GRANVILLE.

OF GEORGE GRANVILLE, or as

others write Greenville, or Grenville, afterwards lord Landfdown of Biddeford in the county of Devon, lefs is known than his name and rank might give reason to expect. He was born about 1667, the son of Bernard Greenville, who was entrusted by Monk with the most private tranfactions of the Restoration, and the grandfon of Sir Bevil Greenville, who died in the King's cause, at the battle of Landfdowne.

His early education was fuperintended by Sir William Ellis; and his progrefs was fuch, that before the age of twelve he was fent to Cambridge, where he pronounced a copy of his own verses to the princefs Mary d'Efté of Modena, then dutchess of York, when the visited the university.

At

At thea cceffion of king James, being now at eighteen, he again exerted his poetical powers, and addreffed the new monarch in three fhort pieces, of which the first is profane, and the two others fuch as a boy might be expected to produce; but he was commended by old Waller, who perhaps was pleased to find himself imitated, in fix lines, which, though they begin with nonfenfe and end with dulnefs, excited in the young author a rapture of acknowledgement, in numbers fuch as Waller's felf might use.

It was probably about this time that he wrote the poem to the earl of Peterborough, upon his accomplishment of the duke of York's marriage with the princefs of Modena, whofe charms appear to have gained a strong prevalence over his imagination, and upon whom nothing ever has been charged but imprudent piety, an intemperate and mifguided zeal for the propagation of popery.

However faithful Granville might have been to the King, or however enamoured of the Queen, he has left no reason for fuppofing that he approved either the artifices or

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the

the violence with which the King's religion was infinuated or obtruded. He endeavoured to be true at once to the King and to the Church.

Of this regulated loyalty he has tranfmitted to posterity a fufficient proof, in the letter which he wrote to his father about a month before the prince of Orange landed.

"Mar, near Doncafter, Oct. 6, 1688.

"To the honourable Mr. Barnard Granville, at the earl of Bathe's, St. James's.

"SIR,

"Your having no profpect of obtaining a "commiffion for me, can no way alter or "cool my defire at this important juncture 66 to venture my life, in fome manner or "other, for my King and my Country.

"I cannot bear living under the reproach "of lying obfcure and idle in a country re"tirement, when every man who has the "leaft fenfe of honour fhould be preparing "for the field.

"You may remember, Sir, with what re"luctance I fubmitted to your commands 66 upon Monmouth's rebellion, when no importunity could prevail with you to permit me to leave the Academy: I was too young "to be hazarded; but, give me leave to

fay, it is glorious at any age to die for "one's country, and the fooner the nobler "the facrifice.

"I am now older by three years. My "uncle Bathe was not fo old when he was "left among the flain at the battle of New

bury; nor you yourfelf, Sir, when you "made your efcape from your tutor's, to

"The fame caufe is now come round about

again. The King has been mifled; let "thofe who have milled him be anfwerable "for it. Nobody can deny but he is facred "in his own perfon, and it' is every honest "man's duty to defend it.

"You are pleafed to fay, it is yet doubt"ful if the Hollanders are rafh enough to "make fuch an attempt; but, be that as it

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