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prime Ministers of State to comfort him would not be satisfied until he saw them mitigated in King Henry's time and repealed in King Edward's Gardiner would have questioned him for entertaining forein Hereticks and promoting Domestick Schisms the Northern Rebels accused him for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
an Emperour it was more none was dismissed ever in discontent from Sir William Paget a Secretary of State The King was not happier in his abilities to serve him than he was in their dexterity who waited upon him These are my eyes saith the discreet man these are my right hands For his service he would chuse a Man before a Scholar a Traveller before a Home-bred Parts he preferred in his Office a Presence in his Chamber Parts and Presence in the Closet Beecher was King Henry the Eighth his Map of England so well skilled he was in our English Customs Trade Improvements Situation Interest and Inclination Paget was his Table of Germany France and Rome so exact an account could he give of their Situation Havens Forts Passages Provision Policies Revenue and Strength secured he was in King Henry's changeable times by his forein Travels and Employments Escape he did King Edward's Reformation by his Moderation and peaceableness He complied with Queen Mary's Zeal out of conscience and submitted to Queen Elizabeth's Authority out of Duty and Allegiance being one of those moderate men that looked upon the Protestants primitive Foundations of Faith Duty and Devotion as safe and on the Papists superstructures as not damnable Whose life was Grotius and Cassander's Wish An Accommodation to the Christian World Privacy is the Favourites Inâ—erest and concealment his â—are Sir William wished for success for his Masters sake but dissembled it for his own He is the man that loseth neither his Privacy nor his Reputation Quiet was his temper though noble his resolution Troublesome is a witty man on a stage as a Monkey in a cup-board of glass Placed sweet and composed is the prudent Man like an Intelligence in the Heavens or a god in the World Up he went but by just degrees that if down he must he might do so with the same leasure and safety When he had managed the Secrets and Negotiations of Henry the Eighth with Dexterity and Faithfulness the Lands of King Edward the Sixth with Skill and Improvement the Purses of Queen Mary Qâ—een Elizabeth with good Husbandry and Caâ—e When he had lived enough to his Countries to his Sovereigns to his Friends and the Publique Good he retired to live to Himself first and then to his GOD. Observations on the Life of Sir Richard Morisin SIr Richard Morisin born in Essex or in Oxfordshire was brought up at Eaton Cambridge and Inns of Court He was so skilful in Latine and Greek and in the Common and Civil Law that he was often employed Embassador by King Henry the VIII and Edward the VI unto Charles the Fifth Emperour and other Princes of Germany which he dischargeâ— with all honesty and ability After the death of King Edward the VI he was forced to fly beyond the Seas and returning out of Italy died at Strasburgh on the 17. of March 1556. Three things made a compleat man in those days 1. A publick School where their School-fellows Genius's instruct much more tâ—an their School-masters pains where a man attains at once to Learning Prudence and a Spirit 2. A comprehensive insight into Tongues and Sciences by the first whereof they unlocked Men and by the second Things â— 3 Travel where they saw what they read and made that a solid apprehension and observation which was before but a fluid notion and a floating imagination Our Knight was happy in all Three but so compleat in the last that he had the Virtues and Port of a German as if he had been a Native of that place and loathed the Vices as if he had never seen it Thereby he could get so far within that people that he saw all their Intrigues and be yet so reserved that they could see nothing The ablest German Divines guided his conscience and the greatest Statesmen his Negotiation He kept under the Emperour by the Princes the French by the Emperour and the Pope by them all So much service did the good Knight to King Henry the Eighth in his Wise Katharine's Case and so much the whole Kingdom in that of Religion that he equally fled Qâ—een Mary's wrath and her Religious Persecutions His strong paâ—ts set off his comprehensive knowledge his resolute spirit his parts and his presence and mode all King Henry always chusing an Embassador that might represent his Person as well as his power And Sir Richard had his Hegh in Germany as well as Henry in England His knack was his foresight which made that an Adviso in England which was hardly a known design there saying usually His Master maintained not Embassadors so much to write Histories as Prophecies The Trejans sent to condole with Caesar for his Son that was dead two years ago he thanked them and condoled with them for Hector that was slain as many hundred years Our Embassador in France adviseth Sir Richard of a Battel fought a Week before and he in answer makes a large discourse of the Battel of Spurs fought many years before and adds I and You are not here to tell old stories Two things he said he was troubled with Envy and Malice and two Remedies he had against them Patience and Resolution Always he wheeled with the first Mover yet he had private motions of his own Singular but modest So faithful he was that he would dâ—clare his Opinion yet so wary that he would not stand in it against his Prince knowing that if he did it out of prudence he rendered the Princes Ability suspected if out of his own sagacity it blemished his Integrity Both equal inconveniencies to intimate the Master Unable or the Servant Corrupt When others pressed for an over-strict Reformatiâ—n this Gentleman urged That Distempers in the Body and State are reduced by Physicians and Politicians not to what they should be but to what they can be Freedom Moderation and Impartiality are the best tempers of Reforming Counsels and Endeavours What is acted singularly must offend more than it pleaseth a study to gratify some men being a likely way to injure all The novelty of excessive and immoderate undertakings giving not so much content to the vulgar of a present Age as the mischiefs of them give offense to the Generations of future times And Melancthon's discourse to him was to this purpose That the Reformation of hearts should go before that of Churches and men should try that on their own hearts which they design upon the Church For Deformities within will soon betray the Pretenders of publique Reformation to such private designs as must needs hinder the publique Good It would be an easie matter for Favouâ—iâ—es to reform Kings Palaces saith Malvezzi if it were not a hard thing to reform their own houses One asked him Why his Embassie tended so much more to preserve his Masters Dominions than to augment them And he replyed what is fathered on Henry the Fourth That getting is a Chance but Keeping is a Wit After a long reâ—idence abroad he thought of
nor the Courts-advancements of his Relations this Gentleman to sit still having both Livis's qualifications for an eminent man a great spirit and a gallant conduct for actions a sharp wit and a fluent tongue for advice Whence we meet with him Comptroller of the Kings Houshold at home and his Agent for Peace abroad equally fit for business of courage and resolution and for affairs of Councel and complement I think it was this Gentleman who foreseeing a Contest likely to ensue between the English and the Spanish Embassadors to the first whereof he belonged went to Rome privately and fetched a Certificate out of the book of Ceremonies which according to the Canon giveth the rule in such cases shewing that the King of England was to precede him of Castile a good argument because ad homines wise men having always thought fit to urge not what is most rational in its self but what all circumstances considered is most convincing Sirâ— Thomas Edmonds used to puzzle the Catholicks about six Records 1. The original of Constantine's grant of Rome to the Pope 2. St. Mark 's grant of the Adriatique Gulph to Venice 3. The Salique Law in France 4. The Instrument whereby King Iohn pasâ—ed away England to the Pope 5. The Letter of King Lucius And 6. The Ordinal of the Consecration at the Nags-head Neither did he perplex them with these Quaeries more than he angered the Faction with his principles Tertio Car. â— 1. That the King was to be trusted 2. That the Revenue was to be setled 3. That the Protestant cause was to be maintained 4. That Jealousies were to be removed and things past were to be forgotten Observations on the Life of Sir Paul Pindar HE was first a Facâ—or then a Merchant next a Consul and at last an Embassador in Tuâ—key Whence returning with a good purse and a wary Head-piece he cast about what he might do to gratifie K. Iames and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury most and finding them much pleased with acts of Charity and Piety he repaired the Entry Front and Porches of St. Paul's Cathedral to all the upper Church Quiâ—e and Chancel and enriched them with Marble structures and figures of the Apostles with carvings and guildings far exceeding their former beauty which cost above two thousand pounds the act of a good man said K. Iames who made him one of the great Farmers of the Customs in gratitude whereof Sir Paul besides his former expences took upon him to new build the South Isle which cost him above 17000 l. A Projector such necessary Evils then countenanced and be a Clergy-man too informed K. Iames how he might speedily advance his Revenue by bringing in Spiritual preferments now forsooth under-rated in the Kings books to a full value to the great encrease of first-Fruits and Tenths the King demands the Lord Treasurer Cranfield's judgement thereof he said Sir You are esteemeâ— a great lovâ—r of Learning you know Clergy-mens Education is chargeable their preferment slow and small Let it not be said you gain by grinding them other ways less obnoxious to just censure will be found out to furnish your occasions The King commended the Treasurer as doing it