Volume IV Part 37 (1/2)
[Footnote 391: Bohun's Autobiography.]
[Footnote 392: Bohun's Autobiography; Commons' Journals, Jan. 20.
1692/3.]
[Footnote 393: Ibid. Jan. 20, 21. 1692/3]
[Footnote 394: Oldmixon; Narcissus Luttrell's Diary, Nov. and Dec. 1692; Burnet, ii. 334; Bohun's Autobiography.]
[Footnote 395: Grey's Debates; Commons' Journals Jan. 21. 23. 1692/3.; Bohun's Autobiography; Kennet's Life and Reign of King William and Queen Mary.]
[Footnote 396: ”Most men pitying the Bishop.”--Bohun's Autobiography.]
[Footnote 397: The vote of the Commons is mentioned, with much feeling in the memoirs which Burnet wrote at the time. ”It look'd,” he says, ”somewhat extraordinary that I, who perhaps was the greatest a.s.sertor of publick liberty, from my first setting out, of any writer of the age, should be so severely treated as an enemy to it. But the truth was the Toryes never liked me, and the Whiggs hated me because I went not into their notions and pa.s.sions. But even this, and worse things that may happen to me shall not, I hope, be able to make me depart from moderate principles and the just a.s.serting the liberty of mankind.”--Burnet MS.
Harl. 6584.]
[Footnote 398: Commons' Journals, Feb. 27. 1692/3; Lords' Journals, Mar.
4.]
[Footnote 399: Lords' Journals, March 8. 1692/3.]
[Footnote 400: In the article on Blount in the Biographia Britannica he is extolled as having borne a princ.i.p.al share in the emanc.i.p.ation of the press. But the writer was very imperfectly informed as to the facts.
It is strange that the circ.u.mstances of Blount's death should be so uncertain. That he died of a wound inflicted by his own hand, and that he languished long, are undisputed facts. The common story was that he shot himself; and Narcissus Luttrell at the time, made an entry to this effect in his Diary. On the other hand, Pope, who had the very best opportunities of obtaining accurate information, a.s.serts that Blount, ”being in love with a near kinswoman of his, and rejected, gave himself a stab in the arm, as pretending to kill himself, of the consequence of which he really died.”--Note on the Epilogue to the Satires, Dialogue I.
Warburton, who had lived first with the heroes of the Dunciad, and then with the most eminent men of letters of his time ought to have known the truth; and Warburton, by his silence, confirms Pope's a.s.sertion.
Gildon's rhapsody about the death of his friend will suit either story equally.]
[Footnote 401: The charges brought against Coningsby will be found in the journals of the two Houses of the English Parliament. Those charges were, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, versified by Prior, whom Coningsby had treated with great insolence and harshness. I will quote a few stanzas.
It will be seen that the poet condescended to imitate the style of the street ballads.
”Of Nero tyrant, petty king, Who heretofore did reign In famed Hibernia, I will sing, And in a ditty plain.
”The articles recorded stand Against this peerless peer; Search but the archives of the land, You'll find them written there.”
The story of Gaffney is then related. Coningsby's speculations are described thus:
”Vast quant.i.ties of stores did he Embezzle and purloin Of the King's stores he kept a key, Converting them to coin.
”The forfeited estates also, Both real and personal, Did with the stores together go.
Fierce Cerberas swallow'd all.”
The last charge is the favour shown the Roman Catholics:
”Nero, without the least disguise, The Papists at all times Still favour'd, and their robberies Look'd on as trivial crimes.
”The Protestants whom they did rob During his government, Were forced with patience, like good Job, To rest themselves content.
”For he did basely them refuse All legal remedy; The Romans still he well did use, Still screen'd their roguery.”]