died at his house in London, called Baynard's Castle, on the 10th of April, 1630,* and was buried near his father in Salisbury Cathedral. The portrait of Earl William has been painted by Vandyke, and his character drawn by Lord Clarendon. The latter should be his epitaph: it is one of the most beautiful delineations of that illustrious historian. * Ath. Oxon. vol. i. p. 546; Collins's Peerage, vol. iii. p. 123. As the Earl was born on the eighth of April, 1580, unless the dates are wrongly given, this discrepancy would tend to throw some doubt on Lord Clarendon's remarkable anecdote. 328 PHILIP HERBERT, EARL OF PEMBROKE AND MONTGOMERY. - The Earl's Character. King James's Partiality for himhis Progress at Court his Appearance at the Court of Elizabeth his Marriage to Lady Susan Vere. The Wedding Banquet and Mask. Montgomery's Insolence and Cowardice he is Horse-whipped by Ramsey. - The Earl's Vanity as a Patron of Literature his second Wife - his political Apostacy.-Burlesque of his Speech to the University of Oxford. His Study of Physiognomy-his Death. THE "memorable simpleton" of Walpole, who dimmed the lustre of a proud name by his cowardice, arrogance, and folly. Were we to believe but one half that has been said against him, his character would appear sufficiently odious. A favourite and a rebel can have no friends, and Montgomery, who was both, has had no admirers. The Earl was the second son of the celebrated Mary, Countess of Pembroke, nephew of Sir Philip Sidney, and younger brother of Earl William. He was born about the year 1582. He was the first acknowledged favourite of King James, after his accession to the English throne. His handsome face, his love of dogs and horses, and especially his taste for hunting, ren dered him peculiarly acceptable to that monarch. His influence remained unimpaired till the appearance of Robert Carr at Court, an event which quickly turned the current of Royal favour. However, as Montgomery neither remonstrated with James, nor showed any bitterness at his altered position, the King, who, above all things loved his ease and quiet, so far appreciated his forbearance, as to regard him ever after as his second favourite, whoever might chance to be the first.* On his death-bed James gave the greatest proof of his confidence in the Earl. When the suspicion broke on the dying monarch, that Buckingham and his mother were tampering with his life, it was to Montgomery that he exclaimed trustingly, "For God's sake look that I have fair play!"† The Earl had received his education at New College, Oxford. On the 4th of June, 1605, he was created Earl of Montgomery, and, on the 10th of May, 1608, was made a Knight of the Garter. The favours which he obtained from James were not substantial, for during this reign he rose no higher than to be a Lord of the Bed-chamber. the reign of Charles the First, however, he became Lord Chamberlain, and, to the disgrace of the University, Chancellor of Oxford. He succeeded his brother as Earl of Pembroke, 10th April, 1630. In His first appearance at Court had been in the lifetime of Elizabeth, where, though a mere boy at * Clarendon, vol. i. p. 105. + Weldon, p. 161. the time, he appears to have rendered himself conspicuous for that want of modesty, which afterwards formed so prominent a trait in his character, and became so distasteful to his contemporaries. Rowland White, in a letter dated 26th April, 1600, thus writes to Sir Philip Sidney: "Mr. Philip Herbert is here (at Court), and one of the forwardest courtiers that ever I saw in my time; for he had not been here two hours, but he grew as bold as the best. Upon Thursday he goes back again, full sore against his will."* He seems to have shared the success of his brother in the tournaments and other sports of the period. We find, The Herberts, every Cockpit-day, Do carry away The gold and glory of the day.† He was privately contracted in October, 1604, without the knowledge of the friends of either party, to Lady Susan Vere, daughter of Edward, 17th Earl of Oxford. The family of the young lady exhibited some aversion to the match, but the King interposed and softened their prejudices. ‡ On St. John's Day, 1604, they were married with great magnificence at Whitehall. The bride was led to church by Prince Henry and the Duke of Holstein, and the King himself gave her away. She looked so lovely in her tresses and jewels, that the * Sydney Papers, vol. ii. p. 190. + Lodge. Illustrations, vol. iii. p. 291. King observed, "were he unmarried, he would keep her himself." After the ceremony there was a splendid banquet, succeeded by as gorgeous a mask. The following picture of the entertainments, as well as of the manners of the times, can scarcely need a comment :-"There was no small loss that night of chains and jewels, and many great ladies were made shorter by the skirts, and were very well served that they could keep cut no better. The presents of plate and other things given by the noblemen were valued at 2,500l.; but that which made it a good marriage was a gift of the King's, of 500/. land, for the bride's jointure. They were lodged in the Council-chamber, where the King, in his shirt and night-gown, gave them a reveille matin before they were up, and spent a good time in or upon the bed; chuse which you will believe. No ceremony was omitted of bride-cakes, points, garters, and gloves, which have been ever since the livery of the court; and at night there was sewing into the sheet, casting off the bride's left hose, and many other pretty sorceries."* By Lady Susan the Earl had several children, who outlived him. Lord Clarendon says of Montgomery,-" There were very few great persons in authority, who were not frequently offended by him by sharp and scandalous discourses, and invectives against them, * Letter from Sir D. Carleton to Mr. Winwood; Win. Mem. vol. ii. p. 43. |