what a height they had attained at Cambridge may be learnt from an "Item" in the amusing regulations issued by "the Vice-Chancellor and Caput," before the King's visit in 1614-15.

"Item.--Considering the fearful enormitie and excesse of apparell scene in all degrees, as namely, strange pekadivelas, vast bands, huge cuffs, shoe-roses, tufts, locks, and topps of hare (hair) unbesceminge that modesty and carridge of Students in soe renowned an Universitye, it is straightlye charged, that noe Graduate or Student in the Universitye presume to weare any other apparell or ornaments, especially at the tyme of his Majestie's abode in the towne than such onely as the statutes and laudable customs of this Universitye do allowe, uppon payne of forfeiture of 6s. 8d, for every default; and if any presume, after this publique warninge, to offend in the premises, such his willfull offence shal be deemed a contempte, and the party so offending shal be punished, over and besides the foresaid Mulet, a months imprisonment accord. inglie."-Nichols's Progresses of King James the First, vol. iii. p. 43-5.

The month's imprisonment was more effectual in deterring offenders than the mulct of 6s. 8d., although that was not a sum to be despised.

The King and Prince Charles entered Cambridge on the 7th of March, with "as much solemnity and concourse of gallants," as the severity of the weather permitted. The Earl of Suffolk had been recently appointed Chancellor of the University, in the place of his relation, Lord Northampton, and his arrangements for the reception of the Royal visiters were marked by the most magnificent liberality. He was established at St. John's, where his expenses are said to have amounted to a thousand pounds daily. Lady Suffolk entertained her party, consisting principally of the Howards, at Mag

dalen College. Herbert was now a Minor Fellow of Trinity, having taken his Bachelor's degree in 1612; but I do not find that he took any active part in the preparation of the various amusements with which the University endeavoured to enliven the visit of the monarch. In 1616 he was made Master of Arts; and it appears, from a letter he addressed to Sir John Danvers, in the March of the following year, that his income was not equal to his wants.

Sir John Danvers was the second husband of Mrs. Herbert, who married him about the February of 1608-9. The match is mentioned by that lively gossip, Chamberlain, in a letter dated March 3, 1608-9. "Young Davers (Danvers) is likewise wedded to the widow Herbert, mother to Sir Edward, of more than twice his age *." Sir John Danvers was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1626, M. P. for the University of Oxford from 1625 to 1640, and Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to Charles the First. He subsequently became an active partizan of Cromwell, and was named one of the Council of State. His public life seems to have justified the character given of him by Clarendon, who says that he was a "proud, weak, formal man;" but to Herbert he always behaved with kindness and generosity t.

TO SIR JOHN DANVERS.

SIR,-I dare no longer be silent, least while I think I am modest, I wrong both myself and also the confidence my friends have in me; wherefore I will open my case unto you, which, I think, deserves the reading at the least; and it is, I want books extremely. You know, Sir, how I am now setting foot in

Birch's MSS., Brit. Mus. 4173.

Vide Noble's Lives of the Regicides, vol. i. p. 163–176; and Nichols's Progresses of James the First, vol. iii. p. 979.

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divinity, to lay the platform of my future life, and shall I then be fain always to borrow books, and build on another's foundation? What tradesman is there who will set up without his tools? Pardon my boldness, Sir, it is a most serious case, nor can I write coldly in that wherein consisteth the making good of my former education, of obeying that Spirit which hath guided me hitherto, and of achieving my (I dare say) holy ends. This also is aggravated in that, I apprehend, what my friends would have been forward to say, if I had taken ill courses, Follow your book, and you shall want nothing." You know, Sir, it is their ordinary speech, and now let them make it good; for since, I hope, I have not deceived their expectation, let not them deceive mine. But, perhaps, they will say, "You are sickly, you must not study too hard." It is true (God knows) I am weak, yet not so but that every day I may step one step towards my journey's end; and I love my friends so well, that if all things proved not well, I had rather the fauit should lie on me, than on them. But they will object again-" What becomes of your annuity?" Sir, if there be any truth in me, I find it little enough to keep me in health. You know I was sick last vacation, neither am I yet recovered, so that I am fain, ever and anon, to buy somewhat tending towards my health, for infirmities are both painful and costly. Now, this Lent, I am forbid utterly to eat any fish, so that I am fain to diet in my chambers at my own cost; for in our public halls, you know, is nothing but fish and white-meats. Out of Lent also, twice a week, on Fridays and Saturdays, I must do so, which yet sometimes I fast. Sometimes also I ride to Newmarket, and there lie a day or two for to refresh me ; all which tend to avoiding costlier matters if I should fall absolutely sick. I protest and vow I even study thrift, and yet I am scarce able, with much ado, to make one half year's allowance shake hands with the other; and yet, if a book of four or five shillings come in my way, I buy it, tho' I fast for it; yea, sometimes of ten shillings. But alas, Sir, what is that to those infinite volumes of divinity which yet every day swell and grow bigger. Noble Sir, pardon my boldness, and consider but these three things. First, the bulk of divinity; secondly, the

