in te transfudit Et propterea abs te non simpliciter petit Benesicium sed meritò repetit Ossicium nec unam aliquam causam tibi proponit sed sua omnia seipsam tibi committit Nec sua necesse habet aparire tibi consilia quorum recessus diverticula nósti universa Age igitur quod scis velis quod potes persice quod debes Sic Literis Academiae Reipublicae Religioni sic Christo Principi rem debitam Expectatam efficies IESUS te diutissmè servet incolumem And this Address had the Success it desired For the Colleges of the Universities and the other Colleges of Learning in the Nation were spared by a Proviso tho' the aforesaid Bills pass'd into an Act which we must attribute in good measure to Smith and his Party stirring in the House to bring it to pass The Lord Protector had set up an Office in his House of a Master of Requests for the better care-taking of poor Mens Sutes and for the more effectual speeding them without the Delays and Charges of Law In this Office was Dr. Smith placed and seems to have been the second Master of Requests to the Protector as Cecil was the first While he was in the Service of this Great Duke he obtained divers other considerable Places As to be Steward of the Stannaries Smith being an excellent Metallist and Chymist Provost of Eaton College wherewith he was very well pleased where whether he were present or absent there was always good Hospitality kept Dean of the Cathedral Church of Carlisle being at least in Deacons Orders And at last Secretary of State to the King with a Knighthood By this time he had purchased two Houses one in Channon-Row Which he bought for Two hundred Mark of Sir Ralph Sadleir sometime Secretary of State to King Henry which he Let to Mr. Comptroller for 30 l. per Ann. And here he lived himself in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth And this was the House where the Commissioners met in the first Year of that Queen to consult for the Reformation of Religion and preparing the Book of Common-Prayer His other House was in Philpot-lane London where his younger Brother a Merchant lived It was a large and fair House He bought it of certain Executors but the Title being doubtful whether the King had not a Right in it he procured of his Lord the Duke to speak to the King in his behalf To this House also another pretended But the Contest between Sir Thomas and that other was referred And so in the End Sir Thomas enjoyed it He also purchased the Mannor of Yarlington in Somersetshire worth 30 l. per Ann. of the Marquis of Northampton it being given to him at the Coronation of Queen Katharine his Sister This Cost Smith 300 l. or thereabouts being Money that he had gotten at Cambridge before he came into the Protectors Service and lent to his Brother the Merchant Of the Commissioners for the Chauntries he also bought the College of Darby which went at 33 l. per Ann. which Cost him a Thousand Marks Which was the Portion he had with his Wife For while he lived in the Dukes Family he Married his first Wife named Elizabeth Daughter of William Karkek or Carkyke of London Gentleman Whose Sister Anne after Married to Sir Thomas Chamberlayn long Embassador Resident in Flanders and Spain Smith's Lady was a little Woman and one that affected not fine gaudy Cloths for which she was taxed by some And by this one might rather judge her to have been a Woman of Prudence and Religion and that affected Retirement rather than the splendor of a Court. For Dr. Smith allowed her what she pleased And she was his Cash-keeper However he used to wear goodly Apparel and went like a Courtier himself For which he said that some might seem to have cause rather to accuse him to go too sumptuously than her of going too meanly This Wife he buried having no Issue by her And Married a second named Philippa the Relict of Sir Iohn Hambden who out-lived him Whose Joynture was Hill-Hall Of this Wife it was that Secretary Cecil spake when in the Year 1565. Smith having been Ambassador in France and earnestly desiring to come home the said Secretary wrote him word that his Wife should either speak or send to the Earl of Leicester that he would dispatch Mr. Thomas Hoby whom the Queen had determined to send Ambassador in his Room but delayed it But we are yet to look upon Smith as one of the Protector 's Family where he fluorished in Places and Honours as we heard before Yet he had his Share of Trouble and Sorrow as the Anger of his haughty Mistriss the Dutchess of Somerset and many unjust Imputations that were raised against him whereto she gave too much Credit Which was the Cause of a large Letter which he address'd unto her Wherein he vindicated himself against many Slanders which were told the Dutchess whereof she had twitted him in the Teeth as Things the World took notice of in him Namely I. Haughtiness and a disregardful proud Temper II. That he was Oppressive and had by Extortion and Griping got a great deal of Money III. Covetousness IV. That he bought and sold Benefices or Spiritual Promotions Add to these That he was a Chopper and Changer of Lands That his Wife went not in so Courtly a Garb as was sitting That he kept no House And That he was a Neuter in Religion But these were mere Aspersions and malicious Insinuations his generous Mind ever abhorring any thing that was base and unjust or unworthy of a Man and a Christian Philosopher And these Calumnies he wiped off assoiling one Particular after another in his said Letter to the Dutchess Indeed she was an Imperious and Ill-natur'd Woman and had taken some Occasion to fall out with him and in her Passion it seems had cast out these Reports before him But Smith was a true and faithful Servant of the Duke and in his Troubles suffer'd with him For he was taken up with him and among those that were sent with the Duke to the Tower Sir Thomas was one Tho' afterwards his Innocency appearing he was delivered and escaped those severe Handlings that some of the Duke's Friends and Retainers underwent In the Year 1548 Dr. Smith was advanced to be the Secretary of State as in September the same Year William Cecil Esq was preferred to the like Office both having been Servants to the Protector Smith was made use of for the Reformation of Religion which was now going in hand with in good earnest as he was afterwards in all the steps of it In the Month of Iuly the same Year 1548 he with Mr. Chamberlain went Ambassador to Brussels to the Emperor's Council there Which was I think the first Embassy he underwent The Business of the State in sending him at this time was the
Highness to be his Gracious Sovereign Lord. Yea answered the Secretary you say well my Lord but I pray you what else have all these Rebels in Norfolk Devon and Cornwal done Have they not said thus We be the King 's true Subjects We acknowledge him for our King and we will obey his Laws and the like And yet when either Commandment Letter or Pardon was brought to them from his Majesty they believed it not but said it was forged under an Hedge and was Gentlemens Doings I perceive your meaning said the Bishop again as who should say the Bishop of London is a Rebel like them Yea by my Troth said the secretary Whereat the Standers by fell into a Laughter How this Bishop was afterwards deprived and committed and how he Protested and Appealed may be seen in other Historians In October the Duke of Somerset the Protector received a terrible Shock almost all the Privy Counsellors making a Defection from the Court and meeting in London combined together against him So that he at last was Imprisoned and lost all his Places Honours and Lands There were only Three then stuck to him in this Time of Adversing viz. Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury Sir William Paget and our Sir Thomas Smith Between whom and the Lords at London Letters past upon this affair carried by Sir Philip Hoby The Peril they ran was not a little For the Lords wrote to them that it seemed strange to them that they should either assist or suffer his Majesty's Royal Person to remain in the Guard of the Duke of Somerset's Men and that Strangers should be armed with the King 's own Armour and be nearest about his Person and those to whom the ordinary Charge was committed to be sequestred away And the Lords sent them word moreover that if any Evil came thereof they must expect it must be imputed to them And whereas the Archbishop Paget and Smith in their Letter to the Lords told them They knew more than they the Lords knew at those Words thay took this advantage as they returned them Answer That if the Matters that came to their knowledge and were hidden from them the Lords were of such weight as they pretended or if they touched or might touch his Majesty or his State they the Lords thought that they did not as they ought to do in not disclosing the same to them the whole Council In fine being over-powered Smith together with the Archbishop and the Comptroller Paget sent another Letter from Windsor where the King and they were that they would not fail to endeavour themselves according to the Contents of the Lord's Letters and that they would convene together when and where the Lords pleased this was a notable instance of Smith's Fidelity to the Duke his old Master who stuck to him as long as he durst and was then glad to comply as fairly as he could And if I mistake not now did some storm fall upon Sir Thomas And I believe he was deprived of his Place of secretary For at this Time it appears by the King's Journal that Dr. Wotton was made Secretary Tho' he seemed soon to be restored again In the Year 1550. Sir Thomas was summoned a Witness together with a great many other Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Court in the great Trial of Gardiner Bishop of Winton He was sworn against him in the Month of February being then 33 Years of Age as it is set down in his Deposition by an Error of the Printer for 39. By which it appeareth that in the Year before viz. 1549. Smith then Secretary was divers times sent by the Lord Protector to the said Bishop to travail with him to agree to the King's Proceedings and that he would promise to set them forth in a Sermon or otherwise And that he often did in the Company of Mr. Cecil repair to him for that purpose That Smith and the said Cecil by Command of the said Council drew up certain Articles to which the Bishop should shew his Consent and to Preach and set forth the same And that after several Attendances upon the Bishop to bring him to this and upon some hope of Conformity thereto the Lords of the Council sent for him to the Palace at Westminster After that was the Lord Wiltshire sent to him to whom he shewed some Conformity herein Soon after that Lord went again accompanied with Smith to know his final Resolution To whom he shewed great readiness to set forth the Articles aforesaid in his Sermon yet prayed not to be tied to the same Words In which the Council at length yielded to him And thus was Secretary Smith employed in that Affair In which he carried himself it seems with so much Discretion and Moderation towards that haughty Bishop that afterwards in his Prosperity under Queen Mary he was a Friend to him when he was such a bloody Enemy to all Protestants besides In this same Year 1550. He made a Purchase of the King of the whole Mannor of Overston alias Overston in the County of Northampton parcel of the Possessions called Richmond Lands and divers other Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in the Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Bucks Surry and Hertford For which he gave 414 l. 10. s. 4 d. and other Lands in Derby and Middlesex The Yearly value of this Purchase was 87 l. 17 s. 9 d. In the Year 1551. the 30th of April Sir Thomas Smith still under the Name of Secretary was appointed one of those that were to go in that great and splendid Embassy to France with a Commission of Treaty concerning a Match for the King with that King 's Eldest Daughter at the same time the Marquess of Northampton went the Order of the Garter to the said King With whom was joyned in Commission the Bishop of Ely Sir Philip Hoby Sir William Pickering and Sir Iohn Mason These two Leiger Embassadors there and two Lawyers whereof Smith was one CHAP. VI. The Condition of Sir Thomas Smith under Queen Mary His wife Advertisements SIR Thomas past the Reign of King Edward in great Reputation and Prosperity But upon the Access of Queen Mary to the Crown as many of the deceased King's Ministers of State especially such as favoured Religion were cast off so were the two Secretaries Sir William Cecil and Sir Thomas Smith And besides the loss of that honourable Station he was deprived also of what he held in the Church For he was a Spiritual Person also and so was invested by the late King with the Provostship of Eton and the Deanry of Carlisle And to spoil him of these and other places with the more Formality he was summoned to appear before certain Persons whom the Queen had Commissionated for these purposes together with Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and Dr. May Dean of St. Paul's He fell easy for his Life was saved tho' he were a Protestant and had an 100 l. per Ann. allowe him for his
see him burie in his Astronomy Nay if we may believe his Poet and that he did not take too much Poetical Liberty Smith was arrived to the very Top of the Astronomical Skill and might be a companion for Ptolomy Alphonsus and Zacutus if they were alive Nec Polus aut Tillus mâ—gâ—â— ulli cognâ—ta cuiquam Quorsum â—go dâ—ssâ—mulâ—m Fuit unus unicus ille Fâ—lâ—us Uraniâ— Ptolomâ— major utroque Et centum Alphonsis plusquam mille Zacutis And perhaps the Love and Study of the Stars might be one Reason that he delighted so much in his high Seat at Mounthaut where he might have a more spacious Prospect of the Skies In State-Policy he was a great Master Which by long Experience in State matters at home in the Reigns of four Princes and Embassies abroad he had acquired Walsingham that most compleat and happy Secretary of State improved himself much by making his Observations of Smith how quick and sharp his Apprehension of things how grave and sound his Counsels and with what Dexterity and admirable Parts he managed publick Affairs and yet with clean and just hands So he sung that made his Funeral Verses Sâ—cius tâ—nâ—orum insignis Honorum Qui vigilanti oculo SMITHI observasset Acumen Sensissâ—tque acres sensus animumque virilem Consiliumque grave pectus moresque colendos Virtutes etiam raras Dotesque stupendas He was also an excellent Linguist and a Master in the knowledge of the Latin Greek French Italian and English Tongues A great Historian especially in the Roman History An Orator equal to the best and a perfect Ciceronian A Notable Specimen of whose Oratory and History as well as of his Polities appears in his Discursive Orations about Queen Elizabeth's Marriage He had also a very good Genius in Architecture which that Noble Pile of Building at Hilhal doth sufficiently demonstrate And in the Art of Gardening he was very curious and exact Employing his own Hands sometimes for his diversion in grafting and planting At which work I find him when he was making an Orchard for his new House about the latter end of 1572. having made an Escape from the Court tho' the Winds then were very unkind to him Of which complaining to the Lord Treasurer he said he should soon be weary of Mounthaut because he could not graft nor transplant any Trees the Winds that then brought over the Earl of Worcester from France who had been lately sent to Christen that Kings Child being as he said the worst Enemy to all Cutting Paring or breaking of Trees here in England that could be or for setting of Herbs And as he was an universal