He had left his own country so early, that he had become an entire Englishman; and was even suspected, in his latter days, of a bias to the country party.

He was for that reason much neglected at court.

The duke of Lauderdale died also this year.
{1684.} The king endeavored to increase his present popularity by every art; and knowing that the suspicion of Popery was of all others the most dangerous, he judged it proper to marry his niece, the Lady Anne, to Prince George, brother to the king of Denmark.

All the credit, however, and persuasion of Halifax could not engage him to call a parliament, or trust the nation with the election of a new representative.

Though his revenues were extremely burdened, he rather chose to struggle with the present difficulties, than try an experiment which, by raising afresh so many malignant humors, might prove dangerous to his repose.