has not only given his opinion in their favour, but elegantly translated
them, nay, thought them worthy an imitation, perhaps exceeding the
original. If this behaviour of my lord's is liable to different
constructions, let good nature, and good manners, incline us to bestow
the most favourable thereon.

After his fatigues at sea, during the remainder of the reign of Charles
the IId, he continued to live in honourable leisure. He was of the
bed-chamber to the king, and possessed not only his master's favour, but
in a great degree his familiarity, never leaving the court but when he
was sent to that of France, upon some short commission, and embassies of
compliment; as if the king designed to rival the French in the
article of politeness, who had long claimed a superiority in that
accomplishment, by shewing them that one of the most finished gentlemen
in Europe was his subject; and that he understood his worth so well,
as not to suffer him to be long out of his presence. Among other
commissions he was sent in the year 1669, to compliment the French king
on his arrival at Dunkirk, in return of the compliment of that monarch,
by the duchess of Orleans, then in England.

Being possessed of the estate of his uncle the earl of Middlesex, who
died in the year 1674, he was created earl of that county, and baron of
Cranfield, by letters patent, dated the fourth of April, 1675. 27 C. II;
and in August 1677 succeeded his father as earl of Dorset; as also, in
the post of lord lieutenant of the county of Sussex, having been joined
in the commission with him in 1670[2]. Also the 20th of February 1684 he
was made custos rotulorum for that county.

Having buried his first lady, Elizabeth, daughter of Harvey Bagot, of
Whitehall in the county of Warwick, Esq; widow of Charles Berkley, earl