and thorow-paced Scholar so he had a most compleat Library and kept a Learned Correspondence and was of a very accurate Judgment in matters of Learning His Library consisted of a thousand Books of various Learning and Arts as we are told by the Learned man his Friend that made his Parentalia Which noble Treasure he bestowed upon his own College where at least the Remainders of them are to this day besides some Italian and French Books which he gave to the Queens Library Libros Monumentaque mille Graeca Latina omnis generis nova prisca profana Religiosa dedit Italicos praeter quosdam Francosque libellos Elizabeteae pius Heros Bibliothecae A Catalogue of the Books which he had at Hilhal in the Year 1566. may be seen in the Appendix And as he was Owner of many Books so he composed not a few himself Three whereof are Printed I. His Commonwealth of England both in Latin and English II. Of the right and correct Writing of the English Tongue This I suppose is the same Book with that which Fuller in his History of Cambridge mentions Of his more compendious way of Printing which would defalcate a fifth part of the Cost in Paper and Ink besides as much of the Pains in Composing and Printing only by discharging many superflous Letters and accommodating the Sounds of long and short Vowels with distinct Characters III. Of the right and correct Pronouncing of the Greek Language Both these last mentioned were published by himself in Latin when he was Ambassador in Paris There is a Fourth Book lately Printed viz. 1685. which some make him the Author of namely Of the Authority Form and Manner of holding Parliaments Other Tracts there be of his that have lain hitherto unpublished As his Orations about the Queens Marriage His discourse of Money and his Tables for the reducing the Roman Coins to the just English Standard I have also seen another large Writing which by the hand seems to be his shewing certain ways and means for the taking care of and for the maintaining the Poor of the Nation And many more whereof as yet neither the sight nor the particular Subjects have come unto me To which I add several excellent Letters of his when Ambassador in France to the Lord Burghley and being Secretary of State to Sr. Francis Walsingham Ambassador in the same Court which are Printed in the Compleat Ambassador And a Bundle of other Letters writ to the Court when he was Ambassador with the French King Ann. 1562. the Earl of Warwick going then in the famous Expedition to New-haven which are yet reserved in the Kings Paper House He was a great Judge of Learning and Applications were often made to him for his Judgment in Matters of that Nature So Dr. Haddon appealed once to him in a sharp Controversie between the French Ambassador and himself Whether Tully were a good Lawyer Which that Ambassador had denied And how learnedly this was decided by Sir Thomas Smith may be seen in this History And both Cecil and the said Haddon would not allow the Answer to Osorius to come abroad till it had past his accurate Perusal and Correction His Acquaintance was with the Learned men of his Age. As Ramus and other Professors in Paris while he was there and with Cheke Cecil Haddon Wilson Ascham men of the finest Wits and purest Learning Of this last in a Letter to Haddon from France he enquired diligently after and complained that for two years and Six Months he had heard nothing from him and then added merrily That his Cocks for he was a great Cock Master ita illum excantâ—sse i.e. had so enchanted him that he had quite forgotten his Friends And I find the Correspondence between him and Ascham continued after for in 1â—68 Ascham requested of Smith to borrow a Book of his own Writing To which Smith answered by a Letter that he had sent it to Walden to be Transcribed least the first Copy and the whole Invention should perish together And Haddon being lately dead Smith in the same Letter told Ascham that his Epistles were found but not all and that his own Epistles to Haddon were more uncertain For they reckoned it pity any thing of that most Humane and Learned
Friend of theirs should be lost And so there was a purpose to collect together his Epistles and to publish them And so they were afterwards by Hatcher of Cambridge This Ascham about the Year 1568. sent an Astronomical Figure to Smith drawn by some ingenious Astronomer of the said Ascham's Acquaintance Upon which he sent a Latin Letter from Mounthaut thanking Ascham for it and declaring how much he was pleased with it and that he would willingly be acquainted with the Person that described it He acknowledged he professed himself this Study And this Person seemed to him to write Ingeniously and Learnedly and not according to the vulgar manner of unlearned men who abused themselves and the opinion of their Learning for Gain Whose Friendship he declared he desired not and whose Familiarity he was averse to And the Diagram and Figure that Ascham sent he dispatched back to him with his own Judgment of the same as it was put or placed Sir Thomas Erected a Figure concerning the same Hour and Day according to the Ephemeris of Ioh. Stadius Of which he said the Diagram seemed a little a differ but the Judgment not so much Thus we see his Correspondence and withal his Disposition to that kind of Study of Judicial Astrology And in fine of the great Opinion that went of Sir Thomas Smith's Learning I shall mention this Passage When Dr. Wilson one of his Learned Friends Master of S. Katharine's and afterwards Secretary of State had for News wrote to Haddon then Ambassador at Bruges of the Queens going to Visit the University of Oxford Anno 1565. and of the Report of the great Learning in that Place and what learned Exercises were then expected to be performed there before her Majesty Haddon answered not to disparage that Noble University or the complete Scholars that were there but to take the Opportunity of commending one or two other Egregious men viz. That however magnificently it was talked of the learned men there Nec Smith ibi simile quicquam aut Checi occurret i.e. there would be nothing like to Smith or Cheke And as he was Learned himself so he was Beneficial to Learning which appeared in that most useful Act of Parliament which he procured for the Colleges of Students Which was that a third Part of the Rent upon Leases made by Colleges should be reserved in Corn the Tenant to pay it either in Kind or Money after the rate of the best Prizes in Oxford or Cambridge Markets the next Market days before Michaelmas or our Lady day The great Benefit whereof Scholars do find to this day and will so long as the Universities lâ—st To his own College of Queens he gave for ever 12 7 4. Being a Rent Charge out of the Manor of Overston in Northamptonshire Which he appointed to be thus disposed of according as the Reverend Doctor Iames the present worthy Master of the same College was pleased to impart to me that is to say Four pounds for a Lecture in Arithmetick Three pounds for a Lecture in Geometry Four pounds seven shillings and four pence for two Scholarships appointing his own Relations or the Scholars from Walden School â—â—teris parâ—bus to be made his Scholars before any others And the Twenty shillings remaining for a Yearly Commemoration And of Eâ—ton College where he was once Provost Cambdâ—n tells us he merited well but in what particular respects I cannot tell except in making his College Lâ—ases always with a Reserve of Rent-Corn divers Years before it became an Act for the Benefit of other Colleges And I find the Provost and College of S. Mary of Eaton purchased of King Edward VI. in the first of his Reign for the summ of 25 â— 3. and in performance of King Henry's last Will and in consideration of the Exchange of the Manor of Melbourn Beck Lutton and Ponyngton in the County of Dorsâ—t and diver other Lands and Tenements the Rectory of Great Compton in Warwickshire lately parcel of the Possession of Thâ— Cromwel Knight Earl of Essex Attainted of High Treason the Rectory of Bloxham in the County of Oxon lately parcel of the late Monastery of Godstow in the said County and divers other Lands and Tenements in the Counties of Oxford Bedford Lincoln Warwick to the value of 82 11 0. The Patent bare date the 30. Aug. 1547. In which whether Sir Tho. Smith was any ways serviceable to the College I know not but suppose he might be And this Learning of his raised him to Honour and Wealth Under King Edward VI. he was made Provost of Eaton where whether he were present or absent there was always a good House kept Dean of Carlile and Master of Requests in the Duke of Somerset's Family after Cicil had left that Place wherein he was most unjustly scandaliz'd by his enemies to have been a Bribe-taker For which he was fain to vindicate himself He became also Steward of the Stannaries Soon after his Abilities were so well known that he was advanced to be one of the Principal Secretaries of State and employed in great Commissions and matters of Trust. Under Queen Elizabeth he was divers times Ambassador in France and at last a Privy Councillor Chancellor of the Garter and Secretary of State His Wealth consisted in his Land and Houses He had the Manor of Yarlington in Somersetshire worth 30 l. per annum that he bought with the Money he had gotten at Cambridge before he came into the Lord Protectors Service And he purchased it at 300 l. or thereabouts of the Marquess of Northampton to whom it was given at the Coronation of Queen Katharine his Sister He purchased also the College of Dâ—rby whether a Religioâ—s House or a Fraternity I do not well know I find he had also these Houses to some of which were annexed Manors and large Demeans One was in Chanon Row in Westmâ—nster which he once let out to the Comptroller of King Edward's Household for 30 s. per annum but afterwards Lived in it himself when Secretary being a very fair House and there the Divines in the beginning of Q Elizabeth's Reign together with himself conferred about reforming of Religion He had another House in Philpot-lane in London which 〈◊〉 a large and fair Dwelling The Title whereof being dubious he had like to have lost his Money and Purchase too But he procured his Master and Friend the Duke of â—â—mâ—rset to obtain from the King the Confirmation of his Title The free dwelling in this House he gave to his younger Brother George a Merchant to whom he was very kind lending him also 300 l. for the carrying on of his Trade without Interest or Consideration Sir Thomas had another House in â—leet-Lane with several other Tenements which he held of the Clothworkers Company of London And here he would sometimes be as a Recesse from Court. In the Country he had Ankerwick his Country Retirement in King Edward's Reign
THE LIFE Of the Learned Sir Thomas SMITH K t. Doctor of the CIVIL LAW Principal SECRETARY of STATE to King EDWARD the Sixth and Queen ELIZABETH WHEREIN Are discovered many Singular Matters relating to the State of Learning the Reformation of Religion and the Transactions of the Kingdom during his Time In all which he had a great and happy Influence With an Appendix wherein are contained some Works of his never before published LONDON Printed for A. Roper at the Black Boy over against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street and R. Basset at the Mitre within Temple-Bar Mâ—â—Xâ—VIII S r. THOMAS SMITH K t. Born March 28. 1512. Deceased â—uâ— 12. 1577. in y â— 65 â— year of his 〈◊〉 TO Sir EDWARD SMITH OF HILHAL IN ESSEX Baronet SIR THE Regard I have ever born in my Mind towards Men of Eminency in Times past born and bred among us especially when with their Qualities and Places they have been adorned with Learning Wisdom or Integrity led me at my leisure-Hours to make cursory Collections out of my Books and Papers of their Lives and Actions And many such men there were in the Last Age when Learning and Religion after a long Eclipse began again to enlighten our Horizon Whereof some however useful they were in their Times and made a fair Figure to the World are now in effect quite forgotten and tho' the Names of others of that sort are better known yet but slight and imperfect Characters remain of them Whenas they were perhaps the great Pillars of the State or Church and whose Counsils and Assistances the Prince made much use of in the weighty Transactions of his Kingdom Of these I confess I cannot read or hear but I am drawn with an Inquisitive Humour to know more of them as whence they sprang their Country their Parentage their Education their Tempers and Inclinations and remarkable Actions and what Events fell out to them over and above what is commonly known or vulgarly told of them And when by searching a little out of the ordinary Way as it were I mean in the By-corners of old rejected Papers or Letters and other Journals Records Registers c. I gain further Notice of these ancient Patriots there is wont to arise thence a great Complacency to my mind And the Thoughts that it may be as delightful to others as to my self to revive the Memory of such and represent as much of them as can be retrieved hath moved me to make publick some of my Collections of this nature And moreover I reckon it a Matter of Equity and Gratitude due from Posterity to preserved the Names and Remembrances of all worthy men that have served God their Prince or Country by their Learning or other Abilities And God himself seems to take care of this when he saith that the Memory of the Iust shall be Blessed as their due Reward These Sir are some of the Reasons why I have now brought that to pass which I formerly made you privy to namely the Publishing what I could retrieve of the Life of your most Laudable and Accomplished Ancestor Sir THOMAS SMITH He was a Person that lived in very Critical Times occasioned by Court-Factions and the frequent Alterations of Religion and the various Dispositions and Interests of the Princes whom he served So that he could hardly keep himself always upâ—n his Legs but by his great Wisdom and Moderation tho' he sometimes fell he fell softly and fell to rise again with more Glory This may make his History the more pleasant and useful Especially being mixed with many Occurrences in his Time wherein he bore a great Part both in the University in the Church and in the Commonwealth Where such things may be read which perhaps are not to be met with elsewhere Your said Ancestor Sir was the best Scholar in his Time a most admirable Philosopher Orator Linguist and Moralist And from thence it came to pass that he was also a very wise Statesman and a Person withal of most unalterable Integrity and Justice which he made his Politicks to comport with and lastly a con stant Embracer of the Reformed Religion and therein made a Holy and good End And therefore the English Soil which he so adorned would be ingrateful if she should let the Memory of such a man born in her pass away and lie for ever in obscurity But as he was all this to the Publick so Sir let me add he is and ever will be an Ornament to your ancient House and Family to your â—â—den Mount where the Noble Seat erected by him will be his lasting Monument and finally to the County of ESSEX where he was Born and Educated whither he gladly retired as often as publick Business permitted him and where he quietly resigned his last Breath to God This Great man is the Subject of this Book which therefore deserves to have been writ by an abler Pen. I am conscious to my self that I have omitted many remarkable Passages of his Life which could they have been retrieved would have shewn him still more resplendent to the World But it is impossible to recover all What I have collected together in these Papers from various and sundry Books and Original Writings are sufficient to give a fair tho' not a full Account of him And that which I value my present Undertaking for is that I have done it impartially For it is not of the nature of a Rheâ—orical Panegyric wherein more Care is taken to Praise than to speak Truth To which last I have had a very tender Regard being born out in every thing I have writ by the Authority of indubitable Monuments that is either of Smith's own Letters Books and Papers or of others his Friends and Contemporaries One thing more Sir seems requisite to have been done to render this Work more perfect namely together with this to have published his Manuscript Exercitations and Discourses which being the Fruits and Products of his Learned Brain no question would have been very acceptable to all such as have a Value for him Two of these that is His Dialogues concâ—rning Queen Elizabeth's Maâ—riage and his Tables of the Valuation of Coins I have now brought to Light But alas what Pity is it that all the rest of his brave Philosophical Astronomical Moral Political and Divine Thoughts digested by him into divers Tracts are now t is to be feared except his Common-wealth and his Books of Pronuntiation utterly lost together with all his other Papers except some Letters of State that lie in the Kings Paper-hâ—use and those rough Writings Sir in your Hands and a few others elsewhere But where are now his University Exercises his Learned Readings his Eloquent Orations exhortatory of Vertue Morality and found Knowledge his Correspondences with the best Wits of his Age and many Elucubrations upon ingenious Subjâ—â—â—s which his busie Head was always employed in I am affraid I must say they are perisht irrecoverably So that this poor Book
