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 Sir John Dudley Duke of Northumberland.

HI, favour was first purchased by his•• Fathers blood, and improved by his own cunning. King Henry sacrificed Sir Edmund Dudley to allay t••e Peoples rage, and raised his Son to ap∣pease his Ghost. He that disobligeth a multitude, must fall hims••lf;* 1.1 but he that in so doing serveth his King, may advance his Posterity. Something high he was in the Kings favour, because standing on his fathers Grave; but hig••er as he stood on his own Merit: He knew his Fathers service made his way to favour; h••s own education therefore must prepare him for employment. Favour without Parts is a reproach; Parts without Favour are a burden. The King restored him to his Fathers blood, and his own industry recovered his Abilities. There are those that under the notion of wisdome com∣m••t the g••eat••st folly, ei••her in too much conver∣sing with the world without, or in too much re∣••••ecting on themselves within: Sir Iohn was made up of both; some time he allowed for Action, more for Consideration. There is not any thing so prejudicial to Action, as to be bent upon Action without intermission•• for as the eye seeth no•• the Objects touching it, but those onely more re∣mote: so the understanding continually plunged in Affairs, is not so quick-sighted in occurrents, as his who sometime retireth himself from pub∣li••k A••tion, beholding it aloof off by considera∣tion.

In the heat and tumult of Affairs, Reason hath not that power as may give conduct and mo∣tion to active life: besides, experience teacheth us, that the ey•• having lost its quickness w••th too much looking upon the light, recovereth it a∣gain in the dark: the spirit in like manner dazled, weakned, transported and distracted among the multitude and variety of Affairs, ought to recol∣lect and recover its force in the privacy of some small retreat; which Sir Iohn made to Italy, the seat of policy and experience; whence I pray God he brought no more (saith my Author) than his closeness and reach.

His S••veraign saw he deserved Honour, but saw not without offence to the Populacy how to confet it, until the subtle Youngster shewed him a middle way, (upon the strange death of the Viscount Lisle, who lost his life for joy that it was saved) by petiti∣oning for that honour as a favour, which upon his Mothers account was his right: The crafty Youth entered himself of the Cardinals Retinue first, and then of the Kings. Much was he employed by him at Sea, as an Overseer of the Nav••; more in the Field, as Director-General; most of all in the Ro∣mish and French Court, as a Spy. He was too good a Proficient in his School to fall wi••h him, therefore we immediately observe him rising with Cromwel, until the King made him Admiral, and he with his 200•• sail upon the Coast of Scotland ••ale himself renowned; insomuch that the Kin•• left him the next year Vic••roy of France, and De∣puty of Calice and Bulloign: where to revenge the French attempts upon the Isle of Wight, he drew his Fleet up to the Coasts of Normandy; landed

6000 men at Treport, burned the Suburbs of that Town with the Abby, destroyed 30 Ships there in the Haven, and then returned, not having lost a∣bove fourteen persons in the whole Voyage: inso∣much that in a Treaty between Ard and Guisnes wherein he was Commissioner with the Earl of Hert∣ford, Secretary Paget, and Dr. W••tton, the French were contented that we held Bulloign till they paid us 800000 Crowns within the term of eight years. For the further Establishment whereof, he and the Bishop of Duresm are employed to take Oath of the F••ench King and the Daulphine, His Master Henry dieth, but not his designe with him: Norfolk is out of his way; Seymour will be so: he is now Executor of King Henry's Will, he will be of his own. B••t as Nature, so Policy works by degrees; first the graft, then the tree; after that, the blos∣some; next that, the fruit; first meaner Essays, and then higher Actions. There was nothing to be attempted at home, until we were secured and feared from abroad; he therefore leads the Van••guard a∣g••i••st the Scots so successfully, that he is made Earl of Warwick. H••re his spirit had ensnar••d him, had not his conduct brought him off. When the Pro∣tector refused a Combat as not becoming him, Warwick offereth on••: Bring me word (said he to the H••rald that brought the Protector a Challenge from the Lord Huntley) that thy Master will perform the Combat with me, and thou shalt have an hundred Crowns for thy pains. But a publick Conduct be∣comes a General better than pe••sonal Valour; and he must so far onely remember he is a Souldier, as not to forget he is a commander, and so a whole Army too.

Against the Rebels in Devonshire so happy he was, that upon his discreet Overture of Pardon, (Mer∣cie is a Vertue with Valour, and but a Weakness with Cowardize) and coming in person to assure them of it, they saying, They knew him so honoura∣ble, that if he came himself they would embrace it; threw down their Arms, and submitted to Mer∣cie.

Against the French, that took the opportunity of those Turmoyls, he was so prosperous, that he sent them home from Iersey and Guernsey with the loss of two thousand men.

