Robes and Ornaments thereof which were accordingly with great solemnity performed in the Cathedral of Studgard And this was the Lord that when the Earl of Bristol charged the Duke of Buckingham started up and demanded Is this all you have to say against the Duke The Earl replyed Yes my Lord and I am sorry it is so much Then quoth the Lord Spencer If this be all Ridiculus mus and so sate down again The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of King Iames. THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Charles I. Observations on the Life of the Duke of Buckingham NAture bestowed on him an exact comliness his Mother a noble education not so much to study as converse His Travels to France carriage and experience About which times he falls into intrinsecal society with Sir Ioh. Greham then one of the Gentlemen of his Majesties Privy-Chamber who I know not upon what Luminaries he espyed in his face disswaded him from Marriage and gave him rather encouragement to woe Fortune at Court than court it in the City Which advice sank well into his fancy for within some while the King had taken by certain glances whereof the first was at Apthorpe in a Progress such liking of his Person that he was resolved to make him a Master-piece and to mould him as it were Platonically to his own Idea Neither was his Majesty content onely to be the Architect of his Fortune without putting his gracious hand likewise to some part of the work it self insomuch that it pleased him to descend and to avale his goodness even to the giving of his foresaid friend Sir Iohn Greham secret directions how by what degrees he should bring him into favour His own parts and observation gained him prudence and discretion His Family and Ancestors in Leicester-shire gentility and repute so that there wanted nothing but Interest to set him up a Courtier Sir Thomas Compton who had married his Mother supplyed him with the one and the Earls of Bedford Pembrook and Hertford who would eclipse Somerset helped him to the other For those three Lords meeting one night at Baynards-Castle and commanding Somerset's picture should be abused in their way next day Sir Thomas Lake leads him into Court buying him the Cup-bearers place A while after the Countess of Bedford ushereth him to the Presence-Chamber entering him a Bed-chamber-man and the Earl of Pembrook supports him until he was a Favourite The Courtiers wished him well because he was an English-man the Nobility favoured him because a Gentleman the Ladies have a kindness for him because the exactest Courtier in Christendom the King observes him much for his compleat body more for his pregnant parts and the States-men now consulting Somerset's removal and finding King Iames his good nature loth to leave the bosom of one Minion until he had reposed himself in another made it their plot to advance him His carriage was free and debonair his passions even and smooth and one saith carried in his pocket his nature noble and open his temper industrious and inquisitive his intellectuals clear and capable his mind tractable and docible his spirit resolute and undaunted The first month he comes to Court he takes place above all his fellows and being removed with some affront by a creature of Somerset's gives him a box on the ear an action that gave him and his friends a seasonable occasion of a Contest with Somerset and him a clear conquest over him Somerset as Chamberlain would have cut off his hand and he as Favourite was like to have cut off his head This new Favourite riseth all are weary of Somerset the first Minion all welcom the second The King is first his Tutor and then his Patron instructing him before he employed him Three sorts of studies he engaged him in the first was for delights in private Retyrements the second for ornament in Discourse the third for ability in Business He had Princely apprehensions of the principles and Maximes of Government a distinct notion of all his Affairs an excellent way to make use of other mens Abilities and these incomparable Rules from my Lord Bacon which were transcribed in his Life Sir In the first place I shall be bold to put you in mind of the present condition you are in You are not onely a Courtier but a Bed-chamber-man and so are in the eye and ear of your Master but you are also a Favourite The Favourite of the time and so are in his bosom also The world hath so voted you and doth so esteem of you for Kings and great Princes even the wisest of them have had their Friends their Favourites their Privadoes in all ages for they have their affections as well as other men of these they make several uses sometimes to communicate and debate their thoughts with them and to ripen their judgments thereby sometimes to ease their cares by imparting them and sometimes to interpose them between themselves and the envy or malice of their People for Kings cannot erre that must be discharged upon the shoulders of their Ministers and they who are nearest unto them must be content to bear the greatest load Truly Sir I do not believe or suspect that you are chosen to this eminency out of the last of these considerations for you serve such a Master who by his wisdom and goodness is as free from the malice or envy of his Subjects as I think I may say truly ever any King was who hath sate upon his Throne before him But I am confident his Majesty hath cast his eyes upon you as finding you to be such as you should be or hoping to make you to be such as he would have you to be for this I may say without flattery your outside promiseth as much as can be expected from a Gentleman But be it in the one respect or other it belongeth to you to take care of your self and to know well what the name of a Favourite signifies If you be chosen upon the former respects you have reason to take care of your actions and deportment out of your gratitude for the King's sake but if out of the later you ought to take the greater care for your own sake You are as a new risen Star and the eyes of all men are upon you let not your own negligence make you fall like a Meteor The contemplation then of your present condition must necessarily prepare you for action what time can be well spar'd from your attendance on your Master will be taken up by suitors whom you cannot avoid nor decline without reproach for if you do not already you will soon find the throng of suitors attend you for no man almost who hath to do with the King will think himself safe unless you be his good Angel and guide him or or least that you be not a Malus Genius against him so that
well enough how to set up for himself he now meant to allie him with this young Earl who had yet taken no strong impressions For though the said Sir Walter Rawleigh was a little before this whereof I now speak by occasion much fallen fâ—om his former splendour in Court yet he still continued in some lustre of a favoured man like billows that sink by degrees even when the wind is down that first stirred them Thus runs the discourse of that time at pleasure yet I am not ignorant that there was some good while a very stiff aversation in my Lord of Essex from applying himself to the Earl of Leicester for what secret conceit I know not but howsoever that humour was mollified by time and by his mother and to the Court he came under his Lord. The Duke of Buckingham had another kinde of Germination and surely had he been a plant he would have been recâ—oned amongst the Sponte Nascentes for he sprung without any help by a kind of congenial composure â—s we mâ—y term it to the likeness of oâ—r late Soveraign and master of ever blessed memory who taking him into his regard taught him more and more to please himself and moulded him as it were Platonically to his own Idea delighting first in the choice of the Materials because he found him susceptible of good form and afterward by degrees as great Architects use to do in the workmanship of his Regal hand nor staying here after he had hardned and polished him about ten years in the School of observance for so a Court is and in the furnace of tryal about himself for he was a King could peruse men as well as Books he made him the associate of his Heir apparent together with the new Lord Cottingtoâ— as an adjunct of singular experience and trust in forraign travels and in a business of love and of no equal hazard if the tendernâ—ss of our zeal did not then deceive us enough the world must confess to kindle affection even betwixt the distantest conditions so as by the various and inward conversation abroad besides that before and after at â—ome with the most constant and best-natured Prince Bona si sua norint as ever England enjoyed â—his Duke becomes now secondly seized of favour as it were by descent though tâ—e condition of that estate be no more than a Tenancy at Will or at most â—or the life of the first Lord and rarely transmitâ—ed which I have briefly set down without looking â—eyond the vail of the Temple I mean into the secret of high inclinations since even Satyrical Poets â—who are otherwise of so licentious fancy are in this â—oint modest enough to confess their ignorance Nescio quid certe est quod me tibi temperet Astrum And these were both their Springings and Imprimings as I may call them In the profluence or proceedings of their fortunes I observe likewise not onely much difference between them but in the Eaâ—l not a little from himself First all his hopes of advancement had like to be stâ—anglâ—d almost in the very Cradle by throwing himself into the Portugal Voyage without the Queens consent or so much as her knowledge whereby he lâ—ft his Friends and Dependents near six months in desperate suspense what would become of him And to speak truth not without good reason For first they might well consiâ—er That he was himself not well plumed in favour for such a â—light besides that now he wanted a Lord of Leicester at home for he was dead the year before to smooth his absence and to quench the practices at Court But above all it lay open to every mans discourse that though the bare offence to his Soveraign and Mistress was too great an adventure yet much more when she might as in this case have fairly discharged her displeasure upon her Laws Notwithstanding a noble report coming home before him at his return all was clear and this excursion was esteemed but a Sally of youth Nay he grew every day more and more in her gracious conceit whether such intermissions as these do sometimes foment affection or that having committed a fault he became the more obsequious and plyant to redeem it or that she had not received into her Royal Breast any shadows of his popularity Theâ—e was another time long after when Sir Fulke Grevil late Lord Brooke a man in appearance intrinsecal with him or at the least admitted to his Melancholy hours either belike espying-some weariness in the Queen or perhaps with little change of the word though more in the danger-some marks towards him and working upon the present matter as she was dexterous and close had almost super-induced into favour the Earl of Southampton which yet being timely discovered my Lord of Essex chose to evaporate his thoughts in a Sonnet being his common way to be sung before the Queen as it was by one Hales in whose voyce she took some pleasure whereof the complot me thinks had as much of the Hermit as of the Poet And if thou should'st by Her be now forsaken She made thy Heart too strong for to be shaken As if he had been casting one eye back at the least to his former retiredness But all this likewise quickly vanished and there was a good while afer fair weather over-head Yet still I know not how like a gathering of Clouds till towards his latter time when his humours grew tart as being now in the Lees of favour it brake forth into certain suddain recesses sometimes from the Court to Wansteed otherwhiles unto Greenwich often to his own Chamber Doors shut Visits forbidden and which was worse divers contestations between with the Qâ—een her self all preambles of ruine wherewith though now and then he did wring out of her Majesty some petty contentments as a man would press sowre Grapes yet in the mean time was forgotten the counsel of a wise and then a Prophetical Friend who told him that such courses as those were like hot Waters which help at a pang but if they be too often used will spoil the stomack On the Dukes part we have no such abrupt strains and precipees as these but a fair fluent and uniform course under both Kings And surely as there was in his natural Constitution a marvellous equality whereof I shall speak more afterwards so there was an image of it in his Fortune râ—nning if I may borrow an ancient comparison as smoothly as a numerous Verse till it meet with certain Rubs in Parliament whereof I am induced by the very subject which I hanâ—le to say somewhat so far as shal concern the difference between their times WHen my Lord of Essex stood in favour the Parliaments were calm nay I find it a true observation that there was no impeachment of any Nobleman by the Commons from the Reign of King Henry the sixth until the eighteenth of King Iames nor any intervenient precedâ—nt of that nature not that something or other could be
degrees a Successor to his places though not to his Lands for he was a younger Brother He was first Secretary of State then Master of the Wards and in the last of her Reign came to be Lord Treasurer all which were the steps of his Fathers greatness and of the honour he left to his house For his person he was not much beholding to Nature though somewhat for his face which was the best part of his outside but for his inside it may be said he was his Father's own son and a pregnant Proficient in all discipline of State He was a Courtier from his Cradle yet at the age of twenty and upwards he was much short of his after-proof but exposed and by change of climate he shewed what he was and what he would be He lived in those times wherein the Queen had most need and use of men of weight â—nd amongst able ones this was a chief as having a sufficiency from his instructions that begat him the Tutorship of the Times and Court then the Academy of Art and Cunning â— English prudence and Counsel was at the highâ—â—â— as most exercised with Forreign dangers and Domestick practices Vast was his apprehension because so large his prospect Sir Francis Walsingham having opened the Conclave of Rome and his Father the Cabals of Spain insomuch that he knew each design in both places every Port every Ship with the Burthens whither bound what impediments for diversion of Enterprizes Counsels Resolutions as appears by his private dispatches as his manner was with those of the Councel one whereof to my Lord Mountjoy since Earl of Devonshire with whom he seasonably closed runs thus I must in private put you out of doubt for of fear I know you cannot be otherwise sensible than in a way of honour that the Spaniard will not come to you this year for I have it from my own what preparations are in all Parts and what he can do For be confident he beareth up a reputation by seeming to embrace more than he can gripe but the next year be assured he will cast over unto you some Forlorn-Hopes which how they may be re-inforced beyond his present ability and his first intention I cannot as yet make any certain judgment but I believe out of my Intelligence that you may expect their Landing at Munster and the more to distract you in several places as at Kingsale Beer-haven and Baltimore where you may be sure coming from Sea they will first fortifie and learn the strength of the Rebels before they dare take the Field This States man's character is engraven upon his honour and his portraicture drawn in his Patent for Earl of Salisbury which to many formal words hath added these effectual expressions As also for his faithfulness circumspection stoutness wisdom dexterity providence and care not onely in the great and weighty Affairs of Counsel but generally also in all other Expeditions of the Realm And indeed not a man upon the Helm of this Common-wealth understood all points of the Compass better than himself who in a stayed and calm setledness looked on the private designs that were promoted upon his Mistriss declining and privately overthrowed them and their Masters while in an uninterrupted course of integrity towards his Mistress and faithfulness to his Countrey he kept clear and succession equally careful not to enjealous his present Mistress and not to obstruct his future Master with whom he kept an honest correspondence although there goeth this story of him that a Post from Scotland meeting her Majesty upon Greenwich-heath Sir Robert Cecil in all hast would needs cut open the Packet and pretending it stunk had time to perfume it her Majesty being very curious in her smelling and convey away his own Letters be this so or so it 's certain that when assistant to the Earl of Derby in his French Embassie he promoted the young King of Scots interest against his Mothers when Sir Francis Walsingham's Colleague he defeated her Counsels against him and when principal Secretary he sounded crossed and undid the little plot that was shrowded under the great name of Essex turning and winding raising and ruining the Authors of it at his own pleasure No sooner was the Queen dead than his Messenger was with the King at Edenburgh and he himself with his Favourite Sir George Humes at York with whose assistance and honest Sir Roger Aston's mediation King Iames makes him his bosome-friend his house Theobalds his residence and his account of the English Laws Government and temper his rule Finding him but Knight and Secretary he created him Baron of Essenden Viscount Cranbourn Knight of the Garter and Earl of Salisbury He promoted him Master of the Wards and Lord Treasurer in all which capacities how vigilant he was against the Papists and their Plots their Libels which he answered in English and Latine very elegantly and wisely demonstrate how careful of the publique Treasure this Narrative shews King Iames had bestowed upon Sir Robert Carr twenty thousand pound my Lord apprehending the sum as more correspondent with his Master's goodness than his greatness with the royalty of his heart than the poverty of his Exchequer and observing his Majesty more careful of what money passed his own hands than what passed his servants contrives that the good King should go through the place where this great sum lay in silver to a treatment where demanding whose money it was and being answered that it was his own before he parted with it He understanding the design protested he was cheated and intended not above five hundred pounds and the Favourite was glad to make use of the Lord Treasurers mediation for the moyety of that great sum How industrious in the improvement of his Masters Revenue these particulars conel â—de viz. 1. A survey of the Crown-lands known before by report rather than by measure and let by chance rather than knowledge 2. A Revival of the Custody-lands Revenue by Commissioners of Asserts 3. A tarrier of Crown-wood-lands their growth and value where he numbered marked valued all the Timber hitherto unknown 4. The Commissioners he procured to look into Copy-hold-Lands Wastes and Commons 5. The Rules to forfeited Estates and extended Lands 6. The improvement of the Customs from 86000 to 135000 pounds per annum 7. The bargain about the London River-water 8. The encouragement of all English Inventions Manufactures and Trade whereby the Subjects might be employed our Commodities enhanced and our Treasure kept among our selves 9. The Plantations and Transplantations in Ireland And 10. The Reformation of the Court of Wards in the poynt of disposing of Orphans These services advanced him to great honour and to as great envy the popular effects whereof no man could have escaped but one whose soul was immoveable temper calm thoughts deep apprehensions large and resolution great to engage vulgar Errors rather by the greatness of his Actions than the eminence of his Interest
the Churches publick peace required or its indulgence to promote Christians permitted The Uniformity he pressed was not more advantageous to Religion which must of necessity have been propagated when Controversies had been turned to devotion than it was necessary for the State which cannot be secure as long as there is a mark of distinction under which all Male contents may shrowd themselves a note of separation whereby the Factions may reckon their parties and estimate their strength and a way open to popularity to the ambition of any whose interest or desperateness shall adventure to make himself head of so great a pâ—rty He was a person of so great abilities which are the designations of nature to dignity and command that they raised him from low beginnings to the highest Office the Protestant profession acknowledgeth in the Church and he was equal to it His learning appeared eminent in his Book against Fisher and his piety illustrious in his Diary He was of so publick a spirit that both the Church and Sâ—ate have lasting Monuments of the virtuous use he made of his Princes favour at his admittance into wâ—ich he dedicated all the future Emoluments of it to the glory of God and the good of men by a projection of many noble Works most of which he accomplished and had finished the rest had not the fate of the Nation checked the current of his Design and cut off the course of his Life He was not contented by himself only to serve his Generation for so he might appear more greedy of fame than desirous of the universal benefit but he endeavoured to render all others as heroick if they aimed at a capacity for his friendship For I have heard it from his Eâ—emies no great man was admitted to a confidence and respect with him unless â—he made Address by some act that was for the common good or for the ornament and gloâ—y of the Protestant faith Learned men had not a better Friend nor Learning itself a greater Advancer He searched all the Libraries of Asia and â—rom several parts of the world purchased all the Ornaments and helps of Literature â—e 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 greatness 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 Sectâ—ries were equally his Enemies one party feared and the other hated his Vertues Some censured his zeal for Discipline above the patience of the Times but his greatest unhappiness was that he lived in a factious Age and corrupt State and under such a Prince whose Verâ—ues not admitting an immediate approach for Accusations was to be wounded with those iâ— did caress But when Faction and Malice are worn out by time Posterity shall engrave him in the Albâ— of the most excellent Prelacy the most indulgent Fathers of the Churchâ— 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 Miseries and the present Fears of Ruine exacted all the stock of Grief for other objects His very enemy Sir Edward Deering would confess That let him dye when he would St. Pauls would be his Monument and his Book against Fishes his Epitaph Observations on the Life of the Lord Keeper Littleton SIr Edward Littleton the eldest son of Sir Edward Littleton of Mounslow in Shropshire one of the Justices of the Marches and Chief-Justice of North-Wales was bred in Christ-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 Iames his death wherein he behaved himself so discreetly between the jealousiâ— of the People and the honour of the Court that Sir Iohn Finch would say He was the only man for taking things by a Right handle And Sir Edward Cook that He was a well-poized and weighed man His very name carried an Hereditary credit with it much plaineth out the way to all great Actions his virtue being authorizing by his nobility and his undertakings ennobled by his birth gained that esteem which meaner men attain not without a large compass of time and experience worthless 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 Maxims of our Government the fundamental Laws of his Monarchy with its Statutes and Customs singular his experience long and observing his integrity unblemished and unbyassed his Eloquence powerful and majestick and all befitting a Statesman 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 York 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 recess by his interest in the Country Observations on the Life of the Marquess Hamilton A Preacher being at a loss what to say of a party deceased concluâ—â—d 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 noâ—hing but good of the dead I may say of this Noble-man that I have two reasons to speak well of himâ— 1. That good King Charles honoured him 3 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 Qu. 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
