Roman Coins The Physicians tamper with him They leave him to Kitchin Physick Goes into the Country Dies Persons attending his Funerals Buried His Monument His Lady dies His Person described CHAP. XVI His last Will. Makes his Will For the finishing his House and Monument To his Lady For preserving good Housekeeping To his Brother His Library to Queen's College or Peter-House Books to his Friends A Cup to the Queen In case of Doubt arising in the Will His Executors The Date of his Will CHAP. XVII Observations upon Sir Thomas Smith His Learning A Platonick A Physician His Recipe for the Plague His Chymical Water sent to the Countess of Oxford His Matthiolus A Chymist A Mathematician An Arithmetician An Astronomer His Iudgment of the Star in Cassiopaeia A Politician A Linguist An Historian An Orator An Architect His Library Books by him written A great Iudge in Learning His Acquaintance The Vogue of his Learning Beneficial to Learning His Places His houses in Chanon-Row In London At Ankerwick Mounthaut His heir Sir William Smith CHAP. XVIII Sir Thomas Smith 's Vertuous Accomplishments His Religion His Principles by which he governed himself His Vertues Vices falsely charged on him His Spirit His Apparel Not oppressive Of an universal Charity His Apophthegms Leland's Copy of Verses to Smith Dr. Byng's Epitaph on him THE LIFE Of the Learned Sir THOMAS SMITH Kt. CHAP. I. Sir THOMAS SMITH's Birth Parentage and Education THE Learned Sir THOMAS SMITH sometimes Secretary of State to K. Edward VI. and afterward to Q. Elizabeth was born at Walden in the County of Essex distinguish'd by the Name of SAFFRON Walden the Lands of that Parish and the Parts adjacent being famous for the Growth of the useful Medicinal Plant whether first brought thither by this Knight's Industry being a great Planter I know not for it was first brought into England as we are told in the Reign of K. Edward III. According to Cambden who writes that Sir Thomas Smith died Anno 1577. in his Climacteric he must have been born in the Year 1514. According to Fox who in his Relation of an Evidence given by the said Knight in February Anno 1551 against Bishop Gardiner assigned his Age then to be Three and Thirty he must have been born in the Year 1518. But himself putteth his Age out of doubt in his Book of the English Commonwealth where he saith that March the 28th 1565 he was in the One and Fiftieth Year of his Age. By which Computation he must have come into the World in the Year 1512. a Year famous to England for building of a Ship the biggest that ever the Sea bore And by the Inscription on his Monument it appears he departed this Life in the 65th Year of his Age. So that Cambden made him Two Years younger than he was and Fox Five unless we should say the Figure 33 is mis-printed for 39 a Fault too common in his Books Our Knight's Father was Iohn Smith of Walden Gentleman a Person of good Rank Quality and Wealth Of which we may take some Measure from two Purchases he made of K. Edward in one Year viz. the Third of his Reign that is to say a Chauntry in the Church of Long Ashton in Somersetshire with other Lands Tenements and Hereditaments in the Counties of Somerset and Glocester which cost him 293 l. 16. s. 8 d. His other Purchase was all the Guild or Fraternity in Great Walden lately dissolved with divers other Lands and Tenements in Essex and London For which he with another Joint-Purchaser paid 531 l. 14 s. 11 d. Of which Fraternity of Walden this by the way must be remembered for the Honour of it that in a Grant made to it by K. Henry VIII as he willed there That he might evermore be remembred in their perpetual Prayers so he charitably desired that he might be admitted a Brother thereof and his dear Wife Q. Katherine to be a Sister And divers others are expressed there to be desirous to be admitted to the same as the Right Worshipful Dr. Wolsey Almoner to the King Richard Nix Bishop of Norwich Henry Earl of Essex and his Lady Lord Brook Chief Justice of England Sir Iohn Cutts Sir Tho. Semer and divers other Gentlemen and Ladies This Iohn Smith if we look further back was in the 30th of King Henry VIII High Sheriff of the Counties of Essex and Hertford For in those Times one Sheriff served both Counties In the year 1545. and the 35th of K. Henry aforesaid his Coat of Arms was granted him by the principal King of Arms or rather confirmed For the said King's Parent specifies That he was descended of honest Lineage and his Ancestors had long continued in Nobility and bearing of Arms and that it was Mr. Smith's Desire that the King of Arms would ratifie unto him his former Coat and Register it in the Records of his Office The Coat therefore granted annexed and attributed unto him was Sables a Fesse Dauncy between three Lionceux regardant Argent Languid Gules pawing with their Left Paws upon as many Altars flaming and burning thereon for that these were Anvils as some have thought alluding to the Name of Smith is a Fancy Upon the Fesse Nine Billets of his Field The Crest an Eagle rising Sable holding in his Right Claw a Pen Argent Flames of Fire issuing thereout This Crest Sir Thomas changed upon a notable Reason as we shall relate in due place Of this Coat of Arms I have laid a Copy of the Original Patent in the Appendix which is in Parchment very well adorned round about with Pictures of Rosâ—â— and Flowers de Lys and the Lively Efsigies of Garter arrayed in his rich Coat standing with a white Wand in his Hand and a Crown on his Head and the Coat of Smith blazonâ—d on the right side of him and pointâ—d to by the said white Wand I have but one thing more to say of this Gentleman and that is That he was an old Favourer of the Religion Reformed in which he brought up his Son Thomas from his Youth He lies buried in the Church of Walden where his Monument is yet remaining that is so much of it as contains his Coat of Arms but the Brass that bore the inscription torn off This for Sir Thomas's Father His Parentagâ— on his Mother's side was also Genule being derived from the ancient Name of the Châ—â—â—ecks of Lancashire his Mother Agnes being a Daughter and Co-heir of that Family By this Gentlewoman Iohn Smith had Issue divers Children of both Sexes viz. Four Daughters Agnes and Margery Alice and Iane which two last were married and three Sons Thomas Iohn and George The Posterity of which last flourish to this Day in Wealth and Honour and possess the Seat and Inheritance of Thomas the Subject of our ensuing History with great Improvements of the Estate Tho' no more Sons are express'd in the Roll
Excuse than Accuse them who were worthy of Accusation and very doubtful he was whether they would hinder the Discovery of the Nest that would be broken As he broke his Mind to the Lord Treasurer who was of the same Judgment and so also the Lord Chamberlain shewed himself to be in Conference with the Secretary But the said Treasurer who was for doing all things with Doulceur and with as little opposition to others as could be judged that for this time the doings of these Justices should be tried to which Opinion the Secretary did shew himself to condescend and agree There came soon after to his hands more Indicia of these Conjurers which were taken and withall a foul knot of Papistical Justices of Peace discovered and of Massing Priests which made him signify his judgment to the Lord Treasurer that it would be well done some of them should be sent for out of hand and laid hold on if they could be found And accordingly Letters were dispatched into the North for that purpose About this time it was that Sir Thomas was earnest with the Queen to send aid to reduce the Rebels in Scotland who had fortified Edenburgh Castle against the King and Regent and for that purpose he let the Queen understand from Mr. Killigrew her Ambassador in Scotland how dangerously things stood there and therefore that it was his desire that the Peace-makers as he phrased it might shortly be transported thither to whom when the Queen asked who be they Marry said he Your Majesty's Cannons they must do it and make a final Conclusion Then said the Queen I warrant you and that shortly Whereupon Sir Thomas said he was glad for it was better to prevent than to be prevented such was his Facetious way sometimes of getting his designs and Council to the Queen to succeed For it is to be understood that the Queen for the securing of her Affairs with respect to Scotland had by her Interest there procured the Earl of Morton a Protestant to be Regent of Scotland But the Papists and Frenchified Party resisted and took Edenburgh Castle the reducing of which so expeditely before the French could come in to their assistance was owing to the Managery of the Lord Treasurer and the Secretary His part was to urge the Queen to send speedy supply thither and the Lord Treasurer would have Men Ammunition and other Necessaries and a Ship immediately ready at Newcastle to go for Scotland upon the Queen's Order So about the 11 th or 12 th of February the Secretary moved the Queen for aiding the said Regent to reduce that place into the young King's Hands But she considered the Expence and told Smith of a device she had to do it without any such charge that is by a Letter to be written it seems to them that held the Castle thinking to bring them to yielding by some good words and promises But this the Secretary shewed her the inconvenience of namely that it would be a protracting of time being the very thing which they desired that the French might have time to come to them with their Succours He shewed her moreover that now the French King being thorowly occupied was the best time to perform that enterprize that was to be done and in fine she consented to his opinion and shewed her self very well pleased with the Lord Treasures making Provision in this mean