One of the most prominent leaders of the Tories was Harley, afterwards Earl of Oxford, who belonged to a Puritan family in Hertfordshire, and was originally a Whig.  He entered Parliament in the early part of the reign of William.  Macaulay, who could see no good in the Tories, in his violent political prejudices maintained that Harley was not a man of great breadth of intellect, and exerted an influence in Parliament disproportionate to his abilities.  But he was a most insidious and effective enemy.  He was sagacious enough to perceive the growing influence of men of letters, and became their patron and friend.  He advanced the fortunes of Pope, Arbuthnot, and Prior.  He purchased the services of Swift, the greatest master of satire blended with bitter invective that England had known.  Harley was not eloquent in speech; but he was industrious, learned, exact, and was always listened to with respect.  Nor had he any scandalous vices.  He could not be corrupted by money, and his private life was decorous.  He abhorred both gambling and drunkenness,—­the fashionable vices of that age.  He was a refined, social, and cultivated man.

This statesman perceived that it was imperatively necessary for the success of his party to undermine the overpowering influence of the Duchess of Marlborough with the Queen.  He detested her arrogance, disdain, and grasping ambition.  Moreover, he had the firm conviction that England should engage only in maritime war.  He hated the Dutch and moneyed men, and Dissenters of every sect, although originally one of them.  And when he had obtained the leadership of his party in the House of Commons, he brought to bear the whole force of his intellect against both the Duke and Duchess.  It was by his intrigues that the intimate relations between the Duchess and the Queen were broken up, and that the Duke became unpopular.

The great instrument by which he effected the disgrace of the imperious Duchess was a woman who was equally his cousin and the cousin of the Duchess, and for whom the all-powerful favorite had procured the office of chamber-woman and dresser,—­in other words, a position which in an inferior rank is called that of lady’s-maid; for the Duchess was wearied of constant attendance on the Queen, and to this woman some of her old duties were delegated.  The name of this woman was Abigail Hill.  She had been in very modest circumstances, but was a person of extraordinary tact, prudence, and discretion, though very humble in her address,—­qualities the reverse of those which marked her great relative.  Nor did the proud Duchess comprehend Miss Hill’s character and designs any more than the all-powerful Madame de Montespan comprehended those of the widow Scarron when she made her the governess of her children.  But Harley understood her, and their principles and aims were in harmony.  Abigail Hill was a bigoted Tory, and her supreme desire was to ingratiate herself in the favor of her royal mistress, especially when