CHARLES II.

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soever in some respects, was incapable of anyaction harsh or barbarous; and he always rejectedevery scheme of this nature. A suspicion how-ever of such intentions, it was observed, had, atthis time , begotten a coldness between the .tworoyal brothers.

U r E now come to a period, when the king'scounsels, which had hitherto, in the main, beengood , though negligent and fluctuating, became,during some time , remarkably bad , or evencriminal; and breeding incurable jealousies in allmen, were followed by such consequences ashad almost terminated in the ruin both of princeand people. Happily, the same negligence stillattended him; and, as it had lessened the influ-ence of the good, it also diminished the effect ofthe bad measures, which he embraced.

It was remarked , that the committee ofcouncil, established for foreign affairs, was en-tirely changed; and that prince Rupert, the dukeof Ormond, secretary Trevor, and lord keeperJBridgeman, men in whose honor the nation hadgreat confidence , were never called to anydeliberations. The whole secret was intrusted tofive persons , Clifford , Ashley, Buckingham ,Arlington , and Lauderdale. These men wereknown by the appellation of the Cabal, a wordwhich the initial letters of their names happenedto compose. Never was there a more dangerousministry in England , nor one more noted forpernicious counsels.

Lord Ashley, soon after known by the name

H A P.LXV.£ 670 .

The Cabal.

Their cha-racters.