not less able but more active then Cranmer himself yea so famous was he that Martin Bucer dedicated unto him his Comment upon the Gospel so painful that he wrote many Books whereof that de Differentia utriusque potestatis was the chief so worthy he was that the King employed him on several Embassies into France and Germany He died May 8. 1538. In his first years none more wild in his his last none more stayed The untoward Youth makes the able Man He that hath mettle to be extravagant when he cannot govern himself hath a spirit to be eminent when he can His friends devotion to the Church and relation to the Bishop of Winchester made him a Scholar his own Inclination a Politician an Inclination that brake through all the ignoble restraints of pedantique studies and coertions wherewith many a great Soul in England enjoying not the freedome of forreign parts but tied to such employments though never so unsuitable as their friends put them to are debased and lost to an eminencie more by observation and travel then by reading and study that made him the Wonder of the University and the Darling of the Court. When he was called to the Pulpit or Chair he came off not ill so prudential were his parts for Divinity when advanced to any Office of Trust in the University he came off very well so incomparable were his parts for Government His Policy was observed equally in the subject and in the contrivance of his Sermons and discourse where though all knew he read but little yet all saw that by a Scheme and method his strong head had drawn up of all Books and Discourses he commanded all Learning his Explications of the Text were so genuine so exact as if he had spent his time in nothing else but Criticks and Commentators His Divisions so Analytical as if he had been nothing but Logick His Enlargements so copious and genuine as if he had seen nothing but Fathers and Schoolmen The curious and pertinent mixture of Moral Sentences so various as if he had been but a Humanist the drift and designe of all so close that it argued him but what indeed he was a pure Pate-Politician His Parts commended him to Cardinal Wolsey as his support the Cardinal brings him to his Master as his second and he thrusts out Wolsey as his Rival but yet pretended to advance that ambitious Man more highly that he might fall more irrecoverably He sets him upon his designes of being Pope in Rome and those make him none in England He caught the Cardinal by his submission as he would have done Sir Thomas More by his Interrogations at which he was so good that he would run up any man either to a Confession or a Praemunire Fox was his name and Cunning his nature He said His Fathers money helped him to his Parsonage meaning his small Preferments and his Mothers wit to his Bishoprick meaning his greater Discoursing one day when Ambassador of terms of Peace he said Honourable ones last long but the dishonourable no longer then till Kings have power to break them the surest way therefore said he to Peace is a constant preparedness for War Two things he would say must support a Government Gold and Iron Gold to reward its Friends and Iron to keep under its Enemies Themistocles after a Battel fought with the Persians espying a Prize lying on the ground Take up these things saith he to his Companion for thou art not Themistocles Take the Emperours Money said Fox to his Followers that were afraid to accept what he had refused for you are not all the King of England ' s Ambassadors Often was this saying in our Bishops mouth before ever it was in Philip the second 's Time and I will challenge any two in the world Portugal being revolted the Conde d' Olivares came smiling to King Philip the fourth saying Sir I pray give me las Albricius to hansel the good news for now you are more absolute King of Portugal then ever for the people have forfeited all their priviledges by the Rebellion and the Nobility their Estates and now you may confirm your old Friends with their money and make you new ones with their estates When the Clergy began to ruffle with the King I tell you News said this Bishop we are all run into a Praemunire you shall have Money enough to make your own Courtiers and Places enough to advance your own Clergie Observations on the Life of Sir Anthony St. Lieger WE may say of him he was born in Kent and bred in Christendome for when twelve years of Age he was sent for his Grammar-Learning with his Tutor into France for his Carriage into Italy for his Philosophy to Cambridge for his Law to Grays-Inne and for that which compleated all the government of himself to Court where his Debonnairness and Freedome took with the King as his Solidity and Wisdome with the Cardinal His Master-piece was his Agency between King Henry the eighth and Queen Anne during the agitation of that great business of the Divorce between the said King and his Queen Katherine His Policy was seen in catching the Cardinal in that fatal word The King may ruine me if be please but that ruined him His service was to be Cromwel's Instrument in demolishing Abbeys as he was the Kings Caesar was the first that came to undo the Commonwealth sober Sir Anthony St. Lieger was the first that saved this Kingdome drunk for in being abroad one night very late and much distempered he must needs fancy an extraordinary light in the Cardinal's Closet with which Fancy he ran to the King and although much in drink prevailed with him so far that he sends to the Cardinal and there findes that Juncto that threatned his Kingdome He was the first Vice-Roy because Henry the eighth was the first King of Ireland King Henry's affection would promote him any where but his own resolution and spirit commended him to Ireland He was a man whom all Ireland could not rule therefore as the Jest goes he should rule all England Three times had the Irish Rebels made their soremn submission to other Deputies the fourth time now they make it to him throwing down their Girdles Skins and Caps So great a man was the Lieutenant so great his Master No sooner was be possessed of the Government but he thought of Laws those Ligaments of it The most rational and equitable Laws were those of England but too rational to be imposed on the Brutish Irish therefore our Knight considering as he saith in the Preface of his Constitution that they poor souls could not relish those exact Laws to live or be ruled by them immediately enacted such as agreed with their capacity rather then such were dictated by his ability his Wisdome as all mens must doing what was most fit and convenient rather then what was most exact what they could bear more then what he could do as remembring he had to
