m 2
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
THE
Other) Side of the QUESTION:,
$wfi. o R , A N f^mfti
ATTEMPT
To Refcue the
CHARACTERS
Of the Two ROYAL SISTERS
Out of the Hands of the
D --- s D - - - - of ---- .
IN WHICH
All the REMARK ABLE s in her Grace's late
Account are ftated in their full Strength, and as
fully anfwer'd ; the Conduct of Several Noble
Perfons is juftify'd ; and all the neceflary Lights
are thrown on our COURT-HISTORY from the
Revolution, to the Change of the Miniftry in 1 7 1 o .
In a LETTER to Her GRACE.
By a WOMAN of QUALITY.
He that is firft in his own Caufe feemetb jufl y but his
Neighbour comet h and fearcheth him. SOLOMON.
LONDON-.
Printed for T. C o o P E R, at the Globe in
Pater-nofter- Row. 1742.
ADVERTISEMENT.^^' 3
jj Certain great Lady ', 7*W0 not far
,^L from Sf. James* s, hath lately been at
great Expence, to give the Public a Glimpfe
of a very faulty Edifice : In the following
Piece it will be made appear, that the Book
fet forth from the fame Quarter, is a Pro-
jecJ of the like Nature ; and confequently,
that it expofes what could not be too care-
fully concealed.
But of this by the Way.
The chief Ends of this Advertifement are>
to put In a Caution to the Reader ; That y in
the fir ft Section, he is to expetf little more
than certain natural and obvious Remarks
on the Character and Conduct of the emi-
nent ^erfon to whom it is addrefs'd : And
to apprize bim> that y In the laft y the Fiew
is enlargd, and a comprehenfive Draught is
given of Affairs in general ; which no Por-
tion of our Hiftory defertfd, or wanted more,
1317207
THE
Other Side of the Queftion.
I N A
LETTER
T O
Her GRACE the Dowager Duchefs
o F
MAI.
A
MADAM,
S your Grace ftill feems to retain
that Fire which render'd you fo
confpicuous in Power, and fo im-
patient on being turned ouf, I make no que-
ftion but you will denounce it an unpardon-
able Prefumption in any namelefs Writer, of
whatever Sex or Rank, to (hew more Con-
cern for the Character of the late excellent
A Queea
Queen Anne^ your once Royal Miflrefs, and
2ier no lefs excellent Sifter QJMary, than
yours; and efpecially to do Juftice to their
injured Memories, at your Grace's Expence.
But, Madam, before you iufter^our Rfc-
fentments to tranfport you too far, be pleafed
to take into Confideratfon, that Authorfhip,
as well as Love, fets all Mahkiiidbn a "Level ;
and that whoever draws a Pen is" as liable to
be called to an Accbunt for the Ufe made of
,it, as. he that draws a Sword.
The Laws of Criticifin, as well as thofe
of Equity, have made no Exceptions in fa-
vour of Titles, Wealth, and Power ; and
I intend to employ both fo confcientioufly,
that I may be able to fmim my Work with
that celebrated Sentence of your Grace's :
All this I know to be true.
Your Grace has reprefented Fame, even
after Life, as a real Good ; and been at fome
Pains to eftablifh your own, as the nobkft
Monument. Both the Defign, and the Sen-
timent on which it is founded, are far from
blameable : But the World will by no means
be perfuaded to endure, that you fliould let
t 3 3
up your own Statue in the Place of hers,
who raifed you out of the Diift, if I may
be allowed to borrow a pointed Phrafe of
your own ; and without whom, 'tis more
than poffible, Pofterity would never havs?
known that fuch a Perfon as your Grace, a
Daughter of Mrs. Jennings, ever had a Be*
ing.
Perhaps, Madam, you may think it worth
your while to proteft that this was never
your Intention ; and Charity may induce us
to believe that your Trefpafs was not owing
to premeditated Malice. But Vanity is a moft
ieducing Guide, and your Grace has flid, I
hope infenfibly, into a Fault, -which it may
be equally hard to acknowledge, or excufe,
* This makes dear Self on <wel!~bred Tongue*
prevail,
And 3J the little Hero of each Tale,
fays the Satirift. 'Tis a fhrewd Remark,
and. occurs to Pviind in almoft every Para-
graph of your Grace's notable Performance ;
in which Mrs. Freeman is every where the
Heroine, and poor Mrs. Morley no better
A 2 than
* young's Uraver&l Pafllon.
[ 4 ]
than a Foil to fet her off to the more Ad-
vantage.
Fond, therefore, as your Grace has de--
clared yourfelf to be of Fame, that Fond-
nefs fhould not have milled you to trefpafs
on the Bounds of Decorum : Nor had you
fucceeded worfe, if you had recollected, when
you firft fet out in fearch of that infetuat-
ing Goddefs, that according to the ingeni-
ous, tho' plain-dealing Antients, the right
Road lay through the Temple of Virtue, of
which GRATITUDE is the Corner- Stone.
To blow one's own Trumpet carries with
it a very mortifying Infmuation ; and thofe
who do, tho' they tickle their own Ears,
only infult other People's. A Perfon of your
Grace's incredib'e Opulency, could be under
no Neceffity to become your own Advocate^
Had your good Works been vifible, you could
not have failed of Glory. Thofe of the Great
cannot efcape Notice, cannot want Acknow-
ledgments, cannot mifs of Applaufe : In that
Cafe, you need not have followed Fame ;
for Fame would have taken a Pride to fol-
low you.
But
[ 5 J
Bat with whatever Zeal I am led to do
Juftice to the Allies of the Dead, I propofe to
do no Violence to the Character of the Living.
Your Grace (hall not be arraign'd without
Reafon, nor condemned without Proof: To
fupport every Article advanced under the
Head of Vanity, in particular, I mail make
ufe of your own Words ; and in that Cafe
there will be no need of any farther Evi-
dence.
You muft give me Leave, Madam, to add,
that the Public has been long put in Expec-
tion of this Production of yours j and, as
it was feared it would be pofthumous, many
Perfons were almoft as impatient to fee your
Grace in the Hands of the College, that
they might have the Pleafure of reading,
your Works, as if they had been Heirs to
your immenfe Riches.
But then they expected a Hiftery of your
ownTimes, not an Apology for your ownCon-
duct : they expected many important Secrets
would have been brought to Light : That,
efpecially^oConfideration whatever, would
A 3 have
[ * }
have prevailed with you to ftifle (a) all you
knew relating to that BIRTH, which has
been fo often reprefented as an Impofture,
tho' never proved to be one. In Juftice
and Gratitude to the Father, to whom your
Lord ow'd fo much : In Juftice and Grati-
tude to the People, of whofe Liberality
Blenheim is like to be an ahnoft eternal
Monument, they imagined you ought to
have ftated the whole Affair^ with all the
Glearnefs it would admit of: That either
no Pretence might have been left to keep
$Hve two Viper-like Factions, which feed on
the Vitals of their Country; or that the real
R eafons might be known, which induced the
Revolution-Patriots to connive at fo infa-
mous a Calumny, and vifit the Iniquities of
the Father on. his innocent Pofterity.
All this, however, your Grace has thought
ftt to leave as' you found it -, like Eternity
covered
(a) Lady Crr///was then of the Bed-Chnmber to the
Prirtcefs of Denmark, aud brought her the News of the
"""" 's Delivery ; on which Occafion many remarka-
ble Pleafantries, for which her Highnefs had a paflionate
Fondnef :-. paflfed between then*.
r 7 r
covered with' Darknefs and Perplexity : In
which however it mufl be acknowledged,
you have played the Politician ; and ;by not
interfering with our Difficulties, have \
effectually avoided any Addition to- your
own.
: I (hall clofe my latroduddon, Madam,
with obferving that our prefent incompara-
ble Laureat, a (a) profeffed Admirer of your
Grace, was the firft Apologift in Form for his
own Life, who has appear'd in our Times:
That his hopeful Son, as I am informed,
did himfelf the Honour of treading, foon
$fter, on his Father's Heels : That your
Grace is the Third in this remarkable Lift j
and that if the (b) eminent Perfon your Grace
has fo happily diflinguim'd by his iti/tin&rve
-A-ver/ioTi to Accounting was to da the fame,
this (c) Table of Fame might be fuppofed
to he full, and that there would fcarce be
-Room for any future Candidate.
Your Grace has given us to. uadcrftand,
that your Afcendancy over your Royal
A 4 Miftrefs
(a) Vide Gibbers Apology.
"^ (b) Account, Page :.
(c) See Tatter.
t 8 ]
Miftrefs had its Foundation almoft in your
Infancy, tho' by what Accident you hap-
pen* d to fall in her Way, you have not
thought proper to explain : That me ever
took a Delight to honour you : That your
firft Preferment to her Service was at her
own earnefl Requeft. And that her Court
was fo oddly compofed, that ' it was mak-
* ing yourfelf no great Compliment to fay,
* her chufing to fpend more Time with you
' than any of her other Servants, was no
' Difcredit to her TASTE," though you
had never read, as you afterwards in-
form us, though you had devoted all your
Leifure Hours to Cards, and Lady Cla-
rendon was, at leaft, qualify 'd to talk like
a Scholar, though me look'd like a Mad-
woman, as you are pleafed to tell us, archly
enough.
I mail make no other Remark on thefe
minute Particulars, than this; viz. That ei-
ther your Grace has been rather too partial
to your own Excellencies, or it muft be al-
lowed the Princefs had both a difcerning
Eye and a well-difpofed Heart j fince fhe
could
[ 9 1
could both find out, and enter into Friend-
fhip with the moft amiable, and accomplifh-
ed Peribn in her Court.
Your Grace proceeds. c Be that as it will,
* it is certain me at length diftinguifhed me
' by fo high $. Place in her Favour, as per-
\ haps no Perfon ever arrived at a higher with
'Queen or Princefs. And, if from hence
* I may draw any Glory, it is, that I both
e obtained and held this Place without the
' Affiftance of Flattery; a Charm, which, in
* Truth her Inclination for me, together
with my unwearied Application to ferve
* and amufe her, rendered needlefs ; but
* which, had it been other-wife, my Temper
c and Turn of Mind would never have fuf-
* fer'd me to employ.
Your Grace farther adds, certain other
Flourishes on your Abhorrence of Flattery ;
which, in my humble Opinion, are not fo
conclufive on that Head as you feem to ima-
gine. Flattery does not always imply fulfome
Praifes and flavim Compliances ; none but
the groffeft Appetites can fwallowfuch coarfe
Food : There is a Species of a much more
j refined
I *> ]
refined and dangerous Nature, which never
Appears in its own Shape' but makes its Ap-
proaches in fd- happy a Di%uife, as to be
miftaken for Trtf'th, 'Simplicity, and Plain-
Dealing. Your Grace had Difcernment e.
nough to find that the Pfirrccis had an Aver-
fion to the firft , fo, very adroitly, made ufe
6F the laftj and, as you confefs yoarfelf,
found your Account in it.
' This puts me in mind of a Paffoge in
SHAKES DEAR'S Julius Cwfar^ which your
Grace 'muffc give me Leave 1 to tranfcribe.
1
He [C^r] loves fo hear,
Tibat Umcorns may. be betray' d with Trees,
* And Bears with Glaffes> Elephants -with
Holes,
- Jjionswitb Toils, and Men with Flatterers.
, But when I tell him he hates Flatterers ,
He fays he does, being then MOST fatter 'd.
The Words unweary'd Application toferve
and AM USE her, p. u, moreover feem to
infinuate, that a Perfon, who has filled a Book
with her own Praifes, could, .upon Occafion,
g
[ II J
go out of the rough Road, and lead her
Miirrefs thro' the Carpet-Ground, (he loved
fb well to wander over herfelf.
But Flattery, Madam, is what you never
happened to be accufed of, nor of tern-
periling with the Humours of your Royal
Patronefs.~The Peccadillos you have been
fuppofed anfwerable for, are of a quite
contrary Clafs ; of playing the Tyrant with
your Sovereign, of iniifting en your own
Will in Oppofition to hers, and of carrying
your own Points with a high Hand, al-
moft whether me would or not.
Whether, Madam, you are jufUy charged
or not with thefe Trifles, will appear better
by the Sequel : But certainly, 'tis not a little
furprifing your Grace mould totally forget,
that ever fuch a Bill was brought againft
you ; efpecially fince it is laid in the
Name of half the Kingdom, and more than
half belie v'd, tho* for Party-Reafons not ac-
knowledged, by the reft.
Give me Leave, Madarn, in this Place to
quote a Paffag or two, from a Sort of
Prefatory Letter to the Examiner.
r Inftead
f Inftead of the mild Influences of a gra-
* cious Queen governing by Law, we foon
e felt the miferable Confequences of Subjec-
* tion to the Will of an arbitrary Junto,
c and to the Caprice of an infolent Woman.
* Unhappy Nation ! which expecting to
f be governed by the beft, fell under the
' Tyranny of the worfl of her Sex. But
* now, thanks be to God, that Fury who
* broke loofe to execute the Vengeance of
* Heaven on a finful People is reftrain'd ;
* and the Royal Hand is already reached,
' out to chain up the Plague.
Again in another Place of the fame LeN
ters.
' Their firft Attempt, was to take that
4 Privilege from her, which the meaneft of
* her Subjects enjoy, and Slavery was to
f purfue her even into her Bed-Chamber.
I do not prefume, Madam, to make any
Application : But 'tis neverthelefs my hum-
ble Opinion, that your Grace's beft Friends
would have found more Satisfaction in your
Performance, if you had condefcended to
bring the Articles under this Head to Account;
or
[ '3 1
or made it appear they were without Foun-
dation.
I cannot avoid tranfcribihg the two fol-
lowing Paffages entire ; becaufe the laft ef-
pecially, is merely Hiftorical ; and, tho*
manifeftly calculated by your Grace, only
to ^ive your Readers yet higher Ideas of
your own Importance, ferves notwithfland-
ing to prove, that for Delicacy of Senti-
ment, the Princefs of Denmark was fcarce
to be parallel'd by any of the Heroines of
Romance ; of whofe Perfections, it muft be
prefum'd, her Highnels was, at this Time,
particularly fond.
c Kings and Princes, for the mofl Part,
' imagine they have a Dignity peculiar to
* their Birth and Station, which ought to
' raife them above all Connexion of Friend-
* {hip with an Inferior. Their Paffion is to
* be admired and feared, to have Subjects
* awfully obedient, and Servants blindly ob-
' fequious to their Pleafure. Friendfhip is
* an offenfive Word j it imports a Kind of
' Equality between the Parties ; it fuggefts
* nothing to the Mind of Crowns or Thrones,
high
t '4 ]
* high Titles, or immenfe Revenues, Foun*
c tains of Honour, or Fountains of Riches;
' Prerogatives which the Pofleflbrs would
* have always uppermoft in the Thoughts of
* thofe who are permitted to approach them.
* The Princefs had a different Tafte. A
' Friend was what (he moil coveted ; and
.' for the Sake of Friendfhip (a Relation
.' which (he did not difdain to have with
' me/ Ihe was fond even of that Equality
' which fhe thought belonged to it. She
.' grew uneafy to be treated by me with the
* Form and Ceremony due to her Rankj
nor could fhe bear from me the Sound
e of Words which implied in them Diftahce
c and Superiority. It was, this Turn of Mind 1 ,
* which made her one Day propofe to me,
* that whenever I mould happen to be afr
* fent from her, we .might in all our Letters
* write ourfelves by feigned Names, fuch
* as would import nothing of Diftindioii
1 of Rank between us. Morley and Free-
* mati were the Names her Fancy hit
* upon ; and fhe left me to chufe by which
* of them I would be called. My frank,
and
[ 'o ]
4 and- open Temper naturally led roe to
pitch upon Freeman, and fo die Princefs
1 took the other ; and from this Time Mrs.
' Mdrky and MK. Freeman began to eon-
c verfe as Equals, made fo by Affe&ion and
* Friendmip. Account > p<i3> 14, 15.
And here, to let your Grace fee that I am
a fair Critic, and that I have no Quarrel to
your Wit and Humour, however J may dif-
fer from you in other Refpects, I foall ac-
knowledge your Picture of fuch as are but too
generally Court-Chaplains, is taken from the
Life, as are all the other mafterly Sketches
you are pleafed to favour us with ; to which
I (hall do equal Juftice as they fall in my
Way. * The Chaplains about her [the'Prin-
* cefs] were fuch Divines as could have faid
* but little in Defence of their own Re-
' ligion, or to fecure her againfl the Preten-
* ees of Popery, recommended to her by a
4 Father and -a King. Ib. p. 16.
What -follows, for two or three Pages,
relates to the Revolution : Nor is there any
thing more aftonifhing in that grand Event,
than that both the Prince of. Denmark and
2 Lord
[ 16]
Lord ChilrchUl fhould defeft King James,
and go over to -the Prince of 'Orange, with-
out any previous Confultation with, or No-
tice given to their Ladies, tho' then in the
Power, and almoft at the Mercy of an of-
fended Sovereign and Father > and that the
Princefs's Efcape fliould depend on a Note,
namelefs as far as it appears, directed to Lady
Churchill, and the precipitate Meafures taken
thereon with an abfconding Bifhop, who
was as much in Danger as thofe he undertook
to deliver. All which your Grace is pleafed
to infinuate, and no doubc expect the World
to believe.
But alas, Madam! the World has loft
much of its antient Complaifance and an
Author, of whatever Sex or Quality, muft
write with Probability at leaft, if they hope to
obtain Credit. It has never been difputed that
the Prince of Orange was invited over ; ' nay
fuch an Invitation is actually extant, under
the Title of a Memorial to the Prince and
Princefs of Orange. Nor is it to be ima-
gined, that a Perfon of his Highnefs's Pru-
dence and Sagacity woujd have ventured on
fuch
t '7 ]
fuch an Enterprize, unlefs he had firft con-
fulted both the Prince of Denmark and Lord
Churchill-, nay, perhaps, unlefs he had fir ft
feen their Hands and Seals at the Bottom of
the faid Memorial : Which being allowed,
we can fcarce avoid concluding, that both
the Princefs and Lady Churchill were in die
Secret, and that the EJcape was not fo much
a Piece of* Chance -medley- Work, as it has
been reprefented.
But no Body is more a Miflrefs of the Art
of Surprifing than your Grace ; as is demon-
ftrable from what follows.
4 It was evident to all the World, that as
c Things were carried on by King James,
' every body fooner or later muft be ruin'd,
' who would not become a Roman Catho-
* lick. This Confideration made me very
* well pleafed at the Prince of Oranges un-
1 dertaking to refcue us from fuch Slavery.
1 But I do folemnly proteft, that, if there be
' Truth in any Mortal, I was fo very fimple
B < a
* This is confirmed by JSurnet, who aflerts, that Admi-
ral #/-/ had actually carried Meffagcs between the Prino/"
Qrange and Lord Churchill.
f a Creature, that I never once dreamt of
' his being King. Having never read t nor
* employed my time in any thing but play-
' ing at Cards j and having no AMBITION
1 myfelf, I imagined that the Prince of
f Oranges fole Defign was to provide for
* the Safety of his oWn Country, by oblig-
' ing King James to keep the Laws of Ours ;
* and that he would go back as foon as he
' had made us all happy j that there was
4 no fort of Difficulty in the Execution of
' this Defign y and that to do fo much Good
c would be a greater Pleafure to him than to
* be King of any Country upon Earth.'
What a noble Specimen have we here of
the Marvelous ? what {hiking Images fur-
round us on every Side ? a Court- Lady ga-
vern'd only by Scruples in Religion! a Favou-
rite intent on nothing but Cards ! and Lady
Churchill perfuaded that State-meafures had
no other Spring than the public Good !
But, it feems your Grace did not continue
long in thefe Court-Herefies. Your Words
are, / noas [bon taugkt to know the World
better*
[ 19]
letter. And very foon indeed your Gon-
verfion muft have taken Place - y for King
James had no fooner been frightened into
France by our Deliverer^ but we find you
an active Agent in fettling the Throne, and
the Princefs fubmitting her Intereft in it to
your Influence, if not Direction, as a Perfon
every way qualified to govern her in all
Things. The whole Paragraph runs thus :
4 It was infmuated, that, to make my
' Court to the King and Queen, I had influ-
* enced the Princefs to forego her undoubted
' Rights. The Truth is, I didperfuade her
to confent to the Project of that Settlement,
' and to be eafy under it, after it was made.
c But no regard to the King or Queen, noF
* afty View of AMBIT ION, had the leafl Share
( in moving me to this Conduct, any more
* than to what ineonfiderable Part I acted in
* the Bufinefs of the Revolution.'
Your Grace has here followed the Ex-
ample of thofe Firft-rate Authors, who hint
more than they exprefs. It was not Ambi-
tion, it was not Regard to the King or
B 2
Queen, that induced you to ad in this Man-
ner.
What then ? why every Reader is left to
fill up the Blank as he pleafes; and 'tis not till
Page .22. that we find it to be firft Patrio-
tifrn, or for the fake of the Public Welfare,
that your Grace at Jirfl took a great deal of
Pains to PROMOTE yourMiftrefssPretenfions*
And then Necejfity -,for the Settlement would
have been thus carried in Parliament 'whe-
ther the Princefs, conjented to it or no.
I cannot take Leave of this Page (22.)
without tranfcribing the firft remarkable
Token of your Grace's Good- will to our
Great Deliverer, which needs no Com-
ment.
* I might, perhaps, wifh it (the Re<volu~
* tion) had been compafTed by fome other
1 Man who had more Honour and Juftice
* than he, who could depofe his Father- in-
e law, and Uncle, to maintain Liberty and
Laws, and then ad the Tyrant himfelf in
c many Inftances.'
But
[ 21 ]
But I have faid Mrs. Freeman is the He-
roine of your Grace's Drama, and that
poor Mrs. Morley is forced to take up with
an Under-part. Be pleafed, Madam, only to
read the following PafTage without Prejudice,
if poffible, and be yourfelf the Judge, whether
that Afiertion is well founded, or not.
c Jconfefs, had J been in her Place, J
' mould have thought it more for my Ho-
* nour to be eafy in this Matter, than to fhew
* an Impatience to get PofleOion of a Crown
* that had been wrefted from my Father.
' And, as it ought to have been a great Trouble
* to the Chilc(ren of King James to be forced
* to a6t the Part they did againft him, even
* for the Security of Liberty and Religion,
c (which was truly the Cafe) fo it feemed to
-' me, that me, who difcovered the lefs Am-
* bition, would have the more amiable Cha-
? rader. However, as / was fearful about
? every thing the Princefs did, while me was
' thought to be advifed by me, I could not
' fatisfy my own Mind, till I had confulted
' with feveral Perfons of undifputed Wif-
B 3 * dom.
r 3
' dom and Integrity, and particularly with the
? Lady Rujfell of Southampton Houfe, and
' Dr. Tillotfon, afterwards Archbimop of
-f Canterbury. I found them all unanimous
' in the Opinion of the Expediency of the
* Settlement propofed, as things were then Ji-
* tuated. In Conclufion, therefore, / carried
f Dr. Tilktfon to the Princefs, and, upon
* ivhat he faid to her, fhe took care that no
* Dirlurbance fliould be made by her pre-
' tended Friends, the Jacobites j who had
' prefs'd her earneftly (as your Grace AT
* FIRST had done) to form an Oppofition/
The Princefs is here charged with fuch
Impatience to plume herfelf with the Spoils
of her Father, that Lady Churchill, having
alter' d her Mind, is forced to prefs the
Church into the Service, in order to pre-
vail with her to defifl from her unnatu-
tural Pretenfions: And how well this ai-
med ungovernable Ambition tallies with
the reft of her Highnefs's Conduct, as pic-
tured by your Grace, will be fufficiently ex-
plain'd, when we come to examine thofe
oppofitc
oppofite Features, which are here made a
Part of the fame Character.
We come now to the memorable Quarrel,
as your Grace calls it, bet ween the two Sifters,
which you found principally, tho' not entire-
ly, on the Queen's Command, and the Prin-
cefs's Refufal, to remove you from about her
Perfon^ and then proceed thus.
* But no one, / think, can be fo foolifh as
c to imagine that the Queen's Diflike of me
* was only on account of my being the Wife
c of Lord Mar thorough, who HAPPENED
* tfon to be in Difgrace with the King. 9
Other Politicians, when they have com-
rnenc'd Authors, have indefatigably followed
the Thread of every State-meafure, to the
inmoft RecefTes of the Cabinet : But, on the
contrary, according to your Grace's Syftem,
Chance governs all, and Defign is out of the
Queftion. Thus the Princefs's Flight to
Nottingham vrzsfudden and unconcerted y and
now Lord Churchill HAPPENED to be in
Difgrace : An ExprefTion which you are fo
fond of, that in Page 55. you repeat it again.
B 4 But
[ 24 ]
But of this fortuitous Difgrace of his Lord-
fhip, we (hall have occafion to treat more at
large by and by.
At prefent, Madam, it is our Bufmefs to
obferve, that your Grace goes a little out of
your Way, to difcharge your Gall on the
Memory of GOOD Queen MARY (for fo
me was ftil'd by the Voice of the People)
whofe only Crime feems to have been, her not
having the fame Prejudices in your Favour,
which rendered you fo dear to the Princefs
of Denmark.
Your Charge againft her, is, T'bat SHE
WANTED BOWELS; in fupport of wMch
you furnim us with the following curious
Anecdote.
' I was one of thofe who had the Ho-
* nour to wait on her to her own Apart-
' ment. She ran about it, looking into
* every Clofet and Conveniency, and turn-
' ing up the Quilts upon the Bed, as People
* do when they come into an Inn, and with
' no other fort of Concern in her Appear-
' ance, but fuch as they exprefs ; a Bcha-
' yiour, which, though at that time I was
c extremely
t 25 ]
.extremely carefs'd by her, 31 thought very
' ftrange and unbecoming. For, whatever
' Neceffity there was of deporlng King James,
* he was ftill her Father, who had been fo
4 fo lately driven from that Chamber, and
that Bed ; and if fhe felt no Tendernefs, 3}
* thought me mould at leaft have looked
f grave, or even penfively fad, at fo melan-
* choly a Revcrfe of his Fortune.'
Your Grace muft now give me Leave to
lay before you Bifhop Burnt? $ Account of
the fame Incident; which, without Doubt,
had efcap'd your Memory ; or it is not to be
fuppofed you would have fo feverely cen-
fured a Princefs, who, while fhe liv'd, was
fmcerely beloved, and, when me died, was
bitterly lamented by a whole People.
It had been given out, fays the Bifliop,
c that die was not well pleafed with the late
* Tranfaclion, both with Relation to herFa-
' ther, and the prefent Settlement. Upon
1 which the Prince wrote to her, that it was
4 necefTary Hie mould appear, at rirft, fo
1 chearful, that no Body might be difcou-
* raged by her Looks, or be led to apprehend
< that
[ 26 ]
e that &t was uneafy by Reafon of what had
' been done. . This made her put on a great
c Air of Gaiety when me came to White-
1 /W/j.and, as may be imagined, had great
* Crouds of all Sorts coming to wait upon
' her. I muft confefs, I was one of thofe
' who cenfured her in my Thoughts. I
' thought, a little more Serioufnefs had done
c as well, when me came into her Father's
' Palace, and was to be fet on her Father's
' Throne next Day. I had never feen the
' leaft Indecency in any Part of her Deport-
' ment before ; which made this appear .fo
c extraordinary, that fome Days after I took
' the Liberty to a(k her, How it came, that
1 what me faw in fo fad a Revolution, as to
c her Father's Perfon, made not a greater
' Impreffion on her ? She took this Freedom
* with her ufual Goodnefs ; and me a/lured
' me, that {he felt the Senfe of it very lively
upon her Thoughts. But fhe told me, that
' the Letters which had been writ to her,
had obliged her to PUT ON a Chearfulnefs,
' in which {he might, perhaps, go too far,
* bccaufe me was OBEYING DIRECTIONS,
'and
c and ACTING A PART which was not
* very NATURAL to her. Bumet Vol. I.
P . 285.
But this is not all that appears in Hiftory,
in Opposition to your Grace's Inventive.
The fame Author, in another Place, has
furniihed us with the following PafTage,
which agrees perfectly well with the forego-
ing.
* A Proportion was made to the King,
c that a Third-Rate Ship, well mann'd by a
? faithful Crew, and commanded by one who
c had been well with King James, but was
t fuch a one as the King might truft, might
< fail to Dublin and declare for King James.
* The Perfon who told me this offered to be
' the Man, that mould carry the Meffage to
fr'King James (for he was well known to
c him) to invite him to come on Board,
? which he feemed to be fure he would ac-
* cept of; and, when he was aboard, they
? mould fail away, and land him either in
* France, or Italy, as the King mould de-
* fire, and mould have Twenty thoufand
: Pounds to give him when he fhould be fet
'on
' on Shore. The King thought it was a well
c form'd Defign, and likely enough to fuc-
' ceed;.but would not hearken to it: He
' foid, he would have no Hand in Treachery,
* and King James would certainly carry fome
f of his Guards and fome of his Court on
* board with him, and probably they would
' make fome Qppolition ; and in the Struggle
* fome Accident might happen to King
* James's Perfon, in which he would have
* no Hanjd. 1 acquainted the Queen with
' this, and I faw in her a GREAT TENDER-
1 NESS for her Father's Perfon, and me was
v MUCH TOUCHED with the Anfwer the
* King had made,' Vol. II. p. 47.
I cannot take my Leave of the Bimop,
without making one Quotation more, which
yet farther indicates, that your Grace's per-
emptory Charge was rather the Effect of Pre-
judice and PalTion, than a thorough Con-
viction.
' Both King and Queen were much af-
fe&ed with Tilktforis. Death ; the Queen
1 formany Days fpoke of him in the TEN-
DEREST MANNER, and not without TEARS,
M 3 6. CouW
i 29 ]
Could this have been the Cafe, if the
Queen had w A N T E D Bow ELS?
But we will not decide on the Bifliop's E-
vidence, and the Charge fliall be left open,
till we find her Majefly, in the Sequel, an-
fwering for herfelf.
The next Remarkable that occurs in youf
Grace's Apology, is a Demand of certain
Lodgings, viz. Thofe that had been the
Duchefs of Ptrtjmcuth's for the Ufe of her
Highnefs, which are readily granted. This
is followed with a fecond Demand of other
Apartments contiguous to the firft, for the
Conveniency of her Highnefs's SERVANTS.
And here the Duke of Devonfiire has the
Misfortune to fall both under your Grace's
Difpleafure, and the Lam of your Wit ; for
having taken it into his Head, c that, could he
c have the Duchefs of FOR T s MOU T H 's Lodg-
4 ings, where there was a fine Room for Balls,
1 it would give him a very magnificent Air/
In this Paragraph the Duke is made to afpire
to the Duchefs of PORTSMOUTH'S Lodg-
ings, already allotted to the Princefs ; in the
next, it appears he puts in his Claim only to
2 thofe
t 3 1
thofe demanded for herHighnefs's SERVANTS.
I will repeat your Grace's own Words'.-
* After many Gonverfations upon the Af-
' fair, the Queen told the Princefs that fie
* could not let her have the Lodgings Jhe de-
* Jired for ber SERVANTS, till my Lord
* Devonmire had refohed whether he would
* have THEM, or a Part of the Cockpit i
* Upon which the Princefs anfwered, Jhe
c would then flay where Jhe was, for (he
* would not have my Lord Devonfhire'j Leav-
* ings. So me TOOK the Duchefs of
* Portfmoutb's APARTMENT, GRANTED
' HER AT FIRST, and ufed it for her
* Children, remaining herfelf at the Cock-
' Pit.
Not to be too 1 fevere on the Efcape hinted
at above j your Grace has endeavoured to
ftate this Trifle^ as a Conteft between the'
Duke of Devonjlnre^ and the Princefs of
Denmark^ in which the King and Queen
are made Partizans to the Duke : But in
my humble Opinion, the Point to be deci-
ded was, whether the SERVANTS of the
or thofe of the PRINCESS, mould be
FIRST
t 31 i
FIRST* obliged: And that fuch was the
Cafe no body, I believe, will difpute, when
they are told that the Duke of Devonfoire
was then LORD-STEWARD ; a Circumftance
your Grace, as it appears, chofe to forget,
as not very favourable to the Cafe in Hand.
But the Princefs had taken a Fancy to
the Houfe at Richmond^ which was likewife
refufed : What wonder, after the difobliging
Anfwer {he had been prompted to make as
above ; and the as difobliging Circumftance
of her continuing in her old Lodgings after
flis had both folicited and obtained new ?
If a Perfonage of lefs Confequence than
your Grace had publifhed thefe frivolous
Tales, they would have deferved no other
Notice than Ridicule : But in yonr Hands
they become of Importance j they are a
chief Part of your Defence, and are meant
to iniinuate that there was a Quarrel fub-
fifting between the two Sifters, before your
Name was called in Queftion,
The Princefs, however, feem'd to have
forgot thefe Bickerings_, and continued to
pay all imaginable Rejpefl to the King and'
[ 3* ]
Queen. This is your Grace's own Acknow-
ledgment. * - After which you proceed thus.
1 But this did not hinder her Majefty from
c expreffing a great deal of Difpleafure, when
* fome Steps were made in Parliament to-
* wards fettling a Revenue on the Prince and
' Princefs. Taking her Sifter one Night to
4 TASK for it, me aiked her what 'was the
' Meaningofthofe Proceedings? To which the
' Princefs anfwered, foe heard her FRIENDS
had a Mind to make her fome Scttlement.The
Queen haftily replied with a very IMPE-
' RIOUS Air, Pray what Friends have you
f but the King and Me? I had not the Honour
4 to attend the Princefs that Night; but
c when me came back, me repeated this to
' me. And indeed I never faw her ex-
prefs fo much Refentment as (he did at
* this Ufage ; and I think it muft.be allow-
* ed me had great Reafon. For it was un-
' juft in her Sifter not to allow her a decent
Provifion, without an entire Dependence
' on the King. And befides, the Princefs
* had in a fliort Time learnt that Hie muft
' be very miferable, if (lie was to have no
c Support
I 33 ]
Support but the Friendship of the two
' Perlbns hei* Majefly had mentioned.
* After this the Queen faid no iiK>re to
* the Princefs on the Subject of the Settle-
* tlement, though they met every Day ; and
* the Affair went on ib well in the Houfe
' Qf Commons, that her FRIENDS were
* encouraged to propofe for her a much larger
* Revenue than was at lafl obtained ; to
* prevent which, by gaining Time, the King
' prorogued the Parliament,
JL ->
4 The Bufinefs however was relumed a-
* gain at the next Meeting; and then all
* pofTible Endeavours were ufed, to en-
gage M E by Flattery and by Fear, to dif-
' fuade the Princefs from the Purfuit of a
* Settlement. Pag. 30.
Here follows an Interlude between your
Grace and Lady Fitzharding (which for fear
of fatiguing my Readers, I will not recite)
ferving only to illuftrate your Grace's fteddy
Purfuit of this one Thing needful, this Par-
liamentary Settlement, in Defiance of the
Ruin that both the Princefs and you were
C bid
t 34 ]
bid to expect as the Confequence : After
which you amplify as follows.
' But all this, and a great deal' more that
* was faid, was fb far from inclining me to
r do what was dcfired of me, that it only
c made me more anxious about the Succefs of
* the Princefs's Affair, and more earneft, if
' poffible, in the Profecution of it. For, as
* I would have died, rather than have made
' my Court to that Reign by facrificing the
* . Intereft of the Princefs, fo there was no-
* thing I dreaded more, than, by the leafl
' Appearance of Negligence, or Coldnefs in
* the prefent Caufe, to give Ground to fuf-
* peel: me of having been flattered, or fright-
c ened into fo bafe a Conduct. I employed
c therefore all the Powers I was capable of
exerting to advance the Defign. I knew
' the Thing was reafonable, the Princefs's
* Happinefs was concerned in it, and there
* was a fair ProfpecT: of fucceeding. Befides,
' I thought that whatever happened in Par-
* liament, the King could not well avoid
* giving fome Allowance to the next Heir to
* the Crown. And, if he mould give her
c nothing,
f 35 ]
' nothing, me had however by the Marriage-
' Settlement, 2o,ooo/. a Year; which would
' keep her in a retired Way, much more a-
* greeably than {he could hope to live at
' Court, if he depended on his Generofity;
1 of which I had no Opinion : For the late
' LcxdGodoIpbJn had told ire, that the King,
* on fome Meeting at the Trea/ury, fpeaking
' of the Civil Lift, wondered very much how
1 the PrinceJ's could jpend 30,000 1. a Tear,
' though it appeared afterwards that fome of
V his Favourites had more. And there were
1 other Parts of the King's Conduct (which
' fhall be mentioned in a proper PlaceHvhere-
< by it fufficiently appeared, that I did not
miftake in my Opinion of his Difpofition.
P*g-$2- 33>34-
Ill-turned as I am for Panegyric, I cannot
help going out of my Way to do Juftice to
your Grace's uncommon Merit, which here
breaks out in its full Luftre : within the Com-
pafs of a Page and a half, in what a Variety
of beautiful Lights does it appear ! Tour
Ardour is but the more inflamed by Oppo-
fition. Like a true Heroine, to carry
C 2 your
t 36 ]
your Point you are ready to face even Death
itfelf. In cafe of a Mifcarriage, you have
the Sagacity to forefee Refource upon Re-
fource. If all fhould fail, you give us to
underftand you were an excellent Houfcwife:
And, you infmuate your own unexampled
Generofity, by your Severity on King fVil-
liam for the Want of it.
But I return. We are next entertained
with an other Interlude between your Grace,
and the Duke of $>hrekvjbury : in which
that Lord offers her Highnefs 50000 /.per
Jlnnum in the King's Name - y and you moft
Complaifantly reject it, as not fufficiently
fecuredby his MAJESTY'S PROMISE. The
Princefs is, at the fame Time, taught to do
the fame j as likewife, to think it reafonablc
to fee u'haf her FRIENDS could do for her;
and finally we are told, That the Princefs
carry' d her Point: And that * 50,000 1.
was fettled by Parliament. You add,
' For when the King found that he could
' not perfuade her to an entire Dependency
' upon
* Out of a Civil Lift of 6oo,ooo/. in thofe frugal Times
thought fufficient : tho' encumber'd with the Stipend of the
Queen Dowager ; and ioo,ooo/. to be raited out of it
for ' the Duke of Stkoalertb,
[ 37 ]'
* upon him, he compounded the Matter with
4 her FRIENDS upon thefe Terms, to hinder
' their in fitting on a larger Settlement. The
f Parliament had /hew'd an Inclination that
* Way : But it was at length thought advifa-
1 ble, by the Princefs's FRONDS, that
' (he fliould accept of 50,000 /. fecurely
* fettled, rather than have any farther Strug-
c gle, considering the great Power and
c Influence of the Crown, by Means of its
' Dependents,.
' Neverthelefs, I was fo fearful left the
c Princefs fliould fuffer for want of good
' Advice, that AFTER I had heard of the
* Commons voting 50,000 /. a Year, I
e fent to fpeak with my Lord Rochefter,
' and aficed his Opinion, whether the Prin-
' cefs ought to be fatisfied, or whether it
1 was reafonable fhe fliould try to get more.
(I did not then know how much his
f Heart was bent on making his Court to
* the Queen.) His Anfwer to me was, TJjat
1 he thought, not only that the PrinccJ's ought
c to be fatisfied ivith 50,000 1. but that JJje
' ought to have taken it in any Way the King
C 3
t 38 ]
' and Qiieen pleafed. Which made me re-
' fled:, that he would net have liked that
1 Advice in the Cafe of his own 4.000 /.
* a Year from the Pott-office, fettled on him
< and his Son.
' But I was not fo uncivil as to fpeak
''my Thought, nor fo faolim as to ftrug-
1 gle any longer. FOR moft of thofe who
* had been PREVAILED with to promote the
c Settlement were Tories, among whom
* my Lord Rochefter was a very * GREAT
4 MAN. Their Zeal on the prefent Occafion
< was, doubtlefs, to thwart King William ;
4 for I never obferved that, on any other,
* they difcovered much Regard for the Prin-
c cefs of Denmark.
'Tis obfervable People never talk fo co-
pioiifly, as when they talk of themfelves :
Your Grace on this fruitful Subject feems to
be all Tongue, and to expect the noble Lord
you addrefs to mould be all Ear. Thus
Hepetition flows on Repetition, Reflection
on Reflection, and I had like to have faid
Contra-
* Query , therefore, whether my Lord Rocbejter was not
fcmewhat Inilrumental in carrying this Settlement, as well as
[ 39.]
Contradiction on Contradiction. . . . The
Parliament has one while an Inclination to
enlarge the Settlement ; and at another,
'tis more advifable not to have any farther
Struggle, becaufe of the great Power and
Influence of the Crown. Your Grace grave-
ly confults Lord Rocbe/ler, whether the
Princefs mould try for more j and yet con_
eludes it foolifh to ftruggle any longer :
You acknowledge this contefted Settlement
was carried by the Tories, and yet deny
them the Merit of it, by reprefenting it to
be done out of Spleen to the King, not Af-
fection to her Highnefs.
I cannot pafs over this laft Particular,
without making ufe of a Hint that natural-
ly rifes from it ; which is this : Suppofe,
Madam, in Right of that Party you have
every where made fo free with, or in Behalf
of any Individual that your Grace has ferv'd
up for the Entertainment of the Public, or
in refpedt to the Memory of the two Royal
Sifters, whofe Ames you have fo unfcafon-
ably diilurb'd, I mould adopt this very Me-
thod of deciding on your Grace's Conduct,
C 4 which
.1 40 ]
<w,hkh you yourfclf have us'd with Co little Ce-
remony towards others ? Suppofe, for E*-
?imple, I fhould infift, that your Grace's firft
meddling in the Affairs of the Royal Fa-
mily, and oppofing the Settlement of the
Crown upon the King for his Life, to the
Prejudice of the Princefs of Denmark^ was
not fo much owing to your Zeal for the
Rights of her Highnefs, as to the Forward-
nefs of a young Favourite, who juft found"
herfelf of fome Importance, and was re-
fblved to have it felt and acknowledged?
Suppofe I mould infill, that the Alteration of
yoqr Conclude in that refpeft, and your ad-
vifmg the Prjnccfs to wave her Claim, was
not praclifed folely as a complying with the
Tories, or the yielding with a Grace what
could not be obtained , But to give ano-
tfier Demonftration of your Afcendancy o-
ver your Royal Miftrefs, and, thereby, au-
thorife both you and your Lord, not mere-
ly to follicite, but to command Preferment ?
Suppofe I mould infift, that, till one or both
of you were difappoin'te d of your Expecta-
tions, tfiefe Heart-burnings between the
two
[ 4' ]
two Sifters never broke out ; and that in
Reality, the Breach was to be plac'd en-
tirely to your Account ? Suppofe I fhould
infift, that the Lodgings to be wrefted from
the Duke of Devonfoire for her Highnefs's
SERVANTS, were demanded at ypur Jn-
ftance, and principally for your Conveni-
ence ? Suppofe I (hould infift, that your
ftirring up a Party in the Houfe of Com-
mons to carry a Parliamentary Provifion for
the Princefs, in Defiance of the King and
Queen, and without any previous Applied'
tion to either, 'which the Laws of Decorum
rendered indifpenfable, was neither the Ef-
fect of your Zeal for the Intereft of, nor
Affection for, the Perfon of her Highnefs,
but partly for the very Motive you are
pleafed to afcribe to the Tories, viz. To
thwart King William, and partly to indulge
the fecret Pleafure, I do not care to give it
a harfher Name, of appearing neceffarj to
her, in whofe Favour confifted your prin-
cipal Importance ? I fay, Madam, fuppofe
I was to reafon and conclude in this Man-
her
ner, in whatever relates to your Grace's Con-
dud:, am not I fufficientlyjuftify'd by your
own Example ? But I neither claim, nor-
land in need of any fuch Sanction : With
whatever Art, Madam, you may think this
Account of yours is drawn up j Truth, like
Light, has almoft every where found a Way
to infinuate itfelf j and whoever will open
their Eyes, may, if they pleafe, have the
Benefit of it.
We come now to the Ufe which was to
be made of the Parliamentary Struggle in
Behalf of her Highnefs : which is thus fumm'd
up by your Grace, in the following remark-
able Paragraph :
f The Succefs of the Affair was chiefly
c imputed to the Steadinefs and Diligence
' of my Lord Marlborough and ME, both
c by thofe, to whom it was fo exceedingly
' difagreeable, and by her, to whofe Happi-
f r,efs it was then fo neceffary.'
Here the Word Friends fo often made ufe
of by your Grace on this Occafion, and fo
well underftood before, is at full explain'*! :
Yes, Lord and Lady Churchill are thefe Al-
3 mighty-
[ 43 1
mighty-FRiENDS, into whofe Hands the
Princefs commits herfelf j and for whofe
Favour and Protection the King and Queen
are not only dropt, but difobliged The
poor Princefs by herfelf, appears to be an in-
confiderable Thing, without Weight, with-
out Intereft, without Confequence; but
with Lord and Lady Churchill for her Sup-
porters, carries all before her, and obliges
our way- ward Deliverer himfelf to conde-
fcend to a Compromife.
Hiftory-Painters are particularly careful,
to make their principal Figure the moft con-
fpicuous in the Groupe, and no Body can
deny but your Grace has imitated this Craft
of theirs to Admiration. Lord and Lady
Churchill, in the Inftance before us, rum for-
ward to the Eye, diftinguiflied with a full
Blaze of Light, while her Highnefs is fo co-
vered with their Shadow, as to be fcarcc vi-
fible.
Your Grace fet out with being her Play-
fellow ; your next Step was to be her Con-
fident; and henceforward we rnuft con-
fider
[ 44 J
fider you as her Governefsj and, in her Right,
the fupreme Difpofcr of all Things.
And here it is impoffible not to remark
that, whereas mod other Princes have been
made a Prey to their Vices, it was the pe-
culiar Fa,te of the illuflrious Princefs before
us, to be made the Bubble of her Virtues :
Thus an over-refin'd Idea of Friendship in-
duc'd her to level the Barrier which Royalty
of Birth had placed between her Higlinefs and
Lady Churchill ; Gratitude for this mighty
Service,( which 'tis to be prefum'd your Grace
did not fail to magnify as much to her then,
as now to the World) obliged her, as it were,
to give up her Affairs without Referve, into
the Hands of fo notable a Manager 5 and a
modeft Diflruft of her own Capacity, dif-
pos'd her to be govern'd folely by yours.
Of her Concefcenfion, all the Letters in
general your Grace has BETRAY'D to the
Public, are very fufficient Proofs : And what
Notions flie had of Gratitude appears frm
the Fragment which follows.
.
' 1 have
[ 45 ]
* / -have had fomeihing to fay to you a
' great while, and I did not know how to
' go about it. I baie dejigned, ever fmce
my Revenue was Jeff led, to defire you would
c accept of a Thoufand Pounds a Year.
' I beg you would only look upon it as an Ear-
< nejl of my Good-will, but never mention
* any Tubing of it to me ; for I fiall be
( afiamed to have any Notice taken offucb
( a Thing from one that dtferves more than
' I ft all e c oer be able to return'
1 And fome Time afterwards, a little De-
lay being made by her Treafurer in the
' Payment of it' (of which it appears your
Grace did not fail to complain] * me wrote
' another Letter, wherein are thefe Words ;
'Tis long fine e I mentioned this e t%tng to
' dear Mrs. Freeman. She has all the Rea-
* Jon in the World to believe I did not mean
' what I faid, or that I have changed my
( Mind, whicb are botbfo ill Dualities, that
I cannot bear you Jhould have Caufe to
c think your faithful Morley is capable of
* being guilty of either.
The
[ 46 ]
The Circumftances of my Family at
' this Time were not very great j yet I was
< fo far. from catching at fo free and large
' an Offer, that I could not perfuade my-
felf to accept of it, till I had fent the firft
' Letter to my Lord Godolphin, and con-
fulted him upon the Matter. It was his
* Opinion, that there was no Reafon in the
World for me to refufe it. And perhaps
c no one elfe will think otherwife, who
c believes, as he did, that the fettling of the
c Prince/s's Revenue had been chiefly owing
c to my Lord Mar/borough's indefatigable
Indujlry, and to MINE.
When I read this Paffage firft, I could
fearce give Credit to my Eyes, I examin'd
it over and over again, on the Suppofition
that I had miftaken your Meaning; and,
when there was no longer Room for any
Doubt, could not help exclaiming aloud :
What ! Lady CHURCHIL "Lfcruple to accept a
Thoitfand POUNDS a Tear? Impoffible ! nor
till I reflected that your Grace was born
both to do and fay extraordinary Things,
could I pu-t an End to my Aftonifhment.
It
[ 47 1
It is to he wifhed however, Madam, that
you 4iad favoured us with the remarkable
Piece of Court-Cafuiftry contained in that
confcientious Epiftleofyour's to Lord Godot-
phin, and his Lordfhip's Anfwer ; efpecially,
as we muft fuppofe it might have faved
your Grace the Trouble of repeating what
you had faid in the next preceding Page but
one, concerning your indefatigable Induftry
to ferve her Highnefs.
I cannot take my Leave of your Grace
on this Head, without reminding you of an
Occurrence in the Reign of King James II.
the Ufe and Application of which no Perfon
better knows than yourfelf.
Not long after Lady Churckill was taken
into the Service of the Princefs of Denmark,
her Highnefs had the Misfortune to find,
that her Expences had exceeded her Income
between 6 and 7000 /. which they had
never done before > and was forced to apply
to her Royal -j- Father for that Sum to en-
able
f This Fa& is partly confirmed by the Princefs's Letter to
the Lady Marlborough, Account, p, 87.
able her to difcharge her Debts j which he
readily and chearfully comply 'd with. The
next Year her Highnefs fell into the like
Difficulty, was forc'd to make the like Ap-
plication, and receiv'd the like Indulgence :
but was, loon after, furpriz'd with a Vifh
from his Majefty, fo fudden and unexpect-
ed, that Lady Churchill and a certain other
Lady of her Highnefs's Court had but juft
Time enough to hide themfelvcs in a Clofet
adjoining j from whence they overheard the
King, charging his Daughter with having
fame body about her, for whofe fake {he
plunged herfelf into thefe Inconveniencies,
and recommending to her a more exact
Oeconomy for the future. To this the
Princefs made no Reply but with her Tears ;
and the King being withdrawn, Lady Chur-
chill, to pacify her for the prefcnt, and an-
fwer certain other obvious Ends, quitted the
place of her Concealment, with the follow-
ing decent Expreffions in her Mouth : Oh
Madam ! all this is owing fo that old R
your Uncle ; meaning Lord Rochefter, then
Lord-Treafurer ; but who afterwards ho~
2 nourably
[ 49 ]
nourably refign'd, and was fucceeded by two
Popijh LordSj and Lord Godotybin, who held
that Office in Commiffion,
The next Particular that occurs in your
Grace's Account, is the Refolution taken by
the Prince of Denmark to ferve at Sea as a
Voluntier ; which, we are told, occafion'd
a new Difference between the two Sifters :
a Refolution wifely taken by the Prince, and
as politicly oppos'd by the King. It was right
in the Prince to diftinguifh himfelf ; it was
right in the King neither to be eclips'd nor
rivall'd by the Hufband of the prefumptive
Heirefs. The Queen was however to be the
Agent in preventing it, not his Majefty : Upon
which, not warn'd by your Grace's former
Behaviour, (he condefcends again to apply to
Lady Churchill, by fending, fir ft, a great
Lord, and then Lord Rochejler y to defire that fbe
would perj'uade the Prince ft to keep the Prince
from going to Sea, &c. Which indicates, that
even her Majefty confidered her Sifter as no
better than your Grace's Ward ; that as
much Complaifance as the Princefs had for
D your
your Opinion, it was underftood the Prince
had for her's ; and that, in EfTed, you had
the Management of both.
We now come to the grand Event of
all, that feparated the two Royal Sifters for
the reft of their Lives ; upon which your
Grace having expatiated very largely, I fhall
be obliged, againft my Will, to do the fame.
* Notwithftanding all thefe Things (your
Grace goes on) * the Queen and Princefs
' lived, in Appearance, for fome Time after,
c as if nothing had happened r , till the King
c was pleafed (without PUBLICLY affigning
* any particular Reafon) to remove my Lord
' Marlborough from all his Employments.
' His Majefty fent Lord Nottingham to tell
' him, that he had no more Occafion for his
Service. This Event might perhaps be
f well enough accounted for, by faying, that
* Lord Portland had ever a great Prejudice
* to my Lord Marlborough, and that my
' Lady Orkney (then Mrs. Villiers) though
* I had never done her any Injury, except
* not making Court to her, was my impla-
? cable Enemy. But, I think, it is not to be
3 < doubted,
doubted, that the principal Caufe of the
1 King's Meflage, was the Court's Diflike
1 that any Body mould have fo much Intereft
* with the Princefs as I had, who would not
' implicitly obey every Command of the
* King and Queen. The Difgrace of my Lord
* Marlborough therefore was defigned as a
* Step towards removing me from about her.
' A Letter from the Queen to her Sifter,
* which I mail prefently give you, affords
' Ground for this Opinion. And the Beha-
' viourof my Lord Rochefter, who. was much
c in the Queen's Favour and Councils, con-
* firms it. He had warmly oppofed my
c coming into the Princejss Family y and he
e now mewed himfelf very delirous to have
c me removed, believing, without Queftion,
c that, could this be compaffed, he mould in-
' fallibly. have the Government of both
< Sifters : Though certainly, as to the Prin-
1 cefs, he never difcovered any fuch Regard
' for her, as mould give him a Title to her
1 Confidence!
I cannot proceed to wait on yonr Gracs
any farther, till I have touched on an Efcape
D 2 or
I 5* ]
or two which you have made in the laft Para-
graph. Youhave,Madam,uniformly treated my
Lord Rochefler with all the Severity and Ran-
cour you are Miftrefs of. Behold theReafon
explain 'd byyourfelf. He oppofed your coming
into the Princefs's Family, and was defirous
to have you removed. This might be Fact :
But why did he oppofe your coming in, or
defire your Removal ? You anfwer, That he
might have the Government of both Sifters.
Here your Grace tacitly, though inadver*
tently, acknowledges you had the Govern-
ment of O NE ; And yet in the fame Breath
declare, He never difcovered any fuch Re-
gard to her, as flmdd give him a Title to her
Confidence j which is juft as reafonable as to
fay, That he travelled to Tork y without ftir-
ring a Step of the Way.
Your Grace proceeds, Page 44. ' But to
' come to the Sequel of the King's Meflage.
' I folemnly proteft, that the Lofs of my
' Lord Mar/borough's Employments would
c never have broke my Reft one fingle Night
c upon Account of Inter eft -, but, I confefs,
' the being turned out is fomething very dif-
' agreeable
[ S3 ]
* agreeable to my Temper. And, I believe
* it was three Weeks, before my beft Friends
' could perfuade me, that it was fit for me
' to go to a Court, which (as I thought,)
had ufed my Lord Marlborough very ILL.
' However at laft they prevailed. And I re-
* member the chief Argument was urged by
c my Lord Godolphin, who faid, that it could
' not be thought, I made any mean Court to
* the King and Queen, iince to attend the
4 Princefs, was only paying my Duty where
c it was owing.'
Three remarkable Things occur in this
PafTage : One apocryphal ; That the Lofs of
Lord Marlborougfts Employments gave your
Grace no Pain on account of Intereft. One
indifputable ; that the being turned out was
very difagreeable to your Temper. And one
extremely artificial -, that you were over-per-
fuaded to go to Court by your Friends. All
of which will be fuffkiently explained by the
Sequel.
* I waited therefore (your Grace goes on)
< on my Miftrefs to Kenfmgton. The Confe-
' quence was fuch, as my Friends, having no
D 3 Reafon
[ 54 ]
Reafbn to apprehend it, had never thought
' of. The next Day the Queen wrote to
* her Sifter the following Letter.
Kenfington, Friday, the 5 th of Feb.
1 Having fomething to fay to you, which I
e know will not be very pleafing, I chufe ra-
* ther to write \tjirft, being unwilling tojur-
1 P r if c vou 5 though, I think, what I am
' going to tell you mould not, if you give
' yourfelfthe rfime to think, that never any
' Body was fuffered to live at Court in my
c Lord Marlbc rough's CIRCUMSTANCES. I
* need not REPEAT the CAUSE he has given
' the King to do what he has done, nor his
* Unwillingnefs at all Times to come to fuch
* Extremities, though People do DESERVE
'it.
f I hope, you do me the Juflice to be-
' lieve, it is as much againft my Will, that I
now tell you, that, after this, it is very un-
'^frLady Marlborough mould flay with you,
* fince that gives her Hufband fo juft a Pre-
^ tence of being where he ought not*.
f I think,
f 55 ]
k I think, I might have expected you
c fhould have fpoke to me of it. And the
* King and I, both believing it, made Us
* flay thus long. Bat feeing you was fo far
* from it, that you brought Lady Marlbo-
( rough hither laft Night, makes Us refolve
* to put it off no longer, but tell you, me
' muil not iky j and that I have all the Rea-
c fon imaginable to look upon your bringing
* her, as the Jirangeft Thing that ever was
' done. Nor could all my Kindnefs for you
c (which is ever ready to turn all you do the
' beft Way) at any other Time have hindred
* me fhewing you that Moment j but I con-
*jidered your Condition, and that made me
* matter myfelf fo far, as not 10 take Notice
1 of it then.
' But now I muft tell you, it was very #-
* kind in a Sifter, would have been very un-
' civil in an Equal, and I need not lay I
c have more to claim. Which, though my
c Kindnefs would make me never exadl, yet
: when I fee the Ufe you would make of it,
' J muft tell you, I know what is due to me,
D 4 'and
[ 56 ]
* and expect to have it from you. Tis upon
* that Account, I tell you plainly, Lady Marl-
borough mufl not continue with you in the
Circumftances her Lord is.
' I know this will be uneafy to you, and
* I am forry for it ; and it is very much fo to
* me to fay all this to you, for I have all the
* real Kindnefs imaginable for you, and as I
* ever have, fo will always do my Part to
* live with you as Sifters ought. That is,
f not only like fo near Relations y but like
c Friends. And, as fuch, I did think to
* write to you. For I would have made
* myfelf believe your Kindnefs for her, made
* you at firft forget That you fhould have
e for the King and me ; and refolved to put
1 you in mind of it myfelf, neither of Us
* being willing to come to harfoer Ways.
* But the Sight of Lady Marlborough
1 having changed my Thoughts, does natu-
* rally alter my Stile. And fince by that I
1 fee how little you feem to confider what
* even in common Civility you owe Us, I
' have told it you plainly; but withal allure
f you, that let me have never fo much Rea-
[ 57 1
* ion to take any Thing ill of you, my Kind-
< vefs is fo great, that I can pafs over moft
* Things, and live with you, as becomes me.
c And I defire to do fo merely from that Mo-
< tive. For I do love you, as my Sifter, and
' nothing but yourfelf can make me doother-
' wife. And that is the Reafon I chufe to
c write this, rather than tell it you, that you
* may overcome your Jlrft Thoughts, and
'-when you have well confidered, you will
f find, that though the Thing be hard,
* (which I again affure you I am forry for)
1 yet it is not unreafonable, .but what has
' ever been praftifed, and what you yourfelf
1 would do, were you in my Place.
' I will end this with once more defiring
c you to confider the Matter impartially, and
* take Time for it. I do not defire an An-
1 fwer prefently, becaufe I would not have
c you give a rajh one. I fhall come to your
* Drawing- Room To-morrow before you
1 play, becaufe you know why I cannot
' make one : At fome other Time we (hall
1 reafon the Bufinefs calmly - y which I will
' willingly do, or any Thing elfe that may
' fhew,
[ 5* ]
(hew, it fhall never be my Fault if we do
not live kindly together: Nor will I ever
' be other by Choice, but your truly loving
* and affectionate Sifter,
M. R.
I have not only tranfcribed this moft
veafonable Letter of the Queen's at Length,
but diftinguimed fuch PafTages in it with
a different Character as turn upon the C/>-
cumftances of Lord Marlborough at that
Time ; the Senfe of the Queen upon feeing
his Lady accompanying her own Sifter to
Court; her Majefty's Regret in impofing
what flie herfelf complaifantly calls a Hard-
Ihip ; the Moderation fhe fhews in fo often
recommending her Sifter to take Time to
paufe upon her Anfwer ; and the many ten-
der Expreffions which prove undeniably
that her Majefty did not WANT BOWELS.
But how reafonably the Queen acled upon
the Whole, will be feen yet more plainly,
by making fomething of a Search into the
Circumftances of Lord Marlborough^ hap-
pening to be in Difgrace: An Incident, which
your
[ 59 J
your Grace icems to have dropt by way of
Epifode only.
