overwritten thus OIA VANITAS in great Golden Letters Sir Anthony Cooke and not his Son Cecil offering to read it desired to know of the Gentleman what he meant by OIA who told him it stood for Oâ—nia Sir Anthony replyed Sir I wonder having made your Omnia so little as you have you notwithstanding make your Vanitas so large King Edw 〈…〉 would say of his Tutors That Rodolph the Germ 〈…〉 spake honestly Sir John Cheeke talked merrily D 〈…〉 Coxe solidly and Sir Anthony Cooke weighingly A faculty that was derived with his blood to his Grandchilde Bacon which informs the world of this great truth That Education doth much towards Parts Industry more Converse Encouragement and Exercise more yet but a sound temper and nature an wholsome blood and spirit derived from healthful and well-constitutioned Parents doth all Observations on the Life of Sir David Brooke DAvid Brooke Knight born at Glassenbury Son to John Brooke Esq who was Sergeant at Law to King Henry the Eighth Our David was also bred in the Study of our Laws and in the first of Queen Mary was made chief Baron of the Exchequer but whether dying in or quitting the place in the first of Queen Elizabeth I am not informed He married Katharine Daughter of John Lord Chandois but died without issue A Lawyer and a Lawyers son yet one whose Zeal for the Religion of that time advanced rather then his Law to serve rather his Princes interest then his Court that being the happy shall I say or unhappy time when the Soveraign and the State did often consult with Judges and the Judges more often consult with the Soveraign and State Yet although a particular respect raised a general fair carriage kept him up He observed not onely things but times not onely times but persons therefore when old Poenal Laws came before him he confined them in the execution that that which was made for terrour should not be for rigour and the Instrument of Government should not be the snare of the People When Informers of that Court were too busie he checked them when violent prosecution cunning advantages combinations power or great counsel balanced an honest cause he set all things even His invention was good to improve his Mistresses Revenue his conscience was as tender to diminish it Q. Mary w 〈…〉 ready of her own inclination but readier upon S 〈…〉 David Brookes motion to part with the Church Profits Patient and grave he was in hearing sparing and weighty in speaking None would direct an Evidence more orderly none moderated the length or impertinency of Pleaders more discreetly None would recapitulate select collate the material points of what had been said more exactly none gave judgement more satisfactorily always commending a good Lawyer that miscarried a good way to uphold in the Client the reputation of his counsel and beat down in him the conceit of his cause He died with some projects in his breast for the Revenue and some for the Law whereof one was a composition for the Purveyances and another a regulation of the Wards both at that time thought till regulated as unprofitable for the Crown as they seemed to be burthensome to the subject He had a close way of discovering Concealments as he had a severe one of punishing frauds His word was One Law executed is worth twenty made None more austere in case of others wrong none more mild in that of his own and he would say What is done is done Weak men concern themselves in what is past while the wise take care of what is present and to come If a man wrongeth me once God forgive him saith the Italian if he wrongeth me the second time God forgive me Others may be even with their enemies in revenge he would be above them in forgiveness An enemy I say though otherwise to a perfidious and an unworthy friend he was much of Cosmus Duke of Florence his temper who said You shall read that we are commanded to forgive our â—nemies but you never read that we are commanded 〈…〉 o forgive our friends Many have inveighed against Usury none have done more against it then this Knight who if he â—ad lived was resolved to reduce it to these Rules 1. That it should be declared unlawful 2. Being declared so if any practised it as men must do or Traffick will fall that there should be a penalty upon the Usurer which might amount to an Excise or Custome that would arise from that money if employed in merchandize 3. That yet if any exacted above five in the hundred they should loose the Principal A rate that on the one hand would keep up the necessary Commerce of Lending and Borrowing among the Old â—nd the Idle and yet direct men to that more ne 〈…〉 ssary of buying and improving Land and other Commodities that are more industrious and ingeâ—ious 4. That none yet presume this but in some principal places of Merchandizing for then as my Lord Bacon hath projected it they will hardly be able to colour other mens moneys in the Country for no man will lend his money far off or put it into unknown hands Or Lastly That there be no money lent out upon terms but to the State which may make its advantage of it Indeed considering on the one hand that Usury decayeth the Kings Custome bringeth money to few hands damps Industry and Invention beats down the price of the Land and by eating up private Estates breeds a publick Poverty It were to be wished it were forbidden And on the other That Borrowers trade most that No Usury no young Merchants that Without Usury men must sell their Estates at under-Rates more sad then Usury that No borrowing no living no Usury no borrowing It were wished it were regulated so that the inconveniences of it were avoided and the advantages retained and Extortion be checked as Traffick is encouraged Thus he that hath no private care advanceth the publick Good and the childeless man is most thoughtful for Posterity Certainly the best Works and of greatest Merit for the Publique have proceeded from the unmarried or the childless man who both in Affection and Means have married and endowed the Publique He that hath Wife and Children hath given Hostages to Fortune For they are Impediments either to Vertue or Mischief A fat man in Rome riding always upon a very lean Horse being asked the Reason thereof answered That he fed himself but he trusted others to feed his Horse Our Judge being asked what was the best way to thrive said Never do any thing by another that you can do by your self Observations on the Life of Doctor Thomas Wilson THomas Wilson born in Lincolnshire was Doctor of Laws bred Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge and afterwards was Tutor in the same University to Henry and Charles Brandon successively Dukes of Suffâ—lk Under Queen Elizabeth he was made Master of the Hospital of St. Katharine's nigh the Tower of London At last
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
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
Charity Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Wentworth SIr Tho. Wentworth of Nettlested in Suffolk so a younger Family confessed by the Crescent in his Coat descended from the Wentworths of Wentworth-wood-house in York-shire and was created Baron Wentworth by King Henry 8. He was a stout and valiant Gentleman a cordial Protestant and his Family a Sanctuary of such Professors John Bale comparing him to the good Centurion in the Gospel and gratefully acknowledging him the cause of his conversion from a Carmelite The memory of this good Lord is much but unjustly blemished because Calis was lost the last of Queen Mary under his Government The manner was huddled up in our Chronicles least is best of bad business whereof this is the effect The English being secure by reason of the last Conquest at St. Quintin and the Duke of Guise having notice thereof he sate down before the Town at the time not when Kings go forth to but return from battle of mid-winter even upon New-years-day Next day he took the two Forts of Risebank and Newman-bridge wherein the strength of the City consisted but whether they were undermined or undermoneyed it is not decided and the last left most suspitious Within three days the Castle of Calis which commanded the City and was under the command of Sir Ralph Chamberlain was taken the French wading through the Ditches made shallower by their artificial cut and then entring the Town were repulsed back by Sir Anthony Ager Marshal of Calis the onely man saith Stow who was killed in the fight understand him of note others for the credit of the business accounting fourscore lost in that service The French re-entring the City the next day being Twelfth-day the Lord Wentworth Deputy thereof made but vain resistance which alas was like the wrigling of a Worms tayl after the head thereof is cut off so that he was forced to take what terms he could get viz. That the Towns-men should depart though plundered to a Groat with their lives and himself with 49 more such as the Duke of Guise should chuse should remain prisoners to be put to ransome This was the best news brought to Paris and worst to London for many years before It not onely abated the Queens chear the remnant of Christmas but her mirth all the days of her life Yet might she thank her self for loosing this Key of France because she hung it by her side with so slender a string there being but five hundred Souldiers effectually in the Garison too few to manage such a piece of importance The Lord Wentworth the second of June following was solemnly condemned for Treason though unheard as absent in France which was not onely against Christian charity but Roman justice Festus confessing it was not fashionable amongst them to deliver any man to die before he which is accused have the accusers face to face and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him It was well for this Lord that he was detained in France till his ransome was paid and Queen Mary dead who otherwise probably had lost his life if he had had his liberty But Queen Elizabeth coming to the Crown he found the favour or rather had the justice to be tryed again and was acquitted by his Peers finding it no treachery cowardise or carelessness in him but in Sir John Harlston and Sir Ralph Chamberlain the one Governour of Risebank the other of Calis-Castle for which they were both condemned to die though their judgement was remitted This Lord was the onely person I have read of who thus in a manner played Rubbers when his head lay at stake and having lost the fore recovered the after-game He died a very aged man 1594. Thus far Mr. Fuller Two ways a Courtier advanceth himself the first that more leisurely slow though sure of watching Offices Preferments and Dignities that may by steps bring them to the Kings presence The second that more quick and short but most practised of following the Court for such extraordinary Commissions and particular services to the Empire as may without the danger of delays that must be fatal amidst so many Competitors recommend him to his favour It was below Sir Thomas his Estate to stoop to that first method it suited more with his activity to embrace the second Two usually-inconsistent qualities he had The closeness of an Agent and The Valour of a Souldier To Rome he was sent in disguise and to Treport with an Army so graceful his carriage so insinuating his affability so clear and well-weighed his discourse so searching and comprehensive his judgement so gravely Aiery so Majestically pleasant his countenance so becoming his gate and apparel so watchful his Negotiations so winning his Addresses so discreetly smart his Reparties darting a suddain lustre and vigour to the darkness and heaviness of his graver Discourses neither common nor unsavoury neither affected nor far-fetched neither abusive of others nor mis-becoming himself so discreet and well-managed his complaisance with reference to circumstances person place time matter and cause that he had Cardinal Senhault's Secretary to bring him to the Popes Closet the Emperours Agent Randolphus to introduce him to Court that he won Fryar paul to shew him the mysteries of the Church Engineer Palvino to represent the Popes Cities Towns Fortifications Havens Harbours Antiquities Seminaries Exercises Ships Treasure Armories Arsenals Magaâ—ines having always by him a Card of the Territories and the Popes Bedchamber-man to shew him all the Papers and Transactions that concerned Henry the eighth So well experienced his Conduct so well disciplined his Army so watchful and industrious his Nature so good his pay though he pawned as once in Normandy his own Estate to satisfie his Souldiers so noble his rewards of valour and service it being his rule That every man should enjoy as much as he could conquer so prevalent his example that he did more with 2000 men in three moneths then the Duke of Suffolk had done with 8000 in three years The Duncery and idleness of the Monks in his time as he writes himself made Erasmus a Student the sloth and carelesness of Commanders in Sir Thomas his time made him a Souldier Edward the third of England having sent to France to demand the Crown by Maternal Right the Council there sent him word That the Crowe of France was not tied to a Distaff To which he replyed That then be would tie it to his Sword Sir Thomas Wentworth demanding Normandy in right of the Dukes thereof Kings of England was told That Dukedomes were never given away in France by the Wills of the Dead Nay then replyed he we will have them against the Wills of the Living It 's written of our Henry the fifth that he had something of Caesar in him which Alexander the Great had not That he would not be Drunk and something of Alexander the Great which Caes 〈…〉 had not That he would not be Flattered Sir Th
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
many must fight with many Our Deputy found that great Honour hath its great Difficulties yet was he so constant and resolute that with Marcellus he would say That as there are many things a good Governour ought not to attempt so ought be not to desist or give over an Enterprize once begun and taken in band Therefore his Character is One daring in his person close to his purpose firm to his dependencies of a deep and large soul who looked upon the chargeable War in Ireland as an equal remedy against a worse in England to the letting of blood in one part against the effusion of it in another and advised the bestowing of Church-lands among the Nobility of both Perswasions in Ireland as in England who would then hold their Religion with their Land in Capite and stick to the Queen as the great support of both against all pretenders whom then most would vigorously oppose and all would fairly leave Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Roper SIr Thomas Roper Servant to Queen Elizabeth was born in Friday-street in London whose Grandfather was a younger son of the house of Heanour in Derbyshire He going over into the Low-Countries became Page to Sir John Norrice and was Captain of a Foot-company at sixteen years of Age. What afterwards his Martial Performances were will appear by the following Lines transcribed out of the Originall of his Patent Whereas Thomas Roper Knight one of our Privy-Councellours of the Kingdome of Ireland long since bath been known unto us famous with the splendour of his warlike Vertue as who by the many Atchievments valiantly performed by him in the late War of this Kingdome hath gained the eminent Repute both of a stout Souldier and a discreet Commander whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Retreat near le Boyle in our Province of Connaught where with very few horse he undauntedly charged great troops of the horse of the Enemy who in a hostile manner forraged the very bowels of the Kingdome and by his wisdome made such a singular retreat that he not onely saved himself and his men but also delivered the whole Army from great danger and slew very many of his Enemies Who also when our Province of Ulster was all on fire with war being one out of many was for the tried Resolutios of his Mind chosen by the Right honourable the Earl of Essex then General of the Army to undertake a Duel with Makal and declined not to expose himself to the appointed Duel And also when the aforesaid Thomas Roper in the late war in the Kingdome of France at Brest by exposing himself to the greatest perils and shedding of his own blood demonstrated his Courage to be unconquerable Who also in the Voyage to Portugal behaved himself valiantly and honourably as also at Bergen in the Netherlands when it was besieged by the Spaniards approved himself a young man of invincible Valour in the defence thereof Who also in the day wherein Kinsale was assaulted was placed in the first Rank nearest of all unto the Town and with no less Success then Valour to the great safety of the whole Army beat back and put to flight the Spaniards who in the same day made several Sallies out of the Town Know therefore that We in intuition of the Premises have appointed the aforesaid Thomas Roper Knight c. Then followeth his Patent wherein King Charles the first in the third of his Reign created him Baron of Bauntree and Viscount Bâ—ltinglass in Ireland He was a principal means to break the hearts of the Irish Rebels for whereas formerly the English were loaded with their own Cloaths so that their slipping into Bogs did make them and the clopping of their breeches did keep them prisoners therein he first being then a Commander put himself into Irish Troâ—zes and was imitated first by all his Officers then Souldiers so that thus habited they made the more effectual execution on their enemies He died at Ropers Rest anno Dom. 164. and was buried with Anne his Wife Daughter to Sir Henry Harrington in St. Johns Church in Dublin Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Umpton SIr Henry Vmpton was born at Wadley in Barkshire He was son to Sir Edward Vmpton by Anne the Relict of John Dudley Earl of Warwick and the eldest Daughter of Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset He was employed by Queen Elizabeth Embassador into France where he so behaved himself right stoutly in her behalf as may appear by this particular In the moneth of March anno 1592 being sensible of some injury offered by the Duke of Guise to the Queen of England he sent him this ensuing Challenge For as much as lately in the Lodging of my Lord Du Mayne and in publick elsewhere impudently indiscreetly and over-boldly you spoke badly of my Soveraign whose sacred Person here in this Country I represent To maintain both by word and weapon her Honour which never was called in question among people of Honesty and Vertue I say you have wickedly lyed in speaking so basely of my Soveraign and you shall do nothing else but lye whensoever you shall dare to tax her Honour Moreover that her sacred Person being one of the most compleat and vertuous Princess that lives in this world ought not to be evil spoken of the tongue of such a perfidiour Traytor to her Law and Country as you are And hereupon I do defie you and challenge your person to mine with such manner of Arms as you shall like or chuse be it either on horse-back or on foot Nor would I have you to think any inequality of Person between us I being issued of as great a Race and Noble House every way as your self So assigning me an indifferent place I will there maintain my words and the lye which I gave you and which you should not endure if you have any courage at all is you If you consent not to meet me hereupon I wil hold you and cause you to be generally held one of the arrantest Cowards and most slanderous Slave that lives in all France I expect your answer I finde not what Answer was returned This Sir Henry dying in the French Kings Camp before Lofear had his Corpse brought over to London and carried in a Coach to Wadley thence to Farington where he was buried in the Church on Tuesday the eighth of July 1596. He had allowed him a Barons Hearse because he died Ambassadour Leiger Observations on the Life of the Earl of Essex IT is observed that the Earl of Essex had his Introduction to favour by the Lord of Leicester who had married his Mother a tye of Affinity This young Lord was a most goodly person in whom was a kind of Urbanity or innate Courtesie which both won the Queen and too much took upon the People to gaze upon the new-adopted Son of her favour He was noted even of those that truly loved and honoured him for too bold an Ingrosser both of Fame
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
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
