by a Knight of Malta one of his high spirited followers the tumult being afterwards occasioned from his retinue he having been first very uncivilly treated by Mr. Gerrard in his expatiating of the New Exchange as he termed it in his Declaration for which Mr. Gerrard received a prick with his Dagger and afterwards had the honour to dye the same death The young unfortunate stranger suffered a very high favour to please the New Exchange Chevaliers Mean while the Scotch Highlanders impatient of bearing the English yoke resolved to try the other bout to which purpose they assembled together in great numbers having General Middleton to their leader who was newly come to them out of Holland but all their endeavours vanished into smoak General Monk on the twentieth of July 1654. at a place called Loughberry gave them such a charge as utterly defeated them and made them incapable of ever after thinking of appearing in Arms again Soon after was a Parliament called who no sooner were set but fell upon questioning the power by which they were convocated and doubting of its lawfulness were soon dissolved by the same power which they distrusted The Protector at the dissolution of this short Parliament made a very long speech wherein amongst many other passages he hath this expression This one thing I speak as thus advised and before God as having been to this day of this opinion and this hath been my constant judgement well known to many that hear me speak if this one thing had been inserted that one thing that this Government should have been and placed in my family hereditary I would have rejected it And a little after If this be of humane structure and invention and it be an old plotting and contrivance to bring things to this issue and that they are not the births of providence then they will come to nothing But notwithstanding his speech was candied over with Scripture phrases and great expressions of his zeal for the good government of the Land yet these his actings much discontented the common people whereupon ensued risings in Shropshire Montgomery Nottinghamshire Northumberland and Yorkshire but the most considerable was at Salisbury where Sir Joseph Wagstaff Penruddock and Jones who had formerly been Officers in the late Kings Army having gotten together about 200. armed men entered Salisbury seized on all the Inns and chief Houses and the Assizes being holden there at that time they took away the Judges Commissions and Pattents and all their Horses and so marched away Sir Henry Slingsby and Sir Richard Malleverer assembled some Forces also in Yorkshire but not being seconded according to their expectation they disperst themselves on their own account For these actings were put to death Master Lucas Thorp Kensey Graves and Penruddock Sir Henry Slingsby was taken and imprisoned and afterwards beheaded upon another account as I shall show you in its due place About this time the great head-piece of Europe joyns his Foxes tale to our Lions skin correspondencies are held betwixt the French and us which occasioning some jealousies with some other bitter pills that had before been swallowed but not digested by the Spaniard caused some heart-burnings which soon broke forth into an open War first mannaged by the Generals Pen and Venables who on the 27. of December 1654. with a gallant Fleet set sail from Portsmouth and on the 28. of January following arrived at the Barbadoes where they seized on 18. Holland Merchant men who contrary to the Ordinance of the long Parliament traffiqued in those parts from thence they sailed to Hispaniola arriving near to the port of Sancta Domingo where by the deepness of the sands and heat of the climate being infinitely tired they were by the Spaniards put to flight and enforced to march back again to their Ships from thence they set Sail to the Island of Jamaica which after a little resistance they mastered and have since preserved notwithstanding the Spaniards to regain the same landed there with two or three thousand men but were discomfitted with the loss of all their Cannon and Baggage In the interim General Blake with a considerable Fleet of Ships having cast Anchor before Tunis April 18. 1655. sent unto the Dy of the place demanding satisfaction for some English Ships which the Pyrats of those parts had carryed away and the liberty of the English slaves they had detained but his message and himself was refused with scorn and derision the Turks making this answer Behold our Castles of Galleta and our Castles and Vessels of Porto Ferino do your worst against them and do not think to brave us with the sight of your great Fleet. This answer so exasperated the English Admiral that notwithstanding there were one hundred and twenty Guns planted on the shore and in the Castle against them yet regardless of all danger he set upon their Men of War which lay in Porto Ferino and in less then four ours space burnt all their Ships being in number nine to their very Keels which enforced the King of Tunis to seek to the English for their friendship and restored all the Prisoners for little or nothing These successes were seconded by two other great Victories obtained over the Spaniards at sea the one by General Mountague about nine Leagues from Cadiz where he destroyed six of their ships whereof two were taken two run aground one sunk and another burnt and therein the Marquess of Badex his Wife and Daughter the young Marquess and his Brother with a great deal of wealth being taken and brought into England This Fight being incomparably related by the Laureat of our times I thought fit to insert it not to deprive the Reader of so Elegant a Poem let him wave the Poetical flattery of it as he pleases Upon the present War with Spain and the first Victory obtained at Sea Now for some Ages had the pride of Spain Made the Sun shine on half the World in vain While she bid War to all that durst supply The place of those her Cruelty made dye Of Nature's Bounty men forbear to taste And the best Portion of the Earth lay waste From the New World her Silver and her Gold Came like a Tempest to confound the Old Feeding with these the brib'd Elector's Hopes She made at pleasure Emperors and Popes With these advancing her unjust Designs Europe was shaken with her Indian Mines When our Protector looking with disdain Vpon this gilded Majesty of Spain And knowing well that Empire must decline Whose chief support and sinews are of Coyn Our Nation 's sollid vertue did oppose To the rich Troublers of the World's repose And now some moneths encamping on the main Our Naval Army had besieged Spain They that the whole Worlds Monarchy design'd Are to their Ports by our bold Fleet confin'd From whence our Red Cross they triumphant see Riding without a Rival on the Sea Others may use the Ocean as their road Onely the English make it their abode
we have inserted as followeth Emma tantum nomina Regina filiis Edwardo Alfrido materna impertit salutamina c. Emma in name onely Queen to Edward and Alfred her sons sendeth motherly greetings whilst we severally bewail the death of our Soveraign my Lord and your Father and your selves dear sons still more and more dispossessed from the Kingdom your lawful inheritance I greatly marvel what you determine to do sith you know that the delay of attempts gives the Usurper more leasure to lay his foundation and more safety to set thereon his intended buildings never ceasing to post from Town to Town and from City to City to make the Lords and Rulers of them his friends by threats prayers or rewards but notwithstanding his policy they privately signifie that they had rather have one of you their Natives should reign over them then this Danish usurper Wherefore my advice is that either of you with all speed repair unto me that we may advise together what is best to be done in this so great an enterprise fail not therefore but send me word by this messenger what you intend to do herein and so fare ye well Your affectionate Mother Emma The bait thus laid to catch these two Princes was greedily swallowed by Alfred the youngest who though the last born had not the least hopes to wear the English Diadem and making Baldwine Earl of Flanders his and some few Bullogners increasing his Fleet he took the Seas for England where for his welcome he was betrayed by Earl Goodwin under the notion of friendship and by the command of King Harold inhumanely murthered but Edward whether mistrusting the plot or rather liking a private life with safety then a publick with danger tarried behinde and so escaped those miseries that Alfred encountred But as it is commonly seen that a sinful life is rewarded with a sudden death so King Harolds sweet beginning had a sowre end dying miserably after he had raigned four years and some few moneths his speedy death cutting off the infamy of a longer life in whose room succeeded his brother in law Hardi-Canute the son of Queen Emma by Canutus her last husband who though little differing from the other in conditions yet is better reported of by Writers of that age because he lovingly entertained his half brother Edward and made Earl Goodwin purge himself for the death of Prince Alfred so that we may in part wonder at former writers that they should conclude Earl Goodwin to be guilty of that murther and yet report he cleared himself of the same to Hardi-Canute but his oath say some was the lighter urged and the easier believed by reason he had not long before presented to the king most bountiful gifts namely a ship whose sterne was of Gold with fourscore Soldiers therein placed all uniformly and richly suited on each of their arms were two bracelets of Gold with gilt Burgonets on their heads and on their bodies a triple gilt Habergion a Sword with gilt Hilts guirded to their wastes a Battel Ax on their left shoulders a Target with gilt Bosses borne in their left hands and a Dart in the right The King now wholly following his pleasures or rather to say more truly his vices delighting in nothing but swilling and Epicurisme he soon received the reward of his intemperance for being at Lambeth at the celebration of a Marriage revelling and carousing in the midst of his Cups he suddenly fell down dead with the Pot in his hand after he had reigned two years and was buried at Winchester His death was so welcome unto his Subjects that they annually celebrated the day of his death with open pastimes in the streets which custom continued even to these our times being called Hoctide or Huckstide signifying a time of scorning or contempt The Danish Line now clean extinguished for Hardi-Canute left no issue behinde him the glory of the Saxons which had long lay buried in their own ashes began again to revive and flourish for the English Lords weary of the insulting Tyranny of the Danes and willing one of their own Natives should rule with a general consent chose Prince