place with the awe of his presence and the influence of his Authority that he was at once its support and its glory Indeed Courts being those Epitomes wherethrough strangers look into Kingdomes should be Royally set off as with Utensils so with attendance that might possess all Comers with reverence there and fear elsewhere His Person graced his Imployment and therefore his Majesty honoured his Person with the Order of the Garter and the Title of Lord Russel and that his Preferment might keep pace with his Honour he is made Lord Privy Seal and his Nephew Sir John Gage Controller His Honour slacked not his Activity but improved it neither was his Vertue onely violent in Ambition and dull in Authority Power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring therefore my Lord to his Staff added his Sword and to his Court-honour his Field-service as Lieutenant-General before Muttrel and Marshal before Buâ—oign to the relief of the first whereof he drew Mounsieur Bies that his Majejesty might take the second In the Camp he drew up the Designes in the Field he managed the Treasure and in Action to him was intrusted the Conduct and manage In the Kings last Will and Testament he was the fifth person and in his Sons Council the fifth to whom he discovered a French Plot the first year of his Raign and for whom he broke the Devonshire Rebels what with delays what with stratagems to divide them according to their several Inclinations the second for which service he was made Earl of Bedford The third in the Faction at home between the Seymours and the Dudleys he was Neuter in the Treaties abroad between the French King and his Majesty of England he was Principal where he observed three Rules 1. That there should be a general Muster at home while this Treaty went on abroad 2. That there should be a blow given the Scots before there was a Peace made with the French 3. That we should first know the French Overtures before we made our own But while he was here he discovered a Plot that the Emperour had to transport the Lady Mary over to his Dominions and thereby bring her Brother to his terms whereupon he with 200 men watcheth one Port the Duke of Somerset with 200 more a second and Master St. Leiger with 400 men a third while the Lady was fetched by my Lord Chancellor to the King But while he was serving his Master the King abroad his Friend the Protector wanted his advice and assistance at home 〈…〉 he being of purpose sent out of the way while thaâ— unfortunate Duke is first betrayed by his own folly and then ruined by his Enemies Power I finde his hand among the rest of the Counsellors in a Letter to Queen Mary but not in Arms against her He was concluded by the major Vote to a Commission for Peace but not to Action for conscience sake Faithful he is therefore to her in Council and serviceable in Spain and France from the first of which places he brought her a Husband and from the second a Treasure He understood her Right and disputed not her Religion regarding not so much her Opinion as his own Duty not what she was but what he should be And thus he behaved himself until his dear Mistress Elizabeth took him for one of her Protestant Counsellours to balance her Popish ones and not onely of her Council but of her Cabinet for as every man must have his Friend to ease his heart so Princes have their Favourites to partake of their cares and the Marquess of Northampton the Earl of Bedford and Sir William Cecil were the onely Persons to whom the Queen communicated her designe of Reformation and correcting the Common-prayer and they ordered affairs so that the Protestants should be in hope and yet the Papists should not be out of hope King Philip had a quarrel with the Queen for rejecting his suit the King of Sweden for slighting his Son the King of France in his Wives Right the Queen of Scots in her Own and the Pope for excluding his Supremacie her Subjects were as unsettled in their Loyalty as in their Religion What remained but that my Lord of Bedford and Sir William Cecil should make up a well-tempered House of Commons by their Interest who should carry along an indifferent House of Lords by their Resolution When he had served the Queen in Parliament for the settlement of her Kingdom at home he served the Kingdom in an Embassie to Scotland to set up its correspondence abroad The Earl of Leicester aimed at the Queen of England and the Earl of Bedford to divert him and secure Scotland design'd him for the Queen of Scots whom he watched for two things 1. That she should either match with an English Subject or 2. With a soft and weak Forreigner that either the Scots might be in league with us or have no peace at home His last service I finde is a complement when he was sent by the Queen as her Deputy with a font of massie Gold worth 1043 l. to hold King James at his Baptism with express command not to acknowledge my Lord Darley as King This his service was as lasting as his life which ended in old Age and Renown He conveyed his Vertue and Honour to the Excellent Francis as he did to the Right Honourable William Earl of Bedford now living Observations on the Life of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester THe tuition of the Earl of Dorset's Children raised Wolsey travelling with the Duke of Norfolk's raised Gardiner Fox his service in the quality of Secretary made the first and his in the same quality made Gardiner There are three kindes of Understanding The one that is advised by its self the second that understandeth when it is informed by another the third that neither is advised by its self nor by the assistance of another If this Doctor failed in the first and his own invention he exceeded in the second of making use of others for he was one of them that never heard or read what was not his own His Profession was the Civil Law that guideth forreign Negotiations His Inclination was that general Policy that manageth them His Eminencies were three 1. His Reservedness Whereby he never did what he aimed at never aimed at what he intended never intended what he said and never said what he thought whereby he carried it so that others should do his business when they opposed it and he should undermine theirs when he seemed to promote it A man that was to be traced like the Fox and read like Hebrew backward If you would know what he did you must observe what he did not 2. His Boldness Authority sometimes meets with those impediments which neither power can overcome nor good fortune divert if Courage and Fortitude break not through and surmount them and the motions of the irascible faculties such as Hope Boldness and Choler being well ordered and
World the good Knight was forced out of his house and the Kingdom He was the first that said Policy is not the learning of some Rules but the Observation of Circumstances with a present minde in all junctures of affairs which he would say was their happiness onely that had good memories For when one said he had seen much heard more and read most You were said he a more compleat man could you say I remembered as much Secretary Walsingham would say My Lord stay a little and we shall have done the sooner Secretary Cecil said It shall never be said of me That I will defer till to morrow what I can do to day And Sir Richard Morisin Give me this day and take the next your self Noble was his Resolution when he said He scorned to take pensions from an Emperour of Germany since an Emperour of Germany took pay of the King of England His statute was something tall and procured him reverence his temper reserved and commanding security to his person and his business He that knoweth to speak well knoweth also where he must hold his peace said the old Graecian Think an hour before you speak and a day before you promise said this English-Roman With Ferdinand the Emperour he prevailed for the Popes assistance and with Maximilian for his Masters against the French Never was his Master Henry so high as to set him above treating nor his Soveraign Edward so low as to make him afraid of War although he looked upon the way of Treaties as a retiring from fighting like Beasts to arguing like men whose strength should be more in their Understandings then in their Limbs I have said a great Prince greater confidence in my Reason then in my Sword and am so resolved to yeild to the first that I thought neither my self nor others should use the second if once we rightly understood one another It 's humane to use Reason rather than Force and Christian to seek peace and ensue it Christian was his Temper and Religious his carriage so charitable that he relieved the Confessors as though he had been none himself and so constant that he continued his sufferings as if there were no other Much good did his Countenance do the Exiles in the Courts of Forreign Princes and more his Authority at the Troubles of Frankford where his Motive to love was the hatred of the Enemy Observations on the Life of Doctor Nicholas Wotton NIcholas Wotton son to Sir Robert born at Bockton-malherb in the County of Kent a place so named from some noxious and malignant herbs growing therein was bred in Oxon Doctor of the Civil Laws and was the first Dean â—f the two Metropolitan Churches of Ganterbury and York He was Privy-Counsellour to four successive Soveraigns viz. 