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A48794 State-worthies, or, The states-men and favourites of England since the reformation their prudence and policies, successes and miscarriages, advancements and falls, during the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles I. Lloyd, David, 1635-1692. 1670 (1670) Wing L2646; ESTC R21786 462,324 909

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not my pardon but my favour too He is the man for a Princes service whose minde is present and prudence is ready to meet with suddain occasions and accommodate unexpected emergencies The first effect of that favour was his Nomination for one of the sixteen that answered the French challenge at the Lady Mary's Marriage at Pa●●s November 7 1513. which shewed his manhood and how valiant he was The second was that he was one of the Forty five that were to be about his Majesty at the instant of his Interview with the King of France at Guisnes ● which was an Argument of his presence● and how goodly a man he was The third was that he was one of the Twenty two that with the Earl of Surrey Lord Admiral and Sir William Fitz-Williams Vice-Admiral proposed that secret and therefore successful D●signe upon Britain under pretence of Scowring the Narrow Seas for now he is as good in the Sea as he had been in the Field for which he and eight more of his fellow-Captains Sir Ioh. Cornwallis c. are Knighted by the aforesaid Lord Admiral which speaks him a Sea-man and indeed one of a general capacity The fourth was the great Trust his Majesty reposed in him when he was sent in disguise to widen the difference that was newly broken out between the Duke of Bourbon the high Constable of France and the French King which he managed so well that the discontented Duke declares for the Emperour and the King of England to the great encouragement of the English the satisfaction of his Majesty and the success of his Designe upon Anchor Boungard Bray and o●her places where Sir Iohn shewed himself as active now as he was before cunning as much surpassing the French Spirit in action as he had over-reached their Prudence in Negotiation But in vain was it to serve that King unless a man obliged the Cardinal he that Courts the Virgin Mary must not neglect her little Saints him he attended in his second Journey to France first to honour and then to serve him And now after his decease when King Henry had done the work of mercy which was most proper for himself as being most popular upon the Lincolnshire Rebels he deputed the Duke of Suffolk Sir Francis Brians and Sir Iohn Russel to perform that of Justice which is most distastful wherein yet he behaves himself with that exactness that the Country was very well pleased and the King as well satisfied insomuch that we finde our Knight now called from a Commander in in the Field to be Controller at Court where he managed his Masters Expences thriftily reduced his Family discreetly reformed his followers effectually and filled up his place with the awe of his presence and the influence of his Authority that he was at once its support and its glory Indeed Courts being those Epitoms wher●through strangers look into Kingdomes should be Royally set of as with Utensils so with attendance● that might possess all Comers with reverence there and fear elsewhere Hir Person graced his Imployment and therefore his Majesty honoured his Person with the Order of the Garter and the Title of Lord R●ssel and that his Preferment might keep pace with his Honour he is made Lord Privy Seal and his Nephew Sir Iohn Cage Controller His Honour flacked not his Activity but improved it neither was his Vertue onely violent in Ambition and dull in Authority Power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring therefore my Lord to his Staff added his Sword and to his Court-honour his Field service as Lieutenant-General before Muttrel and Marshal before Bulloign to the relief of the first whereof he drew Mounsieur Bies that his Majesty might take the second In the Camp he drew up the Designes in the Field he managed the Treasure and in Action to him was intr●sted the Conduct and manage In the Kings last Will and Testament he was the fifth person and in his Sons Council the fifth to whom he discovered a French Plot the first year of his Raign and for whom he broke the Devonshire Rebels what with delays what with stratagems to divide them according to their several Inclinations the second for which service he was made Earl of Bedford The third in the Faction at home between the Seymours and the Dudleys he was Neuter in the Treaties abroad between the French King and his Majesty of England he was Principal where he observed three Rules 1. That there should be a general Muster at home while this Treaty went on abroad 2. That there should be a blow given the Scots before there was a Peace made with the French 3. That we should first know the French Overtures before we made our own But while he was here he discovered a Plot that the Emperour had to transport the Lady Mary over to his Dominions and thereby bring her Brother to his terms whereupon he with 200 men watcheth one Port the Duke of Somerset with 200 more a second and Master St. Leiger with 400 men a third while the Lady was fetched by my Lord Chancellor to the King But while he was serving his Master the King abroad his Friend the Protector wanted his advice and assistance at home he being of purpose sent out of the way while that unfortunate Duke is first betrayed by his own folly and then ruined by his Enemies power I finde his hand among the rest of the Councellors in a Letter to Queen Mary but not in Arms against her● He was concluded by the major Vote to a Commission for Peace but not to Action for conscience sake Faithful he is therefore to her in Council and serviceable in Spain and France from the first of which places he brought her a Husband and from the second a Treasure He understood her Right and disputed not her Religion regarding not so much her Opinion as his own Duty not what she was but what he should be And thus he behaved himself until his dear Mistress Elizabeth took him for one of her Protestant Councellours to balance her Popish ones and not onely of her Council but of her Cabinet for as every man must have his Friend to ease his heart so Princes have their Favourites to partake of their cares and the Marquess of Northampton the Earl of Bedford and Sir William Cecil were the onely Persons to whom the Queen communicated her designe of Reformation and correcting the Common-prayer and they ordered affairs so that the Protestants should be in hope and yet the Papists should not be out of hope King Philip had a quarrel with the Queen for rejecting his suit the King of Sweden for slighting his Son the King of France in his Wives Right the Queen of Scots in her Own and the Pope for excluding his Supremacie her Subiects were as unsettled in their Loyalty as in their Religion What remained but that my Lord of Bedford and Sir William Cecil should make up a well-tempered House of
than they were Vertue though obscure may satisfie me it must be renowned or it c●nnot serve othe●s But action is the life of things and good dispo●itions are rather a mans Inclinations than his Vertue Both therefore are in their Courage regular in their Conduct observant in their Addres●es obliging in their Passions even in their Enjoyments severe and in their Services equal Sir Thomas Mannors first weakned the Northern Rebels by such discree● Propositions as met with many of their Humours and Interests and then resolved to engage them but that the little Brook Dua swelled miraculously to a River b●tween both Armies And at the same time Sir Ralph Evers held Scarborough ● Castle where he had no Souldiers but his own Servants nor any sustenance for twenty days but bread and water For this service he is made Lord Warden of the Marches as Sir Thomas is Lord Governour of the North. Both did his Majesty as much service in Peace for his Revenue as in War for his Security Both against the Cardinal's way of raising Money which was but the relieving of a present need by laying the foundation of a lasting inconvenience being ve●y careful that their Master did not lose in the president what he gained in the money Observations on the Life of Sir John Baker THere is one of this Name remarqueable in every Kings Reign since the Conquest here is one now renowned in this 1. For Integrity to be neither awed nor corrupted 2. For a Spirit publick as Nature neither moved with particular respects nor terminated in a private Design The French were so insolent in London the eighth year of Henry the Eighth that when one Williamson a Carpenter was about to pay for two Pigeons he bought a Frenchman takes them out of his hand● saying They were no meat for Carpenters but for my Lord Embassadour who concerned himsel● so mu●h in the case that he had Williamson imprisoned Sir Iohn sued to the Embassadour for the man who answered That the English Knave deserved to be hanged for denying any thing to a French man Whereupon Sir Iohn replied You know not that you are in London A no●able reply considering that the City was up next day against Strangers in so d●s●erate a tumult that none could suppress but Sir Thomas More and none settle but Sir William Kingston and Sir Iohn Baker No sooner had he allayed the disorder at home but he with the Bishop of St. Asaph are sent to appease a Rebellion abroad I mean in Denmark though in vain when the Kings cruelty exceeded their apology and ruine was more elegiable with that people than duty or obedience Where he observed these six Maximes in order to a newly conquer'd Kingdome 1. That the Royal Line should be extinguished 2. That the old Customs in Lawes and Taxes should be observed 3. The Prince must be there to observe their humours in person 4. That the Officers be moderate and honest 5. That there be Colonies planted in one or two places that are the Keys of the S●ate 6. That the Neighbours should be weakned and divided and the In-land Forts demolished As he would have composed the troubles of forreign Princes so he served the necessities of his own being the most successfull Commissioner for the Benevolence in the Countrey and the most active Agent for the loan in London Wherefore I finde him Chancellour of the Exchequer An. 1545 and one of the assistants to the Trustees for King Edward 1547. Judge Mountague was the onely person that durst dispute King Edward's Will Judge Hales and Sir Iohn Baker were the onely Councellours that durst refuse it the first whereof stood to the Law against ●ower the second to his Allegiance against Interest and both to the rights of the Crown which are lasting rather than the Designes of some Favourites that are as momentary as their Greatness and as uncertain as their Grandeur This constant and firm resolution to stick to his Duty and L●yalty brought him to his Grave in peace and honour having been a faithful Councellour and Servant to King Henry the eighth King Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth Observations on the Life of Sir William Kingstons HE was one of the greatest Courriers at Masks and Revels one of the best Captains at Sea and one of the most valiant and Skilful Commanders by Land None more pleasing to the English Ladies none more terrible to the F●ench King Cunningly did he discover the King of Spains Designe upon Navarre to his Maj●sty by pre●ending a Revolt to that King of Spain and as cunningly did he draw the French Troops into a snare by counterfeiting a retreat towards Britany His Advice had saved the Admiral at Brest and his Foresight did rescue Sir Edward Belknap near Guis●es He was Knighted for his Service at Tournay and made Marshal for his Success at Flodden He was one of them that perswaded the City to its duty at Shoreditch and if that would not do he was to command it from the Tower being Commissi●ner in the fi●st place Aug. 2. and Lieutenant of the second September 6. The Multitude is rather to be awed than reasoned with Some Princes have disarmed their Subjects others have divided them a third sort have obliged them others yet have kept up Plots amongst them but all have built and commanded Fortresses to secure themselves It were well if Love did it 's necessary that Fear should guide this World The King condescended one day to Just with him and he though invincible to fall by his Majesty You must let a Prince be a Prince in every thing So complaisant he was that he was one of the six Maskers at Court at 50 and yet so grave that when divers young men that were familiar with the King after the French mode were banished he kept his Station as one of the stayed men at 30. He was one of the 16 that attended the King in his first Interview with the Emperour and one of the 40 that waited on him in the two last with the King of France narrowly escaping at the last that poyson as some thought or ill vapours as others conclude whereof the open-hearted Lord Brooks the valiant Sir Edward Poynings reserved Sir Iohn Pechy and active Sir Edward Belknap died whereupon with his advice all French-men were put to their Fines and all Scotch to their ransome Neither was he onely for shew but service too leading the Right Wing of the Army at Guisnes when Sir Everard Digby commandeth the Left the Lord Sands the Vanguard Sir Edward Guilford then Marshal of Callis the Horse Sir Richard Wink-field the Rear and the Duke of Suffolk the main Battle Where his Assaults on Cappe and Roy spake him a Souldier as his underhand correspondence with the Lord I●●lstein argued him a States-man Sir Thomas Maunors the first Earl of Rutland of that Name discovered and Sir William Kingston told His Majesty the Cardinals Plots against the Kings
cunning and hated all concealments and pretensions which he had sagicity enough to discover and look through but a spirit too generous to practise it none being more able for yet none more averse to that ci●cu●locution and contrivance wherewith some men shadow their m●in drift and purpose Speech was made to open man to man and not to hide him to promote Commerce and not betray it HOw happy is he born and taught That serveth not anothers will Whose Armour is his honest thought And simple truth his utmost skill Whose passions not his Masters are Whose soul is still prepar'd for death Vntide unto the world by care Of Publick fame or private breath Who envies none that chance doth raise Nor vice hath ever understood How deepest wounds are given by praise Nor Rules of State but Rules of Good Who hath his life from rumours freed Whose conscience is his strong retreat● Whose state can neither flatterers feed Nor r●ine make Oppressors great Who God doth late and early pray More of his grace than gifts to lend And entertains the harmles day With a religious book or friend This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise or fear to fall Lord of himself though not of lands And having nothing yet hath all Observations on the Life of Sir John Packington SIr Iohn Packington was a person of no mean Family and of form and feature no way despiseable for he was a brave Gentleman and a very fine courtier and for the time which he stayed there was very high in the Queens grace but he came in and went out and through disassiduity lost the advantage of her favour and death drawing a vail over him utterly deprived him of recovery Had he broughtless to the Court than he did he might have carried away more than he brought for he had a time for it but he was an ill husband of opportunity His handsome features took the most and his neat parts the wisest at Court He could smile Ladies to his service and argue States-men to his designe with equal ease His reason was powerful his beauty more Never was a brave soul more bravely seated Nature bestowed great parts on him education polished him to an admirable frame of prudence and vertue Queen Eli●abeth called him Her T●mperance and Leicester His Modesty It is a question to this day whether his resolution took the Souldiers his prudence the Politicians his complyance the Favourites his complaisance the Courtiers his piety the Clergy his integrity and condescention the People or his knowledge the learned most This new Court-star was a nine-days wonder engaging all eyes until it set satisfied with its own glory He came to Court he said as S●lomon did to see its vanity and retired as he did to repent it It was he who said first what Bishop Sanderson urged afterwards That a sound Faith was the best Divinity a good Conscience the best Law and Temperance the best Physick Sir Iohn Packington in Queen Elizabeths time was vertuous and modest and Sir Iohn Packington in King Charles his time loyal and valiant the one did well the other suffered so Greenham was his Favourite Hammon his the one had a competant estate and was contented the other hath a large one and is noble this suppresseth Factions in the kingdome the other composed them in the Court and was called by Courtiers Moderation Westmerland tempted his fidelity and Norfolk his stedfastness but he died in his bed an honest and an happy man w●ile one of them goes off tainted on the S●rffold and the other dies a begg●r in Flanders Observations on the Lives of the Norrises and Knowles MY Lord Norris had by his Lady an ample Issue which the Queen highly respected for he had six sons all martial brave men of haughty courage and of great experience in the conduct of military affairs Greater was not the Faction between Leicester and Sussex at court than that between the Knowles and the Norrises in the Country both Families of Oxfordshire the one resolute at Greys the other valiant at Rycote the former got great estates at home the latter attained to great honour abroad The Knowles were beloved by the Queen for their own sakes the Norrises for theirs and her own sake the Knowles were of the same blood with her Majesty the Norrises spent theirs for her 1. My Lord Norris died at Court an honest man 2. Sir Francis at Bulloign a good Souldier 3. Sir William at Berwick a brave Governour 4. Sir Thomas at Munster a wise President 5. Sir Maximilian at Bretaign an expert Engineer 6. Maximilian at Groen a renowned Heroe 7. Sir Iohn was a most accomplished General no less eminent for his safe retreats than for his resolute onsets France hath recorded this testimony of him That he brought on his men so warily as one that could bring them off and England this That he brought them off so resolutely as one that durst bring them on His fortune often overthrew his enemy and his wisdome oftner saved his friends His conduct was famous and his Discipline exact His Actions are Presidents and his Orders Laws of War to this day He was bred under Castilion and out-did him Ireland was always possessed but never conquered till Norris came who could lie on the coldest earth swim the deepest Rivers force the straightest Passes find out the most secret corners and tread the softest Bog who could endure any thing but an affront and a Superiour the first whereof upon a repulse at Court saddened his heart as the second upon another Deputies being sent over him broke it Unsuccessful he was with Don Antonio in Spain because he understood not the Country In the Low-Countries he gained experience first and then victory in Ireland he had Connaught for his Grave Mount Norris his Monument and the Letter of Queen Elizabeth to his Mother his Epitap● As the first eminent Norris suffered for Anne Bullen the Qu. Mother so the first eminent Knowles suffered with Protestantism her Religion Norris could not rise though he deserved his honour because of Leicester that favoured his Brother Knowles and Essex that envyed him neither could Knowles advance because of Sussex that feared and Cecil that suspected him The Knowles were deserving but modest favoured but humble powerful but quiet rather firm at Court than high allied to the Queen and faithful to the Crown Queen Elizabeth advanced Sir Francis to the Vicechamberlainship treasurership of the houshold Captainship of the Guard and the order of the Garter because she said He was an honest man and King Iames and King Charles raised his Son Sir William to the Earldome of Bambury because he was a serviceable man Honestly faithful was that family to their Mistress that was and providently so were they to their Master that should be Handsome men they were when attending at Court and valiant when called to the Camp Norrises 1. The Norrises are employed in Embassies of War wherein they were
his Majesties estate better but he was sure he would have kept it from being worse And it was the consequence of his great worth all men applauded him Fulk Lord Brook after the perusal of his H. 7 th returned it him with these words Commend me to my Lord and bid him take care to get good Paper and Ink for the work is Incomparable Dr. Collins the Kings Professor of Divinity at Cambridge said when he had read his advancement of Learning that he found himself in a case to begin his Studies again as having lost all his former time Forreigners crossing the Seas to see him here and carrying his Picture at length that he might be seen abroad An Italian writes to the Lord Cavendish since Earl of Devonshire thus concerning the Lord Bacon I will expect the new Essays of my Lord Chancellor Bacon as also his History with a great deal of desire and whatsoever else he shall compose but in particular of his History I promise my self a thing perfect and singular especially King Henry the 7 th where he may exercise the talent of his Divine understanding This Lord is more and more known and his Books here more and more delighted in and those men that have more than ordinary knowledge in humane affairs esteem him one of the most capable spirits of this age Observations on the Life of the Lord John Digby JOhn Lord Digby of Sherborn and Earl of Bristol was a younger Son of an ancient Family long flourishing at Koleshull To pass by his younger years all Children being alike in their Coats when he had only an Annuity of fifty pounds per annum only his youth gave pregnant hopes of that Eminency which his mature age did produce He did ken the Embassador's craft as well as any in his age employed by King Iames in several Services to Foreign Princes recited in his Patent as the main motives of the Honours conferred upon him But his managing the matchless Match with Spain was his Master-piece wherein a good I mean a great number of State-Traverses were used on both sides Where if he dealt in Generalities and did not press Particulars we may ghess the reason of it from that expression o● his I will take care to have my Instructions pers●●● and will pursue them punctually If he held Affairs in suspence that it might not come to a War on our part it may be he did so with more regard to his Mr. King Iames his inclination than his own apprehension If he said That howsoever the business went he would make his fortune thereby it rather argued his weakness that he said so his sufficiency that he could do so than his unfaithfulness that he did so This is certain that he chose rather to come home and suffer the utmost displeasure of the King of England than stay in Spain and enjoy the highest favour of the King of Spain He did indeed intercede for some indulgence to the Papists but it was because otherwise he could do no good for the Protestants But whatever was at the bottom of his Actions there was resolution and nobleness a top especially in these actions 1 Being carried from Village to Village after the King of Spain without that regard due to his person or place he expressed himself so generously that the Spanish Courtiers trembled and the King declared That he would not interrupt his Pleasures with business at Lerma for any Embassador in the world but the English nor for any English Embassador but Don Iuan. 2. When impure Scioppius upon his Libel against K. Iames and Sir Humphrey Bennet's complaint to the Arch-Duke against him fled to Madrid my Lord observing that it was impossible to have Justice done against him from the Catholique King because of the Jesuites puts his Cousin George Digby upon cutting him which he did over his Nose and Mouth wherewith he offended so that he carried the mark of his Blasphemy to his Grave 3. When he was extraordinary Embassador in Germany upon his return by Heidelbergh observing that Count Mansfield's Army upon whom depended the fortune of the Palsgrave was like to disband for want of money he pawned all his Plate and Jewels to buoy up that sinking Cause for that time That his spirit was thus great abroad was his honour but that it was too great at home was his unhappiness for he engaged in a fatal Contrast with the Duke of Buckingham that hazarded both their safeties had not this Lord feared the Duke's power as the Duke this Lord's policy and so at last it became a drawn Battel betwixt them yet so that this Earl lost the love of King Charles living many years in his disfavour But such as are in a Court-cloud have commonly the Countreys Sun-shine and this Peer during his Eclipse was very popular with most of the Nation It is seldom seen if a Favourite once broken at Court sets up again for himself the hap rather than happiness of this Lord the King graciously reflecting on him at the beginning of the Long Parliament as one best able to give him the safest Councel in those dangerous times But how he incensed the Parliament so far as to be excepted pardon I neither do know nor dare enquire Sure I am that after the surrender of Exeter he went over into France where he met with that due respect in Foreign which he missed in his Native Countrey The worst I wish such who causelesly suspect him of Popish inclinations saith my Author is that I may hear from them but half so many strong Arguments for the Protestant Religion as I heard from him who was to his commendation a cordial Champion for the Church of England This Family hath been much talked of this last forty years though all that I can say of it is this that great spirits large parts high honours penned with narrow Estates seldom bless their owners within moderation or the places they live in with peace Observations on the Life of the Lord Spencer HEe was the fifth Knight of his Family in an immediate succession well allied and extracted being descended from the Spencers Earls of Gloucester and Winchester In the first year of the Reign of King Iames being a moneyed man he was created Baron of Wormeleiton in the County of Warwick He had such a ready and quick Wit that once speaking in Parliament of the valour of their English Ancestors in defending the Liberty of the Nation returned this Answer to the Earl of Arundel who said unto him Your Ancestors were then keeping of Sheep If they kept Sheep yours were then plotting of Treason But both of them were at present confined but to the Lord Spencer the Upper-House ordered Reparations who was first and causelesly provoked This Lord was also he who in the first of King Iames was sent with Sir William Dithick principal King of Arms to Frederick Duke of Wirtenbergh elected into the Order of the Garter to present and invest him with the
