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preceded the queen's arrival; he was there on his employer of all that had passed, and to rethe night that bonfires were lit in the street for quest, not that he would give up his design of that event;' he left her to go to his bride; and, fixing his mistress constantly in court as the when Catherine was established at Hampton servant of his wife, but that he would forbear Court, he not only presented her himself, but pressing the queen in that matter for a day or also insisted that she should be one of the queen's two, till he had once more waited upon her. ladies of the bedchamber. Clarendon, who wor- But, according to his narrative, the king listened shipped the proprieties and outward appearances. to other counsellors, and resolved to make his according to his own account, spoke with great wife submit at once. "The fire flamed that night boldness to the king on the subject of this scan- higher than ever: the king reproached the queen dalous appointment, telling him "of the hard- with stubbornness and want of duty, and she heartedness and cruelty in laying such a com- him with tyranny and want of affection: he used mand upon the queen which flesh and blood threats and menaces which he never intended to could not comply with. The king," says he, put in execution, and she talked loudly how ill "heard him with patience enough, yet with those she was treated, and that she would return again little interruptions which were natural to him, to Portugal. He replied, that she should do well especially to that part where he had levelled the first to know whether her mother would receive mistresses of kings and princes with other lewd her; and he would give her a fit opportunity to women, at which he expressed some indignation, know that, by sending to their home all her being an argument often debated before him by Portuguese servants; and that he would forthwith those who would have them looked upon above give order for the discharge of them all." What any other men's wives." But, according to the the threats and menaces were which Charles historian's own account, the moral conversation never intended to put in execution we know not, ended by the king's "requiring him to use all but he forth with executed his cruel threat of those arguments to the queen which were neces- depriving his wife of her servants-her countrysary to induce her to a full compliance with what men and countrywomen, the friends of her childthe king desired." And the Lord High-chancellor hood. After an interview with the chancellor, of England-the model Clarendon-who is still who had been again with the queen, using argustyled, by some, one of the most illustrious of Eng-ments and cajolery to overcome her natural relishmen, one that through all circumstances main-pugnance, "he persevered in all his resolutions tained the innate dignity of his character-the without any remorse-directed a day for all the upright minister, the true patriot, and the honest Portugueses to be embarked without assigning man-undertook the office, and waited several any considerable thing of bounty to any of them, times on the forlorn young queen to prove to or vouchsafing to write any letter to the King or her the suitableness of submission and resigna- Queen of Portugal of the cause of the dismission tion "to whatsoever his majesty should desire of of them. And this rigour prevailed upon the her," and to insinuate (his own words!) "what great heart of the queen, who had not received would be acceptable with reference to the lady." any money to enable her to be liberal to any of Catherine, who had told this hoary-headed me- those who had attended her out of their own diator for royal profligacy that she had to strug-country, and promised themselves places of great gle with more difficulties than ever woman of her condition had known-that at times she was forced "to give vent to that passion that was ready to break her heart"-now assured him "that the king's insisting upon that particular could proceed from no other ground but his hatred of her person, and to expose her to the contempt of the world, who would think her worthy of such an affront if she submitted to it, which before she would do, she would put herself on board any little vessel, and so be transported to Lisbon." The chancellor upon this reminded her "that she had not the disposal of her own person, nor could go out of the house where she was without the king's leave;" and, therefore, advised her "not to speak any more of Portugal, | where there were enough who would wish her to be." The chancellor then made haste to inform

Pepys, Diary.