According to a former Quotation it ap-
pears, Madam, you fometimes think it
may be accounted for by Lord Portland's
having a Prejudice to his Lordfhip, and
Lady Orkney to your Grace. Sometimes
that any Body Jhould have fo much Inter eft
with the Princefs as YOU, who would not
implicitly obey every Comman d, &c. (in which
Light you are induc'd to look upon his Di-
grace as a Step to your own) and, fometimes
you infinuate, that, as the* (a) King affigrid
no Caufe for it, no Caufe could be affign'd.
As, therefore, we receive but little Satif-
faclion from your Grace on this Head, we
muft next refer to the Accounts given by
other Authors ; and of thefe the two firft,
Bifhop Eurmt and Mr. Lediard, may be
look'd upon rather as the Duke's Advocates
than his Hiftorians.
* Various were the Caufes, fays Mr. Le-
' diard, which were affign'd for this fud-
e den Change, according to the Affections
* People bore him; and fome Stories were di-
c Bulged
(a] Account, p. 64.
[ 60 ]
* Bulged to his Difadvantage, tho' with little
* or no Grounds. His Lordfhip's Loyalty
* could not well be arraigned by his worft
c Enemies : He lov'd his Country too well
* to be Male- con tent with his King, tho
' remov'd out of his Favour, without his
* Deferts : And it is evident, he could be
c no Ways engaged in the Intereft of his
' former Mailer ; (ince, in this very fame
c Year, when King Barnes was about to
*" invade England, and a formal Declara-
1 tion was privately handed about in his
* Name, with a Pardon annexed, for thoie
c who mould return to their Duty, the
' Duke of Mar/borough, by the Tide of
* Lord Churchill, was excepted out of this
c Pardon. When he retired, which was
* with the Calmnefs of the old Roman Die-
' tator, he wifhed to be fucceeded by a bet-
ter Servant, and one more concerned for
c Majefty's Honour.'
' Some, who pretended to look narrowly
4 into Affairs, would have his Difgrace ow-
1 ing to Jealoufies certain Foreigners had
c conceived, of his not being inclined to their
'In-
[ 61 ]
4 Interefts, and to make Way for .one of
c them (by fome faid to be Count Solmes)
c to command in his Room 5 but this could
* only affect his Employment abroad. The
* Proofs he had given of his confummate
' Knowledge in Military Affairs (hewed,
c that his Majefty's Englijh Subjects merited
4 the higheft Ports in the Army ; tho', it
' has been obferved, they were not enough
' countenanced by the King. It was faid,
1 that all the Refentment was, for the Li-
' berty he had taken to tell the King, That
' thoi himfelf had no Reafon to complain, yet
' many of his good Subjects were forry to
' fee his Royal Munificence confined to one or
c two Foreign Lords. Foreign Hiftorians
* make no Scruple to name the Earls of
' Portland and Rochford, both Dutchmen,
* to be the Lords here aimed at : And add,
' that the King turned his Back upon the
* Earl, without making any Anfwer, and
* foon after fent him a Difmifllon of all his
1 Employs, and forbad him the Court.
1 Thofe who afcribe the Jealoufy or Envy
* of Foreign Officers, as a Reafon for his
f Lord-
[ 62 ]
' Lordfhip's Difgrace, think it a Confirma-
* tion of their Opinion, that the Earl was
' not employ 'd again, nor call'd to Coun-
cil till this Motive ceafed, and an End was
' put to the War, by the Peace of Ryfwick.
' A Paflage of a late Author ( Bifhop
' Burnet) feems likewife, to juflify this
c Opinion. " The King (fays this Author)
" was thought to love the Dutch more than
" the Englijh, to truft more to them, and
" to admit them to more Freedom with
" him. He gave too much Occafion to a
" general Difguft, which was fpread, both
" among the Englijh Officers, and theNo-
" bility. He took little Pains to gain the
" Affections of the Nation ; nor did he con-
ct ftrain himfelf enough to render his Go-
" vernment more acceptable. He was
<{ fhut up all the Daylong ; and his Silence,
" when he admitted any to an Audience,
" diftafted them as much, as if they had
c been denied it. The Earl of Marlborough
" thought, that the great Services he had
" done, were not acknowledged nor reward-
" ed, as they well deferved, and began to
" fpeak
[ 63 ]
*' fpeak like a Man difcontented. The
" Strain of all the Nation almoft was, that
" the Englijh were overlooked, and the
" Dutch were the only Perfons favoured or
" trufted.'* -sjiD
Notwithftanding this Obfervation of our
' Author, which was made upon another
< Occafion, he afligns another Reafon for
' the Earl's Difgrace: It may not be amils
to give my Readers his Account of it in
his own Words :
" An Incident (continues the Bifhop) hap-
ct pened, near the End of the Seflion ofP^r-
" liament, that had very ill EfFeds, which
'* I unwillingly mention, becaufe it cannot
" be told without fome Reflections on the
e< Queen, whom I always honoured, be-
** yond all the Perfons I had ever known.
41 The Earl of Nottingham came to the Earl
" of Marlborough, with a McfTage from
" the King, telling him, that he had nd
" more Ufe for his Service, and therefore
" he demanded all his Commiffions. What
" drew fo fudden and fo hard a Mef-
" fage was not known ; for he had
been
[ 64 ]
cc been with the King that Morning, and
" had parted with him in the ordinary
" Manner. IT SEEMED SOME LETTER
tl WAS INTERCEPTED, WHICH GAVE
" SUSPICION. It is certain, that he thought
*' he was too little confider'd, and that he
" had, upon many Occafions, cenfured the
' King's Conduct, and reflected on the
Dutch. But the original Caufe of his
" Difgrace arofe from another Confidqra-
*' tion: The Princefs (Ann of Denmark)
c . thought herfelf too much neglected by
" the King, whofe cold Way towards her
" was foon obferved : After the King was
* c on the Throne, noPropofitions were made
" to her of a Settlement, nor any Advances
" of Money : So me, thinking {he was to
* be kept in a neceffitous Dependance on
" the Court, got fome to move in the Houfe
" of Commons, in the Year 1690. when they
" were in the Debate concerning the Re-
" venue, that Jhe Jhould have Affignments
" fuitable to her Dignity. This both the
" King and Queen took amiis from her 4
4< the Queen complained, more particular-
< ly, that (he was then ill, after her Lying-i
" in of the Duke oiGkucefter, at Hampton-
" Court,- and that (he herfelf was treating
" her, and the -young Child, with the Ten-
" dernefs of a Mother, and that yet fuch
e ' a Motion was made, before me had
" tried, in a private Manner ; what the
<f King intended to affign her. The Prin-
" cefs, on the other Hand, faid', She knew
" the Q^een was a good Wife, fubmiffive
" -and obedient to every thing that the King
Cc defired ; fo fhe thought the beft was to
" have a Settlement by Adi of Parliament.
" On the other Hand, the Cuftom had al-
" ways been, that the Royal Family (a
" Prince of Wales not exceptsd) was kept
" in a Dependanceon the King, and had no
" Allowance, but from his meer Favour
< and Kindnefs ; yet, in this Cafe, in which
<{ the Princefs was put out of the Succeflion,
<c during the King's Lite, it feem'd reafon-
< able, that fbmewhat more than ordinary
" fhould be done in Confideration of that.
" The Aft paffed, allowing her a Settle-
t ment' of fifty thoufand Pounds : But up-
E " on
[ 66 ]
c< on this, a Coldnefs followed between,
" not only the King, but even the Queen
" and the Princefs ; and the Blame of the
" Motion wascaft on the Countefs of'Mafl-
<c borough, as moft in Favour with this
" Prindefs : And this had contributed much
" to alienate the King from her Hufband |
" and had difpos'd him to receive ill Im-
" preffions of him.
" Upon his Difgrace, his Lady was for-
bid the Court. The Princefs would not
" fubmit to this ; fhe thought, (he ought
c to be allowed to keep what Perfons fhe
cc pleafed about herfelf; and when the
<f Queen infifted on the Thing, me retired
" from the Court. There were, no doubt,
" ill Offices done on all Hands, and there
" were fome that preffed the Princefs to
" fubmit to the Queen, as well as others
" who prefTed the Queen to pafs it over ;
<e but without EfFed : Both had engaged
f< themfelves, before they had well reilecled
<c on the Confequences of fuch a Breach :
cl And the Matter went fo for, that tke
" Queen ordered, that no publick Ho-
,
4< nours mould be (hewed the Princefs, be-
" fides many other lefs Matters, which I
l< unwillingly reflect on, . becaufe I was
" much troubled to fee the Queen carry fuch
tf a Matter fo far ; and the Breach conti-
*' nued to the End of her Life. The Ene-
<c mies of the Government tried what could
" be made of this, to create. -Di/l raff ions a-
" mong us ; but the Princefs gave no En-
tc couragement to them : So that this Mif-
" underftanding had no other Effect, but
. * that it gave Enemies much ill-natur'd
t " Joy, and a fecret, fpiteful Diverfion."
' Thus this Author makes the original
c Caufe of the Earl's Difgrace, to be an In-
' cident which happened fwo Tears before ;
c tho' during thofe 2 Years the King mewed
' no Sign of it ; but, on the contrary, gave
' him all Marks of his Efleem, and of the
' high Opinion he had of his Capacity. Per-
' haps this might co-operate with the other
* Reafons alledged; and tho' the King might,
c during that Time, ftifte his Refentment
c on this Account, in Confideration of his
' great Services ; yet, when fired by new
2 < Caufes
[ 68 ]
' Caufes of Difpleafure, or, at lead, what
* he thought fo, it might break a-new in-
< to a Flame, and help to determine his
* Majefty to proceed in this Manner. The
c Author of the Continuation of Rapin, tho*
' he mentions another Reafon, which I fliall
* likewife take Notice of below, feems alfo
c to be of Opinion, that this was the real,
' or at leaft principal Caufe of his Difgrace.
* His Lady underwent the fame Fate, and
* was likewife forbid the Court; which
c her Royal Highnefs, the Princefs of Den-
' mark, thought a great Hardfhip upon her,
* She complained of it to the Queen ; but,
having no Satisfaction given her, me re-
' tired herfelf from Court, 'till after the
* Death of the Queen.
' It was obferved, that the Morning be-
' fore the Earl's Difgrace, he waited upon
' the King to introduce Lord George Ha-
' milton, now Earl of Orkney, to his Ma-
' jefty ; and met with a moft favourable Re-
* ception: !But that very Afternoon, the
* fame Lord George Hamilton was, as I
have been inform'd by a Gentleman of
I * Worth,
f Worth, not only fent to acquaint his
c Lordfhip, that the King had no farther
c Occafion for his Service, but fucceeded
* him as Colonel of a Regiment of Fufi-
* leers. Notwithstanding all that has been
* faid above, this fudden Change in the
c Mind of the King makes it reafonable to
* believe, that fame unforeseen Incident
c at leaft blew up the Coals, at this Time,
* if it was not the fole Occafion of his Ma-
' jefty's Difpleufiire.
' There has indeed been yet another
i Reafonafiignd for it 3 (whicltlo* in print,
your Grace takes no notice of) but with what
' Grounds I fliall not pretend to determine,
* viz. That the Earl had revealed to his
* LADY a SECRET, which his Majefly had
* entrufted Kim with: The Author of the
' Continuation tfRapin names this Secret,
' and fays it was a private Defigrt on Dun-
1 kirk ; which it was pretended the Coun-
c tefs difcovered to Sir Theopbi/us Ogle*
* thorps Lady. As there was fuch a De-
* fign form'd about this Time, which mif-
carried j and it would not have been fo
4 very decent, either for the King, or the
E 3 < Mi-
[ 7 1
* Minifhy, to have own'd either of the
' other Reafons, which I have mentioned
c above ; it may not be unnatural to fbp-
< pofe, that whether the Earl or his Lady
c ever had, or had not, let drop any Expref-
c lions, tending to a Difcovery of this Mat-
' ter, that it may have been made ufe of
c as an Excufe to cover the real Reafons of
* their Difgrace.'
To all this we find added, both by Tra-
dition and fecret Hiftory, that a Defign had
actually been form'd upon Dunkirk, which
but four Perfons in England were privy to :
the King, Lord Marlborougl\ and two more j
that one of thefe four communicated the Se-
cret to his Wife, who, as it wasfaid, fold it to
Lady for what (he could get : That in
confequence the faid Defign mifcarried, and
thofe concern'd in it abroad were hang'd :
That upon this, the King fent for his three
Confidents; and, having, with fome Trouble,
found out the Leak-, exprefs'd himfelf up-
on the Occafion, in his dry Way, as fol-
lows, My Lord, you have put a greater ruft
in, your Wife, than I did in mine,
2 Tt
[ 7' ]
It is moreover well known, that the
very Year in which Lord Marlborough HAP-
PEN'D to be difgraced, it was univerfally
affirmed abroad, and underflood at home,
that certain great Men had made their Peace
with King James, on the Condition of in-
ducing the Nation to return to their former
Obedience : It was even whifpered that a cer-
tain Admiral (then believed to be as much in
the Interefl of King William as Lord Marl-
borough himfelf, and afterwards renowned for
a fignal Victory over the French) was likewife
one of the Confederacy ; which gave occa-
fion to the ingenious Author of Gul/i'ver's
Travels to inlinuate, that he had obtained
that Victory (for want of proper Intelli-
gence) when he was actually under an En-
gagement to betray the very Fleet entrufted
to his Command.
Now, Madam, notwithftanding the Ex-
ception to Lord Mar/borough in the general
Pardon, quoted above by Mr. Lediard, his
Lordihip's Name was faid to be on this Lift
of Converts, as well as the Admiral's j and
the fame thing was afterwards averr'd by
E 4. poor
r 7* 3
poor Sif John Fenwick, who fell a Sacrifice
to his own indifcreet ConfeiTions : All which
was yet farther confirmed by a Welch Gen-
tleman of Diftmclion, whofe Name I chuie
to conceal for his Family's Sake, then an
Exile at St. Germain 's, and who perfifted
in the Truth of it to his dying Day.
Were I to exercife the like Severity, which
your Grace has done on much flighter Oc-
caiions, very home Concluiions might, per-
haps be drawn from thefe Premises : But,
however provoked, I fhall make no other
Ufe of them, than to explain Lord Marl-
borough's CIRCUMSTANCES with refpect to
the King, as hinted at in her Majefty's Let-
ter; or his HAPPENING to be in Difgrace
according to the favouritePhrafe of his D r.
His Lordfhip's faid Circumjlancts may,
upon the whole Evidence, then be fumm'd
up as follow.
His Lordfhip had once already changed
Sides ; his Lordfhip had openly expreiied his
Difguft on feeing Foreigners more confided
in, than himfelf. His Lordfhip had joined
with his Lady and the Tgries, in the Cafe
of
[ 73 ]
of the Princefs. His Lordfhip had- beea
trufted with a Secret, which had been be-
trayed: And Intelligence, no matter whether
true, or falfe, had efcaped from St. Germain's,
that his Lordfhip was actually in a Treaty
to reftore his old Mafter.
On the other Hand, the King while
Prince of Orange, had feen enough to put
him early on his Guard, againft all Com-
binations among his Nobility : He knew
he was not poffefTed of the Hearts of his
People. He had Evidence enough, that
Defigns were continually forming againft him,
and tho' he lov'd to vifit, the had no Incli-
nation to take up his Refidence in Holland.
Whether, therefore, Lord Mar/borough
was juftly fufpected or not; the King at
fuch a Crifis, had very fufficient Reafon for
no longer trufting, and even taking care to
fecure fo dangerous a Man : which leads me
to the Queen's Share in this controverted
TranfadHon.
By her Majefty's Phrafe to her Sifter, J
need not R E p E A T theC A USE betas given the
to do what be has done, it appears
plainly
I 74 ]
plainly enough, that this Caufe was not un-
known to the Princefs ; and 'tis very remar-
kable that her Highnefs, in her Anfwer, does
not urge one Word in his Lordfhip's De-
fence.
But 'tis neceflary to infert the Letter itfelf.
-
Your Majefty was in the right to think
* your Letter would be very furprizing to
c me. For you muft needs be fenfible e-
' noughof the Kindnefs I have for my La-
1 dy Marlborough, to know that a. Com-
* mand from you to part with her muft be
* the greateft Mortification in the World to
* me j and indeed of fuch a Nature, as I
* might well have hoped your Kindnefs to
' me would have always prevented. I am
* fatisfied SHE cannot have been guilty of any
* Fault to you. And it would be extream-
' ly to her Advantage, if I could here repeat
' every Word that ever me had faid to me
* of you in her whole Life. I confefs, it
e is no fmall Addition to my Trouble to
e find the Want of your Majefty 's Kind--
' nefs to me upon this Occafion; fince I
' am
t 75 1
am fure I have always endeavoured to de^
ferve it by all the Actions of my Life.
* Your Care of my prefent Condition is
extremely obliging. And if you would
be pleafed to add to it fo far, as, upon my
Account, to recal your^ fevere Command
(as I mu ft beg Leave to call it in a Mat-
ter fo tender to me, and fo little reafon-
able, as I think, to be impofed upon me,
that you would fcarce require it from the
rneaneft of your Subjects) I mould ever
acknowledge it as a very agreeable Mark
of your Kindnefs to me. And I muft as
freely own, that as I think this Proceed-
ing can be for no other Intent than to
give me a very fenfible Mortification, fo
there is no Mifery that I cannot readily
refolve to fuffer, rather than the Thoughts
of parting with her. If after all this that
I have faid, I muft ftill find myfelf fo un-
happy as to be farther prefTed in this Mat-
ter, yet your Majefty may be allured, that
as my paft Actions have given the greateft
Teftimony of my Refpect both for the
the King and you, fu it ihall always be my
' Endea-
[ 76 ]
c Endeavour, wherever I am, to preferve it
e carefully for the Time to come, as be-
* comes
' Tour MAJESTY'S
From the Cockpit,
Feb. 6th 1692.
' wry affe&ionate Sifter
* and Servant,
ANNE,
The Princefs, without doubt, held the Pen
on this Occafion : But, as me was then POS-
SESS'D by your Grace, I mail make no Scru-
ple to prefume that you was the Ditfatrefs.
'Tis otherwife, not to be accounted for, that
he mould utterly depart from that Exacti-
tude of Good-breeding, which, in every other
Occurrence, diftinguimed her as much as the
Crown me afterwards wore. Inftead of
which, in the Cafe before us, me is led
not only to violate the Laws of Deco-
rum in making a Vifit to her Sifter and
her Queen, with the Wife of an obnox-
ious Perfon in her Train, which, as her
Majefty juftly fliles it, was the ftrang-
si
[ 77 ]
eft tfhing that ever was dene j but, when
charged with this inconfiderate Step in the
mildefl and moft affectionate Terms, never
deigns to return one Syllable of Excufe, or
Apology for it : But, on the contrary, infifls
that Lady Marlborough has been guilty of no
Fault, and, therefore, {he will endure all Ex-
tremities rather than part with her. This,
in fhort, is the Subftance of her Highnefs's
Letter j and if this does not breathe all
the impetuous Spirit of one who has been
ram enough to fay in Print, -f- J could not
endure to have her do any thing that J would
not hai)e done in her PLACE, there is no
fuch thing as Character or Manner to di-
ftinguifh one Perfon from another.
I mud then again beg leave, Madam, to
confider this Letter as yours, and not the
Princefs's ; and like wile, to take Notice that
your Grace, having faddled your Friends with
the Infult of your Vifit to Court, while your
Lord HAPPEN'D to be in Diigrace, lofes
no Time in fay.ng any one plaufible Thing
to palliate it ; but leaving them to anfwer
for
f- Account, p 1 20,
I 7* ]
for themfelves as they may, hurries on to the
Queen's Attempt to turn you out\ that grand
Article which had fomething in it fo ab-
horrent to your Temper. . i J&
But, before we are deafen'd by the Heat
and Impatience of your Grace on that Ac-
count, it may be necefTary, as 'tis certainly
moft decent, to lend an Ear to what may
be faid for her Majefty : Viz.
: That in the critical Situation of King
William, he could not be too vigilant againil
the Defigns of his Enemies. That, in confe-
quence of the Intelligence he had then receiv'd,
I fay again, whether true or falfe, it behoved
hirn to be before-hand with thofe who were
caballing againit him. That it was of Im-
portance to him that his People mould be-
lieve he proceeded to Severities with no
Perfon without fufficient Caufe. That for
the Princefs to countenance thofe. he had dif-
graced, argued, that either fhe defign'd by that
Step to have them thought innocent, or that
me herfelf, which is not to be imagined, ef-
poufed their Proceedings. That the Queen,
as me ought to be, was entirely in the inte-
i
reft
['79 ]
reft of her Husband. That in this, as in every
other Affair, (notwithflanding your Grace
takes fuch Pains to iignify he was, during a
great Part of this Quarrel, in Flanders) fhe
governed herfelf by his * Command. That
the Difcarding Lady Marlborougb, of what-
ever Importance (he had made herfelf, was a
Trifle, in Comparifon to the probable Con-
fequences of a % Breach between the two
Sifters. And that tho' any other Lady might
not have been involved in the Guilt of her
Husband, it was impoffible to think fo of
Lady Mar thorough, becaufe it was well
known me governed her Lord in all
Things.
And now for your Grace. But how is it
poffible to follow you thro* that Maze of
Cavils, Reproaches, Expoftulations, Com-
plaints, Invectives, Pleadings, Pafiions, Gfc.
with which almoft every Period, for feveral
Pages
* As appears njoft evidently by her Return to the Prlncefs's
Meflage in her laft Illnefs, That the Ki N c would ' Jend an An-
fvjer the next Day. Account, Page 3.
J Which is even vvitneffed by her Grace herfelf. Two or
' three Jacobite Ladies alfo came to her ; becaufe (as it was
* eafy to obferve) all of that lot'erefl rejoiced much at theQuar-
rel.' Ibid, p. 49 .
t > ]
Pages fucceffively is entangled? Yes, you
comment upon, your Grievances, recapitu-
late your Services^ upbraid the Queen with
an Alteration of Sentiments towards you,
without the leaft Hint that it was occaficn'd
by a Change of Manners in you \ and call
upon Heaven and Earth to witnefs, how hard
it Was that even Kings and Queens mould
prefume to turn you out, when they had all
the Reafon in the World to know how ill
you would take it at your Hands. One
would almoft think the Fate of an Empire
was depending, or even that the good Geni-
us of the World was taking its final Leave.
But, in the Midft of all, your Grace is flill
yourfelf, and manage Matters fo dexteroufly,
that the very Gates of Hell cannot prevail a-
gainft you. The King thunders, the Queen
orders you to remove from the Cockpit -, but,
rather than comply, the poor Princefs is in-
duced to remove herfelf, M refolded to do
every Thing refpeflful to the King and^ueen^
except in the only Thing required of her.
So certain it is, that evil Communication cor~
rupts good Manners !
But
[ 8i ]
But this very extraordinary Step of her
Highnefs's, was prefac'd by a Letter to
the Queen, which was as follows.
' I am very forry to find that all I have
' faid my felf, and my Lord Rochefler for
' me, has not had efFecl: enough to keep
' your Majefly from perfitiing in a Refolu-
' tion, which you are fatisfied miift be fo
great a Mortification to me, as, to avoid
c it, I (hall be obliged to retire, and deprive
c myfelf of the Satisfaction of living where I
* might have frequent Opportunities of af-
' furing you of that Duty andRefpedl, which
c I always have been, and mail be defirous to
' pay you upon all Occafions.
' My only Confolation in this Extremity
c is, that, not having done any Thing in all
' my Life to deferve your Unkindnefs, I hope
c I fhall not be long under the Neceflity of
' abfenting myfelf from you : the Thought
of which is fo uneafy to me, that I find
c myfelf too much indifpofed to give your
< Majefly any farther Trouble at this Time.
It
It is remarkable, that tho' the Princefs in
this Letter acknowledges the good Offices of
her Uncle the Lord Rocbeftcr, in her Behalf
to the Queen, your Grace endeavours to ex-
plain them away ; which charitable Attempt
of your's has no other apparent Foundation,
but that his Lordfhip excufed himfelf from
carrying her Highnefs's firft Letter to the
Queen, in which appeared fo little Affection
or Regard to her Majefty, and fo ftrong an
Infatuation with Refpect to your Grace. A
Proceeding, in my humble Opinion, not only
blamelefs, but highly laudable ; in as much
as it was an Office which became none but
her Highnefs's worft Enemy, except in her
Service and therefore obliged to obey her
Commands, to undertake.
As to your Grace's happy Sneers at a Plot
hid in a Flower-Pot, and Toung's being held
by the Court -Lawyers an irreproachable
Witnefs, in the Cafe of your Lord, becaufe
he had not loft his Ears, if they raife a.
Laugh, I fuppofe it is all they were inferted
for : and if one Bifhop, for his own Sake, as
being accufed of being one of the Conipira-
tors,
[ 83 ]
tors, has difculpated Lord Marlborough, to-
gether with the other Peers, faid to be in
the fame Aflbciation ; and if another (Bur-
net) for the Sake of Truth, has done the
fame, neither of them has been hardy enough
to make this Forgery of Tbitng's a Device of
the Government's, or reprefent it was counte-
nanced by a Secretary of State, according to
the AlTertion of your Grace. (My Lord Rom-
ney, Secretary of State, had fcnt to one Young*
&c. in order to make him what they call a
legal Evidence.) So that this ftrange Circum-
ftance refts folely on your Grace's fingle Au-
thority, and will be fwallowed, or not, ac-
cording to the Credulity of your Readers.
Your Grace is pleafed to add, p. 65. t My
c Lord Devon/hire^ my Lord Bradford, and
the late Duke of Montagu, thought it in-
< famous to fend my Lord Mar thorough to
c Prifon upon fuch Evidence j and therefore
c when the Warrant for his Commitment came
c to be fign'd at the Council- table, they refufed
4 to put their Hands to it, though at that Time
4 they had no particular Friendfhip for him.'
Infamous is a broad Word, Madam, and
F 2 neither
[ 84 ]
neither authorized by thefe Lords refufing to
fign the Commitment, nor the Fad: itfelf, as
I have already made appear. But your
Grace's Paffions feem to be Proof againft
Time itfelf!
This important Incident of Lord Marlbo-
rough's Commitment, gives Place to an epif-
tolary Correfpondence between her Highnefs
and your Grace. One Side of which you
have been pleafed to lay before the Public,
as likewife one Motive for fo doing, viz.
' To give us a mo're lively Impreffion of
* the Cruelty of the Queen's Command, that
c injoined her Sifter to part with a Friend fo
' dear to her Heart , merely to gratify the
' Royal Pride in a Point of Ceremony. 1
With what Candour and Ingenuity, Ma-
dam, you have ftated the Queftion ! and how
worthy you have painted yourfelf of thofe
paffionate Expreffions in the Letters follow-
ing ! p. 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72.
To Lady Marlborough.
* Though I have nothing to fay to my dear
Mrs. Freeman t 1 cannot help enquiring how
< fhe and her Lord does. If it be not conve-
* nient
* nientfor you to write, when you receive this,
either keep the Bearer till it is, or let me
c have a Word or two from you by the next
' Opportunity when it is eafy to you ; for I
* would not be a Conftraint to you at any
' Time, much lefs now, when you have fo
* many Things to do, and think of. All I
* defire to hear from you at fuch a Time as
1 this, is, that you and your's are well ;
* Which, next to having my Lord Marlbo-
1 rough out of his ENEMIES Power, is the
' beft News that can come to her, who, to
' the loft Moment of her Life, will be dear
' Mrs. Freeman's.
To Lady Marlborough.
' I give dear Mrs. Freeman a thoufand
* Thanks for her kind Letter, which gives
' me an Account of her Concerns ; and that
* is what I defire more to know than any
* other News. I mall reckon the Days and
* Hours, and think the Time very long till
c the Term is out, for both your Sake and
* my Lord Marlborough's, that he may be at
* Liberty, and your Mind at Eafe. You do
* not fay any Thing pf your Health, which
F 3 ( makes
[ 86 ]
e makes me hope you are well, at leafr, not
' worfe than when you were here. And,
c dear Mrs. Freeman, don't fay when I
* can fee you, if I come to Town j there-
c fore I afk what Day will be moft conve-
* nient to you ? For, though all Days are
* alike to me, I iliould be glad you would
c name one, becaufe I am to take fome Phy-
' fick, and would order that accordingly. I
c confefs, I long to fee you, but am not fo
c unreafonable to defire that Satisfaction till
' it is eafy to you. I wi(h with all my Soul,
* that you may not be a true Prophetefs, and
' that it may be foon in our Power to enjoy
' one another's Company, more than it has
' been of latej which is all / covet in this
* World.
To Lady Marlborough.
' I am forry with all my Heart, dear
* Mrs. Freeman meets with fo many De-
' lays ; but it is a Comfort, THEY cannot keep
* Lord Marlborough in the Tower longer than
* the End of the Term 3 and, I hope, when
c the Parliament fits, Care will be taken that
e People may not be clapt up for nothing, or
'elfe
f 8 7 ]
c elfe there will be no living in Quiet for
* any Body, but infolent Dutch, and fneak-
* ing, mercenary Englifomen. Dear Mrs.
* Freeman, farewel j be aflured your faithful
Mrs. Morley can never change ; and, I
* hope, you do not in the leaft doubt of her
f Kindnefs, which, if it be poffible, encreafes
( every Day, and that can never have an
* End but with her Life. Mrs. Morley hopes
' her dear Mrs. Freeman will let her have the
c Satisfaction of hearing from her again To-
morrow.
To Lady Marlborough.
4 Dear Mrs. Freeman may eafily imagine,
c I cannot have much to fay, fince I faw
( her. However, I muft write two Words.
* For though I believe me does not doubt of
my Conflancy, feeing how bafe and falfe
' all the World is, I am of that Temper, I
c think, I can never fay enough to ajjure you
of it. Therefore give me LEAVE to ajfure
' you they can never change me. And there
e is no Mifery I cannot readily refofoe to fit f-
' fer, rather than the Thought of parting
( fromyoit. And I do five ar^ I would Jootter be
F 4 torn
[ 88 ]
' torn In Pieces, than alter this my Refolu-
* tion. My dear Mrs. Freeman, I long to
' hear from you.
To Lady Marlborough.
* My dear Mrs. Freeman was in fo difmal
c a Way when (he went from hence, that I
cannot forbear aiking how (he does, and if
< me has yet any Hopes of Lord Marlbo-
rough's being foon at Liberty. For God's
Sake, have a Care of your dear Self, and
give as little Way to melancholy Thoughts
' as you can. If I could be as often with
* you as thofe that have it in their Power , but
' not in their Will, you mould feldom be
* alone ; but though I have not that Satif-
' faftion, as much as I dejire, I aflure you,
c my Heart is always with you 5 and IfWiJhes
' fignified any Thing, you would have no un~
* eafy Minute.
* Though I long of all Things to hear from
c my dear Mrs. Freeman, I am not fo unrea-
c fonable as to expect the Groom mould come
' back To-night, if he comes to you at an
' unfeafonable Hour $ therefore keep him till
it
1
it is eafy to you to write. But I am in
Hopes, I fhall have a Word or two before I
go to Bed ; becaufe my dear Mrs. Freeman
1 has promifed I mall hear from you.
' I fancy Afs's Milk would do you good,
' and that is what you might take Morning
* or Afternoon, as it is moft convenient.
' I had no fooner fealed my Letter, but I
' received my dear Mrs. Freeman's, for which
< I give her a thoufand Thanks, and am over-
' joyed at the good News you fend me, which
* I hope will cure you of every Thing.
To "Lady Marlborough.
* I am in Pain to know how my dear Mrs.
< freeman does, for (he is not ufed to com-
* plain, nor to be let Blood for a little Thing ;
and therefore I cannot help enquiring what
* is the Matter, and how me finds herfelf
' now ? I can come either to London or to
* Camden-Houfe To-morrow or Monday, or
* any other Day. If you will let me know
{ where and when, and what Time I may
' have the Satisfaction of feeing you, your
* faithful Morley will be fure to meet you.
Jhave
[ 9 ]
I have already hinted, that your Grace
has favoured us but with one Side of this
Correfpondence ; and now cannot help add-
ing, that your Account would have been
much fairer and clearer, if you had like-
wife given us the other. What you have
expo id, on your own Confeffion, flattered
yourRefentmentS; and it would be no Breach
of Charity, to infmuate your Vanity like-
wife: What you have concealed, 'tis fhrewdly
fufpeded, makes againfl you ; for thofe who
are not afraid of the whole Truth, think it
is for their Advantage to fet forth the whole
Evidence.
Your Grace next proceeds to inform us,
that, notwithftanding her Highnefs's Ten-
dernefs for you, me was very attentive not
to be wanting in any Point of DUE Refpeff
to the Queen ; (I could have wifh'd. Ma-
dam, you had ufed the Word Ceremonial on
this Occafion) and therefore, on her falling
in Labour, difpatched Sir Benjamin Bathurft
with her Compliments, &c. to inform her
Majefly of it, Gfc. and foon after Lady Char-
lotte Beverwaert, to fignify that me was
brought
t 9 .1
brought to Bed -of a Child that died fome
Minutes after the Birth ; who waited, you
tell us, a confiderable Time before the Queen
faw her, becaufe Lord Rochejler was not
there. And that ' after fome Conyerfation
' with him, the Queen fent for my Lady
* Charlotte, and told her, Jhe would go that
( Afternoon and fee the Princefs at Sion, and
4 me was there very foon after the Notice
' arrived !'
Now, from this Incident, it is very obvi-
ous to me, and I believe to every Body elfe,
that Lord Rochefter was really her High-
nefs's Friend, tho' your Grace has taken fuch
Pains to reprefent him otherwife ; fince the
Queen apparently refolved on this Vifit by
his Lordfhip's Advice.
The Interview between the Sifters is, in-
deed, ftrangely ftated by your Grace : But
the Evidence of a Party was never yet ad-
mitted by any equitable Judge. Befides,
the Truth breaks out, involuntarily, even in
the very Speech put into the Mouth of her
Majefty ; rough and imperious as it is made to
appear, it argues, at leait, a Difpofition to
be
t 9* ]
be reconciled ; and, fetting afide your Grace's
Prejudices, on no unreafonable Conditions.
'Tis however to no Purpofe to reafon on falfe
Premiffes , and I can, by no Means, be per-
fuaded that me, who firft fignified her Mind
with fo much Caution and Moderation, and
fo often put the Princefs on her Guard not
to return a ram Anfwer, mould now break
in upon, exprefs herfelf to, and take her
Leave of her Sifter (in that Condition) fo
abruptly j efpecially as your Grace yourfelf,
tho' for another End, bears the following
Witnefs in her Favour.
* I have heard that the Queen, when {he
* came home, was pleafed to fay, She was
1 SORRY Jhe had fpoke to the Princefs ; ivho t
< me confefled, hadfo much Concern upon her
' at renewing the Affair^ that foe trembled^
1 and looked as 'white as the Sheets'
If there is Leifure at the laft Day for fuch
minute Particulars as thefe, which take up
fo much Room in your Grace's Book, no
Doubt the Matter of Fatt will be known ;
and till then we muft content ourfelves with
what feems moft like it.
To
3
[ 93 1
To finifli upon this Scene. Your Grace
adds the two enfuing Paragraphs.
c 3 do not SEE how the molt zealous Ad-
* vocates for the Queen can vindicate her in
* thefe Proceedings to an only Sifter, nor how
' a Man of that mighty Underjlanding y my
' Lord Rocbefter was faid to have, could
' THINK, that a Vint (which the Queen
' made to every Countefs) was fo extraordi-
' nary a Grace to a Sifter, that it mould
* oblige her to do, what me had retired from
* the Court to avoid.
* I mutt obferve to your Lcrdfliip, that
' the King was not in England, when this
' laft Thing happened. My Lord Rochejier
f was the Queen's Oracle j and whether
* he had any Share or not in beginning the
f ill Ufage of the Princefs, he was without
* queftion the Profecutor of it.
Nothing is more extraordinary than that
your Grace thouldjee fo far into other Peo-
ple's Concerns, and fo little a Way into your
own. But if your Eye-Sight was fo bad
while your Papers were yet in your Clofet,
I hope the Opinion of the Public, for which
you
t 94 ]
you manifefr. fuch a Deference, has by this
Time enabled you to fee better than ever.
Even I, inconfiderable as you may affect to
think me, have contributed fomething to
your Cure : You already^ the Queen can
be vindicated : and as to the mighty Under-
Jl anting of my Lord Rocbefter, which you
are pleas'd fo often to fneer at, I think that
likewife is made fufficiently evident by
the Expedient of this very Viiit, tho' it is
treated with fuch Scorn by your Grace. For
notwithstanding the Queen did that Honour
occafionally to CounterTes it muft be under-
ftood as limited to thofe, who were upon
good 'Terms with her Majeftyj which not be^
ing then the Cafe of her Highnefs, my Lord
ROCHESTER very wifely thought it to be an
Advance on the Queen's Side, and therefore
to be received as a Grace by the Princefs.
But as a flagrant Inflance of the marvel-
lous Confiftency of your whole Work, let
me beg your Grace to compare thefe two
laft Paragraphs. In the firft, my Lord Ro-
chejlcr is ridicuPd for propoling an Expedi-
ent to reconcile the two Royal Sifters j and
in
[ 95 ]
in the next, is charged with being the (Sole
is underftoodj Profecutor of the Quarrel.
The Credit of my Lord ROCHESTER'S
mighty Underflanding does not, however, de-
pend on this Expedient. Your Grace has
already told us he oppofed your Admiffion
into the Service of the Royal Family j and
the Mifchief you created in it, is a very
fufficient In fiance of an uncommon Pene-
tration.
This, likewife, is but one of the almoft
innumerable Proofs of the Greatnefs of his
Abilities : If your Grace had ever read^ 'tis
poffible you would not, by attempting to
make a Jeft of his Underftanding, have drawn
your own into Queftion. His noble De-
fence of his great * Father, his confcientious
Oppofition of the Exclufion-Bill, however
unpopular, were equal Proofs of his Genius
and his Virtue: But the fhrewd Light in
which he ftated the Vote of -f- Abdication,
in
* The Earl of Clarendon when impeach'd.
f The Convention, which upon the Prince of Orangis
Letters, met on the 2zd of January 1688. having on
the 2 8th of the fame Month come to the following Re-
folutions,
2
[ 96 ]
in the grand Conference between the Lords
and Commons, which left the moil forward
Undertakers for our late Deliverer without a
Reply,
folutions, viz. that King James II. bavins; endea-
voured to fubvert the Conftitution of the Kingdom,
by breaking the original Contract between King and
People ; and by the Advice of Jefuits and other wick-
ed Perfons, having violated the fundamental Laws,
and withdrawn himfeif out of the Kingdom, hath
abdicated the Government, and that the Throne is
thereby vacant : The Lords concurred with this Re-
folution with Amendments ; for inftead of the Word
Abdicated, they put in Deferted, and quite left out,
that the Throne is thereby vacant. This occafioned a
free Conference between the Lords and Commons,
and my Lord Rocbefter concluded the Debate about
the firft Amendment in thefe Words, * The Lords
have given their Reafons why they altered the
Word Abdicated, becaufe it was a Word not known
in the Common Law, and of doubtful Significati-
on : Therefore it would be well if the Commons
would pleafe to exprefs their own Meaning by it.
I believe my Lords would be induced to agree,
that the King hath abdicated, that is, renounced
the Government for himfeif: If you mean no fur-
ther than that, and if you do fo, why ftiould you
not be pleafed to explain your felves, that every one
may know how the Matter ftands ? And, to pre-
ferve a good Correfpondence between both Houfes,
in fuch a Juncture and Conjunction as this ? But if
you do not mean any thing more by it than Abdica-
tion fofhimfelfonly, and though their Lordfliips ihould
agree to the ufmg of the Word Abdicated, yet this
would prove a greater Argument againft their agree-
ing in the other Point about the Vacancy of the Throne ;
' there-
[ 97 ]
Reply, will render his Name venerable, when
your Grace's, however artificially guarded,
may be heard of no more.
But
* therefore we would be glad to have you explain your
' felves what you mean by it.
Here there was a Paufe.
And the Commons afterwards proceeding to tl e 2(1
Amendment, the Lords, in the whole Courfe of the
Debate, (hewed the great Concern they had for the
Succeflion of the Crown-; and my Lord Roeljefter made
it appear he had that Matter at Heart as much as any of
them, as appears from what follows ; ' In a free Confe-
rence the Points in Queftion are fully to be debated ;
and the Lords, in order to their Agreement with the
Commons, are to be fatisfy'd what is meant, and how
far it may extend.
' You, Gentlemen, that are the Managers for the
Houfe of Commons, it feems, cgme with a limited
Commiflion, and will not enter into that Confedera-
tion^ whrch, (as our Reafons exprefs) hath a great
Weight with my Lords, whether this Vote of the
Commons will not make the Monarchy of England*
which has always heretofore been Hereditary, to be-
come ElecJive.
That the Vacancy of the Throne will infer fuch
a Conference, to me appears very plain. And I
take it from the Argument, that the laft Gentleman,
meaning Mr. [afterwards Lord] Sowers, ufed for the
Word Vacant, out of the Record of Richard 2d's
time, that is cited for a Precedent for that Word.
But as that is the only Precedent, yet 'tis attended
with this very Confequence j for it being there de-
clared, that the Royal Seat was vacant^ immediate-
ly did follow an Election of Henry IV. who was not
next in the Right Line. Did not then this Hereditary
Monarchy in this Inftance become Elfffivt ? When
G King
But 'tis plain your Grace not only hated
him, but feared him : And what Wonder?
He was Uncle to the Princefs fhc had an
Opinion of his good Intentions towards her;
and you were refofv'd at any Rate, to en-
grofs her all to yourfelf j which his mighty
Underjlandlng and upright Intentions, if al-
lowed fair Play, might poffibly have difap-
pointed you of.
So much at prefent for rny Lord Rochefter.
Your Grace next entertains us with a
pathetic Scene of Diftrefs on one Side, and
Heroifm on the other. Having rightly e-
nough fuppofed that you ought to have
made Jbme Propofal to the Princefs, to free
her from the Trouble {he was in (on YOUR
ACCOUNT might have been added) the
Narrative is thus continued.
c I allure
King Charles 2d died, I would fain know whether
in our Law the Throne was Vacant : No fure, the
next Heir was immediately in the Throne, and fo
it is in all Hereditary fucceflive Governments. In-
deed in Poland when the King dies, there is a Va-
cancy ; becaufe there the Laws know no certain Suc-
ceflbr : fo that the Difference is plain, that where-
ever the Monarchy is Hereditary, upon the ceafmg
?' of him in Pofkflion, the Throne is not vacant ;
* where 'tis EleR'nc 'tis Vacant.
[ 99 J
4 I afTure you-, that, from the very Begin -
c ning of the Difference, it was my earneft
c Requeft to let me go from her -, for tho'
* had 31 been in her Place, 31 would NOT
' have COMPLIED with the Queen's De-
* mand, yet I thought that in mine, I could
' not difcliarge what I owed to the Princefs*
4 without employing every Argument my
* Thoughts could fuggeft, to prevail with
c her to part with me. But whenever I faid
* any Thing that looked that Way, me fell
* into the greateft Paffion of lender -nefs and
Weeping that is pofTible to imagine. And
* though my Situation at that Time was fo
* difagreeable to my Temper, that I could
e have chofen to go to the Indies fooner,
6 than to endure it ; yet, had I been to fuf^
fer a thou/dnd Deaths, I think I ought to
* have fubmitted, rather than have gone from
* her againil her Will.
What an affedling Image have we here
of an infatuated Princefs, facrificing almoft
every Thmg to an ill-underflood Opinion of
the Duties of Friendfliip ? But the Impulfe
of Compaffion towards her Highnefs muft
G 2 foon
[ 100 ]
foon give Way to that of Admiration due to
your Grace. Church-Martyrs we have whole
Books ofj but a Court-Martyr is a Pbtsmx,
and not to be found above once an Age. Be it
known then, by thefe Prefents, that Lady
M was that Phanix ; that {he has
given it under her own Hand fhe was : and
that her ipfe dixit is to be allow'd againft all
Fadts and Reafonings whatever !
Your Grace, I hope, will pardon this (hort
Excurfion, fince calculated for your Service :
for without it, Doubts would have arofe,whe-
ther the Princefs had not been artfully
work'd up to this Tranfport of Tendernefs ?
and whether this Refignation of your Grace's
was not Artificial too j efpecially when zfub-
Jequent Pa/age (P. 96, 97.) comes into Con-
fideration,and when thefe remarkable Words
For though had J| been in her PLACE, J
would NOT have complied with the Queen's
Demand^ are compared with thofe before
quoted, J could not endure to have her do
any thing that J] would not have done in her
Place.
The
[ 101 ]
The Return of the Queen's Vifit, called
with the Scorn familiar to you, a great Ho-
nour by your Grace, is the next Occurrence
you think proper to lay before us ; and here
Bifhop Stillingfleet is employed inftead of
Lord Rochefter, not only to carry a Letter,
but to make uje of his Credit to Jo ft en her :
An Expedient in your Grace's Turn, it may
be fairly prefum'd to induce the Queen to
wave her Point, and leave her Sifter in the
quiet Pofleffion of her Favourite.
To be impartial, we muft here beg Leave
to infert her Highnefs's Letters both to your
Grace, and the Queen, on this Occafion, as
likewife her Majefty's Anfwer.
" 'The Princefs to Lady Marlborough.
-- The Bifhop of Wor-
cefter was with me this Morning before
I was drefs'd. I gave him my Letter to
the Queen, and he has promifed to fe-
cond it, and feemed to undertake it very
willingly : Though by all the Difcourfe
G 3 ' I had
[ lot ]
I had with him, (of which I will give
you a particular Account when I fee you)
I find him very partial to her. The laft
Time he was here, I told him you had fe-
veral Times defired you might go from
me, and I have repeated the fame Thing
again to hjm. For you may eafily ima-
gine, I would not neglect doing you Right
upon all Occafions. But I beg it again
for CHRIST'S JESUS'S Sake, that you would
never name it any more to me. For
be allured, if you mould ever do fo cruel
a Thing as to leave me, from that very Mo-
ment I fhall never enjoy one quiet Hour.
And mould you do it without [afking my
Confent (which if ever I give you, may I
never fee the Face of Heaven) I will fhut
myfelf up, and never fee the World more,
but live where I may be forgotten by hu-
man Kind.
To the QUEEN.
Sion, the 2oth of May.
' I have now, GOD be thanked, recovered
my Strength well enough to go abroad.
And though my Duty and Inclination
e would both lead me to wait upon your
c Majefty, as foon as I am able to do it,
e yet I have of late had the Misfortune of
' being fo much under your Majefty's Dif-
' pleafure, as to apprehend, there may ba
' hard Conftructious made upon any Thing
* I either do, or not do, with the moft
c refpectful Intentions. And I am in doubt
whether the fame Arguments, that have
c prevailed with your Majefly to -j~ fbr-
c bid People from {hewing their ufual Re-
c fpedts to me, may not be carried fo much
c farther, as not to permit me to pay my
Duty to you. That, I acknowledge,
would be a great Encreafe of Affliction to
me ; and nothing but your Majefty's own
< Command mail ever willingly make me
' fubmit to it. For, whatever Reafon I
* may think in my own Mind I have to
' complain of being hardly ufed, yet I will
' ftrive to hide it, as much as poffcble. And
c though I will not pretend to live at the
c Cockpit, unlefs you would be fo kind
04 'as
f Her Grace has already told us that *ll Company had
been forbid waiting on the Princefs, and likewife that her
Guards had been taken away. p. 75.
[ 104 I
e as to make it eafy to me, yet wherever I
' am, I will endeavour always to give the
conftant Marks of Dutyand Refpeft, which
* I have in my Heart for your Majefty, as
becomes
Tour Majefty s
very affectionate Sifter,
and Servant,
ANNE.
To this the Queen returned the follow-
ing Anfwer.
To the PRINCESS.
< I have received your's by the Bimop of
1 Worcejler, and have very little to fay to
it j fince you cannot but know, that as I
* never ufed Compliments, fo now they will
* notferve.
c 'Tis none of my Fault, we live at this
f Diftance^ and I have endeavoured to mew
my Willingnefs to do otherwife. And I
' will do no more. Don't give yourfelf
' any unneceiTary Trouble : For be allured
' it is not Words can make us live together
< as we ought. You know what I required
of you. And I now tell you, if you
' doubted
doubted it before, that I cannot change
my Mind, but expect to be complied
with, or you mull: not wonder if I doubt
of your Kindnefs. You can give me no
other Marks, that will fatisfy me. Nor
can I put any other Conftruction upon
your Actions than what all the World
muft do that fees them. Thefe Things
don't hinder me being very glad to hear
you are fo well, and ivijhing you may
continue fo; and that you may yet,
while 'tis in your Power, oblige me to be
your affectionate Sifter
MARIE R.
The Princefs to Lady Marlborough.
' I am very fenfibly touched with the Mif-
fortune that my dear Mrs. Freeman has had
of lofing her Son, knowing very well what
it is to lofe a Child : but (he knowing my
Heart fo well, and how great a Share I bear
in all her Concerns, I will not fay anymore
on this Subject, for fear of renewing her
Paffion too much.
c Being now at Liberty to go where I
pleafe by the Queen's refufmg to fee me, I
1 am
[ 106 ]
1 am mightily inclined to go To-morrow,
c after dinner, to the Cockpit, and from thence
* privately in a Chair to fee you, fome Time
* next Week. I believe it will be Time for
f me to go to London to make an End of that
< Bufmefs of Berkley -Houfe.
' The Bifhop brought me the Queen's
* Letter early this Morning, and by that little
5 he faid, he did not feein fo well fatisfied
* with her, as he was Yeflerday. He has
* promifed to bear me Witnefs, that I have
' made all the Advances that were reafonable.
c And I confefs, I think, the more it is told
c about, that I would have waited on the
Queen, but that fhe refufed feeing me, it
'. is the better: And therefore I will not fcruple
c faying it to any Body, when it comes in my
' Way.
' There were fome in the Family, as foon
c as the News came this Morning of our
' Fleet's beating the French, that advifed the
* Prince to go in the Afternoon to compli-
' ment the Queen. And another afked me,
* if I would not fend her one ? but we nei-
* ther of us thought there was any Neceffity
'of
* of it then, and much lefs fince I received
6 this arbitrary Letter. I don't fend you the
' Original for Fear any Accident may happen
' to the Bearer : For I love to keep fuch Let-
f ters by me for my own Juftification. Sure
c never any Body was fo ufed by a Sifter! but
* I thank GOD I have nothing to reproach
* myfelf withal in this Bufmefs, but the more
s I think of all that has patted, the better I
c am fatisfied. And if I had done otherwife,
I mould havedeferved to have been the Scorn
c of the World, and to be trampled upon as
c much as my Enemies would have rne.
c Dear Mrs. Freeman farewel. I hope in
'CHRIST you will never think more of
c leaving me, for I would be facrificed to do
c you the leaft Service, and nothing but Death
' can ever make me part with you. For if it
< bepofilble I am every day more and more
c yours.
* I hope your Lord is well. It was Mr.
' Maul and Lady Fitzharding that ad-
* vis'd the Prince and me to make our
< Compliments to the Queen.
Imuft
I muft now obferve, that your Grace
calFd the Queen's Letter harm and peremp-
tory, the Princefs an arbitrary one ; and eve-
ry Body elfe mufl allow it to be very diffe-
rent from that me fent when this Mifunder-
ftanding firft broke out. Very different indeed
it is; but, before any farther Cenfure is pafs'd
upon it, it ought to be recollected, that the
Quarrel had now been of fome Continu-
ance ; that many inflammatory Circumftan-
ces had added Fuel to the Fire ; that the Sifter,
who infifted on being obeyed, was Queen j
that the Struggle, in effect, lay between her
Majefly and Lady Marlborougb j that fome-
thing iff to be allowed for the Frailties infe-
parable from human Nature ; that the King's
Will was uniformly a Law to his Royal
Con fort ; and that, if the Queen was influ-
enced to be rather too rigid on one hand,
the Princefs was fpirited up to be rather too
obftinate on the other ; as is evident from the
two following Letters from her Highnefs, ex-
pofed by your Grace, to mew that the Prince
her Husband had the Complaifance to be of
her Mind in all Things j and introduced with
a
3
a frefh Comment on the OBLIGATIONS
conferred by Lord and Lady Marlborough
on the Princefs of Denmark.
To Lady Marlborough.
' I really long to know how my dear
Mrs. Freeman got home ; and now. I have
this Opportunity of writing, {he muft give
me leave to tell her, if fhe mould ever be
fo cruel to leave her faithful Mrs, Mor-
ley, fhe will rob her of all the Joy and
Quiet of her Life ; for if that Day fhould
come, / could never enjoy a bappy Minute,
and I five a r to you I would Jhut my f elf up,
and never fee a Creature. You may ea-
fily fee all this would have come upon.
me, if you had not been. If you do
but remember what the Q. faid to me
the Night before your Lord was turned
out of ALL j then flie begun to pick
Quarrels; and if they mould take off
twenty or thirty thoufand Pound, have I
not lived upon as little before ? When I
c was
t
< was firft married we had but twenty (IT is
c TRUE INDEED THE KlNG WAS SO
* KIND TO PAY MY DEBTS) and if it
4 mould come to that again, what Retrench-
c merit is there, in my Family, I would
* not willingly make, and be glad of that
* Pretence to do it. Never fancy, dear
* Mrs. Freeman, if what you fear mould
c happen, that you are the Occafion ; no, I
c am very well fatisfied, and Jo is the Prince
e too 3 it would have been fo however, for
is capable of doing nothing but
* Injuftice ; therefore reft fatisfied,- you are
c no Ways the Caufe -, and let me beg once
more, for GOD'S fake, that you would
' never mention parting more, no nor fo
e much as think of it ; and if you mould
4 ever leave me, be allured it Would break
* your faithful Mrs. Morlefs Heart.
Friday Morning.
* I hope my dear Mrs. Freeman wiU
' coineasfoon as me can, this Afternoon,
c that we may have as much Time toge-
* ther, as we can -, I doubt you will think
' me
[ "1 J
' me very unreafonable for faying this,
' but I really long now to fee you again, as
c much as if I had not been fo happy this
' Month,
. ^
fo Lady Marlborough.
c In OBEDIENCE (how ftrange a Phrafe ?
* how much did her Highnefs forget herfelf?)
c to dear Mrs. Freema??, I have told the
Prince all Jhe dejired me, and he isfo far
* from being of another Opinion* if there
( had been Occafion be would have ftreng-
< thened me In nty Rejblutions, and tve both
< beg you would never mention fo cruel a
f thing any more. Can you think either of
c us fo wretched, that for the fake of
e TWENTY THOUSAND POUND", and tO
c be tormented from Morning to Night
* with flattering Knaves and Fools, we
ihould forfake thofe, we have fuchOBLi-
* CATIONS to, and that we are fo certain
c we are the Occafion of all their Misfor-
, * tunes ? Befides, can you believe we will
* truckle to who from the
* firft Moment of his coming has ufed us
2 c at
; at that Rate, as we are fenfible he has
; done, and that all the World can witnefs,
; that will not let their Intereft weigh more
with them, than their Reafon ? But fup-
pofe I did fubmit, and that the King
could change his Nature fo much, as to
: ufe me with Humanity, how would all
reafonable People defpife me ? How would
laugh at me and pleafe him-
felf with having got the better? And which
is much more, how would my Confcience
reproach me for having facriliced it, my
Honour, Reputation, and all the fubftan-
tial Comforts of this Life for tranfitory
Intereft, which even to thofe which make
it their Idol, can never afford any real Sa-
tisfaction, much lefs to a virtuous Mind ?
No, my dear Mrs. Freeman t never believe
your faithful Mrs. Morley will EVER
SUBMIT. She can wait with Patience for
a Sunmine Day, and if me does not live
to fee it, yet me hopes England will flou-
rifh again. Once more give me leave to
beg you would be fo kind never to fpeak
of parting more 5 for let what will hap-
* pen*
[ "3 1
pen, that is the only Thing can make
* me miferable.
Tuefday Morning.
Your Grace's liberal Complaints of the
ill Treatment you received from thofe you.
had ferv'd and oblig'd, both now, while un-
der the Frown of Q^Mary ; and afterwards,
when become equally the Abhorrence of her
Sifter Queen Anne-, indicate, that your Senfe
of Injuries, whether real or imaginary, was
as quick as it has been lafling, But Offen-
ces of this kind are as old as the World,
and will be committed as long as that en-
dures. Who was ever poflefs'd of Power, that
had not Reafon likewife to complain of
having lavim'd the Benefits of it upon
Undefervers ? If your Grace's Royal Bene-
factrefs had kept a Journal of the Favours
(lie bellowed, and the Returns me met with,
what a Satire it would have prov'd upon
human . Nature ? And how much Reafon
has your Grace, in particular, to be thank-
ful that me had too much Magnanimity to
remember the Good me had done, and too
H much
t "4 ]
much Chriftianity to record the Evil flic had
fuffered ?
But to return,
Your Grace feems to have learn'd another
Secret from the Painters, which is the Art
of contrafting your Figures : Thus, as you
yourfelf are every where the Angel of your
Piece, my Lord Rochefter is uniformly
mark'd out to be the Devil. A Letter from
his Lordfhip to the Princefs, has fet your
happy Pencil to work, in a manner inimi-
table to any common Hand ; and, indeed,
impoflible to be conceived by any Genius
beneath your Grace's But, before we
examine the CARRACATURE, let us caft
an Eye upon the LIFE.
fhe LIFE.
'I&eEar! qfRoc HESTER to the PRINCESS.*
MAD A.M,
f I am afraid, I may be guilty of too
c great Prefumption in giving your Royal
'High-
* Query, Hvw camt her Greet bj this Letter ?
f 5 ]
c Highnefs the Trouble of a Letter ;
* do it with fo good Intentions, that I hope
c you cannot be angry with me for it.
' And now that one is unhappily reftrain-
* ed from the Honour of 'waiting upon your
c Royal Highnefs, there is no other way
' but this to make an Offer of my humble
Duty to you. It is a very uncomfortable
1 Reflection for me to make, that being fo
' really concerned* as I am fure I am, for
1 your Royal Highnefs's Happinefs, I
(hould be fo unfortunate as to be .wholly
* ufelejs to you, at a Time, when your
' Royal Highnefs cannot but think your-
felf, that you have Ufe of every Bo-
c dy, that are truly and faithfully your
' Servants. And however I have been fo
* miftaken in my Judgment, as to have ne-
* ver offered any Thing to your Royal
Highnefs worth your Approbation, I do,
* with all Humility, fubmit my poor O-
1 pinion to that of your Royal Highnefs ;
* but beg you to believe, it is not Flattery
* to any Body elfe, nor any other Confi-
' deration that has made me be of the
Ha * Mind.
t "6 ]
c Mind I was ; but only the want of
* a better Under jianding^ to be able to think '
' of fomething more for your Service. And
c being thus incapable of myjelf to pro-
c pofe any thing that is agreeable to you>
* I take this Qccafion humbly to offer to
c your Royal Highnefs all the little Service
' you may judge me Jit to be employed in,
' and moft earneftly to befeech you to be-
* lieve, that if I can be of any Ufe in the
c World to your Royal Highnefs, there is
' nothing that I would endeavour with
' greater Satisfaction to myfelf, than at
c this Time to exprefs the great Concern,
'- I prefume to fay I have, for your Royal
' Highnefs, by any thing that I can do for
' your Service. And if any thing I have
* taken the Confidence to fay be worth
c your taking notice of, the lea ft Signifi-
' cation of your Pleafure will bring me at
1 all Times to receive the Honour of any
' of your Commands ; and the Duty, and
* Zeal and Paffion, I have for your true
' Jntereft and Profperity, will, I hope,
< make fome Amends for the Want of a
1 bet-
t "7 1
' better judgment and Capacity^ which I
c acknowledge every Body has a greater Share
' of than,
MADAM,
*
Tour ROYAL HIGHNESS'S
/
moft obedient, and
moft dutiful Servant ;
ROCHESTER*
The CARRACATURE.
c I cannot help thinking, that there is
c fomething very ABSURD in the affeffed
< Modefty and profound Reftettfulnefe of this
c Letter; where his Lordfhip owns, that
c every Body has more Judgment and Ca-
4 pacity than he, and, with all Humility,
' fubmits his poor Opinion to that of her
< Royal Highnefs, and at the fame time
H 3 let*
( Ji8 ]
c lets her know, that this poor Opinion,
* which he fo fubmits> (hall entirely go-
e "vern him in his Behaviour towards her.
e And the perfect felf-Approbation he dif-
* covers, after lamenting the Miftake of
* his Judgment, is no lefs RIDICULOUS.