rather copious then eloquent yet ever tending to the point Briefly if it be true as Polydore observes that no man ever did rise with fewer vertues it is true that few that ever fell from so high a place had lesser crimes objected against him Though yet Polydore for being at his first coming into England committed to Prison by him as we have said may be suspected as a partial Author So that in all probability he might have subsisted longer when either his pride and immense wealth had not made him obnoxious and suspected to the King or that other than Women had opposed him Who as they are vigilant and close Enemies so for the most part they carry their businesses in that manner as they leave fewer advantages against themselves then men do In conclusion As 〈…〉 cannot assent to those who thought him happy for enjoying the untimely compassion of the People 〈…〉 little before his end so I cannot but account it 〈…〉 principal Felicity that during his favour with the King all things succeeded better then afterwards though yet it may be doubted whether the Impressions he gave did not occasion dives Irregularities which were observed to follow The Lord Herbert's Character of Cromwel in his Life of Henry the Eighth pag. 462. AND to this end came Cromwel whâ— from being but a Blacksmiths Son found means to travel into forraign Countries to learn their Languages and to see the Wars being a Souldier of Bourbon at the sacking of Rome whence returning he was received into Cardinal Wolsey ' s service To whom he so approued himself by his fidelity and diligence that the King after his fall voluntarily took him for his servant in which place he became a special Instrument for dissolving the Abbeys and other Religious Houses and keeping down the Clergy whom in regard of their Oath to the Pope he usually termed the Kings half Subjects And for expelling the Monks he said it was no more then a restoring them to the first Institution of being lay and labouring persons Neither did 〈…〉 t move him that so much strictness and austerity of Life was enjoyned them in their several Orders since he said they might keep it in any condition But as these Reasons again were not admitted by divers learned and able Persons so he got him many Enemies who at last procured his fall but not before he had obtained successively the Dignities of Master of the Rolls Baron Lord Privy Seal Vicegerent to the King in Spiritualiâ—ies Knight of the Garter Earl of Essex Great Chamberlane of England c. He was much noted in the exercises of his Places of Judicature â—o have used much Moderation and in his greatest pomp to have taken notice and been thankful to mean persons of his old acquaintance and wherein had a Vertue which his Master the Cardinal wanted As for his other descriptions I leave them to be taken out of Cranmers Letter formerly mentioned with some deduction For it seems written to the King in more then Ordinary Favour of his entient Service Archbishop Cranmer's Character of Cromwel in a Letter to King Henry the Eighth WHo cannot be sorrowful and amazed that he should be a Traytor against your Majesty He that was so advanced by your Majesty He whose Surety was onely by your Majesty He who loved your Majest as I ever thought no less then God He who stadied always to set forwards whatsoever was you Majesties will and pleasure He that cared for 〈…〉 mans á spleasure to serve your Majesty He the was such a Servant in my judgement in wisdom diligence faithfulness experience as no Prine in this Realm ever had He that was so vigilant 〈◊〉 preserve your Majesty from all Treasons that f 〈…〉 could be so secretly conceived but he detected the same in the beginning If the Noble Princes of memory King John Henry II. and Richard Ilâ— had had such a Counsellour about them I supposed they should never have been so Traiterously abandoned and overthrown as those good Princes were After which he says again I loved him as my Friend for so I took him to be but I chiefly loved him for the love which I thought I saw him bear ever towards your Grace singularly above all other But now if he be a Traitor I am sorry that ever I loved him or trusted him and I am very glad that his Treason is discovered in time But yet egain I am very sorrowful for who shall your Grace trust hereafter if you might not trust him Alas I bewail and lament your Graces chance herein I wot not whom your Grace may trust But I pray God continually night and day to send such a Counsellour in his place whom your Grace may trust and who for all his Qualities can and will serve your Grace like to him and that will have so much sollicitude and care to preserve your Grace from all dangers as I ever thought he had The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Edward the VI. Observations on the Lives of the Seymours EDward Seymour and Thomas Seymour both sons of Sir John Seymour of Wolful in Wiltshire I joyn them together because whilst they were united in affection they were invincible but when divided easily overthrown by their enemies EDward