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be her adviser on all questions relating to the fleet. But Caer- citap.marthen was designated as the person on whom, in case of any )61) j ■difference of opinion in the council, she ought chiefly to rely.Caermarthen’s sagacity and experience were unquestionable:his principles, indeed, were lax: hut, if there was any personin existence to whom he was likely to be true, that person wasMary. He had long been in a peculiar manner her friend andservant: he had gained a high place in her favour by bringingabout her marriage; and he had, in the Convention, carriedhis zeal for her interests to a length which she had herselfblamed as excessive. There was, therefore, every reason tohope that he would serve her at this critical conjuncture withsincere good will.*

One of her nearest kinsmen, on the other hand, was one £1^- 1

her bitterest enemies. The evidence which was in the posses- rendon.sion of the government proved beyond dispute that Clarendonwas deeply concerned in the Jacobite schemes of insurrection.

But the Queen w T as most unwilling that her kindred should beharshly treated; and William, remembering through what tiesshe had broken, and what reproaches she had incurred, for hissake, readily gave her uncle’s life and liberty to her intercession.

But, before the King set out for Ireland, bespoke seriously toRochester. “Your brother has been plotting against me. I amsure of it. I have the proofs under his own hand. I was urgedto leave him out of the Act of Grace; but I would not do tvhatwould have given so much pain to the Queen. For her sake Iforgive the past; but my Lord Clarendon will do well to be cau-tious for the future. If not, he will find that these are no jestingmatters.” Rochester communicated the admonition to Claren-don. Clarendon, who was in constant correspondence withDublin and Saint Germains, protested that his only wish w'asto be quiet, and that, though he had a scruple about the oaths,

* See Mary’s Letters to William, published by Dalrymple.