having a good proportion of Learning, and a ready Wit to apply it, and enlarge upon it: of a pleasant and facetious humour, and a difpofition affable, generous, and magnificent. He was mafter of a great Fortune from his Ancestours, and had a great addition by his Wife, another Daughter, and Heir of the Earl of Shrewsbury, which he enjoy'd during his life, the outliving him: but all ferv'd not his Expence, which was only limited by his great mind, and occafions to use it nobly.

HE liv'd many years About the Court, before In it; and never By it being rather regarded and efteem'd by King James, than lov'd and favour'd. After the foul Fall of the Earl of Somerfet,he was made Lord Chamberlain of the King's House, more for the Court's fake, than his Own; and the Court appear'd with the more Luftre, because He had the Government of that Province. As he spent and liv'd upon his own Fortune, fo he stood upon his own Feet, without any other fupport than of his proper Virtue and Merit: and liv'd towards the Favourites with that decency, as would not fuffer them to cenfure or reproach his Mafter's judgement, and election, but as with men of his own rank. He was exceedingly beloved in the Court, because he never defired to get that for Himself which Others labour'd for, but was ftill ready to promote the pretences of worthy men. And he was equally celebrated in the Country, for having receiv'd no obligations from the Court which might corrupt, or fway his affections, and judgement: so that all who were displeased, and unfatisfied In the Court, or With the Court, were always inclined to put themselves under his Banner, if he would have admitted them: and yet he did not fo reject them, as to make them choose another Shelter, but fo far fuffer'd them to depend on him, that he could restrain them from breaking out beyond private refentments, and murmurs.

HE was a great lover of his Country, and of the Religion, and Juftice, which he believ'd could only fupport it; and his Friendships were only with men of thofe Principles. And as his Converfation was most with men of the most pregnant parts, and understanding, so towards any fuch, who needed fupport, or encouragement, though unknown, if fairly recommended to him, he was very liberal. Sure never man was planted in a Court, that was fitter for that Soil, or brought better qualities with him to purify that Air.

YET his memory must not be Flatter'd, that his Virtues, and good inclinations may be Believ'd; he was not without fome allay of Vice, and without being clouded with great Infirmities, which he had in too exorbitant a proportion. indulged to himself the Pleasures of all kinds, almoft in all

He

exceffes.

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exceffes. To Women, whether out of his natural conftitution, or for want of his domestick content and delight, (in which he was most unhappy, for he paid much too dear for his Wife's Fortune, by taking her Perfon into the bargain) he was immoderately given up. But therein he likewife retain'd fuch a power, and jurifdiction over his very appetite, that he was not fo much tranfported with beauty, and outward allurements, as with thofe advantages of the mind, as manifested an extraordinary wit, and fpirit, and knowledge, and adminiftred great pleasure in the converfation. To thefe he facrificed Himself, his precious time, and much of his fortune. And fome, who were nearest his truft and friendship, were not without apprehenfion, that his natural vivacity, and vigour of mind begun to leffen, and decline by those exceffive Indulgences.

ABOUT the time of the death of King James, or presently after, he was made Lord Steward of his Majefty's House; that the Staff of Chamberlain might be put into the hands of his Brother, the Earl of Montgomery, upon a new contract of Friendship with the Duke of Buckingham; after whose death, he had likewife fuch Offices of his, as he most affected, of honour and command; none of profit, which he cared not for and within two years after, he died himself of an Apoplexy, after a full and chearful Supper.

A SHORT Story may not be unfitly inferted, it being very frequently mention'd by a Perfon of known integrity, whofe Character is here undertaken to be fet down, and who, at that time, being on his way to London, met at Maidenhead fome Perfons of Quality, of relation or dependence upon the Earl of Pembroke Sr Charles Morgan, commonly call'd General Morgan, who had commanded an Army in Germany, and defended Stoad; Dr Feild, then Bishop of Saint Davids; and Dr Chafin, the Earl's then Chaplain in his house, and much in his favour.) At Supper one of them drank a health to the Lord Steward: upon which another of them faid, "that he "believ'd his Lord was at that time very Merry, for he had now outliv'd the day, which his Tutor Sandford had progno"fticated upon his Nativity he would not outlive; but he "had done it now, for that was his Birth-day, which had "compleated his age to fifty years. The next Morning, by the time they came to Colebrook, they met with the news of his Death.

