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.

STATE-WORTHIES, OR, THE STATES-MEN and FAVOURITES OF ENGLAND, IN The Reign of King Henry the VIII.

Observations on the Life of Cardinal WOLSEY.

CArdinal Wolsey was not so great in his Fortune, as he was mean in his Original: his honest and industri∣ous Parents helped him to a good Constitution, and a large Spirit, (two hopeful steps to greatness;) though one hath said of him,

Brave Priest, whoever was thy Sire by kind, Wolsey of Ipswich nere begat thy mind.

His Ambition gave him the opportunity to en∣crease his parts; he was as pregnant at Ipswich-School, as he was promising in Magdalen Colledg; where he was Batchelour of Arts at 15 years of Age, and therefore called the Boy-Batchelour; His In∣dustry and parts advanced him to a command over Noble men of the Marquess of Dorset's Family, as School-master; as his Policy promoted him to an Imperiousness over Kings in the quality of States∣men. The first step to Greatness in a Scholar, is Rela∣tion to a Nobleman: The best Education for the Court, is in the Palace. Nature made him capable, the School and University made him a Scholar; but his Noble Employment made him a Man. At Oxford he read Books, at my Lord's he read Men, and observed Things: His Patrons two Parsonages bestowed upon him, was not so great a Favour as the excellent principles instilled into him; he be∣ing not more careful to Instruct and Educate the young Men, then their Father was to Tutor him: his Bounty makes him Rich, and his Recommen∣dation Potent: His Interest went far, his Money far∣ther. Bishop Fox was Secretary to K. Henry the seventh, and he to Bishop Fox; the one was not a greater Favourite of the King's, than the other was his; as one that brought him a Head capable of all Observations, and a Spirit above all Difficul∣ties. Others Managed the Affairs of England, Wolsey understood its Interest: His Correspondence was good abroad; his observations close, deep, and continued at home: He improved what he knew, and bought what he knew not. Being a Master of so happy a reservedness, as to what he understood not, that in all those variety of things that tried

his parts, he n••ver came under the reproofe of Meg••by••es, to whom Apelles ••aid. Whilst thou wast 〈…〉〈…〉 seemed••t to ••e some bod••, but now the••e is not the meane•• Boy that g••i••••e•••• O••ker, bu•• he laugheth a•• ••hee. And as he 〈…〉〈…〉 in his spe••ch, so he ••as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in ••is ca••••••age, till the suc••••ss of lesse•• ••ction•• fle••hed him for greater.

He could m••ke any ••hing he read or heard, his own; 〈…〉〈…〉 imp••••ve any ••hing that was his own to 〈…〉〈…〉

One Chri••tmas ••••••••••••ment to the Marquess of Dorsets f••om Ma••••al••n C••lledge, where he was fel∣low and Scho••••e-••••••te••, was like to have undone him, at the ••ame ••ime that it made him; for that debonairne•••• whe••eb•• he hoped to open the way to Honour as a Courtier, occasioned his disgrace as a Minister.

Sir Iames Pawlet, (who for six d••ys Impri∣sonment of him in Somersetshire, s••ffe••••d six years Confinement by him in the Middle-Temple and the Gate-House, untill he was glad to ado••••e one Pri∣son at a gre••t Charge, with the badge and Cogni∣zance of the Cardinals greatness, to abate his dis∣pleasure, as he said, he had di••graced another with a School-Masters meanness to provoke it,) thought fit to Commit him for that activity, for which others advanced him; and that to a Capacity, (••ee the instability of humane affairs; the Greate••t should not presume, the meanest should not despond) of haveing the Knight as much at the Sc••ool-Masters pleasure, as the School-Maste•• was at his humor. For having lost the Marquess,

through whom he hoped to shew himself with ad∣vantage at Court, by death, and his fellowship at Magdalen, where he might have appeared with ap∣p••au••e in the University, by Resignation, he Travel∣ed himself into the old Trea••urer of Callis fa∣vour and service, first as his Chaplain, then as his Deputy, and by him to K. H. 7ths. notice: to whom he became, by dextrous addresses to the two then great Favou••ites Bishop Fox and Sir Thomas Lovel, known as well by his sharpe and solid discourses in the Closet, as by his discreet and modest behaviour in the Chappel, to be capable of two things, Busi∣ness by his diligence, and Trust by his Reservedness, both tryed in an Ambassage to Maxamilian the Emperour; his first employment performed so quickly, that the King checked him for not being gone, when he presented himself to signifie that he was returned; and so prudently and effectually, that according to his duty he fulfilled all those In∣structions given with him, and out of hi•• discretion those likewise too late sent after him; answe••ing the wise King, who asked him whether he met the Pursivant he sent after him? that he met him and read his Letters, the matter whereof he had dis∣patcht, concieving it necessary, for which he craved pardon, confessing it a presumption; the sage King vouchsafeing him not only pardon, but applause, promising himself the greatest Services from one that had giv••n so good an earnest. And indeed he had better success in serving others, than his dependents had in serving him; for it was Mr. Cromwels great complaint to him, and his great trouble within himself, that he had not taken all the opportunities offered him, to advance his Servants

while he stood, that they might have had abilities to assist him when he was fallen; for when he was reduced to a Pension of 4000. markes at Winches••er, and had his Lands belonging to his Colledges at Ox••o••d and Ipswich seized on by the Praemunire to the Kings use, and the Abbey at St. Albons divi∣ded among the Courtie••s, he was forced to borrow 200. l. of Iohn Higdon his fi••st Dean of Christ-Church, to pay and rewa••d some of his poorest Servants, on this condition, that they should not suscipere gradum Simonis, and having served a Cardinal, wait on any other below the King. Indeed his Estate in his prosperity was little enough for his Magni∣ficence, which performed great things, and design∣ed greater; and in his ad••ersity little enough, for his Charity, which he dispensed in all places be∣tween the Charterhouse at Richmond, where he be∣gan to dye Religiously, and the Abbey at Leicester where he dyed naturally: a Charity, which added to his reading Divine Service, and Preaching in some Churh every Sunday, his open house all the week days, the familiarity and sweetne••s of his converse, and the humility of his life, gained him as great a Respect in the North as he had lost in the South.

No sooner was he in with the Bishop of Win∣chester, but the Bishop was out with the Earl of Surrey; to whom he must have stooped, as he did unto Nature and Age, had not be raised his Servant equal to himself in the Kings Favour, and above Howard. He was sorbid by the Canon, Heirs of his Body; he was enjoyned by his Prudence to make an Heir of his Favour, equally to support and com∣••ort his old Age, and m••intain his Interest. Chil∣dren

in point ••f Policy, as in Nature, are a Blessing, an•• as Arrows in the hand o•• a mighty man; and ••appy i•• that o••d Courtie•• that hath his Q••iver ••ull of them, he shall not be a••••amed when he speaks with his Enemies in the gate. The old man com••end•• Wo••sey to Henry the Seventh ••or one fit to ••erve a King, and c••mmand Ot••er••. Forein Employment is the Statesmans first School; to France therefore he is ••ent, to poise his English Gravity with French Debonairness: A well-poised Q••ickness is ••he excellent temper. From Forein Employment, unde•• an old King, he i•• called home to some D••mestick Services under the Young One. He as quickly ••ound the length of His Foot, as he fitted him with an easie Shoo; the King followed his Pleasures, and the Cardinal enjoyet•• His Po∣wer; The One pursued his sports while Youth, the other his Bu••i••ess while Time served him•• (Give me to Da•••• a••d take thou to Morrow, is both the Cour∣tier and the Chri••tian's Language:) The Favourite took in t••e C••uncil-Table Deba••es, & other State-affaires in the Mass and whole Bulk of them by Day, and the King had the Q••intesse••ce of them extracted, and the sum of them represented to him at Night. All State-Business was disposed of by him, and most Church-Preferments bestowed up∣on him; the Deanery of Lincolne, the Kings Almo∣nership, a house near Bridewell, Durham•• Winchester, Bath, Worcester, Hereford, Tourney, Lincolne, St. Al∣bons and York were in his p••ssession; and all other Promotions in his Gift: He was installed in the Kingdom (during King Henry's youthfulness) and had the Chu••ch in Commendam. His great Ser∣vices indeed could not be managed without a great

Revenue, nor his greater Power supported, but by an able Purse, which may buy off Expedients as readily as his Greatness may command them.

His pithy and his witty sentences at the Starr-Chamber made him Speaker there, and his fluent Tongue the most forward every where else; his clear Head and smooth Tongue engrossed all the Kings Favour, and most persons addresses, which advanced his Estate much, and hi•• Reputation more: in so much that the management of, and Provision for the great Voyage to France, 5. H. 8. by Sea and Land was trusted to his sole Care; and ordered to very good effect by his sole Discretion: not neglecting his own affairs while he provided for the King's, being the most dextrous by his cor∣respondents at discovering Preferments, the closest at attaining of them; the quickest at Pos••essing them, and the most skilfull for Improve∣ing them of any man living; Punctual in keeping up the honour of his Place, witness his advanceing of his Cr••sses as Primate of England, above those of Canterbury as Prima••e of all England (pitty s••ith one, that they who should conte••d de pascendis ovibus should fall out de lanâ caprinâ) and what Jurisdiction he wanted as A••ch-B••shop, he made up as Cardinal, Legate de latere and Chancellour. In which capacity, he kept 500 Servant••, among whom 9 or 10 Lords, 15 Knights, and 40 Esquires: in which respect he was sent upon two Embassies of State to the Emperour Charles the 5th. in Flanders to the great honour of the English Nation. He en∣tertained all Ambassadors, to the great satisfaction of all Forein Princes, and the King often to his great content, administring to his Majesties Plea∣sure,

that he might enjoy his power; discovering as great skill in his Treats as in his Government, especially careful o•• three things.

• 1. His Pomp, to keep his place from contempt, it being not enough for a man in Authority to have a power that may awe the Judgment of the wise to subjection, unless he have a pomp too, that may dazzle the eyes of the vulgar into Veneration: though Envy is the most dangerous thing that can happen to a private man, yet contempt is the worst thing that can befall a publick person; this weakning the being of the later which consi••ts in his power, as the other doth the comfort of the first, which consisteth in his Peace.
• 2. His Devotion, neglecting not one Collect of his Prayers for all the cumbrances of his place, wherein he deceived many of the people, thinking he had no time for his Devotion from his business, and his Servan••s wondering how he could gain time for his business from his Devotion; he made Con∣science of Religion, because in his experience of affaires he met with many providences of God that made him really believe it; he made no shew of it, because the world believed such men as he did but pretend it.
• 3. His Health, never going out without a perfumed Orange into the great Croud that always awaited him, to whom al persons came fi••st before they went to the King: that he wanted such things, was to sober men argument of the Frailty of the greatest man; that he used them, was to envious men an argu∣ment of the pride o•• a poor man. Which puteth me in mind of Plinyes description of a man, than whom he saith, there is not a living Creature more wretched

• or more Proud: For the last of which qualities, it was that our Icarus, though a man of great capaci∣ty, large expe••ience, and comparative moderation, moultred his wing so soon in the beams of Royal Majesty. Bu•• a•• our Laureate hath it, God help the man so wrapped in Errours endless train, one Anticyra, hath no•• Hellebore enough to cure him.

Two Corrivals he had, Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham, Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk: Brandon he despised, as rather besides, saith my Author, than again••t him; h•• being the Kings Companion in pleasure, & Wolsey his Councellour in Policy; the Duke great with young Henry, the Bishop with the King: Buckingham he feared, as popular; and undermined, as proud: (that Tower must fall, who••e Foundation is hollow) Buckingham was high in Birth, Honour, and Estate, Wolsey higher in Prudence, whose Malice did the brave Duke much mischief, and his own folly more: (Vain-glory (writes my Friend) ever lieth at open guard, and gives much advantage of play to her Enemies:) A deboyst King is jealous, and a weak Nobleman ambitious. In fine, he is attainted of High Treason, (though rather Corrival to the King in his Cloaths than his Crown, in his Vani∣ties than his Authority:) but a cunning Upstart quickly blows off a young Noblemans Cap and Fea∣••her, and his Head too, when it stands in his way. Tarquin instructed more than his own Son, by striking off the heads of the Poppies.

His power ag••inst Buckingham was his Shield a∣gainst all others: One defense well managed, one Adversary throughly suppressed, is a Security at Court, where two men s••ldom fall the same way.

Many envied the Archbishop, the Cardinal, the Legate de latere, the Lord Chancellour; but all feared the Favourite: most were discontented, but none durst shake their Heads, le••t they fell off with Buckingham's: the Bishops displeasure was more fatal than the Kings, whose wrath was violent, but no•• lasting; as the Others anger was of less fury, but more malice, real, and more secret, he having set up as indiscernible way of Intelligence, as Angels do of Communication; he and his correspondents un∣derstanding one another, not by discourse, but by the present state of things; as those Intelligences un∣derstand one another, not by speech, but by Ideas. His Power was great, and his Justice equal; for he was too proud to be bribed, and too powerful to be overborn. But England was too narrow a Theatre for this great Spirit, and he aspires to Rome; and having been these many years Pope of this other world, would have been of that beyond the waters: his leap was great, from York to Rome, and his rise as good: Charles the Fifth was his Client, and his Masters Servant; the Cardinals were his Pensio∣ners; and when they failed (as he is no Fox whose Den hath but one hole, and he no Statesman who when one way is stopped, cuts not out another) he falls off from the German Emperour to the F••ench King: where, if he could not carry his own Design, he would hinder the Emperours; (and Revenge is an Advancement) (so great was he, that his Friend∣ship balanced Europe, over-awed Emperours, threatned Kings, and was fatal to Queens) if he cannot be Pope of Rome, he will shew he is as good as King of England; for finding that the King wanted a meet Yoak-Fellow for his Bed, and a law∣ful

Heir-Male to his Crown, and observing Queen Katharines Age above her Husbands, and her Gra∣vity above her Age, being more Pious than plea∣sant, a better Woman than Wife, and a better Wife for any Prince than King Henry; he pro∣motes a Divorce (upon some Scruples intimated by the Spaniard some years before in a Treaty a∣bout the Princesse Mary's Marriage, which others had forgot, but the Cardinal laid up) between the King and Q••een: but that was not all; but know∣ing that King Henry could not have a Wife to his minde, until he had a Pope of his own choosing, he would help him to a young Wife, but he must raise him to a new Power; Wolsey must be Pope, or King Henry could not be divorced: and to make all sure, he was no sooner to be parted from a Daughter of Spain, than he was to be joyned to a Princess of France; whose Nuptial Ring should wed King Henry to Her, and King Francis to Him∣self.

Two ways did he disoblige Queen Anne Bullein that was his deadly enemy, 1. by dissolving the Con∣tract between her and the Lord Piercy, the Earle of Northumberlands Eldest Son, to please the King, 2. by endeavouring to hinder, or at least delay the Marriage between her and the King, to gratifie himself; whom in vain afterwards, by Inventions unheard of, he endeavoured to please as well as the King; when he saw the Contrivances of a great Wit, the Allurements of a Famous Beauty, and the malice of a disappointed Woman, joyned to the envy of the greatest Lord, whom he had ordered as irrespectively as the meanest subject. When it is once past Noon with a Court-Favourite, it is pre∣sently

Night with him: for knowing that the Car∣dinal was cunning, and the King not yet cruel, they longed to have him at York while at Londen; and again they contrive to bring him to London while at York; the first upon pretense that he might do good, the last with design that he might do no harme. Sed nullae sunt occultiores insidiae quàm hae quae latent in simulatione officij: as he observed the me∣thod of some old cunning Parliament-men, who when they had a mind to cross a Bill, were always highest for it in the House (as the Eagle carried the shell up in the skye to break it) and would insert so many, and so great inconveniences into the Act, that they were sure it could never pass.

Tuta frequensque via est per amici fallere nomen.

Missing of Power, he meditates Honour; and instead of lavishing his infinite Treasure upon airy Expectations, he bestoweth it on real Monuments; witness the great work at Callice, &c. which makes his Memory a Renowned as his Life. That States∣man lives to small purpose, whose Actions are as short as his Life, and his Exploits of no longer du∣ration than his Age.

At this time, though King Henry bore the Sword, yet Cardinal Wolsey (as I am told) bore the stro••e all over the Land, being Legate a latere, by ver••us whereof he visited all Churches and Religion, Houses, even the Friers Observants themselves, notwithstanding the stoutness and stubbornness that first opposed him. Papal and Royal Power met in him, being the Chancellour of the Land, and keeping so many Bishopricks in Commendam, that his yearly Income is said to equal, if not ex∣ceed the Revenues of the Crown. He gave the

first blow to Religious Houses, by making one great Cardinal Colledge, now Christ-C••urch, (of which one comparing his project with his per∣formance, said, Instituit Collegium, absolvit Popinam. And another being asked what he thought of the ampleness of the Foundation, answered, Fundatione nihil amplius; to which I may add his Colledge at Ipswich,) of forty small Monasteries; to make way, as some thought, upon the Popes con∣sent, procured by him, to the overthrow of all.

He called all Captains and Officers to an accoun••, who bought off their own small corruption with his great one, and paid him the penalties of their Cheats with the Gains of it; the Richest of them escaping, and the poorest only made exemplary. Several Courts of pretended Equity he erected; to redress the poor, that was the Colour; to in∣rich himself, that was the Reality: at whose consti∣tution the Law-Courts were unfrequented, so spe∣cious was their seeming Integrity; at the ls••t they are deserted, so manifest was their real Grievances; the people not flocking so fast a••ter the Novelty, as they ran away from the Cheat: though his pre∣tense was fair, that the Kingdome should not be a Common-Wealth of Fish, where the greater de∣voured the Less.

What he did to reform the Courtiers, as a F••∣vourite, he did to reform the Clergy as Legate; erecting a Court Legantine (not without danger of a Praemunire) wherein all Clergy were visited; the Rich in their Purses, that excused them; the Poor in their Reputation, that compounded for them. Neither did his profits arise from the Liv∣ing onely, but the Dead; he engrossing the Proba∣tion

of all Wills and Testaments within his own Court: he had petty projects, viz. that Children should fo••low their Fathers Profession, saying that he observed, that the Fathers Eminency in any act, begat in the Child a propension to the same; and whe••e two or three successi••e Generations happily insist in the steps one of another, they raise an art to great pe••fection, and liked well the prudence of our Parliaments in permitting the Eldest Son of Barons to be p••esent at their C••nsultations to fit them by degrees, for the person they are to sustain.

And not long after, he hath a Pa••e••t under the Great Seal of England, to do what he pleased in the French Cou••t, in order to the King•• Progresse thither; as he hath likewise af••er, with his Masters leave, under the great seal of France: After which honour, he was with the Kings Order, by English Subjects, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, &c. honoured at no lesse rate than that of a Prince; and by the Clergy (who kept close to the publick tem∣per) with Processions, &c. at the same rate with a Pope. Great he was in England; greater in Ger∣many, where all the Nobili••y attended him, the Great Seal of England was carried before him; and the Emperour o••serving his Commission and Honour, met him with his whole Train, and harangued it with him no less than two days. He that over-ruled Empires might well presume on Subjects; and no sooner therefore doth he return, than by his own Authority he levieth four shillings in the pound of every man that was worth fifty pound per annum; and when that would not do (pretending to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen that he had been upon his Knees to revoke those

Commissi••ns) other Letters for a Benevolence, which lost him as much in the Countrey, as his Re∣formation of the Houshold did him at Court. But the King employeth him to France, as his Second, and takes his leave of him as hi•• intimate Friend; 1200 Horse attended him: Callice•• Bullein, Amiens honour him with the name of The Peaceable Cardi∣nal; and the Statue of a Cardinal Rescuing a Church and a Pope from danger, whom yet under∣hand he brought into danger, making the Duke of Bourbon General against the King of France to Revenge himself; and yet making an underhand Peace with France [which the Duke knew not of, till he took the Instrument of Peace Sealed at the Castle of Pavia] to please others; for which last ex∣ploit, carried on privately by receiving the French Ambassadour as an Italian Jester, the Duke of Bourbon resolved to goe and Sack Rome, and punish all the Cardinals he could come at for the fault of one he could not. But though his Armes reached him not, the Court Wits did; perswading his Ambition to goe upon a splendid Embassy, to Reconcile all the Christian Princes abroad, that they might have the better advantage to withdraw from him the Favour of his own Prince at home; contriving likewise, that all the Friends he had at Court ••hould be of his Retinue in the Ambassie, both to increase the envy of his train, and to wea∣ken the strength of his Interest: It was observed that he gave three Rules to his Company the morning he went from Callis; 1. That they should take care of the Soveraigns Honour that Imployed him. 2. That they should observe the natural Civility and Sobriety of the Nation they

came from. 3. That they should retain as much reservedness as became the Affair he went abo••••; giving them a Caution of the French in t••ese words, viz. that at their first meeting, they wou••d be as familiar as if they had known them by long acquain∣tance; and of t••emselves in these that they ••••ould not speak of any matter of Importance, but in their own Language, lest they should ••••scover that for want of words which they sho••ld hide with them.

Very exact he was in the honou••able circumstances of address, abateing the French King not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in their approaches one to anoth••r, but most exact in the particulars of the T••eaty, yei••ding not a point to the whole Council o•• France; for knowing that their own conveniency, not their Love brought the Treaty about, he would often fling away, and make the King and Queen Regen•• Court him to renew the Consultation, which otherwise he m••st have caressed them to. Fear, n••t Love is the pas••ion of Common-Wealths. But his entertainment from the King his Master at home, was not answer∣able to his Service abroad; nor the applause from the Noble-men, Judges, and Justices of the Peace of each shire in England (cited from the Countrey to hear an account of his great League, that they might report it to the Countrey) suitable either to his Eloquence or Action at Star-Chamber, or his great expectation. The first Court design upon him, after his return, was an entertainment to the French Ambassador, injoyned by the King to beg∣gar him; the next was a discovery made to him of the Kings Love to Q. A. Bullein, (its dangerous to know Kings Secrets) from which he disswaded

his Majesty by Intreaties on his Knees, and by Ar∣guments from the most Learned men in the King∣dome which he Consulted with, and in both Uni∣versities which he sent to. Its not safe standing in the way of a Kings Lust, though indeed the Cardi∣nals Enemies had possessed themselves both of the King and the peoples apprehensions, so farr, that his Majesty was wrought upon to be angry with him, because he was perswaded that he was against his Divorce; and the people were incensed a∣gainst him (as he declared to the King at the Court in Bridewell) because they were made believe that he was for it.

Many chafing discourses (as he called them) had he with the King, whom yet he would coole with the gentleness of his behaviour; many affronts from Noble men: Especially one, whose head he had kept on, threatned his off. Often would he disswade the King from persuing his design; often upon the Kings solicitations did he and Cardinal Campein perswade the Queen to Reti••e.

At Grafton in Northamptonshire was the first step of his Fall, when the King went to Dine with Queen Anne Bullein, and left him to shift among the Servants.

Queen Anne pressed the King with the poor Condition he had brought the Subjects to; o∣thers into what great Estate he had raised himself. First he returns from Court to Westminster, and the broad Seal, with his rich furnished house, being ta∣ken from him, afterwards to Putney, or Ashur; when he that could have furnished Kings with accomo∣dations, was furnished himself by the Bishop of Carlisle. Afraid they were he should have a summe

of money to live upon at Rome, therefore they searched Cardinal Campeius Train at Callis; more afraid he should have an habitation near the King: therefore ••hey demanded his House as Bishop of Yorke called White-Hall, which the Cardinal (in∣treating the Judges that came to take his Recogni∣zance, to teach the King not onely what he might do, but what he ought to do, and to put him in mind of the g••eatness of the Eternal habitations as Hell and Heaven, as well as the conveniency of earthly dwellings) chose rather to give upon terms for Yorke-House, than to lose by force.

The A••ticles against him in the House were bravely waved by his Servant Mr. Cromwel, the grief of his heart much allayed by a Ring sent him from the King, and a Tablet from the Queen; his Majesties Physicians had a special Charge about hi•• Health; and his Wardrobe about his House: but this was only a Lightning before Death, to ex••sperate his Enemies rather than gratifie him.

Cardinal Wolsey going over to France, upon an extraordinary Embassy, had for his Attendance Tonstal Bishop of London, the Lord Sands, late Chamberlain, the Earl of Derby, Sir Tho. More, Sir H. Guilford, and 200 Horse; and was met two days journey from Paris by King Francis and his Mother, carr••ing with him 140000. l. though sil∣••er was but 20 d. an ounce, to assist that King in the War against Charles the fifth; and furnished with such a Plenipotentiary Commission, that he gave Law to France and the Popedome: and he ••••mported himself with such dexterity and high wisdome, that all the Princes of Christendome, who had their eyes fixed upon him, admired him.

The King gave him many places, & he bes••owed on him his magnificent Palaces; White-Hall, that Good Hypocrite, mo••e convenient within, than comely without, Hampton Court, Windsor; the two first to be resident in, and ••he last ••o be buried in. (Arma tenenti omnia dat, qui justa negat)•• fi••ting his humour with pleasant habitations, as he suit∣ed his ambition with power and authority.

But the King broke with him at last about the divorce, being vexed with so many delays, defe••s, retardings, and prorogations between two Popes, Clement that was, and Wolsey that would be: yet rather eased him of his bu••dens, than deprived him of his preferments; continuing him Bishop of York and Durham, (when he turned him out of his Chancellourship of England) where being sent by that Lord, who would not endure him nearer the King, and could not get him further, he lived ra∣ther like a Prince than a Priest, providing as mag∣nificently for his Installation, as a King should for his Coronation: which unseasonable ambition was improved by his enemies malice, and the King's jealousie to his ruine: for in the midst of his so∣lemnities he is arrested by the Kings order, signi∣fied by the Earle of Northumberland, whose wrath was the Messenger of Death, and in his way to Lon∣don, being distracted between hope and fear, died at Leicester, where he was buried as obscurely as he was borne; and breathing out his soul in words to this purpose, viz. If I had served the God of Heaven as faithfully as I did my Master on earth, he had not for∣saken me in my old age, as the other hath done. He died, swelling in his body, as he had done in his mind, the pain being really in his hea••t, which

seemed to be in his guts; for when Northumber∣land whom he had b••ed, and a Privy Chamber∣man whom he had preferred, were sent to him, he could still hope that ••he King intended him Ho∣nour; but when Sir William Kingston, Lieutenant of t••e Tower, who carried a restraint in his looks, came to him, he could not believe but he intended him Punishment, keeping him only between the tick∣ling hopes of p••e••erment, & pinching fear of dis∣grace, to found his bo••tome, and to discover his E∣sta••e; so well he took the first Arrest, that he di∣••ected the Messenge••s to execute their Commissi∣on legally; saying, that he ought to yield himself to a Privy-Chamb••rman on his word; though not to the Earle withou•• his Commission; So ill the second, that he could not govern himself tolerably. Very observant he was of old Prophesies; applying that

When the Cow rides the Bull, Then Priest beware thy skull.

to Hen. 8. whose armes, as Earle of Richmond was a Cow; and Anne Bullein, whose devise was a Bull: whose Love to each other, was the occasion of their hatred to him.

And that, that he should have his end at Kingston, to King••ton upon Thames, a Town he would not look on willingly while he lived; and to Sr William Kingston, a man he would not with his good will hear of when he died: And fearful of new Omens, Interpreting the falling of his Crosse to break Bon∣ners head, the f••ll of the Church to the danger of his own. A serene and peaceable soul acts by solid ••eason, a frighted and troubled one by fansie, ima∣gination and superstition; a mind in the dark of m••lancholy, and trouble, feareth every thing. The K••ng not knowing his own changeble mind, would

have given 20000 l. he had lived; and his Enemies knowing it too well, gave 10000 l. that they might be sure he should dye.