complain when we had two Kings to maintain That which ruineth the world ruineth him his Tongue Fate never undid a man without his own indiscretion and her first stroke is at the Head Abroad none more Gorgeous at Home none more Noble at Court splendid among his Tenants Prince-like to his Relations impartial A Servant always pulled down the house of the Staffords and now one Knevet his Steward whom he had discharged for oppressing his Tenants undoeth him for his Father-in-law the Earl of Northumberland is set under a Cloud and his Son-in-law the Earl of Surrey is removed on pretence of honourable employment out of the way and Wolsey's malice at the Duke hath its full scope who now deals with Knevets discontent to discover his Masters life and suggest that the Duke by way of discourse was wont to say how he meant to use the matter that if King Henry died without issue he would attain the Crown and punish the Cardinal George Nevil Lord Abergavenny his Son-in-law impeached him to save himself His Title to the Crown was his Descent from Anne Platagenet Daughter of Thomas of Woodstock Son to Edward the third His Accusation was 1. That he had conferred with a Cunning-Man Hopkins Monk of Henton concerning the future state of this Realm who advised him to Popularity for he should have all if he had but the love of the People the Wizard confirming this by Revolutions and the Duke rewarding it with great encouragements 2. That he disparaged the present Government and used Arts to secure the succession 3. That he had threatned King Henry with the same Dagger that should have murthered Richa 〈…〉 the third He denied the Charge very eloquently and disclaimed his Life very rashly his foolish words rather then any designed malice deserving rather pity then judgement Much lamented was he by the People and as much was the Cardinal maliced being now called by the whole multitude The Butchers Son When Buckingham fell three things f 〈…〉 with him 1. The Splendour of the Court. 2. Hospitality and good Landlords in the Country And 3. The High-Constableship of England All Greatness is subject to Envy but none more then that which is infolent and affected being never its self without its pomp and shew Plain and modest Greatness is onely safe A Witch then blasts a man when most prosperous and the Envious the onely Wizard in the world when most glorious Wise-men therefore have eclipsed themselves than they might not be gazed on and great Ones have shrunk and suffered themselves to be over-born to be secure Vain-glorious men are the scorn of the Wise the admiration of Fools the Idols of Parasites and the envy of the Unworthy the Busie the Unfortunate the Ambitious and the Rivals He lives well that lives in peace and he is safely great that is great in his Conscience Anger â—ure is but a weakness in any man it belongeth so much to the Aged and the Childish and an indecency in a Noble-man yet it might have been a Gallantry in this Duke had it not 1. Revealed secrets and so betrayed him 2. Broke off his Designes and so confounded him And 3. Spoke bitterly and dangerously and so abused him So far will Discontent carry Nature that it easily believes what it wisheth So much doth a Prophetick Vanity sway English-men that have the most of men of any in the world in Divinations and an itch to know things to come that the wittiest Sir Thomas More the most devout Bishop Fisher the wisest Cardinal Wolsey and the most Noble the Duke of Buckingham have been undone by hearkning after Predictions the two first of Elizabeth Barton the third of John Sacheverel and the fourth Monk Hopkins Always are these Divinations like the Astrologers in Rome by severe Laws forbidden yet always are they by vain persons obtruded Many Wives wo England hardned many a Male-content to his ruine in King Henry the eighth's time When HEMPE is spun England is done encouraged many a Papist to his undoing in Queen Elizabeths time Leo Nulius confirmed many a deluded soul to his downfal in our days It was as fatal to this great man to trust his Steward as his Wizard the one deluded the other betrayed him It undoeth a man to be too close therefore we have friends to ease our selves it ruineth a man to be too open therefore there is a secret not to be communicated to a friend When the Duke of Buckingham made Knevet his Confessour he made him his Master He that is Master of my Heart is Master of my Life If my Shi 〈…〉 said Metellus knew my minde I would burn it 〈◊〉 my Servant or Friend knows my intentions I mu 〈…〉 either undo him or be undone by him unless 〈◊〉 be so much above a man as not out of weakness 〈◊〉 discover me or so much above a sinner as not o 〈…〉 of corruption to betray me Wild Beasts dwell 〈…〉 Dens Fishes bed in Mud and Birds in Nests and 〈…〉 Wise Man is wrapped up in secrecy Gyges his Ring was his wisdome whereby he understood others and was reserved himself It 's pity he ever learned to speak that knoweth not how to be silent 〈◊〉 would first be so wise faith a Wit and Wisdome 〈◊〉 our Age as to be my own counsellour and next so secret as to be my own counsel-keeper Some of my servants may be of my Bed-chamber but none shall be of my closet Before I told you of this saith Charles the Fifth of a Designe discovered upon the seventeen Provinces to his Favourite Lunembergh I was Emperour but now you anâ— so But the heighth of the Dukes spirit was equally unfortunate with the openness of it and he fell noâ— less because he despised Knevet then because he trusted him Contemned Dangers ruine surely while they surprize us at once naked and careless as ill prepared to offend the slighted Adversary as to defend our misunderstood Selves The least Beings have their spleen and command our caution No creature too mean to be mischievous none too inconsiderate to be feared As long as Weakness can cling to Power and Power to Malice what Knâ—vet would but could not that Wolsey could and would If my Enemy be strong he shall awe if weak he shall guard my Life Two things are necessary in this Life Faithful Friends or Severe Enemies The fewer of the former men of the Dukes fortune have the more use they should make of the latter The greatest Enemy when observed may do me a great kindness the least neglected can do no little mischief Security is the onely misfortune and Carelessness the onely fate that distresseth the World But the Duke threw away his life in a fatal word that could not be recalled I 'll not ask the King for my Life Great need have we to guard that Tongue whence flow the issues of Life and Death and weigh those words that go abroad for the measure of our Weal or Wo our words being given
rather copious then eloquent yet ever tending to the point Briefly if it be true as Polydore observes that no man ever did rise with fewer vertues it is true that few that ever fell from so high a place had lesser crimes objected against him Though yet Polydore for being at his first coming into England committed to Prison by him as we have said may be suspected as a partial Author So that in all probability he might have subsisted longer when either his pride and immense wealth had not made him obnoxious and suspected to the King or that other than Women had opposed him Who as they are vigilant and close Enemies so for the most part they carry their businesses in that manner as they leave fewer advantages against themselves then men do In conclusion As 〈…〉 cannot assent to those who thought him happy for enjoying the untimely compassion of the People 〈…〉 little before his end so I cannot but account it 〈…〉 principal Felicity that during his favour with the King all things succeeded better then afterwards though yet it may be doubted whether the Impressions he gave did not occasion dives Irregularities which were observed to follow The Lord Herbert's Character of Cromwel in his Life of Henry the Eighth pag. 462. AND to this end came Cromwel whâ— from being but a Blacksmiths Son found means to travel into forraign Countries to learn their Languages and to see the Wars being a Souldier of Bourbon at the sacking of Rome whence returning he was received into Cardinal Wolsey ' s service To whom he so approued himself by his fidelity and diligence that the King after his fall voluntarily took him for his servant in which place he became a special Instrument for dissolving the Abbeys and other Religious Houses and keeping down the Clergy whom in regard of their Oath to the Pope he usually termed the Kings half Subjects And for expelling the Monks he said it was no more then a restoring them to the first Institution of being lay and labouring persons Neither did 〈…〉 t move him that so much strictness and austerity of Life was enjoyned them in their several Orders since he said they might keep it in any condition But as these Reasons again were not admitted by divers learned and able Persons so he got him many Enemies who at last procured his fall but not before he had obtained successively the Dignities of Master of the Rolls Baron Lord Privy Seal Vicegerent to the King in Spiritualiâ—ies Knight of the Garter Earl of Essex Great Chamberlane of England c. He was much noted in the exercises of his Places of Judicature â—o have used much Moderation and in his greatest pomp to have taken notice and been thankful to mean persons of his old acquaintance and wherein had a Vertue which his Master the Cardinal wanted As for his other descriptions I leave them to be taken out of Cranmers Letter formerly mentioned with some deduction For it seems written to the King in more then Ordinary Favour of his entient Service Archbishop Cranmer's Character of Cromwel in a Letter to King Henry the Eighth WHo cannot be sorrowful and amazed that he should be a Traytor against your Majesty He that was so advanced by your Majesty He whose Surety was onely by your Majesty He who loved your Majest as I ever thought no less then God He who stadied always to set forwards whatsoever was you Majesties will and pleasure He that cared for 〈…〉 mans á spleasure to serve your Majesty He the was such a Servant in my judgement in wisdom diligence faithfulness experience as no Prine in this Realm ever had He that was so vigilant 〈◊〉 preserve your Majesty from all Treasons that f 〈…〉 could be so secretly conceived but he detected the same in the beginning If the Noble Princes of memory King John Henry II. and Richard Ilâ— had had such a Counsellour about them I supposed they should never have been so Traiterously abandoned and overthrown as those good Princes were After which he says again I loved him as my Friend for so I took him to be but I chiefly loved him for the love which I thought I saw him bear ever towards your Grace singularly above all other But now if he be a Traitor I am sorry that ever I loved him or trusted him and I am very glad that his Treason is discovered in time But yet egain I am very sorrowful for who shall your Grace trust hereafter if you might not trust him Alas I bewail and lament your Graces chance herein I wot not whom your Grace may trust But I pray God continually night and day to send such a Counsellour in his place whom your Grace may trust and who for all his Qualities can and will serve your Grace like to him and that will have so much sollicitude and care to preserve your Grace from all dangers as I ever thought he had The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Edward the VI. Observations on the Lives of the Seymours EDward Seymour and Thomas Seymour both sons of Sir John Seymour of Wolful in Wiltshire I joyn them together because whilst they were united in affection they were invincible but when divided easily overthrown by their enemies EDward Duke of Somerset Lord Protector and Treasurer of England being the elder THomas Seymour the younger brother was made Baron of Sudley brother succeeded to a fair Paternal inheritance He was a valiant Souldier for Land-service fortunate and generally beloved by Martial men He was of an open nature free from jealousie and dissembling affable to all people He married Anne Daughter to Sir Edward Stanhop a Lady of a high minde and haughty undaunted spirit and by Offices and the favours of his Nephew King Edward the sixth obtained a great Estate He was well experienced in Sea-affairs and made Lord Admiral of England He lay at a close posture being of a reserved nature and more cunning in his carriage He married Queen Katherine Parr the Widow of King Henry 8. Very great the Animosities betwixt their Wives the Dutchess refusing to bear the Queens Train and in effect justled with her for precedence so that what betwixt the Train of the Queen and long Gown of the Dutchess they raised so much dust at the Court as at last put out the eyes of both their Husbands and occasioned their Executions Their Sisters Beauty commended them to the Kings favours but a frail support that which is as lasting onely as a Phancy and onely as certain as Passion therefore their Parts recommended them to his service Affection shall lead me to Court but I 'll take care that Interest keeps me there Sir Edward Seymours temper suited with the Kings Inclinations and his spirit with his times both high both stirring In the throng of Courtiers
there are but three steps to raise a man to observation 1. Some peculiar sufficiency 2. Some particular exploit and 3. An especial Friend This Noble Person shewed the first with advantage in that draught of Military Discipline presented to Henry the eighth wherein the embattling is most remarkable viz. Twenty two compleat Companies make up four Squadrons every Squadron of Pikes and Musquets being drawn up apart the Pikes and Colours on the left hand and the Musqueteers on the right These Squadrons make-up a Brigade to be drawn up as followeth viz. Ten Corporalships of Musqueteers being 34 Rots divided into five Plattons every Platton being nine or so in front led by a Major and even division by a sufficient Commander Next after these 36 Rats of Pikes are to follow being twelve Corporalships with their Colours following them till they are drawn up even in from with the 32 Rots of Musqueteers This make the Right Wing of the Brigade 2. The Batter of Pikes moveth forwards in division doing in a◠respects as the former till they range even in front with the Pikes of the Right Wing Then the other 32 Rots of Musqueteers belonging to the middle Squadron who are appointed to make the Battel of the Brigade are led up as the first Musqueteers in all points but at a reasonable distance behind the Pikes of their own Squadrons Then the last Squadron of Pikes marcheth up in all respects observing the same order until they have attained to range in front even with other Pikes This being done the Battel or middle Squadron of Pikes and Musquets advanceth in one body until it 's clear of the Wings Lastly the Surplus of the three Squadrons being 48 Rots of Musqueteers are drawn up behind the Brigade where they are to attend the Commands of their Officers to guard the Baggage or Cannon to be Convoys for Ammunition or Victuals to the rest or continue a reserve to wait upon all occasions 2. Eminent was his ability for this Draught more eminent for his performance agreeable to it in Bretaign where he sate before a Town six weeks to no purpose while it expected relief from Italy but at last he insinuates a jealousie between the Pope and the French King touching that City that obstructed all relief He with as much speed as policy sets upon the two main Sconces for defence of the Town and took them both battering the Town and Castle with that violence and noise that they say it was heard 100 miles off A Train of Powder is laid to blow them up when they should enter but this succeeded not for the French in passing the Ditch had so wet their cloaths that dropping upon the Train the Powder would not take fire and so all things conspiring to crown his Valour with success he takes the Castle first and then dividing the Town and weakning it by several assaults at once brought it to his own terms Here his Valour had been eminent but that his Conduct was more and his Conduct renowned but that his nobleness towards the Conquerour his civility and obligingness towards the Souldiery and his integrity towards all persons had out-done that There are but two things that a subject can honestly oblige his Prince in 1. Keeping his subjects in peace at home 2. Keeping his enemies under abroad 1. Those soft but prudent Acts of Peace 2. Those resolved but well-managed ways of War Sir Thomas wanted neither a resolution for the one nor a temper for the other But sufficiency and merits are neglected things when not befriended Princes are too reserved to be taken with the first appearances of worth unless recommended by tryed judgements it 's fit as well as common that they have their Counsellours for persons as well as things his Sister therefore was married on Whitsunday and he is on the Tuesday following created Viscount Beauchamp But ne 〈…〉 year his Nephew is born the hope and stay of his Majesty and his Realms and he is made Earl 〈◊〉 Hertford King Henry understanding that the Pope upon his own and Cardinal Pool's account stirred up all the Princes of Europe against him as a provident Prince rode himself to the Sea-coasts to see then fortified Admiral Fitz-Williams is old Sir Thomas Seymour assists him to rig the Navy to be in rediness in six days time Sir Edward is to muster the Land-forces and particularly the City of London where were 15000 Armed men ready May 8. in St. Jameses at which place the City seemed 〈◊〉 Camp and the Citizens men not of the Gown but of the Armour Great this Lords interest in and respect with the people as great his brothers with the Sea-men the Multitude would leave all for their good Lord of Hertford and the Sea-men would die with their noble Lord Seymour When the King of Scots had deluded King Henry in his correspondencies with France beyond all patience and had been forborn beyond all safety or prudence Sir Edward Seymour is first sent to treat and then to sight which he did with that success that 300 of his men and a stratagem to possess the Scots with an apprehension that the whole English Army was upon them took and killed 30000 Scots had more prisoners then they could keep more booty then they could dispose of and adding this to their Victory That they broke the Kings heart There was no end to be expected of a War with Seotland but by marrying that Kings Daughter to our Soveraigns Son This Match was my Lord Seymour's interest as well as the Kings his prudence and experience is therefore employed first to perswade it and when that would not do so great and so cross the Papal power there by Cardinal Betons means his Valour and Resolution is sent with 10000 to compel it in order whereunto May 4. landing at Granther Gray he marcheth in order towards Leith which after a defeat given the Cardinal the Earls of Arran Huntley c. by his Harquebusiers they entred and thence proceeded to Edinburgh my Lord Dudley leading the Front our Earl the Battle and the Earl of Shrewsbury the Rereward there the Keys are offered them upon conditions which they refusing and so making the Enemy desperate who resolveth rather to perish nobly then be undone by submission the Town holds out and they are able to do no more with some considerable loss then burn the suburbs waste the Country to an utter desolation for seven miles compass demolish Leith Dunbar c. take all their Ships and Ammunition returning to Berwick with the loss onely of 14 men Two things he was eminent for 1. His Advice that not the least Punctilio of the Law should be neglected whereupon the Earl of Surrey and other Nobility were imprisoned for eating Flesh in Lent A secret and unobserved contempt of the Law is a close undermining of Authority which must be either its self in indulging nothing or be nothing in allowing all Liberty knows no restraint no limit when winked at
2. For his Popularity in advancing the Benevolence 52000 l. beyond expectation The Scots must have War as long as there is Poverty in their Country and Interest in France This Noble Earl cutteth off the Invaders layeth waste the Country and that the source of those troubles might be damned up entreth France with 80000 men and after some skirmishes brought the King thereof to a peace and submission In pursuance whereof while King Henry was in Bologn he made his Will wherein the Earl of Hertford Lord High Chamberlain is appointed Principal Counsellour to his Nephew and not long after he dieth and leaves the Kingdome to his son and his son to his Uncle whom the common Vote made Protector and Interest a Moderator of the Council which the times required able but their humours made factious The peace with King Francis and the Emperour was but uncertain the Scots were irreconcileable the Pope implacable Religion unsetled the Clergy out of frame the People distracted and the Nobility at variance A great Counsellour King Henry leaves his son and a greater his Uncle makes him In counsel is stability things will have their first or second agitation if they be not tossed upon the Arguments of Counsel they will be tossed upon the Waves of Fortune But yet this Lord miscarried in that the Council understood him better then he did them And he advised with them rather in publick where men speak warily and in compliance with others humour then in private where they deliver themselves more freely and agreeably to their own humours The Rule is Ask an inferiour mans advice in private that he may be free and a superiours in publick that he may be respectful But he did well 1. In that the same matter if weighed was never propounded and resolved the same day 2. In that he had fixed days of petitions for the peoples and his own ease 3. In that he poyzed his Committees of contrary Inclinations that watched and balanced each other to a moderation most safe for the Kingdome and himself 4. That he had of all Professions such at his command as opened the state of a business before any Commissioners debated it 5. That he seldome discovered his own inclination left it byassed his Counsel 6. That to prevent a Combination in the Council he weakned their power and priviledges their credit their dependencies either by office or expectation their opportunities and correspondencies so that he could easily remove any when faulty discover any when dangerous disgrace any when bold and not fit to be entrusted with the Counsels Resolves Deliberations and Necessities of the State In order to which he had two useful Resolutions 1. To suppress Calumnies 2. To encourage Accusations His first Acts were Shew and Pomp necessary for Greatness viz. The Knighting of the King and making himself Duke His next are Realities as 1. His modelling the Country for a Parliament considering the temper of the people and the pulse of the last Parliament redressing Grievances setling Elections by such Legal Rules as that the people should not be corrupted with money overborn by importunity transported by fear or favour to an unworthy or an unsuitable choice and taking a just time to prepare the people for the designed settlement by his grave and sober Injunctions by godly and good Books of Instructions by a wholsome form of Prayer composed at Windsor by a more exact translation of the Bible by several Proclamations for moderation and order on all hands by inhibiting all Preachers but such learned sober grave and discreet men as were Licensed thereunto under the Lord Protector 's and my Lord of Canterbury's hand 2. His promoting the Match with Scotland first by Ambassadours and then by an Army whose order was this viz. The avant-guard of 3 or 4000 foot-men at Arms and 600 light-horse led by the Earl of Warwick the main Battle of 6000 foot and 600 men at Arms and 1000 light-horse led by the Protector and the Rear of half so many led by the Lord Dacres the Artillery of 16 Pieces of Ordnance making one Wing the men at Arms and Demilances the other For the Avant-guard and half of the Battel riding about two flight-shot from their side the other half of the Battel and the whole Flank of the Rear was closed by the Carriages being 12000 Carts and Waggons the rest of the men at Arms and Demilances marching behind A few skirmishes and stratagems passed when a Trumpeter is sent by Huntley to challenge the Protector to whom the Protector replying like a wise man That it was not for a person of his trust to duel it with a private man The Earl of Warwick said Trumpeter bring me word that thy Master will perform the Combat with me and I 'll give thee 100 Crowns Nay rather said our Duke bring me word that he will give us Battle and I will give thee 1000 l. But in 25 days he gains a greater Battle over-runs the Country with the loss of no more then 65 men to that of 25000 Scots 3. His third Exploit was Dispensing Honours so nobly that they were due encouragements to Vertue though yet so warily that they should not be either a burden or a danger to the Crown 4. He gave the Commonalty great content in pulling down Enclosures by Proclamations and the Nobility no less by setting up Land-improvements by Rule 5. He engaged both by a good bargain of Church-lands confirmed by this Parliament 6. He weakneth the Papists 1. By conniving at them until they broke out to such outrages as made them lyable 2. By dividing them when engaged with hope of mercy on the one hand and fear of his Army on the other 7. The French taking the advantage of our seditions to break off their Treaty and proclaim a War he confiscates their Estates and secures the persons of as many of them as lived in England But Greatness is fatal and his Brother that should have supported this great man ruines himself and him He had married a Lady high in spirit his Brother the Queen-Dowager higher in place the Ladies quarrel first and then as it must needs follow the Lords Thomas the Admiral is questioned for aiming at the Crown 1. By marrying the Lady Elizabeth and then by seizing the Kings person and the Government so honest this Protector a plain man and of no over-deep insight into Practices that he gave way to his Tryal saying though somewhat ominous as it happened I 'll do and suffer Justice so Uxorious that he sealed his death And now he stands alone wanting his Brothers cunning to reach Warwick or his resolution to check Norfolk The people are troubled at that one weak and unjustifiable Act of his The pulling down of so many of Gods Churches in the City to build one Someset-house in the Strand The Earl takes notice of their discontent and assembleth eighteen discontented Counsellours who arm themselves and their followers
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
