Captain in the Military Wars of France and there Knighted for his good service under Henry the fourth the then French King He was employed as Lieutenant of the Horse and Serjeant-Major of his whole Army in Ireland under Robert Earl of Essex and Charles Baron of Mountjoy in the Reign of Qâ—een Eliz. By King Iames the firstâ— he was made Baron of Dantsey and Peer of this Realm as also Lord President of Munster and Governour of Guernsey By King Charles the first he was created Earl of Danby made one of his Privy-Councel and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter In his later time by reason oâ— impâ—â—fect health â—oâ—siderately declining more â—â—ive Employments full of honours wounds and days he died Anno Domini 1643. LAVS DEO For many years before St. George had not been more magnificently mounted I mean the solemnity of his Feast more sumptuously observed than when this Earl with the Earl of Morton were installed Knights of the Garter One might have there beheld the abridgment of England and Scotland in their Attendance The Scotish Earl like Xeuxes his picture adorned with all Art and costliness whilst our English Earl like the plain sheet of Apelles by the gravity of his Habit got the advantage of the gallantry of his Cortival with judicious beholders He died without Issue in the beginning of our Civil Wars and by his Will made 1639. seâ—led his large Estate on his hopeful Nephew Henry D' Anvers snatch'd away beâ—ore fully of age to the great grief of all good men Observations on the Life of Sir George Crook SIr George Crook son of Sir Iohn Crook and Elizabeth Unton his Wife was born at Chilton in Buckingham-shire in the second year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth bred first in Oxford then a double Reader in the Inner Temple Sergeant at Law and the King's Sergeant Justice first of the Common Bench 22. Iac. and then of the Upper Bench 4 Caroli His ability in his Profession is sufficiently attested by his own printed Reports Eight eminent Judges of the Law out of their knowledge of his great Wisdom Learning and Integrity approving and allowing them to be published for the common benefit His only defect was that he was against the ancient Naval-aid called Ship-money both publickly in Westminster-Hall and privately in his judgement demanded by the King even at that time when our Neighbours not only incroached upon our Trade but disputed our right in the Narrow-seas though concluded to subscribe according to the course of the Court by plurality of Voices The Country-mans wit levelled to his brain will not for many years be forgotten That Ship-money may be gotten by Hook and not by Crook though since they have paid Taxes Loyns to the little finger and Scorpions to the rod of Ship-money but whether by Hook or Crook let others enquire Hampden's share for which he went to Law being but eighteen shillings though it cost the Nation since eighteen millions Considering his declining and decaying age and desiring to examine his life and prepare an account to the supream Judge he petitioned King Charlâ—s for a Writ of Eâ—se which though in some sort denyed what wise Master would willingly part with a good Servant was in effect granted unto him For the good King exacting from his Subjects no services beyond their years and abilities and taking it better at his hands that he confessed his infirmities than if he had concealed them discharged him for the pains though he allowed him the fees and honour of Chief-Justice while he lived Wherefore in gratitude as well as conscience however he was misled in â—he foresaid matter of Syhip money he abhorâ—ed the Faction heartily for he would say of Hampden He is a dangerous person take heed of him and loved the Church as heartily for we are told by a person of great worth and credit Thâ—t having read over the Book of Canons 1640 when it first came out and was so much spoken against he lifted up his hands and gave hearty thanks to Almighty God that he had lived to see sâ—ch good effects of a Convocation In a word he was no less in his Life than he is in his Epitaph now dead which runs thus Georgius Crook Eques Auratus unus justiciariorum de Banco Regis Iudicio Linceato animo presenti insignis vâ—ritatis haeres quem nec mina nec bonos allexit Regis au horitatem populi libertatem aequâ lance Libravit Religione cordatus vitâ innocuus manu expansâ— Corde humili pauperes irrogavit mundum vicit deseruit Anno AErat Lxxxii Annoque R. C. I. xvii Anno Domini MDCXLI Observations on the Life of Sir Rob. Armstroder HE was a great Soldier a skilful Antiquary and a good Fellow In the first capacity I finde him bringing off five hundred English for three miles together without the loss of a man from six thousand Spaniards along a plain Champion where the Enemy might have surrounded them at pleasure Well he could handle bright armour in the Field better he understood that more rusty in the Tower therefore in his second capacity we have him picking up old Coyn valuing more a Dollar which he might study than a pound he might spend Yet though his mind was taken with the Curiosities of former Times his inclination was very compliant with the mode of his own for he was excellent company in which capacity none more prevalent than he in Germany where they talk much none more acceptable in Denmark where they drink hard none more taking in Sweden where they droll smartly His humble propâ—sition and submission in behalf of the Elector was accepted by the Emperour 1630. He went to Denmark and the first night he arrived he pleased the King so well in drinking healths that his Majesty ordered that his business should be dispatch'd that very night and he shipped when asleep as he was to his own amazement when awaked and the amazement of all England when returned he being here before some thought he had been there Humour is the Misterss of the world Neither was he more intenâ— upon the pleasing oâ— Foreign Princes than careful in the honour of his own especially in his faith word and impregnable honesty for he knew a faithless Prince is beloved of none but suspected by his friends not trusted of his enemies and forsaken of all men in his greaâ—est necessities Yet he was not so taken with antique Medals abroad but he promoted a new invention at home for to him Sir H. Wotton we owe it that F. Klein the German a very eminent Artist in working Tapestry came over to serve K. Charls the first a Virtuoso judicious in all Liberal mechanical Arts and for 100 pounds per ann pension so improved that Manufacture at this time very compleat at Mortlack in a house built by Sir Franciâ— Crane upon King Iames his motion who gave two thousand pounds towards it in that place General
Robert Dudley 761 John L. Digby E. of Bristol 838 The Digges 921 Earl of Danby 9â—8 E. THomas Cromwel Earl of Essex 57 W. Howard L. Effingh Sir Ralph Ewers 458 W. D. Earl of Essex 486 D. Devereux E. of Essex 634 Sir Thomas Edmonds 962 L. Chancellour Egerton 755 Sir Clement Edmonds 772 Sir T. Ereskin E. of Kelly 782 F. SIr Jeffery Fenton 626 661 Sir John Fineux 81 Doctor E. Fox Secretary 86 Sir Edward Fines 408 Sir John Fortescue 556 Doctor Giles Fletcher 662 The Carys Lords Viscounts Faulkland 938 Sir John Finch 971 G. THo Grey Marquess of Dorset 152 Ste. Gardiner Bish. of Winch. 451 John Grey of Pyrgo 569 Lord Grey of Wilton 571 Sir Henry Gates 569 Arthur Gray Baron of Wilton 588 Sir Humphrey Gilbert 626 Sir Fulk Grevil L. Brook 727 Oliver Saint-John Grandison 767 H. SIr William Herbert 457 D. Walter Haddon 627 Sir Tho. Howard 131 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Ed. Howard 141 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Th. Howard 142 of Surrey Norfolk Wil. Howard L. Effingh 401 Sir G. Hume E. of Dunb 740 James Hay E. of Carlisâ—le 774 Henry Howard Earl of Northampton 780 Sir John Ramsey Earl of Holderness 782 Sir Nicholas Hyde 931 Christopher Lord Hatton 521 Lord Hunsdon 526 Sir Richard Hutton 967 W. Marquess Hertford 969 Lord Howard Earls of Nottingham 735 Henry E. of Holland 987 Marquess Hamilton 1005 Sir Ralph Lord Hopton 1008 L. Herbert of Cherbury 1017 Arch-Bishop Heath 526 I. Sir John Fitz-James 114 Sir William Fitz-James 123 Sir John Jefferies â—21 Sir Arthur Ingram 798 Arch-Bishop Juxon 1038 K. SIr William Kingston 462 Sir Henry Killigrew 584 The Knowls 617 Sir T. Ereskin E. of Kelley 782 L. SIr Anthony St. Lieger 89 Earl of Liecester 518 Sir Thomas Lake 777 788 Sir Ja. Ley E. of Marlb 943 Earl of Lindsey 975 Arch-Bishop Laud 991 Lord-Keeper Littleton 1003 M. SIr Thomas Moor 42 Sir Rich. Morison 102 Sir William Molineux 118 Sir Henry Marney 147 Sir John Mason 208 Sir Edward Mountague 404 Sir Thomas Mannors 458 Sir Walter Mildmay 554 â—ir Roger Manwood 576 Lord Mountjoy 664 L. Cranfield E. of M. 778 Bishop Mountague 800 Sir Henry Martin 925 Sir Ja. Ley E. of Marlb 943. M. Earl of Manchester 1027 N. DUdley D. of Northumberland 420 Duke of Norfolk 540 Lord North 564 The Norrices 617 H. Howard E. of Northampton 780 Lord Howard Earl of Nottingham 735 Sir Robert Naunton 795 Sir Francis Nethersole 795 W. Noy Atturney-General 892 Sir Augustine Nichols 929 O. SIr Thomas Overbury 796 H. Vere Earl of Oxford 810 P. EEmund Plowden 573 Sir William Paget 99 Sir Ed. Poynings 248 The Parrs 187 Sir Clement Paston 202 Sir John Portman 397 Sir Amias Pawlet 568 Sir William Pelham 599 Sir Barn Fitz-Patrick 412 Sir William Peter 430 Cardinal Pool 435 Sir John Perrot 510 Sir William Pickering 530 G. Earl of Pembrook 552 William Lord Pawlet 593 Sir John Puckering 607 Sir John Packington 616 L. Chief-Iustice Popham 759 Westons Earls of Portland 914 Will. E. of Pembrook 917 Sir Paul Pinder 964 R. LOrd Rich 204 Sir Tho. Randolph 564 Sir John Russel 1. E. of B. 442 Tho. Ratcliffe E. of Sussex 490 Sir William Russel 629 Sir â—homas Roper 630 Sir Walter Rawleigh 670 Sir Joh. Ramsey E. of Hold 782 Sir Thomas Ridley 923 Esme Duke of Richmond 957 Edw. E. of Rutland 667 Sir Thomas Roe 1035 Iudg Richardson 97â— S. CH. Brandon D. of Suffolk 27 Sir Richard Cecil E. of Salisbury 730 Sir Ralp Sadler 95 Sir Tho. Wriothesly 1. E. of Southampton 111 Sir Edw. Stanly 136 Sir Ch. Somerset 150 Sir Thomas Smith 560 R. Earl of Somerset 742 Ed. Stafford D. of Bucks 159 The Seymours 172 Sir Will. Stamford 216 T. Ratcliff E. of Sussex 490 Sir Philip Sidney 501 Sir Henry Sidney 602 Sir Th. Howard 131 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Ed. Howard 141 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Th. Howard 142 of Surrey Norfolk Fr. Talbot E. of Shrewsb 533 Sir John Smith 668 Th. Sackvil L. Buckhurst 677 E. of Suffolk 792 Sir Thomas Smith 724 Lord Spencer 841 Oliver Saint-John L. Grandison 767 Sir John Savil 895 Lord Say 972 Sir T. W. E. of Strafford 980 T. BIshop Tonstal 531 Fr. Talbot E. of Shrewsbury 533 Sir Nich. Throgmorton 543 V. SIr Henry Umpton 632 H. Vere E. of Oxford 810 The Veres 812 Sir H. Vane Senior 965 G. V. D. of Buckingham 843 W. CArdinal Wolsey 1 Sir Thomas Wyat 76 Doctor Nich. Wottâ—n 107 Sir Tho. Wriothâ—â— 1. E. of Southampton 111 Sir Robert Wingfield 157 Sir Thomas Wentworth 197 Doctor Tho. Wilson 390 Ste. Gardiner Bishop of Winton 451 Lord Willoughby 497 Sir Francis Walsingham 513 Sir Edward Waterhouse 536 Sir Will. Fitz Williams 549 L. Gray of Wilton 571 Sir Christopher Wray 578 E. of Worcester 581 Arth. Gray Baron of Wilton 588 Sir William Wâ—ad 601 Sir Ralph Winwood 826 Bishop Williams 897 Sir Isaac Wake 904 Westons Eaâ—ls of Portland 914 Sir Henry Wotton 1029 Lord Wilmot 1035 Sir T. Wentworth Earl of Strafford 980 Robert Earl of Warwick 987 Y. SIr Henry Yelverton 799 STATE-WORTHIES OR THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Henry the VIII Observations on the Life of Cardinal WOLSEY CArdinal Wolsey was not so great in his Fortune as he was mean in his Original his honest and industrious Parents helped him to a good Constitution and a large Spirit two hopeful steps to greatness though one hath said of him Brave Priest whoever was thy Sire by kind Wolsey of Ipswich nere begat thy mind His Ambition gave him the opportunity to encrease his parts he was as pregnant at Ipswich-School as he was promising in Magdalen Colledg where he was Batchelour of Arts at 15 years of Age and therefore called the Boy-Batchelour His Industry and parts advanced him to a command over Noble men of the Marquess of Dorset's Family as School-master as his Policy promoted him to an Imperiousness over Kings in the quality of Statesmen The first step to Greatness in a Scholar is Relation to a Nobleman The best Education for the Court is in the Palace Nature made him capable the School and University made him a Scholar but his Noble Employment made him a Man At Oxford he read Books at my Lord 's he read Men and observed Things His Patrons two Parsonages bestowed upon him was not so great a Favour as the excellent principles instilled into him he being not more careful to Instruct and Educate the young Men then their Father was to Tutor him his Bounty makes him Rich and his Recommendation Potent His Interest went far his Money farther Bishop Fox was Secretary to K. Henry the seventh and he to Bishop Fox the one was not a greater Favourite of the King 's than the other was his as one that brought him a Head capable of all Observations and a Spirit above all Difficulties Others Managed the Affairs of England Wolsey understood its Interest His Correspondence
