10 England's oldest hunt. 



stilted heroic dramas then in vogue. This also was acted in London, 

 with the result that Dryden modified his style of writing. 



As unprincipled and unscrupulous as he was brilliant and witty, 

 Buckingham had many enemies, and fought a duel with the Duke of 

 Shrewsbury at Barns-Elms, which was the talk of the town for some 

 time, and even excited the wrath of the easy-going Charles. One of 

 the Duke's seconds was killed. Sir John Talbot, who acted for Lord 

 Shrewsbury, was severely wounded, and the Earl himself was run 

 through the body by the Duke and died of his wounds two months 

 after, and a story was current that Lady Shrewsbury, attired as a page, 

 held Buckingham's horse while the duel was in progress. The latter 

 on this, as on several other occasions, when he incurred the King's 

 displeasure by behaviour more than usually outrageous, was speedily 

 restored to royal favour." 



Buckingham had betrayed the Earl's confidence with 

 regard to his wife. Shrewsbury sent His Grace an instant 

 challenge, which was accepted with that careless levity which 

 characterised many of what would have been serious chapters 

 in the history of most men's lives. The " Merry Monarch " 

 heard of the episode, and, perhaps, as much as a safeguard 

 to his favourite as a mark of his displeasure, commanded 

 the Duke of Albemarle to confine Buckingham to his house. 

 The order was disregarded, however, and the two enemies 

 met with their respective seconds — Sir John Talbot and 

 Lord Bernard Howard for the Earl, and Sir John Jenkins 

 and Captain Holman for Villiers. In accordance with the 

 custom, the seconds as well as the principals took active 

 part in the duel. We are told " the combat was a long and 

 bloody one. Buckingham ran his opponent through the body 

 though not with a mortal wound. Talbot was severely 

 wounded in both arms, and Jenkins was left dead on the 

 field. The King, with his usual leniency, pardoned all 

 parties concerned." 



This, of course, was the age of the most sparkling as well 

 as the coarsest of wit, and the Duke of Buckingham is said to 

 have been the life of the Court. Monarchs and their courtiers 

 are changeable beings, however, and the popularity which 

 His Grace enjoyed was often of only a very transitory char- 

 acter. The friends of the bottle, too, are rarely very true 

 or lasting ones, this to his sorrow the unfortunate nobleman 



