[Footnote 4: He was Speaker of the House of Commons, 1705-1708. [T.S.]
CHARLES D'AVENANT, LL.D.
Macky. He was very poor at the Revolution, had no business to support him all the reign of King William, yet made a good figure. He is a very cloudy-looked man, fat, of middle stature, about 50 years old.—Swift. He was used ill by most ministries; he ruined his own estate, which put him under a necessity to comply with the times.
MATTHEW PRIOR, ESQ., COMMISSIONER OF TRADE.
Macky. On the Queen's accession to the throne, he was continued in his office, is very well at court with the ministry, and is an entire creature of my Lord Jersey's, whom he supports by his advice. Is one of the best poets in England, but very factious in conversation; a thin hollow-looked man, turned of 40 years old.—Swift. This is near the truth.
THOMAS TENISON, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
Macky. A plain, good, heavy man, now much in years, and wearing out; very tall, of a fair complexion, and 70 years old.—Swift. The most good-for-nothing prelate I ever knew.
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.