Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 1 Vol 7.djvu/120

 118 SHAFT ESBUHY. Gifes.(«) M.I. Will dat. 17 Jan. 1682/3, pr. KiS-1. His widow, who was tap. IS July 1627, at Briugton, eo. Northampton, it. 1(193. Will pr. 1693. II. 168$. S. Anthony Ashley (Cooper), Earl op Shabtesboby, kc, 2d and yst. but only surv. h. ami h.( b ) by second wife, 4. IS Jan. 1651/2, at Wimborne St. Giles; ma trie, at Oxford (Trtn. Coll.), 2 April 1666 ; er. M.A., 4 Feb. 1666/7 ; ttj/l*d Loud Ashley, 1672-83 ; M l*, for Metoombu Ue^is, 1673-79, and for Weymouth, I6S0-83 ; *«c. to the pttra/t, as above, 22 Jan. 16S2/3; Vice Admiral of Dorset, 1679 and 1685; Keeper of the King a game near St. Giles, Dorset. 1685. lie m. 22 Sep. 1669 (lie. Vie. Gen.), Dorothy, <la. of John (Mannkhs), Stll Haul OF IU'TLand, by Frances, da. of Edward (Montaci), I'aiion Montacu Or rlOBOBTOS. She, who was at Helvoir Castle. 4, iu June
 * 698.C) He d. 2 Nov. 1699, aged 47.( d ) Will pr. June 1701.

III. 1699. 3. Anthony Ashley /Coormt), Karl of Shaftesbury, 4c, 1st s. and h., b. 26 Feb. 1670/1, at his grandfather's residence, Kxeter House, in the Strand; styled Loud Ashley, 16S3-99 ; ed. at Winchester; M.P. for l'oole, 1695-98; site, to (be peeraye, as above, 2 Nov. 1699 ; Vice Admiral of Dorset, 1701-02; was an ardent Whig politician and the author of a once well-known work entitled the " Charuct eri.it /«■*."(«) He >«. 29 Aag. 1709, it Bitch worth, Herts (" after a long and unsuccessful negotiation for a lady whom he admired),"; 1 ) Jane, 3d da. of Thomas Ewku, of Bushey Hall, and of the Lea, in Watford, Herts, by Mary, da. of the Hon. James Montagu, 3d s. of Henry, 1st (») This greatest of "Political ehanglings " was doubtless the most accomplished and cleverest man of his day. His well-known answer to Charles II., who had called him the greatest rogue in the Kingdom--" of a subjict, Sire, I believe I am ; " as also his reply to a Lady, who had questioned him as to his religion — " I am of the religion of all wise men," and his further rejoinder, when pressed an to what that religion was, — " ah, that, madam, is what no wise man ever tells," suggest alike the extent of his audacity, wit, and religious faith. He was freely satirised by Butler in " IludibrtU," and still more so by Dryden in his " Absalom and Achitophcl." From this, which U probably the finest specimen of satirical poetry, an extract, tho' long, is here subjoined as giving a life-like picture of this puny and most unprincipled (tho' brilliant) statesman, whom Charles II. used to call his " Little Sincerity." " Of these the false Achitophel was first, A name to all succeeding ages curst ; For close designs and crooked councils fit, Sagacious, bold, and turbulent of wit ; Restless, unfixed iu principles or place ; In power unpleased ; impatient in disgrace ; A fiery soul, which, working out its way Fretted the pigmy body to decay. A daring pilot in extremity, Pleased with the clanger, when the waves went high, He sought the storms ; but for a calm, unfit, Would steer too nigh the sands, to boast his wit." A portrait of him, iu a flowing wig, "after S. Cooper," is engraved iu Doyle. ( b ) Cecil, his elder br., d. young. ( c ) Luttrell ("Diary," 2 July 1693), writes, "The Countess of Shaftesbury is dead." ( d ) He iB the " unfeathered two-legged thing — a son," who "born a shapeless lump like anarchy," is thus alluded to by Dryden iu his " Absalom and AchUophl" These allusions may relate to his mental capacity as " his external form is said to have been remarkably handsome." [Collina.] (°) The 1st edit, was pub. in 1711. It continued during many years, says Macaulay, " to be the gospel of romantic and sentimental unbelievers." (f) "Nat. Biogr." The Earl writes thus, 23 Aug. 1709, on his intended marriage, " Having all the assurance 1 could possibly have of ber character from the worth and virtue of her parents— my old friends— as well as from her own carriage and behaviour, 1 have determined to make my choice here, where 1 have nothing deficient but fortune only."