man a good Christian and a noble Confessour His soul was well setled his stature was mean but well proportioned his complexion phlegmatiqne his countenance amiable and cheerful his voice plain and distinct and his temper sound and healthful WHo is the honest man He that doth still and strongly good pursue To God his Neighbour and Himself most true Whom neither force nor fawning can Vnpin or wrench from giving all their due Whose honesty is not So loose and easie that a ruffling winde Can blow away or glitt'ring look it blinde Who rides his sure and even trot While the world now rides by now lags behinde Who when great trials come Nor seeks nor shuns them but doth calmly stay Till he the Thing and the Example weigh All being brought into a sum What Place or Person calls for he doth pay Whom none can work or wooe To use in any thing a trick or sleight For above all things be abhors deceit His words and works and fashion too All of a piece and all are clear and straight Who never melts or thaws At close tentations when the day is done His goodness sets not but in dark can run The Sun to others writeth Laws And is their vertue Vertue is his Sun Who when he is to treat With sick Folks Women those whom passions sway Allows for that and keeps his constant way Whom others faults do not defeat But though men fail him yet his part doth play Whom nothing can procure When the wide world runs Bias from his will To writhe his limbs and share not mend the ill This is the Mark-man safe and sure Who still is right and prays to be so still Observations on the Life of Thomaâ— Cromwel Earl of Essex PVtney saw his Cradle in a Cottage and England saw his Coffin in a Ditch His Original was mean his End meaner A suddaiâ— height in an unsettled time ruined him A mode rate and leasurely Greatness is safe His Blooâ— ran low but pure ennobling the veins it flowed iâ— with a Spirit that was to raise a Family and Deserve that Honour that others Inherit His hone 〈…〉 Parents conveyed him a strong Constitution thaâ— could support stronger Parts The poor man good Temper is an Inheritance and the Rich hi 〈…〉 Effeminacie his Disease A private School civilized his Parts Traveâ— and Employment improved them His Necessity when at home made him a Soldier abroad and hiâ— Observations abroad made him a Man at Home The Experience of Travel enlarged his Soul anâ— the Hardship of War knitted and consolidated it 〈…〉 His hard Fortune at Cambray was the occasion o 〈…〉 his good One in England and had he not been un 〈…〉 done he had been undone For his promising look 〈…〉 commended him to Frescobald the Merchant fo 〈…〉 Relief and to Cardinal Wolsey for Service in whosâ— private Service of Secretary for his Embassie iâ— France he prepared himself for that more public of Secretary of State in England Great Scholar h 〈…〉 was none the Latine Testament gotten by heaâ—â— being his Master-piece nor studied Lawyer neveâ— admitted to the Innes of Court nor experienced Souldier though Necessity cast Him upon it when the Duke of Burbon befieged Rome nor Courtier till bred up in Cardinal Wolsey'â— Court yet that of the Lawyer in him so helped the Scholar that of the Souldier the Lawyer that of the Courtier the Souldier and that of the Traveller all the rest being no Stranger to Germany well acquainted with France most familiar with Italy so that the result of all together made him for Endowments eminent not to say admirable His Apprehension was quick and clear his Judgement methodical and solid his Memory strong and rational his Tongue fluent and pertinent his Presence stately and obliging his Heart large and noble his Temper patient and cautious his Way industrious and indefatigable his Correspondence well laid and constant his Converse insinuating and close None more dexterous to finde out none more reserved to keep a Secret He was equal saith my Author to the French Politicians when under his Master he over-reached them when alone doing more in one month with his subtle Head then the other in twelve months with his stately Train The King of France would have pensioned up his parts but the Vice-Roy of England advanced them His Master brought him first to serve his Country in Parliament that great School of Experience and then his King at Court where defending his Masters great actions he made it evident he could perform greater such was his Wit such his Eloquence that they who hated the Client admired the Advocate And thougâ— he could not keep his Patron from falling yet he raised himself that being the first time his Eminent Parts were observed An advantagious starting is more then half way in the Race of Preferment For hereupon he is first Master of the Kings Jewels and then of what was more precious his Secrets His conscience inclined him to the Churches Reformation his Interest complied with the Kings he unlocked the secrets of Monasteries by his Spies and put the King upon destroying them by his Power The University of Cambridge made him Chancellour to save it self where though he did no great good yet his Greatness kept others from doing harm in an Age wherein Covetousness could quarrel a Colledge as well as an Abbey into superstition He was trusted by the King with the Rolls and Records of England and by the Scholars with the Charters and Statutes of their Universities He reforms the University in order to the Reformation of the Church enjoyning the study of the Scripture and the Tongues instead of School-Divinity and Barbarism recommending Aristotle Agricola Melancthon to their reading and the Doctrine which is in Spirit and in Truth to their Faith and razing the Popes Bulls to make way for the Kings Favour He was an eminent Minister of State and chief Governour of the Church proceeding in Convocation very discreetly modelling the Church-Laws very prudently and moderately looking into Monastical Abuses very narrowly and industriously mawling Religious Houses violently pulling down those Nests that the Rooks might not return His Master had disobliged the Pope and he weakeneth him It was not safe to disown his Supremacy and entertain thousands of his Creatures If a Kingdom be divided against it self it cannot stand and if one part of the English pay their devotion to a supream Head at Rome and another to a supream Governour in England they must both fall If the persons might disturb the Government it is fit their Estates should secure it and if the Papists should foment a War their Lands should maintain it But Cromwel contrives that the Pope should confirm Alienations in Wolsey before he should practise it for the King As the King knew whom he employed when he trusted him so he knew whom he trusted when he employed Doctor Lee an able servant to an abler Master He first decoyed Religious Men out of their
