man living at which he would not smile himselfe but deliver them in a grave and serious manner He was very liberall of what he had not in his owne gripe and would rather part with 100. li. hee never had in his keeping then one twenty shillings peece within his owne custody He spent much and had much use of his Subjects purses which bred some clashings with them in Parliament yet would alwayes come off and end with a sweet and plausible close and truly his bounty was not discommendable for his raising Favourites was the worst Rewarding old servants and releiving his Native Country-men was infinitely more to be commended in him then condemned His sending Embassadours were no lesse chargeable then dishonourable and unprofitable to him and his whole Kingdome for he was ever abused in all Negotiations yet hee had rather spend 100000. livre. on Embassies to keep or procure peace with dishonour then 10000. li. on an Army that would have forced peace with honour He loved good Lawes and had many made in his time and in his last Parliament for the good of his Subjects and suppressing Promoters and progging fellowes gave way to that Nullum tempus c. to be consined to 60. yeares which was more beneficiall to the Subjects in respect of their quiets then all the Parliaments had given him during his whole Reign By his frequentinâ— Sermons he appeared Religious yeâ— his Tuesday Sermons if you wiâ—â— beleeve his owne Country-men thaâ— lived in those times when they were erected and well understood the cause of erecting them were dedicated for a strange peece of devotion He would make a great deale too bold with God in his passion both in cursing and swearing and one straine higher vergeing on blasphemie But would in his better temper say he hoped God would not impute them as sins and lay them to his charge seeing they proceeded from passion He had need of great assurance rather then hopes that would make daily so bold with God He was very crafty and cunning in petty things as the circumventing any great man the change of a Favourite c. insomuch as a very wise man was wont to say he beleeved him the wisest foole in Chriâ—tendome meaning him wise in â—mall things but a foole in weighty â—ffaires He ever desired to prefer meane men in great places that when he turned them out again they should have no friend to bandy with them And besides they were so hated by being raised from a meane estate to over-top all men that every one held it a pretty recreation to have them often turned out There were living in this Kings time at one instant two Treasurers three Secretaries two Lord Keepers two Admiralls three Lord chief Justices yet but one in play therefore this King had a pretty faculty in putting out and in By this you may perceive in what his wisdome consisted but in great and weighty affaires even at his wits end He had a trick to cousen himselfe with bargains under hand by taking 1000. li. or 10000. livre. as a bribe when his Counsell was treating with his Customers to raise them to so much more yearly this went into his Privy purse wherein hee thought hee had over-reached the Lords but cousened himselfe but would as easily breake the bargaine upon the next offer saying he was mistaken and deceived and therefore no reason he should keep the bargaine this was often the case with the Farmers of the Customes He was infinitely inclined to peace but more out of feare then conscience and this was the greatest blemish this King had through all his Reign otherwise might have been ranked with the very best of our Kings yet sometimes would hee shew pretty flashes of valour which might easily be discerned to be forced not naturall and being forced could have wished rather it would have recoiled backe into himselfe then carryed to that King it had concerned least he might have been put to the tryall to maintaine his seeming valour In a word he was take him altogether and not in peeces such a King I wish this Kingdom have never any worse on the condition not any better for he lived in peace dyed in peace and left all his Kingdomes in a peaceable condition with his owne Motto Beati Pacifici The Court of King CHARLES NOw having brought this peaceable King to rest in all peace the 27th of March his Son by the sound of the Trumpet was proclaimed King by the name of CHARLES the FIRST His Fathers Reign began with a great Plague and we have seen what his Reign was his Sons with a greater Plague and the greatest that ever was in these parts we shall see what his Reign will be and the effects of this plague have also hung as a fatall commet over this Kingdome in some parts and over London in more particular ever since and we earnestly pray we may not fall into the hands of men but rather ever with that divinely inspired royall Prophet David that we fall into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great This King was not Crowned with that solemnity all other Kings have formerly been by riding through the City in all state although the same Triumphs were provided for him as sumptuous as for any other this some have taken as an ill omen It s further reported which I will not beleeve that he tooke not the ususall Oath all our Kings were bound unto at their Coronation and it s to be read in Covells book if so sure its a worse omen One more observation is of this King which I remember not to have happened in any other Kingdom I am confident never in this That with him did also rise his Fathers Favourite and in much more glory and luster