friendship。 His majesty's regard for Wycherley gradually ripened； and once when he lay ill of fever at his lodgings in Bow Street； Covent Garden； the merry monarch visited him； cheered him with words of kindness； and promised he would send him to Montpelier when he was well enough to travel。 For this good purpose Charles sent him five hundred pounds； and Wycherley spent the winter of 1679 abroad。
Previous to this date he had written； besides his first comedy； three others which had been received with great favour by the town； viz。； 〃The Gentleman Dancing Master；〃 〃The Country Wife；〃 and 〃The Plain Dealer。〃 Soon after his return to England the crisis of his life arrived； and he married。 His introduction to the lady whom fate ordained to become his wife is not the least singular episode in a remarkable biography。 Being at Tunbridge Wells； then a place of fashion and liberty； he was one day walking with a friend named Fairbeard。 And it happened as they were passing a book…stall they overheard a gentlewoman inquire for the 〃Plain Dealer。〃
〃Madam；〃 says Mr。 Fairbeard； uncovering； 〃since you are for the 'Plain Dealer；' there he is for you；〃 whereon he led Wycherley towards her。
〃This lady；〃 says that gentleman； making her a profound bow； 〃can bear plain speaking； for she appears to be so accomplished； that what would be compliment said to others； spoken to her would be plain dealing。〃
〃No truly； sir；〃 replied the lady； 〃I am not without my faults； like the rest of my sex； and yet； notwithstanding all my faults； I love plain dealing； and never am more fond of it than when it points out my errors。〃
〃Then； madam；〃 said Mr。 Fairbeard； 〃you and the plain dealer seem designed by heaven for each other。〃
These pretty speeches having been delivered and received with every mark of civility； Mr。 Wycherley made his exit with the lady； who was none other than the Countess of Drogheda； a young widow gifted with beauty and endowed by fortune。 Day by day he waited on her at her lodging； accompanied her in her walks； and attended her to the assemblies。 Finally； when she returned to town he married her。 It is sad yet true the union did not result in perfect happiness。 Mr。 Wycherley had a reputation for gallantry； the Countess of Drogheda was the victim of suspicion。 Knowing jealousy is beget by love； and mindful of sacrifices she had made in marrying him； Wycherley behaved towards her with much kindness。 In compliance with her wishes he desisted visiting the court； a place she probably knew from experience was rife with temptation； and moreover when he cracked a bottle of wine with convivial friends at the Cock Tavern； opposite his lodgings in Bow Street； he； for the greater satisfaction of his wife； would leave the windows open of the room in which he sat； that she might from the vantage ground of her home see there were no hussies in the company。
As proof of her love； she； when dying； settled her fortune upon him； but unhappily his just right was disputed by her family。 The case therefore went into litigation； for the expenses of which； together with other debts； Wycherley was cast into prison。 Here the brilliant wit； clever writer； and boon companion； was allowed to remain seven long years。 When released from this vile bondage； another king than the merry monarch occupied the English throne。
The name of Andrew Marvel is inseparably connected with this period。 He was born in the year 1620 in the town of Kingston… upon…Hull； his father being a clever school…master； worthy minister； and 〃an excellent preacher； who never broached what he had never brewed； but that which he had studied some compitent time before。〃 At the age of fifteen； Andrew Marvell was sent to Trinity College； Cambridge。 But he had not long been there when he withdrew himself； lured； as some authorities state； by wiles of the wicked Jesuits； repulsed； as others say； by severities of the head of his college。 Leaving the university； he set out for London； where his father； who hastened thither in search of him； found him examining some old volumes on a book…stall。 He was prevailed to return to his college； where； in 1638； he took his degree as bachelor of arts。
On the completion of his studies and death of his father； he travelled through Holland； France； and Italy。 Whilst abroad he began to produce those satirical verses such as were destined to render him famous。 One of his earliest efforts in this direction was aimed at the Abbe de Maniban； a learned ecclesiastic； whose chief fault in Marvell's eyes lay in the fact of his professing to judge characters from handwriting。
