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disposed of all the graces of the king, in conferring all the honours and all the offices of the three kingdoms, without a rival; in dispensing whereof, he was guided more by the rules of appetite than of judgment; and so exalted almost all of his own numerous family and dependants, who had no other virtue or merit than their alliance to him, which equally offended the ancient nobility, and the people of all conditions, who saw the flowers of the crown every day fading and withered; whilst the demesnes and revenue thereof was sacrificed to the enriching a private family, (how well soever originally extracted,) not heard of before ever to the nation; and the expenses of the court so vast and unlimited by the old good rules of economy, that they had a sad prospect of that poverty and necessity, which afterwards befell the crown, almost to the ruin of it.

Many were of opinion, that king James, before his death, grew weary of his favourite; and that, if he had lived, he would have deprived him at least of his large and unlimited power. And this imagination prevailed with some men, as the lord keeper Lincoln, the earl of Middlesex, lord high treasurer of England, and other gentlemen of name, though not in so high stations, that they had the courage to withdraw from their absolute dependence upon the duke, and to make some other essays, which proved to the ruin of every one of them; there appearing no marks, or evidence, that the king did really lessen his affection to him, to the hour of his death. On the contrary, as he created him duke of Buckingham in his absence, whilst he was with the prince in Spain; so, after his return, he executed the same authority in conferring all favours and graces, and revenging himself upon those, who had manifested any unkindness towards him. And yet, notwithstanding all this, if that king's nature had equally disposed him to pull down, as to build and erect, and if his courage and severity in punishing and reforming had been as great as his generosity and inclination was to oblige, it is not to be doubted, but that he would have withdrawn his affection from the duke entirely, before his death; which those persons, who were admitted to any privacy with [him,] and were not in the confidence of the other, (for before those he knew well how to dissemble,) had reason enough to expect.

Spain, and to fetch home his mistress ; that it would put an end presently to all those formalities, which, (though all substantial matters were agreed upon already,) according to the style of that court, and the slow progress in all things of ceremony, might yet long retard the infanta's voyage into England many months; all which would be in a moment removed by his own presence; that it would be such an obligation to the infanta herself, as she could never enough value or requite; and being a respect never paid by any other prince, upon the like addresses, could proceed only from the high regard and reverence he had for her person; that in the great affair that only remained undetermined, and was not entirely yielded to, though under a very civil deliberation, which was the restoring the palatinate, it was very probable, that the king of Spain himself might choose, in the instant, to gratify his personal interposition, which, in a treaty with an ambassador, might be drawn out in length, or attended with overtures of recompense by some new concessions, which would create new difficulties: however, that the mediation could not but be frankly undertaken by the infanta herself, who would ambitiously make it her work to pay a part of her great debt to the prince; and that he might with her, and by her, present to his majesty the entire peace and restitution of his family, which by no other human means could be brought to pass.

These discourses made so deep impression upon the mind and spirit of the prince, (whose nature was inclined to adventures,) that he was transported with the thought of it, and most impatiently solicitous to bring it to pass. The greatest difficulty that was in view was, how they might procure the king's consent, who was very quicksighted in discerning difficulties and raising objections, and very slow in mastering them, and untying the knots he had made in a word, he knew not how to wrestle with desperate contingencies, and so abhorred the being entangled in such. This was to be first attempted by the prince himself, by communicating it to the king, as his earnest desire and suit, with this circumstance; that since his doing or not doing what he most desired, depended wholly and entirely upon his majesty's own approbation and command, that he would vouchsafe to promise not to communicate the thing proposed, before he had first taken For it is not to be doubted, that the king was his own resolution; and that this condition should never well pleased with the duke, after the prince's be first humbly insisted on, before the substantial going into Spain; which was infinitely against point should be communicated; and so, this aphis will, and contrived wholly by the duke: who, proach being first made, the success and proseout of envy, that the earl of Bristol should have cution was to be left to the duke's credit, dextethe sole management of so great an affair (as rity, and cultivation. All things being thus hitherto that treaty had been wholly managed by concerted between his highness and the duke, him in Spain, where he was now extraordinary (and this the beginning of an entire confidence ambassador, and all particulars agreed upon,) had between them, after a long time of declared one day insinuated to the prince the common mis- jealousy and displeasure on the prince's part, fortune of princes, that in so substantial a part and occasion enough administered on the other,) of their happiness in this world, as depended upon they shortly found a fit opportunity (and there their marriage, themselves had never any part, were seasons when that king was to be approached but must receive only an account from others of more hopefully than in others) to make their the nature, and humour, and beauty of the ladies address together. And his majesty cheerfully they were to marry; and those reports seldom consented to the condition, and being well pleased proceeded from persons totally uninterested, at that all should depend upon his will, frankly proleast uninclined from the parts they had acted mised that he would not, in any degree, commutowards such preparations. From hence [he] dis-nicate to any person the matter, before he had coursed how gallant and how brave a thing it taken, and communicated to them, his own reso. would be, for his highness to make a journey into lution.

