His guilt was fully established; and a party among the Whigs
called loudly and importunately for his head. But he was saved by
the pathetic entreaties of his brother Rochester, by the good
offices of the humane and generous Burnet, and by Mary's respect
for the memory of her mother. The prisoner's confinement was not
strict. He was allowed to entertain his friends at dinner. When
at length his health began to suffer from restraint, he was
permitted to go into the country under the care of a warder; the
warder was soon removed; and Clarendon was informed that, while
he led a quiet rural life, he should not be molested.19

The treason of Dartmouth was of no common dye. He was an English
seaman; and he had laid a plan for betraying Portsmouth to the
French, and had offered to take the command of a French squadron
against his country. It was a serious aggravation of his guilt
that he had been one of the very first persons who took the oaths
to William and Mary. He was arrested and brought to the Council
Chamber. A narrative of what passed there, written by himself,
has been preserved. In that narrative he admits that he was
treated with great courtesy and delicacy. He vehemently asserted
his innocence. He declared that he had never corresponded with
Saint Germains, that he was no favourite there, and that Mary of
Modena in particular owed him a grudge. "My Lords," he said, "I
am an Englishman. I always, when the interest of the House of
Bourbon was strongest here, shunned the French, both men and
women. I would lose the last drop of my blood rather than see
Portsmouth in the power of foreigners. I am not such a fool as to
think that King Lewis will conquer us merely for the benefit of
King James. I am certain that nothing can be truly imputed to me
beyond some foolish talk over a bottle." His protestations seem