against the king. This high-spirited lord, who had the most chimerical notions of civil liberty, upon the defeat of those projects in which he had so great a share, retired with indignation to the isle of Lundy, on the coast of Devon, and continued a voluntary prisoner in his fastness till the protector's death. After the restoration, he was preferred to the honourable office of lord privy-seal, and chamberlain of the household, by Charles the second, according to the prudent maxim of that prince, to "caress his foes, and trust his friends." 5 This noble author died April 14, 1662. Besides several speeches in parliament, the following list of his publications is given by Wood. "The Scots Designs discovered, relating their 3 He was lauded by Capt. W, Mercer (the panegyrist of the republican leaders) as the Mæcenas of London in his day; and thus did the verser, as he termed himself, close his plausive strain: "For neither Plato for his wisest parts, Nor Mars for valour, Cato for his arts, Nor yet Mecenas for his worthy praise, They need not make so much report of these; As if the world, nor we could shew them such : Against them all, I do protest, appeal, To thee brave Fiennes, lord viscount Say and Seal." 4 Echard, p. 716. 5 Granger's Biog. Hist. vol. ii. P. 141. Angliæ Speculum, 1646. 6 Lord Orford mentions this as extant in the Sunderland library at Blenheim. Works, vol. i. p. 169. dangerous Attempts lately practised against the English Nation, with the sad Consequence of the same. Wherein divers Matters of public Concernment are disclosed; and the Book called Truths Manifest,' is made apparent to be "Lies Manifest." " Lond. 1643. 4to. This is said to be usually called "Vindicia Veritatis, or an Answer to a Discourse entitled Truth is Manifest,""&c. "Folly and Madness made manifest; or some Things written to shew how contrary to the Word of God, and Practice of the Saints, in the Old and New Testament, the Doctrines and Practices of the Quakers are," &c. Oxon, 1659, 4to. "The Quakers Reply manifested to be Railing: or a Pursuance of those by the Light of the Scriptures, who through their dark Imaginations would evade the Truth," &c. Oxon, 1659-60, 4to. Other things of his, says Wood, I have not yet seen: nor has the editor been able to discover any of the preceding, in the copious collections of printed tracts either in the British Museum or the Bridgewater library.] ELIZABETH, COUNTESS OF BRIDGEWATER. [THE amiable daughter of the loyal and esteemed William Cavendish, marquis of Newcastle, married John, viscount Brackley, in 1642, who performed the part of the elder brother in Comus, and who succeeded to the earldom of Bridgewater in 1649. This lady was introduced by Ballard among his Memoirs of eminent Women 2, and a memorial of her extraordinary character, taken from a monumental record in the church. of Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, was printed from Chauncey's History of that county. This inscription informs us, that she had composed 3 "Occasional Meditations and Prayers, full of the holy transports and raptures of a sanctified soul, with devout Contemplations upon every particular Chapter of the Bible, written with her own Hand." 4 But a valuable correspondent in the Gentleman's Magazine, for 17925, who signs himself "A Lover of Biography," and who is not only a lover but an adept in that and other departments of polite literature, announces himself as the possessor of a volume in manuscript, which contains the pious compositions of this lady, and is thus entitled: 2 Page 199. 3 Vol. i. p. 609. See also Collins's Peerage, and Cens. Liter. 4 Sir Egerton Brydges, Bart. of Denton-court, Kent. 5 See Supplement, p. 1163. "True Coppies of certaine loose Papers left by the Right Hon. Elizabeth, Countesse of Bridgewater, collected and transcribed together here, since her Death, Anno Dni. 1663." "All which," says the lover of biography, (Sir Egerton Brydges,)" is evidently the fair hand of an amanuensis; and under it is the earl's attestation and subscription, in these words, Examined by J. Bridgewater. This manuscript, which has never been out of the hands of the countess and her descendants, is certainly a proof of a very uncommon piety at least, which in the accounts of her has not been at all exaggerated, and which combined with her beauty, her accomplishments, her youth, her descent, and the pathetic epitaph on her death, of that husband, who was himself distinguished for all learned and amiable qualities, appears eminently curious and interesting. Yet I am aware," says the same ingenuous writer, "that the unusual strain of religion, which breaks forth on every occasion, is open to the jests and sneers of light-hearted and unfeeling people; for which reason it is a treasure that shall never, with my consent, be unlocked to the profane eye of the public at large. It consists of 'prayers, confessions, and meditations, upon various occasions."" Four extracts from the abo ve MS. were imparted in Cens. Liter. vol. ii. p. 261. one of which shall be enrolled here. "A Prayer and Resolution against Despair. "O Lord! I am vile, being sinful; but let me not run into despair; for thou, my Christ, hast redeemed me. And though my sins have blacked my soul with the smoke of ungodliness, so that I cannot look to thy throne of justice, but be struck down with my own guilt; yet thy mercies will purify me with the sweet-smelling incense of thy loving kindness. For thou hast given me this comfort, that those that were heavy-laden, if they come unto thee, thou wouldst ease them; and those that were sick, thou wouldst heal them. So come I to thee, my Lord, loaden with sickness for my daily infirmities; and with heavy burdens weighing me down with iniquity. So weighty are they, O God! that without thy mercies the balance would turn me into utter ruin. Therefore I stand amazed at my own unworthiness, not knowing how to appear before thy holiness. But yet I come with a knowledge of my own sins, to thee my Saviour, who may well be named my Saviour, who by thy death and passion hast saved me, and by thy blood spilt I am relieved from the fear of everlasting death, and brought to an assured hope of everlasting life in endless joys. Therefore, to thee all honour and power be given, now and for evermore! Farther particulars of this exemplary wife and mother may be seen in Collins's Peerage, Granger's Biographical History, Ballard's learned Ladies, Brydges' Topographer, Warton's Milton, and Todd's Comus. The learned editor of the latter publication mentions another attested copy of the countess of Bridgewater's pious and tender Meditations, which had been preserved in the Ashridge library, and answers the character of them given above. The worthy earl desired |