of reward. "Every man," he says, "no matter how well- or how ill-endowed with the graces of humanity, whether in the enjoyment of great honour, or condemned to obscurity, experiences that yearning for glory, which alone begets virtuous endeavour." This paper, which is preserved at Hatfield, is a model of caligraphy, and shows a refinement very unusual in a boy of thirteen. Southampton graduated at sixteen from the University; he was a member of Gray's Inn, as some knowledge of law was deemed necessary for one of such large estate.

In 1592, he was recognised as the most handsome and accomplished of the young men who frequented the royal presence; and in that year he accompanied the Queen on her State visit to Oxford. A Latin poem, of the University Press, describes this "Prince of Hampshire" "No other youth was more beautiful (quo non formosior alter non fuit) nor more distinguished in the arts of learning, though the tender down scarce bloomed on his cheek." In November, 1595, he appeared in the lists set up in the Queen's presence, to honour the thirty-seventh anniversary of her reign.

On this occasion he was likened by a poet to "Sir Bevis, so valiant in arms, so gentle and debonair did he appear."

At nineteen he was engaged to Elizabeth Vere, Cecil's granddaughter. In vain did his family and friends attempt to persuade him to make this most brilliant match. Southampton plunged into the dissipations of London life and would not hear of such a marriage. In 1596, he fell desperately in love with Elizabeth Vernon, cousin to the Earl of Essex and a Maid of Honour. He was dismissed from Court for his attentions to this fair lady, and, in the language of the angry Queen's command, "given leave to travel." He returned, however, secretly, from France, was married clandestinely to Mistress Vernon, discovered, and thrown into prison, from which he emerged only to participate in the revolt against the Government headed by Essex. For this rash act, Essex was beheaded; but before going to the scaffold he made such an eloquent plea for the youth of Southampton, who had been led away owing to his own persuasions and superior force of character, that the House of Lords was greatly

affected and consented to commute young Southampton's death sentence to life imprisonment in the Tower of London.

There he remained until the death of Elizabeth.

The accession of James brought about his liberation in 1603. After the coronation of the new monarch he was, for a time, prominent in Court festivities; but his high temper led him into many disputes with his fellow-courtiers, Philip Herbert and the Duke of Buckingham being among the number. He was more congenially occupied than at Court as treasurer of the Virginia Company; he helped to equip colonial expeditions. Hampton River and Hampton Roads were named to commemorate his efforts as his efforts as a colonial pioneer. Probably his interest in these subjects caused his friend to compose The Tempest, the only one of his comedies, except Love's Labour's Lost, which has a completely original subject.

Southampton was no mere "carpet-knight.' He was a soldier and sailor whom we find in 1597 commanding a small squadron of the Queen's ships, dispersing thirty-five vessels of the Armada, and sinking a Spanish galleon. Having gone