Northampton though a great Clerke yet not a wise man but the grossest Flatterer of the World and as Salisbury by his Wit so this by his Flattery raised himselfe yet one great motive to the raising all of that Name of Howards was the Duke of Norfolke suffering for the Queene of Scots the Kings Mother yet did Suffolke so farre get the start of Northampton that Northampton never after loved him but from the teeth outwards only had so much discretion as not to fall to actuall enmity to the over-throw of both and the weakning that faction Suffolk also using him with all submissive respect not for any love but hope of gaining his great estate and sharing it amongst his Children but Northamptons distaste was such by his losse of the Treasurers place which he had with such assurance promised to himselfe in his thoughts that except what he gave to Master Henry Howard the rest he gave to the Earl of Arundell who by his observance but more especially by giving Northampton all his Estate if he never returned from travell had wrought himselfe so far into his affections that he doted on him And now the principall managers of the English affaires were Salisbury Suffolke Northampton Buckhurst Egerton Lord Keeper Worcester and the Old Admirall For the Scots Sir George Hewme now Earle of Dunbar Secretary Elfeston after Earle of Balmerino and as wise a man as was in England or Scotland the Lord of Kinlosse a very honest but weak man You are now to observe that Salisbury had shaken off all that were great with him and of his Faction in Queene Elizabeths dayes as Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir George Carew the Lord Grey the Lord Cobham the three first very able men as the world had the last but one degree from a foole yet served their turnes better then a wiser man by his greatnesse with the Queen for they would put him on any thing and make him tell any Lye with as great confidence as a truth Three of these were utterly ruined as you shall heare in the following Discourse the fourth being a very wise man contented himselfe with a meane place that was worthy of a much greater and although very active formerly called to minde this saying Foelix quem faciunt c. and medled with no State businesse his wisdome fore-telling his Fate if he had done otherwise for he did see one better head-peece then his owne sit tottering at that time and fell off afterwards which made him think it was good sleeping in a whole skin The King no sooner came to London but notice was taken of a rising Favourite the first Meteor of that nature appearing in our climate as the King cast his eye upon him for affection so did all the Courtiers to adore him his name was Mr. James Hay a Gentleman that lived long in France and some say of the Scottish Guard to that King this Gentleman comming over to meet the King and share with him in his new Conquest according to the Scots phrase it should seeme had some former acquaintance with the then Leiger Embassadour in Scotland for the French King who comming with his Majesty into England presented this Gentleman as a well accomplished Gentleman to the King in such an high commendation as engendered a liking that produced a favourite in thankfull acknowledgement whereof he did him many faire offices for the present and comming afterwards an extraordinary Embassadour to our King made him the most sumptuous Feast at Essex house that ever was seene before never equalled since in which was such plenty and Fish of that immensity brought out of Muscovia that Dishes were made to containe them no Dishes in all England before could neare hold them and after that a costly Voydee and after that a Maske of choyse Noble-men and Gentlemen and after that a most costly and magnificent Banquet the King Lords and all the prime Gentlemen then about London being invited thither Truly he was a most compleat and well accomplished Gentleman modest and Court-like and of so faire a demeanour as made him be generally beloved and for his wisdome I shall give you but one character for all Hee was ever great with all the Favourites of his time and although the King did often change yet he was semper idem with the King and Favourites and got by both for although Favourites had that exorbitant power over the King to make him grace and disgrace whom they pleased yet he was out of their power and the only exception to that generall rule and for his gettings it was more then almost all the Favourites of his time which appeared in those vast expences of all sorts and had not the bounty of his minde exceeded his gettings he might have left the greatest estate that ever our age or climate had heard of he was indeed made for a Courtier who wholly studied his Master and understood him better then any other He was imployed in very many of the most weighty Affaires and sent with the most stately Embassies of our times which he performed with that wisdome and magnificence that he seemed an honour to his King and Country For his carriage in State-affaires he was termed by some Princes the Kings Juggler He married the Daughter and Heire of the Lord Denny after the Earl of Northumberlands daughter and was hated of none that ever I heard of but the Earle of Northampton who had no patience to see him being himselfe of so venemous and cankred a disposition