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 Edmund Plowden.

EDmund Plowden was born at Plowden in Shrop∣shire; one who ••xcellently dese••ved of our Municipal Law in h••s learned Writings thereon. A plodding and a studious man; and no wonder if knowing and able: Beams in reflexion are hottest, and the Soul becomes wise by looking into its self. But see the man in his Epitaph••

Conditur in hoc Tumulo corpus Edmundi Plow∣den Armigeri. Claris ortus Parentibus, a∣pud Plowden in Comitatu Salop, natus est; à pueritia in literarum Studio liberaliter ••st educatus, in Provectiore vero aetate Legibus, & Iurisprudentiae operam dedit. Senex jam factus, & annum aetatis suae agens 67. Mun∣do

Valedicens, in Christo Iesu Sancte obdor∣mivit, die Sexto Mensis Februar. Anno Do∣mini 1585.

I have the rather inserted this Epitaph inscribed on his Monument on the North-side of the East-end of the Quire of semple-Church in London, because it ••ath ••••cape•• (but by what c••sualty I cannot con∣jecture) Maste•• Stow in his Survey of London. We must adde a few words out of the Character Mr. Cambden gives of him:

Vitae integritate inter homines suae professionis nul∣li secundum. As he was singularly well learned in the Common laws of England, whereof he deserved well by wri••ing; so for integrity of life he was se∣cond to none o•• his profession. And how excellent a m••dley is made, when Honesty and Ability meet in a man of his profession! Nor must we forget how he was T••easurer for the honourable Society of the middle-Temple, Anno 1572, when their magnific••nt Hall was builded; he being a great ad∣vancer thereof. Finding the Coyn embased by Henry the eighth, so many ways prejudicial to this State, as that which first dishonoured us abroad; se∣condly, gave way to the frauds of Coyners at home, who exchanged the best Commodities of the land for base moneys, and exported the current moneys into Forreign parts; and thirdly, enhansed the pri∣zes of all things vendible, to the great loss of all Stipendiaries: He offered, 1•• That no man should melt any Metal, or export it: 2. That the Brass money should be reduced to its just value: 3. That it should be bought for good; by which si∣lent and just methods, that defect of our Govern∣ment

for many years was remedied in few moneths, without any noise, or (what is proper to alterati∣ons of this nature) discontent.

The middle Region of the Air is coolest, as most distant from the direct beams that warm the highest, and the reflexed that heat the lowest: the mean man, that is as much below the favour of the Court, as above the business of the Country, was in our Judges opinion the most happy and compo∣sed man; this being the utmost of a knowing mans wish in England, That he were as much out of the reach of contempt, as to be above a Constable; and as much out of the compass of trouble, as to be below a Justice. A Mean is the ut••ost that can be prescribed either of Vertue or Bliss, as in ou•• Actions, so in our State.

Great was the Capacity, and good the Inclinati∣on of this man•• large the Furniture, and happy the Culture of his Soul; grave his meen, and stately his Behaviour; well-regulated his Affections, and allayed his passions; well-principled his Mind, and well-set his Spirit; sol••d his Observation, working and practical his Judgement: and as that Roman Heroe was more eminent whose image was missing, than all the rest whose Portraictures were set up; so this accomplished Gentleman is more observable because he was not a States-man, than some of those that were so. There is a glory in the obscurity of worthy men, who as that Sun (which they equal as well in common influence as lustre) are most looked on when eclipsed.