The Merry Monarch was so exceedingly merry among these merry ladies, and some equally merry (and equally infamous) lords and gentlemen, that he soon got through [用完] his hundred thousand pounds, and then, by way of raising [筹集] a little pocket-money [零用钱], made a merry bargain. He sold Dunkirk [敦刻尔克] to the French King for five millions of livres [货币单位]. When I think of the dignity to which Oliver Cromwell raised England in the eyes of foreign powers, and when I think of the manner in which he gained for England this very Dunkirk, I am much inclined to consider that if the Merry Monarch had been made to follow his father for this action, he would have received his just deserts [sth that is deserved or merited, esp a punishment].

Though he was like his father in none of that father's greater qualities, he was like him in being worthy of no trust. When he sent that letter to the Parliament, from Breda, he did expressly [clearly] promise that all sincere religious opinions should be respected. Yet he was no sooner firm in his power than he consented to one of the worst Acts of Parliament ever passed. Under this law, every minister [牧师] who should not give his solemn assent to the Prayer-Book by a certain day, was declared to be a minister no longer, and to be deprived of his church. The consequence of this was that some [约] two thousand honest men were taken from their congregations [会众], and reduced to dire [extreme; terrible] poverty and distress. It was followed by another outrageous law, called the Conventicle [religious meeting] Act, by which any person above the age of sixteen who was present at any religious service not according to the Prayer-Book, was to be im*ed three months for the first offence, six for the second, and to be transported for the third. This Act alone filled the *s, which were then most dreadful dungeons, to overflowing.

The Covenanters in Scotland had already fared [过日子] no better. A base [卑劣的] Parliament, usually known as the Drunken Parliament, in consequence of its principal members being seldom sober, had been got together to make laws against the Covenanters, and to force all men to be of one mind in religious matters. The Marquis [侯爵] of Argyle, relying on the King's honour, had given himself up to him; but, he was wealthy, and his enemies wanted his wealth. He was tried for treason, on the evidence of some private letters in which he had expressed opinions - as well he might - more favourable to the government of the late Lord Protector than of the present merry and religious King. He was executed, as were two men of mark [标志性人物] among the Covenanters; and Sharp, a traitor who had once been the friend of the Presbyterians [苏格兰国立教会长老会] and betrayed them, was made Archbishop of St. Andrew's, to teach the Scotch how to like bishops.

Things being in this merry state at home, the Merry Monarch undertook a war with the Dutch; principally because they interfered with an African company, established with the two objects of buying gold-dust and slaves, of which the Duke of York was a leading member. After some preliminary hostilities, the said Duke sailed to the coast of Holland with a fleet of ninety-eight vessels of war, and four fire-ships. This engaged [接战] with the Dutch fleet, of no fewer than one hundred and thirteen ships. In the great battle between the two forces, the Dutch lost eighteen ships, four admirals, and seven thousand men. But, the English on shore were in no mood of exultation when they heard the news.

exult: show that you are very happy and proud, especially because you have succeeded in doing something.

六级/考研单词: merry, sovereign, notorious, bargain, million, dignity, incline, merit, worthy, parliament, sincere, secular, tentative, consent, solemn, deprive, congregate, distress, outrage, accord, im*, offend, tertiary, dread, overflow, fare, drunken, headmaster, seldom, sober, execute, betray, bishop, undertake, interfere, slave, preliminary, hostile, sail, fleet, vessel, engage, shore, mood