suspected to act contrary to so clear convictions so deliberate and declared determinations of his Conscience and Judgement in Religion as the Arch-Bishop expresses in his very excellent Book I am indeed prone to think that pâ—ssibly he wished there could have been any fair close or accâ—mmodation between all Christian Churches the same which many grave and learned men have much desired And it may be his Lordship thought himself no unfit Instrument to make way to so great and good a work considering the eminencies of his Parts Power and Favour which he had Haply he judged as many learned and moderate men have that in some things between Papists and Protestants differences are made wider and kept more open raw and sore than need beâ— by the private pens and passions of some men and the Interests of some little parties whose partial policies really neglect the publick and true Interest of the Cathâ—lick Church and Christian Religion which consists much in peace as wâ—ll as in purity in charity as in verity He found that where Papists were silenced and convinced in the more grand and pregnant Disputes that they are Novel partial and unconform to Catholick Churches in ancient times than he found they recovered spirits and contested afresh against the unreasonable transports violences and immoderations of some professing to be Protestants who to avoid Idolâ—try and Superstition run to Sacriledge and rudeness in Religion denying many things that are just honest safe true and reasonable meerly out of an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 excessive Antipathy to Papists Possibly the Arch-Bishop and some other Bishops of his mind did rightly judge That the giving of an enemy fair play by just safe honourable concessions was not to yield the conquest to him but the most ready way to convince him of his weakness when no honest yieldings could help him any more then they did endanger the true cause or courage of his Antagonist For my part I think the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was neither Calvinist nor Lutheran nor Papist as to any side or party but all so far as he saw they agreed with the Reformed Church of England either in Fundamentals or innocent and decent Superstructures Yet I believe he was so far a Protestant and of the Reformed Religion as he saw the Church of England did protest against the Errors Corruptions Usurpations and Superstitions of the Church of Rome or against the novel opinions and pâ—actices of any party whatsoever And certainly he did with as much honour as justice so far own the Authenâ—ick Authority Liberty and Majesty of the Church of England in its reforming and setling of its Religion that he did not think fit any private new Master whatsoever should obtrude any Foreign or Domestick Dictates to her or force her to take her copy of Religion from so petty a place as Geneva was or Frankfort or Amsterdam or Wittenbergh or Edenborough â—o nor from Augsburg or Arnheim nor any foreign City or Town any more than from Trent or Rome none of which had any Dicâ—atorian Authority over this great and famous Nation or Church of England further than they offered sober Counsels or suggested good Reasons or cleared true Religion by Scripture and confirmed it by good Antiquity as the best interpreter and decider of obscure places and dubious cases Which high value it is probable as to his Mother the Church of England and her Constitutions was so potent in the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury that as he thought it not fit to subject her to the insolency of the Church of Rome so not to the impertinencies of any other Church or Doctor of far less repuâ—e in the Christian world No doubt his Lordship thought it not handsome in Mr. Calvin to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so censorious of the Church of England as to brand its Dâ—votion or Liturgy with his tolerabiles ineptiae who knew not the temper of the Nation requiring then not what was absolutely best but most conveniently good and such not only the Liturgy was but those things which he calls tollerable toys I having occasion to speak with him he upon a time was pleased to grant me access some freedom of speech with him and withal asked me the opinion of the people of him I told him they reported his Lordship endeavoured to betray the Church of England to the Roman correspondency and communion He at length very calmly and gravely thus replyed protesting with a serious attestation of his integrity before God's Omnisâ—ience that however he might mistake in the mean and method yet he never had other design than the glory of God the service of his Majesty the good order peace and decency of the Church of England that â—e was so far from complying with Papists in order to confirm them in their Errors that he rather choâ—e such Methods to advance the honour of the reformed Religion in England as he believed might soon silence the cavils of fiercer Papists induce the more moderate Reâ—usants to come in to us as having less visible occasion given them by needless Dâ—stances and Disputes to separate from us which he thought arose much from that popular Variety Inconstancy Easiness Irreverence and Uncomliness which might easily grow among us in the outward professiâ—n of Religion for want of observing such uniformity and decency in Religion as were required by the Laws and Canons of this Church and State He added that he had further a desire as much as he could to relieve the poor and depressed condition of many Ministers which he had to his grief observed in Wales and England where their Discouragements were very great by reason of the tenuity and incompetency of their Livings that in his Visitations he had sometime seen it with grief among twenty Ministers not one man had so much as a decent Garment to put on nor did he believe their other treatment of Life was betterâ— that he found the sordid and shameful Aspect of Religion and the Clergy gave great Advantages to those that were Popishly inclined who would hardly ever think it best for them to joyn with that Church which did not maintain either its own Honour or its Clergy to some competency and comeliness Much more discourses his Lordship was pleased to use at several times to this purpose which commands my charity to clear him as far as I can judge of any tincture of Popery truly so called or of any superstition which placeth a Religion in the nature and use of that thing which God hath not either particularly commanded or in general permitted I suppose he thought that where God hath allowed to his Church and to every private Christian so far as may consist with the Churches Order and Peace a liberty of ceremonious and circumstantial decency as to God's worship there neither himself was to be blamed nor did he blame other men if they kept within those discreet and inoffensive bounds which either
Aâ—vancement of Lord Treasurer and the degree of Baron of Burleigh for as he followed the Marquess of Winchester in his Employment so he did in his Compliance When he was out of place he was not out of service in Queen Mary's days his Abilities being as necessary in those times as his Inclination and that Queens Council being as ready to advance him at last as they were to use him all her Reign In Queen Elizabeth's time he setled the Crown by setling Religion and by an utter separation from Rome strengthened England He made equal use of those that were then Protestants by Interest and they who were so in Conscience Those that had affections for Church-lands and those that had affections for the Church The Pope would by a Bull confirm the sale of Abby-Lands But who said Burleigh can confirm the Popes Bull The King of Spain secured the Queen in hope of her Bed the Pope winked at her in hope of her Heart Burleigh over-reached the one by a fair complaysance and the other by insensible alterations During the Qâ—eens ten years calm Cecil provided for a tempest and improved her Shipping and Ammunition to a dreadfulness at Sea as he did her Army to a great skill and experience by Land He made Holland our Stage of War and our School of Discipline where England gained the security and experience of War without its calamity and desolations always Offensive and once onely Defensive His Intelligence abroad was no less than his Prudence at home and he could write to a friend in Ireland what the King of Spain could do for two years together and what he could not do His Advicâ—s from his Pensioners abroad were presented Queen Elizabeth once a fortnight 1. clearly and plainly 2. methodically and distinctly 3. speedily and seasonably 4. truly and fully He exchanged his Interest for Walsinghams Intelligence who commanded what he could do as he did what the other knew The Bull clapped at London-house was first in our Sâ—ates-mans study where they might learn what they were to do and Protestants what to expect many years before any thing was visible When Leicester would have no Equal and â—â—ssex no Superiour then Ceeil as Neuter served himself of them both He would wrestle with neither of them yet he would trip them both they having many rubs in their way yet never saw who laid them He never quarrelled with any neither saith Cambden did he ever sue or was he ever sued Prudâ—ns qui Patiens was his saying before it was Sir Edward Cookes Motto and he had rather tire our Opposition by his moderation than improve it by his Impatience Others wâ—re raised to balance Factions he to support the Kingdome Fickle Favour tossed them constant Interest secured him No fewer than the Marquess of Winchester the Dâ—ke of Norfolk the Earls of Northumberland Arundel Pembroke Leicester and Westmorland contrived his fall but reason of State and his Mistress kept up his â—tanding Sir Nicholas Throgmorton advised them to clap him up saying That then men would open their mouths to speak freely against him but the Queen understanding hereof and standing as I may say saiâ—h my Authoâ— in the very prison-door quashed all their Designes and freed him from the mischief projected against him Great was the value the Queen set upon him as her ablest Minister of State for coming once to visit him being sick of the Gout at Burleigh-house in the Strand and being much heightned with her Head-attire then in fashion the Lords servant who conducted her through the door said May your highness be pleased to stoop The Queen returned For your Masters sake I will stoop but not for the King of Spain She would make him always sit down in her presence saying My Lord we make use of you not for your bad Lâ—ggs but your good Head He was a good friend to the Church as then established by Law advising his son Thomas never to build a great house or bestow any great charge upon an Inpropriation as fearing the foundation might fail hereafter yet conniving at sober Non-conformists to strengthen the foundation at present he checked the forwardness of private men and advanced the honour of the publick Establishment on all hands Good my Lord saith he in his Letter to Archbishop whitgift in the behalf of some squeamish Ministers bear with my scribling I write with the testimony of a good Conscience I desire the peace of the Church I desire concord and unity in the exercise of our Religion I fear no sensual or wilful Recusant I would not make Offenders neither would I protect them And I pray your Grace bear this and perchance a fault and yet I have sharply admonished them that if they will be Disturbers in their Churches they must be corrected and yet upon your Graces answer to me Ne sutor ultra Crepidam neither will I put Falcem in alterius Messem Was his Chaplain Traverse his hand in all this And then again If I had known his fault saith he of Brown I might be blamed for writing for him Thus he carried matters without passion and prejudice prudently