Selected quad for the lemma: england_n
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A65393
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The court and character of King James whereunto is now added The court of King Charles : continued unto the beginning of these unhappy times : with some observations upon him instead of a character / collected and perfected by Sir A.W.
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Weldon, Anthony, Sir, d. 1649?
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1651
(1651)
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Wing W1274; ESTC R229346
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73,767
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247
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Northampton though a great Clerke yet not a wise man but the grossest Flatterer of the World and as Salisbury by his Wit so this by his Flattery raised himselfe yet one great motive to the raising all of that Name of Howards was the Duke of Norfolke suffering for the Queene of Scots the Kings Mother yet did Suffolke so farre get the start of Northampton that Northampton never after loved him but from the teeth outwards only had so much discretion as not to fall to actuall enmity to the over-throw of both and the weakning that faction Suffolk also using him with all submissive respect not for any love but hope of gaining his great estate and sharing it amongst his Children but Northamptons distaste was such by his losse of the Treasurers place which he had with such assurance promised to himselfe in his thoughts that except what he gave to Master Henry Howard the rest he gave to the Earl of Arundell who by his observance but more especially by giving Northampton all his Estate if he never returned from travell had wrought himselfe so far into his affections that he doted on him And now the principall managers of the English affaires were Salisbury Suffolke Northampton Buckhurst Egerton Lord Keeper Worcester and the Old Admirall For the Scots Sir George Hewme now Earle of Dunbar Secretary Elfeston after Earle of Balmerino and as wise a man as was in England or Scotland the Lord of Kinlosse a very honest but weak man You are now to observe that Salisbury had shaken off all that were great with him and of his Faction in Queene Elizabeths dayes as Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir George Carew the Lord Grey the Lord Cobham the three first very able men as the world had the last but one degree from a foole yet served their turnes better then a wiser man by his greatnesse with the Queen for they would put him on any thing and make him tell any Lye with as great confidence as a truth Three of these were utterly ruined as you shall heare in the following Discourse the fourth being a very wise man contented himselfe with a meane place that was worthy of a much greater and although very active formerly called to minde this saying Foelix quem faciunt c. and medled with no State businesse his wisdome fore-telling his Fate if he had done otherwise for he did see one better head-peece then his owne sit tottering at that time and fell off afterwards which made him think it was good sleeping in a whole skin The King no sooner came to London but notice was taken of a rising Favourite the first Meteor of that nature appearing in our climate as the King cast his eye upon him for affection so did all the Courtiers to adore him his name was Mr. James Hay a Gentleman that lived long in France and some say of the Scottish Guard to that King this Gentleman comming over to meet the King and share with him in his new Conquest according to the Scots phrase it should seeme had some former acquaintance with the then Leiger Embassadour in Scotland for the French King who comming with his Majesty into England presented this Gentleman as a well accomplished Gentleman to the King in such an high commendation as engendered a liking that produced a favourite in thankfull acknowledgement whereof he did him many faire offices for the present and comming afterwards an extraordinary Embassadour to our King made him the most sumptuous Feast at Essex house that ever was seene before never equalled since in which was such plenty and Fish of that immensity brought out of Muscovia that Dishes were made to containe them no Dishes in all England before could neare hold them and after that a costly Voydee and after that a Maske of choyse Noble-men and Gentlemen and after that a most costly and magnificent Banquet the King Lords and all the prime Gentlemen then about London being invited thither Truly he was a most compleat and well accomplished Gentleman modest and Court-like and of so faire a demeanour as made him be generally beloved and for his wisdome I shall give you but one character for all Hee was ever great with all the Favourites of his time and although the King did often change yet he was semper idem with the King and Favourites and got by both for although Favourites had that exorbitant power over the King to make him grace and disgrace whom they pleased yet he was out of their power and the only exception to that generall rule and for his gettings it was more then almost all the Favourites of his time which appeared in those vast expences of all sorts and had not the bounty of his minde exceeded his gettings he might have left the greatest estate that ever our age or climate had heard of he was indeed made for a Courtier who wholly studied his Master and understood him better then any other He was imployed in very many of the most weighty Affaires and sent with the most stately Embassies of our times which he performed with that wisdome and magnificence that he seemed an honour to his King and Country For his carriage in State-affaires he was termed by some Princes the Kings Juggler He married the Daughter and Heire of the Lord Denny after the Earl of Northumberlands daughter and was hated of none that ever I heard of but the Earle of Northampton who had no patience to see him being himselfe of so venemous and cankred a disposition that indeed he hated all men of noble parts nor loved any but Flatterers like himselfe yet it was a great question whether he hated the Earl of Carlisle or Sir Robert Mansell most by whom he hath been heard to say Body of God I will be content to be damned perpetually in Hell to be revenged of that proud Welshman and did so hate him that he kept an Inquisition on him seven yeares to prove that he had cousened the King of fourteen thousand pounds which at the seven yeares end at an hearing before the King the Lords the Queen and all the Ladies being present with all the gallantry of the Court ended in one paire of silke Stockins given by one for a New-yeares Gift to Master Wels Sir Robert Mansells Servant at which the King stood up and sware very deeply Doe you beleeve I will take a paire of silke Stockins for my fourteen thousand pounds give me that give me that is this all the fruit of seven yeares Commission at which words Sir Robert Mansell kneeled downe and said I will now Sir take all the faults they can charge my servant with upon my selfe at which the King was very angry that so noble a Gentleman who had so wel acquitted himselfe and Honour should intrust it in the keeping of a Servant at the end of all the Earle of Salisbury kneeled down and said Sir if you will suffer malice so farre to prevaile as to have your
