登陆注册
5246300000306

第306章 CHAPTER VI(44)

Several were deprived of pensions, which formed an important part of their income. Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh was the most distinguished victim. He had long held the office of Lord Advocate, and had taken such a part in the persecution of the Covenanters that to this day he holds, in the estimation of the austere and godly peasantry of Scotland, a place not far removed from the unenviable eminence occupied by Claverhouse. The legal attainments of Mackenzie were not of the highest order: but, as a scholar, a wit, and an orator, he stood high in the opinion of his countrymen; and his renown had spread even to the coffeehouses of London and the cloisters of Oxford. The remains of his forensic speeches prove him to have been a man of parts, but are somewhat disfigured by what he doubtless considered as Ciceronian graces, interjections which show more art than passion, and elaborate amplifications, in which epithet rises above epithet in wearisome climax. He had now, for the first time, been found scrupulous. He was, therefore, in spite of all his claims on the gratitude of the government, deprived of his office. He retired into the country, and soon after went up to London for the purpose of clearing himself, but was refused admission to the royal presence.143 While the King was thus trying to terrify the Lords of Articles into submission, the popular voice encouraged them to persist. The utmost exertions of the Chancellor could not prevent the national sentiment from expressing itself through the pulpit and the press. One tract, written with such boldness and acrimony that no printer dared to put it in type, was widely circulated in manuscript. The papers which appeared on the other side of the question had much less effect, though they were disseminated at the public charge, and though the Scottish defenders of the government were assisted by an English auxiliary of great note, Lestrange, who had been sent down to Edinburgh, and had apartments in Holyrood House.144At length, after three weeks of debate, the Lords of Articles came to a decision. They proposed merely that Roman Catholics should be permitted to worship God in private houses without incurring any penalty; and it soon appeared that, far as this measure was from coming up to the King's demands and expectations, the Estates either would not pass it at all, or would pass it with great restrictions and modifications.

While the contest lasted the anxiety in London was intense. Every report, every line, from Edinburgh was eagerly devoured. One day the story ran that Hamilton had given way and that the government would carry every point. Then came intelligence that the opposition had rallied and was more obstinate than ever. At the most critical moment orders were sent to the post-office that the bags from Scotland should be transmitted to Whitehall. During a whole week not a single private letter from beyond the Tweed was delivered in London. In our age such an interruption of communication would throw the whole island into confusion: but there was then so little trade and correspondence between England and Scotland that the inconvenience was probably much smaller than has been often occasioned in our own time by a short delay in the arrival of the Indian mail. While the ordinary channels of information were thus closed, the crowd in the galleries of Whitehall observed with attention the countenances of the King and his ministers. It was noticed, with great satisfaction, that, after every express from the North, the enemies of the Protestant religion looked more and more gloomy. At length, to the general joy, it was announced that the struggle was over, that the government had been unable to carry its measures, and that the Lord High Commissioner had adjourned the Parliament.145If James had not been proof to all warning, these events would have sufficed to warn him. A few months before this time the most obsequious of English Parliaments had refused to submit to his pleasure. But the most obsequious of English Parliaments might be regarded as an independent and high spirited assembly when compared with any Parliament that had ever sate in Scotland; and the servile spirit of Scottish Parliaments was always to be found in the highest perfection, extracted and condensed, among the Lords of Articles. Yet even the Lords of Articles had been refractory. It was plain that all those classes, all those institutions, which, up to this year, had been considered as the strongest supports of monarchical power, must, if the King persisted in his insane policy, be reckoned as parts of the strength of the opposition. All these signs, however, were lost upon him. To every expostulation he had one answer: he would never give way; for concession had ruined his father; and his unconquerable firmness was loudly applauded by the French embassy and by the Jesuitical cabal.

He now proclaimed that he had been only too gracious when he had condescended to ask the assent of the Scottish Estates to his wishes. His prerogative would enable him not only to protect those whom he favoured, but to punish those who had crossed him.

同类推荐
  • THE FOOLISH VIRGIN

    THE FOOLISH VIRGIN

    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。
  • 佛说十善业道经

    佛说十善业道经

    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。
  • 粤剑编

    粤剑编

    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。
  • THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

    THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER

    On August 18, 1814, Admiral Cockburn, having returned with his fleet from the West Indies, sent to Secretary Monroe at Washington, the following threat.汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄帝阴符经批注

    黄帝阴符经批注

    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
  • 公主嫁到,王爷请用心

    公主嫁到,王爷请用心

    重生归来,她只想斗渣男,踩庶姐,保护好自己的家人,可是这个楚墨又是怎么回事?第一次见面他说:“公主殿下同下臣真是有缘,那么公主殿下愿意下嫁给下臣吗?”第二次他深夜潜入她的房中,对她说:“自从昨日一别,下臣的脑子里全是公主的身影!”元嫦曦:“……”谁能告诉眼前这个死皮赖脸、霸道、自私的男人是谁?那个高冷、狠绝的男人去了哪里?
  • 诡墓异谈

