gave it him I am sorrie it is no better for thee No Sir said the Porter I must have your Gown which he gave him 19. The Lieutenant coming into his chamber to visit him professed himself obliged by former fâ—vours to entertain him nobly which since he could not do for fear of the Kings displeasure he prayed him to accept of his good will and such poor fare as he had Master Lieutenant quoth Sir Thomas I believe you are my friend I thank you for your good will and I assure you I do not mislike my cheer but whensoever I do then thrust me out of your doors 20. In the Tower he had begun a Divine Treatise of the Passion of Christ and when he came to these words of the Gospel And they laid hands on him and held him they took from him all his Books Ink and Paper so that he could go on no further Afterwards he applyed himself holly to Meditation keeping his Chamber windows fast shut and very dark the occasion whereof the Lieutenant asking It is time said he when all the wares are gone to shut up shop 21. After he had received the sentence of death he said to the Judges My Lords as wâ— read that Paul consented to the death of Stephen and yet be they now both Saints in Heaven and shall continue there friends for ever so I verily trust and shall therefore right heartily pray that though your Lordships have been now Judges on earth to my condemnation we may yet hereafter all meet together in Heaven merrily to our everlasting salvation And sâ— I pray God preserve my Soveraign Lord the King and send him faithful Councellors * See the rest if you please in this English Writer or in Stapleton's Latin book De tribus Thomis VII Sr HENRY WOTTON Out of his Life written by Mr Iz Walton D. Roberto Jones Rect. de Leckhampton SIR Henry Wotton was born An. 1568. in Bocton-Hall in the Parish of Bocton Malherb in the fruitful Country of Kent both House â—nd Church seated within a fair Park of the Wottons on the brow of such a hill as gives the advantage of a large prospect and of equal pleasure to all beholâ—ers But they are not remarkable foâ— any thing so much as for that the memorable Familie of the Wottons have so long inhabited the one and now lie buried in the other as appears by their many Monuments in that Church the Wottons being a Family that hath brought foâ—th divers Persons eminent for Wisdom and Valour whose Heroick Acts and Noble Employments both in England and in Forein parts have adorned themselves and this Nation 2. Thomas Wotton the Father of our Henrie was a Gent. excellently educated and studious in all the liberal Arts who although he had many invitations from Queen Elizabeth to change his Countrie recreations and retirement for a Court life offering him a Knighthood she was then with him at his Bocton-hall and to be but as an earnest of some more honorable and more profitable imployment under her yet he humbly refuseth both being a man of great modestie of a most plain and single heart of an antient freedom and integritie of mind A commendation which Sir Henrie took occasion ofâ—en to remember with great gladness and thankfully to boast himself the Son of such a Father from whom indeed he derived that noble Ingâ—nuitie that was alwaies practised by himself and which he ever commended and cherished in others 3. Of this Family was Nicholas Wotton Doctor of Law and sometime Dean of Canterburie a man whom God did not only blesse with a long life but with great abilities of mind and an inclination to employ them in the service of his Country as is testified by his several imployments having been sent nine times Embassador unto forein Princes a Privy Councellor to â— Henrie 8 Edward 6. Q. Marie and Q. Elizabeth who imployed him three several times for setling of peace between England Scotland and France who also offered him the Archbishoprick of Cant. but he refused it and dyed not rich though he had lived in the time of dissolution of Abbies He dyed saith learned Camden full of commendation for Wisdom and Pietie 4. The Father of Sir Henrie after the death of his first wife resolved if he should marry again to avoid three sorts of persons namely those that had children or had law suits or were of his kinred And yet following his own Lâ—wsuits he met in Westminster-hall with one Mrs Morton widoâ— daughter to Sir William Finch of Kent who â—as also ingaged in several suits in Law and observing her Comportment at the time of hearing one of her Causes before the Judges he could not but at the same time both compassionate her condition and so affect her person that although there was in her a concurrence of all those accidents against which he had resolved yet he sollicited her for a wife and obtained her By her he hâ—d our Henrie his youngest son 5. His Mother was Tutoresse to him during his childhood for â—hich care and pains he paid her every day with such visible signs of future perfection in learning as turned her imployment into a pleasing trouble After his Father took him into his particular caâ—e and disposed of him to a Tutor in his own house and when time and