while to have Powder and a ship of Newcastle and other things necessary provided beforehand for the doing it as the Secretary had signified to Her And she told him that upon that Lords coming to Court which then was at Greenwich she would fully determine with him all those Matters to be set forward with speed About this time were two Scotch men coming from France stopt at Rye by the Mayor and sent up to the Secretary who examined them They related what confident Report went in France what the French would do in Scotland and with what a mighty hand they would bring their Desires to pass there in spight of the English and such like But this the Secretary saw was but such Talk as might appear to be common in France For that Nation he said was full of Babble and Words and all for magnifying of their doings and Threatning what they would do rather than what they could do These men who called themselves Merchants were searched at Rye and no Letters nor other things suspicious found about them Yet the Secretary advised that Mr. Randal the Queens Ambassadour in Scotland or some other who knew Scotch Manners and Matters better should somewhat consider of them and if there were no matters against them to dismiss them in his Mind were best This year Sir Thomas procured a Colony to be sent into a Land of his in Ireland called The Ardes It was a rich and pleasant Country on the Eastern Coast of Ulster and of considerable Extent lying well for Trade by Sea Bordering upon a Country where Sarleboy contained himself with his Party He was an Hebidian Scot the Hebrides bordering upon this Province a long time detained prisoner by Shan O Neal the chief Prince in Ulster This Country was called Clandeboy where these Scots lived but they were beaten out once by this Shan who called himself Earl of Tir Oen and had killed two of the Brethren of Mac Conel Of which Family was Sarleboy whom he then had taken Prisoner but afterwards in an Extremity gave him his liberty This Shan was afterwards in a revenge slain by Sarleboy and his Party A Prospect of these Parts this Map will give In this Patent his base and only son Thomas Smith was joyned with him And under his Conduct Sir Thomas this year sent thither the Colony beforesaid having this good Design therein that those half barbarous People might be taught some Civility And his hope was that the Place might easily be defended by Garrisons placed in a strait neck of Land by which it was joyned to the rest of the Island And there was a Reward of Land to every Footman and Horseman But this extensive Project took not its desired effect For the hopeful Gentleman his Son had not been long there but he was unhappily and treacherously slain It was pity it had no better Issue For Sir Thomas a great while had set his Thoughts upon it undertaking to people that North Part of the Island with Natives of this Nation But for his more regular and convenient Doing of it and Continuance thereof he invented divers Rules and Orders The Orders were of two kinds I. For the management of the Wars against the Rebels and the preserving the Colony continually from the Danger of them II. For the Civil Government To preserve their Homeâ—manners Laws and Customs that they degenerated not into the Rudeness and Barbarity of that Country He divided his Discourse into thâ—â—e Parts First to speak of Wars And therein of Military Officers to be used there
College Hall or House of Learning after the End of that Sessions of Parliament should make any Lease for Life or Years of any of their Lands Tenements or other Hereditaments to which any Tithe Arable Lands Medow or Pasture did appertain Except that one Third Part at the least of the old Rent were reserved and paid in Corn that is to say in good Wheat after Six Shillings and Eight Pence the Quarter or under and good Malt after Five Shillings the Quarter or under To be delivered Yearly upon Days perfixed at the said Colleges c And for default thereof to pay the said Colleges in ready Mony at the Election of the said Leasees after the Rate as the best Wheat and Malt in the Market of Cambridge and in the Market of Oxford and of Winchester and Windsor for the Rents that were to be paid to the use of the Houses there were or should be sold the next Market day before the said Rent should be due without Fraud or Deceit And that all Leases otherwise hereafter to be made and all Collateral Bonds and Assurances to the Contrary by any of the said Corporations should be void in Law to all intents and purposes And the same Wheat Malt or Money coming of the same to be expended to the Use of the Relief of the Commons and Diet of the said Colleges And by no Fraud or Colour 〈◊〉 or fold away from the Profit of the said Colleges and the Fellows and Scholars of the same and the Use aforesaid upon pain of Deprivation to the Governors or chief Rulers of the said Colleges and all others thereto consenting And this was no more than Sir Thomas himself had practised long before when he was Provost of Eaton whensoever he made or renewed the Leases of that College The Benefit of which he had well experienced by the rising of the Prizes of Corn even in his Remembrance For this Eternal Benefit to the Houses of Learning he deserved an eternal Monument and so a member of one of them in a Poetical Flight wrote O! Statua dignum Inventum Phrygiaque Columna About the year 1576. Sir Thomas Smith began to be afflicted with that Sickness and the publick Cares of the Queen and State As it is a Thing that is wont to create a true Friendship I mean the Proportion and Likeness of Tempers so it is not without Remark that Sir Thomas and the Lord Treasurer Burghley their Distempers were the same And which was more remakable still they used to seize upon these two Persons at the same Time Their Distemper was a Rheum The Rheum as he wrote to the same Lord which is my natural Enemy is commonly wont to assault me most when your Lordship is also grievously troubled with yours For April 22d 1576. at which time the Lord Burghley was very ill of his Distemper Sir Thomas wrote him a Letter that he was then seized with his And which was an ill Sign whereas before it used to take him either in his Jaw or Teeth or in the Lower Body with Loosness and all over with Sweat now it fastned it self in his Throat and Tongue and would not by any Art be removed So that he was almost out of Hope of any Amendment but clearly without Hope of any speedy Help tho' he never took so much Advice as he wrote nor used so many Physicians nor observed so much their Rules which he styled their Preciseness But when all is done added he piously that man may or ought to do the Sequel and Event of Health and the End of Life is in Gods Will and Pleasure That which he shall appoint is best to me Surely all is one being as willing now to Die as to Live and I trust with Gods Mercy and Hope therein as ready For it grieveth me to Live unserviceable to my Prince and unprofitable to my Country Heavy and unpleasant to my self For what Pleasure can a man have of my years when he cannot speak as he would For his chief Grief was in Eating and Drinking and Speaking and in the last especially While his Legs he said his Hands his Memory and his Wit served as much as need be desired It was indeed a great Grief to him that it so affected his Tongue And he avowed That if it were at his own Choice he had rather his Disease had taken hold of any other Part of his Body So that that Piece only as he called it which is contained in an handful space were at quiet Which yet was without pain or grief but when he Eat or Drank or Spake The continual Defluxion and falling down of tough Flegm still vexing it and interrupting the most necessary uses of the Throat This envious Disease stopt that Eloquent Tongue of his And that Sweet and streaming Rhetoric which was wont to flow to the Delight and Admiration of all received now a Fatal Check and Sir Thomas must play the Orator no more no nor scarce utter a single Word For to that Extremity he was brought at last Which the Poet that wrote the Muses Tears for him thus expresses Nescio quis subito Morbus sic occupat artus 〈◊〉 quâ—â—lim mellita din jam verba solebat Fundâ—re vix aliquam possit transmittere vocem Gutturis ast imis latitans radicibus intus Haereret nullumque Sonum Lingua ederet illo Qâ—o solita esl Splendore decus laudemque merente He foresaw that he was like to continue a long while in this Condition And be so disablied from his common Function and to attend the Queen's Business But he could not be idle which he said was contrary to his Nature He was therefore minded to follow his Study and take a Review of what he had formerly done and in this â—eathful Leisure as he called it among other Occupations and Pastimes he would remember the Days of his Youth and look back again to his Doings then and now being Old Quasi repueraseâ—re i. e. hereby as it were to grow a Child again When he was Secretary in King Edwards Days he wrote a Book of the Value of the Roman Coins to our English Standard upon a Question Cecil his fellow Secretary had moved to him viz. What was the Ordinary Wages of a Soldier at Rome This Book as many others which he wrote in his Youth he had now lost Two of these he had sent he remembred one to Sir Robert Dudley now Earl of Leicester and the other to Sir Will. Cecil now Lord Treasurer Now he had lately desired Mr. Wolley to search in the said Earl's Study for it but it could not be found He desired therefore the Lord Treasurer to see for it who he thought had not laid it up so negligently And especially he desired the Tables which were exactly and plainly set forth For searching among his old Papers he could find the first Draught of the said Book and the Adversaria Whereby he was able to fill up all