as became so great a States-man He was not rigid yet he was careful He would help the good-natured yet punish the stubborn He would rather be where nothing is lawful than where all things are so He would never skrue up the Law to the pitch of cruelty nor unloose it to the remissness of Libertinism He was no less honourable a Patron of the Vniversity than he was a faithful son of the Church the Church strengtheneth the State and the Vniversities furnish both particularly in the case of Rent-corn which saith my Author first grew in Sir Thomas Smiths head yet was ripened by Burleighs assistance whereby though the Rents of the Colledges stand still their Revenues increase He was not surer of all Church-men and Scholars by his Obligations upon them than he was of all by his complaisance and pleasantness None more grave than he in Publick none more free in private especially at his Table where he drew something out of his heaviest guests having an admirable Dexterity in reading and observing men their own occasional openings in common discourse there being more hold to be taken of a few words casually uttered than of set solemn Speeches which rather shew mens Arts than their Natures as indited rather of their brains than hearts His power awed many his conversation obliged more He had his hour to put on his Gown and his hour to put it â—ff When he would say Lie thou there Lord Treasurer and bidding Adieu to all State-affairs he dispoâ—ed himself to his quiet and rest He laid the Designes of War by his own Theory and his friends Intelligence yet he advised peace and died before the Quâ—stion was determined whether a War with Spain Others understood the Nature of War but he onely the Expediency and Conveniency If War was necessary none more forward to promote it none more
instruments of their preferment 8. Besides the Romish Catholicks there is a generation of Sectaries the Anabaptists Brownists and others of their kinds they have been several times very busie in this Kingdom under the colour of zeal for reformation of Religion The King your Mr. knows their disposition very well a small touch will put him in mind of them he had experience of them in Scotland I hope he will beware of them in England a little countenance or connivance sets them on fire 9. Order and decent ceremonies in the Church are not only comely but commendable but there must be great care not to introduce Innovations they will quickly prove scandalous men are naturally over-prone to suspition the true Protestant Religion is seated in the golden mean the enemies unto her are the extreams on either hand 10. The persons of Church-men are to be had in due respect for their words sake and protected from scorn but if a Clergy-man be loose and scandalous he must not be patroniz'd nor wink 't at the example of a few such corrupt many 11. Great care must be taken that the patrimony of the Church be not sacrilegiously diverted to lay-uses His Majesty in his time hath religiously stopped a leak that did much harm and would else have done more Be sure as much as in you lyes stop the like upon all occasions 12. Colledges and Schools of Learning are to be cherished and encouraged there to breed up a new stock to furnish the Church and Common-wealth when the old store are transplanted This Kingdom hath in later ages beâ—n famous for good literature and if preferment shall attend the deservers there will not want supplies Next to Religion let your care be to promote Justice By justice and mercy is the Kings throne established 1. Let the rule of Justice be the Laws of the Land an impartial arbiter between the King and hiâ— people and between one Subject and another I shall not speak superlatively of them lest I be suspected of pâ—â—tâ—aâ—ity in regard of my own proâ—â—ssion but this I may truly say they are second to none in the Christian world 2. And as far as it may lye in you let no Arbitrary power be intruded the people of this Kingdom love the Laws thereof and nothing will oblige them more than a confidence of the free enjoying of them What the Nobles upon an occasion once said in Parliament Nolumus leges Angliae mutari is imprinted in the hearts of all the people 3. But because the life of the Laws lies in the due execution and administration of them let your eye be in the first place upon the choice of good Judges These properties had they need to be furnished with To be learned in their profession patient in hearing prudent in governing powerful in their elocution to perswade and satisfie both the parties and hearers just in their judgment and to sum up all they must have these three Attributes They must be men of courage fearing God and hating covetâ—â—sness An ignorant man cannot a Coward dares not be a good Judge 4. By no means be you perswaded to interpose your self either by word or letter in any cause depending or like to be depending in any Court of Justice nor suffer any other great man to do it where you can hinder it and by all means disswade the King himself from it upon the importunity of any for themselves or their friends If it should prevail it perverts Justice but if the Judge be so just and of so good courage as he ought to be as not to be enclined thereby yet it always leaves a taint of suspition behind it Judges must be as chaste as Caesar's Wife neither to be nor to be suspected to be unjust and Sir the honour of the Judges in their judicature is the Kings honour whom they represent 5. There is great use of the service of the Judges in their Circuits which are twice in the year held throughout the Kiâ—gdom the tryal of a few causes between party and party or delivering of the Gaols in several Counties are of great use for the expedition of justice yet they are of much more use for the government of the Counties through which they pass if that were well thought upon 6. For if they had instrâ—ctions to that purpose they might be the best intelligencers to the King of the true state of his whole Kingdom of the disposition of the people of their inclinations of their intentions and moâ—â—â—nâ— which are necessary to be truly understood 7. To this end I could wish that against every Circuit all the Judges should sometimes by the K. himself and sometimes by the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper in the King's name receive a charge of those things which the present times did much require and at their return should deliver a faithful account thereof and how they found and left the Counties through which they passed and in which they kept their Assizes 8. And that shey might the better perform thâ—s work which might be of great importance it will not be amâ—ss that sometimes this charge be publick as it useth to be in the Star-Chamber at the end of the Terms next before the Circuit begins where the Kâ—ng's care of jâ—stice and the good of his people may be published and that sometimes also â—t may be private to communicate to the Judges some thiâ—gs not so fit to be publickly delivered 9. I could wish also that the Judges were directed to make a little longer stay in a place than usually they do a day more in a County would be a very good addition although their wages for their Circuits were increased in proportion it would stand better with the gravity of their employment whereas now they are sometimes enforced to rise over-early and to sit over-late for the dispatch of their business to the extraordinary trouble of themselves and of the people their times indeed not being horae juridicae And which is the main they would have the more leisure to inform themselves quasi aliud agentes of the true estate of the Country 10. The attendance of the Sheriffs of the Counties accompanied with the principal Gentlemen in a comely not a costly equipage upon the Judges of Assize at their coming to the place of their sitting and at their going out is not onely a civility but of use also It raiseth a reverence to the persons and places of the Judges who coming from the King himself on so great an errand should not be neglected 11. If any sue to be made a Judge for my own part I should suspect him but if either directly or indirectly he should bargain for a place of judicature let him be rejected with shame vendere jure potest emerat ille prius 12. When the place of a chief Judge of a Court becomes vacant a puisne Judge of that Court or of another Court who hath approved himself fit and deserving would be sometimes preferred
help him to a young Wife but he must raise him to a new Power Wolsey must be Pope or King Henry could not be divorced and to make all sure he was no sooner to be parted from a Daughter of Spain than he was to be joyned to a Princess of France whose Nuptial Ring should wed King Henry to Her and King Francis to Himself Two ways did he disoblige Queen Anne Bullein that was his deadly enemy 1. by dissolving the Contract between her and the Lord Piercy the Earle of Northumberlands Eldest Son to please the King 2. by endeavouring to hinder or at least delay the Marriage between her and the King to gratifie himself whom in vain afterwards by Inventions unheard of he endeavoured to please as well as the King when he saw the Contrivances of a great Wit the Allurements of a Famous Beauty and the malice of a disappointed Woman joyned to the envy of the greatest Lord whom he had ordered as irrespectively as the meanest subject When it is once past Noon with a Court-Favourite it is presently Night with him for knowing that the Cardinal was cunning and the King not yet cruel they longed to have him at York while at Londen and again they contrive to bring him to London while at York the first upon pretense that he might do good the last with design that he might do no harme Sed nullae sunt occultiores insidiae quà m hae quae latent in simulatione officij as he observed the method of some old cunning Parliament-men who when they had a mind to cross a Bill were always highest for it in the House as the Eagle carried the shell up in the skye to break it and would insert so many and so great inconveniences into the Act that they were sure it could never pass Tuta frequensque via est per amici fallere nomen Missing of Power he meditates Honour and instead of lavishing his infinite Treasure upon airy Expectations he bestoweth it on real Monuments witness the great work at Callice c. which makes his Memory a Renowned as his Life That Statesman lives to small purpose whose Actions are as short as his Life and his Exploits of no longer duration than his Age. At this time though King Henry bore the Sword yet Cardinal Wolsey as I am told bore the stroâ—e all over the Land being Legate a latere by verâ—us whereof he visited all Churches and Religion Houses even the Friers Observants themselves notwithstanding the stoutness and stubbornness that first opposed him Papal and Royal Power met in him being the Chancellour of the Land and keeping so many Bishopricks in Commendam that his yearly Income is said to equal if not exceed the Revenues of the Crown He gave the first blow to Religious Houses by making one great Cardinal Colledge now Christ-Câ—urch of which one comparing his project with his performance said Instituit Collegium absolvit Popinam And another being asked what he thought of the ampleness of the Foundation answered Fundatione nihil amplius to which I may add his Colledge at Ipswich of forty small Monasteries to make way as some thought upon the Popes consent procured by him to the overthrow of all He called all Captains and Officers to an accounâ— who bought off their own small corruption with his great one and paid him the penalties of their Cheats with the Gains of it the Richest of them escaping and the poorest only made exemplary Several Courts of pretended Equity he erected to redress the poor that was the Colour to inrich himself that was the Reality at