honest Servants traduced to satisfie the humours of any I beseech you take my staffe for were my selfe and the Earl of Worcester here present put in the ballance against Sir Robert Mansell we should prove too light I am in a great Place and cannot say but by my selfe or servants I may faile yet not with our own wils therefore Sir if you wil suffer such inquisitions there will be no serving your Majesty in such places as I hold by your Majesties favour thus ended the Earle of Northamptons malice which only served to honour Sir Robert Mansell and make a scorne of himselfe and this only to make the venome of this Monster appear who did flatter the King and dissemble with God And now begin Embassadours to appeare from divers Princes the principall were Roney Duke of Sullice from the French King the Constable of Castile from the Spanish King the Count Arremberg from the Arch Duke the former came to congratulate only and desired the confirmation of the ancient amity betwixt the two Crownes the latter two about the establishing a firme peace betwixt these two Kingdomes that had lived in perpetuall Warre and hatred of each other by which it might appeare where the advantage of such a peace would fall by those that sought or rather bought it with an infinite masse of treasure prodigally cast about the English Court To bring these Embassadours over were appointed Sir Robert Mansell being Admirall of the narrow Seas and Sir Jerome Turner his Vice-Admirall the first commanded to attend at Graveling for the Spanish Embassadour the latter at Calis for the French but the French comming first and hearing the Vice-Admirall was to attend him the Admirall the other in a scorne put himselfe in a Passage-boat of Calis came forth with flagge in top instantly Sir Jerome Turner sent to know of the Admirall what he should doe Sir Robert Mansell sent him word to shoot and sinke him if he would not take in the flag this as it made the flag bee pulled in so a great complaint and 't was beleeved it would have undone Sir Robert Mansell the French Faction pressing it so home but he maintained the act and was the better beloved of his Master ever after to his dying day This makes it appeare how jealous old Commanders were of their owne honour and of their Masters and Kingdomes honours which since hath been so prodigally wasted as we are utterly bankerupt having spent our old Stock and have not bravery enough to erect a new The Constable of Castile so plyed his Masters businesse in which he spared for no cost that he procured a peace so advantageous for Spaine and so disadvantageous for England that it and all Christendome have since both seen and felt the lamentable effects thereof There was not one Courtier of note that tasted not of Spaines bounty either in Gold or Jewels and among them not any in so large a proportion as the Countesse of Suffolke who shared in her Lords interest being then a potent man and in that interest which she had in being Mistris to that little great Secretary little in body and stature but great in wit and policy the sole manager of State affaires so it may be said she was a double sharer and in truth Audley-end that famous and great structure had its foundation of Spanish Gold The King was a peaceable and merciful Prince yet God for some secret intent best known to himself laid the foundation of his reigne with the greatest mortality ever before heard of in this Kingdome by a fearefull Plague and some by that judged what his future reign would be yet their wisdomes failed for he was a King of mercy as well as peace never cruell yet surely it had some morall He was forced by that contagion to leave the Metropolis and goe into a by corner in Wiltshire Wilton the Earle of Pembrookes House in which time of his abode there a kinde of Treason brake forth but what it was as no man could then tell so it is left with so dark a Comment that posterity will never understand the Text or remember any such treason it is true some lost their lives yet the world was never satisfied of the justice and one of them and that the only marke of Tyranny upon this good Kings reigne executed many yeares after without all president and on my conscience without any just cause and even against that good Kings will who in many things was over-awed by his timorous disposition But the Spanish Faction and Spanish Gold betrayed his life as they had done the Kingdome before and I beleeve it was one of the greatest Master-peeces of that Embassadour to purchase Rawleighs head yet had not Bristol co-operated the King would never have consented and it may be he had his secret ends fearing his wisdome might once againe have raised him to have looked over Sherborne Castle once his owne and how unjustly taken from him God will one day judge I know not whether there be a curse on those that are owners of it as Fables report but I am confident there is a curse on Bristol for taking away his life I will not take upon me too farre to pry into Gods Arke yet what is like to befall him and hath already his Son as hopefull a Gentleman as any in the Kingdome may give some token of Gods anger against him and his family But because I will not leave you altogether blinde-folded I shall as neare as I can lead you to the discovery of this Treason which consisted of Protestants Puritans Papists and of an Atheist a strange medley you will say to meet in one and the same Treason and keepe counsell which surely they did because they knew not of any the Protestants were the Lord Cobham and George Brook his Brother the one very learned and wise the other a most silly Lord the Puritan the Lord Grey of VVilton a very hopefull Gentleman blasted in the very Bud the Papists VVatson and Clarke Priests and Parham a Gentleman the Atheist Sir Walter Rawleigh then generally so beleeved though after brought by affliction the best School-Mistris to be and so dyed a most religious Gentleman This Treason was compounded of strange ingredients and more strange then true it was very true most of these were discontented to see Salisbury their old friend so high to trample on them that before had been his chiefe supporters and being ever of his faction now neglected and contemned it was then beleeved an errand trick of State to over-throw some and disable others knowing their strong abilities might otherwise live to over-throw Salisbury for they were intimate in all his secret Councels for the ruine of Essex especially Rawleigh Grey and Cobham though the latter was a foole yet had been very usefull to them as the Toole in the hand of the Workman and to have singled out these without some Priests which were Traytors by the Law had smelt
