THE STATES-MEN And FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND Since the Reformation Their PRUDENCE and POLICIES SUCCESSES and MISCARRIAGES ADVANCEMENTS and FALLS During the Reigns of King HENRY VIII King EDWARD VI. Queen MARY Queen ELIZABETH King JAMES King CHARLES I. LONDON Printed by J. C. for SAMUEL SPEED at the Rainbow neer the Inner Temple-gate in Fleet-street 1665. TO The HOPE of ENGLAND It s Young Gentry Is most humbly dedicated The HONOUR of it It s Ancient States-men A Renowned Auncestry TO An Honourable Posterity Whitehall BY permission and License of the Right Honourable Mr Secretary Morice this book may be printed and published Jo Cook TO THE READER Courteous Reader FOr bestowing some vacant hour by that excellent Personages direction to whom I am equally obliged for my Employment and my Leasure in an attempt so agreeable to the Lord Verulam's judgement which may be seen in the next page and so pursuant of Sir Naunton's designe which may be traced in the following Book Another person's abilities might have gained applause and my weaknesse may deserve an excuse notwithstanding my years if yet any man be too young to read and observe or my profession if yet a Divine should not as times go be as well read in Men as Books Especially since I gratifie no man's ' fondness writing not a Panegyrick but an History Nor pleasure any persons malice designing Observations rather than Invectives Nor tyre any man's patience setting downe rather the remarkes of mens publick capacities than the minute passages of their private lives but innocently discourse the most choice instances our ENGLISH Histories afford for the three great Qualifications of men 1. Noblenesse in behaviour 2. Dexterity in business and 3. Wisdome in Government among which are twenty eight Secretaries of State eight Chancellours eighteen Lord-Treasurers sixteen Chamberlains who entertain Gentlemen with Observations becoming their Extraction and their hopes touching 1. The rise of States-men 2. The beginning of Families 3. The method of Greatnesse 4. The conduct of Courtiers 5. The miscarriages of Favourites and what-ever may make them either wise or wary The Chancellour of France had a Picture that to a common eye shewed many little heads and they were his Ancestors but to the more curious represented onely one great one and that was his own It 's intended that this Book should to the vulgar Reader expresse several particulars i. e. all this last Ages Heroes but to every Gentleman it should intimate onely one and that is himself It 's easily imaginable how unconcerned I am in the fate of this Book either in the History or the Observation since I have been so faithful in the first that is not my own but the Historians and so careful in the second that they are not mine but the Histories DAVID LlOYD The Lord Bacon's Judgement of a Work of this nature HIstory which may be called just and perfect History is of three kings according to the object it propoundeth or pretendeth to represent for it either representeth a Time a Person or an Action The first we call Chronicles the second Lives and the third Narrations or Relations Of these although the first be the most compleat and absolute kind of History and hath most estimation and glory yet the second excelleth it in profit use the third in verity and sincerity For history of Times representeth the magnitude of Actions and the publick faces or deportments of persons and passeth over in silence the smaller passages and motions of Men and Matters But such being the work manship of God as he doth hang the greatest weight upon the smallest wyars Maxima è minimis suspendens it comes therefore to pass that such Histories do rather set forth the pomp of business than the true and inward resorts thereof But Lives if they be well written propounding to themselves a person to 〈…〉 present in whom actions both greater a 〈…〉 smaller publick and private have a commixture must of necessity contain a mo 〈…〉 true native and lively representation I do much admire that these times have so little esteemed the vertues of the Times a 〈…〉 that the writing of Lives should be no mo 〈…〉 frequent For although there be not man 〈…〉 Soveraign Princes or absolute Commanders and that States are most collected into Monarchies yet are there many worthy personages that deserve better then dispersed Report or barren Elogies For herein the invention of one of the late Poets is proper and doth well inrich the ancient fiction For he feigneth that at the end of the thread or web of every mans Life there was a little Medal containing the person's name and that Time waiteth upon the Sheers and as soon as the Thread was cut caught the Medals and carried them to the River Lethe and about the bank there were many Birds flying up and down that would get the Medals and carry them in their beak a little while and then let them fall into the River Onely there were a few Swans which if they got a Name would carry it to a Temple where it was consecrate THE TABLE A SIr Thomas Audly Pag. 39 Fitz-Allan Earl of Arundel 232 Master Ascham 429 Arch-Rishop Abbot 522 Sir Edward Anderson 577 Bishop Andrews 796 Sir Walter Aston 702 Sir R Armstroder 723 Philip Earl of Arundel 725 B CHarles Brandon 11 Sir Thomas Bollen 102 Sir Anthony Brown 128 Sir David Brook 205 Sir John Baker 277 Arch-Bishop Bancrost 539 Sir Nieh Bacon 287 Sir Francis Bacon 600 Thomas Lord Burgh 401 Sir Thomas Bromley 425 Sir Richard Bingham 426 Thomas Lord Buckhurst 493 Sir Thomas Bodly 578 G. V. Duke of Buckingh 613 Sir John Bramston 696 Lord Chief-Justice Banks 732 C ARch-Bishop Cranmer 15 Cromwel 32-138 Sir William Compton 110 Sir Thomas Cheyney 283 Sir John Cheek 160 Sir William Cordel 195 Sir Anthony Cook 199 Sir W Cecil L. Burleigh 290 Sir Thomas Challoner 343 Sir James Crofts 379 The Cliffords Earls of Cumberland 497 Sir R Cecil Ea of Salisb. 56 Sir Giles Calvert 526 Sir Arthur Chichester 529 Sir Lionel Cranfield E. M. 553 Sir R Cary 568 Doctor Cosin 589 The Lord Cook 592 The Lord Cottington 676 Sir Dudly Carleton 680 The Lord Conway 689 Sir Julius Caesar 704 The Earl of Carnarvan 786 The Lord Capel 793 Sir John Culpeper 814 Sir George Crook 721 〈◊〉 Thomas Coventry 750 Secretary Cook 716 D SIr Thomas Darcy 95 Dudly Duke of Northumberland 237 Edward Earl of Derby 358 Sir William Drury 368 Doctor Dale 374 Sir James Dier 404 Secretary Davison 437 Sir R. Dudley 537 John Lord Digby E. B 607 The Digges 691 The Earl of Danby 719 E SIr Ralph Ewers 275 W Earl of Essex 303 Robert Earl of Essex 449 Sir Thomas Edmonds 734 The L. Chancellor Egerton 531 Sir Clement Edmonds 547 Sir John Ereskin E. K. 557 F SIr Jeffery Fenton 441 476 Sir John Fineux 48 Bishop Fox 53 Sir Edward Fines 225 Sir John Fortescue 367 Doctor Fletcher 477 Sir H. Sir Lucius
and sober troubling him with nothing but his business and expecting no higher conditions then countenance protection and recommendation and his Retayners peaceable reserved close plain and hopeful the deserving Souldier and the promising were seen often at his gate not in throngs to avoid popularity equal was his favour that none might be insolent and none discontented yet so discreetly dispenced as made the Preferred faithful and the Expectants officious To be ruled by one is soft and obnoxious by many troublesome to be advised by few as he was is safe because as he said in some things out of his element the Vale best discovereth the Hill Although he understood not the main matter of War yet he knew many of its falls and incidents his prudence being as able to lay a stratagem as others experience was to embattail an Army Sir Thomas Wâ—arton Warden of the Marches he commands with 300 men behind an Ambush whither he draws the rash Scots and overthroweth them more with the surprize then his power taking the Lord Admiral Maxwel c. who was committed to his custody and putting that King to so deep a melancholy that he died upon it His death suggests new counsels and Sir Anthony watcheth in Scotland to gain his Daughter for our Prince or at least to prevent the French whom Sir William Paget watcheth there as Sir Ralph Sadler did in Rome and Sir John Wallop at Calais and when that Kings designe was discovered we finde our Knight with Charles Duke of Suffolk Lieutenant-General Henry Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Lord General Will. Pawlet Lord St. John Stephen Bishop of Winchester with a rich and strong Army expecting the King before Montrevil which they took with Boâ—logn and forcing the French to a Peace and Submission that secured England and setled Europe Three things facilitate all things 1. Knowledge 2. Temper 3. Time Knowledge our Knight had either of his own or others whom he commanded in what ever he went about laying the ground of matters always down in writing and debating them with his friends before he declared himself in Council A temperance he had that kept him out of the reach of others and brought others within his Time he took always driving never being driven by his business which is rather a huddle then a performance when in haste there was something that all admired and which was more something that all were pleased with in this mans actions The times were dark his carriage so too the Waves were boysterous but he the solid Rock or the well-guided Ship that could go with the Tide He mastered his own passion and others too and both by Time and Opportunity therefore he died with that peace the State wanted and with that universal repute the States-men of those troublesome times enjoyed not By King Henry's Will he got a Legacy of 300 l. for his former Service and the Honour to be of Prince EDWARD's special Council for the future By his Order he had as his share of Abbey-Lands Battle-Abbey in Sussex enjoyed by his Heirs Males in a direct Line to this day And by his Authority he had the Honourable Garter He was the first man that durst bring his Master the sad news That He must die And no wonder he durst it for the next news is That he is dead himself How darest thou to be so plain said Heliogabalus to the Courtier Because I dare die said he I can but die if I am Faithful and I must die though I Flatter The Lord Herbert's Character of Cardinal Wolsey in his Life of Henry the Eighth pag. 314. ANd thus concluded that great Cardinal A man in whom ability of parts and Industry were equally eminent though for being employed wholly in ambitious ways they became dangerous Instruments of power in active and mutable times By these arts yet he found means to govern not onely the chief affairs of this Kingdom but of Europe there being no Potentate which in his turn did not seek to him and as this procured him divers Pensions so when he acquainted the King therewith his manner was so cunningly to disoblige that Prince who did fee him last as he made way thereby oftentimes to receive as much on the other side But not of secular Princes alone but even of the Pope and Clergy of Rome he was no little courted of which therefore he made especial use while he drew them to second him on most occasions His birth being otherwise so obscure and mean as no man had ever stood so single for which reason also his chief indeavour was not to displease any great Person which yet could not secure him against the divers Pretenders of that time For as all things passed through his hands so they who failed in their suits generally hated him All which though it did but exasperate his ill nature yet this good resultance followed that it made him take the more care to be Just whereof also he obtained the reputation in his publick hearing of Causes For as he loved no body so his Reason carried him And thus he was an useful Minister of his King in all points where there was no question of deserving the Roman Church of which at what price soever I finde he was a zealous Servant as hoping thereby to aspire to the Papacy whereof as the factious times then were he seemed more capable then any had he not so immoderately affected it Whereby also it was not hard to judge of his Inclination that Prince who was ablest to help him to this Dignity being ever preferred by him which therefore was the ordinary Bait by which the Emperour and the French King one after the other did catch him And upon these terms he doubted not to convey vast treasures out of this Kingdom especially unto Rome where he had not a few Cardinals at his devotion by whose help though he could not attain that Supreme Dignity he so passionately desired yet he prevailed himself so much of their favour as he got a kinde of absolute power in Spiritual Matters at Home Wherewith again be so served the Kings turn as it made him think the less of using his own Authority One error seemed common to both which was That such a multiplicity of Offices and Places were invested in him For as it drew much envy upon the Cardinal in particular so it derogated no little from the Regal Authority while one man alone seemed to exhaust all Since it becometh Princes to do like good Husband-men when they sow their Grounds which is to scatter and not to throw all in one place He was no great Dissembler for so qualified a Person as ordering his businesses for the most part so cautiously as he got more by keeping his word then by breaking it As for his Learning which was far from exact it consisted chiefly in the subtilties of the Thomists wherewith the King and himself did more often weary then satisfie each other His stile in Missives was
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
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
Sir Henry Lords Vise Falkland 708 Sir John Finch 742 G SIr Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset 116 Gardiner Bish of Winch. 268 John Grey of Pyrgo 379 L. Grey of Wilton 381 398 Sir Henry Gates 379 Sir Humphrey Gilbert 441 Sir Fulk Grevil L. Brook 503 Oliver Lord Grandison 542 H SIr Will Herbert 274 Sir Walter Haddon 442 Sir Th. Howard 96 Sir Ed Howard 105 Sir Th. Howard 107 of Surry Norfolk Wil Howard L. Effingh 218 Sir G. Hume E of Dunb 516 James Hay E of Carlisle 549 Henry Howard Earl of Northampton 555 Judge Hyde 701 Christopher Lord Hatton 333 419 The Lord Hunsdon 335 Sir Richard Hutton 739 Wil M Hertford 741 The Earl of Holland 759 The Marquess Hamilton 776 The Lord Hopton 780 The Lord Herbert 789 Arch-Bishop Heath 337 I SIr John Fitz-James 80 Sir John Jefferies 189 Arthur Ingram 572 Arch-Bishop Juxon 810 K SIr William Kingstone 279 Sir Henry Killegrew 395 〈…〉 Knowls 433 L SIr Anthony St. Lieger 56 The Earl of Liecester 330 〈…〉 Thomas Lake 552 562 〈…〉 Ja Ley E of Marlb 713 〈…〉 Earl of Lindsey 747 Arch-Bishop Laud 763 〈…〉 Lord-Keeper Littleton 775 M 〈…〉 Thomas Moor 21 Sir Rich Morison 68 〈…〉 Will Molineux 84 〈…〉 Henry Marney 111 〈…〉 John Mason 177 〈…〉 Edward Mountague 221 〈…〉 Thomas Mannors 275 〈…〉 Walter Mildmay 365 〈…〉 Roger Manwood 386 〈…〉 Lord Mountjoy 479 〈…〉 op Mountague 575 〈…〉 Henry Martin 695 〈…〉 Earl of Manchester 799 N 〈…〉 He Duke of Norfolk 351 The Lord North 374 〈…〉 rls Ea of Nottingh 511 〈…〉 Norrices 433 〈…〉 Rob Naunton 569 Sir Francis Nethersole 569 Sir William Noy 662 Judge Nichols 699 O SIr Thomas Overbury 544 P ED Plowden 383 Sir William Paget 65 Sir Ed Poynings 112 The Parrs 156 Sir Clement Paston 171 Sir John Portman 214 Sir Amias Pawlet 378 William Lord Pawlet 403 Sir William Pelham 408 Sir Barnab Fitz-Patrick 229 Sir William Peter 247 Cardinal Pool 252 Sir John Perrot 322 Sir William Pickering 339 G Earl of Pembrook 363 Sir John Puckering 422 The Lord Chief-Justice Popham 535 Will Earl of Pembrook 687 Sir Paul Pindar 735 R THe Lord Rich 1 E. W. 173 Sir Tho Randolph 347 Sir John Russel 1 E. B. 259 Sir William Russel 444 Sir Thomas Roper 445 Sir Walter Rawleigh 485 Sir John Ramsey E H 557 Doctor Ridley 693 Esme Duke of Richmond 728 Edw Earl of Rutland 482 Sir Thomas Roe 807 S SIr Ralph Sadler 61 Sir Ed Stanly 101 Sir Charles Somerset 1 E. W. 114 Sir Thomas Smith 370 R Earl of Somerset 518 Stafford Duke of Bucks 122 The Seymours 142 Sir Will Stamford 185 The Earl of Sussex 307-416 Sir Philip Sidney 313 Sir Henry Sidney 412 Sir Thomas Smith 483 The Earl of Suffolk 567 The Lord Spencer 610 Sir John Savil 665 The Lord Say 744 The Earl of Strafford 752 T BIshop Tonstal 340 Francis Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury 342 Sir Nicholas Throgmorton 354 V SIr H Umpton 447 H Vere Earl of Oxford 583-714 The Veres 5 〈…〉 Sir Henry Vane Senor 7 〈…〉 W CArdinal Wolsey 1 1 〈…〉 Sir Thomas Wyat 〈◊〉 Sir Tho Wriothsly 1 Ear 〈…〉 Southampton Sir Will Fitz-Williams 〈◊〉 Sir Robert Wingfield 1 〈…〉 Sir Thom Wentworth 1 〈…〉 Doctor Wilson 2 〈…〉 Lord Willoughby 311-3 〈…〉 Sir Francis Walsingham 3 〈…〉 Sir Edw Waterhouse 3 〈…〉 Sir Will Fitz-Williams 3 〈…〉 Sir Christopher Wray 3 〈…〉 The Earl of Worcester 3 〈…〉 Sir William Waad 4 〈…〉 Sir Ralph Winwood 5 〈…〉 Bishop Williams 6 〈…〉 Sir Isaac Wake 6 〈…〉 Sir R Sir J Weston E 〈…〉 of Portland 6 〈…〉 Sir Henry Wotton 8 〈…〉 The Lord Wilmot 8 〈…〉 Y SIr Henry Yelverton 5â—â— THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Henry the VIII Observations on the Life of Cardinal WOLSEY CArdinal Wolsey was not so great in his Fortune as he was mean in his Original his honest and industrious Parents helped him to a good Constitution and a great Spirit two hopeful steps to Greatnesse and his Ambition gave the opportunity to encrease it he was as pregnant at Ipswich-School as he was promising in Canterbury-Colledge where his Industry parts advanced him to a command over Noble-men in the Earl of Dorset's Family as a School-master as his Policy had promoted him to an Imperiousnesse over Kings in the quality of States-man The first step to Greatnesse in a Scholar is Relation to a Nobleman The best Education for the Court is in the Palace Nature made him capable the School and University made him a Scholar but his Noble Employment made him a Man At Oxford he read Books at my Lord 's he read Men and observed Things His Patrons two Parsonages bestowed upon him was not so great a Favour as the excellent Principles instilled into him he being not more careful to instruct the young Men then their Father was to tutor him his Bounty makes him rich and his Recommendation potent His Interest went far his Money farther Bishop Fox was Secretary to K. Henry the seventh and he to Bishop Fox the One was not a greater Favourite of the King 's then the other was his as one that brought him a Head capacious of all Observations and a Spirit above all Difficulties Others managed the Affairs of England Wolsey understood its Interest His Correspondence was good abroad his Observations close deep and continued at home He improved what he knew and bought what he knew not He could make any thing he read or heard his own and could improve any thing that was his own to the uttermost No sooner was he in with the Bishop of Winchester but the Bishop was out with the Earl of Surrey to whom he must have stooped as he did unto Nature and Age had not he raised his Servant equal to himself in the Kings Favour and above Howard He was forbid by the Canon Heirs of his Body he was enjoyned by his Prudence to make an Heir of his Favour equally to support and comfort his old Age and maintain his Interest Children in point of Policy as in point of Nature are a Blessing and as Arrows in the hand of a mighty man and happy is that old Courtier that hath his Quiver full of them he shall not be ashamed when he speaks with his enemies in the gate The old man commends Wolsey to Henry the Seventh for one fit to serve a King and command Others Forreign Employment is the Statesmans first School to France therefore he is sent to poise his English Gravity with French Debonairness A well-poised Quickness is the excellent temper From Forreign Employment under an Old King he is called home to some Domestick Services under the Young One He as quickly found the length of His Foot as he fitted him with an easie Shoo the King followed his Pleasures and the Cardinal enjoyeth His Power The One pursued his Sports while Youth the other his Business while Time served him Give me to Day and take thou to
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
