by a cruel internal malady which had been aggravated by
intemperance. At a dinner which a wealthy Alderman gave to some
of the leading members of the government, the Lord Treasurer and
the Lord Chancellor were so drunk that they stripped themselves
almost stark naked, and were with difficulty prevented from
climbing up a signpost to drink His Majesty's health. The pious
Treasurer escaped with nothing but the scandal of the debauch:
but the Chancellor brought on a violent fit of his complaint. His
life was for some time thought to be in serious danger. James
expressed great uneasiness at the thought of losing a minister
who suited him so well, and said, with some truth, that the loss
of such a man could not be easily repaired. Jeffreys, when he
became convalescent, promised his support to both the contending
parties, and waited to see which of them would prove victorious.
Some curious proofs of his duplicity are still extant. It has
been already said that the two French agents who were then
resident in London had divided the English court between them.
Bonrepaux was constantly with Rochester; and Barillon lived with
Sunderland. Lewis was informed in the same week by Bonrepaux that
the Chancellor was entirely with the Treasurer, and by Barillon
that the Chancellor was in league with the Secretary.63

Godolphin, cautious and taciturn, did his best to preserve
neutrality. His opinions and wishes were undoubtedly with
Rochester; but his office made it necessary for him to be in
constant attendance on the Queen; and he was naturally unwilling
to be on bad terms with her. There is indeed reason to believe
that he regarded her with an attachment more romantic than often
finds place in the hearts of veteran statesmen; and
circumstances, which it is now necessary to relate, had thrown