Duke of Somerset Lord Protector and Treasurer of England being the elder THomas Seymour the younger brother was made Baron of Sudley brother succeeded to a fair Paternal inheritance He was a valiant Souldier for Land-service fortunate and generally beloved by Martial men He was of an open nature free from jealousie and dissembling affable to all people He married Anne Daughter to Sir Edward Stanhop a Lady of a high minde and haughty undaunted spirit and by Offices and the favours of his Nephew King Edward the sixth obtained a great Estate He was well experienced in Sea-affairs and made Lord Admiral of England He lay at a close posture being of a reserved nature and more cunning in his carriage He married Queen Katherine Parr the Widow of King Henry 8. Very great the Animosities betwixt their Wives the Dutchess refusing to bear the Queens Train and in effect justled with her for precedence so that what betwixt the Train of the Queen and long Gown of the Dutchess they raised so much dust at the Court as at last put out the eyes of both their Husbands and occasioned their Executions Their Sisters Beauty commended them to the Kings favours but a frail support that which is as lasting onely as a Phancy and onely as certain as Passion therefore their Parts recommended them to his service Affection shall lead me to Court but I 'll take care that Interest keeps me there Sir Edward Seymours temper suited with the Kings Inclinations and his spirit with his times both high both stirring In the throng of Courtiers
to raise other mens He neglected the minute and little circumstances of compliance with vulgar humors aiming at what was more solid and more weighty Moderate men are applauded but the Heroick are never understood Constant he was in all that was good this was his heroick expression when solicited by his Wives Father to desist from his engagement with the King Leave me to my Honour and Allegiance No security to him worth a breach of Trust no interest worth being unworthy His conduct was as eminent in War as his carriage in Peace many did he oblige by the generosity of his minde more did he awe with the hardinesse of his body which was no more softned to sloath by the dalliances of a Court than the other was debauched to a carelesnesse by the greatnesse of his Fortune His prudence was equal to his valour and he could entertain dangers as well as despise them for he not onely undeceived his enemies surmises but exceeded his own friends opinion in the conduct of his soldiers of whom he had two cares the one to discipline the other to preserve them Therefore they were as compleatly armed without as they were well appointed within that surviving their first dangers they might attain that experience resolution which is in vain expected from young and raw soldiers To this conduct of a General he added the industry of a Soldier doing much by his performances more by his example that went as an active soul to enliven each part and the whole of his brave Squadron But there is no doubt but personal and private sins may oft-times over-balance the justice of publick engagements Nor doth God account every Gallant a fit instrument to assert in the way of war a righteous cause the event can never state the justice of any cause nor the peace of mens consciences nor the eternal fate of their souls They were no doubt Martyrs who neglected their lives and all that was dear to them in this world having no advantageous designe by any innovation but were religiously sensible of those ties to God the Church their King their Countrey which lay upon their souls both for obedience and just assistance God could and I doubt not but he did through his mercy crown many of them with eterlife whose lives were lost in so good a cause the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their souls Observations on the Life of the Lord Herbert of Cherbury Edward Herbert son of Richard Herbert Esq and Susan Newport his Wife was born at Montgomery-Castle and brought to Court by the Earl of Pembrook where he was Knighted by K. James who sent him over Embassador into France Afterwards K. Charles the first created him Baron of Castle-Island in Ireland and some years after Baron of Cherbury in Montgomery-shire He was a most excellent Artist and rare Linguist studied both in Books and Men and himself the Author of two Works most remarkable viz. A Treatise of Truth written in French so highly prized beyond the Seas and they say it is extant at this day with great Honour in the Popes Vatican and an History of King Henry the Eighth wherein his Collections are full and authentick his observation judicious his connexion strong and â—ohaerent and the whole exact He married the Daughter and sole Heir of Sir William Herbert of St. Julians in Monmouth-shire with whom he had a large Inheritance in England and Ireland and died in August Anno Dom. 1648. having designed a fair Monument of his own invention to be set up for him in the Church of Montgomery according to the model following Upon the ground a Hath-pace of fourteen foot square on the middest of which is placed a Dorick Column with its right of Pedestal Basis and Capitols fifteen foot in height on the Capitol of the Column is mounted an Urn with a Heart Flamboul supported by two Angels The foot of this Column is attended with four Angels placed on Pedestals at each corner of the said Hath-pace two having Torches reverst extinguishing the Motto of Mortality the other two holding up Palms the Emblemes of Victory When this noble person was in France he had private Instructions from England to mediate a Peace for them of the Religion and in case of refusal to use certain menaces Accordingly being referred to Luynes the Constable and Favourite of France he delivereth him the Message reserving his threatnings till he saw how the matter was relished