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5A<^»
THE
MODERN PART
OF AN
Univerfal Hiftoiy,
FROM THE
Earlieft Accounts to the Prefent Time.
Compiled from
ORIGINAL AUTHORS.
By the AUTHORS of the ANCIENT PART.
VOL. XL.
LONDON,
Printed for C. Bathurst, J. F. and C. Rivington, A. Hamil- ton, T. Payne, T.Longman, S. Crowder, B. Law, J. RoBsoN, E. NEWBir.r, G. Robinson, T. Cadell, T.Bowles, S. Bladon, J. Murray,]. Nichols, J.Bowen, and W. Fox*
MDCCLXXXIII,
'» '. ; .
%
SUPPLEMENT.
THE
HISTORY
O F
ENGLAND.
VOL. II.
u
Y
J.
H
C ONTENTS.
CHAP. VI.
From the Acceflion of Queen Elizabeth to the
Union of the Two Crowns, Page i
CHAP. VII.
Srom the Acceflion of James, to the Death of
Charles I. ^4
CHAP. VIII.
From the Death of Charles I. to the Reftora-
tion, 135
CHAP. IX.
From the Reftoration to the Revolution, 180
CHAP. X.
From the Revolution to the Acceflion of the Fa- mily of Hanover, 265
CHAP. XL
From the Acceflion of the Houfe of Hanover to
the Peace of Paris, in 1762, 321
THE
HI S T O R Y
O F
ENGLAND.
CHAP. VI.
From i'he Acceffion of ^teen Elizabeth to the Union, ,.. of the Iwo Crowns,
ELIZABETH.
NEVER was the acceffion of any fovereign ac- AD.iejS. companied with more fincere demonftrations of i
joy than that of Elizabeth. Even the Catholics rejoiced at an event, which, though it was likely to over- turn the whole religious fyftem, that had been re-eitabliHi- ed in the preceding reign, yet promifed greater fecurity to the civil liberties of the nation. Elizabeth had dif- covered great prudence in lier conduct during the reign of her filler; (he had been educated in the fchooi of ad- verfity, and had made the proper ufe of her retirement ; improving her underftanding, and cultivating thofe quali- ties, which enabled her to fu'ay the fceptre with fo much glory to herfelf, and fuch advantage to her people. Eli- zabeth was at Hatfield when (he heard of her fifter's death ; and haftening up to London, was received by the multitude with univerfal acclamations. On her entrance into the Tower, fhe could not refrain from remarking on the difference of her prefent, and her former fortune. Vol. II, B when
a ^he H'ljlory of Engbnd,
when flie \rns font thither as a prifoner, and whence flie hat? fh'iWpjinds fo narrowly cfcapcd. She had fcarcely been proclalmcil over CO the queen, when Philip, who ftill hoped, by means of Eiiza- 'tof'hof' ^^^^1 to obtain over England Uiat dominion of which he marriuve i had failed in efpoafing Mary, immediately difpatched or- ders from the Low Countries to the duke of Feria, his ambaflador at London, to make her propofals of marriage ; and he ofFered to procure from Rome a drfpenfation for that purpofe. Whatever mi^ht be her rcfolution againft fuch an alliance, flie returned him a very obliging, though lohiefrjit cvafivc anfwer j and he retained fuch hopes of fuccefs, dtiUnis. fiijt lie fcnt a melTenger to Piome, with orders to folicit B. ,/j- the difpenfation.
biipimtntij I he queei», not to nlarm the pnrtrzans of the Catholic the I'ro- religion, had retained eleven of her filler's counfellors ; tiflani rt- \jyx[ in order to balance rheir authority, flic added eight, Uj^ibt. ^.j^Q were known to be incl-med to the Proteftant commu-v nion. Thefe were the marquis of Ncrrhampton, the carl of Bedford, fir Thomas Pr.rry, fir Edward Rogers, fir ^Ambrofe Cave, fir Francis Knolles, fir Nicliolas Bacon, whom fhe created lord-keeper, and fir Willinm Cecil, fccrc- rary of ftate '. With thefe counfellors, particularly Cecil, fhe frequently deliberated concerning the expediency of the means rf rclloring the Protrflant religion. By his advice, fhe hnmediarely recalled all exiles, and gave li- berty to all prifoners who were confined on accoum of religion. She next publifhect a proclamation, by which ihe lorbade all preaching without a fpccial licence. She alfo fufpended the laws fo far 23 to have a great part of the fervice to be read in Englifh j and forbade the hoft to A.D.155?, \y^ -^ny more elevated in her prefencc. A parliament foon ^ 7"— after fan£lioned thefe acl:s of prerogative; and in one mtt. "' fcfTion the k»rm of religion was eftabliflied as it has eve* fince remained in ihe nation.
Of nine thoufand four hundred beneficed clergymen^ which was the number of thofe in the kingdom, only fourteen blfliops, twelve archdeacons, fifteen heads oi colleges^ and about eighty of the parochial clergy, ehofe to quit their preferments rather than gi've up their religion.- feactiohh ^^hile the queen and parliament were employed ia Iranct. fettling the national religion, the negociations for a peace were ftill conducted between France, Spain, and England v and Elizabeth, though equally prudent, was not equally fuccefsful in this tranfa£lion. It was at laft agreed, that
trype's Ann. vol. i. p. j, V 8 Henry
Elizaheih, 5
Henry Ihould refiore Calais at the expiration of eight years ; that, in cafe of failure, he fhould pay five hundred thoufind crownS) and the queen's title to Calais ftill re- main ; that he fliould find the fecurity of feven or eight foreign merchants, not natives of France) for the pay^ ment of this fum ; that he (hould deliver five hoftages until that fecurity were provided ; that if Elizabeth broke the peace with France or Scotland during the interval, (he (hould forfeit all title to Calais ; but if Henry made war on Elizabeth, he fliould be obliged immediately to reftore that fortrefs ^, It was evident that thefe ftipulations were but a colourable pretence for abandoning Calais 5 but all inen excufed the queen on account of the necefTity of her affairs ; and they even extolled her prudence, in fub- mitting without farther flruggle, to that necefllty.
But though peace was concluded between France and England, there foon appeared a ground of quarrel, of the molt ferious nature, and which was afterwards attetuled with the mofl important confcquences. As Elizabeth had been declared illegitimate by Henry VIII. Francis, who had efpoufed Mary, queen of Scots, began to affume the title of king of England, in rightof his wife ; and the latter Difj^uf} be- feemed fo far from declining this empty appellation, that t".veen the ihe aflumed the arms of that kingdom. Elizabeth thence ^"^^^ '^"'^ concluded, that the king of France intended, on the firft or^cln!^ opportunity, to difputeher legitimacy, and her title to the crown. She therefore conceived a violent jealoufy againll the queen of Scots ; and was determined, as far as pofli- ble,to incapacitateHenry from the execution of his project:. The fudden death of that monarch, who was killed in a tournament at Paris, while celebrating the efpoufals of his filler with the duke of Savoy, altered not her views. Be- ing informed that his fucceflbr, Francis II. continued to affume, without referve, the title of king of England, ftie began to confider him and his queen as her mortal ene- mies ; and the prefent fituation of affairs in Scotland afforded her a favourable opportunity, both of revenging the injury, and providing for her own fafety.
The reformation was at this time making great progrefs jjffaWs in in Scotland, whei'e the anim.ofity of the cppolite parties Scotland. rofe to fuch a height as to threaten a civil war. In this divided ftate of the kingdom, Elizabeth by giving encourage- genient to the reformers, gained over their affedionsfrom
'' Forbes, p. 68. Ryraer, torn. xy. p. 505.
B 2 their
The Hiflory of EnghvuL
tlielr native queen, who, being a Catholic, M'as inclined to fa- vour thofe of lier own perfusffion. The reformers, therctore, to a man, confulered Elizabeth as their patroncfs and de- fender, and JNIary as their perfecutor and enemy. Maty, from the natural gaiety of her temper, and from the edu- cation which flie had received at the court of France, \v.i$ averfe to the gloomy feverity which her reformed fubjecrs affcdted, and which they confidered as an eflential ingre- dient in religion. She could not behold, without a mix- ture of ridicule and hatred, the auftere difpofition and manners of the reformed clergy, who now bore fway among the people; while they, on the other hand, were moved with abhorrence at the gaiety and levities, how- ever imiocent, which (lie had imported from France. 'Ihis mutual averfion became daily more violent ; and to break out into open oppoHiion, the clergy only waited for a fa- vourable opportunity; which the queen's indiicretion but too foon allbrded them.
After two years had been fpent in altercation and re- proach, between Mary and her fubjetls, the council at lad came to a refolution, that fhe fliould look out for fome alliance, by which (lie might be protected againil the jnfolence and mifguided zeal of her puritanical initruc^ors. After fome deliberation, the pcrfon fixed upon was lord Darnley, fon to the earl of Lenox. He was Mary's coufin- german, by the lady Margaret Douglas, niece to Henry VIII. and daughter of the earl of Angus, by Margaret, queen of Scotland. He had been born and educated in England, where th.e earl of Lenox had conflantly refided, after he had been banlHied by the prevailing power of the houfe of Hamilton. Darnley was now in his twentieth year, and of a very comely perfon. Elizabeth was fc- cretly no way averfe to this marriage, as it freed her from the dread of a foreign alliance ; but when informed that it was a6lually concluded, flie pretended to tcftify the ut- mofl: difpleafure. She feized the whole of the earl of Lenox's Englifh eflate, and threw the countefs and her fccond fon into the Tower. This duplicity of condu^l was not uncommon with Elizabeth ; and on the prefent occafion, it ferved as a pretext for refufing Mary's title to the fucceffion of England, which that princefs had fre- quently urged, but in vain.
Mary, unmoved either by the complaints or menaces of Elizabeth, refolved to indulge her own incliflations ; and accordingly the marriage was forwarded with all ex- pedition.
Elizabeth. ^
^edition (A). While fhe had been dazzled by the youth,
beauty, and exterior accompliOiments of her new lover, A.D.J565,
fhe had entirely overlooked the qualities of his mind,
which no wife correfponded with thofe of his perfon. l^/ ^^' With a violence of temper, he was variable in his refolu- of Scots tions ; and though infolent, was credulous and eafily go- marnes verned by flatterers. Thinking no favours ec-]ual to \\\s 1°''^ i^^^f-' merit, he was deilitute of gratitude ; and being addi£led -*'' to low pleafures, was equally incapable of the fentiments of love and tendernefs '^. The queen of Scots, in the firft effufions of her fondnefs, had taken a pleafure in exalting him beyond meafure : fhe had granted him the title of king ; fhe had joined his name MMthher own in all public aits -, but having leifure afterwards to remark his weaknefs and vices, fhe began to convert her admi- ration into difgufl j and Darnley, enraged at her en- creafing coldnefs, pointed his vengeance again (l every oae whom he deemed the caufe of this change in her mea^ fures and behaviour.
There was then in the court one David Rizzio, thefon Murder of of a mufician at Turin, and himfelf of that profefllon. ^'^^'°' He had come into Scotland in the train of an ambaflador, whom the duke of Savoy fent thither to congratulate Mary, fome time after her fiift arrival. As he underftood nnific to perfe£lion, and fung a good bafs, he was introduced into the queen's concert ; where (he was fo pleafed with his performance, that flie engaged him to complete her band of mufic, and retained him in her fervice after the departure of his niafter. Her fecretary for French dif- patches having, fome time after, incurred her difpleafure, fhe promoted Rizzio to that office, by which he had fre- quent opportunities of approaching her perfon, and infi- nuatlng himfelf into her favour. He made fo good ufe of the accefs which fortune had procured him, that he was foon regarded as the chief confident and even minifter of the queen. He was confulted on all occafions ; no favours could be obtained but by his intercefl'ion ; and all fuitors were obliged to gain Rizzio by prefents and flat-^ tery. It was eafy for Darnley's friends to perfuade him that R.izzio was the author of the queen's indifference to- wards him, and even to excite in his mind jealoufies of a
c Keith, p. 287. 3*9.
(A) Her firft hufband, Francis II. king of France, died De- cember 4, 1560, in the leyenteeuth year of his age.
B 3 yet
yet more dangerous nature. The favourite was of a diC' agreeable figure, but not pafl his youth ; and though the opinion of his criminal correfpondence with Mary might feem entirely unreafonable, a fulpicious hufhand could lind no other means of accounting for that lavifli and im- prudent kindnefs with which (he honoured him. The aufterity of the ecclefiaftics, who could not admit even innocent freedoms, contributed to difl'cminate this inju- rious opinicnofthe queen; and as Rizzio was univerfally believed to be a penfionary of the, pope, and to be deeply engaged in all fchemes againft the Protcltants, any ilory to his and Mary's difadvantage received implicit credit among the zealots of that communion.
Other caufes likewifc contributed to inflame tiie animc- fity of individuals againft this obnoxious favourite. He was the declared enemy of thofe lords who had been ba- jiiflied for oppofing the queen's marriage ; and by pro- moting the perfecution againft them, he had expofed liim- felf to the refentmcnt ot their numerous friends and re- tainers. A fcheme was alfo thought to be in agitation for revoking fome exorbitant grants made during the queen's minority ; and even the nobles, who had fcized the ecclcfiaflical benefices, began to think thenifelves in-r fecure in the poffeflion of them •*. The earl of Morton, chancellor, was farther afTe^S^ed by a public rumour, that Mary intended to difmifs him her fcrvicc, and to confer his place upon Rizzio, a mean and upftart foreigner, ig- norant of the laws and language of the country". Mor- ton, therefore, employed all his art to inflame the difcon- tent and jealoufy of Darnley ; and both of them, in con- cert with George Douglas, natural brother to the countefs of Lenox, and the lords Ruthven and Lindefey, with the concurrence of the earl of Lenox ^, Henry's father, formed the refolution of aflafllnating the poor favourite ; and it was determined, that, as a punifliment for the queen's indifcre- lions,themurderfliouldbe committed in herprefence. Mary was at this time in the fixth month of her pregnancy, and \vas then fupping in private, at table with the countefs of Argyle, her natural fifter, Rizzio, and fome others of her fervants. Darnley entered the room by a private jft.D 1^66, P^^^g^' 21"'^ flood at the back of Mary's chair. Lord
,=_ Ruthven, George Douglas, and other confpirators, all
$th Mar. armed, rufhed in after him, and by their fierce looks ex- cited the apprehenfions of the queen, who demanded of
d Keith, p. 316. Melvij, p. 64. « Buchanan, lib. xvii.
cap. 60. Crawford, p, 6. Spotfwood, p. 104. Knox, p. 393. \ Jebb, vol- i. p. 456, f Crawl«rd, p. 7.
them
EUzahetK
iliem the reafon of this rude intrufion. They told her, that they intended no violence againft her perfon ; but ineant only to bring that villain, pointing to Rizzio, to his deferved puniftiment. Rizzio ran immediately behind the queen, and taking hold of her robes, implored her proteftion ; while (lie interpofed between him and the affailins, and endeavoured, by her cries and intreaties, to divert them from their purpofe. The impatient confpi- rators, regardlefs of her efforts, rufiied upon their prey ; and Douglas, fnatching a dagger from Darnley's fide, plunged it into Rizzio's bofom, who, fcreaming with fear and agony, was torn from Mary by the other confpirators and dragged into an antichamber, where he was difpatched with fifty-fix wounds f. The unhappy princefs, informed of his fate, immediately dried her tears, and faid, (he would weep no more, for (lie would now think of re- venge. The infult, indeed, upon her perfon and honour, and the danger to which her life was expofed, on account of her pregnancy, were injuries fo atrocious that they fcarceiy left room for pardon.
The affaiTms, apprchenfive of Mary's refentment, de- tained her prifoner in the palace ; and the king difmiffed all who feemed willing to attempt her refcue, by telling them, that nothing had been done without his orders, and that he would be careful of the queen's fafety. Mur- ray and t\\£ banifhed lords appeared two days after \ and Mary, whofe anger was now engroffed by injuries more recent and violent, was willingly reconciled to them ; and {he even received her brother with tendernefs and affed.ion. They obtained an acquittal from parliament, and were re- in ftated in their honours and fortunes. The accomplices alfo in Rizzio's murder applied to her for a pardon; but flie artfully delayed compliance, and perfuaded them, that fo long as (he was detained in cuftody. and was furrounded by guards, any deed, which (he (hould fign, would have no validity. Meanwhile llie bad, by her carefles and na- tural allurements, gained every compliance from her hufband, who foon gave up all his accomplices to her refentment, and retijed with her to Dunbar. Many of her fubjects here offered her their iervices ; and Mary, having colleded an army which the confpirators were un- able to refill, advanced to Edinburgh, and obliged them to fly into England, where they lived in great poverty and diftreCs. They made application, however, to the carl .©f Bothwel, a new favourite of Mary's j and that noblc-
g Melvi), p. 64. Keith, p. 330, 331. Crawford, p. 9,
B 4 J«5»n,
8 Ths Htftory of England.
man, defirous of ftrengthening his party by the accefiicn of their interelt, was able to pacify her refentment ; and he foon after procured them liberty to return home ''.
The vengeance of the queen was implacnble only againft her hufband, whofe perfon was before difagreeable to her; and having perfuaded him to give up his accom- plices, fhe treated him with merited difdain and indigna- A.D. 1566. tion^, and encouraged her courtiers in their neglect of
— ■ him. He was, however, permitted to have apartments
i;Ir'^//"^' ^" ^^^ caille of Edinburgh, which Mary had chofen for deli'veredcf^^^^ place of her delivery, and where (he foon after brought a fan. forth a fon.
The birth of a fon gave additional zeal to Mary's par-
tizans in England ^ ; and even men of the moft oppofite
parties began to cry aloud for fomefettlement of the fuc-
cefiion. Thcfe humours broke out with great vehemence
in a new feflion of parliament. The houfe of peers,
Thfparha- v'hich had hitherto declined touching on this delicate
T^r^ t" point, here took the lead ; and the houfe of commons
for /laving ^"^^^ ''ftcr imitated the zeal of the lords. The courtiers
thefuc- endeavoured to elude the debate, by declaring, they had
ceffion He- heard the queen pofitively affirm, that, for the good of
dared in j^^j. pgopje {]^e ^^zz determined to marry. Few members,
faiour of ., '^ '^ J. I- II- • r J
ihe queea howevcr, gave credit to this intelligence; it wasconiider-
of Hcois, ed merely as an artihce, by which flie endeavoured to retradt that pofitive declaration, which (he had made in the beginning of her reign, that fhe meant to live and die a virgin. But though Elizabeth was able to elude, for the prefent, the applications of parliament, the friends of the queen of Scots multiplied daily in England ; and be- fide the Catholics, many of whom kept a treafonable cor- *who has a Tefpondence with her, and were ready to rile at her Jironiparty command', the court itfelf of Elizabeth was full of her in En^Und. ^yQ.^,^^ parcizans. The duke of Norfolk, the earls of "Leicefler, Pembroke, Bedford, Northumberland, fir Ni- cholas Throgmorton, and moft of the confiderable men in England, except Cecil, feemed convinced of the ne- cefTity of declaring her the fucceiTor. Mary's behaviour alfo, fo moderate towards the Proteftants, and fo gracious towards all men, had procured her univerfal refpecl *" j and the public was willing to afcribe any imprudencies, into which (lie had fallen, to her youth and inexperience.
h Meivil, p. 75, 76. Keith, p. 334. Knox, p. 398. ' Mel-
vil. p. 66, 67. ^ Camden, p. 397. J Haynes, p.
4i6, 4-8. ^ Iklelvii, p. 53. 61. 7^.
But
Elizabeth. 9»
But tViefe flattering profpefls were blafted liy the fubfc- quent incidents ; where her egregious indilcretions, not to lay atrocious crimes, threw her from a Hate of proTpe- rity and involved her in ruin.
The earl of Bothwel, now Mary's favourite, was of a MurJsrof confiderable family in Scotland ; and though not diilin- i^^^rniey. guiflied by any talents, civil or military, yet lie made fomc figure in the diflenfions of the ftate, and was an oppoler of the Reformation. He was a man of profligate man- ners, had involved his fortune in great incumbrances, and even reduced himfelf to beggary by his piofiifion^* This nobleman, notwithilanding, had ingratiated himfelf fo far with the queen, that all her meafurcs were entirely direded by his advice and authority. P>.eports were even fpread of more particular intimacies j which gave fiich uneafinefs to Darnley, that he left the court, and retired to Glafgow. An illnefs of an extraordinary nature, with which he was fcized on his arrival at that place, was uni- verfally afcribed by her enemies to a dofe of poifon, which, it was pretended, flie had adminiftered to him. Shortly after, all thofe wdio wilhed well to her charaO:er, or re- pofe to their country, were extremely pleafeH, and even furprifed, to hear that her tendernefs for her huiband was revived ; and that (he had taken a journey to vifit him, <luring his ficknefs. Darnley was fo far allured by her behaviour on this cccafion, that he refolved to part with her no more ; and he foon after attended her to Edin- burgh, which was thought to be a place more favourable to his declining health. The queen lived in the palace of Holyrood-houfe -, but as the fituation of that palace was low, and the concourfe of perfons about court necelTiirily attended with noife, which might diilurb her hufband in his prcfent infirm flatc, flie fitted up an apartment for him in a folitary houfe at fome diflance, called the Kirk of Field. Mary there gave him marks of kindnefs and attach.mcnt ; flie converied cordially with him, and fhc lay fome nights in a room under him. On the 9th of Fe- bruary, (lie told him that (he would pafs that night in the palace, becaufe the marriage of one of her fervants was to be there celebrated in her prefence. About two o'clock in the morning, the whole town was alarmed at hearing a great noife •, the houfe in wliich Darnley lay was blown up with gun-powder. His dead body was found at fome di^ance in a neighbouring field, without any marks of
n Keitlj, p. 240.
violence
10 TJ:e Uifiory of KnghnL
violence or contuHon. No doubt rould be entertained bat Darnley was murdered ; and the general lufpicion fell upon Bothwel as the author of the crime "■^. liut as his favour with Mary, and his power was great, no one ven- tured to declare openly his Icntiments. Voices, however^ were heard in the (bjeets, during the night, proclaiming Bothwel, and even ^lary herfelt, to be the murderers ; and bills, to the fame purpofe, were fecretly alhxed on the walls. Mary, more folicitous to punifh others than de- fend herfelf, offered rewards for the difcovery of thole who had fpiead fuch reports ; but no rewards were offer- ed for the difcovery of tlie murderers. One indifcretiori fucccedcd another : Bothwel, though accufed of being ilained with her hufhand's blood, had the confidence, vhile Mary was on her way to Stirling, on a vifit to her fon, to fcize her at the head of a body of eight hundred horfe, and to carry her to Dunbar, where he forced her to yield to his purpofes. While (he was at this place, ibme of the nobility fent her a private meflage, in which they told her, that, if fhe really lay under any conftraint, they would ufe all their force to refcue her. fler anfwer was, that flic had indeed been carried to Dunbar by vio- lence, but ever iince her arrival, had been fo well treated, that fhe willingly remained with Boilxwel i". It was ge- nerally thought by the people, tiiat he who was fuppofed to kill the queen's hufband, and to have offered violence to hei pcrfon, could expeift no mercy ; but they were afloaifhed upon finding, inftead of dilgrace, that Both- Ularyma^' well was taken into more than former favour j and to riatheearl crown all, that he was married to the queen, having di- $f Bothvjfl vorced his own vvife to procure this union.
This alliance, apparently fo criminal, led the people to pay very little deference to Mary's authority. The pro- teftant teachers, whofe influence was every where confi- derable, had long borne great animofity towards her, and they now loudly exclaimed againfl her conducl. The principal nobihty met at Sterling, and formed an affocia- tion for protedling the young prince, and punifliing his father's murderers. The firft that took up arms was lord Hume i who leading a body of eight hundred horfe, fud- dcnly environed the queen and Bothwel, in the caflle of Borthwick. They found means, however, to make their cfcape ; and Bothwel, at the head of a few forces, meet- ing the affociators within about fix miles of Edinburgh,
« iMelvil, p. 78. Cabala, p. 136. > Spotfwood, p. 20*.
was
EUzaheth*
II
Vras obliged to cspltuhte ; while Mary was condu£^ecI by A .D.567,
the prevailing party into that capital, amidft the infults """•
and reproaches of the populace. She was thence fent a ff/f'y"' priConer to the caftle of Lochlevin, fituatein a lake of that thTcaflle"of name. The miftrefs of the houfe was mother to the earl Loctilevin, of Murr;iy ; and as flie pretended to have been lawfully married to the late king of Scots, fhe naturally bore an animofity to Mary, and treated her with theutmofl h;irlh- nefs. Bothv/el, during the conference, fled unattended Bothnuel to Dunbar \ where fitting out a few fmall rtiips, he fub- flies to iht filled amonj; the Orkneys for fome time by piracy. Being Orkneys, purfued thither, and his domeQics taken, who made a fuil ^" J '"'' difcovery of his crimes, himfelf efcaped to Denmark, where f„cirk he was thrown into prifon, loft his fenfes, and died mifer- -where he ^b!y about ten years afterwards. </<^-f«
The fears and jealoufies of Elizabeth being now lulled afleep, by the coniideration of the ruin and infamy which Mary had incurred, {he feemed to be touched with com- pafEon towards the unfortunate queen ; for alleviating whofe calamities fhe refolved to employ her authority. EU^aleth She fent fir Nicholas Throgmorton ambafTador to Scot- endeawurt land, in order to remonflrate both with Mary and the ^° '""^'^te afTociated lords -, but the latter thought proper to deny ^^j^^„ ,/,^ him, after feveral affe6ted delays, all accefs to Mary. But queen of though he could not confer with her, he procured her the Scots^ and beft terms from the rebellious lords that he could j whjch ^^'^ '^■^""j ^ere, that fhe fhould refign the crown in favour of her ^'^ "^ ^^ JTon, who was as yet a minor ; that fhe fhould appoint the earl| of Murray, who had from the beginning teflified a hatred to lord Darntey, as regent of the king^ (dom ; and as he was then in France, that fhe fhould ap- point a council until his arrival. When the inftruments j^/f^ry h were brought to Mary to fign, flie buril into a flood of obliged /9 tears, at the thought of refigning all power ; but fhe af- reflgn the terwards fubfcribed them, even without infpedfion '^. In ^'■°'^" '« confequence of this forced refignation, the young prince ^ * was proclaimed king, by the name of James VI. The queen had now no hopes but from the kindnefs of the earl of Murray; but even in this fhe was difappointed •, the carl, upon his return, inflead of affording her confolation, loaded her with reproaches, which reduced her almofl to A.D. 156?. defpair. ..
Mary, by her charms and promifes, had engaged a young gentleman, whofe name was George Douglas, to
9 Melvil, p. 85. Epotfwood, p. zj8, Andcrfon, vol. iii. p. 19. ' ^ - ' afTifl .
12 Tie Hi/wry of Eugh'nd,
The qutcn ^fTifl her in efcaping from l»er confinement. He accord- of Scots Jngly conveyed her in difgulfc into n fmall boat, and him- ei'capes feif rowed her afliore. The news of her enlargement from her being fpread Jibroad, the loyahy of the people feemed to mini and ^^^^ive. As Bothwcl was no longer aflbciated in her. isjoinedby caufc, many of the nobility, who expeclcd to fucceed him fix thou- in favour, figned a bond of aHociation for her defence j Jandmen. ^pj j,^ ^ fe^^, ^l^yjj {^^ f^^^ herfclf at the head of fix thou-
fand men.
15th May. '^^^^ carl of Murray, now regent, was not flow in af-
BattU pf fembling his forces; and though his army was inferior to
han^Jije. that of the queen of Scots, he ventured to take the field
againft her. At Langfide, near Glafgow, was fought a
battle, entirely decifive in his favour. The adlion was
followed bv a tot-il difperfion of the queen's party : the
The Queen ^'^^^^WY prhicefs fled fouthwards with great precipitation,
fits to and came, with a few attendants, to the borders of I'-ng-
£itgla»d. land, where llie hoped for prote(fli6n, and even for allilt-
ance, from Elizabeth.
With tlicfe hopes Ihe embarked on board a fiOiing boat
in Galloway, and landed the fame dav at Wirkington in
Cumberland, whence flie immediately difpatched a meffen-
'Sht fends a ^tx to London, craving prote£lion, and dcfiring liberty to
fneyengerto yifit the queen, tlizabeth deliberated for fome time upon
£tiz.tbeth, jjj^ proper method of proceedinjr, and refolved at laft to
•who orUcrs o • f • 11 , • " ei • J- . 1 .
btr to be "^^^ '" ^ ttieudly yet cautious manner, one mimediately
refffStjulIy fent orders to lady Scropc, fifter to the duke of Norfolk,
etHnJt'd, a lady who lived in that neighbourhood, to attend on the
but Tifuj'ii {jueen of Scots ; and foon after difpatched lord Scrope,
'"-',' i"" and fir Francis KnoUes, to pay her all pofliblerefpedl.Not-
ilears htr- withltanding thefe marks of diflindlion, the queen refufed
ftlf of to admit Mary into her prefencc, until (lie fliould clear
DarnUfi hcrfelf of her huiband's murder, of which fhe was fo
nurdtr, ftrongly accufed ^ So unexpecled a check threw Mary
into tears ; and her prefent cmbarrafTment extorted from
her a declaration, that ihe would willingly juftify herfelf
to her fifler from all imputations, and would fubmit her
caufe to the arbitration of fo good a friend •*.
Elizabeth immediately difpatched a meflenger to the regent of Scotland j requiring him both to defift from farther profecution of his queen's party, and to fend fome perfons to London, to jufliifv his conduct with regard to her. This imperious mefTage was probably received by
«^ Anderfon, vol. iv. p. 54. 66 8:, 83. 86. d Ibid. p.
1.0. 55- *7.
Hurray
I
Elizabeth. tj
rlurray with fecret Indignation ; but as his domeftic ene- mies were numerous and powerful, and England was the fole ally, which he could expe£l among foreign nations, he refolved rather to digeft the affront than provoke Eli- zabeth by a refufal. He therefore replied, that he would himfelftake a journey to England, attended by other com- miffioners ; and M^ould willingly fubmit the determination of his caufe to Elizabeth '^.
The queen of Scots, after much relu£lance, was at lafl Conferencti obliged to admit her ancient rival as umpire in her caufe, rtlaiive to and the accufation was readily undertaken by Muiray, the '"^ Jl^^^f^ regent, who had already manifefted the molt violent pre- •* ^'"' judice againft Mary. This extraordinary conference, which deliberated on the condu6l of a foreign queen, was opened at York ; and was managed by three commif- fioners appointed by Elizabeth, nine by the queen of Scots, and five by the regent, in which number himfelf was included. From York, the conferences were in a little time adjourned to Hampton-Court, where the com- miflioners of all the parties attended. Among the proofs produced of Mary's guilt, were many letters and fonnets, faid to be written in her own hand to Bothwei, in which (he difcovers her knowiege of Darnley's intended murderf and her contrivance to marry Bothwei, by pretending a forced compliance. Thele papers, it mull be acknow- leged, are not free from the fufpicion of forgery, though the arguments for their authenticity feem to prevail. However this be, the evidence of Mary's guilt appearing flronger, it was thought proper to defire that her advocates fiiould give anfwers to them ; but they, contrary to ex- pectation, refufed ; alleging, that as Mary was a fovereign princefs, (he could not be fubjedl to any tribunal ; not confrdering that the avowed defign of this conference was not punifhment, but reconciliation ; that it was not to try Mary in order to infli6l penalties, but to evince whether fhe were worthy of Elizabeth's friendfhip and protection. Mary, inttead of attempting to juliify her conduft, laboured to obtain an interview with Eliza- beth ; but as (he ftill perfifted in a refolution to make no defence, this demand was finally refufed her. The un- fortunate queen, however, pcrfevered in foliciting Eli- zabeth's prote£tion ; requefting, that either fhe fliould be affilted in her endeavours to recover her authority, or that liberty fliould be given her of retiring into France,
cAnderfon, vol. iv. p. 13—15.
J where
14 ^^^e Uljiory of England.
wliere flie might ufe her efForts to obtain the frlcndfnip of
other princes. But Elizabeth, fenfible of the danger
which attended either of thefe propofals, -was fccretly
refolved to detain her in captivity ; and (he was accord-
Mary ti ingly fent to Tutbury-caftlc, in the county of Stafford,
eonjined in where (he was put under the cuftody of the earl of
z?/"'^' Shrewfbury. There the captive queen was amufed with
' ' hopes of one day coming into favour ; and that, unlefs
her own obRinacy prevented, an accommodation might at
lafl take place.
Thofe hopes of accommodation, however, were in the fequel entirely fruftrated. '1 he fa£tions in Scotland tended not a little to alarm the jealoufy of Elizabeth, and in- The recent creafe the rigours of Mary's confinement. The regent of of Scotbnd Scotland, who had long been her inveterate enemy, hap- vaiJ P^"'"g» ''^ revenge of a private injury, to be afTalTmated
Mary's hy a gentleman of the name of Hamilton, upon his death parttzans the kingdom relapfed into its former anarchy. Mary's make an party once more nflembled, and made themfelves mafters irruption ^£ Edinburgh. They even proceeded to the borders of borders. England, where they committed fome diforders, which Elizabeth drew the attention of Elizabeth, She quickly fent thither fends an an army, commanded by the earl of Suflex, who, enter- *^['"n i" ing Scotland, principally chaftifed all the partizans of the thm. captive queen, under a pretence that they had oiFended
his miftrefs by harbouring Englifli rebels-i
But the policy of Elizabeth terminated not with this
enterprize." While (he maintained the moft ftiendly cor-
refpondence with Mary, and the warmeft proteflations of
fmcerity pafled between them, (lie was far from either
afhfting her caufe, or yet from rendering it defperate.
It was her intereft to keep the fadlions in Scotland ftill
7fie tarlof alive ; for which purpofe fhc weakened, by tedious nego-
Lenoxts ciations, the queens party, which had now promifed to
fXfnt of prevail, and procured the earl of Lenox to be appointed
Scotland, regent, in the room of Murray who was fiain.
A,D.i<:6o While Mary's party in Scotland was thus depreffed by
. . the arts of Elizabeth, an attempt, which was concerted
Duke of near the place of her captivity, proved alfo unfuccefsful. Norfolk's The duke of Norfolk was the only peer in England who ionfptraty, enjoyed the hlgheft title of nobility -, and the qualities of his mind correfponded to the eminence of his ftatioh. Beneficent, affable, and generous, he had acquired the affeclions of the people i and yet, from his prudence and moder<ition, he had never alarmed the jealoufy of the fovertign. He was at this time a widower, and being of
a fuu-«
Elizabeth* ' 1^
a fultable age to efpoufe tlie queen of Scots, lier attrac- tions, as well as his own interefls, made him defirous of the matcl). The obtaining Elizabeth's confent to their nuptials, was confidered as an indifpenfable circumiiance; but though this nobleman made almoft all the nobility of England acquainted with his intended alliance, he never had the prudence, or the courage, to open his defigns to Elizabeth. On the contrary, in order to fupprefs the fur- niifes which were currently reported, he fpolce to the queen conteinptuoufly of Mary ; affirmed that his eflates in England were of more value than all the revenues of Scotland ; and declaredj that when he amufed himfelf in his own tennis-court at Norwich, he was a greater prince than the fovereign of that kingdom. This duplicity only ferved to inflame Eli^'abeth's fufpicions ; and Norfolk, perceiving a coldnefs in the queen's behaviour, retired from the court in difguft. Repenting, however, of this meafure foon after, he refolved to return ; but, on the ■way, was ftopt by a meflenger from the queen, and com- jvb^/j,/^ ;^ mitted to the Tower, under the cuftody of fir Elenry commiued Nevil ^. Lefley, bifliop of Rofs, the queen of Scots' am- to the balTedor, was examined and confronted with Norfolk be- "^"W"* fore the council ''. The earl of Pembroke was confined to his own houfe ; and Arundel, Lumley, andThrogmor- ton, all of whom had favoured Norfolk's defign, were taken into cuftody. The queen of Scots was removed to Coventry, where all accefs to her, during foriie time, was ihe quttn ftri£lly prohibited ; and vifcount Hereford was joined to of Scott is the earls of Shrewfbury and Huntingdon, hi the ofiice of removinits guarding her. Coveniry.
The partizans of the duke of Norfolk, however, were too much attached to his interefl: not to make an efibrt for his releafe. The earls of Weftmoreland and Nor- thumberland had prepared meafures for an infurre£lion ; had communicated their defign to Mary and her minif- tcr ; had entered into a correfpondence with the duke of -Alva, governor of the Low Countries, and had obtained his promife of men and ammunition. But thofe intrigues could not long efcape the vigilance of Elizabeth's mini- flers. Orders were immediately fent to Weftmore- land and Northumberland to appear at court, and an fwer for their condu£V. But thofe noblemen having already proceeded fo far in their criminal defigns, that they dared not truft themfelves in her hands, found
s Camden, p. 4»i. Haines, p. 540. *> Lefley, p. %o.
it
i6
Jnfurrec- tions in the North.
Tie earl of Sujfex marches 'with, an army
again/} the rebels, ^mIio foon dijptrje.
Norfolk is reUafed from the To-wer,
TI:c H'Jlory of England.
it neccflary to begin their revolt before matters were entirely prepared for its opening. They accordingly publifhed a manifefto, in which they alleged, that no injury was intended againfl; the queen ; but that their fole aim was to re-eftablifh the religion of their an- ceftors, to remove all evil counfellors from about the queen's perfon, and to reftore the duke of Norfolk to his liberty and the queen's favour '. Their force amounted to four thoufand foot, and fixteen hundred horfc ; and they expe6led to be joined by all the Catholics in Eng- land ''. But in this expc£lation, they foon found them- fclves greatly deceived : the queen's prudent conduct had acquired her the genetal good-will of the people ; info- much that the Catholics in mod counties exprefTed an afic£lion for her fervice'. Even the duke of Norfolk, for whofe fake the revolt had been undertaken, ufed every method that his fituation would permit, to affift the queen in reducing the infurgents. A body of feven thoufand men, under the command of the earl of Suflex, marched againfl the rebels, whom they found already ad- vanced to the bilhoprick of Durham, and in pofleHion of that diftri£l. The infurgents immediately retired before the royal army to Hexham ; where hearing that the earl of Warwick and lord Clinton were advancing againfl: them with a greater force, they found no other refource than to difperfe themfelves, without flriking a blow. Nor- thumberland fled to Scotland, and was confined by the regent in tlic caflle of Lochlevin : Weflmoreland, after attempting to excite the Scots to revolt, betock himfelf to Flanders, where he met with protection. This rebellion was foon followed by another, led on by lord Dacres, but with as little fuccefs. Great feverity was exercifed againft fuch as had taken part in thefe rafti enterprizes *, and no lefs tlian eight hundred perfons are faid to have futfered by the luands of the executioner •". But the queen was fo much pleafed with Norfolk's behaviour, that (he re- leafed him from the Tower; allowed him to live, though under fome fliew of confinement, in his own houfe, and only exa£led from him a promife not to proceed any far- ther in his negociations with the queen of Scots ".
Norfolk, however, had not been releafed above a year, when new projects were fet on foot by the enemies of the
» Cabala, p, 169. Strype, vol. i. p. 547. k Stowe, p. 663.
1 Calaba, p. 170. Digges, p. 4.. "> Lefley, p. 32. " Ibid.
p. 9S. Cumdcn, p. 4.19. Haynes, p, 597.
queen
^t'rzaheth. 1 7
qnfcen and tli» reformed religion, fecretly fomented ty Rodolphi, an inftrument of the court of Rome, and the bifliop of Rofs, Mary's minilter in England. It was con- certed by them, that Norfolk fhould renew his dcfigns Upon Mary. A promife of marriage was therefore re- newed between the parties; the duke engaged to' enter A.nijyi. into all her interefls ; and as his ambitious views gra-
dually overcame his prudence, he confented to enterprises ^"'folk eri- w'hich foon after terminated in his ruin. It wjis agreed, '^'^'^ ""*" that the duke of Alva fhould tranfport into England a ipirac body of fix thoufand foot, and four thoufand hcrfe; thnt the duke of Norfolk (hould join them with all his ad- herents; and that they fhould afterwards march dire6lly to London, and oblige the queen to fubmit to whatever terms the confpirators fhould pleafe to impofe upon her ^. This fcheme was fo fecretly laid, that it had hithertd entirely eluded the vigilance of Elizabeth, and that cf fecretary Cecil, who now bore the title of lord Burleigh ; and it was at lafh difcovered merely by accident. The -which it duke having fent a fum of money fo lord Herries, one J'-jcomered of Mary's partizans in Scotland, did not think proper to h '^'^"'^^^^ acquaint the bearer with the real value of the remittance ; and the meffenger finding, by the weight of the bag, that it contained a larger fum than the duke mentioned to him, began to miftruft fome plot, and brought fhe money^ with the duke's letter, to the fecretary of ilate.
By the artifices of that great ftatefraan, the duke's fer- The duie of vants were brought to make a full confeffion of their Norfolk is mafter's guilt ; and the bifliop of Rofs, foon after, finding ^""'"""^'^ the whole difcovered, did not fcruple to confirm their tef- ^j^rvjer timony. Th6duke was inilantly committed to the Tower, A. 0.1572. a'nd ordered to prefpare for his trial. A jury of twenty- .■«
five peers unanimoufly pafled fentence upon him, and the ^^-^h Jan. queen, four months after, reluclantly figned the warrant "'■f'^'^^'v for his execution. He died with calmnefs nnd confiancy; ^^^^ sfnd though he cleared himfelf of any difloygl intentions againft the queen's authority, he acknowleged the juftice" of the fentence by which he fuffered p. A few months ^fter, the duke of Northumberland, being delivered up /\,Urt//um- by the regent, underwent a fimilar trial, and was ^\{6 berla/ui li brought to the fcafibld. All thefe Ineffecflual efforts i'n fa- aifo tned vour of thequeen of Scots, feemed only the more to difllpate ''"•^ "'" all hopes of her deliverance from confinen:ent j and fhe
• Lefley, p. 155. Stat6 Trials, vd. i. p. 26, 2?. P Camden", p. 440.. Strype, vol ii. App. p. 23.
Vol* n. C hence-
i8 The Hlftory of England.
henceforth continued for feveral years a p^'ccariocs (?e* pendent on the fufpicions of Elizabeth, who only waited ontil fome new efforts of Mary's adherents fhould give a plaufible pretext for havinjr rccourfc to extremities, which political, and not merciful motives To long fufpended.
Having thus far attended the queen of Scotland, we ftow return to fome tranfaclions, prior in point of time, but of lefs confideration.
There had for fome time fubfifted difgufls between tlie court af England and that of Spain j occafioned, probably, by Elizabeth's having rcjec'ted the fuit of Philip. This breach was widened on both fides by petty hofliliiics. The Spaniards, on their part, had fent into Ireland a body of fcrvcii hundred of their nation, with fome Italians, who b«ilt there a fort ; but were foon after cut of}' to a man.
tacks the Spaniwdi in South Amtrica, and fa' Is round ike itiorld.
HofltitiifJ betvoetit
England and Spain. 'The Spa- niarJj in- vade he- l/inJ, but
t"theeafl ^7 ^^^^ ^^^^ °^ Ormond. On the other hand the Englifh, 6j Ormond. under the conduct of fir Francis Drake, attacked the 6/> F'fl/jc?/ Spaniards in their fettiemcnts in South America. Tliis Drake at- ^-^^ ^j^g fj^f}- Englifhman that failed round the globe ; and the qaeen was fo much pleafed with his valour and fuc- cefs, that flie accepted a banquet from him at Deptford, on board the fliip which had atchicved fo memorable a voyage.
While hoftilities were daily multiplying between Spain and England, Elizabeth began to look cut for an alliance that might fupport her againll fo dangerous an adverfary. The duke of Anjou had long made pretenfions to thequecn, and though he was younger by twenty-five years, he took the refolution to prefer las fuit in perfon, and paid her a private vifit at Greenwich. It appears, that though hi;? iigure was not advantageous, his addrefs v/as pleafing. The queen ordered her minifters to fix the terms of the contract j and a day was appointed for the folemnization of their nuptials. But as the time approached, Elizabeth became irrefolute and melancholy ; fhe could not be in- duced to change her condition, and therefore the duke o£ Anjou was difmifled.
Elizabeth thus depriving herfelf of a foreign ally, looked for afilftance from her own fubjecls ; among whom, however, fhe had many enemies. Several con- fpiraeles were formed again ft her Hfe ; many of which were imputed to the intrigues of the queen of Scots. Henry Piercy, earl of Northumberland, brother to him beheaded fome years before, and Philip Ploward, earl of Arundel, fon to the unfortunate duke of Norfolk, fell under fufpicion, and the latter was, by order of the
council^
UUzahethl 19
council, ccnfined to his own houfe. Francis Throgrnor- ton, a private gentlemanj was committed to cuitody, on account of a letter which he had written to the queen of Scots j and (liortly after confefTing his guilt, he \"»ns con- demned and executed. Soon after William Parry, a Ca- tholic gentleman, who had on a fotmer occaUon received the queen's pardon, was found engaged in a defperate confpiracy to alTaflinatc his fovereign and beuefaftor. He had confulted upon the juftice and expediency of this criminal purpofe, with the pope's nuncio and legate, who extremely applauded his deilgn, and exhorted him to per- fevere in his refolution. He therefore allbciated him^cXi Aconfpi^ vi'ith one Nevil, who entered zealoufly into the projed ; racy is and it was determined to fnoot the queen while fhe \Vas/j'''»f^*i' taking the air on horfeback. But while they were watch- ^^^^^ ^^^'''^^ ing an opportunity for the execution of their purpofe, yy^go, £//„ the earl of Weftmoreland happened to die in exile ; and zabeth, as Nevil was next heir to the family, he began to enter- ^«' '-f '^f' tain hopes, that by doing the t;;ueen fome acceptable fer- "'"*''"* vice, he might recover the eftate and honours which had been forfeited by the rebellion of the laft earl. He there- fore difcovered the whole confpiracy to the minifbers ; and Parry, being thrown into prifon, confeflcd the guilt both to them and to the jury who tried him. He was lliortly after condemned and executed.
Thefe attempts, which were entirely fet on foot by the creaf Catholic party, ferved to increafe the feverity of the lav/s jfventy againft ail of that communion. Popifh priefts were ba- agalniUht n'lflied the kingdom, thofc who harboured or relieved them '^'^' '''"' were declared guilty of felony, and many were eiecuted in confequence of this fevere edict. Nor was the queen The queen of Scots herfelf without fome fhare of the punifliment. of Scots is She was removed from under the care of the earl of f/^' ^""f ^7 Shrewlbury, who had always been indulgent to his ^'^^^y^^^.^.^ prifoner, particularly with regard to air and exercife ; keepertt and (lie was committed to the cuftody of fir Amias Paulett, and fir Drue Drury, men of honour, but in- flexible and rigid in the obfervance of orders.
Thefe confpiracies had the efrecl of preparing the waj' for Mary's ruin, whofe greatefh misfortunes proceeded at lead as much from the imprudent zeal of her friends as ' from the malignity of her enemies. Elizabeth's minifl-ers bad long been waiting for fome opportunity of accufing the captive queen of treafonable pradlices ; and their anxious expe61ations were now gratified. One John Bal- jlard, a popifli prieft, who had been bred in the Englifli fe-
C 2 minarv
20 The Hiftory of England,
minary at Rheims, came over to England in the difguife of a foldier, under the aflumed name of captain Fortefcue, with the execrable defign of compaffing the death of a fovereign, whom he confidered as the enemy of his re- ligion. The firfl perfon to whom he addrefled himfelf iabhigtcn^s "was Anthony Babington, of Dethick, in the county of eonfpiraey. Derby, a young gentleman of good family, and poflefled of a very plentiful fortune. Babington had been long remarkable for his zeal in the catholic caufe, and in par- ticular for his attachment to the captive queen. He therefore entered readily into the plot, and procured alfo the concurrence of fome other alTociates. ' Thefe were Barnwell, a gentleman of a confiderable family in Ire- land; Charnock, a gentleman of Lancafhire ; Abington, whofe father had been cofferer to the houfljould ; and John Savage, a man of defperate fortune, who had fcrved in the Low Countries, and came into England under a vow to dellroy the queen. He indeed did not feem to defire any aflbciate in the enterprize ; and challenging the execution of it entirely to himfelf, refufed for fome time to permit any to fliare witli him in what he edeemed his greatell glory. The next ftep was to apprize Mary of the eonfpiraey formed in her favour •, and this they efFe£led by conveying their letters to her through a chink in the wall of her apartment, by means of a brewer who ferved the family with ale. In thefe, Babington informed her of a defign laid for a foreign invafion, the plan of an in- fuireclion at home, the fcheme for her delivery, and the eonfpiraey for afTafhnating the ufurper by fix noble gen- tlemen, as he termed them, all of them his friends ; who, from the zeal which they bore the catholic caufe, and hermajelly's fervice, would undertake the accompliftiment Mary ap- of the purpofe. To thefe, it was faid, Mary replied, that pro'ves of (he approved highly of the defign ; that the gentlemen the con- might expe£t from her all the rewards which it (hould fptrary. g^gj. j^g jj-j j^gj. power to confer ; and that the death of Elizabeth was a neceflary circumflance, previous to any attempts, either for her own deliverance or an infurrec- tion ^. Thefe letters, with others to Mendoza, Charles Paget, the archbifliop of Glafgow, and fir Francis Ingle- field, were carried by GifFard to fecretary Walfingham ; were decyphered by the art of Philips, his clerk ; and copies taken of them. In order to obtain a full infight into the plot, Walfingham employed another artifice.
' State Trials, vol. i. p. 135. Camden, p, 515,
He
RIizaheth> il
He fubjolned to n letter of Mary's a poftfcrlpt in the fame cypher ; in which Babington was delired to inform her of the names of the confpirators-
Meanwhile Babington, anxious to haften the forelg;n ,
fuccours, refolved to difpatch Ballard into France ; and he procured for him a palTport under a feigned name. la order to remove from himfelf all fufpicion, he applied to Walfingham, pretended great zeal for the queen's fer- yice, and profefled his intentions of employingr the con- fidence which he had gained among the Catholics, to tlie deteQion of their conspiracies. Walfingham commended his loyal purpofes, and promifing his alTirtance in the exe- cution of them, maintained with him a clofe correfpon- dence. A warrant, meanwhile, was iflued for feizing Ballard ; and this incident, joined to the confcioufnefs of The con- guilt, threw the confpirators into great apprehcnfions. fP"'°9' " They all took to flight, and lay concealed in different '^Ji'J'^;''/ * places, but were foon difcovered and thrown into prifon. conftira- In their examinations they contradicted each other, and lors exe- the leaders were obliged to make a full confeflion of the f"'**^- truth. Fourteen were condemned and executed ; of whom feven acknowleged the crime on their trial ; the reft were convi6led by evidence.
The execution of thefe wretched men ferved only to pave the way for one of greater importance, in which a captive queen was to fubmit to the unjuft decifions of thofe who had no other right, but that of power, to con- demn her. Though all England was acquainted with the detection of Babington's confpiracy, every avenue to the unfortunate Mary was fo ftriclly guarded, that (lie re- piained in utter ignorance of the whole matter. But her T/u queen allonilhment was equal to her anguilh, when (ir Thomas "f ^^o/j is (Gorges, by Elizabeth's order, came to inform her of the """'^^ ^i'
r r 1 1 r 1 rr-ii • i i /- r Q!'aintea\
jate or her unhappy confederates, ihe time he chole tor ^„^ ff,g giving her this intelligence, was when flie was mounted d'tfco'uei^ of on horfeback to go a-hunting ; after which (he was not per- the plot. mitted to return to her former place of abode, but was conducted from one gentleman's houfe to another, until andis (he was was lodged in Fotheringay caille, in the county conduileJ of Northampton, which was fixed upon as the lall: fcene '° gJ^'^' of her trial and fufferings. Her two fecrctaries, Nau, a cajllt. Frenchman, and Cuile, a native of Scotland, were im- mediately arrefted. All her papers were feized, and lent up to the council. Above fixty different keys to cyphers were difcovered.
The Englifli council was divided In opinion about the Cicjifurcs to be taken againft the queen of Scots. Some
C 3 njcm-
:JJ> The Hijlcry of Engla'cd,
members propofed, that as her health was very infirm, hef life might be ihortened by clofe confinement. To avoid any imputation of violence or cruelty, Leicefter advifed that Ihe ftiould be difpatchcd by poifon ; and he fent a di- vine to convince Walfingham of the lawfulnefs of that action ; but the majority infifted on her being put to death by legal procel's. It was therefore refolvcd to try Mary, not by the common ftatute of treafons, but by an act which had paHed the former year, with a view to this very event ; and the cjueen, according to that a£t, ap- pointed a commiflion, confiding of forty noblemen and privy-counfeUors, and cmpoAvered them to examine and pafs fentence on Mary, whom flie denominated the late Trial of queen of Scots, and heir to James V. of Scotland. The ^he queen commilFioncrs came to Fotheringay caflle, and delivered (/ i)cotf> her a letter from Elizabeth, commanding her to fubmit to a trial for her late confpiracy. Mary perufed the letter with great compofure ; and as (lie had long forefeen the danger that hung over her, received the intelligence with- out emotion or aftonilhment. She faid, however, that flie wondered the queen of England fhould command her as a fubjecl, who was an independent fovercign, and a queen like herfelf. She would never, Ihe faid, ftoop to any condefccnfipn which would derogate either from her own dignity or that of her fon. The laws of England, Hie obferved, were unknown to her j fhe was dcftitute of counfel j nor could fhe conceive who were to be her peers, as (he had but one equal in the kingdom. She added, that though flie had lived in England many years, ihe had lived in captivity, and not having received thd protection of the laws, flic could not, merely by her invo- luntary refidence in the country, be fuppofed to have fub- jected herfelf to their jurifdidtion. When the commif- lioners preiTed her to fubmit to the queen's pleafure, other- wife they would proceed againft her as contumacious, fhe declared, flic would rather fuffer a thoufand deaths than own herfelf a fubjeci to any fovereign on earth. That, however, fhe was ready to vindicate herfelf in a full and free parliament ; but could not view thefe commiflioners in any other light than as men appointed to juflify, by fome colour of legal proceeding, her condemnation and execution. She exhorted them to confult their own con- fcience and character in trying an innocent perfon ; and to remember that thefe traniadlions would come under the revifal of a theatre more extenfive that the kingdom £)f England. At length the vice-chamberlain, Hatton, re-r
pre-
Ei'i'zahetU 2 2
jirefenting tliat (Le injured her reputanon by avoiding a trial, in which her innocence might be proved to the ;fa- tisfadion of all the world, overcame her objedions. She therefore agreed to plead, upon condition that they would admit her proteft, of difallowing all legal fiibjetlVion ; and this being entered upon record, they proceeded to trial.
The lawyer* of the crown then opened the charge againfl the captive queen. They proved, by intercepted letters, that flie had allowed car<.iinal Allen and others to treat her as >queen of England ; and that (lie had kept a correfpondence with lord Paget and Charles Paget, in view of engaging the Spaniards to invade the kingdom. Mary feenied not anxious to clear herfelf from either of thefe imputations. She only faid, that fhe could not himlcr (Others from ufing what ftyle they pleafed in writing to her ; and that (lie might lawfully try every expedient for the recovery of her liberty.
An intercepted letter from her to Men-doza was next produced, in which (lie promlfed to transfer to Philip her right to the kingdom of England, if her fon ihould rci- fufe to be converted to the catholic faith ; an event, (he faid, of which there could be no expe(Slation while he re- mained in the hands of his Scottifh fubje£ls ''. This paT.t of the charge alfo flie took no pains to deny, or rather Ihe feemed to acknowlege it.
The only part of the charge which Mary pofitively de- nied, was her concurrence in the defign of affaflinating Elizabeth, T'his charge was fupported by Babington's confeffion ; by the copies taken of their correfpondence. In which her approbation of the queen's murder was ex- prefsly declared •, and by the evidence of her own two fe- cretaries, Nau and Curie, who fwore that (he received Babington's letters, and that they, by her orders, had anfwered them,. This evidence was farther confirmed by ' the teftimony of Ballard ai>d Savage^ to whom Babingtoii had Ihown thofe letters, declaring them to have come from the captive queen. To thefe charges Mary made a fenfible and refolute defence. $he mfifted that Babing- ton's confeffion was extorted from his fears of the torture ; and with this, it is certain, he was threatened. Slie al- leged, that the letters were forgeries, and (he defied her fecretaries to perlift in their evidence if bronglit into her pjefence. But this demand, however equitabk, was not
b State Trials, vol. i. p. 138, , ' C 4 then
24- The HiJIpyy of Enylanl
thzn fupported by law in trials of high-treifon, and wa$ often refufed even in other trials, where the crown was profecutor. Theclaufe, contained in an aft of the thir- teenth of the queen, was a novehy ; that the fpecies of jtreafon there enumerated mufi: be proved by two witnelTes, confronted with the prifoner : but Mary was not tried , upon that ai!^ ; and the minifters and crown-lawyers of this reign were always fure to refufe every indulgence be- yond what the ftria -letter of the law, and the fettled practice of the courts of juftice, required of then-:.
During the courfe of the trial, as a letter between Mary and Babington was reading, mention was made in it of the carl of Arundel and his brothers. On hearing their names fiie burft into a flood of tears, and exclaim- ed, *« Alas ! what has the noble houfe of the Howards fulFered for my fake!" She affirmed, with regard to the iame letter, that it was eafy to forge the hand-writingand cypher of another ; ihe was afraid that this was too fami- liar a practice with Walfingham, who, {he alfo heard, had frequently pracflifed both againft her life and her fon's. Walfinsham, who was oiie of the commiflioners, rofe up, and protcfted, that, in his private capacity, he had never acled any thing againfl the queen cf Scots ; nor, in his public capacity, had ever tampered in any manner unbefitting his charafter and office. Mary de- ^clared herfelf fatisfied of his innocence, and begged he would give as little credit to the malicious accufations of her enem'ies, as flie now gave to the repoits (he had heard to bis prejudice.
The trial being finifhed, the commiffioners adjourned " ^"^^"^ Fotheringay caltle to the Star-chamber, at London, sTnfenc'e ^^'^^'^' ^^^^^ ^^^i"g ^he oaths of Mary's two fecretaries, "i^ainji '^^'''^ vouched the authenticity of the letters produced, $Aurj. they pronounced fentence of death upon the queen of Scots, and confirmed it by their feals and fubfcriptions. The lame day a declaration was publiffied by the commif- fioners, implying, that the fentence againfl her did no wife derogate from the title and honour of James, king cf Scotland, fon to the attainted queen.
The opportunity was now come which Elizabeth had long defired, for executing vengeance on a competitor, who had firif been the objeft of her envy, and afterwards of her apprehenfion. But flie was retrained from giati- fying her refentment by a variety of confiderations. She icnew the odious colours in which this fingular example oi vindidive and unauthorized jurifdiclion would be
vis wed g
A.D.15S6.
Klizaocth, J 5
jviGVfc'Cu, not only by the numerous partisans of Mary, Jjoth in England and Scotland, but the indelible reproaclx M'hich herfelf inisiht incur with all contemporary fovc- reigns, perhaps with all poflcrity. The riglits of hofpi- talirv, the ties of blood, the refpe^l due to majelly, and the facred claims of the unfortunate, would, in one fignal inflance, all be irretrievably vighted. Elizabeth, there- I'l'^ft'eik fore, who excelled in dilhmuiation, pretended the utmolt ^V*^^' reluctance to admit the execution or the lentence. hhc lu^^nceit intreated the parliament, which met four days after, and putihefeth- did not fail to approve thefentcnce, that they would find t'nctimo ibme expedient to flwc her from the necefHty of taking a ^xccvi:9>u flcp fo extremely repugnant to her inclination. At the 'fame time, however, flie afFedled to dread another con- fpiracy toaflalTmate her within a month. In confcquencc of this pretended apprchenfion, the parliament, which had before prcfenred an addrefs to the queen, dcfiring "that the fentence againft Mary might fpeedily be put into execution, renewed, in the moll earnefl manner, their folicirations, arguments, and intreaties. Elizabeth Aill •afFefled to continue inflexible ; but, at the fame time, permitted Mary's fentence to be made public ; and lord ^uckhurft, and Beale, clerk to the council, were fent to the unhappy queen to apprife her of the fentence, and the impatience of the public for its fpeedy execution. When this information was communicated to Mary, flic received it without any emotion ; but declared, that fincc her death was demanded by the Proteftants, Ihe died a martyr to the catholic religion. She faid, that as the Engliih had often embrued their hands in the blood of their fovereigns, it was nothing ftrange that they exercifed iheir cruelty towards her^ Paulet, her keeper, received orders to take down her canopy, and to ferve her no Jonger with the rcfpe<a due to fovereiga princes. He told her, that ftie was now to be confidered as a dead per- fon, and incapable of any dignity''. With this treatment, however harOi, fhe fcemed to be entirely unaffe<£led. She only replied, that ftie received her royal characler from jhe hands of the Aln\Iglity, and no earthly power could deprive her of it. She wrote her laft letter to Elizabeth, not demanding her life, which Ihe now fcemed willing to part with, but defiringj that after her enemies fliould be i/atiated with her innocent blood, her body might be con-
c Camdea, q s»S. "^ Jcbb, vol. ii. p. 293.
{IgneJ
26
ThtHxy of
jenJs over Mil ambaf- Jcdor to IN- Urtide nuith Eli- ^uhtth/ar Marft hft.
kui^ of Scotland^ maits Jifong ap- pltcations r« her fa- %four»
Toe fiijloiy of England.
fjgned toher fen'ants, and conveyed to France, to repofe in a catholic country, with the facred relics of htr mother.
Meanwhile this extraordinary fentence was fpread into all purts of Europe, and great elForts were made by foreign powers with Elizabeth to prevent it from being carried into execution. The king of France was among the fore- moll that attempted to avert the threatentd blow. He fcnt over Believre, as an extraordinary ambalTador, willi a piofcfled intention of interceding for the life of Mary. Bof James of Scotland, her fon, was, as in duty obliged, ftiil more prefhng in her behalf. He difpatchcd fir Wil- liam Keith, a gentleman of liis bedchamber, with a letter to Elizabeth, conjuring her to fpare the life of his parent, and mixing threats of vengeance in cafe of a rcfufal. Soon after, James fen: the mailer of Gray and fir Robert Mel- vil, to enforce the remonlhances of Keith, and to employ with the queen every expedient of argument and menaces. Elizabeth, however, treated hii remonflrances with the utmoft indignation ; and when tlie Scottifh ambaffador begged that the execution might be put off for a week, (lie anfwcred with great emotion, •* No, not for an hour.** Thus Elizabeth, when folicited by foreign princes to par- don the queen of Scots, feemed difpofed to proceed to /extremities againft her ; but when her minifters urged her to rtrike the blow, her fcruples and rcluQance, or rather an affedilation of them, always returned.
When Elizabeth tiiought, that as many importunities liad been ufed, and as much delay interpofed, as decency required, flie at lafl: determined to carry the fentence into execution. But, in order to alarm the vulgar, rumours were previoully difperfed, that the Spanifli fleet was arrived in iSlilford Haven ; that the Scots had made an irruption into England', that the duke of Guife was landed in Suf- lex with a llrong army *, that the queen of Scots was efcaped from prifon, and had raifed an army ; that the nortliern counties had begun an infurre£lion ; that a new confpiracy was forming to affaffmate the queen, and Jet the city of London on fire ; nay, that the queen was actually affalTinated. Elizabeth, affe£ling to be in terror and perplexity, was obferved to fit much alone, penfivc and filent, and fometimes to mutter half fentences, im- porting the difficulty and diftrefs to which flie was re- duced *. She at laft called Davifon, a man of parts, but fafy to be impofed on, and who had lately, for that very
« Camden, p. 534-.
jeafon.
Elhaheth. 27
reafon, been made fecretary, and (lie ordered him pri- vately to draw a warrant for the execution of the queen of Scots ; which, (he afterwards faid, (lie intended to keep by her, in cafe any attempt Ihould be made for the deliverance of that princefs. After figning the warrant, Ihe commanded Davifon to carry it to the chancellor, in order to have the great-feal appended to it. Next day (he fent Kilhgrew to Davilon, enjoining him to forbear, fome time, executing her iormer orders j and when Davifon came and told her, that the warrant had already paiTed the great-fcal, (he feemed to be fomewhat moved, and blamed him for his precipitation. Davifon, being in per- plexity, acquainted the council with the whole tranfac- tion ; and they endeavoured to perfuade him to fend ofF Beale with the warrant. If the queen fhould be difpleafed, they promifed to juftify his condu6i:, and to take on them- felves the whole blame of this meafure. The fecretary, not fufliciently aware of their intention, complied with their advice, and the warrant was difpatched to the earls of Shrewfbury and Kent, and fome others, ordering them to fee the fentence executed on the queen of Scots,
The two earls came to Fotheringay caftle, and being A.D.is?7.'
introduced to Mary, informed her of their commlffion, «—
and defired her to prepare for death next morning at eight ^^^' 7« o'clock. She feemed no wife terrified, though fomewhat ^/*J^"""'* furprifed, with the intelligence. She faid, with a chear- „„^^^ ^y ful countenance, that flie did not think the queen, her Scop^ Tifter, would have executed the fentence upon a perfon not fubjeft to the jurifdi£lion of England. She even ab- jured her being privy to any confpiracy againfl Elizabeth, by laying her hand upon a New Teftament which hap- pened to lie on the table. Ske difired that her confeflbr might be permitted to attend her ; a requeft which, how- iever, thofe zealots refufed. After the earls retired, fhe ate fparingly at fupper, while, with a chearful counte- nance, fhe comforted her attendants, who continued weeping and lamenting their miftrefs ; telling them, they ought not to moiirn, but rejoice, at the profpe6l of her fpeedy deliverance from a world of mifery. Towards the end of fupper (he called in all her fervants, and drank to them. They pledged her in order on tlieir knees, and craved her pardon for any paft negle£l of their duty . She deigned, in return, to all: their pardon for her offences towards them ; and a plcnti'ful effufion of tears atttended this iafl folemn reparation, ' ■•'' JMar/
2 8 ^ie Kijl&^-y of England.
.»J»Tary then perufetl her will, in which flic hatl provitled for her fervants by legacies. She ordered the inventory of her goods, cloaths, and jewels to be brought her *, and Ihe wrote down the names of thofc to whom flie be- queathed each particular. To feme flie diftributed money with litr own hands; and fhe adapted the recompence to their different degrees of rank and merit. She vi'rote alfo letters of recommendation for her fervants to the French Icing, and to her coufin, the duke of Guife, whom flie made the chief executor of her tcftament. At her ufual time flie went to bed, flept fome hours, and then rlfing, fpent the reft of the night in prayer. Towards the morn- ing (he drefled hcrfcif in a rich habit of filk and velvet, the only one which (lie had refcrved to herfelf. She told her maids, that flie would willingly have left them this drefs rather than the plain garb which (he wore the day before ; but it was necelTary for her to appear at the en- fuing folemnity in a decent habit. Thomas Andrews, the under-flierilT of the county, then entering the room, he informed her that the hour was come, and that he muft attend her to the place of execution. She replied that fhe was ready ; and bidding adieu to her fervants, flie leaned on two of fir Amias Paulet's guards, becaufe of an infirmity in her limbs ; and (he followed the flierifF with a ferene compofed afpecl. In pafhng through a hall adjoining to her chamber, flie was met by the earls of hhrewfbury and Kent, fir Amias Paulet, fir Drue Drury, and many other gentlemen of difl.inclion. Here fhe alfo found fir Andrew Melvil, who flung himfelf onhis knees before her, and wringing his hands, cried aloud, ** Ah, inadam ! unhappy nie ! what man was ever before the meflenger of fuch heavy tidings as I muft carry, when I fliall return to my native country, and fliall report, that I faw my gracious queen and miftrefs beheaded in Eng- land ?" His tears prevented farther fpeech j and Mary too felt herfelf moved, more from fympathy than affliction. *' Ceafe, my good fervant (fiiid fhe), ceafc to lament : thou haft caufc rather to rejoice than to mourn; for now fhalt thou fee the troubles of Mary Stuart receive their long expefled termination." After fainting him flie turned to the noblemen who attended her, and requefl;ed that her fervants might be well treated, be allowed to enjoy th^ prefents which fhe had made them, and be fent fafely into their own country. She next requefted, that they might be permitted to attend her at her death, in order, ihe
faid,
Elizabeth, 29
faid, that their eyes might behold, and their hearts heaC witnefs, how patiently their queen and miilrels can fub- mit to her execution, and how conltantly (lie perfeveres in her attachment to her religion. This defire was op- pofed by the earl of Kent, who told her, that they would be apt, by their fpeeches and cries, to difturb both herfclt and the fpectators. But at laft the commiflioners gave permiffion for her being attended by four men and two maid-fervants. She then paiTed into another hall, where was erected the fcaffold, covered with black. Here the warrant for her execution was read to her ; and during this ceremony fhe was filent, but fiiewed, in her behaviour an unconcern, as if the bufinefs had no wife regarded her. Fletcher, dean of Peterborough, Itepped forth, and re- peated a long exhortation, which (lie defired him to for- bear, as (he was firmly refolved to die in the catholic reli- gion. The room was crowded with fpe6tators, who be- held her with pity and dillrefs, while her beauty, though, faded by years and affliftion, was (lill remarkable in this fatal moment. The earl of Kent obferving, that in her devotions flie made frequent ufe of the crucifix-, could not forbear reproving her, and exhorted her to have Chrift in her heart, not in her hand. She replied, with pre- fence of mind, that it was difficult to hold fuch an obje<[t in her hand without feeling her heart touched for the fuf- ferings of him whom it reprefented.
She now began, with the aid of her two women, to un- drefs for the block; and the executioner alfo lent his hand to affift them. She fmiled, and faid, that fhe was not ac- cuftomed to undrefs herfelf before fo large a company, nor to be ferved by fuch valets. Her fervants burfting into tears and lamentations, flie turned about to them^ put her finger upon her iips, as a fign of impofing filence upon them *^ ; and having given them her blelling, defired them to pray for her. The two executioners kneeling, and alking her pardon, fhe faid Ihe forgave them, and all the authors of her death, as freely as ilie hoped forgivenefs from her Maker, and then onte more made a folemn proteftation of her innocence. One of her maids, whom (lie had appointed for that purpcle, co- vered her eyes with a handkerchief; ftie laid herfelf dowa without any fign of fear or trepidation, and, by two ftrokes of the executioner, her head was fevered from her body. He inftantly held it up, ftrcaming with blood,
i "Jebb, p, 307. 492.
7 to
30 ^he tiljlory of Ungldnd.
to the fpeclators ; the dean of Peterborough alone cv« claimed, " So perlfh all queen Elizabeth's enemies I" The carl of Kent alone replied, *' Amen ;" while the reft of the fpe(5lators wept at the affe£ling fpe£lacle. Thus pe- rifned, in the forty-fifth year of her age, and nineteenth of her captivity in England, Mary, queen of Scots, a princefs unmatched in beauty, as v/ell as in misfor- tunes ; and who, with the moffc extraordinary accompliHi- ments, natural and acquired, blended indifcretions, which, aided by youth and inexperience, laid the foundation of her ruin. "Eli^aheini When the queen was informed of Mary's execution, affeSed ^^^ affected the utmofl; furprize and indignation. Her ^ ' countenance changed, her fpcech faultered, flie ftood fonie time fixed, like a ftatue, in muteadonifliment, and afterwards burft into loud lamentations. She put herfelf in deep mourning, was feen perpetually bathed in tears, and furrounded only by her female attendants. If any of her minifters approached her, Ihe chafed them from her, with the moll violent expreflions of rage and refent- ment. They had all of them, (he faid, been guilty of an unpardonable crime, in putting to death her dear filler and kinfwoman, contrary to her fixed purpofe^, with Bavifonij u'hich they were fulficiently acquainted. In order to ap- %t*r'" peafe the king of Scots, to whom fiie foon wrote a letter 'thamber. ^^ apology, file committed Davifon to prifon, and com- manded him to be tried in the Star-chamber for his mif* demeanor. The fecretary was confounded ; and being fenfible of the danger which muffc attend his entering into a coutelt with the queen, he expreffed penitence for his error, and fubmitted patiently to be railed at by thofe very counfcllors at whofe infligation he had a6led, and who had proniifcd to protcil him. He was condemned to imprifoment during the queen's pleafure, and to pay a fine of itw thoufand pounds. He remained a long time in cuflody, and the fine, though it reduced him to beg- gary, was rigoroufly levied upon hir». All the favour which he could obtain from the queen, was fending him fmall fupplies from time to time, to keep him from pe- riihing in neceflity ''. He privately wrote a letter to Wal* fingham, containing many curious particulars relative to the queen's diillniulation ', which was fo grofsr, that it
z Camden, p. 536. Strype, vol. iii. Append, p. 145. Jehb, •vol. ii. p. 608. *" Camden, p. 558. i Ibid. Strype, vol. iii,
P- 375. 376. MS in the Advocate's Library, A. 3. aS. p. 17. Biograph. Brit. p. 1615. 16*7,
could
Ell-i-ahcih, 3 1
COuUl ilccclve nobody who was not previoufiy refolved to be blinded.
James, notwitbflanding Elizabeth's npology, dlfcovered the^cott the highcfl. refentmeiu, and refufed to admit into \\\^ are h^h'iy prcfcnce fir Robert Cary, whom the queen had fent as i"<'f/^^ her anibaflador. He Ukewile recalled his ambaOadors ^£i!^abe(h. from England, and feemed to breathe nothing but war and vengeance. The ftates of Scotland being alTembled, concurred with the king in fentiments of indignation, and profeflcd that they were ready to fpend their lives and fortunes in revenue of his motlier's death, and in defence of his title to the crown of England. Many of the no- bility urged him to take arms : lord Sinclair, when the courtiers appeared in deep mourning, prefentcd liimfelf to the king arrayed in complete armour, and faid, that this was the proper mourning for the queen. The Catholics exhorted James to make an alliance with the king of Spain, and to lay immediate claim to the crown of Eng- land. Elizabeth was fenfible of the dancfer attendinc: fo general an indignation of the Scots ; and therefore, after allowing James fome decent interval to vent his grief and anger, (ho. engaged her emiflarles to employ every motive of hope and fear, which might induce him to live in amity with her. Thofe arguments, joined to the peace- A recond' able dirpofiiion of James, prevailed over his refcntment, I'at'on and he fell gradually into a good correfpondcnce with the ^"'1 ^"^' court of England.
Elizabeth having thus diffipated all apprehenfions of danger from Scotland, turned her attention towards Spain. Hearing thr.t Philip was fecretlv preparing a great navy to attack her, ilie fent fir Francis Drake, with a fleet, to in- tercept his fupplies, to pillage his coafl, and to deftroy his fliipping. Drake failed with four capital fliips of the queen's, and twenty-fix great and fmall, with which the London merchants, in hopesoffiiaringthe plunder, hadfnp- pliedhim. Having learned that a Spanifti fleet, richly laden, Drake if/- was lying at Cadiz, ready to fail for Lifbon, he bent his ^royj tht courfe to the former port, and boldly made an attack on the ^^^^' f^ enemy. He obliged fix gallies to take flieher underthefort'j "''^^' he burned about a hundred vefiels laden with ammunition and naval ftorcs ; and he deftroyed a great fliip belonging to the marquis of Santa Croce. Thence he fct fail for Cape S^t. Vincent, and took by alfault the caftle fituated on that promontory, with three other fortreffcs. After infulting Lifbon he lailed to the Terceras, with intention of lying in wait for a rich carrack expected m thofe parts. He 8 ' accord-
eible ar- maJu.
32 T^e Hi/lory of England.
accordingly met with his prize ; and, by this fhort expe-^ dition, the Englifli feamen learned to defpifcthe unwieldy Ihips of the enemy, the intended hoililities againil Eng- land were retarded for a twelvemonth, and the quecri had leifure to take more fccure meafures againTt that formid- able invafion •*. A.D. 15SS. Philip, however, proceeded with unremitting diligence in making preparations to invade England, which, as it fupported the infurre£lion of the Netherlands, feemed a necefl'ciry preparative fbr re-eftablifhing his authority in thofc provinces. His hofhile projccl being formed, every part of his vaft empire refounded with the noife of arma- ments, and all the a6livity of the nation was employed in forwarding the defign. The marquis of Santa Croce, a fea-officer of great reputation and experience, was de- jtined to command the fleet. In all the ports of Sicily,- Naples, Spain, and Portugal, artizans were employed in building veflels of uncommon fizc and force ; naval ftorcs Avere bought at a great expence ; armies were levied, and quartered along the maritime parts of Spain ; and every thing tlireatencd the nio(l formidable naval enterprize that Europe ever beheld. The duke of Parma was to condii£t the land-forces, twenty thoufand of whom were on board the fleet, and thirty-four thoufand more were aiTembled in the Netherlands, ready to be tranfported into England. The mod renowned nobility and princes of Italy and Spain were ambitious of (haring in the honour oi this great enterprize. Don Amadaeus of Savoy, Don John of Medicis, Gonzaga, duke of Sabionetta, and' others, haftened to join this great equipment, of the fuc- cefs of which the mod fanguine expectations were form- ed ; and the Spaniards, oflentatious of their power, al- ready denominated their navy the Invincible Armada.
"When the news reached England that this mighty fleet was preparing to fail, terror and conflernation univerfally felzed the inhabitants. A fleet of not above thirty fliips of war, and thofe very fmall in comparifon, was all that was to oppofe it by fea. All the commercial towns of England, however, were required to furnifli (hips for re- inforcing this fmall navy. The citizens of London, in- ftead of fifteen veflels, which they were commanded to equip, voluntarily fitted out double the number '. The' gtntry and nobility equipped forty-three fhips at their own
k Camden, p. 540. Sir William IMonfon's Naval Trails nx Churchiirs Voyages, vol. iii. p. I56. ' J\ionion,p. ^67. _ j
charge^
Prepara tiofi.r :n
£r,glaiiJ,
tliarge. Lord Howard of Eflingham was admiral ; and Under him fcrved Drake, Hawkins, and Frobifher, all of them renowned as feamcn of courage and Capacity. The principal fleet was ftationed at Plymouth. A fmaller fquadron, confifllng of forty veflels, Englifn and Flemifli, was commanded by lord Seymour, fecond fon of pro- teftor Somerfet, and lay off Dunkirk, in order to inter- cept the duke of Parma.
The land-forces of England, though more numer- ous than the enemy, were greatly inferior in difcipline and experience. An army of twenty thoufand men was difpofed in different bodies along the fouth coafl ; and or- ders were given them, if they could not prevent the land- ing of the Spaniards, to retire backwards, to wade the country around, and to wait for reinforcements from thfe iielghbouring counties, before they approached the enemy. A body of twenty-two thoufand foot and a thoufand horfe, was ftationed at Tilbury in order to defend the capital. The principal army confifted of thirty-four thoufand foot» and two thoufand horfe, and was commanded by lord Hunfdon. Thofe forces were referved for guarding the queen's perfon ; and were appointed to march whithcrfo- ever the enemy fliould appear. The fate of England, if all the Spanifti armies fliould be able to land, feemcd to depend on the iflue of a fingle battle ; from which no fa- vourable expeftatlons could be formed, confidering the force of fifty thoufand veteran Spaniards, commanded by experienced ofhcers, under the duke cf Parma, the greatelt gerteral of the age.
In the mldft of all this danger the queen appeared undlf- mayed, ifTued her orders with tranquillity, animated her people to a fleady refinance ; and the more to excite the martial fpirlt of the nation, appeared on horfeback at: Tilbury, exhorting the foldiers to their duty, and pro- mifing to fhare with them the fame dangers and the fame fate. " I myfelf (cried flic) will be your general, and will reward your virtues in the field. Pcrfevcre in your obedience to command, difplay your valour, and we fliall foon have a glorious vi6lory over thofe enemies of my God, my kingdom, and my people." The foldiers tefti- fied their attachment to her with acclamations, and only ^vifhed for an opportunity of engaging the expected in- vaders. The Spanifh armada was ready in the beginning of May, but its falling was retarded by the death of the marquis of Santa Croce, the admini', and that alfo of the vice-admiral, the duke of Paliano. The command of th«
Vol. I. D cxpe*
3i
^j ^hf liifiory of Englviil.
opcdiilon vas, therefore, given to the duke of Medina tJidonia, a man entirely unexperienced in Tea affairs. This promotion, in fome meafure, fcrvcd to fruftrate the de- tign, which was alfo rendered lefs fuccefsful by fomc otlier accidents. Upon leaving the port of Lifbon, the armada next day met wiih a violent tempcft, which funU fomc of the fmallcll of their fhipping, and obliged the fleet to put back into t})e harbour. After fomc time fpcnt in refitting, tliey put again to fca, where they took a fiiherman, who informed them, that the Englifli fleet, hearing of the difperfjon of the armada in a llorm, had retired into Plymounth, and that mofl of the feamcn were difchargcd. From this falfe intelligence, the Spanilh ad- miral, inllcad of failing dirc»flly to the coafl of Flanders, to receive the troops ll.uioncd there, as he had been in- llruflcd, rcfolv'ed to fleer for Plymouth, and deflroy tlie July 19. {hipping in that port. Being dcfcricd by Fleming, a J hear- Scottilh pirate, who w.is roving in tlioi'c fcas, he immr- madd at- (jiatcly failed towards the Engfdli fleer, and informed the
f''^'" '* admiral of their approach, lilfmelum had iufl time to
tne Lnan- . \ \ r l Vi -.i 1
WiU ¥,^^ *^"^ °' port, when he law the opanilh armada coming
full fail towards Iiim, difpofcd in the form of a crefcent, and ftretching the dillancc of fcven miles from the extre- mitv of one divifton to tiiat of tlic other. TheEnglifli admi- ral, however, attacked the armada at a diftance, not choof- iii!,- to engage the enemy more clolcly, as his fleet was ^li-.itly inferior in the number of {hips,guns,and weight of metal •, nor could lie, without manifell difadvantagc, pre- tend to board vcffels which were fo lofty in their con- llruclion. Notwithftanding this inequality, two Spanifh galleons were difabled and taken. As the armada ad- vanced up the Channel, the Englilh flill followed and in- fefted its rear, until their fleet, continually increafing from different ports, fliould be in a capacity to engage the Spanifli fleet more nearly.
When the armada had reached Calais, and cafl; anchor before that place, in expe<Slation that the duke of Parma would join them with his forces, the Englifli admiral pra£lifed a fuccefsful fliratagem upon the Spaniards. Tak- ing eight of his fmaller fliips, and filling them with com- buO;ible materials, he fent tliem, one after another, into the midft of the enemy. The Spaniards immediately cut their cables, and took to flight with the greateft diforder and precipitation. The Engiifli fell upon them next morning, while in confufion, and took or deflroyed about twelve Slips, befldes doing great damage toothers. The a duke
Elizabeth. 25
^uke of Medina Sidonia, being thus driven to the coaft of Zealand, held a council of war, ih which it was refolv- ed, that, as their ammuuition began to fail, as their fhips had received great damage^ and the duke of Psirma had refufed to venture his army under their protedtion, they ftiould return to Spain by failing round the Orkneys, as the wind was contrary to his paflage through the Chan- nel, They accordingly proceeded northward, and were followed by the Englifli fleet as far as Flamborough-head, ■where they were terribly (hattiered by a ftorm. Seven- teen of their (hips, having five thoufand men on board, were afterwards caft away upon the Weftern Illes and the — , toall of Ireland. Of the whole armada there returned to ^afarf Spain only three and fifty fliips, and thofe all in fo mifer- turns to able a condition, that the enemy was ever after deterred Spain from renewing fo dangerous an enterprize. greatly
This -unfuccefsful expedition of the Spaniards ferved "^^ * only to excite the Englilh to attempt invafions in their turn; which they accordingly executed in numerous, though tranfient defcents on different parts of the SpaniPa coaft.
Among the Englifli captains who made the mofl fignal figure in thofe depredations upon Spain, was the young A,D.is9?,
carl of EfTex, a nobleman of great bravery, generofity, '^ ~"
and genius; but haughty, impetuous, and impatient i.i ^^' '^ either of advice or controul. The earl of Leicefler, the "^' queen's favourite, had died fome time before, and left room for a fucceifor in her afFeftions, \.o\ which, though (lie was now far advanced in life, the perfonal.accomplKh- ments of young Eflex foon recommended him. The royal favour, the fuccefles which he had obtained againil the Spaniards, joined to his great popularity, increafed his confidence, and rendered him ftill more untra£l:able. In a debate before the queen, betv/een him and Burleigh, about the choice of a governor for Ireland, he was fo heated in the argument, that he entirely broke through the refpedl which decency required that he fhould obferve towards his fovereign. He turned his back on the queen in a contemptuous manner, which fo provoked her refent- ment, that (he inftantly gave him a box on the ear. In- llead of recolledling himfelf, and making the fubmifiions <lue to her fex and ftation, he cbpped his hand to his iword ; and fwore he would not bear fuch ufage even from her father. Such however was the queen's pania- iity for him, that fbe overlooked this offence, and re-in- ^ D 2 itated
3«
He ii fent aver to Irtiand.
Bffex's mijconduSi in Ireland^
He con- dudes a ceffation of hoflilities '•juttk tki rebels.
7he Hijtory of England.
Hated bim in his former favour; fo that by the death of his rival, lord Burleigh, which happened foon after, he feemed to be confirmed in his power. An infurreftion, headed by the earl of Tyrone, at this time broke out ia Ireland ; and to fubdue it was an employment which Ef- fex thought worthy of his ambition. The queen, there- fore, who was much prepoflefled in favour of Eflex's ge- nius, readily agreed to appoint him governor of Ireland, by the title of lord-lieutenant. The more to encourage him in his undertaking, (lie granted him by his patent more e.\- tenfive authority than had ever before been conferred on any lieutenant ; the power of carrying on or finifhing the war as he pleafed, of pardoning the rebels, and of filling all the mod confidcrable employments of the kingdom^. To cnfure him of fuccefs, flie levied an army of fixteen thou- fand foot and thirteen hundred horfe, which (he after- wards augmented to twenty thoufand foot and two thou- sand horfe.
Effex, upon entering on his command in Ireland, ap- pointed his friend, the earl of Southampton, general of the horfe, in dire£l: oppofition to a pofitive order from the queen, who had been difpleafed with that nobleman for his fecretly marrying without her confent. lElizabeth no fooner heard of this inflance of his difobedience than (he reprimanded him, and ordered him to recallhis commifTion to Soutliampton ; but it was not till after repeated orders from the queen, that EfTex could be prevailed upon to dif- niifs him. This adl of indlfcretion was followed by an- ther : in-lead of attacking the enemy in their grand re- treat in Ulfter, he led his forces into the province of Munfter, where he only exhaufled his ftrength, and af- forded the infurgents an opportunity to prepare the better for their defence. The enemies whom EfTex had at court, failed not to urge this mifconduil in the ftrongeft mari- ner ; but they had flill greater reafon to attack his reputa- tion, when it was known, that inftead of humbling the rebels, he had only treated with them •, and inflead of forcing them to 'fubmiflion, had concluded a ceflation of hoflilities.
So unexpected an iflue of an enterprise, the greatefl and moft expenfive that Elizabeth had ever undertaken, provoked her extremely againll EfTex ; and her difguft was much augmented by other circumllances of his con- dudl. He wrote to the queen and council many letters.
» Ryraer, torn, xvl pi 366.
full
EUzahethi' cy
ftill of peevlfli and Impatient expreffions, and complaining of his enemies at court. But not content with thefc re- monftrances, he, without any permiflion demanded or fromrre-' obtained, returned precipitately from Ireland, to make his land, anA complaints to the queen in perfon. isdif-
At firft, Elizabeth was pleafed with the arrival of her &^^''<^' favourite, whom fhe longed to fee ; but the momentary fatisfadlion of his unexpefled appearance being over, flie refledled on the impropriety of his condudl, and ordered him to be put into cuflody. Eflex, reduced to this ex- tremity, ufed every expreflion of humiliation and forrow, and tried once more the long impra6lifed arts of infinua- tion, which had brought him into favour. The queen, however, continuing inflexible, he refolved to give up every purfuit of ambition ; but the vexation of this dif- appointment, and of the triumph gained by his enemies, preyed upon his haughty fpirit, and he fell into a diften?- per, which feemed to endanger his life. The queen, not- withftanding her apparent feverity, was alarmed at hi? fituation. She ordered eight phyficians to confult of his cafe ; and being informed that the iflue was much to be apprehended, fhe fent Dr. James to him with fome broth ; and defired that phyfician to deliver him a mef- f&ge, that, if (he thought fuch a (lep confiftent with her honour, fhe would pay him a vifit. It was remarked by the bye-flanders, who obferved her countenance, that, ia pronouncing thefe words, her eyes were fuffufed with tears ''.
When tliefe fymptoms of the queen's returning affec- tion towards ElTex were known, they gave a fenfible alarm to thofe courtiers who oppofed his inter efts. Sir Walter Raleigh, in particular, was fo affected at this fudden re- volution, that he was feized with ficknefs in his turn ; and the queen was obliged to treat him in the fame lenient manner, by fending him a favourable meflage, exprefling her defire of his recovery ",
Eflex being now permitted the company of hiscountefs, and having entertained more promifing hopes of his future fortunes, was fo much reftored to his health, as to be thought pad danger. A belief being now inflillcd in- to Elizabeth, that his diftemper had been entirely coun- terfeit, in order to move her compaflion, fhe relapfed in- to her former rigour againft him. He wrote her a letter, ?ind (eijt he*" a rich prefent on New Year's day, as was
i> Sydney's Letters, vol. ii p. 1541. C Ibid, p. 139.'
Ibido vol. ii.p. 153.
D 3 ^»^u*J
2 8 ^he Hijiory of England.
iifual with tlie Courtiers at that time. She read the letter, but rejected the prerent'. After fome interval, however, of feveritv, flie allowed him to retire to his own houfe. Here, though he remained itill under cuflody, he fent her a letter of thanks on the occafion. " This farther degree of goodnefs," faid he, " doth found in my ears, as if your majerty fpake thefe words, " Die not, Eilcx -, for, though I punifli thine offence, and humble thee for thy good, yet will I one day be fervcd again by thee." My prollrate foul makes this aufwer, " 1 hope for thatbleficd day. And in expectation of ir, all my afdiclions of body and mind are humbly, patiently, and chearfully borne by
me V
What contributed to keep alive the queen's anger agalnft Eflex, was the partiality lliewn him by the people ; who, prepofTcflcd with an extravagant idea of the earl's merit, complained that injuflice Iiad been done him by his remo- val from court, and by his confinement. Elizabeth, in order to juftify to the public her condutl with regard to him, had often expreflcd her intentions of having him tried in the Star-chamber for his offences •, but her ten- dernefs for him at lad prevailed, and fhe was content to EJftx is have him only examined by the privy-council. In anfwer examined to the charge, which was exhibited againft him withfcve- t)>t/:e rity by the crown-lawyers, Effex renounced, with great
Z""''^.. humility and fubmiffion, all pretenfions to an apology' ; (oufic. . ^^^ declared his refolution never, on this or any other oc- cafion, to have any contcfl with his fovereign, forwhoni he folemnly profell'ed to entertain the mod loyal attach- ment. He avowed the mofl fincere repentance for thofe parts of his condu<ft, which had given offence to her ma- jelly ; declaring, however, that he had been actuated by the bed intentions ; and that he would willingly fubmit to any condemnation or fentence which they could pronounce againft him. All the privy-counfellors, in giving their judgement, very readily admitted the loyalty of the earl's intentions ; and even Cecil, whom he believed his capital enemy, treated him with regard and moderation. His fentence was, to be fufpended from executing the office of a counfellor, earl marfhal of England, and mafter of the ordnance, and to continue a prifoner in his own houfe. Until the fentence fhould be remitted by the queen 8.
e Birch's Memoirs, p. 444. ' Sydney Letters, vol. ii. p.
601. s Birch's Memoirs, Vol. ii. p, 454, Camden, p.
I;
EUzaheth,
It was generally expe£led, from the queen's part'ialky •towards Lil'ex, and from his own fubmilTive behaviour, that he would foon be reinllated In his former credit •• 5 efpecially as he was continued in his office of mailer of the horfe, and was reflored to his liberty. EfTex again wrote the queen a letter, in which he faid that he kifled her majefty's hands, and the rod with which (lie had cor- reded him ; but that he could never recover his wonted chearfuinefs, until ihe deigned to admit him to her royal prefence-: and that he had now refolved to make amends for his pall errors, t© retire into a couatry folitude, and fay with Nebuchadnezzar, '* Let rny dwelling be with the beads of the Held ; let me eat grafs as au ox, and be wet with the dew of heaven, x'xW it fliall pleafe the queen to reflore me to njy underftanding."' This romantic meffage, which was quite m the manner of thofe times, feemed peculiarly pleafing to the queen. She replied, that after fome time, when convinced of his fubmiffion, fomething might be expe£led from her lenity ; and that, if the fur- nace of affli61:ion produced fo good effe^ls, fhe fliould ever after have the better opinion of her cherniftry'.
The earl of Eflex poflefled a monopoly of fweet wines ; and as his patent was very near expiring, he patiently ex- pelled that the queen would renew it ; but Elizabeth be." ing continually furroun4ed by the earl's enemies, they en- deaveured to perfuade her that his lofty fpirit was not yet fufliciently fubdued : fhe therefore let hirh know, that h^ muft not expect: a renewal of his monopoly, and even add- ed, in a contemptuous ftyle, that an ungovernable beafl niull be ftinted in his provender''.
The declarations of fubmiffion which EiTex h^d made, yv\t\\ the view of mollifying the queen's refentment, were entirely repugnant to his proud and impetuous fpirit; and finding that they had proved inefFe£lual, he determined to gratify, if poUible, hi^ revenge, by proceeding to extre- mities againft his enemies. The popularity which he had already acquired he therefore endeavoure.d to increafe by a hofpitable maniier of life, little fuited to his prefent circumftances. Ke entered into connexions of friendfhip with all defpexate adventurers, whofe attachment might ftrengthen hjs interefts ; and he fecretly courted the con- fidence of the Catholics ; but his chief truft lay in the pu- ritans, whom he openly careffed, and whofe manners he even ftudied to adopt. Ke invited the moft popular
^ Windwood, vol. I. p. a54. ' Camden, p^ 6z8, *= Ibid.
D 4 preacliers
3g)
^O The Hijlojy of England.
preachers of that fe£\ to Eflex-houfc, where prayers and jcrmons were dally delivered, and where he alfo rcquelled the attendance of all the zealots in London. Tliis clafs of men was at that time become very numerous ; and as the puritanical preachers frequently inculcated in their fermonsthe dotlrine of refiftancctothecivilmagillratCjthey prepared the minds of their hearers for thofe fcditious pro- jects, which Efl'ex was fecretly meditating'.
"While ElTcx thus encouraged the fanatical leaders in corrupting the loyalty of the people, he likewife indulged himfelf in imprudent liberties of Ipecch. He was even heard to fay of the queen, that fhe was now grown an old woman, and was become as crooked in her n>ind as iii her body"". Thefi ftorics, being carried to her by fome of the court-ladies, incenfed her to a high degree againfl him. For Eliyabetli was ever remarkably jealous on the fubjeQ of perfonal endowments ; and though (he was now appi caching to her fcvcntieth year, her vanity was fuch, that flie difcovered particular complacency on being com- plimented upon her beauty.
Eflex had by this time lormed a fclccl council of mal- contents, who flattered him in his wilil projctls ; and fup- pofing their adherents much more numerous than they really were, took no pains to conceal their intentions. 7/ji Wkh thcfe aflbciates he deliberated concerning the plan
(CKjfiraty, of an infr.rreflion ; and, at lafl, they rcfolvcd that fir Ch.rillopher Blount, one of his creatures, fliould, with a choice detachment, poll'efs himfcifof the palace-gates j that f r John Davies fhould feize the hall, and fir Charles Davers the guard-ch::mber, while Eflex himfelf, attended by a body of his partizans, fhould rufli from the Meufe into the queen's prefence, entreat her to remove his ene- mies, to aflcmble a new parliament, and to correct the abufes of tlie adminiflration ".
The queen having fome intimation of Efl"ex's defigns, he was fummoned to attend the council; but he fufpecling a diicovery, excufed himfelf on pretence of an indifpofition ; and immediately difpatched mcirages to his more confi- dential partizans, requiring their advice and affiftance in the prefent critical fituation of his afl'airs. They dclibe-
1 Bircli's Memoirs, vol. ii. p. ^163. Camden, p. 630. ""Cam- den, p. 619. Ofburn, p. 397. Sir Walter Relaigh's Prerogative of Parliament, p. 43, n Camden, p. 630. Birch's Mc
nioirs, »'ul. ii. 0. 464. State Ttials, Eacon, vol. iv. p. 54:, 543.
rated
Elhaheth, 4r
rated v/b ether they Oiould abandon all their projects, an4 fly the kingdom ; or inllandy ("eize the palace with the force which they could aflemble ; or throw themfelves on the affeclions of the citizens of London, who were gene- rally known to have a great attachment to the earl. While he and his confederates were in confuitation, a perfon, probably employed by his enemies, came in as a meflenger from the citizens, with tenders of friendfliip and aiTillance againft all his adverfaries. The wild projeft of raifing the city was therefore immediately refolved on, but the exe- cution of it was delayed until the day following.
Early the next morning, he was attended by his friends, the earls of Rutland and Southampton, with the lords Sandys and Monteagle, and about three hundred perfons of diflinftion. The doors of EfTex-houfe were immediately locked, to prevent all ftrangers from enter- ing ; and the earl now explained more fully to all the con- fpirators his defign of exciting an infurreclion in the city. Meanwhile, fir Walter Raleigh fending a meflage to fir Ferdinando Gorges, this officer had a conference with him in a boat on the Thames, and there difcovered to him all their proceedings. The queen being informed of the whole, inftantly difpatched Egerton, lord-keeper, fir Wil- liam Knollys, the comptroller, Popham, the lord chlef- juftice, and the earl of Worcefter, to Eflex-houfe, to de- mand the caufe of thofe extraordinary affsmblies. They with great difficulty procured admittance through a wicket; but all their fervants, except the purfe-bearer, were excluded. Undaunted m executing their commilfion, they charged the earl's retainers, upon their allegiance, to lay down their arms ; and were menaced in their turn by the angry mul- titude. EfTex, who now faw that it was too late to re- treat, determined to leave them prifoners In his houfe, and to proceed to the execution of his former project. He fallied forth with about two hundred attendants, armed only with fwords j and in his way to the city was joined by the earl of Bedford and lord Cromwell. As he palled through the ftreets, he cried aloud, " For the queen ! for the queen ! a plot is laid for my life !" hoping to engage the populace to rife ; but though he told them, that Eng- land was fold to the Infanta, and exhorted them to arm inftantly, no one fiiewed a difpofition to join him. Hs then proceeded to the houfe of Smith, the iheriff, en whofe aid he had great reliance ; but on his approach, this officer dole out at the back door, and went dire<i^ly ;o the mayor. Eilex finding the citizens no wife afieded
to
^l The Wiftory of England
to Ills caufe, and hearing that he was proclaimed a traitof by the carl of Cumberiand and lord lJurlei<;h, began to think of retreating to lii^ own houfe. But he found hi$ road thither barricaded and guarded by the citizens under the command of fir John Lcvifon. In pufl:ing his way I through this obllruclion, Henry Tracy, a young gentle-
man, for whom he bore a great friendfnip, was killed, with two or three of the Londoners. The carl himfelf, at- tended by a few adherents, the reft having privately withr drawn, retired towards the rivcr,and, taking a boat, arrived at Eflex-houfe ; where he fount{ that Gorges, whom he had fent before to capitulate with the lord-keeper, and the other counfcllors, kad fet them all at liberty, and gone with them to court. Seeing now no faftty but in courage, he appeared determined to defend himfelf to the laft ex- tremity; but afterwards rclincjuifliing ' this dcfign, and having demanded in vain for lioftages, and conditions, from his bcfiegers, he furrendered at difcrction ; requefl- jng only civil treatment, and a fair and impartial hcar-
A D.iCoi. ElFcx" and Southampton were Immediately carried to the
• ' archbilhop's palace at Lambeth, whence they were next
/% *^^y conveyed to the Tower, and tried by their peers oti amtunar'e ^^ ^9^^ ^''Y °^ February following. Their guilt was too trud a»d evident to admit of any doubt; and fentence of condem- iQudimned. nation was pronounced againft them. After Ellex had pailcd fome days in the folitude of a prifon, his mind be- gan to fmk under the weight of that religious horror, to which, in all his adverfities, he was naturally fubjefl. His Ipiritual directors perfuaded him, that he could never ob- tain the pardon of Heaven, unlefs he made a full confef- fion of his difloyaltv ; and he therefore gave into the council an account of all his criminal defigns, as well as of his correfpondence with the king of Scots. In this con- teflTion, he fpared not even his moft intimate friends. la particular, he accufed fir Harry Nevil of a correfpondence with the confpirators ; though it appears that this gentle- man, a man of merit, had never afTented to the propofals made him, and was no farther criminal than in not re- vealing the earl's treafon. For this offence, Nevil was thrown into prifon, -and underwent a fevere perfecution. Before the queen Hgned the fatal warrant, for executing the fentence againft Effex, fhe had difcovered great marks ©f irrefolution j and from this circumflance he entertained
• Camden, p. 634,
ftrODg
Elizaheth*
0
{trong hopes of a pardon. She had formerly given Mm a ring, which (he defired him to fend her in any emergency ,of this nature ; and had given him alTurances that it (hould procure his fafety and protedtion. This ring was adually fent her by the countefs of Nottingham, who, being a concealed enemy to the unfortunate earl, never delivered it ; while Eiizabech's pride Avas fecretly provoked at his obflinacy in making no applications for pardon. In- deed herfelf appeared as much an obje£t of compatlion as the unfortunate nobleman whom (he was induced to con- demn. She figned the warrant for his execution, (lie- countermanded it, flie again refolved on his death, and again felt a new return of tendernefs. At lad flie gave £xeeutio)i final confent to his execution ; which was private in of Ejfex^ the Tower, agreeably to EfTex's own requeft ; who was ' only thirty-four years of age when his rafhncfs, impru- dence, and violence brought him to this untimely end.
Some of Eflex's aiTociates, Cuffee, Davers, BIount# Meric, and Davis, were tried and condemned ; and all of thefe, except Davis, were executed. The queen par- doned the reft, being perfuaded that they were culpable pnly from motives of attachment to their benefaftor.
The principal incident, after thefe tranfadlions, in the A.D1605: reign of Elizabeth, is the fuppreflion of the Irifli rebel- -^
Jion. But the queen was now incapable of receiving any fatisfa6lion from this fortunate event : ftie had fallen into a profound melancholy, M-hich all the advantages of her high fortune, all the glories of her profperous reign, were unable to remove. She had now found out the falfehood of the countefs of Nottingham -, who, on her death-bed, fent for the queen, and informed her of the fatal circumflance of the ring, which flie had omit* ted to deliver. The queen burft into a furious pafTion : ;(he (hook the dying countefs in her bed, crying out, f That God might pardon her, but fhe never would." Ihequeeti'i She then broke from her, and refigned herfelf to the die- /xknefs, tates of incurable forrow. She even refufed-all fuftenance; ^ j ^ {lie continued filent and gloomy ; only expreffing her af- flidlion by fighs and groans ; and fhe lay for ten days and nights upon the carpet, leaning on culhions which her maids had brought her. Her end was now evidently ap- proaching ; and the council, being aflcmbled, fent the keeper, admiral, and fecretary, to know her will with regard to her fucceflbr. She anfwered witli a faint voice, that as the crown of England had always been held by ybyal progenitors^ it ought not to devolve upon any in- ferior
4(4- 57?a H'ljiory of England.
ferior character, but upon her immediate heir, the Iclnj^ of Scotland. Being then exhorted by the archbifhop of Canterbury to fix her thoughts upon God, {he replied, that her thoughts did not in the lead wander from him. Ker voice foon after left her ; {he fell into a letliargic flumber, which continued fome hours, and (he expired gently without a groan, in the feventieth year of her age, and the forty-fifth of her reign.
Though Elizabeth mounted the throne at a time xAitw political factions and religious animofities prevailed in the nation, {he had the happinefs to maintain her govern- ment in a ftare of tranquillity, which few, if any, of the fovereigns of England had either fo long, or fo uninter- ruptedly, enjoyed. In refpedl to the more amiable quali- ties of her fex, {he cannot be intitled to much applaufe ; neither was {he free from its mod: predominant infirmi- ties-, the rivalfliip of beauty, the jealoufy of love, and the defire of admiration : but {lie pofTelTed vigilance, pe- netration, vigour, and conflancy, in an extraordinary de- gree. Though endowed witli magnanimity, {he was often infincere in her conduct ; and her temper was imperious, beyond what might be expc£ted in a princefs who {ludie4 the happinefs of her people.
CHAP. VII..
From the Acceffwn of James^ to the Death of Charles /.
JAMES T.
TAMES, the Sixth of Scotland and the Firfh of England, afcended the throne with the general approbation of all orders of the flate. He was great grand-fon of Mar- garet, elder daughter of Henry VII. and on the failure of the male line, his hereditary right remained unqueflion- able. So ardent was the defire of the Englifh to behold their new fovereign, that, in his progrefs to London, men of all ranks flocked about bim from every quarter ; but the king, who hated the buflle of a mixed multitude, if- fued a proclamation, forbidding this refort of people, on the pretence of fcarcity of provifione, and other inconve- fiiences, which, he faid, would nece{rarily attend it''. He was not, however, infcnfible to the pubhc teilimonies
b Kennet, p. 6S2.
C^
of afFeiflion vvhicli appeared in liis new fubjeQs; and to this motive may perhaps be ai'cribcd tliat piufulion of ti- tles of honour, which diftinguiflicd this period of his reign. During fix weeks, after his entrance into Eng- Barnes d- land, it is computed that he bedowed knigluhood on no pnbuitt lefs than two hundred and thirty-feven perfons. A paf- lionourj <]uinade was affixed to St. Paul's, intimating, that in- '*"'/' ^'■'■<rf • ItrutSlions would be delivered, for affifting Ihorc memories ^''^^'-'/'on- to retain the names of the new nobility"^.
Though the Scots fliared thefe honours in a proportion which perhaps excited the envy of the Englifli, it mull be owned, in juflice to James, that he left almofl all tlie chief offices in the hands of Elizabeth's minifters. Among £,.1 . thefe, fecretary Cecil, created earl of Salifbury, was con- tinues to tinued prime-minifter and chief-counfellor. Though this be prime crafty minifler, during the laft reign, had been apparently ^^nii-^r. leagued againft the earl of Effex, whofe caufe was favoured by James, yet he kept a fecret correfpondence with that monarch, and fecurcd his own interefts, without forfeit- ing the confidence of his party. His former aflbciates, however, lord Grey, lord Cobham, and fir Walter Ra- leigh, the enemies of Eflex, were not fo fortunate : they felt immediately the king's difpleafure, and were difmined their employments. Thefe three feemed to be marked out for peculiar indignation ; for they were foon after ac- cufed of entering into a confpiracy againft the king. Ccnfpiracy Neither the proofs nor obje^ls of this plot have been of lords tranfmitted to pofterity. The accufed, however, were (^oiham condemned to die^ but had their fentence mitigated by ^'^■'^/^^^J' the king : Cobham and Grey were pardoned, after they jy^'fjy had laid their heads on the block. Raleigh was reprieved, Ralti^h. but remained in confinement many years afterwards, and at lad fuffered for this offence, which was never proved.
The religious difputes between the church and the pu- a.D. ific. titans induced the king to call a conference at Hampton-
Court, on pretence of finding expedients which might Jan. 4, reconcile the two parties. This was an employment en- ^^njir- tirely fuitable to the king's tafte ; affording him ati oppor- 'Jl"' f tunity of dictating, concerning points of faith and difoi- couu* pline, to an afl'cmbly of divines, and of receiving their ajpplaufes for his fuperior zeal and learning. Tlie church of England had not yet abandoned the do^rincs of grace ,and piedeftination \ the puritans had not feparated thcm- felves from the church, nor openly renounced epifcopacy.
WJIfon, in Kennet, p. 665,
Though
'j!$ The Htftory of England .
Though tlie fpirlt of the parties was confiderably difTerenfij the only apparent fubje(fls of difpute were concerning the crofs in baptifni, the ring in marriage, the ufe of the furplice, and the bowing at the name of Jefus. Thefe ■Were the importan": quellions, which were folcnnily agi- tated In the conference at Hampton-Court between fome biflicps and dignified clergy on one hand, and fome lead- ers of the puritanical-party on the other, in the prefence of the king and his minifters. From the beginning of the conference, the king (hewed the flrongeft propenfity to the eftabllfhed church, and frequently inculcated the maxim, No bifliop, no king. The bifhops, in their turn, were very liberal in their praifes rewards the royal dif- putantj and the archblfliop of Canterbury faid, that ** undoubtedly his majedy fpake by the fpecial afTiflance of God's fpirit''." The two parties agreed to a few al- terations in the Liturgy, and feparated with mutual dif- fatisfa£lion. Mai<^'i T9« The parliament, fo long delayed on account of the ylpariia- plague, which had broken out in London, now aflembled. mcnt' The hrfl: bufincfs in whicli tl:e commons engaged was of
the utmoll importance to the prefcrvation of their privi- leges* The chancellor had liitherto aiTumed the power of ifluing a writ for the election of any member of the houfe of commons, by his own authority ; but that body now maintained, tliat, though the returns were by form made into chancery, yet the folc right of judging with regard to elections belonged to the houfe iifclf •=. James, not fatis- fied with this innovation, ordered a conference between the houfe and the judges, whofe opinion in this cafe wa3 oppofitc to that of the commons. This conference, he faid, he commanded as an abfolute king ; an epithet, which, though It had been ufed by Elizabeth ', could not prove very grateful to the people. He added, that all their privileges were derived from his grant, and hoped they would not turn them agalnft him ^. The commons, feeing the confcquences of that alTumed power, to which their predeceflbrs had, in fome inftances, bUndly fub- mltted, were in fome perplexity ; but fo great was th^ir deference for majefty, that they appointed a committee io confer with the judges before the king and council. The queftion of law now began to appear in James's eyes a
"J Kennet, p. 665. e Journ. 3d April, 1604. f Cam-
Jen, in Kennet, p. 375, £ Journ. 29th March, sth April,
2604,
little
James 1. j^f
luile more doubtful than he had hitherto imagined it ; and in order to extricate himfelf with fome honour, he pro- pofed, that the two members, whofe returns had given rife to the difpute, fhould be fet afidc, and a writ be if- fued, by a warrant of the houfe, for a new election. The commons embraced the expedient j but: in fucxi a manners that, while they (bowed their regard for the king, they fecured for the future the free poffefTion of their feats, and the right, which they claimed, of judging folely iii their own eleftions and returns.
The fpirit and judgement of the houfe of commons ap- |)eared, not only in defence of their own privileges, but in their endeavour, though at this tim.e inefledtual, tc* free trade from thofe fiiackles which the highly-exerted- j5rerogative, and even, in this refpefl, the ill-judged tv- ranny of Elizabeth, had impofed upon it. James had- -already, of his own accord, called iu and annulled alf the numerous patents for monopolies, which had beerj- granted by his predeccflbr, and which extremely fet- tered every fpecies of domeflic induilry. But the ex- clufive companies ftill remained ; another fpecies of mo- nopoly, by which almofl all foreign trade, except that to France, was brought into the hands of a few rapacious cngrofiers. Thefe companies, arbitrarily erecSbed, had carried their privileges fo far, that almofl all the com- merce of England was centered in London ; nay, the whole trade of the capital was confined to about two hun- dred citizens *", who could, by combining among them- felves, fix whatever price they pleafed to the exports and imports of the nation.
While the commons were thus attempting to give li- berty to the trading part of the kingdom, they alfo endea- voured to free the landed property from the burden of wardfliips, and to remove thofe remains of the feudal te- nures, under which the nation ftill laboured. The profit / which the king reaped both from wards and from refpite of homage, was eflimated; and It was intended to com- pound for thefe prerogatives by a fecure and independent revenue. But after fome debates In the houfe, and fome conferences with the lords, the affair could not be ad- jufted. The fame fate attended an attempt to free the nation from the burden of purveyance.
In another affair of the utmofl confequcnce, the commons fiiowed a greater fpirit of independence than any true judg- ment of national intercfl. The union of the two king-
h Journ. aifi May, 1604.
doms
48 The tilflory of Biglaml
The h'-ng <^oms was zealoufly urged by the king » ; but tbe more fropnjes a that he recommended fo ufeful a mcafure, tlie more back- vnion of ward was the parliament in concurring with him ; while tie two ji^^y afcribed his excefTive zeal to a partiality In favour of ^ ' his Scottilh fubjeifls. Their complaifance for the king, therefore, carried them no farther than to appoint forty- four commiflioners, to deliberate concerning the terms of a union ; but without any power of making advances to» wards tlie eftabiifhment of it ''. Au<^. 13- This fummer, the peace with Spain was finally con- Ftaceivith eluded, and was (igned by the Spanifii minifters at Lon- Spain, don'. Some articles in the treaty, which feemed preju- dicial to the Dutch commonwealth, were never executed by the king; and as the Spaniards made no complaints on that head, it appeared, that, by fecret agreement, the king had cxprefsly referved the power of fending afTift- ance to the Hollanders ■".
The Roman Catholics had expc^ed great favour on tlie, accelTion of James, both as he was the fon of Mary, whofe life they believed to have been facrificed to their caufe, rind as himfelf, in his early youth, was imagined to have fliown fome partiality towards them. It is pre- tended, tliat he had even entered into pofitive engagements to tolerate their religion, as foon as he fliould afcend the Englifh throne. Whether their credulity had interpreted in this fenfe fome obliging expreflions of the king's, or that he had employed fuch an artifice, in order to render them favourable to his title, is uncertain ". But they foou difcovered their miflake, and were at once furprifed and. enraged to find James, on all occafions, exprefs his iri- tention of ftriclly executing the laws enabled againft them, and of perfevering in all the rigorous meafures of Elizabeth. This declaiation determined them upon defpe- rate meafures ; and they at lerigth formed the defign of deftroying the king and both houfes of parliament at a blow. The fcheme was firfl: propofed by Catefby, a gen- tleman of good parts and ancient family ; who conceived that a train of gunpowder might be placed under the par- liament-houfe, fo as to blow up the king and all the mem- bers at once. He opened his intention to Percy, a de- fcendant of the illuftrious houfe of Northumberland, who
' Journ. sift April, ift May, 1604. Parliamentary Hiftory* vol. v, p. 91. ^ Journ. 7th June, 1604. Kennet. p. 6Y%.
1 Rymer, .torn. xvi. p. 585, &c, »" Winwood, vol. ii.
p z-j. 330. ct alibi. n State Trials, vol. ii- p. 201, 201,203.
"Winwood, vol, ii. p. 45.
was
Was cliarmed with the proje£t, and readily came into it* Thefe two communicated the horrid plot to Thomas Win- ter, who went over to Flanders in queft of Fawkei, an officer in the Spanifli fervice, with whofe zeal and courage the confpirators were thoroughly acquainted. When they enlifted any new confpirator, the more firmly to bind him to fecrefy, they always, with an oath, employed the com- munion, the moil facred rite of religion *'. None of thefe. devotees ever entertained the leaft compun£lion, "with regard to the dreadful cataftrophe which they pro- jedled. Some of them only were flartled by the idea, that many Catholics mull be prefent, as fpeftators or at- tendants on the king, or as having feats in the houfe of peers ; but Tefmond and Garnet, two Jefuits, fuperiors» of the order, abfolved their confciences from every fcru- ple.
Thefe tranfa£lIons pafTed In the fpring and fummer of 1604 ; when the confpirators alfo hired a houfe, in Percy's name, adjoining to that in which the parliament was to aflemble. That they might be lefs interrupted, and give lefs fufpiclon to the neighbourhood, they laid in a ftore of provifions ; which being done, they began their labour, and perfevered with great affiduity. They foon pierced the wall, though three yards in thicknefs ; when they were alarmed at hearing a noife, which they knew not how to account for. Upon enquiry, they found that it came from the vault below the houfe of lords; that a ma- gazine of coals had been kept there ; and that, as the coals were felling off, the vault would be let to the higheft bidder. They, therefore, feized the opportunity of hir- ing the place; in which they lodged thirty-fix barrels of gunpowder, covered with faggots, bought for the purpofe. The doors of the cellar were then boldly flung open, and every body admitted, as if it contained nothing dan- gerous.
Having made thefe preparations, they proceeded to plan, with great confidence of fuccefs, the remaining part of their projeft. The king, the queen, and prince Henry, were all expelled to be prefent at the opening of parlia- ment. The duke, on account of his tender age, would be abfent ; and it was r^folved, that Percy ftiould fcize, or aflaflinate him. The princefs Elizabeth, a child likewife, was kept at lord Harrington's houfe in Warwickfliire : fir
• State Trials, vol. i. p. 190, 198. no. Vol. II. E Everard,
^o TT-^ Hijiory of England,
Evcrartl Digby, with fome others, was to fcize her, ana immediately proclaim her queen. A.D 1605. ^^^ ^"^y "'^^ approacheti, on which the parliament was
appointed to aflemblc. Never was treafon more determined,
Nov. 5. or ruin more apparently inevitable. The dreadful fecrct» Cun(Qw- though communicated to above twenty perfons, had been dtrcunjpt- rgijgjoYifly kept, during tlie fpace of near a year and a hnll'i and when every other motive, that tould check their dcfi^n, had been extinpuifhcd in the bread of the ton- Tpirators, a rcmorfc of private friendlhip providentially favcd the kingdom.
About ten days before tlie meeting of parliament, lord -Monteaglc,a Catholic, fon to lord INIorley, received the fol- lowing Tetter, which had been delivered to his fcrrant by an unknown hand ; ** My lord, out of the love 1 bear to fomc of your friends, I liavc a care of your prefervation. There- fore, I will advilc you, as you tender your life,to devifc fome e\cufe to fliift off your attendance at this parliamenr. P'or God and man have coiicurred to punith the wickedncfs of the times. And think not (lightly of this advertifement y but retire yourfelf into your country, where you may ex- pect the event in fafety. For, though there be no ap- pearance of any llir, yet, 1 fay, they will receive a terri- ble blow, this p.irliament, and yet they (liall not fee who hurts them. Ihis counfel is not to be contemned, be- caufe it may do you good, and can do you no harm : for the danger is pall, as foon as you have burned the let- ter. And 1 hope God will give you the grace to make good ufe of it, unto whofc holy protection I commcnH you r."
Monteaplc was aftoniflicd on perufmg this myfterious letter; and though inclined to think it a foolifli attempt to frighten and ridicule him, he judged it fafcft to carry it to lord Saliibury, fecrctary of flate. Though Salisbury likewife-confidered it as a matter of no importance, he laid it before the king, who came to town a few days after. None of the counfellors, who were prefent, could make any thing of it ; and the king was the firlk who pe- netrated the meaning of this dark epiftle. From the feriouB, earnefl; ityle of the letter, he conjectured that it implied fomething dangerous and important. " A terrible blow," and yet ihe authors concealed ; a danger fo fudden, and yet fo great i thefe circumflances, he thought, feemcd all
P K. James's V/ciks, p. 227.
to
Jttfnes t ^t
to derlote fome contrivance by gunpowder j ancl it waS judged advifeable to infpeft all the vaults below the houfes of parliament. This care belonged to the earl of Suffolk, lord-chamberlain; who purpofely delayed the fearch, until the day before the meeting of parliament. He remarked thofe great piles of wood and faggots, which lay in the vault under the upper houfe ; and caft his eye upon Fawkes, who flood in a dark corner, and who paflcd bimfelf for Percy's fervant. That daring and determined courage, which fo much diflinguifhed this confpirator, even among his defperate aflbciates, was fidly painted in his countenance, and fhruck the lord-chamberiain with flrong fufpicion'3. The great quantity alfo of fuel, for n
the ufe of one who lived fo little in town as Percy, did not pafs unnoticed ■■ ; and it was refolved, that a more minute infpe6lion fliould be made. About midnight, fir Thomas Knevet, a juftice of peace, Vv'as fent v;ith proper attendants. At the entrance of the vault, he feii^ed a man, drefTed in a cloak and boots, with a dark lanthorn in his hand. This perfon was no other than Guy Fawkes, v/ho had juft been making the lafl: preparations for the enterprize next morning, the matches, and every thing proper for fetting fire to the train, being found in his pocket. The whole defign being now difcovered, his au- dacioufnefs was increafed by defpair; the only concern he teftified was for the failure of the enterprize.' Before the council, he difplayed the fame firmnefs, mixed even •with fcorn and difdain ; and refufed to difcover his ac- complices. But his obftinate fpirit was at length fubdued. Being confined to the Tower for two or three days, and the rack jufl fliown him, his courage, fatigued with.fo long an effort, at lafl failed him, and he made a full dif- covery of ail the confplrators ^
Catefby, Percy, and the other affociates, hearing that Fawkes was arrefled, fled with all fpeed to Warwick- (hire, where fir Everard Digby, relying oh the faccefs of the plot, was .already in arms, in order to feize tlie princefs Elizabeth. But the country rifmg on all fides to oppofe them, they refolved, to about tlie number of eighty perfons, to make a ftand at a houfe in "Warvvick- Ihire, and, a£ling in their own defence, to fell their lives as dear as poffible. But everl this miferable confolation was denied them. A fpark of fire happening to fall among fome gunpowder that was laid to dry, it blew up,
"1 K. James's Works, p. 239. ^ IbiJ. ^ ibid. p. 231.
E 2 and
jjz ^he Hiftory of England.
and fo maimed a number of the confpirators, that the people ruftied in upon them. Percy and Catefby were killed by one fhot. Digby, Rookwood, Winter, and 6thers, being made prifoners, were tried, confefled their guilt, and, as well as Garnet, died by the hand of the executioner. Notwithftanding the atrocloufnefs of their treafon. Garnet was confidered by the bigotted Catholics as a martyr', and miracles were faid to have been wrought by his blood ".
It is remarkable, that before this audacious attempt, the confpirators had always maintained a fair reputation. Catelby was loved by all his acquaintance ; and Digby was as highly efleemed for his integrity as any man in the nation ; and had been particularly honoured with the good opinion of queen Elizabeth ^, Their condu6l, was alone the fatal efFc(fl of religious prejudices, which have fome- time the power of extinguifhing in the human mind every fentiment of duty and humanity.
The king's moderation, after the extindlion of this con- fplracy, was as great as his penetration in the prevention of it ; and though the general hatred of the people againft the Catholics now became outrageous, he wifely reje£led all violent meafures, which were prompted in the fpirit of revenge. The lords Mordaunt and Stourton, however, Somt ca- j^Q Catholics, were fined, the former ten thoufand fined, pounds, the latter four thoufand, by the Star-chamber,
becaufe their abfence from parliament had excited fome fufpicion of their being acquainted with the confpiracy. The earl of Northumberland was fined thirty thoufand pounds, and detained feveral years prifoner in the Tower ; becaufe, exclufive of other fufpicious circumftances, he had admitted Percy into the number of gentlemen pen- fioners, without taking the requifite oaths ^. The king, in his fpeech to parliament, obferved, that the guilt of the confpirators ought not to involve the whole body of the Roman Catholics in the fame predicament, or be admitted as ground of fufpicion, that they all were equally difpofed to commit fuch enormous barbarities. For his part, he added, that the late confpiracy, however atrocious, (hould never alter, in the leaft, his plan of government ; but as,. on one hand, he was determined to punifh guilt, fo, oa the other, he would ftill fupport and protect innocence^.
t Winwood, vol. ii. p. 300, u Ibid. ^ Athen,
Ox. vol. ii. p. 254. y Camden, in Kennef, p. 652.
* K. James's Works, p. 503, 504..
7 This
5?
Jamei I.
This moderatlorij however laudable, was at that tirne no way pleafing to the people ; among whom tlie malig- nant were willmg to afcribe his lenity to a fecret bias m favour of the popifli fuperftitions.
The firll important occurrence, after thofe tranfadlions, A.D.ifiia.
was the death of Henry, prince of Wales, an event ■-
which diffufed univerfal grief through the nation. Re- ^°*'' ^' . ports were propagated, as if this prince, a youth of great '^^'"'^°f hopes, had been carried off by poifon ; but the phyficians tienry. on opening his body, found no fymptoms to confirm fuch an opinion ".
Some time after the death of the prince, was concluded A D.ifiij.
the marriage of the princefs Elizabeth, with Frederic, — •
elector palatine ; an alliance which proved unhappy to the ^*^^' ^4» king, as well as to his fon-in-law, both in point of their '^y^S' reputation and fortunes. pnncefs
The perfons who make the principal figure in the hi- Elizabeth. ftory of this reign are the royal favourites. About the Rife oj end of the year 1609, Robert Carre, a youth of twenty S:mer/(U years of age, and of a good family in Scotland, had, after pailing fome time in his travels, arrived in London. All his natural accomplifliments confided in a handfome perfon ; and all his acquired abilities in an eafy and grace- ful demeanor. This youth came into England with let- ters of recommendation to his countryman lord Hay, who affigned him the office of prefenting the king his buckler at a match of tilting. When Carre was advancing to ex- ecute his office, he was thrown by his horfe, and his leg was broke in the king's prefence. James approached him with pity and concern, and ordered him to be lodged in the palace till his cure fliould be completed. The king, after the tilting, paid him a vifit in his chamber, and frequently returned during his confinement. The igno- rance and fimplicity of the youth confirmed the mo- narch's affeclions ; and Carre was therefore foon con- fidered as the mod rifing man at court. He was knighted, created vifcount Rochefter, honoured with the order of the Garter, made a privy-counfellor, and was at laft created earl of Somerfet. The riches heaped upon this minion, even while the king's minifters could fcarcely find fupplies fufficient for the neceffary purpofes of government, were in proportion to his rapid advancement in confidence and honour. The favourite, however, did not immediately become intoxicated with his profperous fortune •, but, fen-
8 Kennet, p. 690. Coke, p. 37. Welwood, p. »7».
E 3 fjble
'$\ The Hijf-ory of England.
fible of his own inexperience, had frequent recourfctq the afTiflance and advice of a friend. The perfoh whom he chiefly confuUed was fir Thomas Overbury, a man of great abihcies and learninj:, who endeavoured to inftill into him the prinriples'of prudence and difcretion; and by following whole counfels, young Carre had the rare felicity of enjoying the highelt favour ot the prince, with- out being hated by the people. But that virtue, which remained as ytt uncorrupted by the accumulation of riches and honours, proved not equally fuccefsful againfl the fuggeftions of a criminal paflion.
Jamas, ou his acccfhon to the throne of England, ma- niicllcd a particular fricndfhip for the unfortunate families of Howaid and Devereux, which had fullered for their attachrhent to the caule of Mary and to his own. Hav- ing reftored tlie heir of the latter to his blood and dignity, and conferred the titles of Suffolk and Northampton oti two brothers of the houfe of Norfolk, he fought the farther plcafurc of uniiing thefe fainiljes by the marriage pf the earl of Elfex with lady Frances Howard, daughter of the earl of Suffolk. She was only thirteen, he four- teen years of ^ge ; and it was thought proper, until both (liould attain the age oi ouberty, that he (hould go abroad, and pafs fome time in his travels ''. He returned into England after four years abfcnce, and had the plea- fure to find his countefs univcrfally admired for her beauty. J5ut when the earl approached her, and claimed the pri- vileges of a hufband, {he difcovered the flrongeft figns of averlion. A criminal correfpondence had commenced be- tween her and Carre, who, by his perfonal accomplifh- ments and afTuiuities, liad obtained the entire afcendant - jQvcr her afftdlions. She even refolved to procure a di- .vorcc from Eflex, and to marry her paramour. When RcchelUr mentioned to Overbury the defign of the count- efs and himfelf, that faitliful counfellor ufed every me- thod ro dilTuade him from fucli r.n attempt ; and went fo far as to threaten, that he would feparate himfelf for ever from him, if he could fo far forget his honour and inte- rcfl as to profecutc the intended marriage '^. This falu- tary advice proved fatal ro Overbury. 1 be countefs, be- ing made acquainted with his expoflulations, urged her iover to enter into a projedl for his ruin. In confcquence of this, plan, the king was perfuaded by the favourite to
^ KTsnet, p £86. c State Trials, vol. j, p. a 5. 236.
*_5i. Fwni:!}';!;., p. 1-4.
James I. ^5
crder Overbury on an embafTy into PiufTia. Menntlme, he earneflly diffiiaded Overbury from accepting tiiis offer, and took on himfelf the office of fatlsfying the kinj;, if he fliould be any wife difpleafed with the refufal ''. To the April at. king, however, he treacheroufiy aggravated the infoience Ovtrbury of Overbury's condu6l, and obtained a warrant for com- A"* '" ''*•*' mitting him to the Tower, wiiich James intended as a '^''^^'''' #ight puniChment for his difobedience. The lieutenant of the Tower, who was a creature of Rocherter's, had lately been put into the office for this very purpofe. He con- fined Overbury fo ftri£tly, that no communitation of any kind was allowed with him, during near fix months which he lived in prifon. '
The lovers now purfued their purpofe ; and the king, forgetting the dignity of his character, entered zeaionOv into the proje61: of procuring the divorce; which even ElTex was now willing to forward it by any honourable expe- dient. After a trial, therefore, feconded by court-influ- ence, the fentence of divorce was pronounced between the earl of EiTex and his countefs^ ; and the king, foli- citous left the lady fliouid lofe any rank by her new mar- riage, beflowed on his favourite the title of earl of So- merfet.
The countefs of Somerfet, not fatisfied with the im- prifonment of Overbury, ftimulated her huiband, as well as her uncle, the earl of Northampton, to the atrocious defign of taking '-.im off" fecretly by poifon. R,epeated, Sept. t^, though ineficdlual attempts were made with weak poilons ; Overbury:^ but at laft, they adminiilered one fx3 violent, that it foon " po^f""^'^'^ put a period to his life ^. His interment was performed with the greateft precipitation ; and the full proof of the crime was not brought to light, until fome years after. But Somerfet, confcious of the murder of his frienJ', re- ceived fmall confolation from the fuccefs of his love, or the utmoft indulgence of his fovereign. The graces of his youth gradually difappeared ; the gaiety of his man- ners forfook him ; his obliging behaviour was turned into morofenefs; and the king, whofe afFecSlions had been qn->i gaged by thofe f-uperficial accord pliliTments, began, to with- draw his attachment from a man', who no Ioniser coutri- Ixuted to his amufement.
An apothecary's apprentice, who had- been employed in making up the poifon, having retired to Flufliing, had
"* Franklyn, p. 236, 17,7, Sec. « State Trials, vol. J.
p, 223, »24, &c. Franklyn's Annals, p. 2, 3, &c. ^ K*n-<
jietj p. 693. State Trials, vol. i. p. 233, 234-5 Sec. . '
E. 4. there
k6 The Hijlory of England.
there divulged the fecret ; and the affair belnp[ thus laid
before the king, he gave orders to fir Edward Coke, lord
chief-juflice, to make the llridlell inveftigation into the
affair. This injun6tion was executed with an indullry,
which unravelled the whole labyrinth of guilt. The in-
Some ac- ferior criminals, fir Jcrvis Elvis, lieutenant of the Tower,
row/>//r^i 0/ Franklin, Wefton, and Mrs. Turner, were firil tried and
O'veiburfs condemned : Somerfet and his countefs were afterwards
^'*/'^,'^Y' found guilty; but Northampton's death, a little before,
_. ' * had faved him from a like fate. The king bcftowed a
' d'e^'uH- P'^rdon on Somerfet and the countefs, whom, after fome
tefi of So- year's imprifonmcnt, he reftorcd to their liberty, and con-
merfet art Icrred on them a penfion, witli which they retired, and
founj languiflied out old age in infamy and forrow. Their
*" 7' J pu'hy loves were turned into the mod deadly hatred ; and
'^ ' they paffed many years together in the fame houfc, witli-
out anv intcrcourfc with each other ^
As foon as Somerfet's enemies remarked the coolncfs of the king towards him, they fcized the opportunity of fup- planting him by means of a new minion. George Vil- licrs, a youth of one-and-twcnty, younger brother of a good family, returned at this time from his travels, and was remarkable both for a handfome pcrfon, and elegant manners. At a comedy, he was purpofcly placed by the courtiers in the view of the king, who was immediately caught with his appearance ^. Tlie king, however, it is faid, endeavoured to conceal the partiality which he felt for the handfome flranger ; and employed every art of diffimulation to fix him in his fervice, without fccming t'l.'L'ers it to defirc it. At lafl:, after the intervention of fome in- tHtroJuced trigues, Villiers was taken into the king's fervice, and the fiUourt. office of cup-bearer was beftowed upon him. Though the character of this monarch has been treated with fome degree of malignity, hiftorians do not infinuate any thing flagitious in thofe connexions, but impute his attachment rather to a natural weaknefs of mind.
The whole court was now thrown into parties between the two minions, the elder of whom exerted all his inte- reft to deprcfs the rifing favoutite. But the difcovery of Somerfet's guilt in the murder of Overbury, put an end to the rivalfliip, and expofed him to the ruin and infamy which he fo juftly merited.
The fall of Somerfet was fucceeded by the rapid elcr vation of Buckingham, who, in the courfe of a few years,
f Keruiet, p. 699, s Franklyn, p. 50. Kennet, vol. ii.
p. 698.
wag
James L 57
was created vifcount Villiers, earl, marquis, and dulce of AD.T6T5,
Buckingham, knight of the Garter, mailer of the horfe, :—
chief-jullice in Eyre, warden of the Cinque Ports, mailer ^'A ^1^ of the king's bench-office, lleward of Weftminfter, con. f^^"^'' liable of Windfor, and lord high-admiral of England'', His mother obtained the title of countefs of Bucking- ham; his brother was created vifcount Purbeck j and a numerous train of needy relations was puflied up into credit and authority. This profufion of expence was too great for the moderate revenues of James; and to fupply them, therefore, the cautionary towns mull be delivered a.D. t6r6.
up to the Dutch. In the preceding reign, Elizabeth,
when {he lent the revolted Hollanders large fums of mo- fh-ecau- ney, required of them a proper depofit, as fecuritv for '"'''^l)' payment, i he Dutch, in compliance with this demand, jgii^jgred put into her pofleffion the three important fortreiTes of up to the Flufhing, Brille, and Ramekins. But James, in his pre- Dutch» fent exigence, agreed to evacuate thefe fortreffes, upon being paid only a third part of the money which was due. The general difcontent, occafioned by this meafure, was foon after increafed by an aft of feverity, which remains as the blacked flain upon the memory of this monarch. The brave and accompliftied fir Walter Raleigh had been confined in the Tower almoft from the beginning of James's reign, for a confpiracy which had never been proved againfl him ; and during his imprifonment, he had written feveral performances, which are ftill held in great eflimation. His long fuiFerings and ingenious produc- tions had now turned the tide of popular opinion in his favour ; and they who once detefted the enemy of EHex, could not now help pitying the long captivity of this phi- lofophical foldier. Himfelf flill ilruggled for freedom ; and perhaps it was with this defire that he fpread the re- port of his having difcovered a gold mine in Guiana, which was fufficienc to enrich, not only the adventurers who Ihould feize it, but to afford immenfe treafures to the na- tion. The king gave little credit to thefe mighty pro- a n 5 • mifes ; but thinking that Raleigh had already undergone
fufficient punifhment, he releafed him from the Tower, Rahjgh is and conferred on him an authority over his fellow-adven- rehafed turers in the purfuit of his enierprize. James, though -^"''"'^^ ftrongly folicited, dill refufed to grant him a pardon ; °'^^''» faying, that he referved the former fentcnce as a check ypon his future behaviour.
* Franklyn, p. 30, Clareadon, 8vo. edit, vol, i. p. 10.
Raleigh
gf Tt:e Hijtory of E/iglaful
and fails Raleigh, having fet fail from England, bent his coiirf©
on an en- to Guiana, of part of which he had taken polFcirion, in the ttrpnze to name of the Engli{h crown, about twenty-three years be-^ Gutgna. fore; and himfelf remaining at the mou;h of the river Oronooko, with five of the largcll fliips, he fent up the reft to the town of St. Thomas, under the cnmmand of bis fon, and of captain Keymif*, a perfon entirely devoted to his intererts. But initead of a country abounding in gold, as the adventurers were taught to expedt, tlieyi found tlvc Spaniards had been warned of their approach, and were prepared to receive them in a hoftile manner. Young llaleigh, to encourage his men, called out that this was the true mine ; meaning the town of St. Tho* mas, which he was approaching, and that none but fools looked for any other. But jult as he was fpcaking, he received from the Spaniards a (hot, of which he immedi- ately expired. Kcymis and the others, however, carried on the attack ; got poirelhon of the town, which thcyt aftcrv.'ards reduced to allies ; and found not in it any thing of value.
It was Keymis who pretended that he had feen tha mine, and gave the firft account of it to Raleigh ; but he now began ;o rctracl, and though within two hours marcli of the place, he rcfufed, on the moft abfurd pretences, to take any efFedlual ftep towards finding it. He retired, therefore, to Raltigh, with the melancholy news of his foil's death ; and then going into his cabin, put an end to his own life in defpair.