was as much taken with his witty discourses when a School-boy as with his grave Oracles when her Counsel learned He was a Courtier from his Cradle to his Grave sucking in experience with his milk being inured to policy as early as to his Grammar Royal Maximes were his Sententia Puerilis and he never saw any thing that was not noble and becoming The Queen called him her young Lord Keeper for his grave ingenuity at seven years of age and he could tell her Majesty he was two years younger than her happy Reign At twelve his industry was above the capacity and his mind above the reach of his Contemporaries A prodigy of parts he must be who was begot by wise Sir Nicholas Bacon born of the accomplished Mrs. Anne Cook daughter to Sir Anthony Cook King Edward the 6â—hs Tutor a good Grecian and Latinist and bred at Trinity-Colledge under the wise learned and pious Doctor Whitgift His strong observations at Court his steady course of study in the University must be improved for State-business by a well-contrived Travel abroad where his conversation was so obliging his way so inquisitive his prudence so eminent that he was Sir Amie Paulet's Agent between the Juncto of France and the Queen of England He allayed the solidity of England with the Ayre of France until his own Affairs and the Kingdoms service called him home at his Fathers death to enjoy a younger Brothers estate and act his part Policy was his business the Law was onely his livelyhood yet he was so great a States-man that you would think he only studied men so great a Scholar that you would say he only studied Books Such insight he had in the Law that he was at thirty her Majesties Advocate and extraordinary Counsel such his judgement that he was the Student of Grayes-Inn's Oracle being well seen in the grounds and mysteries of the Law though not experienced in the Cases of the Common Law while he made that profession his accessary and not his principal so generous and affable his disposition that he was aâ—l mens love and wonder He instilled wholsome precepts of Prudence and Honour to Noblemen particularly the Earl of Essex to whom he was more faithful than he to himself Great principles of Arts and Sciences to the learned noble Maximes of government to Princes excellent rules of Life to the Populacy When his great Patron Essex sunk he was buoyed up by his own steadiness and native worth that admitted him to the Qu. own presence not only to deliver matter of Law which was his profession but to debate matters of State which was his element his judgement was so eminent that he could satisfie the greatest his condescenâ—ion so humble that he instructed the meanest his extraordinary parts above the model of the age were feared in Queen Elizabeths time but employed in King Iames's Favour he had in her Reign but Trust only in his It 's dangerous in a factious Age to have my Lord Bacon's parts or my Lord of Essex his favour Exact was his correspondence abroad and at home constant his Letters frequent his Visits great his Obligations moderate and temperate his Inclination peaceable humble and submissive his mind complying and yielding his temper In Queen Elizabeths time when he could not rise by the publick way of service he did it by that more private of Marriage with one Alice Barneham an Alderman's Heiress and other commendable Improvements whereby he shewed a great soul could be rich in spight of Fortune for his Father dying while he was in France before he had purchased an estate he designed for him his youngest Son and Darling he had but a Portion of the money divided among five Brethren whereby he was in streights till Gorambum fell to him by his dearest Brother Mr. Anthony Bacon's death a Gentleman of his parts though not his learning having nothing either of honour or profit from that Queen but a reversion of the Register of the Star-Chambers place worth 1500. a year which he stay'd for 20 years saying that it was like another mans ground buttalling upon his house which might mend his prospect but it did not fill his Barn though it scorned it in point of Honour In the House of Commons none more popular where he was allowed to sit as Member when Atturney which is allowed none in that place none more zealous none so knowing a Patriot In the house of Lords none more sâ—ccessfully serviceable to the Crown the easie way of Subsidies was his design in Queen Elizabeths time the union with Scotland was his contrivance in King Iames's His make and port was stately his speech flowing and grave each word of his falling in its place the issue of great reason when conceived and of great prudence when expressed so great skill he had in observing and contriving of occasions and opportunities in suiting of Humours and hitting of Junctures and Flexures of Affairs that he was in his time the Master of speech and action carrying all before him The Earl of Salisbury saith Sir Walter Rawleigh was a good Orator but a bad Writer the Earl of Northampton was a good Writer but a bad Orator Sir Francis Bacon excelled in both Much he said he owed to his Books more to his innate Principles and Notions When he thought he said he aimed more at Connexion than Variety When he spake he designed rather the life and vigour of expression and perspicuity of words asking often if the meaning were expressed plainly enough than the elegancy or order of phrase His axiome was Words should wait on things rather than things on words and his resolution was That all affected elegance was below the gravity and majesty of a publick discourse He rather judged Books and Men than either read or talked with them His Exercises were man-like and healthful walking and riding his Meditations cohaerent every minute of his time improved his Table temperate and learned where his great Discourses were the entertainment and he himself the treat resolving Cases most satisfactorily it was observed that he would express another manâ— words with great advantage speaking with liberty and respect to all hearers amend much the phrase of it though retaining the substance stating Questions most exactly relating Histories most prudently opening great Secrets most clearly answering Arguments and replying most familiarly and speaking what he had thorowly weighed and considered most effectually All matters and speeches came from him with advantage so acute and ready his wit so faithful his memory so penetrating his judgment so searching his head so large and rational his soul. He drew out of every man he spake with what he was best for My Lord of Salisbury said he had the clearest prospect of things of any man in his age and King Iames by whom he was never reproved in eighteen years said That he knew the method of handling Matters after a mild and gentle manner Not ingaging his Master in any rash
or grievous courses insulting over no offender but carrying it decently and compassionately to the person of the offender when most severe against the offence His Religion was rational and sober his spirit publick his love to Relations tender to Friends faithful to the hopeful liberal to men univerfal to his very Enemies civil He lest the best pattern of Government in his actions under one King and the best principles of it in the Life of the other His Essays and History made him the admiration of polite Italy his Accomplishments the wonder of France Monsieur Fiat the French Ambassador who called him Father saying to him after an earnest desire to see him That he was an Angel to him of whom he had heard much but never saw him Solid less dissipable and juicy Meat was his Diet and Rhubarb infused in Wine before meat his Physick four hours in the morning he made his own not by any means to be interrupted business was his fate retyrement his inclination Socrates brought Morality from Discourse to Practice and my Lord Bacon brought Philosophy from Speculation to Experience Aristotâ—e whom he disliked at 16 years of age not for his person for he valued him highly but his way which bred disputations but not useful things for the benefit of the life of man continuing in that judgment to his dying day he said taught many to dispute more to wrangle few to find out Truth none to manage it according to his principles My Lord Bacon was a man singular in every faculty and eminent in all His Judgment was solid yet his memory was a wonder his Wit was quick yet his Reason slaid His Invention was happy yet methodical and one fault he had that he was above the age he lived in above it in his bounties to such as brought him Presents so remembring that he had been Lord-Chancellor that he forgot he was but Lord Verulam Great his understanding his knowledge was not from Books though he read much but from grounds and notions in himself which he vented with great caution Dr. Rawley attesting that he saw twelve Copies of the Instauratio Magna revised and amended year by year till it was published and great his mind too above it in his kindness to servants to whom he had been a better Master if he had been a worse and more kind if he had been less indulgent to them Persons of Quality courted his Service For the first of his Excesses K. Iames jeered him in his progress to New-market saying when he heard he gave ten pounds to one that brought him some Fruit My Lord my Lord this is the way to Beggars-bush For the second he reflected upon himself when he said to his servants as they rose to him in his Hall Your rise hath been my fall Though indeed he rather trusted to their honesty than connived at their falshood for he did impartial Justice commonly to both parties when one servant was in fee with the Plaintiff and the other with the Defendant How well he understood his own time his Letters and complyances evidence than whom none higher in spirit yet none humbler in his Addresses The proudest man is most servile How little he valued wealth appeareth in that when his servants would take money from his Closet even while he was by he would laugh and say I poor men that is their portion How well he kenned the art of Converse his Essayes discover a piece as he observed himself that of all his Works was most current for that they come home to mens business and bosomes How far skilled in the Art of Government the Felicities of Queen Elizabeth written by him in Latine ordered by his last Will to be Printed so but published in English in his resuscitatio by his Amanuensis Dr. Rawley his H. 7. War with Spain Holy War Elements of the Law irrefragably demonstrate and how well seen in all Learning his Natural History and Advancement of Learning answerably argue In a word how sufficient he was may be conjectured from this instance that he had the contrivance of all King Iames his Designs until the Match with Spain and that he gave those Directions to a great Statesman which may be his Character and our conclusion Only be it observed that though this peerless Lord is much admired by English-men yet is he more valued by Strangers distance as the Historian hath it diminishing his faults to Forreigners while we behold his perfections abated with his failings which set him as much below pity as his Place did once above it Sir Iulius Caesar they say looking upon him as a burden in his Family and the Lord Brook denying him a bottle of small beer Though in a Letter to King Iames he thanks him for being that Master to him that had raised and advanced him sâ—x times in Office i.e. Councel learned extraordinary Solicitor and Attorney General Lord Keeper and Chancellor Knight-Lord Verulam Viscount St. Aâ—ban's with 1800 l. a yâ—ar out of the broad Zeal and Alienation Offâ—ce to his dying day most of which he allowed to his Wife towards whom he was very bountiful in gifts bestowing on her a Robe of honour which she wore while she lived which was above twenty years after his death His Religion was like a Philosophers rational and well grounded as appears by his confession of faith composed many years before his death an instance of the truth of his own observation that a little Philosophy maketh men apâ— to forget God as attributing too much to second causes but depth of Philosophy bringeth a man back again to God he being constant at the publick Prayers frequent at the Sermons and Sacraments of the Church of England in whose Communion he dyed of a gentle Feaver accompanied with a choaking defluxion and cold April 9. being Easter-day 1626. 66th year of his age in the Earl of Arundel's house at High-gate near London being Buried according to his Will at St. Michael's Church in St. Alban's the onely Church in old Verulam near his Mother â—nder a white Marble â—et up by Sir Tho. Meauty Secretary to his Lordship and Clerk of the Councel to King Iames and King Charles whereon he is drawn in his full Stature studying with an Inscription by Sir Henry Wotton He had one peculiar temper of body that he fainted alwayes at an Eclipse of the Moon though he knew not of it and considered it not His Receipt for the Gout which eased him in two hours is at the end of his Natural History His Rhubarb-draught before meat he liked because it carryed away the gross humours not lessâ—ning the spirits as sweating doth It was the great effect of his Religion that as he said notwithstanding the opportunities he had to be revenged he neither bred nor fed maliceâ— saying no worse to the King who enquired of him what he thought of a great man newly dead that had not been his friend than that he would never have made
