LIFE AND DEATH O F JOHN Earl of Rochefter, WRITTEN BY GILBERT BURNET, D.D. BISHOP OF SALISBURY, WITH A SERMON, Preached at the FUNERAL of the faid EARL, By the Rev. ROBERT PARSONS, A. M. TO THIS EDITION IS PREFIXED An ACCOUNT of the LIFE and WRITINGS OF THE EARL OF ROCHESTER, By Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON. LONDON: Printed for W. LOWNDES, No. 77, Fleet-street, M, DCC, LXXXVII. The following Account of the Earl of ROCHESTER's Life and Writings is abftracted from Dr. JOHNSON's Preface to the Works of that Nobleman. OHN WILMOT, afterwards Earl of Ro JOHN chefter, the fon of Henry Earl of Rochefter, better known by the title of Lord Wilmot, so often mentioned in Clarendon's Hiftory, was born April 10, 1647, at Ditchley in Oxfordfhire. After a grammatical education at the fchool of Burford, he entered a nobleman. into Wadham College in 1659, only twelve years old; and in 1661, at fourteen, was, with Tome other perfons of high rank, made mafter of arts by Lord Clarendon in perfon. He travelled afterwards into France and Italy; and, at his return, devoted himself to the court. In 1665 he went to fea with Sandwich, and diftinguished himself at Bergen by uncommon intrepidity; and the next fummer served again on board Sir Edward Spragge, who in the heat of the engagement, having a meffage of reproof to send to one of his captains, could find no man ready to carry it but Wilmot, who in an open boat went and returned amidft the ftorm of shot.. |