help him to a young Wife but he must raise him to a new Power Wolsey must be Pope or King Henry could not be divorced and to make all sure he was no sooner to be parted from a Daughter of Spain than he was to be joyned to a Princess of France whose Nuptial Ring should wed King Henry to Her and King Francis to Himself Two ways did he disoblige Queen Anne Bullein that was his deadly enemy 1. by dissolving the Contract between her and the Lord Piercy the Earle of Northumberlands Eldest Son to please the King 2. by endeavouring to hinder or at least delay the Marriage between her and the King to gratifie himself whom in vain afterwards by Inventions unheard of he endeavoured to please as well as the King when he saw the Contrivances of a great Wit the Allurements of a Famous Beauty and the malice of a disappointed Woman joyned to the envy of the greatest Lord whom he had ordered as irrespectively as the meanest subject When it is once past Noon with a Court-Favourite it is presently Night with him for knowing that the Cardinal was cunning and the King not yet cruel they longed to have him at York while at Londen and again they contrive to bring him to London while at York the first upon pretense that he might do good the last with design that he might do no harme Sed nullae sunt occultiores insidiae quà m hae quae latent in simulatione officij as he observed the method of some old cunning Parliament-men who when they had a mind to cross a Bill were always highest for it in the House as the Eagle carried the shell up in the skye to break it and would insert so many and so great inconveniences into the Act that they were sure it could never pass Tuta frequensque via est per amici fallere nomen Missing of Power he meditates Honour and instead of lavishing his infinite Treasure upon airy Expectations he bestoweth it on real Monuments witness the great work at Callice c. which makes his Memory a Renowned as his Life That Statesman lives to small purpose whose Actions are as short as his Life and his Exploits of no longer duration than his Age. At this time though King Henry bore the Sword yet Cardinal Wolsey as I am told bore the stroâ—e all over the Land being Legate a latere by verâ—us whereof he visited all Churches and Religion Houses even the Friers Observants themselves notwithstanding the stoutness and stubbornness that first opposed him Papal and Royal Power met in him being the Chancellour of the Land and keeping so many Bishopricks in Commendam that his yearly Income is said to equal if not exceed the Revenues of the Crown He gave the first blow to Religious Houses by making one great Cardinal Colledge now Christ-Câ—urch of which one comparing his project with his performance said Instituit Collegium absolvit Popinam And another being asked what he thought of the ampleness of the Foundation answered Fundatione nihil amplius to which I may add his Colledge at Ipswich of forty small Monasteries to make way as some thought upon the Popes consent procured by him to the overthrow of all He called all Captains and Officers to an accounâ— who bought off their own small corruption with his great one and paid him the penalties of their Cheats with the Gains of it the Richest of them escaping and the poorest only made exemplary Several Courts of pretended Equity he erected to redress the poor that was the Colour to inrich himself that was the Reality at whose constitution the Law-Courts were unfrequented so specious was their seeming Integrity at the lsâ—t they are deserted so manifest was their real Grievances the people not flocking so fast aâ—ter the Novelty as they ran away from the Cheat though his pretense was fair that the Kingdome should not be a Common-Wealth of Fish where the greater devoured the Less What he did to reform the Courtiers as a Fâ—vourite he did to reform the Clergy as Legate erecting a Court Legantine not without danger of a Praemunire wherein all Clergy were visited the Rich in their Purses that excused them the Poor in their Reputation that compounded for them Neither did his profits arise from the Living onely but the Dead he engrossing the Probation of all Wills and Testaments within his own Court he had petty projects viz. that Children should foâ—low their Fathers Profession saying that he observed that the Fathers Eminency in any act begat in the Child a propension to the same and wheâ—e two or three successiâ—e Generations happily insist in the steps one of another they raise an art to great peâ—fection and liked well the prudence of our Parliaments in permitting the Eldest Son of Barons to be pâ—esent at their Câ—nsultations to fit them by degrees for the person they are to sustain And not long after he hath a Paâ—eâ—t under the Great Seal of England to do what he pleased in the French Couâ—t in order to the Kingâ— Progresse thither as he hath likewise afâ—er with his Masters leave under the great seal of France After which honour he was with the Kings Order by English Subjects the Lord Mayor and Aldermen c. honoured at no lesse rate than that of a Prince and by the Clergy who kept close to the publick temper with Processions c. at the same rate with a Pope Great he was in England greater in Germany where all the Nobiliâ—y attended him the Great Seal of England was carried before him and the Emperour oâ—serving his Commission and Honour met him with his whole Train and harangued it with him no less than two days He that over-ruled Empires might well presume on Subjects and no sooner therefore doth he return than by his own Authority he levieth four shillings in the pound of every man that was worth fifty pound per annum and when that would not do pretending to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen that he had been upon his Knees to revoke those Commissiâ—ns other Letters for a Benevolence which lost him as much in the Countrey as his Reformation of the Houshold did him at Court But the King employeth him to France as his Second and takes his leave of him as hiâ— intimate Friend 1200 Horse attended him Calliceâ— Bullein Amiens honour him with the name of The Peaceable Cardinal and the Statue of a Cardinal Rescuing a Church and a Pope from danger whom yet underhand he brought into danger making the Duke of Bourbon General against the King of France to Revenge himself and yet making an underhand Peace with France which the Duke knew not of till he took the Instrument of Peace Sealed at the Castle of Pavia to please others for which last exploit carried on privately by receiving the French Ambassadour as an Italian Jester the Duke of Bourbon resolved to goe and Sack Rome and punish all the Cardinals he could come at for the fault
of one he could not But though his Armes reached him not the Court Wits did perswading his Ambition to goe upon a splendid Embassy to Reconcile all the Christian Princes abroad that they might have the better advantage to withdraw from him the Favour of his own Prince at home contriving likewise that all the Friends he had at Court â—hould be of his Retinue in the Ambassie both to increase the envy of his train and to weaken the strength of his Interest It was observed that he gave three Rules to his Company the morning he went from Callis 1. That they should take care of the Soveraigns Honour that Imployed him 2. That they should observe the natural Civility and Sobriety of the Nation they came from 3. That they should retain as much reservedness as became the Affair he went aboâ—â— giving them a Caution of the French in tâ—ese words viz. that at their first meeting they wouâ—d be as familiar as if they had known them by long acquaintance and of tâ—emselves in these that they â—â—ould not speak of any matter of Importance but in their own Language lest they should â—â—scover that for want of words which they shoâ—ld hide with them Very exact he was in the honouâ—able circumstances of address abateing the French King not 〈◊〉 in their approaches one to anothâ—r but most exact in the particulars of the Tâ—eaty yeiâ—ding not a point to the whole Council oâ— France for knowing that their own conveniency not their Love brought the Treaty about he would often fling away and make the King and Queen Regenâ— Court him to renew the Consultation which otherwise he mâ—st have caressed them to Fear nâ—t Love is the pasâ—ion of Common-Wealths But his entertainment from the King his Master at home was not answerable to his Service abroad nor the applause from the Noble-men Judges and Justices of the Peace of each shire in England cited from the Countrey to hear an account of his great League that they might report it to the Countrey suitable either to his Eloquence or Action at Star-Chamber or his great expectation The first Court design upon him after his return was an entertainment to the French Ambassador injoyned by the King to beggar him the next was a discovery made to him of the Kings Love to Q. A. Bullein its dangerous to know Kings Secrets from which he disswaded his Majesty by Intreaties on his Knees and by Arguments from the most Learned men in the Kingdome which he Consulted with and in both Universities which he sent to It s not safe standing in the way of a Kings Lust though indeed the Cardinals Enemies had possessed themselves both of the King and the peoples apprehensions so farr that his Majesty was wrought upon to be angry with him because he was perswaded that he was against his Divorce and the people were incensed against him as he declared to the King at the Court in Bridewell because they were made believe that he was for it Many chafing discourses as he called them had he with the King whom yet he would coole with the gentleness of his behaviour many affronts from Noble men Especially one whose head he had kept on threatned his off Often would he disswade the King from persuing his design often upon the Kings solicitations did he and Cardinal Campein perswade the Queen to Retiâ—e At Grafton in Northamptonshire was the first step of his Fall when the King went to Dine with Queen Anne Bullein and left him to shift among the Servants Queen Anne pressed the King with the poor Condition he had brought the Subjects to others into what great Estate he had raised himself First he returns from Court to Westminster and the broad Seal with his rich furnished house being taken from him afterwards to Putney or Ashur when he that could have furnished Kings with accomodations was furnished himself by the Bishop of Carlisle Afraid they were he should have a summe of money to live upon at Rome therefore they searched Cardinal Campeius Train at Callis more afraid he should have an habitation near the King therefore â—hey demanded his House as Bishop of Yorke called White-Hall which the Cardinal intreating the Judges that came to take his Recognizance to teach the King not onely what he might do but what he ought to do and to put him in mind of the gâ—eatness of the Eternal habitations as Hell and Heaven as well as the conveniency of earthly dwellings chose rather to give upon terms for Yorke-House than to lose by force The Aâ—ticles against him in the House were bravely waved by his Servant Mr. Cromwel the grief of his heart much allayed by a Ring sent him from the King and a Tablet from the Queen his Majesties Physicians had a special Charge about hiâ— Health and his Wardrobe about his House but this was only a Lightning before Death to exâ—sperate his Enemies rather than gratifie him Cardinal Wolsey going over to France upon an extraordinary Embassy had for his Attendance Tonstal Bishop of London the Lord Sands late Chamberlain the Earl of Derby Sir Tho. More Sir H. Guilford and 200 Horse and was met two days journey from Paris by King Francis and his Mother carrâ—ing with him 140000. l. though silâ—er was but 20 d. an ounce to assist that King in the War against Charles the fifth and furnished with such a Plenipotentiary Commission that he gave Law to France and the Popedome and he â—â—mported himself with such dexterity and high wisdome that all the Princes of Christendome who had their eyes fixed upon him admired him The King gave him many places he besâ—owed on him his magnificent Palaces White-Hall that Good Hypocrite moâ—e convenient within than comely without Hampton Court Windsor the two first to be resident in and â—he last â—o be buried in Arma tenenti omnia dat qui justa negat â— fiâ—ting his humour with pleasant habitations as he suited his ambition with power and authority But the King broke with him at last about the divorce being vexed with so many delays defeâ—s retardings and prorogations between two Popes Clement that was and Wolsey that would be yet rather eased him of his buâ—dens than deprived him of his preferments continuing him Bishop of York and Durham when he turned him out of his Chancellourship of England where being sent by that Lord who would not endure him nearer the King and could not get him further he lived rather like a Prince than a Priest providing as magnificently for his Installation as a King should for his Coronation which unseasonable ambition was improved by his enemies malice and the King's jealousie to his ruine for in the midst of his solemnities he is arrested by the Kings order signified by the Earle of Northumberland whose wrath was the Messenger of Death and in his way to London being distracted between hope and fear died at Leicester where he was buried as obscurely as he was borne and breathing
their feet again His familiarity and the easie access to him made him popular his pliant temper kept him a Favourite until he died in the full favour of his Prince though as Cardinal Pool observed Theâ— who were highest in the Kings favour had their heads nearest danger He had a becoming Bluntness not unlike his Masters which we call Free-heartedness in Courtiers Conscience and Christian simplicity in Clergy-men Valour in Souldiers He died anno 1544. and was buried at Windsor much beloved and lamented of all for his Bounty Humility Valour and all Noble Vertues since the heat of his Youth was tamed by his reduced Age whose two Sons Henry and Charles died within twelve hours one of the other of the sweating sickness at Cambridge 1550. He knowing that learning hath no enemy but ignorance did suspect always the want of it in those men who derided the habit of it in others like the Fox in the Fable who having lost his tayle by mischance perswaded others to cut theirs as a burthen But he liked well the Phylosophers division of men into three Ranks some who knew good and were willing to teach others these he said were like Gods among men others who though they knew not much yet were willing to learn these he said were like men among Beasts and some who knew not good and yet dispised such as should teach them these he esteemed as Beasts among men The most miserable men he esteemed them who running their head into a bush of confident ignorance suppose that none see their weakness because they are not willing to take notâ—ce it of themselves 1. A Calm Greatness is next the happiness of Heaven Give me the man that by a fair and calm course is rising to an higher state yet content with his pâ—esent fortune 2. Integrity out-lasts Power and Plainness survives Policy An honest heart keeps the head on the shoulders a Noble and clear Vertue is lasting 3. It 's likeness that makes the True-love-knot of friendship When a Prince finds another of his own disposition what is it but the same soul in a divided body what finds he but himself inter-mutually transposed And Nature that makes us love our selves makes us with the same reason love those that are like us for this is a Friend a more sacred Name than a Brother 4. He that hath a mind contentedly good enjoyeth in it boundless possessions He is great indeed that is great in a brave soul. Vitam quae faciunt beatiorem Iucundissime Martialis haec sunt Resâ— non parta Labore â—sed relicta Non ingratus Ager focus perennis Lis nunquam toga rara mens quieta Vires Ingenuae salubre Corpus Prudens simplicitas pares amici Convictus facilis sine arte Mensa Nox non ebria sed soluta curis Non tristis torus attamen pudicus Somnus qui faciat breves tenebras Quod sis esse velis nihilque malis Summum ne metuas diem nec optes Observations on Thomas Cranmer Lord Archbishop of Canterbury CRanmer had a Noble Blood quickning and raising his spirits as he had an indefatigable industry to improve it He was a Gentleman born in Arselecton in Nottinghamshire and a Noble-man brâ—d in Iesus-Colledg in Cambridg His Ancestors were no less eminent at Cranmers-hall in Lincolnshire than he was at Lambeth in Surrey They came in with the Conquest as one Cranmer a French Ambassadour in Henry the eighths time at the Archbishops Table made it evident and he with the Reformation His Education was as Gentile as his Birth only his mild spirit meeting with a severe Master his memory was weakened and his spiritfulness allayed but the austerity of the School was sweetned with the exercises of the Country which his Father indulged him when he was young and he indulged himself when aged handling his great Horse as nimbly his Bow and Net as dexterously as any man in his family His Marriage withdrew him from the Colledge and consequent Church-preferment as the Kings did him from the Church it self He whose marriage forbid him a Fellowship in Iesus-Colledge had a Lecture in Buckingham-House for his Parts and Reputation where at once he prepared others for publick Employments and himself also He lived as soberly at the Dolphine-Tavern with his Wife whatever the Papists have surmized as he did studiously at Buckingham-house with his Scholars His Name was so famous that Wolsey was not more solicitous to transplant him as an Ornament to Oxford then Fisher was to retain him in Cambridg where he was eminent for the Arts moâ—e for Divinity which when as one of the three Censors he examined Candidates he said he expected not in the difficult trifles of Lumbard but in the sacred sense of Scriptures the ancient Doctrine of Fathers the grave Canons of Councils the solid Politeness of the Greek and Hebrew Learning and which he lived as well as he taught in his sober temperance his mild meekness so placable so courteous that to offend him was the way to ingratiate with him his discreet moderation his grave resolution equally above the frowns and smiles of fortune Thus qualified he was by a Pâ—ovidence commended to his Majesty for there being a Plague in Cambridge as there was all over England Dr. Cranmer retired to Waltham with two of his Pupils the sons of one Mr. Cressy where upon the Kings Progress thither he met with his Chaplain and Almoner Dr. Fox afterwards Bishop of Hereford who lodging with him at Mr. Cressy's discoursed the Kings Divorce Cranmer conceived that the speediest course were to prove the unlawfulness of the Maâ—ch by Scripture whence it would follow that the Pope at first had no power to dispense therewith and that thâ— Universities of Chriâ—tendâ—m would sooner and truer decide the case than the Courâ— oâ— Rome This passage Fox reports to the King who well pleased thereat professeth that this man had the Sow by the right Ear Glad was the King to see him indeed he had a comely Person and a pleasing Countenance more to hear him inlarge himself on the former Subject That it was above the Popes pâ—wer to dispense with Gods Word in the Kings Case What he said to the King he was sent to make it good to the Pope whither invested with the Aâ—ch-Deaconry of Taunton â— he went with Thomas Bullein Earl of Wiltshire whose fiâ—st Address to the Pope was to present a Book of Cranmers proving Gods Law indispensible with by the Pope â— the Author is preferred to the great Title of Supreme Poenitentiary and the Treatise is promised a Consideration and Debate But the Pope delaying according to Cranmer's Advice ten Universities declaring against him the Embassador returns to England and the Dispuâ—ant goes to Vienna where in Osâ—anders House whose Kinswoman he had married he confirmed those that wavered satisfied those that doubted and won those that contradicted in King Henry's Cause But he served not King Henry more faithfully in Germany than he provided
for him honourably in England where the Kings Cause waited for his Assistance and the See of Canteâ—bury 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 reâ—use King Henry's Favours as to offer him Injuâ—ies he is Archbishop in his own Deâ—ence 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 Iuramentum Iuramenta 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 liberè loqui consulere consentire valeam in omnibus singulis Reformationem Ecclesiae prorogativam 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 cheif 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 forein Hereticks and promoting Domestick Schisms the Northern Rebels 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 find Him guilty of High Tâ—eason 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 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 Bullein 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 Câ—urch and his Policy the State He spake little to others he conferred much with himself Three words of His could do more than three hours discourse of others He would 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 nor 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 only 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 Aâ—ticles were strict and seveâ—e as much grounded on the Canon of Scripture as on the Canons of the Church He convinced more Papists with his Reason and Moderation than others by their Power His Heart never failed him in his Life and it was not burned at his Deaâ—h He did so much for the Protestant Religion in King Henrys Days that he foresaw he should suffer for it in Qâ—een Mary's He was unwilling to wrong Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth therefore he refused at first to sign King Edwards'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 with his Blood when he died This prelates endeavor for Reformation is shadowed by this Mystical Relation The Castle of Truth being by the King of Ierusalem left to the guard and keeping of his best Servant Zeal the King of Arabia with an infinite host came against it begirt it round with an unreasonable Seige cuts ofâ— all passages all reliefs all hopes of friends meat or munition which Zeal perceiving and seeing how extremity had brought her to shake hands with despair he calleth his Council of War about him and discovered the â—ffliction of his state the puissance of his Enemies the violence of the siege and the impossibility of conveying either messages or Letters to the great King his Master from whom they might receive new strength and incouragement Whereupon the necessity of the occasion being so great they concluded that there was no way but to deliver up the Castle though upon some unwholsome conditions into the hand of the Enemy but Zeal staggereth at the resolution and