the Churches publick peace required or its indulgence to promote Christians permitted The Uniformity he pressed was not more advantageous to Religion which must of necessity have been propagated when Controversies had been turned to devotion than it was necessary for the State which cannot be secure as long as there is a mark of distinction under which all Male contents may shrowd themselves a note of separation whereby the Factions may reckon their parties and estimate their strength and a way open to popularity to the ambition of any whose interest or desperateness shall adventure to make himself head of so great a pâ—rty He was a person of so great abilities which are the designations of nature to dignity and command that they raised him from low beginnings to the highest Office the Protestant profession acknowledgeth in the Church and he was equal to it His learning appeared eminent in his Book against Fisher and his piety illustrious in his Diary He was of so publick a spirit that both the Church and Sâ—ate have lasting Monuments of the virtuous use he made of his Princes favour at his admittance into wâ—ich he dedicated all the future Emoluments of it to the glory of God and the good of men by a projection of many noble Works most of which he accomplished and had finished the rest had not the fate of the Nation checked the current of his Design and cut off the course of his Life He was not contented by himself only to serve his Generation for so he might appear more greedy of fame than desirous of the universal benefit but he endeavoured to render all others as heroick if they aimed at a capacity for his friendship For I have heard it from his Eâ—emies no great man was admitted to a confidence and respect with him unless â—he made Address by some act that was for the common good or for the ornament and gloâ—y of the Protestant faith Learned men had not a better Friend nor Learning itself a greater Advancer He searched all the Libraries of Asia and â—rom several parts of the world purchased all the Ornaments and helps of Literature â—e could that the English Church might have if possible by his care as many advantages for knowledge as almost all Europe did contribute to the grandeur of that of Rome The outward splendour of the Clergy was not more his care than their honour by a grave and pious conversation He would put them into a power of doing more good but was sore against their Vices and Vanities He scorned a private Treasure and his friends were rather relieved than raised to any greatness by him In his election of friends he was determined to the good and wise and such as had both parts and desires to profit The Church had his closest embraces if otherwise it happened their frauds not his choice deserved the blame Both Papists and Sectâ—ries were equally his Enemies one party feared and the other hated his Vertues Some censured his zeal for Discipline above the patience of the Times but his greatest unhappiness was that he lived in a factious Age and corrupt State and under such a Prince whose Verâ—ues not admitting an immediate approach for Accusations was to be wounded with those iâ— did caress But when Faction and Malice are worn out by time Posterity shall engrave him in the Albâ— of the most excellent Prelacy the most indulgent Fathers of the Churchâ— and the most injured Martyrs His blood was accompanyed with some tears that fell from those Eyes that expected a pleasure at his death and it had been followed with Miseries and the present Fears of Ruine exacted all the stock of Grief for other objects His very enemy Sir Edward Deering would confess That let him dye when he would St. Pauls would be his Monument and his Book against Fishes his Epitaph Observations on the Life of the Lord Keeper Littleton SIr Edward Littleton the eldest son of Sir Edward Littleton of Mounslow in Shropshire one of the Justices of the Marches and Chief-Justice of North-Wales was bred in Christ-Church in Oxford where he proceeded Batchellor of Arts and afterwards was one of the Justices of North-Wales Recorder of London and Sollicitor to King Charles From these places he was preferred to be Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas and made Privy-Councellor thence advanced to be Lord-Keeper and Baron of Mounslow the place of his Nativity He died in Oxford and was buried in Christs-Church where he was bred Being a Member of the Parliament 1628. he had the management of the high presumption charged on the Duke of Buckingham about King Iames his death wherein he behaved himself so discreetly between the jealousiâ— of the People and the honour of the Court that Sir Iohn Finch would say He was the only man for taking things by a Right handle And Sir Edward Cook that He was a well-poized and weighed man His very name carried an Hereditary credit with it much plaineth out the way to all great Actions his virtue being authorizing by his nobility and his undertakings ennobled by his birth gained that esteem which meaner men attain not without a large compass of time and experience worthless Nobility and ignoble worth lye under equal disadvantage Neither was his extract so great as his parts his judgement being clear and piercing his Learning various and useful his skill in the Maxims of our Government the fundamental Laws of his Monarchy with its Statutes and Customs singular his experience long and observing his integrity unblemished and unbyassed his Eloquence powerful and majestick and all befitting a Statesman and a Lord-Keeper set off with a resolved Loyalty that would perform the harshest service his Master could enjoyn him while he stayed at London and follow the hardest fortune he could be in when at York whither he went with the great Seal he knew made to stamp Royal Commissions rather than authorize Rebellious Ordinances At Oxford he did good service during the Session of Parliament by Accommodations there and as good during their recess by his interest in the Country Observations on the Life of the Marquess Hamilton A Preacher being at a loss what to say of a party deceased concluâ—â—d his Sermon with these words There is one good quality in this man viz. That he was born and that God made him And another viz. That he is dead and we must speak noâ—hing but good of the dead I may say of this Noble-man that I have two reasons to speak well of himâ— 1. That good King Charles honoured him 3 and 2. That his wicked Subjects beheaded him otherwise I must leave these Queries as I finde them Quaere 1. Why should Duke Hamilton post without leave into Scotland when the Parliament was discontented and the Duke of Buckingham murthered in England Qu. 2. Why should Ramsey the Dukes Messenger to the King of Sweden play the Embassadour in Germany and take place of all other persons there Qu. 3. What design was that
State-Worthies OR THE STATES-MEN And FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND Since the Reformation Their PRUDENCE and POLICIES SUCCESSES and MISCARRIAGES ADVANCEMENTS and FALLS During the Reigns of King HENRY VIII King EDWARD VI Queen MARY Queen ELIZABETH King â—AMES King CHARLES â— The Second Edition with Additions LONDON Printed by Thomas Mâ—lbourâ— for Sâ—â— Speed in Thread-needle-street neer the Royal-Exchange 1670. TO The HOPE of ENGLAND It s Young Gentry Is most humbly Dedicated The HONONUR of it It s ANCIENT STATESMEN A Renowned Ancestry TO An Honourable Posterity Whitehall BY permission and License of the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Morice This Book may be Printed and Published Jo Cook TO THE READER Courteous Reader FOr bestowing some vacant hours by that excellent Personages direction to whom I am equally obliged for my Employment and my Leasure in an attempt so agreeable to the Lord Verulam's judgment which may be seen in the next page and so pursuant of Sir Robert Naunton's designe which may be traced in the following Book Another person's abilities might have gained applause and my weakness may deserve an excuse notwithstanding my years if yet any man be too young to read and observe or my profession if yet a Divine should not as times go be as well read in Men as Books Especially since I gratifie no man's fondness writing not a Panegyrick but an History Nor pleasure any persons malice designing Observations rather than Invectives Nor tyre any man's patience setting down rather the remarkes of mens publick capacities than the minute passages of their private lives but innocently discourse the most choice instances our ENGLISH Histories afford for the three great Qualifications of men 1. Noblenesse in behaviour 2. Dexterity in business and 3. Wisdome in Government among which are twenty eight Secretaries of State eight Chancellours eighteen Lord Treasurers sixteen Chamberlains who entertain Gentlemen with Observations becoming their Extraction and their hopes touching 1. The rise of States-men 2. The beginning of Families 3. The method of Greatness 4. The conduct of Courtiers 5. The miscarriages of Favourites and what-ever may make them either wise or wary The Chancellour of France had a Picture that to a coâ—mon eye shewed many little heads and they were his Ancestorsâ— but to the more curious represented onely one great one and that was his own It 's inâ—ended that this Book should to the vulgar Reader express several particulars i. e. all this last Ages Heroes but to every Gentleman it should intimate onely one and that is himself It 's easily imaginable how unconcerned I am in the fate of this Book either in the History or the Observation since I have been so faithful in the â—irst that is not my own but the Historians and so careful in the second that they are not mine but the Histories DAVID LLOYD The Lord Bacon's Iudgment of a Work of this nature HIstory which may be called just and perfect History is of three kinds according to the object it propoundeth or pretendeth to represent for it either representeth a Time a Person or an Action The first we call Chronicles the second Lives and the third Narrations or Relations Of these although the first be the most compleat and absolute kind of History and hath most estimation and glory yet the second excelleth it in profit and use and the third in verity and sincerity For history of Times representeth the magnitude of Actions and the publick faces or deportments of persons and passeth over in silence the smaller passages and motions of Men and Matters But such being the workmanship of God as he doth hang the greatest weight upon the smallest wyars Maxima è minimis suspendens it comes therefore to pass that such Histories do rather set forth the pomp of business than the true and inward resorts thereof But Lives if they be well written propounding to themselves a person to represent in whom actions both greater and smaller publick and private have a commixture must of necessity contain a more true native and lively representation I do much admire that these times have so little esteemed the vertues of the Times as that the writing of Lives should be no more frequent For although there be not many Soveraign Princes or absolute Commanders and that States are most collected into Monarchies yet are there many worthy personages that deserve better than dispersed Report or barren Elogies For herein the invention of one of the late Poets is proper and doth well inrich the ancient fiction For he feigneth that at the end of the thread or web of every mans Life there was a little Medal containing the person's name and that Time waiteth upon the Sheers and as soon as the Thread was cut caught the Medials and carried them to the River Lethe and about the bank there were many Birds flying up and down that would get the Medials and carry them in their beak a little while and then let them fall into the River Onely there were a few Swans which if they got a Name would carry it to a Temple where it was consecrate THE TABLE A Pag. SIr Thomas Audly 72 Fiz-Allan Earl of Arundel 415 Master Roger Ashcam 613 Arch-Bishop Abbot 746 Sir Edmund Anderson 803 Bishop Andrews 1024 Sir Walter Aston 932 Sir Robert Armstroder 951 Philip Earl of Arundel 953. B. CHarles Brandon Duke of Suffolk 27 Sir Thomas Bollen 137 Edw. Stafford D. of Bucks 159 Sir Anthony Brown 164 Sir David Brook 386 Sir John Russel 1 E. of B. 442 Sir John Baker 460 Sir Will. Cecil L. Burleigh 473 Arch-Bishop Bancroft 704 Sir Nich. Bacon 470 Thomas Lord Burge 591 Sir Thomas Bromley 609 Sir Richard Bingham 612 Tho. Sackvil L. Buckhurst 677. Sir Fulke Grevil L. Brook 727 Sir Thomas Bodley 805 John L. Digby E. of Bristol 838 G. V. Duke of Buckingh 843 Sir Francis Bacon 828 Sir John Bramston 926 Lord Chief-Iustice Banks 960 C. ARch-Bishop Cranmer 35 T. Cromwel Earl of Esâ—ex 57 Sir William Compton 145 Sir Thomas Cheyney 466 Sir John Cheek 191 Sir William Cordel 369 Sir Anthony Cook 373 Sir W. Cecil L. Burleigh 473 Sir Thomas Challoner 534 Sir James Crofts 569 Cliffords Earls of Cumberland 721 Sir R. Cecil E. of Salisbury 730 Sir George Calvert 750 Sir Arthur Chichester 753 L. Cranfield E. of Mid. 778 Sir Robert Cary 794 Doctor Richard Cosin 817 Lord Chief Justice Cook 820 Lord Cottington 906 Sir Dudly Carleton 910 Lord Conway 919 Sir Julius Caesar 934 Earl of Carnarvan 1014 The Cary's Lords Viscounâ—s Faulklands 938 Lord Capel 1021 Sir John Culpepper 1042 Sir Georgâ— Crook 949 James Hay E. of Carlisle 774 Sir Thomas Coventry 978 Sir John Cook 944 L. Herbert of Cherbury 1017 D. SIr Thomas Darcy 130 T. Grey Marquess of Dorset 152 Dudly D. of Northumberland 420 W. Devereux E. of Essex 486 Edward Earl of Derby 547 Sir William Drury 558 Doctor Dale 564 Sir James Dier 595 Secretary Davison 624 Sir G. Hume E. of Dunb 740 Sir