that indeed he hated all men of noble parts nor loved any but Flatterers like himselfe yet it was a great question whether he hated the Earl of Carlisle or Sir Robert Mansell most by whom he hath been heard to say Body of God I will be content to be damned perpetually in Hell to be revenged of that proud Welshman and did so hate him that he kept an Inquisition on him seven yeares to prove that he had cousened the King of fourteen thousand pounds which at the seven yeares end at an hearing before the King the Lords the Queen and all the Ladies being present with all the gallantry of the Court ended in one paire of silke Stockins given by one for a New-yeares Gift to Master Wels Sir Robert Mansells Servant at which the King stood up and sware very deeply Doe you beleeve I will take a paire of silke Stockins for my fourteen thousand pounds give me that give me that is this all the fruit of seven yeares Commission at which words Sir Robert Mansell kneeled downe and said I will now Sir take all the faults they can charge my servant with upon my selfe at which the King was very angry that so noble a Gentleman who had so wel acquitted himselfe and Honour should intrust it in the keeping of a Servant at the end of all the Earle of Salisbury kneeled down and said Sir if you will suffer malice so farre to prevaile as to have your
Gentleman of the Bed-chamber Master of the Wardrobe and invested with such Honours and Offices as he was capable of and that inabled him to live in a noble way during his life and to leave his Daughters great Fortunes but had you seene how the Lords did vye courtesies to this poore Gentleman striving who should ingrosse that Commodity by the largest bounty you could not but have condemned them of much basenesse especially seeing when at this time Offices and great places of Honour will not be accepted from that Sonne that the very Barber of whose Father was so much courted but to speake a good word in their behalfes Surely the times are much altered And now all preparation was made to meet the King in York that he might in that Northerne Metropolis appear like a King of England and take that State on him there which was not known in Scotland There met him all the Lords of the Councell and there did they all make Court to the Scotch-men that were most in favour with the King and there did the Scotch Courtiers lay the first foundation of their English Fortunes the chiefe of them was Sir George Hewme a kinde of Favourite but not such as after appeared with young Faces and smooth Chins but one that for his wisdome and gravity had beene in some secret Councels with his Master which created that dearnesse between them and the chiefe of those secrets was that of Gowries Conspiracy though that Nation gave little credit to the Story but would speak both sleightly and despitefully of it and those of the wisest of that Nation yet there was a weekly commemoration by the Tuesday Sermon and an anniversary Feast as great as it was possible for the Kings preservation ever on the fifth of August upon which day as Sir John Ramsey after E. of Holdernesse for his good service in that preservation was the principall guest so did the King grant him any Boone he would aske that day but had such limitations set to his asking as made his suit as unprofitable unto him as that he asked it for was unserviceable to the King and indeed did make the English beleeve as little the truth of that story as the Scots themselves did and yet on my conscience the good Gentleman did in that as a Lyer often doth by telling a Lye often beleeveth it to be a very truth but the truth was although he was not a man capable of much himselfe yet had it been true there was too little done for him being not true too much for being an Earle he was in very little esteeme either with his Master or with the better sort of Courtiers And I pray God that the effects of those Sermons in the Fathers time for that service cause no ill effects or be not one cause of Gods anger towards us in the Sons reigne This Sir George Hewme being the only man that was the Guider of the King and his affaires all the wiser sort of English made their addresses unto him amongst those Sir Robert Cicill a very wise man but much hated in England by reason of the fresh bleeding of that universally beloved Earle of Essex and for that was clouded also in the Kings favour he came to Yorke but lay close unseen or scarce knowne to be in the City untill he knew what entertainment he should receive from the King for he was in his owne and all mens opinions so under the Hatches as not ever to appeare above board againe nor did any of the Countre-faction to Essex besides himselfe ever attaine to the Kings favour but those friends raised by his wit and purse did so co-operate of which Sir Roger Aston that plaine man was principall for which he lost not his labour that Sir George Hewme and Sir Robert Cicill had many secret meetings and did so comply that Sir Robert Cicill to the admiration of all did appeare and come out of his Chamber like a Giant to run his race for Honour and Fortune and who in such dearnesse and privacy with the King as Sir Robert Cicill as if he had been his faithfull Servant many yeares before yet did not either his Friends wit or wealth raise him so much as some beleeve as the