King was not happier in his abilities to serve him then he was i 〈…〉 their dexterity who waited upon him These are my eyes saith the discreet man these are my right hands For his service he would chuse a Man before a Scholar a Traveller before a Home-bred Parts he preserred in his Office a Presence in his Chamber Parts and Presence in his Closet Beecber was King Henry the Eighth his Map of England so well skilled he was in our English Customs Trade Improvements Situation Interest and Inclination Paget was his Table of Germany France and Rome so exact an account could he give of their Situation Havens Forts Passages Provision Policies Revenue and Strength secured he was in King Henry's changeable times by his forraign Travels and Employments Escape he did King Edward's Reformation by his Moderation and peaceableness He complied with Queen Mary's Zeal out of conscience and submitted to Queen Elizabeth's Authority out of Duty and Allegiance being one of those moderate men that looked upon the Protestants primitive Foundations of Faith Duty and Devotion as safe and on the Papists superstructures as not damnable Whose Life was Grotius and ssander's Wish An Accommodation to the Christian World Privacy is the Favourites Interest and concealment his care Sir William wished for success for his Masters sake but dissembled it for his own He is the man that loseth neither his Privacy nor his Reputation Quiet was his temper though noble his resolution Troublesome is a witty man on a stage as a Monkey in a cupboard of glass Placed sweet and composed is the prudent Man like an Intelligence in the Heavens or a god in the World Up he went but by just degrees that if down he must he might do so with the same leasure and safety When he had managed the Secrets and Negotiations of Henry the Eighth with Dexterity and Faithfulness the Lands of King Edward the Sixth with Skill and Improvement the Purses of Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth with good Husbandry and Care When he had lived enough to his Countries to his Soveraigns to his Friends and the Publique Good he retired to live to Himself first and then to his GOD. Observations on the Life of Sir Richard Morisin SIr Richard Morisin born in Essex or in Oxford-shire was brought up at Eaton Cambridge and Inns of Court He was so skilful in Latine and Greek and in the Common and Civil Law that he was often employed Embassador by King Henry the VIII and Edward the VI unto Charles the Fifth Emperour and other Princes of Germany which he discharged with all honesty and ability After the death of King Edward the VI he was forced to fly beyond the seas and returning out of Italy died at Strasburgh on the 17 of March 1556. Three things made a compleat man in those days 1. A publick School where their School-fellows Genius's instruct much more then their School-masters pains where a man attains at once to Learning Prudence and a Spirit 2. A comprehensive insight into Tongues and Sciences by the first whereof they unlocked Men and by the second Things 3. Travel where they saw what they read and made that a solid apprehension and observation which was before but a fluid notion and a floating imagination Our Knight was happy in all Three but so compleat in the last that he had the Vertues and Port of a German as if he had been a Native of that place and loathed the Vices as if he had never seen it Thereby he could get so far within that people that he saw all their Intrigues and be yet so reserved that they could see nothing The ablest German Divines guided his conscience and the greatest Statesmen his Negotiation He kept under the Emperour by the Princes the French by the Emperour and the Pope by them all So much service did the good Knight to King Henry the Eighth in his Wife Katharine's Case and so much the whole Kingdom in that of Religion that he equally fled Queen Mary's wrath and her Religions Persecutions His strong parts set off his comprehensive knowledge his resolute spirit his parts and his presence and meen all King Henry always chusing an Embassador that might represent his Person as well as his Power And Sir Richard had his Hogh in Germany as well as Henry in England His knack was his foresight which made that an Adviso in England which was hardly a known design there saying usually His Master maintained not Embassadors so much to write Histories as Prophecies The Trojans sent to condole with Caesar for his Son that was dead two year ago he thanked them and condoled with them for Hector that was slain as many hundred years Our Embassador in France adviseth Sir Richard of a Battel fought a Week before and he in answer makes a large discourse of the Battel of Spurs fought many years before and adds I and You are not here to tell old stories Two things he said he was troubled with Envy and Malice and two Remedies he had against them Patience and Resolution Always he wheeled with the first Mover yet he had private motions of his own Singular but modest So faithful he was that he would declare his Opinion yet so wary that he would not stand in it against his Prince knowing that if he did it out of prudence he rendered the Princes Ability suspected if out of his own sagacity it blemished his Integrity Both equal inconveniencies to intimate the Master Unable or the Servant Corrupt When others pressed for an over-strict Reformation this Gentleman urged That Distempers in the Body and State are reduced by Physicians and Politicians not to what they should be but to what they can be Freedom Moderation and Impartiality are the best tempers of Reforming Counsels and Endeavours What is acted singularly must offend more then it pleaseth a study to gratifie some men being a likely way to injure all The novelty of excessive and immoderate undertakings giving not so much content to the vulgar of a present Age as the mischiefs of them give offence to the Generations of â—utuâ—e times And Melancthon's discourse to him was to this purpose That the Reformation of hearts should go before that of Churches and men should try that on their own hearts which they design upon the Church For Deformities within will soon betray the Pretenders of publique Reformation to such private designs as must needs hinder the publique Good It would be an easie matter for Favourites to reform Kings Palaces saith Malvezzi if it were not a hard thing to reform their own houses One asked him Why his Embassie tended so much more to preserve his Masters Dominions then to augment them And he replied what is fathered on Henry the Fourth That Getting is a Chance but Keeping is a Wit After a long residence abroad he thought of an Habitation at home which he no sooner began at Cashobery in Hertfordshire but King Edward going out of the
