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BOOK L. der such a variety of pressures, oppressed and em1691. barrassed by the Indian governors, opposed by the French, the Dutch, and the Danes, they admitted that their returns had diminished, and the management of their affairs was become more difficult; that nevertheless the company was so far from being in a bankrupt condition, that they were abundantly able to satisfy all demands, and to carry on their trade with as large a stock, and, as they had now reason to believe, to as much advantage as ever; that in truth it was not on account of their supposed poverty, but their sup

lows: "ALL the ENGLISH having made an humble submissive petition, that the ill crimes they have done may be pardoned; and requested a noble phirmaund to make their being forgiven manifest, and sent their rakeels to the heavenly palace, the most illustrious in the world, to obtain the royal favor; and Ettimaund Chaune the governor of Surat's representation to the famous court, equal to the skies, being arrived, that they would present the great king with a fine of 150,000 rupees to his noble treasury resembling the sun, and would restore the merchants' goods they took away to the owners of them, and would walk by the ancient customs of the port, and behave themselves for the future no more in such a shameful manner: WHEREFORE his majesty, according to his daily favor to all people of the world, hath pardoned their faults, mercifully forgiving them; and out of his princely condescension agrees that the present be put into the treasury of the port, the merchants' goods be returned, the town flourish, and they follow their trade as in former times, and Mr. Child, who did the disgrace, be turned out and expelled.-THIS ORDER IS

IRREVERSIBLE."

posed wealth, that all this clamor had been let BOOK F loose against them; that, as to their postponing 1091. their payments, it was no more than had been done, not only by the chamber of London, but even the exchequer itself; that, upon the whole, they had done nothing to forfeit the protection of the government, the good opinion of the people, or the powers and privileges granted to them by their charters; and whatever național improvements the trade was capable of, might be as well obtained on the present model as under any other."

After long and vehement debates, the house of commons passed a series of resolutions upon the ground of which "it might be proper to prolong and continue the charter of the present company." The company thought good to accede to these conditions, among which were several very hard of digestion; particularly the resolutions enjoining that no one person should have or possess any share of East India stock exceeding 50007., and that all persons now having above the sum of 50007. in the stock of the present company, in their own or other persons' names, be obliged to sell so much thereof as should exceed the said sum of 50001. at the rate of 1001. in money for every 100. stock. A committee was at length appointed to prepare and bring in a bill to establish an East India company accord

BOOKI ing to the regulations and resolutions agreed to 1692. by the house. In the month of January 1692, a bill was brought in accordingly; but the efforts of their enemies were now redoubled; new petitions were presented agains them; the temper of the house suddenly changed, and they came to an ultimate resolution, "that an humble address be presented to his majesty, to dissolve the East India company, according to the powers reserved in their charter, and to constitute another East India company, for the better preserving of the East India trade to this kingdom, in such manner as his majesty in his royal wisdom should think fit." This address was presented by the whole house; and though it could not be unacceptable to the court, as throwing the power entirely into their hands, the king replied with apparent indifference, "that this was a matter of very great importance to the trade of the kingdom; that he would consider of it; and that in a short time he would give the commons a positive answer." The farther management of this intricate business was now transferred to the privy council; but when the earl of Nottingham as secretary of state, in the May following sent the company a copy of the conditions agreed upon by the lords of the council, in order to a renewal of their charter, they objected to almost every article, and generally with very good

reason, as imposing absurd and impolitic restraints on the freedom of commerce: and in a separate memorial, they endeavour to shew that the present constitution of the company needed no material alteration, and admitted no essential improvement; and in this state of suspense the contest remained till the commencement of the succeeding session. On the 29th of February 1692, the king, in a gracious speech, had acquainted the two houses with his intention of going beyond sea very speedily, and prorogued the parliament.

BOOK I

1692.

Marlbo

Somewhat previous to this period, the earl of Marlborough, who had ever appeared to be in the Earl of high favor with the king, was suddenly disgraced; rough the earl of Nottingham demanding of him, by the king's order, the resignation of all his offices, civil and military and in May following he was committed to the Tower on a charge of high treason; and, as it is expressed in the warrant of council," of abetting and adhering to their majesties' enemies." Though the specific accusation on which the warrant was issued proved subsequently false and scandalous, there unhappily Intrigues exists incontrovertible evidence that the earl of with the Marlborough, in common with many other per- St. Gersons of high rank and consequence, held a clandestine and unlawful correspondence with the court of St. Germaine's; and the disgrace of that

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1092.

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BOOK 1. nobleman was beyond all reasonable doubt owing to the authentic information received by the king of his treasonable practices. The dark and crooked policy of those who engaged in this extraordinary scene of dissimulation, makes it extremely questionable whether any measures were really taken by them with a view to facilitate the restoration of the late king. The earl of Marlborough, who was perhaps the greatest adept in this Machiavelian school, wrote, as appears, letters of deep contrition to the court of St. Germaine's, imploring pardon and forgiveness for his past conduct, which James thought it expedient to grant, though he justly entertained the greatest doubts respecting his present sincerity, and which his recent services at Cork and Kinsale were ill calculated to remove. A message' was moreover sent by Marlborough to James, engaging to excite a revolt in the army; of which being after a considerable interval reminded, he declared that he had been misunderstood by the person, captain Lloyd, who conveyed it. On which James remarked, that he suspected Churchill wished to regain his confidence only to be able a second time to betray him." Not only were such flagitious or problematic characters as Sunderland, Halifax, Monmouth, Marlborough, &c. deeply involved in these machinations and rahals, but men of the greatest private, and, in

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