Ver. 676. And Corah might for Agag's murder call,] Agag, Sir Edmondbury Godfrey, a justice of peace, before whom Oates had made his first deposition, and who was, soon after, found murdered in a ditch near Primrose-hill, on the road to Hampstead, his sword being run quite through his body, without any effusion of blood. This was done, as it was supposed, with a view to make people think he had murdered himself; whereas, in fact, his death was occasioned by strangling, a broad livid mark being plain round his neck, which was broken, and his breast bruised in several places, as if he had been kneeled or trampled upon. His gloves and cane lay near him, his shoes were clean, and his money untouched. It is very surprising that his murderers were never discovered, though Bedloe, an infamous wretched incendiary, swore the crime against two or three innocent people, who suffered death. The Earl of Shaftesbury took prodigious pains to force some unhappy persons to swear it upon the Papists, offering them 5001, reward, in case they acquiesced; and menacing them in the severest manner, if they refused. He threatened one Mrs. Mary Gibbons, a relation of Sir Godfrey's, that she should be worried to death, as dogs worry cats, unless she confessed that Sir John Banks, Mr. Pepys, and Mr. De Puy, knew something of the murder: by his rude behaviour the woman was thrown into fits, and her life endangered: he laboured hard to induce the two men who first found the corpse, to lay the murder upon some great Roman Catholic; but though they were both in mean circumstances, he could not pervert their honesty. Nor had he more success with Francis Carrol, an honest common hackney-coachman, whom some of his emissaries accused of having carried the corpse in his coach to the place in which it was found. This poor man was confined in Newgate near two months, loaded with irons, inclosed in a dungeon, the noisomeness of which was contagious, and actually kept from Thursday to Sunday without victuals, in such misery, that he begged hard for a knife to end a wretched life, which he said he would rather forfeit than stain his soul with perjury. He was at length dismissed, after having given proofs of integrity, that would have done honour to the most refined understanding. The inconsistencies and contradictions of the witnesses, who pretended to know the circumstances of Sir Godfrey's death, sufficiently acquit the different persons who suffered upon their testimony. Perhaps he was despatched in reality by some zealous Papist, who feared that Oates's information might be prejudicial to the Catholic interest, and that the justice might be hereafter summoned as a secondary evidence; or may be, it was perpetrated by the contrivers and inventors of the Popish plot, to throw the greater odium on the court, and the party they meant to ruin: if so, they succeeded to admiration. "Sir Edmondbury Godfrey was a man of a very good character, of a reserved melancholy turn of mind, an enemy to all persecution, and rather a protector than persecutor of Nonconformists. He had, with reluctance, received Oates's information. As to the report that prevailed of his having been murdered by the Papists, because their violent enemy, it was without any manner of foundation, for he was upon good terms with the party in general. It has been affirmed, that he hanged himself in his own house, and that his two brothers, who were his next heirs, had the body conveyed abroad, and the sword run through it, that so it might be thought he was assassinated, and the crown thereby prevented from seizing on his effects."-Burnet, Echard, Smollett. DERRICK. In Corah's own predicament will fall: 640 685 691 695 His looks, his gestures, and his words he frames, 700 705 Ver. 683. Deluded Absalom] I intended to have pointed out, as we passed along, the art and dexterity of the poet in adapting the Scripture-story to his design; but the parallel is so broken and disjointed, and so imperfectly pursued, that I was forced to drop that design. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 686. The admiring crowd are dazzled with surprise, Here the poet describes the tour taken by the Duke of Monmouth after his return from Holland, without the King's leave, and with the advice of Shaftesbury, to whose counsels he had fatally resigned himself. This progress, he justly observes, though couched under the notion of its being made for hunting, and the diversions of the country, was, in reality, to try how the people stood affected; whether the suspicions against the Queen and the Duke of York were sufficiently inculcated, to give Monmouth an opportunity of mounting the throne, in case of the King's death; and his ambition he disguised under the specious pretences of his being the King's lawful son, whose right was suppressed to make way for an uncle's usurpation; of his being the avowed champion of the Protestant religion, and the only one of the royal family who had the courage openly to declare himself an enemy to Popery and slavery. With regard to the make and outward graces of Monmouth's person, says Grammont, nature never formed a man more complete. Every feature of his face had a peculiar delicacy, and altogether exhibited a countenance, beautiful without effeminacy, manly, yet not robust. His body was finely