Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/270

 (1821), but his principal work was a translation from Mosheim of the Affairs of the Christians before the time of Constantine, in 3 vols. (1813—35). He died 21 Nov. 1841, leaving by his will a sum for the foundation of two scholarships at St. John's College, Cambridge.

Admitted 1 March, 1617-8.

Second son (by his first wife) of Sir George Villiers of Brooksby, Leicestershire. He was admitted the same day as, Duke of Buckingham (q.v.), of whom he was the half-brother. He was knighted 7 Sept. 1616, and in 1617 became Master of the Mint, and the following year Comptroller of the Court of Wards. In 1620 he was sent on a mission to the Elector Frederick, and in 1624-5 appointed President of Munster. He died in Ireland 7 Sept. 1626, "to the grief of the whole province."

Admitted 1 March, 1617-8.

Second son (by his second wife) of Sir George Villiers of Brooksby in Leicestershire. He was born on 28 Aug. 1592. His career from his first introduction to James I. to his assassination by Felton, 23 Aug. 1628, is matter of public history. In 1613 he became Cup-bearer to the King. Two years later he was knighted. He then became Master of the Horse, was created a Baron and Viscount, and honoured with the Garter. In 1616 he was made Earl of Buckingham and admitted to the Privy Council. The next year be became Marquess (the title given to him in the entry in the Register), Lord High Admiral of England, Master of the King's Bench Office, Chief Justice in Eyre, Steward of Westminster and Constable of Windsor Castle. The ducal title was bestowed upon him during his absence in Spain in 1623.

Admitted 21 February, 1664-5.

Second son of George Villiers, first duke. He was born at Wallingford House, Westminster, on 30 Jan. 1627-8, and was therefore thirty-six years of age at the time of his admission, the Duke of Monmouth (q.v.), who was admitted the same day, being fourteen. During the Civil War he was deprived of his estate by Parliament; but a great portion of it was restored in 1657 on his marriage with the daughter of Lord Fairfax. At the Restoration the honours he previously held were reconferred upon him; but in 1666 he was deprived of them for being concerned in a plot against the Government. He was again restored to favour, and, in spite of his crimes and vices, retained the royal favour to the last. He died 16 April, 1687, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

He is the original of "Zimri" in Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel. He possessed considerable literary abilities, and wrote The Rehearsal, a Comedy (1672); The Battle of Sedyemoor, a Farce; Speech in Parliament (A.D. 1675); Discourse upon the Reasonableness of Men having a Religion (1685); Satyr against Mankind; The Chances, a Comedy (1692). His miscellaneous works were first collected and published in 1704.