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 Cook.

SIr John Cook, younger brother to Sir Fran∣cis Cook, born at Trusley (in the Hundred of Apple-tree) in Derby-shire, of ancient and worshipful Parentage, and allied to the best Family in that County; was bred Fellow of Trinity-Col∣ledge in Cambridg, where his wit being designed his Estate, he was chosen Rhetorick-Lecturer in the University, where he grew eminent for his ingeni∣ous and critical reading in that School, where Rhe∣torick seemed to be not so much an art, as his na∣ture; being not onely the subject, but the very frame of his discourse: then travelled he beyond the Seas for some years (when his judgement was fitted for Foreign observations by Domestick expe∣rience) in the company of a person of quality, re∣turning thence rich in Languages, Remarks, and Experience, waving all the dangers incident to him for his Religion, by a wary profession, that he came to learn, and not to search. Being first related to Sir Fulke Grevil, Lord Brook, who did all men•• business but his own; He was thence preferred to

be Secretary of the Navy, then Master of the Re∣quests, and at last Secretary of State for twenty years together. Being a very zealous Protestant, he did all good offices for the advancement of true Religion: His Contemporaries character him a grave and a prudent man in gate, apparel, and speech; one that had his Intellectuals very perfect in the dispatch of businesse till he was eighty years old; when foreseeing those Intrigues that might be too hard for his years, he with his Majesties good leave retyred as Moses did, to dye when his eyes were not dim, &c. having kept himself strict∣ly to the Law of the Land: Insomuch, that being sent to command Bishop Williams from Westmin∣ster; and being asked by the stout Bishop, by what authority he commanded a man out of his house and his free-hold, he was so tender of the point, that he never rested till he had his pardon for it. Much ado he had to keep the King's favour for his compliance with the Faction, witness his third sub∣mission; and as much ado to retain the Factions good opinion for his service to the King, witnesse his several Apologies in Parliament to this purpose;

That it was a hard thing, that they who should have thanks for the good offices they did the People with the KING, had now nothing but censures for the same offices they did the King with his People.

—Never was any man more put to it to reconcile the two readings of that Text

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—which he could never have done, but that his old rule safe-guarded him, viz.

That no man should let what is unjustifia∣ble or dangerous appear under his hand, to give

Envy a steady aime at his place or person;