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A48794 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 James, King Charles I. Lloyd, David, 1635-1692. 1670 (1670) Wing L2646; ESTC R21786 462,324 909

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refused a Treaty but upon condition that Ashe their Leader was pledged advised an engagement with them out of hand saying No English-man should be undervalued so far as to be an Hostage for a Villain and adding further so good was his Intelligence That if they were not defeated speedily the Scots and Germans would discover that they had but too much hand in this plot For which his services his Master raised him to the Admiralship of England and the Earldom of Southampton in which Qu●lity he was one of the three Noblemen that managed the Business of Divorce between the King and Anne of Cleve with that applause that made him Lord Privy-Seal Nov. 14. Anno 1541. and the grand Examinant of the particulars in the Lady Katharin Howard's Case a matter of great trust and secrecy w●ich he performed with a searching and deep Judgment beyond that Ladies fear and the King's expectation as appears from the exact Account given under Sir Tho. Audley and his own hands touching that matter Having provided for the Kings Safety at Home he is One of Four that treat for his Intrest abroad I mean upon the Borders of Scotland where our excellent Persons dexterity was observed in gaining that time by various Proposals ●or Peace that served his Master to provide against the War in the beginning whereof the brave Lord died at York so much esteemed that for the Honour of his Memory his Standard was born in the Fore-ward all this Expedition A Person in whom prudence was even with activity resolution with prudence Success with Resolution Moderation with Success Honour and Favour with All. Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Darcy SIr Thomas Darcy was one of King Henry the Eighth'● first Counsellours so advanced a● most of his Fellows not for Affection but Interest owing his Promotion to his own sufficiency rather than his Masters favour His Counsel was weighty at Home his Assistance necessary Abroad where in behalf of Pope Iulius the second and the Emperour he did more with 1500 Archers in ● year for the balancing of Europe than had been done before in an Age. No Employment so dangerous at that time as that of the Warden of the West Marches of Scotland none so noble for that Employment as my Lord who was equally knowing and stout and at once most feared and most loved The Earl of Shrewsbury made some Inroads into Scotland the Lord Darcy seconds him But being surprized by the Duke of Albany's preparations he had as much Wit to make Peace as he had Resolution to carry on the War None knew better when to yield none better when to conquer so great ● command had he over himself so great over th● Enemy that he brought them to request his Wish aud offer what was his Interest With the Duke of Surrey's assistance by Land and Fitz-William● his by Sea he reduced that Nation to a good Intelligence with Us that year and a Peace the next a Peace as he observed that would ●e no longer kept than we had a Sword in our Hands and an Army on their Borders For Con●cience guided other parts of the World he said and Fear Scotland Whence he invaded them duely once a year Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Howard SIr Edward's Brother in Worth as well as Blood His Fathers Interest set him up and his own Industry kept him so All the Children were brought up for Sea-Services this Gentleman for Sea Commands He immediatly succeeds his younger Brother in the Admiralty and wisely considering the advantage of the French Gallies in a calm the number of their ships the danger of their winds for us if they blew South-west desired of the King so many Souldiers as might man the ships and make good the landing wherewith he scoured the seas and secured the Kings passage with so much Honour that he was able to assist his Father at Court as much as Wolsey did Fox his Gallantry being no less pleasing to his Master than the other young Favou●ites Compliance and both these young men had no less Art to govern his Prince than he had to govern his Kingdom These Arts which all other Favourites use being Hopes and Fears which as Doors Passages to the heart a●e so guarded by their vigilancy that they c●n both let themselves in and keep all others out the two Ends upon which the Thread of Government depends His Father is made Duke of Norfolk and he Earl of Surrey both are an eye-sore to the Cardinal who●e Fortune h●d no Superior in the Ki●gs Favour whose Ambition would endure no Equal The Old Mans years and cares are fitted with a Retirement in the Country the Young Mans ambition and activity with a Government in I●eland which he reduced as speedily to obedience notwithstanding Desmond's Rebellion as he had to civility had it not been for Wolsey's Underminings who endured no publick service but what he did himself and would chuse rather that the Kingdom should perish by a Traytor then be saved by a Nobleman Beloved he was by that Country where he left a Peace and a Parliament Anno 1521. so that they were loth to part with him Wanted he was by the King to scour the narrow seas for the French War so that he must have him The King hath made him formerly His Admiral the Emperour upon his return from England makes him his and with both their Commissions he lands in Normandy wastes the adjacent Countries sparing only Religious Houses takes and sacks Morlais in Bretaign which he entered under the smoak burns their ships commands the sea and sets the Emperour safe in Spain advising his Majesty from thence to make a general Muster of his Subjects for his own satisfaction and others terrour March 27 1522. The troubles in Scotland required an able Head and a stout Heart two Endowments that no man was more Master of than the Earl of Surrey now Duke of Norfolk upon his beloved Fathers decease whose Prudence toyled the Scots to deliver up their King as his Prowess frighted them to yeild up themselves as they did in that most exquisi●e Treaty where the Earl of Worcester beat the Bush saith my noble Author and our Duke catched the Hare A while after he is Earl Marshal and Embassador to King ●rancis about t●ose two grand poin●s 1. That the French King should set up a Patriarch 2. That he should stop up all the payments made to Rome wi●h fair promises of that supply of men and money he then most wanted When the Pope stuck to Queen Katherine three things he advised the King to 1. To teach the people that a general Council was above the Pope and proclaim that he did appeal to it 2. To fix upon every Church-Door the Dowagers Appeal to Rome and the late Statute against it 3. To confederate with the Kings of Hunga●y and Poland the Estates of the Empire and the Hanse Towns Three things that would settle his People at home and
A●vancement of Lord Treasurer and the degree of Baron of Burleigh for as he followed the Marquess of Winchester in his Employment so he did in his Compliance When he was out of place he was not out of service in Queen Mary's days his Abilities being as necessary in those times as his Inclination and that Queens Council being as ready to advance him at last as they were to use him all her Reign In Queen Elizabeth's time he setled the Crown by setling Religion and by an utter separation from Rome strengthened England He made equal use of those that were then Protestants by Interest and they who were so in Conscience Those that had affections for Church-lands and those that had affections for the Church The Pope would by a Bull confirm the sale of Abby-Lands But who said Burleigh can confirm the Popes Bull The King of Spain secured the Queen in hope of her Bed the Pope winked at her in hope of her Heart Burleigh over-reached the one by a fair complaysance and the other by insensible alterations During the Q●eens ten years calm Cecil provided for a tempest and improved her Shipping and Ammunition to a dreadfulness at Sea as he did her Army to a great skill and experience by Land He made Holland our Stage of War and our School of Discipline where England gained the security and experience of War without its calamity and desolations always Offensive and once onely Defensive His Intelligence abroad was no less than his Prudence at home and he could write to a friend in Ireland what the King of Spain could do for two years together and what he could not do His Advic●s from his Pensioners abroad were presented Queen Elizabeth once a fortnight 1. clearly and plainly 2. methodically and distinctly 3. speedily and seasonably 4. truly and fully He exchanged his Interest for Walsinghams Intelligence who commanded what he could do as he did what the other knew The Bull clapped at London-house was first in our S●ates-mans study where they might learn what they were to do and Protestants what to expect many years before any thing was visible When Leicester would have no Equal and ●●ssex no Superiour then Ceeil as Neuter served himself of them both He would wrestle with neither of them yet he would trip them both they having many rubs in their way yet never saw who laid them He never quarrelled with any neither saith Cambden did he ever sue or was he ever sued Prud●ns qui Patiens was his saying before it was Sir Edward Cookes Motto and he had rather tire our Opposition by his moderation than improve it by his Impatience Others w●re raised to balance Factions he to support the Kingdome Fickle Favour tossed them constant Interest secured him No fewer than the Marquess of Winchester the D●ke of Norfolk the Earls of Northumberland Arundel Pembroke Leicester and Westmorland contrived his fall but reason of State and his Mistress kept up his ●tanding Sir Nicholas Throgmorton advised them to clap him up saying That then men would open their mouths to speak freely against him but the Queen understanding hereof and standing as I may say sai●h my Autho● in the very prison-door quashed all their Designes and freed him from the mischief projected against him Great was the value the Queen set upon him as her ablest Minister of State for coming once to visit him being sick of the Gout at Burleigh-house in the Strand and being much heightned with her Head-attire then in fashion the Lords servant who conducted her through the door said May your highness be pleased to stoop The Queen returned For your Masters sake I will stoop but not for the King of Spain She would make him always sit down in her presence saying My Lord we make use of you not for your bad L●ggs but your good Head He was a good friend to the Church as then established by Law advising his son Thomas never to build a great house or bestow any great charge upon an Inpropriation as fearing the foundation might fail hereafter yet conniving at sober Non-conformists to strengthen the foundation at present he checked the forwardness of private men and advanced the honour of the publick Establishment on all hands Good my Lord saith he in his Letter to Archbishop whitgift in the behalf of some squeamish Ministers bear with my scribling I write with the testimony of a good Conscience I desire the peace of the Church I desire concord and unity in the exercise of our Religion I fear no sensual or wilful Recusant I would not make Offenders neither would I protect them And I pray your Grace bear this and perchance a fault and yet I have sharply admonished them that if they will be Disturbers in their Churches they must be corrected and yet upon your Graces answer to me Ne sutor ultra Crepidam neither will I put Falcem in alterius Messem Was his Chaplain Traverse his hand in all this And then again If I had known his fault saith he of Brown I might be blamed for writing for him Thus he carried matters without passion and prejudice prudently as became so great a States-man He was not rigid yet he was careful He would help the good-natured yet punish the stubborn He would rather be where nothing is lawful than where all things are so He would never skrue up the Law to the pitch of cruelty nor unloose it to the remissness of Libertinism He was no less honourable a Patron of the Vniversity than he was a faithful son of the Church the Church strengtheneth the State and the Vniversities furnish both particularly in the case of Rent-corn which saith my Author first grew in Sir Thomas Smiths head yet was ripened by Burleighs assistance whereby though the Rents of the Colledges stand still their Revenues increase He was not surer of all Church-men and Scholars by his Obligations upon them than he was of all by his complaisance and pleasantness None more grave than he in Publick none more free in private especially at his Table where he drew something out of his heaviest guests having an admirable Dexterity in reading and observing men their own occasional openings in common discourse there being more hold to be taken of a few words casually uttered than of set solemn Speeches which rather shew mens Arts than their Natures as indited rather of their brains than hearts His power awed many his conversation obliged more He had his hour to put on his Gown and his hour to put it ●ff When he would say Lie thou there Lord Treasurer and bidding Adieu to all State-affairs he dispo●ed himself to his quiet and rest He laid the Designes of War by his own Theory and his friends Intelligence yet he advised peace and died before the Qu●stion was determined whether a War with Spain Others understood the Nature of War but he onely the Expediency and Conveniency If War was necessary none more forward to promote it none more
well enough how to set up for himself he now meant to allie him with this young Earl who had yet taken no strong impressions For though the said Sir Walter Rawleigh was a little before this whereof I now speak by occasion much fallen f●om his former splendour in Court yet he still continued in some lustre of a favoured man like billows that sink by degrees even when the wind is down that first stirred them Thus runs the discourse of that time at pleasure yet I am not ignorant that there was some good while a very stiff aversation in my Lord of Essex from applying himself to the Earl of Leicester for what secret conceit I know not but howsoever that humour was mollified by time and by his mother and to the Court he came under his Lord. The Duke of Buckingham had another kinde of Germination and surely had he been a plant he would have been rec●oned amongst the Sponte Nascentes for he sprung without any help by a kind of congenial composure ●s we m●y term it to the likeness of o●r late Soveraign and master of ever blessed memory who taking him into his regard taught him more and more to please himself and moulded him as it were Platonically to his own Idea delighting first in the choice of the Materials because he found him susceptible of good form and afterward by degrees as great Architects use to do in the workmanship of his Regal hand nor staying here after he had hardned and polished him about ten years in the School of observance for so a Court is and in the furnace of tryal about himself for he was a King could peruse men as well as Books he made him the associate of his Heir apparent together with the new Lord Cottingto● as an adjunct of singular experience and trust in forraign travels and in a business of love and of no equal hazard if the tendern●ss of our zeal did not then deceive us enough the world must confess to kindle affection even betwixt the distantest conditions so as by the various and inward conversation abroad besides that before and after at ●ome with the most constant and best-natured Prince Bona si sua norint as ever England enjoyed ●his Duke becomes now secondly seized of favour as it were by descent though t●e condition of that estate be no more than a Tenancy at Will or at most ●or the life of the first Lord and rarely transmit●ed which I have briefly set down without looking ●eyond the vail of the Temple I mean into the secret of high inclinations since even Satyrical Poets ●who are otherwise of so licentious fancy are in this ●oint modest enough to confess their ignorance Nescio quid certe est quod me tibi temperet Astrum And these were both their Springings and Imprimings as I may call them In the profluence or proceedings of their fortunes I observe likewise not onely much difference between them but in the Ea●l not a little from himself First all his hopes of advancement had like to be st●angl●d almost in the very Cradle by throwing himself into the Portugal Voyage without the Queens consent or so much as her knowledge whereby he l●ft his Friends and Dependents near six months in desperate suspense what would become of him And to speak truth not without good reason For first they might well consi●er That he was himself not well plumed in favour for such a ●light besides that now he wanted a Lord of Leicester at home for he was dead the year before to smooth his absence and to quench the practices at Court But above all it lay open to every mans discourse that though the bare offence to his Soveraign and Mistress was too great an adventure yet much more when she might as in this case have fairly discharged her displeasure upon her Laws Notwithstanding a noble report coming home before him at his return all was clear and this excursion was esteemed but a Sally of youth Nay he grew every day more and more in her gracious conceit whether such intermissions as these do sometimes foment affection or that having committed a fault he became the more obsequious and plyant to redeem it or that she had not received into her Royal Breast any shadows of his popularity The●e was another time long after when Sir Fulke Grevil late Lord Brooke a man in appearance intrinsecal with him or at the least admitted to his Melancholy hours either belike espying-some weariness in the Queen or perhaps with little change of the word though more in the danger-some marks towards him and working upon the present matter as she was dexterous and close had almost super-induced into favour the Earl of Southampton which yet being timely discovered my Lord of Essex chose to evaporate his thoughts in a Sonnet being his common way to be sung before the Queen as it was by one Hales in whose voyce she took some pleasure whereof the complot me thinks had as much of the Hermit as of the Poet And if thou should'st by Her be now forsaken She made thy Heart too strong for to be shaken As if he had been casting one eye back at the least to his former retiredness But all this likewise quickly vanished and there was a good while afer fair weather over-head Yet still I know not how like a gathering of Clouds till towards his latter time when his humours grew tart as being now in the Lees of favour it brake forth into certain suddain recesses sometimes from the Court to Wansteed otherwhiles unto Greenwich often to his own Chamber Doors shut Visits forbidden and which was worse divers contestations between with the Q●een her self all preambles of ruine wherewith though now and then he did wring out of her Majesty some petty contentments as a man would press sowre Grapes yet in the mean time was forgotten the counsel of a wise and then a Prophetical Friend who told him that such courses as those were like hot Waters which help at a pang but if they be too often used will spoil the stomack On the Dukes part we have no such abrupt strains and precipees as these but a fair fluent and uniform course under both Kings And surely as there was in his natural Constitution a marvellous equality whereof I shall speak more afterwards so there was an image of it in his Fortune r●nning if I may borrow an ancient comparison as smoothly as a numerous Verse till it meet with certain Rubs in Parliament whereof I am induced by the very subject which I han●le to say somewhat so far as shal concern the difference between their times WHen my Lord of Essex stood in favour the Parliaments were calm nay I find it a true observation that there was no impeachment of any Nobleman by the Commons from the Reign of King Henry the sixth until the eighteenth of King Iames nor any intervenient preced●nt of that nature not that something or other could be
