Mars Puer Alecto Virgo VULPES LEO Nullus THE Court and Character OF King James Whereunto is now added THE Court of King CHARLES CONTINUED Unto the beginning of these Unhappy TIMES With some Observations upon Him in stead of a Character Collected and perfected by Sir A. W. Qui nescit dissimulare nescit regnare Published by Authority Printed at London by R. I. and are to be sold by J. Collins in Little Brittaine 1651. To my most Honoured and truly Noble Lady the Lady Elizabeth Sidley of South fleet Madam I Here present you with an Epitomee of some secret Passages in the whole reign of one King part of anothers Of which my self have been either an Eare or Eye-witnesse or from the testimony of such as have been Authours or Actors therefore unquestionable Truths It is the Conception and Birth of four daies with the help of some scattered Papers as a Midwife to bring them into the world Being therefore but an Embryon you cannot expect any perfect shape But what it wants in that you shall finde in the most perfect form of undeniable Truths The honourable esteem I have ever had of you and your brave Parts is my first motive of presenting it to your view That it comes from no ordinary Author this being the first and for ought I know the last a second That it was written in a Melancholly humour therefore fittest for your Melancholly Temper the last I dare no more trust any other hand to write this than willingly any but your selfe or some such good friends to read it Which is the reason it appeares no fairer to your view And it treads too near the heeles of truth and these Times to appear in publick If you shal please to accept of it as worthy to cast a glance upon at your idle or melancholly hours I have my full desires If cast from you it hath just Deserts Mine ambition only is that so Noble a Lady shal be the God mother of the first and only heir that ever shall come of this quality from Your Ladiships most humble Servant A. W. Upon the Authors Discourse and Observations concerning the whole Reigne of King James and part of King Charles's REader here view a Picture of our Times Drawn to the life the foulest secret Crimes Discover'd with their Authors Tricks of State To create guilty soules the Peoples hate The Prince's feares Favourites Rise and Fall Greatnesse debauched Gentry slighted all To please those Favourites whose highest ends Were to exhaust the State to please their friends View the Isles first Monarch dead the Seconds breath Prerogatives sole life the Kingdomes death THE Court of King James OR A generall Discourse of some secret passages in State since the death of that ever glorious Queene Elizabeth untill this present By the Authors owne observation who was either an eye or eare witnesse or from such as were actors in them from their owne Relation VPon the Twenty fourth of March 1602. did set the most glorious Sun that ever shined in our Firmament of England the never to be forgotten Queen Elizabeth of happy memory about three in the morning at her Mannour of Richmond not only to the unspeakable griefe of her Servants in particular but of all her Subjects in generall And although many of her Courtiers adored that rising Sun appearing in the North yet since not without regret of their monstrous ingratitude to her that Sun now set and in peace For no sooner was that Sun set but Sir Robert Carew Her neare Kinsman and whose Family and himself she had raised from the degree of a meane Gentleman to high Honour in title and place most ingratefully did catch at Her last breath to carry it to the rising Sun then in Scotland notwithstanding a strict Charge laid to keep fast all the Gates yet his Father being Lord Chamberlaine he by that meanes found favour to get out to carry the first newes which although it obtained for him the Governourship of the Duke of York yet hath set so wide a mark of ingratitude on him that it will remaine to Posterity a greater blot then the honour hee obtained afterward will ever wipe out About nine in the morning of that day was proclaimed King Iames of blessed memory by the name of James the first and now nothing on all hands but preparations for accommodating him in his journey for England many posting into Scotland for preferment either by indearing themselves by some merit of their owne to the King or by purchasing friends with their purses Gold and Silver being a precious commodity in that Climate and would procure any thing and did procure Suits Honours and Offices to any that first came of all which the King afterward extended his bounty in so large and ample a manner as procured his owne impoverishment to the pressure of his Subjects so farre as set some distance between him and them which his wisdome and King-craft could easily at all times reconcile The first that came from the King to the Lords in England to give order for all things necessary for the expediting his journey toward England was Sir Roger Aston an English-man borne but had his breeding wholly in Scotland and had served the King many yeares as his Barber an honest and free-hearted man and of an ancient Family in Cheshire but of no breeding answerable to his birth yet he was the only man ever employed as a Messenger from the King to Queen Elizabeth as a Letter carrier only which expressed their owne intentions without any helpe from him besides the delivery but even in that capacity was in very good esteeme with her Majesty and received very royall rewards which did inrich him and gave him a better Revenue then most Gentlemen in Scotland for the Queene did finde him as faithfull to Her as to his Master in which he shewed much wisdome though of no breeding In this his employment I must not passe over one pretty passage I have heard himselfe relate That he did never come to deliver any Letters from his Master but ever he was placed in the Lobby the Hangings being turned him where he might see the Queen dancing to a little Fiddle which was to no other end then that he should tell his Master by her youthfull disposition how likely he was to come to the possession of the Crowne hee so much thirsted after for you must understand the wisest in that Kingdome did beleeve the King should never injoy this Crowne as long as there was an old Wife in England which they did beleeve we ever set up as the other was dead Sir Roger Aston presenting himselfe before the Councell being but a plaine untutored man being asked how he did and courted by all the Lords lighted upon this happy reply Even my Lords like a poore man wandring above forty yeares in a Wildernesse and barren Soyle am now arrived at the Land of Promise This man was afterward made
too ranke and appeared too poore and plaine a tricke of State and Salisbury in this had a double benefit First in ridding himselfe of such as he feared would have been thornes in his sides Secondly by endearing himselfe to the King by shewing his diligence and vigilancy for his safety so that it might be said of him as of Caesar in another case Inveniam aut saciam I will either finde out a Treason or make one and this had been a pretty trick had it been only to disgrace without taking away life but how this peece of policy may stand with Religion I feare by this time he too well understands and this plot as neare as I can tell you and I dare say my intelligence gave me as neare a guesse as ever any man had was that all these in a discontented humour had by Watson and Clarke being Confessors dealt with Count Aremberge the Arch Dukes Embassadour to negotiate with the Arch Duke to raise an Army and invade England and they would raise another of Papists and Male-contents to joyne for you must understand the King was beleeved an errand Puritan Cujus contrarium verum est how likely this Plot was let the world judge that the King of Spaine who had bought peace at so deare a rate and found it so advantageous to him by the lamentable experience he had formerly in the Wars with this formidable State should seek to breake it so soone and had it been a reall Treason the State had been bound to have rewarded these Traytors as the best peece of service done in England all that Kings reigne it was indeed those that made the Peace not those that endeavoured the breaking of it were the Traytors and are to be cursed by all Posterity yet this foolish Plot served well enough