The one aiming at a booty from his Estate (as ap∣peared afterward by his ••eward to those Servants that discovered it; the o••her at their own securi∣ty ••rom his power: both to his dying day, so great, that indifferent men thought them enough, his foes too much, and he himself too lit••le. Plenty without pomp, is penury to pride, which Kings may make humbled, God only humble: He being a∣ble to take away the fire, the Lu••t within; the o∣ther only to withdraw the Fuel, the sta••e without.

Remarkeable were his words of himself. This is the just reward that I must receive for my diligent pains and study, not regarding my service to God; but only my respect to the King. Flattery is the Common Moath of great Palaces, where Alexan∣ders friends are more than the Kings. Observable his caution to the Councellors, whom he advised to take heed, what they should put into the Kings head, for (said he) you can never put it out again. Heinous is the crime of poysoning Fountains: and such is a Kings mind in a Common-wealth. Nota∣ble was the Jealousie of his Enemies, who could not but believe he was alive, until the Mayor and Corporation of Liecester [who were called there∣fore to view his Corps] testified under their pub∣lick Seal, that he was dead: But most notorious his burial, that

He, who from his own store late might have, A Pala••e or a Colledge for his Grave; Should lye interr'd so obscurely, as if all Of him to be remember'd were his fall;

Nothing but earth to earth; no Pompous weight Vpon him, but a pibble or a quait.

Yet though his Fortune was not great, as his merit, or his merit as his mind; he planted things that are like to last as long as men are either to do things wo••thy to be written in books, or books are to record things worthy to be done by men.

His Enemies made mock defences for him, on pu••pose to overthrow him: So before a serious Warr, Cities use to personate their adverse party, and feign mock combats and skirmishes to encou∣rage their friends, wherein you may be sure that their own side shall conquer. Which puts me in mind of the Lyons answer in the Fable, when the picture of a man beating a Lyon was produced to him, he said, If a Lyon had made this picture, he would have made the Lyon above•• and the man beneath. Nihil est quin male narrando possit depravarier.

One thing he advised young men to take care of in their publick deliveries, viz: that they should rather proceed, though more inaccurately, than stop sensibly; few being able to discerne the fai∣lu••e of a continued speech, when all understand the mischance of a gross silence.

A Fellow having made a long Oration to his hea∣rers, of the virtues of a Feather, which he affirmed to have dropped from the wing of Michael the A••ch-Angel; and the Feather being stolen from under his sleeve out of drollery, and a Cinder put in the place of it to trye hi•• humour, he went on c••••fidently with his discourse; telling them, that though it was not the feather which he had men∣tioned; yet it w••s one of the coles which St. Lau∣rence

was broyled with; and had all those virtues which he had formerly ascribed to the feather.

When good men die suddenly, it is said they are poysoned; and when the bad fall unexpectedly, as he did, it is said they poyson themselves. He di∣ed unpitied, because he had lived feared; being the great Bias of the Christian World.

Too suddain prosperity in the beginning, un∣doeth us in the end: while we expect all things flowing upon us at first, we remit our care, and pe∣rish by neglecting. Every head cannot bear wine, nor every spirit •• fortune: Success eats up Circum∣spection. How many a man had ended better, if he had not begun so well? It's the Emphasis of misery, to be too soon happy: Prosperity growing up with experience, makes a man in a firm settle∣ment, inured to all events. I will ever suspect the smooth waters for deepness: in my worst estate I will hope, in the best I will fear; in all, I will be circumspect and stil. R••ffling Ambition reacheth great Honour, a Sedate Humility supports it: the Lower the Basis, the higher & stronger the Pyramide. Love, the Issue of Humility, guardeth the weakest; Hat••ed, the Daughter of Pride, ruines the strong∣est. Ego & Rex meus, was good Grammar for Wolsey a School-Master; but not for the Cardinal a States-man. To be humble to Superiors, is duty; to Equals, is courtesie; to Inferiours, is nobleness; and to all, safety; it being a virtue that for all her lowliness commandeth those souls it stoops to. In a word, as I love Virtue, so I hate Vice, for her inside and her end. Cardinal Wolsey is famous for two things; that he never spoke a word too much, and but one too little.

The Lord Herbert's Character of Car∣dinal Wolsey, in his Life of Henry the Eighth, pag. 314.

ANd thus concluded that great Cardinal: A man in whom ability of parts and Industry were equally eminent; though, for being employed wholly in ambi∣tious ways they became dangerous Instruments of power, in active and mutable times. By these arts yet he found means to govern not onely the chief affairs of this Kingdom, but of Europe; there ••eing no Potenta••e, which, in his turn, did not seek to him: and as this procured him divers Pensions, so, when he acquainted the King therewith, his manner was, so cunningly to disoblige that Prince who did fee him last, as he made way thereby oftentimes to receive as much on the other side. But not of secular Princes alone, but even of the Pope and Clergy of Rome he was no little courted; of which therefore he made especial use, while he dr••w them to second him on most occasions. His birth being otherwise so obscure and mean•• as no man had ever stood to single: for which reason also his chief indeavour was not to displease any great person; which ••et could not sec••re him For as all things passed through his hands. so they who failed in their suits generally h••ted him: All whi••••, though it did but exasperate his ill nature, yet this good resultance followed, that it made him take the more care to be Iust; whereof also he obtained the reputation in his publick hearing of Causes: For

as he loved no body, so his Reason carried him. And thus he was an useful Minister of his King in all points, where there was no ques••ion of deserting ••he Roman Church; of which (at what price s••ever) I finde he was a zealous Servant; as hoping thereby to aspire to the Papacy, whereof (as the fac••ious times then were) he seemed more capable than any, had he not so immo∣derately affec••ed it. Whereby also it was not hard to judge of his Inclination; that Prince, who was ablest to help him to this Dignity, being ever preferred by him; which therefore was the ordinary Baite, by which the Emperour and the French King one after the other did catch him. And, upon these terms•• he doubted not to convey vast treasures out of this Kingdome, especially unto Rome, where he had not a few ••ardinals at his devotion; by whose help, though he could not attain that Supreme Dignity he so passionately desired, yet he prevailed himself so much of their favour, as he got a kinde of absolute power in Spiritual Matters at Home: Wherewith again he so served the Kings turn, as it made him think the less of using his own Authority. One error seemed common to both, which was, That such a multiplicity of Offices and Places were invested in him. For as it drew much envy upon the Cardinal in particular, so it derogated no little from the Regal Authority•• while one man alone seemed to exhaust all: Since it becometh Princes to do like good Husband∣men, when they sow their Grounds; which is, to scat••er, and not to throw all in one place. He was no great Dissembler, for so qualified a Person; as ordering his businesses (for the most part) so cautiously, as he got more by keeping his word, than by breaking it. As for his Learning, (which was far from exact) it consisted chiefly in the subtilties of the Thomists, wherewith the

King and himself did more often weary than satisfie each other. His stile, in Missives, was rather copious than eloquent, yet ever tending to the point. Briefly, if it be true (as Polydore observes) that no man ever did rise with fewer virtues, it is true that few that ever fell from so high a place had lesser crimes objected against him: Though yet Polydore (for being at his first com∣ing into England committed to Prison by him, as we have said) may be suspected as a partial Author. So that in all probability he might have subsisted longer, if either his pride and immense wealth had not made him obnoxious, and suspected to the King, or that other. than Women had opposed him: Who, as they are vigi∣lant and close Enemies, so for the most part they carry their businesses in that manner as they leave fewer ad∣vantages against themselves than men do. In conclu∣sion, As I cannot assent to those who thought him happy for enjoying the untimely compassion of the people a little before his end, so I cannot but account it a principal Felicity, that during his favour with the King, all things succeeded better than afterwards; though yet it may be doubted whether the Impressions he gave, did not occasion divers Irregularities which were observed to follow. He died Nov. 29. 1529.

Observations on the Life of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk.

SIr William Brandon dying in King Henry th•• se∣venth's service, as his Standard-bearer in Bos∣worth-field, no wonder if his son lived in his favour; it being as prudent to continue his Loyal spirit in his son, as it was just to reward it. He was as inti∣mate with Henry the Eighth in his pleasures when a child, as in his councels when a man. There was a sympathy between their active spirits, which im∣proved the familiarity of their tender years to a fi••m friendship in their age; men of quick and large striding minds loving to walk together: not to say the looser the lives, the faster the friends. At a Tilting in Paris, to which many young Noble∣men were licensed to go, Brandon overcame others every day, and one day himself, (against a Gyant Almain) where the Lords looked not on him with more envious, than the Ladies with gracious eyes; who (saith my Author) darted more glances in love, than the other did spears in anger against him. He is the compleat Courtier, in whom Beau∣ty and Valour, Mars and Venus, are joyned in one happy constitution, which awes and allures Be∣holders.

Being employed to bring over Queen Mary, King Lewis the twelfth's Relict, to her Brother, he won her to himself: whether his affections were so am∣bitious as to climb up to her, or hers so humble as

to condescend to him, may be ••he subject of a more amorous discourse: and considering with himself that matters of this nature are never sure till finish∣ed, that so Royal an opportunity happened but sel∣dome, and that leave ••or such an enterprize was easier gained when it's done, than when doing; he humbly requested his Majesty to give way to that Match, which was indeed already concluded: who, afte•• some State discontent, was quickly pleased; the Duke being no less esteemed by him for many years, than he was beloved by the people. His Genius was more Martial than Mercurial; and we hear of him oftner in the French Wars, than in the English Councils.

And in both, his plain overtures went farther than others fair harangues; because these only hovered in mens fancies, those came home to mens business and bosoms. He wondered at the m••n that pleased themselves in the liberty of giddy fan∣cies; and dreaded the ties of a ••ixed belief, for the publick good, not his own advantage, affecting (as one said well) free-will in thinking, as well as in acting; and at the new discoursing wits, that were as unsettled, though not so rational as the old Scepticks, until he considered the difficulty of discerning truth; the hardship of confining the Quick-silver thoughts within the limits it prescrib∣eth, or submitting them to the burden it imposeth. One of the latter Schools of the Grecians exa∣mineth the matter, [it is the Lord Verulams ob∣servation] and is at a stand to think what should be in it, that men should love lies; where nei∣ther they make for pleasure as with Poets; nor for advantage as with the Merchant, but for the

lies sake. But I cannot tell why, this same truth is a naked and open day-light, that doeth not shew the Masques and Mummeries, and triumphs of the present world halfe so stately and daintily as Candlelights: Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl that sheweth best by day; but it will not rise to the p••ice of a Diamond or Car∣buncle that sheweth best in varied lights: a mix∣ture of lies doth ever add pleasure. Doth any man doubt th••t if there were taken out of mens minds vain opinions, flattering hopes, false valu∣ations, imaginations as one would, and the like, vinum daemonum as a Father calls Poetry, but it would leave the minds of a number of men, poor shrunken things, full of melancholy, and indis∣position, and unpleasing to themselves.

Clear and round dealing, this Noble mans temper, is the honour of mans nature; and that mixture of falsehood is like allay in coyn of gold and silver, which may make the metal work the better, but embaseth it. For there winding and crooked Courts are the goings of the Serpent, which goeth basely upon the belly, and not upon the foot. There is nothing of so ill consequence to the publick, a falsehood, or (speech being the currant coyn o•• converse) the putting false money upon the world; or of so much prejudice to a mans own interest, as perfidiousness which weakeneth his great security, which stands by him when his estate and friend•• cannot; or so dark a blot as dissembling, which, as Mountaign saith pret∣tily, is only to be Brave towards God, and a Coward towards man: For a Lye faceth God, and shrinketh from man.

His hearr was too stout, and his head too clear to use those Arts of closeness and dissimulation, which those need who have not judgment and wit enough to discern all the circumstances of an affair, so as to know when to tell a truth; nor courage and va∣lour enough to look in the face of all the cons••∣quences of a business, so as to own it: A man better made for the open Arts, and generous policy of H. 8. than the suspicious closeness, and the wary reservedness of H. 7. His Father lost his life in com∣pleting the union of Roses, I mean York and Lan∣caster; and he in beginning the union of King∣doms, viz. England and Scotland by treaty; and England and France by War: he being the first that durst fasten the Royal Standard in the sides of Bulleign; and the last that advanced the St. George in the middle of it, both taking and governing it. The greatest thing that ever that age saw, was, if we be∣lieve Sleidan, the delivery of the Keys of Bulleign by •• French Governour to the Duke of Suffolks hand; and the greatest thing King H. 8. saw, he saith, was the delivery of those keys by the Duke, into his hand: insomuch that despairing of greater, the one died that year, the other the next.

Queen Elizabeth being to employ a famous Am∣bassage into France, made choice of two of the Noblest Peers of her Realm; equal in Rank, equal in Virtue: but the one excused it by a defect in his hearing, and the other by an ignorance and want of the French Language. To which the Queen smilingly replied: that it was a miserable estate when her speaking Peers were deaf, and her hearing Peers were dumb. Our Duke used to complain, ••hat two of the most eminent m••n in the Council

in his time, had two different, but unhappy, qua∣lities: the one a well-spoken man, had such a hu∣mour, that he pretended he understood hardly any body; the other a person of an excellent judg∣ment, but speaking so darkly that hardly any body understood him.

He avoided two things, first, Catching too soon at an offence: Secondly, Yeilding too easie a way to anger; the one shewing a weak judgment, the other a perverse nature: which rendereth great men as ridiculous, as it did the Ambassadors of Spain and Venice, who drew blood from one ano∣ther in the most August Assembly at the Coronati∣on of R. H. 4th. Queen in France, because one of them used the word excellency instead of the word Seigniory. But in these cases he observed the Ro∣man Discipline nec sequi, nec fugere, to be more pru∣dent than to catch at such trifling Cavils: and more courageous than to shun, if they were offered to him: being very cautious also in mentioning the name of God in small matters [Nec deus Intersit nisi dignus vindice nodus, Inciderit.] and more willing to build his resolution on the experience of former ages, than his own thought; being very un∣willing to be of the number of those people, who, like the Chinois, think they have two eyes; their friends, as those think of the Europaeans, one; and other men, as they think of the rest, blind.

Being vexed with the delays at Rome, and the delusions at Bridewel, (where the Cardinals pro∣ceeded according to their instructions at Rome) one day he knocks on the Table in the presence of the two Cardinals, and binds it with an Oath, That it was never well in England since Cardinals

had any thing to do therein: and from that time forward, as an active Instrument, he endeavoured the abolishing of the Popes power in England; a∣gainst whom he was not more active in the Parlia∣ment 1534, than he was vigilant in the Committee, 1535: in the one, cutting off the head; in the o∣ther, weakening the members of that Church. He m••de provident, yet moderate use of his Masters favours; thereby obliging others, and securing himself; being above Mercenary inclinations as much in his thoughts, as in his ••ortune: he was neither too near the King, lest he were weary of him; nor too far off, lest he forgot him, or thought himself neglected by him. His intermissions of at∣tendance gave others no advantage, but rendred him more gracious: he neither engrossed nor con∣fined his Masters affection. It was easie for him to rise, being descended of Noble Blood, (which is never envied for its advancement) and as easie to keep high, being well studied in his Princes dis∣position, whose inclination when found is half fit∣ted; ever pleasing his Masters Natural humour, never his Vicious. Having attained a competent height, he chose rather to grow stronger by rela∣tion, than higher by advancement. Some Favou∣rites, whose heels have been tripped up by their adver∣saries, have with their hands held on their Allies till they could recover their feet again. His familiarity, and the easie access to him, made him popular: his pliant temper kept him a Favourite, until he died in the full favour of his Prince; though (as Cardi∣nal Pool observed) The•• who were highest in the Kings favour, had their heads nearest danger. He had a becoming Bluntness not unlike his Masters, which

we call Free-heartedness in Courtiers; Consci∣ence and Christian simplicity in Clergy-men; Va∣lour in Souldiers. He died anno 1544. and was buried at Windsor; much beloved and lamented of all, for his Bounty, Humility, Valour, and all No∣ble Vertues since the heat of his Youth was tamed by his reduced Age: whose two Sons Henry and Charles died within twelve hours one of the other, of the sweating sickness at Cambridge, 1550.

He, knowing that learning hath no enemy but ig∣norance, did suspect always the want of it in those men, who derided the habit of it in others; like the Fox in the Fable, who having lost his tayle by mischance, perswaded others to cut theirs as a bur∣then. But he liked well the Phylosophers division of men into three Ranks, some who knew good, and were willing to teach others; these he said were like Gods among men; others who though they knew not much, yet were willing to learn; these he said were like men among Beasts; and some who knew not good, and yet dispised such as should teach them; these he esteemed as Beasts among men. The most miserable men he esteemed them, who running their head into a bush of confident igno∣rance, suppose that none see their weakness; be∣cause they are not willing to take not••ce it of them∣selves.

1. A Calm Greatness is next the happiness of Heaven: Give me the man that by a fair and calm course is rising to an higher state, yet content with his p••esent fortune.

2. Integrity out-lasts Power, and Plainness sur∣vives Policy: An honest heart keeps the head on the shoulders; a Noble and clear Vertue is lasting.

3. It's likeness that makes the True-love-knot of friendship: When a Prince finds another of his own disposition, what is it but the same soul in a divided body? what finds he but himself inter-mutually transposed? And Nature, that makes us love our selves, makes us with the same reason love those that are like us: for this, is a Friend a more sacred Name than a Brother.

4. He that hath a mind contentedly good, en∣joyeth in it boundless possessions. He is great in∣deed, that is great in a brave soul.

Vitam quae faciunt beatiorem, Iucundissime Martialis, haec sunt: Res•• non parta Labore, ••sed relicta; Non ingratus Ager, focus perennis, Lis nunquam, toga rara, mens quieta, Vires Ingenuae, salubre Corpus, Prudens simplicitas, pares amici, Convictus facilis, sine arte Mensa; Nox non ebria, sed soluta curis; Non tristis torus, attamen pudicus; Somnus, qui faciat breves tenebras: Quod sis esse velis, nihilque malis; Summum ne metuas diem, nec optes.

Observations on Thomas Cranmer, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.

CRanmer had a Noble Blood, quickning and raising his spirits, as he had an indefatigable industry to improve it. He was a Gentleman born in Arselecton in Nottinghamshire, and a Noble-man br••d in Iesus-Colledg in Cambridg. His Ancestors were no less eminent at Cranmers-hall in Lincoln∣shire, than he was at Lambeth in Surrey. They came in with the Conquest, (as one Cranmer a French Ambassadour in Henry the eighths time, at the Archbishops Table, made it evident) and he with the Reformation. His Education was as Gentile as his Birth, only his mild spirit meeting with a se∣vere Master, his memory was weakened, and his spiritfulness allayed: but the austerity of the School was sweetned with the exercises of the Country, which his Father indulged him when he was young, and he indulged himself when aged; handling his great Horse as nimbly, his Bow and Net as dexterously as any man in his family. His Marriage withdrew him from the Colledge, and consequent Church-preferment, as the Kings did him from the Church it self. He whose marriage forbid him a Fellowship in Iesus-Colledge, had a Lecture in Buckingham-House for his Parts and Re∣putation, where at once he prepared others for publick Employments, and himself also. He lived

as soberly at the Dolphine-Tavern with his Wife, (whatever the Papists have surmized) as he did studiously at Buckingham-house with his Scholars. His Name was so famous, that Wolsey was not more solicitous to transplant him as an Ornament to Oxford, then Fisher was to retain him in Cambridg; where he was eminent for the Arts, mo••e for Divi∣nity, which (when as one of the three Censors he examined Candidates) he said he expected not in the difficult trifles of Lumbard, but in the sacred sense of Scriptures, the ancient Doctrine of Fa∣thers, the grave Canons of Councils, the solid Po∣liteness of the Greek and Hebrew Learning, and which he lived as well as he taught, in his sober temperance, his mild meekness, (so placable, so courteous, that to offend him, was the way to in∣gratiate with him) his discreet moderation, his grave resolution equally above the frowns and smiles of fortune. Thus qualified, he was by a P••ovidence commended to his Majesty: for there being a Plague in Cambridge, as there was all over England, Dr. Cranmer retired to Waltham with two of his Pupils, the sons of one Mr. Cressy: where upon the Kings Progress thither, he met with his Chaplain and Almoner Dr. Fox, (afterwards Bishop of Hereford) who lodging with him at Mr. Cressy's, discoursed the Kings Divorce. Cranmer conceived that the speediest course were to prove the unlaw∣fulness of the Ma••ch by Scripture; whence it would follow, that the Pope at first had no power to dis∣pense therewith; and that th•• Universities of Chri••tend••m would sooner and truer decide the case than the Cour•• o•• Rome. This passage Fox re∣ports to the King, who well pleased thereat, pro∣fesseth

that this man had the Sow by the right Ear: Glad was the King to see him, (indeed he had a comely Person, and a pleasing Countenance;) more to hear him inlarge himself on the former Subject, That it was above the Popes p••wer to dis∣pense with Gods Word in the Kings Case: What he said to the King, he was sent to make it good to the Pope; whither, invested with the A••ch-Dea∣conry of Taunton•• he went with Thomas Bullein Earl of Wiltshire; whose fi••st Address to the Pope, was to present a Book of Cranmers, proving Gods Law indispensible with by the Pope•• the Author is preferred to the great Title of Supreme Poenitentia∣ry, and the Treatise is promised a Consideration and Debate: But the Pope delaying, & according to Cranmer's Advice, ten Universities declaring a∣gainst him; the Embassador returns to England, and the Dispu••ant goes to Vienna, where in Os••an∣ders House (whose Kinswoman he had married) he confirmed those that wavered, satisfied those that doubted, and won those that contradicted in King Henry's Cause. But he served not King Hen∣ry more faithfully in Germany, than he provided for him honourably in England; where the Kings Cause waited for his Assistance, and the See of Can∣te••bury for his Acceptance: He was willing to pro∣mote Religion, he was unwilling (for some For∣malities he scrupled) to advance himself: but af∣ter seven Weeks delay, it being as fatal to re••use King Henry's Favours, as to offer him Inju••ies, he is Archbishop in his own De••ence; in which ca∣pacity, to serve the King, and salve his own Con∣science, he used the Expedient of a Protestation to this purpose: In nomine, &c. Non est nec erit meae

voluntatis aut intentionis per hujusmodi Iuramentum & Iuramenta, qualiter verba in ipsis posita sonare vi∣debuntur, me obligare ad aliquid; ratione eorundem post hac dicendum, faciendum aut attestandum, quod erit aut esse videbitur contra legem Dei, vel contra Re∣gem, aut Rempublicam, legesve, aut Praerogativa ejus: & quod non intendo per hujusmodi juramentum quovis modo me obligare quò minùs liberè loqui, consulere, & consentire valeam in omnibus & singulis Reformationem Ecclesiae, prorogativam Coronae, concernentibus, & ea exequi & reformare quae in Ecclesia Anglicana refor∣manda videbuntur. This Protestation he made three times; once at the Charter-House, another time at the Altar, and a third time at the receiving of his Pall. In his place he was moderate, between the Superstition of Rome, and the Phrensies of Munster. As he was cheif Instrument in begin∣ning the Reformation, so he was in continuing it: He withstood the Six Articles, and (though the King sent five prime Ministers of State to comfort him) would not be satisfied, until he saw them mi∣tigated in King Henry's time, and repealed in King Edward's.

Gardiner would have questioned him for enter∣taining forein Hereticks, and promoting Do∣mestick Schisms; the Northern Rebels accused him for subverting the Church: but the King upheld him against both; suppressing the One, and check∣ing the Other; and advising the good Man, whom he called Fool, for his meek disposition, to appeal to him: Whereupon Russel cried, The King will ne∣ver suffer him to be imprisoned, until you find Him guil∣ty of High T••eason. He is to be pitied for his in∣termediate failings, but renowned for his final con∣stancy.

The King having declared before all his Ser∣vants, that Cranmer was his best Servant, he em∣ployeth him in his best service, the Reformation of Religion, wherein all others failed; but the King, Cromwel, and Brandon backed him so far, that he had the Bible & the necessary Offices of the Church translated into English: He had both Universities at his command: He brought the Lords House and Convocation to his Lure; and was invested with a Power. 1. To Grant Dispensations in all things not repugnant to Gods Law, nor the Kings safety: 2. To determine Ecclesiastical Causes. He as cha∣ritably as politickly advised the King to accept of Bishop Fisher's partial Subscription, considering his Learning and Reputation. As he is King Henry's Instrument at Dunstable, to divorce him from Queen Katharine; so he is at Lambeth, to di∣vorce him from Anna Bullein. He promoted in the Convocation all Primitive Doctrines, and con∣demned all new-fangled Opinions. He was so charitable, that he interceded with the King for his Enemies; so munificent, that he made the Church and his own House a Refuge for Strangers; particularly for P. Fagius, P. Martyr, Martin Bucer, &c. The King loved him for his Integrity, the People for his Moderation: He was called the Kings Father, and was Queen Elizabeth's Godfather: His Piety reduced the C••urch, and his Policy the State: He spake little to others, he conferred much with himself: Three words of His could do more than three hours discourse of others: He would say, as Victorinus, There is a time to say nothing, there is a time to say something, but there is never a time to say all things. That King, who awed all Others,

feared Him. A Second to the Eternal Power, is the Wise Man uncorrupt in his Life. He was the Executor of God's Will in King Henry's Life-time, and the first of His, after his Death.

As He spurred King Henry to a Reformation, so King Edward did Him; whose Prudence was not so forward as the Others Zeal, who looked at what was Lawful, as He did at what was Convenient. He maintained the Churches Power as resolutely against Bishop Hooper's Scruples, notwithstanding potent Intercession: as he reformed its Corrupti∣ons against the Popes Interest, notwithstanding a general Opposition. He allowed not the least Er∣rour in, nor the least contempt of the Church: He restored its primitive Doctrine and Discipline, lest it should be an impure Church; he upheld them, lest it should be none. He was one of fourteen that compiled the Common-Prayer: He was One of Two that set out the Homilies; and the only man that published the Institution of a Christian man, and o∣ther good Books. With his Advice King Edward did much, and designed more: He was the chief Author of King Edward's Injunctions, and the first Commissioner in them: He was President of the Assembly at Windsor, (for Reformation) and of the Council at London: His A••ticles were strict and se∣ve••e; as much grounded on the Canon of Scrip∣ture, as on the Canons of the Church: He con∣vinced more Papists with his Reason and Moderati∣on, than others by their Power: His Heart never failed him in his Life, and it was not burned at his Dea••h. He did so much for the Protestant Religi∣on in King Henrys Days, that he foresaw he should suffer for it in Q••een Mary's. He was unwilling to

wrong Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, there∣fore he refused at first to sign King Edwards's Testa∣ment, but Duke Dudley's Will: He was willing to continue the Protestant Religion, therefore he signed it at last. It was a Bishop that was one of the first that abolished Popery in England, and one of the last that died for Protestantisme: It was a Bishop that maintained the Protestant Cause with Arguments while he lived, & with his Blood when he died. This prelates endeavor for Refor∣mation is shadowed by this Mystical Relation.

