Memoires of the lives, actions, sufferings & deaths of those noble, reverend and excellent personages that suffered by death, sequestration, decimation, or otherwise, for the Protestant religion and the great principle thereof, allegiance to their soveraigne, in our late intestine wars, from the year 1637 to the year 1660, and from thence continued to 1666 with the life and martyrdom of King Charles I / by Da. Lloyd ...

THE Life and Death OF Sir JOHN SUCKLING.

THE last Bishop we mentioned, was the last that died with the honor of Voting in Parliament, (that was not speechless before he departed.) This Gentleman was the last Courtier that died at Court: Dying as he was born a Courtier, heir to Sir Iohn Suckling the Comptrollers estate, but not his temper, being as aiery as the other was solid; this grave Family, like heavy bodies evaporating into more aieral parts towards its dissolution.

There was an extraordinary Circumstance in his birth, that raised an unusual expectation of his life, being born, as his Mother reckoned, the beginning of the eleventh month. Now 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Hypocrates allows, that the child born in the seventh month, if well looked too, may live. Laurentius Professor of Montpellier, in an admirable Treatise of Anatomy asserteth, that a child of nine or ten months, which he calleth Terminus Inter me∣dius, seldom miscarrieth. And Avicen, as he is quoted by Lauren∣tius averreth, that a child born in the eleventh month, which he expresseth, Terminus ultimus quando nihil additur ad perfectionem partis, sed ad perfectionem roboris; is vigorous and Athletique. As Sir Iohn Suckling, who did as Tiberius, vultu Principem (generosum) praeferre, had a sprightly mind, that was an argument of a more sprightly soul, which took in improvement faster than Tutors could suggest; speaking Latine as early as Drusius his Son did He∣brew, that is, at five years of age; and composing both in Latine and English for Princes, as soon as Grotius did, that is, at nine years: being so soon a man, that likea 1.1 Adam, we would think he was born so. The Arts were as closely united in him, as they are in themselves, being competently seen in all of them, and yet emi∣nent in many, being able to look in the whole circle without a giddiness. He had tongues enough to renew that good understand∣ing among men, that was lost at Babel; desiring not only to live in

the world, but to understand it; and as great reason (which we call Logick) to comprehend and discourse his notions, as he had charms, which we call Rhetorick, to insinuate them; and what was more, it was a question, whether he was more skilled in the Philosophy of the two Globes, or in the History and Chronology of all times, he shooting through any subject from one end of the world to the other, with the same activity that spirits do, who do not discourse, but see. His soul almost as large as that which some call (under the first being) the soul of the world. He died un∣der thirty, and was as old as the world, being able to treat of all those things from books, which in twelve years time, that all the wisdom of the world could insist on from experience in 5000 years; suffering himself to be no stranger to Cosmography, or the account of the world in general, for his own satisfaction as a Gentleman; to Choroghaphy, or the particularnature of each Pro∣vince of the world, for the service of his Country as an English∣man; to Topography, or an inspection into the circumstances of each place, to qualifie him for noble employments and commands as a Souldier. And all these sweetned with the softness of Poe∣try, that Musick and Charm of the world in words, and with Mu∣sick, that Poetry in sound. Fancy being his predominant faculty, as the sanguine complexion was his controlling temperament, was as restless and ubiquitary in him, as it is defined in its self; creat∣ing and tempering the Images and Ideas of things, with the same ease that the things themselves were first made with. To lift too high is no fault in a young Nagg, and to fancy too high was the greatest defect of this young Gentleman. Nimbleness is the per∣fection of fancy, and levity the bane of it; when it whisks up and down to so many objects, that it throughly understands or con∣ceives none, unless hard and knotty studies, such as Philosophy and Mathematicks, that fix and settle the soul.

Sir Iohn Suckling, that was Knighted 1630. was Comptroller of the Kings-house, and told this Gentleman, That he had no more to do but to comptrol and govern himself, be being born before him. The heighth of his parts, he acknowledged the effect of the discretion of his Tutor (of whom he would seldom speak without this Note, That it was one thing to be discreet, and another thing to be learn∣ed, the management and use of a mans notions being hardly con∣sistent with a heap and croud of them, as a midling state makes a good Husband,) who humored his disposition as much as some Boys are forced to humor their Masters; and made as many Rules of his temper, as he found in his Grammar, being at once so ingenuous and so plyable, that a frown was severe correction to him, and shame whipped him more smartly than the Rod. He as solemnly honor∣ed his Masters of all ingenuity, as Dr. Whitacre did his Tutor West; when being Regius Professor, at his Tutors Commencing Doctor, publickly gave him thanks before the University, for giving him correction when his young Scholar. But had most regard to his Father, for he best bowls at the mark of perfection, who besides the aim of his own eye, is directed by his Father, who is to give

