CHARLES II. i 9 ?

No grievance was more alarming, both onaccount of tbe secret views from which it pro-ceeded , and the consequences which mightattend it , than the declaration of indulgence.A remonstrance was immediately framed againstthat exercise of prerogative. The king defendedhis measure. The commons persisted in theiropposition to it; and they represented, that sucha practice , if admitted , might tend to interruptthe free course of the laws , and alter the legisla-tive power, which had always been acknowledgedto reside in the king aud the two houses. Allmen were in expectation, with regard to theissue of this extraordinary affair. The king seemedengaged in honor to support his measure ; and inorder to prevent all opposition , he had positivelydeclared that he would support it. The commonswere obliged to persevere , not only because itwas dishonorable to be foiled, where they couldplead such strong reasons, but also because, ifthe king prevailed in his pretensions , an endseemed to be put to all the legal limitations ofthe constitution.

It is evident, that Charles was now come tothat delicate crisis , which he ought at first tohave foreseen, when he embraced those desperatecounsels; and his resolutions, in such an event,ought long ago to have been entirely fixed anddetermined. Besides his usual guards, he had anarmy encamped at Blackheath under the commandof mareschal Schomberg , a foreigner, and manyof the officers were of the catholic religion.

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LXV.

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