48 James Muilenburg 



dictated the letter but that the circumstances seem conclusive of 

 the fact. 



The point involved is no mean one. It casts much light upon 

 the nature of the Revolution and the character of James's leading 

 minister. It may explain William's later treatment of Sunder- 

 land, and perhaps furnish a point of view to the party politics of 

 the time. 



The solution may possibly be found in the characters of Lord 

 and Lady Sunderland. According to Evelyn, Lady Sunderland 

 was an excellent person, whose Protestant zeal was a standing 

 reproach to her husband's apostacy. 209 The Countess wrote to 

 him on one occasion concerning books which might be suitable 

 for her charge, the Princess Anne. 210 Evidently, the latter did 

 not hold her mistress in such high esteem. In a letter to her 

 sister Mary, she writes the following description of the Countess: 211 



His lady, too is as extraordinary in her kind, for she is a flattering, dissembling 

 false woman; but she has so fawning and endearing a way, that she will deceive 

 anybody at first, and it is not possible to find out all her ways in a little time. She 

 cares not at what rate she lives, but never pays anybody. She will cheat though 

 it be for a little. Then she has her gallants, though may (sic) be not so many 

 as some ladies here; and with all these good qualities she is a constant church 

 woman, so that to outward appearance one would take her for a saint, and to 

 hear her talk you would think she was a very good Protestant; but she is as much 

 one as the other; for it is certain that her Lord does nothing without her. 



Certainly, this estimate of Lady Sunderland by the Princess is 

 far from flattering. Nor does it accord well with the gracious 

 words of the devout Evelyn. Moreover, Bonrepaux describes 

 the Countess as familiar with intrigues of gallantry and politics, 212 

 and Kennet calls her a woman of subtle wit and admirable ad- 

 dress. 213 In another letter to Mary, 214 Anne is even more sharp in 

 her remarks concerning Lady Sunderland: 



209 Evelyn, Diary, vol. iii, p. 273. Quoted in Mackintosh, p. 456 f. 



210 Ibid, p. 424 f . 



211 Dalrymple, Letter of Princess Anne to Princess Mary, March 13, 1687-8, 

 from "The Cockpit," p. 299. 



212 Bonrepaux to Seignelay, July 21, 1687, in Mackintosh, p. 457. 

 Avaux, May 20, 1688, vol. iii, p. 488. 



213 Kennet, in Mackintosh, p. 457. 



214 Dalrymple, Letter of Princess Anne to Princess Maty, March 20, 1687-8, 

 from "The Cockpit," p. 301. 



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