"WILLIAM THE THIRD.

13

Montague had the direction of the finances, and Orfordof the marine. But the utmost spite of all the leadingmalecontents was concentrated on one object, the greatmagistrate who still held the highest civil post in the realm,and who was evidently determined to hold it in defianceof them. It was not so easy to get rid of him as it had beento drive his colleagues from office. His abilities the mostintolerant Tories were forced grudgingly to acknowledge.His integrity might be questioned in nameless libels andin coffeehouse tattle, but was certain to come forth brightand pure from the most severe Parliamentary investigation.Nor was he guilty of those faults of temper and of mannerto which, more than to any grave delinquency, the un-popularity of his associates is to be ascribed. He had aslittle of the insolence and perverseness of Orford as of thepetulance and vain-gloriousness of Montague. One of themost severe trials to which the head and heart of man canbe put is great and rapid elevation. To that trial bothMontague and Somers were put. It was too much forMontague. But Somers was found equal to it. He wasthe son of a country attorney. At thirty seven he had beensitting in a stuff gown on a back bench in the Court ofKing’s Bench. At forty two he was the first lay dignitaryof the realm, and took precedence of the Archbishop ofYork, and of the Duke of Norfolk. He had risen from alower point than Montague, had risen as fast as Montague,had risen as high as Montague, and yet had not excitedenvy such as dogged Montague through a long career.

CHAP.

xxv.

1693 .