Sir Thomas Smith in Commission Words between Bishop Boner and him His Fidelity to the Duke of Somerset Smith in a Commission against Anabaptists One of the Visitors of Cambridge In Commission upon Bishop Boner who would have declined him Smith deals roundly wâ—th him His Word to Boner's Servants Boner enters a Recusation against Smith Who chargeth him wâ—th Disobedience Smith in trouble with the Protector Deposed against Bishop Gardiner Makes a Purchase Goes in Embassy to France CHAP. VI. The Condition of Sir Thomas Smith under Queen Mary His wise Advertisements He loses all his Places He hath an Indulgence from the Pope Bishop Gardiner his Friend Gains Gardiner's Favour upon his first Address to him from Cambridge Ascham favoured by Gardiner Even Bishop Boner pretends to be Smith's Friend Rob. Smith a Retainer of Sir Tho. Smith burnt His Grief at these Times Smith's wise Advertisements and Counsels CHAP. VII Smith called to Queen Elizabeth 's Court. Concerned in the Settlement of Religion His Judgement of the Queen's Marriage Employed in the Reformation and in one of the Committees for the State And in swearing the Officers of Walden His Service in the Commission of the Peace Subscription of the Iustices Smith's Dialogues concerning the Queen's Marriage CHAP. VIII Sir Thomas 's Embassies to France Why not restored to be Secretary Dispatched to France Stops at Calais and why Directions to him from the Council Smith a Peace-mover Confers with the Pope's Legate The Secretary Advice to the Ambassador The Queen's Orders to him Three Evils in France Smith's Behavior in his Embassy Entertains a subtil Spy His Complaint The Ambassador's Instructions concerning the Prince of Conde He sends Nâ—ws to the Council Ordered to speak only in Latin in his Negotiation Contention between Smith and Throgmorton Smith's Plainness pleaseth the Lord Robert Instructions for Smith's Dealing with the Protestants Smith treateth for Peace Doctor Haddon's Advice to Smith CHAP. IX Osorius his Letter to the Queen And Doctor Haddon 's Answer Difference between Smith and Throgmorton the Queen 's joint Ambassadors Smith and Cecyl Friends The Ambassador sends over Books to Cecyl To procure a Book to be Printed in France Osorius's Epistle to the Queen Answered by Haddon This Answer recommended to Smith to revise And publish A Licence for which he labours to obtain from the Chancellor Which â—e will not grant Smith presseth it Argues with the Chancellor of France about it The Progress of this Controversie Difference between the two Ambassadors Some Character of Throgmorton Cecyl's and Smith's Friendship CHAP. X. Peace with France Smith continues Ambassador there His Book of the Commonwealth of England Returns A Review of his Embassy Smith affects a Peace Sollicits the Queen's Debt The Queen Continues him Ambassador A Match for the Queen propounded to him Finisheth his Book of the Commonwealth His extraordinary Expence Smith's Son with him He labours to come home He returns He is Inquisitive how his Negotiation is accepted He follows the Court of France His Reflection upon his Hearing of the Queen's going to Cambridge He composeth his Book of the English Commonwealth at Tholouse He enquireth for Learned men in Paris He procures the Printing of the Answer to Osorius His Correspondence with Haddon Ambassador in Flanders Smith's Opinion of Tully's Philosophy and Law His Reflection on the Troubles occasioned by Hale's Book CHAP. XI Smith goes over Ambassador again to demand Calais His Employment at home Concerned in turning Iron into Copper Smith now at home sent again to demand Calais Take his Son with him The Manner of his demanding Calais Sues for the Place of Chancellor of the Dutchy Sir Thomas in the Country administring Iustice. Witches by him examined Master's wife Ann Vicars Sir Thomas admitted into the Council Labours about Transmuting Iron into Copper His Progress therein Some Lords come into the Project The Projectors formed into a Society The Patent for it signed The Business finds Delay The Chymist a Beggar CHAP. XII Smith waits upon the Queen at Audleyâ— End Goes on Embassy to France Concludes a League Concerned in Proposals of a Match for the Queen He examineth the Duke of Norfolk's Secretary Goes Ambassador â—gain to France to make firm Amity against Spain An Article debated by Smith His Argument with the French Queen Smith perswades the Queen She consents to the League He loved not many Words His hardship in France Communication between the Queen Mother and Smith concerning Queen Elizabeth's Marriage Further Discourse on the same Argument His Thoughts of the Queen's Marrying His Concern for her Sickness And the Irresolutions of the Court The Queen of Navarre sends to Sir Thomas CHAP. XIII Made Chancellor of the Garter Comes home Becomes Secretary of State His Advice for forwarding the Queen's Match His Astonishment upon the Paris Massacre The Queen gives Smith the Chancellorship of the Order Comes home Made Secretary Famed in the Court for his Learning Smith's Device for a View between Monsieur and the Queen His Thoughts of the Massacre at Paris His Detestation of it His Reason of the Manner of answering the French Ambassador His Observation of the Prejudice the French did themselves in Scotland CHAP. XIV Secretary Smith at Windsor dispatching Business His Care of Flanders and Ireland Massmongers and Conjurers ent up to him out of the North. His Colony in Ireland The Secretary at Windsor Dispatching Agents and Irish Matters His Compassion for Flanders His Advice about the Earl of Desmond And the Quarrel between Clanricard and Fitton Mass-mongers and Conjurers sent up to the Secretary His Letter to the Earl of Shrewsbury hereupon Perswades the Queen to send Aid unto Scotland Which upon his Motion she condescends to Two Scotch men by him examined Sir Thomas sends a Colony into Ardes His Patent for it Sir Thomas's Son leads the Colony His Rules and Orders for it Mr. Smith's Care in the Colony Draws up Instructions for his Son Families of English found in the Ardes Mr. Smith's good Service this Winter Mr. Smith slain The Ardes neglected upon Sir Thomas's Death How lost from the Family CHAP. XV. The Secretary Oppressed with Business His Discourse with the Queen about Ireland and the Earl of Essex His Act in the behalf of Colleges of Learning His Sickness and Death The Secretary uneasie at the Queen's Delays The Queen deliberates about Supplies for the Earl of Essex Her Backwardness thereunto troubles the Secretary Conference between the Queen and her Secretary about Ulster and the Earl of Essex His Advice to the Queen concerning him The Secretary with the Queen in Progress She speaks to the Secretary about dangerous Beggars He procures an Act for Schools of Learning The Act. His fatal Distemper seizes him It affected chiefly his Tongue and Throat The Orator now scarce can speak To divert his Sickness he looks over his former Writings His Book of
listen more attentively And when Smith had often inculcated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as E and OI they who three Years before had heard him sound them frequently uncorrectly after the old way could not think it was a Lapse of his Tongue but suspected something else and laughed at the unusual Sounds He again as thoughâ— his Tongue had slipp'd would sometimes correct himself and say the Word over again after the old manner But when he did this daily and as appeared every day the corrected Sounds flowed from him more and more some of his Friends came to him and told him what they noted in his Lectures Smith now cared not to dissemble but owned that he had been thinking of something privately but that it was not yet enough digested and prepared for the Publick They on the other hand prayed him not to conceal it from them but to tell them without any grudging Whereupon he promised he would Upon this Rumor many came together and repaired to him whom he required only to hear his Reasons and to have Patience with him three or four Days at most until the Sounds by Use were made more trite to their Ears and the Prejudice of Novelty more worn off And so by little and little he explained to them the whole Reason of the Sounds Many went to Cheke and related to him Smith's Discourses and others resorted to others according as they esteemed them to be Men of Judgment in this matter These thought some one thing some another Cheke assented At this very time Smith read upon one of Homer's Odysses at home in the College There he began more plainly and openly to shew and determin the Difference of these Sounds Then many came that they might the more easily learn of him vivâ— vâ—ce to frame their Tongues and utter the true Sounds The same did Cheke in his College It is not to be express'd with what Greediness and Affection this was received among the Youth and how gladly they agreed to it The following Winter in St. Iohn's College was acted the Greek Play of Aristophanes called Plutus in this Pronunciation and one or two more of his Comedies when among those that professed Greek and were esteemed Learned Men it was observed there was not so much as one that signified any Dislike or shewed any Opposition Iohn Ponet a Learned and Ingenious young Man and Smith's Scholar afterwards Bishop of Winton seems to have succeeded his Tutor in this Place For he read Greek in the Schools in the Name of the University near this time and followed his Masters way of sounding Greek Words Next him came into this Place Ascham of St. Iohn's a Person of like Wit and Diligence who read Isocrates He in the beginning of his Lectures contended with Ponet about this way of pronouncing and refâ—sâ—â— to follow it But because of the Authority that Cheke and Smith had gained in the University he would not reprove it openly Yet was it not long after that he became a very eager Defender of this very thing and so remained Thus in a few Years had this correct way of reading Greek introduced by Smith prevailed all the University over And which was more remarkable it was consented to by Iohn Redman Publick Professor and Reader of Divinity of great Honour and Deference in the University for his Learning Integrity of Life and Gravity of Manners who when at any time in his Reading he allâ—dgâ—d a Text in Greek used to read it after the correct Pronunciation And thus by Smith's Pains and Endeavours never to be forgotten by Posterity was the Noble Greek â—ongâ—e restored to it self as it was spokâ—n in the Times when Greece flourished and brought forth Plato Dionysius Plutarchus Dâ—mosthenes Thucydides and others Out of whose Writings he had Cheke produced Authorities that they pronounced the Greek as he taught And by this revived Pronounciation was displayed the Flower and Plentifulness of that Language the Variety of Sounds the Grandure of Diphthongs the Majesty of long Letters and the Grace of distinct Speech And as the University laid that Honour upon him of making himself their Greek Reader so they gave him the Office of their Orator In his Greek Lectures among other good Authors as Aristotle and Homer he read Socrates and Euripides for Philosophy and Morality His Oratory and Learning intermixed was so admirable and beyond the common Strain that Queen's College carried away the Glory for Eloquence from all the Colleges in the University besides and was rendered so famous by this her Scholar that it had like to have changed her Name from Queen's to Smith's College Unius Eloquio sic jam Reginea tecta Florebant quasi quae vellent SMITHE A vocari Sic reliquos inter Socios Caput extulit unus As Gabriel Harvey Smith's Townsman and one that knew him well writes upon his Death Such was the Fame of his Lectures that not only his own private College but all the University Learned and less Learned Young and Old flocked to hear him So writes the same Author Pendebat ab ore Unius privata domus Schola publica docti Indocti Schola tota Virûm Schola tota Puellûm And the Learnedest and Gravest Men and his Seniors and the choicest Wits of the University would be present when he read and sit there as his Scholars As Redman Cox Cheke Cecil he that afterwards was Lord Treasurer Haddon Ascham Car Tonge Bill Wilson Goldwel Watson c. Men of great Name afterwards in Church and State Felix qui pâ—tuit Smitho auscultare loquenti Sive illi Graecè dicendum sive Latiné And happy he that might hear Smith speak whether it were in Greek or Latine Thus he continued divers Years in the University till he was succeeded in the Place of Orator by his Fellow and Friend Iohn Cheke and he by Roger Ascham another curiously Learned Man in the Year 1544. CHAP. III. He Travels His Conferences with Learned Men at Orleans and Paris Takes his Degree at Padua Returns Home His Usefulness at the University The Controversie there arisen about his way of pronouncing Greek SMITH having now arrived at some Maturity of Knowledge and Learning and in the Seven and Twentieth Year of his Age it being now the Year of our Lord 1539. went abroad to Travel for the further improvement of himself in polite Learning elegant Language Skill in the Modern Tongues and Experience of the Customs and Laws of other Countries A thing commonly practis'd by Scholars in these times to study sometime at Foreign Universities in France and Italy which used then to be replenished with very Learned Professors Being abroad he took notice of the different Ways of speaking Latin which although he did not like especially the French who sounded Latin very corruptly yet he conformed himself to their manner of Speech And when he came into Italy he followed them there in
