4 6

THE LIFE OF

But on Saturday, going to do my Duty to my Lords of Durham and St. Da-vid's, and telling them of my sudden Return, they would needs over-ruleme, and made me promise them, though I had taken Leave of my Lord ofWinchester , yet, to meet them next Day at Whitehall, at my Lord’s Chambers,at Dinner ; I did so, and there we fat, after Dinner, above an Hour. Andthen, I shewing them, that on the Morrow my Business would be dispatched,and I would be gone on Tuesday, I took my Leave again of the mall. But,on Monday Morning by Break of Day, (before they used to be stirring inFriday-street) there was a great knocking at the Door where I lay ; and atlast an Apprentice, who lay in the Shop, came up to my Bed-side, and toldme, there was a Messenger from Winchestcr-house to speak with me ; theBusiness was to let me know, that my Lord, when he came from Court lastNight, had given his Steward Charge to order it so, that I might be spokenwith, and be required, as from him without fail, to dine with him on Monday,but >to be at iPinchejier-kouse by ten of the Clock, which I wonder’d themore at, his Lordship not using to come from his Study till near twelve.My Business would hardly permit this; yet because of his Lordship’s Im-portunity, I got up presently, and into Holbourn I went, and there madesuch Dispatch, that soon after ten o’Clock I took a Boat, and went to Win-chester-house, where I found the Steward at the Water-gate, waiting to let mein the nearest Way, who telling me, that my Lord had called twice to knowif I were come ; I asked where his Lordship was ? He answered in his greatGallery (a Place where I knew his Lordship scarce came once in a Year)•and . thither I going, the Door was lock’d ; but upon my lifting the Latch,my Lord of St. David’s opened the Door, and letting me in, lock’d itagain.

There I found none but those three Lords, who causing me to sit downby them, my Lord of Durham began to me, " Doctor, your Lord here, will<c have it so, I that am the un fittest Person, must be the Speaker; but thus" it is, After you left us Yesterday at Whitehall, we entering into farther“ Discourse of those Things, which we foresee and conceive will e’re long«- come to pass, refolv’d again, to speak to you before you went hence.

-- We must know of you, what your Thoughts are concerning your Ma-" ster the Prince. You have now been his Servant above two Years, and" you were with him in Spain ; we know he respects you well ; and we“ know you are no Fool, but can observe how Things are like to go.“ What Things, my Lord ? (quoth I.) In brief, said he, how the Prince’s“ Heart stands to the Church of England,, that when God brings him to the" Crown, we may know what to hope for.

My Reply was to this Effect, that, however, I was the most unfit ofany to give my Opinion herein, attending but two Months in the Year,and then at a great Distance, only in the Closet, and at Meals, yet seeingthey so pressed me, I would speak my Mind freely; so I said, “ I knowic my Master’s Learning is not equal to his Father’s; yet, I know his Judg-" ment to be very right; and as for his Affections in these Particulars, which" yiur Lordships have pointed at, for upholding the Doctrine and Discipline,

" and the right Estate of the Church, I have more Confidence of him,

" than of his Father, in whom they fay (better than I can) is so much In-" constancy in some particular Cases.”

Hereupon, my Lords of Durham and St. David's began to argue it withme, and requir’d me to let them know, upon what ground I came to thinkthus of the Prince ; I gave them my Reasons at large, and aster many Re-plyings (above an Hour together) then my Lord of Winchester, (who had saidnothing all the while) bespake me in these Words; " Well Doctor, God

“ fend