ENGL A N 1). 
could be no future accommodation or eompofition with 
the duke, ntter fuch a ftep. Thefe proceedings deter¬ 
mined the king to affemble the parliament. In his fpeech 
he ftrongly urged the advantages of unanimity; and con¬ 
cluded with an afirance, that if any difputes arofe, the 
world fliould have no realbn to fay that the fault was with 
him. Aid thefe mollifying expreffions had no effect on 
the commons, who proceeded in.their former career, and 
feemed bent on renewing the bill for excluding the duke 
ot York from -the fuceeflion ; while a party hoped by 
this ttep to advance the intereft of the duke of Mon¬ 
mouth. But Charles was determined to preferve the 
right of fuceeflion inviolable ; and though the bill had 
palled the commons a grfeat majority, the influence of 
the court being exerted in the houfe of peers againft it, 
the courtiers prevailed, after a long and violenLdebate ; 
and it was thrown out. 
Fruftrated in the'ir objeft, the commons vented their 
fpleeii, by refuming the profecution againft the catholics. 
The impeachments began with that of vifcount Stafford, 
who, from age and infirmities, being lead able to defend 
himfelf, became the firft vidlim. In.his laft moments he 
protefted, that the only treafon of which he had ever 
been guilty, had been entering into fchemes for procuring 
a mitigation of the penal laws againft his religion. The 
populace, who had exulted at his trial and condemnation, 
were melted into tears at the fortitude he difplayed on 
the fcaffold. This was the laft blood they Ihamefully 
fpilt on account of religion ; but the commons ftill found 
new occalions to exercife their talents againft the court. 
The king, feeing that no conceffions, (liort of giving his 
aflent to the exclufion bill, would fatisfy them, came to 
a resolution of proroguing the parliament ; but the 
houfe, having got intelligence of his defign a few mi¬ 
nutes before it was put in execution, in the moft tumul¬ 
tuous manner palled a firing of votes, which vitally at¬ 
tacked the legal and undoubted prerogatives of a kinp- 
of England. 
Soon after this feflion was clofed, Charles fummoned a 
new parliament; and in order to avoid thofe tumults 
which attended their affembling at Weftminfter, he di¬ 
rected them to meet at Oxford. Againft this, Monmouth 
and fifteen peers protefted, on the pretence that the per¬ 
sons of the members would be in danger there, from the 
papifts and their adherents-. Thefe infinuations inflamed 
the people ftill more; and the affembly at Oxford, from 
the number of fervants arid retainers which each of the 
popular leaders brought with him, refembled more a mi¬ 
litary congrefs than an Englifh parliament. -The com¬ 
mons, conlifting nearly of the fame individuals as before, 
fell inftantly into the fame meafures. The impeachment 
of Danby, the perfecution of the catholics, and the.bill 
of exclufion, were renewed with greater acrimony than 
ever. So violent were they on this laft article, that no 
expedient, however plaulible, would fatisfy them. One 
of the king’s minifters had even propofed'that the duke 
fhould be banifhed five hundred miles from England, 
and, on the king’s demife, the next heir fhould be con- 
ftituted regent with regal power ; but, though this would 
have left the duke of York the bare title of a king, it 
failed to fatisfy the oppofition. Charles, feeing it im- 
poffible to manage the parliament without facrificing his 
brother, now refolved to depend on economy and re¬ 
trenchments, inftead of alking for frelh fupplies. 
The wifdom and moderation of the duke of Ormond 
had for fome years kept Ireland in tranquillity ; but Eng¬ 
land and Scotland were ftill agitated to the centre. The 
tools that had been employed by Shaftelbury, now turned 
againft him; and he was accufed by Tubervilie and 
others of high treafon. The draught of an . affociation 
againft popery and the duke was found in his cabinet; 
and dangerous inferences might be drawn from many 
claufes of that paper ; but it did not appear that Shaftef- 
bury either framed it, or approved of it. The grand jury, 
therefore, weighing all circumftances, rejeaed the in. 
Vol. VI. Mo. 383. 