State-Worthies OR THE STATES-MEN And FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND Since the Reformation Their PRUDENCE and POLICIES SUCCESSES and MISCARRIAGES ADVANCEMENTS and FALLS During the Reigns of King HENRY VIII King EDWARD VI Queen MARY Queen ELIZABETH King ●AMES King CHARLES ● The Second Edition with Additions LONDON Printed by Thomas M●lbour● for S●● Speed in Thread-needle-street neer the Royal-Exchange 1670. TO The HOPE of ENGLAND It s Young Gentry Is most humbly Dedicated The HONONUR of it It s ANCIENT STATESMEN A Renowned Ancestry TO An Honourable Posterity Whitehall BY permission and License of the Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Morice This Book may be Printed and Published Jo Cook TO THE READER Courteous Reader FOr bestowing some vacant hours by that excellent Personages direction to whom I am equally obliged for my Employment and my Leasure in an attempt so agreeable to the Lord Verulam's judgment which may be seen in the next page and so pursuant of Sir Robert Naunton's designe which may be traced in the following Book Another person's abilities might have gained applause and my weakness may deserve an excuse notwithstanding my years if yet any man be too young to read and observe or my profession if yet a Divine should not as times go be as well read in Men as Books Especially since I gratifie no man's fondness writing not a Panegyrick but an History Nor pleasure any persons malice designing Observations rather than Invectives Nor tyre any man's patience setting down rather the remarkes of mens publick capacities than the minute passages of their private lives but innocently discourse the most choice instances our ENGLISH Histories afford for the three great Qualifications of men 1. Noblenesse in behaviour 2. Dexterity in business and 3. Wisdome in Government among which are twenty eight Secretaries of State eight Chancellours eighteen Lord Treasurers sixteen Chamberlains who entertain Gentlemen with Observations becoming their Extraction and their hopes touching 1. The rise of States-men 2. The beginning of Families 3. The method of Greatness 4. The conduct of Courtiers 5. The miscarriages of Favourites and what-ever may make them either wise or wary The Chancellour of France had a Picture that to a co●mon eye shewed many little heads and they were his Ancestors● but to the more curious represented onely one great one and that was his own It 's in●ended that this Book should to the vulgar Reader express several particulars i. e. all this last Ages Heroes but to every Gentleman it should intimate onely one and that is himself It 's easily imaginable how unconcerned I am in the fate of this Book either in the History or the Observation since I have been so faithful in the ●irst that is not my own but the Historians and so careful in the second that they are not mine but the Histories DAVID LLOYD The Lord Bacon's Iudgment of a Work of this nature HIstory which may be called just and perfect History is of three kinds according to the object it propoundeth or pretendeth to represent for it either representeth a Time a Person or an Action The first we call Chronicles the second Lives and the third Narrations or Relations Of these although the first be the most compleat and absolute kind of History and hath most estimation and glory yet the second excelleth it in profit and use and the third in verity and sincerity For history of Times representeth the magnitude of Actions and the publick faces or deportments of persons and passeth over in silence the smaller passages and motions of Men and Matters But such being the workmanship of God as he doth hang the greatest weight upon the smallest wyars Maxima è minimis suspendens it comes therefore to pass that such Histories do rather set forth the pomp of business than the true and inward resorts thereof But Lives if they be well written propounding to themselves a person to represent in whom actions both greater and smaller publick and private have a commixture must of necessity contain a more true native and lively representation I do much admire that these times have so little esteemed the vertues of the Times as that the writing of Lives should be no more frequent For although there be not many Soveraign Princes or absolute Commanders and that States are most collected into Monarchies yet are there many worthy personages that deserve better than dispersed Report or barren Elogies For herein the invention of one of the late Poets is proper and doth well inrich the ancient fiction For he feigneth that at the end of the thread or web of every mans Life there was a little Medal containing the person's name and that Time waiteth upon the Sheers and as soon as the Thread was cut caught the Medials and carried them to the River Lethe and about the bank there were many Birds flying up and down that would get the Medials and carry them in their beak a little while and then let them fall into the River Onely there were a few Swans which if they got a Name would carry it to a Temple where it was consecrate THE TABLE A Pag. SIr Thomas Audly 72 Fiz-Allan Earl of Arundel 415 Master Roger Ashcam 613 Arch-Bishop Abbot 746 Sir Edmund Anderson 803 Bishop Andrews 1024 Sir Walter Aston 932 Sir Robert Armstroder 951 Philip Earl of Arundel 953. B. CHarles Brandon Duke of Suffolk 27 Sir Thomas Bollen 137 Edw. Stafford D. of Bucks 159 Sir Anthony Brown 164 Sir David Brook 386 Sir John Russel 1 E. of B. 442 Sir John Baker 460 Sir Will. Cecil L. Burleigh 473 Arch-Bishop Bancroft 704 Sir Nich. Bacon 470 Thomas Lord Burge 591 Sir Thomas Bromley 609 Sir Richard Bingham 612 Tho. Sackvil L. Buckhurst 677. Sir Fulke Grevil L. Brook 727 Sir Thomas Bodley 805 John L. Digby E. of Bristol 838 G. V. Duke of Buckingh 843 Sir Francis Bacon 828 Sir John Bramston 926 Lord Chief-Iustice Banks 960 C. ARch-Bishop Cranmer 35 T. Cromwel Earl of Es●ex 57 Sir William Compton 145 Sir Thomas Cheyney 466 Sir John Cheek 191 Sir William Cordel 369 Sir Anthony Cook 373 Sir W. Cecil L. Burleigh 473 Sir Thomas Challoner 534 Sir James Crofts 569 Cliffords Earls of Cumberland 721 Sir R. Cecil E. of Salisbury 730 Sir George Calvert 750 Sir Arthur Chichester 753 L. Cranfield E. of Mid. 778 Sir Robert Cary 794 Doctor Richard Cosin 817 Lord Chief Justice Cook 820 Lord Cottington 906 Sir Dudly Carleton 910 Lord Conway 919 Sir Julius Caesar 934 Earl of Carnarvan 1014 The Cary's Lords Viscoun●s Faulklands 938 Lord Capel 1021 Sir John Culpepper 1042 Sir Georg● Crook 949 James Hay E. of Carlisle 774 Sir Thomas Coventry 978 Sir John Cook 944 L. Herbert of Cherbury 1017 D. SIr Thomas Darcy 130 T. Grey Marquess of Dorset 152 Dudly D. of Northumberland 420 W. Devereux E. of Essex 486 Edward Earl of Derby 547 Sir William Drury 558 Doctor Dale 564 Sir James Dier 595 Secretary Davison 624 Sir G. Hume E. of Dunb 740 Sir
Robert Dudley 761 John L. Digby E. of Bristol 838 The Digges 921 Earl of Danby 9●8 E. THomas Cromwel Earl of Essex 57 W. Howard L. Effingh Sir Ralph Ewers 458 W. D. Earl of Essex 486 D. Devereux E. of Essex 634 Sir Thomas Edmonds 962 L. Chancellour Egerton 755 Sir Clement Edmonds 772 Sir T. Ereskin E. of Kelly 782 F. SIr Jeffery Fenton 626 661 Sir John Fineux 81 Doctor E. Fox Secretary 86 Sir Edward Fines 408 Sir John Fortescue 556 Doctor Giles Fletcher 662 The Carys Lords Viscounts Faulkland 938 Sir John Finch 971 G. THo Grey Marquess of Dorset 152 Ste. Gardiner Bish. of Winch. 451 John Grey of Pyrgo 569 Lord Grey of Wilton 571 Sir Henry Gates 569 Arthur Gray Baron of Wilton 588 Sir Humphrey Gilbert 626 Sir Fulk Grevil L. Brook 727 Oliver Saint-John Grandison 767 H. SIr William Herbert 457 D. Walter Haddon 627 Sir Tho. Howard 131 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Ed. Howard 141 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Th. Howard 142 of Surrey Norfolk Wil. Howard L. Effingh 401 Sir G. Hume E. of Dunb 740 James Hay E. of Carlis●le 774 Henry Howard Earl of Northampton 780 Sir John Ramsey Earl of Holderness 782 Sir Nicholas Hyde 931 Christopher Lord Hatton 521 Lord Hunsdon 526 Sir Richard Hutton 967 W. Marquess Hertford 969 Lord Howard Earls of Nottingham 735 Henry E. of Holland 987 Marquess Hamilton 1005 Sir Ralph Lord Hopton 1008 L. Herbert of Cherbury 1017 Arch-Bishop Heath 526 I. Sir John Fitz-James 114 Sir William Fitz-James 123 Sir John Jefferies ●21 Sir Arthur Ingram 798 Arch-Bishop Juxon 1038 K. SIr William Kingston 462 Sir Henry Killigrew 584 The Knowls 617 Sir T. Ereskin E. of Kelley 782 L. SIr Anthony St. Lieger 89 Earl of Liecester 518 Sir Thomas Lake 777 788 Sir Ja. Ley E. of Marlb 943 Earl of Lindsey 975 Arch-Bishop Laud 991 Lord-Keeper Littleton 1003 M. SIr Thomas Moor 42 Sir Rich. Morison 102 Sir William Molineux 118 Sir Henry Marney 147 Sir John Mason 208 Sir Edward Mountague 404 Sir Thomas Mannors 458 Sir Walter Mildmay 554 ●ir Roger Manwood 576 Lord Mountjoy 664 L. Cranfield E. of M. 778 Bishop Mountague 800 Sir Henry Martin 925 Sir Ja. Ley E. of Marlb 943. M. Earl of Manchester 1027 N. DUdley D. of Northumberland 420 Duke of Norfolk 540 Lord North 564 The Norrices 617 H. Howard E. of Northampton 780 Lord Howard Earl of Nottingham 735 Sir Robert Naunton 795 Sir Francis Nethersole 795 W. Noy Atturney-General 892 Sir Augustine Nichols 929 O. SIr Thomas Overbury 796 H. Vere Earl of Oxford 810 P. EEmund Plowden 573 Sir William Paget 99 Sir Ed. Poynings 248 The Parrs 187 Sir Clement Paston 202 Sir John Portman 397 Sir Amias Pawlet 568 Sir William Pelham 599 Sir Barn Fitz-Patrick 412 Sir William Peter 430 Cardinal Pool 435 Sir John Perrot 510 Sir William Pickering 530 G. Earl of Pembrook 552 William Lord Pawlet 593 Sir John Puckering 607 Sir John Packington 616 L. Chief-Iustice Popham 759 Westons Earls of Portland 914 Will. E. of Pembrook 917 Sir Paul Pinder 964 R. LOrd Rich 204 Sir Tho. Randolph 564 Sir John Russel 1. E. of B. 442 Tho. Ratcliffe E. of Sussex 490 Sir William Russel 629 Sir ●homas Roper 630 Sir Walter Rawleigh 670 Sir Joh. Ramsey E. of Hold 782 Sir Thomas Ridley 923 Esme Duke of Richmond 957 Edw. E. of Rutland 667 Sir Thomas Roe 1035 Iudg Richardson 97● S. CH. Brandon D. of Suffolk 27 Sir Richard Cecil E. of Salisbury 730 Sir Ralp Sadler 95 Sir Tho. Wriothesly 1. E. of Southampton 111 Sir Edw. Stanly 136 Sir Ch. Somerset 150 Sir Thomas Smith 560 R. Earl of Somerset 742 Ed. Stafford D. of Bucks 159 The Seymours 172 Sir Will. Stamford 216 T. Ratcliff E. of Sussex 490 Sir Philip Sidney 501 Sir Henry Sidney 602 Sir Th. Howard 131 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Ed. Howard 141 of Surrey Norfolk Sir Th. Howard 142 of Surrey Norfolk Fr. Talbot E. of Shrewsb 533 Sir John Smith 668 Th. Sackvil L. Buckhurst 677 E. of Suffolk 792 Sir Thomas Smith 724 Lord Spencer 841 Oliver Saint-John L. Grandison 767 Sir John Savil 895 Lord Say 972 Sir T. W. E. of Strafford 980 T. BIshop Tonstal 531 Fr. Talbot E. of Shrewsbury 533 Sir Nich. Throgmorton 543 V. SIr Henry Umpton 632 H. Vere E. of Oxford 810 The Veres 812 Sir H. Vane Senior 965 G. V. D. of Buckingham 843 W. CArdinal Wolsey 1 Sir Thomas Wyat 76 Doctor Nich. Wott●n 107 Sir Tho. Wrioth●● 1. E. of Southampton 111 Sir Robert Wingfield 157 Sir Thomas Wentworth 197 Doctor Tho. Wilson 390 Ste. Gardiner Bishop of Winton 451 Lord Willoughby 497 Sir Francis Walsingham 513 Sir Edward Waterhouse 536 Sir Will. Fitz Williams 549 L. Gray of Wilton 571 Sir Christopher Wray 578 E. of Worcester 581 Arth. Gray Baron of Wilton 588 Sir William W●ad 601 Sir Ralph Winwood 826 Bishop Williams 897 Sir Isaac Wake 904 Westons Ea●ls of Portland 914 Sir Henry Wotton 1029 Lord Wilmot 1035 Sir T. Wentworth Earl of Strafford 980 Robert Earl of Warwick 987 Y. SIr Henry Yelverton 799 STATE-WORTHIES OR THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of King Henry the VIII Observations on the Life of Cardinal WOLSEY CArdinal Wolsey was not so great in his Fortune as he was mean in his Original his honest and industrious Parents helped him to a good Constitution and a large Spirit two hopeful steps to greatness though one hath said of him Brave Priest whoever was thy Sire by kind Wolsey of Ipswich nere begat thy mind His Ambition gave him the opportunity to encrease his parts he was as pregnant at Ipswich-School as he was promising in Magdalen Colledg where he was Batchelour of Arts at 15 years of Age and therefore called the Boy-Batchelour His Industry and parts advanced him to a command over Noble men of the Marquess of Dorset's Family as School-master as his Policy promoted him to an Imperiousness over Kings in the quality of Statesmen The first step to Greatness in a Scholar is Relation to a Nobleman The best Education for the Court is in the Palace Nature made him capable the School and University made him a Scholar but his Noble Employment made him a Man At Oxford he read Books at my Lord 's he read Men and observed Things His Patrons two Parsonages bestowed upon him was not so great a Favour as the excellent principles instilled into him he being not more careful to Instruct and Educate the young Men then their Father was to Tutor him his Bounty makes him Rich and his Recommendation Potent His Interest went far his Money farther Bishop Fox was Secretary to K. Henry the seventh and he to Bishop Fox the one was not a greater Favourite of the King 's than the other was his as one that brought him a Head capable of all Observations and a Spirit above all Difficulties Others Managed the Affairs of England Wolsey understood its Interest His Correspondence
how much they have eaten but concocting their meat inwardly do bring forth Wool and Milk True learning is the improvement of other Mens studies and experiences by our own meditation adding to that frame by consideration which they had built from the ground by many Ages observation The Lord Herbert's Character of Cromwel ANd to this end came Cromwel who from being but a Black-smiths Son found means to travel into forein Countries to learn their Languages and to see the Wars being a Souldier of Bourbon at the taking of Rome whence returning he was received into Cardinal Wolsey's service To whom he so approved himself by his fidelity and diligence that the King after his fall voluntarily took him for his Servant in which place he became a special Instrument for dissolving the Abbeys and other Religious Houses and keeping down the Clergy whom in regard of their Oath to the Pope he usually termed the Kings half Subjects And for expelling the Monks he said it was no more than a restoring them to the first Institution of being lay and labouring persons Neither did it move him that so much strictness and austerity of Life was enjoyned them in their several Orders since he said they might keep it in any condition But as these Reasons again were not admitted by divers learned and able Persons so he got him many Enemies who at last procured his fall but not before he had obtained successively the Dignities of Master of the Rolls Baron Lord Privy Seal Vicegerent to the King in Spiritualities Knight of the Garter Earl of Essex Great Chamberlain of England c. He was much noted in the exercises of his Places of Iudicature to have used much Moderation and in his greatest pomp to have taken notice and been thankful to mean persons of his old acquaintance and therein had a Virtue which his Master the Cardinal wanted As for his other Descriptions I leave them to be taken out of Granmer's Letter formerly mentioned with some deduction For it seems written to the King in more than Ordinary Favour of his antient service Arch-Bishop Cranmer's Character of Cromwel in a Letter to King Henry the Eighth WHo cannot b● sorrowful and amazed that he should be a Traytor against your Majesty He that was so advanced by your Majesty He whose surety was only by your Majesty He who loved your Majesty as I ever thought no less than God He who studied always to set forwards whatsoever was your Majesties will and pleasure He that cared for no Mans displeasure to serve your Majesty He that was such a Servant in my Iudgment in wisdom diligence faithfulness and experience as no Prince in this Realm ever had He that was so vigilant to pres●rve your Majesty from all Treasons that few could be so secretly conceived but he detected the same in the beginning If the Noble Princes of memory King John Henry II. and Richard II. had had such a Counsellor about them I suppose they should never have been so Traiterously abandoned and overthrown as those good Princes were After which he says again I loved him as my Friend for so I took him to be but I chiefly loved him for the love which I thought I saw him bear ever towards your Grace singularly above all other But now if he be a Traytor I am sorry that ever I loved or trusted him and I am very glad that his Treason is discovered in time But yet again I am very sorrowful for who shall your Grace trust hereafter if you might not trust him Alas I bewail and lament your Graces chance herein I wot not whom your Grace may trust But I pray God continually Night and Day to send such a Councellor in his place whom your Grace may trust and who for all his qualities can and will serve your Grace like to him and that will have so much solicitude and care to preserve your Grace from all dangers as I ever thought he had Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Audley SIr Thomas Audley's Birth was Generous his Education more Essex bred him to that Honour which his Ancestors lost His Soul ennobled his Body and his Body graced his Soul The one quick solid apprehensive and judicious the other tall and majestick King Henry loved a Man and here was one whose Austerity was allayed with Debonairness whose Gravity was sweetened with Pleasantness whose Knowledge was as large as his Authority whose Wit was equal with his Wisdom whose Memory was strong and Judgment solid His fair Estate brought him to the Temple his proficiency in the Law to the Court His reading upon the Statute of Priviledges commended him to the Kings Service his speaking for the Prerogative in Parliament brought him to the Kings Favour Although the Liberties of the People can never be se●ured without the Prerogative of the Sovereign who cannot do the good they would if he wants a power to do the evil they fear yet his first Preferment was to withdraw him from Popularity and the second only to confirm him to Sovereignty Noble Service is the way to a Royal One ● His Stewardship to the Dutchy of Suffolk raised him to the Attorneyship of that of Lancaster But in troublesome and designing times a popular Orator is a good Courtier and leading Parts in Parliament or Convocation are great Merits In the black Parliament he was a Member by his own Interest and a Speaker by his Majesties Choice Sir Tho. More was to serve the Crown in the Lords House and Sir Tho. Audley was to succeed him in the House of Commons When Abbey-Lands were bestowed on the King in gross and returned by him to the leading Lords and Commons in the Retayl most of that Parliament looked for ●hares Sir Thomas for the first cut to secure himself with the King He was always in favour with the Queens who had no less interest in the Kings Heart than the Kingdom had in his Head The Age was uncertain Interest not so Sir Thomas was fixed on the One above the alterations of the Other understanding what was most convenient at a time when there was nothing lawful He was well seen in the flexures and windings of affairs at the depth whereo● other Heads not so steady turned giddy He had the Arts of a Statesman and the closeness of a Politician Reserved he was but no Dissembler For if a man have that penetration of judgment as he can discern what things are to be laid open and what to be kept secret and what to be shewed with half ●ights and to whom and when which indeed are Arts of States and Arts of Life to him an Habit of Dissimulation is a hinderance and a poorness He as an able man was always frank and open but wary knowing how to stop and turn within the compass of equity and honesty He understood business well and men better and knew King Henry's Temper better than Himself whom he surprized always to his own bent never moving any
since his Name made such indelible impression on his house whereof he was not five years in possession Death hath this also That it openeth the Gate to good Fame and extinguisheth Envy Philip asked Demetrius if he did not fear to lose his head He answered No for if he did the Athenians would give him one immortal He should be statued in the Temple of Eternal Fame Nil non Mortale tenemus Pectoris exceptis ingeniique bonis En ego cum Patria caream vobisque dem●que Raptaque sint adimi quae potuere mihi Virtute attamen ipse mea comitorque fruorque Caesar in hoc potuit juris habere nihil Quilibet hanc saevo vitam mihi finiat ense Me tamen extin●o fama perennis erit All that we hold will die But our brave Thoughts and Ingenuity Even I that want my Country House and Friend From whom is ravished all that Fate can rend Possess yet my own Genius and enjoy That which is more than Caesar can destroy Each Groom may kill me but whensoe'er I die My Fame shall live to mate eternity Bra●e m●n never die Worth begets in wea●●nd base min●s Envy in the Magnanimous E●●lation● in P●sterity Renown A Renown that is as the beams about the Sun or the glory abou● an holy picture that shews it to be a Saint though it be no essential part it riset● from the body of that Virtue which cannot chuse but shine and give a light through all the clouds of errour and distraction And ●hough some●imes 〈◊〉 mists and vapours of ●he lower earth impede the light it gives yet there will be apparent Rays that shew there is Dese●t unseen which yeilds those gleams of brightness to the whole Horizon that it moves and shines in which sur●ive to a glorious kind of immortality when the Good Man is dead and gone a Good Name being the embalming of the Virtuous to an e●ernity of ●●ve and gratitude among posterity For my own Honour saith the Royal Martyr I am well assured that as mine Innocence is clear before God in point of any calumnies they object so my Reputation shall like the Sun after Owls and Bats have had their freedome in the night rise and recover ●ts self to such a degree of splendour as those feral birds shall be grieved to behold and unable to bear Observations on the Lives of the Pars. SIr William Par Uncle and Lord Chamberlain to Queen Katharine Par was by King Henry the Eig●th created Baron Par of Horton he left two Daughters onely married into the Fami●ies of Tressam and Lane His Relation cal●ed him to Court but his Age forbid him the pleasure● and his own Reservedness the freedom of that place before which he preferred the pious peaceable ●nd hospitable way of the Countrey whe●e Popularity affected him more than he affected it No man being more beloved by the vulg●r no man less in love with them It being his Observation rather than his Countrey-man Sir Edward Mountague's saying That if you do the common sort of people nineteen courtesies together yet you may lose their love if you go but ove● the s●ile before them H●s Cousin Sir Will●am was brought by his Sister to Court and advanced by his Brother to Honour b●ing for his Majesties sake as well as his own made Lord Par of Kendal Ea●l of Essex by King Henry ●he Eighth and Ma●ques of No●thampton by King ●dward Q●een Mary deprived him of his Estate and Honour for siding with the Lady Iane and Q●een Elizabe●h restored him to both for favouring the Protestant Religion His Delight was Musick and Poetry and his Exe●cise War being a happy composure of the hardest and softest Discipline equally made for Court and Camp for Delight or Honour But his skill in the Field answered not his industry nor his success his skill Ye● King Edward called him His Honest Vncle and King Henry His Integrity The whole Family was made by a Marriage but died Issueless The common Rule of Favourites is to bring in all their Relations about them to adorn and suppo●t them bu● this Marq●ess would say A wall that hath a firm Bottom had need of no Buttress and that which wants it is often rather thrust down than upheld by it The Antiquaries crouch as though t●ey upheld the Church when they are upheld by it Clients a●e more a burden than a strength and when the chief Favourite dares not displease his So●e●eign because he is so near him they dare because he is between them and Majesty His Followe●s were not gaudy to render him suspicious nor discontented to b●eed ill blood and a misunderstanding nor too open to discover him but deserving to honour him aud hopeful to be advanced by him Active men were recommended by him to King Henry's busie Occasions and Virtuous to King Edward's pious Inclinations In his last years he found that there was little love in the World and least o● all among Equals and that that which war is between Superiour and Inferiour whose fortune may comprehend the one the other To ease his minde therefore to satisfie his Judgement to observe his oversight he adopted Sir William Cholmley bringing him first to his House and then to his Heart to shew him that impartially which he could not discern in himsel● There is no such Fla●terer as a mans self and there is no such Remedy against Flattery of a mans self as the liberty of a Friend Counsel is of two sorts to go on in my Au●hors words the one concerning manners the other concerning business for the fi●st the best preservative to keep the mind in health is the faithful admonition of a ●riend The calling o● a mans self to a strict account is a medicine sometime ●oo piercing and corroding reading good Books of Morality is a little flat and dead observing our ●aults in o●hers is sometimes improper for our case but the best receipt best I say to work and be●t to take is the Admonition of a Friend So much solid Worth he had that he had no use of Ambition so much Modesty that he made little use of his Worth Mean thoughts he entertained of himself and as mean thoughts did he by his down-cast though grave look his sparing though pertinent discourse and his submiss●v● though regardful carriage● suggest of himself B●t a well-manag'd boldness is the Virtue of Mon●rchick Courts and a discreet submission that of a Republican no advantageous admission into the one without the first nor ●a●ety in the other without the second Here if you are bold you must look for an Ostracism there if you are modest for Neglect Yet a sober and moderate man m●y be i● fashion once in an Age. The Souldier and the Gentleman are the Warlike Princes Darling● Church-men the Religious Physicians the Sickly and Old Scholars the Learned Exchequerers the Poor Covetous or Prodigal Lawyers the Just and They of a Healing Sof● and Pliable Temper King Iames his
