this world in 1608-9, or in
1613, has never been positively ascertained, though a discrepancy of
five years would imply a state of the family record open, to say the
least, to a little free criticism. If the poet himself was aware of the
correct date, he has not taken the trouble to enlighten the public upon
it. It would be well were that public always so good-natured as to err
on the side of youth, giving the more credit to success, and accepting
inexperience as an excuse in part for mistake and failure. But in
doubtful cases, one is likely to get credit for more years than he is
fairly entitled to--a deception we are ready to believe not unpalatable
sometimes to active men of early or middle age, though proverbially
annoying to spinsters. There is, too, an inherent tendency among
scholars toward antiquarianism, which always induces them to take the
earliest possible year. In the present instance, at any rate, most
authorities favor the first date, fixing his birth at Whitton, in
Middlesex, in 1608-9.

Sir John Suckling, the father, had been Secretary of State under James
I., and was Comptroller of the Household to Charles I. He was said to
have been a quiet, grave, and serious man, of sound judgment and good
business habits. Aubrey disposes of him summarily enough, with the
remark that 'he was but a dull fellow.' Had his wife been of the same
pattern, the worthy couple might well have been astonished at the lively
capers of their progeny; but we have reason to believe that the
frolicksome courtier and poet drew upon a bountiful store of good
'mother wit.' Quite all that we know of her, however, in an authentic
way, is contained in a professional and curious item that the family
physician saw fit to jot down in his note-book, as follows, 'Sir John's
mother went till the eleventh month with him;' which, to be sure, in
popular opinion, betokened a deal of future consequence.

To the subject of our narrative is assigned the customary precocity of
intellect; for he is said to have spoken Latin at five, and written it
at nine. Add four years to conform with the true date, and the facts
assume a little more reasonable aspect. In 1623, he was matriculated at
Trinity College, Cambridge, where he remained three or four years, but
did not take a degree, probably having shown himself a little more
'progressive' than the laws of that institution allowed. After leaving
Cambridge, he traveled over a large part of the Continent, wh