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 Tho∣mas Bodley, by himself.

1. I Was born at Exiter in Devonshire, March 2. 1544. descended both by Father and Mother of worshipful Parents. My Father in the time of Qeen Mary, being noted and known to be an enemy to Popery, wa so cruelly threatned and so narrowly observed, by those that maliced his Re∣ligion, that for the safeguard of himself and my Mother, who was wholly affected as my Fa∣ther, he knew no way so secure as so flye into Ge∣many.

2. My Father fixed his abode in the City of Ge∣neva; where, as far as I remember, the English Church consisted of some hundred persons. I was at that time of twelve years of age, but through my Fathers cost and care, sufficiently instructed to become an Auditor of Chevalerius in Hebrew, of Bernaldus in Greek, of Calvin and Bez in Divi∣nity, and of some other Professors in that Univr∣sity (which was newly then erected) besides my domestick Teachers in the house of Philierius S∣raceaus, a famous Physitian in that City, wih whom I was boarded, were Roberus Constanti∣nus, that made the Greek Lexicon, read Homer to me.

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3. In the first of Queen Elizabeth, my Father returned, and setled his dwelling in the City of London. It was not long after, that I was sent a∣way from thence to the University of Oxford, re∣commended to the teaching and tuition of Doctor Humphrey. In the year 1563. I took the degree of Batchellor of Arts; within which year I was cho∣sen Probationer of Merton Colledge, and the next year ensing admitted Fellow. Afterwards, in the year 1565, by special perswasion of some of my Fellow, and for my private exercise, I undertook the publick reading of a Greek Lecture in the same Colledge-Hall, without requiring or expect∣ing any stipend for it: Nevertheless it pleased the Fellowship of their own accord to allow me soon after four marks by the year, and ever since to con∣tinue the Lecture to that Colledge.

4. In the year 1566, I proceeded Master of Arts, and read for that year in the School-streets natural Philosophy. After which time, within less than three years space, I was won by intreaty of my best affected friends to stand for the Procorship, to which I and my Colleague were quietly elected in the year 1569, without any competition or coun∣ter-suit of any other. After this for a long time, I supplied the Office of University-Oratour, and bestowed my time in the study of sundry faculties, without any inclination to profess any one above the rest; insomuch as at last I waxed desirous to tra∣vel beyond the Seas, for attaining to the knowledge of some special modern Tongues, and for the en∣crease of my experience in the managing of affairs; being wholly then addicted to employ my self and all my cares in the publick service of the State.

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5. After my return, in the year 1585, I was employed by the Queen to the King of Denmark, and to the German Princes: Next, to Henry the third, King of France: After this, in 88, for the better conduct of her Highness Affairs in the Pro∣vinces United, I was thought a fit person to reside in those parts, and was sent thereupon to the Hague in Holland; where, according to the Con∣tract that had formerly pass'd between her High∣ness and the States, I was admitted for one of their Council of Estate, taking place in their As∣semblies next to Count Maurice, and yielding my suffrage in all that was proposed. During all that time, what approbation was given of my painful endeavours by the Queen, by the Lords in England, by the States of the Countrey there, and by all the English Soldiery, I refer it to be notified by some others Relation.

6. I received from her Majesty many comforta∣ble Letters of her gracious acceptance of my dili∣gence and care: and among the Lords of the Coun∣cil had no man more to friend, then was the Lord Treasurer Burleigh. For when occasion had been offered of declaring his conceit as touching my ser∣vice, he would always tell the Queen (which I received from her self and some other Ear-witnes∣ses) that there was not any man in England so meet as my self to undergo the Office of the Secretary. And sithence his son, the present Lord Treasurer hath signified unto me in private conference, that when his Father first intended to advance him to that place, his purpose was withal to make me his Colleague: But that the daily provocations of the Earl of Essex were so bitter and sharp against him,

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and his comparisons so odious when he put us in a balance, as he thought thereupon he had very great reason to use his best means, to put any man out of hope of raising his fortune, whom the Earl with such violence, to his extream prejudice, had en∣deavoured to dignifie.

7. When I had well considered, how ill it did concur with my natural disposition, to become or to be counted either a stickler or partaker in any publick faction; how well I was able, by Gods good blessing, to live of my self, if I could be contented with a competent livelihood; I resolved thereupon to possess my soul in peace all the residue of my days, to take my farewel of State-employments, and so to retire me from the Court.

8. Now although after this, by her Majesties direction, I was often called to the Court, by the now Lord Treasurer, then Secretary, and requi∣red by him, and also divers times snce, by order from the King, to serve as Ambassador in France, and to egotiate in other very honourable employ∣ments, yet I would not be removed from my for∣mer final resolution; but have continued at home my retired course of ••••fe, which is now methnks to me as the greatest preferment the State can afford.

9. This I must confess of my self, that though I did never repent me yet of my often refusals of ho∣nourable offer, in respect of eniching my private Estate; yet somewhat more of late I have blamed my sel and my nicey that way, for the love that I bear to my Reverend Mother the University of Oxford, and to the advancement of her good by such kind of means as I have since undertaken.

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10. Having examined what course I might take, I concluded at the last to set up my staffe at the Li∣brary door; being throughly perswaded, that in my solitude and surcease from the Common-wealth affairs, I could not busie my self to better purpose then by reducing that place (which then in every part lay ruined and waste) to the publick use of Students:

11. For the effecting whereof, I found my self furnished in a competent proportion, of such four kinds of aids, as unlesse I had them all, there was no hope of good success. For without some kind of knowledge, as well in the learned modern Tongues, as in sundry other sorts of Scholastical literature; without some purse-ability to go through with the charge; without very great store of honourable friends to further the design, and without special good leisure to follow such a work, it could but have proved a vain attempt, and inconsiderate.

12. But how well I have sped in all my endea∣vours, and how full provision I have made for the benefit and ease of all frequenters of the Library; that which I have already performed in sight; that besides, which I have given for the maintenance of it; and that which hereafter I purpose to add, by way of enlargement to that place (for the pro∣ject is cast, and whether I live or dye, it shall be, God illing, put in full execution) will testifie so truly and abundantly for me, as I need not to be the publisher of the dignity and worth of mine own institution. Written with mine own band, Anno 1609. Decemb. 15.

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