JAMES II. 135

education, this arbitrary proceeding begat anuniversal discontent against the king’s adminis-tration.

The next measure of the court was an insultstill more open on the ecclesiastics, and renderedthe breach between the king and that powerfulbody fatal , as well as incurable. It is strangethat James, when he felt, from the sentimentsof his own heart, what a mighty influence reli-gious zeal had over him, should yet be so in-fatuated as never once to suspect, that it mightpolsibly have a proportionable authority over hissubjects. Could he have profited by repeatedexperience, he had seen instances enow of theirstrong aversion to that communion , which ,from a violent, imperious temper, he was deter-mined, by every possible expedient, to introduceinto his kingdoms.

The king published a second declaration ofindulgence , almost in the same terms with theformer ; and he subjoined an order , that , im-mediately after divine service, it should be readby the clergy in all the churches. As they wereknown universally to disapprove of the usemade of the suspending power , this clause ,they thought, could be meant only as an insultUpon them ; and they were sensible, that, bytheir compliance, they should expose themselves,both to public contempt, on account of .theirtame behaviour, and to public hatred, by theirindirectly patronising so obnoxious a preroga-

K 4

HAP

LXX.

1688.