* For he plainly intimates fome Expecta-
< tion, that me will fend for him again,
and confefs the Wifdom of the s E N s E LE s s
c Advice he had given her. I make no
c fcruple to call his Lordfhip's Advice SENSE-
4 LESS. For how unworthy foever he might
think me of the extraordinary Affe&ion
* the Princefs had for me, he could not
* hope (unlefs he were really the Simpleton
* he fays he is) [FooL 'would have agreed
better with the^ reft of the Colouring of this
Piece] c that what had lately happened
* would be a Means to cure her of it in any
* Degree ; and he muft know, that while
' Jke retained that Affe&ion t fhe COULD
' NOT PART WITH ME, 'Without EX-
* TREME UNHAPPINESS to herfelf. And
' what had he to propofe, as a Compenfa-
* tion to her for this UNHAPPINESS ? Not
the
t "9 ]
' the inward Satisfaction, nor the outward
< Glory of having obeyed any Law of God
' or of the Land, by removing me from her ;
* but only the empty Advantage of putting
* an End to their Majefties open Difpleafure
* with her ; a Difpleafure, which did her no
* real Hurt, and which, being fo occafioned
' as it was, gained her Credit with every
* Mortal that had a Heart.'
To be able to cream over the Gall of the
Heart with the Honey of the Tongue, or
convey the moft bitter Meaning in the moft
pleafmg Words, has been hitherto held the
diftinguifhing Characteriftic of a Court-
bred Witj and how incomparably your
Grace has fucceeded in that happy, envy'd Art,
is obvious from the mafterly Specimen juft
quoted. But however delicate your Grace's
Touches muft be allowed, I cannot help
thinking that your Out-line is not altogether
blamelefs j as, I think, is demonftrable from
the following plain and faithful Portrait.
His Lordfhip believes his firft Refpects to
be due to the Queen, yet retains the fame
Dilpofition to be ferviceable to the Princefs :
H 4 Tho'
r ia-0 ]
Tho' he could not wait upon her, he -'begs
Leave to correfpond with her. He laments
to find himfelf ufelefs, when a true Friend
might be moft ufeful to her. If miftaken in.
his Judgment, he fubmits it to that of her
Highnefs ; and infinuates, that his Miftake
arofe from no felf-interefted Confideration :
But, tho' incapable to advife, he is ready to
obey ; folicites her Highnefs's Commands in
the moft earneft Manner, hopes his Zeal
will atone for all other Defects ; and fince
her Highnefs has preferred every Body's Coun-
cils to his, takes it for granted, in Compliment
to her Highnefs, that every Body is better
qualified to be her Counfellor than himfelf.
This is the true Drawing, as the Figure
appears to my Eye-fight j in -which the AB-
SURD, the RIDICULOUS, and the SENSE-
LESS, are fo effectually concealed, that they
elude my Obfervation.
But whatever Caufe of Triumph occurs to
your Grace from this charitable Parade over
the Ames of your dead Enemy, it has put
your Grace fo effectually off your Guard,
that you have abundantly more expofed your
own
t '21 ]
own Weaknefs than his. You have before
made a Merit of preffihg her Highnefs to
difmifs you from her Service; and here you
give us to underftand, that you KNEW me
could not do it without EXTREME UN-
HAPPINESS to herfelf, nor with any e-
quivalent Advantage ; which is as much as
to fay, it was IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO
DO IT AT ALL. You add, her Majefty's
"Difpleafure did her no real Hurt ; and ye't,
Page 77. infinuate, the Indifpofition, as you
term it, of her Lying in, was followed by
a Fever, which you believe was, in great
Meafure, canfed by her Trouble.
Having finished your difcreet and polite
Comment upon my Lord Rochefters Letter,
which I cannot help believing was firft made
Viva Voce, in one of your Tete a T^-Scenes
with the Princefs, you proceed to make us ac-
quainted with the Reception it met with from
her Highnefs, or rather her Governefs, as fol-
lows:
To the Earl of Rocheiler.
e I give you many Thanks for the Com-
c pliments and Expreffions of Service which
I c you
t 1 ]
e you make me, in your Letter ; which I
' mould be much better pleas' d with, than
' I am, if I had any Reafon to think them
fincere. .
' It is a great Mortification to me, to find*
c that I (till continue under the Misfortune
of the Queen's Difpleafure. I had Hopes,
c in Time, the Occafion of it would have
* appeared as little reafonable to the Queen,
' as it has always done to me. And if you
* would have perfuaded me of the Sincerity
* of your Intentions, as you feem to defire,
* you muft give me leave to fay, I cannot
* think it very hard for you to convince me of
* it, by the Effects. And till then I muft
* beg Leave to be excufed, if I am apt to
' think, this great Mortification, which has
* been given me, cannot have proceeded
from the * Queen's own Temper^ who, I
c am perfuaded, is both more juft in herfelf,
* than that comes to, as well as more kind to
< Tour very affeftionate Friend,
ANNE.
Such
* Her Highnefs herfelf is here an Evidence that the Queen
iid NOT want Botuelt.
t "3 ]
Such Effect had your Grace's fpecial En-
deavours with the Princefs, in Favour of Lord
Rvchefter* been already attended with, and
fuch a Change had been made in her Send,
ments, fmce fhe exprefled her Senfe of his
good Offices in her fecond Letter to the Queen.
What follows for feveral Pages in your
Grace's Account, is a Series offoo/i/h Things,
as you very properly flile them; fuch as,
the Pains taken with the Ladies of the Bed-
chamber, to fpeak or write to their Rela-
tions and Acquaintance not to viiit the Prin-
cefs ; the Heroifm of Lady Grace Pierpoint,
in refufing bluntly to comply with the Queen's
Command ; the Lady ttanet's Letter of Ex-
cufe to her Highnefs; Lord Nottingham
Inftructions to the Mayor of Bath t (remem-
ber'd to be a Tallow- Chandler in your
Grace's Records) not to accompany the Prin-
cefs to Church in his Formalities ; the Mef-
fage fent to the Minifter of St. James's
Church, forbidding him to lay the Text on
her Highnefs's Cufhion, or take any more
Notice of her than other People, &c. All
which important Particulars are mod minute-
iy
[
ly fpecified, mofl' artificially fet forth, and
moft confcientiouily .placed, the Affair of La-
dy Grace excepted, to the Account of my
Lord Rochejler, tho' your Grace has not con-
defcended to affign any one Reafon, or the
Shadow of a Reafon for fo doing.
We muft not however forget by the Way,
that, perhaps, to fupply this Defect, your
Grace has prefented us with a humorous
Comparifon between two Lord Treafurers :
Rocbe/ter, who, to do Honour to his White
Staff] made it be carried by his Chair-Jide
by a Servant bare-headed ; and Godolphin, *who
as afoamed of his Office, ordered his White
Staff to be cut Jkorter than ordinary, that he
might hide it, by taking it into the Chair
'with him.
We are likewife favoured with a Letter
from the Princefs to your Grace, occafioned
by the Order to the Tallow-Chandler-Mayor ;
the which, for the Introduction's Sake, I
beg Leave to tranfcribe.
To Lady Marlborough.
* Dear Mrs. Freeman muft give me LEAVE
c to
,' c to afk her, if any Thing has happened to
4 make her uneafy. I thought fhe LOOKED
' to Night, as if fhe had the Spleen. And
* I can't help being in Pain whenever I fee
< her fo.
' I fancied Yefterday, when the Mayor
* failed in the Ceremony of going to Church
< with me, that he was commanded not to
1 do it. I think 'tis a Thing to be laughed
' at. And, if they imagine to vex me or
c gain upon me by fuch Sort of Ufage, they
c will be mightily difappointed. And I hope
* thefe foolifh Things they do, will every
< Day mow People more and more, what
they are, and that they truly deferve the
* Name your faithful Mcrley has given them.'
Hitherto the high Crimesand Mifdemeanors
faid to be committed by my Lord Rocbeftcr
againft her Highnefs, have fcarce the flighted
Pretence to fupport them. And all he has
really to anfwer for, is the Oppofition Jie
made to your Grace's being admitted into
the Royal Family. But, in your next Para-
graph, you fix a Fadt upon him j that Fact
is
is properly fupported, and we have only the?
ufual Prayer to make, hat his Lord/hip may
have a good Deliverance.
The Bill of Indictment, as drawn by your
Grace, with the Help of your Counfcl, run s
thus.
' After all thefe notable Efforts to SUBDUE
1 the Princefs had been employed without
* Succefs, and when we were got again, as I
* thought, into a fettled Way, at Berkley-
' Houfe, my Lord Rochejler attempted once
more to bring about HIS PURPOSE, by a
* Stratagem. He came to Sir Benjamin Ba-
* tburftjxi& to others of the Princefs's Fami-
4 ly, infinuating to them, that if the Princefs
4 would put ME away, he 'was perfuaded, the
* Queen would, in fome Time^ be prevailed
' upon to let her take me again ; which was
' altogether improbable ', and indeed ridicu-
( lous : becaufe my only pretended Fault was
* being my Lord Marlborough's Wife, a Fault
* which I could neither excufe, nor extenu-
' ate, nor repent of.'
Juft thirty Pages before this, your Grace
allures us, my Lord Rochefter was the Queen's
Oracle 5
Oracle ; and that, whether he had any
Share or not in beginning the ill Ufage of
the Princefs, he was, without Que/lion, the
Proftcntor of it. And it is in Support of
this hardy AfTertion, that all the foolifo
Things above hinted at, take up fo much
Room in your Grace's Book. His PURPOSE
at that Time, then, muft be underftood to
inflame the Quarrel ; and his PUR POSE now,
it feems, is only to PUT YOUR GRACE
AWAY ; the which, likewife, he has fo much
at Heart, that he is even at the Trouble of a
Stratagem, in order to bring it about. Thus
your Grace ftates the Cafe, and on thefe Pre-
miffes puts in for a Verdift. But, in
Behalf of the Culprit, I appeal to the Court .
whether it is not much more natural to con-
clude, that his uniform Purpofe was to re-
concile the two Sifters ; whether both
the Princefs's Letter (I mean her fe-
cond) to the Queen, p. 60. and his Lord-
(hip's to her, do not make this fufficiently
evident ; and laftly, whether this very Stra-
tagem was not calculated to anfwer the fame
innocent and laudable End ? 'Tis true,
3 your
t "8 ]
your Grace, with your ufual' Plainnefs and
Simplicity of Manners, is pleafed to treat his
Lordftiip's Infinuation, That the Queen might
be prevailed upon to let the Princefs take you
again, as altogether improbable and ridicu-
lous. But either my Lord Rochejl$r was not
the Queen's Oracle, as your Grace aflerts
above, or there was nothing either ridiculous
or improbable in his Hope to prevail with
the Queen to agree to the Expedient he then
propofed, as the only one likely to make up
the Breach. Nay, 'tis plain, the Princefs
herfelf confidered it in this Light, and a if the
Sequel is literally true, which depends on a
double Report of Lady Fitzharding from
the Queen, and your Grace from her, it on-
ly proves that his Lordfhip's Affection to
his two Nieces, had led him to engage for
more than he could make good ; and that
her Majefty was more incenfed againft Lady
Marlborough, and the Princefs on her Ac-
count, than he, till then, believed.
* The Princefs confidered this Project as
1 nothing more than a new civil Plot of my
* Lord Rochefters. However me was re-
< folved
[ ,2 9 ]
' folved to leave nothing undone on her .Part;
4 and therefore, knowing that my Lady
* Fitzharding could fpeak more freely to the
' Queen than any Body elfe whom me could
1 employ, me lent for her and repeated to
c her my Lord Rocketer's Propofal, defiring
* her to acquaint the Queen, that from what
1 his Lordfiip had J aid, fhe had been flatter-
c ing herfelf, fie had miflaken her Majeftfs
1 la ft Words ; and that if fie might hope his
' Lordfiip had any Ground for his Opinion,
* fie fiould be very ready to give her Majefty
{ any Satisfaction of that Sort. Upon the
1 Delivery of this Menage, the Queen fell in-
c to a great Paffion, and faid, her Sifter had
( not miftaken her, for fie never 'would fee
her, upon any other Terms, than parting
' with me^ not for a Time, but for ever ;
* adding, that fie was a Queen, and would
1 be obeyed.
'Tis plain however, from the Event, that his
Lordfhip judg'd right in perjuading himfelf
that theRefentment of the Court was not un-
appeafable ; fince his Majejdy was afterwards
pleafed not only to forget Lord Marlborough
I had
r '30 ]
had ever given him Caufe of Difpleafure, but
to take him into Favour again, and, even in
a * Manner, that fhewed the King to be
no Stranger -to Polltenefs, to entruft him with
the Education of the Duke of Gloucefier.
Confequently, if this dreaded Stratagem had
taken Place, your Grace's having the Honour
to be Lord Marlborougtis WIFE, would have
been no fuch infurmoun table Bar, as you are
pleafed to make it, to your being readmitted
into your former Station of DOMINEERING
over the Princefs.
But it is mod remarkable, that, tho' your
Grace has dwelt fo long on your Sufferings
in this Reign, - you have but juft mention'd
this %-Turn in your Lord's Affairs ; and that
by Way of Pa rent be/is only. (Who was now
reftoitd to the Army, and was to be Gover-
nor to the Duke of GLOUCESTER) Account ';
p. 126. As if he, who had HAPPENED to
be
* According to Mr. Led'.ard, with this Speech, My Lord!
teach him to be but ivkat you are, and my Nephe-iu cannot want
ts .
She (the Princefs) was not made acquainted with pub-
lic Affair?, 6fr. - - Only PAINS had been taken to pleafe the
Earl of Mar through < with which he was fully fatisJied : No-
thing had contented him better, than the Command he had
the former Year of the Troops which were fent to the Af-
fiilancs of the States. Burnet.
be in Difgrace, had likewife HAPPENED
to flumble into Confidence again. j 3i j j
Of this your Grace's Enemies have expref-
fed themfelves with fome Bitternefs ; as if
you never forgave an Injury, or acknowledg'd
a Benefit. But, for my Part, I fee it in
another Light t For if you had ventured to
expatiate on this Particular, it muft have been
with forne Senfe of Gratitude to the Memory
of King William j and this would not have
fuited with the reft of your Book j in which
he is fcarce ever mentioned, but as an Ufur-
per, a Brute, and a Tyrant.
I am now to obferve, that, tho' Authors
feldom fulfil their Promifes they make at
their Out-fet, your Grace has done more :
Your firft Propofals are only to purge your
felf from Calumny and Mifreprefentation :
You give us no Hint of your Defign to
wreak your Vengeance upon your Enemies.
But, in the Progrefs of your Work, you do
both ; blacken on one Hand, and blanch on the
other : Nay, you go farther ftill ; fet your
felf off with imaginary Perfections, and
charge your Enemies with imaginary Faults ;
1 2 that
t '32 ]
that is to fay, not only thofe you would have
it believed they had committed, but thofe
they could be guilty of in Intention only.
A Fincfle peculiar to your Grace ; and
which, in this Age of Controverfy and In-
vcdlive, when ONE MAN has been made the
BUTT of a whole People, I do not remem-
ber to have feen pradtifed before ! But
left this likewife mould be thought an ima-
ginary Charge againfl your Grace, it is ne-
ceflary to fupport it with a Proof, which will
put it beyond the Reach of Contradiction.
* The Princefs, (fays your Grace,) after
* this, continued at Berke/ey-Houfc in a very
' quiet Way. For there was nothing more
to be done, unlefs THEY would flop her Re-
1 venue, which DOUBTLESS THEY WOULD
'have ATTEMPTED, had THEY thought
4 it PRACTICABLE. But my Lord Godol-
' pbin was then firft Commiffioner of the
' Treafury, a Man eileemed very ufeful to
' the Service, and who THEY KNEW, would
'QUIT upon any fuch ORDERS. And THEY
f COULD NOT eafily have found a Perfon
1 with Qualities fit for that Employment, who
' would
t 133 ]
' would have thought it confident with Ho-
' nour or Safety to take a Place, which an-
* other had left upon fuch an Account ; and
* at the fame Time refuje paying the Reve-
' nmjeftled by an Aft of Parliament on the
* next Heir to the Crown.
But this PafTage is not remarkable only for
the Particular above fpecified. The Word
THEY has likewife its Beauties, as being i
Mafter- Piece in the Spartan Stile, and in one
fimple Monofy liable comprehending both
KING and QUEEN. Again, what a Glory
is here reflected on my Lord GODOLPHIN,
who appears to be a Perfonage of iuch Im-
portance, that THEY, who prefumed to wage
War with Lord and Lady Mar thorough, durfl
not tafk his Integrity too far, for fear he
mould quit, and not another Man in the
three Kingdoms mould be found able to fill
his Place? Indeed how THEY came to know
that he, who ferv'd in the fame Office unde r
a joint Commiiiion, with Catholics under
yames II. and then was fo entirely a Finan-
cier, as to continue his Services after the
Revolution, mould grow fo untraclable all
13 at
[ '34 ]
at once, your Grace has not thought proper
to explain j any more, than how it was fo
INDUBITALE that THEY would have
STOPP'D a Revenue fettled by Aft of Par-
liament on the next Heir of the Crown,
when it was neither honourable nor SAFE
for any Body to obey fo unjuft a Command.
In the next Paragraph but two, we have
a civil MeiTage from the Prince to the King,
deiiring to know whether a Vilit would be
agreeable to his Majefty on his Return from
Flanders, notwithstanding her Highnefs had
the Misfortune to lye under the Queen's Dif-
pleafure; and as your Grace has taken no
Notice of the Reception it met with, we
may be certain it was as civilly anfwered.
We have before had occaiion to compli-
ment your Grace on your Wit, and here it
is imporljble not to do equal Juftice to your
Memory ; which, notwithftanding the great
Variety of extraordinary Affairs it has, from
Time to Time, been burthened with, could,
notwithftanding, treafure up fuch faolifh
Things, as follow from hence to the End
of this Section of your Book,
[ '35 ]
Foolijh, however, as they are, we are not
but at Liberty to pafs them over in the Lump ;
here and there (hall diftinguifh fome choice
Particulars, which may not be unworthy
to be ferv'd up a fecond Time, for the
Entertainment of the Public.
For Example.
* The Duke of Gloucefter alfo waited fe-
* veral Times on her Majefty, who made a
c great SHOW of Kindnefs to him, and gave
' him Rattles, and feveral Play-things, which
c were conftantly put down in the GA-
c ZETTE. And whenever the Duke was
c fick, me fent a Bed-chamber Woman to
' CV?W<?tf-Houfe to enquire how he did. But
* this COMPLIMENT was made in fo offen-
'five a Manner to the Princefs, that J have
1 often wondered how any Mortal could
' bear it with the Patience (he did. For
' whoever was fent, ufed to come without
4 any Ceremony into the Room where the
1 Princefs herfelf was, and pafling by her, as
< (he flood or fat, without taking more No-
' tice of her, than if (lie were a Rocker, go
1 4 <
[ '36 ]
' directly up to the Duke, and make their
c Speech to him, or to the Nurfe, as he lay
1 in her Lap.
* I believe it will be allowed, that there
* was a good deal of Infolence and Ill-breeding
* in this Behaviour j and that the Queen
* might, with Safety to all her Dignity, have
c found Means to fatisfy herfelf about the
1 Duke of Gloucefter's Health, without fuf-
e fering to be done to the Princefs, what no
' Body before ever thought of, and what no
' private Perfon in this Country would bear
* from another. And yet the Return, which
* the Princefs, when fhe came to the Crown,
' made to this Rudenefs of the Queen's Wo-
1 men, was to give them Penfions; a Thing
* which the King himfelf grew weary of
* doing fome time before he died.'
Your Grace has an admirable Knack of
conveying a keen Stroke of Satire in one
Word; which is fufficiently exemplified
in the Words SHOW, GAZETTE and COM-
PLIMENT, in the firft of the two preceding
Quotations: And as to "your abundant Cha-
nty, h overflows in the Interpretation you
are
[ 137 1
are pleafed to put on the weighty Incidents
which make up the Subjed:-,matter they
treat of.
And that this Interpretation is merely the
Effed: of this Charity of your's, is plain : Be-
cauie it is fcarce to be fuppofed that her Ma-
jefty could expecl the Princefs would be al-
ways found in her Nurfery ; and confequent-
ly the Rudenefs and Infoknce^ complained of
fo FREELY by your Grace, will hardly be
thought premeditated by any Body elfe : On
the contrary, there is Room for Perfons of
equal Chanty with your Grace to fuppofe,
that her Higbnefs was induced to repair thi-
ther at the very Times thefe MefTages were
fent, and thefe Speeches were made, for no
other End, but to furnim out thdfe happy
Decorations of your Grace's Memoirs,' And
Materials proper for the fcandalous Chro-
nide of thofe Times.
I have before had occafion to mention the
Queen's laft Illneis, and the Princefs's Mef-
fage by a Lady of her Bed-chamber thereon.
I am now to take Notice of the Anfwer re-
turn'd to it by Lady Derby , in a Letter to the
fame
[ 13* J
fame Lady, with your Grace's Reflections
thereon, &c.
MADAM, ^ ,
' I am commanded by the King and
' Queen to tell you, they defire you would
* let the Princefs know they both thank her
* for fending and dcfiring to come : But, it
* being thought fo neceffary to keep the
' Queen as quiet as poffible, hope me will
defer it. I am,
MADAM,
Tour LADYSHIP'S
moft humble Servant,
E. DERBY.
' Pray, Madam, prefent my humble
' Duty to the Princefs.
' This civil Anfwer, and my Lady Derby's
Poflfcript, made ME conclude, more than
if the College of Phyficians had told it me,
* that the Difeafe was mortal. And as I
< knew that feveral People, and even ONE of
/the PRINCESS'S OWN FAMILY, were A L-
< LOW'D to fee the Queen, I was alfo fully
4 perfuaded, that the deferring the Prince&'s
< coming,
[ 139 ]
' coming, was onfy to leave Room for conti-
' nuing the Quarrel, in cafe the Queen mould
c chance to recover, or for Reconciliation with
' the King, (if that mould be thought conve-
4 nient) in cafe of the Queen's Death.
* During all the Time of the Queen's 111-
* nefs to her Deceafe, the Princefs fent every
' Day to enquire how fhe did ; and once, I
' am fure, her Majefty heard of it ; becaufe
* my Lady Fitzharding, who was charged
* with the MefTage, and who had more De-
< fire than ordinary to fee the Queen, BROKE
* IN WHETHER THEY WOULD OR NOT,
' and delivered it to her, endeavouring to ex-
1 prefs in how much Concern the Princefs
c was : To which the Queen returned no
c Anfuoer but a cold Thanks. Nor, though
' (he received the Sacrament in her Illnefs,
1 did me ever fend the leaft Menage to the
* Princefs, except that in my Lady Derby's
1 Letter, which perhaps her Majefty knew
* nothing of.
c How this Conduct to a Sifter could fuat
* with the Character of a devout Queen, I
' am at a Lofs to know. For there is no-
* thing
f thing more plain in Scripture, than the vth
4 Chapter of St. Matthew, ver. 23, and 24.
^fffjerefore if thou bring thy Gift to the
' Altar ', tfW /#r<? remembreft that thy Bro-
' ther hath aught againft thee, leave there
< thy Gift before the Altar, and go thy way - t
c Jirji be reconciled to thy Brother^ and then
' come and offer thy Gift.
< I will fuppofe, for Argument Sake,
c (though I think it fcarce poffible) that the
* Queen might have ib wrong an Under-
* {landing, as to think, me had no Repara-
f tion to make, and that the Prijiccfs had
< injured her, in not being her Slave : Yet,
' even in that Cafe, there was fomething
' omitted; for we are taught to forgive the
Trefpajfes againji us, as we expetf to be
* forgiven.
I have taken the Liberty to treat your
Grace, for a few Pages back, fomcwhat
ironically ; but I now find myfelf under a
Neceffity to put on a more ferious Brow.
You have brought us to the Death-bed of
one of the moil arniable Women, and moft
idoliz'd of Queens, whom you purfued from
her
her fir A Step into the -Royal Palace as a So-
vereign, to her laft Gafp, with implacable
Hatred ; and, carrying your Refentment even
beyond the Grave, have endeavoured to med
Poifon on her Memory, which, notwith-
ftanding your own avowed Notion of the
Value of Fame after Death, you hope to be
incurable.
It was fhrewdly faid by a certain noble
Lord, that your Book was an Anfwer to it-
felf : And who can read the lafl Quotations
I have made from it, without being of the
fame Opinion ? . . . In one Paffage, People
even of the Princefs's Family are ALLOW'D
to fee the Queen j and in another, Lady
Fitzharding^ tho' charged with a MefTage
from her Highnefs, is fore' d to BREAK IN,
whether they WOULD OR NOT: Lady Der-
by's civil Letter is made a Proof that the
Queen's Difeafe was mortal ; and yet a Pro-
viiion is thought of to continue the Quarrel,
in cafe me ihould chance to recover. Even
the finking Spirits, feeble Voice, and dying
Manner of the Queen in her lafl Agonies, are
mifreprefented under the Term of a COLD
2 THANKS:
THANKS : Nay, an Act of Devotion is
made ufe of to aggravate the Charge againft
her 3 and left the Merit of Lady Dfr&y's
Letter mould be afcribed to her Majeity *,,
a PERHAPS is inferted that SHE KNEW
NOTHING of it: Nor do you ftop here,
but take a Hint from her known Piety to
pelt her with Texts of Scripture, as if felf-
condemn'd on her own Principles, and be-
yond the Reach of Absolution.
Good GOD, Madam! is this Condtitf of yours
agreeable to the Gofpel you quote, to the In-
nocence and Virtue you pretend to, to the
Fame you pant after? Had your Caufe been
ever fo good, your Sufferings ever fo noto-
rious, the Purity and Integrity of your Life
ever fo unqueftionable, how much more
decent, more noble, more laudable, and e-
ven more prudently would it have been to
have drawn a Veil over a Character, which,
allowing your Allegations their full Force^
was blameable only towards you ?
* Contrary to all which, we are afTured by Bifliop Bur-
Tiet, that the Queen had not only received a kind Letter
from, but had fertt a reconciling MefTage to the Princefs :
And so THAT BREACH \v.\s MADE VP.
But
t '43 ]
r But your Bolt is ft)9t y and Expoftulation
is now fruitlefs. Like Nero> to avoid fall-
ing into the Hands of your Enemies, you
have deilroyed yourfelf ; and there is now
no Fear that even the very Phantom you
threatned us with 3 will ever haunt the World
for the future.
I had once foine Thoughts of concluding
my Reply to your Grace's firft Section here ;
but two other remarkable Paflages call for
Juflice ; and Juftice they fhall have to a
Scruple, if in my Power to beftow. The
firft is this,
' 31 confete, for my own Part, that in the
' Point of Refpett to the King (and to the
1 Queen 'when living) 3 thought the Prin-
cefs did a great deal too much \ and it
1 often made me very UNEASY. For 3
1 could not endure to have her do any Thing,
c that 31 would not have done in her Place.
1 And all the Friends 31 ev er had in my
c Life would not have prevailed with ME
( to make any one Step, the Princefs did,
* during the Quarrel, except the firft Let-
c ter me wrote to the Queen, and the laft
2 ' Mefllige
[ '44 ]
c Meffage of offering to come to her in her
c Sicknels. But a Letter which the Prin-
< cefs, after the Reconcilement, wrote to the
' King upon the taking of Namur, gave
'. JVIE, I think, more CONCERN than any
4 other Inflance of her Rejpetffulne/s -, tho'
' it was advifed by three Lords, whofe Judg^
f ments all the World valued. It ran
thus:
SIR,
* Though I have been unwilling to give
* you the Trouble of a Letter upon any
* other Occalion, yet upon one fo glorious
c to your Majefly as the taking of Namur,
' I hope you will give me leave to congra-
' tulate your good Succefs, which don't
c pleafe me fo much upon any other Ac-
* count, as for the Satisfaction, that I am
* fenfible your Majefty muft needs feel in
' this great Addition to the Reputation of
4 your Arms. And I beg leave, Sir, to
c aflure you, that as no Body is more near-
' ly concerned in your Interefts, fo no Body
c vvimes,
[ '45 1
e wifhes more heartily for your Happinefs
1 and Profperity at Home than
Tour, &c.
ANNE.
Having difpatched one Sifter, your Grace is
now to triumph over the other j and I appeal
to the whole Kingdom, if in the Light you
have ftated her Highnefs's Letter, it can be
inferted with any other View, but to teach
Pofterity, that * * * Duchefs of * * * *
had more ^Magnanimity and Royalty of
Spirit, than Anne Princefs of Denmark,
afterwards the Glory of the Englifo Throne,
and the Delight of the EngUJh People ; as
well as more Senfe than the THREE Lords
who advifed it, tho' valued for their Judg-
ment by all the World.
But your Grace does not feem to be ap-
priz'd that there is an infinite Difference be-
tween Greatnefs and Haughtinefs of Mind ;
and having a very ample Share of one, you
made no Difficulty to miftake it for the
other. A very contemptible Creature may
K affume
[ '46 3
affume -, only a very enlarged Heart can for-
give. In this View I cannot help paying
infinitely more Honour to the Princefs in
her Condefcenfions, than to your Grace in
your Altitudes.
And now for the fecond.
< And flow, after all I have related of
* the King, (for ten Pages together) and
after fb much DISLIKE, as J have ex -
' prefled of his Character and Conduct, you
will perhaps hardly believe me, in what Jf
' am going to fay : Yes, your Lordfhip will
* believe me; for you will judge of my
< Heart, by the Make and Temper of your
own. [God for bid his Lordjhip fiould grow
vain] ' When the King came to die, I
.* felt nothing of that Satisfaction, which I
' once thought I mould have had upon this
c Occafton. And my Lady Jerfeys writ-
* ing and fending perpetually to give an
< Account, as his Breath grew fhorter
' and fhorter, filled ME with Hor-
c ror. 2 'thought 3J would lofe the beft
c Employment in any Court, fooner than act
c fo adieus a Part. And the King, who
c had
[ H7 ]
* had given me fo much Caule to hate him, in
c that Condition I fincerely pitied : So little
4 is it in my Nature to RETAIN RESENT-
1 MENT againft any Mortal, (how unjuil
< foever he may have been) in whom the
1 Will to injure is no more.
Amazing ! your Grace could not only
confider Queen Mary in her laft Moments
with Indifference and Unconcern, but. with
Refentment and Malignity ; and you cannot
hear of the King's Breath growing Jhorter
and fhorter without Horror. How is this
to be accounted for ? I know but one Way.
Your Lord happened to be in Difgrace at
Court when Queen Mary died. Your
Lord happened to be in Favour when King
William died. Very fufficient Reafons, no
doubt, why a kind of favage Officioufnefs
in Lord and Lady Jerfey mould create Ab-
horrence ; and yet a remorfelefs Enmity be
held irreproachable in Lady *****/
But what is moft amazing of all, after
your Grace has given fuch inconteftable
Proofs under your Hand, that your Animo-
fity to Queen Mary, tho' of almoft fifty
K 2 Year?
t 148 ]
Years {landing, is ftill as pungent as ever,
you conclude your firft Section with a
grave Panegyric on your felf, for being fo
little difpofed to retain Refentment againft
any Mortal, who was become Immortal!
ilb Ot ' i-r.ii"; VV
[ '49
II.
WE are now to follow your Grace from
the Bed-chamber to the Cabinet ;
from your being merely the Princefs of Den-
mark's FAMILIAR, to your being held the
evil GENIUS of the whole State : In which
Purfuit, whatever Doubles we are forced
to make, in order to keep your Grace in
Sight, we mail be enabled, from the beft
Authorities, both to undeceive the prefent
Age, and likewife hand down the Truth
to Pofterity. The Truth, Madam ;
not merely the bright Side of a Character ;
not the over-rated Services of a Junto, or
the popular Pretenfions of a Party, which
but too generally make up the Bulk of mo-
dern Hiftory.
But, in order to find out what is true,
we muft firfl expofe what is falfe 5 I muft
take Leave, therefore, to quote a few of
K 3 your
your firft Pages entire, for the fake of the
extraordinary Things contained in them.
1 The King died, and the Princefs of
' Denmark took his Place. This Eleva-
' tion of my Miflrefs to the Throne brought
' me into a new Scene of Life, and into a
' new fort of Confideration with all thofe,
' whofe Attention, either by Curiofity or
' Ambition, was turned to Politicks and the
' Court, Hitherto my Favour with her
* Royal Highnefs, though it had fometim^
'* furnifhed Matter of Converfation to the
c Publick, had been of no Moment to the
* Affairs of the Nation, fhe herfelf having
' no Share in the Councils, by which they
' were managed. But from this Time, I
' began to be look'd upon as a Perfon of
Confequence, without whofe APPROBA-
* T i o N , at leaft, neither Places, nor Pen/ions,
' nor Honours were beflowed by the Crown.
* The intimate Friendfoip, with which the
4 Queen was known to honour me, afforded
1 a plaufible Foundation for this Opinion :
c And I believe therefore, it will be a Sur-
< prize to many, to be told, That the FIRST
1 im-
* important Step, which her Majefty took,
* after her AccefTion to the Government,
c was AGAINST my Wi/hes and Inclination :
c I mean, Her throwing herfelf and her Af-
< fairs almoft entirely into the Hands of
' ^Tories.
* I mall dwell the longer, and be the
c more particular upon the Subject of my
4 Difagreement with her Majefty about Par-
* ties, that I may cxpofe the Injuflice of
'-thofe Whigs, who, after the great Change
* in 1710, accufed ME of being the Ruin
* of their Caufe; a Caufe, that, in her
c Reign, would have been always too LOW,
c to be capable of a FALL, but for the
*ZEAL and Diligence, with which J
* feiz'd every Opportunity to raife and efta-
' blifhit ; WHICH, in the End, proved the
' RUIN of my Favour with her Majefty.
* The Queen had from her Infancy im-
* bibed the moil unconquerable Prejudices
* againft the Whigs. She had been taught
* to look upon them all, not only as Repub-
4 licans, who hated the very Shadow of Re-
' gal Authority, but as implacable Enemies
K 4 ' to
[ is* 1!
to the Church of England. This Averfion
to the whole Party had been confirmed by
the ill Ufage (he had met with from her
Sifter and King William, which, though
PERHAPS more owing to Lord Rocbefter,
than to any Man then living, was now to
.be 'all charged to the Account of the
Whigs. And Prince George her Hufband,
who had alfo been ill treated, in that
Reign, threw into the Scale his Refent-
ments.
( On the other hand, the Tories had the
Advantage, not only of the Queen's early
PrepofTeffion in their Favour, but of their
having affifted her in the late Reign, in the
Affair of her Settlement. It was indeed
evident, that they had done this, more in
Oppofition to King William^ than from
any real Refpedt for the Princefs of Den-
mark. But flill they hadjerved her. And
the Winter before me came to the Crown,
they had in the fame Spirit of Oppofition
to the King, and in Profpett of his Death t
paid her more than ufual Civilities and
Attendance.
< It
t 153 ]
f It is no great Wonder therefore, all
thefe Things confidered, that as foon as fhe
was feated in the Throne, the Tories (whom
1 fhe ufually called by the agreeable Name
e of the Church-Party} became the diftin-
guifhed Objects of the Royal Favour.
c Dr. Sharpy Archbifhop of Tork, was
c pitched upon by herfelf to preach her Co-
c ronation Sermon, and to be her chief
Counfellor in Church-matters; and her
e Privy-Council was filled with Tories. My
e Lord Normanby (foon after Duke of Buck-
' ingham) the Earls of Jerfey and Notting-
c ham, Sir Edward Seymour, with many
c others of the High-fliers, were brought
4 into Place ; Sir Nathan Wright was con-
' tinued in Poffeffion of the Great Seal of
* England, and the Earl of Rochejler in the
4 Lieutenancy of Ireland. Thefe were
* Men, who had all a wonderful Zeal for
* the Church ; a fort of publick Merit that
eclipfed all other in the Eyes of the Queen.
< And I am firmly perfuaded, that, notwith-
* ftanding her extraordinary Afeffion for
c me, and the entire Devotion which my
< Lord
[ '54 ]
* Lord Marlborough and my Lord Godol-
< phin had for many Years mown to her
* Service, they would not have had fo great
' a Share of her Favour and Confidence, if
4 they had not been RECKONED in the
c Number of the lories.
' The Truth is, though both thefe Lords
' had always the real Intereft of the Nation
' at Heart, and had given Proof of this, by
* their Conduit in their feveral Employ-
' ments, in the late Reign, they had been
* EDUCATED in the Perfuafion, that the
* High-Church Party were the beft Friends
* to the Conftitution, both of Church and
' State ; nor were they perfectly undeceived
' but by Experience.
Having, in my Reply to the firft Section
of your Grace's Book, fufficiently expofed
the Paflion predominant in it ; and pointed
out the feveral Inftances in which it breaks
forth j I fhall in this confine myfelf prin-
cipally to fuch Points of more general Con-
cern, as either do or muft make a Figure
in our Annals: And among thefe your
Grace's Affertion, *That the firft important
f Step
[ '55 1
Step her Majefty took was, againft your
WISHES and INCLINATIONS, to throw
berfelf and her Affairs almoft entirely in-
to the Hands of the TORIES, demands our
foremoft Notice ; as containing what your
Grace may poffibly think proper to retract
when you recollect the following Speech of
the Queen's, which, as you very well know,
me delivered the very Day of her Accefilon,
(March 8th,) to the Council.
c My Lords,
* I am extremely fenfible of the general
' Misfortune to thefe Kingdoms, in the un-
c fpeakable Lofs of the King ; and of the
c great Weight and Burden it brings in par-
4 ticular to myfelf j which nothing would
* encourage me to undergo, but the great
c Concern I have for the Prefervation of our
c Religion, and the Laws and Liberties of
c my Country All thefe being as dear to
* me, as they can be to any Perfon what-
c foever. You may depend upon it that no
c Pains, no Diligence fhall be wanting ou
' my Part, to defend and fupport them , to
* rr
c maintain the Succeffion in the Proteftant
1 Line, and the Government in Church and
State, as it is by Law eftabliihed. I think
it proper, upon this Occafion of my firft
* fpeaking to you, to declare my OWN OPI-
' NION of the Importance of carrying on all
f the Preparations *we arc making to oppoje
c the great Power of France. And I mall
' lofe no Time in giving our Allies all AfTu-
( ranees, that nothing {hall be wanting on
4 my Part, to purfue the Interefl of Eng-
< land, together with theirs, for the Support
' of the Common Caufe.
* In order to thefe Ends, I mall be al-
c ways ready to afk the Advice of my Coun-
c cil, and of both Houfes of Parliament ;
4 and defirous to countenance and employ
* ALL thofe who mall heartily concur and
^ join with me m fupportlng and maintain-
4 ing the Prejent Eftablijhment againft ALL
' Enemies and O p POS E R s whatfoever.
Hence it appears her Majefiy's Jirji Step
was to declare it as her OWN OPINION,
that the Preparations for a War with France
ought to be continued - y and whether this
was
[ 157 1
was done againft Lady *********'s
WISHES and INCLINATIONS, or by the
Influence of the Tory Miniftry, not appoint-
ed till afterwards, let common Senfe
judge !
Whoever then prevail'd with the Queen
to take this Jirji Step, it is reafonable to
fuppofe prevail'd with her to take the SE-
COND, viz. The throwing herfelf and her
Affairs into the Hands of the Tories : If
then this was not the Refult of your Grace's
Influence, it muft be neceflarily afcrib'd to
your Lord ; who, in Oppofition to you, for
ence fell in with the Queen's Inclinations to
that Party, in order to carry his own fa-
vourite Point of being at the Head of the
Grand Confederacy as Succeflbr to his late
Mailer K. William ; which is yet farther de-
monftrable from Bifhop Burnef, whofe very
Words are thefe : * The Maxim laid down at
< COURT, ^as, to put the Diredion of Af-
c fairs into the Hands of the Tories. The
* Earl of Marlborough allured me, this was
* done upon the Promifes they made to carry
c on the WAR, and to maintain t\\e Alliances.
4 If
t 158 ]
If they kept thefe, then Affairs would goon
fmoothly in the Houfe of Commons; but if
c they failed in this, the Queen would put her
* Bufmefs into other Hands.
Here then it appears, that the Tories were
taken in upon the very Plan of the Queens
Speech in Council ; the latter Part of which
is to.be underftood as propofing the very
Conditions on which they were to ferve;
and this Plan can be afcribed to no others 3
but thofe who were to gain moft by putting
it in Execution.
'Tis true, your Grace has allured us,
that the Lords Marlborough and Godolpbin
ow'd the Favour and Confidence they en-
joyed to their being RECKON'D ; or, as you
afterwards explain it, to their being both by
Education and Judgment TOR IKS ; and that
it was Experience only which made them
otherwife.
If then your Grace was in carneft when
you firft declared this Step to be contrary
to your Wijhes and Inclinations, who can
help imagining it was done partly with a
politic View of keeping the Whigs in hope
of
[ '59 J
of one Day being taken into your PROTEC-
TION, and by that Means fupplanting their
Adverfaries the Tories ? And this is fo much
the more reafonable to imagine was your
Grace's View, fince the Thing did actually fome
time after come to pafs : In which remark-
able Inftance, you had at once the Glory to
triumph over the Prejudices of thofe two
Lords, as well as thofe of the Queen, and
the Power of that whole Party ; Whether
by your own Strength and Sagacity ONLY,
will come more feafonably under Confidera-
tion by and by.
I am now to obferve, that your Grace feems
refolved, that this Column which, for fo ma-
ny Years,you have been railing to your Fame,
fhall no ways be indebted to the good Word
of either Party for its Support, for you de-
clare open War with both : And as you are
alike fevere on the Perfons and Principles
of the Tories, fo you charge the Whigs with
Injuftice and Ingratitude^ and, contemptu-
oufly reprefent them as tco low, in that
Reign, to be capable of a Fall, till exalted
by you j tho', in Confederacy with you,
they
[ 160 ]
they became afterwards fo mighty, as not only
to gain the Afcendency in Elections, and to
lord it in Parliament, but to efteem them-
felves the Arbiters of the Fate of Europe.
There is no Need to comment on all the
little Particularities which follow this exprefs
Denunciation of your Wrath againft the
Whigs : The bare Diftinction of them with
a particular Character, is all that is neceflary
both to expofe and anfwer them.
It will be fufficient to obferve, upon the
Whole, that, as the Queen was fituated on
her Acceffion to the Throne, me could fcarce
throw herfelf into any other Hands but thofe
of the Torks, or reputed Tories : The Tories
had ferved and countenanced her in the late
Reign ; me was a Tory herfelf, if it is decent to
diftinguifh a Sovereign with the Brand of ei-
ther Party; her prime Counfellors, Lord
Marlborougb and Lord Godolphin, to fay no-
thing of Lord Rochefter, her Uncle, were of
the fame Perfuafion : Thefe Lords had like-
wife contracted their Friendmips and placed
theirConfidence hitherto among thole who had
imbib'd the like Prejudices with themfelves
and
[ 161 ]
and a Bargain, as already proved, had been
manifeftly made, to employ fuch princi-
pally $ provided they went heartily into Lord
Maryborough's Views, of running all Lengths
in the Support of a Land-War.
I fay again, Madam, fuch a Bargain, on fuch
Conditions, was manifeft : If, therefore, the
Sorrow^ you exprefs in the lafl of the enfuing
Paragraphs, was fo hearty, as you would
have it believed, it muft be underftood as
meaning only this; that thefe Views of Lord
Marlborough could not then be carried ori
without the Am* fiance of a Party you de-
fpifed.
The faid Paragraphs run thus :
* For my own Part, I had not the fame
' PrepoiTeffions. The Word CHURCH
< had never any Charm for Me, in the
c Mouths of thofe, who made the moft Noife
' with it j for I could not perceive that they
' gave any other diflinguiihing Proof of their
* Regard for the Thing, than a frequent Ufe
' of.theHw/, like a Spell to enchant weak
4 Minds j and a perfecuting Zeal againft Dif-
c fenters, and againft thofe Friends of the
L ' Church,
[ 162 ]
* Church, who would not admit that Per-
1 fecutian was agreeable to its Doctrine. And
as to State- Affairs, many of thefe Church-
men feemed to me, to have no fixed Prin-
* ciples at all, having endeavoured, during
'the laft Reign, to undermine that very Go-
c vernment, which they had contributed to
* eftablifli.
c I was HEARTILY soRRYtherefore, that,
c for the Sake of fuch Churchmen,others mould
be removed from their Employments, who
' had been firm to the Principles of the Re-
volution, and whom I thought much more
* likely to fupport the Queen, and promote
c the Welfare of our Country, than the
wrong-headed Politicians that fucceeded
< them.'
Confidering the Tran factions of the Year
1710, that your Grace mould be. angry
with the Word Church I do not wonder :
And that the faid Word has been greatly
miftaken by the Foolifh, and abus'd by the
Defigning, I fliall not difputej but that you
undertook to encounter the Queen's Prejudi-
ces, or to difpofe her Majefly to think fa-
vourably
vourably of the Whigs, merely becaufe their
Principles were more rational than thofe of
the Tories, or more tending to the Prefer-
nation of Liberty, and no way prejudicial
to the Eftabtijhed Church, as you alledge,
p. 147. requires a ftronger Degree of Faith on
my Side than I have as yet been blefs'd with,
or additional Evidence on your Grace's.
'Tis true, Madam, you give us to under,
ftand, that when the Queen had determined
to create four 'new Peers, all Tories, 'viz.
Granville, Guernfey, Gower and Conway, you
prevailed with her in favour of Mr. Hervey,
to compliment YOU with a fifth, in Spite of
the Oppojition of the Tories, elpecially the
Four in Nomination, who for a while RE-
pus'd to accept of the Peerage, if a WHIG
were admitted to the fame Honour. And you
likewife produce a Letter from the Queen,
to teftify that you were really an Advocate
for that Party ; which, for many Reafons, it
may be neceffary to infert as follows.
St. James's, Saturday the 24 Off.
' I am very glad to find by my dear Mrs.
L 2 e Free-
Freeman 's, that I was BLEST with Yefter-
c day, that SH E liked my Speech ; but I cannot
* help being extremely concerned, you are fo
' partial to the Whigs, becaufe I would not
' have you, and your poor, unfortunate,
' faithful Morley differ in Opinion in the leafl
* Thing. What I faid, when I writ laft upon
< this Subject, does not proceed from any In-
* finuations of the other Party ; but I know
c the Principles of the Church of England,
* and I know thofe of the Whigs, and it is
c that, and no other Reafon, which makes
c me think as I do, of the laft. And upon
' my W r ord, my dear Mrs. Freeman, you are
* mightily miftaken in your Notion of a true
* Whig: For the Character, you give of them,
* does not in the leaft belong to them, but to
* the Church. But I will fay no more on
* this Subject, only BEG, for my poor Sake,
' that you would not mow more Countenance
to thofe, you feem to have fb much Incli-
c nation for, than to the Church Party.
* Since you have ftaid fo long at Windfor, I
' wifh now for your own Sake, that you would
*- flay till after my Lord Mayor s Day ; for
2 'if
[ 165 ]
' if you are in Town, you cant avoid going
* to the Show, and being in the Country is a
( juft Excufe ; and, I think, one would be
* glad of any to avoid fo troublefom a Buii-
* nefs. I am at this Time [in great Haite,
c and therefore can fay no more to my DEAR,
* DEAR Mrs. Freeman, but that I am moil
' paflionately Her's.
Thefe are the Proofs you are pleafed to
give that you were really in the Interefl of
the Whigs : But, Madam, 'tis rather the Mo-
tive, than the Fact which is now to be can-
vaffed - y and in order that this may be done
fairly, your Grace (hall be heard firfl, and
then Leave will be taken to put in a proper
Reply.
' As my early Zeal for the Whigs is incon-
c teftabfy manifefl from what her Majefty
1 here fays to me, fo, I think, it will be no
f lefs evident to any one who reflects on my
Situation at that Time, that this Zeal could
< proceed from nothing but Conviftion of the
1 Goodnefs of the Caufe I efpoujed.
'For, as to private Interefl, the Whigs
c could have done nothing for my Advantage
L 3 < more
[ 166 ]
c more than the Tories. I needed not the A{-
c filtance of either to ingratiate me with the
c Queen. She had both before and fmce
1 her Acceilion, given the mofl unqueftion-
' able Proofs, that {he confidered me, not on-
' ly as a moil faithful Servant, but as her
' dear Friend. I have mentioned nothing of
' her extreme Goodnefsto ME fince the Break-
' ing out of the Quarrel between her Sifter
' and her, that I might not interrupt the Re-
' lation of that Matter in which my chief
< Aim was the Justification of my Miftrefs's
1 Conduct and my own upon that Occafion.
( Her Letters to me afterwards (of which I
have great Numbers ftill by me) were in
' the iame Strain of Tendernefs as thofe you
4 have read - y and upon her coming to the
e Crown, {he had not only made ME her
* Groom of the Stole, and Keeper of the
Privy Purfe, but had given the Command
* of the ARMY to my Lord Marlborough,
and the TREASURER'S STAFF to my Lord
' Godolpbin, to whofe Son my eldeft Daugh-
< ter was married.
It
I 7 1
c It is plain therefore that I could have no
f Motive of private Intereft to biafs me to
' the Whigs. Every Body muft fee, that,
f had I confulted that Oracle about the Choice
< of a Party, it would certainly have directed
' me to go with the Stream of my Miftrefs's
* Inclination and Prejudices. This would
c have been the fureft Way to fecure my Fa-
' vour with her.
c Nor had I any particular Obligations to
4 the Whigs that mould bend me to their
c Side rather than to the other. On the con-
* trary, they had treated me very hardly,
e and I had reafon to look upon them as
c my perfonal Enemies, at the fame Time
* that I faw the Tories ready to compliment
4 me, and to pay me Court.'
To the ftrong Expreffions your Grace has
thought fit to ufe on the Difmtereftedncfs of
this Preference given by you to the Whigs,
it is not yet Time to anfwer. I am to take
Notice, ferft, That H E R E the fignal Prefer-
ments beftowed on the Lords Marlborough
and Godolphin, are mentioned as beftowed
not in Acknowledgment of their Merits, or
L 4 becauft
f 168 ]!
becaufe they were Tories, but as FAVOURS
to -YOU. Whence it follows, that, if they
were really Tories, it cannot be feid, with any
Confiftency, that the Queen had thrown her
Affairs into the Hands of that Party AGAINST
your Wifljes and Inclinations, as your Grace
before afTerted ; nor that you could be hear-
tily firry fuch a Difpofition had been made;
fince it does not appear you ever preferred
the Interefts of your Party, or even of the
Kingdom,; to that of the Marlbwough-^i,-
mily. And if they were THEN SECRETLY
Whigs, it cannot befaid, with any Confiftency,
that the Queen had thrown her Affairs almoft
entirely into the Hands of the Tories ; it be-
ing notorious, that almoft all Power is cen-
ter'd in the Trcafury and the Army. Whence
it is* manifeft the Tories were only temporized
with, not confided in, and thefe Trials of
Skill of your Grace with the Queen, were
meant but to pave the Way for the Change,
which was afterwards brought about.
But you had no Intereft to ferve in this
Change ; the Whigs were low, the Tories
paid their COURT to you> and your own
Turn
I'urft was ferv'd. This is a Brief of the Cafe I
>
as ilated by your Grace ; what you would
have believed, but furely not what you be-
lieve yourfelf.
In the firft Place, it is evident from the
Sequel, that your own Turn was not ferv'd,
or at leafl not completely : It was not > the
Title, Power, or Pay of General only, that
bounded Lord Marlbor -ougb's Ambition ; his
Views extended infinitely beyond them, and
he could not but forefee what Obflacles the
Tories might think it both their Duty or their
Intereft to throw in his Way. Lord Rocheftcr,
the Queen's Uncle, according to your own
Account, thought he had a Right to the firft
Place in her Majefry's Favour, and was ever an
open Adverfary to your Lord, as well as you ;
and the whole Party in general, thinking they
had a natural Intereft in the Queen, looked
upon her as their Patronefs, and not Lady
*****. T hey however paid their
COURT to YOU, you give us to understand,
and even Lord Roche ft er himfelf condefcend-
ed to write you a very fine Piece, to folicite
a Place for his Daughter : Which only ferves
to
[ I 7 ]
to prove, that you were already efteemed to
be more a Miftrefs of the Prerogative than
the Queen herfelf j but by no means con-
cludes, you were an abfolute Miftrefs of the
Party ; and that you were not, is farther
evident from the Difficulty made by the four
'Tories nominated to Peerages, to accept of
them, if but one Whig, tho' fupported by
your Grace, was fuffered to fhare in the fame
Honour.
Here then is a fufficient Proof that the To-
ries looked upon themfelves as independently
eftablifhed in her Majefty's good Graces, and
therefore under no immediate Neceffity to
truckle meanly to any Favourite whatever :
Whereas, on the contrary, the Whigs could
afpire to that Distinction by no other Way,
nor could hold it by any other Tenure : And
whether it would fuit beft with a Perfonof
Lady * * * * *'s Turn 'to admit of Rivals,
if it was poffible to fubftitute VafTals in their
Place, let the World judge !
But 'tis Time to quit Altercations, to come
to Fals : In the Detail of which, I defign
to diveft myfelf as. much as poifible of Pre-
judice*
judice, and to fet forth all I know, or can
difcover, as becomes a Perfon who has nei-
ther Hopes nor Fears. As a Proof of which,
I mufl take Leave to premife, that, whatever
Party prevailed, Fadion has always had the
Direction of our Councils ; and it has been
utterly impracticable for any Man, however
great, wife or honeft, to be admitted into the
Service of the Crown, or rather the Miniftry,
without Compliances, that he could neither
relifh nor juftify. A Mifchief ever to be la-
mented, and, for what yet appears, never to
be cur'd!
In purfuance of her Majefty's Speech be_
fore quoted, and agreeable to the long-
concerted Project of Lord Marlborough
(who had already been fent to the Hague
to play the St a dt holder there) a Council was
held May 2d, in which a Motion was made-
for declaring War with France, and pufh-
ing it with our 'whole Strength, which was
warmly fupported by thofe who were for
making court to the Favourites. But my
Lord Rochefter was not altogether of that
Sentiment; and, in particular fet forth,
that
that the Caufes affigned for this dangerous
Meaiure did not come home to us; that
the moft Chriftian King's feizing the Spa-
vijh Monarchy, we had in a Manner jufti-
tied him in, by acknowledging his Grand-
ion as King of 'Spain : That his feizing Ca-
diz, Milan , the Spanifo Netherlands, and
the Weft-Indies, were but proper Precau-
tions for fecuring the PofTeffion of that
Crown : That it was true, thefewere Steps
of great Concern both to the "Emperor and
the Dutch ; but that they affecled us more
remotely ; arid fcarce at all, if thefe Powers
were able by themfelves to make good their
Frontier : That if, for fear of the worft,
we were obliged to become Parties, the fur-
nifhing 10,000 Men to the States, in virtue
of a Treaty flill fubfifting between us, would
be a very fufficient Aid, and a full Equiva-
lent to our Share of the Quarrel -, which
was immediately no more than the Affront
offered to us by the French King's acknow-
ledging the Pretender as King of England,
&c. and what a very little Addrefs, at this
Cr4iis, would procure a very ample Repara-
tion
t 173 ]
tion for : That however, if we refolved to;
embroil ourfelves a-new, it ought rather to
be as Auxiliaries than Principals, rather by
Sea than Land. In fupport of which Opi-
nion, he urg'd, with great Strength of Rea-
fon, the infinite Expence, and difproportion-
able Success of our lafl Enterprizes on the
Continent j which were manifestly calcu^
lated to advantage the Dutch more than
ourfelves j the annual Difficulties and Ani-
molities they occafioned ; the Grievance
they were eileemed, and the Burden of
Debts they had encumbered us with ;
which were {till, and ftill likely to remain^,
uncancelled : His Lordfhip farther made it
appear,that, what with the Charge of Embar-
kations, Difference of Pay, &c. a Land-war
would coft us, in almoft every Branch, double
the Money it would coft any other Power
in the Confederacy j and that, therefore, if
we meddled with the Continent at all, which .
he was far from holding either neceffary
or expedient, it would be moft advileubk
to furnifli our Contingent in Money, ( Ger-
many fwarming with Men) by which Means
the
t '74 ]
the Charge would be known and fix'd, and
both the Hazard, and every other Difad-
vantage would be manifeftly lefs. But his
L/ordfhip's principal Drift was to mew,
that Land- Wars were none of our Province 5
that the Sea was our only Element j that
there we could indeed make it a common
Caufe; and by the fame Means, both ad-
vantage ourfelves, and diftrefs the Enemy -,
that it was the miftaken, or corrupt Policy of
a late Reign to make the French formidable
at Sea : But that we had fince feen fufficient
Reafon to lament fo fatal a Meafure : That
La Hogue had, in Part, reduced this new
Pretender to the Sovereignty of the Ocean ;
and that, if a proper ufe was made of the
intended Rupture, her prefent Majefty
might have the Glory to fmifh the reft :
That universal Commerce would be a Ba-
lance for univerfal Empire ; and that if the
whole Strength of thefe Kingdoms was ex-
erted as Nature defigned it fliould, it would
be much more eafy for us to attain the firfr,
than Louis le Grand to compafs the laft.
a Thefe
[ '75 ]
Thefewere the plain,felf-evident,andlhope,
honeft Politics of Lord Rochefler ; and your
Grace very well knows how ill they were re-
tijhedby L. Marlborough ; who, fenfible they
flruck at the very Root of his favourite Scheme,
oppofed them with his whole Weight and
Intereft : And tho' he had little to urge in
anfwer ; But that we were bound in Honour
to make good the late King's Engagements ;
that it fuited better with the Grandeur,
Importance, and Glory of her Majefty to be
at the Head of the Confederacy, than to be
confidered only as a Supplement to it; and
that nothing lefs than fuch a vigorous Mea-
fure would difarm France of her prefent
Terrors ; yet being feconded by the Dukes
ofSomerfef and Devon/hire, (that very Duke
of Devon/hire fneer'd t for his magnificent
Air in your Grace's firft Section) the Earl of
Pembroke, Lord Godolphih, and as many
more as made a Majority, the laft of thefe
Cabinet-Rivals carried the Day j the Confe-
quences of which were, that War was * de-
clared
* The Caufes expreft in the Declaration were, That the
ing William had, by the repeated Advice of Parlia-
ment,
clared the 4th of May, and Lord Godolpbin
was honoured with the Treafurer's Staff the
6th.
Your Grace has been pleafed to record,
that my Lord Rocbejier was a great Man
among the ^Tories : If, therefore, this great
Man thus early oppos'd my Lord Marlbo-
rough at the Council-Board, it muft be as
foon, and actually was, apprehended, that he
might in Time influence thofe of his Party
in either Houfe to do the fame. Here then
mcnt, entered into Alliances with the Emperor , States-Gene-
ral, and other Potentates, for preferring the Liberty and Ba-
lance of Europe, and reducing the exorbitant Power of
France ; becaufe of the French King's unjuftly taking and
keeping Poffefficn of great part of the Spani/b Dominions,
exercifmg an abfolute Authority over alt that Monarchy ;
feizing Milan, and the Spani/b Netherlands, by his Armies ;
making himfelf Mafter of Cadiz, of the Entrance into the
Mediterranean, and of the Ports of the Spani/b Weft-Indies ;
defigning to invade the Liberty of Europe, and to obftruft the
Freedom of Navigation. And whereas, inftead of giving
juil Satisfaction, he has added the Jndignity and Affront
of declaring the pretended Prince of Wales, . King of Great-
"Britain and Irelatid, and has influenced Spain to concur
in the fame : Therefore for maintaining the public Faith of
Treaties, for vindicating the Honour of the Crown, and for
the preventing the Mifchiefs which all Europe is threatned
with, her Majefty declared War againft Trance and Spain,
by Sea and Land ; and forbad all Communication and
Correfpondence with Trance or Spain, or their Subjects ; but
promifed Protection to the Perfons and Eftates of the Sub-
jects of France and Spain, in her Majefty's Dominions, who
thall demean themfelves dutifully.
is
[ '77 1
is the Reafon, why in Point of Inter eft * you
had Caufe to be apprehenfive of the 'Tories^
and confequently, why you fhould from
henceforward open a Door for Admittance
to the Whigs.
That I may clear the Way as I go, I am
now obliged to return to your Grace ; tho' in
fo doing, I am aware my Performance will
refemble the Tragi-Comedies formerly in
Vogue ; or perhaps may approach almoft a s
near to Farce on one Hand, as Hiftory on
the other.