The Castle of Truth (being by the King of Ieru∣salem) left to the guard and keeping of his best Ser∣vant Zeal) the King of Arabia (with an infinite host) came against it, begirt it round with an un∣reasonable Seige, cuts of•• all passages, all reliefs, all hopes of friends, meat, or munition: which Zeal perceiving, and seeing how extremity had brought her to shake hands with despair; he calleth his Council of War about him, and discovered the ••ffliction of his state, the puissance of his Enemies, the violence of the siege, and the impossibility of conveying either messages or Letters to the great King his Master, from whom they might receive new strength and incouragement. Whereupon the necessity of the occasion being so great, they concluded that there was no way but to deliver up the Castle (though upon some unwholsome conditions into the hand of the Enemy) but Zeal staggereth at the resolution, and being loath to loose hope as long as hope had thread or hair to hold by; he told them he had one friend or com∣panion in the Castle, who was so wise, so valiant, and so fortunate, that to him and his exploits a∣lone,

he would deliver up the manage of their safe∣lty; this was Prayer, Chaplain to the great King, and Priest of that Colony; then Prayer was called for, and all proceedings deb••ted: he presently armeth himself with Humility, Clemency, Since∣rity and Fervency; and in spight of the Enemy passeth his Camp, comes to the King his Master, and with such moving passion entereth his eares, so that presently Armes are raysed, which returning under the Conduct of Prayer, overthroweth the King of Arabia, makes spoyl of his Camp, and gives to the Castle of Truth its first noble Liberty.

Observations on Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellour of England.

HE rose••up high, because he stept out well: Sir Thomas More was half way Chancellour, when born to Sir Iohn More Chief Iustice. The Father's Prudence, Wit, and Nobleness flowed with his Blood to the Sons Veins: Much Honour he receiv∣ed from his Family, more he gave to it: His Mother saw his Face shining in a Dream, on her Wedding Night; and his Father saw his Life so really: A quick City-Spirit made him capable of great State-Employments.

He was saved by a Miracle, and was One: For his Nurse riding with him over a Water, and being in some danger, threw him over a Hedge, where she found him not hurt, but sweetly smiling upon a 1.1 her.

A Free-School seasoned his forward Childhood; and the grave, wise, and excellent Cardinal Mor∣tons House his Youth: The One with Learning, to make him a Scholar; the Other with Prudence, to make him a Man: But the Distractions of that House were not so proper for his promising Inge∣nuity, as the Retirements of the University; where in two years time he shewed what Wonders Wit and Diligence could do in Rhetorick, Logick, and Philosophy: The b 1.2 Colledge kept him strict, and his Father short, so that (as he•• blessed God afterward) He had neither the leisure nor the means to be vicious: The Cardinal said he would be Great, and his excellent Genius said he would be Humble: The Lord Chancellour would give place to, and ask blessing of the Lord Chief Justice: The Father be∣ing not more happy in his Son, than the Son in his Father. At 17 his wit was eminent for his Epi∣grams: His Antilucian Oration commended by all men but Brixius, for pure, genuine and flowing: At 18 his wisdom in overcoming his Antagonist Brixius with kindness, and himself with Mortifica∣tions. His fastings were frequent, his watchings on the hard ground severe; his Hair-cloath even in his Chancellourship course, his exercises among the Carthusians in the Charterhouse for four years austere; his design•• for the Franciscan Hood, and a Priesthood with his Friend Lilly, solemn; His pray∣ers uninterrupted; When the King sent for him once at Mass, he answered, That when he had done with God, he would wait on his Majesty: He imitated Picus Mirandula's Life, and writ it: He heard Dr. Collet his Confessours Sermons, and followed his li••e; whose experience was his counsel, whose

conversation was his life. He could not away with the good Sermon o•• a bad man: Collet was his Fa∣ther; Lin••••re, Lilly, Grocine, were his Friends. He learned more by prayer, than he did by study: his Poems were acute, his Speeches pure and copious, his Latine elegant; yet his head was knotty and Logical: his Diet was temperate, his Apparel plain, his Nature tractable and condescending (though very discerning) to the meanest mens counsel; his Vertues solid, not boasted. In a word, the foun∣dation of his Li••e was as low as the building was to be high.

Words and Terms being not by Nature, but Im∣position, verborum ut nummorum; those were best liked by him that were most current amongst the best Artists; he fearing new words as leading to new things: though the quitting of ancient and allowed expressions to affect new phrases will be no advantage at long run, for whatsoever be the forms of speaking, the state of things will be the same; and the very argument, that convinceth an errone∣ous person now in the old received and Orthodox Language, would convince him likewise in the new wayes of speaking, which he desires to introduce, af∣ter it is formed, and generally understood: All the benefit that he could make of it, would be only a little time between the suppression of the one, and the introduction of the other, wherein he might jugle and play Hocus Pocus under the Cloak of Ho∣monymous and Ambiguous expressions. In vulgar appellations we are to speak as the common people; but in terms of Art (which saith Scaliger are rudibus ingeniis acerba, delicatis ridicula) we are to follow the most approved Artists, the Mushrome Errours and Haeresies springing up in

his time he advised should be rather suppressed by Discipline, than increased by disputations; they, who in the common principles of Religion clash ordinarily with the whole Church; who so affect∣edly swerve from the approved rules, and health∣ful constitutions of all orderly Common-wealths, to the disturbance of all humane society, and the cutting off of all Relations between man and man; they who cannot preserve Unity with themselves, but are ever and anon interfereing & tripping up their own heels by contradictions, need no just confutation, or single, or other adversary than God, themselves, and all mankind; since their opi∣nions are grounded upon their own imaginations, rather than approved Authority; and they inter∣pret Scripture not according to the perpetual tra∣dition of the Church, but according to their own distempered ••ancies, and that in discourses more full fraught with supercilious confidence, than deep reason: It were a folly to draw the saw of conten∣••ion with them, especially in such a case where it is impiety to doubt, and Blasphemy to dispute; Quid cum illis agas; qui neque jus, neque bonum aut aequum sciunt. ••Melius, pejus, prosit, obsit, nil vident nisi quod lubet. Such daring mens opinions, creating truth, and falsehood by the words of their mouth, being like a pillar of smoak breaking out of the top of some narrow Chimney, and spreading it self ••∣broad like some Cloud, as if it threatned to take possession of the whole Region of the Ayr, darken∣ing the skye, and seeming to press the Heavens; and after all this, when it hath offended the eyes a little for the present, the first puffe of wind, or a few minutes do altogether disperse it, The little

Mouse stealeth up through the Elephants trunke to eat his brains; the Indian Rat creepeth into the belly of the gaping Crocodile; and the least op∣position overthrows these great pretenders, especi∣ally if you give them line and space enough to bounce and tumble up and down, and tire them∣selves out.

Great he judged was the influence Religion had upon humane societies, whether we consider the nature of the thing, or the blessing of God; with∣out which they are soapy bubbles, quickly dissolv∣ed. Cicero could say that Rome ought more of its grandeur to Religion, than either to strength or stratagems; we have not exceeded the Spaniards in number, nor the Gaules in strength, nor the Carthaginians in craft, nor the Graecians in Art, &c. but we have overcome all Nations by our Piety and Religion.

He esteemed all Common-wealths happy, but those wherein Preachers, like the Graecian Sophi∣sters, described in Plato all whatsoever pleased the great Beast [the multitude] holy, just, and good; and whatsoever the great Beast disliked, evil, unjust, prophane.

He married himself to a 1.3 Vertue, and not to an Estate: he likes a younger sister, yet out of civility he embraceth the elder. Happy he was in his mo∣dest Wives, happier in his hopeful Children. His Government of his Family was exact, enjoyning all his Children to take Vertue for their meat, and Play for their sawce. His proficiency in the b 1.4 Law was admirable, his Practice successeful, his Judg∣ment solid, his Integrity eminent; his Determi∣nations in the Sheriffs Court, his Activity for the

Stilyard, his Practice in the Courts of Justice, raised him to a Place in Parliament: where he was so good a Patriot, that he displeased King Henry the seventh; and so wise a man, that he awed King Henry the eighth: the one by Fox demands one Sub∣sidie and three Fifteens, and the beardless boy (as the Courtiers called Sir Thomas) disappointed him; the other made a motion by Wolsey, which he o∣verthrew, so that the Cardinal wished him at Rome.

He retires to his studies to avoid Henry the se∣venth's displeasure, and improves them to gain his sons favour, who by his Cardinal invited him to Court, and employed him abroad to France to re∣cover his debts; to Flanders, to confirm the peace. Employments he avoided a while, to keep his City-interest; and in case of controversie with the King, to prevent their jealousie: his business was so urgent, that you would think he had no lea∣sure; and his writings so exact, that you would think he had no business. Not a minute of his time escaped employment. His History of Richard the third is faithful, his Vtopia is judicious and elegant, his c 1.5 Lectures at St. Laurence were learned and pi∣ous.

His Popularity in Parliament commended him to his Majesty: his strong Arguments for the Pope∣ship in Star-chamber, brought him to him against his modest inclination, as much as against Wolsey's interest. His ability set him on the Council-table, his integrity placed him in the Exchequer: His d 1.6 Services promoted him to the Dutchy of Lanca∣ster, his Dexterity and Prudence made him the Kings bosome friend, and his familiar all his spare

hours; whose Questions in every Art and Science were not more useful, than Sir Thomas his Answers were satisfactory. His advice was his Majesties and his Queens Oracles in Counsel; his discourse was their recreation at Table. He was not more de∣lightful to the King at Court, than he was service∣able to him in appeasing tumults, &c. in the City•• He was the Kings Favourite at White-hall, and the Peoples Darling at Westminster, where he was Spea∣ker as well with the unanimous consent of the one, as with the approbation of the other; and between both, impartial, equally careful of Prerogative and Priviledges; neither awed from right by po∣wer, nor flattered with popularity. He declined Forein services with as much Dexterity as he managed Domestick ones. He served the King faithfully, but trusted him not, as one that enjoyed and suspected Fortune, saying, If his Head could win King Henry a Castle in Wales, it would off.

The King and Kingdome trusted him, who e 1.7 was that one sound Councellour the King had. The Car∣dinal told him he was the veriest Fool in the Coun∣cil: he replied, God be thanked my Master hath but one fool here.

His Honour was set off by a grave condescenti∣on, and a grave humility. Did he argue? he was very moderate, civil, and modest. Did he reprove? he was pitiful, grave, and prudent. Was he with the King at the University? he was ready and elo∣quent. Was he abroad? he heard th•• Lectures at∣tentively, and disputed f 1.8 accurately. To his Friend

as Dr. Tunstal, none more faithful: to learned men, as Erasmus, none more civil: to devout men, such as Bishop Fisher, none more fi••m: to hopeful men, such as Powle, there was none more encouraging: to painful men, such as Grocinus, Linacer, Crocus, Lupsel, Lilly, Cocklee, Budlera, Dorpin, Bewald Luscar, Grannould, Vines, Groclenius, Buslidian, AEgidius, Rhenanus, none more familiar, constant, or liberal: in his conscience none more satisfied and sedate: in his discourse none more innocent and pleasant: in his heart none more devout and sincere.

His meditations were frequent; his retirements to a Chappel, built of purpose, daily; his Prayers constant and zealous; his conversation with his Wives, loving and debonnair, taking them off their cares to reading and musick. His Servants were al∣ways employed either in his, or Gods service, suf∣fering them not by idleness to be at leisure for sin, nor by wanton converse to be tempted to it. His Table-talk after the Chapter was pleasing and use∣ful, his counsels useful, his converse exemplary; his family-instructions to hear afflictions patiently, to withstand temptations resolvedly, to mind hea∣venly matters devoutly, to go plainly and soberly, to recreate themselves moderately and vertuously, were effectual. There went a blessing along with all his Servants, and happiness with his whole Fa∣mily.

His Apophthegms were grounded on experience and judgement. He would say, 1. He was not al∣ways merry•• that laughed. 2. The World is undone ••y looking on things at distance. 3. To aim at Ho∣nour here, is to set up a Court of Arms over a Prison∣gate. 4. If I would employ my Goods well, I may be

contented to loose them; if ill, I should be glad. 5. He that is covetous when he is old, i•• as a Thief that steals when he is going to the Gallows. 6. Bags of Gold to us when Saints, will be but as a Bag of Pebble-stones when men. 7. The greatest punishment in the World were to have our wishes. 8. Pusillanimity is a great temptation. 9. Affliction undoes many; Pleasure most. 10. We go to Hell with more pain than we might go to Heaven with. Of Heresie he said, Like as before a great storm the Sea swelleth, and hath unwonted mo∣tions without any Wind stirring; so may we see here many of our English-men, which a few years ago could not endure to hear the name of an Heretick or Schisma∣tick, now to be contented both to suffer them, and to praise them somewhat, yea, to learn by little and lit∣tle, as much as they can be suffered, to finde fault, and to tax willingly the Church, the Clergy, and the Cere∣monies. 11. The more of any thing else we have, but Riches, the more good we are. 12. Who would not send his Alms to Heaven•• Who would not send his Estate whither he is to be banished? 13. Some Men hate Hypocrisie, and love Impudence. 14. When any detracted others at his Table, he said, Let any man think as he pleaseth, I like this room well. 15. It's easier to prevent, than redress.

Indeed throughout his Works he argueth sharp∣ly, he reasoneth profoundly, he urgeth aptly, state∣eth exactly, expresseth himself elegantly, and di••∣courseth learnedly. He would rather convince, than punish; yet he would rather punish than in∣dulge them: his Epitaph be speaking him grievous to Hereticks, Thieves and Murtherers.

When King Henry scrupled his fi••st marriage, Sir Thomas told him, That neither he nor my Lord of

Durham were so fit to advise him in that case, as St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and the other Fathers. His advice was so unseasonable, that it opposed the King; yet•• so grave and honest, that it pleased him. His Experience and Prudence had a fore-fight next door to Prophecy; and from the unquiet times o•• King Henry, did he guess the ruine of King Charles. He would say that it would never be well in Eng∣land, until the same course obtained there, that did in Syria, where Zeleucus was so severe against Inno∣vators, that he enacted that if any Man made a pro∣position for a change in their policy, he should make it with an Halter about his Neck, that if he failed to justify it by reason, he should justify his attempt by suffering,— because as some Philoso∣phers hold, that there is not so much as an Aspin Leaf stirreth in one part of the World, but it ma∣keth some alteration in the whole, the efficacy of it, like Drake and Cavendish compassing the Globe of the Earth, and making the eighth Sphere of Heaven tremble: so wise men know that every change in a State altereth the constitution, and the effects of an Innovation in the body politick cir∣cleth, as do those of a new Impr••ssion, according to Harvey's method upon a body natural: though I must confess that many new proposals are opposed, not for the distant effects of them feared in the Common-wealth, but for some neer influence they may have upon some Mens private Interest.—It hath been given out, that the burning of our Hea••hs in England, did hurt their Vines in France: b••t wise Men looked upon this pretense, ••s a meer scare-crow, or made-dragon; the hurt it did was neerer home, to destroy the young moore-fowles,

and spoyl some young burgesses game.— He con∣verted many with his Arguments, more with his Prayers, which workt wonders of reformation on the erroneous, as they did of recovery on the weak. He wished three things to Chri••tendome: 1. An U∣niversal Peace: 2. An Uniform Religion: 3. A Reformation rather of Lives than Religion. He never a••ked any thing of his Majesty but Employ∣ment, and nev••r took any thing more acceptable than Service. His Alms were liberal to his Neigh∣bours, and good works numerous g 1.9 towards God. He would take no Fees from the poor, and but mo∣derate ones from the Rich. All London was obli∣ged to him for his Counsel at home, and all England for his Peace at Cambray, where he out-did ex∣pectation.

The King raised him to the Chancellorship, but not to his own opinion: he professed he would serve his Majesty, but he must obey his God: he would keep the Kings conscience and his own. His Wisdome and Parts advanced him, his Innocence and Integrity ruined him: his Wit pleased the King, but his Resolution crossed him. Wolsey was not so proud and reserved, as Sir Thomas was open and free to the meanest: his mind was not so daz∣led with honour, but he could fore-••ee his ••all. When his ••on•• complained how little they gained under him, I will do ju••••ice (said he) for your sakes to any man, and I will leave you a blessing; dec••ee∣ing one day against his own son that would not hear reason. Fi••st, he offered the Judges the Refor∣mation of Grievances; and when they refused, he did it himself.— No Subpoena was granted but

what he h 1.10 saw, no Order but what he p••rused: nothing passed from ••im towards the su••ject, but what became a good Magistrate, nothing towards his Master, but what became a faithful servant. Nei∣ther King nor Q••een could corrupt, neither could the whole Church in Convocation fast ••n any thing upon him. To one who told him of hi•• Detract••rs, he said, Would you have me punish those by whom I reap more benefit•• than by all you my friends? Pe••∣fect Patience is the Companion of t••ue Pe••fection.

But he managed not his trust with more in∣tegrity and dexterity, than he left it with honour; leaving not one cause undecided in the Chancery: foreseeing that he could not at once con••ent his Majesty and his own heart. His Servan••s upon his fall he disposed o•• as well as his Children; and his Children he taught to live soberly in a great estate, and nobly in a mean one. He never put an Here∣tick to death when Ch••ncellour, neither would he suffer Heresies to live when a private man. When my Lord Cromwel came to him in his retirement, he advised him to tell ••he King what he ought, not what he can do; so shall you shew your self a true and faithful servant. and a right worthy Councellour: for if a Lyon knew his own strength, hard were it for any man to rule him. The King feared him when he could not gain him, & therefore he was ••i••ted in his ••ormer carriage and present temper, whic•• conti∣nued constant to his duty, and even under his chan∣ges. He was open-hearted to all that came, yet so wary in his discourse with the Maid of Kent, ••hat his enemies confessed he deserved rather h••nor t••an a check for that matter. When the Duke o•• Norfolk told him, that the wrath of a Prince is death; he

said, Nay, if that be all, you must die to morrow, and I to day. He behaved himself at all Examinations at once wisely and honestly. When Archbishop Cranmer told him, he must obey the King which was certain, rather than follow his conscience, that Lesbian rule which was uncertain; he replyed, It's as certain that I must not obey the King in evil, as that I must fol∣low my conscience in good. When the Abbot of West∣minster told him, his conscience should yield to the wis∣dom of the Kingdom, he said, He would not conform his conscience to one Kingdom, but to the whole Church. He underwent his sufferings with as much cheer∣fulness as his preferment; pleasing himself with his misfortunes, and enjoying his misery; resolving to obey God rather than man, to leave others to their own consciences; to close with the Catholick Church rather than the Church of England, and to submit to general Councils rather than ••o Par∣liaments.

Mr. Rich put to him this Question, Whether if the Parliament made a Law that he were Pope, would he not submit to it? and he replyed, If the Parlia∣ment made another that God should not be God, would you obey it? Though he could not own the Kings Supremacy, yet he would not meddle with it ei∣ther in his Writings or discourse; shewing himself at once a civil man, a good Christian, and a noble Confessour. His soul was well setled; his stature was mean, but well proportioned; his complexion phlegmatique; his countenance amiable and cheer∣••ul; his voice plain and distinct; and his temper sound and healthful.

I can add nothing to the honour of this good man, yet will I pay this further devotion to his

virtue, whereof honour was a testimony, as long as it was its self: wort••less men having made the ho∣nour bestowed on them as despicable as themselves that wore it; that royal favour receiving more contempt from them, than it gave reputation to them. A good name, the great instrument of do∣ing good while we live; and our other life when dead could [he said] if any thing justify the bar∣barous way of duels: since he is the most bloody man to himself, that is careless of reputation. So as to be indifferent what he doth, or what others say; is to bury himself alive.

His Credit, which he said was his Royalty (there being but two Empires in the World, the one a ge∣neral love and esteem, the other common dread and fear—) put him upon, being watchful for occasions, constant in his actions, moderate in prosperity; resolute in encounters; calme in troubles, above fortune, and able to make and piece up the broken miscarriages of chance, that he might be settled in that state, which is the work of greatness, and the inheritance of goodness, the prospect whereof is pleasant (though the ascent be sharp and slippery, ••he top shaking, the footing uncertain, and the downfall fearful:) and the reflections of it, when moderated with humility, like those o•• the Sun, when allayed in his declension, pleasing and cheer∣ful. Towards the attainment whereof, the Lives of former Worthies were such incitements to this, as Hercules was to Theseus, Miltiades to Themistocles, and Achilles to Alexander;— And nothing, the good Man would discourse, should men be more render of, than of Mens ho••our, since t••e••e were but two effectual restraints from Vice, shame and fear; and

but two motives to Virtue, Honour and Interest; the fi••st of which is so much the darling peculiarly of the English Nation; that this is called by a French Author, the Land of Honour. His Fall was attend∣ed with a greater fame than his height; as the Sun in the Evening hath a greater ••hadow than at Noon.

WHo is the honest man? He that doth still and strongly good pursue, To God, his Neighbour and Himself most true: Whom neither force nor fawning can Vnpin or wrench from giving all their due.

Whose honesty is not So loose and easie, that a ruffling winde, Can blow away, or glitt'ring look it blinde: Who ••ides his sure and even trot While the World now rides by, now lags behinde.

Who, when great trials come, Nor seeks•• nor ••huns them; but doth calmly stay, Till he the Thing and the Example weigh All being brought into a sum, What Place or Person calls for, he doth pay.

Whom none can work or wooe To use in any thing a trick or sleight; For above all things he abhors deceit: His words and works and fashion too All of a piece, and all are clear and streight.

Who never melts or thaws At close tentations: when the day is done, His goodness sets not, but in dark can run: The Sun to others writeth Laws, And is their virtue; Virtue is his Sun.

Who, when he is to treat With sick Folks, Women those whom passions sway, Allows for that, and keeps his constant way; Whom others faults do not defeat, But though men fail him, yet his part doth play.

Whom nothing can procure, When the wide World runs Bias, from his will To writhe his limbs, and share, not mend the ill. Tis is the Mark-man, safe and sure, Who still is right, and prays to be so still.

Observations on the Life of Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex.

Most of them from the Notes of Thomas Cromwel Esquire, one of his Poste∣rity, who made a Collection of Observa∣tions upon him, 1633. from the Ance∣stors of Baronet Worseley, and Sir Ralph Hopton, who had been his Servant.

PVtney saw his Cradle in a Cottage, and Eng∣land saw his Coffin in a Ditch; His Original was mean, his End meaner: A suddain height in

an unsettled time ruined him: A moderate and leasurely Grea••ness is safe. His Blood ran low, but pure, ennobling the veins it flowed in with a Spirit that was to raise a Family, and Deserve that Honour that others Inherit. His honest Pa∣rents conveyed him a strong Constitution that could support stronger parts: The poor mans good Temper is an Inheritance, and the Rich his Effeminacy his Disease.

A private School civilized his parts; Travel and Employment improved them: His Necessity, when at home, made him a Soldier abroad; and his Observations abroad made him a Man at Home: The Experience of Travel enlarged his Soul, and the Hardship of War knitted and consolidated it: His hard Fortune at Cambray was the occasion of his good One in England; and had he not been un∣done, he had been undone: For his promising looks commended him to Frescobald the Merchant for Relief, and to Cardinal Wolsey for service, in whose private Service of Secretary for his Embassie in France, he prepared himself for that more publick of Secretary of State in England. Great Scholar he was none, (the Latine Testament gotten by heart being his Master-piece) nor studied Lawyer: never admitted to the Innes of Court; nor experienced Souldier, though Necessity cast Him upon it, when the Duke of Burbon be••ieged Rome; no•• Courtier (till bred up in Cardinal Wolsey's Court:) yet that of the Lawyer in him so helped the Scho∣lar, that of the Souldier the Lawyer, that of the Courtier the Souldier, and that of the Traveller all the rest; being no Stranger to Germany, well acquainted with France, most familiar with Italy;

so that the result of all together made him for En∣dowments eminent, not to say admirable. His Apprehension was quick and clear; his Judgment methodical and solid; his Memory strong and ratio∣nal; his Tongue fluent and pertinent; his Presence stately and obliging; his Heart large and noble; his Temper patient and cautio••s; his way indu∣strious and indefatigable; his Correspondence well laid, and constant; his Converse insinuating and close: None more dexterous to finde out by his Setting-Dogges, and Coy-Ducks, none more re∣served to keep a secret. He was equal (••aith my Author) to the French Politicians, when under his Master; he over-reached them when alone; doing more in one month with his subtle Head, than the other in twelve months with his stately Train. The King of France would have pensioned up his parts, but the Vice-Roy of England advanced them. His Master brought him first to serve his Country in Parliament (that great School of Experience) and then his King at Court; where defending his Masters great actions, he made it evident he could perform greater. His saying in defence of his Ma∣ster, that new States-men, like fresh Flies, bite deeper than those which were chased away before them, stuck much with the House, that was then sensible, that many of the Country-Gentlemen discoursed of the Court-States-men, but with the same success that the Gown-man Harangued it be∣fore Alexander of Military Affairs, who laughed at the Scholar for talking of War to a Souldier: his defence of his Master being the more observable for his civilities to his adversaries, he being very cautious of reflecting upon his Patrons Enemies,

while he excused him, the bespattering of others being not the best method of purging him, and Memnon gave a railing Souldier a good blow with his Launce, saying, I hired thee to fight, and not to raile.— Neither delighted he in being the Davus, the troubler of the Parliament, which he observed play'd the part of fond Musicians, which spend so much time in tuning their Instruments; that there is none left to spare for their Musick.—He wished that our reformation might be in one re∣spect, like the reformation of the Turkes, who thought that the best way to understand the Al∣••oran, was to burn all the Interpreters, it being true of the Bible, what one observeth of one Text of it, that was clear before it was commented up∣on: A truth become seasonable [as there is no new thing under the Sun, and what ••ath been, will be] in a less revolution of time, than Plato's great Ye••r, even in our times, when passion guides Reli∣gion, that should be governed by it, as being with∣out i••, but a short madness turning man into a wild Beast that is goared, which runneth upon e∣very thing that cometh in its way, without consi∣deration; or like a violent torrent descending down impe••uously from a steep Hill; which bear∣eth down all respects before it, divine and hu∣mane; For whilst passion is in the heighth, there is no room for reason, nor any use of the dictates of the understanding, the mind for the time be∣ing like the Cyclopian Cave, where no Man heard what another said,— only what they want in them singly in reason, may joyntly be made up in noise; and their respective defects in Arguments, be sup∣plied by their communion in suffrage,—And it is

the wisdom of those, who are concerned in what they oppose, to stand out of their way, at least till the storm be over;

—Omnis campis duffugit Arator Omnis & Agricola— —Dum pluit in terris, ut possint sole reduct•• Exercere diem.—

Their reason with time and due consideration will be better attended to, when this earnestness hath a little spent its self into a calmness and allay. Such was his Wit, such his Eloquence, that they who hated the Client, admired the Advocate: And though he could not keep his Patron from falling, yet he raised himself; that being the first time his Eminent Parts were observed. An advantageous starting is more than half way in the Race of Pre∣ferment. For hereupon he is first Master of the Kings Jewels, and then of what was more precious, his Secrets. His Conscience inclined him to the Churches Reformation, his Interest complied with the Kings; he unlocked the secre••s of Monasteries by his Spies, and put the King upon destroying them by his Power. The University of Cambridge made him Chancellor, to save it self; where though he did no great good, yet hi•• Greatness kept o∣thers from doing harm, in an Age w••erein Cove∣tousness could quarrel a Colledge, as well as an Ab∣bey, into superstition. He was trusted by the King with the Roll•• and Records of England; and by the Scholars, with the Charters and Satutes of their Universities. He reforms the University, in order to the Reformation of the Church; enjoyning the study of the Scripture and the Tongues, in∣stead of School-Divinity and Barbarism; recom∣mending

Aristotle, Agricola, Melancthon, to their reading; and the Doctrine which is in Spirit and in Truth to their Faith: and razing the Popes Bulls, to make way for the Kings Favour, and that Architectonical Power, to see that all subjects with∣in his Dominion, do their duties in their several Callings, for the safety and tranquillity of the Common-wealth.