only for tryal adding moreover I should have accounted thee a very Knave if encouraging me herein But he sends for Sir Paul Pindar and tells him he must either raise the Customs or take this course who answered him nobly That he would lay thirty thousand pounds at his feet the morrow rather than he should be put upon such poor projects as unsuitable to his honour as to his inclination Go thy way saith the King thou art a good man Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Vane Senior THree things Henry the fourth of France said would puzzle any man 1. Whether Queen Elizabeth was a Maid 2. Whether the Prince of Orange was valiant 3. What Religion he himself was of To which I may add a fourth viz. what Sir Henry Vane was whom I know not what to call but what Mr. Baxter calleth his son a hider the Fathers life being as mystical aâ— the Sons faith men as little understanding the actions of the one as they did the writing of the other But the two powers that govern the world the best and the worst are both invisible All Northern men are reserved to others but this was too â—â—e for his own Countrey-men neither Sir Iohn Savile that brought him to Court nor Sir Thomas Wentworth that advanced him theâ—e understanding either his temper or his design He betrayed any Council he was present at and marred all the Actions he was employed in As 1. When he was sent to relate the Emperor's overture to thâ— Queen of Bohemia of thirty thousand pounds per ann and a Marriage between her eldest Son and his Daughter he did it with those ackward ciâ—cumstances that transported the good Lady to such unseasonable expressions as at that time blasted her cause and expectations And thence it 's thought he brought Sir Robert Dudley's Rhapsody of Projects to disparage the King's government under pretence of supplying his necessiâ—ies it waâ— the way of the late Underminers to relieve their Masters present need upon future inconveniences hiding themselves under Proposals plausible for the present and fatal in the consequence which juggles of his were so long too little to be considered that at last they were too great to be remedied 2. He is said to have shuffled other Conditions into the Pacification at York where he was a Commissioner than were avowed by the Lords Commissioners much insisted on by the Scots and burned by the common Hang-man as false and contrary to the true Articles 3. When sent to the House 1640. to demand 12 or 8 or six Subsidies he requireth without abatement twelve with design as it 's judged to ask so much as might enrage the Parliament to give nothing and so to be dissolved unhappily or continued unsuccessfully 4. He and his son together betray the Votes passed in the select Council taken by him privately under his â—at for the reducing of Scotland to the ruine of the Earl of Strafford and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The story is Sir Henry Vane was trusted with the Junctoâ— where he took Notes of their several opinions these Notes he puts up in his Closet A while after he delivers to his son Sir H. Vane Junior a key to fetch some papers out of a Cabinet in which he finds another key to an inward shutter which he opened and lighted upon this Paper and communicates it to Mr. Pym for the end aforesaid and upon this very Paper doest not tremble Reader at this Treason alone the House of Commons voted that brave Earl out of his Life the same day that twenty two years after the same Sir Henry Vane Junior lost his head Abselvi numen Observations on the Life of Sir Richard Hutton SIr Richard Hutton was born at Perith of a worshipful Family his elder brother was a
be too close therefoâ—e we have fâ—iends to ease our selves it ruineth a man to be too open therefore there is a secret not to be communicated to a friend When the Duke of Buckingham made Knevet his Confessour he made him his Master He that is Master of my Heart is Master of my Life If my Shirt said Metellus knew my minde I would burn it If my Servant or Friend knows my intentions I must either undo him oâ— be undone by him unless he be so much above a man as not out of weakness to discover me or so much above a sinner as not out of corruption to betray me Wild Beasts dwell in Dens Fishes be in Muâ— and Birds in Nests and a Wise Man is wrapped up in security Gyges hiâ— Ring was his wiâ—dome whereby he undeâ—stood others and was reserved himself It 's pity he ever learned to speak that knoweth not how to be silent I would first be so wise sâ—ith a Wit and Wiâ—dome of our Agâ— as to be my own Counsellour and next so secret as to be my own Counsel-keeper Some of my Servants may be of my Bed-chamber but none shall be of my closet Before I told you of this saith Charles the Fifth of a Designe discovered upon the seventeen Provinceâ— to his Favourite Lunembergh I was Emperour but now you are so But the heighth of the Dukes â—pâ—â—it was equally unfortunate with the openness of it and he fell no less because he despiâ—ed Knevet than because he trusted him Contemned Dangers ruine surely while â—hey suâ—prize us at once naked and careleâ—s as ill prepared to offend the slighted Adversary as to defend our misunderstood Selves The least Beings have their â—pleen and command our caution No creature too mean to be mischievous none too inconsiderate to be feared As long as Weakness can cling to Power and Power to Malice what Knevet would but could not that Wolsey could and would If my Enemy be strong he shall awe if weak he shall guard my Life Two things are necessary in this Life Faithful Friends or Severe Enemies Tâ—e fewer of the former men of the Dukes fortune have the more use they should make of the latter The greatest Enemy when observed may do me a great kindness the least neglected can do no little mischief Security is the only misfortune and Carelessness the only fate that distresseth the World But the Duke threw away his life in a fatal word that could not be recalled I 'le not ask the King for my Life Great need have we to guard that Tongue whence flow the issues of Liâ—e and Death and weigh those words that go abroad for the measure of our Weal or Wo our words being given us to treat with the World about either discreetly to our happiness or weakly to our ruine It hath repented men that they have spoken at all times it repented none to have been silent in King Henry's when there was no security but to the Reserved and the Pliable Dionysius the Tyrant seeing one knocked down at one blow said to his fâ—iends what a folly is it to quit so fair a command for fear of dying which lasts no longer a space Observations on the Life of Sir Anthony Brown HE was always one of the Council to King Henâ—y at home and of his Commissioners abroad no Treaty passing without his presence no Negotiation without his advice the first carrying as much Majesty with it as the second did Authority the Court having bred the one to a noble Mein as Experience had done the other to an Oracle Experience I say whereby he saw more as Alexander boasted with his eye than others comprehended in their thoughts that being knowledge in him that was but conjecture in others He was the best Compound in the World a learned an honest and a travelled man a good Nature a large Soul and a settled Mind made up of Notes and Observations upon the most material points of State he could learn at Courts of Religion among the Clergy of Discipline among Souldiers of Trade among Merchants or of the situation interest avenues and strong holds by his own eyes It 's a pleasure to stand upon the shore and to see ships tost upon the Sea it 's pleasure to stand in the window of a Castle and to see a Battel with the adventures thereof below but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the Vantground of Truth an Hill saith my Noble Author not to be commanded and where the air is always clear and serene and to see the Errors and Wandrings the Mists and Tempests in the Vale below That content is better felt than expressed that this Noble Person took in his own clear thoughts when it was Mist all round about him and King Henry cried What say Cromwel and Brown Vespasian asked Apollonius What was Nero's overthrow and he answered him Nero could tune the Harp well but in Government sometimes he wound the pins too high and sometimes he let them down too low Sir Anthony told Henry the Eighth That his Government had been more easie if he had either set it not so lose at first or not so strict at last as there was indeed no King so various as his Master no State so changeable as his Government An even temper begets awe and reverence whilst the wide extreams create either on the one hand contempt and insolence or on the other discontent and murmuring Haughty and violent Courts never bless the Owners with a settled Peace This deep man was Leiger in Rome six years and Agent in France ten A person of great dispatch because of an orderly method and procedure which he observed to a superstition saying Time and Method are my Masters There are saith my Oracle three parts of business Preparation Debate and Perfection The middle King Henry comunicated to the whole Council the first and last to few viz. to my Lord Cromwel and Sir Anthony Brown The highest matters were his care as the Interview in France 1533. the most eminent Statesmen his fellows as the Duke of Norfolk the Lord Rochford and the Lord Paulet thoâ—e Noble Persons bearing the state and he managing the business of the Embassies The wise man of Florence took care that Ferdinando of Naples Medices of Florence Sforza of Millain shouâ—d gain nothing of one another to the gâ—eat secuâ—ity of Italy Sir Anthony watched our Neighbours Conquestâ— Trade Approaches c. so closely that none of those Potentates Charles the Fifth or King Francis could win a spot of Ground but his Master would balance it and so secure Europe The Interviews between Princes he disallowed yet to satisfie his Master he provided for that in France so sumptuously as one that understood the foâ—mality of a Pageant was a real advantage to a Government whose Interest is as much to gain a reputation by pomp and shew as support a welfare by prudence and strength others apprehension of our greatness contributing as much to our welfare as