to take some blocks out of the way that might afterward have made some of them stumble to the breaking of their owne necks They were all Arraigned of Treason at Winchester whither the King having sent some secretly to observe all passages upon whose true and faithfull relations of the innocencies of the Persons Arraigned and the sleight proofes upon which they were condemned he would not be drawne to signe any Warrant for the execution of Rawleigh Cobham and Grey very hardly for any of the rest the two Priests excepted For Rawleighs defence it was so brave and just as had he not wilfully cast himselfe out of very wearinesse as unwilling to detaine the company longer no Jury could ever have cast him all the Evidence brought against him was Cobhams Accusation which he only desired might appeare viva voce and he would yeeld without further defence but that they knew ful well Cobham would not nor could not accuse him having been tampered with by Wade then Lieutenant of the Tower and Salisburies great Creature Wade desired it under his hand that also he refused at last Wade got a trick by his cunning to surprize Cobhams weaknesse to get him write his name to a Blank to which Wade no question wrote the accusation as will appeare hereafter for Salisbury urging Rawleigh often if Cobham had accused him under his hand would he then yeeld Rawleigh replyed He knew Cobham weake of judgement and did not know how that weaknesse might be wrought upon but was confident he would not to his face accuse him and therefore would not put his life fortune and all on that at which fence he stood til nine at night at last his fate carried him against his reason and he yeelded upon the producing his hand which was instantly pulled out and was in truth his hand but not his act or deed so at that present was George Brooke Watson and Clarke executed Parham acquitted and Sir Walter Rawleigh executed many yeares after for the same treason as much against all justice as beyond all reason or any president yea after he had been a Generall by the Kings Commission and had by that power of the Lives of many others utterly against the Civill Law which saith He that hath power of the Lives of others ought to be Master of his owne But the Spaniard was so powerfull at that time in Court as that Faction could command the life of any man that might prove dangerous to his designes Grey and Cobham dyed in their restraint the one much pittied the other scorned and his death as base for hee dyed lousie for want of Apparrell and Linnen and had starved had not a Trencher-scraper sometime his Servant in Court releived him with scraps in whose house he dyed being so poore a house as he was forced to creep up a Ladder into a little hole to his Chamber which was a strange judgement and unpresidented that a man of seven thousand pounds per annum and of a personall estate of thirty thousand pounds of all which the King was so cheated of what should have Escheated to him that he could not give him any maintenance as in all cases the King doth unlesse out of his owne Revenue of the Crown which was the occasion of this Lords want his Wife being very rich would not give him the crums that fell from her Table and this was a just judgement of God on him And now because it will be pertinent in this place to let you understand that Rawleigh had his life surrepticiously taken away I shall give you a true story Queen Anne that brave Princesse was in a desperate and some beleeved an incurable Disease whereof the Phisitians were at the furthest end of their studies to finde the cause at a Non-plus for the Cure Sir Walter Rawleigh being by his long studies an admirable Chymist undertooke and performed the Cure for which he would receive no other reward but that her Majesty would procure that certaine Lords might be sent to examine Cobham whether he had accused Sir Walter Rawleigh of Treason at any time under his hand the King at the Queens request and in Justice could doe no lesse sends six Lords which I take were the Duke of Leonox Salisbury Worcester Suffolke Sir George Carew and Sir Julius Caesar to demand of Cobham whether he had not under his hand accused Sir Walter Rawleigh at Winchester upon that Treason he was Arraigned for Cobham did protest never nor could he but said he That Villaine Wade did often solicite me and not prevailing that way got me by a trick to write my name upon a peece of white Paper which I thinking nothing did so that if any Charge came under my hand it was forged by that Villaine Wade by writing something above my hand without my consent or knowledge These six returning to the King the rest made Salisbury their Spokes-man who said Sir my Lord Cobham hath made good all that ever hee wrote or said Where it is to be noted that this was but an equivocating tricke in Salisbury for it was true that Cobham had made good whatever hee had writ that being but in truth to
very nothing but never wrote he any thing to accuse Rawleigh by which you may see the basenesse of these Lords the credulity of the King and the ruine of Sir Walter Rawleigh I appeale now to the judgement of all the world whether these six Lords were not the immediate Murtherers of Sir Walter Rawleigh and no question shall be called to a sad account for it And thus have you a true relation of the Treason and Traytors with all the windings and turnings in it and all passages appertaining to it and by it you may see the slavery these great men were inslaved in by Salisbury that none durst testifie such a truth as the not testifying lost their most precious Soules And now doth the King returne to Windsor where there was only an apparition of Southamptons being a Favourite to his Majesty by that privacy and dearnesse was presented to the Court-view but Salisbury liking not that any of Essex his faction should come into play made that apparition appeare as it were in transitu and so vanished by putting some jealousies into the Kings head who was so farre from jealousie that he did not much desire to be in his Queenes company yet love and regality must admit of no partnership Then was there in requitall of the Spanish Embassadours two stately Embassies addressed the one to Spaine the other to the Arch Duke to have that peace they so dearly purchased confirmed and sworne to by ours as formerly by them the old Lord Admirall was sent to Spaine the Earle of Hartford for Bruxels that the Duke of Leonox might have the better opportunity The Spaniard was astonied at the bravenesse of our Embassie and the handsome Gentlemen in both which few Embassies ever equalled this for you must understand the Iesuites reported our Nation to be ugly and like Devils as a punishment sent to our Nation for casting off the Popes supremacy and they pictured Sir Francis Drake generally halfe a Man halfe a Dragon When they beheld them after the shape of Angels they could not well tell whether to trust their own eyes or their Confessors reports yet they then appeared to them as to all the world monstrous Lyers The Embassadour had his reception with as much state as his entertainment with bounty the King defraying all charges and they were detained at their Landing longer then ordinary to have provisions prepared in their passage to Madrid with all the bounty was possible to make the whole Country appeare a Land of Canaan which was in truth but a Wildernesse In their abode there although they gave them Roast-meat yet they beat them with the spits by reporting that the English did steale all the Plate when in truth it was themselves who thought to make Hay while the Sunne shined not thinking ever more to come to such a Feast to fill their purses as wel as their bellyes for food and coyne are equally alike scarce with that Nation this report passed for currant to the infinite dishonour of our Nation there being at that time the prime gallantry of our Nation Sir Robert Mansell who was a man borne to vindicate the Honour of his Nation as of his owne being Vice-Admirall and a man on whom the old Admirall wholly relyed having dispatched the Ships to be gone the next morning came in very late to Supper Sir Richard Levison sitting at the upper end of the Table amongst the Grandees the Admirall himselfe not supping that night being upon the dispatch of Letters the Table upon Sir Robert Mansells entrance