P. 590. Burnet.  Sterne, Archbishop of York, died in the 86th year of his age:  He was a sour ill-tempered man, and minded chiefly the enriching his family.—­Swift.  Yet thought author of “The Whole Duty of Man.”

P. 591. Burnet says of Bishop Mew:—­Though he knew very little of divinity, or of any other learning, and was weak to a childish degree, yet obsequiousness and zeal raised him through several steps to this great see [Bath and Wells].—­Swift.  This character is true.

P. 595. Burnet.  And now the tables were turned—­Swift. Style of a gamester.

P. 596. Burnet, being appointed to preach the sermon on the Gunpowder Plot, (1684,) at the Rolls Chapel:—­I chose for my text these words:  “Save me from the lion’s mouth, thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.”  I made no reflection in my thoughts on the lion and unicorn, as being the two supporters of the King’s scutcheon.—­Swift.  I doubt that.

P. 600. Burnet relates a story of a quarrel between three gentlemen, one of whom was killed.  He says that one of the others:—­was prevailed on to confess the indictment, and to let sentence pass on him for murder; a pardon being promised him if he should do so. [After this he had to pay L16,000 for his pardon.]—­Swift.  The story is wrong told.

P. 604. Burnet mentions a scheme to raise dissensions between Charles II. and the Duke of York, and adds:—­Mr. May of the privy purse told me, that he was told there was a design to break out, with which he himself would be well pleased.—­Swift.  The bishop told me this with many more particulars.

P. 609. Burnet, speaking of the suspicion of Charles II. being poisoned, says that:—­Lower and Needham, two famous physicians, ... [noticed some] blue spots on the outside of the stomach.  Needham called twice to have it opened:  but the surgeons seemed not to hear him.  And when he moved it the second time, he, as he told me, heard Lower say to one that stood next him, “Needham will undo us, calling thus to have the stomach opened, for he may see they will not do it.” ...  Le Fevre, a French physician, told me, he saw a blackness in the shoulder; Upon which he made an incision, and saw it was all mortified.  Short, another physician, who was a Papist, but after a form of his own, did very much suspect foul dealing.—­Swift.  One physician told me this from Short himself.

P. 611. Burnet, describing the behaviour of Charles II. when in hiding after the battle of Worcester, says:—­Under all the apprehensions he had then upon him, he shewed a temper so careless, and so much turned to levity, that he was then diverting himself with little household sports, in as unconcerned a manner, as if he had made no loss, and had been in no danger at all.—­Swift. This might admit a more favourable turn.