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

Observations on the Life of Sir John Mason.

HE had his Birth at Abingdon, and his Educa∣tion at Oxford: His Birth commended him to All-Souls, and his Breeding to the Court: His Study was like his Inclination, rather active than contemplative, his present thoughts foreseeing and providing for his future Employments. But Indu∣stry and Parts may prepare a Man, it is opportunity and occasion that must advance him; and never had a Man fairer opportunity, never made a Man better use of it.

None but Mr. Mason would the University pitch upon, to complement Henry the Eighth; none but Mr. Mason could please him, although he was as great a Scholar as he was a King, and as much an Humorist as both: as he was inclined, so he studied; as

he studied, so he writ; not with a Pedants imperti∣nence, but a States-man's prudence: so elegant was his Latine, that a Critick would have advanced him Professor; so various his Learning, that Cranmer would have preferred him Prebend; and yet so grave and wise the matter and composure of his speech, that the King designed him a States-man.

When King Henry the Eighth came to Oxford, Sir Iohn is deputed to congratulate his coming: who considering that a Man cannot every Day speak to Kings, contrived (saith my Author) the matter of his speech most Man-like, politick and pertinent, the phrase of it polite and majestick; so that what with his comely presence, his becoming carriage, his flowing expression, his graceful elocution, he gained that applause from the Court and University, that the one was as eager to have him, as the other was loth to part with him: the University was proud of him, but King Henry commanded him, and dis∣poseth of him in Forein parts, to add practical ex∣perience to his speculative studies: It was the excel∣lent way of that time, to pick out the choice youths of both Universities, and maintain them some years abroad, to make such Observations as might render them serviceable at home••

Dwelt with Books he had long enough, now he must converse with Men, and open his recluse and retired soul, to a practicable and social temper, by debonairness and freedom, too long mewed up with study and melancholy: Think and speak he could very well already, now he must learn to act and live: Books furnished, Travel must enlarge and settle his soul.

Four things made a States-man in those Days.

• 1. The University and good Letters.
• 2. The City and Converse.
• 3. The Court and Freedom of spirit.
• 4. Travel and Observation.

It was the politick Discipline of those days to selec•• (saith mine Author) the pregnancies of either Vni∣versity, ana breed them i•• Forein parts for public•• Employments. Agreeable whereunto, Mr. Mason i•• sent beyond sea with Instructions to guid him, and a pension to support him•• With Order,

• 1. To keep exact correspondence with the Secre∣tary at home.
• 2. To entertain, 1. The most eminent Scholar, who might represent the Church: 2. The ripest Under∣secretary, who might decipher to him the State: 3. The ablest Souldier and Sea-man, that might open to him the Interest of both Nations
• 3. To take an exact account of the Havens, Forts, Cities, Avenues, Passages, Ways, Treasure and In∣terest of the place he lives in.
• 4. To follow the respective Embassadors Dire∣ctions in every Court.
• 5. To appear in each place upon any solemnity, Civil or Military, suitable to the occasion, all charges to be defrayed from the English Exchequer.

His Pension was two hundred and twenty pounds a year; his Circuit was France, the Netherlands and Italy; his Commission was to engage any knowing person of those respective Courts, that could tran∣scribe their Edicts or Orders, give exact Intelli∣gence, make any Interest, or had any influence up∣on their respective Governments: His Rules were,

• 1. To correspond with his Majesties Agents.
• ...

• 2. To have few and choice Acquaintance.
• 3. To make Collections of, and Observations up∣on the Histories, the Laws, Customs, and the most considerable States-men, Governours, and Great Men, with their Relations and Dependencies in those Courts.
• 4. To give a monethly account of such Re∣marques as occurred, at large to the Secretary, and in brief to the King and Cardinal.

His first undertaking was in France, where his Gravity was too severe, beyond the dalliances of that place. His next was to Italy, where he shewed as great a reach in countermining, as the Inhabi∣tants of that place do in managing their plots: None designs (saith the Character) further off than the Ita∣lian: None seeth (said Sir Tho. Audley) further off than Sir John Mason. His last Voyage was to Spain, where he out-grav'd the Don Himself, and then re∣turned with the Italians quickness, the Spaniards staidness, the Frenchmans Ayr, the Germa••s Reso∣lution, and the Dutchmans Industry: Q••alities that demonstrated he understood other Countreys, and could serve his own.

Th••re th••s pregnant Gentleman being at some distance, could look more inwardly into the Con∣stitution, Situation, Interest, State and Complexi∣on of his own Countrey; and being near, could discern those of other parts wi••h the mutual aspect of England upon them, and theirs upon it. They that liv••d in those times say that none understood the affairs of England and France, together with their mutual advantages or disadvan••••ges, better than Sir Iohn Mason.

He that had seen the mysteries of four Courts,

might be trusted with those of one, as he was in King Henry the Eighth's time, in the capacity of a Privy Counsellour; and in Edward the Sixth's, in the Trust of chief Secretary. At the Board, none clearer in his Proposals; in his Office, none quicker for Dispatch: Let me hear Sir Iohn Mason, said the King; Let us to Sir Iohn Mason, said the Subjects: so much the reputation of his prudent integrity with the one, and of his familiar access with the other!