he over-reached the Emperour no less than the Earl o● Worcester did the French King so cunningly binding him that he understood nothing of our Affairs and yet so narrowly si●ting him that we knew all his Intrigues Visible was all the world to our State then and invisible our State to all the world From Germany he is sent with Richard Sampson D. H. to Spain to set Charles as forward against the French as he had done Maximilian His service advanced him to the honour of a Barony and a Viscountship and the profit of the Treasureship of the Houshold and his success upon the Malecontent Duke of Bourbon by Sir Io. Russel who treated with him in Disguise set him as high in the Kings favour as his Wife was a virtuous Lady that was the Kings Friend but not his Mistriss his delight and not his sin In Spain so earnestly did our Sir Thomas mediate ●or the delivering up of the French Hostages that as Sandoval saith Charles protested to him that for his sake onl● he would relinquish his Demand for the restitution of Burgundy in which the difficulty of the peace consisted adding further That for the same reason he would accept as well for Francis his two sons ransome as his charge what was freely offered viz. 2000000 Crowns and he with Sir Robert Poyntz make up that treaty the great Arbi●rators of Europe at whose disposal Kings set their Crowns and Kingdoms their Peace in whose breast fate the fate of Christendome by their voices to stand or fall As faithful is he to the King at home though to his own prejudice as he is serviceable abroad to his honour for when the people talked oddly out of envy to his Daughter now visibly in favour and pi●y to Q●een Katherine Sir Thomas adviseth his Majesty to ●orbid his Daughter the Court and declare that those proceedings ●ere more to satisfie his Conscience and secure Succession than to gratifie any other more private respect so far to his Daughters discontent that she would not come near the King until her Father was commanded not without threats to bring her thither who by representing the common danger to them both obtained at length saith my Lord Herbert though not without much difficulty the cons●●t of his unwilling Daughter to return where yet she kept that distance that the King might easily perceive how sensible she was of her late dismission Sir Thomas would have married her to the Lord Percy but the King and Cardinal forbad it deterrin old Northumberland from it and he his Son Many Love-Letters between King Henry and Anne Bolen are sent to Rome one Letter be●w●en the Cardinal and his Confede●ates is fetched thence by Sir Thomas his Dexterity who advised Sir Francis Bryan then Resident to get in with the Popes Closet-keepers Courtezan and shew her the Cardinals hand by which she might find out and copy his Expresses as she did to his ruine and our King 's great satisfaction To which Letter is annexed a Declaration under his hand and the Lords Darcy Mountjoy Dorset and Nor●olk of 44 Articles against the great Cardinal His hand being now in he must through He adviseth the King to consult the Universities of Christendome He goeth in person when made Earl of Wiltshire to the Pope and contrives that a Declaration of the whole Kingdome in Parliament should follow him which so amused his Holiness with our Earls stratagems that he was asleep as it were until the state of England was quite altered To this he adds the peace with France and the interview with King Francis where his Daughter is married privately and her Brother made Yiscount Rochford Convening a Parliament to his mind at Black-Fryers and advancing an Arch-bishop to his purpose in Canterbury he is secure of the Church and of the Kingdom whereof the first hallowed the action the second confirmed it I say nothing of the bird the egge is bad and left by the hard hearted and Orstredg posterity in the Sand thinking it more engenuous to confess that the scandal of it is not to be answered than to bustle and keep a coil and twist new errors with old falling to Scylla for fear of Charybdis for fear of the absurditie● that dropped from that first one as thick as Sampsons Enemies heaps upon heaps Observations on the Life of Sir Edward Howard HE set out with his Fathers Reputation and came home with his own Britain feels his Arm to this day and the French his success Desperate were his Undertakings yet happy rash his Engagements yet honourable it being his Maxime That never did Sea-man good that was not resolute to a degree of madness The French Fleet he pursueth to the Haven under their own Forts closely Sir Edward considering the order wherein the French lay thought fit to advertise his King and Master thereof advising him withal saith my Author to come in person and have the glory of this Action but the Kings Council taking this Message into consideration and conceiving that it was not altogether fear as was thought but stratagem and cunning that made the French thus attend their advantage thought the King was not invited so much to the honour as to the danger of this Action therefore they write sharply to him again commanding him to do his duty whereof that brave person was so sensible that he landed 1500 men in the sight of 10000 and wasted the Country until being too confident he fell a while after into his Enemies hands the Lord Ferrers Sir Thomas Cheyney Sir Richard Cornwal and Sir Iohn Wallop looking on but not able to relieve him Four Reasons he would usually give against a War with the Low-Countries 1. The decay of Trade 2. The Diminution of Customs 3. The strengthening of France 4. The loss of their industry and inventions and so of the improvement of our Commodities Manufactures In the youth of this State as of all others Arms did flourish in the Middle-gate of it Learning and in the Declining as Covetousness and Thrift attend Old Age Mechanick Arts and Merchandize and this Gentleman was made for each part being not so much a Souldier as a Scholar nor so much a Scholar as a Merchant But a private spirit is most unfortunate and as my Oracle assures me whereas men of that temper all their time sacrifice to themselves they become in the end themselves sacrifices to fortune whose wings they thought by their wisdome to have pinioned Observations on the life of Sir Thomas Howard Earl of Surrey SIr Thomas Howard was this Kings prime Counsellour a brave and an understanding man who was obliged to be faithful to his Master because an Enemy to Winchester emulation among Favourites is the security of Princes Four motives he offered for a Marriage with the Princess Katharine 1. A League with Spain against the growing power of our dangerous Neighbour France 2. The saving of much time and expense in Marriage by her being here 3. The
next year his Nephew is born the hope and stay of his Majesty and his Realmes and he is made Earl of Hertford King Henry understanding that the Pope upon his own and Cardinal Pool's account stirred up all the Princes against him as a provident Prince rode himself to the Sea-coasts to see them fortified Admiral Fitz-williams is old Sir Thomas Seymour assists him to rigg the Navy to be in readiness in six dayes time Sir Edward is to muster the Land-Forces and particularly the City of London where were 15000 Armed men ready May 8 in St. Iameses at which place the City seemed a Camp and the Ci●izens men not of the Gown but of the Armour Great this Lords interest in and respect with the people as great his brothers with the Sea-men The Multitude would leave all for their good Lord of Hertford and the Sea-men would die with their noble Lord Seymou● When the King of Scots had deluded King Henry in his correspondencies with France beyond all patience and had been forborn beyond all sa●ety or prudence Sir Edward Seymour is fi●st sent to treat and then to fight which he did with much success that 300 of his men and a Stratagem to possess the Scots with an apprehension that the whole English Army was upon them took and killed 30000 Scots had more prisoners than they could keep more booty than they could dispose of and adding this to their Victory that they broke the Kings heart There was no end to be expected of a War with Scotland but by marrying that Kings Daughter to our Sovereigns Son This Match was my Lord Seymour's interest as well as the Kings His prudence and experience is therefore employed first to perswade it and when that would not do so great and so cross the Papal power there by Cardinal Betons means his Valour and Resolution is sent with 10000 to compel it in order whereunto May 4. landing at Granther-Gray he marcheth in order towards Leith which after a defeat given the Cardinal the Earls of Arran Huntley c. by his Harquebusiers they entred and thence proceeded to Edinbu●gh My Lord Dudley leading the Front our Earl the Battle and the Earl of Shrewsbury the Reerward the●e the Keys are offered t●em upon conditions which they refusing and so making the Enemy desperate who resolveth rather to perish nobly than to be undone by submission the Town holds out and they are able to do no more with some considerable loss then burn the suburbs wast the Country to an utter desolation for seven miles compass demolish Leith Dunbar c. take all their Ships and Ammunition returning to Berwick with the loss only of 14 men Two things he was eminent for 1. His Advice that not the least Punctilio of the Law should be neglected Whereupon the Earl of Surrey and other Nobility were imprisoned for eating Flesh in Lent A secret and unobserved contempt of the Law is a close undermining of Authority which must be either its self in indulging nothing or be nothing in allowing all Liberty knows no restraint no limit when winked at 2. For his Popularity in advancing the Benevolence 52000 l. beyond expectation The Scots must have War as long as there is Poverty in their Country and interest in France This Noble Earl cutteth off the Invaders layeth wast the Country and that the source of those troubles might be dammed up entreth France with 80000 men and afer some skirmishes brought the King thereof to a peace and submission In pursuance whereof while King Henry was in Bologn he made his Will wherein the Earl of Hertford Lord High Chamberlain is appointed Principal Counsellour to his Nephew and not long after he dyeth and leaves the Kingdome to his son and his Son to his Uncle whom the common Vote made Protector and interest a Moderator of the Council which the time required able but their humours made f●ctious The peace with King Francis and the Emperour was but uncertain the Scots we●e irreconci●eable the Pope implacable Religion unsettled the Clergy out of frame the People dist●acted and the Nobility at variance A great Counsellour King Henry leaves his Son and a greater his Uncle makes him in Counsel is stability Things will have their first or second agitation If they be not tossed upon the Arguments of Counsel they will be tossed upon the Waves of Fortune But yet this Lord miscarried in that the Council understood him better than he did them And he advised with them rather in publick where men speak warily and in compliance with othe●s humour than in private where they deliver themselves more freely and agreeable to their own humours The Rule is Ask an inferiour mans advice in private that he may be ●ree and a superiours in publick that he may be respectful But he did well 1. In that the same matter if weighed was never propounded and resolved the same day 2. In that he h●d fixed dayes of petitions for the peoples and his own ease 3. In that he poyzed his Committees of contrary inclinations that watched and balanced each other to a moderation most safe for the Kingdome and himself 4. That he had of all Professions such at his command as opened the state of a business before any Commissioners debated it 5. That he seldome discovered his own inlination lest it byas●ed his Counsel 6. That to prevent a Combination in the Council he weakned their power and pri●iledges ●heir credit their dependencies either by office or expectation their opportunities and correspondencies so that he could easily remove any when faul●y discover any when dangerous disgrace any when bold and not fit to be entrusted with the Counsels Resolves Deliberations and Necessities of the State In order to which he had two useful Resolutions 1. To suppress Calumnies 2. To encourage Accusations His first Acts were Shew and Pomp necessary for Greatness● viz. The Knighting of the King and making himself Duke His next are Realities as 1. His mode●ling the Country for a Parliament considering the temper of the people and the pulse of the last Parliament redressing Grievances settling Elections by such Legal Rules as that the people should not be corrupted with money overborn by importunity transported by fear or favour to an unworthy or an unsuitable choice and taking a just time to prepare the people for the designed settlement by his grave and sober Injunctions by godly and good Books of Instructions by a wholsome form of Prayer composed at Windsor by a more exact translation of the Bible by several Proclamations for moderation and order on all hands by inhibiting all Preachers but such learned sober grave and discreet men as were Licensed thereunto under the Lord Protector 's and my Lord of Canterbury's hand 2. His promoting the Match with Scotland first by Ambassadours and then by an Army whose order was this viz. The Avant-guard of 3 or 4000 foot-men at Arms and 600 light-horse led by the Earl of Warwick
wanting to be said while men are men For not to go higher we are taught easily so much by the very Ballads and Libels of Leicestrian time But above the aforesaid year many young ones being chosen into the House of Commons more than had been usual in great Councils who though of the weakest wings are the highest Flyers there arose a certain unfortunate and unfruitful Spirit in some places not sowing but picking at every stone in the field rather than tending to the gene●al harvest And thus far the consideration of the Nature of the Time hath transported me and the occasion of the subject Now on the other side I must with the like liberty observe two weighty and watchful Sollicitudes as I may call them which kept the Earl in extream and continual Cau●ion like a bow still bent whereof the Dukes thoughts were absolutely free First he was to wrestle with a Queens declining or rather with her very setting Age as we may term it which b●sides other respects is commonly even of it self the more umbratious and apprehensive as for the most part all Horizons are charged with certain vapours towards their evening The other was a matter of more Circumstance standing thus viz. All Princes especially those whom God hath not blessed with natural issue are by wisdome of State somewhat shie of their Successors and to speak with due Reverence there may be reasonably supposed in Queens Regnant a little proportion of tenderness that way more than in Kings Now there were in Cou●t two names of Power and almost of Affection the Essexian and the Cecilian with their adherents both well enough enjoying the present and yet both looking to the future and therefore both holding correspondency with some of the principals in S●otland and had r●c●ived advertisements and instructions either from them or immediately from the King as induciat Heir of thi● I●perial Crown But lest they migh● detect one another this was mysteriously carried by several instruments and conducts and on the Essexian side in truth with infinite hazard For Sir Robert Cecil who as Secretary of State did dispose the publick Addresses had prompter and safer conveyance whereupon I cannot but relate a memorable passage on either part as the st●ry following shall declare The E●rl of Essex had accommodated Master Anthony Bacon in par●ition of his house and had assigned him a noble entertainment This was a Gentleman of impot●nt feet but a nimble head and through his hand run all the intelligences with Scotland who being of a provident nature contrary to his brother the Lord Viscount Saint Albans and well knowing the advantage of a dangerous secret would many times cunningly let fall some words as if he could amend his Fortunes under the Cecilians to whom he was near of alliance and in blood also and who had made as he was not unwilling should be believed some great proffers to win him away which once or twice he pressed so far and with such tokens and signes of apparent discontent to my Lord Henry Howard afterwards Earl of Northampton who was of the party and stood himself in much Umbrage with the Queen that he flees presently to my Lord of Essex with whom he was commonly primae admissionis by his bed-side in the morning and tells him that unless that Gentleman were presently satisfied with some round sum all would be vented This took the Earl at that ●ime ill provided as indeed oftentimes his Coffers were low whereupon he was fain suddenly to give him Essex-house which the good old Lady Walsingham did afterwards dis-engage out of her own sto●e with 2500 pound and before he ha● distilled 1500 pound at another time by the s●me skill So as we rate this one secr●t as it was finely car●ied at 4000 pounds in present money besides at the least 1000 pound of annual p●nsion to a private and bed-rid Gentleman What would he have gotten if he could have gone about his own business There was another accident of the same nature on the Cecilian side much more pleasant but less chargeable for it cost nothing but wit The Queen having for a good while not heard any thing from Scotland and being thi●sty of news it fell out that her Majesty going to take the air towards the heath ●he Cou●t being then at Greenwich and Master Secretary Cecil then attending her a Post came crossing by and blew his Horn The Queen out of curiosity asked him from whence the Dispatch came and being answered from Scotland she stops her Coach and calleth for the Packet The Secretary though he knew there were some Letters in it from his Correspondents which to discover were as so many Serpents yet made more shew of diligence than of doubt to obey and asks some that stood by forsooth in great haste for a Knife to cut up the Packet for otherwise he might perhaps awak●d a little apprehension but in the mean time approaching with the Packet in his hand at a pretty distance from the Queen he telleth her it look●d and smelt ill-favouredly coming out of a fil●●y Budget and that it should be fit first to open and air it because he knew she was averse from ill Scents And so being dismissed home he got leisure by thi● seasonable shift to sever what he would not have seen These two accidents precisely true and known to few I have reported as not altogether extravagant from my purpose to shew how the Earl stood in certain perplexities wherewith the Dukes days were not distracted And this hath been the Historical part as it were touching the difference between th●m in the rising and flowing of their fortunes I will now consider their several Endowments both of Person and Mind and then a little of their Actions and Ends. The Earl was a pretty deal the taller and much the stronger and of the abler body but the Duke had the neater limbs and free delivery he was also the uprighter and of the more comely motions for the E●rl did bend a little in the neck● though rather forwards than downwards and he was so far from being a good Dancer that he was no graceful Goer If we touch particulars the Duke exceeded in the daintiness of his leg and foot and the Earl in the incomparable fairness and fine shape of his hands which though it be but feminine praise he took from his Father for the general Air the Earl had the closer and more reserved Countenance being by nature somewhat more cogitative and which was strange never more than at meals when others are least Insomuch as he was wont to make his observation of hims●lf that to solve any knotty ●usiness which cumbred his mind his ablest hours were when he had checked his first appetite with two or three morsels after which he sate usually for a good while silent yet he would play well and willingly at some games of greatest a●tention● which shewed that when he listed he could license his thoughts The Duke on