diligent instruction had fitted him which was very early he was sent to Winch ster School a place of stâ—ict Disâ—ipline and Order that so he might in his youth be molded into a method of living by rule And that he might be confirmed in this Regularitie he was at a fit age removed from that â—â—hool to New Coll in Oxford 6. There he â—ontinued till about the 18th year of his age and was then transplanted into Queens Coll. where within that year he wrote a Play for their private use the Tragedie of Tancredo so â—ell that the gravest of that Society declared he had in a slight exercise given an early and a solid teâ—â—imony of future abilities About the 19th year of his age he proceeded Master of Arts and at that time read in Latin three Lectures De oculo wherein having described the foâ—m motion curious composure of the eye c. in the conclusion he took a fair occasion to beautifie his discourse with a commendation of the blessing and benefit of seeing so exactly and Rhetorically as among other admirers caused that learned Italian Albericus Gentilis then professor of the Civil Law in Oxford to call him Henrice mi ocelle which dear expression of his was used by many other persons of note during his stay in the Vniversitie 7. After his Optick Lectare he was taken into such a bosom friendship with Gentilis that if it had been possible he would have breathed all his excellent knowledge both of the Mathematicks and Law into the breast of his dear Henrie for so he used to call him and though he was not able to do that yet there was
in his name which was so learnedly answered by Dr Crakanthrop There is but one way of avoiding this Dilemma and that will bring them into a greater strait than either of the other namely That they burnt him after his death for what he retracted in his life time and if they own this they must withal proclaim their unjustice â—nd cruelty to the world Let them take it in which sense they will his reasons and arguments laid down and urged in his learned works will more condemn their cause than the altering of his opinion supposing but not granting that he ever altered it can tend to their advantage â—is many clear and convincing Authorities from the holy Scriptures Councels argumentative to any indifferent person that is not â—ilfully prepossest then his own dubious perhaps imposed authoâ—ity can countervail 7. His Manifesto if it was his consisteth only in affirming or denying in bare words in his Works whatsoever is affirmed or denyed is backt with such convincing and irrefragable arguments as no man hath taken the boldnesse in above fortie years since they were written to undertake the answering of them X. Mr ABRAHAM WHEELOCK D. Tho Hyde Biblioth B. suum reddo 1. THe excellent Mr Wheelock was descended of honest plain Parents in the Country by whose pious care he was bred up at School till he was sufficiently furnished with good learning and ripe years to salute the Universitie At which time he was sent to Kings College in Cambridge where he was so sedulous and studious especially in the Orâ—ental Languages Hebrew Arabick Persian c. that he oâ—d not sooner obtain Degrâ—es thâ—n Fame both in the University and abroad 2 After he had some years enjoyed the Degree of Master of Arts in the â—â—niversity Sir Henrie Spelman that rare Antiquary and lover of his Country did allow to him an Annual stipend of thirtie pounds to explain the Saxon Tongue publickly in the Schools and the Noble Sir Thomas Adams Alderman of London did as long as Mâ— Wheelock lived constantly confeâ— upon him fortie pounds per annum for the maintenance of an Arabick Lecture which Mâ— Wheelock likewise read publickly And this they did not only out of thâ—t respect which they owed to the Vniversitie but out of the great esteem they had of Mr Wheelock's woâ—th and merits for being assured of his great Abilities they thought it not meet that so clear a lâ—ght should be hid but shine forth for the common benefit 3. After this in the year 1644 he set forth Venerable Bede's Historie in Saxon and Latin with the addition of his own learned Notes 4. The neâ—t thing he attempted was to translâ—te the Persian Evangelists into Latin which he performed and began to print some few chapters in Persian and Latin at London whither he was called to be an helper in that great woâ—k of the Biblia Polyglotta set out by that famous Pillar of learning and religion Dr Brian Walton lâ—te L. Bishop of Chester But Mr Wheelock lived only so long as to see a Specimen of the noâ—mentioned Biblia and not any entire part of it published 5. Here I must not omit that notwithstanding the eminencie of his learning and the great esteem he had among persons of excellent worth he was of such an humble deportment even to the meanest of those that addressed themselves unto him that I think without prejudice to any other in this particular he was the Phaenix of his age 6. He dyed at London being about 60 years of age and lyeth buried in St Botolphs Church near Aldersgate 7. I only adde the grateful Testimonie of learned Wase in the Preface to his exact Dictionary Clariss Dominus Wheelocus Vir mihi totique Juventuti Cantabrigiensi cum honore memorandus ut communis Doctor ac Pater linguae â—ax idem ac Orientalium imprimis vero Arabicae professor publicus FINIS