mean but well proportioned his complexion phlegmatique his countenance amiable and cheerâ—ul his voice plain and distinct and his temper sound and healthful I can add nothing to the honour of this good man yet will I pay this further devotion to his virtue whereof honour was a testimony as long as it was its self wortâ—less men having made the honour bestowed on them as despicable as themselves that wore it that royal favour receiving more contempt from them than it gave reputation to them A good name the great instrument of doing good while we live and our other life when dead could he said if any thing justify the barbarous way of duels since he is the most bloody man to himself that is careless of reputation So as to be indifferent what he doth or what others say is to bury himself alive His Credit which he said was his Royalty there being but two Empires in the World the one a general love and esteem the other common dread and fear put him upon being watchful for occasions constant in his actions moderate in prosperity resolute in encounters calme in troubles above fortune and able to make and piece up the broken miscarriages of chance that he might be settled in that state which is the work of greatness and the inheritance of goodness the prospect whereof is pleasant though the ascent be sharp and slippery â—he top shaking the footing uncertain and the downfall fearful and the reflections of it when moderated with humility like those oâ— the Sun when allayed in his declension pleasing and cheerful Towards the attainment whereof the Lives of former Worthies were such incitements to this as Hercules was to Theseus Miltiades to Themistocles and Achilles to Alexander And nothing the good Man would discourse should men be more render of than of Mens hoâ—our since tâ—eâ—e were but two effectual restraints from Vice shame and fear and but two motives to Virtue Honour and Interest the fiâ—st of which is so much the darling peculiarly of the English Nation that this is called by a French Author the Land of Honour His Fall was attended with a greater fame than his height as the Sun in the Evening hath a greater â—hadow than at Noon WHo is the honest man He that doth still and strongly good pursue To God his Neighbour and Himself most true Whom neither force nor fawning can Vnpin or wrench from giving all their due Whose honesty is not So loose and easie that a ruffling winde Can blow away or glitt'ring look it blinde Who â—ides his sure and even trot While the World now rides by now lags behinde Who when great trials come Nor seeksâ— nor â—huns them but doth calmly stay Till he the Thing and the Example weigh All being brought into a sum What Place or Person calls for he doth pay Whom none can work or wooe To use in any thing a trick or sleight For above all things he abhors deceit His words and works and fashion too All of a piece and all are clear and streight Who never melts or thaws At close tentations when the day is done His goodness sets not but in dark can run The Sun to others writeth Laws And is their virtue Virtue is his Sun Who when he is to treat With sick Folks Women those whom passions sway Allows for that and keeps his constant way Whom others faults do not defeat But though men fail him yet his part doth play Whom nothing can procure When the wide World runs Bias from his will To writhe his limbs and share not mend the ill T is is the Mark-man safe and sure Who still is right and prays to be so still Observations on the Life of Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex Most of them from the Notes of Thomas Cromwel Esquire one of his Posterity who made a Collection of Observations upon him 1633. from the Ancestors of Baronet Worseley and Sir Ralph Hopton who had been his Servant PVtney saw his Cradle in a Cottage and England saw his Coffin in a Ditch His Original was mean his End meaner A suddain height in an unsettled time ruined him A moderate and leasurely Greaâ—ness is safe His Blood ran low but pure ennobling the veins it flowed in with a Spirit that was to raise a Family and Deserve that Honour that others Inherit His honest Parents conveyed him a strong Constitution that could support stronger parts The poor mans good Temper is an Inheritance and the Rich his Effeminacy his Disease A private School civilized his parts Travel and Employment improved them His Necessity when at home made him a Soldier abroad and his Observations abroad made him a Man at Home The Experience of Travel enlarged his Soul and the Hardship of War knitted and consolidated it His hard Fortune at Cambray was the occasion of his good One in England and had he not been undone he had been undone For his promising looks commended him to Frescobald the Merchant for Relief and to Cardinal Wolsey for service in whose private Service of Secretary for his Embassie in France he prepared himself for that more publick of Secretary of State in England Great Scholar he was none the Latine Testament gotten by heart being his Master-piece nor studied Lawyer never admitted to the Innes of Court nor experienced Souldier though Necessity cast Him upon it when the Duke of Burbon beâ—ieged Rome noâ— Courtier till bred up in Cardinal Wolsey's Court yet that of the Lawyer in him so helped the Scholar that of the Souldier the Lawyer that of the Courtier the Souldier and that of the Traveller all the rest being no Stranger to Germany well acquainted with France most familiar with Italy so that the result of all together made him for Endowments eminent not to say admirable His Apprehension was quick and clear his Judgment methodical and solid his Memory strong and rational his Tongue fluent and pertinent his Presence stately and obliging his Heart large and noble his Temper patient and cautioâ—s his way industrious and indefatigable his Correspondence well laid and constant his Converse insinuating and close None more dexterous to finde out by his Setting-Dogges and Coy-Ducks none more reserved to keep a secret He was equal â—aith my Author to the French Politicians when under his Master he over-reached them when alone doing more in one month with his subtle Head than the other in twelve months with his stately Train The King of France would have pensioned up his parts but the Vice-Roy of England advanced them His Master brought him first to serve his Country in Parliament that great School of Experience and then his King at Court where defending his Masters great actions he made it evident he could perform greater His saying in defence of his Master that new States-men like fresh Flies bite deeper than those which were chased away before them stuck much with the House that was then sensible that many of the Country-Gentlemen discoursed of the Court-States-men but
how much they have eaten but concocting their meat inwardly do bring forth Wool and Milk True learning is the improvement of other Mens studies and experiences by our own meditation adding to that frame by consideration which they had built from the ground by many Ages observation The Lord Herbert's Character of Cromwel ANd to this end came Cromwel who from being but a Black-smiths Son found means to travel into forein Countries to learn their Languages and to see the Wars being a Souldier of Bourbon at the taking of Rome whence returning he was received into Cardinal Wolsey's service To whom he so approved 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 than a restoring them to the first Institution of being lay and labouring persons Neither did it 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 Spiritualities Knight of the Garter Earl of Essex Great Chamberlain of England c. He was much noted in the exercises of his Places of Iudicature to have used much Moderation and in his greatest pomp to have taken notice and been thankful to mean persons of his old acquaintance and therein had a Virtue which his Master the Cardinal wanted As for his other Descriptions I leave them to be taken out of Granmer's Letter formerly mentioned with some deduction For it seems written to the King in more than Ordinary Favour of his antient service Arch-Bishop Cranmer's Character of Cromwel in a Letter to King Henry the Eighth WHo cannot bâ— sorrowful and amazed that he should be a Traytor against your Majesty He that was so advanced by your Majesty He whose surety was only by your Majesty He who loved your Majesty as I ever thought no less than God He who studied always to set forwards whatsoever was your Majesties will and pleasure He that cared for no Mans displeasure to serve your Majesty He that was such a Servant in my Iudgment in wisdom diligence faithfulness and experience as no Prince in this Realm ever had He that was so vigilant to presâ—rve your Majesty from all Treasons that few 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 II. had had such a Counsellor about them I suppose 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 Traytor I am sorry that ever I loved or trusted him and I am very glad that his Treason is discovered in time But yet again 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 Councellor 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 solicitude and care to preserve your Grace from all dangers as I ever thought he had Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Audley SIr Thomas Audley's Birth was Generous his Education more Essex bred him to that Honour which his Ancestors lost His Soul ennobled his Body and his Body graced his Soul The one quick solid apprehensive and judicious the other tall and majestick King Henry loved a Man and here was one whose Austerity was allayed with Debonairness whose Gravity was sweetened with Pleasantness whose Knowledge was as large as his Authority whose Wit was equal with his Wisdom whose Memory was strong and Judgment solid His fair Estate brought him to the Temple his proficiency in the Law to the Court His reading upon the Statute of Priviledges commended him to the Kings Service his speaking for the Prerogative in Parliament brought him to the Kings Favour Although the Liberties of the People can never be seâ—ured without the Prerogative of the Sovereign who cannot do the good they would if he wants a power to do the evil they fear yet his first Preferment was to withdraw him from Popularity and the second only to confirm him to Sovereignty Noble Service is the way to a Royal One â— His Stewardship to the Dutchy of Suffolk raised him to the Attorneyship of that of Lancaster But in troublesome and designing times a popular Orator is a good Courtier and leading Parts in Parliament or Convocation are great Merits In the black Parliament he was a Member by his own Interest and a Speaker by his Majesties Choice Sir Tho. More was to serve the Crown in the Lords House and Sir Tho. Audley was to succeed him in the House of Commons When Abbey-Lands were bestowed on the King in gross and returned by him to the leading Lords and Commons in the Retayl most of that Parliament looked for â—hares Sir Thomas for the first cut to secure himself with the King He was always in favour with the Queens who had no less interest in the Kings Heart than the Kingdom had in his Head The Age was uncertain Interest not so Sir Thomas was fixed on the One above the alterations of the Other understanding what was most convenient at a time when there was nothing lawful He was well seen in the flexures and windings of affairs at the depth whereoâ— other Heads not so steady turned giddy He had the Arts of a Statesman and the closeness of a Politician Reserved he was but no Dissembler For if a man have that penetration of judgment as he can discern what things are to be laid open and what to be kept secret and what to be shewed with half â—ights and to whom and when which indeed are Arts of States and Arts of Life to him an Habit of Dissimulation is a hinderance and a poorness He as an able man was always frank and open but wary knowing how to stop and turn within the compass of equity and honesty He understood business well and men better and knew King Henry's Temper better than Himself whom he surprized always to his own bent never moving any
and by these to live our selves and exaâ—ine all other pretensions whatever there being no part of Religion but what hath Virtue and Grace as its Foundation and Design A way that would keep men from Atheism under a sense oâ— Religion from endless controversies in the solid pâ—actice of Virtue from fatal Divisions in peace and concord Let us said he establish and fix these Catholique and Vniversal Notions and they will settle our Souls and not hinder us to believe whatsoever is faithfully taught by the Church or submit to what is authoritatively enjoyned by the State So that whether tâ—e Eastern Western Northern or Southern Teachers c. and particularly whether my Lord of Rochester or Luther c. be in the Right we Laicks may so build upon those Catholicks and infallible Guards of Religion as whatsoever superstructures of Faith be raised these Foundations may support them This Discourse opened a Door to the Reformation intended and shut out all those prejudices it might lie under from the State and Religion oâ— Fore-Fathers c. Hereupon Sir William is invited to Court and when the air and softness of that place suited noâ— his more severe and stirring Temper he is promoted to Authority first by Land and then by Sea where none was more watchful in the Warâ— between Us and France none so active in those between Us and Scotland With thirty six Ships he gave Law to the narrow Seas as Poynz with forty more did to the Main There was not a serviceable man belonging to him but he knew by name It being his Rule That none fought well but those thet did it for a fortune While he watched the Coast of France he discovered twelve French Ships in which the Archbishop of Glasco and divers others of Quality were whom the Duke of Albany had sent before him into Scotland these he chased to a ship-wrack and leaving a Squadron to shut up the French Havens went along the French Coasts landing in divers places wasting the Country till at last he came to Treport a Town strongly situated and garisoned with three thousand men which yet he took and finding it not his Interest to dwell there pillaged and burned it going off with Success and Glory Insomuch that King Henry joyned him with the Bishop of Bath in the Commission for the Treaty at Paris where such Articles were agreed on touching a Marriage with the Princess Mary and the joynt Embassie to the Emperour as spake Sir William as well seen in the state of Europe as any particular Person in the seven Kingdoms of it whereof one was That they should unite by all the Ties of Alliance Friendship and Interest against the growing Power of Austria so far as that there should be no League Correspondence War or Peace wherin they both should not be concerned From his Forein Negotiations he returns to his home-services and the next view we have of him is in the Parliament bringing up with Sir Anthony Fitz-Herbert a Bill against the Cardinal who wiâ—hed then as Philip Duke of Burgundy did that with Alexander he had Died young 1. For encroaching upon his Sovereigns power by his Legantine Authority 2. For treating between the Pope and the King of France without his Master's privity and consent as likewise between Himself and the Duke of Ferâ—ara 3. For joyning Himself with his Majesty saying The King and I. 4. For swearing his Houshold-servants only to himself 5. For speaking with the King when infected with the Pox pretending it was only an Imposthume 6. For giving by prevention divers Benefices away as Legate 7. For receiving Embassadors before they came to the King As also for opening all the Kings Letters and taking an account of all Espials concealing what he pleased 8. For carrying things with an high hand in the Privy Council 9. For transporting Grain and sending advertisements of the Kings Affairs abroad 10. For taxing or alienating Religious mens lands to the great decay of hospitality and charity 11. For controuling the Nobility and engrossing all Causes in his Iurisdiction 12. For taking all ordinary Iurisdiction from them by prevention and seizing their Estates as be did all other Ecclesiastical persons upon their death 13. For perswading the Pope by indirect practices to suppress Monasteries 14. For passing Iudgments without hearing and reversing such Iudgments as had duly passed 15 For suspending the Popes pardons untill he was â—ee'd 16. For turning out his old Tenants 17. For his general encroachments upon the Rights of Religious Houses and the encroachments of Courts of Iustice. 18. For saying to the Pope in order to the obtaining of a Legantine power to the indelible shame of the Church of England That the Clergy of England were given in reprobum sensum 19. For embezling the Goods of the most wealthy Prelates that died in his time 20. For bringing off his Servants from the Law against extortion at York 21. For dividing the Nobility 22. For keeping as great state at Court and exercising as great authority in the Country for purveyance c. as the King 23. For forbidding petitions and purveyances within his Iurisdictions 24. For engrossing all Copy holds within his power to his Lemans Procurers c. 25. For altering the Market-prices set under â—His Majesties Hand and Seal 26. For impressing his Hat under the King's Crown in the Coyn at York 27. For hindering the due course intended by visiting the Vniversities to suppress heresies 28. For disposing of mens Estates and Proprieties at his pleasure This Bill was aggravated most effectually by three most pinching considerations Viz. That the King's Honour was by him diminished That the state of the Realm was by him decayed and discontented That the course of Justice was by him obstructed A great Undertaking this To bring down this lofty Prelate whom his Master created the * King 's Fellow and his own pride made his Superiour But as Wise as Great if we regard the five Politick circumstances 1. The Queen was engaged 2. The People were oppressed 3. The King was needy and covetous 4. The Nobility were kept under 5. The Clergy were harrassed And all by this proud man And at that juncture is he convened before the Parliament and charged home by this excellent Knight who never left him till he was humbled as Justice Fitz-Herbert did not his servants until they were reformed Neither did the Pope escape him abroad better than the Cardinal at home For his next action we find is a Declaration drawn by him Io. Fits-Warren Tho Audley and Others to Pope Clement the Seventh expostulating his Delays and conjuring his Dispatch in the Business of the King's Marriage Very serviceable he was to his Master in time of Peace more in time of War where he said as the great General did that he never saw fear but upon the back of his enemies and particularly â—t the Insurrection 1536. where he cut off the Rebels Passes distressed their Arms and when they
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 â—iding 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 Aâ—ms and Dâ—miâ—ances marching behind A fâ—w skiâ— mishes and stratagems passed when a Trumpeter is sent by Huntley to challenge the Protector to whom the Protector replying like a wiâ—e 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 Virtue 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 seditious to break off their Treaty and proclaim a War he conâ—iâ—caâ—es their Estates and secures the persons of aâ— many of them as lived in England But Greatness is fatal and his Brother that should have suppoâ—ted 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 quarâ—el 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 King-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 Iustice 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 â—huâ—cheâ— in the City to build one Somerset-house in the Strand The Earl takes notice of their discontent and asseâ—bleth 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 Iohn Ayliffe They delay Sir Anthony Wingfield Captain of the Guard perswades the King of the Lords moderation and Loyalty the Duke is to answer for himself the Lawyers charge him with removing Westminster-Hall to Somerset-House where he kept a Court of Request 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 disconâ—eâ—â—s of his designe with this great advantage that we 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 Treasureâ—sâ—ip 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 one 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 Statesmen 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 than designe to perform than 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 â—ilence and amazement for three hours It is observed of some that they have despised the benefit of their Clergy while they lived and by a just proâ—idence of God could not make use of it when â—hey were to dye It was pitty that this Noble person should forget to crave that benefit of the Clergy which might have saved him when he was so unwiâ—â—ing to enjoy any â—enefit of the Clergy which might Incommode them The controversie between him and the Earl of Warwick is like that between Demades and Phocion Demades threatned Phocion that the Athenians would destroy him when they fell into their mad fits and thee Demades saith Phocion when they return to their right minds it appearing afterwards that what he was charged to have design'd against others he did only in his own defence cum moderamine Inculpatae cautelae in whose behalf Cicero had pleaded thus Si vita nosâ—ra in aliquas Insidias si in vim in tela aut latronumâ— aut in imicorum incidisset omnis honesta ratio esset expediendae salutis hoc ratio doctis necessitas barbaris mos gentibus feris natura ipsa praescripsâ—t ut omnem semper vim quâcunque ope possint a corpore a capite a vitâ suâ propulsare-nitantur Beheaded he was on Tower-Hill with no less pâ—aise for his piety and patience than pitâ—y and grief of the spectators His Death was atâ—ended with many signes and wonders and his Name with an indelible character his house being calâ—ed Somerset-house to this day though solemnly proclaimed by King of Iames Denmark-house because inhabited by the King oâ— Denmark and his Sister Surely saith my Author this Duke was well beloâ—ed
character and commendation of my Lord Bacon the Settling and the Peaceable such as Edward the VI in whose Reign he was advaâ—ced and Queen Elizabeth in whose Reign he was restored It was in pursuance of King Henry's Statute that he cloâ—ed with King Edward's Will For this Clause he pâ—oduced for himself Provided That if the Lady Mary do not keep nor perform such Conditions which shall be limited and appointed as aforesaid that then and from thenceforth for lack of Heirs of the Kings Body and the said Lord Prince lawfully begotten the said Imperiâ—l Crown and other the Premisses shall be come and remain to sucâ— Person and Persons and of such Estate and Estates as the Kings Highness by his Letters Patents sealed under His Great Seal or by His last Will in Writing signed with His Hand shall limiâ— and appoint Isocrates was a man of an excellent Wit but finding himself destitute of countenance gesture and confidence he never durst speak in publick contenting himself to teach even to his decrepit days and commonly saying He taught Rhetorique for a thousand Ryals but would give more tâ—an ten thousand to him that would teach him confidence Tâ—is Marqâ—eâ—s brought up many a Courtier yet had not the face to be One himself until Queen Elizabeth who balanced her Council in point of Religion in the beginning of her Reign aâ— she did her Court in point of Interest throughout threatned him to the Câ—uncil-Board first and then to her Cabinet where none more secret to keep counsel none more faithful to gâ—ve it and more modest to submit A sincere plain direct man noâ— crafty nor involved Observations on the Life of Sir John Cheek SIr Iohn Cheek born over against the Market-Cross in Cambridge became Tuâ—or to King Edward the Sixth and Secretary of State Not â—o meanâ—y descended as Sir Iohn Heyward pretends who writes him The Son of his own Deserts being a Bâ—anch of the Cheeks of Moston in the Isle of Wight where their Estate was â—hree hundred pound a year three hundred years ago and no more within this thiâ—ty years happy in his Father Mr. Peter Cheek whose first tuiâ—ion seasoned him happier in his good Mother that grave Matron whose good counsel Christian charge when he was going to Court setâ—led him and happiest of all in the place of his birth where he fell from his Mothers VVomb to the Muses Lap and learned as soon as he lived being a Scholar sooner than he was a man A German had the care of his younger studies and a Frenchman of his carriage his parâ—s being too large to be confined to the narrowness of English Rules and too sprightly to attend the â—edioâ—sness and creep by the compass of an English method The same day was he and Mr. Ascham admitted to St. Iohns and the same week to Court the one to the Tuition oâ— Edward the sixth the other of Queen Elizabeth there they were both happy in their Master Doctor Metcalf who though he could not as Themistocles said fiddle yet he could make a liâ—tle Colâ—edge a great one and breed Scholars thâ—ugh he was none His advice deterred them from the rough Learning of the Modern Schoolmen and their own Genius led them to the more polite studies of the antient Orators and Historians wherein they profiâ—ed so well that the one was the copious Orator the other the Greek Professor of that University A contest began now between the Introducers of the New and the Defenders of the Old Pronunciation of the Greek the former endeavoured to give each Leâ—ter Vowel and Diphthong its full sound whilst Doctor Caius and others of the Old stamp cried out against his Project and the Promoters of it taxing It â—or novelty and Them for want of experience and affirming Greek it self to be barbarous so clownishly utâ—ered and that neither France Germany nor Italy owned any such Pronunciation Iohn Cheek and Thomas Smith maintained that this was no Innovation but the antient utterance of Greek most clear and most full Chancellour Gardiner then interposed against the Pronunciation and the Authors of it But custom hath since prevailed for the use of the one and the due commendation of the other Sir Iohn Cheek's Authors were Isocrates and Thucydides his Auditors the youngest that came thither for Language and the oldest that heard him for his Discourse and Policy The one preferred him to the ample Provostship of Kings the other to the great tâ—ust of Secretary of State Prince Edward studied not his Book more sedulously than he studied him that his Rules might comply with his Inclination his Lectures with his temper Lectures that were rather Discourses instilled to him Majestically as a Prince than Lessons beaten into him pedantiquely as a School-boy The wise Man would not be debasing his Royal Pupils mind with the nauseated and low crumbs of a Pedant but ennobling it with the free and high Maximes of a States-man sugaring the more austere parts of Learning with the pleasures of Poetry Discourse Apologues and so deceiving the Royal Youth to an improvement before his own years and others comprehension His very Recreations were useful and his Series of lighter exercises for he observed a method in them too a constant study his Table his School his Meat his Discipline the industrious Tutor filling up each space of his time with its suitable instruction it being his Maxime That Time and Observation were the best Masters and Exercise the bâ—st Tutor While others doated over their Rules his Pupils practised them no day passing without his Letters to the King as that Literae meae unum semper habet Argumentum Rex Nobilissime Pater Illustrissime hoc est in omnibus Epistolis ago tâ—bi graâ—ias c. or to the Queen as that Quod non ad te jamdiu scriberoni in causa fuit non negligentia sed studium non â—nim hoc feci ut nunquam omnino scriberem sed accuratius scriberem c. I have two Tutors said King Edward to Cardan Diligence and Moderation Sir Jo. Cheeke and Doctor Coxe So exact an account he gave Prince Edward of his Fathers Kingdome and its Interest that King Henry designed him for Secretary and King Edward made him one Three years he had that place and in that three years did England more service so great his Parts Learning and Religion more kindness such his eminency in both and gave the People more satisfaction such his Integrity and Dexterity than all that went before him and most that came after him He was the first that brought in the use of a Diary and his Pupil the next that practised it His Aphorism it was That a dark and imperfect reflexion upon Affairs floating in the memory was like words dispersed and insignificant whereas a compleat view of them in a Book was like the same words pointed in a period and made significant Much did the Kingdome value him but more the King for being once
