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 Puckering.

HE was born at Flamboroughead in Yorkshire, second Son to a Gentleman that left him an Estate neither plenteous nor penurious, his breeding was more beneficial to him than his porti∣on, gaining thereby such skill in the common Law, that he became the Queens Sergeant, speaker in the house of Commons, and at last Lord Chancel∣lour of England. How he stood in his Iudgement in the point of Church-discipline, plainly appeareth by his following speech, delivered in the house of Lords 1588.

You are especially commanded by her Majesty to take heed, that no Ear be given, nor time affor∣ded to the wearisome sollicitations of those that com∣monly be called Puritans, where with all the late Parliaments have been exceedingly importuned, which ••ort of men, whilst that (in the giddiness of their Spirits) they labour and strive to advance a new eldership, they do nothing else but disturb the good repose of the Church and Commonwealth, which is as well grounded for the body of Religion it self, and as well guided for the discipline, as any Realm that confesseth the truth. And the same thing is already made good to the world by many of the Writings of godly and learned men, neither answered nor answerable by any of these new fan∣gled Refiners. And, as the present case standeth, it may be doubted, whether they, or the Iesuits, do offer more danger, or be more speedily to be repressed.

For, albeit the Iesuites do empoyson the hearts of Her Majesties Subjects, under a pretext of Consci∣ence to withdraw them from their Obedience due to Her Majesty yet do they the same, but closely, and in privy-corners: But these men do both teach and publish in their printed Books, and teach in all their Conventicles, sundry Opinions, not onely dangerous to a Well-setled Estate, and the Policy of the Realm, by putting a Pi••e between the Clergy and the Layty; but also much derogatory to her sacred Majesty and her Crown, as well by the diminution of her an∣cient and lawful Revenues, and by denying Her Highness Prerogative and Supremacy, as by offering peril to her Majesties safety in her own Kingdome. In all which things, (however in other Points they pretend to be at war with the Popish Iesuites) yet by this separation of themselves from the unity of their fellow subjects, and by abasing the Sacred Au∣thority and Majesty of their Prince, they do both joyn and concur with the Iesuites in opening the Door, and preparing the way to the Spanish Invasi∣on that i•• threatned against the Realm.

And thus having according to the weakness of my best understanding delivered Her Majesties Roy∣al pleasure and wise direction, I rest there, with humble Suit of her Majesties most gracious Pardon in supplying of my defects, and recommend you to the Author of all good councel.

He died anno Domini 1596, charactered by Mr. Cambden, Vir Integer. Hi•• Estate is since descend∣ed, (according to the solemn settlement thereof) the Male Issue failing, on Sir Henry Newton; who,

according to the Condition hath assumed the sur∣name of Puckering.

Sir Thomas Egerton urged against the Earl of A∣rundel methodically what he had done before, in, and since the Spanish Invasion: Sir Iohn Puckering pres∣sed things closely, both from Letters and Corre∣spondence with Allen and Parsons, that few men had seen; and from the saying of my Lord himself, (which fewer had observed) who when Valongers Cause about a Libel was handled in the Star-cham∣ber, had said openly, He that is throughly Popish, the same man cannot but be a Traytor. A man this was of himself of good repute for his own Carriage, but unhappy for that of his servants; who for dis∣posing of his Livings corruptly, left themselves an ••ill name in the Church, and him but a dubious one in the State. David is not the onely person whom the iniquity of his heels, that is, of his followers, layeth hold on.