68 .;) 
diament; and'the populace Were loud in their expref¬ 
fions of joy at his deliverance. In Scotland, however, 
a nobleman, far lefs obnoxious, became the viCtiin 'of 
oupreliion. The earl of Argyle, who, from his youth, 
had been diftinguiflied for his loyalty, and had met with 
feveral marks of the king’s ■■favour, being called upon to 
take the teft which alferted the king’s fupremacy, added, 
“as far as it is confident with itfelf, and the proteftant 
religion.” For this falvo, a warrant was ilfued for com¬ 
mitting him to prifon ; and, innocent as the words were, 
for them he was condemned for high treafon, leafing- 
making, and perjury. The execution of the fentence, 
however, was ftifpended ; but all his eftates were confif. 
cated, and with difficulty he efcaped to the continent 
with his life. 
As Charles, A. D. 1682, was determined to do without 
a parliament, he no longer dreaded the clamours of the 
country party ; and permitted his brother to pay him a 
vifit in England. The (hip in which the duke embarked 
with his family and attendants from Scotland, having 
ftruck on a land bank, was loft; but he efcaped, with, a 
few of his party, in the barge. The king now began to 
manifeft his love of arbitrary authority. By an unwar¬ 
rantable ftretdh of power, two (heriffs werechofen in the 
city of London, on account of their devotion to the 
court; but, as the conteft might be renewed annually, 
Charles determined to make himfelf mafter at once, not 
only of the city, but of all the corporations in England. 
A writ of quo warranto was ilfued, and the charter of 
London revoked, on account of fome irregularities in its 
proceedings feveral years before ; and lentence of for¬ 
feiture of all their immunities was pronounced againft 
the citizens. The king, on petition, however, agreed to 
reftore the charter ; but, in return, they were obliged 
to fubinit to the fubfequent regulations : That no mayor, 
fheriff, recorder, common fergeant, town clerk, or coro¬ 
ner, Ihould be admitted to the exercife of his office, with¬ 
out his majefty’s approbation : that if the king difap- 
prove twice of the mayor or ftieriffs eleCted, he may, by 
commillion, appoint thofe magiftrates himfelf: that the 
mayor and court of aldermen may, with his majefty’s 
leave, difplace any magiftrate : and that an alderman, in 
cafe of a vacancy, fhall be eleCted without the conlent of 
the court of aldermen, who, if they ailapprove twice of. 
the choice, may fill the vacancy. All the corporations 
in England, from this precedent, faw how ineffectual it 
would be to contend; and therefore moft of them were 
induced to furrender their charters into the king’s hand's, 
A. D. 1683. Confiderable Aims were exacted for reftor- 
ing the charters ; and all offices of power or profit, by 
the reftridtions introduced, were now left at the dilpofal 
of the crown. This was one of the moft violent infrac¬ 
tions of liberty that had ever taken place ; and will re¬ 
main aa everlafting monument of the arbitrary principles 
of Charles II. Moft of the charters then re-granted 
ftill remain in force. 
At this jundture, however, a plan of refiftance was fe- 
rioufly fet on foot. The duke of Monmouth, lord Ruf¬ 
fe], and lord Gray, folicited not only the capital, but the 
nobility and gentry of feveral counties, to rife'in arms, 
and oppofe the fuceeflion of the duke of York. The 
whole train was ready to take fire ; but was prevented by 
the caution of lord.Ruffel, who, in oppofition to Shaftef- 
bury, the prime mover, induced Monmouth to delay the 
enterorife. Shaftelbury could ill brook timid counfels ; 
and, defpairing of fuccefs, withdrew to Holland, where 
he foon after paid the debt’of nature, little regretted by 
his friends, or noticed by his enemies. At laft, a regular 
projedl of inlurredtion was formed. The council con- 
lifted of Monmouth, RuHel, ElTex, Howard, Algernon 
Sidney, and John Hampden, grandfon to the great parlia¬ 
mentary leader. Thefe men had entered into a negocia- 
tion with Argyle and the Scottifti malcontents, who en¬ 
gaged to bring the covenanters into the field. The con- 
l'pirators, however, differed widely in their views. Sid- 
8 N nev 