in Modelling the Kingdome of Ireland into Shires as now they are shewing himself so great a lover of the Polity under which he was born that he advanced the Compliance therewith as commendable and necessary in the Dominions annexed thereunto His second service was when many in that Kingdome shrowded themselves from the Laws under the Target of power making Force their Tutelary Saint he set himself vigorously to suppress them And when many of the Privy-Council terrified with the greatness of the Earl of Desmond durst not subscribe the Instrument wherein he was proclaimed Traytor Sir Edward amongst some others boldly signed the same disavowing his and all Treasons against his Friends and County and the Council did the like commanding the publication thereof As to his private sphear God blessed him being but a third Brother above his other Brethren Now though he had three Wives the first a Villiers the second a Spilman the third the Widow of Herlakenden of Wood-church in Kent Esquire and though he had so strong a brain and body yet he lived and died childless intercommoning therein with many Worthies who are according to Aelius Spartianus either improlifick or have children in Genitorum Vituperium famarum Laesuram God thus denying him the pleasure of posterity he craved leave of the Queen to retire himself and fixed the residue of his life at Wood-church in Kent living there in great Honour and Repute as one who had no designe to be popular and not prudent rich and not honest great and not good He died in the 56 year of his Age the 13 of October 1591. and is buried at wood-Wood-church under a Table-Marble-Monument erected to his memory by his sorrowful Lady surviving him Queen Elizabeth on the Lord Willoughby Good Peregrine VVE are not a little glad that by your Journey you have received such good fruit of amendment specially when we consider what great vexations it is to a mind devoted to actions of honour to be restrained by any indisposition of body from following those courses which to your own reputation and our great satisfaction you have formerly performed And therefore as we must now out of our desire of your well-doing chiefly enjoyn you to an especial care to encrease and continue your health which must give life to all your best Endeavours so we must next as seriously recommend to you this consideration That in these times when there is such appearance that we shall have the tryal of our best noble Subjects you seem not to affect the satisfaction of your own private contentation beyond the attending of that which Nature and Duty challengeth from all persons of your Quality and Profession For if necessarily your health of body being recovered you should Eloign your self by residence there from those Employments whereof we shall have too good store you shall not so much amend the state of your body as happily you shall call in question the reputation of your mind and judgement even in the opinion of those that love you and are best acquainted with your Disposition and Discretion Interpret this our plainness we pray you to our extraordinary estimation of you for it is not common with us to deal so freely with many and believe that you shall ever finde us both ready and willing in all occasions to yield you the fruits of that interest which your Endeavours have purchased for you in our Opinion and Estimation Not doubting but when you have with moderation made tryal of the success of these your sundry Peregrinations you will finde as great comfort to spend your days at home as heretofore you have done of which we do wish you full measure howsoever you shall have cause of abode or return Given under our Signet at our Manâ—or of Nonsuch the seventh of October 1594. in the 37 year of our Reign Your most loving Soveraign E. R. Observations on the Life of the Duke of Norfolk HIs Predecessors made more noyse it may be but he had the greater fame their Greatness was feared his Goodness was loved He was Heir to his Uncles Ingenuity and his Fathers Valour and from both derived as well the Laurel as the Coronet His God and his Soveraign were not more taken with the ancient simplicity that lodged in his plain breast then the people were endeared by that noble humility that dwelt in his plainer cloaths and carriage The most honourable Personages like the most honourable Coats of Arms are least gawdy In the election of the first Parliament of Queen Elizabeth and as a consequent to that in the settlement of the Kingdome Sir William Cecils Wisdome did much the Earl of Arundels Industry more but the Duke of Norfolks Popularity did most Never Peer more dread never more dear as he could engage the people to comply with their Soveraign at home so he could lead them to serve her abroad That Martial but unfortunate Gentleman William Lord Grey draweth first towards Scotland for the first Cloud that would have darkened our glorious Star came from the North Whence all evil is equally our Proverb and our experience as Warden of the middle and East Marches but he is seconded by the Duke as Lieutenant-General of the North-parts where his presence commands a Treaty and his Authority a League Offensive and Defensive to balance the French Interest to reduce the North parts of Ireland and keep the peace of both Kingdomes Now as the watchful Duke discovered by some private Passages and Letters that