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glorying in the "good old cause," in which from. his youth, he said he had enlisted himself.

As not even the shadow of a second witness could be found against Hampden, he was only indicted for a misdemeanor, and the exorbitant fine of forty thousand pounds imposed on him.

Whether he

On the day that Russel was tried, Essex, a man eminent for virtue and abilities, was found in the tower, with his throat cut. fell by his own hands or otherwise, has never been clearly ascertained.

On the detection of this conspiracy, A. D. loyal addresses arrived from all parts of 1684. the kingdom; and in order to increase his present popularity, Charles judged it proper to give his niece, the lady Anne, in marriage to prince George of Denmark, brother to the reigning king.

But though Charles had thus recovered his former popularity, and was enabled to govern without a parliament, it is certain he was neither happy nor satisfied. The violent temper of the duke gave him constant apprehension and uneasiness. In opposing some of the duke's hasty counsels, he was heard one day to say, "Brother, I am too old to go again on my travels : you may, if you choose it."

It was evident, the king had some important changes in contemplation, and it was strongly believed, that he intended to send the duke of York back to Scotland, to recal Monmouth, to assemble his parliament, and to dismiss his obnoxious ministers; but amidst these wise and virtuous designs, he was seized with an apo

plectic fit, and after languishing a few days, he expired in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and the twenty-fifth of his reign. Having always enjoyed a good constitution, his death begat the suspicion of poison; but there does not appear to be any just grounds for such a charge. His loss, however, was sincerely lamented by his people, and the more so when they reflected on the character of his successor.

When Charles was on his death-bed, he showed a total indifference to the devotions and exhortations of the clergy of the established church, but readily received the sacrament from the hands of catholic priests, and certainly died in the communion of Rome, though he appears to have lived with little sense of any religion.

Charles, when contemplated as a companion, appears the most amiable and engaging of men, he had a ready wit, was well-bred, and good natured; but when we consider his public character, there is little room for panegyric. As a sovereign, his conduct was dangerous to his people and dishonourable to himself. He was negligent of the interests of the nation, careless of its glory, averse to its religion, jealous of its liberty, lavish of its treasure, and sparing only of its blood.

CHAP. XVII.

The Reign of James II.

AMES ascended the throne with J every prejudice against him; but A. D. having assembled the privy-council, he 1685,

declared it should be his object to maintain the established government in church and state. Had these professions been realized, he might easily have gained some share of lost popularity; but on the very first exercise of his power, he evinced his insincerity. All the customs, and the greatest part of the excise, which had been settled by parliament on the late king during life, were demanded as a matter of right by his successor, and he also went openly to mass. By this imprudence, he displayed at once his arbitrary disposition, and the bigotry of his principles.

Though James could have no great partiality for an English parliament, he found it absolutely necessary to summon one. The odium under which the whigs laboured, on account of the recent conspiracy in which they were principally concerned, had such an effect, that the new house of commons consisted chiefly of zealous tories and friends to the hierarchy. Though strongly biassed in favour of the crown, the king's speech was rather calculated to call forth their fears than their affections. He required them to settle his revenue, and that during life too, as had been done to his brother. "There is indeed," added he, "one popular argument, against complying with my demand. Men may think, that by feeding me, from time to time, with such supplies as they think convenient, they will better secure frequent meetings of parliament; but as this is the first time I speak to you from the throne, I must plainly tell you, that such an expedient would be very improper to employ with me, and that the best way to engage me to meet you often, is always to use me well."

Reduced to this dilemma, either of breaking with James at once, or of complying with his wishes, the commons voted the same revenue during life, as the late king had enjoyed. The house of lords were equally compliant; and, in order to break in pieces the remains of the popish plot, Oates was tried and convicted of perjury, and sentenced to perpetual imprison. ment, besides being publicly whipped, and five times a year exposed in the pillory. The impudence of this man still supported him, and he continued to make the most solemn appeals to heaven for the truth of his testimony*.

On the conviction of Oates, the popish lords Powis, Arundel, Bellasis, and Tyrone, together with Danby, were freed from their impeachment; but the course of parliamentary proceedings was soon interrupted by the news of Monmouth's arrival in the west, with three ships from Holland. Parliament immediately passed a bill of attainder against Monmouth, and voted, that they would adhere to James with their lives and fortunes, and, as an carnest of their sincerity, they granted him a present supply of four hundred thousand pounds.

The unfortunate Monmouth, pursued by the jealousy of James, even in his retirement on the continent, and urged by the impatient humour of Argyle, who set out for Scotland in his cause, determined at once, to try his interest in England. Landing at Lyme, in Dorset, with scarcely an hundred men, the popularity of his

* On the accession of king William, he recovered his liberty, and had a pension of four hundred pounds a year settled on him.

name soon drew to his standard above two thousand horse and foot. He stiled James a popish usurper; and advancing to Taunton, was proelaimed king, which ceremony likewise took place in Bridgewater, Wells, and Frome.

But though Monmouth had given many proofs of personal courage, he seemed now to labour under an infatuation. He intrusted the command of his horse to lord Grey, a notorious coward, and on hearing of the defeat of Argyle, he lost all the energies of his mind, and sunk into despondence, without attempting any thing to keep up the expectations of the people. His negligence invited the earl of Feversham, the royal general, to attack him at Sedgemoor, where, after a sharp combat of three hours, the rebels gave way. About one thousand five hundred fell in the battle and pursuit; and Monmouth himself, flying from the field, till his horse sunk under him, changed clothes with a peasant, in order to conceal himself. At last he was found lying in the bottom of a ditch and covered with fern. His body depressed with fatigue and hunger; and his mind, by the memory of past misfortunes, and the anticipation of future ills, he burst into tears when seized by his enemies, and seemed still to indulge the fond hope and the desire of life. He wrote in the most submissive terms to James, conjuring him to spare the issue of a brother; and the king, availing himself of those symptoms of contrition and despondency in the unhappy prisoner, admitted him into his presence, in hopes of extorting a discovery of his accomplices. But Monmouth would not purchase life, however loved, at the price of so much infamy.

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