Oxford Book of Political Anecdotes

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T E O F RD BOOK OF BRITISH

., .. �..A. I, P ul Johnson

Renowned journali 'l and bestselling author Paul John n here pre ents ome three hun­ dred anecdotes and guides the reader along with uccinct and informative commentaries from Richard III' murder of the princes in the ower of London to a final frosty scene bet>ween Jim Callaghan and Barbara Castle. he torie range from the sublime to the ridiculou , from the witty to the sobering, from the gratifying to the positively alarm­ ing. Here' Lloyd George's assessment of Churchill ("He would make a drum out of the kin of his mother in order to sound his own praise ') ... Henry VIII's tireless rewrit­ ing of his secretaries' work (he ordered that drafts have two-and-a-half inch margins and inch-wide spaces between the lines to leave room for his changes) ... Queen Mary II's brave death from smallpox ... and more. The brilliance and flaws of statesmen and politi­ cians-Sir Thomas More, Cromwell, Sir Robert Walpole, Gladstone, Disraeli, and Atlee among them-are recorded by their contemporaries in journals and letters, in parliamentary records, and by later biogra­ phies. Funerals, battles in parliament, an interview with a journalist turned forger, dinner and garden parties, the visit of a lech­ erous former American president, Atlee's reaction to being overtaken by a dangerous driver who proves to be his wife: the stories entertain as they provide a new historical perspective. As Johnson convincingly demonstrates in his introduction, anecdotes have proved to $17.95

THE OXFORD BOOK OF

BRITISH P.OLITICAL ANECDOTES EDITED BY

PAUL JOHNSON

New York

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

O:rford U11it•ersi/)I Press Orford ew } 'ork Toronto l)dh, Bomba)• a/cul/a i,ladras Kartuhi Prtali11g]aJ•a Singapore /long K,mg Tokyo M1irobi Dar es Salaam Cape Town Helbounie Auckland and associated companies i11 Beirol Berli11 lbada11 Nicosia O.iford is a trade mark of Oxford U11irersi1y Press b1trod11c1io11 a11d compilation© Paul]ohnso11 1986 All rights resen:ed. No part ofthis publicatio11 may be reproduced, stored in a re1n·el.'al �ystem, or /ransmilled, i11 any fon11 or by any mea11s, electro11ic, 111eclza11ical, plzo1ocopyi11g, recordi11g, or otherwise, witho11I the prior pen11issio11 ofOxford Universily Press Library of Co11gress Catalogi11g in Publication Data Mai11 mtry under title: The Oxford book ofBn"tis/z political a11ecdotes Includes index. 1. Great Britai11-Politics a11d guvemmmt­ A11ecdotes, facetiae, satire, etc. I. Johnson, Paul, 1928DA44.094 1986 941'.00207 85-31022 ISBN o--rg-214121-X Published i11 Creal Britain by Oxford Universif)• Press under the title

The Oxford Book of Political Anecdotes

Pub/is/zed in the United Stales by Oxford Universily Press, 200MadisonAi•mue, New York, NY 10016, under the title

The Oxford Book of British Political Anecdotes Set by Prommade Graphics Ltd. Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay (The Chaucer Press) Ltd. Bu11gay, Suffolk

CONTENTS Introduction POLITICAL A NECDOTES Acknowledgements Index of Authors Index of Names Mentioned

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INTRODUCTION ANECDOTES arc a valuable source of historical truth. Inaccurate in detail they may be, but more often than not they convey an essential fact about a great personage which more formal records ignore-a characteristic which struck contemporaries, so that it became embed­ ded in stories which they told among themselves, then passed on to their children and grandchildren. I am always inclined to give an anec­ dote the benefit of the doubt: true (at least in spirit) until proved false. Take, for instance, one of the earliest and most famous of stories: King Alfred and the Cakes. It is not found in Bishop Asser's Life ofAlfred; or, rather, it did not become part of the Life until the antiquarian col­ lector Archbishop Parker inserted it into his sixteenth-century edition of the text. It is first found in a twelfth-century life of St Neot, who is supposed to have been a kinsman of Alfred, perhaps his half-brother. Family tradition is nearly always a guarantee of substantial truth, in my view, and in this case the story fits what we know of Alfred's person­ ality from other sources: that he was a man of powerful intellectual interests as well as a warrior and lawgiver, habitually inclined to probe some of the deepest aspects of human existence, and no doubt often abstracted. What more likely than that he was lost in his thoughts while the cakes smouldered? Again, the rebuke King Canute administered to his flattering cour­ tiers, who told him the tide would cease to rise at his command, is surely plausible. The source, Henry of Huntingdon, is late but the story doubtless embodies authentic tradition. Henry says that, after this episode, Canute never again wore his crown but 'hung it on the head of the crucified Lord'. This accords well with what we know of the King's religious fervour in his later years. The Ely chronicler says that, while being rowed in his barge to Ely Abbey, to keep the feast of the Purification there, Canute caught the distant sound of the monks singing the office, and bid his watermen pause and listen; and that to mark the occasion, he wrote a quatrain, which the chronicler quotes. I believe this tale, and another, from the same source, which describes the generous reward Canute bestowed on an immensely fat peasant who walked the fenland ice to see if it was safe for the King's sledge. Naturally, most of our earliest political anecdotes centre around the Court and usually concern the king. We find them in royal biographies,

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chronicle�. and occasionally in more ohjcctivc documents, such as lct­ tns, financial records, and charters, which give us precious glimpses of our early rulers. Thus we sec the notorious William II, called Rufus from his red face and orange hair, shocking the clergy with his oaths and especially his favourite imprecation 'By the Holy Face of Lucca!' Or his younger hrothcr, Henry I, called Bcauclerk because he could read and write Latin, who 'never smiled again' after his only son was drowned in the White Ship. Henry II, says Gerald of Wales, was so hyperactive that he would scarcely sit down even to eat: he stood, and kept his courtiers standing, 'before and after dinner'; but in his last years we have a vignette of him, tired after a long day in the saddle, sit­ ting hy candlelight, a page massaging his bare feet, while urgent dis­ patches were read to him. Sometimes the information is given f graphically: in his Lives o the Ojfas, Matthew Paris, who was a gifted artist as well as a chronicler, inserts a little drawing of Henry III, a con­ noisseur and aesthete, giving orders to his architects. His son Edward I, a more martial figure, is illuminated by an entry in his household accounts, recording payment for repairing the crown, 'which the King in his rage did hurl into the fireplace'. We see his son, Edward II, a homosexual and pathic, engaging in the 'unkingly' sport of rowing, and (according to his biographer) consorting with unsuitable people such as 'singers, actors, grooms, sailors and others of this kind, artists and mechanics'. No marks were found on his murdered body in Berkeley Castle; but John Trevisa, who was a child living in the little town of Berkeley at the time, later translated Higden's account of the reign in his Polychronicon, and interpolated the information that Edward was killed 'with a hoote broche putte thro the secret place posterialle'. Nowadays historians are more inclined than formerly to accord weight to traditional anecdotage, which gives, for instance, Henry VII a reputation for avarice. We know astonishingly little about this King from contemporary sources (Francis Bacon's Life was written three generations later), though I have always thought it significant that he initialled every line of his household accounts (as did his grand­ daughter, Elizabeth I). A quarter of a century ago, Professor G. R. Elton argued vehemently that Henry was not mean at all: it was 'a false view which speaks of rapacity and oppression'. Then, in 1972, C. J. Harrison of Keele University discovered, among the Anglesey Papers at Plas Newydd, a document written by Henry's financial factotum, Edmund Dudley, shortly before his execution in 1509, in which he confesses no less than eighty-four cases of unjust exactions, described

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m detail, and carried out by him on the King's instructions.So here is a case of the records confirming the impression which the old stories provide. From the time of Henry VIII, and the beginnin-gs in England of the Renaissance, with its far more intensive interest in human character and motive, the number of reliable political anecdotes increases sharply.We can build up quite a detailed picture of the King's rela­ tions with his ministers. He was a niggler, a nit-picker, a tireless amender of his secretaries' work. He 'crossed and blotted out many things' in the letters Secretary Petre drafted for him, and when the lat­ ter grumbled Henry said 'It is I that made both Cromwell, Wriothes­ ley, and Paget good secretaries, and so must I do to thee.' Princes, he added, 'know best their own meaning, and there must be time and experience to acquaint [their secretaries] with their humours before a man can do any acceptable service'.He ordered that drafts have two­ and-a-half-inch margins and inch-wide spaces between the lines to leave room for his changes.Sir Thomas More said he had seen one of Henry's letters with four separate layers of corrections, all in the King's handwriting.His daughter Elizabeth had the same propensity; her clerk of the Council, Robert Beale, left a note giving guidance to colleagues about doing business with her: 'Be not dismayed with the controlments and amendments of such things which you shall have done ...avoid opinion of being newfangled, a bringer-in of new cus­ toms.' Scores of fine political anecdotes survive from Elizabeth's Court, but about this time interest begins slowly to shift to parliament, and the first anecdotes of incidents in Commons debates reach us: Sir Walter Ralegh arousing the wrath of Members when he admitted he often 'plucked at a man's sleeve' to prevent his voting in the wrong lobby; the row over Monopolies in the 1601 parliament; the delivery of Eliza­ beth's famous 'Golden Speech' in the Whitehall Council Chamber.As the seventeenth century progresses, parliament gradually occupies the centre of the stage and becomes the prime theatre of political anec­ dote, though the Court, thanks to Bishop Burnett, Harvey, Fanny Burney, Creevey, Greville, Ponsonby and many others, remains a rich quarry. Parliamentary anecdotes inevitably centre around speeches. There was, is, nothing like a good maiden.Chatham made his reputation by his spirited reply to Walpole's rebuke to his youth ('the atrocious crime of being a young man ...I shall neither attempt to palliate nor deny');

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though another story is that he began his first speech with the word 'Sug,u', which prornked titters, then repeated it three times in an ever­ louder, oice and with ferocious scowls, until the House was reduced to silence. Disraeli had a disastrous maiden, ending 'Though I sit down now, the time will come when you will hear me', which seemed lame at the time. Lord Liverpool too made a poor maiden, but Pitt the Younger gave him a scat on the India Board on the strength of it, and thereafter Liverpool (who entered the House for Appleby, aged twenty) served in office for all but thirteen months of his thirty-six years in parliament, fifteen as Prime Minister. F. E. Smith made his reputation with perhaps the most celebrated maiden of all. Grey, too, made a famous maiden, raising 'an eclat that has not been equalled in my recollection' (Addington). But such tri­ umphs do not guarantee a successful career of oratory. The best mai­ dens of the present time were made by Ian Gilmour (1962) and Bernadette Devlin ( 1969), but neither made major speeches there­ after. In 1755, William Hamilton attracted enormous attention with a three-hour speech which Horace Walpole called 'perfection'. We now know it was written for him by Dr Johnson, and Hamilton never again found a worthy speech-writer and ended his career many years later as 'Single-Speech Hamilton'. Among those he employed was Burke; but Burke, though hailed by posterity as the finest orator of all, was not a success in the Commons, being known as 'the Dinner Bell' for the speed with which he emptied the House. Oratory never had much to do with political success. Bute spoke in halting bursts, punctuated by silences, 'like a minute gun'. North, a great parliamentary manager, had no oratorical skill at all and was so undistinguished that he evoked Johnson's laconic dismissal, 'He fills a chair.' Castlereagh could scarcely put two words together but retained the respect of the House where the ultra-articulate Canning failed. Parnell was a poor speaker, but the absolute master of his golden­ tongued Irish party. Some Prime Ministers have been notorious bores. George III said of George Grenville: 'When he has wearied me for two hours, he looks at his watch to see if he may not tire me for an hour more.' His favourite reading was said to be an Act of Parliament. His son, Lord Grenville, was the opposite: 'He possessed in an eminent degree the talent of total silence.' He fell asleep in cabinet meetings, which were often held without him or even without asking him. Another sleeper was the Duke of Grafton, of whom Chatham said: 'The natural cloud of his understanding . . . made his meaning as

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unintelligible as his conversation was uninteresting.' (Two more statesmen who slept in cabinet were the Duke of Portland and Lord Hartington.) Next to speeches it is personal characteristics ancl appearance which attract the anecdotes. James I was small, never washed, had a tongue too big for his mouth, and an unfortunate habit of scratching his geni­ tals. His grandson, Charles II, was enormous, about 6 foot 3 inches, and probably the tallest of all our monarchs. When he was on the run from the Ironsides, parliamentary 'Wanted' posters described him as 'a tall black man, over two yards high'. A similar poster, issued by the Boers in I 900, gives us a police picture of Winston Churchill: 'walks with a forward stoop, reddish-brown hair, hardly noticeable mous­ tache, talks through his nose and cannot pronounce the letter "s" properly'. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was generally reputed to be small, but it seems he merely looked small. Two Yorkshire gent­ lemen, disputing about his height, had the nerve to write to him and received the reply: Dear Sir: Lord Randolph Churchill desires me to say, in reply to your letter of the 21st inst., that his height is just under 5ft IOin. I am, Yours faithfully, Cecil Drummond-Wolff, Secretary.