Kings Ships by Sir William Munson in whose passage a Dutch Man of Warre comming by that ship would not vaile as the manner was acknowledging by that our Soveraignty over the Sea Sir William Munson gave him a shot to instruct him in manners but instead of learning he taught him by returning another he acknowledged no such Soveraignty this was the very first indignity and affront ever offered to the Royall Ships of England which since have beene most frequent Sir William Monson desired my Lord of Hertford to goe into the Hold and hee would instruct him by stripes that refused to be taught by faire meanes but the Earl charged him on his Allegiance first to land him on whom he was appointed to attend so to his great regret he was forced to endure that indignity for which I have often heard him wish he had been hanged rather then live that unfortunate Commander of a Kings Ship to be Chronicled for the first that ever endured that affront although it was not in his power to have helped it yet by his favour it appeared but a copy of his countenance for it had been but hazarding hanging to have disobeyed my Lords Commandement and it had been infinite odds he had not beene hanged having to friend him the House of Suffolke nor would hee have been so sensible of it had he not been of the Spanish Faction and that a Dutch ship Now did those great Mannagers of the State of which Salisbury was chief after they had packed the Cards begin to deale the government of the Kingdome amongst themselves and perswaded the King to leave the State affaires to them and to betake himselfe to some Country recreations which they found him addicted unto for the City and businesse did not agree with him to that end purchased built and repaired at New-Market and Royston and this pleased the Kings humour well rather that he might enjoy his Favourite with more privacy then that he loved the sports then must Theobolds be in his owne possession as not fit for a King to be beholding to a Subject for an House of daily use but because the King had so much want of monies to expresse his love and bounty to his Native Nation Salisbury would exchange and take Land for his House and Parke in which exchange he made such an advantage that he sold his House for fifty yeares purchase and that so cunningly as hardly to be discerned but by a curious sight for he fleeted off the Creame of the Kings Mannours in many Counties not any two lying in any one County and made choyce of the most in the remotest Counties onely built his nest at Hatfield within the County where his Father had built his yet kept he still the house of Theobolds for he and his posterity were to be perpetuall Keepers of that House and many Parkes adjacent by this he not onely shewed his wisdome for his owne benefit but to the world what the Kings naturall disposition was to bee easily abused and would take counterfeit Coyn for currant payment And to fit the Kings humour and dissolve him in that delight he was most addicted to as well as to serve Salisburies owne ends and satisfie his revenge upon some neighbour Gentlemen that formerly would not sell him some convenient parcels of Land neighbouring on Theobalds he puts the King on enlarging the Parke walling and storing it with red Deere and I dare affirme with that worke the King was so well pleased and did more glory in then his Predecessors did in the conquest of France and as it was most true so an ill Omen that the King loved Beasts better then Men and took more delight in them and was more tender over the life of a Stag then of a Man yet this was the weaknesse of his judgement and poorenesse of his Spirit rather then any innate cruelty for he was not naturally cruel over lives though in displacing Officers which naturally he did beleeve was as glorious as to over-throw and conquer Kings But yet for all their setting their Cards and playing their Games to their owne advantages of getting much for themselves and friends there was one Knave in the Packe would crosse their designs and Trump in their way if he might not share with them in their winning that was one Lake a Clerke of the Signet after Secretary and after that turned out in disgrace and in truth was onely wise in the worlds opinion could swim being held up by the chin but at his fall all his weaknesses were discovered and that the world had been deceived in him I will instance in one particular amongst many that shall give you full assurance being in disgrace he gave two thousand pounds but to kisse the Kings hand beleeving that after that he might have accesse as formerly after he had paid his money he was never suffered to see the King more only jeered at by all the Court for his folly and went sneaking up and downe contemned of all men This Lake was a fellow of meane birth and meaner breeding being an under Servant to make Fires in Secretary Walsinghams chamber and there got some experience which afterwards in the Kings time made him appeare an able man which in the Queenes time when there was none in Court but men of eminencies made him an inconsiderable Fellow He had linked himselfe in with the Scotish Nation progging for Suits and helping them to fill their Purses as they did beleeve there was not so able a man in the Kingdome for in truth ever since Queene Elizabeths death the raysing money hath been the only way to raise men as being held the essentiall property of a wise man to know how to bring in money per fas aut nefas and amongst all the Scots he wholly applyed himselfe to those of the Bed-chamber and of nearest accesse to his Majesty For his good service of abusing his Country and Country-men he was made Clerke of the Signet to waite on the King in his Hunting journies and in these journies got all the Bils signed even for the greatest Lords all Packets being addressed to him so that even Salisbury and Northampton and the greatest Lords made Court to him by this meanes did he raise himselfe from a meane to a great fortune but so over-awed by his VVife that if hee did not what she commanded she would beate him and in truth his Wife was afterwards his over-throw besides he would tell Tales and let the King know the passages of Court and great men as who was Salisburies Mistris and governed all who governed Northampton and discovered their Bawdery which did infinitely please the Kings humour and in truth had so much craft as he served his turne upon all but was ingrossed by none but by the Bed-chamber who stuck so close to him that they could not yet remove him And now doe the English Faction seeing they could not sever the Scots from him endeavour to raise a mutiny
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
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
face at the Dukes foot kissing it vowing never to rise till he had his pardon then was he againe reconciled and since that time so very a slave to the Duke and all that Family that he durst not deny the command of the meanest of the kindred nor oppose anything by this you see a base spirit is ever most concomitant with the proudest minde and surely never so many brave parts and so base and abject a spirit tenanted together in any one earthen Cottage as in this one man I shall not remember his basenesse being out of his place of pinning himselfe for very scraps on that Noble Gentleman Sir Julius Caesars Hospitality that at last he was forced to get the Kings Warrant to remove him out of his house yet in his prosperity the one being Chancellor and the other Master of the Rolls did so scorne and abuse him as he would alter any thing the other did And now Buckingham having the Chancellor Treasurer and all great Officers his very slaves swels in the height of pride summons up all his Country kindred the old Countesse providing a place for them to learne to carry themselves in a Court-like garbe but because they could not learne the French Dances so soon as to be suitable to their gay Clothes Country Dances for their sakes only must be the garbe of the Court and none else must be used Then must these women-kindred be married to Earles Earles eldest Sonnes Barons or chiefe Gentlemen of greatest estates insomuch that the very female kindred were so numerous as were sufficient to have peopled any Plantation nay very Kitchin-wenches were married to Knights eldest sonnes yet as if England had not matches enough in