many must fight with many Our Deputy found that great Honour hath its great Difficulties yet was he so constant and resolute that with Marcellus he would say That as there are many things a good Governour ought not to attempt so ought be not to desist or give over an Enterprize once begun and taken in band Therefore his Character is One daring in his person close to his purpose firm to his dependencies of a deep and large soul who looked upon the chargeable War in Ireland as an equal remedy against a worse in England to the letting of blood in one part against the effusion of it in another and advised the bestowing of Church-lands among the Nobility of both Perswasions in Ireland as in England who would then hold their Religion with their Land in Capite and stick to the Queen as the great support of both against all pretenders whom then most would vigorously oppose and all would fairly leave Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Roper SIr Thomas Roper Servant to Queen Elizabeth was born in Friday-street in London whose Grandfather was a younger son of the house of Heanour in Derbyshire He going over into the Low-Countries became Page to Sir John Norrice and was Captain of a Foot-company at sixteen years of Age. What afterwards his Martial Performances were will appear by the following Lines transcribed out of the Originall of his Patent Whereas Thomas Roper Knight one of our Privy-Councellours of the Kingdome of Ireland long since bath been known unto us famous with the splendour of his warlike Vertue as who by the many Atchievments valiantly performed by him in the late War of this Kingdome hath gained the eminent Repute both of a stout Souldier and a discreet Commander whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Retreat near le Boyle in our Province of Connaught where with very few horse he undauntedly charged great troops of the horse of the Enemy who in a hostile manner forraged the very bowels of the Kingdome and by his wisdome made such a singular retreat that he not onely saved himself and his men but also delivered the whole Army from great danger and slew very many of his Enemies Who also when our Province of Ulster was all on fire with war being one out of many was for the tried Resolutios of his Mind chosen by the Right honourable the Earl of Essex then General of the Army to undertake a Duel with Makal and declined not to expose himself to the appointed Duel And also when the aforesaid Thomas Roper in the late war in the Kingdome of France at Brest by exposing himself to the greatest perils and shedding of his own blood demonstrated his Courage to be unconquerable Who also in the Voyage to Portugal behaved himself valiantly and honourably as also at Bergen in the Netherlands when it was besieged by the Spaniards approved himself a young man of invincible Valour in the defence thereof Who also in the day wherein Kinsale was assaulted was placed in the first Rank nearest of all unto the Town and with no less Success then Valour to the great safety of the whole Army beat back and put to flight the Spaniards who in the same day made several Sallies out of the Town Know therefore that We in intuition of the Premises have appointed the aforesaid Thomas Roper Knight c. Then followeth his Patent wherein King Charles the first in the third of his Reign created him Baron of Bauntree and Viscount Bâ—ltinglass in Ireland He was a principal means to break the hearts of the Irish Rebels for whereas formerly the English were loaded with their own Cloaths so that their slipping into Bogs did make them and the clopping of their breeches did keep them prisoners therein he first being then a Commander put himself into Irish Troâ—zes and was imitated first by all his Officers then Souldiers so that thus habited they made the more effectual execution on their enemies He died at Ropers Rest anno Dom. 164. and was buried with Anne his Wife Daughter to Sir Henry Harrington in St. Johns Church in Dublin Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Umpton SIr Henry Vmpton was born at Wadley in Barkshire He was son to Sir Edward Vmpton by Anne the Relict of John Dudley Earl of Warwick and the eldest Daughter of Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset He was employed by Queen Elizabeth Embassador into France where he so behaved himself right stoutly in her behalf as may appear by this particular In the moneth of March anno 1592 being sensible of some injury offered by the Duke of Guise to the Queen of England he sent him this ensuing Challenge For as much as lately in the Lodging of my Lord Du Mayne and in publick elsewhere impudently indiscreetly and over-boldly you spoke badly of my Soveraign whose sacred Person here in this Country I represent To maintain both by word and weapon her Honour which never was called in question among people of Honesty and Vertue I say you have wickedly lyed in speaking so basely of my Soveraign and you shall do nothing else but lye whensoever you shall dare to tax her Honour Moreover that her sacred Person being one of the most compleat and vertuous Princess that lives in this world ought not to be evil spoken of the tongue of such a perfidiour Traytor to her Law and Country as you are And hereupon I do defie you and challenge your person to mine with such manner of Arms as you shall like or chuse be it either on horse-back or on foot Nor would I have you to think any inequality of Person between us I being issued of as great a Race and Noble House every way as your self So assigning me an indifferent place I will there maintain my words and the lye which I gave you and which you should not endure if you have any courage at all is you If you consent not to meet me hereupon I wil hold you and cause you to be generally held one of the arrantest Cowards and most slanderous Slave that lives in all France I expect your answer I finde not what Answer was returned This Sir Henry dying in the French Kings Camp before Lofear had his Corpse brought over to London and carried in a Coach to Wadley thence to Farington where he was buried in the Church on Tuesday the eighth of July 1596. He had allowed him a Barons Hearse because he died Ambassadour Leiger Observations on the Life of the Earl of Essex IT is observed that the Earl of Essex had his Introduction to favour by the Lord of Leicester who had married his Mother a tye of Affinity This young Lord was a most goodly person in whom was a kind of Urbanity or innate Courtesie which both won the Queen and too much took upon the People to gaze upon the new-adopted Son of her favour He was noted even of those that truly loved and honoured him for too bold an Ingrosser both of Fame
Covents by the allurement of Liberty and then forced them out by Power and Authority As the Abbeys improved his Estate so his Master advanced his Honour he had one Privy Seal always to act by and was Keeper of another He had no sooner attained an Earldom for himself but foreseeing the alteration of Affairs he secured a Barony for his Son not forfeitable by the Attainder of the Father Within five years he was Master of the Jewel-house Secretary of State Baron Vicar-General Master of the Rolls Knight of the Garter Keeper of the Privy-Seal Lord High Chamberlain and Earl of Essex within five months he quitted place and in five minutes lost all He must needs be envied whose Birth was so much beneath all others and his Preferment above them especially when the King in preferring him injured others as the Citizens in managing the Jewels the Courtiers in undertaking State-affairs the Lawyers in the Rolls the Nobly Descended at Windsor the Clergy in the Convocation the Earl of Oxford and the Family of the Bourchiers in the great Chamberlainship and Earldom of Essex But he cares not whom he displeaseth if he can oblige his Master whose power he advanceth in the Parliament and Synod as he improveth his Revenue in the Office of first-Fruits and the Court of Augmentation His Greatness was allayed with his Goodness and the Envy of the One mitigated by the Liberality of the Other He had not more Suiters at his door then Alms two hundred at a time Sir Thomas was a Name of Awe and Reverence to the Rich and blessed by the Poor That Name levelled the proudest Citizens House for his conveniency and bowed the poorest mans Knee to his Honour He could at pleasure work upon the Lords by the Commons and on the Commons by the Lords as Cardinal Wolsey perswaded the Commons to four shillings in the pound upon the Lords president and the Lords to as much upon the Commons and he kept up the Cardinals way of Anticipation that the people should be always one Subsidy before-hand He set up the old Taxation of Knighthood at Queen Anne's Coronation and levied it He confirms the Kings Supremacy by a Law and establisheth his Daughter Elizabeth's Succession by an Oath first taken by the Parliament and then by the Kingdom for whose support he contrives the lesser Monasteries should be first escheated and then the greater He was so honest that he acquits Queen Anne in his Letter to the Queen yet so much a Statesman that he condemn'd her upon the Bench. But to secure the Interest of England he improved its Religion that as some few late Acts had disobliged the Pope a new frame of Christianity might exclude him The differences between Us and Rome were to be widened lest they should close and he judged it prudence to engage the conscience and the estate in one bottom that he might hold the One out of the tenderness of the Other The Kings Supremacy cut off the Papists and the Six Articles the Protestants Reformation must be managed leasurely and alteration of Religion by just degrees Instruction preceding execution and the peoples capacity growing up with their Governours Regulation The times are troublesome but Cromwel calm and quiet and watchful over Occurrences Insurrection giving him an advantage of a new Settlement He takes down the Occasions and Ornaments of Idolatry Images Shrines Pilgrimages c. and then the Thing it self Take off the paint of Rome and you undo her As the Laws and Injunctions so the Alliance of England must secure its Interest A Protestant Queen must be married to the Reformed King the Duke of Cleve's Sister must woo the King that Essex might have that whispered in the Kings Bosom abed where he was best disposed which he insinuated into his Ear at the Council-Table where he was worst But the King was not so well pleased with her Beauty as Cromwel was with her Religion which Stephen Gardiner who hated her for her Religion and Cromwel for his Greatness observing shewed the Kings loose Affections at once how to be rid of his Match and which he was as weary of his Match-Maker The Queen is divorced being never known by Henry who disliked her at first view and kept her rather in Policy to oblige the German Princes then of pleasure to fill his own Bed Cromwel is arrested for presuming to act in some matters of State without the Kings privity or Commission and attainted by a procedure he had invented dying as cunningly as he had lived for some ambiguous words which Power interpreted to his Ruine His last words were so wary that they might become Bellarmine and Luther at once that the Protestants call them his Confession of Faith and the Papists his old Religion for confessing his Offences against God and the King in his many Employments he said he died in the Catholique Faith Some will say the Protestants think no great gain to have him and the Papists no loss to part with him yet we must needs confess that he was a Wise Man because he always consulted the Learned in the Laws a out all his proceedings He was a Good man witness Frescobald whose mean Person he took notice of whose small Kindeness he acknowledged whose Services he condescended to whose Wants he relieved and whose Debts he recovered He was a Noble man because he refused another mans Coat of Arms who was of his Name saying What shall I do with it for he may pull it off my back at pleasure In a word He was so Mean before he rise so Worthy afterwards that no Times had Raised but those more troublesome none Ruined him but those most loose of Henry the VIII Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Audley SIr Audley's Birth was Generous his Education more Essex bred him to that Honour which his Ancestors lost His Soul ennobled his Body and his Body graced his Soul The one quick solid apprehensive and judicious the other tall and majestick King Henry loved a Man and here was one whose Austerity was allayed with Debonairness whose Gravity was sweetened with Pleasantness whose Knowledge was as large as his Authority whose Wit was equal with his Wisdom whose Memory was strong and Judgment solid His fair Estate brought him to the Temple his proficiency in the Law to the Court His reading upon the Statute of Priviledges commended him to the Kings Service his speaking for the Prerogative in Parliament brought him to the Kings Favour Although the Liberties of the People can never be secured without the Prerogative of the Soveraign who cannot do the good they would if he wants a power to do the evil they fear yet his first Preferment was to withdraw him from Popularity and the second onely to confirm him to Soveraignty Noble Service is the way to a Royal One His Stewardship to the Dutchy of Suffolk raised him to the Attorneyship of that of Lancaster But in troublesome and designing times
a popular Orator is a good Courtier and leading Parts in Parliament or Convocation are great Merits In the black Parliament he was a Member by his own Interest and a Speaker by his Majesties Choice Sir Tho. More was to serve the Crown in the Lords House and Sir Tho. Audley was to succeed him in the House of Commons When Abbey-Lands were bestowed on the King in grofs and returned by him to the leading Lords and Commons in the Retayl most of that Parliament looked for shares Sir Thomas for the first cut to secure himself with the King He was always in favour with the Queens who had no less Interest in the Kings Heart then the Kingdom had in his Head The. Age was uncertain Interest nor so Sir Thomas was fixed on the One above the alterations of the Other understanding what was most convenient at a time when there was nothing lawful He was well seen in the flexures and windings of Affairs at the depth whereof other Heads not so steady turned giddy He had the Arts of a Statesman and the closeness of a Politicion Reserved he was but no Dissembler For if a man have that penetration of judgment as he can discern what things are to be laid open and what to be kept secret and what to be shewed with half sights and to whom and when which indeed are Arts of States and Arts of Life to him an Habit of Dissimulation is a hinderance and a poorness He as an able man was always frank and open but wary knowing how to stop and turn within the compass of Equity and Honesty He understood business well and men better and knew King Henry's Temper better then Himself whom he surprized always to his own bent never moving any of his suits to him but when in haste and most commonly amusing him with other matter until he passed his Request His Actions were managed for applause as well as service for when made Sergeant he was the first of eleven his Entertaining-Day was the last of six The King who paid for his Dinner was invited to it He watched the Circumstances of his Actions that they might be Taking as well as their Issue that they might be Useful and contrived that the least of his publick Actions should come off with Reputation He followed the most passable rather then the most able men living in a time when active men were more useful then the vertuous Sir Thomas at once gratified the present Humour of the King and the constant Temper of the People in six Bills against the Clergy 1. Against the Extortions of their Courts 2. The Exaction of their Corps and Morturies 3. Their worldly Occupations as Grazing Tanning c. 4 Merchandize 5. Their Non-Residencies 6. The Pluralities of the Ignorant and the mean Salaries of the Learned When in some Debates between the Lords and Commons Custome was urged Sir Thomas replied The usage hath ever been for Thieves to rob at Shooters Hill is it therefore lawful He brought the Clergy within a Praemunire to awe them and afterwards in their pardon he and other Members included their own which the knowing King would not pass when it was demanded as of Right yet afterwards granted it of his own accord when it was received as of Grace When Sir Thomas More could not act with the times Sir Thomas Audley could the One being weary of the Seal the other takes it being made Lord Keeper in Sir Thomas his life-time and Lord Chancellour after his death owning no Opinion against the Government of England nor any Design against its Interest The King might well trust him with his Conscience when he trusted the King with his owning no Doctrine but what was established ever judging the Church and State wiser then himself He was forced to take Q. Anne but he would not condemn her rather escaping then refusing unwelcome Employments wherein he must either displease his Master or himself He was tender but not wilful waving such services dexterously wherein he must oppose his Master dangerously Those Insurrections which others Rigor had raised his Moderation allayed breaking the Factions with Indulgence which might be strengthened with Opposition Cromwel pulled down Popery with his Power Audley kept it down with his Policy enjoyning the Preachers to detect the follies of that way which is reckoned the wisdom of this World He had a moderate way to secure the Priviledges of Parliament by freedom from Arrests and the good will of the Citizens by an Order about debts By these courses he died as much in the Kings Favour as he lived Patience can weather out the most turbulent Age and a solid Judgement the most intricate times The reserved and quiet man is the most secure Activity may raise a man Wariness keep him up If he had done nothing he had noâ— been seen if he had done much he had not been suffered Between two extreams Audley could do well Treasure of Arms and Arts in whom were set The Mace and Books the Court and Colledge met Yet both so wove that in that mingled throng They both comply and neither neither wrong But pois'd and temper'd each reserv'd its seat Nor did the Learning quench but guide the Heat The Courtier was not of the furious strain The hand that acts doth first consult the brain Hence grew commerce betwixt Advice and Might The Scholar did direct the Courtier right And as our Perfumes mixt do all conspire And twist their Curles above the hallowed fire Till in that Harmony of Sweets combin'd We can nor Musk nor single Amber finde But Gums meet Gums and their delights so crowd That they create one undistinguish'd cloud So to thy minde these rich Ingredients prest And were the Mould and Fabrick of thy brest Learning and Courage mixt and temper'd so The Stream could not decay nor overflow And in that equal Tide thou didst not bear From Courage Rashness nor from Learning Fear Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Wiat. SIr Thomas Wiat was born at Allington-castle in the County of Kent which afterwards he repaired with beautiful Buildings He fell out of his Master King Henry the eighth his favour about the business of Queen Anna Bullen till his industry care discretion and innocence freed him Very ingenious he was or as his Anagram tells us he was A Wit in the abstract Cambden saith he was Eques auratus splendide doctus Holy he was and heavenly minded and that appears by his translation of David's Psalms into English Metre and Leland gives him this great Commendation Bella suum merito jactet Florentia Dantem Regia Petrarchae Carmina Roma probat His non inferior Patria Sermone Viatus Eloquii secum qui decui omne tulit This Knight being sent Ambassador by King Henry the eighth to Charles the fifth Emperour then residing in Spain before he took Shipping died of the Pestilence in the West-Country Anno 1541. Queen Anne's favour towards him raised this man and
his Memory his Standard was born in the Fore-ward all this Expedition A Person in whom Prudence was even with Activity Resolution with Prudence 〈◊〉 Success with Resolution Moderation with Success Honour and Favour with All. Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Darcy SIr Thomas Darcy was one of King Henry the Eighth's first Counsellours so advanced as most of his Fellows not for Affection but Interest owing his Promotion to his own sufficiency rather then his Masters favour His Counsel was weighty at Home his Assistance necessary Abroad where in behalf of Pope Julius the second and the Emperour he did more with 1500 Archers in a year for the ballancing of Europe then had been done before in an Age. No Employment so dangerous at that time as that of the Warden of the West Marches of Scotland none so able for that Employment as my Lord who was equally knowing and stout and at once most feared and most loved The Earl of Shrewsbury made some Inroads into Scotland the Lord Darcy seconds him But being surprized by the Duke of Albany's preparations he had as much Wit to make Peace as he had Resolution to carry on the War None knew better when to yeild none better when to conquer so great a command had he over himself so great over the Enemy that he brought them to request his Wish and offer what was his Interest With the Duke of Surrey's assistance by Land and Fitz-Williams his by Sea he reduced that Nation to a good Inteligence with Us that year and a Peace the next a Peace as he observed that would be no longer kept then we had a Sword in our Hands and an Army on their Borders For Conscience guided other parts of the World he said and Fear Scotland Whence he invaded them duely once a year Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Howard SIr Edward's Brother in Worth as well as Blood His Fathers Interest set him up and his own Industry kept him so All the Children were brought up for Sea-Services this Gentleman for Sea-Commands He immediately succeeds his younger Brother in the Admiralty and wisely considering the advantage of the French Gallies in a calm the number of their ships the danger of their windes for us if they blew Southwest desired of the King so many Souldiers a◠might man the ships and make good the landing wherewith he scoured the seas and secured the Kings passage with so much Honour that he was able to assist his Father at Court as much as Wel 〈…〉 did Fox his Gallantry being no less pleasing to his Master then the other young Favourites Compliance and both these young men had no less Art to govern this Prince then he had to govern his Kingdom These Arts which all other Favourites use being Hopes and Fears which as Doors and Passages to the heart are so guarded by their vigilancy that they can both let themselves in and keep all others out the two Ends upon which the Thread of Government depends His Father is made Duke of Norfolk and he Earl of Surrey both are an eye-sore to the Cardinal whose Fortune had no Superior in the Kings Favour whose Ambition would endure no Equal The Old Mans years and cares are fitted with a Retirement in the Country the Young Mans ambition and activity with a Government in Ireland which he reduced as speedily to obedience notwithstanding Desmond's Rebellion as he had to civility had it not been for Wolsey's Underminings who endured no publick service but what he did himself and would chuse rather that the Kingdom should perish by a Traytor then be saved by a Nobleman Beloved he was by that Countrey where he left a Peace and a Parliament Anno 1521. so that they were loth to part with him Wanted he was by the King to scour the narrow seas for the French War so that he must have him The King had made him formerly His Admiral the Emperour upon his return from England makes him his and with both their Commissions he lands in Normandy wastes the adjacent Countries sparing onely Religious Houses takes and sacks Morlais in Bretaign which he entered under the smoak burns their ships commands the sea and sets the Emperour safe in Spain advising his Majesty from thence to make a general Muster of his Subjects for his own satisfaction and others terrour March 27 1522. The troubles in Scotland required an able Head and a stout Heart two Endowments that no man was more Master of then the Earl of Surrey now Duke of Norfolk upon his beloved Fathers decease whose Prudence toyled the Scots to deliver up their King as his Prowess frighted them to yeild up themselves as they did in that most exquisite Treaty where the Earl of Worcester beat the Bush saith my noble Author and our Duke catched the Hare A while after he is Earl Marshal and Embassador to King Francis about those two grand points 1. That the French King should set up a Patriarch 2. That he should stop up all the payments made to Rome with fair promises of that supply of men and money he then most wanted When the Pope stuck to Queen Katharine three things he advised the King to 1. To teach the people that a general Council was above the Pope and proclaim that he did appeal to it 2. To fix upon every Church-Door the Dowagers Appeal to Rome and the late Statute against it 3. To consederate with the Kings of Hungary and Poland the Estates of the Empire and the Hanse Towns Three things that would settle his People at home and strengthen his Interest abroad To which he added the Statute of Succession the Oath of Supremacy sir Howard's Embassy to the Scotch King the suppression of Religious Houses the War in Ireland under sir William Sheffington and a thorow search into the bottom of the Rebellion in the North by a connivance and delay But all his services could not quit him from suspicion nor his popularity from envy The Lord Darcy accuseth him to excuse himself and Cromwel seconds him to secure himself and as unhappinesses follow one another in the same order as one wave floweth after another his Nieces miscarriages threatned his fall but that the honest man as appears from a Letter the whole Council sent to sir William Paget then resident in France was the first that declared against her and put the King upon the most safe and honourable ways of trying her which satisfied his Majesty so far that he employed him as chief in the Treaty upon the Borders and General in the War when that Treaty failed Sir Anthony Brown upon his Recommendation being added to the Commissioners in Scotland and to the Privy-Council in England as Master of the Kings Horse as Sir John Gages was Comptroller of his House Several Persons came to London for a Reward of their Scotch services this Duke gave the King a wary and grave counsel to bestow upon them as much Land as they could win in
Scotland But Greatness is fatal The King is old and testy the Government disordered and irregular the Duke too stifly honest to comply the Council envy him and in this Juncture his Wives passion discovereth his Minions and they to save themselves his privacies and secrets His son a man of a deep understanding of a sharp wit and great valour bred up with Henry-Fitzroy at Windsor and afterwards at Paris was beheaded before his face His Favourite Mrs. Holland deposed That he said many looked for the Protectorship when the King who lived and moved by Engines and Art rather then by Nature should die but he would carry it That the King did not love him because he was loved by his Country but he would follow his Fathers Lesson which was That the less others set by him the more he would set by himself That he had a Daughter for the King as well as others c. His Estate was great his power greater the Kings occasions had swallowed up the one and his Enemies ambition the other notwithstanding his humble submission before the Council and his many services to the King had not his Majesties death saved his Life As the deepest Hate is that which springs from violent Love so the greatest Discourtesies oft arise from the largest Favours It is indiscreet to oppress any dangerous a Prince with Kindenesses which being Fetters are Treason on that Person But Suspicion Ah sad Suspicion The Companion of the Weak or Guilty The Cloud of the Minde The Forfeiture of Friends The check of Business Thou that disposest Kings to Tyranny Husbands to Jealousie Wise men to Irresolution and Melancholy Trust and you need never suspect But Policy and Friendship are incompatible I see where Norfolk begs that Life from the Block at last which he had ventured two and thirty times for his Soveraign Who knows the Cares that go to Bed with Statesmen Enemies Abroad Treacheries at Home Emulations of Neighbours Dissatisfaction of Friends Jealousies of most Fear of all unwelcome Inventions to palliate unjust Courses fears of Miscarriage and Disgrace with Projects of Honour and Plausibility with restless thoughts how to discover prevent conceal accommodate the Adversaries or his own Affairs Let us live and love and say God help poor Kings Observations on the Life of Sir Edward Stanley THe Stanley's service to Henry the seventh was a sufficient pledge of their faithfulness to Henry the eighth Honour floated in Sir Edward's blood and Valour danced in his spirits His stirring childhood brought him to Henry the eighth's company and his active manhood to his service The Camp was his School and his Learning was a Pike and Sword therefore his Masters Greeting to him was when they met Hob my Souldier In many places did he shew himself but no where more then at Flodden where his Archers fetched down the Scots from their fastness and relieved the English from their distress the Earl of Surrey beginning the Conquest and Sir Edward crowning it for which the King immediately set him high in his favour and not long after as high in the world being made Baron Stanley and Lord Mounteagle Twice did he and Sir John Wallop land with onely 800 men in the heart of France and four times did he and Sir Tho. Lovell save Callis the first time by intelligence the second by a stratagem the third by valour and resolution and the fourth by hardship patience and industry In the dangerous insurrection by Ashe and Captain Cobler his Zeal for the States welfare was above scruples and his Army was with him before his Commission for which dangerous piece of Loyalty he asked pardon and received thanks Two things he did towards the discomfiture of the Rebels whose skill in Arms exceeded his Followers as much as his policy did their Leaders first he cut off their provisions and then secondly sowed sedition among them whilst his Majesty gained time by pretended Treaties to be even with them drawing off the most eminent of the factions every day and confounding the rest Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Bolen THe City enriched this Family their Parts raised them His Activity was as taking with King Henry as his Daughters Beauty He was the Picklock of Princes upon his word onely would the King model his Designes and upon his alter them He discovered Ferdinand's underhand-treaty with Lewis and his Designe upon Navarre and writ to his Master to press the ambiguous man to a conclusion and to send over some treasure for said he the whole World is now to be sold adding the necessity of a peace or at least a truce with Scotland Sir Tho. Bolen was against the Kings going to France in person before he had some more issue or Edmund de la Pool were dispatched out of the way Sir Tho. Howard was for it it being dangerous to entrust so Noble an Army or so renowned an Action with any subject especially when Maximilian the Emperour offered to serve under his Majesty as Lieutenant and the Pope to attend him as Chaplain There is nothing more remarkable of Sir Thomas Bolen then 1. The Education of his Children his eldest son being bred at the Emperours Court his youngest with the Pope at Rome and his Daughter with Q. Mary in France 2. His Negotiation with the Lord St. Johns in Germany where he over-reached the Emperour no less then the Earl of Worcester did the French King so cunningly binding him that he understood nothing of our Affairs and yet so narrowly sifting him that we knew all his Intrigues Visible was all the world to our State then and invisible our State to all the world From Germany he is sent with Richard Sampson D. H. to Spain to set Charles as forward against the French as he had done Maximilian His service advanced him to the honour of a Barony and a Viscountship and the profit of the Treasureship of the Houshold and his success upon the Malecontent Duke of Bourbon by Sir Jo. Russel who treated with him in Disguise set him as high in the Kings favour as his Wife was a vertuous Lady that was the Kings Friend but not his Mistress his delight and not his sin In Spain so earnestly did our Sir Thomas mediate for the delivering up of the French Hostages that as Sandoval saith Charles protested to him that for his sake onely he would relinquish his Demand for the restitution of Burgundy in which the difficulty of the peace consisted adding further That for the same reason he would accept as well for Francis his two sons ransome as his charge what was freely offered viz. 2000000 Crowns and he with Sir Robert Poyntz make up that treaty the great Arbitrators of Europe at whose disposal Kings set their Crowns and Kingdomes their Peace in whose breast fate the fate of Christendome by their voices to stand or fall As faithful is he to the King at home though to his own prejudice as he is serviceable abroad
