longer he kept them off, the greater his necessity would grow; and consequently their power to make him do what they listed, would increase accordingly: and therefore, if they could but maintain themselves a while, the day would certainly come in a short time, in which they should be able to work their wills. Such discourses as these kept the Confederates and our Male-contents in heart, and made them weather on the war in spite of all our prorogations: therefore I pressed (as I have said) a dissolution until February last, when our circumstances were so totally changed, that we were forced to change our counsels too, and be as much for the parliament's sitting, as we were before against it.

none of them had courage enough to speak against the parliament, till they could get rid of him; for fear they should not succeed, and that the parliament would sit in spite of them, and come to hear that they had used their endeavours against it: which would have been so unpardonable a crime with our Omnipotent Parliament, that no power could have been able to have saved them from punishment : But they finding at his return, that they could not prevail against him by such means and arts as they had then tried, resolved upon new counsels; which were to outrun him in his own course; which accordingly they undertook, and became as fierce apostles, and as zealous for Protestant religion, and against "Our Change was thus: Before that time, Popery, as ever my lord Arlington had been the lord Arlington was the only minister in before them; and in pursuance thereof, percredit, who thought himself out of all danger suaded the king to issue out those severe Or-. of the parlament; he having been accused be- ders and Proclamations against Catholics,› fore them and justified, and therefore was which came out in February last; by which zealous for their sitting; and to increase his they did as much as in them lay to extirpate reputation with them, an i to become a perfect all Catholics, and Catholic religion, out of the favourite, he sets himself all he could to perse- kingdom; which counsels were in my poor opicute the Catholic religion, and to oppose the nion so detestable, being levelled, as they must French: To shew his zeal against the first, he needs be, so directly against the Duke, by peorevived some old dormant Orders for prohibit-ple which he had advanced, and who had proing Roman Catholics to appear before the king, and put them in execution at his first coming into his office of Lord Chamberlain : And to make sure work with the second, as he thought; prevailed with the king to give him and the earl of Ossory, (who married two sisters of Myne Heere Odvke's) leave to go over imo Holland with the said Heere, to make a visit, as they pretended, to their relations; but indeed, and in truth, to propose the lady Mary, eldest daughter of his royal highness, as a match for the prince of Orange; not only without the consent, but against the good liking of his royal highness: Insomuch, that the lord Arlington's creatures were forced to excuse him, with a distinction, that the said lady was not to be looked upon as the duke's daughter, but as the king's, and a child of the state was, and so the duke's consent not much to be considered in the disposal of her, but only the interest of state. By this he intended to render himself the darling of parliament and Protestants, who looked upon themselves as secured in their religion by such an alliance, and designed further to draw us into a close conjunction with Holland, and the enemies of France. The lord Arlington set forth upon this errand the 10th of November, 1674, and returned not till the 6th of January following: During his absence, the Lord Treasurer, Lord Keeper, and the duke of Lauderdale, who were the only ministers of any considerable credit with the king, and who all pretended to be entirely united to the Duke, declaimed loudly and with great violence, against the said lord, and his actions in Holland; and did hope, in his absence, to have totally supplanted him,. and to have routed him out of the king's faFour; and after that, thought they might easily enough have dealt with the parliament. But

fessed so much duty and service to him, that we were put upon new thoughts how to save. his royal highness now from the deceits and snares of those men upon whom we formerly depended. We saw well enough, that their design was to make themselves as grateful as they could to the parliament, if it must sit; they thinking nothing so acceptable to them, as the persecution of Popery; and yet they were so obnoxious to the parliament's displeasure in general, that they would have been glad of any expedient to have kept it off; though they durst not engage against it openly themselves, but thought this device of theirs might serve for their purposes, hoping the Duke would be so alarmed at their proceedings, and by his being left by every body, that he would be much more afraid of the parliament than ever, and would use his utmost power to prevent its sitting which they doubted not but he would endeavour; and they were ready enough to work underhand too for him (for their own sakes, not his), in order thereunto; but durst not appear openly; and to encourage the Duke the more to endeavour the dissolution of the parliament, their creatures used to say up and down, That this rigor against the Catholics was in favour of the Duke, and to make a dissolution of the parliament more easy, (which they knew he coveted) hy obviating one great objection which was commonly made against it, which was, That if the parliament should be dissolved, it would be said, That it was done in favour of Popery; which clamour they had prevented beforehand by the severity they had used against it.

