of one of our artists. I shall leave the decision of this matter to yourself, after you have received the following story, which I shall most faithfully relate.
There is a certain petty retainer to the court[1], who has no employment at all himself, but is a partner for life to one that has. This gentleman resides constantly with his family among us; where, being wholly at leisure, he is consequently very speculative, perpetually turning his thoughts to improve those happy talents that nature has given him. He has maturely considered with himself the strange opinions that people at distance have of courts. Strangers are apt to think, that whoever has an apartment in the royal palace, can go through the lodgings as if he were at home, and talk familiarly with every one he meets, must needs have at any time a dozen or two of employments in his power; the least word from him to a great man, or upon extraordinary occasions, to the queen herself, would certainly do the business! This ignorance has often been made very good use of by dexterous men among us. Old courtiers will tell you twenty stories of Killigrew[2], Fleetwood Sheppard[3], and others,
- ↑ The intention of our author is in great measure frustrated by the obscurity of the person, who is here held up to censure. This is not the only proof of the necessity there is of being more explicit in such particulars of a relation, as, though universally known at the time, are very soon entirely forgotten.
- ↑ Three brothers of this family, William, Thomas, and Henry, were employed in the court of king Charles I. They were all zealous cavaliers; and were rewarded by Charles II, at the restoration. William was made gentleman usher of the privy chamber, and vicechamberlain. Thomas was a gentleman of the bedchamber, and used frequently to divert his merry master, who on that account
- ↑ A