tears of Contrition for his Sins to God and thankfulness for this Mercy using mary pi●us Ejaculations embraced all these Actors in the former Tragedy when the poor fellow also kist the King's hand These circumstances gave occasion then that this whole story was freshly revived to the common Satisfaction of the whole Countrey and our English Courtiers And in especial unto the very reverend Bishop and nobly born Iames Mountague then present to whom the King addressed himself in this Relati●n and from whose Mouth saith the Relator I received these particulars at his return into England And thus much we have by word of mouth somewhat I shall add out of writings for more satisfaction This Treason was attempted the fourth of Aug●st 1600. And though there followed sundry Sus●itions and Examinations of several other Persons supposed Abettors and Contrivers yet it lay undiscovered tanquam e post liminio until eight years after by the circumspection principally of the ●arl of Dunbar a man of as great wisdom as those t●mes and that Kingdom could boast of upon the ●e●son of on● Geo●ge S●ro● Notary-publick of A●emouth in Scotland from some words which at first he sparingly or unawares expressed and also by some papers which were found in his house whereof being examin'd with a little ado he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh the 12th of A●g 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman William Hart then Lord Iustice of Sco●land and Principal in all the Acts of Judicature herein Neither of these Lords professed any skil● in Politicks yet neither wanted a strong judgment which they could make good use of in time and place convenient giving testimonies in those Employments they had of a strict secrecy a great moderation and a happy compliance with opportunity Qualities exceedingly well lodged in men of Interest and Command especially in these two who neither too easily closed with others resolutions nor too obstinately adhered to their own one of which was alwayes to suspect men of new words as much as men of new opinions because to flye from proper School terms to vulgar conceptions is a way seldome troden but by false Prophets and Seditious Orators who have done this onely good in the world that from their collition a considerable deal of light hath proceeded towards the clearing of several points in Philosophy and Religion in the speculations whereof the men whose lives are so practical and involved in business are not so distinct being not at leisure to quest at every Lark which men spring in either though otherwise the best q●alified for s●ch undertakings because men of most judgement and experience and of ●he least passion and prejudice and by so much the less impetuous and censorious by how much the more judicious and discreet and by so much the more value in the Eyes of others by how much the less they are in their own who have this a●vant●ge in controversies that their Religion is thoug●t as much better than their Adversaries as their Charity and moderation is greater Observations on the Fall of Sir Tho. Lake A Great Estate this Gentleman had honestly got and a greater esteem being King Iames his right hand and the Scots both hands that with which they begged and that with which they bestowed the instrument of the meaner sorts relief and the greaters bounty until that Malice and Revenge two violent passions over-ruling the Weaker Sex concerning his Wife and daughter involved him in their quarrel the chief and onely cause of his ruine He had by his Wife sons and daughters His eldest married unto the Lord Baron Resse in right of a Grandmother the son of Thomas Earl of Exeter by a fo●mer venter And upon the credit of Sir Thomas Lake he was sent Embassador Extraordinary into Spain in a very gallant Equipage with some hopes of ●is own to continue Lieger to save charges of transmitting any other In his absence there fell out an extream deadly fewd 't is no matter for what between the Lady Lake and the Countess of Exeter A youthful Widow she had been and vertuous and so became Bedfellow to this aged gowty diseased but noble Earl And that preferment had made her subject to Envy and Malice Home comes the Lord Rosse from his Embassie when being fallen into some neglect of his W●fe and his kindred I conceive upon refusal of an increase of allowance to her settlement of Ioynture which was promised to be compleated at his return not long he stays in England but away he gets into Italy turns a professed Roman Catholick being cozened into that Religion by his publick Confident Gondamore In this his last absence never to return the Mother and Daughter accuse the Countess of former Incontinency with the Lord R●sse whilest he was here and that therefore upon his Wives discovery he was fled from hence and from her Marriage-Bed with other devised Calumnies by several designs and contrivements to have poysoned the Mother and Daughter This quarrel was soon blazon'd at Court to the King's ear who as privately as could be singly examines each party The Countess with tears and imprecations professeth her Innocency which to oppose the Mother Lake and her Daughter counterfeit her hand to a whole sheet of Paper wherein they make the Coun●ess with much contrition to ackno●ledge her self guilty crave pardon for attempting to poyson them and desire friendship with them all The King gets sight of this as in favour to them and demands the time place and occasion when this should be writ They tell him that all the parties met in a visit at Wimbleton the house of the Lord of Exeter where in dispute of their differences she confesses her guilt of attempting their poyson And being desirous of absolution and friendship being required thereto consents to set down all Circumstances therein under her own hand which presently she writ at the Window in the upper end of the great Chamber at Wimbleton in presence of the Mother and Daughter the Lord Rosse and one Diego a Spaniard his confiding Servant But now they being gone and at Rome the King forthwith sends Mr. Dendy one of his Serjeants at Armes sometimes a Domestick of the Earl of Exeters an honest and worthy Gentleman post to Rome who speedily returns with Rosse and Diego's hand and other testimonials confirming That all the said Accusation and Confession Suspitions and Papers concerning the Countess were notorious false and scandalous and confirms it by receiving the Hoast in assurance of her Honour and his Innocency The King well satisfied sends to the Countesses Friends and Trustees for her Ioynture and Estate who comparing many of her letters with this Writing do confess it counterfeit Then he tells the Mother and Daughter That this writing being denied by her and their testimonies being parties would not prevail with any belief but any other Additional witness would give it
it would be a good encouragement for him and for others by his example 13. Next to the Judge there would be care used in the choice of such as are called to the degree of Serjeants at Law for such they must be first before they be made Judges none should be made Serjeants but such as probably might be held fit to be Judges afterward● when the experience at the Barr hath fitted them for the Bench Therefore by all means cry down that unworthy course of late times used that they should pay moneys for it It may satisfie some Courtiers but it is no honour to the person so preferred nor to the King who thus pre●e●s ●im 14. For the Kings Counsel at the Law especially his Atto●ney and Solicito● General I need say ●oth●ng● their continual use for the Kings service not only for his Revenue but for all the parts of his Government will put the King and all those who love his service in mind to make choice of men every way fit and able for that employment they had need to be learned in their profession and not ignorant in other things and to be dexterous in those affairs whereof the dispatch is committed to them 15. The Kings Attorney of the Court of Wards is in the true quality of the Judges therefore what hath been observed already of Judges which are intended principally of the three great Courts of Law at Westminster may be applied to the choice of the Attorney of this Court 16. The like for the Attorney of the Dutchy of Lan●●ster who partakes of both qualities partly of a Judge of that Co●rt and partly of an Attorney General for so much as concerns the proper Revenue of the D●tchy 17. I must not forget the Judges of the four Circuits in the twelve Shires of Wales who although they are not of the first magnitude nor need be of the degree of the Coyf onely the chief Justice of Chester who is one of the number is so yet are they considerable in the choice of them by the same rules as the other Judges are and they sometimes are and fitly may be transplanted into the higher Courts 18. There are many Courts as you see some superiour some provincial and some of a lower orb It were to be wished and is fit to be so ordered that every of them keep themselves within their proper spheres The harmony of justice is th●n the sweetest when th●re is no jarring about the jurisdiction of the Courts which me-thinks wisdom cannot much differ upon their true bounds being for the most part so clearly known 19. Having said thus much of the Judges somewhat will be fit to put you in mind concerning the principal Ministers of Justice and in the first of the High sheriffs of the Counties which have been very ancient in this Kingdom I am sure before the Conquest The choice of them I commend to your care and that at fit times you put the King in mind thereof that as near as may be they be such as are fit for those places for they are of great trust and power The P●sse Comitatus the power of the whole County being legally committed unto them 20. Therefore it is agreeable with the intention of the Law that the choice of them should be by the commendation of the great Officers of the Kingdom and by the advice of the Judges who are presumed to be well read in the condition of the Gentry of the whole Kingdom And although the King may do it of himself yet the old way is the good way 21. But I utterly condemn the practice of the latter times which hath lately crept into the Court at the back-stairs That some who are prick'd for Sheriffs and were fit should get out of the Bill and others who were neither thought upon nor worthy to be should be nominated and both for money 22. I must not omit to put you in mind of the Lords Lieutenants and Deputy-Lieutenants of the Counties their proper use is for ordering the Military affairs in order to an invasion from abroad or a rebellion or sedition at home good choice should be made of them and prudent instructions given to them and as little of the Arbitrary power as may be left unto them and that the Muster-Masters and their Officers under them incroach not upon the Subject that will detract much from the King's service 23. The Justices of Peace are of great use Antiently there were Conservators of the Peace these are the same saving that several Acts of Parliament have altered their denomination and enlarged their jurisdiction in many particulars The fitter they are for the peace of the Kingdom the more heed ought to be taken in the choice of them 24. But negatively this I shall be bold to say that none should be put into either of those Commissions with an eye of favour to their persons to give them countenance of reputation in the places where they live but for the King's service sake nor any put out for the disfavour of any great man● It hath been too often used and hath been no good service to the King 25. A word more if you please to give me leave for the true rules of the moderation of Justice on the King's part The execution of justice is committed to his Judges which seemeth to be the severer part but the milder part which is mercy is wholly left in the King 's immediate hand And Justice and Mercy are the true supporters of his Royal Throne 26. If the King shall be wholly intent upon Justice it may appear with an over-rigid aspect but if he shall be over-remiss and easie it draweth upon him contempt Examples of Justice must be made sometimes for terrour to some Examples of Mercy sometimes for comfort to others the one procures fear and the other love A King must be both feared and loved else he is lost 27. The ordinary Courts of Justice I have spoken of and of their Judges and judicature I shall put you in mind of some things touching the High Court of Parliament in England which is superlative and therefore it will behove me to speak the more warily thereof 28. For the institution of it it is very antient in this Kingdom It consisteth of the two Houses of Peers and Commons as the Members and of the King's Majesty as the head of that great body By the King's authority alone and by his Writs they are assembled and by him alone they are pror●gued and dissolved but each House may adjourn it self 29. They being thus Assembled are more properly a Council to the King the Councel of the Kingdom to advise his Majesty in those things of weight and difficulty which concern both the King and People then a Court. 30. No new Laws can be made nor old Laws abrogated or altered but by common consent in Parliament where Bills are prepared and presented to the two Houses and then delivered but nothing is concluded but by
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 Q●een Eliz. By King Iames the first● 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 o● imp●●fect health ●o●siderately declining more ●●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. se●led his large Estate on his hopeful Nephew Henry D' Anvers snatch'd away be●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 Charl●s for a Writ of E●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 ●he foresaid matter of Syhip money he abhor●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 Th●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 s●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 v●ritatis haeres quem nec mina nec bonos allexit Regis au horitatem populi libertatem aequâ lance Libravit Religione cordatus vitâ innocuus manu expans● 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 prop●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 inten● upon the pleasing o● 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 grea●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 Franci● Crane upon King Iames his motion who gave two thousand pounds towards it in that place General
consumpio jam pulvere tormentario armatos inermis Vallo munito inter sola causa virtute animatus ita re●udit concidit castris exuit ut ●totum belli molem cum ipsis Authoribus profligavit Quicquid fugae illius residuum erat inter urbis unius Moenia eaqu● arcta obsidione astricta concl●so Qua quidem pugna memorabili praeter quod miserum popellum jugo intolerabili levaverat sedes suas expulsis Ecclesias Pastoribus pacem omnibus Firmamentum pacis obsequium pristinum restituerit Et jam sequenti armorum nostrorum f●elicitate qua partes Regni occidentales maturius ad officium verum Dominum redierunt viam apperuisse momentum ingens extitisse libentissimè profitemur In hac opera landabili cum praefatus Radulphus perstiterit adhuc in victo animo industria indefessa nullo ard●o quantumvi● labore periculo excusatus cumque mille argumentis testatum fecerit Honorem salutemque nostram sibi omni fortuna capite potiorens nos virum fortissimum optimeque affectum animum benigno studio prosequi amplius demereri volentes hunc praec●nio merito ornandum propiori ad nos gradu extollendum censuimus Sciatis igitur nos de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu praefatum Radulphum Hopton ad statum gradum stylum Dignitatens Titulum and Honorem Baronis Hopton de Stratton in Comitatu nostro Cornubiae c. In cujus rei Testimonium has Literas Nostras fieri fecimus Patentes Teste meipso apud Oxon. quarto die Sep●embris Anno Regni Nostri Decimo nono His two great Actions the one at Liscard the other at Stratton cannot be better described than by an Eye-witness whose words are these as he saith out of a Manuscript corrected with Sir Ralph 's own hand communicated to him by his Secretary Mr. Tredus At Liscard a little before the Fight began the King's party took it into seasonable consideration that seeing by the Commission of the Lord Mohun brought from Oxford four persons viz. the said Lord Mohun Sir Ralph Hopton Sir Iohn Berkley and Colonel Ashburnham were equally impowered in the managing of all Military ma●ters And seeing such equality might prove inconvenient which hitherto had been prevented with the extraordinary moderation of all parties in ordering a Bat●el it was fittest to fix the power in one chief and general consent setled it in Sir Ralph Hopton He first gave order that publick Prayers should be read in t●e head of every Squadron and it was done accordingly and the Enemy observing it did stile it saying of Mass as some of their Prisoners afterwards did confess Then he caused the Fo●t to be drawn up in the best order they could and placed a Fo●lorn of Musquetiers in the little I●closures winging them with the few H●rse and Dragoons he had This done two small Mynion Drakes speedily and secretly fetched from the Lord Mohun's house were planted on a lit●le B●rrough within random-shot of the Enemy yet so that they were covered out of their sight with small parties of Horse about them These concealed Mynions were twice discharged with such success that the Enemy quickly quitted their ground● And all their Army being put into a rout the King's Forces had the exe●ution of them which they performed very sparingly taking 1250 prisoners all their Cannon and Ammunition and most of their C●lours and Arms and after publick Thanks taking their repose at Liscard Stratton Fight succeeds on Tuesday the 16th of May 1643. The King's Army wants Ammun●tion and hath a steep hill to gain with all disadvantage and danger the Horse and Dragoons being not above five hundred and the Foot two thousand four hundred The Parl. Forces were well furnished and barricado●d upon