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rogatives, belonging to the imperial crown of this realm, or at any time exercised or enjoyed by himself, or any of his majesty's royal predecessors, kings or queens of England]; but that his majesty, his heirs and successors, may, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, exercise and enjoy all such powers and authorities aforesaid, as fully and as amply as himself, or any of his predecessors, have or might have done the same; any thing in this act, [or any other law, statute, or usage to the contrary] notwithstanding.*-The words in brackets were rejected by the commons, 122 to 68.

house, but now it was interpreted into an honour; and the lords with White Staves were ordered to wait upon him with the thanks of the house for it. This kind reception induced him to make his attendance there his daily practice; and he declared, it was better than going to a Play.'-But though the Bill was finally carried by a few voices, and the king had said publicly, That he knew no reason why a woman should not be as well divorced for barrenness, as a man for impotency, he made no use of the precedent. Bishop Burnet, indeed, says, That Mr. Baptist May, of the privy purse, had told him, that a day was appointed for making the motion in the house of commons, that the king had engaged himself far in the laying of the thing, and in managing those who were to undertake the debates. But then we are assured, by the same authority, that his majesty had given directions to the said Mr. May, to cause that matter to be let alone, for it would not do.

The Speaker's Speech to the King at the Adjournment.] April 11. This day, the king came to the house of peers, in order to pass the several bills, and to make an adjournment: at which time the commons being sent for, their Speaker, in presenting the Bills, delivered himself thus:

The King attends the Debates on Lord Roos's Bill.] As long, says Mr. Ralph, as the king was in the hands of Buckingham, and the rest of his motly cabal, he was upon ill terms with his brother; and made no difficulty to hearken to projects, to disappoint him of the Succession. Lauderdale or Buckingham, it is uncertain which, one while recommended the legitimating of the duke of Monmonth; and then a divorce; that his majesty might have unquestionable heirs of his own. The last of these projects seems to have been relished most; and, in order to reconcile the public to it, the Bill which lord Roos had brought in against his wife, for adultery, was forwarded by the king, with as much zeal as if the case was his own the duke, on the other hand, opposed it as violently, having all the Popish lords, and all the bishops except Cosins, Reynolds, and Wilkins, on his side. When it was first read, the debate lasted till 10 o'clock at night: when a question for a second reading being put, it appeared, there were 42 sitting members and 6 proxies against it, and 41 sitting members and 15 proxies for it. Marvell affirms, that lord Arlington had a power in his pocket to annul the Proxies, if there had been a necessity for it. The duke and his party, how-ing of God, all Differences are buried in obever, entered their Protests.-On the second reading it was carried for a committee, by a round dozen. The king, afterwards, by the advice of Lauderdale, attended the debates in person, to the great surprize of the house, and dismay of the duke of York, who could not conceal his sense of it. Having seated himself on the throne, he told them it was a privilege he had from his ancestors, to be present at their deliberations; and, therefore, directed to proceed and be covered. This, at some periods, would have been thought a flagrant breach of privilege, as tending to overawe the

* "In this Session," says Mr. Marvell, in his Letters," the Lords sent us down a Proviso for the king, that would have restored him to all civil and ecclesiastical prerogatives, which his ancestors had enjoyed at any time since the conquest. There never was so compendious a piece of absolute, universal tyranny. But the commons made them ashanied of it, and retrenched it." He adds notwithstanding, "The Parliament was never so embarrassed beyond recovery. We are all venal cowards, except some few."

"May it please your most excellent majesty; At the opening of this session of parliament, your majesty was pleased to speak to your two houses, and recommended three things especially to us; Unity amongst ourselves, the Union of your majesty's two kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the Supply of your majesty's present and urgent occasions: in obedience to your majesty's commands, we have industriously applied ourselves to the consideration of these matters. By the bless

livion. Your majesty's happy Expedient hath, like a strong gale of wind, blown up the rolling sands, and filled up all impressions; Vestigia nulla retrorsum. And as your people will universally enjoy the fruit of this happy Union, so our united prayers to God shall be, that your majesty may he crowned with the promised blessing, beati pacifici.' In order to the Union of your majesty's two kingdoms, both your houses of parliament have humbly be sought your majesty to name commissioners for this your kingdom of England; and we have prepared a Bill to authorise them to treat with commissioners to be appointed for your kingdom of Scotland, upon such grounds as shall be thought conducing to that end, and to report them to your majesty, and to both houses of parliament of this your kingdom of England, reserving always to your maj, and the two houses of parliament, the entire consideration of the whole, and the allowing or disallowing thereof, or any part thereof, as they shall think fit. We have also considered of a Supply for your majesty's occasions: and I am commanded, by the knights, citizens, aud burgesses of the house of commons, to present your maj.

