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1685. him, that his Authority would be precarious and unfettled, whilft the Fanaticks and Presbyterians, who had formerly difputed his Title, were fill able to difturb him; that the feeming Loyalty of the Epifcopal Party was only an Effect of their Animofity against the Diffenters, and therefore he ought to procure a Standing Army, and advance the Ro man Catholicks, on whofe Fidelity he might depend, to Civil and Military Employments.

Elofettings.

The King being of a facile, manageable Temper, and one who feldom refolved upon any thing by his own Determination, was ealily led into a Project that flatter'd the Ambition, all Princes naturally have of making themfelves abfolute. To put this Defign in Execution, even before Monmouth's Rebellion, he began to Clotet Men, and by fair Words and ample Promifes endeavour'd to allure them to a Compliance with his Intentions of favouring Popery; but fill he touch'd that Point very gently; for he had

not yet forgot that his Brother had often, and parGood Ad- ticularly a little before his Death, advis'd him, not vice given to think of introducing Popery into England, it bethe King by ing a thing that was both Dangerous and Impractica

his late

Brother.

ble. He alfo remembred, that Don Pedro Ronquillo the Spanish Ambaffador, who was no ordinary Politician, at his firft Audience after the Death of King Charles, having ask'd Leave to fpeak his Thoughts freely upon that Occafion, made bold By the Spa- to tell His Majefty, That he faw feveral Pricfts about hith Am- him, whom he knew would importune him to alter the bafador. eftablish'd Religion in England; but be defir'd His

Majefty not to give Ear to their Advice, fur if he did, be was afraid His Majesty would have reafon to Repent it. 'Tis reported that King James took ill the Liberty of the Spanish Ambaffador, and ask'd him in a Paffion, Whether in Spain the Kings did not advife with their Confeffors? Yes, Sir, replied RonAnd by the quillo, they do, and that's the Reafon our Affairs hope go fo Ill. Nay, Pope Innocent the XI. writ a Letter to King James, upon his Acceflion to the Crown, to this Effect, That he was highly pleased with His Majesties Zeal for the Catholick Religion; but he was ofraid Hn Majesty might push it too far, and instead

of contributing to his own Greatness, and to the Ad- 1685. vancement of the Catholick Church, he might come to do it, and himself, the greatest Prejudice, by attempting that, which his Holiness was well affur'd by Long Experience, could have no Succefs. Thefe things, together with the Commotions which Monmouth and Argile had rais'd, prevail'd a while with King James to contain his immoderate Zeal for the Romish Religion; but now being elevated with his late Victories, and prefuming much upon a Houfe Hecafts of Commons made up, for the mott part, of his own the Mask. Creatures, he thought it high Time to caft off the Mask, and to act without Difguife, what till then he had, in fome Meafure, endeavour'd to diffemble. But it appear'd upon this Occafion, what a Tenderness and Affection English Men have for their Laws and Liberties, and that a King of England will ever find it a hard Matter to make a Houfe of Commons Acceffary to the Entlaving of the Nation. This Parliament had fhewn a more than ordinary Zeal in Attainting Monmouth, and had readily granted the King a Competent Supply to Supprefs that Infurrection; but at the fame Time to put His Majefty in mind of his repeated Promifes, the lower Houfe thought fit to pafs this unanimous Vote: That they did acquiefce, and intirely relye, and reft wholly satisfied in His Majefties Word, and repeated Declarations to Support and Defend the Religion of the Church of England, as it is now by Law establish'd, which was dearer to them than their Lives. This indeed they had Reason to expect in Return to their Affection and Loyalty, and the Confidence they repos'd in His Majefty; but it seems they were miftaken: For King James began to talk to them in a far different Strain than he had done before. And in another Speech from the Throne, gave them plainly to understand, that he was now Mafter, and that for the future he will not be Fetter'd by any Laws, but Govern by his own fole Will and Pleasure, fupported by a Standing Army; nay, an Army partly Commanded by Catholicks.

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1685. No part of the English Conftitution was better fecur'd by Law, than that by which Roman CaHe makes tholicks were declar'd incapable of Places of Trust, a Speech to either Civil or Military in the Government: And the Parlia the King himself, when Duke of York, was forc'd ment in a- by the Test Act to lay down his Office of HighAdmiral, even at a time when he had not publickStrain, ly own'd his Reconciliation to the Church of November Kome. But now he attempted to break down this Barrier, and in his Speech to his Parliament told them: That after the Storm that feem'd to be coming when he parted from them last, he was glad to meet them again in fo great Peace and quietness, praifing God Almighty by whofe Bleffing that Kebellion was fupprefs'd, But when he reflected what an inconfiderable Number of Men begun it; and how long they carried it on without any Oppofition, he hop'd every Body was convinc'd, that the Militia, which had been fo much depended on, was not fufficient for fuch Occafions, and that there was nothing but a good Force of well difciplin'd Troops in conffant Pay, that could defend him and them from fuch as either at Home or Abroad were difpos'd to disturb them. That his Concern for the Peace and Quiet of his Subjects, as well as for the Safety of the Government, made him think it neceffary to encreafe the Number to the Proportion he had done; that it was for the Support of this great Charge, which was now more than double than what it was before, that he asked their Assistance in giving him a Supply anfwerable to the Expences; and that he could not doubt, but what he had begun fo much to the Honour and Defence of the Government, would be continued by them with all Chearfulness and Readiness. Then as to the main drift of his Speech, and to acquaint them with his fix'd Intentions, he added: Let no Man take Exception that there are fome Officers in the Army not qualified, according to the late Tefts, for their Employment. The Gentlemen, I must tell you, are most of them well known to me, and having formerly ferved me on feveral Occafions, and always approv'd the Loyalty of their Principles by their Practices, I think them norv fit to be employed under me; and will deal plainly with you, that after having

