CHARLES II. 163

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rious counfels, whence the parliament and allmen of honor were excluded , and which com-menced by the forfeiture of public credit, andan open violation of the moft folemn engage-ments , both foreign and domeftic.

Another meafure of the court contains fome-thing laudable, when confidered in itfelf; but ifwe refiedt on the motive whence it proceeded ,as well as the time when it was embraced, it willfurnifh a Strong proof of the arbitrary and dan-gerous counfels, purfued at prefent by the kingand his miniftry. Charles refolved to make ufeof his fupreme power in ecclefiaftical matters ; apower, he faid, which was not only inherent inhim, but which had been recognized by feveraiadts of parliament. By virtue of this authority ,he iffued a proclamation; fufpending the penallaws , enacted againft all nonconformifts or re-cufants whatfoever; and granting to the proteftantdiffenters the public exercife of their religion, tothe catholics the exercife of it in private houfef.A fruitlefs experiment of this kind, oppofed bythe parliament, and retradfed by the king, hadalready been made a few years after the reftora-tion; but Charles expedted, that the parliament,whenever it fhould meet, would now be tamedto greater fubmiflion, and would no longer dare,to controul his meafures. Meanwhile, the dif-fenters, the moft inveterate enemies of the court,were mollified by thefe indulgent maxims : Andthe catholics, under their Shelter , enjoyed moreliberty than the laws had hitherto allowed them.

M 2

CHAP.

LXV.

1672 .

Declarationof indul-gence.

i?th Marels*