1671. when he had blamed them most in private with the king himself. [He had accustomed himself to the northern ways of entertainment; and this grew upon him with age.] 1672. The shut the ex chequer. Our court having resolved on a war, did now ting up of look out for money to carry it on. The king had been running into a great debt ever since his restoration. One branch of it was for the pay of that fleet that brought him over. The main of it had been contracted during the former Dutch war. The king, in order to the keeping his credit, had dealt with some bankers, and had assigned over the revenue to them. They drove a great trade, and had made great advantage by it. The king paid them at the rate of 8 per cent and they paid those who put money in their hands only 6 per cent: and had great credit; for payments were made very punctually. The king had in some proclamations given his faith, that he would continue to make good all his assignments, till the whole debt should be paid, which was now growing up to almost a million and a half. So one of the ways proposed for supplying the king with money was, that he should stop these payments for a year, it being thought certain that by the end of the year the king would be out of all his necessities, by the hopes they had of success in the war. The earl of Shaftsbury was the chief man in this advice. He excused it to me, telling me what advantage the bankers had made, and how 1672. just it was for the king to bring them to an account for their usury and extortions: and added, that he never meant the stop should run beyond the year. He certainly knew of it beforehand; and took all his own money out of the bankers' hands, and warned some of his friends to do the like. Lord Lauderdale did about this time marry lady Dysert upon his own lady's death: and she writ me a long account of the shutting up the exchequer, as both just and necessary. The bankers were broke; and great multitudes, who had trusted their money in their hands, were ruined by this dishonourable and perfidious ac-307 tion. But this gave the king only his own revenue again. So other ways were to be found for an increase of treasure. tempt on By the peace of Breda it was provided, that, in The atorder to the security of trade, no merchants' ships the Dutch should be for the future fallen on, till six months Smyrna after a declaration of war. The Dutch had a rich Duncombe, who had a very : fleet. 1672. fleet coming from Smyrna, and other parts in the Mediterranean, under the convoy of a few men of war. Our court had advice of this. And [that at the same time they might be equally infamous at home and abroad,] Holmes was ordered to lie for them, and to take them near the isle of Wight with eight men of war. As he was sailing thither, he met Spragge, who was returning from the Straits with a squadron of our ships; and told him, that he had sailed along with the Dutch most of the way, and that they would pass within a day or two. Holmes thought he was much too strong for them; so did not acquaint Spragge with his design: for, if he had stopped him to assist in the execution, probably the whole fleet had been taken, which was reckoned worth a million and a half. When they came up, Holmes fell upon them: but their convoy did their part so well, that not only the whole fleet sailed away, while they kept him in play, but they themselves got off at last, favoured by a mist: and there were only a few ships taken, of so small a value, that they were not worth the powder that was spent in the action. This was a breach of faith, such as even Mahometans and pirates would have been ashamed of. The unsuccessfulness of it made it appear as ridiculous as it was base. Holmes was pressed to put it on the Dutch refusing to strike sail. Yet that was so false, and there were so many witnesses to it, that he had not the impudence to affirm it 5. A declaration for toleration. To crown all, a declaration was ordered to be set g (Of the unfairness and failure of this transaction, a similar account is given by Shef field duke of Bucks, in his short Memoirs. Works, vol. ii. p. 10.) out, suspending the execution of all penal laws, both 1672. against papists and nonconformists. Papists were no more to be prosecuted for their way of worship in their own houses, and the nonconformists were allowed to have open meeting houses; for which they were to take out licences, and none were to disturb those who should meet for worship by virtue of those licences. Lord Keeper Bridgman had lost all credit at court: so they were seeking an occasion to be rid of him, who had indeed lost all the reputation he had formerly acquired, by his being advanced to a post of which he was not capable. He refused to put the seal to the declaration, as judging it contrary to law". So he was dismissed, and the earl of Shaftsbury was made lord chancellor. Lord Clifford was made lord treasurer: lord Arlington and lord Lauderdale had both of them the garter: and, as Arlington was made an earl, Lauderdale was made a duke: and this junto, together with the duke of 308 Buckingham, being called the cabal, it was observed, that cabal proved a technical word, every letter in it being the first letter of those five, Clifford, Ashly, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale. They had all of them great presents from France, besides what was openly given them: for the French ambassador gave them all a picture of the king of France set in diamonds, to the value of 30007. Thus was the nation, and our religion, as well as the king's faith and honour, set to sale, and sold. Lord Shaftsbury resolved to recommend himself to 1672. the confidence of the court by a new strain never before thought of. He said, the writs for choosing the members of the house of commons might be issued out in the intervals of a session; and the elections made upon them were to be returned into chancery, and settled there. So the writs were issued out; but whether any elections were made upon them, and returned, I cannot tell. I know, the house of commons intended to have impeached him for this among other things: but he had the foresight and skill to prevent it. When the declaration for toleration was published, great endeavours were used by the court to persuade the nonconformists to make addresses and compliments upon it. But few were so blind, as not to see what was aimed at by it. The presbyterians gave the king thanks for the toleration. The duke was now known to be a papist: and the duchess was much suspected. Yet the presbyterians came in a body: and Dr. Manton, in their name, thanked the king for it; which offended many of their best friends. There was also an order to pay a yearly pension of fifty pounds to most of them, and of an hundred pounds a year to the chief of the party. Baxter sent back his pension, and would not touch it. But most of them took it. All this I say upon Dr. Stillingfleet's word, who assured me, he knew the truth of it. And in particular, he told me, that Pool, who wrote the Synopsis of the critics, confessed to him, that he had had fifty pounds for two years. Thus the court hired them to be silent: and the greatest part of them were so, and very compliant. But now the pulpits were full of a new ¡ There were; but the persons were not admitted to sit, and other writs were ordered for those places by the house of commons. 0. |