Francis Beaumont (1584-1616).
[361]Mr. Francis Beaumont was the son of Judge Beaumont[362]. There was a wonderfull consimility of phansey[XIX.] between him and Mr. John Fletcher, which caused that dearnesse of frendship between them.
Utrumque nostrum[363] incredibili modo
Consentit astrum.
Horace, lib. 2, ode 17.
I thinke they were both of Queen's College in Cambridge.
I have heard Dr. John Earles (since bishop of Sarum), who knew them, say that his maine businesse was to correct the overflowings[364] of Mr. Fletcher's witt.
They lived together on the Banke side, not far from the Play-house, both batchelors; lay together—from Sir James Hales, etc.; had one wench in the house between them, which they did so admire; the same cloathes and cloake, &c., betweene them.
He writt (amongst many other) an admirable elegie on the countesse of Rutland, which is printed with verses before Sir Thomas Overburie's Characters. John Earles, in his verses on him, speaking of them,
'A monument that will then lasting bee,
When all her marble is more dust then shee.'