408 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.
whole congregation, the rest of the company, and there was a great deal of all sorts Whigs and Torys, staid in curiosity to hear what they cou'd pick up. The Duke of Sommerset and the Duke of Argile are in Council, wch they say they may be tho' not summoned, for they were never formally struck out.
There was a great meeting this morning at Baron Both- mar's. The Queen to day about one a clock gave the Treasurer's staff to the Duke of Shrewsbury, my Lord Chancelor holding her hand to direct it to the Duke. When he took it, he told her he wou'd keep it to resign to her again when she was better.
London, August 3, 17 14. Dear Brother,
Before this you will know we have lost our good Mistress. I am sencible I shou'd have felt her goodness more, if it had not been for a wicked one about her, God forgive ; her I forgive, and I fear those whose interest 'twas the most to have -keept her alive hasten her Death ; for Doctor Shadwell tells me and all the world that when he felt her Pulse a Wednesday before dinner he did not like it and ask't her how she did, she say very well, he said he shou'd be glad she was, but by her pulse he was sure she was not, and went from her and told it to the Duke of Shrewsbury who went to see her, but she was bussy so did not, but sent Dr. Alburtenhead who after Dinner brought the Duke word her Pulse was well, and the same thing he made Dr. Slown say, for they had always had a mind to keep the Queen's illness a secreet. ) The town tell a world of stories of Lady Masham now ; as that a Friday she left the Queen for three hours to go and ransak for things at St. James's. I can't say if this is true or false, a Saturday I remember perticularly I see her go away, but as I thought with too much grief, to have any thoughts of herself. I hope people wrong her, for she wou'd be a monster in nature to be ungratefuU and to forget a Queen so soon that raised her from nothing.
Lord Bullingbrook sunday made a Bonfire and the finest
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