bad

had the Benefit of their Services in fuch a Time of 1685. Need and Danger, I will neither expofe them to Dif grace, nor my felf to the Want of them, if there Thould be another Rebellion, to make them necessary to me. He concludes with telling them, That be was afraid fome Men might be fo wicked, to hope and expect that a Difference might happen between them and him upon that Occafion. But, added he, I will not apprehend that fuch a Misfortune can befal us as a Divifion, or but a Coldness between you and us ; that any thing can shake you in your Steadiness and Loyalty to me, who, by God's Bleffing, will ever make you Returns of Kindness and Protection, with a Refolution to venture, even my own Life, in the Defence of the true Intereft of this Kingdom.

nor

A great Weight has always been laid upon the The ParWords which a King of England delivers from liament s the Throne, as being fuppos'd to be the Refult of Surprize. mature Deliberation; fo that it is no wonder that this Speech furpriz'd a People, who upon fo many Occafions have ventur'd their All for the Prefervation of their Laws and Liberties, and thought themselves fecure of them, both from the Conftitution of the Government, and the folemn repeated Promises of their Prince. They found too late, that their Jealoufies in the former Reign of a Popish Succeffor, were too well grounded, and how inconfiftent a Roman Catholick King is with a Proteftant Kingdom. The Houfe of Lords debated, whether they fhould give the King Thanks for his Debates a Speech or not? Some of that Auguft Affembly bout the were for it, others very warmly oppos'd it; but King's the Marquis of Hallifax, a Man of tart acute Wit, Speech. faid by way of Irony, They had now more Reafon than ever to give Thanks to His Majesty, fince he had dealt fo plainly with them, and discover'd what he would be at. What he meant for a Jeft, was eagerly laid hold on by the Courtiers for Earneft; fo that the Affirmative carried it, and the King was thank'd accordingly. But this Speech occafion'd a longer and warmer Debate in the House of Commons, where the Earl of Middleton mov'd to have it confider'd by Paragraphs. The faid' Lord, and the reft of the King's Creatures, reprefented, How

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little the Militia was to be depended upon; that France was formidable; that Holland's Forces were greatly increas'd; and therefore that they must approve of His Majelties increafing his Forces in Proportion, and vote him a Supply to anfwer His prefent Occafions. Thofe who stood up for the Liberties of their Country, Vindicated the Militia, which in the late Rebellion had Arguments kept Monmouth from Briftol and Exeter; and which against a might be of great Ufe, if new madelid. They exStanding preft their Jealoufies of Standing Forces, alledging, That the Kingdom was guarded by Law; that they were in perfect Peace, the King both feared and loved, an Army little needed, Min justly afraid. That that which made the last Rebellion grow to a height was, because the Man that headed it was a Favourite of the Faction; and tho he had got fuch a number, yet he was beaten by 1800 Men only. That the Army then confifted of 14 or 15000 Men, whereas the last Force, tho' not above half in number, preferv'd the Peace, and was fufficient to do it in the late King's time. That all the Profit and Security of this Nation is in our Navy; and had there been the least Ship in the Channel, it would have difappointed Monmouth. That fupporting an Army, was maintaining fo many idle Perfons to lord it over the rest of the Subjects. That Standing Armies debauch'd the Manners of all the People, their Wives, and Daughters; That Plowmen and Servants quit all Country Employments, to turn Soldiers; and that a Court-Martial in time of Peace was most terrible. That they had rather pay double to the Militia, from whom they fear'd nothing, than half so much to thofe, of whom they must ever be afraid. That as for Officers employ'd, not taking the Teft, it was difpenfing with all the Laws at once. That if thofe Men were good or kind, they knew not whether it proceeded from their Generofity or Principles. That they must remember 'tis Treafon for any Man to be reconcil'd to the Church of Rome, fince the Pope by Law was declar'd an Enemy to this Kingdom. That a Supply given, as mov'd for, was a kind of establishing an Army by A& of Parliament; who when they had got the Power inta their Hands, they themselves must then derive it from their Courtefie. And therefore they urg'd to have the

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