the top of the hill their Foot 3400. and their Horse not many indeed having dispatched 12●0 to surprize the Sheriff and Commissioners at Bodmin On the King's side order was given to force the passage to the top of the Hill by four several Avenues the ascent was steep and difficult resolutely did his Majesties Forces get up and obstinately did the Enemy keep them down The Fight continued doubtful with many countenances of various events from five in the Morning till three in the Afternoon amongst which most remarkable the smart charge made by M. G. Chudleigh with a stand of Pikes on Sir Bevil Greenvil who fell nobly himself and had lost his squadron had not Sir Iohn now Lord Berkley who ●ed up the Musquetiers on each side of Sir Bevil seasonably relieved it so resolutely reinforcing the Charge that Major-General Chudleigh was taken Prisoner● Betwixt three and four of the Clock the Commanders of the King's Forces who embraced those four several ways of ascent met to their mutual joy almost at the top of the hill which the routed enemy confusedly forsook In this service though they were Assailants they lost very few men and no considerable Officer killing of the Enemy about three hundred and taking seventeen hundred prisoners all their Cannon being thirteen pieces of brass Ordnance and Ammunition seventy barrels of powder with a Magazine of Bisket and other provision proportionable For this victory publick Prayer and Thanksgiving was made on the hill then the Army was disposed of to improve their success to the best advantage Nothing had funk this great spirit but the fate of Kingdoms with whose ruine only he was contented to fall and disband his brave Soldiers upon honourable terms Five things made my Lord Hopton so eminently serviceable 1. His great insight into the designs and prudent foresight of the events of present Councels which when most doubted and wavered gave him that resolution that undertook great difficulties and bore up against greater 2. His experience of War in general and his acquaintance with that seat of it committed to him in particular 3. His renown all over the Kingdom for piety and moderation and within his own association for hospitality civility and charity 4. His name among the Enemies as considerable for his generousness and justice as for his valour and conduct 5. His Estate that set him above mercenariness and his care for money that set his Soldiers above need the occ●sion of mutinying among themselves or of incivilities towards others Observations on the Life of the Earl of Carnarvan RObert Dormer Ar. was on the tenth of Iune 1615. made Baronet by King Iames and on the 30 day of the same month was by him created Baron Dormer of Wing in Buckinghamshire His Grand-child Robert Dormer was by K. Charles in the 4th of his Reign created Viscount Ascot Ea●l of Carnarvan He lost his life fighting for him who gave him his honour at the first Battel of Newbury Being sore wounded he was desired by a Lord to know of him what suit he would have to his Majesty in his behalf the said Lord promising to discharge his trust in presenting his request
consideration of that vast sum of Money that must be exported if she goeth away And 4. The great Obligation laid on the Pope by that Dispensation which would secure to him the King aud his Posterity not otherwise Legitimate but by his Authority His Estate was much wasted in the service of Henry the seventh and as much improved by the treasures of Henry the eighth which amounted in the beginning of his Reign to 1800000 l. i. e. at the rate of money now adays six millions and an half which he dispensed so thriftily that old Winchester could not trapan him and yet so nobly that young Henry was pleased with him Sir William Compton set up the King's Rich Life-guards under Bourchier Earl of Essex as Captain and the valiant Sir Io. Peachy who kept Calais in so good order with 300 men as Lieutenant but this wary Earl put them down again When News was brought that Empson and Dudley were slain it was the Earls opinion that his Majesty had done more like a good King than a good Master When the narrow Seas whereof the Kings of England have been very tender were infested this old Treasurer and Earl-Marshal cleared it by his two sons Edward and Thomas saying The King of England should not be imprisoned in his Kingdome while either he had an Estate to set up a Ship or a son to command it In three weeks did he settle th● North against the Invasions of Iames the fourth now inclining in to the Feench and in a fortnight did he raise 40000 l. to pay the Army now ready to mutiny insomuch that when King Iames denounced War against King Henry he said He had an Earl in the North that would secure his Kingdome as he did with much resolution prudence and success at Flodden-Field where he saw a King at his feet and a whole Kingdome at his mercy where he was forced to fight so barren the Country una salus victis nullam sperare salutem where yet he pitched upon the most advantageous place and time so great his Command of himself and so noble his Conduct He sends Rouge Croix to the Scotch King to tell him That though he saw no Enemy at Sea he hoped to find some upon the Land That he came to justifie Bretons death which it was as much below a King to revenge as it was below a Privy Counsellour to have deserved That he expected as little mercy as he intended his sword being commissioned to spare none but the King whom no hand must touch To this Defiance he added a Caution to the Herauld That he should bring no messenger from the Enemy nearer than two miles of the Camp So well were the Scots encamped that when neither Arguments nor Stratagems would draw them out the Earl cuts off their provision there and under the covert of a smoak got the Earl under the hill and under another of mist got they atop The Scots played the men until Stanley and Darcy did more than men and the old mans Reserve concluded the doubtful day in so c●mpleat a Conquest as brought 12000 Arms 16 Cannons 4000 Prisoners and a Peace to the English Borders Upon which the General retires to those more necessary exercise● of Justice and Government until his Masters return When all his Services advanced him at that time when it was ● Maxime of State That Honours are the Lustre and Security of Crowns to his Fath●rs Dukedom of Norfolk as his Sons Merits promoted him to his of the Earldom of Surrey The Kings Coffers decay and his Occasions grow The old man retires to his Country-house having enjoyed his Honour Thirty years to enjoy Himself Three One of his last Undertakings being the appeasing of the London Tumults May 1. 1517. when he left this behind him A potent and wanton City is a shrewd Enemy Observations on the Life of Sir William Compton HE was chief Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Henry the Eighth and next to the chief in the affections of the same Prince If his spirit had been as even with his favour as his favour was with his Merits he had been the most useful as well as the most eminent man in England but he was too narrow for his Fortune and more attentive to his private advantage than to the publick affairs This Saying is at once his History and Monument Kings must hear all but believe only one for none can give a solid advice but he that knoweth all and he must not be every body As to the affairs of Europe ● S● William was clearly for the League against France as an opportunity to regain our Right in France and strenghthen our Interest in the Church th● Empire My Lord Darcy was against it becau●● France was too hard for us before it swallowed u● our Confederates and much more since advising some mo●e noble attempts for our just Empir● upon the Indies The young King is for a Wa● with France a● an Engagement upon the Pope t● advance England above all other Kingdoms an● declares himself as much Sir William's in opinio● as he was his in affection This Gentleman had a deep insight in any thin● he undertook because he had a great patience t● consider an advantageous slowness to recollect ● strong memory to grasp and an indifferent tempe● to judge but when a matter exceeded his capaci●ty or out-reached his sphere and orb he had ei●ther a peremptory and great word to urge it or ● sleight to wave it or a subtlety to perplex it tha● his amazed fellow-Commissioners should as littl● unde●stand it or a countenance and ge●ture too verbear it However in general he was close an● reserved he had need go softly that cannot we● see leaving himself without observation or hol● to be taken what he was He studied the King nature rather than his bu●iness and humoure● rather than advised him The referring of all t● a man becomes a Prince whose self is not him●self but the community their good and evil be●ing as my Lord Bacon writes at the peril of ● publick fortune but not a subject whose privat● advantage may be a publick ruine not a Favou●rite whose benefit by that selfishness may be narrow as his own Fortune but the hurt done by it is as large as his Masters who must needs be undone when his servants study to please Him and to profit Themselves Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Marney SIr Henry Marney was one of young Henry's first Council who loved his Peson well and his Prospericy better and impartially advised him for his good and modestly contested with him against his harm that Council that was hand as well as head and could perform as well as advise This was the searching Judgement that discovered Buonviso the Lucchess his Letters to the French King betraying our designs as soon as thought on and instructing him for prevention before our King was ready for the attempt Industry and Thrift over-rules Princes This Personage
the main Battle of 6000 foot and 600 men at Arms and 1000 light-horse led by the Protector and the Rear of half so many led by the Lord Dacres the Artillery of 16 Pieces of Ordnance making one Wing the men at Arms and Demilances the other For the Avant-guard and half of the Battel ●iding about two flight-shot from their side the other half of the Battel and the whole Flank of the Rear was closed by the Carriages being 12000 Carts and Waggons the rest of the men at A●ms and D●mi●ances marching behind A f●w ski● mishes and stratagems passed when a Trumpeter is sent by Huntley to challenge the Protector to whom the Protector replying like a wi●e man That it was not for a person of his trust to duel it with a private man The Earl of Warwick said Trumpeter bring me word that thy Master will perform the Combat with me and I 'll give thee 100 Crowns Nay rather said our Duke bring me word that he will give us Battle and I will give thee 1000 l. But in 25 days he gains a greater Battle over-runs the Country with the loss of no more then 65 men to that of 25000 Scots 3. His third Exploit was Dispensing Honours so nobly that they were due encouragements to Virtue though yet so warily that they should not be either a burden or a danger to the Crown 4. He gave the Commonalty great content in pulling down Enclosures by Proclamations and the Nobility no less by setting up Land-improvements by Rule 5. He engaged both by a good bargain of Church-lands confirmed by this Parliament 6. He weakneth the Papists 1. By conniving at them until they broke out to such outrages as made them lyable 2. By dividing them when engaged with hope of mercy on the one hand and fear of his Army on the other 7 The French taking the advantage of our seditious to break off their Treaty and proclaim a War he con●i●ca●es their Estates and secures the persons of a● many of them as lived in England But Greatness is fatal and his Brother that should have suppo●ted this great man ruines himself and him He had married a Lady high in spirit his Brother the Queen-Dowager higher in place the Ladies quar●el first and then as it must needs follow the Lords Thomas the Admiral is questioned for aiming at the Crown 1. By marrying the Lady Elizabeth and then by seizing the King-person and the Government so honest this Protector a plain man and of no over-deep insight into practices that he gave way to his Tryal saying though somewhat ominous as it happened I 'll do and suffer Iustice so Uxorious that he sealed his death And now he stands alone wanting his Brothers cunning to reach Warwick or his resolution to check Norfolk The people are troubled at that one weak and unjustifiable Act of his The pulling down of so many of Gods ●hu●che● in the City to build one Somerset-house in the Strand The Earl takes notice of their discontent and asse●bleth eighteen discontented Counsellours who arm themselves and their followers calling the City and the Kingdome to their assistance by a Proclamation The Protector fleeth with the King and a Guard to Hampton-Court the City sometimes resolved to assist the Lords out of malice to the Protector sometimes to forbear out of such consideration of its many misfortunes in opposing Kings set forth not with more Integrity by George Stadlow then Eloquence and Life by Iohn Ayliffe They delay Sir Anthony Wingfield Captain of the Guard perswades the King of the Lords moderation and Loyalty the Duke is to answer for himself the Lawyers charge him with removing Westminster-Hall to Somerset-House where he kept a Court of Request and determined Title of Lands the Souldiers with the detaining of their pay and betraying our French Garisons the States-men with the engrossing of all Authority The Earl of Warwick vigilantly but closely manageth all discon●e●●s of his designe with this great advantage that we was subtle close and implacable while the other was free-spirited open-hearted humble hard to distrust easie to forgive His friend the Lord Russel is absent he is first tryed and acquitted but with the loss of his Protectorship Treasure●s●ip Marshalship and 2000 l. of Land more But Warwick's designe for the Crown ripening and Somerset being the most eminent obstruction in his way having weakned before he ruines him now he chargeth him with Treason to make a noise and with Felony to do execution the Council is packed he looseth his life for a small crime and that on a nice point subtilly devised and packed by his Enemies forgetting to ask the benefit of the Clergy that had saved it This person as one charactereth him was religious himself a lover of all such as were so and a great promoter of the Reformation Valiant and successful generally beloved by Souldiers envied by Statesmen though the most conscientious of them all doing nothing irregularly but in complyance with the necessities of Government open to dangers as one that could not be jealous better to act than designe to perform than plot When he was discharged of Treason there was so loud a shout in Westminster-Hall as was heard to Long-Acre when condemned of Felony there was a ●ilence and amazement for three hours It is observed of some that they have despised the benefit of their Clergy while they lived and by a just pro●idence of God could not make use of it when ●hey were to dye It was pitty that this Noble person should forget to crave that benefit of the Clergy which might have saved him when he was so unwi●●ing to enjoy any ●enefit of the Clergy which might Incommode them The controversie between him and the Earl of Warwick is like that between Demades and Phocion Demades threatned Phocion that the Athenians would destroy him when they fell into their mad fits and thee Demades saith Phocion when they return to their right minds it appearing afterwards that what he was charged to have design'd against others he did only in his own defence cum moderamine Inculpatae cautelae in whose behalf Cicero had pleaded thus Si vita nos●ra in aliquas Insidias si in vim in tela aut latronum● aut in imicorum incidisset omnis honesta ratio esset expediendae salutis hoc ratio doctis necessitas barbaris mos gentibus feris natura ipsa praescrips●t ut omnem semper vim quâcunque ope possint a corpore a capite a vitâ suâ propulsare-nitantur Beheaded he was on Tower-Hill with no less p●aise for his piety and patience than pit●y and grief of the spectators His Death was at●ended with many signes and wonders and his Name with an indelible character his house being cal●ed Somerset-house to this day though solemnly proclaimed by King of Iames Denmark-house because inhabited by the King o● Denmark and his Sister Surely saith my Author this Duke was well belo●ed
any way and the best metalled men will comply with any occasion At White-hall none more affable and courteous than our Lord at Sea none more skilful in the field none more resolute in the Country none more thrifty and hospitable His Entertainments were orde●ly and suitable made up of solid particulars all growing upon his own Estate King Charles would say Every man hath his vanity and mine ●peaking of the Soveraign is Building Every man hath his humour and mine said he speaking of the Fens is Drayning Adding withal He that would be merry for a day let him be trimmed he that would be merry for a week let him marry ●e that would be merry for a year let him build he that would be merry for Ages let him improve Now you would have him among his Workmen and Stewards in Lincoln anon among the Commissioners either in France or Scotland by and by before Bulloign or Calice and a while after at Spieres or Muscleborough and on a sudden at a Mask in Court. Neither was his Soul less pliable to persons than things as boisterously active as King Henry could expect as piously meek as King Edward could wish as warily zealous as Queen Marys times required and as piercingly observant as Queen Elizabeths perplexed occasions demanded It was by him and my Lord Bacon said of business That it was in business as it is in ways that the next and the nearest way is commonly the foulest and that if a man will go the fairest way he must go somewhat about Sitting in a Committee about invading Scotland whereof Sir Anthony Brown then Viscount Mountacute presented a Draught there arose as great a debate between him and my Lord in Council as afterwards in the Field about the point of Entrance Nay said my Lord in the heat of the Discourse with as much power on others passions as command over his own We stand quarrelling here how we shall get in but here is no discourse how we shall get out It 's a Rule Whosoever hath any thing fixed in his person that doth induce contempt hath also a perpetual spur in himself to rescue and deliver himself from scorn either by vertue or malice and my Lord having some disadvantage from Nature made it up by Art None more bold none more industrious and more successful because that disadvantage took off envy on the one hand and jealousie on the other so that upon the matter in a great Wit Contempt is a great advantage to rising Judge Brooke had a Project against Usury which came up to the Lords House this rich Peer upon the first motion of it stands ●p and saith Shew me a State without Usury and I 'll shew you a State without Men and Trade Rich he was for expence and expend he did upon honor and good action his ordinary expenc●s were the third of his Estate and his extrao●dinary none of it his Rule being Extraordinary disadvantages must be balanced with extraordinary advantages He would not stoop to petty gains but he would abridge petty charges but his occasions calling him often from his Estate he turned it all to certainties often changing his Servants who being unacquainted with him and his Estate were less subtil and more timorous Much behind-hand he was when he came to the Estate and as much before when he left it N●ither was he too sudden or too slow in paying his Debts equally avoiding a disadvantageous sale on the one hand and devouring interest on the other and so inuring himself by degrees into ●n habit of frugality he gained as well upon his mind as upon his Estate● For husbanding the English Treasure in Scotland he was Knighted in the Field May 11. 