He was an eminent Minister of State, and Chief Governour of the Church; proceeding in Con∣vocation very discreetly, modelling the Church-Laws very prudently and moderately: looking in∣to Monastical Abuses very narrowly and industri∣o••sly; mawling Religious Houses, violently pul∣ling down those Nests, that the Rooks might not re∣turn: His Master had disobliged the Pope, and he weakeneth him. It was not safe to disown his Su∣premacy, and entertain thousands of his Creatures: If a Kingdom be divided against it self, it cannot stand; and if one part of the English pay their de∣vo••ion to a supream Head at Rome, and another to a supream Governour in England, they must both fall. If the Persons might disturb the Govern∣ment, it is fit their Estates should secure it; and if the Papists should foment a War, their Lands should maintain it: But Cromwel contrives that the Pope should confirm Alienations in Wolsey, before he sh••uld practise it for the King. As the King knew whom he employed, when he trusted him: so he knew whom he trusted, when he em∣ployed Docto•• Lee (an able servant to an abler Ma∣ster) He fi••st dec••yed Religious Men out of their Covents by the allurement of Liberty, and then for∣ced them out by Power and Authority. As the

Abbeys improved his Estate, so his Master advanced his Honour. He had one Privy Seal always to act by, and was Keeper of another: He had no sooner at∣tained an Earldom for himself, but foreseeing the alteration of Affairs, he secured a Barony for his Son, nor forfeitable by the Attainder of the Fa∣ther. Within five years he was Master of the Jewel-house, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State, Baron, and Viscount Wimbledon in Middle∣sex, Vicar General, Master of the Rolls, Knight of the Garter, Keeper of the Privy Seal, Lord High Chamberlain, and Earl of Essex, Justice in Eyre of Forrests, Chases, and Parks, &c. N. Trent•• Within five Months he quitted most of these places, and in five minutes lost all. He must needs be envied, whose Birth was so much beneath all others, and his Preferment above them: especially when the King in preferring him injured others; as, the Citizens, in managing the Jewels; the Courtiers, in undertaking State-affairs; the Lawyers, in the Rolls a 1.11; the Nobly descended, at b 1.12 Winsor; the Clergy, in the c 1.13 Convocation; the Earl o•• Oxford, and the Family of the Bourchiers, in the great Cham∣berlainship and Earldom of Essex. But he cares not whom he displeaseth, if he can oblige his Ma∣ster; whose power he advanceth in the Pa••liament and Synod, as he improveth his Re••enue in the Of∣fice of first-F••uits, and the Court of Augmentation. His Greatness wa•• allayed with his Goodness; and the Envy of the One, mitigated by ••he Liberality of the other: He had not more Suiters at his Door than Almes-men (two hundred at a time:) As he was good abroad, so he was at home, calling upon his Servants yearly, to give him an account what

they had got under him; and what they desired of him, warning them to improve their opportuni∣ties; because he said, he was too great to stand long; providing for them as carefully, as for his Son, by his Purse and Credit, that they might live as handsomely when he was dead, as they did when he was alive. Sir Thomas was a Name of Awe and Reverence to the Rico, and blessed by the Poor: That Name, when his Fortune and Power tempted him ••o an insolency, d 1.14 le••elled the proudest Ci∣••izens House for ••is convenie••cy, and bowed the poo••est Man's Knee to his Honour, his mind being equal to his ••uccess. He c••uld at pleasure work up∣on the Lo••ds b•• the Commons, and on the Com∣mons by the Lords: as Cardinal Wols••y perswa∣ded the Commons to four S••illings in the P••und upon the Lords president; and the Lords to as much upon the Commons: and he kept up the Cardinals way of A••ticipation, that the People should be always one Subsidy before-hand. He set up the old Taxation of Knight-hood at Q••een Anne's Coronation, and levied it, making amends to ••he People ••or all his hard Impositions: because a•• Vesp••sian to the Romans, so He to the English, was Antiquo cultu victu ••ue praecipuus a••tricti moris Author•• by his observing of ••he ancient Diet of the Countrey, and the old fashion of Apparel, he w••s to them a principal Author of their fru∣gality.

He confi••ms the Kings S••••remacy by a Law, and estab••ishe••h his Daughter Elizabeth'•• Succession by an Oath, fi••st tak••n by ••he Pa••liament•• and then by the Kingd••m: for whose support he contrives the lesser Monasteries should be fi••st escheated, and then

the greater. He was so honest, that he acquits Queen Anne in his Letter to the Queen; yet so much a Statesman, that he condemn'd her upon the Bench.

But to secure the Interest of England, he by coun∣tenancing the translation, and reading of the Eng∣lish Bible, improved its Religion; that as some few late Acts had disobliged the Pope, a new frame of Christianity might exclude him: The differences between Us and Rome, were to be widened, lest they should close; and he judged it prudence to engage the conscience and the estate in one bottom, that he might hold the One out of the tenderness of the Other. He used to answer, those that applauded his service in the Reformation, that if he should arrogate to himself any part in that revolution of providence, he should be like the Flie on the Cart∣wheel, that said, what a Dust do I raise. The Kings Supremacy cut off the Papists, and the Six Articles the Protestants: Re••ormation must be managed leasurely, and alteration of Religion by just degrees; Instruction preceding execution, and the Peoples capacity growing up with their Gover∣nours Regulation. The mountainous expectation of a re••ormation, some told him merrily ended in •• Mouse; but he answered sadly, that it had been well it had not ended in a Mouse-trap, that is a snare to many good People; as well as a disap∣pointment to all.

The times are troublesome, but Cromwel calm and quiet, and watchful over Occurrences; Insur∣rection giving him an advantage of a new Settle∣ment. He takes down the Occasions and Orna∣ments of Idolatry, Images, Shrines, Pilgrimages,

&c. and then the Thing it self: Take off the paint of Rome, and you undo her. As the Laws and In∣junctions, so the Alliance of England must secure its Inte••est: A Protestant Q••een m••st be married to the Reformed King; the Duke of Cleve's Sister must woo the King, that Essex might have that whispe••ed in the Kings Bosom ••bed, where he was best disposed, which he insinuated into his Ear at the Council-Table where he was worst. But the King was not so well pleased with her Beauty, as Cromwel was with her Religion: which Stephen Gardiner (who hated her for her Religion, ••nd Cromwel for his Greatness) observing, shewed the Kings loose Affections, at once how to be rid of his Match, and, which he was as weary of, his Match-Maker. The Queen is divorced (being never known by Henry, who disliked her at first view, and kept he•• rather in Poli••y, to oblige the German Princes, than of pleasure to fill his own Bed.) Cromwel is ar∣rested for presuming to act in some matters of State without the Kings privity or Commission and at∣tainted by a procedure he had invented; dying as cunningly as he had lived, for some a 1.15 ambiguous words which Power interpreted to his Ruine.

His last words were so wary, that they might be∣come Bellarmine and Luther at once; that the Pro∣testants call them his Confession of F••ith, and the Papists his old Religion. And neither is he to be blamed, unless his troublesome Adversaries will accuse him, as the quarrel some Roman did his An∣tagonist, Because he would not receive his Weapon fairly with his whole Body: for confessing his Offen∣ses against God and the King, in his many Em∣ployments, he said he died in the Catholique Faith.

Some will say the Protestants think no great gain to have him, and the Papists no loss to part with him; yet we must needs confess that he was a Wise Man, because he always consulted the Learned in the Laws about all his proceedings. He was a Good Man, witness Frescobald, whose mean Person he took notice of, whose small Kindness he acknow∣ledged, whose Services he condescended to, whose Wants he relieved, and whose Debts he recovered: He was a Noble-man, because he refused another Mans Coat of Arms who was of his Name, saying, What shall I do with it? for he may pull it off my back at pleasure. In a word, He was so Mean be∣fore he rose, so Worthy afterwards, that no Times had Raised but those more troublesome, none Ruined him but those most loose of Henry the viii. Some reserved Mens parts he compared to meat in a great Colchester Oyster, which would hardly re∣quite the pains of opening.— But infinitely was he taken with those who were (as he called them) like the Statues of Apollo, had a Launce in one Hand, and an Harp in another; that is, resolution to awe on the one side, and sweetness to oblige on the other.— Being much pleased likewise with the reflecting Man, who needs not the dull way of Persia, to keep a Boy behind him, to bid him re∣member what he is, and what he ought to do; and with the devout Courtier: For as the Ennamel, which adorneth the Doves Neck, never shines so clear and glorious, as when the Sun looks upon it; so great Men are never so full of Majesty them∣selves, as when they own the Majesty of God; never more Gods among Men, as when humble Men before God; who [as St. Lewis of France once

affirmed] boweth the hearts of Men to a subjection to them, who kneel in adoration to him.

He loved not the Men that pedantically boasted their reading, but that rationally made use of it; not ridiculously upon all occasions vaunting the shreds of it, but skilfully to good purposes couch∣ing the result and substance of it.— So the admi∣rable old Man Epictetus, as Lucian calls him that fa∣med Stoick, whose Lamp was preserved as a Re∣lique, and sold for 3000. Drachmas, would say, [Encheir c. 16.] that Sheep bring not their grass to their Shepherd, to shew him how much they have eaten, but concocting their meat inwardly do bring forth Wool and Milk.— True learning is the improvement of other Mens studies and expe∣riences by our own meditation, adding to that frame by consideration, which they had built from the ground by many Ages observation.

The Lord Herbert's Character of Cromwel.

ANd to this end came Cromwel, who from being but a Black-smiths Son, found means to travel into forein Coun∣tries, to learn their Languages, and to see the Wars (being a Souldier of Bourbon at the taking of Rome;) whence returning, he was received into Cardinal Wolsey's ser∣vice:

To whom he so approved himself by his fidelity and diligence, that the King af∣ter his fall, voluntarily took him for his Servant; in which place he became a spe∣cial Instrument for dissolving the Abbeys and other Religious Houses, and keeping down the Clergy; whom, in regard of their Oath to the Pope, he usually termed the Kings half Subjects: And for expelling the Monks, he said it was no more than a re∣storing them to the first Institution, of be∣ing lay and labouring persons: Neither did it move him that so much strictness and au∣sterity of Life was enjoyned them in their several Orders, since, he said, they might keep it in any condition. But as these Rea∣sons again were not admitted by divers learned and able Persons, so he got him many Enemies, who at last procured his fall; but not before he had obtained suc∣cessively the Dignities of Master of the Rolls, Baron, Lord Privy Seal, Vicegerent to the King in Spiritualities, Knight of the Gar∣ter, Earl of Essex, Great Chamberlain of England, &c. He was much noted in the exercises of his Places of Iudicature, to have used much Moderation; and in his greatest pomp to have taken notice and been thankful to mean persons of his old ac∣quaintance;

and therein had a Virtue which his Master the Cardinal wanted.

As for his other Descriptions, I leave them to be taken out of Granmer's Letter formerly mentioned, with some deduction; For it seems written to the King in more than Ordinary Favour of his antient service.

Arch-Bishop Cranmer's Character of Cromwel, in a Letter to King Hen∣ry the Eighth.

WHo cannot b•• sorrowful and amazed, that he should be a Traytor against your Majesty? He that was so advanced by your Majesty, He whose surety was on∣ly by your Majesty, He who loved your Majesty (as I ever thought) no less than God; He who studied always to set for∣wards whatsoever was your Majesties will and pleasure; He that cared for no Mans displeasure to serve your Majesty; He that was such a Servant in my Iudgment, in wisdom, diligence, faithfulness and expe∣rience, as no Prince in this Realm ever had: He that was so vigilant to pres••rve

your Majesty from all Treasons, that few could be so secretly conceived, but he de∣tected the same in the beginning. If the Noble Princes of memory, King John, Hen∣ry II. and Richard II. had had such a Counsellor about them, I suppose they should never have been so Traiterously abandoned and overthrown as those good Princes were. After which, he says again, I loved him as my Friend, for so I took him to be; but I chiefly loved him for the love which I thought I saw him bear ever towards your Grace, singularly above all other: But now, if he be a Traytor, I am sorry that ever I loved, or trusted him; and I am very glad that his Treason is discovered in time: But yet again, I am very sorrowful; for who shall your Grace trust hereafter, if you might not trust him? Alas! I bewail and lament your Graces chance herein! I wot not whom your Grace may trust. But I pray God con∣tinually Night and Day, to send such a Councellor in his place, whom your Grace may trust, and who for all his qualities can and will serve your Grace like to him; and that will have so much solicitude and care to preserve your Grace from all dangers, as I ever thought he had.

Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Audley.

SIr Thomas Audley's Birth was Generous, his E∣ducation more: Essex bred him to that Ho∣nour which his Ancestors lost: His Soul ennobled his Body, and his Body graced his Soul: The one quick, solid, apprehensive and judicious; the o∣ther tall and majestick: King Henry loved a Man; and here was one whose Austerity was allayed with Debonairness, whose Gravity was sweetened with Pleasantness; whose Knowledge was as large as his Authority, whose Wit was equal with his Wisdom; whose Memory was strong, and Judg∣ment solid. His fair Estate brought him to the Temple; his proficiency in the Law, to the Court: His reading upon the Statute of Priviledges com∣mended him to the Kings Service, his speaking for the Prerogative in Parliament brought him to the Kings Favour: Although the Liberties of the Peo∣ple can never be se••ured without the Prerogative of the Sovereign (who cannot do the good they would, if he wants a power to do the evil they fear;) yet his first Preferment was to withdraw him from Popularity, and the second only to confirm him to Sovereignty. Noble Service is the way to a Royal One•• His Stewardship to the Dutchy of Suf∣folk, raised him to the Attorneyship of that of Lan∣caster. But in troublesome and designing times a popular Orator is a good Courtier; and leading Parts in Parliament or Convocation are great Me∣rits.

In the black Parliament he was a Member by his own Interest, and a Speaker by his Majesties Choice: Sir Tho. More was to serve the Crown in the Lords House, and Sir Tho. Audley was to succeed him in the House of Commons. When Abbey-Lands were bestowed on the King in gross, and returned by him to the leading Lords and Commons in the Retayl, most of that Parliament looked for ••hares; Sir Thomas for the first cut, to secure himself with the King. He was always in favour with the Queens, who had no less interest in the Kings Heart, than the Kingdom had in his Head. The Age was un∣certain, Interest not so; Sir Thomas was fixed on the One, above the alterations of the Other: un∣derstanding what was most convenient at a time when there was nothing lawful. He was well seen in the flexures and windings of affairs, at the depth whereo•• other Heads not so steady turned giddy: He had the Arts of a Statesman, and the closeness of a Politician: Reserved he was, but no Dissem∣bler. For if a man have that penetration of judg∣ment, as he can discern what things are to be laid open, and what to be kept secret, and what to be shewed with half ••ights, and to whom and when, (which indeed are Arts of States and Arts of Life) to him an Habit of Dissimulation is a hin∣derance and a poorness. He (as an able man) was always frank and open, but wary; knowing how to stop and turn within the compass of equity and honesty. He understood business well, and men better; and knew King Henry's Temper bet∣ter than Himself, whom he surprized always to his own bent, never moving any of his suits to him, but when in hast, and most commonly amusing him

with other matter until he passed his Request. His Actions were managed for applause as well as ser∣vice: for when made Sergeant, he was the first of eleven; his Entertaining-Day was the last o•• six: The King, who paid for his Dinner, was invited to it. He watched the Circumstances of his Actions, that they might be Taking, as well as their ••ssue, that they might be Useful; and contrived that the least of his publick actions should come off with re∣putation. He followed the most passable rather then the most able men living, in a time when active men were more useful than the virtuous. Sir Thomas at once gratified the present humour of the Ki••g, and the constant temper of the people, in six Bills against the Clergy: 1. Against the Extortions of their Courts. 2•• The Exaction of their Corps and Mor∣tuaries. 3. Their worldly Occupations, as Gra∣zing, Tanning, &c. 4. Merchandize. 5. Their Non-Residencies. 6. The Pluralities of the ••gno∣rant, and the mean Salaries of the Learned. When in some Debates between the Lords and Commons, Custome was urged; Sir Thomas replied, The usage hath ever been for Thieves to rob at Shooters ••ill, is it therefore lawful? He brought the Clergy within a Praemunire, to awe them; and a••terwards in their pardon, he and other members included their own: which the knowing King would not pass, when it was demanded as of right; yet afterwards granted it of his own accord, when it was received as of Grace. When Sir Thomas More could not act with the times, Sir Thomas Audley could; the One being weary of the Seal, the other takes it; being made Lord Keeper in Sir Thomas his life-time, and Lord Chancellour after his death•• owning no Opinion

against the Government of England, nor any De∣sign against its Interest. The King might well trust him with his Conscience, when he trusted the King with his, owning no Doctrine but what was established, ever judging the Church and State wi∣ser than himself. He was forced to take Q. Anne, but he would not condemn her; rather escaping than refusing unwelcome employments, wherein he must either displease his Master or himself. He was ten∣der, but not wilful; waving such services dexterous∣ly, wherein he must oppose his Master dangerously. Those Insurrections which others rigor had raised, his Moderation allayed; breaking the Factions with Indulgence, which might be strengthned with Opposition: C••omwel pulled down Popery with his Power, Audl••y kept it down with his Policy, enjoining the Preachers to de••ect the follies of that way, which is reckoned the wisdom of this World. He had a moderate way to secure the priviledges of Parliament, by freedom from Arrests; and the good will of the Citizens, by an Order about debts.

By these courses he died as much in the Kings fa∣vour as he lived: Patience can weather out the most turbulent Age, and a solid Judgement the most in∣••••icate times; The reserved and quiet man is the most secure. Activity may raise a man, Wariness keep him up. If he had done nothing, he had not been seen; if he had done much, he had nor been suf∣fered. Between two extreams Audley could do well.

T••easure of Arms and Arts, in whom were set The Mace and Books, the Court and Colledge met; Yet both so wove, that in that mingled throng They both comply, and neither neither wrong.

But pois'd and temper'd, each reserv'd its seat; Nor did the learning quench, but guide the Heat. The Courtier was not of the furious strain, The hand that acts, doth first consult the brain. Hence grew commerce betwixt Advice and Might, The Scholar did direct the Courtier right. And as our Perfumes mixt, do all conspire, And twist their Curles above the hallowed fire, Till in that Harmony of Sweets combin'd, We can nor Musk nor single Amber finde; But Gums meet Gums, and their delights so crowd, That they create one undistinguish'd Cloud: So to thy minde these rich Ingredients prest, And were the Mould and Fabrick of thy brest. Learning and Courage mixt, and temper'd so, The Stream could not decay nor overflow. And in that equal Tide, thou didst not bear From Courage, Rashness; nor from Learning, Fear••

Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Wiat.

SIr Thomas Wiat was born at Allington-Castle in the County of Kent, which afterwards he repaired with beautiful Buildings. He fell out off his Master King Henry the Eighth his favour, about the business of Queen Anna Bullein, till his industry, care, discretion and innocence freed him. Very ingenio••s he was; or, as his Anagram ••••lls us, he was [A * Wit] in the abstract. Cambden saith he was,

Eques auratus splendide doctus.

Holy he was and heavenly minded, and that ap∣pears by his translation of David's Psalms into Eng∣lish Metre; and Leland gives him this great Com∣mendation:

Bella suum merito jactet Florentia Dantem, Regia Petrarchae Carmina Roma probat, His non inferior Patrio Sermone Viatus, Eloquii secum qui decus omne tulit.

Let Florence fair her Dantes justly boast, And Royal Rome her Petrarchs numbred feet, In English Wiat both of them doth coast, In whom all grateful Eloquence doth meet.

This Knight being sent Ambassador by K. Henry the eighth, to Charles the fifth Emperour, then re∣siding in Spain, before he took Shipping, died of the Pestilence in the West-Country, Anno 1541.

Queen Anne's favour toward•• him, raised this man; and his faithfulness to her, ruined him: So fickle is that mans station that depends only on hu∣mour, or holds off love and hatred! Let my friend (saith Malvezzi) bring me in, but let my merit and service keep me there.

Four things a man went to Dine with Sir Thomas Wiat for: 1. For his Generous Entertainment: 2. For his free and knowing discourse of Spain and Germany; an in••ight in whose interest was his Ma∣ster-piece, studied by him as well for the exigence of that present juncture, as for his own satisfacti∣on. 3. For his quickness in observing, his civility in entertaining, his dexterity in employing, and his readiness in encouraging every mans peculiar parts

and inclinations. 4. For the notice and favour the King had for him. So ready was he to befriend worthy men, and so ready was the King to enter∣tain his friend; that when a man was newly prefer∣red, they said, He had been in Sir Thomas Wiat's Closet. Happy is the Prince that hath a ••aithful Favourite, to look him out serviceable men! and happy those useful persons, that have a familiar and honest Favourite, by whom they may have access to the Prince! a Favourite that serves not his Country so much by employing and pleasing its a∣ctive members, as he secures his King, who hath no less need of Counsel in reference to men, then things.

His Wit pleased the King, and his Wisdome ser∣ved him: He could not be without his Advice at the Council-table, nor without his Jests in his Pre∣sence-chamber: where yet he observed his decorum so exactly, that his Majesty could by no means win him one night to dancing; this being his grave re∣solution, That he who thought himself a wise man in the day-time, would not be a fool at night: otherwise none carryed himself more handsomely, none con∣versed more ingeniously and freely, none discour∣sed more facetiously or solidly. In a word, it was his peculiar happiness, that his deportment was nei∣ther too severe for King Henry the eighth's time, nor too loose for Henry the seventh's; neither all ho∣ney nor all gall, but a sweet mixture and tempera∣ment of affability and gravity, carrying an equal measure of Sir Thomas More's ingenuity in his head, and Sir Thomas Cromwel's wisdome in his heart; e∣qually fashioned for discourse and business: in the last whereof, he was active, but not troublesome; in the first, merry, but innocent.

A Jest if it hit right, may do more good then so∣ber Counsels. Archee made King Iames sensible of the danger the Prince was in, in Spain, by telling him that he came to change Caps with him•• Why? said the King. Because thou hast sent the Prince into Spain, from whence he is never like to return. But (said the King) what wilt thou say when thou seest him come back again? Marry (saith he) I will take off the Fools Cap which I now put upon thy head for sending him thither, and put it on the King of Spains for letting him return.

A Jest of Sir Thomas Wiat's began that Reforma∣tion, which the seriousness of all Christendome could not commence. King Henry was at a loss concern∣ing the Divorce, which he no less passionately desi∣red, than the Pope warily delayed: Lord, saith he, that a man cannot repent him of his sin, but by the Popes leave! Sir Thomas hinted, Doctor Cranmer opened, and the Universities of Europe made the way to Reformation.

His Majesty was another time displeased with Wolsey, and Sir Thomas ups with a story of the Curs baiting of the Butchers Dog, which contained the whole method of that great mans ruine.

The Pope was incensed, Christian Princes were enraged, and the numero••s Clergy discontented, and King Henry afraid of a Revolution: Butter the Rooks Nests, (that is, sell and bestow the Papal Clergies Habitations and Land among the Nobility and Gentry) said Sir Thomas, and they will never trouble you. One Day he told his Master he had found out a Living of an hundred pounds in the year more than enough, and prayed him to bestow it on him: Why? said the King, we have

no such in England. Yes, Sir, said Sir Thomas, the Provostship of Eaton, where a man hath his Diet, his Lodging, his Horse-meat, his Servants wages, his Riding-charge, and an 100 l. per annum besides. What Lewis the eleventh said of one Kingdome, i. e. France, may be true of all, That they want one thing, i. e. Truth. Few Kings have such dis∣creet Courtiers as Cardinal Wolsey, to look into things deeply; fewer so faithful Servants as Sir Thomas Wiat, to report things as they see them, honestly.

His Jests were always confined to these Rules:

• 1. He never played upon a mans unhappiness or deformity; it being inhumane.
• 2. Not on Superiours: for that is sawcy and undutiful.
• 3. Nor on serious or holy matters: for that's irreligious; applying to this occasion that of the Athenians, who would not suffer Pathus to play his Comedies, where Euripides repeated his Tragedies.
• 4. He had much Salt, but no Gall; often jesting, but never jearing.
• 5. He observed times, persons and circumstan∣ces; knowing when to speak, and knowing too when to hold his peace.
• 6. His apt and handsome Reparties were rather natural than affected; subtle and acute, prompt and easie, yet not careless; never rendring himself contemptible to please others.
• 7. Not an insipid changing of words was his gift, bu•• a smart re••ort of matters, which every body was better pleased with than himself.
• 8. He always told a story well; and was as good

• at a neat continued discourse, as at a quick sen∣tence; contriving it in an handsome method, cloathing it with suitable expressions, without any Parenthesis or impertinencies, and representing persons and actions so to the life, that you would ••hink you saw what you but hear: A no••able way, that argued the man of a ready apprehension, an ingenious fine fancy, a tenacious memory, a grace∣ful Elocution, an exact judgment and disc••e••ion, and perfect acqu••intance with things and circum∣stances. His phrase was clean and clear, the pictu••e o•• his thoughts and language, (even in an argu∣ment) not harsh or severe, but gentle and oblig∣ing, never contradicting but with an Vnder favour Sir; always subjoyning to his adversaries discou••se, what the Dutch do to all Ambassadors Proposals, It may be so.

Observations on the Life of Sir John Fineux.

SIr Iohn Fineux born at Swinkfield, in the Coun∣ty of Kent, a place bestowed on his Ancestors by a great Lord in Kent, called T. Criol, about the reign of King Edward the second. He followed the Law twenty eight years before he was made a Judge; in which Office he continued twenty eight years, and was twenty eight years of Age before he ••etook himself to this study: whence it necessarily ••ollows, that he was four-score and four when he died. He was a great Benefactor to St. Augustines

in Canterbury; the P••ior whereof William Malla∣ham thus highly commende••h him: (good deeds deserve good words.)

Vir prudentissimus, Genere insignis, Iustitia praecla∣rus, Pictate refertus, Humanitate splendidus, & charitate foecundus.

He died in 1526. and lies buried in Christ-Church in Canterbury, having had a fair habitation in this City, and another in Herne in this County, where his Motto still remaineth in each Window:

Misericordias Domini cantabo in AEternum.

Nile's original is hidden, but his stream is fa∣mous. This Judge's Ancestors were not so ob∣scure, as he was illustrious. His Device upon his Se••geants Ring was, Suae quis{que} fortunae faber; and his discourse was always to this purpose, That no man thrived but he that lived as if he were the first man in the world, and his father were not born before him.