the other Anne Vicars of Navstock not far off The Examiration of the former he took in April 1570. Against whom one Evidence deposed that about two Years past she bore her Husband in hand that he was bewitched And as a Remedy thereof she caused a Trivet to be set and certain pieces of Elder and white Hazel Wood to be laid upon the Trivet across with a Fire under it and then him who was at that Time not well in his Wits to kneel down and say certain Prayers as she taught him And thereby she said he should be delivered of his Bewitching or his Witch should consume as the Fire did Which when this Evidence rebuked her for doing as using Witchcraft she conceived an ill Will towards him And he having a Sheep-shearing about that Time and not inviting her thereto being his Neighbour she as he supposed bewitched two of his Sheep For immediately after they were taken with Sickness their hinder Legs so indisposed that they only could crawl and died The same Man had a Sow being well when the Sun went down which the next Morning was found dead with her Nose lying upon the Groundsel of this Woman's House where she never was fâ—d nor wont to come before Another Witness deposed That she being Servant to a Farmer 's Wife in the said Parish of Theydon Mount this Goodwife Malter came to her Mistress who was going to London Market and desired her to bring her home some Sprats but she saying she came always loaden from London denied her Upon this the Deponent then her hired Maid came from Milking and as she set her Milk in the Pan upon a Loft there was a Speckled Bird as she thought which fluttered among the Milk-Pans and with her Feet and Wings slubbered therein Her Mistress in the mean time called her away But she endeavoured by a Broom to sweep or drive away this Bird. But it would not away but went fluttering from Pan to Pan and could not fly but skip and hop At the last it went from the Loft where the Milk and Wheat was into the Cheese Loft And then being often called by her Mistress she came down and being blamed for her long tarrying she related how she was troubled with such a Bird. And then her Mistress came her self into the Milk Loft and found it come down Stairs a very Toad Which after it was once come into the Buttery she could never see it more And for the space of six Weeks after by no Means nor Diligence nor change of Churn nor Cloths could they have any Butter until that her Mistress did bid her carry her Milk and churn at a Neighbours House and there the Milk made Butter as it was wont to do before and in the same Milk Pans Other Evidences there were against this Woman In May Sir Thomas took the Depositions of several against Anne Vicars A Woman deposed that about three Years past she was taken with a strange Sickness Her Body disfigured her Lips great and black and she almost out of her Wits She suspecting that she was bewitched by the said Anne went to one Cobham of Rumford who was thought to be Cunning in such Matters And he declared to her that she was bewitched by the same Woman telling her the Words which past betwixt Anne Vicars and her whereby she conceived displeasure against her and wrought her that Mischief And Cobham promised her that as long as he lived she should have no Power over her And so it happened For during his Life she was recovered and continued well But shortly after his Death she fell again into her Disease Another Woman of Stapleford Abbots said That about three Years past she was coming from Rumford Market with this Anne Vicars And suddenly the said Anne cast up her Nose into the Air and smelt Which the other marvelled at and asked her if she saw any thing or if there were any Carrion there And she said she smelt either a Whore or a Thief At last she espied the Wife of one Ingarsole going a great way before them Whereat the said Vicars cried out with an Oath I told you I smelt either a Whore or a Thief and making great haste to overtake her when she came at her she cast her Apron upon the side of her Face next unto her And then went backwards a great way with her Face towards the said Ingarsole's Wife casting her Apron over it and making many Crosses saying as it were certain Prayers but what this Examinant could not tell but marvelled much at her Behaviour and said she was to blame to slander her that was an honest Woman and so known among her Neighbours for twenty Years But upon this Ingarsole's Wife fell extreamly Sick and lost one of her Eyes with a stroke as she thought that came unto her she could not tell how in the plain Field where neither was Bush nor Tree or other Creature And the said Mawd Ingarsole's Wife examined said that the said Anne Vicars Daughter about the Time that this Calamity befel her did fell Wood that was assigned in the Common to her the said Mawd. Whereupon she forbad her to do so any more or else she would take away her Bill The next Day the said Wench came again But she would not suffer her to carry away the Wood. Whereupon the said Anne Vicars fâ—ll out with her and wisht she might not be delivered of that she went with being then great with Child This Falling out was on the Monday and on the Thursday she lost one of her Eyes with a sudden stroke as she thought where no Creature nor thing was by to hurt her Besides that she was extream Sick and in great danger of her Life Also one Agnes Wife of Thomas Combres being examined said That since Michaelmas Iast the said supposed Witch fell out with her and upon that she fell a Cursing and Banning at her and wisht her Eyes out Whereupon within two Days she fell down as Dead extreamly Sick and hardly recovered it And since that Time she had marvellous Pain in her Eyes These and divers more Depositions Sir Thomas now took against this Woman of her supposed Witchcraft exercised upon her Neighbours But we have said enough of this What Prosecutions were made of these Women whom he seemed to have Committed to Jail this is not a Place to enquire into Sir Thomas was in the Month of March talked of to assist Cecil then newly made Baron of Burghley in the Office of Sâ—cretary And so to succeed in that Room as soon as the other should be made Lord Privy Seal which was expected But neither was he made Privy Seal nor was Smith as yet admitted to that Office However he was now admitted into the Council Sir Thomas now divided his Time between the Country and the Court but chiefly in the Former delighted with the Divertisements and easie Cares of his belovâ—d Seat in Essex But he
was not idle For he had a busy active Mind and a Philosophical Head And this put him among other Things upon a Project of Alchimy about the Year 1571. Hoping to transmute Iron into Copper Into this Chargeable but as was hoped gainful Business he brought the Secretary Cecil who had also a Philosophical Genius the Earl of Leicester Sir Humsrey Gilbert and others The first Occasion of this Business was by one Medley who had by Vitriol changed Iron into true Copper at Sir Thomas Smith's House at London and after at his House in Essex But this was too costly as Sir Thomas saw to make a Benefit by Therefore he propounded to find out here in England the Primum Eus Vitrioli and therewith to do the same Work at a cheaper Rate Upon which Sir Thomas Sir Humphrey Gilbert a Learned Kt. also and of a projecting Head and our Medley entred into a Company under Articles to sind this out That is to say That Medlâ—y should be employed in this Business at the Charge of the two other till by the Profit he should reap from the thing found out he might bear his Proportion The Place where this was to be attempted and laboured was in the Isle of Wight or at Poole or elsewhere But at Winchelsey he had made the first Tryal because of the Plenty and readiness of Wood. He received of Sir Thomas and Sir Humphrey an Hundred and One Pounds apiece for the buying of Vessels and Necessaries They removed to Poole thinking this Ens of Vitriol to be there and took a Lease of Land of the Lady Mountjoy of 300 l. per Annum For the Payment of which Sir Thomas with the other two entred into a Bond of 1000 l. While these Things were in this State Smith was sent Ambassador beyond Sea Which was in 1572. as we shall see in due place And a Quarrel then happening between Medley and Sir Humphrey and Medley gone to Ireland being reported to be run away the Business lay asleep for some time But Sir Thomas revived it at his Return Going down himself to Poole where he found Arrears of Rent due to the Lady Mountjoy and above 60 l. due to Workmen and no Copper nor any Crocus of Copper made The satisfying of which Debts and other Charges cost him 200 l. And after for clearing of things at Poole sending down at several times his Nephews William Smith and Iohn Wood thither And moveover Smith had perswaded the Lord Treasurer and the Earl of Leicester to enter into the Society This was now about December Anno 1574. leaving them to satisfie themselves by sending some able or knowing Person to Medley to see his Method and Ability and so accordingly to report it to them And if they were satisfied he could do it then to consider of the Terms Medley had propounded and if they thought good to yield unto them In sine these Lords were willing to come into the Society and they deposited each of them an 100 l. towards the carrying it on And it was to be ratifiâ—d by a Patent to be obtained from the Queen Medley was now removed to Anglesey where was Fuel Earth and Water proper for his Business being sufficient to do it for ever or at the least for a very long Time The Things which he undertook to do were these 1. To make of raw Iron good Copper and of the same Weight and Proportion abating one Part in Six As Six hundred Tun of Iron should by Boyling make Five hundred Tun of perfect Copper II. The Liquor wherein the Iron was boyled to make Coperas and Allom ready for the Merchant Which keeping the