ill offices done by him to this Nation in discovering the nature of the people and shewing the King the way how to enhance his Prerogative so above the Lawes that he might inslave the Nation which though it took well then yet it hath been of sad and dangerous consequence in after times For first He caused a whole Cart-load of Parliament Presidents that spake the Subjects Liberty to be burnt Next raising two hundred thousand pound for making two hundred Baronets telling the King he should finde his English Subjects like Asses on whom he might lay any burthen and should need neither Bit nor Bridle but their Asses eares And when the King said It would discontent the generality of the Gentry He replyed Tush Sir you want the money that will doe you good the Honour will doe them very little And by these courses he raised himselfe friends and family to Offices Honours and great Possessions Yet as a punishment he lived long enough to have lost all had not Death prevented him between the Bath and London For the Duke of Bullion being then here about the overture of that unfortunate Match betweene the Palsgrave and the Lady Elizabeth had so done his errand and discovered his juggling It is most certaine he had been stript of all at his returne which he well understanding from his Friends at Court did expedite his end but he dyed opportunely to save his honour and his estate for his posterity though to leave a marke of ignominy on himselfe by that Herodian disease and that for all his great Honours and Possessions and stately Houses he found no place but the top of a Mole-hill neare Marleborough to end his miserable life so that it may be said of him and truly he dyed of a most loathsome disease and remarkable without house without pitty without the favour of that Master that had raised him to so high an estate and yet must he have this right done him which is also a note of the misfortune of our times there hath not been any since his time that equalled him to fulfill the Proverbe Seldome comes a better he had great parts was very wise full of honour and bounty a great lover and rewarder of Virtue and able parts in others so they did not appeare too high in place or looke too narrowly into his actions The next that came on the publick Theatre in favour was Henry Howard a younger Son of the Duke of Norfolke and Lord Thomas Howard the one after Earle of Northampton the other Earle of Suffolk Lord Chamberlaine and after Lord Treasurer who by Salisburies greatnesse with that Family rather then by any merit or wisdome in themselves raised many great Families of his Children
face at the Dukes foot kissing it vowing never to rise till he had his pardon then was he againe reconciled and since that time so very a slave to the Duke and all that Family that he durst not deny the command of the meanest of the kindred nor oppose anything by this you see a base spirit is ever most concomitant with the proudest minde and surely never so many brave parts and so base and abject a spirit tenanted together in any one earthen Cottage as in this one man I shall not remember his basenesse being out of his place of pinning himselfe for very scraps on that Noble Gentleman Sir Julius Caesars Hospitality that at last he was forced to get the Kings Warrant to remove him out of his house yet in his prosperity the one being Chancellor and the other Master of the Rolls did so scorne and abuse him as he would alter any thing the other did And now Buckingham having the Chancellor Treasurer and all great Officers his very slaves swels in the height of pride summons up all his Country kindred the old Countesse providing a place for them to learne to carry themselves in a Court-like garbe but because they could not learne the French Dances so soon as to be suitable to their gay Clothes Country Dances for their sakes only must be the garbe of the Court and none else must be used Then must these women-kindred be married to Earles Earles eldest Sonnes Barons or chiefe Gentlemen of greatest estates insomuch that the very female kindred were so numerous as were sufficient to have peopled any Plantation nay very Kitchin-wenches were married to Knights eldest sonnes yet as if England had not matches enough in the Kingdome they married like the house of Austria in their own kindred witnesse the Earle of Anglesea married a cousen German to whom he had given earnest before so that King James that naturally in former times hated women had his Lodgings replenished with them and all of the Kindred The Brethren great Earls Little children did run up and downe the Kings Lodgings like little Rabbitstarters about their boroughs Here was a strange change that the King who formerly would not endure his Queen and children in his Lodgeings now you would have judged that none but women frequented them nay that was not all but the kindred had all the houses about White-Hall as if they had been Bulwarks and Flankers to that Cittadell But above all the Miracles of those times old Sir Anthony Ashley who never loved any but boyes yet he was snatcht up for a kinswoman as if there had been a concurrency thorow the Kingdom that those that naturally hated women yet should love his kindred as well as the King him And the very old Midwives of that kindred flockt up for preferment of which old Sir