〈…〉 ing Henry the VIII Edward the VI. Queen Mary Elizabeth He was employed thirteen several times in Emassies to Forreign Princes Five times to Charles the Fifth Emperour Once to Philip his son King of Spain Once to Francis the First King of France Once to Mary Queen of Hungary Governess of he Netherlands Twice to William Duke of Cleve Once to renew the peace between England France and Scotland Anno 1540. Again to the same purpose at Cambray Anno 1549. Once sent Commissioner with others to Edenburgh in Scotland 1560. He refused the Archbishoprick of Canterbury proferred him in the first of Queen Elizabeth He died January 26. in 1566. being about seventy years of Age and was buried in Canterbury Justinian reduced the Law of Nations to one Body and Doctor Wotton comprehended them in one Soul Publick was his spirit and such his thoughts That profession that was designed for the settlement of the worlds commerce was now confined to a Bishops Court a Churchwardens Oath or a rich mans Will when this excellent Person first enlarged it as far as the sea in the Cases of the Admiralty and as wide as the world in the Negotiations of Embassie Others were trusted with the Interest of Princes He with that of Nations He that saw him would think he could deny nothing so modest Scholar-like his looks He that heard him would judge he would grant nothing so undeniable his Reason so irrefragable his Arguments His speech was as ready as his resolution was present His apprehension quick and clear his method exact his reading vast and indefatigable his memory strong as to things though not to words tenacious his elocution copious and flowing What 〈…〉 Henry Wotton said of sir Philip Sidney I may say 〈◊〉 Nicholas Wotton That he was the very measure of congruity What that Counsellour writ to the Frence King in a great sheet when he required his Advice that our Doctor advised our Princes in several Discourses viz. Madus A Mean Sir said King Henry to him now not forty years old I have sent a Head by Cromwel a Purse by Wolsey a Sword by Brandon and I must now send the Law by You to treat with my Enemies Augustus lamented for Varrus his death because he said Now I have none in my Countrey to tell me the truth With Wotton went off that faithfulness that Peasants have and Princes want None more resolute abroad none more bold and downright at home His plain dealing saved King Henry some Treasure King Edward the North Queen Mary Calice for a while and Queen Elizabeth her Faith and Crown A Vertue that made him the Overseer of most Forreign Ministers Actions abroad and one of the sixteen Executors of King Henry's Will and Testament at home Gardiner was sly and close but Wotton prudent and wise In the Treaty at Calice there are two things remarkable of our Doctor 1. That he first insisted on the peace with France before that of Scotland 2. He would say Rather give away Calice then reserve a Right in it fifteen years hence for never was the Interest of any Nation so constant as to keep a promise half so many years Indeed Sir Cecil's reach went no further for a Layman then Doctor Wotton for a Church-man Therefore they two were pitched upon for the management of the Intrigues and Affairs of Scotland Many envied this happy man but none could be without him who was the Oracle of both Laws at Councels who could sum up the merit of any Cause recollect the circumstances of any Affair and shew Tables of Trade Commerce Situations Counsels Revenue Interest c. the readiest and exactest any in England But all these Qualifications must die and he with them leaving it as his Advice First To Church-men To understand well the Common and Canon-Law as well as the Divine by the first whereof they might understand their right as by the second they informed themselves and othersâ— their duty Secondly To Statesmen Travel and History Thirdly To Embassadors 1. A good Purse 2. A noble and sober Train 3. Constant correspondent and observation 4. A happy medley of Debonaiâ— ness and Complacency Reservedness and Gravity with the first he had taken
its Men. He liv'd and di'd in Arms Bulioign saw him first a Souldier and Bulloign saw him last the best Camp-Master in all Christendom always observing three things 1. The Situation of his Camp to secure his Army 2. The Accommodation of it to supply it 3. His Retreat to draw off the Avenues to be guarded with Souldiers and strengthened with Redoubts which he made Triangular that more men might engage the Enemy at once during erection whereof the Army was pallisado'd in the Front with stakes headed with iron on both Ends five foot long and stuck slope-wise into the ground to keep off both Horse and Foot the Foot-Sentinels were without the Redoubts the Horse-Guards beyond them at distance enough to descry the Enemy and not too much to retire to their works A serious and plodding brow bespoke this Noble Knights deep Prudence and a smart look his resolved Valour Observations on the Life of Sir Charles Somerset SIr Charles Somerset afterward Lord Herbert of Gower c. endeared himself to King Henry as much for his Maxime That Reason of State was Reason of Law as for his Advice That the King should never stick at Law in case of Publique God and yet that all his Acts for publique Good should come as near as possible to the Law So Popular was this Gentleman that he received all the Petitions against Empson and Dudley yet so loyal that he advised his Master neither to spare those Leeches lest any should presume to alienat◠his Peoples affections from him by Extortions for the future nor yet too severely to punish them left any should be discouraged to serve the Crow◠for the present for indeed Empson and Dud 〈…〉 suffered for that which others were advanced for◠the Parliament punished them for putting their Laws in execution and the King deserted them for improving his Exchequer to a Treasury Two things this Lord advised his Master to before he put the Crown upon his head 1. To redress the Peoples Grievances under his Father 2. To marry not in France where he had a Title A Kingdom so near us that by reason of mutual jealousies we may have peace with it sometimes but Friendship never In the Houshold he was Lord Chamberlain so discreet his Carriage In the French Expedition Anno 1513. he was General so noble his Conduct His Assistants were the Earls of Northumberland Shrewsbury Kent and Wiltshire his Followers the Lord Audley De la Ware Carew and Curson c. Therouene he besiegeth in good Order and with Welsey's advice who had lived long in that Town understands all the Avenues of it and with Sir Oughtred Sir Henry Guilford Sir Edward Poynings Sir Charles Branden and Sir Baynam's assistance sprung several Mines repulsed the French Relief and the City-Assailants so that the Town was yeilded August 22. 1513. and upon Maximilian's Intreaty razed as he did Tournay September 22. Herbert was for razing this place as farther from us than Therouene but Wolsey for the Bishopricks sake is for the garisoning of it as a Trophy The King recollecting his former occasions Febr. 3. 