    诡墓异谈

    当离奇诡异的墓道中,一双黑色的眼睛紧紧的盯着我,一股凉气渗透整根脊髓.......新书《魂引司》已上架,感兴趣大家可以支持一下
  • 唐家有女初修仙

    唐家有女初修仙

    她是异种人,母亲是实验体,因为身怀九阴天离体的灵根被吸血鬼拿来做实验,从而怀上了她。母亲怀上她后,为了逃避追捕,逃到一个小县城嫁给了一个赌鬼做继室。为了逃避追杀,她隐藏异人血性做一个普通的人类。继父好赌成性,不务正业,母亲善良软弱,并把继父的一儿一女托大,还为他生了一个儿子,她同母异父的弟弟。本以为她会这样碌碌无为的过一生。直到……好赌成性的继父死了。母亲和弟弟也死了。被找来的吸血鬼杀死。临死前她爆发了体内的潜能与敌人同归于尽,醒来时,发现自己回到了七岁时……意外得到了母亲家族的传承,空间在手,这一世,她不打算平平庸庸的度过。母亲的九阴天离体算什么,她的先天圣体更加妖孽。妈妈那么美,不应该操劳憔悴,拐来跟她一起修仙,长生不老,永驻容貌。没钱了不怕不怕,成为县城首富不在话下,一不小心,成了首富的首富。敌人寻来了,不用战战兢兢的躲藏,挥挥手,把敌人的老窝端了。妈妈宠爱,兄弟姐妹崇拜,唯一缺少了个修仙伴侣。咦,这个帅哥怎么老挡路啊?本文【一V一】+【小女成长】+【空间】+【修仙】+【身心干净哦】+【一爽到底】
  • 订制老婆

    订制老婆

    姐妹文《老公,快关门!》开始连载。萧翎掰着手指数着契约条款。“契约第一条,不干杀人放火的事。”蓝天律瞟了她一眼冷哼道。“以爷的财富还需要你亲自动手?”“老娘不干了!”奴隶罢工,罚钱没钱。“可以,不过你一百万欠很久了,该连本带利还我了。“
  • 火影忍者之不一样的漩涡鸣人

    火影忍者之不一样的漩涡鸣人

    一个不一样的鸣人,一个不一样的结局,一个不一样的剧情。
  • 双子星爱

    双子星爱

    圣允皓,一个霸道狂傲唯我独尊,既有钱又有势的男人。蓝双星,一个胆小怯懦任人摆布,没人疼没人爱的女人。一段故事,一句誓言,将两个人紧紧相连。改变从遇见开始,命运从此无休无止,两个人同一个星座,两颗心永属双子星,星辰不逝,爱不止息。
  • 会思考才能赢:人生不加框

    会思考才能赢:人生不加框

    从容地面对生活。就是不钻牛角尖。为何不坦然些呢?生活不总是期而不至,而又不期而至的吗?三毛曾经说过“成长是一种蜕变,失去了旧的,必然因此又来了新的,这就是公平!” 从容地面对生活,就是要从疑惑中解脱。只要是自己所选择的,那就是好的,只要是自己努力过的,那就是不悔的。 从容地面对生活,就是要向远处眺望,但不是好高骛远,而是脚踏实地地向前上。泰戈尔曾说过:“只管走过去,不必逗留着采花保存,因为一路上的花朵仍然会继续开放。”生活中必须有梦。即使那梦是多么的遥个可及,可是只要人生有梦,就会如雨后甘霖,香甜沁心。
  • 精美卷首语(名人佳作)

    精美卷首语(名人佳作)

    本书收入散文百余篇,分青春的呼唤、伟大的渴望、生命的追问、美丽的错误、教训与启示五辑。
  • 中国现当代散文戏剧名作欣赏

    中国现当代散文戏剧名作欣赏

    《<名作欣赏>精华读本:中国现当代散文戏剧名作欣赏》选收的欣赏文章34篇。这些欣赏文章所涉及的现当代散文或为有较大影响,或为有较多争论,或为有某种突破。欣赏文章作者也考虑到身处的时代性,以增加欣赏角度的多元性。
  • 将军

    将军

    外边蝉声刺耳,烈日炎炎。老周参谋爬上三楼时,热得简直喘不出气了。他嘟嘟囔囔地一边擦着汗水,一边轻轻地向将军的卧室走去。像往常一样,将军午休时卧室的门总是虚掩着——他不在里边午休时反而把门关得结结实实的。在将军睡觉时,老周参谋是唯一可以不用敲门推门就进的人。不出他所料,将军果然赤条条地躺在竹床上正在睡觉,时而拉响一声汽笛般的粗糙鼾声。按照将军的习惯,卧室内没有安装空调。睡梦中的将军满头大汗,身上也汗津津的,他左手握着一把蒲扇,压在伤痕累累的肚子上。除了全身累累伤痕,将军躯体上更加惹人注目的部分是那个硕大的器官。