The prince then, upon his knees, declared his suit and very importunate request, the duke standing a long time by, without saying a word, and until the king discoursed the whole matter to the prince, with less passion than they expected, and then looked upon the duke, as inclined to hear what he would say; who spoke nothing to the point, whether in point of prudence counsellable, or not; but enlarged upon the infinite obligation his majesty would confer upon the prince, by his concession of the violent passion his highness was transported with; and, after many exalted expressions to that purpose, concluded, that he doubted that his majesty refusing to grant the prince this his humble request would make a deep impression upon his spirits, and peace of mind; and that he would, he feared, look upon it as the greatest misfortune and affliction that could befall him in this world. The prince then taking the opportunity, from the good temper he saw his father in, to enlarge upon these two points, which he knew were most important in the king's own wishes and judgment, that this expedient would put a quick end to this treaty, which could not be continued after his arrival in that court; but that his marriage must presently ensue, which, he well knew, the king did the most impatiently desire of all blessings in this world: he said likewise, he would undertake (and he could not but be believed from the reasonableness of it) that his presence would in a moment determine the restitution of the palatinate to his brother and sister; which was the second thing the king longed most passionately to see before he should leave this world.

These discourses, urged with all the artifice and address imaginable, so far wrought upon and prevailed with the king, that, with less hesitation than his nature was accustomed to, and much less than was agreeable to his great wisdom, he gave his approbation, and promised that the prince should make the journey he was so much inclined to: whether he did not upon the sudden comprehend the consequences, which would naturally attend such a rash undertaking, or whether he the less considered them, because the provisions, which must be made for such a journey, both with reference to the expense and security of it, would take up much time, and could not be done in such a secret way, but that the council itself might be resumed again, when new measures should be taken. But this imagination was too reasonable not to be foreseen by them; and so they had provided themselves accordingly. And therefore, as soon as they had the king's promise upon the main, they told him, the security of such a design depended on the expedition, without which there could be no secresy observed, or hoped for; that, if it were deferred till such a fleet could be made ready, and such an equipage prepared, as might be fit for the prince of Wales, so much time would be spent, as would disappoint the principal ends of the journey: if they should send for a pass to France, the ceremony in the asking and granting it, and that which would flow from it, in his passage through that kingdom, would be at least liable to the same objection of delay: besides that, according to the mysteries and intrigues of state, such a pass could not in point of security be reasonably depended upon; and therefore they

had thought of an expedient, which would avoid all inconveniences and hazards; and that it should be executed before it should be suspected: that it had never hitherto been, in the least degree, consulted but between themselves, (which was really true;) and therefore, if they now undertook the journey only with two servants, who should not know any thing till the moment they were to depart, they might easily pass through France, before they should be missed at Whitehall: which was not hard to be conceived, and so with the less disquisition was consented to by the king: and the farther deliberation of what was more to be done both in matter and manner, and the nomination of the persons who should attend them, and the time for their departure, was deferred to the consultation of the next day.

