JAMES THE SECOND.

83

tliat Duke of Somerset who had been brother-in-law of KingHenry the Eighth, and Protector of the realm of England.In the original limitation of the dukedom of Somerset, theelder son of the Protector had been postponed to the youngerson. From the younger son the Dukes of Somerset weredescended. From the elder son was descended the familywhich dwelt at Berry Pomeroy. Seymour’s fortune was large,and his influence in the west of England extensive. Nor wasthe importance derived from descent and wealth the onlyimportance which belonged to him. He was one of the mostskilful debaters and men of business in the kingdom. He hadsate many years in the House of Commons, had studied all itsrules and usages, and thoroughly understood its peculiartemper. He had been elected Speaker in the late reign undercircumstances which made that distinction peculiarly honour-able. During several generations none but lawyers had beencalled to the chair; and he was the first country gentlemanwhose abilities and acquirements enabled him to break thatlong prescription. He had subsequently held high politicaloffice, and had sate in the cabinet. But his haughty andunaccommodating temper had given so much disgust that hehad been forced to retire. He was a Tory and a Churchman;he had strenuously opposed the Exclusion Bill; he had beenpersecuted by the Whigs in the day of their prosperity; andhe could therefore safely venture to hold language for whichany person suspected of republicanism would have been sentto the Tower. He had long been at the head of a strong par-liamentary connection, which was called the Western Alliance,and which included many gentlemen of Devonshire, Somer-setshire, and Cornwall. *

In every House of Commons a member, who unites elo-quence, knowledge, and habits of business, to opulence andillustrious descent, must be highly considered. But in a

’* North’s Life of Guildford, 228 .; News from Westminster.

6 *

CHAP.

IV.

1685.