I have already feen Caufe to mentien that
Lord Rochefler had condefcendcd to write
you a very fine Piece, according to your
Grace's arch Exprefiion, to defire that La-
dy Dalkeith, his Daughter, might be made
a Lady of the Bed-chamber; on which Oc-
cafion you exprefs the Greatnefs of your
Snrprife ; thank GOD for your Pronenefe
to forgive your Enemies ; renew your
Charge againfh his Lordfhip of having perfe-
cuted you without a Cauje ; declare that Want
of Bread could not have induced you to afk
a Favour of one you had injured '; flide in
M by
[ i 7 8 ].
by way of Reflection, But furely hi*
Lord/hip bad fomething very uncommon in
his Temper ; and, in the End, give us to
underftand, that his Requeji was refilled.
But firft we are told, that Lady Hyde, his
Son's Wife, having before applied to you for
a like Favour, YOU had thought it REASON-
ABLE to GRANT it, tho' you aflign one
of the oddeft Reafons for it imaginable, viz.
For in your Life you never Jaw any Mortal
havefuch a Paffion for any Thing, as Jhe had
to be in this Pojl. While the Thing was de-
fending^ Jbe had fo much Concern upon her,
that Jhe never fpoke to YOU without BIuJJj-
ing. And after it <was granted, fte made
YOU more EXPRESSIONS than ever you had
from any Body on any Occafion. An excel-
lent Picture of artlefs, innocent, feminine
Ambition ! The Effect of which the limply-
grateful Letter you expofe from her Ladymip
cannot leffen, nor the * Reflection fo haugh-
tily infmuated at the End of it, efface !
But your Grace proceeds to account why
* ' In what Manner this Lady treated me afterwards, is
not worth while to mention.' Account, p. 145.
my
[ 179 1
my Lord Rochefter's Requeft was refufed, in
the following Manner.
' As to my Lord Rochefter's Requeft in.
* Behalf of my Lady Dalkeith, it could n6t
' be granted; becaufein Reality there was no
'Vacancy. The Queen had refolved to
* have no more than TEN Ladies, and the
' Number was complete. There had in-
' deed been ELEVE>J for fome fhort Time;
but this had been occafioned by the Duchefs
* of Somerjet's declining to accept one of
4 thefe Places, when it was offered her at the
c fettling of the Queen's Family, and foon
c after defring to have it, when they were
* all filled. As me was the FIRST Protef-
tant Duchefs of England, 31 PERSUADED
' the Queen tobepleafed, in COMPLIMENT
1 to her Grace, to have eleven Ladies for the
< little Time Lady Charlotte Beverwaert had
' to live, who was then irrecoverably ill. So
1 that when her Majefty complied, it was
* with full Purpofe that the Number of her
' Ladies fhould be only ten- after Lady Char"
< kites Death.'
M 2 Thus
t 180 ]
Thus it appears the Queen could recede
from her Syftem at your Grace's PERSUA-
SION in Favour of the FIRST DUCHESS,
but not in Favour of her FIRST COUSIN
without it : Which is the Subftance of the
whole Page before us. - But this, Madam,
is only your Way of telling your Story. Ac-
cording to others, Lady Dalkeith was reject-
ed, for Fear the MARLBOROUGH-FAMILY
fhould beoppos'd in the Bed-chamber, as well
as the Cabinet, by THAT of the Qu E E N .
Had your Grace, however, (lopt here,
perhaps your Apology might have held : But>
unfortunately, having Hill another Shaft to
dart at Lord Rochefter, you let it fly, and it
recoils upon yourfelf.
' I have been the more particular on this
c Affair, that it may appear, the Refufal my
* Lord Rochefter met with was not owing to
1 any Refentment of MINE againft him or his
c Family. [And I do allure you moft fincere-
* ly, that I could fo entirely have forgotten
tall his Lord/hip's ill Treatment of me, as to
'have acted in CON CERT and FRIENDSHIP
' with him, if I had thought he would have
* followed
f '' J
' followed the QJJ EEN'S TRUE INTE-
c REST.'
Here the whole Secret is out. Would
my Lord Rocke/ter have been prevailed upon
to have caballd it with your Grace, and to
have reckon'd the TRUE INTEREST OF
THE QUEEN to be that of the MARLBO-
RO UGH-F AMI LY, in all Probability he had
carried this Point, or any other ; and, over
and above, might have been complimented
with a Statue in the temple of Famc^ raifed
by that furprizing Genius, S D
ofM .
But it was his Lordfhip's Misfortune to
fee Things in a different Light ; and the Mer
rit of not facrifking his Confcience to his
Jntereft, was all he had to compenfate what
he loft while he liv'd, and is all that remains
to put into the Balance againft your Grace's
immortal Refentments on that Account.
The only general Ufe that can be made of
this Detail, is to remind the Reader of thefe
two Things, viz. That the Duchefs of So-
/^y^'sHufband had given his Vote in Coun-
cil agreeable to the Projects of Lord Marl-
M 3 borough^
[ ,82 ]
torwgb, and Lady Dalkeith's Father had
oppofed them.
To return now to our public Affairs.
To come partly into Lord Roche fters Po~
litics, not becaufe they were his, but becaufe
they agreed moft with the Inclinations of
the People, it had been refolved in Council,
to profecute the War with equal Vigour both
by Sea and Land ; and, to countenance this
Refolution, as well as manifeft their own
Forwardnefs in the common Caufe, the
States ordered a Fleet to be fitted out with all
imaginable Expedition, to acl: in Concert
with that of England, Which arrived at
Portfrnouth, fays BURNET, invidioufly, a
Month before our's was ready. He (hould
have faid, before the Army, Artillery, Gfr,
could be embark'd, and fo vaft a Body put
in Motion.
But it is neceffary to obferve once for all,
that as the Sea-Service was, during this whole
War, confidered as fubordinate to the Land,
fo moft of our Time-rferving Hiftorians have
decry'd our Naval Exploits as much as
pofllble, in order to throw an. additional
3 Glory
Glory on our Favourite Captain-General,
who was to be the fok Hero of their Story ;
which was likewife look'd upon to be the
more neceffary, fmce Sir George Rook y who
had the Command of the Fleet, was not of
the Marlborough-F&&\on, nor could be pre-
vailed upon to bow down to the Court-Idol.
He had likewife no Opinion of the intend-
ed Expedition, and expreffed his Sentiments
upon it freely ; which gave Occafion to his
Enemies to brand him with being the wil-
ful Caufe of its ill Succefs j as if any Man,
however unconcerned for the Intereft and
Glory of his Country, would be mad e-
nough to facrifice his own.
Even before he fe't Sail, one Inftance of
Party-malice appeared againft him > for hav-
ing difpatched Sir John Munden (an Officer,
who, by the Confeffion of his Enemies, had
never mifbehaved) to intercept a French
Squadron in its PafTage from Breft to the
Groyne, without the defired EffecT:, the Dif-
appointment was laid to his Account ; and
tho* Sir jfobn was moft honsurably acquitted
by a Court-Martial, of which Sir Cloudfly
M4 stove!
[ 184 I
Shovel was Proficient, the Queen was in-
duced to break him notwithstanding.
'July i . the confederate Fleet feiled from
St. Hellem^ and arrived before Cadiz, Auguft
i 2th, when a Council of War was immedi-
ately held, in which the Duke of Ormond,
eager to diftinguiiri himfelf, gave it as his
Opinion, that the Place mould be attack'd
without Delay : The Admiral was likewife
for trying the Experiment, which is acknow-
ledged by his Enemies j but becaufe both the
Duke and he were over-ruled by the almofl
general Opinion of both Land and Sea- Of-
ficers, which form'd the Council, on a State
of the Difficulty and Danger of the At-
tempt, and the wide Difference between the
real Strength of the Place, and the Repre^
jentation made of it in England, this Difep-
pointment was likewife charged upon Rook
and gave Rife to an Examination in the
Houfe of Lords, of which more will be faid
prefently.
A Defcent was however made on the i ^th,
in the Bay of Bulls j in confequence of
which the Forces marched on to La Rota
and
and Port St. Maries y which laft Place was
plundered by the Soldiers and fome of the
principal Officers, in Defiance of the Duke's
Orders to the contrary. The next Attempt
was on Matagorda-Yoit, over-againft the
Puntih, againft which a Battery was raifed \
but the Guns, at every Difcharge, linking in-
to the Sand, the whole Delign was found
impracticable, as at firft reprefented by Rook-,
the Army was reimbark'd, and the whole
Fleet fet Sail on their Return to England.
Thus had ended this Summer's Naval Ex-
pedition, if mere Chance had not given our
Commanders Intelligence that the Spanijh
Plate-Fleet, under Convoy of a French Squa-
dron, had put intoJ%0; upon which the
Admiral refolved (unwillingly, fays Burnet)
to follow them : And the Succefs here be-
came an unexpected Atonement for the
former Difgrace. No lefs than 15 Men of
War and 8 Galleons being funk, and five
Men of War and as many Galleons taken.
I have inferted this Abridgment of the
Cadiz- Expedition, now almoil forgot, to
make it vifibk from Circumflances at leaft,
that
[ ,86 ]
that our Efforts at Sea were rather calculated to
ferve as a Foil to thofe at Land, than by their
Mai-Execution to throw an Odium on the
War in general. And this will appear yet more
probable, when it is recollected, that the Duke
of Onnond himfelf affured Bifhop Burnef,
That be had not half the Ammunition necejary
for the taking of Cadiz, if they had defended
tbemfelves well; tbo' he BELIEVED they
would not have made any great Refiftance, if
he had landed on his jirft Arrival, and not
given them Time to recover the Diforder they
had Jirft put themfelves into.
But what puts the Matter of Fact, in my
humble Opinion, as it were out of Doubt>
is the Account of Sir George Rook's Exami-
nation before alluded to, even as given by this
partial Prelate, which I {hall make no Scruple
to quote at Length, tho' manifeftly warp'd
to ferve the Purpofes of a Party j and a.
bounding with invidious Reflections, which
feem to have little befide the Author's Pre-
judices for their Support.
A Committee of Peers, fays his Lord-
ihip, fat long upon the Matter. ' Theyex-
c aminecl
t 187 J
* amined all the Admirals and Land-Officers,
' as well as Rook himfelf, upon the whole Pro-
1 grefs of that Affair. Rook was fo well fup-
' ported by the COURT, and by his Pany in
' the Houfe of Commons, that he feemed
to defpife all the Lords could do. Some
* who underilood Sea-Affairs faid, that it
' appeared from every Motion he made dur-
f ing the Expedition, that he intended to do
e nothing but amufe and make a Shew.
e They alfo concluded, from the Protection
6 the MINISTRY gave him, that they
6 intended no other. He took much Pains
e to (hew how improper a Thing a Defcent
* on Cadiz was j and how fatal the At-
* tempt muft have proved 5 and in doing
this he arraigned his Inftrutfions, and the
e Defign he was fent on with great Bold-
' nefs, and fliewed little Regard to the Mi-
4 MISTERS, who took more Pains to bring
c HIM OFF, than tojuftify themfelves. The
' Lords of the Committee prepared a Re-
c port which was hard upon Rook y and kid
< it before the Houfe j but fo ftrong a Par-
f ty was made to oppofe every thing that
re-
f
reflected on him, that tho' every Particular
in the Report was well prov'd, yet it was
rejected, and a Vote was carried in his Fa-
vour, juftifying his whole Conduct. The
great Employment (meaning the Lieu-
tenancy of Ireland vacant by the Refigna-
tion of Lord Rochefler) given to the Duke
of Ormond y fo effectually prevailed on
him, that tho' the Enquiry was fet on by
his Means, and upon his Suggeftions, yet
he came not to the Houfe y when it was
brought to a Conclufion ; fo Rook being
but faintly pum'd by him, and moft zea-
loufly fupportedby his Party, was juftify'd
by a VOTE, tho' univerfally condemned
by more impartial Judges. The Behavi-
our of the MINISTRY in this Matter,
heightened the Jealoufies with which they
were pofTefTed ; for it was inferred that
they were not in Rarnefi in this whole
Expedition ; fmce the Condutf being fo
contrary to the Infinittions, thzir juftify-
ing the one was plainly condemning th e
other.
t '89 ]
lam obliged, Madam, for the fake of
throwing this whole Affair together, and the
Conclufion to be drawn from it, to antici-
pate fome Fa<5r.s that lye farther off in Point
of Time : But to purfue Truth in my Work>
I hope will be thought no Digreffion, what-
ever it may be in your Grace's : And from
the Bifhop's own Words, it is obvious enough,
that Marine Expeditions were purpofely to
be brought into Difgrace ; and that King
Williams Politics (before condemned by
your Grace) in not permitting Prince George
to difiinguim himfelf in Arms, were now
copied in the almoft fimilar Cafe of Lord
Marlborough and the Duke of Ortnond ; in as
much as the lair, tho' honour'd with a Com-
mand, was fent upon an Undertaking which
might have been fatal to him ; and, as foon
as poflible, was laid afide, under the plau-
fible Pretence of rewarding him with the
Lieutenancy of Ireland.
I have before fignify'd, Madam, that the
free Strokes in the preceding Quotation
from the Rijhop again ft the Court and the
ty were meant only to reflect an
Odium
[ '9 1
Odium on the Tories, as fuppofcd to be a-
verfe to the War, and confequently liable
to have all thefe Miftakes and Mifmanage-
ments laid to their Account. But Readers
cannot be induced to judge as Prelates fome-
times vote, by Direction.
The Court and Mintflry were as yet all
Tories alike : Lord Rocbefler had no longer
any Influence. Your Grace, Lord Marl-
borough, and Lord Godolphin, were at the
Head of all Things ; and, unlefs it can be
fuppofed you left the Sea at Difcretion to
the Lord-High-Admiral, Pembroke, a-
part of the Council, or made it a Province
to the two Secretaries Lord Nottingham,
and Sir Charles Hedges, it cannot be under-
ftood that the Words Court and Miniflry
were applicable to them only : But, merely
to excite an ill Opinion of the War, 'tis
fcarce to be conceived that Men would ven-
ture to draw down an ill Opinion upon them-
felves : And if the faid Secretaries or any
Body elfe, had betray 'd the leaft Inclina-
tion to blaft the Powers above them, it is not
to be fuppofed that the faid fuperior Powers,
fo
fo provoked, would not have immediately
teflified their Refentment, and rather join'd
the Cry in the Houie of Lords againft Sir
George Rook's fuppofed ill Conduct, than us'd
their utmoft Efforts to bring him off.
Either, therefore, I have done no Vio-
lence to Truth, in drawing Conclufions a-
gainft one Party, from Premiffes levelled
againft the other ; or elfe both, tho' from
different Motives, were guilty alike.
In this Interval Lord Marlborough^ hav-
ing put himfelf at the Head of the Confede-
rate Army, not only obliged Marmal Bouf-
jlers to retire before him - y but falling irita
the Spanifo Gudderland, reduced Venlo,
Ruremond, Stevenzwert and Liege ; and tho'
/he~feil into the Hands of the French in his
Return, luckily extricated himfelf again,
and arriv'd in England towards the End of
the Year j being defervedly received with
great Acknowledgments by the Public for
his military Conduft, and honour'd foon after
with the Title of * Duke by her Majefty.
Thus far all was fmooth. His Grace's
Behaviour had been unexceptionable abroad ;
,and
* He had been created a Knight of the Garter before.
[ 19* I
and at home, the People had returned a
Tory-Parliament in compliment to the
Court : So that the Seffion was expected to
pafs over as triumphantly as the Campaign .
of which what could be a happier Omen
than the following Paragraph in the Com-
mons Addrefs ?
* The late Difappointment at Cadiz does
' the more affeft us, becaufe it gives your
' Majefty fo much Trouble ; but this Mif-
' fortune cannot make us forget, that the
c Protection and Security of our Trade, the
* vigorous Support of your Majefty's Allies,
c and the wonderful Progrefs of your Ma-
' jefty's Arms under the Conduct of the Earl
c of Marlborough have flgnally retrieved the
* ancient Honour and Glory of the Englijh
* Nation/
*Tis remarkable that the Whigs were as yet
fo little attached to Lord Marlborough, that
they ftruggled hard to get the Word MAIN-
TAINED inferted inftead of RETRIEVED;
but loft it by 100 Voices; and that the
Lord Rochefter, that great Man among the
Tories, as he is called by your Grace, had
2 op-
.
[ '93 ]
oppofed Lord Marlborough in Council In
May, and the new Parliament did not meet
till Qftober^ yet none of the Party had cs
yet publicly appeared to efpoufe either his
Reafons or Refentments.
Your Grace indeed very juftly charges
them with introducing the Occafwnal-Con*
formity-Billy with a malicious Delign of
making it a 7^/?, whereby her Majefty
might difiingiiijh her Friends from her
Foes : But, on its being loft in the Houfe of
Lords, but by one Vote, on three different
Divifions, Bimop Eurnet tells us, The
four Tory Lords, before mentioned, were
created on Purpofe to fecure a Majority
for that very Bill. Nay he adds, That
the \OURT put their whole STRENGTH
to carrf the Bill, in fo much that Prince
George, tho' an Qccafional Conformlfl
himfelf, was induced to come to die Houfe
and give his Vote in its Favour. Can it be
imagin'd, then, that Lord Marlborough^ or
Lord Godolphin execufed themfelves ? Nay,
doth it appear, either from the Bifhop's, or
your Grace's Book, that they ever endea-
N voured
r 19* ]
voured it ? On the contrary, 'tis a Certainty,
that they then voted for it j tho' for Reafons
of State, they faw Caufe to drop it after-
wards.
No reafonable Perfon will difpute with
your Grace, but that the Queen's Prejudices
in Favour of the Church expofed her to
many unfair Practices ; and that the Party
then uppermoft in her Favour, hoped and en-
deavoured to govern her by that Means : But
were not the two Lords above mentioned of
that Party too ? And is not a Share of the
Guilt of bringing in this very Occafional-
Conformfy-R\\\, for the firft Time at leaft,
be laid at their Door ?
The open Rupture between the Tories and
the Marlborougb-zm\\y is not to/be afcribed
then to this Bill, whether unreafonable or
not -, and we muft look out for fome other
Caufe, which, perhaps, we mail find in the
following Incident, not the only one, mofl
dtjcreetly left unnoticed both by your Grace
and Bimop Burnet.
' On the i oth of December the follow-
c ing MefTage was brought to the Houfe of
6 Com-
[ '95 ]
' Commons by Mr. Secretary Hedges,
* ed by the Queen herfelf.
">m ig^fwlir^r
< ANNER.
iK'|i/*^
:>tl*H The Earl of Mar /borough's Services to
' her Majefty, and to the Public, have been
' fo eminent, both in his Command of the
* Army, and in his having eftablifhed an
' entire Confidence and good Correfpon-
c dence between her Majefly and the States-
' General, that me has thought fit to grant
c the Title of a Duke of this Kingdom to
c him, and to the Heirs Male of his Body,
' and alfo a Penfion of* $oool.per Ann.
1 upon the Revenue of the Poft-Office, for
* the Support of this Honour, during her
' Majefty's natural Life. If it had been
in her Majefty's Power, me would have
c granted the fame Term in the Penfion as in
c the Honour ; and fhe hopes you will think
' it fo reafonable in this Cafe, as to Jind
' fome proper Methods of doing it.'
N 2 The
* It was fa id on this Occafion, That the Qieen intended
to give the Duke of Mar/borough, all the GOLD taken by
the Duke of Ormond at Vigo.
The Commons, after the reading of this
Meflage, feemed, for fome time, to be in a
Maze, and kept fo long filent, that (it was
faid) the Speaker flood up, and looked
round, to fee if any body would fpeak to it :
And at length Sir Edward Seymour having
broke the Ice, the Debate ran very high
upon the Occafion j and amongft others
common Fame gave out, that Sir Cbrifto-
pber Mujgrave mould fay, c That though
' he had accepted of an Employment at
* Court, yet, he never did it with a Defign
* that his Mouth mould be fewed up in that
c Houfe, when any thing was offered that
f he thought detrimental to his Coun-
' try : That he would not derogate from
the Duke's eminent Services ; but that he
' was very well paid for them, Gfc.' And
the Houfe at length having wifely weighed
this important Affair, inftead of complying
with the Meffage, on the -21 ft, prefentedthc
following Addrefs to her Majefty in relation
to it.
< Moft
t '97 1
e Moil gracious Sovereign, We your Ma- -
c jefly's mofl dutiful and loyal Subjects the
c Commons in Parliament affembleJ, hum--
* bly beg leave to declare our unanimous
4 Satisfaction in the jufl Eileem your Ma-
c jefly has been pleafed to exprefs of the
f eminent Services performed by the Duke
* of Marlborough ; who has not only, by
' his Conduct of the Army, retrieved the
c antient Glory and Honour of the Engtijh
' Nation, but by his Negotiation eftablim- .
* ed an entire Confidence and good Cor-
' refpondence between your Majefly and
' the States-General, and therein vindicated
' the Gentlemen of England, who had, by
* the vile Practices of defigning Men, been
* traduced, and induflrioufly reprefented as
c falfe to your Majefly's Allies, becatife
' they were true to the Interefl of their
' Country.
' It is to their unexpreffible Grief y that
* your Majefly 's moil dutiful Commons find
c any Inftances, where they are unable to.
f comply with what your Majefly propofes
< to them ; but they beg leave humbly to
N 3 ! lay
t 198 ]1
e lay before your Majefty the Apprehensions
c they have of making a Precedent for the
f future Alienations of the Revenue of the
e Crown, which has been fo much reduced
c 'by the exorbitant Grants of the laft Reign,
' and which has been fo lately fettled and
1 fecured by your Majefty's unparallel'd
Grace and Goodnefs.
* We are infinitely pleafed to obferve by
* your Majefty's late gracious Acceptance of
c the Duke of Marlborough's Services, that
' the only way to obtain your Majefty's Fa-
' vour, is to deferve well from the Public ;
and we beg leave to afTure your Majefty ^
' that whenever you (hall think fit to reward
' fuch Merit, it will be to the entire Satif-
* fadion of your People.'
To which her Majefty returned the fol-
lowing Anfwer :
' I mall always think myfelf much con-
c cerned to reward thofe who deferve well
of me, and the Public : On this account
' I beftowed fome Favours on the Duke of
4 Marl-
[ '99 ]
' Marlboroughy and I am glad to find you
think they are well placed/
'
Now, Madam, can it any longer be
maintained that you had no Intereft to ferve
by changing Sides, and endeavouring to
bring the Whigs into Play ? Or is it to be
wondered at that your Grace could never
forgive the Party who dif appointed you,
for the Time being, at leaft, of fuch a deli-
cious Morfel ? But, on the other hand, how
is it to be reconciled, that your Grace
mould one while fcruple to accept a preca-
rious Penlion of one T^houjand Pounds a
Year, as too much, and now mould urge
the Queen fo unfeafonably to demand a
Perpetuity of Five Thoufand Pounds for
little more than Five Months Service ?
However, not to choak your Grace with
Queries, which I know you will fcarce be
able to fwallow, it is morally certain that it
was owing to this untoward Circumftance
that you conceived fo violent an Antipathy to
the High-Churcb-Nonfenfe of Non-rejtftancf t
Pafliue-Obediencc, &c. and that from hence,
N 4 in
2CO ]
in Conjunction with theif- perpetual Dread
of Lord Rocbefter, your two Coadjutors
were induced to defert their old Principles
and Friends, and direct the Stream of Court-
Favour into another Channel.
That, upon the Whole, the Fire-Brand-
Bill, fo often mentioned, v/as neither intro-
duced, nor fo violently contended for, to an-
fwer any one good End, I agree with your
Grace: But that you had ever, on that Account
merely, deferted the Tories, and llruck up an
Alliance with the Whigs, if the firft would
have condefcended to do the Drudgery re-
quired of them, I fee no Caufe from any
one Action of her Majefty's THREE MA-
NAGERS to believe.
It has been already fignified, that Lord
Rochefter had refigned the Lieutenancy of
Ireland : It is now neceflary to take Notice
in how good-natur'd a Way your Grace
tells the Story.
* My Lord Rocbefter was, I think, the
c firft of the Tory Leaders that difcovered a
' deep D if content with the Qneen and her
< Administration. Before the End of the
' Year
c Year he refigned the Lieutenancy of Ire-
c land in great V/ratb, upon her Majefty's
' being fo unreafonable as to prefs him to
e go thither to attend- the Affairs of that
* Kingdom, which greatly needed his Pre-
* fence. For as the Revenue which had
c been formerly granted was out, it was ne-
* ceffary to call a Parliament in order to a-
* nether Supply; and a Parliament could
* not be held without a Lord-Lieutenant.
'* But when the Queen reprefented thefe
* Things to him, he told her with GREAT
' INSOLENCE, that be 'would not go into
s Ireland, though foe would give the Coun-
c try to him and his Son ; fo that he feems
' to have accepted the Poft only that he
might reign in Ireland by the Miniftry of
* his Brother Keightley, as he hoped to do
c in England ', in Perfon. Nor could he,
' after his Refignation, overcome his An-
ger fo far as to wait upon the Queen
' or go to Council ; which me obferving or-
( dered, after fome time, that he mould no
* more be fummoned, faying, '* it was not
f c reafon-
-
[ 202 ]
tl able my Lord Rochefter fhould come to
" Council only when he pleafed.
' Perhaps his Lordfhip's Unwillingnefs to
' leave England, might proceed from his
' Zeal for the Church, and from his Fears
r left it fhould be betray'd in his Abfence.
' But it was generally thought, and I be-
* lieve with good Reafon, that the true
' Source of his DifTatisfaction was the
* Queen's not making him her fole Cover-
' nor and Director, and my Lord Godol-
* pbin's being preferred before him for the
c Treafury : which if true, affords a remark-
' able Inftance, how much Self-Love and
* Self- Conceit can blind even a Man of
* Senfe -, for fuch, by his Party at leaft, he
' was efteemed to be. I don't wonder that
* he mould like POWER (it is what moft
' People are fond of) or that, being related
c to the Queen, he mould expect a parti-
' cular Confideration. This was very na-
* tural and very reafonable, if HE HAD
4 BEHAVED HIMSELF TO HER AS HE
' OUGHT : But when one confiders, that
c his Relation to her was by SUCH A SORT
3 c OF
[ 2 3 ]
* OF ACCIDENT, and that his Conduct
* had been fo very extraordinary, 'tis an
* amazing Thing that he Should imagine,
' he was to DOMINEER over the Queen
and every Body elfe, as he did over his
* own Family.
In Anfwer to all this, Madam, I will not
take upon me to fay that my Lord RccheJ-
ters Difcontent was not partly the EfFed:
of Difappointment as well as Patriotifm.
He was a Man ; and had, in rather too vio-
lent a Degree, the Paffions of a Man : But
then, his Services to the State were not much
inferiour to thofe of Lord Godolphin -, nor, in
fpite of Party-Prejudices, did he want either
Ability or Integrity to qualify him for the
higheft Offices. To the fame Accident that
the Queen owed her Birth, he owed his Re-
lation to her Majefty ; which,howevery?z^rV
at by your Grace, deferved to be treated with
rather more Refpedt than the Accident of
your being her Play-fellow. He had given
her in Council the beft Advice in the World,
as is now but too fatally manifeft, and fhe
had been influenc'd (how, your Grace beft
knows)
[ 204 ]
knows) to follow the worft. Having thus
loft all Confidence at Court, 'tis no Wonder
he did not countenance Meafures he could
not approve ; nor that Advantage fnould be
taken of his Difcontent, tobanifh him to Ire-
land ; or, in cafe he declin'd the Service, as
perhaps it was forefeen he would, to make it
a Snare to fend thither another obnoxious
Perfon in his Room.
Every one of thefe Particulars is natural,
and the Way of the World : But that he who
treated the Princefs with fuch profound Re-
fpet, mould infult his Sovereign, according
to your Grace's ACCOUNT, is another Stroke
of the Marvellous, which runs with fo rich
a Vein, and mines with fuch diftinguimed
Luflre thorough your whole Apology,
Your old Friend the Bifhop, Madam, re-
counts the Circumftance of his Lordfliip's
Refignation fimply thus.
' At this Time the Earl oiRocbe/ler quit-
* ted his Place of Lord-Lieutenant of Ire-
' land. He was uneafy at the Preference
' which the Duke of Mar thorough had in
' the Queen's Confidence, and at the Lord
Godolphins
e Godolpbin's being Lord Treafurer. It was
< generally believed he was endeavouring to
4 embroil our Affairs, and that he was laying a
e Train ofOppoli tion in theHoufe of Commons.
* TheQneenfenta Meffage to him, ordering
4 him to make ready to go to Ireland -, for it
' feemed flrange, efpecially in a Time of
' War, that a Perfon in fo great a Poft, fhould
not attend upon it : But he, after foine
' Days advijing about it, went to the Queen
* and defired to be excufed from that Em-
' ployment. This was readily accepted, and
* upon that he retired from the Councils.
Your Grace and the Bifhop agree pretty
well in fetting forth the Reafons of his Di-
guft; but differ widely in the Manner of
his laying down : there being not the leail
Hint of the great Infolence to be trac'd in
one Account, which glares Ib remarkably in
the other : According to- thts, the Queen con-
defcends to reprefent to him in Perfon : Ac-
cording to that, {he contents herfelf with
fending a Meffage only ; which laft being
the Matter of FacT:, (as I have been
affured it was) it is fcarce to be imaging
that
[ 206 ]
that he, who was, at firft, cool enough to
advife about his Anfwer for fome Days,
mould, in the Iffue, growfo ram as to affront
her Majefty to her Face.
Your Grace, however, has the Goodnefs
to infinuate, that his Relation to the Queen,
however ACCIDENTAL, entitled himtoex-
pe<ft a particular Confederation, provided he
had behaved to her as he ought. Words
that drop from your Pen with a peculiar
Propriety ! But you add, it was an amazing
*Ihing that he mould imagine he was to
DOMINEER, G? c. Here I clofe with your
Grace.. . . It was really an amazing Thing ;
confidering that Office was already granted
to ONE who never fail'd to make the moft
of it, as will be explain'd more at large in
the Sequel.
The Tories were now fplitinto two Parts:
Thofe who continued with, and fhar'd in
the Fortunes of the Favourites, and thofe
who efpoufed the Maxims and Refentments
of Lord Rochefler : Which State-Schifm
your Grace very well knows was entirely
owing to the Cormorant-Appetites of fome
Perfons,
Perfons, who both monopolized the Sun-
fhine of the Court, and ftak'd the Wealtlb
Strength,Honour,and Happinefsof the whole
Nation on one Caft, as one may fay, to ag-
grandize themfelves.
This, however, when the Parliament was
fir ft chofen, it is manifeft, was not appre-
hended : But the Reception of the MeiTage
to the Houfe of Commons, relating to the
5000 /. a Year- Perpetuity, open'd your
Eyes : You then faw, Madam, that tho' the
Houfe made good the Supplies cheerfully
and fpeedily, and even granted an additional
Ten thoufand Men to Strengthen your Lord's
Hands in Flanders, it was rather out of Af-
fection to the Queen than in Compliment to
him.
The Occafional-Conformity-Bill, which
had given fuch juft Umbrage to the Whigs,
now appear 'd to be the Devil's own Handy-
Work, and as fuch, was, if poffible, to be
run down. The Whigs were now talk'd of
at Court as the Queen's beft Subjecls; a good.
Understanding was eftabliihed between the
Junto at the Head of Affairs and them ; and
{ 208 ]
a ProfpecT: was opened to them of the pro-
mifed Land.
In the Interval between the Seiiions, the
Duke of Marlborough Tpafizd. over into Flan-
tiers, and opened the .Campaign with the
Siege of Bonne j which capitulated in ten
Days. Soon after which 'Boufflers having
been detach'd from Marfhal Filler of s Army,
to furprize the Dutch Forces under Opdam,
at Echeren y his Grace was thought to have
committed an Overfight, in not having at-
tacked Fil'leroy, while thus weaken'd on one
Side, or fupported Opdam, who was over-
powered on the other. He afterwards took
Huy, 'Limbourg, and Guelder, which were
the whole of his Exploits during this Cam-
paign.
In this Interval, likewife, the Foundation
of the fubfequent War in Spain being laid, a
grand Defign of King William's, to make
certain important Acquifitions in the Bay of
Mexico, was laid afide, for Fear of giving
Offence to the Spanijh Nation ; and the
King of Portugal was courted into the grand
Alliance, on the moil extravagant Terms
I that
[ 20 9 ]
that can be conceived ; fuch as the extend-
ing his Frontier in Spai?2, tho', at the fame
Time, WE were obliged to defifl from our
Defigns on the Weft-Indies > the fubmitting
our Fleets to his Command, or even that of
his Viceroys, Governors, &c. and yielding
him the Honour of the Flag in his own
Ports : Which laft Article Lord Nottingham
warmly objected to, as a Difgrace to the
Englifo Nation \ but for the Honour of
Lord Go DOLPHIN'S round Proceedings, as
they are called by Burnet, he prevailed with
the Queen to ratify the Treaty.
As to our Conduct at Sea this Summer, it
even countenanced that of the laft. The
Dutch had now found out the Secret, and
thought they might very fafely retard thofe
Preparations which were to be of no Ufe.
Hook was for fome Time fick with the ill
Profpect before him ; and when he did fail,
was equip'd with fuch Orders, as amounted
to no more than to go out and corns Home. So
that nothing was either done or attempted.
But, as the Bifhop qf St. Afapb faid by our
O
[ 210 ]
Enemies, in his famous Preface, let his Bro-
ther of Sarum tell the reft.
* It was after this refolved to fend a ftrong
* Fleet into the Mediteranean : It was near
* the End of June before they were ready to
' fail, and they had Orders to come out of
* the Streights by the End of September :
Every Thing was fo /'// laid in this Expe-
dition, as if it had been intended that no-
( thing Jhould be done by it, befides the con-
1 *ucying our Merchant-Ships, which did
not require the 4th Part of fuch a Force.
Shovel was fent to command : When he
* faw his Inftrutiions, he reprefented to the
* MINISTRY, rfhat nothing could be expetf-
* edfrom this Voyage. He was ordered to
go, and he obeyed his Orders. He got
fc$o Leghorn by the Beginning of September.
< His Arrival feem'd to be of great Confe-
* quence, and the Allies began to take great
c Courage from it : But they were foon dif-
< appointed of their Hopes, when they un-
derflood by his Orders, he could only ftay
a few Days there. Nor was it eafy to ima-
' gine what the Defiga of fo great an Expe-
ditjon
[ 2" 1
' dition could be, or why fo much Money
was thrown away on fuch a Project, which
* made us dejptfed by our Enemies, while it
provok'd our Friends, who might juftly
* think they could not depend upon fuch an
* -Ally, who managed fo great a Force with
4 fo poor a Conduct, as neither to lurt their
c Enemies, nor protect their Friends by it.'
Here again the Blame of all is openly
thrown upon the MINISTRY, without the
leafl Difcrimination, at the Head of which it
was impoffible Lord Nottingham fhould be
fuppofed, becaufe we have juft been furnifh'd
with an In fiance of his beincr obliged tofub-
O O
mit his Opinion to that of Lord Go dolphin.
To fay all in a Word, our whole Marine
was, at this Time, moft deplorably manag'd ;
a Junto, (no Matter of what Party) headed
by a Brother of the D. of Mar thorough* $, under
the Umbrage, and by the Stile of Council
to Prince George, now Lord High-Admiral
in the Room of Lord Pembroke, being fuf-
fered to act as wickedly or corruptly as they
pleafed, as appeared, among many other In-
fbnceSjin the Victuallings which was fo perni-
O 2 clous.
[ 212-)'
cious, that many Men were faid to be poi-
foned with it, 8V. &c.
Thefe Things, I am fenfible, Madam, are
lomewhat foreign to my fir ft Defign ; hut I
am defirous my Book mould be of Ufe : A
Confideration which would have been no Dif-
honour to your Grace.
We are come now to the fecond Seffion
of this Tory- Parliament, which met in the
fame Humour they parted ; that is to fay,
with Hearts and Hands devoted to the
Church, or rather to the political Superftruc-
ture which they defigned to raife upon it.
In plain EngtijJ} } the Queen was a Devotee,
the Clergy had their Weight, and the Church
was to be a Tool.
I have often acknowledged and lamented
the Prevalence of Faction in all our Views
and Undertakings both at home and abroad ;
and, tho' I appear in Oppofition to your
Grace as at the Head of one, you fee I
am no profefs'd Advocate for the other.
The Occafional Conformity-Bill was again
broughtin,but not with the Court-Sanction as
before. Thus, tho' four Peers had been lately
made
made in order to give Weight to the Tory-
Y
Scale in the Houfe of Lords, Ways and
Means were found out to counter-balance it
again. Even the Prince of Denmark with-
drew his Countenance, her Majefty, in her
very Speech, had infmuated her Difappro-
bation, and above half of the Bifhops them"
felves divided againft it : The Confequence
of all which was, that, tho' it paffed the
Commons, as before, it was rejected by the
Lords ; and that with a Majority of twelve
this Sefijon, tho' but of one the laft.
It is, however, remarkable, on one Hand,
that this very Houfe of Commons, who
ftickled fo hard for this Party-SbMoIet&>
and have been held in general fuch Obftacles
to the War, both granted and difpatched
the Supplies with all the Readinefs and Chear-
fulnefs imaginable j and, on the other, that
her Majefty, tho' fhe no longer patroniz'd
Church-Extravagance, at this Time made a
Grant of the firft Fruits and Tenths, in fa-
vour of the poorer Clergy. So Jajius-facd
ib Policy !
s ]; '-;
O 3 Difappoint-
Difappointmcnt either begets Rage, or
Defpair. The Tories were only incenfcd ;
they had not, as yet, had Time to defpond :
Believing themfelves, therefore, to be flronger
than they were, and their Adverfaries weaker ;
that in Heart the * Queen was ftill their
Friend,
* Which Opinion of their's was not ill-grounded, as
fer pears by the following Letter from her Majeity to the
Duchefs.
' Tgive my dear Mrs. Freeman many Thanks for her
' long Letter, and am truly fenfibleof the fincere Kind-
' nefs you exprefs in it; and in Return, to cafe your
* Mind, I muft tell you, Mr. Bromley ivlll be difap-
4 pointed, fsr the Prince does not intend to go to the Hcufe^
1 when the Bill cf Occafional Conformity is brought in ; but
* at the fame Time that I think him very much in the
' right not to vote in it, I fhall not have the worfe Opi-
* nion of any of the Lords that are for it ; for tho' /
* Jhould have been very glad it had not been brought into the
* Houle of Commons, becaufo I would not have had any Pre-
' tenee given for quarrelling ; I can't help thinking, now
4 it is as goodaspaft there, it will be better for tke Service
* to have it pafs the Houfe of Lords too. I muft own to you,
* that I never cared to mention any thing on this Sub-
* jedt to you, becaufe I knew you would not be of my
* Mind ; but fince you have given me thi? Occafion, I
* can't forbear faying, that / fee nothing like Perje-
1 cution in this Bill. You may think it is a Notion Lord
* Nottingham has put it into my Head, but upon my
* Word it is my own Thought. I am in Hopes I fhail have
* one LOOK before you go to St. Albans, and therefore
* will fay no more now, but will anfwer your Letter
* more at large, fome other Time ; and only promife
4 my
Friend, and that they were fure of the People,
they held their Heads higher, talk'd louder,
and declared themfelves without Reierve.
In particular, they' indiicreetly pufh'd my
Lord Nottingham to infift, that certain Whig-
Lords fliould be removed from Council, OP
to refign the Seals : Of which impolitic Step,
and their late Intemperance in the Houfe
of Commons, fuch Advantage was taken,
that the Queen, inftead of complying, was
prevail'd with to humble the whole Party at
once, by difmifBng Lord Jerfey and Sir Ed-
ward Seymour from their Employments of
Comptroller and Lord- Chamberlain of the
Houfhold : Upon which Lord Nottingham
threw up, as it was expected he wmild, tho'
it feems not by the Queen, who prefs'd him
to continue in her Service.
This Incident is told in the following cool
Manner by your Grace.
1
* my dear Mrs. Freeman faithfully, I will read the Book
' fhefent me, and beg {he would never let Difference of
* Opinion hinder us from living together, as we ufed to
* do. Nothing fliall ever alter your poor, unfortunate,
' faithful Morley, who will live' and die with all Truth
renderneli, your's.^ ^
[ 2,6 ]
c This new Blow to the Church (the Lofs
* of the Occa/iona!Conformify-Bi//)w&s foon
' followed by another, the Removal of Lord
' J er f e y anc ^ ^ Edward Seymour from their
c Employments j and about the fame Time
* Lord Nottingham refigned his Place of Se-
* cretary of State, becaufe the Whigs were
* too much favoured.' fcjLcteQ jiwaisi arf*
Here again the Effect is vifible, but the
Caufe is conceal'd : Tories are difgrac'd, and
Whigs are favour 'd. For what Reafons,
and at whofe Inffonce, is left in utter Dark-,
nefs, and the Reader is here to grope out his
Way as well as he can. By recollecting
indeed what your Grace advanced in the Be-
ginning of your Book, concerning the low
Condition of the Whigs, and the Elevation
they were advanc'd to by your Means, we
are directed to afcribe the Change juft men-
tioned to your Predominance. But a
Name which your Grace has not as yet
thought proper to mention, tho' foon to be
let forth as the J'econd Devil of your Drama,
now comes forward, and demands at bfl to
have
[ "7 1
have that Juftice done it, which Party-Rage,
Hood-wink'd Prejudice, and defigning Am-
bition have hitherto denied it.
Robert Harley y Efq; a Gentleman who
had eminently diftinguifhed himfelf in de-
tecting the Parliamentary-Corruptions which
broke out in the late Reign, as likewife in
the famous Debate on the Di{banding of the
Army after the Treaty of Ryfwick ; and to
whofe Firmnefs it was principally owing that
the Continuance of the Dutch Guards in this
Realm, tho' particularly defired by the
King, could not be difpenfed with ; who,
in juft Acknowledgment of his diftinguifhed
Merit, was chofen Speaker in the two laft
Parliaments of King William^ and now a-
gain for the third Time, by the firft of Queen
Anne ; this Robert Harley, I iay, Madam,
was become fo confiderable by his Weight in
the Houfe of Commons, had discovered fucli
a Capacity for Buiinefs, and was held in fucli
univerfal Efteem, that the two great Afibci-
ates at the Helm, could not help admitting
him into the"k Confidence, as being thought
I by
[ a'8 jji
7, according to your own Words, p,
208. A very proper Per/on to manage the
Houfe of Commons, upon which Jo much al-
ways depends.
Your Grace does not indeed mean to give
this Evidence in his Favour, as is manifeft by
the Turn of the fubfequent Paragraph. 'And
' his Artifices had won upon them fo far,
* that they could not be perjuaded, but they
* might fecurely TRUST him, till Expert
* ence, too late, convinced them to the con-
' trary.' THRY COULD NOT BE PER-
SUADED! Somebody endeavoured it then ;
and who could pretend to have more Pene-
tration and Sagacity than thofe two renown'd
Politicians, but your Grace ? An Infinuation
very artfully made, and, no Doubt, redound-
ing highly to your Honour !
As to the TRUST you mention, Madam,
I fuppofe, it is to be underftood, that the
Duke of Marlborough and Lord Godolphin
took it for granted that Mr. Harley would
be their TOOL.
But, in order to underftand Party-Laf!
guage,
guage, we ought to examine Party-Defjgns
to the Bottom.
The Queen had as much good Senfe as
moil Women, and more than moil Mo-
narchs : Rut her Situation was fuch as ren-
dered it of little Ufe. By her Affections flie
was bewitched to your Grace by her Prin-
ciples ihe was attach'd to the Church : On
the one Hand ihe was beiieged by thofe To-
nes, who, on the Strength of her Prejudices,
would have enflav'd the reft of their Fellow-
Subjects : On the other, ihe was made the
Prey of thofe, .who, by the moil plaufible
PretenceSjfofar confounded herUnderiranding,
as to render War almoil as much her Delight,
as it was their own. According to thefe,
all who feem'd to prefer the Safety and Re-
pole cf their bleeding Country 3 to the Bub-
ble of Military Glory, were Traitors and
Jacobites : According to thofe, Majeily itfelf
was made a Property of, and one Family in-
folqntly facrinced the Lives and Fortunes of
a whole People, to gratify their own private
Interefl; by them artfully call'd the true In-
terefl
' ?!
[ 220 ]
tereft of the Public. Thus mi ferably befet, with
the beft Difpofition as a Woman, with the
nobleft Intentions as a Queen, this great,
beloved, applauded,but unhappy Lady, found
herfelf impotent in the Midft of Power, and
continually obnoxious to Complaints and
Perfections ; tho' never blameable, but for
being govern'd herfelf, when alike autho-
riz'd and qualify'd to govern others. : t 7jlA
'Tis obvious to common Senfe, that, in a
Court fo circumftanced, it was morally im-
poffible for Independency to find either En-
couragement, or AdmirTion. Faction had
the PofTefiion of every Avenue; Sentinels
were ftation'd at every Pofrern j theje was
no paffing without the Word, which was
given to none, but fuch as were either enlift-
ed, or imprefTed into the Service.
All this no Body knew better, few fo well
as Mr. Harky, who was equally a Patriot
and a Politician ; and faw clearly, if he did
not exert the one, it would be extremely
difficult to manifeft the other. In your
Grace's Right, he faw the D. ot Marlborough
Lord of 'the Afcendant, and the Treafurer,
Body
[ 221 ]
Body and Soul, at his Devotion. The Wild-
fire-Schemes which the Rage of xhe difap-
pointed Tories had thrown them into, af-
fronted both his Confcience and his Under-
ftanding ; to fee the Queen, in a Manner,
a Prifoner upon the Throne, excited at once
his Pity and his Indignation ; to fee the Na-
tion led with Wreaths and Garlands to the
Altar, ftruck him with Horror, and infpir'd
him with Refolution to run all Hazards to
refcue the devoted Victim.
To fay then that he temporis'd with thofe
who held the Throne as in Cuftody, till he
had free Accefs to it, till he could give Utte-
rance to what his Bofom laboured with, till her
Majefty was convinc'd from his own Lips of
his Zeal for her real Service, independent (as
far as was poffible) of all Parties or Party-
Leaders whatever, is the utmoft which the
Enemies of Mr. Harley, with Probability,
can hitherto lay to his Charge.
As a Proof of which, let us take a View of
his Behaviour when he had firft the Ear, and
began to poflefs the Confidence of the Queen:
He found her in the melancholy Circum-
flances
[ 222 ]
ilances before defcribed - y in her Cabinet dif-
fracted with the different Councils, and op-
pbfite Demands of two contending Factions,
whofe principal Aim was to engrois her
wholly to themfelves ; and even in her Bed-
chamber not Miftrefs of her private Favours.
To begin then with the mbft practicable
Part of his Scheme, he propofed firft as a
reafonable, nay a neceffary Meafure for the
Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom, the dif-
embarramng her Majefty, and the giving
Strength, Firmnefs and Importance to her
Government, both abroad and at home, what
your Grace had only wrangled for, and what
your two Lords fecretly wifh'd, but duril
not openly undertake ; which was, the Dif-
miiTion of Sir Edward Seymour , and the moil
turbulent of the Tories, and that very Coa-
lition with the Whigs, which your Grace
has arrogated folely to yourfelf.
That you, Madam, had more Rcafons
than Mx.Harley to obtain this defirable Point,
has already been explain'd ; and that you very
earneftly endeavour'd to effed: it, cannot be
denied : But then, your Grace would have
carry'd
.carry s d it like all the reft, with a high Hand,
as a Debt to her Majefty's FRIENDS, tho*
a Violence to her own Inclinations.
But Mr. Harley* on the contrary, pleaded
the Neceflity of fuch a Meafure from the
Divisions in her Councils, from the factious
Spirit that, from thence, went forth among
the People, and the dreadful Mifunderftand-
ings it had ftirr'd up even between the two
Houfes themfelves j from the melancholy
Apprehenfions it created in our Allies, the
Hopes it excited in our Enemies, and the
univerfal Diilocation, as one may term it,
of every Joint of Government, it produc-
ed.
Thus, while your Grace only made the
Queen unealy with your Remonftrances, he
made it his Bufmefs to convince her Judg-
ment ; the Confequence of which was, that
the Prime- Minifhy, as it was called, reiled
in Lord Godolpbin; the Duke <Marlb+-
rough had the Army at his own Difpofal ;
Mr. Hurley was made Secretary of State, on
the Refignation of Lord Notti?7gham, Sir
'Charles Hedges the other Secretary was con-
tinued
tinued ; and Sir George Rook, not with/land-
ing the Calumnies he had been loaded with,
or his being thought an Alibciate with the
late Furzo/b's y was, for fome Time after at
leaft, entrufled with the Conduit of the Fleet^
But tho* thefe Alterations in the Diftri-
bution of Power had been made at his In-
ilance, he * waited only for an Opportu-
nity, to give it as his farther Opinion, that
the Queen ought not to be clofeted up
from the Knowledge, or Approach of any
of her Subjeds, who had a Pretence, from
their Birth and Situation, to that Honour,
on any Party Consideration whatever j that
Miftakes in Judgment ought not to be im-
puted as Crimes ; that even willful Trefpaf-
ies, if not of the moil malignant Kind,
ought to be over-looked j that no Faction,
ought to be made defperate; but that a
Door mould be left open for -all who ligni-
iied a Senle of paft Mifcarriages, and a Dif-
* And that they were made at his Inftance, will fcarce
admit of Controverfy, when it is reile&ed th?.t Hcnr\ St.
John, Efq; was m;ide Secretary at War, and Thomas Man-
jell Kfq; Comptroller of the Houfhold, in compliment to
him, at the fame lime, when the laid Alterations took
place.
pofuion
petition to contribute for the future, as far as
their Power and Capacity would give them
leave, to the joint Service of their Queen
and Country.
If your Grace iliould be curious to know
on what Authority I have afierted thefe
things ; I anfwer, that of Mr. Harley him-
felf ; drawn from the Introduction to thofe
Materials which he had prepared for his De-
fence, when the miftaken Prejudices of fome
Men, and the Craft and Guilt of others
led them to aim at his Life j tho', in the
End, ferving only to draw down Reproach
and Ignominy on themfelves.
But I digrefs.
The Houfe of Commons having done
their Part, in making good the Supplies ; it
muft likewife be acknowledged, to the Ho-
nour of Lord Godolphin, that the Oeconomy
of the Treafury and Exchequer were put
by him on the beft Footing imaginable ; and
that he had fo dexteroufly brought the mo-
ney'd Men, who were principally Whigs, in-
to his Intereft, that fcarce any Project could
be propofedfor the Service of the Govern-
P merit,
t 226 1
ment, but Cam was immediately fotfnd ttf
anfwer it: But how wretched an Equiva-
lent the Multiplication of Exchequer- Bills
and Bank-Notes muft be deemed for the
diminifhing our Specie, at this Time export-
ed in vaft Qiiantities to Spain, Portugal*
Flanders, &c. appears but too evidently al-
ready i and will become yet more evident as
the Springs continue to fail on one hand, and
the Refervoirs to be exhaufted on the other.
The Duke of Marlborough had now fuf-
ficient Opportunity to mew the Greatnejs of
the General, as your Grace phrafes it ; and
as no Man was better qualify'd, fo no Man
difplay'd his Talents to more Advantage.
The Emperor was almoft at the Mercy of
his Enemies, and fcarce any thing lefs than
the mighty Efforts of that amazing Cam-
paign, as Things were then circumftan-
ced, could have prevented his Ruin. The
March from the Rhine to the Danube y the
Battle of Scbellenberg, the Defolation
brought upon Bavaria, by the Obftinacy of
the Eledtorj and the glorious and deciiive
Adion at Hock/ted, are all little lefs than
j Mi-
Miracles, and deferve to be confidered and
Applauded accordingly.
Why then were the Meafures to obtain
all this Glory bppofed and cenfured, do you
afk, Madam ? Becaufe it coft us more than
it was worth ; becaufe it was both forefeen
and foretold that it would entail a Debt up-
on us would be our Ruin j becaufe the Lofs
of that very Battle, 'tis more than pro-
bable, would have given the fmiming Blow
to the Liberties of Europe.
'Tis one of the Curfes infeparable from
factious Times, to oblige an Author to blend
Controverfy with Hiftory : Let this be my
Excufe for interweaving a Thread of each !
As well as by the Battle zf Hockfted, this
Year was diftinguifhed by the taking of
Gibraltar ; which was ftormed by the Eng -
lift Seamen under the Command of Sir
George Rook. .... Of which memorable
Action it may not be amifs to infert firft
Bifhop Btimefs Account, and then the
Truth.
e Rook, as he fail'd back, (from the Me-
* diterranean) fell in upon Gibraltar ~ 3 where
P2 ' hs
c he /pent much Powder, bombarding it to
very little Purpofe, that he might feem to
' attempt /bmewhat ; tho' there was no Rea-
{ fon to hope he could fucceed : Some bold
c Men ventured to go afhore, in a Place
c where it was not thought pollible to
c . climb up the Rocks : Yet they fucceeded
1 in it. When they got up, they faw all the
< Women of the Town were come out, ac-
* cording to their Superflition, to a Chapel
* there, to implore the Virgin's Protection ;
' they feiz'd on them, and that contributed
4 not a little to difpofe thole in the Town
' to furrender j they had leave to flay or
1 go as they pleaied, Gfr.
Sir John Vanbrugh^ in one of his Plays, is,
pleafed to fay Gad-a*mercy Parfon ! Let
me be allowed to % Gad-a-mercy Bi-
fhop ! For furely fuch an old Woman's
Tale (I beg your Grace's Pardon) never be-
fore affronted the -World under the import-
ant Name of Hiftory. Even in Gazette-
Language, that gallant and fuccefsful En-
terprize cannot make fo contemptible a Fi-
gure.
July
July 2 1 ft, the Fleet got into the Bay ;
and at three in the Afternoon the Engli/b
and Dutch Marines, to the Number of 1 800,
under the Command of the Prince of Heffe-
Darmftadt) were fet on Shore to pofTefs the
Neck of Land, and cut off all Communi-
cation between the Garrifon and the adja-
cent Country.
The 22d, the Difpofition was made by
the Admiral for cannonading the Town;
but the Wind blowing contrary, the Men of
War could not take PofTeflion of their ap-
pointed Stations till the Evening came
on.
But, foon after Day-break, the next
Morning, the Signal was given ; and fo vi-
gorous a Fire enfued, that, in lefs than fix
Hours, 1 500 Shot had been difcharged ; to
fo good a Purpofe, that the Enemy were
beat from their Guns ; and the Admiral,
fnatching the Opportunity, ordered the
Boats to be mann'd and arm'd, and an
immediate Attack to be made on the Plat-
form on the South-Mole-Head j on the
taking of which the whole Succefs of the
P 3 En-
t *3 ]
Enterprise depended. As this Command
was given with Judgment, it was executed
with a Resolution that will reflect an ever-
lafting Honour on the Englijb Seamen. For,
notwithstanding the incredible Difficulty of
the Attempt, both from the natural and ar-
{ifkial Strength of the Place, they furmount-
ed all Qbftacles. An Adion that fcarce
ever was equalled, and never can be fur-
pafTed ! the Works being defended by an
hundred Pieces of Cannon towards the Sea j
and fifty Men being' judged fuflicient to
maintain that Pofl againfi: feveral thoufand
regular Troops.
But thofe who firft made themfelves
Matters of the Platform, paid dear for their
diftinguiihed Bravery j the Spaniards foon
after fpringing a Mine, by which two Lieu-
tenants and forty Seamen were kill'd an4
fixty wounded.
This did not, however, deter the reft
from ruming into the like Danger ; for in
the midft of the fmoaking Ruins, they ma-
nifefled the fame Ardour, and not only
made good the Advantage they had obtain-
ed,
ed, but preffing onward flill, carried ano-
ther important Redoubt, half Way between
the Mole and the Town, with the like afto-
niming Intrepidity; made themfelves Mailers
of many of the Enemy's Cannon, and had
the Place at their Mercy.
Upon this the Governor was fummoned
to furrender $ Articles of Capitulation were
fign'd the next Day -, in the Evening, the
Prince of HeJ/e took PoiTeffion of it ; and
we have made a Shift to hold it ever iince,
in ipite of the ftigmatiz'd Treaty ofUtrecbf,
Promifes to give it up, Sieges to compel
the Performance of thofe Promifes, and the
Opinion of the fage Dr. Eurnet^ who feems
to hint it is not worth keeping.
As I am a profefs'd Refpondent to your
Grace only, it may be thought a Deviation,
to undertake the Prelate, I have juft men-
tioned, at the fame Time : But I hope to
be excufed, when 'tis recollected that your
Performances are fo much of a Piece, that
'tis fcarce porlible to ramble after one, with-
out Humbling on the other,
P 4 Rook
* Rook, (fays that egregious Prelate) af-
* ter he had fupplfd GIBRALTAR, fail'd
' again into the Mediterranean ; and there
* he met the Count of Tbolouje with the
whole French Fleet : They were fuperior
' to the Englifh in Number, and had many
Gallics with them that were of great U/e.
e Rook called a Council of War, in which
* it was refolved to engage them j there was
' not due Care taken to furnifh all the Ships
c with a fufficient Quantity of Powder,
c for fome had wafted a great Part of their
" c Stock of Ammunition before Gibraltar,
'YET they had generally TWENTY-
' FIVE Rounds ; and it \\vAfeldom happened
' that/0 much Powder was fpent in an Action
c at Sea. On the 1 2th of Auguft, juft ten
' Days after the Battle of Hockfted, the two
' Fleets engaged: SHOVEL advanced with
O O
' his Squadron to a clofe fight ; for it was
' the Maxim of our Seamen to fight as near
* as they could j HE had the Advantage,
' and the Squadron before him gave way.
1 Rook fought at a greater Dijlance ; many
' Broadfides paffed, and the Engagement
3 ' con-
[ 233 I
' continued till Night parted them : fome
c Ships that had fpent all their Ammuniti-
c on were forced, on that Account, to go
c . out of the Fire j and if the French had
4 come to a new Engagement next Day, it
c might have been fatal -, fince many of our
* Ships were without Powder, while others
* had enough and to fpare.
He adds however, < The French fuffer'd
1 much in this Action, and went into Thoulon
c fo difabled, that they could not be put into
' a Condition to go to Sea in many Months.
' They left the Sea as the Field of Battle to
* us ; fo that the HONOUR of the Action re-
< mained with us ; tho' the Nation was not
* much lifted up with the News of a drawn
* Battle (your Grace's ExpreJJion likewife) at
c Sea with the French.
To fay nothing of the Tamenefs of the
Bifhop's Pencil in a Battle-piece, or his ma-
nifeft Inconliftencies ; the ill Treatment he
has every where beftow'd on Sir George
Rook deferves Correction, which, in this Place,
he (hall receive from the blunt, artlefs, ho-
neft
[ 234 1
neft Letter of Sir Cloudjley Shovel, as fol-
lows.
< This brings the News of my Health,
* and that we are on our Way homeward ;
* That which fends us home fo foon, is a
< very fharp Engagement we have had with
the French ; our Number of Ships that
c fought in the Line of Battle were pretty
' equal ; I think they were FORTY-NINE,
and we FIFTY-THREE ; but Sir George
f Rook referved fome of the FIFTY Gun
* Ships, to obferve if they attempted any
* thing with their G alley s,of which they had
c T WE NY- FOUR. Their Ships did far ex-
' ceed in Bignefs. I judge they had SE-
c v EN TEEN Three-Deck-Ships, and we had
* but SEVEN. The Battle began on Sunday
' the 1 3th Inftant, foon after Ten in the
' Morning, and in the Centre and Rear of
f the Fleet it continued till Night parted i
< but in the Van of the Fleet, where I com-
c manded, and led by Sir George Leake, we
c having the Weather-gage, gave me an Op-
f portunity of coming as near as I pleafed,
( which
[ *35 1
* which was within Piftol-fhot, before I
* fired a Gun, through which Means, and
* God's Affi fiance, the Enemy declined us>
* and were upon the Run in lefs than Four
' Hours, by which time we had little Wind>
c and their Galleys row'd off their lame
f Ships and others as they pleafed ; for the
' Admiral of the White and Blue with
1 whom we fought^ had SEVEN Galleys
* tending upon him. As foon as the Ene-
* my got out of the Reach of our Guns, and
* the Battle continuing pretty hot aftern,
* and fome of our Ships in the Admiral's
' Squadron towing out of the Line, which I
* underftood afterwards was for want of
6 Shot, I order'd all the Ships of my Di-
e vifion to flack all their Sails to clofe
c the Line in the Center ; this Working
* had that good EfFeft, that feveral of the
' Enemies Ships aftern, which had kept
c their Line, having their Top-fails and
c Fore-fails fet, mot up abreaft of us, as
c the Rear-Admiral of the White and
c Blue, and fome of his Divifion ; and the
< yice- Admiral of the White, and fome of
' his
[ 236 ]
' his Divifion ; but they were fo warmly re-
* ceived, before they got a Broadfide, that
c with their Boats ahead, and their Sprit-
* fails fet, they tow'd from us, without giv-
1 ing us the Opportunity of firing at them.