in the Inner Temple in the study of the Laws untill his ability and integrity advanced him Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Thirtieth of Henry the Eighth He gave for his Motto AEquitas Iustitia Norma And although Equity seemeth rather to resent of the Chancery than the Kings Bench yet the best Justice will be Wormwood without a mixture thereof In his times though the golden showers of Abbey-Lands rained amongst great men it was long before he would open his lap scrupling the acception of such Gifts and at last received but little in proportion to Others of that Age. In the thirty seventh of King Henry the Eighth he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas a descent in Honour but ascent in Profit it being given to old Age rather to be thrifty than ambitious Whereupon he said I am now an old man and love the Kitchin before the Hall the warmest place best suiting with my Age. In drawing up the Will of King Edward the Sixth and setling the Crown on the Lady Iane for a time he swam against the tide and torrent of Duke Dudley till at last he was carried away with the stream Outed of his Judges Office in the first of Queen Mary he returned into Northampton-shire and what contentment he could not finde in Westminster-hall his Hospital-hall at Boug●ton afforded him He died Anno 1556. and lieth bu●ied in the Parish Church of Weekly His well-managed Argument in Dodderige his Case brought him to Cromwel's knowledge who was vexed with his reason but well pleased with his Parts Crowmel's recommenda●ion and his own modest nature set him up with Henry the Eighth who could not endure two things 1. A Lawyer that would not be guided 2. A Divine that would not be taught Yet as modest as he was he was honest and though he would submit to the Kings Power yet would he act by his Law For his Apophthegm was Mèum est Ius dicere potius quam Ius dare I●'s my duty to interpret rather than give Law He never denied or delayed J●stice alwayes discouraging those cunning L●ws that perplexed a Cause those contentious Clients that delayed a suit and those nice Cummin-seed men that strained i●ferences and w●ested c●nstructions Patient stayed and equal he was in hearing grave in speaking pertinent in interrogating wary in observing happy in remembring seasonable and civil in interposing The Council durst not chop with him neither would he chop with the Council unless he defended his cause over-boldly urged indiscreetly informed slightly neglected grosly renewed the debate unseasonably or ensnared his Adversaries cunningly in those and other the like cases he would do the Publick Right by a check and the person by an admonition Six sorts of persons he discountenanced in his Courts 1. The scandalous Exactors 2. The slie shifters that as that Chancellour observed pervert the plain and direct courses of Courts and bring Justice into oblique lines and labyrinths 3. Those that engaged Courts in quarrels of Jurisdiction 4. Those that made suits 5. Those that hunted men upon Poenal Statutes 6. Those that appeared in most Testimonies and Juries His Darling was The h●n●st Clerk who was experienced in his place obliging in his carriage knowing in Presidents cautious in Proceedings and skilful in the affairs of the Court. Two things he promoted in King Henry's days 1. The Law against Gaming And 2. The Order against Stews And two in King Edward's 1. That Act against s●reading of Prophecies 2. That Statute against embasing of Coyn. But King Edward's Testament and the Duke of Northumberland's Will is to be made The pious Intentions of that King wishing well to the Reformation the Religion of Q●een Mary obnoxious to exception the ambition of Northumberland who would do what he listed the weakness of Suffolk who would be done with as the other pleased the flattery of the Courtiers most willing to comply designed the Crown for the Lady Iane Grey Mr. Cecil is sent for to London to furnish that Will with Reason of State and Sir Edward to Serjeants Inn to make it up with Law He according to the letter sent him went with Sir Io. Baker Justice Bromley the Attorney and Solicitor-General to Greenw●ch where His Majestie before the Marquess of Northampton declaring himself for the settlement of Religion and against the succession of Q●een Mary offered them a Bill of Articks to make a Book of which they notwithstanding the Kings Charge and the re●teration of it by Sir William Peter declared upon mature consideration they could not do without involving themselves and the Lords of the Council in High Treason because of the Statutes of Succession The Duke of Northumberland hearing of their Declaration by the Lord Admiral comes to the Council-Chamber all in a rage trembling for anger calling Sir Edward Traytor and saying He would fight in his shirt with any man in that Quarrel The old man is charged by the King upon his Allegiance and the Council upon his Life to make the Book which he did when they promised it should be ratified in Parliament Here was his obedience not his invention not to devise but draw things up according to the Articles tendred unto him Since shame is that which ambitious Nature abhorreth and danger is that which timorous Nature declineth the honest man must be resolute Sir Nathaniel Brent would say A Coward cannot be an honest man and it seems by this Action that modesty and fear are great temptations Give me those four great Vertues that makes a man 1. A clear Innocence 2. A comprensive Knowledge 3. A well-weighed experience And 4. The product of all these A steady Resolution What a Skein of Ruffled Silk saith the ingenious Resolver is the incomposed man Observations on the Life of Sir Edward Fines EDward Fines Lord Clinton Knight of the Garter was Lord Admiral of England for more than thirty years He was wise valiant and very fortunate as appears by his Master-piece in Museleborough field in the reign of King Edward the sixth and the Battle against the Scots He was afterwards created Earl of Lincoln where he was born May 4. 1474. and where he had a proportionable Estate to support his Dignity which he much increased beside his Paternal Inheritance He died Ianuary 16. 1558. and lieth buried at Windsor in a private Chappel under a stately M●nument which Elizabeth his third Wife Daughter to the Earl of Kildare erected in his remembrance His Fortune made him a younger B●other and his Industry an Heir coming to Court where they that have Estates spend them and they that have none gain them His recreation was at Court but his business in the Country where notwithstanding the Statute in ●enry the sevenths time against Pasturage for Tillage he Grazed 11000 Acres of Ground then a noble and gaining Employment that advanced many a Family in one Generation and now a saving one that hath kept up as many ten The best tempered Swords will bend
anno 1572 arraigned for Treason this Iudge was present thereat on the same to●en that when the Duke desired Council to be assigned him pleading that it was granted to Humphrey Stafford in the Reign of King Henry the seventh our Iudge returned unto him That Stafford had it allowed him only as to point of Law then in dispute viz. Whether he was legally taken out of the Sanctuary but as for matter of Fact neither he nor any ever had or could have Councel allowed him But let his own wo●ks praise him in the Gates● known for the place of publick Iustice amongst the Iews let his learned Writings called The Commentaries or Reports evidence his Abilities in his Profession He died in 2● Eliz. thoug● married without any issue and there is a House of a Baronet of his Name descended from an elder Son of Richard Father to our Iudge at great Stoughton in Huntingtonshire well improved I believe with the addition of the Judges E●t●te● There is a Manuscript of this worthy Judge● wherein are six and forty Rules for the pre●ervation of the Commonwealth as worthy our Observation as they were his Collection 1. That the true Religion be established 2. To keep the parts of the Commonwealth equal 3. That the middle sort of people exceed both the extreams 4. That the Nobility be called to serve or at least to appear at the Court by themselves or by the hopes of their Families their Children 5. That the Court pay well 6. That Trade be free and Manufactures with all other Ingenuities encouraged 7. That there be no co-equal Powers nor any other vsurpations against the Foundation 8. That their be notice taken of wise and well-affected Persons to employ them 9. That Corruption be restrained 10. That the Prince shew himself absolute in his Authority first and then indulgent in his Nature 11. That the first ferment of sedition w●nt c. be considered 12. That Preferments be bestowed on merit and not faction 13. That troublesome persons be employed abroad● 14. That Emulations be over r●led 15. That the ancient and most easie way of Contributions when necessary be followed 16. That the Youth be discipled 17. That Discourses and Writings of Government and its mysteries be restrained 18. That the Active and busie be taken to Employment 19. That the King shew himself often in Majesty tempered with familiarity easie access tenderness c. 20. That the Prince perform some expected act●ons at Court himself 21. That no one man be grat●fied with the grievance of many 22. That Acts of Grace pass in the chief Magi●trates Name and Act● of Severity in the Ministers 23. That the Prince borrow when he hath no need 24. That he be so well furnished with Warlike Provisions Citadels Ships as to be renowned for it 25. That the Neighbour-States be balanced 26. That the Prince maintain very knowing Agents Spies and Intelligencers 27. That none be suffered to raise a Quarrel between the Prerogative and the Law 28. That the People be awaked by Musters 29. That in c●ses of Fa●tion Colonies and Plantations be found out to receive ill humours 30. That the Seas the Sea-coast and Borders be secured 31. That the Prince be either resident himself or by a good natured and popular Favourite 32. To act things by degrees and check all the hasty importunate rash and turbulent though well-affected 33. That the Inhabitants have honour promiscuously but that Power be kept in the Well-affected's hands 34. That there be as far as can be plain dealing and the people never think they are deceived 35. That there be a strict eye kept upon Learning Arms and Mechanical Arts. 36. That there be frequent Wars 37. To observe the Divisions among Favourites though not to encourage them 38. That an account be given of the Publick Expences 39. That Inventions be encouraged 40. That the Country be kept in its due dependanc● on the Crown against the times of War Elections c. and to that purpose that the Courtiers keep good houses c. 41. That no disobliging person be trusted 42. That Executions be few suddain and severe 43. To improve the benefit of a Kingdomes Situation 44. That the L●berties and Priviledges of the subject b● so clearly stated that there may be no pr●tences for worse purposes 45. That the Coyn be neither transported nor ●mbased 46. That luxury be suppr●ssed Maximes these that spake our Judge so conversant with Books and men that that may be applyed to him which is attributed to as great a Divine as he was a Lawyer viz. That he never talked with himself Observations on the Life of Sir William Pelham SIr William Pelham was a Native of Sussex whose ancient and wealthy Family hath long flourished in Laughton therein His Prudence in Peace and Valour in War caused Queen Elizabeth to employ him in Ireland where he was by the privy-Council appointed Lord Chief Justice to govern that Land in the interim betwixt the death of Sir William Drury and the coming in of Arthur Gray Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Say not that he did but stop a gap for a twelve-month at the most seeing it was such a gap Destruction had entered in thereat to the final ruine of that Kingdome had not his providence prevented it For in this juncture of time Desmond began his Rebellion 1579 inviting Sir William to side with him who wisely gave him the hearing with a smile in to the Bargain And although our Knight for want of Force could not cure the wounds yet he may be said to have washed and kept it clean re●igning it in a recovering condition to the Lord Gray who succeeded him Afterwards he was sent over into the Low-Countries 1586 being Commander of the English Horse therein It is said of him ●rabautiam persultabat He leapt through Brabant importing celerity and success yea as much Conquest as so suddain an expedition was capable of He had a strong memory whereof he built his experience and a large experience whereon he grounded his actions There was no Town Fort Passage Hill or Dale either in Ireland or Holland but he retained by tha● strong faculty that was much his Nature more his Art which observed privately what it saw publickly recollected and fixed in the night when he observed by day trusting his head with solids but not burthening it with impertinencies Company is one of the greatest pleasu●es of Mankinde and the great delight of this man it 's unnatu●al to be solitary the world is linked together by love and men by friendship who observed three things in his converse that it should be 1. even 2. choice and 3. useful all his friends being either valiant ingenious or wise that is either Souldiers Scholars or States-men Four things he was very intent upon during his Government in Ireland 1. The Priests the Pulpits and the Press 2. The Nobility 3. The Ports 4. The Forreigners Which he pursued with that Activity the Earl of Ormond assisting
purely heroick often stout but never disl●●al so vehement an opponent of the Spaniard as when that Match fell under consideration he would sometimes rouze to the trepidation of King Iames yet kept in favour still for that King knew plain dealing as a Jewel in all men so was in a Privy-Councellor an ornamental duty An instance of his familiar converse with King Iames was that the King observing that he naturally hated a Frog threw one into his neck and he in requital caused a Pig of an equal disgust with the same Prince to be put under his Close-stool where though it produced no extraordinary ill effect for the present yet after the prank had been descanted upon and worst of Interpretations made by some the title of Iews being at that time bestowed on the Scots the King was much affected with it and the more because it was done at Wilton the Earls own house Though Kings when free and sociable break out to sprightful and facetious extravagancies with Courtiers yet must they not presume lest their words are interpreted not by their meaning but others jealousie free spirits cannot be too circumspect And the same true-heartedness commended him to King Charles with whom he kept a most admirable correspondence and yet stood the firm Confident of the Commonalty and that not by a sneaking cunning but by an erect and generous prudence such as rendred him as unsuspected of ambition on the one side as of faction on the other being generally beloved and regarded Observations on the Life of the Lord Conway EDward Lord Conway succeeded to his Father's Martial skill and valour who was under the Earl of Leicester Governour of Ostend and twisted therewith peaceable Policy in State-affairs so that the Gown and the Sword met in him in most eminent proportion and thereupon King Iames advanced him one of the principal Secretaries of State For these his good services he was by him created Lord Conway of Ragleigh in this County and afterwards by King Charls Viscount Killultagh in the County of Antrim And lastly in the third of King Charles Viscount Conway of Conway in Carnarvenshire● England Ireland and Wales mutually embracing themselves in his Honours and not long after President of the Councel Upon the bre●●● with Spain King Iames and the Duke of Buckingham both judged it very convenient to have a Martial Secretary neither was there any man fitter ●or their turn than this Gentleman who was as able to direct them in the Affairs of War abroad as he was ready to be directed by them in those of Peace at home Being one of those three remarkable Servants that King Iames used to jest upon viz● a Lord Treasurer meaning the Earl of Suffol●● that could not cast Account a Chaplain meanin● Doctor Preston that could not read P●●●●●● and a Secretary meaning this Lord that 〈◊〉 not write his name Sir Rich●rd Weston beat the Bush in the Affair of the Palatinate but Sir Edward catched the Hare his rough humour being more suit●ble to that business Or indeed it having been always more successful to be bold than wary to be free for all occasions than to be obstinate to some rule● Fortune saith Machiavel is a Mi●triss that is● sooner won by those that ruffle and force her than by others that proceed coldly Indeed he was charged with treachery and cowardize in the action against the Scots 1640. but he came off with his honest animosity saying If he migh● but fight their whole Army he would settle Scotland in six months or lose his head being in that of my Lord of Canterbury's opinion who assured his Majesty they would not hold out four a motion that if as easily entertained by that gracious King as it was effectually pursued by the bloody Usurpers a sad experience hath taught us and them would have prevented much mischief there more here especially since it was that wise Prince his judicious observation That they and their Confederates were a people lost by favour and won by punishment Observations on the Lives of the Digges MAster Leonard Digges was one of excellent Learning and deep judgement His ●i●d most inclined him to the Mathematicks and he was the best Architect in that age for all manner of Buildings for conveniency pleasure state strength being excellent at Fortifications Lest his Learning should dye with him for the publick profit he printed his Tectonicon Prognostick General Stratiotick about the ordering of an Army and other Works He flourished Anno Dom. 1556. and dyed I believe about the Reign of Queen Elizabeth when as in most growing times Arts were drowned in action Nothing else have I to observe of his name save that hereditary Learning may seem to run in the vel●s of his Family witness Sir Dudly Digs of Chilham-Castle made Master of the Rolls in the year 1636. whose abilities will not be forgotten whilest our age hath any remembrance This Knight had a younger son of a most excellent wit and a great judgment Fellow of All-Souls in Oxford who in the beginning of our Civil Wars wrote so subtile solid a Treatise of the difference between King and Parliament that such Royalists who have since handled that Controversie have written plura non plus yea aliter rather than alia of that Subject The Son writes down those Rebellions that the Father countenanced The Father I say who by a bold impeachment against his Majesties chief Minister of State to his face taught a discontented People to draw a bolder against his M●jesty himself Wherefore it was that after his undutiful Prologue Against his Majesties Prerogative in favouring his Servants the Preface to more disloyal methods against his right in governing his people he and Sir Iohn Elliot were whispered out of the Lords House when they were hottest against the Duke to speak with a Gentleman and thence sent immediately by two Pursevants that attended to the Tower where and in the Country this Gentleman lay under just displeasure until it was thought fit to take off so dangerous a piece of boldness and eloquence upon the growing distempers of the age by favour and preferment to a Neutrality at least if not to the just measures of his duty But our observation here is this That faction is one of those sins whereof the Authors repent most commonly themselves and their posterities are always ashamed Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Ridly Dr. LL. THis Knight and Doctor was born at Ely in Cambridge-shire bred first a Scholar at Eaton in Buckingham-shire then Fellow of Kings-Colledge in Cambridge He was a general Scholar in all kind of Learning especially in that which we call Melior Literatura He afterwards was Chancellor of Winchester and Vicar-general to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury His memory will never dye whilst his Book called The view of the Ecclesiastical Laws is living a book of so much merit that the Common Lawyers notwithstanding the difference betwixt the professions will ingenuously
consumpio jam pulvere tormentario armatos inermis Vallo munito inter sola causa virtute animatus ita re●udit concidit castris exuit ut ●totum belli molem cum ipsis Authoribus profligavit Quicquid fugae illius residuum erat inter urbis unius Moenia eaqu● arcta obsidione astricta concl●so Qua quidem pugna memorabili praeter quod miserum popellum jugo intolerabili levaverat sedes suas expulsis Ecclesias Pastoribus pacem omnibus Firmamentum pacis obsequium pristinum restituerit Et jam sequenti armorum nostrorum f●elicitate qua partes Regni occidentales maturius ad officium verum Dominum redierunt viam apperuisse momentum ingens extitisse libentissimè profitemur In hac opera landabili cum praefatus Radulphus perstiterit adhuc in victo animo industria indefessa nullo ard●o quantumvi● labore periculo excusatus cumque mille argumentis testatum fecerit Honorem salutemque nostram sibi omni fortuna capite potiorens nos virum fortissimum optimeque affectum animum benigno studio prosequi amplius demereri volentes hunc praec●nio merito ornandum propiori ad nos gradu extollendum censuimus Sciatis igitur nos de gratia nostra speciali ac ex certa scientia mero motu praefatum Radulphum Hopton ad statum gradum stylum Dignitatens Titulum and Honorem Baronis Hopton de Stratton in Comitatu nostro Cornubiae c. In cujus rei Testimonium has Literas Nostras fieri fecimus Patentes Teste meipso apud Oxon. quarto die Sep●embris Anno Regni Nostri Decimo nono His two great Actions the one at Liscard the other at Stratton cannot be better described than by an Eye-witness whose words are these as he saith out of a Manuscript corrected with Sir Ralph 's own hand communicated to him by his Secretary Mr. Tredus At Liscard a little before the Fight began the King's party took it into seasonable consideration that seeing by the Commission of the Lord Mohun brought from Oxford four persons viz. the said Lord Mohun Sir Ralph Hopton Sir Iohn Berkley and Colonel Ashburnham were equally impowered in the managing of all Military ma●ters And seeing such equality might prove inconvenient which hitherto had been prevented with the extraordinary moderation of all parties in ordering a Bat●el it was fittest to fix the power in one chief and general consent setled it in Sir Ralph Hopton He first gave order that publick Prayers should be read in t●e head of every Squadron and it was done accordingly and the Enemy observing it did stile it saying of Mass as some of their Prisoners afterwards did confess Then he caused the Fo●t to be drawn up in the best order they could and placed a Fo●lorn of Musquetiers in the little I●closures winging them with the few H●rse and Dragoons he had This done two small Mynion Drakes speedily and secretly fetched from the Lord Mohun's house were planted on a lit●le B●rrough within random-shot of the Enemy yet so that they were covered out of their sight with small parties of Horse about them These concealed Mynions were twice discharged with such success that the Enemy quickly quitted their ground● And all their Army being put into a rout the King's Forces had the exe●ution of them which they performed very sparingly taking 1250 prisoners all their Cannon and Ammunition and most of their C●lours and Arms and after publick Thanks taking their repose at Liscard Stratton Fight succeeds on Tuesday the 16th of May 1643. The King's Army wants Ammun●tion and hath a steep hill to gain with all disadvantage and danger the Horse and Dragoons being not above five hundred and the Foot two thousand four hundred The Parl. Forces were well furnished and barricado●d upon the top of the hill their Foot 3400. and their Horse not many indeed having dispatched 12●0 to surprize the Sheriff and Commissioners at Bodmin On the King's side order was given to force the passage to the top of the Hill by four several Avenues the ascent was steep and difficult resolutely did his Majesties Forces get up and obstinately did the Enemy keep them down The Fight continued doubtful with many countenances of various events from five in the Morning till three in the Afternoon amongst which most remarkable the smart charge made by M. G. Chudleigh with a stand of Pikes on Sir Bevil Greenvil who fell nobly himself and had lost his squadron had not Sir Iohn now Lord Berkley who ●ed up the Musquetiers on each side of Sir Bevil seasonably relieved it so resolutely reinforcing the Charge that Major-General Chudleigh was taken Prisoner● Betwixt three and four of the Clock the Commanders of the King's Forces who embraced those four several ways of ascent met to their mutual joy almost at the top of the hill which the routed enemy confusedly forsook In this service though they were Assailants they lost very few men and no considerable Officer killing of the Enemy about three hundred and taking seventeen hundred prisoners all their Cannon being thirteen pieces of brass Ordnance and Ammunition seventy barrels of powder with a Magazine of Bisket and other provision proportionable For this victory publick Prayer and Thanksgiving was made on the hill then the Army was disposed of to improve their success to the best advantage Nothing had funk this great spirit but the fate of Kingdoms with whose ruine only he was contented to fall and disband his brave Soldiers upon honourable terms Five things made my Lord Hopton so eminently serviceable 1. His great insight into the designs and prudent foresight of the events of present Councels which when most doubted and wavered gave him that resolution that undertook great difficulties and bore up against greater 2. His experience of War in general and his acquaintance with that seat of it committed to him in particular 3. His renown all over the Kingdom for piety and moderation and within his own association for hospitality civility and charity 4. His name among the Enemies as considerable for his generousness and justice as for his valour and conduct 5. His Estate that set him above mercenariness and his care for money that set his Soldiers above need the occ●sion of mutinying among themselves or of incivilities towards others Observations on the Life of the Earl of Carnarvan RObert Dormer Ar. was on the tenth of Iune 1615. made Baronet by King Iames and on the 30 day of the same month was by him created Baron Dormer of Wing in Buckinghamshire His Grand-child Robert Dormer was by K. Charles in the 4th of his Reign created Viscount Ascot Ea●l of Carnarvan He lost his life fighting for him who gave him his honour at the first Battel of Newbury Being sore wounded he was desired by a Lord to know of him what suit he would have to his Majesty in his behalf the said Lord promising to discharge his trust in presenting his request
