THE PEMBROKES : THEIR PATRONAGE OF LITERATURE. 91 



Earl William [the second of that name] was a good scholar, and delighted in poetrie ; and did 

 sometimes, for his diversion, write some sonnets and epigrammes, which deserve commendation. 

 Some of them are in print in a little book in 8vo. intituled " Poems writt by William Earle of 

 Pembroke, and Sir Benjamin Ruddyer, Knight, 1660." [See ante, page 77. A new edition 

 of these poems was published by Sir Egerton Brydges in 1817.] He wa sof an heroique and publick 

 spirit, bountifull to his friends and servants, and a great encourager of learned men. 



Philip Earle of Pembroke [the first of that name], his brother, did not delight in books or poetry ; 

 but exceedingly loved painting and building, in which he had singular judgment, and had the best 

 collection of any peer in England. He had a wonderful sagacity in the understanding of men, and 

 could discover whether an ambassadour's message was reall or feigned ; and his Majesty King James 

 made great use of tin's talent of his. Mr. Touars, an ingenious gentleman, who understood painting 

 well, and did travell beyond sea to buy rare pieces for his lordship, had a pension of lOOli. per 

 annum. Mr. Richard Gibson, the dwarfe, whose marriage Mr. Edm. Waller hath celebrated in 

 his poems, sc. the Marriage of the Dwarfs, a great master in miniture, hath a pension of an hun- 

 dred pounds per annum. Mr. Philip Massinger, author of severall good playes, was a servant to 

 his lordship, and had a pension of twenty or thirty pounds per annum, which was payed to liis wife 

 after his decease. She lived at Cardiffe, in Glamorganshire. There were others also had pensions, 

 that I have forgot 



[ Arthur Massinger, the father of the poet, was attached to the establishment of the Earl of Pem- 

 broke ; and Gifford, in his Life of Massinger, seems inclined to think that Philip was bom at Wilton. 

 He was baptized in St. Thomas's Church, Salisbury, 24 Nov. 1583. His biographers have all been 

 ignorant of the fact above recorded by Aubrey. A brief memoir of the life of Massinger will be 

 found in Hatcher's History of Salisbury, p. 619. J. B.] 



William (third) and Philip (third) carles were gallant, noble persons, and handsome; they 

 espoused not learning, but were addicted to field sports and hospitality. But Thomas Earle of Pem- 

 broke has the vertues and good parts of his ancestors concentred in him ; which his lordsliip hath 

 not been wanting to cultivate and improve by study and travell ; which make his titles shine more 

 bright. He is an honour to the peerage, and a glory and a blessing to his country : but Ins reall 

 worth best speakes him, and it praises him in the gates. 



* (William, Governor afterwards to y e now E. of Oxford. J. EVELYN.) 



