made not a greater impression on her. She took 1689. this freedom with her usual goodness. And she assured me, she felt the sense of it very lively upon her thoughts. But she told me, that the letters which had been writ to her had obliged her to put on a cheerfulness, in which she might perhaps go too far, because she was obeying directions, and acting a part which was not very natural to her. This was on the 12th of February, being Shrove-Tuesday. The thirteenth was the day set for the two houses to come with the offer of the crown. So here ends the interregnum.

And thus I have given the fullest and most particular account that I could gather of all that passed during this weak, unactive, violent, and superstitious reign; in which all regard to the affairs of Europe seemed to be laid aside, and nothing was thought on

e That she put on more airs of gaiety upon that occasion than became her, or seemed natural, I was an eyewitness to, having seen her upon her first arrival at Whitehall: but that she behaved in the ridiculous indecent manner the duchess of Marlborough has represented, I do as little believe, as that her grace (which she would insinuate) had any share in making the countess of Derby groom of the stole, which was entirely owing to her being the duke of Ormond's sister, and Mr. Overquerque's niece; without any recommendation from the princess of Denmark, which could not have been obtained without lady Churchill's interposition at that time, that was neither wanted or desired. Her

VOL. III.

grace, out of abundant good
will to the countess of Derby,
has produced her accounts, to
show how much they exceeded
her own, which may easily be
accounted for, that queen being
of a very generous temper, and
was continually presenting the
ladies and their children, that
were about her, with things of
considerable value. Therefore
the great articles are to jewel-
lers, goldsmiths, and East India
shops, which her grace took
care there should be no call for,
during her administration: but
has confessed the mean begging
of eighteen thousand pounds,
after the immense wealth she
and her family had extorted
from the public during her fa-
vour with queen Ann. D.

C C

386 HIST. OF THE REIGN OF JAMES II.

1689. but the spiteful humours of a revengeful Italian 826 lady, and the ill laid, and worse managed, projects of some hot meddling priests, whose learning and politics were of a piece, the one exposing them to contempt, and the other to ruin; involving in it a prince, who, if it had not been for his being delivered up to such counsels, might have made a better figure in history. But they managed both themselves and him so ill, that a reign, whose rise was bright and prosperous, was soon set in darkness and disgrace. But I break off here, lest I should seem to aggravate misfortunes, and load the unfortunate. too much.

END OF KING JAMES THE SECOND'S REIGN.

TABLE OF THE CONTENTS

OF THE FOREGOING

VOLUME".

BOOK IV.

Of the reign of king James the second.

A REIGN happily begun, but

(The pages referred to are those of the folio edition, which are inserted in the margin of the present.)