to his honour for when the people talked oddly out of envy to his Daughter now visibly in favour and pity to Queen Katharine Sir Thomas adviseth his Majesty to forbid his Daughter the Court and declare that those proceedings were more to satisfie his Conscience and secure Succession then to gratifie any other more private respect so far to his Daughters discontent that she would not come near the King until her Father was commanded not without threats to bring her thither who by representing the common danger to them both obtained at length saith my Lord Herbert though not without much difficulty the consent of his unwilling Daughter to return where yet she kept that distance that the King might easily perceive how sensible she was of her late dismission Sir Thomas would have married her to the Lord Percy but the King and Cardinal forbad it deterring old Northumberland from it and he his son Many Love-Letters between King Henry and Anne Bolen are sent to Rome one Letter between the Cardinal and his Confederates is fetched thence by Sir Thomas his Dexterity who advised Sir Francis Bryan then Resident to get in with the Popes Closet-keepers Courtezan and shew her the Cardinals hand by which she might finde out and copy his Expresses as she did to his ruine and our Kings great satisfaction To which Letter is annexed a Declaration under his hand and the Lords Darcy Mountjoy Dorset and Norfolk of 44 Articles against the great Cardinal His hand being now in he must through He adviseth the King to consult the Universities of Christendome He goeth in person when made Earl of Wiltshire to the Pope and contrives that a Declaration of the whole Kingdome in Parliament should follow him which so amused his Holiness with our Earls stratagems that he was asleep as it were until the state of England was quite altered To this he addes the peace with France and the interview with King Francis where his Daughter is married privately and her Brother made Viscount Rochford Convening a Parliament to his mind at Black-fryers and advancing an Arch-bishop to his purpose in Canterbury he is secure of the Church and of the Kingdom whereof the first hallowed the action and the second confirmed it Observations on the Life of Sir Edward Howard HE set out with his Fathers Reputation and came home with his own Britain feels his Arm to this day and the French his success Desperate were his Undertakings yet happy rash his Engagements yet honourable it being his Maxime That never did Sea-man good that was not resolute to a degree of madness The French Fleet he pursueth to the Haven under their own Forts closely Sir Edward considering the order wherein the French lay thought fit to advertise his King and Master thereof advising him withal saith my Author to come in person and have the glory of this Action but the Kings Council taking this Message into consideration and conceiving that it was not altogether fear as was thought but stratagem and cunning that made the French thus attend their advantage thought the King was not invited so much to the honour as to the danger of this Action therefore they write sharply to him again commanding him to do his duty whereof that brave person was so sensible that he landed 1500 men in the sight of 10000 and wasted the Country until being too confident he fell a while after into his enemies hands the Lord Ferrers Sir Thomas Cheyney Sir Richard Cornwal and Sir John Wallop looking on but not able to relieve him Four Reasons he would usually give against a War with the Low-Countries 1. The decay of Trade 2. The diminution of Customes 3. The strengthening of France 4. The loss of their industry and inventions and so of the improvement of our Commodities and Manufactures In the youth of this State as of all others Arms did flourish 〈…〉 in the Middle-age of it Learning and in the Declining as Covetousness and Thrift attend Old Age Mechanick Arts and Merchandize and this Gentleman was made for each part being not so much a Souldier as a Scholar not so much a Scholar as a Merchant But a private spirit is most unfortunate and as my Oracle assures me whereof men of that temper all their time sacrifice to themselves they become in the end themselves sacrifices unfortune whose wings they thought by their wisdome to have pinioned Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey SIr Thomas Howard was this Kings prime Counsellour a brave and an understanding man who was obliged to be faithful to his Master because an Enemy to Winchester emulation among Favourites is the security of Princes Four motives he offered for a Marriage with the Princess Katharine 1. A League with Spain against the growing power of our dangerous Neighbour France 2. The saving of much time and expence in Marriage by her being here 3. The consideration of that vast sum of Money that must be exported if she goeth away And 4. The great Obligation laid on the Pope by that Dispensation which would secure to him the King and his Posterity not otherwise Legitimate but by his Authority His Estate was much wasted in the service of Henry the seventh and as much improved by the treasures of Henry the eighth which amounted in the beginning of his Reign to 11800000 l. i. e. at the rate of money now adays six millions and an half which he dispensed so thriftily that old Winchester could not trapan him and yet so nobly that young Henry was pleased with him Sir William Compton set up the Kings Rich Life-guards under Bourchier Earl of Essex as Captain and the valiant Sir Jo. Peachy who kept Calais in so good order with 300 men as Lieutenant but this wary Earl put them down again When News was brought that Empson and Dudley were slain it was this Earls opinion that his Majesty had done more like a good King then a good Master When the narrow Seas whereof the Kings of England have been very tender were infested this old Treasurer and Earl-Marshal cleared it by his two sons Edward and Thomas saying The King of England should not be imprisoned in his Kingdome while either he had an Estate to set up a Ship or a son to command it In three weeks did he settle the North against the Invasions of James the fourth now inclining to the French and in a fortnight did he raise 40000 l. to pay the Army now ready to mutiny insomuch that when King James denounced War against King Henry he said He had an Earl in the North that would secure his Kingdome as he did with much resolution prudence and success at Flodden-Field where he saw a King at his feet and a whole Kingdome at his mercy where he was forced to fight so barren the Country where yet he pitched upon the most advantagious place and time so great his Command of himself and so noble his Conduct He sends Rouge
Charity Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Wentworth SIr Tho. Wentworth of Nettlested in Suffolk so a younger Family confessed by the Crescent in his Coat descended from the Wentworths of Wentworth-wood-house in York-shire and was created Baron Wentworth by King Henry 8. He was a stout and valiant Gentleman a cordial Protestant and his Family a Sanctuary of such Professors John Bale comparing him to the good Centurion in the Gospel and gratefully acknowledging him the cause of his conversion from a Carmelite The memory of this good Lord is much but unjustly blemished because Calis was lost the last of Queen Mary under his Government The manner was huddled up in our Chronicles least is best of bad business whereof this is the effect The English being secure by reason of the last Conquest at St. Quintin and the Duke of Guise having notice thereof he sate down before the Town at the time not when Kings go forth to but return from battle of mid-winter even upon New-years-day Next day he took the two Forts of Risebank and Newman-bridge wherein the strength of the City consisted but whether they were undermined or undermoneyed it is not decided and the last left most suspitious Within three days the Castle of Calis which commanded the City and was under the command of Sir Ralph Chamberlain was taken the French wading through the Ditches made shallower by their artificial cut and then entring the Town were repulsed back by Sir Anthony Ager Marshal of Calis the onely man saith Stow who was killed in the fight understand him of note others for the credit of the business accounting fourscore lost in that service The French re-entring the City the next day being Twelfth-day the Lord Wentworth Deputy thereof made but vain resistance which alas was like the wrigling of a Worms tayl after the head thereof is cut off so that he was forced to take what terms he could get viz. That the Towns-men should depart though plundered to a Groat with their lives and himself with 49 more such as the Duke of Guise should chuse should remain prisoners to be put to ransome This was the best news brought to Paris and worst to London for many years before It not onely abated the Queens chear the remnant of Christmas but her mirth all the days of her life Yet might she thank her self for loosing this Key of France because she hung it by her side with so slender a string there being but five hundred Souldiers effectually in the Garison too few to manage such a piece of importance The Lord Wentworth the second of June following was solemnly condemned for Treason though unheard as absent in France which was not onely against Christian charity but Roman justice Festus confessing it was not fashionable amongst them to deliver any man to die before he which is accused have the accusers face to face and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him It was well for this Lord that he was detained in France till his ransome was paid and Queen Mary dead who otherwise probably had lost his life if he had had his liberty But Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown he found the favour or rather had the justice to be tryed again and was acquitted by his Peers finding it no treachery cowardise or carelessness in him but in Sir John Harlston and Sir Ralph Chamberlain the one Governour of Risebank the other of Calis-Castle for which they were both condemned to die though their judgement was remitted This Lord was the onely person I have read of who thus in a manner played Rubbers when his head lay at stake and having lost the fore recovered the after-game He died a very aged man 1594. Thus far Mr. Fuller Two ways a Courtier advanceth himself the first that more leisurely slow though sure of watching Offices Preferments and Dignities that may by steps bring them to the Kings presence The second that more quick and short but most practised of following the Court for such extraordinary Commissions and particular services to the Empire as may without the danger of delays that must be fatal amidst so many Competitors recommend him to his favour It was below Sir Thomas his Estate to stoop to that first method it suited more with his activity to embrace the second Two usually-inconsistent qualities he had The closeness of an Agent and The Valour of a Souldier To Rome he was sent in disguise and to Treport with an Army so graceful his carriage so insinuating his affability so clear and well-weighed his discourse so searching and comprehensive his judgement so gravely Aiery so Majestically pleasant his countenance so becoming his gate and apparel so watchful his Negotiations so winning his Addresses so discreetly smart his Reparties darting a suddain lustre and vigour to the darkness and heaviness of his graver Discourses neither common nor unsavoury neither affected nor far-fetched neither abusive of others nor mis-becoming himself so discreet and well-managed his complaisance with reference to circumstances person place time matter and cause that he had Cardinal Senhault's Secretary to bring him to the Popes Closet the Emperours Agent Randolphus to introduce him to Court that he won Fryar paul to shew him the mysteries of the Church Engineer Palvino to represent the Popes Cities Towns Fortifications Havens Harbours Antiquities Seminaries Exercises Ships Treasure Armories Arsenals Magaâ—ines having always by him a Card of the Territories and the Popes Bedchamber-man to shew him all the Papers and Transactions that concerned Henry the eighth So well experienced his Conduct so well disciplined his Army so watchful and industrious his Nature so good his pay though he pawned as once in Normandy his own Estate to satisfie his Souldiers so noble his rewards of valour and service it being his rule That every man should enjoy as much as he could conquer so prevalent his example that he did more with 2000 men in three moneths then the Duke of Suffolk had done with 8000 in three years The Duncery and idleness of the Monks in his time as he writes himself made Erasmus a Student the sloth and carelesness of Commanders in Sir Thomas his time made him a Souldier Edward the third of England having sent to France to demand the Crown by Maternal Right the Council there sent him word That the Crowe of France was not tied to a Distaff To which he replyed That then be would tie it to his Sword Sir Thomas Wentworth demanding Normandy in right of the Dukes thereof Kings of England was told That Dukedomes were never given away in France by the Wills of the Dead Nay then replyed he we will have them against the Wills of the Living It 's written of our Henry the fifth that he had something of Caesar in him which Alexander the Great had not That he would not be Drunk and something of Alexander the Great which Caes 〈…〉 had not That he would not be Flattered Sir Th
fittest to season a man withal in the beginning both for settling of his Judgement and retaining them in memory yet as he goeth on out of the old fieldâ— must spring and grow the new Corn. Our Lawyers course was slow and leisurely his reading digested and deliberate His considerations wary and distrust his way to knowledge He that begins with certainties ends in doubts and he that begins with doubts ends in certainties and looketh into the bottom of things Upon serious and solid Books he bestowed a double reading the one cursorily by way of preparation and the other exact by way of digestion Three things made him a Pleader 1. Reading 2. Observation 3. Exercise And indeed in ancient times the Sergeants and Apprentices of Law did draw their own pleadings which made them good Pleaders He observed the affections the intent the analogy the validity of the Law putting all his reading to writing having the places he was most to handle in all the variety that could be with his Rules and Maximes as far as reading hearing meditation conference and memory could help him Thus his first thoughts were upon his Profession until that advanced him to the highest Eminence and his last upon his Interest until that was improved to as much fortune as lieth in a well-laid Estate and Alliance The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of Queen MARY Observations on the Life of Sir William Cordel SIr William Cordel where-ever he was born had a fair Estate at Long-Melford in Suffolk and lieth buried in that fair Church under a decent Monument We will translate his Epitaph which will perfectly acquaint us with the great Offices he had and good Offices he did to Posterity Hic Gulielmus babet requiem Cordelliae avito Stemmate qui clarius clarior ingenio Hic Studiis primos consumpsit fortiter annos Mox causarum strenuus actor erat Tanta illi doctrina inerat facundia tanta Vt Parlamenta publica lingua foret Postea factus Eques Reginae arcana Mariae Consilia Fatriae grande subibat opus Factus est Custos Rotulorum urgente senecta In Christo moriens caepit ad astra viam Pauperibus largus victum vestemque ministrans In super Hospitii condidit ille domum He was made Master of the Rolls November the fifth in the fifth of Queen Mary continuing therein till the day of his death the 23 of Queen Elizabeth Eight weeks and upwards passed between the Proclaiming of Queen Mary and the first Parliament by her assembled during which time two Religions were together set on foot Protestantism and Popery the former hoping to be continued the latter labouring to be restored And as the Jews Children after the Captivity spake a middle Language betwixt Hebrew and Ashdod so during the foresaid Interim the Churches and Chappels in England had a mixt celebration of their Divine Service between Reformation and Superstition The same day there was a Mass sung for Edward the Sixth's soul in the Tower and the English Service for his Burial in Westminster No small justling was there between the zealous Promoters of these contrary Perswasions The Protestants had the Law on their side and the Papists the Prerogative These the Queens Opinion the other her Promise Besides seeing by the Fidelity of the Suffolk and Norfolk Protestant Gentry the Queen was much advantaged for the Recovery of her Right they conceived it but reason that as she by them regained the Crown so they under her should enjoy their Consciences Thus it is in the Evening Twilight wherein Light and Darkness at first may seem very equally matched but the later in a little time doth wholly prevail The Catholick canvass for the next Parliament upon the Queens credit and authority the Reformed upon the Nations Inclination The Body of the Kingdom meets and chuseth our Knight for Speaker whose temper was a Representative of the Parliament as that is of the Kingdom A temper made up of an equal mixture of Loyalty and Piety that could at once stand to their Religion and submit to their Soveraign Render to Caesar what was Caesars and to God what was Gods Long did he expect that the Queen would comply with the Parliament and as long did she stay for their compliance with her Unite they could not unanimously among themselves dissolved they are therefore peaceably by her But Cordel was too Popular to be neglected and too honest to be corrupted Useful Parts will finde Preferment even when the Dissenting Judgement findes not Favour The Speaker of the unhappily healing Parliament was made Master of the Rolls in Queen Maries days and of a more happily healing one was made so in Charles the Second's Reign The one was of that Primitive Faith that was before the Modern names of Papists and Protestants the other of a Moderation that was elder then the new Heatâ— of Disciplinarians and Anti-Disciplinarians The miscarriages of Authority are chiefly six 1. Delâ—y 2. Faction 3. Roughness 4. Corruption 5. Ambition And 6. Private Designs No delay hindered where set times of hearing were observed access was easie the order and method of business uninterrupted No corruption where there durst be no suspition of it insomuch as that it was as 〈…〉 einous to offer a Bribe to him as to 〈◊〉 it in another Here was severity that awed men to a discontent but no austerity that sowred them to discontent all was smooth and grave pleasing and becoming yet nothing easie or soft it being worse to yeild to importunities that are dayly then to be bought with money which comes but seldom Vertue in Ambition is violent but in Authority is here it was calm and settled He sided with no Faction in his rise but balanced himself by all He had no design when he lived but to be spent in the â—ublique Service and none when he died but to spend himself in publick charity a charity that is at once the continued blessing and grace of that worshipful Family Cato Major would say That wise men learn more of fâ—â—ls then fools do of wise men And King Charles the first would say That it was wisdome in fools to jest with wise men but madness for wise men to jest with fools â—nd Sir William Cordel bequeathed us this Observation There is no man that talks but I may gain by him and none that holds his tongue but I may loose by him Observations on the Life of Sir Anthony Cooke SIr Anthony Cooke great Grandchilde to Sir Thomas Cooke Lord Mayor of London was born at Giddy-Hall in Essex where he finished a fair House begun by his great Grandfather as appeareth by this Inscription on the Frontispice thereof Aedibus his frontem Proavus Thomas dedit olim Addidit Antoni caetera sera manus He was one of the Governours to King
his Family to be honourable on the present Age to be active and on the future to be renowned The old Lord Burleigh sometime Treasurer of England coming to Cambridge with Queen Elizabeth when he was led into the publick Schools and had much commended their convenience beauty and greatness together with their Founder Humphrey the good Duke of Glocester Yea marry said he but I finde one School wanting in our Vniversities and that is the School of Discretion When Private Tutors had initiated Publick Schools had seasoned and the University had improved this Gentlemans sprightly and noble Parts yet did his Father observe one great defect in his Education and that iâ— Discretion Discretion in Carriage for which he sent him to Court Discretion in business for which he sent him to travel and fight Not long had he been abroad to furnish himself with experience but he is called home to eâ—noble himself with action The Alvaes of Spain were for four Generations together Commanders by Land and the Howards of England for as many Admirals at Sea None ever had more Power none used less then he The more Authority he had allowed him over others the more Command he obtained over himself Twice did he mortgage his Estate for his followers Pay many times did he venture his Life for their encouragement None directed more skilfully and yet none acted more resolutely Equally did he divide the profit equally share the honour with his followers who under him never dared and never feared a danger Manners make a man saith the Courtier Money makes a man saith the Citizen Learning makes a man saith the Scholar but Conduct makes a man saith the Souldier This Lords spirit never put him on so forwardly but his wariness took care how to come off as safely He that fights should despair but he that commands should hope The Souldier among the Persians is drawn with his eyes before him and the General with his behinde him Young men in the manage of Affairs embrace more then they can hold stir more then they can quiet flee to the end without consideration of the means and degrees pursue some few principles and extream remedies they have chanced upon rashly which they will neither confess nor reform Old men object too much consult too long adventure too little repent too soon and seldome pursue things home to their full period My Lord was an happy composition of both himself and had of either about him that the coldness and wariness of Age might correct the heat of Youth and the Activity of Younger might be directed by the Experience of Riper Ones The one gave Authority and the other Life to his Actions He himself was better to invent then to judge fitter for Action then Counsel and readier for new Projects then for setled business The Lord Clinton's Prudence served him in old and usual matters but in new things abused him My Lord Howard's was quick for present Emergencies but not comprehensive of ordinary transactions Of the three Admirals of those times we may say as they did of the three Kingdomes Lisle was wise before the Action my Lord Howard in it my Lord Clinton after it England without a freedome of commerce was but a larger Prison others opened the Trade to the Indies to Asia and other parts of the world but we wanted the Hemp the Flax the Pitch the Fur and the other useful Commodities of Russia serviceable to our selves and more to our Ships His Purse in this case did much his Direction more his servant Jenkinson most of all who made curious observaâ—ions of Russia set forth a Geographical description of it and was the first of the English that sailed through the Caspian Sea With his assistance the Muscovia Company was set up in Queen Maries days and with his servants it obtained the Priviledge of sole Traffick into the Northern Parts of Russia in Elizabeth's Nihil habet fortuna magna majus nec natura bona melius quam ut â—elit bene-facere quam plurimis Observations on the Life of Sir Edward Mountague EDward Mountague Son of Thomas Mountague born at Brigstock in Northampton-shire was bred in the Inner Temple in the study of the Laws until his ability and integrity advanced him Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Thirtieth of Henry the Eighth He gave for his Motto Aequitas Justitiae Norma And although Equity seemeth rather to resent of the Chancery than the Kings Bench yet the best Justice will be Wormwood without a mixture thereof In his times though the golden showers of Abbey-Lands rained amongst greatmen it was long before he would open his lap scrupling the acception of such Gifts and at last received but little in proportion to Others of that Age. In the thirty seventh of King Henry the Eighth he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas a descent in Honour but ascent in Profit it being given to old Age rather to be thrifty then ambitious Whereupon he said I am now an old man and love the Kitchin before the Hall the warmest place best suiting with my Age. In drawing up the Will of King Edward the Sixth and settling the Crown on the Lady Jane for a time he swam against the tide and torrent of Duke Dudley till at last he was carried away with the stream Outed of his Judges Office in the first of Queen Mary he returned into Northampton-shire and what contentment he could not finde in Westminster-hall his Hospital-hall at Bough 〈…〉 afforded him He died Anno 1556. and lieth buried in the Parish Church of Weekely His well-managed Argument in Dodderidge his Case brought him to Cromwel's knowledge who was vexed with his Reason but well pleased with his Parts Cromwel's recommendation and his own modest nature set him up with Henry the Eighth who could not endure two things 1. A Lawyer that would not be guided 2. A Divine that would not be taught Yet as modest as he was he was honest and though he would submit to the Kings Power yet would he act by his Law For his Apophthegm was Meum est Jus dicere potius quam Jus dare It 's my duty to interpret rather then give Law He never denied or delayed Justice always discouraging those cunning Laws that perplexed a Cause those contentious Clients that delayed a suit and those nice Cummin-â—eed men that strained inferences and wrested constructions Patient stayed and equal he was in hearing grave in speaking pertinent in interrogating wary in observing happy in remembring seasonable and civil in interposing The Counsel durst not chop with him neither would he chop with the Counsel unless he defended his cause over-boldly urged indiscreetly informed slightly neglected groâ—ly renewed the debate unseasonably or ensnared his Adversaries cunningly in those and other the like cases he would do the Publique Right by a check and the Person by an admonition Six sorts of persons he discountenanced in his Courts 1. The scandalous Exactors 2.