Edward for their King who being at that present with Duke William in Normandy they sent Ambassadors unto him to signifie his Election and that he might be ascertained their intentions were real they delivered him Pledges for his more assurance Edward accepting as indeed who would deny so honourable an offer with some few Normans repaired into Englad where he was entertained of the people with such acclamations of joy as might well gain credence of their hearty affections towards him The first thing he did after his Coronation was his remitting the yearly Tribute of forty thousand pounds gathered by the name of Danegilt imposed by his Father and for forty years together paid out of all mens Lands except onely the Clergies who were exempted from the same Because the Kings reposed more confidence in the Prayers of the Holy Church then in the power of Armies It is reported the Kings clemency was moved to this compassion on this following occasion When the Collectors of this money had gotten a great quantity of the same together they brought it into his chamber and laid it all on one heap the King being called to see this great heap of Treasure was at the first sight thereof much afraid protesting he saw the Devil dancing upon the same with exceeding great joy whereupon he commanded it should be restored again to the former owners and released his Subjects of that Tribute for ever Many such like stories are of this King related and perhaps more then with safety of truth may be either believed or delivered which we shall the rather overpass because that in stories of this nature they are less to be blamed for omitting two verities then relating one falshood Divers Laws being then used in several parts of the Kingdom viz. the Mercians West Saxons Danes and Northumbrians their multiplicity causing much confusion he extracted from them all the chiefest and best and made of them one universal and common Law throughout the Land being in a manner the fountain of those which at this day we tearm the Common Laws though the forms of pleading and process therein were afterwards brought in by King William the Conquerour His Wife was named Editha the vertuous Daughter of an infamous Father Earl Godwin a Lady incomparable for Beauty and Vertue in whose Breast was a School of all Liberal Sciences saith William of Malmesbury Her honourable qualifications might have expiated to her Husband King Edward her Fathers former treachery to his Brother Vnto to this Edward as that ancient Writer hath it in these following words was given to Wife the Daughter of Earl Godwin a most beautiful Damosel named Editha of excellent learning and for behaviour a Virgin most chaste and for humility most holy no way savouring of her Father or Brethrens barbarousness but milde and modest
Consulship of Caesar and Bibulus that nothing was reported of Bibulus but all of Caesar so Longchamps Sun ecclipsed Durhams Candle his great Bell making such a sound that the other Tantony could not be heard Having thus settled his affairs in England he crosseth the Sea to Philip King of France who according to appointment was to go along with him in this journey which after some stay occasioned by the death of the French Queen they agreed on these Christian and friendly terms 1. That each of them preserve the others honour and bear faith to him for life and member and earthly dignity 2. That neither of them shall fail the other in their Affairs but that the King of France shall help the King of England to defend his Land even as he would defend the City of Paris if it were besieged and Richard King of England shall help the King of France to defend his Land even as he would defend his City Roan if it were besieged These Articles agreed on and sworn to on both sides these two great Monarchs of the West Richard the first King of England and Philip the second King of France set forwards on their journey in the description of which give me leave to light my Candle at Mr. Fullers fire and to borrow some of his expressions to inrich my stile who in his History of the holy War hath so eloquently described it nor let me be accused for a fellon or a counterfeit in mixing his Gold amongst my Alchymy since it may well pass for pay which is stamped with so currant language There attended King Richard in this journey Baldwine Archbishop of Canterbury Hubert Bishop of Salisbury Robert Earl of Leicester Ralph de Glanvile late Chief Justice of England Richard de Clare Walter de Kime c. At Tours he took his Pilgrims Scrip and Staff from the Archbishop his Staff at the same time casually brake in pieces which some construed a token of ill success Likewise when he and the French King with their trains passed over the Bridge at Lyons which brake by reason of the throng of people on the fall of the Bride this conceit was built that there would be a falling out betwixt these two Kings which accordingly happened their intercourse and familiarity breeding hatred and discontent betwixt them At Lyons these two Kings parted company Philip passing over the Alps in Italy and Richard to the Sea-side to Marseillis to meet with his Navy which being by tempest driven to other parts after six weeks stay he hireth shipping for himself and his company and passing forwards upon occasion anchored in the Mouth of the River Tyber within fifteen miles of the City of Rome yet notwithstanding he was so hot on his journey his devotion was so cold towards his Holiness that he would not vouchsafe to give him a visit but plainly told Octavian Bishop of Ostia the Popes Confessor that having better objects to bestow his eyes upon he would not stir a step to see the Pope laying to his charge many shamefull matters touching the Romish Simony and Covetousness with many other reproaches alledging that they took 700. marks for consecration of the Bishop of Mains 1500. marks for the Legative power of William Bishop of Ely and of the Archbishop of Burdeaux an infinite sum of money whereupon he refused to see Rome Yet notwithstanding this his disobedience to his spiritual Father he arived safe as Messana where he met with the French King his most Christian brother and although he lost the Popes yet found he the Almighties Blessing his Navy within few dayes after ariving safe in Cicily Tankred at this time was King of the Island a Bastard born and no wonder if climing up to the throne the wrong way he shaked when he sat down besides he was a tyrant both detaining the Dowry and imprisoning the Person of Joan Wife to William late King of Cicily and Sister to King Richard And therefore though he shewed him a fair countenance his heart was full of poysonous rancour but King Richard perceived his hypocrisie notwithstanding his vizard as dissembling goeth not long invisible before a judicious eye and being offered some abuses by the Citizens of Messana he assaults and takes the City demanding satisfaction for all wrongs done to him and his Sister Tankred seeing how the case stood thought it his best thrift to be prodigal and bestows on King Richard many thousand ounces of Gold purchasing that with his purse which by using justice he might have had for nothing King Phillip seemed nothing pleased at these dissentions yet wisely covered the fire of his anger with the ashes of discretion till such time he might show it with more advantage and thinking to forestall the market of Honour and take up all for himself he hasted presently to Ptolemais which the Christians had long besieged and with them he joyns while King Richard taking his Sister Joan and Berengaria daughter to Sanctius King of Navarr in 190. Ships and 50. Gallies puts to Sea for the holy Land but is by tempest cast upon the Coast of Cyprus where the Islanders under Cursac or Isakius their King seek to impeach his landing But King Richard speedily over-ran the Island and having taken Cursac honours him with the magnificent Captivity of silver Fetters having given him his word not to put him in bonds of Iron This Island from all antiquity was celebrated for the seat of Venus according to the Poet Venus feasts hallowed thorow all Cyprus came And Venus fair was present at the same And that it so might prove to King Richard in the joyous moneth of May he solemnly takes to Wife his beloved lady Berengaria and pawning the Island to the Templers for ready money he passeth on to Ptolemais Long time had this City been besieged by the Christians and many were the miseries that were underwent by both sides the Famine raging within and the Pestilence reigning without so that now upon King Richard arival the Turks despairing of succour and their victualls wholly spent they yielded up the City on condition to be guarded out of it safely To take possession for the French there was sent in Drogou de Merlou and an 100. men at arms and for the English Hugo de Gurnay with the like number who equally parted the City Goods and People between them Here the English cast down the Ensigns of Leopoldus Duke of Austria which he had advanced in a principal place of the Wall and threw them into the Jakes for which injury King Richard paid dearly afterwards so dangerous it is to exasperate any though far inferiour for as the fable acquaints us the Beetle may anoy the Eagle and the Mouse befriend the Lion Eighteen dayes after the taking of Ptolemais the French King returned home leaving Odo Duke of Burgundy to manage the Army in his absence pretending the air of the Countrey did not agree with his body but more likely that the air
