The Diary Of John Evelyn Vol-2

J673 JOHN EVELYN

15th August, 1673. Came to visit me my Lord Chan-
cellor, the Earl of Shaftesbury.

18th August, 1673. My Lord Clifford, being about this
time returned from Tunbridge, and preparing for Dev-
onshire, I went to take my leave of him at Wallingford
House; he was packing up pictures, most of which were
of hunting wild beasts and vast pieces of bull-baiting,
bear-baiting, etc. I found him in his study, and restored
to him several papers of state, and others of importance,
which he had furnished me with, on engaging me to
write the <c History of the Holland War," with other pri-
vate letters of his acknowledgments to my Lord Arling-
ton, who from a private gentleman of a very noble
family, but inconsiderable fortune, had advanced him
from almost nothing. The first thing was his being in
Parliament, then knighted, then made one of the Com-
missioners of sick and wounded, on which occasion we
sat long together; then, on the death of Hugh Pollard,
he was made Comptroller of the Household and Privy
Councillor, yet still my brother Commissioner; after the
death of Lord Fitz-Harding, Treasurer of the Household,
he, by letters to Lord Arlington, which that Lord showed
me, begged of his Lordship to obtain it for him as the
very height of his ambition. These were written with
such submissions and professions of his patronage, as I
had never seen any more acknowledging. The Earl of
Southampton then dying, he was made one of the Com-
missioners of the Treasury. His Majesty inclining to put
it into one hand, my Lord Clifford, under pretense of
making all his interest for his patron, my Lord Arling-
ton, cut the grass under his feet, and procured it for
himself, assuring the King that Lord Arlington did not
desire it. Indeed, my Lord Arlington protested to me
that his confidence in Lord Clifford made him so remiss
and his affection to him was so particular, that he was
absolutely minded to devolve it on Lord Cliiford, all the
world knowing how he himself affected ea^e and quiet,
now growing into years, yet little thinking of this go-by.
This wa& the great ingratitude Lord Clifford showed,
keeping my Lord Arlington in ignorance, continually
assuring him he was pursuing his interest, which was
the Duke's into whose great favor Lord Clifford was
now gotten; but which certainly cost him the lossal ora-ially medals, books, plants, andd for the bill, of which