formed: he was extremely agile, fenced admirably, and was one of the best horsemen of his time; but he had a soul very unequal to such a tenement. He had no sentiments of his own; his voice was pleasing; his manner of expressing himself captivating; but these accomplishments were used only to deliver the thoughts and words of other people. He was rash in his undertakings; irresolute and uncertain in the execution; abject and cowering in distress; he begged his life of James II. with tears in his eyes. That monarch treated his sorrow slightly; the queen insulted it. When he found he had no hopes of life, he assumed an air of philosophic calmness, aud met death with indifference. He was brave in the field, felt for the distresses of humanity, was kind to his inferiors, and naturally very generous. With these virtues he might have proved a friend to his country, and a pillar of the throne, had fortune thrown him into the hands of honest men; for his ruin was owing to his connections,. not to himself. DERRICK. Ver. 688. His joy conceal'd,] First edition: Dissembling joy. 710 My father, whom with reverence yet I name, Youth, beauty, graceful action seldom fail; 715 721 725 731 To him who makes the people's wrongs his own. 735 741 75% And laws are vain, by which we right enjoy, And tenants to their people's pleasure stand. For who can be secure of private right, 770 If sovereign sway may be dissolved by might? 750 785 And share the madness of rebellious times, 745 But innovation is the blow of fate. 750 To sound the depths, and fathom where it went Ver. 723. Youth, beauty, graceful action seldom fail;] "Tutatur favor Euryalum, lachrymæque decoræ, Gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore virtus." JOHN WARTON. 755 761 Ver. 738. wealthy western friend.] Issachar was Thomas Thynne, Esq., ancestor of the Marquis of Bath, one of the most opulent commoners in the kingdom, and therefore usually called Tom of Ten Thousand. He had once been a favourite of the Duke of York, but he afterwards magnificently entertained the Duke of Monmouth and all his attendants, when he made a progress into the west, at his noble house at Longleat. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 742. To sound the depths,] First edition: To sound the depth. If ancient fabrics nod, and threat to fall, 800 806 Now what relief can righteous David bring? How fatal 'tis to be too good a king! Friends he has few, so high the madness grows; Who dare be such must be the people's foes. Yet some there were, e'en in the worst of days; Some let me name, and naming is to praise. In this short file Barzillai first appears; Barzillai, crown'd with honour and with years. 836 Ver. 777. Add, that the power for property allow'd] In the first edition: That power which is for property allow'd. Ver. 802. To patch their flaws,] First edition: the flaws Ver. 804. For all beyond it is to touch the ark.] The first edition reads less elegantly, our ark. Ver. 817. In this short file] For honour, integrity, consistency, greatness of mind, benevolence, and justice, the Duke of Ormond, Barzillai, seems to be the very first and most eminent character that ever adorned the English nobility. Dr. J. WARTON, 820 Long since, the rising rebels he withstood 830 835 841 Swift was the race, but short the time to run. Ver. 819. 846 the rising rebels he withstood In regions waste beyond the Jordan's flood:] The Duke of Ormond adhered zealously to the interest of his sovereign Charles I. in Ireland, where, being chief of a noble, ancient, and wealthy family, his power and influence were, as long as possible, exerted against the arms of Cromwell. But being at length obliged to yield to the necessity of the times, he quitted that kingdom, and accompanied King Charles II. in his exile. After the Restoration, he was at one and the same time lord lieutenant of Ireland, steward of the household, groom of the stole, and privy-councillor for the three kingdoms. Perhaps no man was ever better beloved, and no man deserved it better: he was liberal, brave, loyal, and sincere; a friend to the constitution, and a protector of the Protestants. On this account he was no favourite in the succeeding reign, and died in retirement, without post or employment, July, 1688, aged seventy-nine. DERRICK, Ver. 831. His eldest hope, with every grace adorn'd,] Thomas, Earl of Ossory, Baron Butler of More Park by writ, eldest son of the aforesaid duke, and one of the most gallant noblemen of his time. He behaved with great bravery in the first Dutch war, under Sir Edward Spragg; and in the second was rear-admiral of the blue. He was a Courageous warrior, a prudent counsellor, a dutiful son, a kind friend, a liberal patron, and a generous man. He died universally lamented in 1680. DERRICK. Ver.842. Thy force infused the fainting Tyrians propp'd: And haughty Pharaoh found his fortune stopp'd.] Lord Ossory having married a Dutch lady, lived some time in Holland, and was of signal service in preventing the progress of the French arms, by his knowledge and advice. DERRICK, Ver. 844. Oh, ancient honour! Oh, unconquer'd hand,] Ver. 846. But Israel was unworthy of his name; In the first edition we find: But Israel was unworthy of thy birth, and left this verse 876 To hang on her departed patron's hearse ?] This alludes to