Subsistence but was charged not to depart out of the Realm Which favourable handling no doubt was obtained for him by some great Friends ai this Court A sign of the great esteem they had of his worth Such was his good Fortune in those hard times when so many of his Friends and the fast Professors of Religion suffered most sharply Dr. Henry Cole afterwards Dean of St. Paul's succeeded him in the Provostship of Eton And Dr. Iohn Boxal in the place of Secretary of State As Sir Iohn Bourn succeeded Cecil the other Secretary And so he made a shift to pass through this dangerous Reign in safety following hls Studies and Contemplations in his native Country of Essex at his House of Hill-hall there And when many on all hands of him were most cruelly burnt alive for the Profession of that Religion which he held he escaped and was saved even in the midst of the Fire Which probably he might have an eye to in changing the Crest of his Coat of Arms which now was a salamander living in the midst of a Flame whereas before it was an Eagle holding a Writing Pen flaming in his Dexter Claw as may still be seen upon a Monument of his Ancestors in Walden Church and likewise in another Monument in the Church of Greensted in Essex set up to the Memory of his Sister who Married Wood of Brodlane in Kent But which is strange he acted his part so dextrously in these difficult Times that even his Enemy the Pope sheltered him under his Bull for many Transgressions of his own Laws For in the Year 1555. one William Smythwick of the Diocess of Bath Esq had obtained a very large Indulgence from Rome For which no question the said Gentleman was very liberal which caused that Court to shew her self so liberal again It was that he and any five of his Friends whom he should nominate excepting Regulars such as were Married and their Children of both Sexes should enjoy many extraordinary Indulgences upon his Petition to the Pope who then was Paul IV. Which Petition was graciously accorded to by that Pope and the Bull ran for Indulgence to Smythwick and his five Friends and their Children as was petitioned à Quibusvis Excommunicationis Supensionis Interdicti aliisque Ecclesiasticis Sententiis Censuris Paenis á jure vel ab homine quavis occasione vel Causis latis ac Votorum quorumcunque Ecclesiae Mandatorum Transgressionibus Perjuriorum Homicidii casualis vel mentalis Reatibus manuum violentarum in quasvis Personas Ecclesiasticas no tamen Praelatos de praeterito injectionibus Iejuniorum Horarum Canonicarum ac divinorum Officiorum Paenitentiarum injunctarum in toto vel in parte Omissionibus Nec non ab omnibus singulis eorum peccatis de quibus contriti fuerint Confessi etiamsi essent talia propter quae foret Sedes Apostolica consulenda That is From all Sentences of Excommunication Suspension and Interdict and other Censures Ecclesiastical upon whatever occassion or cause inflicted Transgressions of any Vows or Commands of the Church Guilt of Perjuries and of Homicide whether casual or mental Laying violent Hands upon an Ecclesiastical Persons excepting Prelates de praeterito Omissions in whole or in part of Fasts Canonical Hours Divine Offices Penances injoined Also from all and singular their Sins whereof they ar Contrite and Confessed altho' they were such for which the Apostolick See were to consulted Likewise many other Indulgences were by Vertue hereof granted as to have a Portatile Altar to receive the Sacrament privately that in Lent and in other Fasting times of the Year they might eat Eggs Butter Cheese and other Milk-meats and Flesh without scruple of Conscience Smythwick chose Sir Thomas Smith for one of his Five Friends specified in the Bull to be partaker of these Catholick Privileges And so it is express in an Instrument drawn out and attested by Thomas Willet publick Notary Which still remains in the possession of Sir Edward Smith of Hill-Hall Baronet Dict. Smythwick discretum praeclarum Virum Dominum Thom. Smith de Hill-Hall Lon. Diocaes Militem Dominam Phillippam Uxorem ejus eorumque Liberos nominavit Constituit Admisit acceptavit c. pro primis personis de quinque Personis ut praefertur per cum Nominand ad liber è licit èque utend gaudend omnibus singulis in ipsis literis sive Brevi apostolico concess indult c. This no question was a good Skreen for Sir Thomas in these Evil Days If any still should wonder how Sir Thomas escaped so well who had been so much employed in the former Reign in the proceedings of Religion and had so heartily set them forward and withal had assisted in a Commission wherein Boner Bishop of London was deposed a Man of such a wrathful Temper his safety was in a great measure owing to that Deference that that stern and cruel Bishop Gardiner now Lord Chancellor had to his exemptary Vertue and Learning He was struck with a king of Admiration of the Man pretending a great Love to him And would Swear that he among all the rest of the Hereticks deserved only to live and to be preferred for his deep Wisdom and Judgment and the Heroical Sentiments of his Mind This is elegantly described to us by the Poet that dedicated the Muses Tears to his Funerals Quique alios rabido laniavit dente sideles Subdolus Antistâ—â— Stephanus cognomine Vulpes Vnius ingenio Literis Gravitate virili Sic perculsus crat mentisque Heroica Sensa Sic venerabatur non solum ut parceret illi Sed magnum prae se Veterator ferret amorem Et solum Haereticos inter Vitaque Locoque Dignum aliquo propter summum juraret Acumen And I am apt to think that Smith gained the Point in Bishop Gardiner's Affection in the Year 154â— upon his first Address in that Year When being a Man of Eminency in Cambridge he waited upon him at HamptonCourt about the Difference as it seemed concerning the right pronouncing of the Greek When Tho. Smith had been the great Reformer of the old corrupt way of reading that Language and that Bishop of the Chancellor of the University utterly against introducing the new correct way Yet Smith carried himself with so much facility and obsequiousness to him in that regard that it took much with him And upon his Return back to Cambridge tho' he took the freedom to write a large Letter to the said Chancellor arguing against the Decree he had lately made to forbid the new way and to continue the old yet it was with extraordinary Complement to him of his high Worth Learning Prudence and Acuteness Beginning his Letter after this obliging manner Right Reverend and most Worthy Prelate GReat was the Pleasure I took in your Discourse with me when I was the other Day at Hampton-Court to wait upon you partly out of Duty and partly to consult with you
For that which I had before learned by Fame only and Hearsay of your Wisdom being then present I understood by Experience and that your Lordship was indued not only with very great Skill and Insight in the weighty Affairs of State but also in these light and literary Controversies with an incredible sharpness and an excellent Facility and Plenty joined with a wonderful Obligingness while you are disputing and arguing c. He concludes his Letter with a Protestation of intire Obedience to his Lordship's Order however he should determine for or against his Desire and that he would submit to his Authority being the Authority of a Reverend Prelate and a very Learned Chancellor From hence I date the Respect and Love Smith gained with this Bishop This must be Remembered to this Bishops Commendation among the many evil Things that asperse and blacken his Name to this Day Nor must the like favour or a greater be forgotten by him shewn to such another Learned and grave Protestant Friend and Contemporary with Smith I mean Roger Ascham which I must have leave to mention here Whom the Bishop of Winchester did not only spare but called to Court and preferred to be Secretary of the Latin Tongue to Queen Mary Whom for his Learning in the Languages and incomparable faculty of a clean Stile and beautififul Writing he greatly loved and obliged with many Benefits And when Sir Francis Englefield Master of the Wards and Liveries a fierce Papist had often cried out upon Ascham to the Bishop as an Heretick and sit to be rejected and punished as such he never would hearken to him either to punish him or remove him from his Place Thus Lived two excellent Protestants under the Wings as it were of the Sworn Enemy and Destroyer of Protestants Ascham and Smith to whom we now return again Nay and bloody Boner who had a personal Pique against him since the last Reign as was shewn before let him alone tho' he were in his Diocess admiring the Man and dissembling his Anger Nee Bonerus eum non admiratus amici Vultum hominis tantas inter simulaverat iras But tho' he thus escaped this Man yet another of his Name who was also a Retainer to him at Eaton when Provost there fell into his Hands whom he left not till he had reduced him into Ashes Namely Robert Smith who was burnt at Uxbridge in the Year 1555. This Robert belonged to the Church of Winsor and had a Clerkship there of 10 l. a Year Of Stature he was tall and slender active and very ingenious for many Things chiefly delighting in the Art of Painting which for his Minds-sake rather than for a Living or Gain he practised and exercised He was smart and quick in Conversation and fervent in Religion wherein he was confirmed by the Preachings and Readings of Mr. Turner Canon of Windsor and others In his Examinations before Bishop Boner he spake readily and to the purpose and with no less Boldness and gave that Prelate his own He was also a good Poet according to the Poetry of those Times Some Pieces whereof remain in Fox's Monuments And his Parts and Elegancy of Stile as well as his Piety Godward may be judged of by his Sententious Letter to his Wife from Prison a little before his Death Which may be seen in Fox beginning Seek first to Love God Dear Wife with your whole Heart and then shall it be easie to Love your Neighbour Be friendly to all Creatures and especially to your own Soul Be always an Enemy to the Devil and the World but especially to your own Flesh. In hearing of good Things join the Ears and Heart together Seek Unity and Quietness with all Men but especially with your Conscience For he will not easily be entreated Hate the Sins that are past but especially those to come Be as ready to further your Enemy as he is to hinder you c. It was remarkable at his Death that his Body well night half burnt and all in a lump like a black Cole he suddenly rose upright and lifted up the stumps of his Arms and clapped the same together and so sunk down again and Died. And this was the more to be remarked because he had at the Stake said to those that stood about him that they should not think amiss of him or his Cause tho' he came to that End and that they would not doubt but his Body tho' so to be consumed presently to Ashes yet Dying in that Quarrel should rise again to Life everlasting and added that he doubted not God would shew some Token thereof Smith in these Days of Queen Mary was removed off the Stage of Action being now but a silent Stander by And here he saw the pitiful Burning of poor Men and Women for Religion the Marriage with Spain the Loss of Calais and the Reduction of the Kingdom to the lowest Ebb both in Wealth and Reputation that it had been in for some hundreds of Years before Which Things went close to his Heart and out of the Love he had to his native Country filled him with Vexation nay and shame to behold Hear his own Words reflecting upon these Times in one of his private Discourses framed in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign We kept Calais 200 Years and odd in the French Ground in spight of all the French Kings which have been since that Time in all the Civil Wars and the most pernicious Dissensions that ever were either in King Henry the Fourth the Sixth Richard the Third or Henry the Seventh their Times In King Henry the Eighth's Time we wan also to it Bouloign and Bouloignois I do assure you for my part if I may say what I think I question if I should have lived through Five hundred Years heretofore past I should have seen England at any time weaker in Strength Men Money and Riches than it was in the time when we wrote King Philip and Queen Mary King and Queen of so many Kingdoms Dukedoms Marchionates For all those wily Titles our Hearts our Joy our Comfort was gone As much affectionate as you note me to be to my Country and Countrymen I assure you I was then ashamed of both What decay came that Time to the substance of the Realm and Riches both publick and private it should be no less Pity than needless to tell I am sorry I can retrieve so little of this worthy Man during these five Years of Queen Mary which he spent in Leisure and Retirement However I have retrieved a Paper wrote by him in the Year 1557. that deserves here to be set down Intitled Advertisements and Counsels very necessary for all Noblemen and Counsellors gathered out of divers Authors both Italian and Spanish 1. TEll not all that you think nor shew all that you have nor take all that you desire nor say all that you know nor do all that you can For lightly shall
he lose the Favour of his Prince that followeth the Commandment of his Lusts and restraineth not them with the Bit of Reason 2. Beware you put not Fortune in trust with those Things that appertain to your Person Honour Substance or Conscience For the Nobleman which is wise will not hazard himself in hope to have relief at her hands as often as he shall need 3. Altho' all Men promise to help you if you had need yet nevertheless trust not too much thereto Many of them which now do offer to take Armour for your sake if occasion be offered will be the first to strike you to give you the Overthrow 4. In other Mens Cases meddle not too much nor in your own enforce not Time For governing you so you may remain in the good Estate you be or else may easily happen to utter what you were 5. The Danger of Noblemen is like to them that be in the top of high and sharp Mountains whence they cannot descend but fall Wherefore procure unto your selves such faithful Friends as will rather stay you from falling than such as will reach unto you their hands to help you up when you be down 6. Do good while you have power thereunto and never do hurt tho' you may For the Tears of the Offended and the Complaints of the Grieved may one Day have place in the sight of God to move him to Chastise you and also be occasion to make the Prince to hate you 7. Bestow your Benefits and Offices rather upon the Good than upon your Friends For among your Friends it is lawful to depart your Goods but not your Conscience 8. In that you Counsel be not affectionate in that you Discounsel be not passionate Whatsoever you do do advisedly For altho' in the Courts of Princes every Man beholdeth the Worthiness and Nobility of the Person Yet the more noble a Man is the more is he noted marked amd hated of others 9. If you will not err in your Counsels nor stumble in your Actions embrace them that tell you Truth and hate them that flatter you For much more ought you to love them that advise you than those that will seem to pity you when you are in Danger 10. Have always in memory the Benefits you have received of others and enforce your selves to forget such Injuries as others have done unto you 11. Esteem much that Little of your own and regard not the Abundance of others 12. Endeavour your self to do good to all Men and never speak evil of them that be absent 13. Jeopard not the Loss of many things for the Gain of one thing neither adventure the Loss of one thing certain for many things doubtful 14. Make much of your dearest Friends and do not procure any Enemies 15. Exalt not the rich Tyrant neither abhor the Poor which is rightous This hath a Line drawn through it by the Pen of Sir Thomas Smith Thimself as it seems fearing perhaps some misconstruction of his Words which might draw him into danger under this jealous Government of Queen Mary 16. Deny not Justice unto the Poor because he is poor neither pardon the Rich because he is rich 17. Do not good only for Love neither chastise only for Hatred 18. In evident