Lord John Russell, by contrast, really was small: 5 foot 4¾ inches, and weighed less than eight stone. Spencer Perceval was even smaller. It was the cartoonists who tended to notice such things. Harry Furniss counted the number of Sir William Harcourt's double chins and pro­ nounced John Walter, proprietor of The Times, as possessed of 'the largest feet ever seen in the House of Commons'. The ugliest Member, he wrote, was Joseph Biggar, who invented obstruction and so brought about the guillotine. When he rose to make his maiden, a startled Disraeli turned to Lord Barrington and said 'What's that?' Biggar was a pork butcher, with a hunch back, a grating voice, a 'face like a gargoyle', bony hands and huge feet. Punch's parliamentary sketch-writer, Sir Henry Lucy, who wrote under the name 'Toby MP', described Biggar's waistcoat as 'a fearsome garment which, at a dis­ tance, might be taken for sealskin, but was understood to be of native manufacture'. Ambitious politicians, in fact, often wore peculiar clothes precisely to catch the cartoonists' eye. Henry Broadhurst, MP for Stoke, delighted them with his huge boots. During his introduction on a

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puhlic pbtform, the crowd roared : 'We know 'im, we know 'im, we've scrn 'j-, hoots in P1111ch ! ' Gladstone's high collars were world famous. Churchill confessed that, when he noticed the cartoonists were exag­ gerating the size of his hats, he deliberately bought them several sizes too hig, to ram home the point. I have never forgotten the glee of the cartoonist \'icky when Harold Macmillan, a specialist in antique, strange, and notable gear, wore a white astrakhan hat on a visit to Mos­ cow. He also sported old- fashioned shooting-breeches, complete with gaiters. All this was half-unconscious, half-deliberate, as was Lord Hailsham's adoption of a cloth cap when, as minister in charge of science and technology, he visited the industrial north. This, too, became part of his cartoon stock-in-trade. Sometimes the cartoonists got it wrong. John Bright was mistakenly shown, at the beginning of his career, with an eyeglass, and this always appeared thereafter, though he never used one. But cartoonists also suppressed deformities. They never, for instance, indicated the miss­ ing finger Gladstone lost in a shooting accident, though I possess a presentation plate of him which clearly shows the fingerstall he wore in consequence. Gladstone was also famous for his umbrella, as were two other personalities: Sir William Joynson-Hicks ('Jix'), Home Secretary in the 1920s, and Neville Chamberlain. Some politicians have sought to alter their appearance in order to be more 'democratic'. After his fall from grace in 1890, Parnell changed his tall silk hat for a bowler, though it looked incongruous, as he continued to wear a frock-coat. Aneurin Bevan refused to wear a dinner jacket even at a Buckingham Palace dinner; so did Anthony Crosland, who also wore carpet slippers both in the Commons and at the Foreign Office, when Secretary of State. Tony Benn took to shirt sleeves on all but the most formal occasions, and gradually reduced his Jt'ho 's Jt'ho entry to nothing. But one of the most celebrated political garments, Keir Hardie's 'cloth cap', was eccentric rather than demotic, being a Sherlock Holmes bit of headgear, more common among middle-class intellectuals than dockyard workers. Political nicknames have abounded from the earliest times. Eliza­ beth I had names for all her ministers and courtiers: Essex was 'the Wild Horse', Sir John Pakington 'Lusty', Leicester was 'Eyes', Burgh­ ley 'Spirit', Walsingham 'the Moor', Sir Christopher Hatton 'Mutton', the small and deformed Sir Robert Cecil 'Pigmy' (she inherited this rather cruel taste from her father, who addressed one of his gentle­ men, George Blagge, as 'Pig'). There arc literally hundreds of political

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nicknames in English political history. Both the I st and the 1 1th dukes uf :\'orfolk were 'J ockey'. Strafford was ' Black Tom', Coke of J\orfolk 'King Tom'. Lord Sandwich was 'Jeremy Twitcher' or 'Twitch', Shel­ burne '.\1alagrida', after the sinister Portuguese Jesuit, a name which occasioned one of Oliver Goldsmith's worst lapses in tact: 'I never could understand', he said to Shelburne, 'why they called you .\1ala­ grida, as he was a rather good sort of fellow. ' Godolphin was '\"olpone', a nickname he hated. Goderich was 'Snip' or 'Goody', Wellington 'Beau', Addington 'the Doctor', Brougham was variously known as 'Bruffam', '\Vickedshifts', and 'Beelzebub'. George Lambton, Lord Durham, was called ' King Jog' from his saying 'A man can jog along on £40,000 a year.' Lord John Russell was 'the Widow's .\lite'; Gre­ ,ille, the diarist, was 'Punch', Palmerston 'Lord Cupid'. A. J. Balfour was 'Fanny' or 'Pretty Fanny', Lloyd George 'the Goat', Asquith 'Squiff' or 'Perrier Jouet'. Baldwin had many nicknames. To younger Tories he was 'Bonzo'; cabinet colleagues referred to him, sardoni­ cally, as 'God'; to his wife he was 'Tiger'-R. A. Butler testified in his memoirs: ' I have heard her say to him in a moment of indecision, "Go on, Tiger!" ' .\1any of these names refer to reprehensible habits, of course. Palmerston was a co u reur des dames almost to the end of his life. Of the seven great hostesses 18 15-3 5 who could get a Commons debate changed if it conflicted with one of their parties-Lady Cowper, Lady Jersey, Lady Tankenille, Lady Sefton, Lady Willoughby, Princess Li.even, and Princess Esterhazy-'Pam' had had affairs \\ith three, and he was cited as a co-respondent in his seventy-ninth year. .\1elbourne was also cited in divorce actions, by Lord Brandon and the Hon. George J\orton. Neither Prime .\linister suffered the slightest damage in consequence. But later in the century, adultery was fatal, if dis­ covered. Gladstone finished Parnell in 1890 by means of a famous public letter addressed to .\forley, in which he alluded covertly to Par­ nell's affair \\ith .\lrs O'Shea, and he ended the ministerial career of Sir Charles ('Three-in-a-Bed') Dilke by writing against his name in the cabinet list the one word, 'Unavailable'. \Vives were generally more important than mistresses, however. 'Pam's' \\ife, the former Lady Cowper, who was first one then the other, was her husband's greatest asset, comoensating for his mean­ ness, rudeness, and unpopularity by ghing the best parties in London at 94 Piccadilly (now the i\"aval and .\lilitary Club, known as 'The In and Out'). She \\Tote out all the in,itations herself but, curiously enough,

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would tolerate gatecrashers if they were brazen enough. Some wives were liabilities: \ lclhourne 's Lady Caroline Lamb, for instance, l.nmrn as ' Bat'; Disraeli's wife who, as he said, 'was never quite sure which came first, the Greeks or the Romans', was thought embarrass­ ing h� his colleagues, hut not by Disraeli himself; he resented and punished any slig-hts. But he told her little. She said to Queen Victoria that she neither knew nor cared to know any cabinet secrets. By con­ trast, Palmerston used his wife to copy his most secret letters; and Gladstone said of his: '\ly wife has known every political secret I have e, er had, and has never betrayed my confidence. ' He rightly remarked that a minister should tell his wife eve�thing or nothing-an occa­ sional confidence was fatal. Sometimes wives have played a decisive role. Thus, in September 1905, when Asquith, Grey, and Haldane combined in the 'Relugas Compact' to persuade their leader, Campbell­ Bannerman, to retreat into the impotence of the House of Lords, it was Lady Campbell- Bannerman who got him to put down the conspiracy. \ lrs Baldwin, another formidable lady, was instrumental in stiffening her husband's resolve to fight the Press Lords, Beaverbrook and Rothermere, in 193 0. Clementine Churchill was also, on occasion, decisiw in changing her partner's mood, though in her case it was to curb a naturally aggressive spirit. In modern times, and with the outstanding exception of Lloyd George, British Prime Ministers, at least, have tended to be faithful to their wiws. In fact, more political anecdotes revolve around drink than sex. It is now rare for a minister to make a speech or statement when drunk. But both Pitt the Younger and Asquith did so, and Pitt, a port­ drinker, used to go behind the Speaker's Chair to vomit before making an important intervention in debate. Politicians have taken a wide variety of stimulants. Liverpool favoured a whiff of ether, Canning a dose of laudanum. Chancellors of the Exchequer, when making their annual budget statements, are traditionally allowed a restorative mix­ ture. It was Gladstone who started this practice, sipping, at intervals in his speeches, which sometimes lasted four hours, a mixtur\! of raw eggs and sherry prepared by his wife. Drink, of course, was at the bottom of most parliamentary violence, especially when combined with discussion of the Irish Question. Between 175 0 and early Yictorian times duels, or threats of duels, between politicians were comparatively frequent. Shelburne fought one with a Scottish \IP, Colonel William Fullerton, who accused him of treache�· with the enemy. It took place in Hyde Park and Shelburne

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,us wounded in the groin. He wrote to a friend: 'I don't think Lady Shelburne will be any the worse for it. ' Pitt the Younger fought a duel with George Tierney �p on Putney Heath, both men firing into the air. Wellington fought duels; Palmerston, curiously enough, did not, though he had a furious fist-fight with another future Prime .\linister, Aberdeen, at Harrow. Disraeli made a great song and dance oYer his proposed duel with Daniel O'Connell, but nothing came of it. The most famous act of violence in modem times was the kicking of Aneurin Bevan down the steps of \\bite's by an angry but obscure member called Fox-Strangeways, a distant connection of Charles James Fox. But �ichael Foot scarcely mentions the episode in his official biography of Bevan, and when I taxed Bevan himself on the subject he refused to discuss it. The details are in dispute. There are, needless to say, many disputed anecdotes. To Lloyd George is attributed the saying, of the cold-hearted Sir John Simon: 'His smile was like the glitter of the brass plate on a coffin.' An alterna­ tive version has Daniel O'Connell saying it of Sir Robert Peel. In fact, it was coined by another Irishman, John Philpot Curran, and when O'Connell purloined it his victim was not Peel but Lord Stanley, later 14th Earl of Derby. Lloyd George's authentic remark of Simon was 'Men shuddered when he took their arm. ' Again, there is the famous Ernest Bevin story. \Vben Attlee remarked that Herbert .\1orrison was his own worst enemy, Bevin growled 'Not while I'm alive he ain't.' But Bevin is reputed to have said this of Dalton, Cripps, Bevan, and e,·en R. H. S. Crossman, and the remark is attributed to other political bruisers. Certainly every effort should be made to get the details of an anecdote correct, particularly in the modem period, where verification is usually possible. A famous story concerns F. E. Smith's characteristically con­ temptuous habit of using the gents of a famous club, to which he did not belong, on the way to his office. Members noticed, and e\'entually persuaded a frightened Club Secretary to tackle the Lord Chancellor the next time he did it. The Secretary complied, whereupon F. E. said, with well-simulated astonishment, ' Oh, this is a club, is it? I always thought it was a public lavatory. ' Yes: but which club? I had been told it was the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, which has a gents immediately opposite the entrance (I have used it myself on occasion). But Smith's latest and most thorough biographer, John Campbell, by using street plans and deducing the likely route he took, has 'proved' that it is the National Liberal Club. In my view, the location of this

