Northampton though a great Clerke yet not a wise man but the grossest Flatterer of the World and as Salisbury by his Wit so this by his Flattery raised himselfe yet one great motive to the raising all of that Name of Howards was the Duke of Norfolke suffering for the Queene of Scots the Kings Mother yet did Suffolke so farre get the start of Northampton that Northampton never after loved him but from the teeth outwards only had so much discretion as not to fall to actuall enmity to the over-throw of both and the weakning that faction Suffolk also using him with all submissive respect not for any love but hope of gaining his great estate and sharing it amongst his Children but Northamptons distaste was such by his losse of the Treasurers place which he had with such assurance promised to himselfe in his thoughts that except what he gave to Master Henry Howard the rest he gave to the Earl of Arundell who by his observance but more especially by giving Northampton all his Estate if he never returned from travell had wrought himselfe so far into his affections that he doted on him And now the principall managers of the English affaires were Salisbury Suffolke Northampton Buckhurst Egerton Lord Keeper Worcester and the Old Admirall For the Scots Sir George Hewme now Earle of Dunbar Secretary Elfeston after Earle of Balmerino and as wise a man as was in England or Scotland the Lord of Kinlosse a very honest but weak man You are now to observe that Salisbury had shaken off all that were great with him and of his Faction in Queene Elizabeths dayes as Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir George Carew the Lord Grey the Lord Cobham the three first very able men as the world had the last but one degree from a foole yet served their turnes better then a wiser man by his greatnesse with the Queen for they would put him on any thing and make him tell any Lye with as great confidence as a truth Three of these were utterly ruined as you shall heare in the following Discourse the fourth being a very wise man contented himselfe with a meane place that was worthy of a much greater and although very active formerly called to minde this saying Foelix quem faciunt c. and medled with no State businesse his wisdome fore-telling his Fate if he had done otherwise for he did see one better head-peece then his owne sit tottering at that time and fell off afterwards which made him think it was good sleeping in a whole skin The King no sooner came to London but notice was taken of a rising Favourite the first Meteor of that nature appearing in our climate as the King cast his eye upon him for affection so did all the Courtiers to adore him his name was Mr. James Hay a Gentleman that lived long in France and some say of the Scottish Guard to that King this Gentleman comming over to meet the King and share with him in his new Conquest according to the Scots phrase it should seeme had some former acquaintance with the then Leiger Embassadour in Scotland for the French King who comming with his Majesty into England presented this Gentleman as a well accomplished Gentleman to the King in such an high commendation as engendered a liking that produced a favourite in thankfull acknowledgement whereof he did him many faire offices for the present and comming afterwards an extraordinary Embassadour to our King made him the most sumptuous Feast at Essex house that ever was seene before never equalled since in which was such plenty and Fish of that immensity brought out of Muscovia that Dishes were made to containe them no Dishes in all England before could neare hold them and after that a costly Voydee and after that a Maske of choyse Noble-men and Gentlemen and after that a most costly and magnificent Banquet the King Lords and all the prime Gentlemen then about London being invited thither Truly he was a most compleat and well accomplished Gentleman modest and Court-like and of so faire a demeanour as made him be generally beloved and for his wisdome I shall give you but one character for all Hee was ever great with all the Favourites of his time and although the King did often change yet he was semper idem with the King and Favourites and got by both for although Favourites had that exorbitant power over the King to make him grace and disgrace whom they pleased yet he was out of their power and the only exception to that generall rule and for his gettings it was more then almost all the Favourites of his time which appeared in those vast expences of all sorts and had not the bounty of his minde exceeded his gettings he might have left the greatest estate that ever our age or climate had heard of he was indeed made for a Courtier who wholly studied his Master and understood him better then any other He was imployed in very many of the most weighty Affaires and sent with the most stately Embassies of our times which he performed with that wisdome and magnificence that he seemed an honour to his King and Country For his carriage in State-affaires he was termed by some Princes the Kings Juggler He married the Daughter and Heire of the Lord Denny after the Earl of Northumberlands daughter and was hated of none that ever I heard of but the Earle of Northampton who had no patience to see him being himselfe of so venemous and cankred a disposition