' The Ships that fuffer'd moft in my Di-
' viiion were the Lenox, Warfpight, Til-
* bury and Swiftfurc, the reft efcaped pretty
* well, and I the beft of all, though I ne-
* ver took greater Pains in all my Life to be
' foundly beaten ; for I fet all my Sails,
and row'd with three Boats ahead to get
c a long-fide with the Admiral of the White
' and Blue j but he outfailing me, (hunn'd
' Fighting, and lay a long-fide of the little
4 Ships: Notwithftanding, the Engagement
c was very fharp, and I think the like be-
e tiveen two Fleets never has been in any
e Time. There is hardly a Ship that muft
c not mift one Maft, and fome muft fliift
c all ; a great many have fufFered much, but
* NONE MORE than Sir George Rook, and
* Capt.Jenmngs in the St. George. God fend
c us well home, I believe we have not three
' fpare Top-niafts, nor three Fiflies in the
< Fleet,
[ 237 ]
* Fleet, and I judge there is ten Jury-mafts
* now up. After the Fight we lay two
< Days in fight of the Enemy, preparing for
' a fecond Engagement, but the Enemy de-
c clin'd and flood from us in the Night.
I do not infert thefe Portions of Hif-
tory by way of News to your Grace ; or to
correct the Bifhop only : But to point
out very clearly the Abfurdity of the' reign-
ing Politics of thofe Times ; which led us
to exhauft our principal Strength on the
Terra fir ma, while we fufFered the Confe-
derate Fleet to be overmatched by the Ene-
my j and to engage under the dreadful Dif-
advantage of righting with butjeven Three-
Deck-Ships, aguinftymvz/mz -, and a Supe-
riority of no lefs than fix hundred great Guns,
affifted by twenty-four Gallies, and in a
Sea fo far remote from our own Ports and
Harbours :
As likewife, Madam, to mortify that
tow'ring Spirit which has indue 'd you to
fpeak with Contempt of the Actions of Sir
George Rook, becaufe diftinguiih'd in the
fame Addrefs .which fet forth thofe of the
Duke
[ 238 ]
Duke of Marlboroughi fince of the firft;
Gibraltar ftill is, and I hope ever will be a
Memorial and of the laft, no vifible Trace
remains, I mean to Britain, but Blenheim^
Houfe, the Grants of Conveyance, Off. and
Port-Office- Penfion annexed to it.
We come now to the third and laft Sef-
fion of the Tory Parliament, which, tho' fo'
obnoxious to your Grace for putting a Ne-
gative on the Queen's intended Bounty to
your Lord, when his Merit and Reputation
were but in their t)awn, not only compli-
mented him with barren Thanks, but now
pafs'd a Vote in his Favour, which gave
Rife to thofe mighty Rewards above fpeci-
fied. But all was poifoned by their obfti-
nate Adherence to the Occafional-Confor-
mity-Bill, and their ill-judg'd Project of
tacking it to a Money- Bill, to difable the
Lords from rejecting it, or to embroil them'
with the Crown, in cafe they did. 'Tis 1
tnie, many of the leading Tories were in-
duced to defert their Friends on this Occa-
fion, which expofed the whole Party; and
tho' the Bill was carried without the "Tack
hy
by the Commons, it was again rejeded by
the Lords on a Divilion of 71 againft 50.
So fubmiflive is Confcience itfelf to the
Pleafure of a Court, or rather a Miniftry !
We have now, Madam, a Tranfition to
the Danger of the Church, of which you
give us a Hiftory in your Way : Two Let-
ters of the Queen's on the fame Subject are
likewife introduced ; which we cannot avoid
inferting, in juftice to her unaffected Since-
rity, and confcientious Regard to Principles^
fo feldom to be met with on a Throne !
November I7th 1-704.'
e . - - I am fure no Body mall endea-
vour more to promote it [Union] than
your poor, unfortunate, faithful Morley^
who doth not at all doubt of your Truth
and Sincerity to her, and hopes her not a-
greemg in EVERY THING you fay, will
not be imputed to want of Value, Eireem,
or tender Kindnefs for my dear, dear
Mrs. Freeman, it being impofTible for any
one to be more fmcerely another's, than-
I am your's.
St.
t 240 ]
Ss. James's, November the 21 ft.
e I had juft fealed up my Letter on Sa~
Ji /wr^TNight- as I received the Satisfaction
* of my dear Mrs. Freeman's of that Day'e
*' Date, *bu* would not- open it again, con-
c eluding I fhould have Time either Sun-
f day ox, defter day > to thank you for it.
f'When Sunday came I had feveral Hin-
f drahces, and Tefterday tfat down to write,
t but was hinder'd by one of the Scots People
f - CQitiing-to fpeak with me, or elfe I fhould
*' not- have been fo long without tdlfng
* you, I am very forry, you mould fbr&ear
: writing- upon the Apprehenfion of yduf
* " ' Letters being troublefom,y5>z^ you know very
* W// they are not, nor ever can be fo y .but
* the contrary, to your poor unfortunate^
* faithful Morley. Upon what my dear
' Mrs. Freeman fays again concerning the
Addrefs, I have looked' it over again, and
1 cannot for my Life fee, one can put any
e other Conftrudlion upon the Word Pref-
c fures^ than what I have done already. f As
* to my faying the Church was in fomeDan-
< ger in the. late Reign, I 'cannot- alter my
' Oplmon ;
f 24. ]
* Opinion ; for though there was no violent
c Thing done, every Body that will fpeak
' impartially muft own, that every Thing
* was leaning towards the Whigs, and <when-
e ever that />, I fhall think the Church be-
c ginning to be in Danger.
However ludicroufly the Clamours about
the Church appear'd to your Grace, it Teems
they affected the Qu/en in a very different
Way; tho' a Bugbear, fhe could not help being
terrified with it ; andthofewhomadeufeof it,
no doubt, took Advantage of her Weaknefs:
But tho' this Terror was a Weaknefs, (he
underftood it to be a Virtue, and had been
ever confirm'd in that Opinion by all about
her, except your Grace; to whom the Ex-
travagance of Piety could never be imputed :
If, therefore, even the mad Condutt of the
tacking Tories could not wholly wean her from
thisBofom-Prejudice,ought fhe to be expofed.
Ought (he to be blam'd ? Poor Lady! Was
not fhe befet with Terrors on every Side ?
And if the Church was rendered a Bugbear
on one hand, was not the Succefs of the
War rendered as much a Bugbear on the
other? Q_ gut
t 242 ]
But to proceed with a curfory View of
our Foreign Affairs.
At Sea, the taking and deftroying five
capital French Ships, part of Ponti's Squa-
dron (the reft having been dilpers'd by a
Storm) in the Bay of Gibraltar, by Admiral
* L'eake, was our principal Exploit j but a
Fleet ftation'd before Breft, deterr'd the Ene-
my from venturing out -, and the Toulon
$quadron was not yet recover'd from the
Damage they had fuftained from Sir George
Rook ; which fufficiemly (hewed both the
N^ceflity and Importance of our preferving
the Sovereignty of the Seas.
In Flanders, tho' the Duke of Marlbo-
rough never fet out with greater Hopes, no-
thing very material was done, except forc-
ing the French Lines at tfirkmont, which
was imputed to the Over-Caution of the
States Deputies, who refufed to hazard a
'Battle, when urg'd to it by his Grace.
We had likewife our Hands full in Spain,
An virtue of the Treaty with the K. of 'Portugal
be-
* Rook had been fet glide ; perhaps for the high Crime of
mentioned" in the f^me Addrefs with his Grace of
t =43 ]
before fpokeh of; who, even as our very Blflibp*
acknowledges, made great Demands on us'.
England being noiv conftdered as a~ Source
that could never be exhauflcd. We- granted
all their Demand^ and a Body ofHorJe 'was
Jent to them at a vaft Charge.
This Year, moreover, the Earl of Peter-
borough, your Grace muft well remember,
obtained the Command of 5000 Men in
that Service 5 of whofe almoft miraculous
Exploits, and the Reward they met with,
we (hall have Occafion to gitfe a hafty
Sketch in the Sequel, < as being fatally con-
nected with thofe Party-Feuds which have
fo long encumber'd our Soil, and choak'd
the Growth of every eminent Virtue.
But I beg your Grace's Pardon ; I . am
wandering after our public Affairs, and your
Book profeffes to treat only of yourfelf:
which I had almoft forgot, till the follow-
ing Paragraph very feafonably recalled my
Attention.
' And the next Year J prevail d with
' her Majefty to take the Great Seal from
1 Sir Nathan Wright^ a Man defpifed by all
* Parties, of no ufe to the Crown, and whofe
2 ' weak
t 244 J
* weak and wretched Conduct in the Court,
'of Chancery, had almofl brought his very*
< Office into Contempt. His Removal
T t r t ^i ,
* however was a great Lois to the Church^
' for which he had ever been a warm Stick-
* ler. Ana this Lofs was the more fenfibly
c felt, as his SuccefTor, my Lord Coivpi'r,
' was not only of the Whig- Party, but of
( fuch Abilities and Integrity, as brought a
c new Credit to it in the Nation.'
"Vv. , "
We have already, Madam, feen the Ar-
my and the Treafurer's Staff difpofed of ac-
cording to your good Will and Pleafure ; we
have feen a Peer introduced by you into the
Houfe of Lords. We have feen Ladies of
the Bed-chamber made and rejected as you
frown'd or fmil'd. We have feen Party-
Leaders of all Ranks difplac'd facceflively to
make you eaiy. And now, to complete
your Glory, we have feen the Cuftody of the
Great Seal of England at your Devotion like-
wife. To compare, then, pur, Succefles with
your Lor<s t how hard would it be to deter-
mine whofe were the moft illuilrious ? To
compare your different Trophies, how hard
will it be to determine which are likely to
be
t '45 1
be moft durable ? And to compare the re^
fpe&ive Spoils that each of you has brought
home, how hard would it be to determine
which were the mod valuable ? What
fmart Enfign of Quality does not warm his
Imagination with the Remembrance of your
Lord's Glory ? What young, fluttering
Maid of Honour, does not think with Rap-
ture of your Grace's Almightinefs ? Who,
reflecting on both, can help making free
with the Pindaric Flight of Dr\den to give
Vent to his Admiration ?
Happy! happy I happy Pair!
None but the Brave deferve the Fair!
TO return: Your Grace finimes your iro-
nical Account of the Danger of the Church
with the following Paragragh.
*' But, what was worfe than all thefe
* Misfortunes, the Majority of the Houfe of
? Commons in the new parliament qf 1705,
* proved to be Whig.'
I could have wifhed, for the Sake of Uni-
formity, your Grace had thought proper to
make ufe of your favourite Word happen d
in (lead ofprov'd: For io effectually have
yon there concealed, or endeavoured to COA-
ceal
t 246 ]
ceal the Craft of the Politician, that we are
taught to believe, thofe at the Helm left
the People entirely to themfelves, and the
Majority PROV'D to be Whlg^ without the
leaf! Advance on their Skies, to accomplifh
what concern'd them '-above all Things.
But there is no Excule for Pleafantry on
fuch an affecting Occafion.
We have here the moft alarming Proof i-r
rnaginable of the Influence of Minifters over
our Elections : when they would have Tories
return'd, we return Tories ; when they would
have Whigs return'd, we return Whigs : fo
that in fact, the Court is rather reprefented
than the People. What W T onder then, that
Supplies are always granted, and that Grie-
vances are never redrelTed ?
Let us however examine, how this Majo-
rity proved themfelves to be Whig ?
Why, they carried the Court- Candidate
for the Chair, by upwards of fixty ; they
moft faithfully echo'd back the Words of
the Speech in their Addrefs ; they vied with
the Tories in precipitating the Supplies 5 they
addrefs'd her Majefty to preferve a good
" Correfpondence with her Allies 5 they voted
3 .^ e
[ 247 I'
the Church not to be in Danger ; they com-
mitted Mr. Caefar^ one of their Members,to
the Tower, for only dropping in one of his
Speeches j That there was a noble Lord, ( mean-
ing Godolphin} e without who je Advice the Queen
didnothing,who, in the late Reign t was known to
keep a conflant Correjpondence with the Court
of St. Germains. They thank'd the Duke
of Mar/borough for his Services ; they agreed
with the Lords in repealing that Claufe in
the A6t of Settlement, which difabled P-lac e~
men from fitting in the Houfe of Commons ;
they voted the public Revenues to have
been duly apply'd ; and, notwithftanding
their boafted Attachment to the Houfe of
Hanover, they voted Sir Rowland Gwynms
Letter to the Earl of Stamford, relating to
die Motion for the Princefs Sophias being
invited to refide in England, to be a mali-
cious Libel, &c .
In the Progrefs of this Undertaking of
mine, Madam, I have made no Scruple to
confider both Whigs and Tories as Factions
alike : For tho' each pleaded a Concern for
the Public, neither appears to have had any
Thing at Heart, for tfce general, but their
own
r
own private Intereft. Thus which ever were
out of Power, grew at the fame Time out of
Humour too, and, to gratify their Spleen and
Refentment, were not afhamed to deny and
oppofe the very Meafures they had formerly
efpoufed or to efpoufe what they had for-
merly oppofed and denied.
True public Spirit can have no private
End., How little then will fall to the Share
of either Whig or Tory, if we may judge
of their Principles by their Actions ?
In January 1702, the Tories in the Houfe
of Commons had like to have put a Nega-
tive on a Claufe from the Lords, to render
It High-Treafon to make any Attempt on
the Hanover-Succeffion -, the Affirmative
having been carry'd but by one Vote ; and
yet now, having been fupplanted by the
Whigs, they difcovered a flaming Zeal to
invite over the Princefs Sophia to take up her
Relidence among us, with fuch Appoint-
ments, Honours and Diftinctions, as were
thought fuitable to the preemptive Heirels to
the Crown.
To
a
[ 249 I
-To be candid ; your Grace, in my humble
Opinion, has flated this Matter fo fairly*
that- 1 ftmll quote your Authority, inflead of
encjeavouring to put in an Anfwer.
* No Wonder if, in thefe fad Circumftan-
* ces, a loud and piteous Cry was raifed ur><
* on the extreme Danger of the poor Church.
'* A doleful Piece, penn'd by 'fome of 'the
< Zealots of the Party, and called 17je Me-
c mortal of the Church of England^ was
* printed and fpread abroad, fetting forth her
'melancholy Condition and Diilrefs; and
s much Lamentation it occafioned. But
* .what Remedy ? There could be no Hop^
* of getting an Occafional-Ccnformity-Bill
* pa(Ted in this Parliament. One Expedient
* flill remained ; and this was, to invite the
* Princefs Sophia of Hanover, the prefent
* King's Grandmother, to come over artfl
* defend the Church. Her Prefence her^
* though (he would not probably, as being a
* Lutheran, be very zealous for a Bill againil
' Occafional Conform ifts, yet might happily
' prove a Means to hinder the Whigs from
* bringing in Popery and the Pretender. A
4 Motion
c 'Motion was therefore made in the Hotile
1 of Lords for this Invitation j and the Ne-
4 ceffity of it was urged with great Strength
c of Argument by the Earls of Roche ft er and
4 Nottingham^ and the other grave Men of
c the Party. Not that they had the leaft
c Hope or the leaft Deiire to carry their
' Point, but being well allured that the
* Queen would never confent to fuch an In-
' vitation, nor pardon her Minifters if they
1 encouraged the Defign, this was a. notable
* Stratagem to ruin them, either with her
e Majefly, or with the Nation; for if in
' Compliance with her Prejudices they op-
* pofed this Motion, it was to be hoped it
' would draw the public Odium upon them,
f as declared Enemies to the Proteilant Sue*
1 ceflion.
Thus far all is fmooth : But how ihall we
hobble over what follows ?
' This hopeful Scheme however did not
6 fucceed. The * Whigs oppofed the Invi-
4 tation,
* Tho' theV/higs, in this Cafe, certainly did wh-t was right,
it is flirewiily to be queftion'd whether they.a&ed upon Prin-
ciple i fmce no one Circumftance could have given fuch
Strength
[ a** 3
* tation, and yet preferv'd their Credit, to the
( great Mortification of the other Party. I
c know that my Lord Godolpkin, and othep
great Men, were much reflected upon by
4 fome well-difpofed Perfbns, for not laying
1 hold of this Opportunity, which the Tories
6 put into their Hands, of more effe&ually
c fecuring the Succeffion to the Crown in the
* Houfe of Hanover. But thofe of the
Whigs, whofe Anger againft the Minifler
' was raifed on this Account, little knew how
* impracticable the Project of Invitation was^
* and that the Attempt would have only
* ferved to make the Queen difcard her Mi-
\ niftry, to the Euin of tlje common Caufc
* of tfjete fcingftomg, anfc of ailw:ope
' 31 had OFTEN trkd her Majefty upon this
4 Subject ; and when 3 found that (lie would
c not hear of the immediate Succeflbr's com-
c ing over, had preffed her that flie would
* at leaft invite hither the young Princt of
Strength to them as a Faftion, as the Pretence of a Prince
of the Houfe of Hanover : And that this was their real Semi
merit, appear'd plainly enough afterwards, when again at:
of Place. Then, as to the Prefer<vatien of then- redk,
Sir R. G--w\nais Letter, before-mentioned, is written expreily
to expofe them for deferting the Caufe they had efpoufedi
4 Hanover,
[
c Hanover, who was not to be her immedi-
* ate SucceiTor, a*nd that me would let him
c live here as her SON : But her Majefty
' would liften to no Propofals of this Kind in
5 any'SHa^er whatfoever.
Thefe Inft are really thundering Articles,
Madam. THE RUIN OF THE COMMON
CAUSE OF ALL EUROPE, (Gop blefs us !)
would have been involved in the Difgrace
of the Mar ttorougb- Family ! According to
my narrow Way of thinking, the Trefpafs
of the Tories conlifted chiefly in the Infult
offered by this Motion to the known Sentk
mcnts of the Queen ; and the Uneafmefs it
mutt unavoidably give her. But, alas ! their
Guilt was of a much deeper Dye. They
had even the Barbarity to plot the Ruin of
the Marlborough-Family> either with the
Nation or the Queen, and by Confequence,
it feems, the Ruin of all EUROPE.
Well, but after all, it appears, that even
your Grace had not only, in private, efpouf-
cd this Meafure of the Tories, but prac-
tifed to bring the Queen herfelf into it like-
j had difputed every Inch of Ground
with
t 253 ]
with her Majefly, from the Claims of the
good old Lady the Grandmother, to the
Hopes of the forward, young Prince, our pre*-
fent moft gracious Sovereign j nay, preffed
her to a Compliance $ and it is upon the
Evidence, arifing from the Defeat you
had met with, that the Whigs are given to
uaderftand how UTTERLY IMPRACTI-
CABLE the Project of Invitation was: For,
if ihe was not to be moved by YOU, both
Parties, both Houfes, Minifters and People
Friends and Foes, would have join'd their;
Forces in vain.
The Queen however continued firm, con-
tinued inexorable ; and it greatly redounds tQ
her Honour that (he did fo : Had me been
either awed orwheadledoutof herRefolution,
ilie would, thenceforward, have been render'd
but a Royal Cypher in public as well as pri-
vate, and muft have fubmitted to hear her
Commands difputed, inftead of feeing them
obeyed.
To endeavour 'to force her Succeflbr upon
her* was certainly an Indignity that fcarce the
moil refigned Temper could give. Way to :
And
C
And every Eflay towards it, under whatever
Mafk concealed, apparently deferved her Roy-
al Refentment.
That, therefore, it did not fall with its whole
Weight upon your Grace, for thwarting her
Inclinations, in order to difentangle the Mini-
ftry from the Snare they were ftruggling in
is one of thofe Inftances of uncommon Mo-
deration and Forbearance, which diftinguifh
this Reign almoft from all others.
Upon the Whole, then, if what follows,
taken from your own Account > concludes
ftrongly againft the Tories for making fuch
n factious Ufe of the JEfo^wr-Succeffion, it
certainly concludes almoft as ftrongly againft
your Grace likewife, for being a Voluntier,
tho' from different Motives, in the fame un-
grateful Service.
' To give a full Anfwer to all Objections
againft the Minifter's Conduft with Regard
* to this Matter, I fhall here relate a Tranf-
c action that pafted three Years afterwards,
* which will mow not only the Infincerity of
the Tories in their Zeal for the Houfe of
< Hanover, when they moved for the Prin-
1 cefs
< ceis Sophia's being invited hither, but how
f infiiperably averfe the Queen was to fufFer
the Prefence of any of that Family.
4 My Lord Haver/ham, a great Speech-
' makerj and Publisher of his Speeches, and
who was become the Mouth of the Party
c for any extraordinary Alarm, was fent pri-
vately by the Tories to the Queen, to ac-
* quaint her with the Difcovery they pre-
c tended to have made, of a terrible Defign
e formed by the Whigs to bring over one of
* the Houfe of Hanover, and to force this
' upon her whether me would or not. Now
* can any Thing be more curious than fuch
e a MefTage from the Tories, and by fuch a
c Meffenger ? For my Lord Haver/ham was
* the Man who had moved for the Princefs
' Sophias coming over as a Thing neceflary
< for the Prefervation of the Proteftant Re-
' ligion. But now any Delign of inviting
* hither one of that Family was of fo fright-
* ful a Nature, that it muft be eileemed me-
* ritorious to give early Notice of the Dan-
f ger. I (hall make no further Comment
* upon this Proceeding, but tranfcribe a Part
'of
t 256 J
8 of the Queen's Letter to the Duke of 'Marl*
* bwough upon this Occafion.
July Z2<* 1708*
* I cannot end this without giving
' you an Account in fhort, of a Vifit I had
from Lord Haver {ham. He told me his
Bufinefs was to let me know, there was
* certainly a Defign laying between the
WHIGS and fome GREAT MEN, to have
* an Addrefs made in the next Seflions of Par-
* liament for inviting the Electoral Prince
* over to fettle here, and that he would
* certainly come to make a Vifit, as foon as
f the Campaign was over, and that there
was nothing for me to do, to prevent my
* being forced to do this, ( as I certainly
c would) but my (bowing myfelf to be
e Queen, and making it my own Act. I
' told him, if this Matter fhould be brought
' into Parliament, whoever propofed it f
c whether Whig or Tory, I mould look
' upon neither of them as my Friends, nor
I would ever make any Invitation neither to
the
I 273 ]
e land. I have a Letter from him exprefs-
' ing his Dijlike to the Defign. But how
* hard preffed both he and my Lord Godol-
f phin were by the Whigs to have it brought
' to EfFedl, will fully appear by the fol-
lowing tetter on the fame Subject.
Grametz Qttober 1 706.
c When I writ my laft, I was very full
e of the Spleen, and I think with too much
* Reafon. My whole Time, to the beft of
c my Underflanding, has been employed for
c the public Good, as I do afTure you I do
' in the Prefence of God, neglecting no
* Opportunity of letting 83 * fee what I
take to be her true Inter eft. IT is
' TERRIBLE TO GO THROUGH SO MUCH
' UNEASINESS. I do not fay this to flat-.
e ter any Party, for I will never do it, let
* the Confequence be what it will. FOR,
* AS PARTIES, THEY ARE BOTH IN
( THE WRONG. But 'tis certain + 73 and
* The Queen.
$ No doubt the Lord Rcchefter ; buf her Grace ought
to have favoured us with an Explanation of this Signa-
ture as well as of the reft.
S 'his
[ 2 74 3
E his Adherents are not to be TRUSTED.
c So that 83 * has no Choice, but that of
1 employing thofe who will carry on the
f War and fupport 91^. And if any other
f Method is taken, I know we fhall go into
* CONFUSION. Now this being the Cafe,
( I leave you to judge, whether I am dealt
kindly with? I do not fay this for any
c other End, but to have your Juftice and
1 Kindnefs ; for in that will conlift my fu*
e ture Happinefs. I am fure I would ven-
c ture a thoufand Lives, if I had them, to
c procure Eafe and Happinefs to the Queen.
4 And yet no Number of Men could per-
c fuade me to act as a Minifter in what
c was- not my Opinion. So that I fhall ne-
' ver fail in fpeaking my Mind very freely.
' And as my Opinion is, that the Backers
' and all the Adherents of 73 are NOT for
* carrying on the War^ which is for the
* TRUE INTEREST of the Queen and
* Kingdom, you may depend I mall never
* The Queen, f Lord Godolpbln.
e join
t 275 ]
1 join with any but fuch as I think will
* ferve her and the true Interefl of our
* Country with all their Hearts. And if
the War continues but one Year longer,
* with Succefs, I hope it will not be in any
4 body's Power to make the Queen's Buji-+
* nefs uneafy. And then I ihall be glad ^to
e live as quiet as poffible, and not envy the
' governing Men, who would then I believe
' think better of 90 and 9 1 * than they
i now do. And I will own frankly to you,
* that the JEALOUSY fome of YOUR
' FRIENDS have, that 90 and 91 do not:
< ad fmcerely , makes me fo weary, that
4 were it not for my Gratitude for 83, and
* Concern for 91, I would now retire,
* and never ferve more. For I have had
* the good Luck to deferve better from all
' Englifimen, than to be fufpe&ed for not
* being in the true Interefl of my Country j
' which I am in, and ever will be, with-
' out being of a FACTION. And this Prin-
* Lord Marlborougk and Lord Godolpbin,
S 2 * dpfe
* ciple (hall govern me for the little Re-
* mainder of mv Life. I muft not think
if ' i Ol3 J i *
* of being popular; but I fhall have the Sa-
1 tisfadtion of my going to the Grave with
* the Opinion of having afted, as became
e an honeft Man. And if I have your Ef-
c |eem and Love, I mould think myfelf
' entirely happy. Having writ thus far
f I have received your two Letters of the
4 2Oth and aift, which confirm me in my
c Opinion before. And fince the Refolu-
' tion is taken to vex and ruin 01, becaufe
' jrui
'83 has not complied with what was de-
c fired for 117 *, I fhall from hencefor-
'
e ward defpife all Mankind, and think there
* is no fuch thing as Virtue. For I know
4 with what Zeal 91 has prefled 83 in
that Matter. I do pity him, and (hall
c always love him as long as I live 3 and
' never be a Friend to any that can be his
* Enemy*
' I have writ my Mind very freely to
83 -f-, on this Occafion, fo that whatever
* Lyrd Sunderland. f The Queen.
' Mis-
I 277 ]
' Misfortune may happen, I fhall have a
e quiet Mind, having done what I thought
c my Duty. And as for the Refolution of
c making me uneafy, I believe they will
* not have much Pleafure in that, for as I
c have not fet my Heart on having Juftice
c done me, I fhall not be disappointed} nor
e will I be ill ufed by any Man.
I cannot, Madam, pafs over this re-
markable Letter of fo remarkable a Man,
without fome Reflections upon it, which I
hope will carry with them their own Juf-
tification.
His Grace, in the firft Place, feems to be
thoroughly perfuaded that the carrying on
the War was the TRUE INTEREST of his
Country : If, therefore, he was miftaken,
it muft be afcribed to a Defect in his Un-
derftanding, not to the Influence of Gain
or Glory ; tho' it does not appear that he
was infenfible of either.
But to let us fee with what Partiality we
regard ourfelves, we find this Hero fo affect-
ed with the Rage of Parties, that he cannot
S 3 help
help exprefting himfelf on the Occafion in
this paffionate Manner. IT is TERRIBLE
TO QO THROUGH SO MUCH UNEASI-
NESS I And yet entirely thoughtlefs of what
his Royal Miftrefs, tho' a Woman, fuffer'd
from the like Perfections.
I will, however, do him the Juftice to
acknowledge, that the Sentence he pronoun-
ces on the two Parties, 'That they are both
in the WRONG, ought to be recorded in
Letters of Gold, where-ever the Legiflature
'aflembles, where-ever the Throne is plac'd ;
as a Truth felf-evident, and of the lad Im-
portance, both to Prince and People.
Having done this Juftice to the Duke,
we muft now return to your Grace; whom
we {hall find battling the Point, Foot to
Foot, with the Queen, without any of thofe
Qualms, which gave fuch terrible Uneafmefi
to your Lord.
But it is fit your Grace mould fpeak for
your felf.
I {hall here add a Letter of my own to
the Queen on the fame Subject ; and the
1 rather, becaufe it not only confirms what I
' have
c have faid of her Majefty's Unwiltingnefs to
1 oblige the Whigs, but {hews, that as much
as I oppofed the Tories, I was no Enemy
< to the Church they talked of, fo far as any
' Thing mz/and excellent was meant by that
* Word-, and becaufe it contains fo juft a
* PREDICTION of the Ufage, the Queen af-
* terwards met with, when (he fell into the
1 Hands of the High-Church Party.
* By the Letter I had from your Majefty
c this Morning, and the great Weight you
' put upon the Difference betwixt the Word
c Notion and Nation in my Letter, I am on-
* ly made fenfible (as by many other Things)
c that. you were in a great Difpolition to com-
* plain of me, iince, to this Moment, I can-
' not for my Life fee any eflential Difference
* betwixt thefe two Words, as to the Senfeof
' my Letter, the true Meaning of which was
1 only to let your Majefty know, with that
* Faithfulnefs and Concern, which I have
' ever had for your Service, that it 'was not
* pofjible for you to carry on your Government
* much longer , with fo much Partiality to
84 'one
11
f one Sort of Men, tho' they lofe no Occafibn
' of difTervingyou, and offhowingthe greateft
( Inveteracy (a favourite Exprejfion) againft
' myLord.Martiorougb and my Lord Treafu-
c rer 5 and fo much Dijcouragement to others,
' who even, after great Difobligations, have
f taken feveral Opportunities to mow their
' Firmnefs to your Majefly'slntereft, and their
* Zeal to fupport you, and your Minifters
' too, ONLY becaufe they had been faithful
* and ufeful Servants to you and the Public.
* This was all the Senfe and Meaning of
' my Letter, and if you can find Fault with
' this, I am fo unhappy as that you muft al-
' ways find Fault isoith me, for / am unco.-
( pabk of thinking otherwije as long as I live,
* or of acting now but upon the fame Prin-
* ciple that I ferved you before you came to
* the Crown for fo many Tears, when your
* unlimited Favour and Kindnefs to me, could
never tempt me to make Ufe of it in one
'jingle Injiance that was not for your Inte-
( reft and Service. I am afraid I have been
* too long in explaining my Thoughts upon
* the Subject of my own Letter, which it
' ieems
t 281 ]
' feems has been fo great an Offence, and
< how juftly I leave you to judge ; and I
i muft beg your Patience, fmce lam not very
c tike to trouble you again, to let me fay
' fomething upon the Subject of your Letter
e to my Lord Treafurer, which he has foewn
me to Day, with more Concern than I
know how to exprefs : This was indeed the
c Subject of my own Letter, and the Occa-
c fion of it, for I do not only fee the Unea-
e finefs and the Grief he has to leave your
e Service, when you feem fo defirous he
' fhould continue in it, but I fee as well as
* he, the Impojfibility of his being able to
4 fupport it, or himfelf, or my Lord Marl-
c borough^ FOR IT ALL HANGS UPON
'ONETHREAD; and when they are FOR-
c CED tO LEAVE YOUR SERVICE, you 'Will
c then t indeed^ fad y our f e ff i n *h e Hands of
c a violent Party, 'who lam fur e will have
e very little Mercy or even Humanity for you.
c Whereas you might prevent all thefe Mif-
fortunes, by giving my Lord Treafurer and
' my Lord Marlborough (whom you may fo
' fafely truft) Leave to propofe thofe Things
t>^ < to
[ 282 ]
* to you y which they know and can judge to
be abfolutely neceffary for your Service,
{ which will put it in their Power to inftu-
4 ence thofe, who have given you Proofs both
' of their being able to ferve you, and of
* their defiring to make you great and happy.
' But rather than your Majefty will employ
' a PARTY-MAN, as you are pleafed to call
c Lord Sunderland, you will put all Things
* in CONFUSION, (an Exprejfion borrowed
c from the Duke) and at the fame Time that
' you fay this, you employ Sir C. Hedges^
who is in one againft you, only that he has
* voted in remarkable Things that he might
e keep his Place ; and he did the fame Thing
* in the late King's Time, till at laft, that
' every Body faw he was juft dying and he
* could loie nothing by differing with that
* Court : But formerly he voted with thofe
c Men, the Enemies to this- Government call
c Whigs, and if he had not been a Party- man,
c how could he have been a Secretary of State,
* when all your Councils were influenced
c by my Lord R. Lord J\'off. Sir E. Seymour,
' and about fix or feven more juft fuch Men,
* that call themfelves//^ H cry s for the Church?
' But
'f But what Church can any Man be of that
c would difturb fb juft a Government as
c yours, or how can any Body be in the
TRUE INTEREST of England, that op-
f pofes you and your Minifters, by whofe
c Advice, in four Years Time, you are very
4 near pulling down the Power of France*
* and making that Religion they only talk of,
' not only more fecure than in any of the
* late Reigns, but putting it upon a better
e Foundation than it has been fince the Re-
{ formation ?
c You are pleaded to fay you think it a
c great Hardfhip, to perfuade a Man to
4 part with a Place he is in Pofleflion of,
c for one that is not vacant. In fome Cafes
' that were certainly right, but not in this >
' for Sir Charles Hedges can have the PLACE
he defires immediately, and it is much bet-
c ter for him, unlefs he could be Secretary
* of State for Life. He will have two Places
' that are conjiderable, one of which he can
c compafs no other Way, and this is fo far
* from being a Hardfhip, that he and all the
c \Vorld muil think it a great Kindnefs done
. <,*"' 'him.
* him, and he muft be a very weak Man, if
* he loft the Opportunity of having fuch a
Certainty, when he can't flatter himfelf
. that (whatever happens) he can befupport-
c ed long in a Place of that Confequence for
' which he is fo unfit. He has no Capacity*
* no Quality, no Intereft, nor ever could have
c been in that Poll:, but that every Body
* knows, my Lord Rochefter cares for no-
c thing fo much as a Man that he thinks
* will depend upon him. I beg your Ma-
* jetty's Pardon for not waiting upon you,
and I perfuade myfelf, that long as my Let-
c ter is, it will be lefs troublefom to your
' Majefty.'
'It was a Wonder to many, that this Af-
c fair of my Lord Sunderland's Promotion
c met with fuch Difficulties, confidering his
' Relation to my Lord Marlborougb, whofe
c Merit with his Queen and Country was
e every Year augmenting. For, whilft this
' Matter was in Sufpence, he obtained the
' Victory of Rantillies : On which Occafion
her Majefty in a Letter dated from Kenftng-
< ton y May 17, 1706, told him .. She
( wanted
wanted Words to exprefs the true Senfe me
' had of the great Service he had done his
c Country and her, in that great and glori-
< ous Victory, and hoped that it would be a
c Means to confirm all good and honeft People
* in their Principles, and frighten others from
c being troublefom ; and thftijpoke,
' of the Allay it was to all her Satisfaction,
' to confider what Hazards he was expofed
c to, and repeated an obliging Requeft
' Jke had often made t that he would be care-
c ful of himfelf I cannot doubt of the
* Queen's kind Difpofitions to my Lord
c Marlborough at this Time, or her Willing-
c nefs, in general, to oblige him. And it
c quickly appeared that the Difficulties raifed
by her Majefty againft parting with Sir
' Charles Hedges, were wholly owing to the
* Artifice and Management of Mr. Uarley,
4 the other Secretary of State, whofe Intereft
c and fecret Tranfadtions with the Queen,
' were then doubtlefs in their Beginning.*
As in War there is no kind of Advantage
that affords fo much Satisfaction, as to turn
the
r
the Enemies Artillery on themklves : So in
Controverfy, Truth is never more accept-
able than when forced out of the very Paf-
fages which are meant to conceal it : And if
all the Features of a domineering Faction ,
and a Minion-ridden Sovereign are to be
found to the Life in the foregoing Epiftle of
your Grace's, what abundant Matter have
you furnimed with your own Hand to fet
forth the Triumph of your Adverfaries ? W&
And that they are, what Pretence is there'
to queftion, when we fee your Grace enter-
ing into the Lifts with your Royal Miftrefs,
and throwing down your Gage as the avowec!
Championefs of her Minifters ; prefuming td
declare that her very Government was iti
t)anger, if not depofited folely in their
Keeping; reproaching her Majefty with
Partiality to forne, and, in Behalf of others,
Complaining of Difcouragements and Dif-
obligationsj declaring an obftinate Adhe-
rence to your former Sentiments, whether
pleafing or not j and, with a menacing Air,
fignifying it was like to be the laft Trouble
you would give her; denouncing it as a
I Judgment,
J
Judgment, that, as foon as me was left by
thefe mighty Colleagues, (he would find her
felf in the Hands, * and at the Mercy of her
Enemies $ and that leave her they would,
if not authorized to reign in her Stead, and
do all Things according to their own good
Will and Pleafure ; charging her with In-
confiftencies ; decrying every Perfon {he in-
clined to favour ; and, in Ihort, turning your
Back upon4ier with a Sullennefs and Haugh-
tinefs beyond Example ?
If this is not a lively Pi&ure of an infult-
ed Queen, and a prefuming Favourite ; of
Majefty itfelf expofed tothztUnea/inefs, which
the Duke of Marlborough y a Subject, found
by Experience fo TERRIBLE TO GO
THROUGH; of being under the Tyranny of
a Faction ; of being terrified out of her own
Authority j and compelled to obey the Dic-
tates of her own Servants ; there is no Mean-
ing in Words ; and Common Senfe is of no-
life.
But your Grace was her Familiar - } true :
And that Familiarity breeds Contempt, was
never fo notorioufly exemplified before. Was
it,
t 288 ]
it, however, right to fuffer this Secret to
efcape ? to let the whole World know, that,
through the excefiive Goodnefs of her Ma-
jefty, fhe was to be moulded into what Shape
her Favourite-Minifters pleafed? was it not
from hence that other People were led to try
Practices upon her Temper like wife, and to put
in at leaft for a Share of the Spoil? and could
not the whole triple Alliance club together
for as much Addrefs as might have carried
their Point, without provoking the Queea
to fly for Sanctuary from their Perfecutions,
to the firft Arms that were open to receive
her?
Of Sovereigns difpleafed with, and repri-
manding their Servants, nay fometimes dif-
gracing the Beft, we may find many notable
Examples in Hiftory : But of Servants pre-
fuming to fly in the Face of their Sovereigns,
calling them to account for their Conduct,
and even infilling that they fhould proceed
blindfold, wherever they were led or drove,
fcarce one : This then was referved to
be the peculiar Diftinclion of your Grace's
Regency ; and 'tis more than pofiible you
2 will
[ 2S 9 ]
could poflefs it to the End of the Wo; Id
without a Rival.
To fee with her own Eyes, hear with her
own Ears, and enjoy the common CJfe of
her Faculties, feems to be all her Majefty
contended for : But this did not quadrate
with the Interefts of the MarIborougb-F&-
mily \ and the Privilege of the meaneft Sub-
ject was not allowed to be any Part of her
Prerogative.
All this appears even from the Pittance of
Evidence your Grace has thought advifable to
bring to account : What then might we not
have expected, if we had been favoured with
the whole Controverfy ? It appears the Queen
began to grow a little more untractable than
ufual ; you expoftulate with her thereon j her
Majefty condefcends to reply to you again ;
and this Rejoinder of your's is all you have
thought fit to make public. From the
Sample let the World judge of the reft !
But this traverfing of Lord Sunder land's
Promotion is charged upon Mr. Harley -,
and, under the Words Artifice and Manage-
T
[ 2 9 3
ment, is reprefented as a Crime : So blind is
Prejudice ! or fo unjuft Refentment !
Mr. liarley bad openly acquainted Lord
Gsdolphin, as well as the Queen, with, his
Sentiments on the Art of governing by Par-
ties, and the narrow, injurious Expedient of
compelling her Ma jelly todifcountenanceone
Half of her Subjeds, in Compliment to the
iinifter Views of the reft. Mr. Barley was,
therefore obliged, on his own Principles, to
lay before her, in the ftrongeft Terms pof-
fible, the apparent Injuftice, as well as ill
Policy, of difmiffing a Man, who had never
miibehaved, in order to gratify a Faclion,
who, on the Merit of complying with the
Meafures of her Minifters for one Sefilon,
had been forward enough to fland upon fuch
high Demands, and even to exact a Com-
pliance, from her Majefty.
And in ti)isyouknoWjMadam,Mr. Harley
was even more a Friend to the Marlborough-
Fainily, than you care no vv to acknowledge :
For the Whigs had never plac'd a thorough
Confidence mL.Godolpkiri; and this very Lord
Stwdtrland, tho' Son r ia-law to your Grace,
f was
t 29' I
was obtruded on the Queen, not only by
Way of Security for the Performance of Ar-
ticles j but, when Time mould ferve, to be
that very Supplanter, which the Junto, caufe-
lefsly at firft, aprehended in Mr. Barley, as
ation will be more fully explained.
I {hall give the IfTue of this Affair in your
Grace's Words, as they ferve both to illuf-
trate the Viftory you obtained over the Queen
and Mr. Harley ; and likewife at what Ex-
pence to the Nation it was then found necef-
fary to oblige your Grace, and your good
Friends the Whigs.
* As for Sir Charles Hedges, when he found
* how backward the Queen was to difmifs
c him, he was fo prudent as to make ^greater
c Advantage to himfelf by quitting his Poft,
- than he could have done by holding /"/;
c And in the Winter of 1706, Lord Sun-
f derland was appointed to fucceed him.
When we reflect on the Ufe your Grace
has thought fit to make of the fupreme Con-
fidence placed in you by the Queen, we are
not to wonder that the Letters of Mr. Har-
Iey> and whoever elfe has difoblig'd you, are
T 2 betrayed
betrayed like wife. You fcem to have been
ever above common Forms, Madam, and con-
iequently muft be fuppofed to be out of the'
Reach of common Cenfure for the Breach of
them. An Epiftleof Condolance from Mr.
Harley to the Duke of Marlbor&ugh on the
Death of Lord Blandford, which begins as
well as ends with the Word Servant, is
quoted with as much Ceremony, as if it
contained a folernn Tender of all his Powers
and Faculties, to be wholly and folely at his
Grace's Devotion, for ever and for aye.-
As if our Judgments of Men did not vary as
Men's Actions vary'dj or as if ill Offices had
not a Right to cancel even Vows of Friend-
iliip, tho' made at the Altar.
But, not to lofe Sight cf our public Affairs,
we muft here take Notice, that this Year, like -
*vife, the Union of the two Kingdoms took
Place; an Event of fo complex a Nature, that
I have not Time either to reflect on the Scots
Act of Security, to which principally it owed
its Rife, or on the Means taken to accomplish it,
or the Characters or Views of thofe employ'd
in it, or the Armeies it eon fitted of. It is fuf-
ficient
f 393 ]
ficient to obferve, that it was confirm'd by the
Parliaments of both Kingdoms , by that of
Scotland, not without the moil vehement
Oppofition 5 by that of England with lei's'
than was expected : The Divilions in the
Houfe of Lords being 50 to 20 in Favour of
it ; and the Commons agreeing to every
Claufe with fiich an indecent Rapidity, that
the Bill was {aid to ride Poft thro' the Houfe.
But this was not the only Inftance of their
Complaifance to the Court : They had
fcarce fat a Month, before, taking into Con-
fideration the many eminent Services of John
Duke of Mar thorough, they prefented.an Ad-
drefs humbly to defire, * That, as her Ma-
* jefty was, at her Expence^ gracioufly plea-
c fed to erect the Houfe of Blenheim, and
< the Houfe of Peers, by her Majefty's
c Permiflion, had given Rife to a * Law for
< continuing "his Honours to his Pofterity,
' fo they might be permitted to exprefs their
' Senfe of fo diflinguiihing a Merit, and their
* By this Law which paflej like wife this Seffion, the
Manor of Woodjlock and Houfe of Blenheim were annexed to
thofe Honours : The faid Law was read by the Common*
three Times, and pals'd Nem. Cn. in one Day.
T 3 c ready
t
c ready Dilpofition to enable her Majefty to
* make fome Provifion for the more honour-
able Support of his Dignity in his Pofteri-
* ty, &c' Which the Queen, no doubt, un~
derftanding to flow from their own me$c
Motion^ readily complied with ; and in con-
fequence the 5000 /. per Annum, in Perpe-
tuity, demanded in the very firft Year of her
Majefty's Reign, and then civilly refufed by
the Tories, was now carried by the fffbjgf
without any Difficulty ; which is fufficient
to prove that the Charge of Ingratitude
brought again ft the laft by your Grace, was
without Foundation. ^8
They like wife fwallowed the Eftimates
whole, as one may fay, and difpatched the
Supplies, tho' larger than any ever granted
before, in lefs than a Week. Nay, the Mi-
niftry having run the Nation to the Ex-
pence of 800,000 /. more than was provided
for by Parliament, they were notwithfland-
ing juftify'd for fo doing, by a majority of
a hundred Voices. Such Difference there
is in the Conduct of a Whig when in Pow-
er, and when. out!
With
"' With fuch a Strength in both Houfes,
and fuch an Afcendancy over the Queen,
who can wondtr, on one Hand, that this
afpiring Junto, Ihould inlift on having her
Majefty's Will fubordinate ' to theirs ? And
on the other, who can wonder enough that
the very Perfon, who had contributed moil
to reduce her to that abject Condition,
fhould, after an Interval of fo many Years,
not only exhibit her in her Fetters, but with
Complaints and Reproaches, that (he mould
teftify the leaft Reluctance to put them on,
or Inclination to fet herfelf free ?
But, left this mould be thought incredi-
ble, let me beg of your Grace to wave
your Privilege and kifs the Book.
' But notwithftanding this Point ( Lord
* Sunder/and' s Promotion) thus carried by
* the Whigs, they were foon alarmed again
* by the Queen's Choice of two High-church
* Divines, to fill two vacant Bifhopricks. Se-
c veral of the Whigs were difpofed to think
themfelves betray 'd by the Mini ft ry ;
* whereas the Truth was, that the Queen's
< Inclination to the Tories being now footh'd
T 4 ' by
* by the Flatteries and Infinuations of her
'- private Coimfellors, had begun to make
* it irkfom. to her to confult with her Mi-
' nifters upon any Promotions, either in the
c Church or the State. The firft Artifice of
* thofe Counfellors was, to inilill into the
c Queen Notions of the high Prerogative of
' afting without her Minifters, and (as they
4 expreffed it) of being Queen indeed. And
* the Nomination of Perfons to Bifhoprieks
4 again ft the Judgment and Remonftrances
f of her Miniftry, being what they knew her
c Genius would fall in with more readily
' than with any Thing elfe they could pro-
' pofe, they began with that ; and they took
' Care that thofe Remonftranccs mould be
1 interpreted by the World, and relented by
herfelf as hard Uiage, a Denial of common
* Civility, and even the making her no Queen.
' Her Majefty however to quiet the Dif-
f fatisfaftion of the Wliigs for the late Pro-
' motions, ordered her Minifters to afore
* them, that (he would prefer no mere To-
* ries, and fhe gave the fame AfTurances
c with her own Mouth in the Cabinet Coun-
cil
[ 297 I
* cil. And {he was fuffered by her fecret
' Counfellors fo far to obferve this Promife,
c as to give, about the fame Time, the Bi-
< fhoprick of Norwich to Doctor Trimnel - }
' a particular Friend of Lord Sunderland's.
And (he alfo, fome Time after, gave the
* Profefformip of Divinity at Oxford, to
e Doctor Potter, the prefent Archbimop of
' Canterbury, who had Doctor Smaldridge
c for his Competitor, recommended by the
* Tories. But this latter Favour to the
* Whigs was not fo eafily obtain'd as the for-
* mer. And, upon the Delays that were
' made in beftowing it, my Lord Marlbo-
' rough thought it proper to try what Cre-
4 dit he had with a Queen, WHOSE GLO-
\ RY HE HAD CARRIED TO A HEIGHT
' DEYOND THAT OF ANY OF HER ?RE-
* DECESSORS, He wrote therefore a very
* moving Letter to her, complaining of the
c vifible Lofs of his Intereft with her, and
' particularly of her fo long deferring the
* Promotion -me had promifed, of the Per-
' fon recommended by her Miniftry, as a
* faithful Friend to her Government, adding,
* that
* that the only Way to make her Reign
' eajy, was to be true to that RULE,- which
flie had profeiled to lay down, of prefer-
< ing none of thofe, 'who appeared againft
* her Service and the Nation's Intereft, 6?r.
He wrote at the fame Time to the
* fame EfFed: to me, and 3 wrote to the
' Queen, and at length by much Solicita-
* tion this Matter was obtained, and Doctor
* Potter fixed in the Profeflbrfliip.'
t 2133
Now, from certain grammatical Defects
to be found in thefe Paffages, one may ven-
ture to conclude they are your Grace's own
Words ; and if fo, no ftronger Evidence
need be defir'd, of the Supremacy of the
Junto, and the ValTalage of their nominal
Miftrefs.
When the Whigs contended fora Secretary
of State, it feem'd to be their only Suit, and
that but a cautionary one, to fecure them in
a Share of the Adminiftration : But that
Point being carried, they (hew their Teeth,
jnmeath their Talons, and growl for the
Poffeffion of all.
The
t 299 ]
The Queen, as Head of the Church, no
fooner prefumes to fill two vacant Bifhop-
ricks, but they are betrayed forfooth ; and
IrerMajefty mud be reprimanded, for daring
to make uie of her Prerogative without a
Permit from her Minifters But tkro
the FLATTERIES and INSINUATIONS of
ber PRIVATE COUNSELLORS, it was grown
irkjbme to confult with them. You mould
rather have faid, Madam, that thofe Minif-
ters, by their Pride, their All-fufficiency, and
their eternal Negatives on whatever (he
propos'd, had rendered themfelves a Grie-
vance to her, which, notwithstanding the
fplendid Outfide of their Services, it was im-
pofiible to endure, and almoil as impofiible
to remove.
But, however fenfible of this TERRIBLE
Situation her Majefly muft needs be, me is
compell'd, in order to quiet the Dijjatisfac-
tion of the Whigs, to promife me will offend
NO MORE : And is evenfuffered, as your
Grace is obliged to own , by herfecret Coun-
felhrs, to beftow a Bilhopriek on a Friend of
Lord Sunderland's But all will not
do 5 a new Demand is made ; and tho'
me
t 3 00 ]
me only demurs, (he is reproached with the
GLORY BESTOW'D on her by my Lord
Marlborough > who, not content with hav-
ing the Army for his Province, the Kouhold
for his Lady's, the Treafury for his Friend
GodolpMn's, the Admiralty for his Brother's,
and the Secretary's Office for his Sqn-in-
Law's, writes a moving Letter to convince the
Queen that her Piety was of no manner of
life, that the Church ought to be left to
abler {Jands 5 and that the only Way to
make her Reign eafy, was to be true to the
Rule of preferring N o N E of them who ap-
peared againft her Service a cant Word
for Miniftry.
Upon the whole, Madam, give me leave
to repeat once more, that you impeach the
Queen of the high Crime and Mifdemeanor
of growing unmanageable, and endeavour
to convince your Readers, that the Hard-
(hips thereby impos'd on her Minifters were,
a Load too grievous to be borne ; a Tref-
pafs too great to be forgiven! . Thus,
ftands your Grace's Account But, ac-
cording to mine, GriJJel herfelf, if a Queen,
and
and perfecuted as her Majefty was, would
either not have ftoop'd to fo many Indig-
nities, or would not have groan'd under them
fo long.
From the Intrigues of Patties, the Giittor
of Courts, the Myfteries of the Cabinet, the
Mifunderftandings of Princes, and all the
Eclat of the great World, which may be
cali'd the Eminencies of human Life, we are
now to defcend with your Grace to the
Flats and Marfties of Family- Affairs ; to a
jow Tale of Coufins and their Coufins,
brought to Court out of Charity ; dragged
Boys cloath'd and put to School, and good-
for-nothing Fellows preferred to Regiments :
a Detail which may ferve to gratify your
Spleen, but can never contribute to your
Fame !
That Mrs. Abigal Hill, your Grace's
Kinfwoman, was the Daughter of a Mer-
chant, undone by projecting ; that her 1 Mo-
ther had but 500 1. to her Fortune j that
their Children were left deflitirte ; that in
the midlt of your own aflonifhing; Eleva-
tion, you were ignorant fuch Perfons wejce
in
t 302 ]
in the World ; that you had the wonderful Ge-
nerofity to part with ten Guineas out of your
own Purfe for their immediate Relief; and
that you afterwards quartered them upon the
Queen and the Public, will fcarcely be con-
troverted : But that a Lady of your Great-
nefs and Sublimity of Spirit fhould keep an
Inventory of thefe Bagatelles ; that you
fhould think them of Confequence enough
to lay before the Public, and couple them
with the extraordinary Adventures which
make up the Refidue of your Story, will
ever be Matter of Admiration, as long as
that Story fhall be read.
Acts of Goodnefs and Generality deferve
Applaufe, 'tis true ; but when they take Air
thro' Vanity or Oftentation, or become Mat-
ters of Infult and Upbraiding, they lofe their
very EfTence, and confequently their Re-
Ward.
Thus your Grace has again miftaken the
Road to Fame ; and if we mould conclude,
as you would have us, that where you look'd
for Friendfliip, you met with Ingratitude,
we cannot help concluding likewife, that
the
[ 33 3
the Difeafe ran in the Blood, and conie-
quently, that it was, at leaft, as excufable
in her, as in any other Branch of the Fa-
mily.
But fuppofe, Madam, 'tis part of a great
Lady's Privilege, to give Vent to herPaffions
in what way (he pleafes ; did not the Matters
of Faft fo liberally unbofomed by your
Grace, afford fufficient Food to your Re-
fentment ? Or was there the leaft Neceffity
to furnifh out a Defert at the Expence of
Mrs. Hill y junior, with the ugly but
artful Jnfinuation which follows ?
* And it is very probable that Mrs. H/7/has
* the Annuity (be/low d upon her by the Queen
' at your Grace's Inftance) to this Day, and
* perhaps nothing elfe,unlefs ftiefaved Money
* after her Sifter had made her Deputy to-
< the Privy-Purfe, which me did, as foon
* as me had fupplanted me.'
-/-* ' '
It is not, without great Reluctance, that
I can prevail w ith myfelf to follow your-
. Grace
Grace thro' thcfe dark and dirty By-ways,
which furely were never vifited by a Perfon
of your Eminence before : But as we have
a Ray of Truth to direct us, and a foiall
Difcovery to make, I find myfelf at once
obliged to proceed, and to hold my Nofe
till I have pafled .-thorough.
It has been already urged, that Care had
been taken to enclofe the Queen from the
Accefs of all obnoxious, or even fuipicious
Perfons j and that, in order thereto, none
were planted about her, but fuch as were
the Creatures of the Marttorough-Family.
Of this Number was Mrs. Mafoam, and
to aniwer this very Purpofe was fhe pre-
ferred j tho' the Affair isfet forth- in fo dif-
ferent a Light by your Grace : It was im-
poffible for you to be always upon Duty ; it
was neceffary for the Queen to be always
obferved ; Mrs. Mafham you had taken out of
the DUST ; and you was not, it feems, enough
acquainted with yourfelf, to reflect or ap-
prehend, that the Creature would ever pre-
fume to rival its Maker.
t 2 S7 ]
the young Man, nor his Father, nor his
* Grandmother. -Vg
< What I have to fay upon this
< Subject, at this Time, is, to beg you
* would find whether there is any Defign
' where you are, that the young Man mould
* make a Viiit in the Winter, and contrive
fome Way to put any fuch Thought out
c of their Head, that the Difficulty may not
' be brought upon me of refufing him Leave
( to collie, if he mould afk for it, or forbid-
'" ding him to come, if he mould attempt
4 it : For one of thefe two Things / muft do^
< if 'either he or his Father mould have any
e Defires to have him fee this Country, it be-
* ing a : 'Thing / cannot bear, to have ANY
c Succeflbr here, though but for a WEEK :
4 And therefore I {hall depend upon you, to
* do every Thing on the other Side of the
1 Water to prevent this MORTIFICATION
4 from coming upon her, that is, and ever
f will be, moil fincerely, Gfr.
. .
- But it is neceffary to accompany your
Grace a little further on this Topic.
R 'It
* It was upon this Occafion, that the
< Queen gave the firfl Indications of any
c Thing like a real Reconcilement to the
< Whigs.
And again, afterwards.
She had been prefent at the Debates in
c the Houle of Lords upon that Subject, and
* had heard the Duke of Bvckinghani> treat
c her with great Difrefpect, urging as an Ar-
' gument for inviting over the Princefs So-
' phia y that the Queen might live till (he
c did not know what me did, and be like
a Child in the Hands of others ; and a great
' deal to the fame Effect. Such rude Treat-
' ment from the Tories, and the Zeal and
' Succefs of the Whigs in oppofmg a Mo-
c tion fo extremely difagreeable to her, occa-
* fioned her to write to me in the following
Terms.
c 1 believe, dear Mrs. Freeman and
* I (hall not difagree as we have formerly
' done ; for I am fenfible of the Services thofe
' People have done me that you have a good
* Opinion of, and will countenance them,
3 ' and
r
' and am thoroughly convinced of the Malice
c and Infolence of them, that you have al-
{ ways been fpeaking againft.
* And at this fame Time, her Majefty au-
* thorized my Lord Godolphin to give the ut-
c moft AfTurances to the chief Men of the
* Whigs, that me would put herfelf and her
* Affairs into fuch Hands as they mould
* approve, and would do every Thing pof-
* fible for the Security of the Proteftant Suc-
* ceflion.
Thus it appears that the Tories fell in the
very Snare they had laid for the Whigs, and,
by rendring themfelves perfonally obnoxious
to the Queen, loft the only Hold they had
then left :
That where Faction is Paramount, every
Service done to the Sovereign, however juft
and reafbnable in its own Nature, is made a
Jobb by the Minifter and his Tools :
That when the Tories quarrelled among
themfelves, and the Majority fet themfelves
in Oppofition to the Marlborough- family
the Marlborough Family countenanced the
R 2 Whigs,
[ 260 ]
Whigs ; not in Compliment to their Political
Creed, but, from the Dictates of Self-defence,
to counterbalance the Defigns of thofe who
meditated their Overthrow :
That the Whigs, as before infinuated, acted
on (Sicz/i-Principles, and expected to be paid
the Top Price of the Market, for coming
plumb into the Meafures of the Court, at the
Expence of their former Profeffions :
That the Queen was, on all Hands, con-
fidered and treated as a mere Property,
which was to be engroffed, divided or tranf-
ferred, as fuited beft with the mercenary
Views of thofe State- Brokers, who had the
Privilege of dividing the Spoil :
That the Whigs, having no natural Intereft
in her Majefty, depended folely upon the
Miniftry for the Compenfation of their Ser-
vices :
And that the Miniftry, for their Parts,
hop'd, by Means of their new Allies, to
have and to hold, as the Lawyers fay, the
Queen to themfelves: Nay, took Advan-
tage of her overflowing Gratitude, to exact a
Sort of Promife of this Royal Monopoly,
whichj
f *6i ]
which, as afterwards appeared, they refolv'd
to make the moft of.
This was the State of Affairs at Court,
when the Motion fo often mentioned was de-
feated. Your Grace and your AfTociates
then began to flatter yourfelves, that even
the Prerogative was not better eftablifhed
than your Vicegerency : That you might not
only recommend a Point or a Perfon, but in-
fift upon either as underftood in your Grant,
as a Perquifite of your high Office ; and that
you might exclude from the Royal Prefence
every Body who had not the Happinefs of
being in your good Graces, without even
mewing Caufe for fo doing.
But an unexpected Obftacle arofe to
thwart and perplex this new- erected Em-
pire of your's, even in its Infancy : Mr. Har-
/ey, the new Secretary, juftly alarm'd at the
Queen's giving up herfelf and her Power into
the Hands of any Junto whatever, without
Referve, thought it his Duty now to un-
fold to her Majefty, the fecond Part of
his Scheme, which, as above-hinted, was 3
R 3 * That
[ 262 ]
* That the Queen might reign for herfelf,
and judge for herfelf; That her Subjects,
without Diftinction, might have Acceis to
her ; That all might both be reconciled to
her, and to each other : In (hort, That me
might be fully instructed both in the Cha-
racters of Perfons and Matters of Fact j and
act as well by Knowledge as Advice.