1514. thought he could not do a more just or a more prudent Act then recompence his Noble Servants but the cheapest way I mean that of Honour as he did old Somerset with the Earldom of Worcester With this Honour at home is joyned another abroad viz. That of Embassie to Maximilian where he reached that Germans depths and clearly demonstrated that those fond and impossible Offers of the Empire were but Artifices rather then Kindnesses to drain the Kings Treasure rather than enlarge his Dominions Advising him to raise a Citadel at Tournay and an Army in Normandy He finished the Espousals between the Princess Mary and the Dolphin and delivered Tournay by the same token that he would not let the Mareschal de Chastilion to enter with Banner displayed but rolled up it being as he said who when Lord Herbert was at the taking of it voluntarily yeilded up and not gotten by Conquest and then bestowed himself with Sir Richard Wingfield for the great enterview between King Francis and King Henry an interview I know not whether more solemn or more dangerous Kings cannot meet without great state and they seldom part without much envy who never are further asunder then when they meet His most eminent Action here was the Device of that Motto Cui adhaereo praeest a Motto that speaks the Honour of England and the Interest of Europe Observations on the Life of Thomas Grey Marquess of Dorset THe Kings Wars called for Souldiers and his Peace for Statesmen and here is a Person ex utroque magnus When the whole design for the Invasion of France was ripened this Marquess is made General and attended by the Lord Thomas Howard the Lords Brook Willoughby and Ferrers with divers Knights Gentlemen and others to the number of ten thousand men armed not onely with Bows but Halberts He distresseth Navar to a submission to his Master forceth his way to Bayon and with Sir John Styles assistance kept up the English Honour above that of France and the Empire keeping close to his Commission and not stirring a foot without express Orders from Ireland although his presence countenanced some actions his hands could not perform Three things he was very careful of 1. Of Good pay lest his Souldiers mutined 2. Of Good Diet and Quarters lest they failed 3. Of Order Discipline and Temperance especially in strange Climates lest they should be distempered Two things he was unsuccessful for 1. The narrowness of his Commission 2. The reach of Ferdinand who designed the conquest of Navar rather than of France Yet what reputation he lost by Land Sir Edward Howard gained by Sea commanding the French ships to their Harbours over-running Britaign and with Sir Tho. Knevet the Master of the Horse Sir Jo. Carew and Sir Guilford's assistance gave Law in the Mediterranean until he awed the Neighbour-Princes to terms as honourable for his Master as dishonourable for themselves now we finde him valiant in earnest at Sea anon so in jest at Court at the solemn Justs proclaimed by Francis de Valois Duke of Angoulesm in France his Nature being not stinted but equally free to debonair and serious Enterprizes of Pleasure or of Honour where six Germans were at his mercy and four Frenchmen at his feet His spirit equalled those active times and his temper his spirit Three things set him up 1. His large expences for shew at Court 2. His strength and manhood at Justs 3. His skill and experience in the Field He was the best for embatteling an Army in those times observing 1. The number strength and experience of his Camp 2. The nature and extent of the place whether champaign or inclosed hilly or plain wooddy or moorish straight or large that he might accordingly dispose of distances and stands 3. Inclosures he aimed at for his Foot and Champaign for his Horse together with the advantages of
2. For his Popularity in advancing the Benevolence 52000 l. beyond expectation The Scots must have War as long as there is Poverty in their Country and Interest in France This Noble Earl cutteth off the Invaders layeth waste the Country and that the source of those troubles might be damned up entreth France with 80000 men and after some skirmishes brought the King thereof to a peace and submission In pursuance whereof while King Henry was in Bologn he made his Will wherein the Earl of Hertford Lord High Chamberlain is appointed Principal Counsellour to his Nephew and not long after he dieth and leaves the Kingdome to his son and his son to his Uncle whom the common Vote made Protector and Interest a Moderator of the Council which the times required able but their humours made factious The peace with King Francis and the Emperour was but uncertain the Scots were irreconcileable the Pope implacable Religion unsetled the Clergy out of frame the People distracted and the Nobility at variance A great Counsellour King Henry leaves his son and a greater his Uncle makes him In counsel is stability things will have their first or second agitation if they be not tossed upon the Arguments of Counsel they will be tossed upon the Waves of Fortune But yet this Lord miscarried in that the Council understood him better then he did them And he advised with them rather in publick where men speak warily and in compliance with others humour then in private where they deliver themselves more freely and agreeably to their own humours The Rule is Ask an inferiour mans advice in private that he may be free and a superiours in publick that he may be respectful But he did well 1. In that the same matter if weighed was never propounded and resolved the same day 2. In that he had fixed days of petitions for the peoples and his own ease 3. In that he poyzed his Committees of contrary Inclinations that watched and balanced each other to a moderation most safe for the Kingdome and himself 4. That he had of all Professions such at his command as opened the state of a business before any Commissioners debated it 5. That he seldome discovered his own inclination left it byassed his Counsel 6. That to prevent a Combination in the Council he weakned their power and priviledges their credit their dependencies either by office or expectation their opportunities and correspondencies so that he could easily remove any when faulty discover any when dangerous disgrace any when bold and not fit to be entrusted with the Counsels Resolves Deliberations and Necessities of the State In order to which he had two useful Resolutions 1. To suppress Calumnies 2. To encourage Accusations His first Acts were Shew and Pomp necessary for Greatness viz. The Knighting of the King and making himself Duke His next are Realities as 1. His modelling the Country for a Parliament considering the temper of the people and the pulse of the last Parliament redressing Grievances setling Elections by such Legal Rules as that the people should not be corrupted with money overborn by importunity transported by fear or favour to an unworthy or an unsuitable choice and taking a just time to prepare the people for the designed settlement by his grave and sober Injunctions by godly and good Books of Instructions by a wholsome form of Prayer composed at Windsor by a more exact translation of the Bible by several Proclamations for moderation and order on all hands by inhibiting all Preachers but such learned sober grave and discreet men as were Licensed thereunto under the Lord Protector 's and my Lord of Canterbury's hand 2. His promoting the Match with Scotland first by Ambassadours and then by an Army whose order was this viz. The avant-guard of 3 or 4000 foot-men at Arms and 600 light-horse led by the Earl of Warwick the main Battle of 6000 foot and 600 men at Arms and 1000 light-horse led by the Protector and the Rear of half so many led by the Lord Dacres the Artillery of 16 Pieces of Ordnance making one Wing the men at Arms and Demilances the other For the Avant-guard and half of the Battel riding about two flight-shot from their side the other half of the Battel and the whole Flank of the Rear was closed by the Carriages being 12000 Carts and Waggons the rest of the men at Arms and Demilances marching behind A few skirmishes and stratagems passed when a Trumpeter is sent by Huntley to challenge the Protector to whom the Protector replying like a wise man That it was not for a person of his trust to duel it with a private man The Earl of Warwick said Trumpeter bring me word that thy Master will perform the Combat with me and I 'll give thee 100 Crowns Nay rather said our Duke bring me word that he will give us Battle and I will give thee 1000 l. But in 25 days he gains a greater Battle over-runs the Country with the loss of no more then 65 men to that of 25000 Scots 3. His third Exploit was Dispensing Honours so nobly that they were due encouragements to Vertue though yet so warily that they should not be either a burden or a danger to the Crown 4. He gave the Commonalty great content in pulling down Enclosures by Proclamations and the Nobility no less by setting up Land-improvements by Rule 5. He engaged both by a good bargain of Church-lands confirmed by this Parliament 6. He weakneth the Papists 1. By conniving at them until they broke out to such outrages as made them lyable 2. By dividing them when engaged with hope of mercy on the one hand and fear of his Army on the other 7. The French taking the advantage of our seditions to break off their Treaty and proclaim a War he confiscates their Estates and secures the persons of as many of them as lived in England But Greatness is fatal and his Brother that should have supported this great man ruines himself and him He had married a Lady high in spirit his Brother the Queen-Dowager higher in place the Ladies quarrel first and then as it must needs follow the Lords Thomas the Admiral is questioned for aiming at the Crown 1. By marrying the Lady Elizabeth and then by seizing the Kings person and the Government so honest this Protector a plain man and of no over-deep insight into Practices that he gave way to his Tryal saying though somewhat ominous as it happened I 'll do and suffer Justice so Uxorious that he sealed his death And now he stands alone wanting his Brothers cunning to reach Warwick or his resolution to check Norfolk The people are troubled at that one weak and unjustifiable Act of his The pulling down of so many of Gods Churches in the City to build one Someset-house in the Strand The Earl takes notice of their discontent and assembleth eighteen discontented Counsellours who arm themselves and their followers