honour and good Action his ordinary expences were the third of his Estate and his extraordinary none of it his Rule being Extraordinary disadvantages must be balanced with extraordinary advantages He would not stoop to petty gains but he would abridge petty charges but his occasions calling him often from his Estate he turned it all to certainties often changing his Servants who being unacquainted with him and his Estate were less subtle and more timorous Much behind-hand he was when he came to the Estate and as much before when he left it Neither was he too suddain or too slow in paying his Debts equally avoiding a disadvantageous sale on the one hand and devouring interest on the other and so inuring himself by degrees into an habit of frugality he gained as well upon his Minde as upon his Estate For husbanding the English Treasure in Scotland he was Knighted in the Field May 11. 34 H. 8. by the Earl of Hertford for the Clause concerning Scotland he put in at the Treaty of Guisnes 35 H. 8. he was made Baron by Patent for his discreet Conduct in demanding the young Queen of Scots together with the performance of the Articles made in Henry the eighth's time with 60 sayl of Ships before the battle of Muscleburgh he had 600 l. a year assigned him by the Protector for his great experience at Sea his interest in Sea-men and his nown among the Neighbour-States he was made Earl of Lincoln Observations on the Life of Sir Barnaby Fitz-Patrick BArnaby Fitz-Patrick had the honour of being King Edward the sixth his Proxy at School and one of his Bed-chamber at Court. In King Henry the eighth's time he was sent to School in King Edward the sixth's to travel where he had these Directions following from that King how he might learn fashions there and send intelligence hither EDWARD WE understand by your Letters received the eighth of this present month your good entertainment being glad thereof and also how you have been once to go on Pilgrimage Wherefore we think fit to advertise you to desire leave to go to Mr. Pickering or to Paris in case hereafter any such chance happen And if that will not serve to declare to some person of estimation with whom you are best acquainted that as you are loath to offend the French King by reason of his kinde usage of you so with safe conscience you cannot do any such thing being brought up with me and bound to obey my Laws also that you had commandment from me to the contrary Yet if you be vehemently procured you may go as waiting upon the King not as intending to the abuse nor willingly sâ—e the Ceremonies and so you look on the Mass but in the mean time regard the Scripture or some good Book and give no reverence to the Mass at all Furthermore remember when you may conveniently be absent from the Court to tarry with Sir William Pickering to be instructed by him how to use your self For Women as far forth as you can avoid their company yet if the French King command you you may sometime dance so measure be your mean else apply your self to Riding Shooting Tennis or such honest Games not forgetting sometimes when you have leisure your Learning chiefly reading of the Scriptures We would not have you live too sumptuously as an Ambassador but so as your proportion of living may serve you we mean because we know many will resort to you and desire to serve you I told you how many I thought convenient you should keep After you have ordered your things at Paris go to the Court and learn to have more intelligence if you can and after to the Wars to learn somewhat to serve us By your Letters of the second and fifteenth of April we perceive that you were at Nancy ready to go together with Mr. Pickering to the French Camp and to the intent you might be better instructed how to use your self in these Wars we have thought good to advertise you of our pleasure therein First we would wish you as much as you may conveniently to be in the French Kings presence or at least in some part of his Army where you shall perceive most business to be and that for two causes One is because you may have more experience in the Wars and see things as might stand you in stead another day The other is because you might be more profitable in the Language For our Embassador who may not wear Harness cannot well come to those places of danger nor seem so to serve the French King as you may whom we sent thither for that purpose It shall be best for you therefore hereafter as much as you may to be with the French King and so you shall be more acceptable to him and do your self much good This I write not doubting but you would have done it though I had not written but to spur you on Adding withal To learn the Tongue to see the manner of the Court and advertise his Master of Occurrences keeping close to the King of France to whom he shall offer his service in the Wars where be is to observe the fortifications of the Cities the Conduct of the Armies the advantages and disadvantages of both Parties their Skirmishes Battels Assaults and the Plots of the chief Towns where any enterprizes of weight have been done His Exercises were to be Hunting and Riding his Company few but choice c. This Gentleman after his return out of France was created by the King Baron of Upper Ossory in Ireland where he died a good Protestant a Publick-spirited Patriot and an honest man Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Fitz-Alane Earl of Arundel HIs first appearance in the World was to adorn the Court his next was to serve it First his Estate and Train attends King Henry to the Interview with France and a while after his Valour and Conduct is commanded by him to the War Equally prepared is he to please and awe that Countrey The Duke of Suffolke is made General for his Popularity and the Earl of Arundel Lord Marshal for his Spirit and Prudence and both being before Bulloign this Noble Lord run up his Squadron under a running shelter about eleven at night to the very Walls of the City which being battered down by the Canon which was mounted some forty yards higher opened to the close Besiegers a passage that gained the whole Town by composition Neither was he less active in Peace than War A piercing apprehension a strong memory a large and capacious judgement a dexterous prudence a discerning wisdom was the least of his happiness For to his sufficiency and capacity he added a good disposition and integrity and to that vigour and gracefulness He was the excellent Personage that 1. Discerned 2. Embraced and performed what was Noble and Publique To know to will and effect what is good make up a God To these were added a strong Nature a deep
Study and a very great Experience qualities separated in others but united in him Nature will out Education is rude Education without Resolution is loose Resolution without Experience is heady Experience grounded upon particular Events is uncertain without the study of General and Immoveable Principles Knowledge of things in their sources and original causes without Nature is a Burden All these without Exercise are a Notion This Nobleman thus furnished derived much Honor from his Ancestors more to them ennobling that Blood to a Glory which some had debased to a Blush That great Name after four hundred years shining in that Honour with various lustre setting in him as the Sun he bore with a full splendour The last effort of Nature is a Master-piece the last blaze of the Candle a shine Other Noblemen were made King Edward's Overseers for their Integrity he one of his Assistants for his Ability When an Enemy was to be awed to a submission he was General such his Fame When the Countrey was to be obliged to a loan he was Agent such his Popularity The first advanced him to the Comptrollership under Henry the Eighth the second to the Chamberlainship under Edward the Sixth Nature hath provided that ravenous Beasts should not associate leâ—t they should be too hard for it and Government that prime Counsellours should not agree leâ—t they overthrow it Warwick envied the Protectors Greatness and Arundel would limit his Power both with the rest of the Council declare against him But leâ—t he should urge the same things against Warwick that he did against Somerset they who love the Treason bu 〈…〉 hate the Traytor turn him first out of Favour and then out of Council until Queen Maries time when he as an antient Nobleman of England tha 〈…〉 owned no upstart-designs against the old way of succession stood for her Right and as a stiff Catholique promoted her Religion So that July 21 1553. he came from the Queen to Cambridge where the Duke of Northumberland was and entering his Chamber the Duke fell at his feet desiring him for Gods sake to consider his case who had done nothing but by Warrant from the Council My Lord said the Earl I am sent hither by the Queen to arrest you And I said the Duke obey your Arrest beseeching your mercy for what I did by Commission You should have thought of that sooner said the Earl Here you might have seen at once the vicissitude of Fortune the frailty of Man the dejectedness of Guilt the bravery of Innocence who would neither be trampled on by Greatness nor trample on Misery of an equal temper between pity and resolution As long as his Youth bore it we finde him for Action but when years came upon him we finde him in Council as with Wotton 〈◊〉 the great Treaty at Cambray Yet not so unactive but that as Sir William Pickering for his sweet Demeaner so he for his Estate was voiced an Husband to Queen Elizabeth When the rest of the Council were for dealing with the Queen of Scots underhand and at distance he was for treating with her plainly and said in the Queens presence The wisdom of the former Age was so provident that it needed not and so plain that it endured not shifts Leicester would perswade the Duke of Norfolk to court the Queen of Scots but Arundel would not hear of it without the Queen of England's consent Experience is always wary yet hath its weaknesses wherein it may be surprized For this Noblemans Kindness to his Friend balancing his Duty to his Mistriss brought him the Earl of Southampton the Lords Lumley Coâ—ham Piercy c. to a Praemunire whereupon he said He is never wise that is not distrustful Fear that betrayeth the succours of Reason when predominant guardeth them when moderate and is more safe though not so Noble as that valiant confidence that bequeaths a dilated Freedom to all faculties and senses But of all his Actions this is most remarkable Treating with the Scots he writ to his Majesty King Henry the Eighth what he had gained already requiring to know his further pleasure The King takes advice with his Council who all agree that the Peace should be concluded Whereupon the King caused his Secretary the Lord Paget to write to him to that purpose but withal he called Mr. Cecil secretly to him bidding him tell my Lord That whatsoever he had written in his Letter yet with all speed possible he should break the Treaty Mr. Cecil replying That a message by word of mouth being contrary to his Letter would never be believed Well said the King do you tell him as I bid you and leave the doing of it to his choice Upon Mr. Cecil's arrival the Earl of Arundel shewed the other Commissioners as well the Message as the Letter they are all for the Letter he said nothing but ordered that the Message should be written before and signed by his fellow-Commissioners and thereupon immediately broke up the Treaty sending Cecil with the advertisement of it to the King Who as soon as he saw him asked aloud What will he do it or no Cecil replied That his Majesty might understand that by the inclosed But then the King half angry urged Nay tell me Will be do it or no Being then told it was done he turned to the Lords and said Now You will hear news The fine Treatie is broken Whereto one presently answered That he who had broke it deserved to lose his Head to which the King straightly replied That He would lose a dozen such heads as his was that so judged rather than one such Servant as had done it and therewith commanded the Earl of Arundel's Pardon should be presently drawn up the which he sent with Letters of Thanks and assurance of Favour Five things must a Statesman comprehend 1. The Law 2. The Government 3. The Time 4. The People And 5. The Prince Under an active Prince you must regard the Prerogative under an easie one the Law under a compleat one made up of a just measure of Greatness and Goodness those two things are distinguished onely in the nice discourses of some Speculative being but one great Rule in the solid actions of that Prince Observations on the Life of Sir John Dudley Duke of Northumberland HIs favour was first purchased by his Fathers blood and improved by his own cunning King Henry sacrificed Sir Edmund Dudly to allay the Peoples rage and raised his Son to appease his Ghost He that disobligeth a multitude must fall himself but he that in so doing serveth his King may advance his Posterity Something high he was in the Kings favour because standing on his fathers Grave but higher as he stood on his own Merit He knew his Fathers service made his way to favour his own Education therefore must prepare him for employment Favour without Parts is a reproach Parts without favour are a burden The King restored him to his Fathers blood and his own
of a strong and valiant Knight and a greater of being overthrown by his Majesty Having engaged his Majesties Person at home he had the Honour to represent it abroad where his Commission was to complement the French King about his Liberty but his Business to observe the state of that place Where he saw that a Kingdom governed by a Prince who hath under him other independent Lords as that of France is no longer safe than those Lords are either in Humour or in Purse being always in danger either from their discontent or corruption 2. That Faction is always eager while Duty is modest and temperate This Occasion ennobled his Vertue and his Vertue improved the Occasion so well that I finde him so eminent a Parliament-man the 22th of King Henry that as Sir Brian Tuke had the Honour to open the several Boxes sent from the respective Universities with their opinions about the Kings Divorce so Sir Thomas had the happiness in a set Speech to insist upon them all in general and every one in particular And at Queen Anne's Coronation my Lord Vaux Sir John Mordant Sir Thomas and ten more are made Knights of the Bath Having acquitted himself Nobly in Court and Council he attends the Earl of Hertford against the Scots as Commissary and Sir John Wallop with Sir John Rainsford as Marshal for his Services in both which capacities he is made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in England and with the Comptroller Sir John Gage made Field-Marshal and Treasurer of the Army before Bulloign And not long after Treasurer of the Houshold and one of the Assistants for the Over-seeing of King Henry's Will When some were joyning Others with the Protector others for limiting him Sir Thomas would say That as Machiavel saith No Laws so No good could be done by a Governour that was not absolute without either a Restraint or a Competitor Upon the Reformation he would say That the disestcem of Religious Ceremonies argued the decay of the Civil Government good Princes have first kept their People Religious and thereby Vertuous and united both old and new Rome stand by this In a word what makes all men made him A generous industry of Minde and a well-set hardiness of Body which were attended while he lived with Honour and Success and since he is dead with Repute and Renown Where eminent and well-born Persons out of a habit of sloath and laziness neglect at once the Noblest way of employing their times and the fairest occasions of advancing their fortunes that State though never so flourishing and glorious wants something of being compleatly happy As soon as ever therefore the Kingdom is settled sedate times are the best to improve a Commonwealth as his quiet hours are the best to improve a man he and Sir William Howard addressed themselves as vigorously to the opening of Commerce and Traffick for the enriching of this Nation as they had before to the exercise of Arms to secure it Pursuing the Designe with Resolution and keeping the frame of it in order with Industry their constant Spirit surmounting all Difficulties that stood in the way of their own Glory or their Countrey 's Happiness working so well upon the Russians that they not onely obtained their Desire but gained so far upon the Affections of that People that they obtained the greatest Priviledges any Tradesmen ever enjoyed in Muscovy which the Russians were not easier in the promise of then just in the execution of that promise So that that Trade is advanced not onely beyond our hopes but our very pretences too by those three Particulars that never fail of success 1. Union 2. Conduct 3. Courage in enterprizes vigorously begun and watchfully pursued Until Queen ELIZABETH concerned her self so far in the Undertaking as to influence it with a Character peculiar to the Dignity of such a Constitution which carried that Commerce higher then Others could raise their Imaginations as we see whose profit by it is as remarqueable in this Age as their zeal for it was in the last When Fear and Distrust those ignoble Passions that disparage all great Undertakings which judged that Design a Piece of extravagant Folly seeth it now an Act of profound Wisdom especially when it may be improved under CHARLES the Second and the Great a Prince who by admirable order of his conduct the just administration of his Revenue and by his fatherly goodness towards his people hath put himself into a condition to undertake without fear whatsoever may be put in execution with Honour or Justice The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of Queen Mary THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of Queen Elizabeth Observations on the Life of Sir Nicholas Bacon SIr Nicholas Bacon a man full of wit and wisdome was a Gentleman and a man of Law and of great knowledge therein whereby together with his other parts of Learning and Dexterity he was prompted to be Keeper of the Great Seal and being kin to the Treasurer Burleigh was brought by his help into the Queens favour This Gentleman understood his Mistress well and the times better He could raise Factions to serve the one and allay them to suit the others He had the deepest reach into Affairs of any man that was at the Council-table the knottiest Head to pierce into difficulties the most comprehensive Judgement to surround the Merit of a Cause the strongest memory to recollect all circumstances of a Business to one View the greatest patience to debate and consider for it was he that first said Let us stay a little and we will have done the sooner and the clearest reason to urge any thing that came in his way in Court or Chancery His favour was eminent with his Mistress and his Alliance strong with her States-men No man served his Soveraign more faithfully none secured himself more wisely Leicester seemed wiser then he was Bacon was wiser then he seemed to be Hunsdon neither was nor seemed wise Much Learning my Lord Bacon gained in Bennets Colledge in Cambridge more Experience in Paris of France His Dexterity and Dispatch advanced him to the Court of Wards his deep Experience made him Lord Keeper Alliance was the Policy of that time Bacon and Cecil married two Sisters Walsingham and Mildmay two more Knowles Essex and Leicester were linked the prudent Queen having all her Favourites Relations and Dependencies in her eye and disposing of them according to their several Interests Great was this States-mans Wit greater the Fame of it which as he would say being nothing made all things For Report though but Fancy begets Opinion and Opinion begets Substance He was the exactest man to draw up a Law in Council and the most discreet to execute it in Court When others urged the repeal of that Act whereby Queen Elizabeth was declared Illegitimate he rather suppressed it chusing the closure of a festered Wound more
that neither that Queen or her correspondents ever perceived either the Seal defaced or the Letters delayed to her dying day Video Taceo was his saying before it was his Mistresses Motto He could as well â—it King James his humour with sayings out of Xenophon Thucydides Plutarch Tacitus as he could King Henry's with Rablais's conceits the Hollander with Mechanick Discourses In a word Sir Francis Walsingham was a studious and temperate man so publick-spirited that he spent his Estate to serve the Kingdome so faithful that he bestowed his years on his Queen so learned that he provided a Library for Kings Colledge of â—is own Books which was the best for Policy as Cecil's was for History Arundels for Heraldry Cottons for Antiquity and Ushers for Divinity finally he equalled all the Statesmen former Ages discourse of and hardly hath been equalled by any in following Ages Observations on the Life of the Earl of Leicester THe Lord Leicester was the youngest son then living of Dudley Duke of Northumberland he was also one of the first to whom Queen Elizabeth gave that honour to be Master of the Horse He was a very goodly person and singular well featured and all his youth well favoured and of a sweet aspect but high foreheaded which was taken to be of no discommendation but towards his latter end grew high-coloured and red-faced The Queen made him Earl of Leicester for the sufferings of his Ancestors sake both in her Fathers and Sisters Reigns The Earl of Essex his death in Ireland and the marriage of his Lady yet living deeply stains his commendation But in the Observations of his Letters and Writings there was not known a Stile or Phrase more religious and fuller of the streams of Devotion He was sent Governour by the Queen to the United States of Holland where we read not of his wonders for they say Mercury not Mars in him had the predominancy To the Policy he had from Northumberland his Father and the Publican Dudley his Grandfather he added they say Magick and Astrology and to his converse with Wise men his familiarity with Wizards Indeed he would say A States-man should be ignorant of nothing but should have all notices either within his own or his Confidents command His Brother Ambrose was the Heir to the Estate and he to the Wisdome of that Family He was the most reserved man of that Age that saw all and was invisible carrying a depth not to be fathomed but by the Searcher of Hearts Many fell in his time who saw not the hand that pulled them down and as many died that knew not their own Disease He trusted not his Familiars above a twelve-month together but either transported them for Forreign services or wasted them to another world His Ambition was of a large extent and his Head-piece of a larger Great was his Influence on England greater on Scotland and greatest of all on Ireland and the Netherlands where this close Genius acted invisibly beyond the reach of friends or the apprehension of enemies Declining an immediate opposition in Court-factions the wary Sir raised always young Favourites to outshine the old ones so balancing all others that he might be Paramount himself The modern policy and practices were but shallow to his who by promoting the Queens Match could hinder it who could decoy Hunsdon to Berwick Pembroke to Wales Sidney to Ireland while what with his great Train what with his growing Popularity he was called the Heart of the Court. To make his Basis equal to his Heighth he enlarged and strengthened his Interest by Alliance with the chief Nobility to whom he was related By his Patronage of Learning over which he was Chancellour by kindness to the Clergy whose Head he seemed to be by his command over all men whom either his favours had won or his frowns awed everybody being either within the Obligation of his Courtesies or the reach of his Injuries He advised some complyance with Philip of Spain for the Match he proposed while by degrees he altered Religion so as it must be impossible designing Queen Elizabeth for his own Bed while she made his way to the Queen of Scots whose refusal of him he made as fatal to her as his Marriage would have been advantageous The Queen of England promising to declare her next Heir to the Crown of England in case she failed of Issue upon that Match Leicester trepans Norfolk to treat a Match with the Scotch Queen and her to accept it to both their ruine both being engaged in such foolish Enterprizes by their enemies practices as made Leicester able in the head of a new Association in the Queens defence to take off Norfolk and his Ladies head He was always before-hand with his Designes being a declared enemy to After-games His Interest was Popery until my Lord North put him upon Puritanism but his Religion neither He promoted the French and Polish Match at Court and disparaged them in the Country When Cardinal Chatillian advertized her Majesty how Leicester drave Royal Suiters from her Court he was sent to another World He that would not hold by his favour must fall by his frown Arch-bishop Grindal not excepted His hand bestowed all favours and his brows all frowns the whole Court was at his Devotion and half the Council at his beck Her Majesty suspected but durst not remove him His Intelligence was good in Scotland better in Ireland best in Spain The Country was governed by his Allies and the Court by himself The Tower was in his servants hands London under his Creatures Government and the Law managed by his Confidents His treasure was vast his gains unaccountable all passages to preferment being in his hand at home and abroad He was never reconciled to her Majesty under 5000 l. nor to any Subject under 500 l. and was ever and anon out with both All Monopolies are his who commanded most mens Purses and all mens Parts A man was oppressed if he complyed with him and undone if he opposed him In a word his designe was thought a Crown his Parts too large for a Subject his Interest too great for a Servant his depth not fathomable in those days and his Policy not reached in these Observations on the Life of the Lord Hatton SIr Christopher Hâ—tton was a Gentleman who for his activity and Person was taken into the Queens favour He was first made Vice-Chamberlain and shortly after advanced to the place of Lord Chancellour A Gentleman that besides the Graces of his Person and Dancing had also the Adjectments of a strong and subtile capacity one that could soon learn the Discipline and Garb both of Times and Court The truth is he had a large proportion of Gifts and Endowments but too much of the season of Envy As he came so he continued in the Court in a Mask An honest man he was but reserved Sir John Perrot talked and Sir Christopher Hatton thought His features set off his
