the time that his Lordship was Counsellor before that he was aduanced to that high office which afterward he bare in which time he daily shewed great diligence and sound iudgement in her weightiest affaires The last of all was that space wherein he held the roome of Lord High Treasurer of England in which place she noted the continuall and excessiue paines and care which his Lordship did take in her businesse his fidelitie in his aduices his dexterity in aduaÌ„cing of her profit Thus it seemed good to that Queen of blessed memory in particulâ—â— discourse touching her faithfull seruant This was while his Lordship liued and since his death his Maiestie that now is the most religious the most learned the most iudicious King that this land euer enioied as I haue beene aduertised from persons of high qualitie hath beene pleased diuers times to giue many excellent speeches before the Lords concerning him as his Highnesse had done formerly while this noble man did liue Heere may I not say with the Poet Principibus placuisse viris non vltima laus est To please great Princes is not the least commendation Nay I may change the verse and alter it in this fashion Principibus placuisseistis ter maxima laus est To please such Princes as these is a very great commendation And indeed these were most gracious testimonies of two such Soueraignes to their seruant who desired much to please them with loyaltie and fidelitie with vigilancie and care with industrie and diligence incredible but vnto those who did know it And neuer was there any Noble man who with more humble agnising with more feeling and affectionate gratefulnesse did entertaine the fauours of his Soueraignes than this honorable person did as may fully appeare by many wâ—â—ds in his last will recommending to his posteritie a speciall grace of his Maiestie in sending a Ring vnto him which he wisheth his to keepe as a iewell of highest value thorowout all generations The words are worth the reading but they are too long to rehearse in this place 12 Now for other parts of morall vertues how many rare things were in him Who more louing vnto his wife that Honorable Ladie the mirrour of all true vertue It is a most worthy testimonie that he hath giuen thereof and hath left it to be recorded for those that shall come after Who more kind vnto his children and to his Grand-children Who more fast vnto his friend who more moderate to his enemy if truth were once found out and staining imputations were wiped away from the integritie of his Honor Who more true of his word It was a noble testimonie which a most Honorable personage gaue of his Lordship since his death in a right worthy assemblie that in much conuersation and concurrence in many causes of great waight and importance hee neuer heard him speake or in earnest affirme that which he found to be otherwise What noble man in our time was more giuen to hospitalite and keeping of a great house Hauing liued seuenty and two yeeres for so was his age accounted and being married more then fifty and three yeeres vnto one and the selfe same Lady he kept house for fortie and two yeeres in an honorable proportion For thirtie yeeres of those his family consisted of little lesse in one place or another than two hundred persons But for more then twentie yeeres besides workmen and other hired his number at the least hath beene two hundred and twenty daily as appeared vpon checke-rowle A very rare example in this present age of ours when house-keeping is so decaied Who more magnificent than than his Lordship in solemne entertainments as besides other particulars was manifested not long since abundantly to the world when his Maiestie with the Queene and Prince together with a great part of the Nobilitie spent diuers daies at Oxford Who was euer more desirous to doe wrong vnto none His Lordship bought no land but hee commonly paid more for it than it was worth yeelding this reason of it that it would the better prosper and continue in his name and posteritie In his Will how carefull was he that all debts should be paid yea though there were no specialty whereby it might be challenged yet if it might appeare that ought was due vnto any man his charge is to his Executors that they should giue satisfaction The like also for wrong done to any one whatsoeuer