State-worthies, or, The states-men and favourites of England since the reformation their prudence and policies, successes and miscarriages, advancements and falls, during the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles I.

Observations on the Life of 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!