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 Willi∣am Paget.

SIr William Paget was born in the City of Lon∣don, of honest Parents. He was so able and trusty a Minister of State, that he was privy Coun∣sellour to four successive Princes: He was Secreta∣ry to King Henry the Eighth; who employed him Embassador to Charles the Emperour and Francis King of France. King Edward the Sixth made him Chancellour of the Durchy, Comptroller of his Houshole, and created him Baron of Beaude∣fert. Queen Mary made him Keeper of the Privy-Seal. Queen Elizabeth highly respected him, dis∣pensing with his Attendance at Court, in favour to his great Age. Duke Dudley in the days of King Edward, ignominiously took from him the Garter of the Order, saying, He was not Originally qualifi∣ed for the same: But this was restored unto him by Queen Mary. He died very old, Anno 1563. and was buried in Lichfield. His Education was better than his Bi••th, his Knowledg higher than his Edu∣cation:

His Parts above his Knowledg, and his Experience beyond his Parts: A general Learning furnished him for T••avel, and Travel seasoned that Learning for Employment. His Master-piece was an inward Observation of other Men, and an exact knowledge of Himself. His Address was with state, yet insinuating: His Discourse free, but weighed; his apprehension quick, but staid: His ready and present mind keeping its pauses of thoughts and expressions even with the occasion and the emergency: neither was his carriage more stiff and uncompliant, than his Soul. Gundamore could not fit King Iames so well as Sir William did Charles the Fifth, who in a rapture once cried, He deserved to BE a King, as well as to REPRESENT One: and one day as he came to Court, Yonder is the Man I can deny nothing to.

Apollonius coming to Vespatian's Gate betimes in the morning, and finding him up, said, Surely this man will be Emperour, he is up so early. This Statesman must needs be eminent, who was up the earliest of all the English Agents in discovering Af∣fairs, and latest in following those Discoveries. Three sorts of Embassadors the Emperour Charles observed were sent him from England; the first was Wolsey, whose great Train promised much, as his great Design did nothing: The second was Morisin, who promised and did much: The third Paget, who promi••ed nothing, and did all. What Scholars observed then of a 1.1 three Divines, that a Statesman hath set down of our three Agents: the first was words without matter; the second was matter without words; the third was words and matter. Quick and regular were his Dispatches,

when Secretary, pleasing all with his proceedings, even when he could not but displease many with his Decision. It was much none went away ever sad from Augustus an Emperour, it was more none was dismissed ever in discontent from Sir William Paget a Secretary of State. The King was not hap∣pier in his abilities to serve him, than he was in their dexterity who waited upon him: These are my eyes, (saith the discreet man) these are my right hands. For his service he would chuse a Man be∣fore a Scholar, a Traveller before a Home-bred: Parts he preferred in his Office, a Presence in his Chamber; Parts and Presence in the Closet.

Beecher was King Henry the Eighth his Map of England, (so well skilled he was in our English Cu∣stoms, Trade, Improvements, Situation, Interest and Inclination) Paget was his Table of Germany, France, and Rome, so exact an account could he give of their Situation, Havens, Forts, Passages, Provision, Policies, Revenue and Strength: se∣cured he was, in King Henry's changeable times, by his forein Travels and Employments. Escape he did King Edward's Reformation, by his Mode∣ration and peaceableness: He complied with Queen Mary's Zeal, out of conscience; and sub∣mitted to Queen Elizabeth's Authority, out of Du∣ty and Allegiance: being one of those moderate men that looked upon the Protestants primitive Foundations of b 1.2 Faith, Duty and Devotion, as safe: and on the Papists superstructures, as not damnable: Whose life was Grotius and Cassander's Wish, An Accommodation to the Christian World. Privacy is the Favourites In••erest, and conceal∣ment his ••are: Sir William wished for success for

his Masters sake, but dissembled it for his own: He is the man, that loseth neither his Privacy, nor his Reputation. Quiet was his temper, though noble his resolution: Troublesome is a witty man on a stage, as a Monkey in a cup-board of glass. Placed, sweet and composed is the prudent Man, like an Intelligence in the Heavens, or a god in the World. Up he went, but by just degrees; that if down he must, he might do so with the same lea∣sure and safety.

When he had managed the Secrets and Negoti∣ations of Henry the Eighth, with Dexterity and Faithfulness; the Lands of King Edward the Sixth, with Skill and Improvement; the Purses of Queen Mary & Q••een Elizabeth, with good Husbandry and Ca••e; When he had lived enough to his Countries, to his Sovereigns, to his Friends, and the Publique Good; he retired to live to Himself first, and then to his GOD.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Luther Melanct∣hon, Ca∣rolosta∣dius.
• b 1.2

  The Creed, The Lords Prayer, and the Com∣mand∣ments.