66 The Life of William, Duke of Newcastle 



their lives in it, except the now Lord Widdrington, who was 

 resolved not to forsake my Lord). 



My Lord (who was so transported with the joy of returning 

 into his native country, that he regarded not the vessel) having 

 set sail from Rotterdam, was so becalmed, that he was six 

 days and six nights upon the water, during which time he 

 pleased himself with mirth, and passed his time away as well 

 as he could ; provisions he wanted not, having them in great 

 store and plenty. At last, being come so far that he was able 

 to discern the smoke of London, which he had not seen in a 

 long time, he merrily was pleased to desire one that was near 

 him, to jog and awake him out of his dream, for surely, said 

 he, I have been sixteen years asleep, and am not thoroughly 

 awake yet. My Lord lay that night at Greenwich, where his 

 supper seemed more savoury to him, than any meat he had 

 hitherto tasted ; and the noise of some scraping fiddlers he 

 thought the pleasantest harmony that ever he had heard. 



In the meantime my Lord's son, Henry, Lord Mansfield, 

 now Earl of Ogle, was gone to Dover with intention to wait 

 on his Majesty, and receive my Lord his father, with all joy 

 and duty, thinking he had been with his Majesty ; but when he 

 missed of his design, he was very much troubled, and more, 

 when his Majesty was pleased to tell him that my Lord had 

 set to sea, before his Majesty himself was gone out of Holland, 

 fearing my Lord had met with some misfortune in his journey, 

 because he had not heard of his landing. Wherefore he 

 immediately parted from Dover, to seek my Lord, whom at 

 last he found at Greenwich. With what joy they embraced 

 and saluted each other, my pen is too weak to express. 



But all this while, and after my Lord was gone from Antwerp, 

 I was left alone there with some of my servants ; for my 

 Lord being in Holland with his Majesty, declared in a letter 

 to me his intention of going for England, withal commanding 

 me to stay in that city, as a pawn for his debts, until he could 

 compass money to discharge them ; and to excuse him to the 

 magistrates of the said city for not taking his leave of them, 

 and paying his due thanks for their great civilities, which he 

 desired me to do in his behalf. And certainly my Lord's 

 affection to me was such, that it made him very industrious 

 in providing those means ; for it being uncertain what or 

 whether he should have anything of his estate, made it a 



