Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
Historic%20Yorkshire
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152<br />
DEATH OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.<br />
be buried at Helmsley, wherehis body is to remainuntil<br />
further orders.<br />
" Beingthenearestkinsmanuponthe place,Ihave taken<br />
the liberty to give His Majesty an account of his death,<br />
and have sent his George and blue ribbon to be disposed<br />
of as His Majesty shall think fit. Ihave addressed it,<br />
under cover, to my Lord President, to whomIbeg you<br />
would carry the bearer the minute he arrives.<br />
" Ihave given orders that nothing shall be embezzled,<br />
and for that reason, as soon as myLord died,Icalled to<br />
see his strong box,but before Mr Brian Fairfax and Mr.<br />
Gibson. Ifound nothingof moment init,but some loose<br />
letters of no concern; but, such as they are,Ihave<br />
ordered them to be lockedup, and delivered to my Lady<br />
Duchess; as also the smallplateand linenhe hadIhave<br />
committed to the care of Lord Fairfax."<br />
This full account, which gives moreparticulars concerning<br />
the last moments inlife of the Duke of Buckingham<br />
than could be obtained from any other source, first<br />
appeared January 3rd, 1784, in The Whitehall Evening<br />
Post.<br />
Familiar to all, to whom anythingofGeorge Villiers is<br />
known, are the following lines of Pope, which, however,<br />
areunduly exaggerated: —<br />
In the worst inn's worst room,withmat half hung,<br />
The floors of plaster, and the walls ofdung,<br />
On once a flock bed, but repair'd withstraw,<br />
With tape-tied curtains never meant to draw,<br />
The George and Garter dangling from the bed,<br />
Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red,<br />
Great Villiers lies — alas ! how changed from him!<br />
That life ofpleasure,and that soul of whimI<br />
Gallant and gay in Cliveden's proud alcove,<br />
The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love;<br />
Or just as gay at council, in a ring<br />
Of mimic Statesmen and their merryking.<br />
No wit to flatter left of all his store,<br />
No fool to laugh at, whichhe valued more;<br />
There, victor ofhis health, of fortune, friends,<br />
And fame, this Lordofuseless thousands ends.