by Ron Pearse
Cardonnel smirked: “Not with my duck gun. The firing pan is within the breech which is opened to pour the powder in and then closed."
St John yawned taking out his telescope which he put to his right eye, saying: "I believe I see the spires of Canterbury, Adam. If we hasten we shall reach it long before nightfall."
In answer, Cardonnel rammed his tricorn hat firmly on his head and shouted:
"What say you to supper at seven, Henry!" Spurring his grey and challenging St John to catch him.
Chapter 26
At last the day had arrived; it was the 27th of September, 1711 and after prolonged, even tedious negotiations, extensive travelling by carriage, at home and abroad, and on horseback, the most recent being his dash to Deal to set Mather Prior at liberty, imprisoned as a suspected French spy, Henry St John was on his way on foot to Duke Street, Westminster, to a house on loan to Mathew Prior for the purpose of clandestine meetings between himself and French agents.
Besides himself, Henry St. John, there were to be his colleague and fellow minister, Robert Harley, newly created earl of Oxford, William Legge, the earl of Dartmouth and the queen's personal secretary, Charles Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, ambassador in waiting to the court of Louis XIV, Mathew Prior, diplomatist and minister extraordinary and Baron Nicolas Mesnager, representative of the Marquis de Torcy, French foreign secretary. There were also clerks, both English and French, who had done the donkey work of checking the text for punctuation errors and omissions as well as for syntax and grammar.
Henry St John was looking forward to seeing the documents representing the draft treaty between England and France, of a preliminary nature but meaning that the first step had been taken towards ending the War of the Spanish Succession, at least between the two countries.
The documents had been perused line by line by their respective clerks for language not only for grammar but also for the clarification of language, and it now remained for their masters to come together and make use of the generous supply of ink, quill pens, blotting paper, sealing wax and the means of combustion towards the creation of a scroll of parchment carrying the particulars of the treaty and soon to be carrying the designated signatures of the plenipotentiaries.
Henry St John had a jaunty step as his own signature on the document represented more than a historical entry. He had been promised an earldom and he had set his heart upon the recreating of a long extinct title, that of Bolingbroke. Ever since the first day of his entering Parliament he had dreamt of this realisation and the fulfilment of his father's dearest wish; he recalled his words on his deathbed:
"Perhaps it will fall to you dear boy to regain our family's ancient title."
On giving his promise, his father had pressed his hand expiring with gratitude etched upon his ancient features. Since that moment St John's decisions had been qualified by the ever-present need to view its outcome as to how his dream would be best attained.
Yet, there was one thought that could drive out even this long-held dream and it was about to become uppermost in his mind, a long pent-up thought that was about to be awakened as St John approached the house walking past railings which prevented the casual pedestrian falling down steps leading to basement rooms, those occupied by servants. He was about to prepare to leap the first front steps when a sound caught his attention and he looked in the direction of the rat-tat-tat, and astonished, instantly his whole being was enveloped in rapture, as his eyes alighted upon the one woman in the world at this moment that could distract him from his solemn purpose. It was Alice.
Instantly the effect of this vision was felt within his breeches which tightened as he gazed at her. She was beckoning with come-hither hands below beyond the window of the basement. His glance took in the flight of steps and he rushed down the stone steps. He faced a door. It opened. Alice rushed to meet him, and draw him inside.
They embraced and as his arms enfolded her body all other thoughts were driven from his mind though she too seemed possessed of the same thoughts for he found himself in a room and falling upon a bed. Neither of them later would scarcely be able to remember how their 'deshabillement' took place. A coat and hat were found later in a corner, breeches and dress scattered on the floor as were stockings, shoes, cravat, stomacher and the etcetera of male and female fashionable attire. Underclothes remained on only so far as to reveal the erotic parts of the body; after stripping them off they remained between the sheets.
