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Show 278 ATROCIOUS J GDG ES. LA. n. 1670. generally equal to them before a jury, and he rapidly trod upon their heels. lie anxiously asked himself how he was to climb to high office. He had started with the disaffected party, and they had been of essential usc to hitn ; but though they were growing in strength, no chance existed of their being able to make attorney generals, chief justice ... , or chancellors. At the smne time he did not like yet to break \\·ith tho~e who might still serve him- particularly in obtaining the r ecordership, which he coveted as a stepping stone to sotnething better. He resolved so to manage as to be a favorite of both parties till he couhl devote hi1nself entirely, and exclusively, and openly to the one which should be don1inant; and he again succeeded. Fron1 his well-known influence in the city he found no difficulty in 1uaking the acquaintance of \Vill Chiffinch, ''the trusty page of the back stairs," who, be:::;ides other employments of a still more confidential· nature, wu:::; intrusted by Charles II. to get at the .:ccrets of all men of any consequence in every department of life. " rfhis 1\lr. CbifTmch," I ays Roger North, " was a true secretary a:; 'vell as page, for he had a lodging at the bade stairs, which n1ight hare been properly termed 'the Spy Office,' where the king spoke with particular persons about intrigues of aH kinds ; and all little informers, projectors, &c., were carried to Chiffinch's lodging. lie was a most impetuous drinker, and in that capacity an admirable spy; for he let none part with hi1n sober, if it were possible to get them drunk, and his great artifice was pushi~g idolatrous healths of his good master, and being always lll ha 'te; j'or the king is coming; which was his word. Being an IIcrcules well breathed at 1he sport himself, he commonly A. D. 1 G7R.) had the better, and so fished out many secret , and eli con•red men's characters, w b ich the king could never have ol)taineJ the knowledge of by auy other n1eans. It is likely that J effreys, being a pretender to n1ain feats with the citizen._, 1night forward him elf, and be entertained by vVill Chiffinch, and that which at first wa 1nere spying turn to acquaintance, jf not friendship, such a i. apt to grow up between immense drinkers, and fro1n thence might 'pring recommendations of him to the king, a~ the mo t u "'eful 1nan that could be found to serve his n1ajesty in London." Thus, while l\Ir. Com1non Se1:jeant was caballing in the city with Lord Shaftesbury, who bade taoli. bed himself in Aldersgate Street, and talked of bec01ning lord mayor, he had secretly got a footing at court, and by a, surances of future service$ disposed the governn1ent to as ist him in aH hi job . IIi.3 opposition fri end::; were a little tartled by hearing that l1e bad been 1nacle solicitor to the Dnke of York; but he assuretl them that thi. was merely a professional en1ployrnent, unconnected with politics, which, according Lo professional etiquett e, he could not decline; and when he was knighted as a mark of royal faYor, with which he wa, I illy enough to be nnlCh tickled, he said that he was oblig d reluctantly to ubtnit to the degradation ::t" a consequenec of hi~ employment. By some 1ni 'Chance, -which is not explained, he mi:;sed the office of recorder on the yacancy occasioned by the r esignation of Sir John Ilowel, who :-:o outraged pu olic deeency on the trial of Penn and l\lead; but Sir 1Villi~un Dolbein, the successful candidate beincr made a J. uucre on the 22d of Octo- ' 0 0 her, 1678, Jeffrey:::, was then elected his ;::,ucce~sor. Upon this occasion there were three other candidates; but he was ::,O warmly su pp01·tecl by both partie:" in politic~, that thry all |