246

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAP,

VI.

IC85.

Disgraceo( Ha-lifax.

those disabilities were essential to the safety of the state. Tohis policy the English Roman Catholics owed three years oflawless and insolent triumph, and a hundred and forty yearsof subjection and degradation.

Many members of his Church held commissions in thenewly raised regiments. This breach of the law for a timepassed uncensured: for men were not disposed to note everyirregularity which was committed by a King suddenly calledupon to defend his crown and his life against rebels. But thedanger was now over. The insurgents had been vanquishedand punished. Their unsuccessful attempt had strengthenedthe government which they had hoped to overthrow. Yetstill James continued to grant commissions to unqualifiedpersons; and speedily it was announced that he was deter-mined to be no longer bound by the Test Act, that he hopedto induce the Parliament to repeal that Act, but that, if theParliament proved refractory, he would not the less have hisown way.

As soon as this was known, a deep murmur, the fore-runner of a tempest, gave him warning that the spirit beforewhich his grandfather, his father, and his brother had beencompelled to recede, though dormant, was not extinct.Opposition appeared first in the cabinet. Halifax did notattempt to conceal his disgust and alarm. At the Councilboard he courageously gave utterance to those feelings which,as it soon appeared, pervaded the whole nation. None of hiscolleagues seconded him; and the subject dropped. He wassummoned to the royal closet, and had two long conferenceswith his master. James tried the effect of compliments andblandishments, but to no purpose. Halifax positively refusedto promise that he would give his vote in the House of Lordsfor the repeal either of the Test Act or of the Habeas CorpusAct.

Some of those who were about the King advised him not,