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HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

chap, him out.” The warrant was drawn up; and Capel signed it——with the rest. “I am more sorry for Lord Clarendon,” Marywrote to her husband, “than, maybe, will be believed.” Thatevening Clarendon and several other noted Jacobites werelodged in the Tower.*

Toi-rins- When the Privy Council had risen, the Queen and the in-dcred to terior Council of Nine had to consider a question of the gravestbottle to importance. What orders were to be sent to Torrington? TheTourviiic. sa f et y 0 f t k e g(; a t; e might depend on his judgment and presenceof mind; and some of Mary’s advisers apprehended that he wouldnot be found equal to the occasion. Their anxiety increasedwhen news came that he had abandoned the coast of the Isle ofWight to the French, and was retreating before them towardsthe Straits of Dover. The sagacious Caermarthen and the en-terprising Monmouth agreed in blaming these cautious tactics.It was true that Torrington had not so many vessels asTourville:but Caermarthen thought that, at such a time, it was advisableto fight, although against odds; and Monmouth was, throughlife, for fighting at all times and against all odds. Itussell, whowas indisputably one of the best seamen of the age, held thatthe disparity of numbers was not such as ought to cause anyuneasiness to an officer who commanded English and Dutchsailors. He therefore proposed to send to the Admiral a re-primand couched in terms so severe that the Queen did not liketo sign it. The language was much softened; but, in the main,Bussell’s advice Was followed. Torrington was positively or-dered to retreat no further, and to give battle immediately.Devonshire, however, was still unsatisfied. “It is my duty,Madam,” he said, “to tell Your Majesty exactly what I think ona matter of this importance; and I think that my Lord Tor-rington is not a man to be trusted with the fate of three king-

* Mary to William, June 26. 1690; Clarendon’s Diary of the samedate; Narcissus LuttreH’s Diary.