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 examineth past Occurrences to serve himself of those remedies which were in use among the Ancients 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 depâ—rtment and therefore well beloved of King â—ames and Queen Anne His inclination was as geâ—erous as his extraction and manners ancient as â—is Family One of his Ancestors is renowned for that he would condescend to deliver his Embassies 〈◊〉 no Language but Welch and he is commended for that he would comply with no customes in his conâ—â—â—se but the old English though his Contemâ—oraries make that his defect rather than his ornaâ—ent proceeding from his want of Travel rather â—â—an his observance of Antiquity He having had â—â—ely saith the Historian the breeding of Engâ—and which gave him a conceited dislike of Foreign 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 onely old Courtier that kept close to the Commonalty and they to him though never suspected by either of his Soveraigns 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 lesse Being munificent and Childlesse the University oâ— Oxford hoped to be his Executor and Pembrook-Colledge his Heir Pembrook-Colledge I say calleâ— so not onely in respect to but also in expectatioâ— from him then Chancellor of the University and probably had not our noble Lord died suddenly soon after according as a Fortune-teller had informed him whom he laughed at that very nighâ— 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 Effigies of Nobility his person rather Majestick than Elegant his presence whether quiet or in motion full of stately gravity his minde generous and purely heroick often stout but never disloyal so vehemen an opponent of the Spanyard as when thaâ— Match fell under consideration he would sometimes rouze to the trepidation of King James yet kept in favour still for that King knew plaiâ— dealing as a Jewel in all men so was in a Privyâ— Councellor an ornamental duty An instance oâ— his familiar converse with King James was thaâ— the King observing that he naturally hated Frog threw one into his neck and he in requiâ—tal caused a Pig of an equal disgust with the samâ— 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 Jewes 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-heartednesse 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 James 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 Charles Viscount Killultagh in the County of Antrim And lastly in the third of King Charles Viscount Conway of Conway in Carnarvan-shire England Ireland and Wales mutually embracing themselves in his Honours and not long after President of the Councel Upon the breach with Spain King James and the Duke of Buckingham both judged it very convenient to have a Martial Secretary neither was there any man fitter for their turn then 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 James used to jest upon viz. a Lord Treasurer meaning the Earl of Suffolk that could not cast Account a Chaplain meaning Doctor Preston that could not read Prayers and a Secretary meaning this Lord that could not write his name Sir Richard Weston beat the Bush in the Affair of the Palatinate but Sir Edward catched the Hare his rough humour being more suitable to that business Or inded it having been always more successful to be bold than wary to be free for all occasions than to be obstinate to some rules Fortune saith Machiavel is a Mistriss that is 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 might but fight their whole Army he would settle Scotland in six moneths 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 minde 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
always merry that laughed 2. The world is undone by looking on things at distance 3. To aim at Honour here is to set up a Court of Arms over a Prison-gate 4. If I would employ my Goods well I may be contented to loose them if ill I should be glad 5. He that is covetous when he is old is as a Thief that steals when he is going to the Gallows 6. Bags of Gold to us when Saints will be but as a bag of pebble-stones when men 7 The greatest punishment in the world were to have our wishes 8. Pusillanimity is a great temptation 9. Affliction undoes many Pleasure most 10. We go to Hell with more pain then we might go to Heaven with Of Heresie he said Like as before a great storm the Sea swelleth and hath unwonted motions without any wind stirring so may we see here many of our English-men which a few years ago could not endure to hear the name of an Heretick or Schismatick now to be contented both to suffer them and to praise them somewhat yea to learn by little and little as much as they can be suffered to finde fault and to tax willingly the Church the Clergy and the Ceremonies 11. The more of any thing else we have but Riches the more good we are 12. Who would not send his Alms to heaven who would not send his Estate whither he is to be banished 13. Some men hate Hypocrisie and love Impudence 14. When any detracted others at his Table he said Let any man think as he pleaseth I like this room well 15. It 's easier to to prevent then redress Indeed throughout his Works he argueth sharply he reasoneth profoundly he urgeth aptly stateeth exactly expresseth himself elegantly and discourseth learnedly He would rather convince then punish yet he would rather punish then indulge them his Epitaph bespeaking him grievous to Hereticks Thieves and Murtherers When King Henry scrupled his first marriage Sir Thomas told him That neither he nor my Lord of Durham were so fit to advise him in that case as St. Augustine St. Jerome and the other Fathers His advice was so unseasonable that it opposed the King yet so grave and honest that it pleased him His Experience and Prudence had a fore-sight next door to Prophecy and from the unquiet times of King Henry did he guess the ruine of King Charles He converted many with his Arguments more with his Prayers which workt wonders of reformation on the erroneous as they did of recovery on the weak He wished three things to Christendome 1. An Universal Peace 2. An Uniform Religion 3. A Reformation rather of Lives then Religion He never asked any thing of his Majesty but Employment and never took any thing more acceptable then Service His Alms were liberal to his Neighbours and good works numerous towards God He would take no Fees from the Poor and but moderate ones from the Rich. All London was obliged to him for his Counsel at home and all England for his Peace at Cambray where he out-did expectation The King raised him to the Chancellourship but not to his own opinion he professed he would serve his Majesty but he must obey his God he would keep the Kings conscience and his own His Wisdome and Parts advanced him his Innocence and Integrity ruined him his Wit pleased the King but his Resolution crossed him Wolsey was not so proud and reserved as Sir Thomas was open and free to the meanest his minde was not so dazled with honour but he could foresee his fall When his sons complained how little they gained under him I will do justice said he for your sakes to any man and I will leave you a blessing decreeing one day against his own son that would not hear reason First he offered the Judges the Reformation of Grievances and when they refused he did it himself No Subpoena was granted but what he saw no Order but what he perused nothing passed from him towards the subject but what became a good Magistrate nothing towards his Master but what became a faithful servant Neither King nor Queen could corrupt neither could the whole Church in Convocation fasten any thing upon him To one who told him of his Detractors he said Would you have me punish those by whom I reap more benefit then by all you my friends Perfect Patience is the Companion of true Perfection But he managed not his trust with more integrity and dexterity then he left it with honour leaving not one cause undecided in the Chancery foreseeing that he could not at once content his Majesty and his own heart His Servants upon his fall he disposed of as well as his children and his Children he taught to live soberly in a great Estate and nobly in a mean one He never put an Heretick to death when Chancellour neither would he suffer Heresies to live when a private man When my