with this bill whereby we have given to your majesty an Imposition upon all Wines and Vinegar inported, after the rate of 8. per tun for all French wines and vinegar, and 127. per tun for all other wines; and have granted this unto your majesty for eight years, to commence from Midsummer next. And I am further commanded to acquaint your majesty, that we apprehended the Revenue arising by the power of granting Wine Licences, settled upon his r. b. by act of parliament, hath been prejudiced by the last imposition upon wines, and will be much more impaired by this present imposition: we therefore added the last year to this bill of Supply with this Vote, That your maj, be humbly desired therewith to recompence b. r. h, the duke of York for the damage he hath received, and shall receive, in his revenue of Wine Licences, by this and the last imposition. Having thus in the first place with all dutifulness obeyed your majesty's commands, we held it necessary to remember those that sent us hither, and to present unto your maj. some Bills that will be of public use for all the people of this nation. There is, first, a Bill for the preventing of seditious Conventicles, whereby no man is hindered the use of his own judgment in the exercise of religion, by himself or in his own family, or in the presence of four strangers: but, because the peace of the nation may be endangered by more populous meetings, contrary to the liturgy and practice of the church of England, we have imposed a penalty of 5s. for the first offence, and 10s. for the second and every other offence, upon all such offenders, to be levied by distress and sale of the offender's goods. We are informed, that your maj. suffers much by the stealing and embezzling of your ordnance, ammunition, sail cloths, and stores; and likewise your good people are much dainuified by a wicked sort of people, who make it their practice, in the night time, to steal woollen cloths and stuffs from off the racks: and they are much encouraged in this their wickedness, by reason they have their clergy: We have therefore prepared a Bill for the taking away the Benefit of Clergy, upon the conviction of all such offenders. We have likewise prepared an additional Bill for the rebuilding the city of London, wherein we have revived the judicatory of your majesty's 12 Judges, empowering them to hear and determine the 'remainder of causes and controversies, which have not already received a settlement by them; we have also made provision for the widening of many more streets than were mentioned in the former act, and to enable the lord mayor and aldermen of the city of London to give satisfaction to those whose grounds shall be taken from them; and also for laying the foundation at least of the famous Cathedral of St. Paul, and towards the rebuilding of 51 parish churches, we have added an imposition of two shillings for every chaldron of coals that shall be brought into VOL. IV.

the port of London for the space of 17 years yet to come. We have likewise prepared a bill for the ascertaining the measures of corn and salt, and provided that one measure shall be used in all the market towns of this kingdom. We have found great inconveniencies by the want of due repairing the Highways of this kingdom; and have therefore taken care for time to come, both to amend them, and to prevent the spoiling of them again, by carrying excessive loads, and drawing them with extraordinary number of horses and other cattle.-Experience tells us, when the consumption of foreign commodities exceeds the use and exportation of our native commodities, the nation must insensibly grow poor, and our treasure will be exhausted: we have therefore prepared a Bill for the Encouragement of Tillage, by permitting the exporting of corn; and also for the encouragement of other sorts of good husbandry, by exporting of horses, swine, and other cattle, and of butter and cheese; and have made them all free merchandize, paying certain duties to your majesty upon the exportation.-Having given your majesty this account of our proceedings since our last meeting in this our short, but happy, session; it is evident we have not mispent our time: but, with the good servant in the gospel, have gained many talents, so that we may with comfort and satisfaction return to our houses; and we hope we shall carry our masters blessing with us."

The King's Speech at the Adjournment.] After giving the royal assent to the several Bills, his majesty made a short Speech, to this effect:

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My Lords and Gentlemen; I am unwilling to let you go away without telling you, that I am very well satisfied with the success of this meeting, and that you have so well complied with my desires, both in the correspondence between the two houses, and in the progress you have made towards an Union between the two kingdoms. I heartily thank you for the Supply you have given me; and I assure you I will make it go as far I can towards the satisfying of my debts. And because you have been long from home, I am content you adjourn yourselves till the 24th of Oct. next." -The Lord Keeper accordingly declared the parliament to be adjourned to the 24th day of October.

