Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 1 Vol 7.djvu/119

 SHAFTESBURY. 117 and assumed the lend of the Presbyterians and Republicans. (') He was joint Cotnr. to command the nrmy, and first Coinr. for the custody of the Tower, 1659- (iO, which place be secured as against Lambert, taking also an active part in brimiing over the Fleet. He was one of the twelve Commoners deputed, 7 May 1680, t» invite the return of the King, by whom he was made P.C., Col. of n Keg. of Horse, and was o: 20 April 1861,(*»J BARON ASHLEY OF YVIMBORNE ■ST. GILKS, co. Dorset. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1661-67 ; F.U.S., 5 Aug. 1663 : a Lord of the Treasury, 1687-72: a Lord of Trade, 1671, being oue of the Inner Council (called the " Cabal " ) who, with the King, managed the foreign affairs of the Realm. L. Lieut, of Dorset, 1672-74; Vice Admiral thereof 1672-79; was cr. 23 April 1672, BARON COOPER OF PAWLETT, co. Somerset, and KARL OF SHAKTKSHUKY ; President of the Board of Trade, 1672-76; L. Hk;h Ch NCKLI.or,( c ) 1672-73. He now warmly supported the Test Act (tho' against all his previous views as to moderation }, taking a violent pari for the exclusion of the Duke of York as a Papist) from the succession, ami becoming the leader of the " no Popery " party. He was committed to the Tower for nearly a year, being released 26 Feb. 16/S. He contrived again to force himself into the Ministry iu April 1679 as L. PHSUMCKI of THE Council, but, renewing his political intrigues, Was dismissed in Oct. and again committed to the Tower in July 16S1. He was indicted at the Old Bailey for high treason, but the bill was, in Nov. 1681, " thrown out by a grand jury packed by Sheriffs of his own party."( d ) He was, however, so much involved, that it was not safe for him to continue in England, and he contrived to escape therefrom (eluding a warrant issued agaiust him) to Holland, where he died two months later. He m. firstly, 25 Feb. 1039, Margaret, da. of Thomas (Coventry), 1st Baron Coventry ok Aylesbokoi'iih, by his second wife, Elizabeth, da. of Johu ALDEliSEY, of Spurstow. She d. s.p. 11 July 1619. He m. secondly, 25 April 1650, at St. Anne's, Blaekfriars, Frances, da. of David (Cecil), 3d E**L OF Exetku, by Elizabeth, da. of John (KobrtonJ, 3d Earl ok BRIDGWATER. She d. 1654. He m. thirdly, 30 Aug. 1655, at St. Paul's, Covcut Garden, Margaret, sister of Henry, 1st Earl ok Slnderland, da. of William (Spencer), 2d Baron Spencer, of Wor.mi.kighton, by Penelope, da. of Heury ( Wriothesi.ey). Karl ok Southampton. He <l. at Amsterdam, of gout in the stomach, 21 Jan. 16S2/3, aged 61, and was bur. with some state, at Wiinborue St. (*) He was not one of Cromwell's " House of Lords," whose claims he refused to admit. It is reported that Cromwell said of him, that no oue was so difficult tu manage, as " the little man with three names." Dryilen in his " Medal " after speak- ing of him as " a vermin wriggling in th' Usurper's ear " adds (with bitter sarcasm) 11 Bart'ring his venal wit for sums of gold, He cast himself into the Saint-like mould, Groan 'd, sigh'd and pray'd (while Godliness was gain) The loudest bagpipe of the squeakiug train." His love of money is thus mentioned by Pepys (9 Sep. 1665), " My Lord Ashley will rob the Devil and the Altar, but he will get money if it be to be got." ( b ) See vol. ii, p. 275, note "d," sub " Clarendon," for an account of this and other creations made a few days before the coronation. ( c ) " In regard of his uninterrupted services," writes the London Gazette (18 Nov.) as quoted in the Nat Jiiogr. Tho' a member of Liuc. Inn he had never practised as a lawyer, yet " his decrees in Chancery wotdd appear to have met with general approbation," and even Dryden, in his " Achitophel" gives him " full credit for his judicial integrity," while the King is reported to have said of him, that he was "master of more law than all his Judges and of more Divinity than all his Bishops." [Foss's " Judges."} This, however, is at variance with Lord Oxford's view of aim (see p. 116, note " e ") who says "he was a very bad Chancellor; he was not able to carry on the business." ( d ) Foss's "Judges," where it is added that " a medal to commemorate this event is the subject of Dryden's bitter poem called The Medal." The Sheriffs were Samuel Shute, well-known as a zealous Protestant and opposer of the Court measures, and Thomas Pilkingtou (afterwards Knighted and Lord Mayor from 16S9 to 1691), Master of the Skinners Company, of which Lord Shaftesbury himself was made a member, and by whom he, the Duke of Moumouth and others of that party, were magniHcuutly eutcrtaiucd, 17 March 16S2.