"As soon as we saw these tricks put upon us we plainly saw, what men we had to deal withal, and what we had to trust to, if we were wholly at their mercy: But yet durst not

to scruple the venturing of so much seed in its proper time, because it is possible it may be totally lost, and no benefit of it found in barvest; he that minds the winds and the rains at that rate, shall neither sow nor reap. I take our case to be much the same as it was the last sensions: If we can advance the Duke's interest one step forward, we shall put him out of the reach of chance for ever; for he makes such a figure already, that cautious men do not care to act against him, nor always without him, because they do not see that he is much outpowered by his enemies; yet is he not at such a pitch, as to be quite out of danger, or free from opposition: But if he could gain any considerable new addition of power, all would come over to him as the only steady center of our government, and nobody would contend with him further. Then would catholics be at rest, and his most Christian majesty's interest secured with us in England beyond all apprehensions whatsoever.

had been, if the parliament had been removed. But they having since that time engaged in quite different counsels, and embarked themselves and interests upon other bottoms, having declared themselves against popery, &c. To dissolve the parliament simply, and without any other step made, will be to leave them to govern what way they list, which we have reason to suspect will be to the prejudice of France and Catholic religion. And their late declarations and actions have demonstrated to us, that they take that for the most popular way for. themselves, and likeliest to keep them in absolute power; whereas, if the duke should once get above them (after the tricks they have played with him) they are not sure he will totally forget the usage he has had at their hands: therefore it imports us now to advance our interest a little further, by some such project as I have named, before we dissolve the parliament; or else, perhaps, we shall but change masters (a parliament for ministers), and continue still in "In order to this, we have two great Designs the same slavery and bondage as before. But to attempt this next sessions. First, that which one such step as I have proposed, being well we were about before, viz. To put the parlia-made, we may safely see them dissolved, and ment upon making it their humble request to not fear the ministers; but shall be established, the king, that the Fleet may be put into bis and stand firm without any opposition; for royal highness's care. Secondly, to get an Act every body will then come over to us, and worfor general Liberty of Conscience. If we carry ship the rising sun. these two, or either of them, we shall in effect do what we list afterwards; and truly, we think we do not undertake these great points very unreasonably, but that we have good cards for our game; not but that we expect great opposition, and have great reason to beg all the assistance we can possibly get; and therefore, if his most Christian majesty would stand by us a little in this conjuncture, and help us with such a sum as 20,0004. sterling (which is no very great matter to venture upon such an undertaking as this), I would be content to be sacrificed to the utmost malice of my enemies, if I did not succeed. I have proposed this several times to M. Rouvigny, who seemed always of my opinion; and has often told me, that he has writ into France upon this subject, and has desired me to do the like: but I know not whether he will be as zeales in that point as a Catholic would be; because our prevailing in these things would give the greatest blow to the Protestant religion bere, that ever it received since its birth; which perhaps he would not be very glad to see; especially when he believes there is another way of doing his master's business well enough without which is by a dissolution of the parliament; upon which I know he mightily depends, and concludes, that if that come to be dissolved, it will be as much as he needs care for; proceedng perhaps upon the same manner of discourse which we had this time 12 months. But with submission to his better judgment, I do think that our case is extremely much altered to what it was, in relation to a dissolution; for then the body of our governing ministers (all but the earl of Arlington) were entirely united to the duke; sad would have governed his way, if they had been free from all fear and controul, as they

"I have here given you the history of three years, as short as I could, though I am afraid it will seem very long and troublesome to your reverence, among the multitude of affairs you are concerned in: I have also shewn you the present state of our case, which may (by God's providence, and good conduct) be made of such advantage to God's church; that for my part, I can scarce believe myself awake, or the thing real, when I think on a prince in such an age as we live in, converted to such a degree of zeal and piety, as not to regard any thing in the world in comparison of God Almighty's glory, the salvation of his own soul, and the conversion of our poor kingdom; which has been a long time oppressed, and miserably harassed with heresy and schism. I doubt not but your reverence will consider our case, and take it to heart, and afford us what help you can; both with the king of heaven, by your holy prayers, and with his most Christian majesty, by that great credit which you most justly have with him. And if ever his majesty's affairs (or your own) can want the service of so inconsiderable a creature as myself, you shall never find any body readier to obey your commands, or faithfuller in the execution of them, to the best of

his power, than your most humble and obedient servant."

Att. Gen. That I may make things clear, as much as possible; you see, here is a letter prepared to be sent, writ with Mr. Coleman's

own hand, to M. la Chaise: This letter bears

date the 29th of September. We have an Answer to it from Paris, October 23, whereby M.

la Chaise owns the receipt of this: and in this Answer is expressed thanks to Mr. Coleman for his long letter. Sir Robert, Pray tell how you came by this Letter.

