RICHARD MARTIN.

THIS gentleman was the son of William Martin, by Anne his wife, daughter of Richard Parker of Sussex; William was the fourth son of Richard Martin of the city of Exeter, who was the second son of Sir William Martin of Athelhampton in the parish of Puddletown in Dorsetshire. Richard, the subject of these memoirs, was born at Otterton in Devonshire, in 1569 or 1570; and became a Commoner of Broadgate's Hall, now Pembroke College, Oxford, in Michaelmas Term, 1585: where, by the force of strong natural intellect, aided by the acquirements of industry, he proved a celebrated disputant.

He left the university without taking any degree, settled in the Middle Temple, and was an Inner Barrister several years; in 1601 he was elected a Burgess to serve in Parliament; was constituted Lent-Reader of the Middle Temple, the 13th of Janies I. and, upon the death of Sir Anthony Benn, was made Recorder of London, in September, 1618: which place he enjoyed but little more than a month, for, to the great grief of all learned and good men, he died October 31, 1618, and was buried in the Church belonging to the Temples.

Over his grave a neat Alabaster Monument was soon after erected, with his effigies kneeling in his gown; and four verses engraven thereon under him, made by his dear friend Serjeant Hoskins.

He gave by Will to the church of Otterton, where he was born, five pounds; and the like sum to the church of Culliton-Raleigh in Devon, where was his House and Seat.

There was no person in his time more celebrated for ingenuity than Richard Martin; his learning, politeness, and wit, were the delight and admiration of all his acquaintance; he understood and practised the graces of conversation, and was equally esteemed and caressed by Selden, Hoskins and Ben Jonson; the latter of whom thus dedicated his Poetaster to him:

"To the Virtuous, and my Worthy Friend, Mr. Richard Martin,” and subscribed himself, "Your true Lover, Ben. Jonson."

Davies, the famous writing-master, and wou'd-be-poet, in his Scourge of Folly, has addressed a panegyrical epigram "To the well-worded and ingenious Mr. Richard Marten of the Middle Temple."

In addition to Martin's professional abilities, and colloquial talents; his person and manners qualified him to adorn the court, and his eloquence to influence the senate.

King James was so delighted with his facetiousness, and had so great a respect for his virtues, that he recommended him to the citizens of London for their recorder.

He was deservedly characterized by the worthy and learned, Princeps amorum (he having been Prince D Amour of the Middle Temple in the time of Christmas), Principum amor, legum lingua, lexque dicendi, Anglorum alumnus, Præco Virginia ac Parens, &c. Magni orbis os, orbis minoris corculum. Bono suorum natus, extinctus suo, &c. Several of his speeches, pleadings and, poems (for with the poets he was one), are in print; particularly, A Speech delivered to the King, in the name of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex. 4to. 1603, and 1643.

As perfection is not the lot of human nature, Martin, whom no one hath accused of vice, lies under the imputation of sometimes passing the bounds of moderation in his sacrifices to Bacchus; and, in a manuscript note by Aubrey, in the Ashmolean Museum, it is said that excess of drinking, with some of his fellow-wits, was the occasion of his death. If any thing can extenuate this foible, perhaps it is the consideration that these indulgences might be in the celebrated Apollo, at the Devil-Tavern, the emporium of wit and wine; in the company, probably, of Jonson, Shakspeare, &c. the former of whom, it is well known, "carous'd potations pottle deep :" and the latter, as some tradition say, died two years before Martin, at the moderate age of fifty-three; in consequence of a cold caught by sleeping in the open air, after having left a convivial party somewhat inebriated.

LODOWICK

DUKE OF

STUART,

RICHMOND.

THIS nobleman was born in the year 1575, and was son to Esme Stuart, duke of Lenox in Scotland, and grandson to John lord d'Aubigné, younger brother to Mathew earl of Lenox, who was grandfather to king James the First: he was much and deservedly esteemed by that king, whom he accompanied in his journey from Scotland on his accession to the English throne; and on the 4th of May, while he was at Theobalds, and before he had entered London, his majesty honoured him by making him a privy-counsellor. The following July he was installed a knight of the garter; October 6, 1613, he was advanced to the dignity of a baron of England by the title of lord Settrington, and at the same time created earl of Richmond. In 1618 he was appointed lord steward of his majesty's household, and May 17, 1623, he was created earl of Newcastle and duke of Richmond; but he did not long enjoy that honour, being found dead in his bed about nine months afterwards, February 15, 1623-4. On the following day the parliament was to have met, but the king was so much affected by the loss of his old servant (of whose death an account was brought to him as he was preparing to go to the parliament house,) that he prorogued the meeting for some days.

The duke of Richmond was thrice married; 1. to

Ruthvin, sister

to the earl of Gowrie in Scotland; 2. to the sister of Sir Hugh Campbell and widow of Robert Montgomery, of Eglinton; and lastly to Frances, daughter to Thomas Howard viscount Bindon, and widow of Edmund earl of Hertford; by none of whom he had any issue. His last wife was a celebrated beauty, who was first married to one Prannel, a wealthy vintner's

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