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
and her own sake the Knowles were of the same blood with her Majesty the Norrises spent theirs for her 1. My Lord Norris died at Court an honest man 2. Sir Francis at Bulloign a good Souldier 3. Sir William at Berwick a brave Governour As the first eminent Norris suffered for Anne Bullen the Queens Mother so the first eminent Knowles suffered with Protestantism her Religion 4. Sir Thomas at Munster a wise President 5. Sir Maximilian at Bretaign an expert Engineer 6. Maximilian at Groen a renowned Heroe 7. Sir John was a most accomplished General no less eminent for his safe retreats then for his resolute onsets France hath recorded this testimony of him That he brought on his men so warily as one that could bring them off and England this That he brought them off so resolutely as one that durst bring them on His fortune often overthrew his enemy and his wisdome oftner saved his friends His Conduct was famous and his Discipline exact His Actions are Presidents and his Orders Laws of War to this day He was bred under Castilion and out-did him Ireland was always possessed but never conquered till Norris came who could lie on the coldest earth swim the deepest Rivers Norris could not rise though he deserved his Honour because of Leicester that favoured his Brother Knowles and Essex that envyed him neither could Knowls advance because of Sussex that feared and Cecil that suspected him The Knowles were deserving but modest favoured but humble powerful but quiet rather firm at Court then high allied to the Queen and faithful to the Crown Queen Elizabeth advanced Sir Francis to the Vicechamberlainship Treasurership of the Houshold Captainship of the Guard and the Order of the Garter because she said He was an honest man and King James and King Charles raised his Son Sir William to the Earldome of Banbury because he was a serviceable man force the straightest Passes find out the most secret corners tread the softest Bog who could endure any thing but an affront and a Superiour the first whereof upon a repulse at Court saddened his heart as the second upon another Deputies being sent over him broke it Unsuccessful he was with Don Antonio in Spain because he understood not the Country In the Low-Countries he gained experience first and then victory in Ireland he had Connaught for his Grave Mount Norris his Monument and the Letter of Queen Elizabeth to his Mother his Epitaph Honestly faithful was that family to their Mistress that was and providently so were they to their Master that should be Handsom men they were when attending at Court and valiant when called to the Camp Norrises Knowles 1. The Norrises are employed in Embassies of War wherein they were active 1. The Knowles are abroad in religious Negotiations for which they had been Confessors Sir Francis in France and Sir Henry in Germany 2. My Lord Norris his resolution was very becoming in the demand of Calice 2. Francis Knowles his meekness was suitable to his perswasions for Religion 3. The Irish Conspirator Thoumond opened a Plot against the Government in Ireland to the Agent Norris 3. And the Scots Schismatick Humes discovered a designe against the Church in England to the Embassadour Knowles In 88 My Lord Hunsdon guarded the Queens person with 34000 foot and 2000 horse the Earl of Leicester commanded the Midland Army of 22000 foot and 1000 horse Sir Roger Williams and Sir Richard Bingham were in the head of 20000 in the Thames mouth and Sir John Norris and Sir Francis Knowles with other Assistants sate in the Council of War to overlook all Sir John advised three things 1. The Guarding of the Havens 2. The Training of the Militia and the preparing of them to be at an hours warning upon a signal given which was then the firing of a Beacon 3. That if the Enemy did land the Country should be laid waste before him the Train-bands alarming him day and night Sir Francis added 1. What Shires and what numbers should assist each Coast how the men should be armed how commanded and in what order they should fight 2. That the Papists should not be massacred as some would have it but secured 3. That the Deputy of Ireland should be instructed 4. That the King of Scots should be engaged 5. That Agents should be sent to the Netherlands and to France And 6. That the Queen should encourage the people with her own presence Sir John Norris died when he saw beyond others expectation and his own merit the Lord Burghe made Lord-Deputy and himself but President of Munster his great minde sinking under one affront from his Soveraign which had born up against all the assaults of her enemies leaving this honour behinde him That he laid the best grounds of Military practice in England But who can stand before Envy A further Character of Sir John Norris from Queen Elizabeths Letter to his Mother My own Crow HArm not your self for bootless help but shew a good example to comfort your dolorous yoak-fellow Although we have deferred long to represent to you our grieved thoughts because we liked full ill to yeild you the first reflexion of misfortune whom we have always rather sought to cherish and comfort yet knowing now that Nec'ssity must bring it to your ear and Nature consequently must move both grief and passion in your heart We resolved no longer to smother neither our care for your sorrow or the sympathy of our grief for your loss Wherein if it be true That Society in sorrow works diminution We do assure you by this true Messenger of our minde that Nature can have stirred no more dolorous affection in you as a Mother for a dear Son then Gratefulness and memory of his Service past hath wrought in Us his Soveraign apprehension of our miss for so worthy a Servant But now that Natures common work is done and he that was born to die hath paid his Tribute let that Christian discretion stay the flux of your immoderate grieving which hath instructed you both for example and knowledge that nothing in this kinde hath happened but by Gods Divine Providence And let these Lines from your loving gracious Soveraign serve to assure you that there shall ever appear the lively Character of our Estimation of him that was in our gracious care of you and yours that are left in valuing rightly all their faithful and honest Endeavours More at this time we will not write of this unpleasant subject but have dispatched this Gentleman to visit both your Lord and you and to condole with you in the true sense of your love and to pray that the world may see what time cureth in a weak minde that Discretion and Moderation helpeth in you in this accident where there is so just cause to demonstrate true Patience and Moderation Your Gracious and Loving Soveraign E. R. Observations on the Life of Secretary Davison THat Meteor of the Court raised onely in an
another Writing a Confession of one Luke Hutton acknowledging for 40 pound annuity the Countess hired him to poison them which Man with wonderful providence was found out privately and denies it to the King And thus prepared the King sends for Sir Thomas Lake whom indeed he very much valued tells him the danger to imbarque himself in this Quarrel advising him to leave them to the Law being now ready for the Star-Chamber He humbly thanked his Majesty but could not refuse to be a Father and a Husband and so puts his Name with theirs in a crâ—sse Bill which at the hearing took up five several days the King sitting in Judgement But the former testimonies and some private confessions of the Lady Rosse and Sarah Wharton which the King kept in private from publick proceedings made the Cause for some of the days of Tryal appear doubtful to the Court until the King's discovery which concluded the Sentence and was pronounced in several Censures Sir Thomas Lake and his Lady fined ten thousand pounds to the King five thousand pounds to the Countess fifty pounds to Hutton Sarah Wharton to be whipt at a Carts tail about the streets and to do penance at St. Martin's Church The Lady Rosse for confessing the truth and plot in the midst of the Tryal was pardoned by the Major Voices from penal Sentence The King I remember compared their Crimes to the first plot of the first sin in Paradise the Lady Lake to the Serpent her Daughter unto Eve and Sir Thomas to poor Adam whom he thought in his conscience that his love to his Wife had beguiled him I am sure he paid for all which as he told me cost him thirty thousand pounds and the losse of his Masters favour and Offices of gain and honour but truly with much pitty and compassion of the Court. Observations on the Life of the Earl of Suffolk HIS Uncle Northampton negotiated his preferment and his Father Norfolke deserved it for whose sake the eldest Son Philip Earl of Arundel was made Lord Marshal and this second first Chamberlain and then Treasurer wherein as the Earl of Middlesex understood well the priviledges of the City so my Lord kenned well the Revenues of the Crown But his fair Daughter that gained him most favour did him most harm he falling with his son Somerset's miscarriages when he might have stood without his Relation being as plain as his brother Henry was subtle as obliging as he was insinuating as knowing as he was cunning the one conversing with Books the other with Men. A Gentleman from whom I requested his Character returns me no more but this He was a man never endued with much patience and one that much retarded the progresse of his fortune by often speaking publickly with too much liberty Otherwise very true to the Maximes of his Age. 1. Linking himself to the Scots 2. Buying Fee-Farm Rents to avoid envy as my Lord of Salisbury before him in the Scots Debenturers names 3. Promoting Northern Suits And 4. projecting for money He was also Chancellor of Cambridge loving and beloved of the University When at his first coming to Cambridge Mr. Francis Nethersole Oratour of the University made a Latine Speech unto him the Lord returned Though I understand not Latine I know the sense of your Oration is to tell me that I am welcome to you which I believe verily I thank you for it heartily and will serve you faithfully in any thing within my power Doctor Harsenet the Vice-Chancellor laying hold on the handle of so fair a Proffer requested him to be pleased to entertain the King at Cambridge a favour which the University could never compasse from their former great and wealthy Chancellours I will do it saith the Lord in the best manner I may and with the speediest conveniency Nor was he worse than his word giving his Majesty such a Treatment in the University as cost him five thousand pounds and upwards Hence it was that after his death Thomas his second son Earl of Bark shire not suing for it nor knowing of it was chosen to succeed him losing the place as some suspected not for lack of Voices but fair counting them Observations on the Life of Sir Rob. Cary. HE was born an ingenious man of good parts and breeding but of so uncourtly a temper that in all likelihood we had not heard of him had he not had the luck to have been the first Messenger let out of the Court by the favour of his Father the Lord Chamberlain to bring King James news that Queen Elizabeth was dead when the Scots expectation was so tyred that they thought Queen Eliz. would never dye as long as there was an old woman that could either wear good cloaths or eat good meat in England Upon which good account he is a Bed-chamber-man to King James and a Tutor to Prince Charles though he had made better use of his Talent as a Soldier than as a Courtier having too much of the Candor of that Family that as the Historian observed spake of things always as they deserved And though he had wit enough yet he had not the judgement or way to make those stand in awe of him who were most obliged to him Observations on the Lives of Sir Robert Naunton and Sir Francis Nethersole SIr Robert Naunton is the Author of one Book of Observations upon the States-men of Qu Eliz. times must be the subject of another of King James his He noted then in his youth what he was to practice afterwards in his more reduced years His University-Studies at Trinity-Colledge whereof he was Commoner and at Trinity-Hall whereof he was Fellow His Speeches both while Proctor and Orator of Cambridge discovered him more inclined to publick Accomplishments than private Studies He improved the opportunity of the speech he was to make before K. James at Hinchinbrook so well that as His Majesty was highly affected with his Latine and Learning so he exactly observed his prudence and serviceablenesse whereupon he came to Court as Sir Thomas Overburies Assistant first and then as Sir George Villiers friend who promoted him to be Secretary of State Jan. 8. 1617. as his Majesty did a while after to be Mr. of the Wards The first place whereof he discharged with as much ability and dexterity as he did the second with integrity onely he was observed close-handed whether out of his natural inclination to Parsimony or some fixed design to regulate and reduce the great expences of this Nation or from some hidden and refined politick consideration that that might be done by a wary observation of men's integrity and inclination which was usually done with money and indeed as a great man observeth to procure good information of particulars touching persons their natures their desires and ends their customes and fashions their helps and advantages and whereby they chiefly stand So again their weaknesses and disadvantages and where they lye most open and obnoxious their friends
his love to Relations tender to Friends faithful to the hopeful liberal to men universal to his very Enemies civil He left the best pattern of Government in his actions under one King and the best principles of it in the Life of the other His Essays and History made him the admiration of polite Italy his Accomplishments the wonder of France Monsieur Fiat saying to him after an earnest desire to see him That he was an Angel to him of whom he had heard much but never saw him Solid and juycy Meat was his Diet and Rubarb his Physick four hours in the morning he made his own not by any means to be interrupted businesse was his fate retyrement his inclination Socrates brought Morality from Discourse to Practice and my Lord Bacon brought Philosophy from Speculation to Experience Aristotle he said taught many to dispute more to wrangle few to finde out Truth none to manage it according to his principles My Lord Bacon was a man singular in every faculty and eminent in all His Judgement was solid yet his memory was a wonder his Wit was quick yet his Reason staid his Invention was happy yet methodical and one fault he had that he was above the age he lived in above it in his bounties to such as brought him Presents so remembring that he had been Lord-Chancellour that he forgot he was but Lord Verulam Great his understanding and great his minde too above it in his kindnesse to servants to whom he had been a better Master if he had been a worse and more kinde if he had been lesse indulgent to them For the first of his Excesses King James jeered him in his progress to New-market saying when he heard he gave ten pounds to one that brought him some Fruit My Lord my Lord this is the way to Beggars-bush For the second he reflected upon himself when he said to his servants as they rose to him in his Hall Your rise hath been my fall Though indeed he rather trusted to their honesty than connived at their falshood for he did impartial Justice commonly to both parties when one servant was in fee with the Plaintiff and the other with the Defendant How well he understood his own time his Letters and complyances evidence than whom none higher in spirit yet none humbler in his Addresses The proudest man is most servile How little he valued wealth appeareth in that when his servants would take money from his Closet even while he was by he would laugh and say I poor men that is their portion How well he kenned the art of Converse his Essayes discover a piece as he observed himself that of all his Works was most current for that they come home to mens businesse and bosomes How far skilled in the Art of Government his H. 7. War with Spain Holy War Elements of the Law irrefragably demonstrate and how well seen in all Learning his Natural History and Advancement of Learning answerably argue In a word how sufficient he was may be conjectured from this instance that he had the contrivance of all King James his Designs untill the Match with Spain and that he gave those Directions to a great States-man which may be his Character and our conclusion Onely be it observed that though this peerlesse Lord is much admired by English-men yet is he more valued by Strangers distance as the Historian hath it diminishing his faults to Foreigners while we behold his perfections abated with his failings which set him as much below pity as his Place did once above it Sir Julius Caesar they say looking upon him as a burden in his Family and the Lord Brooke denying him a bottle of small beer Observations on the Life of the Lord John Digby JOhn Lord Digby of Sherborn and Earl of Bristol was a younger Son of an ancient Family long flourishing at â—â—leshull To passe by his younger years all children being alike in their Coats when he had onely an Annuity of fifty pounds per annum onely his youth gave pregnant hopes of that Eminency which his mature age did produce He did ken the Embassador's craft as well as any in his age employed by King James in several Services to Foreign Princes recited in his Patent as the main motives of the Honours conferred upon him But his managing the matchlesse Match with Spain was his Master-piece wherein a good I mean a great number of State-Traverses were used on both sides Where if he dealt in Generalities and did not presse Particulars we may ghesse the reason of it from that expression of his I will take care to have my Instructions perfect and will pursue them punctually If he held Affairs in suspence that it might not come to a War on our part it may be he did so with more regard to his Mr. King James his inclination than his own apprehension If he said That howsoever the businesse went he would make his fortune thereby it rather argued his weaknesse that he said so his sufficiency that he could do so than his unfaithfulnesse that he did so This is certain that he chose rather to come home and suffer the utmost displeasure of the King of England than stay in Spain and enjoy the highest favour of the King of Spain He did indeed intercede for some indulgeuce to the Papists but it was because otherwise he could do no good for the Protestants But whatever was at the bottom of his Actions there was resolution and noblenesse atop especially in these actions 1. Being carried from Village to Village after the King of Spain without that regard due to his person or place he expressed himself so generously that the Spanish Courtiers trembled and the King declared That be would not interrupt his Pleasures with businesse at Lerma for any Embassador in the world but the English nor for any English Embassador but Don Juan 2. When impure Scioppius upon his Libel against K. James and Sir Bennet's complaint to the Arch-Duke against him fled to Madrid my Lord observing that it was impossible to have Justice done against him from the Catholique King because of the Jesuites puts his Cousin George Digby upon cutting him which he did over his Nose and Mouth wherewith he offended so that he carried the mark of his Blasphemy to his Grave 3. When he was extraordinary Embassador in Germany upon his return by Heydelbergh observing that Count Mansfield's Army upon whom depended the fortune of the Palsgrave was like to disband for want of money he pawned all his Plate and Jewels to buoy up that sinking Cause for that time That his spirit was thus great abroad was his honour but that it was too great at home was his unhappiness for he engagaged in a fatal Contrast with the Duke of Buckingham that hazarded both their safeties had not this Lord feared the Duke's power as the Duke this Lord's policy and so at last it became a drawn Battle betwixt them yet so that this Earl