whose constitution the Law-Courts were unfrequented so specious was their seeming Integrity at the lsâ—t they are deserted so manifest was their real Grievances the people not flocking so fast aâ—ter the Novelty as they ran away from the Cheat though his pretense was fair that the Kingdome should not be a Common-Wealth of Fish where the greater devoured the Less What he did to reform the Courtiers as a Fâ—vourite he did to reform the Clergy as Legate erecting a Court Legantine not without danger of a Praemunire wherein all Clergy were visited the Rich in their Purses that excused them the Poor in their Reputation that compounded for them Neither did his profits arise from the Living onely but the Dead he engrossing the Probation of all Wills and Testaments within his own Court he had petty projects viz. that Children should foâ—low their Fathers Profession saying that he observed that the Fathers Eminency in any act begat in the Child a propension to the same and wheâ—e two or three successiâ—e Generations happily insist in the steps one of another they raise an art to great peâ—fection and liked well the prudence of our Parliaments in permitting the Eldest Son of Barons to be pâ—esent at their Câ—nsultations to fit them by degrees for the person they are to sustain And not long after he hath a Paâ—eâ—t under the Great Seal of England to do what he pleased in the French Couâ—t in order to the Kingâ— Progresse thither as he hath likewise afâ—er with his Masters leave under the great seal of France After which honour he was with the Kings Order by English Subjects the Lord Mayor and Aldermen c. honoured at no lesse rate than that of a Prince and by the Clergy who kept close to the publick temper with Processions c. at the same rate with a Pope Great he was in England greater in Germany where all the Nobiliâ—y attended him the Great Seal of England was carried before him and the Emperour oâ—serving his Commission and Honour met him with his whole Train and harangued it with him no less than two days He that over-ruled Empires might well presume on Subjects and no sooner therefore doth he return than by his own Authority he levieth four shillings in the pound of every man that was worth fifty pound per annum and when that would not do pretending to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen that he had been upon his Knees to revoke those Commissiâ—ns other Letters for a Benevolence which lost him as much in the Countrey as his Reformation of the Houshold did him at Court But the King employeth him to France as his Second and takes his leave of him as hiâ— intimate Friend 1200 Horse attended him Calliceâ— Bullein Amiens honour him with the name of The Peaceable Cardinal and the Statue of a Cardinal Rescuing a Church and a Pope from danger whom yet underhand he brought into danger making the Duke of Bourbon General against the King of France to Revenge himself and yet making an underhand Peace with France which the Duke knew not of till he took the Instrument of Peace Sealed at the Castle of Pavia to please others for which last exploit carried on privately by receiving the French Ambassadour as an Italian Jester the Duke of Bourbon resolved to goe and Sack Rome and punish all the Cardinals he could come at for the fault
for him honourably in England where the Kings Cause waited for his Assistance and the See of Canteâ—bury for his Acceptance He was willing to promote Religion he was unwilling for some Formalities he scrupled to advance himself but after seven Weeks delay it being as fatal to reâ—use King Henry's Favours as to offer him Injuâ—ies he is Archbishop in his own Deâ—ence in which capacity to serve the King and salve his own Conscience he used the Expedient of a Protestation to this purpose In nomine c. Non est nec erit meae voluntatis aut intentionis per hujusmodi Iuramentum Iuramenta qualiter verba in ipsis posita sonare videbuntur me obligare ad aliquid ratione eorundem post hac dicendum faciendum aut attestandum quod erit aut esse videbitur contra legem Dei vel contra Regem aut Rempublicam legesve aut Praerogativa ejus quod non intendo per hujusmodi juramentum quovis modo me obligare quò minùs liberè loqui consulere consentire valeam in omnibus singulis Reformationem Ecclesiae prorogativam Coronae concernentibus ea exequi reformare quae in Ecclesia Anglicana reformanda videbuntur This Protestation he made three times once at the Charter-House another time at the Altar and a third time at the receiving of his Pall. In his place he was moderate between the Superstition of Rome and the Phrensies of Munster As he was cheif Instrument in beginning the Reformation so he was in continuing it He withstood the Six Articles and though the King sent five prime Ministers of State to comfort him would not be satisfied until he saw them mitigated in King Henry's time and repealed in King Edward's Gardiner would have questioned him for entertaining forein Hereticks and promoting Domestick Schisms the Northern Rebels accused him for subverting the Church but the King upheld him against both suppressing the One and checking the Other and advising the good Man whom he called Fool for his meek disposition to appeal to him Whereupon Russel cried The King will never suffer him to be imprisoned until you find Him guilty of High Tâ—eason He is to be pitied for his intermediate failings but renowned for his final constancy The King having declared before all his Servants that Cranmer was his best Servant he employeth him in his best service the Reformation of Religion wherein all others failed but the King Cromwel and Brandon backed him so far that he had the Bible the necessary Offices of the Church translated into English He had both Universities at his command He brought the Lords House and Convocation to his Lure and was invested with a Power 1. To Grant Dispensations in all things not repugnant to Gods Law nor the Kings safety 2. To determine Ecclesiastical Causes He as charitably as politickly advised the King to accept of Bishop Fisher's partial Subscription considering his Learning and Reputation As he is King Henry's Instrument at Dunstable to divorce him from Queen Katharine so he is at Lambeth to divorce him from Anna Bullein He promoted in the Convocation all Primitive Doctrines and condemned all new-fangled Opinions He was so charitable that he interceded with the King for his Enemies so munificent that he made the Church and his own House a Refuge for Strangers particularly for P. Fagius P. Martyr Martin Bucer c. The King loved him for his Integrity the People for his Moderation He was called the Kings Father and was Queen Elizabeth's Godfather His Piety reduced the Câ—urch and his Policy the State He spake little to others he conferred much with himself Three words of His could do more than three hours discourse of others He would say as Victorinus There is a time to say nothing there is a time to say something but there is never a time to say all things That King who awed all Others feared Him A Second to the Eternal Power is the Wise Man uncorrupt in his Life He was the Executor of God's Will in King Henry's Life-time and the first of His after his Death As He spurred King Henry to a Reformation so King Edward did Him whose Prudence was not so forward as the Others Zeal who looked at what was Lawful as He did at what was Convenient He maintained the Churches Power as resolutely against Bishop Hooper's Scruples notwithstanding potent Intercession as he reformed its Corruptions against the Popes Interest notwithstanding a general Opposition He allowed not the least Errour in nor the least contempt of the Church He restored its primitive Doctrine and Discipline lest it should be an impure Church he upheld them lest it should be none He was one of fourteen that compiled the Common-Prayer He was One of Two that set out the Homilies and the only man that published the Institution of a Christian man and other good Books With his Advice King Edward did much and designed more He was the chief Author of King Edward's Injunctions and the first Commissioner in them He was President of the Assembly at Windsor for Reformation and of the Council at London His Aâ—ticles were strict and seveâ—e as much grounded on the Canon of Scripture as on the Canons of the Church He convinced more Papists with his Reason and Moderation than others by their Power His Heart never failed him in his Life and it was not burned at his Deaâ—h He did so much for the Protestant Religion in King Henrys Days that he foresaw he should suffer for it in Qâ—een Mary's He was unwilling to wrong Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth therefore he refused at first to sign King Edwards's Testament but Duke Dudley's Will He was willing to continue the Protestant Religion therefore he signed it at last It was a Bishop that was one of the first that abolished Popery in England and one of the last that died for Protestantisme It was a Bishop that maintained the Protestant Cause with Arguments while he lived with his Blood when he died This prelates endeavor for Reformation is shadowed by this Mystical Relation The Castle of Truth being by the King of Ierusalem left to the guard and keeping of his best Servant Zeal the King of Arabia with an infinite host came against it begirt it round with an unreasonable Seige cuts ofâ— all passages all reliefs all hopes of friends meat or munition which Zeal perceiving and seeing how extremity had brought her to shake hands with despair he calleth his Council of War about him and discovered the â—ffliction of his state the puissance of his Enemies the violence of the siege and the impossibility of conveying either messages or Letters to the great King his Master from whom they might receive new strength and incouragement Whereupon the necessity of the occasion being so great they concluded that there was no way but to deliver up the Castle though upon some unwholsome conditions into the hand of the Enemy but Zeal staggereth at the resolution and
by his Purse and Credit that they might live as handsomely when he was dead as they did when he was alive Sir Thomas was a Name of Awe and Reverence to the Rico and blessed by the Poor That Name when his Fortune and Power tempted him â—o an insolency leâ—elled the proudest Ciâ—izens House for â—is convenieâ—cy and bowed the pooâ—est Man's Knee to his Honour his mind being equal to his â—uccess He câ—uld at pleasure work upon the Loâ—ds bâ— the Commons and on the Commons by the Lords as Cardinal Wolsâ—y perswaded the Commons to four Sâ—illings in the Pâ—und upon the Lords president and the Lords to as much upon the Commons and he kept up the Cardinals way of Aâ—ticipation that the People should be always one Subsidy before-hand He set up the old Taxation of Knight-hood at Qâ—een Anne's Coronation and levied it making amends to â—he People â—or all his hard Impositions because aâ— Vespâ—sian to the Romans so He to the English was Antiquo cultu victu â—ue praecipuus aâ—tricti moris Author â— by his observing of â—he ancient Diet of the Countrey and the old fashion of Apparel he wâ—s to them a principal Author of their frugality He confiâ—ms the Kings Sâ—â—remacy by a Law and estabâ—isheâ—h his Daughter Elizabeth'â— Succession by an Oath fiâ—st takâ—n by â—he Paâ—liamentâ— and then by the Kingdâ—m for whose support he contrives the lesser Monasteries should be fiâ—st escheated and then the greater He was so honest that he acquits Queen Anne in his Letter to the Queen yet so much a Statesman that he condemn'd her upon the Bench. But to secure the Interest of England he by countenancing the translation and reading of the English Bible improved its Religion that as some few late Acts had disobliged the Pope a new frame of Christianity might exclude him The differences between Us and Rome