Lord Cromwel came to him in his retirement he advised him to tell the King what he ought not what he can do so shall you shew your self a true and faithful servant and a right worthy Councellour for if a Lyon knew his own strength hard were it for any man to rule him The King feared him when he could not gain him and therefore he was sifted in his former carriage and present temper which continued constant to his duty and even under his changes He was open-hearted to all that came yet so wary in his discourse with the Maid of Kent that his enemies confessed he deserved rather honour then a check for that matter When the Duke of Norfolk told him that the wrath of a Prince is death he said Nay if that be all you must die to morrow and I today He behaved himself at all Examinations at once wisely and honestly When Archbishop Cranmer told him he must obey the King which was certain rather then follow his conscience which was uncertain he replyed It 's as certain that I must not obey the King in evil as that I must follow my conscience in good When the Abbot of Westminster told him his conscience should yeild to the wisdome of the Kingdome he said He would not conform his conscience to one Kingdome but to the whole Church He underwent his sufferings with as much cheerfulness as his preferment pleasing himself with his misfortunes and enjoying his misery resolving to obey God rather then man to leave others to their own consciences to close with the Catholick Church rather then the Church of England and to submit to general Councils rather then to Parliaments Mr. Rich put to him this Question Whether if the Parliament made a Law that he were Pope would he not submit to it and he replyed If the Parliament made another that God should not be God would you obey it Though he could not own the Kings Supremacy yet he would not meddle with it either in his Writings or discourse shewing himself at once a civil
to his honour for when the people talked oddly out of envy to his Daughter now visibly in favour and pity to Queen Katharine Sir Thomas adviseth his Majesty to forbid his Daughter the Court and declare that those proceedings were more to satisfie his Conscience and secure Succession then to gratifie any other more private respect so far to his Daughters discontent that she would not come near the King until her Father was commanded not without threats to bring her thither who by representing the common danger to them both obtained at length saith my Lord Herbert though not without much difficulty the consent of his unwilling Daughter to return where yet she kept that distance that the King might easily perceive how sensible she was of her late dismission Sir Thomas would have married her to the Lord Percy but the King and Cardinal forbad it deterring old Northumberland from it and he his son Many Love-Letters between King Henry and Anne Bolen are sent to Rome one Letter between the Cardinal and his Confederates is fetched thence by Sir Thomas his Dexterity who advised Sir Francis Bryan then Resident to get in with the Popes Closet-keepers Courtezan and shew her the Cardinals hand by which she might finde out and copy his Expresses as she did to his ruine and our Kings great satisfaction To which Letter is annexed a Declaration under his hand and the Lords Darcy Mountjoy Dorset and Norfolk of 44 Articles against the great Cardinal His hand being now in he must through He adviseth the King to consult the Universities of Christendome He goeth in person when made Earl of Wiltshire to the Pope and contrives that a Declaration of the whole Kingdome in Parliament should follow him which so amused his Holiness with our Earls stratagems that he was asleep as it were until the state of England was quite altered To this he addes the peace with France and the interview with King Francis where his Daughter is married privately and her Brother made Viscount Rochford Convening a Parliament to his mind at Black-fryers and advancing an Arch-bishop to his purpose in Canterbury he is secure of the Church and of the Kingdom whereof the first hallowed the action and the second confirmed it Observations on the Life of Sir Edward Howard HE set out with his Fathers Reputation and came home with his own Britain feels his Arm to this day and the French his success Desperate were his Undertakings yet happy rash his Engagements yet honourable it being his Maxime That never did Sea-man good that was not resolute to a degree of madness The French Fleet he pursueth to the Haven under their own Forts closely Sir Edward considering the order wherein the French lay thought fit to advertise his King and Master thereof advising him withal saith my Author to come in person and have the glory of this Action but the Kings Council taking this Message into consideration and conceiving that it was not altogether fear as was thought but stratagem and cunning that made the French thus attend their advantage thought the King was not invited so much to the honour as to the danger of this Action therefore they write sharply to him again commanding him to do his duty whereof that brave person was so sensible that he landed 1500 men in the sight of 10000 and wasted the Country until being too confident he fell a while after into his enemies hands the Lord Ferrers Sir Thomas Cheyney Sir Richard Cornwal and Sir John Wallop looking on but not able to relieve him Four Reasons he would usually give against a War with the Low-Countries 1. The decay of Trade 2. The diminution of Customes 3. The strengthening of France 4. The loss of their industry and inventions and so of the improvement of our Commodities and Manufactures In the youth of this State as of all others Arms did flourish 〈…〉 in the Middle-age of it Learning and in the Declining as Covetousness and Thrift attend Old Age Mechanick Arts and Merchandize and this Gentleman was made for each part being not so much a Souldier as a Scholar not so much a Scholar as a Merchant But a private spirit is most unfortunate and as my Oracle assures me whereof men of that temper all their time sacrifice to themselves they become in the end themselves sacrifices unfortune whose wings they thought by their wisdome to have pinioned Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey SIr Thomas Howard was this Kings prime Counsellour a brave and an understanding man who was obliged to be faithful to his Master because an Enemy to Winchester emulation among Favourites is the security of Princes Four motives he offered for a Marriage with the Princess Katharine 1. A League with Spain against the growing power of our dangerous Neighbour France 2. The saving of much time and expence in Marriage by her being here 3. The consideration of that vast sum of Money that must be exported if she goeth away And 4. The great Obligation laid on the Pope by that Dispensation which would secure to him the King and his Posterity not otherwise Legitimate but by his Authority His Estate was much wasted in the service of Henry the seventh and as much improved by the treasures of Henry the eighth which amounted in the beginning of his Reign to 11800000 l. i. e. at the rate of money now adays six millions and an half which he dispensed so thriftily that old Winchester could not trapan him and yet so nobly that young Henry was pleased with him Sir William Compton set up the Kings Rich Life-guards under Bourchier Earl of Essex as Captain and the valiant Sir Jo. Peachy who kept Calais in so good order with 300 men as Lieutenant but this wary Earl put them down again When News was brought that Empson and Dudley were slain it was this Earls opinion that his Majesty had done more like a good King then a good Master When the narrow Seas whereof the Kings of England have been very tender were infested this old Treasurer and Earl-Marshal cleared it by his two sons Edward and Thomas saying The King of England should not be imprisoned in his Kingdome while either he had an Estate to set up a Ship or a son to command it In three weeks did he settle the North against the Invasions of James the fourth now inclining to the French and in a fortnight did he raise 40000 l. to pay the Army now ready to mutiny insomuch that when King James denounced War against King Henry he said He had an Earl in the North that would secure his Kingdome as he did with much resolution prudence and success at Flodden-Field where he saw a King at his feet and a whole Kingdome at his mercy where he was forced to fight so barren the Country where yet he pitched upon the most advantagious place and time so great his Command of himself and so noble his Conduct He sends Rouge