Yes, Madam,this was the formidable Scheme
oiSupplanting,vi\i\c\\ your Grace ispleafedto
mention with fuch Indignation ; what you
then treated with fuch Refentment; what
you called, the letting in the Mob upon her
Majefty, and into the Secret of Affairs ;
and what you endeavoured to defeat, by ob-
jecting, That an Intereft in the Queen was
of too much Importance in itfelf, and of too
facred a Nature, to be fhar'd out among the
Vulgar ; and that her Majefty would foon
grow cheap, if me was expos'd to the fa-
miliar Approach of every forward Pre-
tender.
* As confirm'd by her Grace in the following Words.
' The firft Artifice of thofe Counsellors was, to inftill into
' the Queen, Notions of the high Prerogative of a fling nvitb-
' out her Miniflers, and (as they expreffed it) of being S>ueen
Account, /. 211.
But
t 263 ]
But thefe artificial Turns happened not
to have all the defired Succefs ; her Majefty
was perfectly convinced that Mr. Harley*
Sentiments were well founded; and, even,
from the Oppofition that was made to them,
conceived immediately how necefTciry it was
to follow them : In effect, notwithstanding
your Grace's Lectures to the contrary, me
render'd her Behaviour in a good Degree
conformable to it $ and if fhe did not again
receive the Tories into her Councils, me did
not behave fo as to make them conclude it
was impoffible.
This was what your Grace could not
bear : And from the Moment the Difcovery
was made, Mr. Har/e/s Ruin was determin-
ed, as will appear more evidently in the
fubfequent Pages.
The Whigs, indeed prefuming on their
late Service, gave themfelves Airs of Impor-
tance, and expected, nay demanded to be
over-paid : which gave no fmali Umbrage,
as you very well know, Madam, to the
Miniftry ; who, being at the Head of all
Things, [could ill digeft fuch Treatment j
R 4 and
[ 264 ]
and accordingly, rather kept them in Hope
than enter'd into full Confidence with them-
yet not fo dextroufly, but the Undertakers
for the Whigs got into the Secret, and play'd
faft and loofe in their Turns, till an Occa-
fion offer'd to make their own Terms, as will
appear in its proper Place.
With regard to our mighty Enterprizes
abroad this Summer, our Glory feemsto have
been at the full ; and our Poflerity will read
with Aftonifhment, that thofe who fo well
knew how to conquer, mould fo little know
how to improve their Victories.
May the I4th, the Duke of Marlborough
fet out for Holland j and Augufl 1 2th ob-
tained a complete Victory over the French,
commanded by the Elector of Bavaria and
Marmal Filler oy atRAMiLLiES ; which was
followed by a general Revolution in the
Low-Countries in Favour of King Charles ,
and the Reduction of Namur, D*.ndermond>
Aeth, and Oftend.
In Italy , enabled by a Loan of 250,000 !
from England, Prince Eugene, after thirty-
four Marches to join the Duke of Savoy,
offered
[ 265 3
offered Battle to 'the French wha laid Siege
to Turin j and after two Hours Engagement,
in which the Marfhal Marfin was kill'd, and
the Duke of Orleans wounded, utterly de-
feated them, feiz'd on their Camp, Tents>
Baggage, &c. and relieved that Capital.
In Spain, King Charles was clofely be-
fieged in Barcelona, by the Marmal de
The/e by Land, and the Count de Thouloufe
by Sea ; but was moft opportunely relieved
by the gallant Earl of Peterborough and Sir
yohn Leake -, the Count de Thouloufe not
flaying till the Englijh Fleet appeared in
Sight, and the Marmal de TheJJ'e decamping
with the utmofl Confufion a few Days af-
ter, and leaving his Ammunition, Stores,
Tents, and even his fick and wounded Men
at the Mercy of the Enemy.
But barely to mention the Earl of Peter-
borough, would be an Injury to his Memory >
he deferves much more, and your Grace muft
excufe me, if I go a little out of my Way, both
to difplay the Ufage he met with ; as likewife
what Advantages we then fufFered to flip
thro*
[ 266 ]
thro' our Hands 5 tho' Spain was underftood
to be the principal Caufe of the War, and
what we were moft determined to re-
ftore to the Houfe of Auftria. In doing
which I fhall not fpeak from my own Au-
thority, but that of a late noble Lord, whofe
Knowledge of public Affairs, and his Ability
to fet them forth, were never yet quoted
without Applaufe.
The brave Earl of Peterborough had
gone on with a Courfe of furprizing Suc-
cefles in Spain -, Cities and Kingdoms
were reduced to the Obedience of King
Charles even fafter than the Couriers could
bring us the Intelligence ; and his Com-
petitor muft have been driven quite out in
the fecond Campaign, had not that King
been unhappily diverted from purfuing
the right Meafures that had been concert-
ed j and another General neglected both
the fecuring ofMddrid, and the getting in
Provifions to fupport the Army for a few
Weeks.
After
After this Mifcarriage the Earl went to
Genoa, and pawn'd his own Credit to take
up Money to preferve the Army from
ftarving ; from thence he proceeded to
Turin, and form'd fuch a Scheme for the
taking of Toulon, that (morally- fpeaking)
it could not have mifcarried, if the prin-
cipal part of the Project, (which was to be-
gin the Campaign early by entring into
Roujfillon in order to invade France on that
fide, with an Army to be compos'd of a
Detachment from Savoy, another of but
5000 from /our Forces in Spain, the reft
to be made up of Miquelets ; and when
the French fhould have drawn their prin-
cipal Forces that way, then the Duke of
Savoy was to have march'd to Toulon)
had not been difappointed by the Earl of
Galloway's utterly refuting to fpare 5000
Men from that Army, on pretence that
he had pofitive Orders from England not
to divide his Forces. Whether he had any
fuch Orders or not, or whether his Orders
were to crofs all the Earl of Peterborough's
Defigns (which he effectually did) is not
yet
[ 268 ]
yet plainly difcovered, but worth the En-
quiry of a Parliament in fit time ; this is
certain, that, when all the World applaud-
ed that Earl's Conduct, and whilft the
whole Nation were extreamly pleas'd and
gratify 'd with his unparallel'd Atchiev-
ments, the Minifters thought fit to turn
him out of all Command -, and that they
might affront him beyond Example, they
even writ to Foreign Princes to difcoun-
tenance him ; whether they were afraid
he mould eclipfe the Glory of another, or
that too quick a Period would be put to
the War^ or that the French King was
fo alarmed at the Progrefs of our Arms in
thofe parts, that he began to make Over-
tures of Peace (as the Earl had more ho-
neftly than warily let them know) and
might probably give us the Advantage of
treating the Peace on that fide, to the Dif-
appointment of tboje who never intended
it fhould be negociated in any other Place
but Holland-, or whatever it were, they
Jlopp'd the Progrefs of our Arms in thofe
Parts, loft two Kingdoms to the Enemy,
and
1 269 ]
and deprivd their Country of the Services
of one who had, in fo fhort a time, given
fuch a Specimen of an enterprizing Ge-
nius, fuch Proofs of his fuperior Abilities,
fuch Demon ftrations of a Conduct always
fuccefsful, and never fubject to Miftakes
or Difappointments ; and had made fo
many and fo great Conquefts with a hand-
ful of Men, that he has rarely been equal-
led, never exceeded by any General of the
piefent or former Times : His Enemies
had no better Foundation for their Pro-
ceedings againft him than falle Reports,
Afperfion and Calumny; and tho', after
his coming home, a Minifter of State fent
him five Articles of pretended Accufations,yet
one of them was grounded on a meer Mi-
take of their own, and the Earl juftify'd
himfelf in the other four, by producing
their own Directions and Orders for what
he had done; fo far had thefe Minifters
forgotten their own Acls and Deeds ; and
'tis fince evident to the whole Kingdom
that they had nothing at all to lay to his
Charge; for when, in the next Seflion,
he
t 270 J
he defired to be heard in his own Vindi-
cation, his Adverfaries had no other fliift
than to order Multitudes of Papers to be
brought in, tiring the Houfe with reading
them, ftill avoiding to enter into any Mat-
ter of Fad:, and adjourning it from time
to time, till they had fpun out the Sef-
fion.'
Thus, however illuftrious the Year 1706
was rendered by fo many and fignal Ad-
vantages obtained over France, it is evident,
that by the Difmiffion of the Lord Peter-
borough ', and the Neglect of the fair Op-
portunity (which was principally the Growth
of his Courage and Conduct) to fet K. Charles
on the Throne of Spain, our Lofles in point
of Intefeft, more than counterbalanced our
Gains in point of Glory.
We muft now return to your Grace and
the War of Parties ; which, notwithftanding
the main Bodies were now difpers'd, rag'd
with as much Violence as ever among their
Leaders.
I have
I have already hinted, that tho' the Mi-
nifters had made ufe of the Whigs, and the
Whigs had conform'd to the Meafures of
the Minifter ; this new Alliance was not
found at Bottom, and each diftrufled the
Sincerity of the other.
If the Ministers werejuftly afraid of be-
ing over-borne by the Cravings, Importu-
nities, and Dictates of an afluming Party ;
they, on the other hand, equally dreaded the
Artifices, Doubles, and Circumventions, juft-
ly to be expected from Miniflers fo lately at
the Head of their Adverfaries.
In order, therefore, to procure Security
for the Performance of Articles, they infift-
ed on having one ftaunch Friend of their
own in the Secret of Affairs, to whom they
might apply, and on whom they might de-
pend : The Perfon they pitched upon was
Lord Sunderland, another Branch of the
Marlborough- Family, who feems to have
been heartily efpoufed by your Grace, tho'
not entirely approv'd of either by the Gene-
ral or the Treafurer, as is evident from the
follow-
]
following Paflages out of the Account be-
fore us.
* But notwithftanding this, it was not till
' after much Solicitation, that her Majefty
* could be prevailed with, fo far to oblige
' the Whigs, as to make my Lord Sunder-
' land Secretary of State in the Room of Sir
c Charles Hedges. The Whigs, after the
* Services they had done, and the Affu-
e ranees the Queen had given them, thought
* it reafonable to expect, that one of the Se-
' cretaries at leaft mould be ffuch a Man
* as they could place a Confidence in. They
' believed they might trufl my Lord Sun-
* derland ; and though they did not think
him the propcreft Man for the Poft, yet
4 being my Lord Marlborougtis Son-in-
6 law, they chofe to recommend him to her
* Majefty, becaufe, as they expreffed them-
' felves to me, they imagined it was driving
* the Nail that would go.
' I mufl obferve here, that my Lord
* Marlborough was not, in his Inclination,
' for this Promotion of my Lord Sunder-
( land.
[ 305 ]
It was not. therefore, the Effe&s of your
Confidence in Mrs. Majham, but the Pre-
fumption of your own Strength and Im-
portance that lulled you in Security fo long:
"Tis true you tell us, that, when you had
obferved, ilie grew more Jhy and referred,
you imputed it to her peculiar Morefenefs
ff Temper : And that when me had taken
the Liberty to marry without your Advice or
Confent, you was willing to interpret it to
be Bajbfulnefs and want of Breeding rather
than any Thing worfe. I fay, Madam, you
here fet yourfelf forth as incapable of Jea-
loufy, as void of all Appreheniion. But
as foon as the Alarm is taken, your Paf-
iion's are all rous'd : And the very great
Concern you immediately betray, fufficiently
proves how much depended on the grand
Point of keeping the Queen entirely to your-
felf. But the whole Scene between your Grace
and your new Rival, as well as the Paffages
connected with it, though low and groveling
in themfelves, are too curious and artificial to
be pafied over without pointing atfuch Parti-
culars as ferve to authorize this Conclufion.
U ' The
[ 3=6 ]
c The firft Thing, which led me into En-
quiries about her Conduit, was, the being
* told (in the Summer of 1707,) that my
' Coufm Hill was privately married to Mr.
1 M aft am. I went to her and afked her if
V it were true. She owned it was, and begged
* my Pardon for having concealed it from me.
c . As much Reafon as I had to take ill this
1 "Referve in her Behaviour, I was willing to
' impute it to BaJhfuJnefs and Want of Breed-
' ing, rather than to any Thing ivorje. I
c embraced her with my ufual Tcndernefs,
4 and very heartily wiihed her Joy j and
* then turning the Difcourfe, entered into
c her Concerns in as friendly a Manner as
* poffible, ccntiiving how to accommodate
her with Lodgings, by removing her Sifter
' intofoine of my own. I then enquired of
* her very kindh\ whether the Queen knew
of her Marriage ; and very Innocently of-
fered her my Service, if Ihe needed it, to
* make that Matter ea/y. She had by this
*' Time. learnt the Art of Diflimulation pretty
4 well, and anfwcred with an Air of Uncon-
cernednefs, that tlae Bcd-Lhamber-Women
i c had
c had already acquainted the ^tteen with it*
c hoping by this Anfwer to divert any farther
c Examination into the Matter. But I went
' PRESENTLY to the Qneeii and alked her,
' whyjhe had not been fo kind as to tell me of
' my Coujins Marriage, EXPOSTULATING
c with her upon the Point, and putting her
' in Mind of what (lie ufed often to fay to'
* me cut of Montaigne , That it was ' no
' Breach of Promife of Secrejy to tell fucb a
' Friend any Thing, becau/e it was no more
4 than telling it to one's felf. All the An-
' fwer I could obtain from her Majefly was
* this, I have a hundred Times bid Mafham
c tellityou, and fle would not.
4 The Conduct both of the Queen and .of
* Mrs. Majham> convinced me that there
c was feme My fiery in the Affair, and there-
c upon I fet myfelf to enquire as particular-
* ly as I could into it. And in lefs than a
' WELK'S TIME, I difcovered, tfhat my
' Coufm was become an abfolute Favourite ;
* that the ^ueen herfelf was prcjent at her
c Marriage in Dr. Arbuthnot'^ Lodging?, at
* Which Time her Majefty had called for a
U 2 * round
c round Sum out of the Privy-Purfe j that
Mrs. Mafham came often to the Queen,
( when the Prince 'was ajleep, and was ge-
nerally two Hours every Day in private
c with her : And I likewife then difcovered
beyond all Difpute Mr. HARLEY'S*COR-
R ESP ON DEN CE and INTEREST AT
4 COURT BY MEANS OF THIS WOMAN.
* I was (truck with Aftonimment at fuch
' an Inftance of IN GRATITUDE, and mould
* not have believed, if there had been any
' Room left for doubting.
' My Lord Marlborough was at firftno lefs
' incredulous than I, as appears by the fol-
' lowing Paragraph of a Letter from him, in
' Anfwer to one from me on this Subject.
Meldeftjune 3, 1707.
' The wifefl Thing is to have to do with
e as few People as poffible. If you are fure
* that Mrs. Ma/bam fpeaks of BUSINESS to
4 the
* That Mr. Harley made ufe of the ILiftr occafionally,
according the Phrafe of thofe Times, is, I believe, icarce
tob? difputed: But that he attain'd his Intereft at Court by-
Mrs. Mafiamoriy, is already difprov'd, Pag 217.
[ 309 ]
c the Queen, I mould think, you might with
c fome Caution tell her of it, which would
c do good. For {he certainly muft be grate-
* ful and will mind what you fay.'
Thus to Talk of Bufmefs to the Queen,
to have an Intimacy with Mr. Harley, to
mare in her Majefty's Favour, and to have
private Conventions with her, were Crimes
of the firft Magnitude in Mrs. Majham, and
fo many Trefpafles on the PECULIAR of
Madam the Dutchefs of M- -.
But not fatisfied with having traced out
the Matter of Fadl:, your Grace proceeds to
inflame the Indictment, by giving us to un-
derftand that this heinous Intimacy was of
long {landing, as follows.
4 It became eafy now to decypher many
c Particulars, which had hitherto remained
' myfterious; and my Reflection quickly
' brought to my Mind many PafTages, which
' had feemed odd and unaccountable, but
1 had left no Impreffions of Sufpicion or Jea-
loufy. Particularly I remembered that a
long while before this, being with the
[ Queen, (to whom I had gone 'very pri-
U 3
e 1'atefy by ^fccrct Paffagc, from my Lodg-
' ings to the Bed-Chamber) on a fuddeti
c this Woman, not knowing 3! was there,
c came in with the boldeft and gaieft Air
* poilible, but, upon Sight of ME, flopped;
' and immediately, changing her Manner, and
' making a moft folcmn Courtefy, Did your
' Majefly ring? And then went out again.
1 This fmgular Behaviour needed no Inter-
* preter now, to make it underftood.'
The grand Inference your Grace draws
from all this is, THAT YOU WERE BK-
TRAY'D. But thofe of the World are ra-
ther fuch as thefe, THAT THE QUEEN
WAS A CAPTIVE, AND YOU HF.RGOALER :
THAT SHE WAS NEITHER MISTRESS OF
HER POWER, NOR FREE TO EXPRESS
HER OWN INCLINATIONS. THAT SHE
WAS SO FAR OVERAWED BY A LENGTH
OF OPPRESSION, AS TO DREAD THE
VERY APPROACH OF HER TORMENTRESS.
THAT SHE WAS FORCED TO UNBOSOM
HERSELF BY STEALTH; AND THAT
SHE DURST NOT VENTURE UPON A CoN-
TEST, WITH YOUR GRACE, EVEN TO
SET
[ 3" J
HERSELF FREE FROM YOUR INSUP-
PORTABLE TYRANNY. A Situation fo
terrible, that no private Perfon would for
any Conlideration fubmit to it j and confe-
quently, what a Sovereign might juftly en-
deavour, at almoft any Rate, to be delivered
from !
Were we then to compare &\z Ingratitude
of Mrs. Majham with that of another great
Lady, to whofe Advantage would the Ba-
lance turn? Towhofe Share would thegreatefl
Load of Reproach and Cenfure fall ?
But your Grace will, perhaps, plead the
Proverb, That Comparisons are odious, and
we (hall be obliged in Point of Courtefy to
wave the Experiment. Upon the whole,
though perhaps it might not fo well be-
come Mrs. Majham as any Body elfe, to
refcue the Queen out of fo miferable a
Vaffalage, and though 'tis poflible Mr. Har-
lefs Share in doing her this great and fea-
fonable good Office, might not be without
a Mixture of Self-intereft ; yet with refpect
to her Majefty, it was greatly meritorious;
and a very little Cafuiftry would ferve to
U 4 prove,
n
prove, that where our Duty is nrft due, our
firft Services are due likewife.
I have, already, obferv'd, Madam, that
Mr. Uarley is intended to be the fecond De-
vil of your Drama ; as likewife that your
Temper is fo extremely FRANK and OPEN,
(your own Way of defcribing it) that the
Cufrorhs and Manners of the World, are no
better than Cobwebs to your Grace.
Thus, in expatiating on the dreadful
Shock you received in the Queen's Affections
by the Means of Mrs. Mafkam y according to
your State of the Cafe, or in Confequence
of your own imperious and decifive Manner,
according to mine, you make no Scruple to
violate private Correfpondences, (hitherto
held facred) and to diiplay before the World
Mr. HARLEY'S Complements to your Lord
on feveral of his Victories, as fo many
Proofs of an unlimited Attachment, which
no Confederation could jollify him for break-
ing thro'.
If therefore Mr. Harley, in Compliance
with the Times, has, in thofe Letters, better
fuppdrted the Character of a Politician than a
Plain-
.: t
Plain-Dealer, we cannot pafs any Cenfure up-
on him, without accompanying it with fome
ungentle Thoughts of the Perfon who
brought thofe Letters to Light, fo long after
the Writer was no more.
While your Grace was thus ridiculoufly
embroiled at home, the Bufinefs of the War
was the Subject of your Lord's Attention a-
broad : The Succefles of the laft Campaign
had induced the Enemy to offer Peace by
two Canals on fuch advantagious Conditions
to the Emperor, that it was not his Fault
they were not accepted: But the Sun null
mining on our military Harveft, it was
thought proper by the reft of the Confede-
rates to make the moft of fo promiling a
Seafon : In Confequence of which the Impe-
rial Court fuffered the French to break thro*
their ill-defended Lines, into the Empire, to
pafs the Rhine, feife their Magazines, and
lay the Circle of Swabia under Contribution.
Nor was this all : For when Lord Peter-
borough'?, Defign upon Toulon^ before-men-
tioned, was to be put in Execution, they
draughted off 1 2,000 Men from the Quo- '
ta
C 3'4 ]
ta to be imployed in that Service, in order to
reduce Naples, and fent fuch Orders to Prince
Eugene not to expofe the reft, as rendered
the Defign abortive, tho' nobly affifted by a
ftrong Squadron of Engltjh and Dutch Men
of War, under the Command of Sir Chudfley
Shovel, who was caft away in his Return
Home.
In Spain the fatal Battle of Almanxa was
fought, which decided the Fate of that
Kingdom : And King Charles, who, the Year
before, had twice driven his Rival back into
Frame, and had the Crown within his
Reach, was again reduced to the fingle Pro-
vince of Catalonia.
At Sea, tho' Sir George Rook was laid a-
fide, and the French were not able to fet out
a Fleet, nothing memorable was perform'd ;
but, on the contrary, our Merchants fuffer'd
more than ever, both in waiting for Con-
voys, and in venturing to fail without, when
they were either denied or delayed ; both
which were often the Cafe.
Irj Flanders the two Armies fac'd one ano-
ther the whole Summer, and at laft broke
up
[35 ]
up without performing any Thing worth
Notice.
It is here neceffary to make an Obferva-
tion, which, in the Heat ofyourRefentment,
your Grace has omitted, viz. Though the
Queen had no Diflike to the Triumphs of a
Thankfgivmg-Day, fhe ever thought it much
too dearly purchafed by the Lives of her Sub-
jects; That, tho' a Sovereign, me had a Heart
which overflowed with Humanity ; inibmuch,
that the Lifts of the (lain and wounded were
feldoin laid before her, but her Eyes fwam
with Tears, which neither the Joy of Vic-
tory, nor the Formality of Congratulation
could reftrain.
Hitherto every Year of the War had
been diftinguimed by fome Succefs ; or a-
dorn'd with fome Triumph : But this, in-
ftead of being crown'd with Laurels, was
hung with Sables : the Victory at Almanza
had been as complete as that of Blenheim ;
and was attended with even greater Advan-
tages : All the Infantry almoft to a Man be-
ing cut off, and fcarce the Shadow of an
Army remaining.
if,
If, therefore, the Queen was melancholy
in the Midft of Triumphs, it mutt be ima-
gin'd fhe was now in a Manner difconfolate ;
a Field of Blood was ever before her Eyes ;
the Groans of the Dying were ever in her
Ears; the Devaftations of a ruinous War
hung an eternal Weight upon her Heart.
To whom, therefore, could me unbofom
this Variety of Sorrows ? Not to your Grace :
The War was now become your Friend, in-
ftead of the Queen, and had abforb'd all the
Zeal and Affection you had formerly devoted
to her Majefty : Whenever, therefore, fhe
touched upon that jarring String, you called
it Vapours, put on a Brow of Difgufl and
Difdain, talk'd of Victory, Triumph and
Glory, and every Thing but the Gains they
were attended with to the Marlborough-^b-
mily.
If to the Treafurer, . he behav'd with more
Refpedt, but equal Infenfibility ; he infinu-
ated her Majefty mufl be governed not by
her Paflions, but by the Advice of her Mi-
nifters ; that they beft knew the Equity
of their own Conduct, and that, in the End,
all
[ 3'7 ]
all Things would contribute to the Liberty of
Europe, the Good of her Subjedls, and her
own Repofe.
If to the General : He befought her Ma-
iefly to have Patience but for one Tear more,
and (he would then certainly obtain her Delire
upon her Enemies.
Thus filenced, but not fatisfied, her Ma-
jefty was obliged, to look elfewhere for that
Comfort and Confolation which me could
not obtain where me principally expelled it :
And where could me fo reafonably apply as
to Mr. Harley^ who had already given her
fuch Proofs of his Moderation, Ability and
Attachment to her real Intereft ? and what
Need was there for any Practices, as your
Grace m'les them, on his Side, to compafs
what (he was fo ready and defirous to be-
ftow?
As her Majefty had not actually leas'd her-
felf out to the Marlborough-F&mily, flie had
certainly a Right to place her Confidence in
whom me pleafed : And no Man living, I
believe, would have thought himfelf oblig'd
to
[ 3-8 ]
to prefer the good Graces of the Duke to thofc
of the Qneen.
Well, but did he as yet avow his De-
fection ? No y and he would have ill defer v'd
the Name of a Politician if he had : For no-
thing is more certain, than that all the Power
of the Kingdom was then in the Hands of
the miniftefial Junto j and we mall foon
find that even the Qneen herfelf was no
^
Match for fuch almighty Opponents.
But, to return to your Grace ; after mak-
ing Ufe of one Paragraph of a Reply of Mr.
Harlefs to a Letter of the Duke's, which
you have not thought proper to infcrt, your
Account proceeds thus.
4 The Conduct which Mr. Hjr/ryobferv'd,
' after thefe AfFurances, was fo directly con-
trary to them, and became quickly fo no-
4 torious, that my Lord Godolphi?i could not
1 help rcprejenting it to the Queen as of the
c ' utmoft Prejudice to her Ailairs : And
c when he found that her Majefty <wcu!d bc-
* h'eve nothing ofit> he went ib far as to fay,
* That if Mr. Harky continued to aft the
4 Part he did, and yet to have fo much Cre-
4 dit
[ 39 ]
' dit with her, as h c perceived he had, Lord
* Marlborough and himfelf muft of NECES-
* SITY QJJIT HER SERVICE. The Queen
4 appeared pretty much alarmed at this, and
* prefently wrote a Letter to me, in which
* were feveral Expreffions of great Kindneis.
' Kenfington, Oft. the 30*-
* If I have not anfwered all my dear Mrs.
c Freemans Letters (as indeed I fhould have
* done) I beg me would not impute it to any
c Thing but the Apprehenfions I was in of
* faying, what might add to the ill Impref-
* fions {he has of me. For though I believe
4 we are both of the fame Opinion in the
* main, I have the Misfortune that I cannot
* agree exatfly in every c Tbing> and therefore
' what I fay is not thought to have the leaft
c Colour of Reafon in //, which makes me
* really not eare to enter into Particulars ;
4 but tho' I am unwilling to do it, it is im-
* poflible for me to help giving you fome An-
* fwer to your laft Letter, in which I find
* you think me infenfible of every Thing. I
' am very forry, you, who have known me
r ib long, can give Way to fuch a Thought,
' as that I do not think the parting with my
* Lord Marlborough and my Lord Treafurer
' of much Confequence, becaufe ! did not
c mention any Thing of my Lord Marlbb-
( roxtgtis kind Letter concerning me. The
4 Reafon of that was, I really was in a great
' Hurry when I writ to you, and not having
* Time to write on. that Subject to both, 1
' thought it was the moil neceflary to endea-
4 vour to let him fee he had no Reafon to
have Sufpicion of any one's having Power
* with me y befides himfelf and my Lord
* Treafurer, and I hope they will believe me.
(What Jlrange Condefcenfiom ?)
4 Can dear Mrs. freeman think that I can
* be fo flupid, as not" to be fenfible of the
* great Services that my Lord Maryborough
'and my Lord Treafurer have done me, nor
c of the great Misfortune it would be, if they
c mould quit my Service? No, fure, you can-
5 not believe me to be fo void of Senfe
' and Gratitude. I never did, nor never will
* give them any jufl Reafon to forfake me
c and they have too much Honour and toe.
' fincere
c fincere a Love for their Country to leave
' me without a Caufe. And I beg YOU
* would not add that to my other Misfortunes,
c of PUSHING them on to fuch an unkind and
* unjuftifiable Aftion. I think I had beft
* fay no more for Fear of being too TROUBLE-
* SOM : But whatever becomes of me, I {hall
* preferve a moft fincere and tender Paffion
' for my dear Mrs. Freeman to my laft Mo-
* ment.
c After my Return to "London, I had ano-
* ther kind Letter from her Majefty in the
c following Terma.
Saturday Night.
My dear Mrs* Freeman, I cannot go to
' Bed without renewing a Requeft that I
* have often made, that you would banifli
4 allww^zWand unjuft Thoughts of your poor,
* unfortunate, faithful Morley, which I faw
' by the Glimpfe I had of you Yefterdayjy^i
* were full of. [What a Face does this de-
' fcribe ?] Indeed I do not deferve them, and
if you could fee my Heart, you would find
< it as fincere, as tender, and paiTionately
' fond of you as ever, and as truly fenfiMeof
X ' your
' your Kindnefi in telling me ydur Mind upon
' all Occapons. Nothing fliall ever alter me.
1 Though we have the Misfortune to differ
? \v\fome Things, I will ever be tiie fame to
* my dear, dear Mrs. Freeman, who I do af-
* fure once more, I am more tenderly and
' fincerely her's than it is poffible ever to ex-
* prefs.'
The Conduct of Mr. Harley\ which
is above reprefented as fo obnoxious to
thofe two Dictators of the Queen's, is
elfewhere explained by your Grace, under
the Title of Practices, to be an Endeavour
to render the Whigs jealous of Lord GodoL
phin and Lord Mar thorough ; and of infinu-
ating to the Tories, that it was wholly owing
to thofe two.great Lords, that They were not
ftill poffeffed of ALL the Places and Em-
ployments. Account , p. 228.
To thenVft of which Particulars I mall
beg Leave v to reply, that the Whigs were
ever jealous of thofe Lords, as I have already
prov'd, and as it appears even by the Duke of
Mar/borough's Letter, ^.-275, and therefore
Mr. Harlcy was under no Neceflity to give
him-
I 3. 1
himfelf any Trouble to do what was done to
his Hand : Befide Madam, it farther appears
in your own Book, that he had no Credit
with the Whigs, and it was for that very
Reafon, they infifted on Lord S wider land's
Promotion, in order to have one of the
Secretaries at leaft in their Intereft. And to
the laft, that Mr. Harley had made no Se-
cret of his Opinion, that Tories and Whigs,
not ALL of either, ought to be employ-
ed without Didtinction : Confequently e-
: very Body knew, that if the Queen did
.not take her Meafures accordingly, it could
be owing only to the Oppofition of your
Grace and your two Coadjutors.
But 'tis notorious thefe were not the Prac-
tices for which Mr. Harley was really fo
obnoxious : The Queen was no way an-
fwerable for his Behaviour to the two Fac-
tions, and of Courfe, was not juflly liable
to the formidable Threat denounced againfl
her, of being deprived of thofe mighty Sup-
porters of her Arms, the Treafurer and
the General, on that Account.
There muft, then, be fome other Prac-
tice of his, which, ho we vex provoking,
X 2 your
your Grace has not thought proper to bring
to light. And this material Defect,
may, from the very Truth, be (applied as
follows.
Mr. Harley had feen with infinite Concern,
the almoft incredible Power, which, thro' an
Abufe of her Majefty's exceffive Goodnefs,
had devolved on the Mar /borough-Family, and
the arbitrary Ufe they made of it ; not only
theTreafury, Army, Fleet, and all the Offices
being under their Direction, and at their
Difpofal, but even the Legiflature likewife :
That, on the Strength of thefe vafl Acquiii-
tiorts, they look'd down upon the Queen
herfelf, and terrify'd her into whatever
Meafures they pleas'd : That the Founda-
tion of this accumulated Greatnefs refted on
the War j and that what was, alike, a Grie-
vance both to the Sovereign and the Subject,
made an annual Addition to this unnatural
Excrefcence and Wen of Power, which
threatened even the Conftitution itfelf : That
Ambition is boundlefs j that Dominion fol-
lowed Power ; and that a Woman, without
TiTue upon the Throne ; a People rent
into
into Factions; and a mercenary Army, at
the Beck of a General, victorious abroad,
and omnipotent at home, confpir'd to&rm
fuch a Grids, as never had a Precedent in
our Annals before ; and which might be
made a Bafis for Projects not to be thought
of without Horror.
In fuch an alarming Situation did the
Profpect of our Affairs appear to Mr. Har-
ley, when the Queen firft began to throw out
fuch Expremons as argued her to be uneafy
at the Continuance of the War, and dif-
gufted with the Treatment fhe daily receiv-
ed from thofe who had the Direction of it.
As a loyal Subject, therefore, as an upright
Counfellor, a found Politician, and a firm
Patriot, he thought himfelf not only oblig-
ed to lend an attentive Ear to the Queen's
Complaints, but to make a Tender of his
beft Services, in order to remove them ; as,
likewife, to give her a Glimpfe of the Dan-
gers which might arife from fuch an Over-
balance of Power in one Family, and the
Neceffity of fome Expedient to make the
Scales even.
X 3 And,
[ 3*6 ]
And, as the firft Step to this defirable
End, he thought it his Duty to lay before
her Majefty fuch Propofitions as had already
been made by France towards a PEACE ; the
Reafonablenefs offettingon foot a Negotia-
tion at leaft; and the little Probability of her
being permitted to do fo, as long as me con-
tinued to be wholly at the Mercy of thofe
who, from felfifh Views, were obflinately
bent to continue the War.
That thefe and fuch like Difcourfes made
a very deep Impreffion on the Queen's Mind-;
and that Lord Godolphin found more diffi-
culty than ufual to work her to his Will,
cannot be denied.
But if the aSting this Part was a Crime,
why was it not diftinctly fpecify'd ? Why
was it not brought to Account ? And why
was the Charge againfl him laid in fuch ge-
neral Terms, that, tho' reprefented as guilty,
this, or fome fuch EclaircifTement was ne-
ceffary to point out the Nature of his Tranf-
greffion ?
'Tistrue,Madam, in one loftyPaffage,f/.238,
239) you charge hirn with contriving haw
/5RUIN that GLORIOUS MAN, (the General)
in order to raife himfelf upon &V RUINS*
But how, or by what Means j or what we
are -to under ftand by this hideous Word
Ruin> fo elegantly repeated, is left wholly.
to eonjedture.
Sore againft the Grain, I mud again leave
the Cabinet, to comment on the Broils of
the Bed-chamber ; in which I iliall concern
myfelf as little as poffihle ; becaufe, they
appear no other wife important to me, than
as the Queen was unhappily involved in them,
and as thofe unamicable Cottifions ferve now
and 1 then to flrike a Light on Objects that
much better deferve our Consideration.
; t 3Jf was every Day, fays your Grace, in Ex-
f pcftatiori of hearing from Mrs. Mafham, whoi
^'^fuppoftdy would now endeavour to clear
* up what had created fo much Uneafmejs be-
c tween us. But, to~ my great Surprize, I w*s
* TWELVE DAYS zlSt. James's (your Grace.
* is 'very exatt) under the fame Roof with her,
4 before I had fo much as any MeiTage from
< her. At length having one Night j>aft by her
* Window in my return Home, flie lent one
X 4 'Qf
' of her Maids to my Woman to afk her
' how I did, and to let me know that me
' was gone to Kenfington. This Behaviour
' was fo very ridiculous, that the next Time
1 1 faw the Queen I could not forbear fpeak-
( jngofit, and at the fame Time telling her
* all that had pafl between us. The Queen
* looked grave and faid, She was mightily in
the Right not to come near me. I anfwer-
* ed that I did not underftand that, fince
' fhe had expreffed fuch a Concern at my
* Difpleafure, and fince the clearing up of
' Matters had been referved to our Meeting.
c The Queen replied, that it was very na-
* tural for her to be afraid to come to me>
* whenjhefaw I was angry with her. [With
your Grace's Pardon y what more could be
faid of a Fury ?] To this I anfwered,
* thztjhe could have no Reajbn to be afraid^
* unlefsjhe knew herfelf guilty of feme Crime.
* It was the Queen's ufuai Way on any Oc-
c cafion, where me was predetermined (and
* my Lord Marlborougb has told me that it
1 was her Father's) to repeat over and over
* feme-principal Words fhe had refolved' to
ufe,
3^9 ]
* ufe, and to ftick firmly to them. She
* continued therefore to fay, // was very na-
* tural, andjhe 'was very much in the right, So
< that this Convention with her Majefty
'rproduced nothing but an undeniable Proof,
* that the new Favourite was deeply rooted
' in her Heart and Affe&ions ; and that it
' was thought more advifeable to let the
* Breach between me and Mrs. Mafliam grow
' wider and wider, than to ufe any Method
* to make it up.
How can this be reconciled with what
follows ?
' But now within two Days, Mrs. Majham
c contrived to make me a Vifit when I was
c abroad. Upon obferving this, and confi-
dering that our Meeting could be to no Pur-
' pofe but to draw fruitlefs and falfe Profeffi-
ons from her, I gave a general Order to my
' Servants to fay, whenever me fhould call a
e that I was not at Home. After fome
* Time, it was thought PROPER that me
c fhould WRITE to me, and DESIRE I
* would
[ 330 }
'would SEE HER; to which I confented,
'and appointed her a Time. When {he
* came, I began to tell her, that it 'was very
* plain, the Queen was much changed towards
* we, and that I could not attribute this to
* any thing but her SECRET MANAGE-
* MENT ; that 1 knew Jhe had been 'very
* frequently with her Majefly in private,
' and that the very Attempt to conceal this,
'by Artifice, fromfuch a Friend as I had
c been to her, was alone a very III Sign, and
' enough to prove a very bad Purpoje at Bot-
' torn. To this {he very gravely anfwered,
^\i2i\.Jhewasfure the <%ueen y who HAD/CI)-
c - ed me extremely, would always be VERY
' KIND to me. It was fome Minutes before
' I could recover from the Surprize, with
'which fo extraordinary an Anfwer flruck
* me. To fee a Woman whom I HAD
RAISED OUT OF THE DUST, put on fuch
* a fuperior Air, and to hear her aflure me,
'by way of CONSOLATION, -that the Queen
* would be always VERY KIND to me ! At
* length I went on to REPROACH her with
' her INGRATITUDE and her sEcimVi
MA-
t 33 1 ]
c MANAGEMENT with the Queen to UN-
' DERMINE thofe, who had fo long, and
' with fo much Honour ferved her Majefty.
4 To this fheanfwered, Tihatjhe never Jpoke
1 to the Queen about BUSINESS, but thatjhe
' fometimes gave her Petitions , which came
' fo the Back-ftairs, and with which Jhe
c knew I did not care to be troubled. And
' with fuch inlincere Anfwers {he thought
* to colour over the Matter ; while I knew
-' for certain, fhe had, before this, obtained
' Penfions for feveral of her Friends, and
c had frequently paid to others, out of the
* Privy-Purfe, Sums of Money, which the
* Queen had ordered me to bring her ; and
c that fhe was, every Day, long with her
* Majefty in private/
How ftrange it is, that a Lady of your
Grace's Sagacity fhould publifh an Account
byway of Juftifkation of your Conduct,
which, in fuch a Variety of Particulars, con-
cludes quite the contrary ? That the Queen
was changed towards you, you charge, point
Blank, to the fecret Management of Mrs.
as tho' her Majefty had neither
Sen-
[ 332 ]
Sentiment nor evenSenfation of her own -, or,
as if it was to be imagined that Mrs. Majhatn
would venture to attack fuch an eftablifhed
Favourite, if at all, till firft authorized by
the Queen's own Expreffions : But even her
Jiaving held private Converfations with her
Majefty, without BETRAYING them to the
Lady-Paramount, was alone a very ill Sign>
&c . And to allure you, that, in regard to
her former Affection, the Queen would al-
ways be very kind to you, only alarm'd
your Pride, but contributed nothing to-
wards convincing you, that no Defigns had
been formed to your Prejudice ; and when
me denies that me ever fpoke to the Queen
about BUSINESS, you call her Anfwers in-
Jincere ; tho' unable to prove them fo : For
the whole of the Indiftment, as laid by your-
felf, amounts to no more than this, That
fhe had Credit enough with the Queen to ob-
tain Penfions and Bounties for her Friends
without the Mediation of your Grace; not
the leaft Mention being made of any oneCir-
cumftance to demonftrate that me had endea-
voured to undermine the, Minijlry in Concert
with
t 333 ]
With Mr. Harley, which is the grand Point
you have been labouring to eftablifh.
Indeed, that, afterwards, (when you de-
clared an open Enmity to her, and made a
Point of having her removed, as well as Mr,
Harley) me came into that Gentleman's
Meafures, and fupported his Intereft, in or-
der to fupport her own, will not be difput-
ed on one hand, nor can be juftly blam'd
on the other j efpecially -when 'tis confider-
ed, that your Grace carried your Refent-
ments to fuch a length, as to turn her ab-
ruptly out of certain Lodgings at Kenfingtok
Palace (another ugly Incident mofl difcreetly
not brought to Account) in a Manner which
very ill agreed with the ProfefTions of Re-
fpeft and Relignation A to the Pleafure of your
Royal Miftrefs, which you fo liberally ex-
prefs in the Letter to her Majefly, that took
its : Rife from the following Interview.
c Not many Days after this, I went to
* pay my Refpects to the Queen in the
' Chrijlmas Holidays, and before I went in,
4 I learnt from the Page that Mrs. Ma/ham
c was juft then fent : for. The Momerrt I
[ 334 ]
.* faw her Majefty, I plainly perceived, me
was very unealy. She flood all the while
' I was with her, and looked as coldly upon
' me, as if her Intention was, that I fhould
' no longer doubt of my Lofs of her Af-
1 f eft ions. Upon obferving what Recep-
.* tion I had, I faid, / 'was very forry I had
.* happened to come fo unfeafonably. I was
.* making my Courtefy to go away, when
* the Queen, with a great deal of Diforder
in her Face, and without fpeaking one
c Word,, took me by the Hand : Aod, when
* thereupon I ftooped to kifs her's, flie
* took me up with a very cold Embrace
* and then, without one kind Word, let me
c go. So ftrange a Treatment of me, after
* my long and faithful Services, and after
c fuch repeated Affurances from her Ma-
* jefty of an unalterable Affection, made me
c think that I ought in Juflice to myfelf,
/ as well as in Regard to my Miflrefs's Jn-
; c tereft, to write to her in the plainefl and
. c lincereft Manner poflible, and expoftulate
* with her upon her Change to me and up-
* on the new Counjels, by which (he fceined
'to
[ 335 1
< to be wholly governsd. My Letter was in
c .thefe- Terms,
December the 27th. 1707.'
* If Mrs. Morley will be fo juft as to re-
* fleet and examine impartially her lafl Re-
c ception of Mrs. Freeman, how very difFe-
rent from what it has been formerly, 1
c when you were glad to fee her come in*
* and forry when me went away ; certainly
f you can't wonder at her Reproaches, up-
c on an Embrace that feemed to have ncr
c Satisfaction in it, but that of getting rid
* of her, in order to enjoy the Converfation
c of one, that has the good Fortune to
c pleafe you much better, though I am fure
* no Body did ever endeavour it with more
' Sincerity than Mrs. Freeman has done.
' And if I had confidered only my Inte-
* reft and that of my Family, I might
' have born this Change without any Com-
c plaint. For I believe Mrs. Morley would
c be fincere in doing us any Good. But I
' have once been honoured with an open,
c kind Confidence and Truft, and that
c made
[ 33* J
' made all my Service agreeable 5 and it is
' not poffible to lofe it without a Mortifi-
' cation too great to be patted with Silence,
' being fure that I have never done any thing
* to forfeit it, having never betrayed ftor
* abufed that Confidence, by giving you a
* falfe Rcprefentation of any Body. My
* Temper is naturally plain zndfacere, and
* Mrs. Morley did like it for many Years.
c It is not in the leaft altered. But I can't
* help thinking thofe Things reafonable that
appear to be fo. And I appeal to God AU
* mighty, that I never deligned or purfued
* any Thing, but as I was thoroughly con-
* vinced it was for Mrs. Mor ley's TRUE
c INTEREST AND HONOUR : And, I think,
* I may fafely put it to that Trial, if any
* Thing has yet prov'd unfuccefsful, that
* was of any publick Confequence, that
< Mrs. Freeman has been earneft to per-
' fuade Mrs. Morley to. And it is not pof-
' fible for me to diflemble fo as to appear
'- what I am not.
* So much by Way of Apology for what
* happened upon Wednefday laft. And if
Mrs.
[ 337 ]
/ Mrs. Morley has any Remains of the Tcn-
c dernefs fhe once profefled for her faithful
* freeman^ I would beg {he might be treat-
*. ed one of thefe two Ways, either with
e the Opennefs and Confidence of a Friend,
* as {he was for twenty Years; (for to PRE~
c TEND Kindnefs without Truft and Open-
* nefs of Heart is a Treatment for CHIL-
e DREN, not Friends ;) or elfe in that Man-
* ner, that is neceflary for the Poft {he is
* in, which unavoidably forces her to he
* often troubling Mrs. Morley upon the Ac-
e count of others. And if {he pleafes to
' chufe which of thefe Ways, or any other
' {lie likes to have Mrs. Freeman live in,
c {he promifes to follow any Rule that is
c laid down that is poffible, and is refolved
* to her Life's End and upon all Occafions
' to {hew, that Mrs. Morley never had a
' more faithful Servant/
c My Lord Marlborough, or my Lord
c Godolphin (I have forgot which) carried
' my Letter. The Queen took no Notice
' of it to either of thefe Lords. But fome
Y ' Days
[ 338 ]
' Days after flie wrote me an
[which your Grace has not thought proper
topublijh} ' in which {he very much /of-
' tened what had pail. I was much pleaf-
ed to find her Majefty in that Difpofition j
( and once more put on as eajy an Appear-
c ance as I could '.
It has been often obferved, that Politici-
ans iliould be without Paffions j and that
Friendfhip once in the Wane is never to be
reftored by Altercations : In Defiance of both
which Rules, we here find your Grace,
calling the Queen to an Account for her
Looks, when you had loft her Heart, and
making her uneafy with Expoftulations and
Reproaches, when it was manifeft the Charm
was broke, and nothing but the Magic of
Complacency and Submifiion could recover
your loft Dominion.
But your Grace's Politics were of a pe-
culiar Kind : As you could not bear a Ri-
val in your Power, fo neither could you bear
any Reftraint on your Paffions : And this
Violence and Impetuoiity of Temper is what
I
[339 ]
I underftand to be the Franknefs and Open..
nefs you fo frequently boaft of. ... But we
muft accompany your Grace a little far-
ther.
4 But in a very fhort Time after this, the
' great Breach at Court became public.
* Lord Mar thorough and Lord Godolpbin had
* OFTEN told the Queen in the moft ;Y-
' fpettful Manner , that it was impqflible for
' them to do her any Service, while Mr.
' Harley was in her Confidence. Her Ma-
* jefty neverthelefs feemed determined not to
' part with him ; till at length thofe twtf
Lords, being urged by NeceJJity to it, de-
* clared their RESOLUTION TO SERVE
1 NO LONGER WITH HIM, and they ab-
fented themfelves from the Council. Mr.
Harley would have proceeded to Bufinefs"
c without them when the Council met, but
' the Duke of Somerfet faid, he did not fee.
how it could be to any Purpofe, when nei-
* ther the General nor the Treaiurer was pre-
* fent ; whereupon the Council immediate-
' ly broke up. This had fuch an Effetfup-
2 'on
..
t 34 ]
' on the QUEEN, that very loon after, Mr.
< Llarley was * difmijj'ed from his Poft.
' Such a COM PLIANCE with the Minif-
c ters fcemed to the Eyes of the WORLD
e a very GREAT CONCESSION, but was in
' Truth NOTHING. For it was evident
* by what followed, that this Appearance of
* giving up Mr. Harley was with his own
* Confenf, and by his own Advice, who, as
c long as Mrs. Mafham continued in Fa-
vour, would, under Pretence of vifiting
her (who was his Coufin) have all the
* Opportunities he could wifh for, of prac~
* tljlng upon the Paffions and Credulity of
* the Queen ; and the Method of correfyond-
* ing with him had been fettled fome Time
* before. I was fully apprized of all this ;
* yet I refolved to try, if by being eafy and
' quiet I could regain any INFLUENCE
4 with her Majefty. She had given me
* fome Encouragement to hope it. For
' when, a little before Mr. Barleys Dif-
* When Mr. Hor/ey was difmifled ; Sir SimatHaraurt,
fttnry St. John, Efq, and Sir Thomat Manfel refign'd their
refpcftive Employ?.
mifTion,
[ 34' ]
1 mifTion, Lord Marlborougb refolved t<>
1 quit the Service, and when on that Occa-
* fion I had with Tears (which a tender
1 Concern at the Thought of parting from
* her Majefty made me med) reprefented
' to her, that if the Duke retired, it would
be improper and even imporTible for me
c to fray at Court after him, me declared
1 that Jhe could not bear the Thought of my
* leaving her, and that it mil ft never be.
* And at that Time {lie made me a Promiie
' that if ever I ihould leave her, (which fhe
< again faid muji never be) me would beftow
1 my Offices among my Children.
Here again is a new Inftance, that
the Queen was neither Miftrefs of her own
Power, nor at liberty to make Choice of
her own Friends : It was Mr.Hartefs Crime,
his only Crime, as far as appears, to have de-
ferved her Confidence y by an Attachment to
Truth only, in Defiance of the Junto, and their
Omnipotence : He was, therefore, to be torn
from her Side at all Events ; and her Ma-
jefty muft not dare to protedl him, for fear
of difobliging the Marlborough-zm\\y .
Y 3 'Well,
[ 342 ]
Well, to appeafe their Wrath, and bring
them back to their Duty, he is difmifs'd:
But ftill this was NOTHING. . . It was done,
it fecms with his own Confent, in compli-
ment to his own Advice, not in blind Obe-
dience to the Will of the faid Marlborough-
Family : And the Queen found a Pretence
to be ftill in the Way of thofe Practices,
which they had fuch dreadful Apprehen-
fions of.
Thu?, tho' Mr. Harley made himfelf a
voluntary Sacrifice to the Peace of the Court,
and her Majefty condefcended to fee him
not as a Minifter but a Friend, the Jealoufy
ftill continued as ftrong againft him as ever;
and it is even ftated as a Crime, that me ever
faw him at all.
As to the Tears you are pleafed to men-
tion, I mall take as much notice of them
as they feeni to dcferve ; we are told from
the Stage, rfbat even Butchers weep.
It is very remarkable, Madam, that, not-
withftanding all you are pleafed to lay of
.the Practices of Mr. Harley ', you never
once hint the Affair of Mr. Greg, one of the
3 Clerks
f 343 ]
Clerks in his Office, who was executed for
a treafonable Correfpondence with France:
I fay, Madam, your Silence upon this Head
is very remarkable; fince no Endeavours
were, at that tfime, wanting to perfuade
her Majefty, that the Secretary was, to the
full, as guilty as hisClerk; and fince Bp.Bur-
;^/,tho', in relating this Incident, he does not,
in exprefs Terms, charge Greg's Treafon up-
on Mr. Harley, yet couples it with a fecond
Story of certain other Perfons employed and
protected by that Gentleman, who were at
the fame Juncture taken up for giving Intel-
ligence to the French ; and leads, if not di-
recls the Reader to make Conclufions to his
Difadvantage.
A Brief of Greg's Affair in particular, as
drawn from the noble Authority bdbiv
quoted in the Cafe of the Lord Peterborough,
is as follows.
He, Mr. Barky, had bimfelf entertain M
a Sufpicion that one of the Clerks of his
Office held a treafonable Correfpondence
with the Enemy, and in order to difcover id
he writ to the Poft-mafter on the other Side
Y 4 to
r 344 ]
to fend him back a certain Packet of Letters,
wherein he found a Letter of this Clerk's
written to a Minifter of State in France ; he
firft acquainted her Majefty alone with it,
and then appointed a Committee of Council
to meet at his Office, fent for the Clerk, and
then furpriz'd him at once by producing and
reading the Letter before his Face ; the
Clerk was committed, arraign'd, pleaded
guilty, and was executed for the Treafon.
The Party us'd all their Endeavours, and
had their Creatures, in public Converfation,
to make the World believe, that the Secre-
tary himfelf was privy to this traiterous Cor-
refpondence : Seven Lords were deputed
from that Houfe to examine the Clerk in
Prifon, and 'tis remarkable, that they were
all of one Side. Surely they that knew the
Manner in which the Secretary furpriz'd him,
muft believe in their Confciences, that no
Man durft treat a Perfon with fuch a Seve-
rity, if he knew it to be in the Criminal's
Power to accufe his Accufer.
But the Secretary's Innocence was amply
vindicated, when the Clerk, (Greg) at his
EXE-
j t 345 1
EXECUTION, delivered a * Paper to the
Ordinary
* The Crime I am now iuftly to fuffer for, having
made a great Noife in the World, a Paper of more than
ordinary Length will be expected from the Criminal ;
who therefore takes this laft Opportunity, to profefs his
utter Abhorrence, and fmcere Repentance of all his Sins
againft Gcd, and of all the heinous Crimes committed
againft the Queen, whofe Forgivenefs I moft heartily
implore, as I fhall heartily pray for her Majefly's long
Life and happy Reign over her united People, and Suc-
cefs againft her Enemies, with my parting Breath.
This is all the Satisfaction I can poflibly make injur'd
Majefty. I declare in the next Place, the Reparation I
would make, were it in my Power, to thofe of her Ma-
jefty's Subjects I have wronged, in any Kind ; and par-
ticularly the Right Honourable Robert Harley, Efq;
whofe Pardon I heartily beg for bafely betraying my
Truit : Which Declaration, though of itfelffufficient to
clear the faid Gentleman, yet for the Sake of thofe, whom
it was my Misfortune not to be able to fatisfy in my
Lifetime, I do facredly protelt, that, as I (hall anfwer
it before the Judgment-Seat ofCHR IS T, the Gentle-
man aforefaid was ntt privy to my writing to France, dl-
rettly nor indirettly ; neither I, his unworthy Clerk, any-
ways accefTary to the Mifcarriage before f fljoulon, nor the
LoiTes by Sea, all which happened before the firft of my
Letters, which was writ the 24th of Oftober 1707. As
for my Creditors, as I am in no Condition to fatisfy
them, fo I earneftly beg they would forgive me ; and I
pray God to make up their Lofles feven-folJ.
For my Part, I do freely forgive all Men, and
die in perfect Charity with them, not without humble
Hopes of finding Forgivenefs, through the Merits of Je-
fus Chrift, with God ; who in Mercy touched my Con -
fcience fo powerfully from the Beginning, as to prevent
my proftitutws the fame to favc my Life : For which
Inftancc
[ 346 ]
Ordinary of Newgate., declaring, That his
Mafter was wholly ignorant of this treafon-
able Correipondence, till he made the Dif-
povery himfelf, and thank' d GOD that he
gave
Inftance of his Love, to be preferred before Life itfelf, I
blefs and magnify his holy Name with unfpeakable Joy
and Comfort at my Death, nothing near fo ignominious
as would have been fitch a Life.
After this Confeflion, the Duty of a dying Man leads
me to profefs the Religion in which I was brought up,
and do now die, which is the Proteftant; the Scandal
given thereunto by my enormous Practices, can't be
better taken away, than by my publiftiing to the
World, my hearty Sorrow for thofe fenfual Pleafures
which have proved my Bane : Therefore let all, who
fhall read this poor Paper, take Warning by me, to
{hun the like youthful Lufts ; to which, whoever gives
up himfelf, can't tell how far they may, when induig'd,
carry him, even to the committing fuch Crimes as he
thought himfelf incapable of fome time a day ; of which
Truth, I, to my woeful Experience, am a melancholy
Inftance. But, at the fame time, I appeal to the great
God, before whom I am going to appear, that, not-
withftanding all the Pains taken to make me out an old
Offender, by faftening on me the Crime of counterfeit-
ing the Coin, this is the firft Fault that ever I ventured
upon ; which was not out of any Zeal for the Pretender,
tvhom I not only difown at my Death, but folemnly
declare, that in all my Life, I never thought he had a
Right to thefe Realms, how foolifhly foever I may have
rendered myfelf obnoxious in this Particular ; but the
only Motive of rny mad Undertaking was MONEY
(of wrrkn I never received any) on account of the Ship-
Pafs, though I have met with the more juft Reward of
fuch fecret Services, intended by
William Gregg.
[ 347 ]
gave him the Grace not to do fo vile an
Aft ion for thefaving his own Life, as SOME
would have put him upon : But the Ordina-
ry was not permitted to publish this Paper,
(as is ufual) and fo it was fupprefs'd for a
Time, till Care was taken to print it from a
Copy that had been given to another Hand*
and then Paul Lorrain got Leave to publifh
it alfo.
I have been the larger in this Narrative*
that all well-meaning Whigs may be truly
inform'd, that tho* themfelves and their
Principles abhor fuch Practices, yet there are
great Men among their Leaders that flick at
nothing that they think will ferve their own
Interefts, and deftroy thofe they hate j and
the fame Men that could fo lately both ac-
cuje and acquit the Faulty in one Breath, (as
will be explained farther on) were now as
ready to attempt the Ruin of their Enemy by
Subornation, and to ftifle and fupprefi fo
clear a Vindication of his Innocence.
Nor is it lefs worthy the Notice of the
Whigs, that this very Gentleman who has
been rendered fo odious in their Eileem, if his
Conducl
[ 248 ]
Conduct flvdll be impartially confidered, it
will be found that his Aclions have fliewn
iiim much more a Patriot and a true Whig,
than his Adverfaries.
'Twas their deferring the true Intereft of
their Country, and running into and fupport-
ing all the Mifmanagements of the late
Reign, that made him join with thofe called
Tories (tho' I am fure they deferv'd the good
Opinion .of all true Engliflmen in thofe Oc-
cafions) to refcue the Nation from the Ra-
pine of that corrupt Miniftry : And, as St
Paul t became all unto a!/, that he might
gain fome ; if this Gentleman has employ 'd
the Dexterity of which he is fo great a Maf-
ter, to draw off the bed Men of that Party
from the Extreme which they had formerly
fall'n into, and to win them into the true
Intereft of the Nation, his Voting with them,
pleafmg them, and gaining their good Opi-
nion in order to good Ends, are fo far from
Faults, that they deferve the higheft Ap~
plaufe, and both Parties ought to look upon
him as the happy Inftrument that is content
to facrifke his own Eafe, to pafs through
good
[ 349 ]
good Report and bad Report, and to labour
conftantly to dcftroy FACTION, and to re-
concile the hone ft Men of all forts, who really
defign the Good of their Country.
It is moft certain, that very extraordinary
Practices were tried upon Gregg, both by
Hopes and Fears, with all of which the
Queen was punctually inform 'd ; and they
did not fail to create in her Majefty both
Aftonifhment and Delegation, equal to the
Bafenefs and Villainy of thofe who were at
the Bottom of fo infamous a Confpiracy.
I call it a Confpiracy, becaufe it was not
upon Gregg only that thefe Experiments
were made ; but on thofe other Perfons
mentioned by Bifhop Burnet, who were
taken up for betraying Secrets they were ne-
ver trufted with ; and who were indeed re-
tained by Mr. Harley, in Virtue of his Of-
fice, as Spies upon the Enemy.
Nor ought it to be forgot, that the very
Perfons who tempted Gregg fo many vari-
ous Ways to involve Mr. Harky in his Guilt,
and who confequently would have enforced
his Evidence to the utmofr, in Cafe it had
2 tally'd
[ 350 ]
tally'd with their Defigns, when defeated
immediately fet themfelves to depredate the
Words of a dying Man, on the Inftant of
being out of the Reach of any Rewards or
Punilhments which Minifters or Courts could
inflict or beftow.
Of which notorious Partiality, Madam,
the Queen was often pleafed to exprefs herfelf
to this Effecl.
It is extremely furprizing, that the Man
Jhould not deferve Credit : , now he has acquit-
ted Mr. Harley, when his Evidence 'would
have been built upon if he had accufed him :
And that he Jhould be thought to DIE with a
Lye in his Mouth, when his Veracity would
have been held unquejiionable, if he had
LIV'D.
But, to put Mr. Harlefs Innocence, and
the Malice of his Enemies out of all Doubt :
It was owing to Mr. Harley's Addrefs, that
Gregg was prevailed upon to make the very
Confeffion which hang'd him : So that, hav-
ing been the Inftrument of his Condemna-
tion, if Gregg could have accepted of Life
upon fuch vile Terms, .he had a Provocation
x that,
I 351 ]
that, with many Men, would have been
held fufficient Caufe for fo doing.
But Gregg, tho' a Traitor, would not be
a Murderer. What they were who endea-
voured to make him fo, muft be left to the
great Searcher of Hearts, before whom none
can prevaricate, and from whofe Sentence
there lies no Appeal.