34 H. 8. by the Earl of Hertford for the Clause concerning Scotland he put in at the Treaty of Guisnes 35 H. 8. he was made Baron by Patent for his discreet Conduct in demanding the young Queen of Scots together with the performance of the Articles made in Henry the eighth's time with 60 sail of ships before the battel of Muscleburgh he had 600 l. a year assigned him by the Protector for his great experience at Sea his interest in Sea-men and his Renown among the Neighbour-States he was made E●rl of Lincoln Observations on the Life of Sir Barnaby Fitz-Patrick BArnaby Fitz-Patrick had the honour of being King Edward the sixth his Proxy at School and one of his Bed-chamber at Court. In King Henry the eighth's time he was sent to School in King Edward the sixth's to travel where he had these Directions following from that King how he might learn fashions there and send intelligence hither EDWARD WE understand by your Letters received the eighth of this present month your good entertainment being glad thereof and also how you have been once to go on Pilgrimage Wherefore we think fit to advertise you to desire leave to go to Mr. Pickering or to Paris in case hereafter any such chance happen And if that will not serve to declare to some person of estimation with whom you are best acquainted that as you are loth to offend the French King by reason of his kind usage of ●ou so with safe conscience you cannot do any such thing being brought up with me and bound to obey my Laws also that you had commandment from me to the contrary Yet if you be●●hemently procured you may go as waiting upon the King not as intending to the abuse nor willingly see the Ceremonies and so you look on the Mass but in the mean time regard the Scripture or some good Book and give no reverence to the Mass at all Furthermore remember when you may conveniently be absent from the Court to tarry with Sir William Pickering to be instructed by him how to use your self For Women as far forth as you can avoid their company yet if the French King command you you may sometime dance so measure be your mean else apply your self to Riding Shooting Tennis or such honest Games not forgetting sometimes when you have leisure your Learning chiefly reading of the Scriptures We would not have you live too sumptuou●ly as an Ambassador but so as your proportion of living may serve you we mean because we know many will resort to you and desire to serve you I told you how many I thought convenient you should keep After you have ordered your things at Paris go to the Court and learn to have more intelligence if you can and after to the Wars to learn somewhat to serve us By your Letters of the second and fifteenth of April we perceive that you were at Nancy ready to go together with Mr. Pickering to the French Camp and to the intent you might be better instructed how to use your self in these Wars we have thought good to advertise you of our pleasure therein First we would wish you as much as you may conveniently to be in the French Kings presence or at least in some part of his Army
experience and acquaintance with the situation of any place the humour or interest of any People the weaknesses and strengths of any Enemy the advantages or disadvantages of any Undertaking ●ipen circumstances towards success but he is called off to a new and unacq●a●nted scene of action where he shall lose his Ar●y be●o●e he knoweth how to employ it His friends at Court grew few and cold his foes many and active his affronts continual to disorder him by passion or sink him in despair His Commission was but short before but is none now onely three hundred men stick to him his Money failing his Noble Followers withdrawing his Common Souldiers mutiny and he is recalled And happy had he been could he have been quiet but nothing would compleat some mens Designes but his Ruine and nothing could ruine him but Honour that at once pleased his humour and wasted his Estate Earl-Marshal of Ireland he is made and thither he goeth in great state to die anno 1576 and the 36 of his Age a year fatal to that Family which none of them exceeded but the last who had been happy if he had died sooner or lived longer than he did Although Sir Walter Devereux had not that success over others which his Valour deserved yet he had that conquest of himself that Vertue onely gives shewing himself as good at the Buckler as at the Sword at suffering as well as acting All his changes from without he bore with none within his even and solid minde that fashioned its own fate enjoying its constant calm amidst all the tempests of malice and ambition Those ignoble courses were not greater Arguments of his Enemies narrowness and degeneracy than his resolved Patience was of his largeness and generousness of spirit he being as much above those smaller tricks as they were below his Adversaries We make our selves more Injuries than are offered us and the apprehension of wrong doth more har● than the smartest part of the wrong it self It 's the Wise-mans glory and the States-mans prudence to pass by Offences A Fool struck Cato in the Bath and when he was sorry for it Cato had forgot it for saith Seneca Melius putavit non agnoscere quam ignoscere Light Injuries are made none by a not-regarding which with a pursuing Revenge grow both to heighth and burden and live to mischief us when they might die to secure us It 's Princely saith one to disdain a Wrong who when Embassadours have offered Undecences use not to chide but deny them audience as if silence were the way Royal to revenge a Wrong The upper Region is most composed The wisest rage the least knowing that Observation and Resentment do but pro●oke and encourage that Malice which neglect and silence deads and dissipates And it was Sir Walter 's Fathers Maxime That Discontent was the greatest weakness of a generous Soul which is always so intent upon its unhappiness that it forgets its remedies This Lord was a great instance of that Maxime That it 's an equal mischief to distrust all as to believe all although of the two the safest is to distrust for Fear had secured this Noble Person while Confidence ruined him it being a Vertue onely when men were innocent but ever since the bane of those that own it Three things undid this Earl 1. That he could not imagine he was to be ruined by his Advancement 2. That he never mistrusted an Oath 3. That he never considered that as Princes so Favourites have many eyes and long hands He that is so open as to reserve nothing from friends is renowned for Charity but he that is so to lie at the mercy of all is marked for ruine No sooner unde●stood my Lord of Leicester Essex his Disposition but the bitter Fool Pace could tell his Fortune begging of my Lord at his departure the making of his mourning and adding You and I have done for this world Walter E●rl of Essex had been happy if he had not lived in my Lord of Leicester's time his son Robert renowned had he not been Sir Robert Cecil's Contemporary and his Grandchilde an Heroe had he not known my Lord Say and Mr. Hampden Observations on the Life of Thomas Rat●lif Earl of Sussex THomas Ratclif Earl of Sussex was of a very Noble and Ancient Lineage honoured through many Descen●s by the Title of Viscounts Fitz-Walters He was a goodly Gentleman and of a brave noble-Nature true and constant to his friends and servants noted for honesty a very excellent Souldier being one of the Queens martialists who did very good service in Ireland at her first accession til● she recalled him to the Court where she made hi● Lord Chamberlain and though he was no● endowed with the cunningness and dexterity as others were yet upon his Deat●-h●d he gave his f●iends a caveat whom they should beware His words saith Sir Robert Naunton are these I am now passing into another World and must leave you to your Fortunes and to the Quee●s Graces but beware of the Gyp●ie for he will be too hard for you all you know not the beast so well as I do His Prowess and integ●ity drew the Souldiers after him Leicester's Cour●ship and Cunning the Courtiers Cecil's Prudence and service the States-men This Thomas Ratclif Lord Fitz-Walter second Earl of Sussex of that surname was twice Lord Deputy of Ireland by his prudence he prevented the breaking out of an actual Rebellion in that Kingdome and no wonder if in his time it rained not War there seeing his diligence dispersed the Clouds before they could gather together Thus he who cures a disease may be skilfullest but he that prevents it is the best Physitian Being called home by the Queen to be Lord Chamberlain a constant Court faction was maintained between him and Robert Earl of Leicester these two parties dividing the Court whilst the Cecilians as Neuters did look upon them Sussex had a great Estate left by his Ancestors Leicester as great given or restored him by the Queen Sussex was the honester man and greater Souldier Leicester the more facete Courtier and deep Pollitician not for the general good but his own particular profit Great was the animosity betwix● them and what in vain the Queen endeavoured Dea●h performed taking this Earl away and so ●he competition ended New-hall in Essex was the place if not of his birth of his principal habitation he lyeth buried in the Church of St. Olives Hartstreet London The first of Queen Elizabeth found this brave Earl commanding Ireland in peace and plenty with three hundred and twenty Horse and eight hundred and sixty foot prudently garrison'd and well payd a●d the second employed him thither again with instructions that he should beware above all things lest the Irish being an uncivil people and therefore the more superstitious should by the cunning practices of the French be excited to Rebellion under the pretext of Religion 2. That he should fortify Ophale with Castles and Forts 3. That
but shallow to his who by promoting the Queens match could hinder it who could decoy Hunsdon to Berwick Pembroke to Wales Sidney to Ireland while what with his great Train what with his growing Popularity he was called the Heart of the Court. To make his Basis equal to his heighth he enlarged and strengthened his Interest by Alliance with the chief Nobility to whom he was related By his Patronage of Learning over which he was Chancellour● by kindness to the Clergy whose head he seemed to be by his command over all men whom either his favours had won or his frowns awed every body being either within the Obligation of his Cour●esies or the reach of his Injuries He advised some complyance with Philip of Spain for the match he proposed while by degrees he altered Religion so as it must be impossible designing Queen Elizabeth for his own Bed while she made his way to the Queen of Scots whose re●usal of him he made as fatal to her as his marriage would have been advantageous The Queen of England promising to declare her next heir to the Crown of England in case she failed of Issue upon that match Leicester trepans Norfolk to treat a match with the Scotch Queen and her to accept it to both their ruine both being engag●d in such foolish Enterprizes by their enemies practices as made Leicester able in the head of a new Association in the Queens defence to take off Norfolk and his Ladies head He was always beforehand with his Designes being a declared enemy to After-games His Interest was Popery until my Lord North put him upon Puritanism but his Religion neither he promoted the French and Polish match at Court and disparaged them in the Country When Cardinal Chati●●ian advertized her Majesty how Leicester drave Royal Suiters from her Court he was sent to another World He that would not hold by his favour must fall by his frown Archbishop Grindal not excepted His hand bestowed all favours and his brows all frowns the whose Court was at his Devotion and half the Council at his beck Her Majesty suspected but durst not remove him His Intelligence was good in Scotland better in Ireland best in Spain The Country was governed by his Allies and the Court by himself The Tower was in his servants hands London under his Creatures Government and the Law managed by his Confidents His treasure was vast his gains unaccountable all passages to preferment being in his hand at home and abroad He was never reconciled to her Majesty under 5000 l. nor to any Subject under 500 l. and was ever and ●non out with both All Monopolies are his who commanded most mens Purses and all mens Parts A man was oppressed if he complyed with him and undone if he opposed him In a word his designe was thought a Crown his Parts too large for a Subject his Interest too great for a Servant his depth not fathomable in those days and his Policy not reached in these Observations on the Life of Christopher Lord Hatton SIr Christopher Hatton was a Gentleman who for his activity and Person was taken into the Qu●ens favour He was first made Vice-Chamberlain and shortly after advanced to the place of Lord Chancellour● A Gentleman that besides the Graces of his Person and Dancing had also the Adjectments of a strong and subtile c●pacity one that could soon learn the Discipline and Garb both of Times and Court The truth is he had a large proportion of Gifts and Endowments but too much of the season of Envy As he came so he continued in the Court in a mask An honest man he was but reserved Sir Iohn Perr●t talked and Sir Christopher Ha●ton thought His features set off his body his gate his features his carriage his gate his parts his carriage his prudence his parts and his close patience his prudence The Queen loved him well for his activity better for his parts best of all for his abilities which were as much above his experience as that was above his learning and that above his education The little the wary man did was so exactly just and discreet and the little he said was so prudent and weighty that he was chosen to keep the Queens Conscience as her Chancellour and to express her sense as her Speaker the Courtiers that envied the last capacity were by his power forced to confess their errours and the Sergeants that would not plead before him in the first by his prudence to confess his abilities The Chancellourship was above his Law but not his Parts so pregnant and comprehensive that he could command other mens knowledge to as good purpose as his own Such his humility that he did nothing without two Lawyers such his ability that the Queen did nothing without him Two things he said he w●s jealous of his Mistresses the Queens Prerogatives and his Mother the Churches Discipline the one that Majesty might be at liberty to do as much good and the other that Iniquity might not be free to as much evil as it pleased His enemies advanced him that they might weaken him at Court by his absence and kill him at home by a sedentariness This even and clear man observed and improved their practices closing with Malice it self to his own advancement and tempering the most perverse enmity to the greatest kindness His ●irst Preferment at Court was to be one of the fifty Pensioners whence his modest sweetness of Manners advanced him to the Privy Chamber where he had not been long but his face and tongue which most eloquent which most powerful was in those days a question made him Captain of the Guard● his presence and service Vice-Chamberlain and his great improvement under my my Lord Burleigh placed him in that grave Assembly the wisest Convention in Europe at that time the Privy-Council where he had not sate long when his enemies as well as his friends made him Chancellour and Knight of the Garter the one to raise him and the other by that rise to ruine him The Eagle-eyed men of those times carried up on high the Cockleshel they had a mind to crack A man of a pious Nature very charitable to the Poor very tender of dissenting Judgements saying That neither searing nor cutting was to be used in the cause of Religion very bountiful to Scholars who chose him Chancellour at Oxford very exact in his Place whence he went off though not with the applause of a great Lawyer to split Causes yet with the Conscience and comfort of a just man to do equity Take his Character from his own words those words that prevailed with the Queen of Scots to appear before the Commissioners at Fotheringaz when neither Queen Elizabeths Commission nor the Lord Chancellours Reason nor the Power of the Kingdome could perswade that good Lady to it The words are these You are accused but not condemned You say you are a Queen be it so if you are innocent you wrong your Reputation
