On Smyrna fleet, and other odious measures. this account articles of impeachment were drawn up against Arlington, and he was brought into the Commons and questioned, as Buckingham had been, if he knew of any design against the liberties of the people, who advised raising an army, declaring war without consulting parliament, attacking the Smyrna fleet, &c. But his cautious answers, or rather the personal influence of Lord Ossory, saved him from the vengeance of the House, and all farther proceedings were dropped. The King now found it was hopeless to attempt the continuance of the war. He was fully aware that the French alliance was unpopular with the nation: he had formed it with the knowledge that he and the Duke were the only persons in the kingdom who were friendly to Lewis; and he had in vain attempted, by prosecuting for seditious language, and controlling the course of justice, to suppress pub lic opinion. He had even issued a proclamation to shut up coffee-houses, which the judges declared to be legal, on the ground that the act for settling the excise, in which coffee was not included, gave a power of refusing licences to those who could not find security for the payment of the duties. A sufficient proof, if any were wanting, that judges dependent on the Crown for their continuance in office were always ready to pervert the law. The ground upon which this decision rested, however, was felt to be so unsafe that the proclamation was soon recalled. * And it was soon perceived, that though a free utterance was denied, the opinions of a people so bold and generous as the English could not fail to reach the ears of government, however deaf, and to influence the decisions of the House of Commons, however subservient. The Parliament refused supplies the French King likewise declined to advance a million of livres extraordinary, for which Charles had asked: Spain threatened to declare war; and an overture from Holland deprived the King of any further pretence for hostility. Under these circumstances he yielded to necessity, and graciously asked the advice of the House of Commons upon the expediency of making peace. They voted an address immediately afterwards, requesting that all troops raised since January 1st, 1663, might be disbanded. With this desire the King complied; and as soon as the peace was concluded, he prorogued the Parliament. Thus, in the space of less than four years, the alliance with France was broken, and the troops by which Charles had hoped to make himself absolute, dispersed. The declaration for indulgence had been recalled, and a precedent against the dispensing power established, which in the next reign was to be a bulwark of liberty and religion. But what was still more important, perhaps, the ministers of the Crown were struck with a salutary dread, and the King had no longer a council to whom he could confide his pernicious machinations. * Of the five members of the Cabal, Clifford was displaced by the Test Act; Arlington, finding himself in danger, became a decided enemy of Popery and the French†; Buckingham and Shaftesbury were excluded from the King's councils, and were converted into popular leaders. There remained only Lauderdale, whose pride and austerity, added to the distance of his government, made him proof against the resolutions of the Commons. * See the trial of the bishops in the State Trials. + In June this year (1674), Lewis the Fourteenth writes to James, that Lord Arlington and parliaments are unuseful;. and James returns for answer, that Lord Arlington and parliaments are not only unuseful, but dangerous. See Coleman's Letters. In consequence of the removal of Clifford and Shaftesbury, the staff of Lord High Treasurer was entrusted to Sir Thomas Osborne, soon afterwards created Earl of Danby; and the seals were given to Sir Heneage Finch, afterwards Earl of Nottingham. CHAP. IV. PROROGATION FOR FOURTEEN MONTHS. TEMPLE'S AD VICE TO THE KING. A PARLIAMENT.- LORD RUSSELL ON THE As soon as Charles had prorogued the Parliament, he entered into fresh intrigues with the court of Versailles; and humbly asked pardon for the peace he had lately concluded, excusing himself on the necessity of his affairs. Lewis, on the other hand, was urgent to obtain a prorogation of Parliament, lest Charles should be forced into a war against him. The King of February, England willingly came to terms, and 1674. for the sum of 500,000 crowns was glad to dispense with the presence of the Commons for fourteen months. In order to comply Dal. App. 99. |