C H 'A R L E S II.

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foever in fome refpeCts, was incapable of anyaftion harfh or barbarous; and he always rejectedevery fcheme of this nature. A fufpicion how-ever of fuch intentions, it was obferved, had, atthis time , begotten a coldnefs between the t tworoyal brothers.

We now come to a period, when the king’scounfels, which had hitherto, in the main, beengood, though negligent and fluctuating, became,during fome time , remarkably bad , or evencriminal; and breeding incurable jealoufies in allmen, were followed by fuch confequences ashad almoft terminated in the ruin both of princeand people. Happily, the fame negligence ftillattended him; and, as it had leflened the influ-ence of the good, it alfo diminished the effeCt ofthe bad meafures, which he embraced.

It was remarked , that the committee ofcouncil , eftablilhed for foreign affairs, was en-tirely changed; and that prince Rupert, the dukeof Ormond, fecretary Trevor, and lord keeperBridgeman, men in whofe honor the nation hadgreat confidence , were never called to anydeliberations. The whole fecret was intrufted tofive perfons , Clifford , Afhley , Buckingham ,Arlington , and Lauderdale. Thefe men wereknown by the appellation of the Cabal, a wordwhich the initial letters of their names happenedto compofe. Never was there a more dangerousminiftry in England , nor one more noted forpernicious counfels.

Lord Ashley, foon after known by the name

II A P.LXV.

1670 .-

The Cabal.

Their cha«rafters.