Castle an honourable Mansion of his own where he continued and kept a bounteful house to the time of his death which happened in the fourscore and sixth year of his age He was buried at Thetford Abbey in Norfolk dying after a most generous life worth a large estate so clear from debt that at his death he owed not one groat to any person whatsoever an unusual happiness to attend so great a Souldier and Courtier as he was From this famous Duke is descended the Right Honorable James Earl of Suffolk whose great Grandfather Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk married Margret sole Daughter and Heir to Sir Thomas Audley Lord Chancellour of England by whom he had issue Thomas Lord Howard of Walden and Earl of Suffolk who built that magnificent Structure at Audley-end who left the same to his Son and Heir Theophilus a worthy Gentleman the Father of James Earl of Suffolk now living Anno 1659. To whom with his most vertuous Lady I wish all encrease of true honour and felicity To the greater honour of these Progenies this Heroick Earl died so much a Laureat that his Songs and Sonnets by all those that rightly understand Poetry are looked upon as in those dayes to have been the Muses Parnassus so that for his Epitaph there needed no more to be writ but that here lies interred The greatest Courtier the most valiant Souldier and the most accomplisht Poet of those times The Life of CARDINAL VVOLSEY Fortunae variantis opus Wolsaeus ad alta Scandit iter dubium certa minitante ruina CArdinal VVolsey the Tennis-ball of Fortune was born at Ipswich in Suffolk of so poor and despicable Parents that were his story of an ancient date and not delivered by Authentique Historians it might pass for a fiction his Father being no more but a poor Butcher from so low a beginning did he rise to the highest pitch of honour His Education in youth was at Oxford in Maudlin Colledge from thence he was preferred to be School-master to the Marquess of Dorsets Children where he first learned to be imperious over noble blood the Marquess dying Wolsey went into France to seek his Fortune and coming to Callis became servant to Sir John Naphant then Treasurer of the Town where he behaved himself with so great discretion that his Master shortly preferred him to King Henry the Seventh Having thus cast Anchor at Court the Haven of hope and Port of Promotion he was more then double diligent in the Kings eye and very serviceable to Doctour Fox Bishop of Wincheter Secretary and Lord Privy Seal as also to Sir Thomas Lovel Master of the Wards and Constable of the Tower who perswaded King Henry having urgent business with Maximilian the Emperour to send Wolsey in Embassage unto him being at that present in the Countrey of Flanders who returned again before he was thought to be gone and withal concluded some Points forgot in his directions to the hight contentment of King Henry for the which he bestowed upon him the Deanry of Lincolne and not long after made him his Almoner But King Henries day now drawing towards night he adores the rising Sun Prince Henry and having found the length of his foot fitteth him with an easie shoe well knowing there could be no loss to humour him who was so able to give nor was he deceived in his expectation for Henry afterwards coming to be King and having conquered the City of Tourney in France bestowed the Bishoprick of the same upon VVolsey and not long after made him Bishop of Lincolne and Archbishop of York And now being Primas Anglia carried himself accordingly by erecting his Cross in the Kings Court although within the Jurisdiction of Canterbury which high presumption VVilliam Archbishop of Canterbury greatly checked But VVolsey not abiding any Superious obtained to be made Priest Cardinal and Legatus de Latere unto whom the Pope sent a Cardinals Hat with certain Bulls for his Authority in that behalf And now remembring the taunts he had received from Canterbury found means with the King that he was made Lord Chancellour of England and Canterbury which was Chancellour dismissed who had continued in that place long since before the death of King Henry the Seventh VVolsey now sitting at the Helm of Church and State had two Crosses and two Pillars born ever before him the one of his Archbishoprick the other of his Legacy by two of the tallest Priests that were to be found in the Realm To the better maintenance of which chargeable estate the King bestowed on him the Bishoprick of VVinchester and in Commendam the Abbey of St. Albans and with them he held in Farm the Bishopricks of Bathe VVorcester and Hereford enjoyed by strangers incumbents not residing in the Realm so that now being Bishop of Tourney Lincolne York VVinchester Bathe VVorcester and Hereford he seemed a Monster with seven heads and each of them crowned with the Mitre of a Bishop far different from the state of his Lord and Master Christ who had not a hole wherein to hide his head Yet his ambition resteth not here next he aspires to the Triple Crown he onely wants Holiness and must be Pope to the attaining of which Dignity he makes means to the Romish Cardinals as also to the Emperour Charles the Fifth Gold he gave to the Cardinals and they gave him golden promises although they proved but empty performances nor did the Emperour serve him any better promising much but performing nothing VVolsey hereat enraged studies revenge and by his instruments seeks to make a divorce betwixt Queen Katherine Dowager the Emperours Aunt and King Henry the Eighth his Master thereby to advance a Marriage betwixt him and the King of France's sister But though he effected the one he failed in the other for contrary to his expectation King Henry fell in love with Anna Bullen a Gentlewoman nothing favourable to his Pontificial Pomp nor no great follower of the Rites of those times which moved the Cardinal the Pope having assumed the sentence of Queen Katherines cause unto himself to write unto his Holiness to defer the judgement of Divorce till he had wrought the Kings minde in another mould But though this was done secretly it came to the Kings ear and wrought his minde quite off from the Cardinal which finally was the cause of his confusion for upon the Kings dislike the Counsel articled against him and the Law found him in a Premunire for procuring to be Legatus de latere and advancing the Popes Power against the Laws of the Realm for which resentment the Kings displeasure was so incenst that the Broad Seal was taken from him and most of his other Spiritual Preferments his house and furniture seized on to the Kings use and himself removed to Cawood Castle in Yorkshire Yet was he still left Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of York to which last providing for his installing state equivalent to a Kings Coronation he was arrested of
what he would have been had the Fates allowed him a longer life Witness such time when the French Ambassadours came over into Englad to negotiate a Marriage between the Duke of Anjou and Queen Elizabeth when for their entertainment a solemn Justs was proclaimed where the Earl of Arundel Frederick Lord Windsor Sir Foulk Grivel and he were chief Challengers against all commers in which challenge he behaved himself so gallantly that he wan the reputation of a most valiant Knight Not long after the Netherlanders oppressed with the tyanny of the Duke D' Alva under the King of Spain implored the assistance of Queen Elizabeth which matter being debated in Councel she condescended to become their Defendress and thereupon Articles being drawn five thousand Foot and a thousand Horse-men were sent under the command of Sir John Norris a renowned Souldier all retained at her Majesties pay which monethly amounted to twelve thousand five hundred twenty six pound Sterling accounting fifty six dayes to the moneth For which Moneys so disbursed the Towns of Flushing and Brill with two Sconces and the Castle of Ramekins in Holland were delivered as Pledges till the Money was repaid Over Flushing and the Castle of Ramekins was Sir Philip Sidney appointed Governour His Motto was Vix ea nostra voco who during those Wars behaved himself being entred into the Cock-pit of War most gallantly At the taking of a certain great Town named Axell where within an English mile of the Town calling so many of his Souldiers together as could conveniently hear him he expressed himself to this effect That all such of his Countreymen that exposed their lives to the hazard of Battle ought to be advised of three things First the justness of the cause Secondly for whom they fight Thirdly against whom they fight For the first the justness of the cause were it onely for the defence of the Gospel it were sufficient but the malice of the Spaniards did most evidently appear in their late attempts for Ireland and should they seat themselves in these Nertherland Provinces they might expect the same tyranny for England Then next the people for whom they drew their Swords were their Neighbours alwayes Friends and Well-willâ—â—â— to the English as contrarily those against whom they were to fight men of another Religion enemies to God and his Church a people whose unkindeness both in nature and life doth so excell that God would not leave them unpunished Furthermore he perswaded them that they were Englishmen whose valour the world both feared and admired and therefore now they should acquit themselves like English-men for their own credit and honour of their Countrey Which oration wrought in them such resolutions that they all vowed to live and die in that Service How the Dutch have since deserved their then assistance of the Queen or the blood of a Sidney as they have since demeaned themselves the world may judge Amongst other of his successes he also took in the strong Town of Dorpe But in the full career of his Victories encountering with the Spaniards near to a place called Zutphen when the triumphant Laurells were ready to crown his Brows he was unfortunately shot in the thigh which is the rendezvouz of nerves and sinnews which caused a Feaver that proved so mortal that twenty five dayes after he died of the same the night of whose death was the noon of his age and the loss of Christendom His Body was conveyed into England and most honourably interred in the Church of St. Paul in London over which was fixed this Epitaph England Netherland the Heavens and the Arts All Souldiers and the world have made six Parts Of the noble Sidney for none will suppose That a small heap of stones can Sidney inclose England hath his body for she defence shed The Heavens his Soul the Arts his Fame All Souldiers his grief the World his good name Certain it is saith one that he was a noble and matchless Gentleman of whom may be justly written without Hyperbole or fiction as it was of Cato Vticensis that he seemed to be born to do that onely which he went about To speak more of him were to speak less The Life of ROBERT EARL of LEICESTER Ingenio gravis arte potens magnusque favore Principis incertam liquit post funera famam THe Earl of Leicester the Grand Politician and Proteus of those times was one of Queen Elizabeths early favourites the first whom she made Master of the Horse he was the youngest Son then living of the Duke of Northumberland beheaded primo Mariae and his Father was that Dudley which our Histories couple with Empson and so much infamed for the Catterpillers of the Common-wealth during the Reign of Henry the Seventh who being a noble extract was executed the first year of Henry the Eighth but not thereby so extinct but that he left a plentifull estate and such a Son who as the Vulgar speaks it could live without the teat for out of the ashes of his Fathers infamy he rose to be a Duke and as high as subjection could permit or Sovereignty endure and though he could not finde out any appellation to assure the Crown in his own person yet he projected and very nearly affected it for his Son Gilbert by intermarriage with the Lady Jane Grey and so by that way to bring it about into his Loins Observations which though they lie behinde us and seem impertinent to the Text yet are they not extravigant for they must lead and shew us how the after passages were brought about with the dependances and on the hinges of a collatterall workmanship and truly it may amaze a well settled Judgement to look into those times and to consider how this Duke could attain to such a pitch of greatness His Father dying in ignomy and at the Gallows his estate confiscate and that for pilling and polling by the clamour and crusifige of the people but when we better think upon it we finde that he was given up but as a Sacrifice to please the people not for any offence committed against the person of the King so that upon the matter he was a Martyr of the Prerogative and the King in Honour could do do less then give back to his Son the priviledges of his blood with the acquirings of his Fathers Profession for he was a Lawyer and of the Kings Council at Law before he came to be ex interioribus consiliis where besides the licking of his own fingers he got the King a mass of Riches and that not with the hazard but the loss of his fame and life for the Kings fathers sake Certain it is that his son was left rich in purse brain which are good foundations and fall to ambition and it may be supposed he was on all occasions well heard of the King as a person of mark and compassion in his eye but I find not that he did put up for advancement during Henry the Eights
