State-worthies, or, The states-men and favourites of England since the reformation their prudence and policies, successes and miscarriages, advancements and falls, during the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles I.

Observations on the Life of Doctor Thomas Wil∣son.

THomas Wilson born in Lincolnshire, was Do∣ctor of Laws, bred Fellow of Kings Col∣ledge in Cambridge, and afterwards was Tutor in the same University to Henry and Charles Brandon, successively Dukes of Suffolk. Under Q••een Elizabeth he was made Maste•• of the Hospi∣tal of S. Katherines nigh the Tower of London. At last he became Secretary of State to the Queen for four years together. He dyed Anno 15. To whose various and yet deep knowledge, not of the surface of Arts and Sciences for shews, but of inside and ground of them for use, not onely apprehend∣ing the frame, but perceiving the power and im∣portance of them. There is no character that ever I read, so agreeable as that which the most Eloquent Cicero gave the most Learned Varro, Tu aetatem patriae, tu descriptiones temporum, tu sacrorum jura, tu sacerdotum, tu bellicam discipli∣nam, tu sedem regionum, locorum, tu omnium divinarum, humanarum{que} rerum nomina, genera,

officia, causas aperuisti; plurimum{que} Po••tis luminis attulisti, elegans poema fecisti, Philosophiam{que} multis locis inchoasti. An argument of a great capacity in a man of his great place, and greater Imploy∣men••; whose candor was yet equal with his parts, ingenuously passing by the particular infirmities of those who contributed any thing to the advance∣ment of a General Learning; judging it fitter that men of abilities should joyntly engage against ig∣norance and Barbarism, than severally clash with one another•• giving this advice to all men con∣cerned in publick Writings, that they might avoid both cens••re ••rom others, and trouble to themselves, temperanter rem gero: and this he recommended, not only to Scholars in general, but to some pe∣culiarly discreet persons in particular; knowing that that which toucheth all, usually reacheth none: admonishing l••k••wise his friends, to use no words, but such as had some correspondent things, and to take care that their conceptions should answer their expressions; there having been of late in the world, a way of Learning that overthrew Knowledge, consisting of opinions remote from mens cogitations, which men spake, but thought not, thinking they had invented new things, when they found out new words. The reason why his Writings excelled so much in the worth and use of the subject; in the exactness of the method, in the ingenuity of the design, and in the temper of the Writer, who discoursed not, but demonstrated, framing first the disordered minds of men to an exact way of reason∣ing, and afterwards digesting things to a strict form of argument; which a man learneth not from Pre∣cepts, but by use, and reading such Books as are

compiled, not with a loose fancy, but a severe rea∣son, especially suck Politick Books as are made up of experience, which is our recollecting of things past; and prudence, which is our expectation of things to come, according to our experience of things past, especially such as have the happiness of per∣ceiving things exactly as they are, and expressing them clearly and orderly as they conceive them.

He had the breeding of Courtiers so long, until he was one himself: At once reading Machiavel for my Lord Burleigh's Instruction, and observing it for his own use. His Parents designed him for study, his nature for business. His presence assisted his in∣clination, and his complisance his presence; and his good nature, both: A good nature that would have spoiled a Politician in any other but Doctor Wilson, whose wisdom was the largeness of his Soul, not the narrowne••s of a shift. He had that compre∣hensive and penetrating judgement, that he could at once shew the greatest prudence in laying his de∣sign, and the greatest Integrity in managing it, as rather securely knowing, than warily close. But he that is onely real, had need have exceeding great parts of Vertue; as the Stone had need be rich, that is se•• without foil: Therefore he was some∣thing a Courtier. There are small matters that win great commendation, because they are con∣tinually in use; whereas the occasion of any great action cometh but on festivals, and it is e∣nough to attain so much ceremony and courtship, not to despise it. He had a way of conveying effectual and imprinting passions among comple∣ments, suitable to persons and business: He had his familiarity to Inferiors, that made him not cheap:

his state among Equals, that made him not envied: and his observance to Superiors, that made him no Flatterer: His behaviour like a well-made suit, not too strait, or point-device, but justly measu∣red, and free for exercise or motion. He had a slow, but a sure way to honor, which was nothing else in him but a discovery of his Vertues and Worth upon any occasion, without any disadvantage.

