George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, was born in Wallingford House, in the parish of St. Martin in the Fields, in 1624, just a year previous to the death of that great statesman, his father, by the hand of the assassin, Felton.

The young Duke obtained the first part of his education from private tutors: he was afterwards sent to the university of Cambridge; and, on the commencement of the civil wars, being presented to his Majesty, Charles the First, was received most graciously, as the son of his beloved and lamented minister.

The court residing at this time in Oxford, the Duke completed his studies there, in the college of Christ Church. Upon the decline of the royal cause, he attended Prince Charles to Scotland, returned and fought with him at the battle of Worcester, and afterwards, making his escape from England, rejoined the heir apparent, in a foreign land.

Besides the festive accomplishments of Buckingham, there were other, and stronger, ties, to bind his royal master firmly to him, when he ascended the throne. The Duke had been the companion of Charles the Second, in battle and in exile; was endeared to him by the regard the late King had for his deceased father; and, though his brilliant wit and inspiring mirth might augment the partiality which his sovereign evinced, yet surely it was his early attachment to the royal cause and person of the Prince which mitigated the monarch's justice, when the dissolute life, and flagrant crimes, of the of

1

fender, made him a proper object of royal indigna

tion.

This nobleman lived at court the joy and hatred of his common associates--the delight and disgrace of his royal master-the envy of all bad, and the contempt of all good men.

The Duke possessed an estate of nearly fifty thousand pounds a year; was Knight of the Garter, Master of the Horse, Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire; holding besides many other places, from the bounty of his grateful monarch. With all this cause to be satisfied, he was malicious towards his neighbours, and treacherous to the King.

Charles forgave his offences, and left his punishment to Heaven-Heaven inflicted it, by poverty and ignominy. Bereft of his only benefactor, by the sudden decease of his Majesty, his fortune squandered, health impaired, and character detested, the Duke sought shelter from a scornful nation, in a dreary house, situated in the Wolds of Yorkshire. Some accident having cast him on a bed of sickness, at a little inn, in the same county; of the miserable death of this great nobleman, and celebrated genius, Pope has given the following well-known description :—

"In the worst inn's worst room, with mat half hung, "The floors of plaster, and the walls of dung, "On once a flock-bed, but repair'd with straw, "With tape-ty'd curtains, never meant to draw, "The George and Garter dangling from that bed, "Where tawdry yellow strove with dirty red,

"Great Villiers lies-Alas! how chang'd from him,
"That life of pleasure, and that soul of whim!
"Gallant and gay, in Cliveden's proud alcove,
"The bower of wanton Shrewsbury and love;
"Or just as gay in council, in the ring
"Of mimick'd statesmen, and their merry king.
"No wit to flatter left of all his store!

"No fool to laugh at, which he valued more;
"There, victor of his health, his fortune, friends,
"And fame, this lord of useless thousands ends,"

THE CHANCES.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

A Chamber.

Enter PETER and ANTHONY.

Peter. 'Would we were remov'd from this town, Anthony,

That we may taste some quiet! for mine own part, I'm almost melted with continual trotting

After inquiries, dreams, and revelations,

Of who knows whom, or where? Serve wenching sol diers!

I'll serve a priest in lent first,and eat bell ropes.
Ant. Thou art the frowardest fool-

Peter. Why, good, tame Anthony,

Tell me but this; to what end came we hither?
Ant. To wait upon our masters.
Peter. But how, Anthony?

Answer me that; resolve me there, good Anthony,
Ant. To serve their uses.

Peter. Show your uses, Anthony.

Ant. To be employ'd in any thing.