430

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

X.

1C68.

The Prin-cess Anneacquies-ces in theWhigplau.

full determination, even if she came to the throne in the regu-lar course of descent, to surrender her power, with thesanction of Parliament, into the hands of her husband.Danby received from her an earnest, and almost angry, repri-mand. She was, she wrote, the Prince’s wife; she hadno other wish than to be subject to him; the most cruel injurythat could be done to her would be to set her up as hiscompetitor; and she never could regard any person who tooksuch a course as her true friend.* The Tories had still onehope. Anne might insist on her own rights, and on those ofher children. No effort was spared to stimulate her ambition,and to alarm her conscience. Her uncle Clarendon wasespecially active. A few weeks only had elapsed since thehope of wealth and greatness had impelled him to bely theboastful professions of his whole life, to desert the royalcause, to join with the Wildmans and Fergusons, nay, topropose that the King should be sent a prisoner to a foreignland and immured in a fortress begirt by pestilential marshes.The lure which had produced this strange transformation wasthe Viceroyalty of Ireland. Soon, however, it appeared thatthe proselyte had little chance of obtaining the splendid prizeon which his heart was set. He found that others were con-sulted on Irish affairs. His advice was never,asked, and,when obtrusively and importunately offered, was coldlyreceived. He repaired many times to Saint James’s Palace,but could scarcely obtain a word or a look. One day thePrince was writing; another day he wanted fresh air and mustride in the Park; on a third he was closeted with officers onmilitary business and could see nobody. Clarendon saw thathe was not likely to gain anything by the sacrifice of hisprinciples, and determined to take them back again. InDecember ambition had converted him into a rebel. InJanuary disappointment reconverted him into a royalist. Theuneasy consciousness that he had not been a consistent Torygave a peculiar acrimony to his Toryism. ** In the House of

* Burnet, i. 819.

** Clarendon’s Diary , Jan. 1,4, 8, 9,10,11,12,13,14.168}; Burnet, i.

son.