might surprize the Interval between the dissolution of the old and the erection of this new Foundation civilly declined the motion informing his Grace That the way to advance the study of the Law was by promoting the present Professors of that Faculty now so generally discouraged and not by founding a new Colledge for the future Students thereof seeing Trinity-Hall alone could breed more Civilians then all England did prefer according to their deserts Observations on the Life of Sir William Herbert HIs Family had not endeared its self to the antient Kings by its service nor his Grand-father himself to King Henry the Seventh by his Relation more then He did Himself to King Henry the Eighth by his Merit He was a great Pattern of antient Vertue that in the greatest Fortune enjoyed the least Liberty Vigilant and careful One whose Power was attended with Sollicitude there was an Eye in the ancient Scepters and his Sollicitude with Temperance he that commands himself commands the World too While some mens imprudent integrity can do no harm and others base cunning can do no good Sir William's Prudence and Integrity was equally able for both as there was occasion Very close and successful were his and my Lord Sheffield's Negotiations abroad Very resolute and manly his Conduct at home He was one of the twenty four Counsellours to Henry the Eighth while he lived and one of the sixteen Executors of his Will when he died All great Undertakers must avoid softness and effeminacie the bane of great Natures and Actions For where there is love and pleasure there is fear and where there is fear there is that which enchains Generosity and confines Courage He had his double Diary the first for Actions the second for Observations upon them And indeed his and Sir William Kingston's Manuscripts give a great light to the History of those times In which Diary we finde what actions he did against the Scots by constant alarms with three thousand Welch and what against Ket's Rebels by notable stratagems with two thousand The man is compleat that hath a Head and a Heart As to the Faction in King Edward's time he would not concern himself looking on accusations in a Commonwealth as great advantages to check ambition and vent discontent that the one may not aspire too dangerously nor the other break out too irregularly And as little concern'd was he in King Edward's Will his business being rather obeying the Soveraign that was then determining who should be He was a throughly advised man one that gazed not on the issues but enquired into the reasons and springs of Actions Very useful he was in Queen Mary's Council and no less in King philip's War where he got St. Quintin for him and a lasting Renown for himself who died in Queen Elizabeth's time and left this plain Character behinde That he was a noble Gentleman of a trusty a free and an open Nature Observations on the Lives of Sir Tho. Mannors and Sir Ralph Euers IJoyn them both in my Observations because they agreed both in their dispositions 1. Both Nobly Religious and so blessed themselves and being a blessing unto others Their Religion was attended with Magnanimity Constancy Wisdom Prudence Valour and Counsel as the Products of it and with Success as the Issue 2. Both famous and renowned having Honour as the shadow doth the Sun going before them in their younger years to make their way to action keeping even with them in their middle age to countenance and credit their proceedings and following them in old Age to eternize and embalm them Both making their way to Honour as Agesilaus in Plutarch or Epictetus in Strabo by saying what was well and doing what was better or with Socrates by being what they appeared and appearing no more then they were Vertue though obscure may satisfie me it must be renowned or it cannot serve others But action is the life of things and good dispositions are rather a mans Inclinations than his Vertue Both therefore were in their Courage regular in their Conduct observant in their Addresses obliging in their Passions even in their Enjoyments severe and in their Services equal Sir Thomas Mannors first weakened the Northern Rebels by such discreet Propositions as met with many of their Humours and Interests and then resolved to engage them but that the little Brook Dun swelled miraculously to a River between both Armies And at the same time Sir Ralph Euers held Scarborough-Castle where he had no Souldiers but his own Servants nor any sustenance for twenty days but bread and water For this service he is made Lord Warden of the Marches as Sir Thomas is Lord Governour of the North. Both did his Majesty as much service in Peace for his Revenue as in War for his Security Both against the Cardinal's way of raising Money which was but the relieving of a present need by laying the foundation of a lasting inconvenience being very careful that their Master did not lose in the president what he gained in the money Observations on the Life of Sir John Baker THere is one of this Name remarqueable in every Kings Reign since the Conquest here is one now renowned in this 1. For Integrity to be neither awed nor corrupted 2. For a Spirit publick as Nature neither moved with particular respects nor terminated in a private Design The French were so insolent in London the eighth year of Henry the Eighth that when one Williamson a Carpenter was about to pay for two Pigeons he bought a Frenchman takes them out of his hand saying They were no meat for Carpenters but for my Lord Embassadour who concerned himself so much in the case that he had Williamson imprisoned Sir John sued to the Embassador for the man who answered That the English Knave deserved to be banged for denying any thing to a Frenchman Whereupon Sir John replied You know not that you are in London A notable reply considering that the City was up next day against Strangers in so desperate a tumult that none could suppress but Sir Thomas More and none settle but Sir William Kingston and Sir John Baker No sooner had he allayed the disorder at home but he with the Bishop of St Asaph are sent to appease a Rebellion abroad I mean in Denmark though in vain when the Kings cruelty exceeded their apology and ruine was more elegible with that people then duty or obedience Where he observed these six Maximes in order to a newly-conquer'd-Kingdom 1. That the Royal Line should be extinguished 2. That the old Customs in Laws and Taxes should be observed 3. The Prince must be there to observe their humours in person 4. That the Officers be moderate and honest 5. That there be Colonies planted in one or two places that are the Keys of the State 6. That the Neighbours should be weakened and divided and the In-land Forts demolished As he would have composed the troubles of forreign Princes so he served the
necessities of his own being the most successful Commissioner for the Benevolence in the Countrey and the most active Agent for the loan in London Wherefore I finde him Chancellour of the Exchequer An. 1545 and one of the assistants to the Trustees for King Edward 1547. Judge Mountague was the onely person that durst dispute King Edward's Will Judge Hales and Sir John Baker were the onely Counsellours that durst refuse it the first whereof stood to the Law against Power the second to his Allegiance against Interest and both to the Rights of the Crown which are lasting rather then the Designes of some Favourites that are as momentary as their Greatness and as uncertain as their Grandeur This constant and firm resolution to stick to his Duty and Loyalty brought him to his Grave in peace and honour having been a faithful Counselfour and Servant to King Henry the eighth King Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Observations on the Life of Sir William Kingston HE was one of the greatest Courtiers at Masks and Revels one of the best Captains at Sea and one of the most valiant and skilful Commanders by Land None more pleasing to the English Ladies none more terrible to the French King Cunningly did he discover the King of Spains Designe upon Navarre to his Majesty by pretending a Revolt to that King of Spain and as cunningly did he draw the French Troops into a snare by counterfeiting a retreat towards Britany His Advice had saved the Admiral at Breast and his Foresight did rescue Sir Edward Belknap near Guisnes He was Knighted for his Service at Tournay and made Marshal for his Success at Flodden He was one of them that perswaded the City to its duty at Shoreditch and if that would not do he was to command it from the Tower being Commissioner in the first place Aug. 2. and Lieutenant of the second September 6. The Multitude is rather to be awed then reasoned with Some Princes have disarmed their Subjects others have divided them a third sort have obliged them others yet have kept up Plots amongst them but all have built and commanded Fortresses to secure themselves It were well if Love did it 's necessary that Fear should guide this World The King condescended one day to Just with him and he though invincible to fall by his Majesty You must let a Prince be a Prince in every thing So complaisant he was that he was one of the six Maskers at Court at 50 and yet so grave that when divers young men that were familiar with the King after the French mode were banished he kept his Station as one of the stayed men at 30. He was one of the 16 that attended the King in his first Interview with the Emperour and one of the 40 that waited on him in the two last with the King of France narrowly escaping at the last that poyson as some thought or ill vapours as others conclude whereof the open-hearted Lord Brooks the valiant Sir Edward Poynings reserved Sir John Pechy and active Sir Edward Belknap died whereupon with his advice all French-men were put to their Fines and all Scotch to their ransome Neither was he onely for shew but service too leading the Right Wing of the Army at Guisnes when Sir Everard Digby commanded the Left the Lord Sands the Vanguard Sir Edward Guilford then Marshal of Callis the Horse Sir Richard Wink field the Rear and the Duke of Suffolk the main Battle Where his Assaults on Cappe and Roy spake him a Souldier as his underhand correspondence with the Lord Isilstein argued him a States-man Sir Thomas Mannors the first Earl of Rutland of that Name discovered and Sir William Kingston told his Majesty the Cardinals Plots against the Kings Marriage with Queen Anne and his Designe to marry him to the Dutchess of Alanzon A Designe that because it seemed to over-reach his Majesty in cunning and really did cross his Inclination in malice that incensed his Majesty to a passion which could be appeased with no less a sacrifice then the Cardinals fall in order to which the next service of this Knight is as Lieutenant of the Tower to take him to custody which he did at Leicester with a Noble resolution considering that mans greatness with a due reverence regarding his calling and with a tender compassion respecting his condition perswading him gently of the Kings Favour at that very time when he was come to be an Instrument of his Justice And what he did to a Cardinal now he did to Queens afterwards never Prince commanding higher services then King Henry nor subjects discharging them more undauntedly then Sir William because therefore he was so severe a Lieutenant in the Tower he is made a Provost-Marshal in the Field in which capacity after the Devonshire-Rebels defeat we have these two remarkable stories of him 1. One Bowyer Mayor of Bodmin in Cornwal had been amongst the Rebels not willingly but enforced to him the Provost sent word he would come and dine with him for whom the Mayor made great Provision A little before Dinner the Provost took the Mayor aside and whispered him in the Ear that an Execution must that day be done in the Town and therefore he must set up two Gallows The Mayor did so After Dinner Sir William Kingston thanks him for his Entertainment and then desires him to bring him to the Gallows where when they were come Sir William asked him Whether they were strong enough I I 'll warrant thee saith the Mayor Then saith Sir William get you up upon them I hope saith the Mayor you do not mean as you speak Nay Sir saith he you must die for you have been a busie Rebel And so without any more ado hanged him 2. A Miller that had been very active in the late Rebellion fled and left another to take his Name upon him Sir William Kingston calls for the Miller His Servant tells him that he was the Man Then saith he you must be hanged Oh Sir saith he I am not the Miller If you are not the Miller you are a lying Knâ—ve if you are the Miller you are a trayterous one and however you must die And so he did Punish the Multitude severely once and you oblige them ever for they love that man onely for his Good Nature whom they fear for his Resolution Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Cheyney THree things advanced men in King Henry the Eighth's days 1. Their Extraction 2. Their Wit 3. Their Comeliness and Strength For the First his Name was up since Battle-Abbey-Roll as to the second it was enough that he travelled with Wolsey and touching the third there need be no other instance then that at Paris where upon the Daulphin's Proclamation of solemn Justs the Duke of Suffolke the Marquess of Dorset Sir Edward Nevil and He answered the Challenge as not long after he encountered King Henry himself at Greenwich where he had the great Honour
much altered here where this Lords Granchilde was at once the chiefest Councellour and the most eminent Scholar of his Age. It 's a reverend thing to see any ancient piece standing against Time much more to see an ancient Family standing against Fortune Certainly Princes that have able men of their Nobility shall finde ease in employing them and a better slide into their business for people naturally bend to them as born in some sort to command Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Challoner THis Gentlemans birth in London made him quick his Education in Cambridge knowing and his travail abroad expert In Henry the eighth's time he served Charles the fifth in the expedition of Algier where being ship-wracked after he had swum till his strength and arms failed him at the length catching hold of a Cable with his teeth he escaped not without the loss of some of his teeth We are consecrated by dangers to services and we know not what we can do until we have seen all we can fear In Edward the sixth's Reign he behaved himself so manly at Muscleborough that the Protector honoured him with a Knighthood and his Lady with a Jewel the delicate and valiant man at once pleasing Mars and his Venus too The first week of Queen Elizabeths Reign he is designed an Embassadour of Honour to the Emperour such his port and carriage and the second year her Leiger for business in Spain such his trust and abilities The first he performed not with more Gallantry then he did the second with Policy bearing up King Philips expectation of the Match with England for three years effectually until he had done the Queens business abroad and she had done her own at home In Spain he equally divided his time between the Scholar and the States-man his recreation and his business for he refreshed his more careful time with a pure and learned Verse de rep Anglorum instauranda in five Books whilst as he writes in the Preface to that Book he lived Hieme in furno aestate in Horreo i. e. Wintered in a Stove and Summered in a Barn He understood the Concerns of this estate well and those of his own better it being an usual saying engraven on all his Plates and Actions Frugality is the left hand of Fortune and Diligence the right Anthony Brown Viscount Mountacute urged with much Zeal and many Arguments the Danger and Dishonour of revolting off from the Catholick and Mother-Church Sir Thomas Challoner with more Eloquence enlarged on the just Cause for which we deceded from the Errours of Rome the true Authority by which we deceded from the Usurpation of Rome and the Moderation in what we deceded from the Superstition of Rome When the Spanish Embassadour urged that some Catholicks might with the Queens leave remain in Spain he answered him in a large Declaration That though the instance seemed a matter of no great moment yet seeing the Parties concerned would not receive so much advantage by the license as the Commonwealth would damage by the President it was neither fit for the King of Spain to urge or for the Queen of England to grant He was very impatient of Injuries pressing his return home when his Coâ—â—ers were searched but admonished by his Mistress That an Embassadour must take all things in good part that hath not a direct tendency to the Princes dishonour or his Countries danger His death was as honourable as his life Sir William Cecil being chief Mourner at his Funeral St. Pauls containing his Grave and he leaving a hopeful Son that should bring up future Princes as he had served the present being as worthy a Tutor to the hopeful Prince Henry as his Father had been a faithful Servant to the renowned Queen Elizabeth Observations in the Life of Sir Edward Waterhouse SIr Edward Waterhouse was born at Helmstedbury Hartfordshire of an ancient and worshipful Family deriving their descent lineally from Sir Gilbert Waterhouse of Kyrton in Low-Lindsey in the County of Lincoln in the time of King Henry the third As for our Sir Edward his Parents were John Waterhouse Esquire a man of much fidelity and sageness Auditor many years to King Henry the eighth of whom he obtained after a great Entertainment for him in his house the grant of a weekly Market for the Town of Helmsted Margaret Turner of the ancient House of Blunts-Hall in Suffolk and Cannons in Hertfordshire The King at his departure honoured the children of the said John Waterhouse being brought before him with his praise and encouragement gave a Benjamins portion of Dignation to this Edward foretelling by his Royal Augury that he would be the Crown of them all and a man of great honour and wisdome fit for the service of Princes It pleased God afterwards to second the word of the King so that the sprouts of his hopeful youth onely pointed at the growth and greatness of his honourable Age. For being but twelve years old he went to Oxford where for some years he glistered in the Oratorick and Poetick sphere until he addicted himself to conversation and observance of State-affairs wherein his great proficiency commended him to the favour of three principal Patrons One was Walter Devereux Earl of Essex who made him his bosome-friend and the said Earl lying on his death-bed took his leave of him with many kisses Oh my Ned Oh my Ned said he Farewel thou art the faithfullest and friendliest Gentleman that ever I knew In testimony of his true affection to the dead Father in his living Son this Gentleman is thought to have penned that most judicious and elegant Epistle recorded in Holinshed's History pag. 1266. and presented it to the young Earl conjuring him by the Cogent Arguments of Example and Rule to patrizare His other Patron was Sir Henry Sidney so often Lord Deputy of Ireland whereby he 〈…〉 ame incorporated into the familiarity of his Son Sir Philip Sidney between whom and Sir Edward there was so great friendliness that they were never better pleased then when in one anothers companies or when they corresponded each with other And we finde after the death of that worthy Knight that he was a close-concerned Mourner at his Obsequies as appeareth at large in the printed Representation of his funeral Solemnity His third Patron was Sir John Perrot Deputy also of Ireland who so valued his counsel that in State-affairs he would do nothing without him So great his Employment betwixt State and State that he crossed the Seas thirty seven times until deservedly at last he came into a port of honour wherein he sundry years anchored and found safe Harbour For he receiving the honour of Knighthood was sworn of her Majesties Privy-Council for Ireland and Chancellour of the Exchequer therein Now his grateful soul coursing about how to answer the Queens favour laid it self wholly out in her service wherein two of his Actions were most remarkable First he was highly instrumental
sake a sufficient evidence saith my Friend of his Ability and Integrity since Princes never trust twice where they are once deceived in a Minister of State He kept up his Mistresses Interest and she his Authority enjoyning the Earl of Essex so much above him in honour to truckle under him in Commission when Governour of Vlster and he Lord Deputy of Ireland Defend me said Luther to the Duke of Saxony with your Sword and I will defend you with my pen. Maintain my Power saith the Minister of State to his Soveraign and I will support your Majesty Two things he did for the settlement of that Kingdome 1. He raised a Composition in Munster 2. He established the Possessions of the Lords and Tenants in Monahan Severe he was always against the Spanish Faction but very vigilant in 88 when the dispersed Armado did look but durst not land in Ireland except driven by Tempest and then finding the shore worse then the Sea But Leicester dieth and he fails when his Sun was set it was presently night with him Yra la soga con el Calderon where goeth the Bucket there goeth the Rope where the Principal miscarrieth all the Dependants fall with him as our renowned Knight who died where he was born there is a Circulation of all things to their Original at Milton in Northamptonshire 1594. Observations on the Life of the Earl of Pembroke AN excellent Man and one that fashioned his own Fortune His Disposition got favour and his Prudence wealth the first to grace the second and the second to support the first under King Henry the eigth whose Brother-in-law he was by his wife and Chamberlain by his place When others were distracted with Factions in King Edwards Reign he was intent upon his Interest leaning as he said on both sides the stairs to get up for his service being promoted to the Master of the Horses place for his relation to the Queen-mother to the Order of St. George and in his own Right to the Barony of Caerdiffe and the Earldome of Pembroke Under Queen Mary his Popularity was very serviceable when General against Wiat his Authority useful when President of Wales and his Vigilancy remarkable when Governour of Calice And under Queen Elizabeth for his Fidelity and ancient Honesty he was made great Master of the Houshold But herein he failed That being more intent upon the future state of the Kingdome under the succession then his own under the present Soveraign he was cajoled by Leicester to promote the Queen of Scots Match with Norfolk so far neither with an ill will saith the Annalist nor a bad intent as to loose his own favour with the Queen of England who discovered those things after his death that made him weary of his life which was an instance of my Lord Bacons Rule That ancient Nobility is more innocent though not so active as the young one this more vertuous but not so plain as that there being rarely any rising but by a commixture of good and evil Arts. He was richer in his Tenants hearts then their Rents Alas what hath not that Nobleman that hath an universal love from his Tenants who were observed to live better with their encouraged industry upon his Copyhold then others by their secure sloath on their own Free-land 2. His Chaplains whose Merits were preferred freely and nobly to his excellent Livings without any unworthy Gratuities to his Gebazi's or Servants or any unbecoming Obligations to himself 3. His Servants whose youth had its Education in his Family and Age its Maintenance upon his Estate which was favourably Let out to Tenants and freely Leased to his Servants of whom he had a Train upon any occasion in his Family and an Army in his Neighbourhood an Army I say in his Neighbourhood not to enjealous his Prince but to secure him as in Wiats case when this King of Hearts would be by no means a Knave of Clubs Observations on the Life of Sir Walter Mildmay WAlter Mildmay that upright and most advised mâ—n was born at Chelmsford in Essex where he was a younger son to Thomas Mildmay Esquire He was bred in Christs-Colledge in Cambridge where he did not as many young Gentlemen study onely in Complement but seriously applyed himself to his Book Under King Henry the eighth and King Edward the sixth he had a gainful Office in the Court of Augmentations during the Reign of Queen Mary he practised the Politick Precept Bene vixit qui bene latuit No sooner came Queen Elizabeth to the Crown but he was called to State-employment and it was not long before he was made Chancellour of the Exchequer It is observed That the Exchequer never fareth ill but under a good Prince such who out of Conscience will not oppress their People whilst Tyrants pass not for that they squeeze out of their Subjects Indeed Queen Elizabeth was very careful not to have her Coffers swelled with the Consumption of her Kingdome and had conscientious Officers under her amongst whom Sir Walter was a principal one This Knight sensible of Gods blessing on his Estate and knowing that Omne beneficium requirit Officium cast about to make his return to God He began with his Benefactions to Christs-Colledge in Cambridge onely to put his hand into practice then his Bounty embraced the Generous Resolution which the painful piety of St. Paul propounds to himself viz. Not to build on another mans foundation but on his own cost he erected a new Colledge in Cambridge by the name of Immanuel A right godly Gentleman he was a good Man and a good Citizen though some of his back friends suggested to the Queen that he was a better Patriot then Subject and he was over-popular in Parliaments insomuch that his Life set sub nubecula under a Cloud of a Royal Displeasure yet was not the Cloud so great but that the beams of his Innocence meeting those of the Queens Candour had easily dispelled it had he survived longer as appeared by the great grief of the Queen professed for the loss of so grave a Councellour who leaving two Sons and three Daughters died anno Domini 1589. This Gentleman being employed by vertue of his place to advance the Queens Treasure did it industriously faithfully and conscionably without wronging the Subject being very tender of their Priviledges insomuch that he complained in Parliament That many Subsidies were granted and no Grievances redressed which words being represented to his disadvantage to the Queen made her to disaffect him setting in a Court-Cloud but as he goeth on in the Sun-shine of his Country and a clear Conscience though a mans Conscience can be said no otherwise clear by his opposition to the Court then a man is said to have a good heart when it is but a bold one But coming to Court after he had founded his Colledge the Queen told him Sir Walter I hear you have erected a Puritan foundation No Madam said he far be it from