Honour he had enough, and Power too, yet not what he aimed at; (our Souls are infinite as in their duration, so in their capacity.) Ambition is like cholar, which is an humour that maketh men active, earnest, full of alacrity and stirring, if it be not stop∣ped; but if it be stopped, and cannot have its way, it becometh adust, and thereby malign and veno∣mous; So aspiring men, if progr••ssive and success∣ful (their passage to advancement being clear) are rather active than perilous; but if curbed with some obstructions, their sccret discontent casts an evil aspect upon all persons and actions, and be∣comes rather dangerous than serviceable.

This great Earl's greater minde was usefull, when prosperous abroad; but at home troublesome, when finding a plain man in his way to height, great in his power, greater in his Sovereigns affections and greatest of all in his knowing brother; whose spirit bare up his Authority, as his Authority supported His Courage: In that b 1.2 mans Brest there was a Pru∣dence that could reach, and a stoutness that could balance this at once close and fierce man.

Interest and Blood united these Brothers so strongly, that there was no dividing of them, but by practising on their Wives, whose Humours were above their Interest, and Fancy above their Re∣lation. Their precedence is made a question at Court, where it bred first a distance, and upon an Interview contrived in this Lords house, a diff••∣rence•• that difference is improved to an animosi∣ty, (••e can do little that cannot blow up a spark in a Womans Brest to a flame) that animosity to malice, and malice cannot dwell long in those weaker brests without a mischief; mischief they cannot do them∣selves:) Th•• Ivy cl••aves to the Oak, and these Wo∣men to their Husbands, though both ruine the things they cling to:) What suggestions! What in∣sinua••ions! What pretty fears and jealousies! What little tales and passions•• Yet continual droppings wear a Stone: The Womens discords de∣rive themselves into the Husbands hearts, until the Admiral falls, and leaves the Protector to his own Integrity: Whose large Trust and infinite Business ••ould not but bewray him to some Errour, as his great Power did to much Envy, that first divested him of that Power, and then of his Life.

There is not a more admirable Wisdom direct∣ing the contrarieties of Nature to an Harmony, than ther•• is a close ••each in some men to reconcile vari••∣ty of Humours, Affections, Opp••sitions, Rancoun∣ters, Events and Changes to one Design. The Pr••∣tectors easine••s is betrayed to confidence; ••is too late fears, to a confidence at fi••st, and at last to irre∣gularities: the hopes of some were encouraged the g••ievances of ö••hers were aggravated and pitied, ••he envy of a 〈…〉〈…〉, and he the

soul in all and every part of the action. The Pro∣tector was free-spirited, open hearted, humble, hard to distrust, easie to forgive: The Earl was proud, subtile, close, cruel and implacable; and therefore it was impar congressus between them, almost with as much disadvantage as be∣tween a naked and armed person. Two nets are laid to take the Protector; the one breaks, the other holds: The Treason was onely to give a Re∣port, the Felony for designing the death of the Earl of Warwick a Privy Councellour, did the executi∣on.

He being removed out of the way, this Earl of Warwick, as his Predecessor, meditates the honour of King-making. To this purpose he joyns him∣self by alliance to the best Families, and advanceth his children by employments to the greatest trusts; particularly (what Sir Richard Baker saith had been better if it had never been) his Son Robert (after∣ward Earl of Leicester) was sworn one of the six or∣dinary Gentlemen of the Kings Chamber: upon which particular the foresaid Historian observeth, That after his coming into a place so near him, the King enjoyed his health but a while. The Duke of Somerset is trained by his enemies to such fears and j••alousies, as transport him beyond his ow•• go••d nature, to an attempt one morning upon the E••rl of Warwick, now Duke of Northumberland, abed; where being received with much kindeness, his heart relented, and he came off re infecta. At his coming out, one of his company asked him if he had done the deed? he answered, No. Then said he, You are ••our self undone. And indeed it so fell ours for when all other Accusations were refelled, this

onely s••uck by him, and could not be denyed; and so he was found guilty by a Statute of his own pro∣curement, viz.

That if any should attempt to kill a Privy-Councellour, although the fact were not done, yet it should be Felony, and to be punished with death.

This, notwithstanding many Divertisements u∣sed, went so near the consumptive Kings heart, that he prepares for death. The Duke now within ken of his design, considering the Kings affection for Reformation, the Lords and other Purchasers kind∣ness for Church-lands, the Judges fear, the Cour∣tiers compliance, carried on a Will with a high hand, (trembling with anger•• saith Judge Moun∣tague, if any opposed him; yea, saying, That he would fight in his Shirt with any that contradicted it) wherein the Crown was bestowed on Iane Grey, his fourth Sons Wife, (the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth being laid aside.) But he forgot (as what man, though never so reaching, can consider all things?) that there is an invisible Power in Right, that there is a natural Antipathy in English men a∣gainst usurpation, and as great an inclination for the succession: A Point they had conned so well of late out of the Statute made for that purpose, that they could not well be put out of it by this new-started Designe. The People stand by Queen Mary: the Council notwithstanding their Engagement to stand by him at his going away, (when he observed in Shore••ditch that the People gazed on him, but bid him not God sp••ed; and he

••old the Lords, They might purchase their safety with his ruine. To w••ich one of the Lords replyed, Your Grace mak•••• a doubt of that which cannot be: for which of us all can wash his hands clear of this business?) proclaimed the Queen at London, as he doth at Cambridge; where yet the Earl of Arundel (who offered his life at his feet when he marched out: O the Vicissitudes of this lower world?) ar∣rests him ••esolutely, and h•• submits weakly, first to an Imprisonment, and then to a Tryal and Ex••∣cution.

