ship of my Lord FALKLAND, one of the principal fecretaries of ftate. That af fection was contracted by the agreement of their learning and manners. For you may remember, Sir, we have often heard Mr. COWLEY admire him, not only for the profoundness of his knowledge, which was applauded by all the world, but more especially for thofe qualities which he himfelf more regarded, for his generosity of mind, and his neglect of the vain pomp of human greatness.

DURING the heat of the civil war, he was settled in my Lord ST. ALBANS' family, and attended her Majesty the Queenmother, when, by the unjust persecution of her fubjects, fhe was forced to retire into France. Upon this wandering condition of the most vigorous part of his life, he was wont to reflect, as the caufe of the long interruption of his ftudies. Yet we have no reafon to think that he lost so great a fpace of time, if we confider in what bufi

nefs

nefs he employed his banifhment. He was abfent from his native country above twelve years; which were wholly spent, either in bearing a fhare in the diftreffes of the royal family, or in labouring in their affairs. To this purpofe, he performed feveral dangerous journies, into Jerfey, Scotland, Flanders, Holland, or wherever elfe the King's troubles required his attendance. But the chief teftimony of his fidelity was, the laborious fervice he underwent, in maintaining the conftant correfpondence between the late King and the Queen his wife, In that weighty truft he behaved himfeif with indefatigable integrity and unfufpected ecrecy. For he cyphered and decyphered, with his own hand, the greateft part of all the letters that paffed between their Majefties, and managed a vaft intelligence in which for fome years many other parts: together took up all his days, and two or three nights every week,

Ar length, upon his prefent Majefty's removal out of France, and the Queenmother's

mother's ftaying behind, the business of that nature paffed of courfe into other hands. Then it was thought fit, by thofe on whom he depended, that he should come over into England, and, under pretence of privacy and retirement, fhould take occafion of giving notice of the posture of things in this nation. Upon his return, he found his country groaning under the oppreffion of an unjuft ufurpation. And he foon felt the effects of it. For, while he lay hid in London, he was seized on by a mistake, the fearch having been intended after another gentleman, of confiderable note in the King's party. Being made a prifoner, he was often examined before the Ufurpers, who tried all imaginable ways to make him ferviceable to their ends. That courfe not prevailing, he was committed to a fevere restraint; and scarce at last obtained his liberty upon the hard terms of a thousand pound bail, which burden Dr. SCARBOROUGH very honourably took upon himself. Under these bonds he continued

till the general redemption. Yet, taking the opportunity of the confufions that followed upon CROMWELL'S death, he ventured back into France; and there remained in the fame ftation as before, till near the time of the King's return.

THIS certainly, Sir, is abundantly fufficient to justify his loyalty to all the world; though fome have endeavoured to bring it in queftion, upon occafion of a few lines. in the Preface to one of his books. The objection I must not pafs by in filence, because it was the only part of his life that was liable to mifinterpretation, even by the confeffion of those that envied his fame. In this cafe perhaps it were enough, to alledge for him to men of moderate minds, that what he there faid was published before a book of poetry, and fo ought rather to be efteemed as a problem of his fancy and invention, than as the real image of his judgement. But his defence in this matter may be laid on a

furer

furer foundation. This is the true reafon that is to be given of his delivering that opinion. Upon his coming over, he found the state of the Royal party very defperate. He perceived the ftrength of their enemies fo united, that, till it fhould begin to break within itself, all endeavours against 'it were like to prove unsuccessful. On the other fide, he beheld their zeal for his Majesty's caufe to be still so active, that it often hurried them into inevitable ruin. He faw this with much grief. And though he approved their conftancy as much as any man living, yet he found their unfeasonable shewing it, did only disable themselves, and give their adverfaries great advantages of riches and ftrength by their defeats. He therefore believed that it would be a meritorious fervice to the King, if any man, who was known to have fol lowed his intereft, could infinuate into the Ufurpers' minds, that men of his principles were now willing to be quiet, and could perfuade the poor oppreffed Royalifts to conceal