Luynes had hid behind the Curtain a Gentleman of the Religion who being an Ear-witnesse of what passed might relate to his friends what little expectations they ought to entertain from the King of England's intercession Luynes was very haughty and would needs know what our KING had to do with their affairs Sir Edward replyed It 's not you to whom the King my Master oweth an account of his actions and for me it 's enough that I obey him In the mean time I must maintain That my Master hath more reason to do what he doth than you to aske why he doth it Nevertheless If you desire me in a gentle fashion I shall acquaint you further Whereupon Luynes bowing a little said Very well The Embassador answered ' That it was not on this occasion onely that the King of Great Britain had desired the Peace and prosperity of France but upon all other occasions when ever any War was raised in that Countrey and this he said was his first reason The second was That when a Peace was setled there his Majesty of France might be better disposed to assist the Palatinate in the affairs of Germany Luynes said We will have none of your advices The Ambassador replyed That he took that for an Answer and was sorry onely that the affection and the good will of the King his Master was not sufficiently understood and that since it was rejected in that manner he could do no lesse then say That the King his Master knew well enough what he had to do Luynes answered We are not afraid of you The Embassador smiling a little replyed If you had said you had not loved us I should have believed you and made another answer In the mean time all that I will tell you more is That we know very well what we have to do Luynes hereupon rising from his Chair with a fashion and countenance a little discomposed said By God if you were not Monsieur the Embassador I know very well how I would use you Sir Edw Herbert rising also from his Chair said That as he was his Majesty of Great-Britain ' s Embassador so he was also a Gentleman and that his Sword whereon be laid his band should do him reason if he had taken any offence After which Luynes replying nothing the Embassador went on his way toward the door and Luynes seeming to accompany him he told him there was no occasion to use such Ceremony after such Language and so departed expecting to hear
as too much power to be trusted for a mortal man within the known Limits of Law that so Subjects may be at a certainty how to square their Loyalty and Obedience He always upheld that Prerogative saying That the discretion of the Scepter as Guardian for the general good of the Commonwealth must be trusted against all Emergencies with the management of its own might concluding always thus Submission is our Duty and Confidence our Prudence Bishop Bancroft of Oxford said in King Charles the first his time Eâ—â—empore occubui quo mallem Episcopatus rationem coram Deo dare quam Episcopatum coram bominibus exercere Judge Stamford said in Q. Mary's time In quae reservamur tempora det Deus ut Magistratus rationem coram eo reddam potius quam Magistratum coram hominibus exerceam His Book containeth two parts One of The Pleas of the Crown the other of The Kings Prerogative In him saith Mr. Fulbeck there is force and weight and no common kinde of stile in matter very few have gone beyond him in method none have overtaken him in the order of his writing he is smooth yet sharp pleasant yet grave and surely his method may be a Law to the Writers that succeed him Observations on the Life of Sir John Jeffrey SIr Iohn Ieffrey was born in Sussex where he left behind him a fair Estate to his Daughter He so profited in the Study of our Municipal Law that he was preferred secondary Judge of the Common Pleas and thence advanced by Queen Elizabeth in Michaelmas-Term the nineteenth of her Reign to be Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer which place he discharged for the Term of two years to his great commendation He le 〈…〉 one Daughter and Heir married to Sir Edward Montague since Baron of Boughton by whom he had but one Daughter Elizabeth married to Robert Barty Earl of Lindsey Mother to the truly honourable Montague Earl of Lindsey and Lord great Chamberlain of England This worthy Judge died in the 21 of Queen Elizabeth This was he who was called the Plodding Student whose industry perfected Nature and was perfected by experience He read not to argue onely for that is vanity nor to believe and trust for that is easiness nor to discourse for that is idle but to weigh and consider for that is prudence He had his Studies for pleasure and privacy for ornament and converse and for judgement and business To spend too much time on his Book was sloth to talk by Book was affected and to act by it was humoursome and Scholar-like Four things he would say helped him 1. His Inclination It 's a great happiness to a man saith Aristotle when his Calling is one of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those things that agree with his nature 2. Method 3. Religion with that just and composed mind that attends it 4. A great happiness in all the four faculties that make a Lawyer 1. A sharp invention and clear apprehension to search all the circumstances of a case propounded 2. Judgement to examine and weigh the particulars invented and apprehended for truth lieth in things as Gold in Mines 3. Memory to retain what is judged and examined 4. A prompt and ready delivery of what is conceived and retained set out with ingenuity and gravity Oratio praesta non audax What he said was close and pinching and not confident and earnest allowing passion not to disturb either the method or delivery of his discourse but to quicken it To speak well and much he said was not the work of one man yet if a Philosopher be eloquent said Cicero we must not despise him if he be not he must not affect