The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 2

316 (return (#x9_x_9_i13))

[ The King was only Nell's Charles III. Whether Dorset or Major Hart had the honour of being her Charles I is a point open to dispute. But the evidence in favour of Dorset's claim seems to me to preponderate. See the suppressed passage of Burnet, i. 263.; and Pepys's Diary, Oct. 26. 1667.]

317 (return (#x9_x_9_i13))

[ Pepys's Diary; Prior's dedication of his poems to the Duke of Dorset; Johnson's Life of Dorset; Dryden's Essay on Satire, and Dedication of the Essay on Dramatic Poesy. The affection of Dorset for his wife and his strict fidelity to her are mentioned with great contempt by that profligate coxcomb Sir George Etherege in his letters from Ratisbon, Dec. 9/19 1687, and Jan. 16/26 1688; Shadwell's Dedication of the Squire of Alsatia; Burnet, i. 264.; Mackay's Characters. Some parts of Dorset's character are well touched in his epitaph, written by Pope:

"Yet soft his nature, though severe his lay"

and again:

"Blest courtier, who could king and country please,
Yet sacred keep his friendships and his ease."]

318 (return (#x9_x_9_i14))

[ Barillon, Jan. 9/19 1688; Citters, Jan 31/Feb 10]

319 (return (#x9_x_9_i14))

[ Adda, Feb. 3/13 10/20 1688.]

320 (return (#x9_x_9_i15))

[ Barillon,. Dec. 5/15 8/18. 12/22 1687; Citters, Nov 29/Dec 9 Dec 2/12]

321 (return (#x9_x_9_i17))

[ Citters, Oct 28/Nov 7 1687; Lonsdale's Memoirs.]

322 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Citters, Nov 22/Dec 2 1687.]

323 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Ibid. Dec 27/Jan 6 1687/8.]

324 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Ibid,]

325 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Rochester's offensive warmth on this occasion is twice noticed by Johnstone, Nov. 25. and Dec. 8. 1687. His failure is mentioned by Citters, Dec. 6/16.]

326 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Citters, Dec. 6/16. 1687]

327 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Ibid. Dec. 20/30. 1687.]

328 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Ibid March 30/April 9 1687.]

329 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Ibid Nov 22/Dec 2 1687.]

330 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Ibid. Nov. 15/25. 1687.]

331 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Citters, April 10/20 1688.]

332 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ The anxiety about Lancashire is mentioned by Citters, in a despatch dated Nov. 18/28. 1687; the result in a despatch dated four days later.]

333 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Bonrepaux, July 11/21 1687.]

334 (return (#x9_x_9_i18))

[ Citters, Feb. 3/13 1688.]

335 (return (#x9_x_9_i19))

[ Ibid. April 5/15 1688.]

336 (return (#x9_x_9_i20))

[ London Gazette, Dec. 5. 1687; Citters, Dec. 6/16]

337 (return (#x9_x_9_i20))

[ About twenty years before this time a Jesuit had noticed the retiring character of the Roman Catholic country gentlemen of England. "La nobilta Inglese, senon se legata in servigio, di Corte, o in opera di maestrato, vive, e gode il piu dell' anno alla campagna, ne' suoi palagi e poderi, dove son liberi e padroni; e cio tanto piu sollecitamente I Cattolici quanto piu utilmente, si come meno osservati cola."—L'lnghilterra descritta dal P. Daniello Bartoli. Roma, 1667.

"Many of the Popish Sheriffs," Johnstone wrote, "have estates, and declare that whoever expects false returns from them will be disappointed. The Popish gentry that live at their houses in the country are much different from those that live here in town. Several of them have refused to be Sheriffs or Deputy Lieutenants." Dec. 8. 1687.

Ronquillo says the same. "Algunos Catolicos que fueron nombrados per sherifes se han excusado," Jan. 9/19. 1688. He some months later assured his court that the Catholic country gentlemen would willingly consent to a compromise of which the terms should be that the penal laws should be abolished and the test retained. "Estoy informado," he says, "que los Catolicos de las provincias no lo reprueban, pues no pretendiendo oficios, y siendo solo algunos de la Corte los provechosos, les parece que mejoran su estado, quedando seguros ellos y sus descendientes en la religion, en la quietud, y en la seguridad de sus haciendas." July 23/Aug 2 1688.]

338 (return (#x9_x_9_i22))