in avoiding tryal You protest your self innocent the Queen feareth the contrary not without grief and shame To examine your innocence are these honourable prudent and upright Commissioners sent glad will they be with all their hearts if they may return and report you guiltless Believe me the Queen her self will be much affected with joy who affirmed to me at my coming from her that never any thing befel her more grievous than that you were charged with such a crime Wherefore lay aside the bootless priviledge of Royal Dignity which here can be of no use to you appear in Iudgement and shew your Innocence lest by avoiding tryal you draw upon your self suspition and lay upon your Reputation an eternal blot and aspersion Four things I observe he did that deserve a Chronicle 1. That he delayed the Signing of Leicesters P●t●nt for the Lieut●nantcy of England and Ireland the Preface to his Kingdome until that Earl was sick 2. That he reduced the Chancery and all other Courts to Rules 3. That he stood by the Church against the enemies of both sides Archbishop Whitgift when checked by others for his due severity writes to him thus I think my self bound to you for your friendly Message as long as I live It hath not a little comforted me having received unkinde speeches not long since c. And therefore after an ●xpostulation about some States-mens Proceedings against the Law and State of the Realm and a Declaration of his own resolution saith he your Honour in of●ering that great courtesie offered unto me as great a pleasure as I can desire Her Majesty must be my Refuge and I beseech you that I may use you as a means when occasion shall serve whereof I assure my self and therein rest John Cant. 4. That he promoted the Proclamations for plain Apparel for Free Trade for pure Relig●on and the Laws against the Papists None Nobler none less aspiring none more busie yet none more punctual in his hours and orders Corpulent he was but temperate a Batchelor and the onely one of the Queens Favourites yet chaste quick were his Dispatches but weighty many his Orders and consistent numerous were the Addresses to him and easie the access Seldome were his Orders reversed in Chancery and ●eldomer his Advice opposed in Council So just he was that his sentence was Law with the Su●j●ct so wise that his Opinion was Oracle with his Soveraign so exact was Q●een Elizabeth that she called upon him for an old debt though it broke his heart so loving that she carried him a Cordial-broath with her own hand though it could not r●vive him Observations on the Life of the Lord Hunsdon THe Lord Hunsdon was of the Q●eens nearest Kindred and on the decease of Sussex both he and his Son took the place of Lord Chamberlain He was a fast man to his Prince and firm to his friends and servants downright honest and stout-hearted having the charge of the Queens Person both in the Court and in the Camp at Tilbury The integrity of his temper allayed the greatness of his birth which had rendred him dangerous if the other had not vouched him faithful He spoke big but honestly and was thought rather resolute than ambitious His words were as his thoughts and his actions as his words He had Valour enough to be an eminent Souldier in Ruffling times and a r●nownedly honest man in Queen Elizabeths Reign His Latine saith Sir Robert Naunton and his dissimulation were both alike His custome of swearing and obscenity in speaking made him seem a wo●se Christian than he was and a better Knight of the Carpet than he should be The Pol●ticians follow●d Cecil the Courtiers Leicester and the Souldiers Hunsdon whose hands were better than his head and his heart than both He led so brave a Train of young Gallants as after another threatned a Court but after him secured it whose Greatness was not his Mistresses jealou●●e but her safeguard One of his blunt Jests went further than others affected Harangues the one being Nature the other forced His faithfulness made him Governour of Berwick a place of great ●ervice and General of the English Army a place of great Trust. He had something of Leicesters Choler but none of his Malice A right Noble Spirit not so stupid as not to resent not so unworthy as to retain a sense of Injuries To have the Courage to observe an Affront is to be even with an Adversary to have the patience to forgive it is to be above him There goeth a story of him that when his Retinue which in those times was large would have drawn on a Gentleman that had returned him a box on the ear he forbad them in these Souldier-like words You Rogues cannot my Neighbour and my self exchange a box on the car but you must interpose He might have been what he would for relieving Queen Elizabeth in her distress he would be but what he was Others Interests were of●ered him to stand upon he was contented with his own He suppressed the Court Factions and the Northern Commotions the one by his Inter●●t the other by his Valour for the one he had always the Queens heart for the other he had once a most G●acious Letter His Court-●avour was as lasting as his Integrity One hath left this remarque concerning him That he should have been twice Earl of Wiltshire in right of his Mother Bollen And the Queen when he was on his Death-Bed ordered his patent and Robes to his bed-side where he who could dissemble neither well nor ill told the Queen That if he was not worthy of those Honours when living he was unworthy of them when dying In a word Sir William Cecil was a wise man Bacon was reaching ●eicester cunning Walsingham was a Patriot and my Lord Hunsdon was honest Observations on the Life of Nicholas Heath Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellour of England AT once a most wise and a most learned man of great Policy and of as great Integrity meek and resolute more devout to follow his own Conscience than cruel to persecute others It is enough to intimate his moderate temper equal and di●-engaged from violent extreams that the first of Queen Elizabeth in the Disputation between the Papists and Protestants he was chosen by the privy-Council one of the Moderators when Sir Nicholas Bacon was the other The Civility ●e shewed in pros●erity he found in Adver●ity for in Queen El●zabeths time he was rather ●ased than deposed like another Ab●athar sent home by Solomon to his own fields in Anathoth living cheerfully a● Co●ham in Surry where he devoted his Old Age to Religion and Study being much comforted with the ●ueens Visits and kindness and more with his own good conscience that as he would often say he had been so intent upon the service as never to enjoy the greatness of any place he was advanced to Sir Henry Wotton being bound for Rome asked his Host at Siena a man well
dainty● that cost him less and contented his guests more His Table constant and even where all were welcome and none invited 3. His Hall was full most commonly his Gates always the one with the honest Gentry and Yeomen who were his Retainers in love and observance bringing good stomacks to his Table and resolved hearts for his service the holding up of his hand in the Northern business being as affectual as the displaying of a Banner The other with the 1. Aged 2. Maimed 3. Industrious Poor whose craving was prevented with doles and expectation with bounty the first being provided with meat the second with money and the third with employment In a word Mr. Cambden observes That Hospitality lieth buried since 1572 in this Earls Grave whence may that Divine Power raise it that shall raise him but before the last Resurr●ction when there will be plenty to bestow in one part of the world and no poor to be relieved poverty in the other and no bounty to relieve Neither was he munificent upon other mens charge for once a moneth he looked into his Income● and once a weak to his Disbursements that none should wrong him or be wronged by him The Earl of Derby he would say shall keep his own House wherefore it 's an Observation of him and the second Duke of Norfolk That when they were buried not a Trades-man could demand the payment of a Groat that they owed him nor a Neighbour the restitution of a peny they had wronged him They say The Grass groweth not where the Grand Seigniors Horse treads nor doth the People thrive where the Noble-men inhabit● But here every Tenant was a Gentleman and every Gentleman my Lords Companion such his Civility cowards the one and great penny worths to the other Noblemen in those days esteemed the love of their Neighbours more than their fear and the service and fealty of their Tenants more than their money Now the Landlord hath the sweat of the Tenants brow in his Coffers then he had the best blood in his Veins at his command That grand word On mine Honour was security enough for a Kingdome and the onely Asseveration he used It was his priviledge that he need not swear for a testimony and his renown that he would not for his honour Great was this Families esteem with the people and eminent their favour with their Soveraigns as which ever bestowed it self in obliging their Liege-people improving their interest and supporting their Throne for though they were a long time great Kings of Man and Hearts yet were they as long faithfull subjects to England Observations on the Life of Sir William Fi●z-Williams A Childe of Fortune from his Cradle made u● of confidence and reputation never unwarily shewing his Vertue or Worth to the world with any disadvantage When Britain had as little sleepiness and sloath as night when it was all day and all activity He as all young Sparks of that Age trailed a Pike in the Netherlands the Seminary of the English Soldiery and the School of Europes Discipline as a Souldier and travelled as a Gentleman until that place graced him civilly with a Command which he had honoured eminently with his service His friends checked him for undertaking an Employment so boysterous and he replyed upon them That it was as necessary as it seemed irregular for if some were not Souldiers all must be so He said He never durst venture on War with men till he had made his Peace with God A good Conscience breeds great Resolutions and the innocent Soul is impregnable None more fearful of doing evil none more resolved to suffer there being no hardship that he would avoid no undecency that he would allow Strict he was to his Commission and yet observant of his advantage never tempting a danger never flying it careful of his first life and himself but more of his other and his name When the methods of Obedience advanced him to the honour of commanding six things he was Chronicled for 1. Never making the Aged the Young or the Weak the Objects of his Rage which could not be so of his Fear 2. That he never basely killed in cold blood them that had nobly escaped his Sword in hot 3. That he never led the Souldiers without p●y or quartered in the Country without money 4. That though he was second to none that acted in War such his Valour yet he was the first that spake for Peace such his sweet Disposition 5. That he would never suffer that a Clergy-man should be abused a Church violated or the Dead be unburied 6. That he would never force an Enemy to a necessity always saying Let us disarm them of their best Weapons Despair nor fight an Enemy before he had skirmished him nor undertake a designe before he consulted his God his Council his Friends his Map and his History His own Abilities commended and his alliance with Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy whose Sister he married promoted him to the government of Ireland Once did the Queen send him thither for his Brothers sake four times more for his own sake a sufficient evidence saith my Friend of his Ability and Integrity since Princes never trust twice where they are once deceived in a Minister of State He kept up his Mistress●s Interest and she his Authority enjoying the Earl of Essex so much above him in honour to truckle under him in Commission when Governour of vlster and he Lord Deputy of Ireland Defend me said Luther to the Duke of Saxony with your Sword and I will defend you with my Pen. Maintain my Power saith the Minister of State to his Soveraign and I will support your Majesty Two things he did for the settlement of that Kingdome 1. He raised a Composition in Munster 2. He established the Possessions of the Lords and Tenants in Monahan Severe he was always against the Spanish Faction but very vigilant in 88 when the dispersed Armado did look but durst not land in Ireland except driven by Tempest and then finding the shore worse than the Sea But Leicester dieth and he fails when his Sun was set it was presently night with him Yra la soga con el Calderon where goeth the Bucket there goeth the Rope where the Principal miscarrieth all the Dependants fall with him as our r●nowned Knight who died where he was born there is a Circulation of all things to their Original at Milton in Northamptonshire 1594. Observations on the Life of the Earl of Pembroke AN excellent man and one that fashioned his own Fortune His Disposition got favour and his Prudence wealth the first to grace the second and the second to support the first under King Henry the eighth whose Brother-in-law he was by his wife and Chamberlain by his place When others were distracted with Factions in King Edwards Reign he was intent upon his Interest leaning as he said on both sides the stairs to get up for his service being promoted to the master
others as in nature he doth not fit the frame of things to the ugly nature of Monsters but the irregular shape of Monsters to the beauty of things being of opinion tha● we should thank our Governour as the AEthiopian flaves do their Emperour when they are slashed and we should God when we are corrected for thinking of us and having a care of us universal as that God hath of the world whom they represent Rulers within their dominions having much of the Character that God hath in the universe viz. That he is a Circle whose center is every where and Circumference no where Observations on the Life of Sir William Drury SIr William Drury was born in Suffolk where his Worshipful Family had long flourished at Haulsted His name in Saxon soundeth a Pearl to which he answered in the pretiousness of his disposition clear and heard innocent and valiant and therefore valued deservedly by his Queen and Country His youth was spent in the French Wars his middle● Age in Scotland and his old Age in Ireland He was Knight-Marshal of Barwick at what time the French had p●ss●ssed themselves of the Castle of Edenburgh in the minority of King James Queen Elizabe●h employed this Sir William with 1500 men to besiege the Castle which service he right worthily performed reducing it within few days to the owner thereof Anno 1575. he was appointed Lord President of Munster whither he went with competent Forces and executed impartial Iustice in despight of the opposers thereof For as the Signe of Leo immediately precedeth Virgo and Libra in the Zodiack so I hope not that Innocency will 〈◊〉 protected or Iustice administred in a barbarous Country where power and strength do not first secure a passage unto them But the Earl of Desmond opposed this good President forbidding him to enter the County of Kerry as a Palatinate peculiarly appropriated unto himself Know by the way as there were but four Palatinates in England Chester Lancaster Durham and Ely whereof the two former many years since were in effect invested in the Crown there were no fewer than eight Palatinates in Ireland poss●ssed by their respective Dynasts claiming Regal Rights therein to the great retarding of the absolute Conquest of that Kingdome Amongst these saith my Author Kerry became the Sanctuary of Sin and Refuge of Rebels as outlawed from any Iurisdiction Sir William no whit terrified with the Earls threatning and declaring that no place should be a priviledge to mischief entred Kerry with a competent Train and there dispenced Iustice to all persons as occasion did require Thus with seven-score men he safely forced his return through seven hundred of the Earls who sought to surprize him In the last year of his Life he was made Lord Deputy of Ireland and no doubt had performed much in his place if not afflicted with constant sickness the forerunner of his death at Waterford 1598. He was one of that Military Valour which the Lord Verulam wisheth about a Prince in troublesome times that held a good esteem with the Populacy and an exact correspondence with the noble whereby he united himself to each side by endearments and divided them by distrust watching the slow motions of the people that they should not be excited and spirited by the nobility and the ambition of the Great Ones that it should not be befriended with the turbulency or strengthened with the assistance of the Commonalty One great Act well followed did his business with the natives whom he sometimes indulged giving their Discontents liberty to evaporate and with the strangers whom he always awed In those that were commended to his service he observed two things 1. That they were not advanced for their dependence because they promote a Party which he noted to be the first ground of Recommenda●ion 2. Nor for their weakness because they cannot hinder it which he remarked to be the second Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Smith SIr Thomas Smith was born at Saffro●-Walden in Essex and b●ed in Queens Colledge in Cambridge where such his proficiency in Learning that he was chosen out by Henry the eighth to be sent over and to be brought up beyond the Seas It was fashionable in that Age that pregnant Students were maintained on the cost of the State to be Merchants for experience in Forreign Parts whence returning home with their gainful Adventurers they were preferred according to the improvement of their time to Offices in their own Country Well it were if this good old Custome were resumed for if where God hath given five talents men would give but pounds I mean encourage hopeful Abilities with hopeful maintenance able persons would never be wanting and poor men with great Parts would not be excluded the Line of Prefermen● This Sir Thomas was first Servant and Favourite to the Duke of Somerset and afterwards Secretary of State to Q●een Elizabeth and a grand Benefactor to both Universities Anno 1577 when that excellent Act passed● whereby it was provided That a third part of the Rent upon Leases made by Colledges should be reserved in Corn paying it either in k●nd or in money after the rate of the best prices in Oxford or Cambridge markets the next Market-days before Michaelmas or our Lady-day● For the passing of this Act Sir Thomas S●ith ●urprized the House and whereas many conceived not the difference between the payment of Rents in Corn or money the knowing Patriot took the advantage of the presen● cheap year knowing that hereaft●r Grain would grow dearer Mankinde dayly multiplying and License being lately given for Transportation so that now when the Universities have least Corn they have most Bread What his foresight did now for the Universi●y his reach did the first year of Q. Eliz. for the Kingdome for the first sitting of her Councel he advised twelve most important things for the publick safety 1. That the Ports should be shu● 2. That the Tower of London should be secured good hands 3. That the Deputy of Ireland's Commi●●●on should be renewed and enlarged 4. That all Officers should act 5. That no new Office should be bestowed in a moneth 6. Th●t Ministers should meddle with no Controversies 7. That Embassadors should be sent to Forreign Princes 8. That no Coyn should be transported beyond Sea 9. That no person of quality should travel for six weeks 10. That the Trai●-bands should be mustered 11. That Ireland the Borders and the Seas should be provided for 12. And that the dissenting Nobility and Clergy should be wa●ched and secured Adding withal a Paper for the Reading of the Epistle the Gospel and the Commandments in the English tongue to encourag● the Protestants expectation and allay the Papists fear In the same Proclamation that he drew up the Sacrament of the Altar was to be reverenc●d and yet the Communion to be administred in both kinds He advised a Disputation with the Papists one day knowing that they could not dispute without