as too much power to be trusted for a mortal man within the known Limits of Law that so Subjects may be at a certainty how to square their Loyalty and Obedience He always upheld that Prerogative saying That the discretion of the Scepter as Guardian for the general good of the Commonwealth must be trusted against all Emergencies with the management of its own might concluding always thus Submission is our Duty and Confidence our Prudence Bishop Bancroft of Oxford said in King Charles the first his time Eâ—â—empore occubui quo mallem Episcopatus rationem coram Deo dare quam Episcopatum coram bominibus exercere Judge Stamford said in Q. Mary's time In quae reservamur tempora det Deus ut Magistratus rationem coram eo reddam potius quam Magistratum coram hominibus exerceam His Book containeth two parts One of The Pleas of the Crown the other of The Kings Prerogative In him saith Mr. Fulbeck there is force and weight and no common kinde of stile in matter very few have gone beyond him in method none have overtaken him in the order of his writing he is smooth yet sharp pleasant yet grave and surely his method may be a Law to the Writers that succeed him Observations on the Life of Sir John Jeffrey SIr Iohn Ieffrey was born in Sussex where he left behind him a fair Estate to his Daughter He so profited in the Study of our Municipal Law that he was preferred secondary Judge of the Common Pleas and thence advanced by Queen Elizabeth in Michaelmas-Term the nineteenth of her Reign to be Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer which place he discharged for the Term of two years to his great commendation He le 〈…〉 one Daughter and Heir married to Sir Edward Montague since Baron of Boughton by whom he had but one Daughter Elizabeth married to Robert Barty Earl of Lindsey Mother to the truly honourable Montague Earl of Lindsey and Lord great Chamberlain of England This worthy Judge died in the 21 of Queen Elizabeth This was he who was called the Plodding Student whose industry perfected Nature and was perfected by experience He read not to argue onely for that is vanity nor to believe and trust for that is easiness nor to discourse for that is idle but to weigh and consider for that is prudence He had his Studies for pleasure and privacy for ornament and converse and for judgement and business To spend too much time on his Book was sloth to talk by Book was affected and to act by it was humoursome and Scholar-like Four things he would say helped him 1. His Inclination It 's a great happiness to a man saith Aristotle when his Calling is one of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those things that agree with his nature 2. Method 3. Religion with that just and composed mind that attends it 4. A great happiness in all the four faculties that make a Lawyer 1. A sharp invention and clear apprehension to search all the circumstances of a case propounded 2. Judgement to examine and weigh the particulars invented and apprehended for truth lieth in things as Gold in Mines 3. Memory to retain what is judged and examined 4. A prompt and ready delivery of what is conceived and retained set out with ingenuity and gravity Oratio praesta non audax What he said was close and pinching and not confident and earnest allowing passion not to disturb either the method or delivery of his discourse but to quicken it To speak well and much he said was not the work of one man yet if a Philosopher be eloquent said Cicero we must not despise him if he be not he must not affect it so that he can comprehend in words what he conceiveth and speak them plainly that he may be understood His Latine and French were Grammatical his Rhetorick Natural his Logick Reason The first opened the terms the second pressed the vigour the last collected and disposed of the Axiomes Grounds and Rules of the Law and all prepared him for that comprehensive Profession in the ashes whereof the sparks of all other Sciences were raked up His gesture and habit was grave but not affected speaking as much to the eye as his tongue did to the ear the gesture being a great discoverer of the constitution and a great direction to business what a man misseth in the speech he may sometimes find in the looks His temper was moderate and sober a Vertue and a seasoning of all others attended with the Lawyers gift and that is Patience Modest he was but not fondly bashful his prudence and not his softness His humility begat affableness his affableness society that conference conference parts and they acquaintance and that practice and practice experience experience renown and that preferment Sir John's inclination was studious his minde constant solid and setled and able to dive into the whirl-pools of that intricate and perplexed Faculty his thoughts being orderly and his conceptions methodical his search comprehensive avoiding Epitomes as the banes of Learning Nullus illi per otiam dies exit partem noctium studiis vindicat non vacat semno sed succumbit oculos vigilia fatigatos cadenteque in opere detinet Considerable were the Parts he had but more so the making up of those he had not his covering of his defects being of no less importance then the valuing of good Parts which he did three ways 1. By caution ingeniously and discreetly waving and putting off things improper 2. By colour making his Defects his Vertues and his Faults his Endowments And 3. By that freedom of Spirit that daunts the weakest and prevaileth with the wisest He proposed to himself five things to enquire into in order to that compleatness he arrived unto 1. The ancient Maximes and Principles or the more ancient Customs that make up the Common Law of England 2. The Acts and Constitutions that make up its Statute-Law 3. The particular Priviledges Liberties Immunities and Usages of Counties Burroughs Cities c. that doe swerve from this Law 4. The ancient Grounds and Reasons as far as History can direct of all these our Law being an exact Reason 5. The most satisfactory explanations of the Law 1. From Commentaries as Bractons 2. Abridgements as Stathams 3. History as the years and terms of the Common Law And 4. From more particular Tracts that handled their peculiar subjects as Fortescue Glanvil Britton Fleta Littleton which he thought not unprofitable to read though dangerous to rely upon with the Lord Cooke not liking those that stuff their mindes with wandering and masterless reports For as he said they shall find them too soon to lead them to error Beginning with the terms of Art and then to the matter perusing what is antiquated and observing what is suitable to the present constitution and complexion It 's my Lord Cook 's Rule That for the most part the latter Judgements and Resolutions are the surest and therefore
Edward the sixth when Prince and is charactered by Mr. Cambden Vir antiqua serenitate He observeth him also to be happy in his Daughters learned above their Sex in Greek and Latine namely 1. Mildred 2. Anne 3. Kathering married unto William Cecill Lord Treasurer of England Nicholas Bacon Lord Chancellour of England Henry Killigrew Thomas Hobby Knights Ralph Rowlet 4. Elizabeth 5. Sir Anthony Cooke died in the year of our Lord 1576. leaving a fair Estate unto his Son in whose name it continued till our time Gravity was the Ballast of his Soul and General Learning its Leading In him met the three things that set up a Family 1. An Estate honestly gotten in the City 2. An Education well managed in the University And 3. Honour well bestowed at Court Yet he was some-body in every Art and eminent in all the whole circle of Arts lodging in his soul His Latine fluent and proper his Greek critical and exact his Philology and Observations upon each of these Languages deep curious various and pertinent His Logick rational his History and Experience general his Rhetorick and Poetry copious and genuine his Mathematiques practicable and useful Knowing that souls were equal and that Women are as capable of Learning as Men he instilled that to his Daughters at night which he had taught the Prince in the day being resolved to have Sons by Education 〈…〉 or fear he should have none by birth and lest he wanted an Heir of his body he made five of his minde for whom he had at once a Gavel-kind of 〈…〉 ffection and of Estate His Childrens maintenance was always according 〈…〉 o their quality and their employment according 〈…〉 o their disposition neither allowing them to live 〈…〉 bove their fortunes nor forcing them against their 〈…〉 atures It is the happiness of Forreigners that 〈…〉 heir Vocations are suited to their Natures and 〈…〉 hat their Education seconds their Inclination and 〈…〉 o th byass and ground do wonders It 's the un 〈…〉 appiness of English-men that they are bred ra 〈…〉 her according to their Estates then their temper 〈…〉 nd Great Parts have been lost while their Calling 〈…〉 rew one way and their Genius another and 〈…〉 hey sadly say Multum incolae fuere animae nostrae 〈…〉 e have dwelt from home Force makes Nature 〈…〉 ore violent in the return Doctrine and Discourse 〈…〉 ay make it less importune Custome may hide 〈…〉 r suppress it nothing can extinguish it Nature 〈…〉 en in the softer Sex runs either to Weeds or 〈…〉 erbs careful was this good Father therefore sea 〈…〉 onably to water the one and destroy the other 〈…〉 ch was done by his grave Rules more by his 〈…〉 raver life that Map of Precepts Precepts teach 〈…〉 ut Examples draw Maxima debetur pueris reve 〈…〉 ntia was Cato's Maxime Three things there 〈…〉 e before whom was Sir Anthony's saying I can 〈…〉 ot do amiss 1. My Prince 2. My Conscience 〈…〉 My Children Seneca told his Sister That 〈…〉 ough be could not leave her a great portion be would 〈…〉 ve her a good pattern Sir Anthony would write 〈…〉 o his Daughter Mildred My example is your inberitance and my life is your portion His first car 〈…〉 was to embue their tender souls with a knowing serious and sober Religion which went with the 〈…〉 to their graves His next business was to in 〈…〉 their younger years to submission modesty and obedience and to let their instructions grow wi 〈…〉 their years Their Book and Pen was their Recreation the Musick and Dancing School the Cou 〈…〉 and City their accomplishment the Needle i 〈…〉 the Closet and House-wifry in the Hall and Kitching their business They were reproved b 〈…〉 with reason that convinced and checked th 〈…〉 wrought as well an ingenious shame as an unfeigned sorrow and a dutiful fear Fondness never loved his Children and Passion never chastised the 〈…〉 but all was managed with that prudence and discrâ—â—tion that my Lord Seymour standing by one daâ— when this Gentleman chid his Son said Some 〈◊〉 govern Families with more skill then others do Kingdomes and thereupon commended him to the Government of his Nephew Edward the sixth Su 〈…〉 the Majesty of his looks and gate that Awe governed such the reason and sweetness that love obliged all his Family a Family equally afraid 〈…〉 displease so good a Head and to offend so great 〈…〉 their marriage they were guided by his Reas 〈…〉 more then his Will and rather directed by 〈…〉 Counsel then led by his Authority They we 〈…〉 their own portion Parts Beauty and Breedi 〈…〉 bestow themselves His care was that his Daughters might have compleat Men and that their Husbands might be happy in compleat Women nev 〈…〉 promising yet always paying a great Dowry Their spirit and business kept them from that weak pass 〈…〉 of love that embaseth Mankind their Noble con 〈…〉 se improved that friendly love that perfecteth 〈…〉 and their marriage compleated that Nuptial 〈…〉 ve that makes it He said first and his Grand-childe my Lord Bacon after him That the Joys of Parents are Secrets and so are their Griefs and Fears Children sweeten Labours but they embitter Misfortunes they encrease the care of Life and m 〈…〉 gate the remembrance of Death Very providently did he secure his Eternity by leaving the 〈…〉 age of his nature in his Children and of his 〈…〉 ind in his Pupil The Recreations he indulged were moderate lawful sober becoming useful â—nd seasonable the Expences he allowed not so ilâ—iberal as to acquaint them with shifts make them 〈…〉 ort with mean company nor surfeit when they came to plenty nor yet so prodigal but that they were taught how to live in the world The Books he advised were not many but choice the business â—e pressed was not reading but digesting The King of Sweden's men were but six deep and Sir Anthony's exercises were not thick but methodical and armed the Diet he prescribed moderate in Apparel he allowed for necessity for decency and in some cases for magnificence provided that it were neither too costly nor too vain neither above the Purse nor beyond the Calling nor besides the Estate Sir Anthony took more pleasure to breed up States-men then to be one Contemplation was his Soul Privacy his Life and Discourse his Element Business was his Purgatory and Publickness his torment yet so serviceable was he in Edward the sixth's time that he was an Exile in Queen Mary's An Exile whose exemplary resolution supported Religion whose obliging Authority maintained Peace and whose inexhaustible charity provided for the Poor at Zuricke and Frankford A Sussex and not a Kentish Knight having spent a great Estate at Court and brought himself to on 〈…〉 Park and a fine House in it was yet ambitious to entertain not the Queen but her Brother at it and to that purpose had new-painted his Gates with a Coat of Arms and a Motto
he became Secretary of State to the Queen for four years together He died Anno 15 He had the breeding of Courtiers so long until he was one himself At once reading Machiavel for my Lord Burleigh's Instruction and observing it for his own use His Parents designed him for study his Nature for business His presence assisted his inclination and his complaisance his presence and his good Nature both A good Nature that would have spoiled a Politician in any other but Doctor Wilson whose Wisdom was the largeness of his Soul not the narrowness of a shift He had that comprehensive and penetrating judgement that he could at once shew the greatest prudence in laying his design and the greatest Integrity in managing it as rather securely knowing than warily close But he that is onely real had need have exceeding great Parts of Vertue as the Stone had need be rich that is set without foil Therefore He was something a Courtier There are small matters that win great commendation because they are continually in use whereas the occasion of any great action cometh but on festivals and it is enough to attain so much ceremony and courtship not to despise it He had a way of conveying effectual and imprinting passions among complements suitable to persons and business He had his familiarity to Inferiours that made him not cheap his state among Equals that made him not envied and his observance to Superiours that made him no Flatterer His Behaviour like a well-made suit not too streight or point devise but justly measured and free for exercise or motion He had a slow but a sure way to honour which was nothing else in him but a discovery of his Vertues and Worth upon any occasion without any disadvantage It was his Interest as well as his Gift to be more learned then witty more reverend then plausible more considerate then active His thoughts were as his inclination grave his discourse as his reading subtle his action as his Education well weighed regular as his temper even and smooth as custom and resolved as a habit gotten in that advancement of Vertue A well-disciplined Society where Example teacheth Company comforteth Emulation quickneth Glory raiseth None had a more skilful method to sway Nature in others none more prudent minutes and seasonable degrees to check it in himself His Rule being Never to practise any thing until perfect for so he might exercise his weakness as well as his abilities and induce one habit of both Three things he aimed at 1. The search of Truth by Industry 2. The attainment of it by Apprehension 3. The enjoyment of it by Assent He is a happy man that is above the troubled and confused Regions of Opinions Fancies Prepossessions in that clear and undisturbed one of Truth and Reality Though yet my Lord Verulam observeth That if there were taken out of mens mindes vain opinion flattering hope false valuations and imaginations as one would and the like c. it would leave the mindes of a number of poor men poor shrunken things full of melancholy and indisposition and unpleasing to themselves Neither took he greater pleasure in knowing than in relating and doing what is true sound and plain without those crooked courses that shew a creeping rather then a raised nature and as Mr. Mount aigne observes is a bravery and facing of God and a shrinking from and being coward before man He said what all great men know That he was six times a Slave 1. To Himself and his Inclination till he had advanced Reason 2. To the World and its Insolence till he had improved his Fortune 3. To his Pupils and their Tempers till he understood their Genius 4. To Fame and its Reports till he was known in the World 5. To his Soveraigns and their Humours till he found their Interest And 6. To his Business till he had attained Experience Thus it is with all Grandees who exchange their power over themselves for that over others and with great pains come to greater Two things he wished when called to the world Power and Resolution A naked Man is contemptible for it 's Power that begets Fear it 's Fear that makes Gods and rules the world an easie Man is useless a facile-natured man may be a good Companion for a private person but no Servant to a Prince Remissness and Connivance are the ruines of unsetled Governments The Game of Authority will not admit of too open a play In a word he was one that knew the resorts and falls of business though he could not sink into the main of a matter being one that packed the Cards better then he played them Three things compleated this Secretary 1. Quick dispatch and industry 2. Constant intelligence and correspondence 3. A large and strong memory Queen Elizabeth would needs at first favour my Lord of Leicester against the Earl of Sussex which this Doctor and my Lord Burleigh disswaded upon this account Because if she who should be the common Mother of all inclined to one party and leaned to a side the Ship of the Commonwealth would be as a Boat overturned by too much weight on the one side and too little on the other Take heed said the Royal Martyr to his Son our Soveraign of abetting any Faction or applying to any publick Discrimination your partial adhering as head to any one side gains you not so great advantages in some mens hearts who are prone to go on in the Kings way as it looseth you in others who think themselves first despised and then persecuted by you Take such a course as may either with calmness and charity quite remove the seeming differences and offences by impartiality or so order affairs in point of power that you shall not need to fear or flatter any faction for if ever you stand in need of them or stand to their courtesie you are undone His Place called upon him to suppress with seveverity such seditious reflexions upon the State as came to his knowledge but his inclination was to dissipate them with connivance and contempt To be opposed renders a Faction considerable to he despised and watched ridiculous To go about to stop the first appearances of sedition is saith my Lord Bacon but to make a wonder long-lived His knack was a politick and artificial nourishing and entertaining of hopes and keeping men in suspense is one of the best Antidotes against the poyson of discontent it being observed by the foresaid States-man to be a certain signe of a wise Government Proceedings to hold mens hearts by hopes when it cannot by satisfaction and when it can handle things in such manner as no evil shall appear so peremptory but that it hath some out-let of hope which is the easier done because both particular persons and factions are apt enough to fiatter themselves or at least to boast what they believe not In a word although he made not so much noyse as other men yet he as effectually
conducted by Reason engage those difficulties she encountereth in the execution of her designs Reason discovered him his enterprizes his Will enclined him to them and the noble transports of his regular passions set out both with that ardour and vehemencie as bear down obstacles and compass the design A hope he had that never rashly engaged him in desperate undertakings an audacity that precipitated him not weakly into impossibilities and a choler that led him not blindly to inevitable ruines Consideration managing the first Discretion and Foresight the second and Reason the third What doth it avail a man to be wise in knowing what is fit to be done prudent to invent means just to appropriate affairs to publick good authorized and happy to cause them to succeed if a Courage guided by Reason accompanied with Prudence ruled by Discretion animated by a generous Boldness be not diligent quick and prompt for Execution His Nature was generous and constant His Education like that of the Roman Youth among Statesmen manifold and solid His Soul was free and dis-engaged from any particular Design 3. Eloquence That added to his Parts what colours do to a Picture state grace and light Reason is the Ornament of a Man Speech the Interpreter of Reason and Elequence the grace of Speech wherein the Orator excelleth other men as much as they do other creatures His Wisdom advised his Prudence contrived his Courage resolved and his Eloquence perswaded adding at once gracefulness to his Designs and vigour to his Enterprizes as that wherewith he could satisfie mens Reasons and master their Passions by which he carried them whither he pleased His lively Expression animates his Reason his Eloquence his Expression and his Gesture his Eloquence whereby he charmed the Senses mollified Hearts incited Affections framed Desires checked Hopes and exercised a sacred Empire over every man he dealt with These qualities improved with Travel raised the Doctor to be the Chancellour's Secretary and the Legantine Courts chief Scribe at home a sly Agent in Italy a successful Orator in Germany and Leiger Embassador in France In Italy he with Doctor Fox having the King of France his Agent to second them gained the Popes Commission for hearing of the Cause between King Henry the VIII and Queen Katharine In Germany he undermined the French King and in France the Emperour Upon the poor Pope whom he found not worth 20 l. perplexed between the King of England who had set him at liberty and the King of Spain who had maintained him he wrought so far as to gain a dubious Letter in Cypher to the King and a clear promise to the Cardinal both about the suppression of some Monasteries and the Divorce which the crafty Agent extorted from the fearful man with his Necesse est c. although all this while he palliated this his main business with some impertinent overtures about King Henry the seventh's Canonization None better understanding the just degrees seasons and methods of Affairs then this Doctor Where he spoke one word for his Majesties Divorce he spoke two for the Cardinals Advancement having the French Kings Letter with him to that effect in omnem eventum In order whereunto he threatned the Pope from Germany and Germany from Rome so that their mutual jealousies forced them to a compliance with his Royal and Sacred Master A great Agent he was in this business while Wolâ—ey's Secretary a greater when the Kings in which capacity he writ they say one Book for the Pope's Supremacie in his Masters Name and another for the Kings in his own He draweth the Kingdom 's Remonstrance against the Pope and the Pope's against the Kingdom He and Doctor Fox are employed to gain the Vote of Cambridge for the Divorce where he brought it from the Negative to even Voices and from even Voices to a Disputation and upon that to a Determination on the Kings side for which we find him now Bishop of Winchester Archbishop Cranmer's Assistant at pronouncing the Divorce at the Priory of Dunstable and one of the two Embassadors at the Interview between King Francis and King Henry As he had declared himself by writing so he drew up a Form whereby others might declare themselves by oath for the Kings Supremacy And as he owneth the Kings Authority so he maintaineth it in his Apology for Fisher's Death But because no power is lasting when Religion is not vâ—nerable the wary Bishop promotes the Statutes of six Articles in the House of Commons in spight of Cromwel and Cranmer and urgeth the retaining of some essential Latin words in the translation in the Convocation Words for their genuine and native meaning and for the Majesty of the matter in them contained not to be Englished Though he could not keep the word from shining yet had he wit enough to keep it in a dark Lanthorn to keep the Laity at their distance and bear up the Will-worship of Rome Had he kept here King Henry had been satisfied but when his success improved his boldness and that precipitated his undertakings he must be quarreling with the Protestant Queens and so fall out with the Uxorious King under whose displeasure he continued while he lived as he did under his sons afterwards First for refusing a confession of his fault and then for not subscribing some Articles proposed unto him though he owned the Supremacy the Reformation and said of the Common-Prayer That though he would not have made it so himself yet be found in it such things as satisfied his conscience and therefore be would both execute it himself and cause others of his Parishioners to do it and if be were troubled in conscience he would reveal it to the Council and not reason openly against it so that he lost his Liberty and his Bishoprick until he was restored to both by Queen Mary who kissed and called him her Prisoner in the Tower and likewise advanced him to the Chancellourship wherein he did more harm by others then himself keeping alwayes behinde the Curtain and acting in Oxford by Visitors in London bv Bonner and in his own Diocess by Suffragans Onely in two Particulars he declared himself 1. Against the Princess Elizabeth saying In vain it is to lop the Branches while the Root remains 2. Against the Exiles Threatning that he would watch their supplies so that they should eat their nails and then feed on their fingers ends But threatned Folks live long and before the Confessors were brought to that Bill of fare the Bishop was eaten of worms himself dying suddenly and strangely wholly a Protestant in the point of merit who had been in other things so zealous a Papist One piece at once of his Prudence and Resolution and I have done The Lord Protector by Letters sollicited Gardiner to resign Trinity-Hall to the Kings hand who designed one Colledge out of that and Clare-Hall Most politick Gardiner saith my Author not without cause suspecting some design or casualty
