網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

ber, will preach a sermon in Saint Paul's, which, like a trumpet sounded from a high place, will stir up the whole city. His text will be, the Perils from false brethren.' I have read the discourse, and can therefore speak confidently to its effect."

66

"I hope it may not prove prejudicial to your cause," said the queen, uneasily.

"Be not alarmed, madam," replied Harley. "But you shall hear the purport of the sermon, and judge for yourself of its tendency. One of its aims is, to show that the means used to bring about the Revolution were odious and unjustifiable, and to condemn the doctrine of resistance as inconsistent with the principles then laid down, and derogatory to the memory of his late majesty. Another is, that the licence granted by law to protestant dissenters is unreasonable, and that it is the duty of all superior pastors to thunder out their anathemas against those entitled to the benefit of toleration. A third, that the church of England is in a condition of great peril and adversity under the present administration, notwithstanding the vote recently passed to the contrary effect. The fourth and chief article is, that your majesty's administration, both in ecclesiastical and civil affairs, is tending to the destruction of the constitution; that there are many exalted members, both of church and state, who are false brethren, and are striving to undermine, weaken, and betray the establishment. The treasurer himself is reprobated under the character of Volpane, and comes in for the doctor's severest censures. Such is the sum of the discourse, which concludes with the strongest exhortations to the true supporters of the church to stand forth in its defence. Your majesty will agree with me that it is not likely to fail at this juncture."

"It seems to me a hazardous measure," observed the queen; "but I have no doubt you have well considered it, and I will not therefore oppose you. It may lead to what I chiefly desire, though I dare breathe it only to yourself and Abigail-the restoration of the succession to my father's house."

"No doubt of it, madam," replied Harley, with as much confidence as if he had really believed what he avouched.

CHAPTER THE SECOND.

HOW DOCTOR SACHEVEREL PREACHED HIS SERMON AT SAINT PAUL'S; AND HOW HE WAS IMPEACHED IN CONSEQUENCE.

ON the fifth of November, 1709, Doctor Sacheverel preached his celebrated sermon, as arranged by Harley, at Saint Paul's, before the lord mayor, Sir Samuel Garrard, and the aldermen, and its effect was quite as extraordinary as had been anticipated. Carried away by the vehemence and earnestness of the preacher, and only imperfectly comprehending the drift of the discourse,

the lord mayor highly commended it, and requested it might be printed. This being precisely what Sacheverel desired, he immediately took the astute citizen at his word, and not only printed the sermon, but dedicated it to him. Upwards of forty thousand copies were sold in a few days, and it became the general subject of conversation and discussion throughout the city. A firebrand cast into a field of dry flax could not have caused a more sudden and far-spreading blaze than this inflammatory discourse. The cry was everywhere raised that the church was in danger, and that the ministers were its worst enemies. Meetings were convened in various quarters, at which denunciations were hurled against them, and Sacheverel was proclaimed the champion of the high church.

This popular tumult would have subsided as speedily as it rose, if it had not been kept alive and heightened by the arts of Harley and his adherents. Godolphin would have willingly passed the matter over with silent contempt; but this was not Harley's design; and though openly opposing the matter, he secretly contrived to push forward the impeachment of the doctor-well knowing, that the attempt to punish a clergyman was the surest way to confirm the report that the church was in danger.

So much noise, at length, was made about the libellous discourse, that it could not be passed over, and acting under the direction of the ministry, Mr. John Dolben, son of the late Archbishop of York, complained in the house of the sermon as factious and seditious, and calculated to promote rebellion; and after some further speeches to the same purpose, nothing being advanced in the doctor's defence, a resolution was passed that the sermon was "a malicious, scandalous, and seditious libel, highly reflecting upon her majesty and her government, the late happy Revolution and the Protestant succession, and tending to alienate the affections of her majesty's good subjects, and to create jealousies and divisions among them.'

It was then ordered, that Sacheverel, and his publisher, Henry Clements, should attend at the bar of the house next day. The injunction was obeyed, and, accompanied by Doctor Lancaster, Rector of Saint Martin's-in-the-Fields, and a hundred of his brother clergy, who had espoused his cause, Sacheverel appeared to answer to the charge, and boldly confessing it, it was agreed that he should be impeached at the bar of the House of Lords by Mr. Dolben.

Occasion was taken at the same time to pass a resolution in favour of a divine of very opposite principles to the offender— namely, the Rev. Benjamin Hoadley, who, having strenuously justified the principles proceeded upon in the Revolution, was conceived to have merited the regard and recommendation of the house; and it was therefore resolved that an address should be presented to the queen entreating her to bestow some dignity of the church upon him. The address was afterwards presented

by Mr. Secretary Boyle; but though her majesty stated, "she would take an opportunity to comply with their desire," it probably escaped her memory, for no further notice was taken of

it.

On his impeachment, Sacheverel was taken into custody by the serjeant-at-arms, by whom he was delivered over to the usher of the black rod; but he was subsequently admitted to bail, after which a copy of the articles of accusation being delivered to him, he returned an answer denying most of the charges against him, and palliating and extenuating all the rest. The answer was sent by the lords to the commons, and referred by the latter to a committee.

After much deliberation, in which Harley's influence secretly operated, an address was laid before the queen, stating that "the house could not patiently sit still and see the justice of the late happy Revolution reflected upon; their own decrees treated with contempt; the governors of the church aspersed; toleration exposed as wicked; and sedition insolently invading the pulpit; and therefore they were under the absolute necessity of bringing the offender to trial." To this address, the queen, acting under advice, gave her assent, and the trial was thereupon appointed to take place on the 27th of February, thence ensuing, in Westminster Hall, which was ordered to be fitted up for the reception

of the commons.

