fix or feven years at Cambridge, without knowing in what hall. or college: yet it can hardly be imagined that he lived fo long in either univerfity, but as belonging to one houfe or another; and it is still lefs likely that he could have fo long inhabited a place of learning with fo little diftinction as to leave his refidence uncertain.

Wood has his information from his

brother, whofe narrative placed him at Cambridge, in oppofition to that of his neighbours which fent him to Oxford. The brother's feems the beft authority, till, by confeffing his inability to tell his hall or college, he gives reafon to fufpect that he was refolved to bestow on him an academical education; but

durft not name a college, for fear of

detection.

He was, for fome time, according to the author of his life, clerk to Mr. Jefferys of Earl's-Croom in Worcesterfhire, an eminent juftice of the peace. In his fervice he had not only leisure for ftudy, but for recreation: his amusements were mufick and painting; and the reward of his pencil was the friendship of the celebrated Cooper.

He was afterwards admitted into the family of the countefs of Kent, where he had the use of a library; and fo much recommended himself to Selden, that he was often employed by him in literary bufinefs. Selden, as is well known, was fteward to the countefs,

3

tefs, and is fuppofed to have gained much of his wealth by managing her eftate.

In what character Butler was ad mitted into that lady's fervice, how long he continued in it, and why he left. it, is, like the other incidents of his life, utterly unknown.

The viciffitudes of his condition placed him aftewards in the family of Sir Samuel Luke, one of Cromwel's officers. Here he obferved fo much of the character of the fectaries, that he is faid to have written or begun his poem at this time; and it is likely that fuch a defign would be formed in a place where he faw the principles and practices of the rebels, audacious and

undisguised in the confidence of fuccefs.

At length the king returned, and the time came in which loyalty hoped for its reward. Butler, however, was only made fecretary to the earl of Carbury, prefident of the principality of Wales; who conferred on him the ftewardship of Ludlow Caftle, when the Court of the Marches was revived..

In this part of his life, he married Mrs. Herbert, a gentlewoman of a good family; and lived, fays Wood, upon her fortune, having ftudied the common law, but never practifed it. A fortune fhe had, fays his biographer, but it was loft by bad fecurities.

of

In 1663 was published the first part, containing three cantos, of the poem Hudibras, which, as Prior relates, was made known at court by the taste and influence of the earl of Dorfet.

When

it was known, it was neceffarily admired: the king quoted, the courtiers ftudied, and the whole party of the royalifts applauded it. Every eye watched for the golden fhower which was to fall upon the author, who certainly was not without his part in the general expectation.

In 1664 the fecond part appeared; the curiofity of the nation was rekindled, and the writer was again praised and elated. But praise was

his whole reward.

Clarendon, fays

b 4

Wood,