Earl of Roscomos. 3

vice was his first Employment, but in what Degree isuncertain:

RosCOMON first in Fields of Honour known, ”iFirst in the peaceful Triumphs of the Gown ; >

He both MI NERVAS justly makes his own.% JThat he was at Oxford, Mr. Wood makes plainly toappear, § and took his Degrees in Arts; but whether he.was a Member of that University, or only compliment-ed them with a sliort Stay there, is equally uncertain.He was nominated to be created Doctor of Laws in theYear x 6-S3, when several other Noblemen || Proceededin the fame; but what perhaps was a Compliment totheir Birth, whs directed to his Ford strip's Merit: how-ever,'. he did not take that Degree.

The next Notice we have of Him, is, as a Courtier;when, by the particular Interest of the King’s Brother,the Duke-cf York, he was made Captain of the Band ofPenstontrs, and afterwards, Master of the Horse to theDutchefs of York-, both which Places he continued in,as I am assured, to the Time of his Death, contrary tothe Reports of other Writers.

To speak of him as a Gentleman and a Poet, wouldbe to enumerate all the good Qualities which the bestof either ever enjoyed. In these States, though he ne-ver courted, yet he had the Applause of all the knowingand judicious Men of his Time. Mr. Waller andMr. Dryden have spoke of him to such an Advantage,that if his Works were not left to justify their Opinion, itmight seem Flattery. Besides them, he was acquaintedwith, and admired by all the Bits of that famous Æra,King CitARixs the .Second's Reign ; and if we may beB z allowed

J See his Verses, prefixed to his Lordship’s Ejstay onTranstated Verse. Lond. 4t0. - 1684.

§ fse.t Athen.Oxon. Vol. 11. Pag. 893.

|| Robert Bulkley, second Son of Robert Lord Bulkley,Viscount Cajheh in Jr eland j and Henry Mordaitnt, Eailof Peterborow.