serviceable to them and was so moderate that all thought him their own When a compleat man he was called home to be first Clerk of the Council a place of great Trust secondly Secretary of State a place of great Employment thirdly Master of the Requests an Office of great Dispatch and Business and fourthly Treasurer of the Houshold an Employment of constant care No Age wanted an able man more no Age had one more willing to secure the Universities than that which chose him to be Chancellour of Oxford at the same time that his Prince made him Treasurer of the Houshold Sacriledge it self then gaping after the University-Lands durst not tempt so honest a Man nor perswade so great a Scholar nor fright so resolute a Statesman to betray or yield up those ancient Encouragements of Learning and Virtue Loth was Oxford to part with him when a Scholar glad to entertain him a States-man with a power to protect her well tempered with Obligations to love her he who is now the Father being lately the Son maintained by a part of it as he now maintained the whole That was a scrambling time when it was catch who catch can I find not any particular favour conferred or benefaction bestowed by him in person on the University but this great good he did That his Greatness kept others from doing any harm Many hungry Courtiers had hopes to catch Fish and Fish it would be whatever came into their Nets on this turning of the Tide and alteration of Religion How easie was it for covetousness in those times to quarrel the Colledge-Lands into superstition Sacriledge stood ready to knock at their Gates and alas ' â—was past their Porter's power to â—orbid it enterance had not Sir Iohn Mason vigorously opposed it and assisted the University on all occasions He inciteth them to the study of the Tongues because sensum alicujus rei non potest ille assequi qui râ—dis esâ— Idiomatis quo traditur and directed the reading of Aristole Agricola Melancthon c. instead of Scotus Burleus Bricot calling for all their Charters Donations Statutes Popes Bulls with an exact Rental of their Lands and Inventory of their Goods which were restored intire and safe The University that could not enjoy his presence craves his protection and foreseeing in the fall of Abbeys their danger especially when Foundations erected for superstition were given by statute to the King chose Sir Iohn Mason their Chancellour who was at once a favourite oâ— Power and of Learning the greatest Lay-Statesman that was a Scholar and the greatest Scholar that was a Lay-Statesman He was not contented to secure but he must improve Oxford gaining it New Priviledges when it feared the loss of its old ones A grave and reserved Man he was who understood the Intrigues and Motions of those dark and uncertain times and his nimble and present Prudence could accommodate them His Maxime was Do and say nothing Commending the active and close man whose performances were as private coherent continued and suddain as his counsels who would not spend that time in advising that woulâ— serve for executing Many were his pensions to Scholars at home more to Agents abroad that assisted either his studies or employments whom he designed an honour to his middle and a support to his old Age. He had a peculiar way of satisfying suiters by plain dealing and dispatch he would divide all suits either into matter of Equity or a suit of Controversie or into matter of Desert or a suit of Petition In the first he had his Referrendaries to see the matter compounded between both parties rather than carried by either In the second he preferred all suitably to their Abilities No Mâ—n understood better the nature of Court-places than he and none saw further into Court-persons Two things he said always promoted a matâ—er 1. Secresie Boasting which is the way of some Courtiers though it discourageth some Competitors yet it awakeneth Others 2. Timing of it with an Eye to those about us He would advise a Man to begin with a little and mean suit For though as my Lord Bacon observes iniquum petas aequum feras is a good Rule where a Man hath strength of favour yet otherwise a Man had better rise in his suit For he that would have ventured at fiâ—st to have lost his Suitor will not in the conclusion lose both the Suitor and his own former Favour It 's from him while he lived that we learned Celerity is the best Secresie Pruâ—ence and Resolution is the only Fortune Converse is the great Education Boldness a Man's surest Success Good Nature is the eminent Nobility and a well-weighed Honesty the only Favourite It 's by him when he died we are taught that Moderation out-lasts Violence Modesty Ambition a publick Spirit a private One That to act alone may be as profitable as Honourable but to joyn with others most safe That to study the nature of a Prince may for the present advance but to understand the Interest of his Kingdom is always secure The one way being as uncertain as the frail Person it depends upon the other as sure as the lasting State it serves Observations on the Life of Sir William Stamford SIr William Stamford was of Straffordian extraction Robert his Grand-father living at Rowley in that County but William his Fathâ—r was a Merchant in London and purchased Lands at Hadley in Middlesex where Sir William was born August 22. 1509. He was bred to the study of our Municipal Laws attaining so much eminence therein that he was preferred one of the Judges of the Common Pleas. His most learned Book of The Pleas of the Crown hath made him for ever famous amongst Men of his own Profession There is a spirit of retraction of one to his Native County which made him purchase Lands and his Son settle himself in Straffordshire This worthy Judge died Aug. 28. and was buried at Hadley in this Shire in the last year of the reign of Queen Mary 1558. King Iames had a Judge that would give no money and King Henry had one that would take none There have been those Lawyers that turned the point of Law upon the Law it self that wounded the Eagle with a feather from his own Wing and stabbed the person of Princes with their Authority that dethroned Kings with a moot-point and overthrowed a Government at a Reading This Judge understood that as the Law is the security of the people so Prerogative is the strength of the Law and that that is the best temper of Government where Kings have so much power to do evil that they may be able to do good Miserable experience hath taught us that since power hath been wrested from Princes that neither they nor their people can â—e â—â—fe if both be not in such a way as the Law hath intrusted the publick safety and welfare which consists in a full power belonging to the King to secure Liberties preserve
Commons by their Interest who should carry along an indifferent House of Lords by their Resolution When he had served the Queen in Parliament for the settlement of her Kingdom at home he served the Kingdome in an Embassie to Scotland to set up its correspondence abroad The Earl of Leicester aimed at the Queen of England and the Earl of Bedford to divert him and secure Scotland design'd him for the Queen of Scots whom he watched for two things 1. That she should either match with an English Subject or 2. With a soft and weak Forreigner that either the Scots might be in league with us or have no peace at home His last service I finde is a complement when he was sent by the Queen as her Deputy with a font of massie Gold worth 1043 l. to hold King Iames at his Baptism with express command not to acknowledge my Lord Darley as King This his service was as lasting as his life which ended in old Age and Renown He conveyed his Vertue and Honour to the Excellent Francis as he did to the Right Honourable William Earl of Bedford now living Observations on the Life of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester THe tuition of the Earl of Dorset's Children raised Wolsey travelling with the Duke of Norfolk's raised Gardiner Fox his service in the quality of Secretary made the fiâ—st and his in the same quality made Gardiner There are three kindes of Understanding The one that is advised by its self the second that understandeth when it is informed by another the third that neither is advised by its self nor by the assistance of another If this Doctor failed in the fiâ—st and his own invention he exceeded in the second of making use of others for he was one of them that never heard or read what was not his own His Profession was the Civil Law that guideth forreign Negoâ—iâ—tions His Inclination was that general Policy that manageth them His Eminencies were three 1. His Reservedness Whereby he never did what he aimed at never aimed at what he intended never intended what he said and never said what he thought whereby he carried it so that others should do his business when they opposed it and he should undermine theirs when he seemed to promote it A man that was to be traced like the Fox and read like Hebrew backward if you would know what he did you must observe what he did not 2. His Boldness Authority sometimes meets with those impediments which neither power can overcome nor good fortune divert if Courage and Fortitude break not through and furmount them and the motions of the irascible faculties such as Hope Boldness and Choler being well ordered and 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 â—et 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 underâ—akings an audaciâ—y that precipitated him not weakly into impossibilities and a choler that led him not blindly to inevitable ruines Consideration managing â—he first Discretion and Forefight the second and Reason the third What doth is 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 â—uled by Discretion animated by a generous Boldness be not diligent quick and pâ—ompt 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. Elâ—quence That added to his Parts what colours do to a Pictureâ— sâ—ate gâ—ace and light Reason is the Oâ—nament of a Man Speech the Interpreter of Reason and Eloquence 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 Expreâ—sâ—on animates his Reason his Eloquâ—nce his Expression and his Gesture hiâ— Eloquence whereby he charmed the Senses mollified Hearts incited Affections framed Desires checkâ—d Hopes and exercised a sacred Empire over every man he dealt with These qualities improved with Travel raised the Dâ—ctor to be the Chancellouâ—'s Secretary and the Legantine Courts chief Scribe at home a â—ly Agent in Italy a successful Orator in Germany and Leiger Embassador in France In Italy he with Dâ—ctor Fox havâ—ng 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 Kâ—therine 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 crafâ—y Agent extorted from the fearful man with his Necesse est c. although all this while he palliated this his main business with some impertinent ovâ—rtures abouâ— King Henry the seventh's Canonization None better understanding the just degrees seasons and methods of Affairs than 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 effeâ—t 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 Woolsey's Secretary a greater when the Kingâ— in which capacity he writ they say one Book for the Popâ—'s Supremacie in his Masters Name and another for the Kings in his own He draweth the Kingdom 's Remonstrance against the Pope wherein he hath one shrew'd argument to this purpose those sacra or wayes of Religion that have any thing in them in any nation against the light of nature and the being of humane society were severely animadverted on by the Romans upon this principle that it was to be supposed that Gods Religion should interfere with government which is Gods institution â—nd that way of Religion which hath in woven in it principles that make the Ecclesiasticall power a Competitor with the Civil 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
by which unsteady carriage He so befooled his Adversarie with their Spies and Pensioners as they were at a loâ—s what to inform their Patrons of or themselves how to resolve Fortune and Conduct set up this Favourite it falling in his Character as at Primero and otheâ— Plays wherein Fortune is directed and conducted by Art The best and subtilest Gamester may lose if it cross him but if it smiles and favours he knoweth best how to manage and govern it Five things raised this person to a respect as great as his fortune to be as high in the Queens favour as he was in his Descenâ— 1. A Civility set off with State 2. A pleasing Modesty of Countenance and Afâ—fability of Speech ennameled with Gravity 3. A Boldness attended with Patience 4. A great Capacity enlivened with as great Dexterity And 5. An Integrity secured with wariness in the darke of which quality both in his Expression and in his Actions he wrapped himself as this sepia to preserve her self undiscovered doth shed forth about her a quantity of blushes in his blood to hide her self from the Fisherman Observations on the Life of the Lord Willoughby THe Lord Willoughby was one of the Queens first Sword-men he was of the antient extract of the Bartâ—es but more ennobled by his Mother who was Dutchess of Suffolk He was a great Master of the Art Military and was sent General into France and commanded the second of five Armies that the Queen sent thither in aid of the French As he was a great Souldier so was he of a sutable Magnanimity and could not brook the obsequiousness and assiduity of the Court at that timâ— He had more favour than he courted and he courted more rather to comply with the Queens humour than his own inclination than he desired He would say and that saying did him no good saith Sir Robert Naunton That he was none of the Reptilia being made Brother to march as a Souldier than to creep as a Courtier But Civility must allay Nature in a Courtier Prudence regulate it in a States-man and modest submission check and soften it in a Subject It s as dangerous to be stubbornly abave the kindness as it is to be factiously against the power of Princes Willoughby got nothing Stanlâ—y lost all his haughtiness which when it cannot be obliged is suspected But his service in France Holland and on the Borders compounded for his roughness so that they who could not endure he should be high at Court were pleased he should be so in the Field Stiffness which displeased when looked on as Pride at home took when heard to be Resolution abroad Each Nature is advanced in its own Element Leicester among the Ladies my Lord Willoughby among the Souldiers Itâ—s a step to Greatness to know our own way to it to exercise shew our proper Vertues as he did â—iâ— Magnanimity in these two instances among many others 1. When one challenged him then sick of the Gout he said That though he were lame in his feet and hands yet he would carry a Rapier in his teeth to fight his Adversary 2. Having taken a Spanish Gennet designed a present to that King and being offered either 1000 l. or 100 l. a year in exchange for it he nobly answered If it had been a Commander he would have freely released him but being onely a Horse he saw no reason he could not keep a good Horse as well as the King of Spain himself Sir Christopher Hatton was to an excess a courtier and my Lord Willoughby so a Souldier Queen Elizabeth on the Lord Willoughby Good Peregrine WE 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 honor to be restrained by any indisposition of body from following those courses which to your own reputation and our great satisfaction you have â—ormerly performed And therefore as we must now out of our desire of your vvell-doing chiefly enjoyn you to an eâ—pecial care to encrease and continue your health vvhich 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 â—ryal of our best noble Subjectâ—â— you fâ—â—m not to affect the satisfaction of your own private contentation beyond the attending of that vvhich 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 Employmentâ— vvhereof 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 vvith your Disposition and Discretion Interpret this our plainness vve pray you to our extraordinary estimation of you for it is not common vvith us to deal so freely with many and believe that you shall ever find us both ready and vvilling in all occasions â—o yield you the fruits of that interest vvhich your Endeavours have purchased for you in our Opinion and Estimation Not doubting but when you have vvith moderation made tryal of the success of these your sundry Peregrinations you vvill find 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 Mannor 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 Sir Philip Sidney HE was son to Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland and President of Wales A Person of great parts and in no mean grace with the Queen His Mother was Sister to my Lord of Leicester from whence we may conjecture how the Father stood up in the place of Honour and Employment so that his Descent was apparently Noble on both sides For his Education it was such as Travel and the University could afford for after an incredible proficiency in all the species of Learning he left the Academical life for that of the Court whither he came by his Uncles invitation famed aforehand by a Noble report of his Accomplishments which together with the state of his Person framed by a natural propension to Arms he soon attracted the good opinion of all men and was so highly prized in the good opinion of the Queen that she thought the Court deficient without him and whereas through the fame of his deserts he was in the election for the Kingdome of Poland she refused to further his advancement not out of Emulation but out of fear to lose the Jewel of her times He married the daughter and sole Heir of Sir Francis Walsingham then
Lord of Worcester as no mean Favourite was of the ancient and noble blood of the Beauforts and of the Queens Grandfathers line by the Mother which she could never forget especially where there was a concurrency of old Blood with Fidelity a mixture which ever sorted with the Queens Nature He was first made Master of the horse and then admitted of her Council of State In his Youth part whereof he spent before he came to reside at Court he was a very fine Gentleman and the best Horse-man and Tilter of the Times which were then the manlike and noble recreations of the Court and when years had abated these exercises of honour he grew then to be a faithful and profound Counsellour He was the last Liver of all the Servants of her favour and had the honour to see his renowned Mistress and all of them laid in the places of their rest and for himself after a life of a very noble and remarkable reputation he died in a peaceable Old Age full of Riches and Honour His Fathers temperance reached to 97â— yeâ—râ— of Age because he never eat but one Meal a day and his sparingness attained to 84 because he never eat but of one dish He came to the Queens favour because as her Father so she loved a man he kept in because as her Father too so she loved an able man His manlike Recreations commended him to the Ladies his prudent Atchievements to the Lords He was made master of the horse because active and privy Councellour because wise His mistress excused his Faith which was popisâ— but honoured his Faithfulness which was Roman it being her usual speech that my Lord of Worcester had reconciled what she thought inconsistent a stiff Papist to a good subject His Religion was not pompous but solidâ— not the shew of his life but the comfort of his soul. A great master he was of others affections and greater of his own passions many things displeased nothing angered my Lord of Worcester whose maxime was That he would not be disordered within himself onely because things were out of order without him He had this maxime whence he had his Nature from his prudent Father Sir Charles Somerset the first Earl of Worcester of that name whose temper was so pliable and nature so peaceable that being aâ—ked as it is usually reported of him How he passed so troublesome a Reign as King Henry's so uncertain as King Edward's so fierce as Queen Mary's and so unexpected as Queen Elizabeth's with so quiet so fixed so smooth so resolved and ready a mind and frame answered It was because he understood the Interest of the Kingdome while others observed its Humours His first publick service was to represent the Grandeur of his mistress at this Christening of the Daulphine of France and his last the like at the marrâ—age of the King of Scots whom he honoured with the Garter from his Mistress and advised to beware of Papists from the Council The frame of this noble mans body as it is delineated by Sir W. P. seems suited to the noble use it was designed for The entertaining of a mosâ— pure and active soul but eqâ—ally to the advantage of strength and comeliness befriended with all proportionate Dimensions and a most grave yet obliging Carriage There was a clear sprightfulness in his Complexion but a sâ—d reservedness in his nature both making up that blessed composiâ—ion of a wise and winning man of as great hardship of body as nobleness of spirit Of a quick sight and an accurate Ear a steady observation and ready expression with the Torrent whereof he at once pleased King Iames and amazed King Henry being the most natural Orator in the world Among all which Endowments I had almost forgot his memory that was very faithful to him in things and business though not punctilio's and formalities Great parts he had the range and compass whereof filled the whole circle of generous Learning in that person as it hath done in the following Heroes of that Family to this day Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Killigrew TRavellours report That the place wherein the body of Absalom was buried is still extant at Ierusalem and that it is a solemn custome of Pilgrims passing by it to cast a stone on the place but a well-disposed man can hardly go by the memory of this worthy person without doing grateful homage thereunto in bestowing upon him one or two of our Observations It 's a question sometimes whether Diamond gives more lustre to the Ring it 's set in or the Ring to the Diamond This Gentleman received honour from his Family and gave renown to it Writing is the character of the speech as that is of the mind From Tully whose Orations he could repeat to his dying day he gained an even and apt stile flowing at one and the self-same heighth Tully's Offices a Book which Boys read and men understand was so esteemed of my Lord Burleigh that to his dying day he always carried it about him either in his bosome or his pocket as a compleat peice that like Aristotle's Rhetorick would make both a Scholar and an Honest man Cicero's magnificent Orations against Anthony Catiline and Verres Caesar's great Commentaries that he wrote with the same spirit that he fought flowing Livy grave judicious and stately Tacitus elquent but faithful Curtius brief and rich Salust prudent and brave Xenophon whose person was Themistocles his Companion as his Book was Scipio Affricanus his Pattern in all his Wars ancient and sweet Herodotus sententious and observing Thucidides various and useful Polybius Siculus Halicarnâ—sseus Trogus Orosius Iustine made up our young mans Retinue in all his Travels where as Diodorus the Sicilian writes he sate on the stage of Humane Life observing the great circumstances of places persons times manners occasions c. and was made wise by their example who have trod the path of errour and danger before him To which he added that grave weighty and sweet Plutarch whose Books said Gaza would furnish the world were all others lost Neither was he amazed in the Labyrinth of History but guided by the Clue of Cosmography hanging his Study with Maps and his mind with exact Notices of each place He made in one View a Judgement of the Situation Intâ—rest and Commodities for want whereof many States-men and Souldiers have failed of Nations but to understand the nature of places is but a poor knowledge unless we know how to improve them by Art therefore under the Figures of Triangles Squares Circles and Magnitudes with their terms and bounds he could contrive most tools and instruments most Engines and judge of Fortifications Architecture Ships Wind and Water-works and whatever might make this lower frame of things useful and serviceable to mankinde which severer Studies he relieved with noble and free Poetry-aid once the pleasure and advancement of the Soul made by those higher motions of the minde more active and more laâ—ge
