JAMES THE SECOND.

79

be concealed that he bore a chief part in some transactionscondemned, not merely by the rigid code of the society towhich he belonged, but by the general sense of all honestmen. He afterwards solemnly protested that his hands werepure from illicit gain, and that he had never received anygratuity from those whom he had obliged, though he mighteasily, while his influence at court lasted, have made a hun-dred and twenty thousand pounds.* To this assertion fullcredit is due. But bribes may be offered to vanity as well asto cupidity; and it is impossible to deny that Penn was cajoledinto bearing a part in some unjustifiable transactions of whichothers enjoyed the profits.

The first use which he made of his credit was highly com-mendable. He strongly represented the sufferings of theQuakers to the new King, who saw with pleasure that it waspossible to grant indulgence to these quiet sectaries and tothe Roman Catholics, without showing similar favour to otherclasses which were then under persecution. A list was framedof prisoners against whom proceedings had been instituted fornot taking the oaths, or for not going to church, and of whoseloyalty certificates had been produced to the government.These persons were discharged, and orders were given thatno similar proceeding should be instituted till the royal plea-sure should be further signified. In this way about fifteenhundred Quakers, and a still greater number ofRoman Ca-tholics, regained their liberty.**

* “Twenty thousand into my pocket; and a hundred thousand intomy province.” — Penn’s Letter to Popple.

* These orders, signed by Sunderland, will be found in Sewel'sHistory. They bear date April 18. 1685. They are written in a stylesingularly obscure and intricate; but I think that I have exhibited themeaning correctly. I have not been able to find any proof that anyperson, not a Roman Catholic or a Quaker, regained his freedom underthese orders. See Neal’s History of the Puritans, vol. ii. chap. ii. Ge-rard Croese, lib. ii. Croese estimates the number of Quakers liberatedat fourteen hundred and sixty.

CHAP.

IV.

1G85.

Peculiarfavourshown toRomanCatholicsand Qua-kers.