UNDER CHARLES THE SECOND.

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through the whole long existence of this Parliament, pro- chap.eeeding noiselessly, but rapidly and steadily. Charles, keptpoor by his follies and vices, wanted money. The Commonsalone could legally grant him money. They could not beprevented from putting their own price on their grants. Theprice which they put on their grants was this, that they shouldbe allowed to interfere with every one of the King’s prero-gatives , to wring from him his consent to laws which hedisliked, to break up cabinets, to dictate the course of foreignpolicy, and even to direct the administration of war. Tothe royal office, and the royal person, they loudly and sin-cerely professed the strongest attachment. But to Clarendonthey owed no allegiance; and they fell on him as furiously astheir predecessors had fallen on Strafford. The minister’s Fan otvirtues and vices alike contributed to his ruin. He was the don.ostensible head of the administration, and was therefore heldresponsible even for those acts which he had strongly, butvainly, opposed in Council. He was regarded by the Puri-tans, and by all who pitied them, as an implacable bigot, asecond Laud, with much more than Laud’s understanding.

He had on all occasions maintained that the Act of Indemnityought to be strictly observed; and this part of his conduct,though highly honourable to him, made him hateful to allthose Royalists who wished to repair their ruined fortunesby suing the Roundheads for damages and mesne profits.

The Presbyterians of Scotland attributed to him the downfallof their Church. The Papists of Ireland attributed to himthe loss of their lands. As father of the Duchess of York,he had an obvious motive for wishing that there might be abarren Queen; and he was therefore suspected of having pur-posely recommended one. The sale of Dunkirk was justlyimputed to him. For the war with Holland he was, with lessjustice, held accountable. His hot temper, his arrogant de-portment, the indelicate eagerness with which he grasped