this grief say some occasioned his death though others impute it to the loss of his Bark called the Francis which five Spanish ships intercepted at the Isle of Saint Dominick but when the same heart hath two deadly wounds given it together it is hard to say which of them killeth Drake notwithstanding continued his course to Port-Rico in St. Johns Island and casting anchor within the road a shot from the Castle entred the steerege of his ship took away the stool from under him wounded Sir Nicholas Clifford and Brute Brown to death as they sat at supper whereupon the English enraged fired five Spanish ships of two hundred Tuns a piece in revenge of the Castle The intention of the English was to have marcht with their Land Forces from Port-Rico to Panama being an Istmus which joyneth together Mexicana and Peruana where the Spanish Treasure lay Sir Thomas Baskervile with seven hundred and fifty men undertook the charge but the Spaniard having notice of their intentions had built their Fortresses to impeach their passage in assaulting of which first the English had such welcome that they had no minde to try the second so that fearing their Gold would be dear bought as well as far fetcht they returned again unto their ships Drake afterwards forced Nombre de Dios and many other petty Towns but though herein he did the Spaniard much hurt he did the English little good and now thinking with himself that according to his preparations the expectation of his performances would be greater then before the consideration thereof accompanied if not occasioned the flux which wrought his sudden death January 28. 1595. who as he lived by the Sea died on it and was buried in it A man no doubt of admirable parts and one who had done many worthy services for his Countrey and yet it is questionable whether those rich prizes he brought into England did us more good then Tobacco supposed first brought hither by his followers hath since done us hurt One bestowed this Latine Epitaph upon him EPITAPHIUM Religio quamvis Romana resurgeret olim Effoderet tumulum non puto Drake tuum Non est quod metuas ne te combusserit ulla Posterit as in aqua tutus ab igne jaces The Life of Sir FRANCIS VVALSINGHAM Te Francisce pio patriam cum deseris exul Pectore pro meritis praemia digna capis SIR Francis Walsingham the great manager of the Queens pretended match with the Mounsieur of France had the honour to be Sir Philip Sidney's Father-in-law He was a Gentleman at first of a good House but a better Education and from the University travelled for the rest of his Learning He was doubtless the best Linguist of those times but knew best how to use his own Tongue whereby he came to be employed in the chiefest Affairs of State He was sent Ambassadour into France and stayed there a Leiger long in the heat of the Civil Wars and at the same time that Mounsieur was here a Suiter to the Queen and if I be not mistaken he played the very same part there as since Gundamore did here At his return he was taken principal Secretary and was one of the great Engines of State and of the Times high in Queen Elizabeths favour and a matchful servant over the safety of his Mistress He is noted to have had certain curious and secret wayes of Intelligence above the rest but I must confess I am to seek wherefore he suffered Parry to be so long on the hook before he hoysed him up and I have been a little curious in the search thereof though I have not to do with the Arcana Imperii For to know is sometimes a burthen and I remember that it was Ovids crimen aut error that he saw too much But I hope these are Collaterals of no danger But that Parry intending to kill the Queen made the way of his access by betraying of others and impeaching the Priests of his own Correspondency and thereby had access and conference with the Queen and also oftentimes familiar and private conference with Walsingham will not be the Quaere of the Mystery for the Secretary might have had ends of discovery on a further maturity of Treason but that after the Queen knew Parry's intent why she should then admit him to private discourse and Walsingham to suffer it considering the conditions of all assailings and permit him to go where and whither he listed and onely on the security of a dark sentinel set over him was a piece of reach and hazard beyond my apprehension I must again profess that having read many of his Letters for they were commonly sent to Leicester and Burleigh out of France containing many fine passages and secrets yet if I might have been beholding to his Cyphers whereof they are full they would have told pretty tales of the times He was ranked amongst the Togati chief of those that laid the foundation of the Dutch and French Wars which was another piece of his fineness and of the times I shall conclude with one observation more that he was one of the great Allyes of the Austrian embracements for both himself and Stafford that preceded him might well have been compared to the Feind in the Gospel that sowed his tares in the night so did they their seeds of division in the dark and it is a likely report that the father on him at his return that he said unto the Queen with some sensibility of the Spanish designs in France Madam I beseech you be content not to fear the Spaniard hath a great appetite and an excellent digestion but I have fitted him with a bone for this twenty years that your Majesty shall have no cause to doubt him provided that if the fire chance to slack which I have kindled you will be ruled by me and now and then cast in some English Fewel which will revive the flame That the discerning Reader may the better scent this Fox I have presented to his perusual one of his Letters A Coppy of the Letter sent to Mr. Secretary touching the negotiation had with the King the 28. of August 1570. SIR May it please your Honour to advertise her Majesty that the King accepted in very good part her congratulation as from his good Sister and Neighbour who hath alwayes wished his well-doing for these were his words After congratulation done to the King the Queen Mother having enquired of me of the well-doing of her Majesty asked me how the Queen of Scots did I answered her that at my departure for any thing I knew to the contrary she did very well Then she proceeded to enquire of me touching her present estate I answered according to the tenor of my instructions in what state she stood at my departure wherewith she seemed to rest very well satisfied And then she fell to protestations that for her own part she was so well perswaded of the Queens Majesties merciful
disposition as she knew right well that if she did deal any thing hardly with the Queen of Scots it rather proceeded from some of her Ministers then from her Majesties self I replyed that I was glad to understand that she conceived so well of the Queen my Mistris's good disposition so was I sorry that she should think she would be by any of her Ministers or Councellors drawn to any thing either towards her or any other that might not stand with her honour for that her skill and years was now to direct and not to be directed I desired her therefore in her Majesties name that she would evermore reserve an ear for her A thing that would not in equity be denied to the meanest person in France who in all her actions hitherto towards the Queen of Scots had dealt with that regard to her honour as she was right able to justifie her self both towards the King her good brother as also towards all other Princes Then she made great protestations of her indifferency and that she is no lesse affected in good will towards her Majesty whom it pleaseth saith she to do me the honour as to call me by the name of a Mother then to the Queen of Scots her daughter-in-law and therefore in wishing her liberty I do it saith she as much as for the Queen your Mistriss quietness sake as for any other respect which without her liberty can hardly grow unto her This Sir in effect was the whole course of the Speech that passed from her in that behalf which she had then with me apart The King being then in talk with my Lord Ambassadour then she caused the King to deal with me in that behalf to whom I shewed the state of her cause according to the contents of my instructions wherewith he seemed to be satisfied He told me that he wished that the Queen his good Sister according to the inclination would have some compassion of her cause and grow to some speedy conclusion in that behalf I told him that I doubted not but that her Majesty would for his sake do that which should be to his contentation so far forth as might stand with her honour and safety Then he professed that otherwise he would not desire it Thus having imparted to your honour the effect of my negotiation to the end you may advertise her Majesty I most humbly take my leave From Paris the 29. of August 1570. Your Honours to command F. Walsingham To conclude he was sent twice Ambassadour into France once into Scotland once into the Low Countreys so that he was most intimately acquainted with the deepest counsels and secrets of Princes that he rightly understood how to preserve his Countrey and how to mannage affairs either for Peace or War He died the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord 1590. He lies entombed in St. Pauls being in respect of the debts he had contracted for his faithful service to the Crown forced to be buried privately in that Cathedral One bestowed this Latine Epitaph on his Memory Sic reticenda domi fido secreta recondis Pectore sic discis discutienda foris Vt tua sitnè fides dubitem an prudentia major Virtute indubio