were to be widened lest they should close and he judged it prudence to engage the conscience and the estate in one bottom that he might hold the One out of the tenderness of the Other He used to answer those that applauded his service in the Reformation that if he should arrogate to himself any part in that revolution of providence he should be like the Flie on the Cart-wheel that said what a Dust do I raise The Kings Supremacy cut off the Papists and the Six Articles the Protestants Reâ—ormation must be managed leasurely and alteration of Religion by just degrees Instruction preceding execution and the Peoples capacity growing up with their Governours Regulation The mountainous expectation of a reâ—ormation some told him merrily ended in â— Mouse but he answered sadly that it had been well it had not ended in a Mouse-trap that is a snare to many good People as well as a disappointment to all The times are troublesome but Cromwel calm and quiet and watchful over Occurrences Insurrection giving him an advantage of a new Settlement He takes down the Occasions and Ornaments of Idolatry Images Shrines Pilgrimages c. and then the Thing it self Take off the paint of Rome and you undo her As the Laws and Injunctions so the Alliance of England must secure its Inteâ—est A Protestant Qâ—een mâ—st be married to the Reformed King the Duke of Cleve's Sister must woo the King that Essex might have that whispeâ—ed in the Kings Bosom â—bed where he was best disposed which he insinuated into his Ear at the Council-Table where he was worst But the King was not so well pleased with her Beauty as Cromwel was with her Religion which Stephen Gardiner who hated her for her Religion â—nd Cromwel for his Greatness observing shewed the Kings loose Affections at once how to be rid of his Match and which he was as weary of his Match-Maker The Queen is divorced being never known by Henry who disliked her at first view and kept heâ— rather in Poliâ—y to oblige the German Princes than of pleasure to fill his own Bed Cromwel is arrested for presuming to act in some matters of State without the Kings privity or Commission and attainted by a procedure he had invented dying as cunningly as he had lived for some ambiguous words which Power interpreted to his Ruine His last words were so wary that they might become Bellarmine and Luther at once that the Protestants call them his Confession of Fâ—ith and the Papists his old Religion And neither is he to be blamed unless his troublesome Adversaries will accuse him as the quarrel some Roman did his Antagonist Because he would not receive his Weapon fairly with his whole Body for confessing his Offenses against God and the King in his many Employments he said he died in the Catholique Faith Some will say the Protestants think no great gain to have him and the Papists no loss to part with him yet we must needs confess that he was a Wise Man because he always consulted the Learned in the Laws about all his proceedings He was a Good Man witness Frescobald whose mean Person he took notice of whose small Kindness he acknowledged whose Services he condescended to whose Wants he relieved and whose Debts he recovered He was a Noble-man because he refused another Mans Coat of Arms who was of his Name saying What shall I do with it for he may pull it off my back at pleasure In a word He was so Mean before he rose so Worthy afterwards that no Times had Raised but those more troublesome none Ruined him but those most loose of Henry the viii Some reserved Mens parts he compared to meat in a great Colchester Oyster which would hardly requite the pains of opening But infinitely was he taken with those who were as he called them like the Statues of Apollo had a Launce in one Hand and an Harp in another that is resolution to awe on the one side and sweetness to oblige on the other Being much pleased likewise with the reflecting Man who needs not the dull way of Persia to keep a Boy behind him to bid him remember what he is and what he ought to do and with the devout Courtier For as the Ennamel which adorneth the Doves Neck never shines so clear and glorious as when the Sun looks upon it so great Men are never so full of Majesty themselves as when they own the Majesty of God never more Gods among Men as when humble Men before God who as St. Lewis of France once affirmed boweth the hearts of Men to a subjection to them who kneel in adoration to him He loved not the Men that pedantically boasted their reading but that rationally made use of it not ridiculously upon all occasions vaunting the shreds of it but skilfully to good purposes couching the result and substance of it So the admirable old Man Epictetus as Lucian calls him that famed Stoick whose Lamp was preserved as a Relique and sold for 3000. Drachmas would say Encheir c. 16. that Sheep bring not their grass to their Shepherd to shew him
our welfare it self Opinion governs the World Princes with their Majesty may be oâ—t envied and haâ—ed without it they are always scorned and contemned Circumstances are often more than the main and shadows are not always shadows Outward Esteem to a great Person is as skin to Fruit which though a thin cover preserveth it King Henry's Person and State did England more Right in a Year than his Predecessors Arms in an Age while they onely impressed a resolution in the Neighbours he a reverence As the Reason of man corrâ—cting of his sense about the mâ—gnitude and distance oâ— heavenly bodies is an argument that he hath an Inorganical Immaterial Impassible and Immortal soul so this Gentlemans Conscience often reflecting upon his policy about the Circumstances of many of his actions was an argument that he was â—uled by holy serious and heavenly Principles One effect whereof was that he desired rather the admonishing paines of a lingring death than the favourable ease of a quick one he reckoning it not an effect of cruelty but a design of mercy that he should dye so ut sentiat se mori and he looked on nothing as so great a snare to his thoughts as the opinion of Origen and some otheâ—s called merciful Doctors who did indeavour to possess the Church with their opinion of an universal restitution of all Creatures to their pristine Estate after sufficient purgation or any thing more a temptation to other mens souls than the Blasphemy of some making God the Author of good and evil so much worse than the Manichees or Marcionites as they held it not of their good God whom they called Light but of their bad God whom they called Darkness As Princes govern the People so Reason of State the Princes Spain at that time would command the Sea to keep us from the Indies and our Religion to keep us from a Settlement France suspected our Neighbourhood and engaged Scotland the Pope undermined our Designs and obliged the French Sir Anthony at Rome in respectful terms and under Protestation that his Majesty intended no contempt of the See Apostolick or Holy Church intimated his Masters Appeal to the next General Council lawfully assembled exhibiting also the Authentick Instruments of the same and the Archbishop of Canterbury's at the Consistory where though the Pope made forty French Cardinals yet our Agent and his money made twelve English and taught Francis to assume the power of disposing Monasteries and Benefices as King Henry had done advising him to inform his Subjects clearly of his proceedings and unite with the Princes of the Reformation taking his Parliament and People along with him and by their advice cutting off the Appeals to and Revenues of Rome by visitations c. with a Praemunire together with the Oath of Supremacy and the publication of the prohibited Degrees of Marriages He added in his Expresses That his Majesty should by disguised Envoys divide between the Princes and the Empire The next sight we have of him is in Scotland the French Kings passage to England as he calls it Where in joynt Commission with the Earl of Southampton and the Bishop of Durham he with his variety of Instructions gained time until the French King was embroyled at home the season of Action was over there and the Duke of Norfolk ready to force that with a War which could not be gained by Treaty Fortune is like the Market where many times if you can stay a little the Price will fall The ripeness and unripeness of the Occasion must be well weighed Watch the â—eginning of an Action and then speed Two â—hings make a compleat Polititian Secresie in Councel and Celerity in Execution But our Knights Prudence was not a heavy Wariness or a dull caution as appears by his preferment at Court where he is Master of the Horse and his service in the North where he and the Comptroller Sir Anthony Gage are in the head of 10000 men In both these places his excellence was more in chusing his Officers and Followers than in acting himself His servants were modest and sober troubling him with nothing but his business and expecting no higher conditions than countenance protection and recommendation and his Retainers peaceable reserved close plain and hopeful the deserving Souldier and the promising were seen often at his gate not in throngs to avoid popularity Equal was his favour that none might be insolent and none discontented yet so diâ—creetly dispensed as made the Preferred faithful and the Expectants officious To be ruled by one is soft and obnoxious by many troublesome to be advised by few as he was is safe because as he said in some things out of his element the Vale best discovereth the Hill Although he understood not the main matter of War yet he knew many of its falls and incidents his prudence being as able to lay a stratagem as others experience was to embattail an Army Sir Thomas Wharton Warden of the Marches he commands with 300 men behind an Ambush whither he draws the rash Scots and overthroweth them more with the surprize than his power taking the Lord Admiral Maxwel c. who was committed to his custody and putting that King to so deep a melancholy that he died upon it His death suggests new counsels and Sir Anthony watcheth in Scotland to gain hiâ— Daughter for our Pâ—ince or at least to prevent the French whom Sir Wilâ—iam Paget watcheth there as Sir Ralph Sadler did in Rome and Sir Iohn Wallâ—p at Calais and when that Kings design was discovered we find our Knight with Charles Duke of Suffolk Lieutenant-General Henry Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Lord General Will. Paulet Lord St. Iohn Stephen Bishop of Winchester with a rich and strong Army expecting the King before Montrevil whâ—ch they took with Boulogn and forcing the French to a Peace and Submission that secured England and setled Europe Three things facilitate all things 1. Knowledg 2. Temper 3. Time Knowledge our Knight had either of his own or others whom he commanded in what ever he went about laying the ground of matters always down in writing and debating them with his friends before he declared himself in Council A temperance he had that kept him out of the reach of others and brought others within his Time he took always driving never being driven by his business which is rather a huddle than a performance when in haste there was something that all admired and which was more something that all were pleased with in this mans action The times were dark his carriage so too the Waves were boysterous but he the solid Rock or the well-guided Ship that could go with the Tide He mastered his own passion and others too and both by Time and Opportunity therefore he died with that peace the State wanted and with that universal repute the States-men of those troublesome times enjoyed not By King Henry's Will he got a Legacy of 300 l. for his former Service and the
