50 James Muilenburg 



Only shortly after the arrival of Dykvelt, Sunderland told the 

 papal nuncio, D'Adda, that the mission was not expected to 

 produce good effects for the Prince of Orange. Dykvelt had 

 letters for him, he said, but had not yet presented them. 222 When 

 James had his interviews with Dykvelt, Sunderland was frequently 

 present, for Burnet tells how the minister pressed Dykvelt to 

 concur in the King's desires, and even held out co-operation 

 against France as a reward. 223 It is indeed a commentary upon 

 Sunderland's character that at this very time he was receiving 

 a pension from France, to last as long as James continued friendly. 

 Sunderland sent a short and effusive letter to the Prince of Orange 

 by means of Dykvelt when the latter was on the point of leaving 

 the kingdom. 224 The obsequious manner of the letter was custo- 

 mary to the time, but to the suspicious there is something of 

 interest in the wording. 



I received the honour your Highness was pleased to do me by Mons. Dickvelt 

 with all the respect I owe, and will ever pay to your commands, which I shall, on 

 all occasions, exactly obey. He is too well informed of everything here, to pretend 

 to give you any account of what has passed since his coming; and if he does me 

 right, as I doubt not but he will, he must assure your Highness, that no man in the 

 world is with more respect and submission than I am etc. 



Bonrepaux's statement regarding Sunderland's treachery shortly 

 after Dykvelt's departure, 225 and Avaux's repeated expression 

 of distrust and his assurances of complicity with the Prince of 

 Orange 226 have caused many of the minister's admirers to give 

 him a chief place in the Revolution of 1688. Wellesley, the 

 author of The Life of Churchill, names him the most important 

 actor in the Revolution conspiracy. 227 The vindication which 

 Sunderland published of himself in 1689 has been ably discredited 

 by Lingard. 228 However important one may think Sunderland's 



222 D'Adda to the Pope, Appendix to Mackintosh, p. 656. 



223 Burnet, p. 452. 



224 Dalrymple, Letter of Lord Sunderland to the Prince of Orange, May 28, 

 1687, from Windsor, p. 191. 



226 Mackintosh, Continuation, p. 458. 



226 Supra, note 2 19. 



227 Wolseley, The Life of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, vol. i, p. 381 ff. 



228 Supra, note 221. 



134 



