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1687.

CHAP. against another, he should easily obtain the victory LXX. over both; a refined policy which it much exceeded his capacity to conduct. His intentions were so obvious, that it was impossible for him ever to gain the sincere confidence and regard of the non-conformists. They knew that the genius of their religion was diametrically opposite to that of the catholics, the sole object of the King's affection. They were sensible, that both the violence of his temper, and the maxims of his religion, were repugnant to the principles of toleration. They had seen that, on his accession, as well as during his brother's reign, he had courted the church at their expence; and it was not till his dangerous schemes were rejected by the prelates, that he had recourse to the non-conformists. All his favours, therefore, must, to every man of judgment among the sectaries, have appeared insidious: Yet such was the pleasure reaped from present ease, such the animosity of the dissenters against the church, who had so long subjected them to the rigours of persecution, that they every where expressed the most entire duty to the King, and compliance with his measures; and could not forbear rejoicing extremely in the present depression of their adversaries.

BUT had the dissenters been ever so much inclined to shut their eyes with regard to the King's intentions, the manner of conducting this scheme in Scotland was sufficient to discover the secret. The King first applied to the Scottish parliament, and desired an indulgence for the catholics alone, without comprehending the presbyterians: But that assembly, though more disposed than even the parliament of England, to sacrifice their civil liberties, resolved likewise to adhere pertinaciously to their religion; and they rejected for the first time the King's application. James therefore found himself obliged to exert his prerogative; and he now thought it prudent to interest a party among his subjects, be

sides the catholics, in supporting this act of autho- CHAP. rity. To the surprise of the harassed and persecuted LXX. presbyterians, they heard the principles of tolera1687. tion every where extolled, and found that full permission was granted to attend conventicles; an of fence, which, even during this reign, had been declared no less than a capital enormity. The King's declaration, however, of indulgence, contained clauses sufficient to depress their joy. As if po

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pery were already predominant," he declared, "that he never would use force or invincible necessity against any man on account of his persuasion of "the protestant religion:" A promise surely of toleration given to the protestants with great precaution, and admitting a considerable latitude for persecution and violence. It is likewise remarkable, that the King declared in express terms, "that he "had thought fit, by his sovereign authority, pre"rogative royal, and absolute power, which all his "subjects were to obey without reserve, to grant this "royal toleration." The dangerous designs of other Princes are to be collected by a comparison of their several actions, or by a discovery of their more secret counsels: But so blinded was James with zeal, so transported by his imperious temper, that even his proclamations and public edicts contain expressions which, without farther inquiry, may suffice to his condemnation.

THE English well knew, that the King, by the constitution of their government, thought himself entitled, as indeed he was, to as ample authority in his southern, as in his northern kingdom; and therefore, though the declaration of indulgence published for England was more cautiously expressed, they could not but be alarmed by the arbitrary treatment to which their neighbours were exposed. It is even remarkable, that the English declaration contained clauses of a strange import. The King there promised, that he would maintain

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CHAP. his loving subjects in all their properties and posses LXX. sions, as well of church and abbey lands as of any other. Men thought, that if the full establishment of popery were not at hand, this promise was quite superfluous; and they concluded, that the King was so replete with joy on the prospect of that glorious event, that he could not, even for a moment, refrain from expressing it.

State of
Ireland.

BUT what afforded the most alarming prospect, was the continuance and even increase of the violent and precipitate conduct of affairs in Ireland. Tyrconnel was now vested with full authority; and carried over with him as chancellor one Fitton, a man who was taken from a jail, and who had been convicted of forgery and other crimes, but who compensated for all his enormities by a headlong zeal for the catholic religion. He was even heard to say from the bench, that the protestants were all rogues, and that there was not one among 'forty thousand that was not a traitor, a rebel, and a villain. The whole strain of the administration was suitable to such sentiments. The catholics were put in possession of the council-table, of the courts of judicature, and of the bench of justices. In order to make them masters of the parliament, the same violence was exercised that had been practised in England. The charters of Dublin and of all the corporations were annulled; and new charters were granted, subjecting the corporations to the will of the sovereign. The protestant freemen were expelled, catholics introduced; and the latter sect, as they always were the majority in number, were now invested with the whole power of the kingdom. The act of settlement was the only obstacle to their enjoying the whole property; and Tyrconnel had formed a scheme for calling a parliament, in order to reverse that act, and empower the King to bestow all the lands of Ireland on his catholic subjects. But in this scheme he met with opposition from the mode

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rate catholics in the King's council. Lord Bellasis CHAP. went even so far as to affirm with an oath, "that LXX. "that fellow in Ireland was fool and madman "enough to ruin ten kingdoms." The decay of trade, from the desertion of the protestants, was represented; the sinking of the revenue; the alarm communicated to England: And by these considerations the King's resolutions were for some time suspended; though it was easy to foresee, from the usual tenor of his conduct, which side would at last preponderate.

BUT the King was not content with discovering in his own kingdoms the imprudence of his conduct: He was resolved, that all Europe should be witness of it. He publicly sent the Earl of Castlemaine ambassador extraordinary to Rome, in order to express his obeisance to the Pope, and to make advances for reconciling his kingdoms, in form, to the catholic communion. Never man, who came on so important an errand, met with so many neglects, and even affronts, as Castlemaine. The Pontiff, instead of being pleased with this forward step, concluded that a scheme, conducted with so much indiscretion, could never possibly be successful. And as he was engaged in a violent quarrel with the French Monarch, a quarrel which interested him more nearly than the conversion of England, he bore little regard to James, whom he believed too closely connected with his ca pital enemy.

THE only proof of complaisance which James received from the Pontiff was his sending a nuncio to England, in return for the embassy. By act of parliament any communication with the Pope was made treason: Yet so little regard did the King pay to the laws, that he gave the nuncio a public and solemn reception at Windsor. The Duke of Somerset, one of the bed-chamber, because he refused to assist at this ceremony, was dismissed from his em ployment. The nuncio resided openly in London

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CHAP. during the rest of this reign. Four catholic biLXX. shops were publicly consecrated in the King's chapel, and sent out, under the title of vicars apostolical, to exercise the episcopal function in their respective dioceses. Their pastoral letters, directed to the lay catholics of England, were printed and dispersed by the express allowance and permission of the King. The regular clergy of that communion appeared at court in the habits of their order; and some of them were so indiscreet as to boast, that, in a little time, they hoped to walk in procession through the capital.

WHILE the King shocked in the most open manner all the principles and prejudices of his protestant subjects, he could not sometimes but be sensible, that he stood in need of their assistance for the execution of his designs. He had himself, by virtue of his prerogative, suspended the penal laws, and dispensed with the test; but he would gladly have obtained the sanction of parliament to these acts of power; and he knew that, without this authority, his edicts alone would never afford a durable security to the catholics. He had employed, therefore, with the members of parliament many private conferences, which were then called closetings; and he used every expedient of reasons, menaces, and promises, to break their obstinacy in this particular, Finding all his efforts fruitless, he had dissolved the parliament, and was determined to call a new one, from which he expected more complaisance and submission. By the practice of annulling the charters, the King was become master of all the corporations, and could at pleasure change every where the whole magistracy. The church party, therefore, by whom the crown had been hitherto so re. markably supported, and to whom the King visibly owed his safety from all the efforts of his enemies, was deprived of authority; and the dissenters, those very enemies, were, first in London, and afterwards

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