Cases abide not the Counsel of others and indoubtful Cases determine not of your self 19. Suffer not Sin unpunished nor well-doing without Reward 20. Deny not Justice to him that asketh nor Mercy to him that deserveth it 21. Chastise not when thou art Angry neither promise any thing in thy Mirth 22. Do evil to no Man for malice neither commit any Vice for Covetousness 23. Open not thy Gate to Flatterers nor thy Ears to Backbiters 24. Become not proud in thy Prosperity nor desperate in thine Adversity 25. Study always to be loved of good Men and seek not to be hated of the Evil. 26. Be favourable unto the Poor which may be little if thou wilt be aided of God against them that be Mighty CHAP. VII Smith called for to Queen Elizabeth's Court. Concerned in the Settlement of Religion His Iugement of the Queen's Marriage WHEN Queen Elizabieth's Turn came to sway the Scepter Sir Tho. Smith was presently called to the Court and made use of And assisted in settling the publick Affairs both in Church and State The first thing he seemed to be employed in was in preparing a Reformed Office of Religion For when a Deliberation was soon had of changing the Religion set up under Queen Mary in a Device offered to Sir William Cecil who was now admitted Secretary of State for the doing of it it was advised that before an whole Alteration could be made which would require some longer time and study a Platform or Book of Divine Service should be framed to be shewn to the Queen and being by her approved to be put up in the Parliament-House For which purpose seven Men were Nominated Dr. Bill the Queen's Almoner and Master of Trinity-College in Cambridge and after Dean of Westminister Dr Parker late Dean of Lincoln soon after Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. May late Dean of St. Paul's and soon after Elect of York Dr. Cox late Dean of Westminster and Christ's-Church Oxon after Bishop of Ely Dr. Pilkington late Master of St. Iohn's-College Cambridge and after Bishop of Durham Grindal late Chaplain to Bishop Ridley and soon after Bishop of London and Whitehead a grave and elderly Divine highly esteemed by Archbishop Cranmer These four last having been Exiles in the last Reign And our Knight Sir Tho. Smith his Office was to call them together and to be among them And after Consulation with these other Men o Learning were to be drawn in being grave and apt Men to give their Assents And accordingly these Men met it being now Winter at Sir Thomas's House which then was in Chanon-Row Where was laid in a sufficient quality of Wood Coals and drink for their use And here was Sir Thomas Assistant with the rest in the reviewing of King Edward's Book of Common Prayer to be again received and established in the Church and in several other things to take place in the intended Reformation And when in the beginning of the Queen's Reign viz. Decemb. 23 the several publick important Affairs of the Kingdom were committed to the Cares of divers Noble Persons and Courtiers in five distinct Committees as I. The Cares of the North Parts II. The Survey of the Office of the Treasurer of the Chamber III. For Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight IV. For Enquiry into what Lands had been granted by the Late Queen Mary from the Crown V. For the Consideration of such Things as were necessary for the ensuing Parliament For this last Sir Tho. Smith was one of the Committee together with the Keeper of the Great Seal the Judges and some others In the first Year of the Queen he was also by her employed to give the Treasurer and Chamberlains of his
Native Town of Walden their Oaths of Fidelity to her Majesty To him and George Nicolls the Recorder a Commission from the Queen dated May 1. 1559. was issued for that purpose and the Form of the Oath to be Administered set down therein A Copy of which Commission yet remaineth in one of the Town Books And being in the Commission of the Peace he now did very good Service in the County of Essex where he lived For I find him in Iune one of the Chief in executing a Commission of an Order taken at Chelmesford Iune 16. 1559. by the Earl of Oxford the Lord-Lieutenant and the rest of the Justices there met It was for the taking care to the Orders newly made by the Parliament for the Reformation of Religion and for the mustering and putting the County in a Posture of Defence In which I make no doubt Sir Thomas had a great hand and was a special Director The sum of these Orders was That every Justice of Peace was to take an Oath which was provided for that purpose and that every one appointed to be a Justice should not forbear to Serve or take the Oath That the Justices should call three or four of the Honest Inhabitants of every Parish and charge them to get the Common-Prayer Book and Administration of the Sacraments lately Authorized by Parliament to be said and used And that the said Inhabitants should see the Curates in each Parish use such Service as was appointed in the said Book and no other And if any Curate refused so to do or Ministered some other way than was set down or Preach or Teach any thing in Derogation to the same to apprehend and take him and bring him before the Lord-Lieutenant to receive Punishment according to the Statute The said Inhabitants also to present the Names of all Persons as did absent themselves from Divine Service That the Justices and all other Gentlemen give their Attendance upon such Preachers as should be sent by the Queen or the Bishops so long as the Preachers should tarry in those Parts Also to order Watches and Beacons to be kept within their several Division To cause the Act for Rebellion and the Statute for Archery to be Published to the People To see to the Punishment of Vagabonds and seditious Tellers of Tales To send their Precepts to all Constables to give admonition to all Persons to provide themselves with Horse and Armour according as the Law lately made in that behalf ordained The Constables to direct a Brief of the Statute of Armour with the Pains contained that it might be Notified to all Men how they were to provide for the Musters And within three Weeks after the former Precept to send forth Precepts to the Constables requiring all Men from Sixteen to Sixty chargeable by the last Statute for finding of Armour to repair before the Justices at such a Day and Place as they should appoint and thither to bring all their Household Servants and Arms and Horses as they were bounden to find Also to Certifie to the Lord-Liuetenant of the Default and Lack of Furniture in any To chuse out the most likely and able Men for the Wars and put their Names in a Book And particularly note their Names that should be most meet for Demi-launces Light-horsemen Gunners Archers Pikemen and Billmen Musters being taken the Justices to deliver to the Lord-Lieutenant a Certificate containing the Number of all the Able Men within every Hamlet and Parish c. Besides the Oath which the Justices were to take mentioned in the first Article above-mentioned they were to Subscribe their Names to a Writing to be transmitted to the Council Acknowledging it their bounden Duty to observe the Contents of the Act of Parliament that is the Act for Uniformity of Common-Prayer c. And for the Observation of the same Law they did firmly promise that they and their Families would repair at all Times to their Parish-Churches or upon reasonable Impediment to other usual Chappels for the same Common-Prayer and Divine Service and to receive the Holy Sacrament from time to time according to the Tenor of the said Act And none of them that Subscribed should say or do or assent or suffer any Thing to be done or said by their Procurement in Contempt of any part of the Religion Established by that Act. In which Subscription as I find the Form of it written down by Sir Thomas in one of his Paper-Books so I repute him to have been a great Counselor for the furthering of Religion and the excluding of all Pophishly affected from having any Countenance from the State Great Discourse was now had every where about the Queen's Marriage For it was the Nations great Desire to see the Queen have a Prince to succeed in the Government after her The Queen seemed not inclinable to Marry and there were some that flattered her and declared it were better for her and the Realm that she should remain single as she was But the most part and especially the Protestant was earnest for her Marriage Yet these varied some were for her Marrying abroad others at home Of this Argument Sir Thomas drew up an ingenious Book consisting of divers Orations for and against the Queen's Marriage fained to be spoken by certain Dialogists according as their Judgments were in this Point Their Names were Agamus whose Judgment was for the Queen 's not Marrying Philoxenes who was for her Marrying but for her Marrying a Stranger and Axenius who was for her Marrying at home with some one of her Noble Subjects For the sight of this choice MS. I am beholden to my worthy Friends Sir Richard Gibbs of Weltham in Suffolk Knight and the Reverend Mr. Iohn Laughton publick Library Keeper of Cambridge The first Entrance into this Dialogue begins thus As I was walking in my Garden all alone Francis Walsingham came unto me And whether I espied him at the first coming or no my Head Being occupied with Matters I know not But after the first common Words of Welcome and How do ye and Ye have been long a Stranger What News c. I pray you saith he tell me if I may be so bold to ask you What is that you are musing upon so sadly alone when I came in Methoughts you had some great Matter in your Head For ye scarcely did see me and loth ye were to be interrupted Ye guess well quoth I For I was recording with my self a Communication which was had here even in this Place partly in Walking and partly in sitting upon the Green Bench of certain Friends of yours and mine which came now from the Court to solace themselves in the Country and took my House in their way I pray you said he if I may hear it let me hear some piece of it For it must be some great Matter that maketh you Muse of it all alone S. It is great Matter indeed quoth I Marry it is a
or Love-alien makes his Oration in Answer to Agamus for the Queen's Marriage Then the same Philoxenus enters into another Speech fortified with divers Arguments for the Queen 's Marrying with a Stranger Then spake Axenius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Homefriend for the Queen 's Marrying an English-man In all these Discourses sir Thomas Smith layeth down what Reasons could be made use of in savour of the Argument insisted on adorned also with handsom Eloquence and furnished with proper Examples out of History ancient and modern In the last and chief Discourse of all Smith seems to intend himself the Speaker under the Name of Axenius I shall exemplifie these Orations for the Readers pleasure and satisfaction And the rather because they have many things relating to publick Affairs not long before happening in the Realm under the Reigns of King Henry King Edward and Queen Mary But if I should place them here it would too much interrupt the Course of the History therefore they are reserved for the Appendix where the Reader shall find them CHAP. VIII Sir Thomas's Embassies to France The Principle Queen Elizabeth went by at her first coming to the Crown was to displace as few as she might of the Old Ministers of State Whereby it came to pass that many of those that were her Sisters Servants remained so to her Therefore tho' she parted with Queen Mary's two Secretaries Bourn and Boxal strong Papists who came in the rooms of Cecil and Smith yet she kept Secretary Petre still and replaced Cecil And intending to retain only two Principal Secretaries for the future there was no room for our Smith But he was not to be laid aside His Abilities were too well known And therefore the Queen resolved to make use of him for a time in her Business with foreign Princes till the might prefer him in her own Court. Thus not to mention that he seemeth to be dispatched abroad into France in the Year 1559. together with 〈◊〉 Bishop of Ely the Lord Hâ—â—rard and Dr. Wolten when a Peace was concluded with that Crown and there resided in the Year 1502. he was thought a sâ—t Person to be employed in the Embassy to France Of whom Cambden in his History takes no notice tho' he doth of the Embassage He received his last Instructions in September and a Declaration written in French and Sir Tho. Gresham the Queen's Merchant gave him Credit The Matter of the Embassy was to urge the Restitution of Calais and to keep the Correspondence with the Protestant Prince of Conde that in case of a Breach with France he might be Assistant to the English against that Crown Sir Thomas made some stay at Calais waiting for the coming of Sir Nicolas Throgmortâ—â— the Queen's Ambassador then in France that they might repair to the French Court together But he mâ—de a Delay at Orleans upon some By â—nds to the Prejudice of the Queen's Affairs So â—ir Thomas at last set forward himself towards the Court where more good was to be done with his Presence than otherwise â—ut as for Thrâ—gmorton's Abode at Orleans done perhaps to discredit or impede the success of Smith's Embassy and so he seemed to take it as did others also Secretary Cecil wrote to Smith that he took it to be upon such reasonable Causes as he had alledged tho' other Folks were not so well perswaded And he wished him safe at home to answer his own Doings Where as that good Secretary wrote he should not lack his Friendship for divers Respects But this was the beginning of no good understanding between Thrâ—gmorton and Smith tho' both joint Ambassadors in France for the Queen The Queen's Council wrote their Letters to him in October wherein they shewed him what passed between the French-Ambassador and them and how a matter of Treason of the Poles practiced by the French and Spanish Ambassadors had been of late discovered Which altho' it were a Matter of no great Moment to be feared Yet thereby was made apparent how truly the Queen and her Council judged of the House of Gaise And that so he might as he saw Cause take advantage thereby to maintain the former Reasons published by her Majesty for justification of her Doings in sending Forces into France As the Secretary wrote to this Ambassador But to look a little back Smith's great Profession was when he came into France to be a Peace mover As soon as he had Audience of the King and Queen he wrote the Council a full Account therof to their great satisfaction And the Secretary wrote to him that they all allowed of his Zeal to procure Peace and of his Diligence in so ample a manner as by his Writing had appeared The Cardinal of Fâ—rrâ—â—ra the Pope's Legate being then at Court Smith had much conference with him But for this he had not escaped a Reprimand from the Court had not some of his good Friends interceded Of this Cecil gave him notice in these Words in the Month of November But to write plainly and friendly unto you as I would you should if our places were changed the most here have misliked that you have treated with the Legate and seem willing that you should have been reprimanded therefore But therein I and others unto your good meaning have so tempered the Cause as thereof you shall hear no otherwise except it be by me and some others your private good Friends For that as he added there were among them in England divers very scrupulous of dealing with the Popes Ministers And therefore he advised the Ambassador to forbear the Cardinal in these Affairs and to use other Courtesy to him as he should see cause for the State of Ferrara as the Ambassador had well made the Distinction to himself The Secretary also now advised him to beware of one Monsieur de Serre saying that he was very Fine and Nimble in all his Practiques In our Ambassadors last Dispatch he wrote to the Queen and therein took the Liberty to give her certain good Counsel which Letter she took in good part and ordered the Secretary to thank him for it and willed him also to warn the Ambassador of the Cardinal of Ferrara and likewise to let all the Favourers of the Prince of Conde manifestly understand that without his Consent the Ambassador would not enter into any Treaty with France Smith in this Embassy had but ill Entertainment in France for he went over in a Year wherein he met with three Evils Plague intestine War and Famine Whereof the next Year the Plague came over into England The intestine War was pretty well ceased but the Famine that is the Dearth of Provision remained and encreased there more and more February 1. Sir Nicholas Throgmorton JointAmbassador with Smith came over into England to the Queen leaving Smith alone in France and nine days after he sent over his Man to the Court with Letters And so
