s of his governor, Dr. Balfour, won him in his travels, by
degrees, to those charms of study, which he had through youthful
levity forsaken, and being seconded by reason, now more strong, and a
more mature taste of the pleasure of learning, which the Dr. took care
to place in the most agreeable and advantageous light, he became
enamoured of knowledge, in the pursuit of which he often spent those
hours he sometimes stole from the witty, and the fair. He returned
from his travels in the 18th year of his age, and appeared at court
with as great advantage as any young nobleman ever did. He had a
graceful and well proportioned person, was master of the most refined
breeding, and possessed a very obliging and easy manner. He had a vast
vivacity of thought, and a happy flow of expression, and all who
conversed with him entertained the highest opinion of his
understanding; and 'tis indeed no wonder he was so much caressed at a
court which abounded with men of wit, countenanced by a merry prince,
who relished nothing so much as brilliant conversation.

Soon after his lordship's return from his travels, he took the first
occasion that offered, to hazard his life in the service of his
country.

In the winter of the year 1665 he went to sea, with the earl of
Sandwich, when he was sent out against the Dutch East India fleet, and
was in the ship called the Revenge, commanded by Sir Thomas Tiddiman,
when the attack was made on the port of Bergen in Norway, the Dutch
Ships having got into that port. It was, says Burnet, 'as desperate an
attempt as ever was made, and during the whole action, the earl of
Rochester shewed as brave and resolute a courage as possible. A person
of honour told me he heard the lord Clifford, who was in the same
ship, often magnify his courage at that time very highly; nor did the
rigour of the season, the hardness of the voyage, and the extreme
danger he had been in, deter him from running the like the very next
occasion; for the summer following he went to sea again, without
communicating his design to his nearest relations. He went aboard the
ship commanded by Sir Edward Spragge, the day before the great
sea-fight of that year; almost all the volunteers that went in that
ship were killed. During the action, Sir Edward Spragge not being
satisfied with the behaviour of one of the captains, could not easily
find a person that would undertake to venture through so much danger
to carry his command to the captai