hac magnus utraque vir es The Life of Sir NICHOLAS BACON Ingenio Bacon magnus custosque sigilli firmavit justas posteritis opes SIR Nicholas Bacon a person inferiour to none of his predecessours as arch a piece of wit and wisdom as any of them all He was a Gentleman and a man of Law of great knowledge therein whereby together with his other parts of Learning and dexterity he was promoted to be Keeper of the great Seal and being of kin to the Treasurer Burleigh had also the help of his hand to bring him into the Queens favour for he was abundantly factious which took much with Queen Elizabeth when it was suited with the season as he was well able to judge of his times He had a very quaint saying and he used it often to good purpose that he loved the jeast well but not the loss of his friend He would say that though he knew unusquisque suae fortunae faber was a true and good principle yet the most in number were those that marred themselves But I will never forgive that man that loseth himself to be rid of his jeast He was Father to that refined Wit which afterwards acted a disasterous part on the publique Stage and afterwards sate in his Fathers room as Lord Chancellour Those that lived in his age and from whence I have taken this little Modle of him give him a lively Character and they decypher him for another Solon and the Synon of those times such a one as Oedipus was in dissolving of Riddles Doubtless he was as able an instrument and it was his commendation that his head was the mawl for it was a great one and therein he kept the wedge that entred the knotty pieces that came to his table He was of the prudent Family of the Bacons of Norfolk and Suffolk he died in the year of our Lord 1578. the threescore and seventh year of his age and lieth entombed in the Cathedral Church of St. Pauls with this Latine Epitaph inscribed on him Hic Nicclaum ne Baconem conditum Existima illum tam diu Britannici Regni secundum Columen exitium Malis Bonis asylum caeca quem non extulit Ad hunc honorem sors sed Aequitas Fides Doctrina Pietas unica Prudentia Neu morte raptum crede qui unica brevi Vita perennes emerit duas agit Vitam secundam coelites inter animus Fama implet orbem vita quae illi tertia est Hac positum in Arâ est corpus olim animi domus Ara dicata sempiternae memoriae His Motto was Mediocria firma He left behinde him as a Monument of his incomparable worth in continuance of his Name Sir Francis Bacon our English Plato the inimitable Writer of this Age. The Life of ROBERT DEVEREUX Earl of ESSEX Infelix virtus ventis vela secundis Extrema Comitem tandem oppressere ruina RObert Devereux Earl of Essex was born Anno 1566. He had scarcely attained to ten years of age when his Father Walter Devereux Earl of Essex and Earl Marshal of Ireland deceased at Dublin premonishing his Son to have alwayes before his eyes the six and thirtieth year of his age as the utmost term of his life which neither himself nor his Father before him out-lived and the son did not attain to it At his Fathers death he was by the Lord Burleigh his Guardian sent to the University of Cambridge under the tuition of Doctour Whitguift then Master of Trinity-Hall a man of the primitive temper when the Church by lowliness of spirit did flourish in highest examples of Piety and Learning At sixteen years of age he took the formality of Master of Arts and kept his publick Acts yet notwithstanding his good erudition it
into England lies on this Heroick Knight but as in the Life of Sir Francis Drake I have cleared him that his Marriners first brought it in So for that report that when he went to his Trial he took three Pipes in the Coach I rather look on him as he was too guilty of occasioning the mode of this vanity rather then that it was any Institution of his own The day appointed for his Execution being come a Scaffold was erected for him before the Parliament House upon which being brought with a chearful countenance and undaunted look he spake as followeth My Honourable Lords and the rest of my good Friends that are come to see me die know that I much rejoyce that it hath pleased God to bring me from darkness to light and in freeing me from the Tower wherein I might have died in disgrace by letting me live to come to this place where though I lose my life yet I shall clear some false accusations unjustly laid to my charge and leave behinde me a testimony of a true heart both to my King and Countrey Two things there are which have exceedingly possest and provoked his Majesties indignation against me viz. A confederacy or combination with France and disloyal and disobedient words of my Prince For the first his Majesty had some cause though grounded upon a weak foundation to suspect mine inclination to the French Faction for not long before my departure from England the French Agent took occasion passing by my house to visit me we had some conference during the time of his abode onely concerning my Voyage and nothing else I take God to witness Another suspicion is had of me because I did labour to make an escape from Plimouth to France I cannot deny but that willingly when I heard a rumour that there was no hope of my life upon my return to London I would have escaped for the safeguard of my life and not for any ill intent or conspiracy against the State The like reason of suspicion arose in that I perswaded Sir Lewis Stenkly my Guardian to flee with me from London to France but my answer to this is as to the other that onely for my safeguard and nought else was my intent as I shall answer before the Almighty It is alledged that I feigned my self sick and by art made my body full of blisters when I was at Salisbury True it is I did so the reason was because I hop'd thereby to defer my coming before the King and Councel and so by delaying might have gained time to have got my pardon I have an example out of Scripture for my warrant that in case of necessity and for the safeguard of my life David feigned himself foolish and mad yet it was not imputed to him for sin Concerning the second imputation laid to my charge that I should speak scandalous and reproachful words of my Prince there is no witness against me but onely one and he a Chymical Frenchman whom I entertained rather for his Jeasts then Judgement This man to incroach himself into the favor of the Lords and gaping after some great reward hath falsely accused me of seditious speeches against his Majesty against whom if I did either speak or think a thought hurtful or prejudicial Lord blot me out of the Book of Life It is not a time to flatter or fear Princes for I am a Subject to none but deatb therefore have a charitable conceit of me that I know to swear is an offence to swear falsely at any time is a great sin but to swear falsely before the presence of Almighty God before whom I am forthwith to appear were an offence unpardonable therefore think me not now rashly or untruly to confirm or protest any thing As for other Objections in that I was brought perforce into England that I carried sixteen thousand pounds in Money out of England with me more then I made known that I should receive Letters from the French King and such like with many protestations he utterly denied Having ended his Speech he saluted the Company and after he had made his addresses to heaven submitted his neck to the stroak of the Axe Thus ended this worthy Knight a man of such admirable parts that he is more to be admired then sufficiently praised Leaving him to his repose till the last great day I shall onely set down this following Epitaph made by himself Even such is time which takes in trust Our youth and joyes and all we have And payes us but with age and dust Within the dark and silent grave When we have wandred all our wayes Shuts up the story of our dayes From the which earth death grave and dust The Lord shall raise me up I trust The Life of Mr. William Cambden THis learned Antiquary who so diligently preserved the memories of many noble Families of this Nation and whose laborious Works have been a great light to Histories already extent and such as future Ages shall produce is deservedly placed amongst our Heroes that he whose pen made so many others live in his never dying Brittania may likewise live here in this present Work amongst the rest of our English Worthies He was Son to Master Sampson Cambden descended of an ancient family in Staffordshire his Mother was extracted from the worshipful family of the Curwens in Cumberland as he himself witnesseth in his Britannia He was born in the Old-Baily in the City of London Anno. 1550. That he was well educated his learned Works make manifest being put to School first in Christ-Church then at Pauls At fifteen years of age so soon was he ripened for the University he went to Magdalen Colledge in Oxford where having much profited he removed from thence to Broadgates Hall where he gave some proofs of his learning in those short Latin graces the Servitors still use From thence he went to Christ-Church where he attained to such eminency as his abilities preferred him to be Master of Westminster School There is as a learned Gentleman observes scarce any profession in the Common-wealth more necessary which is so slightly performed The reasons whereof he takes to be these First young Schollars make this calling their refuge yea perchance before they have taken any degree in the Vniversity commence Schoolmasters in the Countrey as if nothing else were required to set up this profession but onely a Rod and a Ferula Secondly others who are able use it onely as a passage to better preferment to patch the rents in their present fortune till they can provide a new one and betake themselves to some more gainful calling Thirdly they are disheartned from doing their best with the miserable reward which in some places they receive being Masters to the Children and slaves to their Parents Lastly being grown rich they grow negligent and scorn to touch the School but by the proxie of an Vsher But our Schoolmaster was of another temper studying his Schollars natures as carefully as