Scotland was to be invaded by the French so he writ to his Soveraign That notwithstanding the Spanish French Embassadors Overtures she would proceed resolutely in her preparations for Scotland as she did under his Conduct until the young Queen was glad to submit and the King of France by Cecil and Throgmortons means now busied at home to come to terms He brought the Kingdome to Musters the People to ply Husbandry the Nobility to keep Armories and the Justicers to Salaries The Ensignes of St. Michael were bestowed upon him as the Noblest and on Leicester as the dearest Person at Court Now Arundel who had spent his own Estate in hope of the Queens under pretence of recovering his health travelled abroad to mitigate his grief When the Earls of Pembroke and Leicester were openly for the Queens Marriage for the future security of our present happiness the Duke though privately of their mind yet would discourse 1. That Successors take off the peoples eyes from the present Soveraign 2. That it was the safest way to keep all Competitors in suspence 3. That Successors though not designed may succeed 4. Whereas when known they have been undone by the Arts of their Competitors 5. And that most men whatever the busie Agitators of the Succession pretended have no more feeling in publick matters then concerneth their own private interest But he had a private kindness for the Queen of Scots which he discovered in all the Treaties wherein she was concerned 1.
In Love-Letters to her notwithstanding that Queen Elizabeth bid him take care what pillow he rested his head on 2. In his Mediations at Court so importune for her that the Queen would say The Queen of Scots shall never want an Advocate while Norfolk lives And 3. By some private transaction with the Pope and Spaniard to which Leicesters craft trepanned him against his friend Cecils advice which in a dangerous juncture cost him his life For the people wishing for the security of the succession in a Protestant and an English hand that the good Duke were married to the Mother and his onely Daughter to her young Son subtile Leicester and Throgmorton laid a Train for the plain man by Conferences with Murray Cecil c. until a Plot was discovered and the Duke notwithstanding Cecils advice to marry a private Lady retiring to Norfolk to finish the Match with the Queen was upon Letters taken with Rosse surprized and committed to the Tower he saying I am betrayed and undone by mine own whilst I knew not how to mistrust which is the strength of wisdome After a solemn Tryal he is beheaded for Indiscretions rather then Treasons loosing his head because he wanted one Never any fell more beloved or more pitied such his singular Courtesie such his magnificent Bounty not unbecoming so great a Peer High was his Nobility large his Interest singularly good his Nature comely his Person manly his Countenance who saith Cambden might have been a great strength and Ornament to his Country had not the cunning practices of his malicious Adversaries and slippery hopes under colour of publick good diverted him from his first course of life His death was a blot to some mens Justice to all mens Discretion that were concerned in it as generally odious though quietly endured which proves saith one That the common people are like Rivers which seldome grow so impetuous as to transcend the bounds of Obedience but upon the overflowing of a general Oppression Observations on the Life of Sir Nicholas Throgmorton SIr Nicholas Throgmorton fourth Son of Sir George Throgmorton of Coughton in Warwick-shire was bred beyond the Seas where he attained to great experience Under Queen Mary he was in Guild-hall arraigned for Treason in compliance with Wiat and by his own wary pleading and the Juries upright Verdict hardly escaped Queen Elizabeth employed him her Leiger a long time first in France then in Scotland finding him a most able Minister of State yet got he no great Wealth and no wonder being ever of the opposite party to Burleigh Lord Treasurer Chamberlain of the Exchequer and Chief Butler of England were his highest Preferments I say Chief Butler which Office like an empty-covered Cup pretendeth to some State but affordeth no considerable profit He died at Supper with eating of Sallats not without suspicion of poyson the rather because it happened in the house of one no mean Artist in that faculty R. Earl of Leicester His death as it was sudden was seasonable for him and his whose active others will call it turbulent spirit had brought him unto such trouble as might have cost him at least the loss of his Personal Estate He died in the 57 year of his Age Febr. 12. 1570. and lieth buried in the South-side of the Chancel of St. Martin cree-Cree-church London A stout and a wise man that saw through pretences and could look beyond dangers His skill in Heraldry appears in his grim Arguments against the King of France in right of his Queen of Scots Usurping of the Arms of England and his experience in History in his peremptory Declarations of the Queen of Englands Title in right of her twelve Predecessors to those of France But his Policy much more by putting Montmorency the great Enemy of the Guizes upon perswading his Master out of the humour of wearing those Arms with this Argument That it was below the Arms of France to be quartered with those of England those being comprehensive of these and all other of his Majesties Dominions An Argument more suitable to that Prince his ambition then convincing to his Reason Wise men speak rather what is most fit then what is most rational not what demonstrates but what perswades his and takes But being endangered in his Person affronted in his Retinue and served with nothing at his Table but what had the Arms of England quartered with those of France he dealt underhand with the Earl of Northumberland to understand the scope the Reformed propounded to themselves their means to compass what they aimed at and if at any time they were assisted upon what terms a League might be concluded between the two Kingdomes The Advices collected from all his Observations he sent to the Queen were these 1. That she should not rest in dull Counsels of what is lawful but proceed to quick Resolutions of what is safe 2. That to prevent is the policy of all Nations and to be