ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, Earl of Shaftsbury,

Son of Sir John Cooper, Bart. by Anne, daughter and fole heir of Sir Anthony Abley, was born 1621, at Winborne St. Giles, in Dorfetfhire, and before he was ten years of age, became entitled (by his father's death) to Scool. a year. He was educated at Oxford, ftudied the Law in Lincoln's Inn, and, by nineteen years old, had acquired an extraordinary knowledge of the laws and conftitution of his country. In 1640 he obtained a feat in Parliament.

When the Civil War commenced, he fided with the royal party, but afterwards fufpecting their fincerity towards him, left them, and went over to the Parliament, and in 1644 took the covenant, and was made a Colonel of a regiment of horse that he had raifed. The two following years he was chofen Sheriff for Norfolk and Wiltshire. In 1651 he was appointed one of the committee for reforming the laws, and two years after, made one of Cromwell's Council; but not approving his illegal proceedings, became one of his moft vigorous oppofers.Afterwards he was chofen one of the healing Parliament, and had a confiderable hand in bringing about the reftoration.

In 1660 he was fworn one of the Privy Council, next year created Baron Afley; foon after made Chancellor and under Treasurer of the Exchequer; and afterwards one of the commiffioners for executing the office of High Treasurer. In 1672 he was created Earl of Shaftefbury, and promoted to the office of Lord High Chancellor; filling it with great abilities and integrity: yet notwithstanding, the next year he was removed, when he joined the oppofition; and Bifhop Burnet fays, "That now he diftinguished himself more than ever." In 1676. he and others (for endeavouring to prove that the then Parliament ineffect was diffolved for having been prorogued above a year) were fent to the Tower; but foon released, excepting himself, as he would make no fubmiffion: thirteen months after he was released, when he managed the oppofition to the Earl of Danby's administration with great vigour and dexterity. In 1679, the King finding himself neceffitated to change all his old Privy Council, he was chofen prefident of the new one, but,. in fix months after, was removed. Afterwards he was one of the principal in promoting the Duke of York's Exclufion Bill, for which his enemies tried all they could to ruin him, and preferred a bill of high treafon against him; but it was thrown out by the grand jury, which occafioned great public rejoicings: after this attempt he thought himfelf not fafe, and retired to Holland, where he died 1683.

Bishop Burnet fays "he had an extravagant vanity in setting himself off; a wonderful faculty in fpeaking, mixing fo agreeably the facetious and ferious, and with all, had the art of governing parties, and making himself.

himself their head. As to religion, he was a Deift at beft, had the dotage of aftrology, and fancied that after death our fouls lived in ftars." This latter aflertion of the bishop's, relative to aftrology, is faid to have been only affected by the Earl when in company with him, to prevent his endeavours to wind out of him his political

intentions.

WILLIAM WENTWORTH, Earl of Strafford,

Only furviving fon of the first Earl, (beheaded in the reign of Charles I.) by his fecond wife Arabella, daughter of the Earl of Clare, was born 1626.

In his father's letter to him, the day before he was to fuffer, he says, "I trust the King will reflore you thofe honours and that fortune, which a distempered time hath deprived you of, together with the life of your father.” Accordingly he was reftored, about feven months after, the fame year, 1641.

After the Reftoration of Charles II. his father's attainder was reverf ed, and he made a Knight of the Garter, and, in 1674, a Privy Counfellor. After this, it appears, he lived retired; dying without iffue, 1695. He was twice married, firft to Henrietta Maria Stanly, daughter of the Earl Derby, beheaded 1551. His fecond, was Henrietta, daughte rof Frederick Charles Du Roy, Knight of the Elephant, and Generaliffimo to the King of Denmark.

JOHN HAY, Earl of Tweeddale,

Son of John, the ninth Lord Yefter, and first Earl of Tweeddale, (1646) by Jane his firft wife, daughter of the Earl of Dumfirmling: fuccceded his father 1654.

"He had been in Cromwell's Parliament, and had abjured the Royal Family, (which lay heavy on him)" however, at the Restoration, he, being a man of great parts and experience, was made of the Privy Council in Scotland, one of the Commiffioners of the Treafury, and afterwards, a Lord Extraordinary of the Seffion; and a Privy Counsellor in England. He was one of Duke Lauderdale's particular friends; but Lady Dyfart, his Dutchefs, occafioned fuch a difference between them, that he was removed from all public truft:" but, after the Duke's death, was again brought into council; and, in the reign of James II. was made one of the Lords of the Treafury, in which office he continued till the Revolution; when he was conftituted Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, and in 1694, created a Marquis. He died 1697.

"He was of a mild and obliging temper, and of exemplary life."