" It therefore happened on the 26th of August,
1667, as early as ten o'clock in the morning, Lord Clarendon
waited at Whitehall on the king, who presently, accompanied by
his brother, received him with characteristic graciousness.
Whereon the old man, acknowledging the monarch's courtesy, said
he "had no suit to make to him, nor the least thought to dispute
with him, or to divert him from the resolution he had taken; but
only to receive his determination from himself, and most humbly
to beseech him to let him know what fault he had committed, that
had drawn this severity upon him from his majesty."
In answer to this Charles said he must always acknowledge "he had
served him honestly and faithfully, and that he did believe never
king had a better servant; that he had taken this resolution for
his good and preservation, as well as for his own convenience and
security; that he was sorry the business had taken so much air,
and was so publicly spoken of, that he knew not how to change his
purpose." To these words of fair seeming the troubled chancellor
replied by doubting if the sudden dismissal of an old servant who
had served the crown full thirty years, without any suggestion of
crime, but rather with a declaration of innocence, would not call
his majesty's justice and good nature into question. He added
that men would not know how to serve him, when they should see it
was in the power of three or four persons who had never done him
any notable service to dispose him to ungracious acts.
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