WILLIAM THE THIRD.

185

When the King showed his speech to the Chancellor, <that wise minister forgot for a moment his habitual self- ~command. “This is extravagance, Sir,” he said: “thisis madness. I implore your Majesty, for the sake of yourown honour, not to say to anybody else what you havesaid to me.” He argued the matter during two hours, andno doubt lucidly and forcibly. William listened patiently;but his purpose remained unchanged.

The alarm of the ministers seems to have been in-creased by finding that the King’s intention had been con-fided to Marlborough, the very last man to whom such asecret would have been imparted unless William had reallymade up his mind to abdicate in favour of the Princess ofDenmark. Somers had another audience, and again beganto expostulate. But William cut him short. “We shallnot agree, my Lord; my mind is made up.” “ Then, Sir,”said Somers, “I have to request that I may be excusedfrom assisting as Chancellor at the fatal act which YourMajesty meditates. It was from my King that I receivedthis seal; and I beg that he will take it from me while he isstill my King.”

In these circumstances the ministers, though withscarcely the faintest hope of success, determined to trywhat they could do to meet the King’s wishes. A selectCommittee had been appointed by the House of Commonsto frame a bill for the disbanding of all the troops aboveseven thousand. A motion was made by one of the Courtparty that this Committee should be instructed to recon-

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