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 Thomas Roper.

SIr Thomas Roper, servant to Queen Eliza∣beth, was born in Friday-street in London; whose Grandfather was a younger son of the house of Heanour in Derbyshire. He going over into the Low Countries, became Page to Sir John ••orrice, and was Captain of a Foot-company at six∣teen years of Age. What afterwards his Mar∣tial Performances were, will appear by the fol∣lowing lines transcribed out of the Originall of his Patent.

Whereas Thomas Roper Knight, one of our Pri∣vy-Councellours of the Kingdome of Ireland, long since hath been known unto us famous, with the splendour of his warlike Vertue; as who by the ma∣ny Atchievements valiantly performed by him in the late War of this Kingdome, hath gained the eminent Repute both of a stout Souldier, and a discreet Com∣mander; whose Valour chiefly appeared in his Re∣treat near le Boyle in our Province of Connaught, where with very few horse he undauntedly charged great troops of the horse of the Enemy, who in a h••∣••tile manner forraged ••he very bowels of the King∣dome; and by his wisdome made such a singular retreat, that he not onely saved himself and his men,

but also delivered the whole Army from great dan∣ger, and slew very many of his Enemies. Who also when our Province of Vlster was all on fire with war, being one out of many, was for the tryed Resolution of his mind, chosen by the Right honourable the Earl of Essex, then General of the Army, to undertake a Duel with Makal, and declined not to expose himself to the appointed Duel. And also when the aforesaid Thomas Roper in the late war in the Kingdome of France at Brest, by exposing himself to the greatest perils, and shedding of his own blood, demonstrated his Courage to be unconquerable. Who also in the Voyage to Portugal, behaved himself valiantly and honourably: as also at Bergen in the Netherlands, when it was besieged by the Spaniards, approved himself a young man of invincible Valour in the defence thereof. Who also in the day wherein Kinsale was assaulted, was placed in the first Rank, nearest of all unto the Town; and with no less Suc∣cess than Valour, to the great safety of the whole Army, beat back, and put to flight the Spaniards, who in the same day made several Sallies out of the Town.

Know therefore, that we, in intuition of the Pre∣mises, have appointed the aforesaid Thomas Rope•• Knight, &c.

Then followeth his patent, wherein King Charles the first, in the third of his Reign, created him Baron of Bauntree, and Viscount Baltinglass in Ire∣land.

He was a principal means to break the hearts of the Irish Rebels: for wh••re••s for••erly the E••glish were loa••ed with their own Cloaths, s••

that their ••••ipping into Bogs did make them, and the clopping of their breeches did keep them priso∣ners therein; he first, being then a Commander, put himself into Irish Trouzes, and was imitated first by all his Officers, then Souldiers; so that thus habited, they made the more effectual exe∣cution on their enemies. He died at Ropers Rest, anno Dom. 164. and was buried with Anne his Wife (Daughter to Sir Henry Harrington) in St. Johns Church in Dublin.