of Clogher is landing, or landed, in England; and I
hope to see him in a few days. I was to see Mrs. Bradley(5) on Sunday
night. Her youngest son is married to somebody worth nothing, and her
daughter was forced to leave Lady Giffard, because she was striking up
an intrigue with a footman, who played well upon the flute. This is the
mother's account of it. Yesterday the old Bishop of Worcester,(6) who
pretends to be a prophet, went to the Queen, by appointment, to prove
to Her Majesty, out of Daniel and the Revelations, that four years hence
there would be a war of religion; that the King of France would be
a Protestant, and fight on their side; that the Popedom would be
destroyed, etc.; and declared that he would be content to give up his
bishopric if it were not true. Lord Treasurer, who told it me, was by,
and some others; and I am told Lord Treasurer confounded him sadly in
his own learning, which made the old fool very quarrelsome. He is near
ninety years old. Old Bradley is fat and lusty, and has lost his palsy.
Have you seen Toland's Invitation to Dismal?(7) How do you like it? But
it is an imitation of Horace, and perhaps you don't understand Horace.
Here has been a great sweep of employments, and we expect still more
removals. The Court seems resolved to make thorough work. Mr. Hill
intended to set out to-morrow for Dunkirk, of which he is appointed
Governor; but he tells me to-day that he cannot go till Thursday or
Friday. I wish it were over. Mr. Secretary tells me he is (in) no fear
at all that France will play tricks with us. If we have Dunkirk once,
all is safe. We rail now all against the Dutch, who, indeed, have acted
like knaves, fools, and madmen. Mr. Secretary is soon to be made a
viscount. He desired I would draw the preamble of his patent; but
I excused myself from a work that might lose me a great deal of
reputation, and get me very little. We would fain have the Court make
him an earl, but it would not be; and therefore he will not take the
title of Bullenbrook,(8) which is lately extinct in the elder branch of
his family. I have advised him to be called Lord Pomfret; but he thinks
that title is already in some other family;(9) and, besides, he objects
that it is in Yorkshire, where he has no estate; but there is nothing in
that, and I love Pomfret. Don't you love Pomfret? Why? 'Tis in all our
histories; they are full of Pomfret Castle. But what's all this to you?
You don't care for this. Is Goody