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none at all, I mean Deifm. And this uncommon opinion he owed more to the liveliness of his parts, and careleffness of his temper, than either to reading or much confideration; for, his quickness of apprehenfion at firft view could difcern thro' the feveral cheats of pious pretences; and his natural laziness confirm'd him in an equal mistrust of them all, for fear he should be troubled with examining which Religion was best.

IF in his early travels, and late admini. ftration, he feem'd a little biafs'd to one fort of Religion; the firft is only to be imputed to a certain cafinefs of temper, and a complaisance for that company he was then forced to keep: and the last was no more than his being tired (which he foon was in any difficulty) with those bold oppositions in Parliament; which made him almost throw himself into the arms of a Roman Catholick party, fo remarkable in England for their loyalty, who embraced him gladly, and lull'd him afleep with thofe enchanting fongs of abfolute fovereignty, which the best and wifeft of Princes are often unable to refift.

AND tho' he engaged himself on that fide more fully at a time, when 'tis in vain,

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and too late to diffemble; we ought less to wonder at it, than to confider that our very judgments are apt to grow in time as partial as our affections: And thus by accident only, he became of their opinion in his weakness, who had fo much endeavoured always to contribute to his power.

He loved 'eafe and quiet, to which his unnecessary wars are fo far from being a contradiction, that they are rather a proof of it; fince they were made chiefly to comply with those perfons, whofe diffatisfaction would have proved more uneafy to one of his humour, than all that distant noise of cannon, which he would often liften to with Befides, the a great deal of tranquillity. great and almoft only pleasure of mind he appeared addicted to, was fhipping and feaaffairs; which feemed to be fo much his talent both for knowledge, as well as inclination, that a war of that kind was rather an entertainment, than any disturbance to his thoughts.

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IF he did not go himself at the head of fo magnificent a fleet, 'tis only to be imputed to that eagerness of military glory in his Brother; who, under the fhew of a decent care for preferving the Royal Perfon

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from danger, ingrofs'd all that fort of honour to himself; with as much jealousy of any other's interpofing in it, as a King of another temper would have had of his, tho' without reafon; for, never Heir behaved himself more fubmiffively than the Duke of YORK, to the last minute of his life. 'Tis certain, no Prince was ever more fitted by nature for his country's intereft than he was, in all his maritime inclinations; which might have proved of fufficient advantage to this nation, if he had been as careful in depreffing all fuch improvements in France, as of advancing and encouraging our own. it seems he wanted jealoufy in all his inclinations, which leads us to confider him in his pleasures.

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WHERE he was rather abandoned than luxurious, and like our female Libertines, apter to be debauch'd for the fatisfaction of others, than to feck with choice where most to please himself. I am of opinion alfo, that in his latter times there was as much of laziness, as of love, in all thofe hours he paffed among his miftreffes; who, after all, ferved only to fill up his Seraglio; while a bewitching kind of pleasure called Sauntring, and talking without any conftraint, was the true Sultana Queen he delighted in.

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He was furely inclined to Juftice, for nothing else would have retained him fo faft to the fucceffion of a Brother, againft à Son he was fo fond of, and the humour of a party he so much fear'd. I am willing also to impute to his juftice, whatever seems in fome measure to contradict the general opinion of his clemency; as his suffering always the rigour of the Law to proceed not only against all highway-men, but also several others; in whofe cafes the Lawyers (according to their wonted cuftom) had used sometimes a great deal of hardship and feverity.

HIS Understanding was quick and lively in little things, and fometimes would foar high enough in great ones; but unable to keep it up, with any long attention or application. Witty in all forts of converfation, and telling a story fo well, that not out of flattery, but for the pleasure of hearing it, we used to seem ignorant of what he had repeated to us ten times before, as a good comedy will bear the being feen often.

OF a wonderful mixture; lofing all his time, and till of late, fetting his whole heart on the Fair Sex; yet neither angry with rivals, nor in the leaft nice as to the being

beloved and while he facrificed all things to his mistresses, he would use to grudge, and be uneafy at their lofing a little of it again at play, tho' never so neceffary for their diverfion: Nor would he venture five pounds at Tennis to those fervants, who might obtain as many thousands, either before he came thither, or as foon as he left off.

NOT false to his word, but full of diffimulation, and very adroit at it; yet no man easier to be imposed on: for his great dexterity was in cozening himself, by gaining a little one way, while it coft him ten times as much another; and by careffing those perfons moft, who had deluded him the oft'neft, and yet the quickest in the world at 'spying fuch a ridicule in another.

FAMILIAR, cafy, and good-natur'd; but for great offences fevere, and inflexible; alfo in one week's abfence, quite forgetting those fervants, to whofe faces he could hardly deny any thing.

IN the midst of all his remiffness, so industrious and indefatigable on fome particu lar occafions, that no man would either toil longer, or be able to manage it better.

HE was fo liberal, as to ruin his affairs by it; for Want in a King of England,

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