me to countenance any thing contrary to your established Laws But I have set an Acorn which when it comes to be an Oak God alone knows what will be the fruit of it Observations on the Life of Sir John Fortescue AN upright and a knowing man a great Master of Greek and Latine and Overseer of the Qu Studies in both the Languages Master of the Wardrobe one whom she trusted with the Ornaments of her soul and body succeeding Sir Walter Mâ—ldmay in his prudence and piety and in his place of Chancellor and Under-treasurer of the Exchequer Two men Qu Eliz. would say out did her expectation Fortescue for Integrity and Walsingham for Subtlety as Cambden writes and Officious services His and Rawleigh's failure was their design of Articling with K. James at his first coming not so much say some in their behalf for himself as for his followers in regard of the known seud between the Nations However conditions unworthy of English Subjects to offer and below the K. of Great Britain to receive who is to make no more terms for his Kingdome than for his Birth The very solemn asking of the Peoples consent which the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in all the corners of the stage at a Coronation makes importing no more than this Do you the People of England acknowledge that this is the Person who is the Heir of the Crown They being absolutely obliged to submit to the Government upon supposition that they absolutely believe that he is the King Observations on the Life of Sir William Drury SIr William Drury was born in Suffolk where his Worshipful Family had long flourished at Haulsted His name in Saxon soundeth a Pearl to which he answered in the pretiousnesse of his disposition clear and heard innocent and valiant and therefore valued deservedly by his Queen and Country His youth was spent in the French Wars his middle-Age in Scotland and his old Age in Ireland He was Knight-Marshal of Barwick at what time the French had possessed themselves of the Castle of Edenburgh in the minority of King James Queen Elizabeth employed this Sir William with 1500 men to besiege the Castle which service he right worthily performed reducing it within few days to the Owner thereof Anno 1575. he was appointed Lord President of Munster whither he went with competent Forces and executed impartial Justice in despight of the Opposers thereof For as the Signe of Leo immediately precedeth Virgo and Libra in the Zodiack so I hope not that Innocency will be protected or Justice administred in a barbarous Country where power and strength do not first secure a passage unto them But the Earl of Desmond opposed this good President forbidding him to enter the County of Kerry as a Palatinate peculiarly appropriated unto himself Know by the way as there were but four Palatinates in England Chester Laneaster Durbam and Ely whereof the two former many years since were in effect invested in the Crown there were no fewer then eight Palatinates in Ireland possessed by their respective Dynasts claiming Regal Rights therein to the great retarding of the absolute Conquest of that Kingdome Amongst these saith my Author Kerry became the Sanctuary of Sin and Refuge of Rebels as outlawed from any Jurisdiction Sir William no whit terrified with the Earls threatning and declaring that no place should be a priviledge to mischief entred Kerry with a competent Train and there dispenced Justice to all persons as occasion did require Thus with sevenscore men he safely forced his return through seven hundred of the Earls who sought to surprize him In the last year of his Life he was made Lord Deputy of Ireland and no doubt had performed much in his place if not afflicted with constant sickness the forerunner of his death at Waterford 1598. He was one of that Military Valour which the Lord Verulam wisheth about a Prince in troublesome times that held a good esteem with the Populacy and an exact correspondence with the Nobless whereby he united himself to each side by endearments and divided them by distrust watching the slow motions of the people that they should not be excited and spirited by the Nobility and the ambition of the Great Ones that it should not be befriended with the turbulency or strengthened with the assistance of the Commonalty One great Act well followed did his business with the Natives whom he sometimes indulged giving their Discontents liberty to evaporate and with the strangers whom he always awed In those that were commended to his service he observed two things 1. That they were not advanced for their dependence because they promote a Party which he noted to be the first ground of Recommendation 2. Nor for their weakness because they cannot hinder it which he remarked to be the second Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Smith SIr Thomas Smith was born at Saffron-Walden in Essex and bred in Queens Colledge in Cambridge where such his proficiency in Learning that he was chosen out by Henry the eighth to be sent over and to be brought up beyond the Seas It was fashionable in that Age that pregnant Students were maintained on the cost of the State to be Merchants for experience in Forreign Parts whence returning home with their gainful Adventurers they were preferred according to the improvement of their time to Offices in their own Country Well it were if this good old Custome were resumed for if where God hath given five talents Men would give but pounds I mean encourage hopeful Abilities with hopeful Maintenance able persons would never be wanting and poor men with great Parts would not be excluded the Line of Preferment This Sir Thomas was first Servant and Favourite to the Duke of Somerset and afterwards Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth and a grand Benefactor to both Universities Anno 1577 when that excellent Act passed whereby it was provided That a third part of the Rent upon Leases made by Colledges should be reserved in Corn paying it either in kind or in money after the rate of the best prices in Oxford or Cambridge markets the next Market-days before Michaelmas or our Lady-day For the passing of this Act Sir Thomas Smith surprized the House and whereas many conceived not the difference between the payment of Rents in Corn or Money the knowing Patriot took the advantage of the present cheap year knowing that hereafter Grain would grow dearer Man-kinde dayly multiplying and License being lately given for Transportation so that now when the Universities have least Corn they have most Bread What his foresight did now for the University his reach did the first year of Q. Eliz. for the Kingdome for the first sitting of her Council he advised twelve most important things for the publick safety 1. That the Ports should be shut 2. That the Tower of London should be secured in good hands 3. That the Deputy of Ireland's Commission should be renewed and enlarged 4. That all Officers should
however in other Points they pretend to be at war with the Popish Jesuites yet by this separation of themselves from the unity of their fellow-subjests and by abasing the Sacred Authority and Majesty of their Prince they do both joyn and concur with the Jesuites in opening the Door and preparing the way to the Spanish Invasion that is threatened against the Realm And thus having according to the weakness of my best understanding delivered Her Majesties Royal Pleasure and wise Direction I rest there with humble Suit of Her Majesties most gracious Pardon in supplying of my defects and recommend you to the Author of all good counsel He died anno Domini 1596 charactered by Mr. Cambden Vir Integer His Estate is since descended according to the solemn settlement thereof the Male Issue failing on Sir Henry Newton who according to the Condition hath assumed the surname of Puckering Sir Thomas Egerton urged against the Earl of Arundel methodically what he had done before in and since the Spanish Invasion Sir John Puckering pressed things closely both from Letters and Correspondence with Allen and Parsons that few men had seen and from the saying of my Lord himself which fewer had observed who when Valongers Cause about a Libel was handled in the Star-chamber had said openly He that is throughly Popish the same man cannot but be a Traytor A man this was of himself of good repute for his own Carriage but unhappy for that of his Servants who for disposing of his Livings corruptly left themselves an ill name in the Church and him but a dubious one in the State David is not the onely person whom the iniquity of his heels that is of his followers layeth hold on Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Bromley SIr Thomas Bromley was born at Bromley in Shropshire of a right ancient Family He was bred in the Inner Temple and made before he was forty years of age General-Sollicitor to Queen Elizabeth and afterwards before he was fifty succeeded Sir Nicholas Bacon in the Dignity of Lord Chancellour yet Bacon was not missed while Bromley succeeded him and that loss which otherwise could not have been repaired now could not be perceived which Office he wisely and learnedly executed with much discretion possessing it nine years and died anno 1587 not being sixty years old My Lord Hunsdon first employed this Gentleman and my Lord Burleigh took first notice of him He had a deep head to dive to the bottome of the abstruse Cases of those times and a happy mean to manage them with no less security to the Estate then satisfaction to the People A man very indudustrious in his Place and very observant of the Court happy in his potent friends happy in his able followers men of great faithfulness towards him and of great integrity and respectfulness towards any that made Addresses to him He never decided the equity of any Case before he had discoursed with the Judge that heard it of the Law of it He never disposed of a Living without the Bishop of the Diocess his consent where it lay nor ever engaged he in any State-business without direction from my Lord Burleigh the Earl of Leicester my Lord Delaware Sir Ralph Sadler was to observe the Policy Dr. Wilson the Civil Law and Sir Thomas Bromley the English Law in the Queer of Scots Answer to Queen Elizabeths last Expostulation The Spanish Souldier never takes wages against his King and Sir Thomas Bromley never took fees against the Crown He would have the Caue opened clearly by his Client in the Chamber before ever he would declare it at the Bar He lo 〈…〉 money for not admitting all Causes promiscuously at first but he gained it at last when never failing in any Cause saith my Author for five years during which space what he wanted in the retayl of advantage he made up in the gross o 〈…〉 esteem being by that time the onely person that the People would employ and one of the three the Court would favour being excellent because industrious in a leading and an untrodden Case Physitians they say are best like Beer when stale and Lawyers like Bread when young This Person was eminent in all the periods of his Age each whereof he filled with its just and becoming accomplishment In that Lord of Northumberland's Case that Pistolled himself none more subtle to argue his guilt in the Queen of Scots none more strict to keep to the Law for when the Queen of Sco 〈…〉 would explain something in the Queens Commission he answered We are Subjects and not come hither to explain the Queens words but to perform them None more discreet and grave prefacing that great business with these words The High and Mighty Queen our Soveraign that she might not be wanting to her God her Self her People or your Honour sent us hither not so much to try as to elear you not so much to urge her Accusations as to hear your Defence And none more stedfast to his Soveraign for when that unfortunate Lady protested her unaccountableness to the English Laws he replyed This protestation is vain for whosoever of what place soever offendeth against the Laws of England in England was subject to the same Laws and might be examined and tryed The Sentence against her he declared had three things in it 1. Justice 2. Security 3. Necessity but added presently And that wisely too it should no ways prejudice King James his Title or Honour Observations on the Life of Sir Richard Bingham SIr Richard Bingham born in Binghams-Melcolm in Dorsetshire of a very ancient Family in his youth trayelled most parts of the world He was at the Siege of St. Quintin in France the Sacking of Leith in Scotland served in Candia under the Venetians against the Turk then returned into the Netherlands being strong and fortunate in all his Undertakings After all this he went into Ireland and was there President of Connaught and conquered the great and dangerous Rebel O Rorke A Gentleman this rather skilful in many mysteries then thriving in any of a fancy too high and wild too desultory and over-voluble yet Imagination hath often produced Realities and Phancy done the work of Judgement as in this Gentleman whose Daringness went for Conduct whose Spirit passed for Resolution whose Activity had the honour of skill and whose Success the glory of prudence It 's a wonder of parts that Casar could write read dictate and discourse at the same time it 's a miracle of fancy that thisman should Command a Regiment in the Netherlands preside in a Province of Ireland manage a Trade in Russia carry on a Plantation in America and husband a Mannor in England But as the King of Spain is painted with a handful of sand running out between his singers in reference to his many but unprofitable Dominions so might this grand Projector be described who attempted so many things that he did nothing Yet one thing his Quick-silver Soul was good
occasions whose principal quality refided in Magnificence Yet was he not transported with these appearances or to make them the greatest ornament of his conduct the choicest expressions of his life fixing neither his greatnesse upon a transitory Pageant nor his glory upon a fading Pomp. Observations on the Life of Sir Tho. Smith SIr Thomas Smith was born at Abington in Bark-shire bred in the University of Oxford God and himself raised him to the Eminency he attained unto unbefriended with any extraction He may seem to have had an ingenuous emulation of Sir Thomas Smith Senior Secretary of State whom he imitated in many good qualities and had no doubt equalled in preferment if not prevented by death He attained onely to be Master of the Requests and Secretary to King James for his Latine Letters higher places expecting him when a period was put at once to his life and to his hopes Novemb. 28. 1609. The generous piety of the honourable Countess of Exeter having erected him one Monument at Fulham and his own worth another in History His Father died when he was yet so young that he knew not what a Father meant but his Mothers affection for her Husband died not with him whereupon she multiplyed her cares on this Gentleman and her other children so abundantly that a long while he little found the want of that dear name her transcendent love so well supplying the place of both relations For no sooner was he fit to learn than she did by friends procure the best Masters those Times afforded to render his education perfect in those exercises as well of the minde as of the body wherein they that flattered him not would say he was no ill Proficient such majesty such modesty in his carriage that men would admire how two such distant things could meet in one subject His eye was quick and piercing his shape and motion charming the ayre and lineaments of his countenance lively arguments that his soul was not inferiour to his body but that the one promised no more pleasure to those that looked on it than the other did service to those that employed it His meen deserving preferment from the favour of a Soveraign and his parts gaining it from his justice Fortune did him not so much wrong in his mean Birth as he did himself right by great merit so worthy a Prince's service and a Courts favour He read and saw what others did but not with others apprehensions his judgement of things being not common nor his observations low flat or vulgar but such as became a breast now furnishing it self for businesse and for government There was an ancient custome to celebrate the Anniversary of the King's Coronation with all the Shews of Magnificence and joy which the Art or Affections of the People could invent and because we are esteemed the Warlik'st Nation in the whole world to continue that just regulation we declined all those effeminacies which are so predominant in other Courts and absolutely addicted our selves to such Martial exercises as are nothing lesse pleasing and delightful than the other and yet fit and prepare men more for the real use of Arms and acquisition of glory Here our Knight's praise came to my Lord of Carlisle's notice who first designed him a Commander but finding his Genius more courtly than Martial more learned than active recommended him to his Majesties softer services where none more obliging to the People by his industry and interest Court none more serviceable to his Majesty by the good name he gained in the Countrey So careful was he of publick content that from five to nine his Chamber was open to all Comers where you would finde him with the one hand making himself ready with the other receiving Letters and in all this hurry of Businesse giving the most orderly clear and satisfactory dispatches of any Statesman at that time From nine to one he attended his Master to whom he had as easie access as he gave to his People Two things set him up 1. A fair respect from his Master upon all occasions and as fair a treatment of the People He had his distinct Classis of Affairs and his distinct Officers for those Classis The order and method whereof incredibly advanced his dispatch and eased his burden which took up his day so that there remained but some hours he stole from night and sleep for his beloved and dear Studies and King James said he was the hardest Student in White-Hall and therefore he did not always trouble his Master with businesse but sometimes please him with discourse If Fortune had been as kinde to him as Nature greater Employments had been at once his honour and his business But from all his services and performances he derived no other advantage than the acting of them and at his death he lest no other wealth behind him but that of a high reputation never arriving at those enjoyments that enhance our Cares nor having time to withdraw himself from those cares that take away the relish of our enjoyments Observations on the Life of Sir Fulke Grevil SIr Fulke Grevil son to Sir Fulke Grevil the elder of Becham-Court in Warwick-shire descended from Willoughby Lord Brook and Admiral to Hen. 7. was bred first in the University of Cambridge He came to the Court back'd with a full and fair Estate and Queen Elizabeth loved such substantial Courtiers as could plentifully subsist of themselves He was a good Scholar loving much to employ and sometimes to advance learned men to whom worthy Bishop Overal chiefly owed his Preferment and Mr. Cambden by his own confession feasted largely of his Liberality His studies were most in Poetry and History as his Works do witnesse His stile conceived by some to be swelling is allowed lofty and full by others King James created him Baron Brook of Beauchamp-Court as descended from the sole Daughter and Heir of Edward Willoughby last Lord Brook in the Reign of King Henry the 7th His sad death or murther rather happened on this occasion His discontented servant conceiving his deserts not soon or well enough rewarded wounded him mortally and then to save the Law the labour killed himself verifying the observation that he may when he pleaseth be master of another mans life who contemneth his own Helyeth buried in Warwick Church under a Monument of black and white Marble whereon he is stiled Servant to Queen Elizabeth Counsellour to King James and Friend to Sir Philip Sidney Though a Favourite he courts Ladies rather than Honour and pursued his study rather than his ambition being more contemplative than active Others ministered to Queen Elizabeths government this Gentleman to her Recreation and Pleasures He came to Court when all men should young and stayed there until he was old his fortune being as smooth as his spirit and the Queens favour as lasting as his merit He bred up States-men but was none Sir William Pickering was like to have gained the Queens
honourable Family whose prime Seat was at Lediard-Tregoze in Wiltshire though their first settlement was in South-Wales He was bred in the Wars from his youth and at last by King James was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland and vigorously pursued the Principles of his Predecessors for the civilizing thereof Indeed the Lord Mountjoy reduced that Countrey to obedience the Lord Chichester to some civility and this Lord Grandison first advanced it to considerable profit to his Master T. Walsingham writeth that Ireland afforded unto Edward the third thirty thousand pounds a year paid into his Exchequer but it appears by the Irish Records which are rather to be believed that it was rather a burthen and the constant Revenue thereof beneath the third part of that proportion But now the Kingdom being peaceably setled the income thereof turned to good Account so that Ireland called the Land of Ire for the constant broils therein for four hundred years was now become the Land of Concord This noble Person recalled into England lived many years in great repute leaving his Honours to his Sisters son by Sir Edward Villiers but the main of his Estate to his Brothers son Sir John St. John Knight and Baronet So sweet and charming his Conversation that he was beloved by all his Superiours and envied by no Inferiour being never advanced to any great Dignity but he was wished to a greater So exact his vigilancy so constant his industry so plausible his actions attended with no lesse civility to all men than duty to his Soveraign So frank and ingenious his Integrity that none feared him so discreet his management of Businesse and so strong his judgement that any might confide in him One he was that crossed the Italian Proverb Di Dunaridi senno e di fede In e Manco che non Crede having more money more faith yea and more wisdome too than was generally esteemed I mean wisdome of behaviour wisdome of busidesse and wisdome of State in the last whereof he aimed at a general settlement which he observed would bear particular errours provided that Care Labour Vigilancy and prudent Inquietude attended that forceth Difficulties constrains Fortune assures good Counsels corrects bad supports and overthroweth designs disposeth of accidents observeth time manageth hazards forgets nothing seldome trusts others and improveth all Occurrents and that first maxime of Policy he observed That who layeth out most layeth out least that petty frugalities undo the main Interest Observations on the Life of Sir Tho Overbury SIr Thomas Overbury son to Sir Nicholas Overbury one of the Judges of the Marches was born at Burton on the Hill in Gloucestershire bred in Oxford and attained to be a most accomplished Gentleman partly at Grayes-Innâ— and partly in France which the happinesse of his Pen both in Poetry and Prose doth declare In the later he is observed to be the first writer of Characters of our Nation But if the great parts of this Gentleman were guilty of Insolence and Petulancy which some since have charged on his memory reporting of him that he should say Somerset owed his advancement to him and that he should walk with his hat on before the Queen we may charitably presume that his reduced age would have corrected such Juvenile extravagancies It is questionable whether Robert Carr Earl of Somerset were more in the favour of King James or this Sir Thomas Overbury in the favour of the Earl of Somerset untill he lost it by disswading that Lord from keeping company with a Lady the Wiâ—e of another person of honour as neither for his credit here or comfort hereafter Soon after Sir Thomas was by King James designed Embassador for Russia His false friends perswaded him to decline the Employment as no better than an honourable Grave Better lye some days in the Tower than more months in a worse Prison A ship by Sea and a barbarous cold Countrey by Land Besides they possessed him that within a small time the K. should be wrought to a good opinion of him But he that willingly goes into a Prison out of hope to come easily out of it may stay therein so long till he be too late convinced of another Judgement Whilest Sir Thomas was in the Tower his Refusal was presented to the King as an Act of high Contempt as if he valued himself more than the King's service His strict restraint gave the greater liberty to his enemies to practice his death 1615. which was by poyson performed Yet was his blood legally revenged which cost some a violent and others a civill death as deprived of their Offices The Earl was soon abated in King James his affection Oh! the short distance betwixt the cooling and quenching of a Favourite being condemned and banished the Court. Exact are the remarks he drew up of Foreign Countreys therefore no lesse such his transactions for his own In this most esteemed with King James and his Master that he suited both their Geniuses in the easie and clear method wherein he expressed the most difficult and knotty Affairs for they both being perplexed with that variety of Affairs in general that they could not readily look into difficult Cases in particular loved those that made things out easie and clear to them as well fitted for their apprehensions as obvious to their judgement owning a Soul so quiet that abate its youthful extravagancies it knew not a motion but what was Duty and Interest felt no agitation but what was reason and what Philosophy conveyed into the souls of the wisest and observation insinuated into the spirit of the closest if he expected a recompence suitable to his services or an acknowledgement answerable to his merit he understood not the humour and nature of man-kinde the interest of Favourites or his own parts too guilty of reputation to be advanced and of power not to be suppressed It 's Machiâ—vel's rule That they who rise very high should descend timely and quit the envy lest they lose the honour of their greatnesse Although this Gentleman's skill in accommodating Factions in the Art of Negotiation in the charm of Language in the Interest of Princes in mastering his own Resentments as well as his Enemies that provoked him had preserved him if he had known as well how to hold his Tongue as how to speak if he had understood others humours as well as they did his and if he had skilled as well from whom to have refused kindnesse as from whom he deserved it In a word he that considered so many other Maximes was defective in complyance with his own viz. That vertue is there unprofitable where too great and that many had lost the favour of their Masters by over-much meriting it Observations on the Life of Sir Clem. Edmonds SIr Clement Edmonds that learned and judicious Remembrancer of the City of London was born at Shratvardine in Shropshire and bred Fellow of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford being generally skilled in all Arts