lost the love of King Charles living many years in his disfavour But such as are in a Court-cloud have commonly the Countreys Sun-shine and this Peer during his Eclipse was very popular with most of the Nation It is seldome seen if a Favourite once broken at Court sets up again for himself the hap rather than happiness of this Lord the King graciously reflecting on him at the beginning of the Long Parliament as one best able to give him the safest Counsel in those dangerous times But how he incensed the Parliament so far as to be exceped pardon I neither do know nor dare enquire Sure I am that after the surrender of Exeter he went over into France where he met with that due respect in Foreign which he missed in his Native Countrey The worst I wish such who causelesly suspect him of Popish inclinations saith my Author is that I may hear from them but half so many strong Arguments for the Protestant Religion as I heard from him who was to his commendation a cordial Champion for the Church of England This Family hath been much talked of this last forty years though all that I can say of it is this that great spirits large parts high honours penned within narrow Estates seldome blesse their owners with moderation or the places they live in with peace Oservations on the Life of the Lord Spencer HEe was the fifth Knight of his Family in an immediate succession well allied and extracted being descended from the Spencers Earls of Gloucester and Winchester In the first year of the Reign of King James being a moneyed man he was created Baron of Wormeleiton in the County of Warwick He had such a ready and quick Wit that once speaking in Parliament of the valour of their English Ancestors in defending the Liberty of the Nation returned this Answer to the Earl of Arundel who said unto him Your Ancestors were then keeping of Sheep If they kept Sheep yours were then plotting of Treason But both of them were at present confined but to the Lord Spencer the Upper-House ordered Reparations who was first and causelesly provoked This Lord was also he who in the first of King James was sent with Sir William Dethick principal King of Arms to Frederick Duke of Wirtenbergh elected into the Order of the Garter to present and invest him with the Robes and Ornaments thereof which were accordingly with geat solemnity performed in the Cathedral of Studgard And this was the Lord that when the Earl of Bristol charged the Duke of Buckingham started up and demanded Is this all you have to say against the Duke The Earl replyed Yes my Lord and I am sorry it is so much Then quoth the Lord Spencer If this be all Ridiculus mus and so sate down again The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of King James THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Charles I. Observations on the Life of the Duke of Buckingham NAture bestowed on him an exact comliness his Mother a noble education not so much to study as converse His Travels to France carriage and experience About which times he falls into intrinsecal society with Sir Job Greham then one of the Gentlemen of his Majesties Privy-Chamber who I know not upon what Luminaries he espyed in his Face disswaded him from Marriage and gave him rather encouragement to wooe Fortune at Court than court it in the City Which advice sank well into his fancy for within some while the King had taken by certain glances whereof the first was at Apthorpe in a Progresse such liking of his Person that he was resolved to make him a Master-piece and to mould him as it were Platonically to his own Idea Neither was his Majesty content onely to be the Architect of his Fortune without putting his gracious hand likewise to some part of the work it self Insomuch that it pleased him to descend and to avale his goodnesse even to the giving of his foresaid friend Sir John Greham secret directions how by what degrees he should bring him into favour His own parts and observation gained him prudence and discretion His Family and Ancestors in Leicester-shirt gentility and repute so that there wanted nothing but Interest to set him up a Courtier Sir Thomas Compton who had married his Mother supplyed him with the one and the Earls of Bedford Pembrook and Hertford who would eclipse Somerset helped him to the other For those three Lords meeting one night at Baynards-Castle and commanding Somerset's picture should be abused in their way next day Sir Thomas Lake leads him into Court buying him the Cup-bearers place A while after the Countess of Bedford ushereth him to the Presence-Chamber entering him a Bed-chamber-man and the Earl of Pembrook supports him untill he was a Favourite The Courtiers wished him well because he was an English-man the Nobility favoured him because a Gentleman the Ladies have a kindnesse for him because the exactest Courtier in Christendome the King observes him much for his compleat body more for his pregnant parts and the States-men now consulting Somerset's removal and finding King James his good nature loth to leave the bosome of one Minion until he had reposed himself in another made it their plot to advance him His carriage was free and debonair his passions even and smooth and one saith carried in his pocket his nature noble and open his temper industrious and inquisitive his intellectuals clear and capable his minde tractable and docible his spirit resolute and undaunted The first month he comes to Court he takes place above all his fellows and being removed with some affront by a creature of Somerset's gives him a box on the car an action that gave him and his friends a seasonable occasion of a Contest with Somerset and him a clear conquest over him Somerset as Chamberlain would have cut off his hand and he as Favourite was like to have cut off his head This new Favourite riseth all are weary of Somerset the first Minion all welcome the second The King is first his Tutor and then his Patron instructing him before he employed him Three sorts of studies he engaged him in the first was for delights in private Retyrements the second for ornament in Discourse the third for ability in Businesse He had Princely apprehensions of the principles and Maximes of Government a distinct notion of all his Affairs an excellent way to make use of other mens Abilities and these incomparable Rules from my Lord Bacon which were transcribed in his Life Sir In the first place I shall be bold to put you in minde of the present condition you are in You are not onely a Courtier but a Bed-chamber-man and so are in the eye and eare of your Master but you are also a Favourite The Fourite of the time and so are in his bosome also The world hath so voted you
and allowing them to be published for the common benefit His onely defect was that he was against the ancient Naval-aid called Ship-money both publickly in Westminster-Hall and privately in his judgement demanded by the King even at that time when our Neighbours not onely incroached upon our Trade but disputed our right in the Narrow-seas though concluded to subscribe according to the course of the Court by plurality of Voices The Country-mans wit levelled to his brain will not for many years be forgotten That Ship-money may be gotten by Hook and not by Crook though since they have paid Taxes Leynes to the little finger and Scorpions to the rod of Ship-money but whether by Hook or Crook let others enquire Hampden's share for which he went to Law being but eighteen shillings though it cost the Nation since eighteen millions Considering his declining and decaying age and desiring to examine his life and prepare an account to the supream Judge he petitioned King Charles for a Writ of Ease which though in some sort denyed what wise Master would willingly part with a good Servant was in effect granted unto him For the good King exacting from his Subjects no services beyond their years and abilities and taking it better at his hands that he confessed his infirmities than if he had concealed them discharged him from the pains though he allowed him the fees and honour of Chief-Justice while he lived Wherefore in gratitude as well as conscience however he was misled in the foresaid matter of Ship-money he abhorred the Faction heartily for he would say of Hampden He is a dangerous person take heed of him and loved the Church as heartily for we are told by a person of great worth and credit That having read over the book of Canons 1640. when it first came out and was so much spoken against he lifted up his hands and gave hearty thanks to Almighty God that he had lived to see such good effects of a Convocation In a word he was no lesse in his Life than he is in h 〈…〉 Epitaph now dead which runs thus Georgius Crook Eques Auratus unus justiciari 〈…〉 cum de Banco Regis Judicio Linceato ani 〈…〉 presenti insignis veritatis haeres quem nec min 〈…〉 nec hâ—nos allexit Regis authoritatem populi 〈◊〉 bertatem aequâ lance Libravit Religione cordatu 〈…〉 vitâ innocuus manu expansâ Corde humili pauperes irrogavit mundum vicit deseruit Anno Aetat Lxxxii Annoque R. C. I. xvâ—i Anno Domini MDCXLI Observations on the Life of Sir Rob. Armstroder HE was a great Soldier a skilful Antiquary and a good Fellow In the first capacity I finde him bringing off five hundred English for three miles together without the losse of a man from six thousand Spanyards along a plain Champion where the Enemy might have surrounded them at pleasure Well he could handle bright Armour in the Field better he understood that more rusty in the Tower therefore in his second capacity we have him picking up old Coyn traluing more a Dollar which he might study than a pound he might spend Yet though his minde was taken with the Curiosities of former Times his â—nclination was very compliant with the mode of his own for he was excellent company in which capacity none more prevalent than he in Germany where they talk much none more acceptable in Denmarke where they drink hard none more taking in Sweden where they droll smartly His humble proposition and submission in behalf of the Elector was accepted by the Emperour 1630. He went to Denmarke and the first night he arrived he pleased the King so well in drinking healths that his Majestie ordered that his businesse should be dispatched that very night and he shipped when asleep as he was to his own amazement when awaked and the amazement of all England when returned he being here before some thought he had been there Humour is the Mistresse of the world Neither was he more intent upon the pleasing of Foreign Princes than careful in the honour of his own especially in his faith word and impregnable honesty for he knew a faithlesse Prince is beloved of none but suspected by his friends not trusted of his enemies and forsaken of all men in his greatest necessities Yet he was not so taken with antique Medals abroad but he promoted a new invention at home for to him Sir H. Wotton we owe it that F. Klein the German a very eminent Artist in working Tapestry came over to serve K. Charls the first a Virtuoso judicious in all Liberal mechanical Arts and for 100 pounds per ann pension so improved that Manufacture at this time very compleat at Mortlack in a house built by Sir Francis Crane upon King James his motion who gave two thousand pounds towards it in that place General Tilly would say before Gustavus Adolphus came into Germany that he was happy for three things That he heard Masse daily that he had never touched a woman and that he had never lost a battel What-ever Sir Robert could say to the first he was very prosperous for the last that he never failed of success either in fighting or treating in the Field or in the Chamber Observations on the Life of Philip Earl of Arundel HAd his Faith been as Orthodox as his Fathers Faithfulnesse was eminent K. James his gratitude and his Uncle Northampton's policy had raised him as high as his Father hath been and his son is But since his opinion made him a Separatist from the Church and his temper a recluse from the Court we have him in a place of Honour onely as Earl Marshal while we finde his Brother in a place of Profit as Lord Treasurer though both in a place of Trust as Privy-Counsellors where this Earl approved himself a confutation of his Uncles maxime That a through-paced Papist could not be a true-hearted Subject being as good an English-man in his heart is he was a Catholick in his conscience onely the greatnesse of his spirit would not suffer any affronts in Parliament whence he endured some discountenance from the Court insomuch that the House of Lords finding him a Prisoner when they sate 1626 would not act until after several of their Petitions he was released when his temper yielding with years he was very complying onely he â—resumed to marry his Son to an Heiress the King â—nd disposed of elsewhere which yet he laid upon the women that made the Match Indeed the 〈◊〉 Observator saith That women of all creatures are the most dextrous in contriving their designs their natural sprightfulnesse of imagination attended with their leasure furnishing them with a thousand Expedients and proposing all kinds of Overtures wi 〈…〉 such probability of happy suceâ—sse that they easily desire and as eagerly pursue their design When he was sometimes barred the service of his own time he studied those before him being a fond Patron of Antiquaries
knowledge and experience of that stayedness and moderation of that sobriety and temperance of that observation and diligence as Bishops are presumed to be were in all Governments judged as fit to manage publique affairs as men of any other professions whatever without any prejudice to the Church which must be governed as well as taught and managed as well as a society dwelling in the world as under the notion of a peculiar people taken out of it His successful skill in dealing with the Papists under my Lord of Huntington President of the North and with the Puritans under Doctor Cosin an Ecclesiastical Officer in the South recommended him to Sir Walsingham's notice as a person too useful to be buried in a Country-Living who thereupon intended to set up his Learning in a Lecture at Cambridge to confute the Doctrine of Rome untill Queen Eliz. resolved to set up his prudence in other Employments at Court to countermine its policy where I know not whether the acuteness of his Sermons took most with the most Learned the devotion of them with the most pious or the prudence of them with the most Wise it hath been one thing always to Preach learnedly and another thing to preach wisely for to the Immensity of his Learning he added excellent Principles of politick prudence as a governour of the Church and a Councellor of State wherein he was conspicuous not for the crafty projects and practices of policy or for those sinister ways of Artifice and subtlety or the admired depths of Hypocrisie called reason of State nor the measures and rules of his Politicks and Prudentials were taken from the great experience he had gotten and many excellent observations he had made out of all Histories as well Humane as Divine though he always laid the greatest weight upon the grounds and instances of holyScripture which gives the truest judgement of wisdom or folly considering the mixture of State-affairs with those of the Church in Christian Common-wealths and the fitnesse of sober and discreet Clergy-men for those of the State in all It 's a wonder how Clergy-men come to be excluded publick Councils at any time but observing Bishop Andrews his insight into the Fundamental constitution of our State as appears from his Speech in the Countess of Shrewsbury's Case His distinct foresight of the consequences of Affairs evident in his speech against Thraske His circumspect care of the Publick visible in his Petition to King James then sick at New-Market that the Prince then under Scotch Tutors be educated by well-principled men the occasion that King James took to bring him up himself so exactly in the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church that it 's a question whether he was more by his Pen or Sword his Scepter or his Style The Defender of the Faith His wonderfull skill in the government of this Church discerned by the excellent King Charles in that he sent so many Bishops to consult with him 1625. what was to be done for the Church in that Parliament His caution and moderation in that he never unlesse upon great considerations innovated in his Church but left things in the same decency and order he found them knowing that all alterations have their dangers I am astonished to think that Bishops should be forbidden secular employment in our time Who hath more ampleness and compleatness saith Bishop Gauden for a good man a good Bishop a good Christan a good Scholar a good Preacher and a good Counsellor than Bishop Andrews a man of an astonishing excellency both at home and abroad Observations on the Life of Henry Earl of Manchester HEnry Earl of Manchester third son to Sir Edward Mountague Grand-childe to Sir Edward Mountague Lord Chief-Justice of the King's Bench in King Edward the sixth's time was born at Boughton in Northampton-shire One skilful in mysterious Arts beholding him when a School-boy foretold that by the pregnancy of his parts he would raise himself above the rest of his Family which came to passe accordingly He being bred first in Christs-Colledge in Cambridge then in the Middle-Temple where he attained to great Learning in the Laws passed through many preferments as they are reckoned up viz. 1. Sergeant at Law 2. Knighted by K. James July 22. 1603. 3. Recorder of London 4. Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench Novemb. 18. 1616. 5. Lord Treasurer of England Decemb. 16. 1620. 6. Baron of Kimbolton 7. Viscount Mandevile 8. President of the Council Sept. 29. 1621. 9. Earl of Manchester 10. Lord Privy-Seal He wisely perceiving that Courtiers were but as Counters in the hands of Princes raised and depressed in valuation at pleasure was contented rather to be set for a smaller sum than to be quite put up into the box Thus in point of place and preferment being pleased to be what the King would have him according to his Motto Movendo non mutando me he became almost what he would be himself finally advanced to an Office of great Honour When Lord Privy-Seal he brought the Court of Requests into such repute that what formerly was called the Alms-Basket of the Chancery had in his time well-nigh as much meat in and guests about it I mean Suits and Clients as the Chancery it self His Meditations of Life and Death called Manchester Al mondo written in the time of his health may be presumed to have left good impressions on his own soul preparatory for his dissolution which happened 164 ... The Office of Lord Treasurer was ever beheld as 〈◊〉 place of great charge and profit My Lord being demanded what it might be worth per ann made this answer That it might be some thousands of pounds to him who after death would go instantly to heaven twice as much to him who would go to Purgatory and a Nemo scit to him who would adventure to a worse place But indeed he that will be a bad husband for himself in so advantageous a place will never be a good one for his Soveraign Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Wotton and his Relations SIr Henry Wotton first having read of his Ancestor Sir Robert Wotton the noble Lieutenant of Guisnes and Comptroller of Callais in King Edward the fourth's days His Grand-father Sir Edward Wotton that refused to be Chancellour of England in King Henry the Eighth's time 2. Having known his Father Sir Thomas Wotton one of the most Ingenuous modesty the most Ancient freedome plainnesse single-heartednesse and integrity in Queen Elizabeths Reign His Brothers Sir Edward Wotton the famous Comptroller of Queen Eliz. and K. James his Court since Lord Wotton Baron Morley in Kent Sir James Wotton with R. Earl of Essex Count Lodowick of Nassaw Don Christophoro son of Antonio King of Portugal c. Knighted as an excellent Soldier at Cadiz Sir John Wotton the accomplished Traveller and Scholar for whom Queen Eliz. designed a special favour His Uncle Nicholas Wotton Dean of Canterbury and Yorke nine times Embassador for the Crown
doubted and won those that contradicted in King Henry's Cause But he served not King Henry more faithfully in Germany then he provided for him honourably in England where the Kings Cause waited for his Assistance and the See of Canterbury for his Acceptance He was willing to promote Religion he was unwilling for some Formalities he scrupled to advance himself but after seven Weeks delay it being as fatal to refuse King Henry's Favours as to offer him Injuries he is Archbishop in his own Defence in which capacity to serve the King and salve his own Conscience he used the Expedient of a Protestation to this purpose In nomine c. Non est nec erit meae voluntatis aut intentionis per hujusmodi Juramentum juramenta qualiter verba in ipsis posita sonare videbuntur me obligare ad aliquid ratione eorundem post hac dicendum faciendum aut attestandum quod erit aut esse videbitur contra legem Dei vel contra Regem aut Rempublicam legesve aut Praerogativa ejus quod non intendo per hujusmodi juramentum quovis modo me obligare quò minùs liberò loqui consulere consentire valeam in omnibus singulis Reformationem Ecclesiae prerogativam Coronae concernentibus ea exequi reformare quae in Ecclesia Anglicana reformanda videbuntur This Protestation he made three times once at the Charter-House another time at the Altar and a third time at the receiving of his Pall. In his place he was moderate between the Superstition of Rome and the Phrensies of Munster As he was chief Instrument in beginning the Reformation so he was in continuing it He withstood the Six Articles and though the King sent five prime Ministers of State to comfort him would not be satisfied until he saw them mitigated in King Henry's time and repealed in King Edward's Gardiner would have questioned him for entertaining forreign Hereticks and promoting Domestick Schisms the Northern Rebells accused him for subverting the Church but the King upheld him against both suppressing the One and checking the Other and advising the good Man whom he called Fool for his meek disposition to appeal to him Whereupon Russel cried The King will never suffer him to be imprisoned until you finde Him guilty of High Treason He is to be pitied for his intermediate failings but renowned for his final constancy The King having declared before all his Servants that Cranmer was his best Servant he employeth him in his best service the Reformation of Religion wherein all others failed but the King Cromwel and Brandon backed him so far that he had the Bible and the necessary Offices of the Church translated into English He had both Universities at his command He brought the Lords House and Convocation to his Lure and was invested with a Power 1. To grant Dispensations in all things not repugnant to Gods Law nor the Kings safety 2. To determine Ecclesiastical Causes He as charitably as politickly advised the King to accept of Bishop Fisher's partial Subscription considering his Learning and Reputation As he is King Henry's Instrument at Dunstable to divorce him from Queen Katharine so he is at Lambeth to divorce him from Anna Bullen He promoted in the Convocation all Primitive Doctrines and condemned all new-fangled Opinions He was so charitable that he interceded with the King for his Enemies so munificent that he made the Church and his own House a Refuge for Strangers particularly for P. Fagius P. Martyr Martin Bucer c. The King loved him for his Integrity the People for his Moderation He was called the Kings Father and was Queen Elizabeth's Godfather His Piety reduced the Church and his Policy the State He spake little to others he conferred much with himself Three words of His could do more then three hours discourse of Others He wousd say as Victorinus There is a time to say nothing there is a time to say something but there is never a time to say all things That King who awed all Others feared Him A Second to the Eternal Power is the Wise Man uncorrupt in his Life He was the Executor of God's Will in King Henry's Life-time and the first of His after his Death As He spurred King Henry to a Reformation so King Edward did Him whose Prudence was not so forward as the Others Zeal who looked at what was Lawful as He did at what was Convenient He maintained the Churches Power as resolutely against Bishop Hooper's Scruples notwithstanding potent Intercession as he reformed its Corruptions against the Popes Interest notwithstanding a general Opposition He allowed not the least Errour in not the least contempt of the Church He restored its primitive Doctrine and Discipline lest it should be an impure Church he upheld them lest it should be none He was one of fourteen that compiled the Common-Prayer He was One of Two that set out the Homilies and the onely man that published the Institution of a Christian man and other good Books With his Advice King Edward did much and designed more He was the chief Author of King Edward's Injunctions and the first Commissioner in them He was President of the Assembly at Windsor for Reformation and of the Council at London His Articles were strict and severe as much grounded on the Canon of Scripture as on the Canons of the Church He convinced more Papists with his Reason and Moderation then others by their Power His Heart never failed him in his Life and it was not burned at his Death He did so much for the Protestant Religion in King Henry's Days that he foresaw he should suffer for it in Queen Mary's He was unwilling to wrong Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth therefore he refused at first to sign King Edward's Testament but Duke Dudley's Will He was willing to continue the Protestant Religion therefore he signed it at last It was a Bishop that was one of the first that abolished Popery in England and one of the last that died for Protestantisme It was a Bishop that maintained the Protestant Cause with Arguments while he lived and with his Blood when he died Observations on Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellour of England HE rise up high because he stept out well Sir Thomas More was half way Chancellour when born to Sir John More Chief Justice The Father's Prudence Wit and Noblenesse flowed with his Blood to the Sons Veins Much Honour he received from his Family more he gave to it His Mother saw his Face shining in Dream on her Wedding Night and his Father saw his Life so really A quick City-Spirit made him capable of great State-Employments He was saved by a Miracle and was One For his Nurse riding with him over a Water and being in some danger threw him over a Hedge where she found him not hurt but sweetly smiling upon her A Free-school seasoned his forward Childhood and the grave wise and excellent Cardinal Mortons House his Youth The One