Being in a Popish Chappel a merry Priest that knew him sent a Paper to him with this question Where was your Religion before Luther Under which he writ Where yours is not in the written word of God 2. Being asked whether a Papist could be saved He replyed You may be saved without knowing that look to your self 3. Hearing one ●ail against Arminius Popery he answered Sir he that understands amiss concludeth worse If you had studied Popery so much as I have and knew Arminius so well as I did how learned how strict and how rare a man he was you would not fall so foul on his person nor think that the further you go from the Church of Rome the nearer you are to God 4. One pitched upon for Embassador came to Eaton and requested from him some Experimental rule for his prudent and safe carriage in his Negotiation to whom he smilingly gave this for an infallible Aphorism That to be in safety himself serviceable to his Country he should alwayes and upon all occasions speak the truth For said he you shall never be believed and by this means your truth will secure your self if you shall ever be called to any account and it will also put your Adversaries who will still h●nt counter to a loss in all their disquisitions and undertakings 5. And when he made his Will two years before he died out of policy to let the King understand his Debts and Arrears to which end he bestowed in that Will on his Majesty Sir Nicholas Throgmorton's Papers of Negotiation in Queen Elizabeth's dayes on the Queen Dioscorides in Tuscany with the Herbs naturally coloured on the Prince the Queen of Bohemia's picture on my Lord of Canterbury the picture of Divine love to my Lord of London high Treasurer Heraclitus and Democritus and to Secretary Windebanke old Bastano's four Seasons he directed that this onely should be written on his plain Marble Hic jacet hujus sententiae primus auctor Disputandi Pruritus fit Ecclesiarum Scabies Nomen alias quaere 7. Going yearly to Bocton for the connaturalness of that Air and to Winchester or Oxford for Recreation he would say to his friends How useful was that advice of a holy Monk who perswaded his friend to perform his customary devotion in a constant place where his former thoughts might meet him for said he at my being at that School seeing the place where I sate when I was a boy occasioned me to remember my youthful thoughts sweet thoughts indeed that promised my growing years numerous pleasures without mixture of cares and those to be enjoyed when time which I thought slow-paced changed my youth to man-hood and now there are a succession of Boys using the same recreation questionless possessed with the same thoughts Thus one generation succeeds another both in their Lives Recreations Hopes Fears and Deaths 8. There are four things that recommend Sir Henry Wotton to posterity 1. That King Charles took great pleasure in corresponding with him in Letters 2. That my Lord Bacon took great pains in collecting his Apophthegmes 3. That Sir Richard Baker who submitted most of his Writings to his Censure said of him That the Kingdom yielded not a fitter man to match the Capriciousness of the Italian wits And 4. That his work of Architecture is translated into Latine printed with Vitruvius and this Elogy prefixed Henricus Wottonus Anglo-Cantianus Tho. optimi viri Filius Natu minimus a serenissimo Jacobo I. Magnae Britanniae c. Rege in Equestrem titu●um ascitus ejusdemque ter ad Remp. Venetam Logatus Ordinarius semel ad Confaederatarum Provinciarum Ordines in Iuliensi Negotio bis ad Carolum Emanuelem Subaudiae ducem Semel ad unitos superioris Germaniae Principes in Conventu Heilbronnensi Postremo ad Archducem Leopoldum Ducem Wittenbergensem Civitates Imperiales Argentinam Vlmamque ipsum Romanorum Imperatorem Ferdinandum II. Legatus Extraordina●ius Tandem hoc Dedicit Animas sapientiores fieri quiescendo Observations on ●●e Lives of the Lord Wilmot and Sir Tho. Roe THese honourable persons are united not so much in their own relation or character as in my unhappiness who was promised Observations on the life of the first● but never had them and had some on the life of the second but lost them 1. My Lord Wilmot I finde acting like a Statesman when Commissary in the expedition against the Scots and speaking like a Soldier when a Member of the Parliament that was for them in the first capacity speaking with my Lord Conway he saw the King would be overcome by the English at home if he overcame not the Scots abroad In the second whispering with some Army-Officers he said If the Scots Army were paid in the North the King's Army would be paid in the South A wise and brave speech that had almost rallied all the Army against the Parliament as soon as that Parliament had rallied their multitude against the King but that treachery got easily into the bosom of that brave Prince th●t had nothing but honesty in his heart Yet since he could not awe the counsels of the faction in the City he went to suppress their Rebellion in the Field being voted a Traitor by the Rebels because he endeavoured they should not be so What he performed in the Wars all the Kingdom knows what he did at Oxford the King's Letters intimate what he negotiated in Germany acted in Scotland endeavoured at Worcester and other places for the King's Majesties escape and restaura●●●n posterity shall celebrate while he lives as renownedly in History as he doth nobly in his son the most hopeful Earl of Rochester 2. Sir Thomas Roe understood the dispositions of men so exactly could suit their humours so fitly observe opportunities and seasons of actions so punctually keep correspondence so warily wade through difficulties so handsomly wave the pinch of a business so dexterously contrive Interests so suitably that he was advised with concerning the most important Affairs of the Kingdoms he resided in abroad and admitted of the Privy-Council while he lived at home Where his speech against the debasing of the Coyn at the Council-Table will last as long as there is reason of State in the world His settlement of Trade as long as this is an Island and his Eastern M●S S. as long as there are Books to furnish Libraries or Libraries to preserve Books Three of the noblest English actions beyond Sea are these 1. That Sir Thomas Roe pardoned the Dutch Merchants thrice in Persia and Turkey at his mercy 2. That my Lord Wilmot when Embassador in Germany refused the assistance of the Popes Nuncio or Turkish Aga judging his great Master when at lowest above those suspected Auxiliaries 3. That my Lord Culpeper having offered him in Muscovy all the English goods there refused them declaring his Royal Master a Father of his Country though kept out of it by Traitors and a merciful Prince to his People
Life of John Lord Culpeper I Find nothing promoting him to his first preferment of Chancellor of the Exchequer but his pure merit nor any thing advancing him to his after-honours but his steady Loyalty which when others stuck to London in compliance with that Maxim In all Divisions keep your self to the Metropolis the chief City being for the most part preserved who-ever prevaileth in a Civil Commotion abounding in Money and Friends the readiest Commodities to purchase Quiet carryed him after a persecuted Soveraign for twenty years together by the strong obligation of a well-principled Conscience and the well-weighed observation of the natural Affection of all Englishmen to their lawful Soveraign from whom though the Arts and Impulses of seditious Demagogues may a while estrange and divorce their minds yet their Genius will irresistibly at last force them to their first love It was the resolution of a great States-man That if the Crown of England were placed but on an Hedge-stake he would be on that side the Crown was His first service was to discover his Soveraign to his deluded People worthy not only of their obedience but their lives and fortunes His next was to lay open his Enemies in all their Intrigues and Reserves being most happy in all the Treaties he was engaged in in discerning the bottom of his own Parties Interest and their Adversaries pretensions discoveries that prevailed on all that was either noble or but ingenuous in the Nation especially whith●r my Lord came with his indefatigable Industry his obliging Converse and potent Eloquence excepting London its self whither he was sent from Nottingham with the Earls of Southampton and Dorset and Sir William Wedale Knight the very day the King set up his Standard there The Principle he went upon was That the Faction at Westminster was no Parliament A Principle most safe on all hands For which and the rest of his judicious Sentiments he hath the honour to be enrolled among those that Traitors durst not pardon which he could not choose but smile at knowing as he used to say That Treason is alwayes within five years weary of its self the People being more impatient of their own Libertinism than of the strictest and most heavy government His way of Intelligence from London by Mistress E. P. friend to I. M. puts me in minde of a passage in Queen Elizabeths Reign who being presented with an Overture out of Spain so recretly managed by the Councel there as the first news of its approach came with its self the Messengers out of fear of a surprizal dispensing the Ceremonies commonly used in the behalf of Embassadors something strange considering the haughtiness of that Nation did much insl●me the Lord Treasurer's desire to know the farthest extent of the Negotiation as conducing to a present advantage that such an Answer might be made as should in some proportion quadrate with the demand of the Catholique King at that time standing upon Terms little different from those of an Enemy And being informed from the ordinary Espials he kept about his Person that the attempt was something difficult if not impossible the Don out of distrust still carrying his Instructions in his bosom Burleigh caused such a Jesuite to be apprehended as by reason of former miscarriages could not expect mercy and imparts his desires to him under as large promises if he brought them about as threats to be revenged on him and his Associates if he ●ound himself abused All which though with some reluctancy he undertook and performed through the meditation o● a fair Lady that first took away his Commission and then again laid it under his Pillow whilst he slept His early endeavours for Peace by Addresses to London Scotl●nd● Cornwal speak his integrity and his prudence Every inconsiderable person may be powerful at disturbances but to form Peace requires much wisdom and great vertues and his observations upon the division of the great● Faction to two parties Independent and Presbyterian His care and watchfulness none of their clashes escaping his reach which was ready to accommodate as occasion served their respective Interests in their New-models and alterations making as good use of Fears and Jealousies between them as they had done between the King and his People being one of those brave spirits that made much of good Soldiers and Subjects notwithstanding their ill success if they continued their good affections ●areat successibus opto quisquis ab eventus exitus acta probat as the Romans gave thanks to Terentius Varro after he had lost the great battel of Ca●nae by his own default because he did not despair of the Commonwealth always valuing his estate in England during the usurpation as much as he did during the King's just possession As the Romans would not sell the ground that Hannibal encamped upon cheaper than if it had been in time of peace which was one thing that discouraged that great Captain from continuing the siege of Rome These and other his services recommended him to the at●endance of his most excellent Majesty when Prince in the perfecting of the Western Association when it was thought fit to put the happiness and hope of the Kingdom in two bottoms with whom he continued with a constant fidelity in all difficulties performing several Embassies during their banishment with honour particularly one to the Emperour who had great respects for his Master and an awful regard of his Cause till it pleased God to bring his Majesty by his and others counsel to his Father's Throne which he just saw and dyed Master of the Rolls Iune 1660. From one of whose Relations I have these Notes and Postils containing some of the policy of the late Times from 1642. to 1659. which I set down nakedly as I finde them not supposing they are his but that they were among his Papers 1. It is against the experience of the wisest Princes of France and England ●o leave their chief Ci●y in times of tumult yet it was necessary for the King to do ●o as well to break the fury of the worst people there by distance and time as to dis-abuse the best abroad by his presence and time and indeed it had been a shame for him to have perished in a tumult 2. It was urged that the King should not del●y any longer the War but besides that nothing could perswade his gracious Majesty to a War but pure necessity It 's usually observed that if B●u●efeu's make not the feud irreconcileable by a desperate action Rebels cool consider break suspect fear and fall off to nothing 3. The repulse of Hotham did the King excellent service by alarming all the Loyal in the Kingdom with their designed plot 4. Especially when the Country saw the King so unwilling to engage that he discharged their guards several times 5. It was thought unfit to send to the Faction from Nottingham until it was rejoyned that men of understanding and fidelity are usually employed to those persons
of one he could not But though his Armes reached him not the Court Wits did perswading his Ambition to goe upon a splendid Embassy to Reconcile all the Christian Princes abroad that they might have the better advantage to withdraw from him the Favour of his own Prince at home contriving likewise that all the Friends he had at Court ●hould be of his Retinue in the Ambassie both to increase the envy of his train and to weaken the strength of his Interest It was observed that he gave three Rules to his Company the morning he went from Callis 1. That they should take care of the Soveraigns Honour that Imployed him 2. That they should observe the natural Civility and Sobriety of the Nation they came from 3. That they should retain as much reservedness as became the Affair he went abo●● giving them a Caution of the French in t●ese words viz. that at their first meeting they wou●d be as familiar as if they had known them by long acquaintance and of t●emselves in these that they ●●ould not speak of any matter of Importance but in their own Language lest they should ●●scover that for want of words which they sho●ld hide with them Very exact he was in the honou●able circumstances of address abateing the French King not 〈◊〉 in their approaches one to anoth●r but most exact in the particulars of the T●eaty yei●ding not a point to the whole Council o● France for knowing that their own conveniency not their Love brought the Treaty about he would often fling away and make the King and Queen Regen● Court him to renew the Consultation which otherwise he m●st have caressed them to Fear n●t Love is the pas●ion of Common-Wealths But his entertainment from the King his Master at home was not answerable to his Service abroad nor the applause from the Noble-men Judges and Justices of the Peace of each shire in England cited from the Countrey to hear an account of his great League that they might report it to the Countrey suitable either to his Eloquence or Action at Star-Chamber or his great expectation The first Court design upon him after his return was an entertainment to the French Ambassador injoyned by the King to beggar him the next was a discovery made to him of the Kings Love to Q. A. Bullein its dangerous to know Kings Secrets from which he disswaded his Majesty by Intreaties on his Knees and by Arguments from the most Learned men in the Kingdome which he Consulted with and in both Universities which he sent to It s not safe standing in the way of a Kings Lust though indeed the Cardinals Enemies had possessed themselves both of the King and the peoples apprehensions so farr that his Majesty was wrought upon to be angry with him because he was perswaded that he was against his Divorce and the people were incensed against him as he declared to the King at the Court in Bridewell because they were made believe that he was for it Many chafing discourses as he called them had he with the King whom yet he would coole with the gentleness of his behaviour many affronts from Noble men Especially one whose head he had kept on threatned his off Often would he disswade the King from persuing his design often upon the Kings solicitations did he and Cardinal Campein perswade the Queen to Reti●e At Grafton in Northamptonshire was the first step of his Fall when the King went to Dine with Queen Anne Bullein and left him to shift among the Servants Queen Anne pressed the King with the poor Condition he had brought the Subjects to others into what great Estate he had raised himself First he returns from Court to Westminster and the broad Seal with his rich furnished house being taken from him afterwards to Putney or Ashur when he that could have furnished Kings with accomodations was furnished himself by the Bishop of Carlisle Afraid they were he should have a summe of money to live upon at Rome therefore they searched Cardinal Campeius Train at Callis more afraid he should have an habitation near the King therefore ●hey demanded his House as Bishop of Yorke called White-Hall which the Cardinal intreating the Judges that came to take his Recognizance to teach the King not onely what he might do but what he ought to do and to put him in mind of the g●eatness of the Eternal habitations as Hell and Heaven as well as the conveniency of earthly dwellings chose rather to give upon terms for Yorke-House than to lose by force The A●ticles against him in the House were bravely waved by his Servant Mr. Cromwel the grief of his heart much allayed by a Ring sent him from the King and a Tablet from the Queen his Majesties Physicians had a special Charge about hi● Health and his Wardrobe about his House but this was only a Lightning before Death to ex●sperate his Enemies rather than gratifie him Cardinal Wolsey going over to France upon an extraordinary Embassy had for his Attendance Tonstal Bishop of London the Lord Sands late Chamberlain the Earl of Derby Sir Tho. More Sir H. Guilford and 200 Horse and was met two days journey from Paris by King Francis and his Mother carr●ing with him 140000. l. though sil●er was but 20 d. an ounce to assist that King in the War against Charles the fifth and furnished with such a Plenipotentiary Commission that he gave Law to France and the Popedome and he ●●mported himself with such dexterity and high wisdome that all the Princes of Christendome who had their eyes fixed upon him admired him The King gave him many places he bes●owed on him his magnificent Palaces White-Hall that Good Hypocrite mo●e convenient within than comely without Hampton Court Windsor the two first to be resident in and ●he last ●o be buried in Arma tenenti omnia dat qui justa negat ● fi●ting his humour with pleasant habitations as he suited his ambition with power and authority But the King broke with him at last about the divorce being vexed with so many delays defe●s retardings and prorogations between two Popes Clement that was and Wolsey that would be yet rather eased him of his bu●dens than deprived him of his preferments continuing him Bishop of York and Durham when he turned him out of his Chancellourship of England where being sent by that Lord who would not endure him nearer the King and could not get him further he lived rather like a Prince than a Priest providing as magnificently for his Installation as a King should for his Coronation which unseasonable ambition was improved by his enemies malice and the King's jealousie to his ruine for in the midst of his solemnities he is arrested by the Kings order signified by the Earle of Northumberland whose wrath was the Messenger of Death and in his way to London being distracted between hope and fear died at Leicester where he was buried as obscurely as he was borne and breathing