the Kingdome they married like the house of Austria in their own kindred witnesse the Earle of Anglesea married a cousen German to whom he had given earnest before so that King James that naturally in former times hated women had his Lodgings replenished with them and all of the Kindred The Brethren great Earls Little children did run up and downe the Kings Lodgings like little Rabbitstarters about their boroughs Here was a strange change that the King who formerly would not endure his Queen and children in his Lodgeings now you would have judged that none but women frequented them nay that was not all but the kindred had all the houses about White-Hall as if they had been Bulwarks and Flankers to that Cittadell But above all the Miracles of those times old Sir Anthony Ashley who never loved any but boyes yet he was snatcht up for a kinswoman as if there had been a concurrency thorow the Kingdom that those that naturally hated women yet should love his kindred as well as the King him And the very old Midwives of that kindred flockt up for preferment of which old Sir Christopher Perkins a woman-hater that never meant to marry nay it was said he had made a vow of Virginity yet was coupled to an old Midwife so that you see the greatnesse of this Favourite who could force by his power over the King though against Nature But I must tell you this got him much hatred to raise brothers and brother-in-laws to the highest rank of Nobility which were not capable of the place of scarce a Iustice of the Peace only his brother Purbeck had more wit and honesty then all the kindred beside and did keep him in some bounds of honesty and modesty whilst he lived about him and would speake plaine English to him for which plainnesse when they had no colour to put him from his brother they practised to make him mad and thought to bring that wicked stratagem to effect by countenancing a wicked Woman his Wife the Lord Cookes Daughter against him even in her base and lewd living And now is Purbeck mad indeed and put from Court Now none great with Buckingham but Bawds and Parasites and such as humoured him in his unchaste pleasures so that since his first being a pretty harmlesse affable Gentleman he grew insolent cruell and a monster not to be endured And now is Williams sometimes Chaplaine to the Lord Keeper Egerton brought into play made a privie-Councellor Deane of Westminster and of secret Councell with the King he was also made Bishop of Lincolne and was generally voyced at his first step to marry Buckinghams Mother who was in her husbands time created a Countesse he remaining still a C. silly drunken sot and this was the first president of this kinde ever known Williams held her long in hand and no doubt in nature of her Confessor was her secret friend yet would not marry at present which afterwards was cause of his downfall Then was there a Parliament summoned in which Bacon for his bribery and injustice was thrust out being closely prosecuted by one Morby a Woodmonger and one Wrenham formerly deeply censured in the Star-Chamber for accusing him of bribery and injustice Bacon was by Parliament justly put out of his place and but only for the Votes of the Bishops had been degraded the Bishops might have done better to have kept their voyces to have done themselves service at this time but surely that with some other injustice of theirs had so filled up their measure of iniquity that now Gods anger is kindled against them In Bacons place comes Williams a man on purpose brought in at first to serve turnes but in this place to doe that which none of the Layity could be found bad enough to undertake whereupon this observation was made that first no Lay-man could be found so dishonest as a Clergy man next as Bacon the Father of this Bacon did receive the seales from a Bishop so a Bishop againe received them from a Bacon and at this did the Lawyers fret to have such a flower pulled out of their Garland This Williams though he wanted much of his Predecessors abilities for the Law yet did he equall him for learning and pride and beyond him in the way of bribery this man answering by Petitions in which his servants had one part himselfe another and so was calculated to be worth to him his servants 3000. l. per annum by a new way never found out before And now being come to the height of his preferment he did estrange himselfe from the company of the old Countesse having much younger ware who had keyes to his chamber to come to him yet was there a necessity of keeping him in this place for a time the Spanish Match being yet in chase and if it succeeded this man was to clap the great Seale through his ignorance in the Lawes to such things that none that understood the danger by knowing the Lawes would venture upon and for this designe was he at first brought in no Prince living knowing how to make use of men better then King James Now was also Suffolke turned out of his place of Lord Treasurer and a fellow of the same Batch that Williams was brought into his place
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
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
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
Mansell Vice-Admirall of England during his life by Patent in which he not onely manifested his love to his Noble friend though sometime his servant but his care to the State that his experience and abilities might support the others inabilities wel knowing that the Honour and safety of the Kingdome consisted in the wel-ordering and strength of the Navy Next Egerton had displeased him by not giving way to his exorbitant desires he must out and would not let him seale up his dying eyes with the seals which he had so long carryed and so well discharged and to despite him the more and to vex his very soule in the last Agony he sent Bacon one he hated yet to be his Successor for the Seales which the old mansspirit could not brook but sent them by his owne servant to the King and shortly after yeelded his soul to his Maker And to the end you may know what men were made choyce of to serve turnes I shall set you downe a true story This great Favourite sent a Noble Gentleman and of much worth to Bacon with this Message that he knew him to be a man of excellent parts and as the times were sit to serve his Master in the Keepers place but hee also knew him of a base and ingratefull dispotion and an arrant Knave apt in his prosperity to ruine any that had raised him from adversity yet for all this hee did so much study his Masters service knowing how fit an instrument he might be for him that he had obtained the Seales for him but with this assurance should he ever requite him as he had done some others to whom he had been more bound he would cast him downe as much below scorne as he had now raised him high above any Honour he could ever have expected Bacon was at that time Attorney Generall who patiently hearing this Message replyed I am glad my noble Lord deales so friendly and freely with me and hath made that choyce of so discreet and Noble a friend that hath delivered his Message in so plaine language but saith he can my Lord know these abilities in me and can hee thinke when I have attained the highest preferment my profession is capable of I shall so much faile in my judgement and understanding as to lose these abilities and by my miscarriage to so noble a Patron cast my selfe headlong from the top of that honour to the very bottome of contempt and scorne Surely my Lord cannot thinke so meanly of me The