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HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap, could not refrain from expressing, with a sneer, his hope

~ 1687 _ that his old boon companion, Dover, would keep the King’smoney better than his own. In order that the finances mightnot be ruined by incapable and inexperienced Papists, theobsequious, diligent and silent Godolphin was named a Com-missioner of the Treasury, but continued to be Chamberlainto the Queen. *

Effect ot The dismission of the two brothers is a great epoch in the

the tall of . , , ,

theHydes. reign of James, hrom that time .it was clear that what hereally wanted was not liberty of conscience for the membersof his own church, but liberty to persecute the members ofother churches. Pretending to abhor tests, he had himsslfimposed a test. He thought it hard, he thought it monstrous,that able and loyal men should be excluded from the publicservice solely for being Homan Catholics. Yet he had Lim-self turned out of office a Treasurer, whom he admitted to beboth loyal and able, solely for being a Protestant. The crywas that a general proscription was at hand, and that everypublic functionary must make up his mind to lose his soul orto lose his place.** Who indeed could hope to stand -wherethe Hydes had fallen? They were the brothers-in-law of theKing, the uncles and natural guardians of his children, hisfriends from early youth, his steady adherents in adversityand peril, his obsequious servants since he had been on thethrone. Their sole crime was their religion; and for thiscrime they had been discarded. In great perturbation menbegan to look round for help; and soon all eyes were fixedon one whom a rare concurrence both of personal qualitiesand of fortuitous circumstances pointed out as the deliverer.

•London Gazette, Jan. 6. and March 14. 168?; Evelyn’s Diary,March 10. Etherege’s letter to Dover is in the British Museum.

““ “Pare che gli animi sono inaspriti della voce che corre per ilpopolo, d’esser cacciato il detlo ministro per non essere Cattolico percihtirarsi al eslerminio de’ Protestanti.” — Adda, ,* ' 1687,

1 JtQ. 1U.