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HE Died exceedingly lamented by men of all qualities, and left many of his Servants and Dependents owners of good Eftates, raised out of his employments, and bounty. Nor had his Heir caufe to complain. For though his Expences had been very magnificent (and it may be the lefs confider'd, and his

providence

providence the lefs, because he had no Child to inherit ) infomuch as he left a great Debt charged upon the Eftate; yet confidering the wealth he left in Jewels, Plate, and Furniture, and the Eftate his Brother enjoy'd in the right of his Wife (who was not fit to manage it her felf) during her long life, he may be juftly faid to have inherited as good an Estate from m, as He had from his Father, which was one of the beft in England.

mery.

THE Earl of Montgomery, who was then Lord Chamber- of Philip lain of the Houfhold, and now Earl of Pembroke, and the Earl Earl of of Dorfet were likewife of the Privy-Council; Men of very Montgodifferent Talents, and Qualifications. The former being a young man, fcarce of age at the entrance of King James, had the good fortune by the comeliness of his perfon, his skill, and indefatigable induftry in Hunting, to be the first who drew the King's eyes towards him with affection; which was quickly fo far improved, that he had the reputation of a Favourite. Before the end of the firft, or fecond year, he was made Gentleman of the King's Bed-chamber, and Earl of Montgomery; which did the King no harm: For befides that he receiv'd the King's Bounty with more moderation than other men, who fucceeded him; He was generally known, and as generally efteem'd; being the Son of one Earl of Pembroke, and younger Brother to another, who liberally fupplied his expence, beyond what his Annuity from his Father would bear.

HE pretended to no other Qualifications, than to underftand Horfes and Dogs very well, which his Master loved him the better for (being, at his firft coming into England, very jealous of those who had the reputation of great Parts) and to be believ'd honeft and generous, which made him many Friends, and left him then no Enemy. He had not fate many years in that Sun-fhine, when a new Comet appear'd in Court, Robert Carr, a Scots-man, quickly after declared Favourite; upon whom the King no fooner fixed his eyes, but the Earl, without the least murmur, or indisposition, left all doors open for his entrance (A rare Temper! and it could proceed from nothing, but his great perfection in loving Field-fports) which the King receiv'd as fo great an Obligation, that he always after loved him in the Second place, and commended him to his Son at his death, as a Man to be rely'd on in point of Honesty and Fidelity; though it appear'd afterwards, that he was not ftrongly Built, nor had fufficient Ballaft to endure a Storm; of which more will be faid hereafter.

THE other, the Earl of Dorfet, was, to all intents, prin- of Edward ciples, and purposes, another Man; his Perfon beautiful, and Earl of

graceful,

Dorfer.

graceful, and vigorous; his Wit pleasant, sparkling, and fublime; and his other Parts of Learning, and Language, of that luftre, that he could not mifcarry in the World. The Vices he had, were of the Age, which he was not stubborn enough to contemn, or refift. He was a younger Brother, Grandchild to the great Treasurer Buckhurst, created, at the King's first Entrance, Earl of Dorfet, who outliv'd his Father, and took care, and delight in the Education of his Grand-child, and left him a good Support for a younger Brother; befides a Wife, who was Heir to a fair Fortune. As his Perfon and Parts were fuch as are before mention'd, so he gave them full fcope, without reftraint; and indulged to his appetite all the Pleasures, that feafon of his life (the fulleft of jollity, and riot of any that proceeded, or fucceeded) could tempt, or fuggeft to him.

