Gilbert Burnet (1643-1715)

Bishop Burnet's absence of mind is well known. Dining with the Duchess of Marlborough, after her husband's disgrace, he compared this great general to Belisarius.

`But,' said the Duchess eagerly, `how came it that such a man was so miserable, and universally deserted?'
`Oh, madam,', exclaimed the distrait prelate, `he had such a brimstone of a wife!'

From John Pinkerton, Walpoliana (2nd edn., n.d.), i. 133.

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