Whilst in Italy； Andrew Marvell met John Milton； and they having many tastes and convictions in common； became fast friends。 In 1653； the former returned to England； and for some time acted as tutor to Mistress Fairfax； he being an excellent scholar； and a great master of the Latin tongue。 He now led a peaceful and obscure life until 1657。 In that year； Milton； 〃laying aside；〃 as he wrote； 〃those jealousies； and that emulation which mine own condition might suggest to me；〃 introduced him to Bradshaw； soon after which he was made assistant…secretary to Milton； who was then in the service of Cromwell。
He had not been long engaged in this capacity； when the usurper died； and Marvell's occupation being gone； the goodly burgesses of the town of Hull； who loved him well； elected him as their representative in parliament； for which service； in accordance with a custom of the time； he was paid。 The salary； it is true； was not large； amounting to two shillings a day for borough members； yet when kindly feeling and honest satisfaction mutually existed between elector and representative； as in Marvell's case； the wage was at times supplemented by such acceptable additions as home…cured pork and home…brewed ale； 〃We must first give you thanks；〃 wrote Marvell on one occasion to his constituents； on the receipt of a cask of beer； 〃for the kind present you have pleased to send us； which will give occasion to us to remember you often； but the quantity is so great； that it might make sober men forgetful。〃
He now； in the warfare of political life； made free use of his keen wit and bitter sarcasm as serviceable weapons。 These were chiefly employed in exposing measures he considered calculated to ruin the country； though they might gratify the king。 However； he had no hatred of monarchy； but would occasionally divert Charles by the sharpness of his satire and brilliancy of his wit。 Considering how valuable these would be if employed in service of the court； Charles resolved to tempt Marvell's integrity。 For this purpose the Lord Treasurer Danby sought and found him in his chamber； situated in the second floor of a mean house standing in a court off the Strand。 Groping his way up the dark and narrow staircase of the domicile； the great minister stumbled； and falling against a door； was precipitated into Marvell's apartment； head foremost。 Surprised at his appearance； the satirist asked my Lord Danby if he had not mistaken his way。 〃No；〃 said the courtier with a bow； 〃not since I have found Mr。 Marvell。〃 He then proceeded to tell him that the king； being impressed by a high sense of his abilities； was desirous of serving him。 Apprehending what services were expected in return； Marvell answered that he who accepted favours from the court was bound to vote in its interests。 〃Nay；〃 said my lord； 〃his majesty but desires to know if there is any place at court you would accept。〃 On which Marvell replied he could receive nothing with honour； for either he must treat the king with ingratitude by refusing compliance with court measures； or be a traitor to his country by yielding to them。 The only favour he therefore begged was； that his majesty would esteem him a loyal subject； the truer to his interests in refusing his offers than he would be by accepting them。 It is stated that Lord Danby； surprised at so much purity in an age of corruption； furthermore tempted him with a bag of gold； which Marvell obstinately refused to accept。
He died suddenly in the year 1678； leaving behind him a reputation for humour and satire which has rarely been excelled。
Besides these poets and dramatists； there were other great men； who as prose writers； helped to render the literary history of the period remarkable for its brilliancy。 Amongst these were Lord Clarendon； High Chancellor of England； concerning whom much has already been said； and Thomas Hobbs of Malmesbury； better known as author of 〃The History of the Causes of the Civil War；〃 and of 〃Human Nature；〃 than as a translator of the Iliad and the Odyssey。 Dr。 Gilbert Burnet； author of 〃The History of his Own Times；〃 and Dr。 Ralph Cudworth； author of 〃The True Intellectual System of the Universe；〃 were likewise men of note。 But one whose name is far more familiar than any writer of his time is John Bunyan； author of 〃The Pilgrim's Progress。〃
He was the son of a tinker； and was born within a mile of Bedford town in the year 1628。 He imbibed at an early age the spirit of Puritanism； fought in the civil wars； took to himself a wife； and turned preacher。 Six months after the merry monarch landed； Bunyan was flung into Bedford gaol； where； r