received from the sale of Dunkirk, Echard, in A.D. 1667. particular, says, "it was built chiefly at the charge of the Vintners' Company, who, designing 'to monopolize his favour,' made it more large and magnificent than ever he intended." A severer charge could not well have been exhibited against a chancellor and first minister than that which is thus proved by this unskilful advocate. Upon the impeachment being carried up to the lords, a motion was made for sequestering him from parliament, and committing him. This Lord Ashley opposes Lord Ashley, among others, opposed, because his being no particular treason was assigned in the impeach *This the Earl of Rochester (the youngest son of the chancellor) acknowledged to the Earl of Shaftesbury, who was father to the present70 earl. It is to be observed that, in the protest upon this question, which was signed by twentyeight lords, several of whom, as the Duke of Albemarle and others, were then, and had been from the restoration, in some of the principal offices of the court, there is the following remarkable article, viz. "The Earl of Clarendon's power and influence, in the absolute This appears evidently in 70 The fourth earl. imprisoned. A.D. 1667. ment; and, in so doing, he showed that he was not governed by any spleen or resentment; though he had usually differed from the chancellor in public debates, and especially in whatever related to the penal laws. Lord Clarendon, upon his impeachment, withdrew, and, some time after, sent to the house of lords a long memorial tending to justify himself against the accusation of the commons: but in this his answer was general; and as to one of the chief articles, viz. that relating to the sale of Dunkirk, he was entirely silent. This memorial, which was received by the lords on the 3rd of the proceedings of the house. abusive manner the persons whose schemes he disapproved. See his behaviour to Sir George Downing, vol. iii. pp. 609,610.71 71 He told him in the presence of his sovereign," that it was impossible for the king to be well served whilst fellows of his condition were admitted to speak as much as they had a mind to; and that in the best times such presumptions had been punished with imprisonment by the lords of the council, without the king's taking notice of it."-Clarendon's Life, 321. It is difficult to find a speech of equal brevity, which combines so much overbearing insolence and pitiful illiberality; or which breathes so much of the true spirit of tyranny. This is the man who, Hume says, "was always a friend to the liberty and constitution of his country," and this was his idea of her best times. interest the Eng December, raised a great flame in both houses, A.D. 1667. and exasperated the public against him. The next day, the king declared in council,* that Lord Clarendon should be put out of the council, and from thenceforth be divested of the office of chancellor; and on the 13th of the same month, a bill was sent from the lords to the commons for banishing the Earl of Clarendon, who afterwards settled in France, during the remainder of his life. For a short time before and after Lord Cla- The French rendon's disgrace, the French interest subsided. declines at The treaty of peace with Spain filled the court of lish court. France with apprehensions that our court was going into too close an union with the Spaniards; and these apprehensions were so greatly increased by Lord Clarendon's disgrace happening very soon after it, that Monsieur Ruvignit was sent to England with instructions to sound the disposition of the English court, and to know whether, upon Clarendon's being turned out, the king had not been prevailed on to quit the friendship of France, and enter into a closer alliance with Spain. * London Gazette. + Ruvigni had his first audience of the king, September the 11th, eleven days only A.D. 1667. Orders of Council papists. The peace with Holland, which speedily followed the treaty with Spain, was another circumstance that gave uneasiness to the court of France and to the popish interest. This peace was owing to the same counsels which brought the king, at this time, into several measures that were evidently calculated for the public welfare. On the 11th of September, an order of counagainst the cil was published in the Gazette, taking notice of the great resort of people to the chapels of the queen, queen mother, and the foreign ministers; and notice was given, that if any British subject (unless those belonging to their families) should repair thereto, the penalties and punishments should be inflicted on them which were provided by the law: "a sure indication that the Duke of York had not the ascendant in council, and that the popish interest was forced to give way a little to an English and national one." These measures were carried still further; the king ordered that all papists should be removed from military employments, and that they should even be turned out of the guards. He commanded, at the same time, that the forces which he had lately raised should be disbanded. *London Gazette. Company dissolved. Many regulations were made by the council A.D. 1667. with regard to monopolies and exclusive charters in trade, which had been obtained during the ministry of Lord Clarendon. The Canary pa- Canary tent, in particular, was required to be given up; as it was, on the 18th of September; and the company was dissolved. On the 25th of the said month, the surrender was advertised in the Gazette, and that "thereby all the liberties of the company tending to a sole trade into the Canary Islands were wholly dissolved." On the same day, the king, in council, ordered a proclamation to be issued, calling in and revoking a proclamation of the 25th of May 1665, which enjoined the due observance of the charter and privileges lately granted to the governor and company of merchants trading to the Canary Islands; and, also, all other proclamations and orders whatever relating to that company, or whereby trade to these islands was in any wise prohibited or restrained; and for granting full and free liberty of trade to the Canary Islands, as was formerly used before that charter of incorporation. † On the 20th of September it was advertised, * London Gazette. The third article of the commons' impeachment of Lord Clarendon was, "that he had |