HE entred into a fatal Quarrel, upon a fubject very unwarrantable, with a young Nobleman of Scotland, the Lord Bruce; upon which they both transported themselves into Flanders, and attended only by two Chirurgions placed at a diftance, and under an obligation not to ftir, but upon the fall of one of them, they Fought under the Walls of Antwerp, where the Lord Bruce fell dead upon the place; and St Edward Sackville (for fo he was then call'd) being likewife hurt, retired into the next Monaftery, which was at hand. Nor did this miferable accident, which he always exceedingly lamented, make that thorough impreffion upon him, but that he indulged ftill too much to thofe importunate, and infatiate appetites, even of that individual Perfon, that had fo lately embark'd him in that defperate enterprize; being too much Tinder to be inflamed with thofe Sparks.

His Elder brother did not enjoy his Grandfather's Titles many years, before they defcended, for want of Heirs male, to the Younger brother. But in these few years the Elder, by an excess of expence in all the ways to which money can be applied, fo entirely confumed almoft the whole great Fortune that defcended to him, that, when he was forced to leave the Title to his younger Brother, he left upon the matter nothing to him to fupport it; which expofed him to many difficulties, and inconveniencies. Yet his known great Parts, and the very good general Reputation he had acquired, notwithstanding his defects (for as he was eminent in the Houfe of Commons, whilst he fate there; fo he fhined in the House of Peers, when he came to move in that sphere ( inclined King James to call him to his Privy-Council before his death. And if he had not too much cherish'd his natural conftitu tion, and propenfity; and been too much griev'd, and wrung by an uneafy and ftreight Fortune; he would have been an excellent

excellent Man of business, for he had a very sharp, difcerning Spirit, and was a Man of an obliging Nature,much Honour, and great Generofity, and of moft entire Fidelity to the Crown.

THERE were two other Perfons of much Authority in the Council, because of great Name in the Court; as they deferv'd to be, being without doubt two as accomplish'd Courtiers, as were found in the Palaces of all the Princes in Erope; and the greatest (if not too great) improvers of that Breeding, and thofe Qualifications, with which Courts used to be adorn'd; the Earl of Carlisle, and the Earl of Holland: both (though Men of pleasure) by their long experience in Court well acquainted with the Affairs of the Kingdom, and better verfed in those abroad, than any other who fat then at that Board,

THE former, a Younger Brother of a Noble Family in Scot- of the Eart land, came into the Kingdom with King James, as a Gentle of Carlife. man; under no other Character, than a Perfon well qualified by his breeding in France, and by ftudy in human Learning; in which he bore a good part in the entertainment of the King, who much delighted in that exercise; and by these means, and notable gracefulness in his behaviour, and affability, in which he excell'd, he had wrought himself into a particular Intereft with his Mafter, and into greater Affection and Efteem with the whole English Nation, than any other of that Country; by choofing Their Friendships, and Converfation, and really preferring it to any of his Own: Infomuch as upon the King's making him Gentleman of his Bed-Chamber, and Viscount Doncafter, by his Royal mediation (in which Office he was a moft prevalent Prince) he obtain'd the fole Daughter and Heir of the Lord Denny to be given him in Marriage; by which he had a fair Fortune in Land provided for any Iffue he fhould raife, and which his Son by that Lady liv'd long to enjoy.

HE afcended afterwards, and with the expedition he defired, to the other conveniences of the Court. He was Groom of the Stole, and an Earl, and Knight of the Garter; and Married a beautiful young Lady, Daughter to the Earl of Northumberland, without any other approbation of her Fa ther, or concernment in it, than fuffering Him and Her to come into his prefence after they were Married. He liv'd rather in a fair Intelligence than any Friendship with the Favourites; having credit enough with his Maiter to provide for his own Intereft, and he troubled not himself for that of other Men; and had no other confideration of Money, than for the Support of his Luftre; and whilft he could do that, he cared not for Money, having no bowels in the point of running in debt, or borrowing all he could.

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