in avoiding tryal You protest your self innocent the Queen feareth the contrary not without grief and shame To examine your innocence are these honourable prudent and upright Commissioners sent glad will they be with all their hearts if they may return and report you guiltless Believe me the Queen her self will be much affected with joy who affirmed to me at my coming from her that never any thing befel her more grievous than that you were charged with such a crime Wherefore lay aside the bootless priviledge of Royal Dignity which here can be of no use to you appear in Iudgement and shew your Innocence lest by avoiding tryal you draw upon your self suspition and lay upon your Reputation an eternal blot and aspersion Four things I observe he did that deserve a Chronicle 1. That he delayed the Signing of Leicesters Pâ—tâ—nt for the Lieutâ—nantcy of England and Ireland the Preface to his Kingdome until that Earl was sick 2. That he reduced the Chancery and all other Courts to Rules 3. That he stood by the Church against the enemies of both sides Archbishop Whitgift when checked by others for his due severity writes to him thus I think my self bound to you for your friendly Message as long as I live It hath not a little comforted me having received unkinde speeches not long since c. And therefore after an â—xpostulation about some States-mens Proceedings against the Law and State of the Realm and a Declaration of his own resolution saith he your Honour in ofâ—ering that great courtesie offered unto me as great a pleasure as I can desire Her Majesty must be my Refuge and I beseech you that I may use you as a means when occasion shall serve whereof I assure my self and therein rest John Cant. 4. That he promoted the Proclamations for plain Apparel for Free Trade for pure Religâ—on and the Laws against the Papists None Nobler none less aspiring none more busie yet none more punctual in his hours and orders Corpulent he was but temperate a Batchelor and the onely one of the Queens Favourites yet chaste quick were his Dispatches but weighty many his Orders and consistent numerous were the Addresses to him and easie the access Seldome were his Orders reversed in Chancery and â—eldomer his Advice opposed in Council So just he was that his sentence was Law with the Suâ—jâ—ct so wise that his Opinion was Oracle with his Soveraign so exact was Qâ—een Elizabeth that she called upon him for an old debt though it broke his heart so loving that she carried him a Cordial-broath with her own hand though it could not râ—vive him Observations on the Life of the Lord Hunsdon THe Lord Hunsdon was of the Qâ—eens nearest Kindred and on the decease of Sussex both he and his Son took the place of Lord Chamberlain He was a fast man to his Prince and firm to his friends and servants downright honest and stout-hearted having the charge of the Queens Person both in the Court and in the Camp at Tilbury The integrity of his temper allayed the greatness of his birth which had rendred him dangerous if the other had not vouched him faithful He spoke big but honestly and was thought rather resolute than ambitious His words were as his thoughts and his actions as his words He had Valour enough to be an eminent Souldier in Ruffling times and a râ—nownedly honest man in Queen Elizabeths Reign His Latine saith Sir Robert Naunton and his dissimulation were both alike His custome of swearing and obscenity in speaking made him seem a woâ—se Christian than he was and a better Knight of the Carpet than he should be The Polâ—ticians followâ—d Cecil the Courtiers Leicester and the Souldiers Hunsdon whose hands were better than his head and his heart than both He led so brave a Train of young Gallants as after another threatned a Court but after him secured it whose Greatness was not his Mistresses jealouâ—â—e but her safeguard One of his blunt Jests went further than others affected Harangues the one being Nature the other forced His faithfulness made him Governour of Berwick a place of great â—ervice and General of the English Army a place of great Trust. He had something of Leicesters Choler but none of his Malice A right Noble Spirit not so stupid as not to resent not so unworthy as to retain a sense of Injuries To have the Courage to observe an Affront is to be even with an Adversary to have the patience to forgive it is to be above him There goeth a story of him that when his Retinue which in those times was large would have drawn on a Gentleman that had returned him a box on the ear he forbad them in these Souldier-like words You Rogues cannot my Neighbour and my self exchange a box on the car but you must interpose He might have been what he would for relieving Queen Elizabeth in her distress he would be but what he was Others Interests were ofâ—ered him to stand upon he was contented with his own He suppressed the Court Factions and the Northern Commotions the one by his Interâ—â—t the other by his Valour for the one he had always the Queens heart for the other he had once a most Gâ—acious Letter His Court-â—avour was as lasting as his Integrity One hath left this remarque concerning him That he should have been twice Earl of Wiltshire in right of his Mother Bollen And the Queen when he was on his Death-Bed ordered his patent and Robes to his bed-side where he who could dissemble neither well nor ill told the Queen That if he was not worthy of those Honours when living he was unworthy of them when dying In a word Sir William Cecil was a wise man Bacon was reaching â—eicester cunning Walsingham was a Patriot and my Lord Hunsdon was honest Observations on the Life of Nicholas Heath Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellour of England AT once a most wise and a most learned man of great Policy and of as great Integrity meek and resolute more devout to follow his own Conscience than cruel to persecute others It is enough to intimate his moderate temper equal and diâ—-engaged from violent extreams that the first of Queen Elizabeth in the Disputation between the Papists and Protestants he was chosen by the privy-Council one of the Moderators when Sir Nicholas Bacon was the other The Civility â—e shewed in prosâ—erity he found in Adverâ—ity for in Queen Elâ—zabeths time he was rather â—ased than deposed like another Abâ—athar sent home by Solomon to his own fields in Anathoth living cheerfully aâ— Coâ—ham in Surry where he devoted his Old Age to Religion and Study being much comforted with the â—ueens Visits and kindness and more with his own good conscience that as he would often say he had been so intent upon the service as never to enjoy the greatness of any place he was advanced to Sir Henry Wotton being bound for Rome asked his Host at Siena a man well
in times of peace seven times to Iames the sixth of Scotland for a good understanding and thrice to Basilides Emperour of Russia for Trade Once to Charles the ninth King of France to discover his designe upon Scotland and once to Henry the third to open a Conspiracy of his suâ—jâ—cts against him Great services these but meanly rewarded the serviceable but moderate and modest man though he had as many children at home as he had performed Embassies abroad being contented with the Chamberlainship of the Exchâ—quer and the Postermasters place the first but a name and the second then but a noise to which were added some small Farms wherein he enjoyed the peace and innocence of a quiet and retired Life a Life which upon the reflexions of a tender Conscience he wished a great while as appears by his Letters to his dear Walsingham wherein he writes How worthy yea how necessary a thing it was that they should at length bid Farewel to the snares he of a Sâ—cretary and himself of an Embassadour and should both of them set their mindes upon their Heavenly Country and by Repenting ask Mercy of GOD. Oâ—servations on the Life of Sir Amias Poulet SIr Amiâ—s Poulet born at Hinton St. George in Summerseâ—shire Son to Sir Hugh and Grandchild to Sâ—r Amias Powlet was Chancellour of the Garter Governour of the Isles of Iersey and Gernsey and Privy-Councellour to Queen Elizabeth He was so faithful and trusty that the Queen committed the keeping of Mary Queen of Scots to his custody which he discharged with great fidelity As Caesar would have his Wife so he his spirit above the very suspicion of unworthiness equally consulting his Fame and his Conscience When he performed his last Embassie with no less satisfaction to the King of France than honour to the Queen of England at once with a good humour and a great state he would not accept a Chain and all Gifts are Chains from that King by any means until he was a League from Paris then he took it because he would oblige that Prince and not till then because he would not be obliged by any but his Soveraign saying I will wear no chains but my Mistresses It is the interest of Princes that their Servants Fortune should be above the temptation it is their happiness that their Spirits are above the respects of a private concern Observations on the Lives of Sir James Croftsâ— John Grey of Pyrgo Sir Henry Gates EMblems of honour derived from Ancestors are but rotten Rags where ignoble posterity degenerates from their Progenitors but they are both glorious and precious where the children both answer and exceed the Vertues of their extraction as in these three Gentlemen whose Ancestors fill both Pages of former Kings Chronicles as they do the Annals of Queen Elizabeth Three Gentlemen whom it's pity to part in their Memoires since they were always together in their Employments All three were like to die in Qâ—een Mary's days for the prosession of the Protestanâ— Religion all three spending their Lives in Queen Elizabeth's for the propagation of it 1. Sir Henry Gates lying in Rome as a Spy under the Notion of Cardinal Florido's Secretary six years Iohn Grey drawing up the whole Proceedings and Methods of the Reformation for ten years and Sir Iames Crofts being either the vigilant and active Governour of Berwick or the prudent and successful Commissioner in Scotland for seven years When the French threatned us by the way of Scotland the Earl of Northumberland was sent Northward for his interest as Warden of the middle March Sir Ralph Sadler for his wisdome as his Assiâ—tant and Councellour and Sir Iames Crofts for his Conduct as both their Guide and Director-general An estate in the Purse credits the Court wisdome in the Head adorneth it but both in the Hand serve it Nobly did he and Cuthbert Vaughan beat the French that sallied out of Edinburgh into their Trenches but unhappily stood he an idle Spectator in his quarter the next Scalado while the Eâ—glish are overthrown and the Duke writes of his infidelity to the Queen who discharged him from his place though not from her favour for in stead of the more troublesome place the Government of Berwick she conferred on him that more honourable the Controllership of hâ—r Houshold Great service did his Valour at Hadington in Scotland against the French greater his prudence in Vlster against the Spaniards Alâ—hough his merit made his honour due to him and his Blood becoming though his Cares Travels and Dangers deâ—erved pity his quiet and meek Nature love though he rise by wary degrees and so was unobserved and stood not insolently when up and so was not obnoxious yet â—nvy reflected as hot upon him as the Sun upon the rising ground which stands firm though it doth not flourish as this Gentleman 's resolved honesty did overcoming Court-envy with a solid worth waxing old at once in years and reverence and dying as the Chronicle wherein he dieth not but with Time reports it in good favour with his Prince and sound reputation with all men for three infallible sources of Honour 1. That he aimed at Merit more than Fame 2. That he was not a Follower but an Example in great Actions and 3. That he assisted in the three great concerns of Government 1. in Laws 2. in Arms and 3. in Councils In AEsop there is a slight Fable of a deep moral it is this Two Frogs consulted together in the time of Drowth when many plashes that they had repaired to were dry what was to be done and the one propounded to go down into a deep well because it was like the water would not fail there but the other answered Yea but if it do fail how shall we get up again Mr. Grey would Nod and say Humain affairs are so uncertain that he seemeth the wisest man not who hath a spirit to go on but who hath a wariness to come off and that seems the best course that hath most passages out of it Sir Iames Crofts on the other hand hated that irresolution that would do nothing because it may be at liberty to do any thing Indeed saith one Necessity hath many times an advantage because it awaketh the powers of the minde and strengtheneth Endeavour Sir Iames Crofts was an equal Composition of both as one that had one fixed eye on his Action and another indifferent one on his retreat Observations on the Life of William Lord Grey of Wilton THat great Souldier and good Christian in whom Religion was not a softness as Machiavil discoursed but a resolution Hannibal was sworn an Enemy to Rome at nine years of Age and my Lord bred one to France at fourteen Scipio's first service was the rescue of his Father in Italy and my Lord Grey's was the safety of his Father in Germany He had Fabius his slow way and long reach with Herennius his fine polices and neat Ambuscadoes having his two Companions always
