachment. He had -shown himself strong, and James had shown himself -weak. The country had been alarmed by the -menace of invasion, and all parties were disposed -to rally round the monarch who gave them every -promise of security and pre-eminence. In his -speech he paid the highest tribute to the bravery -of the army, and declared that, had his affairs -allowed him to have begun the campaign earlier, -he should have been able to clear the whole country -of the enemy. In order to do that in the ensuing -campaign, and to put a check on the too conspicuous -designs of the French, it would be -essential to grant liberal supplies. He reminded -them of the dishonour which had befallen the English -flag, and of the necessity of promptness in -Parliament to enable him to wipe away the stain, -and to secure the reputation of England by crushing -the efforts of the king of France.</p> - -<p>His speech was received with loud acclamations. -Thanks were voted for his achievements in Ireland, -and to the queen for her able administration -during his absence; and the Commons proceeded -to vote supplies on a scale which had yet had no -example. The army was fixed at sixty-nine thousand -men, of whom twelve thousand were to -consist of cavalry. The navy was to consist of -twenty-eight thousand men; and the cost of the -whole, including ordnance, was estimated at four -million pounds. In return for this unprecedented -force and unprecedented allowance for it, the -Commons demanded that they should appoint a -commission of nine to examine and bring forward -the accounts: the commissioners to be all members -of their own House. The proposition was -acceded to without opposition by both the peers -and the king, and a Bill, including the appointment -of the commissioners, was prepared and -passed. On the 15th of November a Bill received -the royal assent for doubling the excise on beer, -ale, and other liquors; and on the 20th of December -another Bill passed for granting certain duties -upon East India goods, wrought silks, and other -merchandise; and a second Bill for increasing the -duties on wine, vinegar, and tobacco.</p> - -<p>In considering ways and means, the Commons -proposed, as they had laid so many burdens on -themselves, that the persons of all those who had -been engaged in the rebellion in Ireland should be -attainted, and their estates confiscated, and the -proceeds be applied to the discharge of the expenses -of the war; and they brought in and passed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[438]</a></span> -a Bill for that purpose. But the Lords did not -appear inclined to sanction so wholesale a confiscation -of the estates of all the Catholics of Ireland, -as this would have amounted to; nor could -it be very acceptable to the king, though they -proposed to place a considerable portion of the -forfeitures at his disposal. The Lords allowed the -Bill to lie on their table, notwithstanding several -urgent reminders from the Commons, and so at -last it dropped. This must have been what -William particularly desired, for it was contrary -to his natural clemency to let loose the fiends of -party fury after the sufficiently deadly evils of -war, and it was contrary to his promises to many -who had submitted on assurances of impunity; -and having got the chief supplies which he -wanted, he sought to shorten the Session as much -as possible, by telling Parliament that, by a certain -day, it was necessary for him to leave for -Holland on important affairs. Yet, after the -liberal votes of the Commons, still keeping in -memory the disgrace of the navy, he added that, -if some annual provision could be made for augmenting -the navy, and building some new men-of-war, -"it would be a very necessary care for that -time, both for the honour and safety of the -nation." The Commons thought so much the -same that they voted an additional five hundred -thousand pounds expressly for building new ships -of war.</p> - -<p>The last proceeding which marked this Session -was the discovery of a fresh Jacobite plot. The -Tory minister Caermarthen had long been the -object of the particular enmity of the Whigs, and -they were doing everything possible to undermine -his influence. At last their efforts appeared to -be growing perceptible. The king had introduced -into the ministry, one after another, men to -whom Caermarthen had a particular aversion, or -who were particularly hostile to his power. -Godolphin was made First Lord of the Treasury; -Marlborough was rising fast in the military -department; and Sidney was sent for by William -from Ireland, without consulting Caermarthen, and -appointed Secretary of State. His enemies were -eagerly watching for the favourable moment to -come down on the declining minister and complete -his ruin, when he suddenly, at the very close of -the year and the Session, laid before William all -the particulars of a desperate plot of the Jacobites, -which showed plainly enough that a minister of -such vigilance was not to be lightly dispensed -with. Fortune, however, rather than his own -sagacity, had favoured the Prime Minister.</p> - -<p>The anticipated absence of William from -England in the spring appeared to offer a favourable -conjuncture for James making another attempt -for the recovery of the throne. The Jacobites, -therefore, had met and concluded to send three of -their number to St. Germains to consult with the -Court there on the best means of effecting this -object. It was proposed that James should make -great protestations of his determination to allow -of and secure the political and religious rights of -all his subjects, and that he should come attended -only by so moderate a force that it should not -look like a French invasion. The opinions of the -leading Jacobites were to be conveyed by these -messengers in a packet of letters to be carefully -concealed; and amongst the writers of these -letters were the Earl of Dartmouth, Viscount -Preston—so-called—and the Earl of Clarendon. -This weak man, whom William had warned -through Rochester of his knowledge of his -practices, and who had declared that he would -never again meddle with treason, was again as -busy as ever. A vessel was engaged, called the -<em>James and Elizabeth</em>, to carry over the three -agents, namely, Preston, Ashton, and Elliott, who -were to come on board on the last night of the -year. The skipper of the <em>James and Elizabeth</em>, -though offered extraordinary pay for the trip, suspecting -what was the nature of his passengers, -gave notice of the fact to Caermarthen, who sent -and boarded the vessel at midnight, when the -traitors were secured along with their papers, -which were conveyed to the Secretary of State's -office at Whitehall, where Caermarthen and Nottingham -passed the night in examining the contents -of the fatal packet, and the next morning -laid them before the king.</p> - -<p>This great discovery, which fell like a thunderbolt -on the Jacobites, was scarcely less disconcerting -to the Whigs. It was hopeless after this to -attempt anything against so alert and trusty a -minister. William, relieved from all apprehensions -of danger by this timely discovery, left the -three traitors in the custody of his Government, -and the leaders yet at large under their eye, and -hastened to get over to Holland. On the 5th of -January he prorogued Parliament till the 31st of -March; and in his farewell speech he said that he -thought it proper to assure them that he should -make no grants of the forfeited lands in England -or Ireland; that those matters could be settled in -Parliament in such a manner as should be -thought most expedient. Unfortunately, this was -a promise which William failed to keep, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[439]</a></span> -which brought upon him no lack of trouble in the -future. On the 6th, whilst his English subjects -were indulging in all the festivities of the season, -William set out, attended by a splendid train of -courtiers, for the Hague, where a great Congress -was appointed to consider the best means of resisting -the aggressions of Louis of France. He -was received by his subjects, after a dangerous -voyage, with shouts of joy.</p> - -<p>William's spirit and sound sense seemed to reanimate -the drooping energies of the Allies. The -quota of troops to be furnished by every prince -was determined; it was agreed to bring two -hundred and twenty thousand men into the field -in spring, and never to rest till they had not only -driven Louis from the territories of his neighbours, -but had compelled him to give toleration to his -Protestant subjects. These matters arranged, -William made use of the influence which the new -alliance with the Duke of Savoy gave him, to -procure a cessation of the persecutions of the -duke's Protestant subjects, the Waldenses. To -him these simple mountain shepherds—Christians -of a Church remaining independent of Rome from -the earliest times—owed it that they could once -more live in peace; that numbers of them were -released from dungeons, and their children, who -had been torn from them to be educated in Popery, -were restored.</p> - -<p>All being thus favourably settled, the princes -dispersed to their several States, and William retired -to obtain a short period of relaxation at Loo. -But he was speedily roused from his repose. The -proceedings of the Congress had been closely and -anxiously watched by Louis of France. He saw -that its deliberations were certain to produce a -profound impression on Europe, and he resolved -to neutralise this by one of his sudden and telling -blows. At once all his available means and forces -were put in motion. A hundred thousand soldiers -were in rapid march on Mons, one of the most important -fortresses of the Spanish Netherlands. -Louis did not even trust the operations of this -assault to his famous general, Luxemburg, and -the greatest military genius of the age, Vauban; -but he hurried to the scene of action himself, early -as the season was—in March. Five days after the -siege commenced Louis was there, accompanied by -the Dauphin, the Dukes of Orleans and of Chartres. -He pushed on the attack with vigour, to have -it over before any assistance could arrive. Though -suffering from the gout, he went about amongst the -soldiers, encouraging them by the blandest and -most familiar addresses; helped personally to bind -up their wounds in the hospitals, and partook of -the broth prepared for them. With his quick perception -of the dangers from his adversaries, he had -noticed the diversion which it was intended that -the Duke of Savoy should make, by taking the -field on that side; and he had suddenly thrown -an army into Savoy, captured Nice, and provided -the duke with enough to do to hold his own. -By this means he had been able to bring from the -Maritime Alps a large body of troops to this siege.</p> - -<p>William was sensible of the disastrous effect -which the fall of Mons would have on the spirits -of his Allies, and on the Courts of Sweden and -Denmark which had been brought to the point of -joining the confederation; he therefore rushed -from his place of temporary retirement, mustered -the forces of the States-General, sent dispatches -after the German princes, urging them to bring -up all the troops they could collect to the rescue -of Mons, and to the generals of the Spanish -troops in Flanders. By forced marches he -advanced towards the devoted city; but all -the vices of confederations were now glaringly -apparent in contrast to the single and prompt -action of a despot. The German princes, naturally -slow, were already far off; the Spanish generals -were utterly unprepared for such an emergency; -and William found it almost impossible to procure -even horses to drag his artillery and stores. He -sent on, however, hasty messengers to apprise the -people of Mons of his approach; but the vigilance of -the French prevented them from reaching the city. -An immense quantity of artillery was thundering -against the walls of Mons; breaches were made in -them; a redoubt was carried, sword in hand; -shells fell in showers on the roofs and streets -of the town, which was burning in ten places. -The inhabitants, appalled by the terrible destruction -awaiting them, threatened to murder -the garrison if they did not surrender; and the -garrison, ignorant of the relief which William -was bringing, surrendered on the 20th of April. -William, deeply chagrined, returned to the Hague, -and thence hastened back to London; whilst -Louis, in proud triumph, returned to Versailles to -receive the congratulations of his courtiers on his -splendid <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">coup-de-main</i>.</p> - -<p>On William's return to London, he found his -Government had tried the traitors, Preston, -Ashton, and Elliott. Preston and Ashton were -found guilty, and sentenced to death; Elliott was -not brought to trial. By some it has been asserted -that the evidence of his being admitted into the real -interior of the plot was not clear; by others, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[440]</a></span> -he purchased his escape by disclosures. Ashton -was hanged on the 18th of January—the very day -on which William had embarked at Gravesend for -Holland. Preston, after much vacillation between -the desire to accept a proffered pardon and repugnance -to the conditions attached to it—that of -making a full disclosure of his accomplices—at -length chose life and dishonour, and made charges -against Clarendon, Dartmouth, Turner Bishop of -Ely, and William Penn. Clarendon was sent for -a time to the Tower; Dartmouth, who was -accused, as an admiral, of the heinous crime of -intending to betray Portsmouth to the French, -indignantly repelled the accusation, and died in -the Tower without having been brought to trial. -Turner escaped to France. Penn was accused of -writing to James to assure him that, with thirty -thousand men, he might command England. But -this message to James rested on the evidence of -the lying and infamous Melfort, who was totally -unworthy of all belief; and Penn, so far from -shrinking from the charge, went straight to -Sidney, the Secretary of State, and denied the -whole allegation. That he had a friendly feeling -for and commiseration of James, he did not deny; -but he declared himself a faithful subject of -William and Mary, and, so far from being willing -to aid any design against them, if he became -aware of any such he would at once disclose it. -Instead of clapping Penn in the Tower—which -the Government would have done, had they any -such letters inviting James to come over with -thirty thousand men,—he was suffered to depart in -full freedom. He afterwards made a religious -journey on the Continent as a minister of the -Society of Friends, and then he returned to -England; but without any attempt on the part -of Government to molest him.</p> - -<p>But there were deeper and more real traitors -than any of these around William—namely, -Admiral Russell, Sidney Godolphin, and Marlborough. -These men, encouraged by the fall of -Mons and the triumphant aspect of Louis's affairs, -renewed with fresh activity their intrigues with -the Court of James. It was in vain that William -heaped riches, honours, and places of confidence -upon them; they were ready to receive any -amount of favours, but still kept an eye open to -the possible return of James, and made themselves -secure of pardon from him, and kept him duly -informed of all the intended movements of -William both at home and on the Continent. -Russell was made High Admiral in place of -Torrington. He was Treasurer of the Navy, -enjoyed a pension of three thousand pounds a -year, and a grant from the Crown of property of -great and increasing value near Charing Cross. -But, with an insatiable greediness, he still complained -of unrequited services; and, having a -shoal of poor and hungry relatives badgering him -for places and pensions, he complained that their -incessant demands could not be gratified; and he -cherished the hope that he could sell his treason at -a favourable crisis to King James at no mean -price. Godolphin was First Commissioner of the -Treasury, sat in the Privy Council, and enjoyed -the confidence of the sovereign; his former conduct -in being one of the most pliant tools of -James, ready to vote for his Act of Indulgence, -being overlooked. Yet he was sworn, through -the agency of a Mr. Bulkeley, to serve the -interests of James. Hand in hand with him went -Marlborough, who—though he was now fast overcoming -the long-retained prejudices of William, -and had been honoured by his commission in the -expedition to Ireland, and by his warm approbation -on his return, and had the prospect of a brilliant -command of the army in Flanders, where he could -indulge his highest ambition—was yet a most -thorough traitor, making a hypocritical pretence -of great sorrow to James for his desertion of him, -and, through Colonel Sackville, and Lloyd, the -non-juring Bishop of Norwich, offering, on a good -opportunity, to carry over the whole army to -James.</p> - -<p>Amid these lurking treasons, the exultation of -the Jacobites over the fall of Mons was open and -insolent. They came by swarms out of their -hiding-places, and thronged the Park and the -neighbourhood of the Palace, even insulting the -queen in her drives before William's return.</p> - -<p>William's indignation on hearing these facts -roused him to put the laws in force against the -non-juring bishops. The most extraordinary -lenity had been shown them. They had been -suffered to reside in their sees and occupy their -palaces; they had been offered to be excused -taking the oaths on condition that they would -live quietly, and discharge their ecclesiastical -functions of ordaining ministers, confirming their -young flocks, and other such duties, but without -avail. Now that Turner was discovered in treasonable -correspondence with St. Germains, and -the rest refused to disavow what he had attributed -to them in his letters, it was resolved -to eject them. Sancroft was ejected from -Lambeth, and Tillotson was nominated Archbishop -of Canterbury in his place; Ken was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[441]</a></span> -removed from Bath and Wells, and Kidder instituted -in his stead. In place of Turner, succeeded -Dr. Patrick; Fowler was appointed to Gloucester, -and Cumberland to Peterborough. Soon after -Lamplugh, Archbishop of York, died and Dr. -Sharp took his place. Sancroft continued to -maintain all his old pugnacity, and nominated -other bishops in opposition to William's Government -as sees fell vacant. But perhaps the most -savage outcry was raised on the appointment of -Dr. Sherlock to the deanery of St. Paul's, vacated -by the election of Tillotson to Canterbury. Tillotson -himself was furiously assailed by the Jacobites -as a thief and a false shepherd, who had stolen -into the fold of the rightful pastor. Sherlock had -been a zealous non-juror himself, but had been -seriously convinced of the Scriptural ordinance to -submit to any Government, whatever its origin, -which was firmly established. He was, therefore, -violently and scurrilously assailed as a perjured -apostate. Amongst the ejected non-juring clergy, -Henry Dodwell was so insolent, that William -remarked, "That Dodwell wants me to put him in -prison, but I will disappoint him." The magnanimous -forbearance of William, and the audacious -impertinence of the non-jurors in consequence, -form a wonderful contrast.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_441.jpg" width="403" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p><span class="smcap">THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.</span> (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_441big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Scarcely had William time to settle these -affairs, and arrange the plan of campaign in Ireland, -when he was compelled to return to Holland. -Unaware as yet of the more recent treason of -Marlborough, he took him with him. He had -conceived the highest opinion of his military -talents, and he was confirmed in this opinion, on -his arrival at the Hague, by the Prince of Vaudemont, -a distinguished commander in the Dutch<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[442]</a></span> -service. He praised highly the Generals Talmash -and Mackay; as to Marlborough, he declared -that he had every quality of a general; -that his very look showed it, and that he was -certainly destined to do something great. William -replied that he was of the same conviction.</p> - -<p>William found himself at the head of seventy -thousand men of various nations, the different -contingents of the Allies, and the beginning of the -campaign was very promising. He sent Marlborough -on to Flanders to collect the forces there, -and form a camp to cover Brussels against the -advance of Luxemburg and the French. His -convenient position no doubt suggested to James -the idea of his immediate execution of his -promised treason. James, therefore, sent him -word that he expected his fulfilment of his -engagement; but to this startling demand Marlborough -replied that the time was not come. It -was necessary to have first obtained a complete -ascendency over the troops, or, instead of following -him, they would abandon him, and the only -consequence would be making things worse. -William's immediate arrival put an end to the -temptation, and he marched against Luxemburg, -who retired before him. He next sent a detachment -against Marshal Boufflers, who was besieging -Liége, and, having succeeded in this, he crossed -the Sambre, to endeavour to bring Luxemburg -to an engagement. But this crafty general, -who had an inferior though well-appointed army, -took care to avoid a general action, calculating -that William's army, made up of so many -nonentities, would, if let alone, ere long go to -pieces. Thus the summer was spent in marches -and counter-marches without any result, except of -wearying out the patience of William, who in September -surrendered the command to the Prince of -Waldeck, and retired to his favourite hunting-seat -at Loo, and soon after returned to England.</p> - -<p>The summer campaign was carried on by the -Allies in other quarters with more or less success. -In Spain the French made some barbarous inroads, -but were vigorously repelled. They were -more successful in their combat with the Duke of -Savoy. Marshal Catinat took several of their -towns, besieged Coni, and advanced within three -leagues of Turin, the duke's capital. Just, however, -as they were hoping for a signal triumph, -they were arrested by the appearance of a new hero, -destined, in co-operation with Marlborough, to -shake to the foundations the power of Louis XIV. -This was Eugene, Prince of Savoy. Eugene, -being joined by young Schomberg with a few -troops, and some money from William, at the -suggestion of Schomberg made a sudden march -across the mountains, raised the siege of Coni, and -then, issuing on the plains, drove back Catinat, -and regained Carmagnola. On the Rhine, where -the Elector of Saxony commanded, nothing of -moment was effected; but the French allies, the -Turks, who were harassing Austria, received a -severe defeat at Salankeman, on the Danube, -which placed the Emperor of Germany at his ease.</p> - -<p>The campaign in Ireland did not begin till -June. The condition of that island during the -winter was miserable in the extreme. The -ravages which the Irish—mad with oppression, -ignorance, and revenge, let loose by the frightful -policy of James—had inflicted on the country -from the north to the south, such as we have -described them, must necessarily have left it -a prey to famine, chaos, and crime. In the -north, where the Protestants had regained the -power, there was the commencement of restoration. -Those who had fled to England with their -movable property came swarming back. It was, -indeed, to towns burnt down and fields laid waste; -but they brought with them money, and, still -more, indomitable energies, which impelled them -instantly to begin rebuilding their dwellings, at -least in such a manner as to shelter them from -the elements, and to cultivate and sow their -fields. Commerce came back with them; and the -estuaries of the Foyle, the Lagan, the Bann, the -Carlingford, and the Boyne were busy with ships -and boats pouring in food, seed, and live-stock. -So soon as Nature had time to do her part and to -ripen her crops, there would be once more comparative -plenty, and there was an animating -prospect of a secure permanence of peace and -order. But in the south, and still more the south-west, -where the troops of James still held their -ground, the condition of things was as appalling as -can be conceived. In the north the Protestants -kept a tight hand on the native Irish; they -refused them the possession of arms; they forbade -them to proceed more than three miles -from their own dwellings, except to attend -market; and not more than five Papists were to -meet together on any occasion or pretence. They -forbade them to approach the frontier within ten -miles, to prevent them from communicating with -the enemy. If outrages were committed, they -were visited with unsparing severity. But if the -north was strict and yet struggling, the south was -in a fearful state of calamity. The soldiers -traversed the country, levying contributions of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[443]</a></span> -cattle and provisions wherever they could find -them. They were no better than so many bandits -and rapparees, who swarmed over the desolated -region, carrying violence, terror, and spoliation -wherever they came. There was no money but -James's copper trash, bearing high nominal values. -Provisions and clothes, where they were to be -had, fetched incredible prices; and merchants -feared to approach the ports, because they were -in as much danger of wholesale robbery as the -shopkeepers and farmers on land.</p> - -<p>In the Irish camp the utmost license, disorder, -and destitution prevailed. The Duke of Berwick -was elected to command during the absence of -Tyrconnel in France; but his power was a mere -fiction, and he let things take their course. Sarsfield -was the only officer who had any real influence -with the soldiers. But early in the spring -Tyrconnel returned, bringing some supplies of -money and clothing; and in April a fleet also -arrived, bringing arms, ammunition, flour, and provisions. -With these came what was much needed—two -general officers—St. Ruth and D'Usson. -St. Ruth was a general of considerable experience. -He had lately served in Savoy, and -had the <em>prestige</em> of victory; but he was vain and -cruel, was mortally hated by the Huguenots for -his persecutions of them, and was called by them -"the hangman." His very name, therefore, was -a guarantee for the Huguenot troops in the -English service fighting to the utmost. He was -astonished and disgusted at the dirty, ragged, and -disorderly crew that bore the name of the Irish -army; but he began actively to repress their -license, and to drill them into some discipline.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of June Ginkell took the field -against him with a body of efficient troops, reinforced -by some excellent regiments from Scotland, -and having now under his command Talmash -and Mackay, two brave officers. At the -head of the French refugees was the Marquis -Ruvigny, the brother-in-law of General Caillemot, -who fell at the Boyne. On the 7th Ginkell -reached Ballymore, and compelled the fortress -there, containing a garrison of one thousand -men, to surrender, and sent all the prisoners -to Dublin. Having placed the fortress, which -stood on an island in the lake, in good defence, he -marched forward, and, on the 18th, sat down -before the very strongly-fortified town of Athlone. -On his march he had been joined by the Duke of -Würtemberg and his Danish division.</p> - -<p>Athlone stood on the Shannon, the river -cutting it in two. The stream there was deep -and rapid, and was spanned by a bridge on which -stood two mills, worked by the current below, -and on the Connaught side was a strong fort, -called King John's Fort, with a tower seventy -feet high, and flanking the river for a distance of -two hundred feet. The town on the Leinster side, -where Ginkell was, was defended by bold earthen -ramparts, the most indestructible of any kind by -cannon. Ginkell, however, lost no time in -attacking it. On the 20th his cannon were all in -order for bombarding, and he opened a terrible fire -on the town. Under cover of his fire the troops -rushed to the walls, and the French refugees were -the first to mount a breach, and one of them, flinging -his grenade, fell with a shout of triumph. -His example was quickly followed. The assailants -sprang over the walls in hundreds, clearing the -way with hand grenades; and the Irish giving -way, there was a hot pursuit along the bridge, -by which they sought to escape into the other -half of the town. The crash and confusion there -were such, that many of the flying Irish were -trodden under foot, and others were forced over -the parapets of the bridge, and perished in the -Shannon. The near side of the town was in -Ginkell's possession, with the loss of only twenty -men killed and forty wounded.</p> - -<p>The cannonade was continued on the bridge -and on the town across the river, and the next -day it was repeated with increased effect from -batteries thrown up along the river bank. The -next morning it was discovered that the mills -were greatly damaged; one, indeed, had taken -fire, and its little garrison of sixty men had -perished in it. A great part of the fort had also -been beaten down. The French officers had constructed -a <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">tête-de-pont</i> at the end of the bridge to -assist the fort, had broken down some of the -arches, and made the conquest of a passage by the -bridge next to impossible. To add to the difficulty -of the enterprise, St. Ruth had hastened -from Limerick with an army superior in numbers -to that of Ginkell. But this force was more imposing -in appearance than formidable in reality. -St. Ruth, calculating on the difficulty of the -passage, imagined that he could hold the place -with little loss till the autumnal rains drove the -English from the field through sickness. He -therefore ordered D'Usson to attend to the -defence of the passage, and fixed his camp about -three miles from the town.</p> - -<p>There was a weak spot, however, which was -pointed out to Ginkell—a ford at some little -distance from the bridge. It is true that a force<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[444]</a></span> -was posted to guard this ford, commanded by -Maxwell, an officer who had recently been to St. -Germains with dispatches from the Duke of Berwick, -and was put into command at this ford -by Tyrconnel in defiance of St. Ruth—the interference -of Tyrconnel in military affairs, much to -the disgust of St. Ruth, being as constant as if he -were commander-in-chief as well as lord-lieutenant. -Sarsfield soon became aware of the -design of Ginkell to attempt this ford, and -warned St. Ruth of it. But the vanity of that -officer made him treat the warning with scorn. -"What!" said he, "attempt the ford; they dare -not do it, and I so near." Warned again, he exclaimed, -"Monsieur! Ginkell's master ought to -hang him for attempting to take Athlone, and -mine ought to hang me if I let him." Sarsfield, -who knew better what the enemy dared do, said -as he withdrew, "He does not know the English."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_444.jpg" width="560" height="431" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p><span class="smcap">THE ASSAULT OF ATHLONE.</span> (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_443">443</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_444big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Ginkell himself, after reconnoitring the ford -and the breastwork opposite, had no great desire -for the attempt. He continued the cannonade on -the fort and town till the end of June, and it -became necessary, from the want of forage, to -advance or retreat. A council of war was called. -Mackay was against the attempt, but Würtemberg, -Talmash, and Ruvigny were for it, and -Ginkell, though hesitatingly, consented. There -was observed a degree of carelessness in the Irish -soldiers guarding the ford; there had been a -rumour in their camp that the English were -about to retreat in despair, and the light-hearted -Hibernians had begun to relax their vigilance, and -to gamble and idle about. It was resolved to -seize the opportunity and dash over at once. -Fifteen hundred grenadiers were selected for the -service, and a handsome present was distributed to -each man. The Duke of Würtemberg, Talmash, -and a number of other officers volunteered to -accompany them as privates, and the spirits of -the men rose to enthusiasm. In memory of the -auspicious day at the Boyne they stuck each -a green twig in their hats, and, locking their -arms twenty abreast, they plunged into the -stream. In their ardour they lifted up the -Duke of Würtemberg and bore him on their -shoulders. Six battalions were drawn up ready -to support them, under the command of Mackay.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[445]</a></span> -The stream, even at the ford, was deep enough -to reach their chins, and very strong; but -the resolute men pressed on, and soon got firm -footing, and, with a stunning shout, reached the -other bank. The Irish, suddenly aroused to the -danger, hurried to the bank, fired a single volley, -and broke. The grenadiers the next moment were -over the breastwork, and in full pursuit of the -enemy. In a few minutes they had chased the -guards from the head of the bridge; planks were -thrown over the broken arches, and the troops, -rushing over, enabled others to cross in rude pontoons; -and in less than an hour the English were -masters of the town, with the loss of only twelve -men killed and about thirty wounded.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_445.jpg" width="560" height="441" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p><span class="smcap">SCENE AT THE REMOVAL OF THE IRISH SOLDIERS FROM LIMERICK.</span> (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_447">447</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_445big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>D'Usson made a vain attempt to regain the -town; he was repelled with ruinous loss, and -was himself thrown down by the flying rout -and nearly trampled to death. St. Ruth, when -he heard that the town was taken, exclaimed, -"Taken! that is impossible, and I close at hand." -But he found it no longer safe to be so close at -hand. In the night, covered with shame at his -folly and absurd confidence, he struck his tents, -and made a hasty retreat towards Aghrim, where, -encouraged by the natural strength of bogs and -hills, he halted and entrenched himself. There -was the fiercest bickering in the camp; the -French party and the Irish charging each other -with the misfortune. St. Ruth, to excuse himself, -laid the blame on Maxwell, whose duty it -was to guard the ford. Maxwell was not there -to defend himself, for his soldiers fled faster than -he, and he was made prisoner. But Tyrconnel, -who had always supported Maxwell, protested -that he had done his duty like a brave man, -and had, along with himself, repeatedly warned -St. Ruth of his temerity. The dispute rose so -high that Tyrconnel quitted the camp, and retired -to Limerick in high dudgeon.</p> - -<p>Being relieved from the presence and interference -of Tyrconnel, St. Ruth again resolved to -fight. He was stung by the loss of reputation -which he had sustained at Athlone, and by the -reflection of its injurious impression at the Court -of France. Sarsfield, one of those Cassandra-like -counsellors who give the most prudent advice -but are never listened to, attempted to dissuade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[446]</a></span> -him. He pointed out how far superior in discipline -and bottom were the troops of Ginkell to -those which he now commanded, and recommended -a system of excursive warfare, which should harass -and, by seizing favourable crises, defeat the English -piecemeal. His words were lost on St. Ruth, -who prepared for the approach of Ginkell by -going amongst his soldiers personally to rouse -their desire to reconquer their good name, and -by sending the priests amongst them to stimulate -them by religious motives. Ginkell did not let -him wait long. As soon as he had settled the -defences of Athlone, he pursued his march towards -Aghrim.</p> - -<p>On the 12th of July he came up with the army -of St. Ruth, and found it very strongly posted. -Before him was a morass of half a mile across; -beyond the morass rose the hills round the old -ruined castle of Aghrim, and at their feet, between -them and the bog, the infantry were strongly entrenched, -and supported by the cavalry posted -commandingly on the slopes of the hills. Difficult -as was the approach, it was recommended by -Mackay to make an instant attack, whilst the -spirits of the troops were high from the first sight -of the enemy they had so lately beaten. The -battle was determined on, though it was getting -late in the afternoon. The infantry struck boldly -into the red bog, and plunged on courageously, -though often up to their waists in mud and water. -Mackay led his horse against their right, and Eppinger's -dragoons and Portland's horse advanced -against their left. The cavalry found their way -through the bogs very difficult; the Dutch and -English dragoons met with a repulse in the pass -of Urachree, and the infantry were in front of the -enemy long before the cavalry could operate on the -wings. The Irish infantry that day fought bravely. -They poured a fierce fire into the English, and were -well supported by the horse. The battle became -desperate; the English fought their way into the -entrenchments, and drove the Irish up one of the -hills; but there they found two old Danish forts, -the old castle of Aghrim, and every hedge and -thicket lined with muskets. The contest was unequal, -and the infantry found themselves at length -driven back to the margin of the bog. Elated -at the sight, St. Ruth exclaimed, "The day is -ours! Now will we drive these English back to -the gates of Dublin!"</p> - -<p>But he was deceived. Talmash rallied the foot, -and led them again to the conflict; and whilst the -struggle was renewed and the day fast closing, -St. Ruth perceived the horse of Mackay and -Ruvigny, the English and Huguenot cavalry, approaching -on the right. They came over but a few -soldiers abreast, through a narrow track between -the bogs; but they soon formed in a dense body, -and St. Ruth rode off to encounter them and -stop them from out-flanking his force. As he -galloped up towards them, a cannon-shot carried -off his head. The officers threw a cloak over his -body to prevent his fall from disheartening his -men. But the absence of command was soon felt. -The English fought with fresh fury; and Sarsfield, -who was in the rear with the reserve, waiting -orders, did not advance till the Irish ranks were -broken and all was over. The flight became -general. The English horse pursued and hewed -down the fugitives as long as they could see; and -had not Sarsfield covered the miserable fugitives -with his horse, scarcely a man of the infantry -would have been left.</p> - -<p>The English army camped for the night on the -ground which had been occupied by the enemy. -Nearly twenty thousand English and their allies -entered the battle against something more than -the same number of Irish and French. On the -side of the English six hundred were killed and -one thousand wounded. On the part of the Irish -four thousand fell on the field, and nearly as many -are said to have perished in the flight. The panic-stricken -multitude, flinging their arms away, continued -their flight, some of them to Limerick, and -others to Galway, where D'Usson was now in command. -Whole waggon-loads of muskets and other -arms were picked up and purchased by Ginkell at -a few pence apiece.</p> - -<p>The English spent the next day in burying their -own dead; but left the corpses of the Irish on -the field, and marched forward to attack Galway. -D'Usson, who had about two thousand five hundred -men in Galway, made at first a show of resistance, -calculating on the assistance of Baldearg -O'Donnell. But O'Donnell, after endeavouring in -vain to bargain for an earldom, consented to accept -five hundred pounds a year and a commission in -William's army. This unexpected event compelled -D'Usson to surrender, on condition that he might -march out and join the Irish army in its last place -of retreat, Limerick.</p> - -<p>Ginkell soon followed and invested the town. -The last struggle for a monarch little worthy the -cause of so much bloodshed was now to be fought -out. At Limerick the Irish were to make their -last stand for the possession of their native country. -If they failed here, the Saxon remained absolute -lord of their soil.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[447]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the 14th of August the advanced guard of -Ginkell's army appeared in sight of Limerick. -On the same day Tyrconnel, who was in authority -in this city, died of apoplexy, and D'Usson and -Sarsfield were left in full command of the troops. -A commission was produced, which appointed -three lords-justices—Plowden, Fitton, and Nagle; -but the city was in reality a military garrison, -and the military ruled. There were fifteen thousand -infantry in the town, and three or four thousand -cavalry posted on the Clare side of the Shannon, -communicating with the town on the island -by the Thomond bridge. By this means communication -was kept up with the country on that side, -so that provisions might be brought in; and -several cargoes of biscuits and other dry stores -were imported from France. The country all -around, however, had been so swept by successive -forages, that it was difficult to collect any -cattle or corn, and the stoutest hearts were little -confident of being able to maintain a long defence.</p> - -<p>Ginkell took possession of the Limerick side -of the town, and reoccupied the ground before -held by the besiegers. He commenced by erecting -fresh batteries of far heavier cannon than William -brought to bear on the city, and soon poured a fiery -storm of balls and shells into it, which crashed in -the roofs and laid whole streets desolate. At the -same time a squadron of English men-of-war sailed -up the Shannon, and closed access to the city or -escape from it by water. The town, however, held -out till the 22nd of September, when Ginkell, -beginning to fear the rains and fevers of autumn, -and that they might compel him to draw off, and -thus continue the war to another year, determined -to obtain possession of the bridge, and attack the -cavalry on the other side. He therefore passed -the river by a bridge of William's tin boats, and, -assaulting the cavalry, put them to utter rout. -They left their camp with many arms and much -store of provisions, and fled with as much precipitation -as they had done from Aghrim, scattering -again the whole country with their arms. Ginkell -next attacked the fort which defended the bridge, -carried it and the bridge, and thus was able to -invest the whole town. In the haste to draw up -the movable part of the bridge nearest to the -city, the soldiers retreating from the fort were -shut out, and a terrible massacre was made of -them on the bridge. Out of eight hundred men -only one hundred and twenty escaped into -Limerick.</p> - -<p>This disaster broke the spirit of the Irish entirely. -Even the stout-hearted Sarsfield was -convinced that all was over, and it was resolved -to capitulate. An armistice was agreed to. The -Irish demanded that they should retain their -property and their rights; that there should be -perfect freedom for the Catholic worship, a Catholic -priest for every parish, full enjoyment of all -municipal privileges, and full capability to hold -all civil and military offices. Ginkell refused -these terms, but offered others so liberal that -they were loudly condemned by the English, who -were hungering after the estates of the Irish. -He consented that all such soldiers as desired to -continue in the service of James should be not -only allowed to do so, but should be shipped to -France in English vessels; that French vessels -should be permitted to come up and return in -safety; that all soldiers who were willing to -enter William's service should be received, and -that on taking the oath of allegiance all past -offences should be overlooked, and they and all -Irish subjects taking the oaths should retain their -property, should not be sued for any damages or -spoliation committed during the war, nor prosecuted -for any treason, felony, or misdemeanour, -but should, moreover, be capable of holding any -office or practising any profession which they were -capable of before the war. They were to be -allowed to exercise their religion in peace as fully -as in the reign of Charles II. It is to the disgrace -of England that this part of the treaty should not -have been kept.</p> - -<p>These terms were accepted, and the treaty was -signed on the 3rd of October, and thus terminated -this war, which, in the vain endeavour to restore -a worthless monarch, had turned Ireland into a -desert and a charnel-house. When it came to the -choice of the soldiers to which banner they would -ally themselves, out of the fifteen thousand men, -about ten thousand chose to follow the fortunes -of James, and were shipped off with all speed, as -they began to desert in great numbers. Many -of those who actually embarked did it under a -solemn assurance from Sarsfield that their wives -and children should go with them; but, once -having the men on board, this pledge was most -cruelly broken, and the greatest part of the women -and children were left in frantic misery on the -shore. The scenes which took place on this occasion -at Cork are described as amongst the most -heartrending in history. But this agony once -over, the country sank down into a condition of -passive but gloomy quiet, which it required more -than a century to dissipate. Whilst Scotland -again and again was agitated by the endeavours to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[448]</a></span> -reinstate the expelled dynasty, Ireland remained -passive; and it was not till the French Revolution -scattered its volcanic fires through Europe that -she once more began to shake the yoke on her -galled neck. Yet during all this time a burning -sense of her subjection glowed in her blood, and -the name of the Luttrel who went over to the -Saxon at the dividing day at Limerick, and -received for his apostacy the estates of his absent -brother, remained a term of execration amongst -the Irish. Meanwhile the Irish regiments which -went to France won a brilliant reputation in the -wars of the Continent, and many of the officers -rose to high position in France, in Spain, in -Austria, and Prussia. Their descendants still -rank with the nobility of those countries.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> - -<p class="p6">WILLIAM AND MARY.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Proceedings in Parliament—Complaints against Admiral Russell—Treason in the Navy—Legislation against the Roman -Catholics—The East India Company—Treasons Bill—The Poll Tax—Changes in the Ministry—Marlborough is deprived -of his Offices—His Treachery—The Queen's Quarrel with the Princess Anne—William goes Abroad—Fall of Namur—Battle -of Steinkirk—Results of the Campaign—The Massacre of Glencoe—Proposed Invasion of England—James's -Declaration—Russell's Hesitation overcome by the Queen—Battle of La Hogue—Gallant Conduct of Rooke—Young's -Sham Plot—Founding of Greenwich Hospital—Ill Success of the Fleet—Discontent of the People—Complaints in the -Lords and Commons—The Land Tax—Origin of the National Debt—Liberty of the Press—The Continental Campaign—Battle -of Landen—Loss of the Smyrna Fleet—Attack on the Navy—New Legislation—Banking Schemes of Chamberlayne -and Paterson—The Bank of England Established—Ministerial Changes—Negotiations for Peace—Marlborough's -Treason and the Death of Talmash—Illness and Death of Queen Mary.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>On the 19th of October William arrived from -Holland, and on the 22nd he opened Parliament. -He congratulated it on the termination of the -war in Ireland, and on the progress of the English -arms both on land and sea. It was true that -on the Continent there had been no very decisive -action, but the Allies had compelled the French to -retreat before them, and to confess their power by -avoiding a general engagement with them. At -sea, though not so much had been effected in some -directions as might have been hoped, yet the -French had been driven from the open into their -own ports, and an English fleet had convoyed a -large merchant fleet from the Mediterranean in -safety. This was very different to previous years, -when their cruisers had made great captures of our -merchantmen. We had also sent a fleet up the -Shannon, which prevented them from aiding the -insurgents in Ireland, and were now in undisputed -supremacy again on the ocean. Of course William -had to demand heavy supplies to maintain the fleet -in this position, and to pursue the war with vigour -against Louis. All this the members of both -Houses listened to with apparent satisfaction, and -voted him cordial thanks.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of November it was unanimously -voted in the Commons that the supplies asked for -by the Crown should be granted; and first they -voted £1,575,898 for the service of the navy, including -the building of three new docks at Portsmouth—one -dry and two wet ones. On the 16th -they resolved that the army, in compliance with -William's recommendation, should be raised to -46,924 men; and on the 4th of January, 1692, -they voted £2,100,000 for the maintenance of the -army, of which Ireland was to pay £165,000.</p> - -<p>But though a large majority in both Houses -supported warmly the endeavour to curb the inordinate -ambition of Louis XIV., these sums were -not passed by the Commons without searching -inquiries into the accounts and into the -abuses which, notwithstanding William's vigilance, -abounded in all departments of Government. No -doubt the party in opposition, as is generally the -case, did much of this work of reform more to -gratify their private resentment, and to make -their rivals' term of office anything but agreeable, -than from genuine patriotism; but, at the same -time, there was plenty of ground for their complaints. -Serious charges were made against Admiral -Russell for his lukewarm conduct at sea, -and his mismanagement of the Admiralty. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">[449]</a></span> -fact was that Russell, as was strongly suspected, -and as we now know from documents since come -to light, was no less a traitor than Torrington, -Dartmouth, and Marlborough. He was in active -correspondence with James, and ready, if some -turn in affairs should serve to make it advantageous, -to go over to him with the fleet, or as much -of it as would follow him, and others of the admirals; -for Delaval, Killigrew, and other admirals -and naval officers, were as deep in the treason.</p> - -<p>There were loud complaints of the vileness of -the commissariat still, and it was declared that far -more of our men fell by disease from bad and -adulterated food than in battle. The complaints -against Russell, who was called to the bar of the -House, he threw upon the Admiralty, and the -Admiralty on the commissariat department. -Russell complained also of the ministry, and -particularly of the Earl of Nottingham; and thus, -by this system of mutual recrimination, all parties -contrived to escape. The Commons, however, -were not so to be silenced. They charged on the -officers of the army, on its commissariat, on the -men in office, and on the Government officials -almost universally, the same monstrous system of -corruption, peculation, and negligence of every -thing but making money for themselves. They insisted -on a rigorous examination of all the accounts -by their own members, and they voted that all -salaries and profits arising from any place or places -under the Crown should not amount to more than -five hundred pounds for any one person, except -in the cases of the Speaker of the House of Commons, -the Commissioners of the Great Seal, the -judges, ambassadors, and officers of the army and -navy.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_449.jpg" width="401" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GEORGE SAVILLE, MARQUIS OF HALIFAX.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_449big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">[450]</a></span></p> - -<p>There were plenty of posts in which this restriction -would have been most salutary, for men in -some of the most trivial and useless of them were -pocketing many thousands of pounds; but it -was soon found that the whole nation could not -furnish sufficient people patriotic enough to serve -their country for five hundred pounds a year each; -and, therefore, in a few weeks a fresh resolution -was taken, which negatived this.</p> - -<p>The business of the year 1691 closed by the -passing of a Bill to exclude all Catholics, in pursuance -of the Treaty of Limerick, from holding -any office in Ireland, civil, military, or ecclesiastical, -or from practising in any profession, or sitting in -the Irish Parliament, before they had taken the -Oath of Allegiance. The Commons attempted by -this Bill to make it necessary for a Catholic to -take also the Oath of Supremacy, and the Oath -against Transubstantiation; but the Lords showed -that this was contrary to the first article of the -Treaty of Limerick, and this clause was struck out, -and the Bill then passed. When the agitation for -Catholic emancipation commenced, loud complaints -were made that by this Bill the Treaty of Limerick -had been violated. But this was a mistake; the -violation of it took place some years afterwards by -another Bill. The first article of the Treaty provided -that on a Catholic taking the Oath of Allegiance, -he should be admitted to all the privileges -specified, according to the law in Charles II.'s -time; and this law, whether always enforced or -not, empowered the Crown to tender this Oath to -all subjects.</p> - -<p>The year 1692 was opened by Parliament -bringing forward several important Bills, which -were, however, too much contested to be carried -this year. The first of these was a Bill for regulating -the trade of the East India Company, increasing -the number of shareholders, restricting -the amount of stock in the hands of individuals, -and incorporating a new Company which had -sprung up with the old one. The East India Company -had become a most flourishing concern. -From the Restoration to this time, only thirty-three -years, its annual imports had risen in value -from eight thousand pounds to three hundred thousand -pounds. Its capital amounted only to three -hundred and seventy thousand pounds, but it -yielded an annual profit of thirty per cent., besides -having, up to 1676, doubled the value of the -whole capital. The Company, however, instead of -increasing in shareholders, was rapidly sinking -into a monopoly of a few individuals. Amongst -these Sir Josiah Child, whom we lately quoted in -our review of the commerce of the period, stood -chief, and was become, as it were, the king and -despot of the whole concern. Five members were -said to possess or hold one-sixth of all the votes, and -amongst these Child had the predominant amount. -His income from the Company was stated at -twenty thousand pounds a year, and his word was -law in it.</p> - -<p>These enormous profits naturally called forth a -rival company, and the contest between them -grew from year to year till it came to occupy -and divide the spirit of the whole mercantile -world. The new Company insisted on the right of -trading also to many parts of India, the old one -stood on their charter as a charter of exclusion of -all others. The favour of Government was purchased -by the old Company by well-applied gifts of -money to Government, and by sharing with Government -the profitable patronage. The question was -now brought before Parliament, and hotly debated; -but the Bill was dropped for the present, -and a proposition to William to grant a charter to -the new Company was evaded, on the plea of requiring -deep consideration.</p> - -<p>The next important Bill was for regulating -trials in cases of high treason. It was time that -great reforms should take place on this head. -During the Stuart times men had been most easily -and conveniently put out of the way, by counsel -being refused them under charge of high treason, -and by refusal to allow them the perusal of the -Bill of Indictment previous to the trial. Juries -were packed by sheriffs, and State prisoners were -thus murdered at will. The same gross injustice -extended to prisoners charged with other offences; -but the great strain towards injustice was in the -case of those charged by the State with treason, -and against whom it employed the ablest lawyers -of the realm. By this machinery, all through the -reigns of the Stuarts, as well as of their predecessors, -whole throngs of men, many of them of extraordinary -endowments and high rank, had been -judicially destroyed. The proposed Bill, therefore, -provided that every person charged with high -treason should be allowed to have his own -counsel, to have a copy of the indictment delivered -to him ten days before the trial, along with a list -of the freeholders from whom his jury were to be -selected, that he might have opportunity to challenge -any of them. The Bill was most desirable, -but it was frustrated for the time by the Lords insisting -on an extension of their own privileges -regarding such trials. Instead of being tried by -the court of the Lord High Steward—who could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">[451]</a></span> -summon twelve or more peers at his discretion if -the Parliament was not sitting—they demanded -that, during the recess, as during the Session, -every peer should be summoned to attend any -such trial. The Commons somewhat unreasonably -opposed this very proper reform, on the ground -that the peers had too many privileges already, -and the Bill dropped for the time.</p> - -<p>Besides these the Commons sent up various -other bills, which were nearly all rejected by the -Lords. There was a Bill for reducing the rate of -interest on money; a Bill investing in the king -the forfeited estates in both England and Ireland -as a fund for the war; a Bill to proportion the -pay in the army to the real complement of men; -for there was a practice, in which Marlborough -was especially engaged, of returning regiments as -complete which were far from being so, and of -pocketing the pay of the men wanting. There was -a Bill to continue the commissioners of public -accounts, most unreasonably rejected by the Lords, -whilst they allowed to pass a Bill which has -always been regarded with hostility in England—a -poll tax, levying on all persons, except servants, -children, and paupers, a shilling a quarter; on -every peer of Parliament, ten pounds a year; on -every income of three hundred pounds a year, ten -shillings per annum; and on all gentlemen of -three hundred pounds a year income from real -property, and on all clergymen or teachers with -incomes of eighty pounds, one pound each a year.</p> - -<p>On the 29th of February William prorogued -Parliament, and made active preparations for his -departure for the Continent. Before he took his -leave, however, he made various changes in his -Cabinet and Ministry, which showed that the -Whigs were still losing ground with him, and the -Tories, or the "Trimmers," who veered, according -to circumstances, to one party or the other, acquiring -favour. The Earl of Rochester, younger -brother of Lord Clarendon, one of Mary's uncles; -Lord Ranelagh, Lord Cornwallis, and Sir Edward -Seymour, who had all along hitherto opposed the -king, were made members of the Privy Council, -and the Earl of Pembroke Privy Seal. Charles -Montague was made a Commissioner of the Treasury, -and Sidney Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. But -the circumstance which occasioned the greatest -sensation, and wonder, and mystery was the -sudden dismissal of Lord Marlborough from all -his offices under the king, both in the Court and -the army. As Marlborough had been manifestly -rising in William's estimation from the successful -display of his military talents, this abrupt dismissal -excited the keenest curiosity of both Court and -country, which William took no means to gratify. -But from what we now know of the causes of -this striking expression of William's displeasure, -we can well understand that there was more in -it than William could, without implicating the -Princess Anne, make known.</p> - -<p>We have seen that Marlborough all along, -whilst courting the favour of William, was endeavouring -to recover that of James. He had been -one of the very first to abandon that monarch -when trusted by him, but he had written letters -expressing the bitterest repentance and remorse -for that treason, whilst he was thus prepared, if -necessary, to perpetrate a new one. But Marlborough, -as he had a genius capable of the very -highest achievements, had one also capable of the -most complicated treacheries in politics. It was -not enough for him to be serving William and -vowing secretly to James that he was only -watching his opportunity to serve him, but he had -a third and more alluring treason. He and his -wife had the ductile and yet obstinate princess -Anne completely in their hands. They lived with -her at Whitehall, they drew largely from her income, -they selected her friends, they moulded her -likings and her antipathies; she was a complete -puppet in their keeping. From his lucrative -station as keeper of Anne's purse, person, and conscience, -through his clever and unprincipled wife, -Marlborough watched intently the temper of the -nation. He saw that there was an intense jealousy -of the Dutch, not only amongst the people on -account of trade and national rivalry, but in -the Parliament and aristocracy, on account of -William's preference for his Dutch friends. Bentinck, -Ginkell, Overkirk, and Zulestein were -the only men in whom he reposed entire confidence. -On them he heaped wealth, estates, and -honours. Ginkell was just now elevated to an -earldom, and a large grant of lands was contemplated -for him in Ireland. On Portland rich grants -had been bestowed, and more were anticipated. -William's continual absences on the Continent, -his cold reserve whilst in England, the large expenditure -of men and money for the prosecution -of the Continental war, though really for the -liberties of Europe, were represented by the discontented -as a wholesale draft upon the country -for the aggrandisement of Holland.</p> - -<p>These were the things Marlborough saw which -gave vitality to the intrigues of the Jacobites; -and the only causes which prevented the revulsion -from becoming general in favour of James<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">[452]</a></span> -were his incurable despotism, his imbecility as a -monarch, and the certain return of Popery in his -train. But there was another person to whom -none of these objections applied—the Princess -Anne—the person already in his guidance or -power. Anne was at once English and a Protestant. -The former fact gave her a mighty advantage -over William—the latter over James. Would -it not, therefore, be possible to substitute Anne for -her father? To do this it was only necessary to -inflame the prejudice in Parliament and among the -people against the Dutch influence, to inoculate the -army with the same feeling, already well-disposed -to it by jealousy of the Dutch troops, and to obviate -the objections of those who repelled the idea -of bringing back James by turning their attention -on one nearer home. The absence of William on -the Continent, and the disaffection of most of the -admirals, would afford an opportunity of resisting -his return to both army and navy. And with -Anne queen, Marlborough would become the pillar -of her throne, commander of her army, and dispenser -of her patronage.</p> - -<p>That this was no mere dream is clear enough -now. It was, indeed, one of the various rumours -of the time. Evelyn says that it was one of these -that Marlborough "was endeavouring to breed division -in the army, and to make himself the more -necessary by making an ill correspondence betwixt -the princess and the Court." But James himself -as plainly asserts the fact of this charge against -Marlborough. "It was the plan," he says, "of -my friends to recall me through the Parliament. -My Lord Churchill was to propose in Parliament -to drive away all the foreigners from the councils -and the army of the kingdom. If the Prince of -Orange consented to this, he would have been in -their hands. If he refused, Parliament would have -declared against him, and Lord Churchill was, at -the same time, to cause the army to declare for the -Parliament, the fleet the same, and then to recall -me. Already this plan was in agitation, and a -large party was already gained over, when some -faithful but indiscreet subjects, thinking to serve -me, and imagining that Lord Churchill was not -acting for me, but really for the Princess of Denmark, -discovered all to Bentinck, and thus destroyed -the whole scheme."</p> - -<p>The proof that William was satisfied that Marlborough's -grand plan was real, was that he at once -dismissed him from all his employments. That -Marlborough had long intrigued with James, -William was quite aware, but on that account he -never troubled him; this, however, was by far a -more dangerous treachery, and he resented it -accordingly. The Marlboroughs, notwithstanding, -continued at Whitehall with Anne, and might -probably never have been molested, had not the -imperious Lady Marlborough in her anger determined -to set the king and queen at defiance. She, -therefore, had the assurance to accompany the -princess to the Drawing-Room at Kensington -Palace a few evenings after, and the next day -brought an expostulatory letter from the queen to -her sister, informing her that after such an outrage -Lady Marlborough must quit Whitehall. Anne -sent to entreat Mary to pass the matter over, declaring -that there was no misery that she would -not suffer rather than be deprived of Lady Marlborough. -The only answer was an order from the -Lord Chamberlain, commanding her ladyship to -quit the palace. Anne, determined not to lose the -society of her favourite, left Whitehall with the -Marlboroughs, and betook herself to Sion House, -which was lent to her by the Duke of Somerset, -and soon after she removed to Berkeley House, -standing on the present site of Devonshire House, -in Piccadilly, which became her permanent residence. -There all the Marlborough faction assembled, -and there Anne vented her indignation without -restraint or delicacy against William, calling -him a "Dutch abortion," a "monster," a "Caliban." -A fresh stimulus was given to the malice of that -clique; every means was used to excite hatred of -the Government of William, and to increase the -partisans of James. With such a termagant -spirit as Lady Marlborough, and such a plotting -spirit as that of her husband, a strong feeling was -excited against the queen, who was represented as -totally without heart, as having usurped the throne -of her father, and sought to strip her sister of her -most valued friendships. Amidst such an atmosphere -of malice and detraction William was compelled -to leave the queen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">[453]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_453.jpg" width="412" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LADY MARLBOROUGH AND THE PRINCESS ANNE AT THE QUEEN'S DRAWING-ROOM. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_452">452</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_453big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>He embarked for Holland on the 5th of March. -He left the country amid the rumours of false -plots and real schemes of invasion. One Fuller, -under the tuition of the notorious Titus Oates, had -been accusing no less than fifty lords and gentlemen, -including Halifax and some of the king's own -ministers, of having pledged themselves to bring in -James. However true it might be that many of -these were at heart really ready for such a change, -it was clearly shown that Fuller's story was got -up merely to make money by it, and it was treated -with contempt. The rumour of an invasion was, -as we shall find, more real. Disbelieving it, or -pressed by the necessity of giving a blow to Louis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">[454]</a></span> -in Flanders, William made a speedy journey to the -Hague. There the difficulties which he had to -overcome were such as would have sunk the courage -of any less firm-hearted man. But though William -managed to just hold his stupid and selfish Allies -together—too stupid and selfish to perceive their -own real interests—he found it impossible to get -them into the field. Whilst they were moving -like tortoises, each afraid to be before his neighbour, -each taking leave to delay because his neighbour -delayed, Louis rushed into the arena with his -wonted alertness. On the 20th of May he was in -his camp at Flanders. He made a grand review -of his troops in the neighbourhood of Mons. There -a hundred and twenty thousand men were drawn -up in a line eight miles long. Such a circumstance -was well calculated to spread a deadening -report amongst the Allies of the crushing vastness -of his army. He was attended by a splendid -retinue of nearly all the princes and rulers of -France; there was the Duke de Chartres, in his -fifteenth year only; the Dukes of Bourbon and -Vendôme; the Prince of Conti; and whole troops -of young nobles following them as volunteers. -Louis appeared in the midst of them with all the -splendour and luxury of an Eastern emperor.</p> - -<p>From the imposing review Louis bore down -directly on Namur. Namur stood strongly at the -confluence of the Meuse and the Sambre. It was -strong by nature on the sides next the rivers, and -made so by art on the land side. The Baron de -Cohorn, an engineer who rivalled Vauban, was -always in William's army to advise and throw up -fortifications. Cohorn had made it one of the -most considerable fortresses on the Continent, and -he now lay in the city with a garrison of nine thousand -men, under the Prince de Brabazon. All the -other fortresses—Mons, Valenciennes, Cambray, -Antwerp, Ostend, Ypres, Lille, Tournay, Luxemburg, -and others, had yielded to the Grand -Monarque; Namur alone had resisted every -attempt upon it. And now Louis invested it with -his whole force. Louis himself laid siege to the -place with forty thousand men, and posted Luxemburg -with eighty thousand more on the road -between Namur and Brussels. Brabazon calculated -on the army of William effecting the relief of the -place, and Louis resolved to make his approach -impossible.</p> - -<p>William, joined by the forces of Brandenburg -and Liége, and with his army swelled to a hundred -thousand men, advanced to the Mehaigne, within -cannon-shot of Luxemburg's camp, but there he -found himself stopped. Luxemburg's army lay -on the other bank of the river, and was so strongly -posted, and watched so vigilantly every movement -of William, that he saw no means of forcing a way -towards the beleaguered city. Whilst thus impeded -by the river and the vast force of Luxemburg, -Nature came to complete the chafing king's mortifications. -Heavy rains set in on St. Medard's Day, -the 8th of June, the French St. Swithin. The -rivers burst their banks, and the whole country -lay under water. If William had had the means to -cross the river, the drenching torrents and the -muddy soil would have rendered all military operations -impossible. Louis with difficulty kept his men -to their posts in the siege. Still the assault was -pushed on. Cohorn, the engineer, was disabled by -a severe wound whilst defending a fort on which -he greatly prided himself; and from that hour the -defence languished. Brabazon was a man of no -spirit; Cohorn's fort was taken, and the town surrendered -on the 20th of June.</p> - -<p>The exultation of Louis and the French on the -fall of Namur was unbounded. This triumph had -been won in the very presence of William and the -Allies at the head of a hundred thousand men. He -ordered medals to be struck to commemorate this -success, which his flatterers, and amongst them -Boileau himself, declared was more glorious than the -mastery of Troy by the Greeks. <em>Te Deum</em> was -sung in Paris; the French nation was in ecstasies, -and Louis returned to Versailles to enjoy the -incense of his elated courtiers and mistresses. -But he did not return without a sting to his -triumph. The news of a signal defeat of his fleet -at La Hogue reached him even as he lay before -Namur, and the thunder of William's artillery at -the great intelligence wounded his vanity though it -could not reach his army.</p> - -<p>Louis having quitted the Netherlands, Luxemburg -strongly garrisoned Namur, despatched the -Marquis of Boufflers to La Bassière, and himself -encamped at Soignies. William posted himself at -Genappe, sent detachments to Ghent and Liége, -and determined to attack Luxemburg. This -general shifted his ground to a position between -Steinkirk and Enghien, and William then encamped -at Lambeque. Here he discovered that -all his movements had been previously betrayed to -Luxemburg by the private secretary of the Elector -of Bavaria, one Millevoix, a letter of whose to the -French general had been picked up by a peasant, -and brought to the camp. William seized on the -circumstance to mislead Luxemburg. The detected -spy was compelled to write a letter to the -French general, informing him that the next day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">[455]</a></span> -William was intending to send out a foraging party, -and, to prevent it from being surprised, would -draw out a large body of troops to protect it. The -letter being despatched to the French camp, -William took immediate measures for the engagement. -His object was to surprise the camp of -Luxemburg, and the story of the foraging party -was to prevent his alarm on the approach of the -troops. He sent his heavy baggage across the -Seine, and by four in the morning his troops were -on the march towards Luxemburg's position. The -Duke of Würtemberg led the van with ten battalions -of English, Dutch, and Danish infantry, supported -by a large body of horse and foot under the -command of General Mackay, and Count Solmes -followed with the reserve.</p> - -<p>William's forces reached the outposts of Luxemburg's -army about two o'clock in the afternoon, -and drove them in with a sudden and unlooked-for -onset. A regiment from the Bourbonnais was put -to instant flight, and William, who had been informed -that he should have to march through a -country of hedges, ditches, and narrow lanes, but -that, on approaching Luxemburg's army, he would -find it open plain, now calculated that he had -nothing to do but to dash into the surprised camp -and produce universal confusion. He had indeed -had to pick his way through hedges and ditches, -but now, instead of the open plain, there lay still a -network of hedges and ditches between him and the -enemy. This caused so much delay, that the -enemy soon became aware of the real fact, that -William was upon them with his whole army. -There was an instant hurrying to standards, and -William found himself face to face with a body -sufficient to dispute the ground with him till the -whole was in order.</p> - -<p>Luxemburg had been deceived by the forced -letter of Millevoix. He had relied on it as being -as correct as usual; and, though scout after scout -brought intelligence of the English approaching, -he deemed it only the foraging party and their -supporters, and sat coolly at cards till it was nearly -too late. Then he mounted his horse, reconnoitred -the enemy, threw forward the Swiss regiments and -the far-famed Household Troops of Louis, and encouraged -his men to fight with their usual bravery. -The young princes put themselves at the head of -the Household Troops, and displayed an enthusiasm -which communicated itself to the whole line. They -found as vigorous opponents in the Duke of Würtemberg -and the gallant and pious Mackay. The -conflict was maintained at the muzzles of the -muskets, and Luxemburg afterwards declared that -he never saw so fierce a struggle. The Duke of -Würtemberg had already seized one of the enemy's -batteries, and penetrated within their entrenchments, -but the immense weight of troops that kept -pouring on against them at length bore them back. -Mackay sent messenger after messenger to bid -Solmes hasten up his reserve, but, from cowardice -or treachery, Solmes would not move. He said -coolly, "Let us see what sport these English bulldogs -will make." At length William sent an express -order for him to move up; whereupon he -trotted his horse forward a little, but never -advanced his infantry. When, therefore, Mackay -saw that his soldiers were being hewed down by -hundreds, and no succour came, he said, "God's -will be done," and fought on till he fell. The -contest was not, however, decided till the detachment -of Boufflers appeared upon the field. Luxemburg -sent off an express to hasten him to his -assistance; but Boufflers, unlike Solmes, had not -waited for that—he had heard the firing, and was -already on the way. Then William was compelled -to order his troops to draw off; and this retreat he -managed with his accustomed skill. He was, however, -roused out of his usual stoicism by the infamous -conduct of Solmes; and the whole army -declared that they would not have been repulsed -but for his base desertion of them. The French -claimed the victory, though William retired to his -camp in good order, and both armies continued to -occupy their former position. The fame of -William as a general in the field was greatly injured. -He was acknowledged to be admirable at -a retreat; but it was said that a first-rate general -seldom practised that portion of the art of war. -But his enemies, by their very joy at this rebuff, -acknowledged their sense of his power.</p> - -<p>After this nothing of consequence distinguished -the campaign in the Netherlands. On the 26th -of September William left the army under command -of the Elector of Bavaria, and retired to his -hunting seat at Loo. The camp was broken up, -and the infantry marched to Marienkirke, and the -horse to Caure. But hearing that Boufflers had -invested Charleroi and Luxemburg, he sent -troops under the Elector of Bavaria to raise the -siege of those towns. Boufflers retired, and then -the Elector distributed his troops into winter -quarters; and Luxemburg on his side left the -army under Boufflers, and went to Paris.</p> - -<p>Besides this there had been an attempt on the -part of England to besiege Dunkirk. The Duke -of Leinster was sent over with troops, which were -joined by others from William's camp; but they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">[456]</a></span> -thought the attempt too hazardous, and returned, -having done nothing. William quitted Holland, -and on the 18th of October arrived in England. -The result of this expensive campaign, where such -unexampled preparations had been followed only -by defeat and the loss of five thousand men, -excited deep dissatisfaction; and the abortive -attempt to recover Dunkirk increased it. The -public complained that William had lain inactive -at Grammont whilst Louis took Namur, and that -if he could not cross the Scheldt in the face of the -French army, he might have crossed it higher up, -and taken Louis in the flank; that he might, -instead of lying inert to witness his enemy's -triumph, have boldly marched into France and -laid waste Louis's own territories, which would -have quickly drawn him away from Namur. -Such, indeed, might have been the decisive movements -of a great military genius, but there is no -reason to think that William was such a genius. -His most striking qualities were dogged perseverance -and insensibility to defeat.</p> - -<p>During William's absence, a variety of circumstances -had taken place which threw a dark shade -upon his fame, which threatened almost to shake -his throne, and which gratified the naval pride of -the country.</p> - -<p>The horrible event which had occurred in -Scotland, still properly styled the Massacre of -Glencoe, had just become known to the English -as William left for the Continental campaign, -and threw no little odium upon him. The dissatisfaction -which William felt at his Bill of -Toleration for Scotland having been refused by the -Scottish Parliament, induced him to remove Lord -Melville, who had suffered the liberal views of the -king to be swamped by the Presbyterians, as -William thought, too easily. He therefore -appointed Sir James Dalrymple, whom he had -created Viscount Stair, Lord President of the -Court of Session; and his son, Sir John—called -then, according to the custom of Scotland, the -Master of Stair—as Lord Advocate, took the -lead in the management of Scottish affairs. -One of the matters which came under his notice -was that of the settling of the Highlands; and -it was resolved by William's Cabinet, where Lord -Stair and the Earl of Argyll were consulted as -the great authorities on Scottish measures, that -twelve thousand pounds should be distributed -amongst the Highland chiefs, to secure their goodwill. -Unfortunately, the agent that was chosen -for the distribution of this money was one of -the hated tribe of Campbell. It was the Earl of -Breadalbane, who had deadly feuds with some -of the clans; and, as they regarded him with -aversion and suspicion, the most insurmountable -obstacles arose to any reasonable arrangement. -Besides that every chief wanted more money than -Breadalbane thought he ought to have, the Earl -of Argyll contended that these chiefs owed him -large sums, and that their quotas should be paid -over to him in liquidation of those debts. To this -the chiefs would not consent, and when the money -was not paid over, they loudly avowed their conviction -that Breadalbane meant to appropriate it -to himself.</p> - -<p>Amongst the chiefs, Macdonald of Glencoe was -especially obnoxious to Breadalbane. Glencoe is -a peculiarly wild and gloomy glen in Argyllshire. -The English meaning of the word is -"the glen of weeping," a name singularly appropriate -from its being frequently enveloped in -dense mists and drizzling rains. It was too barren -and rugged for agriculture, and, accordingly, its -little section of the clan Donald were noted for -their predatory habits, common, indeed, to all the -Highlanders, and deemed as actually honourable. -They had committed frequent raids on the lands -of Breadalbane, and therefore, when the old chief -presented himself amongst the other chiefs at the -castle of Breadalbane, he was rudely insulted, -and was called upon to make reparation for his -damages done to the Campbells. Macdonald—or, -as he was commonly styled, Mac Ian—was -glad to get away in safety. Incensed at his -treatment, he exerted all his arts and influence -amongst the other chiefs to embarrass and frustrate -the attempts of Breadalbane towards a -settlement.</p> - -<p>Whilst these things were in agitation, the -English Government issued a proclamation, that -every rebel who did not come in and take the -oaths to William and Mary before the 1st of -January, 1692, should be held to be a traitor, and -treated accordingly. Notwithstanding considerable -delay, all the chiefs took care to come in -before the appointed day except Mac Ian. In his -stubborn rage against Breadalbane he deferred -his submission to the last moment. On the 31st -of December, however, he presented himself at -Fort William to take the oaths; but Colonel -Hill, the Governor, refused to administer the -oaths, on the plea that he was not a magistrate, -and told Mac Ian that it was necessary that -he should go to Inverary and swear before the -sheriff. The old chief was confounded; this was -the last day of grace, and it was impossible to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">[457]</a></span> -reach Inverary in the depth of winter in time. -Hill, however, gave him a letter to the sheriff expressing -a hope that, as Mac Ian had presented -himself in time to take the oaths, though under -an error as to the authority, he would allow him -to take them. Mac Ian did not reach Inverary -till the 6th of January, and the sheriff, after -much entreaty and many tears from the old chief, -consented to administer the oaths, and dispatch -information of the circumstances to the Council in -Edinburgh.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_457.jpg" width="560" height="414" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GLENCOE: SCENE OF THE MASSACRE. (<cite>From a Photograph by G. W. Wilson and Co., Aberdeen.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_457big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The news did not reach Breadalbane and Argyll -in Edinburgh, but in London, whither they had -gone to represent the state of these affairs; and -both they and the Master of Stair, who was there -too, instead of being glad that all the chiefs had -come in, were exceedingly rejoiced that Mac Ian -had not submitted till after the prescribed time. -They agreed to suppress the fact that Mac Ian had -come in, though after the date, and only laid -before William's Council the circumstance that -he had not come in at the expiry of the limited -time. A proposal was therefore made by them -that this "nest of robbers," as they termed the -people of Glencoe, should be utterly routed out, -without which, they declared, there could be no -peace in the Highlands. William therefore signed -a warrant laid before him for that purpose, putting -his signature both at top and bottom.</p> - -<p>With this fatal instrument in their hands, these -worthless men instantly took measures to wreak -their vengeance on this little horde of people, and -to root them completely out. An order was sent -to Governor Hill to dispatch a sufficient force to -Glencoe to kill every man, woman, and child in it. -Whether Hill was deemed too humane or too -dignified for the office of wholesale butcher, -does not appear; but he was directed to send -Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton on the errand. -Hamilton, however, to make all sure by studying -the place, sent, on the 1st of February, a Captain -Campbell—better known as Glenlyon, from the -place of his residence. Glenlyon took with him -one hundred and twenty men, part of a regiment -of Campbells, and marched to Glencoe; and then -appeared the full diabolism of the scheme of -Mr. Secretary Stair and his associates, Argyll -and Breadalbane. He was not to fall on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">[458]</a></span> -Macdonalds and put them to the sword as open and -proscribed enemies, but to secure the completion -of the barbarous design by a plan of the most -revolting treachery on record. He was to profess -to come as a friend, only to seek temporary -quarters on his wintry march, and especially to -visit a niece of his married to one of the sons of -Mac Ian. He was to feign friendship, to live -with the poor people some time in familiarity till -all suspicion was laid to rest, and then to murder -them in cold blood.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, when this band of soldiers was -seen approaching, a son of the chief and some of -the people went out to learn the cause of the visit. -The reply was, "All in friendship, and only to seek -quarters." The traitors were welcomed, and lodged -amongst the different families. Glenlyon and some -of his men were accommodated by a man called -Inverriggen; Lindsay, the lieutenant, accepted the -hospitality of old Mac Ian; and a sergeant -named Barbour was received by a leading man -called Auchintriater. For nearly a fortnight this -air of friendship was kept up. Glenlyon professed -much attachment to his niece and her husband. -He and Lindsay played at cards with the chief -and his sons, and all went gaily, as far as whisky, -and French brandy, and blithe spirits on the part -of the hosts, could make it so. But all this time -Glenlyon was studying how the more completely -to secure the destruction of every soul in the glen. -He and his men noted carefully every outlet, and -the result of the observations was sent to Hamilton. -All being considered ready, Hamilton fixed -the 13th of February for the slaughter, and -appointed to be there before five o'clock in the -morning, and to stop all the earths to which the -"old fox and his cubs," as he termed Mac Ian and -his sons, could flee. That night, as he was marching -with four hundred men through the snows to -do this butcherly deed, Glenlyon was spending the -evening with Mac Ian, and engaged to dine the -next day with "his murdered man."</p> - -<p>But with all the Judas-like deceit with which he -carried on his hellish design, that evening two -men were heard lamenting they had something -to do that they did not relish. A suspicion was -awakened, and one of the sons of Mac Ian went -at midnight to Glenlyon's lodgings to see if he -could discover anything. In confirmation of his -worst suspicions he found him and his men all up -and armed. Yet he suffered himself to be persuaded -by the villain that they were called to a -sudden march to chastise some of the Glengarry -clan for marauding; and the young man returned -home and went to bed. Glenlyon had said, "Do -you think I would do anything against my own -niece and her husband?"</p> - -<p>At five in the morning, though Hamilton had -not arrived, the bloodthirsty Glenlyon commenced -the massacre by murdering his host and all his -family. Lindsay did the same by his host, old -Mac Ian and his family; and Barbour shot down -his host and family in the same manner. Then the -soldiers at every hut imitated their example, and -speedily there was a hewing and shooting down of -victims flying from the huts to the defiles for -escape. Men, women, children, pleading most -piteously, were ruthlessly murdered. But, fortunately, -the sound of the fire-arms aroused the -whole glen at once, and the rush of the affrighted -people was too simultaneous to allow of their -being killed. The greater part of them escaped in -the darkness to the hills, for Hamilton had not -arrived to blockade the defiles. The sanguinary -haste of Glenlyon had saved the majority. The -two sons of Mac Ian were amongst the number -who escaped. Above thirty people, however, were -massacred, and an old man of seventy, unable to -fly, was brutally stabbed. But those who had escaped -the sword and musket only escaped to the -snow-covered rocks to perish, many of them of cold -and famine, for the wretches set fire to everything -in the valley, and left it one black and hideous -desert.</p> - -<p>When the news of this terrible affair at length -spread, the public could scarcely believe that so demoniacal -a deed could have been done in a Christian -country. The Jacobites did not fail to dilate -on its infamy with emphasis. The whole frightful -particulars were gleaned up industriously by the -non-jurors from the soldiers of the regiment, -which happened the next summer to be quartered -in England. All the execration due to such a deed -was liberally showered on the courtiers, on the -actors of the brutal butchery, and on the king who -had sanctioned it. Terror, if not conscience seized -on the chief movers in it. Breadalbane sent his -steward to Glencoe, to induce the miserable inhabitants -who had returned to their burnt-up valley to -sign a paper asserting that they did not charge -him with any participation in the crime, promising -in return to use his influence with the king to -obtain a full pardon and immunity from forfeiture -for them all. Glenlyon was shunned as a monster -wherever he appeared; but Stair, so far from -showing any shame or remorse, seemed to glory in -the deed. As for William, there was a zealous -attempt to make it appear that he did not know<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">[459]</a></span> -of what had been done; and when his warrant was -produced, then that he was deceived as to the -circumstances of the case. Unfortunately for -William's reputation there was a searching inquiry -into the facts of the affair, and when he did know -these in all their atrocity, he failed to punish the -perpetrators. Stair was for the time dismissed, -but very soon restored to William's service; and -after this all attempts would be futile to absolve -him from gross want of feeling and of justice in -the case. It is a black spot on his fame, and must -remain so. Burnet, who is always anxious to defend -William, says that, from the letters and documents -produced which he himself read, so many -persons were concerned in the business that "the -king's gentleness prevailed to a fault," and so he -did not proceed against them—a singular kind of -gentleness! At the very least, the blood-guiltiness -of Breadalbane, Stair, and Glenlyon, was so -prominent, and they were so few, that they ought -to have been made examples of; and such a mark -of the sense of the atrocity of the crime would -have wiped from William's reputation the clinging -stain.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had William left England in the spring, -when the country was menaced by an invasion; -and whilst he was contending with Luxemburg in -Flanders, the queen and her ministers had been as -actively contending with real and imaginary plots, -and with the French fleet at La Hogue. The -Papists of Lancashire had for some time been particularly -active in encouraging in King James the -idea that he would be welcomed again in England -by his subjects. One Lant, a carpenter, had been -despatched to St. Germains, and brought back -assurances that his Majesty would, in the course of -the spring, certainly land in England. He also -sent over Colonel Parker, one of the parties engaged -to assassinate William, to concert the necessary -measures with the Catholics and Jacobites for -the invasion. Parker assured them that James -would embark at La Hogue with thirty thousand -men. Johnson, a priest, was said to be associated -with Parker to murder William before his departure -if possible; but the king had gone already -when they arrived.</p> - -<p>The great minister of Louis, Louvois, was dead. -He had always opposed these ideas of invasion of -England as absurd and impracticable. His removal -enabled James to persuade Louis to attempt -the enterprise. It was determined to muster a -fleet of eighty sail. The Count de Tourville commanded -five-and-forty of them, and under him the -Count D'Estrées thirty-five more. The most active -preparations were making for the completion of all -things necessary for the equipment of this fleet, -and the army which it was to carry over. The -ships under Tourville lay at Brest, those of -D'Estrées at Toulon; they were to meet at Ushant, -and take on board the army at La Hogue. James -was in high spirits; he was puffed up by the invitations -which the Catholic emissaries had brought -him; he had, he believed, firmly won over the -admirals of the fleet, Russell, Carter, Delaval, and -Killigrew. Whilst in this elation of mind he sent -over invitations to many Protestant ladies of -quality to attend the expected <em>accouchement</em> of his -queen. He said many base aspersions had been -cast on the birth of his son, and he desired now to -prevent a recurrence of such slanders; he therefore -offered to all the distinguished persons invited -safe conducts both for going and returning from the -French monarch. No one accepted the invitation; -and a daughter was born to James about whom -no one in England was very much concerned.</p> - -<p>But the preparations of James and Louis occasioned -similar preparations in England. The -militia was called out; London was strongly -guarded by troops; the train-bands of the southern -counties appeared in arms on the coasts; the -beacons were all vigilantly watched, and the fleet -was manned and equipped with all possible speed -and strength.</p> - -<p>The invitation of James to the birth of his -daughter was speedily followed by a proclamation -to his subjects in England. James had always -done himself more harm by his Declarations than -all the efforts of his friends and allies could do him -good; and this was precisely of that character. -He expressed no regret for any of his past actions -or measures; he betrayed no suspicion, even, that -he might have governed more wisely. On the contrary, -he represented himself as having always -been right, good, and gracious, and his subjects -wrong, captious, and unreasonable. He had always -meant and done well, but he had been shamefully -maligned. He now promised to maintain the -Church indeed; but people had had too recent -a proof of how he had maintained it in Ireland. He -meant to pardon many of his enemies; but, at the -same time, added such a list of proscriptions as -made it look more like a massacre than an amnesty. -Amongst those excepted from all pardon -were the Duke of Ormond, the Marquis of Winchester, -the Earls of Sunderland, Danby, and Nottingham, -the Lords Delamere, Wiltshire, Colchester, -Cornbury, and Dunblane; the Bishop of St. -Asaph; Drs. Tillotson and Burnet. He excepted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">[460]</a></span> -even the poor fishermen who at Faversham had -mistaken him for a Jesuit priest on his flight, and -called him "hatchet-face." All judges, magistrates, -sheriffs, jurymen, gaolers, turnkeys, constables, and -every one who had acted under William in securing -and condemning any Jacobite; all justices and -other authorities who should not immediately -on his landing abandon the Government and support -him; and all gaolers who should not at once -set at liberty all prisoners confined for any conspiracy -in favour of James, or for any political deed -on that side, all were alike condemned. In short, -such was the Draconian rigour with which the -Declaration was drawn that there was hardly a -man who was not a downright Jacobite who did -not tremble at the belief that it might include him.</p> - -<p>The queen and her ministers no sooner read the -Declaration than they saw the whole effect of it. -They had it printed and circulated all over the -kingdom, with a clever running commentary. -Parliament was summoned for the 24th of May, -and a number of persons, charged with being concerned -in a plot for bringing in James, were -arrested, and others absconded. Amongst those -seized were Marlborough and Lord Huntingdon, -who were sent to the Tower; Mr. Ridley, Mr. -Knevitt, Mr. Hastings, and Mr. Ferguson, were -sent to Newgate; the Bishop of Rochester was -confined to his own house; the Lords Brudenel and -Fanshawe, the Earls of Dunmore and Middleton, -and Sir Andrew Forrester, were next secured. -The Earls of Scarsdale, Lichfield, and Newborough, -the Lords Griffin, Forbes, Sir John Fenwick, Sir -Theophilus Oglethorpe, and others, escaped. The -princess Anne expected arrest.</p> - -<p>On the 11th of May, a week after Marlborough -was sent to the Tower, Russell sailed from the -Downs in quest of the French fleet. He was at the -head of ninety-nine sail of the line, the greatest force -which had ever descended the English Channel. -Off Beachy Head he had met Carter and Delaval, -who had been watching the French ports, and a -fine fleet of Dutchmen were also in conjunction -with him. There were between thirty and forty -thousand sailors, Dutch and English, on board, and -he was supported by the Admirals Delaval, Ashley, -Cloudesley Shovel, Carter, and Rooke. Van -Almonde was in command of the Dutch squadron, -with Callemberg and Vandergoes. James meanwhile -was at La Hogue with the army, anxiously -awaiting the fleet of De Tourville to carry it over. -James confidently calculated on the disaffection of -the English admirals, Russell, Delaval, Carter, and -others. He sent an emissary to remind Russell -of his promises, and to promise him and the other -admirals high rewards in return. But Lloyd, the -emissary, had found Russell wonderfully changed. -The fatal Declaration had produced the same effect -on him as on others. He told the man that he -was desirous to serve James, but that he must first -grant a general pardon; and besides, if he met the -French fleet, though James was aboard of it, he -would never allow himself to be beaten by the -French.</p> - -<p>In London the terror of this known disaffection -had been great. The queen and her ministers consulted -deeply what should be done. Should they -send and arrest the traitors? The effect, they -foresaw, would be to scatter terror through the -whole fleet. They adopted a far more politic plan. -On the 15th of May, as the combined fleet lay off -St. Helens, Russell called together the officers on -board his own ship, and informed them that he had -a letter from the queen to read them. In this she -stated that she had heard rumours of disaffection -amongst the officers, but would not believe it. -She knew they would fight as became Englishmen -for their country. The letter had an instant and -wondrous effect. They immediately signed unanimously -a declaration that they would live and die -for the Crown, the Protestant religion, and the -freedom of England. On the 18th the fleet sailed -for the coast of France, and next day the fleet of -Tourville was descried. Tourville had only forty-five -ships of the line, and he had orders, if he -met the English fleet, to engage. But Louis had -since learned the junction of the Dutch with the -English, and despatched messengers to warn him, -but they were intercepted. Tourville, however, -notwithstanding the preponderance of the enemy, -determined to engage. He had been upbraided -after the fight at Beachy Head as timid; his blood -was roused, and, besides, he confidently believed -that three-fourths of the English fleet were secretly -for James, and would at the first brush come over -to him. As he lay off Barfleur on the morning of -the 19th he saw the long line of the enemy before -him, and bore down upon them for battle.</p> - -<p>At eleven o'clock the French admiral opened -fire on part of the English fleet, the rest not being -able to get up from the wind being contrary. The -spirit with which the English received him at once -dissipated Tourville's hopes of defection amongst -them. The conflict continued with uncommon -fury till one o'clock, when Russell was compelled -to allow his flag-ship, the <em>Rising Sun</em>, carrying a -hundred and four guns, to be towed out of the -line from the damage she had received. But the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">[461]</a></span> -fight continued furiously till three o'clock, when a -fog parted the enemies. Soon after, however, a -wind favourable to the English sprang up, and, at -the same time, dispersed the fog. Fresh ships of -the English came up, and the conflict continued to -rage till eight in the evening. During this time -Carter, who had been one of the most deeply -pledged to James, but who had fought like a lion, -fell mortally wounded, but as he was carried down -to his cabin, he cried to his men to fight the ship -as long as she could swim. Tourville, who was -now contending hopelessly against numbers, drew -off, but was closely pursued, and the most terrible -carnage was made of the men on board his great -ship, the <em>Royal Sun</em>, the pride of the French navy. -He fought, however, stoutly so long as the light -continued; and then the whole French fleet made -all sail for the French ports.