1678.

"resolutions of the Jesuits, concerning the same: CHAP. By captain William Bedloe, lately engaged in LXVII. "that horrid design, and one of the popish com"mittee for carrying on such fires." Every fire which had happened for several years past, is there ascribed to the machinations of the Jesuits, who purposed, as Bedloe said, by such attempts, to find an opportunity for the general massacre of the protestants; and in the mean time, were well pleased to enrich themselves, by pilfering goods from the fire.

THE King, though he scrupled not, wherever he could speak freely, to throw the highest ridicule on the plot, and on all who believed it; yet found it necessary to adopt the popular opinion before the parliament. The torrent, he saw, ran too strong to be controlled; and he could only hope, by a seeming compliance, to be able, after some time, to, guide and direct and elude its fury. He made therefore a speech to both houses; in which he told them, that he would take the utmost care of his person during these times of danger; that he was as ready as their hearts could wish, to join with them in all means for establishing the protestant religion, not only during his own time, but for all future ages; and that, provided the right of succession were preserved, he would consent to any laws for restraining a popish successor: And in conclusion, he exhorted them to think of effectual means for the conviction of popish recusants; and he highly praised the duty and loyalty of all his subjects, who had discovered such anxious concern for his safety.

THESE gracious expressions abated nothing of the vehemence of parliamentary proceedings. A bill was introduced for a new test, in which popery was denominated idolatry; and all members, who refused this test, were excluded from both houses. The bill passed the commons without much opposition;.

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CHAP. sition; but in the upper house the Duke moved LXVII. that an exception might be admitted in his favour. With great earnestness, and even with tears in his eyes, he told them, that he was now to cast himself on their kindness, in the greatest concern which he could have in the world; and he protested, that whatever his religion might be, it should only be a private thing between God and his own soul, and never should appear in his public conduct. Notwithstanding this strong effort, in so important a point, he prevailed only by two voices; a sufficient indication of the general disposition of the people."I would not have," said a noble peer, in the debate on this bill," so much as a popish man 66 or a popish woman to remain here; not so much "as a popish dog or a popish bitch; not so much "as a popish cat to pur or mew about the King." What is more extraordinary, this speech met with praise and approbation.

ENCOURAGED by this general fury, the witnesses went still a step farther in their accusations; and though both Oates and Bedloe had often declared, that there was no other person of distinction, whom they knew to be concerned in the plot, they were now so audacious as to accuse the Queen herself of entering into the design against the life of her husband. The commons, in an address to the King, gave countenance to this scandalous accusation; but the lords would not be prevailed with to join in the address. It is here, if any where, that we may suspect the suggestions of the popular leaders to have had place. The King, it was well known, bore no great affection to his consort; and now, more than ever, when his brother and heir was so much hated, had reason to be desirous of issue, which might quiet the jealous fears of his people. This very hatred, which prevailed against the Duke, would much facilitate, he knew, any expedient that could be devised for the exclusion of that Prince;

and

and nothing farther seemed requisite for the King, CHAP. than to give way in this particular to the rage and LXVII. fury of the nation. But Charles, notwithstanding all allurements of pleasure, or interest, or safety, 1678. had the generosity to protect his injured consort. "They think," said he, " I have a mind to a new "wife, but for all that, I will not see an innocent "woman abused "." He immediately ordered Oates to be strictly confined, seized his papers, and dismissed his servants; and this daring informer was obliged to make applications to parliament, in order to recover his liberty.

DURING this agitation of men's minds, the parliament gave new attention to the militia; a circumstance which, even during times of greatest tranquillity, can never prudently be neglected. They passed a bill, by which it was enacted, that a regular militia should be kept in arms, during six weeks of the year, and a third part of them do duty every fortnight of that time. The popular leaders probably intended to make use of the general prejudices, and even to turn the arms of the people against the Prince. But Charles refused his assent to the bill, and told the parliament, that he would not, were it for half an hour, part so far with the power of the sword: But if they would contrive any other bill for ordering the militia, and still leave it in his power to assemble or dismiss them as he thought proper, he would willingly give it the royal assent. The commons, dissatisfied with this negative, though the King had never before employed that prerogative, immediately voted that all the new levied forces should be disbanded. They passed a bill, granting money for that purpose; but to show their extreme jealousy of the crown, besides appropriating the money by the strictest clauses, they ordered it to be paid not into the exchequer, but into the

CHAP. chamber of London. The lords demurred with LXVII. regard to so extraordinary a clause, which threw a violent reflection on the King's ministers, and even on himself, and by that means the act remained in suspense.

1678.

Accusation of Danby.

Ir was no wonder, that the present ferment and credulity of the nation engaged men of infamous character and indigent circumstances to become informers, when persons of rank and condition could be tempted to give into that scandalous practice. Montague, the King's ambassador at Paris, had procured a seat in the lower house; and without obtaining or asking the King's leave, he suddenly came over to England. Charles, suspecting his intention, ordered his papers to be seized; but Montague, who foresaw this message, had taken care to secrete one paper, which he immediately laid before the house of commons. It was a letter from the treasurer Danby, written in the beginning of the year, during the negotiations at Nimeguen for the general peace. Montague was there directed to make a demand of money from France; or, in other words, the King was willing secretly to sell his good offices to Lewis, contrary to the general interests of the confederates, and even to those of his own kingdoms. The letter, among other particulars, contains these words: "In "case the conditions of peace shall be accepted, "the King expects to have six millions of livres ayear for three years, from the time that this agreement shall be signed between His Majesty " and the King of France; because it will probably "be two or three years before the parliament will "be in humour to give him any supplies after the "making of any peace with France; and the "ambassador here has always agreed to that sum; "but not for so long a time." Danby was so unwilling to engage in this negotiation, that the King, to satisfy him, subjoined, with his own hand, these words: "This letter is writ by my

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"order,

"order, C. R." Montague, who revealed this CHAP. secret correspondence, had even the baseness to sell LXVII. his base treachery at a high price to the French Monarch".

1678.

His im

THE Commons were inflamed with this intelligence against Danby; and carrying their suspicions farther than the truth, they concluded, that the King had all along acted in concert with the French court; and that every step, which he had taken in conjunction with the allies, had been illusory and deceitful. Desirous of getting to the bottom of so important a secret, and being pushed by Danby's numerous enemies, they immediately voted an impeachment of high treason against that minister, and sent up six articles to the house of peers. These peacharticles were, That he had treacherously engrossed to ment. himself regal power, by giving instructions to His Majesty's ambassadors, without the participation of the secretaries of state, or the privy-council: That. he had traitorously endeavoured to subvert the government, and introduce arbitrary power; and to that end had levied and continued an army, contrary to act of parliament: That he had traitorously endeavoured to alienate the affections of His Majesty's subjects, by negotiating a disadvantageous peace with France, and procuring money for that purpose: That he was popishly affected, and had traitorously concealed, after he had notice, the late horrid and bloody plot, contrived by the papists against His Majesty's person and government: That he had wasted the King's treasure; and that he had, by indirect means, obtained several exorbitant grants from the crown.

It is certain that the treasurer, in giving instructions to an ambassador, had exceeded the bounds of his office; and as the genius of a monarchy, strictly limited, requires that the proper minister should be answerable for every abuse of power, the commons,

a

Appendix to Sir John Dalrymple's Memoirs.

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though