whom I had after the usual form recommended to them That they had a right to free voices in that choice I deny not only I had reason to take it unkindly that they would work underhand without me and against me It came to the poll those of my nomination carried it the Parliament begun after some hard tugging there returning home upon a recesse I was met by the way and chearfully welcomed by some hundreds 19. In no worse terms I left that my once dear Diocese when returning to Westminster I was soon called by his Majestie who was then in the North to a remove to Norwich But how I took the Tower in my way and how I have been dealt with since my repair hither I could be lavish in the sad report ever desiring my good God to enlarge my heart in thankfulnesse to him for the sensible experience I have had of his Fatherly Hand over me in the deepest of all my Afflctions and to strengthen me for whatsoever other tryals he shall be pleased to call me unto That being found faithful unto the death I may obtain that Crown of life which he hath ordained for all those that overcome See Bishop Hall's Hard Measure VI. Sr THOMAS MORE Out of his Life Written by J. H. D. Timotheo Norwood ex Int. Temp. SIR Thomas More was the only Son of Sr John More one of the Justices of the Kings Bench a man singular for his many rare perfections He was born at London in Milk-street where his Father for the most part dwelt An. 1480. shortly after his Nurse riding with him over a water and being in danger threw the Infant over a hedge into the field adjoyning The Nurse escaped and found her child safe and smiling upon her His Father pleased with the omen for his better education placed him first in S. Anthonies School and after he had gooten the Latin tongue in the family of Arch-bishop Morton where he shewed such wit and towardlynesse that the Arch-bishop used to say to the Nobles at dinner with him This child here waiting at the Table whosoever shall live to see it will prove a marvellous man 2. The Arch-bishop for his advance in learning sent him to Cant Coll. now Christ-Church in Oxford Thence he removed to New Inn an Inne of Chancery to study the Law then to Lincolns Inn where he was made Barrister And then he for some time read upon S. Austins de Civ Dei in S. Laurence Church where his Lectures were frequented by Grocin and other learned men then for three years was he â—eader in Furnivals Inn after which for about four years he gave himself to study and devotion in the Charter-house 3. He was first maried to Mr Coles daughter of New-hâ—ll in Essex and lived with her in Bucklers-burie in London where he had by her one Son and three Daughters whom he brought up in virtue and learning ofter exhorting them to take that for their meat and play but for their sauce 4. In the later end of K. Henry 7. he fell into the Kings displeasure for opposing the imposition proposed in Parliament toward the matching of the Lady Margaret into Scotland Which he argued against strongly that one of the Privy Chamber told the King A beardlesse Boy had frustrated all his expectations To avoid danger he determined to have gone over Sea but the Kings death happening soon after acquitted him of his fear 4. Noâ— is he made under-Sheriff of London by which office and his learning together he gained as himself said without grudge of conscience 400l per an for he was of Counsel in most causes choosing ever the justest side and for the most partvictorious Twice was he employed abroad by the Kings consent in some great Causes of the Merchants Being called by Cardinal Woolsie to the Kings service he excused himself at first but at last his fame and merit encreasing the King would take no denial Thus is he made Master of the requests within a month Knighted and one of the Privy Council continuing in his Majesties favour and trusty service twenty years and above In good part of which time the King was so pleased with his converse and taken with the variety of his learned and pleasant discourse that Sr Thomas scarce obtained time till he abated of his former mirth once in a month to go home to his wife and children The King upon the death of Weston without asking freely advanced him to be Treasurer of the Exchequer and in the 14 year of his Majesties raign was he chosen Speaker of the House of Commons 5. At this Parliament he crossed the Cardinal and incurred his displeasure so that in revenge he counselled the King to send Sr Thomas Embassadour into Spain commending his wisdom learning and fitnesse for that employment But Sr Thomas having declared to his Majestie how unfit a journy it was for him to undertake the nature of the Country and his complexion so disagreeing that if he were sent thither he should be sent to his grave neverthelesse being ready with the peril of