it so that he can comprehend in words what he conceiveth and speak them plainly that he may be understood His Latine and French were Grammatical his Rhetorick Natural his Logick Reason The first opened the terms the second pressed the vigour the last collected and disposed of the Axiomes Grounds and Rules of the Law and all prepared him for that comprehensive Profession in the ashes whereof the sparks of all other Sciences were raked up His gesture and habit was grave but not affected speaking as much to the eye as his tongue did to the ear the gesture being a great discoverer of the constitution and a great direction to business what a man misseth in the speech he may sometimes find in the looks His temper was moderate and sober a Vertue and a seasoning of all others attended with the Lawyers gift and that is Patience Modest he was but not fondly bashful his prudence and not his softness His humility begat affableness his affableness society that conference conference parts and they acquaintance and that practice and practice experience experience renown and that preferment Sir John's inclination was studious his minde constant solid and setled and able to dive into the whirl-pools of that intricate and perplexed Faculty his thoughts being orderly and his conceptions methodical his search comprehensive avoiding Epitomes as the banes of Learning Nullus illi per otiam dies exit partem noctium studiis vindicat non vacat semno sed succumbit oculos vigilia fatigatos cadenteque in opere detinet Considerable were the Parts he had but more so the making up of those he had not his covering of his defects being of no less importance then the valuing of good Parts which he did three ways 1. By caution ingeniously and discreetly waving and putting off things improper 2. By colour making his Defects his Vertues and his Faults his Endowments And 3. By that freedom of Spirit that daunts the weakest and prevaileth with the wisest He proposed to himself five things to enquire into in order to that compleatness he arrived unto 1. The ancient Maximes and Principles or the more ancient Customs that make up the Common Law of England 2. The Acts and Constitutions that make up its Statute-Law 3. The particular Priviledges Liberties Immunities and Usages of Counties Burroughs Cities c. that doe swerve from this Law 4. The ancient Grounds and Reasons as far as History can direct of all these our Law being an exact Reason 5. The most satisfactory explanations of the Law 1. From Commentaries as Bractons 2. Abridgements as Stathams 3. History as the years and terms of the Common Law And 4. From more particular Tracts that handled their peculiar subjects as Fortescue Glanvil Britton Fleta Littleton which he thought not unprofitable to read though dangerous to rely upon with the Lord Cooke not liking those that stuff their mindes with wandering and masterless reports For as he said they shall find them too soon to lead them to error Beginning with the terms of Art and then to the matter perusing what is antiquated and observing what is suitable to the present constitution and complexion It 's my Lord Cook 's Rule That for the most part the latter Judgements and Resolutions are the surest and therefore
Edward the sixth when Prince and is charactered by Mr. Cambden Vir antiqua serenitate He observeth him also to be happy in his Daughters learned above their Sex in Greek and Latine namely 1. Mildred 2. Anne 3. Kathering married unto William Cecill Lord Treasurer of England Nicholas Bacon Lord Chancellour of England Henry Killigrew Thomas Hobby Knights Ralph Rowlet 4. Elizabeth 5. Sir Anthony Cooke died in the year of our Lord 1576. leaving a fair Estate unto his Son in whose name it continued till our time Gravity was the Ballast of his Soul and General Learning its Leading In him met the three things that set up a Family 1. An Estate honestly gotten in the City 2. An Education well managed in the University And 3. Honour well bestowed at Court Yet he was some-body in every Art and eminent in all the whole circle of Arts lodging in his soul His Latine fluent and proper his Greek critical and exact his Philology and Observations upon each of these Languages deep curious various and pertinent His Logick rational his History and Experience general his Rhetorick and Poetry copious and genuine his Mathematiques practicable and useful Knowing that souls were equal and that Women are as capable of Learning as Men he instilled that to his Daughters at night which he had taught the Prince in the day being resolved to have Sons by Education 〈…〉 or fear he should have none by birth and lest he wanted an Heir of his body he made five of his minde for whom he had at once a Gavel-kind of 〈…〉 ffection and of Estate His Childrens maintenance was always according 〈…〉 o their quality and their employment according 〈…〉 o their disposition neither allowing them to live 〈…〉 bove their fortunes nor forcing them against their 〈…〉 atures It is the happiness of Forreigners that 〈…〉 heir Vocations are suited to their Natures and 〈…〉 hat their Education seconds their Inclination and 〈…〉 o th byass and ground do wonders It 's the un 〈…〉 appiness of English-men that they are bred ra 〈…〉 her according to their Estates then their temper 〈…〉 nd Great Parts have been lost while their Calling 〈…〉 rew one way and their Genius another and 〈…〉 hey sadly say Multum incolae fuere animae nostrae 〈…〉 e have dwelt from home Force makes Nature 〈…〉 ore violent in the return Doctrine and Discourse 〈…〉 ay make it less importune Custome may hide 〈…〉 r suppress it nothing can extinguish it Nature 〈…〉 en in the softer Sex runs either to Weeds or 〈…〉 erbs careful was this good Father therefore sea 〈…〉 onably to water the one and destroy the other 〈…〉 ch was done by his grave Rules more by his 〈…〉 raver life that Map of