Principal Occurrences during the Recess-Character of the CABAL-Secret Alliance with France.] The following interesting account of the leading Occurrences that took place during the Recess, we shall give in the words of Mr. Hume: "We now come to a period, when the king's counsels, which had hitherto, in the main, been good, though negligent and fluctuating, became, during sometime, remarkably bad, or even criminal; and breeding incurable jealousies in all men, were followed by such consequences as had almost terininated in the ruin both of prince and people. Happily, the 2 G

same negligence still attended him; and, as it had lessened the influence of the good, it also diminished the effect of the bad measures, which be embraced.-It was remarked, that the Committee of Council, established for foreign affairs, was entirely changed; and that prince Rupert, the duke of Ormond, secretary Trevor, and lord keeper Bridgman, men in whose honour the nation had great confidence, were never called to any deliberations. The whole secret was intrusted to five persons, Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale. These men were known by the appellation of the CABAL, a word which the initial letters of their names happened to compose. Never was there a more dangerous ministry in England, nor one more noted for pernicious counsels.-Lord Ashley, soon after known by the name of earl of Shaftesbury, was one of the most remarkable characters of the age, and the chief spring of all the succeeding movements. During his early youth, he had engaged in the late king's party; but being disgusted with some measures of prince Maurice, he soon deserted to the parliament. He insinuated himself into the confidence of Cromwell; and as he had great influence with the Presbyterians, he was serviceable in supporting, with his party, the authority of that usurper. He employed the same credit in promoting the restoration; and on that account both deserved and acquired favour with the king. In all his changes, he still maintained the character of never betraying those friends whom he deserted; and which ever party he joined, his great capacity and singular talents soon gained him their confidence, and enabled him to take the lead among them. No station could satisfy his ambition, no fatigues were insuperable to his industry. Well acquainted with the blind attachment of faction, he surmounted all sense of shame: and relying on the subtilty of his contrivances, he was not startled with enterprises the most hazardous and most criminal. His talents, both of public speaking and private insinuation, shone out in an eminent degree; and amidst all his furious passions, he possessed a sound judgment of business, and still more of men. Though fitted by nature for beginning and pushing the greatest undertakings, he was never able to conduct any to a happy period; and his eminent abilities, by reason of his insatiable desires, were equally dangerous to himself, to the prince, and to the people. The duke of Buckingham possessed all the advantages, which a graceful person, a high rank, a splendid fortune, and a lively wit could bestow; but by his wild conduct, unrestrained either by prudence or principle, he found means to render himself in the end odious and even insignificant. The least interest could make him abandon his honour; the smallest pleasure could seduce him from his interest; the most frivolous caprice was sufficient to counter-balance his pleasure. By his want of secrecy and constancy, he destroyed his character in public life; by his contempt of

order and œconomy, he dissipated his private fortune; by riot and debauchery, he ruined bis health; and he remained at last as incapable of doing hurt, as he had ever been little desirous of doing good, to mankind.--The earl, soon after created duke of Lauderdale, was not defective in natural, and still less in acquired, talents: but neither was bis address graceful, nor his understanding just. His principles, or more properly speaking his prejudices, were obstinate, but unable to restrain his ambition: his ambition was still less dangerous than the tyranny and violence of his temper. An implacable enemy, but a lukewarm friend; insolent to his inferiors, but abject to his superiors; though in his whole character and deportment, he was almost diametrically opposite to the king, he had the fortune, beyond any other minister, to maintain, during the greater part of his reign, an ascendant over him. The talents of parliamentary eloquence and intrigue had raised sir Tho. Clifford; and his daring impetuous spirit gave him weight in the king's councils. Of the whole Cabal, Arlington was the least dangerous, either by his vices or his talents. His judgment was sound, though his capacity was but moderate; and his intentions were good, though he wanted courage and integrity to persevere in them. Together with Temple and Bridgeman, he had been a great promoter of the triple league; but he threw himself, with equal alacrity, into opposite measures, when he found them agreeable to his master. Clifford and he were secretly catholics : Shaftesbury, though addicted to astrology, was reckoned a deist: Buckingham had too little reflection to embrace any steady principles: Lauderdale had long been a bigoted and furious presbyterian; and the opinions of that sect still kept possession of his mind, how little soever they appeared in his conduct.-The dark counsels of the Cabal, though from the first they gave anxiety to all men of reflection; were not thoroughly known but by the event. Such seem to have been the views which they, in concurrence with some catholic courtiers, who had the ear of their sovereign, suggested to the king and the duke, and which these princes too greedily embraced. They said, that the parliament, though the spirit of party, for the present, attached them to the crown, were still more attached to those powers and privileges which their predecessors had usurped from the sovereign: that after the first flow of kindness was spent, they had discovered evident symptoms of discontent; and would be sure to turn against the king all the authority which they yet retained, and still more those pretensions which it was easy for them in a moment to revive: that they not only kept the king in dependence by means of his precarious revenue, but had never discovered a suitable generosity, even in those, temporary supplies which they granted him: that it was high time for the prince to rouse himself from his lethargy, and to recover that authority which

