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summoned to meet at Oxford the 21st of March. The Duke of York, about this time, sent Mr. Churchill, (afterwards Duke of Marlborough,) on a mission to the King, to advise him to prorogue Parliament for a considerable time, to give up his alliance with Holland and Spain, in order to form one with France, and to grant his own recall. The King was averse to all his proposals, excepting that of an alliance with France*, which he allowed him to negociate.

During the interval of Parliament, the Duke of York was indicted as a recusant, before a grand jury of the county of Middlesex, who found a true bill against him. The cause was removed by certiorari into the King's Bench. The elections went generally in favour of the Whigs. The city of London voted thanks to their old members for their conduct, especially for their support of the Exclusion Bill, and concluded by declaring they would stand by them with their lives and fortunes. We are told by Rapin that this example was followed by most places in the kingdom.

I do not know that I can conclude this chapter in a more entertaining manner, than by giving a satirical description from North, a bitter

*Life of James.

enemy of the Whigs, of a political club which they frequented about this time :

"The gentlemen of that worthy society held their evening sessions continually at the King's Head Tavern, over-against the Inner-Temple gate; but, upon occasion of the signal of a green ribbon agreed to be worn in their hats in the days of street engagements, they were called also the Green Ribbon Club. Their seat was in a sort of carfour at Chancery-Lane end, a centre of business and company, most proper for such anglers of fools. The house was double-balconied in the front, as may be yet seen, for the clubsters to issue forth in fresco, with hats and no perruques, pipes in their mouths, merry faces, and dilated throats, for vocal encouragement of the canaglio below, at bonfires on usual and unusual occasions.

"The resolves of the more retired councils and ministry of the faction were brought in here, and orally insinuated to the company, whether it were lies, defamations, projects, &c. and so, like water diffused, spread all over the town, whereby that which was digested at the club over-night, was like nourishment at every assembly, male and female, the next day; and thus the young boys tasted of political administration, and took themselves for notable counsellors.

"The pastime of this meeting, called The Club, was very engaging to young gentlemen; and one who had once tasted the conversation, could scarce ever quit it; for some or others were continually coming and going to import or export news and stories. There it was known, in half an hour, what any member said at the committee of elections, or in the House, if it sate late; and every post conveyed the news and tales legitimated there; as also the malign constructions of all the good actions of the government, especially to places where elections were depending, to shape men's characters into fit qualifications to be chosen or rejected.

"They were carriers up and down of seditious talk all over the town; so that a puisne politician, from the universal harmony of discourse, would think the grossest fablings to be truth in perfection."

CHAP. XIII.

PARLIAMENT SUMMONED TO OXFORD. KING'S SPEECH.FITZHARRIS'S PLOT.

EXCLUSION BILL.-DISSOLUTION.

KING'S DECLARATION. ANSWER OF THE WHIGS. PRINCE OF ORANGE COMES TO ENGLAND. EXECUTION OF FITZHARRIS.

THE Contest between the King and the House of Commons could not continue much longer. Both parties foresaw, and desired a crisis.* The King, on his part, prepared for it by summoning the Parliament to Oxford, where his party was strong, and where he would have nothing to fear from the resentment of the inhabitants. He went there himself eight days before the meeting. He dismissed from his council, Shaftesbury, Sunderland, Essex, and Temple. On the other hand, a general alarm prevailed amongst the Whig party that some violence was intended. There was a rumour at one time that the Parliament was to be blown up by a new gunpowder plot; but the general idea was, that the King would cause the persons of those obnoxious to him to be seized, under pretence of a conspiracy

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against his person and government. The Earl of Essex, accompanied by the Duke of Monmouth, and fourteen other peers, presented a petition to the King, that the Parliament might be held in London. Charles frowned, and gave no answer.

Lord Grey pretends, that, after this repulse, a design was entertained of refusing to attend the Parliament at Oxford; but, however this may be, the members of Opposition, in both Houses, finally determined to appear in their places. But several of them took the precaution of being attended by many of their servants and retainers; and the members for London, in particular, entered Oxford with a large body of men on horseback, having blue ribbands on their hats, with the motto, "No Popery! No Slavery!" ominous appearance in such critical times.

Mar. 21.

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The 21st of March being come, the King opened the Parliament with the following remarkable speech, which is certainly drawn up with great art and judgment.

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My Lords and Gentlemen: - The unwar"rantable proceedings of the last House of Com"mons were the occasion of my parting with "the last Parliament; for I, who will never use

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arbitrary government myself, am resolved not "to suffer it in others. I am unwilling to men"tion particulars, because I am desirous to forget faults; but whosoever shall calmly

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