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g-t·nh, ri g- ht across the inner hall and down stl'ps, makes it an unlikdy rnntrmkr, so I hdinl' the issue is still open. Thl· trnuhk with checking the details is that they sometimes demol­ ish the story. For instance, the late Sir I larold N icolson was thl· g-reat­ est repository of political, diplomatic, and society anecdotes in l .ondon, and told them with great skill. They were usually an:urate, hut not alwavs. I k told me this tak of Churchill: Sir lhsil Thomson was a famous sp,c1tl·her, the ht·ad of tht· Special Branch at Srotbnd Yard. I k tinished Sir Roger Casemt·nt, among others, and later \\ rote an unreliahk hook ahout his cases, called Q11c'a Pmplt'. But he was a r Jthcr quet·r person himself. His ser,ices to the state were considered so rnlu­ ahk that he was kept on long alier the otlieial retirement age, in an advisory capacity. and was on·r se,·ent\· when he tinally was put out to grass. That was on the ] 1 l kcemher I q 2 6 . On the t'\ ening of the next day, he was arrested for intkcent nposure in I lyde Park . Churchill, who had worked closely with Thomson during the war, and was now Chancellor of the Exchequer, was ;1sked to inter,ene, and get the charge quashed. He demanded of Thomson's friends the precise circumstances-date, place, time of day. even the approxi ­ mate temperature. :\lie r many questions and answers, he spoke as follows: 'Sir 13Jsil Thomson, a distinguished servant of the public, seven�· years of age, , e r¢ng on sen:n�·-one, e x-posing himself, in Hyde Park, at nine in the evening on the First o f .J anuary, in a temperature of t\rn degrees of frost-makes yer proud to bt' an E11glishma 11 ( ' It was his way of saying there was nothing he could do . Thomson wa d uly convicted and fined £5 .

:\las, Sir Basil Thomson resigned in 192 1, when he was only sixty, and beti.Jre Churchill went to the Treasury : there may be some element of truth in Nicolson's story, but its essence cannot be authentic. We are fortunate to haw lived in an age of such great political personalities. Churchill, indeed, must have given rise to more anec­ dotes than any politician in our history, except possibly for Gladstone and Disraeli. But many of his supposed sa�ings were fathered on him. .\ttlee, by contrast, was celebrated for what he did not say. No public man has ewr doled out his words more sparingly, perhaps because he had a sharp, talkatiw, and overbearing \\ife, of whom he stood in awe, and who was reputed (among other things) to be the worst driver in the Home Counties. Douglas Jay. when President of the Board of Trade, inherited Attlee's official chauffeur, George, and he related to me a story George told "ith relish: .\ I r .-\nlee, as he then was, never addressed a word to me, except that, when he

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first got in the car he would say 'Good morning, George', and when I finally dropped him each evening, he would say 'Good night, George'. Otherwise, not a word. The only time he ever spoke to me was once, when we were driving to Chequers for the weekend, a car overtook us and nearly _sent us into the ditch. Mr Attlee said furiously 'Who's that bloody fool? I said: 'That was Mrs Attlee, Sir.' 'Best say no more about it.'

When Attlee was old and an earl, he delivered a series of lectures in America which he subsequently published in a slim volume called From Empi re to Co mmonwealth. When the book appeared, I interviewed him about it on television, and knowing his habit of answering in monosyllables, I had prepared no less than forty questions for a short interview.We got through more than thirty, for he had a disconcerting habit of saying, in answer to one question 'What's your next question?' Afterwards, in the studio hospitality room, I asked him to autograph my copy of the book, and he took it off into a comer, spent a long time writing in it, and then handed it back, shut.What on earth had he been writing? There were others milling about, and I did not like to look until afterwards.Then I found, as I might have expected, he had writ­ ten, in a quavering hand, 'Attlee'.Curiously enough, he became quite talkative when I gave him a lift back to London in the limousine the studio had provided for me (he, with his usual self-effacement, had not even asked for one).He told me that, in the old days, politicians often had sing-songs together, as indeed we know from tales Beaverbrook told about Lloyd George and his cabinet cronies.And Attlee sang for me some of these ditties, including old Boer War songs, in a weak but tuneful voice.I asked him where he wished to be dropped. 'Army & Navy Stores. Off to India tomorrow. Must get kitted up.' He disap­ peared through its swing doors, the last I saw of him. Of course I cannot reproduce on the page the clipped tone, so evocative of pre- 19 14 Haileybury, with which Attlee enunciated his rare words. Nor can I convey the extraordinary vocal range, from melodious, lilting tenor to indignant squeak, which gave Aneurin Bevan's voice its power, and mutation of which-however inadequate-is essential to the telling of any Bevan anecdote.No man in our political history needed so much to be heard, and indeed seen. The cold words alone cannot conjure up his magic and his majesty.He was the first great man I knew at all well, and I cannot forget the first time I sat next to him, at the lavish annual Tribune lunch provided by its then proprietor, the millionaire Howard Samuel. Beside each plate was a splendid Monte Cristo cigar in its aluminium tube.At the end

IN T R O D U C T ION

of the meal, Bevan took out, lit and puffed his with profound enjoy­ ment . Then he noticed mine was untouched and asked why. I had only just hecomc a Socialist, and I explained that I did not think it right that Sm:ialists should enjoy such luxuries. 'Oooooh, you arc one of those, arc you?' asked Bevan with Olympian contempt. 'Well, give it here, hoy', and he took my cigar and tucked it safely into his top pocket for future consumption. That high Welsh tenor is gone for ever, as is the faint Worcester­ shire burr of Baldwin, or Curzon's short Derbyshire 'a's, the Liver­ pudlian glottal which underlay the acquired Oxford tones of F. E. Smith, and much more distant accents-Sir Walter Ralegh's 'broad Devonshire' and the long, drawling vowels of his mistress, Queen Elizabeth I. Our children will never experience the skill and relish with which Ernie Bevin mangled English syntax, just as we cannot quail before the fierce glance of Gladstone's eagle eye-so mesmeric that men were known to lose the power of speech when he transfixed them-or marvel at the exquisite courtesy of Chatham, 'who bowed so low that the tip of his nose was visible between his legs'. The magnetic tape will make things different for our progeny. In the meantime, we must be content with print, and in the pages which follow I have repro­ duced the bare bones of many stories, as recorded by contemporaries or tradition. The voices, the expressions, the gestures must be supplied by the reader's imagination. frer,

1985

PAUL J O H N S O N

I

Richard Crookback R I C H A R D, the third son, of whom we now entreat, was in wit and courage equal with either of them [his elder brothers]; in body and prowess, far under them both; little of stature, ill-featured of limbs, crook-backed, his left shoulder much higher than his right, hard favoured of visage, and such as in states called warly, in other men otherwise; he was malicious, wrathful, envious and from his birth ever froward. It is for truth reported, that the duchess, his mother, had so much ado in her travail, that she could not be delivered of him uncut; and that he came into the world with the feet forward, as men be born outward, and (as the fame runneth) also not untoothed.

Sir Thomas More, Richard Ill, r 5 r 5- r 6; first pub. r 5 5 7

2

Off With His Head ! On 13 June 1483, as part of his campaign to seize the crown, Richard Duke of Gloucester, now Protecto r, appeared before the Co unci.l in the Tower and accused the Queen (Elizabeth Woodville) and the late King's mistress, Jane Sho re, ofattempting to murder him by witchcraft, and Sho re 's protecto r, the Lo rd Chamberlain Hastings, ofabetting them in treason. T H E N, said the Protector, 'ye shall see in what wise that sorceress, and that other witch of her counsel, Shore's wife, with their affinity, have by their sorcery and witchcraft wasted my body'. And therewith he plucked up his doublet-sleeve to his elbow, upon his left arm, where he shewed a werish withered arm and small, as it was never other. And thereupon every man's mind sore misgave him, well perceiving that this matter was but a quarrel. For well they wist, that the Queen was too wise to go about any such folly. And also, if she would, yet would she of all folk least make Shore's wife of [her] counsel, whom of all women she most hated, as that concubine whom the King her husband

2

RIC H A R D I l l

had most loved . And also no man was there present but well knew, that his arm , ·as ver such since his birth. t\t·,Trthelcss, the I .ord Chamberlain (who from the death of King Edward kept Shore's wife, on whom he somewhat doted in the King's lite, saving, as it is said, he that while forebare her of reverence towards his �ing, or else of a certain kind of fidelity towards his friend) answered and said: 'Certainly, my Lord, if they have so heinously done, the be worthy heinous punishment.' 'What,' quoth the Protector, 'thou servest me I ween with ifs and ands; I tell thee they have so done, and that I will make good on thy body, traitor.' And therewith, as in a great anger, he clapped his fist upon the board a gTeat rap; at which token given, one cried 'Treason!' without the chamber. Therewith a door clapped, and in came there rushing men in harness as many as the chamber might hold. And anon the Protector said to the Lord Hastings: 'I arrest thee traitor.' 'What, me my Lord?' quoth he. 'Yea, thee traitor', quoth the Protector. And another let fly at the Lord Stanley, who shrunk at the stroke and fell under the table, or else his head had been cleft to the teeth; for, as shortly as he shrank, yet ran the blood about his ears. Then were they all quickly bestowed in divers chambers; except the Lord Chamberlain, who the Protector bad speed and shrive him apace 'For by St Paul', quoth he, 'I will not to dinner before I see thy head off.' It booted him not to ask 'Why'; but heavily he took a priest at adventure, and made a short shrift; for a longer would not be suffered, the Protector made so much haste to dinner, which he might not go to till this were done, for saving of his oath. So was he brought forth into the Green, beside the chapel within the Tower, and his head laid down upon a long log of timber, and there stricken off. Ibid.

3 Atoning for a Political Scandal After the judicial murder of Lord Hastings, Richard took revenge on his brother's mistress, Jane Shore.

H E caused the Bishop of London to put her to open penance, going before the cross in procession upon a Sunday, with a taper in her hand.

