Page images
PDF
EPUB

their fine. Instead, however, of exerting themselves in the cause of friendship, they are said to have begged the amount from the King for themselves, and actually to have extorted it to the last penny.

Another unwarrantable exploit of Sir Charles Sedley is related by Oldys, in his MS. notes to Langbaine. "There was a great resemblance," he says, "in the shape and features, between him and Kynaston the actor, who once got some laced clothes made exactly after a suit Sir Charles wore, who therefore got him well caned. Sir Charles's emissary pretending to take Kynaston for Sir Charles, quarrelled with him in St. James's Park, and beat him as Sir Charles. When some of his friends, in pity to the man, reproved Sir Charles for it, he told them that they misplaced their pity, and that it was himself they should bestow it on; that Kynaston's bones would not suffer so much as his reputation; for all the town believed it was him that was thrashed, and suffered such a public disgrace."

To have been mistaken for Kynaston could scarcely have conveyed a reproach. He was the handsomest man of his time, and his celebrity as an actor has scarcely yet faded. Before it was the fashion to admit women on the stage, he was generally selected, from the exceeeding delicacy of his features, for the personification of female characters. Later in life, we are surprised to hear of his "lion-like majesty" in "Don Sebastian," and of his representation of a tyrant being "truly terrible."

In connection with Kynaston's delineation of female characters, an amusing anecdote is related. Charles the Second, happening one evening to enter the theatre rather earlier than usual, found the actors unprepared to commence their parts. A messenger was of course despatched to inquire the reason of the delay, on which the

manager immediately presented himself before the royal box. Believing, from his knowledge of the King's character, that the best excuse would be the true one, he fairly told his Majesty that the Queen was not yet shaved. Charles, with his usual good-humour, was amused at the excuse, which entertained him till the performances commenced. "In a word," says Colley Cibber, the relator of the anecdote, "Kynaston at that time was so beautiful a youth, that the ladies of quality prided themselves in taking him with them in their coaches to Hyde Park, in his theatrical habit, after the play; which, in those days, they might have sufficient time to do, because plays then were used to begin at four o'clock, the hour that people of the same rank are now going to dinner."*

To return to Sir Charles Sedley. A happy revolution of conduct is said to have followed his unfortunate exploit in Bow Street. He is described as having suddenly become more serious, and as henceforth applying himself sedulously to business. In the Long Parliament we find him returned as the representative of New Romney, in Kent; and also, a second time, in the reign of James the Second, when he distinguished himself by his opposition to the Court. He seems to have been a frequent speaker during the reign of King William. In 1691, on a motion upon the Civil List, we find him inveighing against exorbitant pensions and unnecessary salaries; the patriot not unprobably having been disappointed in securing either one or the other. His speeches, or at least quite a sufficient number of them, will be found among his "Works."

*The date of Kynaston's death is unknown; he continued on the stage, however, till the latter end of the reign of King William, or the commencement of the reign of Queen Anne.

Sir Charles, as is well known, was the father of the famous Catherine Sedley, afterwards Countess of Dorchester, whose story will be related in our Memoirs of the following reign. Sedley, libertine as he was, is said to have been so shocked at the disreputable connection between his daughter and King James, that, although indebted to his sovereign for many favours, he promoted the Revolution with so much eagerness, that his patriotism was thought to have originated in private rancour. After William and Mary had mounted the throne, Sedley was one day asked why he appeared so inflamed against the late King, to whom he had been under so many obligations ?" I hate ingratitude," he said, "and therefore, as the King has made my daughter a Countess, I will endeavour to make his daughter a Queen."

Sir Charles Sedley is commonly reported to have died about the year 1722, at the age of eighty-two or eightythree. Without, however, making any attempt to fix the actual date of his decease, it may be mentioned that this is evidently a mistake. In the edition of his works published by his friend and relative Captain Ayloffe, in 1702, the latter, throughout his preface, distinctly speaks of the poet as being no more. Ayloffe pays a pleasing tribute to the friend whom he has lost. "He was a man," he says, "of the first class of wit and gallantry; his friendship was courted by everybody; and nobody went out of his company but pleased and improved; time added but very little to Nature, and he was everything that an English gentleman could be. The correct date of Sir Charles Sedley's death seems to be the 20th August, 1701.

* Biog. Brit., Cibber's Lives of the Poets.

Sir Charles had only one daughter born in wedlock; the too celebrated lady whom we have already mentioned. He was the father, however, of three natural children; a son, who bore the name of Charles Sedley, alias Ascough, and two daughters. On his natural children he settled a portion of some estates, which he possessed both in Kent and Essex.*

* Oldys, MS. notes to Langbaine, p. 486.

333

THOMAS KILLEGREW.

Killegrew's Position as a Courtier-Appointed Resident of Charles II., at Venice-The Venetians are scandalised at his Vices-His questionable Loyalty-His Dramatic Writings-His Appointment as "King's Jester"-Exercises a praise-worthy Influence over Charles-Anecdotes-His son, Henry Killegrew the youngerLibertinism of this Person-He is twice personally Chastised— Notice of Sir William Killegrew - Of Dr. Henry Killegrew-Anecdote of the latter-His gifted Daughter, Anne KillegrewHer Genius for Poetry and Painting-Her Death-Notice of the last of the Killegrews.

THE name of Killegrew is a familar one in the annals of the Court of England from the reign of Henry the Eighth to that of the second James. The subject of the present memoir was the son of Sir Robert Killegrew, Chamberlain to Queen Henrietta Maria. He was born at Hanworth, in Middlesex, in February, 1611. The interest of his father at Court obtained his appointment as page of honour to Charles the First, and, as he ever continued a favourite with that virtuous monarch, it is improbable that the profligacy, for which he was afterwards so notorious, should have been early imbibed, or, at least, that it was at this time prominently exhibited.

During the exile of Charles the Second, Killegrew was not only in constant attendance on his person, but appears to have been the principal panderer to his pleasures. In 1651, notwithstanding the opposition of the King's advisers, he was appointed by Charles his Resi

« PreviousContinue »