The adventurers, now concluding that they were de- ceived by Raleigh, began to load Iiim witli reproaches, and told him that he muft be carried back to England, to anfwer to the king for his condu£l. Li this forlorn fitUr- ation, it is pretended that he employed many artifices, firft to engage the adventurers to attack the Spanifli feb- tiements in a time of peace ; and failing of that, to make his efcape into France But all thefe proving unfuccefs- ful, he was delivered into the king's hands, and, with his fellow-adventurers, ftriclly examined before the privy- council. Count Gondemar, the Spanifh ambaflador, mode lieavy complaints againft the expedition v ajid rhe king de- clared that Raleigh had exprefs orders co avoid) all hofti- Jities againft the Spaniards. To fatisfytlie court of Spain, therefore, the king availed himfelf of that power which he had referved in his own bands, and figned the war- rant for Raleigh's execution upon his former fentence.
Raleij:!;
James I, 59
Raleigh, In-order to protraft his examination, had de- ixecution fcended to mean artifices, fuch as feigning madnefs, and of fir a variety of difeafes ; but now finding his fate inevitable, trailer he coIIe£led all his courage, and refolved to a6t his part ^^'"^'S"- with refolution^ As he felt the edge of the axe, he faid, 5' It is a fliarp remedy, but a fure one for all ills." His ^harangue to the people was calm and eloquent ; and, with the utmoft indifference, he laid dov/n his head on the block.
No meafure of James's reign gave more general dif- fatisfaftion than the punifhment of Raleigh, who was ex- ecuted upon a fentence univerfally eiteemed unjuft, which had been fo long fufpended, and which feemed to have been tacitly pardoned by conferring on him a new com- niiffion. The death of this great man was foon after folr lowed by the difgrace of a yet greater, namely, lord chan- D'tfgraceef cellor Bacon, who was accufed of receiving bribes in his chancellor office ; and, pleading guilty, was degraded and fined -S-zcou. thirty thoufand pounds \ but his fine was afterwards re- mitted by the king.
There foon appeared obvious reafons for James's com- plaifance to the court of Spain in the cafe of Raleigh. This monarch entertained an idea, that in marrying his fon, Charles, prince of Wales, any alliance below that o5 a great fovereign would be unworthy of him. He was, therefore, obliged to feek either in the court of France or Spain, a fuitable match, and the latter was pi'opofed to him by Gonderaar, the ambaffador, who made offer of ProjeBof the fecond daughter «f the Spanifli king. To render the viarrying temptation irrenftible, he gave hopes of an immenfe for- ^^l^,t''1"^^ tune, which fliould attend the princefs. The court of "l jfu^/'tgr Spain, though determined to contrail no alliaiice with a of the king heretic^, entered into negociations with James, whtch of Spain. they artfully protradled during five years. A delay of this kind was difpleafing, not only to the king, who had all along an eye on the great fortune of the princefs, but likev.'ife to the prince, who, bred up with ideas of ro- mantic paflion, was in love with the infanta, whom he had never feen. During this impatient (late of the court, a project entered the head of Villiers, who had now th^ entire afcendant over the kingj that the prince fliould travel in difguife into Spain, and vifit in perfon the objeft of his affedlions, Buckingham, who wanted to ingratiate hiinfelf with the prince, offered to be his companion j and
' I^a Boderie,. vol. ii. p. 30,
the
5
^o
AD.i6;3.
Mafch 7. The
frince's journey to
Thf Spa- fiijb match if bi\ke
A.D. 1624
Treaty of marriage befui£n the prince cf U^ales and prtn- fefs Hen. rietta of France,
Difputes befween the king and the far It a. meni.
The Hifiory of England.
t!ie Iting, whofe duty it was to have checked fo wild a fcheme, gave his confcnt to the proporal. The prince and Buckingham, with a few attendants, fet out on the expedition, and pafTed undifcovered throujjh France. They even ventured to a ball at Paris, where Charles law the princefs Henrietta, whom he afterwards cfpoufed, and who was then in the bloom of youth and beauty. On their arrival at Madrid, they were received by the court of Spain with every demonftiation of refpecl ; but Buck- ingham filled the city with intrigues, jealoufy, and chal- lenges. To complete the meafure of his follies, he fell in love with the duchefs of Olivarez, and perfonally in- fulted her hulband, who was the prime minilter. At length, Buckingham, becoming fenfible that he had ren- dered himfelf odious to the Spaniards, and dreading the influence, which that nation would naturally acquire after the arrival of the infanta, refolved to employ nil his cre- dit, in order to prevent the marriage. Having by this time obtained an abfolute dominion over the gentle and modeft temper of Charles, he fo effedtually worked on the mind of that prince, that the latter, on quitting Madrid, was firmly determined, notwithflanding all his profelTions, to break oJT the treaty with Spain ; and the relolution was carried into efF<-£l, foon after their arrival in London.
Though Jarnfs might have known by experience the unfurmountable antipathy, entertained by his fubjetts, againlt all alli;mce with Catholics, he (lill pcrfevered in his opinion, that his fon would be degraded by receiving into his bed a princefs of lefs than royal extraction. After the rupture, therefore, with Spain, he immediately ap- plied himfelf to negociate an alliance with France. This match, the object of which was Henrietta, daughter of the great Henry IV. met with much better fuccefs than the former; and, though tlie fortune promifed was much fmaller, James confented to the terms which were pre- pofed by the French court. In an article of this treaty of marriage, it was ftipulated, that the education of the children, until the age of thirteen, Ihould belong to the mother; a ftipulation which eventually proved the ruin of that unfortunate family.
While thefe matrimonial treaties were in agitation, the parliament was gradually retrenching the royal prerogative. The prodigality of James to his favourites had made his necefTities fo many, that he was often obliged to have re- courfe to that body for fupplies ; and the houfe of com- mons, by this time become extremely unmanageable,
would
James 1, ^(
would never grant any fubfidy, without obtaining the abolition of fome ufage, which, however eftablifhed in the conftitution, they condemned as an infringement on public freedom. Thofe contefts between the king and the parliament had been increafing in violence every fef- fion ; and the very laft advanced their pretenfions to fuch a degree that James began to take the alarm ; but the effe£t of thofe evils, to which the weaknefs of this monarch had partly given rife, was referved to fall on his fucceffor.
Thofe domeftic diffenfions were attended by others yet Jfjirs of more important in Germany, and which produced in the Gertaanj. end the moft dangerous confequences. The king's elded daughter had been married to Frederic, the eleftor pala- tine, who, revolting againft the emperor Ferdinand II. was defeated in a decifive battle, and obliged to take re- fuge in Holland. His alliance to the EngliOi crown, his misfortunes, but particularly the proteftant religion, for which he had contended, were ftrong reafons for the peo- ple of England to wifh well to his caufe ; and frequent addreffes were, therefore, prefented by the commons, urging the king to take a part in the German conteft, and to reftore the exiled prince to the pofleflion of his here- ditary dominions. James at firft attempted to ward off the misfortunes of his fon-in-law by negociations ; but thefe proving ineffeftual, it was refolved at laft to refcue the Palatinate from the emperor by force of arms. War u^ar luiih was accordingly declared againft Spain and the emperor ; Spain and fix thoufand men were fent over into Holland, to aflift ^^^^ "^' prince Maurice in his fchemes aginft thofe powers; the ''^'^'"^" people were every where pleafed with this interpofition, and were facisfied with any war which was to externfymte the Papifts. This army was followed by another, confift- ing of twelve thoufand men, commanded by count Mans- feldt ; and to render thcfe fuccours more effeftual, alTift- ance was proniifed by the court of France. But ihc Eng- lifh were difappointed In all their views : the troops being embarked at Dover, upon failing to Calais, they found no orders for their aJmillion. Alter waiting in vain fome time, they were obliged to fail towards Zealand, where no proper meafures were yet concerted for their difembark- ation. Meanwhile, a peftiieutial difeafe infected the troops, fo long cooped up in narrow vefl'els ; half the army died on board ; the remainder, weakened by ficknefs, ap- peared too fmall a body to march into the Palatinate j and thus ended this ill-planned and fruitlefs expedition ; the
oidy
62 ^he Hljlory of England,
only difafter which happened to England, during the pa-5 cific reign of James. A.D.1625. Whether this misfortune had any efFect upon the con-
flitution of James is uncertain ; but he was foon after, iu
March a;. j|^g fpring, I'eized with a tertian ague ; and, when cn- and death couvaged by his courtiers with the common proverb, that of the kiw. it was heakh for a king, he replied, that the proverb was meant of a young king. After fome fits, he found him- felf extremely weakened, and fent for the prince, whom he exhorted to bear a tender afFeclion for his wife, but to perfevere in the proteftant religion, and to extend his care to the unhappy family of the Palatine ''. He then prepared himfelf with decency and courage, to meet his end, and expired in the fifty-ninth year of his age, after a reign over England of twenty-two years. His cha. -Ihe character of this prince has been extremely mifrc-
raQer. prefented both by flattery and calumny. Of learning and capacity, he, doubtlefs, pofTclfed a great fhare -, but the former was tainted with pedantry, and the latter was better adapted to the condutl of private life, than to the government of kingdoms. He is generally acknowleged to have been endued with many virtues ; but thefe were, for the mofl part, carried to a degree beyond the ftandard of purity ; in confequencc of which his generofity bor- dered on profufion, his pacific difpofition on pufillanimity, his wifdom on cunning, and his fricndfhip on boyifli fondnefs.
He was only once married, to Anne of Denmark, who died on tlie 3d of March, 1619, in the forty-fifth year of her age. Of fix children born to him by the queen, he left only one fon, Charles, then in the twenty- fifth year of his age; and one daughter, Elizabeth, twenty-ning years of age, married to the elector Palatine.
CHARLES I.
A.D.i6i5. CHARLES had no fooner mounted the throne than ■ he (I'.owed an impatience to afTerable the great council of
the nation ; apd he, therefore, ifTued writs for fummon- ing a new parliament on the 7th of May. But the arrival of the princefs Henrietta, whom he had efpoufed by proxy, obliged him to delay, by repeated prorogations,
^ Rufliw'ortb, vqI. i. p. 155.
thejf .
Charles I, f'x
tlieir meeting, until the i8(h of June, when they afTem- ji^ne is. bled at Weftminrter. His fpccch to the parliament was A parha- full of fimplicity and cordiality; and, thougli he laboured ""'"' ''/ under great neceihties, he lightly mentioned the occafion ^'^fi'""*" which he had for fupply '. He would not even allow the ' ulFiccrs of the crown, who liad feats in the houfe, to mention any particular fum which might be expe<5led by liim.
The houfe of commons accordingly took into confider- atlon the bufinefs of fupply. They knew that all the money granted by the lall parliament had been expended T)n naval and military armaments, and that great anticipa- lions were made on the public revenues, which could with diificulty maintain the dignity of the crown, even under the ordinary charges of government. They were like- wife fenfible that the prefent war had been the refult of their own importunate applications, and that they had fo- lemnly engaged to fupport their fovereign in the profccu- tion of it. Notwithftanding all thefe urgent circumftances, they thought proper to confer on the king a fupply of two ■fubfidies, amounting to a hundred and twelve thoufand pounds ; a meafure which difcovers rather a cruel mockery of Charles than any ferious defign of fupporting him. lu this condu£l, it is probable that different perfons were aftuated by different motives. Many, there is reafon to think, were a(fluated by fpleen and ill-will againfl the duke of Buckingham, whofe great and rapid fortune could not fail to excite public envy. The puritanical party, though difguifed, had a great authority over the kingdom ; and many of the leaders among the commons had fecrctly embraced the rigid tenets of that fe£l:. All thefe were dif- ^gulled with the court, both from the principles of free- dom effential to their party, and on account of the re- Itraint under which they were held by the eftablifhed ■^hierarchy. Buckingham, in order to fortify himfelf againft the eventual inconftancy of James, had affected popularity, and entered into the cabals of the Puritans; but being fecure of the confidence of Charles, he had ■fmcc abandoned this party, and was, therefore, the moft expofed to their hatred and refentment. The match -with •J'lance, and the articles in favour of Catholics, which "were fufpedled to be in agitation, were likewife caufes of
' Bufliwortl), vol. i. p. 171. Pari. Hiil. voli vi. p. 346, Frank- lyn, p, 108.
difguft
6^ The Hijlory of England.
difgcft to this \vhole party. To all thefe circumnances ■we may add, that the houfe of commons was at this time almoft entirely governed by a fet of men of uncomnK>n capacity, and of the moft extenfive views. Animated •with a warm regard to liberty, they beheld with regret aa unbounded power exercifed by the crown, and were re- folved to feize the opportunity, which the king's nccef- fitles offered them, of reducing the prerogative within more reafonable compafs. For this purpofe, they deter- mined to grant no fupplies to the king, without extorting conceffions in favour of civil liberty.
Charles, having been bred up in lofty ideas of monarchi- cal power, which were not only commonly adopted dur- ing that age, but apparently fandlioned by the late uni- form precedents in favour of prerogative, could not fail to regard thofe bold attacks on the prcfcriptive rights of the crown as highly criminal and traiterous. He, there- fore, feemed even unwilling to impute fuch a defign to the commons ; and though he was obliged to adjourn the parliament on account of the plague, which at that time Aug. 1, raged in London, he immediately rc-aflembled them at Parliament Oxford, and made a new attempt to obtain from them «tOfcford. fome adequate fupplies in fo urgent a neceflity. Here Charles, finding it indifpenfable to depart from that deli- cacy which he had formerly maintained, entered into a particular detail, by himfelf or his minifters, both of the alliances which he had formed, and of the military opera- tions which he had projected ^. He defcribed his necef- lities to be fuch, that he had fcarcely left fufficient for the daily fubfiftcnce of himfelf and family"; and he even condefcendcd to ufe intreatics that they would extend their liberality towards him. The commons, however, remained inflexible. Some members, favourable to the court, having infifted on an addition of two-fifteenths to the former fupply, even this pittance was refufed ° ; though it was known, that a fleet and army were lying at Portfmouth, in great want of pay and provifions; and that Buckingham, the admiral, and the trcafurer of the navy, had advanced on their own credit near a hundred ihoufand pounds for the fea-fervice p.
The king, finding that the parliament was refolved to grant him no fupply, and made no other return to his fo-
" D'igdale, p, 25, 26. » Pari. Hift. vol. vl. p. 396,
• Ru(h. voU i. p. 190. ^ Pari. H)It. vol. vi. p. 390.
licitationi
Charles 1. 6j
ilcltatlons than empty proteftations of duty p, and difiirrrec- able complaints of grievances, took advantage of the plague'', vt'hich began to appear at Oxford, and, on that pretence, immediately diflblved them. By finifhing the <Tf,t par- feffion with a diflolution, inflead of a prorogation, he fuf- I'ament dif" liciently expreflcd his difpleafure at their condudl. [^A-v:!^
To fupply the want of parliamentary aids, Charles iflued privy-feals for borrowing money from his fubjedls'. The advantage reaped by this expedient was a fmall com- penfation for the difguft which it occafioned. By means, however, of that fupply, and by other expedients, he was, though with difficulty, enabled to equip his fleet. It con- fjfted of eighty veflels, great and fmall j rind carried on board an army of ten thoufand men, commanded by fir Edward Gecii, lately created vifccunt Wimbleton. Hq NavJ ex- , failed immediately for Cadiz, and foiind the bay full of petition Spanifli fliips of great value, which he either rieglefted to ^^'''''-^ attack, or attempted it prepofteroufly. The army was '"" ■landed, and a fort taken 5 but the undifciplined foldiers, finding flore of wine, could not be reftrained from the utmoft excelTes. Farther flay appearing fruitlefs, the troops were re-embarked ; and the fleet put to fea, with an intention of intercepting the Spaniili galleons. But the plague h.aving feized the feamen and foldiers, they were obliged to abandon all hopes of this prizCj and re- turn to England.
Charles, having failed of (o rich n prize, was again A.D.'.SzS.
under th.e neceffity of having reccurfe to parliament. ■
When the king laid before the houfe his necelfities, ^^""'^P"-'" and afked for fupply, tliey immediately voted hirii three '^•'^^''^' fubfidies and three-fifteenths; arid, though th.ey after- wards added one fubfidy more, the fum v/as extremely difproportioned to the grealnefs of the occafion. This fupply, however, was only voted by the comirions : the ■> paffinfg of that vote into a 'law was referved until the end of the fefhon. A condition v/as therefore made, in a veiv tindifguifed manner, with their fovereigm Under colour of redrefTii-jg grievances, which, during this fhort reign, could not be verynumerous, they were to proceed in re- gulating and controuling every part of government which difpleafed them; and if the king either ftopped them in this undertaking, or refufed compliance with their de- mands, he muft not expeft any fupply from the commons.
P Franklyn, p. 113. Rufnworth, vol. i. p. 190. "i Journ,
35. » Rufb. vol. i. i'. 192. Pari, Hiit. vol. y\. p. 407.
Vol. IL F Charles
66 ^he Hijiory oj England,
Cliarles exprefTed great dKlatisfa^lion at a treatment whjcTi he deemed fo harlh and undutiful', but his urgent necef- fities obliged him to fubmit. Impeach' The duke of Buckingham, formerly obnoxious to the n^'^i ^ public, became daily more unpopular; and he received iam!"^~ ^^^^ feflion two violent attacks, one from the earl of Eriftol, and another from the houfe of commons. The fioufe, after having voted, upon feme queiies of Dr. Turner's, '* that common fame was a fufficient ground of accufation by the commons'," proceeded to frame more regular articles againfl Buckingham. They accufcd him of having united many offices in hia perfon ; of having bought two of them ; of neglecting to guard the feas, in- fomuch that many merchant-fhips h^ fallen into rhe hands of the enemy ; of delivering fhips to the French king, in order to ferve againfl the Hugonots ; of being concerned in the fale of honours and offices; of accepting extenfive grants from the crown; of procuring many titles of honour for his kindred ; and of adminifterirtg phyfic to the late king without acquainting his phyficians. All thefe articles appear, from comparing the accufation and reply, to be cither frivolous, or falfe, or both ". The only charge ^vhich could be regarded as important was, that he had extorted a fum of ten thoufand pounds from the Eaft India company, and that he had confifcated fome goods belonging to French merchants, on pretence of their be- ing the property of Spaniffi. The duke's anfwer to aM thefe particulars is likewife clear and fatisfaclory ; and though his fauhs were in many refpefts great, rapacity and avarice were vices which feera to have had no founda- tion in his character.
While the commons were ufing every means to wreck fheir refentment againfl: Buckingham, the king loft no op- portunity of convincing them how firmly he was attached to that minifter. 'I'he earl of Suffolk, chancellor of the univerfity of Cambridge, dying about this time, Bucking- ham, though under impeachment, was yet, by means of court-interefl, chofen in his place. The commons loudly complained of this affront; and, the more to enrage them, the king himfelf wrote a letter to the univerfity, extolling the duke, and giving them thanks^ for his eledion ''. The
» Pari. Hift. vol. vi. p. 4.49. Rufli. vol. i. p. 424.. « Ru(r>.
voi. i. p. a 17, Whitlccke, p. 5. u Ru(h. vol. i. p. 306, &c,
375, &c. Joarn. 15 March, i6»6, * Ruftwortb, vol. i.
P- 371.
lord-
Charles t, €'f
lorci-tceeper, in the Icing's name, exprcfsly commamled the houfe not to meddle with his minifter and fervant, Buck- ingham; ordering them, at the fame time, to finifli, in a few days, the bill which they had begun for the fubfidies, and to make fome addition to them; othervvife they mufl not expe£l to fit any longer *. Buckingham, in a fpeech^ a few days after, endeavoured to mollify and explain away thefe harfh commands''; but they failed not to leave behind them a difagreeable impreffion. So regardlefs now was the king of conciliating the commons, that he informed them, if they did not furnifh him with fupplies, he fhould be obliged to try ** new counfels." But what farther exaf- perated the commons was, that two of their members, fir Dudley Digges and fir John Elliot, wlio had been em- ployed as managers of the impeachment againfl the duke, were thrown into prifon ^. The commons immediately declared, that they would proceed no farther in bufinefs until they had fatisfadion in their privileges. Charles alleged, as the reafon of this meafure, certain feditious expreflions which thofe members were faid to have ufcd in their accufation of the duke ; but, upon inquiry, it appeared that no fuch expreflions had been ufed*. The members, however, were releafed. The earl of Arundel, for being guilty of the fame ofi^ence in the houfe of lords, was ralhly imprifoned, and as tamely difmifled by the king. Thus the two houfes having refufed to anfwer the intentions of the court, without previous conditions, the king, rather than give up his favourite, chofe to be Pa'Hameni without the fupply, and, therefore, once more difixilved the dij[d-vtd.^ parliament.
The " new counfels," which Charles had mentioned to the parliament, were now to be tried, in order to fupply his necelTities. Inftead of making peace with Spain, and thus retrenching his expences, fince he could not increafe his revenues, he refolved to profecute the war, and for . this purpofe to keep up a (landing army. Perhaps he alio entertained a defign of reftraining the liberty of his fub-v je6ls, and governing without parliaments, when he found matters ripe for the execution. But, at prefent, his forces were new-ievied, ill-paid, and v/orfe difciplined ; fo that the militia of the country, when led out againft him, would be far his fuperiors. in order, therefore, to gain time and money, a commiffion was openly granted to
» Pail. Hift. vol. vi- p. 444- y Ibid. p. 451. *= Rufn.
vol, i, p. 356. a iti_ \'a\^, p, 3^s. 361, Franklyn, p. 180.
F 2 compound
68 " The Hifwry of Englanl
compound with the Catholics, and agree for difpenfing The king with the penal laws enacled againft them ''. He borrowed harrowj a fum of money from the nobility, whole contributions money of came in hut fiowly ; and from the city he required a loan the nobility. ^£ ^ hundred thoufand pounds; but the citizens, after many evafions, gave him at lad a flat refufal '^. The Ship. greateft ftretch of his power, however, was in the levy-
tnoncy, jng of fliip-money. In orjder to equip a fleet, e;ich of the maritime towns was required, with the alhftance of the adjacent counties, to arm fo many vefl'els as were ap- pointed them ''. The city of London was rated at twenty Ihips. This was the revival of a taxation which had once been impofed by Elizabeth, and which afterwards, being carried to violent lengths, created much difcontent in the nation. But the extortions of the miniftry did not A general rell here. A general loan was demanded : thofe who refufed loan; and jj were fummoned before the council ; and, upon perfift-
tnofe vjho . . r r ^ • r rpL
re/'uie are '"R '" ^ rctuial, were put into conlmement. Inus, as m itpri/oned' every civil war, we find fomething to blame on both fides: each, though atfluated by defenciblc motives, was guilty of injuftice. One contending for the inherent liberties of mankind, the other for the prefcriptive privileges of the crown ; both driven to the extremes of faliliood, rapine, and injuflice ; and permitting their adlions to degenerate from the motives which firft fet them in motion.
Hitherto the will of the monarch was reluQantly obey- ed ; moft of thofe who refufed to lend their money were thrown into prifon, and patiently fubrnitted to confine- ment, or applied by petition to the king for their reieafe. Five perfons alone undertook, at their own hazard and expence, to defend the public liberties, and to demand their releafement, by the laws of their country ". The rames of thefe patriots were, fir Thomas Darnel, fir John Corbet, fir Walter Earl, fir John Heveningham, and fir Edward Hambden. No particular caufe was afhgncd of their commitment. The fpecial command of the king and council was pleaded ; and it was affirmed, that, by law, this was not fufficient reafoii for refufing bail or releaf- A D.1627, rnent to the prifoners. The queftion was brought to a fo- j^ . , ^ lemn trial before the King's Bench ; and the whole king- imprijoH' ^^''^ '^"^^ attentive to the iflue of fo important a caufe.
ment.
^ Rulhwortb, vol. i. p 4.13, Whitlocke, p. 7. *= Riifii
vol. i. p. 415. Franklyn, p. 206. << Rufh. vol- i. p. 415.
^ Ibid. p. 458, Franklyn, p. 224. Whitlocke, p. 2.
Br
Charles 7. 69
By the debates on this fubjeiSl it appeared, that per- fonal liberty had been fecured by no lefs than fix dif- ferent flatutes, and even by an article of the Great Char- ter: that, in turbulent and feditio us times, the princes infringed upon thofe laws ; and of this alfo many ex- amples were produced. The difRculty then was to deter- mine, when fuch violent meafures were expedient; but of that the court pretended to be the fupreme judge. As it was legal, therefore, that theie five gentlemen fliould plead the (latute, by which they might demand bail, fo it was expedient in the court to remand them to prifon, without determihing on the neceffity of taking bail for the prefent. Sir Randolf Crew, chief-juftice, had been difplaced, as unfit for the purpofes of the court ; and fir Nicholas Hyde, efteemed more obfequious, had ob- tained that office; yet the judges, by his direction, went no farther than to remand the gentlemen to prifon, and refufe the bail which was offered *".
But this was not the .only hardfliip of which the people Af./»v then thought they had reafon to complain. The army, g^'cvnttf^ which had made the fruitlefs expedition to Cadiz, was '!l^^"!'~ difperfed throughout the kingdom ; and money was levied upon the counties for the payment of their quarters 8. The foldiers were billetted upon private houfes, contrary to cuf- tom ; and thofe who had refufed or delayed the loan were fure to be loaded with a great number of thefe diforderly gueds. Many fubjedls of low condition, who had (hewn themfelves refra6lory to the meafures of the government, were prelTed into the fervice, and enlifted in the fleet or army ''. Glanviile, an eminent lawyer, had been obliged, during the former interval of parliament, tp .accept of an office in the navy '.
The king being thus embroiled with his parliament, his people, and fome of the moll powerful foreign Itates, it was not without amazement that all men faw him enter into a w'^ar with France, a kingdom with which he had but lately formed the moft intimate alliance. It was the misfortune of Charles to be implicitly governed by tlie counfels of Buckingham, who was not only deflitute of all ihe talents of a minifter, but v/as violent in his paffions, which he never endeavoured either to reftrain or conceal. When Charles married by proxy the princefs Henrietta, the duke of Buckingham had been fent to France, in order
f Rulhworth, vol. i. p. 462. « Id. p, 419, ^ Id,
p> 422. i Psrl. Hilt. vol. vii. p, 310.
F3 <«
'7© "fhe Hijlory of England,
to grace the nuptials, and to conduct the new queen info England. AH hiftorians agree, that, on this occafion, he had the boldnefs to pay his addrefies to the queen of France; nor is it qutftioned that lie made an impreflion on her heart -, an honour to which cardinal Richlieu at the f;;me tinie afpired. The rivalfhip of thefe favourites produced an inveterate enmity between them -, and, from a private quarrel, they determined to involve their War iviih refpe£live fovereigns in the difpute. However this be, francf. var was declared againft France ; and Charles was taught to hope, thnt hoftilities wi:h that kingdom would be the furefl means of producing unanimity at home.
Accordingly, a fleet of a hundred fail, and an army of fcven ihoufand men, were fitted out for the invafion of France, and both of them entrufccd to the command of Buckingham, who was totally unacquainted both with land and fea-fervice. The fleet appeared before Rochelle, n maritime town in France, which had long enjoyed its privileges independent of the French king i but which had for feme years embraced the relornicd religion, and was now befieged by a formidable army. 1 his expedition proved as unfortunate as that to the coafl of Spain. The duke's mcafurcs were fo ill concerted, that the iur habitants, though in want of fuccours, fhut their gates, and refufed to admit allies, of whofe coming they were rot prcvioufly informed. InRcad of attacking the ifland f.xpeaii'tnn J^f Oleron, which was fertile and defencclefs, he bent his i^theif.e cj cowr^^ to the ifle of Rhc, which was garrifoned, and ftks. ^ygji fortified. "While he was there endeavouring to flarve
out the garrifon of St. Martin's Caftle, the French landed their forces privately on another part of the idand ; fo that Buckingham was obliged to retreat, but with fuch preci- pitation that twc-third.s of his army were cut in pieces be* fore he co"u!d re-embark. Him.fclf, however, was the lad man of the whole army that quitted the fliore ; but this mark of courage proved no compenfation for the ex- treme imprudence of his condu£lt
The bad fuccefs of this expedition ferved to render the
duke yet more obnoxious, and the king more needy ; and,
therefore, notvvithflanding the unfavourable occafion, they
A.D !6i8. found themfelves under the neceflTity of aflembling a new
— ' parliament. It was hoped, however, that the commons,
Tmrd par- ji^ving experienced the ill efl'efls of former obftinacy, Lu;s£>.:. •^7ould now grant fome reafonable fupplies. The king plainly told them, in his firft fpeech, that they were con- voked for that purpofe j apd that if they (hould negle£l
to
Charles 1. 71
to contribute what was neceflary for the fupport of the ftate, he muft, in difcharge of his confcience, ufe thofe other means which God had put into his hands, in order to fave that which the folly of fome particular perfons would otherwife endanger. *' Take not this for a threat- ening," added the king, " for I fcorn to threaten any but my equals; but as an admonition from him, who, by na- ture and duty, has moft care of your prefervation and profperity ''." The commons, however, were not intimi- dated by this declaration of the king, though it was after- wards enforced by the lord-keeper. They boldly inveighed againft his late arbitrary meafures, forced loans, benevo- lences, taxes without the confent of parliament, arbitrary imprifonments, billeting foldiers, martial laws ; and againft all thefe grievances they infifted that a perpetual remedy lliould be provided. Thefe fentiments were una- nimoufly embraced by the whole houfe. Even the court- party pretended not to plead, in defence of the late mea- fures, any thing but the neceffity to which the king had been reduced, by the obftinacy of the two former parlia- ments. A vote, therefore, was pafTed, without oppofition, againft arbitrary imprifonments and forced laws '.
The fpirit of liberty having obtained fome contentment by this declaration, the reiterated meffages of the king, who prelTed for fapplies, were received with greater tem- per, and attracted more general regard. Five fubfidies were voted him ; with which, though inadequate to his wants, he declared himfelf well fatisfiedj and even tears of affedion ftarted in his eye, when he w^s informed of this conccffion.
But the fupply, though voted, was not as yet pafTed into a law ; and the commons refolved to employ the interval in providing fome barriers to their rights and privileges, fo lately violated. They were fenhble that their own vote, declaring the illegality of the former meafures, had not, of itfeU, fufficient authority to fecure the conftitution againft future encroachments -, and, therefore, thay ap- pointed a committee to prepare the model of fo im- portant a law. This they refolved to call a Petition of Petition tf Right; as implying, that it contained a confirmation and Right. explanation of the ancient conftitution, not any infringe- ment of royal prerogative, or acquifition of new liberties.
»= Rufh'vorth, vol. i. p. 477. Franklyn, p. 233« • Frank-
lyn, p. 251. Rufhwortb, vol. i. p. 513. Wiiitlocke, p. 9-
F 4 <Charlcs,
'•az f^-'^ Hijlory of England.
Charles, however, who was taught to conuder this biii ag the moft violent encroachment on his prerogative, ufed at fi'.fl every merlici to obftrucl its progreis. When he found tliat nothing but his afi'ent would fatisfy the Jioufe, he gave it; but in fo ambiguous a manner as left him fliU in the pofleffion of his former power. At length, however, to avoid their indignation, and ftill more to fcreen his favourite Buckingham, he thought prq- per to give them full fatisfa£lion. He came, therefore, to the houfe of peers, and pronouncing the ufual form of words, '* Soit come il eft dcfire, J^ct it ic lew as /■> rf'^- - Jiredf" gave the Petition of Right all the faniftion that was neceflary to pafs it into a law. The acclamations with which the houfe refoundcd, and the univerfal ']^y diffufed over the nation, fufficiently tcftified hew much this peti- tion was the favourite objeft of the people *.
The commons, finding their perfcverance crownpd with fuccefs in this inftancc, refoived to carry their fcrutiny into every part of government which they confidercd as dc- fcdlivc. The leaders in the houfe of commons at this time were remarkable for zeal and courage, in nurfuing whatever they confidercd as of importance to public free- dom. In fome particulars, their induftry was laudable ; ju others, it may be liable to cenfure.
A little before the mtretiiig of this parliament, a com- piifBon had been graiitcd to thirty-three of the principal officers of ftate, empowering them to concert the methods of levying mop.ey by impofitions,cr otherwife. The com- mons applied for cancelling that commiflion; which in- deed, by the late ftatute of the Petition of Right, wa? rendered entirely unnece.Tary. They objeded alfo to an- other commiflion for raifing money towards the introduc- tion of a thoufand German horfe, which they were ap- prehenuve .might be employed againft the liberties of the people. The (Commons next refumed their cenfure of Buckingham's condudl, againft whom their rcfentment was implacable ; and they openly aflerted, that the levy- ing of tonnage and poundage without ccnfent of parlia- ment was a palpable violation of the liberties of theking- proriga- dom **. All thefe grievances were preparing to be drawn j*''^- up in a remonftrance to his majefty, when the king, hear-
June a5, jpg ^f ti^jgir intentions, came fudd^nly to the parlaimeut^ and ended the feflion by a prorogation "^o
■ Kufiiw. vol. i. p. 613. bRufhw, vol. j, p. 628. Journ,
^^f ao June, i6ig, « Journ. 36 June, j6z8.
Char lei I, 'j'%
Charles, being thus fr-eed, for fome time, from the embarran'ment of this aflembly, began to look towards foreign wars, where all his efforts were equally unfuc- cefsful as in his domeflic government. The earl of Denbigh, brother- in-law to Buckingham, was difpatched to the relief of Rochelle, now clofely befieged by land, and threatened with a blockade by fea ; but he returned without effefting anything; and, from declining to at- tack the enemy's fleet, had incurred the imputation either of cowardice or mifconduft. In order to repair this dif- honour, the duke went to Portfmourh, where he had pre- pared a confiderable fleet and army, on which all the fub- fidies given by parliament had been expended. The lame mutinous fpirit, which prevailed in the houfe of com- inons, had diffufed itfelf over the nation ; and the com- miffioners, appointed for making the alTeffments, had con- nived at all the frauds, which might diminifli thefupply^ and reduce the crown to yet greater necefiities. This na- tional difcontent, communicated to a defperate enthufiaft, foon broke out iri an event which deferves to be men- tioned.
One Felton, a man of good family, but of an ardent, jnelancholic temper, had ferved under the duke in the ftation of lieutenant. His captain being killed in the re- treat at the ifle of Rhe, Felton had applied for the- com- pany ; but being denied hisrequeft, he threw up his com- miffion, and retired in difcontent from the army. Stimu- lated by private revenge, and alfo by national complaints, of which he confidered the duke as ihe caufp, he formed the refolution of alTaffinating Buckingham. Full of this dark defign, he fecretly arrived at Porrfmouth^ at the fame time with the duke, and watched for an opportunity of effe£lir]g his bloody purpoie. Buckingham had been engaged in converfation with one Soubizc, and other French gentlemen ; and a difference of fentiment having arifen, it was attended with thofe violent gefticulations with which perfons of that nation generally enforce theijr weaning. The converfation being finiflied, the duke ■ drew towards the door ; and, while he was fpeaking to one of his colonels, Felton ftruck him over that officer's flioulder in the breaft with his knjfe. The duke had only time to fay, " The villain has killed me," when he fell ^j',^ ^^' at the colonel's feet, and inftantly expired. No one had dered. feen the blow, nor the perfon who gave it ; but in the confufion, it was generally fuppofed that the murder had ^eeri committed by one of the French gentlemen, who
appeared
7^ The Hljlory of England
appeared fo violent in their motions a little berorc. In the hurry of revenge, they had inllantly been put to death, had they not been faved by feme of more temper and judgment, who thought proper to referve rhem for a ju- dicial trial. In the mean time, there was found, near the door, a hat, on the infide of which was fewed a paper, containing four or five lines of that remonftrancc of the commons, which declared Buckingham an enemy to the kingdom ; and under thefe lines was a (hort ejacu- lation, or attempt towards a prayer. It was readily con- cluded that this hat belonged to the afTufTni ; and while they were employed in cotijed\urcs whofe it fliould be, a man without a hat was obfervcJ walking before the door, and was her.rd to exclaim, ** I am he." He even gloried in liis crime ; affirming that the duke was an enemy to his country, and, as fuch, deferving to fuffer. When afkcd, at whofe inftigation he had performed that horrid deed ? He replied, that they needed not trouble themfelves in that inquiry \ th<»t his coafcience was his only prompter ; and that no man whatever could influence him to a£t againft its didlates*. He fuf^ered with the fame degree of conftancy to the laft ; nor were many wanting, who admired not only his fortitude, but the adilon which he had perpetrated.
When the news of this afTaflination reached the king, he received it with an undiflurbed countenance ; which Induced the courtiers who were prefent to conclude, that he was fecretly not difpleafed to be rid of a minifter, fo generally odious to the nation ^ But Charles's apparent apathy proceeded from the natural compofure of his tem- ter ; for during his whole life, he retained an afFe<3:ion to- wards Buckingham's friends, and a prejudice againfl his enemies. The king now began to perceive that the tide of popularity was entirely turned from him, and that the houfe of commons only ferved to increafe the general dif- content. He felt, therefore, a difguit againft parliaments; and he was refolved not to call any more, until he fhould behold greater indications of a complying difpofition in the nation. Having loll his favourite Buckingham, he became more his own minifter, and never afterwards re- pofed fo unlimited a confidence in any other. The mea- iures of government, however, continued the fame; the fame difrcgard to the petitions of the people, the fame de-
* Clarendon, voh i. p. 27, aS. ^ Warwick, p. 34.
Charles I. 75
fire of extending and fupporting the prerogative, the fame temerity, and the fame weaknefs of condelcenfion.
After the diflblution of the parhamenr, the firft fubfe- DiJfolutioH quenc flep of the king, however, was a prudent one. He °{ the par-. made peace with the two crowns, againft whom he had ^^^'"^"^' waged war, which had been entered upon without necef- A.D.1629. fjty, and condiitled without glory. In the treaty with ' ~
Spain, no conditions were made in favour of the palatine, J'^^^ *""'« except that bpam promiled m general to ule its good oi- Spam. fites for his refloration *.
Charles now bent his whole attention to the internal Strafford. policy of the kingdom; a talk in which he admitted two alTociates, but who ftill acled a fubordinate part to hini- felf. Thefe were fir Thomas Wentwortb, afterwards created earl of Strafford; and Laud, afterwards archbifhop of Canterbury. Strafford, by his eminent abilities, me- rited all the confidence which the king repofed in him. His chara(fter was ftately and auftere ; more fitted to pro- cure efteem than love. His fidelity to the king was un- fhaken ; but in ferving the intercfi-S of the crown, he did not confider himfclf as an agent alfo for the benefit of the people. As he now employed all his counfels to fupport the prerogative, which he had formerly endeavoured to diminifh, his conduft is liable to the imputation of felf- incereil and ambition. But his good character in private life compenfated for this feeming duplicity.
In all ecclefiaflical affairs, and even in many civil. Laud, laud, bifi^op London, had great influence over the king. He was fevere, precife, and indultrious. His zeal was un- relenting in the caufe of religion; with which he confi- deied the forms, eftabiiftied in the reign of Elizabeth, as cffentially conne6led. In the profecution of his purpofes, he negleded the rules of moderation and prudence ; but imagining that all his enemies were alfo the enemies of loyalty and true piety, he had the fatisfaftion to think, that every exercife of his refentment was in reality a vir- tue.
Since the times of Elizabeth, a new religious fe£l had been gaining ground in England ; which, from the fup- pofed greater purity of their manners, received the de- nomination of Puritans. Of all feds, this was the moft p^^/^^^j dangerous to monarchy ; the tenets of it being more cal- culated to fupport that imagined equality which obtains ^i) a ftate of nature ; and in the countries where their
? Rulhw. vol. ii,p. 75. Whitlocke, p. 14..
opinions
76 7 he Hijlory of England.
opinions bad taken place, not only a religious but a poli- tical freedom bcg-m to be eltabliilicd. Such was tlic hu- mour of the people, at the time which Laud chofe for the introdudion of new- ceremonies and obfervances •, tiie refemblance of which to the Romilh ritual, was no objec- tion to Laud and his brethren ; who bore a much greater kindncfs to the mother-church, as tlicy called her, than to the fe£laries and prelbyterians. So openly was this preference alferrcd, that not only the puritans believed the cliurch of England to be fall relaplinp into Romifh luperftition, hut the court of Rome itfeif entertained hopes of regaining its authority in this illand ; and, in order to forward Laud's good intentions, an ofl'er was twice made him, in private, of a cardinal's hat, which he declined accepting ^ A.Di^5o. Orders were given, and rigoroufly infilled on, that the — ~— — communion fliould be removed from the middle of the church, where it had flood fincc the Reformation, to the Eaft end; where it ftiould be railed in, and be denomi- nated the Altar. The kneeling at the altar, and the ufing of copes, an embroidered vcflment, in adminillering the facramcnt, were introduced, to the great difcontent of the people, who knew them to be praclifed in popifh countries. Some pictures were again admitted into the churches by his command. All fuch clergymen as neg- lected to obferve every ceremony, were fuipended, and deprived of their benefices, by the court of high com- miffion. And, to mortify the puritans farther, orders were ilTued from the council, forbidding any controverfy, eitb.er from the pulpit or the prefs, on the points of dif- pute between them and their opponents, concerning free- will and predeftination.
In return for Charles's indulgence towards the church. Laud and his followers took care to magnify, on every occafion, the regal authority, and to treat with the ut- moft indignation, all puritanical pretenfions to a free and independent conllitution. The king's divine, hereditary, and indefeafiblc right, wr.s the theme of every fermon ; and thofe who attempted to quelHon fuch doctrines, were cOnfidered as making an attack upon religion itfeif. But while thefe prelates were fo liberal in raifing the crown at the expence of public liberty, themfelves made no fcruple cf encroaching on the moft inconteflible of the royal rights, in order to exalt the hierarchyr All the dodlrines
* RyOiw, vol, ii, p 190. Welwood, p. 61.
o5
Charles. I. ^^
of the Romifli cliurch, which freed the'fpiritual from fub- ordinatlon to the civil power, were now adopted by the church of England, and an apoflolical charter was in- filled upon, in preference to a parliamentary.
The king, who did not forefee the dangerous confe- quences, which might refult from thefe exorbitant preten- fions of the church, and who bad now taken a refolutioii of calling no more parliaments, was very well fatisfied with thofe do£l:rines ; as they tended to facilitate his meafurea of government, and procure thofe pecuniary fupplies v%'hich he had no legal means of obtaining. While Laud, there- fore, ruled the church, during the long fufpenfion of par- liaments,the king and Strafford undertook the management of the temporal interefts of the nation. A proclamation a proda- was iffued, in which Charles declared, " Tliat, whereas, mation. for feveral ill ends, the calling again of parliament is di- vulged •, though his maielly has (hewn, by frequent meet- ings with his people, his love to the ufe of parliaments ; yet the late iibufe having, for the prefent, driven him un- willingly out of that courfe, he will account it prefump- tion for any one to prefcribe to him any time for the call- ing of that alTembly^." This was generally conftrued as a declaration, that, during this reign, no more parliaments were intended to be fummoned"; and every raeafure of the king's confirmed the fufpicion of that defign.
Tonnage and poundage continued to be levied by the irrf.oulm- royal authority alone. The former additional impontions le-vies of were exacted ; and even new impofitions were laid on fe- 'ws'^o- veral kinds of merchandize*^. The cuftom-houfe officers received orders from the council to enter any houfe, warehoufe, or cellar ; to fearch any trunk or cheft; and to break any bulk whatever, in default of the pay- ment of cuftoms''. To cxercife the militia, and keep them in order, each county, by an edift of the council, was aifeffed in a certain fum, for maintaining a murter- mafter, appointed for that fervice ^. Compofitions were openly made with recufants ; a commiilion was granted for compounding with fuch as were poffefled of crown- lands upon defective titles ; and, on this pretence, fome money was exacted from the people ^ The courts of Star- chamber and high commiffion exercifed their powers, in-
a Pari. Hid., vol. viii. p. i%<). Riifliw. vol. ii. p. 3. b Cla- rendon, voi.i.. p 4. May, p. 14. ^Rufiiw. vol. ii. p. 8. May, p. 16. 1 Rulhiv. vd. ii.p. g. « H^jd. jq. f Rufliw. Voi. ii, p. 49.
dependent!/
78 ^he Hijtory of England.
Se'verities dependency of any law, upon feme bold Innovators ill of the Star- liberty, who only gloried in their fufFerings, and contri* ' ^v^A^I buted to render government odious and contemptible. Sif
and htaft T^-1-r.i- r , c t ri i ir
commijfion. -LJavid I'oulis was lined hve thouland pounds, merely for diffuading a friend from compounding with the commif- fioners, who called upon him to take up, under a penalty, the title of knighthood. Prynne, a barrifter of Lincoln's Inn, had written a quarto of a thoufand pages, which •was entitled Hiftriomaftix, or a Scourge for the Stage. A.D 1633. In this performance, befide much paltry declamation " againft the ftage, he look occafion to blame the ceremo-
nies and late innovations of the church. For this offence, aggravated by the obftinacy and petulance of his behaviour before the Star-chamber, he was condemned to be de- graded from the bar-, to ftand in the pillory, in two places, Weflminfter and Cheapfidc ; to lofe his ears, one at each place, to pay f}ve thoufand pounds to the king, and to be impiifoned during life. This fentercc, no lefs cruel than A.D.1637. unjuft, was rigoroufly executed. Burton, a divine, and ■ ■ Baftwick, a phyfician, were tried in the Star-chamber for
feditious and fchifmatical libels, and were condemned to the fame punifhmen: that had been infli£tcd on Prynne. Prynne was tried for a new offence ; and, befides another fine of five thoufand pounds, was condemned to lofe what remained of his ears. The anfwers which thefe bold demagogues gave into court, were fo full of contumacy and inveclive, that no lawyer could be prevailed with to fign thsm. The rigors, however, which they underwent, being fo unworthy men of their profefTion, gave general offence ; and the patience, or rather alacrity, with which they fuffered, increafed Itill farther the indignation of the public^ Emigra- The puritans, reRrained in England, fhipped themfelves
iion to off for America, where they laid the foundations of a new Amtrica. government, agreeable to their fyftem of political free- dom. But the court, unwilling that the nation fhould be deprived of its ufeful members, or dreading the unpopu- larity of thefe migrations, ifTued a proclamation againfl thern. Eight fnips, lying in the Thames, and ready to fail, were detamed by order of council \ and in thefe were embarked fir Arthur Hazlerig, JchnHambden, and Oliver Cromwell, who had refolved for ever to abandon their native country.
f State Trials, vol. v. p. 80.
Amidft
Charles L ^9
Amldfl tlie numerous arbitrary impofitlons, wliich oc- curred during this long intermiflion of parliaments, one of the moft obnoxious was (hip-money ; which, being a ge- neral burden, was univerfally complained of. This tax had, informer reigns, been levied without the confent of parliament; but then the exigency of the ftate demanded fuch a fupply. As the necelhty at prefent was not fo great, and fuch a recourfe might, therefore, excite mur- murs among the people ; a queltion was propofed by the king to the judges, *' Whether, in a cafe of ncceflity, for the defence of the kingdom, he might not impofe this taxation? and whether he were not fole judge of the ne- ceffity ?" To which the judges replied, with great com- plaifance, *' That in a cafe of necefTity he might impofe that taxation ; and that he was fole judge of the necef- fityS." Notwithftanding this authority in favour of the king's prerogative, John Hambden, a gentleman of for- Trial of tune in Buckinghamfhire, refufed to comply with the tax, tlamLJtm. and refolved to bring it to a legal determination. He had been rated at twenty fhillings, for his eftate ; and this he refufed to pay. The cafe was argued during twelve day?, in the exchequer-chamber, before all the judges of Eng- land ; and the nation regarded with the UEmoft anxiety, every circumftance of this celebrated trial. But after the former opinion of the judges on this fubje£l, the event might have been eafily foiefeen. All the judges, four only excepted, gave fentence in favour of the crown ; while Hambden, who loll his caufe, was more than fuf- ficiently recompenced by the applaufes of the people. Nothing now was heard in every company but murmurs againft government, and encomiums on him who had withftood its ufurpations. It was now affirmed that ty- ranny was confolidated into a fyltem, againlt which the laws of the kingdom were become entirely incffcQual. Parliaments having been fo long difcontinued, there ap- peared no profpeft of obtaining any conftitutlonal redrcfs of public grievances ; and the people impatiently v.'ilhed for fome incident, hovi'ever calamitous, that might fecure; them from thofe oppreffions, which they felt, or the greater ills, which they apprehended, from the combina- nation of ecclefiaftical tyranny and political injuftice. In this univerfal flate of anxiety, or clamour, an accident gave the people of England an opportunity of vindicating iheir ancient privileges, and even carrying public freedon-i
8 Rufhw. vol. ii, p. 355. Whitelocke, p. 24.
to
2o The Hiflory of England,
to a degree, xvhich had never been known to their afi* ceftors. Difcontents During the reign of the late king, the Scots had dlf- in Scot' played a (Irong attachment to puritanical principles ; and land, though they continued to allow of bifliops, thofe digni-
taries were reduced to poverty, and treated with contempt. James had perceived this decline of epifcopacy, and had endeavoured to revive it; but in the midft of thofe ef- forts, he died. It was the fate of Charles for ever to aim at projedls which v/ere at once impra£llcable and unneceffaryi what his father, therefore, had begun, he refolved to complete. This ill-judged attempt ferved to alienate the affedlions of his Scottifh fubjects, as much as his encroachments on liberty had rendered him unpopular in England.
The king's great aim was to eflablifli difcipline upon a regular f){tem of canons, and to introduce a liturgy into public worfhip. The liturgy, which Charles, from his own authority, endeavoured to impofe on Scotland, was copied from that of England : but left a fervile imitation might fliock the pride of his ancient kingdom, a few al- terations, in order to fave appearances, were made in it ; and in that fnape it was tranfmitted to the bifliops at Edinburgh ''. The flame of fcdition immediately blazed in the capital, and paiTed from city to city, while the pu- TfieCove- ritans formed a Covenant, to fupport and defend their Tiaiit. opinions; and refolved to cftablifh their dodrines, or
overturn the ftate. On the other hand, the court was de- termined to eftablifl) the liturgy of the church of England j and both fides being obftinate in their prejudices, the mod violent animofities enfued. Cimmcii' An order being publiilied for reading the liturgy in the TJJ"^'"^' pri"c*'p^^ church in Edinburgh, the people received it with clamours and imprecations. The court-party, in- deed, with great juftice, blamed their obftinacy, as the innovations were only trifling ; but the people might have retorted with greater force the folly of thus earneftiy at- tempting the eftablifhmenc of trifles. The feditious dif- pofition, which had hitherto been kept within bounds, was now too furious for reftraint, and the infarrectioni became general over the kingdom.
Charles, however, could not think of defifting from the profecution of his defign ; and fo prepofl'efied was he in favour of royal prerogative, that he imagined the very
* Kirig's Decl. p, i3. May. p. 31.
name
iand.
Charles I. 8l
h?mt of king, when forcibly urged, would inda'ce fl^ietrt to return to their duty. But finding that they had taken arms, and infiRed on difplacing the bifliops, he fummon- ed fuch of the nobility of England as held lands of the crown, to furnifh him with a proper number of forces^ to oppofe the infurgents. To add to chefe fupplies, he de- manded a voluntary contribution from the clergy, as he was, in reality, fighting their caufe ; rtnd by means of his queen, a numlaer of the catholics was alfo prefled for their afliftance. By thefe methods, he foon found himfclf at ^, , the head of an undifciplined andreludHnt army, amount- /^^
r«c
'fs an
ing to about twenty thoufand men, and commanded by army generals lefsdifpofed to fight than to negociatc. His fu- agamfitlie periority in numbers, however, gave him a manifell ad- ^"'^^• vantage over his rebellious fubjecfts ; though thefe were not flow in marching to give him battle. But Charles, un- a treaty willing to come to extremities, inftead of fighting his "f peace opponents, entered upon a treaty with them. The two '^^'•^■f^« parties, having agreed to a fufpenfion of arms, and after- ^^j'c^g,,, wards concluded a peace, which neither fide intended to obferve, they mutually confented to difband their forces; This ftep was a fatal meafure to Charles, as he could not levy a new army without great labour andexpence ; while the Scottifli infurgents, who were all volunteers in the fer- vice, could be aflembled again at pleafure. At length, after much altercation, and many treaties fignedand broken, both parties formed the refolution of once more having recourfe to arms.
The king, with great difficulty j found means to draw ''^-I-'-'o4o. together an army-, and in order to fupport the war, he ' put in pra£lice the former methods of raifing money. But Foin-th iill thofc expedients proving infufficientj their remained parliamenti no alternative but that of endeavouring to procure a fup- ply from parliament, which had not now been aflembled for upwards of eleven years. The many illegal and im- prudent fteps of the crown, the multiplied difgufts given to the puritanical party, the hardfliips which leveral per- fons had fuffered, and their conftancy in undergoing pu- nifhment, had as much alienated the afl-eclions of the king's Englilh as of his Scottilh lubjcfis. Inftead of fup- plies, therefore, the king was harrafied with murmurs and complaints. The houfe of cornmons entered immedi- ately upon grievances ; which they clafled under three heads ; thefe with regard to privileges of parliament, to
VoL.IL W^Gwv^- the
S2 Th€ Hfcry cf EMgland.
of the fubjc€t, ar ■* ' ^ '^ligioo ^ TIic kin^ fcang fo large a fidd opened, , . them again for fap-
fij ; and finding his meSzge iDcffctiaal, he came to tbe nottic of peers, and de£rcd their good offices with the cooiinoos. The peers vere ficnfibk of the king's urgent necefitics; andihoogbt, that fupplr, on this occafion, ought, both in rfcaibn and in decency, to go before grier- ances. They yentnred to re : their fenlc of the
matser to the coawioni ; but uiczx interpofiiion gave of- fence. The conaMMis had alvays claiined, as their pe- cnliar proriBce, the granting of fopplics ; and though the peers had here gone no farther than offering advice, the lower hoftfe thooght proper to rote inch behaviour a breach of pririkge '. C*- - ''•« (bUicited the boufe by newr aefi^cf ; and finding, .ip-moncy gatre great alarm,
bcfides inforaung them, that the money levied had beei> rer , with other brgv ' . expended on cq
the I.*- J ; he now went i- ;-. ^ to offer them * i >al abofitioB of that ofaocnioos claim, hr anjr law, which the conmoos fiiovU think proper to prcfeot to hint. In re- turn, he onlf afted a fupplr ot twelTc fubHdies, about fix hundred thoaiand ponnds, and that payabte in three years ; but, at the lanie nme, be let them know, that, con6dering the fitnation of his affairs,, a delaj would be eqpuralert to a denial '. The king, though the majority was againft him, oerer had more friends in any honl'e of oocrrtnoru ; -; - ^ *T>e debate wras carried on for two days, with grrz: v . on both fides. The ill hamour of the
king's opponents was increafed by fr Henry Vane, th« fecT::.uy, who told the commons, without any authority from his mafler, that nothing kfs than twelve fubGdies U he accepted a« a compenfcuion for the abohtion of Thb auertion, proceeding from the indif- crctioo, if we ought not rather to c2.II it the treachery, of Vane, di^ylcaicd the hoofe, by (hewing in the king a ftiffnels, which, in a claim fo ill grounded, was deemed iorxcufaUe ".
The king was now in great perplexity. Inftead of hop- ing that any fnpply wonid be granted him. to carry on war againft the Scots, whom the majority of the houfe re- garded as CT-cry way their heft friends; he expected that they would ^nkat him an addrefs for making peace with thofe
iRaAw- *•!. fiL p. 114.7. * C1are«dMi, vol. L p. 134.
I Cl»rcm4om, voi. i. p. 135. Rcfliv. voLiiL p. 11 54. • Cta-
», voLLp-ijS- rebels. I
'Charles /. 82
fel)eis. And If the houfe met again, a vote, lie was in- formed, would certainly pafs, to blafthis revenue of fliip- nioney, and thereby renew all the oppofition, which, with fo much difficulty, he had furmounted in levying that tax- ation, in this embarraflmeiit, Charles baftily formed and t>iffolu*ion executed the refolution of difTblving this parliament ; a cfthepar- meafure, however, of which he foon after repented, and liammi. which the fubfequent events, more than any fatisfailory reafon, inclined every one to condemn.
Notwithftanding the general difcontent, excited by this abrupt diflblution, the king perfevered in thofe counfels, which, from experience, he might have been fenfiblc, were fo dangerous and unpopular, Bellafis and fir John Hotham were fummoned before the council ; and refufing to give any account of their condufl in parliament, were committed to prifon. All the petitions and complaints, Arbitrary wliich had been fent to the committee of religion, were ^ondua of demanded from Crew, chairman of the committee ; and '^ ^^''" ' on his refufal to deliver them, he was fent to the Tower. The clofets and even the pockets of the earl of Warwick and lord Broke, before the expiration of privilege, were fearched, in expe6\ation of finding treafonablc papers. Thefe a£ts of authority were interpreted to be invafions on the right of national affemblies ". But the king, after the firll provocation wliich he met with, never fufficiently refpefted the privileges of parliament; and, by his ex- ample, he farther confirmed their refolution, 'when they fhould acquire power, to pay like difregard to the prero- gatives of the crown.
The king, difappointed of parliamentary fubfidies, was obliged to have recourfe to other expedients, in order to fupply his urgent necefhties. Some attempts were made towards forcing a loan from the citizens -, but flill repelled by the fpirit of liberty, which was now become uncon- querable". A loan of forty thoufand pounds u-as extorted Parlous from the Spanifh merchants, who had bullion in the '"eihocts of Tower, expofed to the attempts of the king. Coat and ''^'^''5 and condu£l money for the foldiers was levied on the ^^^'^'■^' counties ; an ancient pra6lice, but fuppofed to be abo- lifhed by the petition of right. All the pepper was bought from the Kafl India Company upon trull, and fold at a great difcount for ready money. A fcheme was pro- pofed for coining two or three hundred thoufind pounds
" Rufiiw, vol, iii. p. 1176. May, p. 6r. " Ruflivv. vol.
)ii. p. iiSi-
G 2 of
The Scots h an
marc
army to Newcaflle.
The king rar/es an armj.
84 . , . 57y Uipry of England,
of bafe money : and yet all thefe methods were infufHcIenf for neceffary fupplies. The Scots, therefore, fenfible of the extremities to which the king was reduced, marched an army of twenty thoufand men to the Englifli borders, to lay their grievances before their fovereign, as they were pleafed to term their rebellion. One of the moft difguft- ing ftrokes in the puritanical chara<£l:er of the times, was this gentle language and humble cant, in the midfl of treafon -, with their flattery to their prince, while they were attempting to dethrone and dcllroy him.
The king, by the expedients which he had ufed, was enabled, though with great difficulty, to raife an army of nineteen thoufand foot and two thoufand horfe p. The earl of Northumberland was appointed genera! ; the earl of Strafford, who was called over from Ireland, lieute- nant-general ; and lord Conway, general of the horfe. A fmall fleet w^s thought fuificient to ferve the purpofcs of this expedition.
At Newburn upon Tyne, the Scots were oppofed by a detachment of four thoufand five hundred men under Conway, who feemed refolute to difpute with them the palTage of the river. The Scots firlt entreated them, with great civility, not to flop them in their march to their gra- cious fovereign ; and then attacked them with great bravery, killed feveral, and chafed the rell from the field. The whole Englifh army was feized with fuch a panic, that the forces at Newcaftle fled immediately to Durham; where dill not thinking themfelves fafe, they deferted that town, and retreated into Yorkfhire q.
The Scots took poflelfion of Newcaflle ; but, in order to maintain the appearance of an amicable difpofition to- wards England, they preferved exact difcipline, and re- gularly paid for every thing. To the king, who was ar- rived at York, they alfo dilpatched meflengers, redoubling their exprefiions of loyalty, duty, and fubmilTion to his perfon ; and even making apologies, full of contrition, for their late vidtory *■. Treaty of The king being now in a very diftrefTed condition, in Ripport' order to prevent the advance of the Scots upon him, he agreed to a treaty, named fixteen Englifh noblemen, who met with eleven Scottifh commiffioners at Rippon. An addrefs arrived from the city of London, petitioning for a parliament. Twelve noblemen prefented a petition to
A. D. 1640. » »
Aug. »8. Rnut at
p Rufliw. vol. iii. p. 1*79. » Rulhvv. Vol. iii. p. 1255.
^ Clarendon, vol. i. p. 143*
the
' Charles L 85
*ViC fame purpoie. But the king contented himfelf with fummoning a great council of the peers at Yorli ; a niea- fure, which had formerly been taken in cafes of fnddcii emergency, but which, at prefcnt, could fervc to little purpofe.
By Northumberland's ficknefstlie command of the army had devolved on Strafford. This nobleman, who poffciT- ed more vigour of mind than the king or any of the coun- cil, advifed Charles rather to put all to hazard, than fub- mit to fuch unworthy terms as were likely to be impofed upon him. His opinion was, that the king fliould pufli forward, attack the Scots, and bring the affair to a quick decifion. To (hew how eafy it would be to execute this projeQ:, he ordered an affault to be made on feme quar- ters of the Scots, and he gained an advantage over them. No ceffation of arms had, as yet, been agreed to, during the treaty of Rippon ; yet great clamour prevailed, on account of this aft of hoftility. And when it was known .that the officer, who conduced the attack, was a papiil, a violent outcry was raifed againft the king, for employing that hated feft, in the murder of his proteftant fubjeds^
At laft, Charles, in defpair of being able to (lem the torrent, determined to yield to it : and as he forefaw, that the great council of the peers would advife him to call a parliament, he told them, in his firft fpeech, that he had already taken this refolution. He informed them likcwife, that the queen, in a letter which flie had written to him, had very earneftly recommended that meafure. This good prince, who was extremely attached to his confort, and who paffionately wifhed to render her popular in the nation, forgot not, amidfl all his diUrefs, the interefts of liis dor meflic tendernefs^
To fubfilt both armies (for the king, that he might fave the northern counties, was obliged to pay his ene- mies) Charles wrote to the city, defiring a loan of two hundred thoufand pounds; and the peers at York, whofe ;iuthority was now much greater than that of their fove- reign, joined in the requeft ".
As many difficulties occurred in the negociation with the Scots, it was propofed to transfer the treaty from Rippon to London ; a propofal willingly embraced by the people of that nation, who were fure of treating with ad- vantage in a place, where the king, they forefaw, would
• Clarendon, vol. 3. p. 159. ' Clsrendon, vol. i. p. 154..
Ruihw. vol, iii. p. 1275- "Kufhw. vol. iii. p. 1279.
P 3 be,
86 rie Jiiftcry of En^latfl
be, in a manner, a prifoner, in the mldft of his Impla cable' enennies, and their determined friends*. Meetinq of The caufes of difcjuft, which, for above thirty years, the lon^- ^jjjj daily been multiplying in England, were now come Nov. 9. ' *^ ^"" "maturity, and threatened the kingdom with fome great revolution or convulfion. In this fituaiion of pub- lic affairs, the king aflVmbled that long parliament, which never difcontinued fitting until they accompliflied his ruin. The houfecf commons, from its firft mftitution, was never oblerved to be fo numerous, or the affiduity of its mem- bers greater. Without any interval, therefore, they en- tered upon bufincfs, and by unanimous confent they im- me^liattly ilruck a blow, which might be regarded as de- Jmbeach- cifive. Inflead of granting the demanded fiibfidies, they rneniaf the impeached the earl of Strafford, the king's firft minifter, tarl of and had him arraigned before the houfe of peers for high Stra^fford. xx^i{o\^ Pym, a tedious, but fenfible fpeaker, who had " °^' '*■ opened the accufation againft him in the houfe of com- mons, wasfent cp to defend it at the bar of tlie houfe of peers ; and mod of the houfe accompanied their member on fo agreeable an errand.
To bellow ;hc greater folemt\ity on this important trial, fcaftolds were ere6led in Weftminfter-hali, wliere both houfes far, one as judges, the other as accufers. Befide the chair of (late, a clofe gallery was prepared for the king and queen, who attended during the whole triaU The articles of impeachment againfl liim amounted to twenty-eight ; the fubftnnce of which was, that he had attempted to extend the king's authority at home, and had been guilty of feveral exa^Hons in Ireland. But though four months had been employed by the managers in framing the accufation, yet there appears very little caufe of jufl: blame againfl: Strafford, fince the unwarrant- able exertions of the royal prerogative were made before he came into authority. The members who condu£led the impeachment, however, argued with great vehemence, and infifte', that, though each article taken feparately did not amount to a proof, yet the whole taken together might be fairly admitted to carry convi£tion. The earl defend- ed his caufe with all the judgment, and prefence of mind, that could be expected from innocence and ability. His children were placed befide liim, while he was thus de- fending liis life, and rhe caufe of his royal mafler. After i.e hid, in a long and eloquent fpeech, delivered without
*Ru(hw. vol. iij. p. 1373.
premeditation
Charles /« t"]
premedltntion, confuted all the accufatlons of his enemies ; after he had Ihown, that, during his government in Ire- land, he had introduced the arts of peace among the favage part of that people ; after he had proved, that, though his meafures in England, fince his coming over, were harfh, he was unwillingly driven into them from neceffity ; and after he had clearly refuted the argument upon the accumulated force of his guilt, he thus drew to a conclufion. " But, my lords, I have troubled you too long ; longer than I fliould have done, but for the fake of thefe dear pledges, which a faint in heaven has left me." Upon this he paufed, dropped a tear, looked upon his children, and proceeded. *' What I forfeit for myfelf is a trifle; that my indifcretions fhouM reach my poftetity, wounds me to the heart- Pardon my infirmity — fome- rhing I fliould have added, but am not able, therefore let it pafs. And now, my lords, for myfelf. I have long been taught that the affliftions of this life are over- paid by that eternal weight of glory which awaits the innocent ; and fo, my lords, even fo, with the utmoft tranquillity, 1 fubmit myfelf to your judgment, whether that judgment be life or death : not my will, but thine, O God, be done !" His eloquence and innocence induced, thofe judges to pity, who were the moft zealous to con- demn him. 1'he king himfelf went to the houfe of lords, and fpoke for fome tim^ in his defence ; but the fpirit of vengeance was now rouzed, and his blood alone could give the people fatisfaftion. He was found guilty by both houfes of parliament \ and nothing remained but for the king to give his confent to the bill of attainder. In the prelent commotions, the confent of the king would very cafily be difpenfed with ; and imminent dangers might attend his refufal. Yet ftill Charles, who loved Strafford tenderly, hefitated, and tried every expedient to put off fo dreadful a duty, as that of figning the warrant for his execution. While he continued in this agitation of mind, not knowing how to acl, his perplexity was at lall removed by an a<fl: of heroic bravery in the condemned lord. lie received a letter from that unfortunate nobleman, defiring that his life might be made the facrifice of a mutual re- conciliation between the king and his people. This in- llanceof noble generofity was but ill repaid by his mafter, who complied with his reo^ueft. He confented to the figning the fatal bill by commiiTion. An interval only of three days was allowed the prifoner, to prepare for his doom. The king, who made a new effort in Ins behalf, *^.!d fent, by the hands of the young prince, a letter ad- ^^' G 4 . drcllcd
S3 7he Hljlory of E^igland.
dreiTed to the peers, in which he Intreated them to confcif wiih the commons about the mitijiation of Stratford's itn- tence, and begged at leaft for fome delay, was denied in A.D 164T. both requefts y. Strafford was, therefore, beheaded on 7 : Tower-hill, behaving with all that compofcrd diunity which ofStrfffford. ^^^^ expected trom his character. 1 he nrlt parliament after the Refloration reverfed the bill of attainder; and ^ven a few weeks after Stratford's execution, this very parliament remitted to his children the more fevere confe- quences of hisfentence; as if confcious of the violence with which the profecution had been conducted- taud im- But the commons did not Hop their impeachments here. peachsd. Jjaud was marked out as an object of their rcfcntment, as well by their prejudices againft his whole order, as by the extreme antipathy which his intemperate zeal had drawn upon him. After a deliberation which fcarcely lafted half an hour, an impeachment of high treafon was voted Lordheep- againfb him, and he was committed to cuftody. Finch, 'doakcre- ^ lord-keeper, was alfo impeached ; but be had the pre- tarylVynde- caution to make his efcape, and fly over into Holland \ bank, as did fir Francis Wyndebank, the fecretary, into France,
The crown being thus deprived of the fcrvices of its niinillers, the commons next proceeded to attack the few remaining privileges which it pofleflcd. During the late military operations, feveral powers had been exerted by the lieutenants, and deputy-lieutenants of counties, who were all under the influence of the crown. Thpfe were, / therefore, voted delinquents ; a term now firft ufed to
, fignify tranfgrefibrs, whofe crimes were not as yet afcer-
tained by law. The Iherifts alfo, who had obeyed the king's mandate in raifing fliip-money, were voted to be delinquents. All the farmers and officers of the cuftoms, who had been employed during fo many years in levying tonnage and poundage, were fubjeded to the fame impu- tation, and only purchafed their fafety by paying a hun- dred and fifty thoufand pounds. Every difcretionary or arbitrary fentence of the Star-chamber, and High-com- \ rnifTion courts, underwent a fevere fcrutiny ; and allthofe
^ who had arjy hand in fuch fe^tences were voted to be li-
able to the penalties of law. The judges, who had de- clared againft Hambden in the trial of fhip-money, were accufcd before the lords, and obliged to find fecurity for their appearance. All thofe monopolies which had lately jjeen granted by the crown, were annihilated by the ordef
'' Rulh, vol. v. p. 265,
.V
Charles I,
fef ^iie commons*, who carried their deteftatlon of that grievance (o far, as to expel from their houfe all fucl> inembers as had been monopolifts or projec);ors.
The whole fovereign power being thus in a manner transferred to the commons, the popular leaders feemed willing for fome time to fufpend their active vigour, and to confolidate their auihority, before they proceeded to any violent exercife of it.
Hitherto the commons were in fome meafure the pa- trons of public freedom -, and had they proceeded no farther in the reduction of the royal prerogative, they might have been confidered as great benef.idl:ors to their country. But they were either willing to revenge their former fufferings, or thought that fome fignal examples were necefTary to deter others from acts of arbitrary power ; and not fulhciently attentive to prevent the horrors of civjl war, they precipitately involved the nation in fucji cala- mities as it never before had experienced.
The ferment, begun in the parliament, at length per- vaded the whole kingdom. 1 he harangues of the mem- bers, now nrft publiihed and difperfed, kept alive the difcontents againll the late adminiftration. The pulpits, delivered over to the puritanical preachers, whom the com- mons arbitrarily placed in all the confiderable churches, refounded with faction and fanaticifm. The prefs, freed from all fear or referve, fwarmed with productions, daji- perous by their feditious zeal and calumny more than by their eloquence or ftyle.
In this univerfal uproar againft the crown, Prynne, Bur- ton, and Baft wick, who had fome years before fufFered {o feverely for their licentious abufes, and had been com- mitted to remote prifons, were fet at liberty by order of the commons, and made their triumphant entry into the capital. Ballvvick had been confined in Scilly, Burton in Jerfey, and Prynne in Guernfey, and upon landing at their refpective places, they were received by the accla- mations of the people, and attended by crouds to London. Boughs were carried in this tumultuous proceflion ; the roads were flrowed with flowers ; and amidfl the exulta- tions of joy, were intermingled the moft virulent invec- tives againft thofe who had fo cruelly perfecuted fpcligod* ]y perfons.
Many grievances had doubtlefs been felt during tlie laft intermilhon of parliament j but the very complaints againft them became now one of the greateft grievances, po many were offere4 within doors, and by petitions from s&ithoui, that the houfe was divided into above forty comr
jniueesj
9^ 1'he Uijlory of England,
mlttes, charged, each of them, with the examination of its refpe£livc complaints.
From the reports of the committees, the houfe daily pafled votes, which no lefs mortified and aflonifhed the 'court than theyenflnmcd and animated the nation. Ship- money was declared illegal and arbitrary ; the fen fence againit Hambden cancelled ; the court of York aboliflied ; compofitions for knighthood fligniatized ; the enlarge- ment of the forefls condemned \ patents lor monopolies annulled ; and every late meafurc of adminillration treated with reproach and obloquy. Every diftretionury act of council was reprefcnted as arbitrary and tyrannical ; and the general inference was dill inculcated, that a defign had been iormed to fubvtri the laws and conftitution of the kingdom.
The king, from nccefTity, remained paffive during all thcfe violent oj-vcrations. The few fervants, wiio conti- nued faithful to him, were feized with aftonilhment at the rapid progrcfs made by the commons in power and popularity, and were glad, by their inactive and inoftcn- Tive behaviour, to compound for impunity. The torrent r'x^xw^ to fo dreadful and imcxpeded a height, defpair feized all ihofc, who, from intereft or habit, were mofl attached to monarchy ; while the king himfelf faw with amazement the whole fabric of government overturned.
But in this univcrfal rage for abolilhing the former con- flitution, the parliament fell with great juftice on two courts, which had been cretftcd under arbitrary kings, and had feldom been employed but in cafes of neccfTity. Thefc were the High-commillion court, and the court of Star- chamber. A bill unanimoufly paffed the houfe to abolifli both i and in them to annihilate^ the moft dangerous prero- gatives of the crown.
After thofe tranfaclions, the parliament fcemingly ad- journed ; but a committee of both houfes, a thing alto- gether unprecedented, was appointed to fit during the recefs, with very ample powers, little iefs than thofe of the parliament in the plenitude of its authority. Pym was appointed chairman of the lower houfe ; in which farther attempts were made for aHuming the executive power, and publifliing the ordinances of this committee as ftatutes enacted by all the branches of the legiflarure. IMeantime, the king went to pay a vifit to his fubjecls in Scotland.
During thefe commotions, the papifls of Irebnd f-incied they found a convenient opportunity of throwing off the
Englilh
Charles I. 91
Unglifii yoke. There was a gentleman named Roger ConfMrae? More, who, though of a narrow fortune, was defcendcd in Ireland. from a very ancient family, and was much celebrated among his countrymen for his valour and capacity. This nian firft formed the project of expelling the Engli{h,and afferting the independence of his native country ^. He fecretly went from chieftain to chieftain, and rouzed up every latent principle of difcontent. He m.aintained a clofe correfpondeiice with lordMaguire and firPhelimO'Neale, the mod powerful of the old Irifii. He reprefented to all that the occaHon was favourable ; the Englifh warmly en- gaged in domeflic animofity, were unable to attend to a diflant infurre£lion ; and thofe of that nation, who re- Cded among them, were too feeble to refill.
By thefe confiderations. More engaged all tbe heads of the native Irifh into the confpiracy. The Englifh of the Pale, as they were called, or the old Englifh planters, be- ing ail Catholics, it was hoped, would foon afterwards join the party, which rellored their religion to its ancient fplendor. The intention was, that fir Phelim O'Ncale, and the other confpirators, fhould all begin an infurrec- tion on one day throughout the provinces, and deflroy all the Englifh ; while lord Maguire, and Roger More, Ihould furprifc the caftle of Dublin. The time fixed for this revolt was the approach of winter ; that there might be more difficulty in transporting forces from England j and before the commencement of the infurretlion, they expected fuccours and fupplies of arms from France. The earl of Leicefler, who had been appointed lord lieutenant, was then in London. Sir William Parfons, and fir John Borlace, the two lords juflices, were men of (lender abi- 'lities ; and they indulged themfelves in the mofl profound repofc, on the very brink of deflru<Slion.
The day before the intended feizure of the caftle of Dublin, the plot was difcovered by one O'ConnolIy, an Irifhman, but a Proteflant, to the juftices, who fled im- mediately to the caflle, and ordered the proteftant inha- bitants of the city to prepare for their defence. Maguire was taken, but More efcaped ; and difcoveries continually increafing, the meditated proje£l received frefh confirma- tion every hour.
But though the citizens of Dublin had jufl time enough Irilh infu*--. Xo elude the danger, the Proteflants difperfed over the '■^'^"'^ ^'^'^ fpantry were taken unprepared. O'Neale and his confe- ^"^Ij''^''''
z I^alfun^ vol, ii. p. 543.
derates
92. The Hiflory of England.
derates had already taken arms in Ulfler. The Irlfh, every where intermingltd with the EngUQi, needed but a hint from their leaders and priells to begin the dellruc- tion of a people whom they hated on account of their re- ligion, and envied for their riches and profperity^. 'Ihe confpirators commenced their operations with feizing the houfes, cattle, and goods of the Englifli. Tliofe, who were alarmed by the commotions in their neighbouihood, jnflcad of deferting their habitations, and alTembling for mutual protection, remained at home, in hopes of defend- ing their property; and thus fell feparately into the hands of their enemies ''. To rapacioufnefs fucceeded cruelty, the mofh barbarous that occurs in the annals of humaii kind. A univerfal maflacre enfued of the Englifh, un- prepared for defence, and therefore pafiively refigiied to their inhuman foes. No age, no fex, no condition was fpared. In vain did flight fave from the firll afl"au!t: der itruclion was every where let loofe, and met the hunted victims at every turn. In vain was recourfe had to rela- tions, to companions, to former friends ; all connedlions weie dilTolved, and death was dealt by that hand, from v.'hich protection was implored and expected. The moft wanton cruelties were inflicted on thofe innocent fufl?*er-r ers. Tlie very avarice of the revolters could not reftrain their third of blood ; and they burned the inhabitants in their own houfes, to increafc their punifhment. Several hundreds were driven upon a bridge ; and forced by thefe barbarians to leap thence into the water, where they were drowned. The weaker fex emulated their more robufl companions in the practice of every cruelty •= ; and even children were prompted to eflay their feeble blows on the carcafles, or defencelefs children of the Englifh. Amidft all thefe enormities, the facred name of religion refounded on every fide ; and the bigotted aflaffins, with joy and ex- ultation, fbill echoed in the ears of the expiring victims, tliat thefe agonies were but the commencement of tor- ments, infinite and eternal. The Englifli colonies were totally annihilated in the open country of Ulfter ; but in the other provinces, the rebels pretended to act with greater humanity. In thefe the Proteftants were driven from their houfes, to meet the feverity of the weather, without food or raiment. The roads were covered witl^
2 Temple, p. 39, 40. 79. b Idem, p. 41. c Tem-
dle, p. 96. loi. Rufti. vol, V. p, ^15, d Temple, p. 94..
f07, 108, Rufli, yolf Vf p. f07.
(prowds
Charles J. pa
crowds of naked Engliih, haRening towards Dublin and the other cities, which yet remained in the hands of their countrymen. Many futiered by hunger, and many by the cold, which happened at that time to be particularly fe- vere. By fome computations, thofe who periflied by all thefe cruelties, are fuppofedto be a hundred and lifty, or two hundred thoufand ; but by the mod moderate account, they are made to amount to forty thoufand.
Meanwhile, the Englifh of the Pale, confiding of the old Englifh Catholics, joining with the native Irifli, an army was formed, amounting to above twenty thoufand men, which threatened a total extermination of the Englifli power in that ifland.
The king was in Scotland, when he received the firfl: If'-'^nt;
accounts of this rebellion ; and he immediately commu- 'i^^"!"t , ....... 10 •/! 1- r, Scots to fei.d
nicated his intelligence to the ocottilh parliament, liut juuours
though he did all in his power to Induce his fubjecls there into he.
to lend alfiftance to the Proteftant caufe, he found them iand-y lut
totally averfe to fending any fuccours into Ireland. Their '" '^'^'**
defign was to fupply the Englifli parliament with what
fuccours they could fpare, and not to obey the Injundlions
of their fovereign ; to whofe contrivance they even had
the aflurance to impure a part of thefe dreadful maflacres. ~
In fatl, the Iri(h rebels did not fail to (how a royal patent,
authorifing their attempts ; and, it is faid, that fir Phelini
O'Neale, having found a royal patent in the houfe of lord
Caulfield, whom he had murdered, he tore off the feal,
and affixed it to a commiflion which he had forged for
himfelf.
The king now found himfelf obliged to have recourfe
to the Englifh parliament, on the affiflance of which alone
he could depend for fupply. After communicating to
them the intelligence he had received, he informed thcni,
that the Infurredlion was not, in his opinion, the refult of
any ra(h enterprize, but of a formed confpiracy againfl the
crown of England. To their care and wifdom, therefore, Hiaft!i's
he faid, he committed the profecution of the war, which, aijo to th:
in a caufe fo important to national and religious interefts, En^ijo
ought to be viaoroufly purfued '. But he found the Eng- /"«'■/' '"'."'i
• • but a /o 1 1
li(h parlinment in the fame hi»mour with the Scotch, „, They gave him to underlland that no money could be fpared for the extinction of diflant dangers, when the kingdom, as they pretended, was threatened with greater at home ; and they likewife even threw out infinuations that himfelf had fomented this rebellion.
' Clarendon, vol. ii. p 301.
It
94
VufW! of
tke E'l^UPi farliameiit.
A.D.1641.
The remon- firance.
^he hng anJiAiers the remon- Jirancct
PreceeJiegs
cj the com- mons
a^ainji the hitrurchy.
The Hijtory of England,
It was now that the republican fplrlt began to appear without any ciifguife in the prefent parliamenr, and inftead of corre(£ling the abufes of admiuiftration, they relolved on the deftruclion of monarchy. Having feen a republi- can fyftem of government lately eftablifhed in Holland, they were defirous of imitating the example ; and many productions of the prefs, ilcctching out the form, were at that time publiflied. The leaders of the oppofition began their operations with the refolution of attacking epifcopa- cy, which was one of the ftrongeft bulwarks of the royal power ; but they prcvioufly framed a remonflrance ; in which they fummed up all their former grievances. This memorable inltrumcnt confifts of many grofs falflioods, intermingled with fome evident truths ; and malignant in- finuatious are joined to open inve£lives. It was not ad- drefled to the king ; but was openly declared to be an ap- peal to the people ; among whom it excited, every where, the fame violent controverfy, vhich attenn'ed it when in- troduced into the houfe of commons. As foon as the remonflrance was publifhed, the king difperfed an anfwer to it. But in this conteit, he lay under great difadvan- tages. Not only the minds of the people were extremely prejudiced againft him j the befl topics, upon which he could juftify, at leaft apologize for his former conduct, were fuch as it was not prudent for him at this lime to em- ploy. So high was the national partiality towards parlia- ments, that to blame the pad cohdueft of thefe afTemblies would have been very ill received by the generality of the people ; and fo loud were the complaints againlt regal nfurpations, that, had the king averted the prerogative of fupplying, by his own authority, the deficiencies in go- vernment arifing from the obflinacy of the commons, he would have increafed the clamours, with which the whole nation already refounded.
Every meafure purfued by the commons was full of the mofb inveterate hatred againlT. the hierarchy ; an eccle- liallical cftabliflmient, which they were determined to fubvert. Eefides numberlefs vexations and perfecutions, which the clergy underwent from the arbitrary power of the lower houfe; the peers, whl'e the king was in Scot- land, having pafled an order for the obfcrvance of the laws with regard to public worfliip, the commons alTumed fuch authority, that, by a vote alone of their houfe, they fufpended thofe laws, though enabled by the whole legi- ilature. They particularly forbad bowing at the name of Jefus ; a praclice which gave them the higheit fcandal,
and
Charles /, «'-■
unil which was one of the capital objc£l!ons agalnfl thi clt'.iblifhcd religion ^ They complained of the kiiij^'s fil- ling live vacant lees, and confidcrcd it as an infult iipoa them, that he fliould I'upport an order, whicli tlity intend- ed foon entirely to abolith^. They had accured thirteen bilhops of high treafon, for ena(fling canons without con- fent of parliament '', thongh, from the foundation of the monarchy, no other metliod had ever been pradifed. They now infiftcd, that the peers, upon thi:i general accufation, fliould fequelter thofe bifliops from their feats in parliament, and commit them to prifon. But the lords refufed their concurrence to this law; and to all fuch as any w^ay tended to the farther limitation of royal authority. The commons murmured at the refufal, mixed menaces with their indignation, and began, for the firfl: time, to infinuate that the bufinefs of the ftate could be carried oa without any upper houfc.
In order to intimidate the lords, the populace was en- couraged to infult and threaten them ; and fomc feditious apprentices being feized and committed to prifon, the houfe of commons immediately ordered them to be fet free. The multitude, by the infligation alfo of the commons, crowded about Whitehall, and threw out infolent menaces againfh the king himfelf. It was at this time that feveral reduced oflicers, and ftudents of the inns of court, oiler- ed their fervices to the king, to reprefs the rioters ; and many frays enfued, not without bloodflied. The rabble p^ounJ. by way of reproach, were called Round-heads, from the hradsani manner of wearing their hair, and the gentlemen Cavillers; Cavaliers^ names which afterwards ferved to dillinguilh the pariizans of either fide, and (till more to divide the nation. The peers voted a declaration againll thofe tumults, and fent it to the lower houfe, the members of which refufed their concurrence '.
The tumult ftill continued and even xncreafed about Weftminfter and Whitehall ; where the cry inccflnntly re- founded againfl: bifliops and rotten-hearted lords ''. The former efpeclally, being diftlnguifhable by their habit, and being the obje£t of violent hatred to all the fe£laries, were expofed to the mofl: dangerous infults '. The archhifhop of York, having been abufed by the populace, called a noeeting of his brethren, and by his advice, a proccllaiioii
f Runiwortii, vol. V. p. 385, 386. Nalfon, vol. ii. p. 4??. e Nalfon, vol. ii p. 511. ^- Kufli- vol. v. p. 359. i Ruth-
worth, part iii. vol. i, p. 710. "* Clarendon, vol. ii. p. 336.
Dugdaie, p. 7S.
was
96 ^he Hijldry df England.
PriteJIa- waS drawn and addreded to the king and the houfc bf lion of the lords. In this they fct forth, that being hindered by the bjbjps. populace from attending in the houfe of lords, they re- foivcd to go thither no more, until all commotions (hauld be appealed ; protefling, in the mean time, againft all fuch laws as fliould be cnadledin their abfence. As foon as this proteftat'ion was prefented to the lords, that houfe defired a conference with the commons, whom they in- formed of the event. The opportunity was feized with T/ieirim- joy and triumph. An impeachment of high treafon was fea<hment. immedi.itely fent up againlt the biOiops, as endeavouring to fubvert the fundamental laws, and to invalidate the au- thority of the legiflature "'. They were, on the firft de- mand, fequeftered from parliament, and committed to cuftody, no man in either houfe daring to fpeak a word in their vindication.
This impruilcnt ftep of the biOiops was a fatal blow io the royal intereft ; but it foon felt a greater from the king's own indifcretlon ; an indifcretion, to which all the enfuing diforders ought immediately to be afcribed. This was the impeachment of lord Kimbolton and the five members.
Clmrles, now become enraged to find that all his con- ccflions to the commons ferved only to increafe their de- mands ; that the people, who had been returning to a fenfe of duty towards him, were again rouzed to fedition and tuuiults ; that the blacked: calumnies were propagated againft him ; and that a method of addrefs was adopted, rot only unfuitable towards a monarch, but which no pri- vate gentleman could bear without refentment ; when he conficlered all thefe increafing acls of infolence in the commons, he was apt to afcribe them, in a great mea- fure, to the gentlenefs of his own behaviour. Being en- couraged in thefe fentiments bv the queen and feveral courtiers, he gave orders to Herbert, his attorney general, ' ^*' to enter an accufation of high-treafon in the houfe of peers, Accufation ^gainll lord Kimbolton, one of the moft popular men of ofjhe five his party, and againft five commoners, fir Arthur Hazlerig, memberi. HoUis, Hambden, Pym, and Strode. The articles were, that they had traiteroufly endeavoured to fubvert the fun- damental laws and government of the kingdom, to deprive the king of his regal power, and to impofe on his fubjedJs an arbitrary and tyrannical authority ; that they had en-
, E Whitlocke, p. 51, Rufli. vol* v. p, 466. Nalfon, vol. it.
p. 799.
deavouredy
Cfjarles t» §|i
aeaVoured, by many foul afperfions on li!s niajefty afid luS government, to alienate the afFe£tions of his people; that they had attempted to draw his late army to difobedience of his royal commands ; that they had invited a foreigrl army to invade the kingdom ; that they had aimed at fub- verting the rights, and even the exiftence of parliament j and had adtually raifed arid countenanced tumults againit the king.
The precipitancy and imprudence of this meafure ex- cited univerfal amazement, which was foon increafed by another, llill more rafli and unfupported. A ferjeant at arms, in the king's name, demanded of the houfe the iive members, and was fent back without any pofitive anfwer. Meflengers were employed to fearch. for them^ and arreft them. Their trunks, chambers, and ftudies, ■were fealed, and locked. The houfe voted all thefe a£ls of violence to be breaches of privilege, and commanded every one to defend the liberty of the members". The "the k}ng king, irritated by all this oppofition, relblved to come to i?"'"^ ^^ '^'
the houfe next day himfelf, with intention to demand, ""-^"f _, r ' . I . r 1 r 1 1 commons^
perhaps leize in their prelence, the pcrlons v.-hom he andde.
had accufed. This refolution being difcovered to the mands the countefs of Carlifle, (he privately fent intelligence to (he Jive fr.e/ft' five members -, and they had time to withdraw before the ^''^' king entered. He was accompanied by his ordinary re- tinue to the number of above two hundred, armed as ufual, fome with halberts, and fome with fwords. The king leaving them at the door, advanced alone through the hall ; while all the members rofe to receive him. The fpeaker withdrew from the chair, and the king took pof- feffion of it. Having feated himfelf, and looked round him for fome time, he told the houfe that he was forry for the occvifion that forced him thither ; that he was come in perfon to feize the members, whom he had accufed of high treafon, feeing they would not deliver them up to his ferjeant at arms. AddrefiTuig himfelf to the fpeakerj he defired to know whether any of them were in the houfe; but the fpeaker, falling on his knees, replied, that he had neither eyes to fee, nor tongue to fpeak in that place, but as the houfe was pleafed to direct him ; and he adted pardon for not being able to give any other an- fwer ^. The commons were in the utmoft diforder ; and, when the king was departing, fome members cried oiitj
" Whitlocke, p. 50, Ru(h worth, vol. y. p. 474, 475. • Whitlocke, p. 50. May, bouk ii. p. zo.
Vol. II. H fo
|S The Hi/lory of England,
fo as he might hear them, '* Privilege! privilege!" Ami the houfe immediately adjourned until next day r*.
That evening, the accufed members, to fhow the greater apprebenfion, removed into the city, where the inhabi- tants were in arms tiie whole night. Next morning, Charles fent to the mayor, and ordered him to call a common-
' '"^ council immediately. About ten o'clock, himfelf, attend- pocs to ^
GutUhjiil. ^^ only by three or four lords, went to Guildhall. He told the common-council, that he was forry to hear of the apprehenfions entertained of him ; that he was come to them without any guard, in order to fliow how much he relied on their affe£lions ; and that he had accufed certain men of high-treafon, againft whom he could proceed in a ]egal way, and therefore prefumed that they would not meet with protection in the city. After many other gra- cious expreffions, he told one of the flierifts, who of the two was thought the leaft inclined to his fervice, that he would dine with him. He departed the hall without re- ceiving the applaufe which he expelled. In pnlfing through the Itreets, he heard the cry, *' Privilege of par- liament ! privilege of parliament !" refounding from all quarters. On his return, one of the populace, more info- lent than the reft, drew nigh to his coach, thul called out with a loud voice, *' To your tents, O Ifrael !" a watch- word among the Jews, when they intended to abandon their princes.
When the commons met next day, they affeded the greatefl terror, and paiTed an unanimous vote, that, the king having violated their privileges, they could not aflem- ble again in the fame place, until they fliould obtain fatis- faftion, with a guard for their fecurity. They, therefore, adjourned themfelves for fome days, and appointed a com- mittee to fit in Merchant-taylors Hall in the city, where they artfully kept up the panic, in order to enflame the populace.
Meantime, the king, afraid of expofing himfelf to any frefh infult from the fury of the multitude, retired to Hampton-Court, overwhelmed with grief, fhame, and remorfe. There he began to reflecSl on the raflinef-; of his former proceedings, and refoved, but now too late, to make fome atonement. He, therefore, wrote to the par- liament, informing them, that he defifted from all pro- ceedings againft the accufed members ; and aiTured them, that, upon all occafions, he would be as careful of t'.eir privileges as of his life or his crown j a fubmiffion, which,
V Whitlecke, p- 51.
in
Charles 1, $^
in his prefent circumftances, ier-'/ed only to render him contemptible.
The more to excite the people, whofe d5rpofitionswere already very feditious, the expedient of petitioning was renewed. iJefide petitions from feveral counties, like ad- drefles were prefented from apprentices, porters, and beg- gars. Even the women were feized with the fame rage. A brewer's wife, followed by many thoufands of her fex, Pftitiont H brought a petition to the houfe; in which the petitioners ^'^^"^' exprefled their terror of the Papifts and prelates, and their dread of like maflacres, rapes, and outrages, with thofe which had been committed upon their fex in Ireland* Pym came to the door of the houfe ; and, having told the female zealots, that their petition was thankfully accepted, and was prefented in a feafonable time, he begged that their prayers for the fuccefs of the commons might follow their petition. Such low arts of popularity were now affect- ed by the democratical leaders.
In the mean time, not only all petitions, which favour- ied the church or monarchy, whencefoever they came, were difcourilgdd ; but the petitioners were fent for, imprifoned, and profecuted as delinc^uents.
The commons had already flript the king of almofl: all his privileges j the bifliops were fled, the judges were in- timidated ; it now only remained, that, after fecuring the church and the law, they fliould take pofleffion of the fword alfo. The power of appointing governors, generals, and levying armies, was ftill a prerogative of the crown. Having, therefore, firfi: magnified their terrors of popery, UfurpatioH they proceeded to petition that the Tower might be put °-^ ^^^ into their hands ; and that Hull, Portfmouth, and the fleet, fhould be entrufled to perfons of their choofi ng. Thefe were requefts, the complying v/ith which levelled all that remained of the ancient conftltution : fuch, however, was the neceffity of the times, that they were in a fliort time granted by the king. The ufurpation of the com- mons incrcafmg with every indulgence, they at length defired to have a militia, raifed and commanded by fuch officers as they fhould appoint ; under pretext of enfuring them from the Irifli Papifts.
It was now that Charles ventured to put a flop to his concefTions ; and that not by a refufal, but a delay. He was at this time at Dover, attending the queen, and ths princefs of Orange, who had thought it prudent to leave the kingdom. He replied to the petition of the commons, that he had not then leifure to confider a matter of fo greaE
H % importunes }
100 ^e Htfiory of England,
importance j and therefore, would defer an anfwcr untH his return. But the commons were well aware, that though this was depriving him even of the fhadow of power, yet they had gone too far to recede, and were, therefore, defirous of divefting hiin of all authority, which, if al- lowed to retain, lie might afterwards employ againft thcm- felves. They alleged that the dangers of the nation were fuch as could admit no farther delay •, and unlefs the king fpecdily complied with their demands, they Should be obliged, both for his fafety and tliat of the kingdom, to difpofe of the militia by the authority of both houfes, and were refolved to do it accordingly. In their remonftrances to the king, they defired permiffion to command the army even for a limited timcj which fo exafperated him, that he exclaimed, " No, not for an hour." This peremptory refufal broke oft all treaty ; and both fides were now re- folvcd to have recourfc to arms. The iing Charles, taking with him the prince of Wales, and his arrfvet at younger fon, retired to York, where he found the people more loyal, and lefs infccled with the religious frenzy of the times. From all quarters of England, the principal nobility and gentry, either perfonally, or by mefTages and letters, cxprefll'd their duty towards him ; and exhorted him to fave himfelf and them from that ignominious flave- ry, with which they were threatened. The king, there- fore, finding himfelf fupported by a confiderable party in ihe nation, began to fpeakin a firmer tone, and to retort: the accufations of the commons with a vigour which he had not before exerted. Notwithftanding their remon- ftrances and menaces, he perfiiled in refufing them the command of the militia ; and they proceeded to frame an ordinance, in which, by the authority of the two houfes, without the king's confent, they named lieutenants for all the counties, and conferred on them the command of the whole military force, and of all the guards, gariifons, and forts in the kingdom. He ilfued proclamations againft this open ufurpation j and, as he profefled a refolution finally to obferve the law himfelf, fo he was determined, he faid, to oblige every other perfon to pay it a like obe- dience. The name of the king was fo efTential to all laws, that the parliament was afraid, had they totally omitted it, the innovation would be too evident to the people. In all commands, therefore, which they conferred, they bound the perfons to obey the orders of his majefty, fig- nified by both houfes of parliament. And, inventing a diftindlion, hitherto unheard of, between the office and
the
Charles L iOl
tlie perfoii of the king, thofe very forces, which they employed againft him, they levied in his name, and by his authority 9.
The county of York levied a guard for the king of fix hundred men. The two houfes, though they had already levied a guard for themfelves, had attempted to feize all the military power of the kingdom, all the navy, and had openly employed their authority in every kind of warlike preparations. The armies, which had been every where raifed on pretence of the fervice in Ireland, were hence- forth more openly enlifled by the parliament for their own purpofes, and the command of them was given to the earl of Eflex. In London, no lefs than four thoufand men eniifteJ in one day ^ And the parliament voted a decla- ration, which they required every member to fubfcribe, that they would live or die with their general.
They ifTued orders for bringing in loans of money and ^j^'para- plate, in order to maintain forces which fhould defend "T/ 'I* the king and both houfes of parliament j for this ftyle they continued to preferve. Within ten days, fuch quan- tities of plate were brought to their treafurers, that hardly were there men enow to receive it, or room fufficienr to flow it. The women gave up all the plate and ornaments of their houfes, and even their (ilver thimbles and bod- kins, in order to fupport the " good caufe" againft the malignants '.
Above forty peers of the firft rank attended the kingj whilft the houfe of lords feKlom confifted of more than fix- teen members. Almoft the half of the lower houfe ab- fented themfelves from counfels, which they deemed fo full of danger. The commons fent up an impeachment againft nine peers, for deferting their duty in parliament. Their own members alfo, who (hould return to chem, they voted not to admit, until fatished concerning the reafon of their abfence.
Charles made a declaration to the peers who attended him, that he expefted from them no obedience to any commands which were not warranted by the laws of the land ; and this declaration the peers anfwered by a proteft, in which they declared their refolution to obey nd com- mands but fuch as were warranted by that authority '.
^ RnfhwoTth, vol. v. 'p. 526, «■ Vicar's God in the
Mount. s Whitlocke, p. 58. Dugdale, p. 96. 99. ' Rufti,
vol. V, p. 6i6, 6z7. May, book ii. p. 86. Warwick, p. a 10.
H 3 The
lO* The ITiJlory of England.
The queen, difpofing of the crown-jewels in Holland, liad been enabled to purchafe a cargo of arms andammu- i)ition ; part of which, after efcaping many perils, arrived fafely to the king. His preparations were not near fo forward as thofe of the parliament. In order to remove all jealoufy, he had refolved that their ufurpations and il- legal prctenfions fliould be manifefl to the whole world y and thought, \\\t,t to recover the confidence of the people, vas a point much more elTcntial to his interelt than the colk<L\ing of any magazines, or armies, which might breed apprehenfioiis of violent or illegal counfels. But the urgent necellity of his fituation no longer admitted of delay ; and he now prepared for his defence. fropofi'.kns That the king might dcfpair of all compofition, the Jent by the parliament fent him the conditions on which they were cornmotisto ^ji)j,^„ ^^ come to ai) aereement. Their demands, con- • taming nineteen propolitions, amounted to a total aboli-
tion of monarchical authority. Tlicir import was, that the privy-council, the principal ofiicers of ilale, the go- vernors of the king's children, the commanders of the forts, his fleet, and armies, fhould be all appointed by, and under the controul of parliament ; that papiHs (hould be puniihed by their authority ; that the clmrch and li- turgy fliould be reformed at their difcretion ; and that fuch members as had been difpluccd, fliouId be reftored. To thefe extravagant propofals tlie king made reply, 7Jie kifjfs ^' Should I grant thcfe demands, I might be wailed o:i anfixer, bare-headed, I might have my hand kifled, the title of m.ijefly continued to me, and the king's authority, figni- fied by both houfes of parliament, might ftill be the ftyle of your coir.mands; I might have fwords and maces car- ried before me, and pleafe myfelf with the fight of ^ crown and fceptre (though even thefe twij:s would not long flourifh, when ' the flock upon which they grew was dead,) but as to the true and real power, I fliould remain but tlie outfide, but the picTture, but the fign of a king "." War, on any terms, was efleemed by the king and all his ccunfellors, preferable to fo ignominious a peace. Charles accordingly refolved to fupport his au- thority by arms. His towns, he faid, were taken from him, his fliips, his arms, his money ; but there ftill re- mained to him a good caufe, and the hearts of his loyal fubjeds, which, with God's blcfiTing, he doubted npt, would recover all the reft.
o Rufli. vol. V. p. 728. Warwick, p, 189.
Never
Charles L IC3
Never was conteft more unequal than feemed at firil ,5th Aug. between the contending parties ; the king being entirely Commence- deftitute of every advantage. His revenue had been feized ^.^'" ^/ by parliament; all the fea-port towns, except Newcaftle, "■^" '"<»''• ■were in their hands ; and thus they were pofleffed of the cuftoms, which thefe could fupply. The fleet was at their difpolal ; all magazines of arms and ammunition were feize^^ for their ufe ; and they had the wiftics of all the mod active members of the nation.
To oppofe this, the king had that acknowleged reve- rence which was paid to royalty. The greater part of the nobility adhered to bim. Moll of the men of education alfo, and the ancient gentry, ftill confidered loyalty as a duty, and armed their tenants and fervants in his caufe. With* thefe followers, the king advanced fouthward, and created the royal (tandard at Nottingham.
The contempt, entertained by the parliament, for the Ling's party was fo great, that it was the chief caufe of pufhiiig matters to fuch extremities againft him ; and many believed that he never would attempt refiftance, but mud foon yield to the pretenfions, however enormous, of the two houfes. Even after his rtandard was eretled, men could not be brought to apprehend the danger of a civil war. The low condition in which he appeared at state ofthi Nottingham confirmed theie hopes. His artillery, which king^s was far from num^nrous, had been left at York, for want-^"^"'* of horfes to tranfport it. Befide the trained bands of the county, raifed by fir John Digby, the flieriff, he had nut aflembled above three hundred infantry. His cavalry, i^ which confiftcd his chief ftrength, exceeded not eight hun- dred, and were very ill provided with arms. The forces of the parliament lay at Northampton, within a few days march of him ; and confifted of aboye fix thoufand m^n, well armed and well appointed.
Why the parliamentary general, with an army fo much fuperior, was not ordered to march immediately againit the royalifts, is difficult to explain. The parliament, it is probable, was of opinion, that the king's adherents, fenfible of their feeble condition, and flender refources, would difperfe of themfelves, and leave their adverfaries a vidtory, fo much the more complete, as it would be gained without bloodfhed, and even without the appear- ance of force. Perhaps too, when it became necelTary to make the concluding ftep, and offer bare-faced violence to their fovereign, their fcruples and appreheiifions, though
H 4. not
104
7ht king fendi c- 'uer lures ofirealy to the par ■ Uataent,
lisfj'as^es betiveen tlie l^tnit fin J par- {iamtni.
marches tnivards Shre-uf- b-jry.
J'he Hijviy of Etioland.
not fuiTicient to overcome their refolutions, were able to retard the execution of them *.
While affairs were in thi^i lituation, the king, by the advice of lord Soufliampton, and with the unanimous concurrence of the counfellors, was prevailed upon, after fome reluctance, to make overtures of treaty to the par- liament. That nobleman, therefore, with fir John Cole- pepper and fir William Uvcdalc, was difpatched to Lon- don for the purpofe^. The rnanner, jij vihicli they were received, gave little hopes of fuccefs. Southampton was not allowed by the peers to take his feat ; but w.is ordered to deliver his meffage to the uOier, and immediately to depart the city. The commons (bowed little better dif- polition towards Colepepper and Uvedale *. Both houfes replied, that they could admit of no treaty with the king, until he took down his (landard, and recalled his pro- clamations, in which the parliament fuppofed thcmftlves to be declared traitors. The king, by a fecond meflage, denied any fuch intention againll the two houfes j but offered to recall thofe proclamations, provided the parlia- ment agreed to recall theirs, in which his adherents were declared traitors. Thcv dcfired him in return, to difmifs his forces, to rcCxdc with the parliament, and to give up delintjuents to their jurildidion; that is, to abandon liim- feif and his fiiendc to the mercy of !:is enemies*. Loth parlies flattered themfclves, that, by thefe meffages and replies, they had gained the ends which they propofed ", The king believed, that the people were made fufficiently fenfible of tlie parliament's infolence and averfion to peace ; while they expedled by this vigour in their refo- Jutions, to give additional weight to their caufe.
All the detachments of the pailiamentary army were now ordered to march to Northampton ; and tiic carl of Effex, who had joined them, found the whole amount to fifteen thoufand men '^. The king, though his camp had been gradually reinforced from all quarters, was fenfible that he could not cope with Co formidable a force ; he, therefore, thought it prudent to retire, by flow marches, to Derby, thence to Shrewfbury, in order to countenance the levies, which his friends were making in thofe parts. At Wellington, a day's march from Shrewlbury, he made
* Clarendon, vol. iii, p. i8. > Rufli. vol. v. p. 78+. " Clarendon, vol. iii. p. 10. » Rufti. vol. v, p. 786. Dug- dale, p. 112, «» V/hitlocke, pc 59. * Wnitlocke, i). 60. '
a rcn-
Charles I, lO^
A fendezvous of all his forces, and caufcd his military orders to be read at the head of every regiment. That he might bind himfelf by reciprocal ties, he folemnly made the following declaration before his whole army.
" I do promife, in tlie prefence of almighty God, and His de- as I hope for his blefilng and protection, that I wdl, to daraiion, the utmoll of my power, defend and maintain the true reformed Proteftant religion, eftablifhed in the church of England, and, by the grace of God, in the fame will live and (.Vi.&.
*' I defire that the laws may ever be the meafure of iny government, and that the liberty and property of the fubjeil may be preferved by them with the fame care as my own jull rights. And if it pleafe God, by his blefl- ing on this army, raifed for my necefiary defence, to preferve me from the prefent rebellion ; I do folemnly and faithfully promife, in the fight of God, to maintain the juft privileges and freedom of parliament, and to go- vern, to the utmoil of my power, by the known ftatutes .and cuitoms of the kingdom, and particularly to obferve inviolably the laws to which I have given my confent this parliameat. Meanwhile, if this emergence, and the great neceffity to which I am driven, beget any violatioa of law, I hope it fhall be imputed by God and man to the authors of this war ; not to me, who have fo earneftly laboured to preferve the peace of the kingdom.
" When I willingly fail in thefe particulars, I fiiall expeci no aid or relief from man, nor any proteclion from above. But in this refolution, I hope for the chear- ful afiiflapice of all good men, and am confident of the blefiing of Heaven ''."
While the king's army lay at Shrewlbury, and he was employing himfelf in coIle6ling money, which he received, though in no great quantities, by voluntary contributions, and by the plate of the univerfiries, which was fent him ; the news arrived of an atlion, the firft which had happened in thefe wars, and where his troops were fuccefsf ul.
On the appearance of commotions in England, the « princes Rupert and Maurice, ions of the unfortunate pa- at iVot latine, had ofl'ered their fervice to the king ; and the cejlen former, at this time, commanded a body of horfe, which had been fent to Worceller, in order to watch the mo- lions of Eifex, who was marching towards that city. No
s Clarendon, vohiii, p, i6, 17. IXigdale, p. 104..
fooner
or-
io6 ' The Htjiory of England.
fooncr had the prince arrived chan he faw fome cavalry cf the enemy approaching; the gates. While tiiey were defiling from a lane, and forming themfelves, he attacked them, and routed the whole party, which was purfued above a mile. This rencounter, though ia itfelf of fmall importance, greatly r-iifed the reputation of the royaliils, r.nd acquired to prince Rupert the clnraiter of promptitude and courage ; qualities which he eminently difplayed during the whole courfe of the war.
On the king's leaving Shrewfbury, his army amounted to ten thoufand men ; and with this force he rcfolved to give battle to the army of the parliament, which was continually increafing by fupplies from London. He therefore diredled his march towards the capital, which, he knew, the enemy would not abandon to him. 43d 0(5>. When the royal army had advanced to the neighbour-
Baitle qf J^ood of Banbury, that of the parliament lay at Kcinton, ^* ' ' in the county of Warwick. Prince Rupert having fent intelligence of the enemy's approach, though the day was far advanced, the king refolvcd upon the attack j and accordingly Eflex drew up hii men to receive him. In the beginning of this engagement, fir Faithful For- tefcuc, who had levied a troop for the Irifh war, but had been obliged to ferve in tlie parliamentary army, deferted to the royalifts ; which fo intimidated the parliamentary forces, that the whole body of cavalry fled. The right wing of their army followed the exam- ple ; but the vitlors too eagerly purfuing, Efiex's body of rcferve wheeled upon the rear of the purfucrs, and made great havock among them. After the royaliils had a little recovered from their furprize, they made a refolute {land; and both fides for a time flood gazing at each other, without fufhcieut courage to renew the attack. They lay all night under arms ; and next morning found themfelves in fight of each other. Neither party (hewing yet any inclina- tion to renew the fight, lifl'ex firll drew ofF, and retired to Warwick ; and the king returned to his former quar- ters. Five thoufand men are faid to have been found dead on the field of battle ; and the lofs of the two armies, as far as may be judged from the oppofite accounts, was nearly equal.
In a Ihort time after this aflion, the king advanced with his whole army to Reading •, and the parliament, alarmed at his approach, while their own forces lay at a diftance, voted an addrefs for a treaty. The king's nearer ap- proach to Colnbroke, quickened their advances for peace.
Nor-
Charles I. 107
Northumberland and Pembroke, witb three commoners, prefented the addrefs of both houfes -, in which they be- fought his majefty to appoint feme convenient place where he might refide, till committees could attend him with propofals. The king named Windfor, and defired that their garrifon might be removed, and his own troops admitted into that calile^
Meanwhile Elfex had, by hafty marches, arrived at Lon- don. But neither the prefence of his army, nor the pre- carious hopes of a treaty, retarded the king's approaches. At Brentford, Charles attacked two regiments quartered there, beat them from that village, and made about five hur.dred prifoners. Though no fhipulations had been mentioned re!pe£ling the iorbearance of hollilities, loud complaints were raifed agaiuft this attack, as if it had been a violation of treaty s. Inflamed with refenrment, as well as anxious for its own fafetv, the city marched its trained bands, and joined the army under EiTex ; which, wu":"i this reinforcement, amounted to above twenty-four thoufand men, and was much fuperior to that of the king ■'^ After both armies had faced each other for fome time, Charles drew off 10 Reading, and thence to Oxford.
After thefe tranfa£lions the king and parliament fent A.D.1643.
reciprocally their demands ; and a treaty commenced, but .
without any ceffatiou of hoflilities, The demands of tlie Negoaatiott parliament, however, continued to be fo unreafonabl:', that "' Oxjord, no accommodation could enfue, and the king only walled that time in negociation, which he fhould have employed in vigorous exertions in the field. But the firfl; campaign, ViSiories of upon the whole, wore a favourable afpe£l for the royal the Roy- caufe.. A feries of victories, though not important, had f^^-P'in tht been gained : Cornwall was reduced to peace and obedi- '' * ence under the king ; a victory was obtained over the par- liamentarians at Stratford Hill, in Devonfhire ; another at Roundaway Down, about two miles from the Devizes ; and a third at Chalgrave Field. Briftol was befieged and taken ; and Gloucefter was invelled. The battle of Newbury was favourable to the loyalifts ; and great hopes of fuccefs were formed from an army in the North, raifed by the marquis of Newcaftle.
But in this campaign, the two bravefl and greateft men of their refpedlive parties were killed. John Hambden,
f Whitlocke, p. 62. Clarendon, vol. Hi. p. 73. g Whit-
Jo5|ve, p, 62. Clarendon, vol. iii, p. 87, ^ Whitlocke, p. 6*.
and
lo8 J'he Hijlory of England.
Death of ^'"'f^ Lucius Gary, lord Falkland. The former had gamed, Hambden by his inflexible integrity, the efteeni even of his enemies j and lord a.^(i to that virtue he added affability, eloquence, and pe- Falkland. netration. The charadler of Falkland was yet more emi- nent. To the fevere principles of Hambden he joined a politenefs and elegance, but then beginning to be known in England. He had boldly withllood the king's preten- fions, while he faw him exercifing authority inconfiilent with public freedom ; but when he perceived the defiga of the parliament, to overturn the religion and conftitu- tion of his country, he changed his fide, and ftedfallly attached b-rnfelf to the crown. From the beginning of the civil war, nis natural chearfulnefs and vivacity forfook him. When the two armies v.ere in fight of each other, and preparing for the battle of Newbury, he appeared defirous of terminating his life, fince he could not com- pofe the raiferics of his country. Still anxious for his country, above every other conlideration, he dreaded the too profperous fuccefs of his own party, as much as thaC of the enemy, and he profeffed that the public calamities had broken his heart. His ufual cry among his friends, after a deep filence, and frequent fighs, was Peace ! Peace ! On the morning before the battle of Newbury, he faid, that he was weary of the times, and fhould leave them before night. He was fiiot in the belly by a mufquet-ball, in the thirty-fourth year of his age. Parliament Charles, in order to make preparations during the win* at Ox/ltd- ter for the enfuing campaign, and to oppofe the defigns of the Weflminfter-parliament, affembled one at Oxford j and this was the firft inilance, known in England, of two parliaments fitting at the fame time. His houfe of peers was pretty full, his houfe of commons confifted of about a hundred and forty members. From this fublfitute of a parliament, he received fome fupplies ; after which it was prorogued, and never after affembled.
Meanwhile, the parhament at Weftminfter was not inactive. They pafled an ordinance, commanding all the inhabitants of London and its neighbourhood to re- trench a meal a week, and to pay the value of it for the fupport of the public caufe. But what was much more etTcclual, they procured the ufTiifance of a flrong army from the Scots, who confidered themfelves as involved in the caufe againft the king. The parliament alfo levied an army of fourteen thoufand men in the Eait, under the carl of Mancheller ; and they had an army of ten thou- fand men under EiTex, with another, of nearly the fame
force
Charles 7. ion
force, under the command of fir William Waller. Tliefe were fapcrior to any force which the king could bring into the field, and were well appointed with ammunition, provifions, and pay.
Hoftilities, wliich even during the winter had never /^ j) ,5 . been wholly difcontinucd, were renewed in the fprins; ______»
with tlieir ufual fury. Each county joined that fide to which it was attached from motives of conviction, in- tcrcl!:, or fear ; but fomc obferved a perfecl neutrality. Several frequently petitioned for peace j and all the wife and good in the nation were carneft in the cry. In Lon- don, the women, to the number of two or three thou- fand, went in a body to the houfc of commons, urgently demanding a peace. *' Give us thofe traitors, faid they, that are againft a peace ; give them, that we may tear them in pieces." The guards found fome difficulty in quelling this infurreclion ; and one or two women loll their lives in the fray.
The battle of Marilon-Moor was the beginning of the Baf!!f of king's misfortunes and difgrace. The Scottilh and the par- ^arjtoa- llamentarian army had joined, and were befieging York ; i^'^oor. when prince Rupert, reinforced by the marquis of New- caitle, determined to raife the fiege. Both fides drew up on Marfton-Moor, to the number of fifty thoufand ; and the vidlory feemed long undecided between them. Rupert, who commanded the right-wing of the royalifts, was oppofed to Oliver Cromwell ', who now firlt came into notice, at the head of a body of troops, whom him- felf had difciplined. After a (harp combat, the cavalry of the royalifls gave way ; and fuch of the infantry as ftood next them were likewife put to flight. Cromwell, having puihed his opponent off the field, returned to a fecond engagement, which was crowned with equal fuccefs. The prince's whole train of artillery was taken; and the royalHts never after recovered the blow.
WJule the king was unfortunate in the field, he could frfaiy of not prove more fucceft^ful in negoeiatlon ; and therefore, V,xbnJgi. a treaty, which was begun at Uxbridge, terminated) like all the former, in a contirmation of reciprocal animofities. The puritans demanded a total abolition of epifcopacy, and church ceremonies -, which Charles, both from con- vi£lIon and intereft, was unwilling to permit. He h.id all along maintained the eplfcopal jurifdi^flion, not only becaufe it was favourable to monarchy, but becaufc all
• Rufb. part iii. vol- ii ft 633.
8 Kis
iio The Hijiory of England.
his adherents were pafTionately devoted to it. He efteenv ed bifhops as eflential to the Chriflian church ; and thought himfelf bound by facred, as well as by temporal ties, to defend them. The parliament was as obfilnately bent upon removing this order ; and, to fliow their refo* lution, began with the foremoft of the number. Trial of Though Laud, archbifhop of Canterbury, had been im-
Laud. prifoned in the Tower at the fame time with Strafford, he had never yet been brought to any trial. He was accufed of high treafon ; in endeavouring to fubvert the funda- mental laws, and of other high crimes and mifdemeanors. The groundlefs charge of popery, though belied by his whole life and conduct, was urged againfl him. In liis defence, he fpoke fevcral hours, with that courage which feems the refult of innocence and integrity. The lords, who were his judges, appeared willing to acquit him ; but the commons, his accufers, finding no likelihood of ob- taining a judicial fentcnce, pafl'ed an ordinance for his execution, and terrified the lords fo much, that at lad they confentcd to the a£V. Seven peers only voted in this important queflion ; all the reft, cither from fliame or fear, took care to abfent themfelves ''. When brought to the fcafFold, this venerable prelate, without betraying any fign of terror, but in the ufual tone of his exhorta- tions from the pulpit, made a long fpeech to the multi- tude, which attended on this occafion. He told them that he had examined his heart; and thanked God that he found there no fins, which deferved the death he was going to fufler. The king, he faid, had been traduced by fome, as labouring to introduce popery ; but he be- lieved him as found a ProteP.ant as any man in the king- dom ; and as for parliaments, that he difliked the con- du(Sl of one or two, yet he never once entertained the nth July j^ea of changing the laws of his country. After he had y^'' prayed a few minutes, he laid liis head on the block, and
it was fevered from the body at one blow. Tbeiiturgv The death of the primate was followed by a total al- uboltjhid. teration of the ceremonies of the church. The liturgy was immediately aboliflied by public act j and the church of England was in all refpedts brought to a conformity with the puritanical eftablifhment. Prefhyter'f This event had no fooner taken place, than the puri- rians and tans, who had hitherto been united under the general Jnde^end- denomination of prefbyterians, began to divide into par- tnts.
*> Warwick, p. J69.
ties.
Charles L Hi
ties, each profening different views and Interefts. One part of the houfe of commons was compofcd of prelby- terians, ftriftly fo called ; the other, though lefs numerous, of independents, a new fe6l that had been lately introduced, and gained ground furprifingly. The preibyterians were for having the church governed by clergymen elefted by tlie people, and prayers made without premeditation. The independents, on the contrary, excluded all the clergy ; maintaining that every man might pray in public, exhort his audience, and explain the Scriptures. Their political fyltem kept pace with their religious. Not con- tent with reducing the king to a firft magillrate, which v^as the aim of the prefbyterians, this feet afpircd to the abolition, not only of all monarchy, but of all fiibordina- tion.
This body of men was now growing into confideration. Their apparent fanflity, their natural courage excited by enthufiafm, and their unceafing perfeverance, began to work great efFecls ; and though they were out-numbered in the houfe of commons, they found a majority in the army, compofed chiefly of the lowed among the vulgar.
The royalifts endeavoured to throw a ridicule on this fanaticifm, without being aware of the reafon, they had to apprehend its dangerous confequences. The forces of the king were united by much feebler ties 5 and the licence, which the want of pay had introduced among them, ren- dered them as formidable to their friends as to their ene- mies. What greatly increafed this unpopularity, the king, finding the parliament of Scotland as well as that of England declaring againft him, thought proper to make a truce with the Papifts of Ireland, in order to bring over the Englifh forces, which ferved in that kingdom. With thefe he alfo received into his fervice fome of the native Irifh, who ftill retained their fiercencfs and barbarity. This condu6l gave the parliament a plaufible opportunity of upbraiding him with an attacimient to the Catholics, and gave a colour to the former calumny of his having excited them to rebel. Unfortunately, it was afterwards found, that they rather increafed the hatred of his fub- je(Sls, than added to the flrength of his army. Tliey were routed by Fairfax, one of the parliamentary gene- rals ; and though they threw down their arms, they were . flaughtereJ without mercy.
Thefe misfortunes were foon after fucceeded by an- other. Charles, who had now retired to Oxford, found bimfelf at the head of a turbulent feditious army, which
from
1 1 2 ^^^ H't/lory of England
from wanting pay, was fcarccly fubje£l to controuT j*
while, on the other hand, the parliamentarians were well
fupplied and paid, and were held together from principle.
The parliament, to give them an example of difintereft-
_./•. ednefs in their own conduft, palTed the Self-denying or-
inqordt- dinance, by wliich the members of both houfes were ex-
nance, eluded from all civil and military employments, except a
few offices which were fpecitied. The former generals
were therefore changed ; the earls of Ed'ex, Denbigh,
and Manchefter, gave up their commifhons ; and Fairfax,
now appointed general with Cromwell, who found means
to keep both his feat and commiffion, new-modelled
the army. This, which might at firfl: have feemed to
weaken their forces, gave them new fpirit ; and the fol-
diers, become more confident in their new commanders,
were irrcfiflible.
A D t64c. Never was a more fingular army afTembled than that
_ which now drew the fword in the parliamentary caufe.
The officers exercifed the part of chaplains , and, during
the intervals of aOion, in(tr»6ted their troops by fermons,
prayers, and exliortations. Sudden cxtafics fupplied the
place of fludy and reflection, and while they kindled with
raptures, they afcribed their own emotion to a defcent
of the fpirit from heaven. The private foldiers, feized
with the fame fervour, employed their vacant hours in
prayer, in perufing the holy Scriptures, and in ghoftly
conferences. When marcliing to the field of battle, the
liymn and the ejaculation weie mixed with the notes of
the trumpet.
♦th June. The battle which decided the fate of Charles, was
Battle of fought at Nafeby, a village in Yorkfliire. The main body
Nafebj. of lY^Q royalifts was commanded by the king : the right
wing, by prince Rupert ; the left, by fir Marmaduke
Langdale. Fairfax, feconded by Skippon, placed himfelf
in the main body of theoppofite army : Cromwell, in the
right wing ; Ireton, Cromwell's fon-in-law in the left.
The charge was begun by prince Rupert, with his ufual
celerity and fuccefs. The left wing of the enemy was
broke, and purfiied as far as the village; but the prince
loft time in attempting to make himfelf mafter of their
artillerv. The king led on his main body, and difplayed,
in this aclion, all the conduct of a prudent general, and
all the valour of a foldier "". Fairfax and Skippon encoun-
*" tered him, and well fupported that reputation which they
»" Vv'hitlocke, p, 146.
had
Charles L
had acquired. The infantry of the parliament was broTven and prefled upon by the king ; till Fairfax brought up the referve and renewed the combat. Meanwhile Cromwell, having led on his troops to the attack of Langdale, over- bore the force of the royalifts. Having purfued this body about a quarter of a mile, and detached fome troops to prevent their rallying, he turned back upon the king's in- fantry, and threw them into the utmoft confufion. One regiment alone preferved its order unbroken, though twice defpcrately aflailed by Fairfax ; who ordered Doiley, the captain of his guard, to charge it in the front, while him- felf attacked it in the rear. By this third encounter, the regiment was broken.
Prince Rupert, having left the too late, and therefore frultlefs attack on the enemy's artillery, joined the king, "whofe infantry was now totally difcomfited. Charles ex- hoited this body of cavalry not to defpair, and cried aloud to them, " One charge more, and we recover the day ".'* But the difadvantages under which they laboured were too great ; and they could not be induced to renew the combat. Charles was obliged to quit the field, and leav« the viftory to the enemy °, who took all his cannon, baggage, and about five thoufand prifoners. The flain, on the fide of the parliament exceeded thofe on the fide of the king : they loll a thoufand men ; he not above eight hundred. Among the fpoils taken on this occafion, was the king's cabinet, containing copies of his letters to the queen ; which the parliament ordered afterwards to be publifhed p ; a vulgar and illiberal pleafure of ridiculing thofe tender efFufions which were never drawn up for the public eye.
This fatal defeat Charles never after recovered. It put the parliament in pofleffion of almofh all the llrong cities of the kingdom, Brillol, Bridgewater, Chelter, Sherborne, and-Bath. Exeter was befieged ; and all the king's troops in the weftern counties being entirely difperfed, Fairfax prefled the place, and it furrendered at difcretion. The king's interefts feemed now declining in every quarter. The Scottifli army, which had taken part with the par- liament, having made themfelves mailers of Carlille, after an obftinate fiege, marched fouth, and laid fiege to Here- ford. Another engagement followed between the king and the parliamentarians, in which his forces were put to the rout by colonel Jones, five hundred of his men llain,
n Rufli. vol. vii. p. 4^. « Clarendon, vol. jv. p. 656,
657- " Ibid.' p. 658.
Vol. II. I and
ii3
1 1 4 ^he Hijlory of England,
The kin^ and a thoufand made prifoners. Charles, tlius liarrafled retires to on cvery fide, retreated to Oxford, which had retained its Ofc/ord, fideUty in every viciflitude of his fortunes ; and there he refolved on offering new terms to his vidlorious enemies. He fent them repeated mefTages to this purpofe; but they deigned not to make a reply. At laft, after reproaching him with the blood fpiit during the war, they let. him know that they were preparing fome bills, to which if he would confent, they would then be able to judge of his pacific inclinations.
Meantime, Fairfax was approaching with a powerful army, and was preparing to lay fiege to Oxford, which promifed an eafy furrendcr. To be taken captive, and led in triumph by his infolent enemies, was what Charles juflly abhorred ; and every infult, if not violence, was to be dreaded from a fanatical foldiery, who hated his per- fon, and bore an unfurmountable averfion to regal go- vernment. In this defperate extremity he embraced a nieafure, which, in any other fituation, might be deemed extremely imprudent. He refolved to give himfelf up to the Scottifh army, from whom he expefted better treat- ment. That he might the better conceal his defign from the people of Oxford, orders were given at every gate of the city, for allowing three perfons to pafs. In the night, A.D.164P- the king, accompanied by one Dr. Hudfon and Mr. Afh- . burnham, went out at the gate which leads to London. T°^ kinz' ^^ "toAe before a portmanteau, and called himfelf Afh- quiti Ox- burnham's fervant; in which character he pafled through fnrdin Henley, St. Alban's, and came fo near to London as Har- dif^uife, j.Q^y Q,^ ji^g Hill. He once entertained thoughts of enter- ^"i'v Tat the '"S ^^^^ capital, and throwing himfelf on the mercy of the Scottl/h parliament; but at lali, after paffing through many crofs Camp at roads, he arrived at the Scottifh camp before Newark p, Newark, a,-,^] difcovered himfelf to lord Leven, commander of the army. The parliament, hearing of his efcape from Ox- ford, iflued rigorous orders, and threatened with inftant death whoever fliould harbour or conceal him "J.
The Scots, who had before given fome general afTu- ranres of their fidelity and protection, now afredled great furprizc on his arrival among them. Though they paid him all the exterior refpecfc due to his dignity, they im- mediately placed a guard upon him, under colour of pro- tection ; and made him in reality a pri Toner. They in- formed the Englifli parliament of the incident ; and in
*• Ruih. vol. vii. p.'a67» ' Whitlocke, p. 209.
the
Charles L Hj
the mean time, prevailed upon the king to give direflionS for furrenclering to it all his garrifons ; with which he complied. The Scots, hearing that the parliament laid claim to the entire difpofal of the king's perfon, and that the Englifli army was making fome motions towards them ; they thought proper to retire northwards, and to fix their camp at Newcaftle ^
In confequence of this meafure, the king began to en- tertain fome hopes of prote6lion from the Scots ; and he was particularly attentive to tlie behaviour of their preachers, on whom all depended. But no attention could ab;ite the afperlty of thofe fanatics. They even in- fulted him from the pulpit ; and one of them, after re- proaching him to his face, for his mifcondu6l, ordered that pfalm to be fung, which begins.
Why doft thou, tyrant, boafl: thyfelf Thy wicked deeds to praife ?
The king flood up, and called for that pfalm which begins with theie words.
Have mercy, Lord, on me, I pray ', For men would me devour.
The audience, for once, ihowed greater deference to the king than to the mmiiler ; and, in compalhon to majefty in diftrefs, fung the pfalm which the former had called for K
The parliament, being informed of the king's captivity, immediately entered into a treaty with the Scots about delivering up their prifoner. The Scots had, from tluir firll entrance into England, been allowed pay by the par- liament, io order to prevent their plundering the coun- try. Confiderable arrears, however, remained unpaid ; and much more was claimed by the Scots then was really due. But finding this a convenient opportunity for infifling on the liquidation of thofe debts, they refolved not to furrender the kii.g, until their claims were fully fatisfied. After many difcufflons, in which they pretended a.d.jC^^. to great honour, it was at lafl agreed, that they fliould ,
deliver up the king, upon the payment of four hundred The Scots thoufand pounds; one half to be paid inflantly, the other in ^'^^^'^'''"p two fubfequent payments \ % f^^l
ment, ' Rufii. vol. vii. p. X71. ClareiKion, vol. v, p. zj. « Whit-
locke, p. 134. * RuQi. vol. vii. p. 326. Pari, Hift. vol.
XV, p. Z36,
I 2 The
Il6 The HiJIory of E/iglaiicf.
The infamy of this bargain had fuch an influence on the Scottilh parliament, that they once voted, that the king fliould be prote£led, and his liberty infifled on. But the general aflembly interpofed, and pronounced, that, as he had refufed to take the covenant, which was preflcd on him, it became not fhe godly to concern them- felves about his fortunes. After this declaration, it be- hoved the parliament to retraft their vote ^
The king being delivered over by the Scots to the Eng- lifli commiflioners, was condu£\ed, under a guard, to Holmby, in the county of Northampton. They treated him in confinement with the molt obdurate feverity ; difmifnng his ufual fervants, debarring him from all vifits, and cutting off all communication with his friends and family.
The civil war was now at an end ; and the parliament enjoyed, imcontrouled, the dominion of the nation. But in proportion as the terror of the king's power diminifhed, the divifions between the independents and the prelby- terians became more apparent. The majority in the houfe of commons was of the picfbytcrian feet ; of which, likevvife, were efleemed all the peers, lord Say alone ex- cepted. The independents, however, at the head of whicli was Oliver Cromwell, predominated in the army ; and the troops of the new model were univerfally infe6lcd with that enthufiaftic fpirit.
Soon after the retreat of the Scots, the prefbyterians» feeing every thing reduced to obedience, began to talk of difmilTing a ccnHderable part of the army, and of fending the reft to Ireland. The troops were little inclined to be led over into a country uncivilized, uncultivated, and laid wafle by civil commotions. They wefe yet lefs in- clined to difband, and to renounce that pay which thev now propofed to enjoy in eafe and tranquillity. And molt of the olficers, having rifen from the dregs of the people, had no other profpe6l, if deprived of their commifhon, than that of returning^ to languifli in their native ob- fcurity. Inllead, therefore, of preparing to dill)and, they refolved to petition ; and they began by defiring an in- demnity ratihed by the king, for any illegal acflions which they might have committed during the war j with fatis- taftion irt arrears, freedom from preffing, and relief of widows and maimed foidiers. The commons, alarmed at ^thefe demands, immediately voted that the petition tended
f Pari. Hjft. vol, xv. p, 243, 244.
to
Charles I. ^117
to introduce mutiny, to put conditions upon the parlia- ment, and to obftrucl the relief of Ireland ; and iliey threatened to proceed againlt the promotera of it, as enemies to the flate, and difturbers of the public peace*'.
This precipitate declaration, impolitic, as well as in jy^^/;,;y ^e fome meafure unjufl:, was productive of fatal ^^'^^s. the army. The army complained, that, while they hatl been the in- flrumcnts of fecuring the public freedom, they were de- prived of the privileges of Englifhmen. They now be- gan to confider themfelves as a body diflinct from the commonwealth ; and, therefore, in oppofition to the par- liament at Weftminder, formed a military parliament, compofed of the oiRcers and common foldiers of each regiment. The principal oflicers formed a council, repre- fenting the body of peers ; while, as a fubflitution for the houfe of commons, the foldiers chofe from each troop or company two men, called Agitators of the army ^ Cromwell, who took care to be one of the number, thus contrived an eafy method of conducting and pro- moting underhand the feditious fpirit among the military malecontents.
7"his dangerous aflembly having debated for a fliort time, declared, that they found many grievances to be redreffed ; and they fpecified thofe proceedings of the par- liament, which mod fenfibly affeQed them. As the com- mons granted every requelt, tlie agitators rofe in rheir demands ; and while the former accufed the army of mu- tiny and defertion, the latter retorted with equal vehe- mence the charge of delinquency, and alleged that the king had been depofed only to make room for parlia- mentary ufurpation.
During thefe altercations, the unhappy king continued a prifoner at Holmby-callle ; and as his countenance might add fome authority to that fide which fliould ob- tain it, Cromwell, who fecretly condu61 ;d all the mea- fures of the army, though he affe6led to exclaim againft their violence, refolved to feize the king's perfon. Ac- cordingly a party of five hundred horfe appeared at Holmby-caftle, under the command of one Joyce, who had once been a taylor ; but who, in the prefent confuftd flate of the nation, was advanced to the rank of cornet. Armed with pillols, he, M'ithout any oppofition, entered the king's apartment, whom he defired to prepare and go
* Pari. Hi'fl-. vol. xv. p. 344. « Ruflu vol. vii. p. 485.
Clarendon, vol- v. p. 43.
I 1 with.
ii8 ^pe Hijlory of England,
AS), 1647. with him. " Whither ?" fald the king. " To the army j"
. replied Joyce. *' By what warrant ?" afked tiie king.
3d June. Joyce pointed to the foldiers, whom he had brought along; The hn^ tall, handfome, and well accoutred. " Your warrant, c'f' ^ replied Charles, is written in fair charadlers, legible with- ^ - ' out fpelling '^." The king then went into his coach, and
was fafely conducted to the army, who were haftening to their rendezvous at Triplo-Hcath near Cambridge. Next day Cromwell arrived among them, and, after being re- ceived with acclamations of joy, was unaninioufly invefted ivith the fupreme command.
The comimons nowfirft perceived a fettled defign in the army to ailert an authority over the paiiiament ; and this alarm they immediately communicated to the city. But it was to late to contend with a body of men, who were Cromnvell prepared, as well as refolved, to effefl their purpofe. The marches army, headed by Cromwell, advanced with precipitation, toiMards ^^^ arrived in a few days at St. Alban's ; fo that the the'head of coi"'^''^""^!"!^ thought it prudent to conciliate, if poffi'ole, the army, whom they had not power to overawe. The dcclaj-ation, by which they had voted the military enemies to the Ifate, was recalleJ, and erazed from their journals. Submif- fion, however, was become vain-, in proportion as the par- liament was actuated by timidity, the army rofe in their demands, until at laft they claimed a right of new-mo- delling the whole government, and fettliiig the nation.
Nothing could be more popular than this hoflility, which the army commenced againft the parliament. For, as much as that aflembly was once the idol of the nation, fo much was it now become the objedt of general hatred and averfion. The felf-denying ordinance had no longer been put in execution than till Eflex, Mancheller, "jailer, and the other officers of that party, had rcfigned their commiflions : it was immediately after laid afuie by tacit confent ; and the members, Oiaring among them all offices of power and profit, exercifed with impunity an oppreffive government over the nation. A fupply of a hundred thoufand pounds a-year could never be obtained by former kings from the jealous humour of parliaments ; but this aflembly, from the commencement of the war, according to fome computations, had levied, in five years, above forty millions'' ; yet were loaded with debts and in- cumbrances, which, during that age, were regarded as
c Whitlocke, p. 154, Warwick, p 299. ^ Clement
"VValKer's Hift, of the Two Juntos, p. 8.
Charles 7. Up
prodigious. Though thefe cnminitatlons be probably ex- aggerated, it is certain that the t.ixes ami impufitions were far higher than in any former llate of the Enghfli government. The difpofal of this money was likewife no lefs the objecl of general comphiint aj^ainft the parliament. It is anirmed, tliat they openly took, and divided among their own members, the fum of three hundred thoufand pounds *. The committees, to whom the management of the diileient branches of the revenue was entrulted, never brought in their accounts, and had unlimited power of Embezzle- fecretin^jT from the public trcafurc w hat fums they '"''" °' '^'* pleafcd ^ Thefe branches were unneceflarily multiplied, f""' '^'"^"'' in order to render the revenue more intricate ; to Ihare the advantages among greater numbers, and to conceal ihe frauds, of which they v,cre univerfally fufpec^ed^.
But what excited the molt general complaint was, the opprejlon unlimited tyranny of the county-cnmmittecs. During of the the war, the difcretionr.ry power of thefe courts was ex- <^o«''')'. cufed, from the plea of necefhty -, but this reafon no "»""'""'• longer fubfifting, the nation univerfally murmured at an inltitution which fet no bounds to its authority. Thefe courts could fequefler, fine, imprifon, and corporally punifli, without law or remedy. 'J'liey even interpofed iii queilions of private property. Under colour of malig- nancy, they exercifed vengeance againft their private ene- mies. To the obnoxious, and fouictimes to the innocent, they fold their protection. And inllead of one (lar- chamber, which had been aboliflied, a great number was anew erected, and invefled with more unlimited autho- rity ^
During fo great unpopularity of the parliament, the i6thjune encroachment of the military on the civil power was iheam-.j likely to give lefs alarm to the nation. But, left, too pre- <^^">^';<^i cipitate nn afliimption of autliority fliould appear invidi- ff,',/jiQ„gf ous, Cronuvell began by accufing eleven members of the eU'ven houfc of commons as guilty of high treafon, and enemies mtmbers. to the army, and evil couufellors to the parliijment. The members accufed were the le.ulers of the preftjyterian party, the very men who had prefdibed fiich vigorous mea- fures to the king. The commons were willing to protect them •, but the army infilling on their difmilhon, the ob- noxious members quitted the houfe. The army, for the prefent, feemed fatisfied with this mark of fubmiflion ' \
c Clement Walker's Hid. of Independency, p. 3. -^fiS. f Ibid. p. 8. 8 Id. ibid. ^ Ibid. p. 5. ' Rulh. vol. ii. p. 593, 594.