difference ended was Is not this easier than going to London or Ludlow When a man fretted against himself or other My Friend he would say take it from me a weakman complains of others an unfortunate man of himself but a wise man neither of others nor of himself It was his Motto I 'll never threaten To threaten an Enemy is to instruct him a Superiour is to endanger my person an Inferiour is to disparage my conduct Old servants were the Ornament and stay of his Family for whom he reserved a Copyhold when aged a service when hopeful an Education when pregnant Twice was he sent underhand to France and once to Scotland to feel the pulse of the one and to embroyl the other It 's for setled Kingdomes and for Wealthy men to play above-board while the young State as the young Fortune should be least in sight He and Sir Thomas Randolph amuse the Queen of Scots with the hope of the Crown of England and the King of France by a League with his protestant subjects to whose aâ—sistance Sir Adrian Poynings arrives as Field-marshal and the Earl of Warwick as General Sir Nicholas Arnold had disposed Ireland to a settlement when Justicer and Sir Henry Sidney formerly Justicer and Treasurer was now to compleat it as Dâ—puty being assisted in Munster by Sir Warham St. Leiger and elsewhere by the brave Earl of Ormond having procured his Antagonist the Earl of Desmond to be called to England in order of a peace and tranquility Great was his Authority over far greater his love to and esteem of the Soldiers with whom he did wonders against Shane Oneals Front while Randolph charged his Rear until the wild Rebels submits and is executed When he resigned his Authority and Honour to Sir William Drury he took his farewel of Ireland in these words VVhen Israel departed out of Egypt and the house of Jacob from a barbarous people A singular man he was saith the Historian and one of the most commendable Deputies of Ireland to whose Wisdome and Fortitude that Kingdome cannot but acknowledge much though it is as impatient of Deputies as Sicily was of old of Procurators Observations on the Life of Sir John Puckering HE was born at Flamboroughead in Yorkshire second Son to a Gentleman that left him an Estate neither plenteous nor penurious his breeding was more beneficial to him than his portion gaining thereby such skill in the common Law that he became the Queens Sergeant speaker in the house of Commons and at last Lord Chancellour of England How he stood in his Iudgement in the point of Church-discipline plainly appeareth by his following speech delivered in the house of Lords 1588. You are especially commanded by her Majesty to take heed that no Ear be given nor time afforded to the wearisome sollicitations of those that commonly be called Puritans where with all the late Parliaments have been exceedingly importuned which â—ort of men whilst that in the giddiness of their Spirits they labour and strive to advance a new eldership they do nothing else but disturb the good repose of the Church and Commonwealth which is as well grounded for the body of Religion it self and as well guided for the discipline as any Realm that confesseth the truth And the same thing is already made good to the world by many of the Writings of godly and learned men neither answered nor answerable by any of these new fangled Refiners And as the present case standeth it may be doubted whether they or the Iesuits do offer more danger or be more speedily to be repressed For albeit the Iesuites do empoyson the hearts of Her Majesties Subjects under a pretext of Conscience to withdraw them from their Obedience due to Her Majesty yet do they the same but closely and in privy-corners But these men do both teach and publish in their printed Books and teach in all their Conventicles sundry Opinions not onely dangerous to a Well-setled Estate and the Policy of the Realm by putting a Piâ—e between the Clergy and the Layty but also much derogatory to her sacred Majesty and her Crown as well by the diminution of her ancient and lawful Revenues and by denying Her Highness Prerogative and Supremacy as by offering peril to her Majesties safety in her own Kingdome In all which things however in other Points they pretend to be at war with the Popish Iesuites yet by this separation of themselves from the unity of their fellow subjects and by abasing the Sacred Authority and Majesty of their Prince they do both joyn and concur with the Iesuites in opening the Door and preparing the way to the Spanish Invasion that iâ— threatned against the Realm And thus having according to the weakness of my best understanding delivered Her Majesties Royal pleasure and wise direction I rest there with humble Suit of her Majesties most gracious Pardon in supplying of my defects and recommend you to the Author of all good councel He died anno Domini 1596 charactered by Mr. Cambden Vir Integer Hiâ— Estate is since descended according to the solemn settlement thereof the Male Issue failing on Sir Henry Newton who according to the Condition hath assumed the surname of Puckering Sir Thomas Egerton urged against the Earl of Arundel methodically what he had done before in and since the Spanish Invasion Sir Iohn Puckering pressed things closely both from Letters and Correspondence with Allen and Parsons that few men had seen and from the saying of my Lord himself which fewer had observed who when Valongers Cause about a Libel was handled in the Star-chamber had said openly He that is throughly Popish the same man cannot but be a Traytor A man this was of himself of good repute for his own Carriage but unhappy for that of his servants who for disposing of his Livings corruptly left themselves an â—ill name in the Church and him but a dubious one in the State David is not the onely person whom the iniquity of his heels that is of his followers layeth hold on Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Bromley SIr Thomas Bromley was born at Bromley in Shropshire of a right ancient Family He was bred in the Inner Temple and made before he was forty years of age General sollicitor to Queen Elizabeth and afterwards before he was fifty succeeded Sir Nicholas Bacon in the Dignity of Lord Chancellour yet Bacon was not missed while Bromley succeded him and that loss which otherwise could not have been repaired now could not be perceived Which Office he wisely and learnedly executed with much discretion possessing it nine years and died anno 1587 not being sixty years old My Lord Hunsdon first employed this Gentlâ—man and my Lord Burleigh took first notice of him He had a deep head to dive to the bottome of the abstruse Cases of those times and a happy mean to manage them with no less security to the Estate than satisfaction to the people A man very industrious in his
the Churches publick peace required or its indulgence to promote Christians permitted The Uniformity he pressed was not more advantageous to Religion which must of necessity have been propagated when Controversies had been turned to devotion than it was necessary for the State which cannot be secure as long as there is a mark of distinction under which all Male contents may shrowd themselves a note of separation whereby the Factions may reckon their parties and estimate their strength and a way open to popularity to the ambition of any whose interest or desperateness shall adventure to make himself head of so great a pâ—rty He was a person of so great abilities which are the designations of nature to dignity and command that they raised him from low beginnings to the highest Office the Protestant profession acknowledgeth in the Church and he was equal to it His learning appeared eminent in his Book against Fisher and his piety illustrious in his Diary He was of so publick a spirit that both the Church and Sâ—ate have lasting Monuments of the virtuous use he made of his Princes favour at his admittance into wâ—ich he dedicated all the future Emoluments of it to the glory of God and the good of men by a projection of many noble Works most of which he accomplished and had finished the rest had not the fate of the Nation checked the current of his Design and cut off the course of his Life He was not contented by himself only to serve his Generation for so he might appear more greedy of fame than desirous of the universal benefit but he endeavoured to render all others as heroick if they aimed at a capacity for his friendship For I have heard it from his Eâ—emies no great man was admitted to a confidence and respect with him unless â—he made Address by some act that was for the common good or for the ornament and gloâ—y of the Protestant faith Learned men had not a better Friend nor Learning itself a greater Advancer He searched all the Libraries of Asia and â—rom several parts of the world purchased all the Ornaments and helps of Literature â—e could that the English Church might have if possible by his care as many advantages for knowledge as almost all Europe did contribute to the grandeur of that of Rome The outward splendour of the Clergy was not more his care than their honour by a grave and pious conversation He would put them into a power of doing more good but was sore against their Vices and Vanities He scorned a private Treasure and his friends were rather relieved than raised to any greatness by him In his election of friends he was determined to the good and wise and such as had both parts and desires to profit The Church had his closest embraces if otherwise it happened their frauds not his choice deserved the blame Both Papists and Sectâ—ries were equally his Enemies one party feared and the other hated his Vertues Some censured his zeal for Discipline above the patience of the Times but his greatest unhappiness was that he lived in a factious Age and corrupt State and under such a Prince whose Verâ—ues not admitting an immediate approach for Accusations was to be wounded with those iâ— did caress But when Faction and Malice are worn out by time Posterity shall engrave him in the Albâ— of the most excellent Prelacy the most indulgent Fathers of the Churchâ— and the most injured Martyrs His blood was accompanyed with some tears that fell from those Eyes that expected a pleasure at his death and it had been followed with Miseries and the present Fears of Ruine exacted all the stock of Grief for other objects His very enemy Sir Edward Deering