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advantage in her family; and she earnestly desired the king that she might retain some few of those who were known to her, and of most use, that she might not be wholly left in the hands of strangers; and employed others to make the same suit to the king on her behalf. Whereupon the Countess of Penalva, who had been bred with her from a child, and who, by the infirmity of her eyes and other indisposition of health, scarce stirred out of her chamber, was permitted to remain in the court; and some few inferior servants in her kitchen and in the lowest offices, besides those who were necessary to her devotions, were left here. All the rest were transported to Portugal." Nor did Catherine's trials end here. "In all this time," continues Clarendon, "the king pursued his point: the lady cam to the court-was lodged there was every day in the queen's presence-and the king in con

tinual conference with her, whilst the queen sat untaken notice of; and if her majesty rose at the indignity and retired into her chamber, it may be one or two attended her; but all the company remained in the room she left, and too often said those things aloud which nobody ought to have whispered. . . . . All these mortifications were too heavy to be borne; so that at last, when it was least expected or suspected, the queen on a sudden let herself fall first to conversation and then to familiarity, and, even in the same instant, to a confidence with the lady; was merry with her in public, talked kindly of her, and, in private, used nobody more friendly."1

On the 2d of June, a few days after the king's marriage, the republican Sir Harry Vane was arraigned before the Court of King's Bench.

SIR HARRY VANE. From a print by Houbraken, after Sir P. Lely.

Upon the Restoration, Vane, knowing that he had taken no share in the trial or death of Charles I., and that the new king, in his declaration from Breda, had promised a wide indemnity, continued at his house in Hampstead, near London. He was allowed to remain undisturbed for about five weeks, when he was arrested and sent to the Tower, whence he had been carried from one prison to another for the space of two years. He had now been brought up from a lone castle or block-house on one of the Scilly Islands. The indictment charged him with compassing and imagining the death of Charles II., and conspiring to subvert the ancient frame of the kingly government of the realm. Vane objected that the offences charged against him were committed either in his capacity as a member of parliament,

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or as a servant of government acting under the commission of parliament; and he maintained that he could be tried only by parliament, and not by any inferior tribunal. His judges, who were met to condemn, not to try him, overruled these objections, and bade him plead guilty or not guilty. Vane represented that he could not expect justice from judges who, in another place, had prejudged him and recorded their votes against him; that the length of time taken to search out matters against him, and the undue practices and courses to find out witnesses against him, were further proofs that he could not have an equal and impartial trial; that, during all that time, he had been kept in close imprisonment without being once examined, or having any question put to him whereby he might conjecture what would be charged against him; that he had been treated as a great delinquent-his rents stopped, his tenants forbidden to pay them, his very courts prohibited by officers of great personages claiming the grant of his estates; that, by these undue proceedings, he had not wherewithal to maintain himself in prison, and his debts, to the amount of above £10,000, were undischarged, either principal or interest; and that the hopes of private lucre and profit were such in his tenants and other persons, sought out for far and near to be witnesses against him, that it would be no wonder if, at last, some charges should be exhibited; but these charges were so general and vague, that nothing certain, or that applied peculiarly to himself, could be gathered out of them. After expressing his faith and reliance on God, who now called him to suffer, as he had formerly called him to act, for the good of his country-after expressing his consciousness that for himself the issue would be good, whatever this court might make it-he continued: "Far be it from me to have knowingly, maliciously, or wittingly offended the law, rightly understood and asserted; much less, to have done anything that is malum per se, or that is morally evil. This is what I allow not, as I am a man, and what I desire with steadfastness to resist, as I am a Christian. If I can judge anything of my own case, the true reason of the present dif ficulties and straits I am in is because I have desired to walk by a just and righteous rule ir all my actions, and not to serve the lusts and passions of men, but rather to die than wittingly and deliberately sin against God and transgress his holy laws, or prefer my own private interest before the good of the whole community I relate unto, in the kingdom where the lot of my resi dence is cast." The counsel for the prosecution were reduced to silence; but the Chief-justice Foster muttered "Though we know not what to say to him, we know what to do with him." Vane

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traitors, Bradshaw or Coke, from the top of Westminster Hall?" With these words thundering in their ears, the jury retired, and in half an hour returned into court with a verdict of guilty.'