the custom of affixing poems to the pall or hearse. See Milton's Lat. Eleg. ii. 22, and his epitaph on the Marchioness of Winchester, ver.58, &c. TODD. Ver. 864. the priest,] Sancroft (Zadoc) was advanced from the deanery of St. Paul's to the see of Canterbury. He had considerable learning, but was a man of solemn and sullen gravity and deportment. He seldom mixed in company, but led a strict and ascetic life. He lived unmarried, and rather encouraged celibacy in his clergy. He was so cold, reserved, and peevish, that few loved him. He died in a state of separation from the church, but had not the courage to own it. His death, says Burnet, ought to have put an end to the schism that some were endeavouring to raise, on the pretence that a parliamentary deprivation was never to be allowed, and therefore they looked on Sancroft as the archbishop still, and reckoned Tillotson an usurper. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 866. the Sagan of Jerusalem,] This was Compton, brother to the Earl of Northampton. Having carried arms for some years, he was past thirty when he took orders. He applied himself more to his function than bishops, says Burnet, had commonly done. His preaching was without much life or learning. He was a great patron of the converts from Popery, and of those Protestants, whom the bad usage they were beginning to meet with in France drove over to us. The Duke of York hated him. This was the bishop that carried the Princess Anne to Nottingham, in order to join the party of the Prince of Orange. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 868. Him of the western] This was Dolben, who was bishop of Rochester, and succeeded Sterne in the archbishopric of York; a man, says Burnet, of more spirit than discretion, an excellent preacher, but of a free conversation, which laid him open to much censure in a vicious court. During the rebellion he bore arms, and was made a major by Charles I. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 875. Who best can plead, and best can judge a cause. First edition: Who best could plead, and best can judge a cause. Ver. 877. Sharp-judging Adriel,] Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave, Adriel, was a man of fine person, elegant manners, and insinuating address. When they were both young, he paid his address to Queen Anne, and to prevent a connec tion Charles II. is said to have contrived a cruel and unjustifiable scheme of sending him to Tangiers in a ship so crazy as to have drowned him. He was always firm in 880 Himself a muse: in Sanhedrim's debate 890 895 his attachment to James II., for which, with great liberality, King William once commended him, and after some years took him into favour, and gave him a pension of 30001. a-year. He was a man of wit and parts, not a genius. His poems are feeble and flimsy, notwithstanding Dryden has so profusely praised his Essay on Poetry. But the prose is terse, perspicuous, and elegant, and his memoirs so curious, that we must regret they were left unfinished. He imitated the Caesars of the Emperor Julian, a capital piece of satire, equal to any part of Lucian, in a piece called the Assembly of the Gods, where many contemporary princes are introduced. I cannot forbear mentioning a sly sarcasm on King William, to whom Jupiter himself is said to have shown great esteem; but was suspected a little of some partiality, on account of his own proceeding with old father Saturn. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 882. Jotham of piercing wit,] First edition: Jotham of ready wit. Ibid. of piercing wit,] The Marquis of Halifax, Jotham, was, in Hume's opinion, the man who possessed the finest genius and most extensive capacity of all employed in public affairs by Charles II. Hume is of opinion, that the many variations he was guilty of in his political conduct, for he voted first for the exclusion bill, then for limitations, then for expedients, and was then on good terms with the Duke, might be the effects of his integrity, rather than of his ambition. Lord Orford in his Noble Authors, p. 86, vol. ii. is of a very different opinion. He wrote many pamphlets on topics then agitated, now forgotten. His Advice to a Daughter is still read. Notwithstanding the great change of manners, it would be amusing to compare it with Mrs. Hannah More's Strictures. His moral, political, and miscellaneous thoughts are full of penetration and a deep knowledge of men and manners. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 888. Hushai, the friend of David in distress;] Laurence Hyde, second son to Edward the great Earl of Clarendon, was advanced to the earldom of Rochester, and made treasurer in 1682, but removed from the treasury in 1684, to the office of president of the council, a post of more rank but less advantage, which gave the lively Marquis of Halifax occasion to say, that "he had heard of many people being kicked down stairs, but the Earl of Rochester was the first he had ever known kicked up." He was incorrupt, sincere, warm, and violent; writ well, but not a graceful speaker, though smooth and plausible. He defended his father in the House of Commons with strength of argument, and power of elocution, that showed him master of great abilities; and yet with so much decency and discretion, as not to embroil himself with his opponents. Through the whole of King Charles's reign, he deported himself with so much real fidelity to his master, and such prudence, that he was not particularly pointed at, or ridiculed by any party. DERRICK. Ver. 890. By foreign treaties he inform'd his youth,] In 1676 he went on an embassy to Poland, was one of the plenipotentiaries at the treaty of Nimeguen, and afterwards ambassador in Holland, where he acquitted himself with honour He was strongly against the bill of exclusion. DERRICK. 