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 Arch-Bi∣shop Juxon.

WIlliam ••Iuxon, born at Chichester in Sus∣sex, was bred Fellow in St. Iohn's Col∣ledge in Oxford, where he proceeded Batche∣lor of Law; very young, but very able for that Degree: afterwards becoming Doctor in the same Faculty, and President of the Colledge, was one in whom Nature had not omitted, but Grace had ordered the Te••rarch of humours, be∣ing admirably Ma••ter of his Pen and Passion. For his Abilities, he was successively preferred by King Charles the first, Bishop of H••reford and London, and for some years Lord Treasurer of England: wherein he had Religion to be honest, and no self-interest to be corrupt. A troublesom place in tho••e times, being expected he should make much Brick (though not altogether without, yet) with very little straw allowed unto him: Large then the Expences, low the Revenues of the Exchequer. Yet those Coffers he found empty, he left filling, and had left full, had Peace been preserved in the Land, and he continued in his Place. Such the mildness of his temper, that Petitioners for mo∣ney (when it was not to be had) departed well pleased with his Denials, they were so civilly lan∣guaged. It may justly seem a wonder, that where∣as few spake well of Bishops at that time, and Lord T••••asu••ers at all Times are liable to the complaints

of discontented people; though both Offices met in this man, yet with Demetrius he was well re∣ported of all men, and of the truth it self. He li∣ved to see much shame and contempt undeservedly poured on his Function, and all the while posses∣sed his own soul in patience.

Nor was it the least part of this Prelate's honour, that amongst the many worthy Bishops of our Land, King Charles the first selected him for his Confessor at his Martyrdom, when he honoured him with this testimony; That good man. He formerly had had experience [in the case of the Earl of Straf∣ford] that this Bishop's Conscience was bottom'd on piety, not policy, ••he reason that from him ••e received the Sacrament, good comfort and coun∣sel just before he was mu••dered. I say, just before the Royal Martyr was murdered; a Fact so foul, that it alone may confu••e the Error of the Pela∣gians, maintaining that all sin cometh by imitati∣on, the Universe not formerly affording such a Precedent, as if those Regicides had purposely de∣signed to disprove the observation of Sol••mon, that there is no new thing under the Sun.

King Charles the second preferred him Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 1660. He died in the year of our Lord, 1663. and with great solemnity was bu∣ried in St. Iohn's Colledge in Oxford,—to which he was a great Benefactor, though a greater to Pauls and Lambeth; and greatest of all to the Church which his eminence adorned, and his tem∣per secured in those times, wherein roughness en∣raged that humour, which delay and moderation broke: a discreet yielding to the multitude is the securest way of Conquest: They that hold together

by opposition, languish and moulder away by in∣dulgence: In his duty, this good man went along with Conscience, in Government, with Time and Law. He had the happiness, that K. Iames admi∣red in a Statesman of his time, to do all things suavibus modis: He referred his Master in the Earl of Strafford's case, as he did himsel•• in all cases, to his own Conscience for matter of fact, and to the Judges for matter of Law; who according to their Oath ought to carry themselv••s indifferently be∣tween the King and his Subjects.—The King was not more happy in this fai••hful servant, than he was in his followers, among whom there was no uncivil Austerity to disoblige the Subjects, nor base Corruption to incense them. They need not keep state, they had so much real power; nor extort, they had so much allowed advantage. His care was his servants, and their care his business: His pre∣ferments were his burthen rather than his honour; advanced by him, rather than advancing him— and therefore he was more ready to lay them down, than others to take them up: Witness his Trea∣surers Place; which when he parted with (like those that scatter their Jewels in the way, that they may debar the violence of greedy pursuers) no less than four durst undertake; when his single self sufficed for the two greatest troubles of this Nati∣on, the Treasureship of England, and the Bishoprick of London.

Religion was the inclination and composure as well as care of his soul; which he used not as the ar∣tifice of pretence or power, but as the ornament and comfort of a private breast, never affecting a pompous piety, nor a magnificent vertue, but ap∣proving

himself in secret to that God who would reward him openly. His devotion was as much obove other mens, as his Calling; his meditations equal with his cares; and his thoughts even and free between his Affairs and his Contemplations, which were his pleasures, as well as his duty, the uniform temper and pulse of his Christian soul. Nei∣ther was his Religion that of a man only, but that of a Bishop too, that made his Piety as universal as his Province, by such assistances of power, as brought carnel men, if not to an obedience, yet to such a degree of reverence, that if they did not honour, they might not despise it. His justice was as his Religion, clear and uniform; First, the or∣nament of his heart, then the honour of his action. Neither was Justice leavened with rigour or severi∣ty, but sweetned with clemency and goodness; that was never angry but for the pub••ick, and not then so much at the person, as the offence: So am∣bitious of that great glory of Moderation, that he kept it up in spight of the times malignity, wherein he saw all change without himself, while he re∣mained the self-same still within the Idea of sobriety and temperance, vertues that he put off only with his life: Neither was this a defect of spirit, but the temper of it; that though it never provoked troubles, yet it never feared them: His minde was always great, though his fortune not so: Great to suffer, though not always able to act: so good his temper, and so admirable his humility, that none ever went discontented from him:—Never courting, but always winning people, having a passage to their hearts through their brain; and making them first admire, and then love him. He

was slow, not of speech, as a defect; but to speak, out of discretion: because when speaking, he plenti∣fully paid the Principal and Interest of his Auditors expectation.

In a word, his government as a Bishop was gen∣tle, benigne, and paternal: His management of the Treasury was such, that he served his Prince faithfully, satisfied all his friends, and silenced all his enemies; of which he had enough as a Bi∣shop, Greatness is so invidious and suspected; though none as a man, goodness is so meek and in∣offensive. The most thought the worse of Dr. Iuxon for the Bishops sake, the best thought the better of the Bishop for Dr. Iuxon's sake.