whereof he protested before the eternall Maiestie that he did not remember any And if there should grow difference betweene his Executors and any person demanding his hearty praier and desire is to the Deanes of Windsore Westminster and Pauls for so his Lordship doth ranke them to heare order and determine all controuersies depending Which if they refuse to doe which he hopeth they will not or if the partie claiming shall not obey their award he leaueth them to the ordinarie course of law but chargeth and requireth his Executors to answer them in all Courts of Iustice immediately without all delaies whatsoeuer Vnto those honorable parts I may adde a great many more As his good and charitable disposition toward his Tenants of whom ordinarily he tooke lesse fines by a third part than by other Lords is vsually accustomed and his Farmers held his Farmes as is well knowen to the world but at reasonable rents As his releefe to the poore in pinching times of dearth In the yeere 1597. which was a time of the greatest scarcitie that euer we did know his Lordship sent into Sussex of his free gift vnto six parishes store of Danske Rie bought at Billingsgate Diuers other yeeres and namely this present yeere 1608. his Lordship hath caused weekely certaine quarters of Wheat to be caried from his owne Granary at Lewes in Sussex and to be sold in the market to the poore at a farre lower rate than the price which commonly men did take And that this his Lordships bountie might continue after his death by his last Will and Testament he hath bequeathed a thousand pounds for the erecting of a Granarie at the place which last I named for the vse and benefit of poore people in those parts And two thousand pounds as a stocke for the storing of that house against times of dearth and scarcitie Vnto this he hath also ioined a thousand pounds to be bestowed on the building of a Chapell where his ancestors doe lie and where his Lordship desired that his bodie might be enterred These are fruits of a liuely faith and so must be reputed 13 But because a right beleefe and religion toward God is the highest point of all I may not heere omit to say something touching that There are arguments most euident to demonstrate vnto all men that his faith was agreeable vnto the word of God and according to the profession of the renowmed Church of England In that famous Vniuersitie of Oxford where his Lordship for more then sixteene yeeres was
A SERMON PREACHED AT WESTMINSTER MAY 26. 1608. AT THE FVNERALL SOLEMNITIES of the Right Honorable Thomas Earle of Dorset late L. High Treasurer of ENGLAND By GEORGE ABBOT Doctor of Diuinitie and Deane of WINCHESTER one of his Lordships Chapleines Now published at the request of some honourable persons very few things being added which were then cut off by the shortnesse of the time IOH. 9. 4. The night commeth when no man can worke LONDON Printed by Melchisedech Bradwood for William Aspley 1608. TO THE RIHGT Honorable and most vertuous Lady the La. Cicely Countesse of DORSET THere are sundry reasons right Honourable which haue mooued me to giue my consent that this Sermon might be published One is to testifie my dutifull grateful respect towards that noble personage now deceased to whom when he was liuing I was so much bound for so many yeeres together Another is to giue satisfaction to diuers of speciall qualitie and note who haue earnestly intreated me that I will not denie this dutie to the dead nor such a kindnesse to them aliue but that they may reade that againe and againe which they heard once with no discontentment A third is that the world may truly take notice of many excellent vertues wherewith God had indued this honourable man and that as well with resolued knowledge to compose and settle his soule religiously towards heauen as with rare wisdome prudence otherwise to digest and dispatch either publike businesse touching his Souereigne and the State or his owne priuat affaires In the opening whereof as it should be vanitie to adde or amplifie any thing so it should be want of Christian dutie and regard to conceale that which is true especially since the relation may satisfie such as doubt and the example may prouoke others to imitate those good parts which are not euery where to be found Now it being published I haue as