Precepts Precepts teach 〈…〉 ut Examples draw Maxima debetur pueris reve 〈…〉 ntia was Cato's Maxime Three things there 〈…〉 e before whom was Sir Anthony's saying I can 〈…〉 ot do amiss 1. My Prince 2. My Conscience 〈…〉 My Children Seneca told his Sister That 〈…〉 ough be could not leave her a great portion be would 〈…〉 ve her a good pattern Sir Anthony would write 〈…〉 o his Daughter Mildred My example is your inberitance and my life is your portion His first car 〈…〉 was to embue their tender souls with a knowing serious and sober Religion which went with the 〈…〉 to their graves His next business was to in 〈…〉 their younger years to submission modesty and obedience and to let their instructions grow wi 〈…〉 their years Their Book and Pen was their Recreation the Musick and Dancing School the Cou 〈…〉 and City their accomplishment the Needle i 〈…〉 the Closet and House-wifry in the Hall and Kitching their business They were reproved b 〈…〉 with reason that convinced and checked th 〈…〉 wrought as well an ingenious shame as an unfeigned sorrow and a dutiful fear Fondness never loved his Children and Passion never chastised the 〈…〉 but all was managed with that prudence and discrâ—â—tion that my Lord Seymour standing by one daâ— when this Gentleman chid his Son said Some 〈◊〉 govern Families with more skill then others do Kingdomes and thereupon commended him to the Government of his Nephew Edward the sixth Su 〈…〉 the Majesty of his looks and gate that Awe governed such the reason and sweetness that love obliged all his Family a Family equally afraid 〈…〉 displease so good a Head and to offend so great 〈…〉 their marriage they were guided by his Reas 〈…〉 more then his Will and rather directed by 〈…〉 Counsel then led by his Authority They we 〈…〉 their own portion Parts Beauty and Breedi 〈…〉 bestow themselves His care was that his Daughters might have compleat Men and that their Husbands might be happy in compleat Women nev 〈…〉 promising yet always paying a great Dowry Their spirit and business kept them from that weak pass 〈…〉 of love that embaseth Mankind their Noble con 〈…〉 se improved that friendly love that perfecteth 〈…〉 and their marriage compleated that Nuptial 〈…〉 ve that makes it He said first and his Grand-childe my Lord Bacon after him That the Joys of Parents are Secrets and so are their Griefs and Fears Children sweeten Labours but they embitter Misfortunes they encrease the care of Life and m 〈…〉 gate the remembrance of Death Very providently did he secure his Eternity by leaving the 〈…〉 age of his nature in his Children and of his 〈…〉 ind in his Pupil The Recreations he indulged were moderate lawful sober becoming useful â—nd seasonable the Expences he allowed not so ilâ—iberal as to acquaint them with shifts make them 〈…〉 ort with mean company nor surfeit when they came to plenty nor yet so prodigal but that they were taught how to live in the world The Books he advised were not many but choice the business â—e pressed was not reading but digesting The King of Sweden's men were but six deep and Sir Anthony's exercises were not thick but methodical and armed the Diet he prescribed moderate in Apparel he allowed for necessity for decency and in some cases for magnificence provided that it were neither too costly nor too vain neither above the Purse nor beyond the Calling nor besides the Estate Sir Anthony took more pleasure to breed up States-men then to be one Contemplation was his Soul Privacy his Life and Discourse his Element Business was his Purgatory and Publickness his torment yet so serviceable was he in Edward the sixth's time that he was an Exile in Queen Mary's An Exile whose exemplary resolution supported Religion whose obliging Authority maintained Peace and whose inexhaustible charity provided for the Poor at Zuricke and Frankford A Sussex and not a Kentish Knight having spent a great Estate at Court and brought himself to on 〈…〉 Park and a fine House in it was yet ambitious to entertain not the Queen but her Brother at it and to that purpose had new-painted his Gates with a Coat of Arms and a Motto
and could not brook the obsequiousness and assiduity of the Court at that time He had more favour then he courted and he courted more rather to comply with the Queens humour then his own inclination then he desired He would say and that saying did him no good saith Sir Robert Naunton That he was none of the Reptilia being made rather to march as a Souldier then to creep as a Courtier But Civility must allay Nature in a Courtier Prudence regulate it in a States-man and modest submission check and soften it in a Subject It 's as dangerous to be stubbornly above the Kindnesses as it is to be factiously against the Power of Princes Willoughby got nothing Stanley lost all by his haughtiness which when it cannot be obliged is suspected But his service in France Holland and on the Borders compounded for his roughness so that to he who could not endure he should be high at Court were pleased he should be so in the Field Stiffness which displeased when looked on as Pride at home took when heard to be Resolution abroad Each Nature is advanced in its own Element Leicester among the Ladies my Lord Willoughby among the Souldiers It 's a step to Greatness to know our own way to it to exercise and shew our proper Vertues as he did his Magnanimity in these two instances among many others 1. When one challenged him then sick of the Gout he said That though he were lame in his feet and hands yet he would carry a Rapier in his teeth to fight his Adversary 2. Having taken a Spanish Gennet designed a present to that King and being offered either 1000l or 100 l. a year in exchange for it he nobly answered If it had been a Commander he would have freely released him but being onely a Horse he saw no reason be could not keep a good Horse as well as the King of Spain