then in his Fathers time as if he were no lesse an inheritor of his Sons favours than the Sonne of the Fathers Crowne and this as it happened was the worst omen of all for whereas in the Fathers time there was some kinde of moderation by reason he was weary of the insolency of his Favourite in the sons time he reigned like an impetuous storme bearing downe all before him that stood in his way and would not yeeld to him or comply with him This shewed no Heroicall or Kingly spirit for the King ever to endure him that had put such scornes and insolent affronts on him in his fathers time This King as his Father did set in peace did rise like a Mars as if he would say Arma virumque cano and to that end to make himselfe more formidable to Spaine and France he called a Parliament wherein never Subjects expressed more hearty affections to a Sovereigne and in truth were more loving then wise for as if for an income to welcome him they gave him two intire Subsidies and in so doing they brake the very foundation and priviledges of Parliament which never was wont to give Subsidies but as a thankfull gratuity for enacting
The day the King went from White-Hall to Theobalds and so to Royston the King sent for all the Judges his Lords and Servants encircling him where kneeling down in the midst of them he used these very words My Lords the Judges It is lately come to my hearing that you have now in examination a businesse of poysoning Lord in what a most miserable condition shall this Kingdom be the onely famous Nation for hospitality in the World if our Tables should become such a snare as none could eate without danger of life and that Italian custom should be introduced amongst us Therefore my Lords I charge you as you will answer it at that great and dreadfull day of Judgement that you examin it strictly without favour affection or partiality and if you shall spare any guilty of this crime Gods curse light upon you and your posterity And if I spare any that are found guilty Gods curse light on me and my posterity for ever But how this dreadfull thunder-Curse or imprecation was performed shall be shewed hereafter and I pray God the effect be not felt amongst us even at this day as it hath been I fear on that vertuous Lady Elizabeth and her children for God treasures up such imprecations and deprecations and poures them out when a Nation least dreams even when they cry peace peace to their souls and it may wel be at this time our other sins concurring that he is pouring them out upon King Judges and the whole State It appeares how unwilling the King was to ruin Somerset a creature of his owne making But immedicabile vulnus Ense rescinâ—endum est Grace was offered by the King had he had grace to have apprehended it The King with this took his farewell for a time of London and was accompanyed with Somerset to Royston where no sooner he brought him but instantly tooke his leave little imagining what viper lay amongst the hearbs nor must I forget to let you know how perfect the King was in the art of dissimulation or to give it his own phrase King-craft The Earle of Somerset to his apprehension never parted from him with more seeming affection then at this time when intentionally the King had so exposed him to Cookes dressing that hee knew Somerset should never see him more and had you seen that seeming affection as the Author himself did you would rather have beleeved he was in his rising then setting The Earl when he kissed his hand the King hung about his neck slabboring his cheeks saying for Gods sake when shall I see thee againe On my soule I shall neither eate nor sleep untill you come again the Earl told him on Monday this being on the Friday for Gods sake let me said the King shall I shall I Then lolled about his neck then for Gods sake give thy Lady this kisse for me in the same manner at the stayres head at the midle of the staires and at the stayres foot the Earle was not in his Coach when the King used these very words in the hearing of four servants of whom one was Somersets great creature and of the Bed-chamber who reported it instantly to the Author of this History I shall never see his face more I appeale therefore to the Reader whether this Motto of Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare was not as well performed in this passage as his Beati pacifici in the whole course of his life and his love to the latter made him to bee beaten with his own weapon in the other by all Princes and States that had to doe with him But before Somersets approach to London his Countesse was apprehended at his arrivall himselfe and the King being that night at supper said to Sir Thomas Monson My Lord cheife Justice hath sent for you he asked the King when hee should waite on him again who replyed you may come when you can And as in the story of Byron and many others there have been many foolish observations as presage so was there in this Gentleman who was the Kings Mr. Faulconer and in truth such an one as no Prince in Christendom had for what Flights other Princes had he would excell them for his Master in which one was at the Kite The French sending over his Faulconers to shew that sport his Master Faulconer lay long here but could not kill one Kite ours being more magnanimous then the French Kite Sir Thomas Monson desired to have that flight in all exquisitnesse and to that end was at 1000l charge in Ger-Faulcons for that flight in all that charge he never had but one cast would performe it and those had