CHAP. XI - Reaction against the Whigs. Rye-House Plot. Execution of Lord William Russell

Summary

English history in this epoch, as in many others, is French history as well: we learn to know rightly the policy of Louis XIV from his intrigues at the English court. He stopped short at that time in his European undertakings, only to return to them when England should have been entirely withdrawn from the influence of the Prince of Orange, and when the opposing influence of the Duke of York, which was friendly to himself, should have been established there. For these two men were now divided by the great European interest. The Prince opposed the King of France in all his schemes; the Duke was most closely united with him by policy and religion.

In England itself, however, the Duke had another enemy, who was more immediately dangerous; this was his nephew Monmouth, who enjoyed a boundless popularity. We learn that the two ministers, Seymour and Halifax, who at heart shared the Protestant antipathies against the Duke of York, made an attempt in the beginning of 1682, to gain over Monmouth to themselves; he however preferred to hold by his old friends, Shaftesbury, Montague, and Russell. Otherwise the return of the Duke and his continuance at court would without doubt have been made still more difficult. Now however the ministers thought that they would find in him a support against rivals who were both hateful and dangerous.

Very characteristic of the Whigs was their proposal to meet, by a great party-demonstration the first reappearance of the Duke of York, which was made at a banquet which the Artillery Company again wished to give him.