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SIr Henry Sidney, eminent for his son Sir Phi∣lip, and famous for his own Actions, was born well, and bred better: His Learning was equal to his Carriage, his Carriage to his Good Nature, his Good Nature to his Prudence, his Pru∣dence to his Resolution. A little he learned at School, more at the University, most at Court. His Reading was assiduous, his Converse exact, his
O••servations close: His Reason was strong, and his Discourse flowing. Much he owed to his Studi∣ousness at home, more to his Experience abroad, where Travel enlarged and consolidated his Soul. His own Worth fitted him for Advancement, and his Alliance to my Lord of Leicester raised him to it. Merit must capacitate a man for Interest, and Inte∣rest must set up merit. His person and his Ance∣stry invested him Knight of the Garter, his Mo∣deration and Wisdome President of Wales. His Re∣solution and Model of Government made him Lord Deputy of Ireland; a people whom he first studied, and then ruled; being first master of their humour, and then of their Government. Four things he said would reduce that Country: A Navy well fur∣nished, to cut off their correspondence with Spain; An Army well paid, to keep up Garrisons; Laws well executed, to alter their Constitutions and Te∣nures; A Ministry well setled, to civilize and instruct them; and an unwearied Industry to go through all.
Nine things he did there to eternize his Memo∣ry.
Fitz••Williams was mild, Essex heady, Perrot stout; but this Lieutenant or Deputy was a stayed and resolved man, that Royally heard ill, and did well; that bore up against the clamours of the peo∣ple with the peace of his conscience. His Interest he had devoted to his Soveraign•• and his Estate to the publick; saying as Cato, That he had the least share of himself.* 1.1 From the Irish he took nothing but a Liberty to undo themselves; from Court he desired nothing but service; from Wales he had nothing but a Good Name. I••'s observed of him, that He had open Vertues for Honour, and private ones for Success, which he said was the daughter of reservedness: there being not (saith my Lord V••∣rulam) two more fortunate properties, than to have a little of the fool, and not too much of the honest man. The Crown was obliged by his services, the No∣bility engaged to him by Alliances, the People enamoured with his Integrity, and himself satisfied with a good Conscience. Much good counsel he gave at Court, more at home in Shropshire, where his Dexterity in composing the private Quarrels of the Country, was as eminent as his Prudence in setling the Affairs of Ireland. He had that Majesty in his Countenance that he awed, and Affability in his Speech that he obliged the Country. His Coun∣sel
would be smart and solid, his Reproof grave and affectionate, his Jests quick and taking; doing more with a quick Droll towards the peace of the Country, than others did with longer Harangues. Secretary Bourns Son kept a Gentlemans Wife in Shropshire; when he was weary of her, he caused her Husband to be dealt with to take her home, and offered him 500 l. for reparation. The Gentle∣man went to Sir Henry Sidney to take his advice; telling him, That his Wife promised now a new life, and to say the truth five hundred pounds would be ve∣ry seasonable at that time. By my troth (said Sir Hen∣ry) take her home, and the Money; then whereas o∣ther Cuckolds wear their Horns plain, you may wear yours gilt. His great word after a difference end∣ed, was, Is not this easier than going to London or Ludlow? When a man fretted against himself or other, My Friend, he would say, take it from me, a weakman complains of others, an unfortunate man of himself, but a wise man neither of others nor of himself. It was his Motto, I'll never threaten. To threaten an Enemy, is to instruct him; a Superi∣our, is to endanger my person; an Inferiour, is to disparage my conduct. Old servants were the Ornament and stay of his Family, for whom he re∣served a Copyhold when aged, a service when hopeful, an Education when pregnant. Twice was he sent underhand to France, and once to Scotland, to feel the pulse of the one; and to embroyl the other. It's for setled Kingdomes and for Wealthy men to play above-board, while the young State as the young Fortune should be least in sight.
He and Sir Thomas Randolph amuse the Queen of Scots with the hope of the Crown of England, and
the King of France by a League with his protestant subjects; to whose a••sistance Sir Adrian Poynings arrives as Field-marshal, and the Earl of Warwick as General.
Sir Nicholas Arnold had disposed Ireland to a settlement, when Justicer; and Sir Henry Sidney for∣merly Justicer and Treasurer, was now to compleat it as D••puty, being assisted in Munster by Sir War∣ham St. Leiger, and elsewhere by the brave Earl of Ormond, having procured his Antagonist the Earl of Desmond to be called to England in order of a peace and tranquility. Great was his Authority over, far greater his love to, and esteem of the Soldi∣ers, with whom he did wonders against Shane Oneals Front, while Randolph charged his Rear until the wild Rebels submits, and is executed. When he re∣signed his Authority and Honour to Sir William Drury, he took his farewel of Ireland in these words, VVhen Israel departed out of Egypt, and the house of Jacob from a barbarous people. A singular man he was, (saith the Historian) and one of the most com∣mendable Deputies of Ireland, to whose Wisdome and Fortitude that Kingdome cannot but acknow∣ledge much, though it is as impatient of Deputies as Sicily was of old of Procurators.
See Daves of Ireland, and Wa••e and Powel of Wales.