JAMES THE SECOND.
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honoured, by the benediction, “it -was one of the Seven.”“No,” said the other; “it is the Popish Bishop of Chester.” ■“Popish dog,” cried the enraged Protestant; “take yourblessing back again.”
Such was the concourse, and such the agitation, that theDutch Ambassador was surprised to see the day close withoutan insurrection. The King had been by no means at ease.In order that he might be ready to suppress any disturbance,he had passed the morning in reviewing several battalions ofinfantry in Hyde Park. It is, however, by no means certainthat his troops would have stood by him if he had needed theirservices. When San croft reached Lambeth, in the after-noon, he found the grenadier guards, who were quarteredin that suburb, assembled before the gate of his palace. Theyformed in two lines on his right and left, and asked his bene-diction as he went through them. He with difficulty preventedthem from lighting a bonfire in honour of his return to hisdwelling. There were, however, many bonfires that eveningin the City. Two Roman Catholics who were so indiscreet asto beat some boys for joining in these rejoicings were seizedby the mob, stripped naked, and ignominiously branded. *
Sir Edward Hales now came to demand fees from thosewho had lately been his prisoners. They refused to pay any-thing for a detention which they regarded as illegal to anofficer whose commission was, on their principles, a nullity.The Lieutenant hinted very intelligibly that, if they cameinto his hands again, they should be put into heavy irons andshould lie on bare stones. “We are under our King’s dis-pleasure,” was the answer; “and most deeply do we feel it:but a fellow subject who threatens us does but lose hisbreath.” It is easy to imagine with what indignation thepeople, excited as they were, must have learned that a re-negade from the Protestant faith, who held a command indefiance of the fundamental laws of England, had dared to
* For the events of this day see the Slate Trials; Clarendon’s Diary;Lutlrell’s Diary; Citlers, JuncR.; Johnstone, June 18.; RevolutionPolitics.
CHAP.
vilf.
1633 .