900 905 Indulge one labour more, my weary muse, 910 These were the chief, a small but faithful band Of worthies, in the breach who dared to stand, 915 500 To batter down the lawful government. But lenitives fomented the disease: 9.5 With all these loads of injuries oppress'd, And long revolving in his careful breast The event of things, at last his patience tired, W Thus, from his royal throne, by Heaven inspired, The god-like David spoke; with awful fear His train their Maker in their master hear. Thus long have I. by native mercy sway'd, My wrongs dissembled, my revenge delay'd: 940 Ver. 899. who can Amiel's praise] Sir Edward Seymour, Amiel, was a man of high birth, being the elder branch of that family, of great boldness, vivacity of parts, and a graceful manner, though of insufferable pride. Burnet says, he was the first Speaker of the House of Commons that was not bred to the law. He knew the house and every man in it so well, that by looking about he could tell the fate of any question. Charles II, loved him personally, though he frequently voted against his measures. But once having voted for the court, the king said to him, "You were not against me to-day." Ile immediately answered, "No, sir, I was against my conscience to-day." Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 914. These were the chief] If this be considered, says Dr. Johnson, as a poem political and controversial, it will be found to comprise all the excellencies of which the subject is susceptible; acrimony of censure, elegance of praise, artful delineations of characters, variety and vigour of sentiment, happy turns of language, and pleasing har mony of numbers; and all these raised to such a height, as can scarcely be found in any other English composition. On this exaggerated panegyric I will only beg leave to observe, that if this poem is of a nature purely and merely political and controversial, it does not partake of the essence of real poetry. Dr. J. WARTON. Ver. 937. The god-like David] This speech of the King is by no means equal to those of Shaftesbury and Monmouth Dr. J. WARTON. 945 950 955 960 So willing to forgive the offending age; 980 985 990 Ver. 957-960. These four verses were added in the Becond edition. Ver. 966. Is one that would by law supplant his prince;] The first edition has, Is one that would by law destroy his prince. Ver. 991. The law shall still direct] We cannot read these words, put into the mouth of Charles II., without a degree of just indignation, when we reflect on some striking transactions of his reign, particularly the appointment of that ministry called the Cabal. All power in England, Scotland, and Ireland was committed to six men. Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley Cooper, afterwards Earl of Shaftesbury, Lauderdale, and Roberts, the three last of whom had drawn their swords against the King's father. Clifford had raised himelf by his great influence in the House of Commons; Ashley Cooper had still greater in the House of Lords: Oh, that my power to saving were confined ! 1005 1010 Law they require, let Law then show her face; 1015 1020 And rise upon them with redoubled might: 1025 He said: The Almighty nodding gave consent; And peals of thunder shook the firmament. Arlington, notwithstanding his secret inclinations to Popery, had maintained connections with the dissenters; Buckingham, favouring all sects, because he was of no religion himself, was a favourite of the dissenters; Lauderdale had great interest with the presbyterians of Scotland; and Shaftesbury and Buckingham were supported by the people, because they pretended a reverence for their rights. This ministry was the most extraordinary that ever was composed for the King had an unconquerable distrust of Shaftesbury; though diverted with the humours of Buckingham, he was shocked with an advice which that duke had given him to procure a parliamentary divorce from the Queen, and had once committed him to the Tower, for personal offences against himself: Arlington and Buckingham were mortal foes; and Buckingham, Shaftesbury, and Lauderdale were averse from the influence of the Duke of York with his brother, because they thought it interfered with their own; or, at least, the Duke believed that they were so but at the interview at Dover, the Duchess of Orleans reconciled Arlington and Buckingham, and the King to Buckingham, and knit the famous Cabal firmly together in the interests of the new alliance. See Echard and Dalrymple. The melancholy fate of the Duchess of Orleans, after her return from Dover, supposed to have been by poison, ordered to be given her by her husband, who was jealous of her intimacy with her own brother, Charles II., is too well known, but we hope too atrocious to obtain credit. Dr. J. WARTON. |