offered to rise to give him place But he sat down instantly at the lower end and would not let any man stirre and falling to his meat did espy a Spaniard as the Dishes emptied ever putting some in his bosome some in his breeches that they both strutted Sir Robert Mansell sent a Message to the upper end of the table to Sir Richard Levison to be delivered in his eare that whatsoever he saw him doe he should desire the Gentlemen and Grandees to sit quiet for there should be no cause of any disquiet on the sudden Sir Robert Mansell steps up takes this Spaniard in his armes at which the table began to rise Sir Richard Levison quiets them brings him up to the end amongst the Grandees then pulls out the Plate from his bosome breeches and every part about him which did so amaze the Spaniard and vindicate that aspersion cast on our Nation that never after was there any such syllable heard but all honour done to the Nation and all thanks to him in particular From thence next day they went for Madrid where all the royall entertainment Spain could yeeld was given them and at the end of the Grand entertainment and Revells which held most part of the night as they were all returning to their Lodgings the street being made light by white Wax lights and the very night forced into a day by shining light as they were passing in the street a Spaniard catcheth off Sir Robert Mansells Hat with a very rich jewell in it and away he flyes Sir Robert not being of a spirit to have any thing violently taken from him nor of such a Court-like complement to part with a jewell of that price to one no better acquainted with him hurls open the Boote followes after the fellow and some three Gentlemen did follow him to secure him houseth the Fellow in the house of an Allagozy which is a great Officer or Judge in Spaine this Officer wondering at the manner of their comming the one without his hat and sword in his hand the other with all their swords Demands the cause They tell him He saith surely none can think his house a sanctuary who is to punish such offenders But Sir Robert Mansell would not be so put off with his Spanish gravity but enters the House leaving two at the Gate to see that none should come out whiles he searched A long while they could finde nothing and the Allagozy urging this as an affront at last looking downe into a Wel of a smal depth he saw the fellow stand up to the neck in Water Sir Robert Mansell seized on his Hat and Jewell leaving the fellow to the Allagozy but he had much rather have fingered the Jewell and in his gravity told Sir Robert Mansell hee could not have it without forme of Law which Sir Robert dispensed with carrying away his Hat and Jewell and never heard further of the businesse now the truth was this fellow knew his Burrough well enough as well as some Theeves of our Nation after they have done a Robbery would put themselves into a Prison of their acquaintance assuring themselves none would search there or rather as our Recorders of London whose cheif revenue for themselves and servants is from Theeves Whores and Bawds therefore this story cannot seeme strange in England The other Embassadour sent to the Arch Duke was the old Earle of Hertford who was conveyed over in one of the
man living at which he would not smile himselfe but deliver them in a grave and serious manner He was very liberall of what he had not in his owne gripe and would rather part with 100. li. hee never had in his keeping then one twenty shillings peece within his owne custody He spent much and had much use of his Subjects purses which bred some clashings with them in Parliament yet would alwayes come off and end with a sweet and plausible close and truly his bounty was not discommendable for his raising Favourites was the worst Rewarding old servants and releiving his Native Country-men was infinitely more to be commended in him then condemned His sending Embassadours were no lesse chargeable then dishonourable and unprofitable to him and his whole Kingdome for he was ever abused in all Negotiations yet hee had rather spend 100000. livre. on Embassies to keep or procure peace with dishonour then 10000. li. on an Army that would have forced peace with honour He loved good Lawes and had many made in his time and in his last Parliament for the good of his Subjects and suppressing Promoters and progging fellowes gave way to that Nullum tempus c. to be consined to 60. yeares which was more beneficiall to the Subjects in respect of their quiets then all the Parliaments had given him during his whole Reign By his frequentinâ— Sermons he appeared Religious yeâ— his Tuesday Sermons if you wiâ—â— beleeve his owne Country-men thaâ— lived in those times when they were erected and well understood the cause of erecting them were dedicated for a strange peece of devotion He would make a great deale too bold with God in his passion both in cursing and swearing and one straine higher vergeing on blasphemie But would in his better temper say he hoped God would not impute them as sins and lay them to his charge seeing they proceeded from passion He had need of great assurance rather then hopes that would make daily so bold with God He was very crafty and cunning in petty things as the circumventing any great man the change of a Favourite c. insomuch as a very wise man was wont to say he beleeved him the wisest foole in Chriâ—tendome meaning him wise in â—mall things but a foole in weighty â—ffaires He ever desired to prefer meane men in great places that when he turned them out again they should have no friend to bandy with them And besides they were so hated by being raised from a meane estate to over-top all men that every one held it a pretty recreation to have them often turned out There were living in this Kings time at one instant two Treasurers three Secretaries two Lord Keepers two Admiralls three Lord chief Justices yet but one in play therefore this King had a pretty faculty in putting out and in By this you may perceive in what his wisdome consisted but in great and weighty affaires even at his wits end He had a trick to cousen himselfe with bargains under hand by taking 1000. li. or 10000. livre. as a bribe when his Counsell was treating with his Customers to raise them to so much more yearly this went into his Privy purse wherein hee thought hee had over-reached the Lords but cousened himselfe but would as easily breake the bargaine upon the next offer saying he was mistaken and deceived and therefore no reason he should keep the bargaine this was often the case with the Farmers of the Customes He was infinitely inclined to peace but more out of feare then conscience and this was the greatest blemish this King had through all his Reign otherwise might have been ranked with the very best of our Kings yet sometimes would hee shew pretty flashes of valour which might easily be discerned to be forced not naturall and being forced could have wished rather it would have recoiled backe into himselfe then carryed to that King it had concerned least he might have been put to the tryall to maintaine his seeming valour In a word he was take him altogether and not in peeces such a King I wish this Kingdom have never any worse on the condition not any better for he lived in peace dyed in peace and left all his Kingdomes in a peaceable condition with his owne Motto Beati Pacifici The Court of King CHARLES NOw having brought this peaceable King to rest in all peace the 27th of March his Son by the sound of the Trumpet was proclaimed King by the name of CHARLES the FIRST His Fathers Reign began with a great Plague and we have seen what his Reign was his Sons with a greater Plague and the greatest that ever was in these parts we shall see what his Reign will be and the effects of this plague have also hung as a fatall commet over this Kingdome in some parts and over London in more particular ever since and we earnestly pray we may not fall into the hands of men but rather ever with that divinely inspired royall Prophet David that we fall into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great This King was not Crowned with that solemnity all other Kings have formerly been by riding through the City in all state although the same Triumphs were provided for him as sumptuous as for any other this some have taken