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 the Lord Howard of Effingham, Earl of Nottingham.

THe Lord Howard of Effingham, a man of most approved fidelity and invincible courage, and Governour of Callice; though a Courtier betimes; yet seemed not to be in favour before the Queen made him high Admiral of England. For his extract, it may suffice that he was the son of a Howard, and of a Duke of Norfolk. As for his person, he was as goodly a Gentleman as the times could afford; he was one whom the Queen desired to honour, who at his return from Cadiz accounts, was created Earl of N••ttingham. He was a good, honest, and a brave man, and a faith∣ful servant to his Mistress, and such a one as the Queen out of her own Princely judgement knew to be a fit Instrument for the Admiral's service, having a great opinion of his fidelity and ••onduct:

And though his death was not honoured with much wealth, yet was it grac'd with the reputation of ho∣nesty. Hs was ra••sed to check Essex his ambition, and Leicester••s undermining, being equally popular, and honest, yet having those at his heels that could lay a snare, and bring in the prize. Nature was a better friend to him than Fortune, and his Inte∣grity than both; which commended him to a Mi∣stress that understood Men as well as Books, and knew it was no less the interest of Princes to take counsel concerning Persons, than concerning mat∣ters: He had that goodness, without which man is a busie, mischievous, and wretched thing; yet that wisdom whereby he was not so good (as the Italian saith) as to be good for nothing: He was gentle, but not easie; mild, but not soft: obliging not the fancies of men, but their Interest: None more civil to Strangers (his heart being not a nar∣row Island (as my Lord Bacon observes) but a large Continent:) None more tender of Inferiours, none more humble to Superiours; none more compassio∣nate to the afflicted; none more loving to, or more beloved of all. The Queen said, she trusted her Kingdom to his faithfulness in 88. and her self to his conduct. His alliance to the Queen brought him to Court, but his honesty kept him there (when jealousie had overcast that great house of the Howards:) ancient Nobility was a good recom∣mendation to the Q••. first Favours; but modesty, submission, and integrity were the Vertues that continued them: He had onely so much Ambition as rendred him active and serviceable, and not bu∣sie or dangerous: He knew a Nobleman cannot be safely aspiring, nor smooth man securely popular,

and a man of his Retinue must not be busie. He li∣ved in an age when all honour was perillous that was not designed for service; when the State chose Ministers that were more sensible of duty than of rising; that loved business rather upon consci∣ence than upon bravery, and when the Prince discerned a busie nature from a willing mind: as the stone had need be rich that is set without foyl, so this noble person, that was only real, had need of great parts of vertue. So valiant he was, that he made the Spanish Fleet veil to him, though it carried the Empress of Germany; so active, that he tugged at the Cabl•• himself in 88. and did much by his own pains, and more by his example: so skilful, that he contrived the Fire-ships that frighted and scattered the Spanish Navy. Two emi∣nent services he did the Protestant Religion when but twenty one years of age: The first is, that he was so observant a witness of Arch-Bishop Parker's consecration, that with his bare word the tale of the Nags head came to nothing. 2. That he was so close an Agent in the Court of France, that no Design was brewed in Scotland, none seconded in France, but he with the Emperour and the King of Spain's Embassadors assistance [whom he had en∣gaged with the hope of a Match between the King of the Romans and his Mistriss] discovered and defeated with that success, that the King of France courted his Mistriss to a Peace, and himself to Fa∣vour. None more careful in matter of Business; none more splendid in business of Complement— condoling King Francis his death with a Majesty no less becoming the Personage he represented, than the Prince he addressed himself to. 1. His provi∣dence

in contriving the English Ships nimble, and such as could tack about at pleasure. 2. His pru∣dence in not hazarding his weak Navy against the Spanish Army and Armado in an Engagement wherein a victory would be but a little glory, and a defeat a ruine. 3. His activity in alarming the Spanish Navy day and night. 4. His wisdome in honouring the most serviceable under him, as Hawkins, Forbisher, Sheffield, &c. 5. His popu∣larity that drew so many Voluntiers to his service, as the Earls of Oxford, Northumberland, Cumber∣land, the Cecils, &c. 6. His wariness in divi∣ding his fourteen Sail into four squadrons round a∣bout the Spanish Navy. 7. His excelle••t contri∣vance of eight Ships filled with pitch, wild-fire, rosin, &c. which sent down the wind in the dead of night so much to the terrour of the Spaniards, that fearing the Fire, together with some more deadly Engines, they raised a pitiful cry, weighed Anchor, cut their Cables, and in a terrible pannick Fear, with great hast and confusion put to Sea. 8. His admirable dexterity in disposing of the Na∣vy, so as they met the Spanish Navy upon their dispersion with su••h success, that the invincible Fleet never saw again its own formidableness, ever since grown the most contemptible thing that ever sailed upon these Seas. 9. His seasonable order to the Dutch Fleet to watch the Duke of Parma in the Ports of Dunkirk and Newport. 10. His exact intelligence, whereby he understood what a Con∣troversie there was in the Spanish Navy about this point, whether they should stick to their Com∣mission in staying for Parma, which was their duty, or follow the emergent advantages, which had been

their discretion,—and dealt with them according∣ly. These grand particulars of this Noble-man's service were so eminent and signal, that Queen E∣lizabeth, who was over-lavish neither of her ho∣nour nor her preferments, would say commonly of him and those brave Heroes under him, That they were born to save their Countrey.

This noble person was of greater experience than knowledg, and more beholding to his years than to his Education, whence K. Iames took great pleasure in his discourse, that was not morose, obstinate, narrow, unactive or formal, like a Students ha∣rangues; but free, active, and ingenuous, like a States-man's Maximes — Whereof one was this; That never did Commander a noble Act that was Commission-bound; it being a question, whether the Venetians and Spaniards lost more at Sea and in the Netherlands before they discovered that Error, or gained more since. For whilest we address our selves to the State, occasions are lost, things take another countenance; and so many unexpected ac∣cidents happen, for which suddain provision must be made, that opportunities escape before we dare lay hold of them; and sometimes we perish for want of a Commission to save our selves.

Great content did he give by his presence in the French Court 1605. and greater in his carriage at the Prince Elector's a 1.1 marriage, 1612. A prudent, care did he discover in providing for posterity by the seasonable resignation of his Admiralty; a faith∣ful friend he shewed himself in confirming Sir Ro∣bert Mansel's place when he parted with his own; a great argument of his own worth and service, that he was so careful to reward others.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Where he was Brid•• groom.