RIC H ARD III

3

In which she went in countenance and pace demure so womanly, and albeit she were out of all array save her kirtle [skirt] only, yet went she so fair and lovely, namely while the wondering of the people cast a comely run in her cheeks (of which she before had-ruost miss), that her great shame won her much praise, among those who were more amor­ ous of her body than curious of her soul. . . . This woman was born in London worshipfully friended, honestly brought up, and very well married, saving somewhat too soon; her husband an honest citizen, young and goodly and of good substance. But, foreasmuch as they were coupled ere she was ripe, she not very fervently loved for whom she never longed. Which was haply the thing that more easily made her incline unto the King's appetite, when he required her. Howbeit the respect of his royalty, the hope of gay apparel, ease, pleasure and other wanton wealth, were soon able to pierce a soft, tender heart. But when the King had abused her, anon her husband, as he was an honest man, and one who would his good, not presuming to touch a King's concu­ bine, left her up to him altogether. When the King died, the Lord Chamberlain took her. . . . Proper she was and fair; nothing in her body that you would have changed, but if you would have wished her somewhat higher. Thus say they who knew her in her youth; albeit some who now see her (for yet she liveth) deem her never to have been well visaged. Whose judgement seemeth me somewhat like, as though men should guess the beauty of one long before departed, by her scalp taken out of the chamel house. For now is she old, lean, withered and dried up, nothing left but shrivelled skin and hard bone. And yet, being even such, whoso well advise her visage, might guess and devise which parts, how filled, would make it a fair face. Ibid.

4 The Babes in the Tower F O R Sir James Tyrel devised, that they should be murdered in their beds. To the execution whereof, he appointed Miles Forest, one of the four who kept them, a fellow fleshed in murder beforetime. To him he joined one John Dighton, his own horse-keeper, a big, broad, square, strong knave. Then, all the others being removed from them, this Miles Forest and John Dighton about midnight, the silly children lying

4

R I C H A R D III

in their heds, came into the chamber, and suddenly lapped them up amon� the clothes, so bewrapped them and entangled them, keeping down by force the feather-bed and pillows hard into their mouths, that within a while, smothered and stifled, their breath failing, they gave up to ( ind their innocent souls unto the joys of heaven, leaving to their tormentors their bodies dead in the bed. \\ nom after that the wretches perceived, first by the struggling with the pains of death, and after long lying still, to be thoroughly dead, they laid their bodies naked out upon the bed, and fetched Sir James to sec them. Who, upon the sights of them, caused those murderers to bury them at the stair foot, meetly deep into the ground, under a great heap of stone. Then rode Sir James in great haste to King Richard, and shewed him all the manner of the murder; who gave him great thanks, and as some say there made him knight. But he allowed not, as I have heard, that burying in so vile a corner, saying that he would have them buried in a better place, because they were king's sons-lo, the honourable courage of a king! Whereupon, they say, that a priest of Sir Robert Brakenbery took up the bodies again, and secretly interred them in place as, by the occasion of his death who only knew it, could never since come to light. Very truth it is, and well known, that at such time as Sir James Tyrel was in the Tower for treason committed against the most famous prince King Henry VII, both Dighton and he were exam­ ined, and confessed the murder in manner above written. But whither the bodies were removed they could nothing tell . . . For first, to begin with the ministers, Miles Forest, at St Martins, piecemeal rotted away. Dighton indeed yet walketh on alive, in good possibility to be hanged ere he die. But Sir James Tyrel died at Tower Hill, beheaded for treason. King Richard himself, as ye shall hereafter hear, slain in the field, hacked and hewed of his enemies' hands, har­ ried on horseback dead, his hair in despite torn and tugged like a cur dog. And the mischief that he took, within less than three years of the mischief that he did; and yet all the meantime spent in much pain and trouble outward, much fear, anguish and sorrow within. For I have heard by credible report of such as were secret with chamberers, that after this abominable deed done, he never had quiet in his mind, he never thought himself sure. Where he went abroad, his eyes whirled about, his body privily fenced, his hands ever on his dagger, his coun­ tenance and manner like one always ready to strike again. He took ill rest at nights, lay long waking and musing, sore wearied with care and

RI C H ARD III

5

watch, he rather slumbered than slept.Troubled with fearful dreams, suddenly sometime started he up, leapt out of his bed and ran about the chamber. Ibid.

5 An Ungrateful Ruler Henry VIIforbade his nobles to keep their retainers in livery, and spared none ofthem when detected. T H ERE remaineth to this day a report, that the King was on a time entertained by the Earl of Oxford (that was his principal servant both for war and peace), noble and sumptuously, at his castle at Henn­ ingham.And at the King's going away, the Earl's servants stood in a seemly manner in their livery coats with cognizances ranged on both sides, and made the King a lane.The King called the Earl to him and said, 'My Lord, I have heard much of your hospitality, but I see it is greater than the speech. These handsome gentlemen and yeomen which I see on both sides of me are (sure) your menial servants.' The Earl smiled and said, 'It may please your Grace, it were not for mine ease.They are most of them my retainers, that are comen to do me service at such a time as this, and chiefly to see your Grace.' The King started a little and said, 'By my faith, (my Lord) I thank you for your good cheer, but I may not endure to have my laws broken in my sight. My attorney must speak with you.' And it is part of the report, that the Earl compounded for no less than fifteen thousand marks. And to show further the King's extreme diligence, I do remember to have seen long since a book of accompt of Empson's, that had the King's hand almost to every leaf by way of signing, and was in some places postilled in the margent with the King's hand likewise, where was this remembrance: 'Item, received, of such a one, five marks, for a pardon to be procured, and if the pardon do not pass, the money to be repaid; except the party in some other ways satisfied.' And over against this memorandum, of the King's own hand: 'Otherwise satisfied.' Which I do the rather mention because it shews in the King a nearness, but yet with a kind of justness. Francis Bacon, The Historie ofthe Raigne ofKing Henry the Seventh, 1 6 2 2

h

SIR THOMAS MORE

6 Sir Thomas More I J 'ith the accession of Henry VIII, Sir Thomas More was rapid(y promoted btmmint .HastenifRequests ( 1 5 14), Treasu rer of the Exchequer ( 152 1), and f Chancellor o the Duchy ofLancaster ( 1525). His son - in-law adds:

A r.; D from the plcasyre he took in his company, would his Grace sometimes come home to his house at Chelsea to be merry with him, whither on a time unlooked for he came to dinner, and after dinner in a fair garden of his walked with him by the space of an hour holding his arm about his neck. As soon as his Grace was gone, I rejoicing, told Sir Thomas More how happy he was, whom the King had so familiarly entertained, as I had never seen him do to any before, except Cardinal Wolsey, whom I saw his Grace once walk with arm in arm. 'I thank our Lord, son', quoth he, 'I find his Grace my very good lord indeed, and I do believe he doth as singularly favour me as any subject within this Realm. Howbeit (son Roper) I may tell thee, I have no cause to be proud thereof. For if my head would win him a castle in France, it should not fail to go'. William Roper, The Life ofSir Thomas More, first. pub. 1 626

7 The Solomon Touch W H I LE [Sir Thomas More] was sitting in his hall one day, a beggar come to him to complain that Lady More detained a little dog which belonged to her. The Chancellor sent for his lady and ordered her to bring the dog with her. He took it into his hands, and placing Lady More at the upper end of the hall, desired the beggar to stand at the lower end. ' I sit here', he said, 'to do every one justice', and he desired each of them to call the dog. The little favourite immediately forsook his new mistress and ran to the beggar; upon which Lady More was compelled to indulge her partiality by purchasing the animal. Arthur Cayley, Memoin ofSir Thomas More, 1 808

S I R T H O \I A S \I O R E

8 T H I S Duke [of :\"orfolk] coming on a time to Chelsea to dine with him, fommed to find him at church singing in the choir ';\ith a surplice on his bac ·; to whom. after senice. as they went home together arm in arm. the Duke said. ·God body. God body (my Lord Chancellor ) a parish clerk. a parish clerk. you dishonour the King and his office . ' ':\"ay', quoth Sir Thomas .\ 1ore. smiling upon the Duke. ·your Grace may not think that the King. your master and mine. \\ill ,\ith me for sening God his master be offended. or thereby count his office dis­ honoured'.

9 [\\ben he resigned as Lord Chancellor. Lady .\ 1ore exclaimed:] 'Tilly Yalley, tilly Yailey. what ,,ill you do . .\ 1r .\ 1ore? \rill you sit and make goslings in the ashes? It is bener to rule than be ruled.'

IO

� o w upon this resignrnent of his office came Sir Thomas C romwell (then in the lilllg's high fayour) to Chelsea to him on a message from the King, wherein when they had thoroughly communed together. '.\1r C romwell', quoth he. 'you are now entered into the senice of a most noble. \\ise and liberal prince; if you "ill follow my poor ad,ice. you shall, in ghing counsel unto his Grace . eYer tell him what he ought to do, but neYer tell him what he is able to do. so shall you show yourself a true faithful sen·ant, and a right worthy Councillor. For if the lion knew his own strength, hard were it for any man to rule him.· Ibid.

II W tt E � Sir Thomas .\ lore had continued a good while in the Tower, my lady his v.ife obtained licence to see him. who at her first coming

S I R T I I O M A S l\t O R E

lih· .1 simpk wom.m, and somewhat worldly too, with this manner of s.ilu1.11ions hluntly saluted him, '\\,'hat the good year, l\l r More,' quoth shc, ' l marYcl that you, that have heen always hitherunto taken for so ,, isc a man, will now play the fool to lie in this close filthy prison, and he content to he shut up among mice and rats, when you might be ahroad at your lihert)·, and with the favour and good will both of the 1'.ing and his Council, if you would but do as all the bishops and best karncd of this Realm have done. And seeing you have at Chelsea a right fair house, your library, your books, your gallery, your garden, your orchards, and all other necessaries so handsomely about you, where you might, in the company of me your wife, your children, and household he merry, I muse what a God's name you mean here thus fondly to tarry.' After he had a while quietly heard her, with a cheerful countenance he said unto her, 'I pray thee good Mrs Alice, tell me, tell me one thing. ' '\\bat is that?' quoth she. 'Is not this house as nigh hea­ Yen as mine own?' To whom she, after her accustomed fashion, not lik­ ing such talk, answaed, 'Tilly valley, tilly valley.' 'How say you Mrs :\lice, is it not so?' quoth he. ' Bone Deus, Bone Deus, man, will this gear never be left?' quoth she. 'Well then, Mrs Alice, if it be so, it is very well. For I see no great cause why I should much joy of my gay house, or of anything belonging thereunto, when if I should but seven years lie buried under the ground, and then arise and come hither again, I should not fail to find some therein that would bid me get out of the doors and tell me that were none of mine. What cause have I then to like such an house as would so soon forget his master?' Ibid.

