first evidence he gave of his prowes was, when the Emperors sister the Spouse of Spain with a Fleer of 130 Sailes, stoutly and proudly passed the narrow Seas, his Lordship ac∣companied with ten ships onely of Her Majesties Navy Royal environed their Fleet in a most strange and warlike sort, enforced them to stoop gallant, and to vail their Bonnets for the Queen of England.
His service in the eighty eighth is notoriously known, when at the first news of the Spaniards approach, he towed at a cable with his own hands to draw out the harbour∣bound-ships into the Sea. I dare boldly say, he drew more though not by his person by his presence and example, than any ten in the place. True it is, he was no deep Sea-man (not to be expected from one of his Extraction) but had skill enough to know those who had more skill than himself, and to follow their instructions, and would not sterve the Queens service by feeding his own sturdy wilfulness, but was ruled by the experien∣ced in Sea-matters, the Queen having a Navy of Oak, and an Admiral of Osier.
His last eminent service was, when he was Commander of the Sea-(as Essex of the Land-) forces at the taking of Cadiz, for which he was made Earl of Nottingham the last of the Queens creation.
His place was of great profit (Prizes being so frequent in that age) though great his necessary, and vast his voluntary expences, keeping (as I have read) seven standing Houses at the same time, at London, Rigate, Effingham, Blechenley, &c. so that the wonder is not great if he died not very wealthy.
He lived to be very aged, who wrote Man (if not married) in the first of Q. Elizabeth, being an invited guest at the solemn Consecration of Matthew Parker at Lambeth, and many years after by his testimony confuted those lewd and loud lies, which the Papists tell of the Naggs-head in Cheap-side. He resigned his Admiralty in the reign of King James, to the Duke of Buckingham, and died towards the later end of the reign of the King afore-said.