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 Henry Howard Earl of Northampton.

THis Family had endeared it self to many Kings by its services, but to none more than King Iames by its obligations. Tho∣mas Duke of Norfolk being as it were his Mothers Martyr [executed for a design to marry her] and all his Relations his confessors [kept under for their inclinations to advance him:] Reasonable there∣fore it was, that my Lord that Dukes brother should be made Baron of Marnhill, Earl of Nor∣thampton, Knight of the Garter, Privy-Coun∣cellor, Lord Privy Seal, and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports.—Learning in any man had King Iames his affection, especially in a Noble-man, as our States-man, who was as serious a Student in Kings-Colledge and Trinity-Hall in Cambridge, as a discerning observator in Rome and Florence in Italy. His Dispensative against the suppased poyson of Prophe∣sies, dedicated to Sir Francis Walsingham, bespeaks him a great and a general Scholar: His Speeches at Cambridge and in Star-Chamber, argue him both witty and wise: His expences shewed him publick-spirited, the unparallel'd port of his Family and dependants an Ancient Noble-man: His designing of Audley-End, and building of Suffolk-house, an Architect: His Hospital for tw••lve poor women, and a Governour at Rise in Norfolk; for twelve poor men, and a Gove••nour at Clin in Shropshire; for twenty poor men, and a Governour at Greenwich in Kent

[whereof eight to be chosen out of Shose-Sham where he was born] a charitable man: his using of all his interest to avoid the burthen and weight of the Treasurer's place, and procure it for the Earl of Suffolk his Nephew, his noble disposition, not to advance himself by Court-flattery, or his fortune by State employment, being a Batchellour and a Stu∣dent; An instance of my Lord Bacon's observation;

He that hath Wife and Children, hath given Hosta∣ges to Fortune, for they are Impediments to great Enterprizes either to Vertue or Mischief. Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the Publick proceed from the unmarried and the Childeless, which both in affection and means have married and endowed the Publick.

But to conclude this particular; this Lord told his intimate Secretary Mr. George Penny (who rela∣ted it to my Author) that his Nativity (at his Fa∣thers desire) was calculated by a skilful Italian A∣strologer, who told him that this his Infant-son should taste of much trouble in the middest of his life, even to the want of a meals meat; but his old age should make amends for all, with a plentiful e∣state: which came to pass accordingly. For his Fa∣ther dying in his infancy, no plentiful provision was made for him: and when his eldest Brother Thomas Duke of Norfolk was executed, his condition was much impaired; insomuch that being once in Lon∣don (not overstocked with money (when his noble Nephews the Earl of Arundel and the Lord Tho∣mas Howard were out of Town) and loath to pin himself on any Table uninvited) he was fain to dine with the Chair of Duke Humphrey; but other

(not to say better company) viz. reading of books in Stationers Shops in St. Paul's Church-yard; though afterwards he attained to great wealth, ho∣nour and command: However that Lord gave lit∣tle credit to, and placed less confidence in such Predictions, as appeared by a learned Work he hath written on that subject.