nsham in
Worcestershire, 1612; His father, a reputable country farmer,
perceiving in his son an early inclination to learning, sent him for
education to the free-school of Worcester, under the care of Mr. Henry
Bright, where having laid the foundation of grammar learning, he was
sent for some time to Cambridge, but was never matriculated in that
university[1]. After he had resided there six or seven years, he
returned to his native county, and became clerk to Mr. Jefferys of
Earl's-Croom, an eminent justice of the peace for that county, with
whom he lived for some years, in an easy, though, for such a genius,
no very reputable service; during which time, through the indulgence
of a kind master, he had sufficient leisure to apply himself to his
favourite studies, history and poetry, to which, for his diversion, he
added music and painting.

The anonymous author of Butler's Life tells us, that he had seen some
pictures of his drawing, which were preserved in Mr. Jefferys's
family, which I mention not (says he) 'for the excellency of them, but
to satisfy the reader of his early inclination to that noble art; for
which also he was afterwards entirely loved by Mr. Samuel Cooper, one
of the most eminent Painters of his time.' Wood places our poet's
improvement in music and painting, to the time of his service under
the countess of Kent, by whose patronage he had not only the
opportunity of consulting all kinds of books, but conversing also with
the great Mr. Selden, who has justly gained the epithet of a living
library of learning, and was then conversant in that lady's family,
and who often employed our poet to write letters beyond sea, and
translate for him. He lived some time also with Sir Samuel Luke, a
gentleman of a good family in Bedfordshire, and a famous commander
under Oliver Cromwel.

Much about this time he wrote (says the author of his Life) 'the
renowned Hudibras; as he then had opportunities of conversing with the
leaders of that party, whose religion he calls hypocrisy, whose
politics rebellion, and whose speeches nonsense;' he was of an
unshaken loyalty, though he was placed in the house of a rebel, and it
is generally thought, that under the character of Hudibras, he
intended to ridicule Sir Samuel Luke. After the restoration of Charles
II. he was made secretary to the earl of Carbury, lord president of
the principality of Wales, who appointed him steward of Ludlow Castle,
when the court was revived there