VII. 1669. BOOK magistrate, estranged and separated the people from the indulged. When the latter ceased to preach to the times, the salt of their doctrine lost its relish, and it was visible to the people that the divine grace with which they were endued in conventicles, had departed on their submission to the injunctions of the civil power. The king's curates, as they were contumeliously denominated, were compared to dumb dogs, unable or afraid to bark. The controversy continued burning for many years. The people returned to their conventicles with an increase of appetite, the temporising clergy relapsed into those popular doctrines which they had been forbidden to preach. But the severity of government was soon awakened by the rapid growth and increase of conventicles, for which the indulgence was supposed to leave no pretext.49 Merits of administra tion. While the present humane administration subsisted, the most assiduous application was given to public affairs. Intemperance and other vices of the age were discountenanced; justice was impartially administered; the excesses of Turner and his officers were strictly investigated; claims on government were regularly discharged, and an annual surplus of the revenue was appropriated to purchase magazines of arms, and to promote useful schemes of manufacture and trade. Tweedale and Murray were united by a sincere friendship, but unhappily for the country, the duration of 49 Wodrow, i. 303–51. Burnet, i. 4.3. BOOK VII. 1669. their authority depended on the support they received from Lauderdale, whose character, so various at different periods, had undergone a sudden and surprising change. On his return to the world, the devout studies of his early years were abandoned for the profligate manners of the times. But his influence hitherto had been exerted patriotically, for the benefit of his country, till he renewed an amorous connection with the countess of Dysart, whom he married afterwards on the death of his wife: a woman of beauty, wit, and spirit, full of intrigue, whose blandishments Cromwell had been unable to resist, and whose literary accomplishments were beyond her sex, acquired an absolute dominion over his mind. She was vain and prodigal in her expences; venal, rapacious, or rather ravenous for money; violent in her friendships, but more implacable still in her resentments; of a restless ambition; ardent, insatiable, and deterred by no principle nor compunction from the attainment of her ends. Her vices and passions, to which Lauderdale became subservient, dishonoured his character and degraded his capacity in the public estimation. She inspired his mind with her own resentments; she incited him to quarrel successively with his best friends; and as she persuaded him that Murray, whom her father had formerly destined for her husband, as- Laudersumed the sole merit of administration, the jealous ference. Lauderdale, whose pride was alarmed at her sug dale's inter BOOK gestions, determined to superintend the government of Scotland himself.50 VII. 1669. A parlia ment. Union at A feeble attempt of Tweedale's to accomplish an union of the two kingdoms, was encouraged Oct. 19. by Lauderdale, that he might hold a parliament in tempted. person as high commissioner. The king was empowered to appoint commissioners for a treaty of union. Instructed, however, by the insignificant share which their country acquired in the government during the usurpation, they refused, on a subsequent treaty, to accede to an union, unless the Scottish estates were preserved entire, and instead of a proportional representation, the two parliaments were incorporated into one.51 But an union was utterly inconsistent with Lauderdale's designs. From an ostentatious display of his influence and services in the Scottish parliament, he expected to acquire a share in the administration of England, and succeeded at length in obtaining admission Two dan- into the celebrated Cabal. An act to explain and assert the prerogative was first procured. To the Lauderda'c. nobility he represented that the insolence of the gerous acts pro cured by prelates would be more effectually restrained; to the presbyterians, that a change would be sooner accomplished, if religion were left entirely to the disposal of the king. The external government and regulation of the church was declared an in 5o Burnet, i. 360. Kirkton, 80. 51 Kirkton, 80. Union, p. 54, 725. Mackenzie, . 359. De Foe's Hist. VII. 1669. herent right of the crown, and whatsoever his BOOK majesty should enact, respecting all ecclesiastical matters, meetings, and persons, when recorded and published by the privy council, acquired the same force and operation as laws. The religion of the king was not then suspected; but when the attachment of his brother to popery transpired, there was no longer any doubt of Lauderdale's intentions to recommend himself to the duke, by providing a previous, discretionary power to introduce whatsoever religion he chose into the church. The next act was to confirm the national militia, which, in consequence of the offer of an army by the late parliament, had been embodied, armed, and regularly disciplined. An established militia of twenty-two thousand men was ordered to march wheresoever the privy council of Scotland should appoint, and the honour or the safety of the king might require. In procuring acts so dangerous to the religion and liberties of either kingdom, Lauderdale exulted in his services to the crown. The supremacy was more firmly established than even in England, and the church was prepared to receive any religion which the king should enjoin. An army, a treasury, magazines of arms, were provided in Scotland to support his authority, and the army was ready to march into England, on a secret intimation to the privy council, whose proceedings might be disavowed at court, if they failed of success.52 Parl. 1669, ch. 1, 2. Burnet, i. 218. Wodrow, i. 310. BOOK 1670. Parliament. against conven ticles. The second session of parliament is distinguished by severe and sanguinary acts against conventicles, which the military had of late been employed July 28. to disperse. The people resorted to sermon in the open fields, which they preferred to houses for the purpose of escape or defence. A large conventicle in Fife, was attended by gentlemen in their ordinary arms, and the reproaches of the court, or of the English prelates, awakened Lauderdale to all Severe laws the rage of persecution. House-conventicles were repressed by the former laws against separation; and husbands were rendered responsible for their wives, fathers for their children, and magistrates for the towns within which they were held. Fieldconventicles were more severely restrained. The preachers were subjected to confiscation and death; their hearers to double fines and penalties of sedition. A reward of five hundred Scottish merks was offered for their persons, or an indemnity for their slaughter; and house-conventicles were estimated and punished as field-conventicles, if crowded without, at the windows or doors. Whatsoever persons refused to depose against delinquents, or to furnish information on oath against such as held or frequented conventicles, were punishable by imprisonment, arbitrary fines, transportation to the plantations; and the privy council was enjoined to enforce the utmost rigor of the act, against all who decline to turn public informers against their relations and friends. It is observable that the king |