THE LIFE OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FRANCIS NORTH, BARON OF GUILFORD, LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL, UNDER WHEREIN ARE INSERTED THE CHARACTERS OF SIR MATTHEW HALE, SIR SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, AND OTHERS THE MOST EMINENT LAWYERS AND STATESMEN BY THE HON. ROGER NORTH. Unus oculatus testis præstat auritis decem. SECOND EDITION. VOL. I. LONDON: Printed for W. CLARKE and SONS, Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn. 1 TO THE RIGHT HON. FRANCIS, LORD NORTH AND GUILFORD, ONE OF THE LORDS OF THE BEDCHAMBER TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES. IT MY LORD, T is a piece of justice done to the memories of great and good men, who have been active in the service of their country, when their conduct and behaviour is set in a true light, and their characters cleared from all exceptions whatsoever, which may proceed either from ignorance of the truth, or party rage. And it must afford no less encouragement to the present age, to follow their steps, when they shall find it is not often that a man of worth appears upon the great stage of the world, but after he has finished the part he was to act, and made his exit, some one or other rises up, and undertakes to vindicate the character of his departed friend. The performance of this, my Lord, appears to have been one of the principal ends the honourable author had in view, when he composed the following sheets: For though truth in history, and the public good flowing from thence, had ever the greatest share in his inducements, whenever he set pen to paper; yet here |