Christopher Perkins a woman-hater that never meant to marry nay it was said he had made a vow of Virginity yet was coupled to an old Midwife so that you see the greatnesse of this Favourite who could force by his power over the King though against Nature But I must tell you this got him much hatred to raise brothers and brother-in-laws to the highest rank of Nobility which were not capable of the place of scarce a Iustice of the Peace only his brother Purbeck had more wit and honesty then all the kindred beside and did keep him in some bounds of honesty and modesty whilst he lived about him and would speake plaine English to him for which plainnesse when they had no colour to put him from his brother they practised to make him mad and thought to bring that wicked stratagem to effect by countenancing a wicked Woman his Wife the Lord Cookes Daughter against him even in her base and lewd living And now is Purbeck mad indeed and put from Court Now none great with Buckingham but Bawds and Parasites and such as humoured him in his unchaste pleasures so that since his first being a pretty harmlesse affable Gentleman he grew insolent cruell and a monster not to be endured And now is Williams sometimes Chaplaine to the Lord Keeper Egerton brought into play made a privie-Councellor Deane of Westminster and of secret Councell with the King he was also made Bishop of Lincolne and was generally voyced at his first step to marry Buckinghams Mother who was in her husbands time created a Countesse he remaining still a C. silly drunken sot and this was the first president of this kinde ever known Williams held her long in hand and no doubt in nature of her Confessor was her secret friend yet would not marry at present which afterwards was cause of his downfall Then was there a Parliament summoned in which Bacon for his bribery and injustice was thrust out being closely prosecuted by one Morby a Woodmonger and one Wrenham formerly deeply censured in the Star-Chamber for accusing him of bribery and injustice Bacon was by Parliament justly put out of his place and but only for the Votes of the Bishops had been degraded the Bishops might have done better to have kept their voyces to have done themselves service at this time but surely that with some other injustice of theirs had so filled up their measure of iniquity that now Gods anger is kindled against them In Bacons place comes Williams a man on purpose brought in at first to serve turnes but in this place to doe that which none of the Layity could be found bad enough to undertake whereupon this observation was made that first no Lay-man could be found so dishonest as a Clergy man next as Bacon the Father of this Bacon did receive the seales from a Bishop so a Bishop againe received them from a Bacon and at this did the Lawyers fret to have such a flower pulled out of their Garland This Williams though he wanted much of his Predecessors abilities for the Law yet did he equall him for learning and pride and beyond him in the way of bribery this man answering by Petitions in which his servants had one part himselfe another and so was calculated to be worth to him his servants 3000. l. per annum by a new way never found out before And now being come to the height of his preferment he did estrange himselfe from the company of the old Countesse having much younger ware who had keyes to his chamber to come to him yet was there a necessity of keeping him in this place for a time the Spanish Match being yet in chase and if it succeeded this man was to clap the great Seale through his ignorance in the Lawes to such things that none that understood the danger by knowing the Lawes would venture upon and for this designe was he at first brought in no Prince living knowing how to make use of men better then King James Now was also Suffolke turned out of his place of Lord Treasurer and a fellow of the same Batch that Williams was brought into his place
Cranfield that was the Projector and never could get higher then that title in Somersets time now marrying one of Buckinghams kindred attained one of the highest Titles in the Kingdome so that it was now generally said that for pride and basenesse these two greaâ— places were never so suited both of meane birth both proud only the one an excellent Scholler and of great parts the other nothing but a pack of ignorance sodered together with impudence to raise him besides his marriage in the lusty kindred This Cranfield was a fellow of so meane a condition as none but a poore spirited Nobility would have endured his perching on that high Tree of honour to the dishonour of the Nobility the disgrace of the Gentry and not long after to his owne dishonour who was thrust out of the Lords House with this censure that Thou Lionell Earle of Middlesex shalt never sit or have voice more in this House of Peeres and shalt pay for a fine to our Soveraigne Lord the King 20000. l. leaving him still to over-top the Gentry The Bishops kept him also from degrading which I doe verily beleeve is one cause the Gentry will degrade them The Spanish Match having been long in Treaty and it being suspected now that the Spaniard did juggle with the State in this as they formerly did in a Match with that brave Prince Henry and in truth in all other things wherein any negotiation had