Sir Rob. Southwell. found this Letter in Mr. Coleman's canvas bag; after we had once looked over the letters, we found it: sir Philip Lloyd examined it; and we looked over those papers very exactly. Because the House of Commons were very much concerned, and thought those papers were not thoroughly examined, I reviewed them again. This Letter was found on Sunday following after the papers were seized.

which we have given most signal testimonies, even to the stripping ourself of many royal prerogatives which our predecessors enjoyed, and were our undoubted due; as the court of wards, purveyances, and other things of great value; and denying to ourself many advantages, which we might reasonably and legally have taken by the forfeitures made in the time: of rebellion, and the great revenues due to the Church at our return, which no particular per son had any right to; instead of which, wo consented to an act of oblivion of all those Mr. barbarous usages which our royal father and Sirourself had met withal, much more full and gracious than almost any of our subjects, whe were generally become in some measure o other obnoxious to the laws, had confidence to ask; and freely renounced all our title to the profit which we might have made by the churc lauds, in favour of our bishops and other ec clesiastical ministers, out of our zeal to th glory of our Protestant Church; which cle mency towards all, and some even high offen

Att. Gen. Sir Robert Southwell, I pray read the Letter in French first to the court. Sir Robert having read the letter in French, Attorney desired him to read it in English. Robert read it in English: The letter was dated Paris, Oct. 23, 1675. And subscribed, "Your most humble aud obedient Servant, D. L. C." at the bottom.

The LETTER.

"Sir; "From Paris, Oct. 23, 1675. "The letter which you gave yourself the trouble to write to me, came to my hands but the last night. I read it with great satisfac-ders, and zeal for religion, we have to this da tion; and I assure you, that its length did not make it seem tedious. I should be very glad on my part to assist in seconding your good intentions; I will consider of the means to effect it; and when I am better informed than I am as yet, I will give you an account: to the end I may hold intelligence with you, as you did with iny predecessor. I desire you to believe that I will never fail as to my good will, for the service of your master, whom I honour as much as he deserves; and that it is with great truth that I am your most humble and most obedient Servant, "D. L. C."

Att. Gen. We made mention of a Declaration: By his long narrative it plainly appears, that Mr. Coleman would have had another parliament. And the reason why he was pleased to publish a Declaration, was, thereby to shew the reasons for its dissolution. Sir Philip Lloyd, did you find this writing among Mr. Coleman's papers?

constantly continued to exercise. Considerin all this, we cannot but be sensibly afflicted t see, that the frowardness of some few tumu! tuous heads should be able to infect our loya and good people with apprehensions destructiv of their own, and the general quiet of our king dom; and more especially, their perversnes should be powerful enough to distract our ver parliament, and such a parliament, as has give us such testimonies of its loyalty, wisdom, an bounty, and to which we have given as man marks of our affection and esteem, so as t make them misconstrue all our endeavours fo and against all reason and evidence to repr to preserve our people in ease and prosperity sent them to our subjects as arguments of fer and disquiet; and under these specious pr mand unreasonable things, manifestly destru tences of securing property and religion, to de tive of what they would be thought to aim at and from our frequent condescensions, out our mere grace, to grant them what we co ceived might give them satisfaction, though t the actual prejudice of our royal prerogativ to make them presume to propose to advanc pre-selves have formerly declared detestable; such extravagancies into laws, as they them which we cannot forbear to give our truly lov subjects some instances, to undeceive ou innocent and well-minded people, who hav many of them of late been too easily misled by the factious endeavours of some turbuler spirits. For example, We having judged necessary to declare war against the States Holland, during a recess of parliament, whic we could not defer longer, without losing a advantage which then presented itself, nor hav done sooner, without exposing our honour to potent enemy without due preparation, w thought it prudent to unite all our subjects: home, and did believe a general indulgence tender consciences the most proper expedier to effect it; and therefore did by our authorit

Sir P. L. I did find it among his papers.
Att. Gen. Pray read the Declaration.
Clerk of the Crown reads the Declaration,

