and depraved Morals. That they nevertheless feem'd entirely to overlook the Latter, though abundance of bis poor inferiour Subjects were daily and beyond Meafure haralled and aggrieved through the exorbitant Practices of feveral of the Nobility. That it was inconfiftent with Juftice to inflict Punishment upon one Oppreffor only, and fuffer leveral Thousands to perfift undifturb'd in their Wickedness; that the Parliament would atchieve an Action worthy eternal Praife, if in enquiring into the Minifters Behaviour, they would alfo enquire at the fame Time into the Conduct of all others under the fame Charge of Oppreflors. Last of all, that he would inviolably preServe all the ancient Priviledges belonging to the Lords and Commons in Parliament affembled, efpecially that of the free Liberty of Speech; but that if they any ways exceeded the Bounds of their Duty, either by injuriously reflecting on his Perfon, and derogating from bis Honour, or by encroaching upon bis Prerogative, their pretended Priviledges should no longer fcreen them from the Punishment due to fuch Offences. So plain a Difcourfe intimated fufficiently to the Parliament, the Defires and Inclinations of the Court, but it had but little Influence on them. Nevertheless, they first out of Formality examin'd fome inconfiderable Mifdemeanours, then they proceeded in a publick manner to enquire into the Original and Source of the Eyil; no fooner were the Difpofitions of the Houfe known, but there was brought from all Parts full and pregnant Evidences against the Favourite: After a fhort Deliberation, the Result of their Opinion was, that all the publick Mischiefs fprang from the fame Fountain; and Spencer was impeach'd of Infolence, Injuftice, Corruption, of heinous Neglect of the publick Interest, and im moderate Avarice in refpect to his own. The

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few Friends he had left prov'd timorous and unactive. Some indeed, induced rather by the VainGlory of difplaying their Eloquence, than any Hopes of his Deliverance, or Juftification, spoke in his Behalf, it was almoft Unanimously agreed on, that the Misfortunes which England then labour'd under, were occafion'd by the Favourite's infatiable Ambition and Avarice; that Corruption and Bribery had been introduc'd among those who were appointed to be the Adminiftrators of Justice, as likewife amongst the Nobility, and other Orders of Men; it plainly appearing that the Places of Judicature, Church-Preferments, Titles of Honour, Dignities and Military Employments had been ignominioufly proftituted, and exposed to Sale, as it were in a publick Market. The Torrent was so violent against Spencer, that instead of out-braving the Storm, he ought to have striv'd Might and Main to appease it; but he confidently relying on the King's Protection, infulted even his own Judges. That daring Impudence still more incens'd his Adverfaries: Upon which both Houses of Parliament voted the Spencers guilty, and immediately pass'd an Act to Banish them the Realm, which they fent to the King, with the chief and fundamental Reasons of their Proceeding. Edward, as Faint-hearted in the leaft Adverfity, as Prefumptuous in Profperity, confirm'd it: This Act was immediately put in Execution, and the two Courtiers were fent under a strong Guard to Dover, where they took Shipping to go in Pursuit of a more conftant Fortune elsewhere. Young Spencer appear❜d undaunted at fuch a fudden Shock, and bore the Bitterness of so fatal a Difafter with an uncommon Greatness of Soul; and still depending on his Master's Friendship, and defpifing his Enemies,he privately took his laft Farewel of England,

