Page:Diary of the times of Charles II Vol. I.djvu/134

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
18
DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE OF

plead for the Catholics; Lord Shaftesbury is the most violent against them.

At night, the Duchess of Portsmouth and I had some discourse together of Mr. Harbord; and afterwards I asked her when she would give me her instructions. She said, she did not like to make

    Lord Brouncker and Pen do seem to think much of it."—Pepys's Diary, ii. 272. The character given of Lord Anglesey by Burnet is not easily to be reconciled with his conduct when, in 1682, he drew up his Remonstrance to Charles on the state of the government and kingdom, which Ralph well describes as a paper containing advice both for matter and manner worthy of a peer to give and a king to embrace. The concluding passages of this paper show the spirit which pervades the whole, "Though your majesty is in your own person above the reach of the law, and sovereign of all your people, yet the law is your master and instructor how to govern; and your subjects assure themselves you will never attempt the enervating that law by which you are king, and which you have not only by frequent declarations, but by solemn oath upon your throne, been obliged, in a most glorious presence of your people, to the maintenance of; and that therefore yon will look upon any that shall propose or advise to the contrary as unfit persons to be near you, and on those who shall persuade you it is lawful, as sordid flatterers, and the worst and most dangerous enemies you and your kingdom have. What I set before your majesty, I have written freely, and like a sworn and faithful counsellor; perhaps not like a wise man with regard to myself, as things stand, but I have discharged my duty, and shall count it a reward if your majesty vouchsafe to read what I durst not but write, and which I beseech God to give a blessing to."—Somers's Tracts, 1 coll. i. 186.