claimed the benefit of counsel, which had been denied to Harrison and the other regicides, and which it was not usual to grant in cases of treason. The court, impatient to make him plead, promised him that if he would put himself on the issue he should have counsel. He then pleaded On the morrow, Charles thus wrote from not guilty, and was sent back to the Tower for Hampton Court to Clarendon :-"The relatior four days. When he re-appeared he claimed the that hath been made to me of Sir H. Vane's promise which had been given him; on which carriage yesterday in the hall is the occasion or his judges, who had received fresh instructions this letter; which, if I am rightly informed, was to condemn him, told him that they would be his so insolent as to justify all he had done, acknowcounsel. The attorney-general, Sir Geoffrey Pal- ledging no supreme power in England but a mer, a fanatic royalist, produced his evidence. parliament, and many things to that purpose. Vane combated the charges with great learning You have had a true account of all; and, if he and eloquence. He maintained that the word has given new occasion to be hanged, certainly king in the statute of treasons meant only a king he is too dangerous a man to let live, if we can regnant, a king in actual possession of the crown, honestly put him out of the way. Think of this, and not a king merely de jure, who was not in and give me some account of it to-morrow; till possession. He justified the conduct of the when, I have no more to say to you." What Commonwealth by the inevitable necessity of the Clarendon's account was, we may easily divine,' case. "This matter," said he, "was not done in a for, on that day week (June 14), a scaffold was corner. The appeals were solemn, and the deci- prepared on Tower-hill, on the very spot where sion by the sword was given by God! . . . . . the Earl of Strafford had suffered so many years When new and never-heard-of changes do fall before. At an early hour Vane took leave of his out in the kingdom, it is not like that the known wife and children, and of a few generous friends and written laws of the land should be the exact that were not afraid of incurring the hatred rule, but the grounds and rules of justice, con- of government by showing a deep sympathy. tained and declared in the law of nature, are He entreated them not to mourn for him. His and ought to be a sanctuary in such cases, even religious enthusiasm blended itself, as it had by the very common law of England: for thence ever done, with his republicanism and passionate originally spring the unerring rules that are set | love of liberty. "I know," said he, "that a day by the Divine and eternal law for rule and sub- of deliverance for Sion will come. Some may jection in all states and kingdoms." In the think the manner of it may be as before, with course of his defence he called attention to the confused noise of the warrior, and garments facts that the resolutions and votes for changing rolled in blood; but I rather think it will be with the government of England into a Commonwealth burning and fuel of fire. . . . I die in the certain were all passed before he was returned to par- faith and foresight that this cause shall have its liament; that he was bound to obey the powers resurrection in my death. My blood will be then regnant; that he had done nothing for any the seed sown, by which this glorious cause will private or gainful ends, to profit himself or en- spring up, which God will speedily raise.. rich his relations, as well appeared by the great As a testimony and seal to the justness of that debts he had contracted, and the destitute condi- quarrel, I leave now my life upon it, as a legacy tion in which he should now leave his family. to all the honest interest in these three nations. But the court was not to be moved by such ap- Ten thousand deaths rather than defile my conpeals as these, and they determined that the science, the chastity and purity of which I value evidence against the prisoner was good, and that beyond all this world!" He was dragged on a the acts imputed to him amounted to high trea- sledge from the Tower to the scaffold, looking so son. Vane then offered a bill of exceptions, and cheerful that it was difficult to convince many claimed the benefit of the promise which the king of the spectators that he was the prisoner about had made to the Convention Parliament-that, to die. The government had been alarmed by if Vane should be attainted by law, he would the impression made by the dying words of Harnot suffer the sentence to be executed. The rison, Scott, and Peters; and so they had resolved solicitor-general openly declared that "the pri- to interrupt, at all critical passages, the more soner must be made a public sacrifice;" and, al- dangerous eloquence of Vane. When he atluding to Vane's urgent and repeated demands for the benefit of counsel, he brutally exclaimed -"What counsel does he think would dare speak for him in such a manifest case of treason, unless he could call down the heads of his fellow

1 The attorney-general, who had the last word, was even permitted to hold a secret consultation with the foreman as the jury were leaving the box. See Foster's Life of Sir Henry Vane, in Lives of Eminent Statesmen.

