King set up his court at Oxford, our
author was appointed to write the Mercurii Aulici, which being very
pleasing to the loyal party, his Majesty recommended him to the
electors, that they would chuse him moral philosophy reader; which
being accordingly done, he continued in that office, with little
profit from it, till 1648, at which time he was not only turned out
thence, but from his fellowship, by the Presbyterian visitors.
Afterwards, in this destitute situation, Wood observes, that he
retired to London, and made shift to live upon his wits; having some
reputation in poetry, he was often applied to by young people in love,
to write epistles for them, and songs, and sonnets on their
mistresses: he was also employed in translating and writing other
little things, so as to procure a tolerable livelihood.

Having, in this manner, supported the gloomy period of confusion, he
was, at his Majesty's restoration, by virtue of his letters, sent to
the university, created doctor of the civil law, and in 1661 he was
elected a Burgess for Wilton, to serve in that Parliament which began
at Westminster the 8th of May, the same year. In 1662, November 14, he
received the honour of knighthood, and January 1663 he was constituted
one of the masters of requests, in the room of Sir Richard Fanshaw,
when he went ambassador into Spain, he being then also master of the
faculties, and a member of the Royal Society. An anonymous writer
tells us, that Sir John Berkenhead was a poor alehouse-keeper's son,
and that he rose by lying, or buffooning at court, to be one of the
masters of requests, and faculty office, and also got by gifts at
court 3000 l. This is a poor reflexion upon him, and indeed rather
raises, than detracts from his reputation, for a man certainly must
have merit, who can rise without the advantage of fortune or birth,
whereas these often procure a fool preferment, and make him eminent,
who might otherwise have lived and died in obscurity. It is said of
Birkenhead, that when an unmannerly Member of Parliament, in opposing
him, took occasion to say, that he was surprized to hear an
alehouse-keeper's son talk so confidently in the House, he coolly
replied, I am an alehouse-keeper's son, I own it, and am not ashamed
of it, but had the gentleman, who upbraided me with my birth, been
thus descended, in all probability he would have been of the same
profession himself; a reply at once, sensible and witty. Mr. Wood,
however, seems