</p> - -<p>The next morning the English gave chase, and -Russell's vessel was retarded for some time by the -falling of her topmast, but soon they were once -more in full pursuit. About twenty of the French -ships escaped through the perilous Race of Alderney, -between that island and the coast of Cotentin, -where the English dared not pursue them; and -these vessels, by their desperate courage, escaped -to St. Malo. Tourville had shifted his flag to the -<em>Ambitious</em>, and the <em>Royal Sun</em>, battered and -drenched in blood, made its way, and, with the -<em>Admiral</em> and the <em>Conquerant</em>, managed to reach -Cherbourg, whither Delaval pursued and burnt -them, with several other vessels. Tourville himself -and the rest of the fleet escaped into the harbour -of La Hogue, where they drew themselves up in -shallow water, close under the guns of the Forts -De Lisset and St. Vaast.</p> - -<p>Here they flattered themselves that they were in -safety. The army destined to invade England lay -close at hand, and James, his son the Duke of -Berwick, the Marshal Bellefond, and other great -officers, were in the forts. But Sir George Rooke, -by the orders of Russell, embarked his men in all -the light frigates and open boats that could be -procured, and advanced boldly upon the French -men-of-war as they lay drawn up upon the beach. -Regardless of the fire from the forts and the ships, -the English rushed to the attack with loud hurrahs, -proud to beard the French under the eyes of the -very army of French and renegade Irish which -dared to dream of invading England. The daring -of the deed struck such a panic into the French -sailors, that they quickly abandoned the vessels -which lay under Fort Lisset. The fort and batteries -seemed paralysed by the same event, and the -English set fire to the vessels. In vain Tourville -manned his boats, and attempted to drive back -the English sailors; his mariners jumped to land -again. In vain the soldiers ashore hurried down -and poured in a volley on the British seamen; -they successfully burnt all the six vessels lying -under Lisset, and returned to their ships without -the loss of a man.</p> - -<p>The next morning Rooke was again afloat with -the tide, and leading his fleet of boats and his brave -sailors against the vessels lying under the Fort St. -Vaast. The fort did more execution than the other -fort the day before; but all was in vain. The -British sailors climbed up the vessels; the French -fled precipitately out of them, and they were all -burnt to the water's edge, except a few smaller -ones, which were towed away to the English fleet. -When James saw these surprising acts he is said -to have involuntarily exclaimed, "See my brave -English sailors." But guns of the exploding -vessels going off killed some of the people standing -near him, and he then, coming to a more sober reflection, -said, "Heaven fights against me," and -retired. There was an end of all hope of ever invading -England, and he hastened back to St. -Germains in deep dejection.</p> - -<p>The news of this most brilliant and most important -battle, which gave such a blow to the -power and <em>prestige</em> of Louis, was received in London -with transports of delight. England was once -more safe; France was humbled; invasion at an -end. Sixteen of the finest ships of France had -been destroyed, and on the part of England only -one fire-ship. The glory was England's, for, -though the Dutch had fought well, it was the -English who had borne the brunt and done the -miracles of bravery at La Hogue. The tidings -were borne to William's camp at Grammont, and -set all the cannon roaring the exultation into -the ears of Luxemburg and his army.</p> - -<p>At home there was now time to inquire into -the particulars of the plot for which Marlborough -and others had been detained. Luckily for -them there was found to have been a sham conspiracy -got up by one Young, a debauched clergyman, -who had been imprisoned for bigamy and for -many other crimes. Like Oates and his compeers, -and the more recent Fuller, he hoped to make -money, and, therefore, had accused Marlborough, -Sprat the Bishop of Rochester, and the rest, of -being in it. On examination, the plot was found -to be a mere barefaced forgery, got up by Young -and another miscreant named Blackhead. They -had written an engagement to bring in King<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">[462]</a></span> -James, and seize William, and forged to it the -names of Marlborough, Cornbury, Sancroft the -ex-Primate, and Sprat, Bishop of Rochester. This -document they had contrived to hide in a flower-pot -at the bishop's house at Bromley. The bishop -was arrested, but denied all knowledge of the plot, -and then Blackhead confessed. Young, however, -feigned another plot, and endeavoured to inveigle -into it a poor man of the name of Holland, who -also informed the Earl of Nottingham. Young -was imprisoned and pilloried, and ministers were -glad to admit the accused to bail. For Marlborough -and others this false plot was a genuine godsend. -They were deep in real treason, and this sham -treason screened their reputations just at the -moment when the power of James was being annihilated, -and that of William rising in fresh vigour.</p> - -<p>But the Government was not satisfied with the -success of the battle of La Hogue. It was too decisive -to be left, they thought, in barren glory; it -ought to be followed up by a more severe blow to -France. Amid the public rejoicings, Sidney, Portland, -and Rochester went down to Portsmouth to -congratulate the fleet on its success. They distributed -twenty-seven thousand pounds amongst -the seamen, and gold medals were bestowed on the -officers; and, to mark the sense of the king and -queen of this great achievement of the sailors, it -was announced that the wounded should be tended -at the public charge in the hospitals of St. Thomas -and St. Bartholomew; and, still more, that the -palace of Greenwich, begun by Charles II., should -be finished and appropriated for ever as the home -of superannuated sailors. Thus originated this -noble institution, this home for maimed and declining -mariners.</p> - -<p>But for this honour conferred on the fleet fresh -exploits were demanded of it—that it should sail -to St. Malo, bombard the town, and destroy the -remainder of Tourville's fleet, which had taken -shelter there. Accordingly, Rooke was dispatched -to take soundings on the dangerous shores of -Brittany, and Russell mustered his fleet, which, -having taken on board transports of fourteen -thousand troops under young Schomberg—now -Duke of Leinster—accompanied by Ruvigny—now -Earl of Galway—and his Huguenots, and the -Earl of Argyll, with his regiment, part of which -had committed the melancholy massacre of Glencoe, -stood out to sea. Off Portland, however, -a council of war was called, and it was contended, -by a majority of both naval and military officers, -that it was too late in the season—it was only the -28th of July—to attempt such an enterprise -amid the dangerous rocks and under the guns of -the forts and batteries of St. Malo. The fleet, -therefore, returned to St. Helens, much to the -astonishment and disgust of the whole nation. -High words arose between the Earl of Nottingham, -First Lord of the Admiralty, and Russell. -The Minister accused the Admiral of cowardice -and breach of duty in thus tamely giving up the -enterprise against France.</p> - -<p>Nottingham's hands were wonderfully strengthened -by the deep discontent of the merchants, -who complained that they were almost -ruined by the so-much-vaunted victory of La -Hogue; that before, we had a fleet in the Mediterranean -and another out in the Channel protecting -the traders; but that now the fleet had been concentrated -to fight Tourville, and then, instead of -taking up proper positions to check the French -ships of war and privateers, had contemptibly -returned to port; that the French, embittered by -the defeat of La Hogue, had now sent out their -men-of-war in every direction, and, finding our -merchantmen defenceless, had committed the most -awful havoc amongst them. Fifty vessels alone, -belonging to London and Bristol, had been taken -by them. More than a hundred of our trading -vessels had been carried into St. Malo, which -Russell, by destroying that port, could have prevented -or avenged; while Bart, of Dunkirk, had -scoured the Baltic and the northern coasts of -Britain, and Trouin had actually ascended the -Shannon, and committed frightful mischief in Clare.</p> - -<p>Amid such expressions of discontent King -William returned from Holland to England. He -landed on the 18th of October. He had had little -success in his campaign; La Hogue was the only -bright spot of the year, and the scene which now -met him on his return was lowering and depressing. -There had been an earthquake in Jamaica, -which, in three minutes, had converted Port -Royal, the most flourishing city of the West -Indies, into a heap of ruins, burying one thousand -five hundred of the inhabitants, and extending the -calamity to the merchants of London and Bristol. -The distress in England itself was general and -severe. A rainy season had ruined the harvest, -and reduced the people to a state of extreme -misery. Bread riots were frequent, and the complaints -of the excessive burthen of taxation were -loud and general. Burglaries and highway -robberies were of the most audacious kind. -William, however, was not a man to sit and brood -over such things. He at once sent out parties of -cavalry into the districts where the robberies were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">[463]</a></span> -frequent, and, by bribing some of the thieves, got -information of the rest, whom his police hunted -out industriously. Their chief captain, one Whitney, -was taken and hanged, and the highways -and domestic hearths were soon as secure as ever.</p> - -<p>He called together Parliament on the 4th of -November, where there was every reason to expect -no little faction and difficulties. Parliament was -not merely divided into Ministerialists and Opposition, -it was broken into sundry parties, all -exasperated by one cause or another. The Whigs -were sore with their loss of office to a great -extent; the Lords were nettled at the Commons -refusing their claims put forward in the Lord -High Steward's Court Bill, and were urged to -contention by Marlborough and the other lords -who had been imprisoned, and who were loud in -denouncing the proceeding as a breach of their -privileges. There was a great jealousy of -William's employment of so many Dutch in preference -to Englishmen, and the Commons were -discontented with the manner in which public -business was conducted.</p> - -<p>William was aware of the difficult part he had -to play, and in his opening speech he took care -to put La Hogue in the foreground, and to congratulate -them on this glorious victory gained by -Englishmen. He confessed that the success of -the campaign on land had been but moderate, but -he praised in the highest terms the valour of the -British soldiers. He expatiated on the power and -the designs of France, told them that the cause of -Protestantism was the cause of England, that -Louis must be humbled, and that for that purpose -there must be still liberal supplies. He threw out -a hint of carrying the war into France itself, and -assured them that his own aims were identical -with theirs, and that he would willingly sacrifice -his life for the honour and welfare of the nation. -To conciliate both Houses, he condescended to ask -their advice and assistance in putting the national -affairs into the best possible condition—a piece of -candour of which he speedily found reason to -repent. Both Houses voted him thanks for his -gracious speech, and, immediately seizing on his request -for advice, began to offer it in good earnest.</p> - -<p>The Lords at once took up the case of Marlborough, -Huntingdon, and Scarsdale. They complained -that in ungratefully persecuting Marlborough -the Court had gone the full length of -treating the Princess of Denmark with severity -and indignity. Her guards had been taken away; -when she went to Bath, the magistrates had -orders to omit the honours due to royalty, and -the Church to omit her name in the prayers; and -this simply because she had shown her attachment -to the Countess of Marlborough. Marlborough, -thus supported by the Lords, who had their own -cause of pique about the Lord High Steward's -Court Bill, and by the disrespect shown to the -Princess, was loud in his complaints of the harshness -with which he had been treated, and of -being kept in prison with his friends in defiance -of Habeas Corpus. The Earl of Shrewsbury, the -Marquis of Halifax, the Earls of Mulgrave, -Devonshire, Montague, Bradford, Stamford, Monmouth, -and Warrington, supported him from -various motives, many of them being Whigs; and -the Jacobites fanned the flame, hoping for a -rupture. Lord Lucas, Constable of the Tower, -was ordered to produce the warrants of commitment, -and the Clerk of the King's Bench to -lay before them the affidavit of Aaron Smith, the -Solicitor of the Treasury, on which they had been -remanded; and Smith was sharply cross-examined. -The judges were ordered to attend, and the Lords -passed a resolution that the law had been violated -in the case of the noble prisoners. They then -consulted on the best mode of fully discharging -them. The debate was so violent that the -Ministers were alarmed, and proposed to the King -to adjourn Parliament till the 17th of the month, -and in the meanwhile to liberate the noblemen from -their bail. Accordingly, on the reassembling of -the Lords, they were informed that the King had -discharged the recognisances of the accused nobles, -and the Lords sullenly dropped the question.</p> - -<p>But though disappointed here, the Lords immediately -fastened on the king's request of advice. -They moved that a committee of both Houses -should be appointed for preparing this advice. -The motion, however, was rejected by a majority -of twelve. Nevertheless, they determined to give -the king advice themselves. They agreed to an -Address, praying his Majesty to appoint an -Englishman commander of the forces, and that -English officers should take precedence of all in -the confederate army, except the officers of -Crowned heads. This was meant to affect the -Dutch, who were only the subjects of a Stadtholder. -They also desired that the forces left in -England should be all English, commanded by -an English general; that such officers as pressed -men for the fleet should be cashiered, and that no -foreigner should sit at the Board of Ordnance. -All those matters, aimed at the king's favoured -countrymen, William received coldly, returning -only short and dry answers.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">[464]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Lords next attacked Russell for his neglect -to make the descent intended on the coast of -France. They ordered books and papers concerning -that matter to be laid before them. A -committee was appointed, and the substance of -the charge was communicated to the Commons as -concerning a member of that House.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_464.jpg" width="560" height="423" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GREENWICH HOSPITAL.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_464big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Commons on their part took up the charge -against Russell as a charge against themselves. -They informed the Lords that they found that -Russell had conducted himself at the head of the -fleet with fidelity, courage, and ability. Russell -made his defence, and accused Nottingham -of being the cause of the non-descent. He -declared that above twenty days had elapsed -between his writing to Nottingham and receiving -an answer; that therefore the expedition had become -abortive from not receiving timely and -necessary information and orders. Nottingham's -friends in the Commons warmly took up his defence; -the Lords demanded a conference; the -Commons refused it, and, amid this noise and animosity, -the important subject was left undecided.</p> - -<p>The Commons then proceeded to give the King -the advice and the assistance which he had so unluckily -asked. They demanded that books and -papers should be laid before them necessary to -enable them to inquire into the management of -the Government offices; but they soon came to a -stand, for, inquiring into the abuses of the Admiralty, -the merits or demerits of Nottingham and -Russell came again into question. One or both -of them had been guilty of gross mismanagement, -but each House defended its own member, and -the only result was a motion in the Commons, -which, whilst it acquitted Russell, seemed to -reflect on Nottingham. The Lords resenting, -made severe reprisals on the character and -conduct of Russell, and then the incident ended.</p> - -<p>The Commons were more generally united in -condemning the failure of the battle of Steinkirk -and the conduct of Solmes. Some officers in the -House, however, defended the behaviour of the -Dutch officers on that occasion, and especially of -Overkirk in bringing the remains of Mackay's -troops out of the battle. But they said not a -word in vindication of Solmes, and William, to -his disgrace, still continued this insolent foreigner,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">[465]</a></span> -who had wilfully sacrificed the lives of the brave -English soldiers, in his command.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_465.jpg" width="560" height="414" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>BURNING OF BLOUNT'S PAMPHLET BY THE COMMON HANGMAN. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_466">466</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_465big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Commons now went into the question of -supplies. They were fully prepared to sustain -the king in his exertions to check the arms of -France, though they protested against a fact -which they had discovered by examinations of the -treaty between the Allies, that the English paid -two-thirds of the expense of the war. After -grumbling, however, they voted fifty-four thousand -men for the army, twenty thousand of them to -remain at home, and thirty-three thousand men -for the navy. They voted two millions for the -army, and two millions for the navy, besides -seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds to -supply the deficiency of the quarterly poll. Still -there was likely to be a deficiency. Notwithstanding -the large grants of the previous year, -the expenditure had far exceeded them; it was, -therefore, proposed to resort to a land tax—the -first imposed since the Restoration, and the grand -transfer of taxation from the aristocracy to the -nation at large. The Peers made a violent opposition, -not to the tax, but to their estates being -valued and assessed by any but commissioners of -their own body. But they finally gave way, and -a land tax of four shillings in the pound was -carried. When Louis heard of these unusual -supplies, he could not restrain his amazement. -"My little cousin, the Prince of Orange," he said, -"seems to be firm in the saddle; but no matter, -the last louis d'or must carry it."</p> - -<p>Little did Louis know the condition of England -when he said that. If the last piece of gold was -to carry it, the chance lay much on the side of -England. Whilst France was fast sinking in exhaustion -from his enormous wars and lavish -luxury, whilst his people were sunk in destitution, -and trade and agriculture were languishing, -England was fast rising in wealth from commerce, -colonies, and internal industry, and was capable of -maintaining the struggle for an indefinite period.</p> - -<p>Yet it was at this moment that the National -Debt assumed its determinate shape. It had existed, -indeed, since the fraud of Charles I. on the -London merchants by the shutting of the exchequer. -It was now said to be suggested by -Burnet that there were heaps of money hidden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">[466]</a></span> -away in chests and behind wainscots for want of -safe and convenient public security, and that, by -Government giving that security at a fixed percentage, -it might command any amount of money -by incurring only a slight increase of annual -taxation for the interest. The idea itself, however, -was familiar to William, for the Dutch had -long had a debt of five million pounds, which was -regarded by the people as the very best security -for their money. Accordingly, a Bill was passed -on the 3rd of January, 1693, for raising a million -by loan, and another million by annuities, which -were to be paid by a new duty on beer and other -liquors; and thus, with a formal establishment of -the National Debt, closed the year 1692.</p> - -<p>The opening of 1693 was distinguished by a -warm debate on the liberty of the press. The -licensing, which was about to expire, was proposed -for renewal. The eloquent appeal of Milton, in -his "Areopagitica," that all books which bore the -names of the author or publisher should be -exempt from the power of the licensers, had -hitherto produced no effect; but now circumstances -occurred which drew the subject into -notice, and raised many other voices in favour of -such exemption. In the Lords, Halifax, Mulgrave, -and Shrewsbury warmly advocated the -principles of Milton; but though the Bill passed, -it was only by a slight majority, and with a -protest against it, signed by eleven peers; nor was -it to pass for more than two years. The circumstance -which roused this strong feeling was, that -Burnet had published a pastoral letter to the -clergy of his diocese, recommending them to take -the oaths to William and Mary, in which, -amongst their claims to the throne, he had unfortunately -mentioned that of conquest. This had -escaped general attention till the Royal Licenser, -Edmund Bohun, a high Tory, who had taken the -oaths on this very plea that the king and queen -had won the throne by conquest, fell into the -trap of one Blount, whose works he had refused to -license. This man wrote an anonymous pamphlet -with the title, "King William and Queen Mary -Conquerors." The unlucky censor fell into the -trap, and licensed it. Then the storm of Whig -indignation broke over his head. He was summoned -before Parliament and committed to -custody. The book was ordered to be burnt by -the hangman, and the House unanimously passed -a resolution praying his Majesty to dismiss him -from his office. The unfortunate licenser was -then discharged on his own petition, after having -been reprimanded on his knees by the Speaker. -Burnet's pastoral letter was likewise ordered to be -burnt by the hangman, much to the bishop's -shame and mortification. But the liberty of the -press was achieved. When the Two Years Act -maintaining the censorship expired, the Commons -refused to renew it. William prorogued Parliament -on the 14th of March, and prepared to -set out for the Continental campaign.</p> - -<p>William, on his part, had more than his -usual difficulty in bringing his Allies into the -field. Indeed, they were far more occupied in -their petty feuds than thinking of presenting a -sufficient front to the great enemy who, if successful, -would tread them all down in their own -territories as Buonaparte afterwards crushed their -posterity. The Courts of Baden, of Saxony, -of Austria, and of the lesser Powers, were all -quarrelling amongst themselves. The Northern -Powers were still trying to weaken the Allies, and -so form a third party; and on the side of Italy, -Savoy was menaced by numerous forces of France, -and ill-supported by Austria. The Prince of -Hesse had neglected to furnish his quota, and yet -wanted a chief command. The Prince of Baden -and the Elector of Saxony were at strife for the -command of the army of the Rhine. When -William had brought all these wretched and -provoking Allies into some degree of order, he -mustered seventy thousand men in the field, and -Louis came against him with a hundred and -twenty thousand.</p> - -<p>Louis marched himself with his army with all -the pomp and splendour that he could assume. -He brought all his Court with him, as if his -officers should be stimulated to the utmost by -having to fight under the very eyes of their king -and the courtiers and ladies, Madame de Maintenon -amongst them. Louis's plan of action was -precisely what it had been in the two previous -campaigns. As he had suddenly invested Mons -and Namur by overwhelming forces, before his -enemy could approach, he now proposed to surprise -and take Brussels or Liége, and so carry off -the glory of the exploit both from the Allies and -his own general, Luxemburg. This was a cheap -and easy way of securing fame without danger; -but this time William was too quick for him. -Louis arrived at the commencement of June at -Namur, where his ladies held a brilliant court. -But William had taken up a strong position at -Parke, near Louvain, and thrown reinforcements -into Maestricht, Huy, and Charleroi. Louis perceived -that he was checkmated, and his desire of -acquiring still more martial honours suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">[467]</a></span> -evaporated. Nothing but hard fighting could -make an impression on his stubborn antagonist, -and for that Louis had no fancy. He determined, -therefore, to return to Versailles with -his ladies and his Court, and leave Luxemburg -to fight it out. The alarm at this proposal in the -camp was intense. Luxemburg represented to -Louis that it would have the certain effect of -damping the spirits of the soldiers, and raise those -of the enemy. He reminded him that now he had -nothing to do but to bear down upon the Allies -with all his powers, and sweep them away by -mere momentum, and put an end to the war. -But all his entreaties were lost on the Grand -Monarque, who had rather steal a victory than -win one. He not only persisted in going, but -he weakened the forces of Luxemburg by dispatching -the division of Boufflers, amounting to -twenty thousand men, which he had taken under -his own especial command, under Boufflers and -the Dauphin, to join Marshal de Lorges, who had -orders again to ravage the Palatinate.</p> - -<p>But, in reality, Luxemburg was better without -the pompous and voluptuous king. He had no -one now to come between himself and his real -military genius, in which he infinitely excelled -William; and he immediately brought his skill -into play. Before attacking the Allies he resolved -to divide them on the true Macchiavellian principle, -"divide et impera." He therefore made a -feint of marching upon Liége. Liége was one of -the places that it was expected that the French -would aim at securing this campaign, and the inhabitants -had very cavalierly declined to take any -measures for defending themselves, saying it was -the business of the Allies. William, therefore, -put his forces in motion to prevent this catastrophe. -He had advanced as far as Neer-Hespen; -there, however, he heard that Luxemburg had -obtained possession of Huy, which had been -defended by a body of troops from Liége and -Count Tilly, but which, though supported by -another division under the Duke of Würtemberg, -had been compelled to return to Liége.</p> - -<p>William now dispatched twenty thousand men -to reinforce Liége, and thus accomplish the very -thing at which Luxemburg was aiming. The -moment he learnt that William had reduced his -force by this detachment, he marched from Huy -on the 28th of July, and passed the Jaar near -its source with an army exceeding that of the -Allies by thirty-five thousand men. William, now -aware of Luxemburg's design, committed one of -those blunders in strategy, which, except for his -indomitable tenacity of purpose, would long ago -have ruined him. He could have put the deep -river Gerte between him and the enemy; it was -just in the rear. His generals strongly urged him -to do this, where he might have maintained his -position till he had recalled his forces from Liége. -But he would not listen to them. He was afraid -of having to retreat before Luxemburg, and discouraging -his men. He set about, therefore, instantly -to strengthen his then position. It was -naturally strong; on his right hand lay the -village of Neer-Winden amongst a network of -hedges, and deep lanes, with a small stream winding -through it; on his right lay the village of -Romsdorff, on a brook named the Landen, whence -the battle took its name. William ordered an -entrenchment to be thrown up from one village -to the other, and mounted with a formidable -rampart of stakes. Batteries were raised along -this breastwork, and the two villages were made -as strong as the time would allow.</p> - -<p>The Allies commenced immediately a cannonade -with a hundred pieces of cannon on the ramparts, -which did great execution; but the French soon -returned the compliment, and about eight o'clock -made a furious attack on the villages of Lare and -Neer-Winden. These places were several times -lost and regained. In one of the assaults the Duke -of Berwick was taken prisoner. Perceiving himself -surrounded by the English, he plucked off his -white cockade, and endeavoured to pass himself off -as an English officer. His English tongue might -have served him, but he had fallen under the eye -of his uncle, Brigadier Churchill, who received him -affectionately, and conducted him to William, who -addressed him with courtesy, but never saw him -again, as he was immediately after the battle exchanged -for the Duke of Ormond, who was -wounded and taken prisoner in the action. Meanwhile -the battle was raging fiercely all along the -line. The French repeatedly rushed up to the -breastworks, and were as often driven back by the -slaughtering fire of the infantry. A fresh attack -was made on Neer-Winden, supported by the -division under the Duke of Bourbon, but which -was repulsed with terrible carnage. Then Luxemburg -called together his staff to consult, and it -was resolved to try one more assault on Neer-Winden -with the famous Household Troops, -which had carried the day at Mons and Namur. -William met them at the head of several English -regiments, which charged the Household Troops -with such impetuosity that, for the first time, they -were forced to give way. But whilst William was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">[468]</a></span> -exerting himself on the right, with a desperation -and a risking of his person which astonished everyone, -the centre had become much weakened, and a -murderous fight was going on at Romsdorff, or -Neer-Landen, on the left. There the Prince of -Conti renewed the flagging contest by bringing up -some of the finest regiments of the French infantry, -whilst Villeroi there encountered the Bavarian -cavalry, under Count D'Arco. In this <em>mêlée</em> the -Duke of Chartres narrowly escaped being taken. -Whilst the battle was thus obstinately disputed, the -Marquis D'Harcourt brought up two-and-twenty -fresh squadrons from Huy, which falling on the -English, Dutch, and Hanoverians struggling against -the united onslaught of Luxemburg, Marsin, and -Marshal de Joyeuse, bore them down by actual -numbers. The whole line gave way; and now was -seen the folly of William leaving the river in his -rear instead of having it in front. The confusion -became terrible to escape over the bridge, and a -frightful carnage must have followed had not -William, with the regiments of Wyndham, Lumley, -and Galway, borne the brunt of the pursuing host -till the rest of his army got over the bridge of Neer-Hespen. -As it was, the rout and disorder were -dreadful; numbers flung themselves into the river, -but found it too deep, and were drowned. The -Duke of Ormond was here severely wounded. Here, -too, Solmes, mortally wounded, was seized by the -enemy. The "English bulldogs" did not mourn -his loss. If William by his want of judgment had -led his troops into this trap, he did his best to get -them out of it. He repeatedly dismounted to -encourage his men, inciting them by voice and -example to stand up to the enemy. He had two -led horses shot close behind him; one bullet passed -through his hat, another through his sleeve, and a -third carried away the knot of his sash. At length -he got his army over the bridge, and encamped on -the other bank of the river. The French did not -attempt to pursue; they were worn out with -their violent exertion, and passed the night on -the field of battle amongst the heaps of slain -and wounded. The next morning presented the -most appalling scene of butchery, unequalled by -any battle of that epoch, except that of Malplaquet. -Twenty thousand men are said to have -perished in this bloody struggle, about an equal -number on each side. On the French side fell -Count Montchevreuil and the Duke D'Uzes, the -premier peer of France. Luxemburg, exhausted -with this effort, remained fifteen days at Waren, -reorganising his shattered forces; and William -employed the time in a similar manner, recalling -the troops from Liége and from other places; so -that in a short time he was again ready for action, -his headquarters being Louvain.</p> - -<p>The battle of Landen was the great event of the -campaign of 1693. When Luxemburg was rejoined -by Boufflers from the Rhine, he invested -Charleroi, and that with so much adroitness that -William was not able to prevent him. Charleroi -capitulated on the 11th of October, and Louis -ordered a <em>Te Deum</em> and other rejoicings for this -fresh triumph. But though he professed to -triumph, he had little cause to do so. He had -formerly overrun Holland, Flanders, or Franche-Comté -in a single campaign, and sometimes -without a battle; now he had beaten the Allies at -Fleurus, Steinkirk, and Landen, and yet here they -were as ready to fight him as ever. His country -was sinking into the very depths of misery and -destitution, the campaign had cost him ten thousand -men, and though he had taken sixty cannon, -nine mortars, and a great number of colours and -standards, he could not advance twenty miles in -the direction of the United Provinces without -running the risk of a similar decimation of his -troops. It was a humiliating position, after all. -After the surrender of Charleroi both armies went -into winter quarters.</p> - -<p>If the affairs of England had been unsuccessful -by land, they had been most disastrous by sea. -Before leaving for Holland William ordered that -Killigrew and Delaval should, with their whole -fleet, amounting to nearly a hundred sail, get out -to sea early, and blockade the French fleets in -their ports, so as to allow our merchantmen to -pursue their voyages with security. Our ports -were crowded with trading vessels, which had long -been waiting to sail to the Mediterranean and -other seas with cargoes. About the middle of -May the admirals united their squadrons at St. -Helens, and, being joined by a considerable -number of Dutch men-of-war, they took on board -five regiments of soldiers, intending to make a -descent on Brest. No less than four hundred -merchantmen were ready to start, and on the 6th -of June the united fleet put out from St. Helens -to convoy them so far as to be out of danger of -the French fleets, when Sir George Rooke was to -take them forward to the Mediterranean under -guard of twenty sail. But the French appear to -have been perfectly informed of all the intentions -of the English Government from the traitors about -the Court, and the English to have been perfectly -ignorant of the motions of the French. Instead -of Tourville allowing himself to be blockaded in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_469" id="Page_469">[469]</a></span> -Brest, and D'Estrées in Toulon, they were already -out and sailing down towards Gibraltar, where they -meant to lie in wait for the English.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_469.jpg" width="402" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LOUIS XIV.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_469big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The united fleet of the Allies having, therefore, -accompanied Rooke and the merchantmen about -two hundred miles beyond Ushant, returned. -Rooke did not think they were by any means -certain of their enemies being behind them, and -earnestly entreated the admirals to go on farther, -but in vain. They not only turned back, but -went home, without making the slightest attempt -to carry out the attack on Brest. When they -reached England it was well known that Tourville -had recently quitted Brest, and was pursuing his -course south to join D'Estrées. The consternation -and indignation were beyond bounds. A swift -vessel was despatched to overtake and recall Rooke -and the merchant vessels if possible. But it is -proverbial that a stern chase is a long chase. It -was impossible to come up with Rooke; he had -reached Cape St. Vincent, and there learnt that a -French fleet was lying in the Bay of Lagos; but, -imagining that it was only a detached squadron, -he went on, till on the 16th of June he perceived -before him the whole French fleet, amounting to -eighty vessels.</p> - -<p>As to engaging such an unequal force, that would -have been a wilful sacrifice of himself and his -charge. The Dutch Admiral Vandergoes agreed -with him that the best thing was for the merchant -vessels to run into the Spanish ports Faro, San -Lucar, or Cadiz, as best served them, others were -too far out at sea; these he stood out to protect -as long as he could, and they made, some for Ireland, -some for Corunna and Lisbon. He himself -then made all sail for Madeira, which he reached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_470" id="Page_470">[470]</a></span> -in safety. Two of the Dutch ships, being overtaken -by the French, ran in shore, and thus -drawing the French after them, helped the others -to get off. Captains Schrijver and Vander Poel -fought stoutly as long as they could, and then surrendered. -The French commander Coetlegon took -seven of the Smyrna merchantmen, and sank four -under the rocks of Gibraltar. The loss to the -merchants was fearful. The news of this great -calamity spread a gloom over the City of London, -and many were loud in attributing disloyalty to -Killigrew and Delaval, probably not without cause, -for that they were in correspondence with St. Germains -is only too certain.</p> - -<p>Sir George Rooke returned from Madeira to -Cork, which he reached on the 3rd of August, his -ships of war and the traders which had followed -him for safety numbering fifty vessels. Leaving -the rest of his ships to convoy the merchantmen to -Kinsale, he returned to the fleet, which was -cruising in the Channel, and which now returned -to St. Helens, where they had already landed the -soldiers. About the same time a squadron, which -had gone out to seize the island of Martinique, -under Sir Francis Wheeler, after coasting Newfoundland -and Canada, returned totally unsuccessful. -The Dutch set sail for Holland on the 19th -of September, and thus terminated this inglorious -naval campaign.</p> - -<p>On the 7th of November Parliament met. -William had a poor story of his campaign to relate, -but he attributed his defeat to the enormous -exertions which Louis had made, and on that -plea demanded still greater efforts from England. -He asked that the army should be raised to a -hundred and ten thousand men, and the navy proportionably -augmented. He complained bitterly -of the mismanagement of the fleet, and the Commons -immediately proceeded to inquire into the -cause of it. The Whigs made a vehement charge -of treachery and neglect against Delaval and Killigrew; -the Tories, to defend them, threw the -blame on the Admiralty. Lord Falkland, who -was Chief Commissioner, was proved by Rainsford, -the Receiver of the Navy, to have embezzled a -large sum, and it was moved that he be committed -to the Tower. This, however, was overruled, but -he was reprimanded in his place. The Lords then -took up the same examination, and endeavoured to -turn the blame from the Earl of Nottingham to -Sir John Trenchard, the Whig secretary. Nottingham -declared that early in June he received -a list of the French fleet from Paris, and the time -of their sailing, and handed it to Trenchard, whose -duty it was to send the orders to the admirals. -But Trenchard was in his turn screened by the -Whigs. The matter was again taken up by the -Commons, and Lord Falkland was declared guilty -of a high misdemeanour and committed to the -Tower, whence, however, in two days he was released -on his own petition. Robert Harley—destined -to make a great figure in the succeeding -reign—Foley, and Harcourt, all of whom from -being Whigs had become Tories, presented to the -House a statement of the receipts and disbursements -of the revenue, which displayed the -grossest mismanagement. But the farther the -inquiry went, the more flagrant became the discoveries -of the corruption of both Ministers and -members of Parliament, through bounties, grants, -places, pensions, and secret-service money; so that -it was clear that Parliament was so managed that -Ministers could baffle any Bill, quash any grievance, -and prepare any fictitious statement of -account. The result was that William was compelled -to dismiss Nottingham, and to place Russell -at the head of the Admiralty. The seals which -Nottingham resigned were offered to Shrewsbury, -but were not at once accepted.</p> - -<p>Having expressed their feelings on the mismanagement -and treachery of the past year, the -Commons proceeded to vote the supplies for the -next, and in this they showed no want of confidence -in the king. They did not, indeed, vote him -his hundred and ten thousand troops, but they -voted eighty-three thousand one hundred and -twenty-one, but not till they had called for the -treaties existing between William and his Allies, -and the quota which every one was to furnish. To -defray the charge, they voted five millions and a -half, in nearly equal proportions between the army -and the navy, including four hundred thousand -pounds to pay the arrears of the Session; and -this they ordered to be raised by a land tax of four -shillings in the pound, and a further excise on -beer, a duty on salt, and a lottery. This was a -profusion which would have made the country -stand aghast under the abhorrent rule of James, -and the force was nearly double that with which -Cromwell had made himself the dread of Europe.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_470.jpg" width="373" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE FOUNDING OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND, 1694.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">From the Original Design by GEORGE HARCOURT for the Wall Panel in the Royal Exchange.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_470big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>These matters being settled, the Commons considered -the popular questions of the Bill for Regulating -the Trials for High Treason, the Triennial -Bill, and the Place Bill. None of these Bills were -made law. The Triennial Bill and the Bill for Regulating -the Trials for High Treason were lost; -the Place Bill was carried, but William refused to -ratify it, under the idea that it was intended to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_471" id="Page_471">[471]</a></span> -abridge his prerogative. The excitement in the -Commons was intense. It was resolved to address -his Majesty, and such an address was drawn up -and presented by the whole House. William received -them very graciously, but conceded nothing, -and Harley declared, on returning to the House, -that the king's answer was no answer at all. -Menaces of showing their power on the next -occasion by stopping the supplies were thrown out, -and it was proposed to go up to his Majesty again -to demand a more explicit answer; but the Whigs -represented the danger of thus encouraging the -hopes of the Jacobites by the prospect of a breach -between King and Parliament, and the matter -dropped.</p> - -<p>The question of the charter of the East India -Company was again warmly debated. The feud -between the old and the new Company had grown -so violent that the old Company, fearing Government -might be induced to grant a charter to the -new Company, had put forth all its powers of -bribery, and had succeeded. But the former -had somehow neglected the payment of the tax -on joint-stock companies, by which, according to -the terms of the Act, their charter was forfeited. -The new Company eagerly seized on this circumstance -to prevent a renewal of the charter; but -the old Company put nearly one hundred thousand -pounds at the disposal of Sir Thomas Cook, one of -their members, and also member of Parliament, -and by a skilful distribution of this sum amongst -the king's Ministers, Caermarthen and Seymour -coming in for a large share, they succeeded in -getting their charter renewed.</p> - -<p>The new Company and the merchants of London -were exasperated at this proceeding. They published -an account of the whole transaction; they -represented that the old Company was guilty of -the grossest oppression and the most scandalous -acts of violence and injustice in India and its -seas; they asserted that two of their own ships -had exported in one year more cloths than the old -Company had exported in three years; and they -offered to send more the next year of both cloths -and other merchandise than the Company had sent -in five; but the bribes prevailed, and the old Company -obtained its charter—not very definite in its -terms, however, as regarded its monopoly, and -subject to such alterations and restrictions within -a given time as the king should see fit. At this -juncture the old Company were imprudent enough -to obtain an order from the Admiralty to restrain -a valuable ship called the <em>Redbridge</em>, lying in the -Thames, from sailing. Her papers were made out -for Alicante, but it was well known that she was -bound for the Indies. The owners appealed to -Parliament, and Parliament declared the detention -of the vessel illegal, and, moreover, that all subjects -of England had a right to trade to the -Indies, unless prohibited by Act of Parliament. -Encouraged by this decision, the new Company -prayed the Commons to grant them a direct -sanction to trade thither, and the old Company, on -their part, prayed for a Parliamentary sanction to -their charter; but no decision in either case was -come to, and for some years scenes of strange contention -continued to be enacted between the rival -Companies and free traders in the seas and ports -of those distant regions.</p> - -<p>The last Act of this Parliamentary session -proved the most important of all; it was the -establishment of the Bank of England. Banking, -now so universal, was but of very recent introduction -to England. The Lombard Jews had a -bank in Italy as early as 808; Venice had its bank -in 1157; Geneva in 1345; Barcelona in 1401. -In Genoa, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and -Rotterdam there had long been banks, but in -England men had continued, till within a very -short time previous to this period, to hoard and -pay out their own money from their own strong -boxes. The goldsmiths of Lombard Street had of -late become bankers, and people began to pay by -orders on them, and travellers to take orders from -them on foreign banks. It was now beginning to -be strongly agitated to establish joint-stock banks, -and there were various speculative heads at work -with plans for them. One Hugh Chamberlayne -and his coadjutor, John Briscoe, published a -scheme of a land bank, by which gentlemen were -to give security for their notes on their land; on -the principle that land was as real and substantial -property as gold. But the extravagant and unsound -views as to the actual value of land which -they promulgated ruined their credit. Because -an estate was worth twenty thousand pounds at -twenty years' purchase, they argued that it was -worth that every twenty years, and, therefore, -could be immediately convertible at the same rate -for any number of years—as if they could put a -hundred years' purchase in the first twenty, and -raise the hundred years' value, or one hundred -thousand pounds, on it at once.</p> - -<p>There was, however, a more sober and shrewd -projector, William Paterson, a calculating Scotsman, -who in 1691 had laid before Government a -plan for a national bank on sound and feasible -principles. His scheme had received little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_472" id="Page_472">[472]</a></span> -attention, but now, though a million of money was -raised by the lottery, another million was needed, -and Paterson secured the attention of Charles -Montague, a rising statesman, to his scheme. -Paterson represented that the Government might -easily relieve itself of the difficulty of raising this -money, and of all future similar difficulties, by -establishing a national bank, at the same time -that it conferred the most important advantages -on the public at large. He had already firmly -impressed Michael Godfrey, an eminent London -merchant, and the brother of the unfortunate Sir -Edmundsbury Godfrey, with the immense merits -of his scheme. They now submitted these -merits, and the particularly attractive one to a -young politician of raising himself by a happy -mode of serving the Government, and acquiring -immediate distinction for practical sagacity. -Montague was a young man of high family, but a -younger brother's younger son—poor, clever, accomplished, -and intensely ambitious. At Cambridge -he had distinguished himself as a wit and a -versifier; but he was now in the Commons, and -had made a rapid reputation as an orator and -statesman by his management of the Bill for Regulating -the Trials for High Treason. This man—vain, -ostentatious, not too nice in his means of -climbing, but with talents equal to the most -daring enterprise, and who afterwards became -better known as the Earl of Halifax—saw the -substantial character of Paterson's scheme, and -took it up. Whilst he worked the affair in Parliament, -Godfrey was to prepare the City for it.</p> - -<p>Montague submitted the scheme to the Committee -of Ways and Means, and as they were at -their wits' end to raise the required million, they -caught at it eagerly. The proposed plan was to -grant a charter to a company of capitalists, under -the name of the Governor and Company of the -Bank of England. This company was to have -authority to issue promissory notes, discount bills -of Exchange, and to deal in bullion and foreign -securities. Their first act was to be to lend the -Government twelve hundred thousand pounds, at -eight per cent., and to receive, as means of repayment, -the proceeds of a new duty on tonnage, -whence the bank at first received the name of the -Tonnage Bank. The Bill for establishing this -bank was introduced ostensibly to Parliament as a -Bill for imposing this new duty on tonnage; the -charter of the proposed bank being granted in -consideration of its making an immediate advance -on the tonnage duty. In the Commons it underwent -many sallies of wit and sarcasm, as one of -the thousand speculations of the time; but in the -City, where its real character was at once perceived -by the Lombard Street money-dealers, it -was instantly assailed by a perfect storm of execration. -It was declared to be a scheme for -enabling the Government to raise money at any -moment and to any extent, independently of Parliament, -and thus to accomplish all that the -Charleses and Jameses had ever aimed at. To -silence this suspicion, Montague introduced a -clause making it illegal, and amounting to forfeiture -of its charter, for the bank to lend any -money to Government without the consent of the -Parliament. This, however, did not lay the -tempest. It was now denounced as a Republican -institution borrowed from Holland and Genoa, -and meant to undermine the monarchy; it was a -great fact, the objectors urged, that banks and -kings had never existed together.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding all opposition, however, the -Bill passed the Commons; and though it met with -fresh and determined opposition in the Lords, -where it was declared to be a scheme of the -usurers to enrich themselves at the expense of the -aristocracy, on Caermarthen coolly asking them, if -they threw out this Bill, how they meant to pay -the Channel fleet, they passed it; and such was -its success in the City, that in less than ten days -the whole sum required by Government was subscribed. -Such was the origin of that wonderful -institution, the Bank of England. One other -measure of importance was carried by this Parliament, -namely, the Triennial Act, limiting Parliament -to three years.</p> - -<p>Immediately that the Bank of England Bill -had received the royal assent, William prorogued -Parliament, and rewarded Montague for his introduction -of the scheme of the bank, by making him -Chancellor of the Exchequer. Shrewsbury was -now induced to accept the Seals. William having -shown him that he was aware of his being -tampered with by the agents of James, demanded -his acceptance of them as a pledge of his -fidelity. To secure him effectually—for William -knew well that nothing but interest would secure -Whigs—he conferred on him the vacant Garter -and a dukedom. Seymour was dismissed, and his -place as a Lord of the Treasury was given to -John Smith, a zealous Whig, so that excepting -Caermarthen, Lord President, and Godolphin, -First Lord of the Treasury, the Cabinet was -purely Whig. The old plan of mixed Ministries -was being rapidly abandoned.</p> - -<p>William had closed the session of Parliament<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_473" id="Page_473">[473]</a></span> -on the 25th of April, 1694, and in a few days -he was sailing for Rotterdam. Before going, however, -he had ventured to refuse offers of peace -from Louis. This ambitious monarch, by his -enormous efforts to vanquish the Allies, had -greatly exhausted his kingdom. Scarcely ever had -France, in the worst times of her history, been -reduced so low, and a succession of bad seasons -and consequent famine had completed the misery -of his people. He therefore employed the King -of Denmark to make advances for a peace. He -offered to surrender all pretensions to the Netherlands, -and to agree to the Duke of Bavaria -succeeding to Flanders on the death of the King -of Spain; but he made no offer of acknowledging -William and Mary as rightful sovereigns of -England. Many thought that William ought, -on such conditions, to have made peace, and -thus saved the money and men annually consumed -in Flanders. But Parliament and the -English people both knew Louis far too well to -suppose that the moment that he had recruited -his finances he would not break through all his -engagements and renew the war with redoubled -energy. His people were now reduced in many -places to feed on nettles, and his enemies -deemed it the surest policy to press him whilst in -his extremity.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_473.jpg" width="560" height="427" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>COSTUMES OF THE TIME OF WILLIAM AND MARY.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_473big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Finding that he did not succeed in obtaining -peace, Louis resolved to act on the defensive in -the coming campaign in every quarter except in -Catalonia, where his whole fleet could co-operate -with the Count de Noailles, the commander of his -land forces. William, who had received intelligence -of this plan of the campaign, before his departure, -ordered the British fleet under Russell to prevent -the union of the French squadrons from Brest and -Toulon. Russell was then to proceed to the -Mediterranean to drive the French from the coast -of Catalonia, and co-operate with the Spaniards -on land. Meanwhile, the Earl of Berkeley, with -another detachment of the fleet, was to take on -board a strong force under the command of -General Talmash, and bombard Brest in the -absence of Tourville. All this was ably planned, -but the whole scheme was defeated by the treachery -of his courtiers: by Godolphin, his own -First Lord of the Treasury, and by Marlborough,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_474" id="Page_474">[474]</a></span> -against whom the most damning evidence exists. -Macpherson and Dalrymple, in the State papers -discovered by them at Versailles, have shown that -the whole of William's plans on this occasion -were communicated to James by Godolphin, Marlborough, -and Colonel Sackville, and have given us -the strongest reasons for believing that the preparations -of the fleet were purposely delayed by -Caermarthen, the new Duke of Leeds, Shrewsbury, -Godolphin, and others, letters for that purpose -being discovered addressed to them by James -through the Countess of Shrewsbury.</p> - -<p>But of all the infamous persons thus plotting -against the sovereign they had sworn to serve, and -from whom they had many of them just received -the highest honours that the Government could -bestow, none equalled in infamy the detestable -Marlborough. This man, who was professing -allegiance at the same time to both William and -James, and who would have betrayed either of -them for his own purposes, was indefatigable in -hunting out the king's secrets, and dispatching -them with all haste, enforcing the disgrace of his -own country and the massacre of his own countrymen -with all his eloquence—the sole object being -his own aggrandisement. Talmash was the only -general who could be compared with him in -military talent. Talmash betrayed and disgraced, -Marlborough, who was suspected and rejected by -William for his treason, felt sure he himself -must be employed. Accordingly, he importuned -Russell for a knowledge of the destination of the -fleet; but Russell, who probably by this time had -found it his interest to be true to his sovereign, -refused to enlighten him. But Marlborough was -not to be thus defeated in his traitorous designs. -He was on most intimate terms with Godolphin, -and most likely obtained the real facts from -him. Godolphin, indeed, had already warned -the French through James of the intended blow, -and Marlborough followed up the intelligence -by a letter dated the 2nd of May, in which -he informed James that twelve regiments of infantry -and two regiments of marines were about -to embark under command of Talmash, in order -to destroy Brest.</p> - -<p>This diabolical treason had its full effect. -Tourville had already sailed. He left Brest on -the 25th of April, and was at this moment in the -Straits of Gibraltar, which he passed on the 4th -of May. Brest was defenceless; but Louis, thus -apprised of his danger, instantly sent the great -engineer of the age, Vauban, to put the port into -the best possible state of defence, and dispatched -after him a powerful body of troops. The -weather favoured the traitors and the French. -The English fleet was detained by contrary winds; -it did not quit St. Helens till the 29th of May. -On the 5th of June the fleet was off Cape Finisterre, -where a council of war was held, and the -next day Russell sailed for the Mediterranean -with the greater part of the fleet. Lord -Berkeley with the remainder, having on board -General Talmash and his six thousand troops, -turned his prows towards Brest. But by this -time the town was in full occupation by a great -body of soldiers, and Vauban had planted -batteries commanding the port in every direction, -in addition to eight large rafts in the harbour well -supplied with mortars. In fact, there were no -less than ninety mortars and three hundred -cannons; all the passages under the castle were -made bomb-proof, and there were at least five -thousand infantry and a regiment of dragoons in -the place. The English had no friendly traitors -amongst the French to act the Marlborough and -apprise them of all these preparations; and they -rushed blindly on the destruction which their own -perfidious countrymen had organised for them. -The greater part of the unhappy men were -slaughtered, and Talmash was shot through the -thigh, and borne off to the ships. Talmash -died in a few days, exclaiming that he had been -betrayed by his own countrymen. He was -so, more absolutely than he or even most of his -contemporaries were aware of. The object of -Marlborough was accomplished more completely -than he could have anticipated. His rival was -not disgraced, but destroyed—taken out of his -way; and the hypocritical monster went to -Whitehall to condole with the queen over this -national dishonour and calamity, and to offer -what he truly called "his own unworthy sword." -When the offer was forwarded to William in -Holland, he bluntly rejected it; but Marlborough -ultimately achieved his end, and we ought never -to forget, when we remember Ramillies, Blenheim, -and Malplaquet, that amongst the acts by -which he rose to a dukedom was the massacre of -Camaret Bay.</p> - -<p>On the 9th of November William landed at -Margate, where the queen met him, and their -journey to the capital was like an ovation. On -the 12th the king met his Parliament, and congratulated -it on having decidedly given a check to -the arms of the French. This was true, though -it had not been done by any battle during the -campaign. Russell by relieving Barcelona, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_475" id="Page_475">[475]</a></span> -had been blockaded by two French fleets, had -effaced the defeat of Camaret Bay, and in the -Netherlands, if there had been no battle, there -had been no repulse, as in every former campaign. -He had now no Mons, no Fleurus, no Namur, no -Landen to deplore; on the contrary, he had driven -the French to their own frontiers without the loss -of a man. But he still deemed it necessary to continue -their exertions, and completely to reduce the -French arrogance, and he called for supplies as -liberal as in the preceding year. The Customs -Act was about to expire, and he desired its -renewal.</p> - -<p>The Commons adjourned for a week, and before -they met again Archbishop Tillotson was taken -suddenly ill whilst performing service in the chapel -at Whitehall, and died on the 22nd of November. -With the exception of the most violent Jacobites, -who could not forgive him taking the primacy -whilst Sancroft was living, the archbishop was -universally and justly beloved and venerated. In -the City especially, where he had preached at St. -Lawrence in the Jewry for nearly thirty years, and -where, as we have seen, his friend Firmin took -care to have his pulpit supplied with the most distinguished -preachers during his absence at Canterbury, -he was enthusiastically admired as a preacher -and beloved as a man. The king and queen were -greatly attached to him, and William pronounced -him, at his death, the best friend he ever had, and -the best man he ever knew.</p> - -<p>Tillotson was succeeded by Dr. Tenison, Bishop -of Lincoln. Mary was very earnest for Stillingfleet; -but even Stillingfleet was too High Church -for William. Could he, however, have foreseen -that it was the last request that the queen would -ever make, he would, no doubt, have complied with -it. In a few weeks Mary herself was seized with -illness. She had been worn down by the anxieties -of governing amid the feuds of parties and the -plottings of traitors during the King's absence, and -had now not strength to combat with a strong -disease. The disease was, moreover, the most -fatal which then attacked the human frame—the -small-pox. No means had yet been discovered to -arrest its ravages, and in her case the physicians -were for a time divided in opinion as to its real -character. One thought it measles, one scarlet -fever, another spotted fever, a fourth erysipelas. -The famous Radcliffe at once pronounced it -small-pox. It was soon perceived that it would -prove fatal, and Dr. Tenison was selected to -break the intelligence to her. She received the -solemn announcement with great fortitude and -composure. She instantly issued orders that no -person, not even the ladies of her bedchamber, -should approach her if they had not already had -the complaint. She shut herself up for several -hours in her closet, during which she was busy -burning papers and arranging others. Her sister -Anne, on being apprised of her danger, sent a -message, offering to come and see her; but she -thanked her, and replied that she thought she had -better not. But Mary sent her a friendly message, -expressing her forgiveness of whatever she might -have thought unkindness in Anne.</p> - -<p>In everything else the very enemies of Mary -were compelled to praise her. She was tall, handsome, -and dignified in person, yet of the most mild -and amiable manners; strong in her judgment, -quick in perceiving the right, anxious to do it, -warm in her attachment to her friends, and most -lenient towards her enemies. To her husband she -was devotedly attached; had the most profound -confidence in his abilities, and was more happy in -regarding herself as his faithful wife than as joint -sovereign of the realm. William, on his part, had -not avoided giving her the mortification of seeing -a mistress in his Court in the person of Mrs. -Villiers, yet she had borne it with a quiet dignity -which did her much credit; and now William -showed that, cold as he was outwardly, he was passionately -attached to her. His grief was so excessive -that, when he knew that he must lose her, he -fainted many times in succession, and his own life -even began to be despaired of. He would not -quit her bedside for a moment day or night till he -was borne away in a sinking state a short time -before she expired. After her death he shut himself -up for some weeks, and scarcely saw any one, -and attended to no business, till it was feared that -he would lose his reason. During his illness he -had called Burnet into his closet, and, bursting into -a passion of tears, he said, "he had been the happiest, -and now he was going to be the most miserable -of men; that during the whole course of their -marriage he had never known a single fault in her. -There was a worth in her that no one knew beside -himself."</p> - -<p>Mary died on the 28th of December in the -utmost peace after taking the Sacrament, and -William, deprived of his unselfish wife's support, -was left to carry on his great work alone. But -apart from the loss of popularity entailed by -the death of so able and beloved a consort, it -cannot be said that William's position was altered -by the death of his wife; so completely was he -the master-spirit.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_476" id="Page_476">[476]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> - -<p class="p6">REIGN OF WILLIAM III. (<em>continued</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Rising Hopes of the Jacobites—Expulsion of Trevor for Venality—Examination of the Books of the East India Company—Impeachment -of Leeds—The Glencoe Inquiry—The Darien Scheme—Marlborough's Reconciliation with William—Campaign -of 1695—Surrender of Namur—William's Triumphant Return—General Election and Victory of the Whigs—New Parliament—Re-establishment -of the Currency—Treasons Bill passed—A Double Jacobite Plot—Barclay's Preparations—Failure -of Berwick's Insurrection Scheme—William Avoids the Snare—Warnings and Arrests—Sensation in the House of -Commons—Trial and Execution of the Conspirators—The Association Bill becomes Law—Land Bank Established—Commercial -Crisis—Failure of the Land Bank—The Bank of England supplies William with Money—Arrest of Sir John -Fenwick—His Confession—William ignores it—Good Temper of the Commons—They take up Fenwick's Confession—His -Silence—A Bill of Attainder passes both Houses—Execution of Fenwick—Ministerial Changes—Louis desires Peace—Opposition -of the Allies—French Successes—Terms of Peace—Treaty of Ryswick—Enthusiasm in England.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>The death of Queen Mary raised marvellously -the hopes of the Jacobites and the Court of St. -Germains. Though the Jacobites had charged -Mary with ascending the throne contrary to the -order of succession, they now asserted that William -had no right thereto, and that Mary's claim, however -weak, had been his only colourable plea for -his usurpation. Mary it was whose amiability -and courtesy had reconciled the public to the -government of her husband. His gloomy and -morose character and manners, and his attachment -to nothing but Holland and Dutchmen, they said, -had thoroughly disgusted the whole nation, and -would now speedily bring his reign to an end. He -spent a great part of the year on the Continent; -Mary had managed affairs admirably in his absence, -but who was to manage them now? They must -soon go into confusion, and the people be glad to -bring back their old monarch.</p> - -<p>And truly the wholesale corruption of his Parliament -and ministers served to give some force to -their anticipations. Hardly ever was there a time -when dishonesty and peculation, hideous as they -have been in some periods of our Government -were more gross, general, and unblushing than -amongst the boasted Whigs who had brought -about the Revolution. From the highest to the -lowest they were insatiably greedy, unprincipled, -and unpatriotic—if want of patriotism is evidenced -by abusing the institutions and betraying -the honour of the nation. One of the best of them -died in April, 1695—George Saville, Marquis of -Halifax. He bore the name of "the Trimmer," -but rather because parties had changed than that -he himself had changed. He had discouraged -extreme measures, especially such as were bloody -and vindictive. He had endeavoured to save the -heads of both Stafford and Russell; he had opposed -the virulence of the Whigs in the days of the -Popish plot, and of the Tories in that of the Rye -House Plot. But even he had not kept himself -free from intriguing with St. Germains. Compared, -however, with the unclean beasts that he -left behind, he was a saint.</p> - -<p>The tide of inquiry was now, however, flowing -fast, and higher delinquents were reached by it -every day. In 1695 there was a charge made -against Sir John Trevor, Speaker of the House of -Commons, for receiving a bribe of one thousand -guineas to ensure the passing of the City Orphans -Bill. This was a Bill to enable the Corporation of -London to make a sort of funded debt of the -money of the orphans of freemen which had been -left in their charge, and which they had spent. To -carry this Bill, and cover their criminality, bribes -had been given, not only to Trevor, but to Hungerford, -Chairman of the Grand Committee, and many -others. Trevor—who had been one of Judge -Jeffreys' creatures—was ejected from the Chair of -the House, where he had long made a trade of -selling his influence to the amount of at least six -thousand pounds per annum, besides his salary of -four thousand pounds. For his insolence and greed -he had become universally hated, and there was -great rejoicing over his exposure and expulsion -from the House. Paul Foley, the Chairman of the -Committee of Inquiry, was elected Speaker of the -House in his stead; Hungerford was also expelled; -Seymour came into question. His overbearing -manners had created him plenty of enemies; and -on his remarking on the irregular conduct of a -member, the indignant individual replied that it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_477" id="Page_477">[477]</a></span> -was "certainly wrong to talk during a discussion, -but it was far worse to take money for getting a Bill -passed." The hint thrown out was quickly seized, -and on examining the books of the East India -Company, to which enormous bribery also was -traced, it was found that Seymour had received a -bribe of ten thousand pounds, but under the artful -cover of selling him two hundred tons of saltpetre -for much less than its value. It was, moreover, -sold ostensibly to a man named Colston, but really -to Seymour, so that the House could not expel -him, but a public mark was stamped on his -character.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_477.jpg" width="334" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WILLIAM PATERSON. (<em>Facsimile of the only known Engraving.</em>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_477big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But the examination of the books of the East -India Company laid bare a series of bribes of -Ministers and Parliament men, which made all -the rest dwindle into insignificance. In previous -years there were found items in the books of one -thousand two hundred and eighty-four pounds and -two thousand and ninety-six pounds; but in the -past year, during the great contest with the new -Company, Sir Thomas Cook, who had been empowered -to bribe at his discretion, had expended -on Ministers and Members no less a sum than -one hundred and sixty-seven thousand pounds. -Wharton, himself a most profligate man, pursued -these inquiries on the part of the Commons with -untiring avidity. In order to damp this inquiry, -the guilty parties caused it to be whispered -about that it was best not to press the matter -too far, as a large part of the money might have -been given to the King through Portland. But -nothing could stop the inquest, and it turned out -that large sums had been offered to the King -but had been refused, and that fifty thousand -pounds offered to Portland had also been refused.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_478" id="Page_478">[478]</a></span> -Nottingham, too, had refused ten thousand pounds, -but others had not been so scrupulous. Cook declined -at first to disclose the names of those who -had received the money, but he was threatened -with a Bill to compel him on terms which, had -he persisted, would have ruined him. He then -offered to disclose all on condition that a clause in -the Bill should indemnify him against the consequences -of his disclosures. This was done, and Sir -Basil Firebrace was named as receiving a sum of -forty thousand pounds. When pressed to explain -what had become of this money, the worthy knight -fell into great confusion and loss of memory; but -he was obliged to account for the cash, and then it -came out that he had, through a Mr. Bates, paid -five thousand five hundred guineas to Caermarthen, -now Duke of Leeds. The duke denied having had -the money, and then Bates said he had left it with -one Robarts, a foreign servant of the duke's, to -count it out for him, and this with the duke's -permission. Robarts, however, was so bad at -counting coin, that he had taken half a year to do -it in, and only brought it back on the very morning -that the Committee of Inquiry was formed.</p> - -<p>The duke did not deny that he had got all the -money that he could through Bates from the Company -for others; but this, according to the morals -of that age, was considered quite pardonable. To -take a bribe himself was criminal if found out, to -assist others in selling their votes was venial. -The Commons impeached the duke, but then his -servant Robarts was missing, and as Leeds insisted -on his presence as evidence for him, the impeachment -remained uncarried out. In fact, William, -who, though suffering perpetually from the gross -corruption all around him, was always the first to -screen great offenders, now hastened Parliament to -a conclusion.</p> - -<p>In the following week the Scottish Parliament -commenced its session after an interval of two -years. The Duke of Hamilton was dead, and -John Hay, Marquis of Tweeddale, was appointed -Lord High Commissioner, a man in years, and of -fair character. The question which immediately -seized the attention of the Estates was the massacre -of Glencoe. That sanguinary affair had now -come to the public knowledge in all its perfidy and -barbarity, and there was a vehement demand for -inquiry and for justice on the perpetrators. The -facts which had reached the queen long ago regarding -this dark transaction had greatly shocked -her, and she had been earnest for a searching investigation; -but William, who must now have -been aware that the matter would not bear -the light very well, had not been too desirous to -urge it on. The Jacobites, however, never ceased -to declaim on the fearful theme; and the Presbyterians, -who hated the Master of Stair, who under -James had been one of their worst persecutors, and -was a man without any real religion, were not the -less importunate for its unveiling. Seeing that -the Parliament would now have it dragged to the -light, William made haste to make the movement -his own. He signed a Commission appointing -Tweeddale its head, and sent it down with all haste -to Edinburgh. The Parliament expressed great -thanks to the king for this act of justice, but it -deceived nobody, for it was felt at once that no -Commission would have issued but for the public -outcry, and it was now meant to take it out of the -earnest hands of the Estates, and defeat it as far as -possible; and this turned out to be the case. The -report of the Commission was long in appearing, -and had not the Estates been very firm, it might -have been longer, and have been effectually emasculated, -for the Lord High Commissioner was on -the point of sending it to William, who was now -in the Netherlands, and deeply immersed in the -affairs of the campaign. The Estates insisted on -its immediate production, and Tweeddale was compelled -to obey. It then appeared that several of -the Macdonalds had been admitted to give their -evidence on the atrocities committed in their glen: -and the conclusion was come to that it was a barbarous -murder. The king's warrant, however, was -declared to have authorised no such butchery, and -the main blame was thrown on the Master of Stair -and the Earl of Breadalbane. Undoubtedly Sir -John Dalrymple, the Master of Stair, had urged -on by his letter the massacre of the clan with unflinching -cruelty; but William contented himself -with merely dismissing him from his office.</p> - -<p>To put the Scots Parliament into good humour, -William promised them through the Marquis of -Tweeddale, that if they would pass an Act establishing -a colony in Africa, America, or any other -part of the world where it was open to the English -rightfully to plant a colony, he would grant them -a charter with as full powers as he had done to the -subjects of his other dominions. This was, no -doubt, in consequence of a scheme agitated by -Paterson, the originator of the Bank of England, -for founding a colony on the Isthmus of Darien, -for trading between the Atlantic and Pacific—forming, -in fact, a link of commerce between China -and India, as well as the Spanish States on the -Pacific coasts and Europe. The Act, supposed to -be drawn by Paterson himself, was passed, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_479" id="Page_479">[479]</a></span> -preparations begun for carrying the scheme into -effect, but the expedition did not sail till 1698. -Parliament granted some indulgence to the Episcopalians, -by which seventy of their clergy retained -their livings, and voted a hundred and -twenty thousand pounds for the services of the -State.</p> - -<p>At the moment that William was about to set -out for the Continent, a plot for his assassination -was discovered, but the conspirators were not -brought to trial till the following year.</p> - -<p>William embarked on the 12th of May for -Holland. Before going he had appointed as Lords -Justices to carry on the government in his absence—Archbishop -Tenison; Somers, Keeper of the -Great Seal; Pembroke, Keeper of the Privy Seal; -Devonshire, the Lord Steward; Dorset, the Lord -Chamberlain; Shrewsbury, the Secretary of State; -and Godolphin, First Lord of the Treasury. There -had also been a formal reconciliation between him -and the Princess Anne. Marlborough and his -wife were now all anxiety for this reconciliation. -The queen being gone, and William, from his infirmities, -not being expected to reach a long life, -Marlborough saw Anne at once brought many -degrees nearer the throne. Instead of James ever -returning, the crafty Marlborough felt sure that, -even if William did not succeed in retaining his -popularity, any change would seat, not James, but -Anne on the throne. It was his interest, therefore, -to promote by all means Anne's chance of -succession, because, once on the throne, he felt that -he should be the ruling power. Anne was, therefore, -induced by him and his countess to write a -conciliatory letter to William, proposing to wait on -him and endeavour to console him in his distress. -This had not been done without some difficulty -and delay, but, when once effected, William received -the princess very cordially; gave her the greater -part of the late queen's jewels, restored all her -honours, her name was once more united in the -prayers for the royal family, and the foreign ambassadors -presented themselves at her house. In -one thing, however, Marlborough was disappointed. -William did not appoint Anne regent during his -absence, as he had hoped, because he knew that -that would be simply making Marlborough viceroy. -The King still retained his dislike to the Marlboroughs, -and though he permitted them to reside -again under the same roof with the princess, he -refused for some time to admit Marlborough to -kiss his hand in the circle at Kensington, and -offered him no renewal of his offices and command.</p> - -<p>William entered on the campaign of 1695 under -unusual advantages. Louis of France had reduced -his country to such distress that he was now -obliged to stand on the defensive. The people -were loud in their complaints all over France of -the merciless exactions for the continuance of the -war. They were actually perishing of famine. -Barbessieux, the minister, was not able to devise -resources like the able Louvois, who was gone; -and now Louis had lost by death the great -Marshal Luxemburg, who had won for him -almost all his martial renown. The forces in -Flanders, deprived of their heroic and experienced -head, were badly supplied with provisions, badly -recruited, and to make all worse, Louis, as he had -chosen his prime minister, now selected his general—not -from the men of real military talent, but -from a courtier and man of pleasure—Villeroi. -He was a tall, handsome man, much admired by -the ladies, and a reckless gambler, but totally -unfit to cope with William in the field. Boufflers -was still at the head of a division of the army, but -under Villeroi.</p> - -<p>Louis was apprehensive that the Allies would -make a push at Dunkirk. He therefore ordered a -new line to be drawn between the Lys and the -Scheldt, and every means to be taken to cover -Dunkirk, Ypres, Tournai, and Namur. William -arrived in the camp of the Allies on the 5th of -July, and immediately marched against Villeroi, -who retired behind his lines between Ypres and -Menin. He, however, detached ten thousand men -to support Boufflers, who had advanced as far as -Pont d'Espières. William then sent forward the -Elector of Bavaria to confront Boufflers, who also -retired behind his lines, and the Elector passed the -Scheldt, and posted himself at Kirk. William, -having thus driven the French to the frontiers of -Flanders, then despatched the Baron von Heyden -from the camp of the Elector of Bavaria, along -with Ginkell, to invest Namur. At the same time, -leaving Vaudemont to confront the army of -Villeroi on the border of Flanders, William suddenly -marched also for Namur, the Brandenburgers -having orders to advance from another quarter. -William's hope was, by this ably concerted plan, -completely to invest Namur before any fresh troops -could be poured into it; but Boufflers, perceiving -his design, managed to throw himself into the -city with seven regiments of dragoons, by which -the garrison was raised to fifteen thousand men. -Immediately on the heels of Boufflers arrived -William and the Elector, and encamped on both -sides of the Sambre and Meuse, thus investing the -whole place.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_480" id="Page_480">[480]</a></span></p> - -<p>They began to throw up their entrenchments -on the 6th of July, under the direction of the -celebrated engineer, Cohorn. The city had -always been strong; it had been of late years -made much stronger by Cohorn, and since then -the French had added to its defences. Its castle -was deemed impregnable; the town was full of -provisions and of brave soldiers, and it was regarded -as a somewhat rash act in William to -attempt so formidable a fortress, with the chance -of being taken in the rear by Villeroi at the head -of eighty thousand men. The moment that -Villeroi saw the object of William he began to -put himself in motion to attack Vaudemont, and, -having beaten him, to, advance on Namur. -Vaudemont, however, began to fortify his camp, -and Villeroi's vanguard appearing at Dentreghem, -he entrenched himself on both sides. Villeroi -made sure, nevertheless, of a complete victory -over him, having such a superiority of force, and -he sent word to Louis that he would speedily hear -of a victory. But Vaudemont, perceiving another -body of French advancing from the Scheldt so as -to enclose him, very adroitly drew back, and made -a retreat, much admired by military judges, to -Ghent. This he was able to effect through the -cowardice of Louis's natural son, the Duke of -Maine. Villeroi accordingly advanced unopposed -and brutally bombarded Brussels.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_480a.jpg" width="500" height="246" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FIVE-GUINEA PIECE OF WILLIAM.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>William was all this time—except for a few -days when he was anxiously observing the French -proceedings before Brussels—prosecuting the siege -of Namur with a determined ardour which cost a -terrible amount of human lives. The trenches -had been first opened on the 11th of July, and the -batteries on both sides commenced a furious fire. -This continued for a week, and on the 18th a -storming party, headed by Lord Cutts, consisting -of five battalions of English, Scots, and Dutch, -attacked the works on the right of the counterscarp, -supported by six English battalions under -General Fitzpatrick, whilst nine thousand pioneers -advanced on the left under General Salisch. -Twelve hundred of the Allies fell in this bloody -action, whilst William, looking on in exultation, -thought not of their destruction, but of the bulldog -valour of the British soldiers, exclaiming to -the Elector of Bavaria, "See my brave English! -See my brave English!" They drove in the -enemy, though at a terrible sacrifice.</p> - -<p>On the 30th of July the Elector of Bavaria -attacked Vauban's line that surrounded the -defences of the castle, and broke through it, and -reached even Cohorn's celebrated fort, under -the eyes of Cohorn himself, but could not effect -a lodgment in it. On the 2nd of August -another party of grenadiers, headed by the dare-devil -Lord Cutts, attacked and lodged themselves -on the second counterscarp. The governor, -Count Guiscard, now engaged to give -up the town, time being allowed for the garrison -to retire into the citadel. This being done, -and the Allies having engaged to give up the one -thousand five hundred wounded men left below, -on the 13th the bombardment of the fort commenced -with renewed fury. Both sides fought -with the fanaticism of courage, and committed -great havoc on each other. Boufflers at length -attempted to cut his way through the besiegers in a -headlong sally, but was repulsed, and shut up again.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_480b.jpg" width="500" height="248" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HALF-CROWN OF WILLIAM.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>At this crisis Villeroi's army had reached -Fleurus, and fired ninety pieces of cannon to apprise -the besieged of their vicinity. William -immediately left the conduct of the siege to the -Elector of Bavaria, and drew out a strong force to -confront Villeroi, who was reinforced by a large -body of troops from Germany. This was a most -anxious moment to the people of both England -and France. The armies of the two nations were -drawn out against each other, and covered the -plains of the Sambre and the Meuse. Boufflers -was urging Villeroi to strike a decisive stroke for -his deliverance and the rescue of Namur, and -William had Boufflers in the rear if he was beaten -by Villeroi.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_481" id="Page_481">[481]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_481.jpg" width="560" height="421" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SURRENDER OF BOUFFLERS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_481">481</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_481big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>At Versailles Louis was imploring heaven for -victory, with all his Court on their knees, confessing -and receiving the Eucharist; and in -London the Jacobites, frantic with confident expectation -that now William would be annihilated, -filled the town with all sorts of horrible rumours -and alarms. But after having faced each other -for three days, Villeroi saw that the position and -numbers of the Allies were too formidable, and he -quietly decamped along the river Mehaigne to -Boneffe. As Boufflers was now left without hope -of succour, the Allies informed him of the retreat -of Villeroi and summoned him to surrender without -occasioning more slaughter. But there was a -tradition in the French army that no marshal of -France had ever capitulated, and he stood out -until the English, at the cost of two thousand -men, had effected a lodgment in the place.</p> - -<p>Boufflers now demanded forty-eight hours to -bury his dead, which was granted him; and, in -truth, he had need of it, for his trenches were -choked with the fallen, and his force was already -reduced to about one-third its original strength. -When he entered the town, the garrison mustered -fifteen thousand men; now it was only about five -thousand. When the dead were buried, Boufflers -offered to surrender in ten days if he were not -relieved before; but the Allies would not listen to -anything but an immediate surrender, and he -complied, on condition that the garrison should be -allowed to march out with the honours of war, -but leaving the artillery and stores to the conquerors. -The Allies announced the surrender to -Villeroi by the discharge of their artillery, and -by a running fire of all their musketry three -times repeated. He knew the meaning of it, and -retreated towards Mons.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, on the 26th of August, Boufflers -marched forth with drums beating and flags -flying, William, the Elector of Bavaria, and all -the officers being assembled to witness this gratifying -spectacle. Boufflers lowered his sword in token -of submission to the Elector of Bavaria, and the -troops marched on. Before Boufflers, however, -passed out of the trenches, Dykvelt informed him -that he was the prisoner of the King of England. -Boufflers was highly enraged at what he regarded -as an act of gross perfidy; but he was informed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_482" id="Page_482">[482]</a></span> -that he was detained in consequence of his sovereign -having broken the cartel, and refused to -deliver up the captured garrisons of Dixmude -and Deynze, and that he was held as a hostage for -the faithful discharge of the articles agreed upon. -There was no denying the perfidy of his king, -which had caused this incident, and Boufflers sent -an express to inform Louis, who immediately -returned a promise that the garrisons should be -sent back, and Boufflers was forthwith released. -On his return to Fontainebleau, he was received -by Louis as if he were a conqueror, and created a -duke, with a grant of money to enable him to -support his new rank. The capture of Namur -was the great event of the campaign, and spread -exultation throughout all the countries of the -Allies. It seemed to wipe out the successive -defeats of Mons, Fleurus, Landen, and the former -loss of Namur; it showed the Allies at length victorious, -and Louis discomfited and on the wane.</p> - -<p>William arrived in London from Holland on -the 20th of October. He was received with acclamations, -illuminations, and ringing of bells. -His progress through London and to Kensington -was like that of a conqueror. As if he were -destined to take no rest, that very day the Council -was assembled, and it was concluded to dissolve -Parliament. William, however, had been enjoying -relaxation at Loo, and no doubt this question -of the dissolution of Parliament had been discussed -and arranged prior to his arrival. It was -deemed wiser to take the nation at this moment -when it was in a good humour, than to defer the -dissolution till the 25th of next March, when, by -the Triennial Act, Parliament must expire, and -the public mind might be different. Another -motive was said to operate with William—the -impeachment of Leeds. William was always very -reluctant to bring great delinquents to justice; -but in the case of Leeds there were causes for -this reluctance which we must respect. It was -to Leeds, when he was yet Lord Danby, that -William owed his match with Mary, and Mary -had ever had the greatest regard for Leeds, -who, on his part, had served her assiduously -during the king's absences. A new Parliament -would not be likely to take up again his -impeachment, and, accordingly, the old one was -dissolved, and the new one called for the 22nd -of November.</p> - -<p>This announcement threw into full activity the -newly acquired liberty of the press. Since the -Revolution, despite the restrictions of the censorship, -the press had been extremely busy, and -when it was obliged to work in secret, it had been -all the more venomous. The Jacobites had employed -it to spread sedition and lies, but it now -came forward in favour of the king and the -Constitution. There were tracts on the election, -and besides the old news-letters, there were regular -newspapers which advocated their own views, but -with a decency and moderation which surprised -all parties. Amongst the pamphlets was one—the -last literary effort of Halifax—called, "Some -Cautions Offered to those who are to Choose -Members," which gave some good advice, especially -not to choose lawyers, because they were in -the habit of pleading on both sides, and were sure -to look after their own advancement more than -that of the country; nor officers in the army, who, -the writer thought, were out of place in Parliament, -attempting to do what no man ever can do—serve -two masters. He also warned them against -pensioners and dependents on the Crown, who do -not make good representatives of the people; and -against those who, for reasons best known to -themselves, had opposed the Triennial Bill. -Finally, he bade them seek honest Englishmen, -but warned them that they were not very easy to -find. The constituencies followed his advice, and -the Whig party were victorious. Some of the -members of the late Parliament most opposed -to Government were not returned—as Sir John -Knight, for Bristol, who had been so furious -against William's favourite Dutchmen, and Seymour, -for Exeter. Neither could John Hampden, -who had saved his neck in the Rye House Plot by -the loss of character, and had since shown as -much insolence in Parliament as he did meanness -then, get returned, and in his mortification he -committed suicide—to such degeneracy had fallen -the grandson of the illustrious patriot.</p> - -<p>When Parliament met on the 22nd, they chose -Paul Foley as Speaker of the Commons. The -king, in his speech, again demanded large supplies -for the continuance of the war, and informed them -that the funds granted last Session had fallen far -short of the expenses. This was by no means -agreeable news, and William well knew that there -was a large party in the country which complained -loudly of this system of foreign warfare, which, -like a bottomless gulf, swallowed up all the -resources of the country. But he took care to -flatter the national vanity by praising the valour -of the English soldiers, and by expressing his -confidence that England would never consent to -the French king making himself master of Europe, -and that nothing but the power and bravery of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_483" id="Page_483">[483]</a></span> -England could prevent it. He complained that -his Civil List was fixed so low that he could not -live upon it; and, passing from his own affairs, he -recommended to their consideration the deplorable -state of the coinage.</p> - -<p>When the address came to be considered, some -strong speeches were delivered against the enormous -demands made by the king for this continual -war. Musgrave and Howe represented the -nation as bleeding to death under this Dutch -vampyrism; but William had touched the right -chord in the national character, and an address -of thanks and zealously promised support was -carried. The Commons likewise voted again -above five millions for the services of the year.</p> - -<p>The first business which occupied the attention -of the Commons was the state of the currency. -The old silver coin had become so clipped and -sweated that, on an average, it now possessed -little more than half its proper weight. The consequence -was, all transactions in the country were -in a state of confusion, and the most oppressive -frauds were practised, especially on the poor. -They were paid in this nominal coin, but, when -they offered it for the purchase of the articles -of life, the vendors refused to receive it at more -than its intrinsic worth, by which means the -price of everything was nearly doubled. The -old hammered money was easily imitated, and -whilst the clippers went on diminishing the weight -of the coin, the forgers were as busy producing -spurious imitations of it. The most terrible examples -were made of such coiners, till juries refused -to send such numbers of them to be hanged. -All money-dealers received the coin only at its -value by weight, but paid it out by tale, and thus -made enormous fortunes. The house of Duncombe, -Earls of Feversham, is said to have thus -raised itself from insignificance to a coronet.</p> - -<p>The House of Lords, therefore, took up the -subject of recoinage, and invited the Commons to -unite with them in it; but the Commons, considering -it a matter more properly belonging to -them, went into a committee of the whole House -on the subject. The debate continued for several -days. There was a strong party opposed to recoinage, -on the ground that, if the silver coin were -called in, there would be no money to pay the -soldiers abroad, nor for merchants to take up their -bills of exchange with; that the consequence -would be universal stagnation and misery. But at -this rate the old coin must have stayed out so long -that literally there would none of it be left. It -was resolved to have a new coinage; but Lowndes, -the Secretary of the Treasury, proposed that the -standard should be lowered—in fact, that a nominal -instead of a real value should be impressed upon -it; that ninepence should be called a shilling—as -if thereby any greater value could be given to it. -This mode of raising the price of everything by -lowering the value of the coinage, which would -now be laughed at by the merest tyro in political -economy, had then its partisans; but John Locke -exploded the whole delusion in a little tract -written at the desire of Somers, which showed -all the inconveniences and injustice which would -flow from a lowered standard. There were, however, -other difficulties to be met, and these were, -whether the Government or the public should bear -the loss of the clipped coin, and by what means it -could best be called in. If the Government bore -the loss, and ordered all persons to bring in their -clipped coin and receive full-weighted coin instead, -that would be a direct premium on clipping, and -all the coin would be clipped before it was paid in. -Somers proposed as a remedy to proclaim that all -the hammered coins should henceforth be taken by -Government only by weight; but that, after having -been weighed within three days, every one should -take it back with a note authorising him to receive -the difference between the deficiency of weight and -the full weight at a future time. By this means -Government would have suffered the loss.</p> - -<p>Locke, on the contrary, proposed that Government -should receive all clipped coin up to a day to -be announced, at full value; after that day only at -its value by weight; and something of this kind -was carried by Montague after a debate in the -House. It was ordered that, after a certain day, -no clipped money should pass except in payment -of taxes, or as loans to Government. After another -fixed day, no clipped money should pass in any -payment whatsoever; and that, on a third day, all -persons should bring in all their clipped money to -be recoined, making just what it would, and after -that time clipped money should not be a legal -tender at any value, or be received at the Mint.</p> - -<p>By this plan the holders of clipped money -suffered part of the loss where they could not be in -time; but the public eventually bore the greatest -part of it, for a Bill was brought in to indemnify -Government for its share of the loss, by a duty on -glass windows, which was calculated to raise twelve -hundred thousand pounds. This was the origin of -that window-tax which under William Pitt's -Government grew to such a nuisance.</p> - -<p>In order to meet the demand for milled and unclipped -coin to be given in exchange for the clipped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_484" id="Page_484">[484]</a></span> -coin to be brought in, premiums were offered of five -per cent. on good milled money, and of threepence -per pound on all plate that should be brought in to be -melted into the new coins. The 4th of May, 1696, -was fixed as the last day for receiving the clipped -money in payment of taxes; and early in February -furnaces were at work melting down the old coin -into ingots, which were sent to the Tower in -readiness, and the coining began. Ten of these -furnaces were erected in a garden behind the -Treasury; yet, in spite of every endeavour to prevent -inconvenience, the Jacobites managed to -excite great alarm in the minds of the people. -There was a widespread panic that there would be -grave personal losses and wrongs, and that all receipts -of money would be stopped, and that there -would be general distress. The malcontents -attacked Montague and the other ministers in the -House; the merchants demanded indemnification -for the rise which guineas had taken, namely, from -twenty shillings and sixpence to thirty shillings, in -consequence of the scarcity of the silver coinage; -for a guinea now, instead of purchasing twenty -shillings' worth of their goods, would purchase one-third -more; so that their stocks were reduced one-third -in value till the silver coinage was again -plentiful. Parliament, to remove this cause of -complaint, inserted a clause in the Bill, offering a -premium on plate, fixing the price of a guinea at -two-and-twenty shillings. Still, however, people -imagined that guineas would be scarce, and so gold -would rise, and hoarded them up, which made -them scarce. But Government worked manfully -at the recoining. Mints were set up at York, -Bristol, Exeter, and Chester as well as in London, -and in less than twelve months the coinage was produced -with such success that the English currency, -which had been the worst, was now the best in -Europe.</p> - -<p>The Bill for regulating the trials for high -treason was again brought in, and, being still -steadily refused by the Lords unless with -their clause for granting them the privilege of -trying any of their order by the whole House -of Peers instead of by the Court of the Lord -High Steward, the Commons now gave way, -allowed the clause, and the Bill passed. It -was ordered to come into force on the 25th of -March next, 1696.</p> - -<p>The year 1696 opened with a great Jacobite -plot. James had tried the effect of declarations -proposing to protect the liberties of the subject -and the rights of the Established Church, and -nobody believed him, and with good reason. -Seeing, therefore, that empty pretences availed -nothing, he thought seriously of invasion, and -of something worse—of preparing his way by -the assassination of William. During the winter -of 1695-6 Louis fell into his schemes. In 1694 -two emissaries, Crosley and Parker, had been -sent over from St. Germains to London to -excite the Jacobites to insurrection; but they -had been discovered and imprisoned. Parker -contrived to escape out of the Tower, but -Crosley was examined; but, nothing being -positively proved against him, he was liberated -on bail. It was now resolved to send over -fresh and more important agents—one of these -no less a person than the Duke of Berwick, -James's son, and Sir George Barclay, a Scottish -refugee.