Sir Charles Sedley (1639-1701) was the son of Sir John Sedley, Bart., of Aylesford; his mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Savile, the famous provost of Eton. He was admit ed a fellow-commoner of Wadham College, Oxford, in 1656, but left without taking a degree, and early in 1657 had married Catherine, the daughter of Earl Rivers. He withdrew to Aylesford and lived there quietly till the Restoration, when he came to court and was extremely well received by Charles II., who liked his jolly temper and reckless wit. He was the scandal of a scandalous age, for his gross and impudent frolics, but after a very serious riot in 1663, Sedley took life a little more gravely. He entered politics as M.P. for New Romney, in 1668, and for the rest of his life he was usually in Parliament. His comedy of The Mulberry Garden, his best play, enjoyed a a great success in 1668. James II. made Sedley's daughter his mistress, and created her Countess of Dorchester; "this honour, so far from pleasing, greatly shocked Sir Charles." He determined to aid William of Orange, and wittily said: "As the King has made my daughter [Catherine] William III. a countess, I will endeavour to make his daughter [Mary] a queen, for I hate ingratitude." He had the pleasure of seeing his wishes gratified. Sedley died on the 20th of August 1701. He was a very sparkling talker, and a gay, agreeable companion; and, with Rochester, one of the best song-writers of the age. SONG BY SIR CHARLES SEDLEY. Phillis is my only joy, Faithless as the winds or seas, If with a frown I am cast down, Makes me happier than before. Though alas! too late I find I can't get free, She deceiving, I believing, What need lovers wish for more. William Wycherley (1640-1715) was the son of a Shropshire country gentleman, Wycherley Daniel Wycherley, of Clive, where he is said to have been born in 1640. In 1655 he was taken to France to be educated, and for some years "he resided upon the banks of the Charente." A precocious and handsome boy, he was admitted into the society of the French court, and became a Roman Catholic. At the Restoration he returned to England and the English Church; he became first a student of the Inner Temple, and then a gentleman-commoner of Queen's College, Oxford, where he lived in the Provost's lodge. He left the University without taking a degree, and coming up to London threw himself into such a career of gaiety as the new reign had opened to any young man of quality and wealth. He was at one time a soldier serving in the Dutch War. It is difficult, however, to conjecture what his occupations may have been until 1671, when he produced at Drury Lane his first work, the comedy of Love in a Wood. This was a very great success, and introduced Wycherley not merely to his fellow-poets but to various great ladies, among whom the Duchess of Cleveland was the most prominent. A coarse but picturesque anecdote recounts the manner in which the latter bestowed her favour upon Wycherley, and exemplifies that readiness of badinage which we learn was one of his most dazzling ornaments. The liaison between Wycherley and the Duchess "made a great noise in the town," and excited the jealousy of the Duke of Buckingham, who threatened to ruin the poet. A meeting between them was, however, contrived, and the Duke succumbed to VOL. III. L |