When the king, in his retirement, and by himself, came to revolve what had been so loosely consulted before, as he had a wonderful sagacity in such reflections, a thousand difficulties and dangers occurred to him, and so many precipices, which could hardly be avoided in such a journey. Besides those considerations, which the violent affection of a father to his only son suggested to him, he thought how ill an influence it might have on his people, too much disposed to murmur and complain of the least inadvertisement, and that they looked upon the prince as the son of the kingdom, as well as his natural son. He considered the reputation he should lose with all foreign princes, (especially if any ill accident should happen,) by so much departing from his dignity in exposing the immediate heir of the crown, his only son, to all the dangers, and all the jealousies, which particular malice, or that fathomless abyss of reason of state, might prepare and contrive against him; and then, in how desperate a condition himself and his kingdoms should remain, if the prince miscarried by such an unparalleled weakness of his, contrary to the light of his understanding, as well as the current of his affection.

These reflections were so terrible to him, that they robbed him of all peace and quiet of mind; insomuch as when the prince and duke came to him about the dispatch, he fell into a great passion of tears, and told them that he was undone, and that it would break his heart, if they pursued their resolution; that, upon a true and dispassionate disquisition he had made with himself, he was abundantly convinced, that, besides the almost inevitable hazards of the prince's person, with whom his life was bound up, and besides the entire loss of the affections of his people, which would unavoidably attend this rash action, he foresaw it would ruin the whole design, and irrecoverably break the match. For whereas all those particulars, upon which he could positively and of right insist, were fully granted, (for that, which concerned the prince elector, who had unexcusably, and directly against his advice, incurred the ban of the empire in an imperial diet, must be wrought off by mediation and treaty, could not be insisted on in justice,) nor could Spain make any new demands, all the overtures they had made being adjusted; the prince should no sooner arrive at Madrid, than all the articles of the treaty should be laid aside, and new matters be proposed, which had not been yet mentioned, and could never be consented to by him: that the treaty of this marriage, how well soever

(after his majesty had passionately, and with many oaths, renounced the having communicated the matter with any person living,) that the debate was again resumed upon the journey, which they earnestly desired might not be deferred, but that they might take their leaves of the king within two days, in which they would have all things ready which were necessary, his highness pretending to hunt at The

They told him, that being to have only two more in their company, as was before resolved, they had thought (if he approved them) upon sir Francis Cottington and Endymion Porter, who, thought they might safely, should not be trusted with the secret, till they were even ready to be embarked.. The persons were both grateful to the king, the former having been long his majesty's agent in the court of Spain, and was now secretary to the prince; the other, having been bred in Madrid, and after many years attendance upon the duke, was now one of the bedchamber to the prince: so that his majesty cheerfully approved the election they had made, and wished it might be presently imparted to them; saying, that many things would occur to them, as necessary to the journey, that they two would never think of; and took that occasion to send for sir Francis Cottington to come presently to him, (whilst the other two remained with him,) who, being of custom waiting in the outward rooms, was quickly brought in; whilst the duke whispered the prince in the ear, that Cottington would be against the journey, and his highness answered he durst not.

received, and how much soever desired by the king and his chief ministers, was in no degree acceptable to the Spanish nation in general, and less to the court of Rome, where, though the new pope seemed more inclined to grant the dispensation than his predecessor had been, it was plain enough, that it proceeded only from the apprehension he had to displease the king of Spain, not that he was less averse from theobald's, and the duke to take physic at Chelsea. match, it having been always believed, both in Spain and in Rome, that this marriage was to be attended with a full repeal of all the penal laws against the catholics, and a plenary toleration of the exercise of that religion in England, which they now saw concluded, without any signal or real benefit or advantage to them. And therefore they might expect, and be confident, that when they had the person of the prince of Wales in their hands, the king of Spain (though in his own nature and inclinations full of honour and justice) would be even compelled by his clergy (who had always a great influence upon the counsels of that kingdom) and the importunities from Rome, who would tell him, that God had now put it into his hand to advance the catholic cause, to make new demands for those of that religion here; which, though he could never consent to, would at best interpose such delays in the marriage, that he should never live to see it brought to pass, nor probably to see his son return again out of Spain. Then he put the duke in mind (whom he hitherto believed only to comply with the prince to oblige him, after a long alienation from his favour) how inevitable his ruin must be, by the effect of this counsel, how ungracious The king told him, that he had always been an he was already with the people, and how many honest man, and therefore he was now to trust him enemies he had amongst the greatest persons of in an affair of the highest importance, which he was the nobility, who would make such use of this not upon his life to disclose to any man alive; then occasion, that it would not be in his majesty's said to him, "Cottington, here is baby Charles and power to protect him. And he concluded with the Stenny," (an appellation he always used of and disorder and passion, with which he began, with towards the duke,) "who have a great mind to go sighs and tears, to conjure them, that they would by post into Spain, to fetch home the infanta, and no more press him to give his consent to a thing "will have but two more in their company, and so contrary to his reason, and understanding, and "have chosen you for one. What think you of the interest, the execution whereof would break his" journey?" He often protested, that when he heart, and that they would give over any further pursuit of it.

