HISTORY OF ENGLAND

• himself, as was his wont in unquiet times, retired to his gardenand his library. Essex quitted the board of Treasury, andcast in his lot with the opposition. But Halifax, disgusted andalarmed by the violence of his old associates, and Sunderland,who never quitted place while he could hold it, remained inthe King’s service.

In consequence of the resignations which took place atthis conjuncture, the way to greatness was left clear to a newset of aspirants. Two statesmen, who subsequently rose tothe highest eminence which a British subject can reach, soonbegan to attract a large share of the public attention. Thesewere Lawrence Hyde and Sidney Godolphin.

Lawrence Hyde was the second son of the Chancellor Cla-rendon, and was brother of the first Duchess of York. Hehad excellent parts, which had been improved by parliamen-tary and diplomatic experience; but the infirmities of histemper detracted much from the effective strength of his abi-lities. Negotiator and courtier as he was, he never learnedthe art of governing or of concealing his emotions. Whenprosperous, he was insolent and boastful: when he sustained acheck, his undisguised mortification doubled the triumph ofhis enemies: very slight provocations sufficed to kindle hisanger; and when he was angry he said bitter things which heforgot as soon as he was pacified, but which others remem-bered many years. His quickness and penetration wouldhave made him a consummate man of business but for his self-sufficiency and impatience His writings prove that he hadmany of the qualities of an orator: but his irritability pre-vented him from doing himself justice in debate: for nothingwas easier than to goad him into a passion; and, from the mo-ment when he went into a passion, he was at the mercy of op-ponents far inferior to him in capacity.

Unlike most of the leading politicians of that generation hewas a consistent, dogged, and rancorous party man, a Cavalier