CHARLES II.

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electors. By accounts, which came from everypart of England, it was concluded, that the newrepresentatives would , if possible, exceed theold in their refractory opposition to the court,and furious persecution of the catholics.

The king was alarmed , when he saw sodreadful a tempest arise from such small andunaccountable beginnings. His life, is Dates andBedloe’s information were true, had been aimedat by the catholics : Even the duke’s was indanger: The higher, therefore, the rage mountedagainst popery, the more should the nation havebeen reconciled to these princes , in whom, itappeared, the church of Rome reposed no con-fidence. But there is a sophistry, which attendsall the passions; especially those into which thepopulace enter. Men gave credit to the inform-ers, so far as concerned the guilt of the catho-lics : But they still retained their old suspicions,that these religionists were secretly favored bythe king , and had obtained the most entireascendant over his brother. Charles had toomuch penetration not to fee the danger, to whichthe succestion , and even his own crown anddignity., now stood exposed. A numerous party,he found , was formed against him;! on the oneband , composed of a populace, so credulousfrom pre]udice , so blinded with religious anti-pathy, as implicitly to believe the most palpableabsurdities ; and conducted, on the other hand,by leaders so little scrupulous, as to endeavour,

HAP.

LXVII.

1679 .