would confess That let him dye when he would St. Pauls would be his Monument and his Book against Fishes his Epitaph Observations on the Life of the Lord Keeper Littleton SIr Edward Littleton the eldest son of Sir Edward Littleton of Mounslow in Shropshire one of the Justices of the Marches and Chief-Justice of North-Wales was bred in Christ-Church in Oxford where he proceeded Batchellor of Arts and afterwards was one of the Justices of North-Wales Recorder of London and Sollicitor to King Charles From these places he was preferred to be Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas and made Privy-Councellor thence advanced to be Lord-Keeper and Baron of Mounslow the place of his Nativity He died in Oxford and was buried in Christs-Church where he was bred Being a Member of the Parliament 1628. he had the management of the high presumption charged on the Duke of Buckingham about King Iames his death wherein he behaved himself so discreetly between the jealousiâ— of the People and the honour of the Court that Sir Iohn Finch would say He was the only man for taking things by a Right handle And Sir Edward Cook that He was a well-poized and weighed man His very name carried an Hereditary credit with it much plaineth out the way to all great Actions his virtue being authorizing by his nobility and his undertakings ennobled by his birth gained that esteem which meaner men attain not without a large compass of time and experience worthless Nobility and ignoble worth lye under equal disadvantage Neither was his extract so great as his parts his judgement being clear and piercing his Learning various and useful his skill in the Maxims of our Government the fundamental Laws of his Monarchy with its Statutes and Customs singular his experience long and observing his integrity unblemished and unbyassed his Eloquence powerful and majestick and all befitting a Statesman and a Lord-Keeper set off with a resolved Loyalty that would perform the harshest service his Master could enjoyn him while he stayed at London and follow the hardest fortune he could be in when at York whither he went with the great Seal he knew made to stamp Royal Commissions rather than authorize Rebellious Ordinances At Oxford he did good service during the Session of Parliament by Accommodations there and as good during their recess by his interest in the Country Observations on the Life of the Marquess Hamilton A Preacher being at a loss what to say of a party deceased concluâ—â—d his Sermon with these words There is one good quality in this man viz. That he was born and that God made him And another viz. That he is dead and we must speak noâ—hing but good of the dead I may say of this Noble-man that I have two reasons to speak well of himâ— 1. That good King Charles honoured him 3 and 2. That his wicked Subjects beheaded him otherwise I must leave these Queries as I finde them Quaere 1. Why should Duke Hamilton post without leave into Scotland when the Parliament was discontented and the Duke of Buckingham murthered in England Qu. 2. Why should Ramsey the Dukes Messenger to the King of Sweden play the Embassadour in Germany and take place of all other persons there Qu. 3. What design was that
being loath to loose hope as long as hope had thread or hair to hold by he told them he had one friend or companion in the Castle who was so wise so valiant and so fortunate that to him and his exploits alone he would deliver up the manage of their safelty this was Prayer Chaplain to the great King and Priest of that Colony then Prayer was called for and all proceedings debâ—ted he presently armeth himself with Humility Clemency Sincerity and Fervency and in spight of the Enemy passeth his Camp comes to the King his Master and with such moving passion entereth his eares so that presently Armes are raysed which returning under the Conduct of Prayer overthroweth the King of Arabia makes spoyl of his Camp and gives to the Castle of Truth its first noble Liberty Observations on Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellour of England HE roseâ—up high because he stept out well Sir Thomas More was half way Chancellour when born to Sir Iohn More Chief Iustice. The Father's Prudence Wit and Nobleness flowed with his Blood to the Sons Veins Much Honour he received from his Family more he gave to it His Mother saw his Face shining in a Dream on her Wedding Night and his Father saw his Life so really A quick City-Spirit made him capable of great State-Employments He was saved by a Miracle and was One For his Nurse riding with him over a Water and being in some danger threw him over a Hedge where she found him not hurt but sweetly smiling upon her A Free-School seasoned his forward Childhood and the grave wise and excellent Cardinal Mortons House his Youth The One with Learning to make him a Scholar the Other with Prudence to make him a Man But the Distractions of that House were not so proper for his promising Ingenuity as the Retirements of the University where in two years time he shewed what Wonders Wit and Diligence could do in Rhetorick Logick and Philosophy The Colledge kept him strict and his Father short so that as heâ— blessed God afterward He had neither the leisure nor the means to be vicious The Cardinal said he would be Great and his excellent Genius said he would be Humble The Lord Chancellour would give place to and ask blessing of the Lord Chief Justice The Father being not more happy in his Son than the Son in his Father At 17 his wit was eminent for his Epigrams His Antilucian Oration commended by all men but Brixius for pure genuine and flowing At 18 his wisdom in overcoming his Antagonist Brixius with kindness and himself with Mortifications His fastings were frequent his watchings on the hard ground severe his Hair-cloath even in his Chancellourship course his exercises among the Carthusians in the Charterhouse for four years austere his designâ— for the Franciscan Hood and a Priesthood with his Friend Lilly solemn His prayers uninterrupted When the King sent for him once at Mass he answered That when he had done with God he would wait on his Majesty He imitated Picus Mirandula's Life and writ it He heard Dr. Collet his Confessours Sermons and followed his liâ—e whose experience was his counsel whose conversation was his life He could not away with the good Sermon oâ— a bad man Collet was his Father Linâ—â—re Lilly Grocine were his Friends He learned more by prayer than he did by study his Poems were acute his Speeches pure and copious his Latine elegant yet his head was knotty and Logical his Diet was temperate his Apparel plain his Nature tractable and condescending though very discerning to the meanest mens counsel his Vertues solid not boasted In a word the foundation of his Liâ—e was as low as the building was to be high Words and Terms being not by Nature but Imposition verborum ut nummorum those were best liked by him that were most current amongst the best Artists he fearing new words as leading to new things though the quitting of ancient and allowed expressions to affect new phrases will be no advantage at long run for whatsoever be the forms of speaking the state of things will be the same and the very argument that convinceth an erroneous person now in the old received and Orthodox Language would convince him likewise in the new wayes of speaking which he desires to introduce after it is formed and generally understood All the benefit that he could make of it would be only a little time between the suppression of the one and the introduction of the other wherein he might jugle and play Hocus Pocus under the Cloak of Homonymous and Ambiguous expressions In vulgar appellations we are to speak as the common people but in terms of Art which saith Scaliger are rudibus ingeniis acerba delicatis ridicula we are to follow the most approved Artists the Mushrome Errours and Haeresies springing up in his time he advised should be rather suppressed by Discipline than increased by disputations they who in the common principles of Religion clash ordinarily with the whole Church who so affectedly swerve from the approved rules and healthful constitutions of all orderly Common-wealths to the disturbance of all humane society and the cutting off of all Relations between man and man they who cannot preserve Unity with themselves but are ever and anon interfereing tripping up their own heels by contradictions need no just confutation or single or other adversary than God themselves and all mankind since their opinions are grounded upon their own imaginations rather than approved Authority and they interpret Scripture not according to the perpetual tradition of the Church but according to their own distempered â—ancies and that in discourses more full fraught with supercilious confidence than deep reason It were a folly to draw the saw of contenâ—ion with them especially in such a case where it is impiety to doubt and Blasphemy to dispute Quid cum illis agas qui neque jus neque bonum aut aequum sciunt â—Melius pejus prosit obsit nil vident nisi quod lubet Such daring mens opinions creating truth and falsehood by the words of their mouth being like a pillar of smoak breaking out of the top of some narrow Chimney and spreading it self â—broad like some Cloud as if it threatned to take possession of the whole Region of the Ayr darkening the skye and seeming to press the Heavens and after all this when it hath offended the eyes a little for the present the first puffe of wind or a few minutes do altogether disperse it The little Mouse stealeth up through the Elephants trunke to eat his brains the Indian Rat creepeth into the belly of the gaping Crocodile and the least opposition overthrows these great pretenders especially if you give them line and space enough to bounce and tumble up and down and tire themselves out Great he judged was the influence Religion had upon humane societies whether we consider the nature of the thing or the blessing of God without which they are
soapy bubbles quickly dissolved Cicero could say that Rome ought more of its grandeur to Religion than either to strength or stratagems we have not exceeded the Spaniards in number nor the Gaules in strength nor the Carthaginians in craft nor the Graecians in Art c. but we have overcome all Nations by our Piety and Religion He esteemed all Common-wealths happy but those wherein Preachers like the Graecian Sophisters described in Plato all whatsoever pleased the great Beast the multitude holy just and good and whatsoever the great Beast disliked evil unjust prophane He married himself to Vertue and not to an Estate he likes a younger sister yet out of civility he embraceth the elder Happy he was in his modest Wives happier in his hopeful Children His Government of his Family was exact enjoyning all his Children to take Vertue for their meat and Play for their sawce His proficiency in the Law was admirable his Practice successeful his Judgment solid his Integrity eminent his Determinations in the Sheriffs Court his Activity for the Stilyard his Practice in the Courts of Justice raised him to a Place in Parliament where he was so good a Patriot that he displeased King Henry the seventh and so wise a man that he awed King Henry the eighth the one by Fox demands one Subsidie and three Fifteens and the beardless boy as the Courtiers called Sir Thomas disappointed him the other made a motion by Wolsey which he overthrew so that the Cardinal wished him at Rome He retires to his studies to avoid Henry the seventh's displeasure and improves them to gain his sons favour who by his Cardinal invited him to Court and employed him abroad to France to recover his debts to Flanders to confirm the peace Employments he avoided a while to keep his City-interest and in case of controversie with the King to prevent their