vith the im. light Sfer r of Fairs en and ing of hat hed by ledged even by his enemie birth, and the amiableness o together with his zeal for public freedom, placed hir of the Whig interest in the mons; and, in this capacity the most extreme folicitud gion and liberties of his cou when they were exposed to most dangerous and alarmin AT this period, it is fact, that king Charles II. schemes and practices equ able to himself, and deftru е VOL. II. tion. His defigns against the Proteftant religion, and the liberties of the people, appeared fufficiently manifeft even to those who were no enemies to the royal authority. This is evident from a converfation between him and Sir William Temple; wherein Sir William laboured to convince the king of the impracticability of esta blishing in England the fame religion or government as in France. But, indeed, we have fufficient evidence of Charles's iniquitous defigns and intrigues, even from Sir John Dalrymple himself, who acknowledges, that from the year 1667 to the year: 1677, a period of ten years, King "Charles, the duke of York, and their mi, "nifters, formed connexions with France + Temple's Memoirs, part II. p. 31. edit. 8vo. 1693. Evidence of Charles's dangerous designs against his subjects, and intrigues with the court of France, may be seen in the "Secret Hiftory of Europe," part I. P. 59, 93, &c. 8vo. 1712. " of "of the most dangerous nature to the religion and liberties of the subject.” 66 Ir appears that Charles, with a view. of obtaining large fums from Lewis XIV. to gratify his paffions, infamoufly agreed to affemble no parliament for three years; and, in order to induce Lewis to comply with his terms, reprefented to him, that he would thereby " put it out of the power "of England ever to hurt him," and might remain in the most glorious ftate that any king of France had been in for many ages; and that he took great pains to convince the French monarch, what advantages he might derive FROM HAVING ENGLAND ALWAYS DEPENDENT ON HIM". On the 2d of September, 1674, Rouvigny writes, that Charles "had agreed either to prorogue his parliament till April, 1675, in confideration of 500,000 crowns, › Dalrymple, vol. II. p. 237, 238. an English parlia ences of Charles's e, prorogue, or dif at the pleasure of he following paffage tters to Lewis XIV. n the year 1679, to parliament should afing of England be for HIS OWN IN hat then the fubfidies eaty was also entered LING AGAIN another Fre had offered crowns, to liament, tog Lewis's forces AUTHORITY; him abfolute. offer are thefe préfte emp la confirma "de fon au "maitre de 1 ol. II. p. 99. into between Charles and Lewis, by which the former agreed to reconcile himself to the church of Rome, and to declare himfelf a Catholic; and, on his doing this, was to pay Charles 200,000l. and to affift him with troops and money, in case of his fubjects REBEL 2 the French king was. LING AGAINST HIS MEASURES. ON the 12th of July, 1677, Courtin, another French minifter, writes, that he had offered Charles a penfion of 500,000 crowns, to prorogue or diffolve his parliament, together with the affiftance of Lewis's forces, TO MAINTAIN CHARLES'S AUTHORITY; or, in other words, to render him abfolute. The words refpecting this laft offer are thefe: "Sa majesté étant toujour préfte employer toutes fes forces pour ❝ la confirmation, & pour l'augmentation "de fon authorité, il feroit toujours le maitre de fes fujets, & ne dependroit jaQ3 " mais |