killed nine Kites which were as many as they were put off unto not any one of them escaping Whereupon the Earle of Pembrooke with all the Lords desired the King but to walk out of Royston Townes end to see that Flight which was one of the most stateliest Flights of the world for the high mountee the King went unwillingly forth the Flight was shewed but the Kite went to such a mountee and the Hawke after her as all the field lost sight of Kite and Hawke and al and neither Kite nor Hawke were either seen or heard of to this present which made all the Court conjecture it a very ill omen So that you see the plot was so well laid as they could be all within the toyle at one instant not knowing of each other Now are in hold the Earle his Countesse Sir Thomas Monson Mris. Turner a very lewd and infamous woman of life Weston and Franklin with some others of lesse note of which one Simon a servant to Sir Thomas Monson who was imployed in carrying Ielly and Tart to the Tower who upon his examination for his pleasant answer was instantly dismissed My Lord told him Simon you have had a hand in this poysoning businesse He replyed no my good Lord I had but one finger in it which almost cost me my life and at the best cost me all my Hair and Nailes for the truth was Simon was somewhat liquorish and finding the syrrup swim from the top of a Tart as he carryed it he did with his finger scum it off and it was to be beleeved had he known what it had been hee would not have been his Taster at so deare a rate and that you may know Simons interest with that Family I shall tel you a story Sir Thomas Monson was a great lover of Musicke and had as good as England had especially for voyces and was at infinite charge in breeding some in Italy This Simon was an excellent Musician and did sing delicately but was a more generall Musician than ever the world had and in one kind he surpassed all He had a Catzo of an immense length and bignesse with this being his Tabor stick his palme of his hand his Tabor and his mouth his Pipe he would so imitate a Tabor and Pipe as if it had been so indeed To
this Musicke would Mrs. Turner the young Ladies and some of that Ging dance ever after Supper the old Lady who loved that Musicke as well as her Daughters would sit and laugh shee could scarce sit for laughing and it was beleeved that some of them danced after that Pipe without the Tabor his Master comming to heare of it turned him away who was infinitly importuned to take him again but would not however he could not have wanted a service elsewhere but he never durst use his pipe amongst them for their dancing recreation however he might for any other And now poor Mrs. Turner Weston and Franklin began the Tragedy Mrs. Turners day of mourning being better then the day of her birth for she dyed very penitently and shewed much modesty in her last act which is to be hoped was accepted with God after that dyed Weston and then was Franklin arraigned who confessed that Overbury was smothered to death not poysoned to death though he had poyson given him Here was Cooke glad how to cast about to bring both ends together Mrs. Turner and Weston being already hanged for killing Overbury with poyson but he being the very quintessence of Law presently informes the Jury that if a man be done to death with Pistols Poniards swords Halter Poyson c. so he be done to death the Indictment is good if but indicted for any of those wayes but the good Lawyers of those times were not of that opinion but did beleeve that Mrs. Turner was directly murthered by my Lord Cookes Law as Overbury was without any Law In the next place comes the Countesse to her Tryall at whose Arraignment as also at Mrs. Turners before were shewed many Pictures Puppits c. with some Exorcismes and Magick spels which made them appear more odious as being known to converse with Witches and Wizards and amongst those tricks Formans book was shewed This Forman was a fellow dwelt in Lambeth a very silly fellow yet had wit enough to cheate Ladyes and other women by pretending skill in telling their Fortunes as whether they should bury their Husbands and what second Husbands they should have and whether they should injoy their Loves or whether Maids should get Husbands or injoy their servants to themselves without Corrivals but before he would tell any thing they must write their names to his Alphabeticall booke with their own hand writing by this trick he kept them in awe if they should complaine of his abusing them as in truth hee did nothing else Besides it was beleeved some meetings were at his house wherein the art of a Bawd was more beneficiall to him then that of a Conjurer and that hee was a better Artist in the one then other and that you may know his skil hee was himselfe a Cuckold having a very pretty wench to his Wife which would say she did it to try his skill but it fared with him as with Astrologers that cannot foresee their owne destiny I well remember there was much mirth made in the Court upon the shewing this booke for it was reported the first leafe my Lord Cook lighted on he found his owne wives name The next that came on the stage was Sir Thomas Monson but the night before he was to come to his Tryall the King being at the game of Maw said To morrow comes Tom Monson to his Tryall yea said the Kings * Card-holder where if he doe not play his Master-prize your Majesty shall never trust me this so run in the Kings minde as the next game he said he was sleepy and would play out that Set