Prior
in "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse," a burlesque of Dryden's "Hind
and Panther." He signed the invitation to the Prince of Orange, and sat
in the Convention. He about the same time married the Countess Dowager
of Manchester, and intended to have taken Orders; but, afterwards
altering his purpose, he purchased for 1,500 pounds the place of one of
the clerks of the Council.

After he had written his epistle on the victory of the Boyne, his patron
Dorset introduced him to King William with this expression, "Sir, I have
brought a MOUSE to wait on your Majesty." To which the King is said to
have replied, "You do well to put me in the way of making a MAN of him;"
and ordered him a pension of 500 pounds. This story, however current,
seems to have been made after the event. The King's answer implies a
greater acquaintance with our proverbial and familiar diction than King
William could possibly have attained.

In 1691, being member of the House of Commons, he argued warmly in
favour of a law to grant the assistance of counsel in trials for high
treason; and in the midst of his speech falling into some confusion, was
for a while silent; but, recovering himself, observed, "how reasonable
it was to allow counsel to men called as criminals before a court of
justice, when it appeared how much the presence of that assembly could
disconcert one of their own body."

After this he rose fast into honours and employments, being made one of
the Commissioners of the Treasury, and called to the Privy Council. In
1694 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer; and the next year engaged
in the great attempt of the recoinage, which was in two years happily
completed. In 1696 he projected the GENERAL FUND and raised the credit
of the Exchequer; and after inquiry concerning a grant of Irish Crown
lands, it was determined by a vote of the Commons that Charles Montague,
Esq., HAD DESERVED HIS MAJESTY'S FAVOUR. In 1698, being advanced to the
first Commission of the Treasury, he was appointed one of the regency in
the King's absence: the next year he was made Auditor of the Exchequer,
and the year after created Baron Halifax. He was, however, impeached by
the Commons; but the Articles were dismissed by the Lords.

At the accession of Queen Anne he was dismissed from the Council; and in
the first Parliament of her reign was again attacked by the Commons, and
again escaped by the protection of the Lords. In 1704 he wrote an answer
to Broml