well had Sir Thomas managed his Office and described the Affairs of France so fully that the Letters he wrote thereof to Secretary Cecil did much delight him And in an Answer he told him he had read over his Letters several times Heartily Thanking him for his large Letters which contented him so well as indeed he was delighted to read them twice or some thrice And such was Smith's wise and true English Behaviour and eloquent Utterance that he got himself great Credit and Reputation among the French-men Concerning which the Secretary in one of his Letters to him used these Words That he was glad to see his Credit so good to do good And indeed added he using Wisdom therewith courteous and gracious Speech which was one of Smith's Accomplishments doth much profit And as that Nation was crafty and fine in all their Negotiations with other States so our Ambassador used Art to be a Match for them for he made use of a certain subtil Spy in Orleans whose Letters he received and dispatched into England And by the Intelligence gathered by this means our Ambassador did excellent Service which occasioned the Secretary in a Letter to him speaking of Smith's last Letters and the Copy of others sent to the said Smith from Orleans to say That he saw his great Diligence and to speak in proper Terms that he dealt very cunningly meet for the place he held Advising him to cherish the Party that served his Turn and that he should be kept out of danger whereby his Service might last the longer This he wrote to the Ambassador in Cypher The Secretary added that he had notified him and his Service to the Queen's Majesty and so he bid the Ambassador let him know But notwithstanding the Ambassador could not do that Service he would for he complained that the Instructions from England came not to him and he was perplexed for lack of Intelligence from thence But the Secretary satisfied him in part concerning that Point in the Answer he next made him which was That he knew not what more Instructions he could require than what he already had which was to prosecute no other Ends but the Restitution of Calais And as to his dealing with the Prince of Conde and the Admiral of France whom the Secretary suspected to be about making Peace with the French without the English as they did indeed not long after he advertised him how he ought to urge to them their Promises and Compacts under their Hands and Seals And that if they should have no regard to these they might expect the Judgment of God upon them for their false Dealing The Contents of the Contract between the Queen and them were That She should pay them a great Summ of Money and send them six Thousand Men for their Defence And that they should deliver into Her hands for Caution Nâ—whaven which She should hold in her Hands till Calais should be restored The Letters that past from Sir Thomas in this Embassy this Year are still extant in the Paper-Office in two Bundles One whereof about a General Peace And therein Letters also from Middleton sent from Smith to the Admiral of France Our Ambassador abode still in France until the next Year 1563. Then Monsieur Briquemault came over to the Queen from the Prince of Conde Whose Business was to eadeavour to bring the Queen not to insist upon the Restitution of Calais but to be satisfied with some other Terms But in May when he departed She utterly denied that there was any other way of Satisfaction And the Queen then also wrote Letters to her Ambassador to deal very roundly with the Prince and the Admiral And so the Secretary thought they had deserved as he wrote to the Ambassador And yet as he added he doubted not but the Ambassador would have Consideration how to strike therein whether high or low In Letters our Ambassador Smith had lately sent to the Court he gave great content Wherein as he advertised the Lords of the Council plentifully of the Variety of News in France so he gave good plain Rules how the same Advertisements should be taken and judged And both the one and the other pleased them very well In his Negotiation with France this Year when things were well nigh accorded some Reports came out of France which so offended the Queen that she altered her Resolutions and among other things commanded Sir Thomas that whereas before he Negotiated in one Language which I suppose was the French he should now use no other Language but Latin Concerning which thus the Secretary wrote to him This alteration of your Speech into Latin I thought very strange but surely Her Majesty had occasion ministred by such Reports as now were brought to think the same were best And therefore using no more the vulgar tongue of the Nation but the Learned things for the future might be kept more private and therefore added he I know very well you can do this in the Latin as well as any Man and I nothing doubt but that ye will do it Sir Nicholas Throgmorton who returned into France Iuly 20th and was Ambassador there with Sir Thomas by means of secret practising at the Court was arrested by the French Kings's Order at Caudebee August 3. He was a Favourite of the Lord Robert Duddeley and by his means dispatched thither This Throgmorton was subtile and active and a man of Intrigue He and Sir Thomas a person of more Gravity and Discretion could not well comport together Throgmorton rather hindring than furthering the Queen's Business by his over-practising The Dissension between them came to the Court Throgmorton had a great Friend there namely the Lord Robert Duddeley so Sir Thomas's course was to sue to the Secretary for his good Word The Secretary wrote to him that as he had promised him his Friendship so he saw it well bestowed Smith also desired him to acquaint the Lord Robert with the difference between him and Sir Nicolas writing also the Case This Cecil accordingly caused to be shewn and procured Mr. Somers one who was employed backward and forward in this Treaty between England and France to report his knowledge which it seems made more for Sir Thomas than his own Writing did But the wise Secretary wished as he said such matters to be swallowed up in forgetfulness knowing how by these private Animosities between the Queen's Ambassadors publick Business was hindred Smith also now sent a Letter to the Lord Robert himself which was writ with so much freedom and honest plainness that it pleased the said Lord and set all right between the said Ambassador and him The Lord Robert shewed the Letter to Cecil and much commended his plainness of Writing to him and confessed it to be both wisely and friendly done For Smith was for Truth and Plainness as Throgmorton was for Doubling And the Secretary was of Smith's mind telling him in his
him divers Books which where not to be had at home Thus once he conveyed over Onuphrius and Polydore and certain French Books of Genealogy and Chronology for the Secretary There had been a dangerous Book wrote in Latin and lately printed abroad against the present State of Religion in England An Answer to which in the same Language the Secretary had procured and wanted nothing but to have it printed abroad as the other was In a Letter wrote to the Ambassador dated November 28th he wished he had a sight of it and that he would give his allowance thereof by some Commendatory Epistle to be added and if he could by some good means procure it to be well printed in France without peril of the Book he would send him the Copy Or if he could get it Printed at Strasburgh or Basil by some means from thence he would also send it him but if he could not he would send by some of his Men to Christopher Mount the Queen's Agent in Strasburgh for him to take care for the Publishing of it But to relate a few particulars of this Book which made no small stir in these Days Hieronymus Osorius a Portugal then a private Man afterwards Bishop of Arcoburge or Sylvane wrote an Epistle to Queen Elizabeth in an elegant Latin Stile being nothing in effect but an Admonition to Her to wheel about to Popery In this Epistle he imagined many monstrous Errors to be nurselled in our Church and with much reproachful Language depraved the Professors of the Gospel This Libel was soon after printed in France both in Latin and French as it was also printed in English at Antwerp Ann. 1565. Translated by one Richard Shacklock M. A. and Student of the Civil Law in Lovain and Intituled A Pearl for a Prince This the State thought necessary to have an Answer to because it reflected much upon the Justice and Wisdom of the Nation Dr. Walter Haddon one of the finest Learning and of the most Ciceronian stile in England was imployed to answer this Foreigners Book which he finished in this Year 1563. Beginning Legi Hieronyme tuam Epistolam c. It is extant in the said Haddon's Lucubrations Published by Hatcher of Cambridge In the Beginning Haddon shewed the Cause of his answering of Osorius and of his publishing the same namely that Osorius had indeed writ his Epistle separately to the Queen yet it seemed to be intended for all because it was published in Print and was open to the Eyes of all Men. He added that this Author had taken much upon him that he being a private Man and at a great distance both by Sea and Land unacquaintâ—d also with English Affairs should so considently take upon him to speak to the Queens Majesty that he diminished the Dignity of the Laws of England and that in general he madâ— the Nation guilty of a wicked and malicious kind of Novelty Haddon in his Answer studied Brevity and they were only some particular Points whereunto he thought good to Answer although not to the full neither Because he supposed as he wrote in his Apology that Osorius might be deluded by some malicious Reports of our Adversaries Haddon's Book being thus prepared the care was to get it published And because Osorius was printed in France both in Latin and French Cecil thought it convenient that Haddon's said Answer should be printed in the same Place and in both the same Languages Hereupon the said Cecil in Ianuary sent the Treatise to our Ambassador desiring him to procure the Printing of it and that with all Expedition And that he would add to it something by his own hand where and as he thought good and that he would procure it to speak French and to be published in that Language also And accordingly this Epistle Responsory of Dr. Haddon was so well considered over and weighed by Smith and had his Castigations that it might be reckoned to be Smith's Work as well as Haddon's For Haddon also had entreated him to ponder diligently his Answer that nothing might be in it but what was sit to be seen and read for the Vindication of the Queen and Realm Smith also spake to Robert Stephens the French King's Printer that he would take it in hand He desiring the Copy to see whether there were any thing in it which touched the State of that Kingdom as also to consider the Bulk of the Book and on Condition he had leave of the Queen undertook to do it But it received some stop by this means which probably enough might have been a thing plotted by Osorius's Friends or Queen Elizabeth's and the Nations Enemies One de Valla came to the English Ambassador and desired he might have the sight of this Epistle of Haddon's and whether he had the Ambassador's leave or no went to Stephens as from the Ambassador and took the Book from him to peruse it for a time But while it was in de Valla's Possession the Provost Marshal arrested the said de Valla upon pretence of some Crime and withal took this Book out of his hand and so it was brought to the Court and remained in the possession of the said Provost This created work for the Ambassador So he wrote to the Chancellor of France acquainting him with the whole matter relating to him how Osorius had in the Book traduced the Manners Lives and Religion of England not according to the truth of the thing as indeed it was but according to his Apprehension and as ignorant Men had out of Envy represented matters to him And that if he had kept his Book within its own Bounds and in the Shadow of his own Closet no matter would have been made of it But when he had made that publick Vaunt of his performance by setting it forth in Print and making a Boast of himself to the World in this new and unusual Argument what did he do but display to all not only how ignorant he was of the Institution Manners and Customs which we said he use at present in England but how little he knew of those Controversies and Questions which now exercised the whole Christian World and to the understanding whereof the minds of all were so intent Thus the Ambassador discoursed in his Letter Two things therefore in Conclusion he requested of the Chancellor one was that after he had read this Epistle of Dr. Haddon he would procure that the Copy might be restored to Stephens to Print it Cum Privilegio or if that were not allowed yet that he might not be hindred from printing it in Latin and French Or if yet that would not be granted at least to restore the Copy that it might be printed elsewhere This was written by Smith March 6th from Melum a place about twenty Miles from Paris To which the Chancellor gave this Answer That the French Queen was much offended with those Folks that presumed to print Osorius his Book in