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
serviceable to them and was so moderate that all thought him their own When a compleat man he was called home to be first Clerk of the Council a place of great Trust secondly Secretary of State a place of great Employment thirdly Master of the Requests an Office of great Dispatch and Business and fourthly Treasurer of the Houshold an Employment of constant care No Age wanted an able man more no Age had one more willing to secure the Universities than that which chose him to be Chancellour of Oxford at the same time that his Prince made him Treasurer of the Houshold Sacriledge it self then gaping after the University-Lands durst not tempt so honest a Man nor perswade so great a Scholar nor fright so resolute a Statesman to betray or yield up those ancient Encouragements of Learning and Virtue Loth was Oxford to part with him when a Scholar glad to entertain him a States-man with a power to protect her well tempered with Obligations to love her he who is now the Father being lately the Son maintained by a part of it as he now maintained the whole That was a scrambling time when it was catch who catch can I find not any particular favour conferred or benefaction bestowed by him in person on the University but this great good he did That his Greatness kept others from doing any harm Many hungry Courtiers had hopes to catch Fish and Fish it would be whatever came into their Nets on this turning of the Tide and alteration of Religion How easie was it for covetousness in those times to quarrel the Colledge-Lands into superstition Sacriledge stood ready to knock at their Gates and alas ' â—was past their Porter's power to â—orbid it enterance had not Sir Iohn Mason vigorously opposed it and assisted the University on all occasions He inciteth them to the study of the Tongues because sensum alicujus rei non potest ille assequi qui râ—dis esâ— Idiomatis quo traditur and directed the reading of Aristole Agricola Melancthon c. instead of Scotus Burleus Bricot calling for all their Charters Donations Statutes Popes Bulls with an exact Rental of their Lands and Inventory of their Goods which were restored intire and safe The University that could not enjoy his presence craves his protection and foreseeing in the fall of Abbeys their danger especially when Foundations erected for superstition were given by statute to the King chose Sir Iohn Mason their Chancellour who was at once a favourite oâ— Power and of Learning the greatest Lay-Statesman that was a Scholar and the greatest Scholar that was a Lay-Statesman He was not contented to secure but he must improve Oxford gaining it New Priviledges when it feared the loss of its old ones A grave and reserved Man he was who understood the Intrigues and Motions of those dark and uncertain times and his nimble and present Prudence could accommodate them His Maxime was Do and say nothing Commending the active and close man whose performances were as private coherent continued and suddain as his counsels who would not spend that time in advising that woulâ— serve for executing Many were his pensions to Scholars at home more to Agents abroad that assisted either his studies or employments whom he designed an honour to his middle and a support to his old Age. He had a peculiar way of satisfying suiters by plain dealing and dispatch he would divide all suits either into matter of Equity or a suit of Controversie or into matter of Desert or a suit of Petition In the first he had his Referrendaries to see the matter compounded between both parties rather than carried by either In the second he preferred all suitably to their Abilities No Mâ—n understood better the nature of Court-places than he and none saw further into Court-persons Two things he said always promoted a matâ—er 1. Secresie Boasting which is the way of some Courtiers though it discourageth some Competitors yet it awakeneth Others 2. Timing of it with an Eye to those about us He would advise a Man to begin with a little and mean suit For though as my Lord Bacon observes iniquum petas aequum feras is a good Rule where a Man hath strength of favour yet otherwise a Man had better rise in his suit For he that would have ventured at fiâ—st to have lost his Suitor will not in the conclusion lose both the Suitor and his own former Favour It 's from him while he lived that we learned Celerity is the best Secresie Pruâ—ence and Resolution is the only Fortune Converse is the great Education Boldness a Man's surest Success Good Nature is the eminent Nobility and a well-weighed Honesty the only Favourite It 's by him when he died we are taught that Moderation out-lasts Violence Modesty Ambition a publick Spirit a private One That to act alone may be as profitable as Honourable but to joyn with others most safe That to study the nature of a Prince may for the present advance but to understand the Interest of his Kingdom is always secure The one way being as uncertain as the frail Person it depends upon the other as sure as the lasting State it serves Observations on the Life of Sir William Stamford SIr William Stamford was of Straffordian extraction Robert his Grand-father living at Rowley in that County but William his Fathâ—r was a Merchant in London and purchased Lands at Hadley in Middlesex where Sir William was born August 22. 1509. He was bred to the study of our Municipal Laws attaining so much eminence therein that he was preferred one of the Judges of the Common Pleas. His most learned Book of The Pleas of the Crown hath made him for ever famous amongst Men of his own Profession There is a spirit of retraction of one to his Native County which made him purchase Lands and his Son settle himself in Straffordshire This worthy Judge died Aug. 28. and was buried at Hadley in this Shire in the last year of the reign of Queen Mary 1558. King Iames had a Judge that would give no money and King Henry had one that would take none There have been those Lawyers that turned the point of Law upon the Law it self that wounded the Eagle with a feather from his own Wing and stabbed the person of Princes with their Authority that dethroned Kings with a moot-point and overthrowed a Government at a Reading This Judge understood that as the Law is the security of the people so Prerogative is the strength of the Law and that that is the best temper of Government where Kings have so much power to do evil that they may be able to do good Miserable experience hath taught us that since power hath been wrested from Princes that neither they nor their people can â—e â—â—fe if both be not in such a way as the Law hath intrusted the publick safety and welfare which consists in a full power belonging to the King to secure Liberties preserve
by her But Cordel was too Popular to be neglected and too honest to be corrupted Useful Parts will finde Preferment even when the Dissenting Judgement findes not Favouâ— The Speaker of the unhappily healing Parliamâ—nt was made Master of the Rolls in Queen Maries days and of a more happily healing one was made so in Charles the Second's Reign The one was of that Primitive Faith that was before the Modern names of Papists and Protestants the other of a Moderation that was elder than the new Heats of Disciplinarians and Anti-Disciplinarians The miscarriages of Authority are chiefly sixâ— 1. Delay 2. Faction 3. Roughness 4. Corruption 5. Ambition And 6. Private Designs No delay hindred where set times of hearing were observed access was easie the order and method of business uninterrupted No corruption where there durst be no suspicion of it insomuch as that it was heinous to offer a Bribe to him as to take it in another Here was severity that awed men to a discontent but no austerity that sowred them to discontent all was smooth and grave pleasing and becoming yet nothing easiâ— or soft it being worse to yield to importunities that are dayly than to be bought with money which comes but seldom Vâ—rtue in Ambition is violent but in Authority as here it was calm and settled He â—ided with no Faction in his rise but balanced himself by all He had no design when he lived but to be spent in the Publick Service and none when he dyed but to spend himself in publick charity a charity that is at once the continued blessing and grace of that worshipful Family Cato Major would saâ— That wise men learn more of fools than fools do of wise men And King Charles the first would say That it was wisdom in fools to jest with wise men but madness for wisemen to iest with fools And Sir william Cordel bequeathed us this Oâ—servation There is no man that talks but I may gain by him and none that holds his toâ—gue but I may lose by him Observations on the Life of Sir Anthony Cooke SIr Anthony Cooke greâ—t Grandchilde to Sir Thomas Cooke Lord Mayor of London was born at Giddy-Hall in Essex where he finished a fair House begun by his great Grandfather as appeareth by this Inscription on the Frontispiece thereof AEdibus his frontem Proavus Thomas dedit olim Addidit Antoni caetera sera manus He was one of the Governors to King Edward the â—ixth when Prince and is charactered by Mr. Cambden Vir antiqua â—erenitate He observeth him also to be happy in his Daughters learned above their Sex in Greek and Latine namely 1. Mildred married unto William Cecil Lord Treasurer of England 2. Anne married unto Nicholas Bacon L. Chancellour of England 3. Katherine married unto Henry Killigrew K t 4. Elizabeth married unto Thomas Hobby K t 5. 