Chapter VIII: REIGN OF CHARLES II. (continued)

Demands of Parliament--A Bogus Commission--Crushing the
Covenanters in Scotland--The Dutch in the Thames--Panic in London
and at Court--Humiliation of England--Peace is Signed--Fall of
Clarendon--The Cabal--Sir William Temple at the Hague--The
Triple Alliance--Scandals at Court--Profligacy of the King and
the Duke of Buckingham--Attempt to Deprive the Duke of York of
the Succession--Persecution of Nonconformists--Trial of Penn and
Mead--The Rights of Juries--Secret Treaty with France--Suspicious
Death of Charles's Sister--"Madam Carwell"--Attack on Sir
John Coventry--National Bankruptcy--War with Holland--Battle
of Southwold Bay--Declaration of Indulgence--Fall of the
Cabal--Affairs in Scotland and Ireland--Progress of the Continental
War--Mary Marries William of Orange--Louis Intrigues with the
Opposition--Peace of Nimeguen--The Popish Plot--Impeachment of
Danby--Temple's Scheme of Government--The Exclusion Bill--Murder
of Archbishop Sharp--Bothwell Bridge--Anti-Catholic Fury--Charges
against James--Execution of Lord Stafford 221