powerful of ours England is never peaceable but in Arms. 3. That how close soever they managed their Affairs it was a Maxime That France can neither be poor nor abstain from War three years together Francis Earl of Bedford bore the state of the French Embassy and Sir Nicholas the burden who gave dayly Directions to Sir Thomas Challoner in Spain Sir Henry Killigrew in Germany and Sir Thomas Randolph and Sir Peter Mewtas in Scotland to the two first to enjealous the Princes of those Countries and to the last to unite the Nobility of Scotland he in the mean time suffering himself to be taken prisoner by the Protestants at the battle of Dreux that he might with less suspition impart secret Counsels to them and receive as secret Advices from them until discovering their lightness and unconstancy they secured him as a person too cunning for the whole Faction and too skilful in raising Hurley-burleys and Commotions When the young Queen of Scots would needs marry the young Lord Darley he told her that was long to be deliberated on which was to be done but once And when that would not do he advised 1. That an Army should appear upon the borders 2. That the Ecclesiastical Laws should be in force against Papists 3. That Hertford should be secured and 4. That the Lord Dudley should be advanced But the Queen being married to the Lord Darley an easie and good-natured man whom Queen Elizabeth wished to her Bed next Leicester and affronted by her subjects Throgmorton disputes the Queens Authority and non-accountableness to any against Bucbanans damned Dialogue of the Peoples power over Kings until smelling their designe of revolt to the French and cruelty upon the Queen he perswaded her to resigne her Government saying That her Resignation extorted in Prison which is a just fear was utterly void The next news we hear of this busie man was in his two Advisoes to the Queen of Scots friends 1. To clap up Cecil whom they might then he said deal
for and that is Stratagems Now you should have him surprize a Town by Butter-women another time by Workmen anon he would face the Enemy and draw them with success upon a Train of Gunpowder he would lay for them and Iron Pricksteds he would sow for them He would steal their hands and seals buy the very keys of their Closets and so amuse them with Letters and distract them with Jealousies while in the mean time the vigilant man alarmed them every hour of the day and each watch of the night so that he tamed those wild Irish as we do some wild beasts by watching Observations on the Life of Roger Ashcam FRom his Cradle a Royal Servant and to his Grave a Favourite a good man saith Cambden and if his ambition had been but as great as the occasion was fair a great one too Born he was honestly in York shire and bred handsomely at Cambridge and both born and bred for that Age which was to refine Greek and Latine to a politeness and raise them to an Eloquence He was the University-Orator at Cambridge and at Court there using his Eloquence here his Interest against that Sacriledge that having Dined on the Church as he writ came to Sup on the Universities Thence he was rather removed then advanced more suitably to his merit then his expectation to be Queen Elizabeths Schoolmaster for the Latine Tongue in her Sisters time and her Secretary for the same in her own What he got by his Ingenuity he lost by his Gaming viz. at Dice and Cock-fighting dying rich onely in those two Books his Estate and Monument whereof the one is intituled Toxophilus and the other Scholarcha He and his dear Smith were the happiest men in the Nation their large and ingenious Souls clasping together in an entire friendship made up of kindness and integrity apart from the little fears the jealousies the suspitions that vex Mankinde What learned Letters what loving Expostulations what discreet Intimations what faithful Advertisements what indifferent Community what common Cares and Pities How they loved how they chid and how they loved again how plain how malleable how sweet What little Observations upon one anothers inadvertencies neglects or miscarriages how they improved their Mollia tempora to the great end of friendship information and advice How secretly they vented their thoughts into each others breasts and there looked upon them by reflexion and the advantage of a second consideration And it 's a happiness to have another self to shew our selves to before we appear to the world that all men wish and the good men onely enjoy An honest man this that abhorred all artifice and cunning and hated all concealments and pretensions which he had sagacity enough to discover and look through but a spirit too generous to practise it none being more able for yet none more averse to that circumlocution and contrivance wherewith some men shadow their main drift and purpose Speech was made to open Man to Man and not to hide him to promote Commerce and not betray it HOw happy is he born and taught That serveth not anothers will Whose Armour is his honest thought And simple Truth his utmost skill Whose Passions not his Masters are Whose Soul is still prepar'd for death Vntide unto the world by care Of publick Fame or private breath Who envies none that Chance doth raise Nor Vice bath ever understood How deepest wounds are given by praise Nor Rules of State but Rules of Good Who hath his life from rumours freed Whose Conscience is his strong retreat Whose state can neither flatterers feed Nor ruine make Oppressors great Who God doth late and early pray More of his Grace then Gifts to lend And entertains the harmless day With a Religious Book or Friend This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall Lord of himself though not of Lands And having nothing yot hath all Observations on the Life of Sir John Packington SIr John Packington was a Person of no mean Family and of form and feature no way despiseable for he was a brave Gentleman and a very fine Courtier and for the time which he stayed there was very high in the Queens Grace but he came in and went out and through disassiduity lost the advantage of her favor and then Death drawing a vail over him utterly deprived him of recovery They say of him saith the same Author that had he brought less to the Court then he did he might have carried away more then