that indeed he hated all men of noble parts nor loved any but Flatterers like himselfe yet it was a great question whether he hated the Earl of Carlisle or Sir Robert Mansell most by whom he hath been heard to say Body of God I will be content to be damned perpetually in Hell to be revenged of that proud Welshman and did so hate him that he kept an Inquisition on him seven yeares to prove that he had cousened the King of fourteen thousand pounds which at the seven yeares end at an hearing before the King the Lords the Queen and all the Ladies being present with all the gallantry of the Court ended in one paire of silke Stockins given by one for a New-yeares Gift to Master Wels Sir Robert Mansells Servant at which the King stood up and sware very deeply Doe you beleeve I will take a paire of silke Stockins for my fourteen thousand pounds give me that give me that is this all the fruit of seven yeares Commission at which words Sir Robert Mansell kneeled downe and said I will now Sir take all the faults they can charge my servant with upon my selfe at which the King was very angry that so noble a Gentleman who had so wel acquitted himselfe and Honour should intrust it in the keeping of a Servant at the end of all the Earle of Salisbury kneeled down and said Sir if you will suffer malice so farre to prevaile as to have your
honest Servants traduced to satisfie the humours of any I beseech you take my staffe for were my selfe and the Earl of Worcester here present put in the ballance against Sir Robert Mansell we should prove too light I am in a great Place and cannot say but by my selfe or servants I may faile yet not with our own wils therefore Sir if you wil suffer such inquisitions there will be no serving your Majesty in such places as I hold by your Majesties favour thus ended the Earle of Northamptons malice which only served to honour Sir Robert Mansell and make a scorne of himselfe and this only to make the venome of this Monster appear who did flatter the King and dissemble with God And now begin Embassadours to appeare from divers Princes the principall were Roney Duke of Sullice from the French King the Constable of Castile from the Spanish King the Count Arremberg from the Arch Duke the former came to congratulate only and desired the confirmation of the ancient amity betwixt the two Crownes the latter two about the establishing a firme peace betwixt these two Kingdomes that had lived in perpetuall Warre and hatred of each other by which it might appeare where the advantage of such a peace would fall by those that sought or rather bought it with an infinite masse of treasure prodigally cast about the English Court To bring these Embassadours over were appointed Sir Robert Mansell being Admirall of the narrow Seas and Sir Jerome Turner his Vice-Admirall the first commanded to attend at Graveling for the Spanish Embassadour the latter at Calis for the French but the French comming first and hearing the Vice-Admirall was to attend him the Admirall the other in a scorne put himselfe in a Passage-boat of Calis came forth with flagge in top instantly Sir Jerome Turner sent to know of the Admirall what he should doe Sir Robert Mansell sent him word to shoot and sinke him if he would not take in the flag this as it made the flag bee pulled in so a great complaint and 't was beleeved it would have undone Sir Robert Mansell the French Faction pressing it so home but he maintained the act and was the better beloved of his Master ever after to his dying day This makes it appeare how jealous old Commanders were of their owne honour and of their Masters and Kingdomes honours which since hath been so prodigally wasted as we are utterly bankerupt having spent our old Stock and have not bravery enough to erect a new The Constable of Castile so plyed his Masters businesse in which he spared for no cost that he procured a peace so advantageous for Spaine and so disadvantageous for England that it and all Christendome have since both seen and felt the lamentable effects thereof There was not one Courtier of note that tasted not of Spaines bounty either in Gold or Jewels and among them not any in so large a proportion as the Countesse of Suffolke who shared in her Lords interest being then a potent man and in that interest which she had in being Mistris to that little great Secretary little in body and stature but great in wit and policy the sole manager of State affaires so it may be said she was a double sharer and in truth Audley-end that famous and great structure had its foundation of Spanish Gold The King was a peaceable and merciful Prince yet God for some secret intent best known to himself laid the foundation of his reigne with the greatest mortality ever before heard of in this Kingdome by a fearefull Plague and some by that judged what his future reign would be yet their wisdomes failed for he was a King of mercy as well as peace never cruell yet surely it had some morall He was forced by that contagion to leave the Metropolis and goe into a by corner in Wiltshire Wilton the Earle of Pembrookes House in which time of his abode there a kinde of Treason brake forth but what it was as no man could then tell so it is left with so dark a Comment that posterity will never understand the Text or remember any such treason it is