Dr. Oliver Plunkett, the catholic archbishop of Armagh, took place in the following year. Several protestant writers, as Burnet*, Echard †, and Baker, speak of this prelate in terms of great respect." In the mean time," says the last of these writers," came on the trial of Dr. Oliver Plunkett, a "popish titular bishop of Armagh, who called him"self primate of all Ireland. He was a worthy and 66 a good man; in low circumstances, living quietly "and contentedly, meddling with nothing but the "concerns of his function; and dissuading all about "him from entering into any turbulent or factious "multitude. But, while the popish plot was "warm, some lewd Irish priests, and others of "that nation, hearing that England was disposed "to hearken to good swearers, thought themselves qualified for the employment. So they came over, with an account of a plot in Ireland; and "were well received by lord Shaftesbury."-The archbishop was sent over, and brought to trial. "The evidence swore, that, upon his being made primate of Ireland, he engaged sixty thousand or 66 seventy thousand Irish to be ready to join with "the French, to destroy the protestant religion; "and to get Dublin, Londonderry, and all the sea ports into their hands." He was first arraigned, and brought to trial in Dublin; and then, contrary to every formality of law, sent over to England; and, after six months close confinement, brought to History of his own Times, vol. i. p. 502. + History of England, vol. iii. p. 631. the bar, condemned, and executed.-Standing on the cart, which brought him to the place of exécution, he addressed the spectators at length;-in the most moving terms, unequivocally asserting his innocence; forgiving the judges and witnesses; and imploring the blessing of God on the king, and on every branch of the royal family.-Echard relates that "he had been assured, by an un"questionable authority, that the earl of Essex, (who had been lord lieutenant of Ireland), was "so sensible of the poor man's hardship, that he 'generously applied to the king for a pardon; and "told his majesty, the witnesses must needs be perjured; for, that the things sworn against him, "could not possibly be true. Upon which, the 66 66 king, in a passion, said, why did you not attest "this at his trial? it would have done him good "then. I dare not pardon any one. And so con"cluded with the same kind of answer, he had "given another person formerly: his blood be upon your head, and not upon mine." In 1680, while the memory of these transactions was still recent,-and while all the agitators of the impositions were living, a most eloquent and argumentative vindication of the sufferers was published, under the title of "The Papists Plea." It was afterwards printed among lord Somers's Tracts; and several extracts from it may be found in Mr. Andrews's Historical Account, just cited.But the most eloquent vindication of the catholics from the charge of being concerned in Oates's plot, is the "Apologie pour les Catholiques, contre les "fausetés, et les calomnies d'un livre, intitulé, La "Politique du Clergé de France: fait première"ment en François, et puis traduit en Flamand. "A Liege, 1681." 2 vols. 8vo. The celebrated Arnaud was the author of this work. In powerful reasoning, and splendid eloquence, it has seldom been equalled. In these terms, cardinal Maury mentions it, in his "Essai sur l'Eloquence de la "Chaire." If any doubt remain upon any mind, respecting the fabrication, or the imposture, of the plot, the perusal of Arnaud's Apologie must remove it. In the following reign, Oates was tried, and condemned for perjury. "And never was a criminal,” says Hume," convicted on fuller, or more un"doubted evidence." For their supposed part in the plot, ten laymen and seven priests, one of whom was seventy, another eighty years of age, were executed. Seventeen others were condemned, but not executed. Some died in prison, and some were pardoned. On the whole body of catholics, the laws were executed with horrible severity. Individuals are still living, whose fathers have told them what their fathers used to relate of the wretchedness and misery of the general body, whilst the delusion lasted. Even at that distance of years, few of these could speak of it, without evident agitation and horror.em On this occasion, Hume has certainly done justice to the catholics :-but the writer can assure his readers, that they can form no conception of the wicked arts that were practised to instil the be lief of the plot into the public mind, and to induce juries to find the catholic prisoners guilty of the plot, and of the death of sir Edmondbury Godfrey, without perusing the trials themselves. All the information which the reader can desire, is collected in Mr. Andrews's publication,-yet, it prineipally was from these scenes, that the ancient prejudice against the catholics originated. LXV. 6. The Act disabling Peers from sitting and voting in the House of Lords. THE calamities of the catholics, in the reign of Charles the second, were aggravated by the long odium, which the infamous charges brought against them, had created; and which it required nearly a century to subdue. They were aggravated also by a legislative act, which even yet subjects them to several depressing and painful disabilities. The Test and Corporation Acts have been mentioned to these, the roman-catholics are subject in common with all protestant dissenters :-the act to which we now allude, was passed in the thirtieth year of Charles. It contained a declaration, commonly called the declaration against popery,denying transubstantiation; and asserting the invocation of the Virgin Mary and other saints, and the sacrifice of the mass, to be superstitious and idolatrous. It prescribed that no peer should vote, or make his proxy in the house, or sit there, during the debates; and that no member of the house of commons should vote in the house, or sit there, during any debate, until he should first take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and make and subscribe the declaration, contained in the act. The act passed the commons without much opposition; "but, in the upper house," says Hume, "the duke of York moved, that an exception might "be admitted in his favour. With great earnest"" ness, and even with tears in his eyes, he told "them, that he was now to cast himself on their "kindness, in the greatest concern which he could "have in the world; and he protested, that what"ever his religion might be, it should only be "between God and his own soul. Notwithstand "ing this strong effort, in so important a point, he "prevailed only by two voices." With the reign of Charles the second, the sanguinary part of the penal code against the romancatholics finally closes. LXV. 7. Summary Review, by a Protestant Writer, of the Religious Persecutions in England, from the Reformation till the end of the reign of Charles the second.-General Reflections on them. "IT is," said Mosheim, "an observation often "made, that all religious sects, when they are kept "under and oppressed, are remarkable for incul"cating the duties of moderation, forbearance, "and charity, towards those who dissent from "them; but that, as soon as the scenes of persecu"tion are removed, and they, in their turn, arrive |