Worcestershire; and who about the latter end of this year, (viz. Decemb. the 12th.) was Married to Mrs. Wallop a Hampshire Lady. A. C. 1709. January. Sir George On the 24th of January died Sir George Rook, one of the bravest and most experienc'd Sea Commanders Great Britain ever bred. He was born in Kent, of an His Life Ancient and Gentile Family, and having fometime and Cha ferv'd as a Reformado at Sea, he was made Lieutenant, racer. and afterwards a Captain, fome years before the Death of King Charles II ; in which laft Poft he continued in King James's Reign. Upon the Revolution he readily fell in with it; was fent with a Squadron to the Irish Coaft about the beginning of the year 1689, and contributed towards the Relief of Londonderry. In the beginning of the year 1691, Mr. Roak being now made Rear-Admiral, convoy'd King William twice to Holland. In 1692, he was, from Rear-Admiral of the Red, advanc'd to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue, in which Poft he had the largest share in destroying the French Fleet at la Hogue. About the middle of February 1692-3, he was Knighted, and foon after fent to Convoy the Streights Fleet, in which Service he was unfortunate; for having met with the French Fleet, he loft many Merchant-Men, and after a narrow escape got into Cork Harbour with his Squadron. Notwithstanding this misfortune, in February 1693-4, King William appointed him to be Vice-Admiral of the Red, and foon after Admiral of the Blue, and one of the Lord Commiffioners of the Admiralty. In May 1695, he Con voy'd the King to Holland, after which he was appointed to go Admiral into the Streights to relieve Admiral Ruffel, and return'd from thence in April 1656. In 1698 he was chofen Member of Parliament for the Town of Portsmouth. In the year 1699 a War breaking out in the North, Sir George Rook was fent into the Sound. with a Squadron of English and Duch Men of War, where behaving himself with great Conduct and Prudence, the Dane was foon brought to an Accommodation, and the Swede left at liberty to pursue his Re venge against the Muscovites and Poles. Upon the Queen's Acceffion to the Throne in 1702, Sir George was made Vice-Admiral, and Lieutenant of the Admifalty, Fleets, and Seas of England and Ireland; and foon after Commanded the Fleet in the Expedition againft Cadiz, which unhappily miscarried through a mifunderstanding between the Sea and Land Command. ers; fo that Sir George Rook's Reputation would have fuffer'd a little, but for the great Succefs he had afterwards at Vigo, where he deftroy'd the French Squadrons Bb 2 and A. C. 1709. January. and Spanish Galleons; and then brought great Riches into England. Upon his return home, and taking his Place in the Houfe of Commons, the Speaker, by their Orders return'd him the Thanks of the Houfe for his late eminent Service, to which Sir George return'd a very modest Answer. On November the 13th. he was fworn of the Privy Council, and in the year 1704, Convoy'd Charles III. the new King of Spain to Lisbon; from whence he Sail'd in May, with the Land-forces commanded by the Prince of Darmstadt. Their defign upon Barcelona mifcarried; but they attack'd the Important Town of Gibraltar with Succefs: And after this Important Conqueft, Sir George fought the French The Lady Fleet off of Malaga with dubious fortune, both ParLisburn's ties claiming the Victory. Not long after this, the Death. Low-Church Party gaining an Afcendent at Court, Sir The Lady George Rook, who was of another Kidney, was laid aConway's fide; upon which he betook himself to a retired Life, Death. for the most part in the Country. He was Thrice, The Lord Married; and by his fecond Lady, Mrs. Lutterel, left Lexing- one Son to inherit his Estate. ton made a In this Month died the Lady Lisburn, one of the Privy- Daughters and Coheirs of the Ingenious John Wilmot, Council Earl of Rochester, who was Married to John Vaughan ler,and Mr. Elq; promoted to the dignity of Lord Viscount LifSmith one burn in Ireland, by King William. of the Clerks extr. of the Coun cil. mas Bel On the 15th of the fame Month died the Lady Conway, Wife to Francis Conway Seymour, Lord Conway, and Eldeft furviving Son of the late Sir Edward Seymour, Baronet, by a Second Venter. This Lady was the Daughter of Laurence Earl of Rochester. On the 27th, Robert Lord Lexington was worn of Her Majefties Moft