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My Lo••d,
YOu would not believe me, when I told you which way things tended, and see what comes of it. One of you is brought unto the block already, for whom I have made this fol∣lowing Epitaph,
To see such Heads off, on the Scaffold lie, Only to keep on th' Head of Majestie,
What is't, but Admonition to his Peers, S••ch Heads once off, 'tis time to look to theirs.As for this following Character, because I know my Lord amongst your many other com∣mendable qualities, you have this, not to Envy others commendations, I send it you withall.
He was the fullest Man of all the Eminent parts and qualities of a Great Minister of State, as England ever bred, and both in Ca∣binet, and abroad, exprest it as fully too; his unhappinesse 'twas, (or rather ours) that he liv'd not in happier Times (might have rather Admir'd, than Envyed those parts of his) so as that Epitaph of Adrian the 6th, might well be applyed to him, Proh! dolor quantum refert in que Tempora vel optimi cujusque virtus inci∣dat. Many Envyed him, because few under∣stood him, and 'tis almost to be wisht that his Prince had not don't so well, since 'twas his overthrow (so much more it imports the Peo∣ple than the Prince be Good, they being many, and he but one.) He was a Iewel sit for the Crown of any Prince to wear, and that his Prince well knew, and therefore wore him him there; but being matcht, and overmatcht too with counterfeit ones, they fearing his splendor should dim and offuscat them, snacht him thence▪ and cast him into the obscurity of
a Prison, from whence he might have escap'd, had he preferr'd his Life before his Fame; but he had higher Thoughts, and look't only af∣ter Eternitie, and the perpetuating his Memo∣ry; so while 'twas irreparable losse unto the Crown, 'twas his gain to die with the glorious title, and high reputation of his Princes Mar∣tyr. Nor wanted there as great prodigies at his death, as ever fore-run any Heroes yet, all the Laws of the Land being first subverted, the King losing his Authority, and Kingdom chang'd into Democra••ie, Er' he could die: so as his noble House was more honour'd and il∣lustrated by his fall, than ever't could have been, even in his greatest rise.
And now (my Lord) comfort your self, if you chance to be the next, that you shall not want one to make your Epitaph, and Cha∣••acter at least; but I rather wish and hope 't may be your Elogium, in celebration of your Glorious Actions. For if things look towards a Warr, (as I'm affraid they do) 'twill be as well the Glory of your Judgement to chuse the better side, as of your Valour to defend it bravely; for Valour is either Virtue or Vice, as 'tis well or ill imployed; and 'tis hard to determine which is the greater Crime, to de∣fend an Ill Cause well, or a good one ill: You then being of Brutus disposition, (Quicquid vult, valde vult) that is, vehement in all you undertake, I cannot end this Letter with a bet∣ter Prayer, than God blesse a good Cause from
having you for Enemy, and God blesse you from being Frend unto an Ill; which is the prayer of
My Lord,
Your, &c.