The prince and the duke took not the pains to answer any of the reasons his majesty had insisted on; his highness only putting him in mind of the promise he had made to him the day before, which was so sacred, that he hoped he would not violate it; which would make him never think more of marriage. The duke, who better knew what kind of arguments were of prevalence with him, treated him more rudely; told him, nobody could believe any thing he said, when he retracted so soon the promise he had so solemnly made; that he plainly discerned, that it proceeded from another breach of his word, in communicating with some rascal, who had furnished him with those pitiful reasons he had alleged; and he doubted not but he should hereafter know who his counsellor had been: that if he receded from what he had promised, it would be such a disobligation upon the prince, who had set his heart now upon the journey, after his majesty's approbation, that he could never forget it, nor forgive any man who had been the cause of it.

The prince, who had always expressed the highest duty and reverence towards the king, by his humble and importunate entreaty, and the duke by his rougher dialect, in the end prevailed so far,

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heard the king, he fell into such a trembling, that he could hardly speak. But when the king commanded him to answer him, what he thought of the journey, he replied, that he could not think well of it, and that he believed it would render all that had been done towards the match fruitless: for that Spain would no longer think themselves obliged by those articles, but that, when they had the prince in their hands, they would make new overtures, which they believed more advantageous to them; amongst which they must look for many which would concern religion, and the exercise of it in England. Upon which the king threw himself upon his bed, and said, "I told you this before," and fell into new passion and lamentation, that he was undone, and should lose baby Charles.

There appeared displeasure and anger enough in the countenances both of the prince and duke; the latter saying, that as soon as the king sent for him, he whispered the prince in the ear, that he would be against it; that he knew his pride well enough; and that, because he had not been first advised with, he was resolved to dislike it; and thereupon he reproached Cottington with all possible bitterness of words; told him the king asked him only of the journey, and which would be the best way, of which he might be a competent counsellor, having made

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the way so often by post: but that he had the presumption to give his advice upon matter of state, and against his master, without being called to it, which he should repent as long as he lived; with a thousand new reproaches, which put the poor king into a new agony on the behalf of a servant, who he foresaw would suffer for answering him honestly. Upon which he said, with some commotion, "Nay, by God, Stenny, you are very much to blame to 66 use him so. He answered me directly to the question I asked him, and very honestly and "wisely and yet you know he said no more than "I told you, before he was called in." However, after all this passion on both parts, the king yielded, and the journey was at that very conference agreed upon, and all directions given accordingly to sir Francis Cottington; the king having now plainly discovered, that the whole intrigue was originally contrived by the duke, and so violently pursued by his spirit and impetuosity.

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The manner, circumstances, and conclusion of that voyage, with the rare accidents which happened in it, will no doubt be at large remembered by whosoever shall have the courage to write the transactions of that time, with that integrity he ought to do: in which it will manifestly appear, how much of the prophet was in the wisdom of the king; and that that designed marriage, which had been so many years in treaty, even from the death of prince Harry, and so near concluded, was solely broken by that journey: which, with the passages before mentioned, king James never forgave the duke of Buckingham; but retained as sharp a memory of it as his nature could contain.

This indisposition in the king towards the duke was exceedingly increased and aggravated upon and after the prince's return out of Spain. For though it brought infinite joy and delight to his majesty, which he expressed in all imaginable transportation, and was the argument of the loudest and most universal rejoicing over the whole kingdom, that the nation had ever been acquainted with; in which the duke had so full a harvest, that the imprudence and presumption (to say no more) of carrying the prince into Spain was totally forgotten, or forgotten with any reference to him, and the high merit and inestimable obligation, in bringing him home, was remembered, magnified, and celebrated by all men in all places; yet the king was wonderfully disquieted, when he found (which he had not before their return suspected) that the prince was totally aliened from all thoughts of, or inclination to, the marriage; and that they were resolved to break it, with or without his approbation or consent. And in this the duke resumed the same impetuosity he had so much indulged to himself in the debate of the journey into Spain.