next night the Gentleman departed to his lodging but was no sooner gone but the King sent for him what communication they had I know not yet it may be can more easily guesse then any other but it is most certaine next under God that Gentleman saved his life for the King sent a Post presently to London to let the Lord chiefe Iustice know he would see Monsons examination and confession to see if it were worthy to touch his life for so small a matter Monson was too wise to set any thing but faire in his confession what he would have stab'd with should have been viva voce at his Arraignment The King sent word he saw nothing worthy of death or of bonds in his Accusation or Examination Cook was so mad he could not have his will of Monson that hee said Take him away we have other matters against him of an higher nature with which words out issues about a dozen Warders of the Tower and tooke him from the Barre and Cooks malice was such against him as though it rained extreamly and Monson not well he made him goe a foot from the Guild-Hall to the Tower which almost cost him his life there he lay a close prisoner above three months to the end to get a Recorders place that Cranfield desired every man thinking him in some Treason would not lend him any Money and if so much money had not been paid by such a time his place had been forfeited And in this let me commend the part of a true friend in Sir Humphrey May who in 24 hours after Sir Thomas his deep sensiblenesse of all other his friends deserting him in that great exigency made his Brother Herick take up 2000. l. and pay it to save his Office without so much as any security from Sir Thomas Monson for he was close prisoner or from any friend of his and that you may know it was for his office only this hard measure was shewed him the Money was no sooner paid but his friends might come unto him and I must not let passe the skill of the Lord Loriskeine a Scotch-man who long before by his physiognomy told Sir George Marshall that Sir Thomas Monson would escape hanging nearer then ever any man did which was true for he was twice brought to his triall put himselfe both times upon his Country yet was only indicted never tryed and yet he had harder measure then ever any man had for he lost his Office being but indicted and not condemned which is without any president And now for the last act enters Somerset himselfe on the Stage who being told as the manner is by the Lieutenant that he must provide to goe next day to his triall did absolutely refuse it and said they should carry him in his Bed that the King had assured him he should not come to any triall neither durst the King bring him to tryall this was in an high straine and in a language not well under stood by Sir George Moore then Lieutenant in Elwaies his roome that made Moore quiver and shake and however he was accounted a wise man yet he was neare at his wits end Yet away goes Moore to Greenewich as late as it was being 12. at night bounseth at the back-staires as if mad to whom came Jo. Leveston one of the Groomes out of his Bed enquires the reason of that
put on him by Somersets Faction so all hands helped to the piecing up this new Favourite Then begun the King to eate abroad who formerly used to eate in his Bed-chamber or if by chance supped in his Bed-chamber after supper would come forth to see pastimes and fooleries in which Sir Ed. Zouch Sir George Goring and Sir Iohn Finit were the chiefe and Master Fools and surely this Fooling got them more then any others wisdome farre above them in desert Zouch his part it was to sing bawdy songs and tell bawdy tales Finits to compose these Songs then was a set of Fidlers brought to Court on purpose for this Fooling and Goring was Master of the game for Fooleries sometimes presenting David Droman and Archee Armstrong the Kings Foole on the back of the other fools to tilt one at another till they fell together by the eares sometimes the property was presented by them in Antick Dances But Sir John Millicent who was never known before was commended for notable fooling and so was he indeed the best extemporary foole of them all with this jollity was this Favourite ushered in This made the house of Suffolke fret and Somerset carried himselfe now more proudly and his Bravado's ever quarrelling with the others which by his Office of Lord Chamberlaine for a while carried it But Somerset using of Sir Ralph Wynwood whom himselfe brought in for a Secretary of State in so scornfull a manner he having but only the title the Earle himselfe keeping the Seales and doing the businesse made Wynwood endeavour to ruine him who soone got an opportunity thereto by frequenting the Countesse of Shrewsbury then Prisoner in the Tower who told Wynwood on a time that Overbury was poysoned which she had so understood from Sir Gervase Elwaies who did labour by her meanes to deale with her two sons in Law Arundell and Pembrooke Wynwood also being great-with that faction that when it came into question he might save his owne stake who truly was no otherwise guilty but that he did not discover it at Westons first disclosing it hee being Keeper of the prison so by inference his not disclosing it was Overburies death and had he revealed it then I dare say he had beene brought into the Star-chamber for it and undone for yet was not the time fit for discovery Wynwood it was thought acquainted the King with it knowing how willingly he would have been rid of Somerset yet the King durst not bring it in