386

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAI>., VI.l68fi.

Dismis-siou ofRo-chester,

were not likely to quiet the perturbed mind of the minister.His agitation became violent, and he began to plead for hisplace as if he had been pleading for his life. “Your Majestysees that I do all in my power to obey you. Indeed I will doall that I can to obey you in every thing. I will serve you inyour own way. Nay,” he cried, in an agony of baseness, “Iwill do what I can to believe as you would have me. Butdo not let me be told, while I am trying to bring my mind tothis, that, if I find it impossible to comply, I must lose all.For I must needs tell your Majesty that there are other con-siderations.” “Oh, you must needs,” exclaimed the King,with an oath. For a single word of honest and manly sound,escaping in the midst of all this abject supplication, wassufficient to move his anger. “I hope, Sir,” said poor Ro-chester, “that I do not offend you. Surely your Majestycould not think well of me if I did not say so.” The Kingrecollected himself, protested that he was not offended, andadvised the Treasurer to disregard idle rumours, and to conferagain with Jane and Giffard. *

After this conversation, a fortnight elapsed before thedecisive blow fell. That fortnight Rochester passed in in-triguing and imploring. He attempted to interest in his favourthoseRoman Catholics who had the greatest influence at court.Ho could not, he said, renounce his own religion: but, withthat single reservation, he would do all that they could desire.Indeed, if he might only keep his place, they should find thathe could be more useful to them as a Protestant than as one oftheir own communion.** His wife, who was on a sick bed,had already, it was said, solicited the honour of a visit fromthe much injured Queen, and had attempted to work on HerMajesty’s feelings of compassion.*** But the Hydes abasedthemselves in vain. Petre regarded them with peculiar male-

* From Rochester’s Minutes, Dec. 4. 1686 .

*• Barillon, Dec. |3. 1686. *•* Burnet, i. 684.