</p> - -<p>The fact was that there were two parts of -the scheme. As in the conspiracy of Grey -and Raleigh in the time of James I., there -was "the main plot" and "the bye plot," so there -was here a general scheme for an invasion, and -a particular scheme for the assassination of the -king. This assassination was to come off first, -and an army and transports were to be ready -on the French coast, to take advantage of -the consternation occasioned by the murder. -The management of the general plot was confided -to Berwick, and of the murder plot to -Barclay. Berwick must be supposed to have -been well aware of the assassination scheme from -the first, for both James and Louis were, -and the whole movements of the army and navy -were dependent on it. But if Berwick did -not know of it at first, he was made acquainted -with it in London, as we shall see; but it was -the policy of both Louis, James, and Berwick, -to avoid all appearance of a knowledge which -would have covered them with infamy;—this -was to fall on the lesser tools of their diabolical -scheme, and they were to reap the benefit of it.</p> - -<p>A mode of communication between the Court -of St. Germains and the Jacobites in England -had long been established through a man named -Hunt, who was a noted smuggler. This man -had a house about half a mile from the Sussex -coast, on Romney Marsh. The whole country -round was a boggy and dreary waste, and therefore, -having scarcely an inhabitant, was admirably -adapted to the smuggling in of French goods -and French plots. There Barclay landed in -January and proceeded to London. He was -followed in a few days by the Duke of Berwick, -and very soon by about twenty coadjutors, some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_485" id="Page_485">[485]</a></span> -of whom were troopers of James's guard, amongst -them one named Cassels, another brigadier Ambrose -Rookwood, one of a family which had been -in almost every plot since the Gunpowder Plot, -and a Major John Bernardi, a man of Italian -origin.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_485.jpg" width="560" height="428" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CONSPIRATORS LANDING AT ROMNEY MARSH. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_484">484</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_485big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>James saw and instructed many of these men -himself before they left St. Germains, and furnished -them with funds. He had given Barclay -eight hundred pounds to pay expenses and -engage assistants, which Barclay complained of -as a miserable and insufficient sum. These men -were now informed that they must put themselves -under the orders of Barclay, and they -would easily discover him at evening walking in -the piazza of Covent Garden, and might recognise -him by his white handkerchief hanging from his -pocket. Meanwhile, Barclay had begun to open -communication with the most determined Jacobites. -The first of these were Charnock—who -had originally been a fellow of Magdalen College, -Oxford, but had apostatised, become a violent -papistical agitator, and finally an officer in James's -army—and Sir William Parkyns, a lawyer and -officer of the Court of Chancery, for whilst -plotting against the king, he had sworn fidelity -to him, and was receiving his pay. These men -most gladly united with Barclay, for they had -been engaged in the very same design for some -time. They assured him that there was no chance -of effecting an invasion without preceding it by -dispatching William. But to do this they wanted -first an authority from James, and to be assured -that it would be followed up. Hereupon Barclay -showed them his commission from James.</p> - -<p>As Barclay's myrmidons arrived from France -his hopes grew high; he called them his Janissaries, -and said he trusted they would win a -Star and Garter for him. He wanted forty for -his purposes, and these men made up at once -half the number. Fresh desperadoes rapidly -joined the band, until it was evident that the -number of conspirators was getting far too -numerous, and far too indiscriminate in character -for safety. It was necessary to use haste, -and Barclay tells us he was constantly studying -how and where best to accomplish their object. -He set two of his gang to haunt the neighbourhood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_486" id="Page_486">[486]</a></span> -of the Palace, and to learn what they could -of the king's movements. They went to Kensington -and to every place which William -frequented, to find out the most suitable spot and -opportunity.</p> - -<p>At last the conspirators fixed on Turnham -Green as the best for their detestable purpose. -They learned that when William returned from -hunting he crossed the Thames there by the ferry-boat, -not getting out of his carriage, and that he -did not wait for his Guards, but drove on from -the water side till they overtook him. It was a -low, swampy place, hidden amongst bushes at -the western end of the Green. The conspirators -were now thirty-five, while the King had rarely -more than twenty-five Guards with him. The -day fixed was Saturday, the 15th of February, -for it was on Saturdays that William made these -hunting excursions. As soon as they knew that the -king had started, the conspirators were to follow -in different bodies, and from different directions, -so as to avoid observation. They were to remain -at small public-houses near the crossing-place, -and as soon as their scouts gave them notice of -the king's party approaching the Surrey side of -the river, they were to put themselves in bylanes, -to be ready to intercept him. They were to -be divided into four sets, one headed by Porter, -one by Charnock, a third by Rookwood, and -the fourth by Barclay himself. Two parties were -simultaneously to rush upon the coach as it -passed a cross road, one from each side; Rookwood -was to come from his hiding-place in the -rear, and Barclay to appear in front, and to him -the death of the King was assigned. Horses -and arms were purchased by Barclay for the -occasion, and the horses were kept in different -stables, so as to excite no suspicion.</p> - -<p>All was now in readiness. The Duke of Berwick -had remained in London till matters were -in this position. He had been equally busy in -endeavouring to induce the Jacobite leaders to -rise in arms. He told them that his father, -with ten thousand soldiers, was lying at Calais -ready to cross when this movement was made, -but that the King of France would not consent -to the army crossing till the English had given -proof of their being in earnest to receive King -James in arms. Nor could they think this -unreasonable; he had twice sent expeditions to -co-operate with them, once in 1690, when De -Tourville landed in Devonshire, and again in -1692, when his fleet had come up to the very shore -in expectation of being joined by the English -fleet, but, on the contrary, had been attacked -by that fleet, and the losses at La Hogue suffered -in consequence. They could not expect -Louis to venture his ships and troops again till he -saw a real demonstration for James in England; -then his army would cross at once. But these -representations were all lost on the Jacobites; -they continued to say, "Only let James land with -an army, and we shall be ready to join him." -Berwick returned to France, and hastened to -inform James, whom he met on the way to -Calais to join the invading army, that there was -no chance of a rising in England till a French -army landed, but that he had a confident hope -that the conspirators would succeed in dispatching -William, and then would be the time to cross -over. James went on to Calais to the army -which Boufflers was called from Flanders to -command, and Berwick went on to Versailles -to communicate to Louis the state of affairs, -and all parties waited for the falling of the -blow in England.</p> - -<p>Such was now the position of these two -monarchs and the Duke of Berwick, whom the -Jacobite writers have so confidently endeavoured -to clear of the crime of participating in this base -scheme of assassination. True, Berwick, whilst in -England, would have nothing to do with the conspiracy -itself, because, he declared, it was—not -criminal, no, that was not his objection—but it -was too dangerous, and would probably cause all -engaged in it to be hanged. On the safe side of -the water, therefore, whilst the humbler ruffians -were risking their necks for them, these three -arch assassins waited for the signal that the deed -was done—a fire which was to be lit on one of -the Kentish hills.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the conspiracy was suffering, as -might have been expected, from the admission of -too many colleagues. As the time approached, -Fisher, who had boasted that he would himself -kill one of the king's coach-horses, went and informed -Portland that there was a design of taking -the king's life. Portland at first paid little attention -to this information, but it was soon confirmed -in a manner which left him no alternative but to -apprise the king of it. On the evening of the -14th a Mr. Pendergrass, a Catholic gentleman of -Hampshire, waited on Portland, and assured him -that if the king went on the morrow to hunt he -was certain to be assassinated. Pendergrass said -the king was the enemy of his religion, but that -his religion would not permit him to see such a -thing done without giving him a warning, and he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_487" id="Page_487">[487]</a></span> -entreated Portland to induce the king not to go -out on any account. When pressed to name his -accomplices, he declined, saying they were his -friends, and one of them his benefactor; he would -not betray them. The fact was, that Porter had -sent for Pendergrass up from the country to take -part in the assassination; but, though he was -under great obligations to Porter, he refused. He -would have been ready to unite in an invasion, -but not in a murder.</p> - -<p>The king was with difficulty prevented by Portland -from going, but he did stay, and when it was -announced to the conspirators that the king had -given up hunting for that day, they were a good -deal startled; but, as the weather was assigned as -the cause, they imagined they were still unbetrayed, -and waited for the next Saturday; one of -them, Chambers, a great ruffian, who had been -severely wounded at the battle of the Boyne, and -had a savage malice against William, vowing to -have his life yet or lose his own.</p> - -<p>Between this day and the next Saturday, however, -De la Rue had grown afraid, and went and -gave a warning similar to Pendergrass's. On the -Friday Pendergrass was sent for to the king's -closet, where William was alone with Portland and -Lord Cutts, who had fought so bravely at Namur. -William was very courteous to Pendergrass, and -thanked him for his information, complimented -him as a man of honour, but desired him to name -the conspirators. Pendergrass persisted in his refusal, -except he had the king's assurance that his -information should not cause the destruction of -these men, but only be used to prevent the commission -of the crime. This assurance being -solemnly given, he named them. It does not, however, -appear that this solemn assurance was kept, -for undoubtedly Pendergrass's information was -used for the arrest of the conspirators, and though -he himself was not brought openly forward in -court against them, they were condemned and executed -through that means, so that not using his -evidence openly was a mere quibble; and even this -was laid aside as soon as, at Pendergrass's demand, -they had engaged to use Porter's evidence on condition -of his safety.</p> - -<p>Ignorant of the mine ready charged under their -feet, the conspirators anxiously awaited Saturday, -the 22nd. This time all outwardly bade fair for -success; the usual preparations were made at -the palace for the hunting. There had been during -the week no sign of any agitation or bustle, nor -word dropped which could give the slightest suspicion -that their design was known. The Guards -were sent off to go round by Kingston Bridge to -Richmond, as there was then no bridge nearer. -The king's coach came out to take him away, and -the conspirators were breakfasting at Porter's -lodgings when word was hurriedly brought to -them that the coach had been sent back to -the stables, and the Guards had come galloping -back, saying that a discovery of something terrible -had been made. If the men had not been -infatuated by their zeal for the assassination, as -is very general in such cases, they would now have -made the best of their way into some place of -security. The return of the Guards in such -hurry, and with such rash words, was not very -skilful on the part of the Government if they -meant to take the conspirators; and, as the arrests -were delayed till night, there was ample time for -them to have all got off. But they still flattered -themselves that, though some whisper of the design -had reached the Palace, the actual conspirators -were unknown, and they were only the more bent -on seizing some instant mode of accomplishing -their object.</p> - -<p>That night the king's officers were upon them, -and Charnock, Rookwood, and Bernardi were -taken in their beds. The next day seventeen -more were arrested, and three of the Blues also. -Barclay had had more cunning than the rest; he -had absconded and got safe to France. The Lord -Mayor was sent for to Whitehall, and desired to -put the City into a perfect state of readiness for -action. A council was held; it was agreed to -send for some regiments from Flanders in consequence -of the preparations at Calais; the Earl of -Dorset was sent down to his lieutenancy of Sussex; -Sidney, Lord Romney, Warden of the Cinque -Ports, was also despatched for the guard of the -coast of Kent; and Russell hastened to assume -the command of the fleet. On Monday, the 24th, -the king went to the House of Lords, sent for the -Commons, and announced to the assembled Parliament -the discovery of the plot, and the arrest -of a number of the traitors. The sensation was -intense. The two Houses united in an address of -congratulation for the king's safety, with which -they went in a body to Kensington, and the same -day the Commons passed two Bills, one suspending -the Habeas Corpus, and the other declaring that -Parliament should not be dissolved by the king's -death in case any such conspiracy should succeed. -Sir Rowland Gwyn moved that the House should -enrol itself as an Association for the defence of the -king and country. The idea was instantly seized -by Montague, who saw how immensely it would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_488" id="Page_488">[488]</a></span> -strengthen the Whigs, and the deed was immediately -drawn, and ordered to be ready for signature -the next morning. In this the House bound itself -to defend the king with their own lives against -James and his adherents, and to avenge him on -his murderers in case of such an assassination, and -to maintain the order of succession as fixed by the -Bill of Rights.</p> - -<p>The next morning the members hurried in to -sign the form of Association; and, as some were -not present, it was ordered that all who had not -signed it within sixteen days should be called upon -to do so or formally to refuse. They resolved that -any one who declared the Association illegal -should be held to be a promoter of the wicked -designs of James, and an enemy to the laws -and liberties of the country. They prayed the -king to banish by proclamation all Papists to a -distance of ten miles from the cities of London and -Westminster, and to order the judges to put the -laws in force throughout the country against -Roman Catholics and non-jurors.</p> - -<p>The forms of the Association and the address of -the two Houses were immediately printed and -published, along with a proclamation offering one -thousand pounds reward for the discovery and -apprehension of each of the conspirators, and -one thousand pounds, with a free pardon, to each -of the accomplices who should deliver himself up -and reveal what he knew. One after another -the miscreants were dragged from their hiding-places, -or gave themselves up as king's evidence for -the thousand pounds and free pardon.</p> - -<p>On the 11th of March, Charnock and two -others were placed at the bar of the Old Bailey -before Lord Chief Justice Holt and other -judges. The prisoners demanded that their trials -should be postponed till after the 25th of the -month, when the new Act for trials for treason -came into force, and which allowed counsel to the -accused; but the counsel for the Crown would not -consent to it—a circumstance which does no honour -to William and his ministers, for from them the -order to proceed must now have been given. -All the accused denied that James knew of -or had done anything to sanction the attempt to -assassinate the king; but this assertion neither -agrees with the depositions made by the other -conspirators admitted as evidence, nor with the -facts of the case; and, indeed, Charnock left a -paper, still in the Bodleian Library of Oxford, in -which he declares that the attempt would not have -been justifiable had it not been sanctioned by James; -that his Majesty's commission did fully justify it, -and that it was just as proper to attempt to kill -the Prince of Orange at the head of his Guards, -serving as they did the king whose throne he had -usurped, and who was at war with him, as if he -had been at the head of twenty thousand men. -They had their king's commission for it, and their -king being at declared war, it was quite legitimate -to attack and kill William wherever they could -meet with him. Despite this high assumption, -Charnock, after conviction, offered, if they would -pardon him, to reveal the whole particulars of the -plot, and the names of every one concerned in it; -but there was evidence enough; his offer was not -accepted, and the three were executed at Tyburn -on the 24th.</p> - -<p>The Association into which the Commons had -entered for the defence of the king had not yet -been made law, but a Bill was now brought in -for that purpose. Out of the five hundred and -thirteen members of the Commons, four hundred -had signed it; but on its reaching the Lords exception -was made by the Tories to the words -"rightful and lawful sovereign" as applied to -William. Even Nottingham, who had so long -and faithfully served William, declared that he -could not accept them; that William was king -<em>de facto</em> he admitted, but not king by rightful -succession. He was supported by Rochester, -Normanby, and others; but on the Duke of -Leeds proposing that the words "rightful and -lawful" should be altered to "having right by -law," and no other person having such right, -singularly enough the Tories acquiesced in the -change, though it would not be easy for minds in -general to perceive a distinction between being a -rightful and lawful sovereign and a sovereign who -had a full and, indeed, exclusive right by law. -The Commons retained their own form and the -Lords theirs. The Bill of the Commons was -passed on the 4th of April. It provided that all -such persons as refused the oaths to his Majesty -should be liable to the forfeitures and penalties -of Papist recusants; that all who questioned -William's being "a lawful and rightful sovereign" -should be subject to heavy penalties; that no -person refusing to sign this Association should be -capable of holding any office, civil or military, of -sitting in Parliament, or being admitted into the -service of the Prince or Princess of Denmark. -All magistrates, of course, were included in the -requirements, and some who refused to sign were -dismissed. The Lords were to use their own form, -and with this understanding it passed their House -without delay. The bishops drew up a form for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_489" id="Page_489">[489]</a></span> -themselves, and, according to Burnet, not above a -hundred clergymen all over England refused to -sign. The people everywhere signed the bond -with almost universal enthusiasm, even in the -most Papist districts, as Lancashire and Cheshire.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_489.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>BISHOP BURNET.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_489big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Before this remarkable session closed, a Bill -was brought in to check the corruption of -elections. It had now become common for -moneyed men to go down to country boroughs and -buy their way into Parliament by liberal distribution -of their gold. It was, therefore, proposed -to introduce a property qualification for -members of Parliament; that a member for a -county should be required to possess five hundred -pounds a year in land, and a member for a town -three hundred pounds a year in land. It was -even proposed to adopt the ballot, but that was -rejected. The Bill itself was carried through -both Houses, but William declined to ratify it. -The towns abounded with Whigs, and had stood -stoutly by him, and it appeared to be a sweeping -infringement on their privileges to debar them -from electing men in whom they had confidence -because they were not landed proprietors, though -they might otherwise be wealthy as well as duly -qualified for such duties.</p> - -<p>He ratified, however, another Bill intended for -the benefit of the landed gentry. This was for -the establishment of Hugh Chamberlayne's Land -Bank. Unsound and delusive as the principles of -this scheme were, it had the great attraction to -the landowners of offering them extensive accommodation -and a fancied accession of wealth, and -to William the further advance of a large sum for -his wars. The Bank of England had only furnished -him with one million at eight per cent.;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_490" id="Page_490">[490]</a></span> -this Land Bank was to lend him two millions and -a half at seven per cent. It was ratified by -William, and the Parliament was prorogued the -same day, April the 27th.</p> - -<p>At home the confusion and distress were indescribable, -and lasted all the year. In the spring -and till autumn it was a complete national agony. -The last day for the payment of the clipped coin -into the Treasury was the 4th of May. As that -day approached there was a violent rush to the -Exchequer to pay in the old coin and get new. -But there was very little new ready, and all old -coin that was not clipped was compelled to be -allowed to remain out some time longer. Notwithstanding -this, the deficiency of circulating -medium was so great that even men of large -estate had to give promissory notes for paying old -debts, and take credit for procuring the necessaries -of life. The notes of the new Bank of England -and of the Lombard Street money-changers gave -also considerable relief; but the whole amount of -notes and coin did not suffice to carry on the -business of the nation. Numbers of work-people -of all kinds were turned off because their employers -had not money to pay them with. The -shopkeepers could not afford to give credit to -every one, and, as their trade stagnated in consequence, -they were compelled to sacrifice their -commodities to raise the necessary sums to satisfy -their own creditors. There was a heavy demand -on the poor rates, and the magistrates had orders -to have sufficient force in readiness to keep down -rioting. This distress was aggravated by those -who had new milled money, hoarding it up lest -they should get no more of it, or in expectation -that its scarcity would raise its value enormously, -and that they could pay their debts to a great -advantage, or purchase what they wanted at still -greater advantage.</p> - -<p>The Jacobites were delighted with this state of -things, and did all they could to inflame the people -against the Government, which they said had thus -needlessly plunged the nation in such extreme -suffering. There were numbers of exciting tracts -issued for this purpose, and especially by a -depraved priest named Grascombe, who urged the -people to kill the members of Parliament who had -advocated the calling in of the silver coin. To -make the calamity perfect, the Land Bank had -proved as complete a bubble as Montague and -other men of discernment had declared it would. -The landed gentry wanted to borrow from it, not -to invest in it; its shares remained untaken; and -it found, when the Government demanded the two -million six hundred thousand pounds which it had -pledged itself to advance, that its coffers were -empty; and it ceased to exist, or rather to pretend -to have any life.</p> - -<p>The bursting of the Land Bank bubble was -severely trying to the new Bank of England. -The failure of the one alarmed the public as to -the stability of the other, and the Jacobites and -the Lombard Street rival money-lenders lent their -cordial aid to increase the panic. The Lombard -Street bankers made a vigorous run upon the -bank. They collected all its paper that they -could lay hands on, and demanded instant payment -in hard cash. Immediately after the 4th of -May, when the Government had taken in the bulk -of the money, and had issued out very little, they -made a dead set against the bank. One goldsmith -alone presented thirty thousand pounds in notes. -The bank resolved to refuse the payment of the -notes thus obviously presented in order to ruin it, -and then the Lombard Street bankers exultingly -announced everywhere that the boasted new -institution was insolvent. But the bank, leaving -the Lombard Street goldsmiths to seek a remedy -at law, continued to give cash for all notes -presented by the fair creditors, and the public -steadily supported them in this system, and condemned -the selfish money-dealers. Montague also -contrived to relieve the tightness to a considerable -extent by availing himself of a clause in the Act -of the Land Bank, empowering Government to -issue a new species of promissory notes, bearing -interest on security of the annual taxes. These -bills, called now and henceforward Exchequer -Bills, were issued from a hundred pounds to five -pounds, and were everywhere received with -avidity. They also urged on the mints in the -production of the new coinage, and to facilitate -this they made Sir Isaac Newton Master of the -Mint, who exerted himself in his important office -with extraordinary zeal and patriotism.</p> - -<p>In August, William sent Portland over from -Flanders, where the campaign was almost wholly -barren of events, to bring him money for the subsistence -of his troops by some means. The failure -of the Land Bank made his demand appear hopeless; -but the Government applied to the Bank of -England, and, notwithstanding it's own embarrassments, -it advanced to the Government two hundred -thousand pounds on the 15th of August, and -that in hard cash, for it was plainly told that its -paper was of no use in Flanders. Yet to such -extremities was the bank reduced that at the -same time it was obliged to pay its demands by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_491" id="Page_491">[491]</a></span> -three-fourths the value of its notes in cash, marking -that amount as paid on the notes, and returning -them into circulation reduced to one-fourth -of their original value. As the bank, however, so -bravely supported the Government, the Government -determined as firmly to support the bank; -and the public confidence, which had never entirely -failed it, from this moment grew stronger and -stronger. As the year drew towards a close, the -rapidly increasing issue of the new coin began to -reduce the intensity of the distress, and the forbearance -of creditors of all kinds enabled the nation to -bear up wonderfully, much to the chagrin of its -enemies both at home and abroad, where the most -ridiculous stories of English poverty and ruin -were circulated.</p> - -<p>But, except the trouble arising from the -coinage, the great event during William's absence -had been the capture of Sir John Fenwick, and -his examination, with the view of tracing the -further ramifications of the conspiracy in which -he had been engaged. Fenwick, if not engaged -in the assassination scheme, was charged by -Porter and the other king's evidence with being -fully privy to it, and deep in the plot for the -invasion. He was a man of high birth, high -connections, being married to a sister of the -Earl of Carlisle, had held high office in the -state, and was a most indefatigable and zealous -traitor. During the king's absence, and when -the Jacobites were in great spirits, hoping to -drive out William, he had shown the most -marked and unmanly disrespect to the queen. -It was not, therefore, likely that he would escape -the just punishment of his treason if he were -caught. For a long time he managed to conceal -himself, and during his concealment he and his -friends were hard at work to remove the only -witnesses that he dreaded. These were Porter -and a person named Goodman. The Earl of -Aylesbury, who was also in the Tower on a -similar charge, was equally anxious to have -these two men out of the way, and the friends -of both plotters united to get rid of them by -bribery. For this purpose, besides the active -personal exertions of Lady Fenwick, they employed -two Irishmen of their party—one Clancey, -a barber, and Donelagh, a disbanded captain.</p> - -<p>Clancey met Porter at a tavern, and offered -him three hundred guineas down, three hundred -more as soon as he landed in France, and an -annuity of one hundred pounds a year. Porter -was greatly tempted by the offer, and at length -consented to accept it. A day was fixed for the -payment of the first three hundred guineas at -the tavern, but, on reflection in the interval, he -did not like the prospect of having to face at St. -Germains the king whose agents he had betrayed -to death, and the friends and associates of those -agents. He saw that nothing could obtain -their forgiveness, or prevent them from taking -mortal revenge on him. He therefore posted to -the Secretary of State, and revealed the whole -affair. The necessary measures were taken, and -Porter attended punctually at the meeting with -Clancey. He received the three hundred guineas, -and then, giving a concerted signal, the officers -of Government rushed in and secured Clancey, -who was tried for subornation, convicted, and -set in the pillory.</p> - -<p>This discovery, through the double treachery -of Porter, alarmed Fenwick for his personal -safety. He no longer deemed himself secure in -the kingdom, for he had taken such part in -the attempt to win over Porter—writing a letter -for him to take with him to St. Germains to -secure his good reception there—that it was too -obvious that he was not far off. Porter was indemnified -for his loss of the promised annuity by a -much better one from William's government—no -less than two hundred and fifty pounds a -year—and would undoubtedly, if possible, hunt -out Fenwick. Sir John, therefore, made prompt -arrangements for his own escape to France. -There was no time to be lost; he was indicted -at the next sessions in the City for treason. -Porter and Goodman gave evidence before the -grand jury, who returned a true bill. Sir John -managed to escape to near Romney Marsh, where -a vessel was to take him off, but, unfortunately, -on the way he met an officer, who had been apprehending -two smugglers. The man knew him, -and offered the smugglers a pardon and reward -to assist in seizing him. Sir John fled, and they -pursued; and he is said to have been taken in -the end near Slyfield Mill, between Stoke -Dabernon and Bookham, in Surrey.</p> - -<p>Sir John had contrived, after being taken, to -write a letter to his wife, by one Webber who -was with him, in which he declared that all was -now over unless she could get her relatives, the -Howards, to intercede for him. They might -promise for him that he would spend his life -abroad, and would pledge himself never to draw -a sword against the present government. If -that could not be done, the only chance left -was to bribe a juryman to starve out the jury.</p> - -<p>This letter was intercepted, and when Sir John<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_492" id="Page_492">[492]</a></span> -was brought before the Lords Justices at Whitehall, -and he appeared very high, and denied the -charges against him indignantly, it was laid -before him to his sudden terror and confusion. -He saw how completely he had committed himself -by his confession, and he turned pale, and seemed -half inclined to admit his guilt. In the silence -of his prison he revolved another scheme, and -on the 10th of August, two months after his -apprehension, he presented a memorial to the -Duke of Devonshire, offering to disclose to the -king all that he knew of the plots, with every -one concerned in them, and throwing himself on -the mercy of the king. Having so fully betrayed -his own guilt, this seemed the only chance of -obtaining a lenient judgment. Devonshire sent -over the memorial to William in Holland, and -was desired by him to receive Fenwick's confession.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_492.jpg" width="560" height="430" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>OLD MERCERS' HALL, WHERE THE BANK OF ENGLAND WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_492big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This was in due time written down and delivered, -and, had it been a real revelation of the -plots and their agents, would have probably -obtained considerable indulgence for him. But -it disclosed nothing that was not already well -known to William. Passing over all the other -parties who were secretly engaged in labouring -for the overthrow of William's government and -the restoration of James—persons whose names -and doings would have been of the utmost value -to the Government—he merely accused Marlborough, -Russell, Godolphin, and Shrewsbury. -The intrigues of all these were far more familiar -to William and his intimate friends than they -were to Fenwick. William and Devonshire were -disappointed. The whole thing had the air of a -ruse to hide the still undiscovered delinquents, -and make a merit of a stale and useless piece -of information. Devonshire, on forwarding the -list, observed that, whatever these noblemen had -been, they were, to all appearance, very firm to -the king now. William, on reading Fenwick's -paper, was incensed. "I am astonished," he -wrote to Shrewsbury, "at the fellow's effrontery. -Observe this honest man's sincerity: he has -nothing to say, except against my friends. Not -a word about the plans of his brother Jacobites." -He ordered the prisoner to be brought to trial -without delay.</p> - -<p>Fenwick, in fact, had only insured his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_493" id="Page_493">[493]</a></span> -doom. He probably thought William was not -aware of the double-dealing of his own ministers, -and that he should be able to throw a bombshell -into the Whig camp, while he screened his own -fellow-seditionists; but he found he had to deal -with a man much more sagacious than himself. -William ordered the confession of Sir -John to be laid before the Lords Justices, and -himself acquainted some of the accused of what -it contained, and expressed his contempt of it. -Marlborough and Russell, if they had not before -made up their minds to avoid any further tampering -with St. Germains, seem from this moment -to have done so. It was clear their secret was -not only well known to William, but, pretty -generally, to the agents of James. Marlborough, -however, took it calmly; Russell made a great -pretence of innocence, and demanded inquiry. -Shrewsbury alone seemed dismayed and overcome -by it. He wrote to William, admitting -that Lord Middleton, James's secretary, had been -over several times, and had visited him, but -this he attributed to their nearness of kinship. -He said—"One night at supper, when he was -pretty well in drink, he told me he intended to -go beyond seas, and asked me if I could command -him no service. I then told him, by the -course he was taking, it would never be in his -power to do himself or his friends service; and -if the time should come that he expected, I -looked upon myself as an offender not to be -forgiven." Shrewsbury added that perhaps these -accusations "might render him incapable of -serving William"—meaning that he might not -think him fit to retain the Seals under such a -suspicion by the public, but that, if he could -not answer for the generality of the world, yet -the noble and frank manner in which his Majesty -had used him on that occasion would ever -be acknowledged by him with all gratitude.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_493.jpg" width="560" height="425" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LADY FENWICK INTERCEDING FOR HER HUSBAND. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_496">496</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_493big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Fenwick, perceiving the fatal blunder that he -had made, sent in a second confession; but this -appeared rather to absolve James and his adherents -from any knowledge of the baser plan of -assassination, and from having sanctioned the -scheme of seizing William's person, than to throw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_494" id="Page_494">[494]</a></span> -any new light on the real workers in the treason. -Things were in this position when William returned -on the 6th of October. The courtiers -at once flocked to Kensington to pay their -respects to his majesty, and amongst them the -noblemen who had been so deeply accused by -Fenwick, with the single exception of Shrewsbury. -William received them all most graciously, and -asked where Shrewsbury was. He was informed -that he was ill, and the next day the duke -himself wrote to say that he had had a fall from -his horse, had received considerable injury, and -was incapable of travelling. But the king and -the other ministers well knew that the real cause -was his extreme sensitiveness, which made him -ashamed to face his sovereign after the discovery -of his delinquency; and both they and William -wrote to urge his appearance at Court as soon -as possible. William said—"You are much -wanted here. I am impatient to embrace you, -and to assure you that my esteem for you is -undiminished." Somers wrote to him that unless -he appeared in his place at Court it would convince -the public that he felt the justice of -Fenwick's charge.</p> - -<p>But Shrewsbury, whose mind so readily preyed -on itself, could not bring himself to face the king, -and sent to request leave to resign the Seals. -With a magnanimity wonderfully different to -that of Henry VIII., who would have had all -these nobles' heads off in a few days, William -would not hear of his resignation, telling the -duke that it would bring the worst suspicions on -him; and, more on Shrewsbury's account than his -own, he insisted on his keeping the Seals. At -length he consented, but still dared not go to -town, but remained in the seclusion of his home -amongst the wilds of Gloucestershire.</p> - -<p>On the 20th of October William opened the -session of Parliament with a speech in which he -reviewed the troubles and difficulties of the past -year. He admitted the distress which the endeavours -to restore the coinage to a healthy state -had occasioned; the pressure caused by the limited -coinage being yet only partly relieved. He avowed -that the liberal funds voted in the last session had -fallen far short of the public needs, and that the -Civil List could not be maintained without further -aid; but, on the other hand, he contended that -they had many causes of congratulation. Abroad -the enemy had obtained no advantage, and at -home the fortitude and temper with which the -nation had struggled through the hardships attending -the recoinage—increased as these had -been by the fears or selfishness of those who had -hoarded their money—were admirable. A little -time must bear them through this, and he had to -inform them that he had received overtures of -peace from France. He should be prepared to -accept proper terms, but the way to obtain -them was to treat sword in hand. He therefore -recommended them to be at once liberal and -prompt in voting the supplies. He recommended -to their sympathy the French Protestants, who -were in a most miserable condition, and he -trusted to their taking efficient measures for the -maintenance of the public credit.</p> - -<p>The Commons, on retiring to their House, at -the instance of Montague, the Chancellor of the -Exchequer, passed three resolutions, which demonstrated -the confidence of the country in the -Government, and constituted in themselves the -most absolute defeat of all the grumblers and malcontents -possible. Montague had advocated the -Bank of England; that had succeeded. He had -denounced the scheme of the Land Bank; that -had proved, as he declared it to be, a delusion, -and had brought ruin on its projectors. He had -carried the plans of Government for the restoration -of the coinage stoutly through the most unexampled -crises. When the paper of the Bank of -England was fluctuating in value, the enemies of -Government casting suspicion on it, so that it -would occasionally sink one-fourth of its value in -the course of a single day; when both the Allies -and the enemies of England fancied that her -credit was gone and her resources exhausted, -Montague knew better, and by his spirit and -eloquence kept the machine of Government going, -and now he reached a point of unquestionable -triumph. The credit of the country was no longer -falling, but rising; the coinage was fast assuming -a position which it had never enjoyed for ages, and -the confidence of Parliament displayed itself in -its votes. The resolutions which confounded the -adversaries of William's Government, and which -have often been referred to as motives for encouragement -in periods of Governmental distress, -were these:—First, that the Commons would -support the king against all foreign and domestic -enemies; secondly, that the standard of gold and -silver should not be altered; thirdly, that they -would make good all Parliamentary funds established -since the king's succession. An address -was passed on the basis of these resolutions, which -was followed by another from the Lords, and the -Commons proceeded in the same spirit to vote six -millions for the current expenses of the year.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_495" id="Page_495">[495]</a></span></p> - -<p>The great topic of the remainder of the session -was the inquiry into the guilt of Sir John Fenwick. -In denouncing the noblemen named in his confession, -he had made them and their adherents his -mortal enemies. The Whigs were deeply incensed -through the accusation of Russell and Shrewsbury, -and the Whigs were now more influential than -ever. Instead of damaging them and embarrassing -William, Fenwick had fatally damaged himself. -As for Godolphin, who was the only Tory in -the Ministry, they contrived to get him to offer -his resignation, which, unlike that of Shrewsbury, -was accepted, so that the Whigs had now a -ministry wholly of their party. Russell was loud -in his demands of vengeance, and William, at the -suggestion of the Whigs, sent for Fenwick, and -insisted that he should supply further information -as to the real conspirators, whom he had evidently -purposely screened. Fenwick declined, -and William gave him to understand that he -had nothing more to expect from him.</p> - -<p>The stubbornness of Fenwick soon received an -explanation. His wife had managed to corrupt -Goodman, the second witness against him. An -annuity of five hundred pounds had been offered -him to abscond, accompanied by the menace -of assassination if he refused. He consented to -flee, and was accompanied by an agent, named -O'Brien, to St. Germains. Fenwick now believed -himself safe, as no man could be condemned on -a charge of high treason upon the evidence of -one witness. But the vengeance of his enemies -was not thus to be defeated. Sir John might have -recollected how often the end in such cases had -been secured by a Bill of Attainder. Fenwick -himself had been a zealous advocate for such a -Bill against Monmouth. When it became known -that Goodman was spirited away, the exasperation -of the Commons was extreme. On the 6th of -November Russell vehemently demanded of the -House that it should examine and decide whether -the accused parties were guilty or not. Before -proceeding to extremities the Commons, however, -called Sir John before them, and offered to intercede -with the king on his behalf if he made a full -and immediate confession. But he would not -consent to become the informer against his own -party, and was remanded. It was then resolved, -by a hundred and seventy-nine votes to sixty-one -that a Bill of Attainder should be brought in. -The two parties put forth all their strength, and -the Bill was not carried till the 26th. For twenty -days the eloquence and influence of the House -were in violent agitation. The Tories were seen -contending for the liberty of the subject, which -they had so often overridden by such bills, -and the Whigs as vehemently pressed on the -measure as they had formerly denounced similar -ones when directed against those of their own -party.</p> - -<p>During the debates the depositions of Goodman -made before the Grand Jury, fully implicating Sir -John in the conspiracy, were laid before the House -in support of the evidence of Porter. Goodman's -absence was proved, to the satisfaction of the -House, to be owing to the inducements and exertions -of Fenwick's friends; and two of the grand -jurymen were examined, and detailed the evidence -received by them from Goodman on his examination, -fully agreeing with that sent in in writing. -Some petty jurymen, also, who had decided the -case of another conspirator, confirmed this evidence. -The Commons had proof enough of his -guilt, though it might want the legal formality of -two direct witnesses.</p> - -<p>In the Lords the Earl of Monmouth made an -adroit movement in favour of Sir John. He defended -him warmly, at the same time that he sent -to him in prison, through the Duchess of Norfolk, -his cousin, a scheme for defeating his enemies. -He advised him to maintain the truth of his confession, -to declare that he derived his information -from high quarters, and to beg the king to demand -of the Earls of Portland and Romney whether the -information in their possession against the noblemen -implicated did not correspond with his own; -the king, moreover, should be urged to lay before -Parliament the evidence on which he had suddenly -dismissed Marlborough, and any letters intercepted -on their way from St. Germains to these parties. -This would have been a thunderbolt to the -Government, and Monmouth awaited in exultation -its effect. But Sir John disappointed him. -He feared to exasperate further the king and his -judges the Lords, to whom the accused belonged, -and did not take the hint. Monmouth, incensed, -then turned against him himself. Marlborough -exerted himself with all his power to condemn -him, even getting the Prince of Denmark to go -and vote against him. The bishops remained, -and voted, eight of them, against the passing of -the Bill. Burnet and Tenison, however, both -spoke and voted for it, with little regard to the -practice that the prelates should take no part in -advocating measures of blood. The Lords Godolphin -and Bath, though both amongst those accused -by Fenwick, voted in his favour, and Shrewsbury -absented himself from the debate. The Duke of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_496" id="Page_496">[496]</a></span> -Devonshire, too, to whom he had carried his confession, -voted against the Bill. Sir John offered -to make a full disclosure on condition of receiving -a full pardon, but this was not accorded him, and -he refused further confession on any other terms. -At length, on the 27th of December, the Bill was -carried, but only by a majority of seven—sixty-eight -votes to sixty-one. Forty-one lords, including -eight bishops, entered a protest on the journal -against the decision.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately for Monmouth, the friends of -Sir John were so incensed at his turning round -against him, that the Earl of Carlisle, Lady -Fenwick's brother, produced to the House the -papers which he had sent to Sir John in prison, -and stated the censures on the king with which he -had accompanied them. A tempest suddenly -burst over his head, of indescribable fury. The -Whigs were exasperated at his endeavouring to -sacrifice Russell and Shrewsbury to save Fenwick, -and the Tories at his endeavouring to sacrifice -Marlborough and Godolphin, and at his treacherously -deserting Sir John for not following his -advice. He was committed to the Tower, deprived -of all his places, and his name erased from the list -of privy councillors.</p> - -<p>Parliament having passed this Act, adjourned -for the Christmas holidays, and every exertion was -made to obtain a pardon for Sir John. His wife -threw herself at the feet of William, but he only -replied that he must consult his ministers before -he could give an answer. On the 11th of January, -1697, he put his signature to the Bill. When -Parliament met again she presented a petition to -the House of Lords, praying them to intercede -with the king to commute the sentence to perpetual -banishment, but without success. On the -28th of January Fenwick was conducted to execution -on Tower Hill. On the scaffold he delivered -to the sheriff a sealed paper, in which he complained -of the irregularity of the proceeding -against him, denied any participation in the plan -of assassination, but confessed his attachment to -James, and his belief in the right of the Prince of -Wales after him.</p> - -<p>After an abortive attempt to pass a Bill establishing -a property qualification for the Commons, -another to put the press again under the licensing -system, and another to abolish those dens of protected -crime, the Savoy and Whitefriars, Parliament -was prorogued on the 16th of April.</p> - -<p>Whilst this desperate conflict had been going -on between Whig and Tory in England, in Scotland -a most useful measure had passed the -Scottish Parliament, namely, an Act establishing -a school and schoolmaster in every parish, and to -this admirable Act it is that Scotland owes the -superior intelligence of its working classes. At -the same time the rigid bigotry of the clergy perpetrated -one of the most revolting acts in history. -A youth of eighteen, named Thomas Aikenhead, -had picked up some of the sceptical notions of -Hobbes and Tindal, and was arrested, tried, and -hanged for blasphemy between Leith and Edinburgh. -It was in vain that he expressed the -utmost repentance for his errors, the ministers -were impatient for his death, and he died accordingly, -to the disgrace of the Presbyterian Church -and the whole country.</p> - -<p>William embarked for Holland on the 26th of -April, having before his departure made several -promotions. To the disgust of many, Sunderland -was appointed one of the Lords Justices and Lord -Chamberlain. The Protestants wondered that a -man who had apostatised when there was a Popish -king, should find such favour with a Presbyterian -one; and the honourable-minded that a man who -had stooped to so many dirty acts and arts should -be thus exalted by a prince of sober morals. But -William's only excuse was that his ministers were -so bad that there was little to choose in their -principles, and that he employed them not for -their virtues but their abilities. Russell was -rewarded for running down Fenwick with the -title of Earl of Orford; the Lord Keeper Somers -was elevated to the full dignity of Lord Chancellor, -and created Baron Somers of Evesham. -Montague was made First Lord of the Treasury, -in place of Godolphin; Lord Wharton, in addition -to his post of Comptroller of the Household, was -appointed Chief Justice in Eyre, south of the -Trent; and his brother, Godwin Wharton, became -a Lord of the Admiralty.</p> - -<p>The campaign in Flanders was commenced by -the French with an activity apparently intended -to impress upon the Allies their ample ability to -carry on the war, although, in fact, never had -France more need of peace. Its finances were -exhausted, its people were miserable; but far -more than the sufferings of his subjects to Louis -were the ambitious projects which he was now -particularly cherishing. John Sobieski, the brave -deliverer of Vienna from the Turks, the King of -Poland, was dead, and Louis was anxious to place -the Prince of Conti on the throne of that kingdom. -He had, however, a still more weighty -motive for peace. The King of Spain, the sickly -and imbecile Charles II., was fast hastening to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_497" id="Page_497">[497]</a></span> -the tomb. He was childless; no provision was -made by the Spanish Government for filling the -throne, and Louis of France was watching for -his death. Louis himself was married to the -elder sister of the Spanish king, and the -Dauphin was thus next in succession, but the -marriage had been attended by a renunciation of -rights. The question was one of great intricacy; -and we will postpone for the present a discussion -of the rights of the Dauphin and the rival -claimants—the Archduke Charles and the Electoral -Prince. But if the throne of Spain fell -vacant during the alliance, the Allies, and -William amongst them, would support the Emperor's -claims. Accordingly, it was to the interest -of the Emperor to prolong the war, and to the -interest of Louis to end it.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_497.jpg" width="405" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LORD SOMERS. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_497big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Spain and Germany, therefore, were averse from -peace. William and Louis were the only parties, -each for his own purposes, really anxious for it. -Louis, early in the spring, had made overtures to -Dykvelt through Cailleres, which were really surprising. -They were no less than to relinquish all -the conquests made by him during the war, to -restore Lorraine to its duke, Luxemburg to -Spain, Strasburg to the Empire, and to acknowledge -William's title to the crown of England -without condition or reserve. Such terms the -Allies never could have expected. They were a -renunciation by the ambitious Louis of all that -he had been fighting for during so many years—of -all that he had drained his kingdom of its life -and wealth to accomplish. That he contemplated -maintaining the peace any longer than till he had -secured Spain and Poland is not to be supposed. -If he obtained peace now, these objects would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_498" id="Page_498">[498]</a></span> -become more feasible, and he knew that William, -his most formidable enemy, would have disbanded -his army, and would have to create a new one and -a new alliance before he could take the field again -to oppose him.</p> - -<p>These undoubtedly were Louis's notions, and it -was plausibly urged by Spain and Austria that it -was better now to press him as he was sinking -till he was perfectly prostrate, and then bind him -effectually. But, on the other hand, William felt -that England and Holland had to bear the brunt -of the war; that it was all very well for Spain -and Germany to cry "Keep on," but the fact was, -they did little or nothing towards keeping on. -The Germans had no union, and, therefore, no -strength. They sent excuses instead of their contingents -and instead of money to pay their share -of the cost of the war. When they did rise, -they were nearly always behind their time and -divided in their counsels. As for Spain, it -literally did nothing to defend its own territories. -The whole of Flanders would have been lost but -for William and his Dutch and English troops. -Catalonia would have been lost but for Russell -and his fleet. Moreover, without consulting the -Allies, Spain had joined in a treaty with Savoy -and France to save its Milanese territory, and to -the extreme prejudice of the Allies, it had, by -releasing the French armies from Italy, increased -the force in Flanders. William was greatly incensed -by the endeavours of these Powers to continue -the war; and Louis, as the best spur to their -backwardness, determined to seize Brussels, and -conduct himself as if bent on active aggression.</p> - -<p>Catinat, relieved from his command in Savoy, -had now joined Villeroi and Boufflers in Flanders, -and these generals determined to surprise Brussels. -They first advanced on the little town of Ath, -and William, who was but just recovering from -an attack of illness, uniting his forces with those -of the Elector of Bavaria, endeavoured to prevent -them. He was, however, too late; but he -marched hastily towards Brussels to defend it -against Villeroi and Boufflers. He passed over -the very ground on which the battle of Waterloo -was long afterwards fought, and posted himself -on the height whence Villeroi had bombarded -the city two years before. Neither side, however, -was anxious to engage and incur all the miseries -of a great battle, with the prospect of a -near peace. They therefore entrenched themselves -and continued to lie there for the rest of the -summer, awaiting the course of events. Louis, -however, assailed the King of Spain in another -quarter—Catalonia. There Vendôme attacked -the viceroy and defeated him, and invested Barcelona, -which, though bravely defended by the -Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, was obliged to capitulate. -At the same time came the news of another -blow. Louis had sent out a squadron under -Admiral Pointes to attack the Spanish settlements -in the West Indies, and he had sacked and -plundered the town of Carthagena, and carried -home an immense treasure. These disasters made -Spain as eager for peace as she had before been -averse, and the Emperor of Germany was obliged -to cease talking of returning to the position -of the Treaty of Westphalia—a state of things -totally out of the power of the Allies to restore.</p> - -<p>The Plenipotentiaries of the different Powers -now at last were ordered to meet; the only question -was, Where? The Emperor proposed Aix-la-Chapelle -or Frankfort, but Louis objected to any -German town, but was willing that the place -should be the Hague. It was at length settled to -be the Hague. The Ambassadors of the Allies -were to occupy the Hague itself; and the French, -Delft, about five miles distant. Midway between -these towns lies the village of Ryswick, and close -to it a palace belonging then to William, called -Neubourg House. There it was determined that -the Plenipotentiaries should meet for business. -The palace was admirably adapted, by its different -entrances and alleys, for the approach of the -different bodies of diplomatists without any confusion, -and there was a fine, large, central hall for -their deliberations. There appeared for England -the Earl of Pembroke, the Viscount Villiers, Sir -Joseph Williamson, and Matthew Prior, the poet, -as their secretary. For the Emperor, the gruff -Kaunitz, the celebrated Imperial Minister, was at -the head of the German referees. For France -came Harlay, Crecy, and Cailleres. Don Quiros -was the Minister of Spain, and there were whole -throngs of the representatives of the lesser Powers. -The Minister of Sweden, Count Lilienroth, was -appointed mediator, and, after various arrangements -regarding precedence, on the 9th of May -the Plenipotentiaries met; but, it seemed, only to -entangle themselves in a multitude of absurd difficulties -regarding their respective ranks and titles. -The Ambassadors of Spain and of the Emperor -were the most ridiculous in their punctilios. -Then came the news of the death of the King -of Sweden (Charles XI.), and the waiting of -the mediator for a renewal of his powers, and -for putting himself into mourning, and it was the -middle of June before any real business had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_499" id="Page_499">[499]</a></span> -done. William grew out of patience, and determined -to take a shorter cut to the object in view. -He empowered Portland to arrange with Boufflers, -with whom he had become acquainted at the -time of the latter's arrest at Namur, the preliminaries -of a peace between France, England, -and Holland. Portland and Boufflers met at a -country house near Hal, about ten miles from -Brussels on the road to Mons, and within sight of -the hostile armies. The questions to be settled -between these two plain and straightforward -negotiators were these:—William demanded that -Louis should bind himself not to assist James, -directly or indirectly, in any attempt on the -throne of England, and that James should no -longer be permitted to reside in France. These -demands being sent by express to Paris, Louis at -once agreed to the first requisition, that he should -engage never to assist James in any attempt on -England; but as to the second, he replied that he -could not, from honour and hospitality, banish -James from France, but he would undertake to -induce him to remove to Avignon, if he did not -voluntarily prefer going to Italy. William accepted -this modified acquiescence. On the other hand, -Louis demanded from William that he should give -an amnesty to all the Jacobites, and should allow -Mary of Modena her jointure of fifty thousand -pounds a year.</p> - -<p>William peremptorily refused to grant the -amnesty—that was an interference with the prerogative -of his crown which he could permit to no -foreign Power. The jointure he was willing to -pay, on condition that the money should not be -employed in designs against his crown or life, and -that James, his queen, and Court, should remove -to Avignon and continue to reside there. Neither -the residence of the exiled family nor the matter -of the jointure was to be mentioned in the -treaty, but William authorised his Plenipotentiaries -at the Congress to say that Mary of -Modena should have everything which on examination -should be found to be lawfully her due. -This, indeed, may be considered an ambiguous -phrase, for Mary, as well as James, being deposed, -all her legal rights connected with the Crown had -lapsed. William was afterwards much blamed -for the non-payment of this jointure; but those -who charged him with breach of faith knew very -well that the jointure was only conditionally -offered, and that the conditions were altogether -disregarded.</p> - -<p>The ceremonious and do-nothing Plenipotentiaries -were greatly startled by the news that -Portland and Boufflers were continually meeting, -and were supposed to be actually making a -treaty without them. A thing so irregular, so -undiplomatic, was unheard of; but William was -a man of business, and, in spite of forms and -ceremonies, pushed on the treaty and concluded -it. Spain, which had arranged a separate treaty -in Savoy, was especially scandalised. But still -more was James alarmed and incensed. He addressed -two memorials to the princes of the confederacy—one -to the Catholic Princes, entreating -them to unite with him against England for his -rights, reminding them that his case was theirs, -and that the English revolution was setting a -fatal precedent for them; the other was to the -princes at large, warning them against infringing -his inalienable rights by entering into any agreement -with the usurper to transfer his crown and -dignity to him. These producing no effect, he -issued a third, protesting against any engagements -they might enter into to his prejudice, or the -prejudice of his son; and declaring that he should -himself never feel bound by any of them.</p> - -<p>If Louis was not moved by his entreaties and -remonstrances, it was not likely that the princes -who had for eight years been fighting in alliance -with his rival would. Perhaps, however, James -felt it only his duty to put in his disclaimer. -The negotiations went on. Besides the terms -offered by France to William and his Allies being -accepted by all except the Emperor, it was agreed -that Commissioners should meet in London from -France to settle the respective pretensions of -France and England to the territories of Hudson's -Bay. The Dutch made a separate treaty of commerce -with France. France surrendered all conquests -made since the Treaty of Nimeguen, and -placed the chief fortresses in the Low Countries -in the hands of Dutch garrisons; except eighty -towns and villages, which the French claimed -from longer possession, and the right to which -was to be determined by commissioners, with -a power of appeal to the States-General. A -demand of toleration was made on behalf of -the French Protestants, but was refused on the -same ground as William refused the amnesty -to the Jacobites—interference with the prerogative -of Louis. On the 10th of July the representatives -of the Emperor were asked by the French -to sign, but, on declining, the 21st of August -was fixed as the last day on which France would -be bound by its offer. William and the rest of -the Allies were greatly exasperated at this refusal -of the Emperor. The 21st arrived, and, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_500" id="Page_500">[500]</a></span> -Commissioners not signing, the representatives of -France declared his most Christian Majesty had -now withdrawn Strasburg from his offer, and -would annex it for ever to his realm; and, moreover, -if the treaty were not signed on or before -the 10th of September, he should not hold himself -bound by the rest of his engagements.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_500.jpg" width="413" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WILLIAM'S TRIUMPHANT PROCESSION TO WHITEHALL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_501">501</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_500big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_501" id="Page_501">[501]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the 10th the rest of the Allies signed the -treaty, but the Emperor still held out, and a -further time was allowed him, namely, till the -1st of November. On the 11th of September -an event occurred which made the resistance of -the Emperor the more obstinate for a time. -Prince Eugene fought a great battle at Zenta -against the Sultan in person, completely routed -the Turks, and killed or caused to be drowned -in the Theiss the Grand Vizier, the Aga of -the Janissaries, and thirty thousand of the enemy. -There were six thousand more wounded or taken -prisoners, with their artillery, baggage, tents, ammunition, -and provisions. The Grand Seignior -himself escaped with difficulty, whilst the Imperialists -lost only about one thousand men in the -action. The Emperor hoped that such a brilliant -victory would induce the Allies to prolong the -war; but, as it produced no such effect, he was -obliged to comply. The petty princes, who had -done nothing during the war but create delays -and embarrassments, stood out to the very last on -the demand that the Lutheran religion should be -restored in Louis's territories, where it had been -put down; but they stood out in vain. The treaty -was duly signed and ratified at the time fixed.</p> - -<p>The new treaty produced very different sensations -in France and England. In France there -was much murmuring. For what, it was asked, -had the king been fighting all these years? He -had given up everything, and could only have -done that under defeat. The Court of St. Germains -and James's adherents were in despair. -In England the most riotous joy broke forth. -There were all the usual demonstrations of such -occasions—bonfires, drinking, and firing of guns. -The bells rang out from every steeple, and the -Bank of England stocks, which were at twenty -per cent. below par, rose to par. The Jacobites -cursed Louis for a traitor to the cause of James, -and fled to hide themselves. The rejoicings were -equally enthusiastic all over the kingdom.</p> - -<p>When William entered his capital it was a -regular triumph. From Greenwich to Whitehall -it was one dense crowd of hurrahing people; -troops of militia and train-bands, the City authorities -attending him in all their paraphernalia, the -Foot Guards standing under arms at Whitehall, -and the windows all the way crowded with handsome -or excited faces. The 2nd of December was -appointed as a day of public thanksgiving, and the -new cathedral of St. Paul's was crowded by its first -great assemblage on the occasion. There were -deputations bringing zealous addresses to the foot -of the Throne, and foremost and most loyal in -language amongst them was that of the University -of Oxford, which had so long distinguished itself -by its Toryism and devotion to the Stuarts.</p> - -<p>There was cause, indeed, for joy; for the -country was for a time freed from the most -exhausting war in which it had ever been engaged. -It had passed through it with credit, -though its armies and navies were in a great -measure commanded by traitors. Its wealth and -credit were higher than ever; and, above all, -the tone and temper of the nation were sure -guarantees that the return of James or his son -was the most impossible of things. Still, had -the Allies on the Continent been true to each -other, and to the principles for which they -professed to contend, they might have inflicted -a far more complete punishment on the heartless -ambition of Louis, and thus prevented the -speedy recurrence of the horrors which they now -hoped were for a long time at an end.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_502" id="Page_502">[502]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> - -<p class="p6">REIGN OF WILLIAM III. (<em>concluded</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>William Meets his Parliament—Reduction of the Standing Army—Visit of Peter the Great—Schemes of Louis—The East -India Company—Spanish Partition Scheme—Its Inception and Progress—Somers's Hesitation—The Treaty is Signed—New -Parliament—Tory Reaction—Dismissal of the Dutch Guards—William forms an Intention of Quitting England—Attack -on the late Ministry—Jobbery in the Admiralty—Paterson's Darien Scheme—Douglas's Reasons against It—Enthusiasm -of the Scots—Departure of the First Expedition and its Miserable Failure—The Untimely End of the -Second Expedition—Second Partition Scheme—Double-dealing of the French—New Parliament—Attack on Somers—Report -on the Irish Grants—Resumption Bill passed—William's Unpopularity—Death of the Duke of Gloucester—Conclusion -of the New Partition Treaty and its Results—Charles makes over his Dominions to the French Candidate—His -Death—Disgust of William at Louis's Duplicity—Tory Temper of the House—The Succession Question—Debates on -Foreign Policy—The Succession Act passed—New Negotiations with France—Attack on the Whig Ministers—Acknowledgment -of the Spanish King—Impeachment of the Whigs—The Kentish Petition—Its Reception by the House—The -Legion Memorial—Panic in the House—Violent Struggle between the two Houses—The Impeachments dropped—William -goes Abroad—The Grand Alliance and its Objects—Beginning of the War—Death of James II.—Louis -acknowledges the Pretender—Reaction in England—New Parliament and Ministry—The King's Speech—British -Patriotism is Roused—Voting of Supplies—The Bills of Attainder and Abjuration—Illness and Death of William—His -Character.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>William met his Parliament on the 3rd of -December. He congratulated it on the achievement -of a peace in which the Confederates had -accomplished all they had fought for—the repression -of the ambitious attempts of France to -bring under its yoke the rest of the kingdoms -on the Continent. She had been compelled to -yield up everything which she had seized from -the commencement of the war. But he reminded -them that this had not been accomplished except -at a heavy cost. They had supported him nobly -in furnishing that cost, and he trusted they -would not now be less prompt to discharge the -remaining unpaid claims, and in taking measures -to liquidate by degrees the debts incurred. He -expressed his hope that they would provide him -for life with a sufficient Civil List to maintain the -necessary dignity of the Crown. Though the war -was over, he reminded them that there were many -reasons why the army and navy should yet be -maintained on a respectable footing.</p> - -<p>The Commons voted him an address, in which -they united in the congratulations on the restoration -of peace, but passed over the subject of the -army. William noticed the omission, and felt -it deeply. Nobody was more aware than himself -that, though they had bound France by the -treaty of Ryswick, no bonds of that kind ever -held Louis XIV. any longer than it suited his -necessities or his schemes of aggrandisement. -He observed that Louis still kept on foot his -large armies, and that he still retained James -and his Court at St. Germains, in open violation -of the treaty; and the circumstances of Spain, -whose king was gradually dying childless, with -Louis intently watching to pounce on his dominions, -filled him, as it did every far-seeing man, -with deep anxiety. Though no king ever less -sought to infringe the liberties of his subjects, -yet William, naturally fond of an army and of -military affairs, was especially anxious at this -crisis for the retention of a respectable force. -He knew that Europe, though freed from actual -war, was, through the restless ambition of Louis, -still living only in an armed peace.</p> - -<p>The Commons did not leave him long in suspense. -In a few days they went into the subject -of the proposal to keep up the army. The spirit -of the House was high against a standing army. -All the old arguments were produced—that a -standing army was totally inconsistent with the -liberties of the people; that the moment you put -the sword into the hands of mercenaries, the king -became the master of the rights of the nation, and -a despot. They asked, "If a standing army were -to be maintained, what should they have gained by -the revolution?" The Tories, who were anxious -to damage the Whigs, and the Jacobites, who were -anxious to damage William's government altogether, -were particularly eloquent on these topics. -The true patriots, and they were few, were eloquent -from principle. It was in vain that the -friends of William represented that it was a -very different thing to maintain an army in particular -circumstances which depended on the will -of Parliament, from maintaining one at the sole -pleasure of the king. The opponents of a standing -army contended that a militia was the natural<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_503" id="Page_503">[503]</a></span> -force for internal defence, which could be brought -to nearly as much perfection as regular troops, and -could be called out when wanted; and that the -navy was our proper army, and that if kept in due -efficiency it was able, not only to protect us and -our trade, but to render all such assistance to -other nations as became a generous and Christian -nation. By a division of a hundred and eighty-five -votes against a hundred and forty-eight, the -House resolved that all the forces raised since -1686 should be disbanded.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 560px;"> -<img src="images/i_503.jpg" width="560" height="351" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p class="left">PETER THE GREAT AT DEPTFORD DOCKYARD.</p> - -<p class="left"><span class="smcap">From the Painting by Daniel Maclise, R.A.<br /> -in the Royal Holloway College, Egham.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_503big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This fell with an appalling shock on William. -All his army of brave mercenaries, his Dutch -guards, his Huguenot cavalry, must be sent away. -He would, it was found, be left only with about -eight thousand regular troops. Never was there -such a stripping of a martial monarch, who had -figured at the head of upwards of a hundred thousand -men against the greatest military power of -Europe. He made little remark publicly, but he -poured out his grief to his great correspondent -the Dutch Grand Pensionary, Heinsius, and to -Burnet. To them he said that it would make his -alliance of so little value, his state so contemptible, -that he did not see how he was to carry on the -government; that he never could have imagined, -after what he had done for the nation, that they -would treat him thus; and that, had he imagined -it, he would never have meddled with the affairs -of England; that he was weary of governing a -country which had rather lay itself open to its -enemies than trust him, who had acted all his life -so faithfully for them. But it was useless complaining; -the country was resolved on having no -standing army, and every attempt of Ministers to -modify or enlarge the resolution was disregarded. -They proposed that the Bill should be committed, -because it would leave the king in the hands of -the old Tory regiments; and, again, that five -hundred thousand pounds per annum should be -granted for the maintenance of Guards and garrisons. -Both motions were negatived. There was -a strong feeling excited against Sunderland, on the -supposition that he had encouraged the king in -his desire for a large army, because he warmly -argued for it; and that minister, equally odious to -both parties, felt it safest to retire. He therefore -resigned his post of Lord Chamberlain, though -William did all he could to dissuade him from -doing so, and sought the seclusion of his princely -abode of Althorp.</p> - -<p>These were the last transactions of the English -Government in 1697; but there was at this -moment a person residing in England who was -destined to produce greater changes in the face of -Europe, and in its relations, than any who had -gone before him. This was Peter the Czar of -Muscovy, who was at this time residing at Sayes -Court, a house of the celebrated John Evelyn, at -Deptford, and studying the fleet and shipbuilding -of England, in order to create a naval power for -himself. He was only a youth of five-and-twenty, -and was the monarch of a country then sunk -in barbarism, which was unrepresented at the -Courts of Europe, was little heard of by the rest of -the Continent, and whose merchants were forbidden, -on pain of death, to trade with other countries. -Yet already Peter had raised a regular -army, and something of a navy, putting them -under the management of Scottish and French -officers. By means of these, in 1696, he had besieged -and taken Azov. He had put himself -through all the ranks of the army, beginning as a -common soldier; and he had then determined to -see personally the chief maritime nations, Holland -and England, and learn what he could of the -arts that made them so powerful. He set out -with only twelve attendants, amongst whom were -his two chief princes, Menschikoff, who had been -originally a pieman, and Galitzin. These were to -act as his ambassadors to the Courts of Holland -and England, he himself remaining <em>incognito</em>. -He first settled at Zaandam, in Holland, where he -lived in a small lodging, dressed and worked with -his attendants as ship-carpenters, learning to forge -the ironwork of ships, as well as to prepare their -woodwork. He had a yacht on the Zuyder Zee, -and practised its management, and studied rope-making -and sail-making. He found himself too -much crowded about and stared at on his removal -to London, where he spent his time chiefly in the -dockyards of Deptford, Woolwich, and Chatham. -William used to go and see him at Sayes Court, -and sent the Marquis of Caermarthen to attend -upon him, where they are said to have drunk -brandy and pepper together during the long winter -evenings. In the ensuing April disturbances at -home called him away, but not before he had destroyed -Evelyn's fine holly hedges by driving over -them in the deep snows in his sledge, to Evelyn's -great mortification.</p> - -<p>At the opening of the year 1698, all appeared -peace in Europe, but it was the quiet only which -lies in the bosom of a volcano. Enormous expenditure -of blood and treasure had been made to -repel the unprincipled schemes of Louis XIV. -Europe seemed to have triumphed over him. He -had suddenly surrendered all that he had striven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_504" id="Page_504">[504]</a></span> -for, as if he perceived the impossibility of his -aspirations. Nothing was less the fact. Never -had he been so daring in his plans of aggrandisement -as at this moment. Why should he continue -to drain his kingdom of its population and its -substance to grasp merely at Flanders, when, by -exerting the arts of diplomacy, he might possess -himself, not only of Flanders, but of all Spain, -the north of Italy, the Sicilies, the South American -and Indian dependencies? This grand scheme -Louis now resolved to compass. He had married, -as we have said, the Infanta, Maria Theresa, the -sister of Charles II. of Spain, and had children by -her. On marrying her he had sworn to renounce -all claims to the Spanish throne through her; but -this weighed nothing with Louis. He resolved that -a son of the Dauphin—that is, his grandson -through Maria Theresa—should be put forward -as the French candidate in lieu of his father. -Against him was the Emperor of Germany, the -first cousin of Charles II., but he had resigned his -claims in favour of his son by a second marriage—the -Archduke Charles. By his first marriage with -a younger sister of Charles II. he was the grandfather -of the Electoral Prince of Bavaria. But -the rights of this claimant, like those of the -Dauphin's son Philip, were somewhat discountenanced -by the fact that his grandfather's -marriage had been accompanied by a renunciation -of rights. It will be seen, therefore, that the -question was one of some intricacy, and it was -complicated by doubts as to the validity of the -renunciations. Louis determined that the House -of Austria should be set aside, and his own issue -occupy the Spanish throne, when France, in fact, -stretching from Gibraltar to Flanders, and including -a large share of Italy, would be able to give -law to the Continent, and swallow up Flanders -and Holland, if not Germany too. This was the -danger which wrought on the anxious heart of -William at this moment.</p> - -<p>Montague, in the height of his popularity, undertook -and carried a measure which eventually, -however, did the Whigs infinite mischief. Ministers -had applied to the East India Company for a -loan. The Company offered to lend them seven -hundred thousand pounds, to be repaid out of the -supplies at the convenience of Government. The -new Company, which had so long been striving -after a charter, hearing of the proposal, immediately -outbade the old Company, offering to -lend the Government two million pounds at eight -per cent. The bait was too tempting to resist; a -Bill was brought into the Commons, and passed -its first reading by a large majority. The old -Company, alarmed, petitioned the House, stating -the claims it possessed, from having been encouraged -by many royal charters to invest its capital, -and to create a trade with India. It begged the -House to consider that a thousand families depended -on the stock, and that the property of -the Company in India, producing an annual -revenue of forty-four thousand pounds, would -all be destroyed or reduced to trifling value. -They deposed that they had expended a million of -money in fortifications alone; that during the war -they had lost twelve ships and cargoes worth -fifteen hundred thousand pounds; that since the -last subscription they had paid two hundred and -ninety-five thousand pounds for customs, and above -eighty-five thousand pounds in taxes. They had -furnished ten thousand barrels of gunpowder when -the Government was greatly pressed for it, and -taken eighty thousand pounds' worth of Exchequer -Bills. The House weighed the proposal, but was -persuaded by Montague to give the preference to -the new Company. On this the old Company -offered, notwithstanding their great losses, to -advance two millions to Government, on condition -that the charter to the new Company was not -granted. The offer came too late; the Bill for -the new Company was passed, and carried also in -the Lords, but with considerable opposition, and a -protest from one-and-twenty peers. This Act -was, notwithstanding, deemed a very unjust and arbitrary -measure; and the arguments of the Whigs -for a standing army, and their embezzlements in -the Government offices and by most flagrant -contracts, seriously affected their popularity.</p> - -<p>Towards the end of July William went to -Holland, and having addressed the States-General, -and given audience to a number of ambassadors at -the Hague, he betook himself to his favourite seat -at Loo, where, in August, he was joined by Portland, -the Pensionary Heinsius, and the Count -Tallard, an emissary from Louis XIV. In this -retirement they discussed one of the boldest projects -which could possibly be entertained by statesmen, -namely, a partition of the Spanish dominions. -That the scheme was Louis XIV.'s there can be no -question, and, daring as it was, served but as the -blinding manœuvre which covered still more daring -ones. The ultimate object of Louis was the seizure -of the crown and territories of Spain, to which -we have already alluded, but William, with great -address, at once set to work to countermine him.</p> - -<p>This plan of dividing the empire of Spain -amongst such parties as should suit the views of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_505" id="Page_505">[505]</a></span> -William and Louis had been suggested by France, -apparently very soon after the peace of Ryswick, -and had been going on all the spring in England -in profound secrecy. One of the motives for -sending Portland to Paris in January had been -to learn the full particulars of this scheme, -which had been somewhat mysteriously opened to -William. In writing to Heinsius on the 3rd of -January, when Portland was about to start for -France, William expressed his surprise as to the -real meaning of "something that was proposed to -be done by the Republic, France, and England, -towards the maintenance of the peace," and -imagined it might relate to their position with -the Emperor. However, he added, "the earl of -Portland will readily be able to get at the bottom -of this affair in France, and that is another reason -for hastening his departure as much as possible."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_505.jpg" width="418" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>VIEW IN THE HAGUE: OLD GATE IN THE BINNENHOF, WITH THE ARMS OF THE COUNTY OF HOLLAND.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_505big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Portland was scarcely settled in his diplomatic -position in Paris when the scheme was broached -to him, but at first cautiously. On the 15th of -March he wrote to William that the Ministers -Pomponne and De Torcy had communicated to -him, but in the profoundest secrecy, that the king -their master desired to make him the medium of a -most important negotiation with the king of -England. The impending death of the king -of Spain was likely to throw the whole of Europe -into war again, unless this were prevented by -engagements entered into by the kings of France<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_506" id="Page_506">[506]</a></span> -and England to prevent it. For if the Emperor -were allowed to succeed to Spain with its -dependencies, Flanders, Italy, and the colonies, -he would become so powerful that he would be -dangerous to all Europe. Portland declared that -he could give no opinion, nor could the king his -master give an answer, so far as he could see, -until he had the full views of the king of France -on the subject; and that the naval and maritime -interests of England and Holland might be greatly -affected by any arrangement regarding the succession -of the Spanish territories. The French -Ministers said it would be easy to order matters -regarding the Low Countries to the satisfaction of -England and Holland, and that France would -guarantee that the crown of Spain should not be -annexed to that of France; but as to the Indies, or -the security of English trade in the Mediterranean, -Portland could draw nothing from them. -The views of France were so far not very clear; -but Portland added the important piece of information -that the Count de Tallard was at that very -moment setting out for London, ostensibly to congratulate -William, but really to prosecute this -negotiation.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, Tallard arrived in London on the -19th of March, and he and William, in strict -secrecy, admitting no one else to their confidence, -discussed this scheme of Louis. This was no -other than that the crown of Spain, with the -Spanish Netherlands and colonies, should not be -allowed to pass to the Emperor, but should be -settled on the Electoral Prince of Bavaria, the -third claimant; that Naples, Sicily, Sardinia, the -province of Guipuzcoa on the French side of the -Pyrenees, Fontarabia, San Sebastian, Ferrol, and -some towns on the Tuscan coast then owned by -Spain, and called Presidii, should be settled by a -mutual treaty between them on the Dauphin; and -that Milan should be settled on the Archduke -Charles, the second son of the Emperor, to whom -he had resigned his rights.</p> - -<p>The negotiations were carried on in England in -closest secrecy between William and Tallard, -William entering into engagements which most -momentously affected England as well as all -Europe, without taking a particle of advice from -his Council, much less seeking the advice of Parliament—a -proceeding which we should now consider -unconstitutional, but which was then by no means -unusual. When he quitted England after the -dissolution of Parliament, it was only the more -unobservedly to complete this extraordinary business. -Tallard followed him to Loo, and they were -soon after joined by Portland. It was now about -the middle of August, and William wrote to -Somers, desiring him to send him full powers -under the Great Seal to complete the negotiation, -leaving the names in blanks. He said he had -ordered Portland to write to Vernon, the Secretary -of State, to draw out the commission with -his own hand, so that no creature should know -anything of it except Somers and one or two -of the other most trusted Ministers. He told -Somers that it was confidently believed that the -King of Spain could not outlive the month of -October—might die much sooner, and, therefore, -not a moment was to be lost.</p> - -<p>In consequence of this communication, Somers, -who was seeking health at Tunbridge Wells, immediately -called into his counsels Russell (now -Lord Orford), Montague, and Shrewsbury. He -informed William that Montague and Secretary -Vernon had come down to him at Tunbridge; -they had seriously discussed this very momentous -question, and that it seemed to them that it might -be attended with very many ill consequences if -the French did not act a sincere part; that the -people of England would undoubtedly resent being -drawn into any fresh war; and that it required -deep consideration what would be the condition of -Europe should this proposed partition be carried -out. To them it seemed that if Sicily were in -French hands, they would become entire masters -of the Levant trade; that if they obtained any -of the Spanish ports on the Tuscan coast, Milan -would be so entirely shut in from independent -intercourse or commerce by sea and land that it -would be utterly powerless; that if France had -Guipuzcoa and the other Spanish places on the -French side of the Pyrenees, the rest of Spain -would be as completely open to French invasion -as Catalonia now was; and, finally, if this negotiation -was concluded, what guarantee had William -for the king of France's faithful execution of it? -Were England and Holland to sit still and see -France enforce this partition? "If that be so," -says Somers, "what security ought we to expect -from the French that, while we are neuter, they -will confine themselves to the terms of the treaty, -and not attempt to take further advantage?" -These considerations were sound, but William had -certainly chosen the lesser of two evils, for the -placing of the French candidate on the throne -of Spain would have entirely overturned the -European balance.</p> - -<p>In obedience to the king's orders, Somers sent -the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">carte blanche</i> with the Great Seal affixed; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_507" id="Page_507">[507]</a></span> -he had failed in inducing Vernon to give him a -warrant for affixing the Seal. The Secretary was -too well aware of the unconstitutional character -of this proceeding to issue such a warrant, and -Somers was obliged to content himself with keeping -the king's letter as his authority for the act. -Undeterred by the plain suggestions of Somers -and the other Ministers as to the total want of -security which he had for Louis's observance of -this treaty, and the dangerous power it conferred -on France, William was in such haste to conclude -the treaty, that the Earl of Portland and -Sir Joseph Williamson had signed a rough draft -before Somers's <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">carte blanche</i> arrived; and on the -11th of October, or about six weeks after its -receipt, the formal treaty was signed by Portland, -Williamson, Tallard, and Heinsius.</p> - -<p>William returned to England in the beginning -of December. He arrived on the 4th, and opened -his new Parliament on the 6th. It had been -obliged to be prorogued owing to his prolonged -stay, having been called for August. The -Ministers in William's absence had not taken -much pains to influence the elections, and it soon -appeared that a very independent body of gentlemen -had been sent up. Not only had the electors -put forward men of free principles, but the press -had warmly urged the selection of a Liberal -Speaker as essential to the full exercise of Parliamentary -freedom. There were three candidates -for the Speakership more particularly in view—Sir -Edward Seymour, Sir Thomas Littleton, and -Harley, the one supported by the Tories.</p> - -<p>A paper on the choice of a Speaker had been -actively circulated, which said that the great Lord -Burleigh declared "that England could never be -undone except by a Parliament," and that whenever -we were enslaved like our Continental neighbours, -it would be by the joint influence of a -corrupt Parliament and a standing army. It -cried down Seymour as a man who had constantly -been bargaining with the Court since the days of -the Pension Parliament of Charles II.; and it -declared that men holding office under the Crown -were most unfit for the office of Speaker. This was -aimed at Littleton, which seemed a good omen for -the Court, but, as it soon appeared, was no sound indication, -for Harley was not elected, but Littleton.</p> - -<p>In his opening speech William told the Commons -that, notwithstanding the state of peace, it -would be necessary for them to consider well the -strength which they ought to maintain both at -sea and on land; that the honour and even safety -of the nation depended on not stripping it too -much of its forces in the eyes of foreign nations. -It was necessary, he contended, that Europe -should be impressed with the idea that they would -not be wanting to themselves. They had acquired -a great position among the nations, and -it was their duty to preserve it. He recommended -them to make some progress in the discharge of -the debts incurred in this long and expensive -war, for an English Parliament could never, he -imagined, neglect the sacred obligations which it -had assumed. He also suggested to them some -measures for the improvement of trade and for the -discouragement of profaneness, and he begged -them to act with unanimity.</p> - -<p>The remarks on the necessity of maintaining more -troops than the last Parliament had determined on, -and on defraying the debts incurred by the war, -seemed to rouse an extraordinary spirit of anger -and disrespect in the new House. It neglected -the ordinary courtesy of an Address. Before -leaving for Holland in the summer, William left a -sealed paper, ordering Ministers not to reduce the -army in compliance to less than sixteen thousand -men. Probably this was become known, and -there had got abroad a persuasion that the king -meant to resist the will of the Parliament in this -respect; no other cause appeared sufficient to -explain the animus which now manifested itself. -The House resounded with speeches against standing -armies, and on the waste of the people's substance -on foreign wars, and it resolved that all the -land forces of England in English pay should not -exceed seven thousand, and that these should all -be natural-born subjects; that not more than -twelve thousand should be maintained in Ireland—these, -too, all natural-born subjects, and to be -supported by the revenue of Ireland. The -Ministers had told the king before the meeting of -Parliament that they thought they could obtain a -grant of ten or twelve thousand in England, and -William had replied that they might as well leave -none as so few. But now that this storm broke -out, the Ministers, seeing no possibility of carrying -the number they had hoped for, sat silent, to the -great disgust of the king.</p> - -<p>This resolution went to strip William of his -Dutch Guards whom he had brought with him, -and who had attended him in so many actions, -and of the brave Huguenots, who had done -such signal service in Ireland. The spirit of -the Commons, instead of being merely economical, -was in this instance petty and miserable. It -was neither grateful nor becoming to its dignity, -to make so sweeping a reduction of the army,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_508" id="Page_508">[508]</a></span> -to begrudge the king who had rescued them -from the miserable race of the Stuarts, and had -so nobly acquiesced in everything which regarded -their liberties, the small satisfaction of a few -Dutch and Huguenot troops. The Huguenots -especially, it might have been expected, would -have experienced some sympathy from the Parliament, -not only in return for their own gallant -services, but because their friends and fellow-religionists -were at this moment suffering the -severest persecution. But a deep dislike of -foreigners had seized the nation, and this had -been rendered the more intense from the lavish -wealth which William heaped on Portland and -others, and from his retiring every year to spend -the summer months in Holland. They had never -been accustomed to have their monarch passing -a large portion of his time abroad, and they -regarded it as an evidence that he only had -any regard for the Dutch. The Commons, without -considering his feelings, introduced a Bill -founded on their resolution, carried it briskly -through the House, and sent it up to the Lords, -where it also passed.</p> - -<p>Deeply annoyed, William is said to have -walked to and fro on learning that the Commons -insisted on his dismissing the Dutch Guards, -and to have muttered, "By God, if I had a -son, these Guards should not quit me." He -wrote to Lord Galway, one of his foreign -friends, "There is a spirit of ignorance and -malice prevails here beyond conception." To -Heinsius he wrote in a similar strain, "that -he was so chagrined at the conduct of the -Commons, that he was scarcely master of his -thoughts, and hinted at coming to extremities, -and being in Holland sooner than he had -thought." In fact, he was so much excited as -to menace again throwing up the government. -He sat down and penned a speech which he -proposed to address to the two Houses; it is -still preserved in the British Museum. It -ran:—"My Lords and Gentlemen,—I came into -this kingdom, at the desire of the nation, to -save it from ruin, and to preserve your religion, -laws, and liberties; and for this object I have -been obliged to sustain a long and burthensome -war for this kingdom, which, by the grace of -God and the bravery of this nation, is at present -terminated by a good peace; in which you -may live happily and in repose if you would -contribute to your own security, as I recommended -at the opening of the Session. But -seeing, on the contrary, that you have so little -regard for my advice, and take so very little -care of your own safety, and that you expose -yourselves to evident ruin in depriving yourselves -of the only means for your defence, it would -neither be just nor reasonable for me to be -witness of your ruin, not being able on my -part to avoid it, being in no condition to defend -and protect you, which was the only view I -had in coming to this country." And it then -went on to desire them to name proper persons -to take charge of the government, promising, -however, to come again whenever they would put -him in his proper place, with proper power to -defend them. The entreaties of Somers, however, -induced him to abandon his purpose.</p> - -<p>The mischief which the Whigs had done -themselves by granting a charter to the new -East India Company, in violation of the existing -charter of the old Company, merely because the -former Company had offered them a large money -bait, encouraged the Tories greatly in their -endeavours to regain power. They exhorted -the old Company to petition that means should -be taken to enable it to maintain its trade and -property against the new Company for the -remaining portion of the twenty-one years of its -charter; and there were not wanting some in -the House who declared that the new charter, -granted in violation of an existing one, and -from such corrupt motives, should be abolished. -Montague, however, who had passed the Act -for this charter, was able to protect it, but not -to prevent fresh onslaughts on the unpopular -Whigs. They were charged with gross corruption, -and with embezzlement of the public -revenue, for the purchase of great estates for -themselves, and the grievous burthen of the -people by taxation. Russell, Earl of Orford, -was specially singled out by the Commons. He -was both First Lord of the Admiralty and -Treasurer of the Navy, as well as Admiral, and -assumed great authority, forgetful of the humble -station from which he had risen. He was -charged with keeping large sums of public money -for his own private use, instead of paying the -officers and seamen when their pay was due. -They called for his accounts, and there appeared -to be four hundred and sixty thousand pounds -in his hands. In his defence he represented -that this was actually in course of payment, -and that part of the sum was yet in tallies, -which must be converted into cash before it -could be distributed. But this did not satisfy -the Commons. They voted an address to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_509" id="Page_509">[509]</a></span> -king, complaining of the impropriety of one and -the same person being Lord High Admiral, Chief -Commissioner of the Board of Admiralty, and -Treasurer; of gross misapplication of the public -money; of many unnecessary changes introduced -into the navy; of delays in granting convoys; -and of favouritism to particular officers. Orford -was prudent enough to retire from his offices -before the storm which was gathering burst in -all its fury upon him. The Tories, elated by -this success, endeavoured to get Sir George -Rooke put into Orford's place; but the Whigs -were yet strong enough and imprudent enough -to get the Earl of Bridgewater named First Lord -of the Admiralty—a man almost wholly unacquainted -with naval affairs; and Lord Haversham, -another of the "land admirals," as the -sailors called these unprofessional men, succeeded -to Priestman, one of the Junior Lords, who -retired.