He constantly had, even with his best friends, an air of mystery and reserve which seemed to indicate that he knew some momentous secret, and that his mind was labouring with some vast design.
In this way he got and long kept a high reputation for wisdom.

It was not till that reputation had made him an Earl, a Knight of the Garter, Lord High Treasurer of England, and master of the fate of Europe, that his admirers began to find out that he was really a dull puzzleheaded man.

[485] Soon after the general election of 1690, Harley, generally voting with the Tories, began to turn Tory.

The change was so gradual as to be almost imperceptible; but was not the less real.

He early began to hold the Tory doctrine that England ought to confine herself to a maritime war.