he brought for he had a time of it but he was an ill husband of Opportunity His handsome features took the most and his neat parts the wisest at Court He could smile Ladies to his service and argue States-men to his designe with equal ease His Reason was powerful his Beauty more Never was 〈◊〉 brave Soul more bravely seated Nature bestowed great Parts on him Education polished him to and admirable frame of prudence and vertue Queen Elizabeth called him Her Temperance and Leicester His Modesty It is a question to this day Whether his Resolution took the Souldiers his Prudence the Politicians his Complyance the Favourites his Complaisance the Courtiers his Piety the Clergy his Integrity and Condescention the People or his Knowledge the Learned most This new Court-star was a nine-days wonder engaging all eyes until it set satisfied with its own glory He came to Court he said as Solomon did to see its vanity and retired as he did to repent it It was he who said first what Bishop Sanderson urged afterwards That a sound Faith was the best Divinity good Conscience the best Law and Temperance the best Physick Sir John Packington in Queen Elizabeths time was vertuous and modest and Sir John Packington in King Charles his time Loyal and valiant the one did well the other suffered so Greenbam was his Favourite Hammond his the one had a competant Estate and was contented the other hath a large one and is noble this suppresseth Factions in the Kingdome the other composed them in the Court and was called by Courtiers Moderation Westmerland tempted his fidelity and Norfolk his stedfastness but he died in his Bed an honest and an happy man while one of them goes off tainted on the Scaffold and the other dies a Begger in Flanders Observations on the Lives of the Norrises and Knowles MY Lord Norris had by his Lady an ample Issue which the Queen highly respected for he had six sons all Martial brave men of haughty courage and of great experience in the conduct of Military Affairs Greater was not the Faction between Leicester and Sussex at Court then that between the Knowles and the Norrises in the Country both Families of Oxfordshire the one resolute at Greyes the other valiant at Rycote the former got great Estates at home the latter attained to great Honour abroad The Knowles were beloved by the Queen for their own sakes the Norrises for theirs
King James he was unexpectedly preferred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury being of a more Fatherly presence than those who might almost have been his Fathers for age in the Church of England There are two things much charged upon his memory First That in his house he respected his Secretary above his Chaplains and out of it alwayes honoured Cloaks above Cassocks Lay above Clergy-men Secondly That he connived at the spreading of Nonconformity insomuch that a Modern Author said Had Bishop Laud succeeded Bancroft and the project of Conformity been followed without interruption there is little question to be made but that our Jerusalem by this time might have been a City at unity within it self This Arch-Bishop was much humbled with a casual Homicide of a Keeper of the Lord Zouch's in Bramel-Parke though soon after he was solemnly quitted from any irregularity thereby In the Reign of King Charles he was sequester'd from his Jurisdictions say some on the old account of that Homicide though others say for refusing to License a Sermon of Doctor Sirptborps Yet there is not an Expresse of either in the Instrument of Sequestration the Commission onely saying in the general That the Arch-Bishop could not at that present in his own Person attend those Services which were otherwise proper for his Cognizance and Jurisdiction To say the truth he was a man of good intentions and knew much but failed in what those ordinarily do that are devoted to our modern singularities being extreamly obstinate in his opinions which the King was more willing to understand than follow because most times he looked upon things according to the rigour of Ecclesiastick maximes and was either too curious and irresolute by variety of reading or too peremptory and positive from the strictnesse of his Rules or too zealous by reason of the seriousnesse of his Study or wide from the matter by reason of his inexperience and aptnesse to require in the times he lived the regularity of the times he read of heeding not the force of Circumstances the errours of Comparison or the cautions of Application I like his Apology for his severity to the Clergy that he was austere to prevent others being cruel as well as his zeal for the Protestant Religion onely his Principles betrayed his profession which he rendered too obnoxious while he supported it by those novel grounds which our Adversaries could make us confesse were Heterodox and by those streight-laced foundations which we saw our selves too narrow As for instance King James his vast capacity took him up once for making the Scripture the onely rule of Civil Affairs owning the piety but observing to his face the imprudence of that assertion Imprudence I say as for many reasons so for this because to assert a truth upon a weak principle is to tempt the world to doubt of the strength of the first when they see the weaknesse of the other Whether he went off in discontent and said He would not attend at the Councel-Table because he should not wait at the Altar Whether he had such malignant followers as called themselves Nicodemites or Night-Disciples Whether he turned noon-day into mid-night and mid-night into noon-day having a candle always burning in his Chamber or if so for what reason I would not have one of my years determine but rather refer the present age to his Contemporaries pen which describes him thus A very learned man he was his Erudition all of the old stamp fitly principled in the Doctrine of St. Augustine pious grave and exemplary in his Conversation But some think him a better man than Arch-Bishop and that he was better qualified with merit for the Dignity than with a spirit answering the Function in the exercise whereof he was conceived too facile and yielding his extraordinary remisness in not exacting strict Conformity to the prescribed Orders of the Church in point of Ceremony seemed to resolve those legal Determinations