Why, then, should the Whigs have prosecuted the author?
It was a strange thing, as Defoe did not fail to complain, that they should try to punish a man for writing in their own interest.
The truth, however, is that although Defoe afterwards tried to convince the Whig leaders that he had written these pamphlets in their interest, they were written in the interest of Harley.

They were calculated to recommend that Minister to Prince George, in the event of his accession to the English throne.

We see this at once when we examine their contents by the light of the personal intrigues of the time.

Harley was playing a double game.

It was doubtful who the Queen's successor would be, and he aimed at making himself safe in either of the two possible contingencies.