duke made no farther attempts to be there.[53] But, upon this incident, he declared open war against the ministry; and, from that time to the session, employed himself in spiriting up several depending lords to adhere to their friends, when an occasion should offer.  The arguments he made use of, were, that those in power designed to make an ignominious and insecure peace, without consulting the allies; that this could be no otherwise prevented than by an address from the Lords, to signify their opinion, that no peace could be honourable or secure, while Spain or the West Indies remained in any of the Bourbon family:[54] upon which several farther resolutions and inquiries would naturally follow; that the differences between the two Houses, upon this point, must either be made up by the Commons agreeing with the Lords, or must end in a dissolution, which would be followed by a return of the old ministry, who, by the force of money and management, could easily get another Parliament to their wishes.  He farther assured them boldly, that the Queen herself was at the bottom of this design, and had empowered him to desire their votes against the peace, as a point that would be for her service; and therefore they need not be in pain upon account of their pensions, or any farther marks of favour they expected.  Thus, by reviving the old art of using Her Majesty’s authority against her person, he prevailed over some, who were not otherwise in a station of life to oppose the crown; and his proselytes may pretend to some share of pity, since he offered for an argument his own example, who kept his place and favour, after all he had done to deserve the loss of both.

[Footnote 49:  In 1692, on a difference which the princess had with King William and his Queen, occasioned by her warm attachment to the Duchess of Marlborough, she quitted The Cockpit, and accepted the Duke of Somerset’s offer of Sion House for a temporary residence. [N.]]

[Footnote 50:  A cant name given to five lords of that party. [ORIGINAL NOTE.]]

[Footnote 51:  P. Fitzgerald says “the pride of his nature.” [W.S.J.]]

[Footnote 52:  P. Fitzgerald says “the meanest.” [W.S.J.]]

[Footnote 53:  “I had almost forgot to tell you,” writes Lewis to Swift in the same letter, “you have mistaken the case of the D——­ of S——­, which, in truth, was this, that his grace appearing at court, in the chamber next to the council chamber, it was apprehended he would come into the cabinet council, and therefore the intended meeting was put off; whereas one would judge, by your manner of stating it, that the council had met, and adjourned abruptly upon his taking his place there.”  Sir W. Scott’s edit. vol. xix., pp. 133-136. [T.S.]]

[Footnote 54:  It was Nottingham who moved this argument in the form of an amendment to the address on 7th December, 1711.  See infra, and also vol. v., p. 444 of present edition. [T.S.]]