most to fear was the King in possession.  If therefore William had little reason to esteem these politicians his hearty friends, he had still less reason to number them among his hearty foes.  Their conduct towards him, reprehensible as it was, might be called upright when compared with their conduct towards James.  To the reigning Sovereign they had given valuable service; to the banished Sovereign little more than promises and professions.  Shrewsbury might, in a moment of resentment or of weakness, have trafficked with Jacobite agents; but his general conduct had proved that he was as far as ever from being a Jacobite.  Godolphin had been lavish of fair words to the dynasty which was out; but he had thriftily and skilfully managed the revenues of the dynasty which was in.  Russell had sworn that he would desert with the English fleet; but he had burned the French fleet.  Even Marlborough’s known treasons,—­for his share in the disaster of Brest and the death of Talmash was unsuspected—­, had not done so much harm as his exertions at Walcourt, at Cork and at Kinsale had done good.  William had therefore wisely resolved to shut his eyes to perfidy, which, however disgraceful it might be, had not injured him, and still to avail himself, with proper precautions, of the eminent talents which some of his unfaithful counsellors possessed, Having determined on this course, and having long followed it with happy effect, he could not but be annoyed and provoked by Fenwick’s confession.  Sir John, it was plain, thought himself a Machiavel.  If his trick succeeded, the Princess, whom it was most important to keep in good humour, would be alienated from the government by the disgrace of Marlborough.  The whole Whig party, the firmest support of the throne, would be alienated by the disgrace of Russell and Shrewsbury.  In the meantime not one of those plotters whom Fenwick knew to have been deeply concerned in plans of insurrection, invasion, assassination, would be molested.  This cunning schemer should find that he had not to do with a novice.  William, instead of turning his accused servants out of their places, sent the confession to Shrewsbury, and desired that it might be laid before the Lords Justices.  “I am astonished,” the King wrote, “at the fellow’s effrontery.  You know me too well to think that such stories as his can make any impression on me.  Observe this honest man’s sincerity.  He has nothing to say except against my friends.  Not a word about the plans of his brother Jacobites.”  The King concluded by directing the Lords justices to send Fenwick before a jury with all speed.730

The effect produced by William’s letter was remarkable.  Every one of the accused persons behaved himself in a manner singularly characteristic.  Marlborough, the most culpable of all, preserved a serenity, mild, majestic and slightly contemptuous.  Russell, scarcely less criminal than Marlborough, went into a towering passion, and breathed nothing but vengeance against the villanous informer.