Gentleman replyed I deliver you nothing from my selfe but the words are put into my mouth by his Lordship to which I neither adde nor diminish for had it been left to my discretion surely though I might have given you the substance yet should I have apparelled it in a more moddest attire but as I have faithfully delivered my Lords to you so will I as faithfully returne yours to his Lordship You must understand the reason of this Message was his ungratefulnesse to Essex which every one could remember for the Earle saved him from starving and he requited him so as his Apology must witnesse were there not a great fault there needed no Apology nor could any age but a worthlesse and corrupt in men and manners have thought him worthy such a place of honour Well Lord Keeper he was for which he paid nothing nor was hee able for now was there a new trick to put in dishonest and necessitous men to serve such turnes as men of plentifull fortunes and fair reputations would not accept of and this filled the Church and Common-wealth full of beggerly fellowes such daring to venture on any thing having nothing to lose for it is riches makes men cowards Poverty daring and valiant to adventure at any thing to get something yet did not Buckingham doe things gratis but what their purses could not stretch unto they paid in pensions out of their places all which went to maintaine his numerous beggerly kindred Bacon paid a Pension Heath Atturney paid a Pension Bargrave Deane paid a Pension with many others Nor was this any certaine rule for present portions must be raised for the Marriage of a poore Kitchin Maid to be made a great Count esse so Fotherby made Bishop of Sarum paid 3500. l. and some also worthy men were preferred gratis to blow up their Fames and Trumpet forth their Noblenesse as Tolson a worthy man paid nothing in Fine or Pension after him Davenant in the same Bishoprick but these were but as Musick before every sceane nor were fines or pensions certaine but where men were rich there Fines without reservation of rent where poore and such as would serve turnes there Pensions no Fines so Weston and many others There were books of rates on all the Offices Bishopricks Deaneries in England that could tell you what Fines what Pensions otherwise it had been impossible such a numerous kindred could have been maintained with the three Kingdomes Revenue Now was Bacon invested in his Office and within ten dayes after the King goes to Scotland Bacon instantly begins to believe himselfe King lyes in the Kings Lodgings gives audience in the great Banqueting House makes all other Councellors attend his motions with the same state the King used to come out to give audience to Embassadours when any other Councellour sate with him about the Kings affaires would if they sate neare him bid them know their distance upon which Secretary Wynwood rose went away and would never sit more under his encroached State but instantly dispatcht one to the King to desire him to make haste back for even his very Seat was already usurped At which I remember the King reading it unto us both the King and we were very merry and if Buckingham had sent him any Letters would not vouchsafe the opening or reading them in publique though it was said requiring speedy dispatch nor would vouchsafe him any answer In this posture he lived untill he heard the King was returning and began to beleeve the Play was almost at an end he might personate a Kings part no longer and therefore did againe re-invest himselfe with his old rags of basenesse which were so tattered and poore at the Kings comming to Windsor he attended two dayes at Buckinghams Chamber being not admitted to any better place then the roome where Trencher-scrapers and Lacquies attended there sitting upon an old wooden chest amongst such as for his basenesse were only fit companions although the Honour of his place did merit farre more respect with his Purse and Seale lying by him on that chest My selfe told a servant of my Lord of Buckinghams it was a shame to see the Purse and Seale of so little value or esteeme in his Chamber though the Carryer without it merited nothing but scorne being worst among the basest He told me they had command it must be so after two dayes he had admittance at first entrance he fell downe flat on his
then said Yelverton how dare you enter a close prisoners lodging it is as much as your life is worth And assure your selfe Master Lieutenant the King shall know of this and you must answer it My Lord said I come to you as a friend though formerly I confesse upon just cause your mortall enemy only to aske you but two questions which if you will resolve me I vow to be a greater friend now then ever an enemy and can and will restore you foure-fold Yelverton told him if they were such as he might hee would The first he asked was What wrong he had ever done him that he so greedily thirsted after his blood Yelverton replyed never any but I was set on by a power that I could not withstand to doe what I did he asked him by whom by the King your Master said he who hates you more then any man living which you might well understand when in his Speech to the Parliament he said he would not spare any no not any that were dearest to him or lay in his bosome by which he pointed them to you Wel said Buckingham I see you have dealt like a Friend with me by many other concurrences as well as by this give me your hand henceforth you are my friend and I am yours and I will raise you highet then I have cast you downe which he had made good had Yelverton lived to have injoyed it for he was instantly released and the next preferment he gratified him with was a Judges place and he had been Lord Keeper had not death prevented it And if there were no other reason but his change from a mortall enemy to so firme a friend this were sufficient to confirme the truth of this story But the Authour had this from Yelvertons owne relation and cannot commend Yelverton because it is verily beleeved this hastened the Kings death Now have you heard the true causes of Buckinghams hatred to the King and the Kings to Buckingham the King having the more power to revenge had the lesse courage Buckingham lesse power but more courage sharpened with revenge And however the World did beleeve the Kings inclination was out of a religious ground that he might not revenge yet it was no other but a cowardly disposition that dust not adventure But although the King lost his opportunity on Buckingham yet the black plaister and powder did shew Buckingham lost not his on the King and that it was no fiction but a reallity that Padro Macestria had formerly told the King And now to returne from this digression which is not impertinent besides a great secret the Prince returnes from Spaine contrary to expectation in which the wisdome and gravity of the Spaniard failed him especially if they did beleeve Padro Macestria besides nature could not long support the old King and then the Spaniard might have made no little advantage by injoying such a pledge But they have confessed their errour yet doe palliate it with having the Prince his faith and his proxie left with Digby and got thence with the very same tricke Sir Francis Michell said he got out of the Inquisition at Rome Now is all the fault laid on Digbyes false play and unfaithfulnesse to his Master and combining with the Spaniard and by this peece of service expressing his hatred to the Spaniard for his owne ends the Subjects of England having ever naturally