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_509.jpg" width="401" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CHARLES MONTAGUE, EARL OF HALIFAX. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_509big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Those matters being settled, the House voted -fifteen thousand pounds for sailors for the year, the -vote expressly stipulating for sailors only, lest -the king should include some land forces under the -name of marines. They also granted one million -four hundred and eighty-four thousand pounds -for the service of the year, to be raised by a -land and income tax of three shillings in the -pound. To this Act, availing themselves of their -sole right to introduce money Bills, they also -"tacked" a clause appointing commissioners to -take an account of the estates forfeited in Ireland -by the last rebellion, in order to their being -applied in ease of the subjects in England. -This was another sharp reminder of the king's -proceedings. It had been promised by him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_510" id="Page_510">[510]</a></span> -that he would not bestow the forfeited estates -without the sanction of the House, but -in disregard of this he had given large estates -to his favourites. William was deeply mortified -by this clause, and some of the Lords -entered a protest against it, on the ground that -the clause was foreign to the contents of the -Bill, and was contrary to the practice of Parliament. -The king, however, did not venture to -refuse his signature to the Act, which he passed -on the 4th of May, 1699, and at the same time -prorogued the Parliament.</p> - -<p>Before quitting England, William was obliged to -almost entirely remodel his Ministry. The Duke -of Leeds retired from the Presidency of the Council; -his influence had expired with the discovery of -his bribe from the East India Company. The -Earl of Pembroke, a moderate Tory, who performed -his official duties with zeal and integrity, -was put in his place. Villiers, Earl of Jersey, -having returned from his embassy to France, -was made Secretary of State in place of the -Duke of Shrewsbury, who became Lord Chamberlain. -The Earl of Manchester went as -ambassador to France in place of Jersey, and -Lord Lonsdale, another Tory, obtained the Privy -Seal. On the 2nd of June, William, having -appointed a regency, embarked for Holland, -where he retired to Loo, but not to peace of -mind, for he saw events marching to an ominous -result. The forces of England and of the Continent -were disbanded, except those of Louis, which -were rapidly increased; and not only the Spanish -monarchy, but all Europe, appeared at his mercy. -But before following these movements, we must -trace some nearer home.</p> - -<p>Ireland was quiet. The Parliament of that -kingdom had voted one hundred and twenty thousand -pounds for the maintenance of the twelve -thousand troops ordered by the English Parliament -to be quartered in that country, and the Duke of -Bolton and the Earls of Berkeley and Galway -were appointed Lords Justices.</p> - -<p>In Scotland far different was the state of things. -There excitement raged against the Ministry -of England, and not the less against the king, who -disowned their Company, organised to carry out -the Act granted for trading to Africa and the -Indies. The charter for this Company was granted -by the Scottish Parliament, and ratified by William -in 1695. Its professed object was to trade with -the East and West Indies and Africa; but there -was a plan for carrying out these objects, which -does not seem to have been made known to the -Government, or made public generally, till after the -acquisition of the charter. This was to seize on -the Isthmus of Darien, to establish a strong colony -there, and not only to grow rich through possession -of the gold mines, but to found ports both on the -Atlantic and on the Pacific, so that a great carrying -trade might be prosecuted between Europe -and China and the East Indies by that route.</p> - -<p>William Paterson, the projector of this scheme, -was the same man who had projected and carried -into being, through the influence of Montague, -the Bank of England. He has been generally represented -as a visionary speculator and schemer, -and has not unfrequently been confounded with -John Law, of Lauriston, the author of the famous -South Sea Bubble and Mississippi Scheme, which -spread such ruin through both France and -England. Paterson, however, was a very different -man. Undoubtedly he was a most speculative -genius, but in his speculations there was something -grand, substantial, and based, for the most -part, on the purest moral principles. The Bank of -England is a lasting memorial of his real sagacity -and acute talents. It was well devised, and immediately -rose to entire success. Through some disagreement -in the mode of management Paterson -sold out his stock, and proposed the erection of an -Orphan Bank, connected with the Orphan Fund -established by the Corporation of London already -mentioned. This was not entertained, and he then -projected his grand scheme for the Scottish Company -to trade to the Indies. This scheme, so far -from being visionary, had all the elements of a -great and far-seeing reality. The unsound portion -of Paterson's project was the not sufficiently taking -into account these political obstacles:—Spain possessed, -or rather claimed to possess, the Isthmus of -Darien. Louis of France was contemplating the -seizure of Spain, and its American territories. -William was under treaty of peace with both -Spain and Louis. It was impossible, therefore, -to obtain possession of the Isthmus of Darien -without producing a fresh European war. To -attempt it by treaty was useless, for Spain would -never consent to permit England, of which -she was in the highest degree jealous, thus to -establish a great mercantile colony in the midst of -her most valuable Transatlantic colonies, from -which she was annually drawing her cargoes of -gold and other valuable products. Louis of -France, who was resolved to succeed to the -Spanish Empire, was as little likely to permit such -a thing. To obtain possession of Darien, then, -could only be done by invasion, and that invasion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_511" id="Page_511">[511]</a></span> -must produce immediate war, for which William -was not prepared.</p> - -<p>But the scheme was got up ostensibly to trade -to the East and West Indies and Africa. There -was no mention of Panama; and its prospects -were so fair that they seized on the imaginations -of the English and Scottish public. The Company -was to have the monopoly of trade with -Asia, Africa, and America for thirty-one years. -Paterson had spent ten years in the West -Indies, and, as it is supposed, in Panama. At -all events, he had the reputation of being intimately -acquainted with those regions and their -resources. His proposals of the Company were -eagerly accepted both in London and Edinburgh. -Though it was intended to raise only three hundred -and sixty thousand pounds as the original -stock for both countries, three hundred thousand -pounds were subscribed in London alone in -a few days. But this remarkable success excited -all the vindictive feelings of Companies whose -interests this new league appeared likely to -affect. The East India Companies, new and old, -immediately were on the alert, and raised such -a feeling in the House of Commons that it -resolved to impeach Paterson and the bankers, -Coutts and Cohen, for the commission of an illegal -act in daring to levy money in England without -the sanction of the English Legislature. In the -meantime a subscription list had been opened at -Hamburg, and by this the Dutch East India -Company was equally alarmed, and the influence -both of the Dutch and of the English Companies -was made to bear on the king. William, who had -been too much absorbed by his warfare with -Louis to perceive the hostile feelings which he was -exciting by passing the Scottish Act, now made -haste to condemn his own precipitancy. He complained -that he had been deceived by the Scottish -Government, and at once gave orders to prohibit -the scheme, and sent similar orders to his consul -at Hamburg to forbid the subscription there. -The senate of the city of Hamburg was induced to -prohibit the canvassing of the Company's agents; -and the English subscribers, alarmed at the -menaces of the king and Commons, withdrew -their names. Nor were these all the enemies of -this scheme. There were Scottish traders united -for commerce with India by the ordinary route, -and these joined in the cry. One of these, Mr. -Robert Douglas, attacked the scheme in a very -able letter. In this letter we are first let into -the secret that the real destination is not so much -the West Indies as Darien, on the mainland. It -is not, however, from Paterson having mentioned -expressly Darien that Douglas declares it to be -that place, but he infers it from the fact that the -locality darkly hinted at by Paterson is at once -near the Caribbean isles, and at the same time so -situated "that it will alter the whole method of -trade in Europe, and effectually ruin both the -English and Dutch East Indian Companies, because -it opens a shorter, safer, and more convenient -way to the East Indies by the Pacific from -England and Holland."</p> - -<p>Douglas then points out that it is not nearer or -more convenient than the old way to the western -or Bombay coast of the Indian peninsula; that it -was then a very dangerous route, because our -merchant vessels on that track would have to pass -the Dutch, Batavian, and Spice Island settlements, -which would show the utmost hostility to such a -traffic; but still more, that it was impossible, because -this Isthmus of Panama was the track by -which Spain conveyed her treasure from Peru -to Portobello; that as to the rightful possession of -the country by Spain, the city of Darien, called -Santa Maria, was one of the first cities built by -them on the mainland of America, as the province -was the first province possessed by them. These -were sound reasons why the king could not -consent to any such invasion of the territory of -Spain, and why Spain was not likely to concede -it by treaty. These reasons should have made -Paterson and the Scots pause.</p> - -<p>Unwarned by the great outcry, the firm opposition, -and insurmountable obstacles, Paterson and -the Scots went on. The Scottish people, who -conceived the idea of achieving enormous wealth in -the golden regions of Central America, regarded -themselves as victims of the jealousy of William's -favourite Dutch, and of the haughty monopolising -spirit of the English, and the whole country was -in a ferment. They considered themselves insulted -and most perfidiously treated by the king, who -had freely sanctioned the Company, and then as -unceremoniously disowned and trampled on it. -They went on with the subscriptions, and speedily -the amount rose to four hundred thousand pounds. -The highest and most intelligent of the Scottish -nobility, as well as the people generally, were sanguine -contributors. Their younger sons saw a -new highway to opulence and distinction suddenly -opened. Many lords mortgaged all that they -could to secure an ample share of the expected -benefits. Their tenantry and servants were enthusiastic -in their adhesion to it; and the officers -whom the peace had left at large, prepared for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_512" id="Page_512">[512]</a></span> -fresh campaigns and adventures in the golden -regions.</p> - -<p>The Company had a number of stout ships built -in Holland to convey the emigrants and their -stores. On the 25th of July, 1698, four of -these ships—the <em>St. Andrew</em>, the <em>Unicorn</em>, the -<em>Caledonia</em>, and the <em>Endeavour</em>—containing one -thousand two hundred men, set sail from Leith. -Such was the excitement that all Edinburgh -seemed to have poured out to see the departure of -the colonists, and hundreds of soldiers and sailors -who could not be engaged clamoured to be taken -on board. Many contrived to get into the vessels -and endeavour to conceal themselves in the hold, -and when discovered they clung to the timbers -and riggings, offering service without pay.</p> - -<p>When the vessels had sailed, the Scottish Parliament -unanimously addressed the king on behalf -of the Company and the validity of the charter. -The Lord President, Sir Hugh Dalrymple, the -brother of Lord Stair, and Sir James Stuart, the -Lord Advocate, also presented memorials defending -the rights of the Company. Paterson committed -the error of sailing in the fleet as a private individual. -He had incurred the resentment of the -Company by having remitted twenty thousand -pounds to Hamburg for stores, part of which, -through no fault of his own, was embezzled by -the agent. The Company, therefore, refused to -give him the command of the colony, but appointed -a council of seven members without a head. This -was certain to entail want of unity of purpose, -and consequent failure. Paterson was the only -man qualified by his abilities, his experience, and -his knowledge of the country to take the command. -He is said to have seen and conversed with the -celebrated buccaneer Dampier and his surgeon -Lionel Wafer on the statistics of Darien; and, if -the expedition was sent at all, it should have -been under his entire control. Nothing, in the -political circumstances, could have insured the establishment -of the colony; but Paterson's guidance -would have prevented the dire calamities which -ensued. He was certain that the vessels were -not properly furnished with provisions and stores -before setting out, and he in vain urged an -examination. When out at sea a few days, he was -enabled to get an examination, when there was -discovered to be a serious deficiency, but then it -was too late. They next sailed for Madeira, -where their sealed orders were opened, and they -then bore away for the West Indies. They put -into St. Thomas's, and there might have obtained -plenty of provisions from a ship-captain but for -the perverseness of the council. The advice of -Paterson was uniformly rejected out of jealousy. -On the 30th of October they landed in a fine -bay on the coast of Darien, capable of holding -one thousand ships, and about four miles east of -Golden Island.</p> - -<p>The incapable council, in spite of Paterson's -advice, would plant their new town in a bog, but -the effects on their health soon forced them to remove -to higher ground. They erected a fort and -threw up defences at Acta, which they named New -St. Andrews; and on a hill opposite made a signal-station, -where they placed a corps of Highlanders -to keep a good look-out for the approach of any -enemy.</p> - -<p>But the miserable management of the council -brought speedy misfortune on the infant colony. -The people were suffering from want of everything. -Paterson soon lost his wife, and numbers sank -under disappointment, insufficient food, and the -climate. The natives were friendly to them, but -wanted them to go and fight the Spaniards. It -was soon found that the mountains and forests -offered enormous obstacles to a transit to the -shores of the Pacific. The different leaders of -the expedition fell to quarrelling, and Paterson endeavoured -in vain to reconcile them. They sent -out vessels to the West Indian islands for provisions. -One they lost, and another endeavouring -to get to New York, after beating about for a -month, was driven back. Amid the rapidly-sinking -colonists and the fatal feuds of the leaders, -they received on the 18th of May, 1699, the -stunning news that the king had issued a proclamation -denouncing the act of the colonists as -having infringed his treaty with Spain by forcibly -entering the Spanish territory of Panama, and -forbidding any of the English governors of the -West Indian islands to furnish them with provisions -or any necessaries.</p> - -<p>The moment Louis XIV. heard of their settling -in Darien he had offered to the king of Spain to -send ships and forces and drive them out for him. -The Spanish Minister at London, the Marquis de -Canales, on the 3rd of May presented a remonstrance -against this breach of the peace with his -master. Dalrymple, who has left much information -on this expedition in his "Memoirs," says the -Dutch and English opponents were at the bottom -of this remonstrance; that Spain had let the -affair go on a long time without noticing it; and -that the rights of the Company had been debated -before William, in presence of the Spanish ambassador, -before the colony sailed. All this may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_513" id="Page_513">[513]</a></span> -be true, for the real destination of the expedition -was kept secret till the fleet arrived at Madeira, -and Spain protested as soon as she discovered -whither it had gone. William, who was just now -making treaties with Louis, and anxious to be on -good terms with Spain, strictly enforced the orders -to deprive the suffering colony of all means of remaining. -These measures of the king produced -the most fatal consequences in the colony. Every -one, says Paterson, was in haste to be gone from -it. In vain he tried to persuade them to stay for -more positive orders. Pennicook, the captain of -the fleet, was reported to be intending to steal -away with his ship, on the supposition that they -had all been proclaimed pirates, and would be -hanged. The poor colonists continued to die off -rapidly, and news now came that the Spaniards -were marching against them with a strong force.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_513.jpg" width="412" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SCENE AT THE DEPARTURE FROM LEITH OF THE DARIEN EXPEDITION. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_512">512</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_513big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_514" id="Page_514">[514]</a></span></p> - -<p>Famine, sickness, and the fear of being massacred -in their weakness by the enemy, compelled -the colonists to evacuate the place. On the 18th -of June, 1699, the <em>Unicorn</em>, <em>St. Andrew</em>, and -<em>Caledonia</em> sailed from Golden Island for New -York. On the voyage they met the sloop which -they had sent to Jamaica for provisions. It had -got none, owing to the royal proclamation, and -they all proceeded on their route. They lost -one hundred and fifty out of two hundred and -fifty of their number on the voyage, and arrived at -New York in October, more like skeletons than -living men. On the 13th of November Paterson -and his companions reached England in the <em>Caledonia</em>. -The indignation of the Scots at their -treatment was beyond bounds, and the more so -because, unacquainted with the real facts of the -case, they had sent out a second expedition of one -thousand three hundred men.</p> - -<p>The history of this second expedition was as -miserable as that of the first. On arriving, the new -adventurers, instead of a flourishing colony, found -the place deserted, and only a few miserable -Indians to tell them the fate of their predecessors. -With this new arrival came four -Presbyterian clergymen, who assumed the command, -and seemed to think of nothing but -establishing a presbytery in all its rigour and -uncharitableness. Paterson, like Penn in Pennsylvania, -and Lord Baltimore in Baltimore, had -proclaimed perfect civil and religious liberty to -men of all creeds and nations. This was now -reversed; there was nothing but the most harsh -and senseless Phariseeism. Instead of a comfort, -these men proved one of the worst curses of -this unfortunate colony, thwarting and damping -the exertions of the people, and continually -threatening them with hell fire. Two of these -ministers perished.</p> - -<p>In the midst of these miseries arrived Captain -Campbell, of Ferrol, with a force of his own -men. He attacked and dispersed a body of -one thousand Spaniards sent against him; but -this was only a fresh offence against Spain, and, -therefore, against William. They were soon, -however, assailed by a more powerful Spanish -squadron. Campbell got away to New York, the -rest of the colony capitulated, and there was an -end of the unhappy expedition to Darien. The -Spaniards humanely allowed the remnant of this -wretched company to embark in one of their -vessels, the <em>Rising Sun</em>; but as the British authorities -at all the islands refused them any -succour or stores whatever, only eighty of them -arrived alive in England.</p> - -<p>Scotland was in a frenzy of indignation at -this cold-blooded conduct of the king, who, if -he had visited the projectors with severity, -ought to have had some compassion for the poor -deluded sufferers. The exasperated Scots called -on the king to withdraw his proclamation against -a Company which had an undoubted right by -charter to trade to the West Indies, if not to -the mainland. They demanded that the Scottish -Parliament should be summoned; but William -only sent evasive answers, and the fury of the -people rose to such a height that nothing was -talked of but that the king had forfeited his -right to the allegiance of Scotland by his conduct, -and of war with England.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the partition treaty had become -known to the Court at Madrid, and William's -share in it excited great indignation. At the -same time the agents of Louis had prevailed on -the dying king to nominate the Electoral Prince -of Bavaria his heir to the crown. Scarcely, however, -was this done when this young prince -died, being only eight years of age. Louis still -kept up the farce of disinterestedness, and persuaded -William to enter into a second treaty, -mentioned later on, settling the crown of Spain -on the Archduke Charles, but leaving the Italian -States to the Dauphin. Again were William, -Portland, and Tallard, with an agent of the -Emperor, busy on the new partition at Loo. -But whilst they were busy there, the French -ambassador was equally busy at Madrid, inflaming -the mind of the imbecile king against -William and the Emperor, and prevailed on -him, as we shall see, to leave the whole Spanish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_515" id="Page_515">[515]</a></span> -monarchy to the Dauphin's son Philip. The -king of Spain was also induced to send a strong -remonstrance against the interference of William -in the affairs of the Spanish monarchy to -Mr. Stanhope, the English Minister at Madrid. -Similar remonstrances were presented for form's -sake to the Ministers of France and Holland. -The Spanish Minister in London, Canales, -was ordered to present a still stronger remonstrance -to the Lords Justices in London, in -which the Court of Spain informed them that -his Spanish Majesty would take the necessary -measures himself for the succession of his crown; -adding that if these proceedings, these machinations -and projects, were not speedily put an end -to, there would undoubtedly commence a terrible -war, in which the English, who had felt what -the last war had brought upon them, would -have the worst of it. Canales, who had a high -personal resentment against William, who had -forbidden him the Court for the insolence of -appearing covered, announced haughtily that on -the meeting of Parliament he should appeal to -it against the king's proceedings.</p> - -<p>No sooner was this paper transmitted to Loo -than William sent orders to the Spanish ambassador -to quit England in eighteen days, and -during that period to confine himself to his -house. He was informed that no communication -whatever would be received from him or any -of his servants. Mr. Stanhope was instructed -at the Court of Madrid to complain of this -conduct of Canales, as an attempt to excite -sedition in the kingdom by appealing to the -people and Parliament against the king. Mr. -Stanhope was then instructed to cease all diplomatic -intercourse with the Court and to return -home. The Spanish Court, on its part, justified -the act of its Minister, and Mr. Stanhope took -his leave. The Spanish ambassador at the -Hague delivered a similar memorial to that -delivered in London, which the States-General -refused to read. In these circumstances William -returned to England about the middle of October.</p> - -<p>The temper of his people had not improved -during his absence. The Tories were bent on -driving every Whig from office. They even now -compelled the lately all-powerful Montague to -resign his seat at the Treasury Board as well -as the Chancellorship of the Exchequer. Montague -was well aware of the humour of the -present House of Commons, and anticipated an -attack on his two offices by his resignation. -Lord Tankerville, formerly Lord Grey of Wark, -took his place at the Treasury, and Smith, -another member of that Board, became Chancellor. -At the same time William gave the -office of Lord Chamberlain to the Duke of -Shrewsbury, vacant since the retirement of Sunderland. -Besides Shrewsbury, there remained -no other Whig in office except Somers, and the -Tories were at this moment endeavouring to -spring a mine under his feet.</p> - -<p>William met his Parliament on the 16th of -November. He addressed them with much -studied care to avoid topics of offence, but he -found it impossible. He recommended them to -take further measures, both by sea and land, -for the safety of the kingdom, to punish unlawful -and clandestine trading, and to devise, if -possible, measures for the employment of the -poor. He expressed his resolution to discourage -vice, and declared that he would do anything in -his power towards the welfare of the nation. -"And to conclude," he said, "since our aims are -only for the general good, let us act with confidence -in each other; which will not fail, with -God's blessing, to make me a happy king, and -you a great and flourishing people."</p> - -<p>The very words "let us act with confidence" -roused up this captious Parliament. They sent -him a remonstrance instead of an Address of -thanks, complaining of there being some who -endeavoured to sow distrust and dissension between -them and the king. It was in vain that -William protested that this supposition was -totally unfounded, and that if any should presume -to bring to him any calumnies against his faithful -Commons, he would treat them as his worst -enemies; they were unappeased. They wanted, -in fact, occasion to drive Somers from his -councils, and they soon found a plea.</p> - -<p>During the war, piracy had grown to a great -height upon the coasts of North America, and -the colonists were themselves deep in it. Lord -Bellamont, the Governor of New York, had -recommended that a man-of-war should be sent -to clear the pirates away; but the Admiralty -objected that they had not sailors enough to -spare for such a service. It was then determined -by the Lord Chancellor Somers, the Duke of -Shrewsbury, the Earls of Romney, Orford, and -Bellamont, with a few private individuals, to -send out a vessel at their own expense. This the -king approved of, and promised to contribute one-half -of the expense, and stipulated for one-tenth -of the profits. Besides the usual letters of marque -given to privateers, the captain was furnished with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_516" id="Page_516">[516]</a></span> -a warrant under the Great Seal, authorising him -to make war on the pirates and the French, both -in those and other seas. Unfortunately, this -commission was given to a man who was himself -a notorious pirate—one Captain Kidd, whose -fame still lives on the American coasts, and is -the theme of popular ballads. The man promptly -showed in his true colours.</p> - -<p>The old East India Company complained -bitterly of Kidd's outrages in the Indian -seas, declaring that they would bring it into -trouble with the Great Mogul. In the beginning -of December a motion was made in -the Commons that "the letters patent granted -to the Earl of Bellamont and others of pirates' -goods were dishonourable to the king, and contrary -to the laws of nations and the laws and -statutes of the realm, invasive of property, and -destructive of trade and commerce." There was -a violent debate, in which the Tories contended -that the Lord Chancellor Somers had knowingly -affixed the Great Seal to the commission to enrich -himself, his colleagues, and the king, out of the -plunder of unfortunate merchants. The motion -was rejected by a large majority; the character -of Somers stood too high for such a charge to -reach him. But the Opposition did not rest -here; it was determined to wound the king and -his Government in every possible quarter.</p> - -<p>There lay a cause in Ireland much more dangerous -to the king and his Chancellor than the -affairs of Captain Kidd. William had promised -not to bestow any of the confiscated lands -there without consent of Parliament. In disregard -of his word he had conferred immense -estates on his Dutch favourites, Portland, Albemarle, -Athlone, and his French one, Lord -Galway (Ruvigny), as well as on his mistress, -Mrs. Villiers. The Commons, therefore, appointed -Commissioners to inquire into the royal grants -there. These Commissioners were the Earl of -Drogheda, Sir Francis Brewster, Sir Richard -Leving, Hamilton, Annesley, Trenchard, and -Langford. The four last-named Commissioners -were earnest supporters of the Commons' inquiry; -but it was soon perceived by them that the -Earl of Drogheda, Brewster, and Leving were -in the interest of the Government. When they -came to draw up their report, those three Commissioners -vehemently dissented, and made an -appeal to each House of Parliament, declaring -that the report had not their concurrence, and -that it was not borne out by the evidence laid -before them. They complained that the other -Commissioners had endeavoured to overbear them -in a most arbitrary manner, trying to influence -them by letters and instructions which they -alleged they had received from members of the -Commons. The Commons, however, regarding -Drogheda, Brewster, and Leving as tools of the -Court, paid no attention to their remonstrance. -They received the report signed by the other -four, who, on their part, complained that in the -prosecution of their inquiry they had been greatly -hindered by the backwardness of the people of -Ireland to give information for fear of the vengeance -of the grantees, and from reports industriously -spread that the inquiry, through the influence -of the Crown and the new grantees, would -come to nothing. The three dissentient Commissioners -agreed to much of this, but attributed -the fear of the people to the grantees at large, -and not to those recently favoured by Government. -They affirmed that John Burke, commonly -called Lord Bophin, had agreed to pay to -Lord Albemarle seven thousand five hundred -pounds for procuring from the king letters patent -restoring him to his honours and estates. They -gave amazing details of the wholesale plunder of -cattle, horses, sheep, etc., from the Catholics, -which had never been accounted for to the -Crown. The report stated the persons who had -been outlawed since the 13th of February, 1689, -for participation in the rebellion amounted in -England to fifty-seven, but in Ireland to 3,921; -that the lands confiscated in Ireland since that -period amounted to 1,060,792 acres, with a -rental of £211,623; which, at twenty years' -purchase were of the value of over £4,000,000; -that some of these lands had been restored to -their ancient proprietors, but chiefly by heavy -bribes to the persons who had betrayed his -Majesty's trust in them. They then gave a list -of seventy-six grants under the Great Seal, -amongst which stood prominent those to Lord -Romney, who as Lord Sidney had been Lord-Lieutenant -of Ireland, consisting of 49,517 acres; -two to the king's recent favourite, Keppel of -Guelderland, made by William Earl of Albemarle, -amounting to 106,633 acres; to William Bentinck, -Lord Woodstock, the son of Portland, 135,820 -acres; to Ginkell, Earl of Athlone, 26,480 acres; -and to Ruvigny, the Huguenot, Earl of Galway, -36,148 acres. After all the deductions and allowances, -they valued the estates forfeited since the -13th of February, 1689, and not restored at -£2,699,343—a ridiculous over-estimate.</p> - -<p>The Commons instantly set themselves to frame<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_517" id="Page_517">[517]</a></span> -a Bill of Resumption of all the grants. They -ordered the report of the Commissioners, the -speeches and promises of the king regarding -these forfeited estates, and their former resolutions -regarding them, to be printed, that the -whole country might judge of this matter for itself. -And they resolved that any member of the Privy -Council who should procure or be concerned in -procuring grants from the Crown for their own -purposes, should be deemed guilty of a high crime -and misdemeanour. As the Tories were the means -of carrying this Resumption Bill, the Whigs, to -avenge themselves, moved by way of amendment -that all grants made since the 6th of February, -1684, should be resumed, and the Tories were -caught in their own snare, for they could not with -any show of consistency oppose a measure of -their own originating. Therefore the Bill passed, -and they were compelled to disgorge all the -Crown property they had settled on themselves -from the accession of James. Ministers proposed -to insert a clause to reserve one third of the -forfeited property for the king's own disposal; but -the Commons would not listen to it, and resolved -not to receive any petition from any person whatever -concerning the grants. That justice might -be done to purchasers and creditors in the Act of -Resumption, they appointed thirteen trustees to -hear and determine all claims, to sell to the -highest purchasers, and to appropriate the money -to pay the arrears of the army. The Lords introduced -some alterations, but the Commons rejected -them, and to prevent the Bill from being lost in the -Lords they consolidated it with a money Bill for -the service of the year. The Lords demanded a -conference, and the Commons, exasperated at their -interference in a money Bill, prepared to go -greater lengths. They assumed the aspect of the -Commons in Charles I.'s time. They ordered the -doors to be closed, and called for a list of the Privy -Councillors. They then moved that John, Lord -Somers, should be expelled from the service of the -king for ever. The resolution was not carried, but -the temper of the House was such as made wise -men tremble for an approaching crisis. The king -was disposed to refuse to pass the Bill even if the -Lords did; but when the Commons left the Bill in -the hands of the Lords, and that House was -warned on all sides that they would have to pass -the Bill, or the consequences might be fatal, he -gave way, though with undisguised resentment. -The Commons were proceeding with a fresh resolution -for an address to his Majesty, praying -that not any foreigner, except Prince George of -Denmark, should be admitted to his Majesty's -Council in England or Ireland, the resolution being -aimed at Portland, Albemarle, and Galway, when -the king sent a private message to the peers, desiring -them to pass the Resumption Bill, and on -the 11th of April he went down to the House, -and gave it the royal assent. He then ordered the -Earl of Bridgewater, in the absence of Somers, -who was ill, to prorogue Parliament, and it was -accordingly prorogued to the 23rd of May without -any speech.</p> - -<p>William left England in the beginning of July, -but before his departure he endeavoured to persuade -Somers to give way to the rancour of the -Commons, and resign the Seals. Somers refused to -resign voluntarily, arguing that it would imply a -fear of his enemies, or a consciousness of guilt; -but William, who knew the necessity of leaving a -better feeling behind him if possible, sent Lord -Jersey to Somers for the Seals, and offered them -successively to Chief Justice Holt, and to Treby -the Attorney-General; both declined, however, -what would have turned the enmity of Parliament -on them, and William was eventually obliged to -bestow them on Nathan Wright, one of the Serjeants-at-Law, -a man of no mark and very indifferent -qualifications for the office. William -offered the government of Ireland to Shrewsbury; -but he, too, declined the office, and set out for -Italy. Every one seemed afraid of engaging in -his Government, so bitter was the Parliament -against him. Even his trusty Portland, now absolutely -groaning under the weight of riches which -William had heaped upon him, retired from his -place in his household, and Lord Jersey was appointed -Chamberlain, and Lord Romney, Groom -of the Stole. William had never left the kingdom -in circumstances of so much unpopularity, and -scarcely had he gone when the Duke of Gloucester, -the only child of the Princess Anne, died -at the age of eleven (July 30, 1700). This gave -fresh hopes to the Jacobites. They sent a messenger -to St. Germains with the news, and began to -bestir themselves all over the kingdom. In truth, -the outlook was very gloomy for the Protestant -succession. No such successor was as yet appointed. -The health and spirits of William were -fast sinking. His person and government were -extremely unpopular. The House of Brunswick -had treated his advances with marked contempt, -but they now came forward, urged by the critical -state of things, and made their first visit of acknowledgment -to the king. The Princess Sophia, -Electress Dowager of Hanover, was the person<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_518" id="Page_518">[518]</a></span> -on whom the eyes of the Protestants were now -turned; but the nation was in a state of much uncertainty. -It was rumoured that even Anne had -sent a conciliatory letter to her father, and the -public mind was disturbed by fears of a disputed -succession, and of the reviving chances of a Stuart -king.</p> - -<p>William during this year had been busy concluding -the new treaty of partition. Tallard, -Portland, and Jersey had assisted in it. It was -signed by them in London early in March, and -by Briord and the Plenipotentiaries of the States -at the Hague on the 25th of October. It had -substituted the Archduke Charles, the second son -of the Emperor, for the deceased Electoral Prince -of Bavaria, as heir to Spain with the Spanish -Flanders and colonies; but the Dauphin was still -to possess Naples and the other Italian States, with -Lorraine and Bar, which the Duke of Lorraine was -to exchange for Milan. In case of the archduke -dying, some other son of the Emperor was to -succeed, but not the king of the Romans, for -it was stipulated that Spain and the Empire, or -France and Spain, were never to be united under -one crown. The first treaty was made known -to the different Powers, and excited much -astonishment and disapprobation. The Emperor -of Germany, notwithstanding his son was made -successor to the Spanish monarchy, Flanders, -America, and the Indies, was not conciliated. -He expressed his amazement that the kings -of other countries should take it upon them to -carve up the Spanish monarchy without the consent -of the present possessor and the Estates of -the kingdom. He denied the right of these -Powers to compel him to accept a part when he -was heir to the whole, and to pronounce his -forfeiture of even that part if within three months -he did not consent to this unwarrantable proceeding. -The other princes of Germany were unwilling -to excite the enmity of the House of -Austria by expressing their approval of the -scheme, and Brandenburg, which was just now -in treaty with the Emperor for the acknowledgment -of Prussia as a kingdom, which was signed -on the 16th of November, of course united with -him. The Italian States were alarmed at the -prospects of being handed over to France, and the -Swiss declined to sanction the treaty. In Spain -the aristocracy, who had vast estates in Sicily, -Naples, and the other Italian provinces, and who -enjoyed the viceroyalties, and governorships, and -other good offices there, were greatly incensed at -the idea of all these passing to the French.</p> - -<p>The miserable and dying king was in agonies. -He had already made a will, leaving the crown -and all its dependencies to the Emperor, but -neither he nor the Emperor had taken the -precaution of securing the Italian provinces by -marching a strong army thither—probably from -fear of arousing Louis to a premature war. He -now called a Council of State to deliberate on the -succession; but the unfortunate prince had to -deliberate with a Council which had long been -bought over by the French. Only two of the -Council had the patriotism to vote that the question -should be submitted to the Cortes; they were -overborne by the voices of the rest, who had been -corrupted by Harcourt, the French Minister. -Amongst them were prominent the Marquis de -Monterey and Cardinal Portocarrero. They advised -that they should consult the faculties of -law and theology, and these faculties were already -bribed by France. The French faction persuaded -further the starving people that all their troubles -had been produced by the partisans of Austria; -and the enraged mob surrounded the palace and -demanded to see the king, who was compelled to -show himself, though he was too weak to stand -without help. All this time the condition of the -king of Spain was frightful. His conscience, -accustomed to be swayed by his religious advisers, -was torn to and fro by the contending exertions -of Portocarrero and the queen. Portocarrero was -a man of vast influence; he was not only cardinal -but Archbishop of Toledo, and affected a deep concern -for the king. Charles, intensely attached to -his own family, and having a strong persuasion -that its claims were the claims of the nation, was -yet so tortured by the arguments of the priests of -the opposite factions, and the entreaties of the -queen, that no poor soul was ever in so dreadful -a purgatory. At length, after the most violent -contests, he sank in passive weakness, and on -the 2nd of October he signed the will dictated -by France. Having done it, he burst into tears, -and sighed out "Now I am nothing!"</p> - -<p>But this signing was effected in deepest secrecy; -neither the queen nor any one but a small junto -of the French faction was aware of it. As -Charles, however, still lingered between life and -death for a month yet, the French made every -preparation for the event, and Portocarrero took -possession of the Great Seals, and dispersed all -his agents, so as to secure the transfer of the -crown to France. On the 1st of November, 1700, -the unhappy monarch died, at the age of thirty-nine, -and the will was made known, to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_519" id="Page_519">[519]</a></span> -consternation of the queen and the Austrian and -English ambassadors, who were till that moment -in profound ignorance of it. As soon as the news -reached Paris, Count Zinzendorf, the Imperial -ambassador, presented himself at Versailles, and -inquired whether the king meant to abide by -the treaty of partition or accept the will. The -Marquis de Torcy answered for Louis that he -meant certainly to abide by the treaty. But this -was only to gain time. Louis had long made up -his mind, and when he heard that Charles was -dead, he exclaimed, "There are no longer any -Pyrenees." William's statesmanlike plans had -been foiled by his confederate's treachery.</p> - -<p>William had returned to England towards the -end of October, a few days before the death of -the King of Spain. He was deeply chagrined -at this unexpected event, but, in the present -temper of England—disgusted with his proceedings -with Louis for the partition of Spain—he -could not openly complain. Not the less, -however, did he unburthen his feelings to his -friend the Pensionary Heinsius. Writing to him, -he said, "I never relied much on the engagements -with France, but I must confess that I did not -think they would on this occasion have broken, -in the face of the whole world, a solemn treaty -before it was well accomplished." He confessed -that he had been duped, and that he felt it the -more because his English subjects did not disguise -their opinion that the will was better than the -partition, against which one party had complained -because of the large amount given to France, -the other at the injustice of forestalling the wishes -of the French, and both at the secrecy with which -the negotiations had been conducted. He expressed -his deep anxiety regarding the Spanish -Netherlands, which, it seemed, must fall into the -hands of France, and as to what barrier was to be -set up between them and Holland; and he concluded -by saying that he should bear all the blame -for having trusted to France after his experience -that no trust was to be put in it.</p> - -<p>But, besides his health and the mortification of -Louis's triumphant deceit, William had plenty of -troubles from the temper of his Parliament, and -the state of the factions which harassed his Government. -With such gloomy auspices came in the -year 1701. The king had now replaced the retiring -Whigs of his Ministry by Tories. Lord -Godolphin was made First Commissioner of the -Treasury; Lord Tankerville succeeded Lord Lonsdale, -deceased, as Privy Seal; Lord Rochester was -sent as Lord-Lieutenant to Ireland; and Sir -Charles Hedges was appointed Secretary of State. -By their advice Parliament was dissolved, and -writs were issued for the meeting of the new one -on the 6th of February.</p> - -<p>When Parliament met, it was found that the -late Speaker, Sir Thomas Littleton, had absented -himself from the House, and the Tories proposed -in his stead Robert Harley, who was now fast -rising into favour with that party. The king had -requested Littleton, in fact, to withdraw, that the -Tories might get in their man; but there was such -a ferment in the House that it was obliged to be -adjourned till the 20th. Then the Whigs brought -forward Sir Richard Onslow, but he was defeated -by a majority of two hundred and forty-nine to -one hundred and twenty-five. This showed that a -strong Tory Commons had been returned, and yet -it was not true that all the Tories were unanimous. -There was, indeed, a considerable breach in the -party. Those of them who had been passed over -in the selection of the Ministry, or had other -causes of pique against the Government, remained -in opposition, and occasioned the king and their -own party no little embarrassment. Amongst -these were the Duke of Leeds, the Marquis of -Normanby, the Earl of Nottingham, Seymour, -Musgrave, Howe, Finch, and Showers. It was -strongly suspected, too, that Louis had made use -of Tallard to bribe some members of Parliament -and of the Government to an awful extent to -oppose any measures for war and Continental -combinations.</p> - -<p>In his opening speech William informed the -Parliament that the death of the Duke of Gloucester -had rendered it necessary that they should -take into consideration the succession to the Crown -after him and the Princess Anne, who had now no -heir; for the happiness of the nation and the -security of the Protestant religion made it the -subject of the highest moment. The subject of -next importance, and scarcely inferior, he said, -was the death of the late King of Spain, and the -succession arranged by his will, which had made -so great an alteration in affairs abroad as demanded -their most serious consideration for the -interests and safety of England, and the preservation -of the peace of Europe and of the Protestant -religion. That these great topics might have -due consideration, he had desired that they should -receive it in a new Parliament. He next referred -to the necessity for making a proper provision for -the current expenditure, and for the reduction of -the debt, and recommended them to put the fleet -into effective condition.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_520" id="Page_520">[520]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Electress Sophia of Hanover, the next in -succession to Anne, was the daughter of Frederick -the Prince Palatine, and Elizabeth Queen of -Bohemia, therefore granddaughter of James I. -No sooner did Sophia hear of the death of the -Duke of Gloucester than she took with her her -daughter, the Electress of Brandenburg, and made -a visit to William at Loo. She had a twofold -object, to obtain his promise of favouring her -succession to the crown of England, and his -acknowledgment of Brandenburg as a kingdom -under the name of Prussia, a favour which the -Emperor, as we have seen, had already conceded. -William seems to have assured the Electress of his -intention to support both her claim to the English -crown, and that of her daughter to the title -of Queen of Prussia, and immediately left for -England.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_520.jpg" width="560" height="389" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE ROYAL PALACE OF WHITEHALL FROM THE THAMES, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 17TH CENTURY.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_520big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>At the same time, the Court of St. Germains -was on the alert to get the Prince of Wales -accepted, and the English Jacobites sent Mr. F. -Graham, a brother of the late Lord Preston, to -James, to make certain proposals regarding the -succession of the Prince of Wales. It was proposed -that he should be sent to England and there -educated in Protestantism; but this condition -James was certain not to agree to, and accordingly -the whole scheme fell to the ground. It is said -that the Princess Anne was favourable to the -prince's succession could he have been brought up -a Protestant; but his parents declared that they -would rather see him dead.</p> - -<p>The Tories, who were averse from a Continental -war, appear to have held a large meeting, to -propose an address to his Majesty, praying him to -acknowledge the new King of Spain; and had -they done this, they would probably have found -the king ready to listen to them, for the States -were urging him to do the same thing. But -though the proposition was warmly advocated, -Mr. Monckton, happening to say that if they -carried this motion, the next he supposed would -be to recommend the acknowledgment of the -Prince of Wales, the idea appeared to startle the -meeting, and the matter was dropped. But the -Whig party was still inclined to war. They had -been the advocates and supporters of the former -one; they knew that William was strongly disposed -to it, and that to support him was the way -to regain his favour. Besides, Marlborough was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_521" id="Page_521">[521]</a></span> -anxious to distinguish himself at the head of -an army; in that respect he was at one -with the Whigs, and had their support. The -Whigs saw the fast-failing health of William, -and looked towards the Princess Anne with -whom the Marlboroughs were everything. A -strong spirit of war, therefore, manifested itself -in the Commons, in spite of the inclinations of -Ministers. Secretary Vernon, writing to the Earl -of Manchester at Paris, told him that so great a -spirit had rarely been seen in the House of Commons -for supporting the interests of England and -Holland; and this was fully borne out by a unanimous -vote of the House on the 24th of February, -declaring that it would stand by the king, and -support him in all such measures as went to -maintain the independence of England, the security -of the Protestant religion, and the peace of -Europe. The question, however, of the best mode -of maintaining peace, whether by conceding the -French claims on Spain, or arming to resist them, -was warmly debated by the different factions. -William was agreeably surprised at the tone of -the House, and on the 17th he informed them of -his satisfaction at their assurances, which he took -to be important for the honour and safety of -England. He then handed to them the pressing -memorial of the States-General to him, to acknowledge -the Duke of Anjou as the king of Spain. -They had themselves agreed to do this, in terror -lest the French should march over their defenceless -frontiers; yet they told William that they would -do nothing without his consent and approbation. -They counted, however, fully on this, and painted -earnestly the dangers to which they were exposed -by any opposition to France, and called on him to -supply the English aid secured to them by treaty. -But they did not seem inclined to vote supplies for -the purpose.</p> - -<p>Parliament now entered on the great deliberation -of the Session, the appointment of the -successor to the crown after the Princess of Denmark. -It was a subject which the king had recommended -from the throne at the commencement -of the Session, and which the failing health of -William and the prospect of agitations all over -Europe warned them not to defer. This important -business, however, was set about in an -extraordinary manner. Roger Coke says a Whig -member meant to bring in a Bill to fix the succession -on the House of Brunswick, but that the -Tories, becoming aware of it, set Sir John Bowles, -one of their own party, to bring one in. This -Bowles was a half-crazy man, and in the end -became altogether insane; and the Bill being put -into his hands looked as though the Tories meant -to cast contempt upon it. The Bill was sent into -Committee, and Bowles was put in the chair; but -whenever the discussion was brought in the -members hastened out of the House, and the -matter seemed to hang for several weeks as though -no one would proceed with it under the present -management. But at length Harley took it up in -earnest, and remarked that there were some very -necessary preliminary questions to be settled before -they proceeded to vote the different clauses of -the Bill; that the nation had been in too great -haste when it settled the Government on the -previous occasion, and had consequently overlooked -many securities to the liberties of the -nation which might have been obtained; that now -they were under no immediate pressure, and it -would be inexcusable to fall into the same error. -Before, therefore, they proceeded to nominate the -person who should succeed, they ought to settle -the conditions under which he and his descendants -should succeed. This advice was taken, much to -the surprise of William, who found the Tories, -now in the ascendant, endeavouring to curtail the -royal prerogative, and by every one of their restrictions -casting a decided censure upon him. The -public, likewise, were so much puzzled by this conduct -that they suspected that the motion of -Harley was intended to defeat the Brunswick succession -altogether. But the terms on which -William and Mary had been admitted to the -throne were the work of the Whigs, and the -Tories could not let slip this opportunity of -showing how negligent they had been of the -rights of the nation.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, after great discussions carried on -for about three months, the following resolutions -were agreed to and embodied in the Bill:—"That -whoever should hereafter come to the possession of -this Crown shall join in communion with the -Church of England as by law established; that -in case the Crown and dignity of this realm shall -hereafter come to any person not being a native of -this kingdom of England, this nation be not -obliged to engage in any war for the defence of -any dominions or territories which do not belong -to the Crown of England without the consent of -Parliament; that no person who shall hereafter -come to the possession of the Crown shall go out of -the dominions of England, Scotland, or Ireland -without consent of Parliament; that from and -after the time that further limitations by this Act -shall take effect, all matters and things relating to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_522" id="Page_522">[522]</a></span> -the well-governing of this kingdom, which are -properly cognisable in the Privy Council by the -laws and customs of the realm, shall be transacted -there, and all resolutions taken thereupon shall be -signed by such of the Privy Council as shall -advise and consent to the same; that after the -limitations shall take effect, no person born out of -the kingdom of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or -the dominions thereunto belonging, although he be -naturalised and made a denizen, except such as -are born of English parents, shall be capable to -be of the Privy Council, or a member of either -House of Parliament, or to enjoy any office or -place of trust, either civil or military, or to have -any grant of lands, tenements, or hereditaments -from the Crown to himself, or to any other in -trust for him; that no person who has an office or -place of profit under the King, or receives a -pension from the Crown, shall be capable of serving -as a member of the House of Commons; that -after the limitation shall take effect, judges' commissions -shall be made <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">quamdiu se bene gesserint</i>,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> -and their salaries ascertained and established, but, -upon the address of both Houses of Parliament, it -may be lawful to remove them; that no pardon -under the Great Seal of England be pleadable to -an impeachment by the Commons in Parliament." -Having settled these preliminaries, the Bill provided -that the Princess Sophia, Duchess Dowager -of Hanover, be declared the next in succession to -the Crown of England in the Protestant line after -his Majesty and the Princess Anne, and the heirs -of their bodies respectively; and that the further -limitation of the Crown be to the said Princess -Sophia and the heirs of her body, being Protestants.</p> - -<p>When this extraordinary Bill was sent up to the -Lords, it was not expected to pass there without -much opposition and cutting down. There was, in -fact, an evident reluctance there, as well as in the -Commons, to enter on the question. Many lords -absented themselves, and others, as the Marquis -of Normanby, the Earls of Huntingdon and Plymouth, -and the Lords Guildford and Jeffreys, -opposed it. Burnet attempted to move some -amendments; but some lords crying out "No -amendments! no amendments!" none were further -attempted, and the Bill was sent down to the -Commons as it went up.</p> - -<p>Had such a sweeping Bill as this passed the -Houses some years ago, William would have -refused to ratify it, as he refused so long to -ratify the Triennial Bill. Certainly it was from -beginning to end the most trenchant piece of -censure on his conduct.</p> - -<p>During these transactions negotiations were -going on at the Hague between England, France, -Holland, and Spain. Mr. Stanhope, Envoy Extraordinary -to the States-General, was empowered -to treat, in union with Holland, for a continuation -of the peace on certain conditions. These conditions -were, that Louis should withdraw all his -troops from the Spanish Netherlands, and engage -to send no fresh ones into any of the Flemish -towns; that no troops but native-born troops -of Flanders or Spain should be kept there, except -in Nieuport and Ostend, which should be given -up to king William as cautionary towns, and -in Luxemburg, Namur, and Mons, which should -be garrisoned by the States-General, for the -security of their frontiers, but without prejudice -to the rights and revenues of the Crown of -Spain; that no towns in the Spanish Netherlands, -nor any port belonging to Spain, should be -given up to or exchanged with France on any -pretence whatever; that the subjects of England -should enjoy the same liberties and privileges -as they did on the demise of the late king of -Spain, and in as ample a manner as the French -or any other nation, in all parts of the Spanish -dominions, whether by land or sea; that the -Emperor should be invited to join, and that any -other princes or States who desired to unite for -the preservation of the peace of Europe should -be admitted to the treaty.</p> - -<p>D'Avaux, the French Minister, received these -demands with an air of the utmost astonishment, -and declared that they could not have been -higher if his master had lost four successive -battles. That the French troops would be -removed from Flanders as soon as Spain could -send forces to replace them, he said was certain; -but for the rest of the Articles, he could only -send them to Versailles for the consideration of -the king. Louis expressed the utmost indignation -at these demands, which he declared to be -most insolent, and could only be put forward by -William with a desire to provoke a war. He -said that he would renew the treaty of Ryswick, -which was all that could be reasonably expected. -In fact, though the demands were no more than -were necessary for the security of Holland, -William, knowing the nature of Louis, and -that he was now at the head of France, Spain, -and a great part of Italy, could not seriously -have expected that he would accede to them. -Perhaps William intended him to reject them,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_523" id="Page_523">[523]</a></span> -as that would furnish a good <em>casus belli</em>, and -would enable him to rouse the spirit of the -English people to a martial tone. Accordingly -he communicated the refusal of the French Court -to accede to the terms offered; but the Commons, -feeling that the object was to engage them in -support of a Continental Congress, which might -lead them into another war more oppressive than -the former one, they thanked his Majesty in an -address for his communication, but called for -copies of the Partition Treaty, that they might -inform themselves on the precise terms agreed -upon in that treaty with France. The Tories, -however much they might be disposed to maintain -the same course themselves, would by no -means omit the opportunity of damaging the -Whig Ministers who had been concerned in that -business. They had already agreed to send ten -thousand men to the aid of the States-General -in support of the treaty of 1677, and they now -set to work to establish by this inquiry a plea -against Lord Somers, Portland, and the others -engaged in the treaty.</p> - -<p>The Lords, not to be behind, also called for -copies of the two treaties. They appointed a -Committee to examine them, and placed Nottingham, -a thorough Tory, in the chair. There -was a sprinkling of Whigs in the Committee to -give it an air of fairness, and a strong contest -went on between the two parties. On the -fourth resolution, that there were no instructions -in writing given to the Plenipotentiaries of -England, and that, if verbal orders were given, -they were given without being submitted to the -Council, Portland, who had been almost the sole -manager of these treaties, in conjunction with -William, by permission of the king informed -them that he had, by the king's order, laid the -matter before six of the king's Ministers—namely, -Pembroke, Marlborough, Lonsdale, -Somers, Halifax, and Secretary Vernon. These -lords then endeavoured to excuse themselves by -admitting that, the Earl of Jersey having read the -first treaty to them, they had objected to various -particulars, but being informed that the king -had already carried the matter as far as possible, -and could get no better terms, and that, in fact, -everything was settled, they had nothing for it -but to desist from their objections. Various -protests were entered against the resolutions in -Committee, but the Report, when brought up, -was to this effect:—That the lords spiritual -and temporal had found, to their great sorrow, -that the treaty made with the French king had -been very prejudicial to the peace and safety of -Europe; that it had probably given occasion to -the late king of Spain to make his will in favour -of the Duke of Anjou; that the sanction of -France having possession of Sicily, Naples, several -ports in the Mediterranean, the province of -Guipuzcoa, and the Duchy of Lorraine, was not -only very injurious to the interests of Europe, -but contrary to the pretence of the treaty itself, -which was to prevent too many territories being -united under one crown; that it appeared that -this treaty never was submitted to the consideration -of the Council, or the Committee of the -Council [in our phrase, the Cabinet], and they -prayed his Majesty in future to take the advice -of his natural-born subjects, whose interest and -natural affection to their country would induce -them to seek its welfare and prosperity. This -last observation was aimed at Portland.</p> - -<p>The Ministers, such as were admitted to the -secret of the treaty, as well as the king, had -undoubtedly violated the Constitution; and had -the Tories been honest, they might have rendered -essential service to the country by punishing -them. But their object was too apparently to -crush Portland and Somers, and to let the rest -go, whom they quietly passed over. The new -Lord Keeper carried up the address to the king, -but the members at large, not relishing the -unpleasant office, took care not to accompany -him, and he found himself at the palace almost -alone. Two or three of the lords-in-waiting were -all that served to represent the House of Peers. -On its being read, William endeavoured to conceal -his chagrin, and merely replied that the -address contained matter of grave moment, and -that he would always take care that all treaties -should be made so as to contribute to the honour -and safety of England.</p> - -<p>The debates in the Commons were in the -meantime still more vehement on the same -subject. Sir Edward Seymour declared that the -Partition Treaty was as infamous as a highway -robbery, and Howe went further, denouncing it -as a felonious treaty; an expression which so -exasperated the king that he protested, if the -disparity of condition between him and that -member had not been too great, he would have -demanded satisfaction by his sword. These -discussions in the two Houses excited out of -doors a general condemnation of the treaty, and -threw fresh odium on the Government.</p> - -<p>On the last day of March a message was -communicated to both Houses by Secretary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_524" id="Page_524">[524]</a></span> -Hedges, that no further negotiation appeared -possible with France, from its decided rejection -of the terms offered, and its continuing to concede -only the renewal of the treaty of Ryswick. -The Commons, instead of an immediate answer, -adjourned to the 2nd of April, and then resolved -unanimously to desire his Majesty to carry on -the negotiations with the States-General, and -take such measures as should conduce to the -safety of the kingdom. In reply to two resolutions -from the States-General, and a memorial -presented by their envoy in England, which the -king laid before them, they assured him that -they would support him, supplying the twenty -ships and ten thousand men which they were -bound to find by the treaty of 1677. This gave -no sanction to any negotiations for a fresh -alliance with the Powers formerly combined -against France; and William was deeply mortified, -but he merely thanked them for their assurances -of aid, and informed them that he had sent -orders to his Ambassador at the Hague still to -endeavour to come to terms with France and -Spain.</p> - -<p>On the 19th of April the Marquis de Torcy -handed to the Earl of Manchester, at Paris, a letter -from the new king of Spain to the king of -England, announcing his accession to the throne, -and expressing a desire to cultivate terms of -friendship with him. This announcement had -been made long before to the other European -Powers, and it might well have been doubted -whether William would now acknowledge his -right. To do that was to admit the validity of -the late king of Spain's will, and there could -then be no real reason to refuse the conditions -of the treaty of Ryswick. William was from -this cause in a state of great perplexity; but -the Earl of Rochester and the new Ministers -urged him to reply and admit the Duke of -Anjou's right. The States-General had already -done it, and, in fact, unless England and the -old allies of the Emperor were prepared to dispute -it with efficient arms, it was useless to refuse. -Accordingly, after a severe struggle with himself, -William wrote to "the Most Serene and Potent -Prince, Brother, and Cousin," congratulating him -on his happy arrival in his kingdom of Spain, -and expressing his assurance that the ancient -friendship between the two Crowns would remain -inviolate, to the mutual advantage and prosperity -of the two nations. With this was certainly -ended every right of England to dispute the -possession of all the territories and dependencies -of the Spanish monarch by the new king; and -there could be no justifiable cause of war with -France until she attempted to renew her hostilities -to neighbouring peoples.</p> - -<p>Whilst affairs were in this position abroad, -the anxiety of William was increased to the -utmost by the war which was waging between -the two rival factions in Parliament. In -endeavouring to damage the Whigs to the -utmost, the Tories damaged and tortured the -king, who was sufficiently miserable with the -prospects on the Continent and his fast-failing -health. The Commons now determined to impeach -Portland and Somers on the ground of their concern -in the second Partition Treaty, contrary to -the constitutional usages of the country. To -procure fresh matter against Somers and Orford, -the pirate, Captain Kidd, was brought from -Newgate, where he was now lying, and examined -at the bar of the House; but nothing was got -thereby. In the case of Portland and Montague -there were additional charges in reference to the -grants and dilapidations of the royal revenue for -which they were said to be answerable.</p> - -<p>At this juncture the men of Kent manifested -their old public spirit by sending in a petition, -praying the House to endeavour to rise above their -party squabbles, and to combine for the furtherance -of the public business. The whole community -were beginning to grow disgusted with the dissensions, -which had evidently more of party rancour -than patriotism at their bottom. This petition -had been got up and signed by grand jurors, -magistrates, and freeholders of the county, assembled -at Maidstone, and confided to Sir Thomas -Hales, one of their members. But Sir Thomas, on -looking over it, was so much alarmed that he handed -it to the other member, Mr. Meredith. Meredith, -in his turn, was so impressed with the hazardous -nature of the petition that, on presenting it, he informed -the House that some of the supporters of -it, five gentlemen of fortune and distinction, were -in the lobby, and ready to attest their signatures. -They were called in accordingly, and owned their -signatures, when they were ordered to withdraw, -and the petition was read. It concluded by saying, -"that the experience of all ages made it manifest -that no nation can be great or happy without -union. We hope that no pretence whatever shall -be able to create a misunderstanding amongst ourselves, -or the least distrust of His Most Sacred -Majesty, whose great actions for this nation are -writ in the hearts of his subjects, and can never, -without the blackest ingratitude, be forgot. We<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_525" id="Page_525">[525]</a></span> -most humbly implore this honourable House to -have regard to the voice of the people, that our -religion and safety may be effectually provided for, -that your addresses may be turned into Bills of -Supply, and that His Most Sacred Majesty, whose -propitious and unblemished reign over us we pray -God long to continue, may be able powerfully to -assist his allies before it is too late."</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_525.jpg" width="560" height="417" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>CAPTAIN KIDD BEFORE THE BAR OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_524">524</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_525big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In proportion to the excellence of the advice -was the indignation with which it was received by -the angry Commons. When men are conscious -that they are acting from private motives of no -very respectable kind under the mask of patriotism, -the discovery that they are seen through invariably -exasperates them. Accordingly, the House was -furious at this very seasonable petition. Some of -the members went out to the petitioners, and called -upon them to make a proper submission to the -affronted House; but they strongly refused, maintaining -that they had only done their duty, whereupon -the House voted that the petition was scandalous, -insolent, seditious, and tending to the destruction -of the Constitution; and they ordered -the Sergeant-at-Arms to take the petitioners into -custody. But the stout men of Kent were not -secured without a vigorous resistance. They were -then sent to the Gatehouse prison; but their treatment -only damaged the Commons, for the public -were greatly of the same opinion. Similar petitions -were soon preparing in different quarters, and these -gentlemen were much visited in their confinement, -which continued till the prorogation. It was, -moreover, much questioned whether the Commons -had not greatly outstripped their real authority, -and infringed the statute of the 13th of Charles -II., which guarantees the right of petition.</p> - -<p>The Tory party in the Commons then returned -to their prosecutions of the late Whig Ministers. -But the day of strange things seemed to have -arrived. One day Harley, the Speaker of the -Commons, received a packet from the hands of -a poor woman as he entered the House. Such -an incident could not take place now, the -Commons having protected themselves from such -irregular missives by making it necessary that -all petitions should have the names of the places, -as well as the persons whence they came, -clearly stated, and be confided to the care of -a member in good time for him to note its character -and contents. This, however, turned out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_526" id="Page_526">[526]</a></span> -to be no petition, but a command. "The enclosed -memorial," it was stated in a letter accompanying, -"you are charged with in behalf of many -thousands of the good people of England. There -is neither Popish, Jacobite, seditious, Court, or -party, interest concerned in it, but honesty and -truth. You are commanded by two hundred -thousand Englishmen to deliver it to the House of -Commons, and to inform them that it is no banter, -but serious truth, and a serious regard to it is expected. -Nothing but justice and their duty is required; -and it is required by them who have both -a right to require, and power to compel it—namely, -the people of England. We could have come to -the House strong enough to oblige you to hear us, -but we have avoided any tumults, not desiring to -embroil, but to serve, our native country. If you -refuse to communicate it to them, you will find -cause in a short time to repent it."</p> - -<p>This strange memorial, which is known to have -been written by Defoe, was signed "Legion," and -charged the House with unwarrantable practices -under fifteen heads. A new claim of right was -arranged under seven heads. Amongst the reprehensible -proceedings of the Commons were stated -to be, the voting of the Partition Treaty fatal to -Europe, because it gave too much of the Spanish dominions -to France, and not concerning themselves -to prevent them from taking possession of them all. -Deserting of the Dutch when the French were almost -at their doors, and till it was almost too late to -help them, it declared to be unjust to our treaties, -unkind to our confederates, dishonourable to the -English nation, and negligent of the safety of both -our neighbours and ourselves. Addressing the -king to displace his friends on base surmises, before -the legal trial or any article proven, was pronounced -illegal, contrary to the course of law, and putting -execution before judgment. It also declared -the delaying of proceedings on impeachments to -blast the reputations of the accused without proving -the charges, to be illegal, oppressive, destructive of -the liberties of Englishmen, and a reproach to Parliaments. -In the same strain it criticised the attacks -on the king's person, especially those of that "impudent -rascal John Howe," who had said openly -that his Majesty had made a "felonious treaty," -insinuating that the Partition Treaty was a combination -to rob the king of Spain, when it was -quite as just as to blow up one man's house to -save that of his neighbour. The Commons were -admonished to mend their ways, as shown to them -in the memorial, on pain of incurring the resentment -of an injured nation; and the document -concluded thus, "for Englishmen are no more to -be slaves to Parliament than to kings—our name -is Legion, and we are many."</p> - -<p>No sooner was this paper read than the blustering -Commons were filled with consternation. -They summoned all the members of the House by -the Sergeant-at-Arms; anticipations of sedition -and tumult were expressed, and an address to -his Majesty was drawn up in haste, calling on -him to take measures for the public peace. Howe, -one of the noisiest men in the House, and accustomed -to say very bold things, and other Tory -members, declared their lives in danger; others got -away into the country, believing that "Legion" -was on the point of attacking the Parliament. A -Committee was appointed to sit permanently in the -Speaker's chamber, to take every means for averting -a catastrophe, with power to call before them -all persons necessary for throwing light on the -danger, and to examine papers. At length, -however, as "Legion" did not appear, and all remained -quiet, the House began to recover its senses; -it began at the same time to dawn upon their -apprehensions that they had been hoaxed by some -clever wag. This wag, as we have said, was none -other than the inimitable author of "Robinson -Crusoe," one of the shrewdest political writers -of the time.</p> - -<p>The Lords now demanded that the trial of -Somers and the other noblemen should proceed -without any further delay, but the Commons proposed -that it should be conducted before a Committee -of both Houses. This they did to bar the -way of the trial, for they appeared rather to desire -to destroy the characters of the accused than -to proceed to extremities. They were aware -that the accused nobles had a majority in their -favour in their own House, and that to impeach -them there was to fail. They, therefore, passed an -unjustifiable address to the King, praying him to -dismiss the five peers from his Council, even before -the impeachments were heard. For the same -reasons the Lords refused to admit the Commons -to a share in the trial, because in their House -there was a majority the other way. They replied, -therefore, that such Committees were contrary to -custom in cases of impeachment for misdemeanour; -that the only exception was that in the case of the -Earl of Danby and the five Popish lords, and that -the fate of it was sufficient warning to avoid such -a precedent, for the Committee could not proceed -for altercations, and the affair could only be got -rid of by dissolving Parliament. The Commons -still argued for it, the Lords persisted in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_527" id="Page_527">[527]</a></span> -refusal, and at this moment the dispute was interrupted -by the king calling on both Houses to -attend to the ratification of the new Succession -Bill.</p> - -<p>After this the contest regarding the mode of -trial of the impeached nobles was renewed with -unabated acrimony. In one of the conferences on -the subject Lord Haversham declared his opinion -that the Commons themselves really believed the -accused lords innocent; "for there are," he said, -"various other lords implicated in the very same -business, and yet the Commons make no charge -against them, but leave them at the head of affairs, -near the King's person, to do any mischief they are -inclined to, and impeach others, when they are all -alike guilty, and concerned in the same facts." -This was a hard hit, for it was the simple truth, -and the delegates of the Commons, as they could -not deny it, could only affect to take violent offence -at it. There was fresh correspondence, but the -Lords cut the matter short by deciding that there -should be no Committee of both Houses for regulating -the trials of the impeached nobles. The -Commons, however, on the 14th of June sent up -their charges against the Earl of Halifax, declining -to proceed against Portland, as they said, out of -respect to his Majesty.</p> - -<p>The Lords now gave notice that they would -proceed with the trials of the accused nobles, -beginning with that of Lord Somers first, as -the Commons had proposed, and called on the -Commons to make good their charge. On the -other hand, the Commons, still insisting on their -right to have a voice in regulating the trials, made -an order that no member of their House should -appear at the "pretended" trial of the Lord Somers. -Notwithstanding, the Lords gave notice that they -would proceed on the 17th of June to the trial -of Somers, in Westminster Hall. The Commons -refused to attend, declaring that they were the -only judges, and that the evidence was not yet -prepared. This produced a violent debate in -the Lords, where the Tory Ministers supported -their party in the Commons; but the order for -the trial was carried, followed by strong protests -against it. On the day of the trial the Lords -sent a message to the Commons to inform them -that they were going to the Hall, and the Commons -not appearing there, the Lords again -returned to their own House, and settled the -question to be put; and again returning to -Westminster Hall, the question was then put:—"That -John Lord Somers be acquitted of the -articles of impeachment exhibited by the House -of Commons, and all things therein contained; -and that the impeachment be dismissed." This -was carried by a majority of thirty-five. A -similar course was taken with regard to the -other accused.</p> - -<p>It had been a miserable Session to the king. -His health continued to fail, and, amid his -endeavours to conceal the decay of his constitution, -that his Allies might not be discouraged, he -had found his favourite Minister violently attacked, -himself by no means spared, and the -Session almost wholly wasted in party feud. It -had, however, passed the Succession Bill, and -now, to his agreeable surprise, voted him unexpectedly -liberal supplies, and sanctioned his -forming alliances against France. He now lost -no time in appointing a regency; and gave the -command of the ten thousand troops, sent to -Holland, to Marlborough—an appointment, however -despicable the man, the very best he could -have made in a military point of view. At the -commencement of July he sailed for Holland, -accompanied by the Earls of Carlisle, Romney, -Albemarle, General Overkirk, and others, and -landed on the 3rd of the month. The Scottish -troops voted had arrived in Holland before -him, and the ten thousand men from England -and Ireland were just arriving, so that -William appeared again amongst his countrymen -at the head of a respectable army of his new -subjects. When he presented himself, however, -before the States-General the day after his -arrival, his appearance was such as to create -great alarm in all that saw him. In his energies -they put the almost sole trust of effectual resistance -to France, and he was clearly fast sinking. -He was wasted, pale, and haggard. The last -Session of Parliament, and the fierce dissensions -which had been carried on between the factions -of Whig and Tory, neither of which looked to -anything but the indulgence of their own -malice, had done more to wear him out than -a dozen campaigns. He might well declare that -that had been the most miserable year of his -existence. What strength he had left, however, -he devoted unshrinkingly to the grand object of -his existence, the war for the balance of power. -He expressed his great joy to be once more -amongst his faithful countrymen; and, in truth, -he must have felt it like a cordial, for around -him in England he saw nothing but unprincipled -strife of parties. William told the States that -he had hoped, after the peace of Ryswick, to -have been able to pass his remaining days in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_528" id="Page_528">[528]</a></span> -repose, but that the changes which had taken -place in Europe were such as no man could see -the end of. He was still resolved, he said, notwithstanding -this, to pursue the great object of -the peace of Europe with unremitting zeal, -whether it was to be achieved by negotiation or -war; and he assured them of the active support -of his English subjects. The States, in their -reply, took care to express how much they -depended on the courage and power of the -English, and to compliment them on the splendid -fame for valour which they had acquired in the -late struggle.</p> - -<p>William then set out to survey the defences -of the frontiers, and the state of the garrisons; -and having visited Bergen-op-Zoom, Sluys, and -other places, and taken such measures as appeared -necessary, he returned to the Hague, where the -news met him that Louis had recalled his -Ambassador, D'Avaux, who left a memorial in -a very insolent tone, asserting that his royal -master was convinced that no good could come -of the negotiations, but still declaring that it -depended on themselves whether there should be -peace or war. This event by no means surprised -William, for both he and Marlborough had felt -from the first that there was no sincerity in -the professions of D'Avaux, and that they were -meant only to gain time. The treaty between -England, Holland, and the Emperor was, therefore, -urged forward, and was signed on the -7th of September, being styled "The Second -Grand Alliance." By this treaty it was contracted -that the three Allies should mutually -exert themselves to procure satisfaction for the -Emperor for the Spanish succession, and security -for the peace and trade of the Allies. Two -months were yet to be allowed for obtaining the -objects by negotiation. If this failed, war was to -be made to recover the Spanish Flanders, the kingdoms -of Sicily, Naples, and the other Spanish territories -in Italy; moreover, the States and England -might seize and keep for themselves whatever -they could of the colonial possessions of Spain. -No peace was to be made by any one of the Allies -until they had obtained security for the absolute -separation of France and Spain, and that France -should not hold the Spanish Indies. All kings, -princes, and States were invited to enter the -alliance, and tempting offers of advantages were -made to induce them to do so. William had -already secured the interest of Denmark, and -the promises of Sweden; but the young King -of Sweden, Charles XII., was too busily pursuing -the war with Russia and Poland to lend any real -service to this cause. At the very moment that -the Allies were canvassing for confederates, this -"Madman of the North," as he was called, gave -the Czar Peter a most terrible overthrow at -Narva on the 30th of November, 1700, killing -thirty thousand of his men. Holstein and -the Palatinate came into the treaty, and the -news from Italy soon induced the German petty -princes to profess their adhesion, especially the -Electors of Bavaria and Cologne, who had received -subsidies from France, and raised troops, -with which they would have declared for Louis -had not the victories of Prince Eugene swayed -their mercenary minds the other way.</p> - -<p>Several months before the signing of the -treaty at the Hague, Eugene, at the head of -the Emperor's troops in Italy, had opened the -war. He had entered Italy at Vicenza, and -passed the Adige near Carpi, where, being opposed -by Catinat and the Duke of Savoy, he -defeated them with considerable slaughter, and -forced them to retire into Mantuan territory. -Catinat and the French had excited the hatred -of the peasantry by their insolence and oppressions, -and they flew to arms and assisted Eugene, -who was very popular with them, by harassing -the outposts of the French, cutting off their -foragers, and obstructing their supplies. Marshal -Villeroi being sent to their aid, Catinat retired -in disgust. Villeroi marched towards Chiari, and -attacked Eugene in his camp, but was repulsed -with the loss of five thousand men. By the -end of the campaign the Prince had reduced all -the Mantuan territory except Mantua itself and -Goito, which he blockaded. He reduced all the -places on the Oglio, and continued in the field -all the winter, displaying a genius for war -which greatly alarmed the king of France. He -despatched fresh reinforcements to Piedmont -under Marshal Vendôme, but he found the Duke -of Savoy now cold and backward in assisting -him. The duke had got all that he could look -for from France; his second daughter was married -to the new king of Spain, and, satisfied with -that, he was by no means ambitious of French -domination in his own territories.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, France endeavoured to -distract Austria by sowing insurrection in Hungary, -and Louis's emissaries were busy all over -Europe. He managed to make an alliance with -Portugal, though the king himself was attached -to the House of Austria, but was a weak prince, -and was betrayed by his Ministers, who were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_529" id="Page_529">[529]</a></span> -corrupted by France. Meanwhile the English -and Dutch fleets sailed in strong force along the -coasts of Spain, to overawe the French, and -another fleet was despatched to the West Indies, -to be ready in case of hostilities. In Spain -itself both people and nobles began to repent -bitterly of their subjection to France. They felt -greatly annoyed at the insolence of the king's -French Ministers and attendants, who treated -the highest grandees with very little consideration. -The French dress was introduced into the -Court, and French manners also, and a formal -edict was issued, putting the French nobles on -the same level with the proud hidalgoes of -Spain. The finances of Spain were at the lowest -ebb, the spirit of the nation was thoroughly -demoralised, and the condition of France was -very little better. These circumstances, being -universally known, encouraged the Allies in their -projects. Yet the Emperor, for whose cause the -Alliance was ostensibly created, was almost equally -poor. He had engaged to bring 90,000 troops -into the field—66,000 infantry and 24,000 horse; -yet he was compelled to negotiate a loan with -Holland for 500,000 crowns. William, on his -part, was to furnish 33,000 infantry and 7,000 -horse; and the States-General 32,000 infantry -and 20,000 horse.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_529.jpg" width="560" height="419" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE PRETENDER PROCLAIMED KING OF ENGLAND BY ORDER OF LOUIS XIV. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_529">529</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_529big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>At this juncture James II. lay on his deathbed. -Louis XIV. made three successive visits -to the dying king; and this strange monarch—who -had no feeling for human misery in the -gross, who let loose his legions to lay waste -happy human homes in all the countries round -him, to ravage, massacre, and destroy the unoffending -people by barbarities which must have -instructed the very devils in cruelty—shed tears -over the departure of this poor old man, whose -life had been one vast miserable blunder, and -whose death was the best thing that could happen -to him. He promised the dying man that he -would maintain the right of his son to the -English crown as he had maintained his, though -he had sworn at the treaty of Ryswick to do -nothing to disturb the throne of William; and -(September 16, 1701), as soon as the breath was -out of James's body, he proclaimed the prince -King of England by the title of James III.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_530" id="Page_530">[530]</a></span> -This title was acknowledged by the King of -Spain, the Duke of Savoy, and the Pope. The -moment William received the news of Louis -having proclaimed James's son King of England, -he despatched a messenger to inform the King -of Sweden, who was guarantee of the peace of -Ryswick, of this flagrant breach of it. He -ordered the Earl of Manchester immediately to -retire from Paris without taking leave, and -Poussin, the Secretary of Tallard, to quit London. -Louis pretended that his acknowledgment of -the Prince of Wales was mere form; that he -meant no infraction of the treaty, and might -justly complain of William's declarations and -preparations in favour of the Emperor. In -fact, kings never want pleas when they have -a purpose, however unwarrantable it may be. -The people of England hastened to express their -abhorrence of the perfidy of the French king. -Addresses of resentment were poured in from -London and from all parts of the kingdom, with -declarations of a strong determination to defend -the king and his crown against all pretenders or -invaders.</p> - -<p>William was impatient to be in London to make -the necessary arrangements for a new Ministry -and a new Parliament, and also for the war which -was now inevitable. But he was detained by a -severe illness; in fact, he was fast succumbing to -the weakness of his constitution, and the ravages -made on it by his stupendous exertions in the wars -he had been constantly engaged in, and, still more, -by the eternal war and harass of the unprincipled -factions which raged around his island throne. He -arrived in England on the 4th of November, where -he found the two factions raging against each -other with unabated rancour, and the public in a -ferment of indignation at the proclamation of the -king of the French acknowledging the Pretender, -and still more at an edict which Louis had published -on the 16th of September, prohibiting all -trade with England, except in beer, cider, glass -bottles, and wool, and the wearing of any article of -English manufacture after the 1st of November next. -William closeted himself with some of his Ministry -who, he still hoped, might be disposed to different -measures; but finding them still as determined as -ever to pursue their former course and to insist on -their impeachments, he dissolved Parliament on -the 4th of November, and called a new one for -the 31st of December.</p> - -<p>The two parties went to the election for the new -Parliament with the same fierce bitterness with -which they had fought through the last Session. -The bribery, corruption, and intimidation were of -the most open and shameless kind; but the -Whigs, having the moneyed interest in their -favour, carried the day, having no doubt with -them at the same time the sentiment of the -better part of the nation.</p> - -<p>The new Ministry was immediately arranged. -On the 24th of December Charles Howard, -the Earl of Carlisle, was appointed First Lord of -the Treasury, in place of Lord Godolphin. On the -4th of January, 1702, Charles Montague, Earl of -Manchester, who had been ambassador at Paris, -was made Secretary of State in place of Sir -Charles Hedges; on the 18th the Earl of Pembroke -was transferred from the Presidency of the -Council, and made Lord High Admiral; and -Charles Seymour, Duke of Somerset, took the -Presidency. Henry Boyle, afterwards Earl of Carleton, -was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer; -the Privy Seal, having been in commission since -the death of the Earl of Tankerville, remained so. -The Cabinet thus consisted of the personal friends -of the king, and the Whigs had strengthened their -party, having carried the elections in most of the -counties and chief boroughs; yet they found themselves -so far from a commanding majority that -they were immediately defeated in the election of -the Speaker. The king was desirous of seeing -Sir Thomas Littleton in the chair; but the Tories -managed to elect Harley; Henry St. John, afterwards -Lord Bolingbroke, who was sent up from -Wootton Basset, seconding the motion for Harley. -The speech, which was drawn up by Somers according -to Sunderland's advice, was then read by -William.</p> - -<p>In this speech, which was greatly admired, the -king said that he trusted that they had met -together with a full sense of the common danger -of Europe, and of that resentment of the conduct -of the French king which had been so strongly and -universally expressed in the loyal addresses of the -people; that in setting up the pretended Prince of -Wales as King of England they had offered to him -and to the nation the highest indignity, and put in -jeopardy the Protestant religion, and the peace -and security of the realm, and he was sure they -would take every means to secure the Crown in the -Protestant line, and to extinguish the hopes of all -pretenders and their abettors; that the French -king, by placing his grandson on the throne of -Spain, had put himself in a condition to oppress -the rest of Europe, and, under the pretence of -maintaining it as a separate monarchy, had yet -made himself master of the dominions of Spain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_531" id="Page_531">[531]</a></span> -placed it entirely under his control, and so surrounded -his neighbours that, though the name of -peace continued, they were put to the expense and -inconvenience of war; that this endangered the -whole of our trade, and even our peace and safety -at home, and deprived us of that position which -we ought to maintain for the preservation of the -liberties of Europe; that to obviate these calamities -he had entered into several alliances according -to the encouragement given him by both Houses -of Parliament, and was still forming others. And -he then said emphatically, "It is fit I should tell -you that the eyes of all Europe are upon this Parliament. -All matters are at a stand till your -resolutions are known; therefore no time ought -to be lost. You have yet an opportunity, by -God's blessing, to secure to you and your posterity -the quiet enjoyment of your religion and liberties -if you are not wanting to yourselves, but will exert -the ancient vigour of the English nation; but I -tell you plainly my opinion is, if you do not lay -hold on this occasion, you have no reason to hope -for another."</p> - -<p>He then recommended the Commons to take -measures for the discharge of the debt and for preserving -public credit, by the sacred maxim that -they shall never be losers who trust to a Parliamentary -security. In asking them for the necessary -aids he was only urging that they should care -for their safety and honour at a critical time. He -reminded them that in the late war he ordered -yearly accounts of the expenditure to be laid -before them, and passed several Bills for securing -a proper examination of accounts. He was -quite willing that any further measures should be -adopted for that end, so that it might appear -whether the debts had arisen from misapplication -or mere deficiency of the funds. He then finally -touched on the sore point of the dissensions; -trusting that both Houses were determined to -avoid all manner of disputes and differences, and -resolved to act with a general and hearty concurrence -for promoting the common cause which alone -could insure a happy Session. He should think -it as great a blessing as could befall England, if -he could perceive them inclined to lay aside those -unhappy feuds which divided and weakened them, -for that he himself was disposed to make all his -subjects easy as to even the highest offences committed -against him. He conjured them to disappoint -the hopes of their enemies, and let there be -no other distinction amongst them for the future -but of those who were for the Protestant religion -and the present establishment, and those who were -for a Popish prince and a French Government. -For his part, he desired to be the common -father of his people, and if they desired to -see England placed at the head of the Protestant -interest and hold the balance of Europe, they had -only to improve the present opportunity.</p> - -<p>The effect of this speech was wonderful. It -flew through the nation, which was already worked -up into a war-fever, with the rapidity of lightning, -and was everywhere received with enthusiasm. -The zealous supporters of the principles of the -Revolution had it printed in ornamental style, in -English, Dutch, and French, and it was soon translated -into other languages and disseminated all over -Europe. It was the announcement of a determined -war against the grasping ambition of France, and -the eyes of the whole world were truly fixed on -England, which volunteered to take the lead in -this serious enterprise. As for the supporters of -William and the Protestant government, they -framed his speech and hung it in their houses as -the last legacy of the Protestant king to his people. -The Lords immediately drew up a zealous address, -in which they echoed his resentment of the conduct -of the French king in acknowledging the pretended -Prince of Wales, and declared that they would -not only support and defend him against the pretended -Prince of Wales and all other pretenders, -but, should they be deprived of his Majesty's -protection, they would still defend the crown of -England, by virtue of the Acts of Parliament, -against all but the recognised successors. On the -5th of January the Commons presented a similar -address, and assured the king that they would -enable him to make good the alliances he had -made and such as he should yet make for the peace -of Europe. The Lords, not to be behind the -Commons, presented a second and more explicit -address, in which they not only engaged to support -the king in his alliances, but declared that Europe -could never be safe till the Emperor was restored -to all his rights, and the invaders of Spain should -be expelled. And they, too, declared their full -approbation of the king's new alliances, and their -full determination to support him in them.</p> - -<p>William, warned by the resentment of the last -House of Commons at the concealment of the Partition -Treaties, now laid his present treaties at -once before the new Parliament. On the 6th of -January Secretary Vernon laid before both Houses -copies of the treaty with the King of Denmark -and the States-General, the secret Articles attached -to this treaty, the treaty between the King of -Sweden, the States-General, and William, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_532" id="Page_532">[532]</a></span> -separate treaty between William and the States-General, -signed in the month of November. The -Commons were as prompt in expressing their approbation -of them, and on the 9th of January they -proposed, by an address to his Majesty, to take care -that an article should be introduced into the several -treaties of alliance, binding the Allies never to -make peace with France until reparation was made -for the indignity offered by the French king in -declaring the pretended Prince of Wales King of -England. They also resolved that a Bill should be -brought in for the abjuration of the pretended -Prince of Wales.</p> - -<p>They then went into the question of the supplies, -and voted unanimously that £600,000 should be -borrowed at six per cent. for the services of the -navy, and £50,000 for Guards and garrisons. They -agreed to the number of troops which the king had -stipulated as his contingent in the war, namely, -30,000 foot and 7,000 horse; and added 8,300 -more English soldiers to the 10,000 already -sent to Holland, and voted 40,000 seamen. His -Majesty's Allies were to be invited to embark a -certain proportion of troops on board his Majesty's -ships of war. All the king's contracts for subsidising -troops belonging to foreign princes were -confirmed, and to defray the charges of these naval -and military forces they imposed taxes with an -alacrity almost unparalleled. They imposed four -shillings in the pound on all lands and incomes, -including annuities, pensions, and stipends, and on -all the professional profits of lawyers, doctors, surgeons, -teachers of separate congregations, brokers, -factors, etc. Then an additional tax of two and a -half per cent. was put on all stock-in-trade and -money out at interest, and of five shillings in the -pound on all salaries, fees, and perquisites. They -laid on a poll-tax of four shillings per head, so completely -had this generation come to tolerate this -hated form of imposition, which formerly roused -the people to open rebellion. Besides this, they -taxed the capital stock of all corporations and -public companies which should be transferred in -sale to the amount of one per cent., and, finally, -they placed sixpence a bushel on malt, and a -further duty on mum, cider, and perry.