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168

Coldly re

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tions were, to reconcile the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, to the Holy See, from which for more than an Age, they had fallen off by the Northern Herefie. Innocent XI. receiv'd this Embaffie as one who faw further than thofe who fent it. The Ambaffador had but a cold Reception from the Holy Father; and none of the Cardinals, but thofe of a particular Faction, took any further Notice of him, than what Form and good Manners oblig'd them to. The Court of Rome were too refin'd Politicians to be impos'd upon by Shew and Noife, and were too well acquainted with England to expect great Matters from fuch precipitated Advances as the King made in his Defigns. Befides, Innocent being not only ftrongly prepoffefs'd in Favour of the Houfe of Austria; but having an Averfion to the French, (ever fince he was worsted by one of that Nation in a fingle Combat, when he was a general Officer in the King of Spain's Army) and a freth Pique, befides, against the Court of France, on account of the Regale, and the Bombarding of Genoa, He was not over-fond of an Embaffie from a Prince who was in an Intereft he wifh'd to fee humbled. Castlemain had feveral Audiences of the Pope, but to little Purpofe; for whenever he began to talk of Bufinefs, his Holinefs had a Fit of Coughing at command to rid himfelf of the Ambaffador's Converfation. Thefe Audiences and Fits Coughing continued from time to time, while Castlemain faid at Rome, and were the Subject of Diverfion to all, but a particular Faction at that Court. At length he was advis'd to threaten to be gone, fince he could not have an Opportunity to treat with the Pope about the Bufinefs he came for. The good old Father was fo little concern'd at the Ambaffador's Refentments, that when they told him of it, he answer'd with his ufual Coldness: Ebene; fe vuol andarfene, ditegli adunque che fi levi di buona matina al fresco, che nel mezza giorno fi ripoft, perche in quefti paefi hon bifogna viaggiare al caldo del giorno," Well, fince

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be will be gone, tell him he had beft to rife early in 168. the Morning, and reft himself at Noon; for in these Countries it's dangerous to travel in the Heat of the Day. In fhort, King James met with nothing but Mortification at Rome, in the Perfon of his Ambaffador, whom he foon after recall'd, being able to obtain of the Pope but Two inconfiderable things, viz. a License for the Marefchal d'Humieres's Daughter to marry her Unkle; and the other a Difpenfation of the Statutes of the gefuits Order, that Father Peter's might be a Privy-Counsellor, and enjoy a Bifhoprick; the want of which was fuppos'd to be the Reafon of the Vacancy of the Archbishoprick of York. As for the Supplies which Castlemain had private Orders to ask, his Holiness excus'd himfelf upon Account of the vaft Sums he gave the Emperor and the Venetians to carry on the War against the Infidels, The Jefuits at Rome made the Earl of Castlemain fome Amends for the cold Treatment he receiv'd from the Pope; for indeed they paid him the highest Respect imaginable, and entertain'd him with the greateft Magnificence.

The Privy-Council of Scotland having acquain- Letter ted the King, that his Commands were exactly obey'd, from the and that his Royal Proclamation for Liberty of Con- Council of Science was printed and publish'd; and affurd His Ma- Scotland, jefty, that they believ'd his Promife to be the best and 24th Feb. greatest Security they could have, that he would main- 1685. tain the Church and their Religion as it was establish'd by Law; This ready Compliance of the Scots was very acceptable to His Majefty, and gave him Hopes to find the fame Docility in his English Subjects. Thereupon having affembled his PrivyCouncil, he declared to them, "That he had re- K. James? & folv'd to iffue out a Declaration for a general Speech to c Liberty of Confcience to all Perfons of what his Council, "Perfuation foever; which he was mov'd to do March "by having obferv'd, that altho' an Uniformity in 18th, ἐσ Religious Worship had been endeavour'd to be 1689. "eftablish'd within this Kingdom in the fuccef"five Reigns of Four of his Prodeceffors, affifted by their respective Parliaments, yet it had

66 prov'd

1689.

prov'd altogether ineffectual. That the Restraint upon the Confciences of Diffenters in order "thereunto, had been very Prejudicial to the Na

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tion, as was fadly experienc'd by the horrid Re"bellion in the Time of His Majefties Father. "That the many Penal Laws made against Diffen66 ters, had rather encreas'd than leffen'd the Num"ber of them; and that nothing could more 66 conduce to the Peace and Quiet of that Kingdom, "and the Encrease of the Number, as well as of "the Trade of his Subjects, than an entire Li"berty of Confcience; it having always been His แ Majefties Opinion, as moft fuitable to the Princi"ples of Chriftianity, that no Man fhould be per"fecuted for Confcience Sake, which His Majefty 66 thought are not to be forc'd; and that it could never be the true Intereft of a King of England to “ endeavour to do it. And at the fame Time, he gave Directions to his Attorney and Solicitor-General, not to permit any Procefs to iffue in his દ Name against any Diffenter whatfoever.