for him honourably in England where the Kings Cause waited for his Assistance and the See of Canteâ—bury for his Acceptance He was willing to promote Religion he was unwilling for some Formalities he scrupled to advance himself but after seven Weeks delay it being as fatal to reâ—use King Henry's Favours as to offer him Injuâ—ies he is Archbishop in his own Deâ—ence in which capacity to serve the King and salve his own Conscience he used the Expedient of a Protestation to this purpose In nomine c. Non est nec erit meae voluntatis aut intentionis per hujusmodi Iuramentum Iuramenta qualiter verba in ipsis posita sonare videbuntur me obligare ad aliquid ratione eorundem post hac dicendum faciendum aut attestandum quod erit aut esse videbitur contra legem Dei vel contra Regem aut Rempublicam legesve aut Praerogativa ejus quod non intendo per hujusmodi juramentum quovis modo me obligare quò minùs liberè loqui consulere consentire valeam in omnibus singulis Reformationem Ecclesiae prorogativam Coronae concernentibus ea exequi reformare quae in Ecclesia Anglicana reformanda videbuntur This Protestation he made three times once at the Charter-House another time at the Altar and a third time at the receiving of his Pall. In his place he was moderate between the Superstition of Rome and the Phrensies of Munster As he was cheif Instrument in beginning the Reformation so he was in continuing it He withstood the Six Articles and though the King sent five prime Ministers of State to comfort him would not be satisfied until he saw them mitigated in King Henry's time and repealed in King Edward's Gardiner would have questioned him for entertaining forein Hereticks and promoting Domestick Schisms the Northern Rebels accused him for subverting the Church but the King upheld him against both suppressing the One and checking the Other and advising the good Man whom he called Fool for his meek disposition to appeal to him Whereupon Russel cried The King will never suffer him to be imprisoned until you find Him guilty of High Tâ—eason He is to be pitied for his intermediate failings but renowned for his final constancy The King having declared before all his Servants that Cranmer was his best Servant he employeth him in his best service the Reformation of Religion wherein all others failed but the King Cromwel and Brandon backed him so far that he had the Bible the necessary Offices of the Church translated into English He had both Universities at his command He brought the Lords House and Convocation to his Lure and was invested with a Power 1. To Grant Dispensations in all things not repugnant to Gods Law nor the Kings safety 2. To determine Ecclesiastical Causes He as charitably as politickly advised the King to accept of Bishop Fisher's partial Subscription considering his Learning and Reputation As he is King Henry's Instrument at Dunstable to divorce him from Queen Katharine so he is at Lambeth to divorce him from Anna Bullein He promoted in the Convocation all Primitive Doctrines and condemned all new-fangled Opinions He was so charitable that he interceded with the King for his Enemies so munificent that he made the Church and his own House a Refuge for Strangers particularly for P. Fagius P. Martyr Martin Bucer c. The King loved him for his Integrity the People for his Moderation He was called the Kings Father and was Queen Elizabeth's Godfather His Piety reduced the Câ—urch and his Policy the State He spake little to others he conferred much with himself Three words of His could do more than three hours discourse of others He would say as Victorinus There is a time to say nothing there is a time to say something but there is never a time to say all things That King who awed all Others feared Him A Second to the Eternal Power is the Wise Man uncorrupt in his Life He was the Executor of God's Will in King Henry's Life-time and the first of His after his Death As He spurred King Henry to a Reformation so King Edward did Him whose Prudence was not so forward as the Others Zeal who looked at what was Lawful as He did at what was Convenient He maintained the Churches Power as resolutely against Bishop Hooper's Scruples notwithstanding potent Intercession as he reformed its Corruptions against the Popes Interest notwithstanding a general Opposition He allowed not the least Errour in nor the least contempt of the Church He restored its primitive Doctrine and Discipline lest it should be an impure Church he upheld them lest it should be none He was one of fourteen that compiled the Common-Prayer He was One of Two that set out the Homilies and the only man that published the Institution of a Christian man and other good Books With his Advice King Edward did much and designed more He was the chief Author of King Edward's Injunctions and the first Commissioner in them He was President of the Assembly at Windsor for Reformation and of the Council at London His Aâ—ticles were strict and seveâ—e as much grounded on the Canon of Scripture as on the Canons of the Church He convinced more Papists with his Reason and Moderation than others by their Power His Heart never failed him in his Life and it was not burned at his Deaâ—h He did so much for the Protestant Religion in King Henrys Days that he foresaw he should suffer for it in Qâ—een Mary's He was unwilling to wrong Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth therefore he refused at first to sign King Edwards's Testament but Duke Dudley's Will He was willing to continue the Protestant Religion therefore he signed it at last It was a Bishop that was one of the first that abolished Popery in England and one of the last that died for Protestantisme It was a Bishop that maintained the Protestant Cause with Arguments while he lived with his Blood when he died This prelates endeavor for Reformation is shadowed by this Mystical Relation The Castle of Truth being by the King of Ierusalem left to the guard and keeping of his best Servant Zeal the King of Arabia with an infinite host came against it begirt it round with an unreasonable Seige cuts ofâ— all passages all reliefs all hopes of friends meat or munition which Zeal perceiving and seeing how extremity had brought her to shake hands with despair he calleth his Council of War about him and discovered the â—ffliction of his state the puissance of his Enemies the violence of the siege and the impossibility of conveying either messages or Letters to the great King his Master from whom they might receive new strength and incouragement Whereupon the necessity of the occasion being so great they concluded that there was no way but to deliver up the Castle though upon some unwholsome conditions into the hand of the Enemy but Zeal staggereth at the resolution and
ornament and converse and for judgment and business To spend too much time on his Book was sloth to talk by Book was affected and to act by it was humoursome and Scholar-like Four things he would say helped him 1. His Inclination It 's a great happiness to a Man saith Aristotle when his Calling is one of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of those things that agree with his nâ—ture 2. Method 3. Religion with that just and composed mind that attends it 4 A great happiness in all the four faculties that make a Lawyer 1. A sharp invention and clear apprehension to search all the circumstances of a case propounded 2. Judgment to examine and weigh the particulars invented and apprehended â—or truth lieth in things as Gold in Mines 3. Memory to retain what is judged and examined 4. A prompt and ready delivery of what is conceived and retained set out with ingenuity and gravity Oratio prompa non audax What he said was close and pinching and not confident and earnest allowing passion not to disturb either the method or delivery of his discourse but to quicken it To speak well and much he said was not the work of one man yet if a Philosopher be eloquent said Cicero we must not despise him if he be not he must not affect it so that he can comprehend in words what he conceiveth and speak them plainly that he may be understood His Latine and French were Grammatical his Rhetorick Natural his Logick Reason The first opened the terms the second pressed the Vigour the last collected and disposed of the Axiomes Grounds and Rules of the Law and all prepared him for that comprehensive Profession in the ashes whereof the sparks of all other Sciences were raked up His gesture and habit was grave but not affected speaking as much to the eye as his tongue did to the ear the gesture being a great discoverer of the constitution and a great direction to business what a man misseth in the speech he may sometimes â—ind in the looks His temper was moderate and sober a Virtue and a seasoning of all others attended with the Lawyers gift and that is Patience Modest he was but not fondly bashful his prudence and not his softness His humility begat affableness his affableness society that conference conference parts and they acquaintance and that practice and practice experience experience renown and that preferment Sir Iohn's inclination was studious his mind constant solid and setled and able to dive into the Whirl-pools of that intricate and perplexed faculty his thoughts being orderly and his conceptions methodical his search comprehensive avoiding Epitomes as the banes of Learning Nullu illi per otium dies exit partem noctium studiis vindicat non vacat somno sed succumbit oculos vigilia fatigatos cadentesque in opere detinet Considerable were the parts he had but more so the making up of those he had not his coverâ—ng of his defects being of no less importance than the valuing of good parts which he did three ways 1. By caution ingeniously and discreetly waving and putting off things improper 2. By colour making his Defects his Virtues and his Faults his Endowments And 3. By that freedom of Spirit that daunts the weakest and prevaileth with the wisest He proposed to himself five things to enquire into in order to that compleatness he arrived unto 1. The ancient Maximes and Principles or the more ancient Customs that make up the Common Law of England 2. The Acts and Constitutions that make up its Statute-Law 3. The particular Priviledges Liberties Immunities and Usages of Counties Burroughs Cities c. that do swerve from this Law 4. The ancient Grounds and Reasons as far as History can direct of all these our Law being an exact Reason 5. The most satisfactory explanations of the Law 1. From Commentaries as Bractons 2. Abridgments as Stathams 3. History as the years and terms of the Common Law And 4. From more particular Tracts that handled their peculiar subjects as Fortescue Glanvil Britton Fleta Littleton which he thought not unprofitable to read though dangerous to rely upon with the Lord Cooke not liking those that stuff their mindes with wandering and masterless reports For as he said they shall find them too soon to lead them to error Beginning with the terms of Art and then to the matter perusing what is antiquated and observing what is suitable to the present constitution and complexion It 's my Lord Cook 's Rule That for the most part the latter Judgments and Resolutions are the surest and therefore fittest to season a man withal in the beginning both for settling of his Judgment and retaining them in memory yet as he goeth on out of the old fields must spring and grow the new Corn. Our Lawyers course was slow and leisurely his reading digested and deliberate His considerations wary and distrust his way to knowledge He that begins with certainties ends in doubts and he that begins with doubts ends in certainties and looketh into tâ—e boâ—â—â—m of things Upon serious and solid Books he bestowed a double reading the one cursorily by way of pâ—eparation and the other exact by way of digestion Three things made him a Pleader 1. Reading 2. Observation 3. Exercise And indeed in ancient times the Sergeants and Apprentices of Law did draw their own pleadings which made them good Pleaders He observed the affections the intent the analogy the validity of the Law putting all his reading to writing having the places he was most to handle in all the variety that could be with his Rules and Maximes as far as reading hearing meditation conference and memory could help him Thus his fiâ—st thoughts were upon his Profession until that advanced him to the highest Eminence and his last upon his Interest until that was improved to as much fortune as lieth in a well-laid Estate and Alliance The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of King Edward the Sixth Books Printed for Samuel Speed Book-seller near the Royal Exchange PHaramond the famed Romance in Folio written by the Author of those other two eminent Romances Cassandra and Cleopatra Palmerin of England in three parts in Quarto The Destruction of Troy in three parts in Quarto Quintus Curtius his Life of Alexander the Great in English in Quarto Montelion Knight of the Oracle in Quarto Primaleon of Greece in Quarto The Jewel-house of Art and Nature by Sir Hugh Plat in Quarto The Womans Lawyer by Sir Iohn Dodridge in Quarto Divine Law or the Patrons Purchaser by Alexander Huckston in Quarto The Compleat Parson by Sir Iohn Doddridge in Qu. Star-Chamber Cases in Quarto Actions of the Case for Deeds by William Shepheard Esquire in Folio The Life of Henry the Great in English written by the Bishop of Rhodez in Octav. The Villain a Tragedy by Tho. Porter Esquire in Quarto Observations on the Statesmen and Favourites of