〈◊〉 married unto Ralph Rowlet K t Sir Anthony Cooke dyed in the year of our Lord 1576. leaving a fair Estate unto his Son in whose name it continued till our time Gravity was the Ballast of his Soul and General Learning its Leading In him met the three things that set up a Family 1. An Estate honestly gotten in the City 2. An Education well managed in the University And 3. Honor well bestowed at Court Yet he was some-body in every Art and eminent in all the whole circle of Arts lodging in his soul. His Latine fluent and proper his Greek critical and exact his Philology and Observations upon each of these Languages deep curious various and pertinent His Logick rational his History and Experience general his Rhetorick and Poetry copious and genuine his Mathematicks practicable and useful Knowing that souls were equal and that Women are as capable of learning as Men he instilled that to his Daughters at night which he had taught the Prince in the day being resolved to have Sons by Education for fear he should have none by birch and lest he wanted am â—eir of his body he made five of his mind for whom he had at once a Gavel-kind of affection and of Estate His Childrens maintenance was always according to their quality and their employment according to their disposition neither allowing them to live above their fortunes nor forcing them against their natures It is the happiness of Forreigners that their Vocations are suited to their Natures and that their Education seconds their Inclination and both byass and ground do wonders Iâ—s the unhappiness of Englishmen that they are bred rather according to their Estates than their temper and Great Parts have been lost while their Calling drew one way and their Genius another and they sadly say Multum incola fuere animae nostrae We have dwelt from home Force makes Nature more violent in the return Doctrine and Discourse may make it less importune Custom may hide or suppress it nothing can extinguish it Nature even in the softer Sex runs either to Weeds or Herbs careful was this good Father therefore seasonably to water the one and destroy the other Much was done by his grave Rules more by his graver life that Map of Precepts Precepts teach but Examples draw Maxima debetur pueris reverentia was Cato's Maxime Three things there are before whom was Sir Anthony's saying I cannot do amissâ— 1. My Prince 2. My Conscience 3. My Children Seneca told his Sister That though he could not leave her a great portion he would leave her a good pattern Sir Anthony would write to his Daughter Mildred My example is your inheritance and my life is your portion His first care was to embue their tender souls with a knowing serious and sober Religion which went with them to their graves His next business was to inure their youngâ—r years to submission modesty and obedience and to let their instructions grow with their years Their Book and Pen was their Recreation the Mâ—sick and Dancing School the Court and City their accomplishment the Needle in the Closet and House-wifry in the Hall and Kitchings their business They were reproved but with reason that convinced and checked that wrought aswell an ingenious shame as an unfeigned sorrow and a dutiful fear Fondness never loved his Children aâ—d Passion never chastised them but all was managed with that prudence and discretion that my Lord Seymor standing by one day when this Gentleman chiâ— his Son said Some men govern Families with more skill than others do Kingdoms and thereupon commended hiâ— to the Government of his Nephew Edward the sixth Such the Mâ—jâ—stie of his looks and gate that Aâ—â— governed such the reason and sweetness that love obliged all his Family a Family equally afraid to displease so good a Head and to offend so great In their marriage they were guided by his Reason more than his Will and rather directed by his Counsel than led by his Authority They were their own portion Parts Beauty and Breeding bestow themselves His care was that his Daughters might have compleat
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
Secretary of State a Lady destinated to the Bâ—d of honour who after his deplorable death â—t Zutphen in the Netherlands where he was Governour of Flushing at the time of his Uncles being there was marriâ—d to my Lord of Essex and since his death to my Lord of Sâ— Albans all persons of the Sword and otherwise of great Honour and Vertue He had an equal temperament of Mars and Mercury Valour and Learning to as high a pitch as Nature and Art could frame and Fortune improve him so Dexterous that he seemed born for every thing he went about His â—â—presentations of Vertue and Vice were not more lively in his Bâ—oks than in his Life his Fancy was not above his Vertue his Humours Counsels and Actions were renowned in the Romancer Heroiâ—k in the States-man His Soul was as large as his Parents and his Complexion as Noble an equal Line of both the modesty of the Mother allaying the activity of the Father A man so sweetly grave so familiarly staid so prettily serious he was above his years Wiâ—dome gained by travel Experience raised from Observations solid and useful Learning drawn from knowing Languet his three years Companion and choâ—câ—st Books accomplâ—shed him for the love of all and the reverence of most His Converse was not more close at home than his Correspondence abroad equally mixed with Policy Pleasure Wisdome and Love his Worth being penned up and smothered within the narrowness of his fortune sallied not out to discontent buâ— pleasure sweetning the Affairs of State with the Debonnareness of the Stage his Romance being but policy played with Machiavil in jest and State maximes sweetned to a Courtiers palate He writ men as exactly as he studied them and discerned humours in the Court with the same deep insight he described them in his Book His Infant-diâ—courses teach men O what had his riper years done He put Life into dead Notions of Ancestors made Philosophy practicable joyned the Aâ—t as closely in him as they are in themselves His Book is below his spiritâ— a spiâ—it to be confined with Kingdomes rather than Stâ—dies to do what was to be written than onely to write what was to be done All eyes were upon him but his own at first in all Affairs he was the last at last he was the first obliging all men that ever he saw and seeing all that were worth obliging All were pleased with his Arcadia but himself whose years advanced him so much beyond himself as his parts did beyond others He condemned his Arcadia in his more retired judgement to the fire which wise men think will continue to the last Conâ—lagration His private Corrâ—spondence with William of Nassan about the highest Affairs of Europe was so exact and prudent that he assured Sir Fulke Grevil he deâ—erved a Kingdome in Forreign Parts though he had not an Office in England The Earl of Leicester held his Authority in the Low-Countries by his Councel when alive and gave it over when he was dead Sir Francis Walsingham was so much overshot by him in his own Bow that those with whom Sir Philip were acquainted with for his sake were his friends for Sir Philips King Iames was honoured when King of Scotland with his friendship Henry the fourth with his correspondence Don Iuan highly obliged with his Visits the King of Spain himself concerned in his death whom England he said lost in a moment but could not breed in an Age The Universities were proud of his Pâ—tronage the Field of his presence the Studioâ—s in all Parts communicated with him the Hâ—â—eful were encouraged by him all excellent Persons thronged to him all serviceable men were entertained by him and he among them a Prince whose minde was great but his spirit greater He taught England the Majesty of honest dealâ—ng the Interest of being Religious He looked deep into men and Councels and found no Wisdom without Courage no Courage without Religion and Honesty with which solid and active reaches of his I am perswaded saith my Lord Brooks he would have found or made a way through all the Traveâ—sers â—ven of the most weak and irregular â—imes Although a private Gentleman he was a publick Good of a large yet uniform disposition so good that the great Monarch might trust so great that a little one must fear him something he did for Fame most for Conscience His publick spirit which might have enjealoused the cautious wisdome of other Princes promoted the concerns of his own He was sent to complement Rodolph but he dealt really with the Protestant Princes and raised a Ceremony to a piece of Interest He shewed that long-breathed and cautious people that imminent danger from Romes Superstition joyned with Spains Power their private confederacies and practices their cruelty and designe which awaked their drowzy wariness into an association for Conscience and Religion more solid as he demonstrated than a Combination out of Policâ— He went against the stream and current about the Frâ—nch match which he disswaded from the consequent inconveniences of Engagements and charge to England and the little advantage from France backing his Argument with a laâ—e experience and so staying Queen Elizabeths match by some reflections on Queen Mary's which was A five years Designe or Tax rather than a Marriage adding withal That in a forreign match besides the inequalness and danger of it when a strange Prince hath such an influence on our Constitution the different Religion would make the Queen either quit the reputation of a good Protestant or the honour of an obedient Wife Teâ— ways he laid down a Forreign Prince might endaâ—ger our Religion by 1. Opposing and weakning the reverend Fathers of our Church 2. By disgracing her most zealous Ministers 3. By Latitude and Connivance 4. â—y a loose and too free a behaviour steering mens Consciences which way he pleased and setting uâ—indifferency 5. â—y decrying Customes and Statutes and enhansinâ— Proclamations to the Authority of Laws 6. â—y provoking the English with French Oppressios 7. â—y entrenching on the British Liberties with Gallicâ—â—e Prerogatives 8. â—â— breaking our League and Correspondence with oâ—er Protestant States 9. â—ightning our Queen to a Complyance 10. Aâ—d at last attempting the Protestant cause He vould say to his Friend the Lord Brooks That if the Netherlands joyn with France they are terrible to Spain if with Spain they are dreadful to France if with us they sâ—pport the Reformation if they stand on tâ—eir own legs they are too strong to be forced to Pyracy He though a private person opposed her Majesty Qâ—een Elizabeth in that Affair with that sincerity with thaâ— ingenuiâ—y that freedome that duty and peaceableness that angered and pâ—eaâ—ed her His Opinion was not more against hir humour than his manage of it was to her mindâ— in which Affair when most were hood-winkeâ— with ignorance and many captived with fear he â—njoyed the freedome of his own thoughts with dayly access to her Majesty hourly converse wiâ—h the
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