true some lost their lives yet the world was never satisfied of the justice and one of them and that the only marke of Tyranny upon this good Kings reigne executed many yeares after without all president and on my conscience without any just cause and even against that good Kings will who in many things was over-awed by his timorous disposition But the Spanish Faction and Spanish Gold betrayed his life as they had done the Kingdome before and I beleeve it was one of the greatest Master-peeces of that Embassadour to purchase Rawleighs head yet had not Bristol co-operated the King would never have consented and it may be he had his secret ends fearing his wisdome might once againe have raised him to have looked over Sherborne Castle once his owne and how unjustly taken from him God will one day judge I know not whether there be a curse on those that are owners of it as Fables report but I am confident there is a curse on Bristol for taking away his life I will not take upon me too farre to pry into Gods Arke yet what is like to befall him and hath already his Son as hopefull a Gentleman as any in the Kingdome may give some token of Gods anger against him and his family But because I will not leave you altogether blinde-folded I shall as neare as I can lead you to the discovery of this Treason which consisted of Protestants Puritans Papists and of an Atheist a strange medley you will say to meet in one and the same Treason and keepe counsell which surely they did because they knew not of any the Protestants were the Lord Cobham and George Brook his Brother the one very learned and wise the other a most silly Lord the Puritan the Lord Grey of VVilton a very hopefull Gentleman blasted in the very Bud the Papists VVatson and Clarke Priests and Parham a Gentleman the Atheist Sir Walter Rawleigh then generally so beleeved though after brought by affliction the best School-Mistris to be and so dyed a most religious Gentleman This Treason was compounded of strange ingredients and more strange then true it was very true most of these were discontented to see Salisbury their old friend so high to trample on them that before had been his chiefe supporters and being ever of his faction now neglected and contemned it was then beleeved an errand trick of State to over-throw some and disable others knowing their strong abilities might otherwise live to over-throw Salisbury for they were intimate in all his secret Councels for the ruine of Essex especially Rawleigh Grey and Cobham though the latter was a foole yet had been very usefull to them as the Toole in the hand of the Workman and to have singled out these without some Priests which were Traytors by the Law had smelt
undervalue so precious a commodity Northampton finding himself neglected by so mean a fellow cast about another way and followed Balaams councell by sending a Moabitish Woman unto him in which he made use of Copinger a Gentleman who had spent a faire fortune left by his Ancestors and now for maintenance was forced to lead the life of a Serving-man that formerly kept many to serve him and as an addition the worst of that kind a flat Bawd This Gentleman had lived a scandalous life by keeping a Whore of his own which for the honour of her Family I will not name therefore was fittest to trade in that commodity for another and in truth was fit to take any impression basenesse could stamp on him as the sequell of this story will manifest This Moabitish woman was a Daughter of the Earl of Suffolk married to a young noble Gentleman the Earl of Essex This Train took and the first private meetings were at Copingers house and himselfe Bawd to their lust which put him into a far greater bravery for a time then when he was master of his owne but iâ— had bitternesse on all hands in the end This privacy in their stoln pleasures made Copinger a friend to Northampton and Suffolk though but a Servant to Viscount Rochester for so now was he called and now had they linked him so close as no breaking from them Overbury was that John Baptist that reprooved the Lord for the sinne of using the Lady and abusing the young Earle of Essex would call her Strumpet her mother and brother Bawds and used them with so much scorne as in truth was not to bee indured from a fellow of his Rank to persons of that quality how faulty soever otherwise they were Then to satisfie Overbury and blot out the name of Sin his love led him into a more desperate way by a resolution to marry another mans wife against this then did Overbury bellow lowder and in it shewed himselfe more like an affectionate then a discreet moderate friend had he compounded but one dram of discretion with an ounce of affection he might with such a receipt have preserved his owne life and their fortunes and honors For those that infinitely hated that Family did as infinitely condemn his insolent carriage and behaviour towards them so that had any of those Brothers or name killed Overbury either by picking a quarrell with him or pistolling him or any other desperate way or bravely in a Duell upon some other ground of a quarrell then blemishing their Sister the World would have justified the action however he had stood with God but Buchanans character of that Family bars all expectation of so much bravery of spirit but a Counsell must be held