his dominions, being resolved not to live any longer in the constraint
he was under. The meeting was on the 25th of January. When they were met
according to the king's appointment, he declared his mind to them on the
matter of religion, and said how uneasy it was to him not to profess the
faith he believed; and that he had called them together to have their
advice about the ways and methods fittest to be taken for the settling
of the catholic religion in his kingdoms, and to consider of the time
most proper to declare himself, telling them withal that no time
ought to be lost; that he was to expect to meet with many and great
difficulties in bringing it about, and that he chose rather to undertake
it now, when he and his brother were in their full strength and able
to undergo any fatigue, than to delay it till they were grown older and
less fit to go through with so great a design. This he spoke with great
earnestness, and even with tears in his eyes; and added, that they
were to go about it as wise men and good catholics ought to do. The
consultation lasted long, and the result was, that there was no better
way for doing this work than to do it in conjunction with France, and
with the assistance of his Most Christian majesty." Accordingly the
secret treaty with France was entered into, as already mentioned.

No further movement towards professing the catholic religion was made
by the king or his brother for some time. The tendencies of the latter
becoming suspected, his actions were observed with vigilance, when it
was noted, that although he attended service as usual with the king, he
no longer received the sacrament. It was also remarked the Duchess
of York, whose custom it had been to communicate once a month, soon
followed his example. Her neglect of this duty was considered the more
conspicuous as she had been bred a staunch protestant, and ever appeared
zealous in her support of that religion. Moreover, it was noted that,
from the beginning of the year 1670, she was wont to defend the catholic
faith from such errors as it had been charged withal.

These matters becoming subjects of conversation at court soon reached
the ears of Bishop Morley, who had acted as her confessor since her
twelfth year, confession being then much practised in the English
Church. Thereon he hastened to her, and spoke at length of the
inferences which were drawn from her neglect of receiving the sacrament,
in answer to which she pleaded