Forty years he said he lived by his industry; Twenty by his reputation, and Ten by favour. King Henry the seventh knew not how well this Gentleman could serve him, until he saw how effectually he did oppose him about the Tenth Pe∣ny raised for the War in Britain, which raised ano∣ther in York; where though the Rabble (that mur∣thered Henry Earl of Northumberland, who was to levy the Tax) had not his Countenance for their Practice, yet had they his Principle for their Rule, which was this, Before we pay any thing, let us see

whether we have any thing we can call our own to pay. So able, though reserved a Patriot, thought the wise King, would be an useful Courtier, and he that could do so well at the Bar, might do more at the Bench. Cardinal Morton was against his ad∣vancement, as an incouragement to the Factious: (whose Hydra-heads grow the faster by being ta∣ken off by Preferment, and not by an Ax) the King was for it, as the most probable way of weakening of them, as who, when the most sober and wise part of them draweth off, are but a rude multitude, and a rope of sand. When a Commoner, none so stiff for the subjects priviledg; when a Judge, none so firm to the Princes Prerogative: two things, (how∣ever, they fatally clashed of late) that are solid felicities together, and but empty notions asunder: for what is Prerogative but a great Name, when not exercised over a free people? and what is pri∣viledg but a fond imagination, when not secured under a powerful King, that may keep us from be∣ing slaves one to another by Anarchy, while we strive to be free from his Tyranny? That people is beyond president free, and beyond comparison happy, who restrain not their Sovereigns power to do them harm so far, as that he hath none left him to do them good. Careful he was of the Law; for he was a Judge: and as careful of his Sovereigns Right; for he was a Subject. No ominous clash∣ing between Courts in his time; nor setting the Kings Conscience in Chancery against his Will in the Kings Bench. A man tells Aristides, to make him party in his cause, that his Adversary had abused him: I sit not here (saith that Impartial Judge) to right my self, but you. When a notorious enemy of

Judge Fineux had a cause depending before him, It might have gone against you, my friend, (said he) had you not been my Enemy: His Motto was; nemo prudem punit quia peccatum est sed ne peccetur.

Ten things, which are indeed ten of the most remarkable particulars of his life, raised him.

• 1. An indefatigable industry, 1. In his reading, leaving behind him 23 Folio's of Notes. 2. In his practice, bequeathing 3502 Cases he managed himself to his Executor.
• 2. A freedome of converse, as about his busi∣ness, none more close; so in company, none more open; having so compleat a command of himself, that he knew to a minute when to indulge, and to a minute too when to restrain himself. A gay and cheerful humour, a spriteful conversation, and clean••y manners, are an exceeding useful accom∣plishment for every one that intends not to wind himself into a solitary retirement, or be mewed in a Cloyster.
• 3. A rich and a well-contrived marriage, that at once brought him a large Estate, and a larger Inte∣rest: the same tie that allied him to his Wives Fa∣mily, engaged him to many.
• 4. A great acquaintance with Noble Families, with whose dependants he got in first, devoting an hour a day for their company; and at last with themselves, laying aside his vacation-leisure for their service. He was Steward of 129 Mannors at once, and of Councel to 16 Noble-men.
• 5. His Hospitality and Entertainments. None more close than he abroad, none more noble at home; where many were tied to his Table, more obliged by his company and discourse.
• ...

• 6. His care and integrity in managing, his Re∣pute in promoting, his Reason and Eloquence in pleading, and his Success in carrying his causes.
• 7. His eminence and activity in the two profita∣ble Parliaments of Henry the seventh, where he had the hearts and purses of the people at his com∣mand, and the eye of his Sovereign upon his per∣son. It was thought a reward adequa••e to the greatest merit and adventure in the Grecian Wars, to have leave to play the Prizes at Olympus before Kings. It was judged the most ambition could aime at in King Henry the seventh's time, to ••hew a mans parts before his judicious and discerning Majesty; than whom none unde••s••ood Worth bet∣ter, none valued it higher.
• 8. His Opposition to Empson and Dudley's t••o severe Prosecution of Poe••al Laws, while Henry the seventh was living; and his laying of it befo••e him so faithfully, that he repented of it when he was a dying. He is high a while, that serves a Princes private interest; he is always so, that is careful of the publick good.
• 9. Hi•• entire Devotion to that sacred thing cal∣led Friendship, that Bliss on this side Heaven, made up of Peace and Love. None a worse Enemy, none a ••etter F••iend. Choice he was in commencing, but constant in continuing Friends: M••ny Ac∣quaintance, but few Friends, was his O••servation; ••••ying, He had been und••ne by his Acquaintance, had he not been raised by his Friends.
• 10. His care of time. To day I have not reigned, said the Emperour when he had done no good: To day I have not lived, said the Judge when he had done nothing. So much he prayed Morning,

• Evening, and at Noon, according to the way of those times, as if he never studied; so much he studied, as if he never practised; so great his practice, as if he never conversed; and so free his converse with others, as if he lived not at all to himself. Time (of which others are so prodigally expensive) was the only thing he could be honest∣ly covetous of: full whereof he died, leaving this instruction to posterity, That we should not com∣plain we have little time; but that we spend much either in doing nothing, or in doing evil, or in doing nothing to the purpose.

Observations of the Life of Dr. Ed∣ward Fox, Secretary and Almoner to King Henry the Eighth.

EDward Fox born in Dursly in Gloucestershire, brought up a Scholar in Eaton, after fellow of Kings Colledg in Cambridge, where he died Provost. He was Almoner to King Henry the eighth, the first that brought Doctor Cranmer to the knowledg of the King, as he brought the King to the know∣ledge of himself. Being afterwards Bishop of He∣reford, he was a great Instigator of the Politick and Prudential part of the Reformation, and was not less able, but more active than Cranmer himself: yea, so famous was he, that Martin Bucer dedica••∣ed unto him his Comment upon the Gospel: so pain••ul, that he wrote many Books, whereof that, de Differentia utrius{que} potestatis, was the chief: so

worthy he was, that the King employed him on se∣veral Embassies into France and Germany. He di∣ed May 8. 1538.

In his first years, none more wild; in his last none more stayed. The untoward Youth makes the able Man. He that hath m••ttle to be extravagent when he cannot govern himself, hath a spirit to be eminent when he can. His friends devotion to the Church, and relation to the Bishop of Win∣chester, made him a Scholar; his own Inclin••••ion, a Politician: an Inclination that brake through all the ignoble restraints of pedantique studies and coercions, (wherewith many a great Soul in Eng∣land, (enjoying not the f••eedome of forein parts, but tied to such employments, though never so unsuitable, as their f••iends put them to) are de∣based and lost) to an eminency (more by observa∣tion and travel, than by reading and study) that made him the Wonder of the Unive••sity, and the Da••ling of the Court. When he was called to the Pulpit, or Chair, he came off not ill; so prudenti∣al were his parts of Divinity; when advanced to any Office of Trust in the University, he came off very well; so incomparable were his parts for Go∣vernment!

His Policy was observed equally in the Subject, and in the contrivance of his Sermons and dis∣c••urse; where though all knew he read but lit••le, yet all saw that (by a Scheme and method his strong head had drawn up o•• all Books and Discourses) ••e commanded all Lea••ning: his Explications of the Text were so genuine, so exact, as if he had spent his time in nothing else but Criticks and C••m∣mentators. His Divisions ••o Analytical, as if he

had seen nothing but Logick: His Enlargements so copious and genuine, as if he had seen nothing but Fathers and Schoolmen. The curious and pertinent mixture of Moral Sentences, so various, as if he had been but a Humanist: ••he drift and de∣sign of all, so close, that it argued him but (what indeed he was) a pure Pate-Politician. His parts commended him to Cardinal Wolsey as his sup∣port: the Cardinal brings him to his Master as his second, and he thrusts out Wolsey as his Rival; but yet pretended to advance that ambitious Man more highly, that he might fall mo••e irrecovera∣bly. He sets him upon his designes of being Pope in Rome, and t••ose make him none in England. He caught the Cardinal by his submission, as he would have done Sir Thomas More by his Interrogations; at which he was so good, that he would run up any man either to a Confession or a Praemunire. Fox was his name, and Cunning ••is nature. He said, His Fathers money helped him to his Parsonage, meaning his small Preferments; and his Mothers wit to his Bishoprick, meaning his greater.

Di••coursing one day when Ambassador, of terms of Peace, he said, Honourable ones last long, but the dishonourable no longer than till Kings have power to break them: the sures•• way therefore, said he, to Peace, is a constant preparedness for War. Two things he would say must support a Government; Gold and Iron: Gold, to reward its Friends; and Iron, to keep under its Enemies. Themistocles after a Bat∣tel fought with the Persians, espying a Prize lying on the ground, Take up these things, (saith he to his Companion) for thou art not Themistocles. Take the Emperours Money, said Fox to his followers,

(that were afraid to accept what he had refused) for you are not all the King of England's Ambassa∣dors.

Often was this saying in our Bishops mouth, be∣fore ever i•• was in Philip the second's, Time and I will challenge any two in the world.

Portugal being revolted, the Conde d' Olivares c••me ••••iling to King Philip the fourth, saying, Sir, I pray give me las Al••ricius to hansel the good news: for now y••u are more absolute King of Portugal than ever: for the people have forfeited all their priviledges by the Rebellion and the Nobility their E••tates; and now you may confirm your old Friends with their mo∣ney, and make you new ones with their Estates. When the Clergy began to ruffle with the King, I tell you News, said this Bishop, we are all run into a P••aemu∣nire: you shall have Money enough to make your own Courtiers, and Places enough to advance your own Clergy.

Observations on the Life of Sir Antho∣ny St. Lieger.

WE may say of him, he was born in Kent, and bred in Christendome: for when twelve years of Age, he was sent for his Grammar-Learning with his Tutor into France, for his Carriage into Italy, for his Philosophy to Cambridg, for his Law to Grays-Inne; and for that which compleated all, the Gove••nment of himself, to Court; where his D••bonn••irness and F••eedome took with the King, as his Solidity and Wisdome with the Cardinal.

His Master-piece was his Agency between King Henry the eighth and Queen Anne, during the agi∣tation of that great business of the Divorce be∣tween the said King and his Queen Katherine. His Policy was seen in catching the Cardinal in that fa∣tal word, The Kin may ruine me if he please! but that ruined him. His service was to be Cromwel's Instrument in demolishing Abbeys, as he was the Kings. Caesar was the first that came to undo the Commonwealth, sober; Sir Anthony St. Lieger was the first that saved this Kingdome drunk: for in being abroad one night very late, and much distempered, he must needs fancy an extraordina∣ry light in the Cardina••'s Closet; with which Fancy he ran to the King, and although much in drink, prevailed with him so far, that he sends to the Cardinal, and there finds that Juncto that threatned his Kingdome.

He esteemed it the bane of a good judgment, to look upon things through the outside of some Customary formality; neglecting the steady con∣sideration of their inward nature; the first depen∣ding on the fancies of men, which are volatile; the other on the being of things, which is fixed: and he was rather for dressing his addresses in the smart way of a jest; than in the dull way of a narrative. Ridiculum acri Fortiùs et meliùs magnas plerum{que} secat res. The undigested fancies which please the Com∣mon people for a while, during the distemper and green-sickness, fit a troubled age, as Maids infected with that Malady peferr ashes, or Coles in a corner, before healthful food in their Fathers House; but when time hath cured their malady, and expe••i∣ence opened their eyes, he would say that they

should abhor their former errors, and the mislea∣ders that taught them.

He was the first Vice-Roy, because Henry the eighth was the first King of Ireland. King Henry's affection would promote him any where, but his own resolution and spirit commended him to Ire∣land.

He was a man whom all Ireland could not rule; therefore (as the Jest goes) he should rule all Eng∣land. Three times had the Irish Rebels made their solemn submission to other Deputies: the fourth ••ime now they make it to him, throwing down their Girdles, Skeans, and Caps. So great a man was the Lieutenant, so great his Master! No soo∣ner was he possessed of the Government, but he thought of Laws, those Ligaments of it: The most rational and equitable Laws were those of England, but too rational to be imposed on the Brutish ••••ish: therefore our Knight considering (as he saith in the Preface of his Constitution) that they (poor souls) could not relish those exact Laws, to live or be ruled by them, immediately enacted such as agreed with their capacity, rather than such were dictated by his ability; his Wisdome (as all mens must) do∣ing what was most fit and convenient, rather than what was most exact; what they could bear, more than what he could do: as remembring he had to do with Faeces Romuli, rather than Respublica Pla∣tonis; a rude, rather than a reduced people. What he could, he ordained according to the incompa∣r••ble Rule of the English Laws; what he could not, he established according to his present judg∣ment of the Irish capacity. He saw the Kingdome could never be subject to his Masters power, while

the Church was obedient to the Popes: therefore as he perswaded the Nobility to surrender their E∣states to his Majesty at London, so he compelled the Clergy to make over theirs at Dublin: There re∣mains but little of the first in his Majesties hands, so honourable was he in restoring it; and as little in his Successors, so religious and just were they in resigning it to the same use for substance, to which it was at first designed. But in vain it is to reform Laws, unless we reform persons too: there∣fore as he sent Orders to reduce the Irish Nobility in their several Count••ies, so he sent for them∣selves (to the respective Houses built for them by his Majesty near Dublin) to be civilized in the Court. Caesar came, saw, and overcame; Sir An∣thony came, saw, and setled: A man had thought there had not been so much cor••uption in the Ro∣mish Church, as to admit Children to Church-Liv∣ings, (for which Men are hardly s••fficient!) but that Sir Anthony St. Leiger was forced to make this Law, That no Children should be admitted to Benefices. We had not known this sin, had not the Law said, You shall not invest any under sixteen years of age in Benefices. The Clergy he found there too many, and the Nobility too few: he l••ssened the number of the one to weaken the Pope, and improved the other to strengthen his Master, of whom they held not only their Estates, but their Baronies too, as obliged to duty in point of Honour as well as in point of Interest. But in vain doth he civilize the present Generation, and neglect the future: as therefore he provided Cities for the Parents, so he erected Schools for the Children, that the one might forget their Barba••ism, and the other never

know it. Three things he said would settle a State: 1. Good God-fathers and God-mothers perform∣ing their Vows: 2. Good Housholders overlook∣ing their Families: 3. And good School-masters educating Youth; this last, the most useful, though the most contemptible profession.

All War was mischievous to learning (Arts as well as Laws, being suppressed by armes, the Muses Lawrel is no security to them against Mars his Thunder) except Sr. Anthonies, no mans Library being embezled; no mans study interrupted; re∣serving learning for the Civilizing of that Nation which his armes had Conquered.

An Athenian being asked what God was? said, He was neither Bow-man, nor Horse-man, nor Pike∣man, nor Footman, but one that knew how to command [all these.] Sir Anthony St. Leiger was neither Soul∣dier nor Scholar, nor Statesman, yet he under∣stood the way how to dispose of all these to his Countries service, and his Masters honour; being all of them eminently, though none of them pe∣dantickly and formally in himself.

The Athenians (as Anaximander said) had good Laws, but used them ill; our Deputy had bad Laws, but governed by good.

It was thought by many wise men, that the pre∣posterous rigour and unreasonable severity which some men carried there before him, was not the least incentive that kindled and blew up into hor∣rid flames the sparks of discontent, which wanted not pre-disposed fuel in that place; where despair was added to their former discontents, and the fears of utter extirpation to their wonted oppressi∣ons: It is too easie to provoke a people too prone

to break out to all exorbitant violence, both by some principles of their Religion, and their natu∣ral desires of Liberty; both to exempt themselve•• from their present restraints, and prevent after-rigours: wherefore he was inclined to that chari∣table connivence and Christian indulgence, which often dissipates their strength, whom rougher op∣position fortifieth, and puts the oppressed Parties into such Combinations as may most enable them to get a full revenge on those they count their Per∣secutors; who are commonly assisted by that vul∣gar commiseration which attends all that are said to suffer for Religion or Liberty.

To conclude this: Four things Sir Anthony St. Leiger was eminent for:

• 1. That there was none more grave in Council than he, in the morning: none more free at Table, at noon: none more active in the after-noon: none more merry at night.
• 2. That his Orders were made but slowly, so wary he was; but executed quickly, so resolute he was too.
• 3. That he contrived all his Designs so well be∣••orehand, that in the course of affairs they were done to his hand; and he was the Deputy that made no noise.
• 4. That as the Souldier (finding his fi••st admis∣sion to Alexander to be difficult) danced about the Court in an Antique fashion, until the strangenes•• of the shew made the King himself Spectator, and then throwing off his disguise, he said, Sir, thus I first arrive at the notice of your Majesty in the fashion of a fool, but can do you service in the place of a wise man, if you please to employ me: So this Gentleman

• came to Court a Swaggerer, but went off a States∣man. All Prudence is not lodged under a demure look and an austere carriage: There are those that can be merry and wise; whose Spirit is as lively, as their Judgment solid: And its no better a Cha∣racter of a wise man, than it was a definition of a man which Plato made, and Diogenes, by shewing a deplumed Cock, derided, that he is a living Creature that hath two feet, i. e. a grave, staid carriage; with∣out feathers, i. e. a nimble fancy. His onely ••ault was, that he was a particular instance of that gene∣ral rule, Qui pauca considerat facile pronunciat.

Observations on the Life of Sir Ralph Sadler.

SIr Ralph Sadler was born at Hackney in Middle∣sex, where he was Heir to a fair Inheritance, and servant to the Lord Cromwel, and by him advanc∣ed into the service of King Henry the VIII, who made him chief Secretary of State. He was one that had much knowledg, therefore much imploy∣ed in all, but especially in the Intrigues of the Scots aff••irs: In the Battel of Muscleborow he ordered and brought up our scattered Troops, inviting them to fight by his own Example; and for his Valour was made a 1.16 Knight Banneret. Q••een Eli∣zabeth made him Chancellour of the Dutchy. Du∣ring

his last Embassie in Scotland, his house a•• Standon in Hertfordshire was built by his Steward in his absence, far greater than himself desired, so that he never joyed therein; and died soon after, Anno 1587, in the 80 year of his Age.

King Henry understood two things: 1. A Man: 2. A Dish of Meat; and was seldom deceived in ei∣ther: For a Man, none more compleat then Sir Ralph, who was at once a most exquisite Writer, and a most valiant and experienced Souldier; qua∣lifications that seldom meet, (so great is the di∣stance between the Sword and the Pen, the Coat of Mail and the Gown) yet divided this man and his time; his nights being devoted to contemplation, and his days to action. Little was his Body, but great his Soul; the more vigorous, the more con∣tracted. Quick and clear were his thoughts, spee∣dy and resolute his performances. It was he that could not endure the spending of that time in de∣signing one action, which might perform two; or that delay in performing two, that might have de∣signed twenty. A great Estate he got honestly, and spent nobly; knowing that Princes honour them most, that have most; and the People them onely that employ most: A Prince hath more reason to fear money that is spent, than that which is hoorded; because it is easier for Subjects to oppose a Prince by Applause than by Armies. Reward (said Sir Ralph when he was offered a sum of money) should not empty the Kings Coffers; neither should Riches be the Pay of Worth, which are meerly the Wages of La∣bour: He that gives it, em••aseth a Man; he that takes it, vilifieth himself: who is so most Reward∣ed, is least. Since Honour hath lost the Value of a

Reward, Men have lost the Merit of Virt••e, and both become mercenary; Men lusting rather after the Wealth that buyeth, than after the Qualities that deserve it.

Two things he observed broke Treaties; Iea∣lousie, when Princes are successful; and Fear, when they are unfortunate. Power that hath need of none, makes all confederacies, either when it is felt, or when it is feared, or when it is envied.

Three things Cato repented of: 1. That he went by water when he might go by land. 2. That he trust∣ed a Woman with a secret. 3. That he lost Time. Two things Sir Ralph relented for: 1. That he had communicated a secret to two. 2. That he had lost any hour of the morning, between four a clock and ten.

He learned in King Henry the Eighth's time, as Cromwel's Instrument, what he must advise (in point of Religion) in Queen Elizabeth's time, as an eminent Counsellour: His Maxime being this, That Zeal was the Duty of a private Brest, and Mo∣deration the Interest of a publick State. The Pro∣testants Sir Ralph's Conscience would have in the commencement of Queen Elizabeth, kept in hope; the Papists his Prudence would not have cast into Despair. It was a Maxime at that time in b ano∣ther case, That France should not presume, nor Spain be desperate.

He saw the Interest of this State altered six times, and died an honest Man: The Crown put upon four Heads, yet he continued a Faithful Subject: Religion changed, as to the publick constitution of it, five times, yet he kept the Faith.

A Spartan one day boasted that his Country-men had been often buried in Athens; The Athenian

replied•• But we are most of us buried at home. So g••eat was Sir Ralph's success in the Northern Wars, that many a Scotch man found his Grave in Eng∣land; so exact his conduct and wariness, that few English men had theirs in Scotland; the same ground giving them their Coffin, that did their Cradle; and their Birth that did their Death. Our Knights two incomparable Qualities were Discipline and Intelligence; the last discovered him all the Ene∣mies advantages, and the first gave them none.

His two main designs were, 1. An Interest in his Prince, by service. 2, An Alliance with the Nobi∣lity by Marriage: upon which two Bottoms he rai∣sed himself to that pitch of Honour and Estate, that time could not wear out, nor any alterations em∣bezle; he bequeathing to his Wo••shipful Posterity the blessing of Heaven upon his Integrity; the love of M••nkinde for his Worth; and (as Mr. Fuller saith) a Pa••don granted him when he attended my Lord Cromwel at Rome, for the sins of his Family for three immediate Generations, (expiring in R. Sadler Esquire, lately dead.) His last Negotiation was that in Scotland, during the troubles there a∣bout Queen Mary: So searching and piercing he was, that no Letter or Adviso passed, whereof he had not a Copy; so civil and obliging, that there was no Party that had not a Kindness for him; so grave and solid, that he was present at all coun∣sels; so close and industrious, that his hand though unseen was in every motion of that State: and so successful, that he left the Nobility so divided that they could not design any thing upon the King; and the King so weak, that he could not cast off the Queen; and all so tottering, that they must depend on Queen Elizabeth.

Three things he bequeathed such as may have the honour to succed him, 1. All Letters that concerned him since of years, filed: 2. All Occur∣rences, since he was capable of Observation, regi∣stred. 3. All expenses, since he lived of himself, booked. Epaminondas was the first Graecian, and Sir Ralph Sadler was one of the last English-men.

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 1.17 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 1.18 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.

Observations on the Life of Sir Richard Morisin.

SIr Richard Morisin born in Essex (or in Oxford∣shire e 1.19) was brought up f 1.20 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.

Observations on the Life of Doctor Nicholas Wotton.

NIcholas VVotton, Son to Sir Robert, born at Bockton-malherb in the County of Kent, (a place so named, from some noxious and malig∣nant Herbs growing therein) was bred in Oxon, Doctor of the Civil Laws; and was the first Dean of the two Metropolitan Churches of Canterbury and York. He was Privy-Counsellour to ••our suc∣cessive Sovereigns, viz.

• King Henry the VIII.
• King Edward the VI.
• Queen Mary.
• Queen Elizabeth.

He was employed thirteen several times in Em∣bassies to Forein Princes.

Five times to Charles the Fifth Emperour.

Once to Philip his Son, King of Spain.

Once to Francis the First, King o•• France.

Once to Mary Queen of Hungary, Governess o•• the Netherlands.

Twice to William Duke of Cleve.

Once to renew the peace between England, France and Scotland, Anno 1540.

Again to the same purpose at Cambray, Anno 1549.

Once sent Commissioner with others to Eden∣burgh in Scotland, 1560.

He refused the A••chbishoprick of Canterbury, proferred him in the first o•• Queen Elizabeth. He died Ianuary 26. in 1566. being about seventy years of Age, and was buried in Canterbury.

Ius••inian reduced the Law of Nations to one Bo∣dy, and Doctor Wotton comprehended them in one Soul: Publick was his spirit, and such his thoughts: That profession that was designed for the settle∣ment of the Wo••lds commerce, was now confined to a Bishops Court, a Churchwardens Oath, or a rich man's will; when this excellent Person first enlarged it as far as the Sea, in the Cases of the Ad∣miralty; and as wide as the world, in the Negoti∣ations of Embassie. Others were trusted with the Interest of Princes, He with that of Nations. He that saw him, would think he could deny nothing, so modest Scholar-like his looks! He that heard him would judge he would grant nothing, so unde∣niable his Reason! so irrefragable his Arguments! His speech was as ready as his resolution was present. His apprehension quick and clear: his method ex∣act: his reading vast and indefatigable: his memo∣ry (strong as to things, though not to words) tena∣cious: his clocution copio••s and flowing. What si•• Henry Wotton said of sir Philip Sidney, I may say o•• Nicholas Wotton, That he was the very measure of con∣gruity. What that Counsellour writ to the French King in a great sheet (when he required his advice) that our Doctor advised our Princes in several Dis∣courses, viz. Modus, a mean•• Sir, (said King Henry to

him, now not forty years old) I have sent a Head by Cromwel, a Purse by Wolsey, a Sword by Brandon, and I must now send the Law by You, to treat with my Enemies.

Augustus lamented for Varus his death, because, he said, Now I have none in my Countrey to tell me the truth: With Wotton went off that faithfulness that Peasants have, and Princes want: None more reso∣lute abroad, none more bold and down-right at home. His plain dealing saved King Henry some Treasure, King Edward the North, Q••een Mary Calice for a while, and Q••een Elizabeth her Faith and Crown: A Virtue that made him the Over∣seer of most Forein Ministers Actions abroad, and one of the sixteen Executors of King Henry's Will and Testament at home. Gardiner was sly and close, but Wotton prudent and wise. In the Trea∣ty at Calice there are two things remarkable of our Doctor, 1. That he first insisted on the peace with France, before that of Scotland•• 2. He would say, Rather give away Calice, than reserve a Right in it fifteen years hence: for never was the Interest of any Na∣tion so constant, as to keep a promise half so many ••ears.

Indeed Sir William Cecil's reach went no further for a Layman, than Doctor Wotton for a Church∣man: Therefore they two were pitched upon for the management of the Intrigues and Affairs o•• Scotland.

Many envied this happy man, but none could be without him, who was ••he Oracle of both Laws at Councils; who could sum up the merit of any Cause, recollect the circumstances of any Affair; and shew Tables of Trade, Commerce, Situations, Counsels, Revenue, Interest, &c. the readi••st and exactest of any in England.

But all these Qualifications must die, and he with them: leaving it as his Advice,

First, To Church-men: To understand well the Common and Canon-Law, as well as the Divine; by the first whereof, they might understand their right; as by the second, they info••med themselves and othe••s of their duty.

Secondly, To Statesmen: Travel and History.

Thirdly, To Embassadors: 1. A good Pu••se: 2. A noble and sober Train•• 3. Constant correspon∣dence and observation: 4. A happy medley of Debo∣nairness and Complacency, Reservedness and Gravity: with the first he had taken Princes, and with the last Statesmen: the one discovers others, while the other conceals you. 5. Resolution: I made often (said h•• as if I would fight, when they knew my calling allowed me onely to speak: 6. Civility: That man (said the Prince of Orange) is a great bargain, who is bought with a bare salvation.

Fourthly, To Privy-Counsellours: That excel∣lent caution, Always to speak last, and be Masters of other strength before they displayed their own.

This was that rare man that was made for all business, so dexterous! This was he that was made for all times, so complying! This was he who liv∣ed Doctor of both Laws, and died Doctor of both Gospels; the Protestant, which had the States∣mans part of this man; and the Popish, who had the Christian. Noah * 1.21 had two faces, because he was a son of the old world before the flood, and a father of the new one after: Wotton sure had four faiths, who was a Favourite in King Henry's days, of the Counsel in King Edward's, of the Juncto in Queen Mary's, and the g 1.22 second Statesman in Queen Elizabeth's.

With these two things of this person, I shall con∣clude:

1. His refusal of the Archbishoprick of Canter∣bury, which argued his extraordinary humility or wariness.

His admission of Doctor Parker, as Dean of Can∣terbury, to that See; which argueth the legality of his calling, there being no circumstance with any likelihood omitted, by so exquisite a Civilian as Doctor Wotton; or forgotten, by so great an An••iquary as Doctor Parker.