to put him to death by some baser means The Plot them must be he must be sent a Leidger Embassadour into France which by obeying they should bee rid of so great an eye-sore by disobeying he incurred the displeasure of his Prince a contempt that he could not expect lesse then imprisonment for and by that means be sequestred from his friend And thus far I do beleeve the Earl of Somerset for so was hee now created was consenting this stratagem tooke and Overbury might truly say Video meliora deteriora sequor for he indeed made the worst choyce it could not be thought but such an imployment was far above his desert and much better for him to have accepted then to bee confined to a loathsome Prison and for want of judgement had his sufferings been lesse then losse of life he had not bin worthy of pity but Jupiter quos vult perdere hos dementat hee would to the Tower from whence he never returned rather then accept of an honourable imployment from whence he might not only have returned but done his friends acceptable service either in private or publick In his managing of this businesse that wisdome of his which formerly he had been esteemed for suffered under the censure of Wise men as well as Fooles Having him now fast in Prison Herodias by pleasing her Herod must also aske and have his life for per scelus ad scelera tutior est via To that end they preferred Empoysoners to be servants to Sir Gervase Elwayes then Lieutenant of the Tower The Gentleman was ever held wise and honest but unfortunate in having this place thrust upon him without his thought he was also so religious that few in the Court did equall him so wise as he obtained the Character of wise Sir Gervase Elwayes yet neither could his wisdom nor the opinion of his Religion and honesty prevent that Fate he was so ignorant of the plot as he never did dreame of any such matter untill one day as it should seem Weston being told Elwayes did know wherefore he was preferred unto him to waite on Overbury he asked the Lieutenant one day before dinner whether he should now doe it Elwayes asked him what Weston at that being somewhat abashed Elwayes espying it presently said no not yet for he did beleeve there was something knowne to Weston which was a secret to himselfe Whereupon Elwayes could not chew any meat for chewing upon those words of Weston but instantly commanded his Table to be voyded and thence he went into his Study and sent for Weston to come unto him examining him of the meaning of that question at last by faire meanes and threatning together got the truth then Elwayes as he well could laid before Weston the horridnesse of the Fact the torments of Hell and the unassurance of his momentary inioying of either reward or favour after the Fact done but that it must follow so many Personages of Honour would never cabinet such a secret in his breast that might ruine them at last made him so sensible of his danger in this life but more sensible of the torments in the other that Weston falling on his knees said O Lord how good and gracious art thou and thy mercy is above all thy workes for this day is salvation come to my soul and I would not for all the world have had such a sinne upon me giving the Lieutenant humble thanks that had been the instrument of saving his soul by putting him off from so foul intentions The Lieutenant having now thus renewed grace in him by making him as he thought a new man said thou and I have a dangerous part to act yet be honest and true to me and I doubt not but with Gods help we shall perform it wel both before God and the World Weston faithfully promised him and for a long time as faithfully performed with him the Lieutenant willed him to bring all such things as were sent him to give Overbury unto him which he accordingly did the Lieutenant gave them to Cats and Dogs which he ever had ready in his study for that purpose some died presently some lay lingering a longer time all the Jellies and Tarts sent to Overbury hee
Mansell Vice-Admirall of England during his life by Patent in which he not onely manifested his love to his Noble friend though sometime his servant but his care to the State that his experience and abilities might support the others inabilities wel knowing that the Honour and safety of the Kingdome consisted in the wel-ordering and strength of the Navy Next Egerton had displeased him by not giving way to his exorbitant desires he must out and would not let him seale up his dying eyes with the seals which he had so long carryed and so well discharged and to despite him the more and to vex his very soule in the last Agony he sent Bacon one he hated yet to be his Successor for the Seales which the old mansspirit could not brook but sent them by his owne servant to the King and shortly after yeelded his soul to his Maker And to the end you may know what men were made choyce of to serve turnes I shall set you downe a true story This great Favourite sent a Noble Gentleman and of much worth to Bacon with this Message that he knew him to be a man of excellent parts and as the times were sit to serve his Master in the Keepers place but hee also knew him of a base and ingratefull dispotion and an arrant Knave apt in his prosperity to ruine any that had raised him from adversity yet for all this hee did so much study his