[561] State Papers. Letter from James Douch, June 10, 1671.
[562] North calls it "a double-visaged Ministry, half Papist and half Fanatic." Lives, i. 178.
[563] Lauderdale had once made a great profession of religion. On the 14th of December, 1658, he wrote to Baxter saying, "I wish I knew any were fit to translate your books. I am sure they would take hugely abroad, and I think it were not amiss to begin with the Call to the Unconverted."—Baxter MS., Dr. Williams' Library.
[564] Clarendon says of Arlington that he knew no more of English affairs than of those of China, and believed France the best pattern in the world.—Life, 1095. I cannot enter into the political history of the Cabal. I would only repeat what Earl Russell says: there were two methods adopted of dealing with France—a sham treaty, and a secret negotiation. The part taken by the Cabal in this was not equal. Clifford and Arlington, the two Catholics, conducted the latter; Buckingham managed the former, to which Lauderdale gave a ready, Ashley a reluctant, consent. Clifford and Arlington were alone in the King's confidence.—Life of Lord William Russell, 50.
To Clifford, not to Shaftesbury, as is commonly supposed, belongs the disgrace of shutting the Exchequer. Evelyn settles the question.—Diary, March 12, 1672.
[565] Lords' Journal, Feb. 11, 1674.
[566] The measure was, in Council, moved and seconded by Clifford and Ashley.—Lingard, xii. 10.
[567] The catechism, says Cardwell (Documentary Annals, ii. 337) was probably Dean Nowel's small catechism, which was printed originally in 1570, and was generally used in schools down to the time of Strype.—See his Life of Parker, ii. 18.
[568] Burnet, i. 307.
[569] It is dated March 15, and is printed in Bunyan's Works, iii., Introduction, 21.