himself Sir Christopher Hatton was to an excess a Courtier and my Lord Willoughby so a Souldier Observations on the Life of Sir Philip Sidney HE was Son to Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland and President of Wales A Person of great Parts and in no mean grace with the Queen His Mother was Sister to my Lord of Leicester from whence we may conjecture how the Father stood up in the place of Honor and Employment so that his Descent was apparently Noble on both sides For his Education it was such as Travel and the University could afford for after an incredible proficiency in all the Species of Learning he left the Academical life for that of the Court whither he came by his Uncles invitation famed aforehand by a Noble report of his Accomplishments which together with the state of his Person framed by a natural propension to Arms he soon attracted the good opinion of all men and was so highly prized in the good opinion of the Queen that she thought the Court deficient without him and whereas through the fame of his deserts he was in the election for the Kingdome of Poland she refused to further his advancement not out of Emulation but out of fear to loose the Jewel of her times He married the Daughter and sole Heir of Sir Francis Walsingham then Secretary of State a Lady destinated to the Bed of Honour who after his deplorable death at Zutphen in the Netherlands where he was Governour of Flushing at the time of his Uncles being there was married to my Lord of Essex and since his death to my Lord of St. Albans all persons of the Sword and otherwise of great Honour and Vertue He had an equal temperament of Mars and Mercury Valour and Learning to as high a pitch as Nature and Art could frame and Fortune improve him so Dexterous that he seemed born for every thing he went about His representations of Vertue and Vice were not more lively in his Books then in his Life his â—ancy was not above his Vertue his Humours Counsels and Actions were renowned in the Romancer Heroick in the States man His Soul was as large as his Parents and his Complexion as Noble an equal Line of both the modesty of the Mother allaying the activity of the Father A man so sweetly grave so familiarly staid so prettily serious he was above his years Wisdome gained by travel Experience raised from Observations solid and useful Learning drawn from knowing Languet his three years Companion and choicest Books accomplished him for the love of all and the reverence of most His Converse was not more close at home then his Correspondence abroad equally mixed with Policy Pleasure Wisdome and Love his Worth being penned up and smothered within the narrowness of his fortune sallied not out to discontent but pleasure sweetning the Affairs of State with the Debonnairness of the Stage his Romance being but Policy played with Machiavil in jest and State-Maximes sweetened to a Courtiers Palate He writ men as exactly as he studied them and discerned humours in the Court with the same deep insight he described them in his Book His Infant-discourses teach men O what had his riper years done He put Life into the dead Notions of Ancestors made Philosophy practicable joyned the Arts as closely in him as they are in themselves His Book is below his Spirit a Spirit to be confined with Kingdomes rather then Studies to do what was to be written then onely to write what was to be done All eyes were upon him but his own at first in all Affairs he was the last at last he was the first obliging all men that ever he saw and seeing all that were worth obliging All were pleased with his Arcadia but himself whose years advanced him so much beyond himself as his Parts did beyond others He condemned his Arcadia in his more retired judgement to the fire which wise men think will continue to the last Conflagration His private Correspondence with William of Nassau about the highest Affairs of Europe was so exact and prudent that he assured Sir Fulke Grevil he deserved a Kingdom in Forreign Parts though he had not an Office in England The Earl of Leicester held his Authority in the Low-Countries by his Counsel when alive and gave it over when he was dead Sir Francis Walsingham was so much overshot by him in his own Bow that those with whom Sir Philip were acquainted with for his sake were his friends for Sir Philips King James was honoured when King of Scotland with his friendship Henry the fourth with his correspondence Don Juan highly obliged with his Visits the King of Spain himself concerned in his death whom England he said lost in a moment but could not breed in an Age. The Universities were proud of his Patronage the Field of his Presence the Studious in all Parts communicated with him the Hopeful were encouraged by him all excellent Persons thronged to him all serviceable men were entertained by him and he among them a Prince whose minde was great
as much of his Councel as he was of his Majesties too haughty a carriage was the miscarriage of other Minions too good a nature was bis His great defect being that goodnesse and humanity that knoweth no excess but errour which was rather a softnesse than a kindnesse his heart was as large to others as his Masters was to him and knew as little how to mistrust as how to do any thing for which he should be mistrusted This is the Lesson he was short in That civilities should be common but favours choice The Whale is steered at Sea by a far smaller Fish and this States-man at Court by far meaner men than himself I my self saith an ingenious man have known many so far strangers to what was convenient as they would scarce concede or deny any thing out of the presence of their Secretary and this proceeded not seldome from a distrust there was no cause for manifest in the Earl of Somerset who though himself owner of a competent sufficiency was so enchanted with