Aldborough the next day, where five ancient burgesses of the nine offered to elect me and my partner, whom I named (Mr. Arthington), with little expense. My adversaries, who stood upon another interest, which was that of Mr. Wentworth, were Sir Godfrey Copley, who was sheriff the year before by my means (as I have mentioned), and one Mr. Wentworth. By my interest with the then sheriff I got the election put off till the 28th, in which time I went and disposed of my affairs, and saw my four youngest children at Thrybergh.

There was great dispute as to elections all over England at this time, as men stood affected to the Government and to the then Minister, and as men believed them well-intentioned or other ways.

man.

I then met with the ill news of the death of my brother Brown, my wife's only brother, ensign to my company at Burlington, a handsome ingenious young He was bred to the law; but an airiness of spirit, an excellent voice, which usually makes men lovers of company, took him off from his studies, and drew him into some prodigality. However, he left me a house at York worth 251. per annum; and to his godson, my son John, all the land he had in England, 5007, legacy to my wife, 500l. to his other sister, Mrs. Honora Brown, and made me his sole executor, which was worth 2007. more.. I perceived by my neighbours that came to visit me in the country that it was very much poisoned with an ill conceit of my Lord Treasurer, as concerned in the design to bring in popery.

February 26. I returned to Aldborough, where I understood that Mr. Arthington (Mr. Wentworth, who was to be brother burgess with Sir Godfrey Copley being elected in another place) was also elected upon the interest and foundation, whereon Sir Godfrey Copley was to be elected (which was by old Mr. Wentworth's way of choosing), so that he was at the day chosen both ways, both by the

majority of the nine and by the freeholders at large; so that my indenture and Mr. Arthington's was signed by 5, Sir Godfrey's and his by 48. Mr. Shuttleworth was then high sheriff, a timorous man, and much inclined to return the indenture which had most names to it rather than mine. Sir Godfrey had three lawyers at the election to plead the legality of it, and the danger of it to the sheriff if he refused to return it. I had nobody to plead my cause but myself, no lawyer nor assistant, Mr. Arthington being sure both ways. But I so ordered the matter, that after a debate of almost two hours the sheriff and his officers were convinced by my reasons to return my indenture singly, which was a providence, and gained me some repute of parts in the opinion of three hundred persons then present, gentlemen and others. Most of the gentry dined with me that day. The charge of this election cost me about 40l. It cost Sir Godfrey Copley above 2001.

March 1. I returned to Thrybergh.

March 3. I set forward for London, and arrived on the 6th.

M

CHAPTER VII.

Meeting of the New Parliament-The Duke sent to Flanders-The Choice of Speaker-Danby driven to resign-Bitterness of the Commons against him The King's Indifference-Sir John moralises on the Uncertainty of Greatness-Danby committed to the Tower-Discharge of the Privy Council -The Duke of Monmouth-Lord Halifax-Reresby loses his Seat-Demonstrations against a Popish Successor to the Crown-Charles maintains his Brother's Rights-Melancholy State of the Kingdom— Shaftesbury and Monmouth-Disputes between the two Houses—A Rising in Scotland suppressed-Reresby entertains Monmouth at Doncaster-Dissolution of Parliament-Preparations in Yorkshire for the General Election-Ungrateful and mercenary Electors-Sir John Kaye -At Welbeck and Hardwick-Polling at York and Pontefract-Quarrel between Reresby and Sir John Jackson of Hickleton-The Duke and Duchess of York journey Northward-The Duke of Newcastle entertains them-Reception at York-Monmouth in Disgrace-Formation of Cabals - Pretended Marriage of Charles-Conversations with the King and his Brother-County Matters-Trial of Papists at York—Mr. Tankard-Petitions of the Grand Jury-At Chatsworth and the Cutlers' Feast-Lord Halifax at Rufford-Parliamentary Proceedings against the Duke of York-The Yorkshire Petition-Fears of the King's Desertion of his Brother-The Duchess of Portsmouth-Great Debate in the Lords -Eloquence of Lord Halifax-Defeat of the Shaftesbury Party-Halifax in high Office-IIis Unpopularity with the Commons--He confides in Sir John-The Loyal Party in Yorkshire-Trial of Lord Stafford-The Commons' Propositions to Charles-Anecdote of the King-A Dinner with Doctor Oates.

March 6. Parliament met that day, but a difference happened in the House of Commons, who would have chosen one Speaker, and the King did recommend another; so they refused to do business, and adjourned the House to the 7th, from that day to the 8th, and so to the 10th.

March 7. I met the King in his royal robes and his crown upon his head, as he went out of the House of Lords, who stopped to ask me if I was elected. I answered, yes; he said he was glad of it. I found, to

the surprise of all men, at my return, that the King had commanded the Duke to go into Flanders. Some said the Treasurer had obtained it to get the King to himself; others said it was to avoid the violence of both Houses against the Duke, from the suspicion of some that he was of the plot. But it was, I presume, chiefly to remove all jealousy from the Parliament, that his Majesty was not at all influenced by popish councils-no, not his brother's.

The Commons began to be angry with the Treasurer, for the Speaker they had a mind to being refused by the King, saying he was the occasion of it, because he was not his lordship's friend. The dispute continued between the King and the Commons, till at last they addressed the King, beseeching him not to invade their undoubted privilege to choose their Speaker. The King still insisted upon it as his privilege to allow their choice, without which he was no Speaker. It was the opinion of all the moderate men in the House that such punctilios did not deserve to occasion delays, when there lay business of such importance before them, but the angry party would not submit; so that by way of expedient the King did prorogue the Parliament from the 11th to the 15th inst. ; then Serjeant Gregory was chosen Speaker, which all sides agreed to.

And now the storm began to fall so heavy upon my Lord Treasurer, that he was persuaded to incline to deliver up his staff, and with it his office, hoping to appease both Houses by it. I was against it, I confess, so long as he found the King stick to him, and said it would rather be a means to make his enemies more fierce-the Lords would fear him the less when he was out of power, and the Commons not love him the better. Now several persons had got into good employments, not by my lord's kindness so much, as by giving money to his lady, who had driven a secret trade of taking bribes for good offices, and not without my lord's knowledge. I knew it, but

had neither the face nor the desire to come in at that door, which made me postponed to some that, as I thought, deserved as little as myself; but those that were so admitted stayed not long in their places after his lordship's exit.

March 17. The committee appointed to examine the plot, heard Oates's and Bedloe's evidence, where the latter accused the Treasurer with tampering with him to fly in this interval of Parliament.

March 19. The 11th of April was appointed by the committee of privileges for the trying the election at the petition of Sir Godfrey Copley, and it was ordered that the high sheriff should be sent for up to answer his making a single return; so severely did all things go with my Lord Treasurer's friends.

March 20. A message was sent to the Lords to desire that my Lord Treasurer might be committed, the Lords having voted before the same day that his lordship should have eight days to bring in his defence.

March 22. The Commons repeated the former message to the Lords.

March 23. The King coming to the House of Lords, in his robes and with his crown upon his head, told both Houses that it was by his particular order that my Lord Treasurer had written those particular letters to Montagu; and that it was not my Lord Treasurer who concealed the plot, since it was himself that told it to his lordship, from time to time, as he thought fit. His Majesty declared further that he had given my Lord Treasurer a full pardon, and he would, if need required, give it him again ten times. over however, he intended to lay him aside from his employments, and to forbid him coming to Court.

Some would have persuaded him to have fled, and the two Houses would have been content with it; for the Lords had a conference with the Commons about making a bill to banish him, but the Commons desired some