Charles II. and Lord R.’s Daughter.—­Earl of Ranelagh.—­Since I inquired in your columns (No. 25. p. 399.) who was the lady mentioned in a passage of Henry Sidney’s Diary, edited by Mr. Blencowe, as Lord R.’s daughter, and a new mistress of Charles II., who in March 1680 brought Monmouth to the King for reconciliation, I have, by Mr. Blencowe’s kindness, seen the original Diary, which is in the possession of the Earl of Chichester.  The name of the nobleman is there abbreviated:  the letters appear to be Rane., and it is probably Lord Ranelagh who is intended.  I do not remember any other notice of this amour of Charles II., and should be glad to be referred to any other information on the subject.  Charles II.’s mistresses are political characters; and in this notice of Lord R.’s daughter, we find her meddling in state affairs.

I do not know whether this lady, if indeed a daughter of a Lord Ranelagh, would be the daughter or sister of the Lord Ranelagh living in 1680, who was the first Earl of Ranelagh and third Viscount, and who is described by Burnet as a very able and very dissolute man, and a great favourite of Charles II. (Hist. of his own Time, i. 462., ii. 99., ed. 1823); and who, having held the office of Vice-Treasurer in Ireland during three reigns, was turned out of it in disgrace in 1703.  He died in 1711, leaving no son, but three daughters, one of whom was unmarried; he was the last, as well as first, Earl of Ranelagh.  The elder title of Viscount went to a cousin, and still exists.

CH.

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MISCELLANIES.

Dr. Sclater’s Works.—­Books written by W. Sclater, D.D., omitted in Wood’s Ath.  Oxon. edit.  Bliss. vol. iii. col. 228.:—­

“A Threefold Preseruatiue against three dangerous diseases of these latter times:—­

“1.  Non-proficiency in Grace.

“2.  Fals-hearted Hypocrisie.

“3.  Back-sliding in Religion.

“Prescribed in a Sermon at S. Paul’s Crosse in London, September 17, 1609.  London. 1610.” 4to.  Ded. to “Master Iohn Colles, Esquire,” from which it seems that Sclater had been presented to his living by the father of this gentleman.  The Ser. is on Heb. vi. 4-6.

“A Sermon preached at the last generall Assise holden for the County of Somerset at Taunton.  London, 1616.” 8vo.  On Ps. lxxxii. 6, 7.  Ded. to “John Colles, Esq., High Sheriffe of Sommerset.”

“Three Sermons preached by William Sclater, Doctor of Diuinity, and Minister of the Word of God at Pitmister [sic] in Sommersetshire.  Now published by his Sonne of King’s Colledge in Cambridge.  London, 1629.” 4to.  On 1 Pet. ii. 11., 2 Kings, ix. 31., and Heb. ix. 27, 28.  The last is a funeral Sermon for John Colles, Esq., preached in 1607.

JOHN J. DREDGE.

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