Mâ—n and that thier Husbands might be happy in compleat Women neveâ— promising yet always paying a great Dowry Their spirit and business kept them from that weak pâ—ssion of love that embaseth Mankindâ— their Noble converse improved that friendly love that perfecteth it and their marriage compleated that Nuptial love that makes it He said first and his Grand-childe my Lord Bacon after him That the Ioys of Parents are Secrets and so are their griefs and fears Children sweâ—ten Labours but they embitter Misfortunes they encrease the care of Life and mitigate the remembrance of Death Very providently did he secure his Eternity by leaving the image of his nature in his Children and of his mind in his Pupil The Recreations he indulged were moderate lawful sober becoming useful and seasonable the Expences he allowed not so illiberal as to acquaint them with shifts make them sort with mean company nor surfeit when they came to plenty nor yet so prodigal but that they were taught how to live in the world The Books he advised were not many but choice the business he pressed was not reading but digesting The King of Sweeden's men were but six deep and Sir Anthony's exercises were not thick but methodical and armed the Die he prescribed moderate in Apparel he allowed for necessity for decency and in some cases for magnificence provided that it were neither too costly nor too vainâ— neither above the Purse nor beyond the Calling nor besides the Estate Sir Anthony took more pleasure to breed up States-men than to be one Contemplation was his Soul Privacy his Life and Discourse his Element Business was his Purgatory and Publickness his torment yet so serviceable was he in Edward â—he sixth's time that he was an Exile in Queen Maries What though he and others were useful and peaceable in the Commonwealth What though they were sound in the Faith and cordially imbracing the Doctrine of the Catholick Church What though those in this condition were many and such as in whose peace and industry the welfare of the whole Nation was exceedingly concerned What if they offered to be instructed by any who would take that work upon them in the things about which their differences are What if they plead conscience towards God and that alone in their dissent it being evidently against their whole Temporal interest What if they have given evidence of their readiness in the ways of Christ and the Gospel to oppose even error that seemed pernicious to the souls of men or of an evil Aspect to Publick peace and tranquility all is one they are upon some odde jealousies of future events to be forborn neither joyntly nor severally no one nor all of them in a case that concerns the interest of a predominant party though the hands of a thousand be by those means taken off from labour their stocks from employment their minds from contrivances of industry in their own concerns the revenues of those under whom they live decay'd in all which the common good hath no small interest fulness and plenty in the mean time diverting the thoughts of such who might remedy these things before the stock of the Nation is wasted and the affairs of it intangled beyond remedy from taking notice of them or keeping off any impression on their minds and judgements from what is represented concerning them though men should look well to the ground of their actings in things wherein they proceed against the common consent of mankind expressed in all instances of the like occasion that have occurred in the world which is as great an evidence of the light and Law of nature as any can be obtained For what all men generally consent in is from the common nature of all who have by a common experience found that the inward power of Râ—ligion always prevailed upon the world and its greatest opposition more than any outward force And men do not consider aright what a secret influence into the enervating of Politick Societies such Intrenchments upon the principles of the light of nature will assuredly have for those things which spring up in the minds of men without arguing or consideration from without will insensibly prevail in them against all Law and Constitution to the contrary force from the prevalent iâ—fluence of a particular interest to the contrary Pâ—ssimus diuturnitatis Custos will not always prevail nor ever at any time without great regret and commotion in the minds of men who have no concern in that interest but act unavoidably according to that principle which sooner or later will perform iâ—s work which is to make a judgement of a mans self and his actions with reference to the future judgement of God which men must be suffered to do notwithstanding the abuse of that pretence of Conscience by brain-sick or Enthusiastick persons in their Paroxisms which is to take no place in consideration of what becomes a guidance of the actions of Mankind one towards another in things belonging properly to its cognizance unless which all that have exercised any râ—flect acts upon themselves and know that neither they nor others can and that God himself who procures the assent of men onely by conviction and evidence to what he revealeth will not forâ—e mens minds A wicked design it is of putting our Gods great Vice-gerent out of his place and Throne and to act not in a pious way of Imitating the holiness wisdom and clemency of God in an ambitious way of usurping his Soveraignty who yet enjoyneth not the belief of any thing he proposeth as an object of Faith nor obedience in any thing which he commandeth as matter of duty till he hath given what no man can sufficient evidence of reason for the one and warrantry of Authority for the other for Religion is a matter of choice and he that chooseth not his Religion hath none Alledge that any sort of men may act otherwise and impose upon men practices without refeâ—ence to the judgement of God is to suppose that he hath set up an authority against himself provided that the pretences of Conscience shrowd not any practices that may interfere with the common light of Nature or Reason of Mankind the Fundamental Articles of Christian Religion Moral honesty Civil Society and Publick Tranquility the Church and Commonwealth standing on the same bottom and their interest being of the same breadth and length and to be mutually narrowed or widened by each other like Hippocrates his Twins not onely being born and dying but laughing and crying together as equally affected with their mutual concerns I mean those most fixed and considerable otherwise to build the unchangeable interest of a Naâ—ion which should be obnoxious to nothing but the over-ruling Providence of the most High much less to the impressions of various opinions which will alway be in the world upon Laws mutable and changeable according to mens experience of their use or inconvenience And though various state of things is a thing
Lord of Worcester as no mean Favourite was of the ancient and noble blood of the Beauforts and of the Queens Grandfathers line by the Mother which she could never forget especially where there was a concurrency of old Blood with Fidelity a mixture which ever sorted with the Queens Nature He was first made Master of the horse and then admitted of her Council of State In his Youth part whereof he spent before he came to reside at Court he was a very fine Gentleman and the best Horse-man and Tilter of the Times which were then the manlike and noble recreations of the Court and when years had abated these exercises of honour he grew then to be a faithful and profound Counsellour He was the last Liver of all the Servants of her favour and had the honour to see his renowned Mistress and all of them laid in the places of their rest and for himself after a life of a very noble and remarkable reputation he died in a peaceable Old Age full of Riches and Honour His Fathers temperance reached to 97â— yeâ—râ— of Age because he never eat but one Meal a day and his sparingness attained to 84 because he never eat but of one dish He came to the Queens favour because as her Father so she loved a man he kept in because as her Father too so she loved an able man His manlike Recreations commended him to the Ladies his prudent Atchievements to the Lords He was made master of the horse because active and privy Councellour because wise His mistress excused his Faith which was popisâ— but honoured his Faithfulness which was Roman it being her usual speech that my Lord of Worcester had reconciled what she thought inconsistent a stiff Papist to a good subject His Religion was not pompous but solidâ— not the shew of his life but the comfort of his soul. A great master he was of others affections and greater of his own passions many things displeased nothing angered my Lord of Worcester whose maxime was That he would not be disordered within himself onely because things were out of order without him He had this maxime whence he had his Nature from his prudent Father Sir Charles Somerset the first Earl of Worcester of that name whose temper was so pliable and nature so peaceable that being aâ—ked as it is usually reported of him How he passed so troublesome a Reign as King Henry's so uncertain as King Edward's so fierce as Queen Mary's and so unexpected as Queen Elizabeth's with so quiet so fixed so smooth so resolved and ready a mind and frame answered It was because he understood the Interest of the Kingdome while others observed its Humours His first publick service was to represent the Grandeur of his mistress at this Christening of the Daulphine of France and his last the like at the marrâ—age of the King of Scots whom he honoured with the Garter from his Mistress and advised to beware of Papists from the Council The frame of this noble mans body as it is delineated by Sir W. P. seems suited to the noble use it was designed for The entertaining of a mosâ— pure and active soul but eqâ—ally to the advantage of strength and comeliness befriended with all proportionate Dimensions and a most grave yet obliging Carriage There was a clear sprightfulness in his Complexion but a sâ—d reservedness in his nature both making up that blessed composiâ—ion of a wise and winning man of as great hardship of body as nobleness of spirit Of a quick sight and an accurate Ear a steady observation and ready expression with the Torrent whereof he at once pleased King Iames and amazed King Henry being the most natural Orator in the world Among all which Endowments I had almost forgot his memory that was very faithful to him in things and business though not punctilio's and formalities Great parts he had the range and compass whereof filled the whole circle of generous Learning in that person as it hath done in the following Heroes of that Family to this day Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Killigrew TRavellours report That the place wherein the body of Absalom was buried is still extant at Ierusalem and that it is a solemn custome of Pilgrims passing by it to cast a stone on the place but a well-disposed man can hardly go by the memory of this worthy person without doing grateful homage thereunto in bestowing upon him one or two of our Observations It 's a question sometimes whether Diamond gives more lustre to the Ring it 's set in or the Ring to the Diamond This Gentleman received honour from his Family and gave renown to it Writing is the character of the speech as that is of the mind From Tully whose Orations he could repeat to his dying day he gained an even and apt stile flowing at one and the self-same heighth Tully's Offices a Book which Boys read and men understand was so esteemed of my Lord Burleigh that to his dying day he always carried it about him either in his bosome or his pocket as a compleat peice that like Aristotle's Rhetorick would make both a Scholar and an Honest man Cicero's magnificent Orations against Anthony Catiline and Verres Caesar's great Commentaries that he wrote with the same spirit that he fought flowing Livy grave judicious and stately Tacitus elquent but faithful Curtius brief and rich Salust prudent and brave Xenophon whose person was Themistocles his Companion as his Book was Scipio Affricanus his Pattern in all his Wars ancient and sweet Herodotus sententious and observing Thucidides various and useful Polybius Siculus Halicarnâ—sseus Trogus Orosius Iustine made up our young mans Retinue in all his Travels where as Diodorus the Sicilian writes he sate on the stage of Humane Life observing the great circumstances of places persons times manners occasions c. and was made wise by their example who have trod the path of errour and danger before him To which he added that grave weighty and sweet Plutarch whose Books said Gaza would furnish the world were all others lost Neither was he amazed in the Labyrinth of History but guided by the Clue of Cosmography hanging his Study with Maps and his mind with exact Notices of each place He made in one View a Judgement of the Situation Intâ—rest and Commodities for want whereof many States-men and Souldiers have failed of Nations but to understand the nature of places is but a poor knowledge unless we know how to improve them by Art therefore under the Figures of Triangles Squares Circles and Magnitudes with their terms and bounds he could contrive most tools and instruments most Engines and judge of Fortifications Architecture Ships Wind and Water-works and whatever might make this lower frame of things useful and serviceable to mankinde which severer Studies he relieved with noble and free Poetry-aid once the pleasure and advancement of the Soul made by those higher motions of the minde more active and more laâ—ge
