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 Thomas Smith.

SIr Thomas Smith was born at * 1.1 Saffro••-Walden in Essex, and b••ed in Queens Colledge in Cambridge; where such his proficiency in Learning, that he was chosen out by Henry the eighth to be sent over, and to be brought up be∣yond the Seas. It was fashionable in that Age that pregnant Students were maintained on the cost of the State, to be Merchants for experience in For∣reign Parts; whence returning home with their gainful Adventurers, they were preferred accor∣ding to the improvement of their time to Offices in their own Country. Well it were if this good old Custome were resumed: for if where God hath given five talents, men would give but pounds, I mean, encourage hopeful Abilities with hopeful maintenance, able persons would never be wanting,

and poor men with great Parts would not be excluded the Line of Prefermen••. This Sir Thomas was first Servant and Favourite to the Duke of Somerset, and afterwards Secretary of State to Q••een Elizabeth, and a grand Benefactor to both Universities.

Anno 1577, when that excellent Act passed•• whereby it was provided, That a third part of the Rent upon Leases made by Colledges, should be reser∣ved in Corn, paying it either in k••nd or in money, after the rate of the best prices in Oxford or Cambridge-markets, the next Market-days before Michaelmas or our Lady-day•• For the passing of this Act, Sir Tho∣mas S••ith ••urprized the House; and whereas many conceived not the difference between the payment of Rents in Corn or money, the knowing Patriot took the advantage of the presen•• cheap year, know∣ing that hereaft••r Grain would grow dearer, Man∣kinde dayly multiplying, and License being lately given for Transportation; so that now when the U∣niversities have least Corn, they have most Bread. What his foresight did now for the Universi••y, his reach did the first year of Q. Eliz. for the King∣dome: for the first sitting of her Councel he advised twelve most important things for the publick safety.

• 1. That the Ports should be shu••.
• 2. That the Tower of London should be secured good hands.
• 3. That the Deputy of Ireland's Commi••••••on should be renewed and enlarged.
• 4. That all Officers should act.
• 5. That no new Office should be bestowed in a moneth.
• 6. Th••t Ministers should meddle with no Con∣troversies.
• ...

• 7. That Embassadors should be sent to Forreign Princes.
• 8. That no Coyn should be transported beyond Sea.
• 9. That no person of quality should travel for six weeks.
• 10. That the Trai••-bands should be mustered.
• 11. That Ireland, the Borders, and the Seas, should be provided for.
• 12. And that the dissenting Nobility and Cler∣gy should be wa••ched and secured. Adding withal a Paper for the Reading of the Epistle, the Gospel, and the Commandments in the English tongue, to encourag•• the Protestants expectation, and allay the Papists fear. In the same Proclamation that he drew up, the Sacrament of the Altar was to be re∣verenc••d, and yet the Communion to be admini∣stred in both kinds, He advised a Disputation with the Papists one day, (knowing that they could not dispute without leave from the Pope, and so would disparage the••r Cause; yet they could not say but they might dispute for the Queen, and so satisfie the People) and is one of the * 1.2 ••ive Councellours to whom the D••signe of the Reformation is open∣ed, and one of the * 1.3 eight to whom the manage∣ment of it was intrusted. There you might see him a Leading man among the States-men, here most eminent among Divines; at once the most knowing and pious man of that Age. As his Indu∣stry was taken up with the establishment of our Af∣fairs at home, so his Watchfulness (upon Sir Edward Carnees deposition of his Embassie) was intent upon the plot of France and Rome abroad: in the first of which places he made a Secretary his own, and in

• the second a Cup-bearer. At the Treaty of Cam∣bray my Lord Howard of Effingham, the Lord Chamberlain, and he, brought the King of Spain to the English side in the business of Calice: 1. That France might be weakened: 2. That his Nether∣lands might be secured: 3. That the Queen his Sweet-heart might be obliged, until he discovered Queen Elizabeths averseness to the marriage: whereupon had it not been for the Viscount Moun∣tacute (who was not so much a Papist as to forget that he was an ••nglish-man) and Sir Thomas, the Spaniard had stoln over Catharine Grey, Queen E∣lizabeths Neece, for a pretence to the Crown, as the French had the Queen of Scots her Cozen. After which, he and Sir William Cecil advised her Maje∣sty to that private Treaty apart, without the Spa∣niard, which was concluded 1559•• as much to the honour of England, now no longer to truckle under Spain, as its interest, no longer in danger from France. Sir Nicholas Throgmorton was the metal in these Treaties, and Sir Thomas Smith the Allay: the ones mildness being to mitigate that animosity which the others harshness had begot; and the o∣thers spirit to recover those advantages which this mans easiness had yielded. Yet he shewed himself as much a man in demanding, as Sir William Chey∣ney in gaining Calice; replying smartly upon Chan∣cellour Hospitals Discourse of ancient Right, the late * 1.4 Treaty; and upon Montmorency's Harangue of Fears, Conscience. Pitying the neglected state of I∣reland, he obtained a Colony to be planted under his base Son in the East-Coast of Vlster, called Ar∣des, at once to civilize and secure that place. So emi∣nent was this Gentleman for his Learning, that he

• was at once Steward of the Stannaries, Dean of Car∣lisle, and Provost of Eaton in King Edward's time, and had a Pens••on (on condition he went not be∣yond Sea, so considerable he was) in Queen Ma∣ry's.

Well he deserved of the Commonwealth of Learn∣ing by his Books; 1. Of the commonwealth of Eng∣land, 2. Of the Orthography of the English Tongue, and o•• the Pronunciation of Greek; and 3. an ex∣act Commentary of matters, saith Mr. Cambden, worthy to be published.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cambd. Eliz. anno 1577.
• * 1.2

  The Mar∣quess of Northam∣pton, the Earl of Bedford, John Grey of Pyrgo, Sir Willi∣am Cecil, Tho. Smith
• * 1.3

  The Doctors ••arker, Bill, May, Cox, Grindal, Whi••e-head, Pil∣lington, and Sir Tho. Smith.
• * 1.4

  A•• Cambray.