The DECLARATION which Mr. Coleman

pared, thereby shewing his Reasons for the Dissolution of the Parliament. "We having taken into our serious consideration the heats and animosities which have of late appeared among many of our very loyal and loving subjects of this kingdom, and the many fears and jealousies which some of them seem to lie under, of having their liberties and properties invaded, or their religion altered; and withal, carefully reflecting upon our own government since our happy Restoration, and the end and aim of it, which has always been the ease and security of our people in all their rights, and advancement of the beauty and splendor of the true Protestant religion established in the Church of England; of both

in ecclesiastics, which we thought sufficient to done for their good; and surprised with a vote warrant what we did, suspend penal laws of our House of Commons, against our writs against dissenters in religion, upon conditions of elections, which we intended for their satisexpressed in our Declaration, out of reason of factions, against many precedents of ours, or state, as well as to gratify our own nature, without any colour of law of their side, denying which always, we confess, abhorred rigor, espe- our power to issue out such writs addressing to cally in religion, when tenderness might be as us to issue out others: which we consented to do useful. After we had engaged in the war, we at their request, choosing rather to yield to our prorogued our parliament from April to Octo- subjects in that point, than to be forced to subber, being confident we should be able by that mit to our enemies in others; hoping that our time to shew our people such success of our parliament being sensibly touched with that our arms, as should make them cheerfully contri- extraordinary condescension, would go on to conbute to our charge. At October we could sider the public concern of the kingdom, withhave shewn them success even beyond our own out any further to do: but we found another use hopes, or what they could possibly expect; our of our so easy compliance, which served to enEnemies having lost by that time, near 100 courage them to ask more; so that soon after we strong towns and forts, taken in effect by us, found our declaration for indulging tender conwe halding them busy at sea, whilst our allies sciences arraigned and voted legal; though we passessed themselves of their lands, with little cannot to this day understand the consistencies or no resistance; and of which, the great ad- of that vote, with our undoubted supremacy in all vantage would most visibly have been ours, had ecclesiastics, recognized by so many acts of parnot the feuds we now complain of, which have liament, and required to be sworn to by all our been since unhappily started, and factiously subjects, and addresses made to us one after anoimproved by some few, disunited our people, ther to recal it, which we condescended to also; distracted our councils, and rendered our late from hence they proceeded to us to weaken endeavours vain and fruitless; so that we had ourself in an actual war, and to render many nu reason to doubt of our people's ready and of our subjects, of whose loyalty and ability we hberal concurrence to our assistance in that were well satisfied, incapable to serve us, when Conjuncture. Yet our enemies proposing to us we wanted officers and soldiers, and had reason at that time a treaty for peace, which we were to invite as many experienced men as we could always ready to accept upon honourable terms; to engage in our arms, rather than to incapaand considering with ourself, that in case that citate or discourage any; yet this also we gratreaty succeeded, a far less sum of money tified them in, to gain their assistance against would serve our occasions, than otherwise our enemies, who grew high by these our difwould be necessary: We, out of our tender ferences, rather than expose our country to regard to the ease of our people, prorogued our their power and fury; hoping that in time our parliament again to February, to attend the people would be confounded to see our concessuccess of our treaty, rather than to demand sions, and be ashamed of their errors in making such money in October, as would be fit to such demands. But finding the unfortunate carry on the war. But we soon finding that effects of our divisions the following summer, our enemies did not intend us any just satiswe found our parliament more extravagant at faction, saw a necessity of prosecuting the war, the next meeting than ever, addressing to us to which we designed to do most vigorously; and hinder the consummation of our dear brother's in order to it, resolved to press our parliament marriage, contrary to the law of God, which to supply us as speedily as may be, to enable forbiddeth any to separate any whom he hath as to pat our fleet to sea early in the spring, joined, against our faith and honour engaged in which would after their meeting grow on apace. the solemn Treaty, obstinately persisting in that And being informed that many members were Address, after we had acquainted them, that dead during the long recess, we issued out our the marriage was then actually ratified, and that writs for new elections, that our House of Com- we had acted in it by our ambassador; so that mons might be full at the first opening of the we were forced to separate them for a while, sessions, to prevent any delay in our public af- hoping they would bethink themselves better fairs, or dislike in our people, as might possibly at their meeting in January. Instead of being have risen from the want of so great a number more moderate, or ready to consider our wants of their representatives, if any thing of moment towards the war; they voted, as they had done should be concluded before it had been supplied. before, not to assist us still, until their religion Having governed our actions all along with such were effectually secured against popery, agcareful respect to the ease of our subjects, we grievances redressed, and all obnoxious men at the meeting of our parliament in February removed from us; which we had reason to take 1672, expected from them some suitable ex-for an absolute denial of all aid; considering the pressions of their sense of our favours; but indefiniteness of what was to proceed, and the quite contrary, found ourself alarmed with cla- moral impossibility of effecting it in their senses: morous complaints from several cabals against for when will they say their religion is effectually all our proceedings, frighting many of our good secured from popery, if it were in danger then, subjects into strange conceits of what they must by reason of the insolency of papists; when look for, by their seditious and false construc- our House of Commons, which is made up of tions of what we bad so candidly and sincerely members from every corner of our kingdom,

VOL, VII.

E