aring Cross, we went in and drank a pint of
wine, and so parted, and thence home, where I found my wife and maid
a-washing. I staid up till the bell-man came by with his bell just under
my window as I was writing of this very line, and cried, "Past one of
the clock, and a cold, frosty, windy morning." I then went to bed, and
left my wife and the maid a-washing still.
17th. Early I went to Mr. Crew's, and having given Mr. Edward money
to give the servants, I took him into the coach that waited for us and
carried him to my house, where the coach waited for me while I and the
child went to Westminster Hall, and bought him some pictures. In the
Hall I met Mr. Woodfine, and took him to Will's and drank with him.
Thence the child and I to the coach, where my wife was ready, and so
we went towards Twickenham. In our way, at Kensington we understood how
that my Lord Chesterfield had killed another gentleman about half an
hour before, and was fled.
[Philip Stanhope, second Earl of Chesterfield, ob. 1713, act. suae
80. We learn, from the memoir prefixed to his "Printed
Correspondence," that he fought three duels, disarming and wounding
his first and second antagonists, and killing the third. The name
of the unfortunate gentleman who fell on this occasion was Woolly.
Lord Chesterfield, absconding, went to Breda, where he obtained the
royal pardon from Charles II. He acted a busy part in the eventful
times in which he lived, and was remarkable for his steady adherence
to the Stuarts. Lord Chesterfield's letter to Charles II., and the
King's answer granting the royal pardon, occur in the Correspondence
published by General Sir John Murray, in 1829.
"Jan. 17th, 1659. The Earl of Chesterfield and Dr. Woolly's son of
Hammersmith, had a quarrel about a mare of eighteen pounds price;
the quarrel would not be reconciled, insomuch that a challenge
passed between them. They fought a duel on the backside of Mr.
Colby's house at Kensington, where the Earl and he had several
passes. The Earl wounded him in two places, and would fain have
then ended, but the stubbornness and pride of heart of Mr. Woolly
would not give over, and the next pass [he] was killed on the spot.
The Earl fled to Chelsea, and there took water and escaped. The
jury found it chance-medley."--Rugge's "Diurnal," Addit MSS.,
British Museum.--B.]
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