I 4 but
J20 ^he Hijlory of England.
but pretending that the parUament intended to levy war upon them, they requiied that all new levies ftiould be flopped ; and the parliament complied with this de- mand ''.
The army having thus attained its immediate object, in order to fave appearances, removed, at the defire of the parliament, to a diilance from London, and fixed their head quarters at Reading, whither they carried with them the king. This prince, though a captive, now found him- felf in a better fituation than at Holmby, and had not only attained a greater degree of freedom, but of confideration with both parties. The parliament, afraid of his form- ing fome accommodation with the army, addrefled him in a more refpecftful ftyle than formerly ; and invited him to refide at Richmond, and contribute his afliftance towards the fcttlement of the nation. The chief officers treated him with regard, and fpake on all occafions of reftoring him to his juit powers and prerogatives. In the public de- clarations of the army, the fettlemcnt of his revenue and authority was infifted on ' ; and the royalills every where entertained hopes of the relloration of monarchy. Fairfax it While Cromwell amufed the king with thefe expe£la- Appointed tions, he continued his fcheme of reducing the parlla- f^eneral of ment to fubjeclion. To gratify the army, the parliament the forces, i^vefled Fairfax vt-ith the title of general in chief of all the forces in England and Ireland ; and entrufted the whole military authority to a perfon entirely under the influence of Cromwell, who, by this means, enjoyed an opportunity of purfuing his ambitious projecls, without the hazard of immediately incurring the fufpicion of the parliament.
That no refource might be left to this aflembly, it was
demanded by the agitators that the militia of London
(liould be changed, the preibyterian commiffioners dif-
placed, and the command reftored to thofe who had ex-
ercifed it during the war. Tlie parliament complied even
with this demand, and paiied a vote in obedience to the
army"^.
*The aiy of While they were thus obliged to gratify the army in
London ^i. every requifition, they hoped to find a more favourable
lutons opportunity for recovering their authority and influence;
^t /„,:r. but the impatience oi the city lolt them all the advantage
oftU of their policy. A petition againd the alteration of the
viliiia.
July 20. ^ Rufhw. vol. vii. p. 572, 574. » Rufhw. vol. viii. p. 590,
^ Rufliw. vol. vii. p, 629, 6j2.
militia
zu
Charles I. I2i
Riilitia was carried to Weftminfter, attended by the ap' prentices and feditious multitude, who bcfieged the doo^ of the houfe of commons; where, by clamour and vio- lence, they extorted a reverfai of that vote which liad been fo lately palTed. No Iboner was intelligence of this tu- mult conveyed to Reading, than the army was put in mo- tion, and marched towards London, under the pretence 7-;^^ ^^^j, of vindicatinjT the invaded privileges of parliament, and marches lo- reftoring to that alfdmbly its freedom of debate and coun- 'ujarJs fel. In their way, they were drawn up on Hounflow- ^""^""^ heath-, a formitluble body, twenty thoufand ftrong, and determined, without regard to laws or liberty, to procure ■whatever meafures their generals (hould di6late to them. The fpeakers of the two houfes, Manehefher and Lenthal, j-, n,gah. . attended by eight peers, and about fixty commoners, hav- en of t/ie ing fecretly retired from the city, prefcnted themfelves two houfa with their maces, and all the enfigns of their dignity; meetthe and complaining of the violence put upon them, applied %"^^ °^„ to the army for defence and protedlion. They were re- Hiath. ceived with (liouts and acclamations ; refpe6t was paid to them as the parliament of England ; and the army, liav- ing now the pretext of public authority, advanced to chaf- tife the rebellious citizens, and to re-inftate the violated parliaments'.
Neither Lenthal nor Manchefter were efleemed inde- pendents ; and fueh a ftep in them was unexpected. But they probably forefaw, that the aimy mull in the end pre- vail; and they were willing to fecure the favour of that growing authority, which they were unable to oppofe.
The fame, however, was not the general difpofition of The par- the parliament. Freed from their temporizing meafures, ^^^f^^f ^e- aud obll;icd to refijfn, at once, or contend for their liberty '/''■"""^•^ and power, they prepared themieives v/ith vigour lor de- the armv. fence, and determined to refift the violence of the army. The two houfes immediately chofe new fpeakers, lord Hunfdon, and Henry Pelham : they renewed their former orders for enlifting troops: they appointed Mafley to be commander ; they ordered the trained bands to man the lines ; and the whole city refounded with military prepa- rations '". But this apparent refolution abated as the army advanced ; and when the formidable force of Cromwell appeared, all was obedience and fubmilhon : the gates were opened to the general, who attended the two
I Rufliw. vol. viii, p. 750. Clarendon, vol. v. p. C3. niRuftiw.
vol. vii. p. 646.
fpeakers
12 2. 5"^^ Hijtory of England.
fpeakerSj and the refl of the members, peaceably to their
habitations. The eleven impeached members being ac-
cufed as authors of the tumult, were expelled, and mofl
The army of them retired to the continent. The mayor, fherifF,
fubJues lie ^^^ three aldermen, were fent to the Tower -, feveral ci-
far.ia • jj^ens, and ofhcers of militia, were committed to prifon ;
and the lines about the city were levelled to the j^round.
The command of the Tower was given to Fairfax, the
general ; and the parliament voted him their hearty thanks
for having difobeyed their commands.
en.. i;«™ ;, The leaders of the army, havinc eflabliflied their domi- j rte King iS I-1 111-
brought to nion over the parliament and city, brougnt the king to
Hampton- Hampton-court, where he lived for fome time with an ap- court, pearance of dignity and freedom. The parliament re-: newed their applications to him, and prefented him with the fame conditions, which they had offered at Newcaftle; but he declined accepting them ; and defired the parlia- ment would take into confideratiou the propofals of the army, and make them the foundation of the public fet- tlement ". He had at once hopes, that, in the ftruggles for power been the army and parliament, he might be chol'en mediator in the difpute -, and he expected that the kingdom, at lail, fenfible of the miferies of anarchy, would return to its former conftitution. Under all his anxiety, however, fuch was his admirable equality of temper, that no difference was perceived in his countenance or behaviour, and though a captive in the hands of his inveterate ene- mies, he Hill fupported the dignity of a monarch. At firft, he was treated with fome marjcs of diftin£tion. He ■was permitted to converfe with his old fervants; his chaplains were admitted to him, and celebrated divine fervice according to the rites of the church of England. But the greateft pleafure he enjoyed was in the company of his children, with whom he had feveral interviews. The meeting on thefe occafions was fo pathetic, that Cromwell himfelf, w^ho was once prefent, could not help being moved. He was heard to declaie, that he had never before beheld fo affe£ling a fcene. fruJ/'j ^*^ fooner had the army gained a complete victory over emiffa- ' t^^ houfe of commons than the independents began to ries per- abate of their expreffions of duty and refpe6l towards the . fuade\the king. He was now, therefore, more flriclly guarded : king of his ^^^^ would hardly permit his domeftics to converfe with 'd'^nl^r. ^^"^ '" private ; and fpies were employed to mark all hrs words and aflions. By Cromwell's contrivancej he was
f- Rufliw. vol. viii. p. 810.
every
Charles I. 1 2 j
every hour threatened with falfe dangers ; by which he was taught to fear for hisperfonal fafety ; and on this ac- count, he at length formed the refolution of withdrawing himfolf from the army ; though without nny concerted fchemc for the future difpofal of his pcrfon. Croniwcll con- fidered, that, if Charles fhould efcape from the kingdom, there would be then a theatre open for realizing his own am- bitions projc(fts j or if the unfortunate monarch, fiiould be apprehended in his flight, the attempt would aggravate his guilt, and apologize for any fucceeding fevcrity.
Early in the evening the king retired to his chamber, on pretence of being indil'pofed : and about an hour after niidniglit he went down the back-i1;nirs, attended only by Afliburnham and Legg, both gentlemen of his bed-cham- ber. Sir John Berkeley waited for him at the garden-gate rjf,g y,„ with horfes, which they inllantly mounted, and travel- pnuately ling through the forefl all night, arrived next day at 7"'^^ Tichileld, the feat of the earl of Southampton. Before ^1^"*^^/°" he arrived at this place, he had gone to the fea-coafl ; and ^,"jJ,fj(f exprefled great anxiety that a ihip, which Afhburnham ;/,^ ;,7^^ had undertaken to have in readinefs, was not to be iccn. JFi^hi. At Tichfield he deliberated with his friends upon his next Nov. xi. excurfion ; and it was propofed that he fliould crofs over to the Iflc of Wight, the governor of wliich was Ham- mond ; who, though a creature of Cromwell's, was yet a nephew of one Dr. Hammond, the king's chr.plain. To this inaufpicious prote(fl:or, no other expedient ap- pearing preferable, it was refolved to have recourfe. Afli- burnham and Berkeley were difpatched before, to exadl from this ofBcer a promife, that if he would not protecT: the king, he would at leaft not detain him. Hammond, though he alleged his duty to the parliament, under which he held his commifl'ion, exprefled a flrong inclination to ferve his m^ijefly ; and upon the credit of this empty af- furance, Afliburnham, imprudently, if not treachcroufly brought Hammond with a guard of foldiers to Tichfield, where he waited in a lower apartment, while the former went up to the king's chamber. Cliarles no fooner un- dcrftood that Hammond was in the houfe with a body of troops, than he exclaimed, '*0 Jack ! tliou hafl undone mc." Without farther delay, however, he put himfclf into the governor's hands, and departed for Carifbroke caflle in the Ifle of Wight, where, though received with great de- monflrations of refpe£l and duty, he was in reality a pri- Ibner. ' 7 While
124 ^^''^ Hi ft or y of England.
While the king continued in this forlorn fituatlon, the parliament was every day becoming more feeble and fac- tious. Cromwell, on the other hand, was ftrengthening the army, and taking every precaution to reprefs any mu- tinous difpoiition; which, had it not been for the quick- nefs of his difcernment, and the vigour of his exertion, muft have broke forth with ungovernable fury. At firft, in order to engage the troops into a rebellion againll their mailers, he had encouraged an arrogant fpirit among the inferior officers and private men, who had thus become llrongly tainted with principles fubverfive of government. To wean the foldicrs from tliofe licentious maxims, Crom- well had ilTued orders for difcontinuing the meetings of the agitators ; and he ailecSled to pay an implicit obedience to the parliament, which, being now fully reduced to fub- jecfion, he purpofed to make, for the future, the inflru- nicnt of his authority.
Among the independents, who, in general, oppofed ecdefiaftical fubordination, arofe a fet of men, called The Level- Levellers, who difallovved all fubordination whatever, and iin. declared that they would have no other chaplain, king, or
general but Jelus Chrilt. They maintained that all men were ecjual ; that ail degrees and ranks in fociety ought to be levelled, and an exad partition of property eftablifhed in the nation. This ferment, originally the work of Cromwell himfclf, now operated with fo much violence, as to threaten the total extintlion of his authority ; and he therefore determined, by one refolute blow, to annihilate the fa£lion, or perifh in the attempt. Having intimation that the levellers were to meet at a certain place, he unex- peftedly appeared before the aflembly, at the head of his red regiment, which had been hitherto invincible. He demanded, in the name of God, what they meant by thofe feditious meetings j he expollulated with them upon the dangerous confequences of fuch chimerical do6lrines as thofe which they maintained, and he defired them im- mediately to depart. But, inftead of obeying, they re- turned an iiifolent anfwer : wherefore, rufhing furioufly on them, he laid, with his own hands, two of them dead at his feet. His guards difperfing the reft, he caufed fe- reral of them to be hanged on the fpot ; and others he fent prifoners to London. By this vigorous condud, the diforder was fupprelled, and the army returned to its wonted difcipline and obedience °.
* Rulhw. vol, viil. p. 87^. Clarendon, vol. v. p. 87.
This
Charles I.
125
This a£lion increafed the autliority of Cromwell, both A I).i6vS.
in the camp and in the parliament ; and while Fairfax was
nominally general of the troops, the former was veiled with all power. But, in confecjuence of new and unex- pected fuccefles, his authority foon became irrefillible. The Scots, perhaps afliamed at the reproach of having The Scott fold their king, and farther ftimulatcd by the indepen- ii'vaJe dents, who took every occafion to mortify them, raifed an P^s'^'x^t army in favour of the captive monarch. The command 'j',"Vji 01 It was given to the duke or Hamilton, who immedi- Cromwell, ately invaded England ; where he was joined by a body •■uuhope- of forces, under the command of fir Marmaduke Lang- f^eirates dale. Their two armies amounted to about twenty thou- '""' j^'"''^- fand men. But Cromwell, at the head of eight thoufand of his hardy veterans, feared not to give them battle. He attacked tliem one after the other, routed and difperfed them, made Hamilton prifoner, and following his blow, entered iScotland, v/here he fettled the government en- tirely to his fatisfa£lion. An infurreclion in Kent was quelled by Fairfax, at the fam'e time, with equal facility ; and the criminal attempts of this daring ufurper were every where crowned with fuccefs.
While the forces were employed in different quarters, the parliament regained its liberty, and began to act with its wonted courage. The members who, from terror of the army, had withdrawn, now returned ; and infufing boldnefs into their companions, reftored to the prefbytc- rian party the afcendant, which it had formerly loft. The eleven impeached members were recalled; the vote, by ■which they were expelled, was rcverfcd; and commii- fioners, compofed of five peers and ten commoners, were fcnt to Newport in the Ifle of Wight, in order to treat with the king f.
The firil point infifted on by the parliamentary com- Treaty of tiiifTioners, was the king's recalling all his proclamations ^^e^uport. and declarations againft the parliament, and the acknow- ^^^' ' leging that they had taken arms in tlieir own defence. He frankly agreed to the former requifition ; but long fcrupled the latter ; the falfehood and indignity of which begat in his bread an extreme reluctance againft it. But the parliament, fenfible that the letter of the law con- demned them as rebels and traitors, deemed this point abfolutely requifite for their own fecurity ; and the king,
p Clarendon, vol. v. p. 180. Sir EJw.nrd Walker's perfcft Copies, p. 6.
finding
126 ^e Hi/lory of England.
finding that peace could be obtained on no other terms, at la(t yielded to it. He only entered a protcft, which was admitted, that no conceiTion, made by him, fliould be 'valid, unlefs the treaty of pacification were con- cluded''.
He agreed that the parliament fliould retain, during twenty years, the power over the militia and army ; with that of levying money for the fupport of both thofe eftablifliments. He even yielded to them the right of refuming, at any time afterwards, this authority, when- ever they fliould declare fuch a refumption neceflary for the public fervice. In effcdt, the important power of the fword was for ever raviflied from him and his fucceffbrs *■.
He agreed that all the great offices, during the twenty years, fliould be filled by both houfes of parliament*. He relinquiflied to them the entire government olIreland,and the conduct of the war there*. He renounced the power of the wards, and accepted of one hundred thoufand pounds a year in lieu of it". He acknowleged the vali- dity of their great-feal, and gave up his own *. And he abandoned the power of creating peers without confent of parliament.
Of all the demands of the parliament, Charles refufed only two. Though he relinquiflied ahnoft every power of the crown, he would neither give up his friends topunifh- mcnr, nor defert what he eHeemed his religious duty.
The parliament iiififtcd on the eftablifhmcnt of prefl^y- tery, the faleof the chapter-lands, the abolition of all form* of prayer, and a rigorous execution of the laws againfl: Catholics. The king offered to retrench every thing, which he did not efteem of apoftolical inftitution: he was willing to abolifh archbifliops, deans, prebendaries, and canons : he offered that the chapter-lands fliould be let at low leafes during ninety-nine years: he confented that the prefent church government fhould continue during three years y ; after which time, he required not that any thing fliould be reftored to the bifhops but the power of ordina- tion, and even that power to be exercifed by advice of the prelbyters^. If the parliament, upon the expiration of that period, flill infilled on their demand, all other branches of epifcopaljurifdidionwere tobeabolifhcd,andanewform of government muft, by common confent, be cftablifhed.
•J Walker, p. 45. ''Ibid. p. 51. s Ibid. p.
78. t Ibid. p. 45. " Ibid. 69, 77- » Ibid. p.
56. 62. y Ibid. p. 29, 35,49. ^ Ibid, p. 65.
The
Charles L 1 2 j
The book of Common Prayer he was vvIlUng to renounce, but required tlie liberty of ufing fome other liturgy in his own chapel*; a demand, which, though fetrmingly re- fonable, was pofitively refufed by the parliament.
In the difpute on thefe articles,one of the parliamentary theologians told the king, " that if he did not confcnt to the utter abolition of epifcopacy, he would be damned." From an enthufiaftic individual, fuch rudencjfs may not appear furprifing ; but it is not without fome indignation, that we read the following vote of the lords and com- mons. " The houfes, out of their deteftation to that abominable idolatry ufed in the mafs, do declare, that they cannot admit of, or confent unto, any fuch indulgence in any law, as is defired by his majelly for exempting the queen and her family from the penalties to be enabled againll the exercife of the mafs ''."
It was the intereft, both of king and parliam.ent, to finifh their treaty with all expedition ; and endeavour, by their combined force, to refill, if pofiTible, the ufurpations of the army. But fo great was the bigotry on both fides, that they were willing to facrifice the greatefl civil in- terells rather than relinquiili the moft minute of their theological contentions. From thefe caufes, aflifled by the artifice of the independents, the treaty was fpun out to fuch a length, that the invafions and infurre^lions were every where fubdued ; and the army, fenfible of their own power, began, with furious remonflrances, to demand vengeance on the king. They advanced to Windfor ; and „.. ,. fending an officer to ieize the king's perfon, he was con- f^i^f^ veyed to Huril-caftle inHampfhlre, oppofitc to the Ifle of again by Wight. This meafure having been forefeen fome time the army. before, the king was exhorted to make his efcape, which, it was conceived, might be eafily effecled. But having given his word to the parliament not to attempt the re- covery of his liberty during the negociation, and three weeks after, he would not, by any perfuafion, be in- duced to violate that promife.
In vain did the parliament attempt to aflsrt their autho- rity, by exprefhng their difapprobation of feiziiig the king's perfon; in vain did they ifi'ue orders that the army {hould advance no nearer London. They received ffom Cromwell a meflage, that he intended paying them a vi-
a Walker, p. 75, 82. Rulhw. vol. viii. p. 1323. •* Wal-
ker, p. 71.
fit
128 ' ^be E'ljiory of England,
fit next day with his army; and in the mean time, ordered them to raife him forty thoufand pounds upon the city.
The commons, however, though deftitute of all hopes of prevailing, had ftill courage to refifl, and attempted, in the face of the whole army, to clofe their treaty with the king. They had taken into confideiation all his con- ceflions; and though, they had formerly voted them unfa- tisfaclory, they now renewed the confultation with frefli vigour. After a violent debate, which lafled three days, it was carried in the king's favour by a majority of a bun- dled and twenty-nine againft eighty-three, that his con- ceflions were a foundation forthehoufes to proceed upon, in the fettlement of the kingdom. This was the laft at- ^ , tempt in his favour ; for the next day, colonel Pride, for- tu%eil "^^'"V '^ drayman, furrounded the houfc with two regi- Dec. 6, ments, and feizing in the paflage forty-one members of the prefbyterian party, fent them to a low room, which pafled by the denomination of Hell. Above a hundred and fixty members more were excluded ; and none were allowed to enter but the mod furious and mofl determined of the independents, in all not exceeding fixty. This atrocious invafion of parliamentary rights commonly paiT- cd under the name of colonel Pride's purge, and the re- maining members received the appellation of the Rump. Proceedings The fubfequent proceedings of the parliament, if this vfthe diminutive afTembi j deferve that honourable name, retained
rump far- not the leaft appearance of law, equity, or freedom. They ament, inflantiv reverfed the former vote ; declared the king's conceflions unfatisfadory ; and determined that no mem- ber, ab fent at this' laft vote, fliould be received, until he fubfcribed to it, as agreeable to his judgment. They alfo committed to prifon, fir William Waller, fir John Clot- worthy, and other leaders of the prefbyterians. Thefe men, by their credit and authority, had, at the commence- ment of the war, fupported the parliament ; and thereby prepared the way for the greatnefs of the prcfent leader?, who, at that time, were of fma'l account in the nation. The fecluded members having publiihed a paper, contain- ing a narrative of the violence, which had been exercifed upon them, and a proteftation, that all a£ls were void, which, from that time, had been tranfacled in the houfe of commons; the remaining members encountered it with a declaration, in which they pronounced it falfe, fcanda- lous, fcditious, and tending to the fubverfion of govern- ment. J
The
Charl:s T, ,j2^
The conflltutlon, both civil and ecclcfiafllciil, of tlie kingdom being dcltroye*^, nothing now remained to bc perpetrated by tlwle dtfpcratc aflbciatcs, but the heiglit ot' all iniquity and fanatical extravajjance, the public trial and execution of their foverclgn. To this confummation of guilt was every meafure precipitated by the 7:calou3 inde- pendents. The leaders of the aflembly, wlilcii now de- graded the name of parliament, and which was compofed of a medley of the mofl obfcurc citizens, and the military olhcers, had intended that the army alone flibuld CACcute tiiis daring enterprise. But the generals were too wife tcJ load themfelves fingly with the infamy, which, they knewj mud attend an a£lion fo (hocking to the general fentimcnts of mankind; The parliament, they were refolvcd, fliould flnre with them the reproach of that criminal mtiafure. In the houfe of commons, therefore, a committee was . appointed to bring in a charge againPc the king. On their j\J'y^J^ ' report a vote p.ifl'ed, declaring it trcafon in a king, to levy thekinnfct war againfl his parliament, and appointing a higli court of hi^hinu- jullice to try his majtfly for this r.e\y invented trcafon. 1°"' For form fake, they deli red the concurrence of the i'tvr remaining lords in the other houfe, where virtue enough was yet left unanimoufly to reject the liorrid propofal.
But the commons were not to be flopped in their furi* A D.r6<'o. ous career by fo fmall an obflacle. They voted, that the — » "'"<» concurrence of the houfe of lords was unnecefiary; they voted, that the people was the origin of all juO; power ; r principle, which, tliough admitted, could never eilablilli their own authority. To confirm their refolution, a wo- •tnan of Herefordfliire, illuminated by prophetical vifions, defircd admittance into the council, and communicated i revelation, which afTured them, that their meafureg were confecrated from above, and ratified by the fanQion of the Holy Ghofl. This intelligence gave them great comfort, and incteafed the zeal with which they profecuted their purpofe.
Colonel Harrlfon, the fon of a butcher, and the moft fui'l-*' ous enthufiaft in the army, was fent with a ftrong party to conducSl the king to London. His a{Hi(£lcd fubjeds, who ran to have a fight of their fovereign, were greatly afFedcd at the change which appeared in his face and per- fon. He had allowed his beard to grow; his hair was become venerably grey, rather by the load of anxiety, which he had fuftered, than by the hand of Time ; and his whole afpe£l bore the nnrks of great misfortune. He; had long been attended only by an old decrepit fcrvant,
Vol/IL K vrhof*
"130 The Htjlory of En^lami. ,
W'liofe name xvas fir Philip Warwick, who could only de- plore his mailer's fate, without being able to revenge his caufe. All the exterior fymbolsof fovereignty were now withdrawn ; and his new attendants had orders to ferve him without ceremony. The duke of Hamilton, who was referved for the fame puniftiment with his mafter, having leave to take a laft farewell as the king departed from VVindfor, threw himfelf at his majefty's feet, cry- iug out, " My dear marter !" The unhappy monarch, raifing him up, and embracing him tenderly, replied, ■while the tearj;ran down his cheeks, " I have indeed been a dear mafter to you." ^he \ing Charles himfelf was aflured, that the period of his life is brought was approaching ; but he could not even yet believe, that to London. ]iJs enemies meant to conclude their violence by a public trial and execution. A private affalhnation was what he every moment expe£ted.
From the 6th to the 2Cth of January, was fpent in making preparations for his extraordinary trial. The court of jullice confided of one hundred and thirty-three per- fons, as named by the commons ; but of thcfe never above feventy met upon the trial. The greater part confided of the chief officers of the army, moll of them of very mean birtli, with fome of the lower houfe, and a few ci- tizens of London. The twelve judges were at firll a{>- pointcd in the number ; but as they had affirmed, that it was contrary to all the ideas of Englifh law to prefer an im- peachment of treafon againfl the king, by whofe autho- rity every accufation for treafon mud necefTarily be con- dueled, their names, as well as thofe of fome peers, were afterwards druck out. Bradfliaw, a lawyer, was chofen prefident ; Coke was appointed folicitor for the people of England; Doriflaus, Steele, and Afke, were named af- fidants. The court fat in Weilminder-hall.
When the cryer, in reciting the names of the commif- fioners, pronounced that of Fairfax, which had been iii- ferted in the number, a female voice from the gallery was heard to cry out, '* He has more wit than to be here." When the charge was read againd the king, in the name of the people of England, the fame voice exclaimed, *' No, nor a tenth part of them," Axtel, the otlicer who guarded the court, giving orders to fire into the box, whence the voice proceeded, it was difcovered that thefe bold aiifwers came from lady Fairfax, who atone had cou- rage to condemn their proceedings.
When
'Charles I.
I3t
%hen the king was brought forward before the court, 7-^^ ^,;„ . tie was concluded by the mace-bearer to a chair placed tnal,'"^ ' within the bar. Though long detained a priloiiei, and row produced as a criimnal, he fuRained the digr-tvof a monarch : he furveycd the members of the court with a ilern haughty air, and, without moving his hat, fit down, "while the members alfo were covered. His charge was then read by the folicitor, accufing him of having been the caufe of all the bloodflied which followed fince the commencement of the war ; at which part of the charge he could not fupprefs a fmile of contempt and indigna- tion. After the charge was finifhed, Bradfhaw direded his difcourfe to the king, and told him, that the court cxpeQed his anfwer.
The king, with great temper and dignity, entered upon his defence, by declining the authority of the court. He reprefented, that, having been engaged in treaty with his two houfes of parliament, and having finiflbed almoft every article, he had expedled to be brought to his capital in another manner, and before this time, to have been re- Itored to his legal rights. He perceived, he faid, no ap- pearance of an upper houfe, fo eflential a part of the con- ftitution ; and had learned, that even the commons, whofe authority was pretended, had been fubdued by lawlefs force : that himfelf was the king and fountain of law, and confequently could never be tried by laws to whicli he had never given his aiTent: that having been entrufted with the liberties of the people, he would not now betray them, by recognizing a power founded in ufurpation : that even to them, his pretended judges, and to the whole world, he was willing, if called Upon in another manner, to prove the integrity of his condud ; but that before them he muft decline any apology, left he ftiould be con- fidered as. the betrayer, inftead of being applauded as the martyr, of the conftitution.
Bradfhaw, in order to fupport the authority of the court, Jan. zp Infifted that they had received their authority from the people, the only fource of every lawful power. He preflcd the prifoner not to decline the authority of the court, that ■was delegated by the commons of England, and inter- rupted, and over-ruled the king in his attempts to reply.
Three times was the king thus produced before the court, and as often declined its jurifdltSlion. On the fourth, the judges having examined fome wltnefTes, by whom it was proved, that the king had appeared in arms
K 2 againft
1^2 7he Hijlory of England,
againd the forces commiffioned by the parliament, they pronounced fentence againft him. He feemed very anxious, at this time, to be admitted to a conference with the two houfcs ; and it was fuppofed, that he intended to refign the crown to his fon ; but the court refufed com- pliance, and confidered his requeft as an artifice to fuf- pend their proceedings.
The whole condutl of the king, during this laft fcene of his life, was great, firm, and equal. In going through the hall from this execrable tribunal, the foldiers and rab- ble were inftigated to cry out jullice and execution ! They reviled him with the mod bitter reproaches. Some of them went the utmofh length of brutal infolence, and fpit in his face. He patiently bore their infolence. *' Poor fouls," cried he, " they would treat their generals in the fame manner for fix pence "=." Thofe of the populace, who yet retained the feelings of humanity, exprefied their forrow in fighs and tears. The king was foftened at this moving fcene, and exprefled his gratitude for their dutiful affection. One foldicr, in particular, implored a blefling. on his royal head. An officer, over-hearing him, ftruck him ro the ground in prefence of the king, who could not help faying, that the puni(hment exceeded the offence. r • As foon as the intention of trying the king was known
przvenitt. i" foreign countries, it was exclaimed againft by the gc- tercedefor neral voice of reafon and humanity. The French ambaf- the king. f:^dor, by orders from his court, interpofed in the king's behalf : the Dutch employed their good offices : the Scots exclaimed and protefted againft the violence ; and the queen and prince wrote pathetic letters to the parliament ; but all entreaties were vain with men who were fixed in their refolutions of extirpating monarchy. Tourhuif ^our of the king's friends, men of virtue and dignity, t.'ie kiafs Pvichmond, Hertford, Southampton, and Lindefey, ap- cour.feliort, plied to the commons. They reprefented that they were' rtquefl to ^^ king's counfellofs, and had concurred, by their advice, be punii ed j^^ __^ thofe meafures, which were now imputed as crimes ruom- to their royal mafter : that in juftice they only were guilty,
and ought alone to be punifhed for any blameable a£tion of the prince : and that they now prefented themfelves, in order to fave, by their own puniflmaent, that precious life, which it became the commons themfelves, and every fubjeft, to defend''. ;So generous an effort reflc6ted ho-
c RuHiw, vol. viii. p. 1425. * Pernicljef, p. 85. Lloyde,
p. 319.
nour
Charles I. j - .
nour on tliofe who made it, but contrlbatctl noiliiiifr to- wards refcuing the king from the hands of his eiicniici.
Three days were allowed the king between his fcntcnce and execution. This interval pafled with great tranq'iil- lity, chiefly in reading and devotion, in which he \v,u^ af- fifted by Dr. Juxon, Lite bifhop of London. All liis fa- mily, that remained in England, were allowed acccfs to him. It confided only of the princefs Elizabeth and the duke of Gloucefter. Gloucefter was little more than an ^ infant. The princefs, notwithftanding her tender years, (hewed an advanced judgment ; and the calamities of her family had made a deep impreffion upon her. After manv feafonable exhortations to his daughter, he took his little fon in his arms, and embracing him, "My cb.ild," faiil he, " they will cut oif thy father's head ; yes, they will cut off my head, and make thee a king. But mark what I fay, thou muft not be a king as long as thy brothers, Charles and James, are alive. They will cut ofl' thy bro- thers heads, when they can catch them ; and thy head too they will cut off at laft. Therefore I charge thee, do not be made a king by them." The child, buriling into tears, replied, " I will be torn in pieces firfl."
Every night, during this interval, the king flept found as ufual j though the noife of the workmen, employed ia framing the fcaffold, continually refounded in his ears ^» The morning of the fatal day, he rofe early ; and calling for Herbert, one of his attendants, he bade him tmploy more than ufual care in dreffing him, and preparing him for fo great and joyful a.folemnity.
To aggravate the puniflmient, the place deflined for tlie The king''s execution was the ftreet before Whitehall, lie was led ^•v^<'«"'o«. through the Banqueting lioufe to the fcaffold, which ad- ■'^"' ^^' joined to that edifice j attended by his friend and fervant bifliop Juxon, a man endowed with the fame mild and fleady virtues, which fo much diflinguiflied his mailer. The fcaffold, which was covered with black, was guarded by a regiment of foldiers, under the command of colonel TomHnfon ; and on it were to be it&n the block, the ax, and two executioners in mafques. The people in great crowds flood at fome diftance, in dreadful expedlation of the event. The king furveyed all thefe folemn prepara- tions with compofure ; and as he could not expe£l to be Iieard by the people at a dift'ance, he addrelfed hlmfelf to ^he few perfons who flood round him. lie jullified his
e Clement Walker's Hlftory of Independency,
K 3 «^vn
1 24 T^he Hi/lory of England.
own innocence in the late fatal wars, and obferved, tli?^fe he had not taken arsns until after the parliament had inr lifted forces; nor had he any other objc£l in his military operations, than to prefcrve entire that authority, which his predeceflbrs had tranfmitted to him. Though inno- cent towards his people, he acknowleged the equity of his execution in the eyes of his Maker, and obferved, that au unjuft fentence, which he had fuffered to take efFe6l, was now puniflied by an unjuft fentence upon himfelf. He forgave all his enemies, exhorted the people to return to obedience, and acknowlege his fon as his fucceflbr; de- claring, at the fame time, his attachment to the Protef- tant religion, as profefled in the church of England. So llrong was the impreflion of his dying words upon the few who could hear him, that even colonel Tomlinfon, to whofe care he had beep committed, acknowleged hinlfeif a convert.
While he was preparing himfelf for the block, bifliop Juxon called out to him, " There is, fir, but one ftage more, which, though turbulent and troublefome, is yet a very flioit one. Confider, it will foon carry you a great way. It will carry you from earth to heaven ; and there fhall you find, to your great joy, the prize to which you haflen, a crown of glory." '* I go," replied the king, ** froni a corruptible to an incorruptible crown ; where no difturbance can have place-" *' You exchange," re- joined the bilhop, *' a temporal for an eternal crown, a good exchange." The king:, having taken off his cloak, delivered to the prelate his George, accompanied with the word, " Remember." He then laid his neck on the block; and ftre^hirig out his hand as a fignal, his head ■was fevered from his body at a blow, by one of the exe-> cutioners ; and the other, holding It up, exclaimed, ** This is the head of a traitor."
Never were aftoniflmient, grief, and indignation more ftrongly excited than by thecataftrophe of this unfortunate prince. The i^ eclatcrs teftified their horror in figh§, tears, and lamentations ; and the whole nation was quickly overwhelmed with forrow for the dreadful event. The people, in proportion to their former delufions, re- turned now with violence to duty and afFe£lion ; while each reproached himfelf, either with aQive difloyalty to- wards the king, or a criminal con^pliance with his de- tlroyers. The very pulpits, which ufed to refound with infolence and fedition, were bedewed v;ith tears of un- feigned repentance ; and all men united in the d,eteflation
I of
The Commonwealth* ^-^c
of tliofc dark hypocrites, who had To long dlf;folfed their treafons under ianclified pretences, and had, in this laft act of atrocious guilt, thrown an intlelible Itain upon the nation.
Charles was executed in the forty-ninth year of his age, and the twenty-fourth of his reign. He was of a middle ftature, robufl, and well proportioned. His vifagc was pleafing, but melancholy ; and he excelled in horfeman- fhip and other exercifes.
The character of Cliarles is fo obvious from the detail Hisc'ia- of his reign, that it (lands in no need of being particularly r^^^er. developed by the hiftorian. In his private morals, he was unblemiflicd and exemplary ; and, in his public conduct, he may juflly be faid to have r.-.ther been unhnppy than worthy of cenfure. It was his misfortune to live in a time, when the precedents of many former reigns favoured ftrongly of arbitrary power, and the genius of the people ran violently towards liberty ; and even now, it is difhculc to determine \Wiat conduct, in his circumftances, could have maintained the authority of the crown, and preferved the peace of the nation.
CHAP. vnr.
From the Death of Charles I. to the Rcjiorai'ion.
'T'HE parliament, for fo mull we continue to call a A.D,i64a. •*■ fmall and inconfiderable part of the houfe of com- n
mons, having murdered their fovereign under the pretence 7 he par- ol juftice, began to aflume more the air of a legal power, ^"'"'"^ and to enlarge a little the narrow bottom upon which they ^o//«f// 1/ flood. Of the excluded members, they admitted afew^^/^, of fuch as were liable to leaft exception ; but on condi- tion that thefe fliould Hgn an approbation of whatever had been done in their abfence with regardto the king's trial. Some willingly accepted a Ihare of power on fnch terms; but the greater part refufed to comply. They ifiued fomc writs for new elections, in places where they hoped to have intereft enough to bring in their own friends and de- pendents. They named a council of ftate, confifting of thirty-eight members, who received all addrefl'cs, who gave orders to all generals and admirals, v.'ho executed the laws, and who digeftcd all bufinefs before it was intro- duced into parliament. They pretended to employ thcm- felves entirely in adjufling the laws, forms, and plan of a new reprefentative j and as foon as they fliould have fet- ,
K 4 tied
13$ • ^he Hi/lory of England,
tied tlie nation, they profefled au intention of reiloring the power to the people, from whom, they acknowlegcd, they had entirely derived it.
The commons pubhflied a proclamation, forbidding all , perfons, on pain of incurring the penalty of higli treafon, to acknovvlege Charles Siuarr, eldefb fon of the late king, as fovcreign of England. They likewife voted the houTe pf lords uCelcfs and dangerous. It was theiefore aboli (li- ed, and all the peers reduced to a level with their fellow- fubjedls. They afterwards pafied an a6l abolifiiing the kingly power ; and decreed, that the ftate fiiould hence- forth be governed by the reprefentatives of the people, fitting in the hpufe of commons, under the form of a re- public. A great feal was made, on one fitie of which was engraved the arms of England and Ireland, with this infcription : *' The Great-feal of England." On the re- verfe was reproftntcd the houfe of commons fitting, with this inotto, *• On the firfl year of freedom, by God's blelhng rellored, 1648." It was committed to the charge of a certain number of perfons, intitled, the Conferva- tors of the Liberty of England ; and all public orders were expedited in their names, under the direction of parliament.
Another high court of jufllce was creeled, of which Cradfliaw was again chofcn prefident, and they proceeded, to try fome noblemen who remained in culbody, for the attachment which they had Ihown to their late fovereign. The perfons devoted to death by this tribunal were, the duke of Hamilton, the earl of Holland, the lord Goring, whom the king had created earl of Norwich, lord Capel, and fir John Owen, all accufed of having carried arms againlt the parliament. The duke of Hamilton had made Ills efcape, and was difcovered by accident in the borough of Southwark, whence he was conveyed to the Tower. At his trial, he pleaded that he was net a fubjecl of Eng- land, but a prifoner of war, taken in open hoflility, ad- ing by virtue of a commilhon from the parliament of his own country. The court told him, that he was tried as earl of Cambridge j and that, having accepted this title, and fat in the Englifii parliament, he was become a fub-. je(£l of England. The earl of Holland, being opprefled with age and infirmities, made very little defence. The carl of Norwich faid, he had been bred from his youth in the court, and received many obligations from his majeily, whom he thought it w^s his duty to obey. Lord Cape! refufed to acknowlege the jurifdidlion of the court-, and
claime4
The Commonwealth, j^7
claimetl a f.iir trial by his peers, if he had done any thing contrary to the laws. Srj- John Owen laid he had fcrved the king according to his confcience, and the oath of al- legiance he had taken. They were all convidted, and con- demned to lofe their heads- Sir John Owen, hearing rhc fentence, thanked the coart, witli a profound reverence, for adjudging him to fo honourable a d^:ath ; and fwore, by God ! he was afraid they would have ordered him to be hanged like a felon. Their friends petitioned the par- liament in their behalf; ami the earl of Norwich, with fir John Owen, was reprieved. The duke, when he mounted Execui'ton the fcaffbld, complained bitterly of the fentence, by which of the duke he fuffered death for obeying orders which he could not "J tiamil- have rejedlied, without incurring the penalty of high trea- *i^''i^"'\ fon. Lord Capel, in a fpeeca to the people, extolled the ' ^ * virtues of their murdered fo'vereign, and exhorted them to acknowlege, as fuccellbr to the crown, his Ion the prince of Wales, whom he recommended as a prince of great hopes. Several other unfortunate royalifts were executed in diiTerent parts of the kingdom -, among ■whom was Poyer, who, wiih Powell and Langhorn, had raifcd an infurreclion in Wales for the king's Icr- vice.
The prince of Wales, now in the eighteenth year of his Charles 11. age, refided at the Hague, where he received the melan- ^^folves lo choly tidings of his father's death. He immediately af- ^-'^ . fumed the title of kinjj ; and all thofe who attended him, /^ /, ,■ and had been members of his father's council, vi-ere continued as counfcllors. He lubfillcd entirely on the friendlhip and bounty of his brother-in-law the prince of Orange ; but he foon favv himfelf in danger of being cut ofF from that refource. The ftates of Holland, forefeeing that the parliament would infill upon their obliging hini to quit their dominions, were inclined to anticipate the requil'ition ; and the king, being iiaformed of their dtfign, refolved to prcvciu the difgrace of a formal difmilTion. He found himfelf, however, at a lofs to fix upon a re- treat. In his father's life-time, hi; had met with an un- hofpitable reception in France ; and he was too well ac- quainted with the policy of the queen-regent and the car- dinal, to believe that they would now prefer his friend- fhip to that of the new republic. In this emergency, therefore, he fixed his eye upon Ireland. The pope's nupcio had rendered himfelf fo odious to the Catholics of that kingdom, that he was obliged to retire. The ir:ar^uis of Ormond, having concluded a fecond treaty "" v/ith
SjS ^^s Hi/lojy of England.
with the council of Kilkenny, took the command of tliclr forces, with which he wrefled feveral towns from the hands oi the parliament of England, and refolved to un- dertake the fiege of Dublin. Prince Rupert, who now commanded the king's fleet, had been chaced by a fupe- rior navy under the earl 'of Warwick, and retired to the harbour of Kinfale, where he lay in fafety, and was able to favour the operations of the marquis. Thither Charles refolved to retire, when, in ccnfequence of intelligence received from Scotland, his defign was fufpended. A.D.1650. The parliaments in that kingdom had difavowed the
• proceedings againlt the late king ; and in ftrong terms
Charles is taxed the Englifh parliament with a violation of the cove- fiocatme ji^nt, infoniuch that their commiffioners were arretted, land' but '^^^^ ^°'' fon^e time detained in cuftody. The Scots hated declines the independents, whom they confidered as implacable eompljing enemies to their nation, as well as to the prefbyterian dif- txfit/i their cipiine; and they dreaded the thoughts of a republican * government, eftablifhed upon the principles wliich the Engliih government feemed to purfue. Their ftates, therefore, being aflembled, iflued a proclamation, ac- knowleging Charles II. as their lawful and hereditary fo- vereign, on condition, that, before his admiflion to the excrcife of regal authority, he thould give proper fatis- faclion to the kingdom, with regard to the fecurity of re- ligion, the union between the two nations, and the peace of Scotland ; according to the national and folemn league ^he Scots ^"'^ covenant. Deputies were fent to Inform the king of j'tnddepu- this tranfadtion ; and they reached the Hague juft at the ties to treat time, when the earl of Lanerk, now duke of Hamilton, ^/'^, and the earl of Lauderdale, who had quitted their coun-'
try on account of the late engagement, arrived m Hol- land. In a few days after their landing, the king was vifited by the marquis of Montrofe, who had engaged in the fervice of the emperor; but heaving of his mailer's martyrdom, he now, with a numerous retinue of gentle- men, who followed his fortunes, repaired to the Hague, and made a tender of his fervice to his young fovereign. The king, therefore, was now befieged by three parties of tlie Scottilh nation, who hated one another; namely, the rigid covenanters, patronized by i^rgylc ; the moderate prefbyterians, who adhered to the duke of Hamilton ; and the royalifts, headed by Montrofe.
The king derived but little fatisfatlion from the news of his being proclaimed, under fuch reftriclions. He was difpleafed at their infolence, in prefuming to capitulate
witU
Charles.
The CofHmonzvenhh. i^^
sjflth tiieir foverelpn : he remembered that the ruin of his father was entirely owing to the Scottilh prefbyterians : he deteftcd thtir hypocrify, was averfe to their auflcrc nuinncrs, and dc'tlintd their invitation. Inflead of fub- fcribing to their contlitions, he perdficd in liis defign to ■vifit Ireland ; and, in the mean time, granted a conimif- fion to Montrofe to make a dcfcent upon tScotland.
Charles, in confequence of his mother's importunities, rcfolved to vifit her before his departure for Ireland. He was the more inclined to gratify her in this requelt, as he pereeived the ftates-gcneral were heartily tired of his re- ading in Holland ; where his prefence had become'more difagrccable on account of an incident which gave um- brage to the Dutch. Dr. Doriflaus, a narive of Deift, who had lived many years In England, and been employed as judge-advocate in the parliament's army, was now lent over to the Hague, in quality of agent from the commons. On the evening of his arrival, while he fat at fupper in a public ordinary, five or fix flrangers entering the apart- ment, with their fwords drawn, one of them defired the company would be under no apprehenfion, as their bu- finefs was only with Doriflaus, agent to the rebels in England, who had fo lately murdered their fovcreign. So faying, he pulled Doriflaus afide, and killed him on the fpot. The aflaffin and his confederates retired urmiolell;- cd ; but they were known to be Scottifli officers, depend- ing upon the marquis of Montrofe. Tlie ftates did npt fail to complain of this outrage ; though they behaved with great refpc6l to the king, and proceeded fo flowly in their inquifition, that the offenders had time to confult their own fafety.
Some unfavourable events In Ireland having deterred 7/,^ ;j,-— the king from profccutlng his purp'ofe of repairing thither, rentes to after viliting his mother at Paris, he retired with hi« bro- jcfO'* ther the duke of York, and his little court, to the iiland of Jerfey, where fir George Carteret, the governor, flill preferved his fidelity. Here, Winram, laird of I/ibcrton, came to him as deputy from the committee of cltatcs i|i Scotland, and informed him of the conditions, to which he muft necefTarily accede, before he could be admitted to the exercife of his authority. The king having by this time received the account of Ormond's defeat, and Crom- well's progrefs in Ireland, and being alio importuned by the queen and the prince of Orange, to lillen to theScottifh ffe g^nej propofals, Winram found him extremely willing to liften to t'tat \Q a treaty. Jjut this difpofition of tlic king wai the eon- '"'''^ '^'
fequcncc ^""''
1^0 1'he Hijlory nf England.
fequence oriiy of ncceflity ; for after he had aflured Win* ram, that lie would meet the Scotlifli commilhoners at Breda, in tlie month of March, he wrote a letter to Mon- trofe, to haden his preparations for a defccnt upon Scot- land, in hope that the fucc-efs of that enterprise would fparc him the mortincation of treating; with thofe whom he confidcred as the worlt of rebels. When Winram re- turned to his own country, the parliament, and general aflembly of the kirk, influenced by the marquis of Ar- gyle, concurred in preparing a fet of propofitions, and appointed deputies to open the conferences at Creda. Ihe'tr tro' The deputies met the king at the appointed time and foiinons at place, and, in order to an accommodation, ptefented him ^rtdtt, -with four articles, from which tney would not recede. They demanded, that none of thofe who liad been ex- communicated by the kirk, fhould have accefs to his ma- jeity : that he would declare upon oath, and by writing (igned with his privy-fcal, his approbation of the national covenant, with the folemn league and covenant of the two kingdoms, and fulhl the intention of them to the belt of his power : that he would ratify the a£ls of parliament, cnjoming the fubfeription of thofe covenants, eflablifti- ing the prelbyterian Cluirch-government, the Uire(Story, Confeffion of Faith, and the Catechifm : that he would pratElife them himfclf; give orders that they fliould be pradlifed by his domeftics ; and promife, that he would never allow them to be changed : laltly, that all civil con- cerns fhouid be regulated by the parliament, and all ec- clef;afi.ical affairs by the general aflembly. Charles did not receive thefe propofals without indignation ; but not beinpf in a condition to manifeft his refentment, he judged it prudent to dilTen.ble. He, however, fignified liis avcrfion to take the covenant, which indeed he de- tefted : he offered to confirm the prc(buerian religion in Scotland by a£l of parliament *, but in refpecl of him- fclf, he thought it unreafoniible to defire that he fhould renounce the religion in which he had been educated. He aficed them whether they were empowered to relax in any demand, or to treat about the affiftance he might expedl from the Scots, towards his being reftored to the crown of England ? They anfwered, that they had no fuch dif- cretionary powers ; and that he had no other alternative than that of accepting or rejedling their propofitions.
Severe as were thefe conditions, Charles found It ne- ceffary to temporife, and protra£led the negociation, until Jie iiiould hear from Montrofe, upon the fuccefs of whofc
enterprizq
The Commonwealth, l4t
enterprize all KIs hopes were founded. That heroic no- Montrofe bleman, having been fupplied with money by the king of arrives in Denmark, and fome private gentlemen of his own coun- ScotlanJ. try, who were fettled in that kingdom, and in Sweden, purchafed fome arms and ammunition, which, with about five hundred foldiers, he tranfported to the moft northern parts of Scotland, at the very time when the commiflion- ers were at Breda. He fiuprifed a caftlc, in which he fecured his military ftores, fumraoned his x^riends to join him, and publiflied a manifefto, reprefenting that he was come by virtue of his majefly's commiilion, to protecl his fellow-fubjefts, without any intentioil to interrupt the lie- gociation at Breda. On the contrary, he hoped to fa- cilitate the conclufion of it, by means of his army ; and fnould it terminate in a fatisfadlory manner, he would immediately lay down his arms.
The Scotch parliament was exceedingly irritated againfl the king, for having, at fuch a junflure, granred a com- miiTion to a perfon, who was alike the objecl: of their ter- ror and abhorrence, degraded and forfeited by their court of jufbiciary, and excommunicated by their clergy. Per- ceiving that the king's intention was to enforce, if pof- fible, his own terms, they inllantly aflembled an army, under the command of David Lefley; and, in the mean tirrie, Strachan marched northwards with a body of horfe, to keep the 'country in awe, and hinder the royalifts from joining Montrofe. The marquis had no cavalry, and very few partizans repaired to his (landard ; fo that he neither could procure intelligence of the enemy, nor withfland them when they fud'denly appeared. Being attacked by fAthde. the parliamentary forces, the Highlanders fled at the ^,x^^ feaudaad charge; but the foreigners made a vigorous ftand for fome *'^^*''^ time, and the marquis dillinguifhed himfeJf by his ufual intrepidity. At la(t, however, being obliged to provide for his fafotv, he threw away his George and Garter, and exchanging his cloaths wiih a peafant, repaired in this dif- guife to the houfc of a gentleman who had formerly ferved under his command. He there lay concealed for two days; but whether betrayed by his landlord, or dif- covered by accident, he fell into the hands of Lefley, who treated him with great infolence; and, after having cx- pofed him to the view of the people, in this wretched at- tire, conveyed him to Edinburgh, where the parliament: was then fitting. At the gate of the city he was delivered to the majjjirirates, whocaufed him to be bound on a hi;jh chair, placed upon a cart provided for that purpofe, and
conducted
'jj^i Th Htjlory of Englafici,
conduced through the public Ilreet, that the populace might have a full view of the man, who had fo often ex- cited their terror.
When he was carried before the parliament, LoudoHj the chancellor, in a violent declamation, reproached him. with the breach of the national covenant, which he had fubfcribed j his rebellion againft God, the king, and the kingdom; and the many horrible murders, treafons, and impieties, for which he was now to be brought to condiga puniftiment. Montrofe in his anfwers maintained his ufual magnimity. He told the parliament, that, fince the king, as he was iuforrr.ed, had fo far acknowleged "their, •authority as to enter into a treaty with them, he now ap>^: peared uncovered before ihcir tribunal ; a refpe£l:, which, while they ftood in open deiiance to their fovereign, they would in vain have required of him. He faid he had taken and kept the firll covenant, while they profecuted the purpofes for which it was ordained ; that he had ne- ver fubfcribed the fecond, which was productive of the mod infamous rebellion ; and that in all his warlike en- terprizes, he was warranted by that commifiion, which he had received from his and their mafter, againft whofe lawful authority they had erected their ftandard. He ob- ferved, that no blood had ever been flied by him but in the field of battle ; and many perfons were now in his eye, many now dared to pronounce fentence of death upon him, perfons, whofe life, forfeited by the laws of war, he had formerly faved from the fury of the foldiers. He told them, that, as to himfelf, they had in vain en- deavoured to vilify and degrade him by all their ftudied indignities ; but the juftice of his caufe would ennoble any fortune ; and his only affliiflion was to fee the autho- rity of his prince, with which he was inverted, treated with fo much ignominy. He was condemned to be hanged next day on a gallows thirty feet high ; then to be quar- tered, and his members expofed in different parts of the kingdom. During this fhort interval, he was perfecuted by their miuifters, who affured him that his futFerings in this life were not to be compared with thofe which he would undergo hereafter ; and without fcruple pronounc- ed his eternal damnation. He told them, that they were a miferable deluded and deluding people ; and would {fiortly bring their country under the moft infupportable fervitude, to which any nation had ever been reduced. He declared, he was as well pleafed to hear that his head lliouki be placed on theTolbooth, as he fliould be to know
that
The Commo/KvciiUh . i^^
tliat his piclure hung in the king's bcd-cliamher j and wiflied he had flcfh cnuugh to be diftributcd among all the cities of Chriftendom, as a teRiinony of the caufc for which he fuflcred. At the place of execution, the hang- h];, ex. man tied about his neck, witb a cord, an elegant Latin fcuUnn- book, containing tlie hiftory of his exploits, written by Dr. Wifhart, who had been his chaplain. He fniiled at this mark of impotent malice, faying, he M'as more proud of that collar than ever he had been of the Garter. Hav- ing afkcd, whether they had any more indignities to put upon him, and renewing fome devout ejaculations, he patiently endured the lad a<5l of the executioner.
After the death of Montrofe, the king, finding himfelf Charlei deftitute of every refource, fubfcribed the terms wbicli arrive im the Scottifli commiffioners had prefented, and embarked ^f"'^^"'^' at Scheveling, with the duke of Hamilton and the earl of Lauderdale, who were fo obnoxious to the rigid prefby- terians, that when they arrived in Scotland, they found it necefTary to retire to their refpeclive houfes for their per- fonal fafety. The king was obliged to fign the covenant, before the Scots would allow him to fet his foot on (hore. The marquis of Argyle then received him with dcmon- ftrations of the moll: profound refpecl ; but all his Englifli domeftics, of any quality, except the duke of Bucking- ham, were removed from his perfon. He was furrounded, and incelTantly importuned by their clergy, who came to inflruft him in religion ; and obliged him togive conftant attendance at their long fermons and prayers, which ge- nerally turned upon the tyranny of his father, the idokitry of his mother, and his own malignant difpofuion. They infifted upon his obfervlng Sunday as the mod rigorous fall of a jewifh fabbath j they kept a ftritl watch upon his looks and geflures ; and, if ever he chanced to fmilc dur- ing tliofe religious ordinances, he underwent a feverc re- primand for his profanity.
But the facility which the king difcovered in yielding to whatever was required of liim, made the covenanters and the clergy AifpetSt, that he regarded all his conceflions merely as ridiculous farces, to which he mull of nccclhty fubmit. They had therefore another trial prepared for liim. Inflead of the foleninity of his coronation, which was delayed, they were refolvcd that he fliould pafs through a public humiliation, and do penance before the whole people. They font him twelve articles of repent- ance, which he was to acknowlege ; and the king had agreed that he would fubmit to this indignity. The vari- ous
144 ^he Hifloiy of Englmd.
ous franfgrclTions of his father and grand-father, with the idolatry of his motiier, are again enumcinrcd and aggra- vated in thefc articles ; and fartlief declarations were in- fifled on, that he fought the reitoration of his rights for the fole advancement of religion, and in fubordination to the kingdom of Chrilt^ In fliort, the clergy, having brought royahy undei- their fecr, were refolved to trample on it and vilify it, by every indignity which their prc- fent influence enabled them to impole on their utihappy prince.
Ch.>rles, in the mean time, found his authority entirely onnihilatcd, as well as his charader degraded. He was confulted in no public meafurc; he was not called to affifc at any councils. His favour was fufTicient to difcrcditany candidate for office oi advancement. All eil'orts which he made to unite the oppofite parties, increafcd the fufpi-* cion, wliich the covenanters had entertained, that he was not rightly eftabliHied in their own principles.
The advance of the Englifli army under Cromwell was fiot ab'e to a'ppeafe the animofities among the parties in Scotland. TJic clergy were (lill rcfolute to exclude all but their moft; zealous adherents. Az foon as the Englifti parliament found that the treaty between the king and the Scots would probably terminate in an accommodation, they made preparations for war. Cromweil, having broken the force and courage of the Irifli, was fcnt for; and he Itft the command of Ireland to Ireton, who governed that kingdom in the ch.aia£ler of deputy, and with great ac- tivity perfevcred in the meafure of fubduing and expelling the natives.
Fairfax, now difgufled at the extremities into which he had been hurried, refigned his commiffion ; and it was beftowed on Cromwell, who was declared captain-general of all the forces in England. This command, in a com- mon-wealth, which flood entirely by arms, was of the tstmoft importance ; and was the chief ftep, which this ambitious politician had yet made towards fovereign pow- CrcMu-fll cr. He immediately marched his forces, and entered enters Siot. Scotland with an army of fixteen thoufand men. ^a ivn. r^^^ command of the Scottifli army was given to Lef- ley, an experienced officer. He intrenched himfelf in a fortified camp between Edinburgh and Leith, and took care to remove from the counties of ]\Ierfe and the Lo- thians every thing which could ferve to the fubfiflence of
*■ Sir Ed. Walker's Hiftorical Difcourfes, p. 178. 7 tlic
^be Commonzvcahh*- 145
the Englifli army. Cromwell advanced to the ScottKh camp, and endeavoured, by every expedient, to bring Lefley to a battle. The latter, fenfible that, though fu- perior in numbers, his army was much inferior in difci- pline to the Englifli, carefully kept himfelf v/ithin his in- trenchments. By feveral fkirmifhes he tried to confirm the fpirits of his foldiers -, and he was fuccefsful in thefe enterprizes. His army daily increafed both in numbers and courage. The king came to the camp ; and having exerted himfelf in an a6lion, gained on the affections of the foldiery. The clergy were alarmed, and ordered Charles immediately to quit the camp. They alfo purged it carefully of about four thoufand Malignants and En- gagers (the common appellations of all who were ob- noxious to the clergy) whofe zeal had led them to attend the king, and who were the foldiers of chief credit and experience in the nation s. They then concluded, that they had an army compofed entirely of faints, and could not be vanquifhed. They murmured extremely, not only againft their prudent general, but againfl the Lord, on account of his delays in giving them deliverance j and they declared, that, if he would not fave them from the Englilh feftaries, he fhould no longer be their God ^. An advantage having offered itfelf on a Sunday, they hindered the general from making ufe of it, lell he fliould involve the nation in the guilt of fabbath-breaking.
In the mean time Cromwell had noprovifionsbut what he received by fea ; and not having had the precaution to fecure a fufficient fupply, his army was reduced to great difficulties. He retired to Dunbar. Lelley followed him, and incamped on the heights of Lammermure, which overlook that town. Between Dunbar and Berwick were many difficult pafTes ; and of thefe Lefley had taken pof- feffion. In this extremity the Englifh general had even embraced a refolution of fending by fea all his foot and artillery to England, and of breaking through, at all ha- zards, with his cavalry ; but the madnefs of the Scottifli ecclefiaflics faved him from this lofs and difhonour.
Night and day the minifters had been wreflling with the Lord in prayer, as they termed it ; and they fancied, that they had at lafl obtained the viiSlory. Revelations, they faid, were made them, that the feftarian and heretical army, with Agag, meaning Cromwell, was delivered into
s Sir Edw. Walker, p. 165. *> Whitlocke, p. 449.
Vol. H, X. ^^^'^^
1^6 TI:e Hijlory of EnghniU
their hanus. Upon the fiith of thefc vifions, they fotccrt tlieir general, in fplte of his vemonflrances, to defcend into the phiin, with a vie^v of attacking the Englilh in their retreat. Cromwell, looking through a glafs, faw the cilerhy's camp in motion •, and foretold, without the lielp of revelations, that the Lord hud delivered them into his Bait'e of hands. He immediately gave ord-ers for an attack. The t)iinb.ir. Scots, tliough double in number to the Engliili, were foou put to flight, and purfued whh great flaughter. No vic- tory could be more complete tfian this which was ob- tained by Ciomwell. About three thoufand of the enemy were llain, and nine thoufand made prifoners. Cromwell piirfued his advantage, and took poflefnon of Edinburgh afid Ltith. The remnant of the Scottilh army fled to Sterling. The approach of th.e winter feafon, and an ague, which feized Cronuvell, kept him from pufliing the Viclory any faTther.
'Hie clergy made great lamentations, and told the Lord, that to them it was liule to facrifice their eflates and lives, but to him it was a great lofs to fufFer his ele£l to be de- llroycd '. They publifhed a declaration, containing the caufe of their late misfortunes. Thefe they afcribed ta the manlfbld provocations of the king's houfc, of which, they feared, he had not yet thoroughly repented ; the fe- cret intrufion of malignants into the king's family, and even into the camp i the leaving of a moft malignant and profane guard of horfe, wlio, being fent for to be purged, came two days before the defeat, and were allowed to fight with the army ; the acknowlegement of the king's caufe by many, -ivithout fubordination to religion and li- berty i and i\\c carnal felf-feeking of fome, with the ncg- left t)f family-prayers by otiiers.
Cromwell, havmg been fo fucccfsful in the war of the fword, took up the pen againfl the Scottifli epclefiaftics. He wrote them fome polemical letters, in which he maiu- talricd the chief points of the independent theology. He likewife retorted on them their favourite argument of pro- tidence : and afked them, whether l\\t Lord had not de- clared againfl them ? But the miniPters thought, that the fame events, which to their enemies were judgments, to them were trials ; and they replied, that the Lord had only hid his face, for a time, from Jacob. Cromwell, however, infilted that the appeal had been made to God in the rrio'l exprefs and folerhii manner, dnd tliat, in the
i Sir Edw. Walker.
8 rieUa
^te Co'/nmonzCeahhi 1^.7
^^;lcls of Dunbar, a final decifion had been av/arded 111 favour of the Englilh army.
The defeat of the Scots was regarded by the king as a fortunate event.. Both armies were alnioft equally his enemies; and the vanqilifned were now obliged to give him fome more authorityj arid apply to him for fupport. The parliament was fummpned to meet at St. Johnfrone's. Hamilton, Lauderdale, and all the engagers were admitted into court and camp, on condition of doing public penance, :ind exprefTing repentance for their late tranfgreffions. The intended humiliations or penance of the king was A.D.iegt. changed into the ceremony of his coronation, wliich was •■
performed at Scone with great pomp and folemnity. But January ?. amidft all this appearance of refpea, Charles was little '^°/°""lf^''„l better than a prifoner, and was ftill expofed to all the ^^^ j^^^;. "^ rudenefs and pedantry of the ecclefiadics. Though artful land. in the pra£lice of courtly diffimulation, the fanclilied ftyle was utterly unknown to him ; and he never could mould his deportment into that ftarehed grimace^ which the co- Yenantera required as an infallible fign of his converfion^ The clergy, therefore, could never efteem the king fuf- ficiently regenerated; and, by continual exhortations, re- monllrances, and reprimands, they ftill endeavoured to bring him to a jufter {cnit of his fpiritual duty.
At lafl, the king, fliocked at all the indignities, and, perhaps, ftill more tired with all the formalities, to which he was obliged to fubniit, made an attempt to regain his liberty. General Middletonj at the head of fome royalifts, being profcribed by the covenanters, kept in the moun- tains, expelling fome opportunity of ferving hi^ mailer. The king, irefolved to join this body, fecrctly made his efcape, and fled towards the Highlands. Colonel IMont- gomery, with a troop of horfe, was fent in purfuit of him ; and, overtaking the king, perfuaded him to return. The royalifts being too weak to fupport him, Charles was the more eafily induced to comply. This incident pro- 'cured him afterwards better treatment and more autho- rity. Argyle renewed his courtfhip to the king, who, with equal diffimulation, pretended to repofe in him great confidence. He even went fo far as to drop hints of an intention to marry that nobleman's daughter ; but Argyle was too wife to be feduced by fuch an artifice.
As foon as the feafon would permit, the Scottifii army was aflembled under Hamilton and Lefley; and the king was permitted to join the camp. The forces of the weft-
L 7. evn
ii^8 The H'ljlory of England.
cm counties, notwiiliftanding the imminent danger which threatened their country, determined not to unite their oufc with that of an army which admitted any engagers or riialipnants -, and they, therefore, kept in a body apart under the commatul of Ker. They aflumed the title of Protcfters; and their frantic clergy declaimed equally againft the king and againll Cromwell. The other party wa^ denominated Kefolutioners ; and thefe diftin^tions continued long after to divide and agitate the kingdonr. ^, , Charlc6 incamped at the Torwood ; and bis generals
thcamps at were rel'olved to conduct themfelves by the fame cautious TtrtvooJ. maxims, which, fo long as they were embraced, had been fucccfjful during the former campaign. The town of Stirling lay at his back, and the wjiolc North fupplied hitn with proviiions. Strong intrenchmcnts defended his front, and it was in vain that Cromwell made every attempt to bring him to an engagement. The Engli(h general, after lofing much time, dilpatched Lambert over the Frith into Fife, with an intention of cutting ofTthe provifions of the enemy. This officer fell upon Holborne and Brown, who commanded a party of the Scots, and put them to the rout with great flaughtcr. Cromwell alfo pafled over with his whole army i and lying behind the king, made it impof- fible for him to keep his poll any longer.
In this exigence, Charles embraced a refolution worthy
of a young prince contending for empire. Obferving that
the way was open to England, he refolved immediately to
march into that country, where he expedled that all the
royalifts, and all thofe who were difcontented with the
prefent government, would flock to his flandard. His
. generals were perfuaded to enter into the fame views ;
rnlrc'h'ts '^"^ Vk'iih. one confent, the Scottifh army, to the number of
into Eng- fourteen thoufand men, rofe from their camp, and ad-
laady vanced by rapid journies towards the South.
Cromwell, furprifcd at the movement of the royal ar- my, immediately difpatclied letters to the parliament, ex- horting them not to be difmayed at the approach of the Scots. He fent orders every where for afTembling forces to oppofe the king. He ordered Lambert, with a body of cavalry, to hang upon the rear of the royal army, and anJii infefl: its march; and himfelf, leaving Monk witli feven purfued hy thoufand men to complete the reduction of Scotland, fol- CrQjnivell. lowed the king with all poffible expedition.
Charles foon found himfelf difappointed in his expe£la- tion of increallng his army. The Scots, terrified at the profpecl of fo hazardous an enterprize, deferted in great
numbers,
The Commonwealth. I4p
numbers. ThejEnglifh, frightened at the name of his oppo- nent, dreaded to join him. The earl of Derby proceeded to levy forces in Chefhire and Lancafliirc •, but was foon fup- prefled by a party of the parliamentary troops. The king, on arriving atWorcefter, had the farther mortification to be informed, that Cromwell was marching with hafty ftrides from Scotland, with an army increafed to thirty thoufand men. The news fcarce arrived, v/hen that adlive general Sept. 3. appeared; and, attacking the town on all fides, broke in Battle cf upon the difordered royalifts. The ftreets of the city ^°rcefitr. were ftrewed with dead, the whole Scottifli army was either killed or made prifoners, and the king himfelf, having given many proofs of perfonal valour, was obliged to fly.
The king retired from the field in company with fifty or fixty of his adherents, from whom he foon after fepa- rated. By the earl of Derby's direQions he went to Bofcobel, a folitary houfe on the borders of StaflFord- fhire, inhabited by a farmer of the name of Penderel. Here, having his hair cut off, the better to difguife his perfon, he wrought for fome days in the habit of a peafant, cutting faggots in a wood. Some nights he lay upon Itraw in the houfe, and fed upon fuch Charles homely fare as it afforded. For a better concealment, \iq conceals mounted a fpreading oak, where he fheltered himfelf himfelf among the leaves and branches for twenty-four hours, in ^"^°"^ f company with one colonel Carelefs, who alfo had efcaped ^,, ^^^^ the carnage at Worcefler. In this fituation he faw feve- ral foldiers pafs by, all of whom were intent in fearch of the king, ; and fome exprefled, in his hearing, their earneft wiflies of feizing him. This tree was afterwards denominated the Royal Oak, and, for many years, was regarded by the neighbourhood with great veneration.
From the poor, but hofpitable houfe of the faithful Penderel, the king pafled, with imminent danger and great difficulty, to the refidence of colonel Lane, a zealous ioyalift, in StafFordfliire. He there deliberated about the means of efcaping into France ; and Briilol being fuppofed the properefb port, it was agreed that, perfonating a fer- vant, he (hould ride thither, before this gentleman's filler, on a vific to one Mrs. Norton, who lived in the neigh- '^ bourhood of that city. During this journey he every day met with perfons whofe faces he knew, and, at one time, pafled through a whole regiment of the enemy's army.
After arriving at Mrs. Norton's, the firft perfon they faw was one of his own chaplains, fitting at the door,
I4 3 amufing
1 50 *I'be Hijlory of England.
The king amufiiig himfelf with feeing people play at bowls. The rides to -Jig king, alter having taken proper care of his hoife in the veighbour- jtablc, was ihov.n to an apartment, which Mrs. Lane, Briflll in ^^i"g ^°^^ ^^^^^ the poor lad, as he was called, had an the char ac- 3gue, ordered to be provided for him. Though Charles terof^a k^pt himfelf retired in this chamber, the butler, wliofe Jer-jaut., name was Pope, foon knew him. The king was alarmed at the difcovcry, but made the butler promife that he would keep the fccret from every mortal, even from his mafter ; and he was faithful to his engagement. He goes No fl^.ip being found tliat would for a month fct fail
from from Brillol either for France or vSpain, the king was
r,,f. obliged to go elfcwhere for a paflage. He therefore re- Jlnre. paired to the houie of colonel \Vyndham, in Dorfetfliire,
by whom lie was molt cordially received. This gentle- man's mother, a venerable matron, exprelTed the utmoft icy, that having loft three fons and one grandchild in de- fence of the late king, (lie had now the honour of being jnflrumenial in the protection of her royal gueft.
At this place the king continued fevcral days, during which time great endeavours wtre ufed to procure a vef- fel for his ek:ipc •, but he ilill met with difappointments. Is It! gnat After leaving AVyndham's houfe, he was obliged to re- ihn^M' *^'^" ^'^ '^ ' ^"^' purfuing his journey thence a fecond (cyend, time, he had a very providential efcape from a little inn, where he fet up for the night. The day had been ap- pointed by parliament for a folemn fall ; and a fanatical weaver, who had been a foldier In the parliament army, was preaching againft: the king in a fmall chapel fronting tiie houfe. Charles, to avoid fuipicion, mixed with the congregation. It happened that a fmlth, of the fame principles with the weaver, had been examining the horfes belonging to the paflengers, and came to aflure the preacher, he knew by the fafhion of the flioes, that one of the ftrangers horfes came from the North. The preacher imniediately aihrmed, that this horfc could be- long to no other than Charles Stuart, and inftantly went with a conftablc to fearch the inn. But the king having taken rimcly precaution, had left the inn before the con- ^^^^^^r'^^ table's arrival. At Shoreham, in Suflex, was at lafl T^». '.-"'' found a veilel, In which be embarked. He was knovj^n Sufex. to fo many, tnat had he not failed in that critical mo- Armesat ment, il had been impoflible for him to efcape. After Tefcamp in forty-one days concealment he arrived at Fefchamp in No'r- pormandjf. j^^-jpjy^ jsTq jgf.. ^j^^^,^ forty men and women had at dif- ferent'times been privy to his concealment.
^he Cofn'fVoyiZveaJtK 151
So elated was Cr-omwell at his late fuccefs in tlie battle of "VVorceder, that he intended to have knighted in the lield two of his generals, Lambert and Fleetwood ; but was diii'uadcd by his friends from exerting tbis adt of re- gal authority. At what particular period he began to en- tertain thoughts of taking into his hand the reins of go- vernment, is uncertain. "We only know, that he now difcovered to his intimate friends thefe afpiring riews ; ixnd difdaining fubmifTion to the empty name of a repvib- . lie, which flood chiefly by his influence, even exprcfied a Ciotn-urlt defire of afluming the rank of king, which he had con- »fi'>"-f' 'o tributed, with fo much fecming zeal, to aboliflr ''. the croiw.
Cromwell retur?ied to London in triumph, and was met at Acton by the fpeaker of the houfe, accompanied by the mayor and magillrates of the city, in their forma- lities. His firll care was to take advantage of his late fuccefles, by depreHlng the k?cots, who had withftood the work of the Cofpel, as he called it. The parliament paffed an act for abolifliing royalty in Scotland, and SeoilanJ annexing that kingdom, as a conquered province, to the '""'"'''•^ ';' Englifh commonwealth. It was, however, granted the '"'^ '"'""', , privilege 01 lendmg lome members to the Lnglim par- of£„gi^„j, liament. Judges were appointed to diftribute juftice, and the people of that country, difgufted with the late ty- ranny of their own ecclefialticS) were not much diflatis- fied with thefe regulations.
In this manner the Englifli parliament, by the means of Cromwell, eftabliflied an uncontrouled authority over all the Britifii dominions. Ireland was entirely fubdiied by Ircton and Ludlow. In America, all the fettlemtuits which had declared for the royal caufe, were oblig<;d to ("ubmit : Jerfey, Guernfey, Scilly, and the Ifle of Man, were eafily reduced to fubjeftion.
This parliament, compofed of fixty or fevcnty obfcure Domffl>e and illiterate men, were not lefs defpotic over the morals '"^5"'''*"^** than the civil liberties of the nation. Selfifli aims and bi- gotry chiefly engroflcd their attention. They carried their auflcrity fo far as to ena<lt a law, declaring fornica- tion, after the fir ft act, to be felony, without benefit of clergy'. Not daring to entrufl the trials of ireafon to juries, which being chofen indifferently from among the people, would have been little favourable to the common- wealth, they eluded that noble inltitution, by which the
'> Whitlocke, p, 513. ' Scobel, p. 121.
L 4 govern*
152 57v Hijlory of England,
government of this ifland has ever been fo much dlftin- guifhed. The parhament now creeled a high court of ju- ftice, which was to receive indictments from the council of ftate. This court was compofed of men devoted to the ruling party, without name or character, determined to facrifice every thing to their own fafety or ambition. In refpecl to ecclefiaftical affairs, it feemed the intention of many leaders in the parliament to admit of no eftablifhed church, but to leave all perfons to embrace whatever fe£l, or to fupport whatever clergy were moft agreeable to them. But the parliament went fo far as to make fome approaches, in one province, to their independent model. Almoll all the clergy of Wales being eje£lcd as malig- rants, itinerant preachers with fmall falaries were fettled, not above four or five in each county, /nd thefe, being furniflied with horfes at the public expence, hurried from place to place, and carried, as themfelves cxprefled it, the glad tidings of the Gofpel ^» They were all of them men of the lowefl birth and education, who had de- lerted me^chanical employments in order to follow this profefiion. A.D. 165a. After the entire reduction of the Britifli dominions, the ■ parliament had leifure to exert its vigour in foreign enter- prizes. The Dutch were the firft that felt the weight of their arms ; the pretext for which was the affaffina- tion of Dr. Doriflaus, and fome flight infult offered by the friends of the prince of Orange to Mr. St. John, ambaffador from the parliament to the States-general. The chief dependence of the EnglilTi council lay in the activity and courage of Blake, their admiral j who, though he had not embarked in a naval command until late in life, furpaffed, in the qualifications of that office, all who had gone before him. On the other fide the Dutch oppofed to him their celebrated admiral. Van Tromp. Many were the engagements between thefe great commanders, and various was their fuccefs. The Dutch, however, who felt many great difadvantages by the lofs of their trade, and by the total fufpenfion of their fifheries, were wilfing to treat for a peace, but the par- liament gave them a very unfavourable anfwer. It was the policy of that body to keep their navy on foot as long as they could ; rightly judging, that while the force of the nation was exerted by fea, Cromwell's power, which
Dutck Kvar.
* Dr. John Walker's Attempt, 147, & ftq.
was
^he Commonwealth, 15^
was become very formidable by land, would be liable to c^f,„^.fii receive lefs addition. But this vigilant afpirer, perceiving re/oluestt that they entertained a jealoufy ot his power and ambi- make him' tion, and were refolvcd to bring hina to a fubordination to li:'f a'jjt- their authority, determined to prevent them. Secure in ' the confidence of the army, he meditated another daring effort for eflablilhing his own dominion, and \^ith this view perfuaded the oificers to prefent a petition for the payment of arrears, and redrefs of grievances, which he knew^ would be reje^Sted with difdain. The petition was accordingly foon drawn up and prefented. In it the otE- cers, after demanding their arrears, defired the parliament to confider how many years it had fat, and what profef- fions they had formerly made of their intentions to new- model the houfe, and eftabliOi freedom on the broadeft bafis. They alleged, that it was now full time for the reprefentatives to give place to others ■■, and that, however meritorious their a£lions might have been, it was an injury to the rell of the nation to be excluded from bearing any part in the fervice of their country.
The parliament was highly offended at this prefump- tion of the army, and made a fiiarp reply to the council of oflBcers. They appointed a committee to prepare an act, ordaining that allperfons who prefented any fuch re- monftrances for the future, fhould be deemed guilty of high trcafon. The officers infilled on the privilege which they had exercifed ; and by thefe altercations the breach became ftill wider between the army and the conmion- wealth. Cromwell, now finding matters ripe for his purpofe, called a council of officers, in order to come to a determination with regartl to a public fettlement. While the officers were in debate, colonel Ingoldlby in- formed Cromwell, that the parliament had come to a re- folution not to diilblve itfelf, but to fill up the houfe by new elections, and was at that very moment deliberating upon this expedient. Cromwell immediately rofe up, ap- parently in a great rage, and, turning to major Vernon, cried out, " 1 am compelled to do a thing which makes the very hair of my head ftand on end." Then hafhen- Ing, with three hundred foldiers, fome of whom he placed on the ftairs, fome in the lobby, and fome at the door, he entered the houfe, with marks of violent indig- nation on his countenance ; and, having taken his ieat, attended to the debates for fome time. He beckoned jtiarrifon, and told him, that he now judged the parlia- ment
154- 7^ Uiftory of En^lvui.
AD.r65^. ment ripe for dilTolution. "Sir (fnid Harrifon), tlic
; V ork is very great and iIan{;erous ; I dcfire you ferioufly
Apiil. fy confider bcrfore you engage in it." " You fay well," itixestht ^^'P''^'^ ^^^ general, and lat llill about a quarter of ar> farita^ntnt ^^^^' When the qucftion was rcat!y to be put, he fai4 fij'iiii. 3gain to Harrifon, "This is the tinie, I mull do it," and fudiienly ftarting up, he loaded the parliament with reproaches for tlicir tyranny, ambition, and robbery of the public. Then llamping with liis foot, v/iiich was a (ignal for the foldiers to enter, ** Tor llume (f.:id he to the parliament), get you gone : give place to honellcr men J tt)thufe\\ho will more faiilifully difcharge their truft. You are no longer a pnrliamcnt : I tell you, you are no longer a parliament. The Lord has done with you : he has cliofen other inrtruments for carrying on his work." Sir Harry \'anc exclaiming againfl this proceed- ing, he cried with a loud voice, ** O ! fir Harry Vane ! (Ir Harry Vane! the Lord deliver ine from fir Harry Vane!** Taking hold of Martin by t!ie clo.;k, " Thou art a whorc- mallcr," laid he. To another, *' Thou art an adulterer." To a third, *' Thou art a drunkard and a glutton : " and, to a fourth, " Thou art an extortioner.'* He command- ed a foldier to feize the mnce. ** What (fuid he), (hall xre do with this bauble ? Heic, take it away. It is you (addrefhiig himfelf to the houfe), that have forced me vpon thii. I have fought the Lord, night and day, that he would rather fiay me than put me upon this work." Having commanded the foUiiers to clear the hall, himfelf ■went out the lall, and ordering the doors to be locked, ilepartcd to his lodgings in Whitehall.
in this precipitate manner, fo conformable to the ge- nuine charadler of Cromwell, did he, without the lead oppofition, or even murmur, annihilate that aflembly, which had filled Europe with the renown of its acT;ions, and with aftonifliment at its crimes. He immediately re- ceived congratulatory addrefl'es from the fleet, tlic corpo- rations, and the army, for having difmifl'ed a parliament, vhich, by a feries of arbitrary meafures, had become ex- tremely obnoxious to the nation. Birth anJ Oliver Cromwell, in whofc hands the dilTolution of the '"'^^'"""'^ parliament had left the whole power, civil and military, of r'"^'^- II ^^^ three kingdoms, was born at Huntingdon, the laft year of the former centurv, of a good family, though himfelf, being the Ton oi a fecond brother, iniierited but 9 fmall ellatc. In ihp courfe of his educaiion he had
been
The Co',nmonzvcalth. 15^
been fcnt to the univerfity; but made little proficiency in his ftudies. For fome time he led a diforderly courfe of life, by which he difiipated part of his patrimony. But all of a fiidden the fpirit of reformation feized him; he married, affected a compofcd behaviour, adopt- ed all the zeal of the puritanical party, and offered to leftore to every one whatever funis he had formerly gained by gaming. The fame vehemence of temper which had tranfported him Into youthiul excefles, now di- flinguifhed his religious habits. His houfe was the re- fort of all the more rigid of the diflenting clergy ; towards •whom he exercifed fuch a6ts of liberality as his circum- ftances could not well afford. Though he acquired a to- lerable fortune by a maternal uncle, he found his affairs fo embarraffed, that he was obliged to take a farm at St. Ives, and apply himfelf, for fome years, to agriculture, as a profeffion. But this expedient was not attended with fuccefs. The long prayers which he faid to his family In the morning, and again in the afternoon, confumed hig own time and that of his ploughmen ; and he referved no lelfure for the care of his temporal affairs. Urged by his wants and his piety, he had made a party with Hamb- den, his near kinfman, who was preffed only by the latter motive, to tranfport himfelf into New England, now be- come the retreat of the more zealous of the purltanic<il party; and it was an order of council that obliged tlieni to djfembark and remain in England. From- accident or intrigue, Cromwell was chofen by the town of Cambridge member of the long parliament. His domeftic affairs v/cre then in great diforder ; and he feemed not to poffefs any talents which could qualify him to rife in that public fphere. Hi^ perfon was ungraceful, his drefs flovenly, and his voice untuneable, his elocution homely, tedious, obfcure, and embarraffed. The fervour of his fpirit frequently prompted him to rife in the houfe, but he was not heard with attention. His friend Hambden alone was acquainted with the depth of his genius, and fore- told, that if a civil war fhould enfue, he would foon rife into eminence.
Though Cromwell, in difiblving the parliament, had affumed the fupreme authority, he thought proper to amufe the people with the appearance of a common- wealth, M'hich it was the humour of tlie times to admire ; but was refolved to give thcin a parliament which would be entirely fubfervient to his commands. For this pur- pofe, confulting with fome of the principal officers, it was decreedj that the fove^elga power ihould be veRed
ill
156 The Hijfory of England,
in one hundred and forty-four perfons, under the deno- mination of a parliament j ami hi mfelf undertook to make the choice. The perfons pitched upon for exercifing this feemingly important trufl:, were the mcanell and moft ignorant of the people, and the very dregs of the fanatics. On thefe he pretended, by his fole ad: and deed, to de^ volvc the whole authority of the flate. This legillative power they were to exercife during fifteen months ; and they were afterwards to choofe the fame number of perfons as their fucceffors.
This notable affembly began with feeking God by prayer ; an office which was performed by eight or ten gifted men in the houfe; and, with fo much fuccefs, that, according to the confeffion of all, they had never before enjoyed fo much of the holy fpirit as was then communicated to them '. The folly of thefe legiflators was exprcfTed in their aflumed names, which were either fome of thofe in the Old Teflament, or phrafes borrowed Barrhone^s from Scripture. Among them were the names of Zero- farl'tament* babel, Habbakuk, and even Mcfopotamia. One of them particularly, who was called Praife God Barebone, a canting leatber-fellcr, gave his name to the aflcmbly, and it was called Barcbone's parliament.
There attempts at legiflation were entirely correfpon- dent to their ftations and cbara6lers. Being chiefly com- pofed of Antinomians, a feet which, after receiving the fpirit, fuppofe themfelves incapable of error, and of fifth monarchy men, who every hour expeQed Chrifl's coming on earth, they began with deliberating upon the fuppref- fion of the clergy, the univerfities, and ilie courts of ju- ftice -, inilcad of which it was their defign to fubilitutc the law of Mofes.
With this hopeful affembly tbe Dutch ambafTadors en- deavoured to enter into negociation concerning a peace ; but, though Proteftants, and even prefbyterians, they met with a bad reception from men who pretended to fan£tity fo much fuperior. They were regarded by the new parliament as worldly men, intent only on commerce and induftry, whom it was more fitting that the faints (hould extirpate, than embrace in any political connec- iJtgmaUon tion. The parliament infifted, that the man of fin fhould ^tthihe i^g p^j away, and a new birth be obtained by prayer and r ** ^ * meditation. The ambaffadors were ftruck with aftonifli- ment j and being unable to converfe with tliem in their
J Pari. Hift, vol. xx. p. 182,
2 own
the CommonweaUh. i/;7
own way, were obliged to give up their treaty as imprac- ticable.
The very vulgar now exclaimed againft fo ridiculous a legiflature, and Cromwell began to be afliamed of their complicated abfurdities. He was alfo difTatisfied that the parliament, though it had derived all its authority from him, began to pretend power from the Lord •", and to in- fill already on their divine commillion. He had been careful to fummon in his writs many perfons entirely de- voted to him, and thefe he commanded to difmifs the aflembly. Accordingly, by concert, they met earlier than the reft of their fraternity ; and obferving to each other that this parliament had fat long enough, they, with Roufe, their fpeaker, haftened to Cromwell, and reGgned into his hands the authority with which he had inverted them. Cromwell accepted their refignatioa with Dec. n. pleafure ; but being told that fome of their number were 1hepar~ refractory, and continued fitting in the houfe, he fent "'^''^^^' thither colonel White, with a party of foldiers, to dif- -^^^ y,^^^^ mifs them. On entering the aflembly, this officer afked toCrom- them, what they did there. " We are feeking the Lord," •wtilt faid they. " Then you may go elfewhere (replied he) ; for, to my certain knowlege, he has not been here thefe many years."
This aflembly of fanatics being diflblved, the officer?, ivho is by their own authority, declared Cromwell protedlor of ff'^^'p^o- the commonwealth of England. He was addreil'ed by ^^"'"'' the title of highnefs, and with great folemnity inftallediii that high office at Whitehall, in the palace of the kings of England.
The crude and indigefted fyftem of polity by which the nation was now to be governed, was drawn up in an in- ftrument, the chief articles of which were the following. A council was appointed, which was not to exceed twenty-one, nor be lefs than thirteen perfons Thefe were to enjoy their office during life or good behaviour ; and, in cafe of a vacancy^ the remaining members named, three, of whom the prote£lor chofe one. The protetlor was appointed the fupreme magiftrate of the common- wealth, with all the powers which belonged to the crown. That of the fword was vefted in him, jointly with the parliament, while it was fitting, or with the council of ftate in the intervals. He was obliged to fummon a parliament every three years, and allow
ni Thurloe, vol. i. p. 393.
them
J 58 ^he H'lflory of England.
tliem to fit five months without adjournment, proroga* tion, or didblution. The bills whicli they paficd were to be prelented to the protector for hisafTent ; but if within t\A enty days it was not obtained, they were to become laws by the authority alone of parliament. A (landing army was eilabliflied, confiftin;; of twenty thoufand foot, and ten thoufand horfc ; and funds were affigned for their fupport. Thcfe were not to be diminilhed without con- fent of the proteflor ; and in this article alone he affumed a negative. During the intervals of parliament, the pro- tector and council had the power of enacling laws, vvhich were to be valid until the next meeting of parlia- meiit. The prote<flor was to enjoy his olTice during life, and, on his death, the place was immediately to be fup- plied by the council. The council of (late, named by the inilrument, was compofed of fifteen, men entirely devoted to the protector ; and to cacli of whom he affign- ed a peufion of one thoufand pounds a year. He took care to have his troops, upon whofe fidelity he depended for fupport, paid a month in advance •, tlie magazines were alfo well provided, and the public treafure managed with care ; while his vigiLinee, a6livity, and refolutioii were fuch, that he difcovcrcd every confpiracy againft his perfon, and every plot for an infurreiSlion, before they took efle£l. A.D. 1654. 'J he negociation of a treaty with Holland was at length ' brought to a conclunon. The I")utch confented to pay
Peace 11.1th ([^^ compliment to the Britifli fl<ig : they abandoned the Hoi an:. intereft of Charles*, they engaged to pay eighty-five thou- fimd pounds as an indemnification for lofl'es, and reftorc the ifle of Polerone to the Englifh Call: India company.
The Dutch war being fuccefsful, and the peace reafon- able, brought credit to Cromwell's adminiftration, which alfo derived advantage from an incident that difplayed the vigour of his character. Don Pantaleon Sa, bro- ther to the Portuguefe ambafiador, and joined with him in commifiion ", fancying himfelf to be infulted, came upon the Exchange, armed, and attended by feveral fer- vants. By miftake he attacked a gentleman whom he tool: for the perfon who had given him offence, and hav- ing by many wounds difpatched him, he and his atten- dants took ihelter in the houfe of the Portuguefe ambafla- dor, who had connived at this criminal enterprize °. The populace furrounded the houfe, and threatened to feL fire
" Thurloe, vol. ii. p. 4x5. " Ibid. vol. i. p. 616.
to
" The ComwirJ)ealtl\ j^^
to it : Cromwell feiit a guard, wliich felzed all tire t'u- Thehroiltr minajs. They were brought to trial, and, notwithfland- "/Mf /^r. ing the oppofkion of the ambaflador, who pleaded the pri- ?'"^'^^"'' vileges of his office, Don P;intaleon was executed on l^cheaded 'lower-hill. The fituation of Portugal obliged that court jnr mur. to acquiefee in tliis a£l of public juflice; and the anibaf- «J'*''- fiidor foon after figued with the proteftor a treaty of peace, and alliance, which was very advantageous to the Ejjglilli conHnercc.
The adminiflration of the protcflor, however, had not Cro^niveU procured him iht confidence of the public 5 and, in -3^ ca'.is a m-ut parliament which he fummoned on the 3d of September, /'^' '•'*'^^■^^• a day which he always regarded as fortunate for him, he lound the difpofition of the members unfavourable to Ijis government. The royalifts had been inllruiSted by \\\f*: king to remain quiet, and to cover themfelves under the appearance of republicans; among whom they found fuch inveterate hatred againft the protector, that they • could not wifli for more zealous adverfaries to his autho- rity. The parliament having heard the protector's fpeecb, three hours long p, and having chofen Lenthal their fpeaker, immediately entered into a difcuffion of the in- flrument of government, and of that authority which . Cromwell had afl'umed over the nation. The greateft freedom was ufed in arraigning the new dignity of pro- tector ; and even the perfonal character and conduct of Cromwell efcaped not without cenfure. The prcte(Si;or, furprifed and enraged at this refradtory fpirit in the par- liament, which, however, he had fo much reafon to cx- pe£t, fent for them to the Painted Chamber, and, with an air of great authority, inveighed againft their conduct. He told them, that nothing could be more abfurd than for them to difputehis title, fincethefame iniirumentof govern- ment which made them a parliament, had inveited hiin with the protcctorfiiip ; that fome points in the new con- ilitution were fuppofed to be fundamentals, and were nor, on any pretence, to be altered or difputed \ that, among thefe, were the government of the nation by a Gngle pcr- fon and a parliament, their joint authority over the arniv and mihtia, the fucceffion of nev/ parliaments, and li- berty of confeience ; and that, with regard to thefe par- ticulars, there was referved to him a negative voice, to which, in the other circuraftanccs of government, he confefled himfelf no wife entitled.
^ Thujloe, vol. ii- p. 620.
Crom-
J 6a The Hijlory of England.
Cromwell now found himfelf under the neceHJty of ex- a£ling a fecurity, which, had he forefeen the fpirit of the houfe, he would, with better grace, have required at their firft meeting *!. He obliged the members to fign a recognition of his authority, and an engagement not to propofe or confent to any alteration in the government, as fettled in a fingle perlbn and a parliament ; and he placed guards at the door of the houfe, who allowed none but fubfcribers to enter, Moft of the members, after fome hefitation, fubmitted to this condition, but retained the fame reira6lory fpirit which they had difcovered in their firft debates. The inftrument of government was taken in pieces, and examined, article by article, with the moft Icrupulous accuracy. Very few topics were ad- vanced with the general approbation of the houfe-, and, during the whole courie of their proceedings, they neither fent up one bill to the protetlor, nor took any notice of him. Being informed that confpiracies were entered into betwecTi the members and fome malecontent officers, he haftened to the difTolution of fo dangerous an aflembly. By the inftrument of government, to which he had fworn, no parliament could be diflblved until it had fat A.D.i6ss. five months ; but Cromwell pretended that a month con- tained only twenty-eight days, according to the method of computation praciifed in paying the fleet and army. The full time, therefore, according to this reckoning, being elapfed, the pnrliament was ordered to attend the protec>- tor, who made them a tedious, confufed, angry harangue, and difmiflcd them.
Great difcontents now prevailing in the nation, a con- fpiracy was concerted between the king and the royalifl:s throughout England, and a day of general rifing was ap- pointed. Intelligence of this defign was conveyed to Cromwell, whofe adminiftration was extremely vigilant. Thurloe, his fecretary, had fpies every where. Manning, who had accefs to the king's family, kept a regular cor- relpondence with him. Nor was it difficult to obtain in- telligence of a confederacy fo generally known to a party, who valued (hemfelves more on zeal and courage than on fecrefy and fobriety. Many of the royalifts were thrown into prifon : others, on the approach of the day, were teriified with the danger of the enterprize, and remained at home. In one place alone the confpiracy broke into action. Penruddock, Groves, Jones, and other gentle-
Jan. 21. 'Tite par- a amen t is dijolved.
Infarrec-
tion of the rojalijis.
< Thurloe, vol. 11. p. 620.
men
Tl:e Commonwealths i6i
iren of the Weft, entered Salifbury with about ta-o hun- <hed horfe, at the very time when ihe judges were hold- ing the afTizes. Thofe the infurgents made prifoners, and piocl limed the king. Though they expelled to be joined by other royalills, fo prevalent was' the terror of the cilabl flied government that they received no accef- fion of force; and, after wandering about feme time di- fpirited, one troop of horfe was able at luft to fupprefs vihichh them. The leaders of the confpiracy being made prifoners, A/*/'"'/'?*/* were capitally punifhed ; tfie reft were tranfported to Bar- badoes, and fold for flaves.
The prote£tor refolved no longer to keep any terms with the royalifts. With the confent of his council, he ilfued an edict, for exa6ling from that whole party the tenth penny, in order, as he pretended, to make them pay the expences to which their mutinous difpofition con- tinually expofed the government. However harrafled 77;* ri??- with former oppreffions, therefore, they v/ere obliged «/'/?' o/"- anew to redeem thernfelves by great fums of money, and P^'m"^* many of them were reduced, by thofe multiplied diiafters, to extreme poverty. Whoever was known to be difaff"e£l- ed, or even lay under any fufpition^ was expofed to the new exaclipn.
During thefe tranfaclions the queen of England and her fon Charles, pafied moft of their time at Paris ; and, not- withftanding their near connection of blood, received but few civilities, and ftill lefs fupport, from the French court. The Englifh parliament, however, having affum- ed the fovereignty of the fcate, refented the countenance, cold as it was, with which the French court treated the prince^ On pretence of injuries, of which the Englifh merchants complained, they iffaed letters of reprifal oa the French; and Blake went fo far as to attack ami feize a whole fquadronof ftiips which were carrying fupplies to Dunkirk, then clofely befieged by the Spa- niards. That town, difappoiuted of thofe funph'cs, fell into the hands of the enemy ; and the French miniftry fodn found it neceflary to change their meafures. They treated Charles with fuch affected indlOerence, that, to prevent the indignity of being defired to leave the king- dom, he judged it proper to anticipate the requifition. He Tke king '.vent firft to Spa, and afterwards to Cologne, where he ret'ret to lived two years on a fmall penfion, of about fix thoufand '"S"'* pounds, allowed him by the court of France, and on fome contributior.s fent him by his friends in England. Sir Edward Hyde, afterwards lorJ-chailcellor, and the
V®-L, II. M marquis
it 2 The Hijlory of Englcmd,
riarquis of Ormond, were his chief friend and coiiff- cLnts.
As the French minlfter had thought it prudent to bend, under the Englifh parliament, they deemed it dill more nccclTary to pay deference to the proteclor, when he af- fumed the reins of government* Cardinal Mazarine, by M horn the affairs of that kingdom were coiiducttd, was ready to comply wiih every propofal made by the protcc- for, the boldnefs and vigour of whofc adminiftration ren- <fcred him the objcifl of general terror. To negociate a peace with England, Bourdeaux was fcnt over as minifter. During the whole ncgociation, which Bourdeaux condu£led with indefatigable patience, Cromwell affected the utmoft iadilFerencc to any treaty, and thougJi Englifh privateers committed daily depredations on the French commerce^ Mazarine was content, in hope& of a fortunate ifl'uc, dill to fubmit to thefe indignities ^
The court of Spain, though no lefs afTi.luous to gain his friendlhip, was i>ot equally fuccefsful. This vafl mo- narchy, which, but a few years before, had threatened the JibertieJ of Europe, was now j educed fo low as to be Ccarcc able to defend itfelf. Policy required that Cromwell Ihould have fupportcd its tleclining (late againft the dan- gerous ambition of France ; at leatt, that he Ihould not have entered into an anbciaticn with the latter to deprefs Crrmivfll it farther. But he underftood not the foreign intereitsof tr^a<rts:n His country, and lent the court of France a body of fix ^ uiV** thoufand men to attack the Spanilh dominions in the Ne- therlands. The French, upon obtaining, by his afTifl- ancc, a (Ignal vi£lory at Dunes, put Dunkirk, which they had jufl taken from the Spaniards, into his hands, as a reward for his friendftiip.
But it was by fea that he humbled the pride of Spain ■with AiJi more important fucccfs. Blake, whofe fame was now fpread mer Europe, failed with a fleet of thirty capi- tal fliips into the Mediterranean, whither, fince the time cf the crufadcs, no Englifh fleet had ever ventured to ad- vance. Fie there conquered all that had the temerity to oppofe him. Cafting anchor before Leghorn, he demand- ed and obtained fatisfacftion for fame injuries which the Englifli commerce had fuffered from the duke of Tufcany. He next failed to Algiers, compelled the dey to make peace, and to reflrain his piratical fubjedls from making farther depredations on the Englifh. He went thence to
11
frame.
• Thurloe, vol. iii, p. 103. 619. (153.
Tunis,
'I'urils, where, having made the fame demands, he was defired by the dey of that place to look at the two caflles, Porto Farino and Goletta, And db his utmoH:. Blake was not flow in accepting the challenge : he drew his fiiips clofe up to the cadles, in M'hich he made great havock with his artillery; and, after butning all the vcflcls in the harbour> failed out triumphantly to ptufue his voyage. At Ifar ^-jji/t Cadiz, he took two galleons, valued at near two millions ^M'^- of pieces of eight. At the Canaries, he burned a Spanifli Blahe laht fleet of fixteen (hips; and returning home tc; Encland, '/'* -/"""/A to enjoy the fame of his noble alliens, as he came within ^'' ^"^ * Hght of his native country he expired. This gallant man, though he fought for an ufurper, yet was dverfe to his caufe. He was by principle a zealous republican ; and his aim waS'to ferve his country, not to fupport ufurp- ation* ** It is ftill our duty," he would fay to the fea- men, *' to fight for our country, into whatever h^nds the governrhent may fall."
While Blake was prcfecuting his erlterprizes, ^.no\htt P^n and was carried on under the command of admiral Pen and f''i»abief Venables, with about four tlioufalid land-forces. Their ^'^^^'^'' expedition v/as intended againfl; Hifpaniola ; but, being fruftrated in that defign, they fteered to Jamaica, which furrendered to them without a blow. Of fo little import- since was this conque'l efteemed, that, upon the return of the expedition. Pen andVenables were fent to thti Tower, for the mifcarriage in their primary objedl.
Though the adminiftration of the protector was difliii- guiftied by thefe great fuccefies, they might rarher be afcribed to the fplrit of the times than to his own abilities. Cromwell was pofTefied of but two arts in perfe£lion ; that of managing the army, by which he tuled, and of obtain- ing the fecrets of his enemies who wdre plotting againfl him. For the form.er, his valour and fanatical cant was fuflicient ; for the latter, he is faitl to have expended fixty thoufand pounds a-year among his fpies.
Cromwell began to hope, that, by his adrniniftrat!on> A.D.ie??.
attended with fo n^.uch luil:re abroad, and tranquillity at '
home, he had now acquired fuch authority as vi-ould it- ^''P^* '?• cure to his government the compliance of the reprefenta- .. "-''^/*''* tlves of the nation. He, therefore, fumhioncd a parlia- ment ; but, not truflinif altogether to the good-will of the people, he ufed every art to influence the eledlions, and fill the houfe with his own creatures. Ireland, being entirely in the hands of the army, chofe ^izw but fuch ofiicers as were mofl: acceptable to him, Scotland fliowed a like
jM 2. compliance j
1 64 72?^ Hijlory of England,
compliance; and, as the nobility and gentry of that king- dom regarded their attendance on Englifh parliaments as a badge of flavery, it was more eafy for the officers to prevail in the elections. Notwithftanding all thefe pre- cautions, theprotej^or Hill found, that the majority would not be favourable to liim. He fct guards, therefore, on • the door, who permitted none to enter but fuch as pro-
duced a warrant from his council ; which rejected about a hundred, who either refufed a recognition of the protec- tor's authority, or were on other accounts obnoxious to him. The excluded members protelled againft fo egre- gious a violence, fubverfive of all liberty ; but every ap- plication for redrefs was neglected both by (he council and the parliament.
By thcfe means, the majority of the pai'liament was now either friendly to the protedtor, or refolved, by their compliance, to adjull, if polhble, the military government to their laws and liberties. They voted a renunciation of all title in Charles Stuart, or any of his family. Colonel Jcphfon, in order to found the inclinations of the houfe, ventured to move, that the parliament fliould bellow the crown on the prote(flor; and no fui prize or reludlance was difcovered on. the occafion. When Cromwell after- wards afkcd Jcphfon what induced him to make fuch a motion, •' As long (faid Jcphfon) as I have the honour to fit in parliament, I muit follow the dictates of my own confcience, whatever offence I may be fo unfortu- nate as to give you." " Get thee gone (faid Cromwell, giving him a gentle blow on the fhoulder), get thee gone, for a mad fellow as thou art."
In order to pave the way to this advancement, for which he fo ardently longed, Cromwell refolved to facri- fice his major-generals, whom he knew to be extremely odious to the nation ; and who, having begun to cflabliflx a feparate jurifdiclion, had rendered themfclves formidable to the protedlor himfelf. Claypole, his fon- in-law, who pofTefTed his confidence, abandoned them to the pleafure of the houfe ; and, though the name was flill retained, it was agreed to abridge, or r:ither entirely annihilate, the power of the xnajor-generals.
At length, a motion in form was made by alderman Pack, one of the city-members, for invefting the protec- tor with the dignity of king. This motion, at firft, ex- cited great diforder. The chief oppofition came from the ufual adherents of the protector ; the major-generals, and fuch oificers as depended on them. Lambert, a man of 7 deep
^he Commonwealth* i6r
deep Intrigae, and of great intereft in the army, had lon^ entertained the ambition of fucceeding Cromwell in the pioteflorfliip; and he forefaw, that, if the monarchy were reftored, hereditary right would alfo be eftabhlhed, and the crown be tranfmitted to the pofterity of the prince firfl; ele<ri:ed. He pleaded, therefore, confcience; and, rouzing all thofe civil and religious jealoufies, which had been induftrioufly fomented among the foldiers, againft kingly government, he raifed a formidable parcy againft the motion.
On the other hand, the motion was fupported by every A.D.1657,
one who was more particularly devoted to the protedtor. >
Many perfons alfo, attached to their country, defpaired of (^^o'^n ever being able to fubvert the prefent illegal eflablifliment, "ff'-'*'^'^ ^^ and were defirous, by fixing it on its ancient foundations, to induce the protestor to pay a regard to the ancient laws and liberties of the kingdom. The bill was voted by a confiderable majority; and a committee was appointed to reafon with the protestor, and to overcome thofe fcruples which he teftified againft accepting fo liberal an offer.
The conference lafted for feveral days. The committee urged, that all the ftatutes and cuftoms of England were founded on the fuppofition of regal authority : that a pro- te6lor, except during the minority of a king, was a name utterly unknown to the laws; no man was acquainted with the genuine extent of his authority; and it was greatly the intereft of all his highnefs's friends to feek the fhelter of this llatute.
Cromwell was fufBciently convinced of the folidity of the reafons which were urged by the committee ; and his inclination coincided with his judgment ; but how to re^ '
concile the meafure to the fentiments of the foldiers was the difficulty. Sufpendcd between the apprehenfions arifing from this quarter, and his own moft ardent de- fires, Cromwell protraded the time, and feemed ftill to oppofe the arguments of the committee ; in hopes that, by artifice, he might be able to reconcile the minds of the foldiers to the propofed dignity. The abfurdity of his fpeeches on this occafion (for they ftill remain) forms the moft ftriking contraft that can be imagined to the general fagacity of his characT:er. " I confefs (faid he), for it be- hoves me to deal plainly with you, I muft confefs, I would fay, I hope, I may be underftood in this, for indeed I muft be tender what I fay to fuch an audience as this ; I fay, I would be underftood, that in this argu- mtn\. I do not make parallel betwixt men of a different
M 3 mind
l5^ The Hijhiy of Enghml
piind and a parliament, "which fnall have their defircs. I }<now there is no comparifon, ncr can it be urged upon me, that my words have the lead colour that way, be- (caufe the parliament Teems to give liberty to me to fay any thii^g to you ; as that, that is a tonder of my humble reafons and judgment and opinion to them, and if I think they arc fuyJi and will be fuch to them, and arc faithful fcrvants, and will be fo to the fuprcme atithority, and the Jegiflaiive wherefoever it is: if, I fay, 1 (hould not tell you, knowing their minds to be fo, I tiiould not be faith- ful, if I fiiould not tell you fo, to the end vou may report it to the parliament: I fhall fay fomeihing for myfelf, for my pwn mind, 1 do profefs it, 1 am not a man fciupulous about yiords or names of fuc^ things I have not : but as I have the word of God, and I hope I fliall ever have it, for the rule of my confcicnce, formy informations; fo truly meii that have been led in dark paths, through the providence and difpenfation of God ; why furely it is not to be ob- jected to a man ; for who can love to walk in the dark ? J3ut providence does fo difpofc. And though a man may impute his own folly and blindnefs to providence fmfully, yet it mud be at my peril ; the cafe may be that is the providence of God, that doth lead men in darknefs : I smuft need fay, thut I have had a great deal of experience of providence, and though it is no rule without or againft the word, yet it is a very good cxpofitor of the word in many cafes."
But the ojipofltion which Cromwell dreaded, was not that which came from Lambert and his adherents, whom he now regarded as capital enemies, and was re- folved to deprive of all au.thority ; it was that vi-hicli arofe from his own family, and from men, who, by intereft as well as inclination, -were the moll devoted to him. Fleetwood and Dtiborow, the former married to his daughter, and the latter to his fifter, could by no means be induced to confent that he fhould be inveiled with the regal dignity. They told him, that, if he accepted of the ^rown, they would inftaiitly throw up their commifhons, nnd never afterwards fhould have it in their power to ferve him *. Colonel Pride procured a petition againfl the ofhce pf king, figned by a majority of the olhcers who were in London and the nerghbourhcod. Some fudden mutiny \n the army was juftiy dreaded ; and feveral pcrfons, it fS laid, had entered into an engarement to murder the
f ThujlQ^, vol. vi. p. i6s,
proteQcf
The Cornmonzvcalth/, i6y
7ratc£\©r within a few hours after he (houM have accepted
the offer of the parliament. At laft, Cromweii, after
ion^ doubt and perplexity, was obliged to refufe that HerejiQi
crown, which the reprefentatives of the nation had ten- ''•
dered to him.
The regal dignity t>eing reje(n?cd by Cromwell, the parliament found themfelves obliged to retain the name of a conrcmouweakh Knd prote£lar; and, as the govern- ment was hitherto a raanifell ufurpation, it was thought proper to fanclion it by a feeming choiee of the people and their reprefentatives. Inflead of the ** Inftru-ment HumlUpt^ of Government," which wns the work of the general ofTi- ^"''"' '^'^'^ cers alone, " A humble Petition and Advice" was framed, " *"^'* and offered to the prote£tor by the parliament. This was teprefented as the great balls of the republican eftablifli- ment, regulating and limiting the powers of each member of the conftitution, and fecuring for ever the liberties of •the peeple. By this deed, the authority of the prore(ftor was in fort>c particulars enlarged ; in others, it was confi- derably diminiftied. He had the power of nominating his fucceffor; he had a perpetual revenue affigned him; a million a-year for the pay of the fleet and army *, three hundred thoufand pounds for the fupport of the civil go- n^ernment ; and he had authority to name a new houfe of peers, who fhould enjoy their feats during life, and exercifje 4'ome funftions of the former houfe. But he renounced the power affumed in the intervals of parliament, of fram=« ing laws wilh the confent of his council \ and he agreed, that no members of either houfe fhould be excluded but by the confent of that houfe of which they were members. The humble Petition and Advice was amended by a fup- plement the fame leffion ; but, after all, it may be regard- -ed as an undigefted model of government. After this nevi^ deed, Cromwell was again inaugurated in Weftminller- liall, with great foleranity.
The parlian^ent having adjourned itfelf, the prote<flQr deprived Lambert of all iiiscommiflions; but allowed hint a penfion of two thoufand pounds a-year, as a biibe foi* ^is future peaceable deportment.
Richard, eldeft fon of the protector, was brought to court, introduced into public bufinefs, and thenceforth regarded by many as his heir in the proceclorfliip ; though 'Cromwell fometimes employed thegrofs artifice of flatter- ing others with the hopes of fucceiTion.
, The parliament was again aflcmbled ; conlut. ^, as in A.D.165J; the times of monarchy, of two houfcs. CromwCi. dur- "
M 4 ''ig
>68 The BJlory of Engkinl
ing the interval, had fent writs to his houfe of peers which confided of fixty members. They were com- pofcd of five or fix ancient peers, of feveral gentle-r men of fortune, and of fome oflicers who had rifen from the meaneft ftations. None of the ancient peers, however, would deign to accept of a feat. The pro- tedlor endeavoured at firfl; to maintain the appearance of a legal magillrate. He placed no guard at the door of eicher houfe ; but foon found how incompatible liberty is with militaty ufurpation. By bringing fo great a num- ber of his friends aud adherents into the upper houfe, he had loft the majority among the national reprefentatives. In confequencc of a claufe in the humble Petition and Ad- vice, the conjmpns aiTumed a power of re-admitting thofe members whom ciie council had formerly excluded. Sir Arthur Ilaztlrig, and fome others, whom Ciomwell had created lords, rather chofe to take their feat with the commons. An inconteftible majoiity now declared them- felves againft the protc<flor ; and they refufed to acknow- lege tlic jurifdiftion of that other houfe which he had efla- blifhed. £ven the validity of the humble Petition and Ad- vice was queftioiicd, as being voted by a parliament which lay under force, and which was deprived, by military vio- Tnr]iji)!:int lence, of a conridcrable number of its members. Crom- 4ii§9lveJ. \\z\\^ dre.-ding combinations between the parliament and the malecontcnts in the army, refolved to allow no leifure for forming any confpir?cy againft him ; and, with ex- preiTions of great difpleafure, he diflblved the parliament. When urged by Fleetwood, and otliers of his friends, not to precipitate himfelf into this rafti meafure, he fwore by the Living God, that they (hould not fit a moment longer. The protector was now kept in perpetual inquietude. Jlis adrniniftration, expenfive both by military enterprizes and fecret intelligence, had exhaufted his revenue, and in- Con/pirjfy volved him in a confiderable debt. The royalifts, he heard, ^r!i'7^' ^^^ renewed their confpiracies for a general infurredion; ticled* ^' ^"^ Ormond was fecretly come over with a view of con- certing meafures for the execution of this projecl. Many leaders of the prefbyterians had fecretly entered into the engagement. Even the army was infected with the fpirit of difcontent ; and fome dangerous commotion was every moment expeded from it. All his arts and policy were exhaufted ; and, having fo often deceived every party, and almoft every individual, he could no longer hope, by re- peating the fame profeffions, to meet with equal con- fideace. •
^he Cornmonweahh. 169
But the confplracy of the royalifts was difc.overed, and proved incfFe£lual. Ormond was obliged to (ly •, great numbers were thrown into prifon j and a high court of juftice was again erected tor the trial of thofc whofe guilt was mod apparent. Notwitliitanding the recognition of his authority by the lad parliament, the protedtor could not as yet truft to an uabiafled jury.
The confpiracy of the m.illenarians in the army flruck Difcv2teiit$ Cromwell with (till greater apprehenfions. The oihcers "» ^^^ whom he had difcarded harboured in their bread lome ^ '^' defperatc projedl: ; and there wanted not others in the army who were difpofed to fecond their undertakings. The levellers and agitators had been encouraged by Cromwell to interpofe with their advice in all political de- liberations ; and he had even afFedted to honour many of them with his particular friendlhip, while he conduced ' his daring enterprize againft the king and the parliament. It was a ufual practice with him, in order to familiarize himfelf the more with the agitators, who were commonly corporals or ferjeants, to take them to bed with him, and there, after prayers and exhortations, to difcufs together their projedls and principles, both political and religious: but, having alTumed the dignity of prote£lor, he excluded them from all his councils ; a treatment at which many of them were exafperated. He was likewife apprehenlive of alfaihnations, from the zealous fpirit which acluated the foldiers. One Siindercome had undertaken co murder him i and, by a variety of accidents, had often been pre- vented from executing his bloody purpofe.
The prote6lor, furrounded by theie dangers, and tor- Unhappy rnented with apprehenfions, was deftitute even of do- Ji^teoftkg medic confolation. Fleetwood, his fon-in-law, a£luatcd t''"'^^''"'- by the wilded zeal, began to edrange hinifelf from him; 3fid derefted that character which could ufe religious pro- {"effions for the purpofes of temporal advancement. His elded daughter, married to Fleetwood, had adopted re- publican principles fo vehement, that die could not behold even her own father inverted with uncontroulable power. His other daughters were no lefs prejudiced in favour of the royal caufe ; but, above all, Mrs. Claypole, his fa- vourite daughter, who, upon her death-bed, upbraided him with the unwarrantable meafures into which his am- bition had betrayed him.
All peace was now for ever banlflied from his mind. He felt, that the grandeur which he had attained with To »iuch difficulty, was incapable of aiFording any enjoy- ' * msnt.
iyo Th Kiftmy of Englav.L
ment. Equally jealous of treacherous frieiiils ;in<1 of en- raged enemies, he was haunted, in all his walks, with the dread of afTafiiDation. Every aclion of his life betrayed the terrors under which he laboured. The arpe(fl of {trangers x\'as uneafy to him. He wore armour under his cloaths, and always kept piftoJs in his pockets. He never moved ;i ftep without ftrong guards attendiup; him-, and he per- formed every journey with precipitation. He returned from no pbce by the direcl road, or by the fame way which he went ; and feldom ficpt above three nights fuc- cefTively in the fame chamber. Nor did he ever let it be known before-hand wliat chamber he intended to choofe ; or cntrullcd himftlf in any which was net provided with a back-door, at which one or more centinels were placed. In folitude he was mifcrable ; and fociecy terrified him. ' Hi'fckKefs, At lad, anxiety of mind affected his health \ and he was feized with a flow fever, which clianged into a tertian ague. For the fpace of a week no dangerous fymptoms appeared; and, in the intervals of the fits, he was able to walk abroad. But the fever increafnig, himfelf began to dread his approaching fate ; thougli he was taught, by his fanatic chaplains, to coufider his prefent diforder as no way fatal. When one of them, named Goodwin, told him, that the elect would never be damned, ** Then I am fafe (faid the protc£lor), for I am fure that once I was in a flatc of grace." His phyficians were fenfible of the dan- ger of his cafe ; but he was fo much encouraged by the vifions and revelations of his preachers, that he began to confider his recovery as not in the lealt doubtful. " I tdl you (cried he to tlie phyficians), 1 tell you, I (hall not die of this diflemper: I am well alfured of my recovery. It is promifed by the Lord, not only to my fupplications, but to thofe of men who hold a ftridler commerce and more intimate correfpondence with him. Ye may liavc (kill iu your profeflfion ; but nature can do more than all the phy- ficians in the world, and God is far above nature *." Upoq a faft-day, obferved both at Hampton Court and White- hall, on account of his ficknefs, they did not fo much pray for his health, as thank God for the undoubted pledges they had received of his recovery, Notwithfland- ing thofe affurances, the fatal fymptoms every hour in- crcafed ; and the phyficians were obliged to declare, that he could not furvive the next fit. The council, therefore, Cime to know his laft. will with regard to the fuccedion*
« Bates, Thurloe, vol. vii, p. 355. 41 f.
Bat
I'he Commomvealth. 171'
But his fenfes fafl: declining, he was only able to aufvt'er
" yes" to their demand, whether his fon Richard rtiould
fucceed him in the protcclorfhip. He died on the ^d of anddeath,
September, that very day which he had always confuiered
as the moll fortunate of his life. He was then hfty-nine
years old, and had ufurped the government nine years.
Qromwell was of a robuft frame of body, and of d, manly, though not of an agreeable afpe£l. He left only- two fons, Richard and Henry, and thrte daughters; one married to general Fleetwood, another to lord Faucon- berg, and a third to lord Rich. His father died when he was young. His mother lived until after he was pro- te£lor ; and, contrary to her orders, he buried her with great pomp in Weftminfter Abbey.
Immediately after the deceafe of Cromwell, the council A.D.165?,
aflembled ; and, in confequence of his lafl will, elected •
his fon Richard proteiElor of the commonwealth. This ^"hard election was notified to the mayor of London ; and, next I^ ^^n day, he was proclaimed in that city, and in Weftminfter. He in a little tirng received addrelfes from the different counties and corporations of England, congratulating him upon his fuccefhon, which they promifed to fupport with life and fortune. Henry, his brother, who governed Ire- land with popularity, eiifured him the obedience of that kingdom ; and Monk, whofe authority was eftablifhed in Scotland, immediately proclaimed the new proteflor. The army, every where, with the fleet, acknowleged his title; and foreign minifters were forward jn paying him the ufual compliments
It was found necefiary to call a parliament, to furnifli A.D.1559;
fupplies for the common exigencies of government. The an
cient right of election was reflored to all the fmall boroughs; ^ parba' and the counties were allowed no more than their ulual *""'' members. The other houfe, or the houfe of peers, con- fifted only of thofe perfons of no real title, who had been advanced to that dignified ftation by the late prote£lor.
The parliament was now the leaft inimical to the pro- te^lor's authority. His uncle Delhorovv was a republican, and his brother-in-law Fleetwood an enthufiaftic millena- rian, confequently both averfe to the government of a fingle perfon. The latter was the idol of the army, which Richard difobliged by the promotion of fome officers again ft whom they entertained a dillike. Lambert alfo, and Ludlow, with many other oflJcers whom Oliver had difmilTen, came forth from their retreats, and began to '{;al?al againft the protedlor, AH thefe eftablilhcd a meet.
lyi Th Hijlcry of England.
C.ibiil of ing rit j;cneral Fltfetwood's, wPiich, as he dwelt in Wal- Waliin);- lingforcl-houfe, was called the cabal of WiiUinj^ford. ford houje. Richard v as perluadcd, by fome of his difguifed enemies, to call a general council of olficers, who, as they pretend- ed, might make him propofals for the good of the army. No fooner were they aflcmbled than they voted a remon- llrance *, in which it was prnpofed, that the military power fl;ouId be entrufted to fome pcrfon in whom they could all confide -^ and it was plainly given to undcriland, that the young proredtor was not that perfon.
Richard, alarmed at this propofal, applied to his coun- cil -, and they referred it to the parliament. Both confi- dered it as an audacious attempt ; and a vote was palTed, that there fliould be no meeting or general council of offi- cers, except with the protef^or's confent, or by his orders. This proceeding brought things immediately to an open rupture. The officers haftened to Hichard, and demanded a dilTolution of the parliament. Dcfborow, a man of a clownifli and brutal nature, threatened him, if he fliould refufe compliance. Tiie prote6lor, wanting the refolution to deny, accordingly dilTolved tliat aflembly -, and, by the fame act, himfelt was, by every one, confidercd as effec- tually diverted of all power. Soon after he (Igned his own abdication in form. /b.iicat'ton Henry, the deputy of Ireland, who, though endowed ej RtiharJ. xv\i\\ more vigour and capacity, pofleffed the fame mode- rate difpofition with Richard, followed the protedlor's ex- ample, and rcfigncd his commifFion without ftriking a blow. Richard continued to polfefs a moderate eftate, but burdened with a large debt which he had contrafted for the interment of his father. After the Refloration, though he remained unmoleftcd, he thought proper to travel for fome years. He extended his peaceable, inof- fcnfive life to an extreme old age j and died not until the latter end of queen Anne's reign. Rtflffration The council of officers, now poffi^fTed of fupreme au- cj the rump thority, deliberated what form of government they (hould farha- ellablifli ; and, after fome confultation, determined to re- vive the long parliament which had been expelled by Cromwell. This was called the good old caufe, from their attachment to republican principles-, and to the members of this the cabal of officers, for fome time, de- livered up their own authority. The members, who had been fccluded by colonel Pride's purge, as it was called, attempted, but in vain, to rcfanie theij feats among them.
The
^be Commonwealth, 170
The rump-parliament, for fuch was the name it went by, chofe a council, in which they took care that the of- ficers of Wallingford-houfe fhould not be the majority. They appointed Fleetwood lieutenant-general ; but infert- ed in his commiffion, that it Ihould only continue during the pleafure of the houfe. They chofe feven peifons who Ihould nominate to fuch commands as became vacant ; and they voted, that all commilTions fhould be received from the fpeaker, and be figned by him in the name of the houfe. The tendency of thefe precautions efcaped not the obfervation of the officers ; and their dtfcontent would immediately have broken out into fome relolution fata! to the parliament, had it not been checked by apprehenfions of danger from the royalifts, or prefbyterians, who were confidered as the common enemy.
In this exigence, the officers held feveral conferences 06I. 13. together, with a defign to maintain their authority ; and Parliament they at length came to the refolution of diflblving that af- i-rpelled. fembly, by which they found themfelveis oppofed. Ac- cordingly, Lambert, one of the general officers, drew ^ip a chofen body of troops ; and, placing them in the Itreets which led to Weflminfter-hall, when the fpeaker, Len- thal, proceeded in his carriage to the houfe, he ordered the horfes to be turned, and very civilly conduced him home. The other members were likewife intercepted j and the army returned to their quarters, to obferve a fo- lemn faft, which generally either preceded or attended their outrages.
The officers, havhig thus refumed the power they had given, refolved not to relinquifli it for the future upon eafy terms. They elefted a committee of twenty-three perfonS, of whom feven were officers. Thefe they called Committet a committee of fafety, and pretended to invefl it with ojjajetj, fovereign authority. Fleetwood, a weak zealot, was made commander in chief; Lambert, an artful ambitious man, major-general; Defliorow, lieutenant general ; and Monk, who had been invefted by Cromwell with the government of Scotland, was appointed major-general of the foot. A military government was now edablifficd, which gave the nation the melancholy profpcifl of an uncontroulable -tyranny.
Meanwhile, general Monk was at the head of eight ce'ierai thoufand veterans in Scotland, and beheld the dillradlions Monk. of liis native country with but (lender hopes of relieving it. This perfonage, to whoni was refcrved the glory of le-eftabliflnng monarchy, and putting an end to the bloody
iiilTenfions
1^^ 7h Eijlory of Engbnd,
diflenfions of the three kingdoms, was the fecond fori ^f a Tf.fpecflable family in Dcvonfliire. He betook himfelf lA early youth to the profeflion of arms ; and was engaged in the unfortunate expeditions to Cadiz and the ifle of Rhe. After England had concluded peace with foreign power?, he fought military experience in the Low Countries; butj on the breaking out of the civil commotions, he returned to his native country, and was entrulled with a regiment in the fei vice of king Charles. Py his humane and equal temper he gained the good-will of the foldiery ; who, with a nxixture of familiarity and afTedtion, ufually called him honed George Monk. At the fiege of Nantwlch he was made prilbner by Fairfax, and foon after fent to the Tower. He did not recover his liberty until after the total overthrow of the royal party } when Cromwell took him into favour, and fent him to oppofe the Irifh rebels, againft whom he performed fignal fervices. Upon tlie tedudion of that kingdom, he was fent over into Scot*- Jand, and there entrufled with the fupreme command} in which ftation he wai not lefs eileemed by the Scots than loved by his own army.
Monk, upon receiving intelligence that the ofiicerS had, by their own authority, diflblved the parliament, proteft- cd againft the violence, and, rcfolved, as he pretended, to vindicate their invaded privileges. A rivalfliip having long fubfifted between him and Lambert, every body faw the reafon why he oppofed the elevation of that ambitious general, by whofe fuccefs his own authority, he knew, would foon be fubverted. Little friendftiip had fub- fifted between him and the parliamentary leaders ; and it feemed, therefore, nowifc probable that he intended to make any effort for the advancement of one enemy above another. Deeper defigns, either in the king's favour or his own, were fufpecfted to be the motive of his condu£l. He drew together the feveral fcattered regiments, and fum- moned an aflembly, refembling a convention of ftates ; to which having communicated his refolution of marching into England, he received a fmall fupply of money. As foon as he put his army into motion, his friendfhip was eagerly fought after by all the contending parties. His younger brother, a clergyman, who was a zealous royalift, came to him with a mefiage from Hr John Granville, in the name of the king. The general aflced him, if he had ever communicated the contents of his commifHon to ^ any other perfon. His brother replied, to none except
to Dr. Price, the general's own chaplain, a man of pro- bity.
^he Commonivedch. jjr^
'buy, and In the royal interefls. The gencrul, alteiMig his countenance, at once clianged the difcourre, and would enter into Jio farther conference with him. The fame deep referve was maintained through all his fuhfequent proceedings.
Hearing that Lambert, with his army, was advancing N^pociatki^ northward to meet him, he fent to London three com- betiveen milhoners, with very earneft profefhons of an accommo- ^°"^ ^* dation. His chief aim v/as to gain time, and relax the ^ "'" , preparations of his enemies. The committee of fafety fell fatfty ^' into the fnare. A treaty was figned by Monk's commif- fioners; but he refufed to ratify it, and complained that they had exceeded their powers. Still, however, he made propofals for a new negociation at Newcaftle ^ and the committee of officers again accepted his. fallacious offers-
Meanwhile, the committee of fafety found themfclres furrounded with great difficulties. The nation had fallen into total anarchy, refufed the payment of all taxes, and loudly exclaimed againfl the tyranny of the army. While Lambert was in the North, Hazelrig and Morley took pof- felliou of Portfmouth, and declared for the parliament. The apprentices in London rofe in a tumult, and demand- ed a free parliament. Admiral Lawfon, with his fqua- The rurnp dron, came into the river, and declared for the parliament; ^ffiored. and even the regiments which had been left in the city» being folicited by their old officers, who had been calhicred, revolted to the parliament. The rump, being thus in- vited on all hands, again ventured to refume their feats, and to thunder their votes in turn againft the officers, and that part of the army by which they had been eje<£led. Without taking any notice of Lambert, they fent orders to the forces under his command immediately to repair to thofe quarters which had been appointed them. The fol- diers were not flow in obeying the parliamentary orders j and Lambert at laft found himfelf deferted by his whole army. He was foon after arreffed and committed to the Tower ; feveral other officers were cafliiered \ fir Harry Vane, and fon^e members who had concurred with the committee of fafety, were ordered into confinement ; and the parliament feemed now to Hand on a firmer founda- tion than before.
Monk, though informed of the reftitution of tlie par- liament, from which, of confcquence, he ought to have received orders, continued to advance with his army, which confifted of near fix thoufand men. The gentry, ow his march, flocked round him with intreatics
and
l-]6 The Hijlory of England,
and addrefTcs, exprcHlng their ciefire of a new parliament. Fairfax brought him a body of troops, with which he offered to affift in rcftoring the royal family ; but Monk pcrfevering in liis taciturnity, that ofiicer quitted the army, and returned to his own houfe in Yorkfhire. Monk, having arrived at St. Alban's, fent the parliament a mcfTrtge, dcliring them to remove fuch forces as remain- ed in London to country quarters. This mcflage greatly perplexed the houfc ; but they found it necefTary to com- ply. The'foldicrs, however, made more difllculty ; and one regiment, in particular, pofitively refufed, for fame time, to yield their place to the northern army. Monk- FcH. 3. entered London next day, and took up his quarters in tr" I '"' ^^'^tfflminltcr. He foon waited upon the houfc, which ^g„^ ' voted him their thanks for the fervices he had rendered his country. Not being an eloquent fpcaker, he told them, in a blunt manner, that his only merit was a defirc of refioring peace to the community; and, for this pur- pofe, he intreated that they would permit a free parlia- ment to he called.
So little reverence was paid to the prcfcnt government by the people, that the citizens refolved to pay no tax6s until the members, formerly excluded by colonel Pride,' Ihould be replaced. The parliament, finding matters come to an extremity, determined to make at once a full expe- riment of their own power, and of their general's obe- dience. They accordingly ordered Monk to mrfrch into the city ; to feizc twelve perfons moft obnoxious to the parliament ; to remove the pofls and chains from all thtf' Itreets; and to take down and break the portcullices and gates of the city. A very few hours were allowed him to deliberate upon the execution of thofe violent' Orders ; and,' to the great furprize of all men, he prepared himfelf for Ti' obedience. He entered the city in a military manner ;
marc':es apprehended as many as he could of the profcribed p^r- *"""^', Ton?, whom he fent to the Tower; with every 'circutrf- y/fj'rr!l'i the ftance of contempt he broke the gates and portcullices ;. gales- and, having expofcd the city to public derifion, returned
in triumph to Weilminfler.
Next day, the general began to think that he had pro-' cceded too rigoroufly in the execution of fuch orders ; and, riiarching again into the city, he defired the mayor to fummon a common- council at Guildhall. He there made many apologies for the indignity which he had been obliged to put upon them ; aflurcd them of his perfever-
ance
The Commonwealth i 'ify
ance In tKe caufe of freedom ; and that his army v/Oulcij for the future, co-operate only in fuch mearuvcs as they fhould approve.
The union of the city and the army caufed no fmall alarm in the houfe of commons. They were fenfible that a free parliament was ardently defired by the whole nation ; and that, in cafe of the diirohuion of their own prel'ent autho- rity, their power was at an end. Their defue of retaining their fituation was incfeafcd by the dread of punifnment. ^
They had been initrumental in bringing their fovcrcign to' the fcaffold; had loaded the nation with various taxes, and fome of them had grown rich by the public plunder. They fefolved, therefore, to make one effort for the re-eflablifli- rnent of their dominion. They fent a committee with offers to gain the general, who refuled to hear them, ex- cept in the prefence of fome of the excluded memberse Several of them, defperate with guilt and fanaticifm, evert promifed to invell him with the dignity of fupreme ma- giftrate, and to fupport his ufurpation. But IMonk was too prudent to liften to fuch wild propofals ; he refclved to reflore the fecluded members, and, by their means, to i
bring about a new eledlon. For this purpofe, having secluded previoufly fecured the confent of his oflicers, and exatled monhers from the excluded members a promife, that they would reforsd. call a full and free parliament, he conduced them to the houfe of commons, the other members of which were then fitting. Moil of the independents immediately left the place. The reftored members beg^.n by repealing all thofe orders by which they had been excluded. They renev/ed and enlarged the general's commiffion ; they fixed an af- felTment for the fupport of the fleet and army ; and, hav- ing pafTed thefe votes for the prefent com.pofure of the kingdom, they didblved themfelves, and ifTued writs for Marcfi \S, the immediate aflembling of a new parliament. Mean- Long par- while, Monk new-modelled his army to the purpofes he Ha'nmtdi/' had in view. Some oliicersj by his diredion, prefented -'^ '"'''' fiim with an addrefs, in which they promifed to obey, im- plicitly the orders of the enfuing parliament. He approved of this engagement, which he defired might be figned by all the different regiments ; and this meafure furniOiecl him with a pretence for difmilFsng all the ofHcers by whom' it was rej'C^ted,
The general ftill hitherto p'erfevercd in his referve; arrd nothing but a fecuricy of confidence at laft extorted a con- feflion from him. He had been intimate with one Mor- fice, a gentleman of Devonfhirej of a fedentaiy, ftudious
YoL.- It N- difpofition,
i;8
^J'^nh pri- vately re- cti'vei a mejjiige from the king.
The neiu eUSions go in favour of the king.
April 25. Ifeiv par- liament.
May 1.
Granville frefents a nttjjage from the king to the commum.
The Hijlory of England,
dlfpofitlon, and with whom alone he deliberated on ttic great Cnterprize of the Reftoration* Sir John Granville, \yho had a commiffion from the king, applied to Morrice for accefs to the general ; but received for anfwer, that the general defired he might communicate his bufinefs to Morrice. Granville, though importunately urged, re-* fufed, for feme time, to deliver his meflage to any but Monk ; upon which the latter, now fatisfied that he might depend on Granville's fecrccy, admitted him to his preience^ and opened to him his whole intentions; but, tvith his ufual caution, fcrupled to commit any thing to tvriting '^. He delivered only a verbal meflage to Gran-* ville i ufTuring the king of his fervices, and exhorting him inilantly to leave the Spanifli territories, and retire into Holland, where he might wait for farther advice.
Meantime, the elections for the new parliament went every where in favour of the king's party. The prefbyte- rians had long been fo harrailcd by the falfliood, the folly, and the tyranny, of their independent coadjutors, that there was nothing they now more fincerely defired than the king's reftoration. Uniting, therefore, with the royaliflis, they formed adccifive majority on every conteft, and determined to co-operate for the reftoration of the royal family. Though the former parliament had voted, that' no one fliould be elected who had in perfon, or whofe father had, borne arms for the late king, yet very little regard was any where paid t6 this ordinance ; and, in many places, the known loyalty of the candidate was the ftrongeft; recoiiimendation to his conftituents.
When the parliament met, they chofe for their fpeaker fir Harbottle Grimflone, a man, at firft attached to the republican party, but had long been a convert to the royal interefts. The afiettions of all were turned towards the king ; yet fuch were their fears, and fo great the dan-^ gers attending a freedom of fpeech, that no one dared, for Ibme days, to make mention of his name. The members only fhewed their loyalty in bitter inveclives againft the memory of Cromwell, and in execrations againft the mur- der of their late fovereign. At laft, the general, having fufl&ciently founded their inclinations, gave direclions to Annefley, prefident of the council, to inform them, that one fir John Granville, a fervant of the king's, had been fent over by his majefty, and was now at the door, w'ith a letter to the commons. Nothing could exceed the tranf-
■ Lanfdowne, 8
Clarendon*
port
The Commonwealth, 17^
|>ort with which this meflage was received. Tlie members, for a moment, forgot the dignity of their fituation, and in- dulged themfelves in acclamations of applaufe. Granville was called in, and the letter eagerly read. This was no fooner finiflied than all at once the houfc burfl: into an univerfal affent to the king's propofals ; and, to difFufe the fatisfacftion over the kingdom, a vote palled, that the letter and declaration fhould immediately be publifhed.
The king's declaration was received with the utmoil joy The He' by every order of the ftate. It offered a general amncfty foraito/ti to all perfons whatfoever, and that without any exceptions but fiich as fhould be made by parliament. It promifed to fecure to every fubjedl perfeft liberty of conl'ciencc ; to Aibmit to the examination of parliament the claims of all fuch as pofiefTed lands with contefted titles ; to fatisfy the army under general Monk with refpe^l to their arrears | and to continue his officers in their feveral ranks, when they ftiould be received iiito the king's fervice.
This declaration was not lefs pleafing to the nobility than to the people. The lovds haftencd to re-inftate themfelves in their ancient authority, and to take theli' fhare in the fettlement of the nation. It was unanimoufly refolved, that they fhould fend the king fifty thoufand pounds, his brother, the duke of York, ten thoufand, and the duke of Gloucefter half that fum. Then both houfes erafed from their records all a6ts that had pafied to the pre- judice of royalty. The king was foon afterwards proclaim- M.iy ?, ed with great folemnlty, in Palace Yard, at Whitehall, and T'/ie kinq at Temple Bar. A committee of lords and commons was P''<^''^""f^<' difpatched to invite his majefty to return, and take pofTef- fion of the government. The people, now freed from all G" eat Joy reftraint, gave loofe to unbounded joy. Thoufands were of'^-ena* feen -runnings about frantic with tranfport; and, as the ''*"' tioble hiflorian obferves, fuch were the numbers of royalifls who preffed forward on this occafion, that one could not but wonder where thofe perfons dwelt who had lately- done fo much mifchief.