should be concluded Whereupon the King caused his S●cretary the Lord Paget to ●rite to him to that purpose but withal he called Mr. Ce●il secretly to him bidding him tell my Lord That w●atsoever he had written in his Letter yet with all speed possible he should break the Treaty Mr. Cecil replying That a message by word of mouth being contrary to his Letter would never be believed well said the King do you tell him as I bid you and leave the doing of it to his choice Upon Mr. Cecil's arrival the Earl of Arundel shewed the other Commissioners as well the Message as the Letter they are all for the Letter he said nothing but ordered that the Message should be written before and signed by his fellow-Commissioners and thereupon immediately broke up the Treaty sending Cecil wi●h the adver●isem●nt of i● to the King Who as soon as he saw him a●ked aloud What will he do it or no Cecil replied that his Majes●y might understand that by the inclosed But then the King half angry urged Nay tell me will he do it or no Being then told it was done he turned to the Lords and said Now Yo● will hear news The fine Treatie is broken Whereto one presently answered That he who had broke it deserved to lose his Fead to which the King straitly replied That He would lose a dozen such heads as his was that so judged rather than one such Servant as had done it ● and therewith commanded the Earl of Arundel's Pardon should be presently drawn up the which he sent with Letters of Thanks and assurance of Favour Five things must a Statesman comprehend 1. The L●w. 2. The Government 3. The Time 4. The Peopl● And 5. The Prince Under an active Prince you must regard the P●erogative under an easie one the Law under a compleat one made up of a just measure of Greatness and Goodness those two things are distinguished onely in the nice discourses of some Speculativ● being but one great Rule in the solid actions of that Prince Observations on the Life of Sir John Dudley Duke of Northumberland HI favour was first purchased by his● Fathers blood and improved by his own cunning King Henry sacrificed Sir Edmund Dudley to allay t●e Peoples rage and raised his Son to appease his Ghost He that disobligeth a multitude must fall hims●lf but he that in so doing serveth his King may advance his Posterity Something high he was in the Kings favour because standing on his fathers Grave but hig●er as he stood on his own Merit He knew his Fathers service made his way to favour h●s own education therefore must prepare him for employment Favour without Parts is a reproach Parts without Favour are a burden The King restored him to his Fathers blood and his own industry recovered his Abilities There are those that under the notion of wisdome comm●t the g●eat●st folly ei●her in too much conversing with the world without or in too much re●●ecting on themselves within Sir Iohn was made up of both some time he allowed for Action more for Consideration There is not any thing so prejudicial to Action as to be bent upon Action without intermission● for as the eye seeth no● the Objects touching it but those onely more remote so the understanding continually plunged in Affairs is not so quick-sighted in occurrents as his who sometime retireth himself from publi●k A●tion beholding it aloof off by consideration In the heat and tumult of Affairs Reason hath not that power as may give conduct and motion to active life besides experience teacheth us that the ey● having lost its quickness w●th too much looking upon the light recovereth it again in the dark the spirit in like manner dazled weakned transported and distracted among the multitude and variety of Affairs ought to recollect and recover its force in the privacy of some small retreat which Sir Iohn made to Italy the seat of policy and experience whence I pray God he brought no more saith my Author than his closeness and reach His S●veraign saw he deserved Honour but saw not without offence to the Populacy how to confet it until the subtle Youngster shewed him a middle way upon the strange death of the Viscount Lisle who lost his life for joy that it was saved by petitioning for that honour as a favour which upon his Mothers account was his right The crafty Youth entered himself of the Cardinals Retinue first and then of the Kings Much was he employed by him at Sea as an Overseer of the Nav● more in the Field as Director-General most of all in the Romish and French Court as a Spy He was too good a Proficient in his School to fall wi●h him therefore we immediately observe him rising with Cromwel until the King made him Admiral and he with his 200● sail upon the Coast of Scotland ●ale himself renowned insomuch that the Kin● left him the next year Vic●roy of France and Deputy of Calice and Bulloign where to revenge the French attempts upon the Isle of Wight he drew his Fleet up to the Coasts of Normandy landed 6000 men at Treport burned the Suburbs of that Town with the Abby destroyed 30 Ships there in the Haven and then returned not having lost above fourteen persons in the whole Voyage insomuch that in a Treaty between Ard and Guisnes wherein he was Commissioner with the Earl of Hertford Secretary Paget and Dr. W●tton the French were contented that we held Bulloign till they paid us 800000 Crowns within the term of eight years For the further Establishment whereof he and the Bishop of Duresm are employed to take Oath of the F●ench King and the Daulphine His Master Henry dieth but not his designe with him Norfolk is out of his way Seymour will be so he is now Executor of King Henry's Will he will be of his own B●t as Nature so Policy works by degrees first the graft then the tree after that the blossome next that the fruit first meaner Essays and then higher Actions There was nothing to be attempted at home until we were secured and feared from abroad he therefore leads the Van●guard ag●i●st the Scots so successfully that he is made Earl of Warwick H●re his spirit had ensnar●d him had not his conduct brought him off When the Protector refused a Combat as not becoming him Warwick offereth on● Bring me word said he to the H●rald that brought the Protector a Challenge from the Lord Huntley that thy Master will perform the Combat with me and thou shalt have an hundred Crowns for thy pains But a publick Conduct becomes a General better than pe●sonal Valour and he must so far onely remember he is a Souldier as not to forget he is a commander and so a whole Army too Against the Rebels in Devonshire so happy he was that upon his discreet Overture of Pardon Mercie is a Vertue with Valour and but a Weakness with Cowardize and coming in person to assure them
Commons by their Interest who should carry along an indifferent House of Lords by their Resolution When he had served the Queen in Parliament for the settlement of her Kingdom at home he served the Kingdome in an Embassie to Scotland to set up its correspondence abroad The Earl of Leicester aimed at the Queen of England and the Earl of Bedford to divert him and secure Scotland design'd him for the Queen of Scots whom he watched for two things 1. That she should either match with an English Subject or 2. With a soft and weak Forreigner that either the Scots might be in league with us or have no peace at home His last service I finde is a complement when he was sent by the Queen as her Deputy with a font of massie Gold worth 1043 l. to hold King Iames at his Baptism with express command not to acknowledge my Lord Darley as King This his service was as lasting as his life which ended in old Age and Renown He conveyed his Vertue and Honour to the Excellent Francis as he did to the Right Honourable William Earl of Bedford now living Observations on the Life of Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester THe tuition of the Earl of Dorset's Children raised Wolsey travelling with the Duke of Norfolk's raised Gardiner Fox his service in the quality of Secretary made the fi●st and his in the same quality made Gardiner There are three kindes of Understanding The one that is advised by its self the second that understandeth when it is informed by another the third that neither is advised by its self nor by the assistance of another If this Doctor failed in the fi●st and his own invention he exceeded in the second of making use of others for he was one of them that never heard or read what was not his own His Profession was the Civil Law that guideth forreign Nego●i●tions His Inclination was that general Policy that manageth them His Eminencies were three 1. His Reservedness Whereby he never did what he aimed at never aimed at what he intended never intended what he said and never said what he thought whereby he carried it so that others should do his business when they opposed it and he should undermine theirs when he seemed to promote it A man that was to be traced like the Fox and read like Hebrew backward if you would know what he did you must observe what he did not 2. His Boldness Authority sometimes meets with those impediments which neither power can overcome nor good fortune divert if Courage and Fortitude break not through and furmount them and the motions of the irascible faculties such as Hope Boldness and Choler being well ordered and conducted by Reason engage those difficulties she encountereth in the execution of her designs Reason discovered him his enterprizes his Will enclined him to them and the noble transports of his regular passions ●et out both with that ardour and vehemencie as bear down obstacles and compass the design A hope he had that never rashly engaged him in desperate under●akings an audaci●y that precipitated him not weakly into impossibilities and a choler that led him not blindly to inevitable ruines Consideration managing ●he first Discretion and Forefight the second and Reason the third What doth is avail a man to be wise in knowing what is fit to be done prudent to invent means just to appropriate affairs to publick good authorized and happy to cause them to succeed if a Courage guided by Reason accompanied with Prudence ●uled by Discretion animated by a generous Boldness be not diligent quick and p●ompt for Execution His nature was generous and constant His Education like that of the Roman Youth among Statesmen manifold and solid His Soul was free and dis-engaged from any particular Design 3. El●quence That added to his Parts what colours do to a Picture● s●ate g●ace and light Reason is the O●nament of a Man Speech the Interpreter of Reason and Eloquence the grace of Speech wherein the Orator excelleth other men as much as they do other creatures His Wisdom advised his Prudence contrived his Courage resolved and his Eloquence perswaded adding at once gracefulness to his Designs and vigour to his Enterprizes as that wherewith he could satisfie mens Reasons and master their Passions by which he carried them whither he pleased His lively Expre●s●on animates his Reason his Eloqu●nce his Expression and his Gesture hi● Eloquence whereby he charmed the Senses mollified Hearts incited Affections framed Desires check●d Hopes and exercised a sacred Empire over every man he dealt with These qualities improved with Travel raised the D●ctor to be the Chancellou●'s Secretary and the Legantine Courts chief Scribe at home a ●ly Agent in Italy a successful Orator in Germany and Leiger Embassador in France In Italy he with D●ctor Fox hav●ng the King of France his Agent to second them gained the Popes Commission for hearing of the Cause between King Henry the VIII and Queen K●therine In Germany he undermined the French King and in France the Emperour Upon the poor Pope whom he found not worth 20 l. perplexed between the King of England who had set him at liberty and the King of Spain who had maintained him he wrought so far as to gain a dubious Letter in Cypher to the King and a clear promise to the Cardinal both about the suppression of some Monasteries and the Divorce which the craf●y Agent extorted from the fearful man with his Necesse est c. although all this while he palliated this his main business with some impertinent ov●rtures abou● King Henry the seventh's Canonization None better understanding the just degrees seasons and methods of Affairs than this Doctor Where he spoke one word for his Majesties Divorce he spoke two for the Cardinals Advancement having the French Kings Letter with him to that effe●t in omnem eventum In order whereunto he threatned the Pope from Germany and Germany from Rome so that their mutual jealousies forced them to a compliance with his Royal and Sacred Master A great Agent he was in this business while Woolsey's Secretary a greater when the King● in which capacity he writ they say one Book for the Pop●'s Supremacie in his Masters Name and another for the Kings in his own He draweth the Kingdom 's Remonstrance against the Pope wherein he hath one shrew'd argument to this purpose those sacra or wayes of Religion that have any thing in them in any nation against the light of nature and the being of humane society were severely animadverted on by the Romans upon this principle that it was to be supposed that Gods Religion should interfere with government which is Gods institution ●nd that way of Religion which hath in woven in it principles that make the Ecclesiasticall power a Competitor with the Civil and the Pope's against the Kingdom He and Doctor Fox are employed to gain the Vote of Cambridge for the Divorce where he brought it from the
Marriage with Queen Anne and his Designe to marry him to the Dutches of Alanzon A Designe that because it seemed to over-reach his M●jesty in cunning and really did cross his Inclination in malice that incensed his Majesty to a passion which could be appeased with no less a sacrifice than the Cardinals fall in order to which the next service of this Knight is as Lieutenant of the Tower to take him to custody which he did at Leicester with a Noble resolution considering that mans greatness with a due reverence regarding his calling and with a tender compassion respecting his condition perswading him gently of the Kings Favour at that very time when he was come to be an Instrument of his Iustice. And what he did to a Cardinal now he did to Queens afterwa●ds never Prince commanded higher services than King Henry nor subjects discharging them more undauntedly than Sir William because therefore he was so severe a Lieutenant in ●he Tower he is made a P●ovost-Marshal in the Field in which capacity after the Devonshire-Rebels defeat we have these two remarkable stories of him 1. One Bowyer Mayor of Bodmin in Cornwal had been amongst the Rebels not willingly but enforced to him the Provost sent word he would come and dine with him for whom the Mayor made great Provision A little before Dinner the Provost took the Mayor aside and whispered him in the Ear that an Execution must that day be done in the Town and therefore he must set up two Gallows The Mayor did so After Dinner Sir William Kingston thanks him for his Entertainment and then desires him to bring him to the Gallows where when they were come Sir William asked him Whether they were strong enough I I 'll warrant thee saith the Mayor Then saith Sir William get you up upon them I hope saith the Mayor you do not mean as you speak Nay Sir saith he you must die for you have been a busie Rebel And so without any more ado hanged him 2. A Miller that had been very active in the late Rebellion fled and left another to take his Name upon him Sir William Kingston calls for the Miller His Servant tells him that he was the Man Then saith he you must be hanged Oh Sir saith he I am not the Miller If you are not the Miller you are a lying Knave if you are the Miller you are a trayterous one and however you must dye And so he did Punish the Multitude severely once and you oblige them ever for they love that man onely for his Good Nature whom they fear for his Resolution Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Cheyney THree things advised men in King Henry the Eighth's days 1. Their Extraction 2. Their Wit 3. Their Comeliness and Strength For the first his Name was up since Battle-Abel-Roll as to the second it was enough that he traveiled with Wolsey and touching the third there need be no other instance than that at Paris where upon the Daulphin's Proclamation of solemn Justs the Duke of Suff●lke the Marquess of Dorset Sir Edward Nevil and He answered the Challenge as not long after he encountered King Henry himself at Greenwich where he had the great Honour of a strong and valiant Knight and a greater of being overthrown by his Majesty Having engaged his Majesties Person at home he had the Honour to represent it abroad where his Commission was to complement the French King about his Liberty but his Business to observe the state of that place Where he saw that a Kingdom governed by a Prince who hath under him other independent Lords as that of France is no longer safe than those Lords are either in Humour or in Purse being always in danger either from their discontent or corruption 2. That Faction is always eager while Duty is modest and temperate This Occasion ennobled his Vertue and his Vertue improved the Occasion so well that I finde him so eminent a Parliament-man the 22th of King Henry that as Sir Brian Tuge had the Honour to open the several Boxes sent from the respective Universities with their opinions about the Kings Divorce● so Sir Thomas had the happiness in a set Speech to insist upon them all in general and every one in particular And at Queen Anne's Coronation my Lord Vaux Sir Iohn Mordant Sir Thomas and ten more are made Knights of the Bath Having acquitted himself Nobly in Court and Council he attends the Earl of Hertford against the Scots as Commissary and Sir Iohn Wallop with Sir Iohn Rainsford as Marshal for his Services in both which capacities he is made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in England and with the Comptroller Sir Iohn Gage made Field-marshal and Treasurer of the Army before Bulloign And not long after Treasurer of the Houshold and one of the Assistants for the Over-seeing of King Henry's Will When some were joyning others with the Protector others for limiting him Sir Thomas would say That as Machiavel saith No Laws so No good could be done by a Governour that was not absolute without either a Restraint or a Competitor Upon the Reformation he would say That the disesteem of Religious Ceremonies argued the decay of the Civil Government good Princes have first kept their People Religious and thereby Vertuous and united both old and new Rome stand by this In a word what makes all men made him A generous industry of Minde and a well-set hardiness of Body which were attended while he lived with Honour and Success and since he is dead with Repu●e and Renowe Where eminent and well-born Persons out of a habit of sloath and laz●ness neglect at once the Noblest way of employing their times and the fairest occasions of advancing their fortunes that State though never so flourishing and glorious wants something of being compleatly happy As soon as ever therefore the Kingdom is settled sedate times are the best to improve a Common wealth as his quiet hours are the best to improve a man he and Sir William Howard addressed themselves as vigorously to the opening of Commerce and Traffick for the enriching of this Nation as they had before to the exercise of Arms to secure it Pursuing the Design with Resolution and keeping the frame of it in order with Industry their constant Spirit surmounting all Difficulties that stood in the way of their own Glory or their Countrey 's ●appiness working so well upon the Russians that they not onely obtained their Desire but gained so far upon the Affections of that people that they obtained the greatest priviledges any Tradesmen ever enjoyed in Muscovy which the Russians were not easi●r in the promise of than just in the execution of that promise So that the Trade is advanced not onely beyond our hopes but our very pretences too by those three particulars that never fail of success 1. Union 2. Conduct 3. Courage in enterprizes vigorously begun and watchfully pursued Until Queen ELIZABETH concerned her self so far in the
Undertaking as to influence it with a Character peculiar to the Dignity of such a Constitution which carried that Commerce higher than others could raise their Imaginations as we see whose profit by it is as remarqueable in this Age as their zeal for it was in the last When Fear and Distrust those ignoble passions that disparage all great Undertakings which judged that Design a piece of extravagant Folly seeth it now an Act of profound Wisdom especially when it may be improved under CHARLES the Second and the Great a Prince who by admirable order of his conduct the just administration of his Revenue and by his fatherly goodness towards his people hath put himself into a condition to u●dertak● without fear whatsoever may be put in execution with honour or Justice The End of the Observations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England in the Reign of Queen Mary THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND IN The Reign of Queen Elizabeth Observations on the Life of Sir Nicholas Bacon Sir Nicholas Bacon a man full of wit and wisdom● was a Gentleman and a man of Law and of great knowledge therein whereby together with his other parts of Learning and Dexterity he was prompted to be Keepe● of the Great Seal and being kin to the Treasurer Burleigh was brought by his help into the Queens favour This Gentleman understood his Mistress well and the times better He could raise Factions to serve the one and allay them to suit the others He had the deepest reach into Affairs of any man that was at the Council-●able the knottiest Head to peirce into di●ficulties the most comprehensive Judgement to surround the merit of a Cause the strongest memory to recollect all circumstances of a Business to one View the greatest patience to debate and consider for it was he that first said Let us stay a little and we will have done the sooner and the clearest reason to urge any thing that came in his way in Court or Chancery His favour was eminent with his Mistress and his Alliance strong with her States-men No man served his Soveraign more faithfully none secured himself more wisely Leicester seemed wiser than he was Bacon was wiser than he seemed to be Hunsdon neither was nor seemed wise Much Learning my Lord Bacon gained in Bennets Colledge in Cambridge more Experience in Paris of France His De●terity and Dispatch advanced him to the Court of Wards his deep Experience made him Lord Keeper Alliance was the policy of that time Bacon and Cecil married two Sisters Walsingham and Mildmay two more Knowles Essex and Leicester were linked the prudent Q●een having all her Favourites Relations and Dependencies in her eye and disposing of them according to their several Interests Great was this States-mans Wit greater the Fame of it which as he would say being nothing made all things For Report though but Fancy begets Opinion and Opinion begets Substance He was the exactest man to draw up a Law in Council and the most discreet to execute it in Court When others urged the repeal of that Act whereby Queen Elizabeth was declared Illegi●imate he rather suppressed it chusing the closure of a festered Wound more prudent than the opening of it and judging it more wisdome to satisfie the world with the old Law That the Crown takes away all defects than to perplex it with new disputes Whether Queen Elizabeth were Legitimate State-miscarriages are rather to be privately connived at than publickly redressed the remedy it may be doing no more service than putting the people in minde of the mishap He neither affected nor attained to Greatness Mediocra firma was his Principle and his Practice When Queen Elizabeth asked him Why his House was so little he answered Madam my House is not too little for me but you have made me too big for my House Give me said he a good Estate rather than a great one He had a very Quaint saying saith Robert Naunton and he used it often to very good purpose That he loved the Jest well but not the loss of his Friend He would say That though unusquisque suae fortunae faber was a true and good Principle yet the most in number were those that marred themselves but I will never forgive that man that loseth himself to be rid of his Iest. The Excellency of his Parts was set off with the Gravity of his Person and the Queen would say My Lord Bacon's Soul lodgeth well His Account of England and all its Affaires was punctual his use of learned Artist was continual his correspondence with his fellow-Statesmen exact his apprehension of our Laws and Government clear his model of both methodical his faithfulness to the Church eminent his industrious invention for the State indefa●igable He was in a word a Father of his Country and of Sir Francis Bacon Sir Nicholas ●acon was the moderate man that was appointed to preside at the Disput●tion between the Protestant and Popish Doctors in the first of Queen Elizabeth H● was that Judicious States-man to whom was trusted the management of that Parliament and Convocation The satisfaction of the People and Kingdome and those Delatory proceedings with France Spain and Rome that were at the bottom of the great work of Reformation and settlement at that time Observations on the Life of William Cecil Lord Burleigh WIlliam a Cecil was born with the advantage of being Richard Cecil's Son who was of the Robes to King Henry and Legatee in his Will and bred with that of being Commoner of St. Iohns in Cambridge and Student at the Innes of Court in London whence he was advanced by his Pregnancy to serve the Duke of Somerset in quality of Master of Requests as he was afterwards by his Master to attend King Edward the sixth in the capacity of Secretary of Stat● where he furnished all Acts and Orders with Reasons of State as he had them fitted by able Lawyers with Arguments of Law He loved always they say to wrap the Prerogatives in the Laws of the Land He was constant but not obstinate in his Advice As the Planets are whirled about dayly From East to West by the motion of the Primum Mobile yet have a contrary motion of their own from West to East which they slowly yet surely move at their leisures so our States-man though yielding in some things to Greatness of some Persons in an Age wherein it was present drowning not to swim against the stream Yet had he his counter-endeavours against the prevailing strain and privately advanced his rightful Intentions against othe●s wrongful Ambitions If dissenting from his Superiours he did it with all humility and m●deration yet chusing always rather to displease than betray He was in much favour with King Edward in some with Queen Mary in most with Q●een Elizabeth who though sparing of her honours yet heaped on him the trust of Secretary of State the Profits of the Master of the Wards the
