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.

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Title
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.
Author
Lloyd, David, 1635-1692.
Publication
London :: Printed by Thomas Milbourne for Samuel Speed ...,
1670.
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Subject terms
Statesmen -- England -- Early works to 1800.
Favorites, Royal -- England -- Sources.
Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603 -- Sources.
Great Britain -- Kings and rulers.
Great Britain -- Court and courtiers -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A48794.0001.001
Cite this Item
"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A48794.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 31, 2024.

Pages

Observations on the Life of Sir Jhn Perrot.

SIr Iohn Perrot was a goodly Gen••••eman, and of the Sword: and as he was of a vry anci∣ent descent, as an Hir to many Exstacts of Gentry, especially from Guy de Byn o Lawhern; so he was of a vast Estate, and came not to the Court for want. And to these Adjuncts he had the Endowments of Courage, and heighth of Spi∣rit, had it lighted on the allay of temper and discr∣tion: the defect whereof, with a native freedome and boldness of speech, drew him into a Clouded set∣ting, and laid him open to the spleen and advantage of his Enemies. He was yet a wise man, and a brave Cortier, but roug, and participaing more of a∣ctive

Page 511

than sedentary motions, as being in his Con∣stellation destinated for Arms. He was sent Lord-Deputy into Ireland, where he did the Queen very great and many Sevices: Being out of envy accu∣sed of High Treason, and against the ueens will and consent condemned, he died suddenly in the Tower. He was Englands professed Friend, and Sir Christopher Hattons professed Enemy: He fell be∣cause he would stand alone. In the English Court at that time he that held not by Leicesters and Bur∣leighs favour, must yield to their frowns: What gound he gained in Forreign merits, (as the Sea) he lost in Domestick Interests. The most deserving Rcesss, and serviceable absence from Courts, is incompatible with the way of interest and favour. Hi boysterous carriage rather removed than pre∣ferred him to Ireland, where he was to his cost, what he would have been to his advantage; chief in Command, and first in Counci. His spirit was too great to be ruled, and his Interest too little to sway. He was so like a Son of Henry the a 1.1 eighth, that he would not be Queen Elizabeths sujct: but Hattons sly smoothness undermined his opn roughness; the one dancing at Court with more success than the other fought in Ireland, He was born to enjoy, rather thn make a Fortune; and to command, rather then stoop for respect. Boldness indeed is as necessary for a Souldier, as the Action for an Orator; and is a prevailing quality over weak men at all times, and wise men at their weak times: yet it begins well, but continueth not; closing al∣ways with the wiser sorts scorns, and the vulgars aughter. Sir Iohn Perrot was better at Counsel than Complement, and better at Execution than

Page 512

Counsel. None wose to command first on his own head, none better to be second, and under the di∣rection of others. He could not advise, because he looked not round on his dangers: he could not execute, because he saw them not. His alliance to his Soveraign commended him at first to her fa∣vour, and gave him up at last to her jalousie; be∣ing too near to be modest, and too bold to be trust∣ed: and the more service he performed, he was thereby onely the more dangerous, and withal unhappy; his Successes onely puffing up his humor, and his Victories ripening his ambition to those fa∣tal Sallies against the Qeens honour and Govern∣ment, that had cost him his life, had he not saved it with those very Rants he lost himself by: for when he had out of an innocent confidence of his cause, and a haughty conceit of hi Extraction, ex∣asperated his Noble Jry to his Condemnation, he had no more to say for himself than Gods death will the Queen suser her Brother to be offered up as a sa∣crifice to the envy of my frisking Adversaries? On which words the Queen refused to sign the War∣rant for his Eecution, though pressed to it from Reason and Interest, saying, They were all Knaves that condemned him. It's observed of him, that the Surplusage of his services in Ireland abaed the merit of hem; and that it was his oversight to have done too much there. His moral words were those in the grear Chamber of Dublin, when the Qeen sent him some respectful Letters after her Expostulatory ones, with an intimation of the Spa∣niards Design: Lo, now (saith he) she is ready to piss her self for fear of the Spaniard; I am again one of her white Boys.

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A great Birth and a great Minde ae cushed in Commonwealths, and wached in Kngomes: They who are to tall too stand, too stuborn to bow, are but too fit to break. Rssling Spirits aise hem∣selves at the settlement of Governmnts, but fall after i; being but unruly Wavs to a stady Rock, breaking themslves on that solid Constitution they would break. Few aimed at Favourites as Sir Iohn did at the Lord Chancllor, but their Arrows fell on their own heads; Soveraignty being alwayes struck through prime Councellours, and Majesty through its chief Ministes. Sir Iohn Perrot no sooner clahed with Hatton, han he lost the Queen and ever since he reflected on his Dancing, he lost his own footing, and never stood on his legs.

Notes

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