been only feeding the King with faire hopes and faire words yet foule deeds Whether the King suspected any such matter or any whimsey came in the braine of this great Favourite and Prince to imitate the old stories of the Knights Erland but agreed it was it should seeme between the Favourite and the Prince only no one other so much as dreaming of any such adventure except Cottington that the Prince must goe himselfe into Spaine away they went under the borrowed names of Jack and Tom Smith to the amazement of all wise men only accompanied with Cottington and some one or two more at most taking their way by France they had the Ports laid so that none should follow them or give any notice to the French Court till they might get the start c. yet their wisdomes made them adventure to stay in the French Court and looke on that Lady whom he after married and there did this Mars imitate one of Prince Arthurs Knights in seeking adventures through forraigne Princes territories First beheld this French beauty Mars vidit visamque cupit potiturque cupita as in our discourse will afterward appear from thence away to Spaine but as the Journey was only plotted by young heads so it was so childishly carried that they escaped the French Kings Curriers very narrowly but escape they did and arrived safely in Spaine their wished Port before either welcome or expected by our Embassadors or that State Yet now must the best face bee put on at all hands that put their Grandees to new shifts and our Embassadour the Earl of Bristoll to try his wit for at that time was Sir Walter Aston also Embassador at Spaine in all occurrences Aston complyed with the Prince and Duke Bristol ran counter and the Duke and Bristol hated each other mortally Bristol had the advantage of them there as having the much better head-peice and being more conversant and dear with that State wholly complying with them and surely had done them very acceptable services and in this very Treaty was of the pack Buckingham had the advantage of him in England although the King did now hate Buckingham yet was so awed that hee durst not discover it Then Buckingham had all interest in his Successor by this journy so that he laid a present and future foundation of his succeeding greatnesse For all his power and greatnesse Bristoll did not forbeare to put all scornes affronts and tricks on him and Buckingham lay so open as gave the other advantage enough by his lascivious carriage and miscarriage Amongst all his tricks hee playes one so cunningly that it cost him all the hair on his head and put him to the dyet for it should seem hee made court to Conde Olivares wife a very handsom Lady But it was so plotted betwixt the Lady her Husband and Bristol that instead of that beauty he had a notorious Sâ—ewsbird sent him and surely by reason of his said loose and vicious disposition had ever the Match been really intended for our Prince yet such a Companion or Guardian was enough to have made that wary Nation beleeve that hee had also been that way addicted and so have frustrated the Marriage that being a grave and sober people now especially when conversed with by such great forraign ghests but they wel observed the Prince himselfe to be of an extraordinary well staied temper But now many Lords flockt over and many Servants that he might appear the Prince of England and like himselfe though hee came thither like a private person many Treaties were sometimes hope sometimes dispair sometimes great assurance then all dasht againe and however his entertainment was as great as possible that State could afford yet was his addresses to and with the Lady such as rendred him meane and a private person rather then a Prince of that State that formerly had made Spaine feel the weight of their anger and power and was like a Servant not a Suitor for he never was admitted but to stand bare-head in her presence nor to talke with her but in a full audience with much company At last after many heats and cooles many hopes and despaires the Prince wrote a letter to his Father of a desperate despaire not only of not injoying his Lady but of never more returning with this passage You must now Sir look upon my Sister and her children forgetting ever you had such a Son and never thinking more of me Now the folly of this voyage plotted only by green heads began to appear many shewing much sorrow many smiling at their sollies and in truth glad in their hearts and however the King was a cunning dissembler and shewed much outward sorrow as he did for Prince Henryes death yet something was discerned which made his Court beleeve little greife came neare his heart for that hatred he bare to Buckingham long as being satiated with him and his adoring the rising Sunne not looking after the Sunne setting made the world beleeve hee would thinke it no ill bargaine to lose his Son so Buckingham might bee lost also for had he not been weary of Buckingham he would never have adventured him in such a journey all his Courtiers knew that very well And for a further illustration of his wearinesse of Buckingham It appeared in the Parliament before when the King gave so much way to his ruine that Buckingham challenged him that hee did seeke his ruine and being generally held as a lost man the King to make it appeare it was not so although as