Price they then bore should of the Liquor of Five hundred Tun of Copper be worth 10000 l. that is for every Tun 2000 l. Sir Thomas was satisfied that true Copper was made of Iron but whether all the other incident Expences which would be considerable would countervail that was the Matter to be examined The Society had seen the Tryal of Crocus at London which might be satisfaction in part Smith for his own part made no doubt that Copper might be made that way and two or three other ways also as he told the Lords But of the whole Work which rested in many other Points as of the Proportion of Iron to the Crocus of the Crocus to the Copper of the Allom and Coperas that came of it with what time of Boyling what Expences of Fire and Men's Labour Carriage Buildings Vessels and all other things which be many this he said could not be done nor well esteemed nor judged upon at London but at the Place Whereupon he propounded to the two Lords to send down two Persons and he and Sir Humphrey Gilbert one or two others whom they might trust These together to viâ—w and see the Doings and one be Witness to the other and so all Parties to be fully satisfied by the Answer of these Viewers to every Part of their Instructions and Articles what they should find true according to Medley's Promise and what not and the Occasion thereof That so the Society might be broken if it were Deceit and Abuse or gone forward with if it were not so At length there arising so much Probability of Success in the Project he got the Patent of the Society Signed in Ianuary 1574. And therein it was Stilâ—d The Society of the new Art And the two Lords put into the Stock an 100 l. a piâ—ce more Now when the Patent was signed and the Great Seal obtained their next Work was to forward the Business with all speed that they might lie no longer at great Expence Smith excited the Lord Burghley that they might proceed to a perfect Beginning of the Work in the manner of a Society The Earl of Leicester was very forward offering Iron and Lead and Money also and making more Vessels Smith also put on the Lord Burghley to make Orders when and how it should begin and that one Man or two should be fixed upon as chief Overseers to take Care and Charge of the Works who should be answerable to the whole Society Making clear Books for one Day prefixed what the Daily Ordinary and Extraordinary Expences be and what the Comings in again Weekly of Copper Allom Coperas and other Things be and were like to be Then what common Seal for the whole Society And that Burghley also would out of other Statutes for other Societies cull out some good and wholsome Statutes and Orders for this Which without a Society he said could not well stand And the fewer Statutes and well kept the better And lastly he desired that all might be ready so as by the 10th or 15th of February the Work might be fully begun That so by the last of March a sure Guess might be made what were like to ensue thereof One Sir Iohn Hibbord was the Man agreed upon to have the chief Charge of the Provisions for all things necessary for
the Work and for Disbursing Money by Accounts And to him the Earl of Leicester had given order for Iron Cask and Lead And one Cole was appointed by Sir Thomas to be over the Works to be the chief Doer and Worker of the Melting and not to go from the Work There was also a Clerk to keep the Reckoning to see what the Labourers did daily and Weekly what was melted and made in Coperas and Allom. But notwithstanding all Smith's hastening the Matter suffered Delay and was retarded by Medley the chief Undertaker who loitered in London till the 7th of March making Excuses of wanting Money to defray his Charges here that he did not perceive that the rest were all agreed that he thought himself hardly dealt withal if he should not be allowed for the Charges in making Experiments now this two Years and more and for his Buildings and Vessels the sum of 400 l. But in reply to him Smith urged that for two Years past Medley and Topcliff who was his Partner had made Crocus of which they might have made Benefit for the Re-embursing of themselves They said they sent it away for Essays and part of it was purloined Smith said again that he might as well as they claim to have his Allowance he and Sir Humphrey Gilbert being out of Purse 400 l. in making Tryals paid into the Hands of Medley and to the Lord Mountjoy And he resented these Prolongations to my Lord Burgbley in this manner That Medley's Skill began by this Time to be known which made him jealous that his Delays would wholly spoil their Business That Sir Iohn Perot had a whole Discourse of the compleat manner of the Work in Writing That the Lord Mountjoy had gotten one of Medley's chief Workmen to him That divers in the Countries knew the Earths and the Working of them And yet said he discontentedly we do nothing and wished that he might go down himself For which he was very earnest undertaking within fourteen Days to bring Things to a full certainty as to the understanding what Truth or Likelihood there was in the Matter Assuring his Lordship that he was not satisfied until they were certified from thence by Order and by Accounts That they might compare the Time the Charge and the Labour with the Gains that came of it and in what kind it was and should arise And that the ill Success which it seems they met with at Poole and at the Lady Mountjoy's Works taught to trust little to Words and Promises nor to Experiments made afar off nor to the Accounts of Men of that Faculty i. e. Alchymists Fain they would be fingering of Money said he But when it is once in their Hands we must seek it in the Ashes I find no more of this but I make no doubt Sir Thomas smarted in his Purse for his Chymical Covetousness and Gilbert seems to have been impoverished by it And Medley was beggered For I find him in the Counter two Years after viz. in the Year 1576. made a Prisoner there by Courtis and some others who were Commissioners from the Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer for Debt I make no Question Tho' the Lady Mary Sydney Wife to Sir Henry Sydney was concerned for him having it is probable some Opinion of his Skill in Chymistry and wrote to the said Lord in his favour and against those that prosecuted him But he gave her his grave and wise Counsel with respect unto him knowing better than she what kind of Man he was Thus did this Matter detain Sir Thomas Smith three or four Years to his no little Care and Cost too CHAP. XII Smith waits upon the Queen at Audley-End Goes on Embassy to France Concludes a League Concerned in Proposals of a Match for the Queen THE Queen was at Audley-End in August this Year Here Sir Thomas Smith now was Perhaps repairing thither to Congratulate her Majesty's Coming so near Walden his native Town or to wait upon her for some Favour for that Place or otherwise At that Juncture a good Portion of Gold was intercepted going into Scotland to the Lord Hâ—rris for the help of the Scotch Queen's Party together with a Letter in Cypher sent by Higfâ—rd the Duke of Norfolk's Secretary By which it was concluded the Duke was again medling in the Matter of Matching with her for which he had a Reprimand some time before this and promised the Queen to concern himself no more in that Affair Higford was upon this taken up and Committed to the Tower in London And Sir Thomas was sent thither on the 1st of September to take his Examination Who confest to him That the Duke commanded him to write to one Lawrence Banister the Duke's Man that he should see secretly conveyed 600 l. to the said Lord Herris to be by him conveyed to Liddington and Graunge Whereupon the Duke was put into the Tower And Smith was one of those that by the Queen 's Appointment attended him thither Another Embassy now fell upon Smith Mr. Francis Walsingham the present Ambassador in France growing very indisposed in his Health desired to be released of his Employment Whereupon tho' Henry Killigrew Esq was sent Ambassador in October thither in November the Lord Grey or Sir Peter Grey were intended to go and assist Walsingham But in December Sir Thomas Smith who was now one of the Privy Council was the Man pitched upon His Business was to Treat of Entrance into a strait League of Amity with that King and withal in case that Court renewed the Motion for Marriage with the Duke of Alanson which was in Transaction the summer past but received some Interruption he was to Treat thereof For however averse or negligent the Queen seemed to be in it before yet now her Courtiers so earnestly calling upon her for her own Surety and that of her State which would be much advanced through the hope of her Issue she shewed so good Disposition thereto that the Earl of Leicester wrote to Sir Thomas that she so earnestly and assuredly affirmed to him the same good Disposition that he verily thought that yet once again with good Handling a good Conclusion would follow Smith received his Dispatch about the 6th of December He plyed the Business he was sent for diligently For it was thought very necessary to join in a good League with France to check the Greatness of Spain and to be the better secured against his Threatnings In this Treaty it is worth taking notice of one Article in Debate Which was that the two Princes should mutually assist each other And if the Queen were invaded for the Cause of Religion that the French King should yield her his Assistance This Article when almost all the rest were well accorded that King declined to have put into the Treaty tho' he promised to perform it most faithfully And tho' it were not expresly mentioned in the League yet such general Words should be used
