Page:The History of the Church & Manor of Wigan part 2.djvu/279

458 court party insisted, operate with as little prejudice as possible to Clarendon and his property, and he behaved with much kindness to the sons and dependents of the banished Earl. Bridgeman retained the great seal till 17th November, 1672. when it was given to the Earl of Shaftesbury.

Sir Orlando Bridgeman suffered severely from the gout, which rendered his official duties difficult to him. In a letter written to his son, John Bridgeman, Esq., at Castle Bromwich, near Coleshill, in Warwickshire, on 29th January, 1666[7], he says:

"I am gotten abroad agayn, but infinitely lame, and not altogether without payne. I verily believe (every fitt of goute weakninge mee) that I shall shortly be a perfect criple. God's will be done."

In another letter to his son, dated 11th May, 1671, he says:

"I strugle with my goute; much ado I have to keep up, goe I cannot, yet make shift to bee carryed to Westmr Hall."

And in another letter:

"I am the same in my resolutions as I was ever, and intend, as soone as fayrely I can, to retire to a privat life, being weary of my employment, and walking but upon a narrow Bridge; in which walk I yet keep principally for conscience sake, not being willing to desert the ship in a storm."

Sir Orlando's London residence was at Essex House in the Strand. After his resignation of office he lived in entire seclusion at his villa at Teddington, where he died on 25th June, 1674, aged 66, Bishop Burnet says of him that "he was a man of great integrity, and had very serious impressions of religion on his mind." His honourable and consistent conduct through life proves the sincerity of his religion. Having suffered for his faithfulness to the King, he lived to see the triumph of his principles, and to reap the fruits of his loyalty. In his prosperity he was mindful of the wants of others, and a liberal supporter of the church. His younger son. Sir Francis Bridgeman (in the writings annexed to his will), states that his father, the Lord Keeper, gave £400 yearly to the cathedral establishments, and procured it to be settled in augmentation of the episcopal revenue. He also