12

On the Scaffold 0 1' ascending this structure, he found it so weak that it was ready to fall. Upon which he said to the Lieutenant, 'I pray thee see me up safe, and for my coming down let me shift for myself.' As Henry had so pru­ dently imposed silence upon him at this time, More only desired of the spectators that they would pray for him, and bear witness that he there suffered death in and for the faith of the catholic church. This said, he knelt, and repeated a psalm with great deliberation; perhaps the 5 1 st,

SIR THOM A S MORE

9

the 56th or the 57th. He then rose cheerfully and the executioner ask­ ing his forgiveness, More kissed him and said, 'Thou wilt do me this day a greater benefit than ever any mortal man can be able to give me. Pluck up thy spirit, man, and be not afraid to do thy office. My neck is very short: take heed therefore that thou strike not awry, for saving thy honesty.' When he laid his head upon the block, he desired the executioner to wait till he had removed his beard, 'For that had never committed treason.' 'So with great alacrity and spiritual joy', adds his great-grandson, 'he received the fatal blow of the axe' . . . His head remained for some time fixed upon a pole on London Bridge, until the piety of his daughter Margaret found an opportunity of purchasing it. She is said to have preserved it in a leaden box, and to have ordered its interment with her own body in the Roper vault, under a chapel adjoining St Dunstan's, Canterbury. Cayley, Memoirs ofMore

13

Queen Elizabeth a Gentleman of the Black Rod, being charged by her expresse command to look precisely to all admissions into the Privy­ Chamber, one day stayed a very gay Captain and a follower of my Lord of Leicesters, from entrance; For that he was neither well known, nor a sworn servant to the Queen: at which repulse, the Gentleman bearing high on my Lords favour, told him, he might perchance procure him a discharge: Leicester coming into the contestation, said publickely (which was none of his wont) that he was Knave, and should not con­ tinue long in his office; and so turning about to go in to the Queen, Bowyer (who was a bold Gentleman and well beloved) stept before him, and fell at her Majesties feet, related the story and humbly craves her Graces pleasure; and whether my Lord of Leicester was King or her Majesty Queen? Whereunto she replied with her wonted oath (Gods death) my Lord, I have wisht you well, but my favour is not so lockt up for you, that others shall not partake thereof; for I have many servants, unto whom I have, and will at my pleasure bequeath my favour, and likewise resume the same; and if you think to rule here, I will take a course to see you forth-coming: I will have here but one Mistress, and B O W YER,

10

E LI Z A B E T H I

no ;\ laster, and look that no ill happen to him, lest it be severely re4uired at your hands. Which so quelled my Lord of Leicester, that his fained humility was long after one of his best virtues. Sir Robert Naunton, Fragmenta Regalia, 1641

14 T H AT same day, after dinner, my Lord of H unsdon drew me up to a quiet gallery that I might hear some music; but he said he durst not avow it, where I might hear the Queen play upon the virginals. After I had hearkened awhile, I took by the tapestry that hung before the door of the chamber, and seeing her back was towards the door, I ventured within the chamber, and stood a pretty space hearing her play excellent well; but she left off immediately so soon as she turned about and saw me. She appeared to be surprised to see me, and came forward seem­ ing to strike me with her hand; alleging that she used not to play before men, but when she was solitary, to shun melancholy. Sir James Melville, Memoirs ofHis Own Life, 1 5 49-93

THE remove of the Court from Windsor is still constantly put off. The carter that three times came to Windsor with his cart to carry away some of the stuff of the Queen's wardrobe, when he repared there for the third time and was told by those of the wardrobe that the remove held not, clapping his hand on his thigh cried out, 'Now I see that the Queen is a woman as well as my wife.' These words being overheard by her Majesty, who then stood at the window, she said 'What a villain is this! ' and so sends him three angels* to stop his mouth. Thomas Birch, Memoirs ofthe Reign ofQueen Elizabeth, 1 754

16 N o w though this Archbishop [Parker] dissembled not his Marriage, yet Queen Elizabeth would not dissemble her dislike of it. For whereas it pleased her often to come to his house, in respect of her favour to him (that had been her Mothers Chaplain) being once above the rest • An angel was ten shillings.

E L I ZABETH I

11

greatly seated; at her parting from thence, the Archbishop and his Wife being together, she gave him very special thanks, with gratious and honourable terms, and then looking on his Wife, �nd you (saith she) Madame I may not call you, and Mistress I am ashamed to call you, so I know not what to call you, but yet I do thank you. Sir John Harington, NugaeAntiquae, 1 769

17 T H E Queen, seeing Sir Edward Dyer in her garden, looked out at her window and asked him in Italian, 'What does a man think of when he thinks of nothing?' Sir Edward (who had not had the effect of some of the Queen's grants so soon as he had hoped and desired) paused a little, and then made answer, 'Madam, he thinks of a woman's pro­ mise. ' The Queen shrunk in her head, but was heard to say, 'Well, Sir Edward, I must not confute you. Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor.' Francis Bacon, Apophth egms, 1 624

18 T m s Earle of Oxford [Edward de Vere, 1 7th earl, 1 550-1 604], mak­ ing his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his retume, the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart. John Aubrey, Brieflives, 1 669-96; first pub. 1 8 1 3

The Parliament of 1 58 1 M R Popham, when he was Speaker, and the Lower House had sat long, and done in effect nothing, coming one day to Queen Elizabeth, she said to him: 'Now, Mr Speaker, what hath passed in the Lower House?' He answered: 'If it please Your Majesty, seven weeks.' Bacon, Apophthegms

12

E I. I Z A D E T H I

20

Queen Elizabeth and Richard II T m: hook of the depositing Richard II, and the coming in of Henry I\", supposed to he written by Dr Hayward, who was committed to the Tower for it, has much incensed Queen Elizabeth. And she asked Mr Bacon, being then of her learned council, 'Whether there were no treason contained in it?' Mr Bacon, intending to do him a pleasure, and to take off the Queen's bitterness with a jest, answered: 'No madam, for treason I cannot deliver opinion that there is any, but very much felony.' The Queen, apprehending it gladly, asked 'How, and wherein?' Mr Bacon answered: 'Because he had stolen many of his sentences and conceits out of Cornelius Tacitus.' Ibid.

21

Cecil v. Essex S I R Robert Cecil is reported to be very busy coming and going very often between London and the Queen, so that he appeareth with his hands full of papers and his head full of matter, and so occupied pas­ seth through the Presence Chamber like a blind man, not looking upon any.

N. E. McClure, The Lettm ofJohn Chamberlain, 1 939

22

In July 1592 the Earl ofEssex tried, andfa,iled, to persuade Queen Elizabeth to make him Chancello r of Oxford University. He blamed Cecil and wrote to him: S I R R.-1 have been with the Queen and have had my answer. How it agrees with your letter you can judge, after you have spoken with the Queen. Whether you have mistaken the Queen, or used cunning with me, I know not. I will not condemn you, but leave you to think if it were

E ARL O F E S S E X

your own case, whether you would not be jealous. Your friend, if I have cause, R. Essex. Colledion of State Papers . . . left b;• Wm Cecil, Lord Burghle:,· eds. Samuel Haynes and William Murdin, 1 740-59

In February 1593 Essex sought to make his follower Sir Francis Bacon Attorney-General. He and Cecil discussed the appointment after examining a prisoner in the Tower. Anthony Standen writes to Bacon: T H E S E two returning back in a coach together, Sir Robert began of himself, saying: 'My Lord, the Queen has resolved, e'er five days pass, without any farther delay, to make an attorney-general. I pray your lordship to let me known whom you v.ill favour. ' The earl answered, that he wondered, that Sir Robert should ask him that question, seeing it could not be unknown to him, that resolutely against all whosoever he stood for Francis Bacon. 'Good Lord! ' replied Sir Robert, 'I wonder your lordship should go about to spend your strength in so unlikely or impossible a matter', desiring his lordship to allege to him but one only precedent for so raw a youth to that place of such moment. The earl very cunningly working upon him said, that for the attorneyship, which was but an ordinary office other than the prince's favour, he could produce no pattern, because he had not made any search for that purpose; but that a younger than Francis Bacon, of less learning, and of no greater experience, was suing and shoving with all for an office of far greater importance, greater charge and greater weight, than the attorneyship. Such a one, the earl said, he could name to him. Sir Robert's answer was, that he well knew, that his lordship meant him; and that admitting that both his years and experience were small, yet weighing the school which he studied in and the great v.is­ dom and learning of his schoolmaster and the pains and observations he daily passed in that school, he thought his forces and v.,isdom to be sufficient to sway that machine; alleging v.ith all his father's deserts in these his long and painful travails of so long an administration to merit a mark of gratitude from Her Majesty in the person of the son. And with regard to the affair of Mr Francis Bacon, he desired his lordship to consider of it. 'If at least', said he, 'your lordship has spoken on the solicitorship, that might be easier digestion to Her Majesty.' The earl

q

S I R F R A N C I S B A C ON

upon this answered: ' Digest me no digestions. For the attorneyship for Francis is that I must have; and in that will I spend all my power, might, authority and amity, and with tooth and nail defend and procure the fame for him against whomsoever; and that whoever getteth this office out of my hands for any other before he have it, it shall cost him the coming by. And this be you assured of, Sir Robert; for now do I fully declare myself.' Hirch, Memoi� ofthe Reip, ofQueen Elizabeth

24 Bacon did not get the job. The prelude to Essex 's fall was h is disastrous expedition to Ireland and his sudden return to Court without pennission, on 28 September 1599.

T H I S morning, about I O o'clock, he lighted at the court gate at Non­ such in post and made all haste up to the Presence and so to the Privy Chamber, and stayed not till he came to the Queen's bedchamber, where he found the Queen newly up, her hair about her face. He kneeled unto her, kissed her hands and her neck and had some private speech with her, which seemed to give him great contentment, for coming from Her Majesty for to shift himself in his chamber, he was very pleasant and thanked God that though he had suffered much trouble and storms abroad he found a sweet calm at home. Tis much wondered at that he went so boldly to Her Majesty's presence, she not being ready, and he so full of dirt and mire that his very face was full of it. About I I he was ready and went up again to the Queen and con­ ferred with her till half an hour after I 2. He went to dinner and during all that time discoursed merely of his travels and journeys in Ire­ land. . . . He was visited frankly by all sorts, of lords, ladies and gentle­ men; only a strangeness was observed between him and Mr Secretary and that party. Then he went up to the Queen but found her much changed in that small time, for she began to call him to question for his return and was not satisfied in the manner of his coming away, and leaving all things at so great hazard . . . 29 September: Late last night, between I O and I I o'clock, a com­ mandment came from the Queen to my Lord of Essex that he should keep his chamber. . . . Afterwards my Lord of Essex was commanded

E A RL OF E S S E X

from Court and committed to my Lord Keeper's; he is now come to London to York House in my Lord of Worcester's coach. At his going from Court few or none of his friends accompanied him. Sidney Papers, ed. Arthur Collins, 1 746

Early in 1 601 the disg raced Essex, at liberty but stripped offavo u r, began to fortify his London ho use on the Thames; on 7 February, so me of his men so ught Shakespeare 's inspiration for their intended treason. Y E S T E R D A Y Sir Charles Percy, Sir Joscelyn Percy, the Lord Moun­ teagle and some others of my Lord of Essex's followers came to some of the Lord Chamberlain's players and would have them play that play of the deposing and killing of King Richard II, promising to give them 40s. more than their ordinary to play it. The players answered that the play of King Richard was so old and so long out of use that they should have little or no company at it. Nevertheless at their request and in consideration of 40s., they played it this afternoon at the Globe, when many of my Lord of Essex's followers were present. State Papers, Domestic

26 Early the follo wing day the Queen took action to quell the intended revolt: T H E Lord Mayor at this time received orders from the Queen to see that the citizens were all in their houses ready to obey orders; and Her Majesty sent to the Earl of Essex the Lord Keeper Egerton, Sir Wil­ liam Knollys the Comptroller, and Popham, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, to know the reasons of this concourse at his house. But they were with difficulty admitted through a wicket, all their servants being shut out except the purse-bearer. In the courtyard they saw a confused multitude, and in the midst of them the Earl himself with the Earls of Rutland and Southampton and many others, who immediately surrounded them. The Lord Keeper then turning to his lordship sig­ nified to him, that himself and the others were sent by the Queen to know the cause of such a concourse, promising that if his lordship had been injured by any he should have right done to him. The Earl