merry Epitaphs and so proceed There was a noble man merrily conceited and riotously given that having lately sold the Mannour of an hundred Tenements came ruffling into the Court in a new Suit saying Am not I a mighty man that bear a hundred houses on my back Which Cardinal Wolsey hearing said You might have better employed it in paying your debts Indeed my Lord quoth be you say well for my Lord my father owed my master your father three half pence for a Calves-head hold here is two pence for it Wolsey's Father being a Butcher I will onely set down a few lines of his merry Epitaphs as resemblances of the rest An Epitaph on Menalcas Here lieth Menalcas as dead as a log That liv'd like a Devil and dy'd like a Dog Here doth he lie said I then say I lie For from this place he parted by and by But here he made his descent into Hell Without either Book Candle or Bell. Upon one of a base condition yet in respect of his Name would have claimed Kindred of a most Noble Family and being a notorious Liar was this written Here lies M. F. the son of a Bearward Who would needs bear Arms in despight of the Herhaught Which was a Lion as black as a Jeat-stone With a Sword in his paws instead of a Whetstone Five sons had this Lyar 't is worth the revealing Two arrant Lyars and three hang'd for stealing His Daughters were nine never free from sores Three crooked Apostles and six arrant Whores Another on one that was bald Here lies John Baker enroll'd in mould That never gave a penny to have his head poll'd Now the plague and the pox light on such a device That undid the Barber and starved the Lice But to return where we left Master Cambden was so great a lover of Learning that he founded an History-Professour in Oxford to which he gave the Mannour of Bexley in Kent worth in present a hundred and forty pounds per annum but some few years expired treble as much And now having lived many years in honour and esteem death at last even contrary to Jus Gentium kill'd this worthy Herald so that it seems Mortality the Law of Nature is above the Law of Arms. He died the 74. year of his age November 9. 1623. He was buried in the Abbey of Westminster having this Epitaph upon his Funeral Monument Qui fide Antiqua opera assidua Britannicum Antiquatem indigavit Simplicitatem innatam honestis studiis excoluit Animi solertiam candore illustravit Gulielmus Camdenus ab Elizabetha R. Ad Regis Armorum Clarentii Titulo Dignitatem evocatus Hic spe certa resurgendi in Christo S. E. Q. Obiit Anno Domini 1623. 9. Novembris Aetatis suae 74. A base villain for certainly no person that had a right English soul could have done it hath defaced his Effigies not suffering his Monument to stand without violation whose learned Leaves have so preserved the Antiquities of the Nation Though we have met with most horrid transactions the inevitable dart of death hath deprived us of learned Master Dodsworth yet Divine Providence hath still left us two Argus-eyed Antiquaries Master Ashmole and Master Dugdale who by their studious Inquiries to their vaste expences in most learned Volumes have retrived from our late ruines the honor of the Nation On these Gentlemen I only look as fit to write the Life of their deceased Predecessour Master Selden one of the late Worthies of our Age and Wonders of the World The Life of THOMAS SUTTON Suttonum Ingenium locupletem industria fecit congestas miseris ille refudit opes FAith Hope and Charity these three divine Graces are a created Trinity and have some glimmering resemblance of the Trinity uncreated for as there the Son is begotten of the Father and the Holy Ghost proceeds from them both so true Faith begets a constant Hope and from them proceeds Charity thus is Gods Temple built in our hearts St Augustin saith that the foundation of it is Faith Hope the erection of the walls and Charity the perfection of the roof an excellent vertue very rare in this contentious self-interested Age wherein fratrum quoque rara gratia est As a shame to these times and an honor to the former I have inserted the life of this worthy Gentleman which if I had omitted I had in some kinde detracted from the honor of the Nation Master Thomas Sutton was of a good extract born in the County of Lincoln the then seat of Baron Willoby of Eresby where in his youth he was generously and liberally brought up he had some knowledge of the Languages and might pass for more then an indifferent Schollar In his youth he attended Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk and afterwards presented his service to the Earl of Warwick with whom for some space of time he was in high favour as also with his Brother that Fox of the State Robert Earl of Leicester In process of time the eminency of his Qualifications being more particularly taken notice of he was preferred made Master of the Ordnance of Barwick of the Laws of which Castle I have seen a transcript reputed to have been under his own hand This place he held for a long time quietly the Barwick Ordinance having been since charged to Covenant purposes but by him onely shot off with silver for Charitable uses The truth is he first raised his estate from that employment by living sparingly and thrivingly continually purchasing and improving of what he had got by merchandize and otherwise Afterwards in his latter time he withdrew himself from the concourse of conversation and dwelt in a little Town called Castle-Camp in the County of Cambridge there he lived privately many years retained no great Family entertained few Guests obscured himself as much as he could and made no show of his Estate yet notwithstanding his wealth was so every where openly known that at last every one gave him the name of the Rich Sutton And now by this time it was the general wonder of all men he having no Heir how he would dispose of his great estate This made his Kindred with emulation one to another in his sickness most diligently to attend him and in his health against the time of his sicknes they strove who should present him with the richest gifts every one of them being freely accepted of The old man who as he received all so they thought at his death to have their own again with the largest Interest I have conversed with some of the Wits who credibly informed me that Ben. Jonsons Play of the Fox under the name of Vulpone had some allusion to Mr. Suttons maner of treating of his Kindred But to pass by such impertinences as he had vaste sums so he had vaste thoughts he had honourable wayes and determined uses to empty his bags with the word P. F. being not heard of in those dayes A Friend of his with
himself to him with a very high Complement as that his Lordship had alwayes been to him like the Angels of whom he had heard and read many things but that it had never been in his power to see them From the time of which meeting such amity was contracted between them and so great a veneration the Marquess had for him that besides frequent visitations they held a constant correspondence in Letters saluting one another by the name and title of Father and Son Not to mention here those innumerable Commendations sent him in Epistles from the most eminent men of Forreign Nations addicted to the study of Wisdom and good Arts it being a thing common to him with others of note and fame But now that I discourse of his Fame I would to be understood as if I writ in a stile not exclusive but comparative for his Fame ever among the English was not faint or drooping but lively and vigorous especially among those that were conspicuous for their acute and sublime parts of which I shall insert two testimonies and no more The first is this When his History of Henry the Seventh was just ready for the Press it was sent by King James to Fulk Lord Brook to peruse who when he had read it all over sent it back to the Author with this commendation Present my respects to his Lordship and entreat him from me to have a special care of buying good Paper and Ink for this Work of his is excellent above any thing that I have seen in this kinde The other is the testimony of Doctour Samuel Collins late Professour of Divinity in the famous Vniversity of Cambridge and Master of Kings Colledge a man of no vulgar wit who whether pleasantly or seriously affirmed to me That after he had read his Book of the Advancement of Learning he thought himself driven to that pass that he must be forc't to renew the whole course of his studies from the very beginning and that all this while he had but lost his labour It was earnestly desir'd by some that I would insert some things concerning his Diet and the government of his Health in regard that because of his universal knowledge in natural things his example might be a guide to others As to his Diet therefore he us'd rather a full and liberal way of feeding according as he found his stomach able to bear then thin and sparing which way he hath also commended in some places of his History of Life and Death In his younger years he fed chiefly upon the more delicate and light sort of meats as the flesh of Fowls and the like but afterwards having learned more experience he rather approved of stronger meat such as is sold in the shambles as that which would supply the body with more firm and substantial juyce and that I may use his own words less dissipable upon which alone he himself would often feed although his Table were furnished with variety of all sorts of dishes you may well think that he did not in the least manner neglect that which you shall finde him to have so often cry'd up in his writings namely the often use of Nitre whereof he took every day in the morning about three grains in a mess of thin warm Broth and this course he continued for thrity years at least before his death As for his use of Physick it is true that he lived medicinably but not miserably for once in six or seven dayes he continually took a dram and a half of Rubarb and no more infus'd and macerated for the space of half an hour in a draught of Ale and White-wine mixt together and that a little before meat either dinner or supper to keep his body from drying up since as he affirm'd it would carry away the excrementitious humours of the body and not cause the spirits to exhale as frequent sweating useth to do Now certainly to take so little Physick as this could not be miserable but for any other medicaments whatsoever hath been vulgarly reported he would not at all accustom himself to them The remedy against the Gout which he himself discovered and which he found by experience would asswage the pain in two hours space is extant at the end of his Natural History It is likely that at his Nativity the Moon held some principal place as in the Horoscope or Mid-heaven for as oft as the Moon was in the wane or suffered an Eclipse he was taken with a sudden faintness or depression of spirit and this would happen though he had had no knowledge beforehand of the Moons defect but as soon as the Moon had begun to recover her former light he presently grew well again He died on the 9th day of April MDCXXVI very early in the morning being the day before the feast of the Resurrection of our Lord commonly called Easter Eve in the sixty sixth year of his age at the Earl of Arundels House at High-gate a Village near London to which place he came about eight dayes before not with an intent to make any abode there but onely for his pleasure and recreations sake but God so ordained it that in this place he should end his dayes It was of a lingering Ague that he died together with a strong Catarrh which caused so violent a defluction of humours to his brest that by a sudden suffocation the passage of his life was intercepted He was buried in St. Michaels Church near St. Albans a place destin'd for his Sepulchre upon some grand considerations as both because the body of his Mother lay buried in the same Church as because that Church is the onely place remaining at this day out of the ruines of old Verulam Here a famous Monument of white Marble was built to his memory by the care and gratitude of Sir Thomas Mutes administrator of his last Will and Testament heretofore Secretary to his Lordship and afterwards Clerk to the Privy Council under two Kings having upon it his Effigies in a posture sitting in a chair and intent upon his study together with an Epitaph which that most elegant and polite person Sir Henry Wootton composed out of the reverence and admiration which he bare to his memory But though his Body which he put off and laid aside were mortal yet his Books and Fame will doubtless be everlasting and as soon will the frame of the Earth be dissolv'd as they stoop to fate mov'd with the consideration of which it seem'd good to me to collect according to my slender capacity these memories such as they are that I also might be serviceable to the propagating of his name to posterity There are some light passages and pleasant Apothegms which I have often Beard discoursed of the life of this ever to be honoured Worthy which as this reverend Doctor thought too low for the Grandeur of Sir Francis to have recorded I submit to his better determination and have thought fit to silence my Pen. The