his life to fulfil his Majesties pleasure the King graciously said It is not our meaning Mr More to do you hurt but to do you good we would be glad we therefore will think of some other and employ your service otherwise And such entire favour did the King bear him that upon the death of Wingfield he preferred him to be Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster 6. K. Henrie took so great pleasure in Sr Thomas's company that he would suddenly come to his house at Chelsey to be merry with him and once after dinner walking in the Garden about an hour embraced his neck After when his son Roper rejoiced at it I have no cause to be proud of it quoth Sr Thomas for if my head would win him a Castle in France it would not fail to go off 7. Sr Thomas More though in great honour and favour with his Prince was not therefore puft up with pride disdain or arrogancy but was of such a mild behaviour and excellent temper that his Son in Law witnesseth For sixteen years time and more that he dwelt in his house and was conversant with him he could never perceive him so much as onoe in a passion If he chid any for a fault it was with exceeding love and compassion if he fortuned to argue with any learned man as he was visited by many when he perceived his adversarie to be in a streit he would by some witty invention break off and fall into some other matter 8. When Sr Thomas was employed by the King in Flanders an arrogant fellow had set up a Thesis that he would answer any question could be propounded to him in what Art soever Sr Thomas made this question to be put up for him to answer An Averia capta in Withernamia sint irreplegebilia adding that there was one of the English â—mbassadors retinue that would dispute with him thereof
This Thraso not so much as understanding those terms of our Common Law became ridiculous to all the town for his bragging 9. As he walked by the Thames side near Chelsey in discourse he said Now would to our Lord upon condition that three things were well established in Christendom I were put into a sack and here presently cast into the Thames Being asked what those three things were he answered 1. That where most part of Chriistian Princes be now at mortal war they were at an universal peace 2. That where the Church of Christ is at this time sore afflicted with many errors and heresies it were settled in a perfect uniformitie of Religion 3. That whereas the Kings marriage is now brought in question it were to the glorie of God and quietness of all parties well concluded 10. When he observed any of his to spend much time in dressing themselves to be fine in their Apparel he would tell them That if God gave them not hell he should do them much wrong for they took more pains to please the world and the Divel than many even virtuous men did to clense their souls and please God 11. To his wife and children when at any time they were troubled he would say We may not look at our pleasure to go to heaven in fether-beds that is not the way For our Lord himself went thither through pain and many tribulations and the servant may not look to be in better condition than the master 12. The King sent the Bishop of Durham and Sr Thomas More Embassadors to Cambray a place then neither Imperial nor French to treat of a peace between the Emperor and the French King and Him In the conclusion Sr Thomas so worthily behaved himself procuring in the league far more advantages unto this Kingdom than at that time by the King or his Council was thought possible that for his good service in that employment the King made him Lord Chancellor and caused the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk to bring him through Westminâ—â—er-hall to his place in the Chancery Where the Duke of Norfolk in audience of all the people there assembled shewed that he was from the King himself streitly charged by commission there openly in presence of them all to make Declaration how much all England was heholding to Sr Tho. More for his good service and how worthy he was of the highest preferment in the Kingdom and how dearly his Grace loved and trusted him 13. Now upon Sr Tho More 's entrance into this honorable Office every one might perceive a very strange alteration For whereas the precedent Chancellor Wolsey would scarce look or speak to any into whose only presence none could be admitted unlesse his fingers were tipt with gold on the contrary this Chancellor the poorer and meaner the Suppliant was the more affably he would speak unto him the more attentively he would hearken to his cause and with speedy tryal dispatch him For which purpose he used commonly every afternoon to sit in his Hall that if any Person watsoever had any sute unto him they might the more boldly come into his presence and open their complaints before him To shew his integrity he professed If the parties will at my hands call for justice though my Father whom I dearly love stood on the one side and the Divel whom I extremely hate stood on the other his cause being good the Devil should