of liberty, had made a figure in the time of the republic, suffered the same fate with the same constancy, and congratulated himself that he was dying for a cause which he had always supported as the best, The duke of Monmouth was pardoned; but, having retracted his confession, was obliged to fly from court in the year 1683. Principles The king ruled with absolute authority till of his death; and the duke of York, without havobedience. ing taken the Test, resumed the employment of passive lord high-admiral. The doctrine of passive obedience, or non-resistance, seemed to be established on the ruins of the parliamentary principles. The university of Oxford even condemned the following propositions, among many others: All civil authority is originally derived from the people. Self-preservation is the fundamental law of nature, and puts a stop to the efficacy of other laws when opposed to it. To what lengths could not monarchy have reached, if it had fallen into other hands than those of Charles II.? That prince, who was of an amiCharles II. able character, and had a great share of abilities, but imprudent, and corrupted by luxury, died at the age of forty-nine, in the year 1685. During his life, he seemed to be a Deist; but, at his death, he showed himself a Catholic, by receiving the sacraments of the church of Rome. His brother was acknowledged, without any difficulty, under the title of James II. Death of CHAPTER VII. JAMES II. DRAWS UPON HIMSELF THE HATRED OF nation. JAMES II. possessed both virtue and courage, James IL though with much more slender abilities than hated by the his brother, yet not without capacity. He 1685–1689, might have been one of the greatest kings in Europe, if he had shown more regard to the religion and laws of his country; but an unfortunate passion for arbitrary power, and an indiscreet zeal for the church of Rome, exposed him to the hatred of his people. Instead of regulating his conduct from experience, he let himself be hurried away by his principles, and, in a reign of four years, committed so many faults, that he may be called the instrument of his own misfortunes. Good beginnings badly His first proceedings, and his language at his accession, promised an equitable government, and all was joy and confidence: the hearts of supported. the people seemed to fly to meet him, and a moderate share of prudence would have re The parliament him. moved every subject of uneasiness; but these prejudices in his favour were of no long continuance, Though the council was composed of Protestants, it was known that Romish priests, and more particularly Jesuits, were the secret advisers of the monarch, What influence was not to be expected from their suggestions? He soon showed a contempt for the laws by favour publicly assisting at mass, and by raising taxes without the authority of parliament; but that body, according to custom, was soon assembled, The Tories, or Royalists, prevailed there, and James had every thing to hope. In his speech to parliament, he renewed the promise of following the established laws, and maintaining the Protestant religion; but at the same time he gave them to understand, and it was a bad prognostic, that he could do without a parliament, if he found them unwilling to grant supplies. They assured him that he should have the same revenue which was granted to his brother Charles, twelve hundred thousand pounds sterling. Duke of The duke of Monmouth, a natural son of Monmouth's Charles, rebelled against the king his uncle, rebellion. whom, in his manifesto, he called a tyrant and Popish usurper. The parliament declared the cer of the army, colonel Kirke, and, still more, Jefferies, the lord chief-justice, bathed themselves in blood. Even several women of rank were put to death for having charitably received some of the fugitives; and Jefferies, though loaded with universal execration, was appointed chancellor of the kingdom. from However, all was quiet and submissive. The Dispensation. parliament of Scotland no longer breathed the the test. spirit of independence; but, immersed in slavery, by their acts acknowledged the absolute power of the king, and in every thing conformed to his pleasure. The English parliament granted him a larger supply than was asked, though the king had given a general dispensation from taking the test, which was established during the former reign against the Roman Catholic religion; but this dispensation, which the Commons durst not examine, was taken into consideration by the House of Peers; upon which, James, who could not bear the least shadow of opposition, prorogued the parlia ment. Peters in too Upon this, the alarm against Popery began Father to revive, from apprehensions founded on the most striking proofs. Father Peters, a Jesuit, great credit, the king's confessor, an intriguing zealot, was the soul of the privy-council. From the beginning, the Spanish ambassador represented the danger of placing excessive confidence in the priests, James, asking him, if the king of Spain did not consult his confessor? the ambassador frankly replied, Yes, Sir; and that is the very reason our affairs succeed so badly. The duke of Ormond, and other Protestants of high rank, lost their influence; several noblemen and mi Great faults of from religion. nisters embraced the Romish religion. The dispensing power, which had hitherto been looked upon as the royal prerogative, became a theme of dispute after the examination of it had been prohibited. This delicate question threw men's minds into a ferment; and, on this occasion, the king's imprudence overleaped all bounds. At the time when the revocation of the Edict the king of Nantes and the clamours of the French rezeal for fugees had irritated the implacable enemies of the Romish the Romish religion, the king established an arbitrary tribunal, like the high-commission court of Elizabeth, where the bishop of London was suspended, for having spared a clergyman who had preached against the doctrine of the church of Rome. He violated the privileges of the universities, by introducing Roman Catholics; and granted an universal toleration, of which it was evident that the Catholics were the true object. He sent an ambassador extraordinary to the pope, though all correspondence with Rome was forbidden as treasonable, and received the pope's nuncio in London, who consecrated bishops, published pastoral instructions, and seemed to live in a country submissive to his authority. At last, the instances of that prince's misconduct were so frequent and dangerous, that even Innocent XI. blamed the excess of his zeal, which the court of Rome foresaw would produce fatal consequences, Prosecution of Six bishops refused to publish the declaration six bishops. for liberty of conscience, because it was illegal, and were therefore immediately sent to prison. The people, penetrated with respect and sorrow, |