jealousie his business was so urgent that you would think he had no leasure and his writings so exact that you would think he had no business Not a minute of his time escaped employment His History of Richard the third is faithful his Vtopia is judicious and elegant his Lectures at St. Laurence were learned and pious His Popularity in Parliament commended him to his Majesty his strong Arguments for the Popeship in Star-chamber brought him to him against his modest inclination as much as against Wolsey's interest His ability set him on the Council-table his integrity placed him in the Exchequer His Services promoted him to the Dutchy of Lancaster his Dexterity and Prudence made him the Kings bosome friend and his familiar all his spare hours whose Questions in every Art and Science were not more useful than Sir Thomas his Answers were satisfactory His advice was his Majesties and his Queens Oracles in Counsel his discourse was their recreation at Table He was not more delightful to the King at Court than he was serviceable to him in appeasing tumults c. in the Cityâ— He was the Kings Favourite at White-hall and the Peoples Darling at Westminster where he was Speaker as well with the unanimous consent of the one as with the approbation of the other and between both impartial equally careful of Prerogative and Priviledges neither awed from right by power nor flattered with popularity He declined Forein services with as much Dexterity as he managed Domestick ones He served the King faithfully but trusted him not as one that enjoyed and suspected Fortune saying If his Head could win King Henry a Castle in Wales it would off The King and Kingdome trusted him who was that one sound Councellour the King had The Cardinal told him he was the veriest Fool in the Council he replied God be thanked my Master hath but one fool here His Honour was set off by a grave condescention and a grave humility Did he argue he was very moderate civil and modest Did he reprove he was pitiful grave and prudent Was he with the King at the University he was ready and eloquent Was he abroad he heard thâ— Lectures attentively and disputed accurately To his Friend as Dr. Tunstal none more faithful to learned men as Erasmus none more civil to devout men such as Bishop Fisher none more fiâ—m to hopeful men such as Powle there was none more encouraging to painful men such as Grocinus Linacer Crocus Lupsel Lilly Cocklee Budlera Dorpin Bewald Luscar Grannould Vines Groclenius Buslidian AEgidius Rhenanus none more familiar constant or liberal in his conscience none more satisfied and sedate in his discourse none more innocent and pleasant in his heart none more devout and sincere His meditations were frequent his retirements to a Chappel built of purpose daily his Prayers constant and zealous his conversation with his Wives loving and debonnair taking them off their cares to reading and musick His Servants were always employed either in his or Gods service suffering them not by idleness to be at leisure for sin nor by wanton converse to be tempted to it His Table-talk after the Chapter was pleasing and useful his counsels useful his converse exemplary his family-instructions to hear afflictions patiently to withstand temptations resolvedly to mind heavenly matters devoutly to go plainly and soberly to recreate themselves moderately and vertuously were effectual There went a blessing along with all his Servants and happiness with his whole Family His Apophthegms were grounded on experience and judgement He would say 1. He was not always merryâ— that laughed 2. The World is undone â—y looking on things at distance 3. To aim at Honour here is to set up a Court of Arms over a Prison-gate 4. If I would employ my Goods well I may be contented to loose them if ill I should be glad 5. He that is covetous when he is old iâ— as a Thief that steals when he is going to the Gallows 6. Bags of Gold to us when Saints will be but as a Bag of Pebble-stones when men 7. The greatest punishment in the World were to have our wishes 8. Pusillanimity is a great temptation 9. Affliction undoes many Pleasure most 10. We go to Hell with more pain than we might go to Heaven with Of Heresie he said Like as before a great storm the Sea swelleth and hath unwonted motions without any Wind stirring so may we see here many of our English-men which a few years ago could not endure to hear the name of an Heretick or Schismatick now to be contented both to suffer them and to praise them somewhat yea to learn by little and little as much as they can be suffered to finde fault and to tax willingly the Church the Clergy and the Ceremonies 11. The more of any thing else we have but Riches the more good we are 12. Who would not send his Alms to Heavenâ— Who would not send his Estate whither he is to be banished 13. Some Men hate Hypocrisie and love Impudence 14. When any detracted others at his Table he said
more mindful of kindnesses and none more grateful for civilities He was so wise as seldom to forget an injury in the consequence of it and so noble as ever to remember love in the return of it His honest Parents conveyed him an excellent temper and that temper a brave spirit which had the advantage of his bâ—rth some say at Reading some at Henley at an equal distance from the University where he was to be a Scholar and the Court where he was to be a Man In the first of these his indefatigable industry his methodical study his quick apprehension his faithful memory his solid judgement his active fancy his grave and quick countenance his sharp and piercing eye raised him by discreet and wary steps to all the preferments and commended him to all the employments of the University when Proctor whereof he was admitted for his prudence to the Earl of Devonshire's service which hazarded and when Divinity-Reader observed by the Lords of Rochester and Lincoln for his judgement which advanced him As his design was above the level of modern Sciolists so were his Studies not prepossessed with the partial Systemes of Geneva but freely conversant with the impartial volumes of the Church-Catholick he had an infallible apprehension of the Doctrine and Discipline and a deep insight into the interest of Christianity This capacious soul conversed with the most knowing of all Judgments to finde the bottom of all Errors and with the most judicious of his own to discern the grounds of all truth He had his eye on the University to reduce it when Head of St. Iohn's on the lower Functions of the Church in his Pastoral charges to reform them and upon the higher when Dean of Gloucester Prebend of Westminster and Bishop of St. Davids to settle them He was a man of that search and judgment that he found out the principles of government that were true to the Church of that faithfulness and resolution that amidst all discouragements he was true to them The Church-government he found by many private-spirited men accommodated to their ease and interest he adjusted to truth and settlement consulting not humors which are uncertain as interest but truth which is certain as Eternity Arch-Bishop Abbot's Yield and they will be pleased at last was a great miscarriage Arch-Bishop Laud's Resolve for there is no end of yielding was great policy His great reach in Government suitable to that King's apprehensions commended him to King Iames his vast ability and integrity to K. Charles and the Dukâ— of Buckingham To the first whereof he was a Privy-Councellor to the other a Bosom-friend before both whom he laid the best Representations and Ideas of the English government as to things and persons in several abstracts of any man under heaven I have heard a Statesman say That none knew the joynts turnings flexures and interests of all Parties in Church or State that were either to be encouraged or suppressed with the seasons and opportunities to do it so well as Dr. Laud. Discerning was his fore-sight compleat his intelligence exact his correspondence quick his dispatches seasonable and effectual his Sermons and Discourses inquisitive and observing his Converse His Instruments were able and knowing men that were faithful to the Church as he was in Man-warâ—ng and Mountagu's case to them Knowing well as he wrote to my Lord of Buckingham that discouragements would deter men of parts whom encouragements might make serviceable He knew no man better how to temper a Parliament having a Catalogue of all the Nobility and Gentry with their Interest and Inclination in his eye He understood none more exactly what was to be discoursed and proposed to them having a clear apprehension of the several Junctures and Tendencies of affairs He entertained no thought but what was publick in his breast no man but what was nobly spirited in his familiarity Ever watchful he was of all opportunities to advance the Churches honour 1. In her Sons as Bishop Iuxon c. 2. Her Discipline as in his several Visitations Articles Star-Chamber and High-Commission matters 3. In her Endowments as the buying of Impropriations in Ireland 4. In her Priviledge as the Canons of England 5. In her Ornaments as the repairing furnishing of St. Pauls and most other Churches in his Province 6. In her Universities as the statutes of Oxford the priviledges of Cambridge and his vast gifts of Oriental Books and Buildings and his vaster design for both and as watchful against all the designs to undermine it The Feofâ—ees for Impropriations he laid aside the Sabbatizing and Predestinarian controversies he silenced the Licenâ—ious Press he reduced Dignities and Preferments hâ— worthily filled up bribes at Court he retrenched No interest no alliance could ever advance an unworthy person while he lived Breed up your children well and I will provide for them was his saying to all his Relations Many a man would be disobliged by his sternness at first view for whom if deserving he would afterwards contrive kindnesses by after and unexpected favours No place of experience did he ever miss none of employment did he ever decline He would never see Authority hâ—ffled but either wave all proceedings against offenders or go through with them His prosecutionâ— as in Leighton's Case were close his observation of all câ—rcâ—mstances as in Lincoln's wary his declarations of the Cases clear and convincing as in Pryn's Bastwick's and Burion's his sentence milde and compassionate as in Waller's his resolution and justice ever making way to his mercy and his mercy crowning his justice Often did he confer with the ablest and most Orthodox Clergy with the most experienced and knowing Civilians with the most observing and reserved Courtiers with the profoundest Lawyers with the skilfullest and discreetest Mechanicks out of all whose opinions the result was his most exact judgement in any case that came before him at Court or at Lambeth The roughness of his nature sent most men discontented from him but so that he would often of himself find ways and means to sweeten such as had any worth again when they least looked for it Many were offended at his prudent zeal against the Jewish Sabbatism in his government who were very well satisfied with the strictness of his observation of the Lords day in his person But let one great man express another Bishop Gauden Arch-Bishop Laud whose thoughts lye so much the more levelled to his brave Sentiments as his dignity did to his high place As to his secret design of working up this Church by little and little to a Romish conformity and captivity I do not believe saith he he had any such purpose or approved thought because beside his declared judgment and conscience I find no secular Policy or Interest which he could thereby gain either private or publick but rather lose much of the greatness and freedom which he and other Bishops with the wholâ— Church had without which temptâ—tion no man in charity may be