royalty restored-第44章
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would do to both of them should he forbear so to do； by giving the world so much reason to believe he was a catholick。〃 To this request these honest gentlemen replied it would be difficult to move the duke to his majesty's desires； but even if they succeeded； it would fail to convince the world his royal highness was not a catholic。 With these answers Charles seemed satisfied； but again on Christmas Eve he urged Lord Clifford to advise the duke to publicly communicate on the morrow。 His royal highness； not being so unscrupulous as the king； refused compliance with his wishes。
The following Easter he likewise refrained from communicating。 Evelyn tells us that 〃a most crowded auditorie〃 had assembled in the Chapel Royal on this Sunday； possibly it had been drawn there to hear the eloquence of Dr。 Sparrow； Bishop of Exeterprobably to observe the movements of the king's brother。 〃I staied to see；〃 writes Evelyn； 〃whether； according to costome； the Duke of York received the communion with the king； but he did not； to the amazement of everybody。 This being the second year he had forborn and put it off； and within a day of the parliament sitting； who had lately made so severe an act against ye increase of poperie； gave exceeding griefe and scandal to the whole nation； that the heyre of it； and ye sonn of a martyr for ye Protestant religion； should apostatize。 What the consequence of this will be God only knows； and wise men dread。〃
That the nation might no longer remain in uncertainty concerning the change the duke was suspected to have made； a bill； commonly called the 〃Test Act；〃 was； at the instigation of Lord Shaftesbury； introduced into the House of Commons； on its reassembling。 In substance this set forth； that all persons holding office； or place of trust； or profit； should take the oaths of supremacy and allegiance in a public court； receive the sacrament according to the Church of England in some parish church on the Lord's Day； and deliver a certificate of having so received communion； signed by the respective ministers and church…wardens； and proved by two credible witnesses on oath。 After prolonged debates upon this singular bill； it was passed through both houses of parliament； and received a reluctant consent from the king。 ＇This act continued in force until the reign of George IV。＇
A great commotion followed the passing of this Act。 Immediately the Duke of York resigned his post of lord high admiral of England。 Suspicion now became certainty； he was truly a papist。 His enemies were elated with triumph； his friends dejected by regret。 Before public feeling had time to subside； it was thoroughly startled by the news that Lord Clifford； who was supposed to be a staunch protestant； had delivered up his staff of office as lord treasurer； and Lord Bellasis and Sir Thomas Strickland； papists both； 〃though otherwise men of quality and ability；〃 had relinquished their places at court。 The king was perplexed； the parliament divided into factions； the nation disturbed。 No man knew who might next proclaim himself a papist。 As days passed； excitement increased； for hundreds who held positions in the army； or under the crownmany of whom had fought for the king and his fatherby tendering their resignations； now proved themselves slaves of what a vigorous writer calls the 〃Romish yoke： such a thing；〃 he adds； 〃as cannot； but for want of a name to express it； be called a religion。〃
Public agitation steadily rose。 Evelyn tells us； 〃he dare not write all the strange talk of the town。〃 Distrust of the king； fear of his brother； hatred of popery and papists； filled men's minds and blinded their reason with prejudice。 That the city had seven years ago been destroyed by fire； in accordance with a scheme of the wicked Jesuits； was a belief which once more revived： the story of the gunpowder plot was again detailed。 Fearful suspicions sprang up and held possession of the vulgar mind； that the prosecutions suffered by protestants under Queen Mary might be repeated in the reign of the present monarch； or of his brother。 That heaven might defend the country from being overrun by popery； the House of Commons besought his majesty to order a day of fasting and humiliation。 And by way of adding fury to the gathering tempest； the bishops； Burnet states； 〃charged the clergy to preach against popery； which alarmed the court as well as the city； and the whole nation。〃
The king therefore complained to Dr。 Sheldon； Archbishop of Canterbury； that the discourse heard in every pulpit throughout the capital and the kingdom was 〃calculated to inflame the people； and alienate them from him and his government。 〃Upon which Dr。 Sheldon called the bishops together； that he might consult with them as to what answer he had best make。 Whereon these wise men declared 〃since the king himself professed the protestant religion； it would be a thing without a precedent that he should forbid his clergy to preach in defence of a religion； while he himself said he was of it。〃 The next action which served to inflame public prejudice against catholicism； was the marriage of the Duke of York to a princess professing that faith。