Lord of Worcester as no mean Favourite was of the ancient and noble blood of the Beauforts and of the Queens Grandfathers line by the Mother which she could never forget especially where there was a concurrency of old Blood with Fidelity a mixture which ever sorted with the Queens Nature He was first made Master of the horse and then admitted of her Council of State In his Youth part whereof he spent before he came to reside at Court he was a very fine Gentleman and the best Horse-man and Tilter of the Times which were then the manlike and noble recreations of the Court and when years had abated these exercises of honour he grew then to be a faithful and profound Counsellour He was the last Liver of all the Servants of her favour and had the honour to see his renowned Mistress and all of them laid in the places of their rest and for himself after a life of a very noble and remarkable reputation he died in a peaceable Old Age full of Riches and Honour His Fathers temperance reached to 97â— yeâ—râ— of Age because he never eat but one Meal a day and his sparingness attained to 84 because he never eat but of one dish He came to the Queens favour because as her Father so she loved a man he kept in because as her Father too so she loved an able man His manlike Recreations commended him to the Ladies his prudent Atchievements to the Lords He was made master of the horse because active and privy Councellour because wise His mistress excused his Faith which was popisâ— but honoured his Faithfulness which was Roman it being her usual speech that my Lord of Worcester had reconciled what she thought inconsistent a stiff Papist to a good subject His Religion was not pompous but solidâ— not the shew of his life but the comfort of his soul. A great master he was of others affections and greater of his own passions many things displeased nothing angered my Lord of Worcester whose maxime was That he would not be disordered within himself onely because things were out of order without him He had this maxime whence he had his Nature from his prudent Father Sir Charles Somerset the first Earl of Worcester of that name whose temper was so pliable and nature so peaceable that being aâ—ked as it is usually reported of him How he passed so troublesome a Reign as King Henry's so uncertain as King Edward's so fierce as Queen Mary's and so unexpected as Queen Elizabeth's with so quiet so fixed so smooth so resolved and ready a mind and frame answered It was because he understood the Interest of the Kingdome while others observed its Humours His first publick service was to represent the Grandeur of his mistress at this Christening of the Daulphine of France and his last the like at the marrâ—age of the King of Scots whom he honoured with the Garter from his Mistress and advised to beware of Papists from the Council The frame of this noble mans body as it is delineated by Sir W. P. seems suited to the noble use it was designed for The entertaining of a mosâ— pure and active soul but eqâ—ally to the advantage of strength and comeliness befriended with all proportionate Dimensions and a most grave yet obliging Carriage There was a clear sprightfulness in his Complexion but a sâ—d reservedness in his nature both making up that blessed composiâ—ion of a wise and winning man of as great hardship of body as nobleness of spirit Of a quick sight and an accurate Ear a steady observation and ready expression with the Torrent whereof he at once pleased King Iames and amazed King Henry being the most natural Orator in the world Among all which Endowments I had almost forgot his memory that was very faithful to him in things and business though not punctilio's and formalities Great parts he had the range and compass whereof filled the whole circle of generous Learning in that person as it hath done in the following Heroes of that Family to this day Observations on the Life of Sir Henry Killigrew TRavellours report That the place wherein the body of Absalom was buried is still extant at Ierusalem and that it is a solemn custome of Pilgrims passing by it to cast a stone on the place but a well-disposed man can hardly go by the memory of this worthy person without doing grateful homage thereunto in bestowing upon him one or two of our Observations It 's a question sometimes whether Diamond gives more lustre to the Ring it 's set in or the Ring to the Diamond This Gentleman received honour from his Family and gave renown to it Writing is the character of the speech as that is of the mind From Tully whose Orations he could repeat to his dying day he gained an even and apt stile flowing at one and the self-same heighth Tully's Offices a Book which Boys read and men understand was so esteemed of my Lord Burleigh that to his dying day he always carried it about him either in his bosome or his pocket as a compleat peice that like Aristotle's Rhetorick would make both a Scholar and an Honest man Cicero's magnificent Orations against Anthony Catiline and Verres Caesar's great Commentaries that he wrote with the same spirit that he fought flowing Livy grave judicious and stately Tacitus elquent but faithful Curtius brief and rich Salust prudent and brave Xenophon whose person was Themistocles his Companion as his Book was Scipio Affricanus his Pattern in all his Wars ancient and sweet Herodotus sententious and observing Thucidides various and useful Polybius Siculus Halicarnâ—sseus Trogus Orosius Iustine made up our young mans Retinue in all his Travels where as Diodorus the Sicilian writes he sate on the stage of Humane Life observing the great circumstances of places persons times manners occasions c. and was made wise by their example who have trod the path of errour and danger before him To which he added that grave weighty and sweet Plutarch whose Books said Gaza would furnish the world were all others lost Neither was he amazed in the Labyrinth of History but guided by the Clue of Cosmography hanging his Study with Maps and his mind with exact Notices of each place He made in one View a Judgement of the Situation Intâ—rest and Commodities for want whereof many States-men and Souldiers have failed of Nations but to understand the nature of places is but a poor knowledge unless we know how to improve them by Art therefore under the Figures of Triangles Squares Circles and Magnitudes with their terms and bounds he could contrive most tools and instruments most Engines and judge of Fortifications Architecture Ships Wind and Water-works and whatever might make this lower frame of things useful and serviceable to mankinde which severer Studies he relieved with noble and free Poetry-aid once the pleasure and advancement of the Soul made by those higher motions of the minde more active and more laâ—ge
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
tears of Contrition for his Sins to God and thankfulness for this Mercy using mary piâ—us Ejaculations embraced all these Actors in the former Tragedy when the poor fellow also kist the King's hand These circumstances gave occasion then that this whole story was freshly revived to the common Satisfaction of the whole Countrey and our English Courtiers And in especial unto the very reverend Bishop and nobly born Iames Mountague then present to whom the King addressed himself in this Relatiâ—n and from whose Mouth saith the Relator I received these particulars at his return into England And thus much we have by word of mouth somewhat I shall add out of writings for more satisfaction This Treason was attempted the fourth of Augâ—st 1600. And though there followed sundry Susâ—itions and Examinations of several other Persons supposed Abettors and Contrivers yet it lay undiscovered tanquam e post liminio until eight years after by the circumspection principally of the â—arl of Dunbar a man of as great wisdom as those tâ—mes and that Kingdom could boast of upon the â—eâ—son of onâ— Geoâ—ge Sâ—roâ— Notary-publick of Aâ—emouth in Scotland from some words which at first he sparingly or unawares expressed and also by some papers which were found in his house whereof being examin'd with a little ado he confessed and was condemned and executed at Edenburgh the 12th of Aâ—g 1608. A Relation I conceive not common but in my hands to be produced and written by that learned Gentleman William Hart then Lord Iustice of Scoâ—land and Principal in all the Acts of Judicature herein Neither of these Lords professed any skilâ— in Politicks yet neither wanted a strong judgment which they could make good use of in time and place convenient giving testimonies in those Employments they had of a strict secrecy a great moderation and a happy compliance with opportunity Qualities exceedingly well lodged in men of Interest and Command especially in these two who neither too easily closed with others resolutions nor too obstinately adhered to their own one of which was alwayes to suspect men of new words as much as men of new opinions because to flye from proper School terms to vulgar conceptions is a way seldome troden but by false Prophets and Seditious Orators who have done this onely good in the world that from their collition a considerable deal of light hath proceeded towards the clearing of several points in Philosophy and Religion in the speculations whereof the men whose lives are so practical and involved in business are not so distinct being not at leisure to quest at every Lark which men spring in either though otherwise the best qâ—alified for sâ—ch undertakings because men of most judgement and experience and of â—he least passion and prejudice and by so much the less impetuous and censorious by how much the more judicious and discreet and by so much the more value in the Eyes of others by how much the less they are in their own who have this aâ—vantâ—ge in controversies that their Religion is thougâ—t as much better than their Adversaries as their Charity and moderation is greater Observations on the Fall of Sir Tho. Lake A Great Estate this Gentleman had honestly got and a greater esteem being King Iames his right hand and the Scots both hands that with which they begged and that with which they bestowed the instrument of the meaner sorts relief and the greaters bounty