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. Richard Bingham.

SIr Richard Bingham, born in Binghams••Mel∣colm in Dorsetshire, of a very ancient Family, in his youth travelled most parts of the world: he was at the Siege of St. Quintin in France; the sacking of Leith in Scotland; served in Ca••dia under the Venetians against the Turk; then return∣ed into the Netherlands, being strong and fortunate in all his undertakings. After all this, he went in∣to Ireland, and was there President of Co••naught, and conque••ed the great and dangerous Rebel O¦Rork.

A Gentleman this, rather skilful in many myste∣ries than thriving in any: of a fancy too high and wild, too defulto••y and over-voluble: yet Imagi∣nation hath often produced Realities, and phancy done the work of Judgement; as in this Gentle∣man, whose daringness went for conduct, whose spirit passed for resolution, whose activity had the honour of skill, and whose success the glory of pru∣dence. It's a wonder of parts that Caesar could write, read, dictate, and discourse at the same time; it's a miracle of fancy that this man should com∣mand a Regiment in the Netherlands, preside in a province of Ireland, manage a Trade in Russia, car∣ry on a plantation in America, and husband a man∣nor in England. But as the King of Spain is painted with a handful of sand running out between his fin∣gers, in reference to his many, but unprofitable Do∣minions; so might this grand Projector be described,

who attempted so many things, that he did nothing. Yet one thing his Quick-silver soul was good for, and that is Stratagems: Now you should have him surprize a Town by Butter-women, another time by Workmen; anon he would face the enemy, and draw them with success upon a train of Gunpow∣der he would lay for them, and Iron Pricksteds he would sow for them: He would steal their hands and seales, buy the very keys of their closets; and so amuse them with letters, and distract them with Jealousies, while in the mean time the vigilant man alarmed them every hour of the day, and each watch of the night; so that he tamed those wild I∣rish as we do some wild beasts, by watching.