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
all their Designes and freed him from the mischief projected against him Great was the value the Queen set upon him as her ablest Minister of State for coming once to visit him being sick of the Gout at Burleigh-house in the Strand and being much heightned with her Head-attire then in fashion the Lords servant who conducted her through the door said May your Highness be pleased to stoop The Queen returned For your Masters sake I will stoop but not for the King of Spain She would make him always sit down in her presence saying My Lord we make use of you not for your bad Legs but your good Head He was a good friend to the Church as then established by Law advising his son Thomas never to build a great House or bestow any great charge upon an Impropriation as fearing the foundation might fail hereafter yet conniving at sober Non-conformists to strengthen the foundation at present he checked the forwardness of private men and advanced the honour of the publick Establishment on all hands Good my Lord saith he in his Letter to Archbishop Whitgift in the behalf of some squeamish Ministers bear with my scribbling I write with the testimony of a good Conscience I desire the peace of the Church I desire concord and unity in the exercise of our Religion I fear no sensual or wilful Recusant I would not make Offenders neither would I protect them And I pray your Grace bear this and perchance a fault and yet I have sharply admonished them that if they will be Disturbers in their Churches they must be corrected and yet upon your Graces answer to me Ne sutor ultra Crepidam neither will I put Falcem in alterius Messem Was his Chaplain Traverse his hand in all this And then again If I had known his fault saith he of Brown I might be blamed for Writing for him Thus he carried matters without passion and prejudice prudently as became so great a States-man He was not rigid yet he was careful He would help the good-natured yet punish the stubborn He would rather be where nothing is lawful then where all things are so He would never skrue up the Law to the pitch of cruelty nor unloose it to the remissness of Libertinism He was no less honourable a Patron of the University then he was a faithful Son of the Church the Church strengtheneth the State and the Universities furnish both particularly in the case of Rent-corn which saith my Author first grew in Sir Thomas Smiths head yet was ripened by Burleighs assistance whereby though the Rents of the Colledges stand still their Revenues increase He was not surer of all Church-men and Scholars by his Obligations upon them then he was of all by his complaisance and pleasantness None more grave then he in Publick none more free in Private especially at his Table where he drew something out of his heaviest guests having an admirable Dexterity in reading and observing men their own occasional openings in common discourse there being more hold to be taken of a few words casually uttered then of set solemn Speeches which rather shew mens Arts then their Natures as indited rather of their brains then hearts His power awed many his conversation obliged more He had his hour to put on his Gown and his hour to put it off When he would say Lie thou there Lord Treasurer and bidding Adieu to all State-affairs he disposed himself to his quiet and rest He laid the Designes of War by his own Theory and his friends Intelligence yet he advised peace and died before the Question was determined Whether a War with Spain Others understood the Nature of War but he onely the Expediency and Conveniency If War was necessary none more forward to promote it none more careful to maintain it knowing that in vain do the brows beat the eyes sparkle the tongue threaten the fist bend and the arm strike if the belly be not fed and the back cloathed and indeed this was his Master-piece that the Queen vying Gold and Silver with the King of Spain had Money or Credit when the other had neither Her Exchequer saith my Author though but a Pond in comparison holding water when his River fed with a Spring from the Indies was dreined dry It was with his advice that that Queen paid her Obligations in Preferments rather then Money giving away not above two Largesses of that nature in her life In a word when others set in a Cloud he shined clear to his last He saw Essex dead Leicester slighted Mountjoy discountenanced and what with the Queens constant favour which lodged where it lighted and his own temper and moderation when more violent men failed he died as great a Favourite as he lived leaving his son Thomas so much Estate as advanced him to the Earldome of Exeter and his son Robert so much State-Discipline as raised him successiâ—è to be Secretary of State Master of the Court of Wards Lord Treasurer and Earl of Salisbury He was a very exact and a wary Observer of Forreign Transaction witness this passage to Sir Henry Norris Embassador in France The rare manner of your Entertainment hath moved the Queens Majesty to muse upon what score it should be being more then hath been used in like cases to her Embassadors and such as besides your own report hath been by others lately advertised And for that in such things Guesses be doubtful I pray you by your next advertise me what your self do think of it and in the mean time I know you are not untaught to judge of the difference between fair words and good deeds as the saying is Fortuna cum adblanditur Capitum advenit His thoughts of a Rebel that submitted take in these words Of late Shane Oneal hath made means to the Lord Deputy of Ireland to be received into grace pretending that he hath meant no manner of unlawfulness towards the Queen by which is gathered that he groweth weary of his lewdness yet I think he is no therwise to be reformed then by sharp prosecution which is intended to be followed no whit the less for any his fair Writings as reason is Of Intelligence he writes thus I doubt not but you shall have of his hand no lack of Intelligence which you must credit as you see cause by proof of the event About Embassadors Dispatches he saith He must write apart to the Secretary in matters containing trouble and business and to his Soveraign of Advice In a particular Negotiation about Pyrates he advised That the King of France and his Council might perceive that it is well known how the Pyrates are suffered to do what they will notwithstanding it be contrary to Proclamation And yet you shall so order the matter saith he to a French Ambassador as not that you shall finde fault with this manner of suffering for that ought properly to be to the Spanish or Portugal Embassador with whom you may sometime deal to understand how
body his gate his features his carriage his gate his parts his carriage his prudence his parts and his close patience his prudence The Queen loved him well for his activity better for his parts best of all for his abilities which were as much above his experience as that was above his learning and that above his education The little the wary man did was so exactly just and discreet and the little he said was so prudent and weighty that he was chosen to keep the Queens Conscience as her Chancellour and to express her sense as her Speaker the Courtiers that envyed the last capacity were by his power forced to confess their errours and the Sergeants that would not plead before him in the first by his prudence to confess his abilities The Chancellourship was above his Law but not his Parts so pregnant and comprehensive that he could command other mens knowledge to as good purpose as his own Such his humility that he did nothing without two Lawyers such his ability that the Queen did nothing without him Two things he said he was jealous of His Mistresses the Queens Prerogatives and his Mother the Churches Discipline the one that Majesty might be at liberty to do as much good and the other that Iniquity might not be free to as much evil as it pleased His enemies advanced him that they might weaken him at Court by his absence and kill him at home by a sedentariness This even and clear man observed and improved their practices closing with Malice it self to his own advancement and tempering the most perverse enmity to the greatest kindness None Nobler none less aspiring none more busie yet none more punctual in his hours and orders Corpulent he was but temperate a Batchelor and the onely one of the Queens Favourites yet chaste quick were his Dispatches but weighty many his Orders and consistent numerous were the Addresses to him and easie the access Seldome were his Orders reversed in Chancery and seldomer his Advice opposed in Council So just he was that his sentence was Law with the Subject so wise that his Opinion was Oracle with his Soveraign so exact was Queen Elizabeth that she called upon him for an old debt though it broke his heart so loving that she carried him a Cordial-broath with her own hand though it could not revive him Observations on the Life of the Lord Hunsdon THe Lord Hunsdon was of the Queens nearest Kindred and on the decease of Sussex both he and his Son took the place of Lord Chamberlain He was a fast man to his Prince and firm to his friends and servants downright honest and stout-hearted having the charge of the Queens Person both in the Court and in the Camp at Tilbury The integrity of his temper allayed the greatness of his birth which had rendred him dangerous if the other had not vouched him faithful He spoke big but honestly and was thought rather resolute then ambitious His words were as his thoughts and his actions as his words He had Valour enough to be an eminent Souldier in ruffling times and a renownedly honest man in Queen Elizabeths Reign His Latine faith Sir Robert Naunton and his dissimulation were both alike His custome of swearing and obscenity in speaking made him seem a worse Christian then he was and a better Knight of the Carpet then he should be The Polititians followed Cecil the Courtiers Leicester and the Souldiers Hunsdon whose hands were better then his head and his heart then both He led so brave a Train of young Gallants as after another threatned a Court but after him secured it whose Greatness was not his Mistresse jealousie but her safeguard One of his blunt Jests went further then others affected Harangues the one being Nature the other forced His faithfulness made him Governour of Berwick a place of great service and General of the English Army a place of great Trust He had something of Leicesters Choler but none of his Malice A right Noble Spirit not so stupid as not to resent not so unworthy as to retain a sense of Injuries To have the Courage to observe an Affront is to be even with an Adversary to have the patience to forgive it is to be above him There goeth a story of him that when his Retinue which in those times was large would have drawn on a Gentleman that had returned him a box on the ear he forbad them in these Souldier-like words You Rogues cannot my Neighbour and my self exchange a box on the ear but you must interpose He might have been what he would for relieving Queen Elizabeth in her distress he would be but what he was Other Interests were offered him to stand upon he was contented with his own He suppressed the Court-Factions and the Nothern Commotions the one by his Interest the other by his Valour for the one he had always the Queens Heart for the other he had once a most Gracious Letter His Court-favour was as lasting as his Integrity One hath left this remarque concerning him That he should have been twice Earl of Wilishire in right of his Mother Bollen And the Queen when he was on his Death-bed ordered his Patent and Robes to his bed-side where he who could dissemble neither well nor ill told the Queen That if he was not worthy of those Honours when living he was unworthy of them when dying In a word Sir William Cecil was a wise man Bacon was reaching Leicester cunning Walsingham was a Patriot and my Lord Hunsdâ—n was honest Observations on the Life of Nicholas Heath Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellour of England AT once a most wise and a most learned man of great Policy and of as great Integrity meek and resolute more devout to follow his own Conscience then cruel to persecute others It is enough to intimate his moderate temper equal and dis-engaged from violent extreams that the first of Queen Elizabeth in the Disputation between the Papists and Protestants he was chosen by the Privy-Council one of the Moderators when Sir Nicholas Bacon was the other The Civility he shewed in Prosperity he found in Adversity for in Queen Elizabeths time he was rather eased then deposed like another Abiathar sent home by Solomon to his own fields in Anathoth living cheerfully at Cobbam in Surry where he devoted his Old Age to Religion and Study being much comforted with the Queens Visits and kindness and more with his own good conscience that as he would often say he had been so intent upon the service as never to enjoy the greatness of any place he was advanced to Sir Henry Wotton being bound for Rome asked his Host at Siena a man well versed in men and bufiness What Rules he would give him for his Port Conduct and Carriage There is one short remembrance said he will carry you safe through the world nothing but this said he Gli Pensiere stretti el viso Sciolto i. e. Your Thoughts close and
in Modelling the Kingdome of Ireland into Shires as now they are shewing himself so great a lover of the Polity under which he was born that he advanced the Compliance therewith as commendable and necessary in the Dominions annexed thereunto His second service was when many in that Kingdome shrowded themselves from the Laws under the Target of power making Force their Tutelary Saint he set himself vigorously to suppress them And when many of the Privy-Council terrified with the greatness of the Earl of Desmond durst not subscribe the Instrument wherein he was proclaimed Traytor Sir Edward amongst some others boldly signed the same disavowing his and all Treasons against his Friends and County and the Council did the like commanding the publication thereof As to his private sphear God blessed him being but a third Brother above his other Brethren Now though he had three Wives the first a Villiers the second a Spilman the third the Widow of Herlakenden of Wood-church in Kent Esquire and though he had so strong a brain and body yet he lived and died childless intercommoning therein with many Worthies who are according to Aelius Spartianus either improlifick or have children in Genitorum Vituperium famarum Laesuram God thus denying him the pleasure of posterity he craved leave of the Queen to retire himself and fixed the residue of his life at Wood-church in Kent living there in great Honour and Repute as one who had no designe to be popular and not prudent rich and not honest great and not good He died in the 56 year of his Age the 13 of October 1591. and is buried at Wood-church under a Table-Marble-Monument erected to his memory by his sorrowful Lady surviving him Queen Elizabeth on the Lord Willoughby Good Peregrine VVE are not a little glad that by your Journey you have received such good fruit of amendment specially when we consider what great vexations it is to a mind devoted to actions of honour to be restrained by any indisposition of body from following those courses which to your own reputation and our great satisfaction you have formerly performed And therefore as we must now out of our desire of your well-doing chiefly enjoyn you to an especial care to encrease and continue your health which must give life to all your best Endeavours so we must next as seriously recommend to you this consideration That in these times when there is such appearance that we shall have the tryal of our best noble Subjects you seem not to affect the satisfaction of your own private contentation beyond the attending of that which Nature and Duty challengeth from all persons of your Quality and Profession For if necessarily your health of body being recovered you should Eloign your self by residence there from those Employments whereof we shall have too good store you shall not so much amend the state of your body as happily you shall call in question the reputation of your mind and judgement even in the opinion of those that love you and are best acquainted with your Disposition and Discretion Interpret this our plainness we pray you to our extraordinary estimation of you for it is not common with us to deal so freely with many and believe that you shall ever finde us both ready and willing in all occasions to yield you the fruits of that interest which your Endeavours have purchased for you in our Opinion and Estimation Not doubting but when you have with moderation made tryal of the success of these your sundry Peregrinations you will finde as great comfort to spend your days at home as heretofore you have done of which we do wish you full measure howsoever you shall have cause of abode or return Given under our Signet at our Manâ—or of Nonsuch the seventh of October 1594. in the 37 year of our Reign Your most loving Soveraign E. R. Observations on the Life of the Duke of Norfolk HIs Predecessors made more noyse it may be but he had the greater fame their Greatness was feared his Goodness was loved He was Heir to his Uncles Ingenuity and his Fathers Valour and from both derived as well the Laurel as the Coronet His God and his Soveraign were not more taken with the ancient simplicity that lodged in his plain breast then the people were endeared by that noble humility that dwelt in his plainer cloaths and carriage The most honourable Personages like the most honourable Coats of Arms are least gawdy In the election of the first Parliament of Queen Elizabeth and as a consequent to that in the settlement of the Kingdome Sir William Cecils Wisdome did much the Earl of Arundels Industry more but the Duke of Norfolks Popularity did most Never Peer more dread never more dear as he could engage the people to comply with their Soveraign at home so he could lead them to serve her abroad That Martial but unfortunate Gentleman William Lord Grey draweth first towards Scotland for the first Cloud that would have darkened our glorious Star came from the North Whence all evil is equally our Proverb and our experience as Warden of the middle and East Marches but he is seconded by the Duke as Lieutenant-General of the North-parts where his presence commands a Treaty and his Authority a League Offensive and Defensive to balance the French Interest to reduce the North parts of Ireland and keep the peace of both Kingdomes Now as the watchful Duke discovered by some private Passages and Letters that Scotland was to be invaded by the French so he writ to his Soveraign That notwithstanding the Spanish French Embassadors Overtures she would proceed resolutely in her preparations for Scotland as she did under his Conduct until the young Queen was glad to submit and the King of France by Cecil and Throgmortons means now busied at home to come to terms He brought the Kingdome to Musters the People to ply Husbandry the Nobility to keep Armories and the Justicers to Salaries The Ensignes of St. Michael were bestowed upon him as the Noblest and on Leicester as the dearest Person at Court Now Arundel who had spent his own Estate in hope of the Queens under pretence of recovering his health travelled abroad to mitigate his grief When the Earls of Pembroke and Leicester were openly for the Queens Marriage for the future security of our present happiness the Duke though privately of their mind yet would discourse 1. That Successors take off the peoples eyes from the present Soveraign 2. That it was the safest way to keep all Competitors in suspence 3. That Successors though not designed may succeed 4. Whereas when known they have been undone by the Arts of their Competitors 5. And that most men whatever the busie Agitators of the Succession pretended have no more feeling in publick matters then concerneth their own private interest But he had a private kindness for the Queen of Scots which he discovered in all the Treaties wherein she was concerned 1.
