Edward, First Earl of Sandwich:
By FELIZIANO.
Three-quarter Length.
(In a long black doublet, with the Star of the Garter, and the Jewel given him by the King of Sweden, over a long white waistcoat with innumerable buttons and gold embroidery; deep ruffles; holds his hat in one hand, the other rests on his hip. Painted during his Embassy in Spain.)
Lord Sandwich is here much altered in appearance from his former portraits, but Pepys tells us he wore his beard in the Spanish fashion on his return from his Embassy; and a French correspondent about this time says: “Le Comte de Sandwich étoit bien fort, l’air doux, assez d’embonpoint, qui ne commençoit de l’incommoder qu’après son retour de l’Espagne.”
Born, 1623. Died, 1672.—The second son of Sir Sidney Montagu, by Paulina, daughter of John Pepys, of Cottenham, near Cambridge. Sidney was the seventh son of Sir Edward Montagu, and brother to the first Lord Montagu of Boughton, was Groom of the Bedchamber to James I., and Master of Requests in the succeeding reign; sat for Huntingdon, and in 1640 was expelled the House for declining to subscribe to an oath framed by the Commons, “that they would live and die with their General, the Earl of Essex.” Montagu said he would not swear to live with Essex, as being an old man he would probably die before him, neither would he swear to die with him, as the Earl was in arms against the King, which he (Sidney) did not know how to separate from treason. For this boldness he was expelled the House by a majority of three, and sent prisoner to the Tower, where he remained a fortnight. Thus did he prove his loyalty, though he had nobly withstood on the other hand those measures which he considered detrimental to the liberties of the subject. He had two sons, and a daughter, married to Sir Gilbert Puckering of Tichmarch, in the County of Hunts. His eldest son Henry was drowned through the carelessness of a nurse, when only three years of age: his second son Edward became his heir; who married before he was twenty, Jemima, daughter of John, Lord Crewe of Stene, a family that sided with the Parliament.
Clarendon tells us, that Sir Sidney Montagu never swerved from his allegiance; but his son being emancipated from his father’s control when very young, and married into a family which “trod awry,” was won over by the “caresses” of Cromwell to take command in his army, when new modelled by Fairfax, Montagu being then little more than twenty years of age. Indeed, when only eighteen he had already raised a regiment, and distinguished himself at its head in several actions, to wit; Lincoln, Marston Moor, and York; and the following year at Naseby, Bridgewater, and Bristol; his conduct at the storming of which last named town was reported to Parliament with the highest encomiums, not only for his gallantry, but for the successful manner in which he carried on the negociations with Prince Rupert. But notwithstanding Montagu’s military zeal, he opposed the undue influence of the army in the House of Commons, especially in their bringing about the seclusion of eleven members, and he formed and kept his resolution not to resume his seat (for Huntingdon) until the members were restored. In spite of this independent conduct, he was appointed (on the elevation of Cromwell to the Protectorate) one of the Supreme Council of Fifteen—and he only then in the twenty-fifth year of his age; and shortly afterwards he became Desborough’s colleague in the office of High Admiral.
In 1656 he accompanied the gallant Blake to the Mediterranean, on whose death he succeeded to the sole command of the fleet, in the exercise of which, says Lord Clarendon, “he was discreet and successful.” But the death of Oliver Cromwell changed the whole face of affairs, and Montagu, who had been on a mission to carry on diplomatic negociations with Sweden and Denmark, returned from Copenhagen (without orders), resigned his command, and retired for a short time into the country. On the reinstalment of the secluded members, he was sworn Privy Councillor, and again appointed Admiral of the Fleet (or as Pepys has it, “one of the generals at sea”), conjointly with Monk, who was minded, as Montagu says, “to get into the saddle,” and would not be left out in anything; but Monk was to remain on shore, and Montagu to put to sea, an arrangement at which the latter did not cavil.
A reaction of loyalty had set in lately; affairs were in a doubtful state; negociations were set on foot to recall Charles; the King’s health was drunk openly, whereas before, it had only been done in private, and Montagu became most zealous in the royal cause, although, as he told his kinsman Pepys, “he did not believe if the Protector [Richard] were brought in again, he would last long, neither the King himself, (although he believes he will come in), unless he behaves himself very soberly and well.” Indeed, before he embarked, Montagu had a conversation with Richard Cromwell in which he told him roundly that he would rather find him (on his return from sea) in his grave, than hatching mischief; upon which that mild man replied that he would do “whatever Montagu, Broghill (afterwards Earl of Orrery) and Monk would have him.”
We now quote constantly from Samuel Pepys, (Montagu’s kinsman and “Boswell”) who had been appointed his secretary, and he says: “Yesterday there were bonfires, and people calling aloud ‘God bless King Charles the Second.’” While the fleet was fitting out, Clarendon records that Montagu sent over his cousin to the King in Holland, to say that as soon as the ships were ready, he would be on board and prepared to receive and obey His Majesty’s commands. He also sent word what officers he trusted, which he suspected, etc., and desired to know privately if Charles had faith in Monk; this was no small inconvenience to the King, seeing he was debarred from communicating to either the trust he had in both, which might have facilitated their designs. Pepys accompanied his patron on board the “Nazeby,” which the youthful Admiral had already commanded with honour, and for which ship “my Lord” (for so Pepys prematurely designated his noble kinsman) “discovered in his discourse a great deal of love.” Again, “a messenger from London brought letters which will make May-day 1660, remembered as the happiest May-day in England for many years. In the House of Parliament a letter from the King had been read, during which time the Members remained uncovered, and an answer of thanks had been returned to His Majesty’s gracious communication, and better still a supply of £50,000 unanimously granted to him. Then the City of London made a declaration that they would have no other Government than King, Lords, and Commons, and ‘both Houses of Parliament did concur in the same.’ My Lord told me plainly that he thought the King would carry it, and that he did think himself happy that he was now at sea, as well for his own sake as that he thought he could do his country some service in keeping things quiet.” About this time, Montagu was elected M.P. for Dover. May 3rd, 1660, a letter and declaration were received on board the “Nazeby” from His Majesty, offering “grace” under certain conditions, and stating the royal wishes and requirements; upon which Admiral Montagu called a Council of War, and dictated to his secretary the form of a vote which was then read and passed unanimously. Afterwards Pepys accompanied “my Lord” to the quarter-deck, and there read the declaration to the ship’s company amid the loud cheers and “God bless King Charles!” of the seamen. After a merry dinner, Pepys took boat and visited every ship in the fleet to make known the royal message, and doubtless it was as he said, “a brave sight and pleasant withal” to be received with “respect and honour” and to bring “joy to all men.” On his return to the “Nazeby,” Montagu was much pleased to hear the fleet received the communication from the King with a transport of joy, and he showed his secretary two private letters that he had received from Charles, and the Duke of York, couched in the most friendly language.