as an ill omen It s further reported which I will not beleeve that he tooke not the ususall Oath all our Kings were bound unto at their Coronation and it s to be read in Covells book if so sure its a worse omen One more observation is of this King which I remember not to have happened in any other Kingdom I am confident never in this That with him did also rise his Fathers Favourite and in much more glory and luster then in his Fathers time as if he were no lesse an inheritor of his Sons favours than the Sonne of the Fathers Crowne and this as it happened was the worst omen of all for whereas in the Fathers time there was some kinde of moderation by reason he was weary of the insolency of his Favourite in the sons time he reigned like an impetuous storme bearing downe all before him that stood in his way and would not yeeld to him or comply with him This shewed no Heroicall or Kingly spirit for the King ever to endure him that had put such scornes and insolent affronts on him in his fathers time This King as his Father did set in peace did rise like a Mars as if he would say Arma virumque cano and to that end to make himselfe more formidable to Spaine and France he called a Parliament wherein never Subjects expressed more hearty affections to a Sovereigne and in truth were more loving then wise for as if for an income to welcome him they gave him two intire Subsidies and in so doing they brake the very foundation and priviledges of Parliament which never was wont to give Subsidies but as a thankfull gratuity for enacting
against the Scots that were his supporters their Agents divulging every where the Scots would get all and would begger the Kingdom the Scots on the other side complaine to the King they were so poore they under-went the by-word of beggerly Scots to which the King returned this answer as he had a very ready wit Content your selves I will shortly make the English as beggerly as you and so end that controversie this is as true as he truly performed it for however he enriched many in particular as Salisbury Suffolke Northampton Worcester Lake c. yet he did begger himself and the Nation in generall This also was inculcated into the eares of the Parliament when that great businesse about the union was in debate which was much crossed by that opinion if they had already impoverished the kingdome by the union they would bankerupt it But since you see by their owne valour and bravery of spirit they have made us begge a re-union with them and for ought we see all our happines is derived from their favours They that then lived at Court and were curious observers of every mans actions could have affirmed that Salisbury Suffolke and Northampton and their friends did get more then the whole Nation of Scotland Dunbar excepted for whatever others got they spent here only Dunbar laid a foundation of a great Family which did all revert into England againe with his Daughters marriage with the House of Suffolke so in truth all the water run to their Mills It is most true that many Scots did get much but not more with one hand then they spent with the other witnesse the Earle of Kelly Annandale c. nay that great Getter the Earle of Carlisle also and some private Gentlemen as Gideon Murrey John Achmoty James Baily John Gib and Bernard Lindley got some pretty estates not worthy either the naming or envying that old Servants should get some moderate estates to leave to posterity But 〈◊〉 and all the Scots in generall got scarce the Tythe of those English Getters that can be said did stick by them or their posterity besides Salisbury had one tricke to get the kernell and leave the Scots but the shell yet cast all the envie on them He would make them buy Bookes of Fee-farmes some one hundred pounds per annum some one hundred Markes and he would compound with them for a thousand pounds which they were willing to embrace because they were sure to have them passe without any controle or charge and one thousand pounds appeared to them that never saw ten pounds before an inexhaustible treasure then would Salisbury fill up this Booke with such prime Land as should be worth ten or twenty thousand pounds which was easie for him being Treasurer so to doe and by this meanes Salisbury inriched himselfe infinitely yet cast the envie on the Scots in whose names these Bookes appeared and are still upon Record to all posterity though Salisbury had the Honey they poore Gentlemen but part of the Wax Dunbar only had his Agents and could play his owne game which they durst not crosse so was the poore King and State cheated on all hands And now did a contention arise between the English and Scots about the election of a Favourite out of whether Nation he should come now was Montgomery in the wane being given more to his own pleasures then to observe the King so that alway the Earle of Carliste did invest him in his roome he as soon by his neglective carriage did devest himselfe yet was he ever in the Kings good opinion and one that he put more trust in at the time of his death then in all his other servants Then was there a young Gentleman Master Robert Carre who had his breeding in France and was newly returned from Travaile a Gentleman very handsome and well bred and one that was observed to spend his time in serious studies and did accompany himselfe with none but men of such eminencies as by whom hee might be bettered this Gentleman the Scots so wrought it that they got him into a Groomes place of the Bed-chamber and was very well pleasing to all he did more then any other Associate himself with Sir Thomas Overbury a man of excellent parts but those made him proud over-valuing himselfe and under-valuing others and was infected with a kinde of insolency with this Gentleman spent he most of his time and drew the eyes of the Court as well as the affection of his Master upon him yet very few but such as were the curious observers of those times could discerne the drawing of the Kings affection 〈◊〉 upon a Coronation day riding in with the Lord Dingwell to the Tilt-yard his horse fell with him and brake his legge he was instantly carried into Master Riders house at Charing-crosse and the newes as instantly carried to the King having little desire to behold the triumph but much desired to have it ended and no sooner ended but the King went instantly to visite him and after by his daily visiting and mourning over him taking all care for his speedy recovery made the day-breake of his glory appeare every Courtier now concluding him actually a favourite Lord how the great men flocked then to see him and to offer to his Shrine in such abundance that the King was forced to lay a restraint least it might retard his recovery by spending his spirits and to facilitate the cure care was taken for a choyce Dyet for himselfe and Chirurgions with his Attendants and no sooner recovered but a proclaimed Favourite Then the English Lords who formerly coveted an English Favourite and to that end the Countesse of Suffolke did looke out choyce young men whom she daily curled and perfuming their breaths left all hope and she her curling and perfuming all adoring this rising Sun every man striving to invest himselfe into this mans favour not sparing for bounty nor flattery which was not hard to be obtained being naturally more addicted to the English then to the Scotch in so much that he endeavoured to forget his native Country and his Fathers house having none of note about him but English and but one besides English in any familiarity with him which was Sir Robert Carre his Kins-man but above all was Sir Thomas Overbury his Pythias Then was the strife between Salisbury and Suffolke who shonld ingrosse him and make him their Monopoly each presenting proffering and accumulating favours upon Overburyes Kindred the Father made a Iudge in Wales and himselfe offered Offices but Overbury naturally of an insolent spirit which was elevated by being so intimate with a Favourite and wholly having ingrossed that commodity which could not be retayled but by him and his favour with a kind of scorn neglected their friendships yet made use of both Now was Carre Knighted and made Gentleman of the Bed-chamber and Overburies pride rose with the others honours still scorning the Chapmen as they did by their cheap offices