</p> - -<p>On the 15th of January they passed unanimously -a Bill for the attainder of the pretended Prince of -Wales, and sent it up to the Lords, and the Lords, -exceeding them in zeal, added a clause attainting -also the ex-queen Mary of Modena as regent of -the pretended Prince of Wales. The Commons, -however, objected to this amendment as calculated -to sanction a practice of attainting persons by -added clauses instead of original Bills, which they -designated as a pernicious course, as not allowing -the full consideration due to so momentous a -measure. They struck it out, but the Lords demanded -a conference, and pressed their amendment -on the ground that the Commons had themselves -adopted that practice so long ago as the 3rd of -Henry VIII. The Commons were not likely to -pay much regard to the practice of either House in -the reign of that lawless monarch, and returned -the Bill to the Lords without the clause, and the -Lords, on further reflection, passed it.</p> - -<p>This was followed in the Lords by the Bill so -strongly recommended by Sunderland for the abjuration -of the pretended Prince of Wales, in -which was a clause introduced into the oath, acknowledging -William rightful and lawful sovereign. -There was a violent debate on the point whether -this oath should be voluntary or compulsory. The -Earl of Nottingham strongly opposed its being -compulsory, and he was supported by other lords -of the Tory party. They contended that the -Government was first settled with another oath, -which had the value of an original contract, and -any other oath was unnecessary; that this oath -could do nothing more than that oath had done. -All inclined to keep that oath had kept it, and all -inclined to break it had broken it, and these would -break this or any other oath. Whilst they were in -debate, Sir Charles Hedges introduced a clause -which made it obligatory on all persons enjoying -appointments in Church and State, and with an -obligation to maintain the Government in King, -Lords, and Commons, and to maintain the Church -of England, with toleration to the Dissenters. -After a sharp debate it passed the Commons, but -only by a majority of one. In this Bill it was -made equally penal to compass or imagine the -death of the Princess of Denmark as it was the -death of the king. The Bill was strenuously opposed -in the Lords, but it was carried, and Nottingham -and nineteen other peers entered their -protest against it. The Quakers had endeavoured -to get themselves exempted from the operation of -the Bill, but in vain. This zeal of the Whigs in -Parliament for imposing fresh oaths did them no -good, but tended to revive the unpopularity which -had so lately driven them from office. Whilst -these subjects were before Parliament, the Lords -made a fresh attempt, by a Bill of their own, to -procure the attainder of Mary of Modena, but the -Commons let the Bill lie.</p> - -<p>In Scotland the clamour against the Government -for its treatment of the Darien scheme still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_533" id="Page_533">[533]</a></span> -continued. The Earl of Nottingham, therefore, -moved that the Scottish Parliament should be dissolved, -and an attempt be made to unite the two -kingdoms, by which all causes of complaint would -be hereafter removed, since all parties would have a -like interest in the trade of the nation. The king -was greatly bent on this design, but he had met -with an accident which prevented him from going -to the House of Lords to propose it. But he sent -a message both to the Lords and to the Commons, -expressing his earnest desire that a union should -take place, and that Commissioners were already -appointed in Scotland to treat with such Commissioners -as should be appointed in England for -that end. He represented that he was fully satisfied -that nothing could more contribute to the -security and happiness of the two kingdoms than -such a union, and that he should esteem it a peculiar -felicity if, during his reign, so great an event -should take place.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_533.jpg" width="560" height="421" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>VIEW IN THE HAGUE: CHAMBERS OF THE STATES-GENERAL IN THE BINNENHOF.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_533big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But the accident alluded to was of a more -serious nature than was suspected, and, falling -on a weak and exhausted frame, was about to -bring his reign to an abrupt close. In riding -towards Hampton Court on the 20th of February, -on his accustomed Saturday's excursion to hunt -there, his horse fell with him and fractured his -collar-bone, besides doing him other serious injury. -He was carried to Hampton Court, where -the bone was set; and though the surgeon remarked -that his pulse was feverish, he was deemed -in too feeble a condition to admit of benefit by -bleeding. Contrary, moreover, to the advice of -his medical attendants, he would insist on returning -that same evening to Kensington, and -was, accordingly, conveyed thither in a carriage; -but on arriving, it was found that the collar-bone, -by the jolting of the carriage, was again -displaced. It was again set, and the king slept -well the night through after it. For several -days no bad consequences appeared; but on the -1st of March great pain and weakness were felt -in his knee. Ronjat, his surgeon, a Frenchman, -who had re-set the bone, had contended that he -ought to have been bled; Bidloo, his Dutch -physician, had opposed it as injurious in his -debilitated state. He was now attended by Sir -Thomas Millington, Sir Richard Blackmore, Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_534" id="Page_534">[534]</a></span> -Theodore Colledon, Dr. Bidloo, and other eminent -physicians. Again he appeared to rally, and on -the 4th of March he took several turns in the -gallery at Kensington; but, sitting down on a -couch, he fell asleep, and awoke shivering and in -high fever. On this there was a hurry to pass -several Bills through the Lords that they might -receive his signature, in case of fatal termination -of his illness. These were the Malt-tax Bill, the -Bill for the Prince of Wales's Attainder, and one -in favour of the Quakers, making their affirmation -valid instead of an oath. These being prepared, -and the king not being able to use his hand, -the royal signature was affixed by a stamp -made for the purpose.</p> - -<p>This took place on the 7th of March, and was -not a moment too soon, for the king's symptoms -rapidly gained strength, and he died the next -day. The Earl of Albemarle, his great favourite, -arrived from Holland on the day preceding his -death, and it was thought the good news which -he brought would cheer him, but William appeared -to receive his information with indifference, -and merely replied, "<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">Je tire vers ma fin</i>" ("I -approach my end"). The news of the king's -danger filled the antechamber with such a throng -of courtiers as is generally witnessed at the -expected moment of a monarch's decease; not -prompted by affection, but on the watch to -seize the earliest moment to make their court to -his successor. Physicians, statesmen, and emissaries -of interested parties were there mingled, -eagerly listening for the reports of his state, -and ready to fly with the news of his decease. -Amongst these were the messengers of the Princess -Anne and of Lady Marlborough, who, with -her husband, now absent with the army in -Holland, had scarcely less to expect from the -event. Yet even Lady Marlborough, assuredly -by no means sensitive where her ambition was -concerned, expresses her disgust at the scene. -"When the king came to die, I felt nothing of -the satisfaction which I once thought I should -have had on this occasion; and my Lord and -Lady Jersey's writing and sending perpetually -to give an account [to the Princess Anne] as -his breath grew shorter and shorter, filled me -with horror." These Jerseys, who were thus -courting the favour of the heiress to the Crown -by these incessant messages of the advancing -death of the king, had been amongst those on -whom he had heaped favours and benefits pre-eminently. -Such is the end of princes. The -closing scene is thus detailed by Bishop Burnet, -who to the last showed himself one of the -steadiest and most grateful of his courtiers:—"The -king's strength and pulse were still sinking -as the difficulty of breathing increased, so that -no hope was left. The Archbishop of Canterbury -and I went to him on Saturday morning, and -did not stir from him till he died. The Archbishop -prayed on Saturday some time with him, -but he was then so weak that he could scarce -speak, but gave him his hand, as a sign that he -firmly believed the truth of the Christian religion, -and said he intended to receive the Sacrament. -His reason and all his senses were entire to the -last minute. About five in the morning he -desired the Sacrament, and went through the -Office with great appearance of seriousness, but -could not express himself; when this was done, -he called for the Earl of Albemarle, and gave -him a charge to take care of his papers. He -thanked M. Auverquerque for his long and faithful -services. He took leave of the Duke of -Ormond, and called for the Earl of Portland, -but before he came his voice quite failed; so he -took him by the hand and carried it to his heart -with great tenderness. He was often looking -up to heaven in many short ejaculations. Between -seven and eight o'clock the rattle began; -the commendatory prayer was said to him, and -as it ended he died, on Sunday, the 8th of -March, in the fifty-second year of his age, having -reigned thirteen years and a few days."</p> - -<p>It was found on opening the body that he had -had an adhesion of the lungs, which being torn -from the side to which it had adhered by the fall -from his horse, was the cause of his death. -His head and heart were sound, but he had -scarcely any blood in his body.</p> - -<p>In person William was of a spare frame, middle -stature, and delicate constitution, being subject -to an asthma and cough from his childhood, -supposed to be the consequences of small-pox. -He had an aquiline nose, clear bright eyes, a -finely-developed forehead, a grave aspect, and -was very taciturn, except amongst his immediate -friends, who were almost all his own -countrymen. His reserved and repellent manner -gave great offence to his English courtiers and -nobles, and the lavish wealth which he heaped -on his favourite Dutchmen heightened this feeling. -He never liked Englishmen, and they never -liked him. For his neglect to attach himself to -the English there is, however, much excuse. The -men about his Court, and the very party who -brought him in, were a most selfish, rapacious,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_535" id="Page_535">[535]</a></span> -and unprincipled set. It is difficult to point to -a truly noble and genuinely patriotic man amongst -them. Perhaps the most unexceptionable were -the Earl of Devonshire and Lord Somers; but -the greater part of them were men whose chief -object was self-aggrandisement; and the party -fight which the two factions kept up around -the Throne made it anything but an enviable -seat. The peculation and jobbery in every department -of the State were wholesale and unblushing, -and the greater part of those who were -ostensibly serving him and receiving his pay, -were secretly engaged to his enemies, spies upon -all his actions and intentions, and traitors, in a -perpetual transmission of his projects to the -Court of his deadly foes. The forbearance which -he constantly manifested towards those despicable -men was something admirable and almost superhuman. -Though he was well aware of their -treason, he still employed and endeavoured to -conciliate them. With a cold exterior, William -was far from destitute of affection. This he -showed in the confidence with which he entrusted -the government to his wife in his absence, and -in his passionate grief for her death. It was -also manifested in his warm and unshaken -attachment to the friends who had shared his -fortunes, who spoke his tongue, who knew his -whole mind and nature, and who served him with -a fidelity, amid an age of treachery and a Court of -deep corruption, than which there is nothing more -beautiful in history.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> - -<p class="p6">THE REIGN OF ANNE.</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Accession of the Queen—Meeting of the Houses of Parliament—Scotland and Ireland—Power of Marlborough—The Revenue—Tory -Colour of the Ministry—The Coronation—Declaration of War—Marlborough goes to the Seat of War—General -Aspect of Affairs—Marlborough's Difficulties—His Campaign—Operations by Sea—Meeting of Parliament—Supply—Marlborough's -Dukedom—The Occasional Conformity Bill—Dismissal of Rochester—Opening of the Campaign of 1703—Fall -of Bonn—Failure to take Antwerp—Savoy and Portugal join the Allies—Visit of the Archduke Charles to England—The -Storm—Jacobite Conspiracy—Ashby versus White—Queen Anne's Bounty—Marlborough's Great Plans—The States-General -hoodwinked—His March—Dismay of the French—Junction with Eugene—Advance on the Danube—Assault of -the Schellenberg—The Prince of Baden's Conceit—Approach of Tallard—The Eve of Blenheim—The Battle—Conclusion -of the Campaign—Marlborough's Diplomacy—Capture of Gibraltar—Battle of Malaga—Proceedings in Parliament—The -Campaign of 1705—Attempt to recover Gibraltar—Peterborough's Exploits in Spain—Proposal to Invite the Electress -Sophia to England—Consequent Legislation—Battle of Ramillies—Eugene relieves Turin—Disasters in Spain—Meeting of -the Commissioners for the Union—Condition of the Treaty—Opposition in Scotland—Riots in Edinburgh—Conduct of -the Opposition—The Measure carried by Bribery—Its Discussion in the English Parliament—The Royal Assent given.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>When Anne succeeded to the throne she was in -her thirty-eighth year. She was fat, indolent, and -good-natured. She had long been under the -complete management of the imperious Lady -Marlborough, and through her Marlborough expected -to be the real ruler of the country. -Through them the queen had imbibed a deep-rooted -hatred of the Whigs, whom they had -taught her to regard as the partisans of King -William, and the real authors of all the indignities -and mortifications which she had endured -during his reign. The Tories therefore calculated -confidently on recovering full power under her, and -had resolved to place Marlborough at the head of -the army. The queen, on her part, had a great -leaning towards the Tories, as the enemies of the -Whigs and the friends of the Church, to which -she was strongly attached. The endeavours which -had been made in her father's time to make a -Catholic of her, and in her brother-in-law's time -to level the distinctions between Church and -Dissent, had only rooted more deeply her predilection -for the Church; nor did the fact of her -husband being a Lutheran, and maintaining his -Lutheran chapel and minister in the palace, at all -diminish this feeling.</p> - -<p>No sooner was the king dead than Lord Jersey -and other courtiers who had been eagerly watching -the shortening of his breath hastened to bring the -news to Anne, who, with Lady Marlborough, sat -on that Sunday morning waiting for the message -which should announce her queen; and Bishop -Burnet, among others, conveyed the sad tidings -to her. Though it was Sunday, both Houses of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_536" id="Page_536">[536]</a></span> -Parliament met, for they were empowered still -to sit by an Act passed in William's reign, -and the death of William was announced to the -Commons by Mr. Secretary Vernon. There was -much speechifying, Mr. Granville saying, "We -have lost a great king, and got a most gracious -queen." Both Houses then proceeded to the -palace with addresses of felicitation, and were -graciously received. The Privy Council also -waited on the queen, who assured them of her -determination to maintain the laws, liberties, and -religion of the country, to secure the succession in -the Protestant line, and the Church and State as -by law established. The Privy Council having -taken the oaths, she caused a proclamation to be -issued, signifying her pleasure that all persons in -office should continue to hold their respective posts -till further orders.</p> - -<p>On the 11th of March she went in state to the -House of Lords. She was accompanied in her -coach by her consort, the Prince of Denmark, and -Marlborough carried the Sword of State before -her. Lady Marlborough occupied the place close -behind the queen. Anne had a remarkably rich -and touching voice, and it had been cultivated, at -the suggestion of her uncle, Charles II., for elocutionary -delivery, as especially important for a -monarch. She concluded her speech with these -words:—"As I know my own heart to be entirely -English, I can sincerely assure you that -there is not anything that you can expect or desire -from me which I shall not be ready to do for the -happiness and prosperity of England, and you shall -always find me a strict and religious observer of -my word." Not only did she receive the thanks -of both Houses for her gracious assurances, but congratulatory -addresses from the City of London, -from the bishop and clergy of London, from the -various bodies of Dissenters, and the different -counties and chief towns of the kingdom.</p> - -<p>Some difficulty had been expected in Scotland -from the Jacobites, but all passed over -easily, the Jacobites thinking that as Anne had -no issue, the Stuarts would be sure to enjoy -"their ain again" on her death. The Secretaries -of State for Scotland, and such of the Scottish -Privy Councillors who were in London, waited -on her, read to her their "Claim of Rights," -and tendered her the Coronation Oath with -many professions of loyalty; and this ceremony -being completed, the Earl of Marchmont, -the Chancellor of Scotland, was dispatched to represent -the queen in the General Assembly of the -Kirk which was about to meet. In Ireland the -natives were so rigorously ruled that they excited -no alarm.</p> - -<p>The queen announced the coronation for the -23rd of April, and took up her abode at Windsor, -as St. James's was completely hung with black, and -was too gloomy for living in. She also took immediate -possession of William's favourite residence at -Kensington, which George of Denmark had always -coveted. William's remains were unceremoniously -transferred to "the Prince's Chamber" at Westminster, -and the Dutch colony, as the attendants -of William were called, were routed out, to their -great indignation. Before a week had expired -Anne accomplished what she had so often attempted -in vain—she conferred the Order of the -Garter on Marlborough. He was appointed -Captain-General of the English army, both at home -and abroad, and, soon after, Master of the Ordnance. -The Prince of Denmark was made Lord -High Admiral, with the title of Generalissimo of -the Forces; but as he was both ignorant of and -indisposed to the management of both naval and -military affairs, Marlborough was the real Commander-in-Chief -of the forces.</p> - -<p>The Commons voted her Majesty the same -revenue as King William had enjoyed, and pledged -themselves to the repudiation of the pretended -Prince of Wales, and to the defence of her -Majesty's person and the Protestant succession. -On the 30th of March the queen went to the -House of Lords and ratified the Act for the revenue -and for her household, and generously relinquished -one hundred thousand pounds of the income -granted. At the same time she passed a Bill continuing -the Commission for examination of the -public accounts; but these necessary inquiries -were always defeated by the principal persons who -were deep in the corruption. The villainy was -almost universal, and, therefore, was carefully -screened from efficient search.</p> - -<p>In naming her Ministers the Tory bias of the -queen at once showed itself. Godolphin, the -family ally of the Marlboroughs, was appointed -Lord Treasurer; Nottingham was made principal -Secretary of State, and was allowed to name Sir -Charles Hedges as the other Secretary in place -of Mr. Vernon; Rochester, the queen's uncle, was -made Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland; the Duke of -Somerset, Lord President of the Council, was dismissed -to make way for the Earl of Pembroke, -who could scarcely rank as a Tory, but disclaimed -being a Whig: the Earl of Bradford was made -Treasurer of the Household through the influence -of Rochester; the Marquis of Normanby received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_537" id="Page_537">[537]</a></span> -the Privy Seal—a reward for his happy flattery; -and the Earl of Jersey retained his post of Chamberlain -for his assiduous transmission of the news -of William's "shortening breath." Sir Nathaniel -Wright remained Lord Keeper; and Sharp, Archbishop -of York, became the queen's adviser in all -ecclesiastical matters. The only Whigs who retained -office were the Duke of Devonshire, Lord -High Steward, and Mr. Boyle, Chancellor of the -Exchequer; and, on Shrewsbury's refusing the -post of Master of the Horse, the Duke of Somerset, -though displaced as Lord President, was induced -to accept that office. The Prince of Denmark appointed -a council for himself, into which he introduced -none but Tories. At the head of this board, -which was deemed wholly illegal, but which was -not called in question by Parliament from respect -to the queen, he placed Sir George Rooke, a most -decided antagonist to the Whigs, and made him -President of the Commission for Managing the -Fleet.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_537.jpg" width="406" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>BISHOP BURNET ANNOUNCING HER ACCESSION TO ANNE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_535">535</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_537big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_538" id="Page_538">[538]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the 23rd of April the coronation took place, -being St. George's Day. The queen was so corpulent -and so afflicted with gout that she could not -stand more than a few minutes at a time, and was -obliged to be removed from one situation to -another during this fatiguing ceremony in an open -chair. Tenison, the Archbishop of Canterbury, -officiated, and the whole ceremony and banquet did -not end till eight in the evening. Everybody, say -the newspapers, was satisfied, even the thieves, -who managed to carry off the whole of the plate -used at the banquet in Westminster Hall, together -with a rich booty of table-linen and pewter.</p> - -<p>During March and April there was a continual -arrival of ambassadors-extraordinary to congratulate -her Majesty on her accession. Prussia, Denmark, -Sweden, most of the German States, and particularly -those of Zell and Hanover, sent their -envoys; and there was a strong discussion in the -Council on the necessity of declaring war against -France. Marlborough and his faction were, of -course, for war, in which he hoped to win both glory -and affluence; but Rochester and the majority of -the Council, including the Dukes of Somerset and -Devon, and the Earl of Pembroke, strongly opposed -it, on the ground that the quarrel really concerned -the Continental States and not us, and that it was -sufficient on our part to act as auxiliaries, and not -as the principal. The queen, however, being determined -by the Marlborough influence to declare -war, laid her intentions before Parliament, which -supported her, and accordingly war was proclaimed -on the 4th of May, the Emperor and the -States-General issuing their proclamations at the -same time. Louis was charged with having seized -on the greater part of the Spanish dominions, with -the design of destroying the liberties of Europe, and -with grossly insulting the queen by declaring the -pretended Prince of Wales the real king of Great -Britain and Ireland. When these charges were -read over by De Torcy to Louis, he broke out -into keen reproaches against the Queen of England, -and vowed that he would "make Messieurs the -Dutch repent of their presumption." He delayed -his counter-declaration till the 3rd of July. The -Commons presented an address to her Majesty, -praying her Majesty to unite with the Emperor -and the States to prohibit all intercourse with -France and Spain, and at the same time to promote -commerce in other directions; and the Lords addressed -her, praying her to sanction the fitting out -of privateers to make reprisals on the enemies' -ships, which interrupted our trade, and also to -grant charters to all persons who should seize on -any of the French and Spanish territories in the -Indies. The queen thanked them for their zeal, -and prorogued Parliament on the 25th of May.</p> - -<p>We may now turn our attention to the progress -of the war. When the States-General -received the news of the death of William, they -were struck with the utmost consternation. They -appeared to be absolutely paralysed with terror -and dismay. There was much weeping, and -amid vows and embraces they passed a resolution -to defend their country with their lives. The -arrival of the address of the Queen of England -to her Privy Council roused their spirits, and this -was followed by a letter from the Earl of -Marlborough, addressed to the Pensionary Fagel, -assuring the States of the queen's determination -to continue the alliance and assistance against -the common enemy. The queen herself addressed -to the States a letter confirming these assurances, -and despatched it by Mr. Stanhope, who was -again appointed Ambassador at the Hague. -Marlborough himself, who left England on the -12th of May to assume his foreign command, -arriving directly afterwards in the character not -only of Commander-in-Chief of the British forces, -with a salary of ten thousand pounds a year, but -of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, -assured the States that the Queen of England -was resolved to maintain all the alliances, and -resist the encroachments of the French in the -same spirit as the late king.</p> - -<p>War had been going on some time on the -Rhine before Marlborough arrived there, and still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_539" id="Page_539">[539]</a></span> -longer before he was prepared to join in it. In -Germany many negotiations had been going on -to induce the petty States to act as contingents -of the Empire, or to keep them from joining the -French against their own nation. The House of -Brunswick had engaged to bring to the allied -army ten thousand men; Prussia had engaged to -co-operate, and Saxe-Gotha and Wolfenbüttel to -abandon the French. The Electors of Bavaria -and Cologne, who had, most traitorously to the -Empire, aided France in her attempts to enslave -Germany, pretended now to stand neutral, but -the neutrality was hollow; and the position of -affairs in Poland effectually prevented the northern -Powers of Germany from sending assistance -to the Allies in Flanders. Charles XII., still -pursuing the Elector of Saxony as King of -Poland, threatened to invade Saxony. He -marched first to Warsaw, and ordered the Cardinal-Primate -to summon a Diet to choose -another king, and Augustus, the Saxon King, -posted himself at Cracow. This state of affairs -overawed Prussia, and beyond the Alps the condition -of Savoy and Milan, where the French -were strong, tended to prevent a full concentration -of force in the Netherlands against -France.</p> - -<p>The position of the contending forces on the -Rhine and in the Netherlands was this:—The -Prince of Saarbrück, at the head of twenty-five -thousand men, Dutch, Prussians, and Badenese, -was besieging Kaiserwerth. Athlone and Cohorn -were covering the siege of Kaiserwerth, Athlone -(Ginkell) lying between the Rhine and the -Meuse, Cohorn with ten thousand at the mouth -of the Scheldt. On the other hand, Tallard, -with thirteen thousand men on the opposite side -of the Rhine, annoyed the besiegers of Kaiserwerth -with his artillery, and managed to throw -into the town fresh troops, ammunition, and supplies. -Count Delamotte and the Spanish -Marquis of Bedmar covered the western frontier -of the Spanish Netherlands, and the Prince of -Baden was posted on the Upper Rhine.</p> - -<p>Whilst in this position Cohorn marched into -the Netherlands, destroyed the French lines -between the forts of Donat and Isabella, and -levied contributions on the chatellany of Bruges; -but Bedmar and Delamotte advancing, he cut -the dykes, inundated the country, and retired -under the walls of Sluys. Meanwhile the Duke -of Burgundy, taking the command of the army -of Boufflers at Zanten, near Cleves, formed a -design to surprise Nimeguen in conjunction with -Tallard, who suddenly quitted his post near -Kaiserwerth, and joined Burgundy. Nimeguen -was without a garrison, and ill supplied with -artillery, and must have fallen an easy prey, had -not Athlone, perceiving the object of the enemy, -by a masterly march got the start of them, and -posted himself under the walls of the town before -the arrival of the French guards.</p> - -<p>Marlborough all this time was undergoing his -first experience of the difficulties of acting at -the head of a miscellaneous body of allies, and -with the caution of Dutch burgomasters. He -had blamed William severely for his slow movements, -and now he was himself hampered by -the same obstructions. It was the end of June -before he could bring into order the necessary -arrangements for taking the field. Nor could he -have effected this so soon had not the near -surprise of Nimeguen alarmed the Dutch for -their frontiers, and quickened their movements. -The fall of Kaiserwerth was another circumstance -in his favour. He collected the forces which -had been engaged there, marched the English -troops up from Breda, and in the beginning of -July found himself at Nimeguen at the head of -sixty thousand men. Even then he did not find -himself clear of difficulties. His bold plans were -checked by the presence of two field deputies -which the Dutch always sent along with their -generals, and who would not permit him to -undertake any movement until they had informed -the States-General of it and received their sanction. -Thus it was not the general in the field, -but the States-General at a distance, who really -directed the evolutions of the war; and the only -wonder is, that a general in such absurd leading-strings -could effect anything at all. Besides this -standing nuisance, Marlborough found Athlone, -the Prince of Saarbrück, and the other chief -generals, all contending for equal authority with -him, and refusing to submit to his commands; -and when the States-General freed him, by a -positive order, from this difficulty, the Hanoverians -refused to march without an order from -Bothmar, their Ambassador at the Hague. -Instead of sending to Bothmar, Marlborough -summoned him to the camp, as the proper place -for him if he was to direct the movements of -the Hanoverian troops, and got rid of this -obstacle only to find the Prussians raising the -same difficulties.</p> - -<p>It was not till the 7th of July that he crossed -the Waal and encamped at Druckenburg, a little -south of Nimeguen. It was the 16th when he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_540" id="Page_540">[540]</a></span> -crossed the Meuse and posted himself at Overhasselt, -with the French forces in front at the -distance of two leagues and a half, entrenched -between Goch and Gedap. Here, in a letter to -Godolphin, he complained that still the fears of -the Dutch hampered his movements. He then -recrossed the river at Grave, and reached -Gravenbroek, where he was joined by the British -train of artillery from Holland. Thus prepared, -he advanced on the French; on the 2nd of -August was at Petit Brugel in their front; but -they retired before him, leaving Spanish Guelderland -in his power. He determined to bring -the French to an engagement, but was restrained -by the fears of the Dutch deputies; but, fortunately -for him, the French generals had their -fears too, and the Duke of Burgundy, finding -Marlborough pressing on him in spite of his -obstructions, resigned his command rather than -risk a defeat, and returned to Versailles, leaving -the command to Boufflers. The deputies of the -States, encouraged by these symptoms, recommended -Marlborough to clear the French from -Spanish Guelderland, where the places which they -still held on the Meuse interrupted the commerce -of that river. Though the Dutch were merely -looking at their own interests in this design, -Marlborough was glad to attack the enemy -anywhere. He despatched General Schultz to -reduce the town and castle of Werk, and in the -beginning of September laid siege to Venloo, -which, on the 28th of the month, surrendered. -Fort St. Michael, at Venloo, was stormed by the -impetuous Lord Cutts, unrivalled at that work, -at the head of the English volunteers, amongst -whom the young Earl of Huntingdon greatly -distinguished himself. He next invested and -reduced Ruremond and the fort of Stevensweert; -and Boufflers, confounded by the rapid successes -of Marlborough, retiring on Liége, the English -general followed him, reduced the place, stormed -the citadel, and seized in it three hundred -thousand florins in gold, and a million florins in -bills on the substantial merchants of the city, -who promptly paid the money. This terminated -the campaign. Marlborough had wonderfully -raised his reputation, won the entire confidence -of the States, and, having seen the French retire -behind their lines, he distributed his troops into -winter quarters, and projected his journey homewards.</p> - -<p>The operations at sea had not been so decisive -as those of Marlborough on land. On the 12th -of May Sir John Munden, sent out to intercept -the French fleet convoying the Viceroy of Mexico -from Corunna to the West Indies, chased fourteen -sail of French ships into Corunna, but, -judging the fortifications too strong to attack -them there, put out to sea, and soon afterwards -returned home for provisions, to the great indignation -of the people. Munden was tried by -court-martial and acquitted, but the Prince of -Denmark dismissed him from the service notwithstanding. -King William having planned the -reduction of Cadiz, the queen was now advised -to put the project into execution. Sir George -Rooke was sent out with a squadron of fifty -ships of the line, besides frigates, fire-ships, and -smaller vessels, and carrying the Duke of Ormond -with a land force of fourteen thousand men. -The fleet sailed from St. Helens near the end -of June, and anchored on the 12th of August -within two leagues of Cadiz. The governor of -fort St. Catherine was summoned to surrender, -but he refused; and on the 15th the Duke of -Ormond landed under a fire from the batteries, -and soon took the forts of St. Catherine and -St. Mary. He issued a proclamation declaring -that they came, not to make war on the Spaniards, -but to free Spain from the yoke of France, -and that the people and their property should -be protected. But the English soldiers paid no -regard to the proclamation, but got drunk in -the wine stores and committed great excesses. -Some of the general officers were found as eager -as the soldiers for pillaging; and the inhabitants, -resenting their sufferings, held aloof. To complete -the mischief, the land and sea commanders, -as has been too commonly the case, fell to -quarrelling. Ormond wanted to storm the Isla -de Leon; Rooke deemed it too hazardous. An -attempt was made to batter Matagorda fort, -but failed, and the troops were re-embarked.</p> - -<p>As the fleet was returning from its inglorious -enterprise, it was met by Captain Hardy, who -informed the commander that the galleons from -the West Indies had entered Vigo Bay under -convoy of a French squadron. A council of war -was immediately summoned, and it was resolved -to tack about and proceed to Vigo. They appeared -before the place on the 11th of October. -The passage into the harbour they found strongly -defended by forts and batteries on both sides, and -the passage closed by a strong boom of iron -chains, topmasts, and cables. The admirals -shifted their flags into smaller vessels, for neither -first nor second rates could enter. Five-and-twenty -English and Dutch ships of the line of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_541" id="Page_541">[541]</a></span> -lesser size, with their frigates, fire-ships, and -ketches, now prepared to make the attempt to -force the boom and burn the fleet, and the -Duke of Ormond prepared the way by landing -two thousand eight hundred men six miles -from Vigo, and marching on the harbour, where -he attacked and carried a strong fort and a -platform of forty pieces of cannon at its mouth. -The moment the British colours were seen flying -on the fort the fleet put itself in motion. -Admiral Hopson led the way in the <em>Torbay</em>, -and, running with all sail set, dashed against -the boom and burst through it. He was followed -by the whole squadron under a tremendous fire -from the ships and batteries; but both ships and -batteries were soon silenced, the batteries by the -soldiers on land, the ships by the fleet. They -captured eight ships of war and six galleons; the -rest were set fire to by themselves or the French, -to prevent them from falling into the hands -of the English. The Spaniards had lost no time -in removing as much of the plate and merchandise -as they could; but the Allies seized on seven -millions of pieces of eight in plate and other goods, -and the Spaniards are supposed to have saved -twice as much. Sir George Rooke left Sir -Cloudesley Shovel, who had just arrived, to bring -home the prizes, and sailed for England with the -rest of the fleet and troops in triumph, complaining -that Cadiz, too, might have been taken had -Ormond done his duty, and Ormond retorting -the blame upon him.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_541.jpg" width="401" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LORD GODOLPHIN. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_541big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Had this terminated the usual campaign it -might have been considered, to a certain extent, -a success; but an expedition, sent out to cruise in -the waters of the West Indies, under the brave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_542" id="Page_542">[542]</a></span> -old Benbow, had a worse fate. He came up -with a French fleet under Du Casse, steering -along the shore of Santa Martha, and though he -had ten sail of the line, and the enemy only the -same, he found himself deserted by most of his -captains, under the plea that the enemy was too -strong. Benbow, upbraiding their cowardice, -attacked the whole fleet with only two vessels. -The battle lasted, off and on, from the 19th of -August to the 24th, some others of the ships -occasionally joining him. On the last day his -leg was shattered by a chain-shot, and he was -wounded in the face and in the arm; yet he -caused himself to be placed on the quarter-deck -in a cradle, and continued issuing his orders to -the last. Seeing it in vain to contend longer, -he returned to Jamaica, and ordered a court-martial -to be held. The reason assigned for the -disobedience of the officers was the rough conduct -of Benbow, who was one of the old boisterous -school of seamen, but brave and honest. -The disgrace thus inflicted on his command, -combining with his shattered condition, soon also -brought him to his grave.</p> - -<p>Marlborough returned to England in November, -and was received with great applause. Notwithstanding -some sharp criticisms on his campaign, -the public saw clearly enough that he was a far -superior general to William, and augured great -things from his future command. The queen met -her new Parliament on the 20th of October, which -turned out to be so completely Tory as to carry all -before it in that direction. The Government had -no occasion to make much exertion to obtain that -result; it was enough that the queen's decided -leaning to the Tories was known. Addresses of -congratulation on the brilliant success of the -British arms under Marlborough were presented -by both Houses, which, they said, "retrieved" the -ancient honour and glory of the English nation. -This word "retrieved" roused all the spleen of the -Whigs, who knew that it was meant as a censure -on them and King William, who, they contended, -had maintained the honour of the English nation -by joining the great confederacy by which the -security of the queen's throne at that moment was -established, and by training our soldiers to their -ancient pitch of discipline and valour. They -moved that the word "maintained" should be substituted -for "retrieved," but it was carried against -them, amid the most unmeasured abuse of the -memory of the late king, Marlborough being cried -to the skies at his expense.</p> - -<p>The Tories next showed their strength in calling -in question various elections of Whig members, -and carried the inquiry against them with the -most open and impudent partiality.</p> - -<p>The Commons then voted the supplies, and in -practice justified the Whigs, by being as lavish for -the war as they had been. They voted forty -thousand seamen, and the same number of land -forces, to act along with the Allies. They granted -eight hundred and thirty-three thousand eight -hundred and twenty-six pounds for their maintenance; -three hundred and fifty thousand pounds -for Guards and garrisons; seventy thousand nine -hundred and seventy-three pounds for ordnance; -and fifty-one thousand eight hundred and forty-three -pounds for subsidies to the Allies—altogether, -one million three hundred and six thousand six -hundred and forty-two pounds for the war alone, -independent of the usual national expenses, and -these soon required an increase. The queen demanded -of the Commons a further provision for her -husband, the Prince of Denmark, in case of her -decease. Howe moved that one hundred thousand -pounds a year should be settled on the prince in -case he should be the survivor. No objection -was offered to the amount, but strenuous opposition -was given to a clause in the Bill exempting -the prince from the provision in the Act of Settlement, -which prevented any foreigner, even though -naturalised, from holding any employments under -the Crown; but the Court was bent on carrying -this, and did so.</p> - -<p>Having secured her husband, Anne then sent a -message to the Commons to inform them that she -had created the Earl of Marlborough a duke for -his eminent services, and praying them to settle -five thousand pounds a year on him to enable him -to maintain his new dignity. This was so glaring -a case of favouritism that the Commons, with all -their loyalty, expressed their decided disapprobation. -The outcry was so great that the Marlboroughs -declined what they saw no means of -getting—the grant—and the queen intimated that -fact to the House; but she immediately offered -her favourites two thousand pounds a year out of -her privy purse, which, with affected magnanimity, -they also declined, hoping yet to obtain, at some -more favourable crisis, the Parliamentary grant; -and, after that really happened, they then claimed -the queen's offer too. But the opposition of the -Tories, whom Marlborough had been serving with -all his influence in Parliament, alienated him from -that party, and he went over to the Whigs.</p> - -<p>What galled Marlborough as much as anything -was that he had been in the House of Lords<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_543" id="Page_543">[543]</a></span> -strongly supporting one of the most illiberal -attempts of the Tories to destroy the effect of the -Act of Toleration. The extreme Tories regarded -the Church as entitled to confer all favours, -and they were determined to give it a power by -which all corporations and elections should be -thrown into the hands of the Government. For -this purpose Mr. Bromley, Mr. Annesley, and Mr. -St. John, who, as a man of notoriously unorthodox -principles, ought at least to have been tolerant, -brought in the Occasional Conformity Bill. They -complained that Dissenters and other disaffected -persons took the oaths, and often went again -to the Dissenting meetings; that this was a gross -piece of hypocrisy, and left the Church exposed to -much danger from them. They proposed, therefore, -to insist that all who had taken the Sacrament -and test for offices of trust, or for the magistracy -of corporations, and afterwards went to any -meeting of the Dissenters, should forfeit their employments, -pay a fine of one hundred pounds, and -five pounds for every day that they continued to -hold their office after having been at a Dissenters' -meeting, as well as be disabled from holding any -other employment till after a year's conformity. -The Bill was carried in the Tory Commons by an -overwhelming majority; but it was as strongly -opposed in the Lords, where the Whigs were not -disposed to pull down the greatest trophy of their -legislation. The Bishops generally voted against -the Bill, and Burnet was extremely active against -it. Probably few of them were actuated by a sense -of the monstrosity of the Test and Corporation -Acts, which compelled all to take the Sacrament, -whether opposed to it in that form or not, and thus -shut out the honest and pious, and let in those who -had neither honesty nor religion. But they saw -that it would again let loose all the detestable race of -spies and informers from which the country was now -happily free, and would, in reality, only injure -instead of benefiting the Church, by making her -an object of general hatred. The Tories themselves -affected great veneration for the Toleration Act, -whilst they would thus have stifled all toleration.</p> - -<p>The queen and the whole Court exerted themselves -to force the Bill through the Upper House, -as they had done that for the prince's salary. -Marlborough argued vehemently for it, but the -Whig lords hit upon a way of defeating it by -seeming to comply. They agreed to its passing on -condition that all who took the test, and then went -to conventicles, should simply be deprived of their -employments and be fined twenty pounds. They -knew that the Commons would not allow the -slightest interference of the Lords with the money -part of the Bill, and this proved to be the case. -The Lords searched their rolls, and showed numerous -cases in which they had altered fines, but the -Commons refused to admit any such power. A -conference in the Painted Chamber was held, but -with a like result, and after long contention the -Bill was, happily for the nation, dropped.</p> - -<p>A Bill was next brought in to allow another -year of grace to all who had not taken the oath -abjuring the pretended Prince of Wales. The -Tories contended that the Jacobite party had -now come over to the queen; but it was shown on -the other side that this was but a specious deception; -that the agents of St. Germains were in as -full activity as ever; were constantly coming and -going; and whilst they appeared to favour the -queen, it was only to get as strong a party as possible -into the House, eventually to abolish both -the abjuration and the Protestant Succession Bill: -that to this end they now advised all persons to -take the Abjuration Bill, and to be able to get -into Parliament or power. The Bill was carried in -the Commons; but the Lords again tacked two -clauses to it, one declaring it high treason to endeavour -to alter the succession as settled in the -Princess Sophia, and the other to impose the oath -on the Irish. These were not money clauses; -whoever refused them must appear disinclined to -the Protestant succession. The Commons were -completely entrapped, and, to the surprise of everybody, -they accepted the clauses, and thus the Bill, -which was originally favourable to the Jacobites, -became much more rigid against them. The queen -sent the Lord Keeper, on the 27th of February, -1703, to prorogue Parliament.</p> - -<p>Lord Rochester was now entirely removed from -the queen's councils. His near relationship to the -queen, and his being accounted the champion of -the Church, made him presume in the Council, -where he was blustering and overbearing. He -was disappointed in not being placed at the head -of the Treasury, and quarrelled continually with -Lord Godolphin. He had now voted against -Marlborough's grant of five thousand pounds a -year, and thus incurred the mortal hatred of the -all-powerful Lady Marlborough. It was clear that -Rochester must give way, or the Council must be -rent by continual feuds. He was opposed to the -war—another cause of hostility from the Marlboroughs—to -whom it was money, fame, and everything. -He received such intimations from the -queen as caused him to retire into the country in -disgust. As he refused all summonses to attend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_544" id="Page_544">[544]</a></span> -the Council, her Majesty ordered him to proceed -to his government in Ireland, where his presence -was much needed. He replied with great insolence -that he would not go to Ireland, and the -post of Lord-Lieutenant was conferred on the Duke -of Ormond. Still declining to attend the Council, -the queen ordered that he should no more be summoned, -and thus terminated Anne's connection -with her relatives by the mother's side. The elder -brother of Rochester, Lord Clarendon, had been -excluded the Court for refusing the abjuration of -the pretended Prince of Wales, and his son, Lord -Cornbury, little better than an idiot, was sent to -govern the North American colonies, that he might -be out of the way, a system of colonial management -by which these colonies were at length entirely -estranged. Rochester survived this disgrace -but a very few weeks.</p> - -<p>It was proposed between the Emperor of Germany -and the Allies that the campaign of 1703 should be -opened with effect, and by measures which should -go far to paralyse France. The Archduke Charles, -the Emperor's second son, was to declare himself -King of Spain, to propose for the hand of the -Infanta of Portugal, and to proceed to that -country to prosecute his claims on Spain by the -assistance of the English and Dutch fleets. Meanwhile -the Emperor promised to take the field with -such a force as to drive the Elector of Bavaria, -the active and able ally of France, out of his -dominions. But Louis, as usual, was too rapid in -his movements for the slow Germans. He ordered -Marshal Villars, who lay with thirty thousand -men at Strasburg, to pass the Rhine, and advance -into Bavaria to the support of the Elector. The -war was thus skilfully diverted by Louis from the -Rhine into the very neighbourhood of the Emperor. -On the other hand, Marlborough, who was the soul -of the war on the Lower Rhine, had been detained -by his exertions to counteract the efforts of Louis -XIV. in another quarter. Insurrections had -broken out amongst Louis's Protestant subjects in -the Cevennes, who had been barbarously oppressed. -Marlborough, who cared more for the paralysing -of Louis than for the interests of Protestantism, -strongly proposed in the Council that assistance -should be sent to the mountaineers of the Cevennes. -This was fighting Louis with his own weapons, who -was exciting insurrection in Hungary and Bohemia -amongst the subjects of the Emperor. Nottingham -and others of the Council as strongly opposed -this measure, on the principle of not exciting -subjects against their legitimate sovereign; but -Marlborough prevailed. Arms and ammunition -were forwarded to the Cevennes, and direct communications -were ordered to be opened with the -insurgents, which would have compelled Louis -to detain a large force for the subjugation of these -rebels, which otherwise would have gone to the -Rhine; but these aids never reached the unfortunate -mountaineers.</p> - -<p>Marlborough reached the Hague on the 17th of -March, much earlier still than William used to -arrive there. Nor had the war paused for his -arrival. He had stimulated the Prussians to be -in action much earlier. In February they had reduced -the fortress of the Rhineberg, and then proceeded -to blockade Guelders, the last place in the -power of France on the frontiers of Spanish Guelderland. -It was fortunate, for the unity of command, -that Athlone and Saarbrück, Marlborough's -jealous rivals, were both dead; so that now Marlborough -had only the Dutch camp deputies as -clogs on his movements, but they were quite sufficient -often to neutralise his most spirited projects. -He found Villeroi and Boufflers posted on the frontiers -of the Spanish Netherlands, and his design -was to attack and drive them out of Flanders and -Brabant. But here, in the very commencement, -he was obliged by the States-General to give up -his own views to theirs. They desired an immediate -attack on Bonn, persuading themselves that -the Elector of Cologne would rather capitulate -than risk the ruin of the town. Marlborough -went reluctantly but not inertly into this plan, -foreseeing that it would waste much precious time, -and prevent him from falling on Villeroi and -Boufflers at the right moment, when the attempt to -support the Elector of Bavaria had drawn many of -their forces away into Germany. He was the -more chagrined the more he saw of the want of -energy in the Allies. He proceeded to Nimeguen -to arrange with Cohorn the plan of the siege of -Bonn. He visited and inspected the garrisons at -Venloo, Ruremond, Maestricht, and the other -places which he took in the previous campaign -on the Meuse. Arriving at Cologne, he found -preparations made for a siege, but in a most -negligent manner; and Cohorn especially excited -his disgust by proposing to defer the siege of -this place till the end of summer. But Marlborough -knew too well the necessity of preventing -an attack from that quarter; ordered the place to -be invested, and then marched on Bonn with forty -battalions, sixty squadrons, and a hundred pieces -of artillery. The trenches were opened on the -3rd of May, and it was assaulted from three -different quarters at once; on one side by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_545" id="Page_545">[545]</a></span> -forces under the hereditary prince of Hesse-Cassel, -on another by those under Cohorn, and on the -third by Lieutenant-General Fagel. The city -capitulated on the 15th, and the commander, the -Marquis D'Allegré, and his garrison were conducted -to Luxemburg. During the siege continually -arrived the news of the successes of the -Elector of Bavaria, and the failures of the Imperial -troops; and Villeroi and Boufflers advanced, took -Tongres, and menaced the Allies from that quarter -with forty thousand men.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_544.jpg" width="362" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>H.R.H. THE PRINCESS ANNE OF DENMARK, -AFTERWARDS QUEEN OF ENGLAND.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">From the Painting by W. Wissing and J. Vandervaart.</span></p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_544big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>No sooner was Bonn reduced than Marlborough -determined to prosecute his original plan of driving -the French from Flanders. He now dispatched -Cohorn, Spaar, and Opdam to commence operations -at Bergen-op-Zoom, whilst he addressed himself to -dislodge Villeroi and Boufflers from Tongres. In -order to divide the energies of the French, a part -of his plan was that the powerful English and -Dutch fleet was to keep the coast of that country -in alarm from Calais to Dieppe, and actually to -make a descent on the land near the latter port. -But the French resolved to cut off the division of -Opdam from the main army. Boufflers, with -twenty thousand men, surprised him, and the -Dutch falling into confusion, Opdam believed the -day lost, and fled to Breda.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_545.jpg" width="560" height="348" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>VIEW IN LISBON: THE PRÁÇA DE DOM PEDRO.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_545big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Opdam's miscarriage had greatly deranged -Marlborough's plan of attack on Antwerp. Spaar -and Cohorn were already near Antwerp with -their united forces, but the check received by -Opdam's division delayed the simultaneous advance. -Villeroi lay in the path of Marlborough near St. -Job, and declared that he would wait for him; but -the moment the duke advanced to Hoogstraat to -give him battle, he set fire to his camp and retreated -within his lines with all haste. Boufflers -had joined Bedmar in Antwerp, and Marlborough -advanced and laid siege to Huy, which surrendered -on the 27th of August. He now called a council -of war to decide the plan of attack on Antwerp, -and was well supported by the Danish, Hanoverian, -and Hessian generals, but again found opposition -from the Dutch officers and the deputies of the -States, who deemed the attempt too dangerous. -They recommended him to attempt the reduction -of Limburg, by which they would acquire a whole -province; and despairing now of accomplishing -his great object, the reduction of Antwerp, this -campaign—having the Dutch officers, the Dutch -deputies, and the Dutch Louvestein faction all -working against him—he turned aside to Limburg, -and reduced it in a couple of days. This acquisition -put into the power of the Allies the whole -country from Cologne, including Liége; and -Guelders being afterwards stormed by the Prussian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_546" id="Page_546">[546]</a></span> -General Lottum, the whole of Spanish Guelderland -remained theirs.</p> - -<p>Elsewhere the war went in favour of the French, -and the affairs of the Emperor never appeared more -gloomy; instead of recovering Spain, Louis was -fast depriving him of his Empire. He was supporting -against him the rebellious Hungarians, who -were in arms under Prince Ragotski, and who had -plenty of oppressions to complain of. Suddenly, -however, some gleams of light shot across his gloom. -The Duke of Savoy, who seldom remained true to -one side long, grew alarmed at the French being -masters of the Milanese, and was induced to -open communications with the Emperor. But the -secret negotiations were speedily discovered by -the French, and the Duke of Vendôme received -orders to disarm the Savoyards who were in his -army; to demand that the troops of Savoy should -be reduced to the scale of 1696, and that four -principal fortresses should be put into the hands of -France. But the Duke of Savoy was by no means -inclined to submit to these demands. He treated -them as insults to an ally, and ordered the arrest -of the French ambassador and several officers of -his nation. Louis, astonished at the decision of -these proceedings, wrote the duke a most menacing -letter, informing him that as neither honour, interest, -religion, nor the oaths of alliance were regarded -by him, he should leave the Duke of -Vendôme to deal with him, who would give him -four-and-twenty hours to determine his course in. -This imperious letter only hastened the duke's -alienation. He concluded the treaty with Vienna, -and answered Louis's letter by a defiance. He -acknowledged the Archduke Charles King of -Spain, and despatched envoys to Holland and -England. Queen Anne immediately sent an ambassador -to Turin; and a body of Imperial horse -under Visconti, followed by fifteen thousand foot -under Count Staremberg, issued from the Modenese, -and in the midst of the most stormy weather and -through miry roads marched to join the Duke of -Savoy at Canelli. The French harassed them fearfully -on the march, but could not prevent their junction, -by which Piedmont was placed in security.</p> - -<p>In the same way, Portugal had declared for -the Emperor. The fear of having Louis in possession -of Spain had operated with Portugal, as -similar causes had operated with Savoy. The -King of Portugal agreed to give his daughter to -the Archduke Charles, on condition that the right -to the throne of Spain was transferred to him. -England and Holland were to support the Portuguese -and the new King of Spain from the sea. -The treaty was concluded at Lisbon, and a fleet of -forty-nine sail, under Sir Cloudesley Shovel, lay off -Lisbon to protect the coasts from the French. -Charles was to be conveyed to Lisbon by a powerful -fleet, having on board twelve thousand soldiers, -who were, on landing, to be joined by twenty-eight -thousand Portuguese. The allied fleets had -done nothing of importance during this summer.</p> - -<p>The Archduke Charles, having assumed the title -of King of Spain, set out from Vienna about the -middle of September, and reached Düsseldorf on -the 16th of October, where he was met by the -Elector Palatine and the Duke of Marlborough, -who was commissioned by Queen Anne to offer his -congratulations. Marlborough accompanied Charles -of Austria to the Hague, where they were both received -with high honours by the States-General. -Marlborough then hastened over to England to be -ready to receive the royal guest on his way to Portugal. -On the 26th of December the new King of -Spain arrived at Spithead in the Dutch squadron -sent to convey him. The queen dispatched the -Dukes of Somerset and Marlborough to conduct -him to Windsor, and Prince George met him on -the way at Petworth, the seat of the Duke of -Somerset, and conducted him to Windsor on the -29th. The king was entertained in great state for -three days at Windsor, during which time he was -politic enough to ingratiate himself with the -Duchess of Marlborough. When the duchess -presented the bason and napkin after supper -to the queen for her to wash her hands, the king -gallantly took the napkin and held it himself, -and on returning it to the queen's great favourite, -he presented her with a superb diamond ring.</p> - -<p>After three days the king returned to Portsmouth, -and on the 4th of January, 1704, he -embarked on board the fleet commanded by Sir -George Rooke, for Portugal, accompanied by a -body of land forces under the Duke of Schomberg. -The voyage was, however, a most stormy one, and -when the fleet had nearly reached Cape Finisterre, -it was compelled to put back to Spithead, where it -remained till the middle of February. His next -attempt was more successful, and he landed in -Lisbon amid much popular demonstration, though -the Court itself was sunk in sorrow by the death -of the Infanta, whom he went to marry.</p> - -<p>Before the arrival of Charles in England, it had -been visited by one of the most terrible storms on -record. The tempest began on the 27th of November, -1703, attended by such thunder and lightning -as had never been experienced by living man. -The Thames overflowed its banks, and was several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_547" id="Page_547">[547]</a></span> -feet deep in Westminster Hall. The houses in -London seemed shaken from their foundations, and -many actually fell, burying the inhabitants in their -ruins. The loss in London alone was estimated at -a million sterling, and the storm raged with equal -fury in other places. Bristol was a great sufferer; -but the greatest destruction fell on the fleet. -Thirteen ships of war were lost, and fifteen hundred -seamen, including Rear-Admiral Beaumont, -who foundered in the Downs. Many of the oldest -trees in the parks were torn up, and the lead on -the churches was rolled up in scrolls. This unparalleled -storm raged most fiercely along the -southern and western counties, being scarcely felt -in the northern ones. The Bishop of Bath and -Wells, with his wife, was killed in the episcopal -palace by the fall of a stack of chimneys.</p> - -<p>The queen opened Parliament on the 9th of -November. She spoke of the new treaties with -the Duke of Savoy and the King of Portugal as -subjects of congratulation; and on the 12th the -Lords presented an address to the queen, expressing -their satisfaction at her having entered into these -treaties, and even displayed a zeal beyond them. -The Commons on their part voted fifty-eight -thousand soldiers and forty thousand sailors as -the standard of the army and navy, and they -granted the requisite supplies with the utmost -readiness. No sooner was this patriotic demonstration -made, than the Commons again introduced -the Occasional Conformity Bill, and carried it -by a large majority, on pretence that the Church -was in danger; but the Lords attacked it with -greater animosity than ever, and threw it out.</p> - -<p>At this moment the nation became alarmed -with the rumour of a conspiracy amongst the -Jacobites in Scotland. When the queen, on the -17th of December, went to the Lords to give her -assent to the Land Tax Bill, she informed them -that she had made discoveries of a seditious -nature in Scotland, which, as soon as it could be -done with prudence, she assured them should be -laid before them. The Lords, in their loyalty, were -not disposed to wait for these disclosures, but -appointed a Committee to inquire into the plot, -and even went so far as to take some of the -parties implicated out of the hands of the queen's -messengers, to examine them themselves.</p> - -<p>The year 1704 opened amid these inquiries. -The Queen laid before the House of Lords the -papers concerning the Highland plot, with one -exception, which the Earl of Nottingham asserted -could not yet be made public without tending to -prevent further discovery. This only stimulated -the Lords, who addressed the queen, praying that -the whole of the papers might be submitted to -them. The queen replied that she did not expect -to be pressed in this manner, but she ordered -the papers in question to be delivered to them -under seal. The Peers pursued the inquiry with -renewed vigour, and soon issued a report that it -appeared to them that there had been a dangerous -conspiracy, instigated by Simon Fraser, Lord -Lovat, carried on for raising a rebellion in -Scotland, and invading that kingdom with French -forces, in order to subvert her Majesty's Government -and bring in the pretended Prince of Wales, -and that they were of opinion that nothing had -given so much encouragement to this conspiracy -as the Scots not coming into the Hanover succession -as fixed in England. They therefore -besought the queen to procure the settlement of -the Crown of Scotland on the Princess Sophia, -and when that was done they would use all their -influence for a union of the two kingdoms.</p> - -<p>Anne expressed her entire concurrence in these -views, and the Lords then presented another -address in answer to the second address of the -Commons. They charged the Commons with -manifesting a want of zeal for the queen's safety, -and with showing a strange reluctance that the -particulars of the plot should be brought to -light, obstructing all through, as much as in them -lay, the necessary inquiry; and fresh fuel was -immediately furnished to the flame already blazing -between the two Houses. One Matthew Ashby, -a freeman of Aylesbury, brought an action against -William White and others, the constables of Aylesbury, -for preventing him from exercising his franchise -at the last election. This was an unheard-of -proceeding, all matters relating to elections -being from time immemorial referred to the -House of Commons itself. The circumstances of -the case, however, furnished some reason for this -departure from the rule. It appeared that four -constables made the return, who were known -to have bargained with a particular candidate, -and to have so managed that the election should -be his. In appeals to the Commons the party -which happened to be in power had in a most -barefaced manner always decided in favour of -the man of their own side. Ashby, therefore, -sought what he hoped would prove a more impartial -tribunal. He tried the cause at the assizes, and -won it; but it was then moved in the Queen's -Bench to quash these proceedings as novel and -contrary to all custom. Three of the judges were -opposed to hearing the case, the matter belonging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_548" id="Page_548">[548]</a></span> -notoriously to the House of Commons; and they -argued that, if this practice were introduced, it -would occasion a world of suits, and make the -office of returning members a very dangerous -one. The Lord Chief Justice Holt alone was in -favour of it. He contended that there was a -great difference between the election of a member -and a right to vote. The decision of the election -undoubtedly belonged to the Commons, but the -right to vote being founded upon a forty-shilling -freehold, upon burgage land, upon a prescription, -or the charter of a borough, was clearly establishable -by a court of law. The judges at length -permitted the trial, but, being three against one, -the decision was for the constables. This aroused -the indignation of the whole Whig party, and -the cause was removed by a writ of error to the -House of Lords. The Lords, after a full hearing, -and taking the opinions of the judges, confirmed -the judgment given in favour of Ashby at the -assizes.</p> - -<p>The Commons now took up the affair with great -warmth. They passed five resolutions—namely, -that all matters relating to elections and the -right of examining and determining the qualifications -of electors belonged solely to them; that -Ashby was guilty of a breach of their privileges, -and they denounced the utmost weight of their -resentment against all persons who should follow -his example and bring any such suit into a court -of law, as well as against all counsel, attorneys, -or others who should assist in such suit. They -ordered these resolutions to be affixed to the gates -of Westminster Hall. The Lords took instant -measures to rebut these charges. They appointed -a committee to draw up a statement of the case, -and resolved upon its Report "that every person -being wilfully hindered from exercising his right -of voting might seek for justice and redress in -common courts of law against the officer by whom -his vote had been refused; that any assertion to -the contrary was destructive of the property of the -subject, against the freedom of election, and manifestly -tending to the encouragement of bribery and -corruption; and finally that the declaring Matthew -Ashby guilty of a breach of privilege of the -House of Commons was an unprecedented attempt -upon the Judicature of Parliament in the House -of Lords, and an attempt to subject the law of -England to the will and votes of the Commons."</p> - -<p>They ordered the Lord-Keeper to send copies of -the case and their votes to all the Sheriffs of -England, to be by them communicated to the -boroughs in their respective counties. The House -of Commons was greatly enraged at this, but it had -no power to prevent it, and it had the mortification -to see that the public feeling went entirely -with the Lords, who certainly were the defenders -of the rights of the subject, whilst the Commons, -corruptly refusing a just redress to such appeals, -endeavoured to prevent the sufferers from obtaining -it anywhere else.</p> - -<p>One of the most striking acts of this reign was -the grant of the first-fruits and tenths of church -livings to the poor clergy. The tenths were about -eleven thousand pounds a year, and the first-fruits -about five thousand pounds. These moneys had -been collected by the bishops since the Reformation -and paid to the Crown. They had never, -says Burnet, "been applied to any good use, but -were still obtained by favourites for themselves -and friends, and in King Charles's time went -chiefly amongst his women and children. It -seemed strange that, whilst the clergy had much -credit at Court, they had never resented this -as sacrilege unless it were applied to some religious -purpose, and that during Archbishop Laud's -favour with King Charles I., or at the restoration -of King Charles II., no endeavours had been -used to appropriate this to better uses; sacrilege -was charged on other things on very slight -grounds, but this, which was more visible, was -always forgot." But the fund was too convenient -a fund for favourites to get grants upon. -It is much to the credit of Burnet that he -managed to divert this misused fund from the -greedy clutches of courtiers and mistresses, to -the amelioration of the condition of the unhappy -working clergy. He proposed the scheme first to -William, who listened to it readily, being assured -by Burnet that nothing would tend to draw the -hearts of the clergy so much towards him, and -put a stop to the groundless clamour that he -was the enemy of the clergy. Somers and Halifax -heartily concurred in the plan; but the avaricious -old Sunderland got a grant of it upon two -dioceses for two thousand pounds a year for two -lives, which frustrated the aims of the reformers. -Burnet, however, succeeded better with -Anne. He represented that there were hundreds -of cures that had not twenty pounds a year, and -some thousands that had not thirty pounds, and -asked what could the clergy be or do under such -circumstances? Therefore, on the 7th of February, -1704, Sir Charles Hedges, the Secretary -of State, announced to the Commons that her -Majesty had remitted the arrears of the tenths -to the poor clergy, and had resolved to grant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_549" id="Page_549">[549]</a></span> -in future the whole of the first-fruits and tenths -for the augmentation of small livings. The Commons -replied in an address, expressing their sense -of her pious care for the Church, and brought in -a Bill to enable her to alienate this branch of the -revenue, and to create a corporation by charter, to -apply the money, according to the queen's intention, -in increasing the wretched stipends of the -poorer clergy. There was an attempt made to -relieve the clergy altogether from the payment of -first-fruits and tenths, and to devote some other -fund to the relief of the poor clergy; but as -Anne's intention was not to relieve the rich but -to comfort the poor, she would not listen to it. -The Statute of Mortmain was also relaxed by a -provision of the Bill, so far as to allow individuals -to make augmentations to benefices by deed of gift -or by bequest. The Bishops were unanimous for -the Bill, and addresses of thanks from all the -clergy of England were presented to Anne on -the occasion of this noble gift of what has been -ever since known as Queen Anne's Bounty. -However, Anne was far from being so generous to -Dissenters, or to any other sect in the kingdom. -On the contrary, she had just before allowed the -Parliament of Ireland to stop the poor sum of -twelve hundred pounds per annum, which had -been paid by the late king to the indigent Presbyterian -ministers of Ulster, who had so manfully -defended the north of Ireland against James.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_549.jpg" width="560" height="425" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE KING OF SPAIN AT WINDSOR: HIS GALLANTRY TO THE DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_546">546</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_549big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>On the 3rd of April the queen prorogued Parliament -till the 4th of July. The Convocation had -during this time kept up its bitter controversy, -and had done nothing more except thank the -queen for the grant of the first-fruits and -tenths, and the Commons for having espoused -their cause.</p> - -<p>Marlborough had left London for the Hague -on the 15th of January whilst Parliament was -sitting. He was promised fifty thousand British -troops under his own immediate command, and he -was planning a campaign which gave the first -evidence of a real military genius being at the -head of the Allied forces, since these Dutch wars -began. He saw that the Elector of Bavaria, by -his alliance with the French, was striking at the -very heart of the Empire, and that, if permitted -to continue his plans, he would soon, with his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_550" id="Page_550">[550]</a></span> -French allies, be in possession of Vienna. Nothing -could be more deplorable than the condition -of Austria. Besides the successes of the Elector -of Bavaria, the insurgents of Hungary were -triumphant, and between the two the Empire -was on the verge of ruin. The Elector of Bavaria -had possessed himself of all the places on the -Danube as far as Passau, and should he come to -act in concert with the Hungarians, Vienna -would be lost. Prince Eugene put himself into -communication with Marlborough, and these two -great generals determined on striking a blow -which should at once free Austria from its -dangers. This was no other than a bold march -of a powerful army to the Danube, and the -destruction of the Elector of Bavaria.</p> - -<p>This was a design so far out of the mediocre -range of Dutch campaigns that it was determined -not to let its real character become known till -it could be instantly put in execution, certain -that the States-General, terrified at so daring a -scheme, would prohibit it at once. To go securely -to work, therefore, by the advice of Eugene, the -Emperor applied to the Queen of England to -send an army to his rescue. Marlborough supported -the application with all his energy, and, -having procured the queen's consent, he left -England on the 15th of January, was in the -Hague on the 19th, and put himself into secret -communication with the Grand Pensionary Heinsius. -He fully approved of the scheme, and -promised to give it his most strenuous support. -It was thought, however, imprudent to confide -the real extent of the plan to other persons, -not only because it was sure to alarm the States-General, -but because it had been all along observed -that every proposal, as soon as it became known -to the Government or heads of the army, was -immediately treacherously conveyed to the French. -The proposal made to the States-General, therefore, -was merely that the next campaign should be -made on the Moselle, as if the design were to -penetrate into France along that river.</p> - -<p>The States-General, as was expected, appeared -thunderstruck by even the proposal of carrying -the war to the Moselle, and it was only by the -zeal of Heinsius that they were brought to consent -to it. That accomplished, they were induced to -grant a subsidy to the Prince of Baden, and -another to the Circle of Suabia, and to take -into pay four thousand Würtembergers instead of -the same number of Dutch and English despatched -to Portugal. There was a promise of money given -to the Prince of Savoy, with an assurance of so -vigorous a campaign on this side of the Alps that -the French should not be able to send many -troops against him. Similar assurances of co-operation -were given to the Elector Palatine and -to the new King of Prussia. These matters -being arranged, Marlborough hastened back to -England, and persuaded the queen to remit a -hundred thousand crowns to Suabia, and to make -a large remittance to the Prince of Baden out -of the privy purse. He then put himself on a -good understanding with the now partly Whig -Ministry, himself as well as his indefatigable -duchess coming out in Whig colours. He then -returned to the Netherlands in the beginning of -April. He found in his absence that the terms -of his design, little of it as was known, had been -actively operating in the cautious Dutch mind, and -the States of Zealand and Friesland in particular -were vehemently opposed to so bold a measure as -carrying the war to the Moselle. Marlborough, -who had brought with him to support him in -command his brother General Churchill, Lieutenant-General -Lumley, the Earl of Orkney, and -other officers of distinction, told the States plainly -that he had the authority of his queen for taking -such measures as he thought best for the common -cause, and that he was determined to march with -his forty thousand men to the Moselle. This -struck with silence the opposers of the measure: -the States consented with a good grace to the -proposition, and gave him such powers as they -never would have done had they any idea to -what an extent he meant to use them. Prince -Eugene alone, who was commanding the Allied -army on the Upper Danube, was in the secret. -Leaving Overkirk with a strong force to guard the -frontiers of Holland, he commenced at once his -march to Utrecht, where he spent a few days with -Albemarle, thence to Ruremond, and so to Maestricht, -and on the 8th of May advanced to -Bedburg, in the Duchy of Juliers, which had been -appointed as the place of rendezvous. There he -found General Churchill with fifty-one battalions, -and ninety-two squadrons of horse.</p> - -<p>Being joined by various detachments of Prussians, -Hessians, Lüneburgers, and others, and -also by eleven Dutch battalions, Marlborough, on -the 19th of May, commenced his great expedition -into the heart of Germany. On the 26th he was -at Coblentz, and from the grand old fortress of -Ehrenbreitstein he watched the passage of his -army over the Moselle and the Rhine. He wrote -to the States-General for fresh reinforcements in -order to secure his most important movement, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_551" id="Page_551">[551]</a></span> -marched along the banks of the Rhine to Broubach. -There he also wrote to the King of Prussia, -praising the Prussian troops, and entreating him -to send him more of them. While he was at -Mainz, he halted a day to rest his troops, and -there received the agreeable news that the States -were sending after him twenty squadrons, and -eight battalions of Danish auxiliaries; but at the -same time he was mortified to find that the Prince -of Baden had managed so badly as to allow the ten -thousand troops forwarded by Tallard to join the -Elector of Bavaria without molestation, and had lost -the most tempting opportunities, whilst the Elector -was marching through narrow defiles, of cutting -off his march and reducing him to extremities.</p> - -<p>The French were filled with wonder at this -march of Marlborough, far out from the usual -scene of the English operations, and could not -for some time realise the object of it. At one -time they expected only an attack on the Moselle, -but that river and the Rhine being crossed, they -apprehended that his design was to raise the siege -of Landau, and this was confirmed by the advance -of the Landgrave of Hesse to Mannheim. But -when he crossed the Neckar and advanced on -Erpingen, and was continually strengthened by -fresh junctions of Prussians, Hessians, and Palatines, -they began to comprehend his real object. -He waited at Erpingen for the coming up of -General Churchill with the artillery and part of -the infantry, and he employed the time in sending -a despatch to warn the Prince of Baden that -Tallard and Villeroi were about to unite their -armies, pass the Rhine, and hasten to the support -of the Elector of Bavaria. He pressed on the -prince the extreme importance of preventing this -passage of the French army. He told him that -they must not trouble themselves about any -damage that Villeroi might do on the left bank -of the Rhine, if he could only be kept there, as -in that case he felt assured that six weeks would -see the army of the Elector of Bavaria annihilated, -and the Empire saved.</p> - -<p>Marlborough was anxious to keep the Prince of -Baden engaged on the Rhine, so that he might himself -have the co-operation of the far abler Eugene -on the Danube. On the 9th of June he crossed the -Neckar again, marched to Mondelsheim, and on -the 10th met for the first time Prince Eugene, -who was destined to be for ever connected -with his name in military glory. At Hippach -Marlborough reviewed his cavalry in the presence -of Eugene, who expressed his utmost admiration -at their appearance and discipline. He was -equally struck with the lively and ardent expression -of the countenances of the English soldiers, -which Marlborough handsomely assured him was -caused by their pleasure in seeing so renowned -a commander. To the intense mortification of -Eugene and Marlborough, the Prince of Baden, -whom they were anxious to detain on the Rhine, -quitted the post where his presence was so much -required, and came up and joined them. He was -determined to be in the quarter where the greatest -share of reputation was to be won, and from his -princely rank he did not hesitate to claim the chief -command.</p> - -<p>This notion of their princely claims, combined -with their mediocrity of military talent, has always -been the mischief of a campaign in alliance with -the small princes of Germany. The whole plan of -Marlborough and Eugene was in danger of defeat, -and Eugene was compelled to go to the Rhine, -and Marlborough to admit of the Prince of Baden -taking the command on alternate days. He -secretly resolved, however, that any actions of -consequence should be entered upon only on his -own day. Eugene had now taken his departure, -and on the 15th of June was at Philippsburg, on -the Rhine, and Marlborough felt it time to press -on, for the States-General were now continually -sending to him alarming accounts of the French, -and entreating him to send back part of his army -for their defence. Accordingly, on the 20th, he -set forward, and passed successfully the narrow, -dangerous, and troublesome pass of Geislingen, -lying amongst the mountains which separated -him from the plains of the Danube. This pass -was two miles long, heavy with the deepest mud, -and abounding with torrents swollen by the rains. -Once through, he came into contact with the forces -of the Prince of Baden, which were posted at -Wertersteppen. On the 24th the united armies -reached Elchingen, near the Danube. The Elector -of Bavaria, who was posted at Ulm, retired, at -his approach, along the banks of the Danube to -a former encampment of himself and his French -allies, in a low and swampy place between Lauingen -and Dillingen. Marlborough advanced to -the little river Brenz, and encamped within two -leagues of the enemy, with his right at Amerdighem -and his left at Onderingen. There he waited -till the 27th, when his brother, General Churchill, -came up with the artillery and part of the infantry. -The army now amounted to ninety-six battalions, -two hundred and two squadrons, with forty-eight -pieces of artillery, pontoons, etc. He still, however, -judged it prudent to wait for the Danish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_552" id="Page_552">[552]</a></span> -horse under the Duke of Würtemberg, which were -daily expected.</p> - -<p>During this delay the Elector forestalled the -Allies in securing the fortress of the Schellenberg, -situated on a lofty hill overhanging the town of -Donauwörth. Marlborough saw the immense advantage -thus gained, and determined, cost what -it might, to drive them from this stronghold. It -was held by the General Count D'Arco, with -twelve thousand men; and it was clear that it -could not be forced without great loss. But there -was no time to delay. So long as the Elector -held Schellenberg he kept them in check, and was -enabled to wait for the arrival of French forces -sent to relieve him. The Prince of Baden was -confounded at the daring of such an undertaking, -and strongly opposed it; but Marlborough told -him that every day's delay only enabled the enemy -to strengthen himself by fresh entrenchments -both there and in their swampy camp. On the -1st of July Marlborough, having the command for -the day, ordered the assault of the Schellenberg. -At three o'clock in the morning this hardy attempt -began. The picked troops advanced to the front -of the Schellenberg, crossing, on bridges prepared -for the occasion, the deep and rapid stream called -the Wernitz, about noon. The Austrian grenadiers -were far in the rear, and it was five in the afternoon -before the order was given for the column to -ascend. It was a murderous prospect for the -assailants. The hill was steep and rugged; the -ascent was rendered additionally difficult by a -wood, a rivulet, and a deep ravine; whilst the -summit of the hill was covered with soldiers -ready to pour down the most destructive storm -of shot, and that with the prospect of an unlimited -supply of soldiers and ammunition from Donauwörth -and the camp on the other side of the -Danube, which was connected with this side by a -bridge. Lord Mordaunt with fifty English grenadiers -led the way as a forlorn hope. The officers -of the attacking column were nearly all killed, -and it appeared likely to be swept down the hill, -but a battalion of English Guards stood its ground -firmly, and restored the courage of the rest, and -once more they advanced. D'Arco then gathered -in his flanks and threw the whole weight of his -soldiery upon them to annihilate them, still -pouring murderous discharges of grape into them. -It appeared impossible that any body of men -could exist under such disadvantages, and the -whole column seemed giving way, when General -Lumley rushed forward at the head of a body of -horse, rallied the failing ranks, and led them again -to the charge. During this terrible conflict the -assailants had not been sacrificed unavenged. They -had exterminated their enemies almost as fast as -they came, and at this moment a powder magazine -exploding in the camp of the Bavarians, -spread such consternation that the Allies, taking -advantage of the panic, rushed forward, burst -into the entrenchments, and threw the whole force -into confusion. This confusion was put to the -climax by the Bavarians observing the Prince -of Baden ascending the hill from the side of -Donauwörth, at the head of the Imperial troops. -The panic was complete; the French and Bavarians -broke in every direction, and made the -best of their way down the hill to secure the -passage of the bridge over the Danube. The -Allies gave chase, and made a fearful carnage -amongst the fugitives. By the time they reached -the bridge, such was the rush and crush to cross it -that it gave way. Numbers were plunged into the -stream and perished; numbers were driven by the -force behind over the banks; numbers were -massacred on the spot. Of the twelve thousand -troops who had ascended the Schellenberg, only -three thousand ever rejoined the Elector of Bavaria, -but many came in as stragglers and joined -the Allies. There were seven or eight thousand -destroyed on that bloody evening.</p> - -<p>What was to be expected from the particular -spirit which the Prince of Baden had shown, took -place. Though he deprecated the attack of the -Schellenberg at all, and though he allowed the -English to bear the terrible brunt of the ascent, -and came up in the rear of the engagement, because -he reached the entrenchments before Marlborough -himself came up, he claimed the honour of the -victory. Had he headed the attacking column, he -would have had no other claim but that of a brave -officer, for the whole plan of the campaign and the -whole plan of the attack of the Schellenberg were -Marlborough's. Had the prince had his way, there -would have been no battle at all. Marlborough -repelled the mean attempt to steal his victory with -contempt, and spoke some homely truths to the -Prince. It served the Louvestein faction in the -Netherlands, however, with a pretext to injure -Marlborough, by casting a medal bearing the portrait -of the Prince, and on the reverse the lines -of Schellenberg. But all over the world, not excepting -Germany, justice was done to Marlborough, -and from that moment his name became famous, -celebrated in songs even by the French, dreaded by -French children, whose mothers stilled them with -the terrible word "Malbrouk."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_553" id="Page_553">[553]</a></span></p> - -<p>But the French were hastening to prevent the -destruction of their Bavarian ally. Marlborough -received the news that they had promised to send -to the Elector, under Tallard, fifty battalions of -foot, and sixty squadrons of horse of the best troops -in France, which should make him stronger than -the Confederates. These troops had already crossed -the Rhine, and were making their way through the -Black Forest. At the same time Eugene, though -obliged to divide his forces, at once to watch -Villeroi on the Rhine and to check the march of -Tallard, promised Marlborough that he would do -his uttermost to retard the junction. Meanwhile -the Elector, in too dangerous a proximity to the -victorious army, abandoned Donauwörth, broke up -his camp, and retreated towards Augsburg, leaving -his own dominions open to the incursions of the -Allies. Marlborough lost no time in availing -himself of the chance. He prepared to cross the -deep and rapid river Lech, which was effected on -the 7th of July at Gunderkingen.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_553.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>PRINCE EUGINE OF SAVOY. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_553big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Marlborough was now in Bavaria, and the garrison -at Neuburg retreating to Ingolstadt, he had -the whole of the country at his mercy. He posted -his camp at Mittelstetten on the 10th, and sent -word to the Elector that if he did not choose to -come to terms he would do his best to ruin -his country; but the Elector, strongly encamped -under the walls of Augsburg, and promised early -succour by the French, made no sign of treating. -Marlborough suffered his troops to levy contributions -on the country round, and his army lived -luxuriously at the expense of the unfortunate -Bavarians. The true policy of the Allies was to -march on the Elector, and dispose of him before -the French could come up; but for this the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_554" id="Page_554">[554]</a></span> -Prince of Baden was in too ill a humour. In fact, -the two generals were on the worst possible terms -with each other, and the consequence was, the -obvious interests of the campaign were sacrificed -to the feud and jealousy of the leaders. Marlborough -proposed to march on Munich, the capital, -and take it, but the Prince would not furnish -the necessary artillery, and the thing was impossible. -Marlborough spent five days in taking -Rain, a fortress of little consequence. He also -dispatched thirty squadrons to assist Eugene in -obstructing the march of the French to join the -Elector. He contrived also to open negotiations -with the Elector of Bavaria. The envoy of the -Emperor offered to the Elector to restore all his -dominions, and pay him a subsidy of two hundred -thousand crowns, on condition of his breaking with -the French and assisting the Emperor with twelve -thousand men. But the negotiation came to -nothing, for Tallard was now rapidly advancing -with his army, and the Elector, instead of keeping -an appointment with the Emperor's envoy, sent -him word that since the King of France had -made such powerful exertions to support him, he -thought himself in honour obliged to remain firm -to his alliance. The Allied generals were so much -exasperated at this result that they gave up the -whole country, as far as the walls of Munich, to -the ravages of the soldiery, and three hundred -burning towns, villages, and castles marked the -terrible fury of the Allies, and left an indelible -stain on the glories of that campaign.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had Marlborough removed from before -Augsburg when the Elector quitted his camp and -marched to Biberach, and there effected a junction -with Tallard.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of August Prince Eugene galloped -into Marlborough's camp to announce this fact, -and to take measures for competing with them. -It was resolved between them to get rid of the -fatal incubus of the Prince of Baden, with his -pride and his jealousy, by leaving him to continue -the siege of Ingolstadt, for which purpose they -left him twenty-three battalions and thirty-one -squadrons. Marlborough then prepared again to -cross the Lech and the Danube, and advance to -Exheim. Here Prince Eugene, who had set out -to bring up his force to form a junction with -Marlborough, galloped back to inform him that -the united French and Bavarian army was in full -march towards Dillingen, evidently intending to -attack the little army of Eugene. It was, therefore, -agreed that the troops of Eugene should fall -back, and those of Marlborough should cross the -Danube to make a speedy junction with them. -Eugene took possession of the strong camp on the -Schellenberg, and had his main position at Donauwörth. -On the evening of the 10th Marlborough -began to throw detachments of his army across -the Danube—an operation of no little difficulty, -owing to his having to cross the Aicha, the Lech, -and the Wernitz, as well as the Danube, and all -these floods were swollen by the rains. The whole -of the army, however, was got over at different -points on the 11th, and on the 12th Marlborough's -baggage and artillery came up.</p> - -<p>The English Guards were pushed forward towards -Schwenningen, and Marlborough and Eugene ascended -together the tower of a village church to -get a view of the country. There they discovered -the French and Bavarians busy marking out a -camp between Blenheim and Lutzingen. They saw -at once the great advantage they should have by -falling on the enemy before they had strongly entrenched -themselves, and whilst in the confusion of -encamping themselves. No sooner, however, did -they issue their orders, than some of the general -officers demurred as to the danger of attacking the -foe in so strong a position as the one they had -chosen. But Marlborough told them that circumstances -compelled them to fight, and the sooner the -better. Marlborough and Eugene were busy -planning the order of the battle, and at two o'clock -of the morning of the 13th of August, the forces -were in full advance. In another hour they were -across the Kessell, with a combined force of fifty-two -thousand men and fifty-two pieces of artillery.</p> - -<p>Tallard saw the march of the Allied army with -great satisfaction. He thought it would now be -easy for him to interpose a strong force between -Marlborough and the army of the Prince of Baden -before Ingolstadt. But the Allies did not mean -to give him any time for that. They pushed -briskly forward over very difficult ground, intersected -by rivulets and ditches; and as they were -seen at seven in the morning steadily advancing, -the French and Bavarians hastily abandoned the -new lines which they were forming, and retreated -towards their old camp. On still went Marlborough -and Eugene, accompanied in advance by a -Prussian officer who had fought there the preceding -year, and knew the country well. They -found the enemy posted along the rising ground -from Blenheim to Lutzingen, with a gap between -the villages, which they had endeavoured to render -secure by posting there a strong body of cavalry. -At the same time, between Blenheim and the -Danube, was made a strong barricade of waggons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_555" id="Page_555">[555]</a></span> -behind which were stationed a brigade of dismounted -dragoons. Three brigades of cavalry -took up their stand in the village, and barricaded -all entrances or openings with waggons, felled -trees, planks, or whatever could be found. Tallard -was in command at Blenheim, the Elector of -Bavaria and General Marsin at Lutzingen. The -castle and church-tower at Blenheim were filled -with soldiers, and the Count Clerambault was -ordered to defend the village of Blenheim by his -artillery to the last.</p> - -<p>Against this position, defended by fifty-seven -thousand men, or about five thousand more than -the Allies, advanced the Confederate army. In -front of the enemy also ran the little river Nebel, -which was deep, and the bottom muddy. Marlborough -led on the left wing against Blenheim, and -Eugene the right against Lutzingen. The first of -the army to cross the Nebel and advance against -Blenheim was a body of English and Hessians -under Major-General Wilkes and Lord Cutts. -Cutts, who was famous for a storm, was ordered -to make an impetuous attack on the village; -and, getting across the Nebel by means of -fascines, he led his horse under a terrible fire of -grape right against the palisadoes and barricades. -The French poured into the assailants, however, -such a storm of grape as mowed down great -numbers of officers and men, amongst whom was -General Rowe, who had advanced to the very face -of the palisadoes with his lieutenant-colonel and -major. The English in the van were thrown -into confusion and assailed by three squadrons of -gendarmes; but the Hessians advanced to their -aid, and the French were driven back to their -lines. Lord Cutts then led on his horse, and maintained -a desperate fight under the fire of the protected -French. Whilst they were engaged in this -deadly <em>mélée</em> the brigades of Hudson and Ferguson -had crossed the stream, and marched right up to -the village, silencing some batteries which commanded -the fords of the river. The fight was -maintained hand to hand, the opponents thrusting -at each other through the interstices of the palisadoes; -but the contest was too unequal between the -covered and uncovered, and with the soldiers from -the old castle and the church-tops pouring down -showers of musket-balls on the Allies.</p> - -<p>During this time Marlborough had been leading -another body of troops along the banks of the -Nebel, and joining them under a terrible fire of -grape opposite to the gap between the villages, and -only waiting, to bear on this point, for the artillery, -under the Prince of Holstein-Beck, getting over -the river. The Prince no sooner had got partly -across the stream than his advance was furiously -attacked by the Irish Brigade, which was in the -pay of Louis XIV. They cut the advance nearly -to pieces, and would have effectually prevented the -transit of artillery had not Marlborough himself -hastened to the spot and beaten them off, as well -as heavy bodies of French and Bavarian cavalry. -He then posted a body of horse along the river to -protect the crossing of the forces.</p> - -<p>Lord Cutts during this had fallen back from the -entrenchments of the village, finding it impossible -to clear a way into it without artillery. But the -artillery over, Marlborough united his forces -with those of Eugene, which were bearing on Lutzingen, -and was preparing for his grand design of -cutting the French and Bavarians asunder, by -throwing his whole weight on the cavalry posted -between the villages. It was not, however, till five -in the afternoon that he was able to lead on the -attack, consisting of two columns of horse supported -by infantry. He dashed rapidly up the -hill towards the important point, on which was concentrated -Tallard's cavalry, and part of the infantry -from the village. Marlborough gained the summit -of the hill under heavy loss, but there the enemy -stood in such solid force that he was driven back -for a hundred paces. The heat of the battle was -at this point, and if Marlborough had been compelled -to give way, there was little chance of succeeding -against the enemy; but he returned with -all his vigour to the charge, by this time his artillery -had gained the summit, and after a desperate -struggle the fire of the French began to slacken. -As soon as he perceived that, he made a grand -charge, broke the horse, and cut to pieces or made -prisoners of seven regiments of infantry.