Secretary of State a Lady destinated to the B●d of honour who after his deplorable death ●t Zutphen in the Netherlands where he was Governour of Flushing at the time of his Uncles being there was marri●d to my Lord of Essex and since his death to my Lord of S● Albans all persons of the Sword and otherwise of great Honour and Vertue He had an equal temperament of Mars and Mercury Valour and Learning to as high a pitch as Nature and Art could frame and Fortune improve him so Dexterous that he seemed born for every thing he went about His ●●presentations of Vertue and Vice were not more lively in his B●oks than in his Life his Fancy was not above his Vertue his Humours Counsels and Actions were renowned in the Romancer Heroi●k in the States-man His Soul was as large as his Parents and his Complexion as Noble an equal Line of both the modesty of the Mother allaying the activity of the Father A man so sweetly grave so familiarly staid so prettily serious he was above his years Wi●dome gained by travel Experience raised from Observations solid and useful Learning drawn from knowing Languet his three years Companion and cho●c●st Books accompl●shed him for the love of all and the reverence of most His Converse was not more close at home than his Correspondence abroad equally mixed with Policy Pleasure Wisdome and Love his Worth being penned up and smothered within the narrowness of his fortune sallied not out to discontent bu● pleasure sweetning the Affairs of State with the Debonnareness of the Stage his Romance being but policy played with Machiavil in jest and State maximes sweetned to a Courtiers palate He writ men as exactly as he studied them and discerned humours in the Court with the same deep insight he described them in his Book His Infant-di●courses teach men O what had his riper years done He put Life into dead Notions of Ancestors made Philosophy practicable joyned the A●t as closely in him as they are in themselves His Book is below his spirit● a spi●it to be confined with Kingdomes rather than St●dies to do what was to be written than onely to write what was to be done All eyes were upon him but his own at first in all Affairs he was the last at last he was the first obliging all men that ever he saw and seeing all that were worth obliging All were pleased with his Arcadia but himself whose years advanced him so much beyond himself as his parts did beyond others He condemned his Arcadia in his more retired judgement to the fire which wise men think will continue to the last Con●lagration His private Corr●spondence with William of Nassan about the highest Affairs of Europe was so exact and prudent that he assured Sir Fulke Grevil he de●erved a Kingdome in Forreign Parts though he had not an Office in England The Earl of Leicester held his Authority in the Low-Countries by his Councel when alive and gave it over when he was dead Sir Francis Walsingham was so much overshot by him in his own Bow that those with whom Sir Philip were acquainted with for his sake were his friends for Sir Philips King Iames was honoured when King of Scotland with his friendship Henry the fourth with his correspondence Don Iuan highly obliged with his Visits the King of Spain himself concerned in his death whom England he said lost in a moment but could not breed in an Age The Universities were proud of his P●tronage the Field of his presence the Studio●s in all Parts communicated with him the H●●eful were encouraged by him all excellent Persons thronged to him all serviceable men were entertained by him and he among them a Prince whose minde was great but his spirit greater He taught England the Majesty of honest deal●ng the Interest of being Religious He looked deep into men and Councels and found no Wisdom without Courage no Courage without Religion and Honesty with which solid and active reaches of his I am perswaded saith my Lord Brooks he would have found or made a way through all the Trave●sers ●ven of the most weak and irregular ●imes Although a private Gentleman he was a publick Good of a large yet uniform disposition so good that the great Monarch might trust so great that a little one must fear him something he did for Fame most for Conscience His publick spirit which might have enjealoused the cautious wisdome of other Princes promoted the concerns of his own He was sent to complement Rodolph but he dealt really with the Protestant Princes and raised a Ceremony to a piece of Interest He shewed that long-breathed and cautious people that imminent danger from Romes Superstition joyned with Spains Power their private confederacies and practices their cruelty and designe which awaked their drowzy wariness into an association for Conscience and Religion more solid as he demonstrated than a Combination out of Polic● He went against the stream and current about the Fr●nch match which he disswaded from the consequent inconveniences of Engagements and charge to England and the little advantage from France backing his Argument with a la●e experience and so staying Queen Elizabeths match by some reflections on Queen Mary's which was A five years Designe or Tax rather than a Marriage adding withal That in a forreign match besides the inequalness and danger of it when a strange Prince hath such an influence on our Constitution the different Religion would make the Queen either quit the reputation of a good Protestant or the honour of an obedient Wife Te● ways he laid down a Forreign Prince might enda●ger our Religion by 1. Opposing and weakning the reverend Fathers of our Church 2. By disgracing her most zealous Ministers 3. By Latitude and Connivance 4. ●y a loose and too free a behaviour steering mens Consciences which way he pleased and setting u●indifferency 5. ●y decrying Customes and Statutes and enhansin● Proclamations to the Authority of Laws 6. ●y provoking the English with French Oppressios 7. ●y entrenching on the British Liberties with Gallic●●e Prerogatives 8. ●● breaking our League and Correspondence with o●er Protestant States 9. ●ightning our Queen to a Complyance 10. A●d at last attempting the Protestant cause He vould say to his Friend the Lord Brooks That if the Netherlands joyn with France they are terrible to Spain if with Spain they are dreadful to France if with us they s●pport the Reformation if they stand on t●eir own legs they are too strong to be forced to Pyracy He though a private person opposed her Majesty Q●een Elizabeth in that Affair with that sincerity with tha● ingenui●y that freedome that duty and peaceableness that angered and p●ea●ed her His Opinion was not more against hir humour than his manage of it was to her mind● in which Affair when most were hood-winke● with ignorance and many captived with fear he ●njoyed the freedome of his own thoughts with dayly access to her Majesty hourly converse wi●h the
dainty● that cost him less and contented his guests more His Table constant and even where all were welcome and none invited 3. His Hall was full most commonly his Gates always the one with the honest Gentry and Yeomen who were his Retainers in love and observance bringing good stomacks to his Table and resolved hearts for his service the holding up of his hand in the Northern business being as affectual as the displaying of a Banner The other with the 1. Aged 2. Maimed 3. Industrious Poor whose craving was prevented with doles and expectation with bounty the first being provided with meat the second with money and the third with employment In a word Mr. Cambden observes That Hospitality lieth buried since 1572 in this Earls Grave whence may that Divine Power raise it that shall raise him but before the last Resurr●ction when there will be plenty to bestow in one part of the world and no poor to be relieved poverty in the other and no bounty to relieve Neither was he munificent upon other mens charge for once a moneth he looked into his Income● and once a weak to his Disbursements that none should wrong him or be wronged by him The Earl of Derby he would say shall keep his own House wherefore it 's an Observation of him and the second Duke of Norfolk That when they were buried not a Trades-man could demand the payment of a Groat that they owed him nor a Neighbour the restitution of a peny they had wronged him They say The Grass groweth not where the Grand Seigniors Horse treads nor doth the People thrive where the Noble-men inhabit● But here every Tenant was a Gentleman and every Gentleman my Lords Companion such his Civility cowards the one and great penny worths to the other Noblemen in those days esteemed the love of their Neighbours more than their fear and the service and fealty of their Tenants more than their money Now the Landlord hath the sweat of the Tenants brow in his Coffers then he had the best blood in his Veins at his command That grand word On mine Honour was security enough for a Kingdome and the onely Asseveration he used It was his priviledge that he need not swear for a testimony and his renown that he would not for his honour Great was this Families esteem with the people and eminent their favour with their Soveraigns as which ever bestowed it self in obliging their Liege-people improving their interest and supporting their Throne for though they were a long time great Kings of Man and Hearts yet were they as long faithfull subjects to England Observations on the Life of Sir William Fi●z-Williams A Childe of Fortune from his Cradle made u● of confidence and reputation never unwarily shewing his Vertue or Worth to the world with any disadvantage When Britain had as little sleepiness and sloath as night when it was all day and all activity He as all young Sparks of that Age trailed a Pike in the Netherlands the Seminary of the English Soldiery and the School of Europes Discipline as a Souldier and travelled as a Gentleman until that place graced him civilly with a Command which he had honoured eminently with his service His friends checked him for undertaking an Employment so boysterous and he replyed upon them That it was as necessary as it seemed irregular for if some were not Souldiers all must be so He said He never durst venture on War with men till he had made his Peace with God A good Conscience breeds great Resolutions and the innocent Soul is impregnable None more fearful of doing evil none more resolved to suffer there being no hardship that he would avoid no undecency that he would allow Strict he was to his Commission and yet observant of his advantage never tempting a danger never flying it careful of his first life and himself but more of his other and his name When the methods of Obedience advanced him to the honour of commanding six things he was Chronicled for 1. Never making the Aged the Young or the Weak the Objects of his Rage which could not be so of his Fear 2. That he never basely killed in cold blood them that had nobly escaped his Sword in hot 3. That he never led the Souldiers without p●y or quartered in the Country without money 4. That though he was second to none that acted in War such his Valour yet he was the first that spake for Peace such his sweet Disposition 5. That he would never suffer that a Clergy-man should be abused a Church violated or the Dead be unburied 6. That he would never force an Enemy to a necessity always saying Let us disarm them of their best Weapons Despair nor fight an Enemy before he had skirmished him nor undertake a designe before he consulted his God his Council his Friends his Map and his History His own Abilities commended and his alliance with Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy whose Sister he married promoted him to the government of Ireland Once did the Queen send him thither for his Brothers sake four times more for his own sake a sufficient evidence saith my Friend of his Ability and Integrity since Princes never trust twice where they are once deceived in a Minister of State He kept up his Mistress●s Interest and she his Authority enjoying the Earl of Essex so much above him in honour to truckle under him in Commission when Governour of vlster and he Lord Deputy of Ireland Defend me said Luther to the Duke of Saxony with your Sword and I will defend you with my Pen. Maintain my Power saith the Minister of State to his Soveraign and I will support your Majesty Two things he did for the settlement of that Kingdome 1. He raised a Composition in Munster 2. He established the Possessions of the Lords and Tenants in Monahan Severe he was always against the Spanish Faction but very vigilant in 88 when the dispersed Armado did look but durst not land in Ireland except driven by Tempest and then finding the shore worse than the Sea But Leicester dieth and he fails when his Sun was set it was presently night with him Yra la soga con el Calderon where goeth the Bucket there goeth the Rope where the Principal miscarrieth all the Dependants fall with him as our r●nowned Knight who died where he was born there is a Circulation of all things to their Original at Milton in Northamptonshire 1594. Observations on the Life of the Earl of Pembroke AN excellent man and one that fashioned his own Fortune His Disposition got favour and his Prudence wealth the first to grace the second and the second to support the first under King Henry the eighth whose Brother-in-law he was by his wife and Chamberlain by his place When others were distracted with Factions in King Edwards Reign he was intent upon his Interest leaning as he said on both sides the stairs to get up for his service being promoted to the master
To which I adde her Sister musick wherewith he revived his tired spirits lengthened as he said his sickly days opened his oppressed breast eased his melancholy though● graced his happy pronunciation ordered and refined his irregular and gross inclination fixed and quickned his floating and dead notions and by a secret sweet and heavenly Vertue raised his spirit as he confessed sometime to a little less than Angelical Exaltation Curious he was to please his ear and as exact to please his eye there being no Statues Inscriptions or Coyns that the Vert●osi of Italy could shew the Antiquaries of France could boast off or the great Hoarder of Rarities the great Duke of Tuscany whose antick Coyns are worth 100000 l. could pretend to that he had not the view of No man could draw any place or work better none fancy and paint a Portraicture more lively being a Durer for proportion a Goltzius for a bold touch variety of posture a curious and true shadow an Angelo for his happy fancy and an Holben for Oyl works Neither was it a bare Ornament of Discourse or naked Diversion of leisure time but a most weighty piece of knowledge that he could blazon most noble and ancient Coats and thereby discern the relation interest and correspondence of great Families and thereby the meaning and bottom of all transactions and the most successful way of dealing with any one Family His Exercises were such as his Employments were like to be gentle and manlike whereof the two most eminent were Riding and Shooting that at once wholesomely stirred and nobly knitted and strengthened his body Two Eyes he sai● he travelled with the one of wariness upon himself the other of observation upon others This compleat Gentleman was Guardian to the young Brandon in his younger years● Agent for Sir Iohn Mason in King Edward the sixth's time and the first Embassador for the State in Queen Elizabeths time My Lord Cobham is to amuse the Spaniard my Lord Effingham to undermine the French and Sir Henry Killigrew is privately sent to engage ●he German Princes against Austria in point of Interest and for her Majesty in point of Religion he had a humour that bewitched the Elector of Bavaria a Carriage that awed him of Mentz a Reputation that obliged them of Colen and Hydelbergh and that reach and fluency in Discourse that won them all He assisted the Lords Hunsdon and Howard at the Treaty with France in London and my Lord of Essex in the War for France in Britain Neither was he less observable for his own Conduct than for that of others whose severe thoughts words and carriage so awed his inferiour faculties as to restrain him through all the heats of youth made more than usually importunate by the full vigour of a high and sanguine Constitution insomuch that they say he looked upon all the approaches to that sin then so familiar to his calling as a Souldier his quality as a Gentleman and his Station as a Courtier not onely with an utter disallowance in his judgement but with a natural abhorrency and antipathy in his very lower inclinations To which happiness it conduced not a little that though he had a good yet he had a restrained appetite a Knife upon his Throat as well as upon his Trencher that indulged it self neither frequent nor delicate entertainment its meals though but once a day being its pressures and it s fast its only sensualitie● to which temperance in diet adde but that in sleep together with his disposal of himself throughout his life to industry and diligence● you will say he was a spotless man whose life taught us this Lesson which if observed would accomplish mankinde and which King Charles the fi●st would inculcate to noble Travellers and Dr. Hammond to all men To be furnished always with something to do A Lesson they proposed as the best expedient for Innocence and pleasure the foresaid blessed man assuring his happy hea●ers That no burthen is more heavy or temptation more dangerous than to have time lie on ones hand the idle man being not onely as he worded it the Devils shop but his kingdome too a model of and an appendage unto Hell a place given up to torment and to mischief Observations on the Life of Arthur Gray Baron of Wilton ARthur Gray Baron of Wilton is justly r●ckoned amongst the Natives of Buckinghamshire whos● Father had his habitation not at Wilton a decayed Castle in Hertfordshire whence he took his Title but at Waddon a fair house of his Family not far from Buckingham He succeeded to a small estate much diminished on this sad occasion His Father William Lord Gray being taken Prisoner in France after long ineffectual solliciting to be because captivated in the publick service redeemed on the publick charge at last was forced to ransome himself with the sale of the best part of his Patrimony Our Arthur endeavoured to advance his estate by his Valour being entred into Feats of War under his martial Father at the siege of Leith 1560 where he was shot in the shoulder which inspirited him with a constant antipathy against the Scots He was afterwards sent over Lord Deputy into Ireland anno 1580 where before he had received the Sword or any emblems of command ut acrioribus initiis terrorem incuteret to fright his foes with fierce beginnings he unfortunately fought the Rebels at Grandilough to the great loss of English Blood This made many commend his Courage above his Conduct till he recovered his credit and finally suppressed the Rebellion of Desmond Returning into England the Q●een chiefly relied on his counsel for ordering our Land-forces against the Spaniards in 88 and fortifying places of advantage The mention of that year critical in Churc●-differences about discipline at hom● as well as with forreign force abroad mindeth me that this Lord was but a back-friend to Bishops and in all divisions of Votes in Pa●liament or Council-table sided with the Anti-prelatical party When S●creta●y Davison that State-pageant raised up on purpose to be put down was censured in the Star-chamber about the business of the Queen of Scots this Lord Gray onely defended him as doing nothing therein but what became an able and honest Minister of State An Ear-witness saith Haec fusè oratorie animose Greium disserentem audivimus So that besides bluntness the common and becoming Eloquence of Souldiers he had a real Rhetorick and could very emphatically express himself Indeed this Warlike Lord would not wear two heads under one Helmet and may be said always to have born his Beaver open not dissembling in the least degree but owning his own Judgement at all times what he was He deceased anno Domini 1593. Three things he was observed eminent for 1. D●spatch San Ioseph having not been a week in Ireland before he had environed him by Sea and Land 2. For his resolution that he would not parley with him till he was brought to his mercy hanging out a
white flag with Misericordia Misericordia 3. For his prudence 1. T●at he saved the Commanders to oblige the Spaniard 2. That he plundered the Country to enrich his Souldiers 3. That he decimated the Souldiery to terrifie Invaders and hanged all the Irish to amaze the Traytors Henry Fitz-ala● Earl of Arundel when Steward at King Edward's Coronation or Constable at Queen Mary's was the first that rid in a Coach in England my Lord Gray was the first that brought a Coach hither one of a working Brain and a great Mechanist himself and no less a Patron to the Ingenious that were so That there was an emulation between him and Sussex was no wonder but that the instance wherein he thought to disgrace him should be his severity to the English Traytor and the Forreign Invadors would seem strange to any but those that con●ider 1. That Princes of late would seem as they look on the end and not the means so they hug a cruelty and frown on the Instrument of it who while he honestly sacrificeth some irr●gular particulars to the interest of Soveraignty may be made himself a sacrifice to the passion of populacy And ●● which is the case here that a●piring Princes may employ severer Natures but setled ones use the more moderate Love keeps up the Empire which Power hath set up Observations on the Life of Thomas Lord Burge THomas Lord Burge or Borough was born in his Fathers noble house at Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln He was sent Embassadour into Scotland in 1593 to excuse Bothwel his lurking in England to advise the speedy suppression of the Spanish Faction to advance the Pr●testants in that Kingdome for their Kings defence and to instruct that King about his Council which was done accordingly He was made Lord-Deputy of Ireland anno 1597 in the room of Sir William Russel Mr Cambden saith thus of him Vir acer animi plenus sed nullis ferè Castrorum rudimentis As soon as the Truce with Tyrone was expired he st●aightly be●ieged the Fort of Black-water the onely receptacle of the Rebels in those parts besides their Woods and Bogs Having taken this Fort by force presently followed a bloody Battle wherein the English lost many wo●thy men He was struck with untimely death before he had continued a whole year in his place it being wittily observed of the short Lives of many worthy men Fatuos ● morte defendit ipsa ins●lsitas si cui plu● caeteris aliquantulum salis insit quod miremini statim putrescit Things rare destroy themselves t●ose two things being incompa●ible in our nature Perfection and Lasli●●ness His Educa●ion was not to any particular Profession yet his parts able to manage all A large soul and a great spirit apart from all advantages can do wonders His Master-piece was Embassi where his brave Estate set him above respect● and compliance and his comely person above contempt His Geography and history led to the Interest of other princes and his Experience to that of his own His skill in most Languages helped him to understand others and his resolu●ion to use onely his own to be reserved himself In two things he was very scrupulous 1. In his Commission 2. In his servants whom he always he said found honest enough but seldome quick and reserved And in two things very careful viz. 1. The time and humour of his Addresses 2. The Interest Inclinations and Dependencies of Favourites A grave and steady man observing every thing but affected with nothing keeping as great distance between his looks and his heart as between his words and his thoughts Very exact for his priviledges very cold and indifferent in his motions which were always guided by the emergencies in that Country and by his intelligence from home Good he was in pursuing his limited instruction excellent where he was free and his business was not his obedience onely but his discretion too that never failed but in his last enterprize which he undertook without any apparent advantage and attempted without intelligence An Enterprize well worthy his invincible Courage but not his accustomed prudence which should never expose the person of a General to the danger of a common Souldier Observations on the Life of William Lord Pawlet WIlliam Pawlet where-ever born had his la●gest estate and highest Honour Baron of Basing and Marquess of Winch●ster in Hantshire ● He was descended from a younger house of the Pawlets in Hinton St. George in Somersetshire as by the Crescent in his Arms is acknowledged One telleth us That he being a younger Brother and having wasted all that was left him came to court on trust where upon the stock of his Wit he trafficked so wisely and prospered so well that he got spent and left more than any subject since the Conquest Indeed he lived at the time of the dissolution of Abbeys which was the Harvest of Estates and it argued idlene●s if any Courtier had his Barns empty He was servant to King Henry the seventh and for thirty years together Treasu●er to King Henry the eight● Edward the sixth Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth the latter in some sort owed their Crowns to his Counsel his policy being the principal Defeater of D●ke Dudley's Designe to dis-inherit them I behold this Lord Pawlet like to aged Adoram so often mentioned in Scriptures being over the Tribute in the days of King David all the Reign of King Solomon until the first year of Rehoboam And though our Lord Pawlet enjoyed his place not so many years yet did he serve more Soveraigns in more mutable times being as he said of himself No Oak but an Osier Herein the parallel holds not the hoary hairs of Adoram were sent to the Grave by a violent death slain by the people in a Tumult this Lord had the rare happiness of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 setting in his full splendour having lived 97 years and seen 103 out of his body He died anno Domini 1572. Thus far Mr. Fuller This Gentleman had two Rules as useful for mankind as they seem opposite to one another 1. That in our Considerations and Debates we should not dwell in deceitful Generals but look into clear Particulars 2. That in our Resolutions and Conclusions we should not rest on various Particulars but rise to uniform Generals A Man he was that reverenced himself that could be vertuous when alone and good when onely his own Theatre his own applause though excellent before the world his vertue improving by fame and glory as an heat which is doubled by re●lexion Observations on the Life of Sir James Dier JAmes Dier Knight younger Son to Richard Dier Esquire was born at Round-hill in Somersetshire as may appear to any by the Heralds Visitation thereof He was bred in the study of our Municipal Law and wa● made Lord Chief Iustice of the Common Pleas primo Eliz. continuing therein twenty four years When Thomas Duke of Norfolk was
