[211] By recommending, it is said, his son to the charter-home, of which Shaftesbury is said to have been a governor. But, from the records of the foundation, it appears that Erasmus Henry Dryden, the third son of the poet, to whom, if to any, the story must apply, was not admitted a scholar till more than a year after the publication of the second edition of the poem, containing the additional lines above quoted, to which the said admission is stated to have given occasion. There are, besides, two admirable reasons for believing that Shaftesbury had no hand in this matter, since, first, young Dryden was admitted on the recommendation of the king himself; secondly, Shaftesbury happened to be dead at the time. See Malone's Dryden, Vol. I. p. 148. The following is the note of admissions referred to by Mr. Malone:
"October 6th, 1681, [six weeks before the publication of 'Absalom and Achitophel'] Samuel Weaver, admitted for the Lord Shaftesbury.
"Feb. 5th, 1682-3, Erasmus-Henry Dryden, admitted for his majesty (in the room of Orlando Bagnall); aged 14 years, 2d of May next.
"Nov. 2d, 1685, Erasmus Dryden and Richard Tubb left the house.
"Elected to the University."
[212] Of this it would be endless to quote proofs: The following four extracts from the libels of the time are more than sufficient.
"A Congratulatory Poem upon the Happy Arrival of his Royal Highness James Duke of York, at London, April 8th, 1682:"
"The Norwich Loyal Litany:"
"His Royal Highness the Duke of York's Welcome to London, a congratulatory Poem:"
"Good News in Bad Times; or Absalom's Return to David's Bosom. 30th Nov. 1683."
[213] Mr Malone quotes two instances of sermons upon this topic; one entitled, "Achitophel's Policy Defeated;" preached on the thanksgiving after the Rye-house conspiracy, and another on the same subject, with nearly the same title, Vol. III. p. 293.
[214] An address from Liverpool assures Charles, that "the councils of your faithful Hushais shall ever prevail against the united force of all-aspiring Absaloms, and the desperate advice of all pestilent Achitophels." Another, from Morpeth, denounces "all mutinous Corahs, rebellious Absaloms, and perfidious Achitophels."
[215] This appears by a note upon Mr Luttrell's copy, "17th November, ex dono amici Jacobi Tonson." He has further labelled it "An excellent Poem against the Duke of Monmouth, Earl of Shaftesbury, and that party, and in vindication of the king and his friends."
[216] "Towser the second, a bull-dog, or a short reply to Absalom and Achitophel;"
[217] These famous expressions of party distinction were just coming into fashion. Whig, a contraction of Whigamore, is a word used by the peasantry in the west of Scotland in driving their horses, and gave a name to those fanatics who were the supporters of the Covenant in that part of Scotland. It was first used to designate an insurrection of these people in 1648, called the Whigamore's road. It has been less accurately derived from the sour-milk used by these people, called whig. But the former use of the word was much more likely to afford a party appellation.—The Tories owe their distinctive epithet to the Irish banditti, who used the word Toree, or "give me," in robbing passengers. Hence, in the old translation of Buchanan's History, the followers of Buccleuch are called the Tories of Teviotdale. As, from religion and other motives, the Irish were almost all attached to the Duke of York, the word Tory was generally applied to his party by the opposite faction, who, on the other hand, were called Whigs, as having embraced the fanatical and rebellious principles of the Scottish covenanters. The Duke of York's followers are supposed to be thus described by his Grace himself, in a lampoon called "Popish Politics unmasked:"
One of the first applications of the word Tory to a party purpose, occurs in "a True Relation of a late Barbarous Assault committed on Robert Pye, Esq." in which one John Bodnam, of Brunguin, in the county of Hereford, "an obstinate and violent papist," is said by the author to have defended himself against the constable and his assistants "so well, or rather so ill," that they were forced to retire and leave him "than which a Toree or an Outlaw could have done no more." Finally, the justice having appeared in person, Mr Bodnam, "in good earnest let fly at his head with a hedge-bill," which, the author says, is "no bad argument for the truth of the black bills prepared for the papists in Ireland." This paper is dated 1681.
[218] Birmingham was already noted for base and counterfeit coinage. In a Panegyrick on their Royal Highnesses congratulating their return from Scotland, 1682, mention is thus made of Shaftesbury's medal:
Tom Brown also alluded to the same practice; "I coined heroes as fast as Brumingham groats."[219] The affected zeal of the country party for the Protestant religion, led them to be called Birmingham Protestants, while the pretensions of Monmouth to legitimacy led his adversaries to compare him to a spurious impression of the king's coin; and thus Birmingham became a term of reproach for him, his assumed title, and his faction in general. There are numerous allusions to this in the libels of the age. Thus, in "Old Jemmy, an excellent new Ballad,"
In another ballad bearing the same title, the same phrase occurs:
These are in Mr Luttrell's collection; where there is another Tory song, entitled, "A proper new Birmingham ballad, to the tune of Hey Boys Up Go We."