These proceedings increased the unpopularity of the ministers, while they caused Sacheverel to be universally regarded as a martyr. The anticipated trial, on which the fate of parties was known to hang, formed the entire subject of conversation at all clubs and coffee-houses. The fiercest disputes arose out of these discussions, occasioning frequent duels and nocturnal encounters; while high-church mobs paraded the streets, shouting forth the doctor's name, and singing songs in his praise, or uttering diatribes against his enemies.

CHAPTER THE THIRD.

OF THE AFFRONT PUT UPON THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH BY THE QUEEN.

In less than a week after Sacheverel had promulgated his seditious discourse, the Duke of Marlborough appeared at Saint James's, having been hastily summoned from Flanders by Godolphin, who informed him of the menacing aspect of affairs, and assured him that the only chance of safety rested in his presence. The Duke's return, which had formerly been hailed by the loudest cheers and congratulations of the populace, was comparatively unnoticed, and instead of his own name and achievements forming the burthen of their shouts, he was greeted with cries of" Sacheverel and High Church." The mob had set up a new idol in his absence.

His reception by the queen was cold and constrained, and though she professed to be glad to see him, she made no allusion whatever to the recent victory of Malplaquet. The meeting was further embarrassed by the presence of Mrs. Masham. After some conversation on indifferent matters, Marlborough adverted to the refusal of the grant, and expressed his resolution of retiring, as soon as he could do so consistently.

"I am sorry your grace should misconstrue my refusal," said Anne; "there is no precedent for the grant you claim, and I should not be justified in acceding to your request. As regards your retirement, the grief I shall feel at being deprived of your services will be tempered by the enjoyment of a long stranger to my reign-peace.

"I understand your majesty," replied Marlborough, drily. "But even the certainty of misrepresentation shall not compel me to conclude a treaty of peace with Louis, unless upon terms honourable to yourself and advantageous to your subjects."

"What appears advantageous to your grace may not appear equally so to others," remarked Mrs. Masham.

"Possibly not to Mr. Harley and the friends of France," rerejoined the duke, sarcastically. "But I will protect the rights of my country, and oppose and confound its enemies as long as I have the power of doing so."

"You are warm, my lord," said Anne-" needlessly warm." "Not needlessly, gracious madam, when I find you influenced by pernicious advisers," replied Marlborough. "Oh, that I could exercise the influence I once had over you! Oh, that you would listen to the counsels of your true friend, the duchess, she who has your real interests at heart!"

"Her majesty has shaken off her bondage," cried Mrs. Masham.

"She

"To put on another and a worse," rejoined the duke. knows not the position in which she stands—she knows not how her honour, her glory, her prosperity are sacrificed at the shrine of an unworthy favourite."

"No more of this, my lord," cried Anne, peremptorily. "I will not be troubled with these disputes."

"It is no dispute, gracious madam," replied the duke, proudly." As a faithful and loyal servant of your majesty, and as one ready at all times to lay down his life in your defence, I am bound to represent to you the danger in which you are placed. But I can have no quarrel with Mrs. Masham."

"Mrs. Masham respects my feelings, my lord," replied the queen, angrily, "which is more than some of those do, who pro

fess so much devotion to me. But it is time these misunderstandings should cease. Can you not see that it is her perpetual interference and dictation that has rendered the duchess odious to me, and has led me to adopt a confidante of more gentle manners?

Can you not see that I will not brook either her control or yours that I will govern my people as I please,-and fix my affections where I desire? No parliament can rob me of a friend, and if your grace should think fit to attempt Mrs. Masham's forcible removal, as you once threatened, you will find your efforts

frustrated."

"I have no wish to deprive your majesty of a friend, and certainly none to dictate to you," replied the duke. "But if it is proved to you-publicly proved-that your confidante has betrayed her trust, and been in constant correspondence with the avowed opponent of your majesty's ministers-to say nothing of foreign enemies-if your parliament and people require you to dismiss her, I presume you will not then hesitate."

"It will be time enough to answer that question, my lord, when such a decision has been pronounced," said the queen. "I presume our conference is at an end.”

"Not quite, your majesty," said the duke. "I must trespass on your patience a moment longer. You are aware that two military appointments have to be made the lieutenancy of the Tower, and a regiment."

"I am aware of it," replied the queen.

"Lord Rivers requested me to use my interest with your majesty to confer the lieutenancy upon him," pursued the duke; "but on my representing to him that my interest was infinitely less than his own, he entreated my permission to make the request of your majesty himself."

"Has your grace any objection to him?" asked the queen.

"None whatever," replied the duke; "but the person I would venture to recommend to the place is the Duke of Northumberland. By giving it to him, your majesty will also be enabled to oblige the Earl of Hertford by the presentation of the Oxford regiment, which Northumberland will resign in his favour-an arrangement which is sure to be highly agreeable to the earl's father, the Duke of Somerset."

"I am sorry I cannot attend to your grace's recommendation," replied the queen; "for I have already granted the lieutenancy to Lord Rivers."

“How, madam!" exclaimed Marlborough. "Why Lord Rivers only left me a few moments before I set out, and I made all haste to the palace."

"He has been here, nevertheless, and has received the appointment," rejoined the queen. "He said your grace had no objection to him."

"This is contrary to all etiquette," cried the duke, unable to conceal his mortification. 66 Why, I have never been consulted on the occasion. Your majesty will do well to recall your promise."

"Impossible, my lord," replied Anne. But since your grace

« 上一頁繼續 »