preserve her long to Reign over her People and that his Grace and Mercy would turn all to the best In the midst of these Cares of our Ambassador the Lord Burghley wrote to him of a Matter that put him and his Collegue into a great Consternation It was concerning the Queen's falling Sick of the Small-Pox and withal of her speedy Recovery again His careful Mind for this Matter he thus exprest in his next Letter to the said Lord That he and his Fellow read the News of the Queen's Illness together in a marvellous Agony but having his Medicine ready which was that her Majesty was within an Hour recovered it did in part heal them again But that as his Lordship wrote of himself that the Care did not cease in him so he might be assured it did as little cease in them Calling to their remembrance and laying before their Eyes the Trouble the Uncertainty the Disorder the Peril and Danger that had been like to follow if at that Time God had taken her from them whom he styled The Stay of the Common-wealth the Hope of their Repose and that Lanthorn of their Light next God Not knowing whom to follow nor certainly where to light another Candle Another great Solicitude of his at this Time was as the Queen's Sickness so her Slowness to resolve and the tedious Irresolutions at Court. Of which he spake in some Passion after this sort That if the Queen did still continue in Extremities to promise in Recoveries to forget what shall we say but as the Italians do Passato il pericolo gabbato il fango He told that Lord moreover That he should perceive by their Proceedings in their Embassy what justly might be required was easie to be done But if her Majesty deceived her self and with Irresolution made all Princes understand that there was no Certainty of her or her Council but dalliance and farding off of Time she should then first Discredit her Ministers which was not much but next and by them discredit her self that is to be counted uncertain irresolute unconstant and for no Prince to trust unto but as to a Courtier who had Words at will and true Deeds none These were Expressions proceeding somewhat as may be perceived from his Spleen and partly from his present Indisposition of Body Which he seemed to be sensible of For he begged his Lordship's Pardon for what he had said rendring his Reason That he had been kept there so long that he was then in an Ague both in Body and in Spirit And that as the Humours in his Body made an Ague there of which he wisht it would make an end so that irresolution at the Court he hoped would help to conclude that he might feel no more Miseries Which he feared those that came after should feel Because we will not see said he The Time of our Visitation Thus did Smith express his Discontents into the Bosom of his trusty Friend for the Mismanagement of publick Affairs as he conceived discovering as his Zeal and Affection to the Queen and the State so the Temper of his Mind somewhat enclined to Heat and Choler This he writ from Blois on Good-Friday While Sir Thomas Smith was here Ambassador the Treaty of Marriage was in effect concluded between the Prince of Navarre and the Lady Margaret the present French King's Sister Which lookt then very well toward the Cause of Religion and both that Ambassador and his Collegues Walsingham and Killigrew liked it well One Matter in Debate and the chief was about the manner of Solemnizing the Marriage Whereupon they sent to the Queen of Navarre a true Copy of the Treaty of the Marriage between King Edward the Sixth and the late Queen of Spain the French King's Sister Wherein it was agreed that she should be Married according to the Form of the Church of England Which stood the said Queen of Navarre in such good stead that she produced it to the Queen-Mother of France To which they took Exceptions and said it was no true Copy of the Treaty Whereupon she the Queen of Navarre sent to Sir Tho. Smith who happened to be at that very Treaty By her Messenger she signified that she sent to him to know because he was a Dealer in the same whether he would not justifie it to be a true Copy To whom Sir Thomas answered That knowing the great good Will his Mistress did bear her and how much she desired the good Success of that Marriage as a thing that tended to the Advancement of Religion and Repose of this Realm he could not but in Duty avow the same and be willing to do any good Office that might advance the said Marriage CHAP. XIII Made Chancellor of the Garter Comes home Becomes Secretary of State His Advice for forwarding the Queen's Match His Astonishment upon the Paris Massacre SIR Thomas being still abroad in France the Queen conferred upon him the Chancellorship of the Order of the Garter in the Month of April as some Reward of the League that he had taken so much pains in making For which he thanked her Majesty and said it must needs be to him many times the more welcome because that without his Suit and in his Absence her Highness of her gracious goodness did remember him About Iune 1572. he came home with the Earl of Lincoln Lord Admiral who was sent over to take the Oath of the French King for the Confirmation of the Treaty Which being done by the Queen's Command he was no longer to abide in France but to return at his best Convenience It was not long from this Time that the old Lord Treasurer Marquess of Winchester died and the Lord Burghley Secretary of State succeeded in his Place Then Smith was called to the Office of Secretary viz. Iune 24. having sometime before assisted the Lord Burghley in that Station And surely it was the Opinion of his great Learning as well as his long Experience and other Deserts that preferred him For his Learning had rendred him very famous in the Court A Poet in those Times writing an Heroick Poem to the Queen therein describing all her great Officers one after another thus depainted this her Secretary Inde tibi est altis SMYTHUS à gravibúsque Secretis Doctrinae Titulis Honoris fulgidus ut qui Pierius Vates prompto facundus ore Et cui solliciti exquisita Peritia Iuris Astronomus Physicusque Theologus insuper omni Eximiè multifaria tam structus in Arte Ut fedes in eo Musae fixisse putentur Wherein of all the Queen 's Wise and Noble Counsellors Smith her Secretary is made to be the deeply Learned Man about her as being an ingenious Poet an excellent Speaker of exquisite Skill in the Civil Law in Astronomy in natural Philosophy and Physick in Divinity and in a word so richly furnished in all the Arts and Sciences that the Muses themselves might be supposed to
Warrant can the French make now Seals and Words of Princes being Traps to catch Innocents and bring them to the Butchery If the Admiral and all those Martyred on that bloody Bartholomew Day were guilty why were they not apprehended imprisoned interrogated and judged but so much made of as might be within two Hours of the Assassination Is that the manner to handle Men either culpable or suspected So is the Journier slain by the Robber so is the Hen of the Fox so the Hind of the Lion so Abel of Cain so the Innocent of the Wicked so Abner of Ioab But grant they were guilty they dreamt Treason that night in their Sleep what did the Innocents Men Women and Children at Lions What did the Sucking Children and their Mothers at Roan deserve at Caen at Rochel What is done yet we have not heard but I think shortly we shall hear Will God think you still sleep Shall not their Blood ask Vengeance Shall not the Earth be accursed that hath sucked up the innocent Blood poured out like Water upon it I am most sorry for the King whom I love whom I esteem the most worthy the most faithful Prince of the World the most sincere Monarch now Living Ironically spoken no question by Smith because to him that King used to profess so much Integrity I am glad you shall come home and would wish you were at home out of that Country so contaminate with innocent Blood that the Sun cannot look upon it but to prognosticate the Wrath and Vengeance of God The Ruin and Desolation of Ierusalem could not come till all the Christians were either killed there or expelled from thence But whither do I run driven with just Passions and Heats And in another Letter All that be not Bloody and Antichistian must needs condole and lament the Misery and Inhumanity of this Time God make it short and send his Kingdom among us La Crocque was now in England Ambassador from France and notwithstanding this base bloody Action of France and the Jealousies that the Queen now justly conceived of that King yet she gave him a soft Answer to be returned to his Master being ready to go to his own Country Of which Ambassador's Negotiation and the Queen's Answer thus Secretary Smith spake His Negotiation was long in Words to make us believe better of that King than as yet we can and replied to on the English side liberally eenough Altho' to that Prince or Country who have so openly and injuriously done against Christ who is Truth Sincerity Faith Pity Mercy Love and Charity nothing can be too sharply and severely answered Yet Princes you know are acquainted with nothing but Doulceur so must be handled with Doulceur especially among and between Princes And therefore to temperate as you may perceive Not that they should think the Queen's Majesty and her Council such Fools as we know not what is to be done and yet that we should not appear so rude and barbarous as to provoke where no Profit is to any Man Upon the Preparations that were made in England against the feared Attempts of the French or other Roman Catholicks at this critical Time of the Murthers committed upon the Protestants in France the Secretary thus piously spake Truth it is that God disposeth all whatsoever a Man does purpose as Divines speak And it is his Gift if Wise Men do provide for Mischief to come And yet whatsoever they do devise the Event doth come of him only who is the God of Hope and Fear beyond Hope and Expectation This he spake in reference to the Scots who hearing of this Havock in France whereas the Lords there were in Civil Wars amongst themselves fomâ—nted by the French did now begin to come to Accord dreading these Doings and fearing some Danger near themselves For it was the Desire of the English to have Scotland in Peace and Union under the present Protestant King And now by a way not thought on they drew nearer and nearer to an Accord To which the Cruelty in France helped not a little and now continuing much more would Which he exprest in thâ—se Words The Scots our Neighbours he awakened by their Beacons in France And the Scots to shew their Resentment of these foul Doings there issued out a Proclamation to that purpose which the Secretary sent to Walsingham CHAP. XIV Secretary Smith at Windsor dispatching Business His Care of Flanders and Ireland Mass-mongers and Conjurers sent up to him out of the North. His Colony in Ireland IN the very beginning of November Secretary Smith was with the Queen at Windsor the Lord Treasurer Burghley and most of the Lords of the Council being gone to London to the Solemnization of some great Wedding at which the Secretary also should have been but he thought it not convenient to go to be present with the Queen whatsoever Chance might happen There were now in England Walwick an Agent from the Earls of East Freezeland who was very importune for an Answer to his Masters Requests and another Agent from the Town of Embden who came about Matters of Trade The Consideration of whose Business the Queen committed to Aldersay and some other Merchants of London who had objected against the Agents Proposals and were to give in their Reasons Smith who was ever for Dispatch of Business desired the Lord Burghley to call upon these Merchants to hasten and to forward the Dismission of both those Agents Irish Businesses also lying before the Queen at this Time were taken care of by him Signifying to the said Lord Treasurer how the Lord Deputy of Ireland wanted Comfort and Direction in Answer to his Letters And he desired the Treasurer to send him the Draught of the Answer from the Lords to the said Deputy which he would cause to be written fair and made ready to be Signed against his and the rest of the Lords Return to Windsor He further wrote to the Treasurer that he should have the Privy Seal sent him for 5200 l. for Corn and Money for the use of the Deputy He mentioned two Letters withal to be sent by the same Dispatch into Ireland for three Bishopricks void there to which the Lord Deputy had recommended certain Persons as able and fit Men for those Places And taking care of his Friend Walsingham Ambassador in France he obtained leave from the Queen for his Return home And when among several named to her Majesty to succeed him she had her thoughts upon Mr. Francis Carce as liking him most he enformed the Treasurer of it and prayed him to send for the said Carce and commune with him to put himself in a readiness Whereby as he said he should do Mr. Walsingham a great Pleasure These were some of the State Matters Smith's Hands were full of in the Month of November Sir Thomas Smith was nettled to see the proud Spaniard Domineering in Flanders and Holland and exercising their Cruelties there and
introducing a Slavery among that free People and very apprehensive he was of the growing Power of that Nation that so threatned their Neighbours France as well as England Especially seeing withal how tender both Realms were to send Succors to those Parts to enable them to Vindicate their own Liberty and Safety from those inhumane and insufferable Practices there prevailing In the mean time the French accused the Sluggishness of the English and the English did the like of the French The Queen had sent some Forces to Flushing But there was a Report that she upon Duke D'Alva's Motion did revoke them But that was not so but he was gently answered with a dilatory and doubtful Answer But indeed more that would have gone from England thither were stayed The English on the other hand had knowledge that the French did Tergiversari hang off and wrought but timorously and under hand with open and outward Edicts and made Excuses at Rome and Venice by the Ambassadors importing their not meddling in Flanders or excusing themselves if they had done any thing there On which Occasion Smith in a Letter to the Ambassador in France gave both Princes a Lash reflecting upon the pretended Activity and warlike Qualities of the French King yet that he should thus waver and be afraid to engage and upon the Slowness and Security of the Queen of England You have saith he a King void of Leisure and that loves Fatigue whose warlike House hath been used to the shedding as well of their own as of foreign Blood What shall we a slothful Nation and accustomed to Peace do Whose supream Governor is a Queen and she a great Lover of Peace and Quietness But to see a little more of his Service and Counsel in the Quality and Place he served under the Queen When in this Year 1572. the Earl of Desmond was in England a Prisoner but reconciled unto the Queen and had promised to do her good Service in Ireland and soon to drive out the Rebels out of the Country the Queen and Court thought he would prove an honest and faithful Subject and so resolved to dismiss him into his Country And she told Sir Thomas that she would give him at his Departure the more to oblige him a piece of Silk for his Apparel and a reward in Money Upon which Sir Thomas's Judgment was That seeing the Queen would tye the Earl to her Service with a Benefit it would be done Amplè liberaliter ac prolixè non malignè parcè i. e. Nobly liberally and largely not grudgingly and meanly Which as he added did so disgrace the Benefit that for Love many times it left a Grudge behind in the Heart of him that received it that marred the whole Benefit A Quarrel happened this Year between the Earl of Clanrichard and Sir Edward Fitton Governor of Connaught who was somewhat rigorous in his Office which had caused the Rebellion of the Earl's Son The Case came before the Deputy and Council in Ireland and at last to the Queen and her Council in England Our Secretary drew up the Loâ—ds of the Councils Order about it to be sent to the Lord Deputy and the Council there to hear and decide it between them and withal was sent the Earl's Book and Sir Edward Fitton 's Answers given into the Council in England The Earl seemed desirous to have Matters sifted to the full Trial. And then each Party might say and prove the most and worst they could But Sir Thomas thought it the best way for the Deputy to perswade them both to wrap up as he exprest it all things by-past and to be Friends as they had promised it seems to be at a Reconciliation formerly made before the Lord Deputy and to joyn faithfully for the Furtherance of the Queen's Majesty's Service and the Quietness and good Order of the Country hereafter And it was in his Judgment as he added The best way to tread all under foot that had gone heretofore with a perpetual 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to begin a new Line without grating upon old Sores Very wise and deliberate Council to avoid all ripping up former Grievances which is not the way to heal so much as to widen the old Differences There was this Year both Massing and Conjuring in great measure in the North especially and all to create Friends to the Scotch Queen and Enemies to Queen Elizabeth The one to keep the People in the Blindness of Popery and the other to hood-wink them to believe as it were by Prophesy the speedy approaching Death of the Queen The Earl of Shrewsbury was now Lord President of the Council in the North. He employed two sharp Persons to discover these Persons and their Doings Which they did so effectually that in the Month of February many of these Conjurers and Massmongers were seized and by the said Lord Presidents Order were brought up by them that seized them to Secretary Smith good store of their Books which Sir Thomas seeing called Pretty Books and Pamphlets of Conjuring They brought also to him an Account in Writing of their Travail and pains in this behalf There was apprehended danger in these Practices For the Papists earnestly longing for the Queen's Death had cast Figures and consulted with unlawful Arts which they mixt with their Masses to learn when she should die and who should succeed and probably to cause her Death if they could This piece of Service therefore the Queen and Counsel took very thankfully at the Earl of Shrewsbury's Hands Which together with the Course that was intended to be taken with these Criminals the Secretary signified to him in a Letter to this Tenor My very good Lord the Pain that the two to whom you gave Commission viz. Pain and Peg have taken to seek out the Conjurers and Mass-mongers is very well accepted of by my Lords of the Council and they willed me to give your Lordship therefore their most hearty thanks The Queen also not without great Contentation of her Highness hath heard of your careful ordering of those matters The matters be referred touching the Massing and such Disorders to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the great Commission Ecclesiastical That which shall appear by Examination to touch the State and the Prince to be referred again to my Lords of the Council c. This was dated from Greenwich Feb. 17. 