Honourable Privy-Council, and Mr. Smith, Son to the late Speaker of the Houle of Commons was admitted and fworn one of the Clerks exFebruary. traordinary of the Council. lot's Death. The Bi About this Time died Sir Thomas Bellot, a Member of Parliament for Newcastle under Line. Shop of Sa. rum's Lady dies. The D. of The fame Evening the Duke of Dover, was fworn Dover Third Secretary of State; his Grace the Duke of Arfworn 3d. gyle was worn one of Her Majesty's moft Honourable Secretary Privy-Council, and took his Place at the Board accordof State, ingly; and the old Seals of the Queen's-Bench and Comand the D. mon Pleas were broke in her Majesty's Prefence, and new of Argyle ones deliver'd to the Lord Chief Justice Holt, and the of the Lord Chief Justice Trevor. On the 3d. of FEBRUARY, died the Lord Bishop of Salisbury's Lady. Privy Council. About . 1709. About this time the Lord Marquis of Carmarthen A. C. receiv'd a Commiflion, conftituting him one of the Admirals and Commanders in chief of her Majefty's Fleet. Dr. Manningham was made Dean of Windsor, in February. the Room of Dr. Hefcard, Deceas'd: Mr. Clark Mini- The Marfter of St. James's Church, in the Room of the Bishop of Norwich; and Major Edward Tent is appointed Go- Carmar vernour of Carolina. quis of then made Dr. Man On the 11th. James Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, was Mar- Admiral; ried to the Lady Anne Tufton, Daughter to the Earl of Thanet. And Sir John Wolstenholm Baronet, Knight of the Shire for Middlefex, died. ningham Dean of Windior; Edward Earl of Ments, in the Kingdom of Ireland, died about the Mddle of this Month, in the 70th year and Major of his Age, and was fucceeded in Honour, and an E- Tent Goftate of near 7000 1. per Annam, by his Brother Captain Brabafon Chambers, lived at Notingham in Carolina. Fugland. vernor of The E. of Salisbury Marries. Death of ད And of the Countess of Bristol. On the 17th died the Countess Dowager of Bristol. On the 18th died Mr. George Meldrum, an eminent profeffor of Divinity in the Colledge of Edinburgh. He was educated at Aberdeen, where for iome years he was the E. of Minifter, and afterwards Rector of a Colledge; but Ments, was outed of his Miniftry by the Teft, which Oaths he refused to take. He Peaceably continued filent till King James's Toleration, when he Preach'd for fome time at Killouning, from whence he was chofen ModeMr. Melrator of the Presbytery of Irvine and Synod of Glasgow, drum's and afterwards Minifler of the City of Edinburgh, who thought no Perfon fo fit as he to fucceed the Learned and Pious Mr. George Campbell, Profeflor of their U niversity; in which Station no Man ever fhew'd more Learning, Prudence, and Temper, than Mr. Meldrum; who was besides a Person of universal and extenfive Charity. Death. March. On the 3d. of March, Sir Thomas Felton Baronet, Comptroller of Her Majefty's Houthold, died of the Sir ThoGout. He was fucceeded in his Place by Sir John Hol. mas Felland, Knight of the Shire for the County of Norfolk. ton's On the 7th of March died Ralph Montague Duke of Death. the fame Name; he was the fecond Son, but by the Sir John Death of his Elder Brother Edward, became the Eldert, Holland and the Heir of Edward Lord Montague, whole Father made Sir Edward Montague, Knight of the Honourable Or- Comptroder of the Bath, was promoted to the Dignity of Ba- ler of the ron Montague of Boughton, in the County of Nor. Houfhold. thampton, by Letters Patent, bearing Date the 29th of Duke of June 1621, in the 16th year of King James I. which MonEdward Lord Montague was fecond Surviving Son tague's and Death. Bb 3 A. C. and Heir to Sir Edward Montague of Boughton aforefaid 1709. Knight, the Son and Heir of Sir Edward Montague Knight, alfo of Boughton, Lord Chief Justice of the March. King's Bench, and Common Pleas, in the respective His Pedi- Reigns of Henry VIII. Edward VI. and of Queen Mary I. This Edward was the Son and Heir of Thomas gree. Montague of Hemington in Northamptonshire, Elq; the Son and Heir of Richard Montague, of Hauging Houghton in the faid County, Efq; Son and Heir of William Montague Efq, the Son and Heir of John Montague Efq; Son and Heir of Thomas Montague Efq; who was Son of Sir Simon de Montague of Hauging Houghton be foremention'd, by Ellen is Wife, Daughter and Heir of William de Houghton, of Houghton in the County of Northampton