for the shortest way of knowing and teaching things in every profession There was not an expert Souldier or Sea-man but he consulted not a printed or manuscript discourse of Navigation or War but he perused nor were there exacter rules or principles for both services than he drew so contemplative he was that you would think he was not active so active that you would say he was not prudent A great Souldier and yet an excellent Courtier an accomplished Gallant and yet a bookish man a man that seemed born for any thing he undertook his wit brought him to Court and kept him there for there happening a dâ—fference between him and my Lord Grey under whom he served in Ireland which was heard before the Council-Table Rawleigh stated his case with that clearness urged his arguments with that â—vidence and reason offered his Apologies with those pertinent and taking allegations and his Replies with that smartness expressed himself with that flueney and eloquence and managed his carriage and câ—untenance with that discretion that he was first the States-mens observation next her Majesties Favourite and at last her Oracle as who was equally happy in his comprehensive discourses to her of her private interest in every part of her government and in his effectuall Speeches â—o her Subjects in Parliament touching theirs in every part of their duty Two things he observed in his Mistriss 1. That she was penurious in her largesses 2. That she was choice in her Favourites Whence he concluded that there was no good to be done unless he got an estate first and then a reputation To the first we owe his Sea-voyages when his whole fortune was often put up in one shipâ— And to the last his Land-services when all his expectation depended on one action Two Rivals he observed Essex for action Cecil for counsel The one he went under abroad to outvy him the other he complyed with at home to undermine him but wanting strength though not parts to be both their Corrivals he perished because not thought to own humility enough to be their servants Cecill indeed was his friend because Essex was his enemy but he taught him That it was more safe at Court to have many enemies of equall power than one false and ambitious friend that hath attained to the absoluteness of command But this he was often heard to say he did not apprehend before his Genius had dictated it to him as he came in a Boat from the execution of the Earl of Essex which was done at the Tower Yet two wayes I finde him getting up 1. By uncouth projects in Parliament beyond expectation which though they might oblige his Mistriss together with an opinion of his irreligion lost him with the People 2. By extraordinary undertakings in Warre beyond his Commission which though performed to out-do his Generals had forfeited his head to their severity and justice had not his wit complyed with their easiness and goodness It 's a question among the Curiosoes whether his often absence from Court was his prudence or his weakness it being a quodlibet whether that distance was a greater allay to his enemies malice or his Sovereigns love while his forreign actions were not so close at her ear to his advantage as his Adversaries applications to his disparagemtnt Two things I must needs say are wonderful in him 1. The dispatch and industry of the former part of his life 2. The weakness of the latter Touching the first he that shall consider his laborious way of study immers'd in almost infinite reading and observation to which the running over of innumerable books and a vast multitude of men was necessary His Obligations to read not onely common Authors but all Records Schemes and Paper that he could come by His correspondence with Fâ—iends and Strangers his review of his own Papers which he sate close to by Sea and Land that never passed him without three transcriptions his reception of visits whether of civility or business or discourse which were numerous and great devourers of his time his agency for all sortâ— of personâ— his interest with his thrifty Mistriss being most part of his pension in which capacity he set up a kinde of Office of Address his Letters which cost him one day in the week The time lost upon his misfortunes which made it necessary for him often to break his great series and method of undertaking He I say that shall compute and sum up this the particulars whereof are nakedly told without any straining of the truth or flourish of expression must be much to seek how a man of so many actions should write any thing and one of so many writings should do any thing and more how one of so many fatall diversions could keep up a steady minde for those great but exact argumenâ—s that it hath left in the world especially when there was one very difficult particular in all his compâ—sures viz. that none of his Discourses with which his Hâ—story or other Books are embellished passed hiâ—â—xact hand before the most knowing and most learned men in that faculty to which those discouâ—â—â—s belonged had debated them before himâ— who after their departure sâ—mmed up all into those excellent pieces now abroad under his name which I blame not King Iames for envying being the nearest his own though I think not that learned Prince of so low a spirit as out of an impertinent emulation to affect Sir Walter Rawleigh the less for the great repute that followed him because of his pen which being more dangerous than his Sword I wonder that wise Prince indulged him especially since that Master Hâ—mpden a little before the Wars was at the charge of transcribing 3452 sheets of his Manuscripts as the Amanuensis himself told me who had his clâ—se chamber his fire and candle with an Attendant to deliver him the Originals and take his Copies as fast as he could wâ—ite them 2. To the second viz. the weakness of the last part of his life 1. Tâ—ere was noâ— a greater reach in that advice of his to the Queen when some were for attacqâ—ing Spain one way and some another to cut off its commerce with the Indies than there was shoâ—tness of spirit in truâ—â—ing the most hopeful part of that expedition to Sir Iâ—hn Burroughs when he suâ—k undâ—r the mâ—st disastrous himself Yet 2. That he when Capâ—â—in of the Guard Warden of the Cinqâ—e-ports Govâ—rnour of Virginia a place of his own discovery prefeâ—ments enough to satisfie a regular spirit should stand on termâ—s with King Iames against the Law of the Land the Genius of the Nation the resolution of the Nobility and Reason iâ—â—elf that knoweth there is no cautions that hold Princes but their interest and nature was a greater infirmity But 3. That he upon the Kings frown for his foâ—mer indiscretion upon him and Cobham should engage upon so shallow a Treason so improbable to hurt others or benefit themselves that if ever folly was
Lambeth Church and Doctor Andrews preached his Funeral-Sermon Amongst the many Verses made by the University of Cambridge this with the allowance of Poetical Licence came from no bad Fancy Magna Deos inter lis est exorta creatas Horum qui lites dirimit ille deest Coâ—inum potiere dii componere tantas Lites quod vero jure peritus erat A most moderate man he was in his own nature but more earnest in the business of the Church in the behalf of which he writ many Books of validity c. It must not be forgotten that Doctor Barlow afterwards Bishop of Lincoln was bred by Doctor Cosin at his charge in his own Family who in expression of his Thankfulness wrote this Dr. Cosin's Life out of which most of the aforesaid Character hath been taken Observations on the Life of the Lord Chief-Iustice Cook THis accomplished person was well born at Mileham in Norfolk of Robert Cook Esquire and Winiâ—red Knighâ—ly his Wife and as well bred 1. When ten years of age at Norwich School 2. At Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge 3. After four years University-study first in Cliffords Inn and then in the Inner Temple The first occasion of his Rice was his stating of the Cooks Case of the Temple so exactly that all the House who were puzzled with it admired him and his pleading it so that the whole Bench took notice of him Such his proficiency that at the end of six years exceeding early in that strict age he was call'd to the Bar and soon after for three years chosen Reader in Lyons Inn. Here his learned Lecture so spread forth his fame that crouds of Clients sued to him for his Counsel and his own suit was the sooner granted when tendering his Affections in order to Marriage unto Bridget daughter and Coheir of Iohn Paston Esquire whose portion moderately estimated Viis medis amounted unto thirty thousand pounds her vertues not falling under valuation and she enriched her Husband with ten Children Then began preferment to presse upon him the City of Norwich choosing him Recorder the County of Norfolk their Knight for Parliament the Qâ—een her Speaker therein as also her Solicitor and Attorney King Iames honoured him with Knighthood and made him Chief-Justice first of the Common-Pleas then of the Kings-Bench Thus beginning on a good bottom left him by his Father marrying a Wife of extraordinary wealth having at the first great and gainful practice afterwards many and profitable Offices being provident to choose â—yâ—â—d penny worths in Purchases leading a thrifty eâ—dâ— living to a great age during flourishing and peacâ—â—ble times born as much after the persecution under Q. Mary as dying before our Civil Wars no wonder if he advanced to a fair estate so that all his sons might seem elder brethren by the large possessions left unto them Some falsely character him a back-friend to the Church and Clergy being a grand Benefactor to the Church of Norwich who gratefully under their publick Seal honoured him with this ensuing Testimony Edwardus Coke Armiger saepius in multis difficillimis Negotiis Ecclesiae nostrae auxiliatus est Nuper eandem contra Templorum Helluones qui Dominia Manerìa Haereditamenta nostra devorare sub Titulo obscuro Concelatum dicunt sponte suâ nobis insciis sine mercede ullâ legitimè tutatus est atque eandem suam nostri Defensionem in perpetuam tantae rei memoriam posterorum gratiâ si opus fuerit magna cum industria scriptis redegit Nostrae Ecclesiae donavit As for the many Benefices in his own Patronage he freely gave them to worthy men being wont to say in his Law-language That he would have Church-Livings pass by Livery and Seisin not Bargain and Sale He was our English Trebonianus very famous for his Comments on Littleton and our Common-Law 1638. A Parliament was call'â—â—â—â—nd the Court party was jealous of Sir Edwarâ— â—eâ—ctivity against them as who had not digested 〈◊〉 discontentments as he had done the Law Hereupon to prevent his Election as a Member he was confined to Buckinghamshire as a Sheriff He scrupled to take the Oath pretending many things against it and particularly that the Sheriff is bound thereby to prosecute Lollards wherein the best Christians may be included It was answered That he had often seen the Oath given to others without any regret and knew full well that Lollard in the modern sense imported the opposers of the present Religion as established by Law in the Land No excuses would serve his turn but he must undertake that Oâ—fâ—ce However his friends beheld it as an injurious degradation of him who had been Lord Chief-Justice to attend on the Judges at the Assizes Five sorts of people he used to foreâ—design to misery and poverty Chymists Monopolizers Concealers Promoters and Rhyming Poets For three things he would give God solemn thanks That he never gave his body to Physick nor his heart to cruelty â—or his hand to corruption In three things he did much applaud his own success In his fair fortune with his Wife in his happy study of the Laws and in his free coming by all his Offices nec prece nec pretio neither begging nor bribing for Preferment His parts were admirable he had a deep Judgment faithful Memory active Fancy and the Jewel of his mind was put into a fair Case a beautiful body with a comely countenance A case which he did wipe and keep clean delighting in good Cloaths well worn and being wont to say That the outward neatness of our bodies might be a Monitor of purity to our souls In his Pleadings Discourse and Judgements he declined all Circumlocutions usually saying The matter lyes in a little Room In all Places Callings and Jurisdictions he commended Modesty and Sobriety within their boundaries saying If a River swelleth beyond the banks it loseth its own Channel If any adverse party crossed him he would patiently reply If another punisheth me I will not punish my self In the highest Term of Business he made Vacation to himself at his Table and would never be perswaded privately to retract what he had publickly adjudged professing He was â— Iudge in a Court not in a Chamber He was wont to say No wise man would do that in prosperity whereof he should repent in adversity His Motto was Prudens qui Patiens and his practice was accordingly especially after he fell into the disfavour of King Iames when he did Frui suo Infortunio and improved his loss to his advantage He triumphed in his own Innocency that he had done nothing illegally calling to mind the Motto which he gave in his Rings when made Sergeant Lex est tutissima Classis The Law is the safest Helmet And now he had leisure to peruse what formerly he had written even thirty Books with his own hand most pleasing himself with a Manual which he called VADE MECUM from whence at one view he took a