In Love-Letters to her notwithstanding that Queen Elizabeth bid him take care what pillow he rested his head on 2. In his Mediations at Court so importune for her that the Queen would say The Queen of Scots shall never want an Advocate while Norfolk lives And 3. By some private transaction with the Pope and Spaniard to which Leicesters craft trepanned him against his friend Cecils advice which in a dangerous juncture cost him his life For the people wishing for the security of the succession in a Protestant and an English hand that the good Duke were married to the Mother and his onely Daughter to her young Son subtile Leicester and Throgmorton laid a Train for the plain man by Conferences with Murray Cecil c. until a Plot was discovered and the Duke notwithstanding Cecils advice to marry a private Lady retiring to Norfolk to finish the Match with the Queen was upon Letters taken with Rosse surprized and committed to the Tower he saying I am betrayed and undone by mine own whilst I knew not how to mistrust which is the strength of wisdome After a solemn Tryal he is beheaded for Indiscretions rather then Treasons loosing his head because he wanted one Never any fell more beloved or more pitied such his singular Courtesie such his magnificent Bounty not unbecoming so great a Peer High was his Nobility large his Interest singularly good his Nature comely his Person manly his Countenance who saith Cambden might have been a great strength and Ornament to his Country had not the cunning practices of his malicious Adversaries and slippery hopes under colour of publick good diverted him from his first course of life His death was a blot to some mens Justice to all mens Discretion that were concerned in it as generally odious though quietly endured which proves saith one That the common people are like Rivers which seldome grow so impetuous as to transcend the bounds of Obedience but upon the overflowing of a general Oppression Observations on the Life of Sir Nicholas Throgmorton SIr Nicholas Throgmorton fourth Son of Sir George Throgmorton of Coughton in Warwick-shire was bred beyond the Seas where he attained to great experience Under Queen Mary he was in Guild-hall arraigned for Treason in compliance with Wiat and by his own wary pleading and the Juries upright Verdict hardly escaped Queen Elizabeth employed him her Leiger a long time first in France then in Scotland finding him a most able Minister of State yet got he no great Wealth and no wonder being ever of the opposite party to Burleigh Lord Treasurer Chamberlain of the Exchequer and Chief Butler of England were his highest Preferments I say Chief Butler which Office like an empty-covered Cup pretendeth to some State but affordeth no considerable profit He died at Supper with eating of Sallats not without suspicion of poyson the rather because it happened in the house of one no mean Artist in that faculty R. Earl of Leicester His death as it was sudden was seasonable for him and his whose active others will call it turbulent spirit had brought him unto such trouble as might have cost him at least the loss of his Personal Estate He died in the 57 year of his Age Febr. 12. 1570. and lieth buried in the South-side of the Chancel of St. Martin Cree-church London A stout and a wise man that saw through pretences and could look beyond dangers His skill in Heraldry appears in his grim Arguments against the King of France in right of his Queen of Scots Usurping of the Arms of England and his experience in History in his peremptory Declarations of the Queen of Englands Title in right of her twelve Predecessors to those of France But his Policy much more by putting Montmorency the great Enemy of the Guizes upon perswading his Master out of the humour of wearing those Arms with this Argument That it was below the Arms of France to be quartered with those of England those being comprehensive of these and all other of his Majesties Dominions An Argument more suitable to that Prince his ambition then convincing to his Reason Wise men speak rather what is most fit then what is most rational not what demonstrates but what perswades his and takes But being endangered in his Person affronted in his Retinue and served with nothing at his Table but what had the Arms of England quartered with those of France he dealt underhand with the Earl of Northumberland to understand the scope the Reformed propounded to themselves their means to compass what they aimed at and if at any time they were assisted upon what terms a League might be concluded between the two Kingdomes The Advices collected from all his Observations he sent to the Queen were these 1. That she should not rest in dull Counsels of what is lawful but proceed to quick Resolutions of what is safe 2. That to prevent is the policy of all Nations and to be powerful of ours England is never peaceable but in Arms. 3. That how close soever they managed their Affairs it was a Maxime That France can neither be poor nor abstain from War three years together Francis Earl of Bedford bore the state of the French Embassy and Sir Nicholas the burden who gave dayly Directions to Sir Thomas Challoner in Spain Sir Henry Killigrew in Germany and Sir Thomas Randolph and Sir Peter Mewtas in Scotland to the two first to enjealous the Princes of those Countries and to the last to unite the Nobility of Scotland he in the mean time suffering himself to be taken prisoner by the Protestants at the battle of Dreux that he might with less suspition impart secret Counsels to them and receive as secret Advices from them until discovering their lightness and unconstancy they secured him as a person too cunning for the whole Faction and too skilful in raising Hurley-burleys and Commotions When the young Queen of Scots would needs marry the young Lord Darley he told her that was long to be deliberated on which was to be done but once And when that would not do he advised 1. That an Army should appear upon the borders 2. That the Ecclesiastical Laws should be in force against Papists 3. That Hertford should be secured and 4. That the Lord Dudley should be advanced But the Queen being married to the Lord Darley an easie and good-natured man whom Queen Elizabeth wished to her Bed next Leicester and affronted by her subjects Throgmorton disputes the Queens Authority and non-accountableness to any against Bucbanans damned Dialogue of the Peoples power over Kings until smelling their designe of revolt to the French and cruelty upon the Queen he perswaded her to resigne her Government saying That her Resignation extorted in Prison which is a just fear was utterly void The next news we hear of this busie man was in his two Advisoes to the Queen of Scots friends 1. To clap up Cecil whom they might then he said deal
with 2. To proclaim the Queen of Scots succession and in the Train he laid to serve Leicester in the Duke of Norfolks ruine But he was too familiar with that Politicians privacy to live long anno 1570 he died A Man saith Mr. Cambden of great experience passing sharp wit and singular diligence an over-curious fancy and a too nimble activity like your too fine Silks or Linen and more for shew then service never blessing their Owners but when allayed with something of the heavy and the wary nor rising but when stayed Observations on the Life of Edward Earl of Derby HIs Greatness supported his Goodness and his Goodness endeared his Greatness his Heighth being looked upon with a double aspect 1. By himself as an advantage of Beneficence 2. By others as a ground of Reverence His great Birth put him above private respects but his great Soul never above publick service Indeed he repaired by ways thrifty yet Noble what his Ancestors had impaired by neglect Good Husbandry may as well stand with great Honour as Breadth may consist with Heighth His Travel when young at once gained experience and saved expences and his marriage was as much to his profit as his honour And now he sheweth himself in his full Grandeur when the intireness of his Minde complyed with the largeness of his Soul 1. In a spreading Charity Other Lords made many poor by Oppression he and my Lord of Bedford as Queen Elizabeth would jest made all the Beggers by his liberality 2. In a famous Hospitality wherein 1. His House was orderly a Colledge of Discipline rather then a Palace for Entertainment his Servants being so many young Gentlemen trained up to govern themselves by observing him who knew their Master and understood themselves 2. His Provision Native all the Necessaries of England are bred in it rather plentiful then various solid then dainty that cost him less and contented his guests more His Table constant and even where all were welcome and none invited 3. His Hall was full most commonly his Gates always the one with the honest Gentry and Yeomen who were his Retainers in love and observance bringing good stomacks to his Table and resolved hearts for his service the holding up of his hand in the Northern business being as effectual as the displaying of a Banner The other with the 1. Aged 2. Maimed 3. Industrious Poor whose craving was prevented with doles and expectation with bounty the first being provided with meat the second with money and the third with employment In a word Mr. Cambden observes That Hospitality lieth buried since 1572 in this Earls Grave whence may that Divine Power raise it that shall raise him but before the last Resurrection when there will be plenty to bestow in one part of the world and no poor to be relieved poverty in the other and no bounty to relieve Neither was he Munificent upon other mens charge for once a moneth he looked into his Incomes and once a week to his Disbursements that none should wrong him or be wronged by him The Earl of Derby he would say shall keep his own House wherefore it 's an Observation of him and the second Duke of Norfolk That when they were buried not a Trades-man could demand the payment of a Groat that they owed him nor a Neighbour the restitution of a peny they had wronged him They say The Grass groweth not where the Grand Seigniors Horse treads nor doth the People thrive where the Noble-men inhabit But here every Tenant was a Gentleman and every Gentleman my Lords Companion such his Civility towards the one and great penyworths to the other Noblemen in those days esteemed the love of their Neighbours more then their fear and the service and â—ealty of their Tenants more then their Money Now the Landlord hath the sweat of the Tenants brow in his Coffers then he had the best blood in his Veins at his command That grand word On mine Honour was security enough for a Kingdome and the onely Asseveration he used It was his priviledge that he need not swear for a testimony and his renown that he would not for his honour Great was this Families esteem with the people and eminent their favour with their Soveraigns as which ever bestowed its self in obliging their Liege-people improving their interest and supporting their Throne for though they were a long time great Kings of Man and Hearts yet were they as long faithful subjects to England Oservations on the Life of Sir Williliam Fitz-Williams A Childe of Fortune from his Cradle made up of confidence and reputation never unwarily shewing his Vertue or Worth to the world with any disadvantage When Britain had as little sleepiness and sloath as night when it was all day and all activity He as all young Sparks of that Age trailed a Pike in the Netherlands the Seminary of the English Soldiery and the School of Europes Discipline as a Souldier and travelled as a Gentleman until that place graced him civilly with a Command which he had honoured eminently with his service His friends checked him for undertaking an Employment so boysterous and he replyed upon them That it was as necessary as it seemed irregular for if some were not Souldiers all must be so He said He never durst venture on War with men till he had made his Peace with God A good Conscience breeds great Resolutions and the innocent Soul is impregnable None more fearful of doing evil none more resolved to suffer there being no hardship that he would avoid no undecency that he would allow Strict he was to his Commission and yet observant of his advantage never tempting a danger never flying it careful of his first life and himself but more of his other and his name When the methods of Obedience advanced him to the honour of commanding six things he was Chronicled for 1. Never making the Aged the Young or the Weak the Objects of his Rage which could not be so of his Fear 2. That he never basely killed in cold blood them that had nobly escaped his Sword in hot 3. That he never led the Souldiers without pay or quartered in the Country without money 4. That though he was second to none that acted in War such his Valour yet he was the first that spake for Peace such his sweet Disposition 5. That he would never suffer that a Clergy-man should be abused a Church violated or the Dead be unburied 6. That he would never force an Enemy to a necessity always saying Let us disarm them of their best Weapon Despair nor fight an Enemy before he had skirmished him nor undertake a defigne before he consulted his God his Council his Friends his Map and his History His own Abilities commended and his alliance with Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy whose Sister he married promoted him to the Government of Ireland Once did the Queen send him thither for his Brothers sake four times more for his own
nothing because it may be at liberty to do any thing Indeed saith one Necessity hath many times an advantage because it awaketh the powers of the minde and strengtheneth Endeavour Sir James Crofts was an equal Composition of both as one that had one fixed eye on his Action and another indifferent one on his retreat Observations on the Life of William Lord Grey of Wilton THat great Souldier and good Christian in whom Religion was not a softness as Machiavil discourseth but a resolution Hannibal was sworn an Enemy to Rome at nine years of Age and my Lord bred one to France at fourteen Scipio's first service was the rescue of his Father in Italy and my Lord Grey's was the safety of his Father in Germany He had Fabius his slow way and long reach with Herennius his fine Polices and neat Ambuscadoes having his two Companions always by him his Map and his Guide the first whereof discovered to him his more obvious advantages and the second his more close dangers His great Conduct won him much esteem with those that heard of him and his greater presence more with those that saw him Observable his Civility to Strangers eminent his Bounty to his Followers obliging his Carriage in the Countries he marched through and expert his Skill in Wars whose end he said was Victory and the end of Victory Nobleness made up of pity and munificence It lost him his Estate to redeem himself in France and his Life to bear up his Reputation in Berwick Having lived to all the great purposes of life but Self-interest he died 1563 that fatal year no less to the publick sorrow of England which he secured then the common joy of Scotland which he awed Then it was said That the same day died the greatest Scholar and the greatest Souldier of the Nobility the right honourable Henry Manners Earl of Rutland in his Gown and the honourable Lord Grey in his Armour both as the Queen said of them Worthies that had deserved well of the Commonwealth by their Wisdome Counsel Integrity and Courage Two things my Lord always avoided the first To give many Reasons for one thing the heaping of Arguments arguing a neediness in every of the Arguments by its self as if one did not trust any of them but fled from one to another helping himself still with the last The second To break a Negotiation to too many distinct particulars or to couch it in too compact generals by the first whereof we give the parties we deal with an opportunity to look down to the bottom of our business and by the second to look round to the compass of it Happy are those Souls that command themselves so far that they are equally free to full and half discoveries of themselves always ready and pliable to the present occasion Not much regarded was this gallant Spirit when alive but much missed when dead we understand what we want better then what we enjoy and the beauty of worthy things is not in the face but the back-side endearing more by their departure then their address Observations on the Life of Edmund Plowden EDmund Plowden was born at Plowden in Shrop-shire one who excellently deserved of our Municipal Law in his learned Writings thereon A plodding and a studious man and no wonder if knowing and able Beams in reflexion are hottest and the Soul becomes wise by looking into its self But see the man in his Epitaph Conditur in hoc Tumulo corpus Edmundi Plowden Armigeri Claris ortus Parentibus apud Plowden in Comitatu Salop natus est à pueritia in literarum Studio liberaliter est educatus in Provectiore vero â—tate Legibus Jurisprudentiae operam dedit Senex jam factus annum aetatis suae agens 67. Mundo Valedicens in Christo Jesu Sancte obdormivit die Sexto Mensis Februar anno Domini 1584. I have the rather inserted this Epitaph inscribed on his Monument on the North-side of the East-end of the Quire of Temple-Church in London because it hath escaped but by what casualty I cannot conjecture Master Stow in his Survey of London We must adde a few words out of the Character Mr. Cambden gives of him Vitae integritate inter bomines suae professionis nu 〈…〉 secundum As he was singularly well learned in the Common Laws of England whereof he deserved well by writing so for integrity of life he was second to none of his profession And how excellent a Medley is made when Honesty and Ability mee in a man of his Profession Nor must we forget how he was Treasurer for the honourable Society of the Middle-Temple Anno 1572 when their magnificent Hall was builded he being a great Advancer thereof Finding the Coyn embased by Henry the eighth so many ways prejudicial to thier State as that which first dishonoured us abroad secondly gave way to the frauds of Coyners at home who exchanged the best Commodities of the Land for base Moneys and exported the current money into Forreign parts and thirdly enhansed the prizes of all things vendible to the great loss of all Stipendiaries He offered 1. That no man should melt any Metal or export it 2. That the Brass-money should be reduced to its just value 3. That it should be bought for good by which silent and just methods that defect of our Government for many years was remedied in few moneths without any noise or what is proper to alterations of this nature discontent The middle Region of the Air is coolest as most distant from the direct beams that warm the highest and the reflexed that heat the lowest the mean man that is as much below the favour of the Court as above the business of the Country was in our Judges opinion the most happy and composed man this being the utmost of a knowing mans wish in England That he were as much out of the reach of contempt as to be above a Constable and as much out of the compass of trouble as to be below a Justice A Mean is the utmost that can be prescribed either of Vertue or Bliss as in our Actions so in our State Great was the Capacity and good the Inclination of this Man large the Furniture and happy the Culture of his Soul grave his Meen and stately his Behaviour well-regulated his Affections and allayed his Passions well-principled his Mind and well-set his Spirit solid his Observation working and practical his Judgement and as that Romane Heroe was more eminent whose image was missing then all the rest whose Portraictures were set up so this accomplished Gentleman is more observable because he was not a States-man then some of those that were so There is a glory in the obscurity of worthy men who as that Sun which they equal as well in common influence as lustre are most looked on when eclipsed Observations on the Life of Sir Roger Manwood SIr Roger Manwood born at Sandwich in Kent attained to such eminency in