him that anno 1580 that Kingdome was delivered to my Lord Gray after his one years Government in a better condition than it had been for threescore years before the Populacy being encouraged the Nobility trusted Fâ—â—ds laid down Revenue setled the Sea-towns secured the Sâ—ulâ—iery disciplined and the Magizines furnished Whence he returned to overlook others setling England against the Spaniards as he had done Ireland himself being an active Commiâ—â—oner in England in 88 and an eminent Agent in Scotland in 89. Observations on the Life of Sir William Waad A Scholar himself and a Patron to such that were so being never well but when employing the Industrious pensioning the Hopeful and preferring the Deserving To his Directions we owe Riders Dictionary to his Encouragement Hooker's Policy to his Charge Gruter's Inscriptions As none more knowing so none more civil No man more grave in his Life and Manners no man more pleasant in his Carriage and Complexion yet no man more resolved in his Business for being sent by Queen Elizabeth to Philip King of Spain he would not be turned over to the Spanish Privy-Council whose greatest Grandees are Dwarfs in honour to his Mistress but would either have audience of the King himself or return without it though none knew better how and when to make his close and underhand Addresses to such potent Favourites as strike the stroke in the State it often happening in a Commonwealth saith my Author that the Masters Mate steers the Ship better than the Master himself A man of a constant toyl and industry busie and quick equally an enemy to the idle and slow undertakings judging it a great weakness to stand staring in the face of business in that time which might serve to do it In his own practice he never considered longer than till he could discern whether the thing proposed was fit or not when that was seen he immediately set to work when he had finished one business he could not endure to have his thoughts lie fallow but was presently consulting what next to undertake Two things this Gentleman professed kept him up to that eminence 1. Fame that great inciâ—ement to Excellency 2. A Friend whom he had not onely to observe those grossnesses which Enemies might take notice of but to discover his prudential failings indecencies and even suspitious and barely doubtful passages Friendship saith my Lord Bacon easeth the heart and cleareth the understanding making clear day in both partly by giving the purest councel apart from our interest and prepossessions and partly by allowing opportunity to discourse and by that discourse to clear the mind to recollect the thoughts to see how they look in words whereby men attain that highest wisdome which Dionysius the Areopagite saith is the Daughter of Reflexion Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Sidney SIr Henry Sidney eminent for his son Sir Philip and famous for his own Actions was born well and bred better His Learning was equal to his Carriage his Carriage to his Good Nature his Good Nature to his Prudence his Prudence to his Resolution A little he learned at School more at the University most at Court His Reading was assiduous his Converse exact his Oâ—servations close His Reason was strong and his Discourse flowing Much he owed to his Studiousness at home more to his Experience abroad where Travel enlarged and consolidated his Soul His own Worth fitted him for Advancement and his Alliance to my Lord of Leicester raised him to it Merit must capacitate a man for Interest and Interest must set up merit His person and his Ancestry invested him Knight of the Garter his Moderation and Wisdome President of Wales His Resolution and Model of Government made him Lord Deputy of Ireland a people whom he first studied and then ruled being first master of their humour and then of their Government Four things he said would reduce that Country A Navy well furnished to cut off their correspondence with Spain An Army well paid to keep up Garrisons Laws well executed to alter their Constitutions and Tenures A Ministry well setled to civilize and instruct them and an unwearied Industry to go through all Nine things he did there to eternize his Memory 1. Connaught He divided to six Shires 2. Captainships something answering to Knighthood here He abolished 3. A Surrendry of all Irish Holdings He contrived and the Irish Estates He setled on English Tâ—nures and Services 4. That the ablest five of each Sept should undertake for all their Relations He ordered 5. One Free-School at least in every Diocess He maintained 6. Two Presidents Courts in Munster and Connaught He erected 7. Their Customes He reduced to the Civility and their Exchequer to the Exactness of England 8. Their Purveyance He turned to Composition 9. Their Statutes He printed and a constant correspondence He kept especially with the English Embassadour in Spain and King Iames in Scotland Fitzâ—Williams was mild Essex heady Perrot stout but this Lieutenant or Deputy was a stayed and resolved man that Royally heard ill and did well that bore up against the clamours of the people with the peace of his conscience His Interest he had devoted to his Soveraignâ— and his Estate to the publick saying as Cato That he had the least share of himself From the Irish he took nothing but a Liberty to undo themselves from Court he desired nothing but service from Wales he had nothing but a Good Name Iâ—'s observed of him that He had open Vertues for Honour and private ones for Success which he said was the daughter of reservedness there being not saith my Lord Vâ—rulam two more fortunate properties than to have a little of the fool and not too much of the honest man The Crown was obliged by his services the Nobility engaged to him by Alliances the People enamoured with his Integrity and himself satisfied with a good Conscience Much good counsel he gave at Court more at home in Shropshire where his Dexterity in composing the private Quarrels of the Country was as eminent as his Prudence in setling the Affairs of Ireland He had that Majesty in his Countenance that he awed and Affability in his Speech that he obliged the Country His Counsel would be smart and solid his Reproof grave and affectionate his Jests quick and taking doing more with a quick Droll towards the peace of the Country than others did with longer Harangues Secretary Bourns Son kept a Gentlemans Wife in Shropshire when he was weary of her he caused her Husband to be dealt with to take her home and offered him 500 l. for reparation The Gentleman went to Sir Henry Sidney to take his advice telling him That his Wife promised now a new life and to say the truth five hundred pounds would be very seasonable at that time By my troth said Sir Henry take her home and the Money then whereas other Cuckolds wear their Horns plain you may wear yours gilt His great word after a
pleasure to those that looked on it than the other did service to those that employed it His meen deserving preferment from the favour of a Soveraign and his parts gaining it from his justice Fortune did him not so much wrong in his mean Birth as he did himself right by great merit so worthy a Prince's service and a Courts favour He read and saw what others did but not with others apprehensions his judgment of things being not common nor his observations low flat or vulgar but such as became a breast now furnishing it self for business and for government There was an ancient custom to celebrate the Anniversary of the King's Coronation with all the Shews of Magnificence and joy which the Art or Affections of the People could invent and because we are esteemed the Warlik'st Nation in the whole world to continue that just regulation we declined all those effeminacies which are so predominant in other Courts and absolutely addicted our selves to such Martial exercises as are nothing less pleasing and delightful than the other and yet fit and prepare men more for the real use of Arms and acquisition of glory Here our Knights praise came to my Lord of Carlisle's notice who first designed him a Commander but finding his Genius more courtly than Martial more learned than active recommended him to his Majesties softer services where none more obliging to the People by his industry and interest at Court none more serviceable to his Majesty by the good name he gained in the Countrey So careful was he of publick content that from five to nine his Chamber was open to all Comers where you would find him with the one hand making himself ready with the other receiving Letters and in all this hurry of Business giving the most orderly clear and satisfactory dispatches of any Statesman at that time From nine to one he attended his Master to whom he had as easie access as he gave to his People Two things set him up 1. A fair respect from his Master upon all occasions and as fair a treatment of the People He had his distinct Classis of Affairs and his distinct Officers for those Classis The order and method whereof incredibly advanced his dispatch and eased his burden which took up his day so that there remained but some hours he stole from night and sleep for his beloved and dear Studies and King Iames said he was the hardest Student in White-Hall and therefore he did not alwayes trouble his Master with business but sometimes please him with discourse If Fortune had been as kind to him as Nature greater Employments had been at once his honour and his business But from all his services and performances he derived no other advantage than the acting of them and at his death he left no other wealth behind him but that of a high reputation never arriving at those enjoyments that enhance our Cares not having time to withdraw himself from those cares that take away the relish of our enjoyments Observations on the Life of Sir Fulke Grevil SIr Fulk Grevil Son to Sir Fulke Grevil the elder of Becham Court in Warwick-shire descended from VVilloughby Lord Brook and Admiral to Hen. 7. was bred first in the University of Cambridge He came to the Court back'd with a full and fair Estate and Queen Elizabeth loved such substantial Courtiers as could plentifully subsist of themselves He was a good Scholar loving much to employ and sometimes to advance learned men to whom worthy Bishop Ovâ—ral chiefly owed his Preferment and Mr. Camâ—den by his own confession feasted largely of his Liberality His studies were most in Poetry and History as his Works do witness His stile conceived by some to be swelling is allowed lofty and full by others King Iames created him Baron Brook of Beauchamp-Court as descended from the sole Daughter and Heir of Edward Willoughby last Lord Brook in the Reign of King Henry the 7th His sad death or murther rather happened on this occasion His discontented servant conceiving his deserts not soon or well enough rewarded wounded him mortally and then to save the Law the labour killed himself verifyâ—ng the observation that he may when he pleaseth be master of another mans life who contemneth his own He lyeth buried in Warwick Church under a Monument of black and white Marble whereon he is stiled Servant to Queen Elizabeth Counsellour to King Iames and Friend to Sir Philip Sidney Though a Favourite he courts Ladies rather than Honour and pursued his study rather than his ambition being more contemplative than active Others ministred to Queen Elizabeths government this Gentleman to her Recreation and Pleasures He came to Court when all men should young and stayed there until he was old his fortune being as smooth as his spirit and the Queens favour as lasting as his merit He bred up Statesmen but was none Sir William Pickering was like to have gained the Queens Bed by studying Sir Philip Sidney had her Heart for writing and Sir Fulke Grevil had her favour for both one great argument for his worth was his respect of the worth of others desiring to be known to posterity under no other notions than of Shakespear's and Ben Iohnson's Master Chancellor Egerton's Patron Bishop Overal's Lord and Sir Philip Sidney's Friend His soul had the peace of a great fortune joyned to a greater mind His worth commended him to Majesty his affableness indeared him to the popularity his mornings were devoted to his Books his afternoons to his knowing Friends his nights to his debonair Acquaintance He was the Queens Counsellor for persons as others were for matters and things Sweet was his disposition winning his converse fluent his discourse obliging his looks gestures and expressions publick his spirit and large his soul his Genius prompted him to prepare himself for Domestick services by Forreign employments but the great Mistriss of her Subjects affections and duties forbad it and his own prudence checked it So dear was he to the Queen that when his horses were shipped at Dover for the Netherlands her Mandate by Sir Edward Dier stopped him When he went over with Walsingham he was remanded and when with Leicester he was checked He was the exact image of action and quiet happily united in him seldom well divided in any He would have acted his great principles of Government yet he could be confined only to write them He could sit down with some Poetick and polite Characters of Vertue when he was debarred the real â—â—ercises of it He had kept Essex his head on had not that unhappy man's Parasites made the Earl deaf to his â—â—â—nsels and his Enemies removed him from his pâ—â—â—â—nce under a pretence of guarding the Seas against his Enemies while his Kinsman was betrayed by his Friends Observations on the Life of Sir Robert Cecil SIr Robert Cecil since Earl of Salisbury was the Heir of the Lord Burleigh's prudence the inheritour of his favour and by
say commonly of him and those brave Heroes under him That they were born to save their Countrey This noble person was of greater experience than knowledg and more beholding to his years than to his Education whence K. Iames took great pleasure in his discourse that was not morose obstinate narrow unactive or formal like a Students harangues but free active and ingenuous like a States-man's Maximes Whereof one was this That never did Commander a noble Act that was Commission-bound it being a question whether the Venetians and Spaniards lost more at Sea and in the Netherlands before they discovered that Error or gained more since For whilest we address our selves to the State occasions are lost things take another countenance and so many unexpected accidents happen for which suddain provision must be made that opportunities escape before we dare lay hold of them and sometimes we perish for want of a Commission to save our selves Great content did he give by his presence in the French Court 1605. and greater in his carriage at the Prince Elector's marriage 1612. A prudent care did he discover in providing for posterity by the seasonable resignation of his Admiralty a faithful friend he shewed himself in confirming Sir Robert Mansel's place when he parted with his own a great argument of his own worth and service that he was so careful to reward others Observations on the Life of Sir Geo. Hume Earl of Dunbar NO wonder he is so great a Favourite of King Iames in his riper years who was so faithful a servant of his in his youth trusted with his Royal secrets in Scotland and therefore in his Royal bosome in England The natural reservedness of all Scots-men and the vast depth of this are not more necessary to all Princes then they were pleasing to King Iames who had no secrecies that endangered his Privadoes though many that tried them and particularly our Statesman who had no hidden weakness to be over-reached nor private Interest to be corrupted but was a great Master of himself owning a reach not to be comprehended and thoughts not to be fathomed but by him whose heart was as the sand of the Sea Exact was his correspondence with Sir Robert Cecil while in Scotland and intimate was their friendship in England both extorting from each other those observations touching their respective Countreys which they might both communicate to His Majesty at their respective opportunities His Enterprizes were well laid but unsuccessful rational but unhappy an argument that Designs are only in our power and Events in a higher There was not a man more noble and renowned more comâ—ly aâ—d graceful of more years and experience Versatus Versutus of a greater estate or revenue more liberal and munificent more accostable and courteous more resolved and reserved all the qualities of a compleat Ambassador than the Earl of Dunbar when sent to Germany yet none more ineffectual having gained no more by a tedious and chargeable Negotiation than as the Earl of Nottingham with his gallant Retinue in Spain that the Papists who were formerly perswaded by their Jesuites that we were Monsters do now believe we are Men so useless was soft Courtship in rough tumults and so little heed was given to smooth complements in Arms anâ— Uproars More happy was he in Scotland where his prudence as Lord Treasurer and his Chaplain Doctor Abbots gravity as Preacher reduced that Nation to so much sobriety as to admit a regular Religion and Government for which service he had the Exchequer and the Wardrobe for himself and the Arch-Bishoprick of Canterbury for the Doctor when the King was in a great streight between the known merit of the incomparable Bishop Andrews and the last request of dying Sir George Hume a great instance of King Iames his abilities in what Machiavel calleth a Princes Master-piece viz. the choice of Servants Observations on the Life of the Earl of Somerset HIs extraction from Scotland put him in the way his Education in England set him in a capacity of Advancement He was born seasonably when his Father served him that should be a King of England and brought up happily when he might please him that was so His beauty and comliness took his Majesty his parts and prudence obliged him who loved the Cabinet but valued the Jewel He was admitted Page of honour to King Iames when of Scotland and his Favourite when of England His Majesties first observation of him was at a solemn Tilting where his delight in his person meeting with his pity of his mischance I mean the breaking of his leg there first took him to his tuition and then to his Council All King Iames his Favourites were of his own education and so imbued with his principles and engaged to his interest It was his Majesties policy to râ—tain Scots States-men to balance the English It was Somerset's prudence to entertain English Favouries to endear the Scots therefore Sir Tho. Overbury was as much of his Councel as he was of his Majesties too haughty a carriage was the miscarriage of other Minions too good a nature was â—is His great defect being that goodness and humanity that that knoweth no excess but errour which was rather a softness than a kindness his heart was as large to others as his Masters was to him and knew as little how to mistrust as how to do any thing for which he should be mistrusted This is the Lesson he was short in That civilities should be common but favours choice The Whale is steered at Sea by a far smaller Fish and this States-man at Court by far meaner men than himself I my self saith an ingenious man have known many so far strangers to what was convenient as they would scarce concede or deny any thing out of the presence of their Secretary and this proceeded not seldom from a distrust there was no cause for manifest in the Earl of Somerset who though himself owner of a competent sufficiency was so enchanted with an opinion of Sir Thomas Overbury's parts that he preferred him from a Servant to such an intimate friendship as he could think nothing well educated for employment in his Office that had not passed his correction nor secret laid up but in his bosome which swelled him saith he to such a monstrosity in pride that I have heard not being my self then near the English Court how he offered to rant at his servants and did once beat his Coachman for putting his commands under an inferiour expostulation to his Master and through this intollerable arrogance in him and remisness in the Earl the sparks first flew that kindled the ruine of them both Friendship being no more able to maintain its interest against a feminine affection than so great a pride was to confine it self within the tedder of moderation The greatest are not free but led in triumph by the affections of others through the mediation of their own Sir Thomas Overbury would do what was most