at that time was sitting in the Parliament House but alarum'd with the noise of the great guns he speedeth down his coming putting a stand to the Kings Forces who then were upon point of Victory There were slain on the Parliaments side Serjeant Major Quarles a man of eminent parts who left behinde him one onely Daughter named Esther since married to Master William Holgate of Saffron Walden a deserving Gentleman whose love to learning and learned men hath made his name famous to all posterity Captain Lilburne with some others were taken prisoners the winter then drawing on apace both Armies retired to their Winer quarters The next Spring Essex sets forth with his Army layes Siege to Reading to relieve which the King Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice advanced with a great Army but being worsted at Causham-Bridge the Town was surrendered to the Earl of Essex Presently after the taking of Reading the Parliament side began to decline on a sudden a contageous sickness seized on the Earl of Essex Souldiers the Marquess of New Castle was grown very powerful in the North and Sir William Waller defeated in the West Bristol being delivered up to the King so that had he with his Army come up the next way to London it was thought he would have found but little opposition Glocester onely held out against him The King unwilling to leave any Town behinde him layes Siege thereunto to the raising whereof the Army being not in a capacity of themselves the Train Bands of London assented to this expedition who raised the Siege and not long after gave the Kings Forces Battel at Newbery this was a long and bloody fight nor had either of the parties much cause to boast On the Kings side were slain the Earl of Carnarvan the Earl of Sunderland the Lord Faulkland Collonel Morgan Lieutenant Colonel Fielding Mr. Strode and other eminent persons On the Parliament side was slain Colonel Tucker Captain George Massey Captain Hunt and others The Earl of Essex with the Trained Bands returned to London where he had solemn thanks given him by the Parliament And now the Winter coming on he had the leisure for a while to refresh himself and to make new provisions for War against the ensuing Spring which being come he marches with his Army from London Sir William Waller at some distance marching with him after a while he sits down before Oxford where the King then was who fearing a Siege about midnight did take Horse attended with certain Troops who carried some Foot mounted behinde them and came to Witney five miles from Burford whither also Essex followed him Prince Maurice who had long laid Siege to Lyme upon his approach towards those parts he raises it The strong Town of Weymouth it surrendered unto him yea all the Countries round about came in unto him and the Garrisons opened their Gates at the first sound of his Trumpet At Chard within the compass of twelve miles came four thousand men unto him protesting to live and to dye in the cause of the Parliament as their friends at Dorchester did before them Barnstable revolteth to him Sir Richard Grenvile is beaten and Taunton Castle taken by his forces soon after he possesses himself of Mount Stanford Plimpton Salt-Ash and divers other small Garrisons from thence he advanceth towards Tavestock where he took Sir Richard Grenviles house and in it two pieces of Canon eight hundred Arms a great quantity of rich Furniture and three thousand pound in Money and Plate He marches into Cornwal forcing his passage over at Newbridge with the loss of a hundred and fifty of his enemies about Listethel he encountred Sir Richard Grenvile whom he overthrew immediately upon this Bodmin Tadcaster and Foy stoop unto him But the King who all this while was not idle understanding of his advance into Cornwal resolved to march after him for he found that his Army did daily encrease The presence of a Prince by a secret attraction for the most part prevailing upon the affections of the people Essex hereupon sends to the Parliament for Recruits but before he could receive any supply the King had so cooped up his Army that his Horse had no room for forrage in this strait he calleth a Councel of War wherein it was concluded that three thousand Horse under the command of Sir William Belfore should attempt to break through the main body of the Kings forces which accordingly was put in execution necessity whetting their valours so that with some loss they got through and came safely to Plymouth But the Foot having not that swift means of escape were forced to yield themselves The Earl made his escape by Sea attended with the Lord Roberts and taking shipping at Foy landed at Plymouth sick both in body and minde Thus on a sudden was all undone which he with much pains and hazard had been long a doing so uncertain is the chance of War that he who now rideth triumphantly in the Chariot of Victory may ere long become the Object of his enemies mercy Soon after followed the new moddeling of the Army wherein all those Commanders who were Members of either House of Parliament were called home Essex hereupon surrendered up his Commission Sir Thomas Fairfax being made General in his stead after which time he continually sate in the House of Peers until the time of his death which was on the 14. of September 1646. and 56. year of his age His Funeral was solemnized with great state a Monument being erected for him in Westminster Abbey which a mad villain most uncivilly defaced The Life of Sir CHARLES LUCAS SO much pitty is owing from posterity to the unfortunate Loyalist Sir Charles Lucas that should I omit to render him his due honours I might be taxed of partiality at least to have fallen short of what the Title of this Volume promises he being one whose Learning and Valour hath made him amongst others eminent of the English Nation I shall not need to spend much time in setting forth the stem from whence this illustrious Ciens sprung he who hath not heard of the Family of the Lucas's knows nothing of Gentility yet had no honour accrew'd to him from his famous Progenitors it were honour enough to him to be Brother to that nobly accomplished and deservingly honoured the Plato of this age the Lord Lucas a Gentleman singularly gifted in all suitable elements of worth as also to Sir Gervas Lucas a valiant Commander sometimes Governour of Belvoir Castle For his Education it was generous having his youth sufficiently seasoned in principles of knowledge both Humane and Divine to which joyning his Manhood and Discipline in the Field he had scarce his equal He was a person accompanied with a resolute spirit of an active disposition and a suitable discretion to mannage it strict in his commands without a supercillious severity free in his rewards to persons of desert and quality in his society he was affable and pleasant in
a handful of men in comparison of his vast Army the effect of which fight was that the Scots went home by weeping cross complaining they had lost more by Hamilton then ever they got by Lesley Soon after followed the surrender of Colchester and within five hours after the surrender the deaths of Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle What motives induced the General to more severity against them then the rest I know not but certain it is never was the message of death though the terriblest summons that can come to nature entertained by any with more magnanimity and undaunted resolution then it was by them Never did Roman with greater courage nor Christian with firmer confidence court grim death then did this matchless pair of Heroes Sir Charls Lucas was the first design'd to dye who having retired himself a while for prayer with a pious and humble commendation of his soul into the hands of God he stood up remembring no doubt that saying It behoveth a General to dye standing and tearing open his Doublet he exposed his naked Breast crying out Now Rebels do your worst he was immediately dispatched on the place Sir George Lisle's turn was next who beholding that sad spectacle the dead body of his dearest friend fell upon it and kissed it as if he meant to breathe into it another soul with a free but true relation of his vertues and endowments he often would redouble these words In how short a moment has a brave spirit expired well this priority was due to thee but I shall not be long behinde thee my death which is now at hand shall restore thee to me After this standing up and taking five pieces of Gold out of his pocket he gave one to his Executioners and the other four he sent to four friends in London then turning to the standers by he said Oh how many do I see here about me whose lives I have saved in hot blood and now must mine be taken away most barbarously in cold blood sure the like was never heard of among the Gothes and Vandals or the veriest Barbarians in the world in any age after which words and some few invocations upon the name of Jesus he was also dispatched as he stood in an Heroick posture courting grim death with a spritely countenance and a greedy expectation I have heard it reported by divers credible persons that on the ground where Sir Charles Lucas fell when he was shot there hath grown no Grass where the print of his body was still remaining bare notwithstanding round the same the Grass flourished with verdancy what this should signifie concerning his guilt or innocency as the wayes of