great reason to recommend it to your honourable patronage since you are the Suruiuer of that worthy couple who for so long time were ioyned together in the bands of Christian wedlocke And whom may it more concerne or vnto whom can it be more comfortable than to your Ladiship that there should be some memoriall of his well-doing whom you so deerly loued and so respectfully obserued in the time of your conuersation together Besides the reading of it may peraduenture be a Remembrancer vnto you of your owne mortalitie when you heare of his departure before you who as you supposed might haue ouer-liued you many yeeres And lastly the mention of that which his Lordship hath left touching your selfe may incite you to go forward in those vertuous and Christian courses which hitherto you haue so singularly demonstrated that besides the experience which his Lordship had and testified to the full the world which obserueth few good things vnlesse they be eminent taketh great notice of them and therefore it neerly concerneth your Honor to persist therein and to endeuour yet dayly to increase those good graces that the end may counteruaile yea exceed both the progresse and beginning I doubt not but God who hath begun his admirable worke in you will accomplish it and make it perfect so blessing you all the dayes of your pilgrimage heere that you may liue to your children and childrens children an honourable paterne of pietie religion and vertue and depart from this earth in a full age vnto the true and neuer ceasing ioyes of his euerlasting Kingdome Which he will alwayes pray for who is and long hath beene Your Honors very much bounden GEORGE ABBOT A SERMON PREAched at Westminster May 26. 1608. AT THE FVNERALL SOLEMNITIES of the Right Honourable Thomas Earle of Dorset late L. High Treasurer of ENGLAND ISAIAH 40. 6. A voice sayd Crie And he sayd What shall I crie All flesh is grasse and all the grace thereof is as the flower of the field 7. The grasse withereth the flower fadeth because the spirit of the Lord bloweth vpon it HEe that looketh into this Chapter shall see it to be a Prophecie of the comming of Christ of his appearing in the flesh and his taking of our humane nature vpon him so to bring grace and saluation to as manie as should beleeue And this touching the comming of Christ is not nakedly layd downe but with an intimation also of his fore-runner Iohn the Baptist the very words being vsed to make it the more notorious which are repeated in the third Chapter of Saint Mathew The voice of a crier in the wildernesse prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight But to fit men so much the more to embrace that mercy which should be offred by him this sound reason is brought that of our selues we are mortall corruptible and transitorie and that therefore it is good that we should haue something else to rest our soules vpon For we consist but of flesh and that is like vnto the grasse And if we should imagine othermen to be better then our selues yet they are but as we are for all flesh is grasse and all the grace thereof is as the flower of the field Therefore it is best to trust to something els and that must be the sonne of God the Sauiour of the world the Redeemer of mankind the mighty God of Iacob I shall not at this time speake any thing concerning the comming of Christ but shall rather insist vpon the opening of the reason which leadeth vs vnto Christ Iesus Which that it may bee the more strongly imprinted in vs it is not barely deliuered but with a kinde of Preface or solemne introduction A voice said Cry And he said What shall I cry The whole may be diuided into these two parts A preparation and A proclamation The proclamation is the maine consisting of the latter words All flesh is grasse and all the grace thereof as the flower of the field c. In the preparation are two circumstances A commandement what should be done And the Prophets composing of himselfe to the performance of it Of all which in their order as God shall giue assistance A voice said Crie 2 We shall little need to inquire what voice this is which speaketh to Esay For that whereunto the Prophet would hearken is only the voice of God That which spake out of the mount in the twentieth of Exodus when the law was giuen downe to the people of Israel God spake these words and said That which called to Samuel in the dead time of the night and badde him go and doe a message to old Eli. That whereof Dauid could say The voice of the Lord is mightie the voice of the Lord is glorious The veritie the authority the maiestie of that which is vttered doth declare so much This biddeth the prophet Crie not speake only much lesse whisper but with an extention of his voice to deliuer his message This must not be as that was when God passed by Elias in a
