The History of England from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Death of George the Second (Volume 8); In Sixteen Volumes, with the Last Corrections and Improvements (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1824. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... safety.67 That ancient superstition likewise, of desiring the king's touch in scrophulous distempers, seemed to acquire fresh credit among the people, from the general tenderness which began to prevail for this virtuous and unhappy monarch. The commissioners rendered his confinement at Holdenby very rigorous; dismissing his ancient servants, debarring him from visits, and cutting off all communication with his friends or family. The parliament, though earnestly applied to by the king, refused to allow his chaplains to attend him, because they had not taken the covenant. The king refused to assist at the service exercised according to the directory; because he had not as yet given his consent to that mode of worship.68 Such religious zeal prevailed on both sides And such was the unhappy and distracted condition to which it had reduced king and people During the time that the king remained in the Scottish army at Newcastle, died the earl of Essex, the discarded, but still powerful and popular, general of the parliament. His death, in this conjuncture, was a public misfortune. Fully sensible of the excesses to which affairs had been carried, and of the worse consequences which were still to be apprehended, he had resolved to conciliate a peace, and to remedy, as far as possible, all those ills to which, from mistake rather than any bad intentions, he had himself so much contributed. The presbyterian, or the moderate party among the commons, found themselves considerably weakened by his death: and the small remains of authority which still adhered to the bouse of peers, were in a manner wholly extinguished.69 NOTES. 36 Hearne has published the following extract from a maniucript work of iti r Simon D'Ewes, who wu no mean man in the parliamentary party. "On Thursda...