In pursuance of this plan, the king had the unparalleled assurance to convene the parliament in the following winter, and to procure supplies from them to a very large amount, under pretence of the danger to be apprehended from the increasing power of France, and of the obligation and necessity of supporting the triple alli prospect of re-uniting his kingdom to the catholic church. Dalrymple's State Papers. King James, in his Memoirs under the year 1668, says, "About this time the duke of York discoursed with the king if he continued in the same mind as to his religion, who assured him he did, and desired nothing more than to be reconciled." And in the following year we find the account thus confirmed: "The duke speaks of religion to the king, and finds him resolved to be a catholic. The king appoints a private meeting with lord Arundel, lord Arlington, and sir Thomas Clifford, in the duke's closet, to advise on the methods to advance the catholic religion in his kingdoms. They met on the 25th of January. The king declared his mind in matters of religion with great zeal to the duke and other three persons at this private meeting. The result of the consultation was, that the work should be done in conjunction with France. The lord Arundel was accordingly sent to treat with the French king, and the treaty was concluded in the beginning of the year 1670." Macpherson's Papers, vol. ii. p. 50. Père Orleans, in allusion to the royal declaration of indulgence, says, "The king, who was no good Christian in his actions, but a catholic in his heart, did all that could be expected from his easy temper to maintain the common liberty, that the catholic church might have a share in it."-SPES ALTERA KOME, was found inscribed under the statue of the duke of York. Projects of the Cabal Second ance. When money was thus obtained, the mask was thrown off, and military preparations were openly made. But, in order to secure an additional supply, as nothing farther could be expected from parliament, an infamous resolu tion, by the advice of Clifford, was taken, previous to a declaration of war, to shut up the royal exchequer; by which means, the vast sums advanced by the bankers upon the credit of the funds provided by parliament were forcibly sequestrated. The distress, consternation, and ruin, consequent on this enormous violation of public faith, did not prevent the court from taking another step, if possible, still more alarming, and fraught with still more extensive consequences. This was the famous declaration of indulgence, by which the king took upon him, by virtue of his prerogative, to suspend all the penal laws at The lord keeper, sir Orlando Bridgeman, who had put the seal to the declaration of indul→ gence, was soon after permitted to retire upon account of his advanced age and infirmities, and Shaftesbury advanced to the dignity of chancellor. once. The design of introducing popery was now apparent to every one; and the actual declaration of war against the Dutch, which quickly followed, raised the indignation and apprehensions of the nation to the highest pitch. The successful cam 1672. claration of paign of 1672, in which the United States were reduced to the brink of ruin by the arms of Lewis XIV., encouraged the king, after an interval of near two years, to assemble the parliament; and the session was opened by a speech from the throne expressed in a very high tone of authority. He spake of the war as not only just, but necessary; and as what he was fully determined to prosecute. And he informed the house, that he Second De had issued a declaration of indulgence, from Indulgence. which he had experienced very happy effects, to which he should therefore adhere, and the validity of which he would not suffer to be questioned or opposed. Notwithstanding the courtly disposition of which this house of commons had given so many proofs, and their former base and criminal compliances, it must be acknowledged, that upon this great occasion, which involved in it the most essential interests of the whole community, they acted in a manner worthy of the representatives of a free, and spirited people. They first passed a resolution of supply: but before they proceeded to substantiate the vote, they framed a remonstrance against the declaration of indulgence; to which the king replied in resolute terms. The commons repeated their application, or rather demand, in a firm and decisive tone; and when matters were thus brought to a crisis, Charles, who found himself on the edge of a pre Shaftesbury joins sition. cipice, and whose genius was not calculated for great and continued exertion, thought proper on a sudden to retreat. After asking, to save appearances, the opinion of the house of peers, which of course coincided with that of the com-mons, he sent for the declaration, and with his own hand broke the seal; acknowledging to the whole world by this act, that his want of courage bore a very exact proportion to his want of wis-, dom and want of honesty. 8 Shaftesbury, whose ultimate aims differed the Oppo widely, as there is reason to believe, from those of the rest of the cabal, had, on the first discussion of this subject in the house. of peers, given a very decided opinion, in opposition to the lord treasurer, Clifford, for the recal of the declaration; without any previous notice of his intention, and to the amazement of the court, enlarging in a very eloquent speech upon the impropriety and danger of resisting the sense of the legislature upon a point of this nature, however laudable, in itself, or however it might be sanctioned by the sentiments of eminent individuals or the precedents of former reigns; the suspending: power being still an acknowledged, though irregular, branch of the prerogative. Such were the transcendent abilities of this nobleman, and such also the ideas entertained of his genuine sentiments and political rectitude of system, notwith standing his late external compliances, that he was received by the leaders of the opposition with open arms, and from that period became the AHITOPHEL of all their counsels. : passed. The house of commons pursued the victory they had gained with great moderation: they even appeared desirous to avoid urging the king to desperate extremities. No mention was made of the violation of the triple alliance, or of the shutting up the exchequer. An act of indemnity was passed, with a view chiefly to screen the ministers of the crown from any further enquiry, and the resolution of supply, to the great disappointment of the Dutch, passed into a law; in return for which, the king gave the royal assent to the famous TEST ACT, which required Test Act every man holding a public office to receive the sacrament according to the usage of the established church, and to abjure the doctrine of transubstantiation. This was a vigorous and wellaimed stroke, and as the duke of York, who resigned his commission of high admiral, with tears declared, the most fatal blow that the Romancatholic interest could have received, Soon after the treasurer's staff was taken from Clifford (who had become extremely obnoxious by the intemperate zeal with which he had supported the declaration of indulgence, and who was now incapacitated by the test), and given to sir Thomas |