eclipsed by him. Yet he quickly ran into amours 1685. and vice. And that by degrees wore out any courage that had appeared in his youth. And in the end of his life he came to lose the reputation of a brave man and a good captain so entirely, that either he was never that which flatterers gave out concerning him, or his age and affairs wrought a very unusual change on him. the king's small court He seemed to follow his mother's maxims all the while he was beyond sea. He was the head of a party that was formed in against lord Clarendon. And it was believed that his applications to lord Clarendon's daughter were made at first on design to dishonour his family, though she had the address to turn it another way. admiral of After his brother's restoration, he applied himself He was much to the marine, in which he arrived at great England. skill, and brought the fleet so entirely into his dependance, that even after he laid down the command he was still the master of our whole sea force. He had now for these last three years directed all our counsels with so absolute an authority, that the king seemed to have left the government wholly in his hands only the unlooked-for bringing in the duke of Monmouth put him under no small apprehensions, that at some time or other the king might slip out of his hands: now that fear was over, He was The king was dead: and so all the court went 620 immediately and paid their duty to him. Orders proclaimed were presently given for proclaiming him king. It king. was a heavy solemnity: few tears were shed for the former, nor were there any shouts of joy for the present king. A dead silence, but without any dis 1685. order or tumult, followed it through the streets". When the privy counsellors came back from the proclamation, and waited on the new king, he made a short speech to them; which it seems was well considered, and much liked by him, for he repeated it to his parliament, and upon several other occasions. His first speech well re ceived. He began with an expostulation for the ill character that had been entertained of him. He told them, in very positive words, that he would never depart from any branch of his prerogative: but with that he promised, that he would maintain the liberty and property of the subject. He expressed his good opinion of the church of England, as a friend to monarchy. Therefore, he said, he would defend and maintain the church, and would preserve the government in church and state, as it was established by law. This speech was soon printed, and gave great content to those who believed that he would stick to the promises made in it. And those few who did not believe it, yet durst not seem to doubt of it. The pulpits of England were full of it, and of b This is so far from the truth, that the death of no prince was ever so universally lamented; especially by the common people, who had enjoyed more ease and plenty during his reign, than ever they had done before, or expected after. D. (The truth of this latter account of the sorrow occasioned by the death of Charles, is confirmed by Colley Cibber, the poet laureat, who was no friend of the house of Stuart, in the beginning of the history of his own life. See 66 thanksgivings for it. It was magnified as a security 1685. far greater than any that laws could give. The common phrase was, We have now the word of a king, and a word never yet broken. made to Upon this a new set of addresses went round Addresses England, in which the highest commendations that him. flattery could invent were given to the late king; and assurances of loyalty and fidelity were renewed to the king, in terms that shewed there were no jealousies nor fears left. The university of Oxford in their address promised to obey the king without limitations or restrictions. The king's promise passed for a thing so sacred, that they were looked on as ill bred that put in their address, our religion established by law; which looked like a tie on the king to maintain it: whereas the style of the more courtly was to put all our security upon the king's promise. The clergy of London added a word to this in their address, our religion established by law, dearer to us than our lives. This had such an insinuation in it, as made it very unacceptable. Some followed their pattern. But this was marked 621 to be remembered against those that used so menacing a form. All employments were ended of course with the life of the former king. But the king continued all in their places: only the posts in the household were given to those who had served the king, while he was duke of York. The marquis of Halifax had reason to look on himself as in ill terms with the king: so in a private audience he made the best excuses he could for his conduct of late. The king diverted the discourse; and said, he would forget every thing that was past, except his behaviour The earl of Rochester made lord 1685. in the business of the exclusion. The king also added, that he would expect no other service of him than what was consistent with law. He prepared him for the exaltation of the earl of Rochester. He treasurer. said, he had served him well, and had suffered on his' account, and therefore he would now shew favour to him and the next day he declared him lord treasurer. His brother the earl of Clarendon was made lord privy seal: and the marquis of Halifax was made lord president of the council. The earl of Sunderland was looked on as a man lost at court: and so was lord Godolphin. But the former of these insinuated himself so into the queen's confidence, that he was, beyond all people's expectation, not only maintained in his posts, but grew into great degrees of favour. The earl of Sunderland in favour. The queen was made to consider the earl of Rochester as a person that would be in the interest of the king's daughters, and united to the church party. So she saw it was necessary to have one in a high post, who should depend wholly on her, and be entirely hers. And the earl of Sunderland was the only person capable of that. The earl of Rochester did upon his advancement become so violent and boisterous, that the whole court joined to support the earl of Sunderland, as the proper balance to the other. Lord Godolphin was put in a great post in the queen's household c. He was made lord chamberlain to the queen, and more esteemed and trusted by her than any man in England. After the revolution, he kept a constant correspondence with her to his dying day (which was managed by the countess of Lichfield:) notwithstanding Mr. Cæsar of Hartfordshire was sent to the tower for saying so in the house of commons, in the reign of queen Ann. D. levied a But before the earl of Rochester had the white 1685. staff, the court engaged the lord Godolphin, and the Customs other lords of the treasury, to send orders to the and excise commissioners of the customs to continue to levy the gainst law. customs, though the act that granted them to the late king was only for his life, and so was now determined with it. It is known how much this matter was contested in king Charles the first's time, and what had passed upon it. The legal method & was to have made entries, and to have taken bonds for those duties, to be paid when the parliament 622 should meet, and renew the grant. Yet the king declared, that he would levy the customs, and not stay for the new grant. But, though this did not agree well with the king's promise of maintaining liberty and property, yet it was said in excuse for it, that, if the customs should not be levied in this interval, great importations would be made, and the markets would be so stocked, that this would very much spoil the king's customs. But in answer to this it was said again, entries were to be made, and bonds taken, to be sued when the act granting them should pass. Endeavours were used with some of the merchants to refuse to pay those duties, and to dispute the matter in Westminster hall: but none would venture on so bold a thing. He who should begin any such opposition would probably be ruined |