Father and Mother of worshipful Parents My Father in the time of Q●een Mary being noted and known to be an enemy to Popery wa● so cruelly threatned and so narrowly observed by those that maliced his Religion that for the safeguard of himself and my Mother who was wholly affected as my Father he knew no way so secure as so flye into Ge●many 2. My Father fixed his abode in the City of Geneva where as far as I remember the English Church consisted of some hundred persons I was at that time of twelve years of age but through my Fathers cost and care sufficiently instructed to become an Auditor of Cheval●erius in Hebrew of Bernaldus in Greek of Calvin and Bez● in Divinity and of some other Professors in that Univ●rsity which was newly then erected besides my domestick Teachers in the house of Phili●erius S●raceaus a famous● Physitian in that City wi●h whom I was boarded w●ere Rober●us Constantinus that made the Greek Lexicon read Homer to me 3. In the first of Queen Elizabeth my Father returned and setled his dwelling in the City of London It was not long after that I was sent away from thence to the University of Oxford recommended to the teaching and tuition of Doctor Humphrey In the year 1563. I took the degree of Batchellor of Arts within which year I was chosen Probationer of Merton Colledge and the next year ens●ing admitted Fellow Afterwards in the year 1565 by special perswa●sion of some of my Fellow● and for my private exercise I undertook the publick reading of a Greek Lecture in the same Colledge-Hall without requiring or expecting any stipend for it Nevertheless it pleased the Fellowship of their own accord to allow me soon after four marks by the year and ever since to continue the Lecture to that Colledge 4. In the year 1566 I proceeded Master of Arts and read for that year in the School-streets natural Philosophy After which time within less than three years space I was won by intreaty of my best affected friends to stand for the Proc●orship to which I and my Colleague were quietly elected in the year 1569 without any competition or counter-suit of any other After this for a long time I supplied the Office of University-Oratour and bestowed my time in the study of sundry faculties without any inclination to profess any one above the rest insomuch as at last I waxed desirous to travel beyond the Seas for attaining to the knowledge of some special modern Tongues and for the encrease of my experience in the managing of affairs being wholly then addicted to employ my self and all my cares in the publick service of the State 5. After my return in the year 1585 I was employed by the Queen to the King of Denmark and to the German Princes Next to Henry the third King of France After this in 88 for the better conduct of her Highness Affairs in the Provinces United I was thought a fit person to reside in those parts and was sent thereupon to the Hague in Holland where according to the Contract that had formerly pass'd between her Highness and the States I was admitted for one of their Council of Estate taking place in their Assemblies next to Count Maurice and yielding my suffrage in all that was proposed During all that time what approbation was given of my painful endeavours by the Queen by the Lords in England by the States of the Countrey there and by all the English Soldiery I refer it to be notified by some others Relation 6. I received from her Majesty many comfortable Letters of her gracious acceptance of my diligence and care and among the Lords of the Council had no man more to friend then was the Lord Treasurer Burleigh For when occasion had been offered of declaring his conceit as touching my service he would always tell the Queen which I received from her self and some other Ear-witnesses that there was not any man in England so meet as my self to undergo the Office of the Secretary And sithence his son the present Lord Treasurer hath signified unto me in private conference that when his Father first intended to advance him to that place his purpose was withal to make me his Colleague But that the daily provocations of the Earl of Essex were so bitter and sharp against him and his comparisons so odious when he put us in a balance as he thought thereupon he had very great reason to use his best means to put any man out of hope of raising his fortune whom the Earl with such violence to his extream prejudice had endeavoured to dignifie 7. When I had well considered how ill it did concur with my natural disposition to become or to be counted either a stickler or partaker in any publick faction how well I was able by Gods good blessing to live of my self if I could be contented with a competent livelihood I resolved thereupon to possess my soul in peace all the residue of my days to take my farewel of State-employments and so to retire me from the Court. 8. Now although after this by her Majesties direction I was often called to the Court by the now Lord Treasurer then Secretary and required by him and also divers times s●nce by order from the King to serve as Ambassador in France and to ●egotiate in other very honourable employments yet I would not be removed from my former final resolution but have continued at home my retired course of ●●fe which is now meth●nks to me as the greatest preferment the State can afford 9. This I must confess of my self that though I did never repent me yet of my often refusals of honourable offer● in respect of en●iching my private Estate yet somewhat more of late I have blamed my sel● and my nice●y that way for the love that I bear to my Reverend Mother the University of Oxford and to the advancement of her good by such kind of means as I have since undertaken 10. Having examined what course I might take I concluded at the last to set up my staffe at the Library door being throughly perswaded that in my solitude and surcease from the Common-wealth affairs I could not busie my self to better purpose then by reducing that place which then in every part lay ruined and waste to the publick use of Students 11. For the effecting whereof I found my self furnished in a competent proportion of such four kinds of aids as unlesse I had them all there was no hope of good success For without some kind of knowledge as well in the learned modern Tongues as in sundry other sorts of Scholastical literature without some purse-ability to go through with the charge without very great store of honourable friends to further the design and without special good leisure to follow such a work it could but have proved a vain attempt and inconsiderate 12. But how well I have sped in all my endeavours and how full provision I have
then his Lord let him feel what he had threatned my Lord Bacon when he advanced him That if he did not owe his preferment alwayes to his favour he should owe his fall to his frown The peremptoriness of his judgement ●endred him ●dious his compliance with Bristol suspected and his Sermon at King Iames his Funeral his tryal rather than his preferment obnoxi●us His spirit was great to act and too great to suffer It was prudence to execute his decrees against all opposition while in power it was not so to bear up his miscarriages against all Authority while in disgrace A sanguine complexion with its resolutions do well in pursuit of success Phlegm and its patience do better in a re●reat from miscarriages This he wanted when it may be thinking ●ear was the passion of King Charls his Govern●ent as well as King Iames he seconded his easie ●all with loud and open discontents and those discontents with a chargeable defence of his servants that were to justifie them and all with that unsafe popularity invidious pomp and close irregularity that laid him open to too many active persons that watched him Whether his standing out against Authority to the perplexing of the Government in the Star-Chamber in those troublesom times his entertainment and favour for the Discontented and Non-Conformists his motions for Reformation and alteration in twelve things his hasty and unlucky Protestation in behalf of the Bishops and following actions in England and W●les where it 's all mens wonder to hear of his meruit sub Parliamento had those private grounds and reasons that if the Bishop could have spoke with the King but half an hour he said would have satisfied him the King of Kings only knoweth to whom he hath given I hope a better account than any Historian of his time hath given for him But I understa●d better his private inclination● than his publick actions the motions of his na●●●●● than those of his power the conduct of the o●● being not more reserved and suspitious tha● 〈◊〉 effects of the other manifest and noble for n●● 〈◊〉 mention his Libraries erected at Sr. Iohn's 〈◊〉 Westminster his Chappel in Lincoln-Colledge 〈◊〉 repairs of his Collegiate Church his pensions 〈◊〉 Scholars more numerous than all the Bishops and Noble-mens besides his Rent-charges on all the Benefices in his Gift as Lord Keeper or Bishop of Lincoln to maintain hopeful youth according to the Statute in that ●ase provided Take this remarkable instance of his munificence that when Du Moulin came over he calleth his Chaplain now the R. R. Father in God Iohn Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and telleth him he doubted the good man was low wishing him to repair to him with some money and his respects with assurance that he would wait upon him himself at his first liesure The excellent Doctor rejoyneth that he could carry him no less than twenty pounds the noble Bishop replyeth he named not the sum to sound his Chaplains mind adding that twenty pounds was neither fit for him to give nor for the reverend Forreigner to receive Carry him said he an hundred pounds He is libelled by common fame for unchaste though those that understood the privacies and casualties of his Infancy report him but one degree removed from a Misogonist though to palliate his infirmities he was most compleat in Courtly addresses the conversableness of this Bishop with Women consisted chiefly if not only in his treatments of great Ladies and Persons of honour wherein he did personate the compleatness of courtesie to that Sex otherwise a woman was seldom seen in his house which therefore had always more of Magnificence than Nearness sometimes defective in the Punctilio's and Niceties of Daintiness lying lower than masculine Cognizance and as level for a womans eye to espy as easie for her hands to amend He suffereth for conniving at Puritans out of hatred to Bishop Laud and for favouring Papists o●t of love to them Yet whatever he offered King Iames when the Match went on in Spain as a Cou●cellour or whatever he did himself as a States-man s●ch kindness he had for our Liturgy that he translated it at his own cost into Spanish and used it in the visitation of Melvin when sick to his own peril in the Tower and such resolution for Episcopacy that his late Majesty of blessed memory said once to him My Lord I commend you that you are no whit daunted with all disasters but are zealous in defending your Order Please it your Majesty replyed the Arch-Bishop I am a true Welsh-man and they are observed never to run away till their General first forsakes them No fear of my flinching while your Majesty doth countenance our Cause His extraction was gentile and ancient as appeared from his Ancestors Estate which was more than he could purchase without borrowing when at once Lord Keeper Bishop of Lincoln and Deau of Westminster His mind great and resolute insomuch that he controuled all other advices to his last to his loss in Wales and daunted Sir Iohn Cook as you may see in his character to his honour in England His wariness hath these arguments 1. That he would not send the Seal to the King but under lock and key 2. That being to depute one to attend in his place at the Coronation he would not name his Adversary Bishop Laud to gratifie him nor yet any other to displease the King but took a middle way and presented his Majesty a List of the Prebendaries to avoid any exception referring the Election to his Majesty himself 3. That he proposed a partial Reformation of our Church to the Parliament to prevent an utter extirpation by it 4. That he exposed others to the censure of the Parliament 1625. to save himself 5. That he answered to several Examinations without any the least advantage taken by his Antagonist This character of his I think very exact That his head was a well-fitted treasury and his tongue the fair key to unl●ck it That he had as great a memory ●s could be reconciled with so good a judgement That so quick his parts that others study went not beyond his nature and their designed and forelaid performances went not beyond his sudden and ready accommodations Only he was very open and too free in discourse disdaining to lye at a close guard as confident of the length and strength of his weapon Observations on the Life of Sir Isaac Wake THis honourable person whom I look upon at Oxford in the same capacity and fortune that Sir Robert Naun●on and Sir Francis Neth●rsole were in at Cambridge He was born in Northampton-shire his Father Arthur Wake being Parson of Billing Master of the Hospital of St. Iohns in Northampton and Canon of Christs-Church bred Fellow of M●rton-Colledge in Oxford Protector and Orator of that University whence he was admitted Secretary to Sir Dudly Carleton Secretary of State and afterward advanced into the King's service and by his Master
deep judgment of many● Observations on the Lives of Sir Richard and Sir Jerome VVeston Earls of Portland SIr Richard Weston in his youth impaired his estate to improve himself with publick accomplishment but came off both a saver and a gainer at the last when made Chancellor of the Exchequer and● afterwards upon the remove of the Earl of Marlborough Iuly 15. in the fourth of King Charles Lord Treasurer of England His activity in Parliament made him considerable at Court none fitter to serve a Prince than he who commands the humor of the people Indeed where ever he was he discovered himself able and faithful 1. In his Forreign Employments his judgement was searching and reach admirable he being the first that smelt out the intentions against the Palatinate which were then in brewing and mashed with much art In his Domestick charge ●is Artifice was singular both in a faithful improvem●nt of the Incomes and a discreet moderation of the expences in his Masters Revenues In his Aspect there was a mixture of authority and modesty in his apprehensions quickness and solidity in his port and train a suitable dignity and correspondence with little noise and outward form An enemy to Complements yet very cour●eous no flatterer yet of great power irreconcileable to frothy formality yet maintaining a due regard to his person and place A great Scholar he was and yet a great Sta●es-man of various erudition and as large observation He secured himself much by Alliances with the best Nobility more by the love and what is more the esteem of a constant King it being one of the wonders of that time that my Lord of Canterbury and he who were at so much distance from one another should be so inward with their Soveraign but that that excellent Prince measured not his affections to his Dependants so much by a particular interest as by a publick serviceableness The necessity of the Exchequer put him upon some ways of supply that displeased the rabble though his three particular cares viz. The paying of the Navy the satisfying of the City and the Queen of Bohemia's supply three things he was very much intent upon while Treasurer obliged the wiser sort of men I know nothing he was defective in being careful to use his own words to perform all duties with obedience to his Majesty respect to the Duke and justice to the particular parties concerned But that he had so much of his Master's love and so little of his patience being grated as all Statesmen are that have to do with various interests and humours between a strong inclination of satisfying every man and the impossibility of pleasing all Considering the importunities of persons and affairs a little impatience must needs fall upon your Lordship wri●es Sir Henry Wotton to him unless you had been cut out of a Rock of Diamonds especially having been before so conversant with liberal Studies and with the ●reedom of your own mind In his time was the great Question agitated Whether a Prince should aim at the fear or the love of his People Although no Prince did more to oblige his People than the Excellent King Charles the I. Yet was there no Prince ever more advised to awe them For this Lord and many more who looked upon over-much indulgence as the greatest cruelty considering that men love at their own pleasure and to serve their own turn and that their fear depends upon the Princes pleasure were of opinion That every wise Prince ought to ground upon that which is of himself and not upon that which is of another government being set up in the world rather to trust its own power than stand upon others courtesie Besides two things the vulgar are taken with 1. Appearance 2. The event of things which if successful gains both their love and reverence Neither was the Father more exact in his Maxims tha● the Son in his of whose many infallible principles this was one That it was the safest way for the King's Majesty to proceed upon a Declaration that the Faction at Westminster was no Parliament upon his own and his most loyal Lords and Commons removal to Oxford And this another That provided the Gentry and Clergy were well principled and His Majesty that now is had a constant correspondence with the most eminent of them it was our Interest to promote his Majesties grandeur abroad and sit still at home until the Faction might be so secure as ●o divide and his Majesties Interest became so conspicuous by the Principles that were kept up at home and the State that was born abroad as to command all And really his little saying hath much in it He that will see what shall be let him consider what hath been For there are the same desires humours and interest in every age that were before it So that as Machiavel observeth It is very easie for him that with diligence ●xamineth past Occurrences to serve himself of those remedies which were in use among the Ancien●s Or if they fail to devise what is most like them Observations on the Life of William Earl of Pembrook HE was an ancient Gentleman of good repute and therefore well esteemed a proper person well set and of graceful deportment and therefore well beloved of King Iames and Queen Anne His inclination was as generous as his extraction and manners ancient as his Family One of his Ancestors is renowned for that he would cond●scend to deliver his Embassies in no Language but Welch and he is commended for that he would comply with no customs in his converse but the old English though his Contemporaries make that his defect rather than his ornament proceeding from his want of Travel rather than his observance of Antiquity He having had only saith the Historian the breeding of England which gave him a conceited dislike of Forreign men their manners and mode or of such English as professed much advantage thereby so that the Scots and he were ever separate and therefore he was the only old Courtier that kept close to the Commonalty and they to him though never suspected by either of his Sovereigns not because he was not over-furnished with Abilities as that pen insinuates to be more than Loyal but because he had too much integrity to be less Being munificent and childless the University of Oxford hoped to be his Ex●cutor and Pembrook-Colledge his Heir Pembrook-Colledge I say called so not only in respect to but also in expectation from him then Chancellor of the University and probably had not cut noble Lord died suddenly soon after according as a Fortune-teller had informed him whom he laughed at that very night he departed being his Birth-night this Colledge might have received more than a bare name from him He was saith one of his own time the very picture and Vive Essigies of Nobility his person rather Majestick than Elegant his presence whether quiet or in motion full of stately gravity his mind generous and
that he was able with his industry and money to give an account of most proceedings In the management whereof he resigned himself to the Duke's disposal professing to own no judgement or affection but what was guided by his direction His own words are these Vntil I know by your Graces favour by what compass to guide my course I can only follow his Majesties revealed will And the Duke's answer this You desire me to give you my opinion My ancient acquaintance long custom of loving you with constancy of friendship invites me to do you this office of good will My Lord of Bristol shu●fled the Cards well but Sir Walter Aston played them best The first set a design but the second pursued it being happy in an humble and respectful carriage which opened the breast and unlocked the hearts of all men to him He that looked downward saw the Stars in the water but he who looked only upward could not see the waters in the Stars Indeed there was in his countenance such a throne of sweetness and his words had so powerful a charm set off with so agreeable and taking gravity that the respect due to him was not lost in the love he had deserved nor the love he attained to abated by the respect he commanded being one that had gave infinite satisfaction in the Negotiations he engaged in Wherein among other things he would urge how unpolitick and unsuccessful it is for the Spaniard to meditate a conquest of Europe where all his Neighbours oppose him rather than Asia where they would all joyn with him out of Interest and Conscience both to secure him from France and carry him towards Turkey at whose doors his friend the Emperour was ready to attaque them upon any Mutiny or Rebellion then frequent among them whose strength saith Machiav●l lyeth more in Tradition than in any real Truth Considering the cont●ary complexions of the people in point of In●erest and Religion that can admit of no considerable coalition upon the approach of a Foreign impression Observations on the Life of Sir Julius Caesar. SIr Iulius Caesar's Father being Physitian to Qu. Elizabeth and descended of the ancient Family of the Dalmarii in Italy then living at Tottenham neer London This his Son was bred in Oxford and after other intermediate preferments was advanced Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancast●r and sworn a Privy-Councellor on Sunday the sixth of Iuly 1607. and afterwards was preferred Master of the Rolls A Person of prodigious boun●y to all of worth or want so that he might seem to be Almoner-general of the Nation The story is well known of a Gentleman who once borrowing his Coach which was as well known to poor people as any Hospital in England was so rendevouz'd about with Beggars in London that it cost him all the money in his purse to satisfie their importunity so that he might have hired twenty Coaches on the same terms Sir Francis Bacon Lord Ver●lam was judicious in his Election when perceiving his Dissolution to approach he made his last Bed in effect in the house of Sir Iulius He continued more than twenty years Mr. of the Rolls and though heaved at by some Expectants sate still in his Place well poysed therein with his gravity and integrity Vir tantarum El●●mosynarum non movebitur a man of so great Alms and Prayers made by him and for him s●all not be removed Nor was it without a prosperous Omen that his chief House in Hartfordshire was called Benington that is Villa benigna the bountiful Village as one Author will have it or as another Villa beneficii the Town of good turns from the River so named running by it His Arms were these viz. Gules three Roses Argent on a Chief of the first so many Roses of the second embleming the fragrancy of the Memory he hath left behind him His Monument in great St. Hellens London being out of the road of ordinary Fancies was thus designed by himself in form of a Deed in ruffled Parchment in allusion to his Office as Master of the Rolls OMnibus Christi fidelibus ad quos hoc praesens Scriptum pervenerit Sciatis me Iulium Dalmare alias Caesarem Militem utriusque legis Doctorem Elizabethae Reginae Supremae Curiae Admiralitatis judicem unum é Magistris libellorum Jacobo Regi à Privatis Conciliis Cancellarium Scaccarii Scriniorum Magistrum hac prae senti Charta mea Confirmasse me Anuuente Divino N●mine naturae debitum libenter solviturum quam primum Deo placuerit In cujus rei memoriam Manum meam Sigillum apposui Datum 27 Februarii 1635. Iulius Caesar. Here his Seal or Coat of Arms is affixed and beneath them is written Irrotulatur Caelo He dyed the twenty eighth day of April Anno Domini 1636. in the seventy ninth year of his Age. They say of Witches that they are unable to hurt till they have received an Alm● It 's certain none ever undermined this Gentleman's insufficiency but such as were advanced by his civility a civility that secured him as well as it impowered them making his Grants to all persons double kindnesses by Expedition and cloathing his very Denials in such robes of Courtship as that it was not obviously discernable whether the Request or Denyal were most decent having this peculiar to himself That he was very cautious of Promises lest falling to an Incapacity of performance he might forfeit his Reputation and multiply his certain Enemies by his design of creating uncertain Friends Besides he observed a sure principle of rising viz. That great persons esteem better of such they have done great Courtesies to than those they have received great Civilities from looking upon this as their disparagement th● other as their glory Observations on the Lives of Sir Henry Sir Lucius Sir Henry Cary Lords Viseounts Faulkland A Race of accomplished men the ornaments and supports of their Countrey which they served with no lesse faithfulness and prudence in their Negotiations abroad than honour and justice in their Places at home Of such a Stock of reputation as might kindle a generous emulation in Strangers and a noble ambition in tho●e of their own Family Henry Cary Vi●count Falkland in Scotland son to Sir Edward Cary was born at Aldnam in Her●fordshire being a most acplished Gentleman and a compleat Courtier By King Iames he was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland and well discharged his Trust therein But an unruly Colt will fu●● and chafe though neither switch nor spur meerly because back'd The Rebellious Irish will complain only because kept in subjection though with never so much lenity the occasion why some hard speeches were passed on his Government Some beginning to counterfeit his hand he used to incorporate the year of his age in a knot flourished beneath his name concealing the day of his birth to himself Thus by comparing the date of the month with his own Birth-day unknown to such Forgers he not
