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 Isaac Wake.

THis honourable person whom I look upon at Oxford, in the same capacity and for∣tune that Sir Robert Naun••on and Sir Francis Neth••rsole were in at Cambridge. He was born in Northampton-shire, (his Father Arthur Wake be∣ing Parson of Billing, Master of the Hospital of St. Iohns in Northampton, and Canon of Christs-Church) bred Fellow of M••rton-Colledge in Oxford, Protector and Orator of that University, whence he was admitted Secretary to Sir Dudly Carleton Se∣cretary of State, and afterward advanced into the King's service, and by his Master and the Duke of Buckingham, employed Embassadour to Venice, where he negle••ted his own interest to attend his

Majesties employment; the reason that he dyed rich onely in the just conscience of his worth, and the repute of his merk. Coming from Venice, he was appointed Lieger of France, and designed Se∣cretary of State, had not Death prevented him at Paris; being accomplished with all qualifications requisite for publick Employment, Learning, Lan∣guages, Experience, Abilities, and what not?

King CHARLES hearing of his death, com∣manded his Corps to be decently brought from Paris into England, allowing the expences of his Funeral, and enjoyning his neerest Relations to at∣tend the performance thereof. These accordingly met his body at Bulloign in France, and saw it so∣lemnly conveyed into England, where it was inter∣red in the Chappel of the Castle of Dover. His REX PLATONICUS, or his Lati••e ac∣count of King Iames his six dayes stay at Oxford, speaks his Learning; and his Instructions for Travel, his experience.—He observing his Predecessors failings, retrenching his expences, satisfying him∣self with a repute of nobleness, while in his way to preferment; and others with the expectation of his bounty. When preferred, he seemed liberal, that he might not be despised abroad; but he was neer, that he might not be odious at home. His prodiga∣lity it may be might have satisfied the curiosity of a few Strangers, while he incurred the displeasure of all his friends. Besides, a close & wary man may be bountiful at his pleasure, but the munificent cannot be so easily sparing; for if his occasions or fortunes check his profuseness, all his gallantry is in his first action of good husbandry. Caution in expences, if it be a vice, is one of those, saith the Italian, that

never disinherited a man. Nay, of the two, saith Machiavel, It's more discretion to hold the style of miserable, which begets an infamy without hatred, than to desire that of Liberal; which being maintain∣ed by necessitous courses, procures an infamy with ha∣tred. As never did Statesman a brave action that seemed illiberal, so never did he any such that was not so:—Yet four things our Knight spared no cost in: I. Intelligence; He could afford (he said) a golden key for the Pope's Cabinet. 2. Books;—his Study was his Estate. 3. In watching the Spani∣ards, saying, The Indies will pay for this. And 4. Entertaining knowing men often; applauding the Emperour's maxim, That had rather go fifty miles to hear a wise man, than five to see a fair City. And this he was eminent for; that he saw nothing remarkable in Foreign parts, that he applyed not to his own Countrey: Sir Henry Wotton being not more curious in picking up small Rarities to plea∣sure particular persons, than Sir Isaac Wake was industrious to observe any useful invention that might improve the publick good.