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and feemingly with Refpect, tho' at the fame time his Breaft glow'd with Choler and Vengeance. Hugh Spencer, his Father, fhew'd lefs Moderation and Tranquility. He, with the greatest Rage, exclaim'd against the restless Ambition of his Son, and his own Vanity; he accufed his cruelDestiny; which, not fatisfied to have stript him at once of all his Fortune and Glory, forc'd him from his own Country, and took from him all Hopes of ever having his Bones lay'd among thofe of his Ancestors: Now he began to repent of having, in a decrepit Age, Thirfted after Grandeur, and ventur'd his once quiet Life and Soul on fo flippery a Bottom. Thus great Men, on fecond Thoughts, often make fruitlefs Reflections, and moralize on Fortune's Inconftancy, when it is too late. But whilft old Spencer thus pursued his Voyage, to feek a Refuge in foreign Countries, the young one took up different Refolutions, and Measures; he chose to dwell on the Sea: His difquieted Mind,and fiery Temper compell'd him to a Revenge, and he knew not how to truft Fortune in another Land, when fhe had prov'd fo unkind to him in his Own: In one Word he turn'd Pirate, where we'll leave him a Moment fcowring the Seas, to fee how the King and Barons parted. Edward, though over-charg'd with Grief, and having nothing more at Heart than dire Revenge, yet being a profound Master of Diffimulation, he took his Leave of the Barons after a civil Manner, and return'd them many Thanks for their Care, Zeal, and Moderation: The Noblemen, who knew very well, that Politicians can blow Hot and Cold, and that often Honey drops from a Prince's Mouth, though he be inwardly full of Gall and Bitterness, return'd the Complement with equal Sincerity, and Thank'd him for his Goodnefs: Thus they made one ano

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ther Proteftations of Friendship, in the very Moment they studied how to compafs each other's Ruin. Now young Spencer, hovering daily about the English Coafts, exercifed his Vengeance on the Innocent, the Authors of his Disgrace being out of his Reach, however he took every Ship he could meet with at Sea, and even plunder'd feveral riding at Anchor in the Ports, and just loaded. The Report of his Piracies foon arrived to the Ears of the Privy-Council, the Merchants reprefented, that their Commerce would be at an end, if the Pirates were not fuppreffed: Edward knew the Consequence of it,but what could he do againft fo dear a Friend? he resolv'd first to please himself before any one else, and to let his Subjects fuffer, whereby they might be in fome Measure forry that they had banish'd the Spencers. Yet he made a great Buffle to amufe the People; he gave Orders that a Fleet fhould be got ready, being refolv'd, he faid, to have the Pirates alive or dead: But all this was but a mere feint, while at the fame time he countermanded the Fleet under Pretence that they wanted Provisions, giving out that his Defign was to make sure of them. The Merchants being out of Patience, by reafon of fuch Delays, reprefented to the King, that if their Goods continued thus to be plunder'd, it would confiderably diminish the Revenues of his Crown. He made them this Anfwer: That he deplored their Condition, and so much the more, because it was then out of his Power to help them, fince he was himself in great Danger: Confidering that the Difaffected, who love to fish in troubled Water, endeavour'd to take an Advantage from the Disorders the Kingdom was then in. And the best Thing, he could then advise them to, was to confider how they could appeafe Spencer, who perhaps treated them with fo much Rigour, more out of Ne ceffity,

ceffity, than Malice. The Citizens upon this retir'd, being not a little furpriz'd and concern'd at that part of the King's Answer, which related to fome fecret Confpiracy going on against theGovernment: They began to fear left they should have their Share of the threatning Storm. This Rumour was firft whisper'd about, and then made the whole City ring again, the pretended Danger of the State was the fole Subject of Conversation, both private and publick. Edward, to encrease their Jealoufies and Fears, doubled his Guards, and fent precife Orders to all his faithful Servants, to get ready at an Hour's warning with what Troops they had; nay, to blind the Barons themselves, he fent them Letters artfully penn'd and fraught with a thoufand Proteftations of Love, and Affection; They were a little furprized at this fudden Reconciliation,and offer'd him their Forces, Lives, and Fortunes. In this Interval London Merchants, who like all other Traders, confine all their Happiness within the narrow Bounds of their own private Profit and Intereft, diligently fought after the Means how to raife the Stock, and encourage Commerce: A fubtle Fellow, who had undertaken to serve the King in the Quality of a Spy, intimated to them, that they never could mollify the obdurate Heart of the Pirate, but by procuring his Return to Court,every one fwallow'd the gaudy Bait, and jumpt in the fame Opinion with him. They immediately thought, that such a Propofal would not be difpleafing to the King; and moreover, that Spencer fhould have fuch an Obli gation to them, that might from a mortal Enemy render him their Friend, and Protector. Thus refolv'd they drew up a Petition, and went to Court, folliciting for Spencer's Re-establishment. Tho' the King had fo artfully brought about the

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