undervalue so precious a commodity Northampton finding himself neglected by so mean a fellow cast about another way and followed Balaams councell by sending a Moabitish Woman unto him in which he made use of Copinger a Gentleman who had spent a faire fortune left by his Ancestors and now for maintenance was forced to lead the life of a Serving-man that formerly kept many to serve him and as an addition the worst of that kind a flat Bawd This Gentleman had lived a scandalous life by keeping a Whore of his own which for the honour of her Family I will not name therefore was fittest to trade in that commodity for another and in truth was fit to take any impression basenesse could stamp on him as the sequell of this story will manifest This Moabitish woman was a Daughter of the Earl of Suffolk married to a young noble Gentleman the Earl of Essex This Train took and the first private meetings were at Copingers house and himselfe Bawd to their lust which put him into a far greater bravery for a time then when he was master of his owne but iâ— had bitternesse on all hands in the end This privacy in their stoln pleasures made Copinger a friend to Northampton and Suffolk though but a Servant to Viscount Rochester for so now was he called and now had they linked him so close as no breaking from them Overbury was that John Baptist that reprooved the Lord for the sinne of using the Lady and abusing the young Earle of Essex would call her Strumpet her mother and brother Bawds and used them with so much scorne as in truth was not to bee indured from a fellow of his Rank to persons of that quality how faulty soever otherwise they were Then to satisfie Overbury and blot out the name of Sin his love led him into a more desperate way by a resolution to marry another mans wife against this then did Overbury bellow lowder and in it shewed himselfe more like an affectionate then a discreet moderate friend had he compounded but one dram of discretion with an ounce of affection he might with such a receipt have preserved his owne life and their fortunes and honors For those that infinitely hated that Family did as infinitely condemn his insolent carriage and behaviour towards them so that had any of those Brothers or name killed Overbury either by picking a quarrell with him or pistolling him or any other desperate way or bravely in a Duell upon some other ground of a quarrell then blemishing their Sister the World would have justified the action however he had stood with God but Buchanans character of that Family bars all expectation of so much bravery of spirit but a Counsell must be held to put him to death by some baser means The Plot them must be he must be sent a Leidger Embassadour into France which by obeying they should bee rid of so great an eye-sore by disobeying he incurred the displeasure of his Prince a contempt that he could not expect lesse then imprisonment for and by that means be sequestred from his friend And thus far I do beleeve the Earl of Somerset for so was hee now created was consenting this stratagem tooke and Overbury might truly say Video meliora deteriora sequor for he indeed made the worst choyce it could not be thought but such an imployment was far above his desert and much better for him to have accepted then to bee confined to a loathsome Prison and for want of judgement had his sufferings been lesse then losse of life he had not bin worthy of pity but Jupiter quos vult perdere hos dementat hee would to the Tower from whence he never returned rather then accept of an honourable imployment from whence he might not only have returned but done his friends acceptable service either in private or publick In his managing of this businesse that wisdome of his which formerly he had been esteemed for suffered under the censure of Wise men as well as Fooles Having him now fast in Prison Herodias by pleasing her Herod must also aske and have his life for per scelus ad scelera tutior est via To that end they preferred Empoysoners to be servants to Sir Gervase Elwayes then Lieutenant of the Tower The Gentleman was ever held wise and honest but unfortunate in having this place thrust upon him without his thought he was also so religious that few in the Court did equall him so wise as he obtained the Character of wise Sir Gervase Elwayes yet neither could his wisdom nor the opinion of his Religion and honesty prevent that Fate he was so ignorant of the plot as he never did dreame of any such matter untill one day as it should seem Weston being told Elwayes did know wherefore he was preferred unto him to waite on Overbury he asked the Lieutenant one day before dinner whether he should now doe it Elwayes asked him what Weston at that being somewhat abashed Elwayes espying it presently said no not yet for he did beleeve there was something knowne to Weston which was a secret to himselfe Whereupon Elwayes could not chew any meat for chewing upon those words of Weston but instantly commanded his Table to be voyded and thence he went into his Study and sent for Weston to come unto him examining him of the meaning of that question at last by faire meanes and threatning together got the truth then Elwayes as he well could laid before Weston the horridnesse of the Fact the torments of Hell and the unassurance of his momentary inioying of either reward or favour after the Fact done but that it must follow so many Personages of Honour would never cabinet such a secret in his breast that might ruine them at last made him so sensible of his danger in this life but more sensible of the torments in the other that Weston falling on his knees said O Lord how good and gracious art thou and thy mercy is above all thy workes for this day is salvation come to my soul and I would not for all the world have had such a sinne upon me giving the Lieutenant humble thanks that had been the instrument of saving his soul by putting him off from so foul intentions The Lieutenant having now thus renewed grace in him by making him as he thought a new man said thou and I have a dangerous part to act yet be honest and true to me and I doubt not but with Gods help we shall perform it wel both before God and the World Weston faithfully promised him and for a long time as faithfully performed with him the Lieutenant willed him to bring all such things as were sent him to give Overbury unto him which he accordingly did the Lieutenant gave them to Cats and Dogs which he ever had ready in his study for that purpose some died presently some lay lingering a longer time all the Jellies and Tarts sent to Overbury hee
Alliance with so many great Princes put on him aspiring thoughts and so ambitious was he as not to content himselfe with his hereditary Patrimony of one of the greatest Princes in Germany but must aspire to a Kingdome beleeving that his great allyance would carry him through any enterprise or bring him off with honour in both which he failed being cast out of his owne Country with shame and he and his ever after living upon the devotion of other Princes but had his Father in Law spent halfe the mony in Swords he did in words for which he was but scorned it had kept him in his owne inheritance and saved much Christian blood since shed but whiles hee being wholly addicted to peace spent much treasure in sending costly Embassadours to treat his Enemies which he esteemed friends might have sent Armies with a lesse charge to conquer so that it may be concluded that this then thought the most happy Match in Christendome was the greatest unhappines to Christendome themselves and Posterity And as if to fore-tell the sad event presently after the Gallantry and triumphing of that Marriage the Kingdome was clad all in mourning for the sad obsequies of that most hopefull Prince Henry who dyed not without vehement suspicion of Poyson and I wish I could say but suspicion only but our future discourse will tell you otherwise He was only shewed to this Nation as the Land of Canaan was to Moses to look on not to enjoy wee did indeed joy in that happinesse we expected in him but God found us so unthankfull and tooke so lightly the death of that ever famous Queen Elizabeth as hee intended to make us an example of scorne now that were formerly of all glory His death was fore-told by one Bruce a most famous Astrologer of the Scottish Nation for which the Earle