DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0018
IV
EDITOR S INTRODUCTION.
confesses that he learnt, in a conversation with him, that as to
religion he was “ wholly sceptical.” On another occasion Pepys
speaks of him as going further than became him in flattering the
King’s vices. There can be no doubt, however, that Sandwich
possessed sufficient virtue to render him obnoxious to the King’s
more immediate companions, and he gradually fell into disfavour
and disgrace, till at last he was slain., fighting bravely, in the great
sea-fight in the May of 1672. On this occasion. Evelyn bursts
into a flood of eloquence in lamenting the loss of his friend : a My
Lord Sandwich was prudent as well as valiant, and always
govern’d his affaires with successe and little losse : he was for de-
liberation and reason, they (Monk and Lord Clifford) for action and
slaughter without either; and for this, whisper’d as if my Lord
Sandwich was not so gallant because he was not so rash, and knew
how fatal it was to loose a fleete, such as was that under his con-
duct, and for which these very persons would have censur’d him.
Deplorable was the losse of one of the best accomplish’d persons,
not onely of this nation, but of any other. He was learned in sea
affaires, in politics, in mathematics, and in music; he had been
on divers embassies, was of a sweete and obliging temper, sober,
chast, very ingenious, a true nobleman, an ornament to the court
and his prince, nor has he left any behind him who approach his
many virtues.”*
Edward Hyde, created soon afterwards Earl of Clarendon, was
certainly a man of great ability; but he was not popular, and in
the political songs of the day he is accused of unbounded avarice.
Charles supported him, both in gratitude for a long series of faith-
ful services, and because he thought that no other person was so
capable of supporting the Bestoration, and of enlarging the limits
of his regal power.
Clarendon was virtually the head of the administration with
which Charles began his reign, and which was indeed kept together
* Evelyn’s Diary, vol. ii. p. 370.
EDITOR S INTRODUCTION.
confesses that he learnt, in a conversation with him, that as to
religion he was “ wholly sceptical.” On another occasion Pepys
speaks of him as going further than became him in flattering the
King’s vices. There can be no doubt, however, that Sandwich
possessed sufficient virtue to render him obnoxious to the King’s
more immediate companions, and he gradually fell into disfavour
and disgrace, till at last he was slain., fighting bravely, in the great
sea-fight in the May of 1672. On this occasion. Evelyn bursts
into a flood of eloquence in lamenting the loss of his friend : a My
Lord Sandwich was prudent as well as valiant, and always
govern’d his affaires with successe and little losse : he was for de-
liberation and reason, they (Monk and Lord Clifford) for action and
slaughter without either; and for this, whisper’d as if my Lord
Sandwich was not so gallant because he was not so rash, and knew
how fatal it was to loose a fleete, such as was that under his con-
duct, and for which these very persons would have censur’d him.
Deplorable was the losse of one of the best accomplish’d persons,
not onely of this nation, but of any other. He was learned in sea
affaires, in politics, in mathematics, and in music; he had been
on divers embassies, was of a sweete and obliging temper, sober,
chast, very ingenious, a true nobleman, an ornament to the court
and his prince, nor has he left any behind him who approach his
many virtues.”*
Edward Hyde, created soon afterwards Earl of Clarendon, was
certainly a man of great ability; but he was not popular, and in
the political songs of the day he is accused of unbounded avarice.
Charles supported him, both in gratitude for a long series of faith-
ful services, and because he thought that no other person was so
capable of supporting the Bestoration, and of enlarging the limits
of his regal power.
Clarendon was virtually the head of the administration with
which Charles began his reign, and which was indeed kept together
* Evelyn’s Diary, vol. ii. p. 370.