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SIr Richard Morisin born in Essex (or in Oxford∣shire e 1.1) was brought up f 1.2 at Eaton, Cam∣bridge, and Inns of Court. He was so skilful in Latine and Greek, and in the Common and Civil Law, that he was often employed Embassador by King Henry the VIII, and Edward the VI, unto Charles the Fifth Emperour, and other Princes of
Germany; which he discharge•• with all honesty and ability. After the death of King Edward the VI, he was forced to fly beyond the Seas; and re∣turning out of Italy, died at Strasburgh, on the 17. of March, 1556.
Three things made a compleat man in those days: 1. A publick School, where their School-fellows Ge∣nius's instruct much more t••an their School-masters pains; where a man attains at once to Learning, Prudence, and a Spirit: 2. A comprehensive insight into Tongues and Sciences; by the first whereof they unlocked Men, and by the second, Things•• 3 Travel, where they saw what they read, and made that a solid apprehension and observation, which was before but a fluid notion and a floating imagination: Our Knight was happy in all Three, but so compleat in the last, that he had the Virtues and Port of a German, as if he had been a Native of that place; and loathed the Vices, as if he had ne∣ver seen it: Thereby he could get so far within that people, that he saw all their Intrigues; and be yet so reserved, that they could see nothing. The ablest German Divines guided his conscience, and the greatest Statesmen his Negotiation. He kept un∣der the Emperour by the Princes, the French by the Emperour, and the Pope by them all. So much service did the good Knight to King Henry the Eighth, in his Wise Katharine's Case; and so much the whole Kingdom, in that of Religion; that he equally fled Q••een Mary's wrath, and her Reli∣gious Persecutions. His strong pa••ts set off his comprehensive knowledge; his resolute spirit, his parts; and his presence and mode, all: King Henry always chusing an Embassador that might represent
his Person as well as his power: And Sir Richard had his Hegh in Germany, as well as Henry in Eng∣land.
His knack was his foresight, which made that an Adviso in England, which was hardly a known de∣sign there: saying usually, His Master maintained not Embassadors so much to write Histories as Pro∣phecies. The Trejans sent to condole with Caesar for his Son that was dead two years ago; he thank∣ed them, and condoled with them for Hector, that was slain as many hundred years. Our Embassador in France adviseth Sir Richard of a Battel fought a Week before, and he in answer makes a large dis∣course of the Battel of Spurs fought many years before; and adds, I and You are not here to tell old stories.
Two things, he said, he was troubled with, Envy and Malice; and two Remedies he had against them, Patience and Resolution. Always he wheeled with the first Mover, yet he had private motions of his own: Singular, but modest: So faithful he was, that he would d••clare his Opinion; yet so wary, that he would not stand in it against his Prince; knowing, that if he did it out of prudence, he ren∣dered the Princes Ability suspected; if out of his own sagacity, it blemished his Integrity; Both equal inconveniencies, to intimate the Master Una∣ble, or the Servant Corrupt.
When others pressed for an over-strict Reforma∣ti••n, this Gentleman urged, That Distempers in the Body and State are reduced by Physicians and Politici∣ans not to what they should be, but to what they can be; Freedom, Moderation, and Impartiality are the best tempers of Reforming Counsels and Endeavours:
What is acted singularly, must offend more than it pleaseth; a study to gratify some men, being a likely way to injure all: The novelty of excessive and immoderate undertakings giving not so much con∣tent to the vulgar of a present Age, as the mis∣chiefs of them give offense to the Generations of future times.
And Melancthon's discourse to him was to this purpose: That the Reformation of hearts should go before that of Churches; and men should try that on their own hearts which they design upon the Church: For Deformities within, will soon betray the Preten∣ders of publique Reformation to such private designs as must needs hinder the publique Good. It would be an easie matter for Favou••i••es to reform Kings Pala∣ces (saith Malvezzi) if it were not a hard thing to reform their own houses.
One asked him, Why his Embassie tended so much more to preserve his Masters Dominions, than to aug∣ment them? And he replyed what is fathered on Henry the Fourth, That getting is a Chance, but Keeping is a Wit.
After a long re••idence abroad, he thought of an Habitation at home; which he no sooner began at Cashobery in Hertfordshire, but King Edward going out of the World, the good Knight was forced out of his house and the Kingdom.
He was the first that said, Policy is not the learning of some Rules, but the Observation of Circumstances, with a present minde in all junctures of affairs; which (he would say) was their happiness only, that had good memories: For when one ••aid he had seen much, heard more, and read most: You were (said he) a more compleat man, could you say, I remembered as much.
Secretary Walsingham would say, My Lord, stay a little, and we shall have done the sooner: Secretary Cecil said, It shall never be said of me, That I will defer till to morrow what I can do to day: And Sir Richard Morisin, Give me this day, and take the next your self. Noble was his Resolution, when he said, He scorned to take pensions from an Emperour of Germany, since an Emperour of Germany took pay of the King of England.
His stature was something tall, and procured him reverence; his temper reserved, and commanding security to his person and his business. He that knoweth to speak well, knoweth also where he must hold his peace, said the old Graecian: Think an hour before you speak, and a day before you promise, said this English-Roman. With Ferdinand the Empe∣rour he prevailed for the Popes assistance, and with Maximilian for his Masters against the French.
Never was his Master Henry so high, as to set him above treating; nor his Sovereign Edward so low, as to make him afraid of War; although he looked upon the way of Treaties, as a retiring from fight∣ing like Beasts, to arguing like men; whose strength should be more in their understandings, than in their Limbs. I have (said a great Prince) greater confidence in my Reason than in my Sword; and am so resolved to yield to the first, that I thought neither my self nor others should use the second, if once we rightly understood one another. It's humane to use Reason rather than Force, and Christian to seek peace and ensue it.
Christian was his Temper, and Religious his car∣riage; so charitable, that he relieved the Con••es∣sors, as though he had been none himself; and so
constant, that he continued his sufferings, as if there were no other. Much good did his Countenance do the Exiles in the Courts of Forein Princes; and more his Authority at the Troubles of Frank∣ford, where his Motive to love, was the hatred of the Enemy.
Saith Si•• Ri••h. Baker.
Per ce∣lebriora Anglo••um ••yn••nasia ••••tes ex∣••luit.