A Child's History of England.228

CHAPTER 36 ENGLAND UNDER JAMES THE SECOND

King James the Second was a man so very disagreeable [令人不快的], that even the best of historians has favoured his brother Charles, as becoming, by comparison, quite a pleasant character. The one object of his short reign was to re-establish the Catholic religion in England; and this he doggedly pursued with such a stupid obstinacy, that his career very soon came to a close.

The first thing he did, was, to assure his council that he would make it his endeavour to preserve the Government, both in Church and State, as it was by law established; and that he would always take care to defend and support the Church. Great public acclamations were raised over this fair speech, and a great deal was said, from the pulpits [教堂中的讲坛] and elsewhere, about the word of a King which was never broken, by credulous [轻信的] people who little supposed that he had formed a secret council for Catholic affairs, of which a mischievous Jesuit [耶稣会会士], called Father Petre, was one of the chief members. With tears of joy in his eyes, he received, as the beginning of his pension from the King of France, five hundred thousand livres [货币单位]; yet, with a mixture of meanness and arrogance that belonged to his contemptible character, he was always jealous of making some show of being independent of the King of France, while he pocketed his money. As - notwithstanding [in spite of] his publishing two papers in favour of Popery (and not likely to do it much service, I should think) written by the King, his brother, and found in his strong-box [保险柜]; and his open display of himself attending mass [弥撒] - the Parliament was very obsequious [逢迎的], and granted him a large sum of money, he began his reign with a belief that he could do what he pleased, and with a determination to do it.

Before we proceed to its principal events, let us dispose of Titus Oates. He was tried for perjury [发伪誓], a fortnight after the coronation, and besides being very heavily fined, was sentenced to stand twice in the pillory [示众架], to be whipped from Aldgate to Newgate one day, and from Newgate to Tyburn two days afterwards, and to stand in the pillory five times a year as long as he lived. This fearful sentence was actually inflicted on the rascal. Being unable to stand after his first flogging [责打], he was dragged on a sledge from Newgate to Tyburn, and flogged as he was drawn along. He was so strong a villain that he did not die under the torture, but lived to be afterwards pardoned and rewarded, though not to be ever believed in any more. Dangerfield, the only other one of that crew [一帮] left alive, was not so fortunate. He was almost killed by a whipping from Newgate to Tyburn, and, as if that were not punishment enough, a ferocious barrister [律师] of Gray's Inn [律师协会] gave him a poke in the eye with his cane, which caused his death; for which the ferocious barrister was deservedly tried and executed.

As soon as James was on the throne, Argyle and Monmouth went from Brussels to Rotterdam, and attended a meeting of Scottish exiles held there, to concert [plan, arrange] measures for a rising in England. It was agreed that Argyle should effect [cause to occur] a landing in Scotland, and Monmouth in England; and that two Englishmen should be sent with Argyle to be in his confidence [作为心腹], and two Scotchmen with the Duke of Monmouth.

take sb into your confidence: to tell sb your secrets

六级/考研单词: reign, catholic, pursuit, endeavor, contempt, jealous, notwithstanding, parliament, headmaster, disposition, fortnight, besides, whip, inflict, torture, crew, punish, gray, inn, poke, cane, execute, throne, exile, confide