dour of writing often and long. It fell out that when Mr. Dudley North first arrived at Smyrna, or soon after, the factory was served by one Broadgate as their chaplain, sent out, for that end, by the Turkey Company. He had been a fellow of St. John's college in Cambridge, and preferred to a living in Essex, where the gentleman, there residing, was so offended at his unfitness and ill carriage, that, to get rid of him, he made an interest, and palmed him upon the Turkey Company, and so he came to be sent to Smyrna. The young factors are commonly generous fellows, and stand much upon honour (in those parts at least, whatever they prove when they come home): they revere and gratify their pappas, as they call him, if he behave himself well, but, if otherwise, they lead him a life (as they say) like a dog. This person was a presbyterian bigot, and not without a flaw in his cranium. And he made account that he was to preside over boys, and to teach them religion and, to that end, had framed a catechism, and got it printed; and a bale of these, stitched in blue paper, went along with him, and were delivered out to all the factory; and he took particular notice of Mr. Dudley North, telling him that his brother Francis was his fellow collegiate and intimate friend, and, for his sake, he would be very kind to him. But the parson was guilty of so many barbarous impertinences (as may be found particularised in that gentleman's life) that the young factor wrote to his brother Francis, telling the various extravagances and follies committed by him there, and desiring to have an account of him and his character. His lordship soon wrote, and informed him that Broadgate was the laughing-stock of the college; and so made good payment in stories of him here. This letter was communicated about in the factory, and the parson understood how he came to be so derided as he was. Upon that, he goes to Mr. Dudley North, and desired to have his brother's letter, that he might sue him in England for taking away his reputation. The merchant would not do that; but told the parson, that, if he had it, it would do him no service, for he would prove that he had no reputation before the letter came, so could lose none by that: and then, turning over his copy-book of letters, he read to him his leading letter to his brother, in which were all the stories and terms of derision as could be, to make him contemptible. This was plain enough to the parson; and it was all he got by his attempt. This was one of those notable men that obliged the little fellow-commoner of St. John's college with opportunities of making ridiculous remarks. As, for instance, that he spent his time watching at his window; and if he saw strangers in the court, then he made his clock strike, that it Endear ment with Dr. John might be plain to them that a clock struck in his chamber. And, if many scholars were in the court, he went down on purpose to make them cap him. And the book, that lay on his table, had broad pieces in the leaves, which visitants, opening, might discover; and other such kind of vain follies, whereof the early observation might possibly help to make his lordship nauseate all kind of vanity, as he did for ever after. The loss of this good brother was, in some his brother measure, repaired by the frequent enjoyment of another, John North, who had also, for some years, been bred with him; but, being settled in another way of study in the university of Cambridge, they came not often together, but at friends houses in times of recess, and, sometimes, by recourse of the scholar to London. And their endearments increased continually, ending in a perfect and untainted love and friendship to each other of which more may be said in the life of this brother John, afterwards Dr. North. Solicitous about his health. About this time his lordship, notwithstanding his being called to the bar, followed his studies very close, and attended the courts at Westminster, and reported diligently; and if there were any famed cause to be argued and determined, in what court soever it was, he would be a present auditor and reporter of it; especially before Hales while he sat in the Common Pleas. And, obliging himself to that spider-kind of life which a young lawyer leads in his chamber, he began to contract certain splenetic reflections touching his health, always thinking some fever, consumption, or other disease, creeping upon him, and inclined much to physic for prevention. Once he repaired to Dr. Bokenham, of Bury, with a list of complaints. But the doctor could find no ground for any of them, nor to suspect him ill; but laughed at him, and sent him away. This correction assuaged the spleen a little ; but he was not cured till a deluge of business drowned all such kind of thoughts. But he had one symptom which often alarmed him, which was much spitting; but, in truth, it was a benefit of nature; for it was plain that a noxious phlegm discharged itself that way; for while his spitting continued, he was always well, but, if that stopped, he was as surely ill. He was all his life solicitous about his health, and fearful of getting cold, for which end he went thick clad, and wore a broad stomacher on his breast; and, commonly, a little leather cap, which sort was then called skullcaps; but those devolved to other uses I shall mention afterwards. crease of Soon after his being called to the bar, he began Great into feel himself in business, and, as a fresh young business. man of good character, had the favour of divers persons, that out of a good will went to him, and Grieved at the loss of some near relations. He was once asked if he took fees of such. "Yes," said he; "they come to do me a kindness; and what kindness have I if I refuse their money?" The attornies also were very civil to him, and brought him motions, which gave him opportunity of showing himself; and these obligations he remembered to the last, and returned them when it came to his turn to oblige with any just favour he could show and he never failed to do it. His acquaintance was so diffused through the whole relation and dependence of Sir Jeoffry Palmer, that he had them all entirely, and indeed, as well before as after he was called to the bar, he lived as one almost ingrafted in the family; and, not only his interest was greatly derived from thence, but his conversation was almost confined to them; and they were all so easy and friendly to each other, that they lived and conversed as if they had been literally of a family. His wheel of good fortune turned upon the favour of Mr. Attorney Palmer, whereon the crisis of his preferments in the law moved. But before I come to set forth the history of that, and enlarge farther upon his lordship's better fortunes, I will dispatch one or two of his most sensible griefs. The first was the loss of a sister, named Mary, his sister, who was married to Sir William Spring, in Suffolk, and died not long after the birth of her first child, and the child not long after her. He had a parti and her character. |