GILBERT BURNET. BISHOP OF SALISBURY.
Macky. Of a very good family in Scotland, of the name of Burnet, his father was Lord [Swift, laird] of Cremont.... He is one of the greatest [Swift, Scotch] orators of the age he lives in. His "History of the Reformation," and his "Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles," show him to be a man of great learning; but several of his other works show him to be a man neither of prudence nor temper; his sometimes opposing, and sometimes favouring, the Dissenters, hath much exposed him to the generality of the people of England; yet he is very useful in the House of Peers, and proves a great pillar, both of the civil and ecclesiastical constitution, against the encroachments of a party which would destroy both.—Swift. His true character would take up too much time for me (who knew him well) to describe it.