Soon after the death of his wife； it was considered wise and well his royal highness should marry again。 Of the four sons and four daughters the duchess had borne him； three sons and one daughter had died before their mother； and the surviving son and another daughter quickly followed her to the tomb； therefore； out of eight children but two survived； Mary and Anne； at this time respectively aged nine and seven。 It being desirable there should be a male heir…presumptive to the crown； the king was anxious his brother should take unto himself a second wife。 And that a lady might be found worthy of the exalted station to which such a union would raise her； the Earl of Peterborough was sent incognito to report on the manners and appearance of the princesses of the courts of Neuburg and of Modena。 Not being impressed by the merits of those belonging to the former； he betook himself to the latter； where； seeing the young Princess d'Este； then in her fifteenth year； he came to the conclusion no better choice could be made on behalf of the duke than this fair lady。 On communicating this opinion to his royal highness and to his majesty； the king commissioned him to demand the hand of the princess in marriage for his brother。
Difficulties regarding this desired union now arose。 The young lady； having been bred in great simplicity and ignorance； had never heard of such a country as England； or such a person as the Duke of York； and therefore had no mind to adventure herself in a distant land； or wed a man of whom she knew nought。 Moreover； she had betrayed an inclination to spend her days in the seclusion of a convent； and had no thought of marriage。 Her mother； the Duchess of Modena； then regent； by reason of her husband's death and her son's minority； was anxious for so advantageous an alliance。 And being unable to gain her daughter's consent； she sought the interference of the pope； who wrote to the young princess； that compliance with her mother's request would 〃most conduce to the service of God and the public good。〃 On this； Mary Beatrice Eleonora； Princess d'Este； daughter of the fourth Duke of Modena； consented to become Duchess of York。 Whereon the Earl of Peterborough made a public entry into Modena； as ambassador extraordinary of Charles II。； and having agreed to all the articles of marriage； wedded her by proxy for the royal duke。
Meanwhile； news that the heir to the crown was about to wed a papist spread with rapidity throughout the kingdom； carrying alarm in its course。 If sons were born of the union； they would； it was believed； undoubtedly be reared in the religion of their parents； and England in time became subject to a catholic king。 The possibility of such a fate was to the public mind fraught with horror； and the House of Commons； after some angry debates on the subject； presented an address to the king； requesting he would abandon this proposed marriage。 To this he was not inclined to listen； his honour being so far involved in the business； but notwithstanding his unwillingness； his councillors urged him to this step； and prayed he would stop the princess； then journeying through France on her way to England。 This so incensed him that he immediately prorogued parliament； and freed himself from further interference on the subject。
On the 21st of November； 1673； the future duchess landed at Dover； where the duke awaited her； attended by a scant retinue。 For the recent protestations； made in the House of Commons against the marriage； having the effect of scaring the courtiers； few of the nobility； and but one of the bishops； Dr。 Crew of Oxford； ventured to accompany him； or greet his bride。 On the day of her arrival the marriage was celebrated； 〃according to the usual form in cases of the like nature。〃 The 〃Stuart Papers〃 give a brief account of the ceremony。 〃The Duke and Duchess of York； with the Duchess of Modena her mother； being together in a room where all the company was present； as also my Lord Peterborough； the bishop asked the Duchess of Modena and the Earl of Peterborough whether the said earl had married the Duchess of York as proxy of the duke？ which they both affirming； the bishop then declared it was a lawful marriage。〃
This unpopular union served to strengthen the gathering storm； Protests against popery were universally heard； an article in the marriage settlement； which guaranteed the duchess a public chapel； was broken； and the duke was advised by Lord Berkshire to retire into the country； 〃where he might hunt and pray without offence to any or disquiet to himself。〃 This counsel he refused to heed。 Until his majesty should command him to the contrary； he said； he would always attend upon him； and do such service as he thought his duty and the king's security required of him。 His enemies became more wrathful at this reply； more suspicious of popery； and more fearful of his influence with the king； They therefore sought to have him removed from his majesty's councils and presence by act of parliament。
Consequently； when both Houses assembled on the 7th of January； 1674； the lords presented an address to the monarch； praying he would graciously issue a proclamation； requiring all papists； or reputed papists； within five miles of London； Westminster； or Southwark； to depart ten miles from these respective cities； and not return during this session of Parliament。 A few days afterwards an act was introduced into the House of Commons proposing a second test； impossible for catholics to accept； the refusal of which would not only render them incapable of holding any office； civil or military； or of sitting in either House of Parliament； but 〃of coming within five miles of the court。〃 This unjust bill； to which； if it passed both houses； Charles dared not refuse assent； threw the court and country into a state of renewed excitement。 Knowing it was a blow levelled at the duke； his friends gathered round him； determined to oppose it by might and main； and after great exertions caused a clause to be inserted excepting his royal highness from the test。 This was ultimately carried by
