He
had before said the same to Stillingfleet of him. But he had
made that honour which he did us too cheap, when he said Tonge
was to be served in the same manner, because he had translated
'The Jesuits' Morals' into English. He broke out into great fury
against the Jesuits, and said he would have their blood. But I,
to divert him from that strain, asked him what were the arguments
that prevailed on him to change his religion and to go over to
the Church of Rome? He upon that stood up, and laid his hands on
his breast, and said, 'God and His holy angels knew that he had
never changed, but that he had gone among them on purpose to
betray them.' This gave me such a character of him, that I could
have no regard to anything he said or swore after that."
The agitation now besetting the public mind had been adroitly
fanned into flame by the evil genius of Lord Shaftesbury.
Eachard states that if he was not the original contriver of this
disturbance, "he was at least the grand refiner and improver of
all the materials. And so much he seemed to acknowledge to a
nobleman of his acquaintance, when he said, 'I will not say who
started the game, but I am sure I had the full hunting of it.'"
In the general consternation which spread over the land he beheld
a means that might help the fulfilment of his strong desires.
Chief among these were the exclusion of the Duke of York from the
throne, and the realization of his own inordinate ambition.
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