2 Clarendon, in his Life, avoids saying a single word about the trial and execution of Vane.

morality, irreligion, and indecency, that obtained among public men. General Lambert was tried and condemned at the same time; but by his timid proceedings after the death of the protector, he had given very evident proofs that he was not a dangerous man; he pleaded guilty, threw himself abjectly upon the royal mercy, and was suffered to wear out the remainder of his days in an unhonoured prison in the island of Guernsey. Other blood, however, was shed. Colonels Okey, Corbet, and Barkstead, who had been concerned in the execution of the late king, had fled to Holland, but they were hunted out by Downing, who had once been chaplain in Okey's regiment; the States gave them up, and they were brought to the gibbet and the knife. They died glorying in the good old cause, and Downing was held up to detestation. General Ludlow, Mr. Lisle, and a few other Commonwealth men, who either had taken a part in the trial of Charles I., or had otherwise incurred the hatred of the royalists, had found an asylum among the republicans of Switzerland-a sacred asylum, which was not suffered to be invaded either by the threats or promises that were repeatedly held out through a series of years by the government and family of Charles II. Not being able to obtain their expulsion or their surrender by the Swiss, the royalists had recourse to assassination in a private way. Lisle was shot in the back in the month of August, 1664, on the Lord's day, as he was going into a church at Lausanne. He fell dead on the spot in the churchyard, and close to

tempted to describe the conduct of his judges, Sir John Robinson, the lieutenant of the Tower, interrupted him, saying, in a furious manner, "It is a lie; I am here to testify that it is a lie. Sir, you must not rail at the judges." Vane replied, "God will judge between you and me in this matter. I speak but matter of fact, and cannot you bear that? It is evident the judges refused to sign my bill of exceptions." . . . Here the drummers and trumpeters were ordered to come close under the scaffold, and the trumpeters blew in his face to prevent his being heard. Sir Harry lifted up his hand, laid it on his breast, and, after a mild remonstrance, silence being restored, he proceeded to detail to his fellowcountrymen and fellow-Christians some circumstances of his life and of the late Civil wars. Upon this, the trumpeters again sounded, the sheriff snatched at the paper he held in his hand,' and the lieutenant of the Tower furiously called out for the books of some that were taking notes of Vane's solemn and last discourse. "He treats of rebellion," said the lieutenant, "and you write it." And thereupon six note books were delivered up. Vane said, meekly, that it was hard that he might not be permitted to speak, but that this was what all upright men might now expect from the worldly spirit. Here fresh blasts were blown upon the trumpets, and fresh efforts made by the lieutenant of the Tower and two or three others to snatch the paper out of his hand, "and they put their hands into his pockets for papers, as was pretended, which bred great confusion and dissatisfaction to the spectators, see-the church-porch; and his murderer mounted a ing a prisoner so strangely handled in his dying words." At last Vane gave up all hope of being allowed to explain himself to the people, and, turning away from the front of the scaffold, he knelt in prayer for a few minutes by the side of the block, then laid his head upon that sharp pillow, and stretched out his arm as a signal to the executioner, who struck a good blow, which severed his neck at once. His magnanimity on the scaffold made a wonderful and lasting impression, which became the deeper when men saw more and more of the ways of the restored government and of the universal corruption, im

1 Burnet; Pepys.

the

swift horse that was held for him at hand by another villain, and the two, shouting “God save the king," galloped off and crossed the Swiss frontier into France. Other less successful attempts were made in the same manner upon life of Ludlow, who distinctly charges King Charles, his mother the queen-dowager, and his sister the Duchess of Orleans, with employing these assassins.

2 This Downing had been Cromwell's ambassador at the Hague, but, being ready to do any kind of work, he was continued in his post by Charles. He employed a perfidious artifice to get possession of his victims, who had once been his friends

and patrons.

rogue.

Even Pepys is indignant at this "perfidious

CHAPTER II.-CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.-A.D. 1661-1675.

CHARLES II.