anno 1572 arraigned for Treason this Iudge was present thereat on the same to●en that when the Duke desired Council to be assigned him pleading that it was granted to Humphrey Stafford in the Reign of King Henry the seventh our Iudge returned unto him That Stafford had it allowed him only as to point of Law then in dispute viz. Whether he was legally taken out of the Sanctuary but as for matter of Fact neither he nor any ever had or could have Councel allowed him But let his own wo●ks praise him in the Gates● known for the place of publick Iustice amongst the Iews let his learned Writings called The Commentaries or Reports evidence his Abilities in his Profession He died in 2● Eliz. thoug● married without any issue and there is a House of a Baronet of his Name descended from an elder Son of Richard Father to our Iudge at great Stoughton in Huntingtonshire well improved I believe with the addition of the Judges E●t●te● There is a Manuscript of this worthy Judge● wherein are six and forty Rules for the pre●ervation of the Commonwealth as worthy our Observation as they were his Collection 1. That the true Religion be established 2. To keep the parts of the Commonwealth equal 3. That the middle sort of people exceed both the extreams 4. That the Nobility be called to serve or at least to appear at the Court by themselves or by the hopes of their Families their Children 5. That the Court pay well 6. That Trade be free and Manufactures with all other Ingenuities encouraged 7. That there be no co-equal Powers nor any other vsurpations against the Foundation 8. That their be notice taken of wise and well-affected Persons to employ them 9. That Corruption be restrained 10. That the Prince shew himself absolute in his Authority first and then indulgent in his Nature 11. That the first ferment of sedition w●nt c. be considered 12. That Preferments be bestowed on merit and not faction 13. That troublesome persons be employed abroad● 14. That Emulations be over r●led 15. That the ancient and most easie way of Contributions when necessary be followed 16. That the Youth be discipled 17. That Discourses and Writings of Government and its mysteries be restrained 18. That the Active and busie be taken to Employment 19. That the King shew himself often in Majesty tempered with familiarity easie access tenderness c. 20. That the Prince perform some expected act●ons at Court himself 21. That no one man be grat●fied with the grievance of many 22. That Acts of Grace pass in the chief Magi●trates Name and Act● of Severity in the Ministers 23. That the Prince borrow when he hath no need 24. That he be so well furnished with Warlike Provisions Citadels Ships as to be renowned for it 25. That the Neighbour-States be balanced 26. That the Prince maintain very knowing Agents Spies and Intelligencers 27. That none be suffered to raise a Quarrel between the Prerogative and the Law 28. That the People be awaked by Musters 29. That in c●ses of Fa●tion Colonies and Plantations be found out to receive ill humours 30. That the Seas the Sea-coast and Borders be secured 31. That the Prince be either resident himself or by a good natured and popular Favourite 32. To act things by degrees and check all the hasty importunate rash and turbulent though well-affected 33. That the Inhabitants have honour promiscuously but that Power be kept in the Well-affected's hands 34. That there be as far as can be plain dealing and the people never think they are deceived 35. That there be a strict eye kept upon Learning Arms and Mechanical Arts. 36. That there be frequent Wars 37. To observe the Divisions among Favourites though not to encourage them 38. That an account be given of the Publick Expences 39. That Inventions be encouraged 40. That the Country be kept in its due dependanc● on the Crown against the times of War Elections c. and to that purpose that the Courtiers keep good houses c. 41. That no disobliging person be trusted 42. That Executions be few suddain and severe 43. To improve the benefit of a Kingdomes Situation 44. That the L●berties and Priviledges of the subject b● so clearly stated that there may be no pr●tences for worse purposes 45. That the Coyn be neither transported nor ●mbased 46. That luxury be suppr●ssed Maximes these that spake our Judge so conversant with Books and men that that may be applyed to him which is attributed to as great a Divine as he was a Lawyer viz. That he never talked with himself Observations on the Life of Sir William Pelham SIr William Pelham was a Native of Sussex whose ancient and wealthy Family hath long flourished in Laughton therein His Prudence in Peace and Valour in War caused Queen Elizabeth to employ him in Ireland where he was by the privy-Council appointed Lord Chief Justice to govern that Land in the interim betwixt the death of Sir William Drury and the coming in of Arthur Gray Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Say not that he did but stop a gap for a twelve-month at the most seeing it was such a gap Destruction had entered in thereat to the final ruine of that Kingdome had not his providence prevented it For in this juncture of time Desmond began his Rebellion 1579 inviting Sir William to side with him who wisely gave him the hearing with a smile in to the Bargain And although our Knight for want of Force could not cure the wounds yet he may be said to have washed and kept it clean re●igning it in a recovering condition to the Lord Gray who succeeded him Afterwards he was sent over into the Low-Countries 1586 being Commander of the English Horse therein It is said of him ●rabautiam persultabat He leapt through Brabant importing celerity and success yea as much Conquest as so suddain an expedition was capable of He had a strong memory whereof he built his experience and a large experience whereon he grounded his actions There was no Town Fort Passage Hill or Dale either in Ireland or Holland but he retained by tha● strong faculty that was much his Nature more his Art which observed privately what it saw publickly recollected and fixed in the night when he observed by day trusting his head with solids but not burthening it with impertinencies Company is one of the greatest pleasu●es of Mankinde and the great delight of this man it 's unnatu●al to be solitary the world is linked together by love and men by friendship who observed three things in his converse that it should be 1. even 2. choice and 3. useful all his friends being either valiant ingenious or wise that is either Souldiers Scholars or States-men Four things he was very intent upon during his Government in Ireland 1. The Priests the Pulpits and the Press 2. The Nobility 3. The Ports 4. The Forreigners Which he pursued with that Activity the Earl of Ormond assisting
that in her arms do ●leep Learn to swim and not to wade For the hearts of Kings are deep But if Greatness be so blind As to trust in Towers of Air Let it be with Goodness lin'd That at least the fall be fair Then though darkned you shall say When friends fail and Princes frown Vertue is the roughest way But proves at night a Bed of Down Observations on the Lives of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Jeffrey Fenton SHarp and lively-spirited men skilful in War and prudent in Peace of a restless and a publick Spirit well skilled in the Trade of England better in the Wealth of America in the North-part whereof which we call New-found Land whither they had sayled a little before with five Ships having sold their Patrimony in hope to plant a Colony there they undid themselves for after they had by the voice of a common Cryer proclaimed that Country to belong to the English Jurisdiction and had assigned Land to each of their Company they were distressed by Shipwracks and want of necessary provision and constrained to give over their Enterprize learning too late and teaching others That it is matter of greater difficulty to tr●nsport Colonies into far Countries upon private mens wealth than they and others in a cred●lous and sanguine fit imagine and this Quod si●●ss●velis nihilque malis Observations on the Life of Do●●or Walter Haddon WAlter Haddon was born of a Knightly Family in Buckinghamshire bred at Eaton afterwards Fellow in Kings Colledge in Cambridge where he proceeded Doctor of Law and was the Kings Professor in that Faculty chosen Vice-Chancellour of the University 1550. soon after he was made President of Mag●alen ●Colledge in Oxford which place he waved in the reign of Q●een Mary and sheltered himself in obscurity Queen Elizabeth made him one of the Masters of her Requests and employed ●●m in several Embassies beyond the Seas Her Majesty being demanded whether she preferred him or Buchanan for learning wittily and warily returned Buchanum omnibus antep●no Haddonum nemini postpono S. Memoriae Gualtero Haddono Equestri loco nato juris Consulte● Oratori Poetae celeberrimo Graece Latin●que Eloquen●●● su● temporis facilè principi sapientia sanctitate vitae in i● erecto ut Reginae Elizabethae à supplicum libellis Magister esset destinareturque majoribus nisi facto immaturius cessisset Interim in omni gradu viro longe Eminentissimo Conjugi sui optimo meretissimoque Anna Suttona uxor ejus secunda slens m●rens desiderii sui signum posuit Obiit anno Salut hum 1572. AEtatis 56. This his fair Monument is extant in the Wall at the upper end of the Chancel of Christ-Church in London where so many ancient Inscriptions have been barbarously defaced He and Dr. Wotton setled Trade between us and the Netherlands and removed the mart to Embden and both were famous for their reservedness in the case of succession which they kept locked in their own breasts so always resolved to do notwithstanding Leicesters Sollicitations of them to a Declaration for the Queen of Scots now his mistress and hereafter in the Queen of Englands designe to be his Wife unless as they alledged their Mistress commanded their Opinion who certainly never heard any more unwillingly than the controversie about the Title of succession and both as famous for their disswasion against the making of the Netherlands a Free-state urging that of Machiavel That people accustomed to live under a Prince if by any accident they become free are like beasts let loose and have much ado to maintain either their G●vernment or their Liberty Observations on the Life of Sir Wi●liam Russel HIs very Name brought Tyrone upon his knees to him and Iniskillyn to a surrendry He was for detaining Tyrone notwithstanding his letters of Protection the Council was for dismissing him either out of favour to him or out of their reverence to their former promise as much to the danger of Ireland as the displeasure of the Queen Pretending an Hunting-match he had almost taken Feagh Mac Hugh or shut him up and under the disguize of a progress he shut up all the Passages and Avenues of Tyrone Agiges the Cretan King would say That he that would govern many must fight with many Our Deputy found that great honour had its great difficulties yet was he so constant and resolute that with Marcellus he would say That as there are many things a good Governour ought not to attempt so ought he not to desist or give over an Enterprize once begun and taken in hand Therefore his Character is One daring in his person close to his purpose firm to his dependencies of a deep and large soul who looked upon the chargeable War in Ireland as an equal remedy against a worse in England to the letting of blood in one part against the effusion of it in another● and advised the bestowing of Church-lands among the Nobility of both Perswasions in Ireland as in England who would then hold their Religion with their Land in Capi●e and stick to the Queen as the great support of both against all pretenders whom then most would v●gorously oppose and all would fairly leave Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Roper SIr Thomas Roper servant to Queen Elizabeth was born in Friday-street in London whose Grandfather was a younger son of the house of Heanour in Derbyshire He going over into the Low Countries became Page to Sir John ●orrice and was Captain of a Foot-company at sixteen years of Age. What afterwards his Martial Performances were will appear by the following lines transcribed out of the Originall of his Patent Whereas Thomas Roper Knight one of our Privy-Councellours of the Kingdome of Ireland long since hath been known unto us famous with the splendour of his warlike Vertue as who by the many Atchievements valiantly performed by him in the late War of this Kingdome hath gained the eminent Repute both of a stout Souldier and a discreet Commander whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Retreat near le Boyle in our Province of Connaught where with very few horse he undauntedly charged great troops of the horse of the Enemy who in a h●●tile manner forraged ●he very bowels of the Kingdome and by his wisdome made such a singular retreat that he not onely saved himself and his men but also delivered the whole Army from great danger and slew very many of his Enemies Who also when our Province of Vlster was all on fire with war being one out of many was for the tryed Resolution of his mind chosen by the Right honourable the Earl of Essex then General of the Army to undertake a Duel with Makal and declined not to expose himself to the appointed Duel And also when the aforesaid Thomas Roper in the late war in the Kingdome of France at Brest by exposing himself to the greatest perils and shedding of his own blood demonstrated his Courage to be unconquerable Who also
pleasure to those that looked on it than the other did service to those that employed it His meen deserving preferment from the favour of a Soveraign and his parts gaining it from his justice Fortune did him not so much wrong in his mean Birth as he did himself right by great merit so worthy a Prince's service and a Courts favour He read and saw what others did but not with others apprehensions his judgment of things being not common nor his observations low flat or vulgar but such as became a breast now furnishing it self for business and for government There was an ancient custom to celebrate the Anniversary of the King's Coronation with all the Shews of Magnificence and joy which the Art or Affections of the People could invent and because we are esteemed the Warlik'st Nation in the whole world to continue that just regulation we declined all those effeminacies which are so predominant in other Courts and absolutely addicted our selves to such Martial exercises as are nothing less pleasing and delightful than the other and yet fit and prepare men more for the real use of Arms and acquisition of glory Here our Knights praise came to my Lord of Carlisle's notice who first designed him a Commander but finding his Genius more courtly than Martial more learned than active recommended him to his Majesties softer services where none more obliging to the People by his industry and interest at Court none more serviceable to his Majesty by the good name he gained in the Countrey So careful was he of publick content that from five to nine his Chamber was open to all Comers where you would find him with the one hand making himself ready with the other receiving Letters and in all this hurry of Business giving the most orderly clear and satisfactory dispatches of any Statesman at that time From nine to one he attended his Master to whom he had as easie access as he gave to his People Two things set him up 1. A fair respect from his Master upon all occasions and as fair a treatment of the People He had his distinct Classis of Affairs and his distinct Officers for those Classis The order and method whereof incredibly advanced his dispatch and eased his burden which took up his day so that there remained but some hours he stole from night and sleep for his beloved and dear Studies and King Iames said he was the hardest Student in White-Hall and therefore he did not alwayes trouble his Master with business but sometimes please him with discourse If Fortune had been as kind to him as Nature greater Employments had been at once his honour and his business But from all his services and performances he derived no other advantage than the acting of them and at his death he left no other wealth behind him but that of a high reputation never arriving at those enjoyments that enhance our Cares not having time to withdraw himself from those cares that take away the relish of our enjoyments Observations on the Life of Sir Fulke Grevil SIr Fulk Grevil Son to Sir Fulke Grevil the elder of Becham Court in Warwick-shire descended from VVilloughby Lord Brook and Admiral to Hen. 7. was bred first in the University of Cambridge He came to the Court back'd with a full and fair Estate and Queen Elizabeth loved such substantial Courtiers as could plentifully subsist of themselves He was a good Scholar loving much to employ and sometimes to advance learned men to whom worthy Bishop Ov●ral chiefly owed his Preferment and Mr. Cam●den by his own confession feasted largely of his Liberality His studies were most in Poetry and History as his Works do witness His stile conceived by some to be swelling is allowed lofty and full by others King Iames created him Baron Brook of Beauchamp-Court as descended from the sole Daughter and Heir of Edward Willoughby last Lord Brook in the Reign of King Henry the 7th His sad death or murther rather happened on this occasion His discontented servant conceiving his deserts not soon or well enough rewarded wounded him mortally and then to save the Law the labour killed himself verify●ng the observation that he may when he pleaseth be master of another mans life who contemneth his own He lyeth buried in Warwick Church under a Monument of black and white Marble whereon he is stiled Servant to Queen Elizabeth Counsellour to King Iames and Friend to Sir Philip Sidney Though a Favourite he courts Ladies rather than Honour and pursued his study rather than his ambition being more contemplative than active Others ministred to Queen Elizabeths government this Gentleman to her Recreation and Pleasures He came to Court when all men should young and stayed there until he was old his fortune being as smooth as his spirit and the Queens favour as lasting as his merit He bred up Statesmen but was none Sir William Pickering was like to have gained the Queens Bed by studying Sir Philip Sidney had her Heart for writing and Sir Fulke Grevil had her favour for both one great argument for his worth was his respect of the worth of others desiring to be known to posterity under no other notions than of Shakespear's and Ben Iohnson's Master Chancellor Egerton's Patron Bishop Overal's Lord and Sir Philip Sidney's Friend His soul had the peace of a great fortune joyned to a greater mind His worth commended him to Majesty his affableness indeared him to the popularity his mornings were devoted to his Books his afternoons to his knowing Friends his nights to his debonair Acquaintance He was the Queens Counsellor for persons as others were for matters and things Sweet was his disposition winning his converse fluent his discourse obliging his looks gestures and expressions publick his spirit and large his soul his Genius prompted him to prepare himself for Domestick services by Forreign employments but the great Mistriss of her Subjects affections and duties forbad it and his own prudence checked it So dear was he to the Queen that when his horses were shipped at Dover for the Netherlands her Mandate by Sir Edward Dier stopped him When he went over with Walsingham he was remanded and when with Leicester he was checked He was the exact image of action and quiet happily united in him seldom well divided in any He would have acted his great principles of Government yet he could be confined only to write them He could sit down with some Poetick and polite Characters of Vertue when he was debarred the real ●●ercises of it He had kept Essex his head on had not that unhappy man's Parasites made the Earl deaf to his ●●●nsels and his Enemies removed him from his p●●●●nce under a pretence of guarding the Seas against his Enemies while his Kinsman was betrayed by his Friends Observations on the Life of Sir Robert Cecil SIr Robert Cecil since Earl of Salisbury was the Heir of the Lord Burleigh's prudence the inheritour of his favour and by
