Another incident happened this year, which infused a general displeasure, and still greater apprehensions, into all men.

The duchess of York died; and in her last sickness, she made open profession of the Romish religion, and finished her life in that communion.

This put an end to that thin disguise which the duke had hitherto worn and he now openly declared his conversion to the church of Rome.

Unaccountable terrors of Popery, ever since the accession of the house of Stuart, had prevailed throughout the nation; but these had formerly been found so groundless, and had been employed to so many bad purposes, that surmises of this nature were likely to meet with the less credit among all men of sense; and nothing but the duke's imprudent bigotry could have convinced the whole nation of his change of religion.

Popery, which had hitherto been only a hideous spectre, was now become a real ground of terror being openly and zealously embraced by the heir to the crown a prince of industry and enterprise; while the king himself was not entirely free from like suspicions.
It is probable that the new alliance with France inspired the duke with the courage to make open profession of his religion, and rendered him more careless of the affections and esteem of the English.