of Salisbury a great Statesman caused him to be banished who left this fare-well with the Earl that it should be too too true yet his Lordship should not live to see it the Earle dying in May the Prince in November following to the infinite griefe of all the Kingdome but the Earle of Somerset and Family of Howards who by his death thought themselves secured from all future dangers for he being a Prince of an open heart hating all basenesse would often say If ever he were King he would not leave one of that Family to pisse against a wall This brave Prince being dead Somerset and that Faction bare all downe before them disposing of all offices yet Somerset never turned any out as did the succeeding favourite but places being voyd he disposed of them and who would give most was the word yet not by Somerset himselfe but by his Lady and her Family for he was naturally of a noble disposition and it may be justly said of him that never could be said of any before or ever will be of any after him He never got suite for himselfe or friends that was burthensome to the Common-wealth no Monopolies no Impositions yet in his time and by his favour though not for his use were brought into the Court two meane fellowes grand Projectors the one Ingram an ordinary Waiter of the Customes the other Cranfield an Apprentice who had served three broken Citizens and it is probable by his wit and honesty he might thrive by them all and lay that for his first a foundation of his future projecting the one a creature of Northamptons the other of the house of Suffolke and these like ill birds defiled their owne nests and discovered the secrets of the Custom house yet their projects seemed for the Kings profit only though much water ran by his Mill and Suffolke did very well licke his owne fingers for Salisbury being dead Suffolke was Treasurer the proper place for Customs and his Son in Law Chamberlaine and Favourite and then what could not they two doe Yet Somerset ever kept them but like Projectors which after Favourites raised to the degrees of Nobility only Suffolke by Somersets power made Ingram a Cofferer of the Kings House which was the first apparent step to Somersets downfall for however the King made faire semblance to maintaine that Act yet made he the Earle of Kelly his instrument to set the Officers of his houshold to petition him against it and ever from the Kings owne directions to take their instructions in which one of the Principal given was not to seeke to Somerset upon any tearmes nay to deny to accept his favour though offered to disannul his owne act but to carry it with an high hand against Somerset by which assurance was given of prevailing Here was pretty jugling the Court being then but an Academy of Juglers Somerset did often Court the Officers to make him that Achilles his Weapon that could wound and heale againe but was entertained with sâ—orne yet ambition so dazled his eyes hee could not see the precipice on which he stood ready for his downfall for surely no Astrologers could have given him truer notions of his ruine then this Cranfield the other Projector soared higher though not in Somersets time could he have his feathers imped but Buckingham after did so impe them that Cranfield endeavoured to pull out his and gave him the first affront by this you may observe how the times altered from better to worse and so fittest for worthlesse men For now began to appeare a glimering of a new Favourite one Mr. George Villiers a younger Son by a second Venter of an ancient Knight in Leicestershire as I take it his Father of an ancient Family his Mother but of a meane and a waiting Gentle-woman whom the old man fell in love with and married by whom he had three sons all raised to the Nobility by meanes of their brother-Favourite this Gentleman was come also but newly from Travell and at that time did beleeve it a great fortune to marry a Daughter of Sir Roger Astons and in truth it was the heighth of his ambition and for that only end was an hanger on upon the Court the Gentlewoman loved him so well as could all his friends have made her for her great fortune but an hundred Markes Joynture she had married him presently in despight of all her friends and no question would have had him without any Joynture at all But as the Fates would have it before the closing up of this Match the King cast a glancing eye towards him which was easily perceived by such as observed their Princes humour and then the Match was laid aside some assuring him a greater Fortune was comming towards him Then one gave him his place of Cup-bearer that he might be in the Kings eye another sent to his Mercer and Taylor to put good Cloathes on him a third to his Sempster for curious Linnen and all as prefacive insinuations to obtaine Offices upon his future Rise then others tooke upon them to be his Bravoes to undertake his quarrels upon affronts
put on him by Somersets Faction so all hands helped to the piecing up this new Favourite Then begun the King to eate abroad who formerly used to eate in his Bed-chamber or if by chance supped in his Bed-chamber after supper would come forth to see pastimes and fooleries in which Sir Ed. Zouch Sir George Goring and Sir Iohn Finit were the chiefe and Master Fools and surely this Fooling got them more then any others wisdome farre above them in desert Zouch his part it was to sing bawdy songs and tell bawdy tales Finits to compose these Songs then was a set of Fidlers brought to Court on purpose for this Fooling and Goring was Master of the game for Fooleries sometimes presenting David Droman and Archee Armstrong the Kings Foole on the back of the other fools to tilt one at another till they fell together by the eares sometimes the property was presented by them in Antick Dances But Sir John Millicent who was never known before was commended for notable fooling and so was he indeed the best extemporary foole of them all with this jollity was this Favourite ushered in This made the house of Suffolke fret and Somerset carried himselfe now more proudly and his Bravado's ever quarrelling with the others which by his Office of Lord Chamberlaine for a while carried it But Somerset using of Sir Ralph Wynwood whom himselfe brought in for a Secretary of State in so scornfull a manner he having but only the title the Earle himselfe keeping the Seales and doing the businesse made Wynwood endeavour to ruine him who soone got an opportunity thereto by frequenting the Countesse of Shrewsbury then Prisoner in the Tower who told Wynwood on a time that Overbury was poysoned which she had so understood from Sir Gervase Elwaies who did labour by her meanes to deale with her two sons in Law Arundell and Pembrooke Wynwood also being great-with that faction that when it came into question he might save his owne stake who truly was no otherwise guilty but that he did not discover it at Westons first disclosing it hee being Keeper of the prison so by inference his not disclosing it was Overburies death and had he revealed it then I dare say he had beene brought into the Star-chamber for it and undone for yet was not the time fit for discovery Wynwood it was thought acquainted the King with it knowing how willingly he would have been rid of Somerset yet the King durst not bring it in question nor any question ever would have been had not Somerset sought to crosse him in his passion of love to his new Favourite in which the King was more impatient then any woman to enjoy her love Not long after Thrumball Agent at Bruxels had by an Apothecaries boy one Reeve after an Apothecary himselfe in London and dyed very lately gotten hold of this poysoning businesse for Reeve having under his Master made some of those desperate Medicines either run away or else his Master sent him out of the way and fell in company of Thrumbals servants at Bruxels to whom he reveal'd it they to their Master who examining the boy discovered the truth Thrumball presently wrote to Secretary Wynwood he had businesse of consequence to discover but would not send it therefore desired licence to come over The King would not yeeld to his returne but willed him to send an Expresse That Thrumball utterly refused and very wisely for had any thing appeared under his hand the boy might have dyed or run away and then had he made himselfe the