plausible and the Earl must perform what was less popular The King trusted Carr with his Dispatches and Carr trusts Overbury a month together without examination who had full Commission to receive and answer any Letters or other Expresses that came to his hands Great opportunities offered themselves to Sir Robert Carr and a great Soul he had to observe them Fortune being nothing else but an attentive observation of the revolution of Affairs and the occasions resulting therefrom observant he was of his Master who raised him not to eclipse others but like a brave Prince to ease himself For Princes to use my Lord Bacon's words being at too great a distance from their Subjects to ease themselves into their bosomes raise some persons to be as it were participes curam or their Companions but this Favourite understood as well the humour of the People as he did the disposition of his Prince obliging the one no less than he pleased the other Gay he was as a Courtier grave as a Counsellour to Scholars none more civil to Soldiers none more liberal of States-men none more respective He had his extraordinary great Vertues upon occasions to shew and his ordinary little ones always to oblige a compleatness in all turns aâ—d upon all occasions was his nature Familiar he was yet not cheap sociable upon regard and not upon facility His behaviour was his soul free for any exercise or motion finding many and making more opportunities to endear himself He broke his mind to small observations yet he comprehended great matters His carriage was so exact as if affected and yet so graceful as if natural That which overthrew the first bewitched the wisest and tyred the most patient man undid this noble person yet so regular were his affections that he did nothing publickly in the Countess of Essex the Earl of Suffolk's Daughters case but by due course of Law the approbation of the gravest and wisest Divines and Counsellors and the applause of England his failings were the faults of his years rather than of his person of his sodain fortune than of his constant temper his counsels were safe and moderate his publick actions honest and plain his first years of favour industrious and active his mind noble and liberal His soul capacious and inquisitive his temper yielding and modest In a word Sir Robert Carr deserved to be a Favourite if he had not been one He fell because he medled too little with the Secretaries place while in it and too much when out of it giving Overbury too much scopâ— on the one hand to mate him and Sir Ralph Winwood too much offence to undermine him who finding that new Earls occasions growing with his advancements I say his occasions because I think his miscarriages were not his nature but his necessity apt to encroach upon his and other Court-Offices gave ear to that Intelligence from Flushing that might ruine him and set free himself The first Intimation of his guilt was his earnestness for a general Pardon and the first argument of it was my Lord Chancellor's scruples in sealing it whence I date his first declining attended with as much pity as his first advancement was with envy We and the Troglodites curse not the Sun-rising more heartily than we worship it when it sets The Gentleman was as to his stature rather well compacted than tall as to his features and favour comely rather than beautiful The hair of his head was flaxen and that of his face yellow His nature was gentle his disposition affable â—â—s affections publick until a particular person and interest engrossed them and the good Gentleman being sensible of failers that might ruine him was wholly intent upon a treasure that might preserve him His defect was that he understood only his own age and that the experience of man's life cannot furnish examples and presidents for the events of one mans life Observations on the Life of Arch-Bishop Abbot GEorge Abbot being one of that happy Ternion of Brothers whereof two were eminent Prelates the third Lord Mayor of London was bred in Oxford wherein he became Mr. of University-Colledge a pious man and most excellent Preacher as his Lectures on Ionah do declare He did first creep then run then flye into Preferment or rather Preferment did flye upon him without his expectation He was never incumbent on any Living with cure of Souls but was mounted from a Lecturer to a Dignitary so that he knew the Stipend and Benevolence of the one and the Dividend of the other but was utterly unacquainted with the taking of Tithes with the many troubles attending it together with the causeless molestations which Parsons presented meet with in their respective Parishes And because it is hard for one to have a Fellow-suffering of that whereof he never had a suffering this say some was the cause that he was so harsh to Ministers when brought before him Being Chaplain to the Earl of Dunbar then omni-prevalent with King Iames he was unexpectedly preferred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury being of a more Fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his Fathers for age in the Church of England There are two things much charged upon his memory First That in his house he respected his Secretary above his Chaplains and out of it alwayes honoured Cloaks above Cassocks Lay above Clergy-men Secondly That he connived at the spreading of Nonconformity insomuch that a Modern Author said Had Bishop Laud succeeded Bancroft and the project of Conformity been followed without interruption there is little question to be made but that our Jerusalem by this time might have been a City at unity within it self This Arch-Bishop was much humbled with a casual Homicide of a Keeper of the Lord Zouch's in Bramel-Park though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby In the Reign of King Charles he was sequester'd from his Jurisdictions say some on the old account of that Homicide though others say for refusing to License a Sermon of Dr. Sirpthorps Yet there is not an Express of either in the Instrument of Sequestration the Commission only saying in the general That the Arch-bishop could not at that present in his own Person attend those Services which were otherwise proper for his Cognizance and Jurisdiction To say the truth he was a man of good intentions and knew much but failed in what those ordinarily do that are devoted to our modern singularities being extreamly obstinate in his opinions which the King was more willing to understand than follow because most times he looked upon things according to the rigour of Ecclesiastick maximes and was either too curious and irresolute by variety of reading or too peremptory and positive from the strictness of his Rules or too zealous by reason of the seriousness of his Study or wide from the matter by reason of his inexperience and aptness to require in the times he lived the regularity of the times he read of heeding not the
of civility when by King Iames made Lord Deputy of Ireland Indeed good Laws and Provisions had been made by his Predecessors to that purpose but alas they were like good Lessons set for a Lute out of tune useless until the Instrument was fitted for them Wherefore in order to the civilizing of the Irishry in the first year of his government he established two new Circuits for Justices of Assize the one in Connaught the other in Mâ—nster And whereas the Circuits in former times only encompassed the English Pale as the Cynosura doth the Polâ— hence forwards like good Planeâ—s in their several Spheres they carried the influence of Justice round about the Kingdom Yea in short time Ireland was so cleared of Thieves and capital Offenders that so many Malefactors have not been found in the 32 Shires of Ireland as in six English Shires in the Western Circuits He reduced the Mountains and Glinnes on the Soâ—th of Dublin formerly thornes in the side of the English pale into the County of Wicklow and in conformity to the English 〈◊〉 om many Irish began to cut their Mantles into Cloaks So observant was his eye over the actions of suspected persons that Tyrone was heard to complain That he could not drink a full carouse of Sack but the Sâ—ate within few hours was advertised thereof After he had been continued many years in his Deputyship and deservedly made a Lord King Iâ—mes recalled him home and loath to leave his Abilities unemployed sent him Embassador to the Emperour and other German Princes Being â—eâ—ieged in the City of Mainchine a place much indebted to his prudence for seasonable victualling it by Count Tilley he sent him word that it was against the Law of Nations to besiege an Embassador Tilley returned that he took no notice that he was an Embasâ—adâ—t The Lord Chichester replyed to the Messenger Had my Master sent me with as many hundred men as he hath sent me on fruitless Mâ—ssâ—ges your General should have known that I had â—â—en â— Soâ—dier â—as well as an Embassador King Iâ—mes â— at his return entertained him with great commendations for so well dischaâ—ging his Trust and he died in as great honour as any English-man of our Age. Thus far the Historians Whence I observe him stout in his nature above any disorder upon Emergencies resolved in his temper above any impressions from other Princes and high in his Proposal beyond the expectation of his own Alvâ—rgonzoto el Diablo le traxo al Palacio The Devil brought the Bashful to Court where none succeeds but he who can ask enough to be granted and enough to be abated There is a memorable observation of Philip the second King of Spain called El prudente That when 〈◊〉 had designed one for Embassador the man came faintly and coldly to him to propose some things for the accommodation of his Embassie and he said How can I expect that this man can promote and effectuate my business when he is so faint and fearful in the solicitation of his own Yet was not my Lord Chichester more resolute in Germany than wary in Ireland where his opinion was that time must open and facilitate things for Reformation of Religion by the Protestant Plantations by the care of good Bishops and Divines the amplification of the Colledge the education of Wards an insensible seisure of Popish liberties c. and that the Council there was so numerous fifty or sixty at least that the authority of it was debated and its business divulged In a word this brave Gentleman had an equal mind that kept up it self between the discourses of Reason and the examples of Histories in the enjoyment of a good fortune and a conflict with a bad Observations on the Life of the Lord Chancellor Egerton THe Lord Chancellour Egerton extracted from the ancient Family of the Egerton's of Kidley in Cheshire was bred in the study of the Municipal Laws of our Land wherein he attained to such eminency that Queen Elizabeth made him her Solicitor then Master of the Rolls and at last Keeper of the Great Seal May 6. in the 38 year of her Reign 1596. Olaus Magnuâ— reporteth that the Emperour of Moscovia at the Audience of Ambassadors sendeâ—h for the gravest and seemliest men in Mosco and the Vicinage whom he apparelleth in rich Vests and placing them in his presence pretendeth to Forâ—aigners that these are of his Privy-Council who cannot but be much affected with so many reverent Aspects But surely all Christendome afforded not a peâ—son which carried more gravity in his countenance and behaviour than Sir Thomas Egerton insomuch that many have gone to the Chancery on purpose only to see his venerable Garb happy they who had no other business and were highly pleased at so acceptable a spectacle Yet was his outward Case nothing in comparison of his inward Abilities quick Wit solid Judgement ready Utterance I confess Master Cambden saith he entred his Office Magna expectatione integritatis opinione with a great expectation and opinion of Integrity But no doubt had he revised his work in a second Edition he would have afforded him a full-faced commendation when this Lord had turned his expectation to performance In the first of King Iames of Lord Keeper he was made Lord Chancellor which is also another name for the same Office and on Thursday the seventh of November 1616. of Lord Elismer he was created Viscount Brackley It is given to Courts whose Jurisdictions do border to fall out about their bounds and the contest betwixt them is the hotter the higher the spirits and parts of the respective Judges Great was the contention for many years together betwixt this Lord of Equity and Sir Edward Câ—â—ke the Oracle of Justice at Westminster-Hall I know not which of them got the better sure I am such another Contest would if this did not have undone the Conqueror He was attended on with servants of most able parts and was the sole Chancellor since the Reformation who had a Chaplain which though not immediately succeeded him in his place Hâ— gave over his Office which â—he held full twenty years some few days before his death and by his own appointment his body was brought down and buried at Duddleston in Cheshire leaving a fair estate to his Son who was afterwards created Earl of Bridgewater as he did to his excellent Son now living When he saw King Iames his munificence to some Courtiers with the grave Fidelity of a Statesman he sticked not often to tell him That as he held it necessary for his Majesty amply to remâ—nerate all those his Countrey-men so he desired him carefully to preserve his Crown lands for his own support seeing he or his Successors might meet with Parliaments which would not supply his occasions but on such conditions as would not be very acceptable unto him It was an ordinary speech in his mouth to say Frost and Fraud both end in Foul. His plain but honest
then as Sir George Villiers friend who promoted him to be Secretary of State Ian. 8. 1617. as his Majesty did a while after to be Mr. of the Wards The first place whereof he discharged with as much ability and dexterity as he did the second with integrity onely he was observed close-handed whether out of his natural inclination to Parsimony or some fixed design to regulate and reduce the great expences of this Nation or from some hidden and refined politick consideration that that might be done by a wary observation of men's integrity and inclination which was usually done with money and indeed as a great man observeth to procure good information of particulars touching persons their natures their desires and ends their customs and fashions their helps and advantages and whereby they chiefly stand So again their weaknesses and disadvantages and where they lye most open and obnoxious their friends â—actions and dependencies and again their opposites envyers and Competitors their moods and times their principles rules observations c. their actions how conducted how favoured how opposed c. is the onely way of success in business and of prevailing in fortune especially if attended with this Gentleman 's two master-Qualities 1. Reservedness the security 2. Slowness of belief the sinew of wisdom Finding his temper agreeable with the University he allowed himself more scope and liberty but observing his particular constitution not suitable to the general state of his times the whole course of his life was more close retyred and reserved opening it self but with an half-light and a full advantage and what he was to others he believed all others were to him as hardly trusting them as he was understood himself unless surprized in his countenance by the motions of it or in his actions by the suddenness of them or in his temper by his passion but as far as can be guessed from the Letters that passed between them about the Palatinate He was of the same make in the State as Arch-Bishop Abbot was in the Church zealous and sullen if others had a better wit than he in abusing him he had a better memory than they to think of it for one Mr. Wiemark a wealthy man a great Nâ—vilant and constant Paul's walker hearing the news that day of the beheading of Sir Walter Rawleigh His head said he would do well upon the shoulders of Sir Robert Naunton Secretary of State These words were complained of and Wiemark summoned to the Privy-Council where he pleaded for himself that he intended no disrespect to Mr. Secretary whose known worth was above all detraction onely he spake in reference to an old proverb Two heads are better than one and for the present he was dismissed Not long after when rich men were called on for a contribution to St. Pauls Wiemark at Council-Table subscribed a hundred pounds but Mr. Secretary told him Two hundred were better than one which betwixt fear and charity Wiemark was fain to subscribe Neither was he sooner up than he gave his Colleague and Successor in the Orators place Sir Francis Nethersole his hand to advance him too whom after his elegant Speech on Prince Henry we find a prudent Agent with the Princes of the Union and a faithful Secretary to the Queen of Bohemia for whom he did much and suffered more Yet was he lately alive and as charitable in his elder years as ever he was noble in his younger Observations on the Life of Sir Arthur Ingram SIr Arthur had wit in Italy where he was a Factor and wealth in London where he was a Merchant to be first a Customer and then a Cofferer to that King who had this happiness that he understood so much of all his affairs as to make a judgement of what persons might be most serviceable to him in each of them So pragmatical a person as this Gentleman was necessary among the Custom-house-men who were about to engross all the wealth of the Kingdom and as useful among the Green-cloath-men who shared amongst themselves vast Concealments The activity of his head had undone him had not the odium of it been allayed by the discretion of his tongue whatever he spake being naturally accompanied with such a kind of modesty and affability as gained the affection and attracted the respect of all that conversed with him onely some wary men were jealous of that watchful and serene habit he had attained to in every conference and action as well to observe as to act though it was more than they needed he having not that good stay and hold of himself his much observing tempting him to much medling though never more need of it than at that time when ninety and odd thousand pounds were spent upon the Palsgrave to reimburse which money he set up the improvement of Coyn the Farthings the borrowing of money of the Customers and as many other Projects to get money as others had to spend it Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Yelverton THis Gentleman's relation to Sir Thomas Overbury brought him to the Earl of Somerset's service and my Lord of Somerset's service recommended him to the Kings favour whereby he was at first his Counsel learned and afterwards his Attorney-General in which last place his duty enjoyned him the impeachment of that Earl but his gratitude forbad him Loth he was to refuse his Masters command more loth to have a hand in his Patrons ruine his civility outweighed his prudence and his obligations his safety for refusing to implead his Mr. as a great Delinquent at the Bar he was sent by the Council as a greater to the Tower where he continued until as some say the Duke of Buckingham came to him at midnight and hearing from him such mysteries of State as nearly concerned his own safety not onely released sed but advanced him to a place of Judicature which his Integrity and Ability might deserve but his niceness and narrowness could not keep it Law and Equity have two Courts but Law and Discretion should dwell in one breast The truth is there is a great advantage in the well-setting forth of a mans vertues fortunes merits and again in the Artificial covering of a mans weaknesses defects disgraces staying upon the one sliding from the other making use of circumstances c. which this good and plain man was a stranger to being not so true to himself or so setled but that either upon heat or bravery or kindness or trouble of mind and weakness he would open himself to his Enemies satisfaction and his own hazard Yet I must needs say That his Letter of submission to the Duke was ingenuous if he was guilty and Courtly if he was innocent Sir Francis Bacon took a wiser course in my Lord of Essex his Case than he in the Earl of Somersets for when that Lord entertained destructive before displeasing Counsel the knowing Knight fairly forsook not his person whom his pity attended to his Grave but his practises and
prospect of his Life past having noted therein most Remarkables His most learned and laborious Works on the Laws 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 Authenticalness 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 Theâ—ford 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 age whose last words were these Thy Kingdom câ—me 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 Iames 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 Iames 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 assistants 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 Majesty 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 success 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 business to overthrow him to which purpose his Agents discover some secrets abroad you may understand more of England at Amsterdam than at London and he useth his Arts at home for Mr. Vilâ—iexs 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 Design 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 Tho. 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 to the building of Audley-End as might displace his Father An Apothecaries boy gives the first and a servant that carried the money the second both whom he surprized with the Spanish proverb Di mentura y sacaras verdad Tell a lye and find a truth Indeed the natures and dispositions the conditions and necessities the factions and combinations the animosities and discontents the ends and designs of most people were clear and transparent to this watchful man's intelligence and observation who could do more with King Iames by working on his fear than others by gratifying his pleasure When I observe how close and silent he was at the Council-Table it puts me in mind of the man that gave this reason why he was silent in a Treaty and Conference Because said he the Enemy might know that as there are many here that can speak so here is one that can hold his peace Observations on the Life of Sir Francis Bacon SIr Francis was born where we are made men bred where we are made States-men being equally happy in the quickness of the City and politeness of the Court He had a large mind from his Father and great abilities from his Mother his parts improved more than his years his great fixed and methodical memory his solid judgement his quick fancy his ready expression gave high assurance of that profound and universal knowledge and comprehension of things which then rendered him the observation of great and wise men and afterwards the wonder of all The great Queen
in respect of the King your Master you must be very wary that you give him true information and if the matter concern him in his Government that you do not flatter him if you do you are as great a Traytor to him in the Court of Heaven as he that draws his sword against him and in respect of the Suitors which shall attend you there is nothing will bring you more honour and more ease then to do them what right in justice you may and with as much speed as you may for believe it Sir next to the obtaining of the suit a speedy and a gentle denyal when the case will not bear it is the most acceptable to suitors they will gain by their dispatch whereas else they shall spend their time and money in attending and you will gain in the ease you will find in being rid of their importunity But if they obtain what they reasonably desired they will be doubly bound to you for your favour Bis dat qui cito dat it multiplies the courtesie to do it with good words and speedily That you may be able to do this with the best advantage my humble advice is this when suitors come unto you set apart a certain hour in a day to give them audience If the business be light and easie it may by word only be delivered and in a word be answered but if it be either of weight or of difficulty direct the suitor to commit it to writing if it be not so already and then direct him to attend for his answer at a set time to be appointed which would constantly be observed unless some matter of great moment do interrupt it when you have received the Petitions and it will please the Petitioners well to have access unto you to deliver them into your own hand let your Secretary first read them and draw lines under the material parts thereof for the matter for the most part lies in a narrow room The Petitions being thus prepared do you constantly set apart an hour in a day to peruse those Petitâ—ons and after you have ranked them into several files according to the subject matter make choice of two or three friends whose judgments and fidelities you believe you may trust in a business of that nature and recommend it to one or more of them to inform you of their opinions and of their reasons for or against the granting of it and if the matter be of great weight indeed then it would not be amiss to send several Copies of the same Petition to several of your friends the one not knowing what the other doth and desire them to return their answers to you by a certain time to be prefixxed in writing so shall you receive an impartial answer and by comparing the one with the other you shall both discern the abilities and faithfulness of your friends and be able to give a judgement thereupon as an Oracle But by no means trust not to your own judgement alone for no man is omniscient nor trust onely to your servants who may mislead you or mis-inform you by which they may perhaps gain a few crowns but the reproach will lye upon your self if it be not rightly carried For the facilitating of your dispatches my advice is further that you divide all the Petitions and the matters therein contained under several heads which I conceive may be fitly ranked into these eight sorts 1. Matters that concern Religion and the Church and Church-men 2. Matters concerning Justice and the Laws and the Professors thereof 3. Councellors and the Council-Table and the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom 4. Foreign Negotiations and Embassies 5. Peace and War both foreign and civil and in that the Navy and Forts and what belongs to them 6. Trade at home and abroad 7. Colonies or foreign Plantations 8. The Court and Curiality And whatsoever will not fall naturally under one of these heads believe me Sir will not be worthy of your thoughts in this capacity we now speak of And of these sorts I warrant you you will find enough to keep you in bâ—siness I begin with the first which concerns Religion 1. In the first place be you your self rightly perswaded and setled in the true Protestant Religion professed by the Church of England which doubtless is as sound and orthodox in the doctrine thereof as any Christian Church in the world 2. In this you need not be a Monitor to your gracious Master the King the chiefest of his Imperial Titles is to be The Defender of the Faith and his learning is eminent not only above other Princes but above other men be but his scholar and you are safe in that 3. For the Discipline of the Church of England by Bishops c. I will not positively say as some do that it 's Iure Divino but this I say and think ex animo that it is the nearest to Apostolical truth and confidently I shall say it is fittest for Monarchy of all others I will use no other authority to you than that excellent Proclamation set out by the King himself in the first year of his Reign and annexed before the Book of Common Prayer which I desire you to read and if at any time there shall be the least motion made for Innovation to put the King in mind to read it himself It is most dangerous in a State to give ear to the least alterations â—n Government 4. Take heed I beseech you that you be not an instrument to countenance the Romish Catholicks I cannot flatter the world believes that some near in blood to you are too much of that perswasion you must use them with fit respects according to the bonds of â—atuâ—e but you are of kin and so a friâ—nd to their persons not to their errors 5. The Arch-Bishops and Bishops next under the King have the government of the Church and Ecclesiastical affairs be not you the mean to prâ—fer any to those places for any by-respects but only for their learning gravity and worth their lives and Doctrine ought to be exemplary 6. For Deans and Canons or Prebends of Cathedral Churches In their first institution they were of great use in the Church they were not only to be of Council with the Bishop for his revenue but chiefly for his Government in causes Ecclesiastical use your best means to prefer such to those places who are fit for that purpose men eminent for their learning piety and discretion and put the King often in mind thereof and let them be reduced again to their first institution 7. You will be often sollicited and perhaps importuned to prefer Scholars to Church-Livings you may further your friends in that way caeteris paribus otherwise remember I pray that these are not places meerly of favour the charge of souls lies upon them the greatest account whereof will be required at their own hands but they will share deeply in their faults who are the
