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 Sir Tho. Coventry.

A Competent Estate he had for his educati∣on, and excellent Abilities for advance∣ment: his ••ortune was not wanting to his parts, nor his parts to his fortune; the one being as ready to support, as the other was to raise him: His staid soul was well prepared for general learn∣ing in the Schools & University, for his par••icular lea••ning at the I••••s of Court: his skill in the study of Law called him no sooner to the Bar, than his pru∣dence to Court: Take we his character from his Ho∣nour. Why was he crea••ed Lord Coventry of Alis∣bury, and Keeper of the great S••al? Why, saith the Pa••ent, for his eminent fidelity; for his most worthy service; for his exact circumspection; for his deep prudence; for his constant resolution; for his skill and dexterity; for his integrity and industry; for his immoveableness and fidelity: No man more app••ehensive of the interest of England, none more faithful to it: His kindness to the Church and Cler∣gy argued his piety; his safe Counsels to his Maje∣sty argued his moderation; his dignity rather en∣joyed him, than he it: A man he was that filled up his great capacities, having digested a body of the most honest Law, and a scheme of the most in∣nocent

policy that ever filled the head of an able Statesman, or the heart of an upright Judge. What belonged to him, he knew; and what he knew, he practised. He was as constant to his rule, as he knew his rule was to him: Reserved he was, as the King's Councellor, honest as his conscience. We measure Pyramides by their shadows, and this great Lord by his followers; every one whereof was * 1.1 eminent in his way, and all advanced. Each Action of his, though never so little, yet great as himself, so gravely did he manage it, so solemnly did he perform it: His orders were seldom rever∣sed, because mostly including the consent of Par∣ties,—Few Attorney-Generals came off with less c••nsure, and few Lord Keepers with less guilt; his Predecessors miscarriages being foils to set off his exactness.—Eminent as in most other Ca∣fes, so particularly in that of Pryn, Bastwick, and Burton; against whom, when after six weeks time given them to put in an effectual Answer, they ur∣ged, that their Adversaries the Bishops should not be their Judges: He replyed smartly; That by that Plea had they Libelled all the Mag••strates in the L••nd; none should pass Censure upon them, be∣cause all were made parties.

He had fifteen years enjoyed his Place; not more proper to say, that Dignity had enjoyed him so long, this latter age ••ffording not one every way of more apt Qualifications for the place. His front and presence bespake a venerable regard, not in∣••eriour to any of his Antecessors. His train and suit of Followers was disposed agreeable, to shun both Envy and Contempt: Vain and ambitious he was not; his port was state, though others ostentation.

Of what concerned his place, he knew enough, and which is the main, acted conformable to his know∣ledge; For in the Administration of Justice, he was so erect, so incorrupt, as captious malice stands mute in the blemish of his Fame. A miracle the greater, when we consider he was also a Privy-Councellor: A trust, wherein he served his Ma∣ster the King most faithfully; and the more faith∣fully, because of all•• those Councels which did dis∣serve his Majesty, he was an earnest disswader, and did much disaffect those sticklers who laboured to make the Prerogative rather tall than great; as knowing that such men loved the King better than Charles Stuart. So that although he was a Cour∣tier, and had had for his Master a Passion most in∣tense, yet had he always a passion reserved for the publick welfare; an argument of a free, noble, and right-principled mind: For what both Court and Country have always held as inconsistent, is in truth erroneous; And no man can be truly loyal, who is not also a good Patriot; nor any a good Pa∣triot, which is not truly loyal.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The most pious, lear∣ned, wise, and Reve∣rend Father in God, the Lord Arch-Bishop of Cant was his Dome∣stick.