FRANCES HOWARD,

DUCHESS. OF SOMERSET.

THE history of the life of this unfortunate beauty is a record of sin, shame, and wretchedness. The daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Chamberlain to King James, her birth placed her amongst the highest in the kingdom, and the remarkable loveliness of her person rendered her conspicuous at a very early age. According to the custom of that day, a marriage was formed for her, when she had scarcely passed the age of infancy, and the bridegroom selected was the Earl of Essex, a mere child also.

Her young husband, immediately after the ceremony which sealed their fates, proceeded to the university, and from thence abroad, while his wife returned to the care of her mother-a woman of bad principles and tarnished reputation, and imbued with all the vanities of that vainest and most thoughtless of periods. All that education and

attention to ornamental accomplishments could do to render Frances Howard attractive, was attended to most scrupulously; but all the moral qualities were allowed to lie dormant, or were suppressed, if apparent, as likely to interfere with her success in the world. It is, however, somewhat strange, that a friend of her father's describes her as "of the best nature, and sweetest disposition" of all Lord Suffolk's children.

When the young Lady Essex appeared at Court, she became a rage-a passion; to admire and sigh for her was expected of every gallant who had any pretensions to fashion or taste. Her wit and repartie, her grace, elegance, brilliancy, and exquisite beauty, were the theme of every tongue. Her mother was delighted at her success, and enjoyed her triumphs; and she herself, intoxicated at the homage paid her, lived in a paradise of vain-glory, and exulted to see the world at her feet. Amongst her many conquests, the most distinguished, was Prince Henry himself, who, young as he was, and prudent, and reserved, was said to be unable to guard his heart from the fascination of her smile.

In the midst of her idle exultation, encouraged and excited by her mother-the person of all others who should have foreseen its danger, and guarded her against it-the remembrance would sometimes intrude on her, that she was a married woman, and that the time must come when her husband would return to claim her; but she dismissed the

subject from her mind as quickly as she could, and allowed no consideration to prevent her career of gaiety and thoughtlessness. There were few examples at Court fitted to teach her prudence; the Queen seemed to live only for amusement, and rumours of her former imprudence when in Scotland, tended but little to raise her character; add to which, the contempt she openly evinced for her royal husband, and his unpleasing qualities, gave young Frances but small reason to respect the holy state into which her friends had betrayed her, without teaching her its duties.

At this time she shared the admiration of the Court with one whom accidental circumstances had placed in almost the highest position in the kingdom. King James, careless of his wife, and cold to his children, had always devoted himself to some weak fancy for a favourite, for whom he sacrificed all considerations, doting in the most childish manner, and rendering himself ridiculous by his indulgence and unmanly fondness. The reigning favourite, at the time when Frances Howard shone forth in all the splendour of her youthful charms, was Robert Carr, a young man who had formerly been in the king's service as a page, and whose father had suffered much in the cause of Mary Stuart. James had, however, lost sight of him, till an event brought him back to his recollection, and introduced him in a manner that made an indelible impression.