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
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
calling the City and the Kingdome to their assistance by a Proclamation The Protector fleeth with the King and a Guard to Hampton-Court the City sometimes resolved to assist the Lords out of malice to the Protector sometimes to forbear out of such consideration of its many misfortunes in opposing Kings set forth not with more Integrity by George Stadlow then Eloquence and Life by John Ayliffe They delay Sir Anthony Wingfield Captain of the Guard perswardes the King of the Lords moderation and and Loyalty the Duke is to answer for himself the Laywers charge him with removing Westminster-hall to Somerset-house where he kept a Court of Requests and determined Title of Lands the Souldiers with the detaining of their pay and betraying our-French Garisons the States-men with the engrossing of all Authority The Earl of Warwick vigilantly but closely manageth all discontents to his designe with this great advantage that he was subtle close and implacable while the other was free-spirited open-hearted humble hard to distrust easie to forgive His friend the Lord Russel is absent he is first tryed and acquitted but with the loss of his Protectorship Treasurership Marshalship and 2000 l. of Land more But Warwick's designe for the Crown ripening and Somerset being the most eminent obstruction in his way having weakned before he ruines him now he chargeth him with Treason to make a noise and with Felony to do execution the Council is packed he looseth his life for a small crime and that on a nice point subtilly devised and packed by his enemies forgetting to ask the benefit of the Clergy that had saved it This Person as Mr. Fuller charactereth him was religious himself a lover of all such as were so and a great promoter of the Reformation Valiant and successful generally beloved by Souldiers envied by States-men though the most conscientious of them all doing nothing irregularly but in complyance with the necessities of Government open to dangers as one that could not be jealous better to act then designe to perform then plot When he was discharged of Treason there was so loud a shout in Westminster-hall as was heard to Long-acre when condemned of Felony there was a silence and amazement for three hours Beheaded he was on Tower-hill with no less praise for his piety and patience then pity and grief of the spectators His Death was attended with many signes and wonders and his Name with an indelible character his house being called Somerset-house to this day though solemnly proclaimed by King James Denmark-house because inhabited by the King of Denmark and his Sister Surely saith my Author this Duke was well beloved since his Name made such indelible impression on 〈…〉 house whereof he was not five years in possession Death hath this also That it openeth the Gate 〈◊〉 good Fame and extinguisheth Envy Philip asked Demetrius if he did not fear to lose his head He answered No for if he did the Athenians would give him one immortal He should be statued in the Temple of Eternal Fame Nil non Mortale tenemus Pectoris exceptis ingeniique bonis En ego cum Patria caream vobisque domoque Raptaque sint adimi quae potuere mibi Virtute attamen ipse mea comitorque fruorque Caesar in hoc potuit juris habere nibil Quilibet hanc saevo vitam mihi finiat ense Mâ— tamen extincto fama perennis erit All that we hold will die But our brave Thoughts and Ingenuity Even I that want my Country House and Friend From whom is ravished all that Fate can rend Possess yet my own Genius and enjoy That which is more then Caesar can destroy Each Groom may kill me but whensoe'er I die My Fame shall live to mate eternity Brave men never die Worth begets in weak and â—ase minds Envy in the Magnanimous Emulation in Posterity Renown A Renown that is as the beams about the Sun or the glory about an holy picture that shews it to be a Saint though it be no essential part it riseth from the body of that Vertue which cannot chuse but shine and give a light through all the clouds of errour and destruction And though sometimes the mists and vapours of the lower earth impede the light it gives yet there will be apparent Rays that shew there is Desert unseen which yeilds those â—leams of brightness to the whole Horizon that it moves and shines in which survive to a glorious kind of immortality when the Good Man is dead and gone a Good Name being the embalming of the Vertuous to an eternity of love and gratitude among posterity For my own Honour saith the Royal Martyr I am well assured that as mine Innocence is clear before God in point of any calumnies they object so my Reputation shall like the Sun after Owls and Bats have had their freedome in the night rise and recover its self to such a degree of splendour as those feral birds shall be grieved to behold nd unable to bear Observations on the Lives of the Pars. SIr William Par Uncle and Lord Chamberlain to Queen Katharine Par was by King Henry the Eighth created Baron Par of Horton he left two Daughters onely married into the Families of Tressam and Lane His Relation called him to Court but his Age forbid him the pleasures and his own Reservedness the freedom of that place before which he preferred the pious peaceable and hospitable way of the Countrey where Popularity affected him more then he affected it No man being more beloved by the vulgar no man less in love with them It being his Observation 〈…〉 ther then his Countrey-man Sir gue's saying That if you do the common sort of people nineteen courtesies together yet you may lose th 〈…〉 love if you go but over the stile before them His Cousin Sir William was brought by his Sister to Court and advanced by his Brother to Honour being for his Majesties sake as well as his own made Lord Far of Kendal Earl of Essex by King Henry the Eighth and Marquess of Northampton by King Edward Queen Mary deprived him of his Estate and Honour for siding with the Lady Jane and Queen Elizabeth restored him to both for favouring the Protestant Religion His Delight was Musick and Poetry and his Exercise War being a happy composure of the hardest and softest Discipline equally made for Court and Camp for Delight or Horrour But his skill in the Field answered not his industry nor his success his skill Yet King Edward called him His Honest Uncle and King Henry His Integrity The whole Family was made by a Marriage but died Issueless The common Rule of Favourites is to bring in all their Relations about them to adorn and support them but this Marquess would say A wall that hath a firm Bottom had need of no Buttress and that which wants it is often rather thrust down then upheld by it The Antiquaries crouch as though they upheld the Church when they are
place with the awe of his presence and the influence of his Authority that he was at once its support and its glory Indeed Courts being those Epitomes wherethrough strangers look into Kingdomes should be Royally set off as with Utensils so with attendance that might possess all Comers with reverence there and fear elsewhere His Person graced his Imployment and therefore his Majesty honoured his Person with the Order of the Garter and the Title of Lord Russel and that his Preferment might keep pace with his Honour he is made Lord Privy Seal and his Nephew Sir John Gage Controller His Honour slacked not his Activity but improved it neither was his Vertue onely violent in Ambition and dull in Authority Power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring therefore my Lord to his Staff added his Sword and to his Court-honour his Field-service as Lieutenant-General before Muttrel and Marshal before Buâ—oign to the relief of the first whereof he drew Mounsieur Bies that his Majejesty might take the second In the Camp he drew up the Designes in the Field he managed the Treasure and in Action to him was intrusted the Conduct and manage In the Kings last Will and Testament he was the fifth person and in his Sons Council the fifth to whom he discovered a French Plot the first year of his Raign and for whom he broke the Devonshire Rebels what with delays what with stratagems to divide them according to their several Inclinations the second for which service he was made Earl of Bedford The third in the Faction at home between the Seymours and the Dudleys he was Neuter in the Treaties abroad between the French King and his Majesty of England he was Principal where he observed three Rules 1. That there should be a general Muster at home while this Treaty went on abroad 2. That there should be a blow given the Scots before there was a Peace made with the French 3. That we should first know the French Overtures before we made our own But while he was here he discovered a Plot that the Emperour had to transport the Lady Mary over to his Dominions and thereby bring her Brother to his terms whereupon he with 200 men watcheth one Port the Duke of Somerset with 200 more a second and Master St. Leiger with 400 men a third while the Lady was fetched by my Lord Chancellor to the King But while he was serving his Master the King abroad his Friend the Protector wanted his advice and assistance at home 〈…〉 he being of purpose sent out of the way while thaâ— unfortunate Duke is first betrayed by his own folly and then ruined by his Enemies Power I finde his hand among the rest of the Counsellors in a Letter to Queen Mary but not in Arms against her He was concluded by the major Vote to a Commission for Peace but not to Action for conscience sake Faithful he is therefore to her in Council and serviceable in Spain and France from the first of which places he brought her a Husband and from the second a Treasure He understood her Right and disputed not her Religion regarding not so much her Opinion as his own Duty not what she was but what he should be And thus he behaved himself until his dear Mistress Elizabeth took him for one of her Protestant Counsellours to balance her Popish ones and not onely of her Council but of her Cabinet for as every man must have his Friend to ease his heart so Princes have their Favourites to partake of their cares and the Marquess of Northampton the Earl of Bedford and Sir William Cecil were the onely Persons to whom the Queen communicated her designe of Reformation and correcting the Common-prayer and they ordered affairs so that the Protestants should be in hope and yet the Papists should not be out of hope King Philip had a quarrel with the Queen for rejecting his suit the King of Sweden for slighting his Son the King of France in his Wives Right the Queen of Scots in her Own and the Pope for excluding his Supremacie her Subjects were as unsettled in their Loyalty as in their Religion What remained but that my Lord of Bedford and Sir William Cecil should make up a well-tempered House of Commons by their Interest who should carry along an indifferent House of Lords by their Resolution When he had served the Queen in Parliament for the settlement of her Kingdom at home he served the Kingdom in an Embassie to Scotland to set up its correspondence abroad The Earl of Leicester aimed at the Queen of England and the Earl of Bedford to divert him and secure Scotland design'd him for the Queen of Scots whom he watched for two things 1. That she should either match with an English Subject or 2. With a soft and weak Forreigner that either the Scots might be in league with us or have no peace at home His last service I finde is a complement when he was sent by the Queen as her Deputy with a font of massie Gold worth 1043 l. to hold King James at his Baptism with express command not to acknowledge my Lord Darley as King This his service was as lasting as his life which ended in old Age and Renown He conveyed his Vertue and Honour to the Excellent Francis as he did to the Right Honourable William Earl of Bedford now living Observations on the Life of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester THe tuition of the Earl of Dorset's Children raised Wolsey travelling with the Duke of Norfolk's raised Gardiner Fox his service in the quality of Secretary made the first and his in the same quality made Gardiner There are three kindes of Understanding The one that is advised by its self the second that understandeth when it is informed by another the third that neither is advised by its self nor by the assistance of another If this Doctor failed in the first and his own invention he exceeded in the second of making use of others for he was one of them that never heard or read what was not his own His Profession was the Civil Law that guideth forreign Negotiations His Inclination was that general Policy that manageth them His Eminencies were three 1. His Reservedness Whereby he never did what he aimed at never aimed at what he intended never intended what he said and never said what he thought whereby he carried it so that others should do his business when they opposed it and he should undermine theirs when he seemed to promote it A man that was to be traced like the Fox and read like Hebrew backward If you would know what he did you must observe what he did not 2. His Boldness Authority sometimes meets with those impediments which neither power can overcome nor good fortune divert if Courage and Fortitude break not through and surmount them and the motions of the irascible faculties such as Hope Boldness and Choler being well ordered and
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
prudent then the opening of it and judging it more wisdome to satisfie the world with the old Law That the Crown takes away all defects then to perplex it with new disputes Whether Queen Elizabeth were Legitimate State-miscarriages are rather to be privately connived at then publickly redressed the remedy it may be doing no more service then putting the people in minde of the mishap He neither affected nor attained to Greatness Mediocria firma was his Principle and his Practice When Queen Elizabeth asked him Why his House was so little he answered Madam my House is not too little for me but you have made me too big for my House Give me said he a good Estate rather then a great one He had a very Quaint saying saith Robert Naunton and he used it often to very good purpose That he loved the Jest well but not the loss of his Friend He would say That though unusqnisque suae fortunae faber was a true and good Principle yet the most in number were those that marred themselves but I will never forgive that man that looseth himself to be rid of his Jest The Excellency of his Parts was set off with the Gravity of his Person and the Queen would say My Lord Bacon ' s Soul lodgeth well His Account of England and all its Affairs was punctual his use of learned Artists was continual his correspondence with his fellow-States-men exact his apprehension of our Laws and Government clear his Model of both methodical his faithfulness to the Church eminent his industrious invention for the State indesatigable He was in a word a Father of his Country and of Sir Francis Bacon Sir Nicholas Bacon was that moderate man that was appointed to preside at the Disputation between the Protestant and Popish Doctors in the first of Queen Elizabeth He was that Judicious States-man to whom was trusted the management of that Parliament and Convocation The satisfaction of the People and Kingdome and those Delatory Proceedings with France Spain and Rome that were at the bottom of the great work of Reformation and settlement at that time Observations on the Life of William Cecil Lord Burleigh WIlliam Cecil was born with the advantage of being Cecil's Son who was of the Robes to King Henry and a Legatee in his Will and bred with that of being Commoner of St. Johns in Cambridge and Student at the Innes of Court in London whence he was advanced by his Pregnancy to serve the Duke of Somerset in quality of Master of Requests as he was afterwards by his Master to attend King Edward the sixth in the capacity of Secretary of State where he furnished all Acts and Orders with Reasons of State as he had them fitted by able Lawyers with Arguments of Law He loved always they say to wrap the Prerogative in the Laws of the Land He was constant but not obstinate in his Advice As the Planets are whirled about dayly from East to West by the motion of the Primum Mobile yet have a contrary motion of their own from West to East which they slowly yet surely move at their leisures so our States-man though yeilding in some things to Greatness of some Persons in an Age wherein it was present drowning not to swim against the stream Yet had he his counter-endeavours against the prevailing strain and privately advanced his rightful Intentions against others wrongful Ambitions If dissenting from his Superiours he did it with all humility and moderation yet chusing always rather to displease then betray He was in much favour with King Edward in some with Queen Mary in most with Queen Elizabeth who though sparing of her Honours yet heaped on him the trust of Secretary of State the Profits of the Master of the Wards the Advancement of Lord Treasurer and the degree of Baron of Burleigh for as he followed the Marquess of Winchester in his Employment so he did in his Complyance When he was out of Place he was not out of service in Queen Mary's days his Abilities being as necessary in those times as his Inclination and that Queens Council being as ready to advance him at last as they were to use him all her Reign In Queen Elizabeth's time he setled the Crown by setling Religion and by an utter separation from Rome strengthened England He made equal use of those that were then Protestants by Interest and they who were so in Conscience Those that had affections for Church-lands and those that had affections for the Church The Pope would by a Bull confirm the sale of Abby-Lands But who said Burleigh can confirm the Popes Bull The King of Spain secured the Queen in hope of her Bed the Pope winked at her in hope of her Heart Burleigh over-reached the one by a fair complaysance and the other by insensible alterations During the Queens ten years calm Cecil provided for a tempest and improved her Shipping and Ammunition to a dreadfulness at Sea as he did her Army to a great skill and experience by Land He made Holland our Stage of War and our School of Discipline where England gained the security and experience of War without its calamity and desolations always Offensive and once onely Defensive His Intelligence abroad was no less then his Prudence at home and he could write to a friend in Ireland what the King of Spain could do for two years together and what he could not do His Advices from his Pensioners abroad were presented Queen Elizabeth once a fortnight 1. clearly and plainly 2. methodically and distinctly 3. speedily and seasonably 4. truly and fully He exchanged his Interest for Walsinghams Intelligence who commanded what he could do as he did what the other knew The Bull clapped at London-house was first in our States-mans Study where they might learn what they were to do and Protestants what to expect many years before any thing was visible When Leicester would have no Equal and Sussex no Superiour then Cecil as Neuâ—er served himself of them both He would wrestle with neither of them yet he would trip them both they having many rubs in their way yet never saw who laid them He never quarrelled with any neither saith Cambden did he ever sue or was he ever sued Prudens qui Patiens was his saying before it was Sir Edward Cookes Motto and he had rather tire out Opposition by his Moderation then improve it by his Impatience Others were raised to balance Factions he to support the Kingdome Fickle Favour tossed them constant Interest secured him No fewer then the Marquess of Winchester the Duke of Norfolk the Earls of Northumberland Arundel Pembroke Leicester and Westmorland contrived his fall but reason of State and his Mistress kept up his standing Sir Nicholas Throgmorton advised them to clap him up saying That then men would open their mouths to speak freely against him but the Queen understanding hereof and standing as I may say saith my Author in the very prison-door quashed