16

LIZ

B E TH I

ans,, ered aloud that he knew that a design was concerted against his liti.· and persons hired to kill him in his beit down, and repeated them till he obeyed. After she had recein;d th e '>3Lra­ ment, she sank rapidly and uttered only a f�- brol«:n wordt farewell of him whom '>he: had lrr,ed '>'>ion of ht'> YJ alarming that hi'> privy councillors, who we:re: a life . A fcv. minutes before the Q_u een expired , William wa those of his drill sergeant. The f porter ha,ing drawn up in front of the door, presented his staf as a soldier docs his musket. Dr Smith, raising his cane, and holding it " ith hoth hands h� the middle, returned the salute with the utmost gra,ity . The porter, much annoyed, le\'elled his weapon, wheeled to the right, stepping a pace hack to gi,c the Commissioner room to pass, lowering his staff at the same time in token of obeisance. Dr Smith, instead of passing on. drew up on the opposite side and lowered his cane to the same angle. The porter, much out of countenance, nex1 moved upstairs with his staff upraised, while Dr S mith followed with his cane in precisely the same posture , and his whole soul apparently wrapped in the purpose of placing his foot exactly on the same spot of each step . .-\t the door of the hall the porter again drew off, saluted with his staff, and bowed reverentially. Dr Smith again imitated his motions and returned his bow with the most profound gra,ity. Only when the Doc ­ tor entered th e room was th e spell under which h e seemed t o act broken and he was with some difficult\· cominced that he had been doing an)thing extraordinary . .-\ c c o R o 1 :--; G to Dr Rogers, Smith during his residence in Kirkaldy went out one S unday morning in his dressing-gown to walk in the gar­ den, but once in the garden he went onto the path leading to the turn­ pike road, and then to the road itself; along which he continued in a condition of reverie till he reached Dunfermline fifteen miles distant, j ust as the bells were sounding for church. The strange sound of the bells was the first thing that roused the philosopher from his medi­ tation. From The Times, 2 4 Jul� 1 790: John Rae, L1fe of. 1dam Smith , 1 89 5 : .1uto­ biography ofthe Rn Dr Alexander Carlyle oflm·ereslt 1 722-1 805, 1 86o

I 14 Pitt, Fox and others frequently quotedfrom The \\'ealth of :\'ations. But: I T was [my] good fortune to spend a day tete-a-tete with .\1r Fox at St Anne's Hill. I mentioned . . . that I had never read Adam Smith's cel­ ebrated work on the Wealth of i\ations. 'To tell you the truth', said .\fr

ADAM SMITH

Fox, 'nor I neither. There i s something in all these subjects which passes my comprehension; something so wide, that I could never embrace them myself or find anyone else who did.' Butler, Remi11iscences

1 15

Pitt and Gibbon Chatham 's second ,son, William Pitt, born in 1 759, first came to public notice in 1 780, while a student at Lincoln 's Inn. During the Gordon Riots, the Northumberland Militia were quartered on the Inn, and during a dinner given by its officers, the star guest was the historian Edward Gibbon. Bland Burges, who was present, records: M R G I B B o N, nothing loth, took the conversation into his own hands, and very brilliant and pleasant he was during the dinner and for some time afterwards. He had just concluded, however, one of his best foreign anecdotes, in which he had introduced some of the fashionable levities of political doctrine then prevalent, and with his customary tap on the lid of his snuff-box was looking around to receive our tribute of applause, when a deep-toned but clear voice was heard from the bot­ tom of the table, very calmly and civilly impugning the correctness of the narrative and the propriety of the doctrine of which it had been made the vehicle. The historian, turning a disdainful glance towards the quarter whence the voice proceeded, saw for the firs� time a tall, thin and rather ungainly-looking young man, who now sat quietly eat­ ing some fruit. There was nothing very prepossessing or very formi­ dable in his exterior but as the few words he had uttered appeared to have made a considerable impression on the company, Mr Gibbon I suppose thought himself bound to maintain his honour by suppressing such an attempt to dispute his supremacy. He accordingly undertook the defence of the propositions in question and a very animated debate took place between him and his youthful antagonist Mr Pitt, and for some time was conducted with great talent and brilliance on both sides. At length the genius of the young man prevailed over that of his senior who, finding himself driven into a corner from which there was no escape, made some excuse for rising from the table and walked out of the room. I followed him, and finding he was looking for his hat, I tried to persuade him to return to his seat. 'By no means,' said he.

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W I L LI A M P I T T ( T I I E Y O U N G E R)

erect and thrown hack, looking neither to the right nor to the left, not favouring with a nod or a glance any of the ind ividuals seated on either side, among whom many who possessed £5 ,000 a year wou ld have been gratified even hy so slight a mark of attention. It was not thus that Lord North or Fox tr atcd parliament. /J()s/lzumaus Memain a/Sir Na1lza11iel William Wraxa/1, 1 884

1 17

Pitt and the Whig Mob f

011 28 Fehmary 1 784 Pill was Kivm the freedom o the City o/Lrmdrm; his brother, the /:·a rt o(Chatham, records what happe11ed whm he returned to the e Wst End: 1 1 E was attended hy a great concourse of people, many of the better sort, all the way down the Strand, as well as hy a considerable Moh-­ f the Populace insisting on taking of the I lorscs and drawing the Coach. A Moh is never ve ry discreet and un fortunately they stopped outside Carlton I louse and began hissing, and it was with some d i ffi ­ culty that we forced them to go on. As we proceeded up St Jamcs's Street, there was a great C ry and an attempt made to turn the Carriage up St Jamcs's Place to Mr Fox's house (he then lived at Lord North ­ ington's) in order to break his windows and force him to light ! them ] , hut which w e a t last succeeded in preventing their doing. I have often thought that this was a trap laid for us, for had we got up 1 hcrc into a Cul rinted from Father Figures (Hutchinson, 1 966); and from Editor (Hutchinson, 1 968). Keith Middlemas and John Barnes: reprinted from Baldwin: A Biography (1 969), by permission of Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd., by permission of . D. Peters & Co. Ltd. Lord Moran: reprinted from The Strugglefor Suroival (Constable, 1 966). Nicholas Mosley: from a letter from Lady Desborough to A. J. Balfour reprinted from Julian Grenfell (Weidenfeld, 1 976), used with permission. Malcolm Muggeridge: reprinted from Chronicles of Wasted Time (1 972), by permission of Collins Publishers. David Newsome (ed.): reprinted from Edwardian Excursions: from the Diaries of A. C. Benson, 1898--1 904 ( 1 98 1 ), by permission of John Murray (Publishers) Ltd. Harold Nicolson: reprinted from Diaries and Letters 1939-1945 ( 1 9 7 1 ), by permission of Collins Publishers; reprinted from King George V: His Life and Rt'ign (Constable, 1 95 2), from Curzon: The Last Phase (Constable, 1 934), and from Some People, by permission of Nigel Nicolson. Sir Charles Petrie: reprinted from Bolingbroke ( 1 93 7), by permission of Collins Publishers and Curtis Brown Ltd. Thomas Pinney (ed.): reprinted from Letters of Thomas Babington Macaulay, Vol. II ( 1 974), by permission of Cambridge University Press. Reginald Pound and Geoffrey Harmsworth: reprinted from Northcliffe, orig­ inally published by Cassell & Co. Ltd. ( 1 959), copyright Sir Geoffrey Harmsworth 1 959, by permission of Macmillan Publishing Co. Robert Rhodes James: reprinted from Rosebery (Weidenfeld, 1 963) © Robert Rhodes James 1 963; and from Lord Randolph Churchill (Weidenfeld, 1 959) © Robert Rhodes James 1 959, 1 986, by permission uf Anthony Sheil Associates. Kenneth Rose: reprinted from The Later Ceci/s (Weidenfeld, 1 975); and from Superior Person (Weidenfeld, 1 969), by permission of the author. Arthur Smith: reprinted from Lord Goddard (1 957), by permission of Weiden­ feld & Nicolson Ltd. Peter Smithers : reprinted from The Life ofJoseph Addison (2r.d edn. 1 968), © OUP 1 968, by permission of Oxford University Press. Earl of Stanhope (ed.): reprinted from Notes on Conversations with the Duke of Wellington 18] 1-5 1 (World's Classics Series 1 938), by permission of Oxford University Press. A. J. P. Taylor (ed.): reprinted from Frances Stevenson 's Diary (Hutchinson, 197 I). R . W . Thompson (ed.) : reprinted from Churchill and Morton: Correspondence Between Major Sir Desmond Morton and R. W Thompson ( 1 976), by per­ mission of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., and David Bolt Associates. G. M. Trevelyan: reprinted from Grey ofFallodon ( 1 937), pp. 73, 266, by per­ mission of Longman Group Ltd.

ACKNOW L EDG E M ENTS

J.

257

R. Vincent (ed.): reprinted from Disraeli, Derby, and the Conseroative Party: the Political Journals ofLord Stanley, 184()-67 (1 978) pp. 89, 90, I 06, 228-g, 3 4 1 , 3 3 1 with permission from The Harvester Press Ltd., Brighton. Alan Watkins: reprinted from Brief Lives (1 982), by p1,rmission of Hamish Hamilton Ltd. Evelyn Waugh: reprinted from The Diaries ofEvelyn Waugh, ed. Michael Davie ( 1 976), by permission of A. D. Peters & Co. Ltd., and Little, Brown & Co. Philip M. Williams: reprinted from Hugh Gaitske/1: A Political Biography (1 979), by permission ofJonathan Cape Ltd., and A. P. Watt on behalf of the Estate of the late Philip Williams. John Wilson: reprinted from C.B. : Life of Sir Henry Campbe/1-Bannennan ( 1 973), by permission of Constable Publishers. Trevor Wilson (ed.): reprinted from The Political Diaries of C. P. Scott ( 1 970), by permission of Collins Publishers. A. S. Woodhouse (ed.): reprinted from Puritanism and Liberty, from the Clark Manuscripts with Supplementary Documents, (2nd edn. 1 975), by permission of The University of Chicago Press, and J. M. Dent and Sons Ltd. Philip Ziegler: reprinted from Diana Cooper ( 1 98 1 ), by permission ()f Hamish H amilton Ltd. While every effort has been made to secure permission, we may have failed in a few cases to trace the copyright holder. We apologize for any apparent negli­ gence.

I N D E X O F A UT H O R S Abbott, W. E., 39 Aitken, William Maxwell, 1 st Baron Beaverbrook, 1 83, 197-9, 2 1 1-12, 2 1£r-17 Albert, Prince Consort, 1 22 Anon., 1 67, 2 1 3 , 2 27-8, 240 Asquith, Margot, 1 6 1 Aubrey, John, 1 1 , 2 �-2, 2 7 , 29-30, 32, 4 1 , 42-3, 43-4 Bacon, Sir Francis, 5, 1 1 , 1 2, 2 1 Barlow, William, 2£r-7 Barnes,John, 207-8 Beaverbrook, Lord, see Aitken, William Maxwell Benson, A. C., 162-4 Bevins, Reginald, 244 Birch, Thomas, 10, 13-14 Birkenhead, Lord, see Smith, F. E. Birrell, Augustine, 174 Blake, Robert, 133-4, 180-1, 1 96 Bland Burges, Sir James, 89-90 Blenheim MSS, 52-3, 54, 55-6 Bonham Carter, Violet, 1 76, 2 1 5 Boothby, Lord, 2 1 7-18, 222 Boswell, James, 73-5, 79-80, 85-6 Brien, Alan, 224 Bryant, A., 2 2 1 Buckle, G . E., 1 20, 1 27-9, 130-4 Burnet, Gilbert, 5 1 Burney, Fanny, 80-4 Buder, Charles, 70-1 , 88-g, 104-5 Byron, Lord, 1 00-1 Calendar ofState Papers, Domestic, 38-g Camden, William, 1 5-18 Camp, William, 1 8£r-7 Campbell, Lord, 1 04-6 Cardwell, E., 2£r-7 Carlyle, Revd Dr Alexander, 88 Casde, Barbara, 249-50, 25 1 Cavendish, Sir Henry, 76 Cayley, Arthur, 6, 8-g Cecil, Lady Gwendolen, 134-5, 1 68 Cecil, Lord Hugh, 1 7£r-7 Chamberlain, John, 1 2 Channon, Sir Henry ('Chips'), 205

Churchill, Randolph, 175, 1 99, 224-5, 245-8 Churchill, Winston, 56, 153, I 58-9, 1 69-70, 175, 1 89, 2 1 4-15 Clarendon, Edward Hyde, Earl of, 28-g, 33-4 Collins, Arthur, 14- 1 5 Connell, Brian, 1 2 2 Cooke, Thomas, 40-1 Cranston, Maurice, 43-4 Creevey, Thomas, 98-9 Croker, John Wilson, 1 0£r-8 Crossman, Richard, 225, 241-4, 250 Cudlipp, Hugh, 236-g Curzon, Lord, 1 70 Dalton, Hugh, 232-3 Dartmouth, Lord, 5 1 Denison, John Evelyn, Viscount Oss­ ington, 1 23 Desborough, Lady, 1 78 Devereux, Robert, 2nd Earl of Essex, 1 2-13 Dixon, Sir Pierson, 220 Drummond of Hawthornden, William, 1 9-20 Dugdale, Blanche, 1 7 1 Eden, Anthony, 2 1 2-13 Ehrman, John, 92 Eldon, Lord, 84-5 Elletson, D. H., 1 29-30 Evans, Sir Harold, 244-5 Evelyn, John, 39-40, 42, 47, 49-50 Farington, Joseph, 8£r-7 Fitzmaurice, Lord Edmund, 60, 62, 66 FitzRoy, Almeric, 165, 1 69 Fraser, Sir William, 1 1 1 Frith, P., I I I Fuller, Thomas, 20

w.