Observations on the Life of Sir Tho∣mas Wriothesly, the first Earl of Southampton.

THomas Wriothesly Knight of the Garter, was born in Barbican, Son to William Wriothesly (descended from an Heir general of the antient Family of the Dunste••viles) King of Arms. He was bred in the University of Cambridge, as it appears by Mr. Ascam's Letter unto him, writing in the behalf of the University, when he was Lord Chan∣cellour.

Quamobrem Academia cum omni literarum ratione, ad te unum conversa (cui uni quam universis aliis se charior••m intelligit) partim tibi ut alumno suo, cum authoritate imperat: partim, ut patrono summo, de∣misse & humiliter supplicat, &c.

His University-Learning prepared him for the Law, & ••is indefa••igable study of the Law promot∣ed him to the Court; where, for his Honour, he was created Baron of Tichbourn, Jan. 1. 1543. and ••or his Profit, the next year, May 3. Lord Chan∣cellour; a place he discharged with more Ap∣plause than any before him, and with as much In∣tegrity as any since him: Force (he said) awed, but Iustice governed the World.

It is given to that Family to be Generous and Resolute: This incomparable Person was under a cloud in King Edward's time, for being a rigidly-conscientious Papist; and his great Grandchild suffered in King Charles his time, for being a sin∣cerely honest Protestant: Ye•• so reverenced was the first of this Family by his Adversaries, that he was made Earl of Southampton; and so honoured was the other by his Enemies, that they courted him to their party. Integrity hath a Majesty in its full, and a Glory in its lowest Estate; that is, always feared, though not always loved.

No Nobleman understood the Roman Religion better than the first Earl of Southampton; and none the Protestant better then the last, the Right Ho∣nourable and truly Excellent Thomas Earl of Sou∣thampton, and Treasurer of England.

His Court, he said, gave Law to the Kingdom; His constant and exact Rules, to the Court; and his Conscience guided by the Law of the King∣dom, to his Rules. Affable and acceptable he was, as More; quick and ready, as Wolsey; incor∣rupt, as Egerton; apprehensive and knowing, as Bacon. Twice were all Cases depending in Chan∣cery dispatched; in Sir Thomas Wriothesly's time,

1538. and in Sir Thomas More's 1532. Truly did he judge intra Cancellos, deciding Cases with that Uprightness, that he wished a Window to his Actions, yea and his Heart too. King Philip was not at leasure to hear a poor Womans Cause; Then, said she, cease to be King. My Lord over-hearing a servant putting off a Petitioner, because his Ma∣ster was not at leasure, takes him up roundly, and repli••s, You had as good say, I am not at leasure to be Lord Chancellour. Two things he would not have his servants gain by, his Livings and his Decrees; The first, he said, we••e Gods, the second the Kings, (whom every man, he said, sold, that sold Justice:) To honest men, your places, said he, are enough; to Knaves, too much. Every Week he had a Schedule of his own Accounts, and every Month of his Servants. Cato's greatest Treasure was his Account-Book of Sicily; and my Lord of South∣ampton's was his Table of the Chancellours place. A great Estate was conferred upon him, which he took not in his own name, to avoid the odium of Sacriledge; as great an Inheritance he bought, but in others names, to escape the malice of Envy.

He loved a bishop, he said, to satisfie his Con∣science; a Lawyer, to guide his Judgment; a good Family, to keep up his Interest; and an Uni∣versity, to preserve his name.

Full of Years and Worth, he died 1550. at Lin∣coln-place, and was buried at St. Andrews Church in Holborn, where his Posterity have a Diocess for their Parish, and a Court for their Habitation.

Observations on the Life of Sir John Fitz-James.

JOhn Fi••z-Iames Knight, was born at Redlinch in Somersetshire, of Right Antient and Worthy Parentage, b••ed in the study of our Municipal Laws; wherein he proved so great a Proficient, that by King Henry the Eighth he was advanced to be Chief Justice of the Kings Bench. There needs no more to be said of his Merit, save that King Henry the Eighth preferred him; who never used either Dunce or Drone in Church or State, but Men of Ability and Activity. He sat thirteen years in his place, demeaning himself so, that he lived and died in the Kings Favour. He sat one of the Assistants when Sir Thomas More was arraign∣ed for ••efusing the Oath of Supremacy, and was shrewdly put to it, to save his own Conscience, and not incur the Kings Displeasure: For Chancellour Audley, supreme Judg in that pla••e, (being loath that the whole burthen of More's condemnation should lie on his shoulders alone) openly in the Court asked the Advice of the Lord Chief Justice Fitz Iames, Whether the Indictment were suffici∣ent or no? To whom our Judge warily returned, My Lords all, by St. Gillian, (which was ever his Oath) I must * 1.23 needs confess, That if the Act of Par∣liament be not unlawful, then the Indictment is not in my conscience sufficient.

He died in the Thirteeth Year of King Henry

the Eighth; and although now there be none left at Redlinch of his Name and Family, they flourish still at Lewson in Dorsetshire, descended from Alu∣red Fitz-Iames brother to this Judge, and to Ri∣chard Bishop of London.

The two main Principles that guide humane Na∣ture (saith Judge Dodderidge) are Conscience and Law: By the former we are obliged in reference to a∣nother world, by the latter in relation to this. P••iests and Judges are the Dispensers of ••hese Principles: No Prince more unhappy in his Priests than King Henry (whose unhappiness it was, that all the jug∣gle, prevarication, and imposture of his time was in the Pulpit,) none more happy in his Judges, (to whose Reason his People were more willing to submit, than they were to hearken to his Clergy's Instruction) among whom none more renowned than Sir Iohn Fitz-Iames, who was so fearful of the very shadow and appearance of corruption, that it cost his chief Clerk his place but for taking a Tankard, after a signal Cause of 1500 l. a year, wherein he had been serviceable, though not as a Bribe, but as a Civility. Caesar would have his Wife without suspicion of lewdness, and Fitz-Iames his servants without the appearance of cor∣ruption. What was Law alwayes, was then a Re∣solution, Neither to deny, nor defer, nor sell justice. When our Judge came upon the Bench, he knew no more then Melchisedech or Levi, Father or Mo∣ther, neither Friend nor Interest: for when his Cousin urged for a kindness, Come to my House (saith the Judge) I will deny you nothing; come to the Kings Court and I must do you justice: And when the Attorney-General bespake his favour in a pub∣lick

Cause, Trouble not your self, (said he) I'le do the King right: The King is cast, the Attorney ex∣postulates; the Judge satisfieth him, That he could not do his Majesty Right, if he had not done justice.

His P••udence so tempe••ed his zeal for his Sove∣reign, that he over-strained not the Prerogative to bring in fears and jealousies of Tyranny on the one hand; and his Integ••ity so balanced his Po∣pularity, that he never depressed it to broach bold opinions and attempts of Liberty, on the other: complying with none of those humours that an I∣maginary dread of oppression, or a dangerous pre∣s••mption of freedom may transport to irregular excesses either for the one, or against the other.

As his Majesty was secured by his Loyalty, so his Subjects were by his Patience, a Virtue he carried with him to the Bench, to attend each circum∣stance of an Evidence, each allegation of a Plea, each plea in a Cause; hearing what was imperti∣nent, and observing what was proper. His usual saying (as Sergeant Mandevil reports it) being, We must have two souls, as two sieves, one for the Bran, the other for the flour; the one for the Gross of a Dis∣course, the other for the Quintessence.

The same day that there was no Cause to be tri∣ed in the Chancery in Sir Tho. More's time, there were but three in the Kings Bench, in Sir Iohn Fitz-Iames his time: the reason whereof some ima∣gine was Cardinal Wolsey's extraordinary power (that engrossed all Causes to his Legantine Court;) others know it was the Judges Integrity, who was too honest to allow, as that Age was too plain to contrive, delays and obstructions.

Lewis the Eleventh of France would say, when he was advised to take Revenge of those that had affronted him before he came to the Crown, That it became not the King of France to revenge the Inju∣ries done to the Duke of Orleans. A Person that had no••oriously wronged Sir Iohn when a Tem∣pler, in the case of his Chamber, was to be tried before him for his whole E••tate when a Judge; the Adversaries among other shifts made use of this old Q••arrel; whereupon Sir Iohn said, It doth not become a Iudge upon the Bench to revenge a wrong done in his Chamber.

Two things upheld him in those boysterous times: 1. Silence, 2. Patience: both wary Vir∣tues that seldom endanger their Owner, or dis∣please their Superiours. The Pe••ple of those times would live and die with the Pope and Council; and this Judge, with the King and Parliament: The grand Article of his Faith was, I believe as the Church beleives: and the great Rule of his Practice was, I will live as the Law directs.

He was a tried Man, whose Faith and Honour was above his Life and Fortune; whose Genero∣sity was above that first temptation of Money, as his Spirit was above the second of Danger: No fear here of delivering up Priviledges to day, for fear of the King; or Prerogative to morrow, for fear of the Subject: No, an unbiass'd Temper between both, make up this honest man; who came on to preferment with great Expectations, and went off with great Applause: being one of the three men of whom it is said, That because they never pleased their Master in doing any thing unworthy, they never displeased him in doing any thing that is just. When

base compliance goeth off with the contempt of those it hath humoured, a Noble Resolution comes off with the Reverence of those it hath discon∣tented.

Observations on the Life of Sir Wil∣liam Molineux.

SIr William Molineux Junior, Descendent from Sir William Molineux Knight, of Sefton in Lan∣cashire, flourished under King Henry the Eighth, being a man of great command in Lancashire; bringing the considerable strength thereof to the seasonable succour of the Duke of Norfolk, with whom he performed signal service ••a Flodden-Field. The Image of whose mind, he was as well as the Portrait of his body. Peculiar was our Knight for nobly forgiving his Enemies if reconcilable; and refusing ignobly to be revenged of them, though obstinate: for honestly would he betray the Villanies of them, that dishonestly offered to betray them to him; as Fabricius delivered up to Pyrrhus, though a sworn Enemy, the Physician that would have Poysoned him; Lewis the 11th. discovered to the Duke of Burgundy, though his mortal Foe, the conspiracy that would have ruin∣ed him; And Queen Elizabeth of England, with King Philip of Spain, gave Henry the great of France, (when Friends with neither of them) no∣tice of two Plots upon his person, that would have ruined him.

It is confessed on all sides that the Scots lost the day, by not keeping their Ranks, but not agreed on the cause thereof. Buchanan (who commonly makes the too much Cou••age of his Country-men, the cause of their being conquered) imputes it to their indiscrete pursuing of the English routed at the first: Others say, They did not break their Ranks, but were broken, unable to endure the Lancashire Archers, and so forced to sunder them∣selves. In this Battel the Scottish King and chief∣est Gentry were slain, the English losing scarce a∣ny; the Scots scarce any but of prime note. The King a••terward wrote his Gratulatory Let∣ter to Sir William Molineux, in form following.

TRusty and Well-Beloved, We greet you well:

And understand as well by the Report of Our Right Trusty Cousin and Counsellour, the Duke of Norfolk, as otherwise, what acceptable service You amongst O∣thers lately did Vs by your valiant Towardness in the assi••ting of Our said Cousin against Our Enemy, late King of Scots; and how couragiously you, as a very hearty loving Servant acquitted your self for the o∣verthrow of the said late King, and distressing of his Malice and Power, to Our great Honour, and the ad∣vancing of your no little Fame and Praise; for which We have good cause to favour and thank you, and so We full heartily do; and assured may you be, that We shall in such effectual wise remember your said Service in any your reasonable pursuits, as you shall have cause to think the same right well imployed to Our comfort and weal hereafter.

Given under Our Signet, at Our Castle at Windsor, the seven and twentieth of November.

It appears by our Author, that the like Letters, mutatis mutandis, were sent unto Sir Edward Stan∣ley, and some other men of princip••l note in Lan∣cashire and Cheshire.

There is more in the Education than the Birth (though that be Noble too) of this Gentleman: much Generous Blood sparkled in his Veins, more Arts and Sciences thronged in his S••ul: A learned Prince brought up a learned Gentry, the most hope••ul of whom think themselves as much ob∣liged to imitate his Virtues, as the most degene∣rate were inclined to practi••e his Vices. Four ex∣cellent Artists were at once entertained in his Fa∣thers House:

• 1. A compleat Grammarian and Linguist, Parker.
• 2. An exact Mathematician and Historian, Calvius:
• 3. A skilful Musitian, Palleviceno.
• 4. An active Dancing-master and Souldier.

The Latine Tongue then wearing out its Barba∣rism, he spake and writ elegantly: Cicero's Works he kenned particularly: Plutarch's Lives and Mo∣rals (that Book which, as Gaza said, would furnish the World, if Learni••g were lost) he epitomized punctually: The active and practical part of Geo∣metry, he studied intently. And, as the complai∣sance of his Nature and sweetness of his Temper, he added to these severer studies, those more airy of Musick, Poetry, and Heraldry.

Si ad naturam eximiam eruditio accesserit tum de∣mum singulare quoddam existere solet. This Noble Nature, advanced by this Heroick Education, must needs do Wonders, as it did: first, In the Univer∣sity:

where his Company was choice, his Carriage even and staid, his time exactly observed and pru∣dently spent: secondly, abroad: where his Con∣verse was wary, his Conduct Noble and Plausible, his observations and exercises manlike and know∣ing: Thirdly, at Court: where his presence was graceful, his discourse solid, digested, distinct, and clear; much improved by reading, more by tra∣velling, most by con••erence with those that speak well: Fourthly, in the Country: where his Hospi∣tality was renowned, his Equity and Prudence be∣loved, and his Interest large and commanding. None pleased the King at Court more, such his Learning to satisfie him, such his Debonairness to delight him; (for as Cardinal Wolsey, so Sir Wil∣liam Molineux got in with King Henry the Eighth by a Discourse out of Aquinas in the morning, and a Dance at night.) None served him better in the Country: Such his obligations upon Tenants and Neighbours, that he had six thousand men at com∣mand: such his prudence and justice, that there were more differences ended in his Parlour, than in Westminster-Hall: such his ca••e and watchful∣ness, that no Treason stirred, but his Agents dis∣covered, and his Militia was at an hours warning to suppress it: The Idea of the English Gentle∣man! In Favour at Court! In Repute in the Coun∣try! At once Loved and Feared!

Four things he took special care of: 1. That the Poor might have their stated Alms. 2. That the Priests might enjoy their known Dues. And 3. That his Tenant might be so well used, that he might thrive; and but so well, that he should not be idle. 4. That every Body should be employed: saying,

He had rather they should be busie, though doing no∣thing to the purpose, at the charge of his Purse; than that they should be idle, doing nothing at all, at the charge of their own pretious time. In a word, he li∣ved in all Capacities a publick Good, and died a common L••ss: Leaving in his Family that best Legacy, A good Example; and his Country that lasting Mo••ument, A good Name, for two things that he hated; 1. Depopulating inclosures: 2. Un∣worthy Inhancements of Rents: For he died with this Advice to his Son, Let the Vnderwoods grow. The Tenants are the supports of a Family, and the Commonalty are the strength of the Kingdom. Improve thriftily, but force not violently either your B••unds or Rents above your fore-Fathers. His Po∣pula••ity never failed of being called to the Parlia∣ment, nor his Activity of being useful there: None understood better how to move, to press, to quit, to divert, to escape, to watch and mould a busi∣ness: None knew better the confederacy of Contri∣vers, Speakers, Sticklers, Dividers, Moderators, and the •• & No-Men, their Method & Correspondence: None more patient and industrious, when a lower Faction was firmer in conjunction, and a few that were stiff, tired out many more moderate. He had no easiness to be imposed upon, no weakness to be deluded, no low Interest to be corrupted by fond hopes or fair promises of Preferment, to wave the very pinch of a dispute; no pleasure or vanity to be debauched, while the vigilant Faction steals a Vote worth a Kingdom; no sloath nor neglect, to be surprized; no vanity of discourse, to lose his Master, no partiality to be biassed, no discontent to satisfie, no passion to misguide: As one that

hated nothing, but what was Dishonest; feared nothing, but what was ••gnoble; and loved no∣thing, but was Just and Honourable: having a care of his Virtue, as lying in his power, but not of For∣tune, as lying in the power of Superiours, from whom he could only by deserving command a favour; he being of Plato's opinion, that a mans mind is the Chariot; Reason the Coach-man; Affecti∣ons the Horses; desire of Honour the Whips; both exciting to goe forward, and awing to be exact: Honour, always keeping up curiously the honoured person in an heighth of action, that keeps an even pace with admi∣ration; evenness and constancy being the Crown of Virtue.

Observations on the Life of Sir Wil∣liam Fitz-James.

HIs Judgement in Parliament brought him to the notice, and his Activity & prowesse in the Wars recommended him to the service of King Henry. The Bishops pleaded for the Catholiq••e Religion, the People for a Reformation; Sir Wil∣liam offered his Opinion for a mean between both; That since it was unreasonable to tie up Mankind in blind obedience one toward another, and impossible to run through all Difficulties and Controversies our own selves, (so much Time and Money must be spent in such an Vndertaking, so many Languages learned, so many Authors read, so many Ages looked into, so many Faiths examined, so many Expositors conferred, so many Con∣tradictions reconciled, so many Countries travelled, for

any considerable satisfaction) to believe all, is inconsi∣stent; to neglect all, is impious: There remains no other way for the Laicks, but to recollect and ••ick to the most Common, Authentick and Vniversal Truths, tending to Virtue and Godliness; apart from what is doubtful and controverted, and tending only to strife and perplexity; and by these to live our selves, and exa••ine all other pretensions whatever; there being no part of Religion but what hath Virtue and Grace as its Foun∣dation and Design: A way that would keep men from Atheism, under a sense o•• Religion; from endless con∣troversies, in the solid p••actice of Virtue; from fatal Divisions, in peace and concord. Let us (said he) e∣stablish and fix these Catholique and Vniversal No∣tions, and they will settle our Souls, and not hinder us to believe whatsoever is faithfully taught by the Church, or submit to what is authoritatively enjoyned by the State. So that whether t••e Eastern, Western, Northern, or Southern Teachers, &c. and particular∣ly whether my Lord of Rochester, or Luther, &c. be in the Right, we Laicks may so build upon those Ca∣tholicks and infallible Guards of Religion, as whatso∣ever superstructures of Faith be raised, these Founda∣tions may support them.

This Discourse opened a Door to the Reforma∣tion intended, and shut out all those prejudices it might lie under from the State, and Religion o•• Fore-Fathers, &c.

Hereupon Sir William is invited to Court; and when the air and softness of that place suited no•• his more severe and stirring Temper, he is pro∣moted to Authority first by Land, and then by Sea; where none was more watchful in the War••

between Us and France, none so active in those between Us and Scotland: With thirty six Ships he gave Law to the narrow Seas, as Poynz with forty more did to the Main: There was not a ser∣viceable man belonging to him, but he knew by name; It being his Rule, That none fought well, but those thet did it for a fortune.

While he watched the Coast of France, he disco∣vered twelve French Ships, in which the Arch∣bishop of Glasco, and divers others of Quality were, (whom the Duke of Albany had sent before him into Scotland;) these he chased to a ship-wrack: and leaving a Squadron to shut up the French Havens, went along the French Coasts, landing in divers places, wasting the Country, till at last he came to Treport, a Town strongly situated, and garisoned with three thou∣sand men, which yet he took; and finding it not his Interest to dwell there, pillaged and burned it, going off with Success and Glory: Insomuch that King Henry joyned him with the Bishop of Bath in the Commission for the Treaty at Paris; where such Articles were agreed on touching a Marriage with the Princess Mary, and the joynt Embassie to the Emperour, as spake Sir William as well seen in the state of Europe, as any particular Person in the seven Kingdoms of it: whereof one was, That they should unite by all the Ties of Alliance. Friendship and Interest, a∣gainst the growing Power of Austria, so far as that there should be no League, Correspondence, War or Peace, wherin they both should not be concerned.

From his Forein Negotiations he returns to his home-services: and the next view we have of him is in the Parliament, bringing up with Sir Anthony Fitz-Herbert, a Bill against the Cardinal; who wi••hed then, as Philip Duke of Burgundy did, that with Alexander he had Died young.

• 1. For encroaching upon his Sovereigns power by his Legantine Authority.
• 2. For treating between the Pope and the King of France, without his Master's privity and consent; as likewise between Himself and the Duke of Fer∣••ara.
• 3. For joyning Himself with his Majesty; saying, The King and I.
• 4. For swearing his Houshold-servants only to himself.
• 5. For speaking with the King, when infected with the Pox, pretending it was only an Imposthume.
• 6. For giving by prevention divers Benefices away, as Legate.
• 7. For receiving Embassadors before they came to the King: As also for opening all the Kings Letters, and taking an account of all Espials, concealing what he pleased
• 8. For carrying things with an high hand in the Privy Council.
• 9. For transporting Grain, and sending advertise∣ments of the Kings Affairs abroad.
• 10. For taxing or alienating Religious mens lands, to the great decay of hospitality and charity.
• 11. For controuling the Nobility, and engrossing all Causes in his Iurisdiction.
• 12. For taking all ordinary Iurisdiction from them by prevention, and seizing their Estates, as be

• ... did all other Ecclesiastical persons upon their death.
• 13. For perswading the Pope by indirect practices to suppress Monasteries.
• 14. For passing Iudgments without hearing, and reversing such Iudgments as had duly passed.
• 15 For suspending the Popes pardons untill he was ••ee'd.
• 16. For turning out his old Tenants.
• 17. For his general encroachments upon the Rights of Religious Houses, and the encroachments of Courts of Iustice.
• 18. For saying to the Pope, in order to the obtain∣ing of a Legantine power, to the indelible shame of the Church of England, That the Clergy of England were given in reprobum sensum.
• 19. For embezling the Goods of the most wealthy Prelates that died in his time.
• 20. For bringing off his Servants from the Law against extortion, at York.
• 21. For dividing the Nobility.
• 22. For keeping as great state at Court, and exer∣cising as great authority in the Country for purveyance, &c. as the King.
• 23. For forbidding petitions and purveyances within his Iurisdictions.
• 24. For engrossing all Copy holds within his power, to his Lemans, Procurers, &c.
• 25. For altering the Market-prices set under ••His Majesties Hand and Seal.
• 26. For impressing his Hat under the King's Crown, in the Coyn at York.
• 27. For hindering the due course intended by vi∣siting the Vniversities to suppress heresies.
• 28. For disposing of mens Estates and Proprieties at his pleasure.

This Bill was aggravated most effectually, by three most pinching considerations: Viz. That the King's Honour was by him diminished: That the state of the Realm was by him decayed and dis∣contented: That the course of Justice was by him obstructed. A great Undertaking, this! To bring down this lofty Prelate! (whom his Master created the * King's Fellow, and his own pride made his Superiour) But as Wise as Great, if we regard the five Politick circumstances:

• 1. The Queen was engaged.
• 2. The People were oppressed.
• 3. The King was needy and covetous.
• 4. The Nobility were kept under.
• 5. The Clergy were harrassed: And all by this proud man: And at that juncture is he convened before the Parliament, and charged home by this excellent Knight, who never left him till he was humbled, as Justice Fitz-Herbert did not his ser∣vants, until they were reformed.

Neither did the Pope escape him abroad, better than the Cardinal at home: For his next action we find is a Declaration drawn by him, Io. Fits-War∣ren, Tho Audley, and Others, to Pope Clement the Seventh, expostulating his Delays, and conjuring his Dispatch in the Business of the King's Mar∣riage.

Very serviceable he was to his Master in time of Peace, more in time of War, where he said as the great General did, that he never saw fear, but up∣on the back of his enemies: and particularly ••t the Insurrection 1536. where he cut off the Rebels Passes, distressed their Arms, and when they refused a Treaty but upon condition that Ashe their Leader

was pledged, advised an engagement with them out of hand; saying, No English-man should be under∣valued so far as to be an Hostage for a Villain: and adding further (so good was his Intelligence) That if they were not defeated speedily, the Scots and Ger∣mans would discover that they had but too much hand in this plot.

For which his services, his Master raised him to the Admiralship of England, and the Earldom of Southampton; in which Qu••lity he was one of the three Noblemen that managed the Business of Di∣vorce between the King and Anne of Cleve, with that applause that made him Lord Privy-Seal, Nov. 14. Anno 1541. and the grand Examinant of the particulars in the Lady Katharin Howard's Case, a matter of great trust and secrecy; w••ich he per∣formed with a searching and deep Judgment, be∣yond that Ladies fear, and the King's expectation; as appears from the exact Account given under Sir Tho. Audley and his own hands, touching that mat∣ter.

Having provided for the Kings Safety at Home, he is One of Four that treat for his Intrest abroad, I mean upon the Borders of Scotland; where our excellent Persons dexterity was observed, in gain∣ing that time by various Proposals ••or Peace, that served his Master to provide against the War; in the beginning whereof, the brave Lord died at York: so much esteemed, that for the Honour of his Memory his Standard was born in the Fore-ward, all this Expedition. A Person in whom prudence was even with activity, resolution with prudence; Success with Resolution, Moderation with Success; Honour and Favour with All.

Observations on the Life of Sir Tho∣mas Darcy.

SIr Thomas Darcy was one of King Henry the Eighth'•• first Counsellours, so advanced (a•• most of his Fellows) not for Affection, but Inte∣rest; owing his Promotion to his own sufficiency, rather than his Masters favour. His Counsel was weighty at Home, his Assistance necessary Abroad; where in behalf of Pope Iulius the second and the Emperour, he did more with 1500 Archers in •• year for the balancing of Europe, than had been done before in an Age.

No Employment so dangerous at that time as that of the Warden of the West Marches of Scot∣land, none so noble for that Employment as my Lord, who was equally knowing and stout, and at once most feared, and most loved.

The Earl of Shrewsbury made some Inroads into Scotland, the Lord Darcy seconds him: But being surprized by the Duke of Albany's preparations, he had as much Wit to make Peace, as he had Resolu∣tion to carry on the War. None knew better when to yield, none better when to conquer; so great •• command had he over himself! so great over th•• Enemy, that he brought them to request his Wish, aud offer what was his Interest! With the Duke of Surrey's assistance by Land, and Fitz-William•• his by Sea, he reduced that Nation to a good Intel∣ligence

with Us that year, and a Peace the next; a Peace (as he observed) that would ••e no longer kept, than we had a Sword in our Hands, and an Army on their Borders: For Con••cience guided other parts of the World, (he said) and Fear Scot∣land: Whence he invaded them duely once a year.

Observations on the Life of Sir Tho∣mas Howard.

