A Perspective of Westminster-Abby from the High-Altar to the West end. Shewing the manner of His Majesties’s Crowning.
THE CORONATION OF JAMES II. IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY
From a contemporary print. E. Gardner’s Collection.
CHAPTER VII
JAMES II
The short reign of James afforded to the City a time of continual surprises and ceaseless anxiety, with the corresponding emotions of joy, sorrow, disappointment, and despair.
The reign began with an assurance that the established government, that of Church and State, would be respected and maintained. The King, however, showed what he understood by the proclamation when he continued to receive the customs which had been settled on Charles for life, and which could not be exacted by his successor without the assent of Parliament. James announced his intention of speedily calling a Parliament at the same time as he proclaimed his continuance of taking the customs. In the same illegal way he took over the excise duties.
TITUS OATES FLOGGED AT THE CART TAIL