[LX.] She was a beautifull woman, as appeares by her monument at Egham. Sir John, they say, did much resemble his father.
From Trinity Colledge he went to Lincolnes-Inne, where (as judge Wadham Windham[814], who was his contemporary, told me) he was as good a student as any in the house. Was not suspected to be a witt.
At last, viz. 1640, his play of _The Sophy_ came out, which did take extremely: Mr. Edmund Waller sayd then of him, that he _broke-out like the Irish Rebellion[LXI.]--threescore thousand strong_, before any body was aware[815].
He was much rooked by gamesters, and fell acquainted with that unsanctified crew, to his ruine. His father had some suspition of it, and chid him severely, wherupon his son John (only child) wrot a little essay in 8vo, printed ..., _Against[LXII.] gameing and to shew the vanities and inconveniences of it_, which he presented to his father to let him know his detestation of it[DT]. But shortly after his father's death[LXIII.] (who left 2,000 or 1,500 _li._ in ready money, 2 houses well furnished, and much plate) the money was played away first, and next the plate was sold. I remember about 1646 he lost 200 _li._ one night at New-cutt. Anno ... (I ghesse 1642) he was high-sheriff of the countie of Surrey.
[LXII.] Vide Justus Turcaeus[816] _de lusu aleae_, where he proves 'tis a disease and that it proceeds from pride, and that the Spaniards (the proudest nation) are most[817] addicted to it.
[LXIII.] January 6, 1638[818], sepult. at Egham in Surrey.
At the beginning of the civill warre he was made governor of Farnham-castle for the king, but he was but a young soldier, and did not keepe it. In 1642/3, after Edghill fight, his poeme called _Cowper's Hill_ was printed at Oxford, in a sort of browne paper, for then they could gett no better.
1646/7 (quaere) he conveyed, or stole away, the two dukes of Yorke and Glocester from St. James's (from the tuition of the earle of Northumberland), and conveyed them into France to the Prince of Wales and Queen-mother. King Charles II sent him and the lord Culpepper envoyes to the king of Poland,....
Anno 1652, he returned into England, and being in some straights was kindly entertayned by the earle of Pembroke at Wilton, where I had the honour to contract an acquaintance with him. Here he translated the ... booke of Vergil's _Æneis_, and also burlesqu't it[LXIV.]: quaere Mr. Christopher Wase who was then there, tutor to William[819], lord Herbert. He was, as I remember, a yeare with my lord of Pembroke at Wilton and London; he had then sold all the lands his father had left him.