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

The Veres compared. Veri scipiadae, Duo fulmina belli.

SIr Francis and Sir Horace Ver, sons of Ieffery Vere Esquire, who was son of Iohn Vere, the fifteenth Earl of Oxford; We will first consider severally, and then compare joyntly, to see how their Actions and Arms performed, what their birth and bloud promised.

SIr Fran. was of a fiery spirit & rigid nature, undaunted in all danger, not overvaluing the price of mens lives to purchase a victory therewith. He served on the Scene of all Christendom where War was acted. One Master∣piece of his valour was at the Battel of New∣port, when his ragged Re∣giment (so were the English-men called, from their ragged Cloathes) helped to make all whole, or else all had been lost.

Another was, when for three years he de∣fended Ostend against a strong and numerous Army, surrendring it at last a bare Skeleton to the King of Spain, who paid more years purchase for it, than probably the World would endure. He dy∣ed in the beginning of the Reign of K. Iames, about the year of our Lord, 16—

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SIr Horace had more meekness, & as much valour as his brother; so pious that he first made peace with God, before he went to war with man One of an excellent tem∣per; it being true of him what is said of the Caspi∣an Sea, that it doth never ebb nor flow; observing a constant tenor, neither elated nor depressed with sucess. Had one seen him returning from a vi∣ctory, he would by his si∣lence have suspected that he had lost the day; and had he beheld him in a retreat, he would have collected him a Conque∣ror, by the cheerfulness of his spirit. He was the first Baron of K. Charles his Creation. Some years after, coming to Court, he fell suddenly sick and speechless, so that he died afore night, Anno Dom. 163... No doubt he was well prepared for death, seeing such his vigilan∣cy, that never any enemy surprised him in his Quarters.

Now to compare them together (such their E∣minency, that they would hardly be parallel'd by any but themselves:) Sir Francis was the elder Brother, Sir Horace lived to be the elder man. Sir Francis was more feared, Sir Horace more lo∣ved by the Soldiery: The former in Martial Disci∣pline was oftentimes Rigidus ad ruinam, the latter

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seldome exceeded ad terrorem. Sir Francis left none, Sir Horace no Male-Issue, whose four Co-Heirs are since Matched into honourable Families. Both lived in War, much honoured; dyed in peace, much lamented.

What is a great question among all Martial men, was so between these Brethren; whether to repair a reputation ruined by some infamous disgrace, and the honour abused by some notori∣ous loss, the General ought to oppose the for∣tune that oppresseth him, and hazard what re∣mains, to recover what is lost? Sir Francis was of opinion, That though it's not the interest of a supream Prince, yet it is the concern of a subordinate Com∣mander to support his credit at the rate of his Army. But Sir Horace was never for sacrificing the whole for the advancing of any part, or of many for the humouring of one; but chose rather to break the impetuosity of his misfortunes by yielding to them, and rather recover both himself and his success by a prudent retreat, than lose both in an obstinate misadventure.—It being far more eligible to suffer in the imaginary interest of repute than that real one of strength; though appearances are yet so use∣ful, that dexterously to manage the reputation of Affairs, is to imprint in men a great opinion of vertue and fortune, to enhance successes, and raise that respect and confidence that seldom fall to the share of reservation and fear. But apart from that too much caution that betrayeth, and over∣much rashness that hazardeth our fortunes, both these Heroes were very choice in the places of their Engagements; for when all the Generals before the Battel of Newport were for quitting the upper

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Downs, Sir Francis Vere well knowing how much it imported the business of the day to hold a place of such advantage, perswaded Count Maurice rather to expect the Enemy in that ground, than attaque him in a worse; wherein as his opinion prevailed, so all that were present, were Eye∣witnesses both of the truth of his conjecture, and the soundness of his judgement: For the Enemy, as he said, did not long gaze upon them; but charging up the hills, were beaten back so effectu∣ally, that our men had the excution of them for half a mile; which was no small advantage to the fortune of that day.

Neither were they less observant of their time, that Mother of Action, than their place; neither hasty nor slow to manage an opportunity that is neither often or long the same; — or of the or∣der of their Army than both, whereof each part assi∣sted the other at Newport, and elsewhere so readly, that their shouts and charges equally amazed their Friends and Enemies.

The Reliefs of Rhingbergh were actions of great resolution, ready dispatch, a watchful circum∣spection, and good pursuit: The succour of Lithen∣hooven was a performance of great and mature de∣liberation; the surprize of Zutphen by young Sol∣diers in womens apparel, was a piece of service of many particular stratagems; and the Siege of Da∣venter of as much sage advice.—All instances of the wonders that courage can do when wise, valour when sober, a passion when rational, and a great spirit when advised.

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