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have been bitter and enduring.' Sir Lucius, without repenting the choice he had made of one in every way deserving his affection and respect, most deeply deplored the offence he had given his father. He confessed his fault with sincere and humble contrition, and implored his forgiveness; nor did he content himself with the mere expression of regret that his father's fortune should be prejudiced by the smallness of his wife's portion; he offered to resign the whole estate that had been left to him; he actually had the deeds of conveyance prepared, presented them himself to his father, and declared himself ready to execute this transfer of his property to him, and to rely solely on his paternal bounty in future. But Lord Falkland was inexorable; he neither forgave the transgression, nor accepted the proffered atonement. Sir Lucius immediately determined to quit England, and proceeded with his wife to Holland, intending there to purchase some military command, and to devote his life to that profession; but, being disappointed in his hopes of employment, he returned to England the following year, retired to a country life and to his books, thinking "that, as he was not like to improve himself in arms,

The advantageous marriage to which Lord Clarendon thus vaguely alludes is more plainly set forth in a letter of May 28, 1629, from Sir George Gresley, Bart., to Sir Thomas Puckering, Bart., in which he says, "Sir Thos. Edmundes hath sold his crown office to one Willis, a lawyer "of the Temple, for 60007., and goes ambassador to France, out of a hope "at his return to be Lord Deputy of Ireland. But the truth is, the Lord of Falkland and the Lord Treasurer are to match two of their children together, and thereupon the Lord Falkland to continue Lord Deputy "still."-The Court and Times of Charles I., vol. ii. p. 16. The Lord Treasurer referred to was Richard Weston, Earl of Portland.

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"he might advance in letters."1 He immediately began a rigorous course of study, resolved to abstain from visiting London till he had mastered the Greek tongue, and adhered to his resolution. The death of his father was the first interruption to his retirement. Lord Falkland broke his leg by a fall from a stand in Theobald's Park, and died in consequence of that accident in September, 1633. It is to be hoped that some reconciliation took place between him and his son, but no record is to be found that such was the case.2 Sir Lucius inherited his father's title and estate, but his fortune was by no means increased by the inheritance, inasmuch as he was obliged to sell a finer estate of his own to redeem that which descended to him, and which was mortgaged to its full value. Having visited London to complete the business which the death of his father had rendered indispensable, Lord Falkland again retired to the country, and resumed his studies. His life at Great Tew must have been one of most perfect enjoyment to a man of his tastes and acquirements. This place was situated within ten or twelve miles of Oxford, and became the rendezvous of learned men from the University, as well as of his friends from London and other parts. Amongst the most frequent guests we find the names of Dr. Sheldon, Morley, Hammond,

3

Clarendon's 'Life,' p. 21.

2 The last mention made in Lord Falkland's journal of his son's name is on the 28th of October, 1630 (vide Appendix F), when it appears that Mr. Lenthall interceded in his favour. This silence rather confirms the impression that all intercourse ceased between them.

Great Tew was one of the estates he inherited from his grandfather, Laurence Tanfield. The house is now pulled down.

1

Earles, and Chillingworth; also of Hugh Cressy, of Merton Coll.; "Charles Gataker,' of Pembroke Coll. ;

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George Aglionby, of Ch. Ch.; Thos. Triplet, a

very witty man of Ch. Ch.; Geo. Sandys, the poet; "and others." 3 His library was open to their use, and they required no invitation to take possession of the apartments regarded as their own. Lord Falkland's greatest pleasure was in the conversation of men to whom he looked up for instruction, whilst their powers were stimulated by the learning, wit, and judgment of their host. He had, says Lord Clarendon, "such a "vast knowledge that he was not ignorant in any"thing, yet such an excessive humility as if he had "known nothing." It was here that Chillingworth wrote his book against the Jesuit Nott, and in this society that he debated some of the most important points in his work, and even occasionally submitted to the judgment of his friends. There was in Lord Falkland a gentleness and affability that spread its influence on those around him; they involuntarily caught the spirit they admired, and in his presence subjects of gravest import were discussed freely without levity, and controversies were examined and maintained with

1 Clarendon, Life,' p. 42.

2 Son of Gataker of Redriff, or Redrith, near London.

* See Wood's Athenæ Oxon.'

"The lord of the house did not even know of their coming or going, "nor who were in his house, till he came to dinner or supper, where all still "met. There was no troublesome ceremony or constraint, to forbid men "to come to the house, or to make them weary of staying there; so that

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many came there to study in a better air, finding all the books they could "desire in his library, and all the persons together whose company they "could wish and not find in any other society."-Clarendon, 'Life,' p. 43. • Hist. of Reb., vol. iv. p. 243. ed. Oxford, 1826.

mutual forbearance and toleration for difference of opinion.

To the more common rights of hospitality Lord Falkland seems to have joined that well-bred politeness which springs from a delicate regard for the feelings of others a quality which graced his more important acts of benevolence in a singular degree.' He seemed to hold his estate in trust "for worthy persons who needed "assistance, as Ben Jonson and others," who accepted from him what they would have recoiled from receiving at other hands. He gave in secret to many whose pride might have been wounded by their necessities being known, and thus enhanced the value of his bounty by sparing the debt of obligation. In fulfilling the charities of social and domestic life he won the affections of those around him; distinguished alike for the depth, extent, and variety of his acquirements and the retentiveness of his memory, he was still totally free from pedantry; lively and fluent in conversation, pure in taste, and of great gaiety of spirit, his society was cherished by those men of congenial habits and pursuits who were admitted to his intimacy and enjoyed his friendship during the halcyon days spent at Great Tew from the age of twenty to twenty-eight or twenty-nine.

From the year 1639 we must no longer seek Lord Falkland in the retirement of domestic life and the peaceable enjoyment of literary labours: henceforward we shall find him an actor in those scenes where every passion arising from religious differences, political contentions, and civil war was called into action.

'Clarendon, 'Life,' p. 41.

In the spring of the year 1639 Charles I. had collected an army of 6000 horse and as many foot, in order to advance against Scotland; and as this expedition may be regarded as the first link in the long chain of mistakes and misfortunes that led to the overthrow of the King, the destruction of his adherents, and the interruption of that national prosperity to which civil war is fatal, it may not be improper in a few words to recall the cause of quarrel and the supposed object of this ill-advised expedition against Scotland. In the year

1633 the King resolved to visit his native country' in order to be crowned at Edinburgh. His whole progress throughout England was one continued homage from all who were in a condition to offer hospitality to their sovereign and his numerous attendants. The houses of the nobility wherever he passed were devoted to his service, and the fortunes of those whom he honoured with his presence were lavishly expended in the magnificence of their entertainments.2 Scotland vied with England in this display of loyalty and respect for the person of the King, and sought by their attentions to the English who accompanied him to repay the courtesy and hospitality which had been freely tendered to their countrymen in England.

The coronation at Edinburgh was solemnized with as much pomp as it had been in England, and with every demonstration of public joy and satisfaction.3

In this journey Charles was accompanied by Laud,

1 Charles had quitted Scotland when two years old.

2 Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, vol. i. pp. 139-141.

Ibid., vol. i. p. 145.

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