of the army was always with their illustrious leader; even the Tories
in it were indignant at the injustice of the persecution which the Whig
officers were made to undergo. The chiefs of these were in London, and
at the head of them one of the most intrepid men in the world, the Scots
Duke of Argyle, whose conduct on the second day after that to which I
have now brought down my history, ended, as such honesty and bravery
deserved to end, by establishing the present Royal race on the English
throne.

Meanwhile there was no slight difference of opinion amongst the
councillors surrounding the Prince, as to the plan his Highness should
pursue. His female Minister at Court, fancying she saw some amelioration
in the Queen, was for waiting a few days, or hours it might be, until
he could be brought to her bedside, and acknowledged as her heir. Mr.
Esmond was for having him march thither, escorted by a couple of troops
of Horse Guards, and openly presenting himself to the Council. During
the whole of the night of the 29th-30th July, the Colonel was engaged
with gentlemen of the military profession, whom 'tis needless here to
name; suffice it to say that several of them had exceeding high rank in
the army, and one of them in especial was a General, who, when he heard
the Duke of Marlborough was coming on the other side, waved his crutch
over his head with a huzzah, at the idea that he should march out and
engage him. Of the three Secretaries of State, we knew that one was
devoted to us. The Governor of the Tower was ours; the two companies
on duty at Kensington barrack were safe; and we had intelligence, very
speedy and accurate, of all that took place at the Palace within.

At noon, on the 30th of July, a message came to the Prince's friends
that the Committee of Council was sitting at Kensington Palace, their
Graces of Ormonde and Shrewsbury, the Archbishop of Canterbury and
the three Secretaries of State, being there assembled. In an hour
afterwards, hurried news was brought that the two great Whig Dukes,
Argyle and Somerset, had broke into the Council-chamber without a
summons, and taken their seat at table. After holding a debate there,
the whole party proceeded to the chamber of the Queen, who was lying in
great weakness, but still sensible, and the Lords recommended his Grace
of Shrewsbury as the fittest person to take the vacant place of Lord
Treasurer; her Majesty gave him the staff, as all know. "And now," writ
my me