Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

Speech of

to the

Council

such a multitude of advisers. But during a quarter of an hour, he remained many of the vulgar not unnaturally alone. Meanwhile the Privy Councilconcluded, from the perplexity of the lors who were in the palace assembled. great masters of the healing art, that The new King came forth, and the malady had some extraordinary took his place at the head of James II. origin. There is reason to believe that the board. He commenced his Privy a horrible suspicion did actually cross administration, according to the mind of Short, who, though skilful usage, by a speech to the Council. He in his profession, seems to have been a expressed his regret for the loss which nervous and fanciful man, and whose he had just sustained, and he promised perceptions were probably confused by to imitate the singular lenity which had dread of the odious imputations to which distinguished the late reign. He was he, as a Roman Catholic, was peculiarly aware, he said, that he had been acexposed. We cannot, therefore, wonder eused of a fondness for arbitrary power. that wild stories without number were But that was not the only falsehood repeated and believed by the common which had been told of him. He was people. His Majesty's tongue had resolved to maintain the established swelled to the size of a neat's tongue. government both in Church and State. A cake of deleterious powder had been The Church of England he knew to be found in his brain. There were blue eminently loyal. It should therefore spots on his breast. There were black always be his care to support and spots on his shoulder. Something had defend her. The laws of England, he been put into his snuff box. Something also knew, were sufficient to make him had been put into his broth. Something as great a King as he could wish to be. had been put into his favourite dish of He would not relinquish his own rights, eggs and ambergrease. The Duchess but he would respect the rights of others. of Portsmouth had poisoned him in a He had formerly risked his life in decup of chocolate. The Queen had poi- fence of his country; and he would still soned him in a jar of dried pears. Such go as far as any man in support of her tales ought to be preserved; for they just liberties. furnish us with a measure of the intelligence and virtue of the generation which eagerly devoured them. That no rumour of the same kind has ever, in the present age, found credit among us, even when lives on which great interests depended have been terminated by unforeseen attacks of disease, is to be attributed partly to the progress of medical and chemical science, but partly also, it may be hoped, to the progress which the nation has made in good sense, justice, and humanity.*

When all was over, James retired from the bedside to his closet, where, * Welwood, 139.; Burnet, i. 609.; Sheffield's Character of Charles the Second; North's Life of Guildford, 252.; Examen,

648.; Revolution Politics; Higgins on Burnet. What North says of the embarrassment and vacillation of the physicians is confirmed by the despatches of Van Citters. I have been much perplexed by the strange story about Short's suspicions. I was, at one time, inclined to adopt North's solution. But, though I attach little weight to the authority of Wewood and Burnet in such a case, I cannot reject the testimony of so well informed and so unwilling a witness as Sheffield.

This speech was not, like modern speeches on similar occasions, carefully prepared by the advisers of the sovereign. It was the extemporaneous expression of the new King's feelings at a moment of great excitement. The members of the Council broke forth into clamours of delight and gratitude. The Lord President, Rochester, in the name of his brethren, expressed a hope that His Majesty's most welcome declaration would be made public. The Solicitor General, Heneage Finch, offered to act as clerk. He was a zealous churchman, and, as such, was naturally desirous that there should be some permanent record of the gracious promises which had just been uttered. "Those promises," he said," have made so deep an impression on me that I can repeat them word for word." He soon produced his report. James read it, approved of it, and ordered it to be published. At a later period he said that he had taken this step without due consideration, that his unpremeditated

the time escaped notice, made them still stronger.*

expressions touching the Church of enemy to the religion and laws of EngEngland were too strong, and that land. He had triumphed: he was on Finch had, with a dexterity which at the throne; and his first act was to declare that he would defend the Church, and would strictly respect the The King had been exhausted by rights of his people. The estimate James pro- long watching and by many which all parties had formed of his claimed. violent emotions. He now re- character, added weight to every word tired to rest. The Privy Council- that fell from him. The Whigs called lors, having respectfully accompanied him haughty, implacable, obstinate, him to his bedchamber, returned to regardless of public opinion. The their seats, and issued orders for the Tories, while they extolled his princely ceremony of proclamation. The Guards virtues, had often lamented his neglect were under arms; the heralds appeared of the arts which conciliate popularity. in their gorgeous coats; and the pa- Satire itself had never represented him geant proceeded without any obstruction. as a man likely to court public favour by Casks of wine were broken up in the professing what he did not feel, and by streets, and all who passed were invited promising what he had no intention of to drink to the health of the new sove-performing. On the Sunday which reign. But, though an occasional shout followed his accession, his speech was was raised, the people were not in a quoted in many pulpits. We have joyous mood. Tears were seen in many now for our Church," cried one loyal eyes; and it was remarked that there preacher, "the word of a King, and of was scarcely a housemaid in London a King who was never worse than his who had not contrived to procure some word." This pointed sentence was fast fragment of black crape in honour of circulated through town and country, King Charles.† and was soon the watchword of the whole Tory party.*