but his spirit greater He taught England the Majesty of Honest Dealing the Interest of being Religious He looked deep into men and Counsels and found no Wisdom without Courage no Courage without Religion and Honesty with which solid and active reaches of his I am perswaded saith my Lord Brooks he would have found or made a way through all the Traverses even of the most weak and irregular times Although a private Gentleman he was a publick Good of a large yet uniform disposition so good that the great Monarch might trust so great that a little one must fear him something he did for Fame most for Conscience His publick spirit which might have enjealoused the cautious wisdome of other Princes promoted the concerns of his own He was sent to complement Rodalph but he dealt really with the Protestant Princes and raised a Ceremony to a piece of Interest He shewed that long-breathed and cautious people that imminent danger from Romes Superstition joyned with Spains Power their private confederacies and practices their cruelty and designe which awaked their drowzie wariness into an association for Conscience and Religion more solid as he demonstrated then a Combination out of Policy He went against the stream and current about the French Match which he disswaded from the consequent inconveniencies of Engagements and charge to England and the little advantage from France backing his Argument with a late experience and so staying Queen Elizabeths Match by some reflexions on Queen Mary's which was A five years Designe or Tax rather then a Mrriage adding withal That in a Forreign Match besides the unequalness and danger of it when a strange Prince hath such an influence on our Constitution the different Religion would make the Queen either quit the reputation of a good Protestant or the honour of an obedient Wife Ten ways he laid down a Forreign Prince might endanger our Religion by 1. Opposing and weakning the reverend Fathers of our Church 2. By disgracing her most zealous Ministers 3. By Latitude and Connivance 4. By a loose and too free a behaviour steering mens Consciences which way he pleased and setting up indifferency 5. By decrying Customes and Statutes and enhansing Proclamations to the Authority of Laws 6. By provoking the English with French Oppressions 7. By entrenching on the British Liberties with Gallicane Prerogatives 8. By breaking our League and Correspondence with other Protestant States 9. Frighting our Queen to a Complyance 10. And at last attempting the Protestant cause He would say to his â—â—end the Lord Brooke That if the Netherlands joyn with France they are terrible to Spain if with Spain they are dreadful to France if with us they support the Reformation if they stand on their own legs they are too strong to be forced to Pyracy He though a private person opposed her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in that Affair with that sincerity with that ingenuity that freedome that duty and peaceableness that angered and pleased her His Opinion was not more against her humour then his Manage of it was to her minde in which Affair when most were hood-winked with ignorance and many captived with fear he enjoyed the freedome of his own thoughts with dayly access to her Majesty hourly converse with the French and constant respect from the people None more dutiful to his Soveraign then Sir Philip none more resolute against Eucroachers upon Gentlemen and Freemen none more dear to the whole State which when he had designed Sir Francis Drake's second Voyage and stollen to him at Windsor commanded his stay by an Earl and for his sake the whole Fleets although his stay disturbed and his death destroyed his most exact Model for the Conquest of America the exactest Europe ever saw A Conquest not to be enterprized but by Sir Philips reaching spirit that grasped all circumstances and commanded all interests on this side the Line When his great Soul could not improve Europe he considered it and made that the Field of his mediation that could not be the stage of his Actions England he saw so humoursome and populous that it was to be refined with War and corrupted with Peace Her interest was he said to balance Neighbor-Princes France he observed weak and effeminate the Empire enslaved and secure the Hanses too big Rome subtle and undermining Spain crept to the Power and Councils of Europe the Protestant Princes enjealoused and distrustful Poland divided Denmark strong Sweden invironed or imprisoned the Muscovite distressed and ignorant the Switz enemies yet servants to Monarchs a dangerous body for the soul of any aspiring Monarch to infuse defignes into the Princes of Italy awed by their Superiours and cautious against their equals Turkie asleep in the Seraglio but Spain all this while Master of Rome and the wisest Council or Conclave in the Word Lord of the Mines of America and the Sword of Europe Concluding that while the Spaniard had Peace Pope Money or Credit and the World Men Necessity or Humours the War could hardly be determined upon this Low-Country-stage And that there were but two ways to conquer Spain the one That which diverted Hannibal and by setting fire on his own House made him draw his spirits to comfort his heart The other that of Jason by fetching away his Golden Fleece and not suffering any one quietly to enjoy that which every man so much affected The assistance of Portugal the surprize of Cales her key and Seviâ— her treasure the drawing in of other Well-willers the command of the Sea an exact Intelligence the Protection of Rochel Brest Bourdeaux or some other distressed Protestant to balance the over-mytred Countries the encouragement of religious or ambitious Roytolets to advance and secure themselves the engaging of the French and Spaniards a League with Venice and the Maritime States some temptations to Italy to remove their French and Spanish Garisons an opportunity to recover Sicily some insinuations to the Pope of the Austrian Greatness the setting up of the World in an Aequilibrium the invasion of America removing the diffidence overpoyzing the Neutrality and working upon the Complexions of Kings and Kingdomes was this young but great mans designe An Expedition to the Indies he would perswade with these motives 1. That Honour was cheaper abroad then at home at Sea then at Land 2. That the Spanish Conquests like the Jesuites Miracles made more noise at distance then nearer hand 3. That the Indians would joyn with the first Undertaker against their cruel Masters 4. That Spain was too far for supply 5. That the Spaniard was Undisciplined and trusted more to the Greatness of his Name then to Order Policy or Strength 6. That England was populous 7. That it was an Action complyant with the present Humour and not subject to Emulations 8. That it would either cut off the Spanish treasure or make it chargeable 9. And at last set up a Free Trade by Sea open a great Door to Valour or Ambition for new Conquests and
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 then others did with longer Harangue Secretary Bourns Son kept a Gentlemans Wife i◠Shropshire when he was weary of her he cause her Husband to be dealt with to take her home an 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 we◠yours gilt His great word after a difference ended was Is not this easier then going to London as Ludlow When a man fretted against himself of others My Friend he would say take it from me a weak man complains of others an unfortunate man of himself but a wise man neither of others nor of himself It was his Motto I 'll never threaten To threaten an Enemy is to instruct him a Superiour is to endanger my Person an Inferiour is to disparage my Conduct Old Servants were the Ornament and stay of his Family for whom he reserved a Copyhold when aged a Service when hopeful an Education when pregnant Twice was he sent underhand to France and once to Scotland to feel the pulse of the one and to embroyl the other It 's for setled Kingdomes and for Wealthy men to play above-board while the young State as the young Fortune should be least in sight He and Sir Thomas Randolph amuse the Queen of Scots with the hope of the Crown of England and the King of France by a League with his Protestant Subjects to whose assistance Sir Adrian Poynings arrives as Field-marshal and the Earl of Warwick as General Sir Nicholas Arnold had disposed Ireland to a settlement when Justicer and Sir Henry Sidney formerly Justicer and Treasurer was now to compleat it as Deputy being assisted in Munster by Sir Warham St. Leiger and elsewhere by the brave Earl of Ormond having procured his Antagonist the Earl of Desmond to be called to England in order to a peace and tranquillity Great was his Authority over far greater his love to and esteem of the Soldiers with whom he did wonders against Shane Oneals Front while Randolph charged his Rear until the wild Rebel submits and is executed When he resigned his Authority