King as he studied him more and understood him better than any man though one observeth he was rather in his favour than in his bosome and therefore he took care That as his Expedition and Civility made him the great Master of Requests at Court so his Marriage with the Heir-general of the Dennies should get him an Estate in the Countrey wherewith he compleated his kindnesse with bounty and adorned his bounty with courtesie Courtesie not affected but naturally made up of humility that secured him from Envy and a Civility that kept him in esteem he being happy in an expression that was high and not formal and a Language that was Courtly and yet real Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Lake SIr Thomas Lake was bred a Scholar under Saravia in Hampshire a States-man under Sir Francis Walsingham at Court where such his dexterity and dispatch that he would indite write and discourse at the same time more exactly than most men could severally perform them being then called the Swift-sure such his celerity and solidity in all Affairs From the Secretaries Amanuensis he was promoted the Queens Clerk of the Signet to whom he read French and Latine to her dying day for he was reading to her when the Countesse of Warwick told him that the Queen was departed In which Tongues she often said he surpassed her Secretaries Such his sufficiency especially in keeping secrets that King James employed him in some French Affairs at his first arrival without Cecil and afterwards as Secretary of State above him For King James that loved what ever was facile and fluent being taken among other his Abilities with his Latine pen said that he was a Minister of State fit to serve the greatest Prince in Europe and that the Secretaries place needed him more than he it Of whom I have no more to add but that he was oue of the three noble hands that first led Mr. George Villiers to King James his Favour Observations on the Life of Lyonel Cranfield Earl of Middlesex SIr Lyonel was born in Basinghal street a Citizen bred in the Custome-house a Merchant-Adventurer his own Tutor and his own University though his Family was ancient in Gloucestershire and his Arms in the Heralds Office King James was taken with hm for his brief clear strong and pertinent discourses The Duke of Buckingham was displeased because he would stand without him yea in some things against him many were as active as this stirring Lord none more exact his presence was comely his countenance cheerful and grave his soul witty and wise his apprehension quick and solid his thoughts setled and resolved When one asked him how a man might prevent death he said Get to be Lord-Treasurer for none died in that Office Though no Scholar yet was he bountiful to Scholars though a Courtier yet was he hospitable in the Countrey though he suffered much yet was he contented and though he lost much yet was he charitable Very serviceable he was to the State in the business of Trade in general but most in that of the Custom-house in particular His first preferment was the custody of the Wardrobe his second was the Mastership of the Court of Wards and Liveries and his third the Treasurer-ship of England In the last whereof his improvement of the Revenue gained him not more honour with the King than it did him envy from the Courtiers While to piece out the Treasure with the expence he husbanded the one so thristily and retrenched the other so rigidly that malice it self after many attempts to that purpose could finde no fault with his exact account in the boundlesse trust of the tempting Treasury When the Prince was in Spain he was the States-man of the Council-Table and the chief Minister of the Cabal managing all the Dispatches and overlooking all the Expences In the last of which services he ran counter to the Duke of Buckingham's inclination and his own Interest which was to keep himself up by that noble Person 's favour as he rose by his alliance The occasion of his preferment might be some saving secrets of the Custome-house-men to improve the Revenue the reason of his decline was some thristy suggestion touching the Courtiers to preserve it This is certain he was a man fit for government who quickly apprehended where any evil was and had capacity enough to apply the remedy onely he had a little too stiffe a nature that would not easily yield when he found on which side there was most reason and too much of the City in his maximes which pretended to attain to that in a short time which Politicians think not proper to arrive at but by a leasurely succession of Ages and Generations Observations on the Life of Henry Howard Earl of Northampton THis Family had endeared it self to many Kings by its services but to none more than King James by its obligations Thomas Duke of Norfolke being as it were his Mothers Martyr executed for a design to marry her and all his Relations his Confessors kept under for their inclinations to advance him Reasonable therefore it was that my Lord that Dukes brother should be made Baron of Marnhill Earl of Northampton Knight of the Garter Privy-Councellor Lord Privy-Seal and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports Learning in any man had King James his affection especially in a Noble-man as our States-man who was as serious a Student in Kings-Colledge and Trinity-Hall in Cambridge as a discerning observator in Rome and Florence in Italy His Dispensative against the supposed poyson of Prophesies dedicated to Sir Francis Walsingham bespeaks him a great and a general Scholar His Speeches at Cambridge and in Star-Chamber argue him both witty and wise His expences shewed him publick-spirited the unparallel'd port of his Family and dependants an Ancient Noble-man His designing of Audley-End and building of Suffolk-house an Architect His Hospital for twelve poor women and a Governour at Rise in Norfolk for twelve poor men and a Governour at Clin in Shropshire for twenty poor men and a Governour at Greenwich in Kent whereof eight to be chosen out of Shose-Sham where he was born a charitable man his using of all his interest to avoid the burthen weight of the Treasurer's place and procure it for the Earl of Suffolke his Nephew his noble disposition not to advance himself by Court-flattery or his fortune by State employment being a Batchellour and a Student An instance of my Lord Bacon's observation He that hath Wife and Children hath given Hostages to Fortune for they are Impediments to great Enterprizes either to Vertue or Mischief Certainly the best works and of greatest merit for the Publick proceed from the unmarried and the Childelesse which both in affection and means have married and endowed the Publick But to conclude this particular this Lord told his intimate Secretary Mr. George Penny who related it to my Author that his Nativity at his Fathers desire was calculated by a skilful Italian
factions and dependencies and again their opposites envyers and Competitors their moods and times their principles rules observations c. their actions how conducted how favoured how opposed c. is the onely way of successe in businesse and of prevailing in fortune especially if attended with this Gentleman 's two master-Qualities 1. Reservedness the security 2. Slowness of belief the sinew of wisdome Finding his temper agreeable with the University he allowed himself more scope and liberty but observing his particular constitution not suitable to the general state of his times the whole course of his life was more close retyred and reserved opening it self but with an half-light and a full advantage and what he was to others he believed all others were to him as hardly trusting them as he was understood himself unlesse surprized in his countenance by the motions of it or in his actions by the suddennesse of them or in his temper by his passion but as far as can be guessed from the Letters that passed between them about the Palatinate He was of the same make in the State as Arch-Bishop Abbot was in the Church zealous and sullen if others had a better wit than he in abusing him he had a better memory than they to think of it for one Mr. Wiemark a wealthy man a great Novilant and constant Paul's walker hearing the news that day of the beheading of Sir Walter Rawleigh His head said he would do well upon the shoulders of Sir Robert Naunton Secretary of State These words were complained of and Wiemark summoned to the Privy-Council where he pleaded for himself that he intended no disrespect to Mr. Secretary whose known worth was above all detraction onely he spake in reference to an old proverb Two heads are better than one and for the present he was dismissed Not long after when rich men were called on for a contribution to St. Pauls Wiemark at Council-Table subscribed a hundred pounds but Mr. Secretary told him Two hundred were better than one which betwixt fear and charity Wiemark was fain to subscribe Neither was he sooner up than he gave his Colleague and Successor in the Orators place Sir Francis Nethersole his hand to advance him too whom after his elegant Speech on Prince Henry we finde a prudent Agent with the Princes of the Union and a faithful Secretary to the Queen of Bohemia for whom he did much and suffered more Yet was he lately alive and as charitable in his elder yeares as ever he was noble in his younger Observations on the Life of Sir Arthur Ingram SIr Arthur had wit in Italy where he was a Factor and wealth in London where he was a Merchant to be first a Customer and then a Cofferer to that King who had this happinesse that he understood so much of all his affairs as to make a judgement of what persons might be most serviceable to him in each of them So pragmatical a person as this Gentleman was necessary among the Custome-house-men who were about to engrosse all the wealth of the Kingdome and as useful among the Green-cloath-men who shared amongst themselves vast Concealments The activity of his head had undone him had not the odium of it been allayed by the discretion of his tongue whatever he spake being naturally accompanied with such a kinde of modesty and affability as gained the affection and attracted the respect of all that conversed with him onely some wary men were jealous of that watchful and serene habit he had attained to in every conference and action as well to observe as to act though it was more than they needed he having not that good stay and hold of himself his much observing tempting him to much medling though never more need of it than at that time when ninety and odd thousand pounds were spent upon the Palsgrave to reimburse which money he set up the improvement of Coyn the Farthings the borrowing of money of the Customers and as many other Projects to get money as others had to spend it Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Yelverton THis Gentleman's relation to Sir Thomas Overbury brought him to the Earl of Somerset's service and my Lord of Somerset's service recommended him to the Kings favour whereby he was at first his Counsel learned and afterwards his Attorney-General in which last place his duty enjoyned him the impeachment of that Earl but his gratitude forbad him Loth he was to refuse his Masters command more loth to have a hand in his Patrons ruine his civility outweighed his prudence his obligations his safety for refusing to implead his Mr. as a great Delinquent at the Bar he was sent by the Council as a greater to the Tower where he continued until as some say the Duke of Buckingham came to him at mid-night and hearing from him such mysteries of State as nearly concerned his own safety not onely relea Observations on the Life of Bishop Mountague JAmes Mountague son to Sir Edward Mountague was born at Boughton in Northamptonshire bred in Christs-Colledge in Cambridge He was afterwards Master or rather nursing Father to Sidney-Colledge For he found it in bonds to pay twenty Marks per annum to Trinity-Colledge for the ground whereon it is built and left it free assigning it a rent for the discharge thereof When the Kings Ditch in Cambridge made to defend it by its strength did in his time offend it with its stench he expended a hundred Marks to bring running-water into it to the great conveniency of the University He was afterwards Bishop first of Bath and Wells then of Winchester being highly in favour with King James who did ken a man of merit as well as any Prince in Christendome He translated the Works of King James into Latine and improved his greatnesse to do good Offices therewith He dyed Anno Dom. 1618. Aetat 49. and lyeth buried within his fair Monument within his fairer 〈◊〉 mean a goodly Tomb in the Church of Bath which oweth its well-being and beauty to his Munificence King James cast his eye upon him at Hinchingbrook where the University of Cambridge met him as he came from Scotland because he observed him one of those he knew he must oblige I mean a Gentleman He set his heart upon him at Court because he found him one he intended to employ I mean a Scholar He was the onely man of all the Doctors he conversed with there and the onely man of all the Bishops he consulted with at White-Hall His nature inclined him to magnificence and his vertue to Thrift sparing from lesser vanities what he might expend upon greater enterprizes never sparing when just designs called for great charge Grateful he was to his followers though not prodigal Good men choose rather to be loved for their benefits to the Community than those to private persons His understanding was as large as his heart was honest comprehensive both of men and things even those things that were either
below or besides his care going not besides his observation He anticipated his age with his worth and died at fourscore in merit when not fifty in yeares filling his time not with dayes but with vertues so early as seemed rather innate than acquired For which he was so popular in the Countrey as well as favoured at Court that a corpulent Officer of Bath-Church being appointed on the day of his Burial to keep the doors entred on his employment in the morning but was buried himself before night and before the Bishop's body was put in the ground because being bruised to death by the pressing in of people his Corps requsred speedy interment In those days the Plebs concurred with with the King in their affections to because they submitted to him in their choice of persons for then wisdome was thought to dwell in the Head and good Folks thought their Soveraign wiser than themselves Observations on the Life of Sir Edm. Anderson SIr Edmund Anderson was born a younger brother of a Gentile Extract at Flixborough in Lincolnshire and bred in the inner Temple I have been informed that his Father left him a thousand pounds for his portion which this our Sir Edmund multiplyed into many by his great proficiency in the Common-Law being made the â—4th of Queen Elizabeth Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas When Secretary Davison was sentenced in the Star-Chamber for the businesse of the Queen of Scots Judge Anderson said of him that therein he had done justum non juste and so acquitting him of all malice censured him with the rest of his indiscretion When H. Cuffe was arraigned about the rising of the Earl of Essex and when Sir Edward Coke the Queens Solicitor opposed him and the other answered Syllogistically our Anderson sitting there as a Judge of Law not Logick checked both Pleader and Prisoner ob stolidos syllogismos for their foolish Syllogismes appointing the former to presse the Statute of Edward the third He died in the third of King James leaving great Estates to several sons He was a pure Legist that had little skill in the affairs of the world always alledging a decisive Case or Statute on any matter or question without any regard to the decency or respect to be had towards a State or Government and without that account of a moderate interpretation some circumstances of things require being so much the lesse useful as he was incompliant and one whom none addressed to because as one observes of Cardinal Corrado Such think they do in some manner sacrifice themselves when they do but in the least act against their own opinions to do a man a little pleasure There are a kinde of honest men of good conscience whose capacities being narrow entertain private resolutions inconsistent with publick interest who may for me passe for good men but shall never be censed or registred for good Citizens because when streight â—aced and short apprehensions are resolved into conscience and maximes those men are obliged to be so obstinate as to change or remit nothing of their first resolutions how unreasonable soever in themselves or dangerous in the consequence Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Bodley by himself 1. I Was born at Exeter in Devonshire March 2. 1544. descended both by Father and Mother of worshipful Parents My Father in the time of Queen Mary being noted and known to be an enemy to Popery was so cruelly threatned and so narrowly observed by those that maliced his Religion that for the safeguard of himself and my Mother who was wholly affected as my Father he knew no way so secure as to flye into Germany 2. My Father fixed his abode in the City of Geneva where as far as I remember the English Church consisted of some hundred persons I was at that time of twelve years of age but through my Fathers cost and care sufficiently instructed to become an Auditor of Chevallerius in Hebrew of Beroaldus in Greek of Calvin and Beza in Divinity and of some other Professors in that University which was newly then erected besides my domestick Teachers in the house of Philibertus Saracenus a famous Physitian in that City with whom I was boarded where Robertus Constantinus that made the Greek Lexicon read Homer to me 3. In the first of Queen Elizabeth my Father returned and setled his dwelling in the City of London It was not long after that I was sent away from thence to the University of Oxford recommended to the teaching and tuition of Doctor Humphrey In the year 1563 I took the degree of Batchellor of Arts within which year I was chosen Probationer of Merton Colledge and the next year ensuing admitted Fellow Afterwards in the year 1565 by special perswasion of some of my Fellows and for my private exercise I undertook the publick reading of a Greek Lecture in the same Colledge-Hall without requiring or expecting any stipend for it Neverthelesse it pleased the Fellowship of their own accord to allow me soon after four marks by the year and ever since to continue the Lecture to that Colledge 4. In the year 1566 I proceeded Master of Arts and read for that year in the School-streets natural Philosophy After which time within lesse than three years space I was won by intreaty of my best affected friends to stand for the Proctorship to which I and my Colleague were quietly elected in the year 1569 without any competition or counter-suit of any other After this for a long time I supplied the Office of University-Oratour and bestowed my time in the study of sundry faculties without any inclination to professe any one above the rest insomuch as at last I waxed desirous to travel beyond the Seas for attaining to the knowledg of some special modern Tongues and for the encrease of my experience in the managing of affairs being wholly then addicted to employ my self and all my cares in the publick service of the State 5. After my return in the year 1585 I was employed by the Queen to the King of Denmark and to the German Princes Next to Henry the third King of France After this in 88 for the better conduct of her Highnesse Affairs in the Provinces United I was thought a fit person to reside in those parts and was sent thereupon to the Hague in Holland where according to the Contract that had formerly pass'd between her Highnesse and the States I was admitted for one of their Council of Estate taking place in their Assemblies next to Count Maurice and yielding my suffâ—age in all that was proposed During all that time what approbation was given of my painful endeavours by the Queen by the Lords in England by the States of the Countrey there and by all the English Soldiery I refer it to be notified by some others Relation 6. I received from her Majesty many comfortable Letters of her gracious acceptance of my diligence and care and among the Lords of the Council had no man more