The king had, upon the prince's return, issued out writs to call a parliament, which was in the twenty-first year of his reign, thinking it necessary, with relation to the perplexities he was in, for the breach of this match with Spain, (which he foresaw must ensue,) and the sad condition of his only daughter in Germany, with her numerous issue, to receive their advice. By the time the pargrave liament could meet, the prince's entire confidence being still reposed in the duke, as the king's seemed to be, the duke had wrought himself into the very great esteem and confidence of the principal members of both houses of parliament, who were most like to be the leading men, and had all a desire to

have as much reputation in the court, as they had in the country. It was very reasonably thought necessary, that as the king would, at the opening of the parliament, make mention of the treaty with Spain, and more at large of his daughter's being driven out of the palatinate, which would require their assistance and aid; so that the prince and duke should afterwards, to one or both houses, as occasion should be offered, make a relation of what had passed in Spain, especially concerning the palatinate: that so putting the houses into some method and order of their future debate, they would be more easily regulated, than if they were in the beginning left to that liberty, which they naturally affected, and from which they would not be restrained, but in such a manner as would be grateful to themselves.

Things being thus concerted, after the houses had been three or four days together, (for in that time some days were always spent in the formality of naming committees, and providing for common occurrences, before they made an entrance upon more solemn debates,) the prince began to speak of the Spanish affairs, and of his own journey thither; and forgot not to mention the duke with more than ordinary affection. Whereupon it was thought fit, that the whole affair, which was likewise to be the principal subject matter of all their consultations, should be stated and enlarged upon, in a conference between the two houses, which his highness and the duke were desired to manage. How little notice soever any body else could take of the change, the duke himself too well knew the hearty resentment the king had of what had passed, and of the affection he still had for the Spanish treaty; and therefore he had [done], and resolved still to do, all he could, to make himself grateful to the parliament, and popular amongst the people, who he knew had always detested the match with Spain, or in truth any alliance with that nation.

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So when, at the conference, the prince had made a short introduction to the business, and said some very kind things of the duke, of his wonderful care of him whilst he was in Spain, and the great dexterity he used in getting him away, he referred the whole relation to him; who made the true ground "of the prince's journey into Spain, which he well "knew had begot such a terrible panting in the "hearts of all good Englishmen, had been only to "make a clear discovery of the sincerity of the Spaniard, and, if his intention were real, to put a speedy end to it by marrying the lady upon the place if he found it otherwise, to put his father "and himself into liberty to dispose of himself in some other place. That the ambassador, in whose "hands that great affair was solely managed, when "in one dispatch he wrote that all was concluded, "in the next used to give an account of new difficulties, and new demands: and, when all things were adjusted at Madrid, some unexpected scru"ples discovered themselves at Rome, with which "the councils in Spain seemed to be surprised, and "appeared to be confounded, and not to know what "to say. These ebbs and floods made the prince

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apprehend, that the purpose was to amuse us, "whilst they had other designs in secret agitation. "And thereupon, that his highness had prevailed "with his father (how unwilling soever) to permit "him to make that journey, that he might make "that useful discovery, which could not be other"wise made in any seasonable time.

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"That they no sooner came to Madrid, than they discovered (though the prince was treated "with all the respect due to his greatness, and the obligation he had laid upon that nation) that "there had never been any real purpose that the "infanta should be given to him: that, during so long an abode as his highness made there, they "had never procured the dispensation from Rome, " which they might easily have done: and that, at last, upon the death of the pope, Gregory XV, the "whole process was to begin again, and would be "transacted with the formalities, which they should "find necessary to their other affairs. That, instead "of proceeding upon the articles, which had been pretended to be concluded, they urged nothing "but new demands, and in matters of religion so peremptorily, that the principal clergymen, and "the most eminent of that king's preachers, had frequent conferences with the prince, to persuade "him to change his religion, and become a catholic. And, in order to move him the more successfully thereunto, they procured the pope to write a "letter himself to his highness, putting him in "mind of the religion of his ancestors and progenitors, and conjuring him to return to the "same faith: but that it had pleased God not only "to give the prince a constant and unshakable "heart in his religion, but such wonderful abilities to defend the same in his discourse and arguments, that they stood amazed to hear him, and upon the matter confessed, that they were not "able to answer him.

