登陆注册
5246300000303

第303章 CHAPTER VI(41)

Queensberry had early notified to the court that, if any innovation affecting that Church were contemplated, to such innovation he could be no party. But among his colleagues were several men not less unprincipled than Sunderland. In truth the Council chamber at Edinburgh had been, during a quarter of a century, a seminary of all public and private vices; and some of the politicians whose character had been formed there had a peculiar hardness of heart and forehead to which Westminster, even in that bad age, could hardly show anything quite equal. The Chancellor, James Drummond, Earl of Perth, and his brother, the Secretary of State, John Lord Melfort, were bent on supplanting Queensberry. The Chancellor had already an unquestionable title to the royal favour. He had brought into use a little steel thumbscrew which gave such exquisite torment that it had wrung confessions even out of men on whom His Majesty's favourite boot had been tried in vain.124 But it was well known that even barbarity was not so sure a way to the heart of James as apostasy. To apostasy, therefore, Perth and Melfort resorted with a certain audacious baseness which no English statesman could hope to emulate. They declared that the papers found in the strong box of Charles the Second had converted them both to the true faith; and they began to confess and to hear mass.125 How little conscience had to do with Perth's change of religion he amply proved by taking to wife, a few weeks later, in direct defiance of the laws of the Church which he had just joined, a lady who was his cousin german, without waiting for a dispensation. When the good Pope learned this, he said, with scorn and indignation which well became him, that this was a strange sort of conversion.126 But James was more easily satisfied. The apostates presented themselves at Whitehall, and there received such assurances of his favour, that they ventured to bring direct charges against the Treasurer. Those charges, however, were so evidently frivolous that James was forced to acquit the accused minister; and many thought that the Chancellor had ruined himself by his malignant eagerness to ruin his rival.

There were a few, however, who judged more correctly. Halifax, to whom Perth expressed some apprehensions, answered with a sneer that there was no danger. "Be of good cheer, my Lord; thy faith hath made thee whole." The prediction was correct. Perth and Melfort went back to Edinburgh, the real heads of the government of their country.127 Another member of the Scottish Privy Council, Alexander Stuart, Earl of Murray, the descendant and heir of the Regent, abjured the religion of which his illustrious ancestor had been the foremost champion, and declared himself a member of the Church of Rome. Devoted as Queensberry had always been to the cause of prerogative, he could not stand his ground against competitors who were willing to pay such a price for the favour of the court. He had to endure a succession of mortifications and humiliations similar to those which, about the same time, began to embitter the life of his friend Rochester.

Royal letters came down authorising Papists to hold offices without taking the test. The clergy were strictly charged not to reflect on the Roman Catholic religion in their discourses. The Chancellor took on himself to send the macers of the Privy Council round to the few printers and booksellers who could then be found in Edinburgh, charging them not to publish any work without his license. It was well understood that this order was intended to prevent the circulation of Protestant treatises. One honest stationer told the messengers that he had in his shop a book which reflected in very coarse terms on Popery, and begged to know whether he might sell it. They asked to see it; and he showed them a copy of the Bible.128 A cargo of images, beads, crosses and censers arrived at Leith directed to Lord Perth. The importation of such articles had long been considered as illegal;but now the officers of the customs allowed the superstitious garments and trinkets to pass.129 In a short time it was known that a Popish chapel had been fitted up in the Chancellor's house, and that mass was regularly said there. The mob rose. The mansion where the idolatrous rites were celebrated was fiercely attacked. The iron bars which protected the windows were wrenched off. Lady Perth and some of her female friends were pelted with mud. One rioter was seized, and ordered by the Privy Council to be whipped. His fellows rescued him and beat the hangman. The city was all night in confusion. The students of the University mingled with the crowd and animated the tumult. Zealous burghers drank the health of the college lads and confusion to Papists, and encouraged each other to face the troops. The troops were already under arms. They were received with a shower of stones, which wounded an officer. Orders were given to fire; and several citizens were killed. The disturbance was serious; but the Drummonds, inflamed by resentment and ambition, exaggerated it strangely. Queensberry observed that their reports would lead any person, who had not been a witness of the tumult, to believe that a sedition as formidable as that of Masaniello had been raging at Edinburgh. They in return accused the Treasurer, not only of extenuating the crime of the insurgents, but of having himself prompted it, and did all in their power to obtain evidence of his guilt. One of the ringleaders, who had been taken, was offered a pardon if he would own that Queensberry had set him on; but the same religious enthusiasm, which had impelled the unhappy prisoner to criminal violence, prevented him from purchasing his life by a calumny. He and several of his accomplices were hanged.