have right 14. The Bishops considering his learned works in defence of religion and knowing that for all his Princes favour he was no rich man nor advanced in yearly revenues as his worthinesse deserved agreed together in Convocation and concluded upon a sum of four or five thousand pounds to recompence him for his pains â—onstal and some other Bishops repaired to him and declared That albeit they could not according to his deserts so worthily requite him as they gladly would but must refer that only to the goodness of God yet for a small part of recompence in respect of his estate so unequal to his worthinesse in the name of their whole Convocation they presented to him that sum which they desired him to accept of To whom he answered That like as it was no small comfort to him that so wise and learned men so well accepted of his doings for which he never intended to receive reward but at the hands of God only to whom alone was the thanks thereof chiefly to be ascribed so also he most humbly thanked the Honors for their bountiful consideration But for all their importunity they could not fasten it upon him nor would he suffer them to bestow it upon his wife and children 15. He behaved himself in his office of the Chancellorship for the space of two years and a half so wisely that none could mend his doings so uprightly that none could take exception against him so dextrously that t is to be supposed never any man before or since did that which he did For he had taken such order for the dispatching of all mens causes that on a time sitting as Judge there and having finished one cause calling for the next to be heard answer was made That there was not one cause more depending This he caused to be set down upon Record 16. After he had obtained of the King a discharge from his office he fell into his Majesties displeasure about râ—â— Marriage And then was he accused for receiving a bribe from one Vaughans wife The matter being laid to his charge before the Council he confessed that a gâ—â— Cup being long after a certain Decree brought him for a neâ— years gift and pressed on him in courtesie he received it Whereupon his Adversary with much joy said Lo my Lords did I not tell you that you should find the matter true Sr Thomas desiring their Lordships â—o hear him out It is true said â—e I did being much urged receive that Cup but immediately caused my Butler to fill it with wine drank to the Gentle â—oman and freelie gave it to her again to be presented to her husband as a New years gift for him This being testified presently upon oath of the party her self and others the mountain was delivered of a Mouse 17. After the King's indignation against Sir Thomas More the Duke of Norfolk and He chanced to fall in discourse and amongst other talk the Duke said unto him By the Masse Mr More it is perillous strivâ—ng with Princes and therefore I would wish you somewhat to incline to the Kings pleasure For Indignatio Principis â—oâ—s est Is that all my Lord said Sir Thomas Then in good faith is there no more difference betwixt your Grace and me but that I shall dye to day and you to morrow 18. When he was sent unto the Tower for not swearing to the Oath of Supremacy and Succession at his entrance there the Porter demanded of him his upper garment Mr Porter said he here it is and took off his Cap and
in Sir Harrie such a propensity and connaturalnesse to the Italian language and those studies whereof Gentilis was a great Master that this friendship between them did dayly increase and proved dayly advantageous to Sir Henrie for the improvement of him in several Sciences Among his other friends in Oxford I must not omit the mention of a love there begun between him and Dr Donne whom he of this nation who pretends to learning or ingenuity and is ignorant of deseâ—ves not to knoâ— This friendship was generously elemented and as it was begun in their Youth in the â—niversity and there maintained by correspondent inclination and studies so it lasted till Age and Death forced a separation 8. The year after Sir Henrie proceeded Master of Arts his Father whom he did never mention without this or some like reverential expression That good man my Father changed this for a better life leaving to Sr Henry as to his other younger sons a rent charge of an hundred Marks a year to be paid for ever out of one of his Mâ—nnors of a much greater value About two years after being about tâ—o and twenty and having to his great Wit added the ballast of Learning he laid aside his Books and betook himself to travel and a more general conversation with Mankind imploying the remaining part of his youth to purchase the rich treasure of forein knowledg Of which both for the secrets of nature the dispositions of many Nations their several Laws and Languages he became the possessor in a very large meâ—sure 9. In his Travels which was almost nine years befoâ—e his return into England he stayed but one year in France and most of that in Geneva where he became acquainted with Theodore Beza then very aged