The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume II.Cibber, Theophilus
History
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume II.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
Thus we have seen him discharge with honour the debt of gratitude he
owed to Cromwell; but notwithstanding the figure he made in the
service, it is by no means clear that ever he was warmly attached to
the republic; he was detected in having drank the King's health in
company with the Protector's children, which Oliver very prudently
thought proper to pass over. After the restoration, Broghill wanted
not enemies, who insinuated things against him to King Charles, and
blamed his tardiness in procuring his Majesty's return; but his
lordship made it clear, that he was the first who declared for him in
Ireland, and the most zealous, as well as the most powerful promoter
of his interest. His Majesty was so well satisfied with his lordship's
proceedings, that he wrote to him with his own hand, and thanked him
for his loyalty[9]. On September 5, 1660, as an incontested proof of
his Majesty's affection for his lordship, he by letters patent
advanced him to the honour of earl of Orrery in the county of
Cork[10]; and Sir Maurice Eustace, a friend of the duke of Ormond's,
being appointed chancellor, Roger earl of Orrery, and Charles Coote,
earl of Montrath, were with him made lords justices, about the close
of that memorable year.
From that time till his death we find lord Orrery in the highest
esteem in the three nations: He was employed by his Majesty to confer
with the earl of Clarendon, whose imperious steps, it seems, had
highly disobliged his master, and when that great man fell, the King
made an offer of the seals to the earl of Orrery, who on account of
his want of bodily vigour, declined it. At the same time he accepted a
most arduous and unpleasing office from the King, and that was, to
expostulate with the duke of York, and bring him to ask pardon for the
haughty and insolent measures he took in supporting the chancellor.
His Majesty warmly pressed him to become a favourer of the French
alliance, and for the reduction of the Dutch; neither of which were at
all agreeable to his notions, and therefore that he might more
concisely express the mischievous consequences he apprehended from
these measures, he reduced his thoughts into a poem; and this was very
well received by the King, who thought to have made some impression on
him, in his turn, in a long audience he gave him for that purpose; but
the earl's duty would not permit him to coincide in his opinion with
the King, when he was sensible that the King's scheme was contrary to
the interest of the nation; and this led him in plain terms to
declare, that he never would concur in counsels to aggrandize France,
which was already too great; or to break the power of the Dutch, which
was barely sufficient for their own defence[11].
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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