Author of that which the courtesie of another must have justified The King being of a longing disposition rather then he would not know admitted Thrumbals returne and now they had good testimony by the Apothecary who revealed Weston Mrs. Turner and Franklyn to be principall Agents yet this being neare the time of progresse was not stirred in till about Michaelmas following yet Wynwood did now carry himselfe in a braving way of contestation against Somerset struck in with the Faction of Villiers now on progresse The King he went westward where he was feasted at Cranborne by a Sonne in Law of that Family at Lulworth and Bindon by the Lord Walden at Charlton by Sir Thomas Howard and every where nothing but one Faction braving the other then was the King feasted at Purbeck by the Lord Hatton who was of the contrary Faction and at a Joynture house of Sir George Villiers mother called Gotly where he was magnificently entertained After all this feasting homeward came the King who desired by all meanes to reconcile this clashing between his declining and rising Favourite to which end at Lulworth the King imployed Sir Humphrey May a great servant to Somerset and a wise servant to Villiers but with such instructions as if it came from himselfe and Villiers had order presently after Sir Humphrey Mayes returne to present himselfe and service to Somerset My Lord said he Sir George Villers will come to you to offer his service and desire to be your creature and therefore refuse him not embrace him and your Lordship shall still stand a great man though not the sole Favourite My Lord seemed averse Sir Humphrey then told him in plaine tearmes that he was sent by the King to advise it and that Villiers would come to him to cast himself into his protection to take his rise under the shadow of his wings Sir Humphrey May was not parted from my Lord halfe an houre but in comes Sir George Villiers and used these very words My Lord I desire to be your servant and your creature and shall desire to take my Court-preferment under your favour and your Lordship shall finde me as faithfull a servant unto you as ever did serve you My Lord returned this quick and short answer I will none of your service nor shall you have any of my favour I will if I can break your necke and of that be confident This was but a harsh Complement and savoured more of spirit then wisdome and since that time breaking each others necks was their aimes and it s verily beleeved had Somerset complyed with Villiers Overburyes death had stil lain raked up in his own ashes but God who will never suffer murther to go unpunished will have what he will maugre all the wisdome of the World To Windsor doth the King return to end His Progresse from thence to Hampton-Court then to White-Hall and shortly after to Royston to begin His Winter-Iourney And now begins the game to bee plaid in which Somerset must be the loser the Cards being shuffled cut and dealt between the King and Sir Edward Cooke Cheife Iustice whose Daughter Turbeck Villers his Brother had married or was to marry and therefore a fit instrument to ruine Somerset and Secretary Winwood these all playd The stake Somersets life and his Ladyes and their Fortunes and the Family of Suffolke some of them played booty and in truth the Game was not plaid above-board
Cranfield that was the Projector and never could get higher then that title in Somersets time now marrying one of Buckinghams kindred attained one of the highest Titles in the Kingdome so that it was now generally said that for pride and basenesse these two greaâ— places were never so suited both of meane birth both proud only the one an excellent Scholler and of great parts the other nothing but a pack of ignorance sodered together with impudence to raise him besides his marriage in the lusty kindred This Cranfield was a fellow of so meane a condition as none but a poore spirited Nobility would have endured his perching on that high Tree of honour to the dishonour of the Nobility the disgrace of the Gentry and not long after to his owne dishonour who was thrust out of the Lords House with this censure that Thou Lionell Earle of Middlesex shalt never sit or have voice more in this House of Peeres and shalt pay for a fine to our Soveraigne Lord the King 20000. l. leaving him still to over-top the Gentry The Bishops kept him also from degrading which I doe verily beleeve is one cause the Gentry will degrade them The Spanish Match having been long in Treaty and it being suspected now that the Spaniard did juggle with the State in this as they formerly did in a Match with that brave Prince Henry and in truth in all other things wherein any negotiation had been only feeding the King with faire hopes and faire words yet foule deeds Whether the King suspected any such matter or any whimsey came in the braine of this great Favourite and Prince to imitate the old stories of the Knights Erland but agreed it was it should seeme between the Favourite and the Prince only no one other so much as dreaming of any such adventure except Cottington that the Prince must goe himselfe into Spaine away they went under the borrowed names of Jack and Tom Smith to the amazement of all wise men only accompanied with Cottington and some one or two more at most taking their way by France they had the Ports laid so that none should follow them or give any notice to the French Court till they might get the start c. yet their wisdomes made them adventure to stay in the French Court and looke on that Lady whom he after married and there did this Mars imitate one of Prince Arthurs Knights in seeking adventures through forraigne Princes territories First beheld this French beauty Mars vidit visamque cupit potiturque cupita as in our discourse will afterward appear from thence away to Spaine but as the Journey was only plotted by young heads so it was so childishly carried that they escaped the French Kings Curriers very narrowly but escape they did and arrived safely in Spaine their wished Port before either welcome or expected by our Embassadors or that State Yet now must the best face bee put on at all hands that put their Grandees to new shifts and our Embassadour the Earl of Bristoll to try his wit for at that time was Sir Walter Aston also Embassador at Spaine in all occurrences Aston complyed with the Prince and Duke Bristol ran counter and the Duke and Bristol hated each other mortally Bristol had the advantage of them there as having the much better head-peice and being more conversant and dear with that State wholly complying with them and surely had done them very acceptable services and in this very Treaty was of the pack Buckingham had the advantage of him in England although the King did now hate Buckingham yet was so awed that hee durst not discover it Then Buckingham had all interest in his Successor by this journy so that he laid a present and future foundation of his succeeding greatnesse For all his power and greatnesse Bristoll did not forbeare to put all scornes affronts and tricks on him and Buckingham lay so open as gave the other advantage enough by his lascivious carriage and miscarriage Amongst all his tricks hee playes one so cunningly that it cost him all the hair on his head and put him to the dyet for it should seem hee made court to Conde Olivares wife a very handsom Lady But it was so plotted betwixt the Lady her Husband and Bristol that instead of that beauty he had a notorious Sâ—ewsbird sent him and surely by reason of his said loose and vicious disposition had ever the Match been really intended for our Prince yet such a Companion or Guardian was enough to have made that wary Nation beleeve that hee had also been that way addicted and so have frustrated the Marriage that being a grave and sober people now especially when conversed with by such great forraign ghests but they wel observed the Prince himselfe to be of an extraordinary well staied temper But now many Lords flockt over and many Servants that he might appear the Prince of England and like himselfe though hee came thither like a private person many Treaties were sometimes hope sometimes dispair sometimes great assurance then all dasht againe and however his entertainment was as great as possible that State could afford yet was his addresses to and with the Lady such as