Henry Ellis

“ And from that moment Lord Marlborough came to the trimming resolution to cut Harley singly, by wch he thought entirely to justifie himself to my Lord Godolphin (who, as he had cause sufficient, thought himself abandon'd and given up by him) , and to keep in St. John, Harcourt, and Hansel, his great friends and confidents, in order to support him against the Junto Lords, and to keep his interest with the Queen, by not acting directly contrary to the advice he most certainly had formerly given her in relation to these men and their destructive projects. ”

“ And tho' I plainly saw by this strange discourse that Ld Godolphin's treaty with the Tories was broken off; that Ld Shrewsbury had brought him into a treaty with Harley; that Ld Halifax and Ld Sommers had deserted the rest of the Junto Lords, and were likewise engaged with them ”

“ He told me, likewise, my Ld Sommers and my Ld Halifax were, out of hatred to him and Lord Marlborough, entering into confidence with Harley, wch intrigue was carried on by the Duke of Newcastle; and therefore, if he should absolutely reject the offers made him by the Tories, he, and those of the House of Commons who had opposed the Junto and turn'd out Harley, should be left to the mercy of a conjunction of the said Harley and the inraged Tories, for such his refusal to treat with them. ”

“ Masham's unbounded influence over her unhappy mistress's will in all things whatever, but especially in keeping her steady to the aforesaid engagements; upon Harley's dismission, St. John, Harcourt, and Mansel, notwithstanding all my Lord Marlbro' could say to persuade them to the contrary, likewise flung up their employments with him. ”

“ The Queen, who, from the moment she parted with Harley, had held a private correspondence with him by Mrs. Masham's means, now was known to see him every day. And the first publick instance that he chose to show the world his power with the Queen was, persuading her Majesty to give Collll Hill, Mrs. Masham's brother, (a very young officer in the army,) my Lord Essex's old Regiment of Dragoons, wch was designed by Lord Marlborough for Meredith, one of his favourites ”

“ John, Harcourt, and Mansell, (and at this instant, even to Harley himself,) on account of their inveteracy to the Junto Lords; and my Lord Godolphin and my Lord Sunderland, both hurried on by my Lady Marlborough's furious passion, having, notwithstanding their near relation to my Lord Marlborough, enter'd into as close or closer engagements with the Junto Lords, in opposition, even in personal things, to my Lord Marlborough himself ”

“ Masham from about her person was attempted in either House of Parliament.
And as it was impossible for any man of sense, honour, or honesty to come into an Address to remove a dresser from the Queen (for, notwithstanding all her secret influence, in outward appearance she was no more,) only to gratifie my Lady Marlborough's passions; so her Majesty had such assurances from all as gave her full satisfaction as to this point, wch Harley and his brother conspirators made her believe would go to all others ”

“ And the consequences of the above treasonable counsells were the increase of the Jacobite interest in the House of Commons to that heighth, that they were enabled, by delaying the supplies so late in the year that they were useless for the ends they were design'd, viz. to carry on the war with success, by giving deficient funds, and by cramping the publick credit, to prolong the war and increase the taxes to such an annual exorbitancy yt ye people readily believ'd them when they laid those traiterous acts to the charge of ye King and Government. ”

“ And this letter was carried to his grace by Mr. St. John, now Lord Bullingbroke, then my Lord's chief favourite and most trusted friend, whose part in this new scheme was to be Secretary of State, and my Lord Harcourt Lord Chancellour. ”

“ Lincoln in 1710, and in April 1719 was created Earl of Coningsby, of the same place, with remainder to the issue of any future marriage, and on failure thereof to his daughter Margaret, who had been already created in 1716 Baroness and Viscountess Coningsby of Hampton Court in the county of Hereford, and in whom those titles became extinct. ”

“ And to them, and them alone, was owing the dissolving of the Convention Parliament wch set the crown on the King's head; the passing the Triennial Bill, wch broke to pieces the whole Revolution interest all over the kingdom. ”

“ Secretaries of State; which employments are the two principal wheels wch turn the whole administration in these kingdoms.
The Duke of Shrewsbury continued in his post but 'till the year 1690; when, having about that time either sent or resolv'd to send his uncle my Lord Middleton with the Compounders proposition for restoring King James, upon King William's going to Ireland to reduce that kingdom, wch by the traitorous management of the Ministry was, except Londonderry, entirely in the enemies hands; when Scotland was in arms likewise for King James ”

“ But they were too closely linked wth Harley and Hasham to be separated from them; and knowing the Queen's resolutions in relation to the Peace and Succession to be unalterably fixed, her inveteracy against my Lady Marlborough, and likewise against my Lord Sunderland and Lord Godolphin, for being influenced by her, and the assurances wch the Queen most certainly gave to Harley at parting of a speedy restoration ”

“ Smith had already given assurances to her Majesty of their compliance, and that there remain'd nothing to secure this great point of saving the Parliament but my going that afternoon to Kensington, and desiring a private audience of the Queen, wch he would prepare her to allow me, and after laying before her Majesty the fatal consequences to the publick credit, and especially to her Civil List, that must follow the dissolution of the Parliament at that time, to give her Majesty the like assurances Mr. ”