In 1680 a new Parliament assembled, and the Commons again passed the exclusion bill, which was rejected by the Lords. This Parlia ment was also dissolved in the next year and a new one called at Oxford, which proved so restive that a sudden dissolution ensued; and, like his father, Charles determined hencefor ward to govern without one. By the aid of the Tory gentry and the clergy he obtained loyal addresses from all parts of the kingdom, and attachment to high monarchical principles came again into vogue. The charge of plots and conspiracies was now brought against the Presbyterians. The Nonconformists generally were also treated with much rigor; and a step of great moment, in the progress to arbitrary power, was the instituting of suits at law (quo warrnntos) against most of the corporations in the kingdom, by which they were intimidated to a resignation of their charters, in order to receive them back so modeled as to render them much more dependent than before. These rapid strides toward the destruction of liberty at length produced the celebrated Rye House plot, the parties to which certainly intended re sistance; but that the assassination of the King was ever formally projected seems very doubt ful. It certainly formed no part of the inten tion of Lord William Russell, whose execu tion, with that of Algernon Sidney, on account of the plot, forms one of the striking events of this disgraceful reign.
Charles was at this time as absolute as any sovereign in Europe; and had he been an active prince, the fetters of tyranny might have been completely riveted. Scotland, which at different periods of his reign had been driven into insur rection by the arbitrary attempts to restore Episcopacy, was very nearly dragooned into submission; and the relics of the Covenanters were suppressed with circumstances of great barbarity. On his death-bed Charles became reconciled to the Catholic Church and received the last sacraments.
The character of Charles II requires little analysis. He was a confirmed sensualist and voluptuary; and his reign was the era of the most dissolute manners that ever prevailed in England. A dependent and pensioner of Louis XIV, in his need for money he betrayed the interests of the country. He was absolutely without moral sense. He cared more for his mistresses than for his kingdom; the reigning one for the time being was the real centre of influence and authority. Charles was a man of wit; and he possessed an easy good nature, but united with it was a total Indifference to anything but his own pleasure. Yet, with all his selfishness and demerits as a king, Charles always preserved a share of popularity with the multitude from the easiness of his manners. Pepy's
Airy, O.,