him the ground; according to whose advice he travelled his own Country well first, and then (in my Lord Burleighs method, who seldom licensed a man to travel abroad, until he could give him a good account of the remarkables at home) went over beyond Sea, to see how mankind managed those principles in their practise, that they had drawn up in their writings; and observe how they lived and conversed, as well as how they thought; making an honorable collection of the virtues of each Nation, without any tincture of theirs, unless it were a little too much of the French Air, which was indeed the fault of his complexion, rather than his person. Though to correct it, he travelled from the softer dalliances of that Nation, to the Wars and hardships, to knit as well as inlarge his soul, and gain an Empire over his frailer self, with the same severi∣ty and discipline, that Gustavus was like to gain one over Europe. With whom he run the hazard of three battels, five sieges, and as many skirmishes, wherein he saw much design and contrivance, so much conduct and manage, such activity and industry in six months, as was not to be seen elsewhere in so many ages; there being a concurrence of the excellencies, as well as of the men, of all Nations. Insomuch, that though my Lord Goring would not admit Sir Iohn Suckling into the Secret Councils they held in the North, because he was too free and open-hearted, yet the King gave him a Command there, because he was valiant and experienced.

He raised a Troop of Horse, so richly accoutred, that it stood him in 12000l. bestowing the Horses, Armes and Cloaths, upon each person that was Listed under him; which puts me in mind of the Duke of Burgundy's rich preparations against Swisse, of which Ex∣pedition it was said, The Enemy were not worth the Spurrs they wore. And of his late Majesties report, upon the bravery of his Northern Army, That the Scots would sight stoutly, if it were but for the Eng∣lish-mens fine cloaths. And of another passage at Oxford, where the King in some discourse of the Earl of Holland, and other Com∣manders in the first Expedition against the Scots, was pleased to ex∣press himself to this purpose, That the Army was not in earnest, which made him chuse such Commanders in Chief.

But indeed it became him better to sit among a Club of Wits, or a Company of Scholars, than to appear in an Army; for though he was active, he was soft and sweet withal; insomuch, that Selden went away with the character of Deep and Learned, Hillingworth was reckoned Rational and Solid, Digby Reaching and Vigorous Sands and Townsend Smooth and Delicate, Vaughan and Porter Pious and Extatical, Ben. Iohnson Commanding and Full, Carew Elaborate and Accurate, Davenant High and Stately, Tobya 1.2 Mathewes Re∣served and Politick, Walter Mountague Cohaerent and Strong, Faulk∣land Grave, Flowing, and Steddy, Hales Judicious and Severe; but Sir Iohn Suckling had the strange happiness (that another Great Man is eminent for) to make whatsoever he did become him. His Poems being Clean, Sprightly, and Natural; his Discourses, Full and Convincing; his Plays, Well-humored and Taking; his Let∣ters, Fragrant and Sparkling; only his Thoughts were not so loose

as his Expression (witness his excellent Discourse to my L. of Dorset about Religion, that by the freedom of it, He might, as he writes to my Lord, put the Lady into a cold sweat, and make him be thought an Atheist; yet he hath put wiser heads into a better temper, and procured him the reputation of one that understood the Religion that he Professed among all persons, except those that were rid by that fear of Socinianism, so that they suspected every man that of∣fered to give an account of his Religion, by reason, to have none at all) nor his Life so Vain as his Thoughts, though we must allow to his sanguine composition and young years, dying at 28. some thing that the thoughts and discipline of time, experience, and se∣verer years, might have corrected and reduced, Amo in juvene quod amputem.

But his immature death by a Feavor, after a miscarriage in his Majesties service, which he laid to heart, may be a warning to young men of his quality and condition, whose youth is vigorous, pleasures fresh, joynts nimble, bodies healthful, enjoyments great, to look on his ghastly face, his hollow eyes, his mouldring body, his noisom dust, and to entertain but this one thought, that what he was, they are, and what he is, they shall be; that they stand on his Grave, as the Romans did on their Friends, with these words, Go, we shall follow thee every one in his own order.

Rejoyce, O young man, in the days of thy youth, but know that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment. A Gallant would do well with the Noble Ioseph ofa 1.3 Arimathea in their Gardens, and among their pleasures.

He died Anno 164 ... leaving behind him these thoughts of those times, to his dear friend Mr. Iermin, since the Right Honorable Earl of St. Albans.

