e engag'd in Play before any Conversation
was begun. Mr. Lock sate by as a spectator for some time. At least taking
out his Table-Book, he began to write something very busily: till being
observd by one of the Lords, and ask'd what he was meditating; My Lords
(sayd he) I am improving my self the best I can in your Company: for,
having impatiently wayted this Honour of being present at such a meeting of
the wisest Men and greatest Witts of the Age, I thought I could not do
better than to write your Conversation: and here I have it, in substance,
all that has pass'd for this hour or two. There was no need of Mr. Lock's
writing much of the Dialogue. The great men felt the ridicule, and took
pleasure in improving it. They quitted their Play, and fell into a
Conversation becoming them: and so passed the remainder of the Day.

"When my G^d Father, from being Chancellor of the Exchequer, was made High
Chancellor (w^{ch} was in the year 1672) he advanc'd Mr. Lock to the Place
of Secretary for the Clergy: and when my G^d Father quitted the Court and
began to be in Danger from it, Mr. Lock now shard with him in Dangers, as
before in Honours & Advantages. He entrusted him with his secretest
negotiations, and made use of his assistant Pen in matters that nearly
concerned the State, and were fitt to be made publick, to raise that spirit
in the Nation which was necessary against the prevailing Popish Party.

"It was for something of this kind that got air, and out of great
Tenderness to Mr. Lock that my Grandfather in the year 1674 sent him abroad
to travell: an Improvement w^{ch} my G^d father was gladd to add to those
he had allready given him. His Health servd as a very just Excuse: he being
consumptive as early in his Life as that was. So that having travelld thro'
France he went[2] to Montpelier and there stayd for some time. He returnd
again to my G^d Fathers in the year 1678, and remaind in his Family till
the year 1682: w^{ch} was the year that my G^d Father retird into Holland
and there dyed. Mr. Lock who was to have soon followd him thither, was not
prevented in the voyage, by this Death: but found it safest for him to
retire thither, and there lived (at our good Friend Mr. Furly's of
Rotterdam) till the happy Revolution of King William, w^{ch} restord him to
his native Country and to other Publick offices of greater Note, w^{ch} by
fresh Meritts he deserv'd: witness his then Publishd Books of Government,
Trade and Coin: by