preserve her long to Reign over her People and that his Grace and Mercy would turn all to the best In the midst of these Cares of our Ambassador the Lord Burghley wrote to him of a Matter that put him and his Collegue into a great Consternation It was concerning the Queen's falling Sick of the Small-Pox and withal of her speedy Recovery again His careful Mind for this Matter he thus exprest in his next Letter to the said Lord That he and his Fellow read the News of the Queen's Illness together in a marvellous Agony but having his Medicine ready which was that her Majesty was within an Hour recovered it did in part heal them again But that as his Lordship wrote of himself that the Care did not cease in him so he might be assured it did as little cease in them Calling to their remembrance and laying before their Eyes the Trouble the Uncertainty the Disorder the Peril and Danger that had been like to follow if at that Time God had taken her from them whom he styled The Stay of the Common-wealth the Hope of their Repose and that Lanthorn of their Light next God Not knowing whom to follow nor certainly where to light another Candle Another great Solicitude of his at this Time was as the Queen's Sickness so her Slowness to resolve and the tedious Irresolutions at Court. Of which he spake in some Passion after this sort That if the Queen did still continue in Extremities to promise in Recoveries to forget what shall we say but as the Italians do Passato il pericolo gabbato il fango He told that Lord moreover That he should perceive by their Proceedings in their Embassy what justly might be required was easie to be done But if her Majesty deceived her self and with Irresolution made all Princes understand that there was no Certainty of her or her Council but dalliance and farding off of Time she should then first Discredit her Ministers which was not much but next and by them discredit her self that is to be counted uncertain irresolute unconstant and for no Prince to trust unto but as to a Courtier who had Words at will and true Deeds none These were Expressions proceeding somewhat as may be perceived from his Spleen and partly from his present Indisposition of Body Which he seemed to be sensible of For he begged his Lordship's Pardon for what he had said rendring his Reason That he had been kept there so long that he was then in an Ague both in Body and in Spirit And that as the Humours in his Body made an Ague there of which he wisht it would make an end so that irresolution at the Court he hoped would help to conclude that he might feel no more Miseries Which he feared those that came after should feel Because we will not see said he The Time of our Visitation Thus did Smith express his Discontents into the Bosom of his trusty Friend for the Mismanagement of publick Affairs as he conceived discovering as his Zeal and Affection to the Queen and the State so the Temper of his Mind somewhat enclined to Heat and Choler This he writ from Blois on Good-Friday While Sir Thomas Smith was here Ambassador the Treaty of Marriage was in effect concluded between the Prince of Navarre and the Lady Margaret the present French King's Sister Which lookt then very well toward the Cause of Religion and both that Ambassador and his Collegues Walsingham and Killigrew liked it well One Matter in Debate and the chief was about the manner of Solemnizing the Marriage Whereupon they sent to the Queen of Navarre a true Copy of the Treaty of the Marriage between King Edward the Sixth and the late Queen of Spain the French King's Sister Wherein it was agreed that she should be Married according to the Form of the Church of England Which stood the said Queen of Navarre in such good stead that she produced it to the Queen-Mother of France To which they took Exceptions and said it was no true Copy of the Treaty Whereupon she the Queen of Navarre sent to Sir Tho. Smith who happened to be at that very Treaty By her Messenger she signified that she sent to him to know because he was a Dealer in the same whether he would not justifie it to be a true Copy To whom Sir Thomas answered That knowing the great good Will his Mistress did bear her and how much she desired the good Success of that Marriage as a thing that tended to the Advancement of Religion and Repose of this Realm he could not but in Duty avow the same and be willing to do any good Office that might advance the said Marriage CHAP. XIII Made Chancellor of the Garter Comes home Becomes Secretary of State His Advice for forwarding the Queen's Match His Astonishment upon the Paris Massacre SIR Thomas being still abroad in France the Queen conferred upon him the Chancellorship of the Order of the Garter in the Month of April as some Reward of the League that he had taken so much pains in making For which he thanked her Majesty and said it must needs be to him many times the more welcome because that without his Suit and in his Absence her Highness of her gracious goodness did remember him About Iune 1572. he came home with the Earl of Lincoln Lord Admiral who was sent over to take the Oath of the French King for the Confirmation of the Treaty Which being done by the Queen's Command he was no longer to abide in France but to return at his best Convenience It was not long from this Time that the old Lord Treasurer Marquess of Winchester died and the Lord Burghley Secretary of State succeeded in his Place Then Smith was called to the Office of Secretary viz. Iune 24. having sometime before assisted the Lord Burghley in that Station And surely it was the Opinion of his great Learning as well as his long Experience and other Deserts that preferred him For his Learning had rendred him very famous in the Court A Poet in those Times writing an Heroick Poem to the Queen therein describing all her great Officers one after another thus depainted this her Secretary Inde tibi est altis SMYTHUS à gravibúsque Secretis Doctrinae Titulis Honoris fulgidus ut qui Pierius Vates prompto facundus ore Et cui solliciti exquisita Peritia Iuris Astronomus Physicusque Theologus insuper omni Eximiè multifaria tam structus in Arte Ut fedes in eo Musae fixisse putentur Wherein of all the Queen 's Wise and Noble Counsellors Smith her Secretary is made to be the deeply Learned Man about her as being an ingenious Poet an excellent Speaker of exquisite Skill in the Civil Law in Astronomy in natural Philosophy and Physick in Divinity and in a word so richly furnished in all the Arts and Sciences that the Muses themselves might be supposed to
introducing a Slavery among that free People and very apprehensive he was of the growing Power of that Nation that so threatned their Neighbours France as well as England Especially seeing withal how tender both Realms were to send Succors to those Parts to enable them to Vindicate their own Liberty and Safety from those inhumane and insufferable Practices there prevailing In the mean time the French accused the Sluggishness of the English and the English did the like of the French The Queen had sent some Forces to Flushing But there was a Report that she upon Duke D'Alva's Motion did revoke them But that was not so but he was gently answered with a dilatory and doubtful Answer But indeed more that would have gone from England thither were stayed The English on the other hand had knowledge that the French did Tergiversari hang off and wrought but timorously and under hand with open and outward Edicts and made Excuses at Rome and Venice by the Ambassadors importing their not meddling in Flanders or excusing themselves if they had done any thing there On which Occasion Smith in a Letter to the Ambassador in France gave both Princes a Lash reflecting upon the pretended Activity and warlike Qualities of the French King yet that he should thus waver and be afraid to engage and upon the Slowness and Security of the Queen of England You have saith he a King void of Leisure and that loves Fatigue whose warlike House hath been used to the shedding as well of their own as of foreign Blood What shall we a slothful Nation and accustomed to Peace do Whose supream Governor is a Queen and she a great Lover of Peace and Quietness But to see a little more of his Service and Counsel in the Quality and Place he served under the Queen When in this Year 1572. the Earl of Desmond was in England a Prisoner but reconciled unto the Queen and had promised to do her good Service in Ireland and soon to drive out the Rebels out of the Country the Queen and Court thought he would prove an honest and faithful Subject and so resolved to dismiss him into his Country And she told Sir Thomas that she would give him at his Departure the more to oblige him a piece of Silk for his Apparel and a reward in Money Upon which Sir Thomas's Judgment was That seeing the Queen would tye the Earl to her Service with a Benefit it would be done Amplè liberaliter ac prolixè non malignè parcè i. e. Nobly liberally and largely not grudgingly and meanly Which as he added did so disgrace the Benefit that for Love many times it left a Grudge behind in the Heart of him that received it that marred the whole Benefit A Quarrel happened this Year between the Earl of Clanrichard and Sir Edward Fitton Governor of Connaught who was somewhat rigorous in his Office which had caused the Rebellion of the Earl's Son The Case came before the Deputy and Council in Ireland and at last to the Queen and her Council in England Our Secretary drew up the Loâ—ds of the Councils Order about it to be sent to the Lord Deputy and the Council there to hear and decide it between them and withal was sent the Earl's Book and Sir Edward Fitton 's Answers given into the Council in England The Earl seemed desirous to have Matters sifted to the full Trial. And then each Party might say and prove the most and worst they could But Sir Thomas thought it the best way for the Deputy to perswade them both to wrap up as he exprest it all things