The life of Dr. George Abbot, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury / by the Rt. Hon. Arthur Onlsow, late speaker of the House of Commons ... a description of the hospital which he ... endowed in ... Guildford; correct copies of the charter and statutes of the same ... To which are added the lives of his ... brothers, Dr. R. Abbot ... and Sir M. Abbot.

Arthur Onslow

Date:: 1777

Credit: The life of Dr. George Abbot, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury / by the Rt. Hon. Arthur Onlsow, late speaker of the House of Commons ... a description of the hospital which he ... endowed in ... Guildford; correct copies of the charter and statutes of the same ... To which are added the lives of his ... brothers, Dr. R. Abbot ... and Sir M. Abbot. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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ry to ^ J Archbijhop of Canterbury, gave him ^ and it had been very happy for him if he had always followed thofe councils [k]. Towards [i] If he had always followed ihoje councils.] We have this very remarkable paftage from the Archbifhop’s own pen, in the difeourfe he wrote upon his difgrace, under the reign of King Charles, In that difeourfe he obferves, that it was one of King James’s maxims, to take no favourite but what was recommend¬ ed to him by his Queen, that if fhe afterwards complained of this Dear One, he might anfvver, it is long of yourfelf, for you were the party that commended him unto me. Our old mailer, fays the Archbifhop, took delight llrangelv in things of this nature. He fays that Queen Anne was gracioufiy plealed to give him more credit than ordinary, and therefore when others had follicitcd her in vain, he was applied to ; but for fome time her majefty would not liften to his perfuaftons, or think of re¬ commending Villiers, for which fhe often gave him thefe rea- foils. My Lord, you and the reft of your friends knovv not what you do, I know your mafter better than you all, for if this young man be once brought in, the fir ft perfons that he will plague muft be you that labour for him, yea, I fhall have my part alfo ; the King will teach him to defpife and hardly in¬ treat us all, that he may feem to be beholden to none but him- f'elf. Noble Queen (cries out the Archbifhop after reporting this fadt) how like aprophetefs did you fpeak ! The reft of the ftory being but ihort will appear beft in the Archbifhop’s own words, 4 In the end, fays he, upon importunity. Queen 4 Anne condefcended, and fo prefted it with the King, that he 4 aftented thereunto ; which was fo ftricken while the iron was 4 hot, that in the Queen’s bed-chamber, the King knighted 4 him with the rapier which the Prince did wear. And when the 4 King gave order to fwear him of the bed-chamber, Somerfet, 4 who was near, importuned the King with a meftage, that he 4 might only be fworn a Groom ; -but myfelf and others 4 that were at the door, fent to her majefty that fhe would per- 4 fedt her work, and caufe him to be fworn a Gentleman of the 4 chamber. There is a lord or two living that had a hand in 4 this atchievement; Idiminifh nothing of their praife for fo hap- 4 py a work, but I know my own part beft ; and on the word 4 of an honeft man, I have reported nothing but truth. George 4 went in with the King, but no fooner he got loofe, but 4 he came forth unto me in the privy-gallery, and there em-

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