lingworth, of Trinity Coll. in Oxford, (afterwards D.D.) was his most intimate and beloved favourite, and was most commonly with my Lord; next I may reckon (if not equall) Mr. John Earle, of Merton Coll. (who wrote the Characters); Dr. Aglionby, of Ch. Ch. was also in much esteem with his Lordship; his Chaplaine, Charles Gataker, F.... Gataker, of Redriff (a writer), was an ingeniose young gent, but no writer. For learned gent. of the Country, his acquaintance was Sir H. Rainesford, of * ... Sir Francis Wenman, of Caswell, in Witney parish; Mr. Sandys, the Traveller and Translator (who was uncle to my Lady Wenman); Ben. Jonson (V. Johnsonus Virbius, where he has verses, and 'twas his Lordship, Ch. Gataker told me, that gave the name to it), Edmund Waller, Esq. Mr. Th. Hobbes, and all the excellent witts of that peaceable time. In the civil warres he adhered to King Ch. I. who after Edge-hill fight made him Principal Secretary of Estate (with Sir Edward Nicholas), which he dischardged with a great deal of witt and prudence, only his advice was very unlucky to his Majestie, in persuading him (after the victory of Rowndway Downe, and the taking of Bristowe,) to sitt downe before Gloucester, which was so bravely defended by that incomparably vigilant governor Coll.. Massey,

* Neer Stratford-upon-Avon, now

and the diligent and careful soldiers and citizens (men and woemen), that it so broke and weakened the king's armys, that 'twas y procataretique* cause of his ruine. After this, all the King's matters went worse and worse; at the. . . . fight at Newbury, my Lord Falkland being there, and having nothing to doe, to chardge, as the 2 armies were engaging, rode in like a mad-man (as he was) between them, and was (as he needs must be) shott. Some that were your superfine discoursing politicians, and fine gent. would needs have the reason of this mad action of throwing away his life so to be his discontent for the unfortunate advice given to his master as aforesaid; but, I have been well informed, by those that best knew him, and knew intrigues behind the curtaine (as they say), that it was the griefe of the death of Mrs Moray, a handsome lady at court, who was his mistresse, and whom he loved above all creatures, was the true cause of his being so madly guilty of his own death, as afore mentioned. (Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixturá dementia.) The next day when they went to bury the dead, they could not find his Lordship's body, it was stript, and trod upon, and mangled; so there was one y' waited on him in his chamber would undertake to know it from all other bodys, by a certaine mole his Lordship had on his neck,

* [Sic. EDIT.]

and by that mark did find it. He lies interred in the . . . . . at Great Tue aforesaid, but I take it without any monument; Q. if any iuscription. In the dining roome there is a picture of his at length, and like him ('twas donne by Jacob de Valke, who taught me to paint) he was but a little man, and of no great strength of body, he had blackish haire, something flaggy, and I thinke his eies black: Dr. Earle would not allow

him to be a good poet, though a great witt; he writt not a smooth verse, but a great deal of sense. He hath writt . . . .

He had an estate in Hertfordshire, at

which came by Morrison (as I take it), sold not long before the late civill warres.

SIR MILES FLEETWOOD,

(Recorder of London),

Was of the Middle Temple, was Recorder of London, when King James came into England. Made his harangue to the City of London ἀντανάκλασις, “ When I consider your wealth I doe admire your wisdome, and when I consider your wisdome I doe admire your wealth." It was a two-handed rhetorication, but the citizens tooke it in the best sense. He was a very severe hanger of highwaymen, so that the fraternity were resolved to make an example of his worship, wch they executed in this manner: They lay in

wayte for him not far from Tyburne, as he was to come from his house at .... in Bucks; had a halter in readinesse; brought him under the gallowes, fastened the rope about his neck, his hands tied behind him (and servants bound), and then left him to the mercy of his horse, wch he talled Ball. So he cryed Ho, Ball! Ho, Ball!" and it pleased God that his horse stood still, till somebody came along, wch was halfe a quarter of an hour or more.* He ordered that this horse should be kept as long as he would live, which was so; he lived till 1646. * *

His seate was at Missenden, in the county of Bucks, where his descendants still remaine. He is buried at.... in com. Bucks.

MR. JOHN FLETCHER,

(Poet.)

In the great plague, 1625, a Knight of Norfolk or Suffolk, invited him into the countrey. He stayed but to make himselfe a suite of cloathes, and while it was makeing, fell sick of the plague and dyed. This I had from his tayler, who is now a very old man, and clarke of St. Mary Overy's.

* From Mr. Tho. Bigge, of Wickam.

END OF PART I.

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JOHN AUBREY, ESQ.

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