by-past and to be Friends as they had promised it seems to be at a Reconciliation formerly made before the Lord Deputy and to joyn faithfully for the Furtherance of the Queen's Majesty's Service and the Quietness and good Order of the Country hereafter And it was in his Judgment as he added The best way to tread all under foot that had gone heretofore with a perpetual 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to begin a new Line without grating upon old Sores Very wise and deliberate Council to avoid all ripping up former Grievances which is not the way to heal so much as to widen the old Differences There was this Year both Massing and Conjuring in great measure in the North especially and all to create Friends to the Scotch Queen and Enemies to Queen Elizabeth The one to keep the People in the Blindness of Popery and the other to hood-wink them to believe as it were by Prophesy the speedy approaching Death of the Queen The Earl of Shrewsbury was now Lord President of the Council in the North. He employed two sharp Persons to discover these Persons and their Doings Which they did so effectually that in the Month of February many of these Conjurers and Massmongers were seized and by the said Lord Presidents Order were brought up by them that seized them to Secretary Smith good store of their Books which Sir Thomas seeing called Pretty Books and Pamphlets of Conjuring They brought also to him an Account in Writing of their Travail and pains in this behalf There was apprehended danger in these Practices For the Papists earnestly longing for the Queen's Death had cast Figures and consulted with unlawful Arts which they mixt with their Masses to learn when she should die and who should succeed and probably to cause her Death if they could This piece of Service therefore the Queen and Counsel took very thankfully at the Earl of Shrewsbury's Hands Which together with the Course that was intended to be taken with these Criminals the Secretary signified to him in a Letter to this Tenor My very good Lord the Pain that the two to whom you gave Commission viz. Pain and Peg have taken to seek out the Conjurers and Mass-mongers is very well accepted of by my Lords of the Council and they willed me to give your Lordship therefore their most hearty thanks The Queen also not without great Contentation of her Highness hath heard of your careful ordering of those matters The matters be referred touching the Massing and such Disorders to the Archbishop of Canterbury and the rest of the great Commission Ecclesiastical That which shall appear by Examination to touch the State and the Prince to be referred again to my Lords of the Council c. This was dated from Greenwich Feb. 17. 1572. But it was thought highly needful that this dangerous Nest in the North should be searched more narrowly for and the Birds taken that they might no more Exercise these evil Practices or worse hereafter The care of which was therefore committed by the Council to the Justices of those parts out of some secret Favour as it seems in some of the Privy Counsellors to Papists For those Justices were known well enough to be generally Popishly affected Therefore it was the Judgment of the Secretary that these Justices would rather Cloak than Open
listen more attentively And when Smith had often inculcated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as E and OI they who three Years before had heard him sound them frequently uncorrectly after the old way could not think it was a Lapse of his Tongue but suspected something else and laughed at the unusual Sounds He again as thoughâ— his Tongue had slipp'd would sometimes correct himself and say the Word over again after the old manner But when he did this daily and as appeared every day the corrected Sounds flowed from him more and more some of his Friends came to him and told him what they noted in his Lectures Smith now cared not to dissemble but owned that he had been thinking of something privately but that it was not yet enough digested and prepared for the Publick They on the other hand prayed him not to conceal it from them but to tell them without any grudging Whereupon he promised he would Upon this Rumor many came together and repaired to him whom he required only to hear his Reasons and to have Patience with him three or four Days at most until the Sounds by Use were made more trite to their Ears and the Prejudice of Novelty more worn off And so by little and little he explained to them the whole Reason of the Sounds Many went to Cheke and related to him Smith's Discourses and others resorted to others according as they esteemed them to be Men of Judgment in this matter These thought some one thing some another Cheke assented At this very time Smith read upon one of Homer's Odysses at home in the College There he began more plainly and openly to shew and determin the Difference of these Sounds Then many came that they might the more easily learn of him vivâ— vâ—ce to frame their Tongues and utter the true Sounds The same did Cheke in his College It is not to be express'd with what Greediness and Affection this was received among the Youth and how gladly they agreed to it The following Winter in St. Iohn's College was acted the Greek Play of Aristophanes called Plutus in this Pronunciation and one or two more of his Comedies when among those that professed Greek and were esteemed Learned Men it was observed there was not so much as one that signified any Dislike or shewed any Opposition Iohn Ponet a Learned and Ingenious young Man and Smith's Scholar afterwards Bishop of Winton seems to have succeeded his Tutor in this Place For he read Greek in the Schools in the Name of the University near this time and followed his Masters way of sounding Greek Words Next him came into this Place Ascham of St. Iohn's a Person of like Wit and Diligence who read Isocrates He in the beginning of his Lectures contended with Ponet about this way of pronouncing and refâ—sâ—â— to follow it But because of the Authority that Cheke and Smith had gained in the University he would not reprove it openly Yet was it not long after that he became a very eager Defender of this very thing and so remained Thus in a few Years had this correct way of reading Greek introduced by Smith prevailed all the University over And which was more remarkable it was consented to by Iohn Redman Publick Professor and Reader of Divinity of great Honour and Deference in the University for his Learning Integrity of Life and Gravity of Manners who when at any time in his Reading he allâ—dgâ—d a Text in Greek used to read it after the correct Pronunciation And thus by Smith's Pains and Endeavours never to be forgotten by Posterity was the Noble Greek â—ongâ—e restored to it self as it was spokâ—n in the Times when Greece flourished and brought forth Plato Dionysius Plutarchus Dâ—mosthenes Thucydides and others Out of whose Writings he had Cheke produced Authorities that they pronounced the Greek as he taught And by this revived Pronounciation was displayed the Flower and Plentifulness of that Language the Variety of Sounds the Grandure of Diphthongs the Majesty of long Letters and the Grace of distinct Speech And as the University laid that Honour upon him of making himself their Greek Reader so they gave him the Office of their Orator In his Greek Lectures among other good Authors as Aristotle and Homer he read Socrates and Euripides for Philosophy and Morality His Oratory and Learning intermixed was so admirable and beyond the common Strain that Queen's College carried away the Glory for Eloquence from all the Colleges in the University besides and was rendered so famous by this her Scholar that it had like to have changed her Name from Queen's to Smith's College Unius Eloquio sic jam Reginea tecta Florebant quasi quae vellent SMITHE A vocari Sic reliquos inter Socios Caput extulit unus As Gabriel Harvey Smith's Townsman and one that knew him well writes upon his Death Such was the Fame of his Lectures that not only his own private College but all the University Learned and less Learned Young and Old flocked to hear him So writes the same Author Pendebat ab ore Unius privata domus Schola publica docti Indocti Schola tota Virûm Schola tota Puellûm And the Learnedest and Gravest Men and his Seniors and the choicest Wits of the University would be present when he read and sit there as his Scholars As Redman Cox Cheke Cecil he that afterwards was Lord Treasurer Haddon Ascham Car Tonge Bill Wilson Goldwel Watson c. Men of great Name afterwards in Church and State Felix qui pâ—tuit Smitho auscultare loquenti Sive illi Graecè dicendum sive Latiné And happy he that might hear Smith speak whether it were in Greek or Latine Thus he continued divers Years in the University till he was succeeded in the Place of Orator by his Fellow and Friend Iohn Cheke and he by Roger Ascham another curiously Learned Man in the Year 1544. CHAP. III. He Travels His Conferences with Learned Men at Orleans and Paris Takes his Degree at Padua Returns Home His Usefulness at the University The Controversie there arisen about his way of pronouncing Greek SMITH having now arrived at some Maturity of Knowledge and Learning and in the Seven and Twentieth Year of his Age it being now the Year of our Lord 1539. went abroad to Travel for the further improvement of himself in polite Learning elegant Language Skill in the Modern Tongues and Experience of the Customs and Laws of other Countries A thing commonly practis'd by Scholars in these times to study sometime at Foreign Universities in France and Italy which used then to be replenished with very Learned Professors Being abroad he took notice of the different Ways of speaking Latin which although he did not like especially the French who sounded Latin very corruptly yet he conformed himself to their manner of Speech And when he came into Italy he followed them there in