Four things he said kept him in, under all the Re∣volutions, during the four Princes Reigns whom he served:

• 1. That he thought few Things would save a Man.
• 2. That he was always intimate with the exactest Lawyer, and ablest Favourite.
• 3. That he spake little, and writ less.
• 4. That he had attained to something which each party esteemed serviceable to them, and was so mo∣derate, that all thought him their own.

When a compleat man, he was called home, to be first Clerk of the Council, a place of great Trust; secondly, Secretary of State, a place of great Em∣ployment; thirdly, Master of the Requests, an Of∣fice of great Dispatch and Business; and fourthly, Treasurer of the Houshold, an Employment of con∣stant care.

No Age wanted an able man more, no Age had one more willing to secure the Universities, than that which chose him to be Chancellour of Oxford, at the same time that his Prince made him Treasu∣rer of the Houshold. Sacriledge it self then gaping after the University-Lands, durst not tempt so ho∣nest

a Man, nor perswade so great a Scholar, nor fright so resolute a Statesman to betray or yield up those ancient Encouragements of Learning and Vir∣tue. Loth was Oxford to part with him when a Scholar, glad to entertain him a States-man, with a power to protect her, well tempered with Obliga∣tions to love her; he who is now the Father being lately the Son; maintained by a part of it, as he now maintained the whole. That was a scrambling time, when it was catch who catch can. I find not any particular favour conferred, or benefaction be∣stowed by him in person on the University; but this great good he did, That his Greatness kept others from doing any harm. Many hungry Cour∣tiers had hopes to catch Fish, (and Fish it would be, whatever came into their Nets) on this turning of the Tide, and alteration of Religion: How easie was it for covetousness in those times to quarrel the Colledge-Lands into superstition! Sacriledge stood ready to knock at their Gates; and alas! '••was past their Porter's power to ••orbid it enterance, had not Sir Iohn Mason vigorously opposed it, and assisted the University on all occasions.

He inciteth them to the study of the Tongues; because sensum alicujus rei non potest ille assequi, qui r••dis es•• Idiomatis quo traditur: and directed the reading of Aristole, Agricola, Melancthon, &c. in∣stead of Scotus, Burleus, Bricot: calling for all their Charters, Donations, Statutes, Popes Bulls, with an exact Rental of their Lands, and Inventory of their Goods, which were restored intire and safe.

The University, that could not enjoy his presence, craves his protection; and foreseeing in the fall of Abbeys, their danger, especially when Foundati∣ons

erected for superstition were given by statute to the King, chose Sir Iohn Mason their Chancellour, who was at once a favourite o•• Power and of Learn∣ing; the greatest Lay-Statesman that was a Scho∣lar, and the greatest Scholar that was a Lay-States∣man: He was not contented to secure, but he must improve Oxford, gaining it New Priviledges, when it feared the loss of its old ones.

A grave and reserved Man he was, who under∣stood the Intrigues and Motions of those dark and uncertain times, and his nimble and present Pru∣dence could accommodate them. His Maxime was, Do, and say nothing: Commending the active and close man, whose performances were as private, coherent, continued and suddain as his counsels; who would not spend that time in advising, that woul•• serve for executing: Many were his pensions to Scholars at home, more to Agents abroad that assisted either his studies or employments, whom he designed an honour to his middle, and a support to his old Age. He had a peculiar way of satisfying suiters by plain dealing and dispatch: he would di∣vide all suits either into matter of Equity, or a suit of Controversie; or into matter of Desert, or a suit of Petition: In the first he had his Referrendaries, to see the matter compounded between both par∣ties, rather than carried by either: In the second, he preferred all suitably to their Abilities. No M••n understood better the nature of Court-places than he, and none saw further into Court-persons.

Two things, he said, always promoted a mat∣••er:

• 1. Secresie: (Boasting, which is the way of some Courtiers, though it discourageth some

• Competitors, yet it awakeneth Others.)
• 2. Timing of it, with an Eye to those about us.

He would advise a Man to begin with a little and mean suit: For though (as my Lord Bacon observes) iniquum petas & aequum feras, is a good Rule, where a Man hath strength of favour; yet other∣wise a Man had better rise in his suit: For he that would have ventured at fi••st to have lost his Suitor, will not in the conclusion lose both the Suitor and his own former Favour.

It's from him, while he lived, that we learned Ce∣lerity is the best Secresie; Pru••ence and Resolution is the only Fortune; Converse is the great Educa∣tion; Boldness a Man's surest Success; Good Na∣ture is the eminent Nobility; and a well-weighed Honesty the only Favourite.

It's by him, when he died, we are taught that Moderation out-lasts Violence, Modesty Ambition, a publick Spirit a private One: That to act alone may be as profitable as Honourable, but to joyn with others most safe: That to study the nature of a Prince, may for the present advance; but to understand the Interest of his Kingdom, is always secure: The one way being as uncertain as the frail Person it depends upon, the other as sure as the lasting State it serves.