at the settlement of Governments but fall after it being but unruly Waves to a steady Rock breaking themselves on that solid Constitution they would break Few aimed at Favourites as Sir John did at the Lord Chancellor but their Arrows fell on their own heads Soveraignty being always struck through prime Counsellours and Majesty through its chief Ministers Sir John Perrot no sooner clashed with Hatton then he lost the Queen and ever since he reflected on his Dancing he lost his own footing and never stood on his legs Observations on the Life of Sir Francis Walsingham HE was a Gentleman at first of a good house but of a better Education and from the University travelled for the rest of his Learning He was the best Linguist of the times but knew best how to use his own tongue whereby he came to be employed in the chiefest Affairs of State He was sent Ambassadour into France and stayed there a Leiger long in the heat of the Civil Wars At his return he was taken Principal Secretary and was one of the great Engines of State and of the times high in the Queens favour and a watchful servant over the safety of his Mistress He acted the same part in the Courts of France about that Match that Gundamor if I be not mistaken saith Sir Robert Naunton did in the Court of England about the Spanish His apprehension was quick and his Judgement solid his Head was so strong that he could look into the depth of men and business and dive into the Whirlpools of State Dexterous he was in finding a secret close in keeping it Much he had got by Study more by Travel which enlarged and actuated his thoughts Cecil bred him his Agent as he bred hundreds His Converse was infinuating and reserved He saw every man and none saw him His Spirit was as publick as his Parts and it was his first Maxime Knowledge is never too dear yet as Debonnair as he was prudent and as obliging to the softer but predominant parts of the world as he was serviceable to the more severe and no less Dexterous to work on humours then to convince Reason He would say he must observe the joynts and flexures of Affairs and so could do more with a Story then others could with a Harangue He always surprized business and preferred motions in the heat of other diversions and if he must debate it he would hear all and with the advantage of aforegoing speeches that either cautioned or confirmed his resolutions he carried all before him in conclusion beyond reply He out-did the Jesuites in their own bowe and over-reached them in their own equivocation and mental reservation never telling a Lye but warily drawing out and discovering truth As the close Room sucketh in most Air so this wary man got most intelligence being most of our Papists Confessour before their death as they had been their Brethrens before their treason He said what another writ That an habit of secrecy is policy and vertue To him mens faces spake as much as their tongues and their countenances were Indexes of their hearts He would so beset men with Questions and draw them on pick it out of them by piece-meals that they discovered themselves whether they answered or were silent This Spanish Proverb was familiar with him Tell a Lye and finde a Truth and this Speak no more then you may safely retreat from without danger or fairly go through with without opposition Some are good onely at some affairs in their own acquaintance Walsingham was ready every where and could make a party in Rome as well as England He waited on mens souls with his eye discerning their secret hearts through their transparent faces He served himself of the Factions as his Mistress did neither advancing the one nor depressing the other Familiar with Cecil allied to Leicester and an Oracle to Sussex He could overthrow any matter by undertaking it and move it so as it must fall He never broke any business yet carried many He could discourse any matter with them that most opposed so that they in oppofing it promoted it His fetches and compass to his designed speech were things of great patience and use Twice did he deceive the French as Agent once did he settle the Netherlands as Commissioner and twice did he alter the Government of Scotland as Embassadour Once did France desire he might be recalled because he was too hard for the Counsel for the Hugonots and once did Scotland request his remand because he would have overturned their Constitution 53 Agents did he maintain in Forreign Courts and 18 Spies for two Pistols an Order he had all the private Papers of Europe few Letters escaped his hands whose Contents he could read and not touch the Seals Bellarmine read his Lectures at Rome one moneth and Reynolds had them confuted the next So patient was this wise man Chiselhurst never saw him angry Cambridge never passionate and the Court never discomposed Religion was the interest of his Country in his judgement and of his Soul therefore he maintained it as sincerely as he lived it it had his head his purse and his heart He laid the great foundation of the Protestant Constitution as to its policy and the main plot against the Popish as to its ruine He would cherish a plot some years together admitting the Conspirators to his own and the Queens presence familiarly but dogging them out watchfully his Spies waited on some men every hour for three years and lest they could not keep counsel he dispatched them to forraign parts taking in new Servants His training of Parry who designed the murder of Queen Elizabeth the admitting of him under the pretence of discovering a Plot to the Queens presence and then letting him go where he would onely on the security of a Dark Sentinel set over him was a piece of reach and hazard beyond common apprehension But Kingdomes were acted by him as well as private persons It is a likely report saith one that they father on him at his return from France when the Queen expressed her fear of the Spanish designe on that Kingdome with some concernment Madam said he be content not to fear the Spaniard hath a great appetite and an excellent digestion but I have fitted him with a bone for this twenty years that your Majesty shall have no cause to doubt him Provided that if the fire chance to slack which I have kindled you will be ruled by me and now and then cast in some English â—uel which may revive the flame He first observed the great Bishop of Winchester fit to serve the Church upon the unlikely Youths first Sermon at St. Alâ—allows Barking He brought my Lord Cooke first to the Church upon some private discourse with him at his Table The Queen of Scots Letters were all carried to him by her own Servant whom she trusted and decyphered to him by one Philips as they were sealed again by one Gregory so
act 5. That no new Office should be bestowed in a moneth 6. That Ministers should meddle with no Controversies 7. That Embassadors should be sent to Forreign Princes 8. That no Coyn should be transported beyond Sea 9. That no person of quality should travel for six weeks 10. That the Train-bands should be mustered 11. That Ireland the Borders and the Seas should be provided for 12. And that the dissenting Nobility and Clergy should be watched and secured Adding withal a Paper for the Reading of the Epistle the Gospel and the Commandments in the English Tongue to encourage the Protestants expectation and allay the Papists fear In the same Proclamation that he drew up the Sacrament of the Altar was to be reverenced and yet the Communion to be administred in both kinds He advised a Disputation with the Papists one day knowing that they could not dispute without leave from the Pope and so would disparage their Cause yet they could not say but they might dispute for the Queen and so satisfie the People and is one of the five Counsellours to whom the Designe of the Reformation is opened and one of the eight to whom the management of it was intrusted There you might see him a Leading man among the States-men here most eminent among Divines at once the most knowing and pious man of that Age. As his Industry was taken up with the establishment of our Affairs at home so his Watchfulness upon Sir Edward Carnes deposition of his Embassie was intent upon the plots of France and Rome abroad in the first of which places he made a Secretary his own and in the second a Cup-bearer At the Treaty of Cambray my Lord Howard of Effingham the Lord Chamberlain and he brought the King of Spain to the English side in the business of Calice 1. That France might be weakened 2. That his Netherlands might be secured 3. That the Queen his Sweet-heart might be obliged until he discovered Queen Elizabeths averseness to the marriage whereupon had it not been for the Viscount Mountacute who was not so much a Papist as to forget that he was an English-man and Sir Thomas the Spaniard had stoln over Catharine Grey Queen Elizabeths Neece for a pretence to the Crown as the French had the Queen of Scots her Cozen. After which he and Sir William Cecil advised her Majesty to that private Treaty apart without the Spaniard which was concluded 1559 as much to the bonour of England now no longer to truckle under Spain as its interest no longer in danger from France Sir Nicholas Throgmorton was the Metal in these Treaties and Sir Thomas Smith the Allay the ones mildness being to mitigate that animosity which the others harshness had begot and the others spirit to recover those advantages which this mans easiness had yeilded Yet he shewed himself as much a man in demanding as Sir William Cheyney in gaining Calice replying smartly upon Chancellour Hospitals Discourse of ancient Right the late Treaty and upon Montmorency's Harangue of Fears Conscience Pitying the neglected state of Ireland he obtained a Colony to be planted under his base Son in the East-Coast of Ulster called Ardes at once to civilize and secure that place So eminent was this Gentleman for his Learning that he was at once Steward of the Stannaries Dean of Carlisle and Provost of Eaton in King Edward's time and had a Pension on condition he went not beyond Sea so considerable he was in Queen Mary's Well he deserved of the Commonwealth of Learning by his Books 1. Of The Commonwealth of England 2. Of The Orthography of the English Tongue and of the Pronunciation of Greek and 3. an exact Commentary of matters saith Mr. Cambden worthy to be published Observations on the Lives of Dr. Dale the Lord North Sir Thomas Randolph I Put these Gentlemen together in my Observations because I finde them so in their Employments the one Agent the other Leiger and the third Extraordinary Embassador in France the first was to manage our Intelligence in those dark times the second to urge our Interest in those troublesome days and the third to represent our Grandeur No man understood the French correspondence with the Scots better then Sir Thomas Randolph who spent his active life between those Kingdomes none knew better our Concerns in France and Spain then Valentine Dale who had now seen six Treaties in the first three whereof he had been Secretary and in the last a Commissioner None fitter to represent out state then my Lord North who had been two years in Walsinghams house four in Leicesters service had seen six Courts twenty Battles nine Treaties and four solemn Justs whereof he was no mean part as a reserved man a valiant Souldier and a Courtly Person So sly was Dale that he had a servant always attending the Queen-mother of France the Queen of Scots and the King of Navarre so watchful Sir Thomas Randolph that the same day he sent our Agent in Scotland notice of a designe to carry over the young King and depose the Regent he advised our Queen of a Match between the King of Scot's Uncle and the Countess of Shrewsbury's Daughter and gave the Earl of Huntington then President of the North those secret instructions touching that matter that as my Lord Burleigh would often acknowledge secured that Coast My L. North watched the successes of France Dr. Dale their Leagues and both took care that the Prince of Orange did not throw himself upon the Protection of France always a dangerous Neighbour but with that accession a dreadful one Sir John Horsey in Holland proposed much but did nothing Sir Thomas Randolph in France performed much and said nothing yet both with Dr. Dales assistance made France and Spain the Scales in the balance of Europe and England the tongue or holder of the balance while they held the Spaniard in play in the Netherlands watched the French Borders and kept constant Agents with Orange and Don John Neither was Sir Thomas less in Scotland then in France where he betakes himself first to resolution in his Protestation and then to cunning in his Negotiation encouraging Morton on the one hand and amusing Lenox on the other keeping fair weather with the young King and yet practising with Marre and Anguse Nothing plausible indeed saith Cambden was he with the wise though youthful King James yet very dexterous in Scotish humours and very prudent in the Northern Affairs very well seen in those interests and as successful in those Negotiations witness the first and advantageous League 1586. Video rideo is Gods Motto upon Affronts Video Taceo was Queen Elizabeths Video nec vident was Sir Thomas Randolphs These three men treated with the Spaniard near Ostend for Peace while the Spaniard prepared himself on our Coast for War So much did Sir James Crofts his affection for Peace exceed his judgement of his Instruction that he would needs steal over
for and that is Stratagems Now you should have him surprize a Town by Butter-women another time by Workmen anon he would face the Enemy and draw them with success upon a Train of Gunpowder he would lay for them and Iron Pricksteds he would sow for them He would steal their hands and seals buy the very keys of their Closets and so amuse them with Letters and distract them with Jealousies while in the mean time the vigilant man alarmed them every hour of the day and each watch of the night so that he tamed those wild Irish as we do some wild beasts by watching Observations on the Life of Roger Ashcam FRom his Cradle a Royal Servant and to his Grave a Favourite a good man saith Cambden and if his ambition had been but as great as the occasion was fair a great one too Born he was honestly in York shire and bred handsomely at Cambridge and both born and bred for that Age which was to refine Greek and Latine to a politeness and raise them to an Eloquence He was the University-Orator at Cambridge and at Court there using his Eloquence here his Interest against that Sacriledge that having Dined on the Church as he writ came to Sup on the Universities Thence he was rather removed then advanced more suitably to his merit then his expectation to be Queen Elizabeths Schoolmaster for the Latine Tongue in her Sisters time and her Secretary for the same in her own What he got by his Ingenuity he lost by his Gaming viz. at Dice and Cock-fighting dying rich onely in those two Books his Estate and Monument whereof the one is intituled Toxophilus and the other Scholarcha He and his dear Smith were the happiest men in the Nation their large and ingenious Souls clasping together in an entire friendship made up of kindness and integrity apart from the little fears the jealousies the suspitions that vex Mankinde What learned Letters what loving Expostulations what discreet Intimations what faithful Advertisements what indifferent Community what common Cares and Pities How they loved how they chid and how they loved again how plain how malleable how sweet What little Observations upon one anothers inadvertencies neglects or miscarriages how they improved their Mollia tempora to the great end of friendship information and advice How secretly they vented their thoughts into each others breasts and there looked upon them by reflexion and the advantage of a second consideration And it 's a happiness to have another self to shew our selves to before we appear to the world that all men wish and the good men onely enjoy An honest man this that abhorred all artifice and cunning and hated all concealments and pretensions which he had sagacity enough to discover and look through but a spirit too generous to practise it none being more able for yet none more averse to that circumlocution and contrivance wherewith some men shadow their main drift and purpose Speech was made to open Man to Man and not to hide him to promote Commerce and not betray it HOw happy is he born and taught That serveth not anothers will Whose Armour is his honest thought And simple Truth his utmost skill Whose Passions not his Masters are Whose Soul is still prepar'd for death Vntide unto the world by care Of publick Fame or private breath Who envies none that Chance doth raise Nor Vice bath ever understood How deepest wounds are given by praise Nor Rules of State but Rules of Good Who hath his life from rumours freed Whose Conscience is his strong retreat Whose state can neither flatterers feed Nor ruine make Oppressors great Who God doth late and early pray More of his Grace then Gifts to lend And entertains the harmless day With a Religious Book or Friend This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall Lord of himself though not of Lands And having nothing yot hath all Observations on the Life of Sir John Packington SIr John Packington was a Person of no mean Family and of form and feature no way despiseable for he was a brave Gentleman and a very fine Courtier and for the time which he stayed there was very high in the Queens Grace but he came in and went out and through disassiduity lost the advantage of her favor and then Death drawing a vail over him utterly deprived him of recovery They say of him saith the same Author that had he brought less to the Court then he did he might have carried away more then he brought for he had a time of it but he was an ill husband of Opportunity His handsome features took the most and his neat parts the wisest at Court He could smile Ladies to his service and argue States-men to his designe with equal ease His Reason was powerful his Beauty more Never was 〈◊〉 brave Soul more bravely seated Nature bestowed great Parts on him Education polished him to and admirable frame of prudence and vertue Queen Elizabeth called him Her Temperance and Leicester His Modesty It is a question to this day Whether his Resolution took the Souldiers his Prudence the Politicians his Complyance the Favourites his Complaisance the Courtiers his Piety the Clergy his Integrity and Condescention the People or his Knowledge the Learned most This new Court-star was a nine-days wonder engaging all eyes until it set satisfied with its own glory He came to Court he said as Solomon did to see its vanity and retired as he did to repent it It was he who said first what Bishop Sanderson urged afterwards That a sound Faith was the best Divinity good Conscience the best Law and Temperance the best Physick Sir John Packington in Queen Elizabeths time was vertuous and modest and Sir John Packington in King Charles his time Loyal and valiant the one did well the other suffered so Greenbam was his Favourite Hammond his the one had a competant Estate and was contented the other hath a large one and is noble this suppresseth Factions in the Kingdome the other composed them in the Court and was called by Courtiers Moderation Westmerland tempted his fidelity and Norfolk his stedfastness but he died in his Bed an honest and an happy man while one of them goes off tainted on the Scaffold and the other dies a Begger in Flanders Observations on the Lives of the Norrises and Knowles MY Lord Norris had by his Lady an ample Issue which the Queen highly respected for he had six sons all Martial brave men of haughty courage and of great experience in the conduct of Military Affairs Greater was not the Faction between Leicester and Sussex at Court then that between the Knowles and the Norrises in the Country both Families of Oxfordshire the one resolute at Greyes the other valiant at Rycote the former got great Estates at home the latter attained to great Honour abroad The Knowles were beloved by the Queen for their own sakes the Norrises for theirs