hated them Buckingham the most hated man then living from an accused man in the former Parliament came to be the very darling of this Parliament and a favourite to the whole Kingdome which after King James his death he as soone lost againe so inconstant are the multitude In the Banquetting-house before both Houses of Parliament is Buckingham to give an account of this voyage which he did at large and to every full point as a further attestation he saith how say you Sir to which the Prince answered I yea or yes and through all his discourse laboured to make Bristoll as hatefull to this Parliament as himselfe had been to the former which had these things delivered by him and attested by the Prince been truths he had justly deserved death the accusations were foule and little lesse then treason without any legislative power Digby had some friends who instantly sent this Declaration into Spaine Digby acquaints that King takes his leave of him for England that King sets his danger before him offers if he will stay with him seeing it is for his sake he is like to suffer he would make him much greater in Honour and fortune then his Master can doe Digby gives him thankes but sayes he served so just a Master that would not condemne him unheard and should he yet he had much rather suffer under innocency then lye under the imputation of a false accusation of a fugitive and Traytor for the highest preferment in the World Away therefore comes he puts himselfe into a desperate passage least the Parliament should have been dissolved before his comming and so no place or meanes left him for his defence but must lye under those false calumnies and was here as the Prince came into Spaine sooner then either looked for or welcome Into the Parliament comes he with his Hat full of papers where he puts himselfe upon this point that if there were one syllable true that Buckingham had delivered if this holding up a Paper in his hand be a true copy I will yeeld my selfe guilty of all treasons can be laid to my charge and said these papers pointing to his Hat shall make it manifest Besides some of them shall make Buckingham appeare a very monster in his lascivious carriages too too unchaste for the eares of this Honourable Assembly Bristoll was instantly committed close prisoner to the Tower for a contempt the next day hee was riding through Cheap-side in his Coach by which it appeares Buckinghams power was in the wane with his old Master his relation and accusation being scandalous and false nor ever durst hee bring Bristol to any further tryall Whether this wound was deeper given by Bristol to Buckingham or the Prince I will leave to the reader to judge and will not my selfe determine And how Bristol hath since stood in favour with the Prince since he was King may give a conjecture that he tooke it as a wound to himselfe I am sure it was an ill omen and hath since given him lesse credit with his Subjects And in this Parliament doth Buckingham by his under-hand Ministers and Agents accuse Cranfield the Lord Treasurer in which the Prince also shewes himselfe Cranfield was so hated a fellow for his insolency that a small accusation would serve the turne as this truly was had his care of expending the Kings Treasure been out of a true zeale for it should seeme that the Prince sending for monies Cranfield restrained his Expresse using some words that the journey it selfe was foolishly undertaken and now must be maintained by
prodigality in which the Revenue of the Kingdom would not satisfie their vast expences if this had been spoken out of a Noble minde or out of that feeling he had of the Kingdomes misery as being Treasurer he ought to have done had he fallen it had been with honour and a generall compassion but being spoken out of the pride and insolency of his owne heart whose minde was ever so base as never to discerne what Honour was nor ever had he any other inherent Honour then what in his Apprentiship he raked out of the Kennel besides it was knowne to be out of hatred that he was not of councell in the undertaking he then looking at himselfe as the only States-man of all the Councell He fell without pitty and with much scorne as I formerly set downe yet left in a higher estate and better condition then so worthlesse a fellow and base Projector deserved yet afterwards hee was againe questioned upon his accounts But all this was nothing himselfe and his Posterity being left Peeres of the Realme In this case was the Prince a principall actour and did duly keep the earliest houres to sit in that Parliament where then he discerned so much juggling even to serve his owne ends on Cranfield that it was not much to be wondred at being come to be King he did not affect them And it was not well that a Prince should shew so much spleen though Cranfield deserved any ill could be cast on him and who knowes whether God doth now punish by Tallion Law to call his owne sin to remembrance and to repent In this place I hold it not unfit to shew the Reader how the King hath ever been abused and would be abused by over-much credulity in the treaty of Spaine for marriages as well as in all other Negotiations You shall now perceive how the King was abused in this treaty which was an error inexcusable in himselfe and whole Councell The Italians having a Proverbe He that deceives me once it s his fault but if twice it s my fault this second time therefore could not but be the only fault of the King and Councell In Prince Henry his life time the King had a little man but a very great and wise Counsellour his Secretary of State little Salisbury that great States-man who did inherit all his Fathers wisdome as well as his Offices and the sonne came little short of the father who was held the greatest States-man in the world of his time It is true that one State may abuse another but not to finde out the abuse is an unpardonable fault in any Statesman There was a treaty in the like case for Prince Henry Salisbury instantly discovered the juggling before any other did thinke of any for although it went forward currently yet did Salisbury so put the Duke of Lerma unto it that either it must be so or they must confesse their juggling The Duke of Lerma denyed that ever there had been any treaty or any intention from that State Salisbury sent for the Embassadour to a full Councell told him how hee had abused the King State about a treaty for Marriage which he had no Commission for that therefore he was lyable to the Lawes of our Kingdome for where any Embassadour doth abuse a State by their Mrs. Commission then the servant was freed but without Commission was culpable and lyable to be punished by the Lawes of that State as being disavowed to be servant to the King his Master The Embassadour answered gravely he did not understand the cause of his comming therefore was then unprepared to give any answer but on Monday he would againe come this being Saturday and give his answer On Monday he comes begins with these words My soule is my Gods my life my Masters my reputation my owne I will not forfeit the first and last to preserve the second Then layes downe his Commission and Letters of instruction under the Duke of Lerma's owne hand he acquitted himselfe honestly to this State yet lost his owne being instantly sent for home where he lived and dyed in disgrace Here was Legatus vir bonus peregrè missus sed non ad mentiendum reipublicae causa And had we had as honest and good Statesmen in after times as Salisbury was and so demonstrated himselfe