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 Say.

WHether the first impressions of his * Tu∣tor, (Schoolmasters, though the most neglected, are not the most inconsiderable parts of a Common-wealth:) the narrowness of his fortune (unequal to his honour; younger bro∣thers of noble houses had need in every State to be observed) the repulse, 1613. (other men must look to whom they are kind, but Princes to whom they are unkind) inclined this personage to popu∣larity: This is certain, no man was better tempered for that humour than himself; being in his nature severe and rigid; in his carriage close and reserved; in his resolutions firm and immoveable; in his ap∣prehension, provident and foreseeing; in his Senti∣ments nice and curious:—in his Discourse (full of Fears and Jealousies) dissatisfied and bold; in his followers irregular and pretending; in the Law well seen; in the Scripture very ready; in the occurren∣ces of his age very exact: at Lectures most constant; to the liberty of the Subject (then the Diana of the

age) most faithful, insomuch that he made a mo∣tion 1628. That they who stood for the Liberties, forsooth! (then called the Lower-House Lords of the Upper-House) not fifty might make their Pro∣testation upon record, and that the other party should with subscription of their names enter their reason upon Record, that posterity might not be to seek (good lack) who they were that so ignobly betrayed the Liberty of our Nation: And this being done, they should resolve themselves to a Committee, and proceed to vote:—Yet so well acquainted with the King's temper, that he would take any occasion of his being pleased by the Parliament, to insinuate himself into favour with all his Male-con∣tents, as Bishop Williams, Earl of Lincoln, Earl of Essex, the Earl of Warwick, &c.

As he wrought upon the peoples humour in that point of Liberty, so he did upon the Nobilities temper in another of Ambition: For in a Petition to King Iames against Foreign titles of Honour, we finde him first in design, though last in subscripti∣on, teaching Essex, Warwick, St. Iohn (for they joyned with him) to tilt against their Soveraign's Prerogative with their Pe••s, as they did after with their Swords.

And when this failed (the wise King awing the young Lords to renounce that asunder, which they had subscribed together; none so bold as the factions in company, none so fearful apart) the Champion of English honour and priviledge, becomes the Pa∣tron of Propriety too; for we read Ter. Hill. Anno 14. Car. 1. in Banco Regis, the Lord Say's Case.—

Action for Crover and Conversion of thrée Oxen taken (a great matter) for thrée pounds

five shillings, by the Sheriff of Lincoln, upon the Plaintiff, towards the finding of a Ship— A good reason, for going to Law first, and then to war with his Soveraign, as he did afterwards, when he had sent his son Nathaniel, with Hamp∣den and Lawrence, 1639. to settle the League with their dear Brethren in Scotland, while he formed the grand Design in England, with so much success, that when there were some Overtures made for saving the Earl of Strafford, and secu∣ring the Kingdom by the Party, upon condition of preferment, as that Master Hampden should be Tutor to the Prince, the Earl of Essex his Go∣vernour, Mr. Pym Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Earl of Warwick Vice-Admiral, he was to be Master of the Court of Wards; which he compas∣sed, when the rest mist of their expectation.— No more of him, but that the King going to Scot∣land, he refusing a Protestation against the Scots, had these questions proposed to him:

• 1. Whether he would go with the King at his own charge.
• 2. Whether Rebellion was a just cause of War.
• 3. Whether the taking of Castles, Towns, Ma∣gazines, &c. was not Rebellion.

To the first he answered; That though as a Peer and Subject, he could not be forced out of his Countrey but upon extraordinary occasion; yet out of affection to his Majesty, he would attend him, referring the matter of charge to himself.

To the two last he said, he understood not the Law of Scotland, but that those proceedings were Treason in England.