Efq; which Sir Simon was a Branch of the ancient Stock of the Montagues or Montacutes, Lords; fince Earls of Salisbury, and Lords Montacutes, who Married the Heir General of Ralph de Mount Hermen, fometime Earl of Glocefter and Hertford, and Lord Mountermer in the Reigns of Edward I. and Edward II. His Life. Mafter of the Horfe to the Queen. The Noble Lord, the Particulars of whofe Life we are entring upon, was born in or about the year 1637, when the Miseries of a Civil War were coming on a pace to Invade the Nation. His Father was a Cavalier, but acted with fo much Prudence, as not to involve himfelf in the Perils of the Times: Neither was it very pleafing to him, that his Son Edward and this Gentleman, fhould engage in any Employment at Court, after the Restoration in 1660; however, the Eldest ha ving for fome Time been Maiter of the Horse to the Queen, was turned out (they faid) for a fqueeze of the Hand; and afterwards going a Volunteer to Sea, in the fecond Dutch War, with his great Kinsman, Edward Earl of Sandwich, he was flain in the Fight of Southwold Bay, on May the 28th 1672: His Brother Ralph, upon his Difmiflion, fucceeded him in the Honourable Poft of Matter of the Horfe to the Queen; and, I think, continued in that Poft till the Earl of Feverfham had it in December 1679. This Gentleman had fo much Address, that he daily advanc'd in Favour at Court, and King Charles II. an admirable judge of Men, taking notice that his Genious fitted him for Great Things, pitch'd upon him in the Spring of the year 1669, to go his Ambaffador into France; which Character Mr. Montague Honour'd as much as he was diftinguifh'd by it. His Publick Entry in Paris was fo Magnificent, that it has fcarce ever been fince equalled; for he had Seventy-four Pages and Footmen in Rich Liveries, Twelve led Hories, with their Furniture; Twenty-four Gentlemen on Horle Horfeback, Eighteen English Noblemen, and Gentlemen of Quality that appeared with him; Four Rich Coaches, with Eight Horfes each, and Two Chariots with Six, made as fine and as coftly as Art and Workmen could contrive. And in these rid the English Noblemen and Gentlemen that Accompanied the Ambaffador; the Ambaffador himself Riding in the King of France's Coach of State. In this manner he was Conducted to his Audience of the King, who received him with all poffible Magnificence and several Marks of Distinction; and after the Ceremonial was over, Treated him with uncommon Refpect, He was entertain'd at Dinner Publickly by the Duke of Orleans, and treated in the moft Splendid and Magnificent manner at his Noble Seat of St. Cloud, where he had the Honour to fee those most exquisite Gardens beyond Comparison, the finest in all France; and he did him the Honour to Walk to the end of his whole Garden with nim, a Favour that Prince was not used to bestow on any, even of the Princes of the Blood. After this, he was entertain'd in particular at Versailles for a confiderable while, where he had all the Gardens at his Command, and the most extraordinary Fountains and Water-works were ordered to be Play'd always at his entrance. Here it was that his Grace formed the Ideas in his own Mind, both of Buildings and Gardening. During his ftay at Versailles, all the fecret Negotiations were carried on with the French King in the Ap partment of Monfieur De Louvoy, the King of France's Chief Minister, were the Embaffador often Dined, and where, under the Colour of that Civility, the Conferences where held, and to fome of which the Pope's Nuncio was admitted; which gave occafion afterward of great uneafinefs in England, and fome made Reflections, as if the Affair of the Popish Plot was here concerted. Whether there was any ground for that Suggeftion, this is certain that during Mr. Montague's Embaffy in France, the Princess Royal, Dutchels of Orleans, our King's Sifter, came over into England to Visit her Royal Brother; they had an Interview at Dover about the middle of May 1670, where our Hiftorians affirm the firft Draught was made of a League between the Two Crowns to ruin the Dutch. Be this as it will, the Lady after her Return to France, lived no longer than the 20th of June, and then died, with very violent Pro fumptions of being Poison'd, as appears by one of Mr. Montague's Three Letters, Printed fome years ago, a mong the Earl of Arlington's Letters. ᏴᏏ 4 It A. C. 1709. March. |