York pre

nevertheless did not meet till the succeeding sum- Duke of
mer. In the interim, Shaftesbury, now the oracle sented as a
of the opposition, attended by Russel, Cavendish, cusant.
Popish Re
Grey, and many other persons of the first dis-
tinction, publicly appeared in Westminster-hall,
and presented the duke of York to the grand jury
of Middlesex as a popish recusant. This unpre-
cedented act of audacity was intended by the
popular party to convince the court, as well as
the world, that they were firmly resolved never
to listen to any terms of accommodation with the
duke, and that his exclusion from the throne was
a point which at all hazards they were deter-
mined to insist upon.

New Par

At length, in October 1680, the parliament 1680. was convened; and the session was opened with liament. a very judicious, animated, and even affectionate speech from the throne. At this period, if at any time, Charles was sincerely desirous of living upon terms of mutual confidence and harmony with his subjects: his own excellent understanding could not but suggest to him, that the numerous difficulties and embarrassments in which he had been involved, had arisen almost entirely from his own misconduct. His love of ease, and the advanced age to which he had now attained, were strong inducements to him to avoid those measures which had a tendency to inflame the parliament or to disgust the nation: and since

course.

the alliance with the prince of Orange he was less inclined to a close connection with Louis, whose conduct for a certain period immediately preceding the peace of Nimeguen, he had deemed, after allthe obloquy he had incurred upon his account, highly ungrateful and injurious, and of which he still retained a deep resentment. In this speech, truly worthy of a British monarch, he again informed the parliament, that he was willing to concur in any expedient for the security of the protestant religion, provided the succession were preserved in the due and legal After stating his pecuniary wants, for which he trusted parliament would provide, he added,-" But that which I value above all the treasure in the world, is a perfect union among ourselves. All Europe have their eyes upon this assembly if any unseasonable disputes do happen, the world will see that it is no fault of mine. I have done all that it was possible for me to do, to keep you in peace while I live, and to leave you so when I die. But from so great prudence and good affection as yours I can fear nothing of the kind, but do rely upon you all, that you will do your best endeavours to bring this parliament to a good and happy conclusion."

The mildness and moderation of the king were Bill of ex- not however attended by any sensible or salutary vived., effects. In a few days the bill of exclusion was

clusion re

again introduced, passed by a great majority, and carried up to the lords; who, influenced chiefly by the eloquence of the marquis of Halifax, after vehement debates, at length determined to reject it. The commons immediately voted an address for the removal of that nobleman from his majesty's councils and presence for ever. And this address was soon after followed by another in the highest degree inflammatory, in which all the abuses of government which had been the subject of complaint almost from the beginning of the king's reign were insisted upon; and "the damnable and hellish popish plot" is openly ascribed to that party under whose influence all the measures of government originated. They likewise voted, "that whoever advised his majesty to refuse the exclusion bill were enemies to the king and kingdom, and that, till this bill were passed, they could not, consistently with the trust reposed in them, grant the king any manner of supply."

1681.

No farther hopes remaining of bringing the commons to any better temper, the king dissolved the parliament in January 1681. But, desirous of making one more effort to effect a reconciliation with his people, he summoned another parliament to meet at Oxford in March. In Oxford his speech at the opening of it, he told them in a ment. tone of seriousness and dignity, that, "though he

Parlia

Triumph of

had reason to complain of the unwarrantable proceedings of the former house of commons, no past irregularities could inspire him with a prejudice against those assemblies. He now afforded them yet another opportunity of providing for the public safety; and to all the world he had given one evidence more, that on his part he had not neglected the duty incumbent on him." Such however was the infatuation of the house of commons, that though the ministers of the crown proposed, by command of the king, that the duke should be banished during life five hundred miles from England; and that, on the king's demise, the next heir should be appointed regent with kingly power, they deemed no expedient but the absolute exclusion of the duke worthy of attention. The patience and moderation of the king, which had stood a very severe trial, now seemed at last to forsake him; and, before the commons had time to pass a single bill, he suddenly and unexpectedly dissolved the parliament, with a full resolution not to summon another till the spirit and temper of the times had undergone an essential alteration.

The popular party were struck with consterthe Court. nation at this vigorous procedure; and the nation disgusted with the obstinacy of their representatives, and pleased with the great concessions made by the king, joined in applauding the

firmness and spirit with which he acted on this occasion. The desperate measures afterwards resorted to by the patriots, the fatal catastrophe which ensued, and the tragical end of Sydney, Russel, Essex, and others of the party, too plainly evinced the imprudence and indiscretion of their preceding conduct; which indeed affords a memorable lesson to posterity, how solicitous men ought to be, who have great and laudable ends in view, to adopt rational and practicable methods of effecting them.

The despotism exercised by Charles from this period was scarcely inferior to that of Henry VIII.; though it is certain, that, pressed by pecuniary difficulties, and living in the continual dread of another revolution, his gaiety of spirit forsook him, and he became silent, absent, and melancholy. It is generally believed, and with good reason, that he was meditating a change of measures, and that he had it in contemplation very shortly to summon another parliament, from which very happy consequences would probably have resulted, when he was suddenly seized with a fit of apoplexy, and died February 6th, 1685, 1685. in the 55th year of his age and 25th of his reign. Death of Some remarkable circumstances attending his death occasioned a suspicion of poison; but there does not appear sufficient evidence for an accusation of this atrocious nature. The whole tenor of

the King.