1572. But it was thought highly needful that this dangerous Nest in the North should be searched more narrowly for and the Birds taken that they might no more Exercise these evil Practices or worse hereafter The care of which was therefore committed by the Council to the Justices of those parts out of some secret Favour as it seems in some of the Privy Counsellors to Papists For those Justices were known well enough to be generally Popishly affected Therefore it was the Judgment of the Secretary that these Justices would rather Cloak than Open
the Chapters in manner as they were at the first But the Tables or any Draughts of them he could not find And he doubted that neither his Leisure nor Wit nor Memory of old Books and the Places of them which were formerly more ready and fresh â—o him than they were at present would serve him to make the Instructions again Wherefore he prayed that Lord to look out the Book but especially the Tables This he wrote from his House at Chanon Row April 22d This Book as it seems the Lord Treasurer found out among his Papers and sent it to the Secretary according to his Request which he had desired to see as he said to the said Lord anquam filium postliminio redeuntem perditum quasi iterum inventum This Book is mentioned and no more but mentioned in the History of Queen Elizabeth by Mr. Cambdâ—n only that he calls it an exact Commentary and worth the publishing After I had made great Enquiry after it without success at length I fortunately met with Sir Thomas his own rude Draught of it in several Tables of his own hand shewn and communicated to me by the obliging Favour and kindness of Sir Edward Smith A true Extract whereof I have made and presented to the Readers in the Appendix April 25th the Lord Burghley sent a Gentlemen to Sir Thomas to visit him in this his Valetudinary State Which he took kindly and gave him an account of his Sickness and of his Progress in Physic. Which was to this Tenor That he had put himself into the Physicians hands and they according to their Method first fell to Purging him to free his Body from peccant Humours as a Preparatory to other Physic. A Practice which he did not like of because it would make a great Disturbance of the whole Body and affect the Parts that were well and in a good State And so indeed it happened to him For this Physic put his whole Body and all the Parts of it into a Commotion and Indisposition When it was perfectly well before as appeared by his Urine and by his own Feeling and Apprehension of himself But after he had taken this Preparatory Physic there was no part of his Body which was not brought out of Frame His Urine so troubled so high coloured and so confused Which did bespeak a Seditious Rout of Humours raised in his Body as he spake This being a little setled they gave him a Pill which was as insuccesful as the other For it gave him scarcely a Stool and that with abundance of Wrack and Torment and left such an unpleasant and bitter Relish in the Stomach that he was forced to vomit it up again The next Course that was taken with him was Shaving his Head and wearing a Cap Which one Dr. Langton was the chief Prescriber of accounted of Excellent Use for those that were troubled with great Rheums And was himself present when it was laid on The Effect whereof was to be seen after Eight or Ten Days Sir Thomas was very unsatisfied with his Physicians who for two or three Months had been thus tampering with his Body and with no manner of success whereas he was for a speedier Work and declared himself of the Smiths mind his Namesake in Plato who willed the Physician to give him a thing that would speedily rid him of his Diseasâ— that he might again Sustain his Wife and Family with his Labour or else be rid quickly For he had no leisure to attend the long Prorogation of thin Diet and protracting Phisic That Mind said he which the Smith had of necessity I have of Will and Desire and ever had Not to live being unserviceable to my Prince and the Common Wealth In the beginning of May his Physic having greatly weakned his Body and all his good Humours dryed therewith and his Sickness so obstinate that it little cared for Medicine all his Physicians with one accord agreed advising him to forbear all further Medicaments and to apply himself to Kitchin Physic giving him leave to Eat and Drink what he would and what his Appeite desired And so he resolved to retire home to his House called Mounthaut in Essex a Mannor House of his where now stands Hill Hall the present Dwelling of Sir Edward Smith Baronet before mentioned And here he trusted to leave his Sickness or his Life Whether pleaseth God said he that is best But if it were in my Choice I would leave them both at once Yet must I keep life so long as I can and not leave the Station wherein God hath set me by my default and without his Calling And so mind I to do Trusting very shortly to have some plain signification from his Majesty to whither Haven I shall apply my Ship of Death or Health Blessed be his Holy Will God gave not our Knight his Desire that is a Speedy Death or speedy Recovery For he continued in a decaying consumptive Wasting Condition all this Year and onward the next till August putting a Conclusion to his generous and most useful Life at his beloved Retirement of Mounthal or Mounthaut as he delighted to call it on the 12th day of the said Month in the Year 1577. in the Sixty Fifth Year of his Age in an easie and quiet Departure And he never was afraid of Death He was attended to his Grave with a Decency and Splendor becoming the high Place and Figure he had made There assisted in Mourning at his Funerals George Smith his Brother and William the said Georges Son Wood Sir Thomas's Nephew Altham Nicols Recordor of Walden Wilford Goldweâ— Dr. Pern Dr. Levine and many more Of whom as some were his Relations others the Neighbouring Gentry and his Worshipful Friends so several were Learned men that came as it seems from the University to pay their last respects to that Grave Head Venerable for his profound and Universal Learning and that had so well merited of the Learned World He was Buried in the Chancel of the Parish Church of Theydon Mount where he dyed On the North side whereof at the upper end there still remains a fair Monument dedicated to his Memory Tho' the Church hath since been beat down by Lightning and rebuilt by his Nephew Sir William Smith He is represented by a Statue of Marble lying upon his right side in Armour a loose Robe about him with the Arms of the Knighthood of the Garter upon the left Arm of the said Robe denoting him Chancellor of the Garter Placed under an Arch or Semicircle on which is Engraven this English Stanza What Earth or Sea or Skies contain What Creatures in them be My Mind did seek to know My Soul the Heavens continuallie Upward on the highest part of the Monument was placed his Coat of Armes which was three Altars flaming supported with as many Lions Round which were these two Verses Written alluding to the Fire or Flame there Tabisicus quamvis
doth bring to th one and so much more Hatred and Displeasure the Denying doth bring unto thother As for Example sake it K. Philip desired most earnestly we should make War with the Frenchmen and Q. Mary desired no less to live in Quiet and to have Peace with them the Husband and the Wife in most contrary Appetites the Granting extremely grieved th one the Denyal should as extremely have offended thother Of the Event what followed we know But ye wil say this was when a Foreign Prince did marry the Queen who having War of his own with the Frenchmen must needs desire his Wifes Country for Loves-sake to joyn with him And this Realm having Wounds enough at home had good Cause to mislike War abroad But if her Grace marry one of her own here at home there shall be no such Occasion you wil say but their Minds shall be al one whom th one loveth thother loveth also and whom the one misliketh so wil thother also This is wholly assured if it were always so but seeing never Man was always in one Mind himself continually nor yet Woman but that which at one time we love another time we hate what we like being Children we mislike being Men and Women and much more when we be old How can we think that any Man or Woman may be always of one Opinion Mind Judgment or Desire with another where he is not so with himself Conveniet nulli qui secum dissidet ipse saith the old Verse And what Mischiefs those Break may bring we have too many Examples both amongst the Graecians Romans and â—arbarians And first I will begin with the Goths when they were Lords over Rome and Italy Amula Suinta or as some do write her Amala Suenta the Daughter of K. Theodoricus King of Rome and al Italy and so rightfally Heir of that Kingdom to govern the Realm the better took to her Husband Theodotus a Nobleman of the â—oths who belike afterwards dissenting with her in Opinion of Matters of the State first found the means to exile her into a little Island in a Lake besides Vossinana in Italy and afterwards there caused her to be most cruelly slain Philippe Vicecount of Milain being at a very low Ebb by Marriage of Beatrice wife to Fantino Cane had the Lordships and Seignories of Vercelli Alexandria Navarra Cortana four goodly Cities a great number of Riches Thereby he recover'd again the State of Milain and Lumbardy which was before lost This man to recompence her Kindnes and al these Benefits within a short while after caused her to be convicted of Adultery and cruelly to be put to death Iane the 2d Queen of Naples did otherwise She took to Husband Iaques Countie de la Nardy of the French Kings Blood with whom she indented that he should be contented to be called Prince Tarento and to leave to her not only the Name but also the Government of the Kingdom of Naples This liked not he or els his Counsillors and so removed her from Administration and kept her almost as a Prisoner She like a wise Woman feigned to rejoyce thereat and to bear it well until such time as she had compassed all her Device and shut him clean out of Naples For which Cause altho' he made War yet was he sain at the last willed he nilled he to live as a Man banished out of that Realm I have read of many being Sole Inheritors and Princesses of many Countrys which after took unto them Husbands who had no better success tho' not all so evil Even in our days Q. Mary took K. Philip to her Husband a Noble Prince Wise Discreet and Fortunate Yet many Men think that thereby she lost the Hearts of the most number of her Subjects And it is too manifest that immediately upon it in a very short space an incredible number of her Subjects were by order of such Law and Justice as was used in those Days most cruelly put to Death And God for his part whether offended that she so living Sole and as may be thought a Virgin did so suddenly choose to marry or rather that she finding the Light of the Gospel abroad in her Realm did what she could to Extinguish it and put it out did so punish the Realm with Quartan Agues and other such long and new Sicknesses that in the two last years of her Reign so many of her Subjects were made away what with the Execution of the Sword and Fire and what by Sicknesses that the third Part of the Men in â—ngland was consumed Ye see I do pass oâ—e◠〈◊〉 thinâ—s liâ—htly and do not Amâ—lify thâ—◠〈◊〉 Oratoâ—◠〈◊〉 Bu◠〈◊〉 â—â—ould have evâ—ry Piece rathâ—â—â—o 〈◊〉 â—eighed of you deâ—per than that you 〈◊〉 think that I should with words overlade the â—atter I comâ— to the Third that is what is best for the Realm and her Subjects And surely in this matter methinks for many Reasons it is best as it is now And here I will not over-slip this Advantage I pray you what Fault is there to be found with the Governance now Wherein do we lack or want an Husband for the Queen Compare both Q. Maries Time married and the Q. Highnesses Time that now is unmarryed Then was Burning and Hanging at Home Wars and Losing of Strong Holds Abroad Most Men discontent except a few of her Sect with Subsidies and Loans Sicknesses and Promooters as well th' one as th' other throughly vexed War we saw and felt and other Mischief was feared which whether it was to come or no few know Now for War we have Peace for Fear Security So tho' even the Papists altho ' otherwise they lost for their Stiffness yet they be more sure of their Lives now by the Clemency of the Time than they were then by the importune Favour of the Prince For Scarcity we have reasonable Plenty for Brass-Mony good Silver For Servitude Liberty What can a Common-wealth desire more than Peace Liberty Quietness little taking of base Mony few Parliaments their Coin amended Friendship with their Neighbours War with no Man either to follow the Gospel or Security of Life if they will be Papists Except peradventure we should seem to do as Aesop's Frogs did which not content with the King which Iupiter gave them knowing them to need none were weary of their Liberty and would not rest till they had also the Stork and Hearn for their Kings From whom now with all their Cryes these many Thousand years they cannot be delivered Well yet for the Wars and such Martial Feats it is most convenient to have a Man who should Govern abroad take upon him the Spear and Shield be there in Presence himself which is marvellous Encouragement to the Souldier to Fight in the Sight of the Prince where he thinks his Reward shall be according to his Deserts And as a great Warrior said I had rather have an Army of Harts their General being a Lyon than an Army