should be weighed in those Scales with whom all men concur that know themselves And this was the first evidence of his parts and the occasion of his reputation Three Grasiers at a Faiâ— had left their money with their Hostess while they went to Market one of them calls for the money and runsaway the other two come upon the woman and sue her for delivering that which she had received from the three before the three came and demanded it The Cause went against the Woman and Judgement was ready to be pronounced when Mr. Noy being a stranger wisheth her to give him a Fee because he could not plead else and then moves in Arrest of Judgement that he was retained by the Defendant aâ—d that the case was this The Defendant had received the money of the three together and confesâ—eth was not to deliver it untill the same three demanded it and therefore the money is ready Let the three men come and it shall be paid a motion which altered the whole proceeding Of which when I hear some say it was obvious I remember that when Columbus had discovered America every one said it was easie And he one day told a company at Table where he was that he could do a stranger thing than that discovery he would make an Egge stand an end on a plain Table the speculatives were at a losse how it should be done he knocks the Egg upon the end and it stands Oh! was that all they cryed Yes saith he this is all and you see how hard a thing it is to conceive a thing in the Idea which it 's nothing to apprehend in the performance I need say no more of this Gentleman but that Sergeant Maynard will say to this hour he rose mainly at first by being looked upon as Mr. Noy's Favourite Observations on the Life of Sir John Savil. THe methods of this Gentleman's advancement exactly parallel those of his Countrey-man Sir Thomas Wentworth Both had the same foundation of wealth and honour to build on both had solid and strong parts to act by both began with Popularity in the Countrey proceeded with activity in Parliaments accomplished themselves with correspondence all over the Nation both eminent upon the Bench both hospitable at home both bountiful to Lecturers both well skilled in and stedfast to the great poynts of Prerogative and Liberty For the last whereof they were so bold as sure either by carrying the Cause to oblige the People to themselves or by suffering for it to enrage them against the Government that Sir R. Weston made it his business to take off the one and my Lord of Canterbury the other which they did with such successe that as my Lord Wentworth became a great Favourite so the Lord Savile was an eminent Counsellor onely finding that his young Neighbor had got the start of him he kept to one of his popular Principles always viz. a restless impetuosity towards Papists against whom he made himself famous 1. For a Disputation procured by him in Drury-Lane whither he brought Bishop Vsher under the notion of a Countrey-Parson when the Jesuites cryed There was more Learning in that Parson than in all the men in England 2. For a project offered by him in Parliament For when they taking advantage of King Charles his wants proffered to maintain five thousand men to serve his Majesty in Ireland and a proportion of Ships to secure him in England on condition of the free exercise of their Religion Sir John interposed That if the King were pleased but to call on the Recusants to pay Thirds legally due to the Crown it would prove a way more effectual and lesse offensive to raise a masse of money It being but just that they who were so rich and free to purchase new Priviledges should first pay their old Penalties When I read of a Lord Savile going privately to Scotland 16â—9 subscribing to a Petition with other moderate Lords as they called them containing the very sense of the faction insomuch that it is observed the City-Petition and theirs were couched in the same words yet going to Oxford and after all being so turbulent there that his Majesty was feign to send him beyond Sea where his Majesty writes with his own hand He doubts be will rather exchange his villany than end it I am almost of that wise mans minde that there were no lesse then 17 particular Designs set on foot by the promotion of the late Troubles whereof though most yet not all were carried on in Westminster or to enforce something more solid that a King should say as the Italian doth If my Subject deceives me once God forgive him If a second time God forgive me and the rather because it 's fatal for Majestie to erre twice Oservations on the Life of the Lord Bishop Williams A Strong constitution made his parts a strict education improved them unwearied was his industry unexpressible his capacity He never saw the book of worth he read not he never forgot what he read he never lost the use of what he remembred Every thing he heard or saw was his own and what was his own he knew how to use to the utmost His extraction being Gentile his Soul large and noble his presence and carriage comely and stately his learning copious his judgement stayed his apprehension clear and searching his expression lively and effectual his elocution flowing and majestick his Proctorship 1612. discovered him a person above his place and his Lectures to his Pupils above his preferment Bishop Vaughan first admitteth him to his Family and then to his bosome there his strong Sermons his exact government under my Lord his plentiful observation his numerous acquaintance made him my Lord Chancellor Egerton's friend rather than his servant his familiar rather then his Chaplain Never was there a more communicative Master to instruct than my Lord Elsemere never a more capable Scholar to learn than Doctor Williams who had instilled to him all necessary State-maximes while his old Master lived and had bequeathed to him four excellent Books when his Master was dead These four books he presented to King James the very same time that he offered himself to the Duke of Buckingham The Excellent Prince observed him as much for the first gift as the noble Duke did for the second the King and Duke made him their own who they saw had made that excellent Book his Willing was King James to advance Clergy-men and glad to meet with men capable of Advancement His two Sermons at Court made him Dean of Westminster his exact state of the Earl of Somerset's Case made him capable of and the KING'S inclination to trust his Conscience in a Divines hand fetled him in the Lord Keepers place actually onely for three yeares to please the people who were offended with his years now but 34. and his calling a Divine but designedly for ever to serve his Majesty The Lawyers despised him at first but the
so gravely did he manage it so solemnly did he perform it His orders were seldome reversed because mostly including the consent of Parties Few Attorney-Generals came off with lesse censure and few Lord Keepers with lesse guilt his Predecessors miscarriages being foils to set off his exactnesse Eminent as in most other Ca 〈…〉 s so particularly in that of Pryn Bastwicke and Burton against whom when after six weeks time given them to put in an effectual Answer they urged that their Adversaries the Bishops should not be their Judges He replyed smartly That by that Plea had they Libelled all the Magistrates in the Land none should passe Censure upon them because all were made parties He had fifteen years enjoyed his Place not more proper to say that Dignity had enjoyed him so long this latter age affording not one every way of more apt Qualifications for the place His front and presence bespake a venerable regard not interiour to any of his Antecessors His train and suit of Followers was disposed agreeable to shun both Envy and Contempt Vain and ambitious he was â—ot his port was state though others ostentation Of what concerned his place he knew enough and which is the main acted conformable to his knowledge For in the Administration of Justice he was so erect so incorrupt as captious malice stands mute in the blemish of his Fame A miracle the greater when we consider he was also a Privy-Councellor A trust wherein he served his Master the King most faithfully and the more faithfully because of all those Councels which did disserve his Majesty he was an earnest disswader and did much disaffect those sticklers who laboured to make the Prerogative rather tall than great 〈◊〉 knowing that such men loved the King better the Charles Stuart So that although he was a Courtier and had had for his Master a Passion most in tense yet had he always a passion reserved for the publick welfare an argument of a free noble and right-principled minde For what both Court and Country have always held as inconsistent is 〈◊〉 truth erroneous And no man can be truly loyal who is not also a good Patriot nor any a good Patriot which is not truly loyal Observations on the Life of the Earl of Strafford SIr Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford owned his birth to the best-govern'd City London his breeding to the best-modelled School York and a most exact Colledge St. John in Cambridge his accomplishments to the best Tutors Travail and Experience and his prudence to the best School a Parliament whither he cam in the most active and knowing times with 〈◊〉 strong brain and a large heart his activity waâ— eminent in his Country and his interest strong in Parliament where he observed much and pertinently spake little but home contrived effectually but closely carried his Defigns successfully but reservedly He apprehended the publick temper as clearly and managed it to his purposes as orderly as any man He spoke least but last of all with the advantage of a clear view of others reasons and the addition of his own He and his leading Confidents moulded that in a private Conference which was to be managed in a publick Assembly He made himself so considerable a Patriot that he was bought over to be a Courtier So great his Abilities that he awed a Monarchy when dis-obliged and supported it when engaged the balance turning thither where this Lord stood The North was reduced by his prudence and Ireland by his interest He did more there in two years than was done in two hundred before 1. Extinguishing the very reliques of the War 2. Setting up a standing Army 3. Modelling the Revenue 4. Removing the very roots and occasions of new troubles 5. Planting and building 6. Setling Ecclesiastical and Civil Courts 7. Recovering the hearts of the people by able Pastors and Bishops by prudent and sober Magistrates by justice and protection by obligations and rewards 8. Recovering the Churches patrimony and discipline 9. Employing most able and faithful Ministers and Instruments 10. Taking an exact view of all former Precedents Rules and Proceedings 11. An exact correspondence with his Majesty and the Favourites of England None was more conversant in the Factions Intrigues and Designs than he when a Common-wealths-man none abler to meet with them than he when a States-man he understood their methods kenned their wiles observed their designs looked into their combinations comprehended their interest And as King Charles understood best of any Monarch under heaven what he could do in point of Conscience so his Strafford apprehended best of any Counsellor under the Sun what he could do in point of power He and my Lord of Canterbury having the most particular account of the state of Great-Britain and Ireland of any persons living Nature is often hidden sometimes overcome seldome extinguished yet Doctrine and Discourse had much allayed the severity of this Earl's nature and Custome more None more austere to see to none more obliging to speak with He observed pauses in his discourse to attend the motion and draw out the humour of other men at once commanding his own thoughts and watching others His passion was rather the vigour than the disorder of his well-weighed soul which could dispense its anger with as much prudence as it managed any act of State He gave his Majesty safe counsel in the prosperity of his Affairs and resolute advice in Extreamity as a true servant of his interest rather than of his power So eminent was he and my Lord of Canterbury that Rebellion despaired of successe as long as the first lived and Schisme of licentiousnesse as long as the second stood Take my Lord of Strafford as accused and you will finde his Integrity and Ability that he managed his whole Government either by the Law or the Interest of his Countrey Take him as dying and you will see his parts and piety his resolution for himself his self-resignation for the Kingdoms good his devotion for the Church whose patrimony he forbade his son upon his blessing Take him as dead you will finde him glorious and renowned in these three characters The first of the best King I looked upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose great Abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to employ him in the greatest Affairs of State for those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings and this was like enough to hetray him to great Errors and many Enemies whereof he could not but contract great store while moving in so high a sphere and with so vigorous a lustre he must needs as the Sun raise many envious exbalations which condensed by a popular Odium were capable to cast a cloud upon the brightest merit and integrity though I cannot in my judgement approve all he did driven it may be by the necessities of Times and the temper of that People more than led by his own disposition to any beighth
Princes and with the l 〈…〉 Statesmen the one discovers others while the other conceals you 5. Resolution I made often said he as if I would fight when they knew my calling allowe me onely to speak 6. Civility That man said the Prince of Orange is a great bargain who is bought with a bare salutation Fourthly To Privy-Counsellours That excellent caution Always to speak last and be Masters 〈◊〉 others strength before they displayed their own This was that rare man that was made for all but siness so dexterous This was he that was made for all times so complying This was he who live Doctor of both Laws and died Doctor of both Gospels the Protestant which had the Statesmans parts of this man and the Popish who had the Christiat Noah had two faces because he was a son of the old world before the flood and a father of the ne 〈…〉 one after Wotton sure had four faiths who was Favourite in King Henry's days of the Counsel is King Edward's of the Juncto in Queen Mary's and the second Statesman in Queen Elizabeth's With these two things of this person I shall conclude 1. His refusal of the Archbishoprick of Canterbury which argued his extraordinary humility of wariness 2. His admission of Doctor Parker as Dean of Canterbury to that See which argueth the legality of his calling there being no circumstance with any likelihood omitted by so exquisite a Civilian as Doctor Wotton or forgotten by so great an Antiquary as Doctor Parker Observations on the Life of Thomas Wriothesly the first Earl of Southampton THomas Wriothesly Knight of the Garter was born in Barbican Son to William Wriothesly descended from an Heir general of the antient Family of the Dunsterviles King of Arms. He was bred in the University of Cambridge as it appears by Mr. Ascam's Letter unto him writing in the behalf of the University when he was Lord Chancellour Quamobrem Academia cum omni literarum ratione ad te unum conversa cui uni quam universis aliis â—se chariorem intelligit partim tibi ut alumno suo cum authoritate imperat partim ut patrono summo demisse bumiliter supplicat c. His University-Learning prepared him for the Law and his indefatigable study of the Law promoted him to the Court where for his Honour he was created Baron of Tichbourn Jan. 1. 1543. and for his Profit the next year May 3. Lord Chancellour a place he discharged with more Applause then any before him and with as much Integrity as any since him Force he said awed bâ— Justice governed the world It is given to that Family to be Generous are Resolute This incomparable Person was under cloud in King Edward's time for being a rigidly conscientious Papist and his great Granchild suffered in King Charles his time for being a sincere honest Protestant Yet so reverenced was the first of this Family by his Adversaries that he was made Earl of Southampton and so honoured was the other by his Enemies that they courted him to the party Integrity hath a Majesty in its full and Glory in its lowest Estate that is always feared though not always loved No Nobleman understood the Roman Religion better then the first Earl of Southampton and non the Protestant better then the last the Right Honourable and truly Excellent Thomas Earl of Southampton and Treasurer of England His Court he said gave Law to the Kingdom His constant and exact Rules to the Court and hâ— Conscience guided by the Law of the Kingdom 〈◊〉 his Rules Affable and acceptable he was as More quick and ready as Wolsey incorrupt as Egerton apprehensive and knowing as Bacon Twice were all Cases depending in Chancery dispatched in Sir Wriothesley's time 1538. and in Sir More 's 1532. Truly did he judge intra Cancellos deciding Cases with that Uprightness that he wished a Window to his Actions yea and his Heart too King Philip was not at leasure to hear a poor Womans Cause Then said she cease to be King My Lord over-hearing a servant putting off a Petitioner because his Master was not at leasure takes him up roundly and replies You had as good say I am not at leasure to be Lord Chancellour Two things he would not have his servants gain by his Livings and his Decrees The first he said were Gods the second the Kings whom every man he said sold that sold Justice To honest men your places said he are enough to Knaves too much Every Week he had a Schedule of his own Accounts and every Month of his Servants Cato's greatest Treasure was his Account-Book of Sicily and my Lord of Southampton's was his Table of the Chancellours place A great Estate was conferred upon him which he took not in his own name to avoid the odium of Sacriledge as great an Inheritance he bought but in others names to escape the malice of Envy He loved a Bishop he said to satisfie his conscience a Lawyer to guide his Judgement a good Family to keep up his Interest and an University to preserve his name Full of Years and Worth he died 1550. at Lincoln-place and was buried at St. Andrews Church in Holborn where his Posterity have a Diocess for their Parish and a Court for their Habitation Observations on the Life of Sir John Fitz-James JOhn Fitz-James Knight was born at Redlinch 〈◊〉 Somersetshire of Right Antient and Wort 〈…〉 Parentage bred in the study of our Municip 〈…〉 Laws wherein he proved so great a Proficie 〈…〉 that by King Henry the Eighth he was advanced 〈◊〉 be Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. There needs 〈◊〉 more to be said of his Merit save that King He 〈…〉 the Eighth preferred him who never used eith 〈…〉 Dunce or Drone in Church or State but Men 〈◊〉 Ability and Activity He sat thirteen years in 〈◊〉 place demeaning himself so that he lived and di 〈…〉 in the Kings Favour He sat one of the Assista 〈…〉 when Sir Thomas More was arraigned for refu 〈…〉 the Oath of Supremacy and was shrewdly put 〈◊〉 it to save his own Conscience and not incur 〈◊〉 Kings Displeasure For Chancellour Audley 〈◊〉 preme Judge in that place being loth that 〈◊〉 whole burthen of More 's condemnation sho 〈…〉 lie on his shoulders alone openly in the Court a 〈…〉 ed the Advice of the Lord Chief Justice Fi 〈…〉 James Whether the Indictment were sufficient 〈◊〉 no To whom our Judge warily returned 〈…〉 Lords all by St. Gillian which was ever his Oat 〈…〉 I must needs confess That if the Act of Parliam 〈…〉 be not unlawful then the Indictment is not in my co 〈…〉 science insufficient He died in the Thirtieth Year of King Henry the Eighth and although now there be none left 〈◊〉 Redlinch of his Name and Family they flourish still at Lewson in Dorsetshire descended from Allured Fitz-James brother to this Judge and to Richard Bishop of London The two main Principles that guide
its Men. He liv'd and di'd in Arms Bulioign saw him first a Souldier and Bulloign saw him last the best Camp-Master in all Christendom always observing three things 1. The Situation of his Camp to secure his Army 2. The Accommodation of it to supply it 3. His Retreat to draw off the Avenues to be guarded with Souldiers and strengthened with Redoubts which he made Triangular that more men might engage the Enemy at once during erection whereof the Army was pallisado'd in the Front with stakes headed with iron on both Ends five foot long and stuck slope-wise into the ground to keep off both Horse and Foot the Foot-Sentinels were without the Redoubts the Horse-Guards beyond them at distance enough to descry the Enemy and not too much to retire to their works A serious and plodding brow bespoke this Noble Knights deep Prudence and a smart look his resolved Valour Observations on the Life of Sir Charles Somerset SIr Charles Somerset afterward Lord Herbert of Gower c. endeared himself to King Henry as much for his Maxime That Reason of State was Reason of Law as for his Advice That the King should never stick at Law in case of Publique God and yet that all his Acts for publique Good should come as near as possible to the Law So Popular was this Gentleman that he received all the Petitions against Empson and Dudley yet so loyal that he advised his Master neither to spare those Leeches lest any should presume to alienat◠his Peoples affections from him by Extortions for the future nor yet too severely to punish them left any should be discouraged to serve the Crow◠for the present for indeed Empson and Dud 〈…〉 suffered for that which others were advanced for◠the Parliament punished them for putting their Laws in execution and the King deserted them for improving his Exchequer to a Treasury Two things this Lord advised his Master to before he put the Crown upon his head 1. To redress the Peoples Grievances under his Father 2. To marry not in France where he had a Title A Kingdom so near us that by reason of mutual jealousies we may have peace with it sometimes but Friendship never In the Houshold he was Lord Chamberlain so discreet his Carriage In the French Expedition Anno 1513. he was General so noble his Conduct His Assistants were the Earls of Northumberland Shrewsbury Kent and Wiltshire his Followers the Lord Audley De la Ware Carew and Curson c. Therouene he besiegeth in good Order and with Welsey's advice who had lived long in that Town understands all the Avenues of it and with Sir Oughtred Sir Henry Guilford Sir Edward Poynings Sir Charles Branden and Sir Baynam's assistance sprung several Mines repulsed the French Relief and the City-Assailants so that the Town was yeilded August 22. 1513. and upon Maximilian's Intreaty razed as he did Tournay September 22. Herbert was for razing this place as farther from us than Therouene but Wolsey for the Bishopricks sake is for the garisoning of it as a Trophy The King recollecting his former occasions Febr. 3. 1514. thought he could not do a more just or a more prudent Act then recompence his Noble Servants but the cheapest way I mean that of Honour as he did old Somerset with the Earldom of Worcester With this Honour at home is joyned another abroad viz. That of Embassie to Maximilian where he reached that Germans depths and clearly demonstrated that those fond and impossible Offers of the Empire were but Artifices rather then Kindnesses to drain the Kings Treasure rather than enlarge his Dominions Advising him to raise a Citadel at Tournay and an Army in Normandy He finished the Espousals between the Princess Mary and the Dolphin and delivered Tournay by the same token that he would not let the Mareschal de Chastilion to enter with Banner displayed but rolled up it being as he said who when Lord Herbert was at the taking of it voluntarily yeilded up and not gotten by Conquest and then bestowed himself with Sir Richard Wingfield for the great enterview between King Francis and King Henry an interview I know not whether more solemn or more dangerous Kings cannot meet without great state and they seldom part without much envy who never are further asunder then when they meet His most eminent Action here was the Device of that Motto Cui adhaereo praeest a Motto that speaks the Honour of England and the Interest of Europe Observations on the Life of Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset THe Kings Wars called for Souldiers and his Peace for Statesmen and here is a Person ex utroque magnus When the whole design for the Invasion of France was ripened this Marquess is made General and attended by the Lord Thomas Howard the Lords Brook Willoughby and Ferrers with divers Knights Gentlemen and others to the number of ten thousand men armed not onely with Bows but Halberts He distresseth Navar to a submission to his Master forceth his way to Bayon and with Sir John Styles assistance kept up the English Honour above that of France and the Empire keeping close to his Commission and not stirring a foot without express Orders from Ireland although his presence countenanced some actions his hands could not perform Three things he was very careful of 1. Of Good pay lest his Souldiers mutined 2. Of Good Diet and Quarters lest they failed 3. Of Order Discipline and Temperance especially in strange Climates lest they should be distempered Two things he was unsuccessful for 1. The narrowness of his Commission 2. The reach of Ferdinand who designed the conquest of Navar rather than of France Yet what reputation he lost by Land Sir Edward Howard gained by Sea commanding the French ships to their Harbours over-running Britaign and with Sir Tho. Knevet the Master of the Horse Sir Jo. Carew and Sir Guilford's assistance gave Law in the Mediterranean until he awed the Neighbour-Princes to terms as honourable for his Master as dishonourable for themselves now we finde him valiant in earnest at Sea anon so in jest at Court at the solemn Justs proclaimed by Francis de Valois Duke of Angoulesm in France his Nature being not stinted but equally free to debonair and serious Enterprizes of Pleasure or of Honour where six Germans were at his mercy and four Frenchmen at his feet His spirit equalled those active times and his temper his spirit Three things set him up 1. His large expences for shew at Court 2. His strength and manhood at Justs 3. His skill and experience in the Field He was the best for embatteling an Army in those times observing 1. The number strength and experience of his Camp 2. The nature and extent of the place whether champaign or inclosed hilly or plain wooddy or moorish straight or large that he might accordingly dispose of distances and stands 3. Inclosures he aimed at for his Foot and Champaign for his Horse together with the advantages of