The refpeft of foreign powers foon followed the fub- miffion of the king's fubje£ts. Spain invited him to return to the Low Coun*- ies, and embark in fome of her mari» time towns. France made proteflations of the molt affec- tionate regard, and offered Calais for the fame purpofe. Nor did the States-general negle£t to fend deputies with a like invitation. The king refolved to accept of the offer from the republic. As he paffed from Breda to the Hague, he was attended by numerous crowds, and every where
N a received
I So 'the liifto)-y of England,
received with the loudefl; acclamations. The States-general in a body, and afterwards the (lates of Holland apart, per- formed their complimenrs with the greatefl: folemnity.
The king omitted not to confirm the fubftance of his
declaration? to the commifTioners, who were difpatched
to attend him into his native dominions. Montague, the
7'he k'.fr^ Englifh admiral, waited upon his majefty to inform him,
emba'ks at ^^^^ ^hg £(^,. jvpgftej j-jig orders at Scheveling. The duke
cnJ '.jf'jt' °^ York immediately repaired on board, and took the com-
at Do'vtr. mand as lord high-admiral. The king went on board; and,
landing at Dover, was received by the general, whom he
May 29, tenderly embraced. On the 29th of May, which was his
He enttrs birth-day, he entered London amidil univerfal accla-- London. • '
maaonc.
CHAP. IX.
From the Rrftoration to the Revolution,
CHARLES ir.
A.D.1660. '\1|7'^^-'^ Charles afcended the throne, he was thirty • ■ W years of age, pofTefled of a vigorous and graceful
perfon, and of an elegant addrefs. His whole behaviour was well calculated to fupport and increafe popularity. Accuilomed, during his exile, to live on the moft inti- mate terms with his courtiers, he carried the fame en- dearing familiarities to the throne j and, from the levity of his temper, no refentment of former injuries was dreaded. From the whole tenor of his actions and difcourfe, he feemed dedrous of finking the memory of all paft animo- fities in oblivion, and of uniting men of every denomina* tion in a cordial attachment to their prince and their native country. Nezv ml' The king, without any regard to former diftinclions, nijiiy. admitted into his council the niofl eminent men of the
nation. The prefbyterians, equally with the royalifts, fhared this honour. Sir Edward H'yde, who had at- tended him in his exile, was now created a peer, by the title of lord Clarendon, and appointed lord chancellor, and firft minifter of flate. The marquis, afterwards created duke of Ormond, was appornted lord -fie ward of the houfhold, the earl of Southampton high-treafurer, and lir Edward Nicholas fecretary of flate. Admiral
Montague-
Charles IL i8i
IMontapue received the title of cail of Sand\vic!i. Mohk. who had performed fuch fignal fervices, was created duke of Albemarle.
The king, in his declaration at Brcd.i, had promifed an ABofiyf indemnity to ail criminals but ihofe who fliould be excepted dtmn.ty. by parliament; and he now iilued a proclamation, declar- ing, that fuch of the late king's judges as did not furrender tliemfclvcs prifoners within fourteen days fiiould receive no pardon. Nineteen furrendered thcmfclvcs, fomc were taken in their flight, and others efcaped beyond Tea. The commons fecmcd more inclined to lenity than the lords, Tlie upper houfe, indamed by the ill ufage which theyhatl received, were refolved, befidc the late king's judges, to except every one who had fat in any high court of juflicc. Nay, the earl of Briftol moved, that no pardon miiiht be granted to thofe who had anywife contributed to the king's death. So veide an exception, in which every one who had ferved the parliament might be comprehended, gave a general alarm ; but the king foon difhpatetl tlielr fears. He came to the houfe of peers, and, in the mofl earned terms, urged the a£l of general indemnity ; a meafure ■wliich was received with great fatisfactioa and applaufe. The a£l, therefore, paflbd both houfes, and foon received tlie royal afl'ent. Thofe who had an immediate hand in the late king's death were there excepted. Even Cromwell, Ireton, Bradlhavv, and others now dead, were attainted, and their eftates forfeited. Vane and Lambert, though none of the regicides, were alfo excepted. St. John, and feventeen perfons more, were deprived of all benefit from this afl, if they ever accepted any publie employment. All who had fat in any illegal high court of julHee were difabled from bearing offices. Thefe were all the feverl- ties whieli followed fuch flagrant violations of the laws and ConRitutions of the kingdom. *;'
The next bufinefs of the parliament was the fettlement Settlement of the king's revenue. The tenures of wards and liveries '/ '** re- I
had long been regarded as a grievous burden by the nobi- '^"""'' ij
lity and gentry. Several attempts had been made, during ',
the reign of James, to purchafe not only this prerogative, "i
but that of purveyance; and two hundred thoufand pounds a-ycar had then been offered to the crown in lieu of them. Wardfliips and purveyance had been utterly aboliflied by the republican parliament; and even in the prcfent parlia- ment, before the king arrived in England, a bill had been introduced, offering him a compentation for the emolu- ments of thefe prerogatives. A hundred thoufand pounds
N 3 a-year
1 82 The Hificry of England.
a-vcar was tVie fum agreed to ; and half of the exclfe wa< fettled in perpetuity upon the crown, as the fund whence this revenue fnould be levied. The bargain might be efteemed hard ; and it was chiefly the neceffity of the king's fituation which induced him to give it his confent. Tonnage and poundage, with the other half of the excife, were granted to the king during life. The parliament even proceeded fo far as to vote, that the fettled revenue of the crown, for all charges, fliould be one million two hundred thoufand pounds a-year 5 a fum greater than any Englifh monarch had ever before enjoyed. But the deficiency of this allowance appears from the chancellor's calculation, according to which, the fum of eight hundred thoufand pounds a-year was requifite for the fleet and other articles, , whicli formerly, while the military foree of the princes on the continent was lefs powerful, coft the crown but eighty thoufand pounds. In all the temporary fupplies which the parliament voted, they difcovered the lame frugality* Even tov.ards diibanding the army, fo formidable in itfelf, the commons difcovered great jealoufy in granting the necelTary fum. Trial and During the recefs of parliament, the public attention (xecuiion iv2s turned to the trial and execution of the regicides, oj the rcgi- Q^^.w^r^iX Harrifon, who was firft brought to his trial, ' pleaded his caufe with that undaunted firmnefs which had
dillinguiflied him through life. What he had done, he faid, was from the impulfes of the fpirit of God. He would not, he faid, for any benefit to himfelf, hurt a liair of the poorefl; man or wom?ai upon earth ; and, dur- iiig the ufurpation of Cromwell, when all the reft of the ■U'orld acknowleged his right, or fubmitted to his power, he had boldly upbraided the ufurper to his face. Harri- fon's death was marked with the fame admirable con- llancy which he difplayed at his trial. Carew, Coke, Peters, Scot, Clement, Scrope, Jones, Hacker, and Ax- tell, fhared the fame fate. They all fufFered not only with pafiive fortitude, but with the refolution of men who con- fidered the act for which they were condemned as highly- meritorious. Some circumftances of barbarity attended the execution of thofe criminals. Harrifon's entrails were torn out, and thrown into the fire before he expired. His head was fixed on the fledge that drew Coke and Peters to the place of execution, with the face turned towards them. The executioner, having mangled Coke, approach- ed Peters, befmeared with the blood of his friend, and afked hov; he liked that v/ork<. Petevs, viewing hina with
Charles II, 183
an air of fcorn, replied, " You. have butchered a fcrvant of God in my light ; but I defy your cruchy." The reft of the king's judges were reprieved, and afterwards dif- perftd into feveral prifons.
Thofe tranfartions were foon followed by the death of j)eathof the duke of Gloucefter, in the twentieth year of his age j the duke of n prince of th.e mod promifing hopes, and tenderly be- Gloucijier, loved by the king. The princcfs of Orange having come ^*'"^''" to England in order to partake of the joy attending the Or'ale^. reftoration of her family, foon after fickened and died, prvuefs The queen-mother paid a vifit to her fon, and obtained tfenneiia hisconfent to the marriage of the princefs Henrietta \yith '"'""''"'^ '» the duke of Orleans, brother to the French king. olfeatu^
After a recefs of near two months, both houfes met, Dec la. 'and proceeded in the great work of the national fettlement- Dijoluiion BuHnefs, being carried on with unanimity, was foon dif- of the con" patched ; and, after they had fat near two months, the '''^'""°"' king, in a fpeech full of the moft gracious expreffions, thought proper to dillblve the parliament.
The councils of Charles were at this time chiefly dire^l-^ ed by Clarendon, who ccndudled himfelf with wifdom and jufticc, and endeavoured to promote equally the interefts of prince and people. Acluated by thefe principles, he now hailened to diiband the army. When the king reviewed thofe veteran troops, he was ftruck with their difcipline and niartial appearance ; and being fenfible that regular forces are moil ufeful inftrumeots of fcvereign power, he pofleiTed a defire of finding expedients to retain them. But his wife minifter fet before him the danger which might arife from the mutinous habits in which they had lived fo many years ; and he convinced the king thar, un- til they were difbanded, he never could coi)fider himfelf as fecurely fixed on the throne. The only troops retained Thearmy^ were a few guards and garrifons, confilting of about 3 except thoufand horfe and four thcufand foor. This was the f'"^' firfl appearance, under the monarcjiy, of a regular ftand- ^arnkns ing army in England. ^ dijiandgd.
Clarendon was now nearly allied to the royal family, His daughter, Anne I|yde, a woman of fpirit and fine ac- complifliments, had hearkened, while abroad, to addrelfes from the duke of York, and, under promife of marriage, had fecretly a^ 'ted him to her bed. Some time after the Rcftoration her pregnancy appeared, and though many endeavoured to perfuade the king from confenting tp fo unequal an alliance, Charles, from a regard to his
N 4 fiicii4
1^4-
T'le dtde of York marries Lady Anne
Trslacy r^ored.
InfurreC' iion of the Mttiena-
7he Hi/lory of England.
friend and minifter, who had been ignorant of thefe ea* gagements, permitted his brother to marry her ". Cla- rendon expreffed great uneafinefs at the honour which he had obtained j and faid, that by being elevated fo much above his r-iink, he thence dreaded a more fudden downfal.
The laws, which cftabliflied biOiops and the liturgy, were as yet unrepealed by any legal authority; and any attempt of the parliament, by new acts, to aboIi(h epif- Icopacy, and to give the fuperlority to prefbyterianifm, had been fufficient to involve thp nation again in blood and confufion. IMoved by thefe views, the commons had wifely ppftponed the examination of all religious contro- x'erfy, and had left the fettlement of the church to the king and to the ancient laws. Charles at firfl ufed great moderation in the execution of the laws. Of the bifhops who had bfen difplaced, nine remained alive, and thefe were immediately veftored to their fees. All the ejecSled clergy recovered their livings, and the hturgy was agairj admitted into the churches. But at the fame time, in or- der to give contentment to the prefbyterians, a declara- tion was ifiued, In which the king promifed, that he would provide fufFragan bifhops for the larger diocefes ; that all the prelates fhould be regular and conftan: preachers ; that they fhould not confer ordination, or exercife any jurifdi£lion, without the advice or affiftance of prefbyters, chofen by the diocefe ; that fuch alterations IliGuld be made in the liturgy as would render it totally unexceptionable ; and that the furphce, the crofs in bap- tifm, and bowing at the name of Jefus, fhould not bq rigidly infifled on. This declaration was iiTued by the king as head of the church ; and if he afTumed, in many parts of it, a legillative authority in ecclefiaftlcal matters, it appeared to be juftifiable upon the principle of neceflSty,' when the whole fabric of the flate had been disjointed by the late convi^lfions, and required the moderating hand of the chief magiflrate to reftore it to its former condition.
But this appearance of moder.ition and neutrality was not able to remove the apprehenfions, or reftrain the en- thufiafm, of a few m-en, who weie impelled by a fpecies of fanaticifm, remarkable even in thofe times of religious estravagance. One Venner, a defperate enthufiaft, who had often confpired againft Cromwell, and had as ofteh
? King James's Memoir*.
Charles 11. 1C5
been parc^oned, bail by tbis time perfundcd bis followers, tbat if tliey would take arms, Jclus would come to put Jiimfelf at their bead. Their imajrinations being inflamed with tbis idea, tbey ifTued fortb in complete armour, to the number of fixty perfons, into tbc flreets of London, and proclaimed king Jcfus wherever they went. 'J'hcy believed tbemfelves invulnerable and invincible, and ex- pctled the fanu: fortunc-wbicb liad attended Gideon, and the other lieroes of tbc Old Tcft.iment. Every one at fir (I fled before them. One unhappy man being qucdiun- pd who be was for, and anfwering, tbat be was for Cod and tbc king, was inftantly facrificed to their fury. In this manner they went from ilrect to ftreet, and made adcfpe,- f.ite refiftance again!!, a body of the traineti-b.ui'is that was fent to oppofe them. After killing many of the aflailants, tbey made a regular retreat into Caen-wood, near Ilamp- flead. Being chafed tbence next morning by a party of guards, they returned to London, and took poiVeflion of a houfe, in which they defentled tbemfelves until the greater part of them was killed. The red being taken by the troops, were tried, condemned, and executed ; and to the lad they perfided in afiirming, tliat if they were de- ceived, it was the Lord tbat had deceived tliem,
In the new parliament an afiwaspafled for the L'curity A.D 66f.
of the king's perfon and government. To intend or de- ■
vife the king's'imprifonment, or bodily barm, or depofition, ^'eiv/^a^ or levying war againft him, wa;; declared, during the life- '"*'"'"'' time of his prefent majedy, to be liigb-treafon. To adlrm him to be a papill or heretic, or to endeavour by fpeecb or writing to alienate the aflt^nions of liis fubjedls ; thefe offences were made fulFicient to incapacitate tiie per- fon guilty froiTi holding any employment in < hurcb or date. The abufes of petitioning in the pixceding leign, having been attended with the word confequenccs ; and to prevent fuch irregular praifliees for the future, it was enacted, tbat no more than twenty bands diould be fixed to any petition, unlefswith the fan(ftion of ihr^e judices, or the major part of the jrrand jury; and that no petition fliould be prefented to the king or either houfe by above ten perfons. The penalty annexed to a tranfgreflion of tbis law was a fine of a hundred pounds, and three months imprlfonment.
^ The bidiops, though rcdorcd to their fpiritual authority, ^^ -<'/•' were dill excluded from parliament by the law which '"'[^ "' the late king had paflld, immediately before the com- fuencemcnt of the civil diforders. Great violence, both ' againll
I
i36
A.D. i66z.
J£l of uni- jormitj/.
mafriagg ■mith the infanta of tortu^al.
*The Hijlory of Efiglaiid,
agauift the king and the houfe of peers, had been employ- ed in paffing this law; and on that account the partizans of the church were provided with a plaufible pretence for repealing it. Charles exprefled much fatisfaclion, when he gave his aflent to the acl for that purpofe.
This parliament, befides its care of the monarchy, was particularly attentive to the interefls of the church. A bill of uniformity, therefore, was pafled, by which it was required, that every clergyman (hould be re-ordained if he had not before received epifcopal ordination ; fliould declare his aflent to every thing contained in the book of Common Prayer ; iliould take the oath of canonical obe- dience; fhould abjure the folemn league and covenant ; and fliould renounce the principle of taking arms, on any pretence whatfoever, againft the king. This bill rein- ftated the church in the fame condition in Vrfhich it ftoo4 before the commencement of the civil wars.
Though the parliament gave the ftrongefl: proofs of their attachment to the principles of monarchy ; yet when any revenue was demanded for the crov/n, they were not fo liberal in their conceilions. The king's debts were greatly accumulated, and the commons were at laft con- ilrained to vote him an extraordinary fupply of one million two hundred thoufand pounds, to be levied by eighteen monthly affcITments. But befuks that this fupply was very inadequate to the king's prefent exigency, he was obliged earneftly to folicit the commons before he could obtain it ; and, in order to convince the houfe of the extreme necelFity, he defired them to examine ftriclly into all his receipts and difburfements. The houfe, finding upon enquiry, that the feveral branches of the revenue fell much ihort of the fums expelled, at length voted a new impofition of two fliillings on each hearth ; and this tax they fettled on the king during life. The whole eftablifli- ed revenue, however, did not, for many years, exceed a million y, a fum confefledly too fmall for the public ex- pences.
The king's continual exigencies drove him conftantly to meafures no way fuited to his inclination. Among thefe was his marriage, celebrated at this time with Catharine, the infanta of Portugal ; who, though a virtuous princefs, feems to have pofTefTed but few perfonal attractions. Ac- cording to the moft probable accounts % the refolution o£
7 D'Eftrades, 25th July, 1661. Mr. Ralph's Hiftory, vo). i, p» 1761 * Carte's Ormond, vol. ii. p. aj^v,
niarry«
Cbarlcs II. 1S7
marrying thisprlncefs was taken by ilicking, unknown to all his minifters; aiui no rcmonlVances could prevail with him to alter his intentions. When the nuitter was laid before the council, all voices concurred in approving the refolution, and the parliament exprefied the fame com- plaifancc. There fecms to be little doubt that Charles's inducement to this meafurc was the infanta's portion, which amounted to three Iiundred thoufand pounds, be- fide the fortrefs of Tangier in Africa, and of Bombay \xx the Eaft Indies. For thcfe, therefore, he facrificed his in- clination ; and the inaufplcious marriage was accordingly celebrated.
Still the king's necefTitlcs were greater than his fupplies. He had fecretly received from France the fum of two hun- dred thoul'and crowns for the fupport of Portugal ; but the forces fent over to that country, and the fleets main- tained in order to defend it, had already cod the king tliat fum, and with it, near double the money, wliich had been paid as the queen's portion^. The time fiied Saleof for payment of his filler's portion to the duke of Orleans Duakirim was approaching. Tangiers, a fortrefs from which great benefit was expected, was become an additional burden to the crown j and Rutherford, who now commanded at Dunkirk, had increafed the charge of that garrifon to a hundred and twenty thoufand pounds a year. 7 hefecon- fiderations induced Charles, with the concurrence of Clarendon and Southampton, to fell this place to the French, and it was accordingly transferred for the fum of four hundred thoufand pounds.
While this alKiir was in agitation, Berkftcad, Corbet, Execvtiou and Okey, tlirec of the regicides, who had cfcapcd be- ^/ i^erk- yond fca, were difcovercd and arrelted in Holland by y^^> ^"J' Downing, the Englifh refident at the Hague. They Jx^'v*' were conveyed on board an Englifh fliip, without giving them time to claim the protection of the States, and were executed at Tyburn, where they behaved with more moderation and fubmilFion than any of the regicides who had fuffered. Their trial was foon followed by that of fir Trial ani Henry Vane and general Lambert, who had been except- execution cd from the a£l of indemnity, as principal authors of the "Z^'*^"*" troubles, though they were not in the number of thofe who fat in judgment on the late king. Their execution had been fufpended at tlie interceffion of the convention- parliament ; but the new parliament, more zealous for
» D'Eftrades, Au-uft 17, 1661,
monarchy.
l8S The liijiory of England,
monarchy, applied for tlieir trial and condemnation. Vane was indicled for his condu£l after the king's death j and defended himfclf with great ability : but the court, con- fidering more the general opinion of his adlive guilt in the beginning and profecution of the civil wars, than the ar- ticles of treafon charged againft him, took advantage of the letter of the law, and brought him in guilty. Though naturally timul, he- was fo animated by his enthufiafm, as to bear his fate with fortitude and compofure. When brought to the fcaffold, he began to addiefs the multitude in juftification oi the caufe in which he had embarked ; but his voice was drowned by the noife of drums and trumpets. Lambert was llkev/ife found guilty and con- demned ; but, in ccnfcquence of his fubmilTive behaviour at his trial, he obtained a reprieve, and was confined to the ifland of Guernfcy, where he lived twenty years in oblivion, -A "J?- 24. The fatal St, Bartholomew now approached; the day Trffiyte. Qj^ which the clergy were obliged, by the late law, either eie'citd, ^° relinquifh their livings, or to fign the articles required of them. A combination had been entered into by the rriore zealous of tlie prefbyterlan ecclefiallics to refufe the fubfcription, in hopes that the bifliops would not venture at once to expel fo great a number of popular preachers. The catholic party at court, who wiflied for a divifion among the Proteltants, encouraged them in this rcfolu- tion, and even gave them to underftand that the kiiig would protect them in their refufal. Charles himfelf, by his irrefolute condu£V, contributed, either from defign or accident, to increafe this opinion. Above all, the terms of fubfcription had been made extremely rigid, on pur- pofe to difgud the zealous and fcrupulous among the . preibyterians, and deprive them of their livings. About two thoufand of the clergy, in one day, relinquifhed their cures, and, to the aftonifliment of the court, facrificed their intereft to their religious tenets. During the domi- nion of the parliamentary party, a fifth of each living had been allowed to the ejedled clergymen ; but this in- dulgence, though at firft infilled on by the houfe of peers, was now refufed. to the preibyterians. Biflioprlcks were offered to Calamy, Baxter, and Reynolds, leaders among the prefbyterians; but the lafl only could be prevailed on to accept. Deaneries and other preferments were refufed by many.
The prefoyterians, thinking themfelves unjuflly op- prefTed, petitioned the king and council to exempt them
from
Charles II. jgo
from the penalties fpecified in the a£l cf uniformity; and his majefty iffued a proclamation, that, though he adhered with all his heart to that adl, yet, out of regard to his fubje£ts, he was willing to difpenfe with their oh- ferving fome of the particulars which it fpecified. This indulgence was planned on purpofe to favour the Catho- lics, and therefore tranfafled without the privity and con- currence of the chancellor, whofe credit witii the king now began to decline. Clarendon was a vio-lent enemy to the Papifts, and on that account hated by the queen- ^ p ,,, mother, the duke of York, and the carl of Briltol, who ''
had turned Roman catholic during hio exile. The chan- Dtclmt of cellor was Ukewife obnoxious to Mrs. Palmer, the king's ciarevdotd's favourite concubine, who was afterwards created duchcfs '^''''^''* of Cleveland. She failed not, theiefoi^e, to undermine his interefl with his mailer ; and in this attempt Ihe proved fuccefsful. Secretary Nicholas, the chancellor's great friend, was removed from his place, and fir Henry Bennet, his avowed enemy, was advanced to that office.
In the next feffion the commons, having examined the Ruf>titr* obftacles to the trade of the nation, voted, that the ?^'''^' ^'*^' wrongs and indignities offered by the Dutch in the Indies, ^" Africa, and elfewhcrc, to the fubjedlrs of England, had, in a great meafure, obflrucled the trade of the na- tion ; that his majefty (hould be entreated to procure re- paration for thefe wrongs ; for which purp6fe the two houfes would aflill; him to the utmoil of their power. This was the prelude of a war with Holland, upon whiclr the king had been for fome time determined, frdm the means which it m.ight afford him of converting a part of the fupplies to his private emolument. His brother a'fo,- the duke of York, longed for an opportunity of lignaliz- ing his courage and condu<Sl as high admiral, againft a people he hated, not only for their republican principles, but as being one of the chief bulwarks of the proteftant religion.
This war commenced on each fide with depredations. TheEnglifli, under the command of fir Robert Holmes, not only expelled the Dutch from Cape Corfe caltle, oii^ the coalt of Africa, bur feized the Dutch fcttlcments of Cape Verde, and the ifle of Gorce. Sailing thence to America, the admiral took poffenion of Nova Belgia, fince called New York. On the other hand, De Ruyter, the Dutch admiral, failed to Guinea, and difpofleffcd the Englifti of all their fettlements in thofe parts, except Cape €orfe. He then failed to America, and atrack&d liarba- 7 doesj
IJO ^e Hijlory of England,
does, but was repulfed. He afterwards committed Kofli-* lities on Long Ifland.
Charles had as yet received no fupplies from the parlia- ment for the fupport of the war; but by bis own funds and credit he was enabled to equip a fleet. The city of London lent him a hundred thoufand pounds. Himfelf ■went from port to port, infpe6ting with great diligence^ and encouraging the naval preparations. Soon after, the two mod confiderable fleets of each nation met, one under the duke of York, to the number of a hundred and four- teen fail, the other, nearly of equal force, commanded A.'D.t665. t)y the Dutch admiral Opdam. The engagement began 7^^ about four in the morning, and both fides fought with
Fuia^yof their ufual intrepidity. The duke of York was in the tfteEng- hottefl part of the engagement, and behaved with great Mfi>* fpirit and cornpofure, while feveral of his attendants were
killed befide him. In the heat of the a6lion, when en- gaged in clofe fight with the duke, the (hip of the Dutch admiral blew up. Tliis accident much difcouraged the Dutch, who fled towards their own coaft. They had nineteen flilps funk and taken, while the Englifh loft but One. This difafter threw the Dutch into confternation ; ar.d de Wit, their great minifter, in order to fupport the declining courage of his countrymeh, came on board, and took on himfelf the command of the fleet. This extra- ordinary man quickly became as much mafter of naval aff^airs if he had from his infancy been educated in them. He even made confiderable improvements in the art of failing. Itapture The fuccefs of the Englifh excited the jcaloufy of the
^'t^ neighbouring dates, particularly France and Denmark,
^ance and ^yhjch refolved on fupporting the Dutch in their unequal conteft. The latter, being thus flrengthened by fo power- ful an alliance, determined to face the EnglKh once more* De Ruyter, their great admiral, was returned from his expedition to Guinea, and was appointed, at the head of feventy-fix fail, to join the duke of Beaufort, the French admiral, who was fuppofed to be then entering the Britlfli channel from Toulon. The Englifli fleet, which did not exceed feventy-four fail, was now commanded by the duke of Albemarle and prince Rupert. Albemarle, who from his fiiccefles under Cromwell had learned too much to defpife the enemy, propofed to difpatch prince Rupert with twenty (hips to oppofe the duke of Beaufort. Sir George Ayfcue, well acquainted with the force of the enemy, protefted againft the temerity of this refolutlon \
but.
Cbmes 11, ijj
but Albemarle's authority prevailed. Tlie remalmlcr of the Englilh fet fail to give battle to the Dutch, who fee- ing the enemy advance quickly upon them, cut their ca- bles, and prepared for the combat. The battle that cn- fuedisoneof the niofl memorable in hiftory. It began A,D. 166*.
with incredible fury. The Dutch admiral, Evcrtzcn, was
killed by a cannon-ball -, one vefPel of tlieir fleet was blown {""Vi ^ up, and one of the Englifli taken. Darknefs parted ^^^/curjaitl combatants. The fecond day they renewed the adlioii with increafed anlmofity. Sixteen French fliips joined the Dutch ; and the Englifli being fo fhattcred that their fighting fliips were reduced to twenty-eight, found them- felves obliged to retreat towards their own coaft. The Dutch followed them, and another dreadful conflifl: was on the point of beginning, when a calm, which came on a little before night, fufpcnded the engagement. The morning of the third day the Englifh were obliged to con- tinue their retreat, and the Dutch perfifled in purfuing. Albemarle, who doled the rear, formed the defperate re- folution of blowing up his fliip rather than fubmit to the enemy ; but he happily found himfelf reinforced by prince Rupert with fixtcen fliips of the line. By this time it was night, and the next morning, after a diftant cannonading, the fleets came to a clofe combat, whicli was continued with great violence, until they were parted by a mifh. Sir George Ayfcue, in a fhip of a hundred guns, had the misfortune to ftrike on the Galoper-fands, where he was furrounded and taken. Tlie Engliih retired firll into their harbours i but it is doubtful which fide obtained the victory.
A fecond engagement, equally bloody, followed foon Jul5'i5. after, with larger fleets on both fides, commanded by the f'''^crja/ fame admirals. In this the Dutch was obliged to own ', i *^" themfelves vanquiflied, and retreated into their harbours. But, by the juntlion of Beaufort, the French admiral, they were again in a capacity to outnumber the Englifli fleet. That of the Dutch, commanded by de Ruyter, ap- Tlie Dutch peared in the Thames, and threw the Englifli into the ut- fltet enters mofl confternation. A chain had been drawn acrofs the '"<^"'»*»"» river Medway •, and fome fortifications had been add- ed to the forts along the banks ; but all thofe were un- qual to the prefent force. Sheernefs was foon taken; the Dutch preffed forward, and broke the chain, though for- tified by fome fliips funk there by Albemarle's orders. Deftroying the fliipping in their pafTige, they advanced ilill onward, with fix men of war and five firc-fliips, as
far
ipz Tlje Hijl^ij of ETigtanif,
far as Upnorc caflle, where they burned three men o^ war. 1 he whole city of London was in conftcrnation, expeftinjT that the Dutch might fail up next tide to Lon- don Bridge, and even deihoy the capital. But, from the failure of the French, who had promifed their aO'iflance, the Dutch found themfeives unable to cffciSl this proje£l. Having, therefore, fprevxd an alarm, they returned to their own ports, to boaft their infult on the Britilh glory. The Englifh felt great indignation at this difgrace, which was not now the only calamity which affected Sept. s. ihem. London had, the year belbre, been vifited by a Fhe of plague, which fwcpt avi^ay more than a hundred thou- LunJcn. y^^^^ pf jjg inhabitants ; and this fatal event was foon fol- lowed by anothei' no Icfs dreadful. A fire breaking out at a baker's houfe near the bridge, fpread itfelf on all fides with fuch rapidity, that i: laid in aflics the moft confiderable part of the city. The coiiHagration conti- nued for three days; and it was only by the blowing up of haufes tliat it was at lafl: extinguifhcd During this terrible fcene the king and duke were affiduous in ufing every eiVort for cxtingnilhing the flames. About four hundred ilreets, and thirteen thoufand houfes were re- duced to afhes. As the Rreets were narrow, and moftly built of wood, the flames fpread the fafter, and the un- ufual drynefs of the feafon prevented the proper fupplies of water; but tlie people was not fatisfied with thefe ob^ vious caufcb. Having been long taught to impute their calamities to the machination of their enemies, tliey afcribed the prefent misfortune either to the prefbyterians or to the Roman catholics, though moft generally the latter, on account of this fe6l being chiefly the objetl of deteftation. But no proof, or even prefumption, after the flricleft enquiry by a committee of parliament, ever appeared to authorize fuch a calumny. Yet, in order to give countenance to the popular prejudice, the infcrip- tion, engraved by au^hority on the Monument, afcribed the calamity to that obnoxious fetl ; and this infcriptioa ftill continues as a proof of the blind credulity of the times. This calamity, though it affe£led the fortune of tlioufands, in the end proved both beneficial and orna- mentcii to the city. The capital rofe from its ruins in greater fplendor than ever; and the ftreets being widen- ed, and built of brick inftead of wood, beca: .e thus more vvholefome and more fccure.
The war with the Dutch was now exclaimed againft by the rration as unfuccefsful and unneceflary ; and Charles
began
(jharlcs It, 19^
began to be fenfible, that all the ends for which he tiad undertaken it were likely to prove intffedlual. Whatever projedls he might have formedj of fecreting for his own tife the money granted by parliament, he had hitherto failed in his expedlation ; and, inftead of fupplying his coffers, he found himfelf confiderably in debt. Propofals A D.16^7. for an accommodation were therefore made, which, in •- ■»
the end, the Dutch confented to accept, and a treaty was Peace oj- concluded at Breda, by which the colony of New York ^^^'^"' was ceded to the Englifli.
As the Englifti had failed in gaining redrefs upon the complaints which gave rife to the war, the peace was. Upon the whole, confidered as inglorious ; and to ap- peafe the clamours of the people by fome facrifice, feem- ed requifite before the meeting of parliament. In thefe Fall of circumftances the prejudices of the nation pointed out the Clarendori, viftim. Cbrendon was, at this time, much expofed to the hatred of the public, and of every party which divid- ed the nation. All the numerous fectaries regarded him as their determined enemy. The Catholics knew, that while he retained any authority, all their credit with tha. king and the duke could procure tliem no effe6tual indul- gence. Even the royalifls, difappointed in their fanguine hopes of preferment, threw a great load of envy on Cla- tendon, who feemed, for fome time, to have poffsffed the whole power of government. Many accufations were now urged againfl: him : the fale of Dunkirk, the bad payment of the feamen, the difgrace at Chatham, the un- *
fuccefsful conclufion of the war; all thefe misfortunes "were charged on the chancellor, who, though lie had ever oppofed the rupture with Holland, thought it his duty to juftify what he could not prevent. A building likewife, more expenfive than his flender fortune could afford, had. been undertaken by him ; and to this, which was regarded as a ftrudtuf e raifed from the plunder of the public, the po- pulace commonly gave the appellation of Dunkirk-houfe. The rigid virtue of Clarendon, inftead of fecuring the efteem, had long incurred the diflike of the king and his diffolute courtiers, and therefore inclination and policy concurred to make Charles facrifice him to popular pre- judices. The great-feal was taken from him, and given to fir Orlando Bridgeman, by the title of lord-keeper.
The difmiffion of the chancellor might have anfwered every pretended purpofe of public good ; but it was not fufficient to gratify the malice of his enemies. The houfe of commons, in their addrefs to the king, thanked him
Vol. II, O for
^^4 ^^^ Hljiory of Englafu?,
for the difmifTion of that nobleman ; and immeJIateTy a charge was opened againll him in the houfe. It confilled of feventeen articles, which were cither falfe or frivolous. Clarendon, finding that the popular torrent, united to the violence of power, ran with impetuofity againll him, thouglit proper to withdraw to France. The parliament then pall'cd a bill of banilhment and incapacity, while Clarendon continued to refitle in a private manner at Paris, where he furvived his banifliment fix years, and employed his leifure chiefly in reducing into form hisHi'- iiory of the Civil Wars, for which he had before colledled materials. Triple Soon after the fall of this flatefman, the king formed
aliifiiice. a confederacy of great importance, known by the name of the Triple Alliance. It was conduced by the celebrated fir William Temple, and had for its object a union be- tween England, Holland, and Sweden, to prevent the French king from completing liis conquefts in the Ne- therlands, where his arms had aheady made great pro- grefs. A.D. 1668. When the parliament met, in February, the king iir-
formed them of thefe tranfaftions, demanded a fpeedy
fupply for equipping a fleet, and fortifying the maritime parts of the kingdom ; and earnellly defired that they would deliberate on ways and means for effefting a union with refpe6l to religion among all his proteftant fubjedls* The commons were fo offended at the king's lenity to- wards non-confoimifts, that they did not even thank him for the the triple alliance, though it has ever fince been efleemed a moll falutary meafure. The king, in vain, reiterated his felicitations for fupply ; reprefented the, ne- ccflity of equipping a fleet ; and even offered, that th-i money which they (hould grant fhould be coUefled and iiiued for that purpofe-by commiiTioners appointed by the houfe. Inftead of complying, the commons voted an en- quiry into the mifcarriages during the late war. But at length, having been indulged in all their prejudice^, they were prevaikil with to vote the king three hundred and ten thoufand pounds, after vthich they were adjourned. A.D.if'g. The king's nccelTities obuged him again to afiemble the — — — — parliam.ent, which now fhewed fome difpofition to relieve him ; but not without his yielding to new laws agahift A.D.1670, conventicles. In the next fcffion the a£t againft conven- I tides palled, and received the royal affenr. By this a<5V,
the hearer in a conventicle (that is, in a difienting affcm- bly, where more than five penons, befide the family,
w-ci-f"
Charles IT. I95
*wtre prefent) was fined five fiiillings for the firfl offcnci?, ten for the fecond ; the preacher twenty pounds for the firfl ofFence, forty for the fecond. The perlbn, in whole houfe the conventicle met, was amerced in a like i'um with the prcDcher.
Some attempts were at this time made by the kinc; to cfFedl a union betu'ecn England and Scotlaml. Com- miffioners were even appointed 10 meet, in order to regu- late the conditions -, but the defign, chiefly by the in- trigues of Lauderdale, was foon after rendered abortive.
The kinij's counlels, though neglifjent and flutfluating, had hitherto, in the main, been calculated for the public good ; but they now became for ^fome time remarkably impolitic, and were followed by fuch confequences as had almoft termniated in the ruin borh of prince and people. The committee of couiicil, eftablifhed for foreign affairs, was entirely changed, and the whole bufinefs was entrufled to five perfons, Clifford, Afhley, Buckingham, Arling- ton, and Lauderdale. This miniflry was known by the appellation of tlie Cabal, a word containing the initial jj^, Cala! letters of their names. Never v/as there a more danger- ous adminiftration in England, nor one more fitted to operate the ruin of the Itate. Sir Thomas Clittord was a man of a daring and impetuous fpirir, rendered more dan- gerous by eloquence and intrigue. Lord Afliley, foon after known by the title of earl of Shaftcfbury, was the moft extraordinary man of his age: he had been a member of the long parliament, and had great influence amonp- the prefbyterians : he had infinuated himfelf into the confi- dence of Cromwell, and afterwards had a conHderable hand in the Reftoration : he was turbulent, ambitious, fubtle, and enterprifing. The duke of Buckingham was gay, capricious, poflefl'ed of fome wit, and great vivacity, but unreftrained either by prudence or principle. Arling- ton was a man of a very moderate capacity, with good in** tentions, but he wanted the courage to perfevere in them* Latlly the duke of Lauderdale, who was not defe£five in natural^ ftill lefs in acquired talents; but his underftand- ing was not jufl, and his temper was violent and tyranni- cal : he was, befides, ambitious, obilinate, infolent, and fullen. Thefe were the men to whom Charles entrulted the conduct of his affairs; and who plunged the remain- ing part of his .reign into difficulties, wliich had nearly proved fatal to his government. Ihey fuggefled to the king, that the parliament, though the fpirit of party, at prefent, attached it to the crown, was ftill more attached to thofe powers and privileges, which had, duiing many
O 2 preceding
jg6 the Hijlory of England^
preceding years been ufurped from the fovcreign : that it not only kept the king in dependence by means of his precarious revenue, but had never difcovered a fuitablc generolity, even in thofe temporary fupplies which it had granted him : that it was high time for the king to recover that authority, whicli his predecefibrs, duiing fo many ages, had peaceably enjoyed : that the great error of his father was liie not having formed any clofe connection with foreign princes, who, on the breaking out of rebel- lion, might have found their intereft in fupporting him : that a war with Holland, undertaken in conjunction with the French king, would be the moll advantageous meafurc which he could adopt : that under pretence of that war, it would not be difficult to raife a military force, without which, during the prevalence of republican principles aniMiig his fubjcdls, the king would in vain expe£l to de- fend his prerogative : that his naval power might be main- tained, partly by the fupplies, which, on other pretences, woulil be previoufly obtained from parliament; partly by fubfidios from I'lance; and partly by captures, which might calily be made on that opulent republic : ami that in fuel) a fituation, an attempt to recover the ancient au- thority of the crown could not fail of being attended with fucccfj.
Thefc fuggeflions unfortunately concurred with the inclinations and prejudices of the king, who, from the beginning of his reign, fecms to have entertained a great jealoufy of his own fubjedls, and, on that account, a de- sire of fortifying himfelf by an intimate alliance with France.
Colbert dc CroifTy, the French ambaflador at London, liad already founded the inclinations of the king and his minilters, touching an alliance with his mailer; and he found tlicm very favourably difpofed to forward Lewis's defign of rendering himfelf mailer of Flanders. Colbert having thus paved the way for a negociation, the king of Fr.mce made a pretence of vifiting liis frontiers, particu- larly to infpedl his new works at Dunkirk ; and he carried "the kinv ^^'i^h him the queen and the whole court. While he re- recei'ves a mained at this place, the duchefs of Orleans took the li'} fit from opportunity cf going over to England; and Charles met the duchefs j^gp ^^ Dover, where they pafled ten days together in great of Orleans j^j^^j^ ^,j^ feftivity. She was one of the moft amiable princelTes of the age, and loved her brother with the warmed atFeclion. bhe had a commifllon to affure Charles, that, provided he would enter into engagements for , humbling
Charles IT. i^y
humbling the Dutch, Lewis would enable him effe^luall)' to fhake ofF the yoke of parliament, and reilore the Cn- tholic religion in England. To render more certain his acquiefence in thefe meafures, the French kinjj; fent over with the duchefs, a young lady named Querouaille, of ex- traordinary beauty and accompliftiments, by whicii fhe inftantly captivated the heart of Charles. She accompa- nied him to London, was created duchefs of Portfmouth, and, maintaining her empire over him during the whole courfe of his life, kept him firm in his connections with France.
The fatisfaflion, which Charles reaped from this al- liance, was greatly diminiflied by an incident which made a deep impreffion upon his mind. The duchefs of Or- leans, immediately after her return to France, having Death of taken a glafs of fuccory-water, by the diredlion of her the due heft phyficians, was inftantly feized with violent agonies, of "/ Orleans, which (he expired. Strong fufpicions of poifon arofe in the court of France, and were fpread all over Europe ; and as her hufband had difcovered many fymptoms of jealoufy and difcontent, he was univerfally believed to be the author of the crime. When the news of her death was brought to Whitehall by fir Thomas Armftrong, who, at the fame time, communicated the fufpiclon of her having been poifoned, the king melted in a flood of tears, and exprefled his indignation againft the duke of Orleans, in the mod bitter terms of reproach. But he foon checked his paffion, and faid, " Thomas, I beg you will not mention a fyllable of this matter." Charles, during fome time, was entirely convinced of the duke of Orleans guilt j but upon receiving the atteftation of phy- ficians, who, on opening her body, found no foundation for the general rumour, he was, or pretended to be, fatis- fied ; and the duke of Buckingham, on pretence of carry- ing compliments of condolence to the duke of Orleans, was difpatched to France, with power to fign the treaty which had been negociated by the duchefs.
While thefe meafures were fecretly in agitation, the parliament met, according to adjournment. Afterafhort fpeech from the throne, the lord-keeper infifled much on the king's great want of fupply ; the mighty increafe of the naval power of France, with the decay of that of England; the necelTity of equipping next year a fleet of fifty fail ; and the obligations which the king lay under by feveral treaties to exert himfelf for the common good of ^hriitcndom. Among thofe treatie"?, he particularly men-
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iO^ ne Hiflory of England.
a year in Ireland. The king even encouraged his attend* ^nce about his perfon, and (liowed him great countenance} while old Edwards, who had bravely ventured his life^ and had been wounded in defending the crown and rega- lia, was negle£led, 77;-? duhof Iji the month of March the duchefs of York died. In Yorh de- }ier laft ficknefs, fhe made open profeflion of the Romilh ^h^^nr religion 5 and foon after her death, the duke publicly de* c'aihgfif. clared his attachment to the fame church, to which he Jiad become a convert during his exile.
The immediate views of the cabal at this junfture be- ing dlrecled to a war with Holland, it was neceffary to break the triple alliance, and find a pretext for beginning Jioftilities, Sir Henry Coventry was difpatched as am-» baflador to Sweden ; and fir George Downing fent to the Hague, in the room of fir William Temple. A ground of quarrel was fought by means of a yacht, difpatched for lady Temple. The captain failed through the Dutch fleet, which lay on their own coafls ; and he had orders to make them ftrike, to fire on them, and to perfevere until they ^ould return his fire. The Dutch admiral Van Ghent, furprifed at this extraordinary behaviour, came on board the yacht, and exprefled his willingnefs to pay refpe<Sl: to the Britifh flag, according to ufual pradice ; but he faid it was not to be expeded, that a large fleet, commanded by an admiral, and on their own coafts, would lower their top-fails to a fingle vefl"el, which was not evenafhip of war. The captain, thinking it dangerous, as well as abfurd, to renev/ firing in the midft of the Dutch fleet, continued his courfe ; and, on his return, was committed to the Tower, for not having fufficiently aflTerted the ho« nour of his majefty. - >
This incident, however, furnilhed Downing with an additional article to increafe thofe vain pretences, on which it was purpofed to ground the intended rupture. The Englifli court delayed making any complaint for feveral months, left the Dutch might have had time, to grant fa- tisfaflion. Even when Downing delivered his memorial, he wasinftrufled not to accept of any fatisfaftion after a certain number of days ; a manner of negociating parti- cularly impracticable in Holland, where the forms of the republic will not admit of fofpeedy a determination. An anfwer, however, though refufed by Downing, was fent pver to London byan ambafl"ador extraordinary, who had or- ders to ufe every means for accommodating the matter with ^he court of England. The Englifh minifters replied, that
Charles II. 20 1
*lie anfvver of the Hollanders was ambiguous and obfcure 5 but they would not fpecify the articles or exprelhons which were liable to that objedHon. The Dutch ambalfador re- quefted the Engliih rainiftry to draw the anfwer in what lerms they pleafed, and told them that he would fign it --, but they replied, that it was not their bufmefs to draw papers for the Dutch. The ambaflador brought them the draught of an article, and aiked them whether it was fa- tisfadory : the EngHfti anfwered, that when he had figned 3nd delivered it, they would tell him their mind concern- ing it. The Dutchman refolved to fign it at a venture ; and on his demanding a new audience, an hour was ap- pointed for that purpofe ; but when he attendeii, the Eiig- lifli refufed to enter upon bufinefs, and told him, that the feafon for negociation was now pad ^.
The contracting parties, in the league againfl Holland, A.Di67j,
had agreed that the French king, the elector of Cologne, •
and the biftiop of Munfter, fhould fall upon the territo- '^^ ■^^"• ries of the States-general in three different places, while ,^'\^ ^'^"'^ the combined fleets of France and England ihould attack their navy, and diftrefs their commerce. Nothing retarded the commencement of hoitilities but the indigence of Charles, who, though he had received two millions five hundred thoufand pounds from parliament, and feven hundred thoufand livres by ftipulation, from the king' of France, ftill found himfelf in neceflity. He gave his mi- niftry to underftand, that he could not begin the war without a farther fupplyoffive hundred thoufand pounds; and as he could not have recourfe to the parliament, ,
which was prorogued, he promifed to confer the office of treafurer upon him who fhould contrive a pratlicable ex- pedient for raifmg that fum of money. The perfon mofl: fortunate in his invention, was fir Thomas Clifford, who propofed to flop the payments of the exchequer. It had been ufual for the bankeis to carry their money to the ex- chequer, and to advance it upon the fecurity of the funds, by which they were afterwards relmburfed, when the money was levied on the public. The bankers, hv this trafHc, got eight, fometimes ten percent, for fums, which either had been configned to them without intereft, or which they had borrowed at fix per cent. The meafure, propofed by fir Thomas ClilTord, was fo fuddenly taken, that none had warning of the danger. A general confu- fion prevailed in the city, followed by the ruin of many.
> F.nglanJ's Appeal, p. 2a,
The
^•2 " TJ:e Hijioyy of England,
The bankers (lopped payment ; and the mercliants could anfwer no bills; all commerce was interrupted, and a univerfal confternation feizcd the kingdom. The king publiftied a declaration, e.xcufing this ilep as the effect of necelFity, and promifing to do juftice to the creditors of the crown. But little regard being paid to the declara- tion, he convened the bankers at the treafury, and afl'ured them from his own mouth, that they (hould be punctually fatisfied, either from the next fupplies granted by parlia- ment, or out of his own revenue : he therefore defired that they would anfwer the draughts of the merchants, fo that bufinefs might not be interrupted. Arhitrary That the counfels purfued at this time, by the king and proceedings his minifters, were arbitrary and unconilitutional, appears ^thecaurtp from another meafure, which, v/hen confidered in itfelf, may be afcribed to liberal policy. Charles, refolved to make ufe of his fupreme power in eeclefiaftical matters, iffucd, by virtue of this authority, a proclamation, fuf- pending the penal laws, enacted againll all non-con- formifts and recufants ; and granting to the proteftant difienters the public exercife of their religion, and to the catholics the exercife of it in private houfes. At the fame time, the a£l of navigation was fufpcnded by the king's authority ; a rneafure, which, though a flretch of prero- gative, feemed ufeful to commerce, while all the feamen were employed on board the royal navy. An army had been levied \ and it was found, that diicipline could not be enforced without the exercife of martial law, which was therefore eftabliOied by order of council, though contrary to the petition of right. Thefe, and fome other acts of power, however unimportant in themfelves, were no wife fuitable to that legal adminiftration, which, after fo violent commotions, the nation had hope of feeing eflabUfhed. The lord-keeper, having refufed to affix the great-feal to the declaration for fufpending the penal laws, was for that reafon, though under other pretences, removed from his oiBce ; and Shaftefbury was made chanr cellor in his place. Attack of Before the declaration of war with Holland, an attempt tht Dutch vi'as made on the Dutch fleet by fir Robert Holmes. This Smyrna fleet confi (led of feventy fail, valued at a million and a * half, and the hopes of feizing fo rich a prey had been a
great motive for engaging Charles in the prefent war. Holmes, v/ith nine frigates and three yachts, had orders to go on this expedition. In the channel, he pa(red Sprague, who was returning with a fquadron fiom a cruize in the
Mediterranean,
I
Charles II, 203
Mediterranean. Sprague informed him of the near ap-» preach of the Hollanders j and had not Holmes, from a defire of en{;ro{Ting the honour and profit of tlie enterprizc, concealttd his orders, theconjiinflion of the two fquadrons mud infallibly have fecuied fuccefs. When Holmes ap- proached the Dutch, he put on an amicable appearance, and invited the admiral, Van Nefs, who commanded the convoy, to come on board of him. One of the captains gave a like infidious invitation to the rear-admiral. But thel'e officers, h;iving received information of the hoflilc intenticns of the Englifh, were on their guard, and had already put all the ihips of war and merchant-men in an excellent poilure of defence. Three times were they pflailcd by the EngliU' with great impetuofity, and: as often did they valiantly clefend themfelves. In the third attack pne of the Dutch fliips of war was taken ; as were three or four of ibf leaft confiderablc merchant-men. The refl continued iJie r courfe ; and favoured by a milt, got fafe Into their own harbours. The States-general exclaimed loudly againfl this pyratical attempt, as it was denomi- nated j while the Englifti miniftry endeavoured to apolo- gize for it, by pretending that it was a cafual rencounter, occi-doned by the obllinacy of the Dutch, in refufing the honours of the flag.
Until this incident the dates, notwithflanding all the War tvitk menaces and preparations of the Englifli, never believed HoHand. they were thoroughly in earneft ; but Charles was deter- mined to proceed. He immediately iffued a declaration of war agaitift the Dutch ; though reafons more falfe and frivolotis never were employed to juftify a flagrant viola- tion of treaty. Some complaints are there made of inju- ries done to the Eaft India company, which yet that com- pany difavowed ; the detention of fome Englifh (hips in Surinam is mentioned j though it appears that the perfons who occupied thern voluntarily remained there : the re- fufal of a Dutch fleet on their own coafts fo ftrike to an Englifli yacht, is much aggravated : and befide thefe pre- tences, mention js made of fome abufive pi6lures, which are reprefented as a ground of quarrel. The Dutch were long at a lofs to know to what this article alluded ; until it was difcovered, that a portrait of Cornelius de Wit, bro- ther to the penfionary, painted by order of certain ma- gifirates at Dort, and hung up in a chamber of the town- houfe, had given occafion to the complaint. In the per- fpe£live of this piece, th^ painter had reprefented fome IJiips on fire in a harbour. This was conftrued to be
Chatham,
204 7'^-'^ Ht/lory of England,
Chatham, where De Wit had acquired much honour. Charles, to complete the farce, pretended, in his decla- ration, that he would flill faithfully adhere to the triple alliance. Meanwhile, he ordered all the DutCh ihips that were in PLnglifli harbours, to be feized, contrary to an exprefs article in the treaty oi Breda. The Dutch followed his example ; but afterwards relcafed their cap- tures, obferving that his breach of faith was not a fufhcient T^afon for their imitating fuch unjuflifiable conduit. After fo uncommon an indance of candour and generofity, Charles was afhamed to detain their veflcls, which there- fore were fet at liberty.
The Englirti now faw thcmfclves engaged in a league trith France againft the Dutch ; and confequently, whether ▼iftorious or vanquilhed, their efforts were like to be equally unfucccfsful. The French monarchy had for fome years been growing into power ; and now, under the conduct of the ambitious Lewis XIV. it began to threaten the liberties of Europe, and particularly the pro- tcilant religion, of which Lewis had Ihewn hiinfelf a de- termined enemy. The people, therefore, beheld with difTatisfatStion a confederacy, which, if fuccefsful, muft fubvert the balance of power, which the Proteftants aimed at preferving. Nor were they lefs apprehenfive of their own fovereign, who, though he pretended to turn all re- ligion to ridicule in his gayer hours, yet was fecretly at- tached to the Catholics, or was very much fufpeited of be- »8th May. ing fo. The firft events of this war, therefore, were cor- Battle of refpondent to their fears of French treachery. The Eng- Solebay. glifli and French combined fleets, commanded by the duke of York, and the marefchal d'Etrees, met the Dutch fleet to the number of ninety fail, commanded by admiral de Ruyter, and a furious battle enfued. In this engagement, the gallant Sandwich, who commanded the Englifh van, drove his fhip.into the midft of the enemy, beat off the admiral that ventured to attack him, funk another fliip that attempted to board him, and funk three fire-fhips that endeavoured to grapple with him. Though his veflel was torn with (hot, and out of a thoufand men there remained only four hundred, he ftill continued to thunder in the midfi of the engagement. At laft, a fire- fhip, more fortunate than the preceding, having laid hold £arl of ^f ^is vefTel, her deftru£tion was now inevitable. Sand- Sandiu'tch wich, however, though warned by fir Edward Haddock, kUledt his captain, refufed to quit his fliip, and heroically em-
braced death asafhelter from that ignominy, which a rafh exprelTion of the duke's, he thought, had thrown upon
him.
Charles IT. ■ 205
Bim. Night parted the combatants ; the Dutch retlredj and were not followed by the Englifh. The lofs fultained by the Dutch and Englifli was nearly equal ; but the French fuffered very little, not having entered into the heat of the engagement. It was even fufpe<Sled that they had orders for this conduft, and to fpare their own fhips, while the two other powers fhould grow weak by their mutual ani- mofities.
The combined powers were much more fuccefbful againft the Dutch by land. Lewis crofTed the Rhine, took all the frontier towns of the enemy, and even threatened the re- public with total ruin. Terms of accommodation were propofed to the ftates by the confederates. Lewis offered them fuch as would have deprived them of all power of refilling an invafion from Flanders by land ; while thofc of Charles expofed them equally to every invafion by fea. At laft, the murmurs of the Engliflb at feeing this brave and induftrious .people, the fupporters of the proteftant caufe, on the brink of deftruftion, were too loud not to imprefs the king. He was obliged to call a parliament, A.D. 1673.
how much foever he dreaded the aflembling of that body ■
at prefent. The eyes of all men were fixed on this feffion, '*^^ ^^^^ which met, after prorogations continued for near two rf^^'. years. Before the commons entered upon bufinefs, there lay before them an affair, which difcovered, beyond a pofiTibility of doubt, the arbitrary proje£ts of the king. It had been a conftant pra£lice in the houfe for many years, in cafe of any vacancy, to ilTue out writs for new eleftions ; but, by Shaftefbury's advice, feveral members had taken their feats upon irregular writs iflued by the chancellor ; ib that the whole houfe in time might be filled with mem- bers clandeftinely called up by the court. The houfe was no fooner afl^embled, therefore, and the fpeaker placed in his chair, than a motion was made againft this method of eleftion ; and the members themfelves, thus called to parliament, had the modefty to withdraw. Their clcdlioti was declared null ; and new writs, in the ufual form, were ifTued by the fpeaker.
The king's late declaration of indulgence to all feiSlaries was next taken into confideiation j and a remonftrance drawn up againft that exercife of the prerogative. The commons reprefented that fuch a pra{3:ice, if admitted, might tend to interrupt the free courfe of the laws, and alter the legiflatlve power, which had been acknowlegedto refide in the king and the two houfes of parliament. Charles, therefore, found himfel/ obliged reluctantly to
retradt
20^ the I^ijlt^ry of England*
Dtdara- rctrafl this declaration ; but that he might do it with ai tiono/ in- better grace, he aflced the opinion of the houfe of peers^ /f^ who advifed him to comply. The commons not only ex- piefied the utmoll fatista6tion with this meafure, but their inviolable attachment to the king ; and he, on his part^ aifured them, that he would willingly pafs any law which might tend to give tliem fatisfadlion in all their juft grievance?. Shafiejhurj Shaftefliury, when he found the king recede from fa* jttHs the capital a point, which he had publicly declared his refo-- '^'"'try lution to maintain, dreaded that he might alfo abandon party. j^jg jyjj„i(];grg tQ the vengeance of parliament ; and there- fore refolved to atone for all his violences in favour of mo- narchy, by like violences in oppofition to it. Never change was more fudden, or lefs calculated to fave appearances. Immediately he entered into all the cabals of the country party ; and difcovered to them, perhaps magnified, the arbitrary proje6ls of the court, in which himfelf had borne fo great a fliare. He was received with open arms by that party, which flood in need of fo able a leader.
The two hotlfes were fo much pleafed with the king's compliance, that they went in a body to thank his majefty for his gracious declaration. It did noC, however, obli- terate the apprehenfions which had been excited by the iTietefl- former meafures of the court •, and they foon palled a law mS. impofing a teft on all who ihould enjoy any public ofBce.
Befide taking the oaths of allegiance and fupremacy, and receiving the facrament in the ellablifhed church, they were obliged to abjure all belief in the doftrinc of tran- fubftantiation. The parliament likewife pafied an acl of indemnity, which fcreened the king's minifters from the danger of any farther enquiry.
Though Charles had retracl^ed his declaration of indul- gence, and thereby had tacitly relinquifhed the difpenfing power, he was ftill refolved to perfevcre in his alliance with France, and in the Dutch war. The money granted by parliament was fufficient to equip a fleet, of which, as the duke had been fet afide by the teft, prince Rupert was declared admiral. Under him were appointed fir Edward Sprague and the earl of OfTory ; and they were joined by a French fquadron, commanded by d'Etrees. The combined fleet fet fail towards the coaft of Holland, where they found the enemy lying at anchor, within the , , fands at Schonvelt. Several fea engagements lucceeded
«ach other very rapidly-, but no decifive adlion took place.
The
Charles IL 207
The parliament being again aflembled, dlfcovcrcd much joth Oft. greater fymptoms of ill humour than had appeared in Afariio^ the laft felTion. They had known for fome time of a ne- ^'"^^ gociation of marriage carried on between the duke of York and the archduchefs of Infpruc, a catholic of the Auftrian fainily ; and they had made no oppofition. But when that negociation failed, and the duke applied to a princefs of the houfe of Modena, then in clofc alhance with France, this circumftance, joined to fo many other caufes of dif- content, exafperated the commons; and they remonftrated with the greateft zeal againft the intended marriage. The king told them, that their remonftrance came too late ; for that the marriage was already celebrated by proxy. The commons ftlll infilling, and proceeding farther, they ^'f°7^^ voted the {landing army a grievance, and declared, that ^y^;^^ they would grant no more fupply, unlefs it appeared that lommnu the Dutch were fo obftinate as to refufe all realbnable con- ditions of peace.' To cut fhort thefe difagreeable attacks, the king refolved to prorogue the parliament ; and with that Intention became unexpe6ledly to the houfe of peers, and fent the uflier to fummon the commons. It happened, that the fpeaker and the ufher nearly met at the door of the houfe ; but the fpeaker being within, fome of the members fuddenly fhut the door, and cried, '* To the chair, to the chair !" while others cried, " the black rod iS at the door." The fpeaker was hurried to the chair ; and the following motions weie inftantly made: that the alliance with France is a grievance; that the evil coun- fellors about the king are a grievance ; that the duke of Lauderdale Ts a grievance, and not fit to be trufted or em- ployed. There was a general ciy, " To the queftion, to the queftion !"' but the ufher knocking violently at the door, the fpeaker leaped from the chair, and the houfe rofe in great confufion. The king, in a very fliort fpeech, reprefented the great advantages which the enemy would reap from the leaft appearance of difienfion betv/een him and his parliament : he declared he had exerted his ut- moft care in preventing the grov>'th of popery ; and pro- rogued them to the 7th day of January. He deprived the earl of Shaftefbury of the office of chancellor, which he bellowed on fir Heneage Finch. He removed from the court all popi(h recufants, and iffued a proclamation for putting the laws In execution againft Papifts. The teft had incapacitated Clifford, and the white ftaff was con- ferred on fir Thomas Ofborne, foon after created earl of
Danbv,
2G8 ^he Hljiory of England.
Danby, a mlnifter of abilities, who had rifen by his par* liamentary talents, A.D. 1674. "W'hen ^he parliament re-afTembled, they began with ap- ' Jjlicatious for a general faft j by which they intioiated, that
tl'ie nation was in a very calamitous condition : they ad- dreiTcd agahift the king's guards, which they rcprefented as dangerous to liberty, and even as illegal, fince they never had yet received the fandion of parliament: they took fome Heps towards cflablifliing a more rigorous telt againit popery : and what chiefly alarmed the court, they made an attack on the members of the cabal, to whofe pernicious coui?fels tliey imputed all the public grievances. Clifford was dead ; Shafteibury had made his peace with tlie country-party ; Buckingham was defirous of imitating Shafrefbury's example : Lauderdale and Arlington were bipluilan expofed to all the effe6ls of national refentment. Articles oftjieca- q[ impeachment were drawn up againil the latter, which, however, were never profecutedj and in refpedl of the former, he every day declined in the favour of the king, and became contemptible to the people. Thus ended the power of a junto, that had laid a fettled plan for overturn- ing the conflitution, and eftablifhing upon its ruins un- limited moi»archy. Peace luth '^\^^ king, fnuling that he could cxpe£l no fupply from IJoUan . the commons for carrying on the war, refolved to make a fcparatc peace with the Dutch, on the terms which they had propofed through the channel of the Spanifh ambaf- fador. With a ccniiality, which, in the prefent circum- ftances, was probdbly butafFe£led, but which was obliging, he alked the voice of the parliament. The parliament unanimoufly concurred, both in thanks for this gracious condefcenfion, and in their advice for peace. Peace was accordingly concluded. Tlie honour of the flag was yielded by the Dutch in the mod extenfive terms : a regu- lation ot trade was agreed to : all pofTefTions were reftored to the fame condition as before the war : theEnglifli planters in Surinam were allowed to remove at pleafure ; and the ftates agreed to pay the king the fum of eight hundred '' thoufand patacoons, near three hundred thoufand pounds. The king of France expreffed no refentment at being abandoned in this abrupt and clandeftine manner by his ally. On the contrary, he frankly accepted the proffered mediation of Charles, from which he had reafon to hope for favour, confidering that he, at this time, obliged the Englifh monarch with a yearly penfion of one hundred thoufand pounds. Befides, the fuccefs of the war had
not
Charles Ih 209
♦lot been anfwerable to the fanguine expectations of Lewis; and his enemies had augmented into a formidable alliance. The prince of Orange had advanced into Flan- ders with a numerous and well difciplined army, and en- deavoured to bring the prince of Conde to a battle ; but the latter, being inferior in number, cautioufly avoided an engagement i until at length the fladtholder expofing a wing of his army at Seneife, the French general took the advantage of this overfight, and an obftinate adlioil enfued. The prince of Orange behaved on this occafioii with equal courage and prefcnce of mind : he rallied his troops, and led them back to the charge : the battle was maintained even by moon-light, until at lad the darknefs parted the combatants. The prince of Orange afterwards inveftcd Oudenarde ; but he was obliged, by the Imperial and Spanifti generals, to raife the fiege on the approach of the enemy. He next befieged and took Grave ; and at the beginning of winter, the allied armies broke up, with great difcontents and complaints on all fides. In other places the troops of France were univerfally victorious ; and marefchal Turenne, having diflodged all the allies, he obliged them to repafs the Rhine, full of Ihame for their accumulated defeats, and flill more of diflatisfaCtion with each other.
Confuierable alterations Were about this time made in the Englifti miniftry. Buckingham who had long, by his wit and entertaining humour, poflefTed the king's fa- vour, was dijtmifled. Arlington, now chamberlain, and Danby the treafurer, had the principal fhare in the king's confidence. Great hatred and jealoufy arofe between thefe minifters ; and public affairs fuffered fome interrup- tion by their quarrels. But Danby daily gained ground with his mailer ; and ArHngton declined in the fame pro^ portion.
In the new feflion of parliament, every flep taken by A D. 16:^5; the comnions difcovered that i!l-humour and jealoufy, to "'
which the late open meafures of the king, and his prefent fecret attachment^ gave but too juil foundation. They drew up a bill againli popery, and the perfons of Ptomifli priefls ; they prefented, a fecond time, a long addrefs ftgainfl the duke of Lauderdale^ whom they accufed of having faid in council, that the king*s edicts ought to be obeyed preferably to the laws of the realm ; and of hav- ing procured the militia a(El in the parliament of Scotland, from which England was continu.Uly expofcd to an inva- fion, upon the moll frivolous pretence. Thev, therefore.
Vol. II. i» ' befcughc
2 10 The Ulfiory of England,
befoiight his majefly to remove that minifter ^rom Ms pr<
fence and councils for ever. But as the king's anfwer \\i
not fatisfaclory, they feemed Hill determined to perfever
in their applications. They then fet on foot an enquir
into the condu£l of Danby, whom they refolved to in:
peach of having been concerned in a proje£l to render th
king abfolute j but finding the proofs infufficient, the
dropped the accufation. They applied to the king for r<
calling his troops from the French fervice ; and as he on)
promifed that they fhould not be recruited, they wei
much diilatisfied with the anfwer. A bill was brought ii
making it treafon to levy money without authority of paj
liament. Another vacating the feats of fuch members :
accepted of offices j with one to fecure the perfonal libert
of the fubjeft.
The fejl' The commons proceeded with fo much warmth in o\
bill brought pofition to the court, that many members of the uppt
if-to the houfe began to dread the revival of the republican fpiri
hras. ^^ order to prevent the mifchiefs which might arife froi
fuch a difpofition, the earl of Lindfey brought into tli
houfe of lords a tefi-bill, for impofing upon all perfonsi
ccclefiadical, civil, and military employments, as well as u{
on privy counfellors, and members of parliament, an oatj
declaring it unlav.'ful to take arms againft the king upon an
pretence whatever ; and that they would not at any tim
endeavour the alteration of the Proteftant religion, or th
eftabllfned government either in church or llate- So gre;
was the oppofition made to this bill, that the debates upc
it continued feventeen days ; and then it was carried by
fmall majority. Being fent down to the houfe of eorr
mons, it v.'as likely to undergo a fcrutiny ftill more fever
But a quarrel, which enfued between the two houfes, pr<
vented the palhng of every bill projected during the prt
Difpuiehe- fent feffion. One Dr. Shirley, being call in a law-fuit b(
.lueenihe fo^g Chanccfy againft fir John Fag, a member of tl
iii/o houjes. ]^Q^fg Qf commons, preferred an appeal to the houfe (
peers; and the lords, accepting the petition, fummone
Fag to appear before them. He complained to the low(
houfe, which undertook to defend him. They maintains
that the lords had no right to receive an appeal from an
court of equity; and committed Shirley to prifon. Tl
lords infjfted upon their jurifdiclion, which they had ei
crcifed during a long courfe of years. Conferences we:
held, but no accommodation enfued. The commons in
prifoned four lawyers who pleaded in this caufe before t\
peers, contrary to an order of the lower houfe. The lor.
detbr:
OMrles IT, 211
icclared this commitment a breach of Magna Charta; and >rdereci the lieutenant of tlie Tower to rcleafe the pri- "oners. He declines obedience : they apply to the king to punifh him for contempt of the houfc. The king fum- rpons both houfes, and in a fpeech exhorts them to lay a- [ide their animofity. But finding his advice had no cfledt upon the commons, he prorogued the parliament to the 13th day of Odober.
When the parliament was again aflcmbled, the quarrel between the two houfes was revived. The proceedings of the commons difcovered the fame violence as during the [aft fefTion. A motion was made in the houfe of peers^ but rejected, for addrefTing the king to dilTolve the prefent: parliament. The king contented himfelf with proroguing them to the 22d day of November.
An incident which happened foon after the prorogation, The l;'nts flrongly marks the genius of Charles's government at this fupprejfes period. The variety as well as violence of the parties, ^'<#"* had begotten a propenfity to political converfation ; and ''•""■i^*' as the cofFee-houfcs in particular were the fcenes, where the condudl of the king and miniftry was canvafled with great freedom, a proclamation was iflucd to fupprcfs thofe places of rendezvous. But the king, obferving tlie peo- ple to be diflatisfied, yielded to a petition from the keepers of thofe houfes, who promifed for the future to reftrain all feditious difcourfes among their vifitants i and the pro- clamation was recalled.
The king, in a plaufible fpeech to the parliament, which A.D.r6r7>
met in February, protefted he was ready to grant all the -"
fecurity in his power for the maintenance of tlie protef- tant religion, and the liberties of the people. He recom- mended harmony between the two houfes, informed them of his necefllties, and defired fuch a fupply as would en- able him to make a confiderable addition to his navy. But before the parliament entered upon bufinefs, they were (topped by a doubt concerning the legality of their meet- ing. It had been ena<Sled by an old law of Edward the Third, that parliaments (hould beheld once every year, or oftener. The laft prorogation had been longer than a year; and being fuppofed on that account illegal, it was pretended to be equivalent to a diiTolution. Buckingham, who had iTiade the motion, was feconded by the earls of Salifbury, Shaftefbury, and the lord Wharton. Their argu- ments produced violent debates ; but, as they tended to- wards an abolition of all that had been tranfa6led in this parliament, as well as to fedition and anarchy, thofe four
P 2 noblemea
212 The Hy}ory of England,
nobltmen were committed to the Tower. BuckingTiam Salifbury, and Wharton, after having been confined fom' months, made their fubmillion to the iving, who orderei them to be releafed. Lord Shaftefbury moved in th' king's-bench that he might be difcharged ; but the cour refufed to take any cognizance of the matter. Having re Biained a whole year prifoner, he made the fame fubmii fion with the other three lords j upon which he was alfi reieafed.
The houfe of commons now voted the fum of fiv hundred and eighty thoufand pounds to his majefty, fo building thirty (hips ; and ftricily appropriated the mone to that fervLce. They addrefled the king, reprefcntin the danger to which his dominions were expofed fron the growing greatnefs of Francs ; and they afTured birr that, in cafe of war, they would not be backward in thci fupplies. As Charles required money for his pleafures, h was not difpleafed with the latter part of their addrefs and therefore told them, that unlefs they granted him fi hundred thoufand pounds, it would be impcflible forhir to grant them a fatisfaflory anfwer. The houfe took thi meflage into confideration : but before they came to an refolution, the king fent for them to Whitehall, whei he told them, upon the word of a king, that they (houl not repent any truft which they would repofe in him fc the fafety of his kingdom j that he would not, for an confideration, lofe credit with them, or erhploy their fuj plies to other purpofes than thofe for which his parli: ment intended them j but that he would not hazard, ei ther his own fafety or that of his people, by taking an vigorous meafures, or forming new alliances, until h were in a better condition to adiagarnft his enemies. Tli fpeech brought affairs to a fhort iflue. The king require them to trnft him with a large fum ; but the con mons expreffed a diffidence in his majefly's profeflion He reproved them for their diftruft, and immediately oi dered them to adjourn.
The king faw, with regret, the violent drfconten ■which prevailed in the nation, and which feemed evei day to increafe. He knew, that, during the late w; with Holland, the malecontents at home had made appl cations to the prince of Orange ; and if he continued 1 neg(e6l the prince's interefls, and to thwart the inclin: tions of his own people, he apprehended left their con mon complaints fhould produce a lafting union betwee them. He faw, that the religion of the duke infpired tl ' nati(
ChiVks IL 212
Tiahon with dlfnial apprehenfions ; and though he had obliged his brother to allow the young princeflcs to be educated in the proteftaut faith, fomething farther, he thought, was necefl'ary, in order to fatisfy the nation. He entertained, therefore, a dcfign of offering in mar- riage to the prince of Orange the lady Mary, the elder ^, '^^'''^i* princefs, and heir apparent to the crown (for the duke had prime of yet no male ilTue) and he hoped, by fo tempting an ofler. Orange to engage that prince entirely to his intcreils. In confe- '^'""'' '-*' quence of this propofal, the prince of Orange came over ^V^ A^*0'« to England, and the marriage was foon after celebrated j ' an event wiiich gave great fatisfacSlion amidft thofc general difquietudes about religion. A negociation for peace be- tween the French and the Dutch followed foon after j but the mutual animofitics of thefe flates not being as yet fuffici- ently fubfided, the war was continued fome time longer. Charles, therefore, to fatisfy the parliament, which de- clared loudly againfl the French, fcnt over to the conti- ^\ p ,5 g
nent an army of three thoufand men, under the command _J J
of the duke of Monmouth, to fecure Oilend. A fleet react c/ alfo was fitted out with great diligence; and a quadruple Nim^gutn. alliance was projeded between England, Holland, Spain and the emperor* Thofe vigorous meafures brought about the treaty of Nimeguen, which gave a general peace to Europe. But though peace was fecurcd abroad, the difcontents of the people flill continued at home.
The Englifh, ever fince the fatal league with France, iiad entertained violent jealoufies againlt the court; and the fubfequeut meafures adopted by the king, had tended to encrcafe the general prejudices. Some myfterious defign was ftill fufpe£led in every enterprize and profef- fion ; and arbitrary power and popery were apprehended as the fecretobjc6ls of every projcdl. In this jealous difpo- j'hetopiA (ition, the people was fuddenJy alarmed with the cry of a plot. plot. On the 12th of Auguft, one Kirby, a chemiit, ac- cofted the king as he was walking in the park : " Sir,'* faid he, " keep within the company : your enemies have a defign upon your life, and you may be fliot in this very walk." Being queflioned with regard to this flrange in- timation, he faid, that two men, called Grove and Pick- ering, had engaged to flioot the king ; and fir George Wakeman, the queen's phyfician, to poifon him. This intelligence, he added, had been communicated to him by Dr. Tongue \ whom, if permitted, he would introduce to his majelly. This permiffion being granted, Tongue, who was a divine of the church of England, i^n a£livc,
P 3 reftlcfs
«i4 7ke lliflory of Enghmh
reftlefs man, full of projedls, and void of undern-anding^' was introduced to the king ; and brought with him papers, containing information of a plot, and digefted into foity- three articles. Tongue being referred to the lord-treafurer Danby, declared to that nobieman, that the papers had been thrufl under his door, and that, though he fufpeded, lie did not certainly know, who was the author. After a few days he returned, and told the treafurer, that his fuf- picions, refpefting the author of the papers, were well founded i that the perfon had confefitd to him the whole matter, but dcfired that his name might be concealed, being apprehenfive left thePapifts (hould murder him.
This information appeared fo vague and unfarisfadory, that the king concluded the whole was a fiQion. Tongue, however, was not to be reprefied in the ardor of his loy- alty. He went again to the lord treafurer, and told him, that a packet of letters, written by Jefuits concerned in the plot, was that night to be put into the poft-houfe for Windfor, direded to one Bedingfield, a Jefuit, who was confelfor to the duke of York, and refided at that place^ \Vh.en this intelligence was brought to the king, he re- plied, that the packet mentioned had a few hours before been carried to the duke by Bedingfield ; who faid, that he fufpc6ted fome bad defign upon him, and that he knew the letters not to be the hand-writing of the perfons whofe names were fubfcribed to them. This incident farther confirmed the king in his incredulity, and the matter had probably never been more inveftigated, had it not been for the anxiety of the duke ; who, hearing that priefts and Jefuits, and even his own confeflbr, had been accufed, was defirous that a thorough enquiry fhould be made by the council into the pretended confpiracy. Kirby and Tongue were accordingly enquired after, and were now found to be living in clofe connection ^yith Titus Gates, the perfon who was faid to have conveyed the firft , intelligence to Tongue. Gates affirmed, that he had fallen under the fufpicion of the Jefuits, and that he had concealed himfelf, in order to avoid their refentmenr. This man was of an abandoned charadler, and fo indigent that he depended upon Kirby for his daily bread. He had been once indided for perjury, was afterwards chap- lain on board a man of war, and difmiiTed for unnatural pradHces. He then profefTed himfelf a Roman Catholic, and crofled the fea to St. Omer's, where he lived fome time in the Englifli feminary at that place. The fathers of the college i^nt him thence with fome difpatches to
Spain|
Charles IT. 215
Spain ; but after his return, when they became better ac- quainted with his chara£ler, they would not fufFer him to continue among them ; fo that he found himfelf under the necelTity of returning to London, where he was ready to embrace any means, however profiigate, for his fiipport. In this fituation, it was a joyful furprize to him to un- derftand that the council was difpofedto take fome notice of his intelhgence. But, expelling more encouragement from the public than from the king or his minifters, he thought proper, before he was prefented to the council, to go with his two companions, Tongue and Kirby, to fir Edmondf- q^.^ .^ bury Godfrey, a noted and aftive juftice of the peace, riarraii've. and before him depofed to a narrative, drawn up in a m.anner fo alarming as to make an impreffion on the vul- gar. The pope, he faid, had found himfelt entitled to the poflefTion of England and Ireland, on account of the herefy of prince and people, and had accordingly affumed the fovereignty of thefe kingdoms. This, which was St. Peter's patrimony, he had delivered up to the Jefuits ; and Oliva, the general of that order, was his delegate. Se- veral Englifh catholic lords, whofe names he mentioned, were appointed by the pope to the other offices of flate : lord Arundel was appointed chancellor, lord Powis trea- furer, fir William Godolphin privy-feal, Coleman, the duke's fecretary, was made fecretary of ftate, Langhorne attorney-general, lord Belafis general of the forces, lord Peters lieutenant-general, and lord Stafford paymafter. The king, whom the Jefuits called the Black Baftard, was folemnly tried by them, and condemned as a heretic. He afBrmed that father Le Shee, meaning the French king's confeffor La Chaife, bad offered ten thoufand pounds to any man who fhould kill the king. Ten thoufand pounds, he faid, had been offered to fir George Wakeman to poi- fon the king ; but he was mercenary, and demanded fif- teen thoufand, which demand was complied with. Left thefe means fliould prove abortive, four Irifii ruffians had been employed by the Jefuits, at the rate of twenty- guineas a piece, to flab the king at Windfor. Coleman, iate fecretary to the duchefs of York, was deeply con- cerned in the plot, and had given a guinea to the meffen- ger, who carried them orders for the affaffmation. Grove and Pickering were alfo employed to fhoot the king with filver bullets. The former was to receive, for this fer- vice, fifteen hundred pounds j and the latter, being a pious man, thirty thoufand maffes. Pickering would .have executed hi? purpofe, had not the flint at oae time drop-
P 4. ped
2l6 The H:Jlcry of E):giarJ,
ped out of his piflol, at another time the priming. .Co- iners, the Jefuit, had bought a knife at the price of ten ihillings, which, he thought, was not dear, confidering the purpofe for which he intended it, namely, dabbing the king. Letters of fubfcription were circulated among the Catholics Jill over England to raife a fum for the fame pur- pofe. No lefs than fifty Jefuits had met in May laft, at the White-horfe Tavern, where it was unanimoufly agreed to put the king to death. A wager of a hundred pounds was laid, and the money depofited, that the king Ihould eat no more Chriftmas-pies. The great fire of London had been the work of the Jefuits j feveral other fires were refolved on, and a paper-model was already framed for firing the city anew. Fire-balls were called among them Tewktfljury Muftard-pills. Twenty thoufand Catholics in London were prepared to rife ; and Coleman had re- mitted two hundred thoufand pounds to affift the rebels in Ireland. The duke of York was to be offered the crown, in confequence of the fuccef* of thefe probable fchemes, on condition of extirpating the proteftant religion. Up- en his refufal, " To pot James mufl. go," as the Jefuits were faid to exprefs it.
In confequence of tlils dreadful information, fufficlent- ly marked nith abfurdity, vulgarity, and contradidion, Titus Oaies became the favourite of the people, though, during his examination belt re the council, he betrayed io much the groflhefs of his impofture, that he contradi£led himfelf in every flep of his narrative. While in Spain, he had been carried, he faid to Don John, who promifed great afliftance towards the execution of the catholic de- figns. The king afked hini, what fort of a man Don John was ? Gates replied, that he was a tall lean man ; which was direftly contrary to the truth, as the king well knew=. He totally miftook the fituation of the Jefuit's college at Paris ''. Though he pretended great intimacy with Coleman, he knew him not when placed very near him ; and had no ether excufe than that his fight was bad in candle- light^ He was guilty of the fame miftake with regard to fir George VV'^akeman.
Notwithflanding thefe objedlions, Oates's narrative was greedily received by the multitude. The violent animofity which had been excited againfl the catholics in general, made the people find a gloomy pleafure in hoping for an
e Burnet, North, «« Koxth. » Burnet, North,
Trials, •
cpportunity
Cl-arles IL 2X7
opportunity of fatiating their hatred. And the more dia- bolical any contrivance appeared, the better it fuited the tremendous idea entertained of a Jeinit. Danby likewife, who Hood inoppofition to the French and catho- lic intercft at court, was willing to encourage every (lory, ■which might. ferve to difcredit that party. A great num- ber of the Jefuits mentioned by Gates, was immediately taken into cuflody. Coleman, who was faid to have a£led fo ftrenuous a part in the confpiracy, at firfl; retired, but next day furrendered himfelf to the fecretary of flatej and fomc of his papers, by Oates's diredions, were fe- cured. Coleman, partly on his own account, partly by orders from the duke, had been engaged in a correfpon- dence with father La Chaife, with the pope's nuncio at Bruflcls, and with other catholics abroad ; and being him- felf a fiery zealot, the expreffions in his letters often "be- trayed great violence and indifcretion. In his correfpon- dence mention is made of a proje<£l forreftoring popery, upon the acceffion of the duke of York. But thefe letters contained nothing that could ferve as proof with regard to the prefent information ; and their very filence in that refped, though they appeared imprudent enough in others, might have entirely difcredited Oates's pretended difcovcry. When the contents of thofe letters were pub- licly known, however, they difFufed the panic which the preceding narrative had begun. Oates's plot and Cole- man's were univerfally confounded together. Coleman's letters contained fome myllerious hints about extirpating the proteflant herefy, the great zeal of the duke, and the mercenary fpirit of his brother. It appeared from them, that fome defigns had adually been on foot ; and Oates's narrative was fuppofed to give the particulars.
In this violent agitation, an accident ferved to confirm GoJ/rey'j the prejudices of the people. Sir Edmundfbury Godfrey, '»'"''^^^« who had been fo a6live in unravelling the myitery of the popifh machinations, after having been miffing fome days, -was found dead in a ditch by Primrofe-hill, in the way to Hampftead. His own fword was thrutt through his body ; but no blood had flowed from the wound ; fo that it ap- peared he had been dead fome time before this method was taken to deceive the public. He had money in his pockets, rings on his fingers, and there was a broad livid mark quite round his neck, which was diflocated. His breafl: exhibited fome marks of contufion ; and on his breeches were found feveral drops of wax-lights, which he never ijfed in his own family. The caufe of his death remains, *■ and
21 g ^he Hifiory of Enghn^l,
and mufl dill continue, a fecret ; but the cry rofe, that he had been affaffinated by the Papills, on account of his taking Oates's evidence. This clamour was quickly pro- pagated, and met with univerfal belief. To fuch a degree was the populace exafperated againll the Roman Catho- lics, that moderate men began to dread a general malTacre of that unhappy feet. The body of Godfrey was carried through the iVeets in procefijon, proceeded by feventy clergymen ; and every one who faw it made no doubt that bis death could be only caufed by thePapiils, Perfons of all ranks were infe£led with this vulgar prejudice; and fuch was the general conviclion of popifh guilt, that it became dangerous to exprefs the leail doubt concerning
^ the information of Oates, or the murder of Godfrey.
l^A " While the nation was in this ferment, the parliament
was afTembled, and it teftified greater credulity than evea the vulgar. The cry of plot was immediately echoed fiom one houfe to the other. An addrefs was voted for a folemn fail:. A form of prayer was contrived for that folemnity ; and becaufe the popifh plot had been omitted in the firft draught, it was carefully ordered to be infert- ed J left, to ufe the words of a hiftorian ^, omnifcience fhould want intelligence. Addrefies were voted for lay- ing before the houfe fuch papers as might difcover the hor- rible confpiracy; for the removal of popifli recufants from London ; for denying accefs at court to all unknown or fufpicious perfons ; and for appointing the trainbands of London and Weftminfter to be in readinefs. The lords Powis, Stafford, Arundel, Peters, and Bellafis, were committed to the Tower, and foon after impeached for high treafen. So vehement were the houfes, that they fat every day, forenoon and afternoon, on the fubjeclof theplot; for no other bufinefs could be attended to. A committee of lords was appointed to examine, prifoners and witnefTes. Blank warrants were put into their hands, for the com- mitment of fuch as fhould be accufed or fufpected. Oates, who, though his evidence were true, muil, by his ov/a account, be regarded as an infamous villain, was by every one applauded, carefled, and called the faviour of the nation. He was recommended by the parliament to the king, was lodged in Whitehall, prote6bed by guards, and encouraged by a penfion of twelve hundred pounds fi vear, to proceed in forging new informations.
' North, p. 207.
The
Charles II. 219
The encouragement given to Oates dul not fail to call ^g^^^, forth new witnefTcs, who hoped to profit by the dclufiop narrativt of the times. William Bedloe, a man, if pofTiblc, more infamous that Oates, appeared next upon the ftagc. He was, like the former, of very low birth, had been noted for levcral cheats and thefts, had travelled over many parts of Eumpe under burrowed names, and had fre- ouently pafTcd himfelf for a man of quality. This man, at his own defirc, was arrefted at Briftol, and conveyed to London When hcapp-^ared before the council, he gave information of Godfrey's murder only, which, he faid, had been perpc trated in Somerfet-houfe, where tlie queca lived, by Papifts, fome of them fervants in her family. He ftid, that a fervant of lord Bellafis offered to give hiaa four thoufand pounds if he would carry the body off. He was ouellioned about the plot j but utterly denied all know- fege of it, and alfo aflerted, that he had no acquaintance wilh Oates. Next day, however, beiiig examined before the committee of lords, he betht^ught himfelf better, ani was ready to give an ample account of the plot, which he found fo anxioufly enquired into. This narrative he made totally as well as he could, with that of Oates, which had been publifhed ; but to render it of greater im- portance, he added fome new circumflances, and thofe, IHII more tremendous and extraordinary. He faid, that ten thoufand men were to be landed from Flanders in Bur- lington-bay, and immediately to feize Hull. That Jerfey and Guernfey were to be furprized by forces from Breft j r.nd that a French fleet was, all lafl fummer, hovering in the Channel for that purpofe. That in London, forty thoufand men were ready for an infurre£l:jon. That him- felf had been tampered with to murder a man, and was to receive for that fervice four thoufand pounds, beGde the pope's blelBng. That the king was to be afTafTinated, the Proteftants maflacred, and the government to be of- fered to One, if he would confcnt to hold it of the church i if nor, the pope Ihould govern it without him. In a fubfequent exan:ination before the commons, he ac- cufed the lords Carrington and Brudenell, who were committed to cuftody by order of parliament. But the moll terrible part of the narrative was, that Spain was to invade England with forty thoufand men, M-ho were ready at St. Jago in the chara(Sler of pilgrims; though at this time Spain was 2C"tualIy unable to raife ten thoufand men to fupply her own garrifcr.s in Flanders.
Thefc
22 o The Hlflory of Eitglmi^.
Thofe narratives are fo extravagant that they carry witlt them their own refutation. The infamy of the wit- nci]es, the contraditlion in their tefhimony, the extreme improbability of it, and the low vulgarity of the infor- mation, fo unlike that which might be expe<5led from men entrufted with great affairs ; all thefc circumftances concur to excite our horror again ft the authors of fuch impofition, and our pity at the delufion of the times that could credit fuch rdiculous reports. In order to give a confident air to the difcovery, Bedloe publiTned a. pam- phlet, intitled, " A Narrative and impartial Difcovery of the horrid Popifh Plot, carried on for burning and delboy- ing the Cities of London and Weftminfter, with their Suburbs, &c. by captain William Bedloe, lately engaged in that horrid Defign, and one of the popiih Coaimittee for carrying on fuch Fires."
The Papifts were now become fo obnoxions, that vote aftervotepafltdagainft them in the houfe of commons. They received the denomination of idolaters ; and whoever did not concur in acknowleging the juflnefs of the epithet, was expelled the houfe without ceremony. Even the duke of York was permitted to keep his place in the houfe by a majority of only twCK. " I would not, faid one of the lords, have as much as a popiili man or a poplfh woman to remain here ; not fo much as a popifti dog or a popifh bitch ; not fo much as a popifh cat to pur or mew about the king." What is a fignal inftance of the difpo- Ctions of the times, this defpicable fpeech, we are inform- ed, even met with approbation.
Encouraged by the general voice in their favour, the witnelTes, w^ho all along had enlarged their narratives in proportion as they were greedily received, went a flep farther, and ventured to accufe the queen of a defign againft the life of her hufband. The commons, in an addrefs to the king, gave countenance to this fcandalous accufation \ but the lords rejeiled it with becoming dif- dain. The king received the news with his ufual good humour. " They think, faid he, I have a mind to a new wife ; but for all that I will not fuffer an innocent woman to be abufed," He immediately ordered Oates to be ftri61;ly confined, feized his papers, and difmiffed his fervants. But on an application to parliament, this daring informer recovered his liberty. frialof Edward Coleman, fecretary to the duke of York, was
Coleman. the firfl who was brought to trial, as being moft ob- noxious to thofe who pretended tp fear the iiitroduftion
©f
Charles II. 221
T)f popery. His letters being produced, contained, as himftlf confcfled, much indifcretion ; but nothing crimi- nal, far Icfs trcafonable againft him. But Gates and Bedloe dopofeil, that he had received a commifTioii, figned by the fuperior of the Jcfuits, to be papal fccrctary of flatc, and had confcnted to the poifoning, fliooting, and (tabbing of the king. The former fwore that he had font fourfcore guineas to a ruffian, who undertook to kill the king. The date of the tranfaction he fixed in the month of Augufl, but would not fix the particular day, Cole- man could have proved that he was in the country the gieater part of that month, and therefore the witncf* would not be particular. la confequcnce of thefe wild accufations, Coleman received fcntcncc of death, which was foon afcer executed upon him. He fuiTered with calmncfs and conflancy, and to the lad perfiftcu in the ftrongefl proteftations of his innocence.
The trial of Coleman was fucicedcd by thofe of Ire- f,.:^igf land, Pickering, and Grove. Ireland, a Jefuit, was ac- helaHd, cufed by Gates and Bedioe, the only wituefles againft Pk'erin^, him, of being one of the fifty Jefults who had figned <'^-<i Grovu. the refolurion of murdering the king. Ireland proved that he was in Staffordfliire the whole month of Augufl:, during which time Gates alTerted that he was in London. The jury brought him in guilty, and the judge com- mended their verdi^l. It was in the fame manner fworn, that Pickering and Grove had bound themfelves by an oath to airalTinate the king ; and that they had provided fcrewed piflols, and filver bullets, for that purpofe. They like wife were found guilty. All thefe unhappy men went to execution protefting their innocence ; a circumftancc which, as they were Jcfuits, made no imprelBon on the fpcdlatois.
The animofities of the people, hov/ever, fecmed a littltf appcafed by the execution of thefe unfortunate men ; but a new train of evidence was now difcovered, which kindled anew the (lame of hatred and revenge. One Miles Prance, a goldfmith, and a profefled Roman ca- tholic, had been accufcd by Bedioe of being an accomplice in Godfrey's murder ; and upon his denial, had been thrown into prifon, loaded with irons, and confined to the condemned hole, a place cold, dark, and full of nafti- refs. There the poor wretch lay, groaning and exclaim- ing that he was not guilty; but being next day carried before lord bhaftcfbury, and threatened with fevcrcr puuilhment in cafe of obftinacy, he demanded if his con-
fcflion
22 2 5^^ Bijiory of England
feflion would procure his pardon. Being anfweredin X^.t affirmative, he had no longer courage to refift, but con- fefled himfelf an accomplice in Godfrey's murder. He foon after, however, retracted his evidence before the king ; but the fame rigours being employed againft him, he was induced once more to confirm his firll inform.a- tion. The murder, he faid, was committed in Somerfet- houfe, by the eontrivance of Gerrard and Kelly, twolrifh priefts. That Lawrence Hill, footman to the queen's treafurer, Robert Green cufhion-keeper to her chapel, and Henry Berry, porter to the palace, followed fir Ed- mundihury at a difiance, from ten in the morning until feven in the evening ; but that pafiing by Somerfet-houfe, Green throwing around his neck a twilled handkerchief, he was foon fti angled, and the body carried to a high chamber in Somerfet-houfe ; whence it was removed to another apartment, where it was feen by Bedloe.
Hill, Green, and Berry, were tried upon this evidence. Though Bedloe's narrative, and Prance's information, were totally irreconcilable, and were alfo invalidated by con- trary evidence, all was in vain ; the prifoners were con- demned and executed. They all denied guilt at their execution ; and as Berry died a Proteflant, the circum- ftance was regarded as very confiderable. But, inftead of (lopping the torrent of credulity, men were only furprifed, that a Protefianc could be induced at his death to perfifi in fo manifefi: a falfehood. ITr'tal of tfte This horrible perfecution continued fome time; and fvejej'utts the king, contrary to his own judgment, was obliged to ^ad Lang- gjyg ^^^^ ^q jj^g popular fury. Whitebread, provincial of ^'' '* the Jefuits, Fenwick, Gavan, Turner, and Harcourt, all
of them of the fame order, were brought to their trial ; Langhorne foon after. Befide Gates and Bedloe, Dug- dale, a new witnefs, appeared againft the prifoners. This man fpread the alarm llill farther, and even aflerted, that two hundred thoufand Papifls in England were ready to take arms. The prifoners proved, by fixteen witnefles from St. Omer's, that Gates was in that feminary at the time he fwore he v/as in London. But as ihey were Papifts, their teftimony would not be allowed any credit. All pleas in their favour availed them nothing. The Jefuits and Langhorne were condemned and executed, denying with theit lateft breath the crimes for which they fuffered. ITahmatt The informers were lefs fuccefsful on the trial of fir atQuitted. George Wakeman, the queen's phyfician, who,- though
thef
Claries IL 22*.
tl^ey fworc with tlieir ufual animoflty, was ac<^uift€c1. His condemnation would have involved the queen in liis guilt-, and it is probable the judge and jury were afraid of venturing l"o far.
The carl of Stafford, near two yenrs after, was the Infl: Trial cf man that fell a faerifice to thefe bloody wretches. The Sm/urJ. witnefies produced again ft him were Oatcs, Dugdak, and Tuberville. Gates fwore that he faw Fcnwick, the jefuit, deliver Stafford a commilfion from the general of the Jcfuics, confticuting him puymaftcr of the papal army. Dugdalc gave tellimony that tlie prifoner had endeavoured to engage him in the defign of murdering the king. Tuberville afhrmed, that the prifoner, in his own houfc at Paris, had made him the fame propofal. The clamour and outrage of the populace againtl the prifoner was very great : he was found guilty, and condemned to be hanged and quartered ; but the king changed tlie fcntence into that of beheading- He was executed on Tower-hilJ, where even his perfecutors could not forbear fliedding tears at the ferene fortitude difplayed by this aged no- bleman. Some other lords, who were iniprifoned upon tlie former evitlence, were tried and acquitted fome time after, when the people began to recover from their infa- tuation.
Men of infamous character and Indigent circumftances, yfrcttfatiim were now not the only informers j the practice was c/Daniy. adopted even by perfons of rank and condition. Mon- tague, the king's ambaffador'at Paris, had procured a feat in the lower houfe ; and without obtaining or alking the king's leave, he fuddenly came over to England. Charles, fufpe£ling his intention, ordered his papers to be feized ; but Montague, who forefaw this meafure, had taken care to fecrete one paper, which he immediately laid before the houfe of commons. It was a letter from the treafurer Danby, written in the beginning of the year, during the negociations at Nimeguen for the general peace. Mon- tague v;as there directed to fell the king's good offices to the king of France for a certain fum of money ; con- trary to the general Interefts of the confederates, and even thofe of his own kingdoms. Danby was fo unwilling to engage in this negociation, that Charles to fatisfyhim,fub- joined with his own hand tlicfe words, " This letter h writ by my order, C. R." Montague, who revealed the fecret correfpondence, had even the bafenefs to fell his treachery at a high price to the French monarch ». K Appendix to Sir John Dairymplc'i Memoirs-
The
224 ^-^'^ Hijfory of England,
The houfe was kindled into a violent flame ty tills in^^ telligence ; and immediately voting an impeachment of high treafon againfl that minifter, fent up fix articles to the houfe of peers : thefe were, that he had traiteroufly cngrofied to himfelf regal power, by giving inftrucliona to his majelly's ambafladors, without the p^irticipation of the fecretaries of flate, or the privy-council : that he had endeavoured to fubvert the government, and intro- duce arbitrary power ; and to that end, had levied and continued an army, contrnry to acl of parliament : that he had endeavoured to alienate the affections of his ma- jefty's fubjecls, by negociating a difadvantageous peace with France, and procuring money for that purpofe : that he was popifhly affected, an^ had concealed, after he had notice, the late horrid and bloody plot, contrived by the papifts againft his majefty's perfon and govern- ment : that he had wafted the king's treafure ; and hadj by indire£t means, obtained feveral exorbitant grants from the crown.
The earl of Danby was extremely embarrafled by fome of thefe articles, in regard to which he could not juftify himfelf without acciifing the king, who had defired that he would not divulge his fecret negociations. He recri- minated upon Montague, as the perfon who had advifed and fet on foot thofe private treaties ; and to prove this afiertion, fent two of that minifter's letters to the houfe of commons, which would not fuffer them to be read. He obferved in the houfe of lords, that the French mi- niflry had always confidered him as an enemy to the in- tereft of their nation ; that he had exerted uncommon diligence in tracing out the confpiracy j and that he had wafled no treafure, inafmuch as there was none to wafte.
Admitting all the allegations in the impeachment to be true, there was not one that amounted to high trea- fon ; and therefore the Iprds refufed to commit him to the Tower. The commons infifted upon his being taken into cuftody : a conteft enfued ; and the king, dreading . p fome fatal confequence from the violence of the lower
Dijfoiution houfe, prorogued the parliament, which he afterwards
of the diflblved.
parliament. Thus came to a period a parliament, which had con- tinued from the fecond year of the king's reign. Its con- clufion was very different from its commencement. Being elected during the feflivity which attended thePvcftorationj it confifted almoft entirely of royalifts ; who were diC- pofed to fupport the crovi-n by all the liberality, which ths
habits 8
Charles IL a 25
lint)ks of that ngc would permit. Tliclr former comphi- fancc and confittencc, however, were changed into difla- tisfaflion and diftrufl. Tliey were become not only un- manageable, but even dangerous to his government, and feemed to be treading fafl in tiie foocfteps of the lad long parliament, on the conducSl of which they had formerly thrown fo much blame.
Charles exerted his utmoft endeavours to influence the a. 0.1679,
eledlions for the new parliament ; but the prejudices of .
the times were fuch as rendered his efforts inefFe(Slual. AVw/ar^
Almod all the ndlive men in the kingdom were enemies i^amenu ^|
to the court ; and the people were fo infatuated by the ^
rumour of confpiracies formed by the Roman Catholics, ^
that their refcntment confounded the king with the ad- .:
herents of that church, though, according to all the in- ij
formation hitherto publiflicd, the immediate purpofe of i
the confpirators was to remove the king by afladination. ':
Jii the new parliament, all the zealots of tlie former were |
re-chofcn ; and to the number were added others, who ^
tlireateHed the court with no lefs violent oppofition. The
prefbyterians u\ particular beftirred themfelves with incre- •
dible ardour on this occafion. That party, it is faid, fnfl:
began at this time the abufe of fplitting their freeholds, in
order to multiply votes for members.
The king, alarmed at the profpert of fo dreadful a temped likely to dilturb his government, began to exert that vigour of mind, of which, ori great occafions, he was not deditute ', and without quitting in appearance his- ufual facility of temper, he colledled an ihdullry, firm- nefs, and vigilance, of which he was believed to be in- capable. The fird ftep which he took, towards gratify- ing and appeafing his people and parliament, was defiring the duke to withdraw beyJA'd fea, tliat no farther ful- picion might remain of the influence of popifli counfels. The duke readily complied ; but fird required an order for that purpofe, figned by the king ; lelt his abfentlng himfelf fliould be interpreted as a proof of fear or of guilt. He alfo defired, thrit the king (hould fatisfy him, j
as well as the public, by a declaration of the illegitimacy 7-/. j ^ / of the duke of Monmouth ; and this requell being •y^^j^ ^^. granted, he retired with his duchefs, and daughter Anne, tires to to Bruflels. BruJ[tl!,
Charles, in his fpeech to the new parliament, men- tioned the pains he had taken In punlfliing tlie confpira- tors, and the murderers of Godfrey. He made a riicrlt of having rcn-\pved his brotlier from the kingdom ; and
VoL.il. Q_ he
22 6 ^he Hllloiy of England.
he demanded fupplies, as well for difbanding the army as for maintaining the navy.. The commons having chofen Edward Seymour for their fpeaker, the king rejected their choice, and defired that they might appoint fir Thomas Meres. An obftinate difpute enfued. The commons maintained, that the king's approbation of their fpeaker was merely a matter of form ; and that he could not, without giving a reafon, reje£l the fpeaker chofen. The king, on the other hand, infifted, that, fince he had the power of rejecting, he might, if he pleafed, keep the reafon in his own bread. At lafl, by way of compromife, it was agreed to fet afide both candidates ; and Gregory, a lawyer, being chofen, the election was ratified by the king. The houfe next proceeded to appoint a committee for preparing evidence againil the lords who were in the Tower, and for receiving farther information with re- gard to the confpiiacy, and the murder of Godfrey ; and they then began to prepare new articles of impeachment ajrainfl the earl of Danbv. Danby's Seymour, the fpeaker of the laft parliament, had been
impiack- deemed a great enemy toDanby, it was the influence of meiit. ji^aj- nobleman, as commonly fuppofed, which had en-
gaged the king to enter into this ill-timed controverfy writh the commons. The impeachment, therefore, of Danby was on that account the fooner revived. But the king had before-hand had the precaution to grant him a pardon; and, in order to fcreen the chancellor from all attacks by the commons, he had taken the great-feal into his own hands, and had himfelf affixed it to the parch- ment. He told the parliament, that, as Danby had adled in every thing by his orders, he was in no refpedl crimi- nal J that his pardon^ however, he would infift upon ; and if it fhould be /ound any wife defe£live in form, he would renew it again and again, until it fliould be ren- dered entirely complete : but that he was refolved to deprive him of all employments, and to reaiove him from court.
The commons were far from being fatisfied with this concefTion ; and pretended, that no pardon of the crown could be pleaded in bar of an impeachment by them* They, therefore, ftill infifled on the impeachment of Danby. The peers, in compliance with them, departed from their former fcruples, and ordered Danby to be taken into cuflody. Danby, after abfconding for a little time, furrendered himfelf, .'ind was immediately com- mitted to the Tower.
8 Charle!
Chdrles 11. 227
Charles wr.S now reduced to great perplexity. lie fjw 7U kiric his authority already difrcgarded, and ran the tifque of changes kh being difgraced by the tiifcoveries of Danby. In this (ounctU emergency he confulted fir William Temple^ who advifcd him to weaken the oppofition, by admitting the chiefsj of it into his council. Tlie king aflcnted to this expedient. The earl of ElTex, a nobleman of the popular party, was created trcafurer in the room of Danby : the earl of Sun- derland, a man of intrigue and capacity, was made fccre- tary of Hate : lord Halifax, celebrated for his genius^ learning, and eloquence, was likewife admitted into tlie council; and thefc three, with fir William Temple, were firft confulted in all aftairs of importance. 8h3ftefi)urv was declared pvefident of the council, contrary to the advice of Temple, who foretold the confequence of ad- mitting a man of fo dangerous a character into any part of the adminiftration. The event confirmed the jurtnefs of this opinion ; for Shaftelbury, finding th.it he pofl'eflird no fliare in the king's confidence, dill adhered to the popular party, over which he retained all his former in- fluence. Nor did he fail to employ all his art in keep- ing up the flame of animofity againft the king and his brother. The commons foon proceeded fo far as to vote unanimoufly, " that the duke of York's being a Papift, and the hopes of his coming to the crown, had given the higheft countenance to the prefentconfpiracics anddefigns of the Papifts againft the king and the protellant reli- gion." It was expelled, that a bill for excluding him the throne would foon be brought in. To prevent this bold meafure the king concerted fome limirations, whicli he propofed to the parliament. Thefe were of the utmoft profsfts lU importance, and deprived the fuccelTor of the chief miit>n>.is branches of royalty, ft was propofed, that, on every new "' ««y^<'/''./* , reign, the king (hould not, for a certain time, have it in '"^'•"i''"'* his power to dillolve the parliament : that in cafe of a popilh fuccefibr, tlie prince was to forfeit the right of conferring any ecclefiaitical preferments: that no mem- ber of the privy-council, no judge of the common law or in chancery, was to be put in or difpliced but by con- fent of parliament : and the fame precaution was ex- tended to the military part of government, to the lord- lieutenants anil deputy-lieurenants of the counties, and to all officers of the navy. The chancellor added, it would be difficult to conceive how th- power of a po!)ini fac- ceflbr could be more eft'ectually limited, confideiing how much his revenues would depend upon the parliament.
0^2 ' Bur,
223 The Hijlory of England.
But, if tliey could devife any thing elTe for the fecurity of religion and liberty, without deftroying the right of fuccefhon, the king would willingly affent to their pro- pofal.
So much were the commons actuated bv the cabals of Shaftefbury and other malecontents, and fuch violent anti- pathy prevailed againfl popery, ttiat thefe offers, though much more important than could reafonably have been Exdujlon- expected, were not embraced. A bill was brought in for bilU the total exclufion of the duke from the crown of Eng-
land and Ireland. It was there declared, that the fove- reignty of thefe kingdoms, upon the king's demife or re- fignation, fliould devolve to the perfon ne"t in fucceffion after the duke •, that all a6ts of royalty, which that prince Ihould afterwards perform, fhould not only be void, but be deemed treafon ; that if he fo much as entered any of thefe dominions, he fhould be deemed guilty of the fame offence ; and that all who fupported his title, fliould be punifliied as rebels and traitors. This important bill, which implied banifhment as well as exclufion, paffed the lower houfe by a majority of feventy-nine.
The next ftep of the cotnmons was to fet on foot a fevere enquiry again (l tliofe members who received pen- fions from court, and eighteen were difcovered. The {landing army and the guards weie voted illegal ; and ffabtat they brought in the bill of habeas corpus, which was paffed Corpus bill, into an a£l before the end of the feffion. By this act, M^hich is one of the great bulwarks of British liberty, it was proliibited to fend any one to a prifon beyond fea. No judge, under fevere penalties, muft refufe to any pri- foner a writ of habeas corpus, directing the jailor. to pro- duce in court the body of the prifoner, and to certify the caufe of commitiTvent.
During thefe zealous efforts for the prote<rtion of libertyj no complaifance for the crown was difcovered by this par- liament. Though the king's revenues lay under great debts and anticipations, and though he reprefentcd to them, in the mod prciling terms, the decayed Oate of the navy, they (hewed no indication of any defign to re- lieve him; and grew only the more affuming on account of his comphints and uneafinefs. Charles had for fome time enteitained thoughts of proroguing the pailiament ; but now his refolution was quickened by a hint that the commons intended to draw up a remonllrance upon the grievances of the nation, fimilar to that which was pre- feated to his father before the commencement of the
eivi]
Claris J I. 229
civil war. He, tlierefore, rcpaireil to the hnufe of peers Proro^ntion on the 27th of May, ami fending for the common^., pro- nnJ Jiff<iit- rojTUcd the parliament ro the 14th day of Augult. It was nfnoi iht foou afterwards diflolved without advice of council ; and ^"^^^"u^u. . writs were ilFucd for a new parliament.
In the latter end of Aupjuft, the king was taken ill of The d^ie of an iiitermittinjT-fcvcr at Windfor. This being ihouglit ^«;^'"'- danijerous bv the phyficians, Charles, with the privitv oi f'f"'/. '^ .
__,c> - , , ■' y TJ \T r ■ ,- ' t \COtlunJt.
Eflex, Sunderland, and Halifax, fent a courier tor the duke of York, who returned privately to England ; but before he reached Windfor, the king was recoveretl. TL-c duke of Moiu-iiouth had refigiied hinifclf to the manage- ment of Shaft:e{l)ury, and fecmed to afpire to the fuc- cefllon of the crown. He was highly favoured by the king, and idolized by the people. But the duke of York being fupported with the interefl of tlie earls of Ell'ex and Halifax, refufcd to return to the continent, until Mon- mouth was deprived of his ccmmilhon, and ordered to quit the kingdom. This great point being gained, the duke of York retired again to Druflels ; but he foon ob- tained leave to refide in Scotland, that he might have an opportunity of conciliating the afFeQions of that people, and be at hand, in cafe of his brother's deceafe.
All the king's minillers, ns well as himfelf, were ex- tremely averfc to the meeting of the new parliament, which they expe(5led to find as refractory as any of the preceding. The king, therefore, refolved to prorogue the parliament ; but not expecfling the concurrence of the council in this meafure, he only declared to his minifters the refolution which he had formed. Many of them in difgufl threw up about this time ; particularly lord RufTel, a man extremely popular, not only from the mildnefs and integrity of his charafter, but from his zealous attachment to the religion and liberties of his country. ShafteAniry was removed from the othce of prefident of the council j and the earl of Radnor fublti- tuted in his place.
It was the favour and countenance of parliament which had chiefly encouraged the rumour of plots ; but the na- tion had gotten fo much into that vein of credulity, and every necefhtous villain was fo much incited by the luc- cefs of Oates and Bedloe, that, even during the proroga- tion, the people was not allowed to remain in tranquillity. There was one Dangerfield, a man who had been burned In the hand for crimes, tranfported, whipped, pilloried four times, fined for cheats, outhurcd for felony, con-
0^3 .viCltd
230 Thi Hifioyy of England.
vlcled of coining, and expcfed to all the infamy which the laws could intliiTc on the bafefl enormities. The cre- dulity of the people, and the humour of the times enabled even this man to become a perfon of confequence. He
_, ,, , was the author of a new incident, called the Meal-tub-
Ji-jtal tub' , r 1 1 \ r 1 •
tt<,t. P'of> irom the place where iome papers relating to it
were found. The bottom of this affair it is difficult, and not very material, to difcover. It only appears, that JDangerfield, under pretence of betraying the confpiracies of the prefbyterijns, had been countenanced by fome Catholics of condition, and had even been admitted to the dcike's prefence and the king's. And that under pretence of revealing new popilh plots, he had obtained accefs to Shaftefoury and fome of the popular leaders. Which fide he intended to cheat, is uncertain, or whether he did not rather mean to cheat both : but he foon found, that the belief of the nation was more open to a popifh than to a prefbyterian plot, and he refolved to ftrike in with the prevailing humour. Though no weight could be laid on his teflimony, great clamouF was raifed ; as if the court, by way of retaliation, ha<l intended to load the prefbytcrians with the guilt of a falle confpiracy. * r> <co Great endeavours were now ufed to obtain the king's
^^ conlent tor tiie meeting of the parliament, beventeen
peers prtfented a petition to thispurpofe; and many of the corporations imitated the example. Notwithftanding leveral marks of difpleafure, and even a menacing pro- clamation from the king, petitions came from all parts, earneftly infifting on a feffion of parliament. As Charles round no law by which he could punifli thofe impor- tunate, and, as he deemed them, undutiful folicitations, he was obliged to encounter them by popular applications of a contrary tendency. "Wherever the church and court party prevailed, addrcfTes were framed, containing ex- prefiions of the highell regard to his majefty, the molt entire acquiefcence in his wifdom, the nioit dutiful fub- , niiffion to his prerogative, and the deepeft abhonence of
thofe who endeavoured to encroach upon it, by pre- fcribing to him any time for afiembling the parliament. Thus the nation became di'linguiflicd into Petitioners and Abhorrers. Befides thefe appellations, which were foon forgotten, this year is remarkable for being the epoch of iVf'igasd ihe w.ell-known epithets of Whig and Tory. The court- 'io'j' party reproached their antagonifts with their afhnity to
the fanatical conveniiclers in Scotland, who were known py the :iar?ie of Whigs. The country-party on the other
band
Charles IL ijf
Innd, compared the courtiers to tlic Irifl^i bantlitti, called Tories. From fuch beginnings were derived thofe foolifti terms of reproach, which (till ferve to diftinguifh the iaclions of Enghind, though they have ftrnn^cly varied from their original fignification.
The Whigs were headed by the earl of Shaftcfbury, who was bent upon the ruin of the duke of York, in cp- pofition to whom he efpoufcd the party of the duke of Monmouth. In order to forward his dcfign, he circu- lated a report, that the king had been actually married to Mrs. Waiters, the duke's mother ; and that the contradt of marriage was in a box, entruitcd to the care of Mr. Gilbert Gerard. The king, in a council aflembled for the purpofc, declared this rumour was falfe ; and having defired that an enquiry (hould be made after the author of I'uch llander, Giffard was fummoned to appear. This perfon declared upon oath, that he never had any fuch '^^'^ ^'"g"^ contraft in his hands, nor ever heard that any fuch writing ^^^''^^^'">^ cxifted. The king afterwards publiihed a declaration, ^^^ ^^ ^f^g that he never was married, or contracted to Mrs. Walters, jlUgitimacj mother of the duke of Monmouth, nor to any other per- <?/ Men- fon but queen Catharine. tnouth.
The king ufed every art to encourage his partlzans, and New par' to reconcile the people to his govcrmnent. Perfevering i"*'nint. in the great zeal, which he affedled againfl: popery, he ^'^j-f^'^" even allowed feveral priefts to be put to death, for no other crime than their having received orders in the Romifli church. He had fent for the duke from Scotland ; but defired him to return when the time of affembling the parliament fliould be near. As the kingdom was openly divided into two parties, Charles was not infenfible that the majority of the new houfe of commons would be engaged in interefts oppofite to the court. But that he might leave no expedient untried, which might compofe the unhappy differences among his fubjecfls, he rcfolved at laft, after a long interval, to aflemble the parliament. The king, in his fpeech to both houfes, informed tliem that he had concluded an alliance with Spain. He de- clared himfelf ready to concur with them in all reafon- able expedients for the fecurity of the protcflant reli- gion, provided the fuccefTion were preferved in its legal courfe. He exhorted them to profecute the enquiry into the confpiracy ; demanded a fupply for the fupport of Tangier, which he could not maintain without their nlhf!-- ance ; and above all things, recommended a ftri(f^ union between them and him, as the only means which could
(^4. enfure
23-2 ^f-e Hijiory of England.
cnfure the ftrength and profperity of the nation. The commons, having chofen their fpeaker, began the feffion by e.'fpelling fome of their OM^n members, who had fub- fcribed the petitions of the abhorrers. Every ftep which they took, betrayed the zeal with which they were ani- mated. They renewed the votes which had paffed againft the duke of York in the former parhament ; and it was moved, that a committee fhoulfl be appointed to bring in a bill for excluding him from the throne. This meafure, fo repugnant to the king's inclination, was fupported by many confiderable men of the party •, who, having ren- dered themfclves ii reconcilable with the duke, could en- fure their own fafety no other way but by his ruin. Monmouth's friends dill hoped, that the exclufion of that: prince would make Way for their patron •, from whom though the king had withdrawn his countenance, he was known fecretly to retain a great afl'edlion for him. On this occaGon, even the duchefs of Portfmcuth, the king's beloved miftrefs, united herfelf with the popular party, cither from lucrative views, or the hopes of making the fuccelTion fall on her own children.
The debates concerning this bill were carried on wlt^ great violence on both udes. The exclufionifts aflerted, that the king, lords, and commons of England, had a right to alter any part of the conftitution : that the lineal fucceiuon to the crown had been often fet afide ; and that fuch an expedient was never fo neceflary as at the pre- fent juncture, v/hen tlie duke's bigotry to the church of PiOmCjhis conneclions with catholic princes, and his own arbitrary difpofition, threatened the nation with the re- eflablifliment of popery, and even the extin£lion of their liberties. Thofe who oppofed the bill maintained, that the right of {ucceihon was deemed a fundamental princi- ple in all European monarchies ; and had never been fet afide but by fuccefsful ufurpation or abfolute tyranny: that it never could be altered, without expofing the king- dom to the mod violent convulfions, unlefs the whole na- tion concurred in approving the change : that a legiflature ■which deviates from a. fundamental rule of the confti- tution, fubverts the very principle from which it derives its own authority : and that, though individuals acquiefce in common laws ?na£led by a majority in parliament, it v/as far from being probable that they would (how the fame compliance, fiiould the lineal fucceflion be altered : that a powerful party would oppofe this violation of the con* ftitution j and more terrible mifchiefs enfue from fuch c>
mea*
Charles IT. ijj 'i
jncafure, thnn thofc which they imagined It would pre- vent : that ihe duke of York had lolemnly proniifcd iiis religion fhoeld never aflc6l liis public condudl i and that, if the confideratioii of his ov/n intered could not icllraiu him from any attempt to violate his engagement, yet the limitations which the king had propofcd, would eiFedtually anf'ver that purpofe. Laftly, they obfcrved, that the king was determined to rifque every thint^ rather than facrlfice the rigiit of fuccedioii ; and therefore it would be pru- dent to confider the confequences of driving their fove- rcign to extremity.
Notwithftanding tliefe arguments, the bill was carried jthpfTtifht in the houfe of commons by a great majority ; but in the hcufe of houfe of peers the king expected to oppofe it with fuc- fommon; % cefs. When it came to be debated, the contefl was -ij"/,'' violent; and the king was prefcnt the whole time, ^^''tiiglordt. was defended by Shaftefbury, ElTex, and Sunderland. The debate againll it was chiefly condudled by Halifax, who difplayed an extraordinary extent of capacity, and force of eloquence. At length the bill was thrown out by a confiderable majority. All the bilhops, except three, voted againft it.
The commons were much exafperated at this dlfap- pointment ; and immediately voted an adilrefs for the removal of Halifax from the king's councils and pre- fence for ever, on pretence of his having advifed the late prorogation of parliament. They voted, that, until the exclufion-bill was pafTed, they could not, confiftently with the t.ruil repofed in them, grant the king any fup- ply ; ^nd; to prevent his having recourfe to other me- iliods of obtaining money, they voted, that whoever fliould hereafter lend, by way of advance, any money upon any branches of the king's revenue, ihould be rc- Iponfiblc to parliament for fiich condudl. 'lh"y drew up a remondrance, in eighteen articles, reprefcnting the danger to which the nation was expofed, frcMn the lavour fhown to Papills, and inf.nuatiiig that the king- was engaged in a coafpiracy againft the proteftant reli.iion, and the liberties of his people. The king, thciefore, finding th^t there were no hopes of extorting either mo- ney or obedience from the commons, formed the refo- lution ot once more dilfolving the parliament. The com- mons, having got intelligence pf his defign, immediately proceeded, in a tumultuous manner, to pafs fome ex- traordinary votes •, which they had fcarcc uccompldhed,
when
Cxjard.
254 ^i.' Hijiory of EnglanL
A.D.i62i. wuen the uflier of the black rod fummoned tKcm to the - ■ - houfe of peers, where the king put an end to the par- >oth Jan. Jiament.
7 e (>ar- 'Y\\^ national alTembly being thus difToIved, it was con-
tH^olved, fniered as doubtful, whether the king would ever call an- other ; bat the defire he had of being fupplied with money, funrounted the fears which he might entertain of expofing hnnfelf againil the violence of parliament. As it had always been fuppofed, however, that the neigh- bourhood of London, at once both potent and fa<nious, was an improper place for aflembling a parliament that would be ftedfaft in the king's interefts, he refolved not 41 ft Mar. only to puniih the Londoners, by fliewing his fufpicions t^na far- of their loyalty, but to reward the inhabitants of C3xford, iO^^r^^^ by convoking the new parliament at that city. Accord- ingly a parliament was ordered to affemble at Oxford ; whither the members on both fides came armed and at- tended by their adherents, as if they expected an imme- diate rupture. The four London members were followed by great multitudes, wearing ribbons, in which were in- terwoven thefe words " No popery ! No flavery !" Tlie king was not behind them in the number and formidable appearance of his guards ; fo that the parliament rather bore the appearance of a military congrefs, than of a civil alTembly.
The king, who had hitherto employed the moft graci- ous txprellions to all his parliaments, thought proper to addrefs himfelf to the prefent in a more authoritative man- ner. He complained of the unwarrantable proceedings of the former houfe of commons ; and faid, that, as he never would ufe arbitrary government himfelf, neither would he ever fuffer it in others. This new affembly, liovi'ever, trod exadlly in the fteps of the lad. The com- mons, having chofen the fame fpeaker who filled the chair the lad parliament, ordered the votes to be printed every day, that the public might be acquainted with the fubjecl of their deliberations. The bill of exclufion was more fiercely urged than ever. Ernely, one of the king's minifters, propofed that the duke fhould be banifhed during life, five hundred miles from England ; and that on the kind's dem.ife the next heir fhouid be conllituted regent with regal power. Yet even this expedient, which left the duke only the bnre title of king, could not obtain the attention of the houfe. Nothing elfe than a total ex- clufion could fatisfy them.
Each
Charles L 255
Each party had now for fome time revlleJ aud ridiculed tlic otlitr in pamphlets and lihcls ; and this praclice, at lad, became produdive of an incident which merits no- tice. One Fit/harris, an Irifii papift^ dependent oi The tafe of the duchcfs of Portfmouth, iifed to fupply her with FuK.harrit, thefe occafional pubHcations. He employed one Evc- rard, a Scotchman, to write a libel againil the king and the duke of York. The Scot, who iiappencd to be a fpy for the oppofite parly, imagining this a trick to entrap him, difcovered the whole tranfadion to fir William Waller, an eminent jullice of the peace ; and to convince kim of the truth of the information, polled him, and two other perfons, privately, where they might hear the con- ference between Fitzharris and him. The libel which they had compofed was replete with the utmoft rancour and fcurrility. Waller carried the intelligence to the king, and obtained a warrant for committing Fitzharris^ who happened at that very time to have a copy of the libel in his pocket. Finding himfelf now delivered over to the law, he refolved to pay court to the popuhr party, which alone could protciSt him. He affirmed, that he had been employed by the court to write the libel, in order to throw the odium of it on the exclufionilts. The more to enhance his fervices with the country-party, lie invented a new popifh plot, more tremendous than any of the pre- ceding. He introduced the duke of York as a principal accomplice in this plot, and as a contriver of the murder of fir Edmundfbury Godfrey.
The king having imprifoned Fitzharris, and ordered him to be iiididted, the commons took him under their prote(flion, and, to prevent his trial and execution, voted again ft him an impeachment, vvliich they fcnt up to the lords. The lords rejected the impeachment ; the commons afTerted their right -, and a commotion was likely fj^g par. to enfue; when the king, to break ofl^ the contefl, wet)t to liament the houfe, and diflblved the parliament, with a fixed refo- d'JJQlved, lution never to alVemble another. He immeiiiatcly fet oft for Windfor, whence he next day repaired to London, and there publiflied a declaration, containing his reafons for dilTolving the two lalt parliaments. He taxed the com- mons with having cjicouraged a fpiiit of cabal and fcdi- tion, the objccl: of which was evidently to (hake the foun- dations of the monarchy. and ere£l a democratical tyranny upon the ruins of the conllitution.
So fudden a diiloKition of the parliament being an in- flauce of vigour which the commons had never c.xpccltd,
ic
2 56 ^he Hijlory of England.
it excited among them fuch aflonifhment as reduced thent to ablolute defpair. Their infolence and prefumption v/ere immediately fucceeded by fear and dejedlion ; and they retired quietly to their own houfes, without having concerted any meafures for their future condu6l. The court-party gathered ftrength from the difperfion of their antagotiifts, and adhered more firmly to the king, who, they now faw. had courage to protect thofc who ferved him againft the profecution of his enemies. His decla- e* rhs '^^tion was no fooner pubUfhed, than addrefles, filled, with triumphs f^^ warmefl; expreflions of duty, were brought to him •vfr all from all quarters of the kingdom. They inveighed againft ttfp'i/uion. the prefumption of the com.mons, applauded the difib- lution of the parliament, and extolled the king*s conduct in the moft abjecl flrain of adulation. Fitzharrris was^ notwithftandiiig the vote of the commons, brought to his trial, found guilty of writing the libel, and condemned as a traitor. He pretended that he had been fuborned by Bethel and Cornifli, the two fneritis of London, and Treby the recorder, to forge difcoveries about the popifh confpiracy ; and in this account, however fmall the credit that is due to a perfon fo void of principle, he perfifted even at his execution The whole gang of fpies, wit- rieiTes, informers, fuborners, who had lo long been fup- portcd and encouraged by the leading patriots, finding now that the king was entirely mafher, turned fhort upoa their old patrons, and offered their fervice to the king's minifters. The king's miniflers with a horrid fatisfa£tion "ave them countenance and encouraQfement ; fothatfooa the fame cruelties, and the fame injuftice, which had lately been praclifed againft the Catholics^ were retaliated on the prefbyteriairs.
The firfl perfcn that fell under the difpleafure of the miniftry, was one College, a London joiner, who had become extremely noted for his zeal againft popery, and was much connefted with Shaftefbury and the leadets of the country-party. He had attended the city members to Oxford, armed with fword and piflol •, and had fometimes' been heard to fpeak irreverently of the king. It w-as pre- tended that a confpiracy had been contrived to feize the king's perfcn, and detain him in confinement, untii he fhould make certain concefTion?, which were to be de- manded of him. The fherifts of London were in ftrong oppoiition to the court ; and the grand jury, named by them, rejected the bill againft College. The prifoner was therefore fent to Oxford, where the treafon was fai(^ to have been committed. A ji:ry was named, confifting
entirely
Charles IL 2^7
entirely of roy.^.llfts. The prifoner was accufcd by Dug- Trial ani dale, Turbcrville, am! others, who had pro'litutcd their txtcution confcienccs a^ainft the Catholics ; ami when ohjcclions oj ColUgt. were made to their characters, it was aiifwercd by the profecutcrs, that they were the fame pcrfcns whom the Whipjs had cheriflied and fupported as evidences in the popidi coiifpiracy. College defended himfelf with great prefen(?e of mind, and invalidated all tlieir tedinionies. The jury, however, after half an hour's deliberation, brought in a verdict againft him ; and the inhuman fpec- tators teflified their fLUisf.i^tion with a fliout of applaufc. He bore his fate with unibaken fortitude, and at the place of execution denied the crime for which he had been con- demned. ! Titus Oates, the original Informer, was the only per- j fon of that Itamp wliofc fervlces were now rcje<lled. He ; was, by an order of council, ign.ominloufly expelled from ' Whitehall, and even forbid to come within a certain di- ftance of that palace. But the king's refentment was chiefly dire6ted, and not without reafon, againft Shaftef- bury. No Aims were fpared to feek for evidence, and even to iuboni witnefTes againft this intriguing and for- midable nobleman. He was committed to prifon, and his 7'^"'' '^ indiftment was prefented to the grand jury. Shute and "^""^"-^ *'7 Pilkington, the new {herifr's of London, were cngagetl as deeply as their predecelTors in the country-party ; and they took care, on this occafion, to name a jury devoted I to the fame caufe. Witnefles were examined, who fworc 1 to fuch incredible circumitances, as niuft have invalidated i their teflimony, even if they had not been branded as per- | jured villains. Among his papers, indeed, was found a [ draught of an aflbciation, which might be conftrued into \ treafon ; but it was not in the prifoner's hand-writing, \ nor coiiid his adverfaries prove th.it he had ever commu- I nlcated this fcheme to any body, or fignified his appro- bation of it. The grand jury, tlierefore, rejected the in- J di(ftment ; and the people, who attended the liail, tefli- iied their jov by the loudeft acclimations.
The king being now refolved to humble the prefbytc- rians, the iion-conformifts were rigoroufly profecutcd, on the ftatute enaded in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Alt magiftratcs, juitices of the peace, and lieutenants of coun- ties, fufpcttcd of leaning towards republican principles, were divcfled of their employments, and their places filled with approved Tories. Tlie clergy teltified their de- votion to the court, in their writings and fcrmon'-i the
pulpits
438 T^^e Hijlory of England,
pulpits refcunded with the doclrine of pafTive obedience and non-reGftance ; and the king received a great number of addreffes, profefling tiie utmoft abhorrence of the prin- ciples avowed in tiie aflbciation which had been found among Shaftefbury's papers. A.D.i6t2. ]3m though the king's authority made every day great "~~~~~ advances, it Hill met with confiderable obllacles from the city of London, which was entirely fwayed by the mal- contents, and the fherifFs of which influenced the grand jury in fuch a manner, as fkreened from oppreffion the prefbyterians of that capital. Sir John Moor, the mayor, had been gained over to the court-intereft ; and he named for fherifFs two perfons, who he knew would be agreeable to the miniftry. The citizens, taking the alarm, infifted upon an eleftion by liveries, and Papillon and Dubois were elected by a great majority- The mayor, however, carried on a feparate poll, which lie infilled was the legal one, and declared the eledlion in favour of North and Rich, who were accordingly fvvorn in fherifFs for the en- fuing year; but it was necefFary to fend a guard of the train-bands to proteft them in entering upon their ofHce. A new mayor of the court-party was foon after chofen, by means, as is pretended, flill more violent and irregular. The king, having gained this advantage, had a profpeft of obtaining full revenge on his enemies ; and it was not long before the elFecls of thefe alterations were feen. When it was firft reported, that the duke of York intended to leave Scotland, Pilkington, at that time fherifF, a very violent man, had fald of him, '* He has already burned the city; and now he is coming to cut all our throats." For this indifcreet exprefhon the duke fued him, and he was call in damages to the amount of a hundred thoufand pounds. Sir Patience Ward, formerly mayor, who gave evidence for Pilkington, was fued for perjury, and con- demned to the pillory. A.D.1683. Charles, though at this time fecure of the maglftracy ~ of London, forefaw a flrong oppofition at the next elec-
ruttto< ^' ^'°"» '^"'^ ^^^' ^^ would be every year expofed to the fame Hruggles, not only in that city, but in all the corporations which were under prefbyterian government. He, there- fore, formed the project of ere£llng a defpotic authority over all the corporations of England ; and began with London, againfl which he ilFued a writ of ** Qu^o war- ranto" to inquire into the validity of its charter, which he pretended the corporation had forfeited in two inftances. They were charged with having impofed a toll, in order
to
Charles 11. ^39
to defray the rebuilding of tlicir niar1<ets after the fire of London ; and of having;; prefented to the king an addrefs, containing a fcandalous reile£lion upon his majcftj* and his adminlllration. The caufc was tried in the court of King's Bench, where the judges, who were entirely influenced by the miniltry, dcchircd, tiiat the city of London had forfeited its privileges; and that its charter was at the king's difpofal. Tiie judgment, however, was not re- corded until his majefty's pleafure fliould be known. Thi'i tranfaQion threw the citizens of London into great con- Ilernation. A common-council being aflembled, the ma- jority agreed to fubmit to the king's pleafure, before the ientence (liould be recorded. They accordingly prefented a petition to that efledl i and the king offered to reftore their charter on the following conditions : that no mayor, or other officer, fliould be admitted to the exercife of his office without his majefly's approbation; that if the king difapprove twice of the mayor or fheriffs elected, he may, by commiffion, appoint thefe niagiftrates ; that the mayor and court of aldermen may, with his majefty's permiffion, difplace any magiftrate ; and that no alderman, in cafe of a vacancy, fliall be elected without confent of the court of aldermen, who, if they difapprove twice of the choice^ may fill the vacancy.
Other corporations, feeing the fate of London, volun- tarily furrendered their charters into the hands of the king, whence they were not retrieved but by the payment of confiderable funis of money.
So arbitrary an adminiftration, over a people who en- tertained even the moft extravagant notions of liberty, could not fail of exciting difcontents, and producing de- fjgns againfl govenmient. The earl of iShafefbury, even before the laft parliament, had engaged the duke of Mon- mouth, with tlie lords Piuffel and Grey, to rife in arms, and oppofe the duke's fucceffion, at the death of CJiarles, who was at tliat time indifpofed. They afterwards affo- ciated with theni the earls of Effex and Salifbury, efta- blKh^d correfpondences, and planned infurre£lions, in different parts of the kingdom. The confederates de- pended chiefly on the city of London, which was devoted to Shaftclbury; who, fearing to trull himfelf in any other place, lurked among the citizens, meditating the mofl defperate fchemes tliat blafted ambition and revenge could fuggeft. It was propofed, that their friends fhould rife in arms in London, Briftol, Devonfhire, and Chefliite. But the cntcrprizc being retarded, on account of feme prcpa-
2-^0 ' The HlfiGvy of E'rigland,
rations, Shaftefbury was fo enraged at the delay, as wel' as intimidated by the authority which the king had efla- bliflied in the city, that he retired to Amfterdam, where he died roine time after. Bye-f:oufe The chiefs of the confpiracy v/ere now the duke of Mon* plot. mouth, the earl of EfTex, the lords Ruflel and Howard,
Algernon Sidney, and John Hambden, grandfon to the parliamentary leader who oppofed the tax of Ihip-money. All thefe were determined to profecute ths fcheme of in- furreclion, but differed widely from one another in their motives. Monmouth afpired to the crown; Ruflel and Hambden propofed to exclude the duke of York from the ♦ fucceflion, and redrefs the public grievances ; Sidney was
a profcffed republican ; ElTex feemed to cherifh the fame principles; and lord Howard was an abandoned noble- man, who fought only to gratify his own intereft and am- bition. There was likewife a fet of fubordinate confpira- tors, confining of colonel Rumfey, an old republican officer; lieutenant-colonel Walcot, of the fame ftamp ; Goodenough, under-flieriff of London ; Fergufon, a hot- headed, fadlious, independent minilter, w^ho had been one of Shaftefbury tools ; and feveral attorneys, mer- chants, and tradefmen of London : but of thefe none had accefs to the lords except Rumfey and Fergufon. The inferior order at their meetings embraced the mod defpe- rate refolutions. They propofed to affaffinate the king in his way to Newmarket. RCimbald, one of their number, poffefled a farm, on the road thither, called the Rye- houfe, whence the confpiracy was denominated " the Rye houfe plot." They deliberated upon flopping the king's coach, by overturning a cart in the highway at this place, and (hooting him from the hedges : but the whole was little more than loofe difcourfe, the overflowings of their zeal and rancour. The houfe in which the king lived at Newmarket taking fire accidentally, he was obliged to quit that place eight days fooner than he intended ; and to this circumftance his fafety was afterwards afcribed.
One of the confpirators, whofe name was Keiling, find- ing himfelf in danger of a profecution, for being concern- ed in arreding the mayor of London, at the fuit of Papillon and Dubois, the two excluded fheriffs, refolved to earn his pardon by difcovering this plot to the miniftry. The confpirators had got fome hint of the danger in which they were involved ; and all of them concealed themfelves.. At length, colonel Rumfey, and AVeft, a lawyer, deter*, mined to fave their own lives at the expence of their com-:
panions ^
Charles IL 8^1
lanions; and tlicy furrcndcred themfclvcs with nn Inteii- 1011 of becoiiiing evidence. Shepliard, being apprehended, onfefled all he knew ; and v/arrnnts were illued againfl: he chiefs of the confpiracy. Monmomh abfcondcd, Grey ifeaped from the meflcngcr by whom lie had been arretted, nit Ruflel was committetl to the Tower. EHex, Sidney, nid Hambdcn, with many other confpirators, were alfo rccured.
Walcot was firfl brouglit to trial, and condemned with fv/r. '//;<?« [lone and Roufe, two allbciatcs in the confpiracy, upon of the con' the evidence of Rumfcy, Well, and Shephard. At their J'firatcri. execution, they acknowleged the jullice of their fentencej a confefTion which ferved to imprefs the public with a thorough belief of tlie confpiracy, as well as a horror againft it.
The next trial was that of lord Ruflel, a nobleman uni- Trial of vcrfally efteemed for his many amiable qualities. I'lie hrd iiu/:l. witnelles produced againfl him were, Rumfev, Shephard, and lord HowartU Rumfcy fwore, that himfelf liad been introduced to the cabal at Shephard's, where K^uflel was prefent ; and had delivered them a mefTage from Sliaftef- bury, urging them to haften the intended infurreclion. But he acquitted RuiTel, as did alfo Rumfey and Weit, of being privy to the aflafllnation. . His own candour would not allow him to deny the defign in which he rc?dly was concerned ; but his own confeltion was not uifTicient to conviil him. To the fact which principally aficGed his life there was but one witnefs, and the law required two ; but the jury, after a fliort deliberation, brought in the prifoner guilty. Earrteft applications were made to the king for a pardon. Even money, to the amount of a hun- dred thoufand pounds, was offered to the duchefs of Portfmouth by the earl of Bedford, father to Ruflel. Lord. Ruflel's lady, daughter of the earl of Southampton, threw iierfelf at the king's feet, In a flood of tears, and pleaded the merits of her father in behalf of her hufband. But Charles was inexorable. He had been extremely harrafTed with the violence of the country-party ; and he had ob- ferved, that the prifoner, befide his fecrct defigns, had always been, in parliament, one of the mofl: violent op- ponents of the court. The king, therefore, would go no farther than remitting the more ignominious part of , the fentence, which the law requires to be pronounced ag.\inft traitors. " Lord Ruflxl (faid he) fhall find, that I am pofleflTed of that prerogative which, in the cafe of lord JjtafFord, he thought proper to deny me." Lady Ruflel, Vol. If. R ' Imdin^
Eis execu- tion.
Trial of
Algernon
Sidney.