until that Malice and Revenge two violent passions over-ruling the Weaker Sex concerning his Wife and daughter involved him in their quarrel the chief and onely cause of his ruine He had by his Wife sons and daughters His eldest married unto the Lord Baron Resse in right of a Grandmother the son of Thomas Earl of Exeter by a foâ—mer venter And upon the credit of Sir Thomas Lake he was sent Embassador Extraordinary into Spain in a very gallant Equipage with some hopes of â—is own to continue Lieger to save charges of transmitting any other In his absence there fell out an extream deadly fewd 't is no matter for what between the Lady Lake and the Countess of Exeter A youthful Widow she had been and vertuous and so became Bedfellow to this aged gowty diseased but noble Earl And that preferment had made her subject to Envy and Malice Home comes the Lord Rosse from his Embassie when being fallen into some neglect of his Wâ—fe and his kindred I conceive upon refusal of an increase of allowance to her settlement of Ioynture which was promised to be compleated at his return not long he stays in England but away he gets into Italy turns a professed Roman Catholick being cozened into that Religion by his publick Confident Gondamore In this his last absence never to return the Mother and Daughter accuse the Countess of former Incontinency with the Lord Râ—sse whilest he was here and that therefore upon his Wives discovery he was fled from hence and from her Marriage-Bed with other devised Calumnies by several designs and contrivements to have poysoned the Mother and Daughter This quarrel was soon blazon'd at Court to the King's ear who as privately as could be singly examines each party The Countess with tears and imprecations professeth her Innocency which to oppose the Mother Lake and her Daughter counterfeit her hand to a whole sheet of Paper wherein they make the Counâ—ess with much contrition to acknoâ—ledge her self guilty crave pardon for attempting to poyson them and desire friendship with them all The King gets sight of this as in favour to them and demands the time place and occasion when this should be writ They tell him that all the parties met in a visit at Wimbleton the house of the Lord of Exeter where in dispute of their differences she confesses her guilt of attempting their poyson And being desirous of absolution and friendship being required thereto consents to set down all Circumstances therein under her own hand which presently she writ at the Window in the upper end of the great Chamber at Wimbleton in presence of the Mother and Daughter the Lord Rosse and one Diego a Spaniard his confiding Servant But now they being gone and at Rome the King forthwith sends Mr. Dendy one of his Serjeants at Armes sometimes a Domestick of the Earl of Exeters an honest and worthy Gentleman post to Rome who speedily returns with Rosse and Diego's hand and other testimonials confirming That all the said Accusation and Confession Suspitions and Papers concerning the Countess were notorious false and scandalous and confirms it by receiving the Hoast in assurance of her Honour and his Innocency The King well satisfied sends to the Countesses Friends and Trustees for her Ioynture and Estate who comparing many of her letters with this Writing do confess it counterfeit Then he tells the Mother and Daughter That this writing being denied by her and their testimonies being parties would not prevail with any belief but any other Additional witness would give it
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
and the Duke of Buckingham employed Embassadour to Venice where he negleâ—ted his own interest to attend his Majesties employment the reason that he dyed rich onely in the just conscience of his worth and the repute of his merk Coming from Venice he was appointed Lieger of France and designed Secretary of State had not Death prevented him at Paris being accomplished with all qualifications requisite for publick Employment Learning Languages Experience Abilities and what not King CHARLES hearing of his death commanded his Corps to be decently brought from Paris into England allowing the expences of his Funeral and enjoyning his neerest Relations to attend the performance thereof These accordingly met his body at Bulloign in France and saw it solemnly conveyed into England where it was interred in the Chappel of the Castle of Dover His REX PLATONICUS or his Latiâ—e account of King Iames his six dayes stay at Oxford speaks his Learning and his Instructions for Travel his experience He observing his Predecessors failings retrenching his expences satisfying himself with a repute of nobleness while in his way to preferment and others with the expectation of his bounty When preferred he seemed liberal that he might not be despised abroad but he was neer that he might not be odious at home His prodigality it may be might have satisfied the curiosity of a few Strangers while he incurred the displeasure of all his friends Besides a close wary man may be bountiful at his pleasure but the munificent cannot be so easily sparing for if his occasions or fortunes check his profuseness all his gallantry is in his first action of good husbandry Caution in expences if it be a vice is one of those saith the Italian that never disinherited a man Nay of the two saith Machiavel It 's more discretion to hold the style of miserable which begets an infamy without hatred than to desire that of Liberal which being maintained by necessitous courses procures an infamy with hatred As never did Statesman a brave action that seemed illiberal so never did he any such that was not so Yet four things our Knight spared no cost in I. Intelligence He could afford he said a golden key for the Pope's Cabinet 2. Books his Study was his Estate 3. In watching the Spaniards saying The Indies will pay for this And 4. Entertaining knowing men often applauding the Emperour's maxim That had rather go fifty miles to hear a wise man than five to see a fair City And this he was eminent for that he saw nothing remarkable in Foreign parts that he applyed not to his own Countrey Sir Henry Wotton being not more curious in picking up small Rarities to pleasure particular persons than Sir Isaac Wake was industrious to observe any useful invention that might improve the publick good Observations on the Life of the Lord Cottington SIr Francis Coâ—tington being bred when a youth under Sir Stafford lived so long in Spain till he made the garb and gravity of that Nation become his and become him too He raised himself by his natural strength without any artificial advantage having his parts above his learning his Experience above his Parts his Industry above his Experience and some will say his Success above all So that at last he became Chancellor of the Exchequer Baron of Hanworth in Middlesex Constable of the Tower 1640. and upon the resignation of Doctor Inxon Lord Treasurer of England gaining also a very great Estate Very reserved he was in his temper and very slow in his proceedings sticking to some private Principles in both and aiming at certain rules in all things a temper that indeared him as much to his Master Prince Charls his person as his integrity did to his service Nor to his service only but to that of the whole Nation in the Merchandize whereof he was well versed to the trade whereof he was very serviceable many ways but eminently in that he negotiated that the Spanish Treasure which was used to be sent to Flanders by the way of Genoa might be sent in English Bottoms which exceedingly enriched England for the time and had it continued had made her the greatest Bank and Mart for Gold and Silver of any Common-wealth in Europe Indeed the advantage of his Education the different Nations and Factions that he had to deal with the direct opposition of Enemies the treachery of Friends the contracts of Statesmen the variety and force of Experience from the distinct knowledge of the natures of the people of several Countreys of their chief Ministers of State with their Intrigues of government made him so expert that the Earl of Bristol and Sir Walter Aston could do nothing without him and he only could finish that Treaty which they had for many years spun out Men take several ways to the ends they propose themselves Some that of confidence others that of respect and cauâ—ion c. when indeed the main business is to suit our selves with our own times which this Lord did and no man better until looking into the depths of the late Faction he declared at the Council-Table 1639. that they aimed at the ruine of Church and State And viewing the state of the Kingdom he advised That Leagues might be made abroad and that in this inevitable necessity all ways to raise money should be used that were lawful Wherefore he was one of those few excluded the Indempnity by the Faction and had the honour to dye banished for the best Cause and Master in those foreign Countries where he suffered as nobly for the Crown of England in his later dayes as he had acted honourably for it in his former When he never came off better than in satisfying the Spaniards about toleration reducing the whole of that affair to these two Maximes 1. That Consciences were not to be forced but to be won and reduced by the evidence of Truth with the aid of Reason and in the use of all good means of Instruction and perswasion 2. That the causes of Consciences wherein they excâ—ed their bounds and grow to matter of faction lose their nature and that Soveraign Princes ought distinctly to punish those foul practices though overlaid with the fairer preâ—ences of Conscience and Religion One of his Maxims for Treaty I think remarkable viz. That Kingdoms are more subject to fear than hope And that it 's safer working upom them by a power that may awe the one than by advaâ—tages that may excite the other Since it 's aâ—other rule that States have no affections but interest and that all kindness and civility in those cases are but oversight and weakness Another of his rules for Life I judge useful viz. That since no man is absolute in all points and since men are more naturally enclined out of envy to observe mens infirmities than out of ingenuity to acknowledge their merit He discovereth his abilities most that least discovereth himself To which I may add another viz. That it is not onely
