Notes and Queries, Number 25, April 20, 1850 by Various
page 18 of 65 (27%)
page 18 of 65 (27%)
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Edinburgh Journal_, in No. 13., furnishes the strongest evidence that
can be adduced in support of the opinion, that the book in the possession of Dr. Anster is the one found on the Duke of Monmouth when captured, after his defeat at Sedgemoor; and, if so, it is impossible to admit the hypothesis, because a portion of the contents of the real book has been given to the world and contains matter far too important to have been passed over by Dr. Anster, had it existed in his volume. In the 6th edition of Dr. Welwood's _Memoirs of the most material Transactions in England for the last Hundred Years preceding the Revolution in 1688_, printed for "Tim. Goodwin, at the Queen's Head, against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleet Street, 1718," the following passage is to be found at p. 147.:-- "But of the most things above mentioned there is an infallible proof extant under Monmouth's own hand, in a little pocket-book which was taken with him and delivered to King James; which by an accident, as needless to mention here, I have leave to copy and did {398} it in part. A great many dark passages there are in it, and some clear enough that shall be eternally buried for me: and perhaps it had been for King James's honour to have committed them to the flames, as Julius Cæsar is said to have done on a like occasion. All the use that shall be made of it is, to give in the Appendix some few passages out of it that refer to this subject, and confirm what has been above related." In the Appendix the following extracts are given from the Duke's book:-- "_October_ 13. L. came to me at eleven at night from 29, told me 29 could never be brought to believe I knew anything of that part of the plot that concern'd _Rye House_; but as things went |
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