his predecessors, during so many ages, had dently. Notwithstanding all this joy, we must peaceably enjoyed that the great error or have a second war with Holland.' The accesnisfortune of his father was the not having sion of the emperor to that alliance had been formed any close connexion with foreign refused by England on frivolous pretences. princes, who, on the breaking out of the rebel- And many unfriendly Cavils were raised lion, might have found their interest in sup- against the states with regard to Surinam and porting him that the present alliances, being the conduct of the East-India Company. But entered into with so many weaker potentates, about April 1669, the strongest symptoms apwho themselves stood in need of the king's peared of those fatal measures, which were protection, could never serve to maintain, afterwards more openly pursued.--De Wit, at much less augment, the royal authority: that that time, came to Temple, and told him, that the French monarch alone, so generous a he paid him a visit as a friend, not as a miprince, and by blood so nearly allied to the nister. The occasion was, to acquaint him king, would be found both able and willing, if with a conversation which he had lately had gratified in his ambition, to defend the common with Puffendorf the Swedish agent, who had cause of kings against usurping subjects: that a passed by the Hague in the way from Paris war, undertaken against Holland by the united to his own country. The French ministers, force of two such mighty potentates, would prove Puffendorf said, had taken much pains to an easy enterprise, and would serve all the pur- persuade him, that the Swedes would very ill poses which were aimed at that, under pre- find their account in those measures which tence of that war, it would not be difficult to they had lately embraced that Spain would levy a military force, without which, during fail them in all her promises of subsidies; nor the prevalence of republican principles among would Holland alone be able to support them: his subjects, the king would vainly expect to that England would certainly fail them, and defend his prerogative: that his naval power had already adopted counsels directly oppomight be maintained, partly by the supplies, site to those which by the Triple League she which, on other pretences, would previously be had bound herself to pursue and that the reobtained from parliament; partly by subsidies solution was not the less fixed and certain, befrom France; partly by captures, which might cause the 'secret was as yet communicated to easily be made on that opulent republic: that very few, either in the French or English court. in such a situation, attempts to recover the lost When Puffendorf seemed incredulous, Turenne authority of the crown would be attended with showed him a letter from Colbert de Crossy, success; nor would any malcontents dare to the French minister at London; in which, resist a prince, fortified by so powerful an alli- after mentioning the success of his negociance; or if they did, they would only draw ations, and the favourable disposition of the more certain ruin on themselves and on their chief ministers there, he added. And I have cause and that, by subduing the states, a at last made them sensible of the full extent of great step would be made towards a reforma- his majesty's bounty.' Erom this incident it tion of the government; since it was apparent, appears, that the infamous practice of selling that that republic, by its fame and grandeur, themselves to foreign princes, a practice which, fortified, in his factious subjects, their attach- notwithstanding the malignity of the vulgar, is ment to what they vainly termed their civil certainly rare among men in high office, had and religious liberties.-These suggestions hap- not been scrupled by Charles's ministers, who pened fatally to concur with all the inclina- even obtained their master's consent to this tions and prejudices of the king; his desire of dishonourable corruption.-But while all men more extensive authority, his propensity to the of penetration, both abroad and at home, were catholic religion, his avidity for money. He alarmed with these incidents, the visit which seems likewise, from the very beginning of his the king received from his sister, the dutchess reign,to have entertained great jealousy of his of Orleans, was the foundation of still stronger own subjecs, and, on that account, a desire of suspicions. Lewis, knowing the address and fortifying himself by an intimate alliance with insinuation of that amiable princess, and the France. So early as 1664, he had offered the great influence which she had gained over her French monarch to allow him, without oppo- brother, had engaged her to employ all her sition, to conquer Flanders, provided that good offices, in order to detach Charles from prince would engage to furnish him with ten the Triple League, which, he knew, had fixed thousand infantry, and a suitable number of such unsurmountable barriers to his ambition; cavalry, in case of any rebellion in England. and he now sent her to put the last hand to the As no dangerous symptom at that time ap- plan of their conjunct operations. That he peared, we are left to conjecture, from this might the better covert his negociation, he preincident, what opinion Charles had conceived tended to visit his frontiers, particularly the of the factious disposition of his people.-Even great works which he had undertaken at Dunduring the time when the triple alliance was kirk; and he carried the queen and the whole the most zealously cultivated, the king never court along with him. While he remained on seems to have been entirely cordial in those the opposite shore, the dutchess of Orleans salutary measures, but still to have cast a long-went over to England (16th May;) and Charles ing eye towards the French alliance. Clifford, met her at Dover, where they passed ten days who had much of his confidence, said impru- together in great mirth and festivity. By her

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obstructions. De Wit made the Dutch resident inform the English court, that he should consider the recall of Temple as an express declaration of a change of measures in England; and should even know what interpre tation to put upon any delay of his return."