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"That they would not suffer the prince to confer "with, or so much as to speak to hardly, and very "rarely to see his mistress, who they pretended he "should forthwith marry. That they could never "obtain any better answer in the business of the “palatinate, than that the restoring it was not in "the power of that king, though it had been taken by the sole power of Spain, and the Spanish army, under the command of the marquis Spinola, who was then in the entire possession of it but that his catholic majesty would use "his interposition, with all the credit he had with the emperor and duke of Bavaria, without whose "joint consent it could not be done, and whose "consent he hoped to obtain: but that he was "well assured, that there was no more real inten"tion in that point of restitution, than in the other "of the marriage; and that the palatinate must "not be looked to be recovered any other way than by force, which would easily bring it to "" pass."

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Throughout his whole discourse he made frequent reflections upon the earl of Bristol, as if he very well knew the Spaniards' purposes in the whole, and concurred with them in it. "That he was so "much troubled when he first saw the prince, who alighted at his house, that he could not contain himself, but wished that his highness were at home again; that he had afterwards, when he found that his highness liked the infanta, per"suaded him in private that he would become a catholic; and that, without changing his religion, it would not be possible ever to compass that marriage.

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malice and fury; his majesty having a great esteem of that earl's fidelity to him, and of his great abilities.

The conference ended in a wonderful applause, in both houses, of the prince and duke's behaviour and carriage throughout the affair, and in a hasty resolution to dissuade the king from entertaining any farther motions towards the match, and frankly and resolutely to enter into a war with Spain; towards the carrying on of which they raised great mountains of promises, and, prevailing in the first, never remembered to make good the latter; which too often falls out in such counsels.

When king James was informed of what the duke had so confidently avowed, for which he had no authority, or the least direction from him, and a great part whereof himself knew to be untrue; and that he had advised an utter breach of the treaty, and to enter upon a war with Spain, he was infinitely offended; so that he wanted only a resolute and brisk counsellor to assist him in destroying him and such a one he promised himself in the arrival of the earl of Bristol, whom he expected every day.

He had another exception against the duke, which touched him as near, and in which he enlarged himself much more. Lionel Cranfeild, who, though extracted from a gentleman's family, had been bred in the city, and, being a man of great wit and understanding in all the mysteries of trade, had found means to work himself into the good opinion and favour of the duke of Buckingham; and having shortly after married a near ally of the duke's, with wonderful expedition was made a privy-counsellor, master of the wardrobe, master of the wards, and, without parting with any of these, was now become lord high treasurer of England, and earl of Middlesex, and had in truth gained so much credit with the king, (being in truth a man of great parts and notable dexterity,) that, during the duke's absence in Spain, he was not only negligent in the issuing out such sums of money as were necessary to the defraying those unlimited expenses, and to correspond with him with that deference he had used to do, but had the courage to dispute his commands, and to appeal to the king, whose ear was always inclined to him, and in whom he began to believe himself so far fastened, that he should not stand in need of the future support of the favourite. And of all this the duke could not be without ample information, as well from his own creatures, who were near enough to observe, as from others; who, caring for neither of them, were more scandalized at so precipitate a promotion of a person of such an education, and whom they had long known so much their inferior, though it could not be denied, that he filled the places he held with great abilities.

The duke no sooner found the parliament disposed to a good opinion of him, and being well assured of the prince's fast kindness, than he projected the ruin of this bold rival of his, of whom he saw clearly enough that the king had so good an opinion, that it would not be in his sole power to crush him, as he had done others in the same and as high a station. And so he easily procured some leading men in the house of commons, to cause an impeachment for several corruptions and misdemeanours to be sent up to the house of peers against that great minister, whom they had so lately known their equal in that house; which (besides their natural inclination to those kinds of executions) dis

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