[483] Achi, my brother, and tophel, a fool.—Orig. Note.
[484] The epithet was still more whimsically assumed by the famous Nell Gwyn, when her carriage was beset by the mob, who took it for that of the Duchess of Portsmouth, and loaded the inmate with all the opprobrious epithets which could be applied to a Papist, or a woman; Nell at length looked out, and convinced them of their mistake, by assuring them "she was the Protestant whore."
[485] Alluding to the Irish witnesses brought against Shaftesbury, to whom the Whigs refused credit as soon as they ceased to swear on their side; a great subject of complaint to the Tories.
[486] There seems to have been some uncertainty, both among Tories and Whigs, concerning the author of "The Medal." Settle, himself, did not recognize the hand of Dryden; for he thus expresses himself:—"I am not of opinion, that the author of "The Medal," and that of "Absalom and Achitophel," is one person, since the style and painting is far different, and their satires are of a different hue, the one being a much more slovenly beast than the other; yet, since they desire to be thought so, let the one bear the reproaches of the other."—Preface to Medal Reversed.
[495] Crassus, according to Lucilius, only laughed once in his life, and that at the miserable joke in the text.
[498] See the parable of the vineyard, in the gospel of St Matthew, chap. xxi. ver. 33.
[502] Collatinus was, after the expulsion of the Tarquins, exiled from Rome, in hatred to his surname of Rex.
[503] Blood, famous for his attempt upon the crown jewels, and other ruffian adventures, was at this time a true blue Protestant. "And here the good Colonel Blood, (that stole the Duke of Ormond, and, if a timely rescue had not come in, had hanged him at Tyburn, and afterwards stole the crown, though he was not so happy as to carry it off,) no player at small games; he, even he, the virtuous colonel, was to have been destroyed by the Papists. It seems these Papists would let no eminent Protestant be safe. But some amends were made; the colonel, by the sale of the narrative, licensed Thomas Blood. It had been strange if so much mischief had been stirring, and he not come in for a snack."—Examen, p. 311. The narrative is now before me, in which I observe Colonel Blood very feelingly complains, "that those who are to deal with Jesuits and their disciples, had need to have as well the prudence of serpents, as the innocence of doves."
[504] Examen. p. 41.
[505] Ibid. p. 60.
[506] Note X. on Astrea Redux, p. 44.
[507] Whitelock's Memorials, p. 679.
[508] Raleigh Redivicus, p. 29.
[509] Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, (i. e. Shaftesbury,) Lauderdale.
[510] Hume, Vol. VIII. p. 158.
[511] See Vol. VI. p. 148.
[512] Raleigh Redivivus, p. 48.
[513] See Albion and Albanius, Vol. VII. p. 266.