our known duty but our visible advantage to ascribe our most eminent performances to providence since it not only takes off the edge of envy but improves the reason of admiration None being less maliced or more applauded than he who is thought rather happy than able blessed than active and fortunate than cunning Though yet all the caution of his life could not avoid the envy of â—is advancement from so mean a beginning to so great honours notwithstanding that it is no disparagement to any to give place to fresh Nobility who ascend the same stâ—ps with those before them New being only a term saith one only respecting us not the world for what is was before us and will be when we are no more And indeed â—his Personage considering the vanity and inconstancy of common applause or affronts imprâ—ved the one and checked the other by a constant neglect of bothâ— Observations on the Life of Sir Dudly Careleton SIr Dudly Careleton was born in Oxford-shire bred in Christs-Church in Oxford under Dr. King and afterwards in relation of Secretary to Sir Ralph Winwood in the Low-Countreys where he was very active when King Iames resigned the cautionary Towns to the States Here he added so great experience to his former Learning that afterwards our King employed him for twenty years together Ambassador in Venice Savoy and the Vnited Provinces Anne Gerard his Lady Co-heir to George Gerard Esquire accompanying him in all his Travels as is expressed in her Epitaph in Westminster-Abby He was by K. Charls the first to balance the Duke of Buckingham's enemies in the House of Peers with the Lord Mandevil now Earl of Manchester and the Lord Grandison created Baron of Imbercourt in Surrey and afterwards Viscount Dorchester marrying for his second Wife the Daughter of Sir Henry Glenham the Relict of Paul Viscount Banning who survived him He succeeded the Lord Conway when preferred President to the Council in the Secretary-ship of State being sworn at White-Hall December 14. 1628. and dying without Issue Anno Dom. 163 Much ado he had to remove a State-jealousie that was upon him That he insisted on â—he restitution of some Towns in Cleves and Iuliers to gratifie the Spaniards at that time in Treaty with us more to remove a Church-jealousie that in negotiating an accommodation in Religion he designed the undermining of the Remonstrants then in so much power there In which matter he was at a loss whether his Majesty should interpose by Letter or Message The former he said was most effectual but the later less subject to misconstruction considering Barnevel's interest in the State But he had a Chaplain one Mr. Hales that kept this Controversie even on the one hand while he balanced the State-interest on the other equally careful that the United Provinces should not be over-run by the Armies of Spain and that they should not be swallowed up by the protectiâ—n of France Watchful was his eye there over the West-India Company Diligent his carriage upon any accommodations from Spain which he apprehended always as a design to distract that people then in regard of their unsetledness but too apt upon any dispute to fall into faction Great his industry in reconciling Sir Horace Vere and Sir Edward Cecil for the honour of the English Nation and the advancement of the common service Sincere his services â—o the Prince Elector and his Lady Exaâ—t his rules of Traffique and Commerce and dexterous his arts of keeping the States from new alliances notwithstanding our likely Marriage-treaty with Spain especially since the Prince of Orange bluntly after his manner asked Qui at ' il vostre Marriage And indeed he behaved himself in all Employments so well becoming a man that understood so many Languages that was so well versed in Ancient and Modern History that had composed so many choice pieces of Politicks that was so well seen in the most practical Mathematicks and added to these a graceful and charming look a gentle and a sweet elocution that notwithstanding his and his Brother Bishop Carleton's rigidness in some points kept him to his dying-day in great favour and most eminent service and failing in nothing but his French Embassy because there he had to do with Women Leaving behinde him this observation That new Common-wealthâ— are hardly drawn to a certain resolution as who knowing not how to determine and remaining onely in suspence take ordinarily that course rather which they are forced â—o than what they might choose for themselves And this eminent service when he assisted the Earl of Holland in France viz. That he pacified the high difference there upon which the revolt of the Hugonots depended and put a real resolution in Kâ—ng Lewis to advance against the Valtoline and Spain by the advantage of the League with England proceeding upon this Maxim with that King They that have respect to few things are easily misled I had almost forgot how this Lord finding that want of Treasure at home was the ground of our unsuccessful and despicableness abroad and that Principe senza quatrius e come un muro senza crole da tulls scompisâ—iato That a Prince without money is like a wall without a Cross for every one to draw upon did mention the Excise in the Parliament-House and in no ill meaning neither and was violently cryed to the Bar and though a person of that eminence as being then a Privy-Councellor and principal Secretary of State he hardly escaped being committed to the Tower So odious was that Dutch-Devil as they called it in the excellent King Charles which was raised by the beloved Parliament with many more that were conjured up in three or four years but not likely to be laid in three or fourscore Living in those times when weak men imagined to themselves some unknown bliss from untried governments and considering that alterations countervail not their own dangers and as they bring little good to any so they bring least of all to those that first promoted them This Lord refused to be the mouth of the Zealous multitude whose rage could neither be well opposed nor joyned with whom a pardon or compliance might bring off leaving their Demagogues to compound for their folly with their ruine choosing rather to be patient than active and appear weak than be troublesom and once resolved upon an exact survey of circumstances for power against the faults of it on the one hand and the affronts of it on the other he gained the esteem of all parties by his fidelity to his own I am much taken with his plain saying which I find of late printed There will be mistakes in Divinity while men preach and errors in Government while such govern And more with his method of proceeding in his affairs whereof he laid first an Idea in his own mind and then improved it by debate the result whereof was usually so compleat as shewed the vast difference between the shallow conceptions of one man and the
himself namely not to build his Estate upon the ruines of a miserable Nation but aiming by the unpartial execution of Justice not to enrich himself but civilize the People But the wise King would no longer loose him out of his own Land and therefore recalled him home about the time when his Fathers Inheritance by the death of his five elder brethren descended upon him It was not long before Offices and Honours flowed in fast upon him being made by King Iames 1. Attorney of the Court of Wards 2. Chief-Justice of the Upper Bench the 18 of his Reign Ian. 29. 3. Lord Treasurer of England in the 22 of his Reign Dec. 22. 4. Baron Ley of Ley in Devonshire the last of the same month King Charls 1. Earl of Marlborough in Wiltshire immediately after the King's Coronation 2. Lord President of the Council in which place he diedâ— Anno Dom. 1629. He was a person of great Gravity Ability and Integrity And as the Caspian Sea is observed neither to ebbe nor flow so his mind did not rise or fall but continued the same constancy in all conditions a good temper enough for a Judge but not for a Statesman and foâ— any Statesman but a Lord Treasurer and for any Lord Treasurer but in King CHARLES his active time who was put to it to find out such stirring men as might recover him from the hazard and defection he was fallen into in Purse and Power Observations on the Life of Sir John Cook SIr Iohn Cook younger Brother to Sir Francis Cook born at Trusley in the Hundred of Apple-tree in Derbyâ—shire of ancient and worshipful Parentage and allied to the best Family in that Countrey was bred Fellow of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge where his wit being designed his Estate he was chosen Rhetorick-Lecturer in the University where he grew eminent for his ingenious and critical reading in that School where Rhetorick seemed to be not so much an Art as his Nature being not only the subject but the very frame of his Discourse Then travelled he beyond the Seas â—or some years when his judgment was fitted for foreign Observations by domestick experience in the company of a Person of quality â— returning thence rich in Languages Remarks and Experience waving all the dangers incident to him for his Religion by a wary Profesâ—ion that he came to learn and not to search being first related to Sir Fulke Grevil Lord Brook who did â—ll mens business but his own â—he was thenceâ— preferred to be Secretary to the Navy their Master of the Requests â—â—od at last Secretary of Stateâ— for twenty years together Being a very zealous Protestant he did all good offices for the advancement of true Religion His Contemporaries character him a grave and a prudent man in gaâ—eâ— apparel and speech one that hâ—d his Intellectâ—â—â—s very perfect in the dispatch of business till he was eighty years old when foreseeing those Intrigues that might be too hard for his years he with his Majesties good leave retired as Moses did â—o â—ie when his eyes were not dim c. having kept himself strictly to the Law of the Land Insomuch that being sent to command Biâ—hop Williams from Westminsterâ— and being asked by the stout Bishop by what authority he commanded a man out of his house and his free-hold he was so tender of the point that he never rested till he had his pardon for it