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SIr Francis Co••tington being bred, when a youth, under Sir—Stafford, lived so long in Spain, till he made the garb and gravity of that Nation become his, and become him too. He raised himself by his natural strength, without any
artificial advantage; having his parts above his learning, his Experience above his Parts, his In∣dustry above his Experience, and (some will say) his Success above all: So that at last he became Chancellor of the Exchequer, Baron of Hanworth in Middlesex, Constable of the Tower, 1640. and (upon the resignation of Doctor Inxon) Lord Treasurer of England, gaining also a very great Estate.
Very reserved he was in his temper, and very slow in his proceedings; sticking to some private Principles in both, and aiming at certain rules in all things:—a temper that indeared him as much to his Master, Prince Charls his person, as his in∣tegrity did to his service;—Nor to his service only, but to that of the whole Nation; in the Mer∣chandize whereof he was well versed; to the trade whereof he was very serviceable many ways: but eminently, in that he negotiated, that the Spa∣nish Treasure which was used to be sent to Flanders by the way of Genoa, might be sent in English Bot∣toms, which exceedingly enriched England for the time; and had it continued, had made her the greatest Bank and Mart for Gold and Silver of any Common-wealth in Europe.
Indeed the advantage of his Education, the dif∣ferent Nations and Factions that he had to deal with, the direct opposition of Enemies, the trea∣chery of Friends, the contracts of Statesmen, the variety and force of Experience from the distinct knowledge of the natures of the people of se∣veral Countreys, of their chief Ministers of State, with their Intrigues of government, made him so expert, that the Earl of Bristol and Sir Walter A∣ston
could do nothing without him; and he only could finish that Treaty, which they had for many years spun out.
Men take several ways to the ends they propose themselves. Some, that of confidence; others, that of respect and cau••ion, &c. when indeed the main business is, to suit our selves with our own times; which this Lord did, and no man better, until looking into the depths of the late Faction, he de∣clared at the Council-Table, 1639. that they aim∣ed at the ruine of Church and State. And viewing the state of the Kingdom, he advised; That Leagues might be made abroad; and, that in this inevitable necessity, all ways to raise money should be used that were lawful. Wherefore he was one of those few excluded the Indempnity by the Faction, and had the honour to dye banished for the best Cause and Master, in those foreign Countries; where he suffered as nobly for the Crown of England in his later dayes, as he had acted honourably for it in his former. When he never came off better than in satisfying the Spaniards about toleration, re∣ducing the whole of that affair to these two Ma∣ximes;
One of his Maxims for Treaty I think remarka∣ble, viz. That Kingdoms are more subject to fear than hope: And that it's safer working upom them by a power that may awe the one, than by adva••∣tages that may excite the other.—Since it's a••o∣ther rule, that States have no affections but inte∣rest; and that all kindness and civility in those ca∣ses are but oversight and weakness.
Another of his rules for Life I judge useful, viz. That since no man is absolute in all points, and since men are more naturally enclined out of envy to observe mens infirmities, than out of ingenuity to acknowledge their merit; —He discovereth his abilities most, that least discovereth himself. To which I may add another, viz. That it is not one∣ly our known duty, but our visible advantage, to ascribe our most eminent performances to provi∣dence, since it not only takes off the edge of envy, but improves the reason of admiration. None be∣ing less maliced, or more applauded than he, who is thought rather happy than able; blessed, than a∣ctive; and fortunate, than cunning.
Though yet all the caution of his life could not avoid the envy of ••is advancement from so mean a beginning to so great honours,—notwithstanding that it is no disparagement to any to give place to fresh Nobility, who ascend the same st••ps with those before them. New being only a term, saith one, only respecting us, not the world; for what is, was before us, and will be when we are no more: And indeed ••his Personage considering the vanity and inconstancy of common applause or affronts, impr••∣ved the one, and checked the other, by a constant neglect of both••