It was his interest as well as his gift, to be more learned than witty, more reverend than plausible, more considerate than active. His thoughts were as his inclination, grave; his discourse as his reading, subtile; his actions as his Education, well weighed, re∣gular as his temper, even and smooth as custom, and resolved as a habit gotten in that advancement of vertue, a well-disciplined Society; where Example teacheth, Company comforteth, Emulation quick∣neth, Glory raiseth: None had a more skilful method to sway nature in others, none more pru∣dent minut••s and seasonable degrees to check it in himself; his Rule being, Never to practise any thing until perfect: for so he might exercise his we••kness as well as his abilities, and induce one habit of both.

Three things he aimed at:

• 1. The search of Truth by Industry.
• 2. The attainment of it by apprehension.
• 3. The enjoyment of it by assent.

He is a happy man that is above the troubled and confused Regions of Opinions, Fancies, Preposs••ss••∣ons, in that clear and undisturbed one of Truth and Reality: Though yet my Lord Verul'am observeth, That if there were taken out of mens minds vain opi∣nion, flattering hope, false valuations and imaginati∣ons,

as one would, and the like, &c. it would leave the minds of a number of poor men poor shrunken things, full of melancholy and indisposition, and unpleasing to themselves.

Neither took he greater pleasure in knowing than in relating and doing what is true, sound and plain, without those crooked courses that shew a creeping rather than a raised nature; and, as Mr. Mountaign•• observes, is a bravery and facing of God, and a shrinking from, and being coward before man.

He said, what all great men know, That he wax six times a Slave:

• 1. To Himself and his Inclination, till he had ad∣vanced Reason.
• 2. To the World and its Insolence, till he had impr••ved his Fortune.
• 3. To his Pupils and their Tempers, till he un∣derstood their Genius.
• 4. To Fame and its Reports, till he was known in the World.
• 5. To his Soveraigns and their Humors, till he found their In••erest. And
• 6. To his Business, till he had attained Experi∣ence.

Thus it is with all Grandees, who exchange their power over themselves for that over others, and with great pains com•• to greater.

Two things he wished when called to the world, Power and Resolution. A naked man is contemp∣tible (for it's Power that begets Fear, it's Fear that makes Gods, and rules the world) an easie man is useless: a facile-natured man may be a good Companion for a private person, but no Servant to a Prince: Remisness and Connivance are the ruines

of unsettled Governments. The Game of Autho∣rity will not admit of too open a play.

In a word, he was one that knew the resorts and falls o•• business, though he could not sink into the main of a matter; being one that packed the Cards better than he played them.

Three things compleated this Secretary:

• 1. Quick dispatch and industry.
• 2. Constant intelligence and correspondence.
• 3. A large and strong memory.

Queen Elizabeth would needs at first favour my Lord of Leicester against the E••rl of Sussex, which this Doctor and my Lord Burleigh disswaded upon this account, Because if she who should be the common Mother of all, inclined to one party, and leaned to a side, the Ship of the Commonwea••th would be as a Boat overturned by too much weight on the one ••ide, and too little on the other•• Take heed (said the Royal Mart••r to his Son our Sov••∣raign) of abetting any Faction, or applying to any publick Discriminaetion: your partial adhering as head to any one side gains you not so great advantages in some mens hearts (who are prone to go on in the Kings way) as it loseth you in others, who think them∣selves fi••st despised, and then persecuted by you. Take such a course as may either with calmness and cha∣rity quite remove the seeming differences and offences by impartiality: or so order affairs in point of power, that you shall not need to fear or flatter any faction: for if ever you stand in need of them, or stand to their courtesie, you are undone.

His Place called upon him to suppress with seve∣rity such seditious reflexions upon the State, as came to his knowledge: but his inclination was to

dissipate them with connivance and contempt. To be opposed, renders a Faction considerable; to be despised (and wretched) ridiculous: To go about to stop the first appearances of sedition, is (saith my Lord Bacon) but to make wonder long-lived.

His knack was a politick and artificial nourishing and ••ntertaining of hopes; and keeping men in su∣spence is one of the best Antidotes against the poy∣son of discontent: it being observed by the foresaid States-men, to be a certain sign of a wise Govern∣ment and Proceedings, to hold mens hearts by hopes, when it cannot by satisfaction; and when it can handle things in such manner, as no evil shall appear so peremptory, but that it hath some ou••-let of hope: which is the easier done, because both par∣ticular persons and factions are apt enough to flat∣ter themselves, or at least to boast what they be∣lieve not.

In a word, although he made not so much noise as other men, yet he as effectually promoted the three main Supporters of this Nation, 1. Its Na∣tive Commodities, 2. Its Artificial Manufactures, 3. Its V••cture and Cor••iage; and so dyed with that con••ent and r••solution, that they do who are over∣ta••en by Fate in the pursuit of great Actions, and publick Designs.