Gardiner, A. G., 1 39, 1 47 Gardiner, S. R., 3£r-8 Gibbon, Edward, 85 Gilbert, Martin, 205, 2 1 9 Gladstone, William Ewart, 139, 1 59

26o

INDE

OF AUTH O RS

Gregg, Edv,ard, 52, 56-7 Grey of Fallodon, Lord, 1 77-8 Grcville, Charles, 67-8, 1 0S-10, 1 1 6- 1 8, 1 2 1 -2 Grose, FnLncis, 92 Haig, Field Marshal Sir Douglas, 1 96 Haldane, Richard Burdon, Viscount, 1 7 1-2 Halle, Kay, 224 Hansard, 203-4, 204-5 Harcourt, Lewis, 139 Harington, Sir John, 10-1 1 , 20, 24-5 Harmsworth, Geoffrey, 178-80 Harris, Kenneth, 225-6, 234 Harris, Wilson, 150 Haynes, Samuel, 1 3 Herbert, A . P., 222-3 Hervey, Lord, 62-6 Heuston, R. F. V., 1 68, 200 Holland, Bernard, 1 66 Home, Lord, 248-g Home, William Douglas-, 245 Huehns, G., 29 Hutchinson, George, 1 35-6 Hutton,James, 90 Hyde, Edward, see Clarendon, Earl of Hyde, Montgomery, 1 5 4-5 Ilchester, Earl of, 60-1 , 77 Inchiquin, Lord, 97-8 Jackson, Robert, 2 1 3-14 Jenkins, Roy, 1 60, 161 Jennings, Louis )., 1 08 Jerman, B. R., 1 25, 1 26 John Bull, 201-2 Juxon, Bishop, 35-6 Keynes, ). M., 1 93-4 King, Cecil, 235-6 Leslie, Anita, 1 64 Lewis, w. s., 78-g Lincoln, Anthony, 84-5 Lloyd George, David, 1 90-2 Longford, Elizabeth, I 1 3- 1 4, 152, 1 66 Longford, Earl of, 208-g Lutyens, Mary, 137 Macaulay, Thomas Babington, 50-1 , 1 02, l I 4-1 6 McClure, N . E., 1 2

MacDonald. James Ramsay, 202, 205-7 McEwen, Robert, 84-5 Macleod, Iain, 248 Macmillan, Harold, 174-5 Magnus , Philip, 93-7, 1 4 0, 1 44 Marchand, Leslie A., 100 Marlborough, Sarah, Duchess of, 5 1-2,

54-5

Marlow, Joyce, 1 41-3 Marquand, David, 202, 204, 207 Martin, Kingsley, 201r1 1 Marvell, Andrew, 40-1 Maxwell, Sir Herben, 99 Melville, Sir James, 10 Middlemas, Keith, 207-8 Monypenny, W. F., 1 20, 1 29, 134 Moore, Thomas, 1 03 Moran, Lord, 22 1-2 More, Sir Thomas, 1-4 Morgan, Janet, 225 Mosley, Leonard, 1 83 Mosley, Nicholas, 178 Moyne, Lord, 226-7 Muggeridge, Malcolm, 196-7 Murdin, William, 1 3 Naunton, Sir Rohen, g-10, 20-1 Newsome, David, 1 64 Nichols, John, 19 Nicol on, Sir Harold, 1 83-5, 2 1 1 , 2 1 9, 223, 224-5 North, Roger, 47-8 Nonon,J. E., 85 Osborne, Francis, 23-4 Ossington, Viscount, see Denison, John Evelyn Overbury, Sir Thomas, 28 Pepys, Samuel, 42 Petrie, Sir Charles, 57, 59 Phillipps, Vivian, 1 96 Pinney, Thomas, 1 1 6 Pound, Reginald, 17S-80 Rae,John, 88 Reid,J. S., 54 Rhodes James, Robert, 1 40, 1 44-5, 1 41r50, 1 5 1-2 Riddell, Lord, 2 1 8 Roper, William, 6 , 7-8 Rose, Kenneth, 135, 1 65, 1 67, 170, 1 83 Rosebery, 5th Earl of, 1 40

INDEX O F AUTH ORS Rushworth, John, 31r2 Russell, Lord John, 76 Sala, George Augustus, 1 5 6-8 Scott, C. P., 1 93 Scott, Sir Walter, 23, 24 Sedgwick, Romney, 63 Shaw, Lord, 1 7 2 Sherburn, Edward, 2 3 Sheridaniana, 1 04 Sidney Papers, 1 4- 1 5 Smith, Arthur, 228--3 2 Smith, F. E., 1 st E�rl of Birkenhead, 1 87--9, 190 Smithers, Peter, 60 Standen, Anthony, 1 3 Stanhope, Philip Henry, 5th Earl, 1 1 1r1 1 Stanley, Lord, 1 3 7-8, 1 43 Stale Papers Domestic, 1 5, 23 Stevenson, Frances, 1 4 1 , 1 50, 192, 1 93 Suffolk, Henrietta, Countess of, 53 Swift, Jonathan, 57-8 Therry, R . , 97 Thompson, R. W., 220

Thorold, Algar, 1 5 8 Times, The, 88 Traditional, 84 Trevelyan, G. �:• 59, 1 49, 1 77 Vincent, ]. R., 1 3 8 Walpole, Horace, 66-7, 6�, 76-7, 78---Q Walpole, Sir Robert, 62-3 Warwick, Sir Philip, 39 Watkins, Alan, 240 Waugh, Evelyn, 223, 224 Weeter, Dixon, 98 Weldon, Sir Anthony, 2 2-3 Williams, Basil, 7eth.- 1 4 1-1 Collins. \ lich.iel. 1 :0 Compron, Lord, 1 7 Cooper. Lid- Diana. 1 0 7-S. 1 2 3 . 2 3 4 C0dolrhm, Fran..·;,,_ 2 nd E.irl or: 64 GC'drTUn. :\mo�l . Lord, 2 4 1 -4 Gordon. GenerLI Ch,rl� G..-orn. 1 (q · G�,. Sir Fe rdm.rn do. 1 7 G,=t. S r John. 1 1:>S G ·hen. G..-� J ch1m. I St \'iscount. Gr.. tton. znd Dule or. o ;; . 6Q Gr..iton. 3 rd Dule of 7 � - 1 04-5 Gr.ili.im. S1r _l.ime:,,, 1 3 3 . 1 3 7--S GrJ.I't. Dr. 2 00 Gr.l.Ilt. L,.h . 200 Gr,nc. G..-nerLI L� s:se-,. 1 3 7 Gr.int. \!rs. 1 ; 7 Gr.mnlk Lo/d. q 2 . q5 Grcmille. Lord. I O I GTC\ille. F e. 1 Grenile . .\!rs R .. 2 1 1 - 1 z Gre� . Lord. 1 7 . 2 1 Gr� . Ch.i.rle�. 2nd Earl. 8 1 . 1 c 1 . 1 1 8 Gr� . Sir [J.,. ·Jid t,:-r \ iscou.r:t Gr� of F.i.lk.Jon . qo. 1 7 ::,. 1 7 1 - 2 . 1 7o--S Gro,,, enor. Lord Richard. 1 44 H,K er. Colonel. 3 7 H .u g FieJ.d .\Lu-sha.l Dou;Li.s. 1 st E.ul. \1scount, · . H __ . :z 24t>-7 HJ.!d.lne. R. 8 . , \'iscount 1 7 1 -2 . 1 73 H.ile. Chie (_lu.sn ·e. 44 H.ilir.u. \'iscc)Ufl{ { ;.J;,:-r E.irl Cl{), 2 I , Hilibur:- . I :;t E.rn or. 1 6 2 . I H.l.l!Wton. Lady Archibald, H.i..T..ihon. Su Da,1d. ;; t> H.unilton. EJ.... a.rd. 1 H.=.pJen. John. z8 H.m.:oun. L�,.; \' .. 1 3 9. 1 63-4 H,m.:oun. S ir Willi.un, 1 ; o. qc. 1 44-5 . q6. q7--S. 1 6 ; . 1 7 ; H.uington. Jam�: 2 1 _; H.mng:ron. S ir John. Z.t. H.i.rle:, . Robert. 5 5 . 5 7 Harm.sworth, . U5 Genkfux ;\� I HJir..son . .\Li. or- General Thom••.:. ; . . p of ( • brquess Hartingt Dt" onslue . ; 5 2 . 1 6 2 . 1 64--6 Ha.sn."l gs. Lord. 1 -3 H ist"l>?S. Srr Panicl.. 2 2 � u WJ.ITen. So--4. 99- I C 2 H .is lli:ron. Lady,

4.2

o.·

�gs.

H,v...,ard. Dr John. 1 z He.ih . Tim. 1 ; ;;; , 1 88 Hen� I\'. Km·g- o l Engi,nd. 1 2 Hen!"\ \'I I . King of f ngi.r nd. 4-5 Henn \'J I I . · m,z ol [n,zl.i.nd. 6--S Hen� . Ph1hp. 3 ; Herliert . . -\ . P . 2 2 2-3 Heme,. J C .. 1 1 5 Hen t" . 1.ord. t>o- 1 . 62-3 He.,.art. Sir Gurdo-n . 2 1 3 - q Hill. :Ueunder UH:h . 1 61' Hill, . igiil, JtW' \b� :\ iga.il Hol:>ne-;. Trwm.i;, 42-4 HoF?, Sir Douglas ( i..J,:-r I st \ iscount HJ.ilshJin). I Q() HoUand. E.irl or. .ul.c of, 4q-50 \\onmouth, Duchess of, 4ll \\ont!(omt·�· of Alamein, Bernard I .aw l\1ontgom ry, Field Marshal, Viscount, 226, 247 Montrose, Duke of, 1 1 0 More, Sir Thomas, (rg \tore, I .ad, (Alice). (r-8 l\1oreton, Sir William, Chief Justice of Chester, 7 1 Morgan, Captain, 5 8-9 Morlcy, John, 1 46, 1 73 Morrison, Herben, 23 2-3 l\lorrison, Major John, 246 Mountbatten of Burma, Louis, 1 st Earl, 236-7 Mounteagle, Lord, 1 5 Mowbray, Sir John Roben, 1 62 Murray, William, see Mansfield, 1 st Earl Mustapha Kemal, see Atatiirk Napoleon I, Emperor of France, 1 1 1 , 1 1 J Neumann, Philip von, 1 1 3 Nevil, Francis, J 1 Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of,