in this weighty Affaire this State could not have been so abused in all Treaties By this you see the advantage and benefit of one wise Counsellour in a whole State and although Solomon say By the multitude of Counsellors doth a kingdome flourish yet surely he intended they should be wise men that are Counsellours for we had such a multitude of Counsellours that a longer table and a larger Counsell-chamber was provided yet our State was so far from flourishing that it had been almost utterly destroyed this was the last Statesman worthy of that name and now are the ancient stock of Statesmen decayed and with them all our honour and glory I shall now bring my Story to an end as I shall this Kings life although I have made some digressions yet all pertinent to the discourse of this Kings reigne He now goes to his last Hunting journey I meane the last of the yeare as wel as of his life which he ever ended in Lent and was seized on by an ordinary and moderate Tertian Ague which at that season according to the Proverb was Physick for a King but it proved not so to him and poore King what was but Physick to any other was made mortall to him yet not the Ague as himselfe confessed to a servant of his now living who cryed courage Sir this is but a small fit the next will be none at all at which he most earnestly looked and said Ah it is not the Ague afflicteth me but the black plaister and powder given me and laid to my stomack and in truth the plaister so tormented him that he was glad to have it pulled off with it the skin also nor was it faire dealing if he had faire play which himselfe suspected often saying to Montgomery whom he trusted above all men in his sicknesse for Gods sake looke I have faire play to bring in an Emprick to apply any Medicines whilst those Physitians appointed to attend him were at dinner nor could any but Buckingham answer it with lesse then his life at that present as he had the next Parliament had it not been dissolved upon the very questioning him for the Kings death and all those that prosecuted him utterly disgraced and banished the Court Buckingham comming into the Kings Chamber even when he was at the point of death and an honest servant of the Kings crying Ah my Lord you have undone us all his poore servants although you are so well provided you need not care At which Buckingham kickt at him who caught his foot and made his head first come to ground where Buckingham presently rising run to the dying Kings bed side and
good Lawes therefore it is but Gods justice to repay them with Talion Lawes to have their Priviledges broken seeing they first chalked out the way The King in requitall of this great love of theirs did instantly dissolve the Parliament which hath bred such ill blood in the veines of the Subjects to their Sovereign and in the Sovereign to the Subject that it is like to produce an epidemicall infection But the occasion taken to dissolve it was worst of all for Buckingham by his insolent behaviour had not onely lost that love his hatred to Spaine had procured him but was now growne into such an hatred that they fell on him for the death of his old Master which had been of a long time before but whispered but now the Examinations bred such confessions that it looked with an ugly deformed poysonous countenance and nothing but the dissolution of that Parliament could have saved his dissolution and that with a brand of shame and infamy as well as of ingratitude I remember I heard a noble Gentleman an old Parliament man of that Committee for Examinations say at first he derided the very thought of it but after the first dayes Examination it proved so foule as that he both hated and scorned the name and memory of Buckingham and though man would not punish it God would which proved an unhappy prediction This dissolving the Parliament was ill relished by the people and that which to them did seeme the cause worse and to make the case yet fouler and that it must needs be the evident cause Buckinghams Counsels were so stupid and himself so insolent that he did thinke it a glory to disgrace all those that followed that businesse in that Parliament or that seemed inquisitive thereafter and caused many old Servants of the Kings he formerly favoured very much to be banished from Court never to returne more nor did they ever as Clare Crofts Sir Fra. Stewart c. nay Dr. Cragg his Phisitian who from his very childhood had the generall repute of a very honest man for expressing himselfe like an honest man in the Kings presence was instantly dismissed never could recover his place or favour more Now also is Williams Lord Keeper turned out of his place and Coventry the Kings Atturney put in who had Buckingham lived had as soon followed in the same steps Then goes Buckingham into France on a stately Embassie for that Lady the King had seen and set an affection on in his passage to Spaine which was obtained with small intreaty Now doth Buckingham soare so high both in his Masters favours and in the pride of his own heart as he alters all great Officers makes war against Spaine and France the quarrel only his voiced to be on strange grounds the successe accordingly Navies Armies and nothing but war appeares as if we intended in shew to conquer all that opposed Lord Wimbleton the General from whom as little could be expected as he performed carrying a powerfull Army to Cales after an infinite expence and drinking much Spanish Wines and beating out the heads of what they could not drinke as if they intended to overthrow that yeares trade of Spanish Wine returned as like a valiant Commander as he ever was reputed whereas had he brought home those wasted Wines it may be they would have defrayed the charge of that expedition After the returne of that wise Pageantisme Denbigh is sent into France to aide Rochell who managed it better then his great Kinsman Buckingham who would afterwards needs goe to doe great exploits for he brought his ships and men safe againe the other left his men in powdering tubs as if he meant to have them kept sweet against his next comming thither In short this unhappy voyage lost all the honour our glorious ancestors had ever gotten over that Nation there being so many brave gentlemen wilfully lost as if that voyage had been on purpose plotted to disable our Nation by taking away so many gallant brave young spirits so many of our Colours lost as Trophies of their Victory and of our shame hung up in Nostredame Church that the brave Talbot and Salisbury with many other our valiant Ancestors will rise up in Judgement against him for that every way inglorious Act. Nay to how low an ebbe of honour was this our poore despicable Kingdome brought that even in Queene Elizabeths time the glory of the World a great Nobleman being taken prisoner was freely released with this farewell given with him that they desired but two English Mastieffes for his Ransome But the King by that unnecessary and dishonourable War was driven to that exigency for want of money that he was forced to pawn his rich Cupboard of Plate to Amsterdam and to send Cottington into Spain in a manner to beg a peace which having obtained it was thought so great a service of him that it raised him to all his Honor and Fortunes Yet all the while Rochell in sharpe distresse was left unrelieved although otherwise intended or but pretended rather For the Courting betwixt the Duke and the Governour of the Isle of Ree in sending complements and Presents to each other shewed rather an intimate dearnesse