don's only hope
could be in the support of the king. But the chancellor had early and
accurately gauged the nature and extent of the king's attachment to him,
which proceeded neither from affection nor gratitude but "from his
aversion to be troubled with the intricacies of his affairs," and in 1661
he had resisted the importunities of Ormonde to resign the great seal for
the lord treasurership with the rank of "first minister," "a title newly
translated out of French into English," on account of the obloquy this
position would incur and the further dependence which it entailed upon the
inconstant king.[21] Charles, long weary of the old chancellor's rebukes,
was especially incensed at this time owing to his failure in securing
Frances Stuart (la Belle Stuart) for his seraglio, a disappointment which
he attributed to Clarendon, and was now alarmed by the hostility which his
administration had excited. He did not scruple to sacrifice at once the
old adherent of his house and fortunes. "The truth is," he wrote Ormonde,
"his behaviour and humour was grown so insupportable to myself and all the
world else that I could no longer endure it, and it was impossible for me
to live with it and do these things with the Parliament that must be done,
or the government will be lost."[22] By the direction of Charles, James
advised Clarendon to resign before the meeting of parliament, but in an
interview with the king on the 26th of August Clarendon refused to deliver
up the seal unless dismissed, and urged him not to take a step ruinous to
the interests both of the chancellor himself and of the crown.[23] He
could not believe his dismissal was really intended, but on the 30th of
August he was deprived of the great seal, for which the king received the
thanks of the parliament on the 16th of October. On the 12th of November
his impeachment, consisting of various charges of arbitrary government,
corruption and maladministration, was brought up to the Lords, but the
latter refused to order his committal, on the ground that the Commons had
only accused him of treason in general without specifying any particular
charge. Clarendon wrote humbly to the king asking for pardon, and that the
prosecution might be prevented, but Charles had openly taken part against
him, and, though desiring his escape, would not order or assist his
departure for fear of the Commons. Through the bishop of Hereford,
however, on the 29th of November he pressed Clarendon