Act of uniformity enforced upon the Presbyterians-Ejection of their ministers on the anniversary of St. Bartholomew-Declaration of indulgence in behalf of Papists-Sale of Dunkirk-Opposition of Charles to the triennial act-The conventicle act passed-Its oppressions-It is turned in Scotland against the national church-Scottish persecutions by Lauderdale and Sharp-War with Holland-Naval engagements with the Dutch-Further oppressive acts of the high-church party-Fresh naval encounters with the Dutch-The fire of London-Opposition to the court commenced-Insurrection of the Covenanters in Scotland-Their defeat at the Pentland Hills-The Dutch block up the Medway and the Thames-Peace concluded with HollandPlot against the Earl of Clarendon-He is deprived of the chancellorship-His impeachment in parliamentHe secretly withdraws to France-The council called the Cabal formed-Its proceedings-Secret and treacherous treaties of Charles with Louis XIV.-Charles obliged to relinquish his scheme of toleration-His mistresses-His design to change the national religion and government-His combination for that purpose with Louis XIV.-Infamous treatment of Sir John Coventry-The bill called the "Coventry Act"-Account of Colonel Blood-His attempt to hang the Duke of Ormond-His behaviour before the king-Charles and Louis XIV. go to war with Holland-Nefarious attempt to capture the Dutch Smyrna fleet-Its failure-Indecisive naval battle with the Dutch at Solebay-The Dutch assailed by the French by land-William, Prince of Orange-His character and abilities-He obtains the chief cominand in Holland-His able resistance to the French invasion-Meeting of parliament-Unsuccessful attempts of the court to win over the Nonconformists -Bill to suppress Popery called the "Test Act" passed-Parliament prorogued-The Cabal succeeded by the Danby administration-Peace between England and Holland-Court and cabinet intrigues-Debates in parliament upon the bill to prevent the danger which may arise from persons disaffected to the governmentTroubles in Scotland-Attempt to assassinate Archbishop Sharp-Slavish conduct of the Scottish parliament.

1

S the anniversary of St. Bartho-lord-general (Monk), the Duke of Ormond, the lomew approached, the Presbyte-chief-justice, the attorney-general, and the secrerian ministers, threatened with taries of state. "The bishops," says Clarendon, deprivation, reminded the king of "were very much troubled that those fellows all they and their party had done should still presume to give his majesty so much for his restoration, and then im- vexation, and that they should have such access plored his majesty to suspend the execution of to him. They gave such arguments against the the act of uniformity for three months longer, doing what was desired as could not be answered; by his letters to the bishops, by proclamation, and, for themselves, they desired to be excused by an act of council, or in any other way his for not conniving in any degree at the breach majesty should think fit. Charles made them a of the act of parliament, and that his majesty's positive promise that he would do what they giving such a declaration or recommendation (for desired; and this promise was solemnly given to the three months' respite) would be the greatest them in the presence of Monk, who was still wound to the church, and to the government considered as leaning towards the Presbyterians thereof, that it could receive." As a matter of through his wife. But Clarendon stepped in and course, the crown lawyers sided with the bishops; urged the absolute necessity of enforcing obedi- and so, "upon the whole matter, the king was ence to the act of uniformity without delay or converted; and, with great bitterness against that connivance; and he told the king that it would people in general, and against the particular pernot be in his power to preserve from deprivation sons, whom he had always received too graciously, those ministers that would not submit to it. concluded that he would not do what was desired, This is Clarendon's account, almost in his own and that the connivance should not be given to words. He tells us, indeed, that he was very any of them. The bishops departed full of satistender of the king's honour, and told his majesty faction with the king's resolution." Accordingly, that, having engaged his word, he ought to per- upon the day prescribed, which the suffering Presform what he had promised. But Clarendon byterians compared to the great St. Bartholomew knew that Charles never regarded his word, and Massacre of the French, the act of uniformity was he had given him a strong inducement to break enforced in all its rigour. Some complied with it. Some of the bishops were then summoned the terms for the sake of their families; but upto Hampton Court, and the question was debated wards of 2000 ministers refused, and were thrust in the presence of the king, the chancellor, the 1 Life.

2 Ibid.

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