</p> - -<p>Tallard, seeing his cavalry in flight, and his -infantry fast being overpowered, sent messengers -to call the Elector to his aid, and to order up the -rest of the infantry from Blenheim. But the -Elector was in full engagement with Eugene, and -found enough to do to maintain possession of Lutzingen. -Nor did Marlborough allow time for the -coming up of fresh enemies. He attacked Tallard -with such impetuosity, and such an overwhelming -force of cavalry, that he was completely disorganised, -and, turning his horse, galloped off towards -Sonderheim, another part of his cavalry -making for Hochstadt. Marlborough pursued Tallard -at full speed, slaughtering his men all down -the declivity towards the Danube, where they had -thrown over a bridge between Hochstadt and -Blenheim; but being so pressed, and at the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_556" id="Page_556">[556]</a></span> -time attacked in the flank, numbers were forced -into the river and perished. Tallard, being surrounded, -and his son killed, was compelled to -surrender near a mill behind the village of Sonderheim, -together with the Marquis of Montperous, -General of Horse, the Majors-General de Seppeville, -De Silly, De la Valiere, and many other officers. -Those who fled towards Hochstadt fared little better. -They became entangled in a morass, where they -were cut to pieces, drowned in the Danube, or -made prisoners, except the celebrated brigade of -Grignan, and some of the gendarmes, who regained -the heights of Hochstadt.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Prince Eugene had been sharply -engaged with the Elector of Bavaria at Lutzingen, -and after receiving several repulses had succeeded -in driving the Elector out of Lutzingen; and, -turning his flank, he posted himself on the edge -of a ravine to mark the condition of the field in -general. He there received a message from Marlborough -to say that he was now able to come to -his assistance if he needed it; but the prince -replied that he had no need of it, for the forces -of Marsin and the Elector were driven out of -Lutzingen and Oberclau, and that his cavalry -were pursuing them to Morselingen and Teissenhoven, -whence they retreated to Dillingen and -Lauingen. Marlborough despatched a body of -cavalry to Eugene near the blazing village of -Lutzingen; but the darkness now settling down, -the commander, amid the smoke of powder and -of the burning village, mistook the troops of -Eugene for the Bavarians and wheeled round, so -that the opportunity was lost of inflicting fresh -injury on the fugitives.</p> - -<p>There were still twelve thousand men unsubdued -in Blenheim, and Marlborough began to -surround the place. These forces had lost -their commander, Clerambault, who had been -carried away in the rush down the hill and was -drowned in the Danube; but the men still made -a vigorous resistance. Every minute, however, -they were getting more hemmed in by troops and -artillery. Fire was set to the buildings, and -every chance of escape was cut off. For some -time they maintained a killing fire from the walls -and houses; but as the flames advanced, they -made several attempts at cutting through their -assailants, but were driven back at every point. -They finally offered to capitulate, but Marlborough -would hear of nothing but an unconditional -surrender, to which they were obliged to assent. -Besides these, whole regiments had laid down -their arms, and begged for quarter. Thus was -annihilated at a blow the invincible army of France, -which was to have seized on Vienna, destroyed -the Empire, and placed all Germany and the -Continent under the feet of Louis. The event -had fully justified the bold design of Marlborough; -instead of fighting the enemy in detail, he -attacked him at his very heart, and closed the -campaign by a single master-stroke.</p> - -<p>Soon after the battle three thousand Germans, -who had been serving in the French army, joined -the Allies; and on the 19th of August, six days -after the battle, Marlborough and Eugene began -their march towards Ulm. Three days before that, -the garrison of Augsburg had quitted that city, -and Marlborough and Eugene called on the Prince -of Baden to leave a few troops at Ingolstadt to -invest it, as it must now necessarily surrender, -and to join them with the rest of his forces, that -they might sweep the enemy completely out of -Germany. Marshal Tallard was sent under a -guard of dragoons to Frankfort, and Marlborough -encamped at Sefillingen, near Ulm. There he -and Eugene were joined by Louis of Baden, -and, leaving a sufficient force to reduce Ulm, the -combined army marched towards the Rhine. At -Bruchsal, near Philippsburg, the Prince of Baden -insisted that they should all stay and compel the -surrender of Landau. This was opposed to the -whole plans of Marlborough and Eugene, which -were to give the French no time to reflect, but -to drive them over their own frontiers. The -Prince was now more than ever obstinate. The -glory which Marlborough had won, and part of -which he had tried to filch from him, was extremely -galling to him, and especially that so -much honour should fall to the lot of a heretic. -The generals were obliged to follow his fancy; -they allowed the Prince to sit down before the -town, and Marlborough and Eugene encamped at -Croon-Weissingen to support him. This took -place on the 12th of September, and Landau -held out till the 23rd of November, when it -capitulated on honourable terms, and the King -of the Romans characteristically came into the -camp to have the honour of taking the place—so -fond are these German princes of stepping into -other people's honours instead of winning them -for themselves. By this delay the precious remainder -of the campaign was lost, and the -French had time given them to recover their -spirits, and to take measures for holding what -was yet left them. After this the Confederate -army sat down before Trarbach, which surrendered -to the hereditary Prince of Hesse-Cassel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_557" id="Page_557">[557]</a></span> -in the middle of December, which closed the -campaign.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_557.jpg" width="410" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>BATTLE OF BLENHEIM: CHARGE OF MARLBOROUGH'S HORSE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_555">555</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_557big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_558" id="Page_558">[558]</a></span></p> - -<p>Marlborough had not waited for these insignificant -operations, but had proceeded to Berlin to -engage the King of Prussia to suspend his claims -on the Dutch, and to enter more zealously into -the alliance for the perfect clearance of the French -from Germany. He prevailed on the king to -promise eight thousand troops for the assistance -of the Duke of Savoy, and to be commanded by -the Prince Eugene; and he exerted himself with -the Emperor to effect a settlement with the -insurgents in Hungary, but his own triumphs -stood in the way of his success. The Emperor, -since Marlborough's victories, was so elated that -he would listen to no reasonable terms. From -Berlin Marlborough proceeded to Hanover, and -paid his court to the family which was to succeed -to the Crown of England. Thence he went to -the Hague, where he was received with high -honours by the States-General on account of the -victories which he would never have achieved -could they have restrained him. He arrived in -England in the middle of December, carrying -with him Marshal Tallard and the rest of the -distinguished officers, with the standards and -other trophies of his victories. He was received -with acclaim by all classes except a few ultra-Tories, -who threatened to impeach him for his -rash march to the Danube. As Parliament had -assembled, Marlborough took his seat in the -House of Peers the day after his arrival, where -he was complimented on his magnificent success -by the Lord Keeper. This was followed by a -deputation with a vote of thanks from the Commons, -and by similar honours from the City. -But perhaps the most palpable triumph of Marlborough -was the transferring of the military trophies -which he had taken, from the Tower, where they -were first deposited, to Westminster Hall. This -was done by each soldier carrying a standard or -other trophy, amid the thunders of artillery and -the hurrahs of the people; such a spectacle never -having been witnessed since the days of the Spanish -Armada. The royal manor of Woodstock was -granted him, and Blenheim Mansion erected at the -cost of the nation.</p> - -<p>Besides the victories of Marlborough, there had -been successes at sea, and one of them of far more -consequence than was at the time imagined—namely, -the conquest of Gibraltar.</p> - -<p>Sir George Rooke, having landed King Charles -at Lisbon, sent Rear-Admiral Dilkes with a -squadron to cruise off Cape Spartel, and himself, -by order of the queen, sailed for the relief of -Nice and Villafranca, which were supposed to be -in danger from the French under the Duke of -Vendôme. King Charles at the same time desired -him to make a demonstration in his favour before -Barcelona, for he was assured that a force had -only to appear on that coast and the whole -population would declare for him. Rooke, accordingly, -taking on board the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, -who had formerly been Viceroy of -Catalonia, sailed for Barcelona, and invited the -governor to declare for his rightful sovereign, King -Charles. The governor replied that Philip V. was -his lawful sovereign. The Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, -however, assured the admiral that there -were five to one in the city in favour of King -Charles, and Rooke allowed the prince to land -with two thousand men; but there was no sign -of any movement in favour of Austria. The -Dutch ketches then bombarded the place with -little effect, and the troops were re-embarked, -lest they should be fallen upon by superior numbers. -On the 16th of June, Rooke being joined -by Sir Cloudesley Shovel, they sailed to Nice, -but found it in no danger; and they then went -in quest of the French fleet, which Rooke in -the preceding month had caught sight of on -their way to Toulon. On the 17th of July a -council of war was held in the road of Tetuan, -and it was resolved to make an attempt on Gibraltar, -which was represented to have only a -slender garrison. On the 21st the fleet came to -anchor before Gibraltar, and the marines, under -the command of the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, -landed on the narrow sandy isthmus which -connects the celebrated rock with the mainland, -and called on the governor to surrender. Though -cut off from relief from the land, and with a -formidable fleet in the bay, the governor stoutly -replied that he would defend the place to the -last extremity.</p> - -<p>The next day Rooke gave orders for cannonading -the town. On the 23rd, soon after daybreak, -the cannonading commenced with terrible effect. -Fifteen thousand shots were discharged in five or -six hours; the South Mole Head was demolished, -and the Spaniards driven in every quarter from -their guns. Captain Whitaker was then ordered -to arm all the boats, and assault that quarter. -Captains Hicks and Jumper, who were nearest -the Mole, immediately manned their pinnaces, and -entered the fortifications sword in hand. They -were soon, however, treading on a mine, which -the Spaniards exploded, killing or wounding two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_559" id="Page_559">[559]</a></span> -lieutenants and about a hundred men. But -Hicks and Jumper seized a platform, and kept -their ground till they were supported by Captain -Whitaker with the rest of the seamen, -who took by storm a redoubt between the town -and the Mole. Then the governor capitulated, -and the Prince of Hesse entered the place with his -marines, amazed at once at the strength of the -place and the ease with which it had been taken. -In fact, this key of the Mediterranean, which has -since defied the united powers of Christendom, -was taken in three days, one day of which was rendered -almost useless by the fierceness of the wind.</p> - -<p>Rooke left the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt and -the marines to hold the fortress, and returned to -Tetuan to take in wood and water, and again sailed -up the Mediterranean. On the 9th of August he -came in sight of the French fleet lying off Malaga, -and ready to receive him. It consisted of fifty-two -great ships and four-and-twenty galleys, under -the Count de Toulouse, High Admiral of France, -and all clean and in the best condition; Rooke's -fleet of fifty-three ships of the line, exclusive -of frigates, was inferior to the French in guns -and men, as well as in weight of metal; and, -what was worse, the ships were very foul in -their bottoms, and many of them ill provided with -ammunition. Nevertheless, Rooke determined to -engage; and on Sunday, the 13th, at ten o'clock in -the morning, the battle began, and raged till two -in the afternoon, when the van of the French gave -way. This result would have been much earlier -arrived at, had not several of the English ships -soon exhausted their powder, and been forced to -draw out of the line. During the afternoon firing -at longer distances was kept up, but at night Toulouse -bore away to leeward. The next morning the -wind favoured the French, but they did not avail -themselves of it, but bore away for Toulon, pursued -by Rooke as well as the foulness of his ships -would let him. Not a ship was lost or taken by -either side in the battle, but the loss in killed and -wounded was great. On the part of the English -the killed and wounded amounted to three thousand; -on the French side it was supposed to reach -four thousand, including two hundred officers killed. -Sir Cloudesley Shovel, who led the van, said that -he had never seen a sea-fight so furiously contested. -The effect of the battle was to render the French -shy of coming to any great engagement on the sea -during the remainder of the war.</p> - -<p>The Parliament of England met on the 29th of -October, and the queen congratulated the two -Houses on the remarkable success which had -attended her arms, and trusted that it would -enable her to secure the great object for which -they fought—the liberty of Europe. She encouraged -them to carry on their debates without contentions, -and avowed her determination to be indulgent -to all her subjects. But nothing could -prevent the animosity which raged between the -Whig and Tory factions from showing itself. The -Lords congratulated her Majesty on the glorious victories -of Marlborough, without noticing those of Sir -George Rooke; and the Commons, to whose party -Rooke, an old Tory, belonged, exalted his exploits -to an equality with those of Marlborough. Notwithstanding -the queen's promise of being kind -and indulgent to all her subjects, a strenuous -attempt was again made to carry the Occasional -Conformity Bill. At the suggestion of Mr. William -Bromley it was tacked to the Land Tax Bill, and -was so sent up to the Peers. The queen went to -the House of Lords to listen to the debate, where -she heard Tenison, the Archbishop of Canterbury, -honestly denounce the illiberal and persecuting -spirit which had suggested such a Bill. This -praiseworthy language was strongly echoed out -of doors by De Foe, whose pen was never idle -on such occasions, and the Court now seemed to -be convinced that it had gone too far. Godolphin, -who had on former occasions voted for it, now opposed -it, and the Lords threw it out by a majority -of one-and-twenty votes.</p> - -<p>The two Houses of Parliament continued fighting -out the remainder of the Session with the -case of the Aylesbury election. Encouraged by -the conduct of the Lords and the declaration of -Lord Chief Justice Holt—that if any messengers -of the Commons dared to enter Westminster Hall -to seize any lawyer who had pleaded in favour of -the Aylesbury electors, he would commit them to -Newgate,—five fresh electors sued the constables, -on the ground of their having been impeded in -the exercise of their franchise. The Commons -committed these five persons to Newgate, and -they thereupon applied to the Court of Queen's -Bench for a Habeas Corpus. The Court refused to -interfere. Two of the prisoners then petitioned -the queen to bring their case before her in Parliament. -The Commons immediately prayed the -queen not to interfere with their privileges by -granting a Writ of Error in this case. She replied -that she would not willingly do anything to give -them just cause of offence, but that this matter relating -to judicial proceedings was of such high importance -to the subject that she thought herself -bound to weigh and consider everything relating to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_560" id="Page_560">[560]</a></span> -it. The Commons, fearing from this answer that -the queen might be induced to grant the prisoners -a Writ of Error, sent and took them from Newgate, -and kept them in the custody of their -Serjeant-at-Arms, at the same time voting all the -lawyers who had pleaded in favour of the prisoners -guilty of a breach of privilege. The prisoners -then appealed to the Lords, and the Lords, after -seeking a conference with the Commons to arrive -at some conclusion as to the right in this case, but -with no result, appealed to the queen, declaring -that the Commons were assailing the birthright of -every subject, and violating Magna Charta by refusing -these citizens the right of appealing to a -court of justice; and they prayed her to give -orders for the immediate issue of the Writs of Error. -Her Majesty assured them that she would have -complied with their request, but that it was now -absolutely necessary to prorogue Parliament, and -therefore further proceedings, they would see, -must be useless. The Lords considered this as a -triumph, the queen's words implying that they had -right on their side, and thus equally implying a -censure on the Commons. In fact, the queen was -glad to get rid of the dilemma and of this troublesome -Tory Parliament at the same time. The -same day that the Lords waited on her she went -to their House and prorogued Parliament till the -1st of May, 1705; but on the 5th of April she -dissolved it by proclamation, and writs were -issued for calling a new one.</p> - -<p>Marlborough in 1705 went early to the Continent. -On the 13th of March he embarked for the -Hague. He had a splendid plan of operations for -this campaign on the Moselle, but he found, notwithstanding -his now grand reputation, the usual -obstacles to daring action in the Dutch phlegm. -Having conquered this, and obtained leave to -convey the troops to the Moselle, he was met by a -still more mortifying difficulty in the conduct of -the Prince of Baden, who was at the head of the -German contingents. This man had never been -cordial since the first successes of Marlborough. -He was consumed with a deadly jealousy of his -fame, and thought it no use fighting in company -with him, as Marlborough would be sure to get all -the honours. He therefore hung back from co-operation -in Marlborough's plan, pretending illness; -which, had the illness been real, should, at such a -crisis for his country, have induced him to delegate -the command of the forces for its defence to some -other general. To add to the difficulties of Marlborough, -the inferior French generals, Villeroi and -others, who had risen into prominence through the -interest of Madame de Maintenon and her priests -and Jesuits, were removed from this quarter, and -Villars, the most able commander now of the -French, sent instead. The intention was to besiege -Saar-Louis, but the wretched Prince of Baden -did not keep his engagement. He had advanced, -not with a strong army but only a small body -of Imperial troops, to Kreutznach, where he again -feigned illness, went off to the baths at Schlangenbad, -and left the troops in the command of the -Count Friez. The defection was so barefaced that -many began to suspect him of being corrupted -by the French; but he was really sick—of Marlborough's -renown.</p> - -<p>The duke, thus deceived, was unable to carry -out his enterprise, and fell back instead of attacking -Villars. In his contempt of the Prince of Baden, -before retreating he sent a trumpet to Villars, -saying, "Do me the justice to believe that my -retreat is entirely owing to the failure of the Prince -of Baden; but my esteem for you is still greater -than my resentment of his conduct." But though -forced to this mortifying expedient, Marlborough -saw that he could quickly vindicate his reputation -by uniting with the army of the Netherlands, and -carrying operations against the enemy there. -General Overkirk had not been able to stand -his ground. The French had invested and taken -Huy, and Villars had commenced the siege of -Liége. Marlborough marched to Treves, where he -called a council of war, and it was resolved to -drive Villars from the walls of Liége. On the -19th of June the army commenced its march, and -proceeded with such expedition that it passed the -Meuse on the 1st of July. Villars, on Marlborough's -approach, abandoned Liége and retired -to Tongres, and thence retreated behind his lines, -which extended to Marche aux Dames on the -Meuse, along the Mehaigne as far as Lenuève. -No sooner did Marlborough come up with Overkirk -than he determined to recover Huy, and -sent General Scholten, who reduced it in a few days. -To wipe out as quickly the impression of his retreat -from the Moselle, he despatched General Hompesch -to the States-General to demand permission to -attack the French lines, which was granted him.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_561.jpg" width="441" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_561big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Marlborough then detailed his plan of operation -in two successive councils of war, where it was -generally approved, but still opposed as rash by -some of the Dutch generals. The enemy had -manned his lines with a hundred battalions and -forty-six squadrons; the forces of the Confederates -were something more than that in amount; and -in order to weaken the enemy on the point where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_561" id="Page_561">[561]</a></span> -he contemplated his attack, the duke directed -Overkirk to make a feint, as though he were -about to attack the lines on the Mehaigne. The -ruse succeeded. The French weakened their lines -where Marlborough really contemplated the attack, -in order to strengthen them in the direction of -Namur. All being ready. Marlborough marched -in the night between the 17th and 18th of July, to -force the lines at Heyselem, the castle of Wauge, -and the villages of Wauge, Neerhespen, and Oostmalen. -This succeeded, and after some hard -fighting the duke extended his forces within a -portion of the French lines, capturing the Marquis -D'Alègre, Count Horne, a major-general, -two brigadier-generals, and many other officers, -besides ten cannon and numerous standards and -colours. In consequence of this defeat the Elector -of Bavaria and Marshal Villeroi retreated across -the Geete and the Dyle in all haste. Marlborough -marched after them, capturing twelve hundred -prisoners who could not keep up with the retreating -force, and on the 15th was at Mildert, whence he -marched the next day to Genappe, and thence to -Fischermont, driving in the enemy's post as he -advanced. He was now on ground destined to -become much more famous in our time. On -the 17th Overkirk had his headquarters at -Waterloo, the enemy lying in their front across -the roads to Brussels and Louvain, near the wood -of Soignies. Here Marlborough proposed to come -to a general engagement with them, but again -he was thwarted by the Dutch officers and -deputies, and most determinedly by General -Schlangenburg. The duke, indignant at this -dastardly obstruction of his operations, wrote very -plainly to the States-General, complaining of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_562" id="Page_562">[562]</a></span> -uselessness of pursuing the campaign if they had -yet no confidence in his prudence and military -talent. In order that the Dutch people should -know of his complaints, he took care to have the -letter published in the papers at the Hague, and -that similar complaints should reach his own Court. -These being made public, roused a storm of indignation -against the meddling Dutch field-deputies, -who presumed to justify their conduct to the -States-General in several letters. But the anger of -both England and Holland soon roused the States-General -to a sense of their folly. Hearing that -the queen was about to despatch the Earl of Pembroke, -the President of the Council, as Envoy -Extraordinary to the Hague, to remonstrate on -their suicidal conduct, the States-General hastened -to apologise to the duke, and to remove Schlangenburg -from his command. The opportunity, however, -of a decisive blow on the French had been -missed, and little was achieved this campaign.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the Spaniards were making a desperate -effort for the recovery of Gibraltar. -Marshal Tessé laid siege to it, whilst De Pointes -blockaded it by sea. These French officers pushed -on the siege with vigour, and the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt -sent a despatch to Lisbon, desiring -Sir John Leake to hasten to his assistance. -Sir John set sail at once with five ships of the -line and a body of troops, and on the 10th of -March came in sight of five ships of De Pointes, -who was evidently aware of him and getting out -of the way. Leake gave chase, took one, and -drove the rest on shore to the west of Marbella. -The rest of the French ships in the bay of Malaga -made the best of their way to Toulon. -Gibraltar being thus again open from the sea, -the Marquis de Tessé withdrew the greater part -of his forces, leaving only sufficient to maintain -the blockade on land.</p> - -<p>But a far more striking demonstration was -made from another quarter. This was made -on Valencia and Catalonia by the witty and -accomplished, and equally unscrupulous, Earl -of Peterborough, formerly known as Lord Mordaunt. -This dashing nobleman, become Earl of -Peterborough by the death of his uncle, was -despatched with reinforcements amounting to five -thousand soldiers and a strong fleet under command -of Sir Cloudesley Shovel. On the 20th of -June they arrived at Lisbon, where they were -joined by Sir John Leake and the Dutch Admiral -Allemonde. They proposed to put to sea with -eight-and-forty ships of the line, and cruise between -Cape Spartel and the Bay of Cadiz to -prevent the junction of the Toulon and Brest -fleets. But the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, who -had arrived from Gibraltar, assured them that -the people of Catalonia and Valencia were -strongly attached to King Charles, and only -required the presence of a sufficient force to -declare themselves. The adventure was just of -the kind to charm the active spirit of Lord -Peterborough. It was proposed that King Charles -should sail with them on board the fleet, and -that they should make a descent on Barcelona. -On the 11th of August they anchored in the Bay -of Altea, and issued a proclamation in the Spanish -language, and found that the people flocked in -to acknowledge King Charles. They took the -town of Denia and garrisoned it for Charles with -four hundred men under Major Ramos.</p> - -<p>Such was the enthusiasm of the inhabitants -that Peterborough proposed to make a forced -march right for Madrid at once, and set Charles -on the throne without further delay, declaring -that he was confident of taking the capital -by a <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">coup de main</i>; and there is little doubt but -he would have succeeded had he had the sole -command. But such daring projects, the flashes -of genius, only confound matter-of-fact men; the -plan was looked on as little short of madness, the -adventure was overruled, the fleet sailed, and on -the 22nd arrived in the bay of Barcelona. There -was a garrison of five thousand men within the -town and castle of Barcelona, and the English -force amounted to little more than six thousand. -But the inhabitants displayed the utmost loyalty -to the new king; they received him with acclamations, -and the English landed and invested the -town. Here again, however, the erratic genius -of Lord Peterborough startled more orthodox -commanders. By all the rules of war the town -ought to be taken first, and the castle afterwards; -but Peterborough saw that the castle commanded -the town, and must be continually inflicting -injury on them in the course of the siege. He -determined, therefore, not by the laws of war, -but of common sense, to take the castle first. -None but the brave Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt -held his view of the matter, and to him alone -did he, therefore, communicate his plans; but -he took a close survey of this strong castle -of Montjuich, convinced himself that it was not -so well garrisoned as was represented, and that it -might be taken by address and promptitude. -He instantly began to re-embark some of his -troops, as if about to abandon the enterprise, so -as to throw the Spaniards off their guard, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_563" id="Page_563">[563]</a></span> -then suddenly, on the night of the 3rd of December, -sent about fourteen hundred men by -two different routes to attack the castle. He -himself, accompanied by the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, -led the first of these bodies, General -Stanhope the other. It was not till about daybreak -that the earl made his attack on the outworks -of the castle, and established himself on a -platform with a few small field-pieces and mortars. -There they awaited the coming up of General -Stanhope; but he had missed his way, and did -not arrive in time. The governor of the castle, -seeing the small number of the assailants, made a -headlong sally from the castle, thinking to sweep -the rash detachment down the hill, but he found -himself mistaken; and whilst Lord Peterborough -was in close engagement with him, General Stanhope -came up, and the governor withdrew within -the walls. The English then began to throw -bombshells into the castle, and one of these -speedily ignited a magazine, and blew it up with -a tremendous explosion. The governor himself -was killed by it, and the garrison in consternation -surrendered.</p> - -<p>Lord Peterborough could now not only invest -the city without annoyance from the castle, but -could turn the guns of the castle on the Spaniards, -showing the correctness of his ideas in -opposition to the red-tape of war. He pursued -the siege with such effect that Velasquez, the -governor, agreed to surrender in four days if he -did not receive relief in that time; but he was -not able to hold out even these four days, for the -country swarmed with Miquelets, a sort of lawless -Catalans, who declared for the Austrians. Numbers -of these, who had assisted the seamen in -throwing bombs from the ketches into the city, -and in other operations against the town, now -clambered over the walls, and began plundering -the inhabitants and violating the women. The -governor and his troops were unable to put them -down. They threatened to throw open the gates -and let in whole hordes of the like rabble, to -massacre the people and sack the place. Velasquez -was therefore compelled, before the expiration -of the four days, to call in the assistance of the -Earl of Peterborough himself, who rode into the -city at the head of a body of troops with -General Stanhope and other officers, and amid -the random firing of the Miquelets, by his commands -and by the occasional use of the flat of -their swords, the marauders were reduced to quiet. -Having quelled this frightful riot, Lord Peterborough -and his attendants again quitted the -city, and awaited the rest of the four days, much -to the astonishment of the Spaniards, who had -been taught to look on the English as a species -of lawless and heretical barbarians. Barcelona surrendered -on the day appointed, and immediately -the whole of Catalonia, and every fortified place -in it, except Rosas, declared for Charles.</p> - -<p>The Earl of Peterborough did not, however, -pause in his movements. He marched for San -Matteo, at a distance of thirty leagues, to raise -the siege carried on by the forces of King Philip. -Through roads such as Spain has always been -famous for down to the campaigns of Wellington, -he plunged and dragged along his cannon, appeared -before San Matteo in a week, raised the siege, and -again set forward towards the city of Valencia, -which he speedily reduced, and took in it the -Marquis de Villagarcia, the Viceroy, and the -Archbishop. Soon every place in Catalonia and -Valencia acknowledged the authority of King -Charles except the seaport of Alicante. The -whole campaign resembled more a piece of romance -than a reality. The earl's own officers -could scarcely believe their senses; and as for -the Spaniards, they said he had a devil in him, -and was master of all magic and necromancy.</p> - -<p>When the Parliament met on the 25th of -October, it was found that a strong majority of -Whigs had been returned; and, in the struggle -for the Speakership, the nominee of the Tories, -Mr. Bromley, was rejected, and the nominee -of the Whigs, Mr. John Smith, chosen by a -majority of two hundred and fifty to two hundred -and seven. The speech of the queen was -said to be the composition of the new Lord -Keeper, Cowper, but to have undergone considerable -revision in the Council. In this the Whig -policy shone strongly forth. She expressed -her determination to continue the war till the -Bourbon prince was driven from the throne of -Spain, and the Austrian prince established.</p> - -<p>In the House of Lords, Lord Haversham proposed -that, for the security of the Protestant -succession and of the Church, the House should -address the queen, praying her to invite over the -heir-presumptive to the Crown—that is, the -Electress Sophia of Hanover. The Tories trusted -that if they could get over the Princess Sophia -and her son George, they would be able to play -off one Court against the other; that, though the -Whigs had got possession of the queen, they -should then be able to ingratiate themselves -with her successor, and thus prepare to supersede -the Whigs altogether in the new reign. At the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_564" id="Page_564">[564]</a></span> -same time they should be supporting the popular -feeling regarding the Protestant succession, and -annoying the queen, who had dismissed them from -her favour. There had been for some time a -party called the Hanoverian Tories, who were -bent on securing their interest with that -House; and the Jacobites joined this party, -hoping, under cover of a pretence for the Protestant -succession, they might yet find an occasion -for promoting the hopes of the Pretender. But -this was a hazardous policy for both parties; for, -as Anne was mortally jealous of her successor, -as is generally the case with princes, the Tories -only more completely lost all chance of regaining -her favour; and as the Electress Sophia, knowing -Anne's feeling, was obliged to disclaim any wish -to come to England during the queen's life, she -was thus, in fact, obliged to disown the efforts -of the Tories. Sophia, indeed, wrote to the -queen herself, informing her that an agent from -the discontented party in England had come to -her Court to invite herself and the Electoral -Prince, her son George, into England, assuring -them that a party there was ready to propose -it; but that she had caused the said person to be -acquainted that she judged the message to come -from such as were enemies to her family, that -she would never hearken to such a proposal but -when it came from the queen herself, and that -she had discouraged the attempt so much that it -was believed nothing more would be heard of it.</p> - -<p>The Tories thought that they had now placed -the Whigs on the horns of a dilemma; that they -must either offend the House of Hanover and -the popular feeling of the country by opposing -the motion, or lose the favour of the queen by -conceding this specious measure; for Anne would -have resented above everything the slightest suggestion -that her successors were waiting for her -throne in England, and courted by whichever -party was in opposition.</p> - -<p>But the Whigs had weighed all the dangers -of the dilemma, and were prepared with special -remedies for them. So far did they profess themselves -from wishing to weaken the certainty of -the Protestant succession that, without adopting -the very dubious measure recommended, they proposed -to appoint a regency to hold the government, -in case of the death of her present Majesty, -for the successor, till he or she should arrive in -this country. By this adroit measure the queen -was spared the annoyance of seeing her successor -converted into a rival, and yet the prospects of -this succession were strengthened. Accordingly, a -Bill was brought in, appointing the seven persons -who should at the time possess the offices of Archbishop -of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor or Lord -Keeper, Lord Treasurer, Lord President, Lord -Privy Seal, Lord High Admiral, and Lord Chief -Justice of the Queen's Bench, as a regency, who -should proclaim the next successor throughout the -kingdom, and join with a certain number of persons, -named also regents by the successor, in three lists, -to be sealed up and deposited with the Archbishop -of Canterbury, the Lord Keeper, and the Minister -residentiary at Hanover. These regents were to -conduct the administration; and the last Parliament, -even though dissolved, should reassemble -and continue to sit for six months after the decease -of her Majesty. This Bill, notwithstanding the -opposition of the Tories, was carried through both -Houses.</p> - -<p>To prevent any unpleasant feeling at Hanover, -the Whigs immediately passed another Bill, -naturalising not only the Princess Sophia but all -her descendants, wheresoever or whensoever born, -and they sent over to Hanover the Earl of Halifax, -with letters from Lord Somers, Lord Cowper, -and other leading Whigs, but, above all, from the -Duke of Marlborough, and conveying to the Prince -George the Order of the Garter from the queen. -By these measures the Whigs completely turned the -Tory stratagems against that party itself, whose -attempts to damage them they thus rendered the -means of a perfect triumph, not only retaining the -warm favour of the queen, but establishing an -alliance with the House of Hanover which, with -few interruptions, continued to the commencement -of the reign of George III.</p> - -<p>On the 19th of March, 1706, the queen prorogued -Parliament till the 21st of May. Towards -the end of April Marlborough proceeded to Holland -to commence the campaign. The severe -defeat which the troops of Louis had received in -Germany the last year nerved him to fresh exertions. -He had little fear of dealing with the -Prince of Baden on the Upper Rhine; but Marlborough -in the Netherlands, Eugene in Savoy, -and Peterborough in Spain, demanded his whole -vigour, and he determined to act with decision on -all points, and especially against Marlborough. -He heard that the Danes and Prussians had not -yet joined the Confederate army, and he ordered -Villeroi to attack it before these reinforcements -could come up. In consequence of this order -Villeroi and the Elector of Bavaria—who, in spite -of his severe chastisement, still adhered to France -against his own country—passed the Dyle, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_565" id="Page_565">[565]</a></span> -posted themselves, on the 19th of May, at Tirlemont. -They were there joined by the cavalry -under Marshal Marsin, and encamped between -Tirlemont and Judoigne.</p> - -<p>Marlborough assembled his army between Borschloen -and Groswaren, and found it to consist of -seventy-four battalions of foot, and one hundred -and twenty-three squadrons of horse and dragoons, -well supplied with artillery and pontoons. Hearing -that the French were advancing towards him, -Marlborough, being now joined by the Danes, set -forward and appeared in eight columns before the -village of Ramillies. The French, who had already -taken possession of Ramillies, and strongly fortified -it, entrenched themselves in a strong camp, the -right extending to the Mehaigne, and covered by -the villages of Tavière and Ramillies, and their -left to Autre-Église. The duke posted his right -wing near Foltz, on the brook of Yause, and his -left at the village of Franquenies. Villeroi had -committed the capital blunder of leaving his wings -sundered by impassable ground, so that they could -not act in support of each other.</p> - -<p>It was about half-past one o'clock when Marlborough -ordered General Schulz, with twelve -battalions, to attack Ramillies, whilst Overkirk -attacked Autre-Église on the left. Schulz, who -had twenty pieces of cannon, opened fire on -Ramillies, but met with so warm a reception -that he had great difficulty in maintaining his -ground; but Marlborough supported him with -column after column, and the fight there was -raging terribly. In the midst of it Marlborough, -seeing some of the men driven from the guns, -galloped up to encourage them. He was recognised -by the French, who made a dash and surrounded -him. He broke through them, however, -by a desperate effort; but in endeavouring to regain -his own ranks, his horse fell in leaping a -ditch, and the duke was thrown. As the French -were hotly upon them, another moment and he -must have been taken, but Captain Molesworth, -one of his aide-de-camps, mounted him on his own -horse. As he was in the act of springing into the -saddle, a cannon-ball took off the head of Colonel -Brenfield, who held the stirrup; but Marlborough -himself escaped, and regained the main body unhurt, -except for a few bruises. Meanwhile Overkirk, -with the Dutch guards, and by help of the -Danes, had succeeded in driving the French from the -enclosures of Autre-Église, cutting off the communication -between the two wings, and driving numbers -of the French into the Mehaigne. The Bavarians -under the Elector fought bravely; more so than -the French, for these were become dispirited by -their repeated defeats, and especially the rout of -Blenheim. Their veteran troops were extremely -reduced in numbers; and Louis, to fill the ranks, -had forced the unwilling peasantry into the army, -sending them even in chains to the campaign to -prevent them from deserting on the way. Such -troops could not do much against the victorious -Allies under a general like Marlborough.</p> - -<p>On Marlborough regaining the ranks, he led up -the attack with fresh vigour. The village of Ramillies -was carried and most of the French who defended -it were cut to pieces. The Prince of Würtemberg -and the Prince of Hesse-Cassel got into -the rear of Villeroi, and the panic became general. -The infantry began to retreat—at first in tolerable -order, protected by the cavalry, which were posted -between Ossuz and Autre-Église; but the English -cavalry, under General Wyndham and General -Ward, having managed to get over a rivulet which -separated them, fell on them with such spirit near -the farm of Chaintrain that they were thrown -into confusion. The Bavarians suffered severely, -and the Elector had a narrow escape for his life. -Villeroi himself with difficulty made good his -flight. In the midst of the rout a narrow pass, -through which the French were flying, suddenly -became obstructed by the breakdown of some baggage -waggons. The cavalry, pressing on in their -rear, then made terrible havoc amongst them. -The flight was continued all the way to Judoigne, -and Lord Orkney, with some squadrons of light -horse, never drew bit till they had chased the -fugitives into Louvain, nearly seven leagues from -Ramillies. The baggage, cannon, colours—everything -fell into the hands of the Allies. There were -one hundred and twenty colours, six hundred -officers, and six thousand private soldiers captured.</p> - -<p>Besides these, it was calculated that eight -thousand were killed and wounded. Of the Allies, -Marlborough declared that only one thousand fell, -and two thousand were wounded. The Prince -Maximilian of Bavaria and Prince Monbason were -among the slain; amongst the prisoners were -Major-Generals Palavicini and Mezières, the Marquises -De Bar, De Nonant, and De la Baume (the -son of Marshal Tallard), Montmorency (nephew of -the Duke of Luxemburg), and many other persons -of rank.</p> - -<p>Villeroi had fled to Brussels, but Marlborough -was soon at the gates; the French general took -his departure, and Marlborough entered that -city in triumph, amid the acclamations of the -people. The whole of the Spanish Netherlands<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_566" id="Page_566">[566]</a></span> -was recovered by the battle of Ramillies; Louvain, -Mechlin, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, threw -open their gates. Ostend, Menin, Dendermonde, -and Ath, made some resistance, but successively -surrendered and acknowledged King Charles. The -delighted Emperor and King Charles offered to -make Marlborough Governor of Flanders, which -he willingly accepted, but was compelled to relinquish -the honour by the indomitable jealousy of the -Dutch. At the beginning of November Marlborough -sent his army into winter quarters—the -English at Ghent, the Danes at Bruges, and the -Germans along the River Demer—and betook himself -to the Hague, to hold consultations on the plan -of the next campaign, and to receive proposals from -Louis, which, however, ended in nothing.</p> - -<p>On the heels of Ramillies came the tidings of a -still less expected defeat in Savoy. The Duke de -Vendôme was recalled from Piedmont after the -defeat of Ramillies to supersede Villeroi, and -the Duke of Orleans, under the direction of -Marshal de Marsin, was sent to Piedmont, with -orders to besiege Turin. This siege was carried -on through the summer; and when the Duke of -Savoy had refused all offers of accommodation -made by France, the Duke de Feuillade, having -completed his lines of circumvallation, made the -last offer of courtesy to the impassive Duke of -Savoy. Eugene was beyond the Adige, and knew -the formidable obstacles in his path; but at the -call of the distressed duke he forced his way in -the face of every opposition, crossed river after -river, threaded his way between the lines, and at -length formed a junction with the Duke of -Savoy. After this union they advanced undauntedly -on Turin, and reached its vicinity on -the 13th of August. They crossed the Po between -Montcalier and Cavignan, and on the 5th of -September captured a convoy of eight hundred -loaded mules. They then crossed the Doria, and -encamped with their right wing on that river, and -their left on the Stura. The entrenchments of -the foe had the convent of the Capuchins, called -Notre Dame, in their centre opposite. The Duke -of Orleans proposed to march out of their entrenchments -and attack the army of Savoy, but -Marsin showed him an order from the Court -of Versailles forbidding so much hazard. The -Prince did not leave them long to deliberate, -but attacked them in their entrenchments, he -himself leading up the left wing, and the duke -the centre. After some hard fighting both commanders -forced the entrenchments, and drove -the French in precipitation over the Po. The -Savoyards had about three thousand men killed -and wounded. Prince Eugene pursued the -Duke of Orleans and the Duke de Feuillade to -the very borders of Dauphiné. Unbroken gloom -now hung over Versailles. Louis affected to bear -his reverses with indifference; but the violent -restraint he put upon himself so much endangered -his health that his physicians were compelled -frequently to bleed him. The only gleams of -comfort which broke through the ominous silence -of the gay Court of France were afforded by an -advantage gained by the Count de Medavi-Grancey -over the Prince of Hesse-Cassel in the neighbourhood -of Castiglione, and the forcing him to the -Adige, with a loss of two thousand men. Besides -this, the mismanagement of King Charles in -Spain, which prevented the success of the Earl -of Peterborough, was calculated in some degree -to solace the confounded French.</p> - -<p>King Philip had made a great effort to recover -the city of Barcelona. Early in the spring he -appeared before that city with a considerable -army of French and Spaniards, and invested it. -He was supported by a fleet under the Count de -Toulouse, and succeeded in re-taking the castle of -Montjuich; and King Charles, who was cooped -up in the town, sent urgent despatches to Lord -Peterborough at Valencia to come to his assistance. -Peterborough immediately marched to his -relief with two thousand men, but found Philip's -besieging army too numerous to engage with. -On the 8th of May, however, Sir John Leake, -who had sailed from Lisbon with thirty ships of -the line, showed himself in the bay, and the Count -de Toulouse sailed away for Toulon without -attempting to strike a blow; and Philip no -sooner saw himself abandoned by the French fleet, -and in danger of an attack from both land and -sea, than he made as hasty a retreat, leaving his -tents with the sick and wounded behind him.</p> - -<p>Philip had recalled to his service the Duke of -Berwick, who had only been dismissed because -he was no favourite with the queen, and he -was posted on the Portuguese frontiers. But, notwithstanding -this, the Earl of Galway crossed these -frontiers with an army of twenty thousand men, -took Alcantara, and made prisoners of the -garrison, numbering four thousand men. He -then advanced on Madrid, Lord Peterborough -engaging to meet him, with King Charles, at the -capital. At his approach Philip fled with his -queen to Burgos, carrying with him all the -valuables he could convey, and destroying what -he could not take. About the end of June the Earl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_567" id="Page_567">[567]</a></span> -of Galway entered Madrid without resistance; and -had the Earl of Peterborough, with the king, met -him, according to agreement, the war would have -been at an end. But Peterborough, who, had he -been at liberty to act as he pleased, would have soon -been in Madrid, was sorely hampered by the king. -Charles had reached Saragossa, and been acknowledged -sovereign of Aragon and Valencia; but -he was afraid of advancing towards the capital, -lest they should be cut off by the enemy. In -vain did Peterborough urge and entreat, and -show the necessity of despatch to meet Galway. -The wretched monarch had made his chief councillor -the Prince of Lichtenstein, who had none -of the brilliant dashing qualities of Peterborough, -and against that dead German weight Peterborough -strove in vain. The timid stupid king -was immovable, till Galway—finding that he was -unsupported in Madrid, and that the Spaniards -looked with indignation on an army of Portuguese -with a heretic general in possession of their -capital—took his departure. Meanwhile King -Philip and the Duke of Berwick had met, and, -on the frontier, had received fresh reinforcements -from France. They therefore returned and -availed themselves of Galway's unfortunate position -to recover the capital. Galway evacuated -the place on their approach without a blow, and -retreated towards Aragon to form a junction -with Peterborough and the king. On the 6th of -August Charles and Peterborough came up with -Galway at Guadalaxara; but, notwithstanding -this increase of force, nothing could persuade the -dastard Austrian prince to advance. Peterborough, -who had all the fiery temperament of -a hero of romance, instead of the patience of -Marlborough, which had so often triumphed -over German pride and Dutch phlegm, lost all -patience and gave up the enterprise. He returned -to the coast of the Mediterranean, and -with him went all chance of Charles of Austria -securing the Spanish throne. Peterborough set -sail with a squadron to endeavour to aid the -Duke of Savoy, the victory of Eugene not yet -having occurred.</p> - -<p>When Peterborough was gone, nothing but -distraction raged in the camp of the confederates. -Lord Galway could assert no supreme command -against the Prince of Lichtenstein and the Portuguese -general; every one was at variance with -his fellow-officer, and all were disgusted with the -Austrian counsellors of Charles, and with his -inert and hopeless character. The Duke of -Berwick, availing himself of their divisions, -marched down upon them, and they made a hasty -retreat towards Valencia and the mountains of -New Castile. After incredible sufferings they -reached Requena, the last town of New Castile, -where, considering themselves secure, from the -nature of the country, they went into winter -quarters at the end of September, and Charles -and his attendants proceeded to Valencia, where -he wrote to the Duke of Marlborough, recounting -his misfortunes—the result of his own incapacity—and -vehemently entreating for fresh forces and -supplies from England and Holland. Could a -large army have been sent under the Earl of -Peterborough, with authority for his undisputed -command, there is no doubt but that he would -very speedily have cleared Spain of the French; -but against this was supposed to operate the -influence of Marlborough himself, who did not -wish to see another English general raised to a -rivalry of glory with him.</p> - -<p>The victory of Prince Eugene rendering the -presence of the Earl of Peterborough unnecessary -in Piedmont, he made a second voyage to Genoa, -to induce that republic to lend King Charles and -his Allies money for his establishment. The -English fleet in the Mediterranean continued -sailing from place to place with six or eight -thousand men on board, seeking some occasion -to annoy the coast of France, whilst these men -might have been of the utmost service in Spain if -commanded by Peterborough. As it was, half -of them are said to have perished in this objectless -cruise; and another squadron under the Earl -of Rivers, sent to join Lord Galway at the siege -of Alicante, suffered as much. In short, no -campaign ever appears to have combined more -mismanagement than this in Spain, including the -movements of the fleet to support it.</p> - -<p>But whilst these various fortunes of war were -taking place on the Continent, a victory greater -than that of Ramillies or of Turin was achieved at -home. This was the accomplishment of the Union -of the two kingdoms of Scotland and England, -and with it the extinction of those heartburnings -and embarrassments which were continually -arising out of the jealousies of Scotland of the -overbearing power of England. In the last Session -nothing appeared farther off; nay, a Bill—the -Bill of Security—had passed, which threatened -to erect again two thrones in the island, with all -the rivalries and bloodshed of former years. The -provisions of this Bill, which practically excluded -the House of Hanover from the throne of Scotland, -were much resented in England, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_568" id="Page_568">[568]</a></span> -two nations seemed to be on the brink of war. -The Commissioners, however, appointed by England -and Scotland to decide the terms of this -agreement, met on the 16th of April in the -council-chamber of the Cockpit, near Whitehall, -and continued their labours till the 22nd of July, -when they had agreed upon the conditions, and on -that day mutually signed them. In discussing -the proposed plans of this Union, the Scots were -found to incline to a federal Union, like that of -Holland; but the English were resolved that, if -made at all, the Union of the two kingdoms should -be complete—a perfect incorporation of Scotland, -so that there should be for ever an end of the -troubles and annoyances of the Scottish Parliament. -The last reign, and the present, had -shown too clearly the inconveniences of that -Parliament, the means it gave to disaffected -men—and especially to such as were disappointed -of their ambitious aims by the Government—of -fanning up feuds and stopping the business of -the country; nay, of threatening, as of late, to -establish again their own independent state, and -their own king. Therefore the English Commissioners -would listen to nothing but a thorough -amalgamation. The Lord Keeper proposed that -the two kingdoms should for ever be united into -one realm by the name of Great Britain; that -this realm should be represented by one and -the same Parliament; and that the succession -to the Crown should be such as was already -determined by the Act of Parliament passed in -the late reign, called "An Act for the Further -Limitation of the Crown and the Better Securing -the Rights and Liberties of the Subject." The -Scots, whilst seeming to comply with this proposal, -endeavoured to introduce various clauses -about the rights and privileges of the people of -Scotland in England, and of the English in Scotland, -and that the Crown should be established -in the same persons as those mentioned in the -Act referred to; but the Lord Keeper declined to -enter into any consideration of any proposals, but -simply for a full and complete Union of the two -kingdoms into one, with the same universal rights, -declaring that nothing but such solidification -would effect perfect and lasting harmony. The -Scots gave way, and the terms agreed upon were -mutually signed on the 22nd of July, 1706.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_568.jpg" width="500" height="252" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>GREAT SEAL OF ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The conditions of this famous treaty were—That -the succession to the throne of Great Britain -should be vested in the Princess Sophia and her -heirs, according to the Act passed by the English -Parliament for that purpose; that there should be -but one Parliament for the whole kingdom; that -all the subjects should enjoy the same rights and -privileges; that they should have the same allowances, -encouragements, and drawbacks, and lie -under the same regulations and restrictions as to -trade and commerce; that Scotland should not be -charged with the temporary duties on certain commodities; -that the sum of three hundred and -ninety-eight thousand one hundred and three -pounds should be granted to the Scots as an -equivalent for such parts of the customs and excise -charged upon that kingdom in consequence of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_569" id="Page_569">[569]</a></span> -Union as would be applicable to the payment of -the debts of England, according to the proportions -which the customs and excise of Scotland bore to -those of England; that as the revenues of Scotland -should increase, a fair equivalent should be -allowed for such proportion of the said increase as -should be applicable to payment of the debts of -England; that the sums to be thus paid should be -employed in reducing the coin of Scotland to the -standard and value of the English coin, in paying -off the capital, stock, and interest due to the proprietors -of the African Company, which should be -immediately dissolved, in discharging all the -public debts of the kingdom of Scotland, in promoting -and encouraging manufactures and fisheries -under the direction of Commissioners to be appointed -by her Majesty, and accountable to the -Parliament of Great Britain; that the laws relating -to public right, policy, and civil government, -should be alike throughout the whole -kingdom; that no alteration should be made in -laws which concerned private right, except for the -evident benefit of the people of Scotland; that the -Court of Session and all other courts of judicature -in Scotland should remain as constituted, with all -authority and privileges as before the Union, -subject only to the power of the Parliament of -the United Kingdom; that all heritable offices, -superiorities, heritable jurisdictions, offices for life, -and jurisdictions for life, should remain the same -as rights and properties as then enjoyed by the -laws of Scotland; that the rights and privileges of -the royal boroughs in Scotland were to remain -unaltered; that Scotland should be represented in -Parliament by sixteen peers and forty-five commoners, -to be elected in a manner to be settled by -the present Parliament of Scotland; that all peers -of Scotland and the successors to their honours and -dignities should, from and after the Union, take -rank and precedency next and immediately after -the English peers of the like orders and degrees at -the time of the Union, and before all English peers -of the like orders and degrees as should be created -after the Union; that they should be tried as peers -of Great Britain, and enjoy all privileges of peers -of England, except that of sitting in the House of -Lords and the privileges depending thereon, and -particularly the right of sitting upon the trials of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_570" id="Page_570">[570]</a></span> -peers; that the crown, sceptre, and sword of State, -the records of Parliament, and all other records, -rolls, and registers whatsoever, should still remain -as they were in Scotland; that all laws and -statutes in either kingdom inconsistent with these -terms of Union should cease and be declared void -by the Parliaments of the two kingdoms.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_569.jpg" width="560" height="416" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE PEOPLE OF EDINBURGH ESCORTING THE DUKE OF HAMILTON TO HOLYROOD PALACE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_569big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>But though the Articles of the Union had received -the sanction of the Commissioners, they had -yet to receive that of the Scottish and English -Parliaments, and no sooner did the matter come -before the Scottish one than a storm broke out in -Scotland against the Union, which convulsed the -whole country, and threatened to annihilate the -measure. The Jacobites and discontented, because -unemployed, nobles set to work in every direction -to operate on the national pride, telling the people -they would be reduced to insignificance and to -slavery to the proud and overbearing English, and -arousing the <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">odium theologicum</i> by representing -that no sooner would the Union be complete than -the English hierarchy would, through the English -Parliament, put down the Presbyterian religion -and set up Episcopacy again, and that the small -minority of Scottish members in each House would -be unable to prevent it.</p> - -<p>On the 3rd of October the Duke of Queensberry, -as Lord Commissioner for the queen, opened the -last Session of the Scottish Parliament. Queensberry, -who with the Earl of Stair, had been on the -Commission, and had laboured hard to bring it -to a satisfactory issue, now laid the Treaty before -the Parliament, expressing his conviction that -the queen would have it carried out with the -utmost impartiality and care for the rights of all -her subjects. He read a letter from Anne, assuring -them that the only way to secure their -present and future happiness, and to disappoint -the designs of their enemies and her Majesty's, -who would do all in their power to prevent or delay -the Union, was to adopt it with as little delay as -possible. The Commissioner then said, to appease -any fears on account of the Kirk, that not only -were the laws already in existence for its security -maintained, but that he was empowered to consent -to anything which they should think necessary for -that object. He then read the Treaty, and it was -ordered to be printed, and put into the hands of -all the members of Parliament. No sooner were -the printed copies in the hands of the public than -the tempest broke. The Dukes of Athol and of -Hamilton, the Lords Annandale and Belhaven, -and other Jacobites, represented that the project -was most injurious and disgraceful to Scotland; -that it had at one blow destroyed the independence -and dignity of the kingdom, which for two thousand -years had defended her liberties against all the -armies and intrigues of England; that now it was -delivered over by these traitors, the Commissioners, -bound hand and foot, to the English; that the few -members who were to represent Scotland in the -English Parliament would be just so many slaves -or machines, and have no influence whatever; that -all Scotland did, by this arrangement, but send -one more member to the House of Commons than -Cornwall, a single county of England; and that the -Scots must expect to see their sacred Kirk again -ridden over rough-shod by the English troopers, -and the priests of Baal installed in their pulpits.</p> - -<p>Defoe, who had the curiosity to go to Scotland -and watch the circumstances attending the -adoption of this great measure, has left us a very -lively account of the fury to which the people were -worked up by these representations. Mobs paraded -the streets of Edinburgh, crying that they "were -Scotsmen, and would be Scotsmen still." They -hooted, hissed, and pursued all whom they -knew to be friendly to the Treaty, and there was -little safety for them in the streets. "Parties," he -says, "whose interests and principles differed as -much as light and darkness, who were contrary in -opinion, and as far asunder in everything as the -poles, seemed to draw together here. It was the -most monstrous sight in the world to see the -Jacobite and the Presbyterian, the persecuting prelatic -Nonjuror and the Cameronian, the Papist and -the Reformed Protestant, parley together, join -interests, and concert measures together; to see the -Jacobites at Glasgow huzzahing the mob, and encouraging -them to have a care of the Church; the -high-flying Episcopal Dissenter crying out the -overture was not a sufficient security for the -Kirk."</p> - -<p>From the 3rd of October, when the Parliament -opened, to the 1st of November, the fury of the -people continued to increase, and the utmost was -done to rouse the old Cameronian spirit in the -West of Scotland by alarming rumours of the intention -of England to restore Episcopacy by force. -The whole country was in a flame. Under such -circumstances the Articles of the Treaty had to be -discussed in the Scottish Parliament. The opponents -did not venture to denounce any Union at all, -but they insisted that it ought only to be a federal -one, by which they contended Scotland would still, -whilst co-operating with England in everything -necessary for the good of the realm at large, maintain -her ancient dignity, retain her Parliament,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_571" id="Page_571">[571]</a></span> -her constitution, and ancient sovereignty. When -they found themselves in a minority even on this -point they contended that it was not in the power -of Parliament to settle so momentous a question; -that the Session ought to be adjourned for a short -time, in order that members might go down to -their constituents, and thus learn what was really -the mind of the nation. Failing in this, they exerted -themselves to get a host of petitions sent up -from the boroughs, claiming to have a right on the -part of the constituents to instruct and limit their -representatives, and warning them, above all things, -to go no further than a federal Union.</p> - -<p>In order to lead to a popular demonstration, the -opponents moved that there should be a day set -apart for public prayer and fast, therein seeking -the will of God as to the Union. The Parliament -did not oppose this, and the 18th of October was -settled for this purpose; but it passed off very well -both in town and country, and the incendiaries -were disappointed. Another mode of overawing -the Parliament was then resorted to. Rumours -were set afloat that the people would turn out all -together, and come to the Parliament House and -cry, "No Union!" They would seize on the -regalia, and carry them to the castle for safety. -And in fact a great mob followed the Duke of -Hamilton, who was carried to and from the House -in a chair, owing to some temporary lameness; but -the Guards stopped them at the gates of Holyrood, -whereupon they declared that they would return -the next day a thousand times stronger, and pull -the traitors out of their Houses, and so put an -end to the Union in their own way. And the -next day, the 23rd of October, they did assemble -in dense crowds, filling the Parliament Close, and -crowding the door, so that members had much -difficulty in getting out at the close of the sitting. -As soon as the Duke of Hamilton entered -his chair, they raised loud hurrahs, and followed -his chair in a body. But the alarm was given, a -troop of soldiers appeared, cleared the street, and -seized half a dozen of the ringleaders. More -soldiers were obliged to be called out, and a -rumour being abroad that a thousand seamen -were coming up from Leith to join the rioters, the -City Guard was marched into the Parliament -Close, and took possession of all the avenues. -A battalion of Guards was also stationed at the -palace, the garrison in the castle was kept in -readiness for action, and a troop of dragoons -accompanied the Ministers wherever they went.</p> - -<p>Defeated in their object of overawing the Parliament, -the opposition now cried mightily that -the Parliament was overawed by soldiers, and -that the Treaty was being rammed down the -throat of the public by bayonets; that this was -the beginning of that slavery to which the -country was about to be reduced. But Queensberry -and his friends replied that there was -much greater danger of coercion from an ignorant -and violent mob than from the orderly soldiery, -who made no attempt whatever to influence the -deliberations. Every Article indeed was resisted -<em>seriatim</em>. Hamilton, Athol, Fletcher of Saltoun, -Belhaven, were vehement and persevering in -their opposition; but still, with some modifications, -the Articles were carried one after another. In -the midst of the contention Hamilton was confounded -by receiving a letter from Lord Middleton, -at the Court of St. Germains, desiring, -in the name of the Pretender, that the opposition -to the Union should cease; for that his Grace (the -Pretender) had it much at heart to give his -sister this proof of his ready compliance with -her wishes, nothing doubting but that he should -one day have it in his power to restore Scotland -to its ancient weight and independence. Hamilton -was desired to keep this matter, however, a -profound secret, as the knowledge of it at this -time might greatly prejudice the cause and the -interests of his master both in Scotland and -England. Hamilton was thus thoroughly paralysed -in his opposition, and at the same time -was in the awkward position of not being able -to explain his sudden subsidence into inaction.</p> - -<p>On the other hand, the English Government -saw the advantage of distributing a liberal sum -of money amongst the patriots of Scotland; and -the grossest bribery and corruption were unblushingly -resorted to. Twenty thousand pounds were -sent down for this purpose, and the passage of the -Union aided by a still more profuse distribution of -promises of places, honours, and of compensation to -those who had been sufferers in the Darien scheme. -By these means the opposition was sufficiently -soothed down to enable the Ministers to carry -the Treaty by a majority of one hundred and -ten. An Act was prepared for regulating the -election of the sixteen peers and forty-five commoners -to represent Scotland in the British -Parliament; and on the 25th of the following -March, 1707, the Scottish Parliament suspended its -sittings. Amongst those who contributed mainly -to the carrying of this great measure, and that -against an opposition which at one time appeared -likely to sweep everything before it, were the Dukes -of Queensberry and Argyll, the Earls of Montrose,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_572" id="Page_572">[572]</a></span> -Seafield, and Stair, assisted by the Earls of Roxburgh -and Marchmont, who had come over from -the opposite party through promises of favour -and distinction.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_572.jpg" width="560" height="457" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>COSTUMES OF THE REIGN OF ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_572big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>So ended the year 1706; and the English Parliament -was informed by the queen, on the 28th -of January, 1707, that the Articles of the Treaty, -with some alterations and additions, were agreed -upon by the Scottish Parliament, and should -now be laid before them. She said, "You have -now an opportunity before you of putting the -last hand to a happy Union of the two -kingdoms, which, I hope, will be a lasting blessing -to the whole island, a great addition to its -wealth and power, and a firm security to the -Protestant religion. The advantages which will -accrue to us all from a Union are so apparent that -I will add no more but that I will look upon -it as a particular happiness if this great work, -which has been so often attempted without -success, can be brought to perfection in my reign."</p> - -<p>But the Tories did not mean to let it pass -without a sharp attack. They saw the immense -accession of strength which the Whigs, the authors -of the measure under King William, would obtain -from it. Seymour and others denounced it, not -merely with vehemence, but with indecency. The -High Churchmen took particular offence at Presbytery -being established in Scotland, and insisted -much on the contradiction of maintaining one -religion in Scotland and another in England, and -the scandal of the queen, who was a Churchwoman, -being sworn to maintain Presbyterianism -in opposition to it. The Lords Grey, North, -Stowell, Rochester, Howard, Leigh, and Guildford, -protested against the low rate of the land-tax -charged in Scotland, complaining, with great -reason, that it was fixed at only forty-eight -thousand pounds, which was never to be increased, -however the value of property might rise in that -country; and Lord Nottingham said that it was -highly unreasonable that the Scots, who were by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_573" id="Page_573">[573]</a></span> -the Treaty let into all the branches of the English -trade, and paid so little towards the expense of -the government, should, moreover, have such a -round sum by way of equivalent. The Lords -North, Grey, Guernsey, Granville, Abingdon, -and others, supported that view.</p> - -<p>But the discussions on the various Articles were -cut short by a clever stratagem adopted by -Government in the House of Commons. There, -as the same arguments were being urged, and Sir -John Packington was declaring that this forced -incorporation, carried against the Scottish people -by corruption and bribery within doors, by force -and violence without, was like marrying a woman -against her consent, Sir Simon Harcourt, the -Solicitor-General, introduced a Bill of ratification, -in which he enumerated the various Articles in -the preamble, together with the Acts made in -both Parliaments for the security of the two -Churches, and, in conclusion, wound up with a -single clause, by which the whole was ratified -and enacted into a law. The Opposition was thus -taken by surprise. They had not objected to the -recital of the Articles, which was a bare matter of -fact; and when they found themselves called upon -to argue merely on the concluding and ratifying -clause, they were thrown out of their concerted -plan of action of arguing on each point in -detail, and lost their presence of mind. The -Whigs, on the other hand, pressed the voting on -the clause of ratification with such vehemence -that it was carried by a majority of one hundred -and fourteen before the Opposition could recover -from their surprise, occasioned by the novel structure -of the Bill. Being then hurried up to the -Lords, the fact that it had passed the Commons -seemed to take the edge off their hostility. -The Duke of Buckingham, indeed, expressed his -apprehensions that sixteen Scottish peers, thrown -into a House where there were rarely a hundred -peers in attendance, might have occasionally a -very mischievous effect on English interests. Lord -North also proposed a rider, purporting that -nothing in the ratification of the Union should be -construed to extend to an approbation or acknowledgment -of Presbyterianism as the true Protestant -religion; but this was rejected by a majority of -fifty-five. The Bill passed, but under protests -from Nottingham, Buckingham, and seventeen -other lords.</p> - -<p>On the 4th of March Anne gave the Royal -Assent to the Bill, and expressed, as well she -might, her satisfaction at the completion of this -great measure, the greatest of her reign or of -many reigns. On the 11th of March both Houses -waited on her Majesty to congratulate her on the -"conclusion of a work that, after so many fruitless -endeavours, seemed designed by Providence -to add new lustre to the glories of her Majesty's -reign." No man had more contributed, by his -wise suggestions and zealous exertions, to the -completion of this great national act than Lord -Somers.</p> - -<p>As the Act did not come into effect till the 1st -of May, numbers of traders in both kingdoms -were on the alert to reap advantages from it. -The English prepared to carry quantities of such -commodities into Scotland as would entitle them -to a drawback, intending to bring them back after -the 1st of May; and the Scots, as their duties -were much lower than those of England, intended -to import large quantities of wine, brandy, and -similar articles, to sell them into England after -the Union. Some of the Ministers were found -to have embarked in these fraudulent schemes, -which so alarmed the English merchants that -they presented a remonstrance to the Commons. -The Commons began to prepare a Bill on the -subject, but it was discovered that the previous -resolutions of the House sufficiently provided -against these practices; and, as the 1st of May -was now so near, the matter dropped.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_574" id="Page_574">[574]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> - -<p class="p6">THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE (<em>continued</em>).</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p>Negotiations for Peace—The Ministry becomes Whig—Harley—Marlborough and Charles of Sweden—The Allies in Spain—Battle -of Almanza—The French Triumphant in Spain—Attack on Toulon—Destruction of Shovel's Fleet—Jacobitism -in Scotland—First Parliament of Great Britain—Abigail Hill—The Gregg Affair—Retirement of Harley -and St. John from the Ministry—Attempted Invasion of Scotland—Campaign of 1708—Battle of Oudenarde—Capture -of Lille—Leake takes Sardinia and Minorca—Death of Prince George of Denmark—The Junto—Terrible -Plight of France—Marlborough's Plans for 1709—Louis Negotiates with Holland—Torcy's Terms—Ultimatum of the -Allies—Rejection of the Terms—Patriotism of the French Nation—Fall of Tournay—Battle of Malplaquet—Meeting -of Parliament—Dr. Sacheverell's Sermons—His Impeachment resolved upon—Attitude of the Court—The Trial and -Sacheverell's Defence—The Riots—Dispersal of the Rabble—The Sentence—Bias of the Queen—The Tories in Power—Renewed -Overtures for Peace—Their Failure—The Campaigns in the Netherlands and in Spain—Brihuega and -its Consequence—Marlborough's Reign at an End—Unpopularity of Marlborough—Dismissal of the Duchess—Triumph -of the Tories—Guiscard's Attack on Harley—Popularity of Harley—Marlborough's Last Campaign—Failure of the Attack -on Quebec—The Ministry determine to make Peace—Overtures to the Pretender—He refuses to Change his Religion—Gualtier's -Mission to Versailles—Indignation of the Dutch—The Basis of Negotiations—Signing of the Preliminaries—Excitement -Abroad and at Home—Prorogation of Parliament—Strengthening of the Ministry—Debates in the two Houses—The -Whigs adopt the Occasional Conformity Bill—Creation of Peers—Dismissal of Marlborough from his Employments—Walpole -expelled the House.</p></blockquote> - - -<p>The great event of the Union of the kingdoms -has carried us somewhat past the course of -general events. After the last disastrous campaign -Louis XIV., humbled to a degree that he -was hitherto unacquainted with, employed the -Elector of Bavaria to propose a congress to the -Duke of Marlborough and the States-General. -He had already presented a memorial to the -Dutch Government through the Marquis D'Alègre, -and he besought the Pope to use his influence to -this end. The terms which Louis offered in the -moment of his alarm were such as well merited -the attention of the Allies. He proposed to -cede either Spain and the West Indies to King -Charles, or Milan, Naples, and Sicily; to grant -to the Dutch a barrier of fortified towns on the -frontiers of the Spanish Netherlands; and to -indemnify the Duke of Savoy for the ravages -committed on his territories. Never since the -commencement of the war had the Allies such an -opportunity of closing the war triumphantly. -They could thus balance the powers of France -and Austria by dividing the Spanish monarchy, -and give to the Dutch all they asked—a secure -frontier. But the great doubt was whether Louis -was in earnest, or only seeking to gain time -during which he might continue to divide the -Allies. And the Allies were by no means eager -to accept Louis's offers. The Dutch were greatly -elated by Marlborough's astonishing victories, and -Marlborough himself was in no humour to stop -in the mid-career of his glory. He is said to -have induced the Grand Pensionary Heinsius—who -was now as much devoted to him as he -had formerly been to King William—to keep -the Dutch high in their demands, whilst Marlborough -induced the English Court to demand -indemnity for the immense sums which England -had expended in these wars. In these circumstances -the offers of France were declined on -the plea that England could not enter into any -negotiations except in concert with the Allies. -Had the English people known of the offers, -there would have probably been a loud demand -for peace; but they were kept secret, and the -attention of the nation being then engrossed -by the question of the Union, the matter was -passed over,—not, however, without exciting fresh -resentment against Marlborough amongst the Tory -leaders.</p> - -<p>During the Session of 1706-1707 the Ministry -grew more completely Whig. Through the influence -of Lady Marlborough rather than of the -Duke, who was much averse from the free principles -and free language of his son-in-law the Earl -of Sunderland, that nobleman was made one of -the Secretaries of State in the place of Sir Charles -Hedges. This change was equally repugnant to -Harley, the other Secretary, who was now the -only Tory Minister left in the Cabinet. The -three Tory Commissioners of the Board of Trade—Prior -the poet being one—were removed, and -three Whigs were introduced. Sir James Montague, -the brother of the Earl of Halifax, was -made Solicitor-General; and Sir George Rooke -and the few remaining Tory Privy Councillors -had their names erased. Harley was thus left, -apparently without support, a Tory in a Cabinet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_575" id="Page_575">[575]</a></span> -all except himself Whig. But Harley was that -kind of man that he not only managed to maintain -his place, but eventually ruined and scattered the -whole Whig party. He was by no means a man -of genius, though he affected the company of such -men. Pope, Swift, Bolingbroke, Arbuthnot, and -Prior, were his friends and associates. His intellect -was narrow and commonplace, but it was -persevering; and though he was a wretched and -confused speaker, yet he continually acquired more -and more influence in the House of Commons, and -ultimately raised himself to the peerage, and for -many years to the chief direction of the national -affairs. The secret of this was that he had made -himself master of the laws and practices of Parliament, -and on all disputed questions could clear -up the point past dispute, so that he came to be -regarded as far more profound than he was.</p> - -<p>The Duke of Marlborough, relying on the support -of the Whig Cabinet, which the influence of -his contriving wife had created, set out in the -month of April for the Continent. The condition -to which his successes had reduced France was -such that the Allies were in the highest spirits. -The French Treasury was exhausted; and, in the -absence of real money, Louis endeavoured to -supply the deficiency by mint bills, in imitation -of the Bank of England bills; but they were -already at a discount of fifty-three per cent. -The lands lay uncultivated, manufacturers were -at a pause for want of capital, the people were -perishing with famine, and nothing could be more -deplorable than the state of France. Nothing -could have saved Louis at this crisis but want -of unity amongst the Allies, and already the artful -Louis had contrived to get in the wedge of -disunion. The Emperor, allured by the prospect -of the evacuation of Italy, and of seizing Naples -for himself, had come to a secret understanding -with the French king, which was equally treacherous -and suicidal; for the direct result, as any -man but the stolid Emperor would have foreseen, -was to liberate the French forces from the -North of Italy to reinforce those in the Netherlands -and those endeavouring to drive his brother -Charles from Spain.</p> - -<p>Marlborough, on his part, did everything that -he could to keep the Allies together, and to -combine them into a victorious strength; but it -had always been his misfortune, as it had been -that of William, to have to suffer from their -regard to their own petty jealousies rather than -to the grand object in view. He set out directly -from the Hague to visit Hanover, and stimulate -the young Elector to active assistance. He then -set out to pay a visit to Charles XII. of Sweden, -who was encamped at Alt Ranstadt, only a few -marches from the Court of Hanover. The Swedish -military madman, neglecting the Czar Peter, who -was making continual inroads on his Finnish and -Esthonian territories, and was now actually laying -the foundations of a new capital and seaport on -the shores of the Baltic, had pursued, with blind -and inveterate hatred, Augustus, the Elector of -Saxony, who had presumed to allow himself, in -spite of the Swedish king, to be elected King -of Poland. Marlborough's flattery appeared to -produce the intended effect. The rough Swede -assured him that he had a great regard for the -Queen of England, and for the objects of the -Grand Alliance, and should do nothing contrary -to it; that he detested the domineering spirit -of the French, and that no good need be expected -till they were reduced to the condition they were -in at the peace of Westphalia; that he had -come into Saxony to demand certain satisfaction, -and that when he had obtained it he should go -away, and not sooner. But notwithstanding -Charles's profession, he continued to harass and -alarm the Emperor until he had obtained from -him all that he chose to demand, when he marched -away into Poland to encounter the Czar. Marlborough -himself returned by way of the Courts -of Prussia and Hanover to the Hague, giving -everywhere the utmost satisfaction by his arrangements -with Charles XII., who had made every -neighbouring Court uneasy lest he might turn -his erratic arms against them.</p> - -<p>But the campaign in the Netherlands this year -bore no relation to the great expectations formed -of it. No grand action was fought there; and in -Spain the adroit manœuvre of Louis, by which, -through his treaty with the selfish and short-sighted -Emperor, he had liberated his troops from -Italy to throw them upon that country, and the -want of unity between Charles and his auxiliaries, -quite changed the face of affairs. The Whigs had -studiously left the reinforcements in Spain insufficient, -from the idea that it was better to continue -to distract the attention of Louis in that direction -than by a bold and vigorous effort to drive him -from the country. They had a vain idea of -conquering France, and thought this more easy -to achieve while the French arms were demanded -in various quarters. But the astute Louis was -not so readily dealt with. He contrived, as we -have seen, to amuse the Allies in Flanders without -coming to blows. He coped without difficulty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_576" id="Page_576">[576]</a></span> -with the Germans on the Rhine; and, though -fiercely attacked at Toulon by the Savoyards, he -defeated the Allies in Spain, to the great astonishment -of Europe.</p> - -<p>By this time the opinion formed of King Charles -when he was in England by those who had -opportunity of observing him, was now become -that of all who had come near him in Spain—that -he was a very poor creature. The Earl of Peterborough, -who had been travelling about with -little success to borrow money for such a contest, -and had returned to Spain, but without any command, -did not hesitate to say that people were -great fools to fight for such a couple of simpletons -as Charles and Philip. Charles was surrounded -by a set of Austrians who were utterly incapable -of commanding, and who made it equally impossible -for any one else to command. The great -plan of the campaign was to march boldly on -Madrid; but Charles was, as before, too timid to -venture on such a step. He remained in Catalonia, -and ordered the Earl of Galway with the Dutch -and English forces, and Das Minas, with the -Portuguese, to defend the frontiers of Aragon -and Valencia; and thus he contrived to wait for -fresh troops from England, or from Italy, where -they were no longer wanted. Whilst Das Minas -and Galway, who was only second in command, -were laying siege to Velina, in Valencia, and were -in want of almost everything—food, clothes, and -ammunition—they heard that the Duke of Berwick -was hastening, by forced marches, to attack -them. They therefore drew off towards the town -of Almanza, and there fell in with the enemy, -who proved to be considerably stronger than -themselves. They came to an engagement, however, -on the 14th of April. The battle began -about two in the afternoon, and the whole force -of each army was engaged. The centre of the -Allies, consisting of Dutch and English, fought -most valiantly, and repeatedly threw back the -forces of the Duke of Berwick. For six long -and bloody hours they maintained the fight; but -the two wings were beaten and dispersed; the -Portuguese horse on the right at the first charge, -but the Dutch and English on the left, only after -a brave but unequal resistance. When the gallant -centre was thus exposed on both flanks, they -formed themselves into a square, and retired from -the field, fighting doggedly as they went. But at -length their ammunition was spent, they were -worn out with fatigue, and they surrendered, to -the extent of thirteen battalions. The Portuguese, -part of the English horse, and the infantry -who guarded the baggage, retreated to Alcira, -where the Earl of Galway joined them with about -two thousand five hundred horse, and they escaped. -It was a complete triumph for the French and -Spaniards. The Allies lost five thousand men, -besides the wounded and the large force which -surrendered.</p> - -<p>Nothing now could stop Berwick, who won -great reputation by this decisive action. He -marched into Valencia, taking town after town, -whilst Saragossa at the same time surrendered, -without a shot, to the Duke of Orleans. Berwick -marched for the Ebro, which he crossed -on the 4th of June, and at length pursued -and shut up the flying confederates in Lerida. -Charles was too inert or too dastardly to lead -his troops thither, though they lay at no great -distance; and the place was taken by storm, and -given up to all the licence of the soldiery. After -this Manilla surrendered so late as the 17th of -December, and with that the campaign closed. -The Duke of Orleans returned to Paris, and the -Duke of Berwick remained with the army till -towards spring, when Louis sent for him in haste -into France, ordering him to quit Spain unknown -to Philip, lest he should endeavour to detain him. -The Earl of Galway and Das Minas embarked at -Barcelona for Lisbon, leaving General Carpenter -with the English forces remaining in Catalonia, -the only portion of Spain now left to the pusillanimous -Charles.</p> - -<p>The operation, however, which most alarmed -the French Court was that of the Duke of Savoy -against Provence. This had been planned by -Marlborough and Prince Eugene, and would -undoubtedly have had a brilliant success had -not the Emperor been secretly planning his -attempt on Naples, instead of sending all his -forces into Italy to the support of this enterprise. -The Duke of Savoy and Prince Eugene, though -abandoned by this selfish and small-souled Emperor, -on whose account the great Powers of -Europe were expending so much life and wealth, -crossed the Alps by the Col de Tende with twenty -thousand men, whilst Sir Cloudesley Shovel -appeared on the coast of Provence with the -united fleet of England and Holland to support -them. Eugene crossed the Var on the 10th of -July, Sir John Norris and his English sailors -clearing the way for him in their gunboats. -But the French were fast marching towards -Toulon from various quarters, Villars having -been despatched with a large force, as we have -stated, from the army of Flanders. The Duke of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_577" id="Page_577">[577]</a></span> -Savoy, on the other hand, instead of pushing on -to Toulon with all speed, halted his army to rest, -and then marched leisurely forward. By this -means, not only had the French been able to -collect a very powerful army, but had had time -to strengthen greatly the fortifications of Toulon. -When the practised eye of Prince Eugene took a -survey of the formidable heights of Toulon, and -of the great force on the outworks, with the power -of the batteries, he advised the duke not to -attempt the siege of the place with the forces at -his command. The duke, however, would persist, -and an assault was made on the outworks -on the hill of St. Catherine, and on two small -forts near the harbour. These were carried, but -at a great cost of life, including that of the gallant -Prince of Saxe-Gotha. But fresh French troops -kept pouring in; it was impossible to maintain -even this advantage. On the 15th of August -the hill of St. Catherine was recovered by the -French, and the Savoyards were even attacked in -their own camp. On this an order was given to -bombard the place, both from sea and land, in -retaliation for the ravages committed by the -French on Turin; the bombardment, especially -from the sea, was made with terrible effect. A -great part of the city was demolished, and the -English and Dutch sailors destroyed eight ships -of the line in the harbours, and utterly ruined -two batteries. In the night of the 25th of -August the army of Savoy retired; on the 31st -it crossed the Var without any pursuit of the -French, and then laid siege to Susa, an old and -strong town at the foot of the Alps, which surrendered -after a fortnight's investment.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_577.jpg" width="560" height="423" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>WRECK OF SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVEL'S FLEET. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_577big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Sir Cloudesley Shovel, leaving a squadron with -Sir Thomas Dilkes in the Mediterranean, sailed -for England, and on the night of the 22nd of -October, 1707, closed his career in a sudden and -melancholy manner. By some miscalculation his -vessels got amongst the rocks of Scilly. His own -ship struck on a rock about eight o'clock at night, -and went down, drowning him and every soul on -board. Three other vessels shared the same fate, -only the captain and twenty-four men of one of -them escaping. Sir Cloudesley Shovel had risen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_578" id="Page_578">[578]</a></span> -from a humble origin in Suffolk, had raised himself -to the head of the maritime service of his country -by his bravery, skill, and integrity. His body, -when cast ashore, was stripped by the wreckers -and buried in the sand, but was afterwards discovered -and interred in Westminster Abbey.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile disaffection was rife in Scotland, -where there had been for some time a very zealous -emissary of the Court of St. Germains, one Colonel -Hooke. Colonel Hooke transmitted to Chamillard, -the Minister of Louis XIV., flaming accounts of -this state of things in Scotland, and represented -that never was there so auspicious an opportunity -of introducing the king of England (the Pretender) -again to his ancient throne of Scotland—a -circumstance than which nothing could be more -advantageous to France. A civil war created in -Great Britain must completely prevent the English -from longer impeding the affairs of Louis on the -Continent. All the power of England would be -needed at home; and on the Elder Pretender -succeeding in establishing himself on the throne -of the United Kingdom, France would be for ever -relieved from the harassing antagonism of England—the -only real obstacle to the amplest completion -of all France's plans for Continental -dominion. These accounts were very highly -coloured, as from most quarters, particularly from -the Duke of Hamilton, Hooke only met with -discouragement. From others, however, Hooke -received more encouragement. He obtained a -memorial to Louis XIV., signed by the Lord -High Constable the Earl of Errol, by the Lords -Stormont, Panmure, Kinnaird, and Drummond, -and by some men of smaller note. The leading -men did not sign. They were not willing to -endanger their necks without some nearer prospect -of invasion. Hooke, indeed, pretended that -the lords who did sign, signed as proxies for many -others, such as the Earls of Caithness, Eglintoun, -Aberdeen, and Buchan, Lord Saltoun, and others. -With this memorial Hooke went back to St. -Germains, and what the document wanted in -weight he made up by verbal assurances of -the impatience of all Scotland for the arrival of -the king. But the truth appears to be that -France expected a stronger demonstration on the -part of Scotland, and Scotland on the part of -France, and so the adventure hung fire. It was -not till the following year that sufficient spirit -could be aroused to send out an armament, and -not till upwards of twenty of the Jacobite lords -and gentlemen, including the Duke of Hamilton, -in spite of all his caution, had been arrested.</p> - -<p>The first Parliament of Great Britain met on -the 23rd of October, 1707. The queen, in her -speech, endeavoured to make the best of the last -unfortunate summer's military operations. The -retreat of the Imperialist troops on the Rhine was -freely admitted, but it was considered an encouraging -circumstance that the command there -was now in the hands of the Elector of Hanover, -and it was announced that measures were taken for -strengthening the forces in that quarter. Little -could be said of the proceedings in the Netherlands, -and less of those in Spain, including the -fatal battle of Almanza; but the most was made -of the attack upon, and the bombardment of, -Toulon. But the speech promised renewed vigour -in every quarter, and called for augmented supplies. -The deficiencies of military and naval action—for -we had also suffered a considerable defeat at sea -from the celebrated French Admiral, Du Guai -Trouin, off the Lizard Point, in which two ships -of the line were taken and a third was blown up—an -endeavour was made to cover by allusions -to the happy event of the Union. The Commons, -in their Address, seized on this point of -congratulation, and declared it a "mark of the -Divine goodness that her Majesty had been made -the glorious instrument of this happy Union, -which would so strengthen the kingdom as to -make it a terror to all its enemies." The Lords -joined with the Commons in an affectionate Address -to her Majesty, declaring that the only means of -obtaining an honourable peace was the entire -recovery of Spain. To support these assurances -by deeds the Commons voted the enormous sum -of six millions for the supplies.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the influence of the Marlboroughs -at Court was on the wane, and that partly -through their own shortsightedness. The Duchess -of Marlborough had introduced into the palace, -when she was Groom of the Stole, Mistress of -the Robes, and more queen than the queen herself, -a poor relation of her own, one Abigail -Hill. Abigail, from whose position as a bedchamber -woman, and from whose singular rise and -fortunes all women of low degree and intriguing -character have derived the name of Abigails, -being placed so near the queen, soon caught her -eye, took her fancy, and speedily became prime -favourite. Harley, the Tory Minister, being also -her cousin, as was the Duchess of Marlborough, -with equal tact discovered her to be a useful -tool for him. The Duchess of Marlborough, trusting -to her long absolute sway over the mind of -Queen Anne, begun when she was a princess; to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_579" id="Page_579">[579]</a></span> -the firm establishment of the Whig faction in -power, her own work, because the Tories had -opposed the five thousand pounds a year which -the queen, at the instigation of the duchess, -demanded for Marlborough before he had even -won the battle of Blenheim; and finally, relying -on the great services which Marlborough had now -rendered, had become intolerable in her tyranny -over the queen. The Marlboroughs all this time -were making use, not only of their position to -enjoy power, but to scrape up money with an -insatiable and unblushing avarice. The time was -now approaching, however, for the queen's liberation -from the heavy yoke of Sarah Marlborough. -The duchess, in the midst of power and pride, had -still for some time felt the ground mysteriously -gliding from under her feet.</p> - -<p>She found that Abigail Hill was, in reality, -no longer Abigail Hill; that she had for a whole -year been privately married to Mr. Masham, -Groom of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Denmark; -and that the queen herself had honoured -this secret marriage by her presence at Dr. Arbuthnot's -lodgings, at which time Anne, the -duchess now remembered, had called for a round -sum from the privy purse. In short, the duchess -herself tells us that in less than a week after -the inquiries she discovered that her cousin "was -become an absolute favourite."</p> - -<p>At this crisis an unlucky incident for the cunning -Harley occurred. He had in his office one -William Gregg, a clerk, who was detected in a -treasonable correspondence with Chamillard the -French Minister. He was arrested and thrown -into the Old Bailey. The Whigs hoped to be able -to implicate Harley himself in this secret correspondence. -There had just been an attempt to -get Lord Godolphin dismissed from his office, and -he, the Duke of Marlborough, Sunderland, and -their party, now seized eagerly on this chance to -expel Harley and his acute coadjutor, St. John, -from the Cabinet. Seven lords, including these, -and all Whigs, were deputed to examine Gregg in -prison, and are said to have laboured hard to -induce Gregg to accuse Harley; but they were -disappointed. Gregg remained firm, was tried, -condemned, and hanged. Alexander Valiere, -John Bara, and Claude Baude, the secretary of -the ambassador to the Duke of Savoy, with that -Minister's consent, were also imprisoned on the -charge of carrying Gregg's correspondence to the -governor and commissioners of Calais and Boulogne. -On the scaffold Gregg was said to have -delivered a paper to the ordinary, clearing Harley -altogether; but this was not produced till Harley -was once more in the ascendant. The lords -deputed to examine Gregg and the smugglers -Bara and Valiere, declared that Gregg had informed -them that Harley had employed these men to -carry correspondence, and that all the papers in -the office of Harley lay about so openly that any -one might read them. Both these assertions, and -the paper said to have been left by Gregg, had -much that is doubtful about them. The one -statement proceeded from the Whigs, evidently to -destroy Harley; the Gregg paper, on the other -hand, not being produced till Harley was out of -danger, was quite as evidently the work of Harley -to clear his character. The charges, however, -were sufficient to drive Harley and St. John -from office for the time. When the Council next -met, the Duke of Somerset rose, and pointing to -Harley said rudely to the queen that if she -suffered that fellow to treat of affairs in the -absence of Marlborough and Godolphin, he could -not serve her. Marlborough and Godolphin continued -to absent themselves from the Council, -and the queen was compelled to dismiss Harley. -With him went out St. John, the Secretary of -War; and Mr. Robert Walpole, a young man -whose name was destined to fill a large space of -history under the Georges, was put into his place.