the Common Law that he was preferred second Justice of the Common Pleas by Queen Elizabeth which Place he discharged with so much Ability and Integrity that not long after he was made chief Baron of the Exchequer which Office he most wisely managed to his great commendation full fourteen years to the day of his death Much was he employed in matters of State and was one of the Commissioners who sate on the tryal of the Queen of Scots He wrote a Book on the Forest-Laws which is highly prized by men of his Profession In vacation-time he constantly inhabited at St. Stephens in Canterbury and was bounteously liberal to the poor Inhabitants thereof and so charitable was he that he erected and endowed a fair Free-school at Sandwich dying in the 35 of Queen Elizabeth anno Dom. 1593. Cloaths for necessity warm Cloaths for health cleanly for decency lasting for strength was his Maxime and Practice who kept a State in decent plainness insomuch that Queen Elizabeth called him her Good-man-Judge In Davison's Case Mildmay cleared the man of malice but taxed him with unskilfulness and rashness Lumley said he was an ingenuous and an honest man but presumptuous I will ever esteem him an honest and good man said Grey The Archbishop of Canterbury approved the fact commended the man but disallowed of the manner and form of his proceedings Manwood made a narrative of the Queen of Scots proceedings confirmed the sentence against her extolled the Queens clemency pitied Davison and fined him 10000 l. A man he was of a pale constitution but a clear even and smooth temper of a pretty solid consistence equally sanguine and flegmatique of a quiet soul and serene affections of a discreet sweetness and moderate manners slow in passion and quick enough in apprehension wary in new points and very fixed and judicious in the old A plausible insinuating and fortunate man the Idea of a wise man having what that elegant Educator wisheth that great habit which is nothing else but a promptness and plentifulness in the flore-house of the mind of clear imaginations well fixed which was promised in his erect and forward stature his large breast his round and capacious forehead his curious and observing eye the clear and smart argument of his clearer and quicker soul which owned a liveliness equally far from volatileness and stupidity his steady attention and his solid memory together with what is most considerable a grand Inclination to imitate and excel What Plutarch saith of Timoleon with reference to Epaminond that we may say of this Gentleman That his Life and Actions are like Homer's Verses smooth and flowing equal and happy especially in the two grand Embelishments of our Nature Friendship and Charity 〈◊〉 Friendship that sacred thing whereof he was a passionate Lover and an exact Observer promoting it among all men he conversed with Surely there is not that Content on Earth like the Union of Minds and Interests whereby we enjoy our selves by reflexion in our Friend it being the most dreadful Solitude and Wildness of Nature to be friendless But his Friendship was a contracted beam to that Sun of Charity that blessed all about him His Salary was not more fixed then his Charity He and the Poor had one Revenue one Quarter-day In stead of hiding his face from the Poor it was his practice to seek for them laying out by Trustees for Pensioners either hopeful or indigent whereof he had a Catalogue that made the best Comment upon that Text The liberal man deviseth liberal things This is the best Conveyance that ever Lawyer made To have and to hold to him and his Heirs for ever Observations on the Life of Sir Christopher Wray SIr Christopher Wray was born in the spacious Parish of Bedal the main motive which made his Daughter Francis Countess of Warwick scatter her Benefactions the thicker in that place He was bred in the study of our Municipal Law and such his Proficiency therein that in the sixteenth of Queen Elizabeth in Michaelmas-Term he was made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. He was not like that Judge who feared neither God nor man but onely one Widow lest her importunity should weary him but he heartily feared God in his religious Conversation Each man he respected with his due distance off of the Bench and no man on it to byass his Judgement He was pro tempore Lord Privy Seal and sat Chief in the Court when Secretary Davison was sentenced in the Star-Chamber Sir Christopher collecting the censures of all the Commissioners concurred to Fine him but with this comfortable conclusion That as it was in the Queens Power to have him punished so Her Highness might be prevailed with for mitigating or remitting of the Fine and this our Judge may be presumed no ill Instrument in the procuring thereof He bountifully reflected on Magdalen-Colledge in Cambridge which Infant-foundation had otherwise been starved at Nurse for want of Maintenance We know who saith The righteous man leaveth an inheritance to his childrens children and the well-thriving of his third Generation may be an evidence of his well-gotten Goods This worthy Judge died May the eighth in the thirty fourth of Queen Elizabeth When Judge Mounson and Mr. Dalton urged in Stubs his Case that Writ against Queen Elizabeth's marriage with the Duke of Anjou That the Act of Philip and Mary against the Authors and sowers of seditious Writings was mis-timed and that it died with Queen Mary my Lord Chief Justice Wray upon whom the Queen relied in that case shewed there was no mistaking in the noting of the time and proved by the words of the Act that the Act was made against those which should violate the King by seditious writing and that the King of England never dieth yea that that Act was renewed anno primo Eliz. during the life of her and the heirs of her body Five Particulars I have heard old men say he was choice in 1. His Friend which was always wise and equal 2. His Wife 3. His Book 4. His Secret 5. His Expression and Garb. By four things he would say an Estate was kept 1. By understanding it 2. By spending not until it comes 3. By keeping old Servants 4. By a Quarterly Audit The properties of Infancy is Innocence of Child-hood Reverence of Manhood Maturity and of Old Age Wisdome Wisdome that in this grave Person acted all its brave parts i. e. was mindful of what is past observant of things present and provident for things to come No better instance whereof need be alledged then his pathetick Discourses in the behalf of those two great Stays of this Kingdome Husbandry and Merchandize for he had a clear discerning Judgement and that not onely in points of Law which yet his Arguments and Decisions in that Profession manifest without dispute but in matters of Policy and Government wherein his Guess was usually as near Prophecy as any mans as also in the little mysteries of private
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
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
3. Making him Knight of the Order of the Garter Anno 1589. 4. Appointing him Treasurer of England 1599. He was Chancellor of the University of Oxford where he entertained Qu Elizabeth with a most sumptuous Feast He was called the Star-chamber-Bell so very flowing his invention and therefore no wonder if his Secretaries could not please him being a person of so quick dispatch faculties which yet run in the blood He took a Roll of the names of all Sutors with the Date of their first Addresses and these in order had their hearing so that a Fresh-man could not leap over the head of his Senior except in urgent Affairs of State Thus having made amends to his house for his mispent time both in increase of Estate and Honour being created Earl of Dorset by King James he died on the 19th of April 1608. The Lord Buckburst was of the noble house of the Sackvils and of the Queens consanguinity his Father was that provident wise man Sir Richard Sackvil or as the people then called him Fill-sack by reason of his great wealth and the vast Patrimony which he left to this his son whereof he spent in his youth the best part until the Qu by her frequent admonitions diverted the torrent of his profusion he was a very fine Gentleman of person and endowments both of Art and Nature His elocution is much commended but the excellency of his Pen more for he was a Scholar and a person of quick faculties very facete and choice in his phrase and style He was wise and stout nor was he any ways insnared in the factions of the Court which were all his time very strong He stood still in grace and was wholly intentive to the Queens service and such were his abilities that she received assiduous proofs of his sufficiency As 1. In his Embassie to France whereas the Queen-Mother complemented him he behaved himself very worthy of his Mistrisses Majesty and his own Peerage there he had an experienced Tuscan Calacanti by name to deal with that Florentine Queen Montmorancy's brother to undermine the Guises and his own great parts to grapple with old Hospital He began that subtle piece the French Match under pretence whereof we balanoed and understood Europe and Walsingham finished it 2. In his Negotiations in the Low-Countries where he watched Leicester and the Commanders he observed the States and their changeable and various Interests accommodating the present emergencies and suiting their occasions They that censure this Nobleman's death consider not besides the black worm and the white day and night as the Riddle is that are gnawing constantly at the root of the tree of Life There are many insensible diseases as Apoplexies whose vapors sodainly extinguish the animal spirits and Aposthumes both in the upper and middle Region of man that often drown and suffocate both the animal and vital who are like embodied Twins the one cannot subsist without the other If the animal wits fail the vital cannot subsist if the vitals perish the animals give over their operation and he that judgeth ill of such an act of Providence may have the same hand at the same time writing within the Palace-walls of his own body the same period to his lives Earthly Empire The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of Queen Eliz. THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King James Observations on the Lives of the Cliffords Earls of Cumberland THE name hath been for three Ages ancient and Noble and in this last Age Warlike and serviceable They had the government of the North in their own right for an hundred yeares and the hereditary Sheriff-dome of Westmorland in right of the Viponts their Relations for two Henry the first Earl of Cumberland was raysed by Henry the Eighth to that Honour 1525 for his service at Tournay and Berwick Henry his son was by Queen Mary honoured with the Garter for his conduct against Wyat and by Queen Eliz. graced with peculiar favours for his Industry Integrity and Vigilance in the North. As Nature so Nobility subsists and grows by the same thing that it is made of Vertue that creates supports it Observations on the Life of the Lord George Clifford GEorge Clifford Lord Clifford Vesoye c. Earl of Cumberland was son to Henry second Earl of that Family by his second Lady a person wholly composed of true honour and valour whereof he gave the world a large and clear demonstration It was resolved by the judicious in that Age The way to humble the Spanish greatness was not in pinching and pricking of him in the Low-Countries which onely emptied his veins of such blood as was quickly re-filled But the way to make it a Cripple for ever was by cutting off the Spanish s 〈…〉 ews of War his Monies from the West-Indies the back-door robs the house In order whereunto this Earl set forth a small Fleet on his own cost and adventured his own person therein being the best born Englishman that ever hazarded himself in that kinde His Fleet may be said to be bound for no other Harbour but the Port of Honour though touching at the Port of Profit in passage thereunto I say touching whose design was not to enrich himself but impoverish the Enemy He was as merciful as valiant the best metal bends best and left impressions of both in all places where he came Queen Eliz. Anno 1592 honoured him with the dignity of the Garter When King James came first out of Scotland to Yorke he attended him with such an equipage of Followers for number and habit that he seemed rather a King than Earl of Cumberland Here happened a Contest between the Earl and the Lord President of the North about carrying the Sword before the King in Yorke which Office upon due search and enquiry was adjudged to the Earl as belonging unto him and whilest Clifford's Tower is standing in Yorke that Family will never be therein forgotten His Anagram was as really as literally true Georgius Cliffordius Cumberlandius Davidis regno clarus cum vi fulgebis He died Anno 1605. leaving one Daughter and Heir the Lady Anne married to the Earl of Dorset This noble person taught the world That the Art of making War hath not a positive form and that it ought to be diversified according to the state of Occurrences They that will commit nothing to Fortune nor undertake any Enterprize whose event appeareth not infallible escape many dangers by their wary conduct but fail of as many successes by their unactive fearfulnesse It 's uselesse to be too wise and spend that time in a grave gaze on businesse that might serve the speedy dispatch of it Neither was our Peer great onely in the atchievements of the Field to please higher spirits but gaudy at Court to astonish and ravish the lowest making noble expences when necessary and appearing splendid on the important
King as he studied him more and understood him better than any man though one observeth he was rather in his favour than in his bosome and therefore he took care That as his Expedition and Civility made him the great Master of Requests at Court so his Marriage with the Heir-general of the Dennies should get him an Estate in the Countrey wherewith he compleated his kindnesse with bounty and adorned his bounty with courtesie Courtesie not affected but naturally made up of humility that secured him from Envy and a Civility that kept him in esteem he being happy in an expression that was high and not formal and a Language that was Courtly and yet real Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Lake SIr Thomas Lake was bred a Scholar under Saravia in Hampshire a States-man under Sir Francis Walsingham at Court where such his dexterity and dispatch that he would indite write and discourse at the same time more exactly than most men could severally perform them being then called the Swift-sure such his celerity and solidity in all Affairs From the Secretaries Amanuensis he was promoted the Queens Clerk of the Signet to whom he read French and Latine to her dying day for he was reading to her when the Countesse of Warwick told him that the Queen was departed In which Tongues she often said he surpassed her Secretaries Such his sufficiency especially in keeping secrets that King James employed him in some French Affairs at his first arrival without Cecil and afterwards as Secretary of State above him For King James that loved what ever was facile and fluent being taken among other his Abilities with his Latine pen said that he was a Minister of State fit to serve the greatest Prince in Europe and that the Secretaries place needed him more than he it Of whom I have no more to add but that he was oue of the three noble hands that first led Mr. George Villiers to King James his Favour Observations on the Life of Lyonel Cranfield Earl of Middlesex SIr Lyonel was born in Basinghal street a Citizen bred in the Custome-house a Merchant-Adventurer his own Tutor and his own University though his Family was ancient in Gloucestershire and his Arms in the Heralds Office King James was taken with hm for his brief clear strong and pertinent discourses The Duke of Buckingham was displeased because he would stand without him yea in some things against him many were as active as this stirring Lord none more exact his presence was comely his countenance cheerful and grave his soul witty and wise his apprehension quick and solid his thoughts setled and resolved When one asked him how a man might prevent death he said Get to be Lord-Treasurer for none died in that Office Though no Scholar yet was he bountiful to Scholars though a Courtier yet was he hospitable in the Countrey though he suffered much yet was he contented and though he lost much yet was he charitable Very serviceable he was to the State in the business of Trade in general but most in that of the Custom-house in particular His first preferment was the custody of the Wardrobe his second was the Mastership of the Court of Wards and Liveries and his third the Treasurer-ship of England In the last whereof his improvement of the Revenue gained him not more honour with the King than it did him envy from the Courtiers While to piece out the Treasure with the expence he husbanded the one so thristily and retrenched the other so rigidly that malice it self after many attempts to that purpose could finde no fault with his exact account in the boundlesse trust of the tempting Treasury When the Prince was in Spain he was the States-man of the Council-Table and the chief Minister of the Cabal managing all the Dispatches and overlooking all the Expences In the last of which services he ran counter to the Duke of Buckingham's inclination and his own Interest which was to keep himself up by that noble Person 's favour as he rose by his alliance The occasion of his preferment might be some saving secrets of the Custome-house-men to improve the Revenue the reason of his decline was some thristy suggestion touching the Courtiers to preserve it This is certain he was a man fit for government who quickly apprehended where any evil was and had capacity enough to apply the remedy onely he had a little too stiffe a nature that would not easily yield when he found on which side there was most reason and too much of the City in his maximes which pretended to attain to that in a short time which Politicians think not proper to arrive at but by a leasurely succession of Ages and Generations Observations on the Life of Henry Howard Earl of Northampton THis Family had endeared it self to many Kings by its services but to none more than King James by its obligations Thomas Duke of Norfolke being as it were his Mothers Martyr executed for a design to marry her and all his Relations his Confessors kept under for their inclinations to advance him Reasonable therefore it was that my Lord that Dukes brother should be made Baron of Marnhill Earl of Northampton Knight of the Garter Privy-Councellor Lord Privy-Seal and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports Learning in any man had King James his affection especially in a Noble-man as our States-man who was as serious a Student in Kings-Colledge and Trinity-Hall in Cambridge as a discerning observator in Rome and Florence in Italy His Dispensative against the supposed poyson of Prophesies dedicated to Sir Francis Walsingham bespeaks him a great and a general Scholar His Speeches at Cambridge and in Star-Chamber argue him both witty and wise His expences shewed him publick-spirited the unparallel'd port of his Family and dependants an Ancient Noble-man His designing of Audley-End and building of Suffolk-house an Architect His Hospital for twelve poor women and a Governour at Rise in Norfolk for twelve poor men and a Governour at Clin in Shropshire for twenty poor men and a Governour at Greenwich in Kent whereof eight to be chosen out of Shose-Sham where he was born a charitable man his using of all his interest to avoid the burthen weight of the Treasurer's place and procure it for the Earl of Suffolke his Nephew his noble disposition not to advance himself by Court-flattery or his fortune by State employment being a Batchellour and a Student An instance of my Lord Bacon's observation He that hath Wife and Children hath given Hostages to Fortune for they are Impediments to great Enterprizes either to Vertue or Mischief Certainly the best works and of greatest merit for the Publick proceed from the unmarried and the Childelesse which both in affection and means have married and endowed the Publick But to conclude this particular this Lord told his intimate Secretary Mr. George Penny who related it to my Author that his Nativity at his Fathers desire was calculated by a skilful Italian