Warrant can the French make now Seals and Words of Princes being Traps to catch Innocents and bring them to the Butchery If the Admiral and all those Martyred on that bloody Bartholomew Day were guilty why were they not apprehended imprisoned interrogated and judged but so much made of as might be within two Hours of the Assassination Is that the manner to handle Men either culpable or suspected So is the Journier slain by the Robber so is the Hen of the Fox so the Hind of the Lion so Abel of Cain so the Innocent of the Wicked so Abner of Ioab But grant they were guilty they dreamt Treason that night in their Sleep what did the Innocents Men Women and Children at Lions What did the Sucking Children and their Mothers at Roan deserve at Caen at Rochel What is done yet we have not heard but I think shortly we shall hear Will God think you still sleep Shall not their Blood ask Vengeance Shall not the Earth be accursed that hath sucked up the innocent Blood poured out like Water upon it I am most sorry for the King whom I love whom I esteem the most worthy the most faithful Prince of the World the most sincere Monarch now Living Ironically spoken no question by Smith because to him that King used to profess so much Integrity I am glad you shall come home and would wish you were at home out of that Country so contaminate with innocent Blood that the Sun cannot look upon it but to prognosticate the Wrath and Vengeance of God The Ruin and Desolation of Ierusalem could not come till all the Christians were either killed there or expelled from thence But whither do I run driven with just Passions and Heats And in another Letter All that be not Bloody and Antichistian must needs condole and lament the Misery and Inhumanity of this Time God make it short and send his Kingdom among us La Crocque was now in England Ambassador from France and notwithstanding this base bloody Action of France and the Jealousies that the Queen now justly conceived of that King yet she gave him a soft Answer to be returned to his Master being ready to go to his own Country Of which Ambassador's Negotiation and the Queen's Answer thus Secretary Smith spake His Negotiation was long in Words to make us believe better of that King than as yet we can and replied to on the English side liberally eenough Altho' to that Prince or Country who have so openly and injuriously done against Christ who is Truth Sincerity Faith Pity Mercy Love and Charity nothing can be too sharply and severely answered Yet Princes you know are acquainted with nothing but Doulceur so must be handled with Doulceur especially among and between Princes And therefore to temperate as you may perceive Not that they should think the Queen's Majesty and her Council such Fools as we know not what is to be done and yet that we should not appear so rude and barbarous as to provoke where no Profit is to any Man Upon the Preparations that were made in England against the feared Attempts of the French or other Roman Catholicks at this critical Time of the Murthers committed upon the Protestants in France the Secretary thus piously spake Truth it is that God disposeth all whatsoever a Man does purpose as Divines speak And it is his Gift if Wise Men do provide for Mischief to come And yet whatsoever they do devise the Event doth come of him only who is the God of Hope and Fear beyond Hope and Expectation This he spake in reference to the Scots who hearing of this Havock in France whereas the Lords there were in Civil Wars amongst themselves fomâ—nted by the French did now begin to come to Accord dreading these Doings and fearing some Danger near themselves For it was the Desire of the English to have Scotland in Peace and Union under the present Protestant King And now by a way not thought on they drew nearer and nearer to an Accord To which the Cruelty in France helped not a little and now continuing much more would Which he exprest in thâ—se Words The Scots our Neighbours he awakened by their Beacons in France And the Scots to shew their Resentment of these foul Doings there issued out a Proclamation to that purpose which the Secretary sent to Walsingham CHAP. XIV Secretary Smith at Windsor dispatching Business His Care of Flanders and Ireland Mass-mongers and Conjurers sent up to him out of the North. His Colony in Ireland IN the very beginning of November Secretary Smith was with the Queen at Windsor the Lord Treasurer Burghley and most of the Lords of the Council being gone to London to the Solemnization of some great Wedding at which the Secretary also should have been but he thought it not convenient to go to be present with the Queen whatsoever Chance might happen There were now in England Walwick an Agent from the Earls of East Freezeland who was very importune for an Answer to his Masters Requests and another Agent from the Town of Embden who came about Matters of Trade The Consideration of whose Business the Queen committed to Aldersay and some other Merchants of London who had objected against the Agents Proposals and were to give in their Reasons Smith who was ever for Dispatch of Business desired the Lord Burghley to call upon these Merchants to hasten and to forward the Dismission of both those Agents Irish Businesses also lying before the Queen at this Time were taken care of by him Signifying to the said Lord Treasurer how the Lord Deputy of Ireland wanted Comfort and Direction in Answer to his Letters And he desired the Treasurer to send him the Draught of the Answer from the Lords to the said Deputy which he would cause to be written fair and made ready to be Signed against his and the rest of the Lords Return to Windsor He further wrote to the Treasurer that he should have the Privy Seal sent him for 5200 l. for Corn and Money for the use of the Deputy He mentioned two Letters withal to be sent by the same Dispatch into Ireland for three Bishopricks void there to which the Lord Deputy had recommended certain Persons as able and fit Men for those Places And taking care of his Friend Walsingham Ambassador in France he obtained leave from the Queen for his Return home And when among several named to her Majesty to succeed him she had her thoughts upon Mr. Francis Carce as liking him most he enformed the Treasurer of it and prayed him to send for the said Carce and commune with him to put himself in a readiness Whereby as he said he should do Mr. Walsingham a great Pleasure These were some of the State Matters Smith's Hands were full of in the Month of November Sir Thomas Smith was nettled to see the proud Spaniard Domineering in Flanders and Holland and exercising their Cruelties there and
he might well enjoy a Part especially with the Concurrence and Interest of some of the Powerful men about the King when they begged for themselves And never after could Sir William Smith nor any of his Posterity recover it For the Premises had been so long possest by others that neither Sir Thomas Smith who had suffered much for his unshaken Loyalty to King Charles I. had success in his Petition preferred to King Charles II. upon his Return nor yet Sir Edward Smith still surviving in his upon the late Revolution He that is minded to know more at large how this Case stood may in the Appendix find the Petition of the foresaid Sir Thomas Smith exemplified as it was humanely communicated to me by his Son together with the Kings order thereupon CHAP. XV. The Secretary Oppressed with business His Discourse with the Queen about Ireland and the Earl of Essex His Act in the behalf of Colleges of Learning His Sickness and Death THE Secretary could not want for Care and Toyl in these busie and most dangerous Days wherein the Nation was exposed to the Malice and Envy of the Pope and the mighty Kings of Spain and France the one more Covertly the other more professedly but both fatal Enemies to the Queen and the Religion established the Irish backed in their Rebellion by a Foreign Power and at home a great many Malecontents To trace him a little in his Pains and Diligence To them he devoted himself even to quite Tyring after he had been a year or two exercised therein For when once in the year 1574. he had a few Play-days and was ready to go home to his House in Essex he told his Friends that he was thorowly weary tam Animo quam Corpore and could scarce endure any longer And thaâ— which increas'd his Weariness was the Queens Wariness for she did not use to be hasty in Dispatch of Matters which was Smith's great Desire should not hang in hand This he would call among his intimate Friends the Queens Irresolution and in some Heat as he was somewhat hasty and quick in his Temper complained at this time to the Lord Treasurer That it was sometimes So and sometimes No and in all times uncertain and ready to Stays and Revocation And sometimes she would not be spoken with upon Business and Access to the Queen was clean shut up Which made him between jest and earnest say That he thought her Majesty supposed that he would chide as he dared But indeed he said that he could not but Lament and complain of this her Irresolution which did weary and kill her Ministers destroy her Actions and overthrew all good Designs and Counsels And again in this Discontent he cryed out I wait while I have neither Eyes to see nor Legs to stand upon And yet these Delays grieve me more and will not let me sleep in the Night The Occasion of this present Distaste of Smith was that the Queen had commanded the Earl of Leicester and Sir Christopher Hatton her chief Favourites to forbear moving suits to her And when the Secretary went to her with private Suits he could get neither Yea nor Nay And if these Two aforesaid Persons were forbidden to move Suits Then said