God are unsearchable so shall I not determine any thing but leaving every one to his own opinion please my self with the onely traditional relation of it This Epitome which I have derived to posterity is but as a glimpse or sparkling to the radiant beams of this Carbuncle of Honour The Life of King CHARLES KIng Charles the First was born at Dumfermling in Scotland November 19. Anno Dom. 1600. He was not next Heir to the Crown then having an elder Brother Prince Henry of admirable parts but God countermanding Natures dispose by taking away his Brother left him the Heir Male to the Brittish Diadem At the death of his Father he had attained to twenty five years of age whereof the most part of one was spent in Spain in making addresses to the Lady Infanta in the quality of a Wooer and although he attained not the end for which he went yet it gave him a tincture of travel and experience more worth perchance then the mark he aimed at attaining by this means to a greater degree of that which made Vlysses so famous Quod mores hominum multorum videt urbes Amongst other Curiosities I have met with a Letter of Pope Gregories to win him to his Religion when he was Prince which I have inserted with his answer A Copy of the Letter written from Pope Gregory the Fifteenth to Charles Prince of Wales then being in Spain Most noble Prince Salutation and Light of the Divine Grace Forasmuch as Great Brittain hath alwayes been fruitful in Vertues and in Men of great worth having filled the one and the other world with the glory of her renown she doth very often also draw the thoughts of the Holy Apostolical Chair to the consideration of her praises And indeed the Church was but then in her infancy when the King of kings did chuse her for his Inheritance and so affectionately that we believe the Roman Eagles have hardly out-passed the Banner of the Cross Besides that many of her Kings instructed in the knowledge of the true Salvation have preferred the Crosse before the Royall Scepter and the Discipline of Religion before Covetousness leaving examples of Piety to other Nations and to the Ages yet to come So that having merited the Principalities and first places of blessedness in Heaven they have obtained on Earth the triumphant Ornaments of true holiness And although now the State of the English Church is altered we see nevertheless the Court of Great Brittain adorned and furnished with Moral Vertues which might serve to support the charity that we bear unto her and be an ornament to the name of Christianity if withal she could have for her defence and protection the Orthodox and Catholique Truth Therefore by how much the more the Glory of your most Noble Father and the apprehension of your glorious inclination delights us with so much more zeal we desire that the Gates of the Kingdom of Heaven might be opened unto you and that you might purchase to your self the love of the Universal Church Moreover it being certain that Gregory the Great of most blessed memory hath introduced to the English people and taught to their Kings the Law of the Gospel and the respect of Apostolical Authority we as inferiour to him in Holiness and Vertue but equal in Name and Degree of Dignity it is very reasonable that we following his blessed footsteps should endeavour the salvation of those Provinces especially at this time when your Design most Noble Prince elevates us to the hope of an extraordinary advantage therefore as you have directed your journey to Spain towards the Catholique King with desire to ally your self to the House of Austria we do much commend your Design and indeed do testifie openly in this present business that you are he that takes the principal care of our Prelacy For seeing that you desire to take in marriage the Daughter of Spain from thence we may easily conjecture that the ancient seeds of Christian Piety which have so happily flourished in the hearts of the Kings of Great Brittain may God prospering them revive again in your soul And indeed it is not to be believed that the same man should love such an Alliance that hates the Catholique Religion and should take delight to oppress the Holy Chair
so faithfully discharged he hid endeavours that he won the love of both sides Thus after he had holily and peaceably for many years to the honour of God and edification of his Church continued to the time of his death constantly preaching the word of God he in the seventy sixth year of his age surrendered up his soul into the hands of his Maker his mamory being as a precious Oyntment yielding a sweet savour in the Nostrils of Gods Saints which gave occasion to one of our late Poets amongst many others to write these two Verses Usher remains sustain'd by the blest Powers A Saint in Heavens bright Orb a Star in ours He deceased the 21. of March 1655. and was honourably buried in Henry the Sevenths Chappel at the Abbey in Westminster Oliver then Lord Protectour dispending two hundred pounds at his Funeral extending to his the Grant of some of the Lands of the Primacy of Armagh for twenty one years I shall shut up all with this Character given him by a solemn Order in the Convocation at Oxford Anno 1644. James Vsher Archbishop of Armagh Primate of all Ireland The most skilful of Primitive Antiquity the unanswerable Defender of the Orthodox Religion the Maul of Errours in Preaching frequent eloquent very powerful a rare example of an unblameable life Of whom may be writ as one doth by way of Elegy on the late Martyr of our times that admirable Divine Dr. Hewet Since he is dead report it thou my Muse Vnto the world as grief and not as news Heark how Religion sighs the Pulpit groans And tears run trickling down the senseless stones That Church which was all ears is now turn'd eyes The Mother weeps and all her Children cries In remembrance of him and his incomparable abilities at Christ Church in Oxford there is an Oration spoke constantly once a year He left many Monuments of his Learning behinde him to posterity His Book De successione Ecclesiarum 4o. Londini 1613. Epistolarum Hibernicarum Sylloge 4o. Dublini 1630. Historia Goteschalci Dublini 1631. De Primordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum 4o. Dublini 1631. the greatest part of which were cast away as they came by sea Ignatii Epistolarum annotationibus 4o. Oxoniae 1648. De anno solari Macedonum 8o Londini 1648. Annales Veteris Testamenti Folio Londini 1650. Annales Novi Testamenti Folio Londini 1654. both which are since in one Volumn printed in English a Work acknowledged by the learnedst men of this Age for the admirable Method and Worth of it not to have hitherto been parallel'd by any preceding Writers Epistola ad Cappellum de variantibus textus Hebraici Lectionibus 4o. Londini 1652. De Graeca septuaginta interpretum versione Syntagma 4o. Londini 1655. His English Works were these A Sermon preached before the House of Commons February 18. 1618. A Declaration of the visibility of the Church preached in a Sermon before King James June 20. 1624. A Speech delivered in the Castle Chamber in Dublyn the 22. of November 1622. An Answer to Malon the Jesuit 4o. 1631. The Religion professed by the ancient Irish and Brittains 4o. 1631. Two Works which routed the Catholicks of Ireland Immanuel of the Incarnation of the Son of God 4o. Dublin 1639. A Sermon for the learning and worth of it never to be sufficiently esteemed A Geographical description of the Lesser Asia 4o. Oxford 1644. Confessions and Proofs of Doctor Reinolds and other Protestant Divines concerning the Right of Episcopacy 4o. Oxford 1644. His Discourse of the Original of Bishops and Archbishops 4o. Oxford 1644. The Sum and Substance of Christian Religion being in part his but publisht without his consent Folio London His small Catechisme reviewed 12o. London A Method for Meditation or a direction for hearing the Word I have since had the happiness to peruse several Sermons of his ordained for the Press truly worthy of him they were all of them but one preached before the year 1626. most of them before he was Bishop I thought it for the better knowing of them from others that may be falsely father'd on him to be convenient to set down the several Texts Philip. 3.8 Ephes 2.1 2. Ephes 2.2 3. John 14.16 17. His most excellent Sermons on the Sacraments out of 1 Cor. 11.28 as also on Colos 1.21 Two Sermons on 1 Pet. 4.17 His Sermon preacht a little before he was made a Bishop before the King at Greenwich June the 25. 1626. his Text was taken out of the 1 Cor. 14.33 the words For God is not Authour of confusion but of peace as we see in all the Churches of the Saints At that time there was a strange division and clashing one against another of the great ones of the Court whom his sharp Sermon toucht so near to the quick that the Puritanical Bishop as they then called him put the highest spirits of them to a non plus These Sermons Dr. Bernard of Grayes-Inne formerly Chaplain to Bishop Vsher had the perusal of who said they wanted nothing but onely that Life and Majesty they were adorned with when the Bishop himself delivered them I have ended my discourse as to what concerns this reverend Father of the Church I have no more to write but onely to exprese my sorrow that I could not arrive to a right knowledge of the Lives of two of our late worthy Divines Doctour Featly who died first as his spirits were oppressed with the afflictions of our distracted times as also of that Contemplative Seraphical Clergy-man Bishop Hall who was in Heaven whilest he was on earth the Life of the former Doctor Featly the Champion of our Church against the Romanists I at last despaired of having after a long search and strict enquiry gained no perfect cognizance from any of his friends and concerning Bishop Hall having no acquaintance with the Heir to his blessed qualifications his most accomplisht Son otherwise then from the Pulpit my modesty being so much a stranger to him would not suffer me to make an address The Life of Master John Lilburne I Question not but that it will be admired that such an inferiour person as Master Lilburne should take up any room in this Volume I shall onely need to express that I have not inserted him as a Worthy but rather as a Wonder the truth is whosoever shall diligently mark the transactions of this person will finde such variety of matter contained in his Life not onely to excuse the publishing of it but also so far to transport them that read it as to believe him to be a fit object for an intire Volume by himself rather then this short relation I shall obtrude on his memory which considering how his Life was shufled and confused the Reader cannot expect any other then fragments no clear nor continued progress of his History When Taxaris saw his Countrey-man Anacharsis in Athens he said unto him I will at once shew thee all the Wonders of Greece So may I say of him I will