of Jeffery Vere Esquire who was son of John Vere the fifteenth Earl of Oxford We will first consider severally and then compare joyntly to see how their Actions and Arms performed what their birth and bloud promised SIr Fran. was of a fiery spirit rigid nature undaunted in all danger not overvaluing the price of mens lives to purchase a victory therewith He served on the Scene of all Christendome where War was acted One Master-piece of his valour was at the Battel of Newport when his ragged Regiment so were the English-men called from their ragged Cloathes helped to make all whole or else all had been lost SIr Horace had more meekness as much valour as his brother so pious that he first made peace with God before he went to war with man One of an excellent temper it being true of him what is said of the Caspian Sea that it doth never ebb nor flow observing a constant tenor neither elated nor depressed with success Had one seen him returning from a victory he would by his silence have suspected that he had lost the day and had he beheld him in a retreat he would have collected him a Conqueror by the cheerfulness of his spirit He was the first Baron of K. Charls his Creation Some years after coming to Court he fell suddenly sick and speechless so that he died afore night A. Dom. 163 ... No doubt he was well prepared for death seeing such his vigilancy that never any enemy surprised him in his Quarters Another was when for three years he defended Ostend against a strong and numerous Army surrendring it at last a bare Skeleton to the King of Spain who paid more years purchase for it than probably the World would endure He dyed in the beginning of the Reign of K. James about the year of our Lord 16 ....  Now to compare them together such their Eminency that they would hardly be parallel'd by any but themselves Sir Francis was the elder Brother Sir Horace lived to be the elder man Sir Francis was more feared Sir Horace more loved by the Soldiery The former in Martial Discipline was oftentimes Rigidus ad ruinam the latter seldome exceeded ad terrorem Sir Francis left none Sir Horace no Male-Issue whose four Co-Heirs are since Matched into honourable Families Both lived in War much honoured dyed in peace much lamented What is a great question among all Martial men was so between these Brethren whether to repair a reputation ruined by some infamous disgrace and the honour abused by some notorious losse the General ought to oppose the fortune that oppresseth him and hazard what remains to recover what is lost Sir Francis was of opinion That though it 's not the interest of a supream Prince yet it is the concern of a subordinate Commander to support his credit at the rate of his Army But Sir Horace was never for sacrificing the whole for the advancing of any part or of many for the humouring of one but chose rather to break the impetuosity of his misfortunes by yielding to them and rather recover both himself and his successe by a prudent retreat than lose both in an obstinate misadventure It being far more eligible to suffer in the imaginary interest of repute than that real one of strength though appearances are yet so useful that dexterously to manage the reputation of Affairs is to imprint in men a great opinion of vertue and fortune to enhance successes and raise that respect and confidence that seldome fa 〈…〉 to the share of reservation and fear But apart from that too much caution that betrayeth and over-much rashnesse that hazardeth our fortunes both these Heroes were very choice in the places of their Engagements for when all the Generals before the Battel of Newport were for quitting the upper Downs Sir Francis Vere well knowing how much it imported the businesse of the day to hold a place of such advantage perswaded Count Maurice rather to expect the Enemy in that ground than attaque him in a worse wherein as his opinion prevailed so all that were present were Eye-witnesses both of the truth of his conjecture and the soundnesse of his judgement For the Enemy as he said did not long gaze upon them but charging up the hills were beaten back so effectually that our men had the execution of them for half a mile which was no small advantage to the fortune of that day Neither were they lesse observant of their time that Mother of Action than their place neither hasty nor slow to manage an opportunity that is neither often nor long the same or of the order of their Army than both whereof each part assisted the other at Newport and elsewhere so readily that their shouts and charges equally amazed their Friends and Enemies The Reliefs of Rhingbergh were actions of great resolution ready dispatch a watchful circumspection and good pursuit The succour of Lithenhooven was a performance of great and mature deliberation the surprize of Zutphen by young Soldiers in womens apparel was a piece of service of many particular stratagems and the Siege of Daventer of as much sage advice All instances of the wonders that courage can do when wise valour when sober a passion when rational and a great spirit when advised Observations on the Life of Richard Cosin LL. D. RIchard Cosin LL. D. one of the greatest Civilians our Nation bred the grand Champion of Episcopacy was amongst all the Countreys of England born in the Bishoprick of Durham His Father was a person of Quality a Captain of a Company at Muscleborough-Field whence his valour returned with victory and wealth when crossing the River Tweed O the uncertainty of all earthly happiness he was drowned therein to the great losse of his son Richard and greater because he was not sensible thereof as left an Infant in the Cradle His Mother afterwards married one Mr. Medow a York-shire Gentleman who bred this his Son-in-law at a School at Skipton upon Craven wherein such was his proficiency that before he was twelve years old little lesse then a wonder to me in that age from so far a Countrey he was admitted into Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge Some of his friends in Queens-Colledge in that University had a design to fetch him thence had not Doctor Beaumont prevented the plot in making him Scholar and Fellow as soon as by his Age Degree and the Statutes he was capable thereof He was a general Scholar Geometrician Musitian Physitian Divine but chiefly Civil and Can 〈…〉 Lawyer By Arch-Bishop Whitgift he was preferred to be first Chancellor of Worcester in that 〈◊〉 a place non tam gratiosus quam negotiosus and afterwards Dean of the Arches wherein he carri 〈…〉 himself without giving though many took offenc◠at him Of these one wrote a Book against him called the Abstract abstracted saith my Author from 〈◊〉 Wit Learning and Charity to whom he returned such an answer in defence of the
keep clean delighting in good Cloaths well worn and being wont to say That the outward neatnesse of our bodies might be a Monitor of purity to our souls In his Pleadings Discourse and Judgements he declined all Circumlocutions usually saying The matter lies in a little Room In all Places Callings and Jurisdictions he commended Modesty and Sobriety within their boundaries saying If a River swelleth beyond the bankes it loseth its owne Channel If any adverse party crossed him he would patiently reply If another punisheth me I will not punish my self In the highest Term of Businesse he made Vacation to himself at his Table and would never be perswaded privately to retract what he had publickly adjudged professing He was a Judge in a Court not in a Chamber He was wont to say No wise man would do that in prosperity whereof he should repent in adversity His Motto was Prudens qui Patiens and his practice was accordingly especially after he fell into the disfavour of King James when he did Frui suo Infortunio and improved his losse to his advantage He triumphed in his own Innocency that he had done nothing illegally calling to minde the Motto which he gave in his Rings when made Sergeant Lex est 〈…〉 ssima Classis The Law is the safest Helmet And now he had leasure to peruse what formerly he had written even thirty Books with his own hand most pleasing himself with a Manual which he called VADE MECVM from whence at one view he took a prospect of his Life past having noted therein most Remarkables His most learned and laborious Works on the Lawes will last to be admired by the Judicious Posterity whilest Fame hath a Trumpet left her and any breath to blow therein His judgement lately passed for an Oracle in Law and since the credit thereof hath causelesly been questioned the wonder is not great If the Prophet himself living in an incredulous Age found cause to complain Who hath believed our report it need not seem strange that our licentious Times have afforded some to shake the Authenticalnesse of the Reports of any earthly Judge He constantly had Prayers said in his own house and charitably relieved the Poor with his constant Almes The Foundation of Sutton's Hospital when indeed but a Foundation had been ruined before it was raised and crush'd by some Courtiers in the hatching thereof had not his great care preserved the same The Free-School at Tâ—etford was supported in its being by his assistance and he founded a School on his cost at Godrick in Norfolk It must not be forgotten that Doctor Whitgift afterward Arch-Bishop of Canterbury sent unto his Pupil when the Queen's Attorney a fair new Testament with this Message He had long enough studied Common Law now let him study the Law of God When he was under a cloud at Court and outed of his Judges place the lands belonging to the Church of Norwich which formerly he had so industriously recovered and setled thereon were again called into question being begged by a Peer Sir Edward desired him to desist telling him that otherwise he would put on his Gown and Cap and come into Westminster-Hall once again and plead there in any Court in justification of what he had done He died at Stoke-Poges in Buckingham-shire on Wednesday the third of September being the 83 of his age whose last words were these Thy Kingdome come thy Will be done The infirmities of this Judge as my Lord BACON recited them in a Letter to him were these 1. That he delighted to speak more than hear 2. That he would run out of his Profession and as he observed of Divines so it was observed of him none erred worse out of his element 3. That he conversed with Books rather than Men and onely with such men that he spake to as Scholars rather than treated as friends 4. That he obtruded those things as Novelties that were stale 5. That he would jest on men in place and insult on men in misery 6. That he made the Law lean too much to his opinion 7. That his Tenants in Norfolk were hardly used and that though he had ten thousand pounds per an he relieved not the poor 8. That in his last proceedings against Somerset he was too open and dilatory giving too much advantage and breaking out to some unadvised expressions 9. That he stood out against Power for which and other failures he was dismissed the Council-board with this expression from King James That he was the fittest instrument to serve a Tyrant Indeed he had some projects for the Revenue and looked for the Treasury when he was absolutely cast off though he made such shift that throw him where you would as King James said he fell upon his legs Observations on the Life of Sir Ralph Winwood SIr Ralph Winwood was a Gentleman well seen in most Affairs but most expert in matters of Trade and War for he was first a Soldier and then an Agent in the Netherlands where he remonstrated against Vorstius learnedly and resolutely representing as well his Masters parts as his power It was the very guize of that time to be learned the wits of it were so excellent the helps and ass 〈…〉 ants of it were so great Printing was so common the world by Navigation so open great experiments so disclosed the leisure of men so much the age was so peaceable and his Majestie after whom all writ so knowing When the Earl of Somerset was made Chamberlain by his Majesty in his Fathers place Sir Ralph Winwood was by the Queen made Secretary in his succeeding him in his Office but exceeding him in his successe Fortune may begin any mans greatness but Vertue must continue it for this Favourite taking upon him to over-rule Winwood Winwood makes it his businesse to overthrow him to which purpose his Agents discover some secrets abroad you may understand more of England at Amsterdam thâ—â— at London and he useth his Arts at home for Mr. Villiers being now brought to Court when others were for raising him by interest Sir Ralph was for advancing him with Compliance a Compliance as he said that must either supple or break his Adversaries and either way ruine them Accordingly Sir George is directed to offer his service to the Earl of Somerset that Earl fatally tells him He would have none of his service but would break his Designe These words coming so cross to the Kings inclination and the Court's plot provoked all persons to look further into Sir Ralph Winwood's Intelligence concerning Sir Overbury's death Now mens weaknesses and faults are best known by their enemies their vertues and abilities from their friends their customes and times from their servants their conceits and opinions from their familiars to whom they are least masked To all these he applyeth himself until he had discovered as much of the practices concerning Overbury as might humble the Earl and as much corruption in the conveyance of publick money
onely could finish that Treaty which they had for many years spun out Men take several ways to the ends they propose themselves Some that of confidence others that of respect and caution c. when indeed the main businesse is to suit our selves with our own times which this Lord did and no man better untill looking into the depths of the late Faction he declared at the Council-Table 1639. that they aimed at the ruine of Church and State And viewing the state of the Kingdome he advised That Leagues might be made abroad and that in this inevitable necessity all wayes to raise money should be used that were lawful Wherefore he was one of those few excluded the Indempnity by the Faction and had the honour to dye banished for the best Cause and Master in those foreign Countries where he suffered as nobly for the Crown of England in his later dayes as he had acted honourably for it in his former When he never came off better than in satisfying the Spanyards about toleration reducing the whole of that affair to these two Maximes 1. That Consciences were not to be forced but to be won and reduced by the evidence of Truth with the aid of Reason and in the use of all good means of Instruction and perswasion 2. That the causes of Conscience wherein they exceed their bounds and grow to matter of faction lose their nature and that Soveraign Princes ought distinctly to punish those foul practices though overlaid with the fairer pretences of Conscience and Religion One of his Maximes for Treaty I think remarkable viz. That Kingdomes are more subject to fear than hope And that it 's safer working upon them by a power that may awe the one than by advantages that may excite the other Since it 's another rule that States have no affections but interest and that all kindnesse and civility in those cases are but oversights and weaknesse Another of his rules for Life I judge useful viz. That since no man is absolute in all points and since men are more naturally enclined out of envy to observe mens infirmities than out of ingenuity to acknowledge their merit He discovereth his abilities most that least discovereth himself To which I may add another viz. That it is not onely our known duty but our visible advantage to ascribe our most eminent performances to providence since it not onely takes off the edge of envy but improves the reason of admiration None being lesse maliced or more applauded than he who is thought rather happy than able blessed than active and fortunate than cunning Though yet all the caution of his life could not avoid the envy of his advancement from so mean a beginning to so great honours notwithstanding that it is no disparagement to any to give place to fresh Nobility who ascend the same steps with those before them New being onely a terme saith one onely respecting us not the world for what is was before us and will be when we are no more And indeed this Personage considering the vanity and inconstancy of common applause or affronts improved the one and checked the other by a constant neglect of both Observations on the Life of Sir Dudly Carleton SIr Dudley Carleton was born in Oxford-shire bred in Christs-Church in Oxford under Dr. King and afterwards in relation of Secretary to Sir Ralph Winwood in the Low-Countreys where he was very active when King James resigned the cautionary Towns to the States Here he added so great experience to his former Learning that afterwards our King employed him for twenty years together Ambassador in Venice Savoy and the United Provinces Anne Gerard his Lady Co-heir to George Gerard Esquire accompanying him in all his Travels as is expressed in her Epitaph in Westminster-Abby He was by K. Charles the first to balance the Duke of Buckingbam's enemies in the House of Peers with the Lord Mandevil now Earl of Manchester and the Lord Grandison created Baron of Imbercourt in Surrey and afterwards Viscount Dorchester marrying for his second Wife the Daughter of Sir Henry Glenham the Relict of Paul Viscount Banning who survived him He succeeded the Lord Conway when preferred President of the Council in the Secretary-ship of State being sworn at White-Hall December 14. 1628. and dying without Issue Anno Dâ—m 163 ... Much ado he had to remove a State-jealousie that was upon him That he insisted on the restitution of some Towns in Cleves and â—uliers to gratifie the Spanyards at that time in â—reaty with us more to remove a Church-jealouâ—e that in negotiating an accommodation in Reâ—gion he designed the undermining of the Reâ—onstrants then in so much power there In which â—atter he was at a losse whether his Majesty should â—terpose by Letter or Message The former he said was most effectual but the later lesse subject to 〈◊〉 constrâ—â—â—on considering Barnevel's interest in â—he State But he had a Chaplain one Mr. Hales that kept this Controversie even on the one hand while he balanced the State-interest on the other equally carefull that the United Provinces should not be over-run by the Armies of Spain and that they should not be swallowed up by the protection of France Watchful was his eye there over the West-India Company Diligent his carriage upon any accommodations from Spain which he apprehended always as a design to distract that people then in regard of their unsetlednesse but too apt upon any dispute to fall into faction Great his industry in reconciling Sir Horace Vere and Sir Edward Cecil for the honour of the English Nation and the advancement of the common service Sincere his services to the Prince Elector and his Lady Exact his rules of Traffique and Commerce and dexterous his arts of keeping the States from new alliances notwithstanding our likely Marriage-treaty with Spain especially since the Prince of Orange bluntly after his manner asked Qui at ' il vestre Marriage And indeed he behaved himself in all Employments so well becoming a man that understood so many Languages that was so well versed in Ancient and Modern History t 〈…〉 had composed so many choice pieces of Politi 〈…〉 that was so well seen in the most practical Mathe 〈…〉 ticks and added to these a graceful and charm 〈…〉 look a gentle and a sweet elocution that noâ— withstanding his and his brother Bishop Carle 〈…〉 rigidnesse in some points kept him to his dyinâ— day in great favour and most eminent service aâ—â— sailing in nothing but his French Embâ—â—â—â— becauâ—â— there he had to do with Women L 〈…〉 g behind him this observation That new Common-wealâ—â— are hardly drawn to a certain resolution as 〈◊〉 knowing not how to determine and remaining 〈◊〉 in suspence take ordinarily that course rather whiâ—â— they are forced to than what they might choose fâ—â— themselves And this eminent service when 〈◊〉 assisted the Earl of Holland in France viz. That 〈◊〉 paâ—ified the high difference there upon which 〈◊〉 revolt of
