The queen too, being secretly threatened with an impeachment, and finding no resource in her husband's protection, was preparing to retire into Holland.
The rage of the people was, on account of her religion, as well as her spirit and activity, universally levelled against her.

Usage the most contumelious she had hitherto borne with silent indignation.

The commons, in their fury against priests, had seized her very confessor, nor would they release him upon her repeated applications.

Even a visit of the prince to his mother had been openly complained of, and remonstrances against it had been presented to her.[*] Apprehensive of attacks still more violent, she was desirous of facilitating her escape; and she prevailed with the king to pass these bills, in hopes of appeasing for a time the rage of the multitude.[**] These new concessions, however important, the king immediately found to have no other effect than had all the preceding ones: they were made the foundation of demands still more exorbitant.

From the facility of his disposition, from the weakness of his situation, the commons believed that he could now refuse them nothing.