• 1. That it is fit the King should do something extraordinary at this present, is not only the opinion of the wise, but their expecta∣tion.
• 2. Majesty in an Eclips, is like the Sun most looked upon.
• 3. To lye still in times of danger, is a calmness of mind, not a mag∣nanimity; when to think well, is only to dream well.
• 4. The King should do, before the People desire.
• 5. The Kings friends have so much to do to consult their own safety, that they cannot advise his, the most able being most ob∣noxious; and the rest give the King council by his desires, and set the Sun, or interest that cannot err, by passions which may.
• 6. The Kings interest, is union with his People.
• 7. The People are not to be satisfied by little Acts, but by Royal Resolutions.
• 9. There's no dividing of a Faction by particular obligations, when it is general; for you no sooner take off one, but they set up another to guide them.
• 10. Commineus observes, That it is fit Princes should make Acts of Grace peculiarly their own, because they that have the art to please the people, have commonly the power to raise them.
• ...

• 11. The King must not only remove grievances by doing what is desired, but even jealousies by doing something that is not ex∣pected; for when a King doth more than his people look for, he gives them reason to believe, that he is not sorry for doing what they desired; otherwise a jealous people may not think it safe enough only to limit the Kings power, unless they overthrow it.
• 12. The Queen would do well to joyn with the King, not only to remove fears, especially since she is generally believed to have a great interest in the Kings affection; but to arrive beyond a pri∣vate esteem and value, to an universal honor and love.
• 13. The conservation of the general should guide and command the particulars, especially since the preferment of one suspected person is such a dash to all obliging acts.
• 14. Q. Whether the Kings way to preserve his obnoxious friends, is not to be right with his distempered people?
• 15. Q. Whether the way to preserve power be not to part with it? the people of England, like wantons, not knowing what to do with it, have pulled with some Princes, as Henry the Third, King Iohn, Edward the Second, for that power which they have thrown into the hands of others, as Q. Elizabeth.
• 16. Q. Whether it be not dangerous to be insensible of what is without, or too resolved from what is within?

And these Advises to his friends about him, at that time when he best understood himself.

• 1. Do not ill for Company,* 1.4 or good only for Company.
• 2. Shun jests in Holy things, and words in jest which you must give an account of in earnest.
• 3. Detract from none but your self, and when you cannot speak well of a man, say nothing.
• 4. Measure life not by the hopes and injoyments of this world, but by the preparation it makes for another; looking forward what you shall be, rather than backward what you have been.
• 5. Be readier to give, than to take applause; and neither to give, nor to take exceptions.
• 6. Its as much more to forgive one injury, than to do many cour∣tesies, as it is to suffer once, than to do many times for a friend; he may do what he will, that will do but what they may.
• 7. Its the ruin of many men, that because they cannot be best, they will be none; and if they may not do as well as they would, they will not do as well as they may.
• 9 Whiles wisdom makes art the ape of nature, pride makes nature the ape of art. The proud man shapes his body to his apparel, the wise man his apparel to his body; there is great reason that we should be ashamed of our pride, no reason to be proud of that which is only the covering of our shame.
• 10. Entertain no thoughts that will blush in words.
• 11. Be in the company of those among whom thou mayst be wise, rather than with those among whom thou mayst be accounted so.
• ...

• 12. In things necessary go along with the ancient Church, in things indifferent with the present.
• 13. Neither upbraid men with your own kindness, nor forget theirs.
• 14. Be not constant against reason, nor change your mind without it.
• 15. Believe not all you hear, nor speak all you believe.
• 16. Acknowledge ignorance, and learn rather than pretend know∣legde, and be ignorant.
• 17. Do well to satisfie a good Conscience, and you shall hear well by a good report.
• 18. Measure not your self by other mens reports, nor others by your own thoughts.
• 19. Live as men that shall dye, and prepare to dye as men that shall live for ever.

Ne hae zelantis animae sacriores Scintillulae ipsum unde deciderant spirantes Coelum, & Author magnus ipsa quam Aliis dedit careret memoria; Interesse Posteris putavimusbrevem Honoratissimi Viri Iohannis Sucklingii vitam historia esse perennandam.

Ut pote qui nobilissima Sucklingiorum Familiaeoriundus, cui tantum reddidit, quantum accepit honorem, Nat. Cal. April. 1613. Withamiae in Agro Middles. Renatus ibid. Maii 7 mo. & denatus 164 ... haud jam Trigesi∣mus, & scriptu dignissima fecit, & factu dignissima scripsit. Calamo pariter & gladio celebris, pacis ar∣tium gnarus & belli.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Who is sup∣posed created, as if he had been so.
• a 1.2

  Whispering nothing in some ••••dies ear.
• a 1.3

  The Earls are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because they carry on their heads a Corc∣••••t, the Em∣blem of Nobi∣lity; in the fashion of a Tombe, the Emblem of Mortality.
• * 1.4

  Mr. Savage a person that was with him in his sickness.