and with Isaac Casaubon that most learned man Three of the remaining eight years were spent in Germanie the other five in Italy the stage on which God appointed he should act a great part of his life where both in Rome Venice and Florence he became acquainted with the most eminent men for learning and all manner of Arts as Picture Sculpture Chymistrie Architecture and divers other manual Arts even Arts of inferiour nature of all which he was a most dear lover and a most excellent Judge 12. He returned out of Italy into England â—bout the 30 â—h year of his Age being then noted by many both for his person and comportment For indeed he was of a choice shape tall of stature and of a most pleasant behaviour which was so mixed with sweet discourse and civilities as gained him much love from all persons with whom he entred into an acquaintance And whereas he was noted in his youth to have a sharp wit and apt to jest That by time travel and conversation was so polished and made useful that his companie seemed to be one of the delights of mankind In so much as Robert Earl of Essex then one of the darlings of fortune invited him first into a friendship and after a knowledge of his great Abilities to be one of his Secretaries After the Earls Apprehension he passed into France and thence into Italy After some stay in France where he met with his old friend Vietta then Secretary to the great Duke he went the fourth time to visit Rome and injoyed the company of his friends notwithstanding his Religion in the English Colledge and satisfied himself concerning some curiosities 11. After his return to Florence the Duke having intercepted certain Letters that discovered a design to take away the life of the then King of Scots sent Sir Henrie to impart it to the King under the name of Octovio Baldi an Italian Having deliverd his Letters and Message and privately told the King that he was indeed an English-man he abode there three months with much pleasure to his Majestie and so returned to Florence with a fair account of his imployment Queen Elizabeth some few months after departed and King James was proclaimed When he was come into England he commanded the Lord Wotton to send for his Brother Henrie Being brought to the King he took him in his arms and bade him welcome by the name of Octovio Baldi saying He was the most honest and therefore the best dissembler that ever he met with adding Since I know you neither want learning travel nor experience and that I have had so real a testimonie of your faithfulness and abilities to manage an Embassage I shall make use of you in that kind hereafter And indeed the King did so moâ—â— of those 22 years of his raign but before he dismist Octavio Baldi from his present attendance upon him he restoâ—ed him to his old name of Henrie Wotton by which he then Knighted him 12. Not long after this the King having resolved according to his Motto Beati pacifici to have a friendship with his neighbour Kingdoms of France and Spain and also for divers weighty reasons to enter into an alliance with the State of Venâ—ce and to that end to send Ambassadors to these several places did propose the choice of these employments to Sir Henrie Wotton Who considering the smalnesse of his own estate which he never took care to augment and knowing the Courts of great Princes to be sumptuous and necessarily expensive inclined most to that of Venice as being a place of moâ—e retirement and best suiting with his Genius who did ever love to joyn with businesse studâ—e and a trayal of natural experience for which fruitfâ—l Italy that darling of nature and cherisher of all arts is so justly famed in all parts of the Christian World Having therefoâ—e resolved upon Venice and a large allowance being appointed by the King for his voyage thither and a settled mâ—intenance during his stay there he left England nobly accompained through France to Venice by Gentlemen of the best Families anâ— Breeding that this Nation afforded Sir Albertus Morton his Nepheâ— went his Secretarie and William Bedel a man of choice learning and sâ—nctified wisdom his Chaplain 13. An. 1605. Sir Henrie Wotton was received by the State of Venice with much honour and gladnesse both for that he deliverd his Embassage most elegantly in the Italian Language and came also in such a juncture of time as his Masters friendship seemed useful for that Republick In the contention with the Pope which lasted several years the Venetians still acquainted K. James with their proceedings by the help of Sir Henrie Wotton Mr Bedel and Padre Paulo whom the Venetians did then call to be one of their Consultors of State and with his pen to defend their cause Which was by him so performed that the Pope saw plainly he had weakned his power by exceeding it and offered the Venetians Absolution upon very easie terms which the Venetians still slighting did at last obtain by that which was scarce so much as a shew of acknowledging it These ontests were the occasion of Padre Paulo his knowledge and interest with K. James for