The Countess flatly rejected this offer.

The King's word, she had the insolence to hint, was not a sufficient security.

"I am confident," said Shrewsbury, "that His Majesty will strictly fulfil his engagements.

If he breaks them I will not serve him an hour longer." "That may be very honourable in you," answered the pertinacious vixen, "but it will be very poor comfort to the Princess." Shrewsbury, after vainly attempting to move the servant, was at length admitted to an audience of the mistress.
Anne, in language doubtless dictated by her friend Sarah, told him that the business had gone too far to be stopped, and must be left to the decision of the Commons, [604] The truth was that the Princess's prompters hoped to obtain from Parliament a much larger sum than was offered by the King.

Nothing less than seventy thousand a year would content them.