And the choice, made in a moment of frantic enthusiasm, might prove to be a choice for life.

As the law then stood, it depended entirely on the King's pleasure whether, during his reign, the electors should have an opportunity of repairing their error.
Eighteen years passed away.

A new generation grew up.

To the fervid loyalty with which Charles had been welcomed back to Dover succeeded discontent and disaffection.

The general cry was that the kingdom was misgoverned, degraded, given up as a prey to worthless men and more worthless women, that our navy had been found unequal to a contest with Holland, that our independence had been bartered for the gold of France, that our consciences were in danger of being again subjected to the yoke of Rome.