170

HTSTOKT OF ENGLAND,

CITAP.

II.

nounced that he was closely related by affinity to the royalhouse. Ilis daughter had become, by a secret marriage,Duchess of York. His grandchildren might perhaps wear thecrown. He was raised by this illustrious connection over theheads of the old nobility of the land, and was for a time sup-posed to be all powerful. In some respects he was well fittedfor his great place. No man wrote abler state papers. Noman spoke with more weight and dignity in Council and inParliament. No man was better acquainted with generalmaxims of statecraft. No man observed the varieties of cha-racter with a more discriminating eye. It must be added thathe had a strong sense of moral and religious obligation, asincere reverence for the laws of his country, and a conscien-tious regard for the honour and interest of the crown. But histemper was sour, arrogant, and impatient of opposition.Above all, he had been long an exile; and this circumstancealone would have completely disqualified him for the supremedirection of affairs. It is scarcely possible that a politician,who has been compelled by civil troubles to go into banish-ment, and to pass many of the best years of his life abroad,can be fit, on the day on which he returns to his native land,to be at the head of the government. Clarendon was noexception to this rule. He had left England with a mindheated by a fierce conflict which had ended in the downfall ofhis party and of his own fortunes. From 1646 to 1660 he hadlived beyond sea, looking on all that passed at home from agreat distance, and through a false medium. His notions ofpublic affairs were necessarily derived from the reports ofplotters, many of whom were ruined and desperate men.Events naturally seemed to him auspicious, not in proportionas they increased the prosperity and glory of the nation, but inproportion as they tended to hasten the hour of his ownreturn.' His wish, a wish which he has not disguised, was that,till his countrymen brought back the old line, they might