The funeral called forth much censure. It would, indeed, hardly have The great offices of state had become been accounted worthy of a noble and vacant by the demise of the State of opulent subject. The Tories gently crown; and it was necessary the admiblamed the new King's parsimony; the for James to determine how nistration. Whigs sneered at his want of natural they should be filled. Few of the affection; and the fiery Covenanters of members of the late cabinet had any Scotland exultingly proclaimed that the reason to expect his favour. Sundercurse denounced of old against wicked land, who was Secretary of State, and princes had been signally fulfilled, and Godolphin, who was First Lord of the that the departed tyrant had been Treasury, had supported the Exclusion buried with the burial of an ass. Yet Bill. Halifax, who held the Privy Seal, James commenced his administration had opposed that bill with unrivalled with a large measure of public good powers of argument and eloquence. will. His speech to the Council ap- But Halifax was the mortal enemy of peared in print, and the impression | despotism and of Popery. He saw which it produced was highly favourable with dread the progress of the French to him. This, then, was the prince arms on the Continent, and the influence whom a faction had driven into exile of French gold in the councils of Engand had tried to rob of his birthright, land. Had his advice been followed, on the ground that he was a deadly the laws would have been strictly observed: clemency would have been * London Gazette, Feb. 9. 168; Clarke's Life of James the Second, ii. 3.; Barillon, extended to the vanquished Whigs: the Parliament would have been convoked Feb.; Evelyn's Diary, Feb. 6. in due season: an attempt would have been made to reconcile our domestic

+ See the authorities cited in the last note. See also the Examen, 647.; Burnet, i. 620.; Higgons on Burnet.

London Gazette, Feb. 14. 168; Evelyn's
Diary of the same day; Burnet,
610.; The
Hind let loose.

† Burnet, i. 628.; Lestrange, Observator, Feb. 11. 168.

arrange

general expectation was that ments. he would be immediately placed at the head of affairs, and that all the other great officers of state would be changed. This expectation proved to be well founded in part only. Rochester was declared Lord Treasurer, and thus became prime minister. Neither a Lord High Admiral nor a Board of Admiralty was appointed. The new King, who loved the details of naval business, and would have made a respectable clerk in the dockyard at Chatham, determined

factions; and the principles of the Rochester was the only member of Triple Alliance would again have guided the cabinet who stood high in New our foreign policy. He had therefore the favour of the King. The incurred the bitter animosity of James. The Lord Keeper Guildford could hardly be said to belong to either of the parties into which the court was divided. He could by no means be called a friend of liberty; and yet he had so great a reverence for the letter of the law that he was not a serviceable tool of arbitrary power. He was accordingly designated by the vehement Tories as a Trimmer, and was to James an object of aversion with which contempt was largely mingled. Ormond, who was Lord Steward of the Household and Viceroy to be his own minister of marine. of Ireland, then resided at Dublin. His claims on the royal gratitude were superior to those of any other subject. He had fought bravely for Charles the First he had shared the exile of Charles the Second; and, since the Restoration, he had, in spite of many provocations, kept his loyalty unstained. Though he had been disgraced during the predominance of the Cabal, he had never gone into factious opposition, and had, in the days of the Popish Plot and the Exclusion Bill, been foremost among the supporters of the throne. He was now old, and had been recently tried by the most cruel of all calamities. He had followed to the grave a son who should have been his own chief mourner, the gallant Ossory. The eminent services, the venerable age, and the domestic misfortunes of Ormond made him an Halifax was told that he must give object of general interest to the nation. up the Privy Seal and accept the PreThe Cavaliers regarded him as, both sidency of the Council. He submitted by right of seniority and by right of with extreme reluctance. For, though merit, their head; and the Whigs knew the President of the Council had that, faithful as he had always been to always taken precedence of the Lord the cause of monarchy, he was no friend Privy Seal, the Lord Privy Seal was, either to Popery or to arbitrary power. in that age, a much more important But, high as he stood in the public officer than the Lord President. Roestimation, he had little favour to ex-chester had not forgotten the jest which pect from his new master. James, had been made a few months before on indeed, while still a subject, had urged his own removal from the Treasury, his brother to make a complete change and enjoyed in his turn the pleasure of in the Irish administration. Charles kicking his rival up stairs. The Privy had assented; and it had been arranged Seal was delivered to Rochester's elder that, in a few months, there should be brother, Henry Earl of Clarendon. a new Lord Lieutenant.*

