P. 259. Burnet. If the sectaries were humble and modest, and would tell what would satisfy them, there might be some colour for granting some concessions.—Swift. I think so too.
P. 260. Burnet. The three volumes of the "Friendly Debate," though writ by a very good man.—Swift. Writ by Bishop Patrick.
Ibid. Burnet. After he [Samuel Parker, afterwards Bishop of Oxford] had for some years entertained the nation with several virulent books, writ with much life, he was attacked by the liveliest droll of the age, etc.—Swift. What is a droll? Burnet. That not only humbled Parker, but the whole party. For the author of "The Rehearsal Transposed," etc.—Swift. Andrew Marvel.
P. 263. Burnet, speaking of the King's attachment to Nell Gwyn, says:—But after all he never treated her with the decencies of a mistress.—Swift. Pray what decencies are those?
Ibid. Burnet. The King had another mistress, that was managed by Lord Shaftesbury, who was the daughter of a clergyman, Roberts, in whom her first education had so deep a root, that, though she fell into many scandalous disorders, with very dismal adventures in them all, yet a principle of religion was so deep laid in her, that, though it did not restrain her, yet it kept alive in her such a constant horror at sin, that she was never easy in an ill course, and died with a great sense of her former ill life. I was often with her the last three months of her life.—Swift. Was she handsome then?
P. 264. Burnet. The King loved his [the Earl of Rochester's] company for the diversion it afforded, better than his person: And there was no love lost between them.—Swift. A noble phrase.
P. 265. Burnet. Sedley had a more sudden and copious wit, which furnished a perpetual run of discourse: But he was not so correct as Lord Dorset, nor so sparkling as Lord Rochester.—Swift. No better a critic in wit than style.
P. 266. Burnet. Lord Roberts, afterwards made Earl of Radnor, [who succeeded the Duke of Ormonde in his government of Ireland,] was a morose man, believed to be severely just, and as wise as a cynical humour could allow him to be.—Swift. How does that hinder wisdom?
P. 273. Burnet. Charles II. confessed himself a Papist to the Prince of Orange:—The Prince told me, that he never spoke of this to any other person, till after his death.—Swift. That is, his own death.
P. 277. Burnet quotes an exclamation of Archbishop Sharp's, after an attempt to assassinate him, and adds:—This was the single expression savouring of piety, that ever fell from him in all the conversation that passed between him and me.—Swift. Rank malice.