272

HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

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chap. Republican to hold the Privy Seal, and strongly recommended

-Rochester for the great place of Lord Treasurer.

While the two factions were struggling, Godolpliin, cau-tious, silent, and laborious, observed a neutrality betweenthem. Sunderland, with his usual restless perfidy, intriguedagainst them both. He had been turned out of office in dis-grace for having voted in favour of the Exclusion Bill, buthad made his peace by employing the good offices of theDuchess of Portsmouth and by cringing to the Duke of York,and was once more Secretary of State.

Policy of Nor was Lewis negligent or inactive. Every thing at thatmoment favoured his designs. He had nothing to apprehendfrom the German empire, which was then contending againstthe Turks on the Danube. Holland could not, unsupported,venture to oppose him'. He was therefore at liberty to indulgehis ambition and insolence without restraint. He seized Dix-mude #nd Courtray. He bombarded Luxemburg. He ex-acted from the republic of Genoa the most humiliating sub-missions. The power of France at that time reached a higherpoint than it ever before or ever after attained, during theten centuries which separated the reign of Charlemagne andthe reign of Napoleon. It was not easy to say where heracquisitions would stop, if only England could be kept in astate of vassalage. The first object of the court of Versailleswas therefore to prevent the calling of a Parliament and thgreconciliation of English parties. For this end bribes, pro-mises, and menaces were unsparingly employed. Charleswas sometimes allured by the hope of a subsidy, and some-times frightened by being told that, if he convoked theHouses, the secret articles of the treaty of Dover should bepublished. Several Privy Councillors were bought; andattempts were made to buy Halifax, but in vain. When hehad been found incorruptible, all the art and influence of theFrench embassy were employed to drive him from office: but