In Rome and Naples I did view
  Faces of celestial hue;
  Venetian dames I have seen many,
  (I only saw them, truck’d not any)
  Of Spanish beauties, Dutch and French,
  I have beheld the quintessence[3]: 
    Yet saw I none that could out-shine,
    Or parallel my Valentine.

  Th’ Italians they are coy and quaint. 
  But they grosly daub and paint;
  The Spanish kind, and apt to please,
  But fav’ring of the same disease: 
  Of Dutch and French some few are comely,
  The French are light, the Dutch are homely. 
    Let Tagus, Po, the Loire and Rhine
    Then veil unto my Valentine.

Footnotes:  1.  Langbaine’s Lives of the Poets. 2.  Athen.  Oxon. p. 281. vol. ii. 3.  Bad rhimes were uncommon with the poets of Howel’s time.

* * * * *

Sir Richard Fanshaw

Was the youngest, and tenth son of Sir Henry Fanshaw of Ware-park in Hertfordshire; he was born in the year 1607, and was initiated in learning by the famous Thomas Farnaby.  He afterwards compleated his studies in the university of Cambridge, and from thence went to travel into foreign countries, by which means he became a very accomplished gentleman.  In 1635 he was patronized by King Charles I. on account of his early and promising abilities; he took him into his service, and appointed him resident at the court of Spain[1].  During his embassy there, his chief business was, to demand reparation and punishment of some free-booters, who had taken ships from the English, and to endeavour the restoration of amity, trade and commerce.

When the civil war broke out, he returned to England, having accomplished the purposes of his embassy abroad, and attached himself with the utmost zeal to the Royal Standard; and during those calamitous times was intrusted with many important matters of state.

In 1644, attending the court at Oxford, the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws was conferred upon him[2], and the reputation of his parts every day increasing, he was thought a proper person to be secretary to Charles, Prince of Wales, whom he attended into the Western parts of England, and from thence into the Isles of Scilly and Jersey.

In 1648 he was appointed treasurer of the navy, under the command of Prince Rupert, in which office he continued till the year 1650, when he was created a baronet by King Charles ii. and sent envoy extraordinary to the court of Spain.  Being recalled thence into Scotland, where the King then was, he served there in quality of secretary of state, to the satisfaction of all parties, notwithstanding he refused to take the covenant engagements, which Charles ii. forced by the importunity of the Presbyterians, entered into, with a resolution to break them.  In 1651 he was made prisoner at the battle of Worcester and committed to close custody in London, where he continued, ’till his confinement introduced a very dangerous sickness; he then had liberty granted him, upon giving bail, to go for the recovery of his health, into any place he should chuse, provided he stirred not five miles from thence, without leave from the Parliament.