At St John's time of life, desire was tempered with experience as no longer did he allow his own lust to exclude consideration for a virgin and this occasion was no different, yet no less pleasurable, though Alice was no wilting violet and by a gentle manoeuvre she brought his manhood gently in contact with her pubic hair which soon enough moistened to effect his entry and they lay entwined with each other enjoying their skin-to-skin proximity. To his delight, Alice gently oscillated and he began a reciprocal motion for further entry while an all-pervading warmth engulfed him. His manhood pulsated in anticipation of pleasure to come.
Then, thrust followed thrust until in an explosion of ecstasy a fountain of semen hit her apex and she emitted a scream of ecstatic pleasure before subsiding in her lover's arms. As a moist stickiness invaded her nether regions, she consoled herself, it had happened. Her dream had happened.
Following their paroxysm of passion, they lay in each other's arms, exhausted and as their eyes opened each began to study the other. She drew the sheets and blankets to cover them both for despite the fire burning in the living room, the September air was none too warm, though unnoticed till their love-making had subsided. Alice was aware of her nipples touching his hairy chest as she pressed against him for warmth as well as feeling while he ran his fingers up and down her slender back, over her deliciously rounded buttocks delighting in the proximity of the nubile maiden long yearned for and now captured in love.
It was not long before Alice began again to feel the stirring beast pressed against her stomach and grasping it to his pain and pleasure she pushed it towards moistening flesh between which it slipped a second time and St John felt it throb as he waited for the rough inside of her passage to moisten which Alice encouraged by rocking side to side until an excess of juice robbed him of purchase. Experience taught him to wait for the juices to subside until feeling returned then he thrust again and withdrew while Alice forced her pelvic muscles to narrow her passage and squeeze the beast which provoked his jerks until he had regained momentum.
His jerks turned to thrusts and became faster until he felt his own juice rising within his scrotum and traverse his manhood to erupt once more in a jet which still reached her cervix for she felt the impact of hot liquid and screamed in delight. Sated, the beast now deflated and slipped out of her passage and once again she experienced the unpleasant after-effects which she hastened to staunch with her under-draws St John kissed her forehead before examining his prize and wondering what blessed turn of fate had allowed him to realise his dream. She for her part noticed his frown and thinking to divert him, raised her hand above the bed out of his vision and gave a pull on something. St John began to hear voices, voices he knew and was about to say something when she placed a warm hand against his mouth, rolling her eyes upwards.
Astonished he followed her directions and saw a tube and heard a voice which he recognised, whispering, "Shrewsbury." as his mind tried to visualise the gentleman mentally, making the journey up the voice pipe to a room far above.
Oblivious to lovemaking taking place several floors beneath him, Charles Talbot, duke of Shrewsbury answered a question put to him by William Legge, the earl of Dartmouth:
"No, definitely not!" he said emphatically. "Such questions have no place here today. Surely you would agree, Oxford!" Thus addressed Robert Harley, the earl of Oxford, sighed before saying:
"Somewat late in the day, my lord."
Shrewsbury turned to Chalmers, St John's steward and clerk, somewhat irritated: "Where is your master, steward. He should have been her
e a half-hour since."
Chalmers apologised explaining that this master had been delayed by the queen to which Shrewsbury muttered: "The queen or a queen, eh!"
Dartmouth riposted: "That is appropriate coming from the King of Hearts himself." He laughed at his own joke but nobody joined in apart from Shrewsbury himself who observed: "When shall I ever live my nickname down? ”He looked around, saying: “Who else is there?"
Then turning to an individual he said pungently: "Ah, Mr Prior. I trust you want no extra Jacobite provisions."
Once again Dartmouth saw a possible joke: "The gentleman wants Prior notice of that question, your grace." He chortled but again nobody joined him. The company stared at the floor and he was rescued by Prior himself who remarked: "I need no prior notice your lordship. As a diplomatist I am happy to leave it to the statesmen."
