THE LIFE

OF

SIR EDWARD COKE.

CHAPTER I.

1616-1617.

Coke anxious to be restored to the favour of the court-The quarrel between Secretary Winwood and the Chancellor Bacon-Proposes a marriage between his daughter Frances and Sir John Villiers, Buckingham's brother-Lady Hatton opposes the match-Carries her daughter off-Coke discovers her retreat, and recovers possession of her-Both Coke and his wife complain to the Privy Council-Memorial written for Lady Hatton-Lady Hatton a court beauty-Her conduct to Sir Edward Coke after his disgrace-Notices of them in the gossiping letters of that period-Letter of Lady Hatton to the Privy Council-Is out of favour at courtPetition to the King-Letters of Lady Hatton to Buckingham -To the King-Again restored to favour at court-Ben Jonson's "Masque of Beauty"-Coke addresses a letter to Buckingham,―states the portion he intends to give his daughter, and what Lady Hatton will give -Lady Hatton's letter to Buckingham.

We now arrive at that part of Sir Edward Coke's career which is, in every point of view, unsatis

VOL. II.

B

factory to his biographer. He was now in his sixty seventh year,-a period when the mind usually begins to fall away from the high tone which characterises the middle age of life;-a period when the slights of the world, or the frowns of a patron, are felt with all the acuteness and despondency of childhood. That Coke felt very sensibly his removal from office, is certain; he had evidently not sufficient consolation in the reflection, that his dismissal was undeserved, and his discharge an outrage upon the justice of the land; consequently, he was alive to every expedient which would again procure him the smiles of the court, and it was with much satisfaction that he heard of the quarrel between SeChancellor Bacon,

cretary Winwood and the which occurred in 1616. It was obvious that Winwood would now gladly co-operate in any scheme which would lessen the power of his enemy; and he could no where find a coadjutor so zealous or so talented as Coke.

Marriages have, in all ages, been employed to strengthen political interests; and in Coke's days the marriage of a child or ward was regarded as a regular territorial perquisite, to which every lord of a manor was clearly entitled, even upon the marriage of his tenant's orphan children. That Coke viewed these marriages as

mere matters of bargain, is shewn by the way in which he now proposed the espousal of his youngest daughter by the Lady Hatton, Frances Coke, to Sir John Villiers. This event arose in 1617, the year after his disgrace, since which he had been living in retirement, at his seat at Stoke in Buckinghamshire.

Coke gladly proposed, through Winwood, this marriage to the favourite Buckingham; for Sir John Villiers was Buckingham's eldest brother. An account of this proposal being written to Buckingham, then on a progress with the King in Scotland, the offer was very readily accepted. The Lady Frances Coke was only about fourteen years of age; and her inclination in this affair was never thought of, nor was even her mother consulted in the match. Coke considered only one darling object-how to recover his interest at court; and for this he was evidently willing to make any sacrifice.

Lady Hatton, indignant at this unfeeling conduct, carried off the Lady Frances, and secreted her first at Sir Edmund Withipole's house, near Oatlands, and then at a house of Lord Argyle's, near Hampton Court. Coke, who was violently enraged at this spirited resolution, immediately desired Buckingham to procure a warrant from the privy council, for the restoration of his daughter. But

before this could be procured, having discovered the place of her retreat, he proceeded with his sons to Oatlands, and carried her away by force; breaking through several doors, before he could obtain her.*

Upon this, Lady Hatton, following her husband's foolish example, indignantly complained of the outrage;—to the privy council thus making public a family feud, which highly amused the lovers of scandal, and long occupied their attention. Bacon, too, strenuously opposed the proposed union; for he saw the important object which Coke had in view, and the advantages which his great rival would probably derive from its accomplishment. His instant and powerful opposition, therefore, drew upon him the indignation of Buckingham, and Lady Compton, Buckingham's mother.†

Bacon, nothing daunted, stoutly continued his opposition, and encouraged the attorney-general, Yelverton, to file an information in the Court of Star Chamber against Coke, for thus violently carrying off his own daughter.

This proceeding was soon rendered unnecessary, by the Ladies Compton and Hatton being recon

*Nicholl's Progresses of James I. vol iii, p. 371.

+ See Stephen's Introduction to Bacon's Letters, p. 43.

ciled by the kind offices of their mutual friends. Lady Hatton speedily after came to an understanding with Sir Edward Coke, and the Star chamber prosecution was, in consequence, suspended.

Many and bitter were the debates, before this apparent reconciliation took place. As is usual in all family contentions, there was no lack of an interchange of sarcastic observations, and caustic remarks.

There is, in the Harleian manuscripts, a letter written on the 10th of July, 1617, "to my Lady Hatton," which contains some curious details. It is worth the perusal. This memorial probably was written by the confidential adviser of Lady Hatton, to furnish her with arguments when before the privy council. "The forcible simplicity of the style in domestic details," says Mr. D'Israeli," will show what I have often observed -that our language has not advanced in expression since the age of James the First.”*

My copy of this eloquent letter is from the original in the Harleian manuscripts.

"Madam,

Seeing that these people speak no language but thunder and lightning, accounting this the

* Curiosities of Literature, vol. i, p. 394.