dated in the latter end of the year 1599,-" My Lord Southampton and Lord Rutland came not to court (at Nonsuch), the one doth very seldom; they pass away the tyme in London, merely in going to plaies, every day.”*

Lord Southampton having been implicated in the rebellion of the Earl of Essex, was with that nobleman committed to the Tower, and remained confined there after the decapitation of Essex until the death of the Queen; he was much visited there, and six days after the Queen's demise (April 1, 1603), King James sent a letter for his release, and commanded him to meet his Majesty on his way to London: his attainder was immediately reversed, and he was installed a Knight of the Garter. In the same year he was made Governor of the Isle of Wight; in which office, says the historian of the island (Sir John Oglander), his just, affable, and obliging deportment gained him the love of all ranks of people, and raised the island to a most flourishing state, many gentlemen residing there in great affluence and hospitality.

In 1613 he took an excursion to Spa, being displeased at not having obtained a seat in the council; and in 1614 he joined the romantic Lord Herbert of Cherbury, at the siege of Rees, in the Duchy of Cleves. He was made a privy council

lor in 1619.

On the rupture with Spain, in 1624, he was appointed, with Lords Oxford and Willoughby, and the young Earl of Essex, to the command of 6000 men in the Low Countries, under

* Paul Hentzner, who visited England in 1598, and wrote an account of his travels in Latin (which Horace Walpole translated), says (speaking of London),—“ without the city are some theatres, where English actors represent, almost every day, tragedies and comedies to very numerous audiences; these are concluded with excellent music, variety of dances, and the excessive applause of those that are present." He then proceeds

to give an account of the pastimes in the Bear Garden, p. 41.

Prince Maurice, but was cut off by a fever at Bergen-op-Zoom, on the 10th of November in that year.

Wilson, the historian, who attended the expedition, says, that both Lord Southampton and his son, Lord Wriothesley, were seized with fever at Rosendaell, where the son died, and Lord Southampton having recovered from the fever, left Rosendaell with the intention of bringing his son's body over to England: but at Bergen-op-Zoom he died of lethargy, from too copious bleeding, and that the two bodies were brought in the same vessel to Southampton, and were buried together at Titchfield, in Hampshire.

Of this amiable and accomplished nobleman there is an original portrait at Gorhambury, by Vansomer (as is supposed); another at Woburn Abbey, by Miervelt; and two in the possession of the Duke of Portland: one a wholelength, when he was a young man—the other a half-length, when he was a prisoner in the Tower. There exists, somewhere, a portrait of Lord Southampton on horseback, together with the Earl of Oxford, and, what is remarkable, Lord Southampton is painted with a jewel suspended from his left ear, without there being any historical notice of the reason of his wearing such a distinction; but it is conceived that it was a present from the Queen, given when he enjoyed her Majesty's favour, and that the portrait was painted at that time.

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMORANDA

RELATIVE TO

HENRY WRIOTHESLEY, THIRD EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON, The Patron of Shakespeare;

EXTRACTED FROM

RAPIN, HUME, HOWES, NICHOLLS, NICHOLAS, &c.,

AND

Submitted with a view to stimulate a diligent and full inquiry into the life and times of that illustrious nobleman, particularly as connected with our immortal poet.

FROM RAPIN.

1599. The Earl of Essex gave the command of the cavalry in Ireland (1300 men) to his friend the Earl of Southampton, in opposition to the express commands of the Queen (Elizabeth), who was displeased with the Earl of Southampton for having married without her

consent.

The Earl of Southampton accompanied Essex on his return to England (without permission) to justify himself to Elizabeth for his conduct in Ireland.

1622. January. The Earls of Oxford and Southampton were committed to the Tower for having expressed themselves too freely, in the House of Lords, upon the subject of the royal prerogative.

FROM HUME.

The Earl of Southampton was made general of horse, in Ireland, by the Earl of Essex, during the expedition against Tyrone, in 1599: this contrary to the Queen's injunctions.

When sentence was pronounced against Essex and Southampton (convicted of rebellion), Essex spoke like a man who laid his account to die that he should be sorry to be represented to the Queen as a person that despised her clemency; though he should not, he believed, make any cringing submissions to obtain it. Southampton's behaviour was more mild and submissive: he entreated the good offices of the peers in so modest and becoming a manner as excited compassion in every one.

Essex was executed privately in the Tower on the 25th February, 1601, aged about 34. Southampton's life was spared with great difficulty, but he was kept in prison during the remainder of this reign.

FROM HOWES.

1583. This year the Queen (Elizabeth), being at Barne-Elmes, at the earnest request of Sir Francis Walsingham she entertained twelve plaiers into her service, and allowed them wages and liveries as Groomes of the Chamber; and until then she had none of her own. 1596. The 17th of November, a day of great triumph for the long and prosperous raigne of her Majesty at the court; the Earl of Cumberland, champion for the Queene, the Earls of Essex, Bedford, Southampton, and Sussex, with other, ranne at the tilt most bravely. 1597. This year the Earl of Essex and the Lord Thomas Howard, the Earl of Southampton, Sir Walter Ra

leigh, and other brave commanders, with 18 of the Queene's ships, and many English merchants' ships, and twelve Hollander shippes, made a warlike voiage to the Isles of Terceiras.

1599. On Michaelmas even, Robert, Earl of Essex, LieutenantGenerall for Ireland, having secretly returned into England, came to the court at Nonesuch, and spake with the Queene, and on the 2nd of October was, for contempt, &c., committed to the Lord Keeper. On the 29th of November the Lord Keeper and other Lords of the Council in the Star Chamber persuaded against rumourous talke of the Earle of Essex. 1600. The 5th of June, the Earl of Essex was called before the Lords of the Counsell at the Lord Keeper's, where, for matters laid to his charge, he was suspended from use of divers offices, and, till her Majesty's pleasure to the contrary, to keepe his house. as before.

About the last of August, Robert, Earl of Essex, was set at liberty.

1601. Sonday, February the 8th, about ten of the clocke, before noone, Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, assisted by sundry noblemen and gentlemen, in warlike manner entered the City of London at the Temple Barre, crying for the Queen till they came to Fenchurch Street, and there entered the house of Master Thomas Smith, one of the Sherriffes of London, who, finding himself not master of his owne house, by means of the strength the Earl brought with him, and being ignorant of his intent and purposes, conveyed himself out at a back gate to the Mayor, whereupon the Earl with his troupe turned into Gracechurch Street, and there perceiving himself with his assistants to be proclaimed traitors, also the citizens to be raised in