242 The Hiftory of England,
finding that all fupplications were vain, took leave of her Imfband without Ihedding a tear •, while, as he parted from her, he turned to thofe about him, " Now (faid he), the bitternefs of death is over." A little before the {heriffs condu£led him to the fcaffold, he wound up his watch. *• I have now done with time (faid he), and muffc hence- forth think of eternity." The fcaffold for his execution was erecled in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. He laid his head on the block without the leaft change of countenance ; and with two llrckes it was fevered from his body.
The celebrated Algernon Sidney, fon to the earl oi
Leicelter,. was next brought to his trial. He had beer
formerly engaged in the parliamentary army againfl the lat(
king, and was even named on the high court of juftice tha
tried him, but had not taken his ferat among the judges. H<
had ever oppofed Cromwell's ufurpation, and went intc
voluntary banidiment upon the Relloration. His affairs
however, requiring his return, he applied to the king fo
a pardon, and obtained his requeft. When the f3£tions
ariilngfrom the popifli plot, began to run high, Sidney
full of enthufiaftic ideas of liberty, and of the principle
of that republican government which he adored, joines
the popular party. So obnoxious had he rendered himfel
to the court, that they even took illegal methods to pro
cure his condemnation. The only witnefs that depofei
againfl Sidney was lord Howard ; but, as the law requir
ed two, a very extraordinary expedient was put in prac
tice, to fupply this deficiency. In ranfacking the pri
foner's clofet, fome difcourfes on government were foun
in his hand-writing ; in which he maintained principle
favourable to liberty, and in themfelves no way fubverfiv
of a limjted government. By overftraining fome of theft
they vrere conftrued into treafon. In vain did Sidney a'
lege, that papers were no legal evidence ; that it could nc
be proved they were written by him j and that, if provec
the papers contained nothing criminal. His defence Wc
over-ruled : the violent and inhuman Jefferies, who wi
now chief-juftice, cafily prevailed on a partial jury t
His execu- bring the prifoner in guilty, and his execution followe
tton. foon after. He complained of the iniquity of his fentenc(
but, far from denying his connexions with Ruffel an
the other confpirators, he gloried in his fufferings for tt
good old caufe, in which, from his early youth, he ha
been enlifted.
Howard being the fole evidence againfl: Hambden, tl latter was indiifted for a mifdemeanour only, and cafl: in
fii
Charles 11,
^'43
fine of forty tlioufand pounds. Ilolloway, a mercTiant of Briftol, one of the coiifpirators, h.id fled to the Weil In- dies, and was now brought over, condemned, and exe- cuted. Sir Thomas Armftrong alfo, who had fled to Holland, was brought over, and fliared t)\e fame fate. Lord Eift'X, who had been imprifoned in the Tower, was Tn'al ca, found in an apartment with his throat cut; but whether tvfttcplie he was guilty of fuii:ide, or whether the bigotry of die of the earl times might not have induced fouie aflaffin to commit °^ ^I^'^' the crime, it is impoflTible now to determine.
This was the laft blood that was flicd for an imputation of plots and confpiraeies» which agitated the nation dur- ing the greater part of this reign ; but other modes of ven- geance were carried into execution, by the cruelty and gloomy fufpicion of the duke of York, who, fincc the diflblution of the laft parliament, daily came into power. Titus Oates, for calling him a popifli traitor, was lined a hundred thoufand pounds; and was adjudged to remain in prifon until he fhould make payment, of which he was utterly incapable. A like illegal fentence was pafl'ed upon Dutton Colt, for the fame oiTence. Sir Samuel Bar- nardiflon was fined ten thoufand pounds, for having, in fome private letters, reflecled on the government. Uf all thofe who were concerned in the late confpiracy, hardly one efcaped the feveiity of the court, except the duke of Monmouth, who yet was the moll culpable of all.
At this period, the government of Charles was as abfo- A.D.1684..
Jute as that of any monarch in Europe ; but, to gratify
his fubjeiSls by an a£l of popularity, he judged it proper Marriage to marry the lady Anne, his niece, to prince George, °y'^ '^'^y brother to the king of Denmark. About ihe fame time, t^,;,^g the duke, contrary to law, was reftorcd to the ofhce of George of high-admiral, without taking *\\q tell. Soon after thefe Denmark. events, it is fuppofed that the king began to meditate a new plan of adminidration : that he determined to fend the duke to Scotland, 10 recall Monmouth, to fummon a parliament, to difrnifs all his unpopular miniflers, and to throw himfelf entirely on the good-will and affections of his fubjeCls. Amidll thefe laudable defigns, he was A. 0.1625.
fuddenly feized with a fit, which refembled an apoplexy;
and, though he was recovered from it by bleeding, he '^^^ kin^-s languiflied only for a few days, and then expired, in ^^'^^ J'f'.i. fifty-fifth year of his age, and twenty-fifth of his reign. During his illncfs, fotne clergymen of the church of Eng- land attended him ; but he difcovered a total indifference to their devotions and exhortations. Catholic pricfts were
R 2 brought
244 ^^^^ Hijhry of England,
broiiplit to Ills bed-fide, and from their hands he received the rites of the Romifli communion. In his cabinet were found two papers, written r>-ith his own hand, and con- taining arguments in favour of that perfuafion. Thefe were foon aYtcr publiflied by James, his fucceflbr, who thereby greatly injured his own popularity, as well as the memory of his brotlier.
JAMES IL
THE firfl. acl of the duke of York, who fucceeded his brother by the title of James II. was to afTemble the privy-council \ where he made profeflions of his refolu- tion to maintain the eflabliflied government, both in church and ftate. But his conduct foon manifefted the falfhood of this declaration. All the cufloms, and the greater part of the excife, which had been voted to the late king for his life only, were levied by James, without The ling any new ad for that purpofe. He likcwlfe went openly goes openly j-q mafs, with all the enfigns of his dignity; and even io mafs. ^^^^^ Caryl to Rome, as his agent, to make fubmifTions ta He lends an the pope, and to pave the way for the re-eflablifhment of agent to jj^g catholic church in England. The pope, Innocent XI. ^'""'' prudently advifed the king not to be too precipitate in his
meafures ; and the Spanifli ambaflador ufed the freedom to make like remonftrances ; obferving to the king, howr bufy the priefts appeared at court, and advifed him againft being governed too much by the counfels of thofe men : ** Is it not the cr.ftom in Spain (ftid James) for the king to confuk with his confeflbr?" " Yes (replied the am- baiTador), and that is the reafon why our afFaiis fuccccd fo very ill."
Notwithfianding the king^s prejudices, all the chiel offices of the crown flill continued in the hands of Protell- ants. Rochefter was treafurer; his brother Clarendon, cham- berlain-, Godolphin, chamberlain to the queen; Sunderland fecretary of ftate ; and Halifax, prefident of the council The king's firfb parliament, which was mollly compofec of zealous Tories, was ftrongly biafled to comply with al the meafures of the crown. They voted unanimoufly tc fettle on the king, during life, all the revenue enjoyed b; his predeceflbr until the time of his deceafe. , For this ta vo'jr, James allured them of his refolution to fecure then in the full enjoyment of their laws ; but no anfwer coul fce extorted from him with regard to religion.
8 T
'James II. 245
To pave the way for his intended converfion of the titigiicm, it was tliought necefTary to umieceive his fub- jecls ill what related to the late rumour of a popifli plot ; and Gates, the contriver, was the firfl object of royal in- dignation. He was tried for perjury, on two indidments : Q^tes eon one, for fwearing that he was prefent at a confultation of vtBedof Jefuits, in London, the 24th of April, 1679; and \\\Kt P^'j^ry. other, for fwearing that fatlicr Ireland was in London on the beginning of September of the fame year. On the former indictment, lie was convl£led on the evidence of twenty-two perfons; atul on the latter, of twcnty-fevcn. His fentencc was, to be fined a thoufand marks on each indiiftment : to be whipped, on two different days, from Aldgate to Newgate, and from Newgate to Tyburn ; to be imprifoned during Hfe ; and to be pilloried five times every year. Though the whipping was fo fevere, that it was evidently the intention of the court to put him to <leath by that punifliment, yet Gates furvived it all, and lived to king William's reign, when he had a penfion of four hundred pounds a-year fettled on him. Thus Oates remains a (lain upon the times, in every part of his hiftory.
Monmouth, who had been, finee his lad confpiracy, pardoned, but ordered to depart the kingdom, had retired to Holland ; where, as it was known that he (till enjoyed the favour of his indulgent father, great marks of dillinc- tion were bellowed upon him by the prince of Orange. But after the acceffion of James, the prince thought it \\z- ceflary to difmifs Monmouth, who, therefore, retired to Bruflels. Finding himlclf Hill purfued by the king's feve- rlty, he rcfoived, more in confecjuence of the importunity of his followers than of his own judgment or inclination, to make an attempt upon the kingdom. He accordingly landed at Lyme, in Dorfetfhire, with fcarce a hundred Mon- followers. But fo popular was his name, and fo great mouth's ;«• was the avcrlion of the people both to the perfon and '^^fi'^"' religion of James, that, jn four days, he had aflcmblcd above two thoufand men. They were, indeed, almod all of them tlie lowed of the people ; and the declaration whicli he publifhed was fuited entirely to their prejudices. Jle called the king, duke of York ; and denominated him, a traitor, a tyrant, an a{]aihn, and a popifli ufurpcr. He imputed to him the fire of London, the murder of Godfrey and of EiTcx, and eyen the poiloning the late king.
R 3 The
2^6 ' The Hijiory of England.
- Tlie parliaiiient, which was then fitting, was no fooner informed of Monmouth's landhig than they prefented to the kiiig an addrefs, affuring him of their loyalty, zeal, and affillance. The duke of Albemarle, fon to him who reftored the royal family, ail'embled the militia of Devon- Ihire, to the number of four thoufand men, and advanced, in order to oppofe the rebels; but, finding his troops difafFecled to the king, he foon after retreated with preci- pitation. Meanwhile, the duke advanced to Taunton, where he was reinforced by confiderablc numbers. Here twenty young rhaids, of fome rank, prefented Monmouth with a pair of colours, their own handy-work, and a copy J^e ajjitmss of the Bible, He was perfuaded to afflime the title of thi title oj king, and was proclaimed with great folemnity. His kiKg. numbers had now increafed to fix thoufand men; and he
was obliged, every day, for want of arms, to difmifs a great many who crowded to his ftandard. He entered Bridgewater, Wells, and Frome, in all which places he was proclaimed ; but he wafted, in receiving thefe empty honours, the time which he ought to have vigoroufly em- ployed in a6l.ion. The king called over from Holland fix regiments of BrltiOi troops ; the army was confiderably augmented ; and regular forces, to the number of three thcufand men, were difpatched under the command of Feverfliam and Churchill, in order to check the progrefs of the rebels. They took poft at Sedgemore, a village ia the neighbourhood of Bridgewater, and were joined by the militia of the country in confiderable numbers. Mon- mouth, finding that he was not joined by any man of rank or infiaence ; learning alfo, that an infurreclion, which was projected in the capital, had not taken place, and that Argyle, his confederate, was already defeated, and made prifoner ; funk into fuch defpondency, that he had once refolved to withdraw him.felf, and leave his unhappy fol- lowers to their fate. At laft, however, he affumed the refolution to make a defperate effort. The negligent dif- pofition made by Feverfliam invited him to the attack ; and his faithful followers tried what courage and principle could perform againft difcipline and fuperior numbers. They drove the royal infantry from their ground, and feemed upon the point of gaining the vi£lory, when the mifcondu61: of Monmouth, and cowardice of lord Gray, who commanded the horfe, proved fatal to the enterprife^ Gray fled at the firft onfet ; and, after a combat of three ^iQiirs, the rebels being charged in flank bv the royaj
James 11. 247
nrmy, gave way, and were followed with great flauplitcr. Monmouth About Ilfteen hundred were killed in tlie battle and pur- ^^ detcatiJf fuit ; and thus ended an enterjirlfe, no lefs ralhly begun tlian feebly conducted.
INIonmoutli fled from the field of battle above twenty miles, until his horfe funk under Jiim. In order to con- ceal himfelf, he changed cloaths with a peafant, wlio be- ing tlifcovcred by the purfuers, they now redoubled the diligence of their fcaich. At lad, the unhappy Mon- mouth was found lying in the bottom of a ditch, and and taken, covered with fern. When feized by his enemies, he burft into tears, and implored for life. He wrote to tlie king the moft fubmiiilve and penitential letters, conjuring him to fpare the iiTue of a brother, who had ever been fo ftrongly attached to his interefts. James admitted him to an audience, in liopes of extorting a dif- covery of liis accomplices. At this interview, the duke fell upon his knees, and begged for his life in the molh abjeft terms ; but the ftern tyrant ailured him,, that his crime was of fuch a nature as could not be pardoned. The duke now, finding that he had nothing to hope from the clemency of his uncle, affumed cournge from del'pair, and prepared himfelf for deatli with a fpirit better fuited to his rank and chara£lcr. On his way to the fcaflbld, tl:e Jn'y 15. populace manifefted their compafFion by a plentiful effu- ^y ^xciw fion of teai-3. He warned the executioner not to fall into ^"'*' the error which he had committed in belieading RuflTel, where it had been necefiary to repeat the blow. But this precaution ferved only to 'throw the executioner into a trepidation. When the duke l.iid down his liead, aild made the fignal, the man ftruck three times inefleflually, and then threw down the axe; but the fherifF compelled him to refume the work; and, at two blows more, the head was fevered from the boJy. Thus pcrifhed, in the thirty-fixth year of his nge, James, duke of Monmouth, the darling of the Englifli people. He was brave, fincere, and good-natured, open to flattery, and thereby feduced into an enterprize which exceeded his capacity.
But the vengeance of the kini^ was ftill unfatisfied by Cruelly af tliis atonement. His ofiicers afted with the mofl favage (ol""'^ inhumanity towards thole who were made prifoners at ''' ^' Sedgmore. Feverfluim ordered above twenty to be hanged immediately after tiie action. Nineteen were put to death in the fame manner at Biidgewater, by colonel Kirke, a brutal foldier, who had long ferved at Tangiers. As if £0 make fport with death, he ordered a certain number to
1\ 4 be
2^2 The Hifiory of En^lani^,.
be executed, while he and his company (l^ould drink the king's health. Obferving their feet to fliake in the ago- nies of deatli, he faid they fnould have niufic to their dancing, and ordered the trumpets to found. All the in- habitants of that country, innocent as well as guilty, were expofed to the capricious cruelty of this barbarian. His own regiment, which was diflinguifticd for its outrages, he ufed, by way of pleafaniry, to call his Lambs ; an ap- pellation long remembered with hoiror in the Weft of England. enijudre ^^^^^ thefc military outrages were ftill inferior to the Jijfirus. \Qg^\ {laughters committed by judge JefFeries, who was font down to try the delinquents. This man, who wan- toned in cruelty, had already given a fpecimcn of his cha- racler in many trials where he preiuled. The natural brutality of his temper was inflamed by continual intoxir cation. He told the prifoners, that, if they would fave him the trouble of trying them, they might expecl fome favour; otherwife he would execute tlie law upon them with the uimoft feverity. Many poor wretches were thus feduced into a confefTion, which ferved only to haften their ruin. No lefs than eighty were executed at Dor- chefter. He afterwards opened his commilhon at Exeter, Taunton, and Wells; and whither foever he proceeded, he carried confternation along with him. The juries were ib intirnidatcd by his menaces, that they gave their verdi£t with precipitation ; and many innocent perfons, it is faid, were involved with the guilty. And on the whole, befide thofc who were butchered by the military commanders,, two hundred and fifty-one are computed to have fallen by the hand cff jullice. Women were not exempted from the general feverity, but fuftered for harbouring their neareft kindred. Lady Lifie, though the widow of one of the regicides, was herfelf a loyalifh. She was profecuted for havii:g flieltered in her houfe tv.-o fugitives from the battle of Sedgemore. This aged prifoner proved, that (he was ignorant of their crime when fhe had given them pro- tettion ; and the jury feem.ed inclined to compalTion. They twice brought in a favourable verdift; but they were as often fent back by JefFeries, with menaces and re- proaches, and at laft were conftrained to give a verdift againft the prifoner.
But the fate of Mrs. Gaunt was yet more terrible. She was an anabnptifi, noted for her beneficence, which {he had extended to perfons of all perfuafions. One of the rebels, knowing her humane charader, had recourfe to
James IL 249
lier in his tViftK;rs, and was concealed by her. Tlie aban- doned villain, liearing tliat an indemnity and reward um3 olTercd to Tuch as informed againlt criminals, came in, and betrayed his protcQrefs He was pardoned for his treachery, and fhc burnt alive for her benevolence.
Goodenough, the feditious under-flierifF of London, who had been engaged in the moil criminal part of the Kye-houfc confpirncy, was made prifoner after the battle of Sedgemorc, and rcfolved to fave his own life, by acciif- ing Cornifh, the Ihcriif, whom he knew to be extremely obnoxious to the court. The profecution was carried on ■with fuch precipitation, that the prifoner was tried, con- demned, and executed, in the fpace of a week. After his •leath, the perjury of the witnefies appeared fo flagrant, that even th'c; king exprefTed fome regret, granted his edate to the family, and condemned the witnefles to perpetual imprifonnient. Jefferies, on his return, was immediately created a peer^ and was foon after vefted with the dignity of chancellor.
The government of James was now fo profperous, that Nov 9. he began to undervalue even an Englifli parliament, at all Aparlm- times formidable to his family. In his fpeech to that '"'*"• which he had aflembled early in the winter, he feemed to think himfelf exempted from all rules of prudence, c>i' ne- celfity of diinmulation. He told the two houfes, that the militia was found by experience to be of no ufe ; and he required a new fupply, in order to maintain the forces which he had levied to augment the Handing army. He alfo informed them, that he had employed a great many catholic oflicers, in whofe favour he had difpenfed with the law, which required the tell to be taken by every one that held any public office. He found them ufeful, he faid, and was determined to keep them in employment.
When this fpeech was taken into confideration by the commons, many feverc refle£lions were thrown out againll the prefent mcafures ; and the houfe was with feeming difficulty engaged to promife in a general vote, that they would grant fome fupply. But inltead of finlfliing tha? bufinefs, they proceeded to examine the difpenfing power; and they voteil an addrefs to the king againft it. Before this addrefs w:is prefented, they refumed the confideration of the fupply ; and, as one million two hundred thoufiind pounds weie demanded by the court, and two hundred thouf.ind propofed by the country-party, a middle courfc was taken, and feven hundred thoufand, after fome dif- pute, were at laft voted. The addrefs agaiufl t|ie difpejif-
ing
250 The Hijlory of England.
ing power was exprefltd in the mod refpe£lful and fub- miilive terms ; but was, neverthelefs, ill received by the king, whofe anfwer contained a flat denial, uttered with great warmth and vehemence. The commons were fo daunted with this reply, that they kept filence a Jong time \ and when Coke, member for Derby, rofe up and faid, *' I hope we are all EngliHimen, and not to be fright- ened with a few hard words ;" fo httle fpirit appeared in the affembly, that they fent him to the Tower for thefe ex- Theparlla- preffions. The kine, in a few days, prorogued the parlia- ment dij- ment, which, after fome other prorogations, was at length fol'ved. diflblved.
A.D.16S6. The parliament being difmifTed, the next ftep was to ■ *' fecure a catholic intereft in the privy-council. Accord-
ingly, four catholic lords were admitted ; Powis, Arun- del, Bellafis, and Dover. The king made no fecret of his defires to have his courtiers converted to his own religion. Sunderland, who faw that the only way to preferment was by popery, made no hefitation to gain the royal favour at that price. Rochefter, the treafurer, was difplaced, be- caufe he refufed to conform. In thefe fchemes, James was entirely governed by the counfels of the queen, and of his confeflbr, father Peters, a Jefuit, whom he foon after created a privy counfellor. Even in Ireland, where the duke of Ormond had long fupported the royal caufe, this nobleman, on account of being a proteftant, was fuper- fedcd by the lord Tyrconnel, a violent partizan of the Romifii church. Breach The extraordinary favour {hown by James to the Catho-
betn-van lies, could not fail to excite the indignation of the clergy the king pj- |.|^g church of England ; a body which had hitherto fup- *r 'a* ported th'c king agninft his republican enemies, and to the affi [lance of which he was chiefly indebted for his crown. The pulpits now began to thunder out againfl popery ; and the more that James attempted to impofe filence on thefe topics, the more vehement were the proteftant preachers in their controverfial declamations. Among thofe who diflinguiflied themfelves on this occafion, was one Dr. Sharpe, a clergyman of London, who inveighed with great feverity againft thofe who had changed their religion. This conduct gave great offence at court ; and pofitive orders were iiTued to the bifhop of London to fil- fpend Sharpe until his majefby's pleafure fhould be farther known. The bifhop refufed to comply j .and the king re- folved to punifli him for his difobedience, by an expedient equally illegal and alarming. To effect his defigns, he
determined
James If, 251
tletermined to revive the liigh-commlfTioii court, which had been aboliflied by n(fl of pailiamcnt in the time of his (-"wfo' father. An ecclefiaftical commifnon, therefore, was ifTued, '<^ kl- fi*- by which it-^tw commifTioners were invefled with unli- ,„.nj^„_ initcd authority over the whole chuicli of England. Be- fore tliis tribunal the billiop was fummoned ; and both he '^'" °'P'P and Sharpe were fufpended from the exercife of (heir cle- y, fu/iid. rical funclion. ed.
James, findins^ hlmfclf dcferted by the church-party, Declnr- afieiled to carefs the prelhyterians ; and with this view, at.onfor he afl'umcd the power of ifl'uing; a declaration of general ^-^er'.y of indulgence, and of fufpending at once all the penal fla- """J^'^"^'' tutcfi, by which a conformity was required to the efta- blilhed religion. But the king's intentions were fo obvi- ons, that it was impoinble for him ever to gain tiie con- fidence of the nonconformifts. They were fenfible, that both the violence of his temper, and the maxims of his religion, were repugnant to the principles of toleration. They dilTembied, however, their diftruft for feme time; and the king went on fdently applauding himfclf for the fuccefs of his fchemes.
But the manner of condu£linp; his fcheme in Scotland, A.D. lesj.
was fufficient to difcover the fecret. He there ordered —
his parliament to grant a toleration to the Catholics only, T^^^'"? without ever attempting to intercede for the diffenterb, •'''"/ f" _ who were much more numerous. Not content with this ^g tL,j„if, flagrant declaration of his partiality, he publicly fent the earl of Cafllemaine, aniballador extraordinary to Rome, in order to exprefs his obedience to the pope, and to re- concile his kingdom to the catholic communion. Never was an ambaOaJor, on fo important an errand, treated with luch marks of difrefpedl. The pope, indeed of be- ing pleafed with this precipitate meufure, conclude*!, that ii fcheme, condudled with fo much indifcretion, could never prove fuccefsful. The cardinals were even heard facetioufly to declare, that the king fliouid be excom- municated, for thus emleavourinc to overturn the fmall remains of popery that yet fubfifted in England. The only proof of complaifance, wliich J.^mes received from the pontiff, was his fending to England a nuncio, in re- 1hepoP'"s turn for the embafPy. By adl of parliament, any com- »««<•/» it munication with the pope was made treafon ; but fo little ^^'"'^f'^ regard did the king pay to the law, that he gave the nun- '^ '«<{/•'''• cio a public reception at Windfor ; and this envoy re- fided openly in London during the fubfequcnt part of the pr^fent reign.
2^2 The Wftory of England.
But thefe tranfa6lions were only a prelude to the in- novations which James had projected. The Jefuits were foon after permitted to e reel colleges in different parts of t\\G kingdom. They exerciled the catholic worlhip iit the moil: public manner; and four catholic bifhops, con- fecrated in the king's chapel, were lent through the king- dom to exerciie their epifcopal functions, under the tU tie of apoftolic vicars. Their paftoral letters were printe4 by the king's printer, and diftributed through all parts of the kingdom. The monks appeared at court in the habits of their refpe£tive orders ; and a great number of priefts and friars ariived from abroad. Nothing now remained but to open the door of the church and the univerlities to the intrufion of the Catholics, and this effort was fooa after begun.
Father Francis, a Benedi£line monk, was recommerrdetl by the king's mandate to the univerfity of Cambridge for the degree of mafter of arts. They perceived all the dan- gerous confequences of fuch an admiffion, and therefore prefented a petition, befeeching the king to revoke his mandate. But James, fo far from complying with their requeil, would not even admit their deputies to his pre- fence. The vice-chancellor was fummoned to appear be-« fore the high-commiflion court, and deprived of his of- fice. The univerfity however perfifted, and the father was refufed. The king, thus foiled, thought proper at that time to drop his pretenfions ; but he carried on his at- tempts upon the univerfity of Oxford with greater vigour. Th'hm '^hc place of prefident of Magdalen-college, one of the
frniecuta yicheft foundations in Europe, being vacant, the king fent Magdalen- a mandate in favour of one Farmer, a new convert to the % fr^-f' catholic religion, and likewif^ a man of a bad chara£ler. ■^"" ' The fellows of the college made very fubmilFive applica- tions to the king for recalling his mandate ; but before they received an anfwer, the day came, on which, by their ftatutes, they were obliged to proceed to an t;le6lion. They therefore chofe Dr. Hough, a man of learning, vir- tue, and refolution. The king was incenfed at the dif- j'egard which they had iliewn to his authority ; and in or- der to puniHi the college, an inferior ecclefiaftical court was fent down, which, finding Farmer a man of fcandal- ous chara6ler, iflued a mandate for a new election. The perfon now recommended by the king, was Dr. Parker, lately created bifhop of Oxfordj a man of proftitute cha- racter, but who atoned for all his vices, by his willingnefs to embrace the catholic religion. The fellows refufed to
comply
yams II. i$i
comply wiih this Injundlion; and tlieir condu^ fo In- cenlcd the king, that he repaired in pcrfon ro Oxfcjrd, and ordered them to he brought before him. He reproached thcin wiili their difobcdicnce in the molt imperious terms; and commanded them to ehoofc Parker without delay. The college rcprefcnted, that, havin}^ already made a re- gular eleOion of a prefideiit, they could not deprive him of his office, and, during his life-time, fubllitute any other in his place : that, even if there were a vacancy, Parker, by the Itatutcs of their founder, could not be chofen : that they had all of them bound thcnifclves by- oath to obferve thofc (latutes ; and never on any account to accept of a difpenfation. They farther reprefentcd, that the college liad at all times fo much diflinguifiied it- felf by its loyalty, that nothing but invincible necefTity could no\v induce them to oppofe his mjjcdy's inclina- tions. All thicfe reafons availed them nothing. The pre- fident and all the fellows, except two who complied, were expelled the college ; and Parker was put in pofredion of the office. The college was Immediately fiiled with Ca- tholics ; and Charnock, one of the two that remained, was made vice-prefidcnt.
This flagrant violation of the laws and religion of the A.D tCfi. kingdom proved one of the moft unpopular acts of James's ■■— «
l^eign ; but notwitliftanding the general ahirm wliich it fpread over the nation, he proceeded to violate, without referve, the moft facred ecciefiaftical and civil privileges of the people. A fecond declatation of liberty of con- fclence was publifbiCd, almoft in the fame terms with the former ; but with this peculiar injunction, that all divines {hould read it after fcrvice in their churches. The clergy were known urtiverfally to difapprove of the fufpcniling power ; and they were now refolved to dlfobey an order dictated by the motl bigotted motives. In order to en- six hijho^s courage them in this refolution, fix prelates, namely, prefent a Lloyd, bifhop of St. Afaph, Ken, of Bath and Wells, M'"" '» Turner, of Ely, Lake, of Chichefter, White, of Peterbo- ^'''^ W- rough, and Trelav;ny, of Briftol, met privately with San- croft the primate, and concerted the form of a petition to the king. With the warmefl exprefhons of zeal and fub- miiTion, they remonfirated, that they could not read his declaration confiRcntly with honour or conlcie.ice, and therefore befought his majefly to excufe them. This mo- deft addrefs only ferved the more to inflame the king's rc- fentmcnt. He immediately formed a refolution of punifh- ing the bilhops; and as the petition had been delivered
him
2 54
They nre committed to the 7(i -wcr.
TJje Hi/lory of 'England.
him in private, he fummoned them before the councHy and queftioned them whether they would acknowlege it. The bifhops, perceiA'ing his intention, dechned for fome time giving an anfwer j but being urged by the chancellor, they at laft avowed the petition. On their refufing to give bail, an order was immediately iffued for their commit- ment to the Tower ; and the crown lawyers received in- llructions to profecute them for a feditious libel.
The king gave orders that they fhould be conveyed to the Tower by water, as the whole city was in commoiioit in their favour. No fooner was this meafure publicly known, than the river-fide was lined with an incredible multitude of fpe£Vators. As the reverend prifoners pafTed,. the people kneeled in veneration, craving their bleffing, calling upon heaven to proretl them, and encouraging them to fuffer nobly in the caufe of religion. The bifljops were not wanting;, by their modeft and humble deport- ment, to increafe the attachment of the fpe£lators ; whom they exhorted to fear God, honour the king, and maintain their loyalty. The very foldiers, by whom they were guarded, kneeled down before them, and implored their forgivenefs. Upon landing, the bifliops immediately went to the Tower-chapel, to render thanks for thofe affiiclions which they fuffered in the caufe of truth. *Their trial The 29th day of June was fixed for their trial ; and and ac- their return was yet more fplendidly attended than their imprifonmcnt. Twenty- nine peers, a great number of gentlemen, and an irnmenfe crowd of the populace, wait- ed upon them to Weftminfler-hall. The difpute was learnedly argued by the lawyers on both fides. Two of the judges, though their feats were held during pleafure, declared in favour of the biiliops. The jury withdrew into a chamber, where they pafied the whole night ; but next morning they returned into court, and gave their verdict, Not guilty. Immediately the hall refounded with loud acclamations, which were communicated to the whole extent of the city. They even reached the camp at Hounflow, where the king was at dinner in Jord Fe- verfliam's tent. His majelly demanding the caufe of thofe rejoicings, and being informed that it was nothing but the foldiers (houting at the delivery of the bifliops, " Call you that nothing !" cried he ; •' but fo much the worfe for them."
The king, though he knew that all orders of men, ex- cept a handful of Catholics, were difcontented, and even enraged at his meafures, was determined to proceed with
unremitting
^m
tuL
Jatncs 11. 25^
unremitting violence in the profccut'ion of them. lie dif- placed two of the judges, Powel and Holioway, who had appeared to favour the bifliops. He iflued orderi to pro- fecute all thofe clergymen who had not read his declara- tion, and all had refufed it, except two hundred. He fent a mandate to the new fellows, whom he had ob- truded on Magdalen-college, to eled; for prcfident, in the room of Parker, lately dceeafed, one Giflbrd, a doctor of the Sorbonne, and titular bifliop of Madura.
A few days before the acquittal of the bifliops, the queen June 10. was delivered of a fon, who was baptized by the name of ^'"^'^ <>f James. This event was highly agreeable to the Catholics, ^''^nT^' but inereafed the difguft: of the Proteftants, by depriving them of that pleafing, though not immediate profpedl, of the fucceflion of the prince of Orange to the crown. Ca- lumny even went fo far as to afcribe to the king the de- (ign of impofing on the world a fuppofititious child, who might be educated in his principles, and after his death fupport the catholic religion in his dominions. The pre- fent occafion was not the firlt, when that calumny has been invented. In the year 1682, the queen, then duchefs of York, had been pregnant ; and rumours were fpread that an impollure would at that time be obtruded upon the nation : but the infant proving a female, the party was thereby fpared the trouble of fupporting their improba- ble ficlion.
The fleet and the army, as well as the people, betrayed every day the mofl evident fymptoms of difcontent. The fleet had begun to mutiny, becaufe Stricland, the admiral, a Roman Catholic, introduced the mafs a-board his fliip, and difmifl'ed the proteflant chaplain. The king had in- tended to augment his army with Irifli recruits, and he refolved to try the experiment on the regiment of the duke of Berwick, his natural fon ; but Beaumont, the lieutenant- colonel, refufed to admit them ; and to this oppofition five captains llcadily adherod. Tlicy were all cafhiered ; and had not the difcontents of the army on this occafion become very manifeft, it was refolved to have puniflied thofe of- ficers for mutiny. The king, however, made a trial of the difpofitioiis of the army, in a manner Hill lefs dif- guifed. His intention was to engage all the regiments, one afier another, to give their con fent to the repeal of the teft and penal flatutes. Accordingly, one of them was drawn up in prefcnee of the king by its major, who defired that fuch of the foldiers as were againlt the laic declaration of liberty of confcience, fliould lay down their 7 aims.
2«f6 The H'flory of England. '
arms. James was furprlfed to find, that, two cnptain^ aiid a few popifti foldiers excepted, the whole battalion grounded their arms.
The prince of Orange, ever fince his marriage wltii lady Mary, had made it a rniaxim to concern himfelf little "with Englifli affairs, and never by any incafure to difguft any of the factions, or give umbrage to the prince who filled che throne. How little foever he might approve of James's adminldration, he alviays kept a total filence on the fubjccl, and gave no countenance to thofe difcontents, which were fo induftrioufly propagated throughout the ration. It was from the application of James himifelf, that the prince firfl openly took any part in jEnglifli affairs. Notwithflanding the lofty ideas which the king enter- tained of his prerogative, he found that the edicts which he emitted Hill wanted much of the authority of laws, and that the ccndnuance of them might in the ilTue be- come dangerous,both to himfelf and to theCathoIics,whom he defired to favour. An a£l of parliament alone could enfurc the indulgence or toleration, which lie had la- boured to eftablifh ; and he hoped, that, if tlie prince "Would declare in favour of that fcheme, the members, who had hitlierto refilled all his own applications, would at laft be prevailed with to adopt it. Ihe cotifent, there- fore, of the prince to the repeal of the penal ftatutes and of the tefl: vi-as ftrongly folicited by the king ; and in or- der to engage his concurrence, hopes were given hirhj that England would fecond him in all thofe enterprizes, which he had planned on the continent. TolhicaX ^"^ ^^^ prince of Orange was too politic to accede to
€ondu£i cf Jamcs's propofals, a concurrence with which would draw the prince upon himfelf all the odium that had already been expeH- 6j Orange* enced by the king. He would, therefore, go no farther than to promife his confent to the repeal of the penal fta- tutes, by which the nonconformifls as well as the Catho- lics were expofed to puniflimenr. He even began fecretly to foment the difcontents in England. For this purpofe, he gave inftruclions to Dykevelr, his envoy, to apply in bis name to every feet and denomination in the kingdom. To the church -party he fent aflurances of favour and re- gard ; and proteUed that his education in Holland had no ways prejudiced liim againil epifcopacy. To the non- conformilts he fent exhortations not to be deceived by the infidious carefles of their known enemy j but to wait for the good offices of a fincere and zealous proteQor. Dyke- velt executed his commiflion with fuch dexterity, that all
orders
^amci IL 257
Orilers of men caH: their eyes towards Holland, and ct- pe6led thence a deliverance from thofc dangers, with which their religion and liberty were fo ftrongly threat- ened.
Many of the nTofl confiderable perfons in the kinpjdom Thf prime made fccret applications to Dykevelt, and throup;h him to of Orange the prince of Orange. Adiniral Herbert, and admiral ""/'f''''^ Ruflel, afTiircd him in perfon of their own and the na- 'i ^/^' tional attachment. Henry Sidney, brother to Algernon, and uncle to the earl of Sunderland, went over under pre- tence of drinking the waters at Spa^ and conveyed tlill flronger affurantcs of a univerfal combin^ition acjninil the irieafurcs of the king. Lord Dumblaine, fon of the earl of Danby, being mafter of a frigate, made feveral voyages to Holland, and carried from many of the nobility tenders of duty, and even confiderable iums of money to the prince of Orange *. Isoon after the biihop of London, the earls of Danby, Nottingham, Devonlhire, and Dor- fet, with feveral other lords, gentlemen, and principal ci* tizens, united inaddrefTes to him, and intreated his fpeedy defcent.
The people of England, though long divided between Tfi* Whig and Tory, were unanimous in their meafures againft prt»ee^s the king; and William therefore determined to accept of P^jPara- the invitations that were offered him. The time at which ''""''* he entered upon his enterprize, was juft when the nation was in a ferment on account of the imprifonment of the bifhops. He had previoufly matle confiderable augmenta- tions to the Dutch fleet, and the (liips were then lyin^r ready in the harbour. Some additional troops were alfo levied, and fums of money, which had been raifed for Other purpofes, were applied to the advancem.ent of this expedition. The Dutch had always repofed an entire con- fidence in him ; and many of the neighbouring princes regarded him as their guardian and protestor. He was fure of the protection of his native government, while he fhould be employed in E"ngland ; and the troops of fome of the German powers were aclually marched down to Holland for that purpofe. Every place was in motion. All Europe expelled the defcent, except the unfortunate James himfelf, who, fecure in the piety of his intentions, thought nothing could injure his fchemcs calculated tp promote the caufe of heaven.
» D'Avnux, i4.th and ^4^1 of September, 8th and 15th of Oc- tober, 16SS.
Vol. IL S Th?
253
The French Jting offers "Jomei Ins aj/ijiance, but he rtjgdi it.
The hin^
rfceTves
ititilligence
ef an in-
'vajion.
He a
alarmed.
He takes fomejleps for the la- tisfa^ion •/ the people.
'The Hifiory of England,
The king of France was the firfl; who apprized hlnn o^ his danger, and offered to alTift him in repelling it. He was willing to join a fquadron of French (hips to the Eng- li{h fleet ; and to fend over any number of troops, which James (hould think requifite for his fecurity. James, however, could not be convinced that his fon-in-law in- tended an invafion. Fully perfuaded himfelf of the fa- crednefs of his authority, he imagined that a like belief pofl'efTcd the minds of his fabje£ls. He therefore declined the French king's propofal, unwilling perhaps to call in foreign aid, when he had at home an army which he thought fufltcient. When this ofler was rejeiled, Lewis again offered to march down his numerous army to the frontiers of the Dutch provinces, and thus to detain their forces at ho-m^ for their own proteftion. But this pro- pofal met with no better reception. Lewis, however, flill unwilling to abandon a friend and ally, whofe intereft he regarded as clofcly connected with his own, remonftrated •with the Dutch againfh the preparations which they were making to invade England. The Dutch confidered this remonftrance as an officious impertinence, and even James hardly viewed it in any better light.
James, having thtis rejected the affiflance of his friends, was aftoniflied with advice from his minifter in Holland, that an invafion was not only projedled, but avowed. When he firil reatl the letter containing this information, he grew pale, and the letter dropt from his hand. He now perceived the extreme danger of his fituation, and knew not by what means it was pofTible to extricate him- felf. His only refource was in retreating from thofe im- prudent meafnres, by which he had created himfelf fo many enemies, at home and abroad* He paid court to the Dutch, and offered to enter into any alliance with them for common fecurity. He replaced in all the coun- ties the deputy-lieutenants and juflices, who had been de- prived of their commiffions for their adherence to the tefl and the penal laws : he reftored the charters of Lon- don, and of all the corporations : he annulled the court of ecclefialtical commiffion : he removed the bifhop of London's fufpenfion : he re-inflated the expelled prefident and fellows of Magdalen-college; and he- was even re- duced to carefs the bifhops, whom he had fo lately perfe- cuted and infulted. But all his concelfions were now too late, and vi-ere regarded only as the effefls of fear. The bifhops, inftead of fuggefting comfort, recapitulated to him all the inflanccs of liis mal-admiiiiitration. Intelli- gence
J ante i 11. 259
gehcc having arrived of a great difafter, which liad be- fallen the Dutcii fleet, it is commonly believed, that he recalled tliofe conceihons which he had made in favour of Magdalen-college \ and, to fliew his attachment to the Roinifh church, ut the baptifm of the young prince, he appointed the pope one of the fponfors.
Meanwhile, the prince of Orange's declaration was in- Prince of dufl:iiouf]y difperfed over the kingdom. In this he enu- Oronye's inerated all the grievances of which the nation complain- ^*'^''"<'- cd. He promifed his ainilance in redrefhng them ; he aflirmcd, that his only purpofe was to procure the people a lading fettiement of their liberty and religion -, and that lie had no otlier motive for coming over, but to learn the icnin. of the nation in a full and free parliament.
So well concerted were the prince's meafurcs, that, in The prinn three days, above four hundred tranfports were hired, embarks. The army quickly fell down the rivers and canals from Nimeguen, with all neceflary ftores ; and the prince fet fail from Helvoet-Sluys, with a fleet of near five hundred veflels, and an army of above fourteen thoufand men. He firfl encountered a ftorm, which drove him back ; but his lofs being foon repaired, he again put to fea under the command of admiral Herbert, and made fail with a fair wind towards the Weft of England. The fame wind de- tained the king's fleet in its ftation near Harwich, and enabled the Dutch to pafs the ftreights of Dover without oppofition ; fo that, after a voyage of two days, the prince jjgv. j. landed his army at the viihge of Broxholme, in Torbay, nnd Umut on the fifth of November, which was the anniverfary of i" England. tlie gunpowdeir-treafon.
Though the invitation from the Englifli was very gene- ral, the prince for fome time had tlie mortification to find himfelf joined by very few. The Dutch army marched firft to Exeter, where the country-people had been fo lately terrified with the executions which iiad enfued on Monmouth's rebellion, that they continued to obferve a ftriiSl neutrality. He continued for ten days in expe6l- ation of being joined by the malcontents, and at laft be- gan to defpair of fuccefs. But juft as he dcKberated on rc-imbarking his forces, he was joined by feveral perfons of confequence, and the whole country ibon after came flocking to his ilandard. The firft perfon who joined the prince was major Burrington ; and he was quickly fol- lowed by the gentry of the counacs of Devon and So- rnerfet. Sir Edward Seymour made propofals for an af- fociation, which every one figncd. By degrees, the earl
S 2 of
nets
joined by many per- fons of di- jUr.dion.
James is abandoned by his civn daughter.
The Hijlory of England,
of Abingdon, Mr. Ruflel, fon of the earl of Bedford, Mr. Wharton, Godfrey, and Howe, all came to Exeter, The whole kingdom was in commotion. Lord Delamerc took arms in Chefliire ; the earl of Danby feized York ; the earl of Bach, governor of Plymouth, declared for the prince-, the earl of Devonfhire made a like declaration in Derby; the nobility and gentry of Nottinghamfliire embraced the fame caufe;. and every day there appeared fome effeft of the general combination, into which all ranks of people had entered againft the meafures of the king.
But the mod dangerous fymptom was the difaffeiftion of the aimy, which feemed univerfally liiiiSlured with the fplrit of the times. Lord Colchefter, fon of the earl of Rivers, was the fii ft ofhcer that deferted to the prince ; and he was attended by a few of liis troops. Lord Lovelace attempted to follow the example ; but was intercepted by the militia, under the duke of Beaufort. Lord Cornbury, fon to the earl of Clarendon, carried over to the prince the greater part of three regiments of cavalry. Several officers of diftinclion informed Feverfliam, tlie general, that they could not in confcience fight againft the prince of Orange. The defe6lion of the officers was followed by that of the king's own fervants and creatures. Lord Churchill had been raifed from the rank of a page, had- been inverted with a high command in the army, had been created a peer, and owed his whole fortune to the king's bounty ; even he deferted his royal mafter in this extre- mity, and carried with him the duke of Grafton, natural fon to the late king, colonel Berkeley, and fome others.
In this univerfal defection, the unfortunate James, not- knowing where to turn, and on whom to rely, began to think of requefting affiftance from France, when it was become too late. He wrote to Leopold, emperor of Ger- many, but in vain. The king was by this time arrived at Salifbury, the head-quarters of his army ; and he found that this body amounted to twenty thoufand men. It is poffible that had he led thofe to battle, without granting them time for deliberation, they might have fought in his favour, and fecured hira on the throne. But he was immerfed in fears, fufpicions, and perplexity, which prevented him from forming any bold refolution. It was no fmall addition to his prefent dillrefs, that -Anne, his favourite daughter, and the prince of Denmark, perceiv- ing the defperate ftate of his affairs, refolved to abandon iiim, and take part with the prevailing fide. When the
king
James II, 261
king was told that tlie prince and priiicefs Iiad followed the example of tlie rcfl: of his favourites, he was ftung with the mod bitter anguiOi. " God help mc." cried he, in the extremity of his agony, " my own ehildren have forfaken me !"
In the midft of this diftracSlion and perplexity, he em- braced a fudden refolution of drawing off his army, ami retiring towards London ; a meafure which couKI only fervc to betray Ids fears, and provoke farther treachery. Tlius driven to the precipice of his fortunes, invaded by one fon-in-law, abandoned by another, defpifcd by his fubje6ls, and hated by thofe who had fufFered from his cruelty, he aOembled the few noblemen that dill adhered to his interells. In this forlorn cour.cil, he demanded the advice of thofe in whom he mod confided. Addrefl- ing himfelf to the earl of Bedford, father to lord Ryflel, who had been executed in the preceding reign, by the in- trigues of James, " My lord," faid tlie king, " you are an honeft man ; you have credit, and can do me fignal fervice." " Ah, fir," replied the earl, *' I am old and feeble; I can do you but little fervice — I had, indeed, a fon I" James was fo ftruck with this reply, that he was not able to fpeak for fome minutes.
The king's fortune now expofed him to the contempt of his enemies; and his behaviour was not fuch as could gain him the edeein of his friends and adherents. He feemed in this emergence as much deprefl'ed with adver- fity, as he had before been vainly elated with profperity. He was prevailed upon to ifi\ie writs for a new parliament, and to fend Halifax, Nottingham, and Godolphin, as commifiioners to treat with the prince of Orange. But thefe were the lafl ails of royal authoiity which he ex- erted. He even hearkened to imprudent counfcl, by which he was prompted to defert the throne, and to gra- tify his enemies beyond what their fondetl hopes could have promifed them.
The news received by the king from all quarters ferved to continue the panic, into which he was fallen, and which his enemies expected to improve to their ad- vantage. He now precipitately embraced the advice of cfcaping into France ; and he fent ofl^ before-hand the queen and the infant prince, under the condu6l of count Lauzun, an old favourite of the French monarch's. Him- He at- felf difiippeared in the night-time, attended on\)' hy C\v trmpn tg Edward Hales ; and afluming the di?guife of a plain drefs, ^y *'" went down to Feverfliam, where he embarked on board a "'S^'<""'
a 3 fmall
2 6st ^he H'lftory of Kngland,
fmall veffel for France. But his misfortunes continued ta purfue him. The veflel in which he had embarked was' detained by the populnce, who, not knowing the perfon of the king, robbed, infultcd, and abufed him. He was now, therefore, perfuaded by the earl of Winchelfea to Tie returns return to London, where again the populace, moved by- te Lciidoiit his diftrcffes, ^nd guided by their natural levity, received him, contrary to his expe£lation, vidth (houts and accla- mations. During his abode at Whitehall, little atten- tion was paid to him by the nobility or any perfons of diftincflion. Himfelf fho'.ved not any fymptom of fpirit, nor difcovered any intention of refuming the reins of go- vernment, which he had once thrown afide.
Though the prince of Orange was fecretly embarrafTed bv James's return to the capital, he determined to diflenir ble, and received the news of it with a haughty air. His ♦ aim from the beginning was to pufti James by threats and feverities to relinquiih the throne. The king having fent lord Feverfham on a civil meiTage to the prince, defiring a conference previous to the fettlement of the throne, that nobleman was put under an arrefl, on pretence of his coming without" a paffport. The Dutch guards were ordered to take poflefiion of Whitehall, where James then vefided, and to difplace the Engllfh. The king was foon aftet commanded by a meflage, which he received in bed * at midnight, to quit his palace next morning, and to de-
nuhente P^^*^ ^^'' Ham, a feat of the duchefs of Lauderdale's. He he retires defircd pcrmifTion to retire- to Rochefter, a city not far to Kg chef- from the fea-coafl:. This requefl was readily granted him; iff' atid it was now perceived that the harfli meafures of the
prince had taken effefl, and that James was meditating an efcape from the kingdom.
While James lingered at Rochefler, he feemed defirous of nn invitation to keep poflelTion of the throne ; but ob- fcrving that he was entirely negle£led by his own fubjedls^ and opprefled by his fon-in-law, he refolved to feek fafety from the king of France, the only friend he had novv /emaining. He therefore privately embarked on board a frigate which waited for him ; and he arrived fafe at Am- blctcufe, in Picavdy, whence he proceeded to St. Ger-; mains, where he itill enjoyed the empty title of a king.
After tliis manner, the courage nnd abilities of the prince r.f Orange, feconded by furpriHng fortune, had effefled x\\r deliverance of the kingdom. But the more difficult Talk remairied of obtaining for himfelf that crown, v.'hich had f.dlcn from the head of his fa'her-in-law, Previoudy,
therefore^ ? -
James II. 2^3
tbecefore, tp any regular authority, he continued in tlie management of all public ailairs. 15y tlie advice of the houfe of lords, the only remaining member of the legif- lature, he was dcfircd to fummon a parliament by circu- lar letters. i3ut the prince, unwilling to aft upon fo ini- perfeft an authority, convened all the mernbers who had V ^
fat in the houfe of coir.mons during any parliament of ^^j ij,j Charles II. and to thefe were added the mayor, aldermen, Con-vention a;id fifty of the common-council. This was regarded as ffrnmoneJ, the mo(t proper reprefentative of the people, that could be fummoncd during the prefence emergence. They una- nimouily voted the fame addrcfs with the lords; and the '^''^ P'''"^f prince, being thus fupported by legal authority, wrote "Irrumei'^the circular letters to the counties and corporations of Eng- reins ot go^ land, to choofe a new parli.iment. His orders were uni- vtnwieni^ verfally complied with •, government was conduced In the mofl regular peaceful manner, and the prince became poflcfled of all authority, as if he had regularly fucceeded to the throne.
On the meeting of the houfc, which was nioflly com- pofed of the Whig party, after thanks were voted to the prince of Orange for the deliverance which he had brought; them, they proceeded to the fettlement of the kingdom. In a few days they pafled, by a great majority, a vote, winch was fcnt up to the houfe of lords for their concur- rence. It was contained in thefe words : " That kincr ''■''^'"""'
JTT 1 • 1 1 r 1 1 n • ■ tnons iMte
ames 11. having endeavoured to iubvert the conltitutioa that bus
of the kingdom, by breaking the original contract between ja^nes hai king and people ; and having, by the advice of Jefuits and abduaud Qther wicked perfons, violated the fundamental laws, and '^^^'^"■'""• withdrawn himfelf out of the kingdom, has abdicated i/,e lords the government, and tliat the throne is thereby vacant." ^0/,^//;- r/? This vote, when brought into the upper houfe, met with the "jcte ef great oppofition, and was at length carried by a majority '^^"^' of two voices only. '"""■«
The throne being thus declared vacant, the next con- fideration was the appointing a fucccHbr. Some declared for a regent •, others that the princefs of Oruige (hould be invefted with regal power; and the young prince con- fldcred as fuppofititious. The debates ran high on this fubjeft. A conference was demanded between the lords and commons ; while the prince, with his ufual prudence, entered into no intrigues cither with the elec'tors or mem- bers; but kept a total fdence, as if he had been no way fQncerned in tlie tranfaction. At laft, perceiving that
S 4 \\\.k
264 'J^he H'ljlory of England.
I
his own name was little mentioned in thefe difputes, he ^/.'T^'": called together the lords Halifax, Shrewfbury, andDanby, 0} the ' ^'^^^'^ a few more ; and told them, that having been invited prnice of over to reftore theiillberty, he had happily efteQed his Orange, purpofe ; that he had heard of feveral fchemes propofed for cftablifliing the governnient ; that if they chofe a re- gent, he thought it incumbent on him to inform them that heneyer would accept of that ofRce, the execution of •which, he knew, would be attended with infuperable diiTicullies ; that he would not accept of the crown under the princefs his wife, though he was convinced of her merits : that therefore, if either of thefe fchemes were adopted, he could give them no afTiftance in the fettle- ment of the nation, but would return home to his own country, fatisfied with his endeavours to fecure the free- dom of the Britifli dominions. This declaration produc- ed the intended effecl:. After a long debate in both houfes, a new fovereign was preferred to a regent, by a majority of two voices. It was agreed that the prince and princefs of Orange fliould reign jointly as king and 0/ ^tfie'^" 9"<^en of England, but the adminiftraticn of government ciown. ^e placed in the hand of the prince only. That the prin- cefs of Denmark fliould fucceed after the death of the prince and princefs of Orange ; her pofterity after thofe of the princefs, but before thofe of the prince by any other wife. The convention annexed to this fettlement of the crown a declaration of right?, where all the points, which had of late years been difputed between the king and people, were finally determined • and the royal pre- rogative was both mere narrowly circumfcribed, and more exa6lly defined, than in any former period of the Englifli government. The marquis of Halifax, as fpeaker of the WilHam houfe of lords, made a folemn tender of the crown to and Mary x\\iz\x highneffes, in the name of the peers and commons of iinp^alj England. The prince accepted the offer in terms of ac- gueea of knowlegement ; and that very day William and Mary were £.ngland. proclaimed king and queen of England.
CHAP;
< 2^5 )
CHAP. X.
From the Revolution to the Accejjion of the Family of
Hanover.
W
I L LI AM was no fooner cletlcd to the throne than he began to experience the difiicuhy of go- verning a people, who were more ready to examine the commands of their fuperiors, than to obey them. His reign commenced with a proclamation, for confirming all Protcftants in the offices which they enjoyed on tlie ill day of Deceinber. He then chofe the members of his couai- The fievt cil, who were generally wellafFecled to his intereft, except mimjiry, the archbifhop of Canterbury and the earl of Nottingham ; and thefe were admitted in complaifance to the church- party, which it was not thought advifcable to provoke, Nottingham and Shrewfbury were appointed fccrctaries of (late ; the privy-feal was beflowcd upon the marquis of Halifax ; and the earl of Danby was created prefident of the council. D'Auverquerque was made mailer of the horfe, Zuyleflein of the robes, and Schombcrg of the ordnance. The chief favourite, however, was Bentinck, who was appointed groom of the ftole, and privy-purfe. The treafury, admiralty, and chahcery, were put in com- mifTion ; twelve able judges were chofen ; and the diocefe of Salifbury having become vacant, the king bellowed ic on Burnet, who had been, in a particular manner, inllru- nicntal in efi'ccling the Revolution.
The firft refolution taken in the new council, was to The (on- change the convention into a parliament, that tlie late fet- "^^ntton tlement of the crown might be confiimcd by a legal ^°"'"^'"^'^ fanclion, which was now fuppol'cd to be wanting, as the '"iament' afl'embly had not teen convoked by the king's writ of fum- mons.^ The experiment of a new eledion was deemed too hazardous ; and therefore the council determined that the king fiiould, by virtue of his own authority, efFeft the propofed tranfmutation, by going to the houfe of peers with the ufual flate, and pronouncing a fpeech from the throne to both houfcs. This expedient was accord- ingly praclifed.
William was no fooner feated on the throne than he JVilliam's made an attempt, fimilar to that which had been the efforts in principal caufc of all the dilturbances in the preceding •^f^"''^*-^ reign. Being naturally biafled to Calvinifm, he was de- ' ^'^'M^"'' firous of repealing thofe lavv's which enjoined uniformity
of
2.g6 T^he Hrjlory of England.
of worfliip ; and though he could not entirely fucceed m his defigii, a toleration was granted to fuch diiTenters as Ihould take the oaths of allegiance, and hokl no private conventicles. Even the Papills experienced the lenity of" his gcvernment ; and notwithflanding the laws againfl: them were not repealed, they were feldom executed vith any rigour.
But though William was acknowleged king in England, Scotland and Ireland were ftill undetermined. The revo- lution in England had been brought about by a coalition, of Whigs and Tories -, but in Scotland it had been effecled by the Whigs almofl; alone. Theyfoon came to arefolution, that James had, to ule their own expreffion, forfaulted his right to the crown ; a term which, in the law-language s-L T / 1^^ ^^^"^^ country, excluded not only himfelf, but all his recognize pofterity. They therefore quickly recognized the autho- iinglVU- rity of William, and took that opportunity to abolifh iifim. epifcopacv, which hjjid long been difagreeable to the
nation.
Nothing now remained to the depofed king of all hi«
former poflefhons but Ireland ; where he had ftill fome
hopes of maintaining his ground, by the affiftance which
he was promifed from the French monarch, who had long
' '* ''""'^ "■^ been at variance with William, and took every opportu-
4s,Ms V-ity to form confederacies againft him. From Lewis,
James in therefore, James obtained a fleet and fome troops, to alTert
maintain- his prctcnfions in Ireland, the only part of hjs dominions
in^pojjeffion j|^^f Y\z6, not openly declared againit him.
James, ni conlequence ot this lupport, let i^il Irom
James Breft on the 7th of May, and arrived at Kinfale on the
iaiicis tit 22d i foon after vvliich he made his public entry into Dub-
ire ami. ^^n, amidfl the acclamations of the inhabitants. He was
met at the caflle gate by a proceffion of popifh bifiiops and
prieils in their pontificals, bearing the hoft, which he
publicly adored. Tyrcqnnel, the lord-lieutenant, was.
devoted to his interells, and his army amounted t/ near
forty thoufand men. The Proteftaiits over the g. eater
part of Ireland were difarmed 5 the Catholics univerfally
received him with the mod fincere coneratulations ; and
Ulller was the only province that denied his uuthori^y.^
-, , The Proteflants of Ireland now underwent; the moll
haruhip' cj opprelhve and cruel indignities. Moll of thofe who were
thehtjb attached to the Revolution, were either objiged to retire
f^oifjlanis. into Scotland or England, or hid themfelves, or fuhmitted
to accept of vcritten protetlionsfrom their enemies. The
br<ivert of them, however, to the number of ten thoufand,
men J
JfilUam and Mary, 267
|r»en, aflembled at Londonderry, where they rcfolvcd to f^f^„yff jpn^ke their lafl ftaml, in defence of their religion and them take liberty. A few alfo gathered iiito a body at Inniftcillinp, refuge m "vj-herc their number was foon increafcd by the accefTion of l''>'"'°"-
^1 Jtrry and
Others. 7 A /A -
James continued tor tome time irrelolute what courle to purfue ; but as foon as the feafon would permit, he opened the campaign with the fiege of Londonderry, a siec;/ »/ town of fmall importance in itfclf, but rendered famous Londou- by the obilinate refinance whicli it made on this occafion. ^I'ljl' Though colonel Lundle had been appointed governor of the town by William, he was fecretly attached to James i and at a council of war, prevailed upon the officers and townfmen, to fend mefiengers to the befiegers with afi offer of furrender the day following. But the inhabitants being apprifed of the dtfign, rofe in a fury againfl the go- vernor and council, fliotone of tlie officers wliom they fuf- pe6led, and boldly rcfolved to maintain the place to the lalt extremity. They chofe for their governors one Walker, a diifenting miniilcr, and major Baker, with joint autho- rity. The town was weak in itc foriificaiions, and ftill weaker in its artillery, there being not upon the woiks above twenty ferviceable guns. The batteries of the be- fiegers foon began to play upon the town with great fury; and fevcral aflaults were made, but always repulfed with refolution. The bcfieged, after feme time, found them- felves exhauftcd by continual fatigue. They were afflicled alfo by a contagious diltcmper, which reduced their num- bers ; and, in addition to their diftrefs, they fuffered f;reatly from want of provifions. They had even the mortification to fee fome (liips, which had arrived with I'upplies from England, prevented from f.iiling up tlie river by the batteries of the enemy, and a boom by which they had blocked up the channel. At length a reinforcement arrived in the Lough, under the command of general Klrke, who had defertcd his mafter, and been employed in the fervice of William. But all he could do, was 10 promife them fpeedy relief, and to exhort them to bear their miferies a little longer, with afiurances of a happy termination. They had now confumcd tlie lail remains of their provlfion ; and fupported life by eating horfes, dogs, and all kinds of vermin, while even this loathfume food began to fail them. Their mifery was increafcd by ^ feeing above four thoufand of their fellow-proteftantSj from dilTerent parts of the country, driven by Rofene, James's genera!, under the walls of the town, where they
were
268 The Hijtory of England,
were kept three whole days without provifion. Kirke had hitherto lain inactive, debating with himfelf between the prudence and neceflfity of his afTifbance j but receiving in-, telligence that the garrilon, exhaufted with fatigues and ' famine, had fent propoials of capitulation, he refolved \ipon an attempt to throw provifions into the place by means of three vi£luallers, and a frigate to cover them. One of thefe broke the enemy's boom j and ail the three, after having fuilained a very hot fire from both fides of the river, arrived in fafety at the town, to the inexpreffible joy of the inhabitants. The army of James was fo dif- pirited by the fuccefs of this enterprize, that they aban- doned the fiege in the night, and retired with precipita- Thefwge tion, after having loft above nine thoufand men before is raije . ^^ place. Kirke no fooner took pofleffion of the town, than Walker was prevailed on to embark for England, with an addrefs of thanks to king William, for the fea- fonable relief which they had received.
The Innifkilliners were no lefs remarkable than the people of Londonderry for the valour and perfeverance with which they efpoufed the interefts of William. Indeed the cruelty of the Papifts was fufhcient to excite the taniefl into oppofition. The Proteftanrs, by an a£l of the popifh parliament, under James, were diverted of thofe lands, oppiefi'n which they had occupied ever fince the Irifli rebellion. of the Pro- Three thoufand of that perfuafion, who had fought fafety itfijtits. by flight, were found guilty of treafon and attainted. Soldiers were permitted to live upon free quarter ; the people were plundered, the (hops of tradefmen, and the kitchens of citizens, were pillaged, to fupply a quantity of brafs, which was converted into coin, and palfed, by royal mandate, for above forty times its real value. Not content with this, the abdicated king impofed, by his own authority, a tax of twenty thoufand pounds a month on perfonal property, and levied it by a commiflion under the great-feal. All vacancies in public fchools were fupplied by popifh teachers. The penfion allowed from the ex- j^a^c chequer to the univerfity of Dublin was withdrawn, and -yat^e}. ^"^^ inititution converted mto a popim lemmary. brigadier Sarsfield commanded all Proteftants of a certain diftritt to retire to the diftance of ten miles from their habitations, on pain of death. Many perifhed with hunger, and ftill more from being forced from their homes, during the fevereft inclemencies of the feafon.
Though the affairs of Ireland were extremely prefTing, and the Proteftants made repeated applications for relief.
tf'^illlam and Aiary* 2(5^
the fuccours from England had been fo unaccountably re- tarded, that James had been fix months in arms before any troops were embarked for that kingdom. William, dreading the confequence of employing the late king's forces to fight againlt him, ordered twenty-three new ^^. ^ regiments to be raifcd for thatpurpofe. Thefe, with two sJwmier^ Dutch battalions, and four of French refugees, with the iiftntnunh Innifkilliners, were allotted for the redudlion of Ireland; ^'' ^''"'y and next to king William, Schombcrg v/as appointed to '" ^'^'^"" command. This officer was a Dutchman, who had long been the faithful fervant of that prince, and had now pafled a life of eighty years almolt continually in the field. The method of carrying on the war in Ireland, however, was a mode of operation with whicli he was entirely un- acquainted. He reflected not on the dangers to which his troops were expofed by being confined to one place ; and he kept them in a low moid camp, near Dundalk, witli- out fuel almofl of any kind ; fo that the men fell into fe- vers and fluxes, which carried ofF great numbers.- The enemy, however, was no lefs afflicted with fimilar difor- ders. Both camps remained for fome time in fight of each other ; and at la(t the rainy feafon approaching, they both, as if by mutual agreement, broke up at once, and retired into winter-quarters, without attempting any hofi:ilities on either fide.
William, induced by the bad fuccefs of the campaign, A.D.ifgc?. and the miferable fituation of the Protedants in Ireland, T7~r. at length refolved to attempt their relief in perfon, at the iJ,idTin openino; of the enfuing fpring ; and accordingly landed lelami. at Carrickfergus, where he found himfelf at the head of an army of fix and thirty thoufand efPecSlive men ; which was more than a match for the forces of James, though they exceeded this number by abcn.it ten thoufand men.
William, having received intelligence that the French fleet was failed for the coaft of England, liaflened to advance againfk James, who he heard had quitted Dublin, and had ftationed his army at Ardec and Dundalk. All the mcafvrcs puifued by William were dictated by prudence and valour, while thofe of his opponent feemed to be guided by oblli- nacy and infatuation. The adherents of the latter ncgle£led to harrafs William in his difficult march from the North ; they negledled to oppofe him at the Itrong pafj at Newry. As he advanced, they fell back,firrt from Dundalk, and then from Ardee ; until at laft:, they fixed their camp in a ftrong ftation,on the other fide of the Boyne. William marched Up to the oppofite fide of the river, to reconnoitre their 7 fituution J
a jo The Hijioiy of En^lmld.
fituatloh ; and being perceived by the enemy, fome field- pieces were brought our, and planted againfl his perfon im- mediately. The fhot killed a man and two horfes clofe by him, and himlelf was wounded in the fhoulder. This acci- xlent creating fome confufion among his attendants, the enemy concluded he was killed, and their whole camp re- founded with acclamations. The report was inftantly com-i municated to Dublin, and thence to Paris, where the event was celebrated with great demonftrations of joy. At night William called a council of war, and declared his refolution to attack the enemy in the morning. The duke of Schomberg attempted to expoftulate with him upoa the danger of the undertaking ; but finding the king in- flexible, retired to his tent wich the appearance of diifatis- fa£lion, as if he had a prefcience of his own misfortune. «oth June. Early in the morning, William gave orders to force a Batiieof paflage over the river. This the army undertook in three the Bojne- ^jifferent places; and, after a furious cannonading, the battle began with great vigour. The Irilh troops, though reckoned inferior to none in Europe, when out of their own country, have always fought indifferently at home. After an obftinate refiilance, they fled with precipitation ; leaving the French and Swifs regiments, which came td their afiiRance, to make the beft retreat they could. Wil- liam led on his cavalry in perfon, and contributed by his activity and vigilance to the fuccefs of the day. James ■was not in the action, but Itood aloof on the hill of Dun- more, furrounded vi'ith fome fquadrons of horfe ; and at Intervals was heard to exclaim, when he faw his own troops repulfing thofe of the enemy, " O ! fpare my Engli(h fubje£ls." The Irifh lofl about fifteen hundred men, and the Englifh about one-third of that number ; among whom The duke f/^^'^s the duke of Schomb rg. He was killed by a difcharge Schomberg from his own troops, who, not knowing that he had been ktlitd. accidentally hurried into the midft of the enemy, fired upon the body of men by whom he was encompafled, and mortally wounded him. This old foldier of fortune, who had dillinguifhed himfelf by his bravery under almofl every power of Europe, was defcended from a noble fa- mily in the Palatinate, and his mother was an Englifh- woman, daughter of lord Dudley.
Janies, while his troops were yet fighting, quitted hia ftation; and leaving orders to defend the pafs at Duleek, made the beft of his way to Dublin, defpairing of any farther fuccefs. He no fooner arrived in that capital, than he aflembled the magiftrates, and advifed them to
fecure
irilliam and Mary, tyt
fecure tlic bed terms they could from the vI»flor ; after which he fct out for WatcrforJ, where, in a vcilcl fitted ^^,'^'7//r'' for his reception, he cmb;irked for France. Had he franct. poflefled cither conducl or fpirit, lie might dill have heailed his troops, and fouglit with advantage ; but pru- dence forfook him with good fortune, and he returned to retrieve his affairs abroad, while he defertcd thcr.i ia tlic only place where they might have been maintained.
His adherents, however, were determined to fupport thofe interefts which himfelf had abandoned. Limerick, 3 llrong city in the province of Munfter, ftill held out for the late king, and braved all theefibrts of William's Urmy to reduce it. Sarsfield, a popular and experienced gene- ral, put himfelf at the head of \\\z army which had been routed at the Boyne, and went farther into the couiitry to defend the banks of the river Shannon, where he re- folved to await the enemy. But James, while he would not defend the country himfelf, determined that none but fuch as w^cre agreeable to him fhculd defend it. He therefore appointed St. Ruth, a French general, who had lignalized himfelf againft the Froteftants in France, to command over Sarsfield •, a meafure wliich gave the Irifh iiniverfal difcontent, as it fliowed the king could neither rely on their fkill nor fidelity.
William being gone over to England, general Ginckle, who commanded in his abfence, led his army towards the Shannon, in order to pafs that broad and dangerous river. The only place wliere it was fordable, was at Ath- lone, a llrong walled town, built on both fides of the river, and defending that important pafs. The part of the town on the hither-fide of the river was quickly taken fword in hand by the Englifli ; but that on the oppofite bank being defended with great vigour, was for fome time thought impregnable. At length it was rcfolved, in a council of war, that a body of troops fhould ford the flream in the face of the enemy. /Fhis fervice being per- formed with great refolution, the forces of the enemy were driven from their works, and the town furrcndered at diferetion. St Ruih marched his army to their afifilU ance ; but receiving intelligence of what had happened, he inftantly changed his courfe, and took poll at Aughriiii, at the difiance of ten miles ; where he determined to await the Englirti army, and decide the fate of Ireland at one blow. '
Ginckle, having put Achlone in a pofture of defence, pafle<l the Shannon, and marched towards the enen-ty,
with
272
Ginckle defeats the
Irijh
at Augh- rim.
Limerick cafiitulates lui'.h the king^s tones.
fourteen thoufand Iri/h emi- grate to France.
TJoe Hijlory of England.
with the refolution of giving them battle, though his forces, which amounted to eighteen thoufand men, we/e' inferior by feven thoufand. The Irifh were ported in a very advantageous fituation, upon a rifing ground, having in their front a morafs, which, to appearance, was pafTable only in two places. Their right was fortified by entrench- ments, and their left fecured by the caflle of Anghrim. Ginckle, having obferved their pofition, gave the neceflary orders for the attack ; and, after a furious cannonading, the Enghfh army at twelve o'clock began to force the two paflages of the morafs, in order to occupy the ground on the other fide. The enemy received them with great in- trepidity, and the horfe were feveral times repulfed ; but at length the troops on the right, by the help of fome field-pieces, were enabled to force their pafiage. At fix o'clock in the evening the left wing of the Englifh army ■was advanced to the right of the Irifh, and at length obliged it to give way. Meanwhile, a more general attack was made Upon the centre, where St. Ruth being killed by a cannon-ball, his troops were fo difpirited that they alfo gave way on all fides, and after having loft above five thoufand of the flower of their army, retreated to Li- merick. Kere they for fome time made a brave defence ; but feeing the enemy advanced within ten paces of the bridge, and that themfelves were entirely furrounded, they determined to capitulate. A negociation was immediately begun, and foon after concluded. By this capitulation the Roman catholics were reftored to the enjoyment of thofe liberties in the exercife of their religion, which they had pofTefled in the reign of Charles II. All perfons were indulged with free leave to remove with their families and efFedls to any other country, except England and Scotland. In confequcnce of this, about fourteen thoufand of thofe who had fought for king James, went over into France, having tranfports provided by government for conveying them thither. On their arrival in France, they were thanked for tlieir loyalty by James, who told them that they (hould flill fight for their old mafter ; and that he had obtained an order from the king of France for their being new cloathed, and put into quarters of refrefliment.
Ireland nowfubmitted peaceably to the Englilh govern- ment, and James was to look for other affiftance to fupport his declining pretenfions. His chief hopes lay in a con- fpiracy among his Englifh adherents, and in the fuccours which were promifed him by the French king. The con- fpiracy was originally hatched in Scotland by fir James
Montgomery,
PFiliiam and Maryi 273
Montgomery, a pcrfoii who from being an adherent to William, now oppofcd his interefts; but as the project tvas ill conceived, it was as lightly difcovered by the infti- gator. To this plot fucceeded another, which, being chielly the woik of" the Whig party, now the mod for- midable in the kingdom, feemed to threaten more ferious confequences. A number of this clafs joined themfelves to the Tory party, and both made advances to the ad- herents of the late king. The plan which they concerted ■'"f/'7 was, that the rcdoration of James {liould be entirely pf^,fr«. effetled by foreign forces ; that he fliould fail for Scotland, ment^ and be there joined by five tiioufand Swedes, who, becaufc they were of the proteftant religipn, it was thought, would femove a part of the odium which attended an invafion by foreigners ; that afliftancc {hould at the fame time be fenc from France, and that full liberty of confcience fliould be-, proclaimed throughout the kingdom. To haften the exe- cution of the project, it was refolved to fend over to France two trully perfons, to confult with the exiled king j and for this dangerous embafly, lord Prclton and Mr. Afliton were appointed, Afhton having hired a fmall veffel for the purpofe, the two confpirators went fecretly on board ; but while they thought themfelves fecure of accompli(hing their errand, information had been given of their intentions, and by means of lord Carmarthert they were both feized. The two confpirators were foon after tried at the Old-Bailey, and condemned. Afluou "^'^ ""^j' was executed without making any confefiion ; but lord covered Prefton had not the fame refoiution. Upon an offer of a pardon, he difcovered a number of aflociates, the principal of whom were, the duke of Ormond,' lord Dartmouth, and lord Clarendon.
The reduction of Ireland, and the unfortunate ifTue of the late confpiracy, made the French at laft lenfible of their impolitic parfimony in the caufe of the fugitive king ; and it was therefore refolved to niake a defcent upon Eng- land in his favour. In purfuance of tliis fcheme, the Frencli king fupplied James with an army, coniiRing of a body of French troops, fome Englilh and Scottifli refugee?, Prepara" and the Irifh regiments, which had been tranfported from ^"'"^/'"' * Limerick into Francs. This army was alfembled between ^.^^ g^.^^ Cherbourg and La Hogue, and was commanded by Jamts I md, in perfon. More than three hundred traufports were pro- vided for landing it on the oppofite Englifli coaft; and Tourville, the French admiral, at the head of fixty-three fliips of the line, was appointed to favour the dclcent.
Vol. ir. X With
^
274 ^h Hiftory of Eriglafuft
with orders, at all events, to attack the enemy, in cafe they (liould oppofe him.
Intelligence of thefe preparations being foon brought tO' the Engliih court, every precaution was taken by the go- vernment for a vigorous oppofition. All the fecret ma- chinations of the exiled king^s adherents were difcoverecl , to the EngiiQi miniftry by ipies; and by thefe they had the mortification to find that theToi'ies were better afFedled than even the Whigs, who had been the inflruments of placing William on the throne. The duke of Marlborough, lord Godolphin, and even the princefs Anne, were vio- lently fufpecled of favouring the pretenfions of James* Preparations, however, for refilling the growing ftorm, were made with refolution and diligence. Admiral RuiTel 'jdm'tral "^vas ordered to put to Tea with all poff.ble expedition j and^ Tiuffel puts being joined by the Dutch, he foon put himfelf at tlse to Jsa. bead of ninety-nine fhips of the line, befides frigates and fire-ftiips. W^ith this immenfe force he fet fail for the eoaft of France, and at lafl, near La Hoguc, difcovered the enemy under the command of Tourville, who pre- pared to give him battle. Accordingly the engagement . _ . began between the two admirals ^^•ith great fury ; and ^_' the reft of the fleet on each fide foon followed the exam- 19th May. p'c. This memorable engagement lafted ten hours, and hatile cff all James's hopes depended on the event. Vifliory at lafb La Hague, declared on the fide of the confederates ; and the French, having lofl four fnips in the aiftion, fled towards Conquet- road. The purfuit continued for two days following : three Fiench fhips of the line were deilroyed the next day, and eighteen xliore, which had taken refuge in the bay of La Hogue, burned by fir George Rooke. Thus the preparation.s iT>ade by the French, were entirely .frullrated ; and fo decifive was tlie blow, that from that time France feemed to relinquidi all claims to the domi-- nion of the fea.
James was now reduced to the loweH: ebb" of defpcjn-' dence, and nothing was left his friends but the hopes of afiafiinating the monarch on the throne. Thofe bafe at- tempts, however, all proved unferviceable to his caufe, and only ended in the ruin of thofe who attempted to exe- cute them. From this time until he died, which was about eight years after, James continued to refid'e at St. Ger- mains, a penfioner on the bounty of Le^1^s, and afljlled by occafional liberalities from his daughter and friends in England. He died on the i6th day of September, in the year 1700, after having laboured under a tedious ficknefs. 8 Irt
Jf'lUiam and Mary* 275
In the latter part of life he fubjec^ed himfelf to ni^s of un- common pcnnnce and mortification. He freqiientiy vifited the poor monks of La Tr:tppe, who were eilificd by liis humble and pious deportment, llis priJo and arbitrary- temper fcemed to have vanlfhed with his greatnefs : he became affable, kind, and eafy to all his dependents; and in his lafl illnefs, conjured his fon to prefer religion to every worUlly connderatlon. He died with great marks of devotion, and was interred, nt his own requeft:, in the church of the EngliHi Benedidines at Paris, without any funeral folemniiy.
The defeat of the French at La Hogue fecurcd Wil- liam on t!ie throne ; for the adherents of James, who vere before a feeble party, broke out afterwards into diflenfions among themfclvt-s. But the tranquillity of William was molefled by others than thofe who entered into hoflile defigns againil him. His chief motive for ac- cepting the crown was to engage England more deeply in the concerns of Europe. It had ever been the objecl: of his ambition to humble the Frencli, at that time form.id- Jible on the continent; and all his politics confined in forming alliances againd them. Many of the Englifli, on the other hand, had neither the fame animofity againft the French,nor the fame apprehenfions of their inoreanngpo\^'er. Thcfc, therefore, confidcred the interelt of the nation as Untoi'ufar facrificed to foreign conne£lions ; and complained, that the connia of war on the continent fell mofl heavily on them, tliough the king. they had the Icafi: intereft in its fuccefs. To thefe motives of difcontent were added the king's partiality to his own countrymen, with his rcfcrved and even fuUen behaviour, fo unlike that of all their former kings. William, how- ever, accullomed to oppofition, heard their complaints with the mofl: phlegmatic indillcrence ; and while he di- ligently attended to the fchemes of contending kings and nations, he negledled the cultivation of internal polity. Every new alliance abroad increafcd the Influence of party at home ; and patriotifm beginning to be ridiculed as an ideal virtue, the pracllce of bribing a majority ia parliament was openly countenanced J while the example of the great conamunicating itfelf to the vulgar, princi- ple, and even decency, were gradually banilhed the nation.
William, up^n accepting the crown, was refolved to preferve, as much as he was able, that flvare of prerogative which Hill vi'as left him. Being as yet unacquainted with
T 2 the
2-}S
B'Ufor triennial fa'^tia- inents.
A^ rela- tive to high trea- fan.
A.D.16Q5,
Confpiracy to affafi. ttate the king.
The tiijlory of Efiglan'J,
the nature of a limited monarchy, he often controverted the views of his parliament, and fuffered hlmfelf to be directed by weak and arbitrary counfels. He firll difcc- vered this condudl by the oppofitioa he gave to a bill for limiting the duration of pdrliaments to the fpace of three years. This bill had paiTed the two houfes, and was fent up to receive the royal aflent as ufual ; but the nation was furprifcdto find the king refufe his concurrence to an a£b which was then confidered as beneficial. Both houfes tool^ the alarm. The commons came to a refolution, that whoever advifed the king to this meafure was an enemy ta his country. The bill thus rejected lay dormant for an- other feafon ; but being again brought in, the king found himfelf obliged, though reluiflantly, to cornply.
The fame oppofition, and the fame ilTue, attended a bill 'Tor regulating trials, in cafes of high-trcafon, by which the accufed was allowed a copy of his inditlment, and a lift of the names of his jury, two days before his trial, with counfel to plead in his defence. It was farther enacted, that no perfon (hould be indicted but upon the oaths of two creditable witnelTes ; a law which gave the fubject a perfeft fecurity from the rigours which had been exercifed in the late reigns.
"While thefe jealouhes arid difcontents fubfifted between the king and parliament, the adherents of James were not without hopes of feeing their fallen monarch reftored to his abdicated throne. V/hile one party of them pro- ceeded againft William in the bolder manner, by attempt- ing to excite an infurredion, another, confifting of the moft defperate confpirators, formed a defign of affaffina- tion. Sir George Barclay, a native of Scotland, who had ferved as an ofiicer in James's r.rmy, a man of undaunted courage, and zealous attachment to the church of Rome, undertook the bold taflc of feizing or aflaffinating the king. This projet^l he imparted to Harrifon, Charnock, Porter, and fir William Perkins, by whom it was approv- ed. After various confultations, it was refolved to at- tack the king on his return from Richmond, vi-here he commonly hunted en Saturdays ; and the fcene of their ambufcade was a lane between Brentford and Turnham- Green. To fecure fuccefs, it was agreed that their num- ber fhould be encreafed to forty horfemen ; and the con- fpirators began to engage proper perfons to afiifl: in this dangerous enterprizc. When their number was corri- plete, they waited with impatience for the hour of action;
but.
IflWhWi ami Mary* 277
but, in tVic mean time, fome of the under-atSlors, prompt- ed by fear or rcmorfe, rcfolvcd to prevent the execution by a timely difcoveiy. One Pendergrad, an Irifh officer, 7A^ fOT- jrave infomiatioii of the plot, but lefurtd to name the ^'"^^-^ '^. perfons who were concerned as aliociaies m the under- ' takinfT. His information was at firfl difregardcd ; but it wai fooii confirmed by one Le Rue, a Frenchman, and Hill more by the flight of fir George Barclay. The night, I'ubfequent to the intended day of anafTination, a number of the confpirators was apprehended, and the whole dif- covery was communicated to the privy council. Pendcr- graft became an evidence for the crown, and the confpi- rators were brought to their trial. The firft who fuffcred E-<ecution were Robert Charnock, one of the two fellows of Mag- "l^^^'^."^^, dalen college, who, in the reign of James, had rcnounc- ^^j.^ j^ ed the proteftant religion, lieutenant King, and Thomas Keys. They were found guilty of trcafon, and executed at Tyburn. Sir John Freind and fir William Perkins were next arraigneil ; and, notwithflanding they made a very good defence, lord chief-juftice Holt influenced the jury to find them guilty. They both fullered at Tyburn with great conftancy, denying their charge, and teflifying their abhorrence of the aflaffination. In the courie.of the month, Rookwood, Cranbourne, and Lovvic were tried by a fpccial commidion as confpirators ; and being found guilty, ihared the fate of the former. But the cafe of fir John Fenwick was confidered as one of the greateit flretches of power exhibited during this reign. This gen- tleman, whofe name had been mentioned among the con- fpirators, was apprehended in his way to France. There was little evidence againft him, except an inteicepted let- ter which he virote to his wife. It is true, he otfered to difcover all he knevi' of a confpiracy againft the king ; but when he capie to enter into the detail, he fo managed his information, that it could zffect no individual concerned. William, therefore, fent over word from Holland, where he then was, that, unlefs the prifoner would make more nateri;\l difcoveries, he (hould be brought to his trial. The only eflential evidences againtt him was one Por» tcr and Goodman ; but of thcfe lady Fenwick having fccreted the latter, there remained only a fingle wiri^els, which, by the late law, was infufficient to afiPe(^ iIk life of the prifoner. The houfe of commons, howev<r, re- folved to inflicl upon him that punifliment which jhe laws wxre unable to execute. As he had in hj^ narrative
T 3 nude '
27S 7he Hijlcry of England.
made very free with the names of many perfons in that houfc, one of them in particular, admiral RuiTel, infifted that he might have an opportunity of vindicating his own chs rafter. Sir John Fcnwick was ordered to the bar of thehoufe, and there exhorted by the ipeaker to make an Bill of at- ample difcovery. On his refufal they preferred againlt taiKdtr him a bill of attainder, which was pafled by a large ma- J^oTnFen. j'^^^'^y- ^^^ ^^^s furnifhed with a copy of the indictment, ^,^.^^ allowed counfel at the bar of the huufe, and the counfel
of the crown was called upon to open the evidence^ After much difputation, in which pafTion and revenge was ra- ther attended to than reafon, the bill was committed, and fent up to the houfe of lords, where fir John Fenvvick was found guilty, by a majority of only feven voices. The prifoner folicited the intercefTion of the lords in his behalf, while his friends implored the royal mercy. 'Ihe lords gave him to underlland, that the {\::cct(s of his fuit would depend on the fullnefs of his difcoveries. He would haveprevioufly (lipulated for pardon, and thev in~ fifted on his trufling to their favour. He hefitated fome time between the fears of infamy and the terrors of m is he- death. At hll, he chofe to undergo the latter, and fuf- heuJeJ. fered beheading on Tower-hill with great compofure.
This ftretch of power in the parliament was, in fome meafure, compenfated by their diligence in retraining the Xiniverfal corruption which Teemed at that time to prevail over the kingdom. Tliey w^ere aflidiroufly employed in bringing to juflice thofe who had grown wealthy by pub- lic plunder, and increaHng the number of thofe laws which reftrained the arts of peculation. Nor were they kfs active in their endeavours for reftraining the preroga- tive of the crown. William, on his part, became at length fatigued with oppofing the laws, by which the par- liament circumfcribed his authority, and he gave up the conteft, upon the condition of being properly fupplied with the means of humbling the power of France, For the proftcoiion of the war M'ith that kingdom, the fuins o\ money granted him were incredible. The nation, not contented with furnifhing fuch fubfidies as could be raifed t>^^ the taxes of the year, mortgaged thofe taxes, and la<«i ihe foundation of debts, which it has never fince beeu able to difcharge. A. D. 1697. The war with France continued during the greater
■- -i part of this king's reign, but was at length terminated by
RjfwUi ^^^^ t^'eat^ of Ryfwick. In the general pacification the
intereiU
IVilUam and Mary* 279
intcrefts of England feemed to be entirely deferfed ; and, for all tlie cxpence of blood and trcafiue whicli llic la- viflierl on the continent, the only equivalent flic reccivt-d was the empty toward of niiliiary glory in Flanders, and an ackno^legenient from France of Williann's title to the crown.
i'he Iving, now freed from a foreign war, applied him- fclf towards rendering lus authority at home more fecure; and for this purpofc he was delirous of dill prefc-rving the army undiminifhed. 'Hie commons, however, rcgardlcfs Tfie rum- of his inclination, paHed a vote, that all the foices in ^*'' ?/ Iviiglifli pay, exceeding icxcn tlioufand men, fhould h<i-'/^''\"'^ ^ forthwith dilbanded, and that thofe retained (hould be juciJ» natural born fubjecfts of Eiio;land. William was highly difpleafed with this proeeeuing of ilie commons ; and his indignation was kindled to fuch a pitcli, tiiat he actually conceived a defign of abandoning the government. His xninillcrs, however, diverted him from this refolntion, and even perfuaded him to coiilcntto pafling the bill.
/ Itercations between the king and parliament continued ■during the remainder of this reign. William confidered the comn.ons us a body of turbulent men, averfe to fub- ordinaiion, and therefure bent upon obllrudling all his projet^s for fecuring the liberties of Europe. He fcemed but little attached to any particular patty m the houfe, all of whom he found at times defcrted or oppoied him. He therefore veered to Whigs and Tories indilcriminatdy, as interefl, or tlie immediate exigence required. If he had any time for nmufement or relaxation, he retired to Loo, . in Holland, where, among a few friends, he gave loofe to thofe coarfe fcllivities which alone he was capable of relifliing. It was in this recefs he planned the dili^rent fucceflion of the princes of Europe, and laooured to under- mine the fchemes and the power of Lewis, his rival in politics and in fame.
Peace had fcarce been concluded between William and France, when he began to think of reiources for carrying on a new war, and for inlifting his Englifh fubjcdts in a confederacy againlf that nation, the perpetual object of his animofity. heveral arts were ufed for iiulucing the peo- ple to fecond his aims ; and the whole nation feemed at laft to join in dcfiring a war with that kingdom. He had been in Holland, concerting with his allies operations for a new campaign. He had engaged in a negociation with tlie prince uf lieire, wlio allured him, ihac if be would
T 4 bcfiegc
^8.0 The Hijiory of England.
befiege and take Cadiz, the admiral of Caftile, and many other grandees of Spain, would declare for the houfe of Auliria. The ele(flor of Hanover had refolved to give his afliftance in the profecution cf thofe meafures j the king of the Romans, and prince Lewis of Baden, undertook to invefl Laudan ; and the emperor promifed to fend a powerful reinforcement into Italy ; but while Williain •was flattering himfelf with the molt fanguine hopes of fuc- A.Di7oi. cefs from this confederacy, death put a period to his "~ — ~~~ projetl.'.
Dettiicf 'William was naturally of a very feeble conftitution, * ~ ^' which was, towards the clofe of his life, almoll exhauited by a continual feries of difquietude and action. He had endeavoursd to repair his health byfuitable exercife ; and, on the 21 ft day of February, in riding, from Kenfington to Hampton-court, his horfe fell under him, aad he was thrown with fuch violence, that his collar-bone was frac- tured. He was conveyed by his attendants to the palace of Hampton-court, where the fra(^ture was reduced, and in the evening he returned to Kenfington in his coach. The jolting of the carriage difunited the fracture, and the bones were again replaced. For fome time he appeared in a fair way of recovery, but falling alleep in his coach he was feized with a (hivering : this was fuc- ceeded by a fever and diarrhoea, which foon became de- fperaie. Perceiving his end approaching, the obje«Sfs of his former care lay ftill ne:^t his heart, and he feemed to entertain a greater concern for the fate of Europe than his own. The earl of Albemarle arriving from Holland, he conferred with him in private on the pofture of affairs abroad. Two days after, having received the facrament from archbifhop Tennifon, he expired, in the fifty-fecond year of his age, and thirteenth of his reign. He was in jiis perfon of a middle (iature, and a thin habit of body. He had an aquiline nofe, fparkling eyes, a large forehead, and a folemn afpecV. His deportment was grave, phleg- inatic, and fuilen ; nor did he ever dlfcover any fire but in the time of battle. He left behind him the charafter of a great politician, though he had never been popular ; and of a formidable general, though he v/as feldom vic- jorious.
Williarn left no iflue. His only wife was Mary, daugh- ter of James the Second \ a princefs diftinguifhed for her devotion and the calmnefs of her temper. She died of th? fmall-pox, on the sSth of December, 1694.
ANNE,
[ 281 ]
ANNE.
WILLIAM was fucceetlcd as fovcrcign by Anne, princefs of Denmark, who afcendcd the throne in the thirty-eighth year ot" her age, to the general fatisf.ittion of ail parties. She was the fecomi daughter of James by his lirll wife, the daughter of chancellor Hyde, after- wards earl of Clarendon. She had fuflained a variety of mortifications in the late reign, during which Ihe con- ducted herfelf with great prAidcnce. She was, like her fifter, zealoufly devoted to the church of England, from whicii her father had ufcd fome endeavours to detach her before the Revolution ; and flic lived in great harmony with her hufband, to whom Ihe bore fix children, all of whom (he had already furvived.
The late king, whofe whole life had been fpent in one State cf continued oppofition to the king of France, had left f^*"'"^ ^* England at the eve of a war with that monarch. The prefent fovereign was upon this occafion urged by oppofing counfels; apart of her miniftry being inclined for war, while the other no lefs ardently declared for pacific mea- fures. At the head of thole who oppofed a war with France, was the earl of Rochefter, lord-lieutenant of Ireland, and firft coufin to the queen. He propofed ia couricil that the Engliih fliould avoid a declaration of war with France, and at niofl a£l only as auxiliaries. In fup- port of his opinion he urged the impoflibilityof Englantl's reaping any advantage by the mofl diitinguifhed luccefs upon the continent ; and expofed the folly of involving the nation in debts to increale the riches of its commer- cial rivals.
The chief of thofe who declared for profccuting the late king's intentions of going to war with France, was the earl, fince better known by the title of the duke of IVlarlborough. This nobleman, though he had defertcd James at the Revolution, had Itill a fecret partiality for the ToricG, and, during the whole of the preceding reign, had paid the utmoft attention to the prefent queen ; to whofe favour and efleem he had alfo farther pretcnfions. He married a lady v/ho was the queen's particular con- fidante, and who had an unbounded influence over her. By this canal Maribovcugh direcled the queen in all her
rcfolu-
2S2 Th Hjjhry of EngUvrd. >
refolutions, and was enabled fuccefsfully to oppofe the meafures of his rivals in the cabinet.
Marlborough was not without private motives for wifh- ing the profecution of the war. It not only affo.rded him an opportunity of cppofing the counlel of Rochefter, xvhcfe influence he defired to leflen ; but he had hopes of being appointed general of the forces which ftiould be fenC over to the continent ; a command of a nature molt flat- tering to his ambition and other views. He therefore ob- ferved in council, that the honour of the nation was con- cerned to fulfil the late king's engagements ; and that France could never be reduced within due bounds uiilefs England would engage as a principal in the confederacy. A,D.i7oa. The queen, therefore, embracing his advice, communi- -^^ ; cated her intention to the houfe of commons, by which ,^ai T.W I ijgjj^rr approved, war was proclaimed accordingly. * * Lewis XIV. upon the ileath of William, expected again
to enter upon a field, in which he fhould recover the glory that had once accompanied his arms. At the news of Willi'jm's death, therefore, the French monarch could not fiipprels his joy ; and his court of Verfailles feemed to have forgotten their ufual decency in the effufions of their fatisfadlion. The king of France was, in the queen's declaration of war, taxed with having taken pofleflion of a .great part of the Spanilli dominions ; with defigning to invade the liberties of Europe ; to obflrudl the freedom of navigation and commerce ; and with having ofl^ered sn unpardonable infult to the queen and her throne, by acknowleging the title of the pretender. He was accufed of attempting to unite the crown of Spain to his own do- minions, by placing his grandfon upon the throne of that kingdom, and thus of endeavouring to dellroy the equa- lity of power fo neceCary for the general fafety of the flares of Europe.
The declaration of war on the part of the Englifh was fecondcd by fimilar declarations of the Dutch and Ger- mans, all on the fame day. The French monarch, on receiving intelligence of all thefe declarations, could not fuppreis his refentmenr, which, however, fell chiefly on the Dutch. He faid, with great emotion, that as for thofe gentlemen pedlars, the Dutch, they (hould one day repent their infolence and prefumption, in declaring war again fl: one whofe power they had formerly felt and •■iceaded.
Marl-
Anne, 28 j
Marlborough was Immediately appolntcj general of the ly,;^^;^ Englilh forces, as he was likewife foon afterwards of the rou^^Ji is allied army. He repaired to the camp at Nimcgucn, where afpjined lie found himfelr at the head of an army of lixty thou- .C""^"'"'*'^ land men, well provided with nccefl'aries, and long dil- '"' '"^^*^ ciplined by the bell olEcers of the age. He was oppofed ^^"'^' on tlie fide of France, by the duke of Burgundy, grand- fon to tlie king, a youth more qualified to grace a court than tocondudi ;in army; but the real ading general was the marftialBoufHers, an oflicer of courage and activity.
Wl'.erever Marlborough advanced, tlic French were Prot.rtrs obliged to retreat before him, leaving all SpaniOi Guel- rj' Mwlba^ dcrlaiid at his difcrction. The duke of Burgundy, un- ''""s"'"" able to brook the mortilkation of this indignity, returned ^^'"^*^^* to Verfailles, and left Boufllers to afl'ume the nominal, as veil as continue the real command. This general, con- founded at the rapidiry of the enemies progrefs, retired towards Brabant, whither Marlborough had no deiign to purfue. The latter was contented with ending the cam- paign by taking the city of Liege, in which was found an immenfe treafure, and a great number of prifoners.
Marlborough, upon his return to London, was received •with every mark of public approbation. He was thanked ijg ;, for his fervices by the houfe of commons, and created a creatcda duke by the queen. The glory which he had acquired on '^'*^^' the continent feemed to confole the nation for Ibme ua- fuceefsful expeditions at fea. Sir John INIundcnhad per- mitted a French fquadron of fourteen Ihips to efcape him by taking fhelrer in the harbour of Corunna, for which he was difmilled the fervice by prince George. An at- tempt was alfo made upon Cadiz by fea and land, fir !"^J[' George Rooke commanding the navy, and the duke of ^gc^^,^ Orniond the;land forces ; but this enterprise likewife mif- carried. The Englifh arms, however, were crowned with fuccefs at Vigo, where the duke of Ormond landed with five and twenty hundred men, at the diltance of fix miles from the city. While the fleet forced their way into the harbour, the French fleet, which had taken refuiie in w c "-^/t it, .was burned by the enemy, to prevent its falling into atFteo. the hands of the Englifti. Eight flnps were thus deitroyed or ran afliore; but ten fliips of war were taken, behdes eleven galleons, and above a million of money in filver.
The advantage, acquired by this expedition, was coun- A.lmlral bal.mced by the bafe conduQ of fome officers in the Well Bembow's Indies. Admiral Bembow had been detached thither '"i.'"^'"- the preceding year with a fquadron of ten fail, to diflrefs '"^"^"''^j'^
the t>,e I'/eJi l/iiiies.
^4 . ^he Hiflory of EnghnL
tT'.e enemies trade. At Jamaica, he received Intelligence, that M. Du Cafle, the French admiral, was in thofc feas, with a force not inferior to his own. Benbow, therefore refolved to attack him ; and foon af-Lcr dif- eovcred the enemies fquadron near St. Martha, l^cering along the fhcre. He immediately formed the line of battle, and the engagement began. The reft of his fleet, having taken foine difgufl at his conducl, permitted him, almoil alone, to fuftain the whole fire of the ene- my. The engagement, however, continued until night, and he determined to renew it next morning ; wlien he had the mortification to perceive that all his fhips had fallen back except one, which joined him in urging the purfuit of the enemy. For four daysfucccflively did this intrepid feaman, afliiled only by one fiiip, purfue and en- jjage the enemy, while his cowardly officers, at adillancc behind, remained fpeftators of his activity. His laft day's battle was more furious than all the fc ner. While alone, and unfuflained, he engaged the whole French fquadion, bis leg was fiiattered by a cannon-ball. He then ordered that they fhould place him in a cradle upon the quarter- deck, where he obftinately maintained the fight as before, until at laft his fliip being quite difabled, was unfit to con- tinue the chace any longer. When one of his lieutenants expreiTed Ids forrow for the lofs of the admiral's leg, *' I am forry for it too," faid Benbow, " but I had rather have loll both my legs, than fee the diflionour of this day. But do you hear, if another fliot (hould take me off, behave like brave men, and fight it out." This valiant admiral foon after died of his wounds. His cowardly af- fbciatcs, Kirby and Wade, were tried by a court-martiaJ, and fentenced to be fhot. Hudfon died before his trial. Conftable, Vincent, and Fogg, efcaped with llighter punifhment. Kirby and Wade were fent home in the Briftol man of war , and on their arrival at Portfmouth, (hot on board the (hip, by virtue of a warrant for their immediate execution, which had lain therefor fome time. 7hi Qitoen During thefe tranfaftions, the queen feemed to enjoy aiJttxhles a the ufmoft confidence and affection of her fubjects. ne-w par- Though the continuance of the parliament was limited' to bamsnt. f,^ months after the king's deceafe, fhediffolved it by pro- clamation before that term was expired ; and iffued writs for ele£liiig another, in which the Tory interefl predomi- nated. The new parliament meeting on the 2Cth day of October, Mr. Harley waschofen fpeaker. The commons voted forty thoufand feamen; and the like number of land- It
force?, to aA in coninnflion with thofc of tlie allies. It was never confidercd how little iiccefl'ai-y thefe ^"^rcut cflbrts were, either to the h.ippincfs or protcdlion of the jSeoplc. They were exfrteii againll the French ; and that, ia the prefCnt difpofition of men's minds, was a circuniilance fufticicnt to jiidify them. A fliort time after, the (]-uecn gave tlie houfe of commons to undcrftand, that flie was prefled by the allies to augment her forces. The commons were as reaily to grant as flie to demand, a^-ul it was rc- folvcd that ten thoufatid more men fliouldbc added to the army on the continent ; but upon condition that the Dutch fljould break off all commerce with France and Spain ; a requefl with which the former complied without hefi- tation.
The duke of Marlborough crofTed the fea in the begin- A. D. 1705.
ning of April, and afTembling the allied army, relolved •
that the campaign fliould commence with the fiege of ,^,^5 7 Bonne, which was accordingly irivefted. The place held -^ ' " ' out but a fhort time againft the fuccelTive attacks of the prinde of HelTc Cafiel, the celebrated Coehorn, and ge- neral Fagel. The duke next retook Huy, the garrifon of which, after a vigorous defence, furrendered prifoncrs of war. Then followed the fiege of Limburg, which alio furrendered in two days. By the conqueft of this town, the allies fecurcd the country of Liege, and the deflorate of Cologne from the defigns of the enemy. Such was the progrefs of the campaign in the Netherlands ; which, in all probability, would have produced events of greater importance, had not the duke of Marlborough been te- ftraincd by the Dutch, who began to be influenced by the Loveftein faction, ever averfe to war with France.
The duke refolved in his next campaign to a£l more ofFenflvely; and, being furnilhed with powers from the queen, he informed the Dutch that it was his Intention to march to the relief of the empire, which h.-d been for fomc time opprefled by the French forces. The ilatcs- general, either willing to fecond his etForts, or fearing to weaken the alliance by dillruft, gave him full power to march as he thought proper, with aflurances of their af- Cftancc in all his endeavours.
Boufflers being now thought unequal to the enterprizing A.D 1704, duke, the marihal Villeroy was appointed to the command ■ ■ ■ ■ - of the French army. He was Ion to the king of France's governor, and had been educated with that monarch. He was brave, generous, and polite, but not qualified for con- dutling an army ; and flill Icfs proper, when oppofed to fo formidable a rival.
It
286 ^he Hiflory of England,
Marlbo- It was a peculiar talent of Marlborough to Hudy tlie dlf-*
roui^h pofition and abilities of the general againft whom he act-
^"^af ^'^ ' ^'^^ having, therefore, no great fears from bis pre- jjj^ ' fent antagonifl, inflead of going forward to meet Villeroy, he flew to the fuccour of the emperor, as had been agreed at the commencement of the campaign. He took with him about thirteen thoufand Englifh troops, traverfed ex- tenHve countries by bafly marches, arrived at the banks of the Danube, defeated a body ofFrcnch and Bavarians, Rati- oned to oppofe him, tlien pafiedtlie Danube with his vic- torious army, and laid under contribution the dukedom of Bavaria, which had Tided with the enemy. Villeroy at firft attempted to follow his motions, but all at once \o9i fight of his enemy *> nor was he appriftd of what route the ^uke had taken, until he was informed of his fuccefles. Marflial Tallard, with an army of thirty thoufand men^ propofed to obflrudt Marlborough's retreat. He was foon after joined by the duke of Bavaria's~forces, fo that the French army in that part amounted to fixty thoufand ve- terans, and commanded by two generals the mofl dillin- guifhcd at that time in France. Tallard bad eftabliflied his reputation by many former vi£lories. He was active and penetrating; but his ardor often rofe to impetuofity; and he was fo fhort-fighted as to be incapable of feeing objefts at a very fmall diftance. The duke of Bavaria was equally experienced in the field, and had flronger mo- tives for activity. His country was ravaged before his eyes, and nothing remained of his poflelhons, but the army which he commanded. It was in vain that he fent entreaties to the enemy to ftop the fury of their incur- (icns, and to fpare his people. The only anfwer he re- ceived was, that it lay in his own power to conciliate his , . enemies, by alliance or fubmidion. To oppofe thefe ^" '!//''"' powerful generals, the duke was now joined by a body of prince Elf thirty thoufand well difciplined men, under the command ^it,c. of prince Eugene. This prince had been bred up from
his infancy in camps; he vi^as almoft equal to Marl- borough in intrigue, and his fuperior in the art of war. But inilead of any mean jcaloufy between fuch eminent perfon?, they always concurred in the fame defigns.
This allied army, commanded by Eugene and Marl- borough, amounted to about fifty-two thoufand men, troops that had long been familiar with victory, and that had feen the French, the Turks, and the RuOians fly be- fore them. The French, as was already obfcrved, amount- ed
'J>iur, 287
€J to fiKty thoufand, who had flinred in the conquers of their great motiarch. Both armies, after many marches aiul counter-marches, approached eacli other. '1 he Froiicli were potted on a hill near the town of Hochllet ; thtir right covered by the Danube ; and the village of Blen- heim i their left by the village of Lutzengcn ; and their front by a rivulet, the banks of which were (leep, and the bottom marOiy. It was in this advantageous pofKion that the allied army refolved to attack them. As this en- gagement, which has fincc been known by the name of the isattle of Jilcnheini, not only from the talents of the gene- rals, but the improvements in the art of war, and the num- ber and difcvpline of the troops, is reckoned the mofl: re- markable tiiat has happened in the prefcnt century, it may be entitled tea particular defcription.
The ripht wing of the French, was commanded by Ea</fe «/ marflial Tallard ; their left, by the duke of B.ivaria, and ^lennam, under him general Marfin, an experienced Frenchman. Their pofition being advantageous, they were willing to await the enemy, rather than offer battle. On the other hand, Marlborough and Eugene were ftimnlated to engage them at all events, in conlequence of an inter- cepted letter from Villeroy, intimating that he was prepar- ing to cut oir all communication between the Rhine and the allied army. The difpofitions, therefore, being made for the attack, and the orders communicated to the gene- \
ral officers, the allied forces advanced into the plain, and were ranged in order of battle. The cannonading began about nine in the morning, and continued to about half after twelve. The troops then advanced to the attack ; the right under the direction of prince Eugene, the left headed by Marlborough, and oppofedto marffial Tallard.
Marlborough, at the head of the Englifh troops, having paffed the rivulet, attacked the cavalry of Tallard with great bravery. This general being then reviewing the dif- pofition of his troops to the left, his cavalry fouglit for fome time witliout tlie prefcnce of their commander. Prince Eugene had not yet attacked the forces of the elec- tor J and it was near an hour before he could bring up his troops to the engagement.
Tallard was no fooiTcr informed that his right was at- tacked by the duke, than he flew to its head, where he found a furious encounter already begun ; his cavalry be- ing thrice driven back, and rallying as often. He had pofted a large body of forces in the village of Blenheim ;
and
iS3
yiarjhal Tallard
■ made pri'
foner.
The allies obtain a complete
The filp.ory of England.
and fie made an attempt lo bring them to t!ie charge** They were attacked by a detachment of PJarlborough's troops fo vigoroully, that inflead of afiifting the main body, they could hardly maintain their ground. All the French cavalry being thus attacked in flank, was to- tally defeated. The Englifli army now penetrated between the two bodies of the French, commanded by the marfhal and eleclor, while the forces in the village of Blenheim were leparated by another detachment. In this diltrefled (ituation, Tallard flew to rally fome fquadrons ; but from his (hort fightednefs mlftaking a detachment of the enemy for his own, he was made prifoner by the HeiTian troops, who were in the allied army. ^leanwhile, prince Eugen'* on his part, after having been thrice repulfed, at lafl put the enemy into confufion. The rout then became general, and the flight precipitate. The conflernation of the French foldiers was fueh, that they threw themfelves into the Danube, without knowing whither they fled.
The allies being now mailers of the field of battle, fur- rounded the village of Blenheim, v.here a body of thirteert thoufand men had been polled in the beginning of the acflion, and flill maintained their ground, Thefe troops feeing themfelves cut off from all communication with the reft of the army, and defpairing of being able to force their way through the allies, threw down their arms, and furrendered themfelves prifoners of war. Thus ended the battle of Blenheim, one of the mod complete vic- tories that ever was obtained. Twelve thoufand French and Bavarians were flain in the field, or drowned in the Da* nube, and thirteen thoufand were made prifoners of war. Of the allies about five thoufand men were killed, and eight thoufand wounded or taken. The lofs of the battle was imputed to two capital errors committed by marfhal Tallard ; namely, his weakening the centre by placing a large body of troops in the village of Blenheim, and his fuffering the Englifh to crofs the rivulet, and form on the other fioe.
Next day, when the duke of Marlborough vifited his prifoner, the marfiirJ, the latter afTured him that he had overcome the beft troops in the world. '^ I hope, fir," re- plied the duke, *' you will except thofe troops by whom they were conquered."
The allies, in confequence of this viclory, became mailers of a country a hundred leagues in extent. After finifhingthis campaign, the duke repaired to Berlin, where he procured a rcinforcemeni of eight thoufand Pruflians
to
\
Anne. 289
to ferve under prince Eugene in Italy. He thence pro- ceeded to nfgociate for fuccours at tlic court of Hanover, and foon aficr returned to England, where he found tlic leople in a tranfport of joy at tlie glorious vidloiy which le had obtained. The parliament and the nation in ge- neral were ready to fccoiid him in all his dcfigns. I'he Martha. manor of Woodcock was conferred upon him by botli ^°H^ '^'- houfes ; and, as lie entered the lioufe of lords, a euloei- ^^"" ^'"
' , 1 • • /- • I 1 manor t,F
uni was pronounced upon Ins important Icrviccs by tlie jyoodjiock lord-keeper. Tiie queen, not contented with thefe marks •where a of rcfpe£l niewn him, ordered the comptroller of her works /^'"'^ is to build in Woodllock-park for the duke, a magnificent ^'^'"/°'' palace, which remains to this day a monument ot her own *„i//f ^^. munificence, and the extraordinary merit of her gc- pence. jicral.
Meanwhile, the arms of Enghind were not lefs fortu- nate by fea than they had been upon the Danube. The minidry, undcrilanding that the French were employed h\ equipping a flronj:^ fquadron at Breft, fent out fir CInudcfiy Shovel and fir George Rooke, to watch their motions. Sir George, however, had farther orders to convoy a body of forces, under the prince of Hefl'e d'Armftadt, in tianfport (hips to Barcelona, upon which a fruitkfs attack was made by the prince. But fir George finding no hope^ from this expeiiition, the troops were reimbarked in two days after ; and being now joined by fir Cloudcfly, he called a counfel of war on board the fleet, as they lay off the coaft of Africa. In this they rei'olved, to make an attempt upon Gibraltar, which the Spaniards, never apprehending fuch an attempt, had left it ill provided with a garrifon. The town of Gibraltar ftaiids upon a rock, projecting into the fea, and inaccelnble o;i every fide but one. The prince of Hefl'e landed his troops, to the number of eighteen hundred, on the iilh- mus, and fummoned the town to furrender, but withouc effecl. Next day ^he admiral gave orders for connonadinpj tlie town ; and perceiving that the enemy were drivca from their fortifications at a place called the South-moie- head, ordered ail the boats to be armed, and to aflault th::C quarter. Thofe officers who happened 10 be nearcil the Mole, immediately manned their boats, and entered the fortification fword in hand. But the Spaniards fpring- ing a mine, two lieutenants and about a hundred mcn^ were killeil and woumled. Two captains, however, ^. took poffeffion of a platform, and kept tJieir ground, ',J^/('^;^^ until they were joined by the rcfl of the feamcn, who raUw.
Vol. II. U look
2^ The Hf/Iory of Englanci.
t'oolc a redoubt between the Mole and town by ftormy The governor immediately capitulated, and the prince of HefTe, amazed at his own fuccefs, took pofleffion of the fcrtrefs.
When the nc'.rs of this conquefl was brought to England, it was for feme time in debate M'hether the capture was fuch a:s merited any thanks to the admiral. It was at laft confidered as unworthy of public gratitude ; and while tne duke of Marlborough was extolled for ufelefs fervices, fir George Ro(;ke Vv*as treated with negleft^ and difplaced Kom his command.
Soon after the taking of this important fortrefs, the
Englifh fleet, now become miftrefs of the feas, to the
number of fifiy-three (hips of the line, came up with the
French fleet of fifty-two, commanded by the count de
Thouloufe, ofi^ the ccad of Malaga, a little after ten in
the morning. A battle began with equal fury on both
fides, and continued until two in the afternoon, when the
van of the French gave way. For two fucceffive days the
Englifli admiral endeavoured to reirew the engagement ;
but the French fleet declined ir, and at lafi: difappeared.
'The Spar Although the Englifli feemed ignorant of the value of
niwds Gibraltar, the Spaniards v/ere fenfible of its lofs ; and
make a Philip, therefore^ fent the marquis of Villadurlas with a
jruitlefs large army to retake it, France alfo fent a fleet of thir-
tstakcGib' ^^^^ ^'P^ °^ ^^^ ^'"^ ' ^''^^ ^ P'^'"'- °^ '^^^ '"^^^ difperfed by reliar. a tempell, and part was taken by the Englilh. Nor were tlie land-forces more fuccefsful. The flege continued four months ; during which time the prince of Hefl"e, wha commanded the town for the Englifli, difplayed many proofs of valour. At length, the Spaniards, having at- tempted m vain to fcale the rock, and finding no hopes of taking the place, were content to abandon the enter- prize.
Amldll thefe fu:ccefiesof the Engliih arms, a new fcene cf contention was opened on the fide of Spain, where the ambition of the European princes exerted itfelf with the fame fury that had filled the red of the continent. Philip, the fourth grandfon of Lev/Is XiV. had been placed upon the throne of that kingdom, and had beerti received with the joyful concurrence of the greater part of the nation. Ke had alfo been nominated fuccefibr to, tlie crown by the late king of Spain's will. But in a_ for- mer treaty among the powers of Euiope, Charles, fo!> of the emperor of Germany, was appointed heir to that crownj and this treaty had been guaranteed by France her-
A>i}ie» 29!
fclf, though fhc now determijicd to revei fe that confent in favour of a defcend.int of the houfc of Bourbon. Cliarlcs was farther encouraged in maintaining his pretenflons, by an invitation from the Catalonians, who declared in his favour, and by the afliftance of the En^iifti and Portu- guefe, who promifed to arm tliemfelves in his caufe. Up- a.D. 170?. on his way to his newly acquired dominion, he landed in -
England, where he was received on (bore by the dukes of So- The k-n^ of merfet and Marlborough, who conducted him toWindfor. Mainland: The queen's behaviour towards him was equally noble and '" "■^""' obliging, while, on his fule, he gave general fatisfaciion, by his politenefs and affability. He was furnifhed with two hundred tranfports, thirty fliips of war, and nine thoufand men, for aflerting his fucceffion to the Spanifli crown. To condtuSl this armament, the carl of Peter- borough, a man of romantic bravery, offered his afTiflancej and his fervice was accordingly accepted with equal gra- titude and approbation. This nobleman was one of the hiofl: extraordinary charadcrs of the age in which he lived. When but fifteen years old he fought againft the Moors in Africa, at twenty he alTifted in ejecting the Re- volution, and he now carried on the war in Spain almoft at his own expence ; his friendOiip for the duke Charles being one of his chief motives for this great undertaking. He was deformed in his perfon ; but of a mind the molt Tf,f garl gf generous, honourable, and a£live. His firlt attempt up- rets'ba- on landing in Spain, was to befiege Barcelona, a itrong much be- city, with a garrifon of five thoufand men, while his own ^''^^^ ^'"'" army amounted to little more than nine thoufand. The ^/^/^///j operations were begun by a fudden attack on fort Mon- obUgedto juic, ftrongly fituated on a hill that cominanded the city, furrendtr. The outworks were taken by florm, with the lofs of the gallant prince of Hefle, who was Ihot through the body, and in a few hours expired. The befiegers then dire£led their bombardment againft the body of the fort ; when a fiiell chancing to fall into the powder-magazine, blew it up, and with it dcftroyed the governor and fome of the bed officers- This accident ilruck the garrifon with fuch confternation, that thev furrendered without farther re- finance. The towrn flill remained unconquered; but bat- «••,
r> t • n • 1 r r i i lit PttT^
teries were now erected agauilt it, and alter a tew days rifonjur. the governor capitulated. The furrender of this impor- nnderi. tant fortrefs was fucceeded by the conquefi: of all Valen- cia. The party that acknowicged Charles became every day more powerful. He foon found himfetf mailer of ^rr(igon, Carthagena, and Granada. The earl of Gal-
U 7. way
A.D,T7o6.
Jf^ar ifi F Hinders
2<32 The HiJlGvy of England
way, entering Madrid in triumph, proclaimed Charle* king of Spain, without oppofition. Though fuch was the beginning of the war in Spain, as conduced by the al- lie-, its end was unfortunate and indecifive.
But the fplendor of the Engiifii tranfac^ions in Spain continued to be eclipfed by Marlborough's victories iri Flanders. He had early in the fpring opened the cam- paign, and brought into the field an army of eighty thou- fand men, which was greater than he had ever before af- femblcd. Still, however, he expected reinforcements from Denmark and PrufTia. Vllleroy, who commanded the French army, confining hkewife Cf eiglity thoufandL men, near Tirelemont, had orders to aft upon the defen- five ; but if Compelled, to hazard an engagement. The duke had received a flight repulfe by the defedion of* prince Lewis of Baden j and he refolVed to retrieve his Battle of ^'^^^'^^ ^y ^^"^'^ ^^gr\A aftion. Vllleroy had pofled his army Ramilies. i" ^ (Irong camp: his right was flanked by the river Me- haigne ; his left was defended by a marlh ; and the vil- lage of Ramilies lay in the centre. Marlborough, with his ufual prudence, accommodated his plan to this difpo- pofition. Knowing that the left wing of the enemy could iiot pafs the marfh to attack him, but at a great diiadvan- tagc, he weakened his troops in that quarter, arid greatly en- creafed his numbers in the centre, with which he made a furious attack. The enemies centre was foon obliged to yield, and at length gave way on all fides. Their cavalry was fo clofely purfued, that almoll the whole was cut to pieces. The eledor of Bavaria and the marfiial de Vil- leroy faved themfelves with the utmoft ditficulty. Several "Waggons of the French vanguard breaking down in a nar- row pafs, obftrufted the way in fuch a manner, that the baggage and artillery could not proceed; nor could their trocps defile in order. The vidorious horfe being in- formed of this accident, prefTed on them fo vigorouily, that great numbers threw down their arms and fabmitted. The confederates took the whole of the enemies baggage and artillery, about one hundred and twenty ftandards, fix hundred officers, and fix thoufand private foldicrs. About eight thoufand were killed or wounded. The lofs of the allies did not exceed three thoufand men. The French general retired with precipitation to BruiTels, ■while the allies took pofTefTion of all Brabant. The city of Paris was thrown into the utmoO: confternation. Lewis, who had long been flattered with conquelt, was now humbled to fuch a degree, as almoft to excite tlie compaf-
Aiwel 19 J
fnm of his enc "lies. He entreated for peace, but in vair • The allies carried ail before tlicm, aiui even his eapital bvgan to dread the approach of the conquerors. France fcemcd now to totter on the brink of ruin, when an un- cxpe(5led change in the politics of England at laft proved the means of htr deliverance.
The counfcls of the queen had hitherto been poverncd by a Whig minillry, who puvfued the fchenies of the late king ; and, imprefi'ed with a republican fpiric of liberty, ilrove to humble defpotifm in eveiy part of Europe. But a feries of profperous events had cluinged the difpofi tions of the people. The queen's pcrfonal virtues, her fuccef- fes, her deference for the clergy, and confequently their great veneration for her, began to have a prevailing in- lluence over the whole nation. Her fubjc£ls of all de- nominations were not afhamed to defend the mofl fervile tenets, when they tended to flatter or incieafe the power of the fovereign. They argued in favour of (Iricl liere- ditary fuccefTion, divine right, and non-refiflance to the regal power. The fpirit of Toryifm began to prevail ; and the Whigs, who had raifed the queen into great- nefs, were the firfl that were likely to fall by their own fuccefs.
The Tories, though they joined in vigorous meafures siute of againll France, were however never ardently the enemies parties in of that nation. They feeretly entertained a greater averfion £«o.''*"''' to the Dutch, as a people which held piinciples very dif- ferent from their own ; and they longed for an oppor- tunity of withdrawing from an alliance with the republic. Tlicy began to meditate fchemes of oppofition to the duke of Marlborough, whom they confulerecl as a felf-interelled man, who facriliced the real intcrefts of tlie nation, in protracting a ruinous war, for his own emolument and glory. They faw their country opprefled with an in- crealing load of taxes, which, by a continuance of the war, muil become an intolerable burden to the nation. All thofe motives excited difcontenrs ; and the Tories only wanted a few determined leaders to conduct them in fup- planting tlie prefcnt minillry
JMeanwhile, the public intoxication being abated by a fuccelRon of unprofperous events, the people began to wifh for peace. The army under Charles in Spain, was then commanded by lord Gal way. 1 his nobleman, hav- ing received intelligence that the enemy, under ilie com- niand of ttie duke of lierwiek, was polled near the town of Almanza, advanced thither to giv€ him battle. The
U 3 RiTlioa
^54 ^'^^ Hijhiy of England.
nclion began about two in the afternoon, snd the whole- front of each army was fully engaged. The centre, con- ilfting chiefly of Englifh and Dutch battalions, feemed at lad victorious ; but the Portuguefe cavalry, by which they were fupported, betaking themfelves to flight on ihe firft charge, the Englifh troops were flanked, and furrounded V'ifajier of on every hde. In this emergency they formed themfelves the f.nghj'h Jmo a iquare, and retired to an eminence, vi/here, being and Dutch ignorant of the country, and deftitute of all fupplies, they ^Stain'" were obliged to furrender prifoners of war, to the number pf ten thoufand men. This vicftory proved decifive ; and all Spain, except the province of Catalonia, acknowleged. obedience to Philip their native fovereign. „. An attempt was made upon Toulon, by the duke of
r;"Icfp/ Mr Savoy and prince Eugene by land, and the Englifh fleet enterpr;i.e by fe.i, but with as little fuccefs as in the preceding in- i.r:a:nfi fiance. The prince, with a body of thirty thoufand men, lodon, iooV poiTeflion of the eminences that commanded the city, while the fleet attacked and reduced two forts at the entrance of the mole. But the French king fending an army to "the relief of the place, and the duke of Savoy perceiving no hopes of compelling the city to a fpeedy furrender, the latter refolved to abandon his enterprize. Having, therefore, embarked his artillery, he retreated by night without any moleftation. fithjlfri The fleet under fir Cloudefly Shovel, was yet more un«
at jea, fortunate. Having fet fail for England, and being in foundings, a violent llorm arifing, his {hip was daflied upon the rocks of Scilly, and the whole crew pciilhed. The like fate befel three (hips more, while three or four others were faved with the utmofl: difficulty. The admi- ral's body being cafl aihore, was flript and buried in the fand. But this being thought too humble a funeral for fo brave a commander, it was afterwards dug up, and in- terred with great folemnity in V/eftminfter Abbey.
The allies were not more profperous on the Upper Rhine, in Germany. Marfhal Villars, the French gene- ral, carried all before him, and was upon the point of lefloring the eleilor of Bavaria. The only hopes of the people lay in the adlivity and conduct of the duke of Marlborough, who opened the campaign at Underluch, near Brufleis, about the middle of May. But even here, as in all other quarters, the public expe£lation was dif- appointed. Marlborough, either really wilHng to pro- tracl the war, or receiving intelligence that the French array was fuperior in numbers, declined an engagement ;
and
Annf. 295
and TatTicr endeax'oured to fecure himfclf tlinn annoy the enemy. Thus, after fevcral marches and counter-marches, both armies retired into winter-quarters, art the latt-.-r end of October. The French prepared for the next campaigfx with redoubled vigour, while the duke of Marlborough, who returned to England, met there with a reception which he hi)d little expefted.
During thcfc tranla£lions, a meafurc of the greatefl A. 0.1707. importance to the nation took place in parliament. This -
was the union of the two kingdoms of England and Scot- '^"'^{y "f land ; which, though governed by one fovereign ever '"'""' /' _ fmce the acceflion of James the Firlt, yet were (till ruled i.md and by their feparate legiflatures, and often purfued different Scotland. jntereft$. A union of the two nations had been palfion- atcly defired by James. Charles, his fou, took fome fteps towards accomplifliing this meafure ; but the completioa of it was referved for the prelent reign, when both nations were in good humour at their late fucceiles, and the queen had attained great popularity among all her fubjetts.
The attempt towards the union was begun at the com- mencement of this reign ; but upon fome difpute ariling concerning the trade to the Eafl.,the conferences were broke off, and there appeared little probability of the fchemc being ever brought to a happy iffue. It was, however, revived by an a£t of each parliament, empowering commiffioners named on the part of both nations, to treat on the prelimi- nary articles of a union, which fliould afterwards undergo a more thorough difcuffion by the legiflative body of both kingdoms. The nomination of the commiffioners was left to the queen ; who took care that none fliould be employed, butfuchasheartilywiilied to promote thatdefirablemeafure.
The commiffioners on both fides being accordingly ap- pointed, they met in the council-chamber of the Cock- pit, near Whitehall, tlie place fixed upon for holding the conferences. Their commiffions being opened, and in- troducSlory fpeeches being pronounced by the lord-keeper of England, and the lord-chancellor of Scotland, the con- ference began. The Scottiffi commiflioners were inclined to a federal union, like that of the United Provinces ; but the Engliih were bent upon an incorporation, fo that no Scpttilli parliament (hould ever have power to repeal the articles of the treaty. The lord-keeper, Cowpirr, pro- pofed, that the two kingdoms of England and Scotland iliould be for ever united into one, by the name of Great Britain j that itfliould be reprefented by one and the fame
U 4 par-
29^ rh mjiory oj England.
parliament, and governed by the fame hereditary mc- narch. The Scotiifli rommiiTioners, on their fide, infiftcd that the fubjetls of Scotland fiiould for ever enjoy the fame rights and privileges with thofe of England, and that all flatutes, contrary to the tenor of thefe privileges in either kingdom fliould be repealed. As the queen fre- quently exhorted the commillioners to difpatch, the arti- cles of this famous union vi-ere foon agreed to, and figned by the commiihoners. It therefore only remained to lay them before the parliament of each nation.
In this famous treaty it was llipulatcd, that the fuccef- fion to the united kingdoms fliculd be vefted in the houfc of Hanover; that the united kingdoms fiiould be repre- fented by one and the fame parliament ; that all the fub- je£\s of Great Britain fhould enjoy a communication of privileges and advantages ; that the lavvg concerning pub- lic right, civil government, and policy, fhould be the fame throughout the united kingdoms ; but that no altera- tion fliould be made in the laws concerning private right, except for the evident beneilt of the fubjeds of Scotland; that the court of feilion, and all other courts of judica- ture in Scotland, fliould remain, as conflituted by the laws of that kingdom, with the fame authority and privi- leges as before the union ; that Scotland fhould be rcpre- fented in the parliament of Great Britain, by fixteen peers, and forty-five commoners, to be eleded'in fuch a manner, as lliould be fettled in the prefent parliament of Scotland ; that all peers of Scotland {hould be confidered as peers of Great Britain, and rank immediately after the Eng- iifli peers of the like degrees at the time of the union, and before fuch as Oiould be created after it ; that they Ihould enjoy all the privileges of Englifli peers, except that of fitting and voting in parliament, or fitting upon the trial of peers ; that all the infignia of royalty and go* vernment (hould remain as they were ; that all laws and flatutes in either kingdom, fo far as they might be incon- fiilent with the terms of thofe articles, fliould be de- clared void by the ren^eitive pirliaments of the two kingdoms.
1 hefe were the principal articles of the union ; and it cnly remained to obtain the fanclion of the legiflature of both kingdoms to give them authority ; but this was a much more difficult undertaking than was at firfl: ima- gined. In the parliament of Scotland, all the popular niembers were averfe to the union ; in that of England,
the
A/i>!e, 297
the treaty met with great difapprcbatlon, except from the miniftry who had propofod it.
To induce the Scoicilh parliament to adopt the mca- fure, it was alleged by the miiuRry, and their fupponcrs, thiit a union ot the two kingdoms would be the foiid foundation of a lafling peace. It would fecure their reli- gion, liberty, and property, remove ilie animofities that prevailed among thcmfclvcs, and the jealoufics that fub- (iiled between the two nations. It would increafe their Itrength, riches, and commerce ; and entirely free both nations from all appreheufion of dilFerent interefls. It was urged, that the taxes which, in confcquence of tliis union, they were to pay, were by no means fo great, proportionably, as their fliare in the legiflature. That their taxes did not amount to a feventieth part of thofe 4
fupplied by the Engliih ; and yet their fliare in the legifla- ture was not a tenth part lefs.
Such were the arguments in favour of the union, ad- drefled to the Scotrilh parliament. In the EngliHi it was cbferved, that a powerful and dangerous nation would thus for ever be prevented from giving them any difturb- ance. That in cafe of any future rupture England had every thing to lofe, and nothing to gain, in her contefts with a nation fignalized ior courage, and which had not attained fuch a degree of riches as to invite depredation.
The Scots, in general, were fired with indignation at the thoughts of lofing their ancient and independent go- vernment. The nobility found themfelves degraded in point of dignity and influence, by being excluded from their feats in the legiflature. The trading part of the nation beheld their commerce loaded with heavy duties, which, were but precarioufly compenfated by their new- privilege of trading to the Englifh Icttlements in the Welt Indies.
In the Englifli houfes of parliament it was obferved, tliat the union of a rich v/Ith a poor nation would be al- ways beneficial to the latter •, and that the former could only hope for a participation of their neceflfities. It was faid that the Scots reludantly }ielded to this coalition ; that it might be likened to a marriage with a womaa againft her confent ; and that the land-tax paid by the Scots was extremely difproportioned to their fliare in the legiflature^
Not\yithfl:anding all oppofition, the party for the union at lafl prevailed, and the mcafure was folemnly ratified by (he legiflature of both kingdoms.
It
29S Tloe Uijiory of England.
It Is remarlcabie, that, through all the proceedings re- lative to the union, this celebrated tranfadlion was chiefly oppofed by the Tories. They confidered the Scots in a body as Whigs, and fuppofed that the intereft of that party v/ou!d become more powerful by this aiTociation. But never were men more agreeably difappointed than the Tories were in this particular. The majority of the Scots was fo much diiTatisfied with the union, as imme- diately to join in oppofing the miniftry, bv which the meafure had been effected. The Engli(h Tories were not difpleafed with a union, of which they had not the fiiga- city to difcover the advantages. They were for fome time become the majority of the kingdom, but found them- fclves oppofed by a powerful coalition at court. The duchefs of Marlborough had long been in polTelTion of the queen's confidence and favour ; and turned the eafi- nefs of her millrefs's temper to her own advantage, as well as that of her party. The duke, her hufband, had no lefs influence over the army, at the head of which he had been ever fince the commencerfient of the war. Lord Godolphin, his fon-in-Iaw, was at the head of the trea- i'ury, which he managed fo as entirely to co-operate with the ambition of the duke. But an unexpected alteration in the queen*s afFe£lions, owing entirely to their own mif- management, v/as now going to take place. In the num- ber of thofe whom the duchefs had introduced to court, to contribute to the queen's private amufement, was one A'Irs. INTalham, her own kinfwoman, whom (he had raifed from indigence and obfcurlty. The duchefs having gained the afcendant over the queen, relaxed in thofe arts which had been the means of her elevation, and even became infolent to her fovereign. Mrs. Mafham, on the other hand, was more dutiful and affiduous. She flattered the foibles of the queen, and entered zealoufly into her pre- Mrf Mafh- pciAe^^^^^s and prejudices. She focn perceived the queen's kampof predilection to the Tory principles of divine right and feffes great padive obedience; and inltead of attempting to oppofc fa'vour^ her, as the duchefs had done, fhe alFecled to coincide en- tirely with the royal will and opinions. She began to in- f)nuate to the queen, that the Tories were by far the majority of the people : that they were difpleafed with a miniftry which had attempted to rule their fovereign, and had lavifhed the treafures of the nation on foreign wars, maintained with no other view than that of con- tinuing their own power. But though Mrs. Mafham feemed to a£l from heifelf alone, Ihe was in fact the tool
of
laith the queen.
Anne. 299
of Mr. Harley, fccretary of (late, who j\lfo, fomc time before, had infinuated himfelf into the queen's good graces. Tills minifter, better known afterwards by the Intrif^vet title of earl of Oxford, was a man poircfTcd of uncommon of Harley, learning, great knowlege of bufinefs, and as great nmbir '"'"'y^* ticn. His aim was to fupplant, if polfible, the credit of ^a<lof Godolphin and Marlborough, as well as of the other Ox/urJU Whigs, who had long enjoyed the exclufive influence in governmtjMit, and to introduce in their room tlie Tory party, under his own peculiar patronage.
In his career of ambition, he chofe for his coadjutor Henry St. John, afterwards the famous lord Bolingbroke, % man of great eloquence and greater ambition, re(tlefs,a£live, band haughty, with a confuierable fhare of wit, and little principle. Bolingbroke was at firlt contented to a6l in an inferior capacity, fubfervient to Oxford's defigns ; and it ^vas not until afterwards, when he underllood the full extent of his own parts and influence, that he afpired to the difl:in6tion of being the firfh in the flate, and ufed every art to deprefs the intercft of his patron.
To this confeder.tcy was added fir Simon Harcourt, a lawyer, a man of eminent abiliries. Thefe three ftatcf- men uniting, endeavoured to procure an afTociation of the Tories, to whom they gave the ftrongefl aflurances that the queen would no longer fubmit to be direiled by a Whig miniflry. She had ever been, they faid, a friend in her heart to the Tory and high-church party, by which appellation this faction now chofe to be diftinguifhed ; and to convince them of the truth of thefe aiTertions, tlie queen fliortly beftowed two bifliopricks on clergymen who had openly condemned the Revolution.
Notwithstanding the popularity which the Whig admi- niflration had hitherto enjoyed, the people, it is certain, now began to be weary of meafures, wliich, howcvci. produdfive of public triumph, had loaded the nation with great burdens. The merchants had lately fuflained heavy and repeated lofTes, for want of proper convoys ; the coin of the nation was fo much diminiihed as fo caufe a general alarm ; and the public credit every where began vifibly to decline.
Amidll thefe unfavourable circumflances the firft par- 24.th Oil. liament of Great Britain aflembled. The complaints of Meeting the nation firft found vent in the houfe of lords, where of^^'fi^fi the earl of Wharton, fcconded by lord Somers, expa- ''*''J''P*^' tiated upon the fcarcity of money, the decay of trade, and the mifmanagement of the navy, A day being fixed
for
3CO f^^ Hijioyy of England.
for this examination, the houfe received a petition from the fheriffs and merchants of London, aggravatiiig tiijeir lofles by fea for want of convoys; and thefe conriplajpts were proved by witnefi'es.
The miniftry at firft pretended to defpife thofe com- plaints, and inflead of endeavouring to foften the viru- lence of their opponents, continued to teafe the queen xvith remonftrances againfl her conduct ; and even taxed her with ingratitude for thofe fervices which had ihrowii io much iuitre on her reign. At length, the Whig part of them began to open their eyes to the intrigues of Harley. The duchefs of Marlborough perceived, when it was too late, that flie was fupplanted by her infidious rival j and her huiband, in order to re-eflablifh his own credit^ was obliged openly to oppofe Harley, whom he could not otherwife difplace. Ihe fecretary had lately incurred foine fufpicion, from the treachery of one Gregg, an under-clerk in his office, who was dete6ied in a correfpondence with Chamillard, the French king's mi- niiler. Gregg was executed j and the duke of Ivlarlbo- Difcontent rough, defirous of taking the advantage of this oppor- ef Marl- tunity for removing Harley, wrote to the queen, that he torosizharJ ^^jd lord Godolphin could ferve her no longer, (hould the CaJO'phtn. ^^^{^^^ fecretary be continued in his place. The queen, willing to preferve her miniflers in mutual friendlhip, en- deavoured to appeafe the duke's refentment by every art of perfuafion j but the latter, too confident of his own power, refufed all accommodation. With the earl of Godolphin he went fo far as to retire from the court i and the queen faw herfelf in danger of being deferted by her whole miniftry. She now, for the fiifl time, per- ceived the power which thefe two miniflers had affumed over her councils ; and though in the prefent exigence Ihe was obliged to diffemble her refentment, flie fccretly refolved to remove them. Next day, therefore, fne fent for the duke, and telling him that Haiky «houId immedi- ately refign his office, conferred it on Mr. Henry Boyle, chancellor of the exchequer. Bolingbroke, refolving to fhare his friend Harley's difgrace, refigned his employ- ment ', as did likewife fir Simon Harcourr, attorney- general, and fir Thomas Manfell, comptroller of the houOiold. Mr. St. John's place of fecretary at war was conferred upon Mr. Robert Walpole, a man who was now rifing into eminence in the houfe of commons, and who af'erwards made fuch a figure in the two fucceeding reigns.
Mario
Marlborough feemed to triumph la tlie fticcefs of his tcfciitmcnt, not coiifulcring that by tliis Itcp lie entirely loft the confidence of the queen. He returned foon after to profecute the war on the continent, where his glory was increafcd by new victories, which hud not, however, the e/Te^l of re-eft:iblifliing his power.
The difplacing of Harlcy, though a meafure which feemed at firft favourable to the Whig miniltry, laid the foundation of its ruin. That flatefman, who now threw oH' the malic of friendfliip, was thereby enableil to pro- fecute with greater vigour the accomplilhment of his de- figns ; and though he had at prefent no vifible cot>cern in tlie adminiftration, he was not the lefs diftinguilhed by the fecret confidence of his fovereign. The queen's par- tiality for the Tories appeared foon after, in a tran faction which, though in itfelf of little importance, was producftive of elTential confequences.
The animofity between the oppofite parties in the na- A.D.ijo^^
tion, had now rifen to a great height, and they only wait- •
cd an opportunity of difplaying their difpofition towards ^'^':°'"'t f^f each other. Such an occafion was given them by Sache- ^'' ^y'^"*- verel, a man of mean talents, and whofe name would never have been mentioned in a hiftory of the times, were it not for the political purpofes of which he was rendered ?n inftrument. This pcrfon, who was a clergyman, had received his education at Oxford. Though .pofiefled of narrow inteilecls, he had acquired fomc popularity among thofe who diftjnguiflied themfelves by the name of high- church men, and had embraced all occafions of venting his animofity againft the dilTenters. At the fummer- afTizes at Derby he had declaimed in that ftrain before the judges. On the 5th of November, in St. Paul's Church, he vehemently defended the doiflrlne of non-refiltance, inveighed againft the toleration to dilTenters, and alHrmed that a dangerous confpiracy was formed for the dcilruc- tion of the national church. He founded the trumpet for a religious infurrec^ion,and exhorted the people to put on the whole armour of God. Sir Samuel Gerrard, the lord-mayor, countenanced this harangue, which, though extremely weak both in matter and ftyle, v/as publiflied linder his proteftion, and extolled by the Tories as a maf- terpiece of compofition.