Masters service knowing how fit an instrument he might be for him that he had obtained the Seales for him but with this assurance should he ever requite him as he had done some others to whom he had been more bound he would cast him downe as much below scorne as he had now raised him high above any Honour he could ever have expected Bacon was at that time Attorney Generall who patiently hearing this Message replyed I am glad my noble Lord deales so friendly and freely with me and hath made that choyce of so discreet and Noble a friend that hath delivered his Message in so plaine language but saith he can my Lord know these abilities in me and can hee thinke when I have attained the highest preferment my profession is capable of I shall so much faile in my judgement and understanding as to lose these abilities and by my miscarriage to so noble a Patron cast my selfe headlong from the top of that honour to the very bottome of contempt and scorne Surely my Lord cannot thinke so meanly of me The Gentleman replyed I deliver you nothing from my selfe but the words are put into my mouth by his Lordship to which I neither adde nor diminish for had it been left to my discretion surely though I might have given you the substance yet should I have apparelled it in a more moddest attire but as I have faithfully delivered my Lords to you so will I as faithfully returne yours to his Lordship You must understand the reason of this Message was his ungratefulnesse to Essex which every one could remember for the Earle saved him from starving and he requited him so as his Apology must witnesse were there not a great fault there needed no Apology nor could any age but a worthlesse and corrupt in men and manners have thought him worthy such a place of honour Well Lord Keeper he was for which he paid nothing nor was hee able for now was there a new trick to put in dishonest and necessitous men to serve such turnes as men of plentifull fortunes and fair reputations would not accept of and this filled the Church and Common-wealth full of beggerly fellowes such daring to venture on any thing having nothing to lose for it is riches makes men cowards Poverty daring and valiant to adventure at any thing to get something yet did not Buckingham doe things gratis but what their purses could not stretch unto they paid in pensions out of their places all which went to maintaine his numerous beggerly kindred Bacon paid a Pension Heath Atturney paid a Pension Bargrave Deane paid a Pension with many others Nor was this any certaine rule for present portions must be raised for the Marriage of a poore Kitchin Maid to be made a great Count esse so Fotherby made Bishop of Sarum paid 3500. l. and some also worthy men were preferred gratis to blow up their Fames and Trumpet forth their Noblenesse as Tolson a worthy man paid nothing in Fine or Pension after him Davenant in the same Bishoprick but these were but as Musick before every sceane nor were fines or pensions certaine but where men were rich there Fines without reservation of rent where poore and such as would serve turnes there Pensions no Fines so Weston and many others There were books of rates on all the Offices Bishopricks Deaneries in England that could tell you what Fines what Pensions otherwise it had been impossible such a numerous kindred could have been maintained with the three Kingdomes Revenue Now was Bacon invested in his Office and within ten dayes after the King goes to Scotland Bacon instantly begins to believe himselfe King lyes in the Kings Lodgings gives audience in the great Banqueting House makes all other Councellors attend his motions with the same state the King used to come out to give audience to Embassadours when any other Councellour sate with him about the Kings affaires would if they sate neare him bid them know their distance upon which Secretary Wynwood rose went away and would never sit more under his encroached State but instantly dispatcht one to the King to desire him to make haste back for even his very Seat was already usurped At which I remember the King reading it unto us both the King and we were very merry and if Buckingham had sent him any Letters would not vouchsafe the opening or reading them in publique though it was said requiring speedy dispatch nor would vouchsafe him any answer In this posture he lived untill he heard the King was returning and began to beleeve the Play was almost at an end he might personate a Kings part no longer and therefore did againe re-invest himselfe with his old rags of basenesse which were so tattered and poore at the Kings comming to Windsor he attended two dayes at Buckinghams Chamber being not admitted to any better place then the roome where Trencher-scrapers and Lacquies attended there sitting upon an old wooden chest amongst such as for his basenesse were only fit companions although the Honour of his place did merit farre more respect with his Purse and Seale lying by him on that chest My selfe told a servant of my Lord of Buckinghams it was a shame to see the Purse and Seale of so little value or esteeme in his Chamber though the Carryer without it merited nothing but scorne being worst among the basest He told me they had command it must be so after two dayes he had admittance at first entrance he fell downe flat on his