and Honour to Sir William Drury he took his farewel of Ireland in these words When Israel departed out of Egypt and the house of Jacob from a barbarous people A singular man he was saith the Historian and one of the most commendable Deputies of Ireland to whose Wisdome and Fortitude that Kingdome cannot but acknowledge much though it is as impatient of Deputies as Sicily was of old of Procurators Alter idem or other Observations on the Life of Thomas Ratcliffe THomas Ratcliffe Lord Fitz-Walter second Earl of Sussex of that surname twice Lord-Deputy of Ireland was a most valiant Gentleman By his Prudence he caused that actual Rebellion brake not out in Ireland and no wonder 〈◊〉 in his time it rained not War there seeing his diligence dispersed the Clouds before they could gather together Thus he who cures a Disease may be skilfullest but he that prevents it is the safe Physitian Queen Elizabeth called him home to be her Lord Chamberlain and a constant Court-faction was maintained between him and Robert Earl of Leicester so that the Sussexians and the Leicesterian divided the Court whilst the Cecilians as Neuters did look upon them Sussex had a great Estate left by his Ancestors Leicester as great given or restored him by the Queen Sussex was the honester man and greater Souldier Leicester the more facete Courtier and deep Politician not for the general Good but for his particular Profit Great the Animosity betwixt them and what in vain the Queen endeavoured Death performed taking this Earl away and so the Competition was ended New-Hall in Essex was the place if not as I believe of his Birth yet of his principal Habitation He died anno Domini and lieth buried in the Church of St. Olives Hartstreet London The first of Queen Elizabeth found this brave Earl commanding Ireland in peace and plenty with three hundred and twenty Horse and eight hundred and sixty Foot prudently garisoned and well paid And the second employed him thither again with Instructions That he should beware above all things lest the Irish being an uncivil people and therefore the more superstitious should by the cunning practices of the French be excited to rebellion under the pretext of Religion 2. That he should fortifie Ophale with Castles and Forts 3. That he should engage the Souldiery with large Possessions 4. That the Irish Nobility should hold their Estates in Fee 5. That he should improve the Queens Revenues moderately and reduce her Exchequer there to the form of that in England At what time Maximilian the Emperoun courted Queen Elizabeth whom all English men wished married all Protestants married to a Protestant and the Earl of Leicester had designed for himself there arose a deadly feud in the English Court between the Earl of Sussex that favoured the Match upon common Principles of Government and the Earl of Leicester who opposed it upon a private designe of his own Certainly very great and shameful hopes do they foster who have already attained things beyond hopes The open-hearted Earl would call his Antagonist an Upstart that had but two Ancestors his Father a Traytor and his Grandfather a Publican The Court is divided the Earls are always attended with their armed Guards until the Queen who took pleasure in and made use of the innocent emulation of her women but was afraid of the dangerous contests of her Favourites rather skinned over then healed the rupture At the Emperours Court whither he is sent with the Order of Saint George he presseth the Marriage closely as much out of love to his Country as hatred to Leicester having nothing more ordinary in his discourse then that a Forreign Prince was to be preferred before the noblest Englishman for the three grand things of Honour Power and Wealth But what he promoted publickly the Lord North who was joyned with him rather as his Guardian then his Colleague opposed privately until a few fond scruples broke the most solemn Negotiation wherein yet this Earl behaved himself with a Gallantry that gained him a familiarity from the Emperour a reverence from the Archduke a respect from all the people and his Mistress a kindness in that Court that stood her in great stead against the attempts of Spain and Rome From Germany he returned with much honour to Command in the North with
lost the love of King Charles living many years in his disfavour But such as are in a Court-cloud have commonly the Countreys Sun-shine and this Peer during his Eclipse was very popular with most of the Nation It is seldome seen if a Favourite once broken at Court sets up again for himself the hap rather than happiness of this Lord the King graciously reflecting on him at the beginning of the Long Parliament as one best able to give him the safest Counsel in those dangerous times But how he incensed the Parliament so far as to be exceped pardon I neither do know nor dare enquire Sure I am that after the surrender of Exeter he went over into France where he met with that due respect in Foreign which he missed in his Native Countrey The worst I wish such who causelesly suspect him of Popish inclinations saith my Author is that I may hear from them but half so many strong Arguments for the Protestant Religion as I heard from him who was to his commendation a cordial Champion for the Church of England This Family hath been much talked of this last forty years though all that I can say of it is this that great spirits large parts high honours penned within narrow Estates seldome blesse their owners with moderation or the places they live in with peace Oservations on the Life of the Lord Spencer HEe was the fifth Knight of his Family in an immediate succession well allied and extracted being descended from the Spencers Earls of Gloucester and Winchester In the first year of the Reign of King James being a moneyed man he was created Baron of Wormeleiton in the County of Warwick He had such a ready and quick Wit that once speaking in Parliament of the valour of their English Ancestors in defending the Liberty of the Nation returned this Answer to the Earl of Arundel who said unto him Your Ancestors were then keeping of Sheep If they kept Sheep yours were then plotting of Treason But both of them were at present confined but to the Lord Spencer the Upper-House ordered Reparations who was first and causelesly provoked This Lord was also he who in the first of King James was sent with Sir William Dethick principal King of Arms to Frederick Duke of Wirtenbergh elected into the Order of the Garter to present and invest him with the Robes and Ornaments thereof which were accordingly with geat solemnity performed in the Cathedral of Studgard And this was the Lord that when the Earl of Bristol charged the Duke of Buckingham started up and demanded Is this all you have to say against the Duke The Earl replyed Yes my Lord and I am sorry it is so much Then quoth the Lord Spencer If this be all Ridiculus mus and so sate down again The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of King James THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Charles I. Observations on the Life of the Duke of Buckingham NAture bestowed on him an exact comliness his Mother a noble education not so much to study as converse His Travels to France carriage and experience About which times he falls into intrinsecal society with Sir Job Greham then one of the Gentlemen of his Majesties Privy-Chamber who I know not upon what Luminaries he espyed in his Face disswaded him from Marriage and gave him rather encouragement to wooe Fortune at Court than court it in the City Which advice sank well into his fancy for within some while the King had taken by certain glances whereof the first was at Apthorpe in a Progresse such liking of his Person that he was resolved to make him a Master-piece and to mould him as it were Platonically to his own Idea Neither was his Majesty content onely to be the Architect of his Fortune without putting his gracious hand likewise to some part of the work it self Insomuch that it pleased him to descend and to avale his goodnesse even to the giving of his foresaid friend Sir John Greham secret directions how by what degrees he should bring him into favour His own parts and observation gained him prudence and discretion His Family and Ancestors in Leicester-shirt gentility and repute so that there wanted nothing but Interest to set him up a Courtier Sir Thomas Compton who had married his Mother supplyed him with the one and the Earls of Bedford Pembrook and Hertford who would eclipse Somerset helped him to the other For those three Lords meeting one night at Baynards-Castle and commanding Somerset's picture should be abused in their way next day Sir Thomas Lake leads him into Court buying him the Cup-bearers place A while after the Countess of Bedford