then any hostility to be meant between them And sure I am the successe made it apparent that their purpose was no better than to carry so many goodly Gentlemen to the Slaughter-house and Powdering-Tub as even now I instanced Yet was the King so content to be abused as publickly at his Dinner he delivered it for a miracle that having such ill successe there were so few men lost for that as many came home as went forth as appeared by the Chequer-Rol within five hundred At which a Gentleman whose faithfull Valour prompted him to speake a truth in season though theirs did not them to fight standing at the back of the Kings chair said yea Sir as you hear that hear very little of Truth But if you please to inquire of such as can and dare informe you truly you shall find many thousands fewer came home then went forth For which relation this honest Tell-troth was commanded presently from his Court-Attendance which doom he never could get reverst wherein you may behold the Power of Buckingham with the King whose Word stood for a Law Which Power of his grew now so exorbitant he aspires to get higher Titles both in Honour and Place as Prince of Tipperary a place so called in Ireland and Lord High Constable of England an Office aimed at by that Monster and Machivillian Leicester in Queen Elizabeths time but he therein was crossed and contradicted by the then Lord Chancellour Hatton now affected by Buckingham who herein wrote after Leicesters ambitious example but he crossed too by President with Coventry now Lord Keeper and no question but upon those just grounds his Predecessor did For you must understand this Office hath an Authority annexed unto it to call any Subject in question for his life by trying
Legion for they were all many Devills and like true Devills tooke pleasure in tormenting So that hereby may be perceived the Kingdome in generall had no benefit though some particular men as Weston Treasurer Coventry Lord Keeper and all such as paid his beggerly kindred Pensions which now were ceased by this mans death whose purpose 't was to have turn'd out of place both Coventry and Weston before his last intended voyage But now did Weston begin to be more cruell in Pride and Tyranny than Buckingham had been before him and had not the Arch-Bishop Laud ballanced him he would have been more insufferable He cheated the King in the sale of Timber and of Land and in the letting of his Customs the Arch-Bishop notwithstanding truly informing the King thereof Weston was so mad at the thought of it he would often say to his friends in private That little Priest would Monopolize the Kings eare for he was ever whispering to the King And now begin the Councel Table the Star-Chamber and High Commission to bee Scourges and Tortures of the Commonwealth by Imprisonments and Mutilations of Members and were made some of them by sinings the greatest incomes to the Exchequer and in truth did now put down the Common Laws deciding of Meum and Tuum And if any desiring to appeal from them refused to stand there to their censures they were committed untill they would submit thereunto If men sent unto by them for money refused it they would imprison them till they would give or lend and if any were summoned thither they had a mind to quarrell with in whom they could not find a fault they would make one by saying the Gentleman laughs at us Or the Gentleman saith thus and thus it may be that hee had not in his thought and yet there should not want a false witnesse for some Lords that sat with their backs towards them or so farre off that they could not heare yet would testifie either the words or actions or for want of this a Clerk of the Councell should bee called to witnesse who for his profit must swear what any Lord said If they hit not upon that trick then sometimes they would contrive to put a Gentleman into passion by calling him some disgracefull name or by scoffing at him so that indeed the Councell Table was growne more like a Pasquil then a grave Senate But if the spirit of the man wer such that he could not take those indignities without some regret it was well for him if he escaped with imprisonment and not called Ore tenus to the Star-Chamber and fined as many were to his undoing for to that point were now the Fines of that Court risen As for the High Commission-Court that was a very Spanish-like Inquisition in which all pollings and tyrannizings over our Estates and Consciences were practised as were in the other over our Estates and Bodyes Then were the Judges so much their Servants or rather Slaves that what ere they illegally put in execution they found Law to maintaine But that which is a wonder above all wonders is that Coventry who formerly had gained the opinion of a just and honest man was a principall in all these miscarriages yet dyed he unquestioned when had his actions been scanned by a Parliament in that they were not you may see what opinion is which in the multitude blindeth the understanding he had been found as foul a man as ever lived Finch a fellow of an excellent tongue but not of one dram of Law made for all that Cheife Justice of the Common-Pleas the onely Court most learned in the Law yet he brought all the learned Judges except two only Hutton and Crook to be of his illegall opinion for shipmony This surely must be a punishment from God on them and us for our sins otherwise it had been impossible so many grave Iudges should have been over-ruled by such a slight and triviall fellow Now also all Officers in all places took what Fees they pleased as if in a Iubilee Amongst the rest those of the Star-Chamber the Councell Table and the High Commission were very Grandees Yea the very Messengers to them were countenanced in their abuse and insultings over the Gentry when in their clutches and to such a strange passe were disorders come unto that every Lacquey of those great Lords might give a Check-Mate to any Gentleman yea to any Country Nobleman that was not in the Court favour And to fill full the measure of the times abounding iniquity the Court Chaplines and others elsewhere with the Reverend Bishops themselves did preach away our liberties and proprieties yet kept they Divinity enough for their owne interests for they concluded all was either Gods or the Kings their part belonged to God in which the King had no propriety Our part belonged wholly to the King in which we had propriety no longer when the King were disposed to call for them so that betwixt the Law and the Gospel we were ejected out of Lands Liberties and Lives at pleasure And now is Gods time come to visit with his Iustice and behold it For the pit they digged for others they themselves are fallen into for all their Honours Lands and Liberties are a gasping and the Iudges are but in very little better case for the Parliament will doe that to them by the Law which they would have done to us by wresting the Gospel But what needed all that joy for the death of Buckingham Sith the times succeeding him have been so infinitely beyond him in all oppression as they are like to bring all manner of miseries both upon King people So that in truth his Hydra's head being struck downe an hundred more instead thereof appeared which never durst in his life time And as he got much by Suites so did Weston much by cheating yet all came out of the Subjects purses and Coventry that so generally a reputed honest man got such an estate by Bribery and In-justice that he is said to have left a Family worth a Million Which may commend his Wisdome but in no wise his Honesty And now also dies Weston after he had first brought in as you may remember I told you himselfe was by Cranfield Sir Thomas Wentworth after Earle of Strafford the active manager of the State and sole Governour of the King This Strafford without doubt was the ablest Minister that this Kingdome had since Salisburies time and to speak uprightly there was not any but himselfe worthy of that name amongst all the Kings Councell yet I am confident by the weaknesse of that Boord his abilities in State affaires were judged more then they were and besides that very word of States-man was now grown a stranger to our Nation Nor was he as Salisbury or our ancient Heroes a generall States-man nor was it possible he should be he not having that breeding himselfe Nor kept he any upon his charge in forraigne parts for intelligence Nor had