overwritten thus OIA VANITAS in great Golden Letters Sir Anthony Cooke and not his Son Cecil offering to read it desired to know of the Gentleman what he meant by OIA who told him it stood for Oâ—nia Sir Anthony replyed Sir I wonder having made your Omnia so little as you have you notwithstanding make your Vanitas so large King Edw 〈…〉 would say of his Tutors That Rodolph the Germ 〈…〉 spake honestly Sir John Cheeke talked merrily D 〈…〉 Coxe solidly and Sir Anthony Cooke weighingly A faculty that was derived with his blood to his Grandchilde Bacon which informs the world of this great truth That Education doth much towards Parts Industry more Converse Encouragement and Exercise more yet but a sound temper and nature an wholsome blood and spirit derived from healthful and well-constitutioned Parents doth all Observations on the Life of Sir David Brooke DAvid Brooke Knight born at Glassenbury Son to John Brooke Esq who was Sergeant at Law to King Henry the Eighth Our David was also bred in the Study of our Laws and in the first of Queen Mary was made chief Baron of the Exchequer but whether dying in or quitting the place in the first of Queen Elizabeth I am not informed He married Katharine Daughter of John Lord Chandois but died without issue A Lawyer and a Lawyers son yet one whose Zeal for the Religion of that time advanced rather then his Law to serve rather his Princes interest then his Court that being the happy shall I say or unhappy time when the Soveraign and the State did often consult with Judges and the Judges more often consult with the Soveraign and State Yet although a particular respect raised a general fair carriage kept him up He observed not onely things but times not onely times but persons therefore when old Poenal Laws came before him he confined them in the execution that that which was made for terrour should not be for rigour and the Instrument of Government should not be the snare of the People When Informers of that Court were too busie he checked them when violent prosecution cunning advantages combinations power or great counsel balanced an honest cause he set all things even His invention was good to improve his Mistresses Revenue his conscience was as tender to diminish it Q. Mary w 〈…〉 ready of her own inclination but readier upon S 〈…〉 David Brookes motion to part with the Church Profits Patient and grave he was in hearing sparing and weighty in speaking None would direct an Evidence more orderly none moderated the length or impertinency of Pleaders more discreetly None would recapitulate select collate the material points of what had been said more exactly none gave judgement more satisfactorily always commending a good Lawyer that miscarried a good way to uphold in the Client the reputation of his counsel and beat down in him the conceit of his cause He died with some projects in his breast for the Revenue and some for the Law whereof one was a composition for the Purveyances and another a regulation of the Wards both at that time thought till regulated as unprofitable for the Crown as they seemed to be burthensome to the subject He had a close way of discovering Concealments as he had a severe one of punishing frauds His word was One Law executed is worth twenty made None more austere in case of others wrong none more mild in that of his own and he would say What is done is done Weak men concern themselves in what is past while the wise take care of what is present and to come If a man wrongeth me once God forgive him saith the Italian if he wrongeth me the second time God forgive me Others may be even with their enemies in revenge he would be above them in forgiveness An enemy I say though otherwise to a perfidious and an unworthy friend he was much of Cosmus Duke of Florence his temper who said You shall read that we are commanded to forgive our â—nemies but you never read that we are commanded 〈…〉 o forgive our friends Many have inveighed against Usury none have done more against it then this Knight who if he â—ad lived was resolved to reduce it to these Rules 1. That it should be declared unlawful 2. Being declared so if any practised it as men must do or Traffick will fall that there should be a penalty upon the Usurer which might amount to an Excise or Custome that would arise from that money if employed in merchandize 3. That yet if any exacted above five in the hundred they should loose the Principal A rate that on the one hand would keep up the necessary Commerce of Lending and Borrowing among the Old â—nd the Idle and yet direct men to that more ne 〈…〉 ssary of buying and improving Land and other Commodities that are more industrious and ingeâ—ious 4. That none yet presume this but in some principal places of Merchandizing for then as my Lord Bacon hath projected it they will hardly be able to colour other mens moneys in the Country for no man will lend his money far off or put it into unknown hands Or Lastly That there be no money lent out upon terms but to the State which may make its advantage of it Indeed considering on the one hand that Usury decayeth the Kings Custome bringeth money to few hands damps Industry and Invention beats down the price of the Land and by eating up private Estates breeds a publick Poverty It were to be wished it were forbidden And on the other That Borrowers trade most that No Usury no young Merchants that Without Usury men must sell their Estates at under-Rates more sad then Usury that No borrowing no living no Usury no borrowing It were wished it were regulated so that the inconveniences of it were avoided and the advantages retained and Extortion be checked as Traffick is encouraged Thus he that hath no private care advanceth the publick Good and the childeless man is most thoughtful for Posterity Certainly the best Works and of greatest Merit for the Publique have proceeded from the unmarried or the childless man who both in Affection and Means have married and endowed the Publique He that hath Wife and Children hath given Hostages to Fortune For they are Impediments either to Vertue or Mischief A fat man in Rome riding always upon a very lean Horse being asked the Reason thereof answered That he fed himself but he trusted others to feed his Horse Our Judge being asked what was the best way to thrive said Never do any thing by another that you can do by your self Observations on the Life of Doctor Thomas Wilson THomas Wilson born in Lincolnshire was Doctor of Laws bred Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards was Tutor in the same University to Henry and Charles Brandon successively Dukes of Suffâ—lk Under Queen Elizabeth he was made Master of the Hospital of St. Katharine's nigh the Tower of London At last
promoted the three main Supporters of this Nation 1. It s Native Commodities 2. It s Artificial Manufactures 3. It s Vecture and Carriage and so died with that content and resolution that they do who are overtaken by Fate in the pursuit of great Actions and publick Designes Observations on the Life of Sir John Portman JOhn Portman Knight was born of wealthy and worshipful Extraction at Portman's Orchard in Somersetshire a fair Mannor which descended to him by inheritance the Heir of the Orchard being match'd into his Family He was bred in the study of the Common Law attaining to such eminency therein that June 11. 2 of Queen Mary he was made Chief Justice of the Kings Bench continuing two years in the place and dying therein for ought I finde to the contrary and a Baronet of his Name and Linage flourisheth at this day with a great and plentiful Estate No doubt but he died in his place there being none of those things that carry disgrace and downfal with them incident to him For the first thing that ruines a Courtier is a boasting of his own service and then our Knight none more modest The second is an undutiful observation of our Princes actions and none more faithful and meek The third is the revealing or abusing of secrets and none more reserved and civil The fourth thing is either provoking the Nobility against himself or dividing them among themselves he was too wise for the one his designe being rather alliance then quarrel to adde interest to his Estate and honour to his Riches and too quiet for the other Many have an Opinion not wise saith that Oracle that for a Prince to govern his Estate or for a great Person to guide his Proceedings according to the respect of factions is a principal part of policy whereas contrarywise the chiefest wisdome is either in ordering those things that are general and wherein men of several factions do nevertheless agree or in dealing with or correspondence to particular persons one by one Mean men in their rising must adhere but Great men that have strength in themselves were better to maintain themselves indifferent and neutral The fifth particular that pulleth down a man is a misunderstanding of his own interest or the Princes Our Judge understood both being equally made up of Craterus and Haephestion faithfulness and compliance The sixth is the hatred of the many whom this persons integrity always obliged there being no herd more feral then an enraged multitude or the envy of the great whom his wariness disobliged not it being more fatal to incense a Favourite who would be above all affronts by his greatness then a Prince who is so by Law The seventh misfortune is to be too much concerned in the secrets of Princes wherewith Sir William never meddled without assistants never acted without a Warrant The eighth is unsuccessful Counsel and our Knight went the safe and middle way neither to be feared nor envied which he was always present to second prosecute or correct as he saw most cause His sharp and sound judgement to distinguish Persons Affairs and other Circumstances and accordingly how to order the manner of his Proceedings was much his well-weighed and wary though quick apprehension and experience from Men and Books more his particular memory and its minute observation for his conduct and business most of all His care of vain and idle Prepossessions balanced his soul his temper managed it his love was choice and cautious his hope moderate and knowing his confidence slow but certain his desires and joys allayed and checked or quickened by the edge of his anger or the caution of his fear and all sedate with his foresight Nature did this person some wrong in his Body but made him amends in his Soul the fails of the One are foils to set off the Other the first comes off with more Glory by the pully and defect of the second Besides that the unkindness of Nature puts men often upon being eminent in Art that the happiness of this may divert men from observing the unhappiness of that But of all the Vertues his constant and growing Soul raised him to this was one That he durst not entertain a Gift which as he said conquers both the foolish and the wise which in publick places it is a Vice to accept and not a Vertue to offer It being a snare rather then a favour His next was Diligence Neglect wastes a man as insensibly as Industry improves him We need no more but sit still and Diseases will arise onely for want of exercise Man 's a Watch that must be looked to and wound up every day the least incuriousness steals to improficiency or offence which degreeingly weighs us down to extremity Diligence alone is a fair Fortune and Industry a good Estate There are five mens Activities that raise to Estates 1. The Divine to a small but an honest one 2. The Physitian to a competency but uncertain 3. The Courtier to a great one and an honourable 4. The Citizen to a large one but not lasting And 5. The Lawyer to one large and firm too Seldome doth his Family fail who is sure to tye his Estate to his Childe by an Entayl and his Childe to his Estate by an Education and an Employment When we observe the several alterations in Gentry we finde four principal Actors on the Theatres of great Families the Beginner the Advancer the Continuer and the Ruiner 1. The Beginner who by his Vertues refineth himself from the dross of the Vulgar and layeth the foundation of his house 2. The Advancer who improveth it 3. The Continuer who conveyeth it to his Posterity as he received it from his Ancestors 4. The Ruiner that degenerates from his Fathers Our Judge began not but advanced that excellent Family whose original I cannot finde so ancient it is and whose end I hope none will see it is so noble Observations on the Life of William Howard WIlliam Howard son to Thomas Howard second of that Surname Duke of Norfolk was by Queen Mary created Baron of Effingham in Surrey and by her made Lord Admiral of England which place he discharged with credit He was one of the first Favourers and Furtherers with his Purse and Countenance of the strange and wonderful discovery of Russia He died anno Donâ— 1554. This Noble Person had his plainness from his Father his ingenuity from his Mother his experience by Travel and Navigation his Blood endeared him to his Soveraign and his Abilities advanced him to her service He promised no less to his Mistress then his Father and Uncle had performed to her Father The Ancestors merit is security for Posterities who will hardly forfeit that favour with one act of their own unworthiness that was gained by so many of their Predecessors service Like a well-drawn picture this Lord had his eye on all round on his Queen to be faithful on his Country to be publick-spirited on
by his Advancement 2. That he never mistrusted an Oath 3. That he never considered that as Princes so Favourites have many eyes and long hands He that is so open as to reserve nothing from friends is renowned for Charity but he that is so to lie at the mercy of all is marked for ruine No sooner understood my Lord of Leicester Essex his Disposition but the bitter Fool Pace could tell his Fortune begging of my Lord at his departure the making of his Mourning and adding You and I have done for this world Walter Earl of Essex had been happy if he had not lived in my Lord of Leicester's time his son Robert renowned had he not been Sir Robert Cecil's Contemporary and his Grandchilde an Heroe had he not known my Lord Say and Mr. Hampden Observations on the Life of the Earl of Sussex THomas Radcliff Earl of Sussex was of a very Noble and Ancient Lineage honoured through many Descents by the Title of Viscounts Fitz-Walters He was a goodly Gentleman and of a brave noble Nature true and constant to his friends and servants noted for honesty a very excellent Souldier being one of the Queens Martialists who did very good service in Ireland at her first accession till she recalled him to the Court where she made him Lord Chamberlain and though he was not endowed with the cunningness and dexterity as others were yet upon his Death-bed he gave his friends a caveat whom they should beware His words saith Sir Robert Naunton are these I am now passing into another World and must leave you to your Fortunes and to the Queens Graces but beware of the Gypsie for he will be too hard for you all you know not the beast so well as I do His Prowess and Integrity drew the Souldiers after him Leicester's Courtship and Cunning the Courtiers Cecil's Prudence and Service the States-men He succeeded his Father in his Fortune and in his Favour his Prudence and Resolution promoting him to the Government of Ireland and the North his good husbandry and skill in Surveying making him Justice in Eyre of all the Parks beyond Trent and his comely Presence advancing him Lord Chamberlain Queen Elizabeth poyzed her State by Factions abroad and Parties at home her chiefest wisdome lying in her general correspondence and complyance with each Party as her Interest lay in their incomplyance and distance from one another My Lord of Sussex left this Memorial behind him That for Rising Men to stick to a side is necessary For Great Men to be indifferent is wise and this That he and my Lord of Leicester cleared and purged the Court their cross Observations refining each person that was admitted to Court none daring any injustice while Leicester observed him on the one hand and Sussex punished him on the other Then no deserving Person could be excluded by the one that could serve his Prince nor any undeserving one admitted that might disparage him one Interest being sure to receive the one as the other was to exclude the other Divers persons saith one of equal Authority though both wicked do in experience produce more Justice then a greater Probity in a single individuaâ— hath been heard to pronounce in a divided Court the Creatures of one Party being the Enemies of another no less powerful and so they both become liable to accusation or capable of defence and from the sparkles of this clashing not onely Persons and Actions but the Publick Councils came to be refined from the Rust and Cankers that grow by an Unanimity Faction can be as little spared in a Monarchy as an Eye or an Ear as through which the Prince hath a clearer apprehension of his own and others Affairs then he can have when his followers are all agreed through the percussion of equal Factions as through that of Flint and Steel all things coming to light by Debates that might either advance or eclipse a Princes glory When my Lord of Sussex could not overbear Leicester with Power he did it with Policy and by yeilding to him conquered him for as he observed when he and his friends retired Leicester and his subdivided and he was checked more by the Ambition he taught his own Followers then by the competition of his Adversaries When Factions are carried too high and too violently it is a signe of weakness in Princes and much to the prejudice of their Authority and Business The motions of Factions under Kings ought to be like the motions as the Astronomers speak of the Inferiour Orbs which may have their proper Inclination but yet are still quietly carried by the higher motion of the Primum Mobile Queen Elizabeth had an happy time of it if it were but for this That her Favourites Divisions were her support for thereby she attained the knowledge of all things that happened so as no Suit or Designe passed the Royal Assent before she understood as much of Reason as Enemies or Friends could bring for or against it The Character this third great Lord of his Family left behind him was This year died a man of a great spirit and faithfulness to his Country and therefore none freer then he of his thoughts none sounder then he in his counsels Nor did this freedome of Communication betray his future Resolutions to the discovery of his Enemies as they opened his heart to the observation of his Prince for through a seeming unconstancy not of words but of action not his weakness but his nimbleness the Bird on the wing is safe he could so often vary as it was not easie to discover where or when he would be buzzing and give the blow by which unsteady carriage He so befooled his Adversaries with their Spies and Pensioners as they were at a loss what to inform their Patrons of or themselves how to resolve Fortune and Conduct set up this Favourite it falling in his Character as at Primero and other Plays wherein Fortune is directed and conducted by Art The best and subtilest Gamester may loose if it cross him but if it smiles and favours he knoweth best how to manage and govern it Five things raised this person to a respect as great as his fortune to be as high in the Queens favour as he was in his Descent 1. A Civility set off with State 2. A pleasing Modesty of Countenance and Aâ—â—ability of Speech ennameled with Gravity 3. A Boldness attended with Patience 4. A great Capacity enlivened with as great Dexterity And 5. An Integrity secured with wariness Observations on the Life of the Lord Willoughby THe Lord Willoughby was one of the Queens first Sword-men he was of the antient extract of the Bartues but more eâ—â—obled by his Mother who was Dutchess of Suffolk He was a great Master of the Art Military and was sent General into France and commanded the second of five Armies that the Queen sent thither in aid of the French As he was a great Souldier so was he of a suitable Magnanimity
to Brussels to make it with no less commendation for the prudent Articles he proposed then censure for the hazard he incurred in the Proposal So equal and even did old Dale carry himself that the Duke of Parma saw in his Answers the English spirit and therefore saith my Author durst not try that Valour in a Nation which he was so afraid of in a single person That he had no more to say to the old Gentleman then onely this These things are in the hand of the Almighty None more inward with other men then Sir Francis Walsingham none more inward with him then Sir Thomas Randolph well studied he was in Justinians Code better in Machiavils Discourses both when a learned Student of Christ-church and a worthy Principal of Broadgates thrice therefore was he an Embassadour to the Lords of Scotland in a Commotion thrice to Queen Mary in times of Peace seven times to James the sixth of Scotland for a good understanding and thrice to Basilides Emperour of Russia for Trade Once to Charles the ninth King of France to discover his designe upon Scotland and once to Henry the third to open a Conspiracy of his Subjects against him Great Services these but meanly rewarded the serviceable but moderate and modest man though he had as many children at home as he had performed Embassies abroad being contented with the Chamberlainship of the Exchequer and the Postermasters place the first but a name and the second then but a noyse to which were added some small Farms wherein he enjoyed the peace and innocence of a quiet and retired Life a Life which upon the reflexions of a tender Conscience he wished a great while as appears by his Letters to his dear Walsingham wherein he writes How worthy yea how necessary a thing it was that they should at length bid Farewel to the snares be of a Secretary and himself of an Embassadour and should both of them set their mindes upon their Heavenly Country and by Repenting ask Mercy of GOD. Observations on the Life of Sir Amias Poulet SIr Amias Poulet born at Hinton St. George in Somersetshire Son to Sir Hugh and Grand-childe to Sir Amias Poulet was Chancellour of the Garter Governour of the Isles of Jersey and Gernsey and Privy-Councellour to Queen Elizabeth He was so faithful and trusty that the Queen committed the keeping of Mary Queen of Scots to his custody which he discharged with great fidelity As Caesar would have his Wife so he his Spirit above the very suspicion of unworthiness equally consulting his Fame and his Conscience When he performed his last Embassie with no less satisfaction to the King of France then honour to the Queen of England at once with a good humor and a great state he would not accept a Chain and all Gifts are Chains from that King by any means until he was a League from Paris then he took it because he would oblige that Prince and not till then because he would not be obliged by any but his Soveraign saying I will wear no Chains but my Mistresses It is the Interest of Princes that their Servants Fortune should be above the temptation it is their happiness that their Spirits are above the respects of a private concern Observations on the Lives of Sir James Crofts John Grey of Pyrgo Sir Henry Gates EMblems of Honour derived from Ancestors are but rotten Rags where ignoble Posterity degenerates from their Progenitors but they are both glorious and precious where the children both answer and exceed the Vertues of their extraction as in these three Gentlemen whose Ancestors fill both Pages of former Kings Chronicles as they do the Annals of Queen Elizabeth Three Gentlemen whom it's pity to part in their Memoires since they were always together in their Employments All three were like to die in Queen Mary's days for the profession of the Protestant Religion all three spending their Lives in Queen Elizabeth's for the propagation of it 1. Sir Henry Gates lying in Rome as a Spy under the Notion of Cardinal Florido's Secretary six years John Grey drawing up the whole Proceedings and Methods of the Reformation for ten years and Sir James Crofts being either the vigilant and active Governour of Berwick or the prudent and successful Commissioner in Scotland for seven years When the French threatned us by the way of Scotland the Earl of Northumberland was sent Northward for his interest as Warden of the middle March Sir Ralph Sadler for his wisdome as his Assistant and Councellour and Sir James Crofts for his Conduct as both their Guide and Director-general An Estate in the Purse credits the Court Wisdome in the Head adorneth it but both in the Hand serve it Nobly did he and Cutbbert Vaughan beat the French that sallied out of Edinburgh into their Trenches but unhappily stood he an idle Spectator in his quarter the next Scalado while the English are overthrown and the Duke writes of his infidelity to the Queen who discharged him from his Place though not from her favour for in stead of the more troublesome Place the Government of Berwick she conferred on him that more honourable the Controllership of her Houshold Great Service did his Valour at Hadington in Scotland against the French greater his Prudence in Vlster against the Spaniards Although his Merit made his Honour due to him and his Blood becoming though his Cares Travels and Dangers deserved pity his quiet and meek Nature love though he rise by wary degrees and so was unobserved and stood not insolently when up and so was not obnoxious yet Envy reflected as hot upon him as the Sun upon the rising ground which stands firm though it doth not flourish as this Gentleman 's resolved Honesty did overcoming Court-envy with a solid worth waxing old at once in years and reverence and dying as the Chronicle wherein he dieth not but with Time reports it in good favour with his Prince and sound reputation with all men for three infallible sources of Honour 1. That he aimed at Merit more then Fame 2. That he was not a Follower but an Example in great Actions and 3. That he assisted in the three great Concerns of Government 1. in Laws 2. in Arms and 3. in Councils In Aesop there is a slight Fable of a deep Moral it is this Two Frogs consulted together in the time of Drowth when many plashes that they had repaired to were dry what was to be done and the one propounded to go down into a deep Well because it was like the water would not fail there but the other answered Yea but if it do fail bow shall we get up again Mr. Grey would Nod and say Humane affairs are so uncertain that he seemeth the wisest man not who hath a spirit to go on but who hath a wariness to come off and that seems the best course that hath most passages out of it Sir James Crofts on the other hand hated that irresolution that would do