dissatisfied and bold in his followers irregular and pretending in the Law well seen in the Scripture very ready in the occurrences of his age very exact at Lectures most constant to the liberty of the Subject then the Diana of the age most faithful insomuch that he made a motion 1628. That they who stood for the Liberties forsooth then called the Lower-House Lords of the Upper-House not fifty might make their Protestation upon record and that the other party should with subscription of their names enter their reason upon Record that posterity might not be to seek good lack who they were that so ignobly betrayed the Liberty of our Nation And this being done they should resolve themselves to a Committee and proceed to vote Yet so well acquainted with the King's temper that he would take any occasion of his being pleased by the Parliament to insinuate himself into favour with all his Male-contents as Bishop Williams Earl of Lincoln Earl of Essex the Earl of Warwick c. As he wrought upon the peoples humour in that point of Liberty so he did upon the Nobilities temper in another of Ambition For in a Petition to King Iames against Foreign titles of Honour we finde him first in design though last in subscription teaching Essex Warwick St. Iohn for they joyned with him to tilt against their Soveraign's Prerogative with their Pe●s as they did after with their Swords And when this failed the wise King awing the young Lords to renounce that asunder which they had subscribed together none so bold as the factions in company none so fearful apart the Champion of English honour and priviledge becomes the Patron of Propriety too for we read Ter. Hill Anno 14. Car. 1. in Banco Regis the Lord Say's Case Action for Crover and Conversion of thrée Oxen taken a great matter for thrée pounds five shillings by the Sheriff of Lincoln upon the Plaintiff towards the finding of a Ship A good reason for going to Law first and then to war with his Soveraign as he did afterwards when he had sent his son Nathaniel with Hampden and Lawrence 1639. to settle the League with their dear Brethren in Scotland while he formed the grand Design in England with so much success that when there were some Overtures made for saving the Earl of Strafford and securing the Kingdom by the Party upon condition of preferment as that Master Hampden should be Tutor to the Prince the Earl of Essex his Governour Mr. Pym Chancellor of the Exchequer the Earl of Warwick Vice-Admiral he was to be Master of the Court of Wards which he compassed when the rest mist of their expectation No more of him but that the King going to Scotland he refusing a Protestation against the Scots had these questions proposed to him 1. Whether he would go with the King at his own charge 2. Whether Rebellion was a just cause of War 3. Whether the taking of Castles Towns Magazines c. was not Rebellion To the first he answered That though as a Peer and Subject he could not be forced out of his Countrey but upon extraordinary occasion yet out of affection to his Majesty he would attend him referring the matter of charge to himself To the two last he said he understood not the Law of Scotland but that those proceedings were Treason in England Observations on the Life of the Earl of Lindsey HE and that whole Family I know not whether more pious or more valiant whether more renowned abroad as Confessors for their Religion or as Champions for their Country have been in this last Age an ornament and a defence to this Crown equally reverenced by the Subjects of it and honoured by the Soveraigns This Noble-man and the Earl of Essex did as Iugurtha and Manus learn in one School what they practised in two The one as a faithful Subject for that government that had obliged his Family the other as a discontented Rebel against that that had disobliged his Both Commanders for the Palatinate against the Emperor and for Rochel against the French When the Duke of Buckingham returned from the Isle of Rhee his Majesty told him The neglect of his relief must l●dge on his Friend and Confident Holland To which he acknowledged That indeed he had very affectionately intrusted him in ordinary Affairs but never in such an esteem as to second him in arms that place being more proper for my Lord of Lindsey whose judgement of that Expedition was That it was friendship in earnest and War in jest He it was that pursued twelve French Vessels in his own single one to their Haven hea●ed at once with anger and shame he it was who when all men were amazed at the Duke's fall was assigned his successor Certainly saith one there present He was a person of no likely presence but of considerable experience by his former Expeditions and one that to the last of his life made good his faith with Gallantry and Courage notwithstanding his ill success the times fate rather than his fault 1. In scouring the narrow Sea● where he was Admiral and the Earl of Essex Vice-Admiral 2. In presiding in several great Courts on many solemn occasions the Earl of Strafford's unparellel'd Tryal c. And 3. In leading the King's Army at Edge-Hill with a Pike in his hand Where what is observed of Cataline and his followers was true of this noble Earl and his Country-men the Loyal Gentry of Lincolnshire that they covered the same place with their Corps when dead where they stood in the fight whilst living Observations on the Life of Iudge Richardson IUdge Richardson was born at Mulbarton in Norfolk his Father being Minister thereof and he a friend to Ministers though a foe of the Church He was bred in the study of our Municipal Law and became the King's Sergeant therein Afterwards on the 28 of November 1926. he was sworn Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas that Place having been void ten months before wherein he was humoursom but honest only unhappy in that he raised the Sabbatarian Controversie by his orders aginst Wakes in Somersetshire His Brass Monument on the South-side of Westminster-Abby thus entertaineth the Reader Deo om Thom●● Richardsoni Icaeni Equitis Aurati Humduum D●positum Ille Iuris Municip omnes gradus exantlavit Conventus tertii ordinis ann Jacobi Regis 21 22. Prolocutor ex●itit Fori civilis communium Placitorum vocant Supremum Magistratum quinquennium gessit Ad summum tandem primarii per Angliam Iudicis Tribunal A Rege Carolo evectus expiravit Anno AEtatis 66. Salutis MDCXXXIV Tho. Richardson fil unicus Eques Aur. Baro Scotiae designatus Patri incomparabili posuit As one reason of his advancement you must know this Judge married for his second Wife the Lady Eliz. Beaumont the Sister as I take it of Mary Countess of Buckingham and the Relict of Ashburnham Knight She was by K. Charles created Baroness of Croumont in Scotland and
of this Earl's nature and Custom more None more austere to see to none more obliging to speak with He observed pauses in his discourse to attend the motion and draw out the humour of other men at once commanding his own thoughts and watching others H●s passion was rather the vigour than the disorder of his well-weighed soul which could dispense its ●nger with as much prudence as it managed any act of State He gave his Majesty safe counsel in the prosperity of his Affairs and resolute advice in Extreamity as a true servant of his interest rather ●han of his power So eminent was he and my Lord of Canterbury that Rebellion despaired of success as long as the fi●st lived and Schism of licentiousness as lo●g as the second stood Take my Lord of Strafford as accused and you will find his Integrity and Ability that he managed his whole Government either by the Law or the Interest of his Countrey Take him as dying and you will see his parts and piety his resolution for himself his sel●-resignation for the Kingdoms good his devotion for the Church whose patrimony he forbad his son upon his blessing Take him as dead you will find him glorious and renowned in these three characters The first of the best King I looked upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman whose great abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to employ him in the greatest Affairs of State for those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings and this was like enough to betray him to great Errors and many Enemies whereof he could not but contract great store while moving in so high a sphere and with so v●gorus a lustre he must needs as the Sun raise many envious exhalations which condensed by a popular Odium were capable to cast a cloud upon the brightest merit and integrity though I cannot in my judgment approve all he did driven it may be by the necessities of Times and the temper of that People more than led by his own disposition to any heighth and rigour of Action c. The second of the best Historian He was a person of a generous spirit fitted for the noblest Exercises and the most difficult parts of Empire His Counsels were bold yet just and he had a vigour proper for the execution of them Of an eloquence next that of his Masters masculine and excellent He was no less affectionate to the Church than to the State and not contented while living to defend the government and patrimony of it he commended it also to his Son when he was about to dye and charged his abhorrency of sacriledge His enemies called the Majesty of his m●ene in his Lieutenancy pride and the undaunted execution of his Office on the Contumacious the insolency of his fortune He was censured for that fatal error of following the King to London and to the Parliament after the Pacification at York And it was thought that if he had gone over to his Charge in Ireland he might have scoured both himself and that Kingdom for his Majesties service But some attribute this Counsel to a necessity of fate whose first stroke is at the Brain of those whom it designs to ruine and brought him to feel the effects of popular rage which himself in former Parliaments had used against Government and to finde the experience of his own devices upon the Du●e of Buckingham Providence teacheth us to abhor over fine Councels by the mischiefs they often bring upon their Authors The third of common fame A Gentleman he was of rare choice and singular Endowments I mean of such as modelled fashioned and accomplished him for State-conceraments of a searching and penetrating judgment nimble apprehension ready and fluent in all results of Councel Most happy in the vein of speech which was always round perspicuous and express much to the advantage of his s●nse and so full stocked with reason that he might be rather said to demonstrate than to argue As these abilities raised him to State-administration so his Addressing his applying those abilities so faithfully in promotion of the Royal Interest soon rendered him a Favourite of the first admission So that never King had a more intelligent and withal a firmer servant than he was to his Master But these qualities which rendred him so aimiable to his Majesty represented him formidable to the Scots so that some who were not well perswaded of the justness of his sentence thought he suffered not so much for what he had done already as for what he was like to have done had he lived to the disservice of that Nation And that he was not sacrificed so much to the Scots revenge as to their fear And certainly his fall was the first so the most fatal wound the King's Interest ever received H●s three Kingdoms hardly affording another Strafford that is one man his peer in parts and fidelity to his Majesty He had a singular passion for the Government and Patrimony of the Church both which he was studious to preserve safe and sound either opening them to be of sacred extraction or at least prudent constitution relating to holy performances And had he wanted these positive graces yet in so great a Person it may be commendable that he was eminent for privative and negative Excellencies being not taxable with any Vice those petty pleasures being beneath the satisfaction of a soul so large as his In short saith the ingenious Gentleman he was a man who might have passed under a better notion had he lived in better times This last period is a question since this great Statesman and his good Masters goodness was so over-shadowed with their greatness and their vertues so lost in their power as the Sun the aptest parallel of their lustre and benificence is hid in his own light that they owe their great but glorious fame to their misfortunes and their renown to their ruine that levelled their worth otherwise as much out of their reach as their place to vulgar apprehensions Eclipsed lustre like a veiled beauty is most looked on when most covered The setting Sun is more glorious than its self in its Meridian because more low and the lowest Planet seems biggest to a common eye So faith●ul he was and the Arch-Bishop that in the Juncto consisting of them two and Duke Hamilton they voted a Parliament though they knew themselves the first sufferers by it and so confident of his integrity that when he had treason enough discovered at the late transactions in York touching the Scots conspiracy to charge his enemies with he waved the advantage and secure in his own innocence fell an instance of that Maxim That there is no danger small but what is thought so This was his great principle Vsurped Royalty was never laid down by perswasion from Royal clemency for in armis jus omne regni Observations on the Lives of Henry Earl of Holland and Robert Earl of Warwick HEnry
where you shall perceive most business to be and that for two causes One is because you may have more experience in the Wars and see things as might stand you in stead another day The other is because you might be more profitable in the Language For our Embassador who may not wear Harness cannot well come to those places of danger nor seem so to serve the French King as you may whom we sent thither for that purpose It shall be best for you therefore hereafter as much as you may to be with the French King● and so you shall be more acceptable to him and do your self much good This I write not doubting but you would have done it though I had not written but to spur you on Adding withal To learn the Tongue to see the manner of the Court and advertise His Master of Occurrences keeping close to the King of France to whom he shall offer his service in the Wars where he is to observe the fortifications of the Cities the Conduct of the Armies the advantages and disadvantages of both Parties their Skirmishes Battels Assaults and the Plots of the chief Towns where any enterprizes of weight have been done His Exercises were to be Hunting and Riding his Company few but choice c. This Gentleman after his return out of France was created by the King Baron of Upper Ossory in Ireland where he dyed a good Protestant a Publick-spirited Patriot and an honest man Observations on the Life of Sir Henry fitz-Asane Earl of Arundel HIs first appearance in the World was to adorn the Court his next was to serve it First his Estate and Train attends King Henry to the Interview with France and a while afte● his valour and Conduct is commanded by him to the War Equally prepared is he to please and awe tha● Countrey The Duke of Suffolk is made General for his Popularity and the E●rl of Arundel Lord Marshal for his Spirit and Prudence and both being before Bulloign this Noble Lord run up his Squadron under a running shelter about eleven at night to the very Walls of the City which being battered down by the Canon which was mounted some forty yards higher opened to the close B●siegers a passage that gained the whole Town by composition Neither was he less active in Peace than War A piercing apprehension a strong memory a large and capacious judgement a dexterous prudence a discerning wisdom was the least of his happiness● For to his sufficiency and capacity he added a good disposition and ●ntegrity and to that vigour and gracefulness He was the excellent Personage that 1. Discerned 2. Embraced and performed what was Noble and Publick To know to will and effect what is good make up a God To these were added a strong nature a deep study and a very great Experienc● qualities separated in others but united in him Nature will out Education is rude Education without Resolution is loose Resolution without ●xperience is heady Experience grounded upon particul●r Events is uncertain without the study of General and Immoveable Principles Knowledge of things in their sourc●s and original causes without Nature is a Burden All these without Exercise are a Notion This Nobleman thus furnished derived much Honor from his Ancestors more to them ●nnobling that Blood to a Glory which some had debased to a Blush That great Name after four hundred years shining in that Honour with various lustre setting in him as the Sun he bore with a full splendour The last effort of Nature is a Maste●-piece the last blaz● of the Candle a shine Other ●oblemen were made ●●ing Edward's Overs●●rs for th●ir Integrity he one of his Assistants for his Abili●y When an Enemy was to be awed to a submission he was General such his F●me When the Countrey was to be obliged to a loan he was Agent such his Popularity● T●e first advanced him to the Comptrollership under Henry the ●ighth the second to the Chamberlainship under Edward the Sixth Nature hath provided that ravenous Beasts should not associate lest they should be too hard for it and Government that prime Counsellours should not agree lest they overthrow it Warwick envied the Prot●ctors Greatness and Arundel would limit his Power both with the rest of the Council declare against him But lest he should urge the same things against Warwick that he did against Somerset they who love the Treason but hate the Traytor turn him fi●st out of Favour and then out of Council untill Queen Maries time when h● as an antient Nobleman of England that owned no upstart-designs against the old way of succession stood for her Right and as a stiff Catholique promoted her Religion So that Iuly 21. 1553. he came from the Queen to Cambridge whe●e the Duke of Northumberland was and entering his Chamber the Duke fell at his fee● desiring him for Gods sake to consider his case who had done nothing but ●y Warrant from the Council My Lord said the E●rl I am sent hither by the Queen to arrest you And I said the Duke obey your Arrest ●eseeching your mercy for what I did by Commission You should have thought of that sooner ●aid the Earl Here you might have seen at once the vicissitude of Fortune the frailty of Man the dejectedness of Guilt the brave●y of Innocence who would neither be trampled on by Greatness nor trample on misery of an equal temper between pity and resolution As long as his Youth bore it● we find him for Action but when years came upon him we find him in Council as with Wott●n at the great Treaty at Cambray Yet not so unactive but that as Sir William Pickering for hi● sweet Demeaner so he for his Estate was voiced an Husband to Queen Elizabeth W●en the rest of the Council were for deali●g with the ●ueen of Scots underhand and at distance he was for treating wi●h her plainly● and said in the Queens presence The Wisdom of the former Age was so provident that it needed not and so plain that it endured no● shifts Leicester would perswade the Duke of Norfolk to court the Queen of Scots but Arundel would not hear of it without the Queen of England's consent Experience is always wary yet hath its weaknesses wherein it may be surprized For this Noblemans kindness to his Friend balancing his Duty to his Mistress brought him the Earl of South-hampton the Lords Lumley Cobham Piercy c. to a Praemu●ire● whereupon he said He is never wise that is not distrustful Fear that betrayeth the succours of Reason when predominant guardeth them when moderate and is more safe ●h●ugh not so Noble as that valiant confid●nce that bequeath● a dilated Freedom to all faculties and senses But of all his Actions this is most remarkeable Treating with the Scots he writ to his Majesty King Henry the Eighth what he had gained already requiring to know his farther pleasure The King takes advice with his Council who all agree that the Peace
when cast off by the Rebels Observations on the Life of Arch-Bishop Juxon WIlliam ●Iuxon born at Chichester in Sussex was bred Fellow in St. Iohn's Colledge in Oxford where he proceeded Batchelor of Law very young but very able for that Degree afterwards becoming Doctor in the same Faculty and President of the Colledge was one in whom Nature had not omitted but Grace had ordered the Te●rarch of humours being admirably Ma●ter of his Pen and Passion For his Abilities he was successively preferred by King Charles the first Bishop of H●reford and London and for some years Lord Treasurer of England wherein he had Religion to be honest and no self-interest to be corrupt A troublesom place in tho●e times being expected he should make much Brick though not altogether without yet with very little straw allowed unto him Large then the Expences low the Revenues of the Exchequer Yet those Coffers he found empty he left filling and had left full had Peace been preserved in the Land and he continued in his Place Such the mildness of his temper that Petitioners for money when it was not to be had departed well pleased with his Denials they were so civilly languaged It may justly seem a wonder that whereas few spake well of Bishops at that time and Lord T●●asu●ers at all Times are liable to the complaints of discontented people though both Offices met in this man yet with Demetrius he was well reported of all men and of the truth it self He lived to see much shame and contempt undeservedly poured on his Function and all the while possessed his own soul in patience Nor was it the least part of this Prelate's honour that amongst the many worthy Bishops of our Land King Charles the first selected him for his Confessor at his Martyrdom when he honoured him with this testimony That good man He formerly had had experience in the case of the Earl of Strafford that this Bishop's Conscience was bottom'd on piety not policy ●he reason that from him ●e received the Sacrament good comfort and counsel just before he was mu●dered I say just before the Royal Martyr was murdered a Fact so foul that it alone may confu●e the Error of the Pelagians maintaining that all sin cometh by imitation the Universe not formerly affording such a Precedent as if those Regicides had purposely designed to disprove the observation of Sol●mon that there is no new thing under the Sun King Charles the second preferred him Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1660. He died in the year of our Lord 1663. and with great solemnity was buried in St. Iohn's Colledge in Oxford to which he was a great Benefactor though a greater to Pauls and Lambeth and greatest of all to the Church which his eminence adorned and his temper secured in those times wherein roughness enraged that humour which delay and moderation broke a discreet yielding to the multitude is the securest way of Conquest They that hold together by opposition languish and moulder away by indulgence In his duty this good man went along with Conscience in Government with Time and Law He had the happiness that K. Iames admired in a Statesman of his time to do all things suavibus modis He referred his Master in the Earl of Strafford's case as he did himsel● in all cases to his own Conscience for matter of fact and to the Judges for matter of Law who according to their Oath ought to carry themselv●s indifferently between the King and his Subjects The King was not more happy in this fai●hful servant than he was in his followers among whom there was no uncivil Austerity to disoblige the Subjects nor base Corruption to incense them They need not keep state they had so much real power nor extort they had so much allowed advantage His care was his servants and their care his business His preferments were his burthen rather than his honour advanced by him rather than advancing him and therefore he was more ready to lay them down than others to take them up Witness his Treasurers Place which when he parted with like those that scatter their Jewels in the way that they may debar the violence of greedy pursuers no less than four durst undertake when his single self sufficed for the two greatest troubles of this Nation the Treasureship of England and the Bishoprick of London Religion was the inclination and composure as well as care of his soul which he used not as the artifice of pretence or power but as the ornament and comfort of a private breast never affecting a pompous piety nor a magnificent vertue but approving himself in secret to that God who would reward him openly His devotion was as much obove other mens as his Calling his meditations equal with his cares and his thoughts even and free between his Affairs and his Contemplations which were his pleasures as well as his duty the uniform temper and pulse of his Christian soul. Neither was his Religion that of a man only but that of a Bishop too that made his Piety as universal as his Province by such assistances of power as brought carnel men if not to an obedience yet to such a degree of reverence that if they did not honour they might not despise it His justice was as his Religion clear and uniform First the ornament of his heart then the honour of his action Neither was Justice leavened with rigour or severity but sweetned with clemency and goodness that was never angry but for the pub●ick and not then so much at the person as the offence So ambitious of that great glory of Moderation that he kept it up in spight of the times malignity wherein he saw all change without himself while he remained the self-same still within the Idea of sobriety and temperance vertues that he put off only with his life Neither was this a defect of spirit but the temper of it that though it never provoked troubles yet it never feared them His minde was always great though his fortune not so Great to suffer though not always able to act so good his temper and so admirable his humility that none ever went discontented from him Never courting but always winning people having a passage to their hearts through their brain and making them first admire and then love him He was slow not of speech as a defect but to speak out of discretion because when speaking he plentifully paid the Principal and Interest of his Auditors expectation In a word his government as a Bishop was gentle benigne and paternal His management of the Treasury was such that he served his Prince faithfully satisfied all his friends and silenced all his enemies of which he had enough as a Bishop Greatness is so invidious and suspected though none as a man goodness is so meek and inoffensive The most thought the worse of Dr. Iuxon for the Bishops sake the best thought the better of the Bishop for Dr. Iuxon's sake Observations on the