In another Grubstreet performance, entitled, "a Medley on the plot, by Mathew Taubman:"
North, however, gives rather a different derivation. He says, that the loyalists, becoming anxious to retort some nickname in return for that of tories with which they had been branded, first called their "adversaries true blues; because such were not satisfied to be Protestants as the churchmen were, but must be true Protestants, implying the others to be false ones, just not Papists. Then they went on, and stiled the adversary Birmingham Protestants, alluding to the false groats struck at that place. This held a considerable time; but the word was not fluent enough for hasty repartee, and after divers changes, the lot fell on the word whig, which was very significative, as well as ready, being vernacular in Scotland, whence it was borrowed, for sour and corrupted whey. Immediately the train took, and, upon the first touch of the experiment, it ran like wild fire, and became general." Examen. p. 321.
By the phrase of Anti-Brominghams, used in the text, Dryden therefore means those who opposed the duke of Monmouth's pretensions, and were execrated for doing so by his fanatical followers.
[219] Reasons for Mr Bayes' changing his Religion, p. 14.
[220] A character in sir John Denham's Sophy.
[223] First edit. this.
[225] First edit. with.
[228] Cromwell.
[229] Richard Cromwell.
[230] Charles II.
[231] Here, Flanders or Holland; afterwards Scotland.
[232] London.
[233] Roman Catholics.
[234] First edit. and.
[236] A sneer at the doctrine of transubstantiation, which our author afterwards attempted to defend.
[238] Shaftesbury. See note VIII.
[241] First edit. A patron's. The next twelve lines were added after the first edition. See Introduction.
[244] First edit. Shuts up.
[245] The land of exile, more particularly Brussels, where Charles long resided.
[246] Dover.
[247] King of France.
[248] France.
[250] James Duke of York, whose exclusion, as a Catholic, was warmly urged in the House of Commons.
[252] The allusion is to the Republic, who acknowleged God alone for their king, but were dispossessed by Cromwell, here, as formerly, called Saul.
[253] First edit. 'Tis.
[255] First edit. Prevail.
[257] A thrifty and frugal doctrine, not forgotten by the reformers of our own day.
[259] The dissenting clergymen, expelled by the Act of Conformity.
[260] The Duke of Buckingham. See note XVIII.
[261] Balaam, the earl of Huntingdon; Caleb, lord Gray of Wark; Nadab, lord Howard of Escrick. Note XIX. XX. XXI.
[262] Sir William Jones. See note XXII.
[265] He wrote a treatise on the Interest of Princes.
[268] Oates pretended to have taken his degree of doctor at Salamanca. See note XXVII. Also vol. VII. p. 164.
[269] Sir Edmondbury Godfrey. See Note XXVIII.
[270] First edit.—Dissembling joy.
[271] France and Holland.
[272] Duchess of Portsmouth, mistress to Charles II.
[273] Note XXIX.
[276] The Duke of Ormond. See note XXXII.
[277] In Ireland.
[278] The Earl of Ossory. See note XXXIII.
[279] Alluding to Lord Ossory's services in the Dutch war against the French.
[280] First edit, birth.
[281] First edit, worth.
[291] The four following lines were added after the first edition. See Introduction.
[292] Note XLIII.
[294] See a very scurrilous one, entitled, "The Queen's Ball," in the State Poems, Vol. III. p. 74, beginning,
[295] Sheffield Duke of Buckingham's Memoirs.
[296] "A Letter to a Person of Honour concerning the Black-box." "A Letter to a Person of Honour concerning the King's disavowing the having been married to the Duke of Monmouth's Mother."
[297] Sir John Rereby's Memoirs, p. 170.
[298] See note XX.
[299] Sir John Dalrymple narrates this anecdote, Vol. I. p. 187. 8vo edit. The Editor has often heard it mentioned by his father, who was curious in historical antiquities, and who gave it on the report of his grandfather, to whom Captain Scott had told the story. According to this last authority, which the relationship between the parties renders probable, the intercepted letter contained some details concerning the Prince of Orange's intrigues with Monmouth, and the duplicity of Sunderland. It is more than probable, if that wise prince encouraged Monmouth in his enterprise, it could only be with the purpose of hastening his destruction.
[300] Sheffield Duke of Buckingham's Memoirs, p. 12.
[301] Cartes' Life of the Duke of Ormond. Vol. II. pp. 531, 533.
[302] Memoirs, p. 12.
[303] Vol. VII. p. 80.
[304] It is entitled, "On the three Dukes killing the Beadle on Sunday morning, February 26th 1670-1." The moral runs thus:
[305] Alluding to the king's well known intrigue with Nell Gwyn.
[306] The Duke was then captain of the king's horse guards.
[307] The first effectual step taken by the court to defend themselves against popular clamour, was in the "Observator," and other periodical or occasional publications of L'Estrange, which had a great effect on the public mind. But during the first clamorous outcry after the Popish plot was started, nothing of this kind was, or probably could be, attempted; while, on the other hand, the press teemed with all manner of narratives of the plot, every one stuffed with more horrid circumstances than those which preceded it; and the sale of which was no inconsiderable part of the recompence of the various witnesses by whom they were composed, sworn to, and published.
[308] Examen, p. 204.
[309] Thus, to instance the "pedantic manner, vanity, defiance of criticism, rhodomontade and poetical bravado" of modern poets, he gives some extracts from the preface of "Don Sebastian," and adds, "who can after this say of the Rehearsal author, that his picture of our poet was over charged?"—Miscellany 5. Chap. 2. His lordship also glances repeatedly at Dryden in his Advice to an Author.
[310] Raleigh's Redivivus, p. 53.
[311] North's Examen, p. 60.
[312] Ibid. p. 57.