in respect of the King your Master you must be very wary that you give him true information and if the matter concern him in his Government that you do not flatter him if you do you are as great a Traytor to him in the Court of Heaven as he that draws his sword against him and in respect of the Suitors which shall attend you there is nothing will bring you more honour and more ease then to do them what right in justice you may and with as much speed as you may for believe it Sir next to the obtaining of the suit a speedy and a gentle denyal when the case will not bear it is the most acceptable to suitors they will gain by their dispatch whereas else they shall spend their time and money in attending and you will gain in the ease you will find in being rid of their importunity But if they obtain what they reasonably desired they will be doubly bound to you for your favour Bis dat qui cito dat it multiplies the courtesie to do it with good words and speedily That you may be able to do this with the best advantage my humble advice is this when suitors come unto you set apart a certain hour in a day to give them audience If the business be light and easie it may by word only be delivered and in a word be answered but if it be either of weight or of difficulty direct the suitor to commit it to writing if it be not so already and then direct him to attend for his answer at a set time to be appointed which would constantly be observed unless some matter of great moment do interrupt it when you have received the Petitions and it will please the Petitioners well to have access unto you to deliver them into your own hand let your Secretary first read them and draw lines under the material parts thereof for the matter for the most part lies in a narrow room The Petitions being thus prepared do you constantly set apart an hour in a day to peruse those Petitâ—ons and after you have ranked them into several files according to the subject matter make choice of two or three friends whose judgments and fidelities you believe you may trust in a business of that nature and recommend it to one or more of them to inform you of their opinions and of their reasons for or against the granting of it and if the matter be of great weight indeed then it would not be amiss to send several Copies of the same Petition to several of your friends the one not knowing what the other doth and desire them to return their answers to you by a certain time to be prefixxed in writing so shall you receive an impartial answer and by comparing the one with the other you shall both discern the abilities and faithfulness of your friends and be able to give a judgement thereupon as an Oracle But by no means trust not to your own judgement alone for no man is omniscient nor trust onely to your servants who may mislead you or mis-inform you by which they may perhaps gain a few crowns but the reproach will lye upon your self if it be not rightly carried For the facilitating of your dispatches my advice is further that you divide all the Petitions and the matters therein contained under several heads which I conceive may be fitly ranked into these eight sorts 1. Matters that concern Religion and the Church and Church-men 2. Matters concerning Justice and the Laws and the Professors thereof 3. Councellors and the Council-Table and the great Offices and Officers of the Kingdom 4. Foreign Negotiations and Embassies 5. Peace and War both foreign and civil and in that the Navy and Forts and what belongs to them 6. Trade at home and abroad 7. Colonies or foreign Plantations 8. The Court and Curiality And whatsoever will not fall naturally under one of these heads believe me Sir will not be worthy of your thoughts in this capacity we now speak of And of these sorts I warrant you you will find enough to keep you in bâ—siness I begin with the first which concerns Religion 1. In the first place be you your self rightly perswaded and setled in the true Protestant Religion professed by the Church of England which doubtless is as sound and orthodox in the doctrine thereof as any Christian Church in the world 2. In this you need not be a Monitor to your gracious Master the King the chiefest of his Imperial Titles is to be The Defender of the Faith and his learning is eminent not only above other Princes but above other men be but his scholar and you are safe in that 3. For the Discipline of the Church of England by Bishops c. I will not positively say as some do that it 's Iure Divino but this I say and think ex animo that it is the nearest to Apostolical truth and confidently I shall say it is fittest for Monarchy of all others I will use no other authority to you than that excellent Proclamation set out by the King himself in the first year of his Reign and annexed before the Book of Common Prayer which I desire you to read and if at any time there shall be the least motion made for Innovation to put the King in mind to read it himself It is most dangerous in a State to give ear to the least alterations â—n Government 4. Take heed I beseech you that you be not an instrument to countenance the Romish Catholicks I cannot flatter the world believes that some near in blood to you are too much of that perswasion you must use them with fit respects according to the bonds of â—atuâ—e but you are of kin and so a friâ—nd to their persons not to their errors 5. The Arch-Bishops and Bishops next under the King have the government of the Church and Ecclesiastical affairs be not you the mean to prâ—fer any to those places for any by-respects but only for their learning gravity and worth their lives and Doctrine ought to be exemplary 6. For Deans and Canons or Prebends of Cathedral Churches In their first institution they were of great use in the Church they were not only to be of Council with the Bishop for his revenue but chiefly for his Government in causes Ecclesiastical use your best means to prefer such to those places who are fit for that purpose men eminent for their learning piety and discretion and put the King often in mind thereof and let them be reduced again to their first institution 7. You will be often sollicited and perhaps importuned to prefer Scholars to Church-Livings you may further your friends in that way caeteris paribus otherwise remember I pray that these are not places meerly of favour the charge of souls lies upon them the greatest account whereof will be required at their own hands but they will share deeply in their faults who are the
bold as sure either by carrying the Cause to oblige the people to themselves or by suffering for it to enrage them against the Government that Sir R. Weston made it his business to take off the one and my Lord of Canterbury the other which they did with such success that as my Lord Wentworth became a great Favourite so the Lord Savile was an eminent Counsellor only finding that his young Neighbour had got the start of him he kept to one of his popular Principles always viz. a restless impetuosity towards Papists against whom he made himself famous 1. For a Disputation procured by him in Drury-Lane whither he brought Bishop Vsher under the notion of a Countrey-Parson when the Jesuites cryed There was more Learning in that Parson than in all the men in England 2. For a project offered by him in Parliament For when they taking advantage of King Charls his wants profeâ—ed to maintain five thousand men to serve his Majesty in Ireland and a proportion of Ships to secure him in England on condition of the free exercise of their Religion Sir Iohn interposed That if the King were pleased but to call on the Recusants to pay Thirds legally due to the Crown it would prove a way more effectual and less offensive to raise a mass of money It being but just that they who were so rich and free to purchase new Priviledges should first pay their old Penalties When I read of a Lord Savile going privately to Scotland 1639. subscribing to a Petition with oâ—her moderate Lords as they called them containing the very sense of the saction insomuch that it is observed the City-Petition and theirs were couched in the same words yet going to Oxford and after all being so turbulent there that his Majesty was fain to send him beyond Sea where his Majesty writes with his own hand He doubts he will rather exchange his villany than end it I am almost of that wise mans mind that there were no less than 17 particular Designs set on foot by the promotion of the late Troubles whereof though most yet not all were carried on in Westminster or to enforce something more solid that a King should say as the Italian doth If my Subject deceives me once God forgive him If a second time God forgive me and the rather because it 's fatal for Majesty to err twice Observations on the Life of Bishop Williams A Strong constitution made his pâ—rts a strict education improved them unwearied was his industry unexpressible his capacity He never saw the book of worth he read not he never forgot what he read he never loâ—â— the use of what he remembred Every thing he heard or saw was his own and what was his own he knew how to use to the utmost His extraction being Gentile his Soul large and noble his presence and carriage comely and stately his learning copious his judgement stayed his apprehension clear and searching his expression lively and effectual his elocution flowing and majestick his Proctorship when he gave the Lord Chancellor Egerton so much satisfaction in treating the Spanish Ambassador at an Act in Cambridge that thenceforward he resolved on his preferment 1612. discovered him a person above his place and his Lectures to his Pupils above his preferment Bishop Vaughan first admitteth him to his Family and then to his bosom there his strong Sermons his exact government under my Lord his plentiful observation his numerous acquaintance made him my Lord Chancellor Egerton's friend rather than his servant his familiar rather than his Chaplain Never was there a more communicative Master to instruct than my Lord Elsemâ—re never a more capable Scholar to learn than Dr. Williams who had instilled to him all necessary State-maxims while his old Master lived and had bequeathed to him four excellent Books when his Master was dead These four books he presented to K. Iames the very same time that he offered himself to the Duke of Buckingham The excellent Prince observed him as much for the first gift as the noble Duke did for the second the King and Duke made him their own who they saw had made that excellent Book his Willing was King Iames to advance Clergy-men and glad to meet with men capable of Advancemeâ—t His two Sermons at Court made him Dean of Westminster his exact state of the Earl of Somerset's Case made him capable of and the KING'S inclination to â—rust his Conscience in a Divines hand setled him in the Lord Keepers place actually only for three years to please the people who were offended with his years now but 34. and his calling a Divine but designedly for ever to serve his Majesty The Lawyers despised him at first but the Judges admired him at last and one of them said That never any man apprehended a Case so clearly took in all the Law Reason and other Circumstances more punctually recollected the various Debates more faithfully summed it up more compendiously and concluded more judiciously and discreetly For many of them might have read more than he but none digested what they had read more solidly none disposed of their reading more methodically none therefore commanded it more readily He demurred several Orders as that of my Lord Chancellor's pardon the Earl Marshal's Patent c. to let his Majesty see his judgement yet passed them to let him see his obedience He would question the Dukes Order sometimes discreetly to let him know he understood himself yet he would yield handsomly to let him see he understood him and indeed he had the admirable faculty of making every one of his actions carry prudence in the performance Necessary it was for one of his years and place to keep his distance and avoid contempt yet fatal was it to him to do so and incur envy Well understood he the interest of all his places resolutely he maintained them What saith he shall the Liberties of Westminster be infringed when the chief Favourite is Steward and the Lord Keeper Dean and I the contemptible man that must be trampled on When he was in trouble what passion what insinuation what condescention hath he at command when petitioned to how quickly he looked through men and business how exactly would he judge and how resolutely conclude without an immediate intimation from his Majesty or the Duke Many eyes were upon him and as many eyes were kept by him upon others being very watchful on all occasions to accommodate all Emergencies and meet with all humors alwayes keeping men in dependance on the Duke according to this intimation of his Cabal 287. Let him hold it but by your Lordships favour not his own power A good way had he been constant to it the neglect whereof undid him for designing the promotion of Doctor Price to the Arch-Bishoprick of Armagh he moved it to the Duke who told him it was disposed of to Doctor Vsher Whereupon he went his own way to advance that man and overthrew himself For
