Sir _THOMAS OVERBURY_.


Sir _Thomas Overbury_, a Knight and Wit, was Son to Sir _Nicholas
Overbury_ of _Burton_ in _Glocester-shire_, one of the Judges of the
Marches; who, to his natural propension of ingenuity, had the addition
of good Education, being bred up first in _Oxford_, afterwards, for a
while a Student of the Law in the _Middle Temple_; soon after he cast
Anchor at Court, the Haven of Hope for all aspiring Spirits; afterwards
travell'd into _France_, where having been some time, he returned
again, and was entertained into the respects of Sir _Rob. Carre_, one
who was newly initiated a Favourite to King _James_; where, by his wise
carriage, he purchased to himself not only the good affection and
respect of Sir _Robert_, but also of divers other eminent persons.

During his abode with Sir _Robert Carre_, he composed that excellent
Poem of his, entituled, _A Wife_; which, for the excellency thereof,
the Author of the Epistle to the Reader, prefixed before his Book, thus
writes, _Had such a Poem been extant among the ancient_ Romans, _altho'
they wanted our easie conservation of Wit by Printing, they would have
committed it to Brass, lest injurious time might deprive it of due
eternity_. Nor was his Poem of _A Wife_ not only done to the life, but
also those Characters which he wrote, to this day not out-witted by
any.

But to return from the Work to the Workman; Mr. _Overbury_ is by the
King knighted, and Sir _Rob. Carre_ made a Viscount, and such a