33. GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture by C. Johnson, [then] at Somerset House. George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, and Lord High Admiral of England in the reigns of James I, and Charles I, was descended of a family of great antiquity in Leicestershire, and was the son of Sir George Villiers, Bart. of Brokesby in that county, where he was born on the 28th of August, 1592. Having been educated at home suitably to his genius, in the courtly arts of fencing, dancing, and the like ornaments of youth, he at the age of 18 years travelled into France, and after three years residence in that kingdom returned to England. On his first appearance at Court his beauty of person, and elegance of dress, recommended him to the favour of King James I. In 1617 he was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Buckingham, and soon after to the title of Marquis. He was now the sole dispenser of the King's favours, in the distribution of which he was guided more by the rules of appetite than, of judgment, and so exalted almost all his own numerous family and dependents. He was the sole contriver of that most extraordinary journey, which Prince Charles and himself took into Spain in 1623, the undertaking of which was so contrary to the King's inclination, that afterwards he never really affected the Duke. After the King's death, the Duke of Buckingham continued in the same degree of favour with Charles I, which he had enjoyed for many years under his father. In 1626 he was impeached in parliament of high crimes and misdemeanors in 13 articles, but the King, impatient of all proceedings against him, immediately dissolved it. He was * Granger says he has good reason to believe that is not genuine. assassinated at Portsmouth on the 23d of August, 1628, by John Felton, who committed the fact without any other inducement or encouragement, than what the melancholy of his nature, and the belief that he should do GoD and his country good service by destroying an enemy to both, might suggest to him. 34. JOHN WILLIAMS, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture in the Possession of William Cooper, Esq. Dr. John Williams, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and Archbishop of York, in the reign of King Charles I. was descended of a good family in Wales. He was born at Aberconway on the 25th of March, 1582, and was educated at the public school at Ruthen, from which he was sent to St. John's College, Cambridge. He entered into holy orders in his 27th year, and accepted a small living near St. Edmund's Bury, and was soon after recommended to the Lord Chancellor Egerton for his Chaplain. Upon the disgrace of the Lord Chancellor Bacon, Dr. Williams was advanced to the dignity of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and soon afterwards made Bishop of Lincoln. On the death of King James I. he lost his whole interest at Court, and was removed from the post of Lord Keeper, by means of the Duke of Buckingham. In 1641 he was translated to the Archbishoprick of York, and in the following year retired to Aberconway in Wales, and fortified Conway Castle for his Majesty, upon whom he afterwards waited at Oxford for some time,.and after whose death spent his days in sorrow, study, and devotion. He died March 25th 1650, aged 'sixty-eight years, and was interred in Llandegay Church, where a monument was erected to him. 35. THOMAS WENTWORTH, EARL OF STRAFFORD, Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture by Vandyke, in the Collection of Sir Francis Child. Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, and Lord Lieu. tenant of Ireland in the reign of Charles I, was descended of a very ancient family in Yorkshire. He was born on the 13th of April, 1593, in Chancery Lane, London, and educated in St. John's College, Cambridge. He was elected early into parliament, where he constantly appeared in opposition to the interests of the Court, but in June, 1628, having become reconciled to the measures then pursued, he became firmly attached to, and the greatest zealot for, advancing the power of the crown, the Lord Chancellor Weston having been the instrument of this great change in his public conduct. He was now advanced to the title of Baron Wentworth, and shortly after to that of Viscount; appointed Lord President of the North, and in January, 1632, Lord Deputy of Ireland. He continued in his government of Ireland tiil 1639, when he came over to England by his Majesty's order, who wanted his assistance in the perplexed state of his affairs, arising from the jea lousies of his subjects, Soon after his arrival in England he was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Strafford, and appointed Lieutenant General of the English Forces, and sent into the north, where the English army then was. On the meeting of Parliament, in 1640, he was impeached of High Treason, and committed to the Tower. His trial was the most solemn that had then been known, and jasted 18 days, so that the Commons, who began to doubt that the Lords would give judgment against him, passed a bill for attainting him of high treason, which having gone through the House of Peers, received the royal assent, though with extreme reluctance. He was beheaded on Tower Hill on the 12th of May, 1641, and died with great resolution and tranquillity. 36. THOMAS, LORD COVENTRY, LORD KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL. Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture in the Possession of William Cooper, Esq. Thomas, Lord Coventry, Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England in the reign of King Charles I, was the son of Thomas Coventry, one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas. He was born at Croome d'Abitot in Worcestershire in 1578, and having completed his educa, tion in Baliol College, Oxford, was removed to the Inner Temple, in order to pursue his father's steps in the study of the Common Law. In 1616 he was chosen Recorder of London, and early in the following year Solicitor General. In 1621 he was made Attorney General, and thence advanced to the Office of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, by King Charles I, and in April 1628 dignified with the degree of a Baron of the realm, by the title of Lord Coventry of Alesborough in the County of Worcester. He died at Durham House in the Strand, on the 14th of January, 1640, 37. JAMES USHER, ARCHBISHOF OF ARMAGH, Engraved by Vertue, from a Picture by Sir Peter Lely, in the Possession of General Tyrrel at Shotover, Oxfordshire, James Usher, Bishop of Armagh, in Ireland, was descended of an ancient family in that Kingdom, and was born in the City of Dublin, January 4th, 1580. The College of Dublin being finished in 1593, he was one of the three first Students admitted into it, where he learned Logic, and the Aristotelian philosophy. In 1600 he took the degree of Master of Arts, and in 1612 that of Doctor in Divinity. In 1620 he was promoted to the Bishoprick of Meath, and upon the death of his uncle, Henry Usher, Archbishop of Armagh, he was translated to that see, in the administration of which, he acted in the most exemplary manner. He died on the 21st of March, 1656, at Ryegate in Surrey, aged 75 years, and was buried with great magnicence, by order of Oliver Cromwell, in Westminster Abbey. He was the author of many excellent works, some of which he published himself, and left several others, which were printed after his death; there are some that yet remain in Manuscript. 38. JOHN HAMDEN, ESQ. Engraved by Houbraken, from a Picture in the Possession of Sir Richard Ellys, Bart. John Hamden, Esq. descended from an ancient family at Hamden in Buckinghamshire, was the son of John Hamden, Esq. by Elizabeth, sister of Sir Oliver Cromwell, of Hinchinbroke, K. B. He was born at London in 1594, and after spending a short time in Magdalen College, Oxford, he removed to the Inns of Court, and made consisiderable progress in the study of the Law. He afterwards served in all the parliaments during the reign of King Charles I. but the first occasion of his being eminently taken notice of in the kingdom was his refusal, in the year 1636, to pay ship money, as an illegal tax. When the long parliament met, he was returned Knight of the shire for the County of Buckingham, and Lord Clarendon observes "that his power and interest at that time were greater than |