ample scope in caricaturing the families of the Howards; Rochester was drawn in all the various stages of his advancement in life; and many of those pictures represented a magician practising his incantations upon the parties, whom the vulgar tongue libelled in song and in epigram.

Even the king himself was not spared, and Anne of Denmark figured in many a portfolio that contained sketches of the revels and masques given at Theobalds and Whitehall. It was said, with what truth we vouch not, that Prince Henry secretly hired the poets of the city to make verses on Rochester and the Countess; and that the Earl of Northumberland's friends ridiculed the king, while the admirers of Sir Walter Raleigh lampooned the court, the ministry, and the judges.

CHAP. VII.

Thus can the demi-god, authority,

Make us pay down for our offence by weight,
The words of heav'n: on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still 'tis just,

For we bid this be done

When evil deeds have their permissive pass,
And not the punishment.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

WHEN Rochester had left his Majesty, he proceeded forthwith to Overbury, to whom he related all that had passed in his audience with the king. On entering the chamber of the lawyer, Rochester exclaimed in a rapturous triumphant speech," Now, my friend, give me the joy which men wish their own soul in fortune. The king is on my side,

and the Lord Northampton, I have him with me too."

"The more sorry am I," said Overbury in reply," and all the joy I can offer, is the renewal of my promise to be

neuter."

"For Wednesday I shall summon a council to consider of this divorce," said Rochester, in no ways chagrined by his friend's coldness. "Let me see, it shall consist of Sir Daniel Dun, the Bishops of Winton, Ely, London; the Lord Treasurer, Sir Edward Coke; and though last not least, my dear friend Overbury."

"Indeed! so soon?" exclaimed Overbury."

Why, yes; but this is a previous council to consult on the Archbishop Abbott's capability to exercise his functions," replied Rochester; " now I have hit on it; look ye-Abbott will not favour the divorce, I dare say, but then

his incapacity to exercise his functions may enable us to dispense with him; if not, why we must restore him to their exercise, and then out of kindness for the royal favour thus shown, the priest will doubtless come over to us. And now I think you can advise me."

"As your Lordship proposes me one of that council," replied Overbury, "I shall there have an opportunity of expressing my opinions; meantime, my advice is that we find how the people stand affected to the restoration of the Archbishop, for they are the best judges of public men and public measures."

The people! pshaw," exclaimed Rochester, with the most sovereign contempt, "the people!-well, well-the people I'm now engaged for the clothworkers, poor souls, being covetous of larger employments, and I will present their petition to the king, and therefore

thou shalt set wit on edge to scent out the people-those sovereign judgesthose garlic scented breath fellows, whom I've courted by largesses and flattery, to gain popularity; but I tell thee what, man, I value not their opinion that," added the Viscount, smacking his fingers.

"Belike you do not, my Lord, but I can tell you there be many complaints of the people against the ministry; they do talk of those who are blinded by pleasure, and they are keen-sighted to the faults of their superiors-betters they allow not."

Overbury, this comes not of thy love to me," interrupted Rochester.

"But with much love it comes, though," answered Overbury," the people do talk of your Lordship's overslips, and your good deeds they let pass with small respect-truth is, the people do now believe passion and interest sway all the courtiers-nay more"