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 Walter Devereus Earl of Essex.

WAlter Devereux was by his * 1.1 mothers side born to, and by his Soveraigns fa∣vour possessed of the Earldome of Essex: His spirit was as the time martial and active, equal∣ly impatient of rust in his soul, and in his sword: Forreign Countreys bred then those Souldiers that England employed: The University mad•• a Scho∣lar, the Court a man, and Flanders the Souldi∣er.

His Actions brought him to the presence, and his Presence commended him to the heart of Queen Elizabeth: B••t the shadow doth not more natu∣rally attend the Sun, than Envy doth Favour: Since he must rise, its contrived he should rise so high, that he must fall: Yet he might have lived lon∣ger, it was thought, if his wife had not there more favour than himself; Abraham was afraid of, and Sir Walter was undone by his Sarah's Beauty; This is certain, he was no sooner in his Grave, than the same great man whom he declared his Enemy at his D••ath, was his successor in his marriage-Bed.

Ambitious was he of the Irish service, and sub∣tle were others to fill up his sayls so wide, as to be over-turned; at once diving into, and ruining him by his Humour; Weary was he of the Court, and weary, as he observed, was that of him•• In comes Leicester in this juncture, and advanceth him

to the Soveraign honour of maintain••ng an Army at his own charge, and the Royalty of Claudboy in vl∣ster; the first he knew would (as it fell out) undo him; the other was the Bears skin, when he could catch, kill and ••ley it; and the whole plot was but the supplan••ing of him out of a real Estate in Eng∣land and Wales, to an imaginary one in Ireland O••er he goeth with as splendid a Retinue of kindred, Friends, supernumerarie Voluntiers, as his son to the same service, or his Grandson to one more un∣happy; Sir William Fitz-William's Jealousie heard of his Parade, and his Industry out-reached him so far, that all that preparation amounted to no more honour, than to have been commissioned, after much importunity and attendance, by him; nor to any more advantage than the bare Government of Vlster: Little good did he in Vlster, (now under the discouraging and heartless impressions of dis∣content) less in the South of Ireland, whither he was remanded by the Deputy, whose design was not to set how successfully he would conquer, but how dutifully he would obey; in six months time spend∣ing 4000 l. to ruine himself: B••t alas •• in vain doth he conquer•• who was always forbid to pu••sue and improve his Victory: no sooner did his Fortune favour him in one place, but he was called to his Misfortune in another: for no sooner doth he by experience and acquaintance with the situation of any place, the humour or interest of any People, the weaknesses and strengths of any Enemy, the ad∣vantages or disadvantages of any Undertaking, ••i∣pen circumstances towards success, but he is called off to a new and unacq••a••nted scene of action, where he shall lose his Ar••y, be••o••e he knoweth how to

employ it. His friends at Court grew few and cold, his foes many and active; his affronts continual to disorder him by passion, or sink him in despair.

His Commission was but short before, but is none now; onely three hundred men stick to him: his Money failing, his Noble Followers withdrawing, his Common Souldiers mutiny, and he is recalled. And happy had he been, could he have been quiet: but nothing would compleat some mens Designes, but his Ruine; and nothing could ruine him but Honour, that at once pleased his humour, and wasted his Estate. Earl-Marshal of Ireland he is made, and thither he goeth in great state to die, anno 1576, and the 36 of his Age: a year fatal to that Family, which none of them exceeded but the last, who had been happy if he had died sooner, or lived longer than he did. Although Sir Walter De∣vereux had not that success over others which his Valour deserved, yet he had that conquest of him∣self that Vertue onely gives; shewing himself as good at the Buckler, as at the Sword; at suffering, as well as acting. All his changes from without he bore with, none within; his even and solid minde that fashioned its own fate, enjoying its constant calm amidst all the tempests of malice and ambiti∣on. Those ignoble courses were not greater Argu∣ments of his Enemies narrowness and degeneracy, than his resolved Patience was of his largeness and generousness of spirit; he being as much above those smaller tricks, as they were below his Adver∣saries. We make our selves more Injuries than are offered us; and the apprehension of wrong doth more har•• than the smartest part of the wrong it self. It's the Wise-mans glory, and the States-mans

prudence, to pass by Offences. A Fool struck Cato in the Bath; and when he was sorry for it, Cato had forgot it: for, (saith Seneca) Melius putavit non agnoscere quam ignoscere. Light Injuries are made none by a not-regarding: which with a pursuing Revenge grow both to heighth and burden, and live to mischief us, when they might die to secure us. It's Princely (saith one) to disdain a Wrong, who when Embassadours have offered Undecences, use not to chide, but deny them audience: as if silence were the way Royal to revenge a Wrong. The up∣per Region is most composed; The wisest rage the least, knowing that Observation and Resentment do but pro••oke and encourage that Malice which neglect and silence deads and dissipates. And it was Sir Walter's Fathers Maxime, That Discontent was the greatest weakness of a generous Soul, which is always so intent upon its unhappiness, that it for∣gets its remedies.

This Lord was a great instance of that Maxime, That it's an equal mischief to distrust all: as to be∣lieve all; although of the two, the safest is to di∣strust: for Fear had secured this Noble Person, while Confidence ruined him; it being a Vertue onely when men were innocent, but ever since, the bane of those that own it.

Three things undid this Earl:

• 1. That he could not imagine he was to be rui∣ned by his Advancement.
• 2. That he never mistrusted an Oath.
• 3. That he never considered, that as Princes, so Favourites, have many eyes, and long hands;

He that is so open as to reserve nothing from

friends, is renowned for Charity; but he that is so to lie at the mercy of all, is marked for ruine. No sooner unde••stood my Lord of Leicester Essex his Disposition, but the bitter Fool Pace could tell his Fortune, begging of my Lord at his departure the making of his mourning; and adding, You and I have done for this world.

Walter E••rl of Essex had been happy if he had not lived in my Lord of Leicester's time: his son Robert renowned, had he not been Sir Robert Cecil's Con∣temporary; and his Grandchilde an Heroe, had he not known my Lord Say and Mr. Hampden.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cicely, Daughter of Thomas Bourchi•••• late Earl of Essex.