同类推荐
  • 无上九霄玉清大梵紫微玄都雷霆玉经

    无上九霄玉清大梵紫微玄都雷霆玉经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明太祖文集

    明太祖文集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 人物志

    人物志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 上洞心丹经诀

    上洞心丹经诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 今夕行

    今夕行

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 奇门风云(4)

    奇门风云(4)

    浩劫之后的江湖,风云再起,如意宝珠出世,祸起萧墙始于三大奇门之遁门。于是奇门遁甲不奇,毒门万毒不毒,刀门铸刃无锋。祸起奇门,顿破江湖微妙的均衡。数年后,一位如“海”般深邃的少年崛起江湖,以杀手的身份横空出世,在血雨腥风之中,破开重重迷雾,以有情的心作无情的杀戮,终在爱情、有情、亲情的“互网”中刺穿仇恨的外衣。雾散云消,真相横阵之际,却给了他一个无法接受的现实。
  • 旧爱难寻,总裁的契约新妻

    旧爱难寻,总裁的契约新妻

    为了凑够母亲的医疗费用,普通女孩徐千千在一场莫名其妙的选拔之后,成了豪门少爷欧阳谌司的协议未婚妻。“你已经准备好了?”他问。“是。”于是,她的献祭开始了。这协议未婚妻真不是人干的活儿。一边要接受自己灵魂深处的拷问,一边还要无动于衷地面对男人不经意的撩拨。直到他说,协议他不要了,他只想要她。正当心已经完全沦陷时,她却又发现了,那个男人一直隐瞒她的秘密。而另一边,与欧阳家族针锋相对的霍氏财团也悄然升起。财团的年轻主人霍庭,正怀揣阴谋而来。他的目标到底是谁?卷入漩涡中的灰姑娘徐千千,她将何去何从。
  • 机关算尽,谋个你

    机关算尽,谋个你

    “待我金榜题名,我便娶你可好?”因为这一句幼年时的承诺,她跋山涉水,孤身一人前往京城寻他。谁知他却佳人在侧,红绡帐暖。泥人还有三分土性,真当她秦苏好欺负的么?且看她如何踩渣男虐渣女,笑傲江湖。
  • 孕妇产妇枕边书

    孕妇产妇枕边书

    本书共分两篇,孕妇篇、产妇篇,囊括了从准备怀孕、怀孕、妊娠、分娩、调养、护理、防病、禁忌等方面的内容,科学分析和阐述了从怀孕开始到孩子成长过程中读者想了解和掌握的生育知识和各类问题。其内容翔实全面、结构严谨、段落分明,文字通俗易懂,融科学性、指导性、实用性于一体,特别方便读者查阅。
  • 舞蹈:妙舞历史长空

    舞蹈:妙舞历史长空

    西周周公旦制礼作乐,这实际上完成了我国历史上第一次乐舞大整理,形成了周代祭祀乐舞的《六代舞》,对后世舞蹈发展影响很大。由于先秦时期民间歌谣大都是载歌载舞的,歌词和舞蹈是紧密相连的,所以《诗经》中的很多诗歌都可以看做是那一时期民间乐舞的变相记录。在春秋战国时期,列国之间所进行的“女乐”歌舞互相赠送的情况一时成风,这也在一定程度上促进了列国乐舞文化的融合与发展,而中原之外的少数民族舞蹈也已经受到了人们的注意。
  • 做最好的自己,上天自有安排

    做最好的自己,上天自有安排

    《做最好的自己,上天自有安排》汇集“一个” “豆瓣”“简书” 等热门的17位优质作者,精选治愈万千读者的暖文,用文字镌刻的青春岁月,让我们在努力变好的路上,不孤单;让我们变得更好的历程,更美好。强大的心是我们驰骋生命征程的利器,做好自己,上天自会给你打赏。
  • 迳庭宗禅师语录

    迳庭宗禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 旅者行吟

    旅者行吟

    《旅者行吟》主要内容包括离家——调寄《减字木兰花》;秋收——调寄《鹧鸪天》;知青小屋——调寄《桃源忆故人》;春播——调寄《卜算子》;夏忙——调寄《渔家傲》;大会战——调寄《浣溪沙》;冬闲——调寄《西江月》等。
  • 东北秘闻

    东北秘闻

    十五年前,傅玉因为在洛河被鬼缠身,家境败落。十五年后,隆汇集团对傅玉抛出橄榄枝,回到家乡丰生山探寻古墓秘密,多次生死关头那只“鬼”却帮助傅玉死里逃生,身边的所谓的朋友、同事也都心怀鬼胎,经历过古墓里离奇古怪的事情后,傅玉的人生走上了另一个轨迹......
  • 新婚夜未眠

    新婚夜未眠

    今天终于成为了他的新娘,婚礼还没有开始就被人甩了两个响亮的巴掌。然后,新郎竟然帮着其他女人尽情羞辱她。婚礼取消,家破人亡,无情未婚夫变成杀父仇人!此仇不报,天理难容!甘心去做他的情人,暗地里收集证据,谁知道跳入更大的圈套。没错,这个渣男竟然将她送进了监狱,被判三年……本以为人生就如此安宁度过。谁知道出狱之后,她依旧是别人背后操纵的棋子!待一切尘埃落定,待一段婚姻耗尽她所有的激情时候,为什么渣男流着眼泪抱着她,“别走,不要离开我,好不好?”她失笑,手抚着小腹,疑惑地看着他,“先生,我们……认识么?”--情节虚构,请勿模仿