</p> - -<p>Whilst things were on this footing, the nation was -alarmed by an attempt at invasion. Louis XIV. -had at length been persuaded that a diversion in -Scotland would have a very advantageous effect -by preventing England from sending so many -troops and supplies against him to the Continent. -Early in February, therefore, an emissary was -sent over to Scotland in the person of Charles -Fleming, brother of the Earl of Wigtown. He -was to see the leading Jacobites, and assure them -that their king was coming; and that as soon -as the French fleet appeared in sight they were -to proclaim the king everywhere, raise the country, -seize arms, and open up again their previous communications -with persons within the different forts -and garrisons—thus proving that they had tampered -with the troops and garrisons of Scotland, -and that, as asserted by different historians, the -regular troops in that country, about two thousand -five hundred, were not to be trusted by the English. -They were also to seize the equivalent -money, which was still lying in the Castle of -Edinburgh. On the earliest intimation of these -designs, the suspected Scottish nobles, including -the Duke of Hamilton and twenty-one others, -lords or gentlemen, were secured. The Habeas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_580" id="Page_580">[580]</a></span> -Corpus Act was suspended; the Pretender and his -abettors were declared traitors; and all Popish -recusants were ordered to remove ten miles from -the cities of London and Westminster. The -alarm was not an empty one. The Pretender, -who had now assumed the name of the Chevalier -de St. George, was furnished with a fleet and -army, which assembled at Dunkirk. The fleet, -under the command of Admiral Forbin, consisted -of five ships of the line and twenty frigates. -It was to carry over five thousand troops, under the -command of General de Gace, afterwards known -as Marshal de Matignon. Before the expedition, -however, could sail, the Chevalier was -taken ill of the measles, and the postponement -of the expedition ruined its chances. A -powerful fleet under the command of Admiral -Sir George Byng, with squadrons under Sir John -Leake and Lord Dursley, was sent to blockade -the port of Dunkirk, and prevent the sailing of -the French expedition. The French were astonished -at the appearance of so large a fleet, imagining -that Leake had gone to Lisbon with his -squadron; and Count de Forbin represented to -the French Court the improbability of their being -able to sail. A storm, however, drove the English -ships from their station. The French fleet then -ventured out on the 17th of March, but was soon -driven back by the same tempest. On the 19th, -however, it again put out, and made for the coast -of Scotland. But Sir George Byng had stretched -his ships along the whole coast, to the very Firth -of Forth; and on the French squadron approaching -the Forth, it perceived the English ships there -before it, and stood off again. Byng gave chase -and took the <em>Salisbury</em>, a ship of the line, having -on board old Lord Griffin, two sons of Lord -Middleton, a French lieutenant-general, various -other French and Irish officers, and five companies -of French soldiers. In the night Forbin altered -his course, and thus in the morning was out of -the reach of the English. The Chevalier was -impatient that Forbin should proceed to Inverness, -and there land him and the troops; but the -wind was so violent and dead against them that -Forbin contended that they would all be lost if -they continued the attempt, and the Chevalier, -having entered the Firth of Forth, reluctantly -returned to Dunkirk.</p> - -<p>Such was the alarm in London owing to these -circumstances that there was a heavy run on -the Bank, increased to the utmost by all who -were disaffected to the Government. The Commons -also suspended the Habeas Corpus Act, -and the country was alive with military preparations.</p> - -<p>The Allies and France prepared for a vigorous -campaign in the Netherlands. Notwithstanding -the low state of Louis XIV.'s funds and a series -of severe disasters which had attended his arms, -he put forth wonderful energies for the maintenance -of his designs. He assembled at least one -hundred thousand men in the Netherlands, under -the command of the Duke of Burgundy, the Duke -of Vendôme, the Duke of Berwick—who had been -so suddenly called from Spain—Marshal Boufflers, -and the Old Pretender, who sought here to -learn martial skill, which he might employ in -attempting to regain his crown. On the other -hand, Marlborough went to the Hague towards -the end of March, where he was met by Prince -Eugene, and the plan of the campaign was concerted -between them, the Pensionary Heinsius, and the -States-General. Eugene then returned to Vienna -to bring up reinforcements, and Marlborough -proceeded to Flanders to assemble the army, -and be in readiness for the junction of Eugene. -Before Eugene and Marlborough parted, however, -they had gone together to Hanover, and -persuaded the Elector to be contented with -merely acting on the defensive, so that he might -spare a part of his forces for the projected operations -in Flanders. His son, the Electoral Prince—afterwards -George II. of England—took a -command of cavalry in the Imperial army under -Marlborough.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_581.jpg" width="396" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>SARAH DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Peter Lely.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_581big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The Duke of Vendôme, on the 25th of May, -posted his army at Soignies, whilst Marlborough -was encamped at Billinghen and Halle, only -three leagues distant. The French then moved -towards Braine-la-Leuvre, and Marlborough, supposing -that they meant to occupy the banks of -the Dyle and cut him off from Louvain, made a -rapid night march, and on the 3rd of June was -at Terbank, Overkirk occupying the suburbs of -Louvain. There, as the Allies were yet far inferior -in numbers, they imagined the French would give -them battle; but such were not the French plans. -They had advanced only to Genappe and Braine-la-Leuvre, -and now sought by stratagem to regain -the towns they had lost in Flanders. They knew -that the Allies had drawn out all their forces, -and that few of these towns had any competent -garrisons. The inhabitants of many of these -places had a leaning to France, from the heavy -exactions of the Dutch, and the popularity of the -Elector of Bavaria and the Count de Bergeyck, -who was a warm adherent of the Bourbons. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_581" id="Page_581">[581]</a></span> -French, therefore, resolving to profit by these -circumstances, despatched troops to Ghent, Bruges, -and Ypres, and were soon admitted to these places. -They next invested Oudenarde; but Marlborough, -being now joined by Eugene, made a rapid march -to that town, and took up a strong position before -it. The French, however, unwilling to come to -an engagement, passed the Scheldt, and attempted -to defeat the Allies by attacking them whilst -they were in the act of passing it after them. -The Allies, however, effected their transit, and -came to an engagement with the enemy between -the Scheldt and the Lys on the 11th of July. -The French amounted to one hundred thousand, -the Allies to little more than eighty thousand. -The latter, however, had this great advantage—that -the commanders of the Allies were united, -those of the French were of contrary views. The -Duke of Vendôme was prevented from attacking -the Allies during their passage of the river by the -remissness of the Duke of Burgundy. When it -was already three o'clock in the afternoon, and -the Allies were safe over, then Burgundy was -eager for an attack, and the Duke of Vendôme -as averse from it, the proper opportunity having -been lost. The wiser general was eventually -overruled, and Major-General Grimaldi was -ordered to attack Count Rantzau, who was posted -on a marshy plain near the village of Eyne, -with a muddy rivulet in front of him, with the -king's Household Troops. But these troops, when -they saw the nature of the rivulet, would not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_582" id="Page_582">[582]</a></span> -charge, and filed off to the right. Rantzau then -crossed the rivulet himself, and, whilst General -Cadogan assaulted the village of Eyne, attacked -and drove before him several squadrons of the -enemy. In this attack the Electoral Prince of -Hanover greatly distinguished himself by his -gallant charge at the head of Bülow's dragoons. -He had his horse killed under him, and Colonel -Laschky killed at his side. Several French regiments -were completely broken, and many officers -and standards were taken by the Hanoverians. -The general engagement, however, did not take -place till about five o'clock, when the Duke of -Argyll came up with the infantry. Overkirk -and Tilly, who led on the left of the Allies, were -the first to make the French give way, when they -were attacked in flank by the Dutch infantry -under the Prince of Orange and Count Oxenstjerna, -and completely routed their right. After -that the whole line gave way. In vain Vendôme -exerted himself to check their flight and reform -them; they fled in wild confusion along the road -from Oudenarde towards Ghent, and Vendôme -could do nothing but protect their rear. Their -greatest protector, however, was the night, which -stopped the pursuit of the Allies. As soon as -it was light the pursuit was resumed; but this -was checked by the French grenadiers, who were -posted behind the hedges that skirted the road, -and the French army reached Ghent at eight in -the morning, and encamped on the canal on the -other side of the city at Lovendegen, after one -of the most thorough defeats that they had ever -sustained. They lost three thousand men, were -deserted by two thousand more, and had seven -thousand taken, besides ten pieces of cannon, -more than a hundred colours and standards, and -four thousand horses. The loss of the Allies was -not inconsiderable, amounting to nearly two -thousand men.</p> - -<p>After resting a couple of days on the field of -battle, a detachment was sent to level the French -lines between Ypres and the Lys; another to lay -the country under contributions as far as Arras, -which ravaged the country and greatly alarmed -Paris itself by carrying the war into France. -This alarm was heightened by the Allies next -advancing upon the city of Lille, which was considered -the key to Paris and to half of France. -Lille was very strongly defended by batteries -and entrenchments, and by a garrison of twenty-one -battalions of the best troops in France, -commanded by Boufflers. This daring act combined -all the skill and chief leaders on each -side for the attack or the defence. The Dukes -of Burgundy, Vendôme, and Berwick hastened -to the relief of the place. Marlborough, Eugene, -the Prince of Orange, Augustus, King of Poland, -and the Landgrave of Hesse, were engaged in -the siege. All the art and valour on both sides -were put forth. The French endeavoured to cut -off the supplies of the Allies coming from Ostend; -but Major-General Webbe, who guarded these -supplies with a body of six thousand men, defeated -an attacking party of twenty-two thousand -French under the Count de la Motte, near -Wynendale, killing six thousand of them, and -accomplishing one of the most brilliant exploits -of the whole war. After a stubborn and destructive -defence Boufflers capitulated for the town -on the 22nd of October, but contrived to hold -the citadel till the 9th of December.</p> - -<p>Lille, important as it was, was not won, it is -said, without a loss of at least twelve thousand of -the Allies, whilst Boufflers was reckoned to have -lost half his garrison. During the siege Eugene -had to hasten to the rescue of Brussels. After the -fall of Lille the Allies reduced Ghent, Bruges, -and all the towns they had lost; and the French, -greatly humiliated, abandoned Flanders, and retired -into their own territories, the French Court -being filled with consternation at these terrible -reverses. The Duke of Berwick was highly incensed -at the management of the campaign by -Vendôme and Burgundy. He states that during -the siege of Lille Marlborough, through him, -made propositions for peace, which were, however, -haughtily rejected by the not yet sufficiently -humbled Louis. Marlborough would probably -have been glad to have procured peace now, that -he might watch the critical state of affairs at -home, where Harley and Mrs. Masham were -steadily driving their mines beneath the feet of -the Whigs, and where the whole body of Tories -were constantly endeavouring to misrepresent -his proceedings in the war, continually prognosticating -defeats from alleged blunders, which, nevertheless, -were as regularly refuted by the most -brilliant successes.</p> - -<p>The campaign in Catalonia had begun in favour -of the French, but there, too, had ended decidedly -in favour of the Allies. There the Earl of Galway -was superseded by General Stanhope, an able and -active officer; and Count Stahremberg, the Imperial -general, was a man of like stamp. But before -the Imperial troops had arrived in the English -fleet commanded by Sir John Leake, the Duke -of Orleans had besieged and taken Tortosa and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_583" id="Page_583">[583]</a></span> -Denia, the garrison of the latter place being -detained prisoners, contrary to the articles of -capitulation. No sooner, however, did Generals -Stanhope and Stahremberg get into the scene of -action than they put a stop to the progress of -the French, and maintained the rest of the province -intact. They soon, moreover, planned a -striking enterprise. Sir John Leake carried over -to Sardinia a small body of troops under the -command of the Marquis D'Alconzel, assaulted -and took Cagliari, and received the submission -of the whole island, which acknowledged King -Charles, and sent a very timely supply of thirty -thousand sacks of corn to the army in Catalonia, -where it was extremely needed. General Stanhope -then, with the consent of Count Stahremberg, -set sail for Minorca with a few battalions of -Spaniards, Italians, and Portuguese, accompanied -by a fine train of British artillery directed by -Brigadier Wade and Colonel Petit. They landed -on the 26th of August at Port Mahon, and -invested St. Philip, its chief fortress. They so -disposed their forces that the garrison, which -consisted only of one thousand Spaniards and six -hundred French marines, under Colonel Jonquiere, -imagined that there were at least twenty thousand -invaders, and, in consequence, surrendered after -some sharp fighting, in which Brigadier Wade, at -the head of a party of grenadiers, stormed a -redoubt with such fury as amazed the garrison. -On the 30th of September not only Port Mahon -but the whole island was in the hands of the -English, the garrison of Port Fornelles having also -submitted to the attack of Admirals Leake and -Whitaker. The inhabitants were delighted with -the change, King Philip having so heavily oppressed -them and deprived them of their privileges.</p> - -<p>On the 28th of October the Prince of Denmark, -the husband of the queen, died at Kensington -Palace, in his fifty-fifth year. George of Denmark -was a man not destitute of sense, but of no -distinguished ability. He was a good-natured -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">bon-vivant</i>, who was, however, fond of the queen, -who was very much attached to him. They lived -together in great harmony and affection, having -no jars or jealousies. They had several children, -who all died early, their son, the Duke of Gloucester, -arriving at the greatest age. Anne was -supposed to have a strong conviction that the -death of all her children was a judgment on her -for her desertion of her father and the repudiation -of her brother the Prince of Wales, whom, though -she was the first to brand as a supposititious child, -she came to recognise as her own brother.</p> - -<p>On the death of the prince his offices were -quickly divided amongst the expectant Whigs. -The Earl of Pembroke took his office of Lord -High Admiral, resigning the Lord-Lieutenancy -of Ireland and the Presidency of the Council. -But he soon found the business of the Admiralty -too arduous for him, and it was put into commission, -the Chief Commissioner being Lord Orford, -that mercenary Russell whom the Whigs had so -long been endeavouring to restore to that post. -The post of Warden of the Cinque Ports and -Constable of Dover Castle was separated from -that of Admiral to accommodate Lord Dorset. -Lord Somers was again brought into the Cabinet -as President of the Council. Even the witty and -wicked Lord Wharton was promoted to the Lord-Lieutenancy -of Ireland. As Marlborough and -Godolphin had a great fear and distrust of -Wharton, this astonished many, but was accounted -for by those more in the secrets of Court by -Wharton being in possession of an autograph -letter of Godolphin's to the Court of St. Germains, -by which that Minister, and probably Marlborough, -too, was greatly in his power.</p> - -<p>But though the Whig Junto, as it was called, -were now apparently omnipotent in the Government, -that was far from being the case. Harley -and Mrs. Masham had the ear of the queen as -much or more than ever. They were continually -closeted with her, and laboured hard to disconcert -all the measures of the Whigs; the fierce and -implacable Duchess of Marlborough, raging with -jealousy of the influence of Mrs. Masham, who -had supplanted her, did perhaps still more than -Harley himself, by her impolitic anger and insolence, -to render the queen only the more desirous -to be rid of the Marlborough pest. Nothing but -the duke's continued victories made the countenance -of the duchess at Court possible.</p> - -<p>Dreadful as was the condition to which the -fiendish ambition of Louis XIV. had reduced -Flanders, Spain, the North of Italy, and many -parts of Germany, that of his own country and -subjects was still more deplorable. Trade, agriculture, -everything had been shrivelled up by the -perpetual demands of these incessant wars. The -wealthy classes were become as poor as the rest; -the middle classes were ruined; the common -people were drained off to the army if men, and -sank into beggary if women, children, or old -people. All credit was at an end; the Treasury -of the king was empty; and his chief banker, -Bernard, was bankrupt, as were hundreds of -the same class of men. The most violent and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_584" id="Page_584">[584]</a></span> -spasmodic exertions had been made to raise the -supplies for the armies in the different fields, -and still of late nothing had come but tidings -after tidings of disastrous and murderous defeats. -The farmers of the taxes were out in all parts -of France endeavouring to extort those levies -which the ordinary tax-gatherers had demanded -and distrained for in vain. The people of France -were under a perpetual visitation of these officers; -and though they were ill prepared to pay once, -had frequently to pay more than once, the same -taxes being demanded by different officers, the -regular tax-collector, or the agents of those to -whom they were farmed out. The Ministers -themselves, Chamillard, Pontchartrain, and others -of the proud servants of the Grand Monarque, -were compelled to make journeys through -the provinces to raise money for the necessities -of the State in any way that could be devised. -Such was the terrible condition of France: the -people starving, ruined, and hopeless, and yet the -daily victims of an incessant visitation of tax-gatherers, -who, whilst they failed to procure the -necessary sums for the war, were actively plundering -and embezzling on their own account. -Nothing but the immeasurable pride of the haughty -but now defeated king could cause him to hold -out; and even this chance seemed scarcely left -him, for the enemy was on the frontiers of France—had, -in fact, already crossed them, and laid -the country under contribution in Picardy, and -another campaign might see them in full march -on Paris.</p> - -<p>The Duke of Marlborough had not, as usual, -visited England at the end of the campaign in -1708, which did not terminate till actual winter. -He continued at the Hague, his enemies said, -merely to look after his own interests; for, by -various modes which we have already mentioned, -he was making immense sums by his command. -But although we may be quite satisfied that -Marlborough would never neglect his own interests, -these interests equally, or perhaps more -pressingly, demanded his presence in England. -Harley and the Tories, he knew, were actively -though secretly engaged in ruining his credit with -the queen, and the conduct of his wife was not of a -kind to counteract these efforts. But Marlborough's -interests were inseparably linked to his reputation, -and that reputation now demanded his most -vigilant attention at the Hague. He saw the -triumphant position of the Allies, and the miserable -condition of France. It is asserted, therefore, -that he and Prince Eugene had planned boldly -to march, on the opening of the next campaign, -into France, and carry the war to the gates of -Paris. There is no more doubt that they could -have done this than that the Allies did it in -1814, and again in 1815. The whole of the wars -against France had been too timidly carried on. -With the forces which were at William's command, -the war might have been made offensive -instead of defensive, and Louis have found his -own territories subjected to the ravages which -he had committed on those of the States and -the German Empire. Now there was nothing to -prevent the victorious arms of Marlborough from -penetrating to the French capital and humbling -the troubler of Europe, or to prevent the Allies -from there dictating their own terms of peace. -Nothing, indeed, but the subtle acts of Louis, -and the timid policy of the Dutch.</p> - -<p>And already Marlborough was aware that -Louis, compelled to open his eyes to his critical -situation, was beginning to tamper with the -Dutch for a separate peace. Some of his own -nearest kinsmen, and especially his grandson the -Duke of Burgundy, had spoken very plainly to -Louis. They had asked him whether he meant -irretrievably to ruin France in order to establish -his grandson on the throne of Spain. They had -laid fully before him the wasted condition of -France, and the rapidly-growing ascendency of -the Allies. The pride of the old king was forced -to stoop, and he consented to sue for peace. He -could not, however, bring himself to seek this of -the Allies all together, but from Holland, whom -he hoped by his arts to detach from the Confederation. -He despatched Bouillé, the President of -the Council, to Holland, who met Buys and -Vanderdussen, the Pensionaries of Amsterdam -and Gouda, at Woerden, between Leyden and -Utrecht, and Bouillé offered to make terms with -the Dutch very advantageous to them. Vanderdussen -and Buys replied that he must first of -all put into their hands certain fortified towns -necessary for the security of their frontier. To -this Bouillé would not listen. The Dutch communicated -the French proposals to their Allies, -and told the French Minister that they could -enter into no negotiations without them. Prince -Eugene hastened from Vienna to the Hague, and -he and Marlborough consulted on the propositions -with Heinsius, Buys, and Vanderdussen; and it -was unanimously decided that they could not be -accepted.</p> - -<p>It was now near the end of April, and the -Allies saw that it would not do to allow Louis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_585" id="Page_585">[585]</a></span> -to amuse them with offers which came to nothing, -when they should be marching towards his capital. -Whilst, therefore, Bouillé despatched the news of -the rejection of his offers to Versailles, Marlborough -made a hasty journey to England, to take the -opinion of his Government as to the terms of the -treaty. The receipt of Bouillé's despatch at the -French Court produced the utmost consternation. -The king was fixed in his proud determination to -offer no ampler terms; his Minister represented -that it was impossible to carry on the war. There -was no alternative, and at length Bouillé was -instructed to amuse the Allies with the proposal -to repurchase Lille and to yield up Tournay, till -the Marquis de Torcy could arrive to his assistance. -De Torcy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, -set off for the Hague, not openly as the French -Plenipotentiary, but merely furnished with a -courier's passport, and ran many risks of being -seized on the way. At Brussels he had a narrow -escape, but he reached the Hague late at night -on the 6th of May. De Torcy now offered much -more enlarged terms. Louis was willing to destroy -the fortifications of Dunkirk at the instance of the -Allies; to engage to send the Pretender out of -France, and also not to aid him in any attempt -on the throne of Great Britain, provided that -provision was made for his security and maintenance. -He would give up Sicily, but would -retain Naples—a country entirely gone out of his -power for more than two years, and in possession -of Austria. He even proposed that Philip should -resign Spain and the Indies; but his allies, the -Electors of Bavaria and Cologne, must be provided -for, as they had sacrificed their own territories in -his alliance. The main difficulties appeared to be -the frontier towns of Lille, New Brisac, and -Hermingen, in Flanders, De Torcy contending -that the surrender of Ypres, Menin, Condé, and -a few inferior fortresses, would be sufficient for -frontier defences. As they would give up Spain, -the only obstacle in the south appeared the demand -on Naples. These terms would have been -received with exultation by the Allies some time -ago, but they were now in a different position, -and their demands were proportionate.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_585.jpg" width="560" height="427" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>LONDON COFFEE-HOUSE IN THE REIGN OF ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_585big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_586" id="Page_586">[586]</a></span></p> - -<p>As De Torcy could not bring the Dutch Ministers -to concede anything, he consented to meet -Prince Eugene and Marlborough, who had now -returned from England with Lord Townshend. -To these was added Count Zinzendorf, as Minister -for the Emperor. The French Minister, assisted -by Bouillé, though he was treating in a condition -of the deepest anxiety, yet maintained all the -high pretensions which his Court had so long -assumed. He offered the surrender of Spain, but -he would give no guarantee for its evacuation. -He contended that the word of his king was -enough—-as if the word of any king could be -accepted in such a case, and especially of Louis, -who had broken his a thousand times. He pleaded -that the king's great age, his earnest desire for -peace and repose in his declining years, and the -situation of his affairs, were of themselves ample -guarantees for the fulfilment of that Article of the -treaty; and he even melted into tears in his -earnestness to bring the ambassadors to accept -the word of the Grand Monarque. This was all -mere child's play in a treaty which was to be the -result of such a war, and to establish the future -peace of Europe. As time was going on, the -representatives of the Allies, at the end of May, -presented their <em>ultimatum</em>, in forty Articles, the -chief of which were these:—That Philip should -within two months totally evacuate Spain and -Sicily, which with the Indies were to be made -over to Charles; that if Philip refused to evacuate -Spain and Sicily, the King of France, so -far from helping him, should assist the Allies to -expel him; that Spain should never, nor any part -of it, be united to the crown of France; that the -Dutch should receive, as a barrier to their States, -Furnes, Fort Kenoq, Menin, Saverge, Ypres, -Warneton, Comines, Vervick, Lille, Condé, Tournay, -and Maubeuge; that the French should -deliver up all the towns, cities, and fortresses -which they had taken in the Netherlands; that -the fortifications of Dunkirk should be destroyed -and never again be restored; that the Pretender -should quit France; that the Queen of England's -title and that of the Protestant succession should -be acknowledged; that the interests of the Electors -of Bavaria and Cologne should be settled by the -congress which should settle this peace; and that -the Duke of Savoy should receive back everything -taken from him, and should also retain Exilles, -Feneshelles, Chaumont, and the valley of Pragelas. -Strasburg and Kehl were to be given up by Louis, -but Alsace itself retained. The new King of -Prussia and the new Elector of Hanover should -both be acknowledged, and all these preliminaries -should be adopted and the treaty completed within -two months.</p> - -<p>De Torcy, who could not expect for a moment -that Louis would consent to any such terms, to -gain time, however, engaged to send them to -Versailles. He set off for Paris, but at Douay he -saw Marshal Villars, showed him the conditions of -peace, and told him to put his army in order, for -they would never be accepted. Villars replied -that he should be prepared, but that the army -was on the point of utter starvation, and such -was the destitution of the country that he had -no conception how the troops were to exist. No -sooner did De Torcy reach Paris than it was -announced to the Allies that Louis would never -accept such terms. Bouillé was recalled, and was -commissioned by the Allies to assure the king -that no others would be offered; and that, if they -were not accepted by the 15th of June, they should -take the field. But the French king had gained -one great object by the negotiation—it enabled -him to represent to his subjects his earnest -efforts for peace, and the arrogant obstinacy -of the Allies. He had letters circulated all over -France representing the anxious endeavours he -had made to put an end to bloodshed and to -the miseries of Europe; that he had offered to -make unheard-of sacrifices, but to no purpose; -everything had been rejected by the Allies but a -fresh carnage and spoliation. He represented -that the more he had conceded, the more they had -risen in their demands; that he found it impossible -to satisfy their inordinate demands, except -at the cost of the ruin and the eternal infamy -of France.</p> - -<p>The effect of this representation was wonderful. -The whole of France was so roused by indignation -at the supposed treatment of their king, the -insolent rejection of his peaceful desires, that -they execrated the selfish arrogance of the Allies, -for Louis had insinuated that they were carrying -on the war only for their own personal interests. -The kingdom, impoverished and reduced as it -was, determined to support the ill-used monarch -with the last remnant of its substance; and -such exertions were made for the continued -struggle as astonished the world. Nor was the -effect of Louis's representations lost on Marlborough's -enemies in England. They declaimed -on the unreasonableness of the Allies almost as -loudly as the French, and they particularly -denounced the demand that Louis should help to -dethrone and expatriate his own grandson, as the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_587" id="Page_587">[587]</a></span> -most astounding piece of assumption that had -ever been heard of.</p> - -<p>On the 21st of June Marlborough and Prince -Eugene crossed the frontiers of France, and with -a force of one hundred and ten thousand men -drew up in a plain near Lille. Marshal Villars, -considered now the ablest general of France, -encamped his army on the plain of Sens, between -two impassable morasses, and began to entrench -himself. The Allies reconnoitred his position, but -found it too strong to attack him in it; and as -they could not advance towards Paris, leaving -such an enemy behind them, they made a feint -of attacking Ypres; and then, suddenly marching -on Tournay in the night of the 27th of June, -they presented themselves before it on the 7th of -July. The place was strong, but the garrison -was weak. It consisted of only twelve battalions -of infantry and four squadrons of horse, in -very inefficient condition. Villars endeavoured to -throw into the place seven thousand fresh troops, -but he could not effect it. The governor, Lieutenant -de Surville, was a man of great military -skill and determination, and he maintained the -siege with such vigour that the Allies were not -only detained before the place for a long and -invaluable time, but lost many men. The town -capitulated on the 28th of July, when the Allies -were about to carry it by storm, but the citadel -held out till the 3rd of September. The same -day, leaving a detachment under the Earl of -Albemarle to level the defences, the Allies crossed -the Scheldt and determined to besiege Mons. -They sent forward a detachment under the Prince -of Hesse to attack the French lines from the -Haine to the Sambre, which were abandoned at -his approach. At this juncture Marshal Boufflers -arrived to support Villars, and, though his superior -in command, agreed to serve under him. Marlborough, -hearing that Villars had quitted his -camp, and that the French were on the march to -attack the Prince of Hesse and cut off the approaches -to Mons, made a rapid movement, which -brought him face to face with the French army, -which consisted of one hundred and twenty -thousand men—ten thousand more than the army -of the Allies. Villars and Boufflers were encamped -behind the woods of Lanière and Tasnière, in -the neighbourhood of Malplaquet. The Allies -encamped with their right near Sart and Bleron, -and the left on the edge of the wood of Lanière, -the headquarters being at Blaregines. On the 9th -of September the outposts of the two armies -began to skirmish; but the French fell back on an -encampment near Malplaquet, and spent the -night in fortifying their position. Had the Allies -immediately attacked them the battle would have -been less obstinate; but Marlborough was waiting -for the coming up of eighteen battalions, left to rase -the fortifications of Tournay. For the two days -that he thus continued to wait, the French, -with unremitting activity, proceeded to cast up -triple entrenchments; and were, in fact, so completely -covered with lines, hedges, entrenchments, -cannon, and trees laid across, that the Dutch -field-deputies declared that it would be madness -to attack them in such a situation. But on the -10th, when the expected battalions had arrived, -Marlborough and Eugene determined to give -battle.</p> - -<p>Early on the morning of the 11th of September -they availed themselves of a thick fog to erect batteries -on each wing, and, the day clearing about eight -o'clock, the engagement began. The battle began -on the right by eighty-six battalions, commanded -by General Schuylemberg and the Duke of Argyll, -supported by two-and-twenty battalions under -Count Lottum, who broke through the French -lines, and fought with such fury that, notwithstanding -their strong barricades, the French in -less than an hour were forced from their entrenchments, -and compelled to seek refuge in the woods -of Sart and Tasnière. The contest was far more -desperate on the left, where the Prince of Orange -and Baron Fagel, with six-and-thirty battalions, -attacked the right of the enemy, posted in -the woods of Lanière, and covered with three -entrenchments. The Prince of Orange led on -the charge with wonderful bravery, having two -horses killed under him, and the greater part of -his officers killed around him. The engagement -was now general, and the French continued to -fight with the fury of despair from eight in the -morning till three in the afternoon, when, seeing -all their lines forced, their left being utterly routed, -and the centre under Villars giving way, Villars -himself being dangerously wounded, they began to -retreat towards Bavay, under the direction of -Boufflers, and retired to a position between Quesnoy -and Valenciennes. The forest of Ardennes served -to protect the French from the pursuit of their -enemies, and enabled them to carry off most of -their cannon and standards. About forty colours -and standards, and sixteen pieces of cannon, were -taken by the Allies, with a considerable number -of prisoners. But on surveying the field of battle -they found that this was the dearest victory which -they had ever purchased. About twenty thousand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_588" id="Page_588">[588]</a></span> -of their soldiers lay slain, and about ten thousand -of the enemy. Thirty thousand lives sacrificed -in one battle! Neither Blenheim nor Ramillies -could compare with Malplaquet in monstrosity of -carnage. Nor was the impression produced equal -to the destruction. The French, under the able -command of Villars, notwithstanding their defeat, -felt rather reassured than depressed. They had inflicted -far more damage than they had received; and -Villars declared that, had he not been so severely -wounded, he would not have left the field without -the victory. The French having retired into -Valenciennes, the Allies continued the siege of -Mons, which capitulated on the 23rd of October, -and the armies then retired into winter quarters, -after which some resultless negotiations ensued.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_588a.jpg" width="500" height="243" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FIVE-GUINEA PIECE OF ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The Parliament of Great Britain met on the -15th of November, and the queen, opening it in -person, announced in her speech that France had -been endeavouring, by false and hollow artifices, -to amuse the Allies with a prospect of peace, but -with the real intent to sow jealousies amongst -them; that the Allies had wisely rejected the insidious -overtures; that our arms had been as -successful as in any former campaign, and had now -laid France open to the advance of the confederate -troops; and that if they granted her, as she -trusted they would, liberal supplies, she believed -that she would now soon reduce that exorbitant -and oppressive power which had so long threatened -the liberties of Europe. Both Lords and Commons -presented addresses fully approving of the -rejection of the king of France's delusive overtures. -They thanked the Duke of Marlborough for his -splendid victory at Malplaquet. The Commons -voted six million two hundred thousand pounds -for the services of the year, and established the -lottery and other schemes for raising this heavy -sum.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_588b.jpg" width="400" height="177" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>FARTHING OF ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>The great topic, however, which engrossed almost -the whole attention this Session, not only of -Parliament, but of the whole nation, was not -foreign affairs, not the general war, but a party -war at home, which was carried on with the most -extraordinary furor, and put the whole public into -a flame. The ostensible cause of this vehement -conflict was the publication of a couple of sermons -by a clergyman, hitherto of no mark; the real -cause was the determination of Harley and the -Tories to damage the Whigs irremediably, and to -drive them at once from the service of the State -and the support of the people. They therefore -seized with consummate tact on these sermons, -which were, as printed, stupid though -rabid performances; and which, had -they not been adroitly steeped in -party spirit—the most inflammable -of all spirits—and set fire to, might -soon have slept forgotten in the -linings of trunks, or as wrappers of -butter and cheese.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_588c.jpg" width="300" height="275" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>TWO-GUINEA PIECE OF ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<p>On the 13th of December, 1709, Mr. Dolben, the son of the Archbishop -of York, denounced, in the House of Commons, two sermons preached -and published by Dr. Henry Sacheverell, Rector of St. Saviour's, in -Southwark. The first of these sermons had been preached, on the 15th -of August, at the assizes at Derby, before the Judge and Sheriff. The -second had been preached, on the 5th of November, before the Lord Mayor -and Corporation in St. Paul's Cathedral. In both these sermons he had -made an attack, if not avowedly on the Government, on the principles on -which the Throne and the whole Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_589" id="Page_589">[589]</a></span> -were established. He professed the most entire -doctrines of non-resistance and passive obedience, -which, at the same time that they made him -appear incapable, if he had the power, of over-turning -any Government, led him to entirely sap -and undermine the Government and title of the -queen, by representing the resistance which had -been made to the encroachments of the Stuarts, -and especially to James II., as perfectly impious -and treasonable, contrary to the laws of God -and the political institutions of men. He reprobated -the Revolution and all that flowed from it; -and thus, pretending to passive obedience, he was, -in the fullest sense, preaching resistance and a -counter-revolution. Whilst crying non-resistance, -he was, as far as in him lay, arming all those -who were hostilely inclined to overturn the throne -of Anne, as built only on rebellion and on maxims -subversive of the divine right of kings. In his -second sermon, which he called "Perils of False -Brethren," he preached flamingly against the -danger to the Church; danger from the false and -democratic bishops who had been put in by the -usurper William of Orange; danger from the -Dissenters, whom he had by law tolerated, and -made powerful in the State and against the true -Church. With such a jubilant avidity was this -war-note responded to by High Church clergy, High -Church zealots of all sorts, and the Tories ready -to rush to the assault on any promising occasion, -that no less than forty thousand copies of these -sermons are said to have been sold. "Nothing," -says Dr. Johnson, "ever sold like it, except 'The -Whole Duty of Man.'"</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_589.jpg" width="398" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>ROBERT HARLEY, EARL OF OXFORD. (<cite>After the Portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller.</cite>)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_589big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The motion made by Mr. Dolben in regard to -Sacheverell in the House of Commons was seconded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_590" id="Page_590">[590]</a></span> -by Sir Peter King, one of the Aldermen of London, -who had listened to the sermon in St. Paul's -with astonishment and indignation. He denounced -it as abounding with matter false, injurious, impious, -and tending to sedition and schism in the -Church. This had not been the case with all the -City dignitaries on that occasion. Sir Gilbert -Heathcote had indeed been equally astonished at -it, and declared that the preacher ought to be -called to account for it; but the Lord Mayor, -Sir Samuel Garrard, had applauded it, and had -allowed it to be published with his sanction. -Neither was it the first of the kind which had -been preached in London. One Francis Higgins -had been haranguing on the same topics in the -pulpits all over the metropolis, with the most -outrageous declamations on the dangers of the -Church. Sacheverell, however, had brought the -fever to a crisis. The most violent paragraphs -were read in the House of Commons, and voted -scandalous and seditious libels. The doctor was -summoned to the bar of the House, and, having -acknowledged the authorship of the sermons, -pleaded the encouragement which he had received -from the Lord Mayor to print the one on "The -Perils of False Brethren." Sir Samuel Garrard, -who was a member of the House, now repudiated -his encouragement, and the doctor being ordered to -withdraw, it was resolved that he should be impeached -of high crimes and misdemeanours at the -bar of the Lords, and Mr. Dolben was ordered to -conduct his impeachment. A committee was appointed -to prepare the Articles, and Sacheverell -was taken into custody.</p> - -<p>When the impeachment was carried up to the -Lords, Sacheverell petitioned to be admitted to -bail, but this was refused. The Commons committed -him to the custody of the Deputy-Usher -of the Black Rod, but the Lords afterwards -admitted him to bail. The Articles were carried -up to the Lords on the 13th of January, 1710, -and Sacheverell drew up an answer, in which he -wholly denied some of the Articles, and endeavoured -to justify himself in respect to the rest. The -Commons made a reply, and declared themselves -ready to prove the charge. A long delay, however, -took place before the day of trial could be -fixed. The queen was more than suspected of -being favourable to Sacheverell, as influenced by -Harley, Mrs. Masham, and the Tories. When -the doctor appeared before the Commons, he was -attended by Dr. Lancaster, the Vice-Chancellor of -Oxford, and above a hundred of the most distinguished -clergymen of London and other towns, -conspicuous amongst them being several of the -queen's own chaplains. From the moment that -Sacheverell was taken into custody by the Commons, -the Church and Tory party had set all their -engines to work to raise the populace. These -agents were everywhere, distributing money, -treating the mob to ale, and spreading the most -alarming rumours—that the Puritans, the Presbyterians, -and the Dissenters were all combined -to pull down the Church and restore the old -republican practices, and that the prosecution of -Sacheverell was a trial of their strength. The -pulpits resounded in all quarters with these -alarms, with the intention of working up the -people to a pitch of desperation, and they succeeded. -The mob became furious, and paraded -the streets and round the palace, crying, "God -save the Queen and Dr. Sacheverell! Queen and -High Church!"</p> - -<p>Marlborough took his departure for Holland, -and the trial of Sacheverell was fixed for the 27th -of February in Westminster Hall. The managers -for the Commons were the Lords William Paulet -and Coningsby, Sir Thomas Parker, Sir Joseph -Jekyl, Sir John Hollis, Sir John Holland, Sir -James Montague, Sir Peter King (Recorder of -London), Mr. Robert Eyre (Solicitor-General), Mr. -James Stanhope, Mr. Robert Walpole, Mr. Spencer -Cowper, Mr. John Smith, Mr. John Dolben, and -Mr. William Thompson. The prisoner was defended -by Sir Simon Harcourt and Mr. Constantine -Phipps, and was attended by Drs. Smallridge and -Atterbury. The Lord Chancellor Cowper demanded -of the Lords whether it was their pleasure that -Dr. Sacheverell should be called before them; and -the answer being in the affirmative, he was placed -at the bar, his friends Atterbury and Smallridge -standing at his side. Silence being ordered, the -doctor was asked whether he was ready to take -his trial; to which he answered with great confidence -that he was, and should always be ready -to obey the laws of the land. The Articles of -Impeachment were then read. They accused him -of having publicly reflected on the late Revolution; -of having suggested that it was brought about by -odious and unjustifiable means; of having defamed -the Act of Toleration, and cast scurrilous reflections -on those who advocated religious toleration; -of asserting that the Church was in great peril -from her Majesty's Administration; of maintaining -that the civil Constitution of the country -was also in danger; of stigmatising many of the -dignitaries of the Church—some of whom the -queen herself had placed in their posts—as false<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_591" id="Page_591">[591]</a></span> -brethren; and of libelling her Majesty's Ministers, -and especially of branding the Lord High Treasurer -with the name of "Volpone;" and, finally, with -having, in discharge of his sacred office, wickedly -wrested and perverted the Holy Scriptures.</p> - -<p>These charges were well supported by various -members of the Commons, and amongst them -Robert Walpole particularly distinguished himself. -The counsel for the doctor then pleaded in his -behalf, and endeavoured to answer the arguments -adduced against him. Sacheverell, however, was -not contented with this; he delivered a defence -himself which has been generally considered to -be the work of the high Tory divine Atterbury, -and probably with good reason. In this he dwelt -much on his responsibility as a clergyman, and -represented the interests of all his brethren and of -the Church as involved in this attack made upon -them through his person. He expressed the -utmost loyalty towards the queen and the Constitution; -denied having called in question the -Revolution, though he had certainly condemned -in the strongest terms the resistance by which -it was achieved. He declared himself in favour -of the Protestant succession, and asserted that, -as his principle was that of non-resistance in all -cases, he could not by any word or act of his -own endanger the Government as by law established; -as if his very declaration of the principle -of non-resistance and passive obedience did not -condemn <em>in toto</em> the Revolution, the means by which -the queen came to the throne, and encourage all -those who were seeking to restore Popery and -the Stuarts as the rightful religion and rightful -possessors of the throne, both of which had been, -according to his doctrines, forced from their -legitimate place by ungodly and un-Christian -violence; and he concluded by calling on God -and His holy angels to witness that he had never -been guilty of the wicked, seditious, or malicious -acts imputed to him in the impeachment.</p> - -<p>As the doctor went to and from the Hall, his -chair was thronged round by dense crowds, which -attended him to his lodgings in the Temple, or -thence to Westminster Hall. Numbers pressed -forward to kiss his hand; they lifted their hats -to him with the utmost reverence. The windows -were crowded by ladies and gentlemen, who -cheered him vociferously, and many flung down -presents to him. The doctor returned the salutations -by continual bows and smiles, and seemed -wonderfully elated by his sudden consequence. -His chairmen seemed to partake of his glory, -and stepped on as proudly as if they had been -carrying the queen. "This huzzaing," says Defoe, -"made the doctor so popular that the ladies -began to talk of falling in love with him; but -this was only a prelude to the High Church affair. -An essay was to be made on the mob, and the -huzzaing of the rabble was to be artfully improved." -Accordingly after the trial the next -day, February 28th, the mob assembled in dense -masses—sweeps, link-boys, butchers, by a sturdy -guard of whom the doctor was always escorted -to and from the Hall—collected in the City and -began to cry "Down with the Dissenters! High -Church for ever!" And they soon put their -cries in practice by assaulting the Dissenting -chapels, and sacking their interiors. The Tory -writers of the time pretend that the rioters -did this of their own accord, as the mobs had -destroyed the Catholic chapels in 1688; but this -was not the case. The proceedings of the mob -were stimulated and directed by gentlemen, who -followed them in hackney coaches, according to -Cunningham, who is the only writer who has -furnished us with full details of these outrages. -They then directed their rage against the house -of Bishop Burnet, which stood on the other side -of St. John's Square, and attempted to demolish -it. This they must have done under instructions -from their disguised instigators, for Burnet was -hated by the High Church and Tory party for -the distinguished part which he had borne in the -Revolution, for his constant attachment to King -William and his measures, and especially for his -advocacy of toleration. They vowed they would -put the Low Church Bishop to death if they -could catch him; but the respectable inhabitants -vigorously interposed in defence of the Bishop's -house and life, and the mob were compelled to -desist.</p> - -<p>So long as the rioters were only burning and -ruining the Dissenting chapels, the Court remained -most calmly quiescent; but when the -news came that they were beginning to attack -"Low Church as by law established," there was -a bustle and a fright at St. James's. This fright -was wonderfully increased when Sunderland rushed -into the presence of the queen and announced -that the mob was on the march to pull down -and rifle the Bank of England in honour of "High -Church and Dr. Sacheverell." At this news the -queen turned deadly pale, and trembled. She -bade Sunderland send instantly the Horse and -Foot Guards and disperse the rioters. Captain -Horsey, the officer on duty at St. James's, was -at once summoned into the royal presence, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_592" id="Page_592">[592]</a></span> -Sunderland delivered to him the queen's order to -disperse the mob, but to use discretion, and not -to proceed to extremities. Horsey was one of the -anti-Marlborough faction, and received the command -in evident dudgeon. "Am I to preach to -the mob, or am I to fight them?" he asked. "If -you want preaching, please to send some one with -me who is a better hand at holding forth than -I am; if you want fighting, it is my trade, and -I will do my best." Sunderland could only repeat -the order. Horsey easily dispersed the rabble, -who were more valiant against peaceable Dissenters -than against soldiers. In one or two -places they seemed as though they would make -a stand; but on any attempt of the Guards to -charge them they flew like leaves before the wind.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_592.jpg" width="560" height="432" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>DRINKING TO THE HEALTH OF DR. SACHEVERELL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_593">593</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_592big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>The trial lasted for three weeks, and every -day the same crowds assembled, the same hurraing -of Sacheverell, the same appeals to the queen -on behalf of the Church and Dr. Sacheverell -were shouted by the enthusiastic mob. No one -scarcely dared to appear abroad without an -artificial oak-leaf in his hat, which was considered -the badge of restored monarchy, and all the time -the doctor carried the air of a conqueror. At -length, on the 10th of March, the Lords adjourned -to their own House to consider this point, raised -by the counsel for Sacheverell—whether in prosecutions -by impeachments the particular words -supposed to be criminal should be expressly -specified in such impeachments. The question -was referred to the judges, who decided that the -particular words ought to be so specified. It was -objected that the judges had decided according to -the rules of Westminster Hall, and not according -to the usages of Parliament, and it was resolved -to adhere to the usages of Parliament, lest it -should become a practice for the judges to decide -on questions of Parliamentary right and privilege. -On the 16th of March the Lords came to the -consideration of their judgment, and the queen -attended <em>incognita</em> to hear the debate, which was -long and earnest. In the end Sacheverell was pronounced -guilty by a majority of seventeen; but -four-and-thirty peers entered a protest against the -judgment, and his sentence bore no proportion to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_593" id="Page_593">[593]</a></span> -the usual ones in such cases. He was merely -suspended from preaching for three years, and his -sermons were condemned to be burnt by the common -hangman.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_593.jpg" width="560" height="426" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>MAKING FRIENDS WITH MRS. MASHAM. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_594">594</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_593big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>This gentle sentence was regarded by the people -and the Tories as a real triumph. It was proof -of the decline of the Whig party, and of the -fear of offending the public. The event was -celebrated by Sacheverell's mob-friends by bonfires, -and by the inhabitants of London and Westminster -by illuminations. There was plenty of -beer supplied to the populace from some quarter, -and every one passing along was compelled to -drink the health of Dr. Sacheverell, the "champion -of the Church." Sacheverell himself went from -house to house in a state of triumph to thank the -lords and gentlemen who had taken his side. -From some of these, as the Duke of Argyll, he -met with a rebuff; but the great doctor, with -a roaring mob at his heels, was generally flatteringly -received, and he took care to boast that -after his sentence it was clear that the Whigs -were down and the Church was saved. The -University of Oxford, which had received a snub -from the Lords by their ordering its famous -decree asserting the absolute authority and indefeasible -right of princes, to be burnt with Sacheverell's -sermons, was loud in professed triumph -and sympathy with the doctor. The House of -Commons was indignant at the lenity of his -treatment, and declared that his sentence was an -actual benefit to him, by exempting him from the -duties of his living, and enabling him to go about -fomenting sedition.</p> - -<p>The queen prorogued Parliament on the 5th of -April, expressing her concern for the occasion -which had occupied so much of the Session. She -declared that no prince could have a more zealous -desire for the welfare of the Church than she -had, and that it was mischievous in wicked and -malicious libels to pretend that the Church was in -danger; and she trusted that men would now study -to be quiet, and mind their own business, instead -of busying themselves to revive questions of a -very high nature, and which could only be with -an ill intention. But every one knew all the -while that Anne was only too pleased at the -demonstrations which had been made through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_594" id="Page_594">[594]</a></span> -Sacheverell; that they had damaged the Whigs -essentially, and brought the day near when she -could safely send them adrift, and liberate herself -for ever from them and the Marlboroughs. Mrs. -Masham now ruled triumphantly, and disposed of -commissions and offices as royally as ever the -duchess had done. It was openly said in the army -that fighting was not the road to promotion, but -carrying Mrs. Masham's lapdogs, or putting a -heavy purse into the hand of Mrs. Abigail Earwig. -The Duchess of Marlborough did not abate -her exertions to recover favour, but they were in -vain; and the great Marlborough complained in a -letter to the queen that all his victories for her -Majesty's honour could not shield him from the -malice of a bedchamber-woman.</p> - -<p>Indeed, the display of the queen's bias now -became rapid and open. The Duke of Shrewsbury, -who had now joined the Tories, returned from -his long residence at Rome, where he had married -an Italian lady, and had taken the part of -Sacheverell in the trial. The queen immediately -dismissed the Marquis of Kent, a staunch Whig, -from the office of Lord Chamberlain, and, much -to the grief and consternation of the Lord -Treasurer, Godolphin, bestowed it on Shrewsbury. -There was great alarm among the Whigs, and -Walpole recommended the instant and entire -resignation of the whole Cabinet as the only -means to intimidate the queen and her secret -advisers; but Harley is said to have persuaded -the rest of the Ministers that the only object -was to get rid of Godolphin, Marlborough, and -his son-in-law Sunderland. The rumour of Sunderland's -dismissal became general, and not without -foundation. The queen had an extreme -dislike to him, not only because of his belonging -to Marlborough's clique, but on account of his -blunt and outspoken manners. He was perfectly -undisguised in his expressions of dislike -for Mrs. Masham, and of his resolve, if possible, -to turn her out of the palace; but, with the queen's -devotion to that lady, he could have taken no -surer way of getting himself out. The Duchess -of Marlborough, who could not now obtain access -to the queen, yet wrote to her, imploring her to -defer any intention of removing Lord Sunderland -till the duke's return; but the queen forthwith -gave Sunderland his dismissal, and appointed Lord -Dartmouth, an actual Jacobite, in his place. Anne -endeavoured to qualify Lord Sunderland's dismissal -by offering him a retiring pension, but he -rejected it with disdain; and such was the fear -that the Duke of Marlborough, on this act of -disrespect to him, would throw up the command -of the army, that all the leading Ministers—including -Cowper, Somers, Halifax, Devonshire, -Godolphin, and Orford—wrote to him, imploring -him to retain his command, as well for the -security of the Whig Government as for his own -glory and the good of the country. The Allies on -the Continent were equally alarmed at this indication -of the declining favour of Marlborough, -and France was just as elated at it. But nothing -could now stay the fall of the Whigs. Anne, -indeed, ordered Mr. Secretary Boyle to write to -the Allied sovereigns and to the States-General to -assure them that nothing was farther from her -thoughts than the removal of the Duke of Marlborough -from his command, and that she still -proposed to conduct her government by the same -party. The hollowness of these assurances was -immediately shown by her also dismissing Godolphin -from the Treasury, and appointing Harley -Chancellor of the Exchequer. Harley thereupon -proposed to Lord Chancellor Cowper and Walpole -to make a coalition, but they rejected the overture; -and as a Tory Cabinet could not expect to -carry on with a Whig House of Commons, a -dissolution was determined upon, and Parliament -was dissolved accordingly, and writs were issued -for a new election.</p> - -<p>The nomination of the Tory Cabinet immediately -followed. Lord Rochester, the queen's -High Church and deep-drinking uncle, was made -President of the Council in place of Somers; the -Duke of Buckingham succeeded the Duke of -Devonshire as Lord Steward; St. John succeeded -Mr. Secretary Boyle; Sir Simon Harcourt, as -Lord Chancellor, superseded Lord Cowper; the -Duke of Ormonde took the Lord-Lieutenancy -of Ireland from Lord Wharton; the Duke of -Somerset had anticipated these changes by throwing -up his post of Master of the Horse, and the -Earl of Orford was removed from the Admiralty, -and that office was put in commission. In the -room of Walpole, George Granville was made -Secretary at War. Here was a clean sweep of -all the Whigs, except some subordinate officials, -who clung to office as long as it was permitted. -Dr. Sacheverell had done a mighty work for -the Tories, and, having a living in Wales -conferred on him, he made quite a triumphant -progress thither in May, during all the heat and -violence of the elections, still labouring in his -vocation of self-glorification, and of damaging the -Whig cause as much as he could, in which he was -energetically supported by his patrons.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_595" id="Page_595">[595]</a></span></p> - -<p>On the Continent war and negotiation were -going on at the same time whilst the Sacheverell -fever had been raging at home. Early in the -spring Louis XIV., sensible of the miserable condition -of his kingdom, had again made overtures -for peace. The Ministers of the two parties -met at first on board a yacht at Maardyk, but -the French preferred the wretched little town of -Gertruydenberg for their sojourn, where they complained -of the miserable accommodations they -obtained. The Dutch States-General had sent -a pressing request that Marlborough might be -allowed to go to Holland in time to give his -advice in these negotiations, and the two Houses -of Parliament seconded this request. The queen -readily consented, though it was suspected the -whole was done at the suggestion of Marlborough -himself, to show how essential his services were -deemed by the Allies. Though Marlborough -hastened to the Hague in consequence, he did -not in any way appear openly in the matter, but -appeared busy with Prince Eugene in setting early -on foot the campaign. The French ambassadors -represented themselves as being not only most -meanly entertained, but as meanly and narrowly -watched—their letters being opened, and their -propositions met by haughty discourtesy. Certainly, -if we were to regard the concessions made -by Louis XIV. on this occasion as honestly offered, -the Allies had never a fairer opportunity of closing -the war triumphantly, and were most culpable in -refusing them. Louis offered to give up all Spain, -and the Indies, East and West; to acknowledge -Charles king of undivided Spain; to give no support -to Philip, but to claim for him only Sicily -and Naples. When it was objected that Naples -was already in the possession of Austria, and could -not be given up, the ambassadors waived the claim -of Naples, and contented themselves with Sicily -and Sardinia for Philip. As a security for Philip -evacuating Spain, they offered to give up four -cautionary towns in Flanders; to restore Strasburg -and Brisac; to destroy all their fortifications -on the Rhine from Basle to Philippsburg; to level -all the fortifications of Dunkirk; and to surrender -to the Dutch Maubeuge, Condé, Furnes, Menin, -Ypres, Tournai, and Lille.</p> - -<p>Surely nothing could be more complete. By -gaining all these advantages the Allies gained -everything they had been fighting for. They -wanted not only an agreement for the surrender -of Spain, but a sufficient guarantee for it; and -this guarantee they demanded in the shape of an -engagement that Louis should help them with -actual money and arms to expel Philip from Spain -if he refused to evacuate it, and really to place -Austria in possession of it. This was certainly -putting the sincerity of Louis to sufficient test, -and Louis failed under it. He contended that it -would be monstrous and unnatural to take arms -against his own grandson, but that he would contribute -money for this purpose—which, to ordinary -intellects, looks quite as monstrous. He offered, -according to his able Prime Minister De Torcy, to -pay five hundred thousand livres a month towards -this object, or even to raise it to a million of -money if the Allies would not be satisfied with less. -But as the Allies, in the first place, knew that -Louis had not money to meet the demands of his -own Government, and, in the second place, that -Philip had sent an express declaration to the -Allies, when this question was mooted before, that -he stood on his rightful claim through the will of -Charles II., the late King of Spain, and would -recognise no pretensions of any party to deal with -his patrimony—they declined the offer, and declared -they would be contented with nothing less -than the actual possession of the country. They -knew that at the very time that these negotiations -were going on, Philip was making fresh and strenuous -exertions to drive Charles from Spain; that he -had appealed to Louis to send him the Duc de -Vendôme to take the command in that country, -with which request Louis promptly complied. -They knew that France had only to close the -passes of the Pyrenees, and, under the pretence -of protecting her own frontiers from the armies in -Spain, shut out all attack on Philip, except by -sea.</p> - -<p>On this rock, therefore, the whole negotiation -was wrecked. Louis had flattered himself that -Marlborough, distracted by the state of affairs in -England, would be anxious to make peace, in order -that he might be on the spot to resist the fall of -the Whig party at home, and with it of his influence. -But the wiser De Torcy reasoned very -differently. He saw that the party of Marlborough -was already ruined, and for him to return -home would be to return to insignificance, -mortification, and insult. His only safety and -strength lay in the continuance of the war; on -the chance of reaping new victories, and, therefore, -new humiliation to his enemies. And in this -De Torcy was correct. Marlborough did not appear -in the matter. Lord Townshend for England, and -Count Zinzendorff for the Emperor, were consulted -by the States-General on all the points of the -treaty; but the Pensionary Heinsius, the devoted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_596" id="Page_596">[596]</a></span> -friend of Marlborough and Eugene, kept them -<i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">au fait</i> on the whole subject, and influenced the -States-General as they dictated. The result was -that, after the negotiations had continued from the -19th of March to the 21st of July, during which -there was a rapid and frequent interchange of -messages with Versailles, the conference broke up.</p> - -<p>The campaign had not paused for the issue of -the conference. Eugene and Marlborough left the -Hague on the 15th of March, and assembled their -troops, which quartered on the Meuse, at Tournai. -The confederate army amounted to sixty thousand -men, with which they invested Douay, and, Eugene -remaining to carry on the siege, Marlborough -advanced to Vitry, where he encamped. Marshal -Villars—at the head of an army numerous and well -appointed, considering the distresses of France, -and all the more numerous because men, destitute -of the means of livelihood, flocked to the royal -banners—passed the Scheldt and encamped at -Bouchain, declaring that he would engage the -Allies; but he thought better of it. His aim was to -embarrass the siege of Douay, in which there was -a strong French garrison, commanded by General -Albergotti. The defence was vigorous, Albergotti -making frequent sallies, and altogether the Allies -suffered severely before the town. It was compelled, -however, to capitulate on the 26th of June. -Eugene and Marlborough, being again united, contemplated -forcing the lines of the enemy between -Arras and Miramont, but finding them too strong, -they resolved to besiege Béthune, which in spite -of the menacing attitude of Marshal Villars, who -marched out of his entrenchments as if going to -attack them, surrendered on the 29th of August. -They afterwards took also the inconsiderable -towns of Aire and Verrant, and there the campaign -ended. The armies broke up and retired to -winter quarters.</p> - -<p>This was a poor result after the grand schemes -of storming Boulogne and marching upon Paris. -The fact was, that the anxious condition of affairs -at home completely paralysed Marlborough. He -was no longer the man he had been. His mind -was dragged different ways, and was harassed with -anxieties. He could no longer concentrate his -attention on one great plan of warfare, and the -consequence was, that his action was spiritless and -indecisive. He seemed to have lost the secret of -success, and met with annoyances which his vigilance -and promptitude had hitherto prevented. On one -occasion a great supply of powder and other stores -was intercepted by the enemy, though under the -guard of twelve hundred foot and four hundred -and eighty horse. In a word he was discouraged, -divided in his own mind, and the spell of victory, -or rather of high enterprise, was broken.</p> - -<p>In other quarters the scene was not more encouraging. -Nothing of consequence was effected -on the Rhine, and in Piedmont the Duke of Savoy, -still out of humour with the Emperor, did nothing. -The Imperial forces were commanded by Count -Daun, who endeavoured to cross the Alps and -penetrate into Dauphiné, but was effectually kept -back by the Duke of Berwick, who held the mountain -passes. In Spain, after a brilliant commencement -of the campaign, everything went to ruin. -General Stanhope, having passed in his Parliamentary -character through the Sacheverell campaign, -joined the Imperial general, Count Stahremberg, in -Catalonia, in May. On the 10th of July they -encountered the army of King Philip at Almenara. -Stanhope had the charge of the cavalry, killed with -his own hand the commander of Philip's guards, -General Amessaga, and routed the whole body of -horse, upon which the infantry retired precipitately -on Lerida. General Stahremberg pursued the flying -army to Saragossa, where King Philip made a -stand, but was again defeated, with a loss of five -thousand men, seven thousand taken prisoners, -with all his artillery, and a great number of colours -and standards. Charles and his confederates -entered Saragossa in triumph, and Philip continued -his flight to Madrid. Whilst victory was with -them, General Stanhope urged King Charles to -push on to Madrid, drive Philip into the Pyrenees, -and secure the pass of Pampeluna, the only one by -which Louis could send reinforcements. But the -inert Austrian loitered away a whole month at -Saragossa, and it was not till the middle of September -that Stanhope could induce him to advance. -On the 21st of that month Stanhope, still leading -the way, entered Madrid without opposition, Philip -and all the grandees having retreated to Valladolid. -On the 28th Charles himself made his entry into -Madrid, but General Stanhope soon perceived that -he had no welcome. The Castilians to a man were -for Philip, and did the army of Charles all the -mischief they could, cutting off his supplies, attacking -his outposts, and destroying all the stragglers -and foragers that they could meet with. Stanhope -still urged Charles to send on a detachment to -secure Toledo, and to keep open the passage of the -Tagus to facilitate an expected advance of Portuguese -troops in his favour. The Portuguese, however, -did not make their appearance; provisions failed -in Madrid, for the peasantry held back the supply, -and the whole army marched to Toledo, where it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_597" id="Page_597">[597]</a></span> -found itself still worse off. Philip, meanwhile, had -sent in haste to request reinforcements from Louis -under the command of the Duc de Vendôme, and -these approaching, the timid Charles hastened back -into Catalonia as the only place of security.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_597.jpg" width="405" height="560" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH'S INTERVIEW WITH ANNE. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_599">599</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_597big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_598" id="Page_598">[598]</a></span></p> - -<p>Such was continually the fluctuating condition -of the war in Spain. The Spaniards had no inclination -to support Charles, and the Allies only -sent troops sufficient to win victories, but not to -maintain them, still less to secure the passes in the -Pyrenees and keep back fresh French armies. It -was another of our futile attempts to support a -man who, unless he could support himself, had no -business there. At this juncture the Tories, having -risen into power, withheld fresh reinforcements. -They were not hearty in the war, and our small -army there was left to contend with impossibilities. -The English and Imperialists unwillingly following -in the track of the king towards Catalonia, for -the sake of better procuring provisions on the -route, had separated and marched at some distance -from each other, though in parallel lines. In this -condition they were suddenly overtaken by -Vendôme on the 8th of December, and Stanhope, -with his five thousand men, found himself surrounded -by the main army of the French. This -was an instance of want of circumspection which -was not anticipated in General Stanhope after his -vigorous and able operations hitherto, and procured -him severe blame. He managed to despatch a -messenger to Stahremberg for help; but his powder -was nearly exhausted, and after courageously -defending himself till the next day, he was compelled -to surrender himself in the little town of -Brihuega. Stahremberg was accused of tardy -movement for the relief of Stanhope, but he -was probably prevented from coming up by the -forces of Vendôme, who attacked him also on the -10th at Villaviciosa. Vendôme's troops are said -to have doubled in number those of Stahremberg. -Stahremberg's left wing was routed, and great -slaughter made of them; but Stahremberg himself -maintained the fight with his right wing till night, -when the French retreated, having suffered equally -severely with the troops of Stahremberg. The -Imperial general, however, found himself unable to -pursue the advantage; he ordered all the guns to -be spiked, and retreated as fast as possible into -Catalonia. Vendôme pursued him, took Balaguer -on the way, in which he left a garrison, and -followed Stahremberg to the very walls of Barcelona. -About the same time the Duc de Noailles -invested Gironne, and took it in the severity of -the winter weather; and thus was Charles, after a -few months' campaign, which began so splendidly, -stripped of the whole Spanish monarchy, with the -exception of Catalonia, which was itself greatly -exposed and very inefficiently defended.</p> - -<p>At home the new Parliament met on the 25th -of November. There was a strong infusion of -Tories sent up, but there was still also a strong -party of Whigs. The Tories, however, carried the -Speakership in the person of Mr. Bromley, in the -place of the late Whig Speaker, Onslow; but -the chief managers of the Sacheverell trial had -managed to secure their own return. The -queen, on the other hand, showed her prejudice -by knighting Mr. Constantine Phipps, -Sacheverell's counsel, and making him Lord Chancellor -of Ireland, and giving other promotions to -marked Tories. In her Speech, Anne declared -that she would support the Church of England, -maintain the Constitution, and grant the indulgence -allowed by law to scrupulous consciences. -The word was no longer "toleration," but "indulgence," -the very phrase used by Sacheverell—another -proof of the queen's leaning towards -the doctor. And this phrase now became general -in the High Church, the doctrine being that whatever -liberty the Dissenters enjoyed was of indulgence, -and not of right. In the House of Lords -the Earl of Scarborough moved the usual vote of -thanks to the Duke of Marlborough, but the Duke -of Argyll opposed it; and the duke's friends let -the matter drop, hoping to carry it when the duke -returned. Other signs of the great change which -had taken place in the domestic policy of the -nation quickly followed. The Earl of Peterborough, -who had so long suffered from the -overwhelming shade of Marlborough, was appointed -Ambassador-Extraordinary to the Imperial -Court. The Earl of Rivers was appointed -Ambassador to Hanover; and Richard Hill, a -kinsman of Mrs. Masham, Ambassador-Extraordinary -to the States-General, and also to the -Council of State appointed for the government -of the Spanish Netherlands, in the place of Lieutenant-General -Cadogan. Colonels Meredith, -Macartney, and Honeywood, were deprived of -their regiments for drinking confusion to the -enemies of the Duke of Marlborough. The -Marlborough reign was at an end.</p> - -<p>The Tories being now in power, there was an -entire revolution of opinion and of measures. -Everything which had been applauded and encouraged -under the Whigs was now to be decried; -everything which had been kept down was -to be set on high. When Marlborough, therefore,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_599" id="Page_599">[599]</a></span> -arrived during the Christmas holidays, it was to -a most cold reception. There were no longer -popular acclamations, nor Lords and Commons -hurrying to offer him thanks and eulogies for his -eminent services. The public mind had been carefully -indoctrinated on this point, and the great -commander landed in a most expressive silence. -He waited, as was his duty, on the queen, was -admitted to about half an hours audience, and -the next morning attended a meeting of the Privy -Council. But both in the Presence and the -Council Chamber the same ominous and freezing -silence reigned. The queen plainly told him that -he was now no longer to expect the thanks of -Parliament as formerly; and she added that, notwithstanding, -she trusted he would act in harmony -with her Ministers. Marlborough showed no outward -signs of resentment. He was anxious still -to continue the command of the army, and to put -the finish to his successes by compelling a satisfactory -peace from Louis, now reduced to the most -terrible straits.</p> - -<p>The duke saw that it was time for the duchess -to resign her offices. The queen had repeatedly -insisted to Marlborough that the duchess should -deliver up the gold keys, the token of her offices -of Groom of the Stole and Mistress of the Robes; -but that resolute woman refused to comply. -Marlborough, unable to obtain the keys, endeavoured -to mollify the queen's anger at the -delay. His appeal, however, did not decrease the -queen's impatience, and Marlborough imperatively -demanded the keys from his wife. For some time -she vehemently refused to part with them, but -after a violent and stormy altercation (according -to Cunningham) she finished by flinging them -at his head. The duke snatched them up and -hurried to the palace with them, where, says the -same authority, the Queen received them with far -greater pleasure than if he had brought her the -spoils of the army; at which, he says, "the -duchess flew about the town in a rage, and with -eyes and words full of vengeance."</p> - -<p>There was no doubt that the queen's exultation -was great at being at length liberated from -the heavy and imperious yoke of the Marlboroughs. -People who had absented themselves -from Court for years, now presented themselves -there to pay their respects, and, amongst them, -the Duke of Beaufort congratulated Anne that -he could now salute his queen in reality. The -duchess's places were immediately given to the -Duchess of Somerset and Mrs. Masham. The -Tory raid against the Whigs was pursued with -unpausing ardour. An inquiry was set on foot -in the Lords into the conduct of the war in Spain. -The Earl of Peterborough's turn was now come. -He was examined before a committee, and imputed -the mismanagement of the war in Spain to -Galway and General Stanhope. Galway made an -able defence, but the House, notwithstanding, -passed a resolution that Lord Peterborough had -most honourably distinguished himself by his able -counsels and active services in Spain; and that -Galway, Lord Tyrawley, and General Stanhope -had been very culpable in advising an offensive -war in Spain, which had caused all our misfortunes, -and especially the battle of Almanza. But -in blaming the generals they blamed also the -Ministers who sanctioned the war, and then so -badly supported it. The failure of the attempt -on Toulon was attributed to the same cause. -Thanks were voted to Lord Peterborough; and -in rendering them it was not forgotten to make -some caustic criticisms on Marlborough.</p> - -<p>To increase the power of the Tory landlords in -the House of Commons, and diminish that of the -Whig supporters in the boroughs, an Act was -introduced—and the Commons were weak enough -to pass it—making it necessary that every candidate -for Parliament in the counties should possess -six hundred a year in real property, and for -a borough seat three hundred; and this law -lasted to our time, when, however, it was repealed.</p> - -<p>But in spite of the triumphant position of the -Tories, Harley found his individual position far -from enviable. His caution made him inimical to -the more violent Tories, who were impatient to exercise -their power without restraint; of which his -colleague St. John, at once ambitious and unprincipled, -artfully availed himself to undermine -the man by whom he had risen. But an incident -occurred to excite a fresh interest in Harley, and -give a new impetus to his power. Amongst the -horde of foreigners—Germans, Italians, French, and -Poles—who contrived to draw English money by -acting as spies on their own governments, and -very frequently on the English one too, was the -so-called Marquis of Guiscard. This man had -been in receipt of five hundred pounds a year. He -had obtained the salary, it is said, through St. -John, being a devoted companion of that accomplished -scoundrel in his dissipations. Harley -doubted the value of his services, and reduced the -pension to four hundred pounds a year; and St. -John is also said to have suffered him to endure -the curtailment without much remonstrance, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_600" id="Page_600">[600]</a></span> -then, to avoid Guiscard's importunities, refused to -see him. Guiscard immediately offered his services -to the French Government as a spy on the English -Court, through a letter to one Moreau, a banker -of Paris. The letter was intercepted, and Guiscard -arrested. On being brought before the Privy -Council he desired to speak in private to St. -John, whom, it is suspected, he intended to assassinate, -but St. John refused his demand. He then -exclaimed, "That is hard! not one word!" and -suddenly stepping up to Harley, he cried, "Have -at thee, then!" and stabbed him with his penknife. -The knife, striking against the breastbone, -broke near the handle; but the excited foreigner -struck him again with such force that Harley fell -to the ground covered with blood. St. John, seeing -Harley fall, exclaimed, "The villain has killed -Mr. Harley!" drew his sword, and ran him -through. The whole Council was up and in confusion. -All drew their swords and surrounded -the murderous prisoner. He was wounded in -various places, and knocked down by blows from -the hands of others. The doorkeepers and messengers -rushed in at the noise, and Guiscard was -dragged to prison. He died in Newgate of his -wounds; and such was the curiosity of the populace -to see his body that the turnkey kept it in -pickle, and made a good sum by showing him for -several days.</p> - -<p>Harley's wound was not serious, but it served -to make a political hero and martyr of him; Guiscard -being represented as a Papist, and instigated -from France to destroy this champion of England -and the Church. On Harley's appearance in the -House of Commons he was congratulated on his -happy escape in a most eulogistic speech by the -Speaker; and an Act was passed, making it felony -without benefit of clergy to attempt the life of a -Privy Councillor. The Earl of Rochester dying -at this juncture, left Harley entirely at the head -of the Cabinet, and he was immediately raised to -the peerage, first as Baron Wigmore, and then as -Earl of Oxford and Mortimer. He was, moreover, -appointed Lord Treasurer, much to his own gratification -and glory, but little to the furtherance of -the national business, for he was naturally inert -and indecisive, whilst all around him was a scandalous -scene of corruption, intrigue, and neglect.</p> - -<p>Marlborough had set out for Holland in -the month of February. He assembled his army -at Orchies, between Lisle and Douay, about the -middle of April, and Marshal Villars encamped -between Cambray and Arras. The duke soon -after passed the Scarpe, and took post between -Douay and Bouchain, where he was joined by his -faithful comrade-in-arms Prince Eugene; but that -great general was soon compelled to leave him to -repel the French forces which were directed -against Germany on the Upper Rhine. The army -of Marshal Villars was a very numerous one, and -he had defended his lines with redoubts and other -works so formidably that he thought he would at -last checkmate Marlborough. These lines extended -from Bouchain, on the Scheldt, along the Sanset -and the Scarpe to Arras, and thence along the -Upper Scarpe to Cambray. But Marlborough did -not despair of entering them by stratagem, if not -by force. He ordered a great quantity of fascines -to be prepared, and made a pretence of a direct -attack on the lines where he was; but he at -the same time secretly despatched Generals Cadogan -and Hompesch to surprise the passage of -the Sanset at Arleux. Brigadier Sutton was also -despatched with the artillery and pontoons to lay -bridges over the canals near Goulezen, and over -the Scarpe at Vitry. By the time that these -operations could be effected, Marlborough suddenly -quitted his position at nine in the evening, marched -the whole of his army through the night, and by -five in the morning had crossed the Scarpe at -Vitry. There, receiving the information that -Hompesch had secured the passes of the Sanset -and the Scheldt, Marlborough continued his march -on Arleux; and, after a march of ten leagues -without halting, was encamped on the Scheldt -between Estrun and Ois. Thus, by this unexampled -dexterity and exertion, he was completely -within the boasted impregnable lines of Villars. -This general, on becoming aware of his opponent's -motions, pursued him with headlong haste, but he -arrived too late to prevent his design; and, whilst -the Duke of Marlborough was extolled as a general -of consummate ability, Villars was ridiculed even -by his own officers for suffering himself to be outwitted.</p> - -<p>The Dutch deputies this time, so far from retarding -the duke's enterprise, were desirous that -he should at once attack Villars; but he would -not hazard a battle whilst his men were fatigued -by their enormous march. He determined, on the -contrary, to commence the siege of Bouchain. -The place was remarkably strong, and difficult of -access from its situation in a marsh; yet, by the -10th of August, 1711, he had compelled it to -surrender, the garrison of six thousand becoming -prisoners of war. With this exploit Marlborough -closed his brilliant career. His enemies at home—Oxford, -St. John, Dartmouth, and the Tories in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_601" id="Page_601">[601]</a></span> -general—had fondly hoped that this campaign he -was going to certain defeat and disgrace; but, in -spite of all his disadvantages, he had placed the -Allied armies, by this conquest of Bouchain, on the -highway to Paris. The Allies were in possession -of the Meuse, almost as far as the Sambre; of the -Scheldt from Tournai; and of the Lys as far as it -was navigable. They had reduced Spanish Guelderland, -Limburg, Brabant, and Flanders, with the -greatest part of Hainault, and were in a position, -by one more vigorous campaign, to carry the war -to the very gates of Louis's capital. Such a -triumph, however, the malice of the Tories had -determined that Britain and the world should -not witness. After the capture of Bouchain, the -Allied armies went into quarters in the frontier -towns, ready for the campaign of the spring; and -in the middle of November Marlborough returned -to England.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_601.jpg" width="560" height="414" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>THE FRACAS IN THE PRIVY COUNCIL. (<em>See p.</em> <a href="#Page_600">600</a>.)</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_601big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>In Spain, whither the Duke of Argyll had been -sent to command the English forces, nothing had -been done, from the want of everything to carry -on the war, and the expedition of Mrs. Masham's -brother Jack Hill to Quebec had met with the -fate which might have been expected. This expedition -had been planned by Colonel Nicholson, -who had taken possession of Nova Scotia and -garrisoned Port Royal. He had brought to -England four American Indians to excite attention, -and represented the great advantages which -would accrue from the conquest of Canada and the -expulsion of the French from that part of the -world. The idea was excellent, and, had it been -carried out with ability, might have anticipated -the policy of Lord Chatham and the victory of -Wolfe; but the Ministers were not hearty in the -cause. Harley is said to have been averse from -it, and St. John to have advocated it because he -saw that it would gratify Mrs. Masham. In an -ill-advised hour, therefore, the command of this -important expedition was confided to a man -against whose total unfitness for command of every -sort Marlborough had earnestly warned them. At -Boston, in New England, the expedition was -joined by two regiments of colonists and about -four thousand men, consisting of American planters, -Palatines, and Indians, encamped at Albany, in -order to march by land into Canada, whilst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_602" id="Page_602">[602]</a></span> -the fleet advanced up the St. Lawrence. The -squadron had already entered the river when, on -the 21st of August, it was assailed by a violent -tempest. Eight transports were driven aground -and wrecked, and eight hundred men perished—some -by drowning, others by the tomahawks of the -Indians and the muskets of the French colonists. -The damage, however, was of no important extent -to a really able commander; but the poor witless -Hill, thrust into responsibility by favouritism, was -utterly confounded. The fleet put back to Spanish -River Bay, where a council was held, and, as the -forces were only victualled for six weeks, it was -determined to return home.</p> - -<p>But whilst Marlborough had been ably preparing -the way in Flanders for finishing the war in -triumph, and compelling the King of France to -make such a peace as should secure the peace of -Europe and indemnify England for all that she -had suffered and expended for that object, the -Tory Ministers and the queen had been as busy -undermining and rendering abortive his plans -and exertions. They were determined to make -peace at any cost, so that the Whigs should receive -nothing but reproaches from the nation for having -led it into so long and bloody a war without any -real results. The Tories were to render the war -useless, and the Whigs to bear the blame of it.</p> - -<p>St. John was clearly ready to admit the Pretender -instead of the House of Hanover, and had -been in close correspondence with the Court of St. -Germains, and there is every reason to believe that -it was with the cognisance and approval of the -queen, who hated the House of Hanover. But -Harley was bent on maintaining the Protestant -succession, whilst he was equally determined on -the achievement of a peace damaging to the Whigs. -He knew too well that, however the queen might -lean towards the restoration of her brother, the -Pretender, the nation would never submit to it. -He therefore entered into a secret negotiation with -France on another basis to that of St. John.</p> - -<p>Nothing is more certain than that the queen -was strongly inclined to admit the claims of her -brother, James Stuart, the Old Pretender, if he -could be brought to renounce the Catholic religion, -and that she entered into a correspondence -on this head. It is true that she continued to -express doubts of his being really her brother, yet -she every now and then let observations escape -her which showed that she really believed him to -be so. It was on the ground of this conviction -that she corresponded with him regarding his -succession to the Crown, and was only compelled -to give up his claim because she could not bring -him to abandon his attachment to his religion. -Amongst those who supported the claims of the -Pretender were her uncle Rochester and Marshal -Tallard—still prisoner of war at Nottingham, and -kept there by Louis on the understanding that he -was more useful there as a secret negotiator than -he would be anywhere else at the head of an army.</p> - -<p>After the disgrace of Guiscard the Abbé -Gualtier became the agent of Harley for carrying -on the proposals for peace with France. Gualtier -was a man of very infamous life, but he was a -more cautious and diplomatic man than Guiscard. -He and Tallard urged on the Pretender's claims to -the last moment. So late as May of the year 1711 -the Pretender addressed a long letter to Queen -Anne, which is to be seen in the Macpherson -State Papers, in which, addressing her as his sister, -he appeals to her by the natural affection which he -bears her, and which he protests that their common -father bore her till his death, to see him righted. -He reminds her of her promises which she had -made to her father on this head, and argues that, -as he never would relinquish his just claims, the -only way to prevent the continual excitement, -disquietude, and wars injurious to the realm, is to -admit his claim. And he concludes thus:—"And -now, madam, as you tender your own honour and -happiness, and the preservation and re-establishment -of an ancient royal family, the safety and -welfare of a brave people, who are almost sinking -under present weights, and have reason to fear far -greater, who have no reason to complain of me, -and whom I must still and do love as my own, I -conjure you to meet me in this friendly way of -composing our differences, by which only we can -hope for those good effects which will make us both -happy, yourself more glorious than in all the other -parts of your life, and your memory dear to all -posterity."</p> - -<p>The Pretender offered to give all liberty to the -Church and to the Dissenters, but he would not -abandon his own religion. On reading this letter -the disappointed queen said to the Duke of -Buckingham—who had married her half-sister, -James II.'s natural daughter Catherine, by -Catherine Sedley, and who was in her confidence—"How -can I serve him, my lord? You well know that -a Papist cannot enjoy this crown in peace. Why -has the example of the father no weight with the -son?" Here she acknowledged that the Pretender -was the son of James. But she added, "He prefers -his religious errors to the throne of a great -kingdom; he must thank himself, therefore, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_603" id="Page_603">[603]</a></span> -his exclusion." Still she begged Buckingham to -try further to persuade him; it was in vain, and -Anne gave up the hope of his restoration, and -turned her whole mind to the conclusion of a peace -including the Protestant succession.</p> - -<p>Gualtier was despatched to Versailles secretly, -and, to avoid detection, without any papers, but -with full instructions relating to the proposals for -peace. He introduced himself to De Torcy, the -Prime Minister of Louis, and assured him that the -English Government was prepared to enter into -negotiations for peace independently of the Dutch, -whom De Torcy had found so immovable. This -was delightful news to the French Minister, who -was overwhelmed with the necessities of France, -which were come to that pass that peace on any -terms, or invasion, appeared inevitable. In his own -memoirs De Torcy says that "to ask a French -Minister then whether he wished for peace, was -like asking a man suffering under a long and -dangerous malady whether he wished to be better." -On being convinced that Gualtier was a <i xml:lang="la" lang="la">bonâ-fide</i> -agent of the English Court, the French Court was -thrown into the most delightful astonishment. -Gualtier told De Torcy that it was not necessary -to commit himself by written documents on the -matter; he had only to write a simple note to -Lord Jersey, saying that he was glad to have -heard of his lordship's health through the Abbé, -and had charged him with his thanks; that this -would give the English Ministers to understand -that their proposition had been favourably entertained, -and that the negotiation would be gone -into in earnest.</p> - -<p>So far as the English Ministers were concerned, -they now rushed on with that reckless impetuosity -of which wily politicians like Louis and De -Torcy were sure to take advantage. Gualtier -was authorised to write to De Torcy in the name -of the English Ministry, requesting his most -Christian Majesty to communicate to them the -terms on which he would feel disposed to make a -general peace—just as if England, and not France, -were at an extremity, and in a condition not to -dictate, but only to accept of terms. Louis was so -general in his answer that it was necessary for -Gualtier to make another journey to Versailles—thus -giving the idea that it was England rather -than France which was all anxiety for a peace. -Gualtier returned with certain propositions, but -Marlborough was now driving Villars before him, -and was in possession of Bouchain, and prepared -to make himself master of Paris in another campaign. -We were entitled to make the amplest -demands, and our Allies were entitled to know -what they were, and to enjoy the benefit of circumstances. -Our Ministers continued to negotiate -without the Dutch and Germans, because they -meant to accept terms which they knew their allies -would not condescend to. But the intelligence of -our proceedings soon reached the Hague, and the -States-General quickly demanded an explanation, -and at the same time announced again -to De Torcy, that they were prepared to -treat in co-operation with England. The English -Ministers were thereupon compelled to communicate -the French memorial to the States-General. -Lord Raby, the British ambassador at -the Hague, wrote urging the necessity of keeping -faith with the Dutch, who were greatly incensed -at our taking measures for a peace without them, -and apprising them that every letter received -from France conveyed the delight of the French -in the prospect of being able to sow discord -amongst the Allies. The States soon informed -the Ministers of England that they were quite -prepared to go along with them in the treaty -for peace, but they would insist on the conditions -being ample and satisfactory. In order -to convert Lord Raby into a devoted advocate -of a disgraceful and undignified policy, -St. John wrote to inform him that it was -her Majesty's pleasure that he should come over -to England, in order to make himself perfect -master of the important subjects about to be -discussed. Lord Raby was a Wentworth, nearly -allied in descent to the Earl of Strafford who was -beheaded in the time of Charles I., and he had long -been soliciting for himself the renewal of that title. -St. John therefore adroitly announced to him -that, on his reaching London, it was her Majesty's -gracious intention to confer that honour upon -him. This intimation at once threw Raby into -a fever of gratitude, and he made the most ardent -professions of doing all in his power to serve her -Majesty.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_604.jpg" width="560" height="435" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>MARLBOROUGH HOUSE IN THE TIME OF ANNE.