THE RISING OF 1719. 407 



proudest names in Highland history, were almost destitute. 

 The death of Mary of Modena, the widow of James II., 

 deprived the Jacobites of one of their main sources of 

 supply, her pension from France dying with her. None of 

 the foreign Powers were disposed to help them. Not a 

 break was to be seen in the clouds. Such was the state of 

 matters, when suddenly an unlooked-for change took place, 

 which once more revived the drooping spirits of the 

 Jacobites, and quickened their hopes afresh. Cardinal 

 Giulio Alberoni, the son of an Italian gardener, and an 

 ex-village curate, was at this time the most powerful 

 Minister in Europe. By his ability, he had restored to his 

 adopted country, Spain, some measure of her former great- 

 ness, and he was the absolute dictator of her policy. In 

 1718, his relations with England, which had previously 

 been not unfriendly, became somewhat strained. When, 

 in August of that year, his attempt to seize Sicily was 

 frustrated by the intervention of England and the dispersal 

 of the Spanish fleet by Sir George Byng, an open rupture 

 became unavoidable. It was in these circumstances that 

 the Cardinal bethought himself of a plan, whereby he could 

 strike England in a vital part. He would invade her on 

 behalf of the Stuarts, and thus add civil war to the external 

 difficulties of the English Government. 



In pursuance of this plan, Alberoni entered into negotia- 

 tions with the Duke of Ormonde, a brave soldier and a 

 zealous Jacobite, whose abilities, however, according to 

 his contemporaries, were not of a commanding nature. 

 Ormonde was, without difficulty, won over to the views of 

 the crafty Cardinal. All the more easily was this effected 

 by reason of Alberoni's assurance, that the famous Charles 

 XII. of Sweden, who was then on bad terms with England, 

 had expressed his readiness to enter into an alliance with 

 Spain against their common enemy. It was arranged that 

 Ormonde should have the assistance of 5,000 Spaniards, 

 with a supply of guns and ammunition, and thus provided, 

 should land in the West of England, obtain recruits, and 

 march upon London. 