*The letters which passed between Rochester and Ormond on this subject will be found in the Clarendon Correspondence.

Under him the management of that important department was confided to Samuel Pepys, whose library and diary have kept his name fresh to our time. No servant of the late sovereign was publicly disgraced. Sunderland exerted so much art and address, employed so many intercessors, and was in possession of so many secrets, that he was suffered to retain his seals. Godolphin's obsequiousness, industry, experience, and taciturnity, could ill be spared. As he was no longer wanted at the Treasury, he was made Chamberlain to the Queen. With these three Lords the King took counsel on all important questions. As to Halifax, Ormond, and Guildford, he determined not yet to dismiss them, but merely to humble and annoy them.

To Barillon James expressed the strongest dislike of Halifax. "I know him well, I never can trust him. He

shall have no share in the manage- ford's custody: but a marked indignity ment of public business. As to the was at the same time offered Sir George place which I have given him, it will to him. It was determined that Jeffreys. just serve to show how little influence another lawyer of more vigour and he has." But to Halifax it was thought audacity should be called to assist in convenient to hold a very different the administration. The person selected language. "All the past is forgotten," was Sir George Jeffreys, Chief Justice said the King, "except the service of the Court of Queen's Bench. The which you did me in the debate on the depravity of this man has passed into Exclusion Bill." This speech has a proverb. Both the great English often been cited to prove that James parties have attacked his memory with was not so vindictive as he had been emulous violence: for the Whigs concalled by his enemies. It seems rather sidered him as their most barbarous to prove that he by no means deserved enemy; and the Tories found it conthe praises which have been bestowed venient to throw on him the blame of on his sincerity by his friends.* all the crimes which had sullied their Ormond was politely informed that triumph. A diligent and candid inhis services were no longer needed in quiry will show that some frightful Ireland, and was invited to repair to stories which have been told concernWhitehall, and to perform the functions ing him are false or exaggerated. Yet of Lord Steward. He dutifully sub-the dispassionate historian will be able mitted, but did not affect to deny that to make very little deduction from the the new arrangement wounded his vast mass of infamy with which the feelings deeply. On the eve of his de-memory of the wicked judge has been parture he gave a magnificent banquet loaded. at Kilmainham Hospital, then just He was a man of quick and vigorous completed, to the officers of the garri- parts, but constitutionally prone to inson of Dublin. After dinner he rose, solence and to the angry passions. filled a goblet to the brim with wine, When just emerging from boyhood he and, holding it up, asked whether he had risen into practice at the Old had spilt one drop. "No, gentlemen: Bailey bar, a bar where advocates have whatever the courtiers may say, I am always used a license of tongue unnot yet sunk into dotage. My hand known in Westminster Hall. Here, does not fail me yet; and my hand is during many years, his chief business not steadier than my heart. To the was to examine and crossexamine the health of King James!" Such was most hardened miscreants of a great the last farewell of Ormond to Ireland. capital. Daily conflicts with prostiHe left the administration in the hands tutes and thieves called out and exerof Lords Justices, and repaired to cised his powers so effectually that he London, where he was received with became the most consummate bully unusual marks of public respect. Many ever known in his profession. Tenderpersons of rank went forth to meet him ness for others and respect for himself on the road. A long train of equi- were feelings alike unknown to him. pages followed him into Saint James's He acquired a boundless command of Square, where his mansion stood; and the rhetoric in which the vulgar exthe Square was thronged by a multi-press hatred and contempt. The protude which greeted him with loud ac-fusion of maledictions and vituperative clamations.t

