CHAP.

IV.

1665.

Conclufive

remarks.

amongst those Irifh, who fhould appear moft fit for his majesty's bounty. Though this proposal met with some obftinate opposition, after it was brought before the king, yet the number of the oppofers was so small in refpect of the others wha agreed to it, that they grew weary of farther con, tention; and thereupon the third Act of Settlement, as fupplemental to the other two, was confented to by the king. At the fame time, his majefty took an opportunity of publishing to the world how little he regarded the clamour raised against his commiffioners, and how fully he approved of their past conduct, by refolving to make no change; and fo, though two of them, who had offices here to discharge, prevailed with his majefty that they might not return again into Ireland, the other five were continued to execute what was defigned to be done by this act, to perfect the settlement.

It is not my purpose to trace thofe proceedings any farther, nor again to refume any mention of the affairs of Ireland, though they might afford a large field of matter. But what I have faid on this fubject is fufficient to lay open the impolitic dehigns of the court, in the profecution, of which not only truth, honour, and juftice, but the real fecurity of government, and the affections and happinefs of the best fubjects were facrificed to mean intrigues, to abfurd jealoufies, and to an inordinate

defire of power. The king was too much diftracted by pleasure, and too impatient also for the execution of his will, to pursue the flow and temperate, but effectual fyftem of measures, which the ftate of Ireland at that time required. For his own ease, he always intrufted the chief conduct of bufinefs to thofe, who were moft forward in promifing him the speedy accomplishment of all his wishes, and who triumphed in the fhew of temporary fuccefs, though ufually obtained by the greatest baseness, or the moft dangerous violence. A party was raised up and strengthened to fupport this arbitrary plan, and to bid defiance to the murmurs and refentment of the oppreffed. Strange infatuation in the agents of tyranny, which cannot be corrected by history, or experience! They live in perpetual alarm themselves: they entail misery upon their descendants: they often come to an ignominious end; and their memories are always held in juft deteftation,

CHAP.

IV.

1665.

CHAP. V.

Affairs of England refumed-Venner's infurrection Artifice ufed by the duke of York-Firft fep towards the establishment of a standing army-Defign and refult of the conference at the Savoy-Conduct of the restored bishops and clergy-Account of the coronation-Remarkable accidents at this ceremony — Ineffectual search for the corpfe of the late king— Curious conjectures on the unavoidable omiffion of a public funeral-Partiality fhewn to the Portuguese ambafador-Prejudices of the king and his brother against the Dutch-Difmiffion of Burdoe, the French refident-Firft fuggeftion" of a treaty of marriage with Portugal-Specific propofals made by the ambaffador-The king's ftrong inclination to the match

-Motives by which the chancellor was actuated in this bufinefs-Proceedings of the felect committee Conferences opened with the ambajador-Chief objection to the treaty evaded-The ambassador's departure for Lisbon—Review of the earl of Bristol's paft conduct-Character and reception of the Spanish ambassador-Intrigues to break off the treaty with Portugal-Alarm given to the chancellor and to the felect committee by a fudden change of the king's fentiments-Earl of Bristol's extraordinary commiffion -Effects of the Spanish ambasador's unparalleled indifcretion

1

indiscretion-Overtures from France-The offers of that court readily acceded to-Formalities obferved previous to the conclufion of the treaty with Portugal.

A

FTER fo long a digreffion on the misgovernment of Scotland and Ireland, it is now time to return to the affairs of England, my account of which I broke off at the clofe of the year one thoufand fix hundred and fixty. The first event of the new year, which deferves to be noticed, was a mad infurrection of a few fanatics, headed by one Venner, a wine-cooper, who expected the perfonal appearance and immediate reign of Jesus Christ upon earth; and who had perfuaded his followers, that they should be able to do as much upon all opponents, as Jonathan and his armour-bearer did upon the Philistines, or as any others in the Old Teftament had done upon those, whom the Lord delivered into their hands. Full of thefe ideas, they iffued forth from their religious meeting, fword in hand, about eleven o'clock at night, on Sunday the fixth of January; and Venner, their inspirer and captain, having taken for his device in his enfign these words, "The Lord God and Gideon," they marched boldly from St. Paul's church-yard, under the facred banner, uttering with loud fhouts in every ftreet, Live king Jefus."

But those wild enthusiasts were not content with the noify proclamation of their divine fovereign:

CHAP.

V.

1661.

Affairs of
England re-

fumed.

Venner's Infurrection.

they compelled every person they met to give fome proof of the like allegiance, and put one man to death for declaring, either through drunkenness, or by way of filly bravado," that he was for God and king Charles." They not only difperfed the watchmen that attempted to feize them, but even attacked a body of the train-bands with fo much courage, that it fled in diforder. They then drew off towards Highgate, and kept the woods there* till Tuesday evening, when they returned to town, but not with their former confidence of victory, as they had been diflodged by a party of troops.

At this time the king was gone to Portsmouth; but the duke of York and general Monk were at Whitehall, with a regiment of guards and fome horse, which were quickly drawn together. It is almoft incredible what terror and alarm were excited by what may be called a handful of madmen. Those who had run away from their fury, magnified their numbers and their irresistible violence, fo as to fill the city and the court with the utmost confternation. Sir Richard Browne was then lord mayor of London, and being joined by a large body of officers, foldiers, and friends, he went in pyrfuit of the fanatics; but when he came up to

* Caen-wood, the prefent refidence of the earl of Mansfield, was the spot to which those enthufiafts retired, not so much for fecurity, as to prepare themselves by fafting and prayer for the fupernatural exploits, which they hoped to perform.

them,