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 Lives of Sir Hen∣ry, Sir Lucius, Sir Henry Cary, Lords Viseounts Faulkland.

A Race of accomplished men, the ornaments and supports of their Countrey, which they served with no lesse faithfulness and pru∣dence in their Negotiations abroad, than ho∣nour and justice in their Places at home: Of such a Stock of reputation, as might kindle a generous e∣mulation in Strangers, and a noble ambition in tho••e of their own Family. Henry Cary Vi••count Falkland in Scotland, son to Sir Edward Cary, was born at Aldnam in Her••fordshire; being a most ac∣plished Gentleman, and a compleat Courtier. By King Iames he was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland, and well discharged his Trust therein: But an unruly Colt will fu•••• and chafe (though neither switch nor spur) meerly because back'd. The Rebellious Irish will complain, only because kept in subjection, though with never so much le∣nity; the occasion why some hard speeches were passed on his Government. Some beginning to counterfeit his hand, he used to incorporate the year of his age in a knot flourished beneath his name, concealing the day of his birth to himself. Thus by comparing the date of the month, with his own Birth-day (unknown to such Forgers) he not only discovered many false Writings which were past, but also deterred dishonest Chearers

from attempting the like for the future. He made good use of Bishop Usher's Interest while he was there, as appears by the excellent Speech that the Bishop made for the King's supply.

Being recalled into England, he lived honoura∣bly in the County aforesaid, until by a sad casualty he broke his Leg on a Stand in Theobald's Park, and soon after dyed thereof. He married the sole Daughter and Heir of Sir Lawrence Tanfield, Chief Baron of the Exchequer, by whom he had a fair Estate in Oxfordshire. His death happened Anno Dom. 1620. being Father to the most accomplish-Statesman.

2. Lucius Lord Falkland, the wildness of whose youth was an argument of the quickness of his ri∣per years: He that hath a spirit to be unruly before the use of his reason, hath mettle to be active af∣terwards. Quick-silver if fixed, is incomparable; besides that the adventures, contrivances, secrets, confidence, trust, compliance with opportunity, and the other sallies of young Gallants, prepare them more serious undertakings—as they did this no∣ble Lord; great in his Gown, greater in his Buffe; able with his Sword, abler with his Pen: a know∣ing Statesman, a learned Scholar, and a stout man: One instance of that excess in learning and other great perfections, which portended ruine to this Nation in their opinion, who write, that all Ex∣treams, whether of Vertue or Vice, are ominous, especially that unquiet thing call'd Learning, whose 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth its own period, and that of the Empire it flourisheth in; a too universally dilated Learning, being not faithful to the settlements ei∣ther of Policy or Religion; it being no less ready

to discover blemishes in the one, than Incongrui∣ties in the other: Sophisters (saith my smart Au∣thor) like the Countrey of the Switz, being as a∣ble upon the least advantage proposed, to engage on the wrong side as on the right. As to go no fur∣ther, this excellent Personage being among the Demagogues that had been for twelve years si∣lenced, and were now to play the prize in Parlia∣ment, and shew their little twit-twat, but tedi∣ous faculties of speaking, makes the bitterest In∣vective against the Governours and government of the Church, that ever was penned in English•• which though designed by him, it's thought, only to allay the fury of the Faction, by some compli∣ance with it, carried things beyond the modera∣tion and decency of that Assembly, which he made too hot for himself, retyring in cooler thoughts, as many more (that like Brutus could not lay the storm•• they had raised) to Oxford, where his Pen was more honourably imployed in de••ecting the fundamental Error of Rome their infallibility, and countermining the main props of Westminster their Hypocrisie; this as Secretary, the other as a Student—in both laying open the little pre••en∣sions, whereby poor people were insnared in their Civil and Religious Liberty.—Much was the gall always in his Ink, and very sharp his Pen; but even, flowing, and full his Style, such as became him, whose Learning was not an unsetled mass of reading that whirled up and down in his head, but fixed Observations, that tempered with solid pru∣dence and experience, were the steady Maxims of his Soul fitted for all times and occasions; he ha∣ving sate (as some Noble-mens sons used to do

formerly in the House of Lords) behind the Chair of State from his very child-hood, and owning a large heart capable of making that universal inspec∣tion into things that much becomes a Gentleman, being a Master in any thing he discoursed of.—Inso∣much that his general knowledge husbanded by his wit, and set off by his Meine and Carriage, at∣tracted many to come as far to see him, as he pro∣fessed he would go to see Mr. Daillee—which rendred him no less necessary than admirable at Court, until his Curiosity engaging him at New∣bery, he was strangely slain there, dying as he li∣ved till then, between his Friends and Enemies, to the King's great grief, who valued him, because he understood his parts and services in the Treaty at Oxford, where he was eminent for two things; the timing of Propositions, and concealing of In∣clinations; though no man so passionate for his de∣design, as never enduring that hope that holds re∣solution so long in suspence, but ever allaying it with that fear that most commonly adviseth the best by supposing the worst—His usual saying was, I pity unlearned Gentlemen in a rainy day.

3. He was Father first to Henry Lord Falkland, whose quick and extraordinary parts and notable spirit performed much, and promised more, ha∣ving a great command in the Countrey where he was Lord-Lieutenant, a general respect in the house where he was Member, a great esteem at Court (with his Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of York) where he was both wit, and wisdom— When there was the first opportunity offered to ho∣nest men to act, he laid hold of it, and got in spight of all opposition, to a thing called a Parliament: By

same token, that when some urged he had not sow∣ed his wilde Oats, he is said to reply; If I have not, I may sow them in the House, where there are Geese enough to pick them up. And when Sir F. N. should tell him he was a little too wilde for so grave a service, he is reported to reply; Alas! I am wilde, and my Father was so before me, and I am no Bastard,—as &c. In which Contention he out-did the most active Demagogues at their own weapon, speaking. When Major Huntington and his followers were for the long Parliament, Sir F. N. L. S. &c. were for the secluded Members, My Lord carried all the County for an absolute free Parlia∣ment: which he lived to see, and act in so suc∣cessfully, that he was voted generally higher in trusts and services, had he not been cut off in the prime of his years; as much missed when dead, as beloved when living—A great instance of what a strict Education (for no man was harder bred) a general Converse, and a noble Temper can arrive to; and what an Orator can do in a Democracy, where the Affections of many is to be wrought up∣on, rather than the judgment of few to be convin∣ced. A golden tongue falling under a subtle head under such a constitution, hath great influence upon the whole Nation.