The King's Speech at the Meeting of Parlin ment.] Oct. 24, 1670. While these measures were secretly in agitation, the parliament inet according to adjournment, when the king made the following short Speech:

artifices and caresses, she prevailed on Charles | themselves, he had not commonly so much as to relinquish the most settled maxims of honour the pretence of equity and justice to cover his and policy, and to finish his engagements with ambitious measures. This acquisition of LorLewis for the destruction of Holland; as well raine ought to have excited the jealousy of the as for the subsequent change of religion in contracting powers in the Triple League, as England. But Lewis well knew Charles's cha- much as an invasion of Flanders itself; yet did racter, and the usual fluctuation of his coun- Charles turn a deaf ear to all remonstrances sels. In order to fix him in the French inter- made him upon that subject.-But what ests, he resolved to bind him by the ties of tended chiefly to open the eyes of de Wit and pleasure, the only ones which with him were the States, with regard to the measures of irresistible; and he made him a present of a England, was the sudden recall of sir Wm. French mistress, by whose means he hoped, Temple. This minister had so firmly estafor the future, to govern him. The duchess blished his character of honour and integrity, of Orleans brought with her a young lady of that he was believed incapable even of obeying the name of Querouaille, whom the king car- his master's commands, in promoting measures ried to London, and soon after created dutchess which he esteemed pernicious to his country; of Portsmouth. He was extremely attached to and so long as he remained in employment, de her during the whole course of his life; and Wit thought himself assured of the fidelity of she proved a great means of supporting his England. Charles was so sensible of this preconnexions with her native country. The possession, that he ordered Temple to leave his satisfaction which Charles reaped from his new family at the Hague, and pretended, that that alliance, received a great check by the death minister would immediately return, after barof his sister, and still more by those melancholy ing conferred with the king about some busicircumstances which attended it. Her deathness, where his negociation had met with was sudden, after a few days illness; and she was seized with the malady upon drinking a glass of succory water. Strong suspicions of poison arose in the court of France, and were spread all over Europe; and as her husband had discovered many symptoms of jealousy and discontent on account of her conduct, he was universally believed to be the author of the crime. Charles himself, during some time, was entirely convinced of his guilt; but upon receiving the attestation of physicians, who, on opening her body, found no foundation for the general rumour, he was, or pretended to be, satisfied. The duke of Orleans indeed did never, in any other circumstance of his life, betray such dispositions as might lead him to so criminal an action; and a lady, it is said, drank the remains of the same glass, without feeling any inconvenience. The sudden death of princes is commonly accompanied with these dismal surmises; and therefore less weight is in this case to be laid on the suspicions of the public.-Charles, instead of breaking with France upon this incident, took advantage of it to send over Buckingham, under pretence of condoling with the duke of Orleans, but in reality to concert farther measures for the projected war. Never ambassador received greater caresses. The more destructive the present measures were to the interests of England, the more natural was it for Lewis to load with civilities, and even with favours, those whom he could engage to promote them.-The journey of Buckingham augmented the suspicions in Holland, which every circumstance tended still farther to confirm. Lewis made a sudden interruption into Lorraine; and though he missed seizing the duke himself, who had no surmise of the danger, and who narrowly escaped, he was soon able, without resistance, to make himself master of the whole country. The French monarch was so far unhappy, that, though the most tempting opportunities offered

"My Lords and Gentlemen; My principal design being the good of the kingdom, and be lieving that will be best provided for when the houses are fullest, I thought fit by my proclamation to summon you all to be here. My Lord Keeper will open at large the Particulars I have to recommend to you at this present; and what you do, I would have dispatched be fore Christmas, that you may then have leisure to return home, and that your own domestic affairs may not suffer by the care you take of me and the public. You have given me so many great testimonies of your zeal and affection, that it were to do you an injury to suspect your want of kindness at a time when there is so much need of it; and if you could possibly make any question of the value and love I have for you, I should think myself unhappy, since I have nothing more in my heart than to give evidences of it to the whole world."

The Lord Keeper Bridgeman's Narrative of the State of Public Affairs.] Then the Lord Keeper spake as follows:

My lords; and you knights, citizens, and burgesses, of the house of commons; When the two houses were last adjourned, this day as you well know, was prefixed for your meeting again. The proclamation, since issued, requiring all your attendances at the same time, shews, not only his majesty's belief that his business will thrive best when the houses are fullest, but the importance also of the af

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