and to bind it with a solemn Order if it be not already so done that no copies of the orders of that Table be delivered out by the Clerks of the Councel but by the order of the Board nor any not being a Councellor or a Clerk of the Councel or his Clerk to have access to the Councel-Books and to that purpose that the servants attending the Clerks of the Councel be bound to secrecy as well as their Masters 13. For the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom I shall say little for the most of them are such as cannot well be severed from the Councellorship and therefore the same rule is to be observed for both in the choice of them In the general onely I advise this let them be set in those places for which they are probably the most fit 14. But in the quality of the persons I conceive it will be most convenient to have some of every sort as in the time of Qâ—een Eâ—izabeth it was one Bishop at the least in respect of questions touching Religion or Church-Government one or more skilled in the Laws some for Martial affairs and some for Foreign affairs By this mixture one will help another in all things that shall there happen to be moved But if that would fail it will be a safe way to consult with some other able persons well versed in that point which is the subject of their Consultation which yet may be done so warily as may not discover the main end therein IV. In the next place I shall put you in mind of the Foreign Negotiations and Emâ—assies to or with Foreign Princes or States wherein I shall be little able to serve you 1. Onely I will tell you what was the course in the happy dayes of Qâ—een Elizabeth whom it will be no dis-repâ—tation to follow She did vary according to the nature of the employment the quality of the persons she employed which â—s a good rule to go by 2. If it were an Embassy of Gâ—â—tulaâ—ion or Ceremony which must not be neglected choice was made of some noble person eminent in place and able in purse and he would take â—t as a mark of favour and discharge it without any great burthen to the Queen's Coffers for his own honours sake 3. But if it were an Embassie of weight concerning affairs of State choice was made of some sad person of known judgment wisdom and experience and not of a young man not wayed in State-matters nor of a meer formal man whatsoever his title or outside were 4. Yet in company of such some young towardly Noblemen or Gentlemen were usually sent also as Assistants or Attendants according to the qâ—ality of the persons who might be thereby prepaâ—ed and fitâ—ed for the like employment by this means at another turn 5. In their company were alwayes sent some grave and sad men skilful in the Civil Laws and some in the Languages and some who had been formerly conversant in the Courts of those Princes and knew their wayes these were Assistants in private but not trusted to manage the Affairs in publick that would detract from the honour of the principal Embassador 6. If the Negotiation were about Merchants affairs then were the persons employed for the most part Doctors of the Civil Law assisted with some other discreet men and in such the charge was ordinarily defrayed by the Company or Society of Merchants whom the Negotiation concerned 7. If Legier Embassadors or Agents were sent to reâ—ain in or near the Courts of those Princes or States as it was ever held fit to observe the motions and to hold correspondency with them upon all occasions such were made choice of as were preâ—â—med to be vigilant industrious and discreet mâ—n and had the language of the place whither â—heâ— wâ—râ— sent and with these were sent such as were hopeâ—ul to be worthy of the like employment at another time 8. Their care was to give true and tiâ—ely Intelligence of all Occurrences either to the Qâ—een her self or the Secretaries of State unto whom they had their immediate relation 9. Their charge was always born by the Qâ—een duly paid out of the Exchequer in such proportion as according to their qualities and places might give them an honourable subsistence there But for the reward of their service they were to expect it upon their return by some such preferment as might be worthy of them and yet be little burthen to the Qâ—eens Coffers or Revenues 10. At their going forth they had their general Instructions in writing which might be communicated to the Ministers of that State whither they were sent and they had also private Instructions upon particular occasions and at their return they did always render an account of some things to the Queen her self of some things to the body of the Council and of some others to the Secretaries of State who made use of them or communicated them as there was cause 11. In those days there was a constant course held that by the advice of the Secretaries or some principal Councellors there were alwayes sent forth into several parts beyond the Seas some young men of whom good hopes were conceived of their towardliness to be trained up and made fit for such publick Employments and to learn the Languages This was at the charge of the Queen which was not much for they travelled but as private Gentlemen and as by their industry their deserts did appear so far were they fâ—rther employed or rewarded This course I shall recommend unto you to breed up a Nursery of such publick Plants V. For Peace and War and those things which appertain to either I in my own disposition and profession am wholly for peace if please God to â—less the Kingdom therewith as for many years past he hath done and 1. I presume I shall not need to perswade you to the advancing of it nor shall you need to perswade the King your Master therein â—or that he hath hitherto been another Solomon in this our Israel and the Motto which he hath chosen Beati Pacifici shews his own judgement But he must use the means to preserve it else such a jewel may be lost 2. God is the God of Peace it is one of his Attributes therefore by him alone we must pray and hope to continue it there is the foundation 3. And the King must not neglect the just ways for it Justice is the best Protector of it at home and providence for War is the best prevention of it from abroad 4. Wars are either Foreign or Civil for the Foreign War by the King upon some neighbour Nation I â—ope we are secure the King in his just and pious disposition is not inclinable thereunto his Empire is long enough bounded with the Ocean as if the very situation thereof had taught the King and People to set up their rests and say Ne plus ultra 5. And for a war of invasion from abroad onely we must
should be farmed out or bestowed upon any so much as by promiseâ— befoâ—e judgement given it would neither be profitable nor hâ—nourable 10. Besides matters of serious consideration in the Câ—urts of Princes there must be times for pastimes and dâ—sports When there is a Queenâ— and Ladies of Honâ—ur attending her there must sometimes be Masques and Revels and Enterludes and when there is no Qâ—een or Princess as now yet at Festivals for entertainment of Strangers or upon such occasions they may be fit also Yet care would be taken that in such cases they be set â—â—f more with wit and activity than with costly and wasteful expenceâ— 11. But for the King and Prince and the Lords and Chivalry of the Court I rather commend in their tuâ—ns and seasâ—ns tâ—e riding of the great Horse the Tilts Barriers Tennis and Hunting which are more for the health and strength of those who exersiâ—e them than in an effeminate way to please themselves and others And now the Prince growâ—th up fast to be a man and is of a sweet and excellent disposition it would be an irreparable stain and dishonour upon you having that access unto him if you should mis-lead him or suffer him to be mis-led by any flattering Parasites The whole Kingdom hath a deep interest in his virtuous education and if you keeping that distance which is most fit do humbly interpose your self in such a case he will one day give you thanks for it 12. Yet Dice and Cards may sometimes be used for recreation when field-sports cannot be had but not to use it as a mean to spend the time much less to mis-spend the thrift of the Gamesters SIR I shall trouble you no longer I have run over these things as I first propounded them please you to make use of them or any of them as you shall see occasion or to lay them by as you think best and to add to them as you daily may out of your experience I must be bold again to put you in minde of your present condition you are in the quality of a Sentinel if you sleep and neglect your charge you are an undone man and you may faâ—l faster than you have risen I have but one thing more to mind you of which neerly concerns your self you serve a great and gracious Master and there is a most hopeful young Prince whom you must not desert it behoves you to carry your self wisely and evenly between them both adore not so the rising Son that you forget the Father who raised you to this height nor be you so obsequious to the Father that you give just cause to the Son to suspect that you neglect him But carry your self with that judgement as if it be possible may please and content them both which truly I believe will be no hard matter for you to do so may you live long beloved of both which is the hearty prayer of Your most obliged and devoted servant THese were his Rules and this his practice My Lord of Nottingham he bought nobly from the Admiralty his Assistant Vice-Admiral Maunsel he entertained civilly and procured that place for life which he had only during pleasure The Warden of the Cinque-ports resigned his place seasonably â—he Master of the Horse gave up his preferment and his life opportunely He advanced his Relations prudently gratifying them and fortifying himself He made an excellent choice of Servanâ—s and Confederates entertained the ablest and most faithful Assistants Doctor Williams and Dr. Laud were of his Council for the Church Sir Francis Bacon for the State From the fiâ—st he received frequent Schedules of Persons and Doctrines from the other constant Transcripts of Rules and Intelligence Never any man more constant to his approved friend never any more fatal to his known Enemies He was the instrument of all the Subjects services to his Soveraign and of his Sovereign's favours to his Subjects no place was bestowed without his knowledge no action passed without his approbation not an eminent man but depended on him and was subordinate to him His dispatches were many and pregnant testimonies that he was a great Master of his Time and a greater of his Method and Affairs Great he was indeed and humble too not raised by his present fortune above the sense of his former envied he was not hated applauded in the same Parliament for his services declaimed against for his preferments ever studious of the peoples Interest which is the care of few Favourites never happy in their love which is the faâ—e of all He approved himself both to the declining Monarch and the rising as having won himself not so much to their affections which were alterable as to their judgements which were lasting and made his preferment rather a matter of Interest which is real than of favour which is personal Looking on Somerset laid at his feet Bristol and Williams brought on their knees Carlisle and Pembrook beneath him and Holland behind him and every man that would not owe his preferment to his favour must owe his ruine to his frown He was intrusted with the greatest service and secret in Spain when he dived to the bottom of that Countreys policy and the Intrigues of Europes Counsels and could come off in the Match wiâ—h Spain to the King and Kingdoms mind dexâ—erously when Sir Walter Aston and my Lord of Bristol were at a loss about it to both their displeasures weakly amidst the open entertainment and secret working of that place In his attendance on the King in Scotland as Counsell or of thâ—t Kingdom he carried himself with singular sweetness and temper as it behoved him being now in fâ—vour and succeeding one of their own They thâ—â— censure his sudden advancements and great preferments consider not that Certainly the hearts of great Princes if theâ— be considered as it were in Abstract without thâ— necessities of States circumstances of time being besides their natural Extent moreover oncâ— opened and dilated with affection can take nâ— full and proportionable pleasure in the exercâ—sâ— of any narrow bounty And albeit at first theâ— give only upon choice and love of the Personâ— yet within a while themselves likewise begin tâ— love their givings and to foment their deeds nâ— less than Parents do their children Besides that by so long and so private anâ— so various consoâ—iation with a Prince of such excellent nature he had now gotten as it werâ— two lives in his own Fortune and Greatnessâ— whereas otherwise the Estate of a Favourite is aâ— the best but a Tenant at will and rarely transmitted And the moâ—e notable because it had beeâ— without any visible Eclipse or Wane in himselfâ— amidst divers variations in others How general his care appears in that amidst his more important Negotiations he condescended to this noble act oâ— charity to a Scholar and to Learning which I must for my part celebrate above all his Expences There was a collection of certain rare Manuscripâ—s
deep judgment of manyâ— Observations on the Lives of Sir Richard and Sir Jerome VVeston Earls of Portland SIr Richard Weston in his youth impaired his estate to improve himself with publick accomplishment but came off both a saver and a gainer at the last when made Chancellor of the Exchequer andâ— afterwards upon the remove of the Earl of Marlborough Iuly 15. in the fourth of King Charles Lord Treasurer of England His activity in Parliament made him considerable at Court none fitter to serve a Prince than he who commands the humor of the people Indeed where ever he was he discovered himself able and faithful 1. In his Forreign Employments his judgement was searching and reach admirable he being the first that smelt out the intentions against the Palatinate which were then in brewing and mashed with much art In his Domestick charge â—is Artifice was singular both in a faithful improvemâ—nt of the Incomes and a discreet moderation of the expences in his Masters Revenues In his Aspect there was a mixture of authority and modesty in his apprehensions quickness and solidity in his port and train a suitable dignity and correspondence with little noise and outward form An enemy to Complements yet very courâ—eous no flatterer yet of great power irreconcileable to frothy formality yet maintaining a due regard to his person and place A great Scholar he was and yet a great Staâ—es-man of various erudition and as large observation He secured himself much by Alliances with the best Nobility more by the love and what is more the esteem of a constant King it being one of the wonders of that time that my Lord of Canterbury and he who were at so much distance from one another should be so inward with their Soveraign but that that excellent Prince measured not his affections to his Dependants so much by a particular interest as by a publick serviceableness The necessity of the Exchequer put him upon some ways of supply that displeased the rabble though his three particular cares viz. The paying of the Navy the satisfying of the City and the Queen of Bohemia's supply three things he was very much intent upon while Treasurer obliged the wiser sort of men I know nothing he was defective in being careful to use his own words to perform all duties with obedience to his Majesty respect to the Duke and justice to the particular parties concerned But that he had so much of his Master's love and so little of his patience being grated as all Statesmen are that have to do with various interests and humours between a strong inclination of satisfying every man and the impossibility of pleasing all Considering the importunities of persons and affairs a little impatience must needs fall upon your Lordship wriâ—es Sir Henry Wotton to him unless you had been cut out of a Rock of Diamonds especially having been before so conversant with liberal Studies and with the â—reedom of your own mind In his time was the great Question agitated Whether a Prince should aim at the fear or the love of his People Although no Prince did more to oblige his People than the Excellent King Charles the I. Yet was there no Prince ever more advised to awe them For this Lord and many more who looked upon over-much indulgence as the greatest cruelty considering that men love at their own pleasure and to serve their own turn and that their fear depends upon the Princes pleasure were of opinion That every wise Prince ought to ground upon that which is of himself and not upon that which is of another government being set up in the world rather to trust its own power than stand upon others courtesie Besides two things the vulgar are taken with 1. Appearance 2. The event of things which if successful gains both their love and reverence Neither was the Father more exact in his Maxims thaâ— the Son in his of whose many infallible principles this was one That it was the safest way for the King's Majesty to proceed upon a Declaration that the Faction at Westminster was no Parliament upon his own and his most loyal Lords and Commons removal to Oxford And this another That provided the Gentry and Clergy were well principled and His Majesty that now is had a constant correspondence with the most eminent of them it was our Interest to promote his Majesties grandeur abroad and sit still at home until the Faction might be so secure as â—o divide and his Majesties Interest became so conspicuous by the Principles that were kept up at home and the State that was born abroad as to command all And really his little saying hath much in it He that will see what shall be let him consider what hath been For there are the same desires humours and interest in every age that were before it So that as Machiavel observeth It is very easie for him that with diligence â—xamineth past Occurrences to serve himself of those remedies which were in use among the Ancienâ—s Or if they fail to devise what is most like them Observations on the Life of William Earl of Pembrook HE was an ancient Gentleman of good repute and therefore well esteemed a proper person well set and of graceful deportment and therefore well beloved of King Iames and Queen Anne His inclination was as generous as his extraction and manners ancient as his Family One of his Ancestors is renowned for that he would condâ—scend to deliver his Embassies in no Language but Welch and he is commended for that he would comply with no customs in his converse but the old English though his Contemporaries make that his defect rather than his ornament proceeding from his want of Travel rather than his observance of Antiquity He having had only saith the Historian the breeding of England which gave him a conceited dislike of Forreign men their manners and mode or of such English as professed much advantage thereby so that the Scots and he were ever separate and therefore he was the only old Courtier that kept close to the Commonalty and they to him though never suspected by either of his Sovereigns not because he was not over-furnished with Abilities as that pen insinuates to be more than Loyal but because he had too much integrity to be less Being munificent and childless the University of Oxford hoped to be his Exâ—cutor and Pembrook-Colledge his Heir Pembrook-Colledge I say called so not only in respect to but also in expectation from him then Chancellor of the University and probably had not cut noble Lord died suddenly soon after according as a Fortune-teller had informed him whom he laughed at that very night he departed being his Birth-night this Colledge might have received more than a bare name from him He was saith one of his own time the very picture and Vive Essigies of Nobility his person rather Majestick than Elegant his presence whether quiet or in motion full of stately gravity his mind generous and
