felves to the populace in very indecent poftures. At last, as they grew warmer, Sedley stood forth naked, and harangued the populace in fuch profane language, that the publick indignation was awakened; the crowd attempted to force the door, and being repulfed, drove in the performers with ftones, and broke the windows of the house.

For this misdemeanour they were indicted, and Sedley was fined five hundred pounds: what was the fentence of the others is not known. Sedley employed Killigrew and another to procure a remiffion from the king; but, mark the friendship of the diffolute, they begged the fine for themselves, and

exacted it to the laft

groat.

Italy, and returned a little before the Reftoration. He was chofen into the firft parliament that was called, for Eaft Grinstead in Suffex, and foon became a favourite of Charles the Second; but undertook no publick employment, being too eager of the riotous and licentious pleasures which young men of high rank, who afpired to be thought wits, at that time imagined themfelves intitled to indulge.

One of thefe frolicks has, by the industry of Wood, come down to pofterity. Sackville, who was then Lord Buckhurst, with Sir Charles Sedley and Sir Thomas Ogle, got drunk at the Cock in Bow-street by Covent-garden, and, going into the balcony, exposed them

felves to the populace in very indecent poftures. At last, as they grew warmer, Sedley flood forth naked, and harangued the populace in fuch profane language, that the publick indignation was awakened; the crowd attempted to force the door, and being repulfed, drove in the performers with ftones, and broke the windows of the house.

For this misdemeanour they were indicted, and Sedley was fined five hundred pounds: what was the fentence of the others is not known. Sedley employed Killigrew and another to procure a remiffion from the king; but, mark the friendship of the diffolute, they begged the fine for themselves, and exacted it to the last groat.

In 1665, lord Buckhurst attended the

duke of York as a volunteer in the

Dutch war; and was in the battle of

June 3,

when eighteen great

Dutch fhips

were taken, and fourteen others deftroyed; and Opdam the admiral, who engaged the duke, was blown up befide him, with all his crew.

On the day before the battle, he is faid to have compofed the celebrated fong, To all you Ladies now at land, with equal tranquillity of mind and prompti tude of wit. Seldom any fplendid story is wholly true. I have heard from the late earl of Orrery, who was likely to have good hereditary intelligence, that lord Buckhurft had been a week employed upon it, and only retouched or finished

2

finished it on the memorable evening. But even this, whatever it may substract from his facility, leaves him his courage.

He was foon after made a gentleman of the bedchamber, and fent on fhort embaffies to France.

In 1674, the estate of his uncle James Cranfield, earl of Middlefex, came to him by its owner's death, and the title was conferred on him the year after. In 1677, he became, by the death of his father, earl of Dorset, and inherited the eftate of his family. yllorwa

* ;

In 1684, having buried his first wife,

of the family of Bagot, who left him

no child, he married a daughter of