Note 188a — JOURNAL TO STELLA (continued 4)

In a letter to Swift, of March 17, 1711, King said that it might have been thought that Guiscard’s attack would have convinced the world that Harley was not in the French interest; but it did not have that effect with all, for some whispered the case of Fenius Rufus and Scevinus in the 15th book of Tacitus: “Accensis indicibus ad prodendum Fenium Rufum, quem eundem conscium et inquisitorem non tolerabant.” Next month Swift told King that it was reported that the Archbishop had applied this passage in a speech made to his clergy, and explained at some length the steps he had taken to prevent the story being published in the Postboy. King thanked Swift for this action, explaining that he had been arguing on Harley’s behalf when someone instanced the story of Rufus.