and more encumbered. In the hope of extricating himself from his
embarrassments, he betrayed to Barillon all the schemes adverse
to France which had been meditated in the English cabinet, and
hinted that a Secretary of State could in such times render
services for which it might be wise in Lewis to pay largely. The
Ambassador told his master that six thousand guineas was the
smallest gratification that could be offered to so important a
minister. Lewis consented to go as high as twenty-five thousand
crowns, equivalent to about five thousand six hundred pounds
sterling. It was agreed that Sunderland should receive this sum
yearly, and that he should, in return, exert all his influence to
prevent the reassembling of the Parliament.59 He joined himself
therefore to the Jesuitical cabal, and made so dexterous an use
of the influence of that cabal that he was appointed to succeed
Halifax in the high dignity of Lord President without being
required to resign the far more active and lucrative post of
Secretary.60 He felt, however, that he could never hope to obtain
paramount influence in the court while he was supposed to belong
to the Established Church. All religions were the same to him.
In private circles, indeed, he was in the habit of talking
with profane contempt of the most sacred things. He therefore
determined to let the King have the delight and glory
of effecting a conversion. Some management, however,
was necessary. No man is utterly without regard for the
opinion of his fellow creatures; and even Sunderland, though not
very sensible to shame, flinched from the infamy of public
apostasy. He played his part with rare adroitness. To the world
he showed himself as a Protestant. In the royal closet he assumed
the character of an earnest inquirer after truth, who was almost
persuaded to declare himself a Roman Catholic, and who, while