question nor any question ever would have been had not Somerset sought to crosse him in his passion of love to his new Favourite in which the King was more impatient then any woman to enjoy her love Not long after Thrumball Agent at Bruxels had by an Apothecaries boy one Reeve after an Apothecary himselfe in London and dyed very lately gotten hold of this poysoning businesse for Reeve having under his Master made some of those desperate Medicines either run away or else his Master sent him out of the way and fell in company of Thrumbals servants at Bruxels to whom he reveal'd it they to their Master who examining the boy discovered the truth Thrumball presently wrote to Secretary Wynwood he had businesse of consequence to discover but would not send it therefore desired licence to come over The King would not yeeld to his returne but willed him to send an Expresse That Thrumball utterly refused and very wisely for had any thing appeared under his hand the boy might have dyed or run away and then had he made himselfe the Author of that which the courtesie of another must have justified The King being of a longing disposition rather then he would not know admitted Thrumbals returne and now they had good testimony by the Apothecary who revealed Weston Mrs. Turner and Franklyn to be principall Agents yet this being neare the time of progresse was not stirred in till about Michaelmas following yet Wynwood did now carry himselfe in a braving way of contestation against Somerset struck in with the Faction of Villiers now on progresse The King he went westward where he was feasted at Cranborne by a Sonne in Law of that Family at Lulworth and Bindon by the Lord Walden at Charlton by Sir Thomas Howard and every where nothing but one Faction braving the other then was the King feasted at Purbeck by the Lord Hatton who was of the contrary Faction and at a Joynture house of Sir George Villiers mother called Gotly where he was magnificently entertained After all this feasting homeward came the King who desired by all meanes to reconcile this clashing between his declining and rising Favourite to which end at Lulworth the King imployed Sir Humphrey May a great servant to Somerset and a wise servant to Villiers but with such instructions as if it came from himselfe and Villiers had order presently after Sir Humphrey Mayes returne to present himselfe and service to Somerset My Lord said he Sir George Villers will come to you to offer his service and desire to be your creature and therefore refuse him not embrace him and your Lordship shall still stand a great man though not the sole Favourite My Lord seemed averse Sir Humphrey then told him in plaine tearmes that he was sent by the King to advise it and that Villiers would come to him to cast himself into his protection to take his rise under the shadow of his wings Sir Humphrey May was not parted from my Lord halfe an houre but in comes Sir George Villiers and used these very words My Lord I desire to be your servant and your creature and shall desire to take my Court-preferment under your favour and your Lordship shall finde me as faithfull a servant unto you as ever did serve you My Lord returned this quick and short answer I will none of your service nor shall you have any of my favour I will if I can break your necke and of that be confident This was but a harsh Complement and savoured more of spirit then wisdome and since that time breaking each others necks was their aimes and it s verily beleeved had Somerset complyed with Villiers Overburyes death had stil lain raked up in his own ashes but God who will never suffer murther to go unpunished will have what he will maugre all the wisdome of the World To Windsor doth the King return to end His Progresse from thence to Hampton-Court then to White-Hall and shortly after to Royston to begin His Winter-Iourney And now begins the game to bee plaid in which Somerset must be the loser the Cards being shuffled cut and dealt between the King and Sir Edward Cooke Cheife Iustice whose Daughter Turbeck Villers his Brother had married or was to marry and therefore a fit instrument to ruine Somerset and Secretary Winwood these all playd The stake Somersets life and his Ladyes and their Fortunes and the Family of Suffolke some of them played booty and in truth the Game was not plaid above-board
Legion for they were all many Devills and like true Devills tooke pleasure in tormenting So that hereby may be perceived the Kingdome in generall had no benefit though some particular men as Weston Treasurer Coventry Lord Keeper and all such as paid his beggerly kindred Pensions which now were ceased by this mans death whose purpose 't was to have turn'd out of place both Coventry and Weston before his last intended voyage But now did Weston begin to be more cruell in Pride and Tyranny than Buckingham had been before him and had not the Arch-Bishop Laud ballanced him he would have been more insufferable He cheated the King in the sale of Timber and of Land and in the letting of his Customs the Arch-Bishop notwithstanding truly informing the King thereof Weston was so mad at the thought of it he would often say to his friends in private That little Priest would Monopolize the Kings eare for he was ever whispering to the King And now begin the Councel Table the Star-Chamber and High Commission to bee Scourges and Tortures of the Commonwealth by Imprisonments and Mutilations of Members and were made some of them by sinings the greatest incomes