HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.
Schemes of the Cabal-Remonstrances of Sir William Temple-Campaign of 1674-A Parliament-Passive obedience--A Parliament--Campaign of 1675-Congress of Nimeguen-Campaign of 1676-Uncertain conduct of the King--A Parliament-Campaign of 1677—Parliament's distrust of the King--Marriage of the Prince of Orange with the Lady Mary--Plan of peace— Negotiations-Campaign of 1678--Negotiations-Peace of Nimeguen-State of Affairs in Scotland.
IF we consider the projects of the famous Cabal, CHAP. it will appear hard to determine, whether the end which those ministers pursued was more blamable and pernicious, or the means, by which they were to effect it, more Schemes impolitic and imprudent. Though they might talk only bak of recovering or fixing the king's authority; their intention could be no other than that of making him absolute : Since it was not possible to regain or maintain, in opposition to the people, any of those powers of the crown abolished by late law or custom, without subduing the people, and rendering the royal prerogative entirely uncontrollable. Against such a scheme, they might foresee, that every part of the nation would declare themselves, not only the old parliamentary faction, which, though they kept not in a body, were still numerous; but even the greatest royalists, who were indeed attached to monarchy, but desired to see it limited and restrained by law. It had appeared, that the present parliament, though elected during the greatest prevalence of the royal party, was yet tenacious of popular privileges, and retained a considerable jealousy of the VOL. VII.