the Queen of Scots this Lord Gray onely defended him as doing nothing therein but what became an able and honest Minister of State An Ear-witness saith Haec fusè oratoriè animosè Greium disserentem audivimus So that besides bluntness the common and becoming Eloquence of Souldiers he had a real Rhetorick and could very emphatically express himself Indeed this Warlike Lord would not wear two heads under one Helmet and may be said always to have born his Beaver open not dissembling in the least degree but owning his own Judgement at all times what he was He deceased anno Domini 1593. Three things he was observed eminent for 1. Dispatch San Joseph having not been a week in Ireland before he had environed him by Sea and Land 2. For his resolution that he would not parley with him till he was brought to his mercy hanging out a white flag with Misericordia Misericordia 3. For his Prudence 1. That he saved the Commanders to oblige the Spaniard 2. That he plundered the Country to enrich his Souldiers 3. That he decimated the Souldiery to terrifie Invaders and hanged all the Irish to amaze the Traytors Henry Fitz-alan Earl of Arundel when Steward at King Edward's Coronation or Constable at Queen Mary's was the first that rid in a Coach in England my Lord Gray was the first that brought a Coach hither one of a working Brain and a great Mechanist himself and no less a Patron to the Ingenious that were so That there was an emulation between him and Sussex was no wonder but that the instance wherein he thought to disgrace him should be his severity to the English Traytor and the Forreign Invadors would seem strange to any but those that consider 1. That Princes of late would seem as they look on the end and not the means so they hug a cruelty and frown on the instrument of it who while he honestly sacrificeth some irregular particulars to the interest of Soveraignty may be made himself a sacrifice to the passion of populacy And 2. which is the case here That aspiring Princes may employ severer Natures but setled ones use the more moderate Love keeps up the Empire which Power hath set up Observations on the Life of Thomas Lord Burge THomas Lord Burge or Borough was born in his Fathers noble House at Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln He was sent Embassadour into Scotland in 1593 to excuse Bothwel his lurking in England to advise the speedy suppression of the Spanish Faction to advance the Protestants in that Kingdome for their Kings defence and to instruct that King about his Council which was done accordingly He was made Lord-Deputy of Ireland anno 1597 in the room of Sir William Russel Mr. Cambden saith thus of him Vir acer animi plenus sed nullis fer◠Castrorum rudimentis As soon as the Truce with Tyrone was expired he straightly besieged the Fort of Black-water the onely receptacle of the Rebels in those parts besides their Woods and Bogs Having taken this Fort by force presently followed a bloody Battle wherein the English lost many worthy men He was struck with untimely death before he had continued a whole year in his Place it being wittily observed of the short Lives of many worthy men Fatuos à morte defendit ipsa insulsitas si cui plus caeteris aliquantulum salis insit quod miremini statim putrescit Things rare destroy themselves those two things being incompatible in our nature Perfection and Lastingness His Education was not to any particular Profession yet his Parts able to manage all A large Soul and a great Spirit apart from all advantages can do wonders His Master-piece was Embassie where his brave Estate set him above respects and compliance and his comely Person above contempt His Geography and History led to the Interest of other Princes and his Experience to that of his own His skill in most Languages helped him to understand others and his resolution to use onely his own to be reserved himself In two things he was very scrupulous 1. In his Commission 2. In his Servants whom he always he said found honest enough but seldome quick and reserved And in two things very careful viz. 1. The time and humour of his Addresses 2. The Interest Inclinations and Dependencies of Favourites A grave and steady man observing every thing but affected with nothing keeping as great distance between his looks and his heart as between his words and his thoughts Very exact for his priviledges very cold and indifferent in his motions which were always guided by the emergencies in that Country and by his intelligence from home Good he was in pursuing his limited instruction excellent where he was free and his Business was not his obedience onely but his discretion too that never failed but in his last enterprize which he undertook without any apparent advantage and attempted without intelligence An Enterprize well worthy his invincible Courage but not his accustomed Prudence which should never expose the person of a General to the danger of a common Souldier Observations on the Life of William Lord Pawlet WIlliam Pawlet where-ever born had his largest Estate and highest Honour Baron of Basing and Marquess of Winchester in Hantshire He was descended from a younger house of the Pawlets in Hinton St. George in Somersetshire as by the Crescent in his Arms is acknowledged One telleth us That he being a younger Brother and having wasted all that was left him came to Court on trust where upon the stock of his Wit he trafficked so wisely and prospered so well that he got spent and left more then any Subject since the Conquest Indeed he lived at the time of the dissolution of Abbeys which was the Harvest of Estates and it argued idleness if any Courtier had his Barns empty He was Servant to King Henry the seventh and for thirty years together Treasurer to King Henry the eighth Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth the later in some sort owed their Crowns to his Counsel his Policy being the principal Defeater of Duke Dudley's Designe to dis-inherit them I behold this Lord Pawlet like to aged Adoram so often mentioned in Scriptures being over the Tribute in the days of King David all the Reign of King Solomon until the first year of Rehoboam And though our Lord Pawlet enjoyed his Place not so many years yet did he serve more Soveraigns in more mutable times being as he said of himself No Oak but an Osier Herein the Parallel holds not the hoary hairs of Adoram were sent to the Grave by a violent death slain by the People in a Tumult this Lord had the rare happiness of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 setting in his full splendour having lived 97 years and seen 103 out of his body He died anno Domini 1572. Thus far Mr. Fuller This Gentleman had two Rules as useful for Mankinde as they seem opposite to
the Affairs of Ireland He had that Majesty in his Countenance that he awed and Affability in his Speech that he obliged the Country His Counsel would be smart and solid his Reproof grave and affectionate his Jests quick and taking doing more with a quick Droll towards the peace of the Country then others did with longer Harangue Secretary Bourns Son kept a Gentlemans Wife i◠Shropshire when he was weary of her he cause her Husband to be dealt with to take her home an offered him 500 l. for reparation The Gentleman went to Sir Henry Sidney to take his advice telling him That his Wife promised now a new life and to say the truth five hundred pounds would be very seasonable at that time By my troth said Sir Henry take her home and the Money then whereas other Cuckolds wear their Horns plain you may we◠yours gilt His great word after a difference ended was Is not this easier then going to London as Ludlow When a man fretted against himself of others My Friend he would say take it from me a weak man complains of others an unfortunate man of himself but a wise man neither of others nor of himself It was his Motto I 'll never threaten To threaten an Enemy is to instruct him a Superiour is to endanger my Person an Inferiour is to disparage my Conduct Old Servants were the Ornament and stay of his Family for whom he reserved a Copyhold when aged a Service when hopeful an Education when pregnant Twice was he sent underhand to France and once to Scotland to feel the pulse of the one and to embroyl the other It 's for setled Kingdomes and for Wealthy men to play above-board while the young State as the young Fortune should be least in sight He and Sir Thomas Randolph amuse the Queen of Scots with the hope of the Crown of England and the King of France by a League with his Protestant Subjects to whose assistance Sir Adrian Poynings arrives as Field-marshal and the Earl of Warwick as General Sir Nicholas Arnold had disposed Ireland to a settlement when Justicer and Sir Henry Sidney formerly Justicer and Treasurer was now to compleat it as Deputy being assisted in Munster by Sir Warham St. Leiger and elsewhere by the brave Earl of Ormond having procured his Antagonist the Earl of Desmond to be called to England in order to a peace and tranquillity Great was his Authority over far greater his love to and esteem of the Soldiers with whom he did wonders against Shane Oneals Front while Randolph charged his Rear until the wild Rebel submits and is executed When he resigned his Authority and Honour to Sir William Drury he took his farewel of Ireland in these words When Israel departed out of Egypt and the house of Jacob from a barbarous people A singular man he was saith the Historian and one of the most commendable Deputies of Ireland to whose Wisdome and Fortitude that Kingdome cannot but acknowledge much though it is as impatient of Deputies as Sicily was of old of Procurators Alter idem or other Observations on the Life of Thomas Ratcliffe THomas Ratcliffe Lord Fitz-Walter second Earl of Sussex of that surname twice Lord-Deputy of Ireland was a most valiant Gentleman By his Prudence he caused that actual Rebellion brake not out in Ireland and no wonder 〈◊〉 in his time it rained not War there seeing his diligence dispersed the Clouds before they could gather together Thus he who cures a Disease may be skilfullest but he that prevents it is the safe Physitian Queen Elizabeth called him home to be her Lord Chamberlain and a constant Court-faction was maintained between him and Robert Earl of Leicester so that the Sussexians and the Leicesterian divided the Court whilst the Cecilians as Neuters did look upon them Sussex had a great Estate left by his Ancestors Leicester as great given or restored him by the Queen Sussex was the honester man and greater Souldier Leicester the more facete Courtier and deep Politician not for the general Good but for his particular Profit Great the Animosity betwixt them and what in vain the Queen endeavoured Death performed taking this Earl away and so the Competition was ended New-Hall in Essex was the place if not as I believe of his Birth yet of his principal Habitation He died anno Domini and lieth buried in the Church of St. Olives Hartstreet London The first of Queen Elizabeth found this brave Earl commanding Ireland in peace and plenty with three hundred and twenty Horse and eight hundred and sixty Foot prudently garisoned and well paid And the second employed him thither again with Instructions That he should beware above all things lest the Irish being an uncivil people and therefore the more superstitious should by the cunning practices of the French be excited to rebellion under the pretext of Religion 2. That he should fortifie Ophale with Castles and Forts 3. That he should engage the Souldiery with large Possessions 4. That the Irish Nobility should hold their Estates in Fee 5. That he should improve the Queens Revenues moderately and reduce her Exchequer there to the form of that in England At what time Maximilian the Emperoun courted Queen Elizabeth whom all English men wished married all Protestants married to a Protestant and the Earl of Leicester had designed for himself there arose a deadly feud in the English Court between the Earl of Sussex that favoured the Match upon common Principles of Government and the Earl of Leicester who opposed it upon a private designe of his own Certainly very great and shameful hopes do they foster who have already attained things beyond hopes The open-hearted Earl would call his Antagonist an Upstart that had but two Ancestors his Father a Traytor and his Grandfather a Publican The Court is divided the Earls are always attended with their armed Guards until the Queen who took pleasure in and made use of the innocent emulation of her women but was afraid of the dangerous contests of her Favourites rather skinned over then healed the rupture At the Emperours Court whither he is sent with the Order of Saint George he presseth the Marriage closely as much out of love to his Country as hatred to Leicester having nothing more ordinary in his discourse then that a Forreign Prince was to be preferred before the noblest Englishman for the three grand things of Honour Power and Wealth But what he promoted publickly the Lord North who was joyned with him rather as his Guardian then his Colleague opposed privately until a few fond scruples broke the most solemn Negotiation wherein yet this Earl behaved himself with a Gallantry that gained him a familiarity from the Emperour a reverence from the Archduke a respect from all the people and his Mistress a kindness in that Court that stood her in great stead against the attempts of Spain and Rome From Germany he returned with much honour to Command in the North with
week The time lost upon his misfortunes which made it necessary for him often to break his great series and method of undertaking He I say that shall compute and sum up this the particulars whereof are nakedly told without any straining of the truth or flourish of expression must be much to seek how a man of so many actions should write any thing and one of so many writings should do any thing and more how one of so many fatall diversions could keep up a steady minde for those great but exact arguments that it hath left in the world especially when there was one very difficult particular in all his composures viz. that none of his Discourses with which his History or other Books are embellished passed his exact hand before the most knowing and most learned men in that faculty to which those discourses belonged had debated them before him who after their departure summed up all into those excellent pieces now abroad under his name which I blame not King James for envying being the nearest his own though I think not that learned Prince of so low a spirit as out of an impertinent emulation to affect Sir Walter Rawleigh the lesse for the great repute that followed him because of his pen which being more dangerous than his Sword I wonder that wise Prince indulged him especially since that Master Hampden a little before the Wars was at the charge of 〈…〉 3. 52 sheets of his Manuscripts as the 〈…〉 himself told me who had his close chamber his fine and candle with an Attendant to deliver him the Originals and take his Copies as fast as he could write them 2 To the second viz. the weaknesse of the last part of his life 1. There was not a greater reach in that advice of his to the Queen when some were for attacquing Spain one way and some another to cut off its commerce with the Indies than there was shortnesse of spirit in trusting the most hopeful part of that expedition to Sir John Burroughs when he sunke under the most disastrous himself Yet 2. That he when Captain of the Guard Warden of the Cinque-ports Governor of Virginia a place of his own discovery preferments enough to satisfie a regular spirit should stand on termes with King James against the Law of the Land the Genius of the Nation the resolution of the Nobility and Reason it self that knoweth there is no cautions that hold Princes but their interest and nature was a greater infirmity But 3. That he upon the Kings frown for his former indiscretion upon him and Cobham should engage upon so shallow a Treason so improbable to hurt others or benefit themselves that if ever folly was capable of the title or pity due to innocence theirs might claim so large a share as not possible to be too severely condemned or slightly enough punished and that with such weak and inconsiderable men as were rather against the government than for one another Grey being a Puritan and Cobham a Protestant were the greatest but there is one particular more behind That he who could employ his restraint so well should lye under the justice as well as jealousie of K. James And knowing that Princes must not pardon any able man that either they have wronged or that hath wronged them be so intent upon a foolish liberty wherein he lost himself and his in that unhappy voyage of Guiana a voyage that considering King James his inclination to the Match his own obnoxiousnesse to that King abroad and Cecil here for obstructing the Peace with Spain and Gondamor's vigilance must needs be as unsuccessful as it was disgustful Methinks he that was of so incomparable a dexterity in his judgement as the Treasurer grew jealous of his excellent parts left he should supplant him of so quick and ready apprehension and conduct that he puzzled the Judges at Winchester of so good a Head-piece that it was wished then on the Secretary of State 's shoulders of so considerable an interest that notwithstanding his fourteen years imprisonment Princes interceded for him the whole Nation pitied him and King James would not execute him without an Apology And to say no more of so much magnanimity that he managed his death with so high and religious a resolution as if a Christian had acted a Romane or rather a Roman a Christian might have gone off the world at a higher rate but that there is an higher power governs wisdome as invisibly yet as really as wisdome doth the world which when I look back upon my Lord of Essex I call fate but when from him I look forward to Sir Walter Rawleigh I believe a providence He had a good presence in a handsome and well-compacted person a strong natural wit a better judgement with a bold and plausible tongue which set off his parts to the best advantage to these he had the adjuncts of a general Learning which by diligence and experience those two great Tutors was augmented to a great perfection being an indefatigable Reader and having a very retentive memory before his Judges at Winchester humble but not prostrate dutiful yet not dejected to the Jury affable but not fawning hoping but not trusting in them carefully perswading them with reason not distemperately importuning them with conjurations rather shewing love of life than fear of death patient but not careless civil but not stupid Observations on the Life of Thomas Sackvil Lord Buckhurst HE was bred in the University of Oxford where he became an excellent Poet leaving both Latine and English Poems of his to posterity Then studied he Law in the Temple and took the degree of Barrister afterwards he travelled into Foreign parts was detained for a time a Prisoner in Rome which he revenged afterwards in the liberty of his speech at the Powder-Traytors Tryal Wen his liberty was procured for his return into England he possessed the vast inheritance left him by his Father whereof in short time by his magnificent prodigality he spent the greatest part till he seasonably began to spare growing neer to the bottom of his Estate The story goes that this young Gentleman coming to an Alderman of London who had gained great penny worths by his former Purchases of him was made being now in the wane of his wealth to wait the coming down of the Alderman so long that his generous humour being sensible of the incivility of such Attendance resolved to be no more beholding to Wealthy Pride and presently turned a thrifty improver of the remainder of his Estate But others make him as abovesaid the Convert of Queen Elizabeth his Cousin-German once removed who by her frequent Admonitions diverted the torrent of his profusion Indeed she would not know him till he began to know himself and then heaped places of Honour and Trust upon him creating him 1. Baron of Buckhurst in Sussex Anno Dom. 1566. 2. Sending him Ambassador into France Anno 1571. Into the Low-Countries Anno Dom. 1566.
Astrologer who told him that this his Infant-son should taste of much trouble in the middest of his life even to the want of a meals meat but his old age should make amends for all with a plentiful estate which came to passe accordingly For his Father dying in his infancy no plentiful provision was made for him and when his eldest Brother Thomas Duke of Norfolke was executed his condition was much impaired insomuch that being once in London not overstocked with money when his noble Nephews the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Thomas Howard were out of Town and loath to pin himself on any Table uninvited he was fain to dine with the Chair of Duke Humphrey but other not to say better company viz. reading of books in Stationers Shops in St. Paul's Church-yard though afterwards he attained to great wealth honour and command However that Lord gave little credit to and placed lesse confidence in such Predictions as appeared by a learned Work he hath written on that subject Observations on the Life of Sir John Ramsey Earl of Holderness and Sir Tho. Ereskin Earl of Kelly BOth their preferments began on the same occasion both their natures were eminent for the same innocence and goodnesse both their services tend to the same issâ—e and therefore both their Characters come under one observation which it's more proper to take in the word of their Countrey-man and Contemporary that knew them than in the expression of a stranger that onely heard of them The whole story runs thus The name of Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious until Anno 1568. when Ruthen amongst others Confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured much for the imprisoning Queen Mary Mother to King James In 1582. his son William was created Earl Gowry in the time of that King's minority though the Father bore deadly hatred to the King's prosperity And in 1584. himself was in actual Rebellion in which he suffered at Dondee His eldest son John then in Travel in Italy returns home to inherit his lands and honours but not one jot changed in disposition from the traiterous wayes of his Predecessors For not long after he falls into this Conspiracy which is not so ancient but that many then and now living can and my self have heard the repetition The house of Gowry were all of them much addicted to study Chymistry and these more to practise it often publishing as such Professors usually do more rare experiments then ever could be performed wherein the King a general Scholar had little faith But to infuse more credit to the practice Alexander Ruthen the second brother takes this occasion and withal conspires with Gowry to assassinate the King and taking opportunity in his hunting not far from his house St. Johnstone invites the King to be an eye-witnesse of his productions In their way Sir Thomas Erskin after Lord Kelly overtakes them and others Demanding of the Duke of Lenox then present why Alexander had ingrossed the King's eare to carry him from his Sports Peace man said the Duke Wee's all be turn'd into gold Not far they rid but that the Earl Gowry made good by protestation his Brother's story And thus was the King brought to be a Guest Neer the end of Dinner at his Fruit and the Lords and Waiters gone to eat Alexander begs of the King at this opportunity to withdraw and to be partaker of his Production to the view of that which yet he could not believe And up he leads the King into by-lodgings locking each door behind them till they came into a Back Room where no sooner entered but that Alexander claps on his Bonnet and with stern countenance faces the King and says Now Sir you must know I had a Father whose blood calls for revenge shed for your sake The King amazed deales gently with his fury excuses the guilt of his death by his then Infancy Advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his Anointed Soveraign Especially in a cause of his Innocency Pleading the Laws of God Man which so much wrought upon him that he said Well I will speak with my Brother and so put the King into a Lobby Room next the Chamber where no sooner entered but that there appeared a fellow weaponed ready for execution to whose custody the King is committed till his return Alexander gone down the fellow trembles with Reverence puts down his Sword and craves pardon which gave the King occasion to work upon that passion and to ask him whether he resolved to murther him Being assured to the contrary the King gets leave to open a window that looked into a back Court When presently Alexander returns and tells the King that he must dye But much affrighted at the Fellow's 〈◊〉 with his sword offers violence to the King Which the fellow seemingly opposes and between them began a 〈◊〉 which gave advantage to the King to cry Treâ—son at the Window which looked into a back-Court where Sir Thomas Erskin and oâ—â— Herries were come in pursuit of the King who was rumoured to be gone out the back-way to his â—â—nting At the cry of Treason and known to be the King's voice they both hastened up a back-stair called the Turn-pike being directed by a servant of the house who saw Alexander ascend that way And so forcing some doors they found them above panting with the fray and up comes also at heels of them John Ramsey after Earl of Holdernesse by them Alexander was soon dispatched Not long after came the Earl Gowry by his double key the first way with a case of Rapiers his usual weapons and ready drawn To whom Erskin said as to divert his purpose What do you mean my Lord the King is kill'd for the King was shadowed having cast himself upon a Bed from his sight and his Cloak was thrown upon the Body of Alexander bleeding upon the ground At which Gowry stops sinking the points of his weapons when suddenly Herries strikes at him with a hunting Falchion And Ramsey having his Hawk on his â—ist casts her off and steps in to Gowry and stabs him to the heart and forthwith more Company came up Not long after this Conspiracy Herries dies well rewarded John Ramsey hath the Honour of Knighthood with an additional bearing to his Coat of Arms A Hand holding forth a Dagger reversed proper piercing a bloody Heart The point crowned Emperial with this Distick Haec Dextra Vindex Principis Pâ—triae Afterwards he was created Lord Haddington and Earl of Holdernesse Sir Thomas Erskin was afterwards created Earl of Kelly Knight of the Garter Captain of the King's Guard and Groom of the Stool and the Fellow designed for the Murtherer had a large Pension confirmed by Act of their Parliament And all these men but Herries were living with other witnesses at King James his journey when he went from hence to visit Scotland and met together by direction at the same house with Ceremony and