to their first Principle of Indifference and led in such an habit of Inconformity as the future reduction of those tender-conscienced men to long discontinued obedience was interpreted an innovation Observations on the Life of Sir George Calvert SIr George Calvert was bred first in Trinity-Colledge in Oxford and then beyond the Seas His Abilities commended him first to be Secretary to Bobert Cecil Earl of Salisbury Lord Treasurer of England Afterwards he was made Clerk of the Council and at last principal Secretary of State to King James succeeding Sir Tho. Lake in that Office Anno 1619. Conceiving the Duke of Buckingham highly instrumental in his preferment he presented him with a Jewel of great value which the Duke returned him again not owning any Activity in his Advancement whom King James ex mero motn reflecting on his Abilities designed for the Place This Place he discharged five years until he willingly resigned the same 1624. on this occasion He freely confessed himself to the King that he was then become a Roman Catholique so that he must either be wanting to his Trust or violate his conscience in discharging his Office This his Ingenuity so highly affected King James that he continued him Privy-Councellor all his Reign and soon after created him Lord Baltemore of Baltemore in Ireland During his being Secretary he had a Patent to him and his Heirs to be Absolutus Dominus Proprietarius with the Royalties of a Count Palatine of the Province of Avalon in the New-found land a place so named by him in imitation of old Avalon in Somersetshire wherein Glassenbury stands the first-fruits of Christianity in Britain as the other was in that part of America Here he built a fair house in Ferry-land and spent twenty five thousand pounds in advancing the Plantation thereof Indeed his publick spirit consulted not his private profit but the enlargement of Christianity and the Kings Dominions in that his ancient primitive and heroick work of planting the world After the death of King James he went twice in person to New-found Land Here when Monsieur de l'Arade with three men of War sent from the King of France had reduced our English Fishermen to great extreamity this Lord with two Ships manned at his own charge chased away the French-men relieved the English and took sixty of the French Prisoners He removed afterwards to Virginia to view those parts and thence came into England and obtained of King Charles the first who had as great an esteem of and affection for him as King James a Patent to him and his heirs for Mary-Land on the North of Virginia with the same Title and Royalties conferred on him as in Avalon aforesaid now a hopeful Plantation peopled with eight thousand English Souls which in process of time may prove more advantageous to our Nation Judge Popham and Sir George Calvert agreed not more unanimously in the publick design of Planting than they differed in the private way of it the first was for extirpating Heathens the second for converting them He sent
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 practices of any party whatsoever And certainly he did with as much honour as justice so far own the Authentick Authority Liberty and Majesty of the Church of England in it's reforming and setling of it's Religion that he did not think fit any private new Masters 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 Frankefort or Amsterdam or Wittenbergh or Edenborough no nor from Augsburg or Arnheim nor any foreign City or Town any more than from Trent or Rome none of which had any Dictatorian 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 nor to the impertinencies of any other Church or Doctor of far lesse repute in the Christian world No doubt his Lordship thought it not handsome in Mr. Calvin to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so censorious of the Church of England as to brand it's Devotion 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 onely the Liturgy was but those things which he calls tolerable 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 reylyed protesting with a serious attestation of his integrity before God's Omniscience 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 he was so far from complying with Papists in order to confirm them in their Errors that he rather chose 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 Recusants to come in to us as having lesse visible occasion given them by needlesse Distances and Disputes to separate from us which he thought arose much from that popular Variety Inconstancy Easinesse Irreverence and Uncomeliness which might easily grow among us in the outward profession 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 better 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 it's own Honour or it's 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 the Churches publick peace required or its indulgence to promote Christians permitted That 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 marke of distinction under which all Male-contents may shrowd themselves a note of separation whereby the Factions may reckon their parties and aestimate their strength and a way open to popularity to the ambition of any whose interest or desperatenesse shall adventure to make himself head of so great a party 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 State have lasting Monuments of the virtuous use he made of his Princes favour at his admittance into which he dededicated all the future Emolumeuts 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 onely 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 Enemies no great man was admitted to a confidence and respect with him unlesse he made Addresse by some act that was for the common good or for the ornament and glory of the Protestant Faith Learned men had not a better Friend nor Learning it self a greater Advance◠He searched all the Libraries of