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This Speech feem'd fo Plaufible that it met with no manner of Oppofition in the Council; or rather the Council was fo fram'd to the King's Will, and fo blinded by Ambition and Intereft, that they neither would nor could fee the Drift of that Speech; fo that His Majefty thinking the Nation was now ready to undergo a Yoke, he impos'd upon them with all the Gentleness imaginable, and with the Pomp and Shew of an Indulgence, he caus'd his gracious Declaration for Liberty of Confci ence to be publish'd, being much the fame with 4th 1687 that of Scotland; fave only that the Expreflions for Liberty of annulling and repealing Tefts and Oaths, which of Confei were made ufe of in that, were foftned in this

* April

Declaration

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into those of Sufpending and Difpenfing with Penal Láms, &c. In the Preamble His Majefty does not fcruple to fay, That he cannot but heartily wish, as it will eafily be believ'd, that all his Subjects were Members of the Catholick Church; yet it is his Opinion that Confcience ought not to be constrain'd; and for the Reafons alledg'd in the abovemention'd Speech, which he repeats here at large; by Virtue of his

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Royal Prerogative, He thinks fit to iffue forth this his 1687. Declaration of Indulgence; making no doubt of the Concurrence of his two Houfes of Parliament, when be shall think it convenient for them to Meet. First, He declares, that be will Protect and Maintain bis Arch-Bishops, Bishops, and Clergy, and all other his Subjects of the Church of England, in the free Exercife of their Religion, as by Law establish'd; and in the quiet and full Enjoyment of all their Poffeffions. He likewife declares, that it is his Royal Will and Pleasure that all Penal Laws for Non-conformity to the Religion eftablish'd, or by Reafon of the Exercife of Religion in any manner whatsoever, be immediately Sufpended. And to the End that by the Liberty bereby granted, the Peace and Security of bis Government in the Practice thereof may not be indanger'd, be Strictly Charges and Commands all bis Subjects, that as be freely gives them Leave to meet and Serve God after their own Way, be it in Private Houfes, or Places purpofely hired or built for that Ufe; fo that they take Special Care, that nothing be Preach'd or Taught amongst them, which may tend to alienate the Hearts of his People from him or his Go vernment; and that their Meetings and Affemblies be Peaceably, Openly, and Publickly held, and all Perfons freely admitted to them, and that they do fignifie and make known to fome one or more of the next Juftices of the Peace, what Place or Places they fet apart for thofe Ufes. And as he is defirous to have the Benefit of the Service of all his Subjects, which by the Law of Nature is infeparably annex'd, and inherent in his Royal Perfon; and that none of his Subjects may for the future be under any Difcouragement or Difability, who are otherwife well inclin'd and fit to Serve him, by Reafon of fome Oaths or Tefts that have ufually been adminiftred on fuch Occafions, be hereby further declares, that it is his Will and Pleafure, that the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, and the several Tefts and Declarations mention'd in the Acts of Par liament made in the 25th and 30th Years of bis Brother's Reign, fhall not hereafter be required to be taken, declard, or fubfcrib'd by any Perfons whatfoever, who are or shall be employ'd in any Office or Place of

Trust

1687. Truft either Civil or Military, under him or in his Government; and it is bis Intention from time to time hereafter, to grant his Royal Difpenfations to all his Subjects fo to be employ'd, who shall not Take the faid Oaths, or Subfcribe or Declare the faid Tests or Declarations. And he does hereby give his free and ample Pardon to all Non-conformists, Recufants, and other bis Subjects, for all Crimes and Things by them Committed, or done contrary to the Penal Laws, formerly made relating to Religion, and the Profeffion or Exercife thereof. And although the Freedom and Affurance be bas bereby given in relation to Religion and Property, might be fufficient to remove from the Minds of bis Subjects all Fears and Jealoufices in relation to either, yet he thinks fit to declare, that he will maintam them in all their Properties and Poffeffions, as well of Church and Abbey-lands, as in other their Eftates and Properties whatsoever.

The Presbyterians, Quakers, Anabaptifts, and other Diffenters, had lately been fo Harafs'd and Perfecuted, that 'tis no Wonder they were fo eager to lay hold of this Opportunity of sheltering themfelves from Oppreffion. And indeed 'tis natural for People that labour under violent and racking Pains, greedily and thankfully to receive any Remedies that are offer'd them for prefent Eafe, without confidering whether 'tis a friendly or unfriendly Hand that Adminifters the quieting Potion; but then again, affoon as the Treacherous Effects of a Palliative Medicine are over, and the old Diffemper returns with redoubled Fury, Men are apt to Curie the Authors of their additional Torments, and have Recourfe to more Effectual, Addreffes of though, perhaps, more violent Remedies. Thus Thanks for the Presbyterians being releas'd from their Prifons, the Liberty and allow'd the free and publick Exercife of their of Confci- Religion, thought no Praifes too great to Ex

ence.

prefs their Gratitude no Blethings fufficient to Reward their Deliverer and Benefactor. Nay, fo extravagantly Thankful were fome of them in their Addreffes, as to fill 'em with Acknowledgments that nearly border'd upon Blafphemy. But at laft they open'd their Eyes: They perceiv'd the

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