HERBERT, William, earl of Pembroke, was born at Wilton in Wiltshire, 1580; and admitted to New-college in Oxford in 1592, where he continued about two years. In 1601 he succeeded to his father's honours and estate; was made K. G. in 1604; and governor of Portsmouth six years after. In 1626, he was elected chancellor of the university of Oxford: and about the same time made lord steward of the king's household. He died suddenly at his house called Baynard's castle, in London, April 10. 1630; according to the calculation of his nativity, says Wood, made several years before by Mr Thomas Allen of Gloucesterhall. Clarendon relates concerning this calculation, that some considerable persons connected with Lord Pembroke being met at Maidenhead, one of them at supper drank a health to the lord steward; upon which another said, that he believed his lordship was at that time very merry; for he had now outlived the day, which it had been prognosticated upon his nativity he would not outlive; but he had outlived it now, for that was his birth day, which had completed his age to 50 years. The next morning, however, they received the news of his death. Whether the noble historian really believed this and other accounts relating to astrology, apparitions, providential interpositions,
&c. which he has inserted in his history, we do not presume to say: he delivers them, however, as if he did not actually disbelieve them. Lord Pembroke was not only a great favourer of learned and ingenious men, but was himself learned, and endowed with a considerable share of poetic genius. All that are extant of his productions in this way were published with this title: "Poems written by William earl of Pembroke, &c. many of which are answered by way of repartee by Sir Benjamin Rudyard, with other poems written by them occasionally and apart," 1669, 8vo.