SIr Edward's Brother in Worth, as well as Blood: His Fathers Interest set him up, and his own Industry kept him so: All the Children were brought up for Sea-Services, this Gentleman for Sea Commands. He immediatly succeeds his younger Brother in the Admiralty; and wisely considering the advantage of the French Gallies in a calm, the number of their ships, the danger of their winds for us, if they blew South-west, desir∣ed of the King so many Souldiers as might man the ships, and make good the landing, wherewith he scoured the seas, and secured the Kings passage, with so much Honour, that he was able to assist his Father at Court, as much as Wolsey did Fox: his Gallantry being no less pleasing to his Master, than the other young Favou••ites Compliance; and both these young men had no less Art to govern his Prince, than he had to govern his Kingdom: These Arts, which all other Favourites use, being Hopes and Fears, which as Doors & Passages to the heart, a••e so guarded by their vigilancy, that they c••n

both let themselves in, and keep all others out: the two Ends upon which the Thread of Govern∣ment depends. His Father is made Duke of Nor∣folk, and he Earl of Surrey; both are an eye-sore to the Cardinal, who••e Fortune h••d no Superior in the Ki••gs Favour, whose Ambition would en∣dure no Equal The Old Mans years and cares are fitted with a Retirement in the Country; the Young Mans ambition and activity, with a Go∣vernment in I••eland, which he reduced as speedily to obedience (notwithstanding Desmond's Rebelli∣on) as he had to civility, had it not been for Wol∣sey's Underminings, who endured no publick ser∣vice but what he did himself; and would chuse ra∣ther that the Kingdom should perish by a Traytor, then be saved by a Nobleman. Beloved he was by that Country (where he left a Peace and a Parlia∣ment, Anno 1521.) so that they were loth to part with him: Wanted he was by the King, to scour the narrow seas for the French War; so that he must have him. The King hath made him for∣merly His Admiral, the Emperour upon his return from England makes him his; and with both their Commissions he lands in Normandy, wastes the ad∣jacent Countries, (sparing only Religious Houses) takes and sacks Morlais in Bretaign (which he en∣tered under the smoak) burns their ships, com∣mands the sea, and sets the Emperour safe in Spain; advising his Majesty from thence to make a gene∣ral Muster of his Subjects for his own satisfaction and others terrour, March 27, 1522. The trou∣bles in Scotland required an able Head and a stout Heart, two Endowments that no man was more Master of than the Earl of Surrey, now Duke of

Norfolk (upon his beloved Fathers decease) whose Prudence toyled the Scots to deliver up their King, as his Prowess frighted them to yeild up themselves, as they did in that most exquisi••e Treaty, where the Earl of Worcester beat the Bush, saith my noble Author, and our Duke catched the Hare.

A while after he is Earl Marshal, and Embassa∣dor to King ••rancis about t••ose two grand poin••s:

• 1. That the French King should set up a Patriarch:
• 2. That he should stop up all the payments made to Rome, wi••h fair promises of that supply of men and money he then most wanted

When the Pope stuck to Queen Katherine, three things he advised the King to:

• 1. To teach the people that a general Council was above the Pope, and proclaim that he did ap∣peal to it.
• 2. To fix upon every Church-Door the Dowa∣gers Appeal to Rome, and the late Statute against it.
• 3. To confederate with the Kings of Hunga••y and Poland, the Estates of the Empire and the Hanse Towns. Three things that would settle his People at home, and strengthen his Interest a∣broad: To which he added the Statute of Suc∣cession, the Oath of Supremacy, Sir William Ho∣ward's Embassy to the Scotch King, the suppression of Religious Houses, the War in Ireland under Sir William Sheffington, and a thorow search into the bottom of the Rebellion in the North, by a con∣nivance and delay.

But all his services could not quit him from su∣spicion, nor his popularity from envy: The Lord Da••cy accuseth him to excuse himself, and Cromwel seconds him ••o secure himself: & (as unhappinesses follow one another in the same order as one wave flowe••h after another) his Nieces miscarriages threatned his fall; but that the honest man (as ap∣pears from a Letter the whole Council sent to Sir William Paget then resident in France) was the first that declared against her, and put the King up∣on the most safe & honourable ways of trying her; which sati••fied his Majesty so far, that he employed him as c••ief in the Treaty upon the Borders, and General in the War when that Treaty failed; Sir Anthony Brown, upon his Recommendation, being added to the Commissioners in Scotland, and to the Privy-Council in England, ••s Master of the King's Horse, as Sir Iohn Gages was Compt••oller of his House.

Several Persons came to London for a Reward of their Scotch service••; this Duke gave the King a wa••y and grave counsel, to bestow upon them as much Land as they could win in Scotland.

But Greatness is fatal: The King is old and testy, the Government disordered & irregular, the Duke too stifly honest to comply, the Council envy him; and in this Juncture his Wives passion discovereth his Minions, and they, to save themselves, his pri∣vacies and secrets: His son, a man of a deep unde••∣standing, of a sharp wit and great valour, bred up with Henry Fitz-roy at Windsor, and afterwards at Paris, was beheaded before his face. His Favourite M••s. Holland deposed, That he said many, looked for the Protectorship (when the King, who lived and

moved by Engines and Art, rather than by Nature, should die) but he would carry it: That the King did not love him because he was loved by his Coun∣try; but he would follow his Fathers Lesson, which was, That the less others set by him, the more he would set by himself: That he had a Daughter for the King as well as others•• &c. His Estate was great, his pow∣er greater; the King's occasions had swallowed up the one, and his Enemies ambition the other, not∣withstanding his humble submission before the Council, and his many services to the King, had not his Majesties Death saved his Life.

As the deepest Hate is that which springs from violent Love, so ••he greatest Discourtesies oft arise from the largest Favours. It is indiscreet to op∣press any, dangerous a Prince with Kindnesses; which being Fetters, are Treason on that Person: But Suspicion! Ah sad Suspicion! The Companion of the Weak or Guilty! The Cloud of the Mind! The Forfeiture of Friends! The check of Busine••s! Thou that disposest Kings to Tyranny! Husbands to Jealousie! Wise men to Irresolution and Melan∣choly! Trust, and you need never suspect: But Policy and Friendship are incompatible, I see; where Norfolk begs that Life from the Block at last, which he had ventured two and thirty times for his Sove∣reign. Who knows the Cares that go to Bed with Statesmen! Enemies Abroad, Treache••ies at Home, Emulations of Neighbours, Dissatisfaction of Friends; Jealousies of most, Fear of all: unwel∣come Inventions to palliate unjust Courses: fears of Miscarriage and Disgrace; with Projects of Honour and Plausibility, with restless thoughts how to dis∣cover, prevent, conceal, accommodate the Adver∣saries,

or his own Affairs. Let us live, and love, and say, God help poor Kings!

Observations on the Life of Sir Edward Stanley.

THe Stanley's service to Henry the Seventh, was a sufficient pledge of their faithfulness to Henry the Eighth. Honour floated in Sir Edward's blood, and Valour danced in his spi∣rits: His stirring childhood brought him to Henry the eighth's company, and his active manhood to his service. The Camp was his School, and his Learning was a Pike and Sword; therefore his Ma∣sters Greeting to him was when they met, Hoh, my Souldier! In many places did he shew himself, but no where more than at Flodden, where his Ar∣chers fetched down the Scots from their fastness, and relieved the English from their distress; the Earl of Surrey beginning the Conquest, and Si•• Edward crowning it: for which the King immedi∣ately set him high in his favour, and not long a••ter, as high in the world, being made Baron Stanley, and Lord Mounteagle. Twice did he and Sir Iohn Wallop land with only 800. Men in the heart of France, and four times did he and Sir Tho. Lovell save Callis; the first time, by Intelligence; the se∣cond, by a stratagem; the third, by valour and re∣solution; and the fourth, by hardship, patience, and industry.

In the dangerous Insurrection by Ashe and Cap∣••••in Cobler, his Zeal for the States welfare was a∣••ove scruples, and his Army was with ••im before ••is Commission: for which dangerous piece of ••oyalty, he asked pardon, and received thanks. Two things he did towards the discomfiture of the Rebels, (whose skill in Arms exceeded ••is Follow∣••rs, as much as his policy did their Leaders) first, he cut off their provisions, and then secondly, sow∣••d sedition among them, whilst his Majesty gained ••ime by pretended Treaties to be even with them, drawing off the most eminent of the factions every day, and confounding the rest. He lived wi••h this strange opinion, that the soul of Man was like the winding up of a Watch, and when the String was run out, the Man died, and there the Soul deter∣mined, but he died not so.

Observations on the Life of Sir Thomas Bolen.

THe City enriched this Family, their Parts raised them: His Activity was as taking with King Henry, as his Daughters beauty. He was the Picklock of Princes: upon his word on∣ly would the King model his Designs, and upon his word alter them. He discovered Ferdinand's underhand-treaty with Lewis, and his design upo•• Navarre; a••d writ to his Master to press the ambiguous man to a co••clusion, and to send o∣ver

some treasure: for, said he, the whole World i•• now to be sold; adding the necessity of a peace, o•• at least a truce with Scotland. Sir Thomas Bole•• was against the Kings going to France in person be∣fore he had some more issue, or * 2.1 Edmund de la Po•••• were dispatched out of the way. Sir Thomas Ho∣ward was for it, it being dangerous to entrust so Noble an Army, or so renowned an Action with any subject, especially when Maximilian the Empe∣rour offered to serve under his Majesty as Lieute∣nant, and the Pope to attend him as Chaplain. There is nothing more remarkable of Sir Thom•••• Bolen, than, 1. The Education of his Children; his eldest son being bred at the Emperours Court, his youngest with the Pope at Rome, and his Daughter with Queen Mary in France. 2. His Negotiation with the Lord St. Iohns in Germany, where he over-reached the Emperour no less than the Earl o•• Worcester did the French King: so cun∣ningly binding him, that he understood nothing of our Affairs; and yet so narrowly si••ting him, that we knew all his Intrigues. Visible was all the world to our State then, and invisible our State to all the world.

From Germany he is sent with Richard Samp∣son, D. H. to Spain, to set Charles as forward a∣gainst the French, as he had done Maximilian. His service advanced him to the honour of a Barony and a * 2.2 Viscountship, and the profit of the Trea∣sureship of the Houshold; and his success upon the Malecontent Duke of Bourbon by Sir Io. Russel, who treated with him in Disguise, set him as high in the Kings favour, as his Wife was; a virtu∣ous Lady, that was the Kings Friend, but not his Mistriss; his delight, and not his sin.

In Spain so earnestly did our Sir Thomas mediate ••or the delivering up of the French Hostages, that (as Sandoval saith) Charles protested to him, that for his sake onl•• he would relinquish his Demand for the restitution of Burgundy, in which the difficulty of the peace consisted: adding further, That for the same reason he would accept as well for Francis his two sons ransome, as his charge, what was freely of∣fered, viz. 2000000 Crowns: and he with Sir Ro∣bert Poyntz make up that treaty, the great Arbi∣••rators of Europe! at whose disposal Kings set their Crowns, and Kingdoms their Peace; in whose breast fate the fate of Christendome, by their voices to stand or fall.

As faithful is he to the King at home, though to his own prejudice, as he is serviceable abroad, to his honour: for when the people talked oddly out of envy to his Daughter, (now visibly in favour) and pi••y to Q••een Katherine, Sir Thomas adviseth his Majesty to ••orbid his Daughter the Court, and declare that those proceedings ••ere more to sa∣tisfie his Conscience, and secure Succession, than to gratifie any other more private respect: so far to his Daughters discontent, that she would not come near the King until her Father was commanded (not without threats) to bring her thither; who by representing the common danger to them both, obtained at length (saith my Lord Herbert) though not without much difficulty, the cons••••t of his un∣willing Daughter to return: where yet she kept that distance, that the King might easily perceive how sensible she was of her late dismission. Sir Thomas would have married her to the Lord Percy, but the King and Cardinal forbad it; deterrin

old Northumberland from it, and he his Son. Many Love-Letters between King Henry and Anne Bolen are sent to Rome: one Letter be••w••en the Cardi∣nal and his Confede••ates is fetched thence by Sir Thomas his Dexterity; who advised Sir Francis Bryan, then Resident, to get in with the Popes Closet-keepers Courtezan, and shew her the Car∣dinals hand, by which she might find out and copy his Expresses; as she did to his ruine, and our King's great satisfaction. To which Letter is an∣nexed a Declaration under his hand, and the Lords Darcy, Mountjoy, Dorset, and Nor••olk, of 44 Articles against the great Cardinal. His hand being now in, he must through: He adviseth the King to consult the Universities of Christendome: He goeth in person when made Earl of Wiltshire to the Pope, and contrives that a Declaration of the whole Kingdome in Parliament should follow him: which so amused his Holiness with our Earls stra∣tagems, that he was asleep as it were until the state of England was quite altered. To this he adds the peace with France, and the interview with King Francis, where his Daughter is married privately, and her Brother made Yiscount Roch∣ford. Convening a Parliament to his mind at Black-Fryers, and advancing an Arch-bishop to his purpose in Canterbury, he is secure of the Church and of the Kingdom; whereof the first hallowed the action, & the second confirmed it. I say nothing of the bird, the egge is bad, and left by the hard hearted and Orstredg posterity in the Sand: think∣ing it more engenuous to confess that the scandal of it is not to be answered, than to bustle and keep

a coil, and twist new errors with old, falling to Scylla for fear of Charybdis, for fear of the absur∣ditie•• that dropped from that first one as thick as Sampsons Enemies heaps upon heaps.

Observations on the Life of Sir Ed∣ward Howard.

HE set out with his Fathers Reputation, and came home with his own: Britain feels his Arm to this day. and the French his success. Des∣perate were his Undertakings, yet happy; rash his Engagements, yet honourable; it being his Maxime, That never did Sea-man good, that was not resolute to a degree of madness. The French Fleet he pursueth to the Haven under their own Forts closely. Sir Edward considering the order where∣in the French lay, thought fit to advertise his King and Master thereof; advising him withal, (saith my Author) to come in person, and have the glo∣ry of this Action: but the Kings Council taking this Message into consideration, and conceiving that it was not altogether fear, (as was thought) but stratagem and cunning that made the French thus attend their advantage, thought the King was not invited so much to the honour, as to the danger of this Action; therefore they write sharp∣ly to him again, commanding him to do his duty: whereof that brave person was so sensible, that he landed 1500 men in the sight of 10000, and wast∣ed the Country, until being too confident, he fell

a while after into his Enemies hands; the Lord Ferrers, Sir Thomas Cheyney, Sir Richard Cornwal, and Sir Iohn Wallop looking on, but not able to relieve him. Four Reasons he would usually give against a War with the Low-Countries: 1. The decay of Trade: 2. The Diminution of Customs. 3. The strengthening of France: 4. The loss of their industry and inventions, and so of the im∣provement of our Commodities & Manufactures. In the youth of this State, as of all others, Arms did flourish; in the Middle-gate of it, Learning; and in the Declining, (as Covetousness and Thrift attend Old Age) Mechanick Arts and Merchan∣dize: and this Gentleman was made for each part, being not so much a Souldier as a Scholar, nor so much a Scholar as a Merchant. But a private spi∣rit is most unfortunate; and (as my Oracle assures me) whereas men of that temper all their time sacri∣fice to themselves, they become in the end themselves sacrifices to fortune, whose wings they thought by their wisdome to have pinioned.

Observations on the life of Sir Tho∣mas Howard Earl of Surrey.

SIr Thomas Howard was this Kings prime Coun∣sellour; a brave and an understanding man: who was obliged to be faithful to his Master, be∣cause an Enemy to Winchester: (emulation among Favourites is the security of Princes.)

Four motives he offered for a Marriage with the Princess Katharine:

• 1. A League with Spain, against the growing power of our dangerous Neighbour France.
• 2. The saving of much time and expense in Marriage, by her being here.
• 3. The consideration of that vast sum of Money that must be exported if she goeth away. And
• 4. The great Obligation laid on the Pope by that Dispensation, which would secure to him the King aud his Posterity, not otherwise Legitimate but by his Authority.

His Estate was much wasted in the service of Henry the seventh, and as much improved by the treasures of Henry the eighth, which amounted in the beginning of his Reign to 1800000 l. i. e. at the rate of money now adays, six millions and an half; which he dispensed so thriftily, that old Winchester could not trapan him; and yet so no∣bly, that young Henry was pleased with him. Sir William Compton set up the King's * 2.3 Rich Life∣guards, (under Bourchier Earl of Essex as Captain, and the valiant Sir Io. Peachy who kept Calais in so good order with 300 men, as Lieutenant) but this wary Earl put them down again. When News was brought that Empson and Dudley were slain, it was the Earls opinion that his Majesty had done more like a good King than a good Master. When the narrow Seas (whereof the Kings of England have been very tender) were infested, this old Treasurer and Earl-Marshal cleared it by his two sons Edward and Thomas, saying, The King of Eng∣land should not be imprisoned in his Kingdome, while either he had an Estate to set up a Ship, or a son to

command it. In three weeks did he settle th•• North against the Invasions of Iames the fourth, now inclining in to the Feench; and in a fortnight did he raise 40000 l. to pay the Army, now ready to mutiny: insomuch, that when King Iames de∣nounced War against King Henry, he said, He had an Earl in the North that would secure his King∣dome; as he did with much resolution, prudence, and success at Flodden-Field, where he saw a King at his feet, and a whole Kingdome at his mercy; where he was forced to fight, so barren the Coun∣try, (una salus victis nullam sperare salutem!) where yet he pitched upon the most advantageous place and time; so great his Command of himself, and so noble his Conduct!

He sends Rouge Croix to the Scotch King, to tell him, That though he saw no Enemy at Sea, he hoped to find some upon the Land: That he came to justifie Bretons death, which it was as much below a King to revenge, as it was below a Privy Counsellour to have de∣served: That he expected as little mercy as he in∣tended; his sword being commissioned to spare none but the King, whom no hand must touch. To this Defiance, he added a Caution to the Herauld, That he should bring no messenger from the Enemy nearer than two miles of the Camp. So well were the Scots encamped, that when neither Arguments nor Stra∣tagems would draw them out, the Earl cuts off their provision there; and under the covert of a smoak got the Earl under the hill, and under ano∣ther of mist got they atop: The Scots played the men, until Stanley and Darcy did more than men: and the old mans Reserve concluded the doubtful day in so c••mpleat a Conquest, as brought 12000

Arms, 16 Cannons, 4000 Prisoners, and a Peace to the English Borders. Upon which, the Gene∣ral retires to those more necessary exercise•• of Justice and Government, until his Masters return: When all his Services advanced him (at that time, when it was •• Maxime of State, That Honours are the Lustre and Security of Crowns) to his Fath••rs Dukedom of Norfolk, as his Sons Merits promot∣ed him to his of the Earldom of Surrey.

The Kings Coffers decay, and his Occasions grow: The old man retires to his Country-house, having enjoyed his Honour Thirty years, to enjoy Himself Three: One of his last Undertakings be∣ing the appeasing of the London Tumults, May 1. 1517. when he left this behind him, A potent and wanton City, is a shrewd Enemy.

Observations on the Life of Sir Wil∣liam Compton.

HE was chief Gentleman of the Bedchamber to Henry the Eighth, and next to the chief in the affections of the same Prince: If his spirit had been as even with his favour, as his favour was with his Merits, he had been the most useful as well as the most eminent man in England: but he was too narrow for his Fortune, and more attentive to his private advantage, than to the publick affairs: This Saying is at once his History and Monument; Kings must hear all, but believe only one: for none can give a solid advice but he that knoweth all, and he must

not be every body. As to the affairs of Europe•• S•• William was clearly for the League against France as an opportunity to regain our Right in France and strenghthen our Interest in the Church & th•• Empire. My Lord Darcy was against it; becau•••• France was too hard for us before it swallowed u•• our a 2.4 Confederates, and much more since: advi¦sing some mo••e noble attempts for our just Empir•• upon the Indies. The young King is for a Wa•• with France, a•• an Engagement upon the Pope t•• advance England above all other Kingdoms; an•• declares himself as much Sir William's in opinio•• as he was his in affection.

This Gentleman had a deep insight in any thin•• he undertook, because he had a great patience t•• consider, an advantageous slowness to recollect, •• strong memory to grasp, and an indifferent tempe•• to judge: but when a matter exceeded his capaci••ty, or out-reached his sphere and orb, he had ei••ther a peremptory and great word to urge it, or •• sleight to wave it, or a subtlety to perplex it, (tha•• his amazed fellow-Commissioners should as littl•• unde••stand it) or a countenance and ge••ture too verbear it. However, in general he was close an•• reserved, (he had need go softly that cannot we•• see) leaving himself without observation or hol•• to be taken what he was. He studied the King nature, rather than his bu••iness; and humoure•• rather than advised him. The referring of all t•• a man, becomes a Prince, whose self is not him••self, but the community, (their good and evil be••ing (as my Lord Bacon writes) at the peril of •• publick fortune) but not a subject, whose privat•• advantage may be a publick ruine; not a Favou••rite,

whose benefit by that selfishness may be nar∣row as his own Fortune, but the hurt done by it is as large as his Masters, who must needs be undone, when his servants study to please Him, and to profit Themselves.

Observations on the Life of Sir Hen∣ry Marney.

SIr Henry Marney was one of young Henry's first Council, who loved his Peson well, and his Prospericy better; and impartially advised him for his good, and modestly contested with him a∣gainst his harm; that Council that was hand as well as head, and could perform as well as advise: This was the searching Judgement that discovered Buonviso the Lucchess his Letters to the French King, betraying our designs as soon as thought on, and instructing him for prevention, before our King was ready for the attempt. Industry and Thrift over-rules Princes: This Personage had no time to transcribe Intelligence, but what he borrowed from his sleep; nor money to buy it, but what he saved out of his allowance: yet he un∣derstood more than any one Prince of Europe, and was more consulted than any one Statesman. His Judgment was much valued, his Integrity more; ever offering what was solidly safe, rather than what was superficially plausible: as one who was a stranger to the wisdome of the latter Age, (as Sir Francis Bacon describes it) which is rather fine De∣liveries

and shifts from Inconveniences, than solid and grounded courses for advantage. His fore∣sight was large, and his spirit larger: he consider∣ed all Circumstances that occurred to him; judg∣ed what he considered, and spoke what he judged with that resolution as to his opinion, that argued he understood the matter in question; with that modesty as to his Superiours, that shewed he un∣derstood himself. He would say that he that could not with the Cameleon change colour with the Aire he live•• in, must with the Cameleon live only upon Aire.

Observations on the Life of Sir Ed∣ward Poynings.

SIr Edward Poynings was the third of eighteen Counsellours bequeathed by Henry the VII. to his Son, with his Kingdom; a Privy Council wherein there was not one Lawyer! and a Cabal that never condescended for advice to any below themselves, or for performance of any of their Degrees to any be••ides themselves; being a com∣pleat Body of active and knowing men in their own Orb. Who more prudent than Surrey? who more resolved than Poynings? whose Vigilancy made him Master of the Cinque Ports, as his Valour ad∣vanced him General of the Low-Country Forces, whom he led on to several services with such suc∣cess, and brought off (with the loss of not above an hundred men) with Honour from the Lady

Margaret, and Applause from the whole Coun∣try.

No less happy was he in his Government of Tournay, until the Council at home (now 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thin by the secession of Warham, Fox, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Norfolk) had more need of him than Garisons a••road: Vainly is that spirit penned within a City, that was equal to a Kingdom. It is the unhappiness of other Monarchies, that they have not Men answer∣able to their Employments; it was the unhappi∣ness of this, that it had not Employment suitable to its Men.

He liv'd and di'd in Arms: Bulloign saw him fi••st a Souldier, and Bulloign saw him last the best Camp-Master in all Christendom: always observing three things:

• 1. The Situation of his Camp to secure his Ar∣my.
• 2. The Accommodation of it, to supply it.
• 3. His Retreat, to draw off: the Avenues, to be guarded with Souldiers, and strengthened with Re-doubts; which he made Triangular, that more men might engage the Enemy at once: during erection whe••eof, the Army was pallisado'd in the Front with stakes headed with iron on both ends five foot long, & stuck slope-wise into the ground, to keep off both Horse and Foot: the Foot-Senti∣nels were without the Redoubts, the Horse-Guards beyond them, at distance enough to descry the E∣nemy, and not too much, to retire to their works. A serious and plodding brow bespoke this Noble Knights deep Prudence, and a smart look his re∣solved Valour; who was a man vastly different in his publick capacity, from what he was in his pri∣v••te

• employment:

  Quemquam posse putas mores narrare futuros Dic mihi, si fias tu leo, qualis eris.

Observations on the Life of Sir Charles Somerset.

SIr Charles Somerset, afterward Lord Herbert of Gower, &c. endeared himself to King H. as much for his Maxime, That Reason of State was Reason of Law; as for his Advice, That the King should never suck at Law, in case of Publique Good; and yet that all ••is Acts for publique Good should come as near as possi∣ble to the Law. So Popular was this Gentleman, that he received all the Petitions against Empson and Dudley; yet so loyal, that he advised his Ma∣ster neither to spare those Leeches, lest any should p••esume to alienate his Peoples affections from him by Extortions for the future; nor yet too se∣verely to punish them, lest any should be discou∣raged to serve the Crown for the present: (for indeed Empson and Dudley suffered for that which others were advanced for; the Parliament punish∣ed them for putting their Laws in execution, and the King deserted them for improving his Exche∣quer to a Treasury.)

Two things this Lord advised his Master to, be∣fore he put the Crown upon his head.

• 1. To redress the Peoples Grievances under his Father.
• 2. To marry not in France, where he had a Ti∣tle: A Kingdom so near us, that by reason of mu∣tual

• jelousies we may have peace with it some∣times, but Friendships never.

In the Houshold he was Lord Chamberlain, so discreet his Carriage! In the French Expedition, Anno 1513. he was General, so Noble his conduct! His Assi••stants were the Earls of Northumber∣land, Shrewsbury, Kent and Wiltshire; his Follow∣ers, the Lord Audley, De la Ware,a 2.5 Carew and Cur∣son, &c.

Therovene he besiegeth in good Order, and with Wolsey's advice, who had lived long in that Town; understands all the Avenues of it; a••d with Sir Oughtred, Sir Henry Guilford, Sir Edward Poynings, Sir Charles Brandon and, Sir Alexander Baynam's assistance, sprung several Mines, repulsed the French Relief and the City-Assailants, so that the Town was yielded August 22. 1513. and upon Mazimilian's Intreaty razed as he did Tournay, September 22. Herbert was for razing this place, as farther from us than Therovene; but Wolsey for the Bishopricks sake, is for the garisoning of it, as a Trophy. The King recollecting his former occa∣sions, Febr. 3. 1514. thought he could not do a more just or a more prudent Act, than recompence his Noble Servants (but the cheapest way, I mean that of Honour) as he did old Somerset with the Earldome of Worcester.

With this Honour at home, is joyned another abroad, viz. That of Embassie to Maximilian, where he reached that Germans depth••, and clearly demonstrated that those fond and impossible Offers of the Empire, were but Artifices rather than Kindnesses: to drain the Kings Treasure, rather than enlarg his Dominions: Advising him or raise

a Citadel at Tournay, and an Army in Normandy: He finished the Espousals between the Princess Mary and the Dolphin; and delivered Tournay, by the ••ame token that he would not let the Mareschal de Castilion to enter with Banner displayed, but rol∣led up, it being (as he said, who when Lord Her∣bert was at the taking of it) voluntarily yielded up, and not gotten by Conquest: and then bestow∣ed himself with Sir Richard Wingfield for the great enterview between King Francis and King Henry; an interview I know not whether more solemn or more dangerous: Kings cannot meet without great state, and they seldom part without much envy; who never are further asunder than when they meet, His most eminent Action here, was the Device of that Motto, Cui adhareo, praee••t; a Motto that speaks the Honour of England, and the Interest of Europe. The Arbitrators commanding both the parties, submitting ••o their Arbitration for two Cities in Italy, contending about their bounds, chose the People of Room to be their Ar∣bitrators; they gave either City a small pittance, and reserved all the rest to themselves; Quod in medio est Populo Romano adjudicetur.

Observations on the Life of Thomas Grey Marquess of Dors••t.