for all with a plentiful estate which came to pass accordingly For his Father dying in his infancy no plentiful provision was made for him and when his eldest Brother Thomas Duke of Norfolk was executed his condition was much impaired insomuch that being once in London not overstocked with money when his noble Nephews the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Thomas Howard were out of Town and loath to pin himself on any Table uninvited he was fain to dine with the Chair of Duke Humphrey but other not to say better company viz. reading of books in Stationers Shops in St. Paul's Church-yard though afterwards he attained to great wealth honour and command However that Lord gave little credit to and placed less confidence in such Predictions as appeared by a learned Work he hath written on that subject Observations on the Life of Sir John Ramsey Earl of Holderness and Sir Tho. Ereskin Earl of Kelley BOth their preferment● began on the same occasion both their natures were eminent for the same innocence and goodness both their services tend to the same issue and therefore both their Characters come under one observation which it's more proper to take in the word of their Countrey-man and Contemporary that knew them than in the expression of a stranger that onely heard of them The whole story runs thus The name of Ruthen in Scotland was not notorious until Anno 1568. when Ruthen amongst others Confederates in those divided times of trouble laboured much for the imprisoning Queen Mary Mother to King Iames. In 1582. his son William was created Earl Goury in the time of that King's minority though the Father bore deadly hatred to the King's prosperity And in 1584. himself was in actual Rebellion in which he suffered at Dondee His eldest son Iohn then in Travel in Italy returns home to inherit his lands and honours but not one jot changed in disposition from the traiterous ways of his Predecess●rs For not long after he falls into this Conspiracy which is not so ancient but that many then and now living can and my self have heard the repetition The house of Gowry were all of them much addicted to study Chymistry and these more to practise it often publishing as such Professors usually do more rare experiments then ever could be performed wherein the King a general Scholar had little faith But to infuse more credit to the practice Alexander Ruthen the second brother takes this occasion and withal conspires with Gowry to assassinate the King and taking opportunity in his hunting not far from his house St. Iohnstone invites the King to be an eye-witness of his productions In their way Sir Thomas Erskin after Lord Kelley overtakes them and others Demanding of the Duke of Lenox then present why Alexander had ingrossed the King's ear to carry him from his Sports Peace man said the Duke Wee's all be turn'd into gold Not far they rid but that the Earl Gowry made good by protestation his Brother's story And thus was the King brought to be a Guest Neer the end of Dinner at his Fruit and the Lords and Waiters gone to eat Alexander begs of the King at this opportunity to withdraw and to be partaker of his Production to the view of that which yet he could not believe And up h● leads the King into by-lodgings locking each door behind them till they came into a Back-Room where no sooner entered but that A●exander claps on his Bonnet and with stern countenance faces the Kin● and says Now Sir you must know I had a Father whose blood calls for revenge shed for your sake The King amazed deals gently with his fury excuses the guilt of his death by his then Infancy Advising him not to lay violent hands on the sacred Person of his Anointed Soveraign Especially in a cause of his Innocency Pleading the Laws of God and Man which so much wrought upon him that he said Well I will speak● with my Brother and so put the King into a Lobby Room next the Chamber where no sooner entered but that there appeared a fellow weaponed ready for execution to whose custody the King is committed till his return Alexander gone down the fellow trembles with Reverence puts down his Sword and craves pardon which gave the King occasion to work upon that passion and to ask him whether he resolved to murther him Being assured to the contrary the King gets leave to open a window that looked into a back Court When presently Alexander returns and tells the King that he must dye But much affrighted at the Fellow's countenance with his sword offers violence to the King Which the fellow seemingly opposes and between them began a scuffle which gave advantage to the King to cry Treason at the Window which looked into a back-Court where Sir Thomas Erskin and one Herries were come in pursuit of the King who was rumoured to be gone out the back-way to his hunting At the cry of Treason and known to be the King's voice they both hastened up a back-stair called the Turn-pike being directed by a servant of the house who saw Alexander ascend that way And so forcing some doors that found them above panting with the fray and up comes also at heels of them Iohn Ramsey after Earl of Holderness by them Alexander was soon dispatched Not long after came the Earl Gowry by his double key the first way with a case of Rapiers his usual weapons and ready drawn To whom Erski● said as to divert his purpose What do you mean my Lord the King is kill'd for the King was shadowed having cast himself upon a Re● from his sight and his Cloak was thrown upon the Body of Alexander bleeding upon the ground At which Gowry stops sinking the points of his weapons when suddenly Herries strikes at him with a hunting Falchion And Ramsey having his Hawk on his fist casts her off and steps in to Gowry and stabs him to the heart and forthwith more Company came up Not long after this Conspiracy Herries dies well rewarded Iohn Ramsey hath the Honour of Knighthood with an additional bearing to his Coat of Arms A Hand holding forth a Dagger reversed proper piercing a bloody Heart The point crowned Emperial with this Distick Haec Dextra Vindex Principis Patriae Afterwards he was created Lord Haddington and Earl of Holdern●ss Sir Thomas Erskin was afterwards created Earl of Kelly Knight of the Garter Captain of the King's Guard and Groom of the Stool and the Fellow designed for the Murtherer had a large Pension confirmed by Act of their Parliam●nt And all these men but Herries were living with other witnesses at King Iames his journey when he went from hence to visit Scotland and met together by direction at the same house with Ceremony and all of them with a number of Courtiers ascended into the same Room the blood yet r●maining where the King related the Story which was confirmed by them And afterwards kneeling down with
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 profe●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 o●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 p●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 lo●● 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 Elsem●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 Advanceme●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 ●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
and assuring him that his Majesty would be wi●ling to gratifie him to the utmost of his power To whom the Earl replyed I will not dye with a Suit in my mouth to any King save to the King of Heaven By Anne da●ghter to Philip Earl of Pembrook Montgom●ry he had Charles now Earl of Carnarvan From h●● noble Extract he received not more honour than he gave it For the blood that was conveyed to him through so many illustrious veins he derived to his Children more matured for renown and by a constant practice of goodness more habituated to vertue His youth was prepared for action by study without which even the most eminent parts of Noble-men seem rough and unple●sant in despight of the splendor of their fortune But his rip●r years endured not those retirements and therefore brake out into manlike exercises at home and travel abroad None more noble yet none more modest none more valiant yet none more patient A Physician at his Father-in-Law's Table gave him the Lye which put the company to admire on the one hand the man's impudence and on the other my Lord's mildness until he said I 'll take the Lye from him but I 'll never take Physick of him He may speak what doth not become him I 'll not do what is unworthy of me A vertue this not usual in Noble-men to whom the limits of Equity seem a restraint and therefore are more restless in Injuries In the mi●dest of horror and tumults his soul was serene and calm As humble he was as patient Honour and nobility to which nothing can be added hath no better way to increase than when secured of its own greatness it humbleth it self and so at once obligeth love● and avoideth envy His carriage was as condescending as heroick and his speech as weighty as free He was too great to envy any mans parts and vertues and too good not to encour●ge them Many a time would he stoop with his own spirit to raise other mens He neglected the minute and little circumstances of compliance with vulgar humors aiming at what was more solid and more weighty Moderate men are appl●uded but the Heroick are never understood Constant he was in all that was good this was his heroick expression when solici●ed by his Wives Father to desist from his engagement with the King Leave me to my Honour and Allegiance No security to him worth a breach of Trust no interest worth being unworthy His conduct was as eminent in War as his carriage in Peace many did he oblige by the generosity of his mind more did he awe with the hardness of his body which was no more softned to sloath by the dalliances of a Court than the other was debauched to a carelesness by the greatness of his Fortune His prudence was equal to his valour and he could entertain dangers as well as despise them for he not only undeceived his enemies surmises but exceeded his own friends opinion in the conduct of his soldiers of whom he had two cares the one to discipline the other to preserve them Therefore they were as compleatly armed without as they were well appointed within that surviving their first dangers they might attain that experience resolution w ch is in vain expected from young and raw soldiers To this conduct of a General he added the industry of a Soldier doing much by his performances more by his example ●hat went as an active soul to enliven each part the whole of his brave Squadron But there is no doubt but personal and private sins may oft-times over-balance the justice of publick eng●gements Nor doth God account every Gallant a fit instrument to assert in the way of war a righteous cause the event can never state the justice of any cause nor the peace of mens consciences nor the e●ernal fate of their souls They were no doubt Martyrs who neglected their lives and all that was dear to them in this world having no advantageous design by any innovation but were religiously sensible of those tyes to God the Church their King their Countrey which lay upon their souls both for obedience and just assist●nce God could and I doubt not but he did through his mercy crown many of them with eternal life whose lives were lost in so good a cause the destruction of their bodies being sanctified as a means to save their souls Observations on the Life of the Lord Herbert of Cherbury EDward Herbert son of Richard Herbert Esq and Susan Newport his Wife was born at Montgomery-Castle and brought to Court by the Earl of Pembrook where he was Knighted by K. Iames who sent him over Embassador into ●rance Afterwards K. Charles the first created him Baron of Castle-Island in Ireland and some years after Baron of Cherbury in Montgomeryshire He was a most excellent Artist and rare Linguist studied both in Books and Men and himself the Author of two Works most remarkable viz. A Treatise of Truth written in French so highly prized beyond the Seas and they say it is ext●nt at this day with great Honour in the Popes Vatican and an History of King Henry the Eighth wherein his Collections are full and authentick his observation judicious his connexion strong and cohaerent and the whole exact He married the Daughter sole Heir of Sir William Herbert of St. Iulians in Mo●mouth-shire with whom he had a large Inheritance in England and Ireland and died in August Anno Dom. 1648. having designed a fair Monument of his own invention to be set up for him in the Church of Montgomery according to the model following Upon the ground a Hath pace of fourteen foot square on the middest of which is placed a Dorick Column with its right of Pedestal Basis and Capitols fifteen foot in height on the Capitol of the Column is mounted an U●● with a Heart Flamboul supported by two Angels The foot of this Column is attended with four Angels placed on Pedestals at each corner of the said Hath-pace two having Torches reverst extinguishing the Motto of Mortality the other two holding up Palms the Emblems of Victory When this noble person was in France he had private Instructions from England to mediate a Peace for them of the Religion and in case of refusal to use certain menaces Accordingly being referred to Luynes the Constable and Favourite of France he delivereth him the Message reserving his threatnings till he saw how the matter was relished Luynes had hid behind the Curtain a Gentleman of the Religion who being an Ear-witness of what passed might relate to his friends what little expectations they ought to entertain from the King of England's intercession Luynes was very haughty and would needs know what our KING had to do with their affairs Sir Edward replyed It 's not you to whom the King my Master oweth an account of his actions and for me it 's enough that I obey him In the mean time I must maintain That my Master
breath was spent in proclaiming K. Charles the II. in the very face of his Enemies as known to him to be a vertuous noble gentle just and great Prince a Perfect Englishman in his inclination 2. His great merits and modesty whereof K. Charles I. writes thus to his excellent Queen There is one that doth not yet pretend that doth deserve as well as any I mean Capel Therefore I desire thy assistance to find out something for him before he ask 3. The blessing of God upon his noble but suffering Family who was a Husband to his excellent Widow and a Father to his hopeful Children whom not so much their birth beauty and portion though they were eminent for these as their Vertues married to the best Bloods and Estates in the Land even when they and the Cause they suffered for were at the lowest It 's the happiness of good men though themselves miserable that their seed shall be mighty and their Generation blessed Observations on the Life of Bishop Andrews I Have much a-do to prevail with my own hand to write this excellent Prelate a Statesman of England though he was Privy-Councellor in both Kingdoms For I remember that he would say when he came to the Council-Table Is there any thing to be done to day for the Church If they answered Yea then he said I will stay If No he said I will be gone Though yet this be an instance of as much prudence as any within the compass of our Observation So safe is every man within the circle of his own place and so great an argument of abilities hath it been always confessed to know as well what we ought as what we can especially in Clergy-men whose over-doing doth abate their reverence and increase their envy by laying open those defects and miscarriages which are otherwise hallowed or at least concealed in the mystick sacredness of their own function Not but that men of that gravity and exactness of that knowledge and experience of that stayedness and moderation of that sobriety and temperance of that observation and diligence as Bishops are presumed to be were in all Governments judged as fit to manage publick affairs as men of any other professions whatever without any prejudice to the Church which must be governed as well as taught and managed as well as a society dwelling in the world as under the notion of a peculiar people taken out of it His successful skill in dea●ing with the Papists under my Lord of Huntington President of the North and with the Puritans under Doctor Cosin an Ecclesiastical Officer in the South recommended him to Sir Francis Walsingham's notice as a person too useful to be buried in a Country-Living who thereupon intended to set up his Learning in a Lecture at Cambridge to confute the Doctrine of Rome unti● Queen Eliz. resolved to set up his prudence in other Employments at Court to countermine its policy where I know not whether the acuteness of his Sermons took most with the most Learned the devotion of them with the most pious or the prudence of them with the most Wise it hath been one thin● always to Preach learnedly and another thing to preach wisely for to the Immensity of his Learning he added excellent Principles of politick prudence as a governour of the Church and a Councellor of State wherein he was conspicuous not for the crafty projects and practices of policy or for those finister ways of Artifice and subtlery or the admired depths of Hypocrisie called reason of State no● the measures and rules of his Politicks and Prudentials were taken from the great experience he had gotten and many excellent observations he had made out of all Histories as well Humane as Divine though he always laid the greatest weight upon the grounds and instances of holy Scripture which gives the truest judgement of wisdom or folly considering the mixture of State-affairs with tho●e of the Church in Christian Common-wealths and the fitness of sober and discreet Clergy-men for those of the State in all It 's a wonder how Clergy-men come to be excluded publick Councils at any time but observing Bishop Andrews his insight into the Fundamental constitution of our State as appears from his Speech in the Countess of Shrewsbury's Case His distinct foresight o● the consequences of Affairs evident in his speech against Thraske His circumspect care of the Publick visible in his Petition to King Iames then sick at New-Market that the P●ince then under Scotch Tutors be educated by well-principled men the occasion that King Iames took to bring him up himself so exactly in the Doctrine and Discipline of o●r Church that it 's a question whether he was more by his Pen or Sword his Scepter or his Style The Defender of the Faith His wond●rful skill in the government of this Church discerned by ●he excellent King Charles in that he sent so many Bishops to consult with him 1625. what was to be done for the Church in that Parliament His caution and moderation in ●hat he never unless upon gre●t considerations innovated in his Church b●t left things in the same decency and order he ●ound them knowing that all alterations have ●heir dangers I am astonished to think that B●shops should be forbidden secular employment in our time Who hath more ampleness and compleatness saith Bishop Gauden for a good man a good Bishop a good Christian a good Scholar a good Preacher and a good Counsellor than Bishop Andrews a man of an astonishing excellency both at home and abroad Observations on the Life of Henry Mountague Earl of Manchester HEnry Earl of Manchester third son to Sir Edward Mountague Grand-childe to Sir Edward Mountague Lord Chief-Justice of the King's Bench in King Edward the sixth's time was born at Boughton in Northampton-shire One skilful in mysterious Arts beholding him when a School-boy foretold that by the pregnancy of his parts he would raise himself above the rest of his Family which came to pass accordingly He being bred first in Christs-Colledge in Cambridge then in the Middle Temple where he attained to great Learning in the Laws passed through many preferments as they are reckoned up viz. 1. Sergeant at L●w. 2. Knighted by K. Iames Iuly 22. 1603. 3. Recorder of London 4. Lord Chief-Justice of the King's Bench Novemb. 18. 1616. 5. Lord Treasurer of England Decemb. 16. 1620. 6. B●ron of Kimbolton 7. Viscount Mandevile 8. President of the Council Sept. 29. 1631. 9. E●rl of Manchester 10. Lord Privy-Seal He wisely perceiving that Courtiers were but as Counters in the hands of Princes raised and depressed in valuation at pleasure was contented rather to be set for a smaller sum than to be quite put up into the box Thus in point of place and preferment being pleased to be what the King would have him according to his Motto Movendo non mutando me he became almost what he would be himself finally advanced to an Office of great Honour When Lord