turned his expectation to performance In the first of King James of Lord Keeper he was made Lord Chancellor which is also another name for the same Office and on Thursday the seventh of November 1616. of Lord Elismer he was created Viscount Brackley It is given to Courts whose Jurisdictions do border to fall out about their bounds and the contest betwixt them is the hotter the higher the spirits and parts of the respective Judges Great was the contention for many years together betwixt this Lord of Equity and Sir Edward Cooke the Oracle of Justice at Westminster-Hall I know not which of them got the better sure I am such another Contest would if this did not have undone the Conqueror He was attended on with servants of most able parts and was the sole Chancellor since the Reformation who had a Chaplain which though not immediately succeeded him in his place He gave over his Office which he held ful twenty years some few dayes before his death and by his own appointment his body was brought down and buried at Duddleston in Cheshire leaving a fair estate to his Son who was afterwards created Earl of Bridgewater as he did to his excellent Son now living When he saw King James his munificence to some Courtiers with the grave Fidelity of a States-man he sticked not often to tell him That as he held it necessary for his Majesty amply to remunerate all those his Countrey-men so he desired him carefully to prese ve his Crown-lands for his own support seeing he or his Successors might meet with Parliaments which would not supply his occasions but on such conditions as would not be very acceptable unto him It was an ordinary speech in his mouth to say Frost and Fraud both end in Foul. His plain but honest advice to my Lord of Essex was 1. Not to trust himself because they that stand by see more than they that play the game 2. To yield to Time and Fortune and not do that for his Enemies which they could never do for themselves 3. To have a careful eye upon those actions on which he knew there were many envious ones And for himself his supplication to King James was That since his conceit and sense was grown so heavy his Memory decay'd his Judgement weak his Hearing imperfect and his Voice faltering he might desinere potius quam deficere and retire from his Businesse to his Meditation as he did while living imparting many mysteries of the Chancery and when dying bequeathing as many choice Books and Directions to his then Chaplain and his after-Successor Doctor Williams Secretary Winwood having received the Seal and left this gracious Message with this good man that his Majesty would be his Under-keeper and not dispose of it while he lived to bear the name of Chancellor nor did any receive the Seal out of the Kings fight while he lived to bear the name of Chancellor A company of Citizens got a Cause passed by keeping a Witnesse away in this manner one of them gets him to the Tavern and there leaves him with a quart of Sack before him and the glass at his mouth and swears in open Court that he left him in a condition wherein if he continueth but two hours he is a dead man The other Party finde out the cheat and have their remedy in Chancery Sir Edward Cook brings the matter to the Star-Chamber and threatneth the Chancellor with a Premunire The business is debated and sentence passed for my Lord Chancellor with the comfort whereof and the Kings and Princes Letter to him upon his Death-bed he went to his Grave Observations on the Life of the Lord Chief-Justice Popham SIr John Popham in his youthful dayes was a stout and skilful man at Sword and Buckler as any in that Age and wilde enough in his Recreations But oh saith my Author if Quick-silver could be really fixed to what a treasure would it amount Such is wilde youth seriously reduced to gravity as by this young man did appear who applyed himself to a more profitable Fencing the study of the Lawes therein attaining to such eminency that he became the Queens Attorney afterwards Lord Chief-Justice of England Being sent Anno 1600. by the Queen with some others to the Earl of Essex to know the cause of the confluence of so many Military men unto his house the Soldiers therein detained him for a time which some made tantamount to an Imprisonment This his violent detention Sir John deposed upon his Oath at the Earl's Tryal which I note the rather for the rarity thereof that a Lord Chief-Justice should be produced as Witness in open Court In the beginning of the Reign of King James his justice was exemplary on Theeves and Robbers The Land then swarmed with people which had been Soldiers who had never gotten or else quite forgotten any other Vocation Hard it was for Peace to feed all the idle mouths which a former War did breed being too proud to beg too lazy to labour Those infested the High-wayes with their Fellonies some presuming on their multitudes as the Robber on the Northern Rode whose knot otherwise not to be untied Sir John cut asunder with the Sword of Justice He possessed King James how the frequent granting of Pardons was prejudicial to Justice rendring the Judges to the contempt of insolent Malefactors which made his Majesty more sparing afterwards in that kinde In a word the deserved death of some scores preserved the lives and livelihoocs of some thousands Travellers owing their safety to this Judges severity many years after his death Neither did he onely punish Malefactors but provide for them for observing that so many suffered and died for none other reason but because they could not live in England now grown too populous for it's self and breeding more Inhabitants toan it could keep he first set up the discovery of New-England to maintain and employ those that could not live honestly in the old being of opinion that banishment thither would be as well a more lawful as a more effectual remedy against those extravagancies the Authors whereof judge it more eligible to hang than to work to end their days in a moment than to continue them in pains onely a great Judgement observes it is a shameful and an unblessed thing to take the scum of people and wicked condemned men to be the people with whom to plant And not onely so but it spoyleth the Plantation for they will ever live like Rogues and not fall to work and do mischief and spend Victuals and be quickly weary and then certifie over to the Countrey to the disgrace of the Common-wealth Observations on the Life of Sir Robert Dudley SIr Robert Dudley son to Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester by Dougles Shefield whether his Mistriss or his Wife God knows was born at Sbene in Surrey and bred by his Mother out of his Fathers reach at Offington in Sussex where he became a most compleat Gentleman
in all suitable Accomplishments endeavouring in the Reign of King James to prove his Legitimacy and meeting with much opposition from the Court in distaste he left his Land and went over into Italy But worth is ever at home and carrieth its own welcome along with it Therefore he became a Favourite to the Duke of Florence who highly reflected on his Abilities and used his Directions in all his Buildings At this time Legorn from a childe started to a Man without ever being a youth and of a small Town grew a great City on a sudden and is much beholding to this Sir Robert for its Fairnesse and Firmnesse as chief contriver of both But by this time his Adversaries in England had procured him to be call'd home by a special Privy-Seal which he refused to obey and thereupon all his Lands in England were seised upon by the King by the Statute of Fugitives These losses doubled the love of the Duke of Florence unto him And indeed Sir Robert was a much-meriting person on many Accounts being an Excellent 1 Mathematician especially for the Practical part thereof in Architecture 2 Physician his Catholicon at this day finding good Esteem amongst those of that Faculty 3 Navigator especially in the Western Seas Indeed long before his leaving of England whilest as yet he was Rectus in Curia well esteemed in Queen Elizabeths Court he sailed with three small Ships to the Isle of Trinidad in which voyage he sunk and took nine Spanish ships whereof one an Armada of 600 Tun. He was so acceptable to Ferdinand the second Emperour of Germany that by his Letters Patents bearing date at Vienna March 9. 1620. he conferred on him and his Heirs the Title of a Duke of the Sacred Empire Understand it a Title at large as that of Count Arundel's without the Assignation of any proper Place unto him King James had heard so much of the Father that he did not care for the Son who might have been neer his Person had not his Ancestors been so near his Predecessors no other Considerations being likely to keep so extraordinary parts at this distance from a King that valued them so highly or a Kingdom that needed them so much That Prince being as jealous an observer of Original sin in Policy as he was an Orthodox Assertor of it in Religion would trust no tainted blood Observations on the Life of Arch-Bishop Bancroft DOctor Richard Bancroft whom his Adversaries character a better States-man than Divine a better Divine than Preacher though upon good occasion he shewed he was all these was bred in Jesus Colledge in Cambridge where his parts in discovering the bottom of Presbytery and his sufficiency when his Patron Hatton's Examiner commended him to Queen Eliz. to be Bishop of London and to King James to be Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Indeed he was in effect Arch-Bishop while Bishop to whom Doctor Whitgift in his decrepit age remitted the managing of matters so that he was the soul of the High-Commission A great States-man he was and grand Champion of Church-discipline having well hardned the hands of his Soul which was no more than needed for him who was to meddle with Nettles and Bryars and met with much opposition No wonder if those who were silenced by him in the Church were loud against him in other places David speaketh of poyson under mens lips This Bishop tasted plentifully thereof from the mouths of his Enemies till at last as Mithridates he was so habited to poisons that they became food unto him Once a Gentleman coming to visit him presented him a Libel which he found pasted on his door who being nothing moved thereat said Cast it to an hundred more which lie here on a heap in my Chamber Many a Libel Lye because false Bell because loud was made upon him The aspersion of covetousness though cast doth not stick on his memory being confuted by the Estate which he left small in proportion to his great preferment being but 6000 l. after being above twelve years in London and Canterbury He cancelled his first Will wherein he had bequeathed much to the Church suspecting an impression of popular violence on Cathedrals and fearing an A ienation of what was bequeathed unto them he thought fit to cancel his own to prevent others cancelling his Testament This partly appears by his second Will wherein he gave the Library at Lambeth the result of his own and three Predecessors collections to the University of Cambridge which now they possess in case the Arch-Episcopal See should be extinct How came such a jealousie into his minde what fear of a storme when the Sun shined the Skye clear no appearance of Clouds Surely his skill was more than ordinary in the complexion of the Common wealth who did foresee what afterward for a time came to pass This clause providentially inserted secured this Library in Cambridge during the vacancy of the Archi-Episcopal See and so prevented the embezelling at the least the dismembring thereof in our late civil distempers They that accuse this excellent Prelate of cruelty never read this story A Minister privately protested to him that it went against his conscience to conform Which way said the good Arch-Bishop observing the mans ingenuity will you live if you be put out of your Benefice The other answered He bad no other way but to go a begging Not so said the Arch-Bishop that you shall not need to do but come to me and I will take order for your maintenance They that exclaimed against his unserviceablenesse never observed this passage A company of young Courtiers appeared extraordinary gallant at a Tilting far above their Fortunes and Estates giving for their Motto Solvat Ecclesia Bishop Bancroft then of London hearing of it finds on enquiry that the Queen was passing a considerable parcel of Church-lands to them and stops the businesse with his own and his friends Interest leaving these Gallants to pay the shot of their pride and prodigality out of their own purses And this that a prevalent Courtier had swallowed up the whole Bishoprick of Durham had not this Arch-Bishop seasonably interposed his power with King James ready enough to admit such Intercessions and dashed the design They that traduce him for a Papist forget that he fomented the difference between the Seculars and Regulars to the weakning and promoted the foundation of Chelsey-Colledge to the ruining of that cause But they that perform great actions reserving as it is fit the reason of them in their own bosomes may sufficiently satisfie their Consciences towards God though they can hardly avoid the censures of men I shall add no more concerning this excellent Prelate but that it was observed as the Historian writes That at Hampton-Court-Conference Arch-Bishop Whitgift spake most gravely Bishop Bilson most learnedly but Bishop Bancroft when out of passion most politickly Observations on the Life of the Lord Grandison SIr Oliver saint-Saint-John Lord Grandison c. descended of an ancient and
Judges admired him at last and one of them said That never any man apprehended a Case so clearly took in all the Law Reason and other Circumstances more punctually recollected the various Debates more faithfully summed it up more compendiously and concluded more judiciously and discreetly For many of them might have read more than he but none digested what they had read more solidly none disposed of their reading more methodically none therefore commanded it more readily He demurred several Orders as that of my Lord Chancellor's pardon the Earl Marshal's Patent c. to let his Majesty see his judgement yet passed them to let him see his obedience He would question the Dukes Order sometimes discreetly to let him know he understood himself yet he would yield handsomely to let him see he understood him and indeed he had the admirable faculty of making every one of his actions carry prudence in the performance Necessary it was for one of his years and place to keep his distance and avoid contempt yet fatal was it to him to do so and incur envy Well understood he the interest of all his places and resolutely he maintained them What saith he shall the Liberties of Westminster be infringed when the chief Favourite is Steward and the Lord Keeper Dean and I the contemptible man that must be trampled on When he was in trouble what passion what insinuation what condescention hath he at command when petitioned to how quickly he looked through men and business how exactly would he judge and how resolutely conclude without an immediate intimation from his Majesty or the Duke Many eyes were upon him and as many eyes were kept by him upon others being very watchful on all occasions to accommodate all Emergencies and meet with all humors-alwayes keeping men in dependance on the Duke according to this intimation of his Cabal 287. Let him hold it but by your Lordships favour not his own power A good way had he been constant to it the neglect whereof undid him for designing the promotion of Doctor Price to the Arch-Bishoprick of Armagh he moved it to the Duke who told him it was disposed of to Doctor Vsher Whereupon he went his own way to advance that man and overthrew himself For then his Lord let him feel what he had threatned my Lord Bacon when he advanced him That if he did not owe his preferment alwayes to his favour he should owe his fall to his frown The peremptorinesse of his judgement rendered him odious his compliance with Bristol suspected and his Sermon at King James his Funeral his tryal rather than his preferment obnoxious His spirit was great to act and too great to suffer It was prudence to execute his decrees against all opposition while in power it was not so to bear up his miscarriages against all Authority while in disgrace A sanguine complexion with its resolutions do well in pursuit of success Phlegme and its patience do better in a retreat from miscarriages This he wanted when it may be thinking fear was the passion of King Charles his Government as well as King James he seconded his easie fall with loud and open discontents and those discontents with a chargeable defence of his servants that were to justifie them and all with that unsafe popularity invidious pomp and close irregularity that layd him open to too many active persons that watched him Whether his standing out against Authority to the perplexing of the Government in the Star-Chamber in those troublesome times his entertainment and favour for the Discontented and Non-conformists his motions for Reformation and alteration in twelve things his hasty and unlucky Protestation in behalf of the Bishops and following Actions in England and Wales where it 's all mens wonder to hear of his meruit sub Parliamento had those private grounds and reasons that if he Bishop could have spoke with the King but half an hour he said would have satisfied him the King of Kings onely knoweth to whom he hath given I hope a better account than any Historian of his time hath given for him But I understand better his private inclinations than his publick actions the motions of his nature than those of his power the conduct of the one being not more reserved and suspicious than the effects of the other manifest and noble for not to mention his Libraries erected at St. John's and Westminster his Chappel in Lincoln-Colledge the repairs of his Collegiate Church his pensions to Scholars more numerous than all the Bishops and Noble-mens besides his Rent-charges on all the Benefices in his Gift as Lord Keeper or Bishop of Lincoln to maintain hopeful youth according to the Statute in that case provided Take this remarkable instance of his muniâ—icence that when Du Moulin came over he calleth his Chaplain now the R. R. Father in God John Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and telleth him he doubted the good man was low wishing him to repair to him with some money and his respects with assurance that he would wait upon him himself aâ— his fiâ—st liesure The excellent Doctor rejoyneth that he could carry him no lesse than twenty pounds the noble Bishop replyeth he named not the sumâ— to sound his Chaplains mind adding that twenty pounds was neither fit for him to give nor fo 〈…〉 the reverend Foreigner to receive Carry him said he an hundred pounds He is libelled by common same for unchaste though those that understood the privacies and casualties of his Infancy report him but one degree removed from a Misogonist though to palliate 〈◊〉 infirmities he was most compleat in Courtly addresses the conversablenesse of this Bishop wiâ—â— Women confisted chiefly if not onely in his treatments of great Ladies and Persons of honour wherein he did personate the compleatness of coâ—tesie to that Sex otherwise a woman was seldome seen in his house which therefore had always mo 〈…〉 of Magnificence than Neatnesse sometimes defective in the Punctilio's and Niceties of Daintinesse lying lower than masculine Cognizance and as level for a womans eye to espy as easie for her handâ— to amend He suffereth for conniving at Puritans out of hatred to Bishop Laud and for favouring Papists o 〈…〉 of love to them Yet what-ever he offered Ki 〈…〉 James when the Match went on in Spain as 〈◊〉 Councellour or what-ever he did himself as 〈◊〉 States-man such kindnesse he had for our Lituâ—gy that he translated it at his own cost into Spanish and used it in the visitation of Melvin when sick to his own peril in the Tower and such resolution for Episcopacy that his late Majesty of blessed memory said once to him My Lord I commend you that you are no whit daunted with all disasters but are zealous in defending your Order Please it your Majesty replyed the Arch-Bishop I am a true Welsh-man and they are observed never to run away till their General first forsakes them No fear of my flinching while your Majestie doth
countenance our Cause His extraction was Gentile and Ancient as appeared from his Ancestors Estate which was more than he could purchase without borrowing when at once Lord Keeper Bishop of Lincoln and Dean of Westminster His minde great and resolute insomuch that he controuled all other advices to his last to his losse in Wales and daunted Sir John Cook as you may see in his character to his honour in England His warinesse hath these arguments 1. That he would not send the Seal to the King but under lock and key 2. That being to depute one to attend in his place at the Coronation he would not name his Adversary Bishop Laud to gratifie him nor yet any other to displease the King but took a middle way and presented his Majesty a List of the Prebendaries to avoid any exception referring the Election to his Majesty himself 3. That he proposed a partial Reformation of our Church to the Parliament to prevent an utter extirpation by it 4. That he exposed others to the censure of the Parliament 1625. to save himself 5. That he answered to several Examinations without any the least advantage taken by his Antagonist This character of his I think very exact That his head was a well-fitted treasury and his tongue the fair key to unlock it That he had as great a memory as could be reconciled with so good a judgement That so quick his parts that others study went not beyond his nature and their designed and forelayd performances went not beyond his sudden and ready accommodations Onely he was very open and too free in discourse disdaining to lye at a close guard as confident of the length and strength of his weapon Observations on the Life of Sir Isaac Wake THis honourable person whom I look upon at Oxford in the same capacity and fortune that Sir Robert Naunton and Sir Francis Nethersole were in at Cambridge He was born in Northampton-shire his Father Arthur Wake being Parson of Billing Master of the Hospital of St. Johns in Northampton and Canon of Christs-Church bred Fellow of Merton-Colledge in Oxford Proctor and Orator of that University whence he was admitted Secretary to Sir Dudley Carleton Secretary of State and afterward advanced into the King's service and by his Master and the Duke of Buckingham employed Embassadour to Venice where he neglected his own interest to attend his Majesties employment the reason that he dyed rich onely in the just conscience of his worth and the repute of his merit Coming from Venice he was appointed Lieger of France and designed Secretary of State had not Death prevented him at Paris being accomplished with all qualifications requisite for publick Employment Learning Languages Experience Abilities and what not King CHARLES hearing of his death commanded his Corps to be decently brought from Paris into England allowing the expences of his Funeral and enjoyning his neerest Relations to attend the performance thereof These accordingly met his body at Bulloign in France and saw it solemnly conveyed into England where it was interred in the Chappel of the Castle of Dover His REX PLATONICUS or his Latine account of King James his six dayes stay at Oxford speaks his Learning and his Instructions for Travel his experience He observing his Predecessors failings retrenched his expences satisfying himself with a repute of noblenesse while in his way to preferment and others with the expectation of his bounty When preferred he seemed liberal that he might not be despised abroad but he was neer that he might not be odious at home His prodigality it may be might have satisfied the curiosity of a few Strangers while he incurred the displeasure of all his friends Besides a close wary man may be bountiful at his pleasure but the munificent cannot be so easily sparing for if his occasions or fortunes check his profuseness all his gallantry is in his first action of good husbandry Caution in expences if it be a vice is one of those saith the Italian that never disinherited a man Nay of the two saith Machiavel It 's more discretion to hold the style of miserable which begets an infamy without hatred than to desire that of Liberal which being maintained by necessitous courses procures an infamy with hatred As never did States-man a brave action that seemed illiberal so never did he any such that was not so Yet four things our Knight spared no cost in 1. Intelligence He could afford he said a golden key for the Pope's Cabinet 2. Books his Study was his Estate 3. In watching the Spanyards saying The Indies will pay for this And 4. Entertaining knowing men often applauding that Emperour's maxime That bad rather go fifty miles to hear a wise man than five to see a fair City And this he was eminent for that he saw nothing remarkable in Foreign parts that he applyed not to his own Countrey Sir Henry Wotton being not more curious in picking up small Rarities to pleasure particular persons than Sir Isaac Wake was industrious to observe any useful invention that might improve the publick good Observations on the Life of the Lord Cottington SIr Fran. Cottington being bred when a youth under Sir .......... Stafford lived so long in Spain till he made the garb and gravity of that Nation become his and become him too He raised himself by his natural strength without any artificial advantage having his parts above his learning his Experience above his Parts his Industry above his Experience and some will say his Successe above all So that at last he became Chancellor of the Exchequer Baron of Hanworth in Middlesex Constable of the Tower 1640. and upon the resignation of Doctor juxon Lord Treasurer of England gaining also a very great Estate Very reserved he was in his temper and very slow in his proceedings sticking to some private Principles in both and aiming at certain rules in all things a temper that indeared him as much to his Master Prince Charles his person as his integrity did to his service Nor to his service onely but to that of the whole Nation in the Merchandize whereof he was well versed to the trade whereof he was very serviceable many ways but eminently in that he negotiated that the Spanish Treasure which was used to be sent to Flanders by the way of Genoa might be sent in English Bottoms which exceedingly enriched England for the time and had it continued had made her the greatest Bank and Mart for Gold and Silver of any Common-wealth in Europe Indeed the advantage of his Education the different Nations and Factions that he had to deal with the direct opposition of Enemies the treachery of Friends the contracts of States-men the variety and force of Experience from the distinct knowledge of the natures of the people of several Countreys of their chief Ministers of State with their Intrigues of government made him so expert that the Earl of Bristol and Sir Walter Aston could do nothing without him and he
