the beginning of the civil wars to the restoration of monarchy; these doctrines, so

Courtin about it, and tell him how necessary it would be to have two hundred thousand pounds, by reason of the danger of the Spaniard falling out with him. But his highness not being able to prevail upon Mr. Courtin, nor his majesty being willing to speak any more upon that subject to him, the result of his majesty's pleasure hath been, that he will speak no more of this matter himself to Mr. Courtin, but does command that you do still insist upon the sum to be two hundred thousand pounds: but you are to say, that you perceive the king did once think to have made a shift with two millions, but that now he finds so great cause to apprehend a breach with Spain, or at least so much appearance of it, as will necessitate him to be at more charge than he intended on the Western islands; so that he must needs desire that sum -I will only add part of a letter from the treasurer to Mountague, dated London, March 25, 1678, O.S." In case," says he," the conditions of peace shall be accepted, the king expects to have six millions of livres a year, for three years, from the time that this agreement shall be signed betwixt 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 time. If you find the peace will not be accepted, you are not to mention the money at all: and all possible care must be taken to have this whole negotiation as private as is possible, for fear of

a

Danby Papers, p. 24. 8vo. Lond. 1710,

4

essential to the happiness of mankind, were, as in a moment, buried in obscurity "3; and

2.3

giving offence at home; where, for the most part, we hear in ten days after of any thing that is communicated to the French ministers." At the bottom of this letter are these remarkable words :- "This letter is writ by my order. C. R."-Lord Danby hereupon was impeached," for endeavouring to procure a great sum of money, from the French king, for enabling him to maintain and carry on his traiterous designs and purposes, to the hazard of his majesty's person and government." Nobody, I think, can vindicate Danby, or Mountague, for the share they had in such an illicit commerce: but if common sense was to determine (the maxim that the king can do no wrong being set aside), his majesty himself would not have escaped with impunity. For it is well known, that the voice of the nation was for a war with France; and that money had been provided, by parliament, for carrying it on effec'tually b.

23 The doctrines of liberty were buried in obscurity, and the contrary ones established.] From the commencement of the civil wars, men began to open their eyes, and see their natural equality; their right to freedom; their independency on the will either of the magistrate or the priest. Milton's writings greatly contributed to these glorious ends: and we may easily conceive how much such men as Sidney, Harrington, and Neville added thereunto. Under the commonwealth government, these doctrines found great encouragement; and the assertors of liberty were the fa

2

Danby Papers, p. 75. 8vo. Lond. 1710. p. 26. 8vo. Lond. 1710.

⚫ Danby Memoirs,

the contrary ones established and con

vourites of the men in power. From this time, till the return of his majesty, religion and government were the common topics of conversation and writing and the press frequently produced schemes for reforming the one, and new modelling the other. The royalists, who hated law, as laying restraint on sovereignty; and who, for the most part, cared little for religion stript of pomp, wealth, and power: the royalists, with indignation, saw all this; attempted to ridicule and expose it; and, in their hearts, detested the men who promoted principles so opposite to their own views of things. Nor did they rest here:As the resistance of Charles, his imprisonment, condemnation, and death, were supposed to have flowed from the doctrine of the legality of resistance of power, delegated or supreme, when used to the prejudice of the people; it was determined to extirpate it, and erect the contrary on its ruins. The steps by which this was done, Mr. Locke will shew us in the following paragraphs:" The first step," says he," was made in the act for regulating corporations: wisely beginning that in those lesser governments, which they meant afterwards to introduce upon the government of the nation; and making them swear to a declaration and belief of such propositions, as they themselves afterwards, upon debate, were enforced to alter, and could not justify in

a By the Statute 13 Car. II. c. 1. here referred to, all persons who shall be mayors, aldermen, &c. besides the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, were obliged to take this oath following:-" I, A. B. do declare, and believe, that it is not lawful, upon any pretence whatsoever, to take arms against the king: and that I do abhor that traiterous position of taking arms by his authority against his person, or against those that are commis sioned by him. So help me God."

firmed. Now it was that resistance of the

those words: so that many of the wealthiest and soberest men are still kept out of the magistracy of those places. The next step was in the act of militia, which went for most of the chiefest nobility and gentry being obliged, as lord-lieutenants, deputy-lieutenants, &c. to swear to the same declaration and belief with the addition only of these words, in pursuance of such military commissions; which makes the matter rather worse than better. Yet this went down smoothly, as an oath in fashion, a testimony of loyalty; and none adventuring freely to debate the matter, the humour of the age, like a strong tide, carries wise and good men down before it.Immediately after this, followeth the Act of Uniformity; by which all the clergy of England are obliged to subscribe and declare what the corporations, nobility, and gentry had before sworn; but with this additional clause of the militia act omitted. This the clergy readily complied with; for, you know, that sort of men are taught rather to obey than understand; and to use that learning they have to justify, not to examine, what their superiors command.

-But this matter was not compleat until the fivemile act passed at Oxford, wherein they take an opportunity to introduce the oath in the terms they would have it. This was then strongly opposed by the lord treasurer Southampton, lord Wharton, lord Ashley, and others, not only in the concern of those poor ministers that were so severely handled, but as it was in itself a most unlawful and unjustifiable oath. However, the zeal of that time against all non-conformists easily passed the act. This act was seconded the same session, at Oxford, by another bill in the house of commons, to have imposed that oath on the whole

sovereign, or those commissioned by him,

nation. And the providence by which it was thrown out was very remarkable: for Mr. Peregrine Bertie being newly chosen, was that morning introduced into the house by his brother, the now earl of Lindsey, and Sir Thomas Osborn, now lord treasurer, who all three gave their votes against that bill; and the members were so even upon the division, that their three votes carried the question against it."In 1675, a bill was brought into the house of lords, and strongly supported by the bishops and courtiers, which required all officers of the church and state, and all members of both houses of parliament, not only to take the same oath, but likewise to swear, that "they would not, at any time, endeavour the alteration of the government either in church or state." This was strongly opposed by the most considerable peers: protested against by them in the warmest manner; but carried, with some little alteration, by a majority of voices. Luckily, however, for the nation, a dispute arose, between the two houses, about privileges; which put an end to the session before the commons had assented to this infamous bill, intended to shackle two-thirds of the legislature.

The chancellor Finch, and the treasurer Danby, had the honour of projecting and defending this evermemorable test".- How different was Danby from Sir Thomas Osborn?-But though the test miscarried, the doctrine of slavery prevailed; and resistance at all times, and in all cases, was almost universally condemned. The clergy zealously preached up the divine right of kings; and denounced damnation

a Letter to a Friend in the Country, passim; and Burnet, vol L