The Great Seal was left in Guild

epithets which composed his vocabulary could hardly have been rivalled in the fishmarket or the beargarden. His

* The ministerial changes are announced in the London Gazette, Feb. 19. 1684. See Bur-countenance and his voice must always have been unamiable. But these nanet, i. 621.; Barillon, Feb. 25 16 19. 26' ; and tural advantages, for such he seems to have thought them, - he had im

Feb. 19

Mar. 1

+ Carte's Life of Ormond; Secret Consults moirs of Ireland, 1716.

of the Romish Party in Ireland, 1690; Me- proved to such a degree that there were few who, in his paroxysms of rage,

The

could see or hear him without emotion. I had been hardened to that temper Impudence and ferocity sate upon his which tyrants require in their worst brow. The glare of his eyes had a implements. He had hitherto looked fascination for the unhappy victim on for professional advancement to the whom they were fixed. Yet his brow corporation of London. He had thereand his eye were less terrible than the fore professed himself a Roundhead, savage lines of his mouth. His yell of and had always appeared to be in a fury, as was said by one who had often higher state of exhilaration when he heard it, sounded like the thunder of explained to Popish priests that they the judgment day. These qualifications were to be cut down alive, and were he carried, while still a young man, to see their own bowels burned, than from the bar to the bench. He early when he passed ordinary sentences became Common Serjeant, and then of death. But, as soon as he had got Recorder of London. As a judge at all that the City could give, he made the City sessions he exhibited the same haste to sell his forehead of brass and propensities which afterwards, in a his tongue of venom to the Court. higher post, gained for him an unenvi- Chiffinch, who was accustomed to act able immortality. Already might be as broker in infamous contracts of more remarked in him the most odious vice than one kind, lent his aid. He had which is incident to human nature, a conducted many amorous and many delight in misery merely as misery. political intrigues; but he assuredly There was a fiendish exultation in the never rendered a more scandalous serway in which he pronounced sentence vice to his masters than when he introon offenders. Their weeping and im- duced Jeffreys to Whitehall. ploring seemed to titillate him volup- renegade soon found a patron in the tuously; and he loved to scare them obdurate and revengeful James, but into fits by dilating with luxuriant was always regarded with scorn and amplification on all the details of what disgust by Charles, whose faults, great they were to suffer. Thus, when he as they were, had no affinity with insohad an opportunity of ordering an un-lence and cruelty. "That man," said lucky adventuress to be whipped at the the King, "has no learning, no sense, cart's tail, "Hangman," he would exclaim, "I charge you to pay particular attention to this lady! Scourge her soundly, man! Scourge her till the blood runs down! It is Christmas, a cold time for Madam to strip in! See that you warm her shoulders thoroughly! ""* He was hardly less facetious when he passed judgment on poor Lodowick Muggleton, the drunken tailor who fancied himself a prophet. “Impudent rogue!" roared Jeffreys, "thou shalt have an easy, easy, easy punishment!" One part of this easy punishment was the pillory, in which the wretched fanatic was almost killed with brickbats.

By this time the heart of Jeffreys

*Christmas Sessions Paper of 1678.

†The Acts of the Witnesses of the Spirit,

part v. chapter v. In this work, Lodowick, after his fashion, revenges himself on the "bawling devil," as he calls Jeffreys, by a string of curses which Ernulphus, or Jeffreys himself, might have envied. The trial was in January 1677.

no manners, and more impudence than ten carted streetwalkers." Work was to be done, however, which could be trusted to no man who reverenced law or was sensible of shame; and thus Jeffreys, at an age at which a barrister thinks himself fortunate if he is employed to conduct an important cause, was made Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

His enemies could not deny that he possessed some of the qualities of a great judge. His legal knowledge, indeed, was merely such as he had picked up in practice of no very high kind. But he had one of those happily constituted intellects which, across labyrinths of sophistry, and through masses of immaterial facts, go straight to the true point. Of his intellect, however, he seldom had the full use. Even in civil causes his malevolent and

*This saying is to be found in many contemporary pamphlets. Titus Oates was never tired of quoting it. See his Εἰκὼν Βασιλική,

« EdellinenJatka »