Gregg was executed, Mr. Harley wasju-
ftified, and the Cabal was defeated : Not-
withftanding which their Tools were enjoin'd
to go on to blacken him by all the Artifices
imaginable; and many Writings from that
Quarter are ftill forthcoming, wherein he is
afperfed with being concerned with Greg,
tho' not a Tittle ever appeared that could juf-
ftify the leaft Sufpicion.
We are now, Madam, to caft an Eye on
the Seffion of Parliament which began No-
vember 6. and not with fo favourable an A-
fpecl to the 'Three Managers, as they had
Reafon to expedt. For tho' the Whigs had
a Secretary after their own Hearts, they were
as jealous, uneafy, and importunate, as ever.
The. Houfe of Peers, at the Inftance of the
Lords
[ 35* ]
Lords Wharton and Sommcrs, put off the
Addrefs till the State of the Nation had been
examined into, which they fet forth in their
Speeches to be moft miferable. The She-
riffs of Loiidon^ accompanied with above two
hundred Merchants, prefented a Petition,
complaining of their infupportable Loffes.
The Debate on the Occaiion, which was
pretty vehement, ended in an Expedient to
receive Propofals for the Revival of Trade 5
and when it was over, the Duke of Marl-
borough, after feme warm Expoflulations
with Lord Wharton, thought fit to call him
off, with a Promife of the Lieutenancy of
Ireland.
TheHoufe of Commons likewife, went
upon the Mifcarriages in the Conduct of the
Fleet : Of which Tran friction the following
is the moft favourable Account that can be
given.
The Houfe next thought fit to go upon
the Bufinefs of Admiral Whetftonc y s convoy-
ing the Rujfia Fleet laft Summer, and his
Cruize before Dunkirk: This, with other
Matters, took up a pretty deal of their Time,
and
[ 353 ]
and brought the whole Concerns of the Na-
vy under Confideration. Some Mifcarriages,
no doubt 3 there were, as well as Misfor-
tunes; the Merchants were refpedtively ex-
amined touching their Complaints and Grie-
vances, and the Prince's Council made their
Replies and Vindication. Mr. Heatbcote
Son of Sir Gilbert Heathcote, and Mr, Daw-
Jon, ^/^foz-Merchants, fpoke very boldly,
and ftuck not to charge the Managers of the
Navy with Fraud, Malice and Ignorance,
which all bore hard on Admiral * Churchill.
Several Members interrupting them, Sir
Richard On/low, Chairman of the Commit-
tee, defired them to go on. Whet /lone, vfho
commanded the Ruffia-Convoy, and rofe to
a Flag, from being Matter of a final 1 Briftol
Ship, had a Character which feemed to be
referred to by Mr. Heathcote and Mr. Daivfon,
in their Complaint of Fraud, Malice, and Igno-
* 'Tis remarkable, that in the Year 16^9, this Admiral,
then but a Captain, was voted by the Houfe of Commons
guilty of requiring and receiving Monies for Convoys ; and
being a Member, was com mined to the Tower for the fame,
from whence he was discharged on acknowledging his Fault,
Z ranee,
[ 354 1
ranee. Thefe Debates and Complaints ended in
a Resolution, That for the better fecuring the
Trade of this Kingdom, over and above the
bhips of War for the Line of Battle, 'and the
jConvoys to remote Parts, a fufficient Num-^
her of Ships, afterwards fettled at Four, be
appointed to cruize in proper Stations.
The Houfe, moreover, took the Affairs of
Spain into their Conlideration : And the ex-
traordinary Proceedings thereon, I am en-
abled to give the following Summary of, by
the great Hand twice before quoted.
The Mifmanagement of our Affairs in
Spain came to be enquir'd into in the Houfe
of Commons, and it was found, that tho'
the Parliament had voted and provided for
the maintaining of 28000 Men for the fe-
cond Year's Operations in Spain, there were
not actually 9000 of that Quota employ 'd
in that Country. This Bufinefs was brought
on by the Tory- Party, who prefs'd hard, that
the Houfe ihould prepare an Addrefs to the
Queen, roundly to reprefent this futal Mif-
-carriage, and to pray her Majefty to lay be-
fore
I
f 355 ]
fore them the Occafion of it. The Court
Whigs knew then no better but that 'twas
their Bufinefs to ftand by the Minifters in
every 'Ihingy and therefore they labour'd to
mitigate the Matter, and that the Addrefs
might only be, to pray that due Care might
be taken to prevent the like Faults for th e
future. They fpeech'd it out till late, and
ftruggled hard to get the Debate adjourn 'd
for fome further Time, which at laft they
carried but by nine Votes j (for it muft be
noted, that there have always been fome of
the true old Whigs that will not baulk their
Principle to vote through thick and thin,
like the Moderns in fuch notorious Cafes :)
But after all it appeared, that the Mercena-
ries had fought this Battel on the wrong
Side for Want of their Orders -, the Whig
Junto, or Managers, wanted, at this Time,
fo fair an Opportunity to bite the Minifters,
and force them into a Compliance with what
they had been long bargaining for, and there-
fore directed all their Creatures^ by all means,
to let the Addrefs pafs zsfmarf as the Tories
Z 2 would
[ 356 ]
would have it ; ib when this Debate came
on again, the Warriours were grown as tam e
as Lambs, and the Addrefs went without
any more than a little faint, fhewim Oppo-
fition.
The Minifters were frighten'd out of their
Wits ; here was a Gap opened that led into
a Difcovery of all the foul Play that had been
acted in the Sp&fjbi&ff&tts -, they fly to the
Junto-, fue to them for Peace-, promife
every thing, if they will but help them out of
this Plunge. An Anfwer to the Addrefs is
trimm'd up (in the Queen's Name) to pal-
liate, as much as poffible, but too narrow to
hide the Mifcarriage from any one that was
not willing to be blind to it, and the Na-
tion is told plainly, that one Third of our
Army has always been allowed for Offi-
cers Servants; (a fine Cheat for Wbigs to
countenance or acquiefce in.) However
the Junto had gain'd their Point, and now
-the Party in the Houfe were to let this pafs
for Satisfaction, and fo the Minifters were
brought off from this Difficulty.
f 357 1
c Thus the fame Men who at fir ft fet them--
ielves, with all their Might, to defend the
Miniflers in a Matter wherein the Nation had
been notorioufly abus'd, prefently, when
they are bid, leap over the Stick the other
Way, and join in a Complaint againft the
fame Minifters for the fame Fault, and then,
at the Word of Command, leap back again*
as you were ; all's well done, No-body to
be blam'd.
How mean an Opinion would the honeft
Whigs through the Nation have of the Men
they put their Confidence in, if they faw
how little Regard they had to the true In-
terefts of their Country, and how eafy they
are to betray it to ferve a Turn ?
The fame ductile Houfe of Commons,
likewife difpatched the Supplies, amounting
almoft to fix Millions, as faft as they were
demanded -, and join'd with the Lords to adr-
drefs the Queen not to confent to a Peace till
Spain was reftored to the Houfe of Anftria
which, together with certain AddrefTes oc-
cafioned by the Invafion then impending
Z 3 from
[ 358 ]
from France in Behalf of the Pretender,
completed the Bufmefs of the Seffion.
But, before we turn our Backs upon it en-
tirely, it is neceflary to take Notice of a home
Paffage in your Grace's Account, which re-
flects on the Queen's Sincerity, as follows :
' The Pretender's Attempt to land in Scot-
c land, which happened about this Time,
f gave her an Alarm, that feemed to bring
a Conviction along with it, that the Whigs
were the mofl to be depended upon for the
' SUPPORT of her Government; at leaft
' what fhe faid in her* Anfwer to the Lords
f Addrefs, upon the Occafion, had this Ap-
pearance. But as the Danger prefently
* blew over, and as her Fears ceafed with
c the Caufe of them, fo all the Hope, which
* the Whigs had raifed in themfelves from
e thofe Fears, prefently vanifhed.
* The Anfwer, or at leaft that Part of it which is here re-
ferred to, was conceiv'd in the following Terms :
As I cannot but wi/h there was not (he leaft Occajton ofDif-
iinflion among my Subjects, fo I muft a/ways place my Depen-
dence on thofe ivbo have given fucb repeated Proofs of the greateji
Warmth and Concern for the Support of the Revolution, Seat'
ritycf tny Perfon, and of the Protejiant Suceejfion.
I be-
I 259 J
, I' believe, Madam, after Mr. Harley was
difrnified,and Mr. Boyle -f- appointed Secretary
in his Stead, no Perfoncan coniiderher Ma-
jefty as any more than the Mouth, Hand, or
Infl rumen t of the Faction who had her in
PoiTeffion, and who obliged her to fay and
do what they pleafed.
Confequently the Anfwer, which is here
referred to as an Indication of her Majefty's
being convinc'd that (he ought to depend
upon the Whigs, muft be look'd upon as
containing the Sentiments of her Dictators
only, not her own : And whoever recollects
the noble Tranfactions of the laftSeffion,. be-
tween the Minifters and the Whig-Leaders,
cannot avoid concluding with me, tliat this
Declaration in favour of that Party, was ei-
ther calculated by the firft, to make them
believe that their Interefts would from hence-
forward be infeparable, or was exacted by
the laft, in Acknowledgment of their very
feafonable and .important Services.
f Afterwards Lord Carlton.
Z 4 Wten
When, therefore, her Majefly had a Mi-
nute's Liberty to breathe freely, and, in
Confequence, prefum'd to underftand the
Word SUPPORT to belong rather to her Mi-
nifies than herfelf, let her not be reproached
with retracling, when in Safety, what was
faid for her when fuppofed to be in Danger.
This Summer was, abroad, diftinguifh-
ed by the Vidkny obtain'd at Oudenarde,
which, tho* both glorious and advantage-
ous to the Allies, was not fo decifive as
either that of Blenheim or Ramellies, the
Trench making good their Retreat, and re-
repelling all the Attempts that were made to
put them into Confufion.
The Siege of Lijle, one of the ftrongeft
Places in the World, was next undertaken by
the confederate Generals, in the Sight of an
Army fuperior to their own; which had
ported thcmfelves fo advantageoufly, as to
cut off all Communication between the
Befiegers and Brujfcls-, whereby Ammuni-
tion of all Sorts began to fail j and the Con-
fequences might have been greatly calami-
tous.
tons, if General Webb had not, with Incre-
dible Conduct and Bravery, both covered
the grand Convoy committed to his Charge,
and with a Party of but 6000, defeated an
Army of between 23, and 24,000, which
had been detached to make fure of a Supply
which was of fuch immediate Importance to
the Confederates.
But the Merit of this gallant Action was
by Mr. Cardonnd, the Duke of Mar tho-
rough' s Secretary, afcribed folely to Lieute-
nant-General Cadogan, (his Grace's Favou-
rite) who did not come up till it was en-
tirely over, and the Enemy retreating in
Diforder; without the leaft Mention of
Mr. Webb> who thereupon quitted the Army
in Difguft, and very frankly fet forth the In-
jury which had been done him, both to the
Queen and the whole Nation.
In this Interval the Elector of Bavaria
inverted "Bruffeh, but was kept at Bay by
the Governor and Garrifon, till the Confe-
der.ites palled the Scheld to their Relief:
Upon which he abandoned the Siege in Con-
[ 362 ]
fufion, leaving his Artillery and wounded
Men behind him.
The Town of Lijle had already capitu-
lated, and now the Citadel did the fame.
And the Reduction of Ghent, which had been
before betrayed to the French, fmifhed the
Campaign on that Side.: u .,4*5^
In Spain the Duke of Orleans reduced
Tortofai Denin xo& Alicant : But to coun-
tervail thefe Advantages, Sir John Leake
. conquered Sardinia y and General Stanhope
Minorca : And in the Weft -Indies Com-
modore Wager had an Engagement with
the Spanifh Galleons, in which the Admi-
ral blew up, ariother Galleon was run
afhore, and the Rear-Admiral was taken -
being mounted with 54 Brafs-Guns, and her
Lading of an immenfe Value.
Thefe were the Martial Feats of the Year
1708, of which, as many as were conducted
by the Duke of Marlborough, your Grace
has thought worthy to be mentioned : Tho'
manifeftly with no other View, than to ren-
der the Queen odious for daring to act inde-
pendent
t 363 ]
pendent of a Perfon, who, we are to uni
derftand, had conferred upon her fo many,
and fuch never-to-be-enough-acknowledged
Obligations.
Her Majefty's Letter to the Duke on the
Vidtory of Qudenarde, and his Grace's Re-
ply, defer ve particular Notice.
f&gueen to the Duke.
Windfor, July the 6th, 1708.
' I want Words to exprefs the Joy I have
' that you are well, after your glorious Suc-
cefs ; for which, next to God Almighty,
my Thanks are due to you. And indeed
I can never fay enough for all the great and
faithful Services you have ever done me.
But be fo juft as to believe, I am as truly
fenfible of them as a grateful Heart can be,
and mall be ready to mow it upon all Oc-
cafions. I hope you. cannot doubt of my
Efteem and Friendmip for you, nor think
that becaufe I differ with you in fome
[364 ]
*. Things , it is for want of either : No, I do
* aiTure you. If you were here, I am fure
1 you would not think me fo much in the
* wrong infome Things, as I FEAR you do
* now. I am afraid my Letter mould come
" too late to London, and therefore dare fay
' no more, but that I pray God Almighty
' to continue his Protection over you, and
' fend you fafe home again. And be allured
c I fhall ever be ilncerely your
* *
HUMBLE SERVANT.
So perfect was her Majefty now become
in the Leflbn of Acknowledgments, and fo
humbled to the Yoke ! Leave to differ from
his Grace injome Things being all me dar'd
to afpire to. And the SOVEREIGN being
to all Intents and Purpofes funk in the
HUMBLE SERVANT !
The
Duke to the
July 23. 1708.
e MADAM,
* I have the Honour of your Majefty's
c Letter of the 6th, and am very thankful for
* all your Goodnefs to me. And I am fure
< it will always be my Intention, as well as
c Duty to be ready to venture my Life for
your Service.
' As I have formerly told your Majefly
e that I am defirous to ferve you in the Ar-
* my, but not as a Minifter, I am every Day
c more and more confirmed in that Opinion.
And I think myfelf obliged upon all Ac-
e counts, on this Occafion, to fpcak my Mind
c freely to you. The Circumftances in this
' Battle, I think, (hew the Hand of God;
' for we were obliged not only to march
c five Leagues that Morning, but to pafs a
River before the Enemy, and to engage
them before the whole Army was palled,
' which was a vifible Mark of the Favour
* of Heaven to you and your Arms,
< Your
t 366 ]
< Your Majefty fhall be convinced from
' this Time, that I have no Ambition, or
' any Thing to afk for myfelf or Family.
c But I will end the few Years which I
4 have to live in endeavouring to ferve you,
' and to give God Almighty Thanks for
- c his infinite Goodnefs to me. But as 31
' have taken this Refblution to myfelf, give
me Leave to fay, that I think |0u are
* obliged in Confcience, and as a good Chrif-
c tian, to forgive, and to have no more
' Refentments to any particular Perfon or
' Party, but to make ufe of fucb as will
c carry on this jttft War with Vigor ; which
4 is the only 'way to preferve our Religion
' and Liberties, and the CROWN ON YOUR
c HEAD. Which that you may long enjoy,
' and be a Bleffing to your People, fhall be
c the conftant Wifti and Prayer of him that
' is with the greateft Truth and Duty,
Madam, &c.'
; tfiii i
Within feventeen Days his Grace rinds
Leifure to honour her Majefty with this DE-
3 VOUT
VOUT PIECE by way ofanfwer: in which
he pafles over the Queen's extraordinary
Condefcen lions with all poffible Expedition,
and after expreffing fome Difcontent, and as
much Piety and Self-abafement as would
ferve a primitive Biftiop ; concludes with
urging the old Point of the War, in fuch
Terms, as I believe were never ufed to a Mo-
narch before. To carry on the War is the
only Way to prefers the Crown on your
Head.
Why ? who mould deprive her of it in
cafe me did not ? Not the Tories. It was
imputed to them as a Crime, that they de-
fired to fee the Queen eftablimed in Peace j
and to ferve her upon that Condition : not
the Arms of France ; for Peace would like-
wife put an end to all Apprehenfions from
that Quarter. If therefore her Majefty had
any real Danger to fear, it muft have been
from fome lurking Enemy unfufpecled and
unknown : And if none, why was any fuch
Phantom raifed to keep her in a State of
Uneafinefs and Terror ?
We
[ 36S ]
We arc now to return to your Grace,
y
But now, what was very ftrange, the
* SuccefTes of my Lord Marlborough this Year
c feemed rather to lower his Credit with her
Majefty, than to raife it ; a Thing fo ex-
* tremely out of the common Courfe ofNa-
' turty that no one, I think, can doubt of
' its being the pure Effect of Art, the Pro-
' duel: of that wonderful Talent Mr. Harky
'.pofTdTed, in the fupreme Degree, of coh-
* founding the common Senfe of Mankind.
It mufl be allowed, Madam, that you are
mighty fmart on poor Mr. Harky in this
ParTage; and 'tis happy for your Readers
that this wonderful Knack or Talent of his
hath wot defcended to your Grace :
However, if none but my Lord Marl-
borough and his Dependents were the better
for his SuccefTes, if his Power and Influence,
both Abroad and at Home, grew more and
more formidable thereby, and if thofe Suc-
cefles were perpetually made matter of In-
fult to her Majefty, in my humble Opinion,
nothing could be more natural, than for the
Queen to look even with a jealous Eye on a
Bulk
[ 369 ]
Bulk of Greatnefs that almoft edged her out
of the Throne : And there was nothing of
the Marvellous in Mr. Har ley's inducing her
either to think or act in fuch a Manner, as
might enable her, according to the vulgar
Phrafe, to hold her own.
* The Duke was perfectly fenfible of the
' Change in her Majefty towards him, and
* having complained of it in a Letter to me,
' I fent this Letter 'to her, inclofed in the
c following one from myfelf.
' I cannot help fending your Majefty
4 this Letter, to mew how exactly Lord
c Marlborough agrees with me in my Opi-
' nk>n, that he has now no Intereft with
' you: Though when I faid ib in the
f Church on * Tburfday, you were f leafed
c to lay it was untrue. And yet I think HE
c will be furprized to hear that when I had
' taken fo MUCH PAINS to put your
* Jewels in a Way that I thought you
' would like, Mrs. Maftam could make
* you refufe to wear them, in fo unkind
' a Manner j becaufe that was a Power
c me had wot thought fit to exercife be-
9 Aug. 1 708.
A a fore,
[ 37 ]
* fore. I will make* no Reflections upon
itj only that I muft needs obferve, that
* your Majeily chofe a very wrong Day
1 to tribrtify ME , when you were juft going
c to return THANKS for a VICTORY ob-
* tainedby Lord MARYBOROUGH.
1 In anfwer to this, her Majefiy was pleaf-
* cd to write to me thefe few Words,
^ni Sunday.
; ..rf j c , After the Commands you gave me on
' the Thankfgiving Day of not anfwering
' you, I mould not have troubled' you
' with thefe Lines, but to return the Duke
* of M&rlborongb's Letter fafe into your
* Hands, and for the fame Reafon do not
> lay any Thing to that, nor to yours which
" enclofed it'.
Upon receiving fo extraordinary, a Letter,
Irl could not avoid writing again as follows.
\ ' 3) mould not trouble your Majefty with
' any Anfwer to your laft 'JJjort Letter, but
* to explain what ^Ott feein to miilake in
4 what I faid at Church. J-defired^oa
* not to anfwer me there, for fear of being
4 -overheard. And this pott interpret as if 3
c had defired f^fltt not to anfwer me at all
< which
* which was far from my Intention. For
* the whole End of my writing to J^CU fo
* often, was to get your Anfwer to Jeveral
4 Things in which WE differ ed t that if 3}
< was in the wrong, gflU might convince
* me of it, and 31 mould very readily have
c owned my Miftakes. But fince goil have
* not been pleafed to mow them to me, 3!
c flatter myfelf that 31 have faid feveral
' Things to ^OtJ that are unanjwerable. And
{ 31 hope fome Time or other JpQtt will find
' Leifure to reflect upon them, and will
c convince Lord Marlborough, that he is
* mi/laken in thinking that he has no Cr*-
' dlt with gflU, by hearkening fome times to
I his Advice ; and then J- hope go will
never more be troubled with dlj'agreeable
-* Letters from me : For 3i mould be much
S -better pleaied to fay and 4o every Thing
* gOtt like. But 3 Should think myfelf
c wanting in my Duty to j^flll, if 31 favv ^0tl
* fo much in the Wrongj as without Pre-
judice or Pafllon, I r<?#//y ^j&/^ ^9otl tf/Y
' in federal Particulars 31 have mentioned 7 .
4 and did not tell you of it. And th<.
' rather, becaufe no Body elfe-carc? tofpeak
A a 2 - * out
[ 37* ]
f out upon fo ungrateful a Subject. The
' Word Command, which gou ufe at the
1 Beginning of your Letter, is very unfitly
* fuppofed to come from me. For though
' 3[ have always writ to J00U as a FRIEND,
' and lived with goil as fuch for fo many
1 Years with all the Truth and Honeily,
* and Zeal for your Service that was pof-
' iible, yet 31 fhall never forget that 3 am
* your Subjetf, nor ceafe to be a Jaithful
1 one?
As my prefefTed Defign is to refcue the
Qneen out of your Grace's Hand, I can-
not help expreffing my Obligations to you
for the Afiiftance I receive from the very
Materials you have made public with a
Defign to leave her without Excufe.
And, had I no other Proof or Evidence
of the Affronts her Majefty was conti-
nually expos'd to, than the unparallel'd
Letter, above, relating to the Jewels, I
(hould need BO other. In a few Lines, me is
there threatened with a Complaint to Lord
Marlborough ; upbraided with the Pains you
had taken to pleafe her ; called to Account for
preferring Mrs. MaJJjam's Fancy to yours ;
and
[ 373 ]'
and infulted with my Lord Marlborougl's
Triumphs, obtained in Virtue of his being
honoured with the Command of her Ma-
jefly's Troops, and. for which he had re-
ceived fuch Rewards as no Subject had evc r
received before.
To be plain with your Grace: There is an
Air of Outrage in this Letter that no Severity
of Terms can fufficiently expofe, or correct:
'Tis impoffible to read it without Indignation,
or to fpeak of it without a Bitternefs, which,
tho' familiar to your own Pen, would, per-
haps, be thought inexcufable from mine. ;
But neither is this all j becaufe her Ma-
jefty will not follow you thro' the Thorns
and Briars of Controverfy, but leaves you in
Pofleffion of the laft Word, you modeftly
conclude what you have advanced to be an-
fwerable j give her to underftand that to be
delivered from your difagreeable Letters, (h
muft be governed by Lord Marlborougtis
Advice : That you think it your Duty to
tell her when (he is fo much in the Wrong ;
and laftly, That, tho' a Friend, you Ihould
never forget you were her Subject, Gfc.
which may be truly called a Word in Seafon ;
A a * for
I 37+ J
for, by the Changes rung upon the Words
p*OU and J, and 3! and ^CU, I am fuhjecl to
believe it was a Recollection your Grace had
not made for many a Year before.
If, therefore, her Majefty was thus treated
while living, it is fcarce to be wondered that
the two following Paragraphs fhould be
added to blacken her Memory.
* Through- the whole Summer after Mr.
c Hariefs Difmiffion, the Queen continued
1 to have jecret Correfpondence with him.
4 And that this might be the better managed,
* fhe {laid all the fultry Seafon, even when
* the Prince was panting for Breath, in that
' fmall Houfe, me had formerly purchafed
4 at Wind for ^ which, though as hot as an
* Oven, was then faid to be cot I \ becaufefrom
c the Park fuch Peribns, as Mrs. Majbato had
* a Mind 'to bring to her Majefty, could be
4 let in privately by the Garden.
* And when upon the Death of the
Prince, one would have thought that her
4 Majefty's real Grief would have made her
* 'avoid every Place and every Object that
f might fenfibly revive the Remembrance of
\ her Lofs, (he thofe for her Place of Re-
3 e tirement
[ 375 ]
< tirement his Clofet, and for fome Weeks,
* fpent many Hours in it every Day. I was
* amazed at this ; and when I fpoke to her
* of it, flie feemed furprized, juft like ar
' Per(on who on a fuddeu becomes fenfible
c of her having done fomething me would
* not have done, had me duly confidered. But
' the true Reafon of her Majefty's chufing
* this Clofet to fit in, was, that the Back-
4 Stairs belonging to it came from Mrs.
* Maftam's Lodgings, who by that Means
* could fecretly bring to her whom fhe
4 pleafed.
The Queen, it feems, faid the Houfe at
Wind/or was cool -, your Grace affirms it
was hot as an Oven : I will not infift on any
Compliment to her Majefty on this Occa-
fionj your Grace mail have it your own
Way : And what is the natural Confequence ?
Surely, not that the Queen had no Tender-
nefsor Concern for her dying Husband : You
yourfelfare obliged to call her Grief real:
But that fhe was drove to fuch terrible Dif-
trefTes by her Dictators, that fhe choie to un-
dergo any additional Extremities in the bare
Hope or Profpeft of a Deliverance.
A a 4 During
During thefe Tranfadions the late Whig-
Parliament having fat its Time, underwent
a DiiTolution ; and Writs were iffued for the
calling a new one.
I need not inform you, Madam, that a
general Eledion is the Seed-time of Parties y
and that as they fow, they reap. It is, how-
ever, neceflary to infert a very remarkable
Particular, omitted, upon this Occafion, by
your Grace.
As the Whig-Junto, or Managers, on the
Merit of their Services in the firft Seffion of
the laft Parliament, had infifted on the carry-
ing one Secretary of State, and the difcarding
another j fo now, being ftill diilatished, they
refolved to take Advantage of the Criiis, to
enlarge their Scheme, by fupplanting the SET,
on whom they had as yet depended, in or-
der to reign in their Stead.
On Occafion of the late Invafion from
France, certain Perfons of Quality and Inte-
reft in Scotland, to the Number of 22, had been
taken up on Suspicion, and brought publicly,
in a Sort of Triumph, \oLondon: A Proceed-
ing which had greatly irritated the Jacobite
Party; and not without Caufe^ line? nothing
could be alledged againfl them. This
t 377 1
This ill Humour of their's tally 'd exactly
with theprefent Scheme of the Whigs ; who
flattered themfelves, that, by a Junction of
Interefts, they might be able to cany a Ma-
jority in the enfuing Parliament ; and, there-
by have the Minifters at their Mercy. Ac-
cordingly the AfEiir was moved to the Jaco- '
bite-Leaders, who came into it with all their
Hearts ; and each Party depending upon the '
Strength of the other, took it for granted
that the Coalition would be found irrefiftable.
Having thus adjufted the Plan of their
mighty Scheme, they began forthwith to put
it in Execution : The Jacobites fet out to
open the Campaign in Scotland, and their
faithful Friends and Allies, the Whigs, at
the fame Inftant, prepared to do the fame in
England.
It was now, your Grace muft well re-
member, that the Prefs began firft to groan
with Invectives; broad, open Invectives a.
gainll thofe in Power : It was faid the Trea-
furer, the General, and one more, engrafted
the whole Management of Affairs, invefled
the Queen, and rendered her Majefty inac-
ceflible, -except through their Means; made
2 them-
r 378 i
themfelves the Eyes, Ears and Mouth, by
which /he faw, heard, or fpoke > . and, in
fhort, had the whole Difpofal of -all Things
in their Hands j that they boafted of hav-
ing the National Credit at their icle Coin-.
mand ;. that by the immenfe Sums they had
amafled of their own, which they put out to
Ufe in the very Service in which they were
acquired, they pofiefled the Funds, and go-
verned the Wealth of the whole Nation ; that
they accumulated vaft Profits by Places, Pre-
ferments and innumerable Salaries (-f- Lifts of
which
f Alhort Computation of the Xwa/ Income of a certain
GREAT MAN iince the Beginning of the War.
Written hi the Tear \ 704. Per Ann.
Plenipotentiary to the States, L. 7^000
Gen. for the En*. Forces on Mr. Ilovf.i Eflablifhment 5,000
General in Flanders on Mr. Brittgii, Mabliihment, 5,000
Mafter of the Ordnance, 3,000
Travelling Charges, as Mafter of the Ordnance 1,825
Colonel of the Foot-Guards, being ^4 Companies 2,000
Penfion, 5,000
From the States-General, as Gen. of their Forces, ic,ooo
pTOin the Foreign Troops in Et:gl:Jb Pay, at 6d. per L.
as per Warrant, 15,000
For keeping a Table, 1,000
L. 5^825
His LADY'J Income. Per Ann.
Keeper of the Great and Home Parks, L. 1,500
Miftrefs of the Robes, . 1,560
Privy Purfe, ... 1,500
Groom of the Stole, . 3,000
A Penfion out of the Privy Purfe, 2^000
L. 9,500
The
t 379 1
which were then for the firft Time printed;)
that the whole Nation feem'd to be the Per^
qiufite of one Family; and that they were
in a fair Way to be too mighty for the whole
Nation, if ever an Opportunity offered, an-
fwenibie to their immeasurable Ambition.
This, Madam, was the Language of the
Times, which was circulated by the leading
Whigs in England, and which was echoed
by their Affociates in Scotland.
It is natural to think therefore, on your
Grace's Principles, thatfuch a Train of Op-
pofition could not have been formed, but
one of the grand Enemies, Lord Rochefter, or
Mr. Harley, muft have been either at the
laying, or giving Fire to it : Thefe were the
Perfons principally apprehended ; and when
thefe were removed, their Dictators believ'd
they had no more to fear.
But, alas ! nothing can be wider of the
The States-General, on the Battle of 'Blenheim, prefented a
Bank-Bill of 50,000 /. befides Prefems from Germany and
Flanders, from Officers and others for Employments, and
the Profits on Exchange of Money, and by ^safeguards, &c.
(S'c. fcrV.
The E{feftwJ*Qa$ftw8 is not reckonM, becaufe it cannot be
yet known what it u ill colt to build and fumifh a Palace
there.
The Emperor gave this Year to the Value of 50,000 /. be-
fides what was prefented by the King of Prujfia, the Klcc-
tor of Hanover, and other Courts.
Truth.
Truth. The capital Incendiary was no other
than the very Man, who the Whig- Junto
had fo warmly recommended, and wnofe
Intereft your Grace had fo zealoufly efpou-
fed, to be Secretary in ilead of Sir Charles
Hedges ; I mean my Lord Sunder land, your
Son-in-law ; who, having obferved that the
Queen had been constrained to part with
Mr. HarUy* whether me would or no, re-
folved to improve upon the Hint, and oblige
her to act in all Things as the new Confede-
racy pleafed j which is undeniably prov'd from
his Letter to the D. of Roxburgh, while the
general Election was yet depending; in which
are the following remarkable ExprefTions.
* I would not have you be bully 'd by the
1 Court- Party, for the QUEEN herfelf can-
' not fupport that FACTION long.'
A Proceeding of this extraordinary Nature,
as it is eafy to imagine, could not be. con-
cealed from the Queen : The Miniftry faw
very clearly, that to engage her to make it
her own Quarrel, would be the moft efTec-*
tual Method to preferve themfelves : But
tho* her Majefty gave into their Views, with
as much Ardour, as they themfelves could
wifh,
[ 3*1 ]
wifti, as thinking it a Matter of the laft Con-
fequence to convince the World that me was
able to protect her Servants from the In-
trigues of any Cabal whatever ; (he could
not help bringing her Reflections home , (he
could not help perceiving, from tb^s Incident,
the whole Mifery of her prefent Situation,
and what a Leflbn ihe had taught the reft of
her Subjects, by placing a blind Confidence
in one.
The Royal Influence, Authority and Re-
fentment being thus thrown into the Scale
of the Minifters, it became infinitely too
weighty for that of their Opponents : The
Elections in England were carried by a large
Majority in their Favour; and in Scotland,
tho' the Enemy had undertaken for two
Plumb Lifts of Lords and Commons, they
could return no more than Five of the firft,
and Eleven of the laft.
The Whig-Junto now finding that they
had reckoned without their Hoft, and that
their Oppolition was like to hurt no Body
but themfelves, more politicly than gene-
roufly deferted their new Friends, without
giving them any previous Notice^ and ftruck
up
up a feparate Peace with their Adyerfaries OB
very advantageous Terms to thenyfelves ; Lord
Sunderland being continued Secretary, Lord
Wharton made Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland*
and Lord Somers Lord Prefident of the
Council.
Whence we may learn > that the Expedi-
ent of abandoning Allies, was not firft prac-
tifed at the Treaty of Utrecht.
But tho f the Fire was thus happily extin-
guifhed, many dark and ugly Scenes had
been difcovered by the Light of it. As nei-
ther Party was innocent, Reproaches from
one Side drew on Replies from the other ;
fo that both, in the End, were fo equally and
entirely covered with Dirt, that it was dif-
ficult to know which was which. ^H}
Of all this the Queen was both a juft
and curious Obferver ; and it made no fmall
Impreffions on her Mind, that ihe found
botji Sides were to make a Property of her
Authority j that ilie was reduced to a Ne-
ceflity of acting as me was directed 3 and
that which ever triuinph'd, me was fure to
be a Captive ftill.
Jt was no wonder, therefore, that, from
this
[ 383 ]
this Incident, me fhould become more con-
vinced than ever of the Neceffity of govern-
ing on Mr. Ha r ley's Scheme ; not by any
one Party, but the Wife and Honeft gf all.
To be told from time to time, as Hie had
been, / cannot ferue your M(ijefty y unlejs fuch
a one be removed, or unlejsfuch a one is gra-
tified : To have Councils broke up if but
two Members were abfent, as if they had
a Monopoly of all the Senfe, as well as all
the Power of the Kingdom, were Affronts
to her Authority me could no longer put up
with ; and it was now me refolved in Ear-
neft to fet herfelf free.
I (hall make no other Remark at prefent,
on this extraordinary Step of Lord Siinder-
/and's, than that it is one of thofe Articles
which your Grace has not thought proper
to make an Entry of: And which Biihop
Burnet likewife, has flurred over, as what
would do little Honour to the Managers of
thofe Times.
His Words are theie :
' The Duke dLQueenfbury was made third
c Secretary of State j he had no foreign Pro-
* vince affigned him, but Scotland vva$ lft
'to
t 384 ]
c to his Management: The Dukes of Ha-
c milt 'on , Montr ofi and Roxburgh had fet
* themielves in Oppolition to his Power;
c and had carried many Elections again ft
f him : The Lord Sowers and Sutherland
' SUPPORTED THEM, but could not pre-
vail with the Lord Treafurer to bring -them
* into an equal Share of the Adminiftration;
-' this had almoft occafion'd a Quarrel, for
' the Whigs, tho' they went on inConjunc-
* tion with the Lord Treafurer, yet conti-
' nued ftill to be jealous of him.
What this nioft fagacious Prelate is pleaf-
ed to call almojl a Breach being made up,
both Houfes met for the Difpatch of Buii-
nefs November 1 6. Sir Richard Onflow was
chofen Speaker of the Houfe of Commons ;
and their principal TranfacStions were as fol-
low.
They condol'd with the Queen on the
Death of her Royal Con fort ; they congra-
tulated her on the Succefs of her Arms ;
they decided controverted Elections with a
Partiality fhamelefs beyond Example ; they
fent a Compliment of Thanks to the Duke
of Marlborougk at Bruffels -, they addrefs'd
the
[ 3*5 1
the Queen to think of a fecond Marriage.
They called for the Papers relating to Greg's
Affuir, with no very favourable Eye to Mr.
Harley y but could bring them to confefs
nothing. They enabled the Bank to open.
Subfcriptions for 2,201,0717. towards the
Supply. They addrefs'd the Queen to take
cafe, that the Acknowledgment of her Ti-
tle by France, the Removal of the Preten-
der out of the French Dominions, and the De-
molition of Dunkirk^ mould be made Arti-
cles of the Treaty, then upon the Tapis. They
approved the Conduct of the Government
at the Time of the late Invalion ; and they
granted a Supply of SEVEN MILLIONS.
While the Commons were thus bufy in
draining the Purfes of the People, the Court
of France employed M. de Torcy, Minifter
for Foreign Affairs, to negotiate a Peace
at the Hague : and the States refufing to
treat feparately, the Negotiation was foott
extended to the whole Confederacy.
The Duke of Marlborough and LordTown*
fiend were joint Plenipotentiaries in behalf of
Great Britain; and Preliminaries, to the la ft
B b Degree
[ 386 ]
Degree mortifying on the Side of France,
ffuch as the reftoring the whole Spanifi
Monarchy to K. Charles within two Months,
as likewile the Netherlands, except Cambray
and St. Ornery feveral Places to the -Empire,
Savoy to the Duke, and Newfoundland to
England, the demolishing of Dunkirk, the
removing the Pretender - t no Sufpenfion of
Arms till the Article relating to the Spanifl)
Monarchy was 'fulfilled, &c. &c.) were a-
greed upon. But, tho' the French King of-
fer d to ratify all but the laft, which he refus'd,
as depending on what was not in his Power,
and tho' he orTer'd to put certain other Towns
into the Hands of the Allies as a Pledge
of his Sincerity, as he would not fwallow
all, it was refolved to break off the
Treaty, and proceed with the War, under
the old Pretence, That his moil Chriftian
Majefty was not to be trufted.
French Faith, Madam, I never was, nor can
be an Advocate for : But when it appears to
be grafted on their Intereft, their Devotion
to the one will exact due Reverence to the
ether. And that it was then particularly
their
norr
their tntdreit to be honeft, was evident not
only from the State of France, at that Time
deplorable beyond Expreffion ; but from the
triumphant Circumftances of the Marlbo-
TWg^-Family (which had moft at Heart the
Prolecution of the War) at this Period ele-
vated to the very Pinacle of all human Great-
nefs : Victors Over their Enemies, with a
Parliament juft chofen, entirely at their De-
votion, exercifing an almoft-defpotic Power
over their Sovereign, and enabled by fuch
immenfe Aids to carry their Conquefts, one
would think, almoft to what Length they
pleafed.
It was apparently, therefore, the Interefl
of France at this Time, to treat fairly and
perform punctually : and, for that , keaforr,
there is Room to fufped: that the Treaty'
was broken off, not for fear the French
{hould violate their Faith, but for fear they
mould not as might be more clearly fet
forth, if Time would give Leave.
Be ''this as it may, the Land was not, as
yet, to 'have Reft: The Campaign was o-
pen'd on all Sides, and once more the Fate
Bb 2 of
1 388 ]
o Europe was left to the Dccifion of the
Sword.
But little-was done on -the Rhine, as ufual:
the Portuguese ventured on an Engagement
and were beaten. The Duke of j Savoy
gave the French no Difturbance in D t auphi-
nj y becaufe the Emperor refus'd to come up ,
to the Price he had fet upon hjs Services :
and in Spain, when King Philip would have
engaged Count Star ember g, the French
General, Eefons > produced his Matter's Orders
to avoid a Battle.
Thus the grand liTue was ftill left to be
determin'd in Flanders , and the principal
Strength of both Parties was flation'd to di
pute the Point accordingly,
While the French were expecting the-
Confederates to open the Campaign with
the Siege of Tpres, they foddenly inverted;
^lournay. > and in the beginning of September,
made themfelves Matters of it. After
which they undertook Mom ; but were
prevented from making any Progrefs in
their Defign, by the Arrival of the Marflials
Filtan and Boufflers j who poflefs'd them-
felves
r 389 ]
felves of a Wood, and cover'd their Camp
with Lines alrrofb impenetrable, before a
Refolution was taken to dillodge them. Mom
was, however, thought worthy fo defperate
an Attempt ; and, to the Amazement of all
military Critics, it was crown'd with Suc-
cefs : If it may be called Succefs, when
the Victors are equal Sufferers with the Van-
quiflied, which was the Cafe at Blareg-
niei. The Enemy, however, retired to
TfalenctenneS) and Mom furrcnder'd in 05lc-
ber ; with which Exploit ended the Cam-
paign.
-''At Sea nothing was done, or thought of,
tha' the French had left it free and open to.
whatever Enterprizes we pleafed to under-
take -, but this was a Province which had
been . hitherto fo ill managed,' that Bifhop
Burtiet feems to think this a notable Year,
becaufe our Convoys were well ordered, and
our 1 Merchants rriade no Complaints.
Thus one Tear of GLORY more was
fcroiight to a Period ; notwithftanding which
the French were Hill in a Condition to make
good their Frontier, and ftand their Ground
B b 3 ' againft
againft die. whole Confederacy, without uny
vifible Inequality. So much at prefent for
the Field,
'Tis time now to take up your Grace's
Inventory of the <%ueerisfecret Sins, in con-
tinuing to correfpond with Mr. Hurley ^ by
the Means of Mrs. Mafiam^ and by the
Way of the Back Stairs ; on which Occafion
it is your Pleafure to proceed as follows.
c And that a Correfpondence was thus car-
c ried on with Mr. Harley, became every
4 Day more and. more manifeft by the Dif-
' faculties and Objections which herMajefty
* hid learnt to ivjfe againft almoft every
4 Thing propofed by her Miniilers, Nay,
4 it is well knpwn 4 that Mr. Habley and his
* Aitbdates, when at length they had com-
c paiTed their Defigns, and got into the Mar
1 nagement of Affairs, did often (both in
* their Cups and out of theiii) boaft that
* they, while the Queen's Miniftcrs were a-f
f i]eep, were frequently at Court giving Ad-
c vice in Secret, how to perplex them in all
' their Meafures.
^ c But
e But they were much miflaken, if they
* imagined that their Proceeding?, at the
' Time I am fpeaking of, were fo entirely
* covered. The Minifters were fully con-
.*'vinced of the Truth, and frequently, re-
c prejented to her Majeflcy, what a Bif-
' couragement it was then to them in
e their Endeavours for her Service, to find
' that flie had no Confidence in them, but
' was influenced by the Counfel of others
c who counterwork'd them in every Inftance.
* Upon this Subject, 31 ttiyfelf wrote and
* fpoke a great deal to her with my ufual
4 'Plainnefo and Zeal. But finding, net on -
* ly that 3| could make no Impreffion on her
in this Refpedt, but that her Change |cr-
* wards me in particular was every Day
{ more and more apparent , I at length went
c to her, and beg'd to know what my Crime
* was, that had wrought in her fo great
* an Alteration. This drew from the Queen
' a Letter, dated O&ofar'W. 1709, wherein
c me charges me 'with Inveteracy (as her
Word is) again/I poor Mafham, and with
nothing fo much at He 'art , as the
B b 4 Ruin
[ 39* ]
e Rum of my Coufm. ' In fpeaking of the
c Mi'funderftandings betwixt her Majefly
c and me, fhe fays, they are for nothing
c as fie kn&ws oj\ but becaufefie cannot fee
1 'with my Eyes, and hear ''with my Ear?.
' And adds, " That it is impoffible for me
* to recover her former Kindnefs^ but tkat
fiefiall behave hcrjelf to me, as the Duke
" of Marlborough'j Wife^ -and her Groom
' cf the Stole. This Declaration fo pkin
e and exprefs of her Majefty's thorough
f Change towards me, was the more extfa-
* ordinary, as in this fame Letter are thefe
e Words, Ton have asked me once or twice
f if you had committed any Fault that I ivas
* fo changed, and I told you, no ; becaufe I
4 do not think it a Crime in any one not to
L g teof-my *Mind>
' Upon Receipt of this Letter, I irhme^
' diately fet'myfelf to draw up a long Nar-
< rative of a Scries of faithful Services for
c about 26 Years paft ; of the great Senft
* the Qoeen formerly had of my Services
of the great Favour I had been honoured
' with on Account of THEM.; of -the Ufe
' J
"I [ 3-93 ]
made of that Favour j.and of my
f Ming it now by the Artifice of my Ene-
f mies, and particularly of one, 'whom I had
' raifed out of the Duft. And,, knowing
4 how great a Refpeffhcr Majdly had for
the Writings of certain eminenjf -Divines,
C -I added to my Narrative,, the, Directions
e by the Author of the Whole Duty of Man
4 with 'Relation to Friendfoip ; the Direcli-
* ons in the Common Prayer -Book be&re the
' Communion with Regard to Recvnciliati-
1 on, together with the Rules laid down by
* Bifhop Taylor on thejame Head -j and I
1 concluded with giving my Word toherMa-
' jeflyj that if after reading thefe, -fhe woald
' pka-fe only to anfwer in two Words, that
* {he was flill in the fame Opinion, as when
* (he wrote that harfo Letter , whicji occa-
fion'd her this Trouble, I would never
* more give her the leafl Trouble upon any
* Subject, but the Bufinefs of my Office, as
1 long as I fhould have the Honour to con-
tinue her Servant; aiTuringher, that how-
4 ever me. might be changed toxvards me, and
< IK>W much foever we might ilill differ in
4 Opinion,
[ 394 ]
* Opinion, I mould ever remember that ilir
1 was my Miftrcfs, and my Queen, and
c fhoqld always pay her the Reipeft due from
' a faithful Servant and dutiful Subjea.
' J fent from St. Alb am this Narrative,
* which (he promifed to read and anfwer.
* And ten Day after, writing to me upon
* another Occafion, me faid fhe had not Lei-
< fure yet to read all my Papers, but when
4 me had, me would fend me fame Anfwer.
* But none ever came ; nor had my Papers
i any apparent Effect on her Majefty, ex-
* cept that, after my coming to Town, as {he
* was palling by me, in order to receive the
' Communion, the looked with much good
* Nature and very gracio.ufly/0#M upon me.
4 But the Smile y and pleaj'ant Look, I had
c Reafon afterwards to think were given to
* Biihop Taylor and the CommonPrayer~Bwk t
* and not to me.
If Lady Wrongbead had undertaken to ma-
nage Courts and write Memoirs, could me have
writ or managed more in Character than a
certain other Lady hath done ? Not to be con-
tent with fuch a Plentitude of Power 5 but to
take
t 395 ]]
take Umbrage at a Clofet-Rival, without
any Power at all j to make it a Point to force
her Majefty even to corrverfe with none but
the Mar/^orough^Family 9 and to teaze her,
without Intermiffion, on a Subject which
mufr, of Necefilty, make her uneafy as
often as it was nam'd, was worthy the Head
>t the Wrongbeads : But Pafiion and Policy
are very rarely Companions ; and, from the
Time Mr. Harley became thus eftablifh'd in
the Queen's Confidence, one would think
certain Perfons had (hook Hands with Com-
mon Senfe for good and all. Infatuated
they certainly were j or elfe fuch veteran
Courtiers could not have fallen into fuch a-
mazing Errors j could not have given their
Rivals fuch flagrant Opportunities to render
the Queen's Paffions and Affections fub^
fervient to their own.
Indeed that Perfons intoxicated with un-
limited Power, and giddy with uninterrupt^
ed Succefs, mould be impatient of Oppo
fition ; mould think that Succefs entitled
them to hold their Sovereign in Vaflalage j
and, in the fir ft Hurry of their Refentments,
!8teli mould
[ 396 ]
(hould be prompted to urge their Claims ac-
cordingly; is both more natural and ex-
cufable than for one of the fame Perfons, at
the Diftance of above thirty Years, to repre-
fent her Royal Miftrefs as guilty of high
Crimes and Mifdemeanors againft her Mini-
flers ; and to reproach her for confulting thole
in fecret, (he was not permitted to fee public-
ly, in common with the reft of her Subjects.
But I have enlarged more than enough on
O O
this Subject already : And to be decilive in
my Turn j it was beneath her Majefty to
ftibmit to fuch Difficulties : and that (he did,
argues either that the Marttetrougb-Jpsamly
was already grown too mighty for her ; or
that her Spirit was more than half fubdued
to their Yoke. Had it been otherwife;
had fhe been Queen indeed, what Confide-
ration could or ought to hinder her from
exerting not her royal Prerogative, but the
Privilege of every Individual in a free Choice
of her own Friends ; efpecially as the State
was entirely in the Hands of thofe, who
alone were to be held qualified for fo grea^.
a Truft ? Or what fhould deter her
from
I 397 1
.
from difiblving a Friendship which was be-
come ungrateful to her, without putting her-
felf to the Trouble of a formal EclaircilTe-
ment, due only to Equals ; and confequent-
ly not' to be demanded on any Pretence
whatever of the Queen of Great-Britain^
by the of _ ?
But this is not all : Tho' your Grace could
fnecr at the Word Church in the Mouth of
of Sir Edward Seymour and his Party, who
made ufe of it as a Spell to draw down a
Portion >f royal Favour ; you are not above
making ufe of a like Artifice yourfelf, by
prerfing the Whole Duty of Man, the Common
Prayer , and Bifhop Taylor, as Auxiliaries
into your Service ; and endeavouring, by
their Authority, to make the Queen believe,
that, as a Chriftian Duty, ihe ought to take
up her Crofs anew, and drag it contentedly
on to her Life's End.
Nay j to carry on this pious Fraud to the
utmoft, you even took Care, Madam, to
plant your felf ; in her Way when going to
receive the Sacrament : To intimidate her
from
[ 398 ]
from communicating, one may reafonably
fuppofe, till firft reconcil'd to you.
All thefe ingenious Devices, however,
prov'd fruitlefs ; her Affection v/as loft irre-
vocably : Nor could me be perfuaded to
think it an' Article of Piety to diflembk what
{he did not feel : She could forgive, and, by
the gracious Regard me then vouchfafed you,
fhe fignify'd as much : Chriilianity required
no more.
Your Grace, indeed, has given it another
Turn, by which you moft charitably in-
fmuate the good-natur'd Smile (he gave you
was religious Grimace only : With what
Decorum, Juftice, and Difcretion, I leave
to the Deciiion of your Peers.
About this Time, (November 13.) the
Parliament met, and the Houfe of Com-
mons thought proper to complement the
Duke of Marlborough t before they addrefs'd
her Majcfty ; but not willing to make their
Court to the Minifters by halves, they refolv-
ed, ihortly after, to impeach one Sacheverel,
on account of a fhipid, virulent Sermon he
had preach'd, in which he had prefum'd to
make
[ 399 ]
make free with the Lord-Treafurer, under
the Character of Vulponc An Affair tri-
fling and infignirkant in itfelf ; and fet on
foot by thofe in Power, in order to ftrike a
Terror into all who fliould, from thence-
forward, dare to oppofe them; but which,
never thelefs, took a quite different Turn, and
contributed not a little to their Downfall !
The Nation being thrown into fo terrible
a Ferment by it, that tho' the Doctor was
declared guilty by a Majority of Seventeen,
it was held expedient to let him go with fo
gentle a Cenfure, that he feemed rather to
triumph over his Profecutors, than they
to have accomplifh'd their Ends on him.
This was the moft remarkable Occurrence
that happened during this Seffion : And to-
gether with the Grant of another exorbitant
Supply of almoft 6,2oo,ooo/. to carry on
the War, is another fatal Proof, that, whe-
ther Whig or Tory, our Reprefentatives
modi oftner do their own Bufinefs, than that
of their Conftituents.
But how exceilively complaifant this Houfc
of Commons, in particular, was to the Mini-
fters,
[ 4 I
ilers, will appear yet further, as we proceed
to wait upon your Grace ; which we are
now to do in'the grand Trial of Skill between
the Marlborougb and Mafham- Families,
which is thus fet forth in the Account before
us.
< In the Beginning of January 17^. the
c Earl of Effex died j and the Queen pre-
c fently wrote to the Duke of Marlborough
to give his Regiment to Mr. Hill, a Man
' who had been baj'ely ungrateful to me who
c raifed him j and whofe Sifter, Mrs. Ma-
* Jham> the Duke well knew was at this
c Time undermining the Intereft of himfelfj
c his Family and Friends*
' Upon this Meffage from the Queen, the
e Duke waited upon her, and with all Hu-
c mility reprefented to her, what a Prejudice
* it would be to her Service, to have fo young
c an Officer prefer'd before fo many others
of higher Rank and longer Service. Be-
c fides, that the mewing fo extraordinary
* and particular Favour to Mrs, Ma ft 'am ? s
< BROTHER, could be interpreted no other-
c wife than as a declaring again ft ALL thofc
' who
c who had Co much Reafon to be uneajy with
* her; and that indeed it would be fettingup
' a Banner for all the difcontented Perfons in
1 the Army to repair to. In ihort, the Duke
* faid every Thing he could think of, and
* with all the moving Concern that the Na-
* ture of the Affair created in him, to engage
' her Majeily to change her Refolution. But
*, .all Deemed to noPurpofe. He could not
c draw one kind Exprefiion from her, nor
'j-pbtain any Anfwer, but that he would do
%tc^//"/A advife with bis Friends. .
c Lord Godolfbin fpoke often to her upon
* the - fame Subject, reprefenting to her the
c Duke's long, gre.at, and faithful Services^
' and the very bad Influence which her intend-
* ed Favour to Mr. H/7/muft neceflarily have
* in the Army. But neither had this fo
1 much Effcd as to engage her to fay one fa-
' vonrable Word about the Duke. On the
c i5th of January therefore he left the Town
< : an4 went to Wmdjor in great Dijcontent.
-' It was Council -Day. The Queen did not
' a-fk.- where he was, nor take the lead Notice
of his.Abfence. His withdrawing himfelf
: .inade a great Noife in the Town. Many of
C c * the
- ' the Nobility fpoke with Earneftnefs to the
* Queen of the very ill Confluences of mor-
< tifying a Man, who had done her fo long
' and important Services. Her Majefty an-
c fwered, that his Services were ftillfreih in
' her Memory, and that fhe had as much
e Kindneis for Tiijn as ever fhe had. The
' Noife however ftill continued and increafed,
* and there was great Difcourfe, not without
1 Probability, that fome Notice would he
4 taken of the Matter in the Houfe of Com -
' mons, and ibmeFo/tt paft dij'agreeable to her
* MAJESTY and her new Counfellors. This
1 Defign was laid to my Charge, but I faid
V enough to the Queen to vindicate myfelf
c from it. And it was indeed owing to the
' Duke's particular Friends in the Houfe,
* that no fuch Notice was taken.
c The new Counfeilors being alarmed with
' Appreheniions of what the Parliament
' might do, and believing that they fliould
* be able at a proper Seafon to make better
Ufe of die Queen's yielding up the Point
* than of her in fitting upon it, gave her Ad-
' vice accordingly : So that, January the
* aoth,
rr-403 j
* 6th, (lie, ordered Lord Godolphin to write
to the Duk, that he might difpofe of the
< Regiment as he himfelf thought fit : And to
4 deiire him to come to Town. But before
this reached Lord Marlborough^ he had
* written the following Letter to the Queen.
vviT . ;
;&.-.' MADAM,
c By what I hear from London^ I find
c your Majefty is pleafed to think, that when
c I have reflected, I muft be of Opinion, that
' you are in the right in giving Mr. Hill the
' Earl of Effex's Regiment. I beg your
' Majefty will be fo juft to me, as not to
* think I can be fo unreafonable, as to be
1 mortified to the Degree that I am, if it pro-
'- ceeded only from this one Thing j for I
4 lhall always be ready and glad to do every
Thing that is agreeable to you, after I have
* reprefented what may be a Prejudice to your
* Service. But this is only one of a great
1 many Mortifications that I have met with.
* And as I may v * not have many Opportuni-
c tics of writing to you, let me beg of your
' Majefty to reflect what your own People,
C c 2 ' and
[ 404 ]
* and the reft of the World muft think,
' who have been Witneffes of the Love, Zeal
c and Duty, with which I have ferved you,
' when they mall fee, that after ALL I have
DONE, it has not been able to protect me
* againft the Malice of a Bed-chamber Wo-
c man. Your Majefty will allow me on this
Occafion to re-mind you of what I writ to
' you the laft Campaign, of the certain.
' Knowledge I had of Mrs. MaJJiam's having
' affured Mr. Harley, that I mould receive
* fuch conftant Mortifications^ as mould
1 make it impoffible for me to continue in
'your Service. God Almighty, and the
' whole World are my WitnefTes, with what
' Gire and Pains I have ferved you for more
c than twenty Years, and I was refblved, if
' pofTible, to have ftruggled with the Dim"-
culties to the End of this War. But the
'* many Inftances I have had of your Majef-
' ty's great Change to me ; has fo broke my
f Spirits, that I- muft beg as the greateft and
c I ft 1-avour, that you will Approve of my
' * retiring, fo that I may employ the little
Ti'me I -have to live, in making my juft
;' Acknowledgments to God for the Protec-
' tion
[ 405 ]
5 tion he has been pleafed to give me. And
your Majefty may be affured that my Zea{
* for you and my Country are fo great, that
1 in my Retirement I mall daily pray for your
' Profperity, and that thofe, who mall ferve
e you as faithfully as I have done, may never
* feel the bard Return that I have met with.
c The Queen wrote him an Anfwer, ex-
c preffing fome Concern at feveral Parts of his
c Letter, afTuring him, without entring into
f Particulars, that he had no Ground for
1 Sufpicions, and defiring him to come to
Town.
' But fearing at the fame Time that fom e
e Motion might be made in Parliament a-
* gainft Mrs. Mafham, which might be at-
* tended with very dif agree able Confequences,
* me fent about in much Concern, to many
* Perfons to /land by her y as if fome great
' Attack were going* to be made upon her.
1 This AppUcatipn and the Clofetting fome
Perfons, who were known Enemies to the
< Revolution, gave Encouragement to the
( - Jacobites - y feveral of whom were now ob-
Cc 3
[ -406 ]
f ferved running to Court with Faces full of
* Bufinefs and Satisfaction , as if they were
' going to get the Government into their
* Hands. And this being reprefented to the
* Queen, as a kind of Fi Story gained by her
over the Marlborougb-Family, was doubt-
* lefs one Means of hindering all Thoughts of
' a real Accommodation.
Before I proceed to animadvert on this
long Quotation, I muft beg Leave to put
your Grace in Mind that, in the 'Catalogue of
Benefits bellowed by your excefllve Good-
nefs upon Mrs. H?7/, and her Family, you are
pleafed to fst a Regiment to the Account of
the very Mr. Hill above-mentioned ; which
was then beflowed without any Fear of giving
Umbrage to the Senior or more deferving
Officers of the Army, or creating Murmurs
againft the General : So unexceptionable were
your Grace's Commands underftood to be,
and fo punctually were they obeyed !
To explain myfelf more fully j you, Ma-
dam, in virtue of your Relation to the Duke,
might fafely prefume to create Mr. Hill a
Colonel j but it was a horrid Tre/pafs in the
Queen
I 407 ]
Queen to remove him from one Regiment to
another : Tho* told, even by his Grace, he
was a good-for-nothing Fellow, you prefer'd
him ; and tho' he had now the Merit of his
Services to plead at the Battle of Malpla-
quet t the Siege of Mons, and elfe where, her
Majefty could not do the fame, without
making herfeif a Thoufand Enemies; with-
out destroying the Credit of the General, -
and fetting up a Banner for all the Mutineers
of the Army to repair to.
If the Queen ventured to make a Bifhop,
or paufed in the Nomination of a ProfeJJbr y
it was a Wound given to the high Preroga-
tive of her Minifters ; and if fhe touched up-
on the Army, the Duke's Province was in-
vaded : So that, except in Forms and Ce-
remonies, my Lady-Mayorefs was as much
confidered in the State as me.
Nay, it is mod remarkable, that when the
Difpofal of this ,-lingle Commiffion was dif-
puted with her Majefty, no Objection was
made to the Courage or Conduct: of Mr.
Hill; nor was the leaft Infinuation dropt
that he had ever misbehaved: It was enough
Cc 4 to
[ 43 ]'
to fay he had been ungrateful to the Duchefs
of Marlborongh.
Alas ! Madam, if Ingratitude had been a
Difqualifier,a far more confiderable Command
than Mr. Hi It's had never been beflowed.
Your Grace has been pleafed to drop, as
from the Mouths of your Adverfaries, that
the Queen was a Slave to the Marlborougb-
Family. And is not that fhameful Factfuf-
ficiently proved by every Particular, let down
in your own partial Story ? As long as fhe
continues to obey Orders, me is fuffered to
nod in quiet upon the Throne : But the Mo-
ment (he roufes herfelf, prepares to exert the
Sovereign, and infift on having it recollect-
ed me has a Will and Pleafure of her own ;
the Alarm is taken, her Dictators frown,
their Implements cabal, and all is running
into Confuiion.
