was a romance. But it was a romance which
served their turn; and to their seared consciences the death of an
innocent man gave no more uneasiness than the death of a partridge. The
juries partook of the feelings then common throughout the nation,
and were encouraged by the bench to indulge those feelings without
restraint. The multitude applauded Oates and his confederates, hooted
and pelted the witnesses who appeared on behalf of the accused, and
shouted with joy when the verdict of Guilty was pronounced. It was in
vain that the sufferers appealed to the respectability of their past
lives: for the public mind was possessed with a belief that the more
conscientious a Papist was, the more likely he must be to plot against a
Protestant government. It was in vain that, just before the cart passed
from under their feet, they resolutely affirmed their innocence: for the
general opinion was that a good Papist considered all lies which were
serviceable to his Church as not only excusable but meritorious.

While innocent blood was shedding under the forms of justice, the new
Parliament met; and such was the violence of the predominant party
that even men whose youth had been passed amidst revolutions men who
remembered the attainder of Strafford, the attempt on the five members,
the abolition of the House of Lords, the execution of the King, stood
aghast at the aspect of public affairs. The impeachment of Danby was
resumed. He pleaded the royal pardon. But the Commons treated the
plea with contempt, and insisted that the trial should proceed. Danby,
however, was not their chief object. They were convinced that the only
effectual way of securing the liberties and religion of the nation was
to exclude the Duke of York from the throne.

The King was in great perplexity. He had insisted that his brother, the
sight of whom inflamed the populace to madness, should retire for a
time to Brussels: but this concession did not seem to have produced any
favourable effect. The Roundhead party was now decidedly preponderant.
Towards that party leaned millions who had, at the time of the
Restoration, leaned towards the side of prerogative. Of the old
Cavaliers many participated in the prevailing fear of Popery, and many,
bitterly resenting the ingratitude of the prince for whom they had
sacrificed so much, looked on his distress as carelessly as he had
looked on theirs. Even the Anglican clergy, mortified and alarmed by the
apostasy of the D