time when I desire this (which is now when I must lay the foundation of my whole life): thirdly, what I desire, and to what end, not vain pleasures, nor to a vain end. If, then, Sir, there be any course, either by engaging my future annuity, or any other way, I desire you, Sir, to be my mediator with them on my behalf. Now I write to you, Sir, because to you I have ever opened my heart, and have reason by the patent of your perpetual favour, to do so still, for I am sure you love

Your faithful servant,

March 18, 1617, Trin. Coll.

GEORGE HERBERT.

Of the precise amount of Herbert's income, we are ignorant. He had been elected a Major Fellow of his College in 1615, and it is singular that he does not allude to this circumstance. His father having died intestate, or leaving a will so imperfect that it was never proved, the larger portion of the estate descended to the eldest son, Edward, who tells us that his mother, though in possession of all his "father's leases and goods," committed the provision of the family to him, and he accordingly settled an annuity of thirty pounds on each of his brothers, and a dowry of a thousand pounds on each of his three sisters.

Thirty pounds a year, added to a Fellowship, and managed with prudence, were sufficient to answer all the demands of a College-life more than two centuries ago, though inadequate to the indulgence of the "gentle humour for fine clothes and court-like company," and the love of buying books, which characterized the still youthful scholar. The news of the arrival of a parcel of books from the Continent, induced him to renew his application.

TO THE TRULY NOBLE SIR JOHN Danvers. SIR,-I understand from my brother Henry, that he hath bought a parcel of books for me, and that they are coming

over.

Now though they have hitherto travelled upon your charge, yet if my sister were acquainted that they are ready, I dare say she would make good her promise of taking five or six pound upon her, which she hath hitherto deferred to do, not of herself, but upon the want of those books which were not to be got in England. For that which surmounts, though your noble disposition is infinitely free, yet I had rather fly to my old ward, that if any course could be taken of doubling my annuity now, upon condition that I should surcease from all title to it after I entered into a benefice, I should be most glad to entertain it, and both pay for the surplusage of these books, and for ever after cease my clamorous and greedy bookish requests. It is high time now that I should be no more a burden to you, since I can never answer what I have already received; for your favours are so ancient that they prevent my memory, and yet still grow upon

Your humble servant,

GEORGE HERBERT.

I remember my most humble duty to my mother; I have wrote to my dear sick sister this week already, and therefore now I hope may be excused. I pray, Sir, pardon my boldness of enclosing my brother's letter in yours, for it was because I know your lodging, but not his.—(No date.)

This dear sick sister was Elizabeth, the wife of Sir Henry Jones. The latter part of her life, we are told by her brother, Lord Herbert, was most sickly and miserable. She pined "away to skin and bones" for nearly fourteen years, and at last died in London, worn out by pain and affliction.

Herbert's requests were not made to Sir John Danvers in vain; we gather from the following letter, that he had given him a horse, a present gratefully valued by the poet:

SIR,-Though I had the best wit in the world, yet it would easily tire me to find out variety of thanks for the diversity of your favours, if I sought to do so: but I profess it not: and, therefore, let it be sufficient for me that the heart which you