The first night he came to Cambridge, all the Doctors supped with him; and Doctor Sandys is appointed to preach before him next day. The Doctor l••••e at night betakes himself to his Prayers and Study, desiring God to direct him to a fit Text for that time. His Bible openeth at the first of Jo••hua, and (though he heard no voice with St. Augustine, saying, Tolle & lege) a strong fan∣cy inclined him to fix ••n the first words he be∣held, v. 16. And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do; and whi∣thersoever thou sendest, we will go: A text he so wisely and warily handled, that his Enemies got not so full advantage against him as they expe∣cted.

The next day the Duke advanced to Bury with his Army, whose feet marched forward while their minds moved backward. Upon the News brought him, he returned to Cambridge, with more sad thoughts within him, than valiant Soul∣diers about him. Then went he with the Mayor of the Town, and proclaimed the Queen; the Beholders whereof more believing the grief in

his eyes when they let down tears, than the joy professed by his hands when he threw up his Cap. Slegge Sergeant at Arms arrests him in Kings•• Colledge; and when the Proclamation of Pardon set him at liberty, the Earl of Arundel re-arrests him, at whose feet he craves mercy; a low po∣sture in so high a person! But what more poor and prostrate than Pride it self, when reduced to extremity?* 1.3 Behold we this Duke as the Mirrour of Humane Unhappiness!

As Nevil Earl of Warwick was the make-King, so this Dudley Earl of Warwick was the make-Queen. He was Chancellour of the Vniversity, and Steward of the Town of Cambridge; two Offices which never before or since met in the same per∣son.

Thus as Cambridg•• was his Vertical Poynt, wherein he was in the heighth of Honour: so it was his Vertical, where he met with a suddain turn, and a sad Catastrophe. And it is remarkeable, that though this Duke (who by all means endea∣voured to aggrand his Posterity) had six sons, all men, all married, none of them left any issue be∣hind them. Thus far better it is to found our hop••s of even ear••hly happiness on Goodn••ss, than Great∣ness. Thus far the Historian.

I•• was Lewi•• the elev••nth's Motto, Pride and Presumption go before, Shame and Loss follow after. In three sorts of men Ambition is good:

• 1. In a Souldier, to quicken him.
• 2. In Favourites, to balance o••hers.
• 3. In great States-men, to undertake invidious Employments: For no man will take that part

• except he be like a seeled Dove, that mounts and mounts because he cannot see about him. And in these men it's safe if they are mean in their ori∣ginal, harsh in their nature, stirring in many little, rather than in any great business. Greater in his own interest than in his Followers. Humility so∣journeth with safety and honour, Pride with Dan∣ger and unworthiness. No man below an Anointed One, is capable of an unlimited Power; a tempta∣tion too great for Mortality, whose highest Interest if indulged, is Self; and if checked, Malice. Dan∣gerous is the Power of an aspiring Person near a Prince, more dangerous his Disguise, as who acts all things against his Master by his Authority.

Let no man upon this example ever repose so much upon any mans single Counsel, Fidelity or Discretion, as to create in himself or others a diffidence of his own judgement, which is likely to be most faithfull and true to a mans own Interest. Let every m••n have some things that no man shall obtain, and some things that no man must dare ask; because you see here, if we let all go without reserve, our Reputation is lost in the world by the Reputation our Favourite gains with us-

There was in Rome a certain man named Enati∣us, somewhat entred in Age, and of natural con∣dition mu••inous, ambitious, and troublesome: A∣drian being advertised that he was dead, fell into a great laughter, and sware, That he could not but wonder he could intend to die, considering what great business he had night and day; Con••idering how many Affairs he had to manage, how many cross accidents to accommodate, I wonder what time he had to die: And considering his many pre∣tences

for the Protestant Religion, especially that for King Edward's, I wonder with what face he could die a Papist.

But I have forgot my self: for there are two sorts of persons in Machiavel ••hat must either not believe, or not profess any Religion: The first, the States-man, that acts in publick Affairs; the second, the Historian, that writes them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mach: Prince, p. 56.
• b 1.2

  Viz. The Lord Tho. Seymour.
• * 1.3

  Hist. Camb. p. 131.