The Marquess was the falsest, the most fickle, the most pusillanimous, of mankind.

Already, in the short space of six months, he had been several times a Jacobite, and several times a Williamite.

Both Jacobites and Williamites regarded him with contempt and distrust, which respect for his immense power prevented them from fully expressing.

After repeatedly vowing fidelity to both parties, and repeatedly betraying both, he began to think that he should best provide for his safety by abdicating the functions both of a peer and of a chieftain, by absenting himself both from the Parliament House at Edinburgh and from his castle in the mountains, and by quitting the country to which he was bound by every tie of duty and honour at the very crisis of her fate.

While all Scotland was waiting with impatience and anxiety to see in which army his numerous retainers would be arrayed, he stole away to England, settled himself at Bath, and pretended to drink the waters, [354] His principality, left without a head, was divided against itself.