Annuentâ— Divino Numine naturae debitum libenter solviturum quam primum Deo placuerit In cujus rei memoriam Manum meam Sigillum apposui Datum 27 Februarii 1635. Julius Caesar Here his Seal or Coat of Arms is affixed and beneath them is written Irrotulatur Caelo He dyed the twenty eighth day of April Anno Domini 1636. in the seventy ninth year of his Age. They say of Witches that they are unable to hurt till they have received an Almes It 's certain none ever undermined this Gentleman's insufficiency but such as were advanced by his civility a civility that secured him as well as it impowered them making his Grants to all persons double kindnesses by Expedition and cloathing his very Denyals in such robes of Courtship as that it was not obviously discernable whether the Request or Deâ—yal were most decent having this peculiar to himself That he was very cautious of Promises lest falling to an Incapacity of performance he might forfeit his Reputation and multiply his certain Enemies by his design of creating uncertain Friends Besides he observed a sure principle of rising viz. That great persons esteem better of such they have done great Courtesies to than those they have received greater Civilities from looking upon this as their disparagement the other as their glory Observations on the Lives of Sir Henry Sir Lucius Sir Henry Cary Lords Viscounts Faulkland ARace of accomplished men the ornaments and supports of their Countrey which they served with no lesse faithfulnesse and prudence in their Negotiations abroad than honour and justice in their Places at home Of such a Stock of reputation as might kindle a generous emulation in Strangers and a noble ambition in those of their own Family Henry Cary Viscount Falkland in Scotland son to Sir Edward Cury was born at Aldnam in Hertfordshire being a most accomplished Gentleman and a compleat Courtier By King James he was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland and well discharged his Trust therein But an unruly Colt will â—ume and chase though neither switch nor spur meerly because back'd The Rebellious Irish will complain onely because kept in subjection though with never so much lenity the occasion why some hard speeches were passed on his Government Some beginning to counterfeit his hand he used to incorporate thâ— year of his age in a knot flourished beneath h 〈…〉 name concealing the day of his birth to himsel 〈…〉 Thus by comparing the date of the month with his own Birth-day unknown to such Forgers 〈◊〉 not onely discovered many false Writings which were past but also deterred dishonest Cheated from attempting the like for the future He made good use of Bishop Vsher's Interest while he was there as appears by the excellent Speech that the Bishop made for the King's supply Being recalled into England he lived honourably in the County aforesaid until by a sad casualty he broke his Leg on a Stand in Theâ—bâ—ld's Parke and soon after dyed thereof He married the sole Daughter and Heir of Sir Lawrence Tanfield Chief Baron of the Exchequer by whom he had a fair Estate in Oxfordshire His death happened Annâ— Dâ—m 1620. being Father to the most accomplished States-man 2. Lucius Lord Falkland the wildness of whose youth was an argument of the quicknesse of his riper years He that hath a spirit to be unruly before the use of his reason hath mettle to be active afterwards Quick-silver if fixed is incomparable besides that the adventures contrivances secrets confidence trust compliance with opportunity and the other sallies of young Gallants prepare them more serious undertakings as they did this noble Lord great in his â—own greater in his Buffe able with his Sword abler with his Pen a knowing States-man a learned Scholar and a stout manâ— One instance of that excess in learning and other great perfections which portended ruine to this Nation in their opinion who write that all Extreams whether of Vertue or Vice are ominous especially that unquiet thing call'd Learning whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth its own period and that of the Empire it flourisheth in a too universally dilated Learning being not faithful to the settlements either of Policy or Religion it being no lesse reaâ—ly to discover blemishes in the one than Incongruities in the other Sophisters saith my smart Author like the Countrey of the Switz being as able upon the least advantage proposed to engage on the wrong side as on the sight As to go no further this excellent Personage being among the Demagogues that had been for twelve years silenced and were now to play the prize in Parliament and shew their little twit-twat but tedious faculties of speaking makes the bitterest Invective against the Governours and government of the Church that ever was penned in English which though designed by him it'â— thought onely to allay the fury of the Faction by some compliance with it carried things beyond the moderation and decency of that Assembly which he made too hot for himself retyring in cooler thoughts as many more that like Brutus could not lay the storms they had raised to Oxford where his Pen was more honourably employed in detecting the fundamental Errour of Rome their infallibility and countermining the main props of Westminster their Hypoerisie this as Secretary the other as a Student in both laying open the little pretensions whereby poor people were insnared in their Civil and Religious Liberty Much was the gall always in his Inke and very sharp his Pen but even flowing and full his Style such as became him whose Learning was not an unsetled masse of reading that whirled up and down in his head but fixed Observations that tempered with solid prudence and experience were the steady Maximes of his Soul fitted for all times and occasions he having sate as some Noble-mens sons used to do formerly in the House of Lords behind the Chair of State from his very child-hood and owning a large heart capable of making that universal inspection into things that much becomes a Gentleman being a Master in any thing he discoursed of Insomuch that his general knowledge husbanded by his wit and set off by his Meine and Carriage attracted many to come as far to see him as he prosessed he would go to see Mr. Daillee which rendred him no lesse necessary than admirable at Court until his Curiosity engaging him at Newbery he was strangely slain there dying as he lived till then between his Friends and Enemies to the King 's great grief who valued him because he understood his parts and services in the Treaty at Oxford where he was eminent for two things the timing of Propositions and concealing of Inclinations though no man so passionate for his design as never enduring that hope that holds resolution so long in suspence but ever allaying it with that fear that most commonly adviseth the best by supposing the worst His usual saying was I pity unlearned Gentlemen in a rainy day 3. He was Father first
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
correspondence with the Duke of Bucks weekly constant his contrasts with Count Soisons and Madam Blanvile in behalf of her Husband here in England resolute and honourable urging very nobly and successfully that the clamours of a turbulent Agent was not to out-weigh the favour of a mighty Monarch The discovery he made of the Duke of Buckingham's enemies their Cabals and Oaths from the said Blanviles Letters was seasonable and compleat but his Master-piece was his command over all affections and tempers but his own so soft and smooth that it endured not the roughnesse of the following times wherein he was very unsetled when Commissioner in Scotland while he lived and very fearful when he died The fate of all delicate and too fine Constitutions It hath been the method of Grandees to endear themselves to power for a present interest and to learning for their future fame to add the renown of the one to the greatnesse of the other Neither was this Lord more careful to succeed his great friend the Duke of Buckingham in his favour at Court as Captain of the Guard and Groom of the Stool than in his Place at the Vniversity as Chancellor of which he expresseth himself thus â—o his Cambridge That his Master had raised his fortune beyond wishing in this world that he could desire no more than a fair name when he was gone out of it which the University contributed to whom he devoted his Iuterest Though they answered not his expectation in their Contributions for St. Pauls and other particulars wherein he was defeated and over-born by the busie faction who thought it a vain thing â—o repair any Church when they intended to pull down all After all this great man is a great instance of â—hat observation viz. That when able and prudent men are brought on the Stage to manage their â—wn parts they are then mostly not of the clearâ—st sight and commonly commit such errours as â—re both discernable and avoidable even by men of â—ean abilities Although I finde him subject â—o no great errour before the War save that when Dr. Preston was by his party judged of so great parts 〈◊〉 to make a fit Patron for them and thereupon â—irected to appear aloof the way of Court-obâ—ervers in his Addresses to the Duke of Buckingâ—m by his Confident the Earl of Holland whose â—amily favoured that side though the Duke said he â—new him and so would use him accordingly â—et this Earl was so far over-reach'd by him that in the Apology the Doctor writ under-hand to 〈◊〉 Partizans touching his Court-compliance he sheâ—eth he over-reached the Court-wits as indeâ— he was a great Politician and used Lap-wiâ—â— like to flutter most on that place which was fa 〈…〉 thest from his Egges a copy of which Letteâ— with some satyrical stanzaes was found unsealed 〈◊〉 the streets and carried to the Duke a noble frienâ— discovering to the Doctor how witty he was 〈◊〉 Rhime to the breaking of his heart he confessâ—â—â— then he was undone especially when the Duke Barber could finger the Letter out of his Lord pocket as he was directed And now I cannoâ— but remember how this Earl at his death said 〈◊〉 had been a friend to godly Ministers as had 〈◊〉 friends before him by whom he bad been instructâ—â— when young Whence I collect that the membeâ— of those great Families into which the godly Ministers i. e. peevish factious and discontented persoâ— which usurp that precious name insinuate theâ— selves and their principles seldome come to theâ—â— Grave in peace they usually instilling into theâ—â— such imaginations as make their lives unquiet aâ—â— their deaths dishonourable Whence the gooâ— old Lord Willoughby would say Carry the peeviâ—â— man this speaking of one Chambers a Separatist but tell him he must not come under my Roof for will not meddle with them that are given to changâ— whose calamity ariseth suddenly and who knoweth tâ—â— ruine of them both To conclude it is observed as the reason whâ— he fell off from the Parliament that the warâ— Sirs would not trust two Brothers him and thâ— Earl of Warwick with supream commands therefore when they voted the one Admiral they deâ—yed the other General of the Horse Both are charactered by their Contemporaries for natural Endowments excellent for temper sweet and loving for behaviour affable and courteous for spirit meek and lowly of the same inclinations before and after their advancement In honore sine â—â—more lifted up with honour but not puffed up with pride Observations on the Life of Arch-Bishop LAUD THe pregnancy of his childhood promised the wisdome of his riper years and obliged his friends beyond their abilities to his support and strangers beyond expectation to his encouragement Some persons offering him great sums of money for his maintenance in his younger years upon the bare security of his parts which payd them well in his more reduced age None more observant of favour none more mindful of kindnesses and none more grateful for civilities He was so wise as seldome to forget an injury in the consequence of it and so noble as ever to remember love in the return of it His honest Parents conveyed him an excellent temper and that temper a brave spirit which had the advantage of his birth some say at Reading some at Henley at an equal distance from the University where he was to be a Scholar and the Court where he was to be a Man In the first of these his indefatigablâ— industry his methodical study his quick apprehension his faithful memory his solid judgement his active fancy his grave and quick countenance his sharp and piercing eye raised him bâ— discreet and wary steps to all the perferments anâ— commended him to all the employments of thâ— University when Proctor whereof he was admitted for his prudence to the Earl of Devonshire's service which hazarded and when Divinity-Reader observed by the Lords of Rochester and Lincoln for his judgement which advanced him As his design was above the level of modern Sciolists sâ— were his Studies not prepossessed with the partiâ—â— Systemes of Geneva but freely conversant with the impartial volumes of the Church Catholick 〈◊〉 had an infallible apprehension of the Doctrine and Discipline and a deep insight into the interest 〈◊〉 Christianity This capacious soul conversed with the most knowing of all Judgements to finde the bottome of all Errors and with the most Judicious of his own to discern the grounds of all truth He had his eye on the University to reduce it when Head of St. John's on the lower Functions oâ— the Church in his Pastoral charges to reform them and upon the higher when Dean of Gloucester Prebend of Westminster and Bishop of St. Davids to settle them He was a man of that search and judgement that he found out the principles of government that were true to the Church of that faithfulnesse and resolution that amidst all discouragements he was true to them The Church-government he found by many
Asia and from severall parts of the world purchased all the Ornaments and helps of Literature he could that the English Church might have if possible by his care as many advantages for knowledge as almost all Europe did contribute to the grandeur of that of Rome The outward splendour of the Clergy was not more his care than their honour by a grave and pious conversation He would put them into a power of doing more good but was sore against their Vices and Vanities He scorned a private Treasure and his friends were rather relieved than raised to any greatnesse by him In his election of friends he was determined to the good and wise and such as had both parts and desires to profit The Church had his closest embraces if otherwise it happened their frauds not his choice deserved the blame Both Papists and Sectaries were equally his Enemies one party feared and the other hated his Virtues Some censured his zeal for Discipline above the patience of the Times but his greatest unhappinesse was that he lived in a factious Age and corrupt State and under such a Prince whose Vertues not admitting an immediate approach for Accusations was to be wounded with those it did caresse But when Faction and Malice are worne out by time Posterity shall engrave him in the Albe of the most excellent Prelacy the most indulgent Fathers of the Church and the most injured Martyrs His blood was accompanyed with some tears that fell from those Eyes that expected a pleasure at his death and it had been followed with a general mourning had not the publick Miseries and the present Fears of Ruine exacted all the stock of Grief for other objects His very enemy Sir Edward Deering would confesse That let him dye when he would St. Pauls would be his Monument and his Book against Fisher his Epitaph Observations on the Life of the Lord Keeper Littleton SIr Edward Littleton the eldest son of Sir Edward Littleton of Mounslow in Shrop-shire one of the Justices of the Marches and Chief-Justice of North-Wales was bred in Christs-Church in Oxford where he proceeded Batchellor of Arts and afterwards was one of the Justices of North-Wales Recorder of London and Sollicitor to King Charles From these places he was preferred to be Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas and made Privy-Councellor thence advanced to be Lord-Keeper and Baron of Mounslow the place of his Nativity He died in Oxford and was buried in Christs-Church where he was bred Being a Member of the Parliament 1628. he had the management of the high presumption charged on the Duke of Buckingham about King James his death wherein he behaved himself so discreetly between the jealousie of the People and the honour of the Court that Sir John Finch would say He was the onely man for taking things by a Right bandle And Sir Edward Cook that He was a well-poized and weighed man His very name carried an Hereditary credit with it which plaineth out the way to all great Actions his virtue being authorized by his nobility and his undertakings ennobled by his birth gained that esteem which meaner men attain not without a large compasse of time and experience worthlesse Nobility and ignoble worth lye under equal disadvantage Neither was his extract so great as his parts his judgement being clear and piercing his Learning various and useful his skill in the Maximes of our Government the fundamental Laws of this Monarchy with its Statutes and Customes singular his experience long and observing his integrity unblemished and unbyassed his Eloquence powerful and majestick and all befitting a States-man and a Lord-Keeper set off with a resolved Loyalty that would perform the harshest service his Master could enjoyn him while he stayed at London and follow the hardest fortune he could be in when at Yorke whither he went with the great Seal he knew made to stamp Royal Commissions rather than authorize Rebellious Ordinances At Oxford he did good service during the Session of Parliament by Accommodations there and as good during their recesse by his interest in the Country Observations on the Life of the Marquess Hamilton A Preacher being at a losse what to say of a party deceased concluded his Sermon with these words There is one good quality in this man viz. that he was born and that God made him And another viz. That he is dead and we must speak nothing but good of the dead I may say of this Noble-man that I have two reasons to speak well of him 1. That good King Charles honoured him and 2. That his wicked Subjects beheaded him otherwise I must leave these Queries as I finde them Quaere 1. Why should Duke Hamilton post without leave into Scotland when the Parliament was discontented and the Duke of Buckingham murthered in England Quaere 2. Why should Ramsey the Dukes Messenger to the King of Sweden play the Embassadour in Germany and take place of all other persons there Qu. 3. What design was that which Elphyston Borthricke Meldrum Vobiltry c. discovered one to another Qu. 4. What did Ramsey with the Pedigree of Hamilton derived from James I. King of Scots in Foreign parts Qu. 5. What private Instructions had Meldrum to Scotish Officers in the Swedish Army Qu. 6. Why was Meldrum Alexander Hamilton and other his Dependants so preferred in the Scots Army Qu. 7. Why were there such Fears and Jealousies whispered in Germany of the English Government Qu. 8. Why was not Ramsey able to give a positive Answer at the Tryal by combate And why did the Marquess take him off before the Controversie was decided Qu. 9. Why is Huntley put by and Hamilton made high Commissioner Why is discontented Balcanquel employed to pen Declarations And why are the King's Papers Letters c. taken out of his pocket and betrayed to the Scots And why did the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury writing to the King wish him not to trust his own pockets with the Letter Qu. 10. Why doth his Mother ride with pistols at her Saddle-bow leading all her Kindred and Vassals for the Covenant Qu. 11. Why is that time spent in posting to and fro to patch up a base Pacification with the Rebels that might have been employed in suppressing them Qu. 12. Why did the Bishops of Rosse and Breben Sir Robert Spotswood Sir John Hay the Earl of Sterling ride post to England to intreat the King not to trust the Marquess Qu. 13. Why was there so much granted to the Covenanters in Scotland yea and time given them to do their businesse Qu. 14. Why did he forbear the Common-prayer at Dalkeith and neglect to protest the King 's gracious Declaration the justice and clemeney whereof had without doubt allayed the commotions Qu. 15. Why did he not set out the King's la 〈…〉 Declaration before the Covenanters Protestation was out against it Qu. 16. Why was there nothing done with the Ships sent upon the coasts of Scotland Qu. 17. Why did he so caresse his covenanting
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