the City would pour out fresh men upon him as at Brainford It was replied that the City Country were not under such strong delusions as then but were more sensible of the miseries they had been trepanned into Besides there was a more miraculous power of conversion went along with the King's presence where ever he came convincing all he conversed with 13. Whether the King beng so wise and able it were not convenient to contrive it so that the people might see how well he acted by himself provided he had sufficient security 14. Whether it being dangerous that the Rebels should seize as God forbid they should on the whole Court at once it were not convenient that his Majesty and the Prince did part that the Kingdome might know its hope as well as its happiness and that their interest when separated might be more spreading than when together 15. It was judged prudence to let the successe wherein their souls were unequal overthrow the Faction by mutual Jealousies and Animosities till it dissipated all pretences and the people saw none oppressed them in their Estates Liberties Consciences more than the pretended Patrons of them all An Indempnity without regard to any Faction being most likely to render the misled as jealous for the King as they had been against him 16. It were to be wished that the Parliament did draw into entire Propositions their design that his Majesty and his People might make a clearer judgement of it in order to an accommodation 17. His Majesty must be secured of the Militiae and against tumults and all persons invested in their first right without any controversie As to other matters a full debate may settle them with such explanations and qualifications as may satisfie all parties 18. It 's thought his Majesty may concur with the Parliament about the Presbyterian Government for three years the time allowed by themselves and that at the three years end the very Kingdome will throw it off as inconsistent with the English temper and unsuitable with the British Monarchy And so likewise in other things which look plausible in the general but are unpracticable in the particular 19. Though many things are necessary to avoid jealousies which are inconvenient yet they may be allowed upon the respect of the likelihood that all things will in time return to their proper chanel onely a general Act of indemnity is the best bond of Peace whereby the numerous discontents of many persons and families otherwise exposed to ruine might not become Fuel to new disorders or Seeds to future troubles with particular regards to the priviledges of the City notwithstanding non-user mis-user abuser and the interest of the Army an indulgence that would help the world to see clearly the Kings intentions in matter of future government 20. No Act to passe till the Peace be concluded lest what his Majesty grants may be an argument to urge what he must deny so that he cannot treat in Honour Freedome or Safety 21. Time is the best cure of Faction 22. When the Treaty is broken off so that neither side could reassume it without a seeming yielding it should be renewed upon the Queens motion provided always that her name was not used or intimated till the Rebels willingness to complyance were preassured But stay I am fallen upon mine own knowing time wherein I am fitter to read others Observations than to write my own and it becomes me rather to be instructed than to instruct Industry and Curiosity bid me begin this Collection where Sir W. F. Sir R. N. Sir J. H. Characters end and modesty enjoyns me to finish it where my Contemporaries own knowledge begins with whom I shall quietly passe my time observing how far the affairs I see or hear of agree with those I have read of Having gained thus much if no more by this Essay That by looking into the Intrigues of former times I have learned a great deal of reason to blesse GOD I was born in these being assured that murmurs discontents complaints whisperings speaking evil of Dignities the common but unreasonable faults of this Age are kept up onely because men are ignorant of the Ages foregoing And as my Lord Bacon saith of the Schoolmen in the Church so I say of troublesome persons in the State that they are so because they know nothing beyond their own time whereas if the most discontented person did but compare his own dayes with those before he must confesse that there wants nothing in the general frame of our Government particular persons miscarriages must be always allowed to make us most happy but thankefulnesse content and the continuance of these blessings under our dread Soveraign for whom it 's as much our interest as our duty to pray according to St. Chrysostoms Liturgy that God would give him strength victory health safety length and tranquillity of dayes or in Tertullian's form Long life a secure government safe Court valiant Army faithful Senate good People quiet world what-ever he can desire as a King or as a man Or once more in Lactantius his words That God will keep him who is the keeper of all things in his Dominions to his Felicity and our Tranquillity The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of K. Charles I. Books printed for Samuel Speed at the Rainbow in Fleetstreet PHaramond or the History of France a new Romance by the Author of Cassandra and Cleopatra in Folio The precedency of Kings a discourse by James Howel Esquire in folio Actions on the Case for Deeds by William Shepheard Esquire in folio Declarations and Pleadings by the Lord Cook in folio The Body of Divinity written in Latine by Bucanus and rendered into English in quarto The Golden Coast or a Description of Guinney in quarto FINIS Henry 8. a Tho. Ful. Holy State p. 251. a St. Anthonies under New-Hall b Christ-Church a He married Mr. Colts daughter of New-Hall b whereby he was double Reader c On St. Aug. de Civit Dei d He was made Chancellour of that Duchy e Queen Katherine said so f A fellow at Bruges would undertake to answer any question Sir Thomas put up this Whether Averia capta in Withernamia sint irreplegiabilia to that Thrasoes great amazement g He built a Chappel at Chelsey and hired an Alms-house there h With the cause attested by the Attorney in token whereof when one Tubbe brought him a Subpoena to subscribe finding it frivolous he writ under it a tale of a tub Herbert a When Master thereof b When Knight of the Garter c When Vi 〈◊〉 General d Stow Sur. London a As when one said he was accused for disloyalty to the King he said He would stab him with his dagger if he were * Wiat. Let Florence fair her Dante 's justly boast And Royal Rome her Petrarchs numbred feet In English Wiat both of them doth coast In whom all