the coll, takeing downe the wainscot of his chamber, they found an abundance of cards, with stanzas of the "Faerie Queen" written on them.* Mr. Beeston sayes he was a little man, wore short haire, little band, and little cuffs.

Mr. Samuel Woodford (the poet, who paraphras'd the Psalmes) lives in Hampshire, neer Alton, and he told me, that Mr. Spenser lived sometime in those parts. In this delicate sweet ayre, where he enjoyed his muse, and writt good part of his verses. I have sayd before that S Philip Sydney and S: Walter Ralegh were his acquaintance. He had lived some time in Ireland, and wrote a description of it, which is printed with Morison's History or Description of Ireland.

St John Denham told me, that A. Bp. Usher, Lord Primate of Armagh, was acquainted with him, by this token: when Sir W. Davenant's "Gondibert" came forth, S: John askt the Lord Primate if he had seen it? Said the Primate, "Out upon him, with his vaunting preface, he speakes against my old friend, Edmund Spenser."

In the South crosse-aisle of Westminster abbey, next the dore, is this inscription:

"Heare lies (expecting the second comeing of our Saviour Christ Jesus) the body of Edmund Spenser, the Prince of

* From J. Dreyden, Esq. Poete Laureate.

Poets of his tyme; whose divine spirit
needs no other witnesse then the workes
which he left behind him. He was
borne in London, in the yeare 1510,
and dyed in the yeare 1596."

THOMAS STANLEY, ESQ.

Thomas Stanley, Esq. son to Sir Thomas Stanley, born at Cumberlow. . . . . . .

His præceptor, Mr. William Fairfax, in his

father's howse.

Was of Pembrooke hall, in Cambridge, where he took the degree of Master of Arts.

Was admitted ad eundem gradum in Oxford. Writ his Poems about the years 1646, 1647. His History of Philosophy, in the years 1655, 1656.

His Eschylus about the same time.

Dy'd April 12, 1678. Buried at St Martin's in the Fields, in the middle aisle.

His eldest sonne is Thomas Stanley, Esq. of the Middle Temple, jurisconsultus. He hath left two other sonnes, viz. 2. George, 3. Charles.

Thomas Stanley, the sonne, aforesayd, translated Ælian's Varia Historia at 14 yeares of age. He was also of Pembrooke Hall, Cambridge.

STOKES, M.D.

His father was fellow of Eaton coll. Qu. if not prebend of Windsor, and if not schoolmaster of Eaton ? He was bred there and at King's college. Scholar to Mr. W. Oughtred for Mathematiques and Algebra. He made himselfe mad, but became sober again, but I feare like a crackt glasse. Edidit Mr. Oughtred's "Trigonometrie.” Became a Roman Catholique, maried unhappily at Liege, dog and catt, &c. Became a sott. Dyed in Newgate prison for debt, April, 1681.

SIR JOHN SUCKLING, KNIGHT,

Was the eldest son of... Suckling, of the Green-cloath, tempore, I thinke, Car. 1.

I have heard Mris Bond say, that S: John's father was but a dull fellow, (her husband, Mr. Tho. Bond, knew him); the witt came by the mother. Quære Dr. Busby if he was not of Westminster schoole? he might be about his time. I have heard Sir William Davenant say, that he went to the university of Cambridge at eleaven yeares of age, where he studied three or four yeares, I thinke four. By 18 he had well travelled France and Italie, and part of Germany, and (I thinke also) of Spaine. He returned into

England an extraordinary accomplished gentleman, grew famous at court for his readie sparkling witt, which was envyed, and he was (Sir William sayd) the bull that was bayted. He was incomparably readie at repartying, and his witt most sparkling when most sett upon and provoked. He was the greatest gallant of his time, and the greatest gamester, both for bowling* and cards, so that no shopkeeper would trust him for sixpence. As to-day, for instance, he might, by winning, be worth 200lib. the next day he might not be worth half so much, or perhaps be sometimes minus nihilo. Sir William, who was his intimate friend, and loved him intirely, would say, that Sir John, when he was at his lowest ebbe in gameing, I meane when unfortunate, then would make himselfe most glorious in apparell, and sayd that it exalted his spirits, and that he had then best luck when he was most gallant, and his spirits were highest. Sir William would say, that he did not much care for a lord's converse, for they were in those dayes damnably proud and arrogant, and the French would say, that My Lord d'Angleterre lookt comme un mastif

*He was one of the best bowlers of his time in England. He played at cards rarely well, and did use to practise by himselfe a bed, and there studyed the best way of managing the cards. Mem. his sisters comeing to the Peccadillobowling-green crying for the feare he should lose all [their] portions.

dog;" but now the age is more refined, and much by the example of his gracious Majestie, who is the patterne of courtesie.

A: D 163. there happened, unluckily, a difference between Sir Jo. Suckling and Sir John Digby (brother to Sir Kenelme) about a mistresse or gameing, I have now forgott. Sir John was but a slight timber'd man, and of midling stature; Sir Jo. Digby a proper person of great strength, and courage answerable, and yielded to be the best swordsman of his time. Sir John, with some two or three of his party assaults Sir Jo. Digby goeing into a play-house, Sir J. D. had only his lacquay with him, but he flew on them like a tigre, and made them run. 'Twas pitty that this accident brought the blemish of cowardice to such an ingeniose young sparke. Sir J. D. was such a hero that there were very few but he would have served in the same manner.

A: D 163. when the expedition was sent into Scotland, Sir Jo. Suckling, at his owne chardge, raysed a troope of 100 very handsome young proper men, whom he clad in white doubletts and scarlett breeches, and scarlett coates, hatts, and .. feathers, well horsed, and armed, They say 'twas one of the finest sights in those dayes. But Sir John Merris made a lampoon of it.*

* Vide the old collect, of lampoons.