Vice but he thought below him and no Vertue which he esteemed not either his duty on ornament Neither was his prudence narrower than his virtue nor his virtue streighter than his fortune His main service was his inspection into the Intrigues and Reserves of the Parliamentiers at Vxbridge and his cajoling of the Independants and Scots at London where the issue of his Observations was That the King should as far as his conscience could allow comply with the unreasoble desires of an illimited ambition to make it sensible of the evils that would flow from its own Counsels being confident as events have assured us that the people would see the inconvenience of their own wishes and that they would return that power which they sought for but could not manage to its proper place before it became their-ruine for unbounded Liberty overthroweth its self But alas it was too late to grant them any thing who by having so much were onely encouraged more eagerly to desire what they knew the King in honour could not give For when a Prince is once rendred odious or contemptible his Indulgences do him no lesse hurt than injuries As his services were great so were his Recreations useful Hunting that manly Exercise being both his pleasure his accomplishment his accomplishment I say since it is in the list of Machiavel's rules to his Prince as not onely the wholsomest and cheapest diversion both in relation to himself and his People but the best Tutor to Horse-manship Stratagems and Situations by which he may afterwards place an Army what-ever Sir Sidney's apprehension was who used to say Next hunting he liked hawking worst Observations on the Life of the Lord Chief-Justice Banks SIr John Banks his Parents perceiving him judicious and industrious bestowed good breeding on him in Grayes-Inne in hope he should attain to preferment wherein they were not deceived For after he was called to the Bar for some years he solicited Suits for others thereby attaining great practical experience He afterwards might laugh at them who then did smile at him leaving many behind him in Learning whom he found before him in time until at last he was Knighted by King Charles made first his Attorney then Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas dying in the middest and heat of our Civil Dissentions He ordered by his Will that his Body should be buried under some plain Monument at the discretion of his Executors and after an Epitaph mentioning the severall Places he had held this Motto to be added Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini tuo da Gloriam By his said Will he gave to the value of thirty pound per ann with other Emoluments to be bestowed in pious Uses and chiefly to set up a Manufacture of course Cottons in the Town of Keswick He was one whom the Collar of S S. S. worn by Judges and other Magistrates became very well if it had its name from Sanctus Simon Simplicius no man being more seriously pious none more singly honest When Sir Henry Savile came to Sir Edward Cook then at bowls in Arch-Bishop Abbot's behalf and told him he had a Case to propose to him Sir Edward answered If it be a Case in Common-Law I am unworthy to be a Judge if I cannot presently satisfie you but if it be a point of Statute-Law I am unworthy to be a Judge if I should undertake to satisfie you without consulting my Books Sir John Bankes though ready without his Books on the Bench yet always resolved Cases out of them in his Chamber answerable to his saying to Dr. Sibs A good textuary is a good Lawyer as well as a good Divine His invention was prompt and ready his apprehension sure and solid his memory capacious and retentive his knowledge in the Law and the inward reasons of it profound his experience in affairs of State universal and well laid patient he was in hearing sparing but pertinent in speaking very glad always to have things represented truly and clearly and when it was otherwise able to discern through all pretences the real merit of a Cause He was a man of singular modesty of the ancient freedome plain-heartednesse and integrity of minde Very grave and severe in his deportment yet very affable in such sort that as Tacitus saith of Agrippa Illi quod est rarissimum nec facilitas authoritatem nec severitas amorem diminuâ—â— And in a word so even and circumspect he was in the several turnings and occasions of his life that though he went himself and brought over as many as he had any interest in to the King I finde him under no extraordinary displeasure from the Rebels and I observe but one unhappinesse in his whole life and that is that all men speak well of him Observations on the Life of Sir Tho. Edmonds THe Trophees of Miltiades would not let Themistocles sleep nor the Courts-advancements of his Relations this Gentleman to sit still having both Livie's qualifications for an eminent man a great spirit and a gallant conduct for actions a sharp wit and a fluent tongue for advice Whence we meet with him Comptroller of the Kings Houshold at home and his Agent for Peace abroad equally fit for businesse of courage and resolution and for affairs of Councel and complement I think it was this Gentleman who foreseeing a Contest likely to ensue between the English and the Spanish Embassadors to the first whereof he belonged went to Rome privately and fetched a Certificate out of the book of Ceremonies which according to the Canon giveth the rule in such cases shewing that the King of England was to precede him of Castile a good argument because ad homines wise men having always thought fit to urge not what is most rational in its self but what all circumstances considered is most conrincing Sir Thomas Edmonds used to puzzle the Catholicks about six Records 1. The original of Constantine's grant of Rome to the Pope 2. St. Marke's grant of the Adriatique Guiph to Venice 3. The Salique Law in France 4. The Instrument whereby King John passed away England to the Pope 5. The Letter of King Lucius And 6. The Ordinal of the Consecration at the Nags-head Neither did he perplex them with these Quaeries more than he angered the Faction with his Principles Tertio Car. I. 1. That the King was to be trusted 2. That the Revenue was to be setled 3. That the Protestant cause was to be maintained 4. That Jealousies were to be removed and things past were to be forgotten Observations on the Life of Sir Paul Pindar HE was first a Factor then a Merchant next a Consul and at last an Embassador in Turkey Whence returning with a good purse and a wary Headpiece he cast about what he might do to gratifie K. James and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury most and finding them much pleased with acts of Charity and Piety he repaired the Entry Front and Porches of St. Paul's Cathedral to
that seeing by the Commission the Lord Mobun brought from Oxford four persons viz. the said Lord Mohun Sir Ralph Hopton Sir John Berkley and Colonel Ashhurnham were equally impowered in the managing of all Military matters And seeing such equality might prove inconvenient which hitherto had been prevented with the extraordinary moderation of all parties in ordering a Battel it was fittest to fix the power in one chief and general consent setled it in Sir Ralph Hopton He first gave order that publick Prayers should be read in the head of every Squadron and it was done accordingly and the Enemy observing â—t did stile it saying of Masse as some of their Prisoners afterwards did confesse Then he caused the Foot to be drawn up in the best order they could and placed a Forlorn of Musquetiers in the â—â—ttle Inclosures winging them with the few Horse and Dragoons he had This done two small My 〈…〉 ion Drakes speedily and secretly fetched from the Lord Mohun's house were planted on a little â—urrough within random-shot of the Enemy yet 〈◊〉 that they were covered out of their sight with small parties of Horse about them These concealed Mynions were twice discharged with such successee that the Enemy quickly quitted their ground And all their Army being put into a rout the King's Forces had the execution of them which they performed very sparingly taking 1250 prisoners all their Cannon and Ammunition and most of their Colours and Arms and after publick Thanks taking their repose at Liscard Stratton Fight succeeds on Tuesday the 16th of May 1643. The King's Army wants Am munition and hath a steep hill to gain with all disadvantage and danger the Horse and Dragoons being not above five hundred and the Foot two thousand four hundred The Parl. Forces were well furnished and barticadoed upon the top of the hill their Foot 3400. and their Horse not many indeed having dispatched 1200 to surprize the Sheriffâ— and Commissioners at Bedmin On the King's side order was given to force the passage to the top of the Hill by four several Avenues the ascent was steep and difficult resolutely did his Majesties Forces get up and obstinately did the Enemy keep them down The Fight continued doubtful with many countenances of various events from five in the Morning till three in the Afternoon amongst which most remarkable the smart charge made by M. G. Chudleigh with a stand of Pikes on Sir Bevil Greenvil who fell nobly himself and had lost his squadron had not Sir John now Lord Berkley who led up thâ— Musquetiers on each side of Sir Bevil seasonably relieved it so resolutely reinforcing the Charge that Major-General Chudleigh was taken Prisoner Betwixt three and four of the Clock the Commanders of the King's Forces who embraced those four several wayes of ascent met to their mutual joy almost at the top of the hill which the routed enemy confusedly forsook In this service though they were Assailants they lost very few men and no considerable Officer killing of the Enemy about three hundred and taking seventeen hundred prisoners all their Cannon being thirteen pieces of brasse Ordnance and Ammunition seventy barrels of powder with a Magazine of Bisket and other provision proportionable For this victory publick Prayer and Thanksgiving was made on the hill then the Army was disposed of to improve their successe to the best advantage Nothing had sunk this great spirit but the fate of Kingdomes with whose ruine onely he was contented to fall and disband his brave Soldiers upon honourable terms Five things made my Lord Hopton so eminently serviceable 1. His great insight into the designes and prudent foresight of the events of present Councels which when most doubted and wavered gave him that resolution that undertook great difficulties and bore up against greater 2. His experience of War in general and his acquaintance with that seat of it committed to him in particular 3. His renown all over the Kingdome for piety and moderation and within his own association for hospitality civility and charity 4. His name among the Enemies as confiderable for his generousnesse and justice as for his valour and conduct 5. His Estate that set him above mercenarinesse and his care for money that set his Soldiers above need the occasion of mutinying among themselves or of incivilities towards others Observations on the Life of the Earl of Carnarvan RObert Dormer Ar. was on the tenth of June 1615. made Baronet by K. James on the 30 day of the same month was by him created Baron Dormer of Wing in Buckinghamshire His Grand-childe Robert Dormer was by K. Charles in the 4th of his Reign created Viscount Ascot Earl of Carnarvan He lost his life fighting for him who gave him his honour at the first Battel of Newbury Being sore wounded he was defired by a Lord to know of him what suit he would have to his Majesty in his behalf the said Lord promising to discharge his trust in presenting his request and assuring him that his Majesty would be willing to gratifie him to the utmost of his power To whom the Earl replyed I will not dye with a Suit in my mouth to any King save to the King of Heaven By Anne daughter to Philip Earl of Pembrook and Montgomery he had Charles now Earl of Carnarvan From his noble Extract he received not more honour than he gave it For the blood that was conveyed to him through so many illustrious veins he derived to his Children more maturated for renowâ— and by a constant practice of goodnesse more habituated to vertue His youth was prepared for action by study without which even the most eminent parts of Noble-men seem rough and unpleasant sant in despight of the splendor of their fortune But his riper years endured not those retirements and therefore brake out into manlike exercises at home and travel abroad None more noble yet none more modest none more valiant yet none more patient A Physician at his Father-in-Law's Table gave him the Lye which put the company to admire on the one hand the man's impudence and on the other my Lord's mildenesse until he said I 'll take the Lye from him but I 'll never take Physick of him He may speak what doth not become him I 'll not do what is unworthy of me A vertue this not usual in Noble-men to whom the limits of Equity seem a restraint and therefore are more restlesse in Injuries In the middest of horrour and tumults his soul was serene and calm As humble he was as patient Honour and nobility to which nothing can be added hath no better way to increase than when secured of its own greatnesse it humbleth it self and so at once obligeth love and avoideth envy His carriage was as condescending as heroick and his speech as weighty as free He was too great to envy any mans parts and vertues and too good not to encourage them Many a time would he stoop with his own spirit
from him he received the Sacrament good comfort and counsell just before he was murthered I say just before the Royal Martyr was murthered a Fact so foul that it alone may confute the Errour of the Pelagians maintaining that all sin cometh by imitation the Universe not formerly affording such a Precedent as if chose Regicides had purposely designed to disprove the observation of Solomon that there is no new thing under the Sun King Charles the second preferred him Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1660. He died in the year of our Lord 1663. and with great solemnity was buried in St. John's Colledge in Oxford to which he was a great Benefactor though a greater to Pauls and Lambeth and greatest of all to the Church which his eminence adorned and his temper secured in those times wherein roughnesse enraged that humour which delay and moderation broke a discreet yielding to the multitude is the securest way of Conquest They that hold together by opposition languish and moulder away by indulgence In his duty this good man went along with Conscience in Government with Time and Law He had the happinesse that K. James admired in a States-man of his time to do all things suavibus modis He referred his Master in the Earl of Strafford's case as he did himself in all cases to his own Conscience for matter of fact and to the Judges for matter of Law who according to their Oath ought to carry themselves indifferently between the King and his Subjects The King was not more happy in this faithful servant than he was in his followers among whom there was no uncivil Austerity to disoblige the Subjects nor base Corruption to incense them They need not keep state they had so much real power nor extort they had so much allowed advantage His care was his servants and their care his businesse His preferments were his burthen rather than his honour advanced by him rather than advancing him and therefore he was more ready to lay them down than others to take them up Witnesse his Treasurers Place which when he parted with like those that scatter their Jewels in the way that they may debar the violence of greedy pursuers no lesse than four durst undertake when his single self sufficed for the two greatest troubles of this Nation the Treasurer-ship of England and the Bishoprick of London Religion was the inclination and composure as well as care of his soul which he used not as the artifice of pretence or power but as the ornament and comfort of a private breast never affecting a pompous piety nor a magnificent vertue but approving himself in secret to that God who would reward him openly His devotion was as much above other mens as his Calling his meditations equall with his cares and his thoughts even and free between his Affairs and his Contemplations which were his pleasures as well as his duty the uniform temper and pulse of his Christian soul Neither was his Religion that of a man onely but that of a Bishop too that made his Piety as universal as his Province by such assistances of power as brought carnal men if not to an obedience yet to such a degree of reverence that if they did not honour they might not despise it His justice was as his Religion clear and uniform First the ornament of his heart then the honour of his action Neither was Justice leavened with rigour or severity but sweetned with clemency and goodnesse that was never angry but for the publick and not then so much at the person as the offence So ambitious of that great glory of Moderation that he kept it up in spight of the times malignity wherein he saw all change without himself while he remained the self-same still within the Idea of sobriety and temperance vertues that he put off onely with his life Neither was this a defect of spirit but the temper of it that though it never provoked troubles yet it never feared them His minde was always great though his fortune not so Great to suffer though not always able to act so good his temper and so admirable his humility that none ever went discontented from him Never â—ourting but always winning people having a passage to their hearts through their brain and making them first admire and then love him He was slow not of speech as a defect but to speak oâ— of discretion because when speaking he plentifully paid the Principal and Interest of his Auditoâ—â— expectation In a word his government as a Bishop was gentle benigne and paternal His management of the Treasury was such that he served his Prince faithfully satisfied all his friends and silenced all his enemies of which he had enough as a Bishop Greatnesse is so invidious and suspected though none as a man goodnesse is so meek and inoffensive The most thought the worse of Dr. Juxon for the Bishops sake the best thought the better of the Bishop for Dr. Juxon's sake Observations on the Life of John Lord Culpeper I Finde nothing promoting him to his first preferment of Chancellor of the Exchequer but his pure merit nor any thing advancing him to his after-honours but his steady Loyalty which when others stuck to London in compliance with that Maxime In all Divisions keep your self to the Metropolis the chief City being for the most part preserved who-ever prevaileth in a Civil Commotion abounding in Money and Friends the readiest Commodities to purchase Quiet carryed him after a persecuted Soveraign for twenty years together by the strong obligation of a well-principled Conscience and the well-weighed observation of the natural Affection of all Englishmen to their lawful Soveraign from whom though the Arts and Impulses of seditious Demagogues may a while estrange and divorce their mindes yet their Genius will irresistibly at last force them to their first love It was the resolution of a great States-man That if the Crown of England were placed but on an Hedge-stake he would be on that side the Crown was His first service was to discover his Soveraign to his deluded People worthy not onely of their obedience but their lives and fortunes His next was to lay open his Enemies in all their Intrigues and Reserves being most happy in all the Treaties he was engaged in in discerning the bottome of his own Parties Interest and their Adversaries pretensions discoveries that prevailed on all that was either noble or but ingenuous in the Nation especially whither my Lord came with his indefatigable Industry his obliging Converse and potent Eloquence excepting London it's self whither he was sent from Nottingham with the Earls of Southampton and Dorset and Sir William Wedale Knight the very day the King set up his Standard there The Principle he went upon was That the Faction at Westminster was no Parliament A Principle most safe on all hands For which and the rest of his judicious Sentiments he hath the honour to be enrolled among those that Traytors durst not pardon