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brother, performed the office of confessor, and administered the usual rights of his church, at the conclusion of which, the king appeared easy and satisfied. Having dosed himself with these delusions, he, with his dying breath, recommended his mistresses and children to the care of his brother, but said nothing either of his wife or people; nor did he express any contrition either for his mis-government, or his profligate life.*

Historians of the Times.

CHAPTER VII.

Accession of James II.-His fair Promises.- Flattering Addresses-He seizes the Customs.-And goes publicly to Mass.-Servility of Parliament.-Observation of Maximilian II.—Character of the Duke of Monmouth. His Expedition to England.-Rising in his Favour.-De Foe joins his Standard.-Obstacles to his Success.-De Foe's Account of the Enterprize.-Defeat and Execution of Monmouth.-Cruelties in the West.-De Foe's Escape.-Anecdote of one of the Duke's Followers.— De Foe's early Engagements in Trade.

1685.

THE events of the latter years of King Charles's reign, prepared the way for the peaceable accession of JAMES II., who had governed the nation in the name of his brother, and gave an earnest of what might be expected from him when he actually became king. "This prince was above fifty when he came to the throne. He had great experience of all kinds, particularly of the temper of this nation, and of the impossibility to attempt introducing Popery, without hazarding his crown. But his experience profited him not: his bigotry drew false conclusions from it; he flattered himself that he should be able to play parties against one another better than his brother had done, (which by the way was the least of his little talents); and to complete his designs by an authority which was but too well established."*

In his first speech to the privy-council, repeated afterwards

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FLATTERING ADDRESSES.

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in parliament, the king declared his intention of copying his brother's example, particularly his great clemency! and of adhering to the principles of the constitution, both in church and state: at the same time, he intimated that he did not mean to give up any branch of his prerogative, which he would use for the benefit of his people. The Church of England was also the theme of his commendation for her loyalty; and in return for the compliment, flattering addresses were presented by the clergy, making a tender of their lives and fortunes. Bishop Burnet tells us, that their pulpits resounded with thanksgivings for his speech, which was magnified as a security far greater than the laws;* but in their first transport of joy, they discovered more haste than prudence. Many addresses were presented from public bodies, equally profuse in expressions of loyalty. That from the society of the Middle Temple is singularly curious for its outrageous servility. The University of Oxford promised to obey him "without limitations or restrictions;" and the king's promise, says Burnet, passed for a thing so sacred, that those were looked upon as ill-bred, who put into their address "our religion established by law." The lapse of a short time, however, shewed the folly of trusting to so feeble a security.

Notwithstanding his early promise to respect the laws, the king, in the first week of his reign, seized upon the customs and excise; although the act which settled them upon the crown expired at the death of his brother. This stretch of power was the more unnecessary, as the parliament was to meet shortly, when he could not doubt of obtaining a legal settlement of the revenue: but he set out with the intention of governing in defiance of the laws; and revealed it further by going publicly to mass upon the first Sunday after his accession.

Burnet's Own Time, ii. 298.

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SERVILITY OF PARLIAMENT.

Parliaments having been so long dispensed with by his brother at the suggestion of the present king, it may seem extraordinary that he should condescend to call one. He had, however, but little to fear from its proceedings; for the elections were so well managed, that when the lists were presented to him, he said that there were not above forty names with which he was dissatisfied. From a parliament thus constituted, the nation had more to dread than from the acts of the sovereign. One of its first measures was to settle upon him a revenue for life, computed by Coke at the enormous sum of more than two millions and a half per annum which rendered him independent of future parliaments, and would enable him to maintain an army of sufficient magnitude to govern at his pleasure. Nothing was said in the shape of grievance, nor was any notice taken of the king's conduct in seizing the customs; although a similar proceeding had cost his father his crown. But the spirit of patriotism was fled, and the liberties of the nation perfidiously betrayed into the hands of a tyrant, by a company of slaves who mocked the name of a parliament, and when they had done their work, were quietly dismissed for a future occasion.

It was an observation of the emperor Maximilian II. who distinguished himself by the humanity, prudence, and moderation of his government, that "such princes as tyrannize over the consciences of men, attack the throne of the supreme being, and frequently lose the earth by interfering too much with heaven." James, who had been tutored in a different school, had this lesson to learn from bitter experience. Professing a religion as obnoxious to the laws as that of the Non-conformists, he might have been expected to exercise that forbearance towards them, which he found so needful for persons of his own faith; but when bigotry takes possession

* Coke's Detection, ii. 337.

CHARACTER OF THE DUKE OF MONMOUTH.

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of the mind, it blinds the reason, and dries up the sympathies of our nature.

That the victims of a barbarous persecution should become alienated from a government that practised it, was a natural consequence: and that they should seize any favourable opportunity that offered itself for bursting their shackles, was a duty which they owed to themselves and to their children. It is not surprising, therefore, that many of them united their fortunes with the Duke of Monmouth, when he landed at Lyme in the summer of 1685, and that others, who acted more cautiously, wished him success.

JAMES Duke of MONMOUTH, was the natural son of Charles II. by Lucy Walters, and possessed all those qualities of person, disposition, and manners, which were calculated to render him the favorite of his father, and the idol of the people. His education being neglected, he endeavoured to supply the defect by an application to study when he was out of favour at court; for, being at the head of the party that was in opposition to the Duke of York, his interests fluctuated according to the policy of the times; but he seems never to have lost the affections of his father. Having been bred to the profession of arms, he early distinguished himself by his bravery, and no less by his humanity. But this last quality was no recommendation to him in those days of rancour and violence; for, being sent to suppress an insurrecin Scotland, which had been promoted by the severity of the government, his lenity to the unfortunate people occasioned his disgrace at court. Borne down by the stream of party, he was compelled to retire to Holland, where he met with a gracious reception from the Prince of Orange, much to the satisfaction of his father, who secretly continued his kindness to him; and "the more he was depressed by the envy of his uncle," observes Welwood, "the higher he arose in the affections of the people." The prospect of a change in his

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