great advantages of us, and burnt our Fleet at Chatham. At laſt he made as diſhonourable a Peace with them, as he had done a War; perpetual reproach to our Country, that our Reputation at Sea ſhould be ſunk to ſo low an ebb as to be baffled by that Nation, who but a few Years before had ſent a blank Paper to the Parliament, to preſcribe to them what Laws they pleaſed. During this War the City of London was fired, not without violent ſuſpicions that the Fireballs were prepared at Whitehall. Soon after this he entred into the Triple Alliance to oppoſe the growing greatneſs of France, and received a great Sum from the Parliament to maintain it, which he made uſe of to break the ſame League; ſent Mr. Coventry to Sweden to diſſolve it; and entred into a ſtrict Alliance with France, which was ſealed with his Siſter's Blood. In Conjunction with them he made a new War upon Holland, to extirpate Liberty, and the Proteſtant Religion; but knowing the Parliament were averſe to the War, and would not ſupport him in it, he attempted before any War declared to ſeize their Smyrna Fleet, ſhut up the Exchequer, and became ſo mean as to be a Penſioner to France, from whence his Predeceſſors with Swords in their Hands had ſo often exacted Tribute. He not only ſuffered, but aſſiſted them to arrive at that pitch of Greatneſs, which all Europe ſince hath ſufficiently felt and lamented. He ſent over ten thouſand Men to aſſiſt in ſubduing Flanders and Germany, by whoſe help they did ſeveral conſiderable Actions. He ſent them Timber, Seamen, Ship Carpenters, and Models, contrary to the Policy of all Nations; which raiſed their Naval Force to a degree almost equal to our own: And for their exerciſe, he ſuffered them to take multitudes of Engliſh Ships by their Privateers, without ſo much as demanding ſatiſfaction.
During this War he iſſued out a Declaration ſuſpending the Penal Laws, which appears to be deſigned in favour of the Papiſts, by his directing a Bill afterwards to be ſtolen away out of the Houſe of Lords, for indulging Proteſtant Diſſenters, whom he perſecuted violently most of his Reign, while he both countenanced and preferred Papiſts, broke the Act of Settlement in Ireland, reſtored them to their Eſtates, iſſued forth a Proclamation