ushereth him to the Presence-Chamber entering him a Bed-chamber-man and the Earl of Pembrook supports him untill he was a Favourite The Courtiers wished him well because he was an English-man the Nobility favoured him because a Gentleman the Ladies have a kindnesse for him because the exactest Courtier in Christendome the King observes him much for his compleat body more for his pregnant parts and the States-men now consulting Somerset's removal and finding King James his good nature loth to leave the bosome of one Minion until he had reposed himself in another made it their plot to advance him His carriage was free and debonair his passions even and smooth and one saith carried in his pocket his nature noble and open his temper industrious and inquisitive his intellectuals clear and capable his minde tractable and docible his spirit resolute and undaunted The first month he comes to Court he takes place above all his fellows and being removed with some affront by a creature of Somerset's gives him a box on the car an action that gave him and his friends a seasonable occasion of a Contest with Somerset and him a clear conquest over him Somerset as Chamberlain would have cut off his hand and he as Favourite was like to have cut off his head This new Favourite riseth all are weary of Somerset the first Minion all welcome the second The King is first his Tutor and then his Patron instructing him before he employed him Three sorts of studies he engaged him in the first was for delights in private Retyrements the second for ornament in Discourse the third for ability in Businesse He had Princely apprehensions of the principles and Maximes of Government a distinct notion of all his Affairs an excellent way to make use of other mens Abilities and these incomparable Rules from my Lord Bacon which were transcribed in his Life Sir In the first place I shall be bold to put you in minde of the present condition you are in You are not onely a Courtier but a Bed-chamber-man and so are in the eye and eare of your Master but you are also a Favourite The Fourite of the time and so are in his bosome also The world hath so voted you
to raise other mens He neglected the minute and little circumstances of compliance with vulgar humors aiming at what was more solid and more weighty Moderate men are applauded but the Heroick are never understood Constant he was in all that was good this was his heroick expression when solicited by his Wives Father to desist from his engagement with the King Leave me to my Honour and Allegiance No security to him worth a breach of Trust no interest worth being unworthy His conduct was as eminent in War as his carriage in Peace many did he oblige by the generosity of his minde more did he awe with the hardinesse of his body which was no more softned to sloath by the dalliances of a Court than the other was debauched to a carelesnesse by the greatnesse of his Fortune His prudence was equal to his valour and he could entertain dangers as well as despise them for he not onely undeceived his enemies surmises but exceeded his own friends opinion in the conduct of his soldiers of whom he had two cares the one to discipline the other to preserve them Therefore they were as compleatly armed without as they were well appointed within that surviving their first dangers they might attain that experience resolution which is in vain expected from young and raw soldiers To this conduct of a General he added the industry of a Soldier doing much by his performances more by his example that went as an active soul to enliven each part and the whole of his brave Squadron But there is no doubt but personal and private sins may oft-times over-balance the justice of publick engagements Nor doth God account every Gallant a fit instrument to assert in the way of war a righteous cause the event can never state the justice of any cause nor the peace of mens consciences nor the eternal fate of their souls They were no doubt Martyrs who neglected their lives and all that was dear to them in this world having no advantageous designe by any innovation but were religiously sensible of those ties to God the Church their King their Countrey which lay upon their souls both for obedience and just assistance God could and I doubt not but he did through his mercy crown many of them with eterlife whose lives were lost in so good a cause the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their souls Observations on the Life of the Lord Herbert of Cherbury Edward Herbert son of Richard Herbert Esq and Susan Newport his Wife was born at Montgomery-Castle and brought to Court by the Earl of Pembrook where he was Knighted by K. James who sent him over Embassador into France Afterwards K. Charles the first created him Baron of Castle-Island in Ireland and some years after Baron of Cherbury in Montgomery-shire He was a most excellent Artist and rare Linguist studied both in Books and Men and himself the Author of two Works most remarkable viz. A Treatise of Truth written in French so highly prized beyond the Seas and they say it is extant at this day with great Honour in the Popes Vatican and an History of King Henry the Eighth wherein his Collections are full and authentick his observation judicious his connexion strong and â—ohaerent and the whole exact He married the Daughter and sole Heir of Sir William Herbert of St. Julians in Monmouth-shire with whom he had a large Inheritance in England and Ireland and died in August Anno Dom. 1648. having designed a fair Monument of his own invention to be set up for him in the Church of Montgomery according to the model following Upon the ground a Hath-pace of fourteen foot square on the middest of which is placed a Dorick Column with its right of Pedestal Basis and Capitols fifteen foot in height on the Capitol of the Column is mounted an Urn with a Heart Flamboul supported by two Angels The foot of this Column is attended with four Angels placed on Pedestals at each corner of the said Hath-pace two having Torches reverst extinguishing the Motto of Mortality the other two holding up Palms the Emblemes of Victory When this noble person was in France he had private Instructions from England to mediate a Peace for them of the Religion and in case of refusal to use certain menaces Accordingly being referred to Luynes the Constable and Favourite of France he delivereth him the Message reserving his threatnings till he saw how the matter was relished Luynes had hid behind the Curtain a Gentleman of the Religion who being an Ear-witnesse of what passed might relate to his friends what little expectations they ought to entertain from the King of England's intercession Luynes was very haughty and would needs know what our KING had to do with their affairs Sir Edward replyed It 's not you to whom the King my Master oweth an account of his actions and for me it 's enough that I obey him In the mean time I must maintain That my Master hath more reason to do what he doth than you to aske why he doth it Nevertheless If you desire me in a gentle fashion I shall acquaint you further Whereupon Luynes bowing a little said Very well The Embassador answered ' That it was not on this occasion onely that the King of Great Britain had desired the Peace and prosperity of France but upon all other occasions when ever any War was raised in that Countrey and this he said was his first reason The second was That when a Peace was setled there his Majesty of France might be better disposed to assist the Palatinate in the affairs of Germany Luynes said We will have none of your advices The Ambassador replyed That he took that for an Answer and was sorry onely that the affection and the good will of the King his Master was not sufficiently understood and that since it was rejected in that manner he could do no lesse then say That the King his Master knew well enough what he had to do Luynes answered We are not afraid of you The Embassador smiling a little replyed If you had said you had not loved us I should have believed you and made another answer In the mean time all that I will tell you more is That we know very well what we have to do Luynes hereupon rising from his Chair with a fashion and countenance a little discomposed said By God if you were not Monsieur the Embassador I know very well how I would use you Sir Edw Herbert rising also from his Chair said That as he was his Majesty of Great-Britain ' s Embassador so he was also a Gentleman and that his Sword whereon be laid his band should do him reason if he had taken any offence After which Luynes replying nothing the Embassador went on his way toward the door and Luynes seeming to accompany him he told him there was no occasion to use such Ceremony after such Language and so departed expecting to hear