44

Newcastle, Thomas Pelham Holies, Duke of, 68-9, 7 1 Nicholson, Jenny, 241-2 Nicholson, Sir William, 2 1 0 Nicolson, Ben, 225 Nicolson, Sir Harold, 1 83-4, 2 1 9 Norfolk, Duke of, 7 Nonh, Colonel, 8 1 Nonh, Lord, 76, 77, 78, 84, 90-1 Nonhcliffe, Alfred Harmswonh, Viscount, 1 78-80, 1 94, 1 96-7, 235, 236 Nonhington, Lord, 91 O'Connell, Daniel, 1 26-g O'Connell, Morgan, 1 26, 1 2 8-9 O'Connor, T. P., 1 87 Onassis, Aristotle, 222 Oxford, Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of, 138 Oxford, John de Vere, 1 3 th Earl of, 5 Oxford, Edward de Vere, 1 7th Earl of, 1 1 Pakenham, Frank (later Earl of Longford), 208-9 Palmerston, Henry John Temple, 3rd Vis­ count, 1 1 3, 1 2 1-3

TIONED

Papandreou, Gcorgios, 220 Parker, Archbishop, 1 0-- 1 1 Parnell, Charles Stewart, 1 5 5-7 Peel, Sir Robert, 1 1 3 , I 1 5 , 1 2 4, 1 30--4 Peel, A. W., 1 st Viscount, 1 5 5 Pelham, Thoma�, 2nd Earl of Chichester, 81 Penn, William, 45-6 Pepys, Samuel, 42 Pepys, Mrs Louisa, , 42 Percy, Sir Charles, 1 5 Percy, Sir Joscclyn, 1 5 Phillips, Morgan, 241-4 Pigott, James, 1 5 5-8 Pitt, John, 2nd Earl of Chatham, 91 Pitt, William, 1st Earl of Chatham, 69-73, 86, 89, 90 Pitt, Lady Hester, 75 Pitt, William, 75, 86-7, 88, 89-9 1 , 92-3 , 102, 105, I 1 0-1 1 Ponsonby, Sir Henry, 1 43-4 Poole, Lord, 246-7 Popham, Colonel, 49 Popham, Lord Chief Justice, 1 5-17 Popham, Speaker, 1 1 Portland, 4th Duke of, 1 3 5-6 Portland, 5th Duke of, 1 3 6 Ponsmouth, Duchess of, 47 Powell, Enoch, 248 Powell, Frederick Yorke, 1 48 Prynne, William, 29-30 Pulteney, Sir James, 70 Pym, John, 30 Radnor, Lord, 58 Rainborough, Colonel, 35-6 Ralegh, Sir Walter, 20-2, 27-8 Ralegh, Walter, 22 Ramsay, Miss, 133 Reading, Lord, 200 Redmayne, Sir Martin, 245-7 Rendel, Lord, 1 73 Reves, Wendy, 222 Reynolds, Dr, 26 Reynolds, Sir Joshua, So, 83, 85-6 Rich, Sir Henry (later Earl of Holland), 24 Rich, Lady Penelope, 1 8 Richard II, King o f England, 1 2 , 1 5 , 19 Richard III, King of England, 1-5 Richie, C. T., 1 st Lord, 1 62 Richmond, Duke of, 72-3 Ripon, Earl of, see Goderich, Frederick Robinson

INDEX OF NAM E S MENTIONED Robertson, Sir W., 192 Robinson, Frederick, see Goderich, Viscount Rochester, Earl of, 45, 46 Rogers, Frank, 237-g Rootes, Lord, 1 99 Roper, Margaret, 9 Roper, William, 6 Rose, Sir Philip, 1 23 Rosebery, Archibald, 5th Earl of, 1 40, 1 42, 1 44-6, 1 47-50, 153, 1 73 Ross,John, 154-5 Rothermere, Lord, 207, 236 Rothschild, Lord, 1 ,3'6 Rothschild, Hannah (later Lady Rosebery), 145, 1 49 Rousseau, JeanJacques, 209 Rowton, Lord, 1 23, 1 25 Ruddyer, Sir Benjamin, 2 1-2 Rushworth, John, 3 1-2 Russell, Lord, 49 Russell, Lord Arthur, 1 5 2 Russell, Lord John, 122 Rutland, Duke of, 1 63 Rutland, Earl of, 1 5 Ryder, Don, 237-9 Sackville, Lady Margaret, 202 St Aldwyn, Lord, 245-7 St Germans, Lord, 1 14 St Helier, Lady, 158 Stjohn, Henry, see Bolingbroke, Viscount Sala, George Augustus, 1 55-8 Salisbury, John Wordsworth, Bishop of, 1 62 Salisbury, Earl of, 24 Salisbury, Lady, 1 1 1, 1 29 Salisbury, Lord Robert Cecil, 3rd Mar­ quess of, 134-5, 1 50, 1 5 1 -2, 163, 1 67-8, 1 73 Salisbury, Lady, 1 5 1 , 1 71 Salisbury, 4th Marquess of, 1 95, 208 Sarni Bey, 193 Sandars,J. S. ('Jack'), 1 65 Sandys, Lord, 1 8 Saunders, Sir Edmund, 47-8 Saunderson, Colonel, 154 Sawbridge, Alderman, 84 Scobie, General, 220 Scott, Charles Prestwich ('CP'), 1 96--7 Sefton, Dowager Lady, 98 Selbome, Earl of, 1 95 Shaftesbury, Earl of, 43, 45, 46

Shakespeare, William, 1 5 Shaw, Thomas, 174 Shelburne, Earl of, 6o Shepherd, Mrs, 246 Sheridan, Ricbard Brinsley, 7g-80, 8 1 , 98-g, 100--4 Shore, Edward, 3 Shore,Jane, 1-3 Shrewsbury, Charles Talbot, 1 2th Earl of, I St Duke of, 56, 58 Sidmouth, Lord, 104 Sidney, Sir Robert, 17 Simon, Sir John, 194 'Skittles', see Walters, Catherine Slater, George, 59 Smith, Adam, 87-8 Smith, F. E. (later Lord Birkenhead), 1 76, 1 86-go, 2 1 5- 1 6 Smith, Goldwin, 1 33 Smith, Valentine, 179 Snowden, Philip, 1 87 Soames, Christopher, 223 Somerset, FitzRoy, 1 1 2 Somerset, Duke and Duchess of, 56 Somerset, Robert Carr, Earl of, 23-4 Southampton, Earl of, 1 5- 1 8 Spencer, Lord, 5th Earl, 140, 1 46, 173 Spender, ). A., 150 Stael, Madame de, 1 00 Stair, Lord, 70 Stamfordham, Lord, 1 85 Standen, Anthony, 1 3 Stanhope, Sir John, 1 7 Stanley, Albert, 2 1 7 Stanley, Edward ('Ed') 6th Lord Stanley of Alderley, 224 Stanley, Lord, 2 Stanley, Lady, 1 22 Stanley of Alderley, 3rd Lord, 139 Stanyon, Temple, 60 Steed, Henry Wickham, 1 79 Stephen, Sir James, 1 5 2 Stockdale, Joseph, 1 1 2 Stokes, Richard, 222 Strachey, John, 226 Stuart, Charles (the Young Pretender), 66 Sutherland, Duke of, 1 95 Sykes, Sir Francis, 1 23-6 Sykes, Lady Henrietta, 1 23-6 Talbot, Sir Wellington, 162 Talleyrand-Perigord, Charles Maurice de, 1 2 1

I N DEX OF

AMES MENTIONED

Tanner, Dr Charles, 1� 4 Taylor, Michaelangelo, 8 1 Teck, Duchess ot: 1 5 1 Temperley, General, 203 Temple, Richard Grenville, 1 st Earl, 73 Tenison, Dr Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, 50 Tennant, Laura, 1 6 1 Tennyson, tJfred, Lord, 1 84 Thompson, Alderman, 1 J S Thrale, Mrs Henrietta, 97 Thurlow, Lord, 8 1 -3, 93, 1 04-5 Torrington, Lord, 62 Tottenham, Colonel, 1 42 Townshend, Charles, 87 Townshend, Lord, 61 Trotsky, Leon, 1 93 Twi s, Horace, 1 1 S Tyre!, Sir James, 3-4 Vane, Sir Henry, 38 Vansittart, Rohen, 1 8 1 Victoria, Queen o f England, 1 1 3 , 1 1 6- 1 8, 1 2 1-2, 1 3 5 , 1 43-4, 1 5 1 , 1 65 , 225 Villiers, Sir George, see Buckingham, Duke of Vincent, Howard, 1 42-3 Viner, Sir Rohen, 45 Walden, Lord Howard de, 1 09 Wales, Prince of, see George III, George IV Wales, Princess of, see Charlotte Waller, Sir William, 30 Walpole, Hcrace, 68-g Walpole, Sir Rohen, 60-3, 65, 68, 69-70 Walters, Catherine ('Skittles'), 1 64, 1 66 Warwick, Countess of, 1 8 Waugh, Evelyn, 200, 224 Webb, Maurice, 232-3 Webb, Sidney and Beatrice, 209-1 1 Webster, Sir Richard, 1 68 Wellesley, Marquess of, 1 1 8

Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, 1 07, I 1 0- 1 4, I 1 6 Wells, 1 1 . G., 209 Wentworth, Lady Henrietta, 49 Wentworth, Sir Peter, 38 Wesley, John, 230 Westminster, 2nd Duke of, 200 Weymouth, Lord, 72 Whaley, Colonel, 40 Whitbread, Samuel, 1 00 Whitehall, Rohen, 34 Whiteley, William, 233 Wigg, George, 243 Wilde, Oscar, 1 90 Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany, 1 3 5 Wilkes, John, 7 4 , 7 6 , 85, 1 06 William III (William of Orange), King of England, 45, 50-1 , 5 2 William IV, King o f England, 67-8, I 1 6- 1 8 William, Prince, 8 1 Willis, Judge William, 1 88 Wilmington, Lord, 64 Wilson, Harold, 236-7, 240, 250, 25 1 Wilson, Sir Matthew, 195 Windham, William, 81, 83, 1 02 Wolff, Cecil Drummond, 1 5 1 Wolsey, Cardinal, 6 Wood, Anthony, 34, 49 Wood, Charles, 1 st Viscount Halifax, 1 3 7-8 Wood, Charles, 1 1 5 Worcester, Earl of, 1 5 Worthington-Evans, Sir Laming, 1 97-8 Wyndham, George, 170 York, William Dalrymple Maclagen, Archbishop of, 1 62 York, William Markham, Archbishop of, 83 York, Frederick, Duke of, 8 1 York, Duke of, (later King George V), 1 63 Zuckerman, Sir Solly, 236-7

be a valuable source of historical truth. De­ tails may be altered or distorted (and occa­ sionally lost in the romance of invention) but more often than not, in essentials they prove accurate and telling. And it is the stories­ strange, eccentric, personal-that we remem­ ber long after the dates of battles and monarchs have gone out of our heads. About the Editor Paul Johnson was editor of the New States­ man from 1965 to 1970 and is the author of A History of the Modern World from 1917 to the 1980 's and Modern Times.

KEY TO ILLUSTRATION

I. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. IO. 11.

Richard III Stanley Baldwin Charles James Fox William Pitt Charles II Harold Macmillan W. E. Gladstone Winston Churchill Barbara Castle Duke of Wellington Queen Elizabeth I

1 2. 13. 14. 15. 1 6. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

David Lloyd George Sir Robert Walpole Neville Chamberlain Queen Victoria H . H . Asquith Harold Wilson Charles I Ramsay McDonald Benjamin Disraeli Oliver Cromwell

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