There was a cursory knock at the door and on entry the butler announced"
"His Excellency, the Baron Nicolas Mesnager." The baron swept in and as the butler withdrew exaggerated his bow to all and arrested his civilities when he noticed the glum faces around him. He pondered upon the possibility and decided it had nothing to do with him yet made him reflect upon a particular issue now interrupted: "Come, monsieur le baron, take a seat."
It was Shrewsbury and Mesnager thanked him remarking upon his friendly invitation which the duke answered bluntly:
"My dear baron let me tell you that I have just told the company that a Jacobite restoration is out of the question so I would hasten to disabuse you of any such amendment. We are here assembled today, at this hour, to collectively sign the preliminary articles which your esteemed person and my estimable friend here have so diligently prepared; that and nothing more."
The skin of Mesnager's face became taut and more difficult to set into a smile that belied his feelings. He said: "As your grace pleases."
The duke had not finished with him however and leaned forward ignoring everyone else to say: "Yet, sir, there is still one point that bedevils this whole proceeding."
Mesnager now calculated that far from coming away with more, he might even end up with no treaty at all. He listened grimly to the duke and the black patch covering Shrewsbury's left eye took on a Machiavellian menace as he listened intently to his words:
"My mistress, her majesty, is perturbed to understand, monsieur, that James, the young Pretender, is domiciled at St Germain. Her majesty would like your assurance that the young fop leaves your master's domains."
Mesnager stared at the speaker realising the fears expressed were those that the marquis hoped would persuade the English to modify their demands, but the uncompromising Shrewsbury would have none of it. Mesnager looked at the documents on the far table and had an idea and put it into words:
"But your grace! These documents we sign today are preliminary. Who knows that the Pretender will not leave of his own accord by the time of the full treaty at some date, in the near future. My master talks of Utrecht early in the New Year."
Shrewsbury nodded at Mesnager's soothing words and then smiled though there was little occasion for either party to notice each other's demeanour as a noise occurred which prompted them both, as with the company, to look in the direction of the sound. It had been a scream. It was followed by a hollow sounding scramble succeeded by a woman's voice:
"Not a fourth time, Henry, unless you can catch me." There followed the sound of hurrying feet and another instantly recognisable voice:
"I shall catch you, Alice, never fear, if it's the last thing I do."
The King of Hearts kicked aside a screen to reveal the end of a speaking tube and shouted to anyone who would listen:
"Where does this lead to?"
It was Prior who answered: "Leave it to me your grace." As he spoke he opened another small door and he could be heard chasing down bare wooden stairs. The duke strode across the room and picked up one copy of the preliminary treaty and invited Masnager"
"Come sir, let us to the signing table. Have no fear, you will have Mr St John's signature also. He may be the last to sign it though it is the last thing he does in this world when I get through with him. Come!"
Chapter 27
Matt's Peace. It was a shorthand for the preliminary peace negotiations leading to the document signed by the plenipotentiaries from France and England. When the Duke of Somerset heard of it from his wife who was a close friend of the queen and therefore in daily contact with the palace and therefore not unaware of the gossip among the servants, he was stunned.
Rumours had circulated for weeks about the comings and goings of French agents and he was pleased about the prospect of no more war yet the manner of the negotiations had shocked him. He and his fellow peers were more accustomed to the fanfare of trumpets heralding the opening of talks between the leading statesmen of the countries concerned, and of course the statesmen concerned would be, among other things, courtiers, certainly of noble blood, with the minor nobility at their behest running in and out of a conference chamber to satisfy the statesman's whim.
Yet the rumour gaining alarming and increasing currency seemed to point to priests, to members of the lower house, to servants. Somerset lost no time the following day in getting out his carriage at an early hour in order to ride to Whitehall, and his action was duplicated by other noble members of the House of Lords. Their bone of contention and discussion concerned this rumour of Matt's Peace, and what began to emerge as a concensus among them was that a stop must be put to the whole proceedings.
