CHAPTER VII.

CHARLES II.

Character of Charles II.--The King's First Privy Council--The Convention Parliament--Submission of the Presbyterian Leaders--The Plight of those who took Part in the late King's Trial--Complaisance of the Commoners--Charles's Income--The Bill of Sales--The Ministers Bill--Settlement of the Church--Trial of the Regicides--Their Execution--Marriage of the Duke of York--Mutilation of the Remains of Cromwell--The Presbyterians Duped--The Revenue--Fifth-Monarchy Riot--Settlements of Ireland and Scotland--Execution of Argyll--Re-establishment of Episcopacy--The new Parliament violently Royalist--The King's Marriage--His Brutal Behaviour to the Queen--State of the Court--Trial of Vane and Lambert--Execution of Vane--Assassination of Regicides--Sale of Dunkirk--The Uniformity Act--Religious Persecution--Strange Case of the Marquis of Bristol--Repeal of the Triennial Act--The Conventicle and Five Mile Acts--War with Holland--Appearance of the Plague--Gross Licentiousness of the Court--Demoralisation of the Navy--Monk's Fight with the Dutch--The Great Fire 193