CHARLES II.

405

whom he observed almost all trials to be governedand directed. He affirmed, that be had beenemployed by the court to write the libel , inorder to throw the odium of it on the exclu-sionists : But this account, which was withinthe bounds of credibility, he disgraced by cir-cumstances , which are altogether absurd andimprobable. The intention of the ministers, hesaid , was to fend about copies to all the headsof the country - party , and the moment they re-ceived them , they were to be arrested, and aconspiracy to be imputed to them. That hemight merit savor by still more important intel-ligence , he commenced a discoverer of the greatpopish plot ; and he failed not to confirm all thetremendous circumstances , insisted on by hispredecessors. He said , that the second Dutch warwas entered into with a view of extirpating theprotestant religion , both abroad and at home;that father Parry , a Jesuit, on the disappointmentby the peace , told him , that the catholics re-solved to murder the king, and had even engagedthe queen in that design ; that the envoy ofModena offered him 10,000 pounds to kill theking , and upon his refusal the envoy said, thatthe dutch ess of Mazarine , who was as expert atpoisoning as her sister, the countess of Soiffons,would , with a little phial, execute that design ;that upon the king’s death the army in Flanderswas to come over, and massacre the protestants;that money was raised in Italy for recruits andsupplies, and there should be no more parlia-

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CHAP.

LXV1II.

ISSI.