an opinion of Sir Overbury's parts that he preferred him from a Servant to such an intimate friendship as he could think nothing well educated for employment in his Office that had not passed his correction nor secret laid up but in his bosome which swelled him saith he to such a monstrosity in pride that I have heard not being my self then neer the English Court how he offered to rant at his servants and did once beat his Coachman for putting his commands under an inferiour expostulation to his Master and through this intolerable arrogance in him and remisness in the Earl the sparks first flew that kindled the ruine of them both Friendship being no more able to maintain its interest against a feminine affection than so great a pride was to confine it self within the tedder of moderation The greatest are not free but led in triumph by the affections of others through the mediation of their own Sir Thomas Overbury would do what was most plausible and the Earl must peform what was lesse popular The King trusted Carr with his Dispatches and Carr trusts Overbury a month together without examination who had full Commission to receive and answer any Letters or other Expresses that came to his hands Great opportunities offered themselves to Sir Robert Carr and a great Soul he had to observe them Fortune being nothing else but an attentive observation of the revolution of Affairs and the occasions resulting therefrom observant he was of his Master who raised him not to eclipse others but like a brave Prince to ease himself For Princes to use my Lord Bacon's words being at too great a distance from their Subjects to ease themselves into their bosomes raise some persons to be as it were participes curam or their Companions but this Favourite understood as well the humour of the People as he did the disposition of his Prince obliging the one no lesse than he pleased the other Gay he was as a Courtier grave as a Counsellour to Scholars none more civill to Soldiers none more liberal of States-men none more respective He had his extraordinary great Vertues upon occasions to shew and his ordinary little ones always to oblige a compleatnesse in all turnes and upon all occasions was his nature Familiar he was yet not cheap sociable upon regard and not upon facility His behaviour was his soul free for any exercise or motion finding many and making more opportunities to endear himself He broke his minde to small observations yet he comprehended great matters His carriage was so exact as if affected and yet so graceful as if natural That which overthrew the first bewitched the wisest and tyred the most patient man undid this noble person yet so regular were his affections that he did nothing publickly in the Countesse of Essex the Earl of Suffolk's Daughters case but by due course of Law the approbation of the gravest and wisest Divines and Counsellors and the applause of England his failings were the faults of his years rather than of his person of his sodain fortune than of his constant temper his counsels were safe and moderate his publick actions honest and plain his first years of favour industrious and active his minde noble and liberal His soul capacious and inquisitive his temper yielding and modest In a word Sir Robert Carr deserved to be a Favourite if he had not been one He fell because he medled too little with the Secretaries place while in it and too much when out of it giving Overbury too much scope on the one hand to mate him and Sir Ralph Winwood too much offence to undermine him who finding that new Earls occasions growing with his advancements I say his occasions because I think his miscarriages were not his nature but his necessity apt to encroach upon his and other Court-Offices gave ear to that Intelligence from Flushing that might ruine him and set free himself The first Intimation of his guilt was his earnestnesse for a general Pardon and the first argument of it was my Lord Chancellor's scruples in sealing it whence I date his first declining attended with as much pity as his first advancement was with envy We and the Troglodites curse not the Sun-rising more heartily than we worship it when it sets The Gentleman was as to his stature rather well compacted than tall as to his features and favour comely rather than beautiful The hair of his head was flaxen and that of his face yellow His nature was gentle his disposition affable his affections publick untill a particular person and interest engrossed them and the good Gentleman being sensible of failers that might ruine him was wholly intent upon a treasure that might preserve him His defect was that he understood onely his own age and that the experience of man's life cannot furnish examples and presidents for the events of one mans life Observations on the Life of George Abbot GEorge Abbot being one of that happy Ternion of Brothers whereof two were eminent Prelates the third Lord Mayor of London was bred in Oxford wherein he became Mr. of University-Colledge a pious man and most excellent Preacher as his Lectures on Jonah do declare He did first creep then run then flye into Preferment or rather Preferment did flie upon him without his expectation He was never Incumbent on any Living with cure of Souls but was mounted from a Lecturer to a Dignitary so that he knew the Stipend and Benevolence of the one and the Dividend of the other but was utterly unacquainted with the taking of Tithes with the many troubles attending it together with the causelesse molestations which Parsons presented meet with in their repective Parishes And because it is hard for one to have a Fellow-suffering of that whereof he never had a suffering this say some was the cause that he was so harsh to Ministers when brought before him Being Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar then omni-prevalent with