Perhaps the most amusing of Lucas’s _Lives_ is that of Richard Bourchier—about whom I extract the following anecdotes. “Fortune not favouring Mr _Bourchier_ always alike, he was reduced to such a very low Ebb, that, before he was Four-and-twenty, he was obliged to be a Footman to the Right Honourable the Earl of _Mulgrave_, now Duke of _Buckingham_; in this Nobleman’s Service he wore a Livery above a year and a half, when, by his genteel Carriage and Mien, marrying one Mrs _Elizabeth_ Gossinn, a Lace Woman’s Grand Daughter, in _Exeter Change_ in the _Strand_, with whom he had about 150 Pounds; it being then the solemn Festival of _Christmas_, in the Twelve Days whereof, great Raffling was then wont to be kept in the _Temple_, he carried his Wife’s Portion thither to improve it, but was so unsuccessful as to lose every Farthing. This ill Luck made Mr _Bourchier_ Stark Mad; but, borrowing 20 Pounds of a Friend, he went to the _Temple_ again, but had first bought a Twopenny Cord to hang himself, in case he lost that too: but the Dice turning on his side, and having won his own Money back again, and as much more to it, of one particular Gentleman who was now fretting and fuming in as bad manner as _Bourchier_ was before, he very courteously pull’d the cord out of his pocket, and giving it to the Loser, said, _Having now, Sir, no occasion for this Implement myself, it is at your Service with all my Heart_: Which bantering expression made the Gentleman look very sour upon the Winner, who carried off his booty whilst he was well.” He grew prosperous, and got into high society, as bookmakers and others now do at Horse Races; for we find that “being at the _Groom Porter’s_, he flung one Main with the Earl of _Mulgrave_ for £500, which he won; and his Honour, looking wistly at him, quoth he: _I believe I should know you. Yes_, (replied the winner), _your Lordship must have some knowledge of me, for my Name is_ Dick Bourchier, _who was once your Footman_. Whereupon, his Lordship, supposing that he was not in a Capacity of paying 500 pounds in case he had lost, cry’d out, _A Bite, A Bite_. But the _Groom Porter_ assuring his Honour that Mr _Bourchier_ was able to have paid 1000 pounds, provided his Lordship had won such a sum, he paid him what he plaid for, without any farther Scruple.”