It was expected that at some future date the preliminary peace treaty would be put to Parliament for debate and decision, meaning a vote, though caution needed to be exercised as the rumour was afoot that the queen herself had initiated the moves towards peace
Some way must be found for a motion to be debated and voted upon that would send a clear signal to the peace-proposers that the preliminary peace articles would not be approved thereby sparing the queen embarrassment. Thereafter the leading lords would offer their services to the queen and the true peace would be negotiated by the real leaders of England. It was time to send the merchant adventurers packing. The landed gentry had ruled England from time immemorial; they must make a stand and reinstate themselves as the only leaders in the country.
Meantime the duke of Shrewsbury was keeping his own council; nobody suspected him of any complicity in the affair as widely known was his impatience with the whole political scene. Just after the turn of the century he had travelled to Rome on doctor's orders spending several years there resisting and actually refusing all pleas to return. When at last he had decided to come back it was more to please his new wife, Adelhida, daughter of the marquis Palleoti of Bologna, though on arrival he was distressed to learn the court ladies of the home counties regarded his new duchess with scorn for her 'foreign manners'.
Sarah, the duchess of Marlborough, whom he hoped might have shown some feeling for her described her openly as ill-bred, ignorant and flighty. His own prospects of gaining reacceptance back into public life were dealt a blow when a letter he had written home was made public. In it he promised that had he a son he would as soon bind him to a cobbler as a courtier, or to a hangman rather than a statesman.
At the time it was a genuine 'cri de coeur' of a politician whether at court or in Parliament, especially in the light of the shocking revelations about the secret Treaty of Dover between Charles II and Louis XIV whereby in return for a gift of 200,000 gold louis, French troops would forcibly impose Catholicism upon an unwilling English people. The earl of Danby, its arch exponent, paid the price for Parliamentary displeasure at Charles' revenge upon England, with his head. The Duke of Shrewsbury as one of the 'immortal seven' who had invited William of Orange to invade England might well have felt himself vulnerable in the event of a Jacobite restoration.
Yielding to the pleadings of his new wife, Charles Talbot consoled himself that there would be a post for him under a queen well disposed towards him but on reaching these shores, found t
here was little scope for a neutral. Yet little by little he did find a niche though he was to become accustomed to filling it via the back stairs of St James Palace. He found someone, sharing his interest, in being diverted by horse racing, gambling, cockfighting, and unlike Robert Harley, he was not averse to a game of cards as it tended to bring out his natural 'joie de vivre' even when losing more than he could afford. He was quoted as saying: "I have lived in four courts and this is the first time I've seen statesmen going up the back stairs."
He was to benefit from one discovery of the queen that unofficial channels could bring forth the desires she had set her heart on which was often not in accordance with the advice of her ministers. It was certainly useful to Robert Harley who was also fond of the back stairs coming to realise the duke's value as an ally in the upper house where he had few friends.
It was Shrewsbury who backed up Robert Harley's choice of envoy to France to replace the earl of Jersey. Hitherto the queen had steadfastly refused to countenance Mathew Prior in the post citing his 'mean extraction', but being won over by Shrewsbury. His eventual reward came by being appointed ambassador in waiting upon the outbreak of peace between England and France.
His colleagues in the House of Lords had other ideas. The dukes of Somerset, Argyle, Newcastle and others decided that unless they acted now, they might never regain their former influence losing out to the lower House so they conceived a motion to lay before parliament to the effect that no peace could be contemplated where any part of the West Indies would be retained by the House of Bourbon.
Matt's Peace was a quid pro quo treaty balancing English and French interests and should the Lords' motion be carried, the treaty would need to be renegotiated. This was the object of the motion laid before the House by Daniel Finch, the earl of Nottingham. Those concerned considered they were being particularly clever in presenting the motion in the presence of the queen herself for after opening Parliament, the queen traditionally, at that time, remained in the chamber when the opportunity was taken to present and pass a motion praising the queen or her government.