[ ] WALL E R. DMUND WALLER was born on the third of March, 1605, at Colfhill in Hertfordshire. His father was Robert Waller, Efquire, of Agmondesham in Buckinghamfhire, whofe family was originally a branch of the Kentish Wallers; and his mother was the daughter of John Hampden, of Hampden in the fame county, and fifter to Hampden, the zealot of rebellion. His father died while he was yet an infant, but left him a yearly income of three thousand five hundred pounds; which, rating together the value of money and the customs of life, we may reckon more than equivalent to ten thousand at the present time. He was educated, by the care of his mother, at Eaton; and removed afterwards to King's VOL. II. B College College in Cambridge. He was fent to parliament in his eighteenth, if not in his fixteenth year, and frequented the court of James the Firft, where he heard a very remarkable converfation, which the writer of the Life prefixed to his Works, who feems to have been well informed of facts, though he may fometimes err in chronology, has delivered as indubitably certain: "He found Dr. Andrews, bishop of Win"chefter, and Dr. Neale, bishop of Durham, ftanding behind his Majefty's chair; and "there happened fomething extraordinary," continues this writer," in the converfation "thofe prelates had with the king, on which "Mr. Waller did often reflect. His Majefty "afked the bishops, "My Lords, cannot I "take my subjects money, when I want it, "without all this formality of parliament?" "The bishop of Durham readily answered, "God forbid, Sir, but you fhould you are "the breath of our noftrils Whereupon the 66 King turned and said to the bishop of Win"chefter, "Well, my Lord, what fay you?" "Sir,' replied the bishop, I have no skill to "judge of parliamentary cafes.' The King "anfwered, |