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 VVilliam Noy, Attorney General.

WIlliam Noy, born in Cornwal, was bred in Lincolns-Inne, a most sedulous Student, constantly conversant with ancient Writings, veri∣fying his Anagram:

WILLIAM NOY, I moyl in Law.

He was for many years the stoutest Champion for the Subjects Liberty, until King Charls enter∣tained him to be his Attorney. The dis-ingenuity of the Parliament, & his impendent necessity, would have put another Soveraign on extraordinary wayes; but to King Charls it was enough, they were illegal. No extremity, though never so fa∣tal, could provoke him to irregularities; yet what∣ever w••yes the Laws allowed, or Prerogative claimed, to secure a desperate People, that would undo themselves, he was willing to hearken to; therefore for a cunning man, the cunningst at such a project of any within his three Dominions, he sends for his Attorney-General Noy, and tells him what he had in contemplation, bids him con∣trive the Mode, but a statutable one, for defraying the expence: Away goeth the subtle Engineer, and at length,—from old Records bolts out an ancient

common P••ecedent of raising a Tax for setting out a Navy in case of danger.

The King glad of the discovery, as Treasure-tr••ve, presently issued out Writs, first to the Port-Towns within the Realm, declaring that the safety of the Kingdom was in danger (and so it was indeed) and therefore that they should provide against a day prefixed twenty seven Ships of so many Tun, with Guns, Gun-powder, Tackle, and all other things necessary.

But this business is no sooner ripened, than the Author of it dyeth, Aug. 6. 1634. He was a man passing humorous, but very honest; clownish, but knowing; a most indefatigable plotter, and searcher of ancient Records; whereby he became an emi∣nent instrument both of good and evil (and of which most, is a great question) to the King's Pre∣rogative: For during the times that Parliaments were frequent, he appeared a stout Patriot for the Common-wealth; and in the last was an active op∣ponent in the differences concerning Tonnage and Poundage: But when the dissolution of that was in some mens apprehensions, the end of all; No sooner did the King shew him the Lure of advance∣ment, but quitting all his former Inclinations, he wheeled about to the Prerogative, and made a∣mends with his future service for all his former dis-obligements.—This is something smart; more to his advantage is that character Arch-Bishop Laud gives him; That he was the best friend the Church ever had a of Layman, since it needed any such (and indeed he was very vigilant over its Adversa∣ries, witness his early foresight of the danger, and industrious prosecution of the illegality of the de∣sign

of buying Impropriations set up by persons not well af••••••e•• to the present constitution) and that of the ••••••••orian, that he loved to hear Dr. Preston preach, because he spake so solidly, as if he knew Gods will.—To which I add a passage from the mouth of one present thereat.

The Goldsmiths of London had (and in due time may have) a custom once a year to weigh gold in the Star Chamber, in the presence of the Privy-Council and the King's Attorney. This solemn weighing by a word of Art they call the Pix, and make use of so exact scales therein, that the Master of the Company affirmed, that they would turn with the two hundredth part of a grain. I should be loth (said the Attorney Noy, standing by) that all my Actions should be weighed in those Scales; with whom all men concur that know themselves: And this was the first evidence of his parts, and the oc∣casion of his reputation. Three Grasiers at a Fair had left their money with their Hostess while they went to Market;—one of them calls for the mo∣ney and runs away;—the other two come upon the woman, and sue her for delivering that which she had received from the three, before the three came and demanded it.—The Cause went against the Woman, and Judgement was ready to be pro∣nounced; when Mr. Noy being a stranger, wisheth her to give him a Fee, because he could not plead else; and then moves in Arrest of Judgement, that he was retained by the Defendant, and that the case was this: The Defendant had received the mo∣ney of the three together, and confesseth, was not to deliver it until the same three demanded it; and therefore the money is ready, Let the three

men come, and it shall be paid: a motion which altered the whole proceeding. Of which, when I hear some say it was obvious, I remember that when Columbus had discovered America, every one said it was easie: And he one day told a com∣pany at Table where he was, that he could do a stranger thing than that discovery; he would make an Egg stand an end on a plain Table: the specula∣tives were at a loss how it should be done;—he knocks the Egg upon the end, and it stands: Oh! was that all, they cryed; Yes (saith he) this is all! and you see how hard a thing it is to conceive a thing in the Idea, which it's nothing to apprehend in the performance. I need say no more of this Gentleman, but that Sergeant Maynard will say to this hour, he rose mainly at first by being look∣ed upon as Mr. Noy's Favourite.