Mr. Dolbcn, fon to the archblfhop of York, prefentcd ui^ trial. to the houfe of commons a complaint againit thcfe rhap- foilies, and by this condu£l gave them an importance which they would not otherwife have obtained. The
moil;
^02 ^he Hijlory of England.
mofl violent paragraphs were read, and the fermons vdted fcandalous and feditious libels. Sacheverel was brought to the bar of the houfe, where he gloried in what he had done, and mentioned the encouragement which the pub- lication af his fermons had received from the lord-rnayorj ■who was then prefent. Being ordered to withdraw, ic ■was refolved to impeach him at the bar of the houfe of lords, of high crimes and mifdemeanors ; and Mr. Dolbcn ■was appointed to condu£l the profecution, in the name of the commons of all England. A committee was chofen to draw up articles of impeachment ; Sacheverel was taken into cuftody ; and a day was appointed for his folemii tiial before the lords.
Meanwhile the Tories, to whom Sacheverel's principles were highly acreptable, failed not to exert themfelves in his defence. They boldly affirmed that the Whigs had formed a defign to pull down the church, and that this profecution was intended as a trial of their ftrength, be- fore they lliould proceed openly to the execution of their project. The clergy made ufe of all their influence to alarm and inflame their hearers ; while emilTaries were employed to work upon the minds of the populace, who ■were already prone to difcontent, from a fcarcity of pro- vifions, which was at that time felt in almoft every coun- try in Europe. It was urged, that the church was expofed to the moft imminent peril, from DifTenters, Whigs, and luke-warm prelates ; a fct of men whom they reprefented as the authors of the ruinous war, and ultimately of the terrible famine, which threatened to defolate the nation; So powerful a party having efpoufed the caufe of Sa- cheverel, after the articles were exhibited againft him, the lords thought proper to admit the prifoner to bail.
The eyes of the whole kingdom were turned upon this extraordinary trial, v/hich during the foace of three weeks entirely excluded all other bufinefs. The queen was every day prefent as a private fpedlator ; and when the culprit proceeded to Weftminfler-hall, he was daily attended by a multitude of the populace, who expreffed their attach- ment for him in the loudeft acclamations. The mana- gers for the commons were fir Jofeph Jekyl, Mr. Eyre, folicitor-general, fir Peter King, recorder, general Stan- hope, fir Thomas Parker, and Mr. Walpole. Sacheverel ■was defended by fir Simon Harcourt, and Mr. Phipps j and ajTifted by Dr. Atterbury, Dr. Smallridge, and Dr. Friend. While the trial continued, everyday was fignalized by fome frefli tumult of the populace. They furrounded the
queen's
Annf, 3^5
cjueen's fechn, excLiiming, •* God blefs your majcfty and Tumxiu im the church ! Wc hope your majefty is for Dr. Sachcvcrcl.'* ^o'""*- They deftroyed Icveral mceting-hcufcs, plundered the dwelling of many eniinent difleniers, and even propofed to attack the Bank. The queen, in compliance with the requcfl of the commons, publifhed a proclamation for fupprefFing the riots •, and feveral perfons being appre- hended, were tried for high-treafon. Two were con- vi£led, and received fentence of death, but neither fuf-
fered.
When the commons had finlfhed their charge, the ma- nagers for Sachevtrel undertook his defence with great art and eloquence. Himfelf afterwards recited a fpcech, which, from the ftrong contrail between it and hia fer- nions, feems evidently the work of another perfon. la this he folemnly judified his intentions towards the queeu and her government ; and fpokc in the moll refpedful" terms both of the Revolution, and the Proteflant fuccef- Con. He maintained the do£lrine of non-refiftance as a tenet of the church, m which he was brought up j and he endeavoured, in a pathetic conclufion, to excite the pity of his audience. He was furroundcd by the queen's chaplAins, who encouraged and extolled him as the cham- pion of the church j and he was favoured by the queen herfelf, who could not but entertain a partiality for a doflrine foiaufpicious to the royal prerogative.
The lords, when they retired to confulc upon his fer?- tence, were divided, and contined undetermined forfomc time. At length, after violent altercation, Sacheverel was found guilty by a majority ef feventeen voices; but d protell was entered againfc this deeifion by no Icfs than thirtv-four peers. He was prohibited from preaching for three years ; and his two fermons were ordered to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman, in the pre- fence of the lord- mayor and the two (heriffs.
The lenity of this fentence, whicli was chieily owing to the dread of popular refentment, was regarded by the Tories as a vii^ory over the oppofite fadlion. They cele- brated their triumph by bonfires and illuminations; and Sacheverel was loon after prefented to a benefice in North Wales, whither he was conduced with great pomp • and magnificence. On his way, he was fumpiuoufly en- tertained by the univerfity of Oxford, and many noble- men, who, while they worfliipped him as the idol of the if faftion, fecrctly held him in contempt. He was received in levcral towns by the ma^iHrates, in their formalities,
and
904 *^^'^ H'ijlory of England.
and was often attended by a body of a thoufand hcrfc." At Bridgenorth, he was met by one Mr. Crefwell, at the Iiead of four thoufand men on horfeback, and as many on foot, wearing white knots, edged with gold. The hedges were for two miles drefled with garlands, and the fteeples covered with ftreamcrs, flags, and colours. The church and Dr. Sacheverel was refounded in every quarter, and a fpirit of religious enthufiafm fpread through the whole nation. ADi7!o ^" thefe circumfliances, the queen thought proper to
. \ fummon a new parliament, in which very few were re-
A new par- turned, but fuch as had diftinguilhed themfelves by their huBitnt. zeal againll the Whig adminiilration, who were no longer able to keep their ground in oppofiti jn to the power of the queen, and the united voice of the peo- ple.
Mailborough had fome time before gone back to Flan- ders, where he led on the allied army to great, but dear bought victories. The king of France made propofals of peace, by which he offered to give up either Spain and its dominions, or the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, to Charles of Auftria, and to give a barrier to the Dutch in the Netherlands. The Dutch, however, being intoxicated •with fuccefs, and Marlborough being prompted both by intereH: and ambition to continue the war, thefe terms were rejected. The duke refolved to pufh his good for- tune ; and at the head of a numerous army came up to the village of Oudenardc, where the French, in equal numbers, were pofted. There cnfued a furious engage- 'jnent, in which the French were obliged to retire, and took the advantage of the night to fecure their retreat. About three thoufand were ilain on the field of battle, feven thoufand were made prifoners, and their army be- fides was confiderably reduced by defertion. This victory was followed by the furrender of Lifle, the ftrongefc town in Flanders. Ghent fhared the fame fate foon after; while Bruges, and the ether lefs towns in French Flanders, were abandoned by iheir garrifons.
The repeated fuccefles of the allies once more induced the French king to offer terms of peace, in which he was refolved to facrifice all confiderations of pride and ambi- tion, as well as the interefts of his grandfon in Spain, to a meafure which was now become indifpenfable. In a conference which enfued, the allies rofe in their demands, but without flipulating any thing in favour of the Eng- liih. The demands were lejefted by France, which, not-
withftanding
Anne, 3^5
MtritKftandlng its cxhauflcd ftate, made preparations for another campaign.
The allied army now amounted to one hundred and ten thoufand fighting men, and began with dirc£ling their operations againft Tournay, a place which was flrong both by art and nature, and contained a garrifon of twelve thoufand men. This fiege was condudled in a manner particularly terrible. As the befiegers proceeded by fap- ping, their troops that were conducing the mines fre- quently met with thofe of the enemy under ground, and furioufly engaged in fubterraneous confli6ls. At length, after an obllinate refiftance, the town capitulated, and the troops in the citadel were made prifoners of war. This event was in a Ihort time followed by the battle of Mal- plaquet, in the neighbourhood of which place, behind the woods of La Merte and Taniers, was polled the French army, amounting to a hundred and twenty thou- fand men, under the command of the great marfhal Vil- lars. They had fortified their camp in fuch a manner with lines, hedges, and trees laid acrofs, that it Teemed to be quite inacceflible. What were the duke's motives Battle of for attacking them at fuch a difadvantage to himfclf have ^^'^^P^'^' not been clearly afcertained; bur, on the nth of Sep- ^^ tember, early in the morning, the allied army, favoured by a thick fog, began the operation. Their fury was chiefly diredled againft the left of the enemy, where the French, notwithftanding their lines and barricadocs, were in lefs than an hour driven from their entrenchments : but on the enemy's right, the combat was maintained^ with greater obftinacy. The Dutch, who carried on the attack, drove them from their firft line ; but were repulf- ed from the fecond with great flaughter. At laft, how- ever, the French were obliged to quit the field, Villars being dangeroufly wounded, the command was alTumed by Boufflers, under whom they made an excellent retreat, and took pod near Guefnoy and Valenciennes. The allied, army remained mafters of the field of battle, which, how- ever, they had the mortification to find ftrewed with tlie bodies of twenty thoufand of their beft troops. The city of Mons furrendered foon after ; and with this tranfadlion the allies concluded the campaign.
Notwithftanding the flaughter which had been inade iij the allied army in this battle, Lewis continued defiious of peace, and refolved once more to folicit a conference. To negociate upon this fubjcd\, he employed one Petkum, the duke of Pfolftein'a xcfident at the Hague •, and himfclf
Vol.. II. X even
3o<J The Hiftory of England,
even fubmlttcd to requefl privately the duke's good office** But as his affairs were now in a lefs defperate fituation than they had been in the beginning of the campaign, he ■would not adhere to thofe conditions which he had at that tjme offered as preliminaries to a conference. Though the Dutch had already rejected thofe conditions, they inveigh- ed againft his infincerity in thus retracting them ; and the duke endeavoured, with all his art, to confirm them in the refolution of profecuting the war. The French king, how- ever, tired of maintaining a conteft which, befides entail- ing mifery on his fubjefts, he could not much longer fup- port, continued to deprecate the vengeance of the allies ; and, by means of Petkum, implored the Dutch, that the regociation might be refumed. At length, a conference was opened at Gertruydenburgh, under the influence of INIarlborough, Eugene, and Zinzendorff, who were all, from private motives, entirely averfe to the treaty. Upon this occafion, the French miniftcrs experienced every fpecies of mortification that the infolence of viftory could fuggefl. Spies were placed upon all their conduft ^ and even their letters were opened. The Dutch deputies would liflen to no expedient for removing the dilBculties which retarded the negociation. The French commif- fioners offered to fatisfy every complaint that had given rife to the war. They agreed to grant the Dutch a large barrier ; they confented to abandon Philip of Spain, and even were willing to furniOi a fupply towards the dethron-' ing of that prince. But thefe offers, however great and flattering, were treated with contempt. The deputies; ■were, therefore, obliged to return home, after having fent the States a letter, in which they warmly remonftrated againft the unworthy treatment v/hich they had received. Lewis, feeing all his efforts for obtaining peace entirely fruftrated, relblved to hazard another campaign, not with- out hope that fome lucky incident in the profecution of the war, or lome happy change in the miniftry of England, might procure him more favourable terms.
Though the continuance of the war prolonged Marlbo- rough's power on the continent, all his influence at hom» was at an end. The members of the new parliament were almoft univerfally Tories. From every quarter of the king- ■ dom, addreffes, confirming the do£lrine of non-refiftance, were prefented to the queen, by whom they were received with evident marks of fatisfaclion. The conferences be- ing broke off at Gertruydenburgh, the defigns of the Dutch and Engliili commanders were too obvious not to
be
Auuc. 307
tc perceived. The writers of the Tory faifbion, wiio vrere men of the firft eminence for literary talents, difplayetl, ill vehement ileclanutions, the avarice of Marlborough, and the fclf-inierclkd conducLl of the Dutch. They iu- /iftcd, that wiille England was orhaufiinc; her ftrcngtli in foreign conquers, for the benefit of other nations, flie was lofing tier liberty at home ; and that the n-.embers of the admiiiiflration, not contented with fharing the plunder of an ImpovcrifVitd flate, were rerdved on controlling, with their Influence, even the conllitutlonal exertion of the royal authority. .'
Thefe complaints, though exaggerated, were not defl:!-' tute of foundation. The infolence of the duchefs of Marl^' borough^ who had hitherto poflefied more power than thq whole privy-council united, was become infupportuble to the queen, who was refolved to feize ihe firfl: opportunity of difplaying.her refentnienti
Upon the. death of the earl of E(Tcx, who was colonel o£ a regiment under Marlborough, the queen refolved to be- ftow that preferment on a perfon whom (he knew was ob- noxious to the duke. She, therefore, fent word to the latter, that (lie wilhed. he would give that regiment to Mr. Hill, brother to her favourite ^irs. Mafha'm, as a perfon every way qualified for the command. The duke was ftruck wiih this rcquefl, which he conGdeicd as a pre- vious fl:ep to his own difgrace. He reprefcnted to the queen, the prejudice that viould refult to the fewice from the promotion of fo young an oflicer. He expoflulated on this extraordinary mark of partiality for the brother of Mrs. iV'Iafliam, who had treated him' with peculiar ingratitude. To thefe remonftrances the queen made no other reply, but that he would do well to confult his friends. He re- tired in difgult, and fat down to meditate a letter, ia which he begged leave of her nvajefty to refign all his em- ployments.
Meanwhile, the queen, who was confcious of her own popularity, went to the council, where flie feerned not to take the leaft notice of the duke's abfenee. The whole band of his friends, of whom the council almolt entirely confided, failed not to alarm her with the confequences of difobliging fo ufeful a fervant. She, therefore, dilTembled her refcntment; and went fo far as to fend the duke a letter,' empowering him to difpofe of the regiment as he thought proper; infifting alfo, for the prefent, on his retaining the command of the army, though fhe was too fenfibly provoked at many parts of his condu<5^ not :o wilh for his removal.
X 2 The-
3&S The Hijoiy of Englayrd,
The duchefs of Marlborough, concluding, from rfiefe apparent tokens of returning favour, that the queen was willing to be reconciled, refolved once more to pra£tife the ]ong-negle£led arts by which (he had firft obtained the royal confidence. She, therefore, on pretence of vindicating her character from fome afperfions, demanded an audience of her majefty. She hoped to work upon the queen's ten- dernefs by tears and fuppHcations j which, however, were productive of no dfTefl. The queen, who heard her with- out exhibiting the leaft emotions of tendernefs or pity, gave no other anfwer to her fuppHcations than by repealing an imfolent expreflion, formerly ufed in a letter to herfel£ from this lady, " You defired no atifwer, and you (hall have none." A.D.i7it. To dcpofc at once a miniftry, fo long eftablifhcd in
power, required a degree of courage which was hardly to
TAe queen be expelled in the breaft of a female fovereign ; and, though 7/a'^"Z Parley, who ftiU fhared the queen's confidence, did not minSry. ^^^^ ^o enforce the fecurity of fueh a meafure, fhe would agree to proceed in their removal only by infenfibJe de- grees. She began by transferring the poft of lord-cham- berlain from the duke of Kent to the duke of Shrewfbury^ who had lately fided with the Tories, and maintained an intimate correfpoiidence with Mr. Harley. The earl of Sunderland, fecrerary of ftate, and fon-in-law to the duke of Marlborough, was foon after difplaced, and the earl of Dartmouth put in his room.
The queen, finding that thefe changes were not unac- ceptable to t!ie nation, refolved to rid herfelf entirely of a mmiftry which had, for years, kept even herfelf in a ftatc of fubjecllon to their power. In this refolution {he was confirmed by the duke of Beaufort, who, coming to court, informed her majefty, that he came once more to pay his duty to the " queeu." The whole Whig party was thrown into confternation, and exerted their united efi^brts to prevent, if pofTible, the ruin, which threatened their aathority. They influenced the direftors of the bank fo far as to afiure her majefty, that public credit would be annihilated by this extraordinary change in her councils* The Dutch moved heaven a:id earth with memorials and menaces, if the apparent defigns of the court fhould be Bijfo/utiofi carried into execution In fpite of all thefe remonftrances^ »f theWhig bowever, the queen proceeded in her plan. Lord Godol- mtnijlrj. pj^jj^ being divcfted of his oflBce, the treafury was put in commiffion, fubjedled to the direflion of Harley, who was appointed chancellor of the exchequer, and under-trea- y furer*
Anne. 309
fHrer. The carl of Roclieftcr was declared prefulent of the council, in the room of lord Soniers. '1 he llaff of lord-llcwartl, being taken from the duke of DevonOiire, was given to the duke of Buckiiighdni -, and Mr. Boyle was removed from the fecrct.iry's office, to make way lor Mr. Henry St. John. The lord chancellor having refign- cd the great-feal, it was firft put in commiflion, and after- wards given to fir Sinion Harcourt. The earl of Whar- ton, wlio refigned his conimifhon of lord-lieutenant of Ireland, was fucceeded in that employment by the duke of Ormond. Mr. George Granville was appointed fccrc- tary of war, in the room of Mr. Robert Walpole. Of the whole Whig party, Marlborough alone remained in olhce ; but, though flill general of the army, lie confidcr- cd his fall as extremely near.
The parliament meeting foon after, the queen, in her fpeech, recommended a vigorous profecution of the war. Both houfes exprefled their fatisfartion with zeal and una- nimity. They exhorted her majefty, to difcountenance all fuch principles and meafures as were lately maintained to the derogation of the dignity of the crown. Marlborough, who but a few months before had been fo highly extolled by the reprefcntatives of the people, was now become the phjc£l of their hatred and reproach. He was upbraided with avarice, as the motive from which he had induf- trioufly protracted the war. Various inftances of his fraud and extortion were fpecified ; and fo intemperate was the fpirit of party, that even his courage and conduit were called in queflion. To increafe the duke's mortifaca- tion, the tlianks of the houfe of commons were voted to the earl of Peterborough, for his lervices in Spain, when they were refufed to Marlborough, for thofe in Flanders j and the lord-keeper, in delivering them to Peterborough, took occafiou to drop fome reflections againft the merccr nary difpofition of his rival.
Harley, during this ferment, dill maintained the ap- pearance of moderation j and was even fufpected, by his more violent afTociates, as a lukewarm friend to the caufe in which they had embarked. An accident, however, had the efFetl nat only of procuring him the confidence of his own party, but of eftablifliing his credit with the queen. One Guifcard, a French ofhccr, who had communicated fome ufeful intelligence relative to the affairs of France, had received from the crown a precarious peufion of four hundred pounds a-year, wh.ch he confidered as a reward extremely difproportioned to his fervices. He had often
X 3 endeavoured
: IQ The Hifiory of E>i gland.
endeavoured to procure admittance to the queen, but was ftiil prevented either by Harley or St. John. He then at- tempted to make his peace with France; and, in a letter to Moreau, a banjcer m Paris, offered his fervices as a fpy. But his letcers being intercepted, a warrant was iffued to apprehend hiir. for high treafon. Confcious of his guilt, and certain that the charge could be p:oved againft him, he fought not to avoid his fate, but refolved, though at the cxpence of new criminality, to fatiate his revenge. Being carried befoie the council, convened at a place called the Cock-pit, he perceived a pen-knife lying upon the table, and took it up without being obferved by any of the attendants. When queflioned by the members of the council, he endeavoured to evade his examination, and dciired permiilion to fpeak in private to Mr. Secretary St. John. His reqeell, however, being refufed, he faid, " That's hard ! not one word !" Upon which, as St. John was out of his reach, he ftept towards Mr. Harley, Cu'ifcard "and crying out, " Have at thee then 1" flabbed him in the at:e>!.f>!s to brcaft with the pen-kiiife which he had concealed. By Jiabtiarirj. ^QQ^ fortune, the blade of the knife broke upon the rib, without Entering the cavity of the breaft ; but he re- peated the blow with fuch violence that Harley fell to the ground. Sr. John exclaimed, "The villain has killed Mr. Harley !" and inftantly drawing his fword, while others followed his example, Guifcard was wounded in feveral places. He ftill, however, continued to ftrike and defend liimfelf, until, being overpowered by the meffengers and fervaiits, -who, on hearing the noife, had rufhed in, he was conveyed from the council-chamber, which he had filled with terror and confufion. His wounds, though dangerous, were not m.ortal •, but he died of a gangrene, occafioned by the contufions which he had fuflained. This attempt upon the life of Harley, by a perfon who was proved an enemy to the ftate, extinguifhed the fufpi- cions of thofe who began to doubt of that miniiler's in- tegrity.
The two houfes of parliament, in an addrefs to the queen, declared their belief, that Mr. Harley's fideUty to her majefty, and ^cal for her fervice, had drawn upon him the hatred of all the abettors of popery and faction. After his recovery, when he appeared in the houfe of com- mons, he was congratulated upon it by the fpeaker, in a Harhy jt premeditated fpeech, full of panegyric and adulation. The appcrated tarl of Rochefter dying, Harity became fole minifter, was —nijler. created baron of Wigmore, and raifed to the rank of ea+i bv thctitles of Oxford and Mortimer,
Anne. 3 1 1
The favourable (lirpofitioii of the miniflers to the. church was confirnied by an nifl now pafled, far buildinj; fifty new chiirclies in the city and fiihurbs of Lumlon j fur which piirpofe, they appropriated a duty on coals.
The firfl doubts of the expeulence of continuing the war were introduced in tlie houfo of commons. TIjc members voted an addrcfs to the queei;, in which they t:pmpluined loudly of the former adminilliation ; affirm- ing, that irreparable mifchief v/ou!d have enfurrd from the profecution of their meafuies, and thanking her majelly. for their difmilhon.
It now remained only to remove the duke of Marlbo- rough from his pofl ; and this being a (tep which could not be taken without giving offence to the Dutch, it was neccflary to wait for fonie convenient opportunity. INlean-- wliile, the duke headed the army in Flanders, and Icd'oa his forces againft marflial Villars, who feemed refolvcd,t,o hazard a battle- The former contrived his meafurcs fo, that by marching and counter-marching, he induced the ene- my, without flriking a blow, to qr.it a flrong line of en- trenchments, of which he immediately took poITenion. This enterprise was followed by the furrender of Bou- chain, whicli, after a fiege of twenty days, capitulated, and formed tlic laR military atchicvement of this cele- brated general. Upon his return from this campaign, he. was accufed of having taken a bribe of fix thoufand pounds a-year from a Jew, who contracted to fupply the army with bread ; and the queen now thought proper to difmifs rt'ifminioH lum from all his employments. The defire of accumulat- of Mmlba- ing money is acknowleged to have been a pafhon which rough, aiTtuated this general through ih.c whole of his condu£l, and has call upon his chnracfter fugh a Itain, as all his mi- litary talents have not been able. to obliterate. At the time when he received this gratuity, of ^w thoufand a-ycar, from Medina, the Jew, he was allowed ten thoufand pounds a-year from the queen. He alfo referred for himfcif a deduction of two and a half per cent, from the' pay of the foreign troops maintained by England, and all this exclufive of his ordinary pay as general of the Britifli forces.
For fometime before the difmifficn of Marlborough, a ricgociation for peace had been carriecl on between the court of France and the new miniflry. • The latter hoped to obtain, for the fubjetts of Great Britain, fuch advan- tages in point of coinmerce, as would i.filence all the cla- mours of the Whig party. In order, therefore to lermi-' nate the war as fcon as poluble, the earl of Jerfey, "who ■' ' X 4. a^ed
312 The Wtfltiry of England,
a£ted in concert with Oxford, fent to the court of France a private meflage, importing the queen's earneft defire for peace, and her willi for a renewal of the conference. Nsgnda- This information was delivered by one Gualtier, an ob- tioKs for fcure pried, who was chaplain to the imperial ambaflador, pease. ^^d a fpy for the French court. The hiefi'age was receiv- ed by Lewis with great pleafure, andan anfwer, ardently profefifing the fame inclinations, was returned. This led the way to a reply, and foon after the court of France fent a more definitive memorial, which was immediately approved.
The States-general having perufed the French memo- rial, aflured queen Anne that they were ready to join with her in contributing towards the eftablifliment of a general peace; but they expreffed a deGre that the French king would be more explicit in his declaration for fettling the rcpofe of Europe. To give the Dutch fome fatis- . fafticn on this head, a conference took place between the miniftersof the Britilh and French courts. Prior, bettef known as a poet than as a ftatefman, was fent over with propofals to France ; and, in his return, he was accom- panied to London by Menager, who was veiled with full powers to treat upon the preliminaries. Thefe, after Jong debates, were agreed on, and figned by the Englifli and French minifler, in confequence of a written order from her majefty.
The next objedl of the adminiflration was to make the terms of peace agreeable to all the confederates. The carl of Stafford, who had been lately recalled from the Hague, where he refided as ambaffador, was now fent back to Holland, with orders to communicate to the pen- lionary, Heinfius, the preliminary propofals, and to fix upon a place where the plenipotentiaries fhould affemble. The Dutch, upon examining the preliminaries, were very averfe to beginning the conference. They fent over an envoy to endeavour to difTuade the queen from her refolu- tion ; but not fucceeding in this attempt, they fixed upon Utrecht as the place of general conference, and accord* ingly granted pafTports to the French minifters.
The Dutch and the Germans, who were alike itidlf- pofed to an accommodation, had rccourfe to various ex-o:- pedients for fruflrating the negociations of this congrefs. The emperor wrote circular letters to the princes of the empire, exhorting them to perfift in their former engage- ments. His ambaflador in London getting a copy of the • preliminary articles, had them inferted in a commoii . Jiewfpaperj in Order to throw Jplame upon the miniflry^
and render their proceedings odious to tlie people. Tlie Dutch alfo laboured to excite difcontents in t.ngland againft the meafurcs of the government. The Whigs in London failed not to co-optrate with their foreign con- federates in difleminating clamours over the nation, lle- proaches, hbels, and lampoons, were every day publifl^ed by one fa<flion,and the nextd-ay were anfv/ered by the other. At this peiiod prince Eugene arrived in England, with the defign, as was fufpe«ltcd, of intriguing among the difcontented party, who oppofed the peace. Though his vifit was far from being agreeable to the miniftry, he was treated with that refpei!ft which was due to his rank anrl eminent talents; and he was admitted to an audience oi the queen, who received him with great complacency.
Many of the motives which had firll incited the confe- derates and French to take up arms, no longer exiiled. Charles of Auftria, in whofe caufe England had fpcnt To much blood and treafure, was, by the death of his elder brother, the emperor Jofcph, placed on the imperial throne. Every reafon, therefore, concurred for not fup- porting his pretenfions to the Spanidi monarchy ; theac- quifitlon of which, though at firll an objedl of the confe- derates was become incompatible with the general liberties of Europe. The elector of Bavaria, who had been intimately connected with the French, was now detached from them ; and the Dutch, who had trembled for their own barrier, were encroaching upon that of the enemy. Thougli it was the intereft of England, therefore, that her allies ihould be reindated in their rights, it was inconfiftent with good policy that they (hould be rendered too powerful.
In the month of January the conferences were opened -^-^ 17^*- at Utrecht, under the condudl of Roblnfon, biiliop of "~ *
Briilol, lord privv-feal, and the earl of Stafford, on the """y'-
' k J ' ' fences
fide of the Er.glifh ; of Buys and VanderdulTen, on the opened at part of the Dutch; and of themarftial d'Uxcllcs, the car- Ucne/a, dinal Polignac, and M. Menager, in behalf of France. The minifters of the emperor and Savoy alhlled, and the other allies fent alfo plenipotentiaries, though with the utmoft relu(Slance. England and France being the only The queen's powers that were fincerely inclined to peace, the deputies "•f^i"''" of the other confederates ferved rather to retard than ad- °^{''//! Vance its progrcfs. Ihe emperor infilled obftinately on alliei. hiiiclaim to the Spanilh monarchy ; while the Dutcli ad- hered to the old preliminaries which Lewis had formerly teje«^eJ. ' .
•• • The
314 Sr-6^ Hijlory of England,
The Englifh minlflers were fenfible of the difficult taffe^ they bad to fuflain ; oppofed, as they were, by the con- federates abroad, and a dcfperate party in the kingdom. By adopting a bold meafure of creating twelve peers in one day, they fecured a majority in the houfe of lords. But in their prefent lituation difpatch was requifite. The queen's health was vifibly declining, and, in cafe of her death, they forefaw the ruin of all their fchemes. They therefore fet on foot a private negociation with France. They ftipulated certain advantages for the fubjeQs of Great Britain in a concerted plan of pacification. Thefe articles were privately regulated between the two courts ; but being the refult of hafte and necefhty, they were not fo favourable to the Englifh interefts as the fanguine part of the nation had been taught to expe£l.
During thefe tranfadions the French plenipotentiaries at Utrecht delivered their propofals in wriring, under the title of Specific Offers. Thefe were treated with great contempt by the confederates, who, on the other hand, drew up their own Specific Demands, which were confi- dered as highly extravagant by the minilters of France. After many conferences there appeared no profpeft of an accommodation, until the Englifli minifters, willing to include their allies, if polTible, in the treaty, departed from fome of their fecret pretenfions, in order to gratify the Dutch with the poffenion of feme towns in Flanders. They confented to admit the republic into a participation of fome advantages in commerce. At laft the queen, find- ing the confederates flill determined to adhere to their firft preliminaries, gave them to underftand, that as they failed to co-operate with her openly and fincerely, (he looked upon herfelf as entirely releafed from all her former engagements. The queen's difpleafure foon be- came manifefl from an order tranfmitted to the Englifli army in Flanders not to aft upon the offenfive. Upon the difmifiion of the duke of Marlborough, the duke of Ormond had been inverted with the fupreme command of the Britifh forces ; but with particular direftions that he fhould not hazard an engagement. Fie joined, however, prince Eugene, who, not being let into the fecret, ad- vifed the attacking the French army, but was foon made acquainted with the inftrudtions received by his coadjutor. Ormond felt himfelf extremely uneafy in his prefent fitua- tion ; and, in a letter to the fecretary in England, defired permiflion to return home. The confederates were loud in their complaints againft the Englifli miuiftry. They
expo*
Awe. 315
expodulatcd with the deputies at Utrecht upon fo pcrHr dious a conduc);. But tl\ey wefe aufwercd, that tlie States-general not having paid proper regard to the ad- vances made by the queen, (lie confidcred herlelf at li- berty to enter into feparatc meafures to obtniii a peace for her own advantage.
The Dutch, however, were not difpofed to arqiiicfce iji the force of this argumenr ; and their caufc being fup- ported by a powerful party among the lords, it was rc- Iblved to arraign in that houfe the conc!u£l of the inini- llry. In a fpeech made by Lord Ildllifax, he expatiated on the ill confcquences of tl\e duke of Ormono'.s rcfufip"^ to co-operate with prince Eugene, and moved for ad- drefling her majedy to loofen the hands of the Englifh ge- neral. The earl of Paulet replied, that though none could doubt of the duke of Ormond's courage, yet he was not like a certain general, who led troops to the llaughter, in hopes that a great number of officers might be knockexl on the head, and that, by difpofing of their commilhons, he might increafe his own treafares. Tlic duke of Marlborough, who was prefent, was fo exnfpe- rated at this infinuation, that he lent the earl a challenge the next day ; but this tranfa£tion coming to tlie queen's ears, the duke received orders to proceed no farther in the quJirel. * .
The allies, though deprived of the afTiflance of the Eng- lifb, were Hill fuperior in force to the enemy ; but foon felt the importance of the lofs which they luftained by that defcdlion. Villars attacked a body of their troops, encamped at Denain, under the command of the earl of Albemarle. Their entrenchments were forced, and fe- vtnteen battalions either dellroyed or made prifoners. i\mong the latter were the earl and the furviving officers.
The negociations of the deputies at Utrecht were ha- flened by thefe fuccelfes. The great obftacle to the com- pletion of the treaty was fettling the fuccellion to the kingdoms of France and Spain. The interells of Europe ir.ight be endangered, fhould both kingdoms be united under one fovercign j and Pliilip, who was now king of Spain, flood next in fuccefhou to tlie crown of France, failing one child (afterwards Lewis ^V.) who was then fickly. After many expedients, however, Philip at lad rcfolved to wave hispreienlions to the French monarchy, and the treaty went forward without any farther delay.
In the beginning of Auguft, fecretary St. John, now freated lord vifcount Bolingbroke, was fcnt over to the
coure
31 5 ^'he H'ljhry of England,
court of Verfallles to remove all obftru£llons to the fepa» ra^e treaty. He was accompanied by. Mr. Prior and the abbe Gaaltier, and was treated with the mod diflinguifti* ed marks of refpe<5l-- The negociation being finifhedin a few days, Bolingbroke returned to England, leaving Prior as refident at the court of France.
Meanwhile the articles of the intended treaty were warmly canvafled among all ranks of people in London ; and the duke of Hamilton having been appointed ambaf- fador extraordinary to the court of France, the Whigs were alarmed on the fuppofition that this nobleman fa- voured the Pretender. Some difpute arifing between the duke and lord Mohun on the fubjetl of a law-fuit, furnifhed pretence for a quarrel. Mohun, who had twice been tried for murder, and was accounted a mean tool of the Whig party, fent a meflage by general Macartney to ^ht duie of \}t\t duke, challenging him to a duel. The principals Hamilton met by appointment in Hyde Park, attended by Macart- ^Mohln "^y ^""^ colonel Hamilton. They fought with fuch fury killed in a ^^^^ Mohun was killed upon the fpot, and the duke ex- 4uel. pired before he could be conveyed to his own houfe. Ma-
cartney difappeared, and efcaped in difguife to the conti- ■ nent. Colonel Hamilton declared upon oath, before the privy council, that when the principals engaged, he and Macartney followed their example ; that Macartney was immediately dlfarmed ; but the colonel feeing the duke fall upon his antagonift, threw away the fwords, and ran to lift him up \ that while he was employed in that office, INIacartney, having taken up one of the fwords, ftabbe4 the duke over colonel Hamilton's fliouldcr, and immediate- ly retired. This event ferved to exafperate the Whigs and Tories againll each other. Mobs now began to be hired by both fa£lions, and the city was filled with riot and up- Marlha- roar. The duke of Marlborough hearing himfelf accufed. ■rough re- ^g j}^g fecret author of thefe mifchiefs, thought proper to eominent' r^^'^^ ^o the continent, whither he was followed by his
duchefs. A.D. 1713. Ac length the treaties of peace and commerce between '_ England and France being agreed on by the plenipoten-
tiaries on either fide, and ratified by the queen, (he com- cumicated to the parliament the fteps (he had taken. She informed them of her precautions to fecare the fucceffion of a proteftant prince; and defired them confider by her a£lions, whether ihe meant to oppofe the pretenfions of £be houfe of Hanover. She left it to the commons to de- termine what forces, and what fupplies might be neceflary for the defence of the kingiom. " Make yourfelves fafe
faid
Jmie, 317
(fald fhe), and I (hall be fatisfied. The afTe^lion of my
people, and the providence of heaven, are the only guards
I ali: for my protedion." Both houfes prefentcd her warm Peace is
addrefTes ; and the ratifications of the treaty being c\' Proclaimnl.
changed, peace was proclaimed on the 5th of May, to
the inexprediblc joy of the greater part of the nation,
which had ardently defired that event.
The articles of this famous peace were more minutely ^"k/j"*^' examined, and more warmly debated, than thofc of any °I'1 oiher that ever was concluded between nations. The befu-ee/t firfl ftipulation was, that Philip, now acknowleged king Great of Spain, fliould renounce all right to the crown of ^fitaiii France. It was agreed that the duke of Berry, Philip's p brother, and next to him in fuccefTion, (hould alfo re- nounce his right to the crown of Spain, in the event of his becoming king of France. It was ftipulated ihat the duke of Savoy (hould poflefs the iHand of Sicily, with the title of king ; and that Feneftrelles, with other places on the continent, (hould be added to his dominions. The Dutch obtained the barrier for which they had fo long been folicitous, and were put in pofTefTion of the flrongcft towns in Flanders. With regard to England, her honour and her interefts were fecured. The fortifications of Dunkirk, a harbour which in time of v/ar might prove dangerous to her commerce, were ordered to be demo- lilhed, and its port deftroyed- Spain refigned all preten- fions to Gibraltar, and the ifland of Minorca. France renounced Hudfon's Bay, Nova Scotia, and Newfound- land ; but was left in poireffion of Cape Breton, and the liberty of drying their fifli upon the (bore. Among the articles glorious to the Britifh nation, was that of fetting free the French Proteftants confined in the prifons and gallles on account of their religion. For the emperor it was ftipulated, that he (hould pofiefs tlie kingdom of Na- ples, the duchy of Milan, and the Spanifia Netherlands. The king of Pruffia was to have Upper Guelder ; and a time was fixed for the emperor's acceding to thefe ar- ticles, as he had for fome time obflinately refufed to afTift at the negociation. The Knglilh minillers, upon the whole, difcovercd themfelves to have been not only atten- tive to the interefts of their ov.mi, but of foreign nations; and it was owing entirely to the fac'^ion and animofity of the times, that a treaty fo reafonablc; and worthy of praife did not give univerfal fatisfaftion.
After this event the Dutch and the Itnperialifts, though they feemed refolved to hold out for fome time, foon con- cluded
3 i 8 The HfJIory of E'tiglaiui.
eluded a peace with their enemy; one by the barrier treaty, and the other by that of Raftadt; in each of which the treaty of Utrecht was confirmed.
The parties which had lately agitated the nation now- proceeded in their diflenfions with redoubled animofity. Whether it was at this time the wifh of the minifters ra transfer the fuccefhon of the crown from the houfe of Hanover to the Pretender, cannot now be known with any certainty. The Whigs, however, fufpefted fuch a defign, and the Tories but faintly denied it. The former ■were all in commotion, either really apprehending, or afFeding to apprehend that intention. It was even re- ported that the Pretender was a£lually concealed in Lon- don, and that he had held feveral conferences with the minifters of ftate. The principal men among the Whigs, at the fame time, held fecret conferences with baron" Schutz, refident from, the court of Hanover ; and they communicated their apprehenfions to the elector, who therefore, before his arrival in England, contradled a pre- " judice againfi: tlie lories. In return to their declarations of attachment, they received his inftru6lions, and were alfured of his particular favour in cafe of his fucceflion.
The fpirit of difcontent was induflrioufly raifed by
party-writings, among the authors of which, Mr. Steele,
afterwards known as the celebrated fir Richard Steele,
was not a little ad?tive. In a pamphlet called the Crifis,
which he wrote, he inveighed againfl: the miniftry, and
urged the immediate danger of bringing in the Pretender. .
Mr. Steele The commons confidered this as a fcandalous and fedi-
expelleJ tious libel, and Steele, who was one of the members, was
'comZt°^ expelled the houfe.
A. 0.17 14. ^^^ while the minifters were thus attacked by tlieir
. ,. opponents, their union was weakened by their own in-
Dijjenfwns ternal diflenfions. Both Harley and St. John were nov.' of the mi- called up to the houfe of lords ; the former by the title of wjltrs, Oxford, and the latter by that of Bolingbroke. Though at firft they purfued the fame interefts, they were at this time become competitors for power. The treafurer's parts were deemed more folid ; but the fecretary's more brilliant -, and each of them equally ambitious. Oxford was bent on fupporting the fame rank which he had ob- tained upon the diffolution of the laft miniftry ; while Bolingbroke difdained to a£l in a ftation fubordinate to that of the man whom he thought he excelled in abilities. They began, therefore, to form feparate interefts, and to adopt different principles. Oxford, it was imagined, was
Anne. 319
110 enemy to the Hanover fucceflion ; Bolingbr6ke, on the contrary, it was alleged, liati feme hopes of bringing ia the Pretender.
The queen, whofe health was faft declining, was fcn- fibly alTedted with thefe diflcniions, wliith flic endeavour- ed to appeafe, both by her advice and authority. The council-chamber was, fur fome time, turned into a fcene of altercation. Even in the queen's prefence the treafurer and fecretary gave vent to mutual reproaches. As Ox- ford forefaw that the Whig minillry would again force themfelves into power, he was for purfuing moderate meafures. Bolinghroke, however, was for fetting the Whigs at defiance, and made his court to the queen, by giving way to all her attachments. At length their ani- mofi ties coming to a height, Oxford wrote the queen a letter, containing a detail of public rranfaclions ; in the courfe of which he endeavoured to juftify his own con- du6l, and expofe the turbulent fpirit of his rival ; who, on the other hand, accufed the treafurer with having in- vited the duke of Marlborough to return from his volun- tary exile, and of maintaining private correfpondence with the houfe of Hanover. In confequence of this Oxftr^is charge, joined to the intrigues of lady Malhatn, who fc->^'y«^<'«'. conded the aims of Bolingbroke, Oxford was removed from his employment, and his rival feemcd, for a fhort time, to triumph in the victory he had obtained.
The fall of the treafurer was fo fudden, that no plan Thequten was eftabliflied for fupplyingthe vacancy occafioned by his /''•~'^*^ difmiflfion ; and the queen, from her weak llate of health, y'^'» ''* was fo much overwheln>cd with anxiety, and harrnlled diforder. with the perplexing (late of affairs, that her Urength proved infuflicient to fupport the fatigue. A long cabinet council on this event had fuchau efl'oc^ on her fpirits and conftitution, that fiie declared fiie could not outlive it, and immediately funk into a flate of lethargic difordcr. Notwithflanding all the remedies which were adminifler- cd, the diftemper increafcd fo fait, that next day tliey de- fpaired of her life, and the privy-council way allenibled on theoccafion. The dukes of Somerfet and Argyle be- ing informed of the defpcrate fituation' in which Ihe hiy, : repaired to the palace, and, without being fumnioned, entered the council-chamber, not a little to the furprifc of the Tory members. The duke of ShrewlLury th.mked them for their readinefs to give their afliflance at I'o cri- tical a jun£ture, and defircd them to take tljeir place?. The piiyficians having declared tii^t the queen was dill
fcniiblc.
320 ^he Bijlo^y of England.
fenfiblc, the council unanimoufly agreed, that the duke of Shrevvlbury was the fitted perfon to be appointed to the vacant office of trcafurer ; and thus Bolingbroke's am- bition was defeated, juft when he thought hinifelf at the point of obtaining that promotion which he had fo e'^gerJy purfued.
All the members of the privy-council, without diflinc- tion, being now fumroued from the different parts of the kingtlom, began to take meafures for the public fecu- rity. They fent a letter to the ele£lor of Hanover, in- forming iiim of (he queen's defperate fituation, and de- fining him to repair immediately to Holland, whence he fhould be conveyed into England by a Britifii fquadron. At the fame time they difpatched inflruftions to che earl of Stafford, at the Hague, to defire the States-general to be ready to perform the guaranty of the proteftant fuccef- fion. Precautions were taken to fecure the fea-ports ; and the command of the fleet was beftowed on the earl of Berkeley, a profcfTed Whig.
On the 13th of July the queen feemed fo much re- lieved from her diforder, that fhe arofe from her bed about eight o'clock, and walked a little. After fomc time, calling her eyes on a clock that Hood in her chamber, llie continued to gaze at it forfome minutes. One of the ladies in waiting alked her what {he faw there more than ufual ; to wloich the queen only anfwered by turning her eyes upon her with a dying look. She was foon after feized with a fit of the apoplexy, and continued in a ilatc of infenfibility, with (hort intervals, until the ift of Au- Her death, guft in the morning, when {he expired, in the forty-ninth
year of her age, and the thirteenth of her reign. and cha- Anne was of a middle fize, and well proportioned ; of
railir. ^ ruddy complexion, and an afpeft rather comely than- maje{tic. Her under{landing, though not much culti- vated by learning, was naturally good ; and her greateft weaknefs was that of being fubjecl to the in{luence of fa- vourites. She was a pattern of conjugal fidelity, an af- fectionate mother, a warm friend, and an indulgent mi- ftrefs; nor was it without the juftefl pretenfions that {lie univerfally obtained theexprefTive, though fimple epithet, of ** the good queen Anne." In no preceding reign had the glory of the nation ever been carried to fuch a height, either in 'arms or elegant literature ; and {he was the la{t of a family that will be celebrated to the late{l ages for its misfortunes.
CHAP,
[ 321 ]■
CHAP. XI.
J^rotn the Acce[fion of tlyt lloufe of Hanover y to the Peace of Paris , in 1762.
GEORGE I.
'T'HE opponents of the Hanoverian fuccefTion had en- ^ 0.1-74.
•■■ tertainecl fome hopes, that the fon of the exiled ■ .'
James the Second might, on the firfl vacancy, fucceed Acccffion of to the throne of his anceflors ; but all their expecftations Ccrge h were blafted by the premature death of the queen, and the change which took place in the miniftry. Purfuant to the acl of fuccefTion, the crown was referved for George I. fon of Erneft Auguflns, iivd cle6lor of Brunfwick, and the princefs Sophia, grand-daughter to James the Firft, The queen had no fooner refigned her laft brea'h, than the privy-council met, and three inftiruments were produced, by which tlie ele£lor appointed feveral of his known adherents to be added as lords juflices to the fevea great ofRces of the kingdom. Orders were immediately ilFued for proclaiming his majeftyin England, Scotland, and Ireland with the ufual titles of the fovcreign. The regency appointed the earl of Dorfet to carry him. the intimation of his acceflion to the crown, and to attend him in his journey to England. They filled the military pofts with general of- ficers in whom they could confide : they reinforced the gar- rifou of Portfmouth, and appointed the celebrated Mr. Addifon fecretary of ftate, while Bolingbroke was obliged to wait every morning in the paffage to the council-cham- ber, with his bag and papers, and undervixnt every fpecies of mortification.
The king, now in the fifty-fifth year of his age, landed 77./ ii„g at Greenwich, where he was received by the duke o( hnJs at Northumberland, captain of the life-guard, and the lords (-'''^f- of the regency. From the landing-place, he walked to '^^'^'■' his houfe in the Park, accompanied by a great number of perfons of diftinftion. When he retired to his bed- chamber, he fent for fuch of the nobility as had diltin- guifhed themfelves by their zeal for his fucccffion ; but the duke of Ormond, the lord chancellor, and lord Tre- vor, were not of the number. Next morning the earl of Oxford prefented himfelf with an air of confidence ; but he had the mortification to remain a confiderable time a- aiong the crowd 3 and, at lalt, was permitted to kifs the Vql. II. Y king's
2 1 a ^he H'lflory of- Eng land.
king's hand, without being honoured with any other no* • tice To add to hi? mortincatiqn, the king exprefTed the greateft regard for the duke of Marlborough, as well as fo; al! the leaders of the Whig party. Ilie Whigs ^^ ^^'^s the misfcrtime of this prince, that he had been fnii'Cfsall imprefled with ilrong prepoflefnons againft the Tories, public eni' who conftituted fo confiderable a part of his fubjedts, 'f>!o}menti. ]sjone were no^ admitted into employment but the Whigs, w^ho, while they affe£ted to be fecuring the crown, .for ^ their king, were praiftifmg every art to confirm their own interefts, extend their connexions, and give laws to their fovereign. The duke of Ormond v/as difmiffed from his command, which was reftored to the duke of Marlbo- rough, who was likewife appointed mailer of the ordnance. ' The great-feal was given to loid Covvper; the privy-feal" to the earl of Wharton ; the government of Ireland to the earl of Sunderland ; the duke of Devonfiiire was made fieward of the houlhold; lord Townfiiend and Mr. Stan- hope were appointed fecretaries of ftate ; the ' poft of fecretary for bcotland, was beftowed upon the duke of Montrofe ; the duke of Somerfet w^s conftituted mafter of the horfe ; the duke of St. Alban's captain of the band pf penfioners ; and the duke of Argyle commander iix' chief of the forces in Scotland. Mr. Pulteney was ap- pointed fecretary at war ; and Mr. Walpole, who had already engaged to manage the houfe of Commons, wa^s gratified with the double place of pay-mafler of the army^ » and to Chelfea-hofpital. A new privy-council was ap-' pointed, and the earl of Nottingham named prefidentj* ]aut all affairs of confequence were tranfacled by a cabinet- cpuncil or junto, compofed of the duke of Marlborough, the earls pf Nottingham and Sunderland, the lords Ha- lifax, Townfl:iend, Somers, and general Stanhope. The treafury and admiralty were put into commifhon ; all the governments were changed ; and in a word the whole jiatioa was put into the hands of the Whigs.
This partiality foon gave offence to a great 'part of the people, wlio feemed only to want a leader to excite them ijco^ en s ^^ inrurrcclion. The clamour of the church's bein? in fion, clanger was revived, feditious libels difperfed, and tu-
mults raifed in different parts of the kingdom. The Pre- _., tender took this opportur)i;y to tranAnit, by the French
te-ndcr fendi ^'^'^'^'> . CQpies of a printed manilello, to the dukes of ever u ma' Shrew{bary, Marlborough, Argyle, and other noblemen of ^ijtjio, the fiill diftinflion'. In this declaration he obferved, that' t};£ late queen had intentions of calling him to the crown.
Ccorge I. 323
He cx'poftulaled with bis people upon the Injurticc they hael coiUinutcil in pfO(.laimijig a foreign prince for their fovcicign, contrary to the hiws of their country, by which he alone had a legal title to the throne. But though he complairu il C'f their conduiTb, he never thought of remov- ing their apprch.enfions in.refpedl of his own. He con- tinued to profefs the ftrongcft attachment to the catholic religion ; and inftead of concealing his fentiments on that fubjcfl, even gloried in his principles.
Amidft tiie virulence of political parties, religion was ftill mingled in all their difputes. The F'ories complain- ed that impiety and hcrefy were pairjing ground under a Whig adminidration. The dortrmes ol true rehgicn, they faid, were ktt expcfed to the DiiR'nters and Socinians on one part, and of the Catholics on the other. The lower orders of the clergy Tided with the people in thefs complaints. They pointed out to the miniilry ieveral tracls written in favour of Socinianifm and Arianifm. The mlniftry not only refufcJ to putiifli the dehnquents, but prohibited the clergy from future difputarions on fuch topics. This injunction, though it put a ftop to the cla- mours of the people, which had been fomented by the clergy, had the eflett of introducing a negligence in all religious concerns.
'ihe parliament being dlfTolved, another was fummoned avw /•«'"- by a very extraordinary proclamation, in which the king liamft. complained of the evil deligns of men dilaff'cttcd to his fucceiriori ; and of their having mifreprefented hiscondu<^l and principles. He exprefled a defire that his fuhje£ts would fend up to parliament fuch men as were fittelt to redrefs the prefcnt diforders of the nation ; and that they would have a particular regard to thofe who had difcovered a firm attachment to the proteftant fucceffion, while it feemed to be in danger. Both parties exerted uncommon vigour in the elections for this important parliament ; but, by dint of monied interelt, which prevailed in molt of thd corporations, joined to the influence of the miniflry, a great majority of Whigs was returned both in England and iicotland.
Upon the firil meeting of this affembly, nothing was expecK'd but the molt violent meafures againd thelatead- miniltration. The king appeared in the houfe of lords, and delivered to the chancellor a written fpeech, which was read in the prefence of both houfes. He warned his fubjedl'^, that the Pretender boaftedof the afTilhncc which he expetftcd in England. He declared that the eftahlilhed
Y 2 coU'
*24 ' '^^'^ Hijory of England.
pinftltution in church and flate (hould be the rule of his government ; and concluded with expreffing his confi- dence, that, with their alBftance, he {hould difappoint the defigns of thofe who would deprive hin^ of the affections of his people.
Both houfes being predifpofed to violent meafures, the king's fpeech feived to confirm and invigorate their fenti- ments ; and the refult was anfwerable to the moft fanguine expectations, and the moll inveterate prejudices, of thofe who now direCled the public councils. The lords, in their addrefs, exprefied their hopes that the king would be able to recover the reputation which their country formerly jTiaintained on the continent, and the lofs of which they affedled to deplore. But the commons, in their proceed- ing'', went much farther: they declared their refolu- tion to inveftigate thofe meafures by which the nation wa^ depreffcd, to difcover the men who abetted the claims of the Pretender, and to bring them to condign puniftiment. Mr. Secretary Stanhope openly affirmed, that, notwith-? {landing the precaution which the late miniftry had ufed to prevent a difcoveiy of their political machinations, by fecreting feveral papers, yet there remained fufficient evi- dence to prove their treafonable practices and defigns. He added, that thefe proofs would foon be laid before the houfe, when it would appear inconteftible that the duke cfOrmond, if he did not really receive orders from the Fiench general, at leafl aCied in concert with him.
It was the artifice, during this and the fucceeding reign, to ftigmatize as Papifis and Jacobites all thofe who tefti- ,' fi.»d any difcontent at the conduct of adminiftration.
Whoever ventured to fpeak againft the violence of their meafures, were reproached as defigning to bring in the Pretender. The parliament, therefore, feemed inclined to adopt all the prejudices and political views of the prefent rulers ; and the people, though they fecretly murmured at fuch proceedings, dared not avow their deteflation.
Amidft the violence of one party, and the timidity of the other, the former miniftry could expeCl neither juitice nor moderation. A part of them abfented themfelves from parliament. Lord Bolingbroke, who had hitherto appeared Lord Po- -j^ public, as ufual, and fpoke in the houfe with freedom, ^"^.Lj,L„, thought it was now time to confult his perfonal fafety. io f ranee. He accordmgly withdrew to the contment, leaving in nis juftification a letter, which was afterwards printed. In this paper he declared, he had received reiterated intelli- gence, that a refolution was taken to purfue him to the 2 fcaffold ;
Gcorge L
fjaffold : that had ilicrc been the fiTnliefl: rcafon to cxpe£1t a fi«r and opca trial, he llioukl not have dticlincd the ftricteft examination. He challenged the moil inveterate of his enemies to produce any one inftance of criminal corrcfpondcnce, or the leaft corruption in any part of the adminiltration in which he was concerned.
A committee, confiding of twenty perfons, was foon after appointed, to examine all the papers relative to the late negociatioii for peace ; and to fek£t fuch of them as migl^t at^ord matter of accufatiori ap-ain^l the late ininiRrv. After fome time fpent in this enquiry, Mr. Walpole, as chairman of the committee, moved that a warrant might be iflued for apprehending Mr. Matthew Prior, and Mr. Thomas Harley, who, being in the houfe, were immedi- ately taken into cuftody. He then read the report of the committee, in which a number of charges was drawn out againll the late minifters. The principal charges were, the fecret negociation with Mr. Menager; the extraordi- nary mcafures purfued to form the congrefs at Utrecht ; the trifling of the French plenipotentiaries by the conni- vance of the Britifli miniflers ; the duke of Ormond's adl- ing in concert with the French general ; and Bolingbroke's journey to France to negociate a feparate peace. Thefe and fome others being recited, Walpole impeached lord Bclingbroke of high treafon. At this motion fome of the members were (Iruck with furprize; there being no- thing in the report that any way amounted to treafon. But their aftoniihment was increafed by the declaratien of lord Coningfby, who, rifmg in his place, exprefled him- felf in the following terms : *' The worthy chairman has impeached the hand, but I impeach the head: he has im- peached the fcholar, and I the mafter ; I impeach Robert, earl of Oxford and Mortimer, of high treafon, and other crimes and mifdemeanort-." Some of the earl's friends fpoke in his defence, but the houfe, without a divifion, lefolved on an impeachment. When the earl appeared in the houfe next day, he was avoided by the peers as in- fedtious, and retired with figns of confufion. When the articles were read againft him in the houfe of commons, a warm debate arofe upon that in which he was charged of having advifed the French king of the manner of gain- ing Tournay from the Dutch. 1 his point, however, be- ing decided againfl the earl, and the other articles approved by the houfe, the lord Coninglby, attended by the Whig members, impeached the earl of Oxford at the bar of the houfe of lords j demanding, at the fame time, that he
Y 3 might
3^5
A. D. 1715,
Com mi I lee of fe ere (J,
Refoluiiorts I0 impeach lord Bo- li/i^l>roke, the earl of Oxford, tkS duke of Or. mond, and the earl of ^tra^ord.
ai6 , ^he Wfla^'V of'En^hnd.
O - J ^ J O
mijibt be fcqueftered from parliament, and committed ,fo cuitoilv. A warm debate now enfued, in which thofe who flill adhered to the depofed miuifter, maintained the injuftice and the danger of fuch a proceeding. At laft the earl hlmfelf roie up, and fpoke with great tranquillity. Atter oblerving that the whole charge might be reduced to the negociation for, and the conclulion of the peace, *' I amaccufed, fard he, for having made apeace; apeacewhicb, bad as it is now reprefented, bas been approved by two .fucceflive parliaments. For my own part, i always acted by the immediate dire6lions and command of the queen my miftrefs, and never ofFended againfl: any known law. I am juflified in my own conicience, and unconcerned for the life of an infignificant old man. But I cannot, without the higheft ingratitude, remain unconcerned for the beft of queens. Obligation binds me to vindicate her memory. My lords, if miniflers of ftate, adting by the Immediate commands of their fovereign, are afterwards to be made accountable for their proceedings, it may one day or other be the cafe of all the members of this au- guft aiTembly. I doubt not, therefore, that cut of regard to yourfclves, your lordlhips will give me an equitable hearing ; and I hope, that in the profecution of this en- quiry, it will appear that I have merited not only the in- dulgence, but the favour of. this government. My lords, I am now to take my leave of your lordfnips, and of this honourable houfe, perhaps for ever. 1 fl>all lay down my life with pleafure, in a caufe favout-ed by my late dear royal miflrefs : and when I confider that I am to be judged by thejudice, honour, and virtue of my peers, 1 fnall acquiefce, and retire with great content. And, my' lords, God's will be done."
The duke of Shrewlbury having acquainted the houfe, that the earl was very much indifpofed with the gravel, he was permitted to go for that night to his own houfe, whither he was followed by a m.ultitude of people, crying out, " High church, Ormond, and Oxford for everT' Next day he was brought to the bar, where he received a copy of his iinpeachment, and was allowed a month to larUfOx- prepare his anfwer. Though Dr. Mead declared, that if "the'rlZlr. ^^^ ^^^^ fhould be fent to the Tower, his life would be in danger, it was carried, on a divifion, that he (hould be committed. He was attended thither alfo by a prodigious concourfe of people, who poured forth the moft bitter im- precations againfl his profecutors- Tumults were raifed in StafFordihire and other parts of the kingdom, againfl
the
Gt'orce I, «2.7
the Whig pnrty: but thefe ferved only to increafe the feverity of the legiflaturej which now pafled an a£l, do- ProdaffiA' daring, that if any perfons, to the number of twelve, un- liona^i lawfully afiembled, Ihould continue together one hour af- ter being required to difpcrfe bv a jultice of peace, or other officer, and after hearing the adt againlt riots read in public, they ihould be deemed guilty of felony, without benefit of clergy.
At the time appointed, Oxford's anfwcr to the charged exhibited again'.l him was delivered into the houfe of lords, whence it was tranfmitted to the houfe of commons. "Walpolc having heard it read, declared that it contained little more than a repetition of the pnmphlets in vindica- tion of the late miniltry, and tliat it undutifully laid upon the. queen all the pernicious rheafures to which that mi- jiifler had advifed her. He alleged, that it was alfo a libel on the proceedings of the hoUfe; as it attemjDted to vindicate thofe perfons, who had already by their flight betrayed apprehenfjons of danger* A committee was, therefore, appointed to manage the- impeachment, and prepare evidence againft the carl. By this committee it xvas reported that Mr. Prior had grofsly prevaricated on his examination, and behaved with great contempt of their authority. The duke of Ormond, and lord Bolingbroke having omitted to furrender them.felves within a limited Dulccf time, it was ordered that the earl marfhal fiiould raze out OimandafJ their names and arms from the lift of peers ; and invcn- ^°'"^ RcUp^ tories were taken of their eftates and pofieffions, which ^''f*^^'- were declared to be forfeited to the crown. ta.nMi.^
While the nation v;as filled with clamour and tumults, intrigues were cairied on, in both parts of the united kingdom, In favour of the- Pretender. The dilTenfions occafione4 in Scotland by the union had never been entirely appeafed \ and fince the queen's death, the public tjifcontents were induflriouOy fomented by the Jacobites. Though their hopes of dlflblving that treaty were baffled j„>rit'jeitf by the Revolutioners, who fecured a majority of Whigs thejaio- in parliament, they ftill maintained a defign of making b\iei> fome eflbrt in favour of the Pretender. For this purpofe they carried on a correfpondence with the malcontents in England, where the Tories, finding themfelves totally ex- cluded from any (hare in the government, and expofcd to the outrages of a fadion which they defplfed, began to wifti in earned for a revolution. They conveyed their fentiments to the Chevalier de St. George, with fuch e.ic- •aggerations as were dicl:ri.ted by iheir own eagernefs ::nd
- Y 4 fanguine
328 Tke Erjlory of England,
fangulne expe£lation. They afTured him that the nation was univei 'ally difafFecled to the new government ; and they promifed to take arms in his favour, without farther delay. They, therefore, urged him to come over with all poffible dilpatch, declaring ti.^t his appearance would be followed by an immediate revolution. The chevalier re- folved to take the advaiuage of fo favourable a jun^ure, and immediately Lad recourle to the French king, whofc aid he folicited. Lewis, notwithftanding his late engage- ments with England, cberiflied the hope of raifing the chevalier to the throne ot Great Britain. He, therefore, fupplied him privately with fums of money, to prepare a fmall armament in the port of Havre ; refolving, no doubt, to alTift him more effedually, in proportion as the Englidi fliould evince their attachment to the houfe of Stuart. The duke of Ormond, and lord Bolingbroke, who had retired to France, finding themfelves attainted, engaged in the fervice of the chevalier, and correfpond- cd with the Tories in England.
But while thefe intrigues were carrying on, the hopes of the chevalier were fuddenly blafted by the death of Lewis XIV. who had for more than half a century facri- liced the repofe of Chriftendom to his infatiable vanity and ambition. At his death, which happened the firft day of September, the regency of the kingdom devolved to the duke of Orleans, who adopted a new fyftem of politics, and had already entered into engagements with the king of Great Britain. Inftead of aflifting the Pre- " tender, he amufed his agents with vague declarations, cal- culated to fruftrate the expedition. The more violent part of the Jacobites in Great Britain, however, believed he was' at the bottom fincerely attached to their caufe, and they depended upon him for afliflance. By dint of importunity, they even obtained from him a fum of mo- ney, and fome armsj but the vefTel which conveyed them was {hipwrecked, and the cargo loft upon the coaft of Scotland.
The partlzans of the Pretender had proceeded too far
to retreat with fafety ; and therefore refolved on carrying
The earl of their defigns into immediate execution. The earl of
^h7/rllm ^'^^ repaired to the Highlands, where he held confulta-
der'sfland- ^^°"^ ^^^^^ ^^ marquifes of Huntley and Tullibardine,
ardin the earls Marfhal and Southefk, and the chiefs of the Ja-
Smknd, coblte clans. He then aflembled three hundred of his
own vaflals, proclaimed the Pretender at Caftletown, and
-/et up bis ftandard at Brae Mar, on the fixth day of Sep-
. tember*"
George 7. '319
ttmber. By this time the carls of Home, nnd Win[town, ■with other perfons l'ufpe£led of difalfedtion to the prcfcnt government, were commiited prifoners to the caftle of Edinburgh i and major-general Witham marched with the regular troops which were in that kin^ilom, to fecurc the bridge at Stirling. Before thefe precautions were taken, t\vo veffels had arrived at Arbrotii from Havre, with arms, ammunition, and a good number of olhccrs, who aflured the earl of Mar, that the Pretender would foon be with him in perfon. The earl, who depended on being joined by a powerful body in England, prefi'ed the chevalier by letters and meflliges, to come over with- out farther delay. Meanwhile, he allumed the title of lieu- tenant-general of the Pretender's forces, publifhcd a decla- ration, exhorting the people to take arms for tlieir law- ful fovereign, and alluring them of a redrcfs of all their grievances.
The duke of Argyle, commander in chief of the forces in North-Britain, immediately fet out for that country; as did alfo the earl of Sutherland, with many other Scot- tifli peers, to raife forces for the fervice of government. The earl of Mar, receiving intelligence that the duke, with all his own clans, aflilled by fome troops from Ire- land, was advancing againft him, at firfl thought it ad- vifable to retreat. But being foon after joined by fonieof the clans under the earl of Seaforth, and others under general Gordon, an experienced officer, who had figna- lized himfelf in the Ruffian fervice, he refolved to face the enemy, and with that view directed his march towards the South.
The duke of Argyle, informed of his defign, and ds- Nov. 13th. firous of proving his attachment to the prefent govern- HattUef ment, determined to give him battle, though his own forces Sheriff did not amount to half the number of the enemy. In the ■^"f''* morning, therefore, in the neighbourhood of Dumblain, he drew up his army, which did not exceed four thoufand men, in order of battle. But he foon found himfelf great- ly out-flanked by the enemy. Perceiving the earl making attempts to furround him. he was obliged to alter his dif- poHtion, which, on account of the fcarcity of general-offi- cers, was not done fo expeditioufly, as to be finifhed before the rebels began the attack. The left wing, therefore, of the duke's army received the centre of the enemy, and fup- ported the firft charge without fhrinking. For fome time it feemed even viftorious, as Clan.onald, the chieftain who -commanded againft it, was killed on the fpot. But Glen-
33<> ^^ Hiflory cf :Englandi
gary, who wns feconci in command, animated, by his ex» crtions, the rebel-troops to fuch a. degree, that they followed him clofe to the points of the enemies bayonets, and got within their guard. A total rout of that wing of the royal army began to enfue; and general Witham, their com- mander, flying full fpecJ to Stirling, gave out that all was loft, and that the rebels were completely vidlorious. Mean time, the duke of Argyle, who commanded in perfon on the right, attacked the left of the enemy, and drove them before him two miles, though they often faced about, and attempted to rally. Having thus entirely broken that wing, and driven them over the river Allen, he returned to the field of battle, where, to his great mortification, he found the enemy viclorlous, and refolutely waiting the ail'ault. Both armies, however, inftead of renewing the ciigagement, continued to ga-^e at each other, neither of them caring to begin the attack. At evening, both fides drew off, and both claimed the viftory. Few prifoners were mavle on either fide 5 and in each the number of flain might be about five hundred.
Soon after the battle, the caille of Invernefs, of which the earl of Mar was in pofielfion, was delivered up to the king by lord Lovat, who had hitherto profefled to a£l in the intereft of the Pretender. The marquis of Huntley, and the earl of Seaforth, were obliged to quit the rebel army, in order to defend their own territories ; and in a lit:.Ie time fubmitted to king George. 1 he marquis of TuUibardine alfo withdrew from the army, to prote£l his own country; and many of the clans, feeing no likelihood of coming foon to a fecond engagement, returned quietly to their habitations. Several Meanwhile, the rebellion was fiill more unfuccefsfully
ger.tlemen profecuted in England, where the government, having re- tn Evgland ceived intelligence of an intended infurreftion, imprifoned committed feveral lords and gentlemen, of whom they had fufpicion. topijon. rpj^g lords Landfdown and Duplin were taken into cuftody. The king obtained leave from the lower houfe to feize fir William Wyndham, fir John Packington, Harvey, Combe, and others. Sir William Wyndham's father-in- law, the duke of Somerfet, ofrered to become bound for his appearance •, but his furety was refufed.
All thefe precautions were not fufficient to flop the in- furre£lion in the wefiiern counties, where their prepara- tions, however, were extremely weak, and ill conducted. On this occafion, the uiriverfity of Oxford was treated with great feverity. Major-general Pepper, with a ftrong de^
tachment
tftchment of drap^oons, took poHcnion of the cliy at <1^y- l"/"^!^^^'' break, declaring he would inllantly flioot any of the ftu- /^^j dents, who Ihould prefumc to appear without the limits
•of ihcir refpectivc colleges. In the northern counties the infurreclion came to greater maturity. '1 he carl of Der- vvcntvvater, and Mr, Forfler, took the field with a body of horfs, and being joined by fome gentlemen from the bor- ders of .Scotland, proclaimed the Pretender. Their firft
.attempt was to fcize upon Newcaflle, where they had mnny friends; but finding the gates Ihut againll them,
»thcy retired to Hexham. To oppofe thefe infurgents, ge- neral Carpenter was detached with a body of nine hundred
• men, and an cnaagement was hourly expc(^^ed. The re- ;bti3 had two methods by which they miglit have cpndu^lcd
themfelves with prudence : one was to march directly into the weitcrn parts of bcotland, and there join general
• Gordon, who commanded a ftronij boilv of llii^hhinders.
• The other was to crofs the Tweed, and boldly attack ge- neral Carpenter, whofe forces did not exceed their own. But neither of thefe meafures was purfued. '1 hey took the rout to Jedburgh, where they hoped to leave Carpen-
. ter on one (i'le, and penetrate into England by the wcltern .border. IMiis was the el^'eQual means to cut themfelves off both from retreat and allillancc. A party of High- landers, by .whom they had been joined, at firft refufcd to accompany .them in this defpcrate irruption, an<l the half of them actually returned to their own country. At Brampton, Pvlr. Forlter opened his comniilUon of general, wliich had been fent hiyn from the earl of iNIar, and iheie .proclaimed the Pretender. Continuing iheir march to -Penrith, the body of militia, which was affemb!ed in thac town to oppofe them, tied at their approach. From Pen- rith, they proceeded, by the way of Kendal and Lancafler, to Preflon, of which ihe^ took poflcfiion without any re- fillance. Ijut this proved the lalt ftage of their ill advifed iucu;fion. General Willes, at the head of feven thouland men, coming up to attack them, they began to raife bar- rieadoes, and to put the place in a poilure of defence; rcpuUing with fucccfs the firfl attack of the royal army. Next day, however, Willes being reinforced by Carpenter,"^ the town wiis invelted on all fides. In this fituation, For- ot uierfLlt fter hoped to capitulate wiih the royalill^, and accordingly at Preflon. fenr, with a trumpet, colonel Oxburgh, who had been made prifoner, to propofe a capitulation. To this, how- ever, Willes refufed to confent ; alleging that he would not treat with rebels ; and that the only tavour they were
8 to
1
332- 5^^^ Hijlory of EnglanL
to expect, Tras to be fpared from immediate flaugntef* Being unable to obtain better conditions, they laid down their arms, and v/ere put under a ftrong guard. All the noblemen and leaders were fecured ; and a few of their officers, being tried for deferting from the royal army, were fhot bv order of a court-martial. The common men were imprifoned at Chefter and Liverpool \ while the no- blemen, and more confiderable officers, were fent to Lon- don, and led through the (Ireets, pinioned and bound to* gether, to intimidate their party.
Such was the iflue of two expeditions undertaken in favour of the Pretender, and which were equally marked with temerity and mifcondu£t, through the whole of their progrefs. In Scotland, however, the rebellion was not yet extinguifhed ; but the government was now in a con- dition to fend ftrong reinforcements to that country. Six thoufand men were claimed of the States-general by virtue of the treaty ; they landed in England, and began their march for Edinburgh 5 whither a train of artillery was alfo fliipped from the Tower, for the ufe of the duke of Argyle, who refolved to drive the earl of Mar out of Perth, to which place he had retired with the remainder of his forces. The Pretender having been amufed with the hope of a ge- neral infurreclion in England, and the duke of Ormond having made a fruitlefs voyage to the Weft, to try the dif- pofition of the people, he was now convinced of the vanity of his expedlation in that quarter. But, not knowing what other courfe to take, he refolved to throw himfelf upon the afFedion of his friends in Scotland, even at a time when his affairs in that kingdom feemed defperate. Pafl^ ThePre^en- '"§' therefore, through France in difguife, and embarking der arri'ves in a fmall veffcl at Dunkirk, he, after a voyage of a few in Scotland, days, arrived at Peterhead, on the coaft of Scotland, with only fix gentlemen in his train. He thence palled un- known through Aberdeen to Feteroffe, where he was met by the earl of Mar, and about thirty noblemen and gentlemen. Here he was folemnly proclaimed : his declaration was printed and difperfed ; and he receiv- ed addreffes from the epifcopal clergy, and the laity of that communion in the diocefe of Aberdeen. He next went to Dundee, where he made a public entry ; and in twodavs more he arrived at Scone, at which he intended to have the ceremony of his coronation performed. He ordered public thankfgivings to be made for his fafe ar- rival -, enjoining the minifters to pray for him in their churches -, and, without any reafonabk profped of fuccefs,
went
George I. 333
«rcnt through the ceremonies of royal inauguration. After thus fpcntling fonie time in ufelcfs paratle, and hearing that the king's army was reinforced by Dutch auxiliaries, he refolved to abandon the enterprife wiih the fame levity with which it had been undertaken. In a pathetic fpeech to his grand council, he informed them of his want of rnoney, arms, and ammunition for profecuting a cam- paign, and therefore deplored that he was under the neccf- fity of leaving them. He again embarked on board a fmall f{e rr'un- French (hip that lay in the harbour of Montrofe, accom- f^arks jar. panicd with fcveral lords, his adherents, and in a few days ^^^""^ arrived at Graveline. 1^
General Gordon, who was left commander in chief of the Pretender's forces, with the afTidance of the earl Marflial, proceeded at their head to Aberdeen, where he fecured three veirds to fail northward, and take on board fuch perfons as intended making their efcape to the conti- nent. After continuing his march thence to the hiils of Ba- A,D.i7ig,
denoch, he quietly difmifled his forces. This retreat was ■ •
made with fuch expedition, that the duke of Argyle, with '^^'^ rebel all his activity, could never overtake their rear; which A". '^'^J?'^' confifted of a thoufand horfe, commanded by the earl Maiflial.
In this manner ended a rebellion which, in all probabi- lity, would never have happened, had it not been for the violent meafun-s of the Whig minidry, that excited in the nation a fpirit of revolt. I'he fury of the victors, however, did not abate with their fuccefs, and rhey refolved on capi- tally punifhing all the leaders who had been concerned in the infurredl:ion. The prifons of liOndon were crowded with the unfortunate delinquents. The earls of Derwent- Therehfl water, Nithifdale, Carnwath, and Winton, with the lords lords are Widrington, Kenmuir, and Nairn, were impeached; and, impeacneit upon pleading guilty, all, but lord Winton, received fen- tence of death. Tlie countefsof Derwentwater, with her fifter, accompanied by the duchefles of Cleveland and Bolton, and feveral other ladies of the fird diftinflion, was introduced by the dukes of Richmond and St. Alban's, in- to the king's bed-chamber, where flie implored his majef- ty's clemency for her unhappy confort. She afterwards repaired to the houfe of peers, attended by the ladies of the other condemned lords, and above twenty others of the fame quality, and begged the intercefllon of the houfe. Next day they petitioned both houfes of parliament; but no entreaties could foften the miniftry to fpare thefe un- fortunate men. Orders were, therefore, difpatchcd for
executing
aj{- ^e Eiftory of England.
execut!n£ the lords Derweniwater, Nithifiijle, and Ken««'
' muir immediatelv. The reft were refpited to a farther
time. Nithii'dale, however, had the good fortune to efcape
in woman's cloaths, which were brought him by his mo-
l7if earls of ther, the night before the execution. Derwentwater and
HerzLent- Kcnmuir were brought, at the time appointed, to the
'vua:<^rand fcaffold on 'rower-hill, where thev underwent the fentence
*'^"7^ad' ^'^^^^ ''^'"^ intrepidity, and regretted by all the fpecta-
The aid of the legiflature v/as called in to fecond the vindidlive efforts of the adminiitration ; and an act of par- liament was pafled for trying the private prifoners in Lon- don, and not in Lancafnire, where they were taken in arms. This proceeding was confidered, by fomc of the' bed lawyers, as an alteration of the ancient conilitution of the kingdom, by which it was confirmed, that every pri-? foner fhould be tried in the country where the offence was committed. In the beginning of April, commifTioners for trying the rebels met in the court of Common Pleas, when bills of high-treafon were found againftlvlr. Forfter, Mack- intofh, and twenty of their confederates. Forfter efcaped from Newgate, and reached the continent in fafety. The reft pleaded not guilty. The judges appointed to try the rebels at Liverpool, found a conliderable number guilty of high-treafon. Twenty-two v/ere executed at Prefton and Manchefter: about a tnoufand prifoners fubmitted to the king's mercy, and petitioned for tranfportation. Pitts, the keeper of Newgate, being fufpecTted of having connived at Forfter's efcape, was tried for his life at the Old-Bailey, «. • T r., and acquitted. Notwithftanding this profecution, which r^ls. ought to have doubled the vigilance of the. jailors, Mack-
intofli, and feveral other prifoners, broke from Newgate, after having maftered the keeper and turnkey, and dilarm- ed the centinel. The court proceeded to the trial of tliofe that remained, of whom a great number was found guilty, snd four or five were hanged, drav/r:, and quartered, at Tyburn.
Though the rebellion was now exlinguiflied, the flame of national dilTatisfadtion continued to rage with unabated violence, which was fupported in a great mcafure by the feveriiies exercifed againfl the reb;;!s. The mii)iflry, fen- fible of the general difcontent, and dreading the difpolition of a new parliament, which might v/refl from their facftion the helm of government, determined on an e^xpeditnt which^ hov/ever unpopular, might ferve at leall for a tenr;-
pcrary
George L 335
pomry prolonpjntion oT tlieir own power. Thh was a fdieme to repi^al the triennial ndt, ami by u new law to rxtcmi the' term oi pailiaments to leven years. Such an attempt, in a AElforfif. delegated body of people, was evidently contrary to the t^"""^^ firft principles of the ccnftitution ; and afforded a prece-^'^'^''*" dent, by which the honle ot commons might, wjih equal juRice, at fome future period, perpetuate its ov/n autho- ' riry. The bill, however, paiVcd both houfes, and all ob- jeifliotis to it were reprcfented as proceeding from dif- aff"e£lion.
The afTairs of the nation being adjufted, the king re- folved to vlfit his German dominions, where he forefaw a ftorm gatherinij from Sweden. Charles theTwelfth, of that country, was higlily ex.ifpcrated againfl him lor haviiig, during his abfence, entered into a confederacy with the Ruflians and Danes, and for having purchafed from the king of Denmark the towns of Bremen and Verden, which conllituted a part of his dominions. George, there- Triple ed" fore, with the view of fecuring his teiritcries from the tiaiue be- refentmentof that implacable monarch, entered into a new ^"^een treaty with the Dutch and the regent of France : by which ^"5^^"'^> they agreed to alhlt one another m cale or an invalion. i^^n^fj^ JVIean while, Chailes maintained a clofe coirefpondence with the difaiTetted fubjedts of Great Britain ; and a plan was even formed for the landing a confidcrable body of Swedifh forces, with the king at their head, in fome part of the ifland, where it was expcdled they would be joined by the mal-cnntcnts, at that time very numerous in the kingdom. Count Gyllenburgh, the Swedifh minifler in t/i^ swe^ London, was peculiarly adtive in the confpiracy ; but be- e/ijl; mint- ing feized with all his papers, by order of the king, a flop A' ^frefi- was put, for the prefent, to the progrefs of their machina- *'^* tions. A bill, however, was palled by the commons, pro- hibitmg all commerce with Sweden, the trade with which country was of great importance to the Englifli merchants. To enable the king to lecure his dominions againfl the A.D.1717. threatened invafion, a fupply was granted him ot two hun- —— ■ dred and fifty thoufand pounds j the firft fruits of England's The kinp political connexion with the continent. The death, how- dimandi an ever, of the Swedifh monarch, who was loon after killed ^'^'^"'^.''^'J by a cannon-ball at the fiege of Fredericfliall in Norway, piy, put an end to all difquietude from that quarter.
This year was dillinguifhed by another treaty, called c^^ajruhU the quadruole alliance, which was formed between the '^iitanct, emperor, France, England, and Holland. It was agreed %\i%\. the emperor (hauld renounce all prctenfions to the
crown
^3^ ^-^ I'i^J^ory of England.
crown of Spain, and e:-:change Sardinia for Sicily with the duke of Savoy : Tliat the fucceflion to the duchies of Tuf- cany, Parma, and Placentia, (hould be fettled on the queen of Spain's eldeft fon, in cafe the prefent pofTeffors fhouJd die without male iflue. This treaty, hovvei-er, not being agreeable to the king of Spain, became eonfequently pre- judicial to the Englifli, by interrupting the trade to that kingdom. The refentment of the king of Spam foon broke out into open war againfl: the emperor, whom he confider- ed as the chief contriver of this alliance ; and a numerous body of troops was fent into Italy, to fupport Philip's pre- tenfions in that quarter, in vain did the regent of France endeavour to difTuade him from this lelolution; in vain did the king of Great Britain make a tender of his media- tion ; as parties in the confederacy, their interpofition "was treated with difregard. Though, in the prefent ex- haufted ftate of the Englifh finances, war was an obje£l far from dcfirable to the nation, yet, in order to fupport a very diltant interefl, a rupture with Spain was refolved en. For this purpofe, was equipped with all expedition 3 fquadron of twenty-two fhips, the command of which was given to fir George Byng, who was ordered to fail for Naples, tlien threatened with an attack from the Spanifii army. He was received with the greateft demon- flrations of joy by the inhabitants of that; city, and was informed that the Spaniards, to the amount of thirty thou- fand, were aclually landed in Sicily. He, therefore, re- folved to fail thither immediately. Upon coming round Cape Faro, he perceived two fmall Spanifh veflels, and purfuing them clofely, they led him to their main fleet, which bc.{pre noon hedifcovered in line of battle, amount- Sir George ing to twenty-feven fail. The Spanifh fleet, though fu* Byng de- perior in number, on perceiving the force of the Englifh, jeatsihe attempted to fail away, and acted with extreme confufion. /^»(//> They were, however, obliged to maintain a running fight, ' ' * in which they were all taken except three, which were
preferved by the condufi: of one Cammoc, their vice- admiral, a native of Ireland. This aclion was followed by complaints of the Spanifh minifters in all the courts of Europe, and haftened the declaration of war, which Eng* land had hitherto delayed.
The rupture with Spain revived the drooping expe£la- tlons of the Pretender and his adherents in Britain, where it was hoped, that, by the alfiflaiice of cardinal Alberoni, the Spanifli minilter, anew infurreQion might be excited. An expedition was accordingly projected, under the di- rection
Ctdr^e ti 2 37
te£lion of the Hiikc of Ormoi)d, wlio obtained from tlie Spanitli court a fleet of ten fliips of war and tranfports, having on board fix ihouf.Mid regular troops, with arms for twelve thoufaiul nnjre. Ijut having fet fail, and proceed-* cd as far as Cape I'iniftcrre, he met with a violent florm, which liifablcd his lleet, and totally fruflrated the enter- prife. This misfortune, joined to the bad fuccefs of the Spain at- opanifli arms in Sicily, and other parts of Europr, ren- t('f<^^fothe dercd Philip defirous of peace ; and he at lafl: conlcnted to ^'■^'^''"P'' Sign the Quadruple Alliance.
The earl of Oxford, who had now remained almoft two trial of tht years a prifoner in the Tower, prefenteil a petition to the earl oj Ox- houfe of Lords, praying that he might be brought to his ^<"'''« trial. A day was therefore fixed, and the commons were ordered to prepare for their charge. At the appointed time the peers repaired to the court in Wedminiler-hall, ■where lord Cowper prefmed as lord high-Reward. The king, and the reft of the royal family, with the foreiga nilniflers, were preffent at the folemnity. The earl bemg brought from the Tower, the articles of the impeachment were read, with his anfwers, and the reply of the com- mons. Sir Jofeph Jekyll (landing up to make good the firft article of the charge, which amounted only to a mif- demeanor, lord Harcourt reprefented to the lords, that it would be tedious and unnecell'ary to go through all th; charges alledged againft the earl ; but that, if the conx- mons would make good the two articles for high-trcalon, the earl of Oxford would forfeit both life and cllate, and there would be an end of the matter. He therefore moved, that the commons fliould not be allowed to proceed upo« the lefs important part of the accufation, until judgement fliould be given upon the articles for high-treafon. fu this the lords agreeing, the commons declared that it was their ■ undoubted privilege to impeach a peer either for treafon, or a mifdemeanor, or to mix the accufation as they thought proper. 7he lords allcrted, that it was a right inhermc in every court of jultice to prefcribe the methods of pio- ceeding in tlieir refpecflive courts. The commons demand- ed a conference ; but this v.-as refufed. 'J he difpute '^rcv: warm. The lords fent a mefTage to the lower houfe, im- porting that they intended to proceed upon the trial. 7"he commons difregarded the information, and refufed to at- tend. The lords, repairing to VVcliminflcr-hall foon after, ordered the earl to be brought to the bar, and made pro- clamation for his accufers to appear.' But fnulir.g the Ht is ftt at commons refolute, and having waited a quarter of an hour, I'i^ertj. it was voted that the prifoner fliould be fet at liberty. Vol. II. Z The
338 Ithe Hifory of England.
The duke of Ormond, as has been mentioned, was accufed in the fame manner ; but did not think proper to run the hazard of a trial. The night on which he left England, it is fnid that he paid a vifit to lord Oxford, who diffuaded him from flying, with as much earneftnefs as the duke entreated Oxford alfo to make his efcape. He bid the iir.prifoned lord the laft adieu, with thefe words, '* Farewell Oxford, without a head." To which the other repliied, " Farewell duke, without a duchy." He afterwards continued to refide chiefly in Spain, an illuftri- ous exile, and worthy of a better fate.
The commons were bent with no lefs violence on the
profecution of lord Strafix)rd, againft whom they voted
articles of impeachment. But he was afterwards includtd.
in an acl of indemnity.
A.D.i-ai. While the king was immerfed in negociations at Han-
• over, the South-fea fcheme was occupying the minds of
South'Jea his Englifli fubjeds with a fpecies of delufion more fatal jcfteme. ^^^ extraordinary than any they had ever before experi- enced. Blunt, the projector of it, had taken the hint from the famous Miffiflippi fcheme, formed by one Law, a Scotfman, who had in the preceding year raifed fuch a ferment in France, and involved in diltrefsmany thoufand families of that kingdom. Ever fince the Revolution in 1688, the government not receiving from parliament fuf- iicient fupplies, or what was granted requiring time to be colle6led, they were obliged to borrow money from feveial difln^rent companies of merchants; among which was that which traded to the South-fea. In the year 17 16, the government was indebted to this company alone about nine millions and a half of money, at the rate of fix per cent, interefl. fn order to difcharge thefe debts, fir Robert Walpole propofed to give the feveral companies an alter- native, either of accepting a lower interefl;, or of being paid the principal. The companies preferred the former, at an intereil of five per cent.
In this fituation of things, Blunt, who had been bred a fcrivener, and had all the art and plaufibllity requifite for fuch an undertaking, made an offer to the miniftry, in the name of the South-fea Company, to buy up all the debts of the dinerent companies, and thus to become the fole creditor of the fiate. The terms propofed to the govern- ment were extremely advantageous. The South-fea Com- pany was to redeem the public debts out of the hands of the creditors, upon whatever terms could be fettled between them ; and for the interefl of the money fo redeemed, they would be contented to be allowed by government, for fix
years,
Ccorge t 239
years, five per cent, after which the irftercfl fliould be re- duced to four per cent, and fliould at any time be redeem- able by parliament. For thefe purpofcs a bill paflcd both houfcs, and the molt fanguine expc6tations were formed of its advantageous effedls to the nation ; but its ruinous confequences were foon felt. As the direftors of the Soutli- fea Company could not of themfclves be fuppofcd to pof- fefs money fulhcient to buy up the debts ot the nation, they were empowered to raife it by opening a fubfcription to a fcheme for trading in the South-fcas ; a commerce from which immenfe advantag-^s were promifed, and iHU greater expcdled by the rapacious credulity of the people. The directors books were no fooner opened for the fub- fcription, than crouds came to make the exchange of go- vernment-dock for South-fea-ftock. The dclufion was fo artfully fupported, that in a few days fubfcriptions fold for double the price at which they had been bought ; and the flock increafed to near ten times the value of what was firft fubfcribed for.
After a few months, however, the people began to awaken from their dream of riches, and found, by fad ex- perience, that all the advantages they e:ipe£led v/ere merely- imaginary. ThouGinds of families were involved in one common ruin. Many of the dire£lors, by whofe arts the people were taught to expedl fuch extraordinary advantages from a trade to the South-feas, had amafied confiderablc fortunes by the public credulity.
The parliament, impelled by the general indignation, refolved to llrip thofe plunderers of their ill-gotten poU'el- fions. Orders were firft iffued to remove all the dirctSlors of the South- fea Company from their feats in parliament, and the places they held under the government. The prin- cipal delinquents were punifticd by a forfeiture of all fuch pofleilions and eftates as they had acquired during the con- tinuance of this popular phrenzy.
The next care of the parliament was to redrefs the fuf- ferers, as far as this could be effecSled by the authority of the legiflature. Of the profits arifing from the South-fea fcheme, the fum of feven millions was reltored to the original pro- prietors. Several additions were alfo made to their divi- dends, out of what was poflcfied by the company in its own right ; and the remaining capital flock was alfo divided among the old proprietors at the rate of thirty-three pounds per cent.
The difcontents occafioned by thefe public calamities ;^x)i7ii afforded once more a profpe6l of fuccefs to the adherents ,'
of the Chevalier. But in all their counfcls, they were
Z 2 weak
34© ^ke Hifiory of EnglancL
Rumours (ff \*'eak, divided, and irrefolute. The duke of Orleans, re-
a ccn/pt- ggj^j p£ France, is faid to be the firft who gave the king
*'^* information of a confpiracy, in which many perfons of the
SrH: dillindlion were concerned. In confequence of this
difcovery a camp was immediately formed in Hyde-Park,
and all military oSicers were ordered to repair to their re-
fpedive ftations. Liutenant-general Macartney was dif-
patched to Ireland to bring over troops from that kingdom ;
and the (tates of Holland were called upon to have ready
their ftipnlated body of ti'oops.
The hi/bop In this general alarm, the firft perfon felled Opon was
tJKochefler Atterbury, bifhop of Rocbefter, a prelate of <^reat abilities,
^ed°to'the ' ^^^ ^^^''^ ^^^ ^^^"^ ^^^^ obnoxious to the prefent govern-
Toivgr. ment. He was confined in the Tower ; and foon aft^r the
duke of Norfolk, the earl of Orrery, the lords North and
Grey, with fome others of inferior rank, w^ere arrefted and
imprifoned. Of all thefe, however, only the bifliop and
one Mr. Layer, a barriiler, felt the fe\T£rity of government ;
the proofs againfl the refl: not amounting to evidence fuf-
Billof pains ficient for conviction. A bill was brought into the houfe
and pe>tal Qf commons, impeaching bifhop Atterbury, though he
*tk tf^"b Pleaded privilege as a peer. This meafure met with cp-
ofKochef' pofition from feveral of the members; but it was refolved
ter, by a majority of the houfe, that he fliould be deprived of
his dignity «nd clerical appointments, and fliould be banifti-
ed the kingdom for ever. The bifhop made no defence
in the lower houfe, referving all his force, until he fhould
have occafiou to exert it in the houfe of pebrs.
When his caufe came before the lords, there enfued a long and warm debate, in which the conteft was more equally managed than the miniftry expefled. There be- ing againft him little or no proof, but what arofe from intercepted letters, which were written in cyphers, the carl Pawlet infifted that fuch could not be conftrued into treafon. The duke of Wharton, having fummed up the depofitions, and fhewn the infufnciencyof them, concluded with faying, that, let the confequencesbe what they might, he hoped the lullre of that houfe would never be tarniChed by condemning a man without evidence. Lord Bathurfl alfo obferved, in tiie bifiiop's favour, that, if fuch extraor- nary proceedings were countenanced, he faw nothing re- maining for him and others^ but to retire to their coun^ try houfea, and there, if poffible, quietly to enjoy their eftates within their own families, fince the moft trifling correfpondence might be made criminal. Then turning to the bench of bifhops, he faid he could hardly account for the inveterate hatred and malice which fame perfons 8 bore
George J, 24 1
bore to tlie ingenious biHiop of Rocherer, unlcfs It v;as, that, infatuated like the wild Americans, they fondly hoped to inherit not only the fpoils, but even the abilities, of the man they Ihould dclUcy. Notwithllandlng all that was urged -in the bifliop's favour, the bill palTed againit Lim, by the force of minifterial inHuence. The bilhop's fentence being conlirmed, he in two days after embi^rkcd tor the continent, attended by his daughter. On the fame He h dri, day that he landed at, Calais, the famous lord iiolingbroke ""''^'J *"'<> arrived there on his return to England, h.udng, for fome ''"^'^* fecret reafons, obtained his maiefty's pardon. Atterbury, being informed of this circuniltance, could not help ob- ferving with a fmile, that they were exchanged. The bifliop continued in exile and poverty until he died.
Among the members of the houfe of commons who Mr. Lay' exerted themfelves in the bifliop's favour, was the ceie- tr'i trial, brated Dr. Freind, who was himfelf foon after taken into cuftody on fufpicion of treafonable practices ; but Dr. Mead becoming his fecurity, he was admitted to bail.
The fate of Mr. Chrillopher Layer was more fevore. Being brought to his trial in the King's Bench, he was convitled of having enlided men for the Pretender's fer- vice, and of having endeavoured to excite a rebellion, and he received fentence of death. The circumftances of this confpiracy are not clearly known. It is faid that the in- tention of the confpirators was, by privately introducing into England a number of foreign officers, to prepare for a junction with the duke of Ormond, who was to have landed in the river with a great quantity of arms provided for the purpofe. Mr. Layer was reprieved from time to time, and many endeavours ufsd to make him difcover his and cxeeu- accomplices ; but continuing firm in his refuial,he was exe- tion. cuted at Tyburn, and his head was fixed on Temple-bar.
Thefe trials were fucceeded by another, of a different AD 1724.,
nature ; which was that of the earl of Macclesfield, lord
chancellor of England. It had been ufual for the lords ^f "^^ '" chancellors, upon being appoiiUe i to their high office, to '*^"T3' nominate the mailers in chancery ; a place of ibme value, and conlequcntly then often times purcnafed. Some men, void of integrity, having been appointed to this oiBce, and having embezzled the money of minors and fuitors lodged in their hands, a complaint was made to govern- ment againlt ihofe abufes. ihismeafure was no fooner taken, than the chancellor found it necefTiry to refign the feals i and foon after the king ordered the whole aliair to be laid before the houfe of commons. They, therefore,
% 3 im-
342
Trial cf the earl of Mn<clef- Jield,
Jdmrsl
Hbjier'f
expedition
to South
Jlmerica;
A.D.1726.
A.D.1727.
The king's
^he Hijlory of England,
inimedlately refolved to impeach Thomas, earl of Macclef* field, at the bar of the houfe of lords, for high crimes and mifdemeanors. A bill was previoufly brought in to in- demnify the matters in chancery from the penalties of the law, upon difcoveiing what confiderations they had paid for admiffion to their refpe£live offices. The trial lafted tv/enty days. The earl was ccnvi£ted of fiadulent prac- tices, and condemned to a iine of thirty thoufand pounds, with imprifonment until that funi (hould be paid, which W'as accordingly difcharged in about fix weeliS.
This reign is chiefly dillinguifhed by treaties, the prin- cipal objedt of which was to fecure to the king his domi- nions in Germany, and exclude the Pretender from thofe of Britain. To eftcft thefe purpofes, the nation paid con- fiderable fubfidies to many ditferent dates on the continent, for the promife of their pioteclion and aififtance. Since the acceflion of George to the crown of Great Britain, no lefs than nine treaties had now been concluded. Thefe were, the barrier convention treaty^ a defennve alliance wjth the emperor, the triple alliance, the quadruple alli- ance, the congrefs at Cam bray, the treaty of tiarioyer, the treaty of Vienna, and the convention wirh Sweden and Heffe-CafTel. The treaties but juH concluded with Spain, however, were already broken, in confcquence of the encreafing fpirit of commerce, which would fubmit to no limitations. Admiral Hofier, with feven fhips of war, was fent to South-America to intercept the Spanifh galle- ons ; but the Spaniards being apprized of his defign, the treafure, confilting of above iix millions flerling, had been unloaded and carried back to Panama. The greater part of the Enghfh fleet fent on this expedition was ren- dered entirely unfit for fervice. The feamen perifhed in great numbers, by the joint influence of the malignity of the climate, and the length of the voyage ; while the brave admiral was fo deeply affeiled with the difafters at- tending the expedition, that he is faid to have died of a broken heart.
After the breaking up of the parliament, the king pre- pared for vifiting again his eiedtoral dominions, and accordingly embarked for Holland, where, upon his land- ing, he lay at a little town called Voet. Proceeding thence on his journey, he arrived in two days at Delden, to all appearance in perfect health. He there fupped very hear- tily, and continued his progrefs early next morning ; but was fuddenly feized with a paralytic diforder on the road, Jcfl the faculty of fpeech, became lethargic, acd was con- i... ' '•■'.-■ veye(|
Gcorg-e 11. ^^S
Vf.ycH In a ftate of infenfihillty to Ofimburf^, wlierc he ex- pired on the eleventh day of June, in the fixty-eighth year of his nge, and the thirteenth ot his reign.
George I. was plain and fimple in his perfon and ad- and cha- drcfs ; and having been educated but in a faint profpecl raclrr. of ever attaining royal dignity, he was more familiar in his converfation than is ufual with monarchs. '^I'hrough the whole of his life he appears to have had a juft fenfe of his own interefts ; and thefe he invariably endeavoured to purfue with prudent afllduity.
He was married to the princcfs Sophiai daughter and heirefs of the duke of Zell ; by whom he had George, who fucceeded him on the throne, and a daughter married to Frederick II. king of Prufha. His body was carried to Hanover, and Interred among his anceflors.
GEORGE ir.
GEORGE the IT. afcended the throne in the forty- third year of his age, (trongly bialTed with a partiality to his dominions on the continent. At this period, ihc affairs of government were chiefly conduced by lord 'I'ownfliend, who was reputed to undeilland v.-ell the In- tercfls ot the different fla'cs of Europe ; and tlie duke of Newcaftle, a nobleman of extenfive connexions, but rather of inferior abilities. But he who (hortly after engroffed the greatefl fliare of powerrwas fir Robert Walpole, who had early (hewn his attachment to the Hanoverian fuccef- fion. This gentleman had raifed himfcif from low begin- nings, to the head of the treafury. He was well acquainted with tiie nature of the public funds, and underftoo i the whole myflery of ftock-jobbing ; a fpecies ol knowlcge, vvhich producing a connexion between him and the money- corporations, ferved to increafe his Importance. In par- liament, his difcourfc was fluent, but without dignity. He poffeffed a happy infenfibility to reproach, and had a difpaffionate manner of reafoning, which, from Its appa- rent want of art, was calculated tp have the effeit of con- vincing his hearers.
In the houfe of commons, the members had for feveral years been diftinguiOied into Hanoverians and Jacobites, but they now altered their names with their principles, an4 the different parties went by the appellations of the Court ^iid the Country. Both fides had been equally aclive In forwarding the Hanover-fuccelfion, and were therefore ;illke fecure from the reproach of difafff£tion. The for- mer, having lifted under the banners of the miniftry, were
Z 4 dif-
344 ^'-^ Hijlory of England.
diffofed to favour all the meafuies of the crown. They were taught to regard foreign alliances and continental con^ nexions as con ducive to internal fecurity. The latter, or the countrv partv, were entirely averfe to continental con* nexions. They complained that immenfe fums were lavifh^ ed on fruitlels fubhdies ; and that alliances were bought with money ffom nations that Ihculd rather contribute to Great Britain for her protection. Thefe were joined by the high-flying Tories, who now began to perceive their own caufe defperate ; and as they weie leagued with men who did not fear the impufiation of Jicobitifm, they gave and pcquired greater confidence. As the court-paity generally- alarmed the houfe of commons with imaginary dangers and fecret confpiracies, fo their opponents no lefs frequently declaimed againft the encroachments of the prerogative, and the dangerous power of the crovsn. During this whole reign, two principal objects of controverfy feem to have agitated the oppohte parties. Thefe were, the na- tional debt, and the number of forces to be kept in pay. The government, at the acceffion of the prefent king, owed more rhan thirty millions of money ; and notwith- Oanding a long continuance of profound peace, the debt was found to be accumulating. It was much wondered at by the country-party how this could happen ; and it was as conftantly the bufinefs of the court to give plaufible iea-» fens for the encreafe. Thus demands for new fupplies were made every fefTion of parliament, cither for the pur- pofes of fecuripg friends upon the continent, of guarding the kingdom from internal confpiracies, or ot enabling the government to act vigoroufly in conjuntlion with their foreign allies. In vain was it alledged, that thofe expences were entirely unneceiTary, as well as prejudicial to the nation. The court party was conltantly victorious, and every demand was granted with chearfulnefs and profuCon. _ The public tranquillity was now likely to be interrupt-
" ' ed by a difpute with the Spaniards, The extreme avidity
i^tan'lh de- ^^ ^^^ merchants, and the natural jealoufy and cruelty of predations that nation, were every day produdlive of mutual en- inJmerica- croachments ar^d acts of violence. The people of our Weft-India iflands had long carried on an illicit trade with the fubje^ts of Spain upon the continent ; but when dete£ted were rigorouily punilhedj and their cargoes con- fifcated to the crown. In this temerity of adventure on one hand, and the vigilance of puifuit end puniOimenton the other, it muft often have happened, th?.t the innocent muft fufrer wi:h the guilty; and many complaints were made, perhaps not without jull foundation, that the Eng-
iifh
lifli merchants were plundered by the Spanlfli king's vef» Icia upon the (out hern coalts of America.
The iinglilh miniltry, judging it improper to credit every report which might be urged by avarice, or enflamed by refentment, expected to prevent any rupture by an a- micable leprei'tntiuion to the court of Sjain, and in the mean time promifed the merchants that they ftiould ob- tain redrefs. I he oomphiints, however, becoming more general and loud, the merchants lemonftrated by petition to the houfe of commons, which accordingly entered into a deliberation on the fubje6l. They examined feveral perfons who had been feized by the Spaniards, and treated wiih great cruelty. One man, the mafter of a tiading veflcl, had been ufed in the mofl Ihocking manner : bc- fidc Ibipping and plundering him, the Spaniards cut oflT his ears, and prepared to put him to death.
The indignation of the people was univerfally excited by this inftance of barbarity; but the miniller judged it prudent to avoid, if polFible, an open rupture with the court of Spain. New negociations were, therefore, fet pn foot, and new mediators offered their interpofition. A treaty was figned at Vienna, between the emperor, the king of Great Britain, and the king ot Spain ; which for a time put off the llorm that threatened the peace of the two nations.. In confequence of this convention, Don Carlos, upon the death of the duke of Parma, was, by the affiffance of the Engliih fleet, put in peaceable pofleffion of Parma and Placentia, while fix thoufand Spaniards were quietly admitted, and quartered in the duchy of Tufcany, to fecure for him the reverlion of that dukedom.
Thefe tranfaclions were lucceeded by an interval of profound peace, during which, however, the dilputes be- tween the court and the country party, in pariiamcnt, were carried on with unceafmg aiiimnfity. One of the chief objetls which next engroffed the public atteniion, was a fcheme fct on foot by oir Robert Walpole, for 6x- ing ^ general excife. He introduced it into the houle, A. D. 1731, by going into a detail oi the frauds pratfbifed by the Lon- ■
don factors, who were employed by the American plant- £xa,r ers in felling their tobacco. To prevent thefe frauds, he f'-''^""' propofed, that inftead of having the cuftoms levied in the ufual manner upon tobacco, the whole of that commo- dity, hereafter to be imported, fhould be lodgtd in ware- houfes- appointed for that purpofe by the oiiicers of the crown, and fliould there be fold, upon paying the duty of four pence a pound. This propofal raifed a violent ferment, hoth.in and out of pariiamcnt. It was allertcd, that it would expofe the fa6lois to fuch lurdlhips that they
would
24^ ^^e Hifiory of England,
would be unable to continue their trade, and that fuch a fcheme would not even prevent the frauds againft which it was intended to operate. It was farther alleged by the opponents of this expedient, that a greater number of cxcifemen and warehoufe- keepers would of neceflity be employed ; a circumftance which would at once increafe the power of the minifter, and violate the liberty of the ' people. Whatever might be the force of thofe arguments,
they had the effetl of inflaming the populace, who, fur- rounding the parliament-houfe, intimidated the minillry, and compelled them to drop the defign. The mifcarriage of the bill was celebrated with public rejoicings in Lon- don and Weftminfter, while the minifter was burnt in effigy by the populace.
The country-party increafing in ftrength and popula- - rity by this triumph over the minifter, refolved to try
.' their forces in an offenfive meafure. They accordingly Motionfor made a motion for repealing the feptennial a6t, and the reptal bringing back triennial parliaments, as fettled at the Rc- ef the fep- volution. In the courfe of this debate the oppofition re- ftftmalaa. flecSled with great feverity on the meafures of the late reign, and the conduct of the prefent minifter. It was alleged, that the feptennial law was an encroachment on the rights of the people, and that ftiort parliaments were neceflary for checking the dangerous influence of a wicked adminiftration. *' Let us, faid fir William Wyndham, fuppofe a man of no great family, and of but mean for- tune, without any fenfe of honour, raifed to be chief mi- nifter of ftate : fuppofe this man raifed to great wealth, the plunder of the nation, with a parliament chiefly coinpofed of members whofe feats are purchafed, and •whofe votes are venal : let us fuppofe all attempts in fuch a parliament to enquire into his conduct, or relieve the nation, fruitlefs : fuppofe him fcreened by a corrupt majority of his creatuies, whom he retains in daily pay : let us fuppofe him domineering with infolence over all men of ancient families, over all men of fenfe, figure, or fortune, in the nation ; as he has no virtue of his ovjrn, ridiculing it in others, and endeavouring to punifti or corrupt it in all. With fuch a minifter, and fuch a par- liament, let us fuppofe a cafe, which I hope will never happen, a prince upon the throne uninformed, ignorant, and unacquainted with the inclinations and true interefts of his people, ; weak, capricious, tranfported with un- bounded ambition, and poflefled with infatiable avarice. J hope fuch a cafe will never occur ; but as it poffibly
7 Hiay,
George II 347
may, could any greater curfe happen to a nation than fuch a prince advifed by fuch a minifter, and that miniiler fupported by fuch a parliament ? The nature of mankind cannot be altered by human laws ; the exiflcnce of fuch z prince, or fuch a minifter, we cannot prevent by atl of parliament j but the exiftence of fuch a parliament may furely be prevented, and abridging its continuance is at Jeaft a certain remedy." Notwithftanding the warmth of The parti. oppofition, the miniftry proved viclorious, and the mo- ^y^fi " tion was negatived by a majority. rJut the country paity •* appearing to increafe in ftrength, the parliament was diflblved, and writs were ilTued tor a new eled^ion.
In the new parliament, the leaders of both parties A.D. 1734,
were the fame as in the preceding, and the fame mcafiircs •
were purfued and oppofed with fimilar animofity. A bill ^^■^'^ f>arm was brought in for fixing the prince of VValco's boulhold """^"'^''^ at one hundred thoufand pounds a year. This bill had originated from the country-party, and being oppofed by the miniftry, was thrown out. A fcheme was propofed by firi John Barnard for diminifhing the intercft on the national debt, and reje<£led in the fame manner; but dif» ferent was the fate of a bill introduced by the miniftry, ^or fubje£ling the play-houfes to a licenfer.
The proprietors of the play-houfes, finding moft mo- A.D.i737« ney was to be got by gratifying the national humour, a- ;
dopted the plan of throwing ridicule on the minifters. iAt a little theatre in the Hay-market, therefore, the mem- bers of the adminiftration were every night expofed, and even their drefs and manner exadlly imitated. Of this kind was the Pafquin, written by the ingenious Mr. Henrv Fielding. The public applauded its feverity, and the re- prefentation met with extraordinary fuccefs. Such li- berties, however, if they did not threaten danger, gave at Jeaft fome uneafinefs to government ; and the miniftry, ienfible of their own ftrength, refolved to check the li- centioufnefs of the ftage. This purpofe feemed the more juftiSable, as fome of the pieces exhibited at that time, were not only petulant, but immoral. On this ground, therefore, it was judged moft eligible to make their attack. Sir Robert Walpole brought in a bill to limit the number Bill far a of play-houfes, and to fubje£l: all dramatic writings to the ^*j^"^^ '* infpedion of the lord-chamberlain, who was to be inveft- ^^uf,^^ )cd with power to fupprefs all fuch as had a tendency either to obftru<ft government, or corrupt the morals of the people. The bill was oppofed by the earl of Chefter- f eld with great eloquence; but neverthelefs carried by a
|najorU|r.
A con«
343
Ccnt'sntion
fiandiug betvjetit the king and the prince of Wales*
B'lfiory of EnTland.
A convention agreed upon between the minlflfy and Spain, became afterwards the fubje£: otwarm altercation ia both hcut'es. By this treaty it was itipidated that the court of iSpain {houid pay to Great Britain the fum of ninety-five thoufand pounds, as a fatisfaclion for all deniauos, and to difcharge the whole within four months from the day of ratification. 1 his compenfation, however, being con- fidered as no equivalent for the damages which had been fuilained, the country party declaimed againll it as a fiagrant facriiice of the intererts of the nation, and infilled that no indemnification fliort of three hundred and forty tboufand pounds, ought to have been accepted by themi- nillry. Sir Robert Walpolc, on this occaGon, was pro- voked into unulual vehemence. He branded the oppofite party with the appellation of traitors, and exprefied his hope that their behaviour would unite all the true friends of the prefent government in oppofing their pernicious de- figns. In this, as in molt ocher debates, the oppofition was difcomfited ; and many of the leaders retiring to their feats in the country, left their vidlorious antagonills an uiidifputed majoricy in the houfe of commons.
The minifter, in order to gain popularity, employed this interval in palling feveral ufeful laws ; while the king laboured with no lefs afliduity in adjufting the balance of Europe ; for which purpofe he made feveral journies to the continent. But thefe public cares were interrupted by an incident of a domeilic nature, which was likely to be produflive of difagreeabic confequences. A niifun- derftanding had aiifen between the king and the prince of Wales ; and the caufe of the latter, not more from his own popularity than from a fpirit of oppofition to the court, was feconded by all the members of the country party. The prince had been a ihort time before married to the princefs of Saxe-Gotha ; and taking umbrage at the fcantinefs of his yearly allowance from his father, fel- dom vifited the court. 1 he princefs had advanced to the laft month of her pregnancy, and was actually .brought to bed of a daughter, before the king had been formally made acquainted with her condition, in confequence of this neglecl, his majefty ient the prince a meffage, in- forming him, that the whole of bis conducf had for fome time been fo undutiful, that he refolved to forbid him th« court. He, therefore, figiiified his pleafure that the prince, with all hij family, fhculd leave St. James's; whence, in confequence of this order, thty immediately retired to Kew. This rupture promifed to be favourable to the
country
George 11.
Country p:irty, by engaging on their ficle the whole influ- ence of the prince againft the prefcnt adminllbation ; and lie was, therefore, reforted to by all who were either dif- contented with the conduct of the niinifter, or who form- ed cxpeQations of rifing in the fervice of the (late.
Ever fince the treaty of Utrecht, mutual encroachments on the privileges of each other, had been made by the Spanifti and Englifii fubjeifls in America. A right which ^he Englilh meichants claimed by the treaty, of cutting logwood in the bay of Campeachy, afforded them frequent opportunities of carrying on an illicit trade in thofe parts; and to fupprefs the evil, the Spaniards were refolved to annihilate the claim. The Spanirti veflels, appointed for prote6ling the coafl:, committed frequent hofiilities upon the Englilh, many of whom were fent to dig in die mines of Potofi, and deprived of all means of conveying their complaints to the Britifli government. The fadl being at laft known, repeated remonftrances, on this violati^-^?^ of treaty, were fent to the court of Madrid ; but no eflVc- -tual meafures were taken by Spain to put a (lop to thofc outrages. The Englifli merchants complained loudly of the loiles and infults which they fuftained •, while the minifler vainly expected to accommodate the clifpute by
!49
Jiegociation.
The backwardnefs which the court of Great'Brltaln dlf- covered towards entering on holtile meafures, ferved only to increafe the infolence of the enemy. Their guardftiips continued to feize not only all the guilty, but the inno- cent, whom they found failing along the Spani(h main. At laft, however, the clamours of the merchants pene- trated the houfe of commons, where their letters and me- morials were produced, and their grievances enforced by council at the bar of the houfe. It appeared that the money which Spain had agreed to pay to the court of Great Britain, was never yet tranfmitted, and no rcafon was affigned for the delay. 1 he minifter, therefore, to appeafe the clamour of the fufTerers, and to gratify the general ardour, afl'ured the houfe, that government would immediately prepare for alTerting by arms what could not be obtained by negociation. In a Ihort time letters of re- piifal were granted againft the Spaniards; and both na- tions feemed determined for a vigorous profecutlon of hof- tilities. Mean while, the French minifter at the Hague gave an intimation to the Britifii court, that his mafter was obliged by treaty to afnft the king of Spain ; fo that the alliances which had been formed but twenty years be- fore, were now entirely rcverfed.
A rup-
A.D. 1739.
War nuith Spain*
Admiral Vernon de- JtrofiForiQ- £sUo.
Ctmmodore Anfon fails to the South Sea,
H/JIoyy of England.
A rupture between Great Britain and Spain becoming no'v unavoidable, orders were iflued for augmenting the land-forces, and raifing a body of marines. War was in a (liort time formally declared, and foon after two rich Spanifli prizes were taken in the Mediterranean. Admiral Vernon was fent with a fleet into the Weft Indies, to diftrefs the enemy in that quarter. He had aflerted in the houfe of commons, that Porto Bello, a fort and har- bour in South America, could be eafily deftroyed ; and that himfelf, with only fix (hips, would undertake to re- duce it. The project was treated by the miniftry as wild and impracticable ; but he ftill inllfling upon the pro- pofal, they at length complied with his requeft, not[without hope that the mifcarriage of the expedition might reprefs the confidence of the party who had efpoufed it. In this, however, they were difappointed ; for with fix (hips only he attacked and demoliflied all the fortifications of the place, with fcarce the lofs of a fingle man.
This fuccefsful enterprize encouraging the commons to profecute war with vigour, the minifter obtained fuch fupplies as were fufficient to equip a very powerful navy ; and domeftic debates and factions feemed for a time to fubfide. "While preparations were making in other de- partments, a fquadron of fliips was fitted out for diftreflmg the enemy in the South-feas, and the command of it given to commodore Anfon. This fleet was deftined to fail through the ftreights of Magellan, and fteering northwards along the coaft of Chili and Peru, to co-operate occafion- S(lly with admiral Vernon, acrofs the ifthmus of Darien ; but the latter part of the fcheme was fruftrated by the de- lays and miftakes of the miniftry. When the feafon was too far advanced, the commodore fet fail with five fhips of the line, a frigate, and two ftore-(hips, with about fourteen hundred men. Having reached the coafts of Brazil, he refrefaed his men for fome time on the ifland of St. Catharine, whence he fteered downwards to the tempeftuous regions of the fouth •, and in about five months after, meeting a dreadful tempeft, he doubled Cape Horn. His fleet was now difperfed, and his crew miferably af- fii£led with the fcurvy ; fo that with much difliculy he gained the delightful ifland of Juan Fernandez, where he was joined by one ftiip, and a fmall frigate. Advancing thence northvv-ard, he landed on the coaft of Chili, and attacked the city of Paita by night. The governor of the garrifon, and the inhabitants, immediately fled on all fides; while a fmall body of the Englifti took pofi'eflion of the town, and after ftripping it of all its treafures and merchan- dize, to a confiderable amount, fet it on fire.
This
George II, 351
This fmall fquadron foon after advanced as far as Pa- nama, fituated on the illhmus of Darien, on the wefteni fide of the great American continent. The commodore now placed all his hopes in taking one of thofe valuable Spanilh (hips, which trade from the Philippine iflands to Mexico. Not more than one or two of thofe immenfely rich {hips went on the voyage in a year. They were, therefore, very large, in order to carry a fuiriciency of treafure, and proportionably ftrong to defend it. In the fearch of this prize, the comm.odore, with his little fleet, traverfed the great Pacific Ocean -, but the fcurvy again vifiting his crew, feveral of his men died, and almolt all were difabled. In this exigence, having colle6led all his men into one vefTel, and fet fire to the other, he fleered for the illand of Tinian, where he continued for fome time, until his men recovered their health, and his fliip was refitted for failing. Thus refreflied, he fet forwards for China, where he laid in proper (tores for once more tra- verfing back the immenfe ocean in which he had lately encountered fuch difficulties. Having therefore taken on board fome Dutch and Indian failors, he again (leered towards America ; and at length, after various toils, dif- covered the Spanilh galleon which he had fo long ardent- ly expeiSted. This velTel mounted fixty guns, and car- ried five hundred men, while the crew of the commo- dore did not amount to half that number. The vi£lory, Aafonialet however, was on the fide of the Engliih; and they re- '^'eSpaniji turned home, after an abfence of three years, with their ^^ ^'"^* prize, which was eftimated at three hundred and thir- teen thoufand pounds (lerling, {exclufive of their differ- ent preceding captures, which amounted to as much more.
Mean while the Englifli condudled other operations a- gainft the enemy with great vigour. When Anfon firfl failed, it was with a defign of adling a fubordinate part to a formidable armament intended for the coafls of New Erpidltioti Spain ; confiding of twenty-nine fliips of the line, and ^° ^'^^t'^'^' almofl an equal number of frigates, furnifhed with all ^'" ' kind of warlike (tores, near fifteen thoufand fearaen, and as many land-forces. Never was a fleet more completely equipped, nor never had the nation more fanguine hopes of fuccefs. Lord Cathcart was appointed to command the land-forces 5 but he dying on the pafTage, the com- mand devolved upon general Wentworth, whofe abilities were fuppofed unequal to the importance of the under- taking. I hey at length arrived on the coaft of New Spain, before the rich city of Carthagena. This place lies within fixty miles of Panama, and fcrves as a magazine for the merchandize of Spain, which is conveyed from
Europe
35^ ^he EJjiory of England.
Europe thither, and thence tranfported by land to Panama, to be exchanged for the cominodiiies of the new world. The taking of Carthngena, therefore, would have entirely obflirufted the trade between Old Spain and the New.
In order to form the fiege of this important- fortifi-i Nation, the troops were landed on the ifland Tierra Bom- ba, near the mouth of the harbour, which had been pre- "vioufly fortified by all the arts of engineering. Having got on fhore, they erei^ed a battery, with which they inadc a breach in the principal fort, while Vernon, who' commanded the fleet, fent a number of {hips into the har- bour, to divide the fire of the enemy, and to co-operate with the forces that were landed. The breach being deemed practicable, a body of troops was commanded to ftorm ; but the Spaniards deferted the forts, which, had they pGiTefTed courage, they might have defended with fuccefS" The troops, upon gaining this advantage, approached a good deal nearer the city ; but they there rnet with a much greater oppofition than they had ex- pe£led. It was alleged that the fleer could not lie near enough to batter the town, and that nothing remained but to attempt one of the forts by fcaling. The leaders of the fleet and army began mutual accufation, each af- ferting the probability of what the other denied. At length Wentworth, ftimulatcd by the admiral's reproach, tefolved to try the dangerous experiment, and ordered that fort St. Lazare fhould be attempted by fcalade. This undertaking proved extremely unfortunate. The forces marching up to the attack, their guides were flain, and they miftook their way. Inftead of attempting the weakeft part of the fort, they advanced to where it was ftrongeft, and where they were expofed to the fire of the town. Colonel Grant, who commanded the grenadiers, was kill- ed in the beginning of the attack. It was foon after found that their fcaling ladders were too fhort ; the offi- cers were perplexed for want of orders, and the troops . flood expofed to the whole fire of the enemy, without knowing how to proceed. After fuflaining a dreadful fire for fome hours with great intrepidity, they at length retreated, leaving fix hundred men dead on the fpot. The rainy feafon no^w^ began with fuch violence, that it was impofTible for the troops to continue encamped; and dif- eafes, produced by the climate, made great havock among them. To thefe calamities was added the diflenfion be- 'ujhuk tween the land and fea commanders, who blamed each
^lu cefJul ^^^"^ fo"" every mifcarriage. At lad they were induced to' agree in one mortifying meafure, which was to reimbark
the
Oeorge IL 353
iV.e troops, and vvitlulraw them 3S quick as pofTible from this inaufpicious enterprife. The foitificatioris near th^ liarbour, therefore, being demoliflied, the troops were con-' veyed X.6 Jamaica, which, though fulTicienfly unhealthy, was regarded as a perfect contrafh to the infedlious cli- mate whence they had juflcfcaped.
The mifcarriage of this expedition was no fooncr known in England, than the kingdom was fdled with clamour and indignation againft the minifter, who found him- felf alfo charged with various other a£ts of mifconducL The principal among thofc was the inaclivlry of the Eng- lifh fleet at home. Sir John Norris had twice failed to the coaft of Spain> at the head of a very powerful fqua- dron, without performing any thing of confequence a- gainft the enemy ; while the Spanifh privateers annoyed the Britifli commerce with great fuccefs. This univerfal difcontent had a manifeft influence upon the general elec- tion, which followed foon sfter.
At the meeting of tlie new parliament^ the complaints A D.t-4T
againft the new minifter were fo loud, that he began to
tremble for his own fafety, and tried every art to break p^'^^P^^'' the confederacy, which he knew he had not llrength to oppofe. Elis lirft attempt was by endeavouring, by pro- mi fes of royal favour, and other emoluments, to difen- gage the prince of Wales from the country party. The bilfiop of Oxford was accordingly fent to him, with aii offer, that if he would wiite a letter of fubmifiion to tlie king, he and all his counfellors lliould be taken into fa- vour, fifty thoufand pounds fliould be added to his le^'enue, two hundred thoufand fliould be granted him to pay his debts, and fuitable provifion fliould be made in due time for all his followers. Thin, to one in the prince's fitua- tion, was a tempting ofier, but he generoufly rejedled it ; declaring he would not accept of conditions diclared to him under the influence of a minifler, whofe meafures he difapprovcd.
The time was now near approaching when Walpole forefaw that the power, which he long fupported againft all the violence of oppofition, muft ter.minate ; and he even began to entertain apprehenfions for his perfon. The refentment of the people had been raifed againft him to an extravagant height ; and they had been taught by their leaders to expect very fignal juftice on the perfon who was fuppofi'd to be the author of the national cala mities. The firft occafion he had to perceive the unfa- vourable difpofition of the houfe of commons, was in a
YcL. II. A a debate
354 H'jhoy of Ef{^lmd,
debate upon fome difputed eleftions. In the firft of thefe ca'es, which was henrd ac the bar of the houfe, he carried his point by a majority of only fix votes; a plain indi- cation of the prodigious decline of his credit. A petition was prefented by the inhabitants of Weftminfler, com- plaininc; of an undue election, which had been procured by the influence of the miniftry, and which they begged to fet afide. Sir Robert laboured with all his art to over- rule their petition, which was, however, carried againfl: A.D i'4.2- ^'^^^ ^y ^ rt^sjority of four voices. He refolved to try his
ftrcngth once more in another difputed election, and had
Sir Robert the mortification to find the majority againft him in- Walpole re- creafed to fixteen. He then declared he would never fit figns all Ins ^^^^^ \^ [\y^^ houfe. Next day both houfes of parliament menu and is were adjourned for a few days ; and in the mean time fir createJearl Robert Walpolc was created earl of Orford, and refigned ef Orjord. all his employments.
From the extreme violence of the oppofition, it was univerfally expeiled that the minifter's difmifiion would foon be fol'owed by his impeachment ; but in this the public was difappointed. Some of thofe who had cla- moured mod loudly againft him, were mollified by the places or honours, with which he compounded for his impunity ; and when brought into employment, they pur- fued exatlly the fame meafures which they had fo often reprobated in the former adminiftration. The recon- ' ciiiation between the king and the prince of Wales, how-
however, took place foon after ; and the change of the rhinidry was celebrated by rejoicing over the whole ration.
The war with Spain, which had now continued for fome years, v/as attended with but inditTerent fortune. .Some expeditions in the Weft Indies, under admiral Ver- non, commodore Knowles, and others, had proved un- fuccefsfal, and their failure was aggravated by the po- litical writers of the day. The people thus difgufted with their operations at fca, began to wifh for an opportunity of retrieving the glory of the nation by fome enterprize on land ; nor was the king lefs difpofed than his fubjccts for renewing the war, which had formerly been maintained in Flanders, fo much to the renown of the Britifh arms. It was refolved, therefore, to fend a powerful force into the Netherlands, to join in the quarrels that were begin- ning on the continent ; and great triumphs were expected from fuch an undertaking, which the king determined to condudl in perfon. In confequence of this refolution, an
army
George ft. ^^^
army of {lAteen tlioufand men was fent over Into Flan- AD.t-41
dcrs, and tlie wnr with Spain became but an object of ,
fccondary confideration. /tn army oj
To form a clear idea of the tranfa£l:ions on the cohti- f'xteen nent, it will be neceflary to review the ftate of the feveral ^'">"l""^^ powers during fome years preceding this period. After ^f' ." the death of the duke of Orleans, who had been regent Flanders, of Francej cardinal Fleury undertook to fettle the great confufion in which the kingdom had been left by that prince. Under him, therefore, France repaired her loflcs, and extended the bounds of her commerce.
During the long interval of peace, which this mlnl- fter's counfels had procured for Europe, two powers, which had hitherto remained unregarded, began to at- tra6t the notice and jealoufy of the neighbouring nations. Peter the Great had already introduced civilization into RuflTia, and this vaft empire now began to aflume an in- fluence on the councils of other nations. The other povvei* that rofe into eminence, was that of the eleflor of Bran- denburgh, who had lately takeil the title of king of Pruf- fia, whole dominions were not only compa6l and popu- lous, but who had on foot a numerous and well appointed army, ready for acftion.
The other dates were but little improved in rerpe£l of military power. The empire remained under the go- vernment of Charles VT. who had been placed upon the throne by the treaty of Utrecht. Sweden was dill feeble, from the violent exertions which (lie had made under her favourite monarch, Charles the Twelfth. Denmark, though refpe£lable for power, was inclinet! to peace ; anil part of Italy flill remained fubjccfl: to thofe princes who had been impofed upon it by foreign treaties.
All thefe ftatcs coniinued to enjoy a profound pence, until the death of Auguftus, king of Poland, by which 6vent a general flame was once more kindled over Europe. The emperor, afTided by the arms of Rufiia, declared for the elector of Saxony, fon of the late king. On the other hand, France decla;ed for Stanin.uis, who had long fmce httn nomitinted king of Poland by Charles of Sweden, and whofe daughter the king of France had fince married. Staniflaus, in order to forward his pretenfions, repaired to Dantzick, where he was joyfully received by the people. His triumph, however, was of fhort duration Ten thou- fand Ruffians appearing before the place, the Polifh no- bility difperfed, and Stani.Haus was bcfieged by this fmali body of forces. Tho'igh the city was taken, the Vwvx
A a 7, efcaped
336 Hijlo'-y of EfigldHci
efcaped wltb fome difliculty by night; and fifteen hun- dred men, who had been fent to his afliflance, wsre made prifoners of war. France, however, refolvcd to perfe- vere in his fupport, which, it was imaj:;ined, would be mcfl effeclually acconipli.'hed, by diftrefling the houfe of Auftiia.
The views of France were feconded by the kings of Spain and Sardinia, who hoped to make an acquifition to their dominions by the fpoils of the houfe of Auftria. A French army, therefore, under the command of old marflial Villars, foon over-ran the empire ; while the duke of Montemar, the Spanifli general, was no lefs vidtorious in the kingdom of Naples. ^ Thefe rapid fucceiles of France and her allie?, foon compelled the emperor to folicit peace, which was ac- tordingly granted him. It was, however, flipulated, that Staniflaus fliould renounce all claim to the crown of Poland, for which the emperor gratified France with the duchy of Lorraine, and fome other valuable territories.
The emperor dying in the year 174c, the French thought this a favourable opportunity of once more ex- erting their ambition. In violation, therefore, of treaties, particularly that denominated the Pragmatic SanQion, by ■which the reverfion of all the late emperor^s dominions was fettled upon his daughter, they caufed the elector of Bavaria to be crowned emperor. By this meafure, the quecii of Hungary, daughter of Charles VI. faw herfelf flripped of her inheritance, and left for a whole year de- ierted by all the powers of Europe, without even any hope of afndance. Her father's eyes were fcarce clofed, when Silefia was taken from her by the ycung king of Pruifia, who fcized the opportunity to renew his ancient pretenfions to that province, of which, it mufl be owned, his anceflofs had been unjuftly deprived. The reft of her dominions was attacke J by France, Saxony, and Bavaria ; while England feemed the only power that was willing to afford her any fuccour. Sardinia and Holland foon after came to her afhilance ; and Ruffia, at laft, acceded fo the union in her favour.
However thofe tranfuclions might interefl the powers on the continent, they had, doubtlefs, little connexioit with the internal tranquillity of Great-Britain. But it was alleged, that the fecurlty of the electorate of Hanover might be intimately affecled by them ; and the EnglJlh miniftry was willing to gratify the king, by fhewing their auention to that objedl. Lord Carteret, who now og-
cupkd
George 11.
cupied, in the royal confidence, that plnce whlc'ti had lormerly been polTefled by Walpole, expelled, by thefe ineafurcs, not only to foothe tlic wifhes of his mailer, but to open a profpecl that niiglit lead to his own aggran- Uilenient.
At the meeting of the pnrhament, the king informed both houfe;; of his llri(fl adherence to his engngemenf^ ; and acquainted them that he had augmented the KngUfti army in the Netherhmds with fixteen thoufand Hanove- rians, to make a diverfion upon the French dominions, in favour oi the queen of Hungary. When the parliament, in conhdering the fupplies, found that the Hanoverian troops were to be paid by the Englifh, the intelligence excited warm debates, h waa urged, that, to pay foreign trooj)S for fighting their own battles, was a diredt abufe of the generofity of the nation ; and the fervants of the crowa were preiled by their own arguments againll fuch mea- fures, before they came into the adminiltration. They fcrupled nor, however, openly to defend a condu£l which they iiad formerly reprobated ; and at length, by Itrength of numbers, they overcame oppofition.
But thefe meafures, though injurious to Britain, ferved to retrieve the defperate fituation of the queen of Hungary. The French were driven out of Bohemia. Her general, prince Charles of Lorrain, at the head of a large army, invaded the domnions of Bavaria. Her rival, the nomi- nal emperor, was obliged to fly before her ; and being not only abandoned by his allies, but diverted of his heredi- tary dominions, retired to Franckfort, where he afterwards lived in obfcurity. Though the French had begun the war as allies, they did not relinquilh it upon the defeat of the duke of Bavaria, but perfilted in fullaining, of themfelves, the whole burden of the conteft.
The troops fent to the queen's afTiftance by England, were commanded by the earl of Stair, an experienced ge- neral, who had learnt the art of war under the celebrated prince Eugene. His chief obje£l in the beginning was to effedt a junQion with the queen's army, commanded by prince Charles, and thus to out-number the enemy in the lield. ■ To prevent this jundion, the French afTembledan -A.D, 1743. army of fixty thoufand men upon the river JMayne, un- "^
der the command of marfhal Noailles, who pofted his troops upon the eaft iide of that river. The Britilh forces, to the numb-r of forty thoufand, pulhed forward on the other fide, into a country v/here they found theinfelves, by the precaution of the French, entirely dcdiiutc of pro-
A a 3 vifions.
35S ^he Hijhry of England..
vlfions. The king of England arriving in the camp while the army was in this deplorable fituation, he refolved on penetrating forward, to join twelve thoufand Hano- verians and Heffians, who had reached Hannau. With this view he decamped ; but before his army had marched three leagues, he found himfelf inclofed on every fide by the enemy, near a village called Dertingen. In this ex- tremity he feemed to be deprived of every refource. If he engaged the enemy it mull be at the greateft difadvan- tage J if he remalr.ed inactive, his army mull unavoidably ftarve ; and a retreat was evidently impradlicable. The impetuofity of the French troops, however, relieved him , r from this embarialTment: they palled the defile, which Detir.sitn. ?^"'^y fhould have been contented to guard ; and under the condudt of the duke of Gramont, their horfe charged the Englilli with great fury: but being received v/iih intrepi- dity, they were obliged to make a precipitate retreat over the Mayue. with the lofs of about five thoufand men. His Britannic majefty, with great perfonal courage, ex- pofed himfelf to a feverc fire of the enemies cannon ; and, in the midft of the engagement, encouraged his troops by his prefence and example. The Englilh had the ho- nour of the day ; but were foon obliged to leave the field cf bartle, which was taken polTefiion of by the French, who treated the wounded Englifli with great clemency. The earl of Stair folicited for leave to refign ; which hav- ing obtained, the troops were led into winter-quarters.
Meanwhile, the French proceeded in their operations with vigour. They oppofed prince Charles, and interrupted his attempts to pafs the Rhine. They gained alfo fome fuccenes in Italy ; but their chief hopes were placed up- on a projecled invafion of England. Cardinal Fleury w^s now dead ; and cardinal Tencin, who fucceeded him in power, was proud, turbulent, and enterprifing. France, from the violence of the parliamentary difputes in Eng- Ir.nd, had conceived an opinion that the people were ripe for a revolt, and only wanted the prefence of the Pre- tender to effecl fuch an event. Thcfe fentiments being encouraged by the Jacobite- party in Britain, an inyafioa 3vas actually proje.£led ; and Charles, the fon of the old J*retender, arrived at Paris, where he had an audience of the French king. This family had long been the dupes of France ; but it was now thouglu that the refo- lutions of the French court were unqueltionably in their id,you:> The troops deftined for this expedition amounted
tQ
G.orge 11, 359
to fifteen thoufand mtn, whom it was propofed to cm- ^.p
bjirk at Dunkirk, and fome other of the ports nearcfi to
England, urder the dire£lion of the young Pretender, iti Frtr.<h The duke de Roquefuilie, with twenty (hips of the iine, mtditauan \va< to fee themfafcly landed, and the famous count Saxe '*'^«^<"» «/ was to command them, when put on ftiore. But the tu^^reprt- whole project was difconcertcd by the appearance of fir -^mudbj John Noitis, who, with a fuperior fleet, advanced to at- Z*- TeAi tack them. The Frcnth fleet was thus obliged to put ^f^^^ back ; a:id bein? fruftrated in their fcheme of a fudden defcent, though: fit openly to declare war.
The Engiilh miniftry had fent out a powerful fquadron into the Mediterranean, to ovc^we thofe ftates, which might be !• wiined to lend sfTillance to France or bpain. This fleet had ' ren condudted by Leiiock ; but admiral Matthews, though a younger ofBcer, was fent out to take the fupreme command ; in confequence of which a mif- underiuiidi;ig arofe bet" een them ; and they foon had an opportunity of dilcovering their mutual animofity. \ he combined fleets of France and Spain, to the number of four and thirty fail, were fee n off Toulon, and a fign^l was made by the Englilh aifmiral to prepare for engaging. It hapfvened that his (igr.a'.s were not perfeciiy ciatl : he had hung out that for forming the line of battle, which at the fame time (hewed the Genal for engaging. This af- f'f* '*r
O COO %t Ck^in'*^ Jill
forded Leltock a fufEcicnt pretence for refufrng to advance ^jafrvut •with alacrity -, fo tlut Matthews, after fome vain eJorts to aTiaU^o-.k. engage the enemy in conjunclicn, refohed to eng:;ge with his own divifion. One fhip of the line belonging to the Spanilh fquadron, (Iruck ro captain Hawke ; but was next ddy burned by the admiral's order. Captain Cornwall was killed in the action, after continuing to give com- mand, even when his leg was fliot olTby a cannon-ball. The purl'uit was continued for three days, at the end of which time Lcflock feemed to come up with fome vigour j but Matthews now gave orders for difcontinuing the pur- fuif, and failed away for Port Mahon, to repair the da- mage he had fuftained.
The account of this tranfa£kiQn was received in England with equal furpri'.e and difcontent ; and both admirals, upon their return, were tried by a court-martial. Mat- thews, who had fought w;th intrepidity, w^s declared for the future mcapable of fer\ing in hi? majefty'snavv ; while J^eftock, who had kept at a diftar.cs during the engagc- mentj w^s acquitted with honour.
A u 4 In
;6q
The H'ljhry of En^Iemf.
land com- p.ands I he
Jbrttijh
armj.
Battle of
In the Netherlands the operations of the allied army were far pwore fuccefsfuL The French had aflembled an army of a hundred and twenty thoufand men, the com- iT.and of which was given to count Saxe, natural fon to ijie late king of Ppiand, and who had acquired great eX" perience in war. Havin^^ long been a foldier of fortune, he had in the beginning of thofe commotioMS offered his fervices to feveral crowns ; and among them, it is faid, to the king of Great Britain j but hjs offers were rejefled. Thedukeof The Englilli were no\y headed by the duke of Cumber- Cumber- land, who, though polleOed of fuflicient courage, could not be fuppofed equal in military Ikill, and was far inferi- or in the number of his troops to his formidable antago- nifl:. The Ftench, therefore, bore down all before them. Theybeiieged Fribourg, and in the beginning of the next campaign inverted the flrong city of Tournay ; to fave which place, if poffible, the allies, notwithllanding their great inferiority, refolvcd to hazard a battle. They ac- cordingly took pod in fight of the enemy, who were en- camped on an eminence, with the village of St. Antoine on the right, a wood on the kft, and the town of Fonte- noy in their front. Notwithllanding this advantageous lituation, the Englilli began the attack at two o'clock In the morning, and preffmg forward with impetuofity, bore down all before them. They were for an hour fuccefsful, and confident of viclory, while Saxe, who commanded the enemy, was fick of the fame diforder of which he after- wards died. Being, however, at His own defire, carried about to all the polls in a litter, he affured his attendants, that, notwithllanding all unfavourr.ble appearances, their army would prove victorious. A column of the Englifh, without any command, and inftigated only by courage, liad advanced upon the enemies lines, which, opening, formed an avenue to receive them. The French artillery, on three fides, began now to play upon this adventurous body, which, after long fuftaining the charge, was at laft obliged to retreat. The allied army left on the field of battle almoft twelve thoufand men j and the lofs of the French was nearly equal.
