He improved tafte, if he did not enlarge knowledge, and may be numbered among the benefactors to English literature.

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ROCHESTE R.

OHN WILMOT, afterwards

JOH

earl of Rochester, the fon of Henry

earl of Rochester, better known by the title of Lord Wilmot, fo often mentioned in Clarendon's Hiftory, was born in April, 1648, at Ditchley in Oxfordfhire. After a grammatical education at the school of Burford, he entered a nobleman into Wadham College in 1659, only eleven years old; and in 1661, at thirteen, was, with fome other perfons

of high rank, made master of arts by lord Clarendon in perfon.

He travelled afterwards into France and Italy; and, at his return, devoted himself to a Court. In 1665 he went to fea with Sandwich, and diftinguished himself at Bergen by uncommon intrepidity; and the next fummer ferved again on board Sir Edward Spragge, who, in the heat of the engagement, having a meffage of reproof to fend to one of his captains, could find no man ready to carry it but Wilmot, who, in an open boat, went and returned amidst the ftorm of fhot.

But his reputation for bravery was not lafting he was reproached with flinking away in ftreet quarrels, and

leaving

leaving his companions to fhift as they could without him; and Sheffield duke of Buckingham has left a ftory of his refusal to fight him.

He had very early an inclination to intemperance, which he totally fubdued in his travels; but when he became a courtier, he unhappily addicted himself to diffolute and vitious company, by which his principles were corrupted, and his manners depraved. He lost all fenfe of religious restraint; and, finding it not convenient to admit the authority of laws which he was refolved not to obey, fheltered his wickedness behind infidelity.

As he excelled in that noify and licentious merriment which wine incites,