</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_604big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>These obstacles to their entering into a dishonourable -peace being removed, Gualtier was -once more despatched to Versailles, and this time -accompanied by Matthew Prior, a poet of some -pretension and much popularity, but much more -distinguished as a diplomatist. He had lived in -France, knew the French and French Court well, -having been secretary to the embassies of the -Earls of Portland and Jersey. Prior was a man -of courtly and insinuating manners, and devoted -to Harley and the Tory interest. The propositions -which he brought from the queen as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_604" id="Page_604">[604]</a></span> -the basis of the peace were—that the Dutch -should have a barrier in the Netherlands; that the -German Empire should have another on the Rhine; -that the Duke of Savoy should receive back all -towns or territories taken during the war; that -proper protection should be obtained for the trade -of England and Holland; that France should -acknowledge the title of Anne and the Protestant -succession; that the fortifications of Dunkirk -should be destroyed; that Gibraltar and Port -Mahon should continue in British possession; that -Newfoundland and Hudson's Bay should also be -acknowledged as British, but that the French should -be allowed to trade to Hudson's Bay; that in -other respects France and England should retain -their possessions in America as they did before -the war; that the Assiento, or contract for supplying -the Spanish Colonies of South America -with slaves—which had formerly been held by -the Portuguese, but, since 1702, by the French—should -be made over to England, with four towns -on the Spanish Main, anywhere between the -Straits of Magellan and California, as depôts for -the slaves when first brought over. The terms -might have been better, but they were substantial. -As Prior and Gualtier had no powers -to accept terms from France, M. Mesnager, -an expert diplomatist, deputy from Rouen to -the Board of Trade in Paris, was despatched to -London with the English envoys. They were to -return in all secrecy, and Mesnager was furnished -with certain instructions wholly unknown to Prior -and Gualtier. These were, that an equivalent for -the destruction of the fortifications of Dunkirk -was to be demanded; and that some towns in -Flanders which the French had lost, particularly -Lille and Tournay, should be restored. These -demands he was to keep very close, and only -cautiously but firmly open to the principal negotiators. -But the secret was out that a treaty was -on foot with France, and the general opinion was -that the Ministers were bent on making peace on -any terms. The Government, nevertheless, kept -the matter as much out of sight as possible. The -queen sent Prior to apologise to Mesnager for his -being received in so secret a manner, and Oxford, -St. John, Jersey, and Shrewsbury were appointed -to confer with him privately. On the 8th of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_605" id="Page_605">[605]</a></span> -October the English Commissioners and Mesnager -had agreed upon the preliminaries and signed -them. Mesnager was then privately introduced -to the queen at Windsor, who made no secret of -her anxiety for peace, telling him she would do -all in her power to complete the treaty and live -in good-fellowship with the King of France, to -whom she was so closely allied in blood. At -supper she said publicly that she had agreed to -treat with France. The Ministers were just as -incautious, for Swift was invited by St. John the -same evening to sup with him and a small party -in his apartments in Windsor Castle. This party -consisted of no other persons than Mesnager himself, -Gualtier, and the infamous Abbé Dubois, -tutor to the young Duke of Orleans, this profligate -having also been engaged in assisting -Mesnager in the treaty. With them was Prior. -All these particulars Swift wrote, as he wrote -everything, to Stella in Ireland. Yet when the -preliminaries were handed to Count Gallas, the -Imperial ambassador, who, in his indignation, -immediately had them translated and inserted -in one of the daily papers, the queen was so -angry that she forbade his reappearing at Court, -and informed him that he could quit the kingdom -as soon as he thought proper. He departed immediately, -and the queen, to prevent an explosion -on the part of the Allies, wrote to the Emperor -to say that she should be happy to receive any -other person that he might send. Raby, now -Earl of Strafford, was hurried to the Hague to -announce to the States the fact of her having -signed these preliminaries, and to desire them to -appoint a spot where the Plenipotentiaries of the -Allies and France should meet to discuss them.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_606" id="Page_606">[606]</a></span> -Both the Dutch and the Emperor were startled and -greatly confounded at the discovery of the nature -of the terms accepted. They used every means to -persuade the queen to draw back and accept no -terms except those which had been offered to -France after the battle of Malplaquet, but rather -to push on the war vigorously, certain that they -must very soon obtain all they demanded.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img src="images/i_605.jpg" width="400" height="500" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>HENRY ST. JOHN (AFTERWARDS VISCOUNT BOLINGBROKE).</p></div> -</div> - -<div class="larger-file"> - [<a href="images/i_605big.jpg">See larger version</a>] -</div> - -<p>Nor was the excitement less at home. The -news was out—the preliminaries were before the -public by the act of the Imperial ambassador, -and the Whigs were in a fury of indignation. -They accused the Ministers of being about to -sacrifice the country, its power, and interests to -a shameful cowardice at the very moment that -the labours and sufferings of years had brought -it to the verge of triumph, and when Louis XIV. -was old and tottering into the grave, leaving his -kingdom exhausted and powerless. But notwithstanding -the violent opposition both at home -and abroad, the Ministers persisted in their course. -The queen wrote to the Electress Sophia of -Hanover, entreating her and her son to use their -exertions with the Allies for the peace of Europe. -She sent over the Earl of Rivers to further her -appeal; but the Electoral Prince, so far from -dreading to endanger his succession, sent back -a letter by Earl Rivers to the queen, strongly -condemning the terms on which the peace was -proposed, and he ordered his ambassador, the -Baron von Bothmar, to present a memorial to -the queen, showing the pernicious consequences -to Europe of allowing Philip to retain Spain and -the Indies. This bold and independent act greatly -exasperated the queen and her Ministers, and was -extolled by the Whigs. There had been attempts -to influence the Elector by offering him the command -of the army in Flanders, in case of the -removal of Marlborough, but that also he declined.</p> - -<p>Many of the Tories were as much opposed -to the terms of the treaty as the Whigs, and it -was proposed to unite in a strong remonstrance -against the conduct of the Ministers in being -willing to accept them; but the intention getting -wind, the queen suddenly prorogued Parliament -to the 7th of December, with the expectation of -the arrival of absent Scottish peers, who were -all Tories, and a determination, if necessary, to -create a batch of English Tory peers. Notwithstanding -all resistance, it was finally settled with -the Allies that their representatives should meet -those of England and France, to treat for a general -peace, at Utrecht, on the 1st of January, 1712.</p> - -<p>The Ministers, in the meantime, went on -strengthening their position. Sir Simon Harcourt -was created Baron Harcourt, and was raised -from Lord Keeper of the Seal to Lord Chancellor; -the Duke of Buckingham was appointed President -of the Council in place of Lord Rochester, deceased, -and was succeeded in his office of Steward -of the Household by Earl Paulet, who had quitted -the Treasury to make way for Harley's elevation -to the Treasurership. The Duke of Newcastle -dying, Robinson, Bishop of Bristol, was made -Lord Privy Seal, a new thing since the days of -Wolsey and Laud for a Churchman. In Scotland -the Jacobites were so much elated by the proceedings -of the Tories, and by whispers of what really -took place, while Mesnager was in secret conference -with the queen—namely, a zealous advocacy -on his part of the setting aside the Protestant -succession, and the re-admission of the Pretender's -claims—that they proceeded to great lengths. -They were in the end so daring as to induce -the Faculty of Advocates of Edinburgh to receive -a medal of the Pretender from the same ardent -Duchess of Gordon who had sent him word to -come when he pleased, and to what port he -pleased, and that he would be well received. This -medal had on the obverse side a head of the Pretender, -with the words, "Cujus est?" and on the -reverse the island of Britain and the word "Reddite." -This they not only received, but sent hearty -thanks to the duchess for it. The Hanoverian -Ambassador was made aware of this incident, and -presented a memorial on the subject, which, however, -only served to bring Sir David Dalrymple, -a zealous Whig and advocate for the Protestant -succession, into trouble, on the plea that he -ought to have prosecuted Mr. Dundas of Arniston -for returning public thanks for the medal, -whilst Arniston himself, who boldly published -a vindication of his conduct, was suffered to -escape.</p> - -<p>On the opening of Parliament on the 7th of -December, the queen announced that "notwithstanding -the arts of those who delighted in war, -both time and place were appointed for opening -the treaty for a general peace." This was carrying -into the Royal Speech the animus which the -Tories had shown against the Whigs in all their -speeches and pamphlets lately. They had endeavoured -to make the Whigs odious to the -nation as a faction bent on war solely for -its own selfish interests, and regardless of the -interests of the nation or the sufferings of -mankind. Though the Speech contained other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_607" id="Page_607">[607]</a></span> -matters, everything else passed without criticism -or notice. This declaration produced a vehement -sensation, and roused all the party fire on both -sides. The Ministers were astonished to see the -Earl of Nottingham, who had hitherto gone with -them, now adopt the Whig side in a very vigorous -and telling speech. He denounced the preliminaries -as basely surrendering the great objects of -the war, and moved that a clause should be inserted -in the Address to the effect that no peace -could be safe or honourable to Great Britain or -to Europe, if Spain and the Indies should be -allotted to any branch of the House of Bourbon. -In the discussion it was shown that the statement -in the queen's Speech, that the Allies -were all prepared to adopt the preliminaries, was -utterly untrue. The Earl of Anglesey contended, -on the other side, that it was high time to ease -the nation of the monstrous burthens of the war; -and he aimed some heavy blows at the Duke of -Marlborough, affirming that a good peace might -have been effected after the battle of Ramillies, -but for the private interests of certain persons.</p> - -<p>This called up Marlborough in his own defence. -He bowed towards the place where the queen was -listening to the debate <em>incognita</em>, and appealed to -her, much to her embarrassment, whether, when -he had the honour to serve her Majesty as plenipotentiary -as well as general, he had not always -faithfully informed her and her Council of all the -proposals of peace which had been made, and had -desired instructions for his guidance in such affairs. -He appealed also to Heaven, whether he was -not always anxious for a safe, honourable, and -lasting peace, and whether he was not always -very far from entertaining any design of prolonging -the war for his own private advantage, -as his enemies had most falsely insinuated. When -the question was put, the amendment of the Earl -of Nottingham was carried by a majority of sixty-two -to fifty-four—that is, of only eight—notwithstanding -all the exertions of the Court party, -and much to its astonishment. In the Commons, -however, the Ministry had a stronger party, and -there they assured the queen in their Address that -they would do all in their power to disappoint as -well the acts and designs of those who for private -views might delight in war, as the hopes of the -enemy conceived from the divisions amongst -themselves. Walpole moved an amendment -similar to that of the Lords, and it was lost by -a majority of two hundred and thirty-two to one -hundred and six.</p> - -<p>The Ministers were determined now to be rid of -Marlborough. He not only stood at the head of -the Whigs at home, and threw his great military -reputation into the scale against the Tories in -this question of peace or war, but whilst he retained -his command of the army, he immensely -strengthened the opposition of the Allies to the -present terms of pacification. It was resolved -that he should be dismissed, a measure which -they felt would destroy much of his influence. -The Whigs, moreover, at this crisis fell into a -snare laid for them by the Earl of Nottingham, -which extremely damaged them, and in the same -proportion benefited the Tories. He persuaded -them that if they would only consent to the -passing of the Occasional Conformity Bill, there -were numerous persons of influence ready to quit -the ranks of Oxford and St. John; and though -the Whigs were entirely opposed in principle to -this illiberal and unjust measure, they were weak -enough, in the hope of strengthening their party, -to permit it to pass. The Dissenters, greatly -exasperated at this treachery, abandoned the Whig -cause; the promised proselytes did not come over, -and Lord Dartmouth adds that "Lord Nottingham -himself had the mortification afterwards to -see his Bill repulsed with some scorn, and himself -not much better treated."</p> - -<p>In this state of affairs closed the year 1711. -During the Christmas holiday the Ministry -matured several measures for the advancement -of their party. They were still in a minority in -the Lords, and they sought to remedy this by -inducing the queen to create twelve new peers. -Lord Dartmouth, in his notes to Burnet, expresses -his astonishment on seeing the queen suddenly -take from her pocket a list of twelve new lords, -and ordering him to bring warrants for them. -Dartmouth, unprepared for so sweeping a measure, -asked whether her Majesty intended to have -them all made at once; and Anne replied, -"Certainly; that the Whigs and Lord Marlborough -did all they could to distress her; that -she had made fewer lords than any of her predecessors; -and that she must help herself as well -as she could." Among these new peers were -again two Scotsmen, but not peers, only the sons -of peers, and the husband of her favourite, Mrs. -Masham. The witty Lord Wharton did not spare -a joke upon them at the time, by asking one of -them, when the question was put, whether "they -voted by their foreman?" as though they had -been a jury.</p> - -<p>The disgrace of Marlborough was now completed. -On the 21st of December he had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_608" id="Page_608">[608]</a></span> -charged in the House of Commons with having -made use of his command of the army to make -enormous sums of money at the expense of the men; -that he had appropriated one hundred and seventy-seven -thousand pounds by taking two and a half per -cent. on all subsidies for foreign troops maintained -by England, and sixty-three thousand pounds from -Sir Solomon de Medina and Antonio Alvarez -Machado, the Jew contractors for bread for the -army; that his secretary, Cardonnel, had exacted -five hundred gold ducats from the contractors -each time a new contract was signed, all which -had to be taken out of the quality of the food -or clothing of the soldiers. The queen therefore -wrote to him, informing him that as there was -a serious charge made against him by the Commissioners -of Accounts, she thought it best to -dismiss him from all his employments in order -that the matter might be impartially investigated. -Nor did she neglect to add that the -conduct of his wife towards herself had made -her more willing to adopt this measure.</p> - -<p>Marlborough, in defence, pleaded to the queen, -as he had to the Commissioners of Inquiry, that -he had appropriated nothing which had not been -the established perquisites of the commander-in-chief -of the army in the Low Countries both before -the Revolution and since; and that, whatever -sums he had received from those sources, he had -employed in the service of the public in keeping -secret correspondence, and in getting intelligence -of the enemy's motions and designs; and that, -and he could certainly say it with justice, he had -employed this money so successfully, that he had -on no occasion suffered himself to be surprised, -but had often been able to surprise and defeat -the enemy. To this cause, next to the blessing -of God and the bravery of the troops, he attributed -most of the advantages of the war. There -can be little doubt that Marlborough made the -best of the power granted him for appropriating -these sums; that was his weak point; but he -does not appear to have exceeded the letter of -his warrant; and the truth is that the system -itself was more in fault than the general.</p> - -<p>But notwithstanding Marlborough's proofs that -his appropriations were according to long-established -custom, the Commons admitted no such -plea. They voted that the two and a half per -cent. deducted by him from the pay of the foreign -troops was public money, and that he ought to -account for it. They threatened to institute proceedings -for its recovery through the law officers -of the Crown, and they expelled Cardonnel, the -duke's secretary, from the House for his receipt -of the fees mentioned in the contracts. They had -the satisfaction, also, of punishing Robert Walpole, -one of Marlborough's most staunch defenders, for -taking, when Secretary of War, five hundred -guineas, and a note for five hundred more, on -the signing of a contract for forage for her -Majesty's troops quartered in Scotland. The deed -deserved punishment, but it was one which all -secretaries perpetrated equally with Walpole, as -he showed, and which would never have been -noticed had Walpole yielded to the Tory entreaties -and carried his great abilities to their side. They, -however, voted the fact a high breach of trust, -and of notorious corruption, and ordered his -expulsion from the House and his committal to -the Tower. The borough of Lynn, which Walpole -represented, immediately re-elected him; but the -Commons pronounced him incapable of sitting in -that Parliament, and declared the election void.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_609" id="Page_609">[609]</a></span></p> - - - - -<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX</h2> - - -<ul class="index"> -<li class="ifrst">Abjuration Oath, The, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Adjutators, The, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Agreement of the People," The, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Aghrim, Battle of, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Allegiance and Supremacy, Act of, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Allen, plot against Cromwell, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Almanza, Battle of, <a href="#Page_576">576</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Amboyna, the massacre of Englishmen by Dutch, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">America, Rise of colonies in, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Anabaptists denounce Cromwell, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">outbreak among, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Anne, Queen, reconciled with William, <a href="#Page_479">479</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">succeeds to the throne, <a href="#Page_535">535</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">speech to Parliament, her Tory bias, <a href="#Page_536">536</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">coronation of, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Jacobite plot against, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">"Bounty," <a href="#Page_549">549</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the union between England and Scotland, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">letter from the Pretender, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Apprentices, London, petition the Commons, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fight at Westminster, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Architecture during the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Argyll, Earl of, in conflict with Montrose, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeated by Montrose, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Argyll, Marquis of, Execution of, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Argyll, Earl of (<a href="#Page_9">9</a>th Earl), accused of high treason, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">expedition against James II., <a href="#Page_296">296</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">capture and execution of, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Army, Reduction of the standing, <a href="#Page_502">502</a>-<a href="#Page_507">507</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Arundel Marbles, The, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ashburnham, Lord, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Assembly, The General, address to Charles I., <a href="#Page_43">43</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Assize, The Bloody," <a href="#Page_304">304</a>-<a href="#Page_306">306</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial of Lady Alice Lisle, interference of James II., <a href="#Page_305">305</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">at Exeter and Taunton, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Association for defence of the king, <a href="#Page_488">488</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Athlone, Capture of, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>-<a href="#Page_445">445</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ayscough, Admiral Sir George, the reduction of Barbadoes, suspected of Royalist sympathies by Parliament, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Baden, Prince of, the war against Louis XIV., <a href="#Page_552">552</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">jealousy of Marlborough, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>, <a href="#Page_554">554</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bank of England established, <a href="#Page_471">471</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Barclay, plot against William III., <a href="#Page_485">485</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Barebone's Parliament," <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Baxter, Richard, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Beachy Head, Battle of, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Beaumont, Francis, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bedloe, the informer, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Benbow, Admiral, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Berkeley, Sir John, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">messenger between Charles I. and Cromwell, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bishops, Trial of the Seven, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>-<a href="#Page_331">331</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">public sympathy during, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the acquittal, <a href="#Page_331">331</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Blake, Admiral Robert, siege of Lyme Regis, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">conflicts with Prince Rupert, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">encounters van Tromp, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeats the Dutch fleet, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">expedition against France, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">and expedition against Spain, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Santa Cruz, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death of, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Blenheim, Battle of, <a href="#Page_555">555</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bolingbroke, Lord, <a href="#Page_594">594</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">correspondence with the Pretender, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Borlase, Sir John, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bothwell Brig, Battle of, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Boyd, Rev. Zachary, preaches against Cromwell, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Boyne, Battle of the, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bradshaw, John, arraignment of Charles I., <a href="#Page_86">86</a>-<a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">arguments against the absolutism of kings, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Breda, Charles II. at, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Declaration of, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bristol, Earl of, charge against Charles II., <a href="#Page_211">211</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Bristol, Siege of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Browne, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Browne, William, <a href="#Page_180">180</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Buckingham, Lord, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Burnet, Bishop, memorial to William of Orange, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">on tithes, <a href="#Page_548">548</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">unpopularity with the Tories, <a href="#Page_591">591</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Butler, Samuel, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Byng, Admiral Sir George, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Cabal, The, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cameronians, The, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Capel, Lord, impeached of high treason by the Commons, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial and execution of, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Carew, Thomas, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Carisbrooke Castle, Charles I. at, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Case of the Army," The, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Catherine of Portugal, marriage to Charles II., <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Catholics, Injunctions against, in Ireland, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">massacre of Protestants, resolution by Parliament, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">secret sympathy of Charles I. with, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">efforts of James II. in favour of, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">a Privy Council of, livings in the Church of England given to, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">triumph in England, riots in London, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial of "Julian" Johnson, crusade against Protestantism in Scotland and Ireland, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">dismissal of Rochester and Clarendon, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Declaration of Indulgence, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">policy of William of Orange, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">supremacy in the Universities, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">opposition to James II. by Protestant bishops, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">an army of Irish, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">memorial to William of Orange, concessions to Protestants by James II., <a href="#Page_336">336</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">William's declaration, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cevennes, Insurrections in the, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Chalgrove, Battle at, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Chapman, Thomas, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Charles I. receives a deputation of Catholics, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">chagrined at proceedings of the Commons, presented with the "Remonstrance," speech to the Commons, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">prepares articles of high treason against five Commoners, visit to the Houses of Parliament, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">decides on war, passes two important bills, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">receives declaration from Parliament, retires to York, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fails in his attempt to enter Hull, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">insists on his demands, raises his standard at Nottingham, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his inconsistency, Battle of Edgehill, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">scheme for the extinction of Parliament, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeats Parliamentary troops under Essex, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">tries accommodation, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">propositions from the Scots, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Naseby, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">flight into Wales, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">endeavours to join Montrose, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">ruin virtually complete, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">proposals contemptuously treated by Parliament, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">disavowal of treaty with Irish Catholics, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">offer of negotiations to Parliament, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">flight from Oxford, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">surrenders to the Scots, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">endeavours to raise army from Ireland and France, discusses Episcopacy and Presbytery, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">meditates escape from England, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his stubbornness, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">escape from Hampton Court, at Carisbrooke Castle, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">a close prisoner, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">reaction in his favour, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">resolve regarding Presbyterianism, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">concessions, at Hurst Castle, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his trial, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>-<a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">execution, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Charles II. proclaimed king in Scotland, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">reception among the Scots, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">agrees to take the Covenant, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">demands by the Assembly, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">attempted flight, concessions by the Covenanters, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">crowned at Scone, invades England, defeated at Worcester, escapes to Normandy, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his proclamation from Paris, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his life in France, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">rising in England in his favour, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his character, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">first Privy Council, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his marriage, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">loss of prestige to France, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">war with Holland, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Treaty of Dover, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his embarrassments, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">described by Macaulay, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his illness and death, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">coins of, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Chancery, Reform of the Court of, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Chillingworth, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Churchill (<em>see</em> Marlborough).</li> - -<li class="indx">Clarendon, Lord, supports Charles I., <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">quoted, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his view of Cromwell, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">reply to Parliament in favour of Charles I., <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">influence at the Court of Charles II., <a href="#Page_198">198</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fall of, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">character of, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Claverhouse, Graham of, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">exertions in favour of James II., <a href="#Page_407">407</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death at Killiecrankie, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Clonmel attacked by Cromwell, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Clotworthy, Sir John, on the Irish Papists, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Coaching in the time of Charles II., <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Coins at the time of Charles II., <a href="#Page_373">373</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">in the reign of William and Mary, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Colepepper, Sir John, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Commerce under Cromwell, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">under the Stuarts, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>-<a href="#Page_388">388</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">value with America and the West Indies, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Commonwealth, The, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">difficulties with Portugal, acknowledged by Spain, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">war with Holland, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">treaties with Holland, France, Denmark, Portugal and Sweden, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Conformity Bill, The, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Conventicle Act, The, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cooper, Sir Anthony Ashley, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Costumes in the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_377">377</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Coventry, Lord, impeached of high treason by the Commons, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Coventry, Sir John, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cowley, Abraham, popularity as a poet, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Crashaw, Thomas, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cromwell, Henry, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cromwell, Oliver, remarks on the "Remonstrance," <a href="#Page_4">4</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">takes a commission in the Parliamentary army, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his military tact, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his success as a General, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Battle of Marston Moor, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">irritated by Parliament's inaction, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">charge against the Earl of Manchester, proposes the "Self-denying Ordinance," his genius in War, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">victories, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his character, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeats Royalists at Preston, invited to Edinburgh, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">war in Ireland, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>-<a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">captures Dublin, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">deplorable fanaticism of, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">appointed commander-in-chief, invades Scotland, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeats Leslie, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">at Glasgow, <a href="#Page_105">105</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">victory at Worcester, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">arrival in London, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">meditates kingly power, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">dissolves the Long Parliament, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">constitutes a Parliament in his own name, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">becomes Lord Protector, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">installation as Protector, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">plan against Royalist outbreaks, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">dispute with Spain, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">great speech to Parliament, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">refuses the crown, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">inauguration at the head of the Government, makes war against Spain, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his last Parliament, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">last days of, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death of, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cromwell, Richard, succeeds to the Protectorate, difficulties with the army, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his power ceases, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">abdicates, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cudworth, William, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Cutts, Lord, at the Battle of Blenheim, <a href="#Page_555">555</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Dalrymple, Sir James, influence in Scottish affairs, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Danby, Earl, Impeachment of, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">imprisoned in the Tower, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dangerfield, the informer, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Daniel, Samuel, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Darien expedition, The, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">its miserable end, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Declaration of Indulgence," <a href="#Page_319">319</a>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_610" id="Page_610">[610]</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx">Defoe denounces the Occasional Conformity Bill, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">quoted, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Delamere, Lord, Trial of, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Denbigh, Earl of, Commission to Charles I., <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Denham, Sir John, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Denmark, Prince George of, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">De Ruyter, in command of the Dutch fleet, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">victory over the English, defeated by Blake, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">De Torcy, French ambassador, <a href="#Page_586">586</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Devonshire, Earl of, impeached of high treason by the Commons, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">De Witt, in command of the Dutch fleet, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeated by Blake, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his "Interest of Holland," <a href="#Page_387">387</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Digby, Lord, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">letter from Charles I., <a href="#Page_53">53</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Donne, John, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dorislaus, Dr., assassinated by Royalists, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dover, Earl of, impeached of high treason by the Commons, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dover, Treaty of, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dramatic writing under the Stuarts, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Drayton, Michael, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Drogheda, Storming of, by Cromwell, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Drumclog, Battle of, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Drummond of Hawthornden, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dryden, John, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">poems of, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">prose, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dublin, Capture by Cromwell, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dunbar, Battle of, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dundee, Viscount (<em>see</em> Claverhouse).</li> - -<li class="indx">Dunkirk, Siege of, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dutch, attack by fleet on the Thames, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeated at Southwold Bay, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Dykvelt, Dutch ambassador at the English court, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">efforts in behalf of the Prince of Orange, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">East India Company, Origin of the, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">bill for regulating the trade of, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Edgehill, Battle of, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Engagement," The, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Engagers," <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Engraving at the time of Charles II., <a href="#Page_373">373</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Episcopacy, Charles I. discusses with Alexander Henderson, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Essex, Earl of, appointed commander of the Parliamentary army, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">victory at Edgehill, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">rewarded by Parliament, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his dilatory spirit, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">victories, receives overtures from Charles I., defeated, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">resignation of, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Eugene, Prince, in command with Marlborough, <a href="#Page_554">554</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the battle of Lutzingen, <a href="#Page_556">556</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Evelyn, John, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Exclusion Bill, The, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Fairfax, Lord, his Parliament sympathy, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">appointed commander-in-chief of the Parliament army, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the battle of Naseby, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">mediates between the army and Parliament, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">enters London, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">attitude to the king, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">disturbances in London, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial of Charles I., <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">resigns his command, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">re-appointed to leading command, resigns office, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his Royalist leanings, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Falkland, Lord, his defection from the Parliament ranks, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death of, character of, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fenwick, Sir John, plot against William III., <a href="#Page_491">491</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial of, <a href="#Page_495">495</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Feversham, Lord, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fifth-Monarchy men, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Cromwell's speech in regard to the, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">rising at Mile-end, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fire of London, The, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Firmin, Mr., benevolent scheme in regard to pauperism, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Flamsteed, the astronomer, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fleetwood, General, appointed Cromwell's deputy in Ireland, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">policy of, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fletcher, John, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fletcher of Saltoun, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">opposed to the union between England and Scotland, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fox, George, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">France, treaty with Cromwell, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">war in the Netherlands, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">opposition to William III., <a href="#Page_425">425</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Friends, The Society of, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">persecution in America, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">efforts in regard to the Abjuration Bill, <a href="#Page_532">532</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Fuller, Thomas, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Galway, Earl of, in command against Louis XIV. in Spain, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Gaultier, Abbé, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Gerard, Generous," <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Germany, Emperor of, Agreement between, and the Allies, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Gibbons, Dr., music of, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Gibbons, Grinling, the sculptor, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Gibraltar, Capture of, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">efforts by Spain for its recovery, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Glamorgan, Earl of, commission from Charles I. to the Irish Catholics, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Godfrey, Sir Edmundbury, Murder of, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Godolphin, Lord, appointed Lord Treasurer, <a href="#Page_536">536</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Gordon, Duke of, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Goring, Colonel, in command of Royalist troops, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial of, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Graham, John, of Claverhouse (<em>see</em> Claverhouse).</li> - -<li class="indx">Granville, Mr., speech at the accession of Queen Anne, <a href="#Page_536">536</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Gregg, William, executed for high treason, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Grenville, Sir Richard, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Guiscard, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Habeas Corpus Act, Suspension of the, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hague, Treaty of the, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hale, Sir Matthew, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Halifax, Earl of, character of, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his policy as "Trimmer," <a href="#Page_282">282</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">opposition from Duke of York, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">superseded by Rochester, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">pamphlet by, <a href="#Page_482">482</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hamilton, Duke of, opposition to the union between England and Scotland, <a href="#Page_571">571</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hamilton, Marquis of, policy of the, his duplicity, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">leads a Scots army into England, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeated by Cromwell at Preston, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">executed by order of the Commonwealth, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hammond, Colonel, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hampden, John, his gentleness, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">impeached, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">takes a commission in the Parliamentary army, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death at Chalgrove, character of, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hampton Court, Charles I. at, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Harcourt, Sir Simon, Bill in regard to union between England and Scotland, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Harley, Earl of Oxford, elected Speaker, <a href="#Page_530">530</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">accused of Jacobite sympathy, dismissed from office, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">efforts against the Whigs, <a href="#Page_588">588</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">raised to the Peerage, <a href="#Page_600">600</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">secret negotiations with France, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Harrison, Colonel, at the battle of Naseby, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his fanaticism, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">imprisoned in the Tower, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Harvey, Dr. W., <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Haversham, Lord, <a href="#Page_563">563</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hazelrig, Impeachment of, by Charles I., <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Heinsius, Dutch Chancellor, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>, <a href="#Page_574">574</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Henrietta, Queen, reception in Holland, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">her powers of fascination, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">flight to France, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Herbert, George, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Herrick, Robert, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hill, Abigail, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hobbes, Thomas, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Holland, Earl of, Royalist rising under, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">executed by order of the Commonwealth, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Holland, jealousy of the Commonwealth, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">birth of William III., maritime greatness, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">war with England, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>-<a href="#Page_114">114</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fleet defeated by Blake, treaty with England, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Holles, impeached by Charles I., <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Holmby, Charles I. at, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hooke, Colonel, Jacobite plot by, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hotham, Sir John, defence of Hull against Charles I., <a href="#Page_10">10</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">proclaimed a traitor, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Howard, Lord, of Charlton, impeached of high treason by the Commons, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Hyde, Lawrence (<em>see</em> Rochester).</li> - -<li class="indx">Hyde (<em>see</em> Clarendon).</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Incorporated companies, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Indemnity, Bill of, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Independents, difficulties with the Presbyterians, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">their hour of triumph, treatment of Charles I., <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Indies, Expedition to the West, by fleet of Parliament, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Indulgence, The Declaration of, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Industries introduced by foreign refugees, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Inquiry, Bill for Commission of, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Instrument of Government," The, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ireland, Rebellion in, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">massacre, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Catholic confederacy, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">war in, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>-<a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">claims under Charles II., <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">government under James II., <a href="#Page_316">316</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">exertions of James II. against Protestantism, <a href="#Page_410">410</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">revolution under Tyrconnel, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">landing of James II., <a href="#Page_412">412</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">siege of Londonderry, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>-<a href="#Page_416">416</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">James's Parliament, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of the Boyne, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defence of Limerick, <a href="#Page_432">432</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">capture of Athlone, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>-<a href="#Page_445">445</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ireton, General, at the battle of Naseby, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his opinion regarding Charles I., <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the "Agreement of the People," <a href="#Page_84">84</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his command in Ireland, death of, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Jacobites, outcry against the Scottish union, <a href="#Page_570">570</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">great zeal in Scotland, <a href="#Page_606">606</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Jamaica, Capture of, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">James I., commerce under, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">coinages by, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">costume during the reign of, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">prices, <a href="#Page_192">192</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">James II., speech to the Privy Council, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">cabinet of, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">openly avows Roman Catholicism, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">policy with Louis XIV., <a href="#Page_291">291</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">difficulties with Parliament, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">counsellors of, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">acts of opposition to the Church, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>-<a href="#Page_314">314</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">religious persecution in Scotland, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his government in Ireland, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>-<a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Declaration of Indulgence, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">absolute power of, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">pays homage to the Papal Nuncio, outrages in army affairs, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">encroachments on the universities, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">a new Declaration of Indulgence, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">decay of power, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his wrongheadedness, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">concessions on approach of William of Orange, <a href="#Page_336">336</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">utterly deserted, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">flight from London, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">capture and return, <a href="#Page_346">346</a>-<a href="#Page_347">347</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">escape to France, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">coins of, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">letter to the Scottish Convention, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">landing in Ireland, forms a Privy Council, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his Irish Parliament, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his legislation in Ireland, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his Irish army, <a href="#Page_427">427</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeat at the Boyne, <a href="#Page_431">431</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">declaration, <a href="#Page_459">459</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death of, <a href="#Page_529">529</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Jeffreys, Lord, Chief Justice at Chester, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">gift from Charles II., <a href="#Page_284">284</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">brutal character of, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Bloody Assize, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Jermyn, Lord, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Jews, petition to Parliament for permitting them to live in England, <a href="#Page_136">136</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Johnson, "Julian," <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Jonson, Ben, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Joyce, Cornet, seizes Charles I., <a href="#Page_63">63</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Junto, The Whig, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Juxon, Bishop, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Killiecrankie, Battle of, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Killing no Murder," <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Kilsyth, Battle of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Kimbolton, Lord, Impeachment of, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Kirby, the informer, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Kirke's Lambs," <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">La Hogue, Battle of, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lambert, General, appointed deputy in Ireland, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial under Charles II., <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Landen, Battle of, <a href="#Page_467">467</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Langdale, Sir Marmaduke, capture of Berwick, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Laud, Archbishop, impeachment of, executed, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>-<a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lauderdale, Earl of, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lauzun, Marshal, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">League and Covenant, The Solemn, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Leibnitz, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Leicester, Earl of, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Leighton, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lely, the painter, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lenthall, the Speaker, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Leslie, General Sir David, in command of the Scottish cavalry, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeats Montrose, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeated by Cromwell at Cockburnspath, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">receives overtures from Charles I., <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeat at Dunbar, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Levellers, The, vow against Cromwell and the king, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">turbulence of, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Leven, Earl of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Levesey, Sir Michael, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lilburne, Colonel, Character of, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">advocates a Republic, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">tried for sedition, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lille, Capture of, by the Allies, <a href="#Page_582">582</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Lillibulero," <a href="#Page_332">332</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lindsay, Lord, at the battle of Edgehill, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_611" id="Page_611">[611]</a></span></li> - -<li class="indx">Lisle, Sir George, shot by Parliamentary troops, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Literature in the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_355">355</a> <em>et seqq.</em></li> - -<li class="indx">Locke, John, proposal regarding coinage, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lockhart, Sir William, Cromwell's ambassador at the Hague, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">London, Defence against Charles I., <a href="#Page_16">16</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">growth of, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">moral condition under the Stuarts, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Great Plague, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>-<a href="#Page_16">16</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Great Fire, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">terror at the French invasion under Tourville, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">great storm of <a href="#Page_170">170</a>4, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Londonderry, Siege of, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>-<a href="#Page_416">416</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Long Parliament, The, Cromwell's address to the, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the <i xml:lang="fr" lang="fr">coup d'état</i>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>-<a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Louis XIV., in league with Cromwell against Spain, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">war with Holland, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">joins with James II. against William of Orange, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">decay of power, <a href="#Page_498">498</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">designs in Spain, <a href="#Page_505">505</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">proclaims the son of James II. King of England, <a href="#Page_529">529</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">inroads on the German Empire, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">great exertions against the Allies, <a href="#Page_564">564</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">emissaries in Scotland in support of the Pretender, <a href="#Page_579">579</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">active operations on the Continent, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">capture of Lille, rejects propositions of peace, <a href="#Page_582">582</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">ruinous effects of his ambition, <a href="#Page_583">583</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">sues for peace with Holland, <a href="#Page_584">584</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his terms of peace, <a href="#Page_585">585</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the forty articles, refuses the ultimatum of the Allies, <a href="#Page_586">586</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fall of Tournay, battle of Malplaquet, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">renews overtures for peace, <a href="#Page_595">595</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lucas, Sir Charles, shot by Parliamentary troops, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ludlow, Colonel, denounces Charles I., <a href="#Page_80">80</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fanaticism of, dislike to Cromwell, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Lunsford, Colonel, appointed Lieutenant of the Tower, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Macaulay quoted, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mackay, General, in command in Scotland, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Killiecrankie, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mackenzie, Sir George, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Maguire, Cornelius, Irish rebel leader, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Malplaquet, Battle of, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Manchester, Earl of, disputes with Cromwell, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Marlborough, Duke of, in command in Ireland, <a href="#Page_437">437</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">character of, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">dismissed from office, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">imprisonment, <a href="#Page_460">460</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">receives the Order of the Garter from Queen Anne, appointed Captain-General of the English army, <a href="#Page_536">536</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">influence of his party, commander-in-chief, <a href="#Page_538">538</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">in command on the Rhine, his bold plans, <a href="#Page_539">539</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">warm welcome in England, alienation from the Tories, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Toleration Act, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">campaign in Flanders, <a href="#Page_544">544</a>-<a href="#Page_545">545</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">campaign on the Moselle, <a href="#Page_550">550</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">assault on Schellenberg, <a href="#Page_552">552</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Blenheim, <a href="#Page_555">555</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">third campaign against the French, <a href="#Page_560">560</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Ramillies, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">wane of his party influence, <a href="#Page_578">578</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Oudenarde, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Malplaquet, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">decline of power, <a href="#Page_596">596</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">end of his influence, <a href="#Page_598">598</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">in disgrace, <a href="#Page_599">599</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">opposition to his efforts by the Tories, <a href="#Page_602">602</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his fall, <a href="#Page_607">607</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the charges brought against him, his defence, <a href="#Page_608">608</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Marston Moor, Battle of, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Marten, Henry, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Marvell, Andrew, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mary, Princess, at the Dutch Court, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Massinger, Philip, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mayday, Celebration of, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mazarin, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Meal-Tub Plot, The, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Middleton, Thomas, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mildmay, Sir Henry, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Militia Bill, Opposition of Charles I. to, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Milton, John, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his prose, <a href="#Page_182">182</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his Republican sympathy, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1"><em>Paradise Lost</em>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ministers' Bill, The, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Monk, General, policy in Scotland, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his reserve, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">march to London, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">proclaims a full and free Parliament, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">secretly working for the Restoration, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">receives Charles II. at Dover, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">commander-in-chief, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Monmouth, Duke of, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">popularity of, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">makes a royal progress through the provinces, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">proclamation for his apprehension, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">reconciliation with his father, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">at the Court of Holland, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">expelled from Holland, his reception in England, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">political blunder of, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of Sedgemoor, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death of, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Monmouth, Earl of, impeached by the Commons, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mons captured by Louis XIV., <a href="#Page_439">439</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Montagu, Lord, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Montreuil, negotiation with Scots on behalf of Charles I., <a href="#Page_50">50</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Montrose, Marquis of, policy of, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">unfurls the royal standard at Dumfries, at Blair Athol, defeats Elcho, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">attack on Argyleshire, defeats Argyll, defeats John Ury, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">a second victory over Baillie, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fame of, rising in favour of Charles II., <a href="#Page_101">101</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">defeat in Ross-shire, betrayal of, execution, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Moore, Roger, incites the Irish against England, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Mountjoy, Lord, Treachery of James II. towards, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Muggletonians," <a href="#Page_355">355</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Muscovy Company, The, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Music under the Puritans, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">in the time of Charles II., <a href="#Page_374">374</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Namur, captured by Louis XIV., <a href="#Page_454">454</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">second siege, <a href="#Page_480">480</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fall of, <a href="#Page_481">481</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Nantes, Edict of, revocation of by Louis XIV., <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Napier, Lord, of Merchiston, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Naseby, Battle of, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Navigation Act, passed by Parliament, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">in operation, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">growth of trading companies, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Navy, English, in the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Netherlands, Disturbances in the, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Neuters," <a href="#Page_115">115</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Newbury, Battle of, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Newcastle, Marquis of, in command of the Royalist army, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Battle of Marston Moor, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Newmarket, meeting of Parliament soldiers, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Newport, Lord, controversy with the king, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Newton, Sir Isaac, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Nonconformists, The, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Non-Jurors, Rise of the faction of, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Northumberland, Earl of, Lord High Admiral, under Parliament, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Nottingham, Charles I. raises his standard at, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Novum Organum," The, <a href="#Page_181">181</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Oates, Titus, the Popish plot, his story before the Council, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">imitators of, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">effect upon the people, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his real character, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his forgeries, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">impeachments by, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">convicted of perjury, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Oath, Coronation, of William and Mary, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Occasional Conformity Bill, The, <a href="#Page_543">543</a>, <a href="#Page_547">547</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">O'Connelly, Sir John, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">O'Neil, Sir Phelim, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Irish massacre of <a href="#Page_164">164</a>1, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Orange, Prince of, <a href="#Page_587">587</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Orange, William of (<em>see</em> William III.).</li> - -<li class="indx">Ordinance, The Self-denying, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ormond, Earl, makes terms with Parliament, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">leader of the Irish Royalists, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">secret visit to England on behalf of Charles I., <a href="#Page_147">147</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">unfair treatment by James II., <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Orrery Letters," The, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Oudenarde, Battle of, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Overton, Colonel, plot against Cromwell, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Owen, Sir John, Trial of, by Parliament, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Oxford, Charles I. at, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Parliament at, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">declaration by the University of, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Pack, Sir Christopher, "Remonstrance" against Cromwell by, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Painting during the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Papal Nuncio, James II. pays homage to the, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Parker, Dr., effort of James II. to install him at Magdalen College, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Parliament, discussion with Charles I., <a href="#Page_18">18</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">makes a new Great Seal, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">further propositions to Charles I., <a href="#Page_38">38</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">treaties with the Scots regarding possession of Charles I., <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">resolution in regard to the Constitution, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">condemns Charles I., <a href="#Page_86">86</a>-<a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">dishonesty under Charles II., <a href="#Page_242">242</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Parliament, The Little, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Parsons, Sir William, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Partition Treaty, The, <a href="#Page_523">523</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Paterson, William, projector of the Bank of England, <a href="#Page_510">510</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Pauperism under the Stuarts, plan for decrease of, by Yarranton, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">benevolent scheme of Firmin, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Penn, William, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Pension Parliament, The, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Pepys, Samuel, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Peterborough, Earl of, his able generalship, assault of Barcelona, <a href="#Page_562">562</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">brilliant exploits in Spain, <a href="#Page_563">563</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Peters, Hugh, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Petition and Advice," The, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">legality of, debated in Parliament, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Petre, Father, Jesuit Provincial, at the court of James II., <a href="#Page_311">311</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Petty, Sir William, on mercantile shipping, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Philiphaugh, Battle of, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Plague, The Great, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Plymouth Adventuress, The, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Poets during the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Post Office, Origin of the English, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Poynings' Act, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Presbyterians, difference from Independents, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">treaty with Charles I., <a href="#Page_79">79</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">condition under Charles II., <a href="#Page_196">196</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">assailed in Scotland, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Press, Liberty of the, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>, <a href="#Page_482">482</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Preston, Battle of, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Pride's Purge," <a href="#Page_83">83</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Prose writers during the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Protestantism, declaration of William III., <a href="#Page_397">397</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Prynne, William, his efforts against Laud, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Purcell, Henry, <a href="#Page_374">374</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Pym, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Quakers, The (<em>see</em> Society of Friends).</li> - -<li class="indx">Quebec, Expedition to, <a href="#Page_601">601</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Rainsborough, Colonel, revolt of fleet in favour of Charles I., <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Raleigh, Sir Walter, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ramillies, Battle of, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Remonstrance on the state of the kingdom, composition of, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Resumption Bill, The, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Revenue in the Stuart period, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rights, Declaration of, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Bill of, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rochester, Earl of, Prime Minister, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">love of office, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fall of, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">loyalty to James II., <a href="#Page_344">344</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">declares for William, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rooke, Admiral Sir George, expedition to Cadiz, <a href="#Page_540">540</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Battle of Vigo Bay, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Capture of Gibraltar, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rosen, General, at the siege of Londonderry, his savagery, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Royal Society, Founding of the, <a href="#Page_365">365</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rubens, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rullion Green, Battle of, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rump, The, origin of the name, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">influence in political affairs, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rupert, Prince, his style of warfare, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle at Chalgrove, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">victories by, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">surrenders Bristol, character of, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">carries on the war by sea, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Russell, Lord William, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial and execution of, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Rye House Plot, The, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Ryswick, Treaty of, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Sacheverell, Dr. Henry, accused of high treason, <a href="#Page_588">588</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">taken into custody, <a href="#Page_590">590</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">riots by partisans, <a href="#Page_591">591</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial of, <a href="#Page_592">592</a>, <a href="#Page_593">593</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sales, Bill of, <a href="#Page_195">195</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sancroft, Archbishop, Trial of, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Schomberg, Marshal, <a href="#Page_416">416</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">arrival in Ireland, <a href="#Page_427">427</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death at the Battle of the Boyne, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Scone, Charles II. crowned at, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Scotland, dealings with the Parliament, invasion of England, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">army crosses the Tweed, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">propositions of leaders to Charles I., <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">rising under Montrose, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">invaded by Cromwell, Cromwell's military stations, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Charles II. crowned at Scone, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">disaffection to Cromwell, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">claims under Charles II., <a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">persecutions by Charles II., Presbyterianism assailed, <a href="#Page_212">212</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Covenanters, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">continued religious persecutions, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">meeting of Parliament, <a href="#Page_292">292</a>;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_612" id="Page_612">[612]</a></span></li> - <li class="isub1">the triumph of Presbytery, meeting of the Convention, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Jacobite rising, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>-<a href="#Page_410">410</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">affairs under William and Mary, <a href="#Page_435">435</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Massacre of Glencoe, <a href="#Page_456">456</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Parliament of William and Mary, <a href="#Page_478">478</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">excitement against the Orange ministry, <a href="#Page_510">510</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">enthusiasm in the Darien expedition, <a href="#Page_512">512</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">indignation against William, <a href="#Page_514">514</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">union with England, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Scourers, The," <a href="#Page_379">379</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sedgemoor, Battle of, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Seekers," The, <a href="#Page_354">354</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Self-denying Ordinance, The, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sexby, Colonel, at the court of Madrid, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">attempt of Popish invasion, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Seymour, Sir Edward, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Shaftesbury, Earl of (First Earl), attacks on Popery, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">schemes of rebellion, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death of, character of, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Shakespeare, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sharp, Archbishop, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">murder of, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sheldon. Dr., <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sherlock, Bishop, proposal in favour of James II. at the Revolution, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Shovel, Sir Cloudesley, <a href="#Page_559">559</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">in command of the English fleet, <a href="#Page_576">576</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">wreck and death of, <a href="#Page_577">577</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sidney, Algernon, Trial and execution of, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>-<a href="#Page_282">282</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sindercomb, attempt to assassinate Cromwell, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Solemn League and Covenant, The, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Somers, Lord, <a href="#Page_506">506</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">forced to resign the Lord Chancellorship, <a href="#Page_517">517</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">trial of, <a href="#Page_527">527</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">integrity of, <a href="#Page_535">535</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Spain, acknowledges the Commonwealth, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">dispute with Cromwell, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">visit of king Charles to England, <a href="#Page_546">546</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">collapse of his power, <a href="#Page_567">567</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Spencer, Earl of Northampton, impeached of high treason by the Commons, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sport under Charles II., <a href="#Page_380">380</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Stafford, Lord, Trial and execution of, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Steam-engine introduced into England, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">St. John, Oliver, chief justice under the Commonwealth, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Strode impeached, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Suckling, Sir John, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Sunderland, Earl of, Prime Minister under Charles II., character of, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">intrigues in behalf of James II., <a href="#Page_310">310</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">treason to James II., <a href="#Page_338">338</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Tallard, Marshal, <a href="#Page_554">554</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Tangier, Settlement of, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Tarbet, Lord, advice to William III. regarding the Highlands, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Tate, Mr., moves the self-denying ordinance, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Temple, Sir William, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Test Act, Operation of the, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Thurloe, John, secretary for the Parliament, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">secretary of the Parliamentary Council, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Secretary of State, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his alertness, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Tories, early conflicts with the Whigs, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_422">422</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">efforts to gain power, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">rivalry with the Whigs under William III., <a href="#Page_524">524</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">influence under Queen Anne, Marlborough's alienation from the, <a href="#Page_542">542</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Treason, Bill for regulating trials in cases of high, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>, <a href="#Page_484">484</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Treaty of Ryswick, The, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Treaty, The Partition, <a href="#Page_523">523</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Triennial Act, The, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Triers," <a href="#Page_122">122</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">"Trimmers," The, <a href="#Page_451">451</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Tuam, Archbishop of, killed in a skirmish, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Turenne, Marshal, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Turkey merchants, The, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Tyrconnel, Earl of, appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">plot with James II. to hand over Ireland to Louis XIV., <a href="#Page_325">325</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">treacherous character of, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Union between England and Scotland, The, <a href="#Page_573">573</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Uxbridge, Meeting of Royalist and Parliamentary Commissioners at, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Vane, Sir Harry, <a href="#Page_83">83</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">ability of, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">executed by Charles II., <a href="#Page_208">208</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Vaudois, Massacre of the, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Vaughan, Lord Chief Justice, the trial of Penn, noble defence of the rights of juries, <a href="#Page_231">231</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Vendôme, Duke of, <a href="#Page_580">580</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Venner, rising of Fifth-Monarchy men under, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Verrio, Antonio, the painter, influence with Charles II., <a href="#Page_371">371</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Vigo Bay, Battle of, <a href="#Page_541">541</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Villeroi, Marshal, <a href="#Page_565">565</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Waldenses, The, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Waller, Edmund, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Walton, Isaac, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Warner, William, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Warwick, Earl of, Admiral of the Parliamentary fleet, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">in league with the Royalists, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Webster, John, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Westminster Assembly, The, disagreement of Presbyterians and Independents, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Wexford, capture by Cromwell, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Whigs, the name "Whiggamores," <a href="#Page_84">84</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">keen rivalry with the Tories, <a href="#Page_508">508</a>, <a href="#Page_524">524</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">triumph under William and Mary, <a href="#Page_530">530</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">White, Robert, the engraver, <a href="#Page_373">373</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Whitelock, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Wildman, Colonel, plot against Cromwell, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">William III., dauntless spirit and ready resource of, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">arrival in England, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">marriage to his cousin Princess Mary, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">conquests in the Netherlands, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>-<a href="#Page_246">246</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">visit to England, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his opinion of the Declaration of Indulgence, popularity in England, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">invited to expel James II., <a href="#Page_331">331</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">prepares to invade England, <a href="#Page_332">332</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">memorial in favour of, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">embarks for England, <a href="#Page_338">338</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">landing at Torbay, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>-<a href="#Page_342">342</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">enters London, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the succession difficulty, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Declaration of Rights, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">accession of, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his first Ministry, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">settlement of the revenue, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">acknowledged king of Scotland, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">conflict with the Whigs, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">speech to Parliament, <a href="#Page_423">423</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Irish campaign, <a href="#Page_425">425</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">his army in Ireland, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">battle of the Boyne, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">popularity with Parliament, <a href="#Page_437">437</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">with his army in the Netherlands, <a href="#Page_452">452</a>-<a href="#Page_456">456</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Continental campaign, <a href="#Page_466">466</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">reconciled with Anne, <a href="#Page_479">479</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">reception in London after capture of Namur, <a href="#Page_482">482</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">plot against, <a href="#Page_485">485</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">campaign in Flanders, <a href="#Page_496">496</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">triumphal entry into London, <a href="#Page_501">501</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">question as to the succession, <a href="#Page_521">521</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">illness, <a href="#Page_530">530</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">marks of the nation's confidence, <a href="#Page_531">531</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">fall from his horse, <a href="#Page_533">533</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">death of, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">appearance and character of, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>, <a href="#Page_534">534</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Williams, Archbishop, attacked by a Puritan mob, address to the king, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Winceby-on-the-Wolds, Battle at, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Windebank, Colonel, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Window tax, Origin of the, <a href="#Page_483">483</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Wither, George, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Worcester, Battle of, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Worcester, Marquis of, <a href="#Page_370">370</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Working classes, The, under the Stuarts, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">wages of artizans, enactments against free labour, <a href="#Page_392">392</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">Wroth, Sir Thomas, <a href="#Page_74">74</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Yarranton, Mr., plan for decrease of pauperism, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>.</li> - -<li class="indx">York, Duke of, in the custody of Parliament, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">escape to Holland, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">at the siege of Dunkirk, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">Admiral against the Dutch, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">victory at Southwold Bay, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">the Popish plot, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">opposes Monmouth, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">government in Scotland, <a href="#Page_283">283</a> (<em>see</em> also James II.).</li> - -<li class="indx">Young, Commodore, victory over the Dutch fleet, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> - - -<li class="ifrst">Zulestein, General, mission to England, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>;</li> - <li class="isub1">messenger to James II. from William of Orange, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.</li> -</ul> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="p1"><span class="smcap">Printed by Cassell & Company, Limited, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C.</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h3>FOOTNOTES.</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> That is, during their good behaviour.</p></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="transnote"> - -<p class="p1b">Transcriber notes:</p> - -<p>P. <a href="#Page_142">142</a>. 'Greal' changed to 'Great.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_156">156</a>-7. added 'a' to 'a deputation'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_218">218</a>. 'ts' changed to 'its'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_296">296</a>. 'Inverrary' changed to 'Inverary'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_322">322</a>. Added 'to', missing in 'to the Church of Rome'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_346">346</a>. 'Winchilsea' changed to 'Winchelsea'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_490">490</a>. 'it' changed to 'it's'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_542">542</a>. 'main ained' changed to 'maintained'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_550">550</a>. 'of' added in 'of the Alps'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_610">610</a>. 'de-defeated' changed to 'defeated'.</p> -<p>P, <a href="#Page_611">611</a>. 'instal' changed to 'install'.</p> -<p>P. <a href="#Page_611">611</a>. Added missing page number '174'.</p> -<p>Fixed various punctuation.</p> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Cassell's History of England. 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