In the first parliament fummoned by Charles the Second (March 8, 1661), Waller fat for Haftings in Suffex, and served for different places in all the parliaments of that reign. In a time when fancy and gaiety were the most powerful recommendations to regard, it is not likely that Waller was forgotten. He paffed his time in the company that was highest, both in rank and wit, from which even his obftinate sobriety did not exclude him. Though he drank water, he was enabled by his fertility of mind to heighten the mirth of Bacchanalian affemblies ; and Mr. Saville faid, that "no man in England "should keep him company without drink"ing but Ned Waller."

The praise given him by St. Evremond is a proof of his reputation; for it was only by his reputation that he could be known, as a writer, to a man who, though he lived a great part of a long life upon an English penfion, never condefcended to understand the language of the nation that maintained him.

In

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In parliament," he was," fays Burnet, "the delight of the houfe, and though old

faid the livelieft things of any among "them." This, however, is faid in his account of the year feventy-five, when Waller was only feventy. His name as a fpeaker occurs often in Grey's Collections; but I have found no extracts that can be more quoted as exhibiting fallies of gaiety than cogency of argument.

He was of fuch confideration, that his remarks were circulated and recorded. When the duke of York's influence was high, both in Scotland and England, it drew, fays Bur net, a lively reflection from Waller the celebrated wit. "He faid, the house of com"mons had refolved that the duke fhould "not reign after the king's death; but the

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king, in oppofition to them, had refolved "that he should reign even in his life." If there appear no extraordinary liveliness in this remark, yet its reception proves the speaker to have been a celebrated wit, to have had

a name

a name which the men of wit were proud of mentioning..

He did not fuffer his reputation to die gradually away, which may eafily happen in a long life, but renewed his claim to poetical diftinction from time to time, as cccafions were offered, either by publick events or private incidents; and, contenting himfelf with the influence of his muse, or loving quiet better than influence, he never acceptoffice of magiftracy.

ed

any

He was not, however, without fome attention to his fortune; for he asked from the King (in 1665) the provostship of Eaton College, and obtained it; but Clarendon refused to put the feal to the grant, alleging that it could be held only by a clergyman. It is known that Sir Henry Wotton qualified himself for it by Deacon's orders.

To this oppofition, the Biographia imputes the violence and acrimony with which Waller joined Buckingham's faction in the profecution of Clarendon. The motive was illiberal and difhoneft, and fhewed that more VOL. I. Bb

than

than fixty years had not been able to teach him morality. His accufation is fuch as conscience can hardly be supposed to dictate without the help of malice. "We were to "be governed by janizaries instead of par"liaments, and are in danger from a worfe "plot than that of the fifth of November; "then, if the Lords and commons had been deftroyed, there had been a fucceffion; but "here both had been deftroyed for ever." This is the language of a man who is glad of an opportunity to rail, and ready to facrifice truth to interest at one time, and to anger at another.

A

year after the Chancellor's banifhment, another vacancy gave him encouragement for another petition, which the King referred to the council, who, after hearing the queftion argued by lawyers for three days, determined that the office could be held only by a clergyman, according to the act of uniformity, fince the provofts had always received inftitution, as for a parfonage, from the bishops of Lincoln. The King then faid, he could not break the law which he had made; and Dr. Zachary Cradock, famous for a fingle fermon,

fermon, at most for two fermons, was chofen by the Fellows.

That he asked any thing else is not known ; it is certain that he obtained nothing, though he continued obfequious to the court through the reft of Charles's reign.

At the acceffion of King James (in 1685) he was chofen for parliament, being then fourscore, at Saltafh in Cornwall; and wrote a Prefage of the Downfall of the Turkish Empire, which he prefented to the King on his birthday. It is remarked, by his commentator Fenton, that in reading Taffo he had early imbibed a veneration for the heroes, of the Holy War, and a zealous enmity to the Turks, which never left him. James, however, having soon after begun what he thought a holy war at home, made hafte to put all molestation of the Turks out of his power.

James treated him with kindness and familiarity, of which inftances are given by the writer of his Life. One day, taking him into the closet, the King afked him how he liked one of the pictures : My eyes," faid Bb2

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Waller,