against the Scots that were his supporters their Agents divulging every where the Scots would get all and would begger the Kingdom the Scots on the other side complaine to the King they were so poore they under-went the by-word of beggerly Scots to which the King returned this answer as he had a very ready wit Content your selves I will shortly make the English as beggerly as you and so end that controversie this is as true as he truly performed it for however he enriched many in particular as Salisbury Suffolke Northampton Worcester Lake c. yet he did begger himself and the Nation in generall This also was inculcated into the eares of the Parliament when that great businesse about the union was in debate which was much crossed by that opinion if they had already impoverished the kingdome by the union they would bankerupt it But since you see by their owne valour and bravery of spirit they have made us begge a re-union with them and for ought we see all our happines is derived from their favours They that then lived at Court and were curious observers of every mans actions could have affirmed that Salisbury Suffolke and Northampton and their friends did get more then the whole Nation of Scotland Dunbar excepted for whatever others got they spent here only Dunbar laid a foundation of a great Family which did all revert into England againe with his Daughters marriage with the House of Suffolke so in truth all the water run to their Mills It is most true that many Scots did get much but not more with one hand then they spent with the other witnesse the Earle of Kelly Annandale c. nay that great Getter the Earle of Carlisle also and some private Gentlemen as Gideon Murrey John Achmoty James Baily John Gib and Bernard Lindley got some pretty estates not worthy either the naming or envying that old Servants should get some moderate estates to leave to posterity But 〈◊〉 and all the Scots in generall got scarce the Tythe of those English Getters that can be said did stick by them or their posterity besides Salisbury had one tricke to get the kernell and leave the Scots but the shell yet cast all the envie on them He would make them buy Bookes of Fee-farmes some one hundred pounds per annum some one hundred Markes and he would compound with them for a thousand pounds which they were willing to embrace because they were sure to have them passe without any controle or charge and one thousand pounds appeared to them that never saw ten pounds before an inexhaustible treasure then would Salisbury fill up this Booke with such prime Land as should be worth ten or twenty thousand pounds which was easie for him being Treasurer so to doe and by this meanes Salisbury inriched himselfe infinitely yet cast the envie on the Scots in whose names these Bookes appeared and are still upon Record to all posterity though Salisbury had the Honey they poore Gentlemen but part of the Wax Dunbar only had his Agents and could play his owne game which they durst not crosse so was the poore King and State cheated on all hands And now did a contention arise between the English and Scots about the election of a Favourite out of whether Nation he should come now was Montgomery in the wane being given more to his own pleasures then to observe the King so that alway the Earle of Carliste did invest him in his roome he as soon by his neglective carriage did devest himselfe yet was he ever in the Kings good opinion and one that he put more trust in at the time of his death then in all his other servants Then was there a young Gentleman Master Robert Carre who had his breeding in France and was newly returned from Travaile a Gentleman very handsome and well bred and one that was observed to spend his time in serious studies and did accompany himselfe with none but men of such eminencies as by whom hee might be bettered this Gentleman the Scots so wrought it that they got him into a Groomes place of the Bed-chamber and was very well pleasing to all he did more then any other Associate himself with Sir Thomas Overbury a man of excellent parts but those made him proud over-valuing himselfe and under-valuing others and was infected with a kinde of insolency with this Gentleman spent he most of his time and drew the eyes of the Court as well as the affection of his Master upon him yet very few but such as were the curious observers of those times could discerne the drawing of the Kings affection 〈◊〉 upon a Coronation day riding in with the Lord Dingwell to the Tilt-yard his horse fell with him and brake his legge he was instantly carried into Master Riders house at Charing-crosse and the newes as instantly carried to the King having little desire to behold the triumph but much desired to have it ended and no sooner ended but the King went instantly to visite him and after by his daily visiting and mourning over him taking all care for his speedy recovery made the day-breake of his glory appeare every Courtier now concluding him actually a favourite Lord how the great men flocked then to see him and to offer to his Shrine in such abundance that the King was forced to lay a restraint least it might retard his recovery by spending his spirits and to facilitate the cure care was taken for a choyce Dyet for himselfe and Chirurgions with his Attendants and no sooner recovered but a proclaimed Favourite Then the English Lords who formerly coveted an English Favourite and to that end the Countesse of Suffolke did looke out choyce young men whom she daily curled and perfuming their breaths left all hope and she her curling and perfuming all adoring this rising Sun every man striving to invest himselfe into this mans favour not sparing for bounty nor flattery which was not hard to be obtained being naturally more addicted to the English then to the Scotch in so much that he endeavoured to forget his native Country and his Fathers house having none of note about him but English and but one besides English in any familiarity with him which was Sir Robert Carre his Kins-man but above all was Sir Thomas Overbury his Pythias Then was the strife between Salisbury and Suffolke who shonld ingrosse him and make him their Monopoly each presenting proffering and accumulating favours upon Overburyes Kindred the Father made a Iudge in Wales and himselfe offered Offices but Overbury naturally of an insolent spirit which was elevated by being so intimate with a Favourite and wholly having ingrossed that commodity which could not be retayled but by him and his favour with a kind of scorn neglected their friendships yet made use of both Now was Carre Knighted and made Gentleman of the Bed-chamber and Overburies pride rose with the others honours still scorning the Chapmen as they did by their cheap offices