he had we need within a while to have a Horse or an Ass to carry Bills after us encreasing daily and never dispatched as he angerly and wittily spake to one of his Friends Of these Practices of the Queen he would say These Resolutions and Revocations of Resolutions will be the undoing of any good Action Matters in Ireland being in an ill Condition the Lord Treasurer and the Secretary dealt earnestly with the Queen to supply the Earl of Essex an honest Gentleman and an excellent Commander in Ulster with Men and Money those Northern Parts of Ireland being now in great Disturbance and Essex forced by reason of secret Enemies in the Court to lie still and do but little to the purpose for want of both The Queen resolved and revoked her Resolutions again This created the Secretary a great deal of Vexation For she would say she would consult with the Lord Treasurer when he came to Court tho' she had done it and had his Opinion in that behalf before The Earl of Leicester privately hindred all having no Love for Essex Thus the Earl of Essex's Plat stuck with the Queen But about 10 or 12 days passing in March the Secretary comforted himself by the Perswasion that she was come to a full Resolution to go forward with it without any going back and that she would send for him and signifie the same to him And had it indeed been so to use the Secretaries Expression the Realm and she had past a great and troublesome Ague and especially the Lord Treasurer and himself and such others as they who had Doings in that Matter But the Queen took respite again until she heard again from the Lord Treasurer Whereat the Secretary was so bold as to tell her that she knew his Lordships Mind full many times told her before And this he signified unto that Lord and in Conclusion told him That Coming unsent for to have Resolution he was sent back again without Resolution He prayed God to send it that Night or to morrow And added that it was high time to resolve one Way or other Which done he would be bold to take a little rest and make some start home into Essex being thorowly weary he said am animo quam corpore and could scarce endure any longer But at last in the Month of March 1575. Anno incipiente Sir Thomas and the Lord Burghley got the Earl of Essex's Business to come to a Resolution Which was to send a good supply with a Plat how he was to manage himself The Queen had first entred into a discourse one night with her Secretary about Ireland and declared her dislike of the Enterprise of Ulster for default of them who should execute it asking him what Men of Counsel or Wisdom there were into whose Hands might be committed so great a Mass of Money and so great a Charge as should be sent The Secretary answered her Majesty That the Counsel what and how to do herein was already taken And that a Plat was laid down by my Lord of Essex and allowed of by the Lord Deputy and Council there and liked of by the Lords of her Council here as she her self had heard of the Lords and all their Reasons so that said he whereas it is said Priusquam incipias consulto that had been Maturely and Deliberately done And to which as he subjoyned her Highness by Letters to the Lord Deputy and the Earl of Essex had given her Consent And now there rested nothing but Ubi consulueris mature opus est facto To which her Majesty had set a good Beginning giving a Warrant for the half Years Charges Now said Sir Thomas Counsels be commonly of Old men
were beheaded poor men were spoiled both one and th' other stain in battel or murthered at home Now this King prevailed now th' other No man sure of his Prince no man of his Goods no man of his Life A King to day to morrow a Prisoner Now hold the Sceptre and shortly after fly privily the Realm And when this fel upon the Head how sped the Body think you Those two Blades of Lyonel and Iohn of Gaunt never rested pursuing th' one th' other til the Red Rose was almost razed out and the White made al bloudy And as it were Eteocles and â—â—lyâ—ices they ceased not til they had filled their Country ful of bloudy Streams They set the Father against the Son the Brother against the Brother the Unkle flew the Nephew and was slain himself So Bloud pursued and ensued Bloud til al the Realm was brought to great Confusion It is no marvail tho' they lost France when they could not keep England And England in the latter end of K. Henry VI. was almost a very Chaos Parishes decayed Churches fel down Townes were desolate plowed Fields waxed Groves Pastures were made Woods Almost half England by Civil War slain and they which remained not sure but in Moates and Castles or lying in Routs and Heaps together When those two Roses by the Reliques and last store of the Whole were joyned in the amiable Knot of Mariage then the Strife ended and England began as it were to be inhabited again Men left Moates and Castles and builded abroad pleasant Houses And thus it hath continued from K. Henry VII hitherto Save that in this Time a few Broyls of the Stirred Sea which could not so soon be calmed by Martin Swarte Perkin Warbeck and Simond out of Ireland were somewhat renewed but they were Trifles to the rest Sith which Time not containing yet fourscore years you se how England is repeopled the Pastures clothed the Desarts inhabited the Rents of Lands encreased the Houses replenished the Woods so wasted that now we begin to complain for want of them and our Encrease is tedious to our selves which find fault with the Fruits of Peace because we know not the Cause of the Success nor the Commodities therof But as if al the World should return to the old Chaos it were the greatest mischief that Heart could invent Tongue speak Pen express or Wit indite So if this should come to our Country of England we for our parts shal feel this I speak of and as it were the particular Judgment of the Day of Doom And it standeth but on a tickle and frail Ground if God wil so plague our Country whether the Red and White Rose shal strive again together or whether the branches of the mixed Rose shal cleave asunder and strive within themselves which is neerer the Root Oh! Lord God let me not live to se that day And you my Friend do you in this Company speak of Saving of Mony to let the saving of this Trouble from the Realm of England With this he held his peace and seemed indeed very much troubled And no man said a word even a good pretty space 〈◊〉 at the last the Stammerer that I told you of whom they called after al that night Mr. Godfather stutting after this maner said this in effect By the Lord I believe you have told as good a Tale as ever I heard I am now glad I have an Excuse by my Tongue for I should not have don it so wel For both in Peace and War and al times you have proved that it is best for her Grace and most to her Comfort and Quiet to have an Husband Mary I thought long for this Last Part of the Necessity of a Prince of her Highnes Body And because you pass it over so with Silence I had thought to have put you in mind of that thing but now I wil not say more of it For I se it troubleth you as it doth us al. Now Sir you have said so much for me as I would wish and I thank you For the rest as I said I am indifferent If you have any thing to speak for an Alien who be so tender unto you and whom you do always prefer before us English Men speak on a Gods Name and let this Gentleman provide wel to aunswer you For I perceive ye wil do wel enough both III. Philoxenius or Love-alien his second Oration for the Queens Marying with a Stranger IN good Faith quoth Love-alien now I have spoken for you so long I am in a maner weary when I should speak for my self And yet this was not out of the Way for me so to do but in maner necessary For it standeth not with order of Disputation as to my remembrance Aristotle writeth that I should go about to prove Quale sit before I have proved Quod sit Therfore it had been superfluous for me to describe what maner of Husband I thought most meet for the Queens Highnes if it were not first proved by reason that it were convenient that her Majesty should have one For if her Grace be fully determined and perswaded by Mr. Agamus Spiteweds Reasons then to reason whether a Stranger or an English-man were more to be wished is clean superfluous For it is cut off by this one stroke Her Majesty wil have none Wel here among this Company for Disputation sake I wil stand so wel in my own Conceit that I take Mr Agamus his Opinion thorowly confuted And let us put the Case that is aggreed upon That best it were for her Majesty to Mary then standeth it in Consultation farther of the maner and Condition of her Husband Wherin may be made many Questions as whether a Young Man or a more elderly whether a Batchelor or a Widower an English-man or a Stranger a great Prince or a King or a mean Personage as in al such where divers be offered of sundry Qualities wherof the Choise and Election is to be taken and because both I am weary and there hath yet but one of these Questions been moved amongst us I shal speak but of that Branch only Whether an English-man or a Stranger is to be perferred Wherin because I have already declared my Opinion which Part I mind to take it resteth that I should also declare the Reasons which moved me to think as I have said and here I intend to begin The very true godly and essential Causes of Matrimony if I may use that Term be three The getting of Children without the Offence of God The natural Remedy to resist the Temptation of the Devil moving us to Fornication or Adultery And the Comfort Pleasure and Help which th' one hath of th' other in al private Affairs and in Governing the House and Family This last the Philosophers which knew not the right Law of God make the first the chief and the whole Cause For as for the Second I mean Fornication they esteemed it not And the first