appointed Chief Baron. Powell, who had been disgraced on account
of his honest declaration in favour of the Bishops, again took
his seat among the judges. Treby succeeded Pollexfen as Attorney
General; and Somers was made Solicitor.26

Two of the chief places in the Royal household were filled by two
English noblemen eminently qualified to adorn a court. The high
spirited and accomplished Devonshire was named Lord Steward. No
man had done more or risked more for England during the crisis of
her fate. In retrieving her liberties he had retrieved also the
fortunes of his own house. His bond for thirty thousand pounds
was found among the papers which James had left at Whitehall, and
was cancelled by William.27

Dorset became Lord Chamberlain, and employed the influence and
patronage annexed to his functions, as he had long employed his
private means, in encouraging genius and in alleviating
misfortune. One of the first acts which he was under the
necessity of performing must have been painful to a man of so
generous a nature, and of so keen a relish for whatever was
excellent in arts and letters. Dryden could no longer remain Poet
Laureate. The public would not have borne to see any Papist among
the servants of their Majesties; and Dryden was not only a
Papist, but an apostate. He had moreover aggravated the guilt of
his apostasy by calumniating and ridiculing the Church which he
had deserted. He had, it was facetiously said, treated her as the
Pagan persecutors of old treated her children. He had dressed her
up in the skin of a wild beast, and then baited her for the
public amusement.28 He was removed; but he received from the
private bounty of the magnificent Chamberlain a pension equal to