purely heroick often stout but never dislâ—â—al so vehement an opponent of the Spaniard as when that Match fell under consideration he would sometimes rouze to the trepidation of King Iames yet kept in favour still for that King knew plain dealing as a Jewel in all men so was in a Privy-Councellor an ornamental duty An instance of his familiar converse with King Iames was that the King observing that he naturally hated a Frog threw one into his neck and he in requital caused a Pig of an equal disgust with the same Prince to be put under his Close-stool where though it produced no extraordinary ill effect for the present yet after the prank had been descanted upon and worst of Interpretations made by some the title of Iews being at that time bestowed on the Scots the King was much affected with it and the more because it was done at Wilton the Earls own house Though Kings when free and sociable break out to sprightful and facetious extravagancies with Courtiers yet must they not presume lest their words are interpreted not by their meaning but others jealousie free spirits cannot be too circumspect And the same true-heartedness commended him to King Charles with whom he kept a most admirable correspondence and yet stood the firm Confident of the Commonalty and that not by a sneaking cunning but by an erect and generous prudence such as rendred him as unsuspected of ambition on the one side as of faction on the other being generally beloved and regarded Observations on the Life of the Lord Conway EDward Lord Conway succeeded to his Father's Martial skill and valour who was under the Earl of Leicester Governour of Ostend and twisted therewith peaceable Policy in State-affairs so that the Gown and the Sword met in him in most eminent proportion and thereupon King Iames advanced him one of the principal Secretaries of State For these his good services he was by him created Lord Conway of Ragleigh in this County and afterwards by King Charls Viscount Killultagh in the County of Antrim And lastly in the third of King Charles Viscount Conway of Conway in Carnarvenshireâ— England Ireland and Wales mutually embracing themselves in his Honours and not long after President of the Councel Upon the breâ—â—â— with Spain King Iames and the Duke of Buckingham both judged it very convenient to have a Martial Secretary neither was there any man fitter â—or their turn than this Gentleman who was as able to direct them in the Affairs of War abroad as he was ready to be directed by them in those of Peace at home Being one of those three remarkable Servants that King Iames used to jest upon vizâ— a Lord Treasurer meaning the Earl of Suffolâ—â— that could not cast Account a Chaplain meaninâ— Doctor Preston that could not read Pâ—â—â—â—â—â— and a Secretary meaning this Lord that 〈◊〉 not write his name Sir Richâ—rd Weston beat the Bush in the Affair of the Palatinate but Sir Edward catched the Hare his rough humour being more suitâ—ble to that business Or indeed it having been always more successful to be bold than wary to be free for all occasions than to be obstinate to some ruleâ— Fortune saith Machiavel is a Miâ—triss that isâ— sooner won by those that ruffle and force her than by others that proceed coldly Indeed he was charged with treachery and cowardize in the action against the Scots 1640. but he came off with his honest animosity saying If he mighâ— but fight their whole Army he would settle Scotland in six months or lose his head being in that of my Lord of Canterbury's opinion who assured his Majesty they would not hold out four a motion that if as easily entertained by that gracious King as it was effectually pursued by the bloody Usurpers a sad experience hath taught us and them would have prevented much mischief there more here especially since it was that wise Prince his judicious observation That they and their Confederates were a people lost by favour and won by punishment Observations on the Lives of the Digges MAster Leonard Digges was one of excellent Learning and deep judgement His â—iâ—d most inclined him to the Mathematicks and he was the best Architect in that age for all manner of Buildings for conveniency pleasure state strength being excellent at Fortifications Lest his Learning should dye with him for the publick profit he printed his Tectonicon Prognostick General Stratiotick about the ordering of an Army and other Works He flourished Anno Dom. 1556. and dyed I believe about the Reign of Queen Elizabeth when as in most growing times Arts were drowned in action Nothing else have I to observe of his name save that hereditary Learning may seem to run in the velâ—s of his Family witness Sir Dudly Digs of Chilham-Castle made Master of the Rolls in the year 1636. whose abilities will not be forgotten whilest our age hath any remembrance This Knight had a younger son of a most excellent wit and a great judgment Fellow of All-Souls in Oxford who in the beginning of our Civil Wars wrote so subtile solid a Treatise of the difference between King and Parliament that such Royalists who have since handled that Controversie have written plura non plus yea aliter rather than alia of that Subject The Son writes down those Rebellions that the Father countenanced The Father I say who by a bold impeachment against his Majesties chief Minister of State to his face taught a discontented People to draw a bolder against his Mâ—jesty himself Wherefore it was that after his undutiful Prologue Against his Majesties Prerogative in favouring his Servants the Preface to more disloyal methods against his right in governing his people he and Sir Iohn Elliot were whispered out of the Lords House when they were hottest against the Duke to speak with a Gentleman and thence sent immediately by two Pursevants that attended to the Tower where and in the Country this Gentleman lay under just displeasure until it was thought fit to take off so dangerous a piece of boldness and eloquence upon the growing distempers of the age by favour and preferment to a Neutrality at least if not to the just measures of his duty But our observation here is this That faction is one of those sins whereof the Authors repent most commonly themselves and their posterities are always ashamed Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Ridly Dr. LL. THis Knight and Doctor was born at Ely in Cambridge-shire bred first a Scholar at Eaton in Buckingham-shire then Fellow of Kings-Colledge in Cambridge He was a general Scholar in all kind of Learning especially in that which we call Melior Literatura He afterwards was Chancellor of Winchester and Vicar-general to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury His memory will never dye whilst his Book called The view of the Ecclesiastical Laws is living a book of so much merit that the Common Lawyers notwithstanding the difference betwixt the professions will ingenuously
nor the Courts-advancements of his Relations this Gentleman to sit still having both Livis's qualifications for an eminent man a great spirit and a gallant conduct for actions a sharp wit and a fluent tongue for advice Whence we meet with him Comptroller of the Kings Houshold at home and his Agent for Peace abroad equally fit for business of courage and resolution and for affairs of Councel and complement I think it was this Gentleman who foreseeing a Contest likely to ensue between the English and the Spanish Embassadors to the first whereof he belonged went to Rome privately and fetched a Certificate out of the book of Ceremonies which according to the Canon giveth the rule in such cases shewing that the King of England was to precede him of Castile a good argument because ad homines wise men having always thought fit to urge not what is most rational in its self but what all circumstances considered is most convincing Sirâ— Thomas Edmonds used to puzzle the Catholicks about six Records 1. The original of Constantine's grant of Rome to the Pope 2. St. Mark 's grant of the Adriatique Gulph to Venice 3. The Salique Law in France 4. The Instrument whereby King Iohn pasâ—ed away England to the Pope 5. The Letter of King Lucius And 6. The Ordinal of the Consecration at the Nags-head Neither did he perplex them with these Quaeries more than he angered the Faction with his principles Tertio Car. â— 1. That the King was to be trusted 2. That the Revenue was to be setled 3. That the Protestant cause was to be maintained 4. That Jealousies were to be removed and things past were to be forgotten Observations on the Life of Sir Paul Pindar HE was first a Facâ—or then a Merchant next a Consul and at last an Embassador in Tuâ—key Whence returning with a good purse and a wary Head-piece he cast about what he might do to gratifie K. Iames and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury most and finding them much pleased with acts of Charity and Piety he repaired the Entry Front and Porches of St. Paul's Cathedral to all the upper Church Quiâ—e and Chancel and enriched them with Marble structures and figures of the Apostles with carvings and guildings far exceeding their former beauty which cost above two thousand pounds the act of a good man said K. Iames who made him one of the great Farmers of the Customs in gratitude whereof Sir Paul besides his former expences took upon him to new build the South Isle which cost him above 17000 l. A Projector such necessary Evils then countenanced and be a Clergy-man too informed K. Iames how he might speedily advance his Revenue by bringing in Spiritual preferments now forsooth under-rated in the Kings books to a full value to the great encrease of first-Fruits and Tenths the King demands the Lord Treasurer Cranfield's judgement thereof he said Sir You are esteemeâ— a great lovâ—r of Learning you know Clergy-mens Education is chargeable their preferment slow and small Let it not be said you gain by grinding them other ways less obnoxious to just censure will be found out to furnish your occasions The King commended the Treasurer as doing it only for tryal adding moreover I should have accounted thee a very Knave if encouraging me herein But he sends for Sir Paul Pindar and tells him he must either raise the Customs or take this course who answered him nobly That he would lay thirty thousand pounds at his feet the morrow rather than he should be put upon such poor projects as unsuitable to his honour as to his inclination Go thy way saith the King thou art a good man Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Vane Senior THree things Henry the fourth of France said would puzzle any man 1. Whether Queen Elizabeth was a Maid 2. Whether the Prince of Orange was valiant 3. What Religion he himself was of To which I may add a fourth viz. what Sir Henry Vane was whom I know not what to call but what Mr. Baxter calleth his son a hider the Fathers life being as mystical aâ— the Sons faith men as little understanding the actions of the one as they did the writing of the other But the two powers that govern the world the best and the worst are both invisible All Northern men are reserved to others but this was too â—â—e for his own Countrey-men neither Sir Iohn Savile that brought him to Court nor Sir Thomas Wentworth that advanced him theâ—e understanding either his temper or his design He betrayed any Council he was present at and marred all the Actions he was employed in As 1. When he was sent to relate the Emperor's overture to thâ— Queen of Bohemia of thirty thousand pounds per ann and a Marriage between her eldest Son and his Daughter he did it with those ackward ciâ—cumstances that transported the good Lady to such unseasonable expressions as at that time blasted her cause and expectations And thence it 's thought he brought Sir Robert Dudley's Rhapsody of Projects to disparage the King's government under pretence of supplying his necessiâ—ies it waâ— the way of the late Underminers to relieve their Masters present need upon future inconveniences hiding themselves under Proposals plausible for the present and fatal in the consequence which juggles of his were so long too little to be considered that at last they were too great to be remedied 2. He is said to have shuffled other Conditions into the Pacification at York where he was a Commissioner than were avowed by the Lords Commissioners much insisted on by the Scots and burned by the common Hang-man as false and contrary to the true Articles 3. When sent to the House 1640. to demand 12 or 8 or six Subsidies he requireth without abatement twelve with design as it 's judged to ask so much as might enrage the Parliament to give nothing and so to be dissolved unhappily or continued unsuccessfully 4. He and his son together betray the Votes passed in the select Council taken by him privately under his â—at for the reducing of Scotland to the ruine of the Earl of Strafford and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The story is Sir Henry Vane was trusted with the Junctoâ— where he took Notes of their several opinions these Notes he puts up in his Closet A while after he delivers to his son Sir H. Vane Junior a key to fetch some papers out of a Cabinet in which he finds another key to an inward shutter which he opened and lighted upon this Paper and communicates it to Mr. Pym for the end aforesaid and upon this very Paper doest not tremble Reader at this Treason alone the House of Commons voted that brave Earl out of his Life the same day that twenty two years after the same Sir Henry Vane Junior lost his head Abselvi numen Observations on the Life of Sir Richard Hutton SIr Richard Hutton was born at Perith of a worshipful Family his elder brother was a
though Issuless by the Judge the Honour descended to his Grand-child He died an enemy to Bishop Williams over-ruling all his Pleas in his Chamber in a quarter of an hour and yet which was strange at that time no friend to Arch-Bishop Laud for he said The Lawn-sleeves had choaked him Observations on the Life of Sir Tho. Coventry A Competent Estate he had for his education and excellent Abilities for advancement his â—ortune was not wanting to his parts nor his parts to his fortune the one being as ready to support as the other was to raise him His staid soul was well prepared for general learning in the Schools University for his parâ—icular leaâ—ning at the Iâ—â—s of Court his skill in the study of Law called him no sooner to the Bar than his prudence to Court Take we his character from his Honour Why was he creaâ—ed Lord Coventry of Alisbury and Keeper of the great Sâ—al Why saith the Paâ—ent for his eminent fidelity for his most worthy service for his exact circumspection for his deep prudence for his constant resolution for his skill and dexterity for his integrity and industry for his immoveableness and fidelity No man more appâ—ehensive of the interest of England none more faithful to it His kindness to the Church and Clergy argued his piety his safe Counsels to his Majesty argued his moderation his dignity rather enjoyed him than he it A man he was that filled up his great capacities having digested a body of the most honest Law and a scheme of the most innocent policy that ever filled the head of an able Statesman or the heart of an upright Judge What belonged to him he knew and what he knew he practised He was as constant to his rule as he knew his rule was to him Reserved he was as the King's Councellor honest as his conscience We measure Pyramides by their shadows and this great Lord by his followers every one whereof was eminent in his way and all advanced Each Action of his though never so little yet great as himself so gravely did he manage it so solemnly did he perform it His orders were seldom reversed because mostly including the consent of Parties Few Attorney-Generals came off with less câ—nsure and few Lord Keepers with less guilt his Predecessors miscarriages being foils to set off his exactness Eminent as in most other Cafes so particularly in that of Pryn Bastwick and Burton against whom when after six weeks time given them to put in an effectual Answer they urged that their Adversaries the Bishops should not be their Judges He replyed smartly That by that Plea had they Libelled all the Magâ—strates in the Lâ—nd none should pass Censure upon them because all were made parties He had fifteen years enjoyed his Place not more proper to say that Dignity had enjoyed him so long this latter age â—ffording not one every way of more apt Qualifications for the place His front and presence bespake a venerable regard not inâ—eriour to any of his Antecessors His train and suit of Followers was disposed agreeable to shun both Envy and Contempt Vain and ambitious he was not his port was state though others ostentation Of what concerned his place he knew enough and which is the main acted conformable to his knowledge For in the Administration of Justice he was so erect so incorrupt as captious malice stands mute in the blemish of his Fame A miracle the greater when we consider he was also a Privy-Councellor A trust wherein he served his Master the King most faithfully and the more faithfully because of allâ— those Councels which did disserve his Majesty he was an earnest disswader and did much disaffect those sticklers who laboured to make the Prerogative rather tall than great as knowing that such men loved the King better than Charles Stuart So that although he was a Courtier and had had for his Master a Passion most intense yet had he always a passion reserved for the publick welfare an argument of a free noble and right-principled mind For what both Court and Country have always held as inconsistent is in truth erroneous And no man can be truly loyal who is not also a good Patriot nor any a good Patriot which is not truly loyal Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford SIr Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford oweth his birth to the best governed City London his breeding to the best modelled School York and a most exact Colledge St. Iohns in Cambridge his accomplishments to the best Tutors Travel and Experience and his prudence to the best School a Parliament whither he came in the most active and knowing times with a strong brain and a large heart his activity was eminent in his Country and his interest strong in Parliament where he observed much and pertinently spake little but home contrived effectually but closely carried his Designs successfully but reservedly He apprehended the publick temper as clearly and managed it to his purposes as orderly as any man He spoke least but last of all with the advantage of a clear view of others reasons the addition of his own He and his leading Confidâ—nts moulded that in a private Conference which was to be managed in a publick Assembly He made himself so considerable a Patriot that he was bought over to be a Courtier So great his Abilities that he awed a Monarchy when dis-obliged and supported it when engaged the balance turning thither where this Lord stood The North was reduced by his prudence and Ireland by his interest He did more there in two years than was done in two hundred before 1. Extinguishing the very reliques of the War 2. Setting up a standing Army 3. Modelling the Revenue 4. Removing the very roots and occasions of new troubles 5. Planting and building 6. Setling Ecclesiastical and Civil Courts 7. Recovering the hearts of the people by able Pastors and Bishops by prudent and sober Magistrates by justice and protection by obligations and rewards 8. Recovering the Churches patrimony and discipline 9. Employing most able and faithful Ministers and Instruments 10. Taking an exact view of all former Precedents Rules and Proceedings 11. An exact correspondence with his Majesty and the Favourites of England None was more conversant in the Factions Intrigues and Designs than he when a Common-wealths-man none abler to meet with them than he when a Statesman he understood their methods kenned their wiles observed their designs looked into their combinations comprehenâ—â—d their interest And as King Charls understood best of any Monarch under heaven what he could do in point of Conscience so his Strafford apprehended best of any Counsellor under the Sun what he could do in point of power He and my Lord of Canterbury having the most particular account of the state of Great Britain and Ireland of any persons living Nature is often hidden sometimes overcome seldom extinguished yet Doctrine and Discourse had much allayed the severity
of this Earl's nature and Custom more None more austere to see to none more obliging to speak with He observed pauses in his discourse to attend the motion and draw out the humour of other men at once commanding his own thoughts and watching others Hâ—s passion was rather the vigour than the disorder of his well-weighed soul which could dispense its â—nger with as much prudence as it managed any act of State He gave his Majesty safe counsel in the prosperity of his Affairs and resolute advice in Extreamity as a true servant of his interest rather â—han of his power So eminent was he and my Lord of Canterbury that Rebellion despaired of success as long as the fiâ—st lived and Schism of licentiousness as loâ—g as the second stood Take my Lord of Strafford as accused and you will find his Integrity and Ability that he managed his whole Government either by the Law or the Interest of his Countrey Take him as dying and you will see his parts and piety his resolution for himself his selâ—-resignation for the Kingdoms good his devotion for the Church whose patrimony he forbad his son upon his blessing Take him as dead you will find him glorious and renowned in these three characters The first of the best King I looked upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose great abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to employ him in the greatest Affairs of State for those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings and this was like enough to betray him to great Errors and many Enemies whereof he could not but contract great store while moving in so high a sphere and with so vâ—gorus a lustre he must needs as the Sun raise many envious exhalations which condensed by a popular Odium were capable to cast a cloud upon the brightest merit and integrity though I cannot in my judgment approve all he did driven it may be by the necessities of Times and the temper of that People more than led by his own disposition to any heighth and rigour of Action c. The second of the best Historian He was a person of a generous spirit fitted for the noblest Exercises and the most difficult parts of Empire His Counsels were bold yet just and he had a vigour proper for the execution of them Of an eloquence next that of his Masters masculine and excellent He was no less affectionate to the Church than to the State and not contented while living to defend the government and patrimony of it he commended it also to his Son when he was about to dye and charged his abhorrency of sacriledge His enemies called the Majesty of his mâ—ene in his Lieutenancy pride and the undaunted execution of his Office on the Contumacious the insolency of his fortune He was censured for that fatal error of following the King to London and to the Parliament after the Pacification at York And it was thought that if he had gone over to his Charge in Ireland he might have scoured both himself and that Kingdom for his Majesties service But some attribute this Counsel to a necessity of fate whose first stroke is at the Brain of those whom it designs to ruine and brought him to feel the effects of popular rage which himself in former Parliaments had used against Government and to finde the experience of his own devices upon the Duâ—e of Buckingham Providence teacheth us to abhor over fine Councels by the mischiefs they often bring upon their Authors The third of common fame A Gentleman he was of rare choice and singular Endowments I mean of such as modelled fashioned and accomplished him for State-conceraments of a searching and penetrating judgment nimble apprehension ready and fluent in all results of Councel Most happy in the vein of speech which was always round perspicuous and express much to the advantage of his sâ—nse and so full stocked with reason that he might be rather said to demonstrate than to argue As these abilities raised him to State-administration so his Addressing his applying those abilities so faithfully in promotion of the Royal Interest soon rendered him a Favourite of the first admission So that never King had a more intelligent and withal a firmer servant than he was to his Master But these qualities which rendred him so aimiable to his Majesty represented him formidable to the Scots so that some who were not well perswaded of the justness of his sentence thought he suffered not so much for what he had done already as for what he was like to have done had he lived to the disservice of that Nation And that he was not sacrificed so much to the Scots revenge as to their fear And certainly his fall was the first so the most fatal wound the King's Interest ever received Hâ—s three Kingdoms hardly affording another Strafford that is one man his peer in parts and fidelity to his Majesty He had a singular passion for the Government and Patrimony of the Church both which he was studious to preserve safe and sound either opening them to be of sacred extraction or at least prudent constitution relating to holy performances And had he wanted these positive graces yet in so great a Person it may be commendable that he was eminent for privative and negative Excellencies being not taxable with any Vice those petty pleasures being beneath the satisfaction of a soul so large as his In short saith the ingenious Gentleman he was a man who might have passed under a better notion had he lived in better times This last period is a question since this great Statesman and his good Masters goodness was so over-shadowed with their greatness and their vertues so lost in their power as the Sun the aptest parallel of their lustre and benificence is hid in his own light that they owe their great but glorious fame to their misfortunes and their renown to their ruine that levelled their worth otherwise as much out of their reach as their place to vulgar apprehensions Eclipsed lustre like a veiled beauty is most looked on when most covered The setting Sun is more glorious than its self in its Meridian because more low and the lowest Planet seems biggest to a common eye So faithâ—ul he was and the Arch-Bishop that in the Juncto consisting of them two and Duke Hamilton they voted a Parliament though they knew themselves the first sufferers by it and so confident of his integrity that when he had treason enough discovered at the late transactions in York touching the Scots conspiracy to charge his enemies with he waved the advantage and secure in his own innocence fell an instance of that Maxim That there is no danger small but what is thought so This was his great principle Vsurped Royalty was never laid down by perswasion from Royal clemency for in armis jus omne regni Observations on the Lives of Henry Earl of Holland and Robert Earl of Warwick HEnry