This battle was foon followed by the furrender of Tour- nay an event which gave the French a great fuperiority durinGj the remainder of the war.
The duke of Bavaria, whom the French had made em- peror, under the title of Charles the Seventh, was lately dead; but the war, though undertaken in fupport of his prctenfions, did not terniinate at his deceafe. Ihe grand- i- duke
Tfie French take Jou!' r.dy.
Ceonc 11. 361
duke of Tufcany hufbancl to the qeecn of Plungary, was declared emperor in his room j and notuiciilhinilir.g this event likewife, the bellij^erent powers continued 10 iuj^port the quarrel with unabating animolity.
Meanwhile, the attention ot the Enelifli was drawn from - ^ Jhe continent, to an occurrence which more nearly aittrct- _ ed the tranquillity of the kingdom. In their own domi- nions was now going to be kindled ;i civil war, ■which, though it encreafcd their perplexity, had the etrctft of ce- menting more firmly the national union. The intended French invafion had roiifed the indignation of the people, who no.v breathed nothing but the deflruction of a popifti pretender, afTiftcd by Freiuli councils and r.rms-, and they, therefore, v/ere never lels dilpoled to icccivc Jiim than at the very time he pitched upon to make a defcent.
A change in the minillry had by this time taken place ; the lords Harrington, Chcfterfielii, and Mr. Pclhamj being appointed to the chief departments in the government; and as they enjoyed fome fnare of popularity, the operations of war were no longer thwarted by a turbulent oppofition. The admiralsPvowley and Warren had retrievedthe honour ■of the Britifli flag, and made feveral rich captures at lea. The fortrefs at Louifburgh, in the iHand of Cape Breton, had alfo furrendered to the Britilh arms. It was at this period of returning luccefs, that the fon of the old cheva- lier refolved to make an effort for reraininr the crown of thefe kingdoms. Charles Edward, this adventurer, though bred in a luxurious court, was uninfected with its effemi- jiacy. He was enterprizing and ambitious ; but either from inexperience or natural inability, unequal to the bold imdertaking. He had for fome time been infligated by the tribe of adherents that furrounded him ; was taught to believe that the nation was ripe for a revolt, and that it could no longer bear the immenfe load of taxes with Th youv^ which it was burdened. Being now, therefore, fumiflied PretenJer with fome money, and with yet greater promifcs, from the ^'/^^'^V^^i French court, which for its own views fanned his ambi- y^^ ^^j^. tion, he embarked for Scotland on board a fmall frigate, la7id. accompanied by the marquis^ of 'i'ullibardine, fir Tliomas Sheridan, and a few other delperate adventurers. Seven oflicers, and arms for two thouiand men, were ail that he brought with him for the conquefl of the whole Britifli kingdom.
After he had fet fail, his convoy, a (hip of flxty guns, was fo difabled in an engagement with an Englifli man of war, named the Lion, that it was obliged to return to Breft,
while
362 The Hijlory of EngLvid.
-, , . ■ \vT)Ile he continued his coiirfe to the wedern parts of tre tanas '^ r. , 1 t i • i <\ r t 1 1 1
icotlanJ, ototland. J^andmg on the coalt o{ Locnaber, he was m
a^th July, a little time joined by ibme chiefs of the Highland clans, and their vallais, over whom they exercifed a hereditary jurifdi(Slion. Through the txertioi^, ot ihcie chieftains, he ioon law himfelf at the bead of l^fteen hundred mei"?; v'hile by his manifeftos, which were difpcrled all over the kingdom, he invited the afliftance of others. Sir John Authentic intelligence of his arrival was no fooner re-
topeis Jert ceived by the minillry, than fir John Cope, then com- egaifijt tne zander ill chief in Scotland, had orders to march with a fmall body of forces to oppofe his progrefs. i he young adventurer had by this time reached Perth, where, as well as in other places, the ceremony was performed of pro- claimiug his father king of Great Britain. Proceeding thence with his forces, which weie now daily increafing> he advanced to Edinburgh, and entcied that city without oppoGtion ; but the caftle held out, and he was unpro- vided with cannon to befiege it^
Meanwhile fir John Cope, being reinforced by two re- giments of dragoons, refolved to march towaids Edin- burgh, and give the enemy battle. The young adven- turer, whofe forces, though undifciplined, were rather fu- perior in namber, attacked him near Prellon Pans, about J^ n ^ i^i"e miles from the capital, and in a few minutes put him ^aus. "^"^ his troops to Highr. Iheillue o\ this engagement,
in which five bundled of the royal army were killed, gave the rebels great triumph ; and had the Pretender, taking advantage of the general conilernation, marched direGly to London, the conlequence might have been fatal to Bri- tilli liberty : but in hope of promifed fuccours, which ne- ver arrived, he was induced to prolong his fiay at Edin- burgh, where he was joined by a few of the nobility, either attached tojhis caufe from principle, or difcontented with the prefent government. T hcfe ronfifled of the duke of Perth, lords Kilmarnock, Balmcrino, Cromarty, Elcho, Ogilvy, and Pitlligo, with the eldeft fon of loid Lovat, who ail came in with their vaifals, and augmented the army. Lord Lovat himleU, though a warm partifan in the caufe, was unwilling to acl openly, being afraid of incurring the refentment of the miniftry, whom he had reafon .to dread. Never was there a mian more profligate cr faithlefs, or who more actively rendered bimleif hated and fufpeslk'd by all pariits. He was ac firft outlawed, lor raviihif g the duke of Argyle's niece. He then offered Ills fcrvice tc the old Pretender in France, and it was ac- cepted*
Gcofge IL 363
ceptecl. lie nnxt betrayed, to queen Anne, the forces which were fent to his madtr's afTiftance. He a ftcond lime invited the Pretender over in the reign of Gcorf^c the Firll ; and being puc in poneffion of the cadle of Ster- linji, by the Chevalier, lie ag^in betrayed it into the hands of the enemy. This man, falfe to every party, had now privately fent aid to the Chevalier, while, in converfation, lie afVecled to declaim agninlt his attempt.
While the young Pretender was idly Ipcnding his time at Edinburgh, the Britifl) minillry took every preciution to oppofe him with fuccefs. A bodv of fix thoufand Dutch troops having come over 10 the alhitance of the royal forces was difpatchcd northward, under the command of ge- neral Wade ; but this army, as it was then faid, could lend no nflillance, being ptifoners of France upon pa- role, and under enga'^ements not to oppofe that power before the expiration of a twelvemonth. However this be, the duke of Cumberland foon alter arrived from Flan- ders, and was followed by another detachment of dragoons and infantry.
The young Chevalier, unintimidated by thefe prepara- The ymivg tions, refolved to make an irruption into England, which ^■■''^'^^^'^'^ he accordingly entered by the wcflern border, and, invert.- '^ "^^'^ ing Carlifle, obliged it to furrender in lefs than three days. Here he found a confiderable quantity uf arms, and com- manded hia father to be proclaimed king. General Wade being informed of his progrels, advanced acrofs the coun- try as far as Hexham ; but receiving intelligence that the enemy was two days march before him, he immediately returned to his former ftation. The young Pretender meeting with no oppofuion, and receiving allurances from France, that a confiderable body of troops would be land- ed on the louthern coaft of Britain, to make a diverfion in his favour, determined to penetrate farther into the kingdom. He was alfo ftinnilated to carry his defign into execution from the hope of being joined on his march by a confiderable number of malcontents. Leav- ,, ^ . iiig, therefore, a fmall garrifon in Carlille, he advanced to g, fg m^„S Penrith, marching on foot in a Highland drefs ; and con- chtfer j tinued his route to Manchefter, where he edablifhed his head-quarters. Here he was joined by about two hundred Englilh, who were formed into a regiment under the com- mand of colonel Tounly. He thence purfued his march anJ te"*- as far as Derby, intending to go by the way of Chefter in- /rj.v.. t-, to Wales, where he hoped to increafo his army by a great Derbj. ^cceflioii of the inhabitants of that country j but he was
in-
364 57'^ Hjftory of England.
induced to defill from this defign, by difl'enfions whrch aroie anioiig his principal followervS.
He was now advanced within a hundred miles of the capital, which was filled with perplexity and confternation. The kinjT lefolved to take the held in peifon ; the volun- teers of the city were incorporated into a regiment; the practitioners of the la\y determined to take up arms with the judges at their head ; and even the managers of the theatres offered to raile a body for the fervice of go- vernment.
While thefe aflbciations were forming, the young Che- valier began to hefitate with refpe£l to the profecution of his march. He knew that he coald not proceed to the metropolis without hazarding a battle, the lofs of which might be attended with inevitable ruin to himfelf and his adherents. The Highland chiefs alfo, unaccuftomed to fubordination, began to contend with each other for pre- eminence. On thefe accounts it was determined, in a council at Derby, that they {hould retreat with all polTible Tlte rebels expedition to their own country. Accordingly they elfe£l- *I '^^land, ^^ their retreat to Carliile, where having reinforced the garrifon, they crofled the rivers Eden and Solway into CarliU Scotland. It was obfervable, that in this march they com- jurrenders mitted no outrage, and were effectually reilrained from to the duke the exercife of rapine. The duke of Cumberland foon of Cumbtr- ^f^gr invefted Carliile with his whole army ; and the gar-
■ rifon, in about a week, fjanendered at difcretion. A.D 1746. The young Chevalier proceeded by the way of Dum- fries to Glaigow, from which city he exafted fevere con- tributions, on account of its attachment to the govern- ment, for whofe fervice it had raifed a regiment of nine hundred men, under the command of the earl of Hume. Quitting Glafgow, he advanced towards Stirling, and was joined by fome forces which had been affembled by lord Lewis Gordon, and lord John Drummond, brothers to the dukes of Gordon and Ferth. He now invelled the T'reCheva- caffie of Stirling, commanded by general Blakeney ; but l<er inwfts general Hawley, who lay near Edinburgh with a conffder- Stirling. able detachment of the royal army, undertook to raife the fiege, and advanced towards the rebel army as far as Falkirk. After two days fpent in mutually examining each other's ftrength, the rebels, being impatient to en- gage, were led in high fpirits to attack the king's army. The Chevalier, who was in the front line, gave the ffgnal to engage ; and by the firft fire Hawley's forces were put into coniurion. The horfe retreated with fuch precipi-
tatiou.
G enrobe It. ;6;
tation, th^t they fell upon their own infantry; \vhlle the j^^ ^^ rebels, purfning the advantage they had gained, put the ihe kind's greater part of the royal army to immediate flight, 'f he troops un- latter retired in confufion to Edinburgh, leaving the rebels '^^'^ Hatu. in poflclhon of their tents, and all their artillery. '^ ^]i d at
Meantime, tlie duke of Cumberland put himfclf at laiLurl: tlie head of the royal forces at Edinburgh, M'hieh c^'ufill- ike duke of ed of about fourteen thoufand men. With thcfe he ad- Cumber- vance<l to Aberdeen, where he was joined by feveral iarJ af- perfons of difl:in<fl:ion, attached to the familv on the /«'««'^ '"^ throne. Alter having refreflied his troops lor lome tmie, ,j,g/if.cesin he renewed Iiis march ; and in twelve days he arrived on SioilanJ- the banks of the deep and rapid river Spey. At this place the rebels had a fair opportunity of difputing his paf- fage ; but they neglected every advantage by giving way to their mutual diri'enfions. After a variety of alterca- tion, they rcfolved to await their purfuers upon the plains of Culloden, a place about nine miles diflant from Inver- nefs, furrounded with hill?, except on that fide which was open to the fea. Here their army, amounting to near eight thoufand men, drew up in order of battle, in three divifions, fupplied with fome pieces of artillery, ill man- ned and ferved. The battle began about one o'clock ia the afteruocn, when the cannon of the king's army did great execution among the rebels, while their's was to- tally unferviceable. After the rebels had been kept in April J7. their ranks, and fuflained the fire of the Englifh for fome "^^'^ ^^^j^ time, they at length became impatient for clofer engage- ^Jffg^fgd at ment, and about five hundred of them made an irruption culloden. upon the left wing of the enemy with their ufual ferocity. The firfl line being thrown into diforder by this onfet, two battalions advanced to its fupport, and galled the rebels with an incefiant difcharge. At the fame time the Argylefliire militia, pulling down a park wall that guard- ed the flank of the enemy, and making way for the dra- goons under Hawley, they, with fword in hand, fell in among the rebels, of whom they made great fljughtcr. In lefs than half an hour the Highlanders were totally rout- ed, and the field covered with their wounded and {lain, to the number of above three thoufand men. The French piquets on their left flood inailive during the whole en- gagement, and afterwards furrcndcred thcmfelvcs pri- foners of war. An entire body of the cians marched off the field in order, while the relt were routed with great flanghter, and their leaders obligsd to retire.
« The
366 The HrJIory of England^
The glory of this viflory was fiiMied by the barbarity of the foldiers. Not contented with the blood which was (o profufely fhed during the aclion, they now traverfed the field, and maffacred thofe who lay maimed* Some were flain who were only excited by curiofity to beconr.e fpe£l:a- tors of the combat. The duke, immediately after the action, ordered thirty-fix deferters to be executed ; and after a fliort fpace, the whole country round was one dreadful fcene of plunder, flaughter^- and defolation.
By this dccifive action were blafted all the hopes of the young adventurer, who immediately fled with a captain of Fitz-James's cavalry. When their horfes Were fatigued, they both alighted, and feparately fought for fafety. He for fome days wandered in the country, a forlorn fugi- tive, and the wretched fpcclator of all thofe horrors which his ill-guided ambition had brought upon the adherents of his family. He was now furrounded by armed troops, who kept him in continual alarm. Sometimes he lurked iii caves and cottages, without attendants, or any other fup- port but what the pooreft peaf^nt could fupply. Some-* times he rowed in fiflier-boats from ifle to iOe, among the Hebrides, and often in fight of his purfuers, who were animated iu their fearch by a reward of thirty thoufand pounds offered for taking him, dead or alive. For fome days he appeared in woman's attire, and even palTed un- known through the midft of his enemies. During the whole of his diftrefies, he is faid to have maintained an amazing equanimity and good humour. In the courfe of his concealments, he had occafion to trud his life to the fidelity of above fifty individuals, whofe veneration for his family prevailed over their avarice. ^he yfjung In this manner he continued to wander among the Cbe-valter frightful wilds of Glen^ary, for near fix months, until at efcapes ta Je^gth a privateer of St. Maloes, hired by his adherents, arrived in Lochnanach ; and in this veflel he embarked in the moit wretched attire. He had not been fhifted for many weeks ; his eyes were become hollow, his vifage wan, and his conftitution greatly impaired by famine and fatigue. He was accompanied by Sullivan and Sheridan, tv.'o Irifh adherents, who had fhared all his calamities ; with Cameron of Lochiel, his brother, and a few .other exiles. They fet fail for France ; and after being chafed by two Engiifli men of war, arrived in fafety at a place called Rofeau, near Morlaix in Bretagne.
While the young Chevalier was thus purfued, the fcafTolds and the gibbets were preparing for his unfortu- nate
France.
Gemjc 11, ^6j
ftatc nclhcrents who had bceti made prifoners. Seventeen ofhccrsof the rebel army were hanged, drawn, and quar- tered, at Ivennington Conrnnon, in the neighbourhood of London. Nine were executed in the fame manner at Carlifle, and eleven at York. A few obtained pardons, and a confiderable number of the common men were tranf- ported to the plantations in North America.
Bills of indictment for ]ii;j;h-tre;'fon were found by the Tr'mlanJ county of Surry, againfl the earls of Kilmarnock and erecutri»f»f Crom.irtie, and lord Balmerino, who weie all tried by 'j^.f' g their peers in Weflminlter-hall, and found guilty. Cro- cf'T<nr.Kai- martie wa!> pArdi>ned, but the other two were beheaded on cliff*. Tower-hill. Kilmarnock, either convinced of his errors^ or flattered to the hdl with hopes of pardon, declared a confcioufnefs of his crimes, and profcffed his repentance \ but Balmerino, undaunted even at the approach of death, gloried in the caufe for which he fell. His fellow-fufferer, when commTudcd to bid God blefs king George, performed with a faint voice the injun6lion; while Balmerino flill avowing his principles, cried out aloud, " God blefs king James 1'' IMr. Radcliilc, brother to the late earl of Der- vventwater, who was beheaded in the former reign, being taken on board a fliip, as he was coming to join the Pre- tender's army, auJ the identity of his perfon being proved, he was fentenced upon a former conviclion, and alfo fuf- fered on Towcr-hili ; where, fome time after, lordLovat concluded a life of dilFimulation and treachery.
The rebellion being thus fupprefi'ed, the legiflaturc turned its attention to the eftabliflTment of fome refrula- tions in Scotland, with a view of preventing the like commotions. The Highlanders had hitherto worn the old military drefs of their anceftors, and never went with* out arms. They, therefore, confidered thcmfclves as a body of people diftincl from the rell of the nation, atid were ready, upon the fhorteffc notice, to join in any infur- refllon of their chiefs, to whom they ftill regarded theai- felves as bound by the feudal tenures of military fervice. To remove thefe inconveniences, they were obliged, by aft of parliament ^, to wear cloaths of the common faOiion, and they were prohibited from the ufe of arms. But what was of greater importance, the hereditary jurifJitflion which their chiefs excrcifed over them was abolilhcd by the fame authority.
3 The law prohibiting the Highland drcfs was repealed in the nionth of Jvme, 17S2.
During
J
C3 The HJjlory of England.
■Affairs on During tbefe commotions in England, the flames of waf tks conii- continued to rage upon the continent with unabating vio- nsnU lence. The French arms had been repeatedly crowneci
ti'ith fuccefs ; and the whole Netherlands were reduced under their dominion. The fa£lions, which for upwards ef a century had divided the United Provinces, were increafed by thefe difafters. One party declared for the prince of Orange and a (tadtholder ; the other, oppofing this electicMi, defired rather fricndniip than to be at vari- ance with France. The meafures of thefe two fa£ticri3, if adopted in their full extent, would be equally fatal to public liberty ; for, if a (tadtholder were eledled, the con- llitution became changed from a republican government to a kind of linaited monarchy. If, on the contrary, the oppofite party prevailed, the whole power of the flate" would be put in the handr; of an ariflocracy, univerfally - Pj known to be under the influence of the French. Of the
' two evils, therefore, the Dutuh chofe the former. The
people in feveral towns, inflamed .ilmofl to fedition, com- pelled their magiflrates to declare the prince of Orange ftadtholder, captain-general, and admiral of the United Provinces. The confequences of this impoitant refolutiort immediately appeared. All commerce with France was prohibited ; the Dutch army was augmented, and orders were iflued for profecuting hoiUiities againft the French by fea and land.
The king of Sardinia, who had fome years before joined prance againfl England, now changed fides, and declared ^gainft the former of thefe powers. Italy felt all the terrors of inteftine war, or more properly became idle fpeftators, •Vw'hile foreigners were contending with each other for their ufurped dominions. The French and Spaniards on one iide, and the Imperialifts with the king of Sardinia on the other, ravaged by turns thofe beautiful territories, and gave laws to a country that had once fpread her dominion xDver the world.
About this time the Englifii made an unfuccefsful at- tempt upon Port i'Orient, a fea-port in France, though weakly deferided. The French obtained a confiderabJe i'itLlory at Roucroux in Flanders; and another vi£lory ■which they gained at La Feldt, contributed farther to de- prefs the allied army; while the taking of Bergen-op-zoom^ the ilrongeil fortification of Dutch Brabant, reduced the Hollanders to a Rate of dcfpsration. But thefe fucceffes of the French were coainerbalanced by feveral difappoint- nients. In Italy, the marflial Belleifle's brother, attempt- ing
Oeorge Ih 365?
Ing to penetrate into Piedmont at the head of thirty-four tlioufiind men, was routed, and himfeif flain. A fleet fent out for the recovery of Cjpe Breton, proved unfuc- cefsful. 'l\vo more were fitted out, one to make a defcent upon the Briti{h colonies in America, and the other to carry on the operations in the Eall Indies ; but thefe were attacked by Anfon and AVarren, and nine of tlicir fliips taken. In a fhort time after, commodore Fox, with fix fliips of war, took above forty French (hips laden from St. Domingo; and this lofs was followed by another defear, in which the French lollfeven fliips of the line, and feveral frigates.
Amidfl: this variety of events, the belligerent powers began at length to wifli for the blefllngs of peace. The Dutch had for fome time endeavoured to ftop the progrefs of a war, in which they had all to lofe, and nothing to gain. The king of France, even after his vi£lories on the continent, had exprefled his defire of general tranquillity to fir John Ligonier, who had been made prifoner at the battle of La Feldt. But now the bad fuccefs of his fleets, as well as of his troops in Italy, with the frequent bank- ruptcies of his merchants, and the eledtion of a ftadtholder in Holland, who gave fpirit to the oppofition •, all thefe motives contributed to make him weary of the war, and to propofe an accommodation. Though the allies wtreaverfe to the making of this offer, it was an event of which they had long been extremely defirous. The Englifh minifby in particular, finding themfelves unable to manage a par- liament foured by frequent defeats, and now beginning to be difgufted with continental connexions, acceded with great pleafure to the propofal. A negociation was, there- fore, refolved upon ; and the contending powers agreed to cowrefs at come to a congrefs at Aix-Ja-Chapelle, where the earl of ^ixla- Sandwich and fir Thomas Robinfon aflilled as plenipoten- ^'lapelle. tiaries from the king of Great Britain.
This treaty, which takes its name from the city at wliich A. 0.174?,
it was made, was begun upon the preliminary conditions .
of reftoring all conquelts made during the war. Great Treaty of hopes, therefore, were expedled of conditions honour- "i'^' ^ able to the Englifli \ but the treaty flill remains a lafling "t^ ■'' memorial of the precipitate aiul pufillanimous refolutions of the Britifli cabinet. By this it was agreed, that all pri- foners on each fide fhould be mutually reftored, and all conquefts given up. That the duchies of Parma, Placen- tia, and Guallalla, fliould be ceded to Don Philip, heir apparent to the Spanifli throne j but In cafe of his fucceed- VoL. II. B b ing
■370 Hiftory of England,
' ' inj: to the crown of Spain, that then thefe domlnlona
fliould revert to the houle of Auftria. It was confirnDcd that the fortifications of Dunkirk to the fea fhould be de» molifiied : that the t'nglilh fiiip annually fent with fiaves to the coaft; of New Spain (hould have this privilege con- tinued for four years : that the king of Pruflia fhould be confirmed in the poflefTion of Silefia, which he had lately conquered ; and that the queen of Hungary fhould be fecured in her patrimonial dominions. But one article of the peace was paiticularly difpleafing to the Englifh. It was ilipulated, that immediately after the ratification of this treaty, the king of Great Britain fhould fend to France two perfons of rank, as hollages, until reftitution fliould be made of Cape Breton, and all other conquefts which England had made during the war. This was a mor- tifying claufe \ but to add to the general error of the ne- gociation, no mention was made of the fearching the veflels of England in the American feas, a point upon which the war was originally begun. The limits of their refpective poflelTions in North America were not afcertained ; nor did the nation receive any equivalent for thofe forts which it reftored to the enemy.
This treaty, however inglorious, was not unwelcome to the people, who had been wearied v/ith repeated dif- afters, and expected, from a continuance of the war, nothing elfe but an accumulation of misfortunes. One of the moil grievous confequences of it, was the immenfe load of debt, which it had been the means of entailing upon the nation. To lighten this burden, Mr. Pelham, who now condu61ed the bufmefs of the flate, and was efteemed a man of candour and capacity, propofed an ex- pedient. His plan was to leflen the debt, by lowering the intcrefl which had been promifed on granting the fup- plies, or elfe obliging the lenders to receive the fums originally granted. This fchcme, though confidered as in fome degree a hardfliip upon the lender, produced the dehred etTecl, without any inconvenience to the public credit. Other meafures, likewife beneficial to the public, were purfued with equal fuccefs. The importation of iron from America was allowed ; and the trade to Africa was laid open to the nation, but under the fuperintendance of the board of trade. ATX1751. In the midll of thefe regulations, the kingdom felt the
— mortification of lofing the prince of Wales. In confequence
March 20. ©f ^ cold, which he had caught in his garden at Kew, he ?J!f[j£, was feized with a pleuritic diforder, and, after a ftiort cjU'uieu 7 illnefs.
George 11, 37 i
lUnefs, expired, in tlie forty-fifth year of his age, uni- verfally regretted by all who wiflied well to tlicir country.
The next important objcdl of parliamentary attention A.D.iyjj.
was an a£l for the better preventing clandediiie marriages,
and for the more public folemnization of that ceremony. ARjor The grievance complained of, and which this law was /■'^'-y'"""? meant to redrefs, was, that the fons and daughters of jnarria-^ii. opulent families were often feduced into maniage before they had acquired fuflicient experience in life, to guard againft any imprudent connection. This ftatiite, there- fore, enadled, that tlie bans of marriage fliould be regu- larly pulifhed three fuccefllve Sundays in the church of the parifti where both parties had refided for one month at lead before the ceremony. It declared, that any mar- riage folemnized without this previous publication, or a licence obtained from the bifhop's court, fiiould be void ; and that the perfon who folemnized it fhould be tranf- ported for fevt;n years. This a£l was at that time thought to be replete with confequences iiijuiiousto fociety ; and, after the experience of thirty years, it feems better calcu- lated to guard the tranquillity of a few, than to promote the general happinefs of the people.
This felFion was alfo diftinguiOied by another TiCk. equally AH for r.d* unpopular, which was a law for naturalizing the Jews, iurahzing The miniftry affirmed, that fuch a law would greatly con- ^ ' J^"-'^^- tribute to the benefit of the nation j that it would in- creafe the commerce, the credit, and the wealth of the kingdom, and fet a laudable example of toleration. Others, however, entertained very different fentiments on the fubjedl. They obferved, that greater favour was fhewn to the Jews by this bill than to fome fc£l3 pro- feffing Chriftianity -, that an introduclion of that obnoxi- ous people into the kingdom would difgrace the charaiSler of the nation, and abate in the natives that zeal for reli- gion which was already too much negle£led. The bill was pafled into a law ; but the nation remonftrated fo loudly againfl it, that it was repealed in the enfuing felhon.
The incident which, next to thefe, chiefly diflingulfli- Execut'wft ed the prefent year, was the execution of Dr. Archibald "^ ^''' ^^' Cameron, a native of North Britain, and brother to Ca- '"^'''"'' meron of Lochiel, chief of the numerous and warlike tribe which had joined the young Pretender in the late rebellion. This gentleman, who had been included in the aft of attainder, ventured to return privately to Scot- land ; but being difcovcred, was apprehended and con-
Bb 2 duded
372 51v Hijioyy of England.
dueled to London, where he wa3 confined in the Ton-ff.' He was foon after produced in the court of King's Bench, and his identity being pioved by feveral witnell'es, he re- ceived fentence of death, and was executed at Tyburn. His unblemilhed characler, and the manly compofure with which he underwent his fate, fo moved the com- paffion of the fpeclators, that, during the execution, many of them burft into tears. D'^pute Soon after the peace of AIx la Chapelle, a difpute
afoul the arofe between the crowns of Great Britain and France re- itmits of \:xt\\e to the boundaries of Nova Scotia. To compromife Sco:ia. thefe dilputes, commiHanes were appomted to meet at Paris; but their conferences proved inelTe£l:ual. The French had been the firft occupiers of Nova Scotia, and though the country was naturally barren, they had, by great induftry, improved it to fuch a degree, that it was' capable of affording fubfiftence to its inhabitants, with the help of fome fupplies from Europe. This country, how- ever, had frequently changed maflers, until, at length, the Englifh were fettled in the poflefiion, and acknow- Icged as the rightful owners by the treaty of Utrecht. The pofTeflion of this territory was reckoned indifpenfable for the fecurity of the Englifh colonies to the North, and for preferving their fuperiority in the fiflieries in that part ' of the world. The French, however, obferving with envy the growing colony which Britain had lately fent thither, refolved to difpofTefs the new-comers, and for this purpofe fpirited up the neighbouring Indians to hofli- lities, which were reprefented to the Englifh miniflry fome time without redrefs. [
During the conferences on this fubjciSt between the commifTaries of the two crowns, the French proceeded in encroaching upon the Britifh colonies in North America. Their plan was to engrofs the whole fur-tjade of that continent ; which they propofed to fecure by extending a chain of forts along the great lakes of Erie and Ontario, and thus to connect their fettlements on the river Mifli- Ifippi with their pofTefTions in Canada. By thefe means" they hoped to exclude the Englifli from all communica- tion with the Indian nations, even thofe that lay conti- guous to ^he Britifli fettlements. For determining the difputes which arofe in confequence of thefe encroach- ments, negoclations had long been carried on ; but it was difFicuk to adjuft pretenfions which the parties were de- termined not to relinquifli ; and the limits of thofe coun-
■^trieg
Georo;e TI.
.•i
373
tries had never been defined with any degree of prc- cifion.
Meanwhile the feeds of a new war were alfo ripen- ing in Afia. On the coa(t of Malabar the Englifh and French had, in fa6l, never cenfcd from hoflihtics. Tlic war between the Enghth and French, in thofe parts, be- gan by their rcfpe£lively fiding with two contending princes of tlic country, and from being fecondavies in the quarrel, they at length became principals.
The government of England hnd long remonflratcd to tlie French court concerning thefe encroachments; but finding all negociations for that purpofe inefi'eclual, they determined on having rccourfe to other and more forcible methods. Orders were accordingly difpatched to all the governors of tlic American provinces to unite into a con- federacy for their mutual defence; and, if pofTible, to bring the Indians over to efpoufe their quarrel. But tliis nieafure having been long neglected, was now become a work of extreme difficulty, if not abfolutely impradica- ble. It had long been the method of the Englifh to cul- tivate the friendfhip of this people in times of danger ; but to flight it in circumftances of fafety; a condu(ft which had alienated the affections of the Indians from the Eng- lifli government. This averfion was increafed by the ava- rice of our merchants, particularly of the Ohio company, who fold them bad commodities, and treated them like- wife witli great infolence.
In this manner the Englifli had to contend, not only A. 0.1754.
with the French, but the whole body of the Indian na- ""T""*
tions ; while inicrnal dilTenfions rendered their fituation "°r"^'" ftill more deplorable. Some of the Englifli provinces, kefween which had either little to fear from the enemy, or few the Brit-Jh advantages to expcft from fuccefs, declined furnifhing and Frenth their fhare of the fupplies. At the fame time, the go- ^"^^^rica. vernors of fome other provinces became fo odious by their rapacity, that the colonies refufed to lend any afhllancc under the direction of fuch obnoxious leaders.
In confequence of thefe various eaufes, the fuccefTes of the French, in the beginning, was uninterrupted. Tiierc had been, for fome time, frequent fkirmiflies between their troops and thofe of the Britifh government. They ■had fought with general Laurence to the jiorlh, and co- lonel Wafliington to the fouth, and had ufually come ofi" vi(Storious. In England, however, the minilhy now be- gan to take more vigorous meafurcs for the fecurity of tliofe colonlcj which refufed to defend themfelves.
B b 3 Four
374 ^'^ Hi/lory of England.
A.D. 1755 ^°"^ operations were undertaken in America at the fame time. Of thefe, one was commanded by colonel Monk- ton, who had orders to drive the French from the en- croachments upon the province of Nova Scotia : the fe- cond, farther to the foiith, was dire£led againft Crown- point, under the command of general Johnfon : the third, under the condu£l of general Shirley, was deftlned to Niagara, to fecure the forts on the river ; and the fourth, which was yet farther fouthward, againflFort du Quefne, under general Braddock.
In thefe expeditions, Monkton was fuccefsful; as was likewife Johnfon, though he failed in taking the fort which had been the chief obje£l of his enterprize. Shirley v/as thought to have loft the feafon for operation by delay. Braddock was vigorous and a£live, but fufferecl a defeat. This commander fet forward upon his expedi- tion In Ju^e, at the head of two thoufand two hundred men, direfting his march to that part of the country where Wafliington had been defeated the year before. Upon his arrival, he was informed, that the French at Fort du Q^iefne, againfl which he was dedined, expecled a reinforcement of five hundred men, and would then be- come his equals in the field : he, therefore, refolved to advance with all hafte, and attack them, before they fhould become too powerful by this conjunction. In con- fequence of this refolution, leaving colonel Dunbar with eight hundred men to bring up the provificns, (lores, and heavy baggage, as fail as polhble, he marched forward with the reft of his army, through a hideous country, In- habited only by wild beafts, and hunters ftill more formi- dable. Proceeding, however, with intrepidity, he foon found himfelf advanced into the defarts of Ofwego, where no European had ever before penetrated. But his caution was not equal to his courage. He took no care previoufly to explore the woods and thickets ; and the nearer he ap- proached the enemy, he feemed to become lefs heedful of danger. Having arrived within ten miles of the fortrefs ■which he was appointed to befiegc, and marching forward through the forefts with confidence of fuccefs, on a fudden his whole army was aftonifhed by a general difcharge of arms, from an enemy that ftill remained unfeen. The vanguard of the Englifii fell back in confternation upon the main body, and the panic foon became general. The oftlcers alone difdalned to fly, while Braddock himfelf ftill continued to command his brave aflbclates, difcovering at pnce the greateft intrepldltv and the greateft imprudence.
George IL 275
At lengt!i, having received a mnficct-niot tliroujli the BraJJock luirgs, he immciiiately expired, n;ul a general cor.tufion is dejeaiiJ^ enlued. All the artillery, amiiiuiiition, and ha ;:gage, ""'' *'•"*'• belonging to the detachment, were left to the enemy. About {t\^v\ hundred men having peiilhed in this expedi- tion, the fhattered remains of the army joined colonel Dunbar } and, returning by their former route, they ar- rived among the provincials of Philadelphia, where they fpread a general conflernation.
The Englifh miniflry now began to think of com- mencing hollilities at fea, where they expected to prove more fuccefsful. Orders were, therefore, iflued to make reprifils on the enemy's fl)ipping, wherever it might be found, though no formal declararion of v ar had vet been publiflied by either nation. In confequenee of ihis meafure, the Engliih ports were foon filled with veflels taken from the French, and kept as an indemnification for thofe forts of which the enemy had unjultly pofleded themfelves in America.
■ All negociation being now ended betweeH the two A.D.i75«, powers, a declaration of war followed foon after on each •
lide. The French began by intimidating England with ^^'»'' " '*''- menaces of a fonnidable invafion. Several bodies o{ ' ^' ' their troops had for fome time been lent down to the Tfie French coads that lay oppofite to the Britifli ihores ; and thefe were [''''J'^'"*^" inltrudled in the difcipline of embarking, and re-landing '" from flat-bottomed boats, which were prepared in great numbers for that expedition. The number of men faid to be deftined for this enterprize amounted to fifty thou- fand j but they difcovered the uimofl relu(nance for the undertaking.
Whether thefe preparations were really intended for 7^^ ^/„,-_ defcent, or meant only to terrify the Englifli, appears to firy u[>fliet be uncertain. It is evident, hovvever, that they 7kX\- 1°'' ^If'fl ■ fwered tlie latter purpofe. The En^lilh miniftry at this f,''"/"
, . 1 "^ 1 11-11 •^ 1 liuliht
tmie being weak, unpopular, and divided among them- felves, they, in this exigence, applied to the Dutch for fix thoufand men, which they were obliged to furnilh by treaty, in cafe of invailon. 'ihc Jlutch, however, relufed iv/io dt' the fupply, alleging, that their treaty was to fupply troops ^Hiei^rani' in cafe of an aftual, and not a threatened invafion. The '"? "• miniflry being difappointed of this alljllance, brought Ten thou- over a body of Helllans and Hanoverians, amounting io P'ut Ger- about ten thoufand men. Thefe fuccoius weie no fooncr '?"'", irrived than the miniftry was execrated for reducing the J.°^^ jg nation to fuch diTgrace, as to fcek for fccuriiy in the EagianJ.
B b 4 aid
376 'The Hi/lory of England.
aid of foreign mercenaries. The people demanded only a vigorous exertion of their own llrength, and dreaded no force that could be led to invade the kingdom.
While the attention of the government was employed in guarding againfl an invafion, the French were making prepr.rations for an expedition in another quarter. The ifland of Minorca, which had been taken from the Spa-? niards in the reign of queen Anne, was fecured to Eug- Tns French j^j-jj ^y repeated treaties. But the miniftry having neg- /^»^7w le£ted to take fufEcient precautions for its defenee, the and lay * garrifon was weak, and no way fitted to Hand a vigorous J:ege to fort Ciege. The French, therefore, with a fquadron from Si, Philip, Toulon, landed near the fortification of St. Philip, rec- koned one of the (Irongefl in Europe, and commanded by general Blakeney, a brave, but now aged officer. Thq fiege was carried on with great vigour, and for fome time no lefs obilinately defended by the Englifh.
The miniftry being apprized of this unexpected attack, B"n'*'fent i^efo'^'^^ to raife the fiege, if pofhble, and for this purpofe Out luith a fei^t out admiral Byng with ten fhjps of war. He accord- Jquadron ingly failed from Gibraltar, where he was refufed any af- to the re- fjftance of men from the governor of that garrifon, under "^fv ^'it' ^ pretence that his own fortification was in danger. Up^ on his approaching the ifland, he faw the French banners difplayed upon the fliore, and thofe of the Englifh flill flying on the caftle of St. Philip. He had been ordered to throw a body of troops into the garrifon ; but thinking this too hazardous an undertaking, he did not even at- tempt it. Meanwhile his attention was called off by the appearance of a French fleet, which feemed of nearly Falls in equal force with his own. Confounded with ^ variety of ivitk the meafureSj he feemed refolved to purfue none ; and there- ^ff"^^^^^ fore gave orders to form the line of battle, and act upon ^ '' the defenfive. Bying had long been efteemed for his fkill in naval taclics", and, perhaps, valuing mofl thofe talents for which he was moft praifed, he facrificed all claims to l^tgage- courage to the applaufe for naval difcipline. TJie French TaSfo' ^^^^ ^vanced, and part of the Englifli fleet engaged \ mere, ' while the admiral kept aloof, and gave very plaufible reafons for not coming to action. The French fleet, there- fore, fiowly failed away, and no other opportunity ever offered of coming to a clofer engagement. In a council >'"S ^f' of war, which was foon after called on board the ad-
turns to • ,, n • • 11 1 T r '- H--
GilraAar, "^^^^3' s own inip, it was agreed that the relief ot Minorca was impracticable, and they determined to fail away to Gibraltar, to refit the fleet.
This
C<:orge J J. 377
This condu£l of the uclmiral excited in the nation ai 77,^ gani- great fermcnr, wliLch was encoura^^ed by the miaiflry, ion of f'ort who were not averfe to throwing from themfclvcs the thilipfa- bhime of thofe meai'iues which had proved fo unfucccfb- />''«•**«'• ful. The general clamour became loon after more vio^ lent, on intelligence being received that the garriion of fort 8t. Philip had furrendered to the French.
Meanwhile Byng continued at Gibraltar, quite fatisfied with his own condudl:, ami little expecSling tlie dreadful ftorm that was gathering againll him at home. Orders, however, were foon dil'patehed for putting him under ar- reft, and for carrying him to Eiigland. Upon his arrival he was committed to clofe cuftody in Greenwich Holpi- tal, and fome arts were ufed to increafe againfl him the indignation of the populace. Several addreiTcs were fent up from different counties, demanding juftice on the de- linquent ; and thefe the miniftry were futhcicntly forward to fecond. He was foon after tried by a court-martial in ^y,-^/ gs the harbour of Poitfmouth, where, after an enquiry which admiral continued feveral days, his judges agreed that he had not, iiy-gy "-vh^ during the engagement, done his utmoft to deftroy the 'y""'. .enemy: he was, therefore, fentenced to fu'^-irr death by „„,( g^'g, the twelfth article of war. At the fame time, however, cuted. confidering his conduct rather as the effecbs of error than of cowardice, they recommended him as an objcdl: of mercy. But the government refolvcd that the royal cle- mency fiiould not be extended towards him. Even the parliament viras applied to in his favour, but without effeft. Jieing thus abandoned to his fate, he maintained to the Jaft a great degree of fortitude and ferenity. On the day fixed for his execution, v.hich was on board a man of • war in the harbour of tortfmouth, he advanced from the cabin, where he had been impriloned, upon deck, the place appointed for him to fuffer. After delivering a pa- per, containing the (Irongcd afhrmaiion of his innocence, he came forward to the place where he was to kneel down, and for fomc time perfifled in not covering his face. But his friends reprcfenting that his looks might intimidate the foldiers who were to flioot him, and pre- vent their taking proper aim, he permitted his eyes to be bound with a handkerchief' j after which, giv.ng the foldiers a fignal to fire, he was killed jnllant.mcoully.
Meanwhile, the French refolved to attack the king of The French England's tcriitories in Germany j a meafure by whjch meJuatt they hoped to compel the English mlnillry to accept of '''•'' ^'^'^f? whateyer terms they fiiould b-- i>ltafed to offer. They -^'^'^^"^
8 were
378
TTk Eriti/h minijirf enter i into a trea(y nuitli the ezarina ; nuhich prcves incfeSluah
Auflrians, by and ftrip him
A treaty is
concluded betxveen Britain ^nJPruJJia,
The Hiftory of England.
were fenfible that It would at leafl divide the Britifli forces, and engapje them in a war in which they mud necefTarily prove inferior. The court of London, anxious for the fecurity of Hanover, entered into a treaty with that of Ruffia, by which it was ftipulated, that a body of fifty thoufand Ruffians (hould be ready to acl in the Englifh fervice, in cafe Hanover fliould be invaded ; and for this the czarina wa* to receive a hundred thoufand pounds an- nually, to be paid in advance.
This treaty, however, foon proved as nu^jatory as it was expenfive. The king of Pruffia, who had long cdn- lidered himfelf as guardian of the interefts of Ger- many, declared that he would not fuffer any foreign troops to enter the empire, either as principals or auxiliaries, He had, it feems, been already apprized of a fecret ne- gociation between the Ruffians and the which the latter were to enter the empire, of his late conquefls of Silefia.
The king of England, who was particularly attached to his Hanoverian dominions, beheld them now expofcd to the refentment not only of France, but of Pruffia; either of whom was fufficient to ravage his electorate, while the Ruffian fubfidiaries were at too great a diftance to afford him any relief. Treaties, therefore, were once more fet on foot ; and application was made to the king of Pruffia, in hopes of deprecating his refentment. His Britannic majefly wifhed only to prevent any invafion of Germany ; and this the king of Pruffia profeifed to defire with equal ardour. Thefe monarchs, therefore, from a fimilitude of intention, were induced to unite their in- terefbs ; and they came to an agreement, by wliich they promifed to affift each other, and to prevent all foreign armies from entering the empire.
Both powers expected from this new alliance great ad- vantages. Befide preferving the independence of the German ftates, which was the oflenfible cbjedt of the treaty, each had in view their particular advantages. The king of Pruffia knew that the Auftrians were fecretly his enemies, and that with them the Ruffians had entered into a confederacy againft him. An alliance, therefore, with the court of London relieved him from the Ruffians, and afforded him an opportunity of attacking Auftria, of whofe defigns he had long been fufpicious. With regard to the views of the French court, he entertained little ap- prehenfion; concluding, that from its long and hereditary enmity with the Auftrians, it would ever continue fted*
faft
George II. ^yg
f.^il in hh intcrcfts. On the otlicr fide, I»is Britnnmc majelly expecfled Hill greater advantages to refult from this league. By it he procured a near and powerful ally, whom he fuppofed the French would not venture to dil- oblige. He confidercd the Auftrians as naturally attnclieJ to his own interefts by gratitude and friendfiiip ; and he fuppofed that the Ruffians would at lead continue neuter from their former illpulations and fubfidy. But the two contra£ling powers foon found themfelves deceived in their expectations.
This confederacy foon after gave birth to one of an op- pofite nature, which aflonifhed all Europe. The queeii of Hungary had long entertained a delign of recovering Silefia ; in which attempt Oie expelled to be aiHl^ed by Ruffia, and that the reft of the powers would continue neuter. She now found, however, by the late treaty, that all her hopes of Ruffian affiftance were fruftrated ;'and being thus deprived of one ally, fhe fought about in or- der to fubftitute another. For this purpofe flie fcrupled ■^^^"^''" not even to make application to rrance; and to procure f,nncf and the friendfiiip of that court, gave up her barrier in the yiufriai '■ Netherlands, which England had been for ajjes fecurin^r againfi; that power with its blood and treafure. By this extraordinary revolution the Whole political fyllem of Eu- rope acquired a new afpeft, and the treaties of a century •were at one blow rendered ineffe£lual.
The treaty between France and Auftria was no fooner f" 'wiuh ratified, than tlie czarina was invited to accede j and (lie, ^"^J' ""^ regardlefs of her fublidies from England, warmly em- ^c^ le braced the propofal. By the intrigues of the French, Sweden joined tlie confederacy ; and a war was com- menced between that nation and Pruffia, though contrary to the inclination of both monarchs.
The preparations for war on the continent were fjrft begun on the fide of Auflria, wliich had engaged the elector of Saxony in the general difpute. Great arma- ments were, therefore, put on foot in Moravia and Bohe- mia ; while the eledlor of Saxony, under the pretence of military parade, afl'embled about fixteen thoufand men, who were ported in a rtrong fituation at Pima. The de- (ign of thcfe preparations, however, did not efcape the vigilance of the king of Pruffia, who fent onlers to his niinifler at the court of Vienna to demand an explanation. But receiving, to his repeated requefts, only an evafive anfwer, he fufpended all negociations, and refolved to an- ticipate the enemy in their hoftile operations. He uc- ' , . • , cording ly
3 So 7he Iliflory of England.
The kini^ of cordingly entered Saxony with a large army, and in the Pruffi-ten- ufual ifrain of civility, demanded from the ele£tor a paflage tersi,axQny ^]^fQ^o,]^ j^jg dominions ; which he knew that prince was great ^^^ '" ^ condition to dilpute. In the mean time he con-
armj. cealed his fufpicions of the eledlor's having entered into a
fecret treaty with his enemies, and profcfled himfelf ex- tremely pleafed with the promifes he received of obferv- ing a Rati neutrality. To carry on the deceit ftil] farther, he entreated, as the ele<^or's troops were totally unne- csflary, that he would for the prefent difband them. This propofal, however, the elector rejeded with difdain; and the king, who probably had made it only w-ith the view of being refufed, determined to turn the occurrence to his own advantage. Such was the fituatlon of the Saxon camp, that, though a fmall body of troops could defend it againft a great army, yet the fame difficulty attended the quitting, that impeded the enemy from ilorming it. Of this circumftance, therefore, his Pruflian majelty took the advantage ; and by blocking up every avenue of egrefs, he cut off the provifionsof the Saxon army, and reduced the whole body to the necefhty of making a capitulation. He incorporated the common foldiers in his own army ; and fuch ofhcers as refufed to ferve under him, he made prifonevs of war. -
The king of Pruflia was now involved in a war, in ■which all the mofl: potent ftates of Europe were againft him, and his only ally was Great Britain, which was far too remote to afford him any confiderable fuccours. But in fpite of all the apparently infurmountable difficulties which furrounded him, he proceeded with a vigour un- exampled in the hiftory of any nation; not only oppofed his enemies on every fide, but gained over them, in fe- veral battles, the nioft complete and glorious victories. ■A-D.1757' At laff, however, he began to experience the inftability ^' of fortune. The Hanoverians, who were joined with
him by his treaty with England, had armed in his favour, and were commanded by the duke of Cumberland, w-ho, -from the beginning, appeared fenfible of the infufficiency of his troops to face the enemy, by whom he was great- ly outnumbered. He was driven beyond the Wcfer, which the French, however they might have been oppofed, were permitted to pafs unmolefted. The Hanoverian army was now driven from one part of the country to an- other, until at length it made a Hand near a village called Haftenbak, where it was hoped the enemy vi'ould have ihe leaft opportunity of coming to a general action. The
■v^-eakcy
George IL 381
v<:akcr army, however, unable to make licaci againfl; the enemy, retired towards Stade, by which means tlicy marched into a country where they could neither procure provifions, nor wait the arrival of the enemy with any hope of fuccefs. They were, therefore, compelled to /^ p ,_._
flgn a capitulation, v hich was called the treaty of CloRer-
Seven, and by which Hanover was oblif^cd to fubmit Treaty 0/ peaceably to the French, who now rcfolvcd to turn their ^'■•^'fi'-'- whole force againfl the king of PrufTia. Sfvtn.
Such a multitude of enemies now attacked this mafrna- nlmous monarch on all fides, that, to extricate himfelf from his prefcntdcfperate fituation,feemed almoll beyond the power of human wifdom or valour. The I'Vench forces, united, and commanded by marflial Broglio, in- vaded his dominions on one fide. The RulTians, who, for fomc time had 'hovered over his empire, under the command of general Apraxin, all at once haftened on- ward to overwhelm him, marking their way with daugh- ter and cruelty. A large body of Auflrians entered Si- lefia, and penetrating as far as Breflau, turned to the flrong fortrcfs of Schweidnitz, which, after an obflinatc defence, they obliged to furrender. Another army of the fame power entered Luratia,made themfelves mailers of Zittau, and preffing forward, laid the capital of Berlin under con- tribution. In another quarter, a body of twenty thou- fand Swedes penetiated into Pruflian Pomerania, took the towns of Anclam and Demmain, and exacted tribute from the whole country.
Amidft fuch numbers of invaders, it was in vain tliat the king of Pruflia faced about to every incurfion. While he purfued one body, another penetrated from behind ; and even while he was victorious, his territories were every day diminiffiing. The greater part of his dominions was laid under contribution, mofl of his ftrong cities were taken, and he had no refources but in the generofity of the BritiGi parliament, and his own extenfue abilities. From the fuccours of the Englifli he could derive very little advantage, particularly as the Hanoverians were re- ftrained by treaty from aQing in his favour. The miniltry, however, in order to give him all pofTible afliftance, plan- ned an enterprize agaiuit the coafts of France ; which, by caufing 3 diverfion in that part of the kingdom, would draw off the attention of the enemy from Pruflia, and give that monarch time to refpire. Befide this intention, England alfo hoped to give a blow to their marine, by dcltroying fuch Ihips as v\'ere building, or were laid up in
the
382 The Hi/lory of England,
Bxptiidon the harbour of Rochford, againft which place their opera- l^kLd "°"^ ^^^^ principally intended. The Englifh miniftry •'^ ' kept the objecl of the enterprize a profound fecret ; and France was for fome time filled with apprehenfions, until at length the fleet appeared before Rochford, where the commanders fpent fome time in deliberating how to pro- ceed. After fome confultation, it was determined to fe- cure the little ifland of Aix, an eafy conqueft, and of no great benefit to the invaders. In the meantime, the mi- litia of the country, recovering from their confternation, had leifure to afTemble, and there was the appearance of two camps upon the Ihore. The commanders, therefore, who, from the badnefs of the weather were prevented from landing, now began to fear a mifcarriage of their enterprize. They took into confideration the badnefs of the coaft, the danger of landing, the time the city had been preparing for defence, and the improbability of re- ducing it by any other means than a fudden attack. They defifled, therefore, from their operations, and unani- moufly refolved to return home, without making any attempt.
From this expedition the king of Pruflla could reap but very little advantage ; and fuch was the defpondence among the Englifli, that the miniftry entertained thoughts of abandoning his caufe. It was fuppofed that no mili- tary efforts could fave him ; and that the only hope re- maining was to make the beft terms pofTible with his victo- rious enemies. The king of Great Britain was aftually meditating a negociation of this nature, when his diflrefTed ally expollulated with him to the following purpofe : " Is it poffible that your majefty can have fo little fortitude and conftancy, as to be difpirited by a fmall reverfe of fortune } Are our affairs fo ruinous that they cannot be , repaired } Confider the ftep you have made me under- take, and remember you are the caufe of all my misfor- tunes. I (hould never have abandoned my former al- liances, but for your flattering affurances. I do not now repent of the treaty concluded between us ; but I entreat that you will not inglorioufly leave me at the mercy of my enemies, after having brought upon me all the powers of Europe." In this terrible fituation, the Britifh miniftry refolved, more from motives of generofity than of intereft, to fupport his declining caufe ; and fuccefs, that had for a long time forfaken her arms, began to return wnh dou- ble fpendor.
The
George 11. 383
The Eaft was tlie cjuarter in which this aufpicious re- Tcrfc of fortune began to be difphiyed. The war in our iAfiatlc territories had never been wholly fufpended. For h long time after the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, it was jcarried on with doubtful fuccefs ; but at length, by the Icondutl of INIr. Clive, the affairs of the Englifli feemed to gain the afcendancy. This gentleman had at firft entered the company's fervice in a civil capacity, but afterwards gave up his clerkfliip, and joined the troops as a volun- teer. In this capacity he not only difplayed courage, but fuch condu(fl, expedition, and military (kill, as raifcd him in a few years to the firll rank in the army. His firfl confpicuous atchievement was the clearing the pro- vince of Arcot. The French general was foon after made prifoner ; and the nabob, whom the Englifli fupported, * was reinftated in the government, of which he had for- merly been deprived.
The Frencl), difcouraged by thefe misfortunes, and fenfible of their own inferiority in this part of the globe, fcnt over to Europe a commifl'ary, with the view of re- ftoring peace. A convention between the two compa- nies was accordingly concluded ; importing that the ter- ritories taken on cither fide, fince the conclufion of the laft peace, fhould be mutually refl:ored ; that the nabobs, advanced by the influence of either party, fliould be ac- knowleged by both ; and that for the future, neither (hould interfere in the differences that might arlfe between the princes of the country. But this treaty, which pro- mifed fuch quiet to both parties, proved of fliort dura- tion. In a few months they renewed their operations, no longer under the name of auxiliaries, but as rivals in arms, in government, and in commerce.
The prince of the greateft power in that country, de* clared war againft the Eugiifli from motives of peifonal refentment ; and levying a numerous army, laid (lege to Calcutta. This was one of the principal Britifli forts in that part of tlie world ; but not being in fuch a ftate as CaUuifa to defend itfelf againft the attack even of barbarians, \t taken, and was taken, and the garrifon, to the number of a hundred the f>rijon- and forty-fix perfons, made prifoners. They expected the^'^'J ' 1'°'""' ufual treatment of captives of war; but foon found '^^'^^'^^^ niack-Hole. mercy was to be expcdled from a favage conqueror. They were all crouded together into a narrow prifon, called the Black-Hole, of about eigliteen feet fquare, and ad- mitting air only by two fmall iron windows to tlie weft, w^ich by no means afforded a fufficicnt circulation. Such
a fitua'*
^^^ J'he HiJlo>y of England,
a Htuation would have been intolerable in the coldeft re- gions ; but in the climate of India it was peculiarly pefti- lential. Their firft efforts, upon perceiving the effects o(- their horrid confinement, was to break open the door of the prifon ; but as it opened inward, they found the at- tempt impra<Slicable. They next endeavoured to excite the compaffion, or the avidity of the guard, by offering him a large fum of money for his affiilance in removing them to feparate prifons •, but with this requeft he was not able to comply, as the viceroy was afleep, and no perfon dared to dilturb him. They were now, therefore, left to die without hopes of relief; and the prifon was filled with groans, fhrieks, contell, and defpair. This turbulence, however, foon after funk into a calm, flill more hideous. Their ftrength was exhaufted, and no- thing remained but an expiring languor. In the morning, when the keepers came to vifit the prifon, all was horror, filenee, and defolation. Of a hundred and forty-fix who had entered alive, twenty-three only furvived, and of thefe the greater part died of putrid fevers upon being fet free.
The dellruction of this important fortrefs interrupted the fucceffes of the Englifn company ; but in a fhort time, the fcale was again turned in their favour, by the fortune of Mr. Clive, feconded by the activity of an Englifh fleet, under the command of admiral Watfon. Jn the number of thofe who in this part of the world experienced the power of theEnglifli, was the famous Tullagee Angria, a piratical prince, who had long infefted the Indian ocean, and made the princes on the coall his tributaries. He maintained a great number of gallies, with which he at- tacked the largell fhips, and generally with fuccefs. As the company had been greatly molefled by his depreda- Ihe pirate ^'ons, a refolution was formed of attacking this formidable Anv,ria ii enemy in his own fortrefs. Admiral Watfon, and colonel taketu Clive, therefore failed into his harbour of Geria ; and though they fuftained a warm fire as they entered, they foon fet all his fleet on fire, and obliged his fort to fur- render at difcretion. Here the conquerors found a large quantity of warlike flores, and effedls to a confiderablc amount.
After demollfliing this fortrefs, colonel Clive proceeded to take revenge for the cruelty pradtifed upon the Englifli at Calcutta. About the beginning of December, he ar- rived at Balafoie, in the kingdom of Bengal. He met with little oppofuion either to the fleet or the army, until
they
George //. 385
tr.ey came before Clcutta, which fcemed rcfolved (oftand a regular fiej^e. 'llie admiral, with two fliips, having ar- Calcutta rived before the town, he received from all the batteries a reiukan. furious fire, which he foon returned with greater execu- tion, and in lefs than two hours obliged them to abandon their fortifications.
Soon after thefc fuccelTes, Hughly, a city of great Succefei of trade, was reduced with as little dilliculty as the former ; cnhnel and all the ftorc-houfes and granaries belonging to the ^"i'^* viceroy of Bengal were dcftroyed. This barbarous prince, in order to repair thefe lofTes, alfembled an army of ten thoufand horfc, and fifteen tlioufand foot, and declared a firm refolution of expelling the Englifli from all their fet- tlements in that part of the world. On receiving intelli- gence of his march, colonel Clive, obtaining a reinforce- ment of men from the admiral's fliips, advanced with his little army to meet thefe numerous forces. He attackeil the enemy in three columns ; and though the numbers were fo difproportioncd, victory foon declared in favour of the Englifli.
A conquefl; fo eafily obtained by a fmall body of foreign- ers foon rendered the viceroy of Bengal contemptible to his own fubje(fts. His cowardice now rendered him def- picable, as his former cruelty odioi'.s. A confpiracy, there- fore was projected againft Iiim by Ali Khan,ii!S prisne ml- niller j and the Englilh having private intimation of the defign, they refolved to fecond it with all their endeavours. With this view, colonel Clive, knowing that he had a friend in the enemy's camp, marched forward, and foon came up with the viceroy, who had by this time recruited his army. After a fliort conteft, Clive was as ufual vifto- rious. The whole Indian army was put to flight, and routed with terrible flaughter. Ali Khan, who firlt incited his mailer to this undertaking, concealed his attachment to the Englifli, until he faw there was no danger from his perfidy. But upon the afTurance of the vi(f\ory he openly efpoufed the fide of the conquerors, and in confequence of his private fervice?, was, by order of colonel Chve, proclaimed viceroy of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa, in ths room of the former nabob, who was folemnly depofed, and foon after put to death by his perfidious fucccfibr.
After tlie conqueil of the Indians, colonel Clive turned his arms againfl: the French, who had long contended for empire in that part of the world. In a fliort tim.e, Chan- dcnagore, a French fettlement higher up the Ganges than Calcutta, was forced to fubmic to the Englifli power. The \qL: II. C c goods
^86 ^he Hijlory of England.
goods and money found in this place were confidcrable ; but the lofs of the fettlement affected the vanquilhed yet more. Thus, in one campaign, through the activity of Clive, and the co-operation of the admirals Watlba and Pococke, the Englifh became pofleffed of a territory fuperior in wealth, fertility, extent, and the number of its inhabitants, to any kingdom in Europe. Above two millions fterling were paid to the comp;iny and the fur- vivors of the imprifonment at Calcutta. The foldiers and feamen fhared fix hundred thoufand pounds, and the Englifh power gained an ipconteftible fuperiority in the Eaft.
The French, alarmed at this fuccefs, fent out a confi- derable reinforcement under the command of general Lally, an Irifliman, from whofe bravery and experience they entertained great hopes of retrieving their affairs in India, Lally, though a man of courage, was exceedingly unfit for being connefted with a trading company. He was fierce, haughty, and precipitate, not without a mix- ture of avarice, which tempted him to fhare in their gain.
Under the direfllon of this perfon, however, the affairs of the French for fome time feemed to wear a better afpefl. He took from the Englifh their fettlement of fort St. David's, and plundered the country of the king of Tanjore, in alliance with the enemy. He then entered the province of Arcot, and prepared for laying fiege to Madras, the chief fettlement of the Englifh on the coalt of Coromandel. In the fiege of this important place, however, he met with greater difficulties than he expe£l- ed. The artillery of the garrifon was well managed, while on the other fide, the French foldiers behaved with the greateft timidity ; nor did even the council of Pondicherry fecond the ardour of the 'general. In vain did Lally at- tempt to lead on his troops to a breach that had been pra6licable feveral days. Though it continued open a fortnight, not one dared to venture the affault. To add to his embarraffments, he was ill fupplied with provifions; and he found that the garrifon had been ftrengthened by a reinforcement. In defpair of fuccefs, therefore, he raifed the fiege ; and this mifcarriage fo difpiritsd the troops, that they feemed to profecute every fucceeding operation with the greateft reluctance.
During thefe contefls, an enterprize feemed to be mc- • ditating in a quarter where the Englifa leaft fufpedled any hoftile defign; The Dutch, under pretence of rtinforc- .
ing
-1»
George //. 387
ing their garrifons in Bengal, equipped an arman^ent o^ fevcn fliips, which were ordered" to fail up the Ganges, and render their fort at Ciiincura fo formidable, as to ex- clude all other nations from the falt-petre trade, which was carried on at that place, and thus monopolize the commodity. This defign, however, colonel Clive judged fit to oppoi'e. He accordingly informed the Dutch com- mander by a letter, that he could not permit the accom- plilhinent of his enterprize, as he forefaw that it would be detrimental to the commerce of Europe. To this mef- fage the Dutchman replied, that he had no fuch deligns of a monopoly as were imputed to him, and he only re- quefled tiic liberty to land antl refrefli his troops, 'i'his, appearing reafonable, was quickly granted. But the Dutch commander was no fooner uiformed that the fhips, in- tended to feeond his operations, were come up the river, than he boldly began his march to Chineura ; and even took, in his pafTajiie up the river, feveral fmall veffels be- longing to the Eiiglilh, to ret.diate for the affront he pretended to have received. Whether the Calcutta In- diaman was fent out upon this occafion to oppofe the Dutch, or only purfuing her voyage down the river to England, is uncertain ; but fhe was prevented by the Dutch commander from going onward, and obliged to re- turn to Calcutta. Colonel Clive, when inform.ed of this treatment, was not flow in vindicating the honour of his country; and there being at that time three India (Jiips in the harbour, he inilantly gave ordeis that they Ihould fail towards the Dutch fleet, and fink them if they ottered to refift. The command was received, and would have been executed with great alacrity ; but, after a few broadfides,. the Dutch commander ftruc':, and his example was fol- lowed by the reft of the fleet.
Meanwhile, the operations againfl: the French were carried on with great fuccefs. The troops, headed by co- lonel Coote, an officer of prudence and valour, marched againft general Lally, with the refolution of coming to a decifive engagement. On his march he made himfelf mafter of tlie city of Wandewafli ; he afterwards reduced the fortrefs of Carangoly, and at length came up with the French general, who had no thoughts of declining the en- gagement. Early in the morning, the French advanced ■within three quarters of a mile of the EnglKh line ; and the cannonading began with great fury on both fides» The engagement continued with obflinacy until about two in the afternoon, when the French gave way, and
C c 2 fled
388 the Hljhry of England.
f?cd towards their camp. They foon, however, abandoned this retreat, kavinp; their baggage, cannon, and the field of battle, to the conquerors.
In confequence of this viclory, the city of Arcot was retaken \ and nothing now remained to the French, of all their former dominions in India, but the ftrong town of Pondicherry, their mod: important fettlement in that coun- try. As foon 3S the adjacent fortrefles were reduced, co- lonel Coote fat down befoie this city, in the refolution of blockading it by land, while admiral Stevens fhut up the harbour by Tea. A regular fiege, on account of the peri- odical rains, was at that time impraflicabfe ; but neither the rains, nor the inclemency of the climate, were able to abate the ardour of the befiegers. The blockade was continued, and the garrifon fo clofely preffed, that it was reduced to extreme diftrefs. Lally, however, was de- termined to hold out the place to the lad. During this interval, fortune fcemed to give the befieged an opportu- nity ofrelicf, liad it been feized with vigour. By one of thofe dreadful tempefls, common in that climate, a large part of the English fleet,- employed in blocking up the harbonr, was wrecked. Lally wrote the mod prefOng letters to the French refidents at the Dutch fettlements, lo be fupplied with proviilons; but, to his mortification, inflead of feei«g the French boats come to his relief, he only faw, in lefs than four days, the Englifli ad- miral returning into the harbour, after repairing the damage which his fiiips had fuftained. Lally, though he faw his troops confuming with fatigue and famine, perfevercd, with a favage obftinacy, to hold out ; until at iengih, finding that a breach had been made in the ram- part, and that only one day's provifion remained, he per- mitted a fignal to be made for ceafing hoflilities. Not- withtlanding this meafure, he continued to acl v.-ith the unaccountable perverfcnefs of his temper: he fent a pa- per filled with the bittercft reproaches againll the Eng- lifh ; and alleged, that he would not treat upon honour- able terms with an enemy that had tranfgren'ed all the laws of honour. He at lail furrendered the place, not in his own perfon, but permitted fome inferior officers in the garrifon to obtain terms of capitulation. By this im- portant conquefi:, the French power in India was over- ihto'^n ; and ihz chief part of the territory and trade of that vail peninfula, from the Indus to llie Ganges, waa now annexed to the Britilh emoire.
While
Ceoro-e IL 280
While the -nrltlfh arms were fuccefofu! in t^c E.^ft, STarin tliey were acquiring yet ^renter gfory in the Weftern ^"'t't*-*- world. Uiulf r the ailminidration of the ceJcbrateil Mr. Pitt, afterwards earl of Chathatn, a fjiirit of vigour arrd enterprize a'nimated the nation.J couufels, and pervaded even tlie body of the people. TIic confcrjnences of the former ill-condu6led counfcls ftill fccmcd to continue in America.' The generals fent over to manage the ope- rations of the war, loudly accufed the timidity aiwl delays of the natives, whofe duty it was to unite in their own defence. The natives, on the other hand, as waimly re- monftrated agninft the pride, avarice, and hicap<icity of thofe fent over to command them. General Shlrfey, who had been appointed to the fupreme command on that con« tinent, had been for fome time recalled, and replaced by Jord I.oudon ; and this nobleman alfo foon after returning to England, three feveral commanders were put at the licad of feparate operations. General Amhcrft con- duced the expedition defigned againft Cape Breton. Another was configned to general Abercrombie, againfl Crown Point and Ticonderago ; and the third, againft Fort Du Qnefne, was given to brigadier-general Forbes.
The ifland of Cape Breton had been taken from the French during the preceding war, but had been reftored at the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. As it afforded the French a convenient harbour for annoying the Britifli trade, as well as for carrying on a fifhery, the wrefting it again from that nation was, therefore, a mealnre diftated by the foundell policy. The fortrefs of Louilhurgb, by which it was defended, had been ftrengthcned by art, but was Hill more fecure from its fuuation. The garrifon alfo was numerous, the commander vigilant, and every precaution taken to oppofe a landing. The intrepidity of A.T3. »758, the Engiifh, however, furmounted every obltacle, and the ■
place furrcndered by capitulation : the fortifications were Louijbur^h ibon after demoliflied. taken.
The expedition to fort Du Quefne was equally fuccefs- ful ; but that agalnfl Crown Point proved abortive. As Abercrombie approached Ticonderago, he found the cnc^ my deeply intrenched at the foot of the fort, and farther fecured by trees, which had been cut down, and their branches pointed towards him. Thefe obftacks the ar- dour of the aflailants attempted to furmount j but as the enemy, being fecure, took aim at Icifure, a terrible (laughter enfued ; and the general, after rgpeated efforts, was obliged to order a retreat. He ihcnifore icturncd
C c 3 with
290 57v Hiftory of England,
with his troops to his camp zt Lake George, whence he had taken his departure.
The BritiOi rainiftryj fenfiblc that a fingle effort carried on in fo extenfive a country, could never reduce the ene- my, it was refolved to attack them in feveral parts of the continent at once. Preparations were therefo.e made for the next year's campaign, and expeditions driven forward rigainft three different parts of North America at the fame time. General Amherft, now commander in chief, with a body of twelve thoufand men, was to attack Crown Point, which had hitherto baffled all the efforts of the Britifh arms. General Wolfe, in the oppofite quarter, was to en- ter the river St. Lawrence, and undertake the (iege of Quebec, the capital of the French dominicns in America; while general Prideaux, and fir William Johnfon, were to attempt a French fort, near the catara6ls of Niagara.
The lafl named expedition was the firfl that fucceeded. The fort of Niagara was a place ol great importance, and commanded the communication between the northern and weftern French fettlements. The fiege was begun with vigour, and promifed an eafy conqueli ; but general Pri- deaux was killed in the trenches, by the burfling of a mortar. The command of the enterprize now devolved upon general Johnfon, who omitted nothing to pufh for- ward the vigorous operations of his predeceffor. During the fiege, a body of French troops attempted to relieve A.D.1759. the fort; but Johnfon attacked them with intrepidity and
— ■ fuccefs ; and in lefs than an hour their whole army was
Surrender ^^ j^ ^j^g rout. The garrifon foon after furrendered
gif Fort •* . ^
Naaara themfeives prifoners of v/ar. The fuccefs of general Am- herft was lefs fplendid, though not lefs ferviceable. Upon arriving at the deftined place, he found both the forts of Crown Point and Ticonderago deferted and demolifhed. E-pedition There now remained but one grand and decifive blow in Siuitsc. to give Britain the exclufive poffeffion of all North Ame- rica. This was the taking of Quebec, the capital of Ca- nada, a city handfomely built, populous, and fiourifhing. The naval part of the expedition was intruded to admiral Saunders, while the fiege by land was committed to the conduct of general Wolfe, a young officer who had di- ftinguifiied himfelf on many former occafions, particularly at the fiege of Louifburgh. This enterprize was attended •with fuch a combination of difficulties, as might have been fufficient to difcourage the moft refolute commander. The fituation of the town on the fide of a great river, the fortifications with which it was fecured, the inaccefiible
nature
George II, 351
nature of the country, the great number of vefTcIs and floatinj]; batteries which the enemy had provided for the defence of the river, the numerous body of favagcs couitantly hovering round the Britifli army ; all thefe circumftances fcemed to threaten the aflailants with an unfortuate ifl'ue to their attempt. The general him- felf was perfectly fcnfible of the difTieully of the un- dertaking The only profpecl of attempting it with fuc- cefs, was by lanciing, in the night, below the town, a body of troops, who were to clamber up the banks of the river, and take pofleflion of the ground on the back of the city. This attempt, however, appeared peculiarly difcouraging. The dream was rapid, the fhore fhelving, the bank above lined with centinels, the hndiig-place fo narrow as to be eafily niiflbd in the dark, and the Iteep- nefs of the ground inch as hardly to be praclicable in the day-time. All thefe dilficulties, however, were furmount- cd by the conduct of the general, and the bravery of his troops. Colonel Howe, at the head of the light infantry and the Highlanders, afcending the woody precipices with admirable courage and a£livity, difiodged a fmall body of the French that defended a narrovi^ path-way up the bank. IVIonfieur de JNlontcalm, the French com- inander, was no fooner apprized that the Britidi had •gained thefe heights, which he had deemed inacccihble, than he refolved to hazard a battle. An engagement therefore began, the moll defperate that had been fought during the war. The French general was flain, and the fecond in command ihared the fame fate. General Wolfe was ilationed on the right, where the attack was mofl: warm. As he ftood confpicuous in the front line, he had been aimed at by the enemies markfmen, anH received a ihot in the wrift, which however did not oblige him to quit the field. Having wrapped a handkercliief round his liand, he continued giving orders without the lead eino- tion, and advanced at the head of the grenadiers with their bayonets fixed. But a fecond ball more fatal, pierced his breuit ; fo that, unable to proceed, he leaned on the fhoulder of a foldier that was next him. While he was Ibuggling in the agonies of death, and jud: expiring, he heard a voice cry, " They run I" upon which he feemcd for a moment to revive, and aflcing, who ran ? was in- formed the French. Exprefling his wonder that tliey ran fo foon, and unable to gaze any longer, lie funk on tlic foldier's bread, and his lad words were, " I die happy !'* The fate of this brave general was univerfally lamented ■ C c 4 by
392 . The Hijiory cf E/igland.
by the nation, which has fince paid his memory the highefk honours, and will, to the latelt times, regard him as one of her mofl illuiifious commanders. Sluehec ^^\s vioflory was follov.-ed with the furrender of Quebec,
lur,£ttJers. which the French, the next feafon, made a vigorous effort to retake j but by the refolution of governor Murray, and the appearance of a Britifli fleet under the command cf lord Colviile, they were obliged to abandon the enterprize. The whole province of Canada wa:s foon after reduced by the prudence and activity of general Amherft, who ob- liged the French army to capituhite. To thefe conquefts, about the fame time, was added the redu£lionof the ifland of Guadaloupe, under commodoie Moore, and general Hopfon ; an acquifuion of great importance, but which was rcftcved at the fucc'eeding per.ce. War In In Europe, the efforts of the Biiiifh, and the opera-
Cermany. x\or,s of their gitat ally, the king of Pruffia, were alfo at this time extraordinary. In the depth of winter, the French and Imperialifts fat down and formed the fiege of Leipfic. The capture of that city would have been fatal to the intcreft of his Pruflian majclly, and there- jfore, by one of thofe rapid marches, for which he was remarkable, he arrived at the place with his army, before the enemy had any intelligence of his approach. Such was the terror cf his arms, that even vanquiflied as he fcem.ed, the French, though fupcrior in numbers, raifed T.ait'e of the fiege, and retreated, lie was refolved to purfue, and Rcjbach. jit length overtook them at a village called Rofoach, where he gained fo complete a viclory, that night alone faved their army from total deflru(£lion.
Meanwhile the Auftrians, in another part of the em- pire, were viclorious, and had made prifoners the princS of Bevern, the king of Pruflia's general. The king, im- mediately after the lad battle, again undertook a march ' of tv.'o hundred miles in the depth of winter, and came v;p with the Auftrian army near Brellau. He there dif- pofed his forces with his ufual celerity and judgment, and obtained another bloody victory, in which he made not lefs than fifteen thoufand prifoners. Breflau, with a gar- fifon of ten thoufand men, furrendered foon after.
Thefe fucceffes af?;jrded the Hanoverians frefii hopes of being able to expel the French from their territories. Soon after the capitulation of Clofter Seven, both fides began to complain that the treaty was not ftiictly ob- ferved. The Hanoverians exclaimed agaiiifl the rapacity of the French general, and the brutahty pf . his foldiers i 8 ' while
Ccorge 11. 393
TvMIe the French, on the other h:ind, ncoufecl the former of inTolcnce and infurre^lion ; and, fcnfib'c of their own fuperiority, rcloivcd to ex;.6l from tV.c fleclor-.d fiibje£ls a Itrid obfervance of the agreement. The Hanoverians, provoked by the opprelfion of ihc French tax-gatherers, 7»e Hanf' ami ardent to take arms, only wanted a commander to con- ^'''"^"* diid^ thtni : this tliey foon found in prince Ferdinand of ^„j ^,g* Brunfwick, a general of great military talents. headid hf
'Jhis fuddcn infurreclion of the Hanoverians proved prince F,r- cxtremely fortunate for the interefls of the kinc of Pruf- '^""""^<" fin, who, from this time, oppolen the enemy upon more ' equal terms. As foon as prince Ferdinand had put hini- felf at the head of the Hanoverian army, his Britannic » majeily, in a fpeech to his parliament, oblerved, that the. late fuccefles of his ally in Germany had given his affairs a happy turn, which it would be necefl'ary to improve. The commons concurred in his fentiments, and libc:vally granted fupplies,both for the ferviceof the kingof PrufTia,, and for enabling the Hanoverian army to adt vigorouOy in Conjun6lion with him.
Great Britain, from her natural military ardour, feemed now defirous of (liaring on the continent thofe dangers of which huherto (lie liad only been a fpedlator ; and this paflion was not lefs gratifying to the king, from his native attachment, than from a delire of revenge upon the plunderers of his country, Mr. Pitt, who had at fiifl come into popularity and power by opponng fuch mea- fures, was now prevailed on to adopt them with even greater ardour than any of his predeccffors. In order to indulge the general inclination of alhiling the king of Duke of Pruflia, the duke of Marlborough was at firfl fent into Maribo- Germany with a fmall body of Britifli forces, to join ^"^'^li lent prince Ferdinand, whofe condudl had given great hopes " .•i7"'l"^ of his being foon able to produce a happy change in the cftroopu affairs of the continent. After fome fmall advantages l.orj gained by the allied army at Crevelt, the duke of Marl- George borough dying, the command of the Englifh troops de- '^'^■''•'"'j'f volved on lord George Sackville ; between whom and the Hig^l^, commander in chief there unfortunately arofe a mifun- mandof dcrflanding, which was prodii(ftive of fatal cfledls in the '/"" l^ritijh fubfequent battle of Mincicn. The c^ufe of their mutual '^'''^y' difgull is not clearly known ; but it is imagined tluU the cxtenfive genius, and the inquifuive fpirit of the Englifli gener<>l, were l>y no means agreeable to liis fupcrior \\\ command, wlio had his eye on fome pecuniary advantages
which
394 ^^^ Htfiory of England.
. -, ,^ which the other was unwilling to permit. But w-hatcver
A.D. 1760. , iri-/-LL -I
. was the ground 01 their reientmenc, both armies advancing
Battle of near the town of Minden, the French began the attack Minden, with great vigour, and a general engagement of the in- fantry enfued. Lord George, at the head of the Briti(h and Hanoverian horfe, was Rationed at fome diftance on the right of the infantry, from which they were divided by a fcanty wood that bordered on a heath. The French infantry giving ground, the prince thought this a favour- able opportunity to pour down the horfe among them, and accordingly fent lord George orders to advance. Whether thefe orders were unintelligible, or contradictory, feems ftill to be matter of difpute ; but, if rightly deli- vered, they were ill obeyed. Lord George was immedi- ately recalled, tried by a court-martial, found guilty, and declared incapable of fcrviiig in any military command for the future. The enemy, however, were repulfed with confiderable lofs in all their attacks ; and at length giving way, were purfued to the very ramparts of Minden.
After this fuccefs, a confiderable reinforcement was fcnt to the Britilh army in Germany, which therefore now amounted to above thirty thoufand men ; and the whole nation was flufhed with the hopes of immediate and fignal conqueft. But thefe hopes foon vaniilied on finding vic- tory and defeat alternately fucceeding each other. The aUies were worfled at Corbach ; but retrieved their honour at Endorf. A victory at Warbourg followed fhortly after, as did another at Zierenberg ; but they fuffered a defeat at Compen, after which both the French and allied armies went into winter-quarters.
The efforts of Great Britain, at this time. In every quarter of the globe, and the expence of her military operations, were fuch as had never before been made or fupported by any nation. A large body of Britifh forces commanded the extenfive peninfula of India. Another army of twenty thoufand men confirmed their eonquefts in North America. Thirty thoufand men were employ- ed in Germany j and feveral other bodies were difperfed in the different garrifons in various parts of the world. But what tranfcended all was her naval force, which car- ried command wherever it came, and had totally anni- hilated the French power on the ocean. The courage and the conduct of the Britilh admirals had furpafTed in fame the tranfa£lions of any former period -, and every fuccef- five event confpired to raife the nation to the pinnacle of human grandeur.
Such
George IT. 395
Such was the glorious fituation of public affairs, when the death of the king fufpended for a while the national triumph. On the 25th of October, at his palace at Kcn- fington, his majelty, without having complained of any previous diforder, was found by his domeftics expiring in his chamber. He had arifen at his ufual hour, and faid to his attendants, that as the weather was fine, he would take a walk into the gardens. In a few minutes after his return, being left alone, he was heard to fall upon the Hoor. The noife bringing his attendants into the room, they lifted him into bed, where he, with a faint voice, defired tliat the princefs Amelia might be fent for ; but before fhe could reach the apartment, he expired. An oa. 15. attempt was made to bleed him^but without efte£t. Upon T^^'e kmgs opening the body, the furgcons difcovered that the right '* ventricle of the heart was ruptured, and that a great quan- tity of blood was difcharged.
George the Second died in the feventy-feventh year of and eha- his age, and the thirty-third of his reign ; lamented by ra£ler. his fubjetts, and in the midft of vidory. He was in his temper fudden and violent ; but fteadfaftly attaclied to thofe who had once obtained his favour or protection. Deftitute himfelf of any fiiining abilities, he neither ad- mired nor rewarded them in others. His public cha- racSter was marked with a predilecSlion for his native country ; and his private, with a degree of frugality, which ill fuited the fplendor of a great and opulent monarch.
INDEX
INDEX.
Sl^e Kumbns exprejfed by Letters refer to the Volume, ihofe ij
figures to the Page.
A.
A'
C T de Hcj-etlco Comburendo,
pa/Tcd in the reign of Henry IV,
to fapprefs the foUowecs of
WitkJifii, i. 293.
•— •- leUtivc to high treafon, il. zjS.
•— fur fejL>t«nnial parliaments, ii.
33S- AdventureM, Saxon, a number of, efta-
blifli the thiee kingdoms of the Euft-
Anglcs, Mcriia, Eaft Saxony, or
Eficx, i. 5, Agag, a n^me given to Cromwell by
theScotrb fanatic?, ii. 145. Aixla-Chapelle, congrefe and treaty at,
ii. 369. Alban's, St. batile of, the firft between the houfes of York and Lancafte:, i.
Albtmarle, cx\, 'pirticularly noted in the reign of Henry III. for his turbu- lent difpofition and unlawful pra^^ices, 1. 167. Is excommunicated by the pope's legate, Pandolf, ib.
Algernon Sydney, trial of, ii. 242. His execution, ib.
Alfred the Great, a Sixcn king of Eng- land, gave early marks of thofe great »irtues, and Ihining abilities, which rendcieJ his name fo illuftrioiis, i. 14- Had hardly taken pcfTcflion of the crown when his prcfencc was re- quired to opj)i-fe the Danes, whofe lup<-rio?ity force his few troops to yield, ib- Collefts new fotcts, and iighis one year eight battles with the enemy, 1 5. New fwarnns of them artiving, the Saxuns arc reduced to "tfefp-if, »nd Alfred to fecjc ftielicr in «2i« u-^ancA Jifguife^, rb. M«ws of
the (^icccFi of the earl of Devonllitre againft them, induces him to ({uit hi« retreat, and he enters the Oanrft camp in the difguifc of a harper, 16. Remarking their fupine fecurity, he difpatches mefTengers to his fubjefts to meet him in arms, and accerdinEly difcomfits the Danes with grcJt (laughter, ib. Now enjoy'ng an in- terval of twelve years peace, he pro- vide* »gainft the return of the like calamities, by maintaining a naval force, 17- Vigoroufly attacks again the Danes, takes fevera! of their fhips, and hangs up the prifoners as pirates,
18. Tranquillity reflored to the na- tion, ib. Alfred gives encourage- Dient to learning and learned men,
19. Introduces and encourages all ufeful manufadutes, ib. His deatti and charatler, ib. Iiliie, 20. '
Alfred, elder brother of Edward tlie Confcllur, how cut ofi' by the con- trivance of king Harold and earl Codv^in, i. 36.
Ambrofius, of Roraan <lefcent, chofen by the Britons to be their leader arainft the Saxonf, i. 4.
America, emigration to, inthereigoof Charles I ii. 78.
Amhcrft, general, reduces the prot'mcc of Caoada, ii. 392.
Anarchy and diHradiion, all England in a Aatc of, on the death of king J<aha, i. 163.
Angria, the pir»|e, taken by admiral Watfoti, ii. 3554.
Anjijii, duke of, his pretenfions to quetn £iiiaj>ctu hvw truilratcd, it. ib,
Anne,
INDEX.
Annf, of Clevej, married to Henry VIII, i. 415. Difliked, ib. Di- vorced, 427.
m prince'.Sj king James ITs favou-
rite daughter, abandons him in his diftrefs, ii 260.
■ queen, hiOory of the reign of,
ii. 2S1. State of parties in the council, ib. War with France, 282. Marl- bcough is appointed general of the allied army, 28?. His progrefs in Flanders, ib. Is created a duke, ib. Fruitlefs expedition to Cadiz, ib. Succefs of the Englilh at Vigo, ib. Admiral Bembow's engagement with Du Cafle in the Weft Indies, ib. The queen aflembles a new parlia- ment, 284. Progrefs of the ailies, 285. Marlborough marches into Germany, 2S6. Is joined by prince Eugene, ib. Battle of Blenheim, iSy. Marflial TalUrd made prifoncr, 288. The allies obtain a complete viftory, ib. Marlborough obtains the manor of Woodftock, where a palace is built for him at the public expence, 2S9. The Englilh take Gibraltar, ib. The Spaniards make a fruitlefs attempt to retake Gibral- tar, 290. King of Spain lands in England, 291. The earl of Peter- borough beiieges Barcelona, v.hich is obliged to furrender, ib. The gar- lifon furrenders, ib. War in Flan- ders, 292. Battle of Ramilies, ib. State of parties in England, 293. Difafters of the Englilh and Dutch troops in Spain, 294. Miicarriage of the enterprize ag^inft .Tou'on, ib. Difafters at fea, ib. Treaty of union between England and Scotland, 295. Stipulations therein, 296. The Scots ctiflacisfied with lofing their ancient and independent government, 297. The union Joppofed by the Tories, and njon what motive?, 298. Mrs. Mdfiiam poireffes great favour with the queen, ib. Intrigues of Harley, afterwards created Earl of Oxford, 299. Meeting of the firft Britifh parliament, ib. Difcontcnt of Marl- borough and Godolphin. 300. Ac- count of Dr. Sacheverel, 301. His trial, 302. Tumults in London, 305. A new parliament, 504. Marlborough returns to Flanders, and leads on the allied army to great, but dear-bought vidorits, ib. Battle of Malplaquet, 305. The allied army remain mafters of the field, but their number of ilain is greater, ib. Lewis continues delirous of peace, and re- 7
folves once more to folicit a confer- ence, ib. The duke of Marlborough's influence at home is at an end, 306. Infolence of his duchefs, 307. The duke begs leave, in a letter to the queen, to refign all his employments, ib. The queen refolves to change the minilfry, 308. DilTolution of the Whig miniftry, 309. Marl- borough becomes an objert of hatred and reproach, ib. Affair of Guif- card, who attempts to flab Harley, eflabiiflies his credit with his party and the queen, 310. Harley is ap- pointed minifter, ib. Difmiffion of Marlborough, 311. Negociations for peace, 312. The conferences opened at Utrecht, 313. The queen's mea- fures obftru£led by the allies, ib. A defperate party in the kingdorn, 314. In this dilemma a private ne- gociation is fet on foot with France, ib. The duke of Ormond invefted with the fupremc command of the Britifh forces, ib. The Dutch not difpofed to acquiefce to terms of peace, 315. The allies feel the im- portance of the lofs they had fuftain-' ed by the defeQion of England, ib. Bolingbroke fent over to France to remove all obftruftions to the feparate' treaty, 316. Duke of Hamilton and lord Mohun killed in a duel, ib. Marlborough retires to the continent, ib. Peace is proclaimed, 317. Sub- ftance of the treaty between Great Britain and France, ib. The allies foon conclude a peace with their ene- my, 318. Mr. Steele expelled the' boufe of commons, ib. Diflenfions of the minifters, ib. Aims of Bo« lingbroke feconded by lady Mafham 319. The queen feized with a le- thargic diforder, ib. Her death and charafter, 320.
Anfelm, archbifiiop of Canterbury, quarrel of William Rufus with him, i. 70. Conlidered as a martyr to the caufe of; the church, 71. Reinftated in his fee by Henry I. 73.
Anfon, commodore, fails to the South Sea, ii. 350. Takes the Spanifli gal- leon and other prizes, 351.
Armada, invincible, fome account of, ii. 32- Arrives in the Channel, 34- Attacked and difperfed, ib. Returns to Spaia greatly reduced, 35.
Armorica, the Britons, that abandoned their native country rather thaa fub- mit to the Saxons, retire c* the pro- vince of, i. 3t
Arte-
INDEX.
ArtevlUe, Jame») a brewer of Ghent, who, Jrom a private citizen, becomes too powerful for a fubjeft, i. 248. Confultcd by Edward 111. ib.
Arthur, prince, fon of king Ji hn's Ute brother GeoftVy, is efpoufcd by Phi- lip of France to make good his claim to the crown of England, i. 137. Flies with his mother for pro- teflion to rhilip, 139. Ismadepri- foner by king John, and at length cruelly murdered by him in the caftle of Rouen, 140.
■ prince, fon to Henry VII.
birth of, i. 359. His marriage with Catherine of Arragon, 374. Dies regretted, ib.
Afcue, Anne, burnt with others for denying the re»l prefcnce, i. 441.
Affallination plot ag;iinft king William, ii. 276. Difcovered, 277.
Athelftan, though illegitimate, fuc- ceeds Edward the Elder in the throne of England, i. 20. Viftorioui over all his enemies, Danes, Scots, and others, is regarded as one of the moft ai^ivc and difcerning princes of thofe times, II.
Athelwold, bis deceit to obtain Elfrida in mariiagi, proves fatal to him, i, 27.
Atterbury, bifljop of Rcchefter, com- miited to the Tower, ii. 340. Bill of pains and penalties againfl him, ib. The bill, by miniflerial influ- ence, pafTes againft him, and he is driven into exile, 341. His inter- view with lord Bolingbroke, at Ca- lais, ib.
Aughrim. See Ginklc.
Auguftine, the monk, fent by pope Gregory the Great, to convert the Britifli Saxons to Chriftianity, i. 6. His reception by king Ethelbert, fa- vourable, ib. Is coiifecrated atch- bifliop o: Canterbury, with authority over all the British churchcr, 7,
Azay, treaty of, humiliating to Henry II. i. 120.
Aeincour, memorable battle of, full account off i. 299* & feq. Ex- tremely fatal to France, 301.
B.
BAB I N G T O N*s confpiracy, in which Mary, queen of Scots was concerned, fome account of, ii. 20. Difcovered, and the cunipirators exe- cuted, 21. BacoHj chancellorj di/^race of, ii. ^9.
Bainham, and other}, burnt as heretic^ i. 406.
Baliol, king of Scotland. See Ed- ward I.
Balmerino, lord, glories in the czufefor which he fell, ii. 357,
Banbury, battle of, i. 336.
Bannockburn, the Englifti defeated bj the Scots in the battle of, i. 229.
Barcelona furrenders to the earl of Pe- terborough, ii. 291.
Barebonc's Parliament, ii. 156.
Barons, Norman, infurreftion of, againft William the Conqueror, i, 57. Sup- prefl'ed, 58,
— — , their demands on king John, occafion, in the end, bloody civil wars, and fccnes of diftre^'s in Eng- land, i, 153, & feq. See John, King, and Henry III.
Becket, Thomas a, artnbifliop of Can- terbury, hiftory of, i. 93. Quarrel between him and king Henry II. 94. For his proceedings and tranfadtiona to the time of his murder, fee Henry Plantaganet.
Bedford, Juke of, prote£ior and guardian of the kingdom, under his nepliew Henry VI. ii. 304. See Henry Vl.
Bedloc's narrative of the Popilh plot, ii. 219.
Bembow, admiral, h"s engagement witk Du Cafle in the Weil Indies, ii. 2S3.
Beringaria, daughter of the king of Navarre, married to Richard I. of England, i. 126.
Bertha, a Chriflian, queen to Ethelbert, king of Kent, ufes every art of per- fuailon and addrefs to make a profe- lyte of her hufband, and fucceeds, i. 6. Bible, tranflated into the Saxon lan- guage in the reign of Athelftan, i. 21.
Bifliops, afTembJy of, in the reign of Henry 11. for what purpofe held, i. 9«.
, Proteft.ition of the, ii. g6.
Their impeachment, ib. ■ , (;x, petition king James II. ii.
253. Are committed 10 the Tower,
254. Their trial, and acquittal, ib. Black heath, battle of, fought with
iniurgtnts in the reign of Henry VII,
on acccunt of taxv.'S, i. 369. Stake, admiral, his engagements with
Van Tromp, ii. 153. Takes the
SpaniHi galconj, 163. BLkeney, general, defends Stlrling-
Caftle aeainft the rebelt, ii. 364.
De tiids the Fort of S:. Philip in
Minorca, agajnft tli« French, but i«
at
INDEX.
A me-
at Tength obliged to capitulate,
Blenheim, account of the battle of, ii.
=S7. Blood, Thomas, fome account of his
criminal purfuits, ii. 19S. EJoreheath, battle of, wherein the
Yorlcifts are defeited and dlfperfe, i.
529. Eliinr, the projciTlof of ilie Sous'n-Sea
fchenri:', fome'acciUi^.t of, ii. 338. Eoleyne, Anne, fee Heiuy V'lIL for
hsr h^ftory. Bolingbtoke. fe: St. John, B^iiirer, bifhcp of LonHo.i, fcnt to the
Tower, i. 4 =;6. Sent to degvide
Cranmtr 498. Boi'worih, bauie'of, memorable for the
defeat and death of Ricturd 111.
^ 357- Euiliwel, eavl, fome account of, and
his charaitter, ii. 9. Reputed the xnurdtrcr of lord D.irn!:y, 10. Forces Mary, qij°en of Scots into a mar- tiige with him, ib. Flies to the Orkneys, and thence to Denmaik, \vhere he dies, 11. Boyne, battle of the, ii. 27 ^. Uraddoclc, gsneral, defeaed. in
rica, ii. 375. Bradfliaw, chofefi prefident of the high court of juftice, ereded in the Com- monwealth, ii. 137. Breda, peace of, ii. 193. Btetagne, ftate of, in the reign of Ed- ward 111, i. Z^y Bruce, Robert, aipires to the Scottifh crown, i. 218. His intrigues are made kr.ow:; to Edward 1. 219. He flics frcm London, ib. Ir cites the Scottifh nobles to revolt, ib. Is crowned king, 220. In totally de- feated by Aymer de Valence, at Methvsn, in Per'hfhire, and takes Ihelter in the Weftern Ifles, 221. Sollies from his retreat, and ob- t.tins a confiderable adventage over Aymer de Valence, in the beginning ©f the reign of Edward II. 222. His fuccefs in this reigf^, 227. Totally defeats the EnglilTi in the bittle of Bannockburn, 229. Invades Eng- land, ib. Invades Irthnd, but is obliged to return, 230. Settled peaceably in the throne of Scotland, the Englifli renouncing their claim of fuperioriiy, 251. Buckingham, duke of, difcontented v/ith Rich.rd lil. i. 353. Re'olves todeclaie for Henry, earl of Rich- mond, ib. Opens a negotiation with Richmond to place him on the
throne, ^{5.5. Heads an Infor'nar'orl ag"iin!l Richard, ib. His army dif- pcrlcs, and be is taken and executed^.
355- , . : .
BBCkirfghatn, trial and condemnatio» of the duke of, under Henry VIII. ■ i. 3SS.
. S"e Villiers.
Bujl of the pope, for declaring king Henry III. of full .ige, i. 169. 8. Burgundy, duke of, his defeftion from the Englifti, i. 314. He lays fiege to Calais, vvhich is raifed, 316, Truce between him and England, 317. Treaty between him and Edward IV.
343-
duchefs of, praton;zes Perkin
Waibec, i. 364, &• fcq.
Cync, lir George, defeats the Spanifh fieet, ii. 335.
— — , admiral, tried, condemned, and executed, ii, 377,
ABAL, the, fo called from the
initials of five mimfters' names,
»i. 195. Views of, 200, Dillolu-
tion of, 2c8.
— — , of Wallingford Hou'e, Ii.
172. Cabot, S^baftian, ccmmiflioned by Hen- ry VI]. to make dU'covcries weft- ward, i. 377, Cide, John, his infurrflion in Kent, attended with dangerous confeqiien- ces, i. 322. Marches to London at the head of the Kentilh rioters, 323, Execution by them of lord Say, ib. The rioters difperfe, and their lead- ers are (lain, 324. Cadiz, fruitlefs expedition to, ii. 283. Cala's, lefieged by Edward III. i. 26J, Reduced after a twelve-month's fiege, 264. Edward's cruel refulution in refpefl to the inhabitants, ib. His queen implores mercy for them, and obtains it, ib. See Philippa. — — — , taken by the French, in the reiun of queen Mary, i. 501. Effetis of this lofs on the queen, ib. Calcutta, difafters in the Black Hole of,
ii. 383. Retaken, 5S5. Cambridge, earl of, and lord Scrocpe, executed for a confpiracy againil Henry V, i. 297. Cameron, Dr. his manly compofure at
his execution, ii, 372. Canute the Dane, afterwards furnamed tbe Great, eftabllfties his power as king of England, upon a folid foun-
daUcD^
INDEX.
(Jat'on, i. -,^. How he fxpofed the fallhood of" hyperbolical flattery, 35. His bTl jnilitzry etpeHition againft Malcolm II. king of Scotland, ibid. He dies at Shaftelbury, 36.
Capel, lord, executed by the commoa- wealth, ii. 137.
Cardan, the famous, exrols EJward VI. as a prodigy of HAture, i. 473.
Carre, Robert, earl of Someriet, rife of, ii. 53. His corneftions with lady Frances Howard, 54. Over- bury difTuadcs him from an attempt to marry her, ib. Which proves fatal to him, 55. Is found guilty, with lady France', of poifoiiing Over- bury, but both arc pardoned, 56.
Carthagena, ctpcdition to, ii. 351. Unfuccel'sful, 352. Clamours of the nation on that account, 3 1^3.
Catharine, queen to Henry V. marries after his death, (ir Owen Tudor, and bears him two Ions, whence the fa- mily of Tudor was rjifed to <ii- fliniTlion, and afterward? mounted the throne of England, i. 304.
— — — — , of Arragnn, Henry VIlPs marriage with her declared invalid, ]. 40Z. Rctore her death, fhe writes to the king a very tender letter, 409.
■ ■ Howard, married to Henry
VIII. i. 427. Difcovery of her diffolute life, 429. Attainted, 430. Beheaded, 43 r.
-, infanta of Portugal, married
to Charles II. ii. 1S6.
Catholics, form a confpiracy to fhoot oueen Elizabeth, ii. 19. Severity of the laws thereupon inci-eafcd againft all of that communion, ib.
Cautionaiy towns, delivered up by James I. to the Dutch, ii. 57.
Ceaulin, a Saxon king of WeflVx, dies, and on what account, a miferable exile, i. 9.
Cecil, fitft fecrerary, and afterwards minifter of flate to queen Elizabeth, ii. 2. Continued prime minirtcr and chief counfcl.'or to Jirr.es I. 45.
Celibacy of the clergy, firft introduced into England, i. iz.
Cerdic, with his fon Kf:nr-'c, elhblifti the kingdom of the Weft Saxons,'i.5.
Cenfures, pa(-.il, king John anil his kingdom, abfclved from, i. i:;i.
Charles, prince of Wa'ef, projc«5t of marrying him to a daughter of tlie klnf of Spjin, ii^ 59. His journey on that account to Spain, 60. The match broke ofF, ib. Treaty of mar- rjage between him and the princeft Vol. II.
Henrietta of Franc?, Ib. Miraed ta her, 61. Charlei I. hiftory of the reign o*^, ii. 61. At his accclTion to t!ic ihron-, jiTucs writs for a new parliamrnr, ib. Proceedings of this parliament at Wcttminiler, 63. Re-afTcmhled a: Oxford on account of the pligue, 64. Grants him no fopply, and is diiTjlv- ed, 65. Naval expedition againfl Spain, ib. Second parliament, and proceedings in, ib. Impeachment of Buckingham, 66. The king r.'ther than giv; up his favourite, oiflolveg the parliament, Cy. The king bor- rows money of the nobility, 68. Ship-mont-y, ib. A general loan, and thofc who refufe are imprifoned, ib. Trial for iinprifonmenr, ibid. How decided, 69. Many giievances are felt in ihc nation, ib. War wirU France, 70. Expedition to the Ific of Rh^, ib. Third parliament, 71. Petition of right, i!). Perfcverance of the commons, crowneo with fuc- cefs, 72. PrOr(.gation, ib. Feltoa murders the duke of Buckingham, 73. The news how received by the king, 74. Dlflolut'on of the parlia- ment, 75. Peace with France anJ Spain, ib. Strafford and Laud, afTo- ciatcd to the king's counfels, ibid. Their charaflers, ib. The Puritans, a fc(fl, equally inimica! and danp.erous to monarchy, 76. Proclamation of tlie kinp, tacitly intimatinj: Irs in- tention of calling no more parlia- ments, 77. Irregular levies of mo- ney, ib. Severities of the fiar- chamber and high commiffion, 7^. Emigration to America,- ib. Trial of Hambden, 79. Difcontenti ia ScoMatid, 80. The covenant, ib. Commotions in Scotland, ib. The king levies an army ajjainft the Scots, 81. Treaty of peace b-.-tween the king and the ScotF, ib. Fourth par- liamrnt aflembled, afrer ceafing for upwards of eleven year?, ib. lis proceedincs, 82. Diffjlvcd, S3. Ar- bitrary condui£t of the court, ibid. Various methods of raifiog fupplies, ib. The Scots march an army ti> Newcaftle, 84. The king raifes an army, ib. Rout of the Englilh at Newburn, ib. Treaty of Rippon, 85. Meeting of the long parlia- ment, S6. Impeachment of the earl of Str.^ffurd, S7. His execution, 8S, Laud impeached, ibid. Finch, the Jord-keeper, impeached, but makes hi$ efcape, as do.i »!.''» fir Francii * D d Wynde-
INDEX.
WynJeorelt, the fecretary, ib. The v.hole fovere:gn power in a manner transferred lo the commons, 89. The king, from necefiity, remains fiflive, duiiiig all their violent ope- ration?, go. Confpiraey in Ireland, gi. Irifh infurreifi; on and maflacre, 92. The king urges the Scots to fend fuccours into Ireland, but in vain, 93. He applies Hkewife to the Eiigiifii parlian-ent ; bnt alio in .vain, ib. Views of the Enji.fh par- liament, 94. The Remonflrancr, ib. The king anfwers the Remonftrance, ib. Proceeoines of the commons agaiiift the Hierarchy, 95. Round- heads and Cavalier*, ib. Prctefta'.ion of the bifhop?, 56. Their impeach- meni, ib. Acc'.:fation of higii trea- fon againft lord KimbolioJi, and fivs commoners, fir Arthur Hazlerig, Hollis, HambJen, Pym, and Strode, Jbid. The king goes to the houfe of commons, and demands the five mem- bers, 97. The king goes to Guild- hall, 98. His reception in the city, ib. Petitions to the commons, 99. Ufurpation of the commons, ibid. The king arrives at York, icO. Preparations for a civil war, lor. Propofiiicns fent by the commons to the king, 102. The king's anfwer, ib. Commencement of the civil war, 103. State of the king's forces, ib. The king fends overtures of treaty to the parliament, J04. Mefiages between the king and parliament, ib Th; king marches towards Shrew fbury, ib. His dechra- tion, 105. Rencounter at Worcefter, ib. Battle of Edge-hill, 106. The lofs of the tv/o armies nearly equal, ibid. Negcciation at Oxford, 107. ViiSlories of the royalifts in the Weft, lb. Death of ilimbdsn and lord Falk- land^ 108. Parliament at Oxfcrd, ib, Fitft inftance of two parliaments fitting at the fams time, ibid. The Toyahfts defeated in the battle of M.ar- iion Mccr, by Cromv/ell, 109. Trea- ty of Uxbridgc, ibid. Trial of Laud, 3 00. His execution, ibid. The li- turgy abt-Iiflied, ib. PrefDyterians and independents divide into parties, each profefling different views and intereft?^ III. Forces from Ireland flaugiitered without mercy by Fairfax, ib. ijelf- dcnying ordinance, 112. Battle of Nafeby, ib. This fatal defeat never recovered by the king, 113. He re- tires to Oxiorc', 1 14, Qu^its Oxford in difguife, and arrives at the Scoitifli
carr.p at Newark, ib. Is made prl- foner by the Scots, and infulted from the pulpit by their preachers, 115. The parjisment enter into a treaty with the Scots to deliver up their pri- foner, ibid, Tlie Scots accordingly de- liver him up, 116. The civil war now at an end,, the parliament enjoys uncontrouled the dominion of the na- tion, ib. The independents, at the heid of which was Oliver Cromwell, predominate in the army, ib. Mu- tiny of the army, riy. The king continues a prifoner at Holmby Caftle, ib. His perfon leizcd there by order of Cromwell, and conduced to the army, over which Cromwell was in- veiled with the fupreme command, 118. Cromwell matches towards Lon- drn, at the head of the army, ibid. Embezzlement of the public money by the parliament, 119. Opptefilun of the county-committees, ibid. The army demands the difmiflVon of eleven members, ibid, Fairfax is appointed general of the forces, 120. But is under the influence of Cromwell, ib. The city of London petitions againft an alteration of the militia, ib. The army marches towards London, 121. The fpeakers of the two houfes meet the army on Hounflow-heath, ibid. The parliament determines to oppofe the army, ib. The army, however, fubdues the parliament, 122. The king is brought to Hampton Court, ib, Cromwell's emifiaries perfuade him of his perfonal danger, with the view of inducing him to efcape, 123. The king privately quits Hampton Court, and flies to the Ifle of Wight, ib. Becomes there a prifoner, ibid. The parlian-ent every day become more feeble and faftious, 124. The levellers, ibid. Their diforders fup- preffed by Cromwell, ib. The Scou invade England, but are defeated by Cromwell, who penetrates into Scot- land, 125. The parliament regain their liberty, and begin to a£l with their wonted courage, ib. Commil- fioners fent by the parliament to treat with the king at Newport, ib. The treaty proves ineflfecluai by delay, and the king is again feized by the army, 127. In vain the parliament affert their authority, by difapproving the feizing of the king's perfon, ibid. Their laft attempt in his favour, when the houfe was purged, 128. And the remaining members receive the appellation of the Rump, ibid. Proceedings-
t N D E x:.
frbcfcJifigs of this rutnp-parliamenr, ibid. I'rojcd of tr)ing the kinR for hightnafon, 129. He is brought to London, 130. Ttie king's trial, ly. Foreign powers intercede for the i^ing, 132. Four lord?, the lying's coua- feliors, r'«4ucft to be b^nifhcd in his rooiii, ibid. The lying's eKCcution, J'jj. The catartrophe, replete with alioniftunent, grief, and indignation, 134. Defcription of tiie kind's per. fon, 135. His charadter, ibid. Charles 11. after his father's death, rc- folves to try his fortune in Ireland, ii. 137. Aflumes the title of king, ib. is proclaimed in Scotland, but declines complying with tlieir propo- iih, 138. The Scots fend d-putics to treat with him, ib. He rt-tiies to Jeifcy, 139, Agrees to treat with the f>cots, 140. Their propofitions at Breda, ib. He fines it necefTaVy to temporize till he Ihould liear Irom Montrofc, who is defe.ued and exe- cuted, 143. He arrives, however, in Scotland, ibid. Kis coronation there, 147. Marches into Engl.ind, and is purfueJ by Cromwell, 148. Is defeated in the battle of V/orccfter, •nd conceals hintifelf among ihe boughs of an ojU, 149. Jn great danger of being fevcral times difcnver- ed, at leng:h arrives in France, 150. Retires to Cologne, l6i. His re- ftoration efteded chietiy by general Monk, 179. He is proclaimed, to the great joy of the nation, ibid. Hiftory of the reign of, ii. iSo. Idea formed of him when he afcended the throne, ibid. New minillry, iliij. Act of indemnity, iSi. Settlement of the revenue, ib. Trial and execu- tion of the regicides, 182. Death of the duke of Gioucefter, and the prin- ceh of Orange, 183. Princefs Hen- rietta married to ;be duke of Orle.ms, :b. Dilfolution of the convention- parliament, ib. The .irmy, except fome guards and garrifons, dilbanded, jb. The duke of Yoilt marries lady Anne Hyde, 184. Pielacy reflored, jb. Infurrci^iou of the millen.irians,
185. New parliament, ib. Biifiops fe.its reftored, ib. Aft of uniformity,
186. Tiic king's mariiage with the infanta of Fortujjal, io. Sale of l).in- kirk, 187. Execution of the regi- cides, Berkllead, Corbet, and Okcy, ib. Trial and execution of fir Henry Vane, ib. Pr€(hyteri;»n clergy ejeft- •cd, iSi. Decline of Clarendoi<'s •redit, 189. Rupture with Huiiaud,
ibid. Viftory of the Englilti, rfO. Rupture with Fiance an.i Denmark.,' ib>d. Sea-fi,rht of tour d ivs, I9I. Vitlory of the Enplilh, ib. The Dutch fl;et enters the Thames, ibid. Fire of London, ;92. Peace of Bre- da, 193. Fall of Claren Ion, ibid. Triple allianc?, 194. The cab«l, 195. The king receives a vlfii from the duchefs of Udeans, 196. Death of the duchth of Oilcans, -.97. The Coventry aft, 198. Cljod's criminjl condudl and capricious lenity imput- ed to tlie king on liis account, 199. The duke' of York declares himfelf a Catholic, 200. Exchequer fliut, 201. Arbitrary piocerding; cf the court, 202. Attack of the Dutch Smyrna fiset, ib, War vyith Holland, 203. Battle of Solebay, 204. Sandwich killet', ibid. A parliament, 205. Proceedings in, ib. Declaration of indulgence recalled, zjC). Tlic tc/l- aft, ib, A parliament, 2C7. Vi- gorous oppof'tijn of the commons, ib. DilTolution of the c.ibal, 2c8. Pence with Hollar..', ib. Confiderjble al- terations made in the miniftiy, 209. The (eft bill brought into the houi'e of lords, 21C. D.fpute between th; huufis, ibid. The Icing fupprefTes co.Tce-houfcs, 211. Minxy voted f^r fliip-buiiding, xlz. Mirriage of the Prince of Orange with the lady Mary, 213. Peace of N'meguen, ib. The Popifh plot, ibid. Informations of it, thought to be vague and unf.i- tisfaflory, 214. Qjtes's narrative, 215. Godfrey's murder, zij. Tlie parliament teftifies gvea'T credulity than '-ven the vuh'-^r, 218. Bcdloe's narrative, 2I9. Trial of Coleman, 220. Trial of Ifeland, Picktring, and Grove, 221. Trial of five Je-i fuits and Langhorne, --I. WjJce- min acquitted, ib. Trial of the car. of Sciiiord, Z13 Acculation of th ■ treafiirer fianby, ibid. Dilfoiution o the parliament, 224. New paiiia ment, 225. The duke of "^'ork re- tires to BrulTels, ibid. Danby's im- peachment, 226. The king changes h'S council, 227. Propofes limita- tions on a poptih fu:ce!Tor, ib. £x- rlufion-bill, 223. Habt.-.j Corpus bill, ib. Prorogation and djiTolution of rhe pirliainent, 219. The duke of York repairs to Scotland, ib. Meal- tuij plots, 230. Whig and Tory, ib. The king's declaration with re- gard to the illej'.timacy of Mon- 0iuutb, 231. New pailir.nxnr, ib. D d 2 Siduiion^-
r N D E ^r.
1E*clunon-bill, \h. Debates on this bill, 232. PafTcs the houfe of com- mons, but is reje£led bv the lords, 253. Tbe parliament JifTolved, '^34. Ntf* parliament at Oxford, ib. Cafe of Fitz- Harris, 235. The parliament difl'olved, ib. Charles triumphs over all oppofition, z:6. Trial and exe- cution of Coilece, 237. Trial of Shafte/bury, ibid. Quo Warranto againft ihe city of London, 238. Charters furrenoered into the hands of the king, 239. Rye-houfe plot,
240. Ex<=cution of the confpiratofs,
241. Trial of lord Rudcl, ib. His execution, 242. Trial of Algernon Sydney, ibid. His execution, ibid. Fatal cataftrophe of the earl of Effcx, 243. Marriage of the lady Anne to Prince Gtorge of Denmark, ib. The king's ficknefs and death, ib. Dies in the Romifli conimunion, 244.
Charta Forefla, afcertaining the jurif- • d'iQlon annd boundaries of the royal
forefls, i. 164. Charter, new, of iibertips granted by
■ ffenry fif. different in a i'ew articles only from thofeof king John, i. 164. Confirmed, if<S. Again ra'ified with particular folemnlty, 178. Signed fcy Edward I. in Flinders with great rel'jftancy, 209. V/ho is again ob-
■ liged to confirm them, on his re- turn to Englaiid, 210. See Magna Charta.
Church, ftate of, in the reign of Henrv VIII. i, 389.
— , Henry VIII. dfflired by the
parliameit fupreme head of, i. 401.
Ovil War, preparations for, ii, 101. Commencement ''f, 103.
Claim of Edward III. to the crown of France, i. 245. Unreafonable, but made a pretext to cover animofitv. 246.
Clarence, duke of, brother to Edward IV. forms an alliance with the earl of Warwick, i. 335. Deferts to the king in the night-time, with twelve thoufand men, 340. See Warwick, H;s tiial a.Td execution, 344.
Clarendon, chancellor, decline of hiJ credit, ii. 1S9. His fall, 193. With- diaws into France, where he dicf, 194.
Claypole, (Mrs.) Cromwell's favourite daughter, upbraids him on his death- bed for his unwarantable meafures, ii. 169.
Clergy, diffenfion; of Edward I. with the,
- J. 205. Put out of the protetlicn of the laws, 206. Their great diilrpfs, *b. They make fubmiffion, 207,
Clive, general, diftinguifhes himfeff in India, ii. 383, & feq. He retakes Calcutta with the afliftance of admi- ral Watfon, 385. Reduces Hughly, ib. Defeats the Nabob in two pitch- ed battles, who is depofed and put to death, ib. Turns his arms againil the French, and fubdues Chandena- gore, ib. And in one campaign, through his aftivi:y, and the co-ope- ration of the admirals Watfon and Pococke, puts the Englifh in polTef- fion of an extcnfive wealthy territory, 3S6.
Clofter Seven, treaty of, ii. 3S1.
Cobham and Grey, lords, their confpi- racy, ii. 45.
• , lord, executed for Loliardifm,
i. 297. See Loliardifm.
Cfflur de Lion, a name which the per- fonal courage of Richard 1. procured him, i. 137.
Coffee-houfes fupprefled by king Charks II. ii. 211.
Coffers, methods praftifc-d by Henry Vin. to fill his, i 437.
Coleman, &c. trial of, on account of the popifh plot, ii. 221.
College, trial and execution of, ii. 2371
Colleges, Hofpitals, &c. the revenues of, feized by Henry Vlll. i. 431.
Commercial company, foreign, diffolvri, i. 465.
Committee of Safety, ii. I73.
• Secrecy, in the beginning
of the reign of George I. ii. 325.
Commons, houfe of, origin of the, i. 188.
Commonwealth, Hiflory of the, from the death of Charles I. to the Re- ftoration, ii. 135. The parliament, confifting of an inconfiderable part of the late houfe of commons, chufes a council of ftate, 1 3 6. Forbids allperfons on the penalty of high treafon, to acknowlege Charles Stuart, eldeft fen the late king, as fovereign of Eng- land, ib. The houfe of lords voted iifelefs, ib. O.her regulations, ibi Execution of the duke of Hamilton and lord Capel, 137. Charles II. re- folves to try his fortunes in Ireland, ib. Is proclaimed in Scotland, but declines coniplying with their pro- pofals, 138. The Scots fend deputies to treat with Ch3rleE, ib. The king retires to Jerfey, 139. Agrees to treat with the Scots, ib. Their pre- parations at Brena, 140. Montrofe arrives in Scotland, 141. He is de* feated and taken, ib. Reproached with the breach of the naiional cove- nant, 142. Executed, 143. Charles arrives in Scotland, and figns the co-
vcn^nt^
INDEX.
renins ib. But finJj his authorify entirtly annihilated, and hij ch.:raflcr degraded, 144. F.iirfax refigns his ccmmifTion in difguft, and Cromwell it dc-cJared captairi general of all the forces in England, ib. He enters Scotland with an army, ib. Endea- voutj by evory expedient to bring le^ey, the Scoiij/h ganerali to a bat- tle, 145. Fanaticilm of the Scotti.li clergy, ib. Ratile of Dunbar, in which the Scots are put to flight, and purfuL-d wlih grtat fliuphter, 146 Defeat of the Scots is regarded by tJie king as a fortundte event, and his intended liumiliations or penance is changed into the ceremony of his co- ronation, 147. Shocked, howevc, at tlie nonienfe of the lormalities he was obliged to fubmitto, he flies to- wards the Highlandr, ib. This inci- dent procured him iittetwards bc'.tcr treatment, and more authority, il>. He encamps at Toruood, and in yrn Cromwell attempts to bring him to an engagement, 14S, Marches into England, and is puilued by Cromwell, ib. Defeated in the attack of Wor- cefter, and obliged to fly, 149. Con- ceals himlelfajnons the boughs of an oak, ib. R'des to the neighbour- hood of Brifti'l in ih? clia.-affer of a J'ervant, 150. Goes from Briflul to Dorfeifhire, ib. Is in great danger of being difcovered, ib. Embarks at Shoreh^m in SuiVex, and arrives at f eJchamp in Normandy, ib. Ciom- weil afpires to the crown, J51. Scotland annexed to the common- wealth of England, ib. Ireland en- tirely fubdued, ib. The AmciJcan fettlements that had declared for the royal caufe obliged to hibmit, ib.
France, 162. War wltK Spain, i6j Blake takrs the .Spanifh gallcont, i^^, Ptnn and Vcna')ies tate J.imjica, ib. A new parliament, 164. Crown of- fered to Cromwell, 165. Whence the opprfition proceeded, 166 He r'jefts i', 167. HinU)l« petition and advice, framed and crt'sred to the pratcdlor by parliament, ib. Farlia- ment dilltilved, ib8. Confpiracy cf royaliftt, de'efted, ib. Difcontents in the army, i6g. Unhappy ftate of the protertor, ib. His licknefs, 1-0. And death, 171. His fon Richiid declared protedlor.ib. A pailiamenr, ih. Cabal of W-Hingfcrd-houfe a- gainrt the protc€>cr, 172. ALdi- c.tion of Richard, ib. Relloration of the rump parliament, ib. ExjielleJ,
173. Cotrmiuee of Safety, ib. Ge- neral Mor.k, at the head ot an arrujr in Scotland, )>rotefts agiiiift the vio- lence of oifVolving the parliament,
174. Negociation between \]onk ind the comniiitec of fafcty, 175. The lump reflored, ib. Monk enters London, J76. Marches into the city and dcAroys the gates, ib. Secluded members reflored, 177. Long par- liament diflolvcd, ib. Monk privately receives a meiTage from the king, 17S. The new elections go in favour of the king, ib. New parliament, ib. Gran- ville prcfents a mtiVage from the king to the commons, ib. Unlverfal aflent given to the king's propofals, 179. And he is proclaimed to the great joy of the nati n, ib. The king em- barks at SLhevrling and lands at Do- ver, I 80. Enteiv London amidft uni- verfal acclamations, ib.
Confcience, libeity of| declaration for, ii. 2nI.
Pomcftic regulations, J^z. Dutch Confpiracy agaiiift king Williann's go-
war, ibid. Cromwell refolvcs to r)?ke himfelf abfolute, 153. He diflolves the parliament, 154, The nianner extremely ludicrous, 'ibid. Biith and education of Oliver Crom- well, 155. Barebone's parliament, 156. Negociation with the D^utch, ib. The parliament furrenders its pcwer to Cromwell, who is made pro- reflor, 157. i'eace with Holland,
vernment, 11. 273.
Conllitutions of Clarendon, what, i, 97. Condemned by the pope, 98.
Convention, fummcied, vote the abdi- cation of king James, ii. 2C3. Con- verted into a pailiameni, 265.
Convei.tion with Spain, ii. 34!^.
Coote, colonel, defeats the French in India, ii. 3S8. P'^ndichcrry taken by him. ib.
158. The brother of the Poituguoze Cope, Sir John, defeated by the rebels
ambafTador beheaded for murder, 1^9, Cromwell calls a new parliament, ib. Diflolved, 160. Infurredlion of the royalifts. ib. Which is fupprellei, 161. The rcyalifts oppreliVd, ib. The king retires to Cologne^ ib. tiomwcJl cnsagcs in a league with
in the battle of Frefton pans, ii. 36>. Coronation of Charles II, iu bcntlandj
it. 147. Covenant, framed by the puiitans,ii. 80. Coventry Att, ii. 198. Cojniil of (late, chofen by \i\e com-
inonwealth pathament, ii. 135- U d 3 Cgcit
INDEX.
Court of ecclefiadlcal coramiffion, ii.
Court party and country party, diftinc- tions ill the reign of George 11. ji 314.
CranrTier,Thotn3J,fucce£ds\Volfey in the king's favour, i. 399. Some account of him, 400. Secretly adopts the prcreftant tenets. 405. Is c^nftantly ittached to queen Anne, 413. Cabals 3n the Council againft h m, 442. Caules Joan of Kent to be burnt, 457, Severe treatment of, 480. txecufed, 490. His charafter, ib. 0recy, fignal batiie ofj won by the Eng- lifti under Edward ill. full account of, 5 . 260, & leq. Cromwtfi], fall of, under Henry VI!I. i. 425. Is condemned to death, 426. Executed, 427. jpfomwrll, Oiver;, firft comes into no- - - ticc, ii. IC9. Appointed general with Fairfax, 112. His condud^ in the bat- tle cf. Na eby, 113. Is at the head of the independents, who predonf^inated in !he armv, 116. Refclves to feize rhe kin«'s perfon, and eft"e£ts his de- fign, 118. Mai ches towards London at the head of tijo atmy, vvho unani- moufiy jnveft him with the Aipr^^me roinmand, ib. Demands the difmif- fion of eleven members of the par- Hamenrjiig Amules the king with ex';c<ftations, 120, His emifl'arics ptifuade the ki"g of his perfonalaan- ^cr, whereupon he (lies to the lile of Wight. 1^3. Crpmwell-s views herein, ib. Suppreiles the levellers, 124. Ptfeats the Scots in their invafion of England, 125. Fairfax's commii- fion fceilov/ed on him, 144. He en- ters Scotland with an army, ib. De- feats the Scots with great flaughter in the battle of Dunbar, 146. Purfues Charles 11. on his march from Scot- land into England, 148. Defeats his lorces at Woiccfter, 149. He afpires to the crown, 1 51. Refolvcs to make himfilf abiclute, 153. Difiblves the parliament by force, 154, His birth and education, J55. Is made pro- testor, and the parliament furrenders its power to him, 157. Calls a new parliament, 159. Diffoives it, 1 6 7. Engages in a league with France, 162. Crown oftered to him, 165, • He rejedts it, 167. His unhappy ftate, 169. His fxknefs, 170. His death and charafter, 171. Crown, fettlement of, at the Revolution, • jj, 364.
Crufade, romantic entetprifes of the, u 63. Another in the rtign of Henry Ii. iiS. A third, ia which Richard I.' engaged, 124.
Crufade piiblilhed againft king John, i.
Culioden, the rebels totally defeated by
the duke of Cumberland at, U. 365. Cumberland, duke, commands the Bri- tifh army in Flanders ii. 360. Lofes the battle of Fontenoy, ib. Is fent againft the rebels in Scotland, and to- tally defeats the rebels at CuUoden, 365. Is fent to Hanover to oppofe the French who had invaded it, 3S0. The army under- him reduced to ftraits after the battle of Haftenbak, ib. Which produces the treaty of Clofter-Seven, 381. Cummin, Joiin, chofen regent of Scot- land, defeats the Englifii at Rcflin under John de Seagrave, i. 216. All the fortreflcs in Scotland fubmit to him, ib. But the whole country fell fhortly again tctiliy fubdued into the hands of Edward I. i. 217. Murder of Cummin, how perpetrated, 220.
DANBY, earl of, accufation againft, ii. 223. His impeachme.1t, 126. Pardoned by the kin;, yet committed to the Tower, ibid. Danes invade England, i. 11. Are to-' tally defeated by Egbert, ib. Refolvc however to make an eftabliftiment in England, 12. Which at length they efteiS, though not without a variety of difcomfitures, 15, & feq. See A^l- fred and Ethelred. Darnley, lord, marries the queen of Scots, ii. 5. His charatler, ib. Is murdered, or the hcufe he lay in is blown up with gun-powder, 9. See Botbwel. Davifon, fecretary, upon what account
tried in the ftar-chamber, ii. 30. Declaration of Charles I. before the civil
war began, ii. 105. Defender of the Faith, a title obtained by Henry VIII. from the pope, for writing againft Luther, i". 391. Denmark, prince George of, married to the lady Anne, afterwards queen, ii. 24. Depoiition, fentence of, pafTed by the pope againft king John, with a grant of the crown of England to the king fif France, i. 147.
Pepredaticn|
INDEX.
Depredations committed in London by eminent citizens upon their neigh* bours, i. izi.
Dtiwentwater and Kenmuir, enrls of, beheaded tor rebelHun ag.iinll George 1. ii. 334.
Delpenfer Le, or Spencer, Hugh, a fi- vourite of F.dw.ird It. hirtory of, i. 231. Sec Edward 11. Execution of both Spcnfcr.', father and fon, 137
Dcttingeii, b.ittle, account of, ii. 35S.
D;(Tenters, king William's efl'orts in t.i- vour of, ii. 265.
Divorce, applied for by Henry VIII. at the court of Rome, i. 394. The pope in great perplexity, 59;.
Domeftic regulations of the common- wealth ot England, ii. J51.
Doomlday-b'i^iv, tor what pjrpofe plan- ne.t, and ordered to be compiled by William ihe Conqu ror, i. 61.
Dorillaui, Dr. aiLffinatcd, and upon what account, ii. 139.
Dralce, fir Francis, attacks the Spaniards in South America, and fails round the world, ii. 18. De'.hoys the fleet at Cadiz, 31. Is one of the admirals fent to attack the Spanifli AtmaQa,
33- Dudley, the chief indrumcnt of Henry
the Vilth's uppreJ]ions, i. 375. Pu-
nifhed with Errpfon, 378- Dunhar, t:iitle of, in which the Scots
are completely defeated by Cromviell,
ii. 146. Dunkirk, fale Of, by Charles II. ii. 187. Dunftan, commonly called St. Dunftan,
abbot of Ghftonbury, hilloiy of, i.
i?. Dutch war with the commonwealth of
England, ii. 152. Negociatlons ^ith
the, 15S. Peace with, 158. — — Smyrna fleet, ii. 202. — — , enrerprize of the, in India, when
no holtile defign was fu;pe£led on
their part, ii. 387. Defeated and
obliged to defill, ib.
becility,!. 43. Confirmed by Wilj'ani tho Conqueror in the- honours confert. 4 en him by Harc;!d, 49. Accompa* nies his (on Robert in his expedition to Jeriifalcn , lives wiih him in Nor- mandy, and is mid.: pnloner with h'm in the battle of Teiichebray, 76. Lives the reft of his days in obfcurity in England, to a very advanced age, ibid.
EJitha, qucen to Edwnrd the Confellor, whence his indili'erencc to her, i. 3c*
EJmund furcecdt AtheifUn on the throne, and was the firft mona ch that giive a le^al faii£tion to capital puiiifhments in E'i^land, i. 21. 1»
CHirlered by' L^olf, a notorious rob" er, ih,
— from his vali.ur, furnamed
Iioufide, fucceeds hrs fatlicr tihel- rej, but finds a competitor for the crown in Canute, who had fucceeded S.vejn, as king of Denmark, i. 37. After a conteft, m.untained with great obftinacy 1 ? ween the two ri- vals, an agreement totk place, to di- vide the kingdom between them, '&, The murder of Edmund in about a month after, left Canute in peaceable ponsflion of the whole, 34.
Edgehil!, batile of, ii. 106.
Edrcd fuccetds his biotiier Edmund as king of Enaland, and, though not deftituti of ..ctivity, nor military ta- l-.nts, was deeply tir.fturcd wiih fu- p:rftition, i, zz-
Edwaid, called the Elder, fucceeds hit father, Alfred the Great, as king of England, i. 20 In all his opet.Uions he emulates both the bravery and condudt of his fo(her, ib.
■ , flyled the Martyr, fon of
Edgar, fucceeds him in the throne^ but is bafcly murdered by the con- trivance of his flep-mo her Elfrida, i. 27.
-, (lyled afterwards the Con-
ED G A R fucceeds his brother Ed- wy, as king of England, and his reign is diflinguirtied as one of the mod fortunate of the eirlier Engl (h kings, i. 24. Hiftoryofhis amours, 2j. Remarkable circumftances of his marrying Elfrida, 26. Edgar, furnamed Athcling, next he'r of the Saxon line to Edward the Con- fcflor, fet alide oa account ol ha im-
ftfl'or, becomes king of England on the dc-ith of Hardicanutc, though the defcendents of Edmund honfide were the true heirs of the Saxon li- neage, I. 38. By the mildnefs of hi* charafler he reconciles the Engiiih and Danes to each other, ib. Firft a£\ ol his admiiiillration, and feverity to his moiher, ib. Difcovers a great pai'tiility for the naaves of Norman- dy, 39. Behaves coldly to his queen, Editha, upon account of the preju- dices he had long entertained againflr her fuher, the carl Godwin, and D d 4 th.s
INDEX.
this probably was the caufe of his ab- ftTining from all connubial intt;i- cour!e w'th her, ib. Other caulcs of his diicontf nt againft Godwin, 4c. His fon Harold, however, upon his death, by fubmiflive behaviour, ac- qiiirts the good will of Edwaid, 4r. Edward, now much advanced in years, lends to Hungary, to invite < ever his nephew, Edward, fon of his elder brother, who foon arrives wiih his children, ib. The king in- volved in new difficulties refpefling the fucceffion by his death, ib. His intentions in favour of VViUiam, duke of Normandy, 42. Harold af- pires to the fuccelfion, 43. The king dies undetermined, ib. Was the firft that touched for the king's evil, ib. His regard to public ju- fticf, ib. His charafter, ib. Edward, piince, afterwards Edward I. his fpirited conduft in reply to the ba- rons, i. iSi. 1 he people have re- courl'e to him, 1S2. Hi? gallant be- hsvicur in the battle of Lewes, V'herein he is made prifor.er, 187. Releafed fiom prifon, 189. Makes his efcape from Leieefter's army, and defeats his fon, 190. Defeats Lei- ceflcr himfclf in the battle of Eve- fh.m, and this viflory proves decifive in favour of the roy^l.fts, igi. Sup- ptefi'es the eaVl of Gloucefter's rcbel- -lion, 19':. Goes with an army to the Holy Land, ib. Where he fig- nalizcs himfclf by his ir.ilitary con- dua, ib. » L hiftcry" of the reign of,
i. 197. Proclaimed, ib. In Sicily, on his return from the Holy Land, is informed of the dea'h of his father, Kenry III. 194. Invited to a tour- hamrnt at Chalons in Burgundy, ib. Arrives in London, ib. Great re- ioicirgs at his coronationj ib. His wife policy, ib. Severity to the Jews, J95. His attention to the re- venue, ib. Projefls an expedition againft Wales, iq6. Conqueft cf that principality, ib. Frefn hcftili- ties iictwcen England and Walef, 197. rinal conqueft of Wales, 19S. Maf- Jacre of iht Weic"h hards, ib. Ed- ward meditates a tieaty between Al- phon^'o, king of Arragon, and Charles of Sdierno, ib. Returns to EnoJand, and pun'.fhei the judges, T99. Affairs in Scotland, ib. Con- tent about the fucctfTion to the crown or Sco'land, is referred to Edv.iard, ib. The king aflljis his dwn" feu-
dal fuperiorlty, and marches north- wards with an army, ib. Conven- tion at Norham, ib. Anfwer of the ScottilTt barons to ^tbe claim of Ed- waid, aoo. Commillioners appoint- ed to determine the contelt, 201. Exorbitant demand of Edward, ib.' The fortrefTes of Scotland put into his hands, ib. Edward's award in fa- vour of Baliol, to whom he gives ihe kinfdom, and refigns the forueffes, 2c2. Great indignities put on Ba- liol by Edward, ib. Refentment of the Scots, ib. Edward's demands, ib. He marches northwards with a great army, 203. Several of the nobles make fubmilTion to Edward, as does alfo the caftle of Dunbar, and other fortrefles, ib. Baliol fubmits to Edward, as does, foon after, the ■whole kingdom, 204. Edward de- flroys all the records and ancient mo- numents of the country, ib. Baliol is brought prifoncr to London, and banifhed to F ranee, where he dies, ib. Edward returns to England, ib. En- ters into a war with France, ib» Death of the duke of Lancafter, 205. Diflenfions with the clergy, ib. The king puts them out of the proteftion of the laws 2C6. Their great di- ftiefs, ib. They make fubmilTion, 207. The king's oppreffive exac- tions, ib. Great murmurs thereupon ill the nation, 2u8. Spirited con- duct of the earls of Hereford and Nor- folk, ib. Edwaid obliged to apolo- gize tor his behaviour, 2C9, The two earls and their party take advant- age of his abfcnce, ib. Require a folemn ratification of the charters, with an additional claufe, ib. The charters are fent to Flanders, where the king figns them with great re- luctance, ib. He is again obliged to coiifitm them on his leturn to Eng- land, zic. Peace with France, III, The Scots take up arms againft the Englifh, ib. William Wallace the foremoft in this arduous attempt, 212. Warrenne marches to Scot- land, ib. Battle near Stirling, in which the Englifh are defeated, 2i^. Warrenne retires to England, ib. The caftles of Roxburgh and Berwick taken by the Scots, ib. Wallace makes an irruption inio England, and commits great ravages, 214. Edvvatd returns to England, and re- gaifis the confidence of his fubjefts, ib. Matches nctthwards with a nu- ir.etous aiiry, lb. Great difTenficns
ampng
INDEX.
Mnonj; the Scots, tb. W.iUace re- lifi.s the regrncjr, ib. The Sco(s diaw up their arr:>y at Falkirk> 215. E'lward marches to attack them, ib. Bade of Fjlki'lt, id. 1 he Scots I'Ctfevere in their tti'^rts for recover- ing their ancient iudi-pendince, 216. The Hngl Ih are romed at Roding, and all the fortrcflVs in -Scotland fub- init to the regent, ib. Edwiird .igain attacks Scotland with j-'reat I'oice, and entirely fubduej the kingdom, 217. His gieat feveritics, ib. Wallace is taken and brought to London, where he is executed, ib. Great dll'con- teiits in Scotland, 2 1 8. Robert Bruce afpires to the Scottifli crown, ib. His intrigues are made known to Edward, 219. He fiics Irotn Lnn- «ion, ib. Incites the Scotti/h r.oLles to revolt, ib. Murder of Cutrmin, 420. Bruce is crowned king, ib. Defeat of the Scots at Meihven, aa i . Edward feize«l with a dyfentery on his march to Scoil.ind, dies at C r- lille, ib. His char.ictcr, ib. JjTue by his two queens, i22. Edwaid II. afcends the throne on the death of his father, Edward I. i. 222. Inaulpicious prelagc of his sdmini- fltation, ib. His palVion for favou- rites, 223. Piers Gavefton, ib. Difcontents of the barons, ib. They require the bani/hment o' Gavefton, 224. He is appointed lord-lieute- nant of Ireland, ib. The king in- trigues for Gavcfton's return, which is at length acccmplifhed, ib. The barons are again diicontcnitd at the power of the favounte, ib. The go- vemment is delegated to twelve per- foiis, 225. Gavelton is ngain b.<ni(h- ed, ib. The king recalls Gavellon, 226. An inlurtctftion of the barons, ib. Gavcfton is made prifoner at Scarborough, ib. Muicter or G;ive- fton, 227. War with Scotland, ib. Succefs of Robert Bruce, ib. Edward marches an itmy into Scot- land, but foon retreats, 218. VVar With Scotland renewed, ib. Battle of Bannockbum, 229. i he Eng- lilh receive a rotal o- teat, ib. Ro- bert invacJcs England, ib. He in- vaocs Jrthnd, but is obliged by a famine in the country to return, 230. Fielh dilcontc.Tts in England,- ib. Hugh le Dtfpenfer, anoiiier favou- rite, 231. Civil commotions, ib. The queen is infult-ti, 152, , 1 he king takes revenue, ib. RicaJIs the Ss^tfltcri, ib. Matches wub an jrtry
againfl the barons, 233, Lapcafter and Hereford retire to the North, lb. Thr- rebels arc defeated, ib. Lan- caOer m.de prifoner ai.d executed, ib. As arc rrariy ir^orc of the injur- gcnts, ib. Mifdemeanour of young Spenfer, 134. Dilijiite with l-'rance« ib. Intrigues of the queen, :3s* Erelh commotions in t!:e kingdom, ib. Tumults in London, 236. Execution of the elder Soenfer, ib- And of the younger, 237. The king made prifoner a.nd dethroned, ib. The queen incuis general haired, 238. Cruel treatment ot the king, ib. 'J'he king murdered, ib. His cha- raflcr, 239. Edward 111. raifed to the throne dur- ing tile life-time of his I'atiier, i.
