CHAPTER XI

FROM THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES II. TO THE FALL OF THE CABAL ADMINISTRATION

Popular Joy at the Restoration -- Proceedings of the Convention Parliament -- Act of Indemnity -- Exclusion of the Regicides and others -- Discussions between the Houses on it -- Execution of Regicides -- Restitution of Crown and Church Lands -- Discontent of the Royalists -- Settlement of the Revenue -- Abolition of Military Tenures -- Excise granted instead -- Army disbanded -- Clergy restored to their Benefices -- Hopes of the Presbyterians from the King -- Projects for a Compromise -- King's Declaration in Favour of it -- Convention Parliament dissolved -- Different Complexion of the next -- Condemnation of Vane -- Its Injustice -- Acts replacing the Crown in its Prerogatives -- Corporation Act -- Repeal of Triennial Act -- Star-chamber not restored -- Presbyterians deceived by the King -- Savoy Conference -- Act of Uniformity -- Ejection of Nonconformist Clergy -- Hopes of the Catholics -- Bias of the King towards them -- Resisted by Clarendon and the Parliament -- Declaration for Indulgence -- Objected to by the Commons -- Act against Conventicles -- Another of the same Kind -- Remarks on them -- Dissatisfaction increases -- Private Life of the King -- Opposition in Parliament -- Appropriation of Supplies -- Commission of public Accounts -- Decline of Clarendon's Power -- Loss of the King's Favour -- Coalition against him -- His Impeachment -- Some Articles of it not unfounded -- Illegal Imprisonments -- Sale of Dunkirk -- Solicitation of French Money -- His Faults as a Minister -- His pusillanimous Flight -- and consequent Banishment -- Cabal Ministry -- Scheme of Comprehension and Indulgence -- Triple Alliance -- Intrigue with France -- King's Desire to be absolute -- Secret Treaty of 1670 -- Its Objects -- Differences between Charles and Louis as to the Mode of its Execution -- Fresh Severities against Dissenters -- Dutch War -- Declaration of Indulgence -- Opposed by Parliament -- and withdrawn -- Test Act -- Fall of Shaftesbury and his Colleagues Page 278