THe Kings Wars called for Souldiers, and his Peace for Statesmen; and here is a Person ex utroque magnus: When the whole design ••for

••he Invasion of France was ripened, this Marquess ••s made General, and attended by the Lord Tho∣mas Howard, the Lords Brook, Willoughby, and Fer∣••ers, with divers Knights, Gentlemen, and others ••o the number of ten thousand men, armed not only with Bows, but Halber••s: He distresseth Na∣var to a submission to his Master; forceth his way to Bayon, and with Sir Iohn Styles assistance, kept up the English Honour above that of France and the Empire, keeping close to his Commission, and not stirring a foot without exp••ess Orders from Ireland: Although his pre••ence countenanced some Actions his hands could not perform.

Three things he was very careful of.

• 1 Of Good Pay, lest his Souldiers m••••ined.
• 2. Of Good Diet aud Qu••rters, lest they failed.
• 3. Of Order, Discipline, and Temperanc••, espe∣cia••ly in strange Climates, lest they should be di∣stempered.

Two things he was unsuccessful for:

• 1. The narrowness of his Commission.
• 2. The reach of Ferdinand, who designed the Conquest of Navar, rather than of France.

Yet what reputation he lost by Land, Sir Ed∣ward Howard gained by Sea, commanding the French ships to their Harbours: Over-running Britain, and with Sir Tho. Knevet the Master of the Horse, Sir Iohn Carew, and Sir Henry Guilford's assistance he gave Law in the Mediterranean, until he awed the Neighbour-Princes to terms as honourable for his Master, as dishounorable for themselves: Now we find him valiant in earnest at Sea, anon so in jest at C••urt (at the solemn Justs proclaimed by Francis de Valois, Duke of Angoulesm in France)

his Nature being not s••inted, buy equally free to debo••ar and serious Enterprises of Pleasure or of Honour; where six Germans were at his mercy, and four Frenchmen at his feet. His spirit equal∣led those active times, and his temper his spirit.

Three things set him up

• 1. His large expenses for shew at Court.
• 2. His strength and manhood at Justs.
• 3. His skill and experience in the Field.

He was the best for embattelling an Army in those times: Observing

• 1. The number, strength, and experience of hih Camp.
• 2. The Nature and extent of the place, whe∣ther Champain or inclosed, hilly or plain, wood∣dy or moorish, straight or large; that he might ac∣cordingly di••pose of distances and stands.
• 3. Inclosure•• he aimed at for his Foot, and Champain for his Horse, together with the advan∣tages of Wind and Sun.
• 4. He impales the Flank and Reer with Mus∣kets, Pikes, aud Carriages.
• 5. His Divisions wer•• sundry, but well order∣ed to relieve one another: His main Battels three: the largest in the front, the next in the middle, with some spaces between for the fi••st to rally it self, or embody with the second; the third and strongest in the Rear, so divided that the two first Battels may retreat into it, and draw up in it's rear to watch the Enemies disorder in pursuit.

It's observed of the Turks, that they n••ver put their Ianizaries (thir best Souldiers) in the Front, but make use of them for Reserves, by which they have been very succesful: This Noble

Marquess went not by rote or fore-conceived ••ules, but by present Prudence, observing time, ••lace, and persons; neither would he lie open to ••n Enemies design by a constant Method, but alter ••is Stratagems, and contradict all the Rules of Discipline, to disorder the Enemy, and disappoint ••is expectation.

He hath somtimes compounded the wings of his Battle of ablest men, and the Battle it self of the meanest; ordering them, if overpowred, to make make their retreat to the Rear of the other Divi∣••ions, through the spaces appointed for that end; which the Enemy perceiving, followeth (not smel∣••ng the drift) not without disorder, as in all pur∣suits) between the two strong wings, who crush them in pieces: His Field-Piec••s after once or twice discharging, were drawn within the Divisi∣ons of the main Battle, to f••••e the Enemy at his next approaches if the Front were disordered: And to avoid the execution of hi•• Enemies, his files were thin, and his Dragoons ready to seize theirs, whereby at least they were hinderd from shooting; his Forlorn retired to the main Battel, and out of the Flanks thereof issued with Fire-pots and Granadoes upon the engaged Enemy.

His Horse were in four Battalia's, whereof the first was the greatest, lined with shot, placed on each wing of the main Army; ways opening up∣on the opening of the Enemy.

The greatest trust between man and man, is the trust of giving Counsel: For in other confidences (saith my Lord Bacon) men commit the parts of life, their Lands, their Goods, their Children, their Credit, some particular affair; but to such as they

make their Counsellours, they commit the whole, by how much the more they are obliged to faithfulness and in∣tegrity. None was more trusted than the Mar∣quess, none more trusty: None understood clear∣er what was fit, none spoke plainer what he un∣derstood. What wants a Sovereign? (said a flat∣tering Crurtier) Truth; (said a serious King) Never had King more need of it than Henry, never less of it than he; whom it was less fatal to Ru∣ing, than to Displease. But this Souldier was as much above feare as Flattery, that told him when pensive, That never was that man merry, that had more than one Woman in his Bed, more than one Friend in his Bosom, more than one Faith in his Heart.

So wa••y was this Gentleman, that he was not rash, and so lost his advantage; so valiant, that he was not contemptible, and so Lost his command: He led others by the strongest authority of his own forwardness, his own example; he was led him∣self by the best Guide, his own Observation, his own Experience: His Book limited not his De∣sign, nor his Paper-plot his Undertakings.

Land-service was his Exerci••e, but the Sea his Delight: The Compass his Study, the Stars his Care, Trade his Thoughts, our own and ••orein Havens his Discour••e, a Sea-man his Familiar, and three Sea-fights his T••iumph: His converse and speech was Souldier-like, plain, short, smart and material: There was a time when he would say noth••ng, and a time when he would say somthing; but ••e••er a time when he would say all.

He was in a word the happy man, who, notwith∣standing that the times could not endure his Vir∣tues, nor he their Vices, died at once full of ho∣honour

at Court, and applause in the Country, with this Monument from the King, That Honest and Good Man.

Observations on the Life of Sir Ro∣bert Wingfield.

HIs Parts and Person endea••ed him to the English Court, his Travel and Experience recommended him to Forein Negotiations particula••ly in the Emperour Maximilians Court whom his arguments and his own Interest drew off from France; Sir Robert helping him to some Ob∣servations touching the breach of the Article of Cambray, as his pretense to this alteration, and offering him what men and money he pleased, as his encouragement to this undertaking: Send∣ing in the mean time one Nicolas West, D. L. and Dean of Windsor, to feel the Pulse of all the Princes in Christendome; and advising, upon an entire re∣flection on their several Interests, the repair of our frontier Towns and Forts, an Army ready in the North, and a constant Parliament. He is Deputy of Calice, and Viceroy of France: What the French lost in the Fie••d, they got by Treaty, un∣til Sir Richard's time, whose Policy went as far as his Masters Power, in that Accord, Which tyed up (they said) the French Kings hands behind his back, and the Scotch between his legs. Yea, he al∣most perswaded Maximilian out of his Empire, 1615. though he wished the King not to accept of

until the French were out of Italy. Some do bett•• by Friends or Letters, Sir Robert best by himsel•• observing that he never failed, but when he i••••trusted others with what he could do himself; h•••• person breeding regard, and his eye seeing mor•• than any he could employ; and his present min•• being more ready in his own affairs upon any a••••teration to come on, draw back, or otherwise ac••comodate matters, than any Substitute, who see•••• not the bottom of things, nor turn to occasions•• He had about him his Blades and Gallants, to ex••postulate; his Orators and fair-spoken-men, t•• perswade; his close and subtile ones, to enqui•••• and observe; his froward men, to perplex; an•• his plain Agents, to report: Attendants for al•• services, whose experience made them knowing and confident. Doctor West, Pace, Lee, and Gar∣dener's way was the Circuit afar off; Sir Ro∣bert's was the Surprize, quick and nicked, No man observing time more closely; no man watch∣ing Natures tempers, interests advantages and ends more inde••atigably. It was the observation of those dayes, That Sir Robert Wingfield was the best to prepare and ripen Designs, and Sir Thomas Bolen to execute them: But that Age was two boysterous, and he too wary to advance beyond the reputation of a knowing Agent, in which c••∣pacity he lived; or of a resolved Patriot, with which honour he dieth.

Observations on the Life of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.

HIs Blood was high, his Revenue large; and he was born to adorn the Court, rather than to serve it. He vied with the King in Gallantry, and with the Cardinal in Pride: of the one he speaks irreverently, That Women governed him more than he did the Kingdome; of the other indi∣screetly, That Francis governed France, and Harry England, and Wolsey both; adding, That the Commonalty might well complain, when we had two Kings to maintain. That which ruineth the world, ruineth him, his Tongue. Fate never undid a man without his own indiscretion; and her first stroke is at the Head. Abroad, none more Gorgeous; at Home, none more Noble: at Court, splendid; among his Tenants, Prince-like; to his Relati∣ons, impartial. A Servant always pulled down the house of the Staffords; and now one Knevet his Steward, whom he had discharged for op∣pressing his Tenants, undoeth him: for his Father in-law the Earl of Northumbe••land is set under a Cloud, and his Son-in-law the Earl of Surrey is re∣moved, on pretense of honourable employment, out of the way; and Wolsey's malice at the Duke hath its full scope, who now deals with Knevets dis∣content to discover his Masters life, and suggest that the Duke by way of discourse was wont to say how he meant to use the matter, that if King Hen∣ry

died without issue, he would attain the Crown, and punish the Cardinal. George Nevil Lord A∣bergavenny his Son-in-law, impeached him, to save him••elf. His Title to the Crown was, his Descent from Anne Plantagenet, Daughter of Thomas of Wood••tock, Son to Edward the third. His Accusa∣tion was,

• 1. That he had conferred with a Cunning Man, (Hopkins, Monk of Henton) concerning the future state of this Realm; who advised him to Populari∣ty: for he should have all, if he had but the love of the People: the Wizard confirming this by Re∣volutions, and the Duke rewarding it with great encouragment.
• 2. That he disparaged the present Govern∣ment, and used Arts to secure the succession.
• 3. That he had threatned King Henry with the same D••gger that should have murthered Richard the third.

He denied the Charge very eloquently, and dis∣claimed his Life very rashly; his foolish words, ra∣ther than any designed malice, deserving rather pity then judgement. Much lamented was he by the People, and as much was the Cardinal maliced, being now called by the whole multitude, The Butchers Son. When Buckingham fell, three things fell with him:

• 1. The Splendour of the Court.
• 2. Hospitality, and good Landlords in the Country. And,
• 3. The High-Constableship of England.

All Greatness is subject to Envy; but none more than that which is insolent and affected, be∣ing never its self without its pomp and shew. Plain and modest Greatness is only safe: A Witch then blasts a man when most prosperous, and the Envious (the onely Wizard in the world) when most glorious. Wise men therefore have eclipsed themselves, that they might not be gazed on; and great Ones have shrunk, and suffered themselves to be ove••-born, to be secure. Vain-glorious men are the scorn of the Wise, the admiration o•• Fools, the Idols of Parasites, and the envy of the Unworthy, the Busie, the Unfortunate, the Ambi∣tious, and the Rivals. He lives well, that lives in peace; and he is safely g••eat, that is great in his Conscience. Anger sure is but a weakness in any man, (it belongeth so much to the Aged and the Childish) and an indecency in a Noble••man: yet it might have been a Gallantry in this Duke, had it no••, 1. Revealed secrets, and so betrayed him; And, 2. Spoke bitterly and dangerously, and so abused him. So far will Discontent carry Nature, that it easily believes what it wisheth: So much doth a Prophetick Vanity sway English-men, (that have the most of men of any in the world in Divi∣nations, and an itch to know things to come) that the wittiest Sir Thomas More, the most devout Bishop Fisher, the wisest Cardinal Wolsey, and the most Noble the Duke of Buckingham, have been undone by hearkening after P••edictions; the two first, of Elizabeth Barton; the third, of Iohn Sa∣cheveril; and the fou••th, Monk Hopkins. Always are these Divinations (like the Ast••ologers in Rome) by seve••e Laws forbidden; yet alw••ys a••e

they by vain persons obtruded. Many Wives, wo England! hardned many a Male-content to his ruine in King Henry the eighth's time: When HEMPE is spun, England is done, encouraged ma∣ny a Papi••t to his undoing in Queen Elizabeths time: Leo, Nullus, confirmed many a deluded soul to hi•• downfal in our days.

It was as fatal to this great man to trust his Ste∣ward, as his Wizard; the one deluded, the other betrayed him. It undoeth a man to be too close; therefo••e we have f••iends to ease our selves: it ruin∣eth a man to be too open; therefore there is a se∣cret not to be communicated to a friend. When the Duke of Buckingham made Knevet his Confes∣sour, he made him his Master. He that is Master of my Heart, is Master of my Life: If my Shirt, said Metellus, knew my minde, I would burn it. If my Servant or Friend knows my intentions, I must either undo him, o•• be undone by him, unless he be so much above a man, as not out of weakness to discover me; or so much above a sinner, as not out of corruption to betray me. Wild Beasts dwell in Dens, Fishes be in Mu••, and Birds in Nests, and a Wise Man is wrapped up in security. Gyges hi•• Ring was his wi••dome, whereby he unde••stood o∣thers, and was reserved himself. It's pity he ever learned to speak, that knoweth not how to be si∣lent. I would first be so wise, (s••ith a Wit and Wi••∣dome of our Ag••) as to be my own Counsellour, and next so secret as to be my own Counsel-keeper. Some of my Servants may be of my Bed-chamber, but none shall be of my closet. Before I told you of this, (saith Charles the Fifth of a Designe discovered upon the seventeen Province•• to his Favourite Lu∣nembergh)

I was Emperour, but now you are so.

But the heighth of the Dukes ••p••••it was equally unfortunate with the openness of it; and he fell no less because he despi••ed Knevet, than because he trusted him.

Contemned Dangers ruine surely, while ••hey su••prize us at once naked, and carele••s; as ill pre∣pared to offend the slighted Adversary, as to de∣fend our misunderstood Selves. The least Beings have their ••pleen, and command our caution: No creature too mean to be mischievous; none too in∣considerate to be feared. As long as Weakness can cling to Power, and Power to Malice, what Knevet would, but could not, that Wolsey could and would. If my Enemy be strong, he shall awe; if weak, he shall guard my Life. Two things are ne∣cessary in this Life, Faithful Friends, or Severe Enemies: T••e fewer of the former men of the Dukes fortune have, the more use they should make of the latter. The greatest Enemy, when ob∣served, may do me a great kindness; the least neg∣lected, can do no little mischief: Security is the only misfortune, and Carelessness the only fate that distresseth the World.

But the Duke threw away his life in a fatal word that could not be recalled, (I'le not ask the King for my Life.) Great need have we to guard that Tongue, whence flow the issues of Li••e and Death; and weigh those words that go abroad for the mea∣sure of our Weal or Wo; our words being given us to treat with the World about either, discreet∣ly to our happiness, or weakly to our ruine. It

hath repented men that they have spoken at all times; it repented none to have been silent in King Henry's, when there was no security but to the Reserved, and the Pliable. Dionysius the Ty∣rant, seeing one knocked down at one blow, said to his f••iends; what a folly is it to quit so fair a com∣mand for fear of dying, which lasts, no longer a space!

Observations on the Life of Sir Anthony Brown.

HE was always one of the Council to King Hen••y at home, and of his Commissioners a∣broad: no Treaty passing without his presence, no Negotiation without his advice; the first carrying as much Majesty with it, as the second did Autho∣rity: the Court having bred the one to a noble Mein, as Experience had done the other to an O∣racle; Experience, I say, whereby he saw more, as Alexander boasted, with his eye, than others com∣prehended in their thoughts; that being know∣ledge in him, that was but conjecture in others.

He was the best Compound in the World; a learned, an honest, and a travelled man; a good Nature, a large Soul, and a settled Mind, made up of Notes and Observations upon the most ma∣terial points of State he could learn at Courts; of Religion, among the Clergy; of Discipline, a∣mong Souldiers; of Trade, among Merchants; or

of the situation, interest, avenues and strong holds, by his own eyes. It's a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tost upon the Sea; it's pleasure to stand in the window of a Castle, and to see a Battel, with the adventures thereof below: but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the Vantground of Truth: (an Hill saith my Noble Author) not to be commanded, and where the air is always clear and serene;) and to see the Errors and Wandrings, the Mists and Tempests in the Vale below: That content is better felt than expressed that this Noble Per∣son took in his own clear thoughts, when it was Mist all round about him; and King Henry cried, What say Cromwel and Brown?

Vespasian asked Apollonius, What was Nero's over∣throw? and he answered him, Nero could tune the Harp well; but in Government sometimes he wound the pins too high, and sometimes he let them down too low. Sir Anthony told Henry the Eighth, That his Government had been more easie, if he had either set it not so lose at first, or not so strict at last; (as there was indeed no King so various as his Master, no State so changeable as his Government.) An even tem∣per begets awe and reverence; whilst the wide ex∣treams create either on the one hand contempt and insolence, or on the other discontent and murmuring. Haughty and violent Courts never bless the Owners with a settled Peace.

This deep man was Leiger in Rome six years, and Agent in France ten: A person of great dispatch, because of an orderly method and procedure; which he observed to a superstition, saying, Time and Method are my Masters. There are (saith my

Oracle) three parts of business; Preparation, Debate, and Perfection: The middle King Henry comunica∣ted to the whole Council, the first and last to few, viz. to my Lord Cromwel and Sir Anthony Brown.

The highest matters were his care; as the Inter∣view in France, 1533. the most eminent Statesmen his fellows, as the Duke of Norfolk, the Lord Roch∣ford and the Lord Paulet; tho••e Noble Persons bearing the state, and he managing the business of the Embassies.

The wise man of Florence took care that Ferdi∣nando of Naples, Medices of Florence, Sforza of Millain shou••d gain nothing of one another, to the g••eat secu••ity of Italy: Sir Anthony watched our Neighbours Conquest••, Trade, Approaches, &c. so closely, that none of those Potentates, Charles the Fifth, or King Francis, could win a spot of Ground, but his Master would balance it, and so secure Europe.

The Interviews between Princes he disallowed; yet to satisfie his Master, he provided for that in France so sumptuously, as one that understood the fo••mality of a Pageant was a real advantage to a Government whose Interest is as much to gain a reputation by pomp and shew, as support a welfare by prudence and strength: others apprehension of our greatness, contributing as much to our wel∣fare, as our welfare it self: Opinion governs the World: Princes with their Majesty, may be o••t en∣vied and ha••ed; without it, they are always scorn∣ed and contemned: Circumstances are often more than the main, and shadows are not always shadows: Outward Esteem to a great Person, is as skin to Fruit, which though a thin cover, preserveth it:

King Henry's Person and State did England more Right in a Year, than his Predecessors Arms in an Age; while they onely impressed a resolution in the Neighbours, he a reverence. As the Reason of man corr••cting of his sense about the m••gnitude and distance o•• heavenly bodies, is an argument that he hath an Inorganical, Immaterial, Impassi∣ble, and Immortal soul; so this Gentlemans Con∣science often reflecting upon his policy, about the Circumstances of many of his actions, was an ar∣gument that he was ••uled by holy, serious, and heavenly Principles: One effect whereof, was, that he desired rather the admonishing paines of a lingring death, than the favourable ease of a quick one, he reckoning it not an effect of cruelty, but a design of mercy, that he should dye so, ut sentiat se mori; and he looked on nothing as so great a snare to his thoughts as the opinion of Origen, and some othe••s called merciful Doctors, who did in∣deavour to possess the Church with their opinion of an universal restitution of all Creatures to their pristine Estate, after sufficient purgation; or any thing more a temptation to other mens souls, than the Blasphemy of some, making God the Author of good and evil, so much worse than the Manichees or Marcionites, as they held it not of their good God, whom they called Light; but of their bad God whom they called Darkness.

As Princes govern the People, so Reason of State the Princes: Spain at that time would command the Sea, to keep us from the Indies; and our Reli∣gion, to keep us from a Settlement: France sus∣pected our Neighbourhood, and engaged Scotland; the Pope undermined our Designs, and obliged

the French. Sir Anthony at Rome, in respectful terms, and under Protestation that his Majesty in∣tended no contempt of the See Apostolick, or Holy Church, intimated his Masters Appeal to the next General Council lawfully assembled; exhi∣biting also the Authentick Instruments of the same, and the Archbishop of Canterbury's at the Consistory, where, though the Pope made forty French Cardinals, yet our Agent and his money made twelve English, and taught Francis to assume the power of disposing Monasteries and Benefices, as King Henry had done; advising him to inform his Subjects clearly of his proceedings, and unite with the Princes of the Reformation, taking his Parliament and People along with him, and by their advice cutting off the Appeals to and Reve∣nues of Rome, by visitations, &c. with a Praemunire, together with the Oath of Supremacy, and the publication of the prohibited Degrees of Marri∣ages: He added in his Expresses, That his Majesty should by disguised Envoys divide between the Princes and the Empire.

The next sight we have of him is in Scotland; the French Kings passage to England, (as he calls it:) Where in joynt Commission with the Earl of Southampton, and the Bishop of Durham, he with his variety of Instructions gained time until the French King was embroyled at home, the season of Action was over there, and the Duke of Norfolk ready to force that with a War, which could not be gained by Treaty. Fortune is like the Market, where many times if you can stay a little, the Price will fall: The ripeness and unripeness of the Occasion must be well weighed: Watch the

••eginning of an Action, and then speed! Two ••hings make a compleat Polititian, Secresie in Councel, and Celerity in Execution.

But our Knights Prudence was not a heavy Wariness, or a dull caution, as appears by his pre∣ferment at Court, where he is Master of the Horse; and his service in the North, where he and the Comptroller Sir Anthony Gage are in the head of 10000 men: In both these places his excellence was more in chusing his Officers and Followers, than in acting himself: His servants were modest and sober, troubling him with nothing but his bu∣siness, and expecting no higher conditions, than countenance, protection, and recommendation; and his Retainers peaceable, reserved, close, plain, and hopeful: the deserving Souldier and the pro∣mising were seen often at his gate, not in throngs, to avoid popularity: Equal was his favour, that none might be insolent, and none discontented; yet so di••creetly dispensed, as made the Pre∣ferred faithful, and the Expectants officious. To be ruled by one, is soft and obnoxious; by many, troublesome: to be advised by few, as he was, is safe: because (as he said in some things out of his element) the Vale best discovereth the Hill.

Although he understood not the main matter of War, yet he knew many of its falls and incidents; his prudence being as able to lay a stratagem, as others experience was to embattail an Army. Sir Thomas Wharton Warden of the Marches he com∣mands with 300 men behind an Ambush, whi∣ther he draws the rash Scots, and overthroweth them more with the surprize than his power, ta∣king the Lord Admiral Maxwel, &c. who was com∣mitted

to his custody; and putting that King to so deep a melancholy, that he died upon it. His death suggests new counsels, and Sir Anthony watcheth in Scotland to gain hi•• Daughter for our P••ince, or at least to prevent the French, whom Sir Wil••iam Paget watcheth there, as Sir Ralph Sadler did in Rome, and Sir Iohn Wall••p at Calais: and when that Kings design was discovered, we find our Knight with Charles Duke of Suffolk, Lieute∣nant-General; Henry Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel, Lord General; Will. Paulet, Lord St. Iohn, Ste∣phen Bishop of Winchester, with a rich and strong Army, expecting the King before Montrevil, (wh••ch they took with Boulogn) and forcing the French to a Peace and Submission that secured England, and setled Europe.

Three things facilitate all things: 1. Knowledg, 2. Temper, 3. Time. Knowledge our Knight had either of his own or others, whom he com∣manded in what ever he went about, laying the ground of matters always down in writing, and debating them with his friends, before he decla∣red himself in Council. A temperance he had, that kept him out of the reach of others, and brought others within his. Time he took, always driving, never being driven by his business; which is rather a huddle, than a performance, when in haste: there was something that all admired, and which was more, something that all were pleased with, in this mans action. The times were dark, his carriage so too: the Waves were boysterous, but he the solid Rock, or the well-guided Ship that could go with the Tide. He mastered his own passion, and others too, and both by Time

and Opportunity; therefore he died with that peace the State wanted, and with that universal repute the States-men of those troublesome times enjoyed not.

By King Henry's Will he got a Legacy of 300 l. for his former Service; and the Honour to be of Prince EDWARD's special Council for the fu∣ture.

By his Order he had, as his share of Abbey-Lands, Battle-Abbey in Sussex, enjoyed by his Heirs Males in a direct Line to this day: And by his Authority he had the Honourable Garter.

He was the fi••st man that durst bring his Master the sad news, That He must die: And no wonder he durst do it, for the next news is, That he is dead himself. How darest thou to be so plain? said Heli∣ogabalus to the Courtier: Because I dare die, said he: I can but die, if I am Faithful; and I must die, though I Flatter.

T••is Gentlemans humour of crossing present proceedings, was prettily reproved by King Hen. the Eighth's little story of a poor Woman drown∣ed by mischance, whose dead body, whilst her Neighbours sought for down the River; her Hus∣band who knew her condition better than they, advised them to seek up the River; for all her life long she loved to be contrary to all others, and he presumed she would swim against the stream be∣ing dead.

The End of the Obse••vations upon the Lives of the Statesmen and Favourites of England, in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth.

Notes

• a 1.1

  S••. An∣thonies under N••w-Hall.
• b 1.2

  Christ-Church.
• a 1.3

  He Married Mr. Colts Daughter of New-Hall.
• b 1.4

  Where∣by he was double reader.
• c 1.5

  On St. Aug. de civitate Dei.
• d 1.6

  He was made Chancel∣lour of that Dut∣chy.
• e 1.7

  Queen Kathe∣rine said so.
• f 1.8

  A fellow at Bruges would undertake to answer any question: Sir Thomas put up this, Whether Averia capta in Withernamia sint irreplegiabilia, to that Thra∣sces great amazement.
• g 1.9

  He built a Chappel at Chel¦sey, and hired an Almes-House there.
• h 1.10

  With the cause at∣tested by the Attor∣ney, in to∣k••n wher∣of when one Tubb brought him a Snbpoe∣na to subscribe, finding it frivolous, he writ under it a tale of a Tub.
• a 1.11

  When Master thereof••
• b 1.12

  When Knight of the Gar∣ter.
• c 1.13

  When Vicar Ge∣neral.
• d 1.14

  S••ow Sur. Lon∣don.
• a 1.15

  As when one said he was accused for disloy∣alty to the King, he said, He would stab him with his Dagger, if he were.
• a 1.16

  There were two sorts of these Knights, the first made by way of encouragement, the second by way of Re∣ward: Sir Ralph was of the second so••t, and the last that survived of that s••rt.
• a 1.17

  Luther Melanct∣hon, Ca∣rolosta∣dius.
• b 1.18

  The Creed, The Lords Prayer, and the Com∣mand∣ments.
• e 1.19

  Saith Si•• Ri••h. Baker.
• f 1.20

  Per ce∣lebriora Anglo••um ••yn••nasia ••••tes ex∣••luit.
• * 1.21

  Being called Bifrons
• g 1.22

  Cecil was the first.
• * 1.23

  Mr. More in the print∣ed Life of his Grand∣father Sir Thomas More, pag. 334.
• * 2.1

  One of the house of York.
• * 2.2

  He is made•• Viscount Roch∣ford.
• * 2.3

  They were 50. with an Archer, a Demi∣lance and a Constil∣lier a∣piece: They and their horses be∣ing vest∣ed in Cloath of Gold.
• a 2.4

  Of Bre∣tany a••d Nor∣mandy.
• a 2.5

  Master of the Or∣dinance, who was killed the first Night before Therove∣ne.