239. The Scots invade England,
240. War wiih Scotland, ib. Peace with Scotland, 241. Ttie Englifli lenciince the claim of fuperiorit)', ib. Execution of the earl of Kent,
242. Great difcontents againU Mor- timer, ib. Confpiracy againil him, ib. Is taken by furpiize in Not- tingham caflle, ib. His execution,
243. The queen is confincil to her houfe near London, ib. Scotland involved in dillenfions fomented by Edward, ib. V/ar with Scotland,
244. Tiie Scots defeated near Ber- wick, ib. Edward makes various expeditions to Scotland, ib. Hia claim to the crown of France, 245. DilconteiUs between Edward and tiie king of France, 246. Edward forms the rcioiuiion of invading France, 247. Is afliftcd by d'Arteville, 24S. Confults the parliament, and lails to Flanders, ib. AfTerts his claim to the French crown, ib. Nothing done on either fide, except fending rnutual defiances, 249. Edward ic- tnrnb to England, and obtains farther fupplles, 250. I'he French navy defeated, ib. The Flemings routed a' S'. Omer, 251. Edward lays firge to Touinay, ib. Philip ad- vances towards tnc pbce, ib. Dcfi.. aiices pals between the two kings, 252. The ci^untels of Hainault en- deavours to efte^ an accommi)daiion, ib, A truce concluded, ib. 1 he king returns to England, ib. And in ili humour, 253 The king's dilplea- fure agamtt him relented by the arch- biftiop of Canterbury, ib. The srch- bilhop not lummo.-cd to parliamenr, 254. He walks in prcccUiin, and ;ic.xasiis admittance, which he after- wards
IN D E X.
wafds obtains, ib. Proceedings of parliament, jh. The king's iiilince- rity, 255- His extraordinaiy decla- ratiens, ib. He tecoveis, however, his authority, ib. State of Breragne, ib. Alliance between the king and Movijufort, 256. Mo'.intfort made prifoner, 257. Sjjirited conduft of the countefs of Mounifoft, ib. Rt- jievval of the war with France, 258. Idward li.nds in France with a body of twelve thonfand men, ib. ]s blocked up at Vannes, ib, A truce concluded for three years, ib. The king returns to England, 255. War with France renewed, ib. Earl of Derby is fent with an army into France, ib. The king embarks with an army, and lands at La Hogue, ib. Is in great difficulties, a6o. Paffes the river Somnie, ib. Battle of Crecy, 261. The prince of Wales diftinguifhes himfeif by aifls ef extraordinary valour, zSz. Total defeat of the French army, 263. Moderate views of the king, ib. He Jays fiege to Calais, ib. Which, after twelve months, is reduced, 264. Th king's cruel relolution in rtfptA to the inhabitant?, ib. The queen implores mercy for them, and ob- tains it, ib. Truce with Fra.qcc, 365. The French difappointed in their defign on Cahis, ib. A dread- ful psftiknce, 265, The JScots in- vade England, ib. They ate routed by queen Pi.ilippa, and their king made prifor.er, ib. - The Engliih •giin invade France, 267. The king retires to Calais, and thence paffes over to England, ib, Marches againft the Scots, ib. Lancalter fent with a fma!l-army into France, 268. The Prince of Wales invades France, ib. The battle of Poidliers, 269. Siif-nal vi€lory giincd, and John, king of Francp, mad; prifoner, 270. Moderation of the prince of Wales, vt ho arrives in £n=land with his pri- foner, ib. The king of Scots fet at liberty, 271. Peace concluded with France, and John fet at liberty, ib. Jobn returns 10, and dies in England, 272. Another battle gained by the prince of Wales over the French, ib. Farther lucceffes; but the prince of Wales lanf,uifiiing under a confump- tive difordsr, returns to England, 473. Earl of Pembroke, with his forces, is taken at fea, ib. Death of the prrnce of Wales, 274. Followed in a year afcer by that of tlie king, 7
ibid. His charafter, lb. I/Tue by his qtieen Philippa, 275.
Edward, denominated the Black Prince, from the colour of his armour, exerts himfeif in an heroic manner in the famous battle of Crecy, i. 261. la- vades France, 268. Totally defeat* the French in the famous - battle of Poiftiers, and makes their king John prifoner, 270. His moderation, ibid. Defeats the French agiin under Ber- trand de Guefclin, one of the gteateft generals of the age, 272. His death and charadier, 274, See Guefclin.
— — — , prince, fon to Henry VI. and Margaret of Anjou, marrie§^Anne, the younger davghter of Warwick, i. 338. Is made prifoner with his mo- ther, and murdered, 342.
~ IV. hiftoty of the reign of, 5.
333. The depofed king Henry VI. equally enflaved in the hands of his enemies and his friends, ib. His queen however, determined not to renounce the pretenfions of the family, raifes a great arm)', ib. Edward marches north- wards to meet her, ib. Battle of Towton, ib. Henry and Margaret fly to Scotland, 334. The queen makes an inroad into England, ac» ccmpanied by Henry, ib. She is de- feated at Hexham, ib. Strange ad- ventures of the queen, who efcapes abroad, ib. Henry is taken and con- fined in the Tower, 335. Warwick goes abroad to negociate a marriage for the king, who mean while concludes a marriage at home, ib. Rupture between the king and Warwick, ib. Warwick forms an alliance with the duke of Clarence, ib. Infurreftion in Yorkfliiie, ib. Battle of Banbury, 336- Another infurre£tion, ib. The rebels are defeated by ihe king, ibid. V/arwick and CLirence banifhed, 337. Confederacy between the party of Margaret and Warwick, ib. Prince Edward marries Anne, the younger daughter of Warwick, 338. Cla- rence is fecretly infligated to defeit Warwick, ib. Warwick maintains a fecret correfpondence with his bro- ther, ib. Warwick and Clarence return, 339. Edward marches to meet him, ib. Revolt in the royal camp,ib. The king is obliged to fiy,ib. He embarks at Lynne, ib. Lands in Holland, ib. Henry is releafed from the Tower and again proclaimed king, ib. Great confufion among the Yorkifls, 340. Edward makes a defcgnt in Yoik/hirr, ib. Marches
INDEX.
to London, and a^ain dethrones Henry, ib. Clirencc defcrts to £J- WJtd, ib. Battle oF Barnet, and death of WiTwick, 341. Margaret Jartds at Weymouth, and takes re- fuge in the abbey ot Beauliru, ibid. li sg'in encounged to take arm', but is defeated in the battle ot" Tcwk- (bury, ib. .The c;u:en and prince arc made prilbners, 342. Mur<<er uf priiicj Edward, ib. Murder 01 Henry, ib. Margaret is confined in the Tower and afterwards raiifomedi ib. A trc.ity between Edw.ird, and (he duke of BurgunJj', 34^. Edwjrd invades France, ib. Enters into a treaty with Lewis, ib. Impolitic condufl ot EJward, 344. Triil .ind fxecutionof tht; duice of Clarence, ib. preparations for a war with France,
345. Death and char^iftcr of Ed- ward, ib. His ifl'ue, ib.
Edward V. Hiftory of the reign of, i.
346. State of the court at the time of his acceflion, ib. Political con- diift of his uncle the duke of Glou- cefter, ib. The earl of Rivers ar- refted, 347. The duke of Glou- ceflcr is made proteftor by the coun- cil, lb. Lord Rivers, and othef, ex- ecuted at Pomfre:, 348. £x:cution of brd Ha(Hng«, 349. The pro- tcdlor aims at the crown, 350. Ex- pedients tried to work on the people, 3 51. The p'Otedlor accepts of the Crown, and ucts as legitimate and rightful fovereign, 352.
Edward, prince, fon to Henry VIII. by Jioe Seymour, birih of, i. 421.
VI. on his acceflion to the
throne, was only nine years of age, i, 448. The earl of Hertford, after- wards created dukeof Somcrfet,chofen p'oie'flor, ib. He alTumes extraor- dinary power, 449. Declares in f«- VQur of the reformed religion, ibid. Gardiner oppofes the Reformation, ib. He is fent to the Fleet-prifon, ibid. Conduft of the war with Scotland,
450, The proteftor enters Scotland, ib. The governor of Scotland afTcm- bles a great army, ibid. Somerlet otT-Ts to evacuate the kingdom on cer- tain conditions, which are rejeftcd by the Scots, ib. Battle of Pinkey,
451. The Scots are defeated, 452. Somerfct retires from Scotland, ibid. Gicat honours conferred by the par- liament on Somerfct, ibiJ. Super- (litious pradico aboli(hed, ib. Affair"; of Scotland, 453. The queen of J^cots fi;nt to Fxancr, and betrothed to
the d.iuphin, ib. Ji-alouTy between the protector and hii brolhrr, ibiJ. The- proteftor's broth.r, lord Thomas Seymour, the admiral, marries the queen dow.nger, 454, Which in poiDt ot precedency gives umbrage to the duchefs of SJmerfet, ibid. The admiral's intrigues at Court, ibid. Denth of the 4ueeii dow.iger, ib. The admiral pays his addreifes to the prin». eel's Elizibeth, 45^. Continues his cabals, lb. SomeriVt endeavours to difi'uade his brother from his purpofe, ibid. .Attainder of lord Seymour, 456. His execution, ibid. Piojtrefs of t!ie Refoimaiion, ib. Gardiner and Bonner fent to the Tower, ib. A commilnon granted to prolecutc heretics, 45;. Joan of Kent is burnt, ib. Van Pais, burnt, ibid. The princefs M^ry adheres to the maf?, ib. Great dlf'rc's of the peo- ple, 45S. Commiflioners appoinied to give the people redrefs ofgrievance', ib. lnfurre£l ions, 4-9. Factions in the council, 4<S I. The protector be- comes extremely unpopular, ib. The counfellors confpire againft the pro- teftor, 462. They addrefs the king,
463. Somerfct fent to the Tower, ib. Warwick takes the lead in ad- miniflration. ibid. Articles of in- dii^lment preferred againft Somerfet, ibid. The profecution ceafes againft him, and he recovers his liberty, ib. Gardiner is deprived of his bifhoprick,
464. G;eat havoclc made in the li- braries, 465. The foreign commer- cial company didolved, ib. Warwick procures the eftafe and title of duke of Northum-^erljnd, 466. Somerfet is again com.r.ittcd to cuftody, ibid. Trial of Somerfet, ib. Is condemned and executed, 467. A ftflim of par- liament, 46S. Bill of attainder a- gainft Tonftal, billiop of Durham, paflTes the home of lords, but is re- jeftcd by the commons, 4f'9. Meanj ufed by Northumberland to obtain a parliament to his will, ib. A new parliament, 470. Project of chang- ing the fucceflion, ib. Lord Guil- ford Dudley, Northumieilaiid's fourth fon, marries lady [ane Grey, 471. The kind's ficknefs, ib. Northum- berland profecutes the fcheme of changing the fucceflion, 47?. The judges are required to draw the new fcttlement in favour of lady Jans Grey, ib. They hefiiate to comply ib. Great difRculiies in the cxccu lion of this fculemcnt, ib. The fet-
tlcment.
INDEX
tTetnent is at Lft- accomplifiied, 473. The king's death and character, ib. f d\¥tn and Morcar, two Engli/h no- blemen of great power, revolt of, >gainft William the Conqueror, i. 5 !. idwy. Ion of Edmund, fucceede his uncle Edred in the throne, i. 22. His virtues would have endeared him to his people, had he not beer) un- fortun.itely engaged in a controverfy •with the Monk', 23. Is excommu.. nicated, aiid dies foon after, 24. Egbert, a Saxon king of WelJeX, in the earlier part of his life, improves un- der Chailemagne, both in arts and aiRK, i. 10. Recalled from France to take poflcflion of the crown, plans the union of the Heptarchy, which he effefts, 11. Totally defeats the Dani(h invaders of bis kingdom, but dies foon after, ib. Eleanor, queen to Henry II. long trou- hlefome to him. by her jeaioufy of his amours with Rofamond Clifford, i. III. Excites againR him his own (children, ib. Put iato confinement, iiz. •— — , daughter of the count of Pro- vence, married to Henry III. i. 173. Elfrida, by whai means fhe became the wile of AthelwoKl, i. 26. Marries loon after his death king Edgar, 27. Caufes his ton Edward by his firfl queen to be airafiinaied, ib. Enoea- vours to expiate her crime by the pe- nances ufual in thofe times, 2S. Hdgiva, queen to king Edv/y, barbarous treatment and unhappy fate of, i. 24. Elizabeth, princefs, her marria^^e with Henry VU. unites the interefts of the houfes of York and Lancafler, i. 35S. ti?r death, 374.
_ , pr.ncefs, birth of, 5. 403.
declared princefs of Wales, ib. Baf- tardized after the execution of her mother, di6. Keftored to her right ©f l'uccefl:on, 436. Set afi.le by means of Nonl'.umberiand, 470. Joins Mary, with. a thousand horfe 2(!ainft Northumberland, 47S. Queen Mary's diflike to her, 4S2. Her fe- vere treatment by the queen, 484. Elzaheth, queen, her acceliion, accom- panied v.iih the fi.-.ceie demonftraiions fcf joy of al! partier, ii. i. Philip fenos over to the queen propofals of jDiiiriaiie which <he declines, 3. Re-cfiublifJiment of the Proteftant religion, ib. A parliarr.ent gives a <&iicYion to her adts of prerogative, ib. Peace with France, 3. Dilguft be- tween ike ^usen i.-.i Mary, <iuccii of
Scots, ib. Affairs ]^ Scotland, 4. The queen of Scots m;rries lord Darnlcy, j. Murder of Rizzio, ib. Its confcquences, 7. Mary is deli- vered of a Ion, S. The parliajnent is fo!icitoi4S for having the Atcccfiion declared In favour of the queen of Scots, ib. V/ho hac a flrong party in England, ib. Murder of Darnley, 9. Mary marries the earl of Both- we', 10. Is imprifoned in the csf^ie of Loclilevin, 11. Bothwell flies 10 the Orkneys, and thence to Denn>ark, where he dies, ib. Elizabeth enrlea- vours to mediate a peace between the queen of Scots, and the aflbciatrd lords, ib. Mary is obliged to refigfi the crown to her (on, ib. Efcapes from her imprifonmenr, »nd is joined by fix thoufand men, 12. Battle of Langfide, ib. The queen flies to England, ib. She lends a meflenger to Ehzjbeih, who orders her to be refpeftfuliy attended, but rcfufes to fee her till fhe clears herfelf of Darn- ley's murder, ib. Conference relative to the qaeen of Scots, 13. M.iry is confined in Tutbury-caflle, 14. The regent of Scotland is affaffinated, ib. Mary's partizans make an irruption into the borders, ib. Elizabeth fends an army to chaftife them, ib. The earl of Lenox is appointed regent of Scotland, ib. Duke of Norfolk's confpiracy, 15. He is committed to the Tower, ib. The queen of Scots is removed to Coventry, ib. Infur- re£lio;i in the North, 16. The cirl of SufTex marches with an army againft the rebels, who foon difperf^s, ib. Noifolk is releafed from the Tower, ib. Enters into a new con- fpiracy, 17. Which is difcovered by accident, ib. Is committed to the Tower, ib. His trial and execution, ib. Northumb-rland alfo for his at- tempts in favour of the queen ot Scots, underwent a trial, and was brought to the fcaftold, ib. Hoftilities between England and Spain, i8. The Spa- niards invade Ireland, but are cut off by the earl of Ormcnd, ib. Sir Francis Drake attacks the Spaniards in Soutli America, and fails round the world, ib. Confpiracy formed by the Catholics to fhoot queen Eliza- beth, difcovered, 19. Great feverity againfl the Catholics, ib. The queen of Scots is put under the care of more fevere keepers, ib. Babington's con- fpiracy, 20. Mary approves of the confpirdcj; Ibid, It is diicovcted,
aad
INDEX.
«fid the confinritors are execiitcd, 21. The q'lcen ot Scots is made acquaint- Ci] with the dilcovcry of the plot, ib. And is condu£\cd to Fothcringay Caflle, ib. Tiial of the queen of Scots, 21, & fcq. Sentenctr agsinft Mary, 24- Elizibcth afi:e<^s great relu£lince to put the fentcnce in exe- cution, 25. Tile king of France fends over ^n ambjlTador to intercede with Elizabeth for Mary's life, 16. James, king of Scotland, makes ftrong applications in her favour, ib. Exe- cution of the queen of SeotSj'ay, & feq. Elizabeth's afFe^ed forrow, 30. Davidfon is tried in the ftar-ciiamber, ib. The Scots arc highly incenfed againd Elizabeth, 31. A reconci- liation w'th Scotland, ib. Drake de- ftioye the Spanirti fleet at Cadiz, ibid. The invincitile armada in preparation for invading England, 31. Prepara- tions in England, 35. The armada arrives in the Channel, 3^. Attacked by the Englift, and in a great degree difperfed and overthrown, ib. Re- turns to Spain much reduced, 35. The carl of Eflex, diftinguinieshim- fet' agsiiift the Spaniards, ib. Is fent over to Ireland, 36. His mif- condu£l there, ib. He concludes a ceiration of hoftilities witli the rebels, ib. Returns from Ireland, and is difgraced, 37. Is examined by the privy-council, 38. Is determined to gratify his revenge by proceeding to extremities againit his enemies, 35. His confpiracy, 40. is dilcovned and prevented, 41. He is tried and condemned with Southampton, 42, Execution of ElTcx and his iiVocia'es, 43. Th; Irifli rebellion, fuppreflVd, ib, Fal/hood of the countefs of Ngt- tingham, ib. The queen's fickntfs and death, ib. Her char-idler, 44.
Elizabeth, princefs, daughter to James I. marriage of, ii. 53.
Embezzlement by tlie committees of the long parliament, ii. 119.
England, hiftnry of, from the relinquifli- ing of Britain by the Romdns, to the Norman CopquefV, i- I. to 47. from the Norman conqueft to tlu- death of king John, 47 to 137. From the death of kiug John to the death of Edward III. 165 tc 239. From the death of Edward IH to the union of the two Rofes, 275 to 352. From the union of the two Rofes in the perloD oi UsDty VU. to the death of
queen Mary, 35S to 4'"'r- From tie .itcelVion of queen Elizibeih to the union of the twocrowii<i, ii. i to 44. From the acccfTion of James [. to tho death of Charles I. 44 to 133. From the death of Charles I. to the Rc!!o. ration, 135 to 1S0. From tlic Rcfto- ratioii to the Revolution, i5?o to 26^. From the RKVoKition to the accefTioa of the family of Hanover, 265 to 321. From th- accefljonof the hou'e of Hanitver to the peace of Paris in 1762, 321 to 395.
Eflex, carl of, his per onal accompli (h- ments recommends him to queen Eli- zabeth's favour, ii. 5;;. Is fent over to Ireland, 36. Il;s mifconduft there, ib. Returns from Ireland and is difgracei, 37. Re-inftated in fa- vour, but again excites againrt him the queen's rigour, ic. Is examined by the privy-council, 3S. His con- fpiracy, 40. Is tried and condemned with Southampton, 42. Executed 43.
- — , earl of, his fatal cataftrophc, ii. 243,
Eibelbald, his reign Rained with the inceflucus marriage of Judith, bs moihcr-in-law, i. 13.
Eihelbert, king of Kent, difcovers the fpirit of enterprize, wh'ch had di- flinpui/hed his anceCtor Hcngift, i. 6. almofl; reduces the Saxon ftites, esce,'^t Northumberland, to a dependence oa him, ib. Embraces Chrillianity, 7.
Ethelburga, inftrumental to the conver- f]on to Chriftianity of her hufband Edwin, king of Northumberland, i. 7.
Ethelt'rid, grandfon of Ida, eftabli/hes one of the mod powerful of the Saxon kingdoms by the title of Northum- berl.;nd, i. 5.
Ethelred, a brave Saxon king of Eng- land, but whcfe reign v.-ascontinujjly harraCl-J with Dani(h irruptions, i. 13.
— — — II. fuccesds Etiward the Martyr, but the imhecillity of his intellefls eD«.ourr;^>'d the D.ines to renew their ravages againft England, i. 28. By what m^'ans their profped of the en- tire fubjefticra of England was for fome time relinquifhed, 29. Ethelred forms the inhuman refcilution of roalTjcring the v.'hole Danifli race throughout his dominions, 3 J. Con- fequeuccs of this horrid rranfa£lion, 32. The Englifh are conftrair,ad tu fuhinit to ihc Danifli monarch Sweyn, and Ethelred flies into Normandy, 33. But t>.e thrtnc being vacant by
S;\cjn'<
INDEX.
Sweyn's death, Ethelred is invited to return : which he does, and dies defpifed by his people, ib. £thelwo!f fucceeds his father Egbert, as king of England, i. 12. Defeats twice the Danes, ib. His pilgrimage to Runi", and unexpefled oppofition on his return to England, 13. The kingdom divided between him and his fon Ethelbald, which tranfaftion he furvived only two years, ib.
T.vtiham, memorable battle of, i. 190.
Evidence, in regard to the murder of Edward IV's fons, inquired alter by Henry VII. i. 366. See alfo 352 of this volume.
Euftace, count of Bologne, his treatment at Dover, and its confequences in re- gard to e»rl Godwin, i. 4r.
Ex^ilionE, oppreflive, of Edward I. caufe great murmurs in the nation, i. 208.
Ejicife-Schemc, proves abortive by p6-' pular tumults, ii. 345.
Excommunication, fentence of, ifTued bythepope,againft king John. i. 146.
of Henry VIII. by t).e
ths pope, i. 408.
Execution of king Cliailes I. ii. 133.
Exchequer, fliut, ii. zci.
Excluf;on bill, ji. 2z8. 231, 132. I^nes the houfe of commons, but ii icjccted by the lords, 233.
F.
FAIRFAX, lord, appointed general with Cromwell, ii. 112. His condu£l in ihe battle of Nafeby, I13. Appointed by the parliament generii in chief of all the forces in England and Ireljnd, 120. Refigns his com- miflion in difguft, which is beftowed on CromweU, 144.
Falkirk, battle cf, in which the Scots are defeated by Edward I. i. 215.
< , battle of, won by the rebels,
ii. 365.
Falkland, lord, his death and charafter, ii. 108.
Favourites, paflion of Edward II. for, preves extremely detrimental to his Jntereft, i. 223.
Felton, the murderer of the duke of Buckingham, fome account of, ii. 73.
Fenwick, f.r John, bill of attainder againfi, for being concerned in a plot for affaflinating king William, ii. 27S. Behead«d, ib.
Feudal laW) whea introduced Into Eng- land, i- 54.
Fifher. bifnsp of Rochefter, committed
to the Tower, i. 405. His ttJat aui execution, 406.
Fiiz-Harris, cafe of, ii. 235.
Flodden, battle of, fought againft the Scotr, i. 382.
Fontarabia, expedition to, i. 379.
Fontenoy, battle, account of, ii. 360.
Foreigaers, in the reign of Kenry III. engrofs all offices of truft and emolu- ment, and caufe great difcontents in the nation, i. 172, J73, tyZ.
Foreft, New, Hampfiiire, depopulated by the laying out of, for the huntlng- phafures of William the Conqueror, i. 61. Hunting there and in i^ll other royal forefts, prohibited under fevere penalties, 62.
France and Denmark, rupture with. In the reign of Charles II. ii. igo.
French king offers his afTiftance to James II. but he reje£ls it, ii. 258.
Friend, fir J'hr, and oii.ers, concerned in a plot for affafiinating king Wil- liam, ii. 277. Executed, ib.
G.
GARDINER,biftopofWInchefter, an active man in fupport of tb~ Catholic religion, in the reigns of Henry, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth,- i. 449. Is fent to the Fleet prifon, ib. Is fent to the Tower, wiih Bon- ner, 456. Deprived of his bi(hoprick, 464. Re-inftated by queen Mary, and has great influence in her council,49r
Garter, order of the, inftituted by Ed- ward III. i. 274.
Gavefton, Piers, his hiflory, i. 223. See Edward II. Made ptifoner, and murdered, 227,
George I. hiftory of the reign of, li. 321. His accefficn, ib. He lands at Greenwich, ib. The Whigs engrofs all public employments, 322. Dif- contents in the nation, ib. The Prtr- tender fends over a manifefto, 323. New parliament, ib. Proceedings in,
324, Lord Bolingbroke withdraws to France, ib. Committee of fecrecy,
325. Refolutions to impeach lord Bolingbroke, the earl of Oxford, the duke of Ormond, and the earl of Strafford, ib. Earl of Oxford,fent to the Tower, 326. Proclamation atl, 327. Duke of Ormond and lord Boling- broke attainted, ib. Intrigues of the Jacobites, ib. The earl of Mar fets up the Pretender's flandard in Scot- land, 32S. Battle of Sheriff Muir, in which both fidei claim the ylGiory,
329,
I . N D E X.
329. Several gentkmeH in England committed 10 prifon, 330. Infur- reftions in England, 331. Surrender of the rebels at Pu-fton, ib. The Pr;tender arrives in Scotland, ■^32. He reimbarks forFrancL", 333. The rebel forces are difmidcd, ib. The rebel lords are impeached, ib. The earls of Derwentwater and Kenmuie are beheaiicd, 3^4. Tri.il of the re- bels, ib. Aft for fcptennial patlia- nients, 3^s- Triple jlliancc between E' glind, Fr^ncff, and liolland, ibid. The Swedidi minifler arreAed, ibid. The king demands an extraordinary fupply, ib. Quadruple alliance, ibid. Sir George Byng defeats the Spanifli tleet, 336. The rupture witli Spjin revives the drooping cx:;e(ftations of the Pretender and his aolierents, ibid. Accordingly an* expedition is projeiSed tjnder the dircft'on of the duke of Ormond, but it mifcarrics, 357. Peace with Spain, and its king Philip accedes to the quadruple allianc-. , ib. Trial of the earl of Oxford, ibid. Oifpute hereupon between the two houfcsjbut, no accufers appearing, he is fet at liberty, ib. South-Sea fchemc, 338. The people awake ttom their dream of riches, 339. The fufl'erers redreflijd as far as could he eflcdUd by the authority of the legiflitme, ibid. Rumours of a coafpiracy, the conlc- qucnce of thife dilcontents, 340. Atterbnry, bilhop of RochcAer, is committed to the Tower, ib. Bill of paint and pen.iUies agaialt him, ib. fie is driven into exile, 341. Mr. Layer's trial, and execution, ib. Abufes ill chancery, ibid. Trial on that account of tiie enri of Macclesfield, 342. Is convifted and fined, ib. Admiral Hofier's rspedi- tion to South America, ib. Ui.fuc- cefsful, ib. T.'ie kings deatn and charaf^er, 343. ^eorgc II. afcends the throne on the death of hii father, ii. 343- His miniflers, ib. Members of liie houfe of commons now di.ftii''gu>nieJ by tiie appellations of the court and country parties, ib. Spanifli depredations in America, 344. New mcdi.uors cITcr their ititerpofition, and the alTaircom- promiled, 345. Excife feheir.e-, ib. 'ihe clefign dropped, the minidry be- ing intimidated by the popuUcc, 346. Motion for the repeal of the fcpten- nial a&, ibid. The parliament dif- folved, and a new one called . 347, Bill (ot a. licsnce.to xhe'plj)houfcs,
lb. Convention wirh Spain, a (afu jeft of warm altercatioa, 348. Mif- underftanding between the king and the prince of Wales, lb. Encroach- iJic/its of il-.cSpanilh and Englifh fub- jcdts in America on each other, 349, W.ir vvi'h Spain, 350. Admiral Ver- non deftroys Porto Bello, ib. Cotr- modorc Anfon ia:ls to the South Sea, ib. Takes the Sp?.nifli galleon, 3?i« Expedition to Carthagena, ib. Which proves unfuccefsiul, 352. Clamocri in the nittion on thit account, 353, New parliament, ibid. Attempt to difengage tlie prince of Wules from the country party, ib. W;ilpole en- tertains apprcheiifions for the lols ot his power, and ever) danger to his perfon, ib. Refigns all his employ- ments, and is created earl of Ortorrj, 354. His fuccefljrs purine exactly the fame nieafures they had fo often reprobated in hi.T>, ibid. The king and prince of Wales are reconciled, ib. Army of fixteen thDufand men fent over to Flanders, 355. Rapii fu.-cefles of Frar.cs and hsr allies, 356. The queen of Hungary ftripped of bee inlientance, ib, Her defueiate fitu*» tion retrieved, 357. Battle of Det- tingcn, 358. Ihe French meditate an invaficii of Englaud, but are pre- vented by fir John Morris, 3^9. Be- haviour of the admirals Matthews and Leftock, ibid. Trial by a court mjnial, and ttrange fcntence palled upon them, ib. The duke of Cum- berland commands the Britifli army, '36c. Battle of Fonter.oy, wherein the lofs w«3 nearly ecfual, but the viclory remained 10 the French, ib. Ulie French take Tournay, ib. The young Pretender prepares to embarlc for Scotland, 361. He lar\ds in Sect-, land, 362. Sir John Cope is fent againA the rebels, ib. HiS troops are put to flight in the battle of Prc/lon- pans, )b. Tne youi-g Chevalier re- duces Carliflc, 363. Hi marches tw ^Manchciler, and penetrates to Derby, ib. The rebels retreat to ScolUad, 3(^4. Carlifle furrendcrs to the duke of Cumberland, ibid. The chevalier io^'ei?: Stilling, commanded 6y gene- ral rij^ckcney, ib. The kind's troop* under Hawley jre woii>od at Falkirk, .^0;, The duke of Cumtierland af^ fua^e< the command oi the forces in Scotland, ib. The rtbels ire totiUy defeated at CuUoden, ihid. 'J'he young Cheval'cf, aftor many diiTitul- lie'j tfcapc- w Ftinc, 3'jj. Trial
INDEX.
ani crecutToii of the rebel lords, and of Mr. Raddifte, 367. Affairs on the continent, 36S. Congrefs at Aix- la-Chapelle, 369. Treaty of Aix la- ehapelle, 370. D:3'.h of the prince of Wales, ibid. Aft £or preventing clandtftine mstriages, 371. Aift tor naturaiiiing tlie Jc*s, ib. Execution of Dr. Canieron, ib. Difpute about the limits of Nova Scotij, 572. Ho- ftilities commence between the Bri- lifh and French troops in Ax.erica, 577. Operations of" the principal commanding officers, 374. Braddock is defeated and killed, 375. War de- clared, ib. The French threaten an invafion, ib. The miniftry apply for afli'lance to the Dutch, who decline granting it, ib. Ten thoufand Ger- mans brought over to England, ibid. The French land in Minorca, and lay fiegc to Fort .St. Philip, ibid. Admiral Byng fent out with a fqui- dron to the relief of Minorca, ibid. Engagement with La Galiflbniere ib. Byng returns to Gibraltar, ib. The garrifon of Fort St. Philip capitulates, 377. Trial of admiral Byng, who is condemned acd executed, ib. Die French meditate the invafion of Hj- Bover, ib. The Britiftj miniftry enter into a treaty with the czarina, which proves inefieftual, ;78, A treaty is concluded heween Britain and i'ruffia, ibid. Alliance between France and Auftria, 379. To which RufTia and Sweden accccie, ibid. The king of Pruflia enteis Saxony with a great army, 3S0. Reduces the Saxon army to the neceflity of capitulation, ibid. Gains feveral complete viftories over his enemie?, ib. The Hanoverian aimy, under the duke of Cumberland, reduced to ftraits after the battle of Haftenbak, ib. Which produces the treaty of Clofter Seven, 581. Expe- dition againft Rochfort proves abor- tive, 322. Expoftul^iticn of the king of Pruflia with the king of Great Bri- tain upon his defpondency, ib Affairs in the Esft Indies, 383. Calcutta taken, and the prifoners thrown into the Black- hole, ibid. Of whom twenty-three only furvive, ib. The pirate Angria tsken, 3?4. Calcutta letaken, 385. Succefles of colonel Clive agaiiiti the cowardly nabob, or viceroy of Bengal, ib. Ali Khan, in his room, proclaimed viceroy ot Ben- gal, Bahar, and Orixa, ib. After the conqutft of the Indians, colonel Clive turns his arms againlt the Fitnch^ ib.
Ex'ent of territory acquired equal td any in Europe in fertil.ry and wealth,' 3S9. General Lally fcnt agatnft the Englifh, to. His chsraCler and fuc- cefs in the beginning, ib. Enterprfie of the Dutch, when no hoftile deliga was fufpec^ed on their part, 387. They are difeated, ib. As are alio the French by colonel Coote, 3S8. Pondicherry befiejed and furrendered, jb. War in America, 389. Louif- bourg taken, ib. Surrender of Fort Niagara, 390. Expedition to Quebec^ 391. General Wolfe dies glorious in victor)', ib. Quebec furrenders, 392. The wh'de province of Canada foori after reduced by general Amherft, ib. War in Germany, ibid Battle of Ro/bjch, ib. The Hanoverians take arms, and are headed by prince Ferdi- nand of Brunfwick, 393. Duke of Marlbirough fent to Germany with a body of troops, ib. LordG. Sackville fucc^eds to the command of the Eng- lish armv, ib. Buttle of Mindcn, 394. Glorious fituation of affairs at this time in regard to Great Britain, 395. But the nation's triumph becomes fufpended for a while by the king's death, ib. H!s charader, ib. Gibraltar, taken by the Englilh, ii. 289, the Spaniards make a fruitlefs attempt to retake it, 29 >. Ginckle defeats the Irifli at Aughrim,
ii. 271. Glendour, fome advantages obtained over, by Henry, prince of WaUs, i, 293. D'-fends himfelf in his faft- nefl'es, but his death frees Henry IV, from all his domeftic enemies, ib. GloucefVer, rebellion raifed by the earl
of, but foon foppreffed, i. 192. Gloucefter, cabals of the duke of, In the reign of Richard II. i. 283. Ar- refted, and many of his adherents» condemned, 284. Murdered, ib. — — — — , the duchels of, in the reign of Henry VI. tried and condemned for witchcraft, i. 319. The duke of, murdered, ib.
-, duke of, brother to Edward
JV, See Edwird V. and his own reign, under the title of Richard III, -, duke of, brother to Charles
II. death of, ii. 183.
Godfrey, fir Edmundlbury, murder of, ii. 217.
Godolphin, his difcontent, ii. 300.
Godwin, earl, the moft powerful noble- man of his time in England, fufFers himfelf to be gained over by king Ha- rold to perpetrate murder upon Al- fred,
INDEX
fre^', defcended from the ancient Saxon kings, i. 36. His fcheme fur th;it purpofe (iiccceds, but fails in re- gard to his brother Edward, alter- wards ftyled the Confeiror, ib. Who preferred an accufation of murder agairift him to Hirditaniite, Harold's fuccciVor, 37. The carl's inicreft, however, found necefl'ji'y to fecure the crown to Edward, 38, He is not- wiriiftanding hated by Edward, 39. And afterwards obliged to give ho- ftages for his good behaviour, 40. Godwin dies, 41. See Euftace. Gordon, lady Catharine, wite to the impoftor Pcrkin Watbec, generofiiy of Henry VII. to her, i. 371, Gourdon, Adam, celebrated for his
great ftrength .md bravery, i- 191. » . , Bertram de, his anfwer (o
Richard I. when afli d, what he had done to him for taking away his life, by fhooting an arrow at him ? i. 135. Gourdon flead alive, and then hanged, 136. rtournay, one of the perpetrators of the murder of Edward II. beheaded at fea to prevent a di'covcry of thofe con- cerned in the tranfadlion, i. 239. ^iovernment delegated to twelve perfons in the reign of Edward 11. a weak prince, i. 225. To fourteen in the leign of Richaid II. 2S0. Granville, fir Jehn, prefcnts (he declar- ation of king Charles II. to the lift parliament of the commonwealth, whereupcn they unanimoufly affsnt to reftore liim, ii. 179. Gregory, furnamed the Great, pope, fends Auguftine, the monk, to coii- vert to Chri.'lianity the Bntidi Saxons, i. 6. His inftrudtions to Auguftine tempered with prudence and good po- licy, 7. Gtaernfey woman burnt with her in- fant, i. 493. Cuefdin, Bercrand de, defeats fir Ro- bert Knolles, at the head of thirty thoufand men, while the dufce of Lancafter's troops, of twenty-five thoufand, were diminilhed to half their number, by flying parties, i. 273. Confeqiiences of thefe loffcs to Edward III ib. Ouildhall, adventures of Charles I. at
ii. 98. Guifcard, affair of, who attempts to (lab
Harley, ii. 310. Gunpowder-confpiracy, ii. 50, & feq. Guthrum, prince of the Danes, becomes a convert to Chriftianity, king Alfred anfwering for him at the font, i, i6. Vol. II.
H.
HAHEAS Corpus bill, 55. 21?. Hambdcn, John, tti.il of, t'nr the non-paymen: of the tax of fhip-money, ii. 79. Lofcs his caufe, ibid. Ha death and charafter, loS.
Hamilton, duke cf, executed by the
commonwealth, ii. 137. Hamilton, duke, and lord Mohun, killed in a due!, ii. 316.
Hardicanute fi.^ds, upon the dejth of his brother Haiold, the fuccedion to the Eng!i^i throne open to him, and accordingly is favourably received, i. 37. His detedation of the murder of Alfred how manifefled in his treat ment of the dead body of his prede- celfor, ib. Dies after a reign of two years a martyr to his intemperance, ibid.
Harfleur taken by ftorm, by Henry V. i. 29S.
Harley, ferrctary, afterw.irds cre3te4 earl of Oxford, his intrig'.'es, ii. z^q. The difphcing of, lays the fou '.da- tion of the ruin of rhe Whig mini- ftry, 301. He accordingly becomes prime minirter, 30S. Elfablifhes his credit with the queen, 309. Is creat- ed earl of Oxford, 318. Falls out with Eolingbroke, and ;s difmifleJ, 319. Is permitted to kifs the hand of Geor|;e I. the next day after, his arrival, but is honrured with r;o other notice, 322. Refolutions to impeach him, 323. Is fent to the Tawer, Zz6, His trial, 337. Upon a diia- greement between the two houfes, re- garding him, he is fet at liberty, ib.
Harold, fecond fori of Canute the Gr:-at, fucceeds him as king of England, i. 36. DilTLrence between hii)i and his brother Hj.rdicanute, how fettled, ib. Dies Utile regretted, and chiefly me- morable for his f'Aiftnefs in ru::nii-g and walking, 37.
H-rold II. upon the death of Edward the ConfefTof, afc-nds the vacant throne, i. 43. Public attachment to him, ib. The fiil^ afts of his reign worthy of the geiieial prejudice in his fjvour, 44, Pretenfion? of his brother Tofti ftuftrated, ib. Duke of Normandy lands in England, 45. Battle cf H^- ftings between him and Harold, ibid. Various fucctfs, 46. Hnold defeated and llain, 47. This victory intro- du.-es a memorable epoch in the an- nuls of England, 47.
Haftings, -a Dan-.fh chitf, ravages com- £ e mittei
INDEX.
Biitted by him in England, and elfe- where, i. 17. Hjftings, bntle of, between William, cuke of Noimandy, and icing Haro!d» full account ol", i. 45. HalbngE, lord, executed, t. 349. Hawley, genfra), defeated by the young
chevalier at Falkirk, ii. 365. Hen^ift and Horh, two brothers, chiefs of the Saxons -^ho firft came to Bri- tain, defeat the Piils and Scots, i. 2. Horfa flain in battlt- againft the Bri- tons, 3. Hengift liys the foundaticn of the kingdom of Kent, 4. Dies, ib. Henrietta, fifter to Charles II, married to the duke of Orleans, ii. 1S3. Vifits the king, j^6. Dies, 197. Henry I, furnamed Beaurlerc, fucceeds Willam Rufuf, notwithftanding the arknowleged right of his brother Ro- bert, i, 72. Having procured himfelf to be prodiiffied k'ng, he inftantly afiumed the reins of governmcnr, ih. Endeavours to conciliate the afl'edlions of his fuajeds by feverai conccfiions made to them, 73. His marriage with Matilda, niece to Edgar Athe- ling, in order to unite the Norman and Saxon interefts, ib. England in- vaded by his brother Robert, who lays his claim to the crown, .74. Henry's accommodation with Robert, 7 ^. He forms a defign, at the folicitation ef the Normans to redrefs the evils of Robert's adminlftration, to make a conqueft of N'oimandy, ib. Accord- ingly, he tonlly defeats Robert in the battle of Tenchehray, and detains him prifoner in England during the rema-.nder of his life, 76, This dc- quifition of Normandy involves him In trequ-'nt wars on- the continent, 77. War in Normandy, 78. Valour of the king's nephew, and of the king, ib. Death of prince William, 79- Occafions the king's fecond marriage, in hopes of male iffue, ib. His daughter Matilda married to the emperor Henry V and, after his death, to Geoffrey Plantagenet, eldeft Ion of the count of Anjou, is recog- niied as heir of ail his domiQions, ib. Her ilTue, ib. The king's death and chara£ler, 80. Henry Plantagenet mounts the throne of England, in .confcquence of the compromile between him and king Stephen, i, 89. Arrives in Engbnd, go. D:fmilT{s the mercenary tra.^ps retained by his predeccfibr, revokes all his grants aud thofe extoited fiuia
his mother Matilda, and reftorM ths value of the coin, ib. Goes to Nor- mandy, and returns to England, ib. Goes back to the continent, 91. His pcfT-'fiions on the continent, ib. Re- turns to England, ib. Difputes be- tween the civil and ecclefiaftical powers, 92. Hiftory of Thomas a Becket, archbilhop of Canterbury, 93. Quarrel between the king and Becket, 94. Henry determinfJ to retrench the clerical ufurpations, 95. AfTembly of th? bifhops, 96. Con- fiitutions of Clarendon, 97. The pope condemns the Conll tutions, 98. The king fues the aichbifhop, who is conviiftcd of contnmacy, 99. Becket accufed of having embezzled the king's treafure, ib. He cft;r3 a com- pofition, which is rcjedfed, ico. , Makes a pompous proccflion in the royal palace, ib. Appeals to the pope, ib. Is foiind guilty by the civil power of perjury and trejfon, loi. Mikes his efcape to tlie continent, ib. The fulminations of the church employed to counteraft Henry's meafures, 102. They render him in the end defirous of an accommodation, ib, Compro- mife with Becket, 103. Who there- upon returns from baniftiment, 104. His infolencc and pride, ib. Is mur- deredr '05- ConlVqiiences of this af- fair, ibid. The king's grief and fub- miflion, 106. The perpetrators of the murder fubmit to the pope's judg- ment, ib. State of Ireland, ib.. The king of Leinfler folicits the afliftancc of Henry, 107. Conqueft of Ire- land by Strongoow and others, ibid. Henry lands in Ireland, io8. Re- turns to England, ib. Goes to Nor- mandy, 109. His accommodation with the court of Rome, ibid. Pro- fperouf condition of the king's affair?, but the fmiling fcene overcaft by do- meftic diilenfions, ii-O. Queen Elea- nor, long troublefome to the king, by her jealouTy of his amours with Ro- famond Clifford 111. Excius againft him his own chilo'Ten, ib. Revolt of young Henry and his brothers, ibid. The quean put iata confinement, T12. Infurreflions in different parts of the king's domicions, ibid. The young princes, by the infi-uence of the king of France, enabled to procure on the continent a "powerful confederacy in their favour, ibid. Conference between the kings of Eng- land arid France, 113. Penance of Hsnry for Bccket's murder, 114- D£i.rsda'-ioflS
INDEX.
t)rpreJat!ons of the Scots revenged, and their king, Willijui, made p;i- foner, 115. King Henry returns to Normandy, ibid. His accommoda- tion with his Tons, ibid. The king of Scotland does homage to him for his dominion, 116. Having reftored peace to all his dominions, he em- ploys himleif for feveral years in domeflic regulations, ibid. Death of young Henry, J 17. Richard becomes heir apparent to the crown, ibid. Death of prince GLorftcy, iiS. An- other crufade, ib. Revolt of prince Richard, iig, Frultlefs conferences, ib. Richard excommunicated by the pope's legate, ib. Treaty of Azay, 120. Death of Henry, before whiv;h he pronounced a malediition againfl; his undutiful children, 121. His chara£lcr, ibid. Depredations com- mitted in London by eminent citi- zens upon their neighl>oiirs, ib. The king's legitimate furviving iflue, Ri- chard and John, and three daughters, 122. His iirue by Rofamond, daugh- ter of lord Clifford^ ib.
Henry the Young, eldeft fon of Henry n. death of, i. TI7.
Henry III. a prince, only nine years old, was the legal fucceflor to the crovjrn on the death of his father king John, when all England was in a ftate of anarchy and diftraftion> i. 163. The conduA of Lewis gives umbrage to the nation, 164. The earl of Pem- broke, efpoufes the caufe of young Henry, who is crowned at Gl 'uc.-(le"r, and grants a new charter of lihertics, jb. Another ch.^tter added, liyled, Charta Forefta, ib. Pembroke, the p-otedlor, writes letters to the male- content barons, many of whom come over to the king s party, i6s. The French army is lou^ed at Lincoln, ib. A French fleet alio route;!, 166, Lewis lues for peace, and quits the kingdom, ib, Puni/hi'S'ient is infiicltd on the clergy who adhered to L'wis, il>. Death of the j-rotcdor, 167. Is fucceeded in the government by Peter des Roches, biiliop of WincJiertcr, and Hubert de Burgh, the judiciary, ib. L'furpation of the barons, ib. Bad effefls of the lenity of govern- ment, ib. Rioters in London, le- verely punl^ed, i63. Tiie charier is again confirmed, ib. The pjpe grant* a bull, decUring the kin^ tn be of full age, 169. An infuueclion of ftveral barons, ib. The king of France invades Poict^u snd Gaiconv,
but is repelleJ, 170. Richard giVei dilluib.ince. to the kin^, his broihcr< ib. Hub.rt dc Burgh is dil'p!aceJ< 171. Bifhop of Winche.Tcr appoint- ed minifter, ib. Foreigners enzrofs all offices of truft and emolument, J72, Great difcontents in the nation, ib. The foreigners are difmifTcJ, ib. The king's marriage with Eleanor, daughter of the count of Provence»
173. Foreigners again encouraged^ ib. The king attempts to rerum3 all grants ; but is prevented, ib. Mjie foreii;fl!rs arrive, ib. Miny grievances complained of, civil and ecclefiaftical,
174. Great exadlionsof the charcli,
175. The pope of}".;rs the kingdom of Sicily to Riuhard, earl of Cjrn- wall, the king's brother, who le- jctts it, ib. It is accepted by king Henry, ib. Who cuntrafls an im- menfe debt for the conqu^ft of Sicily,
176. He applies to parliament for a fupply, ib. The members refufe to take the king's demands into con- fidcration, ib. The pops levies an exaction in England, for fupportinj the Sicilian war, ib. Attempts to introduce a new exaftion, 177. The parliament refutes to fupply the king, and is diffulved, ib. Thenev par- liament proves no lefs refractory, ib. The king is in great neceffity, ib. The parliament at lengrh jjrants a fupply, ib. The Great Charter is again ratified with particular iolemm- tyj 178. The affiirs of the nation are flill conducted by foreigners, ib. Confpirjcy of Montlovd, earlofLei- cefter, 179. The parliament obliges the king to m ike grsat concefli jos, ib. A committee of twenty-four ba- rons is inverted with fuprCme power to reform the government, iSo. Ufurpation of the barons, ib. The knights of the fliire rrmonlfrate agjinft the conduifl of the b irons, i8i. Con- duft of prince Edward, ib. GreaC complaints again'.l the barons, 1S2. The people have recourle to prince Edward, ib. The king fummons a parliament, In which his authority is ratified, ib. The bar:ns ate ooligcd to fubmit, ib. The e.irl of Lciceftcr forms a confederacy with the prince of Wales, ib. Th; k'ug is obliged t j make a diladvantag ous pe.'.ce with the barons, who renew their ufurpa- tions, 183. The civil w.u again breaks out, ib. Both patties agree to refer their cavife to thv* king of Fance, ib. Lewi' fummons an alleiTibly of
£ e 2 the
INDEX.
the ftates of Amien'; whetc he exa- mines into the difpute, and awards bis ferttence, 1S4. Leicefter an J his party retule to rubmit to the avvard, and renew hoftiliiies, ib. The king prepdres for defence, 185. Hoftili- ties commtnce on both fides, ifa. A battle is fougbt near Lewe?, where the king and his brother, with many barons, are made piifoners, 186. 'Piince Edward rrada priloner, 187. The convention of Lewc, ib. Lei- cefter violates the treaty, and governs iri the raoft arbitrary manner, ib. He difccvers great r.>p ciciifncfs, ib. Sum- mcns a new parliament, 1S8. Origin of the houfe of commons, ib. Great ciflenficns among the barons, 189. Prince Edward is releafcd from pn- fiin, ib. He makfs his efcape frcm ''he earl of Leiceficr's army, 190. The prince aflembles an army and defeats Lu"efter's fon, ib. Battle of EvelTian), ib. The king expreGes great refentment againfl the London- ers, ^91; General fubmifficn of the rebelf, ib. A rebellion raifed by G'oncffter, but foon fopprcfled, 192. Prince Edward goes with an army to the Holy Land, ib. Great disorders again prevail in the kingdonra, ib. T he king's health declines, ib. His death and charafler, J97. IfTue, ib.
Henry IV. duke of Lancafter, ele£>ed king, fucceed; the depokd Richard 1). i, 28S. His title, and folemnity of Kis coronation, 2S9. Divifions in parliament, ib. Aninfurredtion, ib. Many per'ons of diftinftion executed, jb. Irvrlion of the Sects, 290. In- furreflion in Wales, ib. Battie of Homeldon, ib. Infurreftion of the ?=irl of Nonliumberiand, ib. Henry marches to meet the Northumbrians, =Qr. Battle of Shrewfijury, ib. Hotfpur is fljin, and the king obtains the viftory, ib. A frefn infurrefiion, 292, Which is defeated by a Ibata- gem, )b. The archbifhop of York and the earl of Nottingham are made prifcners and executed, 293. Henry next turned his arms sgainil Glendour, Over whom his fon, the prince of Walef, had obtained feme advantages, ib. A clergyman burnt aiive, 394. Proceedings of the houfe of commons, ib. Irregularities of the prince of Wales, ib. The king's health de- ciiies. 295. His death and charafter, ib. IH'ue, ib>
Henry, prince of Wales, afterwards king Henry V. wounded in the face Ly aa arrow, fighting by bis father's
fide in the battle of Shrewfbury, 1.
■ 291. Obtains fome advantages over G'end. ur, 295. His irregularities, for which he is committel to prifon by the chiei-juftice, fir William Oaf. ccigne, 294. See Henry V.
Henry V. in afcending the throne, re- nounces his dilTipated courfe of life, and {hews himfelf worthy of that eleva;ion, i. 296. Progrefs ef Lol- lardifm, ib. Lord Cobham executed on that account, 297. Confpiracy and execution of the earl of Cam- bridge and lord Scrope, ib. State of France, 198. The king fends am- baflaJors to France with propoTals of alliance, ib. Invalionof France, ib. Karfleur taken by florm, ib. Battle of Azincour, 299. The king in perfon attacked by the duke of Ale.^- 9on, whom he ftrikes to the ground, 3C0. Great /laughter of the French, and number of prifoners, 301. The king returns to England, ib. New invafion of France, 502. Negocia- tions for peace, ibid. Marriage of the king, ibid. He comes over to England, ib. Arrives again in France, 303. Birth of a prince, ib. The king fenfible his end was approach- ir.g from the eftefts of a fiftula, a malady in his time incurable, lettles the regency of the kingdom, ib. His death and character, 304. Jffue, ib.
Henry VL on his acceflion, had the duke of Bedford, his uncle, regent, and proteftor of the kingdom, 1. 304, Thefuccefles of the Englifh in France profecuted, and Henry, though yet an infant, folemnly inverted with regal power by legates from Paris, 305. State of France, ib. Siege of Or- leans, 30(5. Battle of Herrings, 307. The maid of Orleans, called Joan d'Arc, 308. Is feized with a wild defire of extricating her fovereign, if poflible, from his prefent diftreffef, ib. The court determined to make an experiment of this ciiampioa againll the enemy, 309. She com- mands the Englifli in the name of the omnipotent Creator, immediately to raife the fiege of Orleans and eva- cuate the kingdom, ib. Succefsful attacks of the French, 310. The Englifti raife the fiege, ib. Farther fucceffes of the French, ib. The king of France crowned at Rheims, 311. Henry crowned king at Paris, ib. The maid of Orleans made pri- fcnjr, 312. She is tried at Rouen for witchcraft, ib. And is condemned
and
INDEX.
and burnt alive, 313. The Englirti afFiirs decline, ib. Defeflion ot the duke of" Burgundy, 314. Fro.'oTals for an accommodation between Frjnce and Englanil, 315. Death ot the duke of Bedford, 316. He is fucceeded by the duke of York, ib. The Enplifh are oblig- d to evacuate Paris, ib. The duke of Burgundy lays ficgc to Calais, Ib. Siege of Calais raifcd, ib> Truce between England and the duke of Burgundy, 117. Divifion in the Eng- liih councils, ih. A truce with France, jiS. Marriage of Henry whh Margaret of Anjou, ib. The duchefs of Glouccfter tried for witch- craft, and condemned, 319. Murder of the duke of G'ouccftcr, ib. InteiVine difurders in the kingdom, ib. Claim of the duke of York to the crown, 320. "Impeachment of the duke of Suf- folk, 321. His banlfhment and mur- der, 322. Popular infurredtions, ib. John Cade marches to London, at the head of the Kentifh rioters, 323. Execution cf lord Say, ib. 1 he liotcrs difpcrfe, and their leader is flain, 324. The court is fufpicious of the duke of York, ib. Parties of York and Lancaitcr, 325. Violent proceedings of ihe houle of com- mons, 326. The firft armament of the duke of York, ib. The king's IndiliJofuion, 327. York is appoint- ed proteilor, ib. The king rtfumes the royal power, ib. York levies an army, ib. Firft battle cf St. Alban's, ib. The king i:, made piifoner by the duke of York, ib. The king refumes his authority, 32S. An ap- pearance of reconciliation takes place at London betwefn the two parties, ib. Frtfli d;{l*:nlions break forth, 329. Ba:tle of Blorc-heath, ib. The Yorkifti dilperfe, ib. War- wick lands in Kent, and aflenibles an army, ib. Battle of Northampton, ib. The royaliAs arc defeated, and the king again made prifoner, ib. The parliament meets, ib. The fuc- ceflion is fecured by parliament to the duke of York, 330. The queen col- ledls an army in the North, 331. The duke of York marches north- wards, ib. Battle of Wakefield, ib. The duke of York killed in the a£lion, ib. Battle of Moitinier's- crofs, 332. Edward IV. alFumes the crown, 333. Heniy VII. Hiftory of the reign of, i. 358. Henry, by marrying the princefj Elizabeth, unites the iaCcrcfls of th:
hou'es of York and Lancafter, ih. He makes a progrefs into the North, ib. An infurr^ion, 359. The re- bels difper'e, ib B'rih rf prince Arthur, ib. 1 he k ng's government iHII unpopular, ib A prieft, forms the a dciign of dlrturbing Henry by raifing a pretender ta the crown in the pc- fon of Lambert Simnel, 360. Re- volt of Iteland thereupon, ib. The q leen-dowager imprilbned,-<5i. Sim- nel comes over to England, ib. Bat- tle of S.oke, ib. Th- rebels entirely defeated, ib. The king's feverity,
362. An infurreclion in the North,
363. Suppreflcd, ib. The king in- vades Frnnce, but concludes a pe»ce, ib. Pc(l:in War -ec is made to per- fonate Ricli..rii I'Untagenet, duke of York, 3(5.;. He ap)ejrs in hslamj, 365. li invited to Pjris by the king of France, ib. Quits the court of France, and retires to that of Bur- gundy, ib. Is avowed by the duchefs of Bujgundy, ib. And by many of the £i:giifb nobuify, 366. A con- fp racy againft the king, ib, T!>e k:ng difcfVers tiie plot, ib, Punifh- menc of the confpirJtorf, 3<S7, Exe- cution of Stanley, ib. Perkin arrives on the toalt of Kent, but refu''es to land, ib. A number of his attend- ants are taken and cxecjted, ib. Perki.'i retires to Scotland, where he meets wiih afiiihnce, 363. The king of iJcotlanri invades E.igland, and proclaims Perkin as fovereign, ib, Perkin returns to Scotland, but is ob- liged to quit that kingdom, ib, A parliament grants the king frefh fup, pli;:s. ib. Another infurre^ion, ib. The king marches an arrftv againlt them, lb. Battle of Blacichsjth, ib. The rebels are defeated, 370. The king cf Scotland invades England, ib. Tiuce between the two king- domf, ib. Pc'kin arrives in Corn- wall, an ! is joined by many of the inhabitants, \h. Great preparations to attjck the rebels, 371. Perkin takes fanflujry in Beanlifu, ib. The rebels lubinit to the king, ib. The king's g?n;rofity to Perkin's wife, ib. Perkin qnits the fanctuaty, and it brought 10 London, where he co;i- felTcs his impofturf, ib. He nukes his efcipe to the fanituary of Shene, 372. But 13 jgain pardoned and con- lined to the Tower, ib. Where he enters into a confpitacy with the earl of W-irwick. to murder the lieutenant of the To-;ver, ib. Pe:k.in executed,
K s 3 ib.
INDEX,
yh. rati of WatuTi-k executed, 373. Difci'iiients prevail in the kinutJom, jb. The king's alliance i« courted by foreign powers, ib. Marriage of prince Arthur with Catharine of Ar- ragon, 374. Death of prince Arthur, ib. The efpoufals of prince Herry ■with the infanta Catherine, ib. Msr- riage of ih* princefs Margaret with the king of Sco'lam^, ib. Death of the queen, ib. Oppreffion of the peo- ple, ib. A parliament nctwlthftand- ing grants the king the fuhfidy he detnanded, 370. Sicknefs of the king, ib. His death and charafter, lb. Many whoiefome laws cna£\sd by him, ib. Htniy, piince. aftciwards Henry VIII, his efpoufal? with Catharine of Aira- gon, i. 374. Henry VIll. afcenos the throne with a popularity in proportion to the ooium incurred by the king his father, i. 377. His riaturil and acquired en- dowments, parties of pleafure, and 'amufeiTicnts, 378. Punifliment of Lmpfon and Dudley, ib. War with France 379. Expedition to Fonta- rabia, ib. Bravery of admral How- ard, 3S0. The king arrives at Ca- lais with an airpy, ib. Siege of Te- rcenne, 381. A truce wiih France, 382. Vv'^ar with Scotland, ib. Bat- tic of Floddin, 383. Wolfey becomes ininifler, 384. His promotions and dfftinflioTvs, 3S5. Toumay ceded to France, 3fc6. Interview between Henry and Francis, ib. Tournament between them, ',^7. Trial and con- decrnation oi the duke of Bucking- ham, 380. Diflipation of the im- menfe treafures of the late king, cauffs an application to pa'liament for a fupply, ib. The king ftretches the prerogative, ib. WoireV declines in the king's favour, 389, State of the church, 390. Tbe dcftrines of Lu- ther meet with many partisans jn England, 391. Henry writes againft Luther, an(i receives the lilie of Ds- feridcr of the Faith, ib. Scruples concerning the king's marriage, ib. The king enters into thnfe fcriipies, 392. Anne Bohyne acqviires an aicendant over his affcftions, 393. Henry applies to the pope for a di- vorce, 394. The pope is favourable, ib. Yet in preit perplexity, ib. His fecret propotals to Henry's mlnifter;, 395. Frefti mefiengers difpatched to Rome, ib. Trial o*^ the king's mar- i-iage, :b. The caule evoked ;o
Rome, 396. Wolffv jncari the king's difpleafure, 397. His fall, ib. The fcals are delivered to (ir Thomas Mare, ib. Wolfey is indifted in the Star Chamber, ib. The houfe of lords votes a charge againd him, ib. The charge is ftnt to the houfe of commons, 398. Vicknce of Wol- fey's enemies, ib. He is pardoned by the king, but ordered to remove to h'S fee of York,.ib. An order is fenr to arreft htm for high-treafon, ib. He fets off for London, but fickeni on the road, and dies at Leicefter- ahbey, 395. Thomas Cranmer fuc- ceeds him in (he king's favi.ur, ib. The univerfities are confulted about the king's marriage, 400. Intrigues pf the king and the emperor, ib. The unlveifities give th'ir opinion in favour cf the king, ib. Oxford and Cambridge at firft hefitate, but at laft declare againft the mnrriage ; as do the convocations of Canterbury and York, ib. The pope cit- 3 Henry to appear at Rome, but he refufes. ib. The parliament favours the king's jiieafures, and he is declared to be fu- preme head of the cb irch, 401. Progrefs of the Reformatio-, ib. The king privately marries Anne Boleyne^ who is foon after acknowleged queen, ijoz. The marriage with Catherine declared invalid, ib. Coronation of Anne Boleyne, ib. Birth of princefs Elizabeth, 403. She is created princefs of Wales, lb. The king's daughter by queen Catherine is ex- cluded iht fiiccelTiOB, 404. Sir Tho- mas More, and the bifimji of Ro- cheuer, .committed to the Tower, .^cj. Religion of the king, ib. Re- ligion of the queen and the niini- fters, ib. Bainham and fome others are burnt as heretics, 406. Trial and cxtrculion of Fifherj bifhop of Kochefttr, ib. And of fit Thomas More, 407. The king is excommu- ' nicatcd by the pope, 408. Henry forms alliances on the continent, ib. Death of Queen Catherine, ib. The Monks endeavour to inflame the peo- ple againft the king, who forms the refoKition of extirpating them, 409. Vifuation of the monafteries, 410. juppreflion of the lefTer monafteries, ib. The king feizes their revennes, ib. Total fupprefilon of the mo- rafttries, 411. New Tranflation of the Scriptures, ib. Difgrace of queen Anne, ibi Is fent to the Tower, 412. None dare to interpofe in her
favoMf,
INDEX.
favour, 413. Htr trial, /)i4, Anl rxecuiion, 41 S. J-me S«yii;our mar- ried the day atter h:r cjccuiion, 416. Queen Elizjbclh baflifdize.1,ib. And tbf kinp empowered by parliament to difpofe of thi' ctown, by will, or let- ters pni^nt, ib. Other proceedings in puiiament, as alio of the convo- cjiion, extremely oblequious to tl.e ki/ig, 417. Diicon'enis among the people, 4i2. Infurrt^tion in l,in- •colnlhire, 419. The duke of Sif- fo!k is fcnt againft the rebels, ib. They d'Xper'.'e, and their lea tcrs aic executed, 410. In furred ions in the North, ib. The rebels difpeife, jb. Liith cf prince Edward, and death of queen Jane, 421. Oilputation with Lambert upon th? real prefence, 412. Lan.bert is burnt, 423. As are fe- deral o;liers, ib. Servility of the par- liamenC, ib. Proclarr.atioiis itisce equal to laws, ib. Henry's projefn of marriage, 414. He marries Anne of Cieves, 425. Diflikes her, ib. Fall of Cromwell, 416. Is condemned to death, ib. And exe- CuteJ, 4.17. King's (iivOrce from Anne of Cieves, ib. His mar'ia^e with Catharine Howard, ib. FerlV- cution ot the Protefian's, 428. And of the Papilts, ib. A rebellion in york/hlre, but fupprelVed, ii>. Ex- ecution of the counteU of Saliftury, 415). Difcovery of the queen's riif- folute life, ib. The kirg has re- courfe to a parliamerit, his ulu<l in-- Urument of tyranny, 430. Hill of / att..inder paflcd ag;iri(\ the queen and
the vifcouritcfs Uochcfcrd, ib. They are beheaded on Tower- hill, 431. The king t'cizes the revenues of col- leges, hofpitals, Sk. ib. Coinmif- lioners appointed to chufe a religion for the people, ib. Infiitution of a Chriflian Man, in a fmall volume, foon a ter publiflied, 43*. But Hen- ly, not fati'fitd with it, gave orders lor composing a new one, entitled, 'i i.c Erudition of a Chriiban M^n, ib. Amendments of other Books, 4^3. Ihs intention of quarrelling vi'h the king of Scots, ib. A Ikir- milh, 434. Kour of the Scots at Solway-mofs, ib. Death of J.rmes V'. 435, Henry ptojefls the mar- riage of prince Edward with the heiiefs of Scurland, ib. A war piO- jr<led aeainit France, ib. The kit,g marries Cathaiine I'air, 436. A new pjilianicnt kl\Ui (he TucceHioit of
the crown, ib. Metiiodf prafVifcd by the king to fill his cofTert, 437. He fends a fleet and army to Scotl.mi', ib. Theyhnd at Leiih, and march to Edinbuigh, which they pilh)ge and burn, ib. Lay w.iffe the county of Eift Loihijii, and then retrc.it into Kngland, ib. The kit g and the em- peror form a plan t'or the entire tun- qijcft of htancc, 458. The king palfes over to Calais with a great army, ib. The emperor makes a feparate peace with France, ib. Hen- ry returns to England, ib. War with Scotland, 43C1. A fiefh inroad into Scotland, ib. The Englifh arc dc- ftateH, ib. The Scots make an in- road into England j ag do the Englilh into Scotland, 440. The king of France equips a fleet to make a de- fcent in England, ib. An a£tion be- tween the French and Englifh fleets, ib. Henry levies a body of German'-, iV. Who mutiny and return to their own country, ib. The parliament grants the king the revenues of thi tiniverfities ; but he refrains ftom feizing them, 441. A body of forces fent to Calais, ib. Peace wii'n France, ib. The king allows the Litany to be recited in the vulgjr tdiigue, ib. Cabals in the council ag4inl( Cranmer, 442. He is fup- ported by the king, ib. Perfecutjoa of Anne Alcue, and oiheis, on the fcore of religion, 443. Henry dif- likes the queen's religious principles, 444. Orders articles of impeach- ment to be drawn up agiinfl her, ib. Great addrefs of the queen, ib. The king is reconciled to her, 445. The duke of Norfolk and his fon arc ar- rtfted, ib. And fent to the Tower, 446. The earl of Surry executed, ib. Attainder of the duke of Nor- folk, 447. Orlered for execution, but the king dying, the lieutenant de- feired obeying the warrant, ib. l-Iis charafter, <;4 8.
Henry prince of Wales, fon of James I. death cf, ii. 52.
Hept.irchy, cr the feven Saxon king- doms, when and where eHabl:/hed, i.
5. Conlilt of the kingdoms or Kent,
6. Northuinberland, E.if) Anglij,
7. Mercia, ElTex, Suflex, 8. v\'ef- fex .9. 1'his bl^ fubverts the inde- pendence of the Heptarchy, 10. All the kingdoms united in one great ftate, and denomin»ted EngUnd, 11.
Hcicfoid and Norfolk, carls of, their £. e 4 Ip'uileti
INDEX.
pitiTed conduct in regard to Edward I. 5. 2oS. Take sdvantage of the fe'ng's Dbferce, 2C0. Require a
^ folcmn ratification of the charters, with an additional claufe, ib. ^ he charters fent to Flanders, where the king figns th''ni with great re- luftance, ib. And is obliged to con- firm them on bis return to England, zio.
Herring? . battle of, gained by fir John Faftoift'e, i. 307.
Hexham, to'al defeat of queen Mar- garet, ia the battle 0'', i. 334.
Hierarchy, proceedings of the comnr.ons in the long parliament, again!!, ii. 74-
High-treafon, accv:fation of, in the houie of peers, again!t lord Kimbol- tnn, and againft five commoners, ii. 96. The five members demanded ty the king, g^.
La Hogue, ka fight off, in which the French are defeated, ii. 274.
Hollan'', rupture with, in the reign of Charles II. ii. 1S9.
Homeldon, an acjcount of the battle of, i. 290.
Hofier, admir:.!, his expedition to South America, unfuccerstul, ii. 342.
Hooper, bilhop of Glcucefter, burnt, i. 491-
Keward, fir Edward, admiral, the bravery of, i. 38.-.
Hubba, a Danifh commander, lulled in a del^^erate effort formed againft him by the ear] of Devoniniie, i. 16.
Hubert dc Burgh, the jufiiciary, vali- antly defends Dover againft the Fiench. i. 165. On the death of the earl of Pembroke, guardian of the king, and proteftor, fucceeds in' the admir.iftration, 167. Gets pof-
< feflion of Rcikingham caflle, ib. His proceedings 3~4inft the London rioters, i5S. Applies to the pope for declaring the king of full age, iSq. Eleven difplaced, 171. Hjs chara£ier, Ih.
Hungary, queen of, ftripped of her in- heritance, ii. 3^6. Her defperate fituation retrieved by England, 35;.
JACOBITES, intrigues of the, ii. 327. James king ofScotland, his predi<5tion
on his death-bed, i. 43 s. James I, of England, andVI, of Scot- land, afcends the threne after the
deith of Elizabeth, with the gene- ral approbatioA of all orders of the Mate, ii. 44. His hereditary right unquefionablc, ib. He diftributes honours with great profufion, 45. Cecil continues to be prime mini.ler, ib. Confpiracy of lords Cobham and Grey, and fir Walter Raleigh, ib. Conference at Hampton court, ih. Failianr.ent delayed on account of the plague, now alTembles, 46. The king propofes a union of the two kingdoms, 48. Peace with Spain, ib. The Catholics miflaken in their expectations from king James, ib. Plot for his deftraflion, &c. 49. Gunpowder confpiracy, 50. The defign difcovered, 51- -Some "Cit.oolic lords fined, ^z. Death of prince Plenry, <;5. Marriage of the princefs Elizabeth, ib. Rife of Robert Carre, earl of Somerfet, 54. Criminal corrcfpondence between him and the lady Frances Howard, ib. Ovsrbury's advice to him, ib. Orer- bury fent to the Tower. 5^-. Is poi- foned, ib. Some accomplices of Overbury's murder are executed, 56. The earl and countefs of Somerfet, are found guilty, but pardoned, ib. Somerfet fupplanted in the king's fa- vour by means of a new minion, ib. Villers introduced at court, ib. Created duke of Buckingham, 57, The cautionarv towns are delivered no to the Dutch, i'n. Raleigh is re- leafed from the Tower, ib. And fiils on an enterpt.zi to Guiana, 58. His execution, 59. Difgrace of chan- cellor Bacon, ib. Reafons appear for James's complaifdnce to the court of Spain in the cafe of Raleigh, ib. This was the projeft of marrying the the prince of Wales with a daughter of the king ot" Spain, ib. The prince's journey to Spain, 60. This Spanifh match is broken oft", ib. Treaty of marriage between the prince of Wales and princefs Henrietta of France, ib. Difpuies between the king and the parliament, ib. Affairs of Germany, 61. V/ar with Spain and the em- peror, ib. Sicknefs and death of the king, 62. His charafter and furviv- ing iflue, ib. James II. Hiftory of his rei^n, ii. 244. He goes openly to mafs, ib. Sends an agent to Rome, ib. Oates ccn- vifted of perjury, 245. Monmouth's invafion, ib. He affumes the title of king, 246, Is defeated and taken, »47. His e^tecution, ib. Ciuelty of
colonel
INDEX.
CBlontl Kirke, lb. And of judge
ietTories, 148. New pirliamfni, ib. )ifl'oived, 250. Uieach beiwecn the king jnd the church, ib. Cuun of ectlefiaftical com^iiiflion, 251. The biJh'<p of London lufpended, ib. Declaration for liberty of conscience, ib. The king fends an amjairidor fo Rome, ib. The pope's nuncio is received at Windfcr, ib. The kln^ profecutes Magdalen-college H Ox- ford, 251. S:x bifliops prefint a pe- tition to the king. 25J. Are com- mitted to the Tower, 2^4. Their trial and acquittal, ib. Birth of the prince of W.iles, 255. Poli ical con- duct of the prince of Orange, 255. He is applie.1 to by the Englilh, 2^7. His preparations, ib. The b'ltnch king ofters James his rfTiilance, but he rejefts it, 2sS. The king re- ceives intelligence of an invafion, nnd is alarmed, ib. He takes fome (teps for the farisfaftion of the people, ib. Prince of Orange's decUiration, 259. lie embarks, ib. Lands in England, ib. Is joined by many perltins of diftinftion, 260. Tne kin;; is aban- doned by his own daughter, ib. He attempts to fly the kingdom, 161, Returns to London, 162. Ri:t res to Rothefter, ib. Conventi-.n I'ummon- ed, 163. The prince at Orange af- funnes the reins of government, ib. The comtNcns vote ihit king James had abdicated the throne, ib. The lords concur in the vote of the com- mons, ib. Pr'vatc declaration of the prince of Orange, 264. Setilem'-nt of the crown, ib. William and Mary proclaimed king and queen of Eng- land, ib.
Jane Shore, feme account of her un- merited treatment, i. 349.
Jane Grey, lady, proclaimed queen, i. 476. Executed with her.huf- band lorJ Guildford Dudley, 485.
Jda, a prince of great valour, fubdues the Northern parts of Britain, znd ' aflumes the title of the king of Ber- nicia, i. 5. &ee E;helfrid.
Jefferies, Judge, cruelties of i:. 248.
Jefuits, ftv^ and Langhorn, trial of, an account of the Popifh plot, ii. 222.
Jews, mafTacre of the, in England, imagined to be by order of king Richard I. i. 123. Severity of Ed- ward L 195.
aft for naturalizing, li, 371.
Jna, a Saxon king of WefTcx, the moll xcnovvAcd of all the kii^s in Eng-
7
land during the ages of the Hftptar-
chy, i. 9. Compiles a fyticm of
jurifprudcr.ee the foonHatii n nfthic
afterwards piomulga'-ed b; Alfred, ib.
Retires to, and dies in a convent,
ib. Indemnity, a£t of, in the ^eplr>ning of
the reigi) of Charles II. ii. 181. Iiiquifition, aitempts to introduce it in
the rei^n of queen Mary, i. 494. Inrurrtdinn, in the reign of Henry iV.
defeated by ilrata^em, i. 292. Iiifurreflion", agiiiift the tneafurfs of
JHenry Vlll. in different parts of
England, i. 419, ^feq. Sjppreffed,
411. in the reipn of Edward
VI. on account of religion, i. 459. in the rt:ii,n of quer-n
Fliribe'.h, upon variouj pretexts ii. 16.
in England, foon after the
accefTionof CieorgC I. ii. 331.
Interdict of the kingdom of Englind under king John, i. 14J.
Interment of William the Conqueror, and m'on what account piohibited, when his corpfe was Carrying to the grave, i, 63,
Interview between Henry VI 1 1, and Francis I. i. 386. Tournament be- tween them, 387.
Joan d'Arc, Ice Maid of Orleans.
of Kent, burnt for berefy, in the
reign of EJvward V!. i. 457.
John, upon the death of his brother .Richard I. is put. without any oh- ftruftion, in polleflinn of the Englilh thr.ine, i. 137. New war between him and Philip of France, who ef- poufes tSe fucciflion of Arthur, fora cf John's l.ilc brother Geotfry, ib. They conclude a treaty of peace, ib. John marries Ifab;.-lli, daughter of the count of Angoulcme, 138. In- furrc£tion in the continental pro. vinces, ib. The King goes to Nor- mandy, ib. Prince Artiiur and his mother fly for proteftion to Piiilip, 139. Arthur is made prifoncr, and at length cruelly murdered by the king in the caftle of Rou.-n, 140. The atiocioufnefs of this deed ren- ders John univerfally detefled, 141. He is lumnioned to a trial before the king of Franee, who invades his dominions, ib. The French pro- vinces reunited to the crown of France, ib. John returns to Eng- land, and levies exaflions on the ba- lons for a Norman expedition, ib. He pallei over to Rtchelle, but im-
mediatel/
INDEX.
n5eJi2te!y returns, 141. Eledlion of the archbilhop of Canterbur)', 143. The pope nominates to the primacy, ib. Sends the king a prcftnt of four rings, ib. Quarrel between the king and the pops, 144- Interoidl of the kirjgdom, 145. John takes r»venge on the clergy, ib. Oppreffes the ba- rons, J46. The pope iifues the Sen- tence of cxcommunic.'tion, ib. Great d'.xontent in the kingdom, ib. John defues a conference with the arch- bi/hop Langton, 147. Sentence of ^cpofition againit John, and grant of the Crown of England to the king of France, by the pope, ib. A crafade alfo publifhed againft him, ib. Philip levies a great army, ib. He proje^s an invafion of England, 748. John afJembles an army at Dover, ib. Pan- 6o\U the Pope's legate, has an in- tCTvievv with John at Dover, ib. The king fu-rnits to the pope, 149. Ex- traordinary oath tiken Ijy him on this occafion, jb. Pandolf returns to I'rance, and inbibrts Philip from making any attempt upon England, 150. The French king evclaims againft the conduift of the pope, and rel'olves to accornp!.(h the enterprize, ib. The Fienth fliips burnt by the Englifti admiral in their harbours, and Philip obliged to abandon his en- lerprize, ib. John's cruelty to Peter the Hermit, ib. John entertains a cefign o! invading France, bur is de- ferttd by the barons, 151. He and his kingdom aie absolved fiom the papal cenfurfs, ib. Langton projcfts a plan of reform'.rg the government, 1:2. The baioni meet at St. Ed- niundftury, 153. Prtfent their de- mands to the kin?, ib. The king Courts the intereft of the clergy, ib, Beth parties apply to the pope, 154, VVho favours the inteiefts of the king, ib. The confederates deter- mine to perfevjff, 10, Their de- rnar.ds are prefented to the king, who breaks out into a v olent pafiion, 155. The confederates take arms, ib. The king is obliged to furrender, 156, Magna Charta ib. Its principal f.ipulations in regard to the clergy, the barons, and the people, I57« V. hat was ilipulaled by the barons, 158. John's diflimuhticn in com- plying with the terms of the charter, IC9, He retires to the lile of Wight to meditate on the expediency of his affairs, ib, Enlifls foreign ttoops, and coniplains to the pope, ib.
Who annuls the char*cr, and excorr".. muiiicates all who adiicre to it, ib. Renewal of the civil \vr.rs, ib. The kirg lays fiege to ihc caflie of Ro- chefter, which furrcnders, 160. He commits great devaftotionj, ib. The birons invite over prince Lewis of France, 16 r, Lewis arrives in Eng- land, ib. The king is defected by his foreign troops, ib. Lewis arrives in London, Snd afTumes the executive power, ib. He difguils the Er.giifh by his partiality to his own countiv- men, i6i. Many dcfert from liim and join the king, ib, John i( fei/ed wi'h a fever, and dies at Ntwark, ib. His charaQer, ib. IfTue, loj. Waf the firft king that gave by char- ter to die city of London, the right of eleCtiiig annu::lly a mayor out of its own bi dy, ib. John, king -«f France, defeated and made prifoner at the battle of Poic- tieis, by Edward, the Black Piince, i. 27c. Set at liberty, 271. Not able to ratify the peace, retui'ns to Engl-md, 272. Dies in the Sav-y, ib. John, H^nry St. afterwards the famous lord Eolingbroke, his charafter, ij, 199. Is chofen by Harley for his co- adjutor, ib. Made fecr-'tary of ftate, 3C9. Is called up to the houfe of pefr-s -^jS. Caufes the diimifliora ot Harlty, 319, Undergoes every fpecies of mortihcation at the acceflion of George I. 311. Withdraws to France, 324. Refolution to impeach him, 315. Attainted, 327. En- gages in the fervice of the Chevalier, and correfpondk with the Tories in England, 328. Obtains afterwards, for fome lecrtt reafons, his majefty's paidon, and returns to England, 341. Jovc^, a taylor, but raifed to the rank of cornet in Cromwell's army, feizes Chirks I. at Hohr.by caftle, ii. ii8. Irejznd, ftatc of, in ihe rtign of Henry JI. i. 106. Conquered by Slrongbov* and others, 107, Jriih iniurreftion, and mafiacre, iL 91, & fcq,
troops, to the amount of fourteen
ihowfand, who had fought for king James, emigrate into Fiance, ii. 272. Ifabella, of France, queen to Edward II. infulted at the caftle of Leeds ia Kent, where fhe defired a night's lodging, and was reftifed admittance, i 232. The king takes revenge, ib. The queen's intrigues, 235. Her unnatural condu^ upcn ihedethron-
ing
INDEX.
ingof the king, for which fhe incurs a general hatrjd, zjS. Her cicni- rl^\ comniCYce with Mortimer, ib. See Mortimer. Jj eonfined, 143
Jiid^r^s, (>jihi(hed for icrrupuon by Ei- wsrd I. i. 199.
Juxon, biftlop, attenHs k'ric Charles I. in his dying mcnieat&j 11. J33.
Is impescheJ, and eXccutiun,
K
K.
IR KE, colonel, cruelty of, ii. 247.
LALLY, general, fr.nt apainft the F.nglifh in India, li. 386. His charaf^er, ib. All his endeavours in the end unprofpetous, 388.
Lambert Simne), is made, by the fuh- tlety of a pricft, toperfonatc Richard, duke of York, foil of Edward IV. i. 36«. S«e Henry Vil. for his hi- ftory.
Xambert, difputation 'with, on the real prcfcnce, 1.421. Lambert, and le- *eral others, are burnt, 423.
■ , and his adhere;;ts, oppofe
Cromwell, ii. l6(S. BaniOied, 1S8.
Lancaster, duke of, brother to Edward
I. death of, i. 205.
» ■ , in rel>v.llion againft Edward
II. is made prifonet and executed, i.
• , duke of, afterwards king
Henry IV. his ambitious views in the reign of Richard II- i. 2S6, His caufe almoit univerfally efpnu'ed by the nation, ib. Calls a parliament, 287. See Henry IV.
iind York, parties of, and
their argumentE, i. 324, &feg.
Langfide, battle of, remarkable for the defeat of the queen of i>co;s by the earl of Murray, and .her flight into Bngland, ii. 12. 'L'hgton, cardinal, nominated by the pope to the srchbilhopritk of Canter- bury, in order to fet afide the eleftion of the monks on one part, and of the, bifhops on the other, i. 145, Conference between him and king John, 147. He projeds a plan of reforming the government, 152.
Luther, his dod^rines, meet with many partisans in England, i. 391.
Latimer, b'fhop of Worccfter, burnt, i.
49 3- Laud, aichbilhop of Canterbury, his
charafter, ii. 75.
8S. His trial
110. Layer, Mr. his trial and execution for
cnliftingmen for the Preuader, ii,
341. Lenry of government, bad effefts of
the, i. j6y. Leopold, duk; of Aufh'ia, imprifont
Rich;ird 1. of England, i. 127, News
of his captivity arrives, 130. His fc-
vere trcitment, 131. it ranfooKd,
Levellers, fupprcffed by Cromwell, ii,
124-
Lewps battle, and convtmtion of, 1. 187. ;
Lewis, prince of France, invited over by the barons againd king John, i. 161. He arrives in England, and afliimes the executive power, ib, Diigurts the En Jifn by his partiality to his own countrymen, iSz. Alany defert from him and join the king, ib. After the death of king Joha his condutl g ves unibrage to the na- tion, 164. His army routed at Lin- coln, 165. A French fleet alio defeat- ed, 166. Lewis fues for peace, and quits the kingdom, ib.
Libraries, great havock made in the, on the pretext of reformation, in the reign of Edward VI. i. 465.
Limerick capitulates with king Wil- liam's'foices, ii. 272.
Lincoln, battle near, in which king Stephen is made prifoner, i. 85.
Litany, allowed to be celebrated in the vulgar tongue, i. 441.
Liturgy of the church of England abg. lifhed, ii. 1 10.
Lollardifm, the herefy of Wickliffe, fo called, frvcral of no'.e put to dea:ll for emHracing, i. 296.
London, tumults in, in the teign of £d\v.»rd II. i. 2j6.
-, fire of, ii- 192.
Londonderry, fjcge of, ii. 267. RaifeJ, 268.
Londoners, great refentment of king Henry HI. ajtainft, i. 191.
Lotigchamp, bilhop of Ely, and Hugh, bifh'^p of Durliam, aJmimflrators of England, during the abfence of Ri- chai.1 I. on the crufade, caufe many mifchitfs in the kingdom, i. 128.
Longfhanks, whence Edwanj I, acquired that name, i. 221.
Lords, four, counfellors to Charles L requelf to be punifhed in bis rootr, ii. 1^2. Lsuilbojrg taken, i'. 3S8.
M.
INDEX.
M.
MACCLESFIELD, ear! of, tried and convideu ot abufes in Chancery, ii. 342, Fined, ib.
Magna Chavt3,the principal ftipulations oF, in regard to the ckrgy, the ba- rons/ and the p;op!e ot England, i. 1^7. This charter annulled by the pope, End ail adherents to it excom- municated, 159.
Maid of Oikans, called Joan d'Arc, gives rife to one of the moft Cnguljr revolutJois that occur in hiifory, i. 3c8. See a full account of this he- roine under the reign of Henry VL Is tried and burnt lor a witch, 313.
W^ledidtion, cenorfnccd by Henry JIi againil his unoutiful children, i.
M^fplaquet, battle, account of, i>. 309.
Miniftry, Whig, in the reign of queen Anne, dilioiution of, ii. 309.
W?r, earl of, feis up the Pretender's fiandard in Scotland, ii. 32S. Fights with the duke of Aigyle the battle of Sheriff Muir, 329.
Margaret of Arjou, (he famed queen of Henry VI. i. 318. VViiat /hate {he had in the njurdcr of the duke of of Giouceller, uncertain, 319. She colkfts an army in the North, and defeats the duke of York, in the bat- tle of Wakefitld, wherein he is kill- ed, 331. 0^tains a viftory over the earl of Warv/ick, 332. Raiies a great army againft Eaward IV. 333. \¥ho defeats her in the baule ot Tuw- ton, in Yorkfliire, ib. She flies to Scotland with her huftand Henry, 354. Makes an inroad into Eng- land, acconipanied by him, but is defeated at Hcxhanr;, ib. Strange adventures of this queen, who efcapes abroad, ID. Confederacy bct^^een her party and Warwick, 337. Upon herhufband's being again proclaimed king, fhe lands at Weymouth, where ihe receives the fatal news of the death of Warv»ick, and the total de- ftruftion of her party, 341. Takes lefuge in the abbey of Beaulieu, ib. Is again encouraged to take arms, but is defeated in the battle of Tewkef- tnryjib. Is made prifoner with the prince her fon, who is murdered, 342. Is confined in the Tower, and after- ■wfards ranfomed, ib. Margaret, princeft, daughter of H.nry
VII. marriage o'', with the king of Scotland, i 374. Maribcrotigh, duke of, gains an un- bounded influence over queen Anne, and chiefly by the means of his wife, her particular confidante, ii. 181. The queen embraces his counfel in regard to war againft France, accord- ing to the plan of her predeceiTor, 282. He is appointed general of the allied army, 225, His progrefs in Flanders, ib. His fecond campaign alfo in Flanders, 285. The next, he marches into Germany, 2S6. Is joined by prince Eugene, ib. Defeats with him the French in the battle of Blenhe'm, 287. Battle of Ramilies, in which he is equally luccefsful, 292. Caufes of his difcontent, 300. StiH remains at the head of the allied army, and diftinguifties himlelf by great, though dear-bought viftorics, 3C4. Refigns all his employments, 507. Is accordingly dilmiiTed, 311. Retires to the continent, 316. Is reftored to the command of the army by George I. 312. And is made'.a member of the cabinet council, or junto, ib. Marriage, projects of, by Henry VIII,
i. 424"
— — — — , clandeftine, aft for prevent- ing, ii. 371.
Marfton-moor, battle of, in which the , royahfts are defea'ed, ii. 109.
Mary, Henry VIU's daughter by queen Catharine, excluded the fucceflion, i. 404. Reftored to that right, 4^6. Adheres to the mafs, 457. Set alide from inheriting by the intrigues of ' Northumberland, 470. Her title, however, to the crown, is univerfally acknowleged, and flie is proclaimed queen, 477.
■ I. hirtory of the reign of, i. 474.
On the death of Edward, four prin- cefles might affert their title to the crown, ib. Of thele, two only put in their ptetenfions, Mary, by right of promogeniture, and Jane Grey, Upon the fupport of the duke of Nor- thumberland, ib. Mary writes to the nobility and gentry, defiring their fupport, 475. Lady Jane is con- ftraiaed to accept of the fucceflion,
476. Is proclaimed in London, ibid. Mary's caule is efpoufed by great jiumbers, ib. Northumberland fets out with fome troops tooppofe Mary,
477. The council declares for Mary, ib- Whofe title to the crown is uni-
verfaily
I N D E X.
verfilly acknowlege!, iK Princcfs Elizabeth joins her with a thoufinJ horfe, 47S. Northumberland is ar- refteJ, ib. Is tried and ex-cutcd, ib. Mary makes htr entrance into Lon- don, 479. Popular a£ts of the qucn, ib. Catholic religion reftored, ib. Several bifliops lent to prifon, ib. Jucige Hales for oppcfing thole pr-c- tices, is thrown into prifon, 4^0. Se- vere treatment of Cranmcr, ib. Num- bers of Prottflants quit the kingdom, 481. A pariiamrnr, ib. Mafi is celebrated before the two hoitfeF, ib. The ftatutes of the late reign, con- cerning religion, are repealed, ib. The queen's difltk* to the princcfs Elizabeth, 482. The parliament is diflbjvrd, ib. Th: mifs re 'ored, ib. Articles of the qocen's marri^^e with Philip of Spain, 483. Trtaty of marriage figned, ib. Wyatt's infur- reftion, ib. SMpprclTcd, and Wyatt executed, 484. Severe treatment of piincefs Elizabeth, ib. Execution of lady Jane Grey, an 1 lord Guilford Dudlev, 435. Execution of the duVe of Suffolk, 486. Trial of fir Ni- cholas Throgmorton, ib. The people .-ire dl farmed, ib. A new paiiiament, ib. The emperor lends over money to bribe the members, 487. The parliament diflblveJ, ib. The queen impatient for Philip's arrival, ib. He arrives in England, 48S. His extreme referve, ib. A new parlia- ment,, ib, Cardinal Pole arrives, as legate from the pope, 4S9. Extraor- dinary nddrefs of the rarliament to the king and queen, ib. The qu-.en's fuppofed pregnancy proves to be a dropiieal diforder, 490. The pailia- ment ciflblved, 491. Gardiner and cardinal Pole have great influence in the council, ib. Violent }er editions, ib. Hooper, bifhop cf G!oucfft?r, and Roferj, prebendary of St. Paul's, are cot.deii-.ncd to be biunr, ib. t%e- cuticn of Sanders and Taylur, 402. The biftiops of London, Worcfftrr, and St. David's are bornt, 49 V A "Woman of Gurrn'ey burnt with her infant, ib. The aJminiftration be- comes cx'remelv odioKS, ^94. Grofs artifice of Philip, ib. An attempt made to introduce the inqnifition, ib. An arbitrary proclamation, ib. Num- bers of I'KOi'le executed, il>. Embaffy fent to Ronie, 495. Difcontents in the nation, 496. A parliament, ib. Diflolved, ib. 1 he queen's exionions And arbiirary govcriimentj 497. Ex-
ecution of Cranmer, 49S. Cardinal Pole is made archbifhop of Cantre- bury, 499. Preparatiops for war with Trance, 5CC. The queen con- tinues to exafl money by arbitraiv means, ib. An .irmy is fent overtj the Low Countries, 501. Many of the gentry are carried to the Tower, ibid. Calais is taken by the French, ib. The queen much ifiiilcd at this lofs, 502. llcr death and dmnlXer, ibid.
Miry, queen of Scot-, ilifguft betwfeni her and queen Elizabeth, 1!. 3. See Eli-iabeth, for the particulars regard- ing this queen to her death.
Ma/ham, Mr?. poflelTes !;iea; favour w\th queen Anne, ii. 2j)b'. The tool 'nt Mr. Harley, fecretaiy of ftaie, ib. She afterwards favmirs Colingbiokc, nnti HarJey isdifmiffcJ, 319.
Ma.Tjcre, projifled, of (he Normany, foon after their conqucft of England, i. 51.
Matilda, dauj.hter of Malcolm FII. kinj of Scotland, and niece to Erigar Athding, marries Henry 1. of Eng- hnd, i. 73. , Matilda, daughter to Henry I. marrief the emperor Henrv V. and, after hi» <^e 'th, GeofTry Plantagejicr, eldeft fon of the duice of Anjoti, i. 79, Is recognized as heir of all herfa-her's dominions, ib, Atter Stephen's be- coming king, is p'Oclaimed by her uncle, David, king of Scotland, 82. Lands in England, S4.. Stephen made pr'/oner in the battle near Lincoln, 85. Matilda flies to Winchefter upon the revolt of the Londoner;, where file is befieeed, 86. Her brother, the earl of Gl()ut>ftcr, made prifoner, and Stcph:-n rcledfed for him, 87. Ma- tilda dcpofed, and Stephen recog- nized, whereupon (he quits the king- dom, ib.
Matthews and Leftock. admirals, their behivioiir iu tho Medt terra nran, ii. 3 5g. Tried hy a court- n>artia1, anil itran^-e fcaieiice pafTed upon thcmi itid. '
Mayor, the r'ght by charter of clt-ftirg annually a, fnft g-ven hy king John to the citv o> London, i. io_-.
Meal-tub pl.)r, ii. 23.-).
Mllenarians, conspiracy of, sgti'nft Cromwc'l, ii. 169. Jnfurreftion 0 , ui>der Chirlr* II. rSjj..
Miiidcii, battle of, ii. 394.
MiolOert of Richard H. iheir CxpuKioa or execution, i. iSlr.
Monallcties. S'-'c M jnk;.
IN D E X.
Monk, general, to whom was refervsd ihe giory of re-eftablifliing monarchy, fooie account of, ii. J74. Negocia- tJon between him ?nd ihe committee of £»fety, 175. Enters London, 176. Marches iiuo the city, and deHroys the gates, ib. New nrjodels his army to the purpofts he had in view, 177. Privately leceives a meffage fti'm the king, 178. And feconds tl:e views of' his rtftaration, 179. Created duke of Albemarle, a£\s as a gallant admiral agjinft the D tch, ii. 190. His con- duft whe/s dc Iluyter appeared in the Thamef, 191. Monks endeavour to ir.fl.ime the people agaii.ft Henry Vlll. i. 4C9. Their revenues leizcd, 410. Their mona- fieries totally fuppre(i'td, 411. Mt'mnouth, the kings declaration in regard to the i'legnimacy of, ii. 231. His invafion, 245. Affumes the tiile of king, 246. Is defeated, taken, and executed, 247. Montfoid, earl of Leicefter, confpuacy of, ). 179. Still ardent in purluit of his ambitious profpecls, forms a con- fe'Jeracy with the prince of Wales, who h^d invjdcd Enghnd with th-rty thoufand men, jSi. Vigience of his faftion ov-'rfpre'ds the kingdom, 183. • Rofufes, with bis p^rty, to fubmjt to the award of Lewis IX, of France, and rentws hollilities, 764. Gains the battle of Lcv.es, vio'atcs the trea- ty there entered into, and governs in the muft aibitrayy manner, 1S7. Summons a new parliament, 188. Is totally defeated in the battle of Evcfham by prince Edwaid, and kill- ed, 191. Montiole arrives in Scotland, ii. 141. Js defeated and token, ib. His fpe-'ch before his execution, 142. Is hinged on a gallows thirty feet high, 143. More, fir Thomas, has the feals deli- vered to him on the king's difplea- fure againft Wolfey, i. 397. Is com- mitted to the Tower, 4O5. His trial, 4c 7. Beheaded, 408^. Mortimer, his criminal commerce with the queen of Edward II. more than fufpctfed, i. 238. His impatience to accelerate the king's death, ib. Pro- cures the earl of Kent, brother to Ed> ■ward II. to be executed, 242. Great ciiiontents againft him, ibid. Con- fpiracy againft him, ib. Js taken by furprife, and executed, 243. Mcrluner's Crois, battle ot, (ignal for deciding the conuii between the
Yorkifis and Lancaftrians^ when Ed- ward IV. affumed the trowji, i.
33^-
Mountfort m,akes an alliance with Ed- ward III. i. 25C. Made prlfoner, 2 57. Spirited conduft of the count- efs of MouiUfort, ib.
Murray, e^rl of, regent of Scotland, ii. J 2. Alliflinated, 14^
N
N.
ASEBY, battle of, proves decl- five of the fate of Charles 1. ». .13.
Navy, French, defeated in the reign of Edward III. i. 2^0.
Newaik, odventu.fi of Charles I. in the Scottifh camp at, ii. 1J4,
Newport, trejty of, ii. 125. How made intfTein^ual, r27.
Nidga'a, fort, furrendered, ii. 390.
Nimpguen, peace of, ii. 213,
Norfolk, duke of, and his fon, the carl ofSury, lent to the Tower, and at- tainted, i. 446. Warrant for their ex-cution ful'pcn.ied by the death of Henry VI n. 447.
-■ duke of, his confpiracy againft
queen Eliz.^beth, ii. 14. Is commit- ted to the Tower, 15. Releafed from the Tower, ib. Enters into a ntw confpir.icy, difcovcred by acci- oent, 17. Committed again to the ToWer, tried, and executed, ib.
Nor.TiafiS, the fettlement of the, in France, how eff^fted, i. 30.
N orris, fir John, prevents a French in- vafion, ii. 359.
Northampton, battle of, wherein the Lancaftrians ate defeated, i. 329.
Northumberland, duke of, in the reign of Edward VI. meuns ufed by him to obt.iin a parliament to his will, i. 469. His prujeft of changing the fuccelhon, 470. A fon of his marries lady Jane Grey, 471. The judges hefitate to Comply with his fettlement in favour of lady Jane Gr;y, which is at laft accomplifhed, 473. Northumberland fets out with troops to oppofe Mary, 477. Is ariefled, tried, and execut- ed, 478. Declares himfelf a mem- ber of the church of Rome at his exe- cution, ib.
■ ■ , duke of, executed in
the reign of queen Elizabeth for fa- vouring M^ry, queen of Scots, ii, 17, Nottingham, countefs of, informs queen Elizabeth 0.1 her death-bed, ot the
fatal
INDEX,
fatal tiTCtinift.ince of the ring, given her by Eifex to deliver to licr inajefty, ii. 43. Novi Scotia, difpute about the limic* of, ii. 371.
O.
OAK, Chnlcs II. after his defeat at Worceder by Cromwell, concejls hifnfcif aniuiijj the boughs ot an, ii.
Oath, conreqiieacc of taking a fslCe, as related by muiiki(h hiftorians, i.
20.
— — , extraordinary, uken by king John on li's fubmiflion to the pope. i. 149,
Oates's narrative of tlie PooiGi plot, ii. 2iy Coiivi£led of perjury, 245. Sentence paiTeJ upon, ib.
Odo, uterine brother to William the Conqueror, upon wlmt account im- prifoncd by him, i. C2. Releaied with^ difficulty about the time of Willia-n'sde-.th, 63.
OTa, a S.ixon king of EfTfx, makes a vow of ch.iflity, notWithftanding his marriage with Kenefwitha, a Mer- cian princf^fs, i. 8.
Orange, Wil iatn prince of, mirried to the lady Miry, dau^hier of the duke of York, ii. £1-. His political con- duft, 256. Is applied to by the Eni;lifh, 257, His preparations, ib. His declaration, 259. He embarks, ib. Lands in EnglinH, ib. Isjoined by naJny perfons of diilinilion, 260. ^ (fumes the reins of government, iS~. His private declaration, 264. Proclaimed king, and his wife Mary, queen, jbid,
Orleans, mencorible fiege of, in the reign of Henry VI. i. ^505.
Ormond, eatl ot. cutscfftbe Spaniards, who had ir>v..aed Ireland, ii. 18.
, duke of, his fncceis at' Vigo, Ji. 2S3. Upon the difmifli'jn of the duke of Marlborough is inverted With the fupeme command of the Britifli forces, 314. Refufcs to co- operate with prince Eugene, 3 1 5. Is dtfinifl:;d from his command by George 1. 322. Rclbiuiions to impe.ich him with others, 325. Is attainted, 327. Retires to Fiance, 328. Engages in thefervice of the Chevalier, and cor- rcfponds with the Tories ;n Engl:ind, ib. Expedition projefted at the court ot Spain, to be under hia diiedtion, but mifcarries, 3';7. Ha vifu to ',he
earl of Oxforl in the Tower, before he leic EngUnd, 3 •;".
0/born, Fit/, commonly called Long- beard, at the head of the populace of London, eaufes a riot, which threa en- ed that capital with deflruftion, ib. 136. His gibbet, believed by the mob to be endowed with preternatural power, 137.
Otho, a king of Mercia, treacherouflj? dettroys Ethelbert, king of the Eift- Angles, at an entertainmen', i. 8. Makes a pilgr'mJge to Rome, and procures the papal ahfolution, ibid- Conciliates farther the ponllrjcal fa- vour by a y:'.uly donation ib.
Overbury, fir Thoma-!. See Carre, earl of Somerfet. S')ine acccruplices of his murder are e*e;utcd, ii. 56.
PANDOLF, the pope's iegtte, in an interview with king J )hn, receivci his fubinillion to thipope, i. 140. See Philip of France.
Par, Catharine, married to Henry Vlil. i. 436. H;r preat addrefs when or- ders were iffued for articles of im- peachment to be drawn up againft her, 444. 'ihe kins is reconcileil to her, 445, Married again to the admiral, lord Thomas Seymour, 454, Dies in child-bed, 455.
Paris, Van, bumt for herefy, in the reign of Edward VI. 457.
Parliament ail^l convocation, their ex- treme obfetiuioufncfs to Henry VIH.
i. 417- Parliamcnt, long, ferment begun in, at
leng'h pervaded the nation, ii. 89.
Purged, 128. Diilolved, 171. — —— — , bft, or the Commonwealth,
v/licreby Charles II. ii re(^ orcd to the
crown of England, ii. 179. , fiul, of Charles II. diffolvcd,
ii. 224.
Parliaments, two, fitting at the fame time, ii. loS.
Parties, ftate of, in the beginning of the reign of queen Anne, i). 2S1. To- wards the middle of her reign, 293.
Paulinus, a learned bilhop, induces Ed- win, king of NorthumherUnd, and his tounfcllurs to cmbiaci Chrilliani-
Peada, the S'xon king of Mercn, by the perUlafion of his ^ueeii, adopts with his fubjecls the Chriftian itL- g^on, i. S,
Pembroke,
INDEX.
Pembroke, Ciil of, and mariliai of Eng- land at the death of king John, efpoufcs the caufe of his fon young Henry, and has him folemnly crown- ed, i. 164. Makes him grant a new charter of liberties, together with the Charta Foreft?, ib.. Is chofen guaidian to the king and proteflor of the kingdom, ib. Dies, 167. See X.ewis, prince of France.
, earl of, with his forces,
taken at fea, by a fleet of the king of Caftile, i. 273.
Penn and Veiiablcs take Jamaica, ii 163.
Peikin Wa'ber, his irr.poirure, i. 364. See Henry Vlh for his hiftory.
Petition of right, ii 71.
Petitions, like aHdreiTeS prefented to the commons of the lone parJiatnenr, not only from fev^ral coiint-.e', buc from apprentices, porters, and beg- gars, ij. 99.
Pi^tirion and ad vie, humble, framed and preftnted tu Cromwell, ii. 167.
Peter-pence, an import levied on ail Ziifl.tnd, proves the orcafion of many ecclefiaftical abule;, i. S.
Peter of Pomfrtrt, a hermit, how pu- nifhed by king John? for prediding to him the lois of his crown, i. 151.
— — — dc Roches, bifhop of Winchefter, appointed miniftir on the dil'placing of Hubert de Burjh, i. 171. His charaftcr and procecviingj, 172.
Philip, of France, levies a great army to invade England, in conlequence of the grant made to him of its crown by the pope, on the depofition ot king John, i. 148. Inhibited by the pope's legate from making any atrempt upon England, king John having reconcil- ed himfeif to the pope, 150. King Philip exclaims againft the condudl of the pope, and ret'olves to accompiifli the enterprize, ib. But is obliged to abandon it on the Englifh admiral's burning his /hips in their harbours, ibid.
_ of Spain, articles of his mar-
riage with queen Mary iigncd^ i. 483, Married to her, 4SS. His extreme referve, ib. His grots artifice, 494. Sends over to queen Elizabetn propo- fals of marriage, which ihe declines, ii. 2.
Philip, Fort St. befieged by the French, capitulates, ii. 377.
Philippa, of Hainault, queen of Ed- ward III. on her knees, and with tears in her eyes, implores and ob- tains mercy for the citizens of Calais, i. 264. Routs the Scots in a battle,
and makes their king, David Bruce, prifoner, 356.
Pids and Scots re.iewr their invafion of the fouthern part of Britain, i. i. Defeated by the Saxons, called in by the Britons to their afliftance, 2.
Plercy, furnamed Hotfpur, his encounter with Dou-las at Otcerburn, i. 283. His infurrecflion, when earl of North- umberland, 290. Henry IV. mirches to meet him, 291, Hotfpur is liain in the battle of Shrewfbury, ib.
PInkey battle, in which the Scots arc defeated, i. 451.
Plantagenet race becomes extinft upon the death of Richard III. i. 358.
Playhoiifes, bill for licenfing, ii. 347,
Pole, Michael de la, his profecytion under Richard 11. i. 279,
, cardinal, arrives as legate from
the pope, i. 439. His great influence in the council, 491. Is made arch- biiTiop of Canterbury, 499. Die^>
Pope levies an exa£lion in England, 1.
Popifli plot, account of, ii. 213.
Portuguefe ambaffado), brother of the, ordered to be beheaded by Cromwell for murder, ii. 159.
PofTeflions of Henry Plantagenet, on the continent, i. 91.
Frelicy reftored, 184.
Prerogative ftrerched by Henry VIII. i. 388.
Prefbyterian clergy eje£led, ii. 188.
Preihyterians and Inaependents, diwdc into parties, each proftfiing different views and intereft?, ii. no. Thcfe denominations defined, iii.
Pretender, fends over a manifefto in the beginning of the reign of George I. ii. 322. His ftandard fet up in Scot- land, 328. He arrives in Scotland, 332. Reimbarks for France, 333.
— — ^^— the young, embarks for, and lands in Scotland, ii. -^bz. Defeats fir John Cope in the batde ofPref- ton Pans, ib. Reduces Carlifle, 363. Marches to Manchefter, and pene- trates to Derby, ib. Retreats to Scotland, 364. Inverts Stirling in- efFeftually, ib. Routs Hawley at Falkirk, 365. Is totally defeated at CuUoden, ib. After many difficul- ties, efcapes to France, 366.
Pride, Colonel, his purge, ii, 128.
Proclamations made equal to laws, in the reign of Henry VIII. i. 423.
ProjeiEt of trying king Charles I. for high treafon, li. 129.
PropoUiions fent by the commons of
the
INDEX.
th« long pirllament to the king, ii. loa. Hisanfwer to them, ib.
Proiertant religion, re-cft*l>li(hcd by queen Ellsiibeih. ii. z.
rrouftanu and Pjpifts, equally per- fecuted by Henry VIII. i. 42S.
PiulVij, king of, hi8 eXpoiluUtion with king George II. ii. 3^1.
Purit^ins a new rcligioui fcft, dmger- ous to monarchy, colle£lt Arenuth in EnjsUnd, ii. 75. Sjlit in parties, derioininated Ijideprndenrs as well ai Prcfbytcrians. i)ce Prelbytcriani.
Q
UADRUPLE alliance, ii.
335-
, Spain ac.'cdcs to it,
337.
Quarrel between king John and the pope, i. 144.
Quebec, expedition to, ii. 391. Sur- renders, 391.
Querouaille, Mademoifclle de, after- wards duchefs of Poitlinouth, mi- ftrefs to Charles II. ii. 197.
Quo Warrantos, ii. 138.
R.
RADCLIFFE, Mr. his trial and execution for rebellion, ii.
367- Raleigh, fir Walter, how affetftcd by the rcvohition of Eflex's being re- ttorcd to the queen's favour, ii. 37. Receives an account of Efiex's con- fpiracy, 41. His confpiracy with the h)rds Cobham and Grey in the reign of James I. 45. Is releafed from the Towcr,57. And fails on an enterprize to Guiana, 58. Com- plaints made againft this expedition hy Gondemar, the .Spanifh ambaf- i'ador, ib. V\' hereupon his d.ath ■warrant isfigncd, and he iscxecut-
Famillics, battle, account of, u. 292. Mebel lords, tried and executed, ii.
367- Rebellion in Yorklhire againft Henry
VIII. luppreffcd, i. 418. Records, all the, and ancient monu-
n>cnts of Scotland, dellroytd by
Edward I. i. 104. Reafcn, famous, or tnchanted flan-
durd, held by the Danes in fuper-
ftitious venerattoi') !• 16.
Vot. II.
Reformation, iti great progrcft J» Scotland, ii. 3.
Regicides, trial and execution of thr, ii. 131. Others executed, 187.
Religion of Henry VIII. hi.s quctn, Anne, and hi» minifters, i. 405.
, Commiffioncrs appoints J
by Henry VIM. to chool'e a, lor the people, i. 431. Iiiftitutjon of a CiirilUan Man, a '.mall voluni* pnblilhcd, 432. A n.-.v one ordti- ed to be compofcd, with the title of. Erudition of a Chriftian Man, 452.
Remonftrii-.ice of the Long Parlia- ment, dilated by a true republi- can fpirit, li. 94. Aufwered by Charles I. ib.
Revenue, fettlemcnt of, in the be- ginning of tlic leign ot Charles II. ii. i8i.
Rhc, cx.pedition to the IDe of, ii. 70.
Richard I. fucceeds without oppofi- tion his fatlier Henry il. i. 122. Releafos the queen-dowajjer from her confinement, and behaves ex- ceedingly liberal to his brother John, ib. Goes to Normandy, and is abfolvcd from his crime in taking up arms againft his father, ilj. Arrives in England, ib. Mailacre of the Jew.s, ih. Richard's expe- dients to raife money for the cru- fade, 124. He renounces his iupc- riority over the klnj^dom of Scot- land, ih. The French and Englifh rendezvous at Vezejay, ib. The two armies embark, 125. Are driven to Mcfllna, ib. The Eng- lifh, intuited by the citizens, take the place by alTault, ib. The two fleets fet fail from bicily, ib. The Englifhare driven on the ifland of Cyprus, 126. Richard marries Bc- rengaria, ib. Arrives in Paleftine, ib. Acre is taken by the Chri- ftians, ib. King of France returna to his own dominion.s, ib. Richard obtains a vi'itoryovcr Saladin, 127. Takes Afcalon and other cities, ib. Malics a truce with the Saracens, and returns from Paleftine, ib. ^ la irapril'oned by order of Leopold, duke of Auftria, lib. State of alTa.rsin Ei^'lund, 128. Arbitrary coududl of L.'ngchainp, 129. Coun- cil fummoned at Reading, ib. Longchamp quits the kingdom, ib. The news of Richards captivity ar- rives in England, 130. Treaty be- f £ twsca
INDEX.
tvctCR t!»c king of France, and piincs J hn, ib. Philip invades Normandy, ib. Makes a truce with tiic Englifli regency, ib. John eiide.ivours to rail'e an infurreiilion in England, 131. Goes over to France, ib. Severe treatment of RicharJ, ib. He is produced be- fore the diet of W'orms, ib. Re- futes the charges brought again ft him, 131. His Ipirit a.nd eloquence upon the occafioi;, ib. Is runfom- ed, 133. Returns to England, 13.4. Goes to Xorm;',iidy, ib. Holtilities tetween the king and Philip, which terminate in a truce, ib. John makes fubmiffinrj, ib. Richard Receives a wound in befieging the caftle of Chalus, 1J5. Death of Bichaid without ifl'uc, 136. His charadler, ib. H's perfonal cou- rage procured him the name of Cccur de I. ion, ib. Often levied taxes vv.thout the confent of the ftatcs, ib. Fitz-Ofborn's ri t in London, 137. Cord'cquer.ccs of it, ib.
^ichard, earl of Cornwall, king Henry Illii's bruther, gives him dif- turbancc, and forces him by a con- federacy to comply with his mea-
" fures, 171. Rcjc<5cs the ofier from the pope of the Ringdi.m of Sicily, which is accepted by the king, 175.
RichiTd n. was but eleven years of age, when he afccndcd the throne
■ of his grandfather, Edward III, i. 275. btate of the government
■ during his mir.crity, ib. Impofition of a till pf three groats, 176. In- furrcCL.oiis of the common people, ib. Great outrages committed in London, 277. Ariother body of iu- furgents break into 'the Tower, ib. Intrepid bciiaviour of the king, 27S.
' The ringie;iders of the rioters fe- verely puniflied, ib. Difcontent of the barons, 279. Prnfecution of the earl of Suffolk, ib. Violent proceedings of parliament, ib. The fovereign power is transferred to a committee of fourteen perfons, 280. Civil commotions, ib. Expulfion or execution of the king's minifters, 281. The king recovers his autho- rity, 2S2. Battle of Otterburn, ;8;. The king goes to Ireland, vifhere he quells an infurreiSlion, ib.
' A truce with Frarice, ibid. Cabals of the duke of Gloucefler, ib. Is
• arrefted, 284. Many of his adher-
ents condemned, ibid. Murder of the duke of Gloucefler, ib Banifh- ment of the dukes of Norfolk and Hereford, 285. Death of the duke of lancafier, ib. Ambitious views of the duke of Hereford, ib. Ri- chard emb.irks for Ireland, 286. Hereford, now duke of Lancaflerj lands '.n England, ib. His caufc is a'.moft; univerfally efpoufed by the nation, ib. The king returns to England, 287. He is made pyi- foner and brought to I,ondon, ib. Lancafter calls a parliament, ib. The king is depofed and murdered, 288. His character, ib. Richard III. Hiftory of the reign of, i. 352. Gives orders immediately after being feated on the throne, for murdering his nephews, Ed- ward V. and Richard, duke of York, ib. Duke of Buckingham, dfifcontented, refolves to declare for Henry, earl of Richmond, 353. Opens a negociation with h'm, in order to place him on the thror;e, 354. Infurredlion, headed by Buck- ingham, ibid. His army difperfes, a'.id he is taken "and executed, 355, A parliament meets and ratifies the king's authority, ib. Richard endeavours to conciliate the York- iils, ib. Projeds a marriage with his own niece, 356. Invafion by the earl of Richmond, ibid. Battle of Eofworth, ib. Richard dies, fighting valiantly, 357. His crown placed an the head of the coijqueror, 358. Extincftion of the Piantagenet race, and the contefis between the houl'cs of Vork and Lancafter, ib.
fucceeds his father Oliver
Cromwell, in quality of protedlor to the Commonwealth of England, ii. 171. His abdication, 172.
Ridley, bifliop of London, burut, i. 493.
Right, divine, hereditary, and inde- feafible, preached up, ii. 76.
Rio-hts, declaration of, at the revolu- tion, ii. 264.
Ring, hiffory of, given by queen Eli« zabeth to Eflex, ii. 43.
Rings, four, fent as a prefent from the pope to king John, i. r43- "Il^^ir emblematical devices, ib.
Rioters in London feverely punifhcd, i. 168.
Rippon, treaty of, ii. 84, Transferred to London, 85.
■J Rivers,
INDEX.
Rivers, csrl of, arrcfled, i. 347. Exe- cuted ;it Pomlrot, with others, ■?46. Rizzio, Duvid, a favourite with Mary queen oi' Scots, account of the mur- der of, ii. 5, iSw fcq. Robert, ion to William tlie Conque- ror, diflcntion between him and his father, i. 50. Khes to the eaftlc of Gcrberoy, 60. Encounters his fatlier by accident, wounds and un- horfes him, ib. Struck with rc- jnorfe, begs pardon, but receive", his malediction, 6r. Reconciled to hisfather, and carried itno England, ib. Left by his father's wiil duke of Normandy, 63. Engajifes in tlic crufade, and to appear with dig- nity therein, mortgages his duke- dom to his brother William, 69. On his return from Palcftine, fails in love with, and marries Sybilla, an Italian lady of celebrated beauty, vs. This alliance, from the delay he made in that country, excludes him lor ever from the ibvereigiity of England, ib. Takes, however, at length poireflion of the Norman duchy, and laying claim to England, invades it, 74. Acconmiodatlon with his brother Henry, who after- wards forms a defign of making a conqucft of Normandy, 75. Robert is totally defeated by him, and dies 'detained his prifoncr, during a term of twenty. eight years, 76.
Rochford, expeaition againfl, abor- tive, ii. 382.
Rocheford, couptcfs of, attainted and beheaded with queen Catharine Howard, i. 431.
Rogers, prebendary of St. Paul's, burnt, i. 492.
RoHo, a chieftain of the Danes, how he efFefted a I'ettlcmcnt in France, i . 30.
Romans reWnquifli Britain, i. i.
R(jfamotnl, d:iughter of lord Clif- ford, ilTue of king Henry II. by her, i. I2Z.
Rofbach, battle of, i. 392.
Round-heads and cavaliers, whence that name of diftindion, and for what purpofcs calculated, ii. 9^.
Royalifls, their viiSlories in the Weft, ii. 107.
■ infurrefllon of, againft
Cromwell, ii. 160. Supprcircd, 161. Coiifpiracy of, j6<i.
Rupert, prince, diflinguilhes himfelf
• • ^1 moft of the battles aga-nft die
long parliament, by promptitude
and courage, ii. 106. Rupert's fprited condudl in the rcion
of Chaiics il. n. Uj' . Rufill, lord, trial of, ii. 141. Hit
execution, a^t. Rump-parliameiir, proceedings <«f tlie,
ii. 128. Rcfloiid, 17Z. Ex|ellcd,
173. Reflored, »7 5. Rye-houfe plot, ii. 240. Execution
of the confpirators, 241* ,
Ryfwick, treaty of, li. 27S.
^ACHEVEREL, Dr. acco-mt of, ii.
O S"!- His rri:.l, 302. Leiiity of hio feiiteiice, 303.
Sackville, lord George, declared inca- pable by a court-martial, t>f ferving in any mihtary con.manct, 394.
Saladin, vidory obtained by Richard I. of England, over, in the Holy l.aiid, i. '27.
Salifoury, counrefsof, executed, i. 425
Sanders *iid Taylor burnt, i. 492.
Sandwich, death of that gallant ad- miral, in the battle of iolebay, ii. 204.
Sarcafin pafTcd by the French king on William the Corqiicror's great bel- ly, how retaliated, 1. 62.
Sautre, William, a clergynvin and fol- lower of Wickilfc, the firll that fuflfered death in England for the fake of religion, i. 294.
Saxons arrive in l.'ritaiii, i. 1. Defeat the Pidls and Scots, ib. Fight ma- ny battles with the Erjtnns for fu- periority, and at length (.'cfeat them intirely, 3. Spread thcmfclves over Britain, and cllablifh that divifion of the country known by the name of the Heptarchy, 5. See Hep- tarchy.
Schombcrg. duke of, is lent with an army to Ireland, 267. Is (lain in the battle of the Boyne, 270.
Scotland, claim of Edv/ard 1. to, how finally dei-i^lcd^ i. sij'j, & feq.
Scotland annexed to the common- wealth of England, ii. 151.
Scots lake up arms againft the Englifti, /. 2i(. The Engliili defeated, 21J. Great diflcntioiis among them on approach of Kdwaid I. 214. Are deJeu;cd by hir.i in the battle cf Falkilk. 115. They, however, per- fcvcrc in their efforts for recovering lh:ir r,nc:c:;t independence, 2tfi. F f a Are
INDEX.
Are routed a: Rofline:, Jb. Are again attacked by Edward with great force, and their whole king- dom fubdued, 217.
Scots, in the reipn of Henry VIII. routed at Sulway-Mofs, i. 434, Sec Solwiy-Mofs.
Scriptures, new traiiHation of the,pub- lifhed in the reign of Henry VIII. i. 411.
Scruples entertained ny Nenry VIII. concerning his marriage with Ca- therine of Arragiin, i. 391.
Sea-fight of fnur days, between the Englilh and Dutch, ii. 191.
Selt-denying ordinance, what, ii. iit.
Scnex, John, a man eminent in the city of London, botii for wcahh arid reputation, hanged by order of Henry II. for an attempt to commit a moli daring robbery, i. lix.
Septennial a.&, motion for the repeal of, ii. 346.
Seymour, Jane, married to Henry VIII. the very day after the execution of Ann Buleyne, i. 416. Her death,
4:1-
m-. — lord Thomas, admiral, jea-
Joufy between him and his brother the protcclor, i. 453. Marries the queen dowager, 454. His intrigues at court, ib. Pays his addrefs on the dowager's death to the printcfs Eli- zabeth, 455. Continues his cabals, is attainted and executed, 456. Shiiftcfoury joins the country party, ii. 206. l.s bent upon the ruin of the duke of York, 231. Trial of, a ^7- His deiperate fchemes, 439. Retires to Amilerdam, v.-herc he dies, 240. ship-money, levied by Charles I. ii. 68. Sh'ps, French, burnt by the Englifti adn:iral in tiicir harbours, to pre- vent an intended invalion of Eng- land, i. 150. Shrewibury, bat'leof, between Henry
IV. and Hotfpur, i. zpi. Solebay, battle of, between the En^
glilh and J)uteh, ii. 204. Somerfet, duke of, uncle and protec- tor to Edward Vi. See Edward VI. for an account of his adminiftration to his death, i. 448. South-lea fcheme, how that affair ter- minated, ii. 33"^. Spanifli depredations in America, how
committed, ii. 345. Stafford, earl of, tried and executed, on account of the Popifh plot, ii.
. 8
Stanley, lord chamberlain, executed ort account of favouring the impoftor Perkin Warbec, i. 367. Star-chamber, and high-commifiioii
courts, feverities of the, ii. 78. Steele, Mr. expelled the houfc of
commons, ii. 3 18. Stephen, notwithftanding the endea- vours of Henry I. to fecure the fuc- ceflion to his daughter Matilda, reigis immediately after him, i. 80. He was the fon of Ade i, Henry's filter, married to the cc .nt of Blois, ib. Arrives in Engl: ;d, 81. Is crowned, ib. Endeavours to obtain the contidtnce of the nation, 8:. Matilda proclaimed by her uncle Eavid, king of Scotland, who ma'nes inroads into the northern parts of England, ib. Great difordtrs in the kingdom, 83. Synod at Weflmin- fler, 84. Matilda lands in Eng- land, ib. Battle near Lincoln, 85. Stephen made prifoncr, ib. Great dilcontents in the nation, 86. The Londoners revolt, ib Matilda flies to Winchefter, where file is befieg- ed, ib. Stephen releafed for the earl of Gloucefter, Matilda's brother, who was m.ade prifoner, 87. Ma- tilda depofed, and Stephen again recognized, ib. Matilda &\es from Oxford, ib. Quits the kingdom, ib. Stephen meets with a more power- ful competitor in Matilda's fon Henry, b8. He invades England, ib. Compromife between the kinjj and the prince, 89. Death of the king in about a twelvemonth after, ib. His character, ib. Stigand, archbifliop of Canterbury, dif- placed by William the Conqueror, on frivolous pretences, i. 5$. Stoke, battle of, fought on account of the pretender Lambert Simnel, i. 361. Stirling, battle of, in which the Eng- lifh are defeated by the Scots, 1- 21 3. Stratford, archbilhop of Canterbury, his intrepid relentment againfl king Edward III. i. 253, 254. Succeffion of the crown, fettled bj parliament before the death of Hen- ry VIII. i. 436. Suc'cefTor, Popifh, limitations propofsd
on a, ii. 217. Suffolk, duke of, impeached in the reign of Henry VL i. 323. Banifh- ed and murdered, 322. — — ~. duke of) executed, i. 486.
Sup-
INDEX.
Snpplics, various methods of raifing,
ii. 8^ Swediih ininifter arrcftcri, on account
of the thrcdtcncd invalloii of Charlt*
Xll.ii. 3^5. Synod iit VVeftminft<rr, i. 84.
TALLARD, marfhal, made pri- Ibiicr in the battle of Blenheim, ii. im.
Tax of three groats, impofition of, in the reign of Richard II. Caul'es iii- lurredjons of rh'j common pt-uple, i. 276. Great outrai^cs committed ill London, 177. Intrepid beha- viour of the kin^, 278. I'he ring- leaders of the rioters feverely pu- nifhcd, ib.
Florence, Ijcge of, by Henry VUI. i. 381.
Teft a(5l, ii. 206. Brought into the houfc of Lords, 2I0.
Tofti, brother to king Harold IL his nwrited fate, i. 44.
Toalon, mil carriage of tlic cnterprlzc agaiiill, ii. ^94.
Tournament, iidvvard I. invited to a, when this trial of ikiil was convert- ed into a hoflile contention, i. 194.
Towton battle, in the county of York, fignal for the defeat of queen Mar- garet, i. 3 :; V
Treatment, cruel, of the king Edward II. i. ij'lJ.
Trial for imprifonmcnt, what account, ii. 68.
Trial of king Charles I. ii. 13 1.
Trial of the marriage of Henry VIIL before the two legates VVoU'cy and Cardinal Campeggio, i. ^95. The caufc evoked to Rome, 396.
Triennial parliaments, bill for, ii. 276.
Tripple alliance, ii. 194.
K- » between England,
dethroned and upon
France, and Holland, ii. 325-
Tudor. See Cutheri/ie, queen to Henry V.
■ . Jafpcr, earl of Pembroke, de-
feated by Edward, the new duke of York, in the battle of Mortimer's Crofs, i. 332. His father, Owen Tudor, made pril'oner, and imme- diately beheaded, ib.
Tumults in London, on account of ])r. Sacheverel, ii. 303.
TyVr and Straw, leaders of a mu- ciuou« f ofuUcc to the amuuut of
one hundred tliouf»n^ men. S«e T« of three groals. Tyrrel, Walter, by accident kills Wil- liam Rufus, king of England, i. 7 i.
U.
UNIFORMITY, aft of, ii. 186. Union between England an4 Scotland, ii. 295.
Univerfities of Europe declare in fa- vour of Henry VIII. concerning hit marriage, i. 400.
Ufurpation of the commons of the long parliament, ii. 09.
Utrecht, conferences f(jr a peace open- ed at, ii. 313. Treaty coucludti there, 317.
Ufbridge, treaty of, ii. 109. Tcrani- nates m reciprocal animofitics, ib.
V.
VAN P., fir Henry, tried and ci- ecuted, ii. 1B8.
Vigo, fuccjls of the EngUfh at, ii. a3 j.
Villicrs, duke of Buckinghum, be- comes a favourite with kiug Jamet I. 56. Impeached in the reign of Charles I. 65. Chofen however, chancellor of the univerfity of Cam- bridge, ib. Is murdered by Fci- ton, 73.
Vernon, admiral, dcftroys Porto BcUo, ii. 350.
Vortigcrn, prince of Damnonium, fendj a deputatiou to Germany, in- viting over the Saxons to the pro- tc(5Hon and aliiftance of ths Briton* againll the Pitils and Scots, i. a. His chara<iler, ib. Depofcd, 3. Reftored, 4. Entertains a paHioa for l<.owena, tlic daughter of Hen* gift, ib. His death, ib.
Vortimer, chofen leader of the Bri- tons upon the dtpofmg of hi« fithcr Vortigern, i. 3. Dies, 4.
W.
WAKEFIELD, bnttle, rcmai^c- able f(.r the duke of York'* being flam in it, i. jii. \VakfiT\an, acquitted m regard to the
popifh plot, ii. 112. WjIis, E'Jward I. P'oj«>5ts an expedi- tion
INDEX.
tion againft, 195. Conqucft of '.hat principality! ib. Frcfli hoftilities between England and Wales, I97. Final conqucft li Wales, 198. .
Wales, prince of, how that title de- rived to the heir of the crown of England, i. 19?.
, the prince of, fon to king
Janies II. birth of, ii. .Tj'^.
-— T — , Frederic prince of, niifunder- ilanding betw-jen him and the king, ii. 348. Attempt to difenga^e him from the country-party, 3 s 3- Re- conciled to the king, 554. Dies,
370-
Wallace, William, the foremofl of the " Scots to refcue his country out of the hands of the Englilh.i. zn. Some account of him previous to this en- ga-rement, ib. Attacks and defeats the Engliib under Warrcnne, 113. Is prefcnted with the dignity of regent or guardian of the kingdom tinder the captive Baliol, ib. M-akcs an irruption into England, and com- mits great ravages, 2 14. Refu^ns the regency, ib. Is taken and brought to London, where he is executed, 217.
Walpole, Sir Rcbert, rifes into emi-
' nence in the Houfe of Commons, ii. 3.-0. Made paymafter of the army at the accefiion of George I. 322. Impeaches lord Bolinirbrokc of high- treafon, 325. Engrofles the greateft Ihare of power in the reign of George I!. 343. His chara<Sler, ib. Sets on foot the excife fcheme, 345. En- tertains apprehenfions for the lofs tof his power, and even danger to his perfon, 353. Refigns all his employments, and is created earl of Orford, 3 !;4. His fucceffors purfue exactly th.e fame meafures they had reprobated in him, ib.
Waifii:gham, fir Franc's, fecretary of ft-ite under cpjeen Elizabeth, ii. 20. Davifon's letter to him, 50.
Walrheof, an Engiilh nobleman, dif- affectedto William the Conoueror, betrayed by his wife Judith, i. 58.
Warrenne marches into Scotalnd, and is defeated by the .Scots, i. 21a. Retires to England, 213.
■^Varwiclt, earl of, after the defeat and difperfion of the Yorkifls at Blore- heath, lands in 'Kent, and afl'em- bles an army in their favour, i. 32q. Defeats the royalills at Northamp- ton, and takes tlie king prifoncr, ip. Is defeated by queen Marga-
ret, 332. G6es abroad to neg'>- ciate a marriage for kinij Edward IV. who, meanwhile, concludes a marriage at home, 335. Rupture between liim and the king, upon w'lich l;ie forms an alliance w;th the duke of* Clarence, ibid. Banilhed with Clarence, 337. He confede-- rates with the partyof Margaret, ib. whofc fon prince Edward, mar- ries his daughter, 338. Clarence is fecretly infligated to dcfert War- wick, who maintains a fecret cor- refpondence with iiis brother, ibid. Warwick and Clarence return, and kiiig Edward is obliged to fly, 339. Warwick hercupcn releaies king Hei:ry from his confinement, ibid. Is killed not long after in the battle of Barnet, 341.
Warwick, earl of, for what executed in tiie reign of Henry VII. i. 372. Sec Wilford.
, earl of, in the reign of Ed- ward VI. takes the lead in the ad- miniftration, i. 463. Prefers articles of inditSlment againfl Sfimerfet, ib. Procures the eilate and title of duke of Northumberland, 466. See Northumberland.
Wentworth, Thomasj earl of Straf- ford, his chardcfher, ii. 75. Im- peached by the long parliament, 86. His trial, hy. Every expedient tried to put off the figning of his death warrant, ibid. Is at length exe- cuted, 88.
Whig and Tory, epoch of the well- known epithets of, ii. t^o.
Whigs, engrofs all public employ- ments in the reign of George I. ii. 322.
Wilford, a cordwainer's fon, perfon- ates the earl of Warwick, the laft branch of the houfe of Plantagenct,
i- 373- William, duke of Normandy, fome account of, before he became king of England, i. 41. Hilcory of his his reign in England, after the de- feat of king Harold, 47. He re- duces the town and caflle of Dover, ib. The Engiifh fubmit to him,
48. He feizes Harold's treafure,
49. Introduces the fame ftridl exe- cution of juflice, which his adminif- tratioR in Normandy had been jiiftly celebrated for, ibid. Places, however, all offices of power in the hands of his own countrymen, ib. Returns to Normandy, jo. Infur-
rcdion
INDEX.
Tcftion in Krnt, ibid, Projedl-jd maffacic of the Normans, 51. lid- win and Morc;ir revolt, ib. State of the Hnfjlilh at tills period ex- tremely deplorable, 52. Williain, commits horrible ravages in the North, 53. His Icvcrity to the Englifli, and partiality to the Nor- mans, 54. Proceedings againft the clergy, ^^i;. His cruelty to prifoii- crs, ^6. He marches north, ibid. Takes anotiier voyage to Norman- «ly, and with an Hnglini army gains I'tveral advaiitaj;es over Philip of France, 57. Infurredlion of the Norman barons, 58. How fup- prefled, ibid. William repairs a- gaiii to Normandy, 59. Diirenfion between him and his i'un Robert, ibid. Who flies to the can;le of Gerberoy, and encounters his fatlier by accideiit, 60. Confequenccs of this affair, 61. DoonifJuy-book planned and compiled, ibid. Tlie New Forell laid out in Hamp- fliire, 63. Odo, bifhop of Faytiix, Wiiliam's uterine brother, for w)i;it imprifor.'.d, ib. Death of Matilda, William's queen, ibid. War in France, 62- William receives a hurt by accident, whicli proves fatal to him, ib. Bequefls of his will, ib. His death and character, ib.
William Rufus, fuccecds his father William the Conqueror, in the throne of England, i. 64. Is crowned by Laniranc, archbifhop of Canterbury, ibid. Confpiracy againd him, 65. The rebels com- pelled to abandon their enterpril'e, ibid. William pays little regr.rd to the flattering promifes he had made the Englifli, 66. Invades Nor- mandy, but an accommodation takes place between the two brothers, ib. 1 illreffcs of Henry, the other brother, ibid. Other difconteius, and a confpiracy, 67. Romantic cnterprizes of the crufades, 6?. His brother Robert, to appear with dignity in them, mortgages to Wil- liam his dukedom of Noriiumdy, by wliicli it became once more united to England, 69. His quar- rel with Anfelm, archbiflioj) of Canterbury, 70. An accident puts an end to all his ambitions purluits, 71. Is found flain in the New Forcft, ibid. His charader, ibid. Monuments remaining of him, il).
William III. and Mury [l. hiftory of
thcrc:;;nof, ij. 265. Ancwminiftry, ib. The convention converted int« a parliament, ib. William's efforts in favour of the diffcnters, ib. 'J"hc Scots recognize king William, 266. The king of France aflills James in maintaining pofleflion <.f Ireland, ib. James lands in Ireland, ib. Great hardlhips of the Irifh protef- tants, ib. Many of them take re- fuge in Londonderry and Inniikil- ling, 267. Siege of Londonderry, ib. The fuge is raifcd, 26S. Op- prefllon of the Pmtcflants, ib. Ar- bitrary condudl of James, ib. Duke of .Schomherg is fciu with an arfny to Ireland, ;6q. William lands in Ireland, ib. Battle of the Boyne, 270. The duke of Schomherg killed, ib. James embarks for France, 271- Ginckle, defeats the Irifli at Aughrim, 272. Limerick capitulates with the king's forces, ib. Fourteen thoufand Irilh emi- grate to France, ib. Confpiracy aga'nfl the goverment, 273. The confpiracy is difcovcred, ib. Pre- parations for a defcent upon Eug- iand, ib. Admi.al Ruffel puts to lea, 274. Battle oiT La Uogue, ib. Ifnpopular conduifl of the ki:i"-, 275. Bill for triennial parliaments, 276.^ Codfpiracy to afi'afllnate the king, ib. The confpiracy is dif>;o- ed, 277. Execution cf fir John Freind, and others, ib. Bill of at- tainder againft fir John Fcnwick,
279. Treaty" of Ryfwic!;, ibid. The number of ftanding forces re- duced, 279. Death of the king,
280. His chara<5ber, and that of his queen, ibid,
Windfor, magn'ficent caflle of, how built by Edward III. i. 274.
Wolfe, general, dies glorious in vic« tory, ii. 391.
Wolves extirpated in England, i. 27.
Woodville, Elizabeth, married to Ed- ward IV. i. ^3j.
VVooifty becomes niinifler. See Henry VIII. for his hlAory to the time of his death.
Woodllock, munor of, obtained hf the duke of iVIarlborough, where a palace is built for him at the pub- lic expencc, ii. lig.
Worcefter, rencounter at, ii, 105.
— ^— — Charles II. intirciy deh-at- ed by Cromwell m the battle of, ii.
H9-
World,
INDEX.
WorW, ■wdlcrn, difcorered in the reign of Henry VII. i. 377.
Wyatt's infurreftion againll; queen Mary, i. 483. SupprelTed, and l^'yatt executed, 484.
^7 ORK, dakc of, fon to that earl __ of Cambridge who fuficrcd nndcr Kcnry V. iucceeds the duke ef Bedford in the prote<£lorfir.p of the kingdam, i. 316. His claim to the crown, 320. The court fuf- picious of him, 324. His firft jirmament, 326. Levies an army, aad makes, the kin<j; prifcccr in the
battle of St. Al!>«n'«, 327. H!» army defeated, aad he flies to Ire- land, 329. His affaui retrieved by the carl of Warwick, ib. The fucceflion fecured to him by parlia- ment, 330. He is killed in the battle of Wakefield, 331. Sec Edward )V. York, James, duke of, marries lady Anne Hyde, ii. 184. His viflory over the Dutch admiral Opdam, J90. Declares himfelf a Catholir, 100. Commands the Englifh and French combined fleets in the bat- tle of Solebay, 204. — Retires to Bruffe'is, 225. Repairs to iicotlaiid.. Z29. i>ee James II.
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