rendred him meane and a private person rather then a Prince of that State that formerly had made Spaine feel the weight of their anger and power and was like a Servant not a Suitor for he never was admitted but to stand bare-head in her presence nor to talke with her but in a full audience with much company At last after many heats and cooles many hopes and despaires the Prince wrote a letter to his Father of a desperate despaire not only of not injoying his Lady but of never more returning with this passage You must now Sir look upon my Sister and her children forgetting ever you had such a Son and never thinking more of me Now the folly of this voyage plotted only by green heads began to appear many shewing much sorrow many smiling at their sollies and in truth glad in their hearts and however the King was a cunning dissembler and shewed much outward sorrow as he did for Prince Henryes death yet something was discerned which made his Court beleeve little greife came neare his heart for that hatred he bare to Buckingham long as being satiated with him and his adoring the rising Sunne not looking after the Sunne setting made the world beleeve hee would thinke it no ill bargaine to lose his Son so Buckingham might bee lost also for had he not been weary of Buckingham he would never have adventured him in such a journey all his Courtiers knew that very well And for a further illustration of his wearinesse of Buckingham It appeared in the Parliament before when the King gave so much way to his ruine that Buckingham challenged him that hee did seeke his ruine and being generally held as a lost man the King to make it appeare it was not so although as
purpose one Noy a very famous Lawyer as ever this Kingdome bred and formerly a great Patriot and the only searcher of Presidents for the Parliaments by which he grew so cunning as he understood all the shifts which former Kings had used to get monies with This man the King sends for tels him he wil make him his Attorney Noy like a true Cynick as he was for that time went away not returning to the King so much as the civility of a Thankes nor indeed was it worth his thankes I am sure he was not worthy of ours For after the Court sollicitings had bewitched him to become the Kings he grew the most hatefull man that ever lived And it s to me a wonder that this Parliament of Wonders doth not enact a Law that his very name should never more be in this Kingdome he having been as great a Deluge to this Realme as the Flood was to the whole World for he swept away all our Priviledges and in truth hath been the cause of all these miseries this kingdome hath since been ingulphed whether you consider our Religion he being a great Papist if not an Atheist and the protector of all Papists and the raiser of them up unto that boldnesse they were now growne unto who formerly had some moderation or if you consider our Estates and Liberties they were impoverished and enthralled by multitudes of projects and illegall wayes this Monster was the sole Author of all But first now because there must be some great man as a Captaine Projector to lead some on and hearten others to follow Sir George Goring leads up the March and Dance with the Monopolie of Tobacco and Licensing of Tavernes setting some up where and as many as he pleased and this done by a Seale appendicular to an Office erected by him for that purpose as if authorised by a Law besides all this hee hath Pensions out of the pretermitted Customs insomuch as I have heard it most credibly reported that his Revenue was 9000. l. per annum all of these kindes and for this peece of good service he was made a Lord and Privy Councellour to countenance his traine of Projectors the better Then did Weston enhance the Customes and laid new and heavyer impositions on all things exported or imported with such unconscionable rates upon Tobacco that millions of pounds of it lay rotting in the Custome-house the Merchants refusing to pay the Custome besides losse of all other charges for the Tobacco it selfe In short there was not any thing almost that any man did eate drinke or weare or had in his house from forraigne parts or scarce any domesticke commodities exempted but he paid as it were an Excise for it yea at last even Cards and Dice escaped not but they were monopolized by a great Councellour the Lord Cottington yea to keep their hands in ure they got Patents for the very Rags Marrow-bones Guts and such like Excrements as were thought of no use but to be cast on the Dunghils and he was held the bravest Common-wealths man that could bring in the most money yet the Kings private Purse or publick Treasury little or nothing bettered but to impoverish and vex the Subject and to no other end for which he was ordinarily rewarded with honour This good service the quite contrary way did Weston and Noy doe for the King and I beleeve you shall see God reward them and their posterity for the one like a Jonas Gourd sprang up suddenly from a beggerly estate to much Honour and great Fortunes will shortly wither the other his Son and Heire was killed in France presently after his death and when both are dead let their names and memory rot and be extinct from the face of the earth Now doth Buckingham provide for another forraigne Enterprise but carried so close I could never learne what it was nor did any wise men much inquire after it assuring themselves that such counsells could produce no better effects than those former In the beginning yea even at the very entrance thereunto he did so stinke in the Nostrils of God and Man that God made one Felton his Instrument to take such a Monster as he was indeed from his longer domineering amongst men by a blow as fearefull as strange after which he had not time to say Lord have mercy on him a just judgement on him that forsooke God to seeke to the Devill by Witches and Sorcerers in his life one whereof was Doctor Lamb who was his great defensitive preserver as he thought him whose fate it was to be brained by a Shoo-makers Last when he least look'd for it the other was stabb'd the next morning after that night he had caused a Fellow to be hanged not suffering him to have that nights respite after his sentence and offence what ere it was to repent him of his sins with this vow he would neither eate nor drinke untill he see him dye God in requitall of his mercilesse cruelty would neither suffer him to eate nor drinke before he dyed by that dismall stroake of a poore tenpenny knife of the said Feltons setting home Thus neare alike in time and manner were these two hellish Agents Catastrophees And now is set that great Sun or rather portendous Comet from whose influences all the Officers and Ministers had by reflexion their life and heat After his death the very name of a Favourite dyed with him none singly engrossing the Kings eare and favour but a regular motion was set to all Officers as appertained to their severall places as to the Arch-Bishop the mannagement and chiefe super-intendency of the Church to the Lord Treasurer the Exchequer and the Customs to the Lords Keepers of the Great and Privie Seales what belonged to equity to the Judges what belonged to Law so that one would have thought all things now went so just and equall and in their proper Channell as none but might now expect from that new and better government halcyon dayes But it far'd farre otherwise God being angry at the Nations sins the generall juggling of the State was one and a great one all those procedures being but in appearance righteous nothing really so but like the Apples of Sodome faire in shew rotten and corrupt within For now instead of the late but one Favourite every great Officer and Lord of the Councell proved a very Tyrant and it appeared that not their vertues but the former Favourites power only did restraine them from being so for that falling together with himselfe as you have heard and they left to their owne Arbitrary power you would verily have beleeved that Hell had been broke loose And to make good that Metaphor one of the Councell being told by a Gentleman that the country was much troubled at a certaine great grievance replyed Doth that trouble them by God there are seaven worse Devills to be shortly let out amongst them And in sober sadnesse they all might truly have undergone the name of