hat gale, his wings are stretch'd.

[Footnote 1: Ath. Oxon. vol. ii.]

[Footnote 2: Wood.]

[Footnote 3: In the preface to 2d edition, 1736, 4to.]

* * * * *

THOMAS KILLEGREW,

A Gentleman, who was page of honour to king Charles I. and groom of the
bed-chamber to king Charles II. with whom he endured twenty-years exile.
During his abode beyond sea, he took a view of France, Italy and Spain,
and was honoured by his majesty, with the employment of resident at the
state of Venice, whither he was sent in August 1651. During his exile
abroad, he applied his leisure hours to the study of poetry, and the
composition of Several plays, of which Sir John Denham. in a jocular
way takes notice, in his copy of verses on our author's return from his
embassy from Venice.

I.

Our resident Tom,
From Venice is come,
And hath left the statesman behind him.
Talks at the same pitch,
Is as wise, is as rich,
And just where you left him, you find him.

II.

But who says he was not,
A man of much plot,
May repent that false accusation;
Having plotted, and penn'd
Six plays to attend,
The farce of his negotiation.

Killegrew was a man of very great humour, and frequently diverted
king Charles II, by his lively spirit of mirth and drollery. He was
frequently at court, and had often access to king Charles when admission
was denied to the first peers in the realm. Amongst many other merry
stories, the following is related of Killegrew. Charles II, who hated
business as much as he loved pleasure, would often disappoint the
council in vouchsafing his royal presence when they were met, by which
their business was necessarily delay'd and many of the council much
offended by the disrespect thrown on them: It happened one day while the
council were met, and had sat some time in expectation of his majesty,
that the duke of Lauderdale, who was a furious ungovernable man, quitted
the room in a passion, and accidentally met with Killegrew, to whom he
expressed himself irreverently of the king: Killegrew bid his grace be
calm, for he would lay a wager of a hundred pounds, that he would make
his majesty come to council in less than half an hour. Lauderdale being
a little heated, and under the influence of surprize, took him at his
word;--Killegrew went to the king, and without ceremony told him what
had happened, and added, "I know that your majesty hates Lauderdale,
tho' the nece