Thus, in the Cafe before us, the Duke
having done his utmofl to talk the Queen out
of her Purpofe to no Effect, he not only quits
the Town in Difguil, but, to make his Re-
treat the more remarkable, chufes to fet out
on a Council- Day : A great Noife cnfue'sj
the
[ 409 }
the Queen is befec with his Creatures, re-
proached with his Services, and even me-*
raced with the /// Gonfeqitences of MORTIFY-
IN G a Man of his Importance -, nay, the very
Houfe of Commons, (more it feems at the
Beck of his Grace, than concern'd for the
Authority of their Sovereign, and behaving
rather like theFa&ioR of one towering Subject
than the Reprefentatives of the whole People}
are on the Point of paffing difagreeabk Votes ;
and the Queen is even obliged to the Duke's
particular Friends, (a Cant- Word for Tools)
that thofe difagreeabk Fotes did not actually
take Place.
In a Word, the Mar thorough-Family is
again too mighty for her, and me is again
obliged to wave her Point, and make her
Submiffion.
But this was not enough : She muft be
puniflied for her Temerity, in daring to
wreftle a Fall with fuch unequal Enemies.
The v^yRed-chamber-Woman, as fhe is ftil'd
by Way of Contempt in the Duke of Marl-
borough's Letter, Mrs. Ma/ham, tho' a Servant
pf the Houfhold, not of the State, is held con-
fiderable
[ 4' ]
iiderable and obnoxious enough to deierve
the Indignation of the Houfe of Commons ;
and a Defign was actually form'd by Lord
Sunderland, to procure an * Addrefs from
thence, that ihe might be remov'd from her
Majefly's Prefence ; for having had the In-
folence to folicite her Brother's Preferment,
and divers other horrid Practices again ft the
Mar thorough-Family : And her Majefly's
Uneafmefs on Occafion of this intended In-
fult, as well as her feafonable Enquiry if me
had any Friends left to fupport her in the
Exercife of a fmall Pittance of her own royal
Prerogative, againfl the Tyranny of an over-
bearing Faction, which, not content with
giving the Law to the whole Kingdom, in-
iifted likewife on fubjugating the Throne,
your Grace has fneered at; as if an Addrefs
of that unprecedented Nature, as if fuch a
glaring Proof of the General's Almighty In-
fluence was a Matter of no Moment to the
Queen ; tho' the preferring Mr. Hill to Lord
Effeys Regiment, was to be held fuch a
i
* It is affirm'd this Addrefs was a&ually drawn up.
Morti-
< [ 4i i 3
Mortification to the Duke of Marlboroughy
and fuch an Obftacle to the public Service.
Pofterity, however, will not be perfuaded
to fee thefe Tranfactions thro' the Medium
of your Grace's Prejudices: On the Con-
trary they will confider her Majefly as in
Turn moft unhappily the Bubble and the
Prey of thofe who were indebted to her for
Tides, Honours, Wealth, Power and Fame ;
as moil effectually difarmed of her Autho-
rity j as in danger of being diftrefs'd into
whatever Meafures her Dictators took a
ancy to impofe upon her j as reproach'd
with Services perform 'd, inflead of being
thank'd for Favours beftow'd ; and as meet-
ing with the fierceft Oppofition, where me
might have juflly expected the moft perfect
Obedience and Refignation.
Of which melancholy Situation of her
Majefty's, what fironger Proofs need bp
given, than that (he fhould be oblig'd to
exert her whole remaining Interefl to fave
one Wo man -Servant from being torn from
'under her Roof, by the Houfe of Com-
jnons ? and that even the gaining her Point
fhould
j
fhould be look'd upon as matter of Triumph
and Congratulation ; as a Victory over the
Marlboroifgh-Fa?nily ?
But tho' this thorough-pa c'd Houfe of
Commons had -been at kit induc'd by her
Majefty's Friends, to drop the Addrefs for
removing Mrs. Mafkam, they rcfolv'd to lofe
no Opportunity of magnifying their great
'Deader: Accordingly, the Negotiations for a
Peace having been renewed, and the States
having fent PafTes for the Drench Plenipo-
tentiaries, they came to a Refolution to ad-
drefs the Queen, that (he would be pleafed
to fend the Duke of Marlborougb forthwith
to Holland: They likewife invited the Houfe
of Peers to join in the faid Addrefs, (which
their Lordfhips were prevail'd upon to do,)
and laid hold on this Occafion to over-awe
her Majefty with the following pompous
Paragraphs, fetting forth his Grace's Merits,
Services, Importance, 6JV.
We cannot but take this Opportunity
c to exprefs our Senfe of the great and ah-
c parallelled Services of the Duke of Marl*
* borough, and with all imaginable Duty to
t j
j applaud
c applaud your Majefty's great Wifdom, in
* having honour'd the fame Perfon with
the great Characters of General and Pleni-
c potentiary, who, in our humble Opinion,
c is moil capable of difcharging two fuch im-
portant Trulls.
: ' We therefore make it our humble Re-
* queft to your Majefty, that you would
' be pleafed to order the Duke of Marl-
' -borough's immediate Departure for Holland*
1 where his Prefence will be equally ne-
f ceflary, to aflift at the Negociations of
* Peace, and to haflen the Preparations for
c an early Campaign, which will moil
c effectually difappoint the Artifices of our
c Enemies, and procure a fafe and honour-
c able PEACE for your Majefty and your
Allies.
Accordingly in February the Duke fet
out for Holland j but tho' the Conferences at
Gertruydenbergh began in March, and the
Campaign was not opened till April> his
Grace never, a flitted in Perfon. All was art-
fully left to the Management of the S fates. . t
and tho' we were made Principals, in carry-
ing
t 4H 1
ing on the War, nay, had the labouring
Oar put upon us by the whole Confedera-
cy, as was more than once confefs'd by Lord
Godolphin himfelf, we were now content to
act, or rather to look on, as no way con-
cerned in the Conclufion of it.
The French, however, were become fo
fick of their ambitious Projects, and fo
humbled with their repeated ill Succefles,
that they readily made all the Concefllons
which were either reafonable or neceffary.
They gave up Spain and the Weft-Indies,
the Point we principally contended for, to
King Charles ; and referv'd only Sicily
for King Philip. They moreover offer-
ed an annual Subfidy to the Allies, till
the Spaniards mould be forc'd to come
into this Partition j and only infifted that
when the Treaty came on, no other De-
mands fhould be made upon them, than
were contained in the Preliminaries : But
the Dutch y now in the Meridian of their
Greatnefs,were pleas'd both to put a Negative
on the laft Propofal, and to refufe the annual
Subfidy : upon which the Negociations were
again
again broke off; the Court of France fent
a fort of Manifefto to the Great Penfioner,
in which they threw all the Blame of the
Rupture upon the Dutch ; and the Lofs of
this grand Opportunity, (as now univerlally
acknowledg'd) was as great a Blunder in Po-
litics, as the worft that has fince been fa-
ther'd on the Treaty of Utrecht itfelf.
We muft now return back to St. James 's,
where we find your Grace bufy in making
your laft Efforts to recover your loft Domi-
nion j tho' certainly by the moil impolitic
Steps that ever were purfued.
The Queen, it was apparent, Madam,
had not only loft all Relifh for your Con-
verfation, but even thought of it with Dif-
guft and Loathing: Violent Affections are
generally followed by Antipathies as violent :
It was natural therefore, that {he mould a-
void the Converfation me no longer delight-
ed in ; and ftudioufly endeavour to preferte
the Repofe me had with fuch Difficulty at-
tain'd.
Your Grace, 'tis true, has reprefentecl it
as a great Hardmip, that you fhould .be rs~
fufed
fufed a private Audience, which you had
fo urgently folicited j and affect .to confider
tlie Difficulties thrown in your Way as fo
many Injuries : But furely the Queen, on
the other Hand, had a Right to defend
herfelf from fuch Importunities, to decline
a troubleibme Scene, and to prefcribe the
Manner in which (he thought proper to ad-
mit of the Juftincation you fo vehemently
infilled on.
Your Grace could write as well as fpeak ;
and the Queen was more difpos'd to indulge
the Licence of. your Pen than your Tongue.
But you would be heard, Madam .
And now the Curtain draws, and enter the
quondam Favourite, foliciting a Page to pro-
cure her an Audience..
* Upon the fixth of April I followed this
' Letter to Kenfington y and by that Means
prevented the Queen's writing again to
* me, as me was preparing to do. The
' Page who went in to acquaint the Queen
c that I was come to wait upon her, {raid lon-
4 ger than ufual ; long enough, it is to be lup-
* pos'd, to give Time to deliberate whether the
1 Favour
[ 4'7 ]
Favour i Admljfion fhould be granted^ and 1
to fettle the Meafures of Behaviour if I
were admitted. But at laft he came out,
and told me I might go in. As I was en-
tring the Queen faid, {he was going to
write to me. And, when I began to fpeak,
{he interrupted me four or five Times with
thefe repeated Words, Whatever you have
to fay, you may put it in 'writing. I faid,
her Majefty never did fo harfh a Thing to
any, as to refufe to hear then} fpeak, and
aflured her, that I was not going to trou-
ble her upon the Subject which I knew to
be fo ungrateful to her, but that I could
not poffibly reft, till I had cleared myfelf
from fome particular Calumnies with
which I had been loaded. I then went on
to fpeak (tho' the Queen turned away her
Face from me) and to reprefent my hard
Cafe ; that there were thofe about her
Majefty, who had made her believe that
I had faid Things of her, which I was no
: more capable of faying than of killing my
: own Children ; that I feldom named her
: Majefty in Company, and never without
' Refpeft, and the like. The Queen faid,
D d with
c 'without doubt there 'were many Lies told.
' I then begged, in order to make this Trou-
c ble the morter, and my own Innocence
* the plainer, that I might know the Parti-
c culars of which I had been accufed. Be-
* caufe, if I were guilty, that would quick-
c ly appear ; and if I were innocent, this
c Method only would clear me. The Queen
* replied, thatjhe 'would give me no Anjwer,
f laying hold on a Word in my Letter, that
c what I had to fay in my own Vindication
c would have no Conference in obliging her
* Majefly to anjwer y &c. which furely did
c not at all imply, that I did not defire
' to know the particular Things laid to
c my Charge, without which it was im-
' poffible for me to clear myfelf. This I
* allured her Majefly was all I defired, and
c that / did not ajk the Names of the Au-
' thors or Relators of thofe Calumnies^ fay-
V ing all that I could think reafonable, to
c enforce my juft Requeft. But the Queen
' repeated again and again the Words flie
* had ufed, without ever receding. And
' it is probable that this Converfation had
* never been confented to, but that her Ma-
[ 4*9 1
* jefty had been carefully provided withthefe
< Words, as a Shield to defend her againft
' every Reafon I could offer. I protefted to
c her Majefty, that I had no Defign, in giv-
* ing her this Trouble, to folicit the Return
* of her Favour, but that myfoleView was to
< clear myfelf; which was too juft a Defign
' to be wholly difappointed by her Majefty.
' Upon this, the Queen offered to go out
' of the Room, I following her, and beg-
c ging Leave to clear myfelf; and the Queen
* repeating over and over again, you defired
' no Anfwer, and flail have none. When
* fhe came to the Door, I fell into great Dif-
* order : Streams of Tears flow'd down a-
* gainft my Will, and prevented my fpeak-
c ing for fome Time. At length I reco-
* vered myfelf, and appealed to the Queen,
4 in the Vehemence of my Concern, whe-
* ther I might not flill have been happy in
c her Majefty's Favour, if I could havecon-
1 tradicfed or diflembled my real Opinion
of Men, or Things ? Whether I had e-
* ver, during our long Friendship, told her
P d a 6 one
* one Lie, or play'd the Hypocrite once ?
' Whether I had offended in any Thing,
1 unlefs in a very zealous pr effing upon her,
c that which I thought neceflary for her Ser-
' wee and Security ? I then laid I was in-
c form'd by a very reafonable and credible
' Perfon about the Court, that Things were
' laid to my Charge, of which I was whol-
4 ly uncapable ; that this Perfon knew that
4 fuch Stories were perpetually told to her
Majefty to incenfe her, and had begg'd of
* me to come and vindicate myfelf ; that
* the fame Perfon had thought me of
' late guilty of fome -Omiflions towards her
* Majefty, being entirely ignorant how un-
4 eafy to her my frequent Attendance muft
c be, after what had happened between us.
' I explained fome Things which I had heard
' her Majefty had taken amifs of me, and
s then with a frefh Flood of Tears, and a
4 Concern fufficient to move Companion e-
* ven where all Love was abfent, I begg'd
c to know what other Particulars (he had
* heard of me, that I might not be denied
* all Power of juftifying myfelf, But ftill
the
r 421 ]
c the only Return was, Tou defired no An-
* fiver, and youjhall have none. I then beg-
' ged to know if her Majefty would tell
' me fome other Time ? Ton defired no
* Anfwer, and you frail have none. I then
* appealed to her Majefty again, if {he did
* not herfelf know that I had often defpifed
' Intereft in Comparifon oiferving her faith-
* fully and doing right ? And whether (he did
' not know me to be of a Temper uncapa-
* pie of difbwning any Thing which I knew
* to be true ? Tou dejird no Anfwer,
' and you Jhall have none. This Ufage was
' fojevere, and thefe Words, fo often repeat-
* ed, were fo SHOCKING (being an utter
' Denial of COMMON JUSTICE to one who
* had been a mofl faithful Servant, and
f now afked nothing more) that I could not
c conquer myfelf, but faid the moft dilre-
1 fpc&ful Thing I ever fpoke to the Queen
' in my Life, and yet, what fuch an Occa-
c (ion and fuch Circumftances might well ex-
' cufe, if not juftify. And that was, I was con-
f fident her Majefty 'would SUFFER for fuch
' an Inftance ofl$ HUMANITY. The Queen
D d 3 anfwer'd,
3
c anfwer'd, That will be to .myfelf. Thus
' ended this remarkable Converfation, the
laft I had with her Majefty. I mall
c make no Comment upon it. The Queen
c always meant well, how much foever fhe
* might be blinded or mifguided.'
You have here, Madam, charged your
Royal Miftrefs, to whofe Memory you was,
fome time fince, at the Expence of erecting
aStatue, with behaving in ^Jl^ocklng Manner^
with a Denial of Common Juftice, with the
Guilt of Inhumanity : The Queen has been
in her Grave almoft thefe feven and twenty
Years : The Nature of this Dialogue ad-
mitted of no WitnefTcs j we nrnft depend on
your own Report ; and yet I am fanguine
enough to believe that in the End, her Ma-
jefty's Innocence will triumph over the Ma-
lice of the** * qf* **.
That your Grace could ill bear to be dif-
porTefs'd of your Empire by one of your own
VafTals, I can very readily fuppofe ; that
you mould leave^ no Expedient untry'd ta
recover it, I do not in the leaft wonder ^
but that you mould infi Jl upon it as a Matter
of
I 42 3 ]
of Right, that the Queen ihould defcend to
enter into a Series of perfonal Altercations
with you, I can never enough be aftonifh'd
at. Her Majefty, 'tis true, had withdrawn
her Confidence and Favour from you 5 but
whatever Motives (he had for fo doing, {he
had not ventured to give them Utterance-;
She had never once prefum'd to publifh a
Complaint againft you ; as well- knowing
how mightily you were fupported, and how
hard it would be for her to make Head a-
gainft one who in Facl: was now and had
hitherto been more a S n than me.
What Pretence then could be made for an
Attempt to force her to account for her Be-
haviour, to one me had not even accus'd j or,
by a free Declaration of her Thoughts, to in-
volve herfelf in a Controverfy with thofe
who, in fpite of Truth and Conviction,
would have wrangled with her to all Eter-
nity ? Your Grace, indeed, may affirm, that
all you aim'd at was to clear your felf ; but
for my Part, I rather incline to think you
had fome Hope to confound the Queen firfr,
and-j afterwards, bring her to anfvyer for her
D d own
3
own Conduct, before your dread Tribunal.
A Confcioufnefs of Integrity is Confolation
fufficient for the Innocent j and if neither
Spleen nor Ambition had any Share in this
lively Scene, it would fcarce have been di-
fturb'd with fuch a Variety of ParTions : The
Storm would fcarce have thunder'd fo loud,
or the Showers have fallen fo lavilhly : But
the whole Woman is rouz'd ; Firmnefs on
one Side creates Frailty on the other. To find
the Queen immoveable, argued her invinci-
ble : a Difappointment your Grace could not
bear! a Mortification you had never met
with before ! Here, for the firft Time,
we find her Majefty to be Queen indeed :
Had {he fuitered herfelf to be mov'd with
the Part you play'd, had (he again departed
from her Dignity and fubmitted to parley a's
an Equal inftead of maintaining the Superio-
rity fhe had fo long refigned, farewell Royalty
forever; your Grace had again been Lady-
Paramount, and her Majefty had remain'd
a State-Puppet, to move, fpeak, and act as
the Prompter pleas'd, till Death had dropt
the Curtain,
What,
[ 4*5 ]
What, therefore, Madam, you are plea-
fed to call jkocklng on this Occafion, was
no other than Self-defence ; a reafonable
Mound to keep the Torrent from fweeping
her before it : What you call a Denial of
common Juftice to you, was no other than
a Piece of common Juftice to her felf; perhaps
the only In fiance of the Kind to be met
with in her whole Reign ; and the Inhu-
manity you reproach her with, and denounce
Vengeance upon her for, but a laudable Re-
folution, which every fenfible Reader is
pleas'd to find that Upbraidings could not
fhake, nor Tears melt away*
But then your Services your faithful
Services Madam, you have made your
Readers fick with the Repetition of that
fulfome Word ; it occurs in almoft every
Page : Who, therefore, can doubt but that
her Majefty, who had heard it rung in her
Ears perpetually for fo many Years together,
muft, at laft, be led to confider it as a Griev-
ance, as well as we ? Not, however, till (he
had difplay'd the moft grateful Heart that
ever filled a royal Bofom ; not till (he had al-
moft
[ 426 }
inoft exhaufted every Source of 'Bounty be^
longing to the Crown ; not till (lie had glut-
ted both you and your Family with Re-
wards; not till fhe had made you the Envy
of thefe Kingdoms, and the Wonder of all
others, by contenting her felf with the bare
Name, and centering in you all the Powers
and Privileges of Royalty.
Having, therefore, .made fuch Returns for
thofe boafted Services, having jiever once
thought of a Refumption, having put and left
you in PofFeflion of more Wealth than your
Anceftors, perhaps, could have made aa
Eftimate of, where was the mighty Hard-
ihip of withdrawing her Countenance only,
and difmiffing you from her Bofom, with-
out fatiguing her felf with a painful Detail
of Provocations without Number, and Com-
plaints without End ?
This however, Madam, is the Sum of
your Complaint againft her Majefty Queen
Anne^ which you pour forth with great Bitter-
nefs ; but without one Recollection of her
unbounded Goodnefsj without one Acknow-
ledgement of the almoft incredible Harveft
which
which you reap'd in the Simmine of her
Royal Favour.
But to proceed. It has hitherto been my
Endeavour to prove, Madam, that nothing
lefs would ferve her Majefty's Dictators than
the full and entire Poffefllon of her whole
Authority ; that whenever ilie prefum'd to
exercife the fmalleft Branch of it herfelf, me
met with nothing but Expoftulations, Me-
naces, and Reprimands : and that, in effect^
{lie became no more than the Shadow of
a Sovereign.
What remains, is to mew that, when me
manifefted a Defign to take the Reins of
Government into her own Hand, thofe very
Perfons on whom me had lavilh'd fuch a
Profufion of Favours, entered into a Confe-
federacy with their whole Band of Tools
and Implements, to oppofe and diftrefs her
jn every Meafureme took: proving themfelves
alike, infatiable and imperious when in Pow^
er, and ungrateful and turbulent when out.
And this is in part, evident even from the
Letter of Lord Gctdolfhins, which yourGrace
has
has inferted in your Account, by way of Spe-
cimen of the Honefty of his Heart , and the
Clearnefs of his Under/landing.
c New-Market April 15. 1710-
4 I have the Honour of your Majefty's
* Letter of the 13th, by which I have the
* Grief to find that what you are pleafed to
c call Spleen in my former Letter, was on-
c ly a true Impulfe and Conviction of Mind,
* that your Majefty is fuffering yourfelf to be
1 guided to your own Ruin and Deftruflion
1 as fail as it is poffible for them to com-
c pafs it, to whom you feem fo much to
: hearken.
1 I am not therefore fo much furprized,
: as concerned at the Refolution which
1 your Majefty fays you have taken, of
bringing in the Duke of Shrewjbury. For
when People began to be fenfible it would
be difficult to perfuade your Majefty to
difTolve a Parliament, which, for two
Winters together, had given you above fix
Millions a Year for the Support of a WAR,
upon which your Crown depends 3 even
while that War is ftill fubfifting, they
' have
t 429 ]
' have had the Cunning to contrive this
* Propofal to your Majefty, which in it's
1 Conjequence will certainly put you under
f a Neceflity of breaking the Parliament.
4 though contrary (I yet believe) to your
' Mind and Intention.
' I beg your Majefty to be perfuaded, I
' do not fay this out of the leaft Prejudice
* to the Duke of Shrewjbury. There is no
4 Man of whofe Capacity I have had a bet-
' ter Impreffion ; nor with whom I have
' lived more eafily and freely for above
* twenty Years. Your Majefty may pleafe
c to remember, that, at your firft coming to
' the Crown, I was delirous he mould have
' had one of the chief Pofts in your Service ;
' and it would have been happy for your
e Majefty and the Kingdom, if he had ac-
cepted that Offer : But he thought fit to
decline it, and the Reafons generally given
* at that Time for his doing fo, do not much
* recommend him to your Majefty's Service.
1 But I muft endeavour to let your Majefty
* fee Things as they really are. And to bring
4 him into your Service and into your Bufi-
3 < nefs
[ 43 ]
* nfefs at this Time, juft after his being in
* a publick, open Conjunction in every Vote
* with the whole Body of the Tones, and
' in a private, con flan t Correfpondence
* and Caballing with Mr. Harley in every
' Thing, what Confequence can this poffi-
' bly have, but to make every Man that is
' now in your Cabinet-Council, except
* to run from it as
' they 'would from the PLAGUE ? And I
' leave it to your Majelly to judge, what
' Effect this entire Change of your Miniilers
c will have among your Allies abroad, and
* how well this War is like to be car-
1 ried on, in their Opinion, by thofe who
c have all along oppofed and obftru&ed it,
' and who will like any Peace the better,
' the more it leaves France at Liberty, to
* take their Time of impofing the Pretender
' upon this Country.
4 Thefe Confiderations mull certainly
5 make Holland run immediately into a
* feparate Peace with France, and make your
Majefly loie all : the Honour > and all 'the
c Reputation your Arms had acquired 'by
4 thg
m t 431 i
the War j and make the Kingdom lofe all
the Fruits of that vaft Expence which
they have been at in this War, as well as
all the Advantage and Safety whkh they
had fo much Need of, and had fo fair a
ProfpecT: of obtaining by it. And can any
Body imagine that after fo great a Dnap-
pointment to the Kingdom, there will not
be an ENQJJIRY into the Caufes of it;
and who have been the Occajlon of fo
great a Change in your Majefly's Mea-
fures and Counfels, which had been ib
long fuccefsful, and gotten you fo great a
Name in the World ? I am very much a-
fraid your Majefty will find, when it is
too late, that it will be a pretty difficult
Tajk, for ANY BODY to {land againft
fuch an Enquiry. I am fure if J did
not think all thefe Confequences ine t vita-+
ble^ I would never give your Majefiy the
Trouble and Uneaiinefs of laying them
before you. But, perfuaded as I am that
your Majefty will find them fo, it is my
indifpenfable Duty to do it out of -pure
Faidifulnefs and Zeal for your Majefty's
J ' Service
[ 43' ]
* Service and Honour. Your Majefty's hav-
* ing taken a Refolution of fo much Confe-
* quence to all your Affairs both at Home
c and Abroad, without acquainting the Duke
* of MarlborQugh or me with it, till after you
{ had taken it, is the leaft Part of my Mor-
* tification in this whole Affair. Though
' perhaps the World may think the long
' and FAITHFUL SERVICES foe have cou-
' ftantly and zealoufly endeavoured to do
' your Majefty, might have deferred a little
' more Conjideration. However for my own
* Part, I moft humbly beg Leave to affure
4 your Majefty, I will never give the leaft
' Obftrudtion to your Meafures, or to any
* Minifters you mall pleafe to employ. And
' I muft beg further, to make two humble
* Requefts to your Majefly; the one, that
* you will allow me to pafs the Remainder
* of my Life always out of London, where
' I may find moft Eafe and Quiet ; the
* other, that you would keep this Letter
' and read it again about next Chriftmas,
* and then be pleafed to make your own
* Judgment
f 433 ]
t Judgment, who hath given you the bed
* and moft faithful Advice,
'lam, &c. %
If there is any one Perfon, who is fo ill a
Judge of Happinefs, as to look with Envy
on the exalted State of Monarchs, let him
read your Grace's Book j let him confider
but the flight Sample, therein given, of the
fucceffive Perfecutions herMajefty was expo-
fed to, and he cannot fail to be undeceived :
Pity will then take its Turn, and he will
thank God, that he was not born to Empire,
and the Calamities infeparable from it.
We have feen the State, the Church, and
the Army wrefted out of her Majefly's
Hand, as Provinces too unwieldy for her
Management ; and now, when fhe afpires
but to be Miftrefs of her own Family, and
to difpofe of an Office in her Houmold, tho
in Favour of one of the firft and greateft of
her Nobility, me is threaten'd with Ruin and
Deftruftion, the Parliament and the P;v-
tcnder^ as the infallible Confequence.
Yes, Madam, me is again told, that her
E e Crown*
[ 434 ]
Crown depends on the War ; and" that to
make a Loid-Chamberlain, who was not of
the Marlborough-Faftion, would lay her un-
der a Neceffity to break with her Parliament:
which is as much as to fay, they would
break with her flrft, and oblige her to dif-
folve them, whether (lie would or not.
Nay her Counfellors would all run from her
Cabinet, as from the Plague ; which would
draw down Enquiries, &c. that NOBO-
DY could ftand. Strange Language
this from a Subject to his Sovereign, from an
honeft Man, a wife Man, and one who
would give no Obftruclion to her Majefty's
Meafures, or Minifters ! Efpecially as all my
Lord Shrewsbury's Sins confifted in refufmg
Preferment on Terms he did not like, in
voting with the Tories, and correfponding
with Mr. Harley. This Letter neither
needs nor deferves any farther Comment.
We come now to the grievous BLOW
of removing my Lord under land> upon
which it is fit your Grace fhould be heard
firft, as follows.
' About the Beginning of June t the De-
J fign of turning out Lord Sunder/and began
[435 ]
* to be talked of. Lord Mar/borough was
* now abroad at the Head of the Army.
* As foon as the News of this Defign
* reached him, he wrote a VERY moving
* Letter to the Queen, reprefenting the very.
' /// Confluences it would necefTarily have
c upon all Affairs abroad, to have his Son-
* in-Law, againft whofe Fidelity nothing
' could be objected, and in whom the Allies
c had fo entire a Confidence^ turned out of her
* Service in the Middle of a Campaign ; and
' begging it as a Reward of his paft Services,
* that (he would at lead delay her Refolu-
' tion till the Campaign was ended. 31 wa s
c like wife urged by fome Friends to try to
* fay fomething to divert, if pofiible, fuch a
' STROKE j becaufe it was given -out that
c the Queen would do this chiefly on my
' Account, that I might feel the Effects of
* her Difpleafure in fo fenfible and tender a
' Point. No Confideration proper to myfelf,
c could have induced me to trouble the Queen
* again, after our laft Converfation. But I
* was overcome by the Confideration of Lord
* Martboroitgh, Lord Sunderland^ and the
E e 2 c PUBLIC
t 436 ]
1 PUBLIC INTEREST, and wrote inthebcft
' Manner I could to the Queen, June 7,
1 2710. begging, fonLordMar /borough's Sake,
< that ihe would not give him fuch a BLOW,
' of which I dreaded the Confequence, put-
c ting her in mind of the Letter about the
c Duke upon the Victory at Blenheim ; and
' adding the moft folemn Affurances, that I
1 had not fo much as a Wi(h to remove Mrs.
< Mafoam, and that all the Noife which had
' been about an dddre/s for that Purpofe j
'had been occalioned by Lord Marlborougtis
': Difcontents at that Time, which moft People
' thought were JUST. To this the Queen
- wrote a very fhort and harfh Anfwer, com-
1 plaining that I had broke my Promife o^
- n'ot faying any Thing of POLITICKS, or
- of Mrs. Maftam ; and concluding, that it
' was plain from this /// Ufage what me was
f to expect for the future.
* I could not forbear, for my own Vindica-
* tion, to write a fecond Letter, in which I
* affured her Majefty, that I mould not have
1 troubled her with the firft, but that I
* heard it reported, that the Perfection, be-
[ 437 ]
f gun againft Lord Marlborough and his Fa-
* mily, was chiefly occafioned by her Ma-
* jefty's Difpleafure and Averfion to me, as
having promoted an Addrefs againft Mrs.
* Majham -, that it was only to vindicate my-
* felf from that Afperfion, that I had pre-
8 fumed to trouble her j that I could notima-
' gine it could be interpreted as an Offence,
* to vindicate myfelf from what was now"
made the Pretence for turning out Lord
' Sunderland, and puming Lord Marlbc-
f rough to Extremities ; that I had no Rea-
c fon to think, that the afTuring her Majefty,
< that I would never have any Hand in any
* Thing againft Mrs. Ma/ham, could have"
c been conftrued as an ungrateful fpeaking a-
* bout her, or called a Continuation of ill
< Ufage 5 that I thought this was rather a
* complying with her Majefty's Inclination,
' and faying what me could not but approve -,
' that all the Politicks in my Letter was my
1 Concern for Lord Marlborough j making it
' at laft my moft earneit Requeft, that her
' Majefty would only defer the BLOW till'
f the End of the Campaign. This, I added,
Ee 3 I
[ 438 ]
* I begged v:pon my Knees, and left her Ma-
6 jfty- : tp judge whether, after fuch an Expref-
*Jic- likely that I fhouldever enter into
' any Tiding ^ 3at could difpleafe her.
c VVIv .^r my interfering in this Matter
' haftencd the Execution of the Defign, I
1 cannot iky. Certain it is that it did not re-
* tard it, for Lord Sunderland was prefently
' after difmifled from his Office. On which
' Occafion feveral great Men, 'who ivtfled
* well to their Country r , and who feared that
* my Lord Marlborough might in Difguft
* quit the Service, immediately wrote him a
' joint Letter, which I mail here infert, in
* Honour both of them and of the Duke.
June 14, 1710.
MY LORD,
' We (hould not have given your Grace
* .the Trouble of this joint Letter, but for
* the great Concern and Uneafinefs in which
e we find you, on Account of my Lord Sun-
' derland, by your Letter of the 2oth to my
* Lord Treafurer, which be has communl-
c catedtous. That Letter, as moving* and
f 439 ]
( as reafonable, as it was, has not hindered the
{ Seals from being taken this Morning from
* my Lord Sunder land. No Wonder then if
' the utmoft Endeavours which could be
c ufed to prevent it, and the ftrong Argu-
' ments which have been made of the ///
* Confequences, that muft attend fuch Steps
* both at Horns and Abroad have met with fo
* little Succefs. We find ourfelves fo' much
* affli&ed with this Misfortune, that we can-
c not but be extremely fenfible of the great
c Mortification this muft give you at this cri-
1 tical Juncture, when you are every Moment
* hazarding your Life in the Service of your
( Country, and whilft the Fate of Europe
c depends in fo great a Degree on your Con-
{ duel and good Succefs : But we are alfo. as
< fully convinced that it is impoffible for your
* Grace to quit the Service at this Time,
4 without the utmoft Hazard to the whole
1 Alliance. And we muft therefore conjure
' you by the Glory you have already obtain -
* ed, by the many Services you have done
' your Queen and Country, by the Expecta-
' tion you have juftly raifed in all Europe, and
[ 440 J
f by all that is dear and tender to you at
* Home, whofe chief Dependence is upon
* your Succefs, that you would not leave this
' great Work unfinished, but continue at
' the Head of the Army. This we look
* upon as the moft neceflary Step that
' can be taken to prevent the DiJJolution
' of this Parliament. Your Grace's Com-
* pliance with this our earned Requeft would
' be the greatefl Obligation to us, and all that
' wifi well to our Country. And you may
c depend upon it, that the contrary will be the
4 greateft Satisfaction to your Enemies. We
* are, my Lord, your Grace's moft humble
4 and obedient Servants,
* COWPER C.
* GODOLPHIN.
' SOMERS.
* NEWCASTLE.
' DEVONSHIRE.
1 ORFORD.
( HALUFAX.
( H.BOYLE,
Nothing
Nothing is thought trifling which regards
the Great j the Public is therefore particu-
larly oblig'd to your Grace for the Light you
have occaiionally condefcended to give them,
on the different Manners in which both you
and your two noble Co-adjutors addrefs'd the
Throne : Thus it appears that you, Madam>
following the natural Bent of your Genius,
affum'd the Notable, that the Treafurer em-
ploy 'd the Authoritative, and that the Duke
defcended to the Moving or Pathetic.
A moving Letter was wrote by his Grace*
to procure Doctor Potter his ProfefTorfhip j
and now another VERY moving Letter is dif-
patch'd in Behalf of Lord Sunder land \ that
very Lord Sunder land, who had forc'd his
Way into the Adminiftration at the Head
of the Whigs, who had by the fame
Strength, been the principal Agent to force
Mr. Harky out, who had lince enter'd into
a League with the Jacobites, and undertook
to ruin the very Faction who had admitted
him into Power; and to whom he was fo
nearly ally'd.
But all his Tranfgreffions were now done
away,
[ 44* ]
away, and not only the Minifters, but the
Allies plac'd an entire Confidence in him - 9
and, therefore, terrible Confequences were to
be expected in cafe the Queen fhou'd reiblve
to difplace him till the Campaign was over.
Nor was this only the Language of the
Duke's VERY moving Letter; but the com-
mon Cant of all the State-Ufurers and Money*
Jobbers of thofe Times j who having ftak'd
their idoliz'd Mammon on the- Credit and
Power of the Adminiflration, were eaiily in-
duc'd to echo what ever they were taught : as
that our All depended on their Continuance at
the Helm, and that the difplacing any one
of their Cabal would unhinge the whole
Confederacy : Forgetting that, when Lord
Sunder land e&tzt& into the above-mentioned
League with the Jacobites., one of their
firft Preliminaries was to fet afide both the
General and the Treafurer j which they then.
imagined might be done without the leafl
Detriment to the. War, or giving a,ny great
Umbrage to any one Power concerned ia k.
Nay, the Queen had received Intelligence
that they even went fo far, as. to found the
Dutch
[ 443 ]
Dutch on the intended Change ; both to
difcover their Sentiments thereon, and to
prepare them to receive the News without
Surprize, Difmay, or Uneafinefs : In order
to which the Hints of this Embryo-Projel
were accompany'd with the flrongeft AfTur^
ances, that the War fhould be carry' d on
with as much Vigour, and the Interefts of
the Republic as effectually fupported as be-
fore.
How, therefore, it can be faid that theloof-
ening any one Joint of the Marlborougb-
Faff ion would be fatal to the Confederacy,
and yet that this noble Lord, had in no Re-
fpect, mifbehaved, I am utterly at a Lofs to
account : And fo much the more, as he
flood charg'd with fetting on foot the Addreis
to remove Mrs. Mafham, and yet not one
of his Advocates ever attempted to prove
him innocent.
Upon the whole, Madam, from the Facts
and fyafonings here laid down, it is obvious
to the meaneft Capacity, that her Majefty
had very fufficient Reafons for diicarding
Lord .Sunder landi and that fince the fame
General,
[ 444 ]
General, and the fame Troops, with the
fame full Powers were continued in Flanders;
theOperations of the Campaign neither could
nor were a'ny ways affected by it.
But your Grace was prevail'd upon to
apply to the Qjueen once more on this affect-
ing Occafion I am glad you was, with all
my Heart ; fince it gave her Majefty a fit-
ting Opportunity to let you know that your
Tyranny in Politics was the /// U/age (he
could not bear ; and fince it brought you to
beg a Favour as upon your Knees, which
you give us to underfland was a Condefcen-
iion you had never fubmitted to before.
And as to the humble Petition of the fe-
ven great Lords, and the Secretary of State
to the Duke of Marlborough ; befeeching his
Grace not to deprive the Confederate-Army
of his almighty Protection, it feems only to
prove more undeniably what has been alrea-
dy advanced; vtz. That the Influence of
the Mar thorough- Family was grown fo for-
midably extenfive, that it was become alike
dangerous, either to connive at its Continu-
ance,
[ 445 ]
ance, or to endeavour to reduce it within pro-
per Bounds.
Your Grace proceeds to fet down in your
Account, that, after Lord Sunderland was
difmifs'd, and Lord Dartmouth was promo-
ted in his Stead, her Majefty caus'd Mr.
Secretary Boyle to fignify to the Foreign
Courts, that {he mould make no farther
Changes in her Adminiftration, &c. and yet,
that, in lefs than two Months, (he removed
Lord Godolphin likewife. I fay, your Grace
fets down thefe Articles with all the Aggra-
vations in your Power, but make no menti-
on of the perpetual ill Humour of that no-
ble Lord from the Time of the Difgrace of
Lord Sunderland -, or his utter Refufal to
come into any Compromife to render the
Queen's Affairs more eafy for the future ;
or of the Cabals^ from that Time, forming
to oblige her Majefty to make ufe of the
fame Set entire, and none but the fame Set
again.
By way of Supplement then, to this Ac-
count of your Grace, be known, that, in
the Evening of the very Day in which the
Earl
t 446 ]
Earl of Godolfhin was relieved from the Fa-
tigues of Government, a general ArTembly
of the Marlboroitgb Faff ion was held at Mr.
Secretary Style's, in which the Following
Conclufions were agreed upon. Viz.
I. That the new Managers would link
under the Weight of their own Defigns.
II. That it would be impoffible for them
to fupport the public Credit, or find Ways
and Means to carry on the War.
III. That, hereby, they mull: unavoidably
plunge the Queen into fuch inextricable Dif-
ficulties, as would force her to throw her
Affairs, more abfolutely than ever, into the
Hands of her old Minifters.
IV. And that, confequently, it was their
Bufmefs to ftand aloof, nor come into any
of her Meafures, till her Diilreflfes obliged
her to have Recourfe to their Services upon
their own Terms.
Be it known, likewife, that, even before
thefe notable Refolutions were made, the
Dutch had been prevailed upon to order their
Minifter in London to intercede with her
tVj not to make any Changes in her
I ew#
I 447 'J
own Miniftry, and to remonftrate the Mifc
chiefs they apprehended would be the Con-
fequence* And be it farther known, that
the fame noble Perfonages had the Modefty
to fpirit up even the Governor and Director
of the Bank of England, to requeft certain
great Lords to reprefent to her Majefty, that
the Apprehensions of a Change in the Mi-
niftry had mightily difturb'd the trading Peo-
ple of the City,mock'dCredit, and they fear'd,
if a Stop were not put to it, would caufe a
Run upon the Bank, and difable them from
ferving the Government.
Thus it appears, Madam, that the Necef-
fity her Majefty was reduced to, and which
you affect to lament fo pathetically, was not
brought upon her by the new Managers, but
the old. And this will appear evident be-
yond all Contradiction, when it is known,
Laftly, that thefe high and mighty Difpoiera
of all Things had ftill zCorps deReferve^ with
which they made no Quoflion to rout their
Adverfaries, and carry the Day.
Your Grace will eaiily conceive, that I
meant the Parliament, A Parliament they
called
[ 448 ]
they called their own, and which, they pub-
licly made their Boafts, would unravel all
the Queen had done, and fet a Ne plus ultra
to the Projects of her new Minifters.
Thus, Madam, we find thefe honeft Men,
thefe public- fpirited Patriots, thefe grateful Ser-
vants forming themfelves into a defperate
Faction, to create the very Evils they before-
hand defigned to complain of: and it is
to this Root, that all the Grievances of the
Relidue of this Reign are principally to be
afcribed.
For had not this Faction been form'd, or
had they not afterwards rejected the Queen's
QfFers of an Accommodation, nothing is
more true than that the refloring of the Go-
vernment to it's antient Balance, had been
the moft material Confequence of the
Change.
As it was, they compell'd the new Mini-
fters to build their Strength on a different Bot-
tom, to diflblve a Parliament that were more
attached to the Interefts of the Marlborough-
Family, than to the Repofe of their Sove-
reign, or the Welfare of the Public -, and,
3 the y
I 449 ]
they foon faw, with Aftonimment, Mr. Har-*
ley, the Man they had refufed to affociate
with in Council, and had fet afide with
fiich peculiar Circumftances of Contempt,
not only at the Head of the Nation, but de-
feating all the Opposition they could raife 5
maintaining public Credit, making good
the Supplies, and even providing parliamen-
tary Security for Debts, amounting to an
immenfe Sum, contracted by and due to
his Enemies, which any other Minifter, in
his Circumflances, would have paid with
a Spunge.
As to the Character your Grace has
thought proper to infert of this great Man,
the Venom of it is all taken out by your
frank Acknowledgment, that it was drawn
by a FRIEND of yours: fince we are there-
by affur'd that the Copy is not faithful to
the Life, but warp'd and falfify'd to flatter
the Malignity of the Purchafer.
Nothing is more eafy, Madam, than to
make Reprifals ; but I chufe, for the prefent
at leaft, to avoid fo invidious a Tafk. Oar
Characters are moil difcernable in our Acti-
Ff ons ;
[ 450 ]
ons, and that which has the leaft of Self in it,
is the beft. My Ld. Oxford, after he had been
Lord High-Treafurer of England \ became a
Penfioner to his own Son : Whereas, fo late
as in the Year 1740, no lefs than 2oo,ooo/.
of the Marlborougb-AcquiJitions lay in Chan-
cery wholly unappropriated : In few Words,
my Lord Oxford^ tho' a Briton^ valued Gold
as little as a Spartan, when Lycurgus had by
a Law render'd it ufelefs : He was equal to
his Dignities ; he was fuperior to his Mif-
fortunes.
To haften to a Conclufion : The dif-
placingLord Godolphin was follow'd by a total
Change of his whole Poffe ; on which Oc-
cafion even Bifhop Eurnet exprefies himfelf as
follows. c The Queen was much delighted
* with all thefe Changes, and feemed to
' think (he was freed from the Chains the
c old Miniftry held her in. She fpoke of it
' to feveral Perfons as a CAPTIVITY^
* bad long been under'
As to the Military Feats of the Yean 710,
they were far from balancing the Expence
both of Blood and Treafure they had put us
to ; or curing us of our Regret, that no bet-
ter Ufe had been made of the Conferences
at Gertruydenbergh : the taking of Dow ay,
Bethune, St. Venant^ and Aire, comprehend-
ing the whole of our Flemijh Conquefls dur-
ing this Campaign : And yet another Tear
having elaps'd without affording the Dove of
Peace a Retting- Place for the Soal of her
Foot.
In Spain, the War was carried on with great
Variety of Success. One Engagement hap-
pen'd z\.Akmanara t in which the Allies had
the Advantage, and General Stanhope, who
commanded the Horfe, acquir'd great Repu-
tation. The Battle of Saragojja followed
this, in which the Enemy's Infantry were
totally routed, and the Allies were again vic-
torious : but, toward the Clofe of the Cam-
paign, the Confederate Army, not with ftand-
ing thefe Advantages, being obliged to retire
to Arragon^ in order to have the Benefit of
their Magazines, General Stanhope with
eight Battalions and eight Squadrons, hav-
ing detach'd themfelves, for the Convenience
of fupplying themielves with Provifions, from
F f 2 the
[ 452 ]
the main Army, were furrounded by King
Philips Forces in a. Place called Brihuega ;
and, after a long and obflinate Defence, till
their Amunition was entirely confum'd, were
obliged to furrender themfelves Prifoners of
War : Staremberg, indeed, marched to their
Relief 3 but came too late : He neverthe-
Icfs gave Battle to K. Philip, tho' fuperior
to him in number three to one, defeated
him, killed 6000 of his Troops, made him-
felf Mafter of his Artillery, and continued
on the Field of Battle a whole Day.
A Diverfion was likewife attempted this
Year by a Defcent on the Coaft of Langue-
doc ; but the Project was fo miferably put
in Execution, that 400 Dragoons, and 2000
Militia render'd it abortive.
With Regard to our domeftic Affairs ; the
new Miniftry, having been threatned with
the Parliament in Being, had both the Cou-
rage to diflblve it, and the Addrefs to procure
a new one, better difpofed to come into the
Meafures of the Court.
Believe me, Madam, I do not mention
th's us Matter of Triumph ; for I have*
ever
f 453 ]
ever thought it one of the greateft Mifchiefs
attendant upon our ConfKtution, that Par-
liaments were fo much in the Power of the
Crown : Nor can I take upon me to prove
that Tory- Returns, or the Means employed
to render them valid, favour'd much more
of Equity than thofe before made and jufti-
fied by the Whigs.
To fay the Truth ; in the Matter of Elec-
tions, both Parties have been, for the general,
culpable alike : and the great Struggle feems
to have been, which mould have the moft
Sins of this Kind to anfwer for : Zeal for
a Faction, having abforb'd almoft all we had
to boaft of Patriotifm and public Spirit, but
the Names !
Yet even thisTory-Parliament,however faid
to be unfairlypack'dand modelled,or however
eager to fee a Period put to the War, did not,
either by AddrefTes or Remonftrances, en-
deavour to pum the Queen, precipitately, on
a Peace; or, by withholding, or delaying the
Supplies, difable her from acting in Con-
junction with her Allies, asvigorouflyas ever:
On the contrary, they granted 10,000 addi-
F f 3 tional
[ 454 ]
tlonal Troops, a Land-Tax of 45. in the
Pound, and ihree Millions and a Half by
Way of Lottery.
Nor did Mr. Harley, whatever particular
Reafons he had to {hew as little Regard to
the General now, as the General had to him
while Secretary, fuffer his private Refent-
ments to mingle with the Concer-ns of the
Public : Notwith (landing, therefore, the
Duke ftill refufed to come to Council as long
as Mr. Harky had a Seat there, he was con-
tinued in his Command, till it was found, by
Experience, that the Breach was never to be
made up.
But, tho' he continued to ferve, and it is
pleaded as a great Merit in him that he did,
your Grace's high Spirit would not fufTer you
to do the fame, when you found, by re-
peated Trials, that the Queen was deter-
min'd to put on the Yoke no more : At the
End of a very fucccfsful Campaign, there-
fore, you tell us, you commiffioned the
Duke to carry a Surrender of your Places ;
and the Queen readily accepted them : A
Circum fiance, Madam, -which you mention
in
t 455 ]
in fuch a Manner, as feems to argue, fome
Surprize that me did fo.
Your Grace proceeds thus.
The Duke of Maryborough,, notwith-
landing an infinite Variety of Mortifica-
* tions, by which it was endeavoured to make
him refign his CoinmifTion, (that there
* might be a Pretence to raife an Outcry a-
c gainft h^m, as having quitted his Queen's
c and his Country's Service, meerly becaufe
< he could not govern in the Cabinet, as
well as in the Field) continued to ferve yet
c another Campaign. All his Friends here
c (moved by a true Concern for the public
< Welfare) preffcd him to it, the Confede-
e rates called him with the utmoft Importu-
* nity, and Prince Eugene in treated him to
' come with all the Earneftnefs and Pallion
f that could be exprefled. He went j but
c his Authority was now diminifled^ and his
e Forces weakened, many of his beft Regi-
< ments being drawn off, fome to go moul-
* der away in Spain> and others to be facri-
c - ficed in the wild Expedition to Quebec..
^ On the other Hand the French had regain'd
"
[ 456 1
e a Spirit by the Proceedings of their Friends
' here ; and they feemed to think themfelves
' fecure now of bringing Difgrace upon a Ge-
' neral, who had fo often humbled them,' and
1 whofe .very Name had been among them
* for many Years a Sound of Terror. His
* mafkrly Conduct, and his furprifing Suc-
' cefs difappointed the Hopes both of our fd-
* reign and domeftick Enemies.' :
'Tis Pity, Madam, you have not fpecr-
fied the, Mortifications (that Favourite- Phrafe
of the Mar Iborough- Family) which you feerfi
to urge the Duke was purfo/efy made to un-
dergo : For, according to the beft Lights 1
have been able to procure, Mr. Har/ey, who
was fuppofed to be now the Firft Mover ,
treated him with a Diftinction, a Delicacy,
and a Complaifance, which left his Grace per-
fonallynot the leaf! Opportunity to complain.
That his Authority was diminified^ requires
likewife fomewhat more than a bare Affer-
tion to make evident ; for, unlefs the Alte-
rations which had been made in the Cabinet,
or the Lofs of your Grace's Empire had di-
minimed his Authority, I know of nothing
<elfe
[ 457 ]
elie that could : The Duke appearing to be
as much a Plenipo as ever, at the Head of the
Army.
And as to his Forces being weakened*, on-
ly Five Tboufand Men were draughted off
for the Expedition to Quebec ; except a De-
tachment made by Prince Eugene for the
Service on the Rhine, mould be thrown into
the Account j and for that, it cannot be pre-
tended the new Minifter was anfwerable.
That, neverthelefs, his Grace perform'd a
Mailer-piece in the Art- military, in patting
the French Lines in the Neighbourhood o*
Bouchain, called by the Marflial Villars, who
commanded there, 2 'he Duke's NE PLUS UL-
TRA, without theLofs of a Man, I am proud
to acknowledge: and that he afterwards
carried Bouchain itfelf, tho' almoft unap-
proachable, in Sight of an Army fuperiour to
his own, I muft likewife acknowledge, was
alone fufficient to render his Glory immor-
tal.
But then, Madam, what Equivalent were
thefe fplendid Miracles for exhaufting the
Life-Blood of the Nation, all we could raife,
3 . and
[
and all we could borrow ? What Advance
did even this am Tear more of mafterly Con-
duft .make towards reducing the Enemy?
What peculiar Advantages refulted to Britain
from thofe boafted Triumphs ? And how
much nearer was the ProfpecT: of Peace from
the Walls of Eoucbain^ than from thofe of
Airc 9 which ended the Operations of the
preceding Campaign ?
In the Field, the Duke of M&rlborough
was, beyond all Contradiction, one of the
greatefl of Men j his Exploits have both en-
riched and adorned our Annals ; and when-
ever the Britifi military Glory mall be ce-
lebrated, by future Times, his Name will
be enrolled among thofe Heroes who have
enlarged it moft. But, accomplished and
meritorious as he was, three Kingdoms were
rather too rich a Victim to be facrinced, that
his Triumphs might be rendered complete.
I will not enter into the Controverfy, whe-
ther the great Prefents received by his Grace
from Medina the Jew, on Account of the
Bread-Contracts, or the Two and a Half per
Cent, deducted from the Pay of the Foreign
Troops
[ 459 1
Troops in the Britifo Service, were really
Perquifites or Breaches of Truft j or whether
in any Light they authoriz'd the Removal of
fo fortunate and illuftrious a General : But
this is certain ; The Duke's untractable Be-
haviour on the Difgrace of his Friends con-
tributed as much to that great Event, as the
Violence of his Adverfaries : And it is as cer-
tain, likewife, that Faction was equally pre-
dominant on both Sides.
Her Majefty, however, thought proper to
difarm him of his Greatnefs, by a Letter un-
der her own Hand - 3 to which, it feems, his
Grace return'd the following Anfwer.
MADAM,
c I am very fenfible of the Honour your
c Majefty does me in difmiffing me from
e your Service by a Letter of your own
* Hand, tho' I find by it that my Ene-
' mies have been able to prevail with your
' Majefly to do it in the Manner that is moft
* Injurious to me. And if their Malice and
* Inveteracy againft me had not been more
powerful with them than the Coniideration
* of your Majefty 's Honour and Juftice, they
4 would
t 460 ]
' would not have influenced you to impute
c the Occafion of my Difmiffion to a falfe
' and malicious Infmuation contrived by
* themfelves, and made public, when there
c was no Opportunity for me to give in my
' Anfwer ; which, they muft needs be con-
' fcious, would fully detecl: the Falmood and
* Malice of their Afperiions, and not leave
' them that Handle for bringing your Ma-
* jefty to fuch Extremities againft me.
c But I am much more concerned at an
* Expreffion in your Majefty 's Letter, which
* feems to complain of the TREATMENT
' you had met with. I know not how to
' undei'ftand that Word, nor what Conftmc-
' tion to make of it. I know I have always
* endeavoured to ferve your Majefty faithful-
' ly and zealoufly, through a great many un-
c deferred Mortifications. But if your Ma-
1 jefty does intend by that Expreffion to find
' Fault with my not coming to the Cabinet-
* Council, I am very free to acknowledge that
f my Duty to your iMajefty and Country would
4 not give me Leave to join in the Council
of a Man, who, in my Opinion, puts your
' Majefty
[ 46 1 1
' Majefty upon all Manner of Extremities-
' And it is not my Opinion only, but the
' Opinion 'of all Mankind, that the Friend-
1 Jhi'p of France muft needs be deflruftive to
' your Majefly : 'There being in that Court a
* Root of Enmity irreconcilable to your Ma-
' jefty's Government, and the Religion of
* thefe Kingdoms. I wifh your Majeftymay
' never find the Want of fo faithful a Servant,
* as I have always endeavoured to approve
1 myfelf to you. I am with the greateft-Du-
' ty and Submiflion,
* MADAM,
' Tour Majefty's
' moft Dutiful and
4 obedient Subject,
MARLBOROUGH.
I have more than once had Occafion to
obferve, that your Grace has not given us
the whole Evidence ; and certainly the omit-
ting the Queen's Letter on this remarkable
Occafin, will admit of no Excufe : Tho'
the Duke affecls not to underfland what her
Majefly means by complaining of the Trtai-
mcnt
merit (he had received, I am apt to believe
her own Words would have explained them-
felvesj and even the moil partial Reader
muft have concluded, upon the Whole, that,
with Refped to her own particular Quarrel,
/he had done nothing but what was right.
Thus, Madam, I have taken the Liberty
to follow you, from a giddy, thoughtlefs
Life of Cards and Amufements, which it
feems was your Grace's firft Out-fet, along
the crooked Paths of Policy and Intrigue;
up the fleep Afcent of Ambition, down the
dirty By-ways of Reproach and Inveteracy,
and thro' the perplexed Mazes of Altercation
and Controverfy, and have left you, tho*
deprived of Power, yet in quiet PofTeffion
of Wealth almoft ineftimable, the fuper-
abundant Harveft which you had fafely
hous'd, during the long Continuance of
Court- fhine ; and at leifure to accumu-
late on one Hand, in confequence of thofe
pernicious Meafures, which you did your-
felf the Honour to oppofe on the other.
With Regard to your Grace's third Sedion,
which contains merely an Attempt to purge
1 your
your felf from perfonal Calumnies, I {ha.ll
leave it, in * Manner, as I found it : in
factious Times, to bely one Side is held meri-
torious by the other ; no- Weight, therefore,
is to be plac'd on fuch interested Evidence ,
and I will not urge one Particular of a Thou-
md, againft the folemn Afleveration you are
pleas'd to. make of your own Innocence.
But there is, however, fomcthing fo ex-
traordinary in the following Paflage, that I
cannot refill: the inferring it entire j tho' 'tis
more than poflible the Public may think I
have rather been too profufe of my Quota-
tions already.
' Thefe were the * only Grants I ever had
* from the Queen, except one, which occa-
* fioned the -f witty Comparifon that was
c made between me and the Lady's Wo-
e man, who out of her Miilrefs's Pin-
c Money of 267. put twenty two into her
* own Pocket. The Matter, was this. At
the Queen's Acceffion to the Government,
* Five thoufand Pounds apiece by way of Portion to each
of her Grace's four Daughters ; the Rangerfhip of Windfor-
Park, anj the Ground in St. Jamfs's-Park, upon which
Hands.
-J- See Examiner,
(he
*' fhe ufed to lament to me, that the Crown
* being impoverished by former Grants, (he
wanted the Power her Predeceflbrs had
* enjoyed to reward faithful Servants ; and
< fhe defired me to take out of the Privy-
< Purfe 2000 /. a Year, in Order to fome
c Purchafe for my Advantage. I made my
grateful Acknowledgments to her Majefty,
f but at the fame Time faid, that as her
c Majefly was fo good to provide for my
c Children, and as the Offices I enjoy 'd by
* her Favour brought me in more than I
wanted, I could not think it reafonable to
* accept her Offer ; and I abfolutely refujed
it. The Queen fome time after, in two
feveral Letters, prefled me to receive this
4 Bounty, and fhe frequently did the fame
c by Word of Mouth. Neverthelefs I con-
f ftantly declined it ; until the Time, that,
' notwithftanding the uncommon Regard I
4 had fhown to her Majefty's Intereft and
c Honour in the Execution of my Trufls,
' me was pleafed to -j- difmifs me from her
f Her Grace feems to have forgot that fhe difmifs'd
herfclf.
1 Service.
[ 46S]
c Service. Then indeed it was thought I
* had no longer the fame Reafon to be
' fcrupulous on this Head. By the Advice
c of my Friends, I fent the Queen one of
' her own Letters, in which fhe had prefled
me to take the 2000 /. a Year; and I
' wrote at the fame Time to afk her Ma-
* jefty, whether me would allow me to
c charge in the Privy-Purfe Accounts, which
' I was to fend her, that yearly Sum from
* the Time of the Offer, amounting to J
* 1 8,000 7. Her Majefty was pleafed to an-
fwer, THAT i MIGHT CHARGE IT.
What a Contraft of Difpofition here
breaks forth ? What Magnanimity appears
on one Side ? what * * * * and * * * * on
the other ?
I have juft obferved that cur Characters
are mod difcernable in our Actions; there is
This puts me in mind of a fimilar Story told of Dr.
"Ratdijf, who, attending one of his Intimates in a dangerous
Sicknefs, with an unulual Strain of Generofity, declared he
would not touch a Fee. One infilled ; the other was
pofitive : But when the Cure was perform'd, and the
Doftor taking his Leave, quoth the Patient, Sir, In this
Purfe I havt put every Days Fee ; nor muji your Goodnefs
get the better of my Gratitude. The Doftor eyes the Purie,
counts the Days in a Moment, and then, holding out his
H and , replies 'Well, I can bold out no longer *- Singly,
I could have refund them for a Twelvemonth But all together
they ate irrejijlablt,
Gg no
t 466 ]
no need, therefore, for any Friend of Mr.
Harley's to take the like Trouble with your
Grace's, which your friend has beftow'd on
his: One half of your Portrait, asdrawnbyyour
own inimitable Hand, is already difplay'd a-
bove; and the other half may perhaps,be fup-
ply'd from another Fad: which follows below.
One of the few French Noblemen, - whofe
Curiofity leads them to vifit Great Britain*
thought himfelf oblig'd, among the Remark-
ables of the Ifland, to pay a Vifit to your
Grace ; on which Occafion, to be exceed-
ingly polite, he kept up the Spirit of the
Converfation, with a florid Detail of the
Wonders perform'd by the Duke of Marl-
borough ; to which your Grace feem'd to Men
at firft with a very fenfible Pleafure ; but
apprehending, as he went on, that his Elo-
quence was like to be confined to the Duke only,
the Spirit which had ever poflefs'd you could
not help burfting out All this is true,
Sir : But you forget that all this and much
m ore is owing to fltC>
As Ingratitude, Ingratitude Ingratitude,
Madam, is the Sum Total of your Account*
I (hall take my Leave of your Grace with the
Twocelebrated Bills of Roman Gratitude, and
Britijh
Eritljh Ingratitude many Years ago drawn up
in the Examiner > for the Ufe of the Marl-
borough Family, by one of the greateft Wits
that ever did Honour to human Nature.
A Bill of ROMAN Grati-
A Bill of BRITISH
In-
tude.
gratitude*
Jmp'rim. I. s. d.
Imprim. /. s.
d.
For Frankin-
Woodflock 40000 O
ccnfe and Ear-
Blenheim 2OOOOO O
o
then Pots to burn
Poft-Office
it in . 4100
Grant 100000 o
A Bull for Sa-
Mildtnbeim 30000 O
o
crifice ' 8 o o
Pictures,
An Embroider-
Jewels, &c . 60000 o
9
ed Garment 50 o o
Pall-man
A Crown of
Grant, the W.
Lawrel 002
Rangerfhip,
A Statue 100 o o
C5V. IOOOO
A Trophy 80 o o
I ooo Cooper
Employments 100000 o
Medals , value
540000 o
half-pence a piece 2 i 8
A Triumphal
Arch 500 o o
A Triumphal
Car, valued as
a Modern Coach- 1 oo o o
Cafual Charges
at the Triumph- 1 50 oo
094 ii 10
I am, may it pkafeyour Grace,
your Grace's ?noji humble Servant,
FINIS,
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