250 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. ments; but a desire of obtaining the money,rxvi. which he intended , notwithstanding his royal

1677. word , to employ to other purposes. And that

by using such dishonorable means to so ignoblean end, he rendered himself still more unworthythe confidence of his people.

The house of commons was now regularlydivided into two parties , the court and thecountry. Some were infilled in the court-partyby offices, nay, a few by bribes secretly giventhem; a practice first begun, by Clifford, adangerous minister : But great numbers wereattached merely by inclination; so far as theyesteemed the measures of the court agreeable tothe interests of the nation. Private views andfaction had likewise drawn several into thecountry-party : But there were also many of thatparty, who had no other object than the public• good. These disinterested members on bothfides fluctuated between the factions; and gavethe superiority sometimes to the court, sometimesto the opposition e . In the present emergency ,a general distrust of the king prevailed ; and theparliament resolved not to hazard their money,in expectation of alliances, which, they believed,were never intended to be formed. Instead ofgranting the supply , they voted an address ,wherein they “ besought his majesty to enter into“ a league, offensive and defensive, with the“ States General of the United Provinces, against

‘ Temple’s Memoirs, vol. i. p. 4 ;8-