imprecations for their reliefe and assistance wherein they put some confidence was meerly betrayed by him insomuch that when the Rochel Agents found themselves abused through their whole yeares attendance they left this bitter jeere upon him that now they could rightly call England the Land of Promise He seldome loved any but to serve his turne and would himselfe serve a turne to doe any mischiefe as was to be seene by his saying Amen to every full point of Buckinghams Accusation in the face of the Parliament against Bristol for his miscarriage in Spaine when it appeared by Bristols defence in Publick before the face of that same Parliament that there was not scarce one syllable had any truth in it who also freely put himself upon the Test that if there were any truth in that combined Accusation against him he would yeeld himselfe guilty of it all He was of a very poore spirit which may be conceived amongst other things by his making Buckingham his Privado after he came to the Crown otherwise would he never have forgotten those unsufferable insolencies offered him being Prince what they were you have already heard His Predecessor Henry the fifth and so his brother Henry would have instructed him otherwise for although its true noble mindes should forget injuries so as not to revenge them yet so as not to countenance the doers of them especially to take them into so much nearnesse and dearnesse as he did him after those two proud affronts which argued in him as I said before a poore and ignoble spirit He had all his Kingdomes left in peace and tranquility by his Father which he soone after made a shift to distemper by a foolish Warre upon France and Spaine and by a more foolish conduct of either ignorant unexperienced or cowardly Commanders And in truth if you will give credit to Vox populi the Booke so called written by one Scot they were suitable to the grounds of such Quarrels being no fairer than the satisfying the beastly appetite of his Favourite who must be reveng'd forsooth upon those States In which I admire Gods Justice that he who unjustly made War upon unwarrantable grounds should have Warre thus brought home unto him so that now God hath given him the same measure he hath met to others even full pressed down and running over I wish I may have a time to give him a fairer Character when he is dead then are my observations in his life but I may rather wish then hope in that course he yet continues Certaine observations before Queene Elizabeths death I Cannot but admire Gods Providence in bringing Peace when nothing was thought of but War and now bringing a cruell Warre when nothing could be expected but peace Peace with all forraigne Estates peace at Home Not long before the death of Queene Elizabeth all the discourse was in a secret whispering on whom the Succession would fall some said the Lady Arabella some the King of Scotland and reason given pro and con on both sides they who were for her saying the Lady Arabella was a Native and a Maid and that this Kingdome never flourished more then under a Maidens Reigne Others for the Scot said that the King of Scots was more neare to the Crowne by descent farther off say others as being a Stranger and that Nation ever in Hostility against us Nor did the King himselfe beleeve he should have come in with a sheathed Sword which appeared by that Letter he produced of the Earle of Northumberlands that if he made any doubt hereof he would bring him forty thousand Catholicks should conduct him into England But the Queene dyed the King comes in peaceably even to the admiration of all Forraigne Princes and to the gnashing of their teeth but the reason was they had lived in obedience under a just Sovereigne who was wont ever to say when any great man had opprest a poore Gentleman that Petitioned her for redresse against such oppression when all the great Lords and Officers would hold together to support the Suppressor and trample upon the oppressed My Lords quoth she content you I am Queene of the Valleys as well as of the Hills and I must not suffer the Hills to ore-top nor yet to over-shade the Valleys A worthy saying which if it had been imitated by her Successors these our miseries had never happened but I say and this is it I now drive at her Justice made her Subjects to beleeve there could be no injustice in Monarchy and that was it did facilitate the Kings peaceable entrance In that tranquility did the Kingdome continue all his dayes and about fifteen yeares of his Sons Reign when behold there was nothing but jollity in the Court as if saying to themselves Who dares molest us the King having now a plentifull Issue for let me tell you the Kings Issue made Him and his Courtiers the more to trample on the country Gentry But behold when nothing but peace peace sudden destruction came on them and us unawares and God sends such a War as no man could dreame of Now the corollary of all is this the high injustice of Church and State was the cause of this Warre And O may not the continuing of that in any other Government prove the continuance of this war there being a farre greater appearance of the continuance thereof then ever there was of the beginning But Gods will be done The Contents QVeene Elizabeth died at Richmond house on March 24 1602. page 1 2â— The first that carryed newes thereof into Scotland was Sir Rob. Carew who was afterward made Governor of the Kings then second Son Charles Duke of York p. 2 3â— The first man imployed from Scotland to the English Nobility for preparations of the Kings comming into England was Sir Roger Aston p. 4â— He was afterwards made from the Kings Barbar 〈◊〉 gentleman of his Bed-Chamber p. 6â— The Kings Favourites 1 Sir George Hewme a kind of Favourite for having been of some secret councels with the King whilsâ— in Scotland the cheife of which was that of Gourieâ— Conspiracy p. 7 8â— 2 Sir Robert Cicill a Favourite p. 9â— His il offices he did this Nation p. 1â— His Herodian disease and end p. 1â— 3 4. Hen Howard Tho. Howard Favorites p. 1â— The principall managers of the State affaires in Englanâ— then were Salisbury Suffolke c. p. 1â— 5 Mr. James Hay an high Favourite c. See his riâ— c. p. 17 18 1â— Passages concerning Sir Walter Rawleigh p. 27 â— A notable discovery made by Sir Rob. Mansel of a Spaniards stealing plate which cleared the false imputation laid by them on the English p. 40. c. The King easily perswaâ—ed to retire himselfe by those Managers of the State of which Salisbury was the cheif p. 46 47 48 Secretary Lake p. 49 c. Salisbury Suffolk Northampton great getters more then the whole bunch of the Scots Dunbar excepted p. 54 Kelly Annandale