The duke, who had often employed his talent for ridicule, was now doomed to feel the lafh himself; fome members defired his grace might receive no punishment because he had committed no fault, for it was evident that he never intended to fight, and had, when no other tergiverfation would ferve his turn, prudently miftaken the place that was appointed by himself; his friends thought this acquiefcence was escaping too dear; and therefore both lords were fent to the tower. The duke had no fooner regained his liberty, than he was engaged in a conteft with the Marquis of Dorchester in a conference with the Commons on the Irifh bill, as his Grace and Lord Dorchefter were fitting in the Painted Chamber; they quarelled about their feats, and, in violation of all decorum, ftruck each other; the house of lords committed them both to the Tower.

The king was highly incenfed against the duke for his conduct in parliament this feffion; and being informed the duke was plotting against the government, he ordered him by proclamation. to furrender himself; the duke foon found means to make his peace with the king, and was re

ftored

ftored to favour. The duke afcribed his difgrace to the Earl of Clarendon; with all the force of his poignant wit, he had long endeavoured to make that minifter ridiculous in the eyes of his fovereign, he would frequently fay to the king, "There goes your school-master." He often acted and mimicked the chancellor before the king, walking ftately with a pair of bellows before him for the purfe, and Col. Titus carrying a fire fhovel on his fhoulder for the mace, to the great entertainment of Charles. Above all, he promised for the conduct of the commons fhould his enemy be disgraced. The king foon abandoned the chancellor, who was attacked by the commons, impeached and banifhed. On Clarendon's withdrawing, he left a vindication of his conduct, addreffed to the lords fpiritual and temporal in parliament affembled. The lords communicated this petition to the commons, and at a conference between the two houses, the Duke of Buckingham delivered up the petition, and added by way of infult and derifion, "That the lords had com

manded him to deliver to the commons that fcandalous and feditious paper, fent from the "Earl

b 3

66

"Earl of Clarendon; they bid me prefent it to you, and defire you in convenient time to "fend it to them again, for it has a ftile which

they are in love with, and they defire to keep it." The cruelty of ridiculing the afflictions of a great man, and the turning the juftice of the nation into a jeft, offended the fober and the ferious, and they agreed with the earl when he complained in his petition" of fome enemies of "more licentious principles, who took to them"felves the liberty of reviling all counfels and "counfellors, and turning all things ferious and facred into ridicule.”

To prevent for ever the return of Clarendon, Buckingham and Arlington endeavoured to annihilate his party by difplacing his relations and friends. In the month of May, 1668, he purchafed of the Duke of Albemarle the place of the mafter of the horfe, and added the weight of an oftenfible office to his fecret influence in the cabinet.

Buckingham having triumphed over Clarendon and his friends, turned his whole influence and policy against the Duke of York, whom he endeavoured

endeavoured in vain to difplace from his office of lord high admiral.

The whole life of his grace was ruled by caprice: pursued by meffengers and warrants in the month of March; in the Tower in June; in July leading the cabinet. He was now a firm affociate of that ministry, whom the nation execrated, ftiling them in derision, from the initials of their names, THE CABAL.

The Dutchefs of Orleans having been fent to meet the king, her brother, at Dover, to engage her to declare war against the Dutch, on her return to France was fuppofed to be poifoned. The Duke of Buckingham appears to have been greatly affected by the death of the Dutchefs of Orleans; he profeffed a wonderful attachment to that princess; he became outrageous on the news of her death; he talked of nothing but a breach with France; he flew to all the foreign ambassadors, and without authority endeavoured to engage them in the expected war*. On the arrival of the Marquis of Bellesfond with compliments of condolance from the French king, Charles, who knew the character of Buckingham, fent him in return to France, infinuating *Macpherson's History.

at the fame time to Lewis, the propriety of gaining him to their fecret fchemes. The accefs to Buckingham was eafy through the channels of his vanity and avarice; on his arrival Lewis affailed him through both. He remarked on his noble prefence and mien, adding, he was almost the only English gentleman he had ever feen; greater refpect was paid him than was ever fhewn to any ambaffador; a regale was prepared for him, worthy of the Roman emperors when Rome flourished in her utmoft grandeur. Lewis alfo prefented him with a fword and belt, fet with diamonds to the value of forty thoufand piftoles. The Dutchefs of Orleans was forgot, and the duke entered heartily into the measures of both fovereigns.

The avowed enmity of the Dukes of Buckingham and Ormond made the former suspected of being concerned this year, 1670, in the attempt of Blood against the life of Ormond. The Earl of Offory foon after meeting Buckingham at court, ftanding by the king, his colour rofe, and he could not forbear expreffing himself to this purpofe, "My lord, I know well that you 46 are at the bottom of this late attempt upon

my