to the Exchequer and in truth did now put down the Common Laws deciding of Meum and Tuum And if any desiring to appeal from them refused to stand there to their censures they were committed untill they would submit thereunto If men sent unto by them for money refused it they would imprison them till they would give or lend and if any were summoned thither they had a mind to quarrell with in whom they could not find a fault they would make one by saying the Gentleman laughs at us Or the Gentleman saith thus and thus it may be that hee had not in his thought and yet there should not want a false witnesse for some Lords that sat with their backs towards them or so farre off that they could not heare yet would testifie either the words or actions or for want of this a Clerk of the Councell should bee called to witnesse who for his profit must swear what any Lord said If they hit not upon that trick then sometimes they would contrive to put a Gentleman into passion by calling him some disgracefull name or by scoffing at him so that indeed the Councell Table was growne more like a Pasquil then a grave Senate But if the spirit of the man wer such that he could not take those indignities without some regret it was well for him if he escaped with imprisonment and not called Ore tenus to the Star-Chamber and fined as many were to his undoing for to that point were now the Fines of that Court risen As for the High Commission-Court that was a very Spanish-like Inquisition in which all pollings and tyrannizings over our Estates and Consciences were practised as were in the other over our Estates and Bodyes Then were the Judges so much their Servants or rather Slaves that what ere they illegally put in execution they found Law to maintaine But that which is a wonder above all wonders is that Coventry who formerly had gained the opinion of a just and honest man was a principall in all these miscarriages yet dyed he unquestioned when had his actions been scanned by a Parliament in that they were not you may see what opinion is which in the multitude blindeth the understanding he had been found as foul a man as ever lived Finch a fellow of an excellent tongue but not of one dram of Law made for all that Cheife Justice of the Common-Pleas the onely Court most learned in the Law yet he brought all the learned Judges except two only Hutton and Crook to be of his illegall opinion for shipmony This surely must be a punishment from God on them and us for our sins otherwise it had been impossible so many grave Iudges should have been over-ruled by such a slight and triviall fellow Now also all Officers in all places took what Fees they pleased as if in a Iubilee Amongst the rest those of the Star-Chamber the Councell Table and the High Commission were very Grandees Yea the very Messengers to them were countenanced in their abuse and insultings over the Gentry when in their clutches and to such a strange passe were disorders come unto that every Lacquey of those great Lords might give a Check-Mate to any Gentleman yea to any Country Nobleman that was not in the Court favour And to fill full the measure of the times abounding iniquity the Court Chaplines and others elsewhere with the Reverend Bishops themselves did preach away our liberties and proprieties yet kept they Divinity enough for their owne interests for they concluded all was either Gods or the Kings their part belonged to God in which the King had no propriety Our part belonged wholly to the King in which we had propriety no longer when the King were disposed to call for them so that betwixt the Law and the Gospel we were ejected out of Lands Liberties and Lives at pleasure And now is Gods time come to visit with his Iustice and behold it For the pit they digged for others they themselves are fallen into for all their Honours Lands and Liberties are a gasping and the Iudges are but in very little better case for the Parliament will doe that to them by the Law which they would have done to us by wresting the Gospel But what needed all that joy for the death of Buckingham Sith the times succeeding him have been so infinitely beyond him in all oppression as they are like to bring all manner of miseries both upon King people So that in truth his Hydra's head being struck downe an hundred more instead thereof appeared which never durst in his life time And as he got much by Suites so did Weston much by cheating yet all came out of the Subjects purses and Coventry that so generally a reputed honest man got such an estate by Bribery and In-justice that he is said to have left a Family worth a Million Which may commend his Wisdome but in no wise his Honesty And now also dies Weston after he had first brought in as you may remember I told you himselfe was by Cranfield Sir Thomas Wentworth after Earle of Strafford the active manager of the State and sole Governour of the King This Strafford without doubt was the ablest Minister that this Kingdome had since Salisburies time and to speak uprightly there was not any but himselfe worthy of that name amongst all the Kings Councell yet I am confident by the weaknesse of that Boord his abilities in State affaires were judged more then they were and besides that very word of States-man was now grown a stranger to our Nation Nor was he as Salisbury or our ancient Heroes a generall States-man nor was it possible he should be he not having that breeding himselfe Nor kept he any upon his charge in forraigne parts for intelligence Nor had