more mindful of kindnesses and none more grateful for civilities He was so wise as seldom to forget an injury in the consequence of it and so noble as ever to remember love in the return of it His honest Parents conveyed him an excellent temper and that temper a brave spirit which had the advantage of his bâ—rth some say at Reading some at Henley at an equal distance from the University where he was to be a Scholar and the Court where he was to be a Man In the first of these his indefatigable industry his methodical study his quick apprehension his faithful memory his solid judgement his active fancy his grave and quick countenance his sharp and piercing eye raised him by discreet and wary steps to all the preferments and commended him to all the employments of the University when Proctor whereof he was admitted for his prudence to the Earl of Devonshire's service which hazarded and when Divinity-Reader observed by the Lords of Rochester and Lincoln for his judgement which advanced him As his design was above the level of modern Sciolists so were his Studies not prepossessed with the partial Systemes of Geneva but freely conversant with the impartial volumes of the Church-Catholick he had an infallible apprehension of the Doctrine and Discipline and a deep insight into the interest of Christianity This capacious soul conversed with the most knowing of all Judgments to finde the bottom of all Errors and with the most judicious of his own to discern the grounds of all truth He had his eye on the University to reduce it when Head of St. Iohn's on the lower Functions of the Church in his Pastoral charges to reform them and upon the higher when Dean of Gloucester Prebend of Westminster and Bishop of St. Davids to settle them He was a man of that search and judgment that he found out the principles of government that were true to the Church of that faithfulness and resolution that amidst all discouragements he was true to them The Church-government he found by many private-spirited men accommodated to their ease and interest he adjusted to truth and settlement consulting not humors which are uncertain as interest but truth which is certain as Eternity Arch-Bishop Abbot's Yield and they will be pleased at last was a great miscarriage Arch-Bishop Laud's Resolve for there is no end of yielding was great policy His great reach in Government suitable to that King's apprehensions commended him to King Iames his vast ability and integrity to K. Charles and the Dukâ— of Buckingham To the first whereof he was a Privy-Councellor to the other a Bosom-friend before both whom he laid the best Representations and Ideas of the English government as to things and persons in several abstracts of any man under heaven I have heard a Statesman say That none knew the joynts turnings flexures and interests of all Parties in Church or State that were either to be encouraged or suppressed with the seasons and opportunities to do it so well as Dr. Laud. Discerning was his fore-sight compleat his intelligence exact his correspondence quick his dispatches seasonable and effectual his Sermons and Discourses inquisitive and observing his Converse His Instruments were able and knowing men that were faithful to the Church as he was in Man-warâ—ng and Mountagu's case to them Knowing well as he wrote to my Lord of Buckingham that discouragements would deter men of parts whom encouragements might make serviceable He knew no man better how to temper a Parliament having a Catalogue of all the Nobility and Gentry with their Interest and Inclination in his eye He understood none more exactly what was to be discoursed and proposed to them having a clear apprehension of the several Junctures and Tendencies of affairs He entertained no thought but what was publick in his breast no man but what was nobly spirited in his familiarity Ever watchful he was of all opportunities to advance the Churches honour 1. In her Sons as Bishop Iuxon c. 2. Her Discipline as in his several Visitations Articles Star-Chamber and High-Commission matters 3. In her Endowments as the buying of Impropriations in Ireland 4. In her Priviledge as the Canons of England 5. In her Ornaments as the repairing furnishing of St. Pauls and most other Churches in his Province 6. In her Universities as the statutes of Oxford the priviledges of Cambridge and his vast gifts of Oriental Books and Buildings and his vaster design for both and as watchful against all the designs to undermine it The Feofâ—ees for Impropriations he laid aside the Sabbatizing and Predestinarian controversies he silenced the Licenâ—ious Press he reduced Dignities and Preferments hâ— worthily filled up bribes at Court he retrenched No interest no alliance could ever advance an unworthy person while he lived Breed up your children well and I will provide for them was his saying to all his Relations Many a man would be disobliged by his sternness at first view for whom if deserving he would afterwards contrive kindnesses by after and unexpected favours No place of experience did he ever miss none of employment did he ever decline He would never see Authority hâ—ffled but either wave all proceedings against offenders or go through with them His prosecutionâ— as in Leighton's Case were close his observation of all câ—rcâ—mstances as in Lincoln's wary his declarations of the Cases clear and convincing as in Pryn's Bastwick's and Burion's his sentence milde and compassionate as in Waller's his resolution and justice ever making way to his mercy and his mercy crowning his justice Often did he confer with the ablest and most Orthodox Clergy with the most experienced and knowing Civilians with the most observing and reserved Courtiers with the profoundest Lawyers with the skilfullest and discreetest Mechanicks out of all whose opinions the result was his most exact judgement in any case that came before him at Court or at Lambeth The roughness of his nature sent most men discontented from him but so that he would often of himself find ways and means to sweeten such as had any worth again when they least looked for it Many were offended at his prudent zeal against the Jewish Sabbatism in his government who were very well satisfied with the strictness of his observation of the Lords day in his person But let one great man express another Bishop Gauden Arch-Bishop Laud whose thoughts lye so much the more levelled to his brave Sentiments as his dignity did to his high place As to his secret design of working up this Church by little and little to a Romish conformity and captivity I do not believe saith he he had any such purpose or approved thought because beside his declared judgment and conscience I find no secular Policy or Interest which he could thereby gain either private or publick but rather lose much of the greatness and freedom which he and other Bishops with the wholâ— Church had without which temptâ—tion no man in charity may be
suspected to act contrary to so clear convictions so deliberate and declared determinations of his Conscience and Judgement in Religion as the Arch-Bishop expresses in his very excellent Book I am indeed prone to think that pâ—ssibly he wished there could have been any fair close or accâ—mmodation between all Christian Churches the same which many grave and learned men have much desired And it may be his Lordship thought himself no unfit Instrument to make way to so great and good a work considering the eminencies of his Parts Power and Favour which he had Haply he judged as many learned and moderate men have that in some things between Papists and Protestants differences are made wider and kept more open raw and sore than need beâ— by the private pens and passions of some men and the Interests of some little parties whose partial policies really neglect the publick and true Interest of the Cathâ—lick Church and Christian Religion which consists much in peace as wâ—ll as in purity in charity as in verity He found that where Papists were silenced and convinced in the more grand and pregnant Disputes that they are Novel partial and unconform to Catholick Churches in ancient times than he found they recovered spirits and contested afresh against the unreasonable transports violences and immoderations of some professing to be Protestants who to avoid Idolâ—try and Superstition run to Sacriledge and rudeness in Religion denying many things that are just honest safe true and reasonable meerly out of an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 excessive Antipathy to Papists Possibly the Arch-Bishop and some other Bishops of his mind did rightly judge That the giving of an enemy fair play by just safe honourable concessions was not to yield the conquest to him but the most ready way to convince him of his weakness when no honest yieldings could help him any more then they did endanger the true cause or courage of his Antagonist For my part I think the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was neither Calvinist nor Lutheran nor Papist as to any side or party but all so far as he saw they agreed with the Reformed Church of England either in Fundamentals or innocent and decent Superstructures Yet I believe he was so far a Protestant and of the Reformed Religion as he saw the Church of England did protest against the Errors Corruptions Usurpations and Superstitions of the Church of Rome or against the novel opinions and pâ—actices of any party whatsoever And certainly he did with as much honour as justice so far own the Authenâ—ick Authority Liberty and Majesty of the Church of England in its reforming and setling of its Religion that he did not think fit any private new Master whatsoever should obtrude any Foreign or Domestick Dictates to her or force her to take her copy of Religion from so petty a place as Geneva was or Frankfort or Amsterdam or Wittenbergh or Edenborough â—o nor from Augsburg or Arnheim nor any foreign City or Town any more than from Trent or Rome none of which had any Dicâ—atorian Authority over this great and famous Nation or Church of England further than they offered sober Counsels or suggested good Reasons or cleared true Religion by Scripture and confirmed it by good Antiquity as the best interpreter and decider of obscure places and dubious cases Which high value it is probable as to his Mother the Church of England and her Constitutions was so potent in the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that as he thought it not fit to subject her to the insolency of the Church of Rome so not to the impertinencies of any other Church or Doctor of far less repuâ—e in the Christian world No doubt his Lordship thought it not handsome in Mr. Calvin to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so censorious of the Church of England as to brand its Dâ—votion or Liturgy with his tolerabiles ineptiae who knew not the temper of the Nation requiring then not what was absolutely best but most conveniently good and such not only the Liturgy was but those things which he calls tollerable toys I having occasion to speak with him he upon a time was pleased to grant me access some freedom of speech with him and withal asked me the opinion of the people of him I told him they reported his Lordship endeavoured to betray the Church of England to the Roman correspondency and communion He at length very calmly and gravely thus replyed protesting with a serious attestation of his integrity before God's Omnisâ—ience that however he might mistake in the mean and method yet he never had other design than the glory of God the service of his Majesty the good order peace and decency of the Church of England that â—e was so far from complying with Papists in order to confirm them in their Errors that he rather choâ—e such Methods to advance the honour of the reformed Religion in England as he believed might soon silence the cavils of fiercer Papists induce the more moderate Reâ—usants to come in to us as having less visible occasion given them by needless Dâ—stances and Disputes to separate from us which he thought arose much from that popular Variety Inconstancy Easiness Irreverence and Uncomliness which might easily grow among us in the outward professiâ—n of Religion for want of observing such uniformity and decency in Religion as were required by the Laws and Canons of this Church and State He added that he had further a desire as much as he could to relieve the poor and depressed condition of many Ministers which he had to his grief observed in Wales and England where their Discouragements were very great by reason of the tenuity and incompetency of their Livings that in his Visitations he had sometime seen it with grief among twenty Ministers not one man had so much as a decent Garment to put on nor did he believe their other treatment of Life was betterâ— that he found the sordid and shameful Aspect of Religion and the Clergy gave great Advantages to those that were Popishly inclined who would hardly ever think it best for them to joyn with that Church which did not maintain either its own Honour or its Clergy to some competency and comeliness Much more discourses his Lordship was pleased to use at several times to this purpose which commands my charity to clear him as far as I can judge of any tincture of Popery truly so called or of any superstition which placeth a Religion in the nature and use of that thing which God hath not either particularly commanded or in general permitted I suppose he thought that where God hath allowed to his Church and to every private Christian so far as may consist with the Churches Order and Peace a liberty of ceremonious and circumstantial decency as to God's worship there neither himself was to be blamed nor did he blame other men if they kept within those discreet and inoffensive bounds which either