Muâ—iâ—â—â—â—â—o he had to keep the King's favour for his compliance with the Faction witness his third submission and as much ado to retain â—he Factions good opinion for his service to the King wâ—tness his several Apologies in Parliament to this purpose That it was a hard thing that they who should have thanks for the good offices they did the People with the KING had now nothing but censures for the same offices they did the King with his people Never was any man more put to it to reconcilâ— the two readings of that Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he could never have done but that his old rule safe-guarded him viz. That no man should let what is unjustifiable or dangerous appear under his hand to give Envy a steady aim at his place or person nor mingle Interests with great men made desperate by debts or Court-injuries whose falls hath been ruinous to their wisest followers nor pry any further into secrecy than rather to secure than shew himself nor impart that to a friend that may impower him to be an enemy Besides that his years excused in him that caution some obâ—tinate men want that are broken with vicissâ—udes because they consider not that the forwardest in turmoyls are least regarded when things return to a calm He served the time out of Christian discretion in finding out the seasons of things commendably He complyed out of some infirmity in particular accommodaâ—ions pardonably but neither of ignorance or design iâ— pursuance of his own or any other mans plot unfaithfully Indeed he must have wrenched and sprained his grave soul with the short turningâ— in those dayes if it had been tâ—ue that he should shuffle a Scots Paper instead of the genuine Articles of Pacificatâ—on at York which the Earls of Holland Pembrook c. disavowed to the Northern Commissioners faces my Lord of Pembrook saying That indeed as he took Horse and his Friends being busie about him such a Paper was put into his hand but he opened it not untill he came to his Majesty and his Majesty burned in the face of both Kingdoms whereby they say he was dismissed which I am not willing to believe only I find him hereafter bring Propositions from the Parliament as they called it to the King as actively as formerly he had carried Messages from the King to the Parliament Indeed he had an happy mixture of Disâ—retion and Charity whereby he could allow to things persons more than men of streighter apprehensions or narrower affections were able to do Indeed though as I told you otherwise wary he broke an Affair to a Partizan that kept him under all his days he that entertains a dangerous design puts his head into an halter and the halter into his hand to whom he first imparts it Sir Francis Winâ—ebank and he fell into extreams which balanced might have fupported the Government if they had directed their particular inclinations and indulgences by the measures of the general interest and temper Observations on the Life of the Earl of Danby ALl that I find of this plain Noble-maâ— is wâ—itten on his Tomb-stone at Dantsey in Wilâ—shire Here lyeth the Body of Henry Danvers second son to Sir Iohn Danvers Knight and Dame Eâ—izabeth Daughter and Co-Heir to Nevil Lord Latimâ—â— He was born at Dantsey in the County of Wilts Anno Dom. 1573. being bred up partly in the Low-Countrey Wats under Maurice Eâ—rl of Nassaw afterwards Prince of Orange and in many other Military actions of those â—imes both by Sea and by Land He was made a
dissatisfied and bold in his followers irregular and pretending in the Law well seen in the Scripture very ready in the occurrences of his age very exact at Lectures most constant to the liberty of the Subject then the Diana of the age most faithful insomuch that he made a motion 1628. That they who stood for the Liberties forsooth then called the Lower-House Lords of the Upper-House not fifty might make their Protestation upon record and that the other party should with subscription of their names enter their reason upon Record that posterity might not be to seek good lack who they were that so ignobly betrayed the Liberty of our Nation And this being done they should resolve themselves to a Committee and proceed to vote Yet so well acquainted with the King's temper that he would take any occasion of his being pleased by the Parliament to insinuate himself into favour with all his Male-contents as Bishop Williams Earl of Lincoln Earl of Essex the Earl of Warwick c. As he wrought upon the peoples humour in that point of Liberty so he did upon the Nobilities temper in another of Ambition For in a Petition to King Iames against Foreign titles of Honour we finde him first in design though last in subscription teaching Essex Warwick St. Iohn for they joyned with him to tilt against their Soveraign's Prerogative with their Peâ—s as they did after with their Swords And when this failed the wise King awing the young Lords to renounce that asunder which they had subscribed together none so bold as the factions in company none so fearful apart the Champion of English honour and priviledge becomes the Patron of Propriety too for we read Ter. Hill Anno 14. Car. 1. in Banco Regis the Lord Say's Case Action for Crover and Conversion of thrée Oxen taken a great matter for thrée pounds five shillings by the Sheriff of Lincoln upon the Plaintiff towards the finding of a Ship A good reason for going to Law first and then to war with his Soveraign as he did afterwards when he had sent his son Nathaniel with Hampden and Lawrence 1639. to settle the League with their dear Brethren in Scotland while he formed the grand Design in England with so much success that when there were some Overtures made for saving the Earl of Strafford and securing the Kingdom by the Party upon condition of preferment as that Master Hampden should be Tutor to the Prince the Earl of Essex his Governour Mr. Pym Chancellor of the Exchequer the Earl of Warwick Vice-Admiral he was to be Master of the Court of Wards which he compassed when the rest mist of their expectation No more of him but that the King going to Scotland he refusing a Protestation against the Scots had these questions proposed to him 1. Whether he would go with the King at his own charge 2. Whether Rebellion was a just cause of War 3. Whether the taking of Castles Towns Magazines c. was not Rebellion To the first he answered That though as a Peer and Subject he could not be forced out of his Countrey but upon extraordinary occasion yet out of affection to his Majesty he would attend him referring the matter of charge to himself To the two last he said he understood not the Law of Scotland but that those proceedings were Treason in England Observations on the Life of the Earl of Lindsey HE and that whole Family I know not whether more pious or more valiant whether more renowned abroad as Confessors for their Religion or as Champions for their Country have been in this last Age an ornament and a defence to this Crown equally reverenced by the Subjects of it and honoured by the Soveraigns This Noble-man and the Earl of Essex did as Iugurtha and Manus learn in one School what they practised in two The one as a faithful Subject for that government that had obliged his Family the other as a discontented Rebel against that that had disobliged his Both Commanders for the Palatinate against the Emperor and for Rochel against the French When the Duke of Buckingham returned from the Isle of Rhee his Majesty told him The neglect of his relief must lâ—dge on his Friend and Confident Holland To which he acknowledged That indeed he had very affectionately intrusted him in ordinary Affairs but never in such an esteem as to second him in arms that place being more proper for my Lord of Lindsey whose judgement of that Expedition was That it was friendship in earnest and War in jest He it was that pursued twelve French Vessels in his own single one to their Haven heaâ—ed at once with anger and shame he it was who when all men were amazed at the Duke's fall was assigned his successor Certainly saith one there present He was a person of no likely presence but of considerable experience by his former Expeditions and one that to the last of his life made good his faith with Gallantry and Courage notwithstanding his ill success the times fate rather than his fault 1. In scouring the narrow Seaâ— where he was Admiral and the Earl of Essex Vice-Admiral 2. In presiding in several great Courts on many solemn occasions the Earl of Strafford's unparellel'd Tryal c. And 3. In leading the King's Army at Edge-Hill with a Pike in his hand Where what is observed of Cataline and his followers was true of this noble Earl and his Country-men the Loyal Gentry of Lincolnshire that they covered the same place with their Corps when dead where they stood in the fight whilst living Observations on the Life of Iudge Richardson IUdge Richardson was born at Mulbarton in Norfolk his Father being Minister thereof and he a friend to Ministers though a foe of the Church He was bred in the study of our Municipal Law and became the King's Sergeant therein Afterwards on the 28 of November 1926. he was sworn Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas that Place having been void ten months before wherein he was humoursom but honest only unhappy in that he raised the Sabbatarian Controversie by his orders aginst Wakes in Somersetshire His Brass Monument on the South-side of Westminster-Abby thus entertaineth the Reader Deo om Thomâ—â— Richardsoni Icaeni Equitis Aurati Humduum Dâ—positum Ille Iuris Municip omnes gradus exantlavit Conventus tertii ordinis ann Jacobi Regis 21 22. Prolocutor exâ—itit Fori civilis communium Placitorum vocant Supremum Magistratum quinquennium gessit Ad summum tandem primarii per Angliam Iudicis Tribunal A Rege Carolo evectus expiravit Anno AEtatis 66. Salutis MDCXXXIV Tho. Richardson fil unicus Eques Aur. Baro Scotiae designatus Patri incomparabili posuit As one reason of his advancement you must know this Judge married for his second Wife the Lady Eliz. Beaumont the Sister as I take it of Mary Countess of Buckingham and the Relict of Ashburnham Knight She was by K. Charles created Baroness of Croumont in Scotland and
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