of sicknesse as it was a common and a constant report ouer all London that I was dead and the same confidently affirmed euen vnto the Kings Highnesse himselfe Vpon which occasion it pleased his most excellent Maiestie in token of his gratious goodnesse and great fauour towards me to send the said Lord Haie with the sayd Ring and this royall message vnto me namely That his Highnesse heartily wished a speedie and perfect recouerie of my health with all happie and good successe vnto me and that I might liue as long as the Diamonds of that Ring which therewithall he deliuered vnto me did endure And in token thereof required me to we are it and keepe it for his sake This most gratious and comfortable message restored a new life vnto me as comming from so renowmed and benigne a Souereigne vnto a seruant so farre vnworthy of so great a fauour and vpon whom not long before it had pleased his Maiestie yea in that very first day wherein we all had the happinesse to beholde him not only to bestow the honor of a Priuie Counseller but also without any answerable desert or merit of mine preceding to confirme that most honourable place of High Treasurer of England vnto me which the late Queene ELIZABETH after foureteene yeeres seruice and ten yeeres following her Court but not before vouchsafed I must needs yet say most gratiously so soon as it became void to grant vnto me and likewise within a short time after to aduance both me and my succession to the high honor degree of an Earle which is and shall be to me my house and posteritie an euerliuing demonstration aswell of his great benefit to vs as of our infinite bond to him thereby for euer The which inexplicable goodnesse of his Maiestie towards me besides many lustres of his bright shining fauours from time to time cast vpon me doe giue me iust cause to agnize that I am no waies able to merit no not the least part of them but onely with the humble and infinite earnestie of my heart in desire to deserue which I can yet no waies manifest but by that faithfull testimonie which shall neuer faile in me namely by demonstration of mine incessant cares labours and actuall indeuors for the behoofe and furtherance of his Maiesties seruices at the least thereby to shew that good will which is in me though I cannot shew that effect which is due to him since all that I possibly can or may doe is but meere debt and dutie and so in that course to spend such remaine of life as is left vnto me yea euen to the very last of my daies here when I am dead gone if euer occasion may or shall be offered to any of my posteritie to doe his Maiestie or any of his any acceptable seruice heereafter then let them hold esteeme themselues most happie if with the expence of life of all the fortunes that this world shall giue them they may actually approoue and witnesse with effect that they are not onely most loyall and dutifull vassals to this Imperiall Crowne but also the most humble faithfull and thankfull sonnes and sequell of such a seruant as was more bound vnto King IAMES his liege Master than euer subiect was vnto his Soueraigne especially he being such a Soueraigne adorned with such excellent parts of iustice clemencie and goodnesse indued with so admirable gifts of memory learning and iudgement and finally beautified with so many other regall graces and vertues so farre beyond all the Kings and Princes that either written storie or this present age hath to present vnto vs as I know not how any greater honor and felicitie can possiblie be added to the imperiall Crowne of and in this Great Britaine by his vndoubted right so happily vnited vnto vs than we now presently possesse and enioy in the Royall person of this our so renowmed and so rare a King Beseeching the eternall God that he and his may euermore both rule and raigne ouer vs yea euen as long as the Sunne and Moone endureth and that I and mine may for euer and euer become more and more thankfull at the least if it be possibly in me for so great honors graces and fauors as this most clement and renowmed King hath thus most gratiously vouchsafed vnto me the remembrance of which because it may neuer die but be perpetually recorded in the mindes of those that by the grace goodnesse of almighty God both now are hereafter shall be the lineall stirpe and succession of my house and family to serue both him his I haue heere therefore set downe this short narration of the true state and circumstance of the whole matter to the intent it may remaine to my posterity heereafter as a faithfull memorie thereof euen in this my last Will and Testament for euer 2 Matth. 3. 3. b Exod. 20. 1. c 1. Sam. 3. 4. d Psal. 29. 4. e 1. Reg 19. 12. f Matth. 12. 19. g Ionah 3. 4. h Isa 58. 1. i Herodot in Polymma k August de 12. abusionum gradibus Tom. 9. l Ezec. 3. 17. m Ezec. 33. 7. n Matt. 28. 19. o 1. Cor. 11. 23. p 1. Tim. 6. 20. q Vinâ— contr haeres cap. 27. t Diodor. Antiquit lib. 2. 3. f Gen. 3. 19. t Gen. 5. 8. 11. 14. 27. u Psal. 49. 10. x Bern. de gradib humilitat y In festo S. Martini z Chrysost in Ep. ad Philip. Homil. 12. a Exo. 26. 31. b Ios. de bel Iud. Lib. 6. 6. c Hier. Epist. 128. d Matth. 27. 51. e Chrys. Hom. â— in 2. Cor. f Matt. 6. 30. g Psal. 103. 15. h Greg. in Psa. 5. Poenitent i Iac. 4. 14. k 2. Pet. 1. 14. l Diod. Sie Antiq. li. 2. 1. m In Cat. Maâ—or n Iob. 14. 2. o cap. 7. 6. p Basil. in Hexam Homil 5. q Homer Iliad 5. r 2. Sam. 14. 14. s 1. Reg. 2. 2. t Iob 30. 23. u Heb. 9. 27. x Senec. Epist. 70. ad Lucilium y Innoc. 3. de cont mund lib. 1. z Sen. Ep. 26 a Bern. de conuers ad cleric cap. 14. b Horat. Carm. Lib. 4. Ode 7. c Greg. Naz. orat 40. d Xenoph. in Apolog. pro Socrat. e Ammian Mercellin hist Lib. 16. Sigon de Occid Imp. lib. 6. f Psal. 82. 6. g Aug. de catechiz rudibus cap. 16. h Basil. in Hexam homil 5. i Chrys Conâ— 2. de Lâ—zaro k 2. Sam. 14. 25. l Luc. 16. 20. m Lucian in Necromant n Aâ—n Sylâ— â— Blond Decad 2. 6. Platin in Caelest 3. o Dion Histor. lib. 66. p Plutarch in vit Aemil. q Tit. Liu. lib. 45. r Tit. Liu. lib. 25. s Appian de bellis Puniâ—is t Deu. 32. 39. u 1. Sam. 2. 6 * Isa. 40. 23. x The life of Tresilian in the Mirrour of Magistr Epist. prâ—fix Aulic Barth Clerke * Holinshed An. 13. Eliz. y Horat. lib. 1. Epist. 17. 1 The words which his Lordship in his last will vseth of his Ladie are these Inprimis I giue will and bequeath vnto the Ladie Cicely Countesse of Dorset my most vertuous faithfull and dearely beloued wife not as any recompence of her infinit merit towards mee who for her incomparable loue zeale hartie affection euer shewed vnto me and for those her so rare many and reuerent vertues of chastitie modestie fidelitie humilitie secrecie wisdome patience and a mindâ— repleat with all pietie and goodnesse which euermore haue and do abound in her deserueth to be honoured loued and esteemed aboue all the transitory wealth and treasure of this world and therefore by no price of earthly riches can by me be valued recompensed or requiâ—ed To her therefore my most vermous faithfull and intirely beloued wife Not I say as a recompense but as a true token and testimony of my vnspeakable loue affection and estimation and reuerencâ— long since fixed and setled in my heart towards her I giue will and bequeath c. a From the 28. of May to the 15. of August so much as cost 154. li. 14. s. 7. d. b After 26. s. 8. d. the quarter when other men ordinarily sold for 40. s. the quarter c 〈…〉 d At Horseley e At Dorset house f Iustin. li. 25. g Luc. 13. 4. h Pliâ— â—at hist. lib. 7. 7. i Ibidem k Tull. in Lâ—lio l Nich. Hospital in Tumulis m Matth. Paris in Richard n Hier. Epist. 19. Tom. 9. Marcellin Lib. 30. * Ambros. de obit Valentinian o Socrat. Hist. Eccl. li. 3. 19. p Theodor. Hist. Eccl. Lib 4. 4. q Solon Hist. Eccl. Lib. 6. 6. r Hier. Epist. 3. ad Heliod s â—am 4. 20. * 2. Chron. 35. 23. t Iustin. Martyr Quaest. 79. u Hieron in Psa. 93. â—om 7. * Eccl. 9. 2. x Eccl. 38. 22. Heri mihi hodie tibi y Rom. 14. 4. z Plin. Nat. Hist. li. 7. 51. b Matt. 24. 42. c Matth. 25. 4. d 2. Reg. 20. 1. e Psal. 90. 12. f Eccle. 11. 3. g Olymp in Eccl. 11. Bern. Sermon paru 49. h Psal. 82. 1.