apoplectic seizure, whch took him as he was entering the council chamber of Whitehall (27 Oct.), and necessitated cupping. The operation effected, Evelyn tells us, 'an almost miraculous restoration.' Accompanied by his wife he left Dover on 14 Nov., taking a solemn leave of Evelyn, to whom he had entrusted the charge of his affairs during his absence, on the beach, there delivering into his custody 'his letter of attorney, keys, seal, and his will, 'like one who did not expect to return. He did not reach Nimeguen until 11 Nov. of the following year, having spent the intervening period in France, and on 28 May 1677 was compelled, by the state of his health, to leave for England, though the work of the congress was not completed. He reached London early in June, Evelyn waiting on him there on the 12th, 'to give an account of the great trust reposed in him during his absence,' and returning 'with abundance of thanks and professions,' both from his lordship and his lady. On 26 Aug. 1678 he died, being seventy-two years of age. He was buried (5 Sept.) in the parish church of Twickenham. He left three sons, each of whom succeeded in his turn to the title [for John, third earl, see below], and one daughter, Anne, who married Sir Dudley Cullum, Bart., of Hanstead, Suffolk. The title became extinct in 1773. His wife, who is politely described in his epitaph as 'a young lady of a large dowry and yet larger graces and virtues,' can hardly have been very young when he married her, as she had already been married first to Sir John Geare, and subsequently (14 Feb. 1659) to Henry Rich, Lord Kensington. Her maiden name was Christian or Christiana Riccard, her father being Sir Andrew Riccard, a wealthy London merchant, largely interested in the East India Company. Besides the fortune which this lady brought him Berkeley probably derived a handsome income partly from his life presidency of Connaught, and partly from the post of manager of the Duke of York's household, which he seems to have retained for many years after the duke had come of age. Concerning his conduct in this post Pepys (27 Sept. 1668) tells a story which, if true, convicts him of robbing his master in the matter of letting the duke's wine licenses. Berkeley's career seems to have been generally regarded by his contemporaries with feelings of mingled envy and amazement, its eminent successfulness being ascribed less to his own merits than to luck and the influence of his kinsman, Lord Jermyn, created Earl of St. Albans at the Restoration. This, at any rate, was the tenor of the conversation which Pepys heard at Captain Cocke's on 3 Dec. 1665. Clarendon gives him credit for being an able officer, though fit only for a subordinate post; but ruthlessly exposes his vanity, want of tact, and ignorance of human nature.
Berkeley is the author of an historical piece in the nature of an apology for his part in the transactions which preceded and followed the flight of the king from Hampton Court. It is an interesting production, written in a very lively style and of great biographical value, as it exhibits the character of its author with much naïveté; but the serious discrepancies between it and the account given by Ashburnham, and the attempt which is apparent throughout it to magnify the author's part in the negotiations with Cromwell and Ireton at the expense of Ashburnham, while casting upon him the sole responsibility for the unfortunate issue of the negotiations with Hammond, impair its authority as an historical narrative. It was first published in 1699 (8vo), and again in 1702, under the title 'Memoirs of Sir John Berkley, containing an account of his negotiations with Lieutenant-general Cromwell, Commissary-general Ireton, and other officers of the army for restoring King Charles I to the exercise of the government of England.' Lowndes (Bibliographical Manual, ed. Bohn) mentions an edition of 1699 with the title in Latin: 'Collectanea Historica Johannis Berkeley complexa ipsius negotiationem anni 1647 cum Olivaro Cromwell, Ireton, et aliis exercitus praefectis pro revocatione Caroli I in regni administrationem.' The memoirs were reissued in 1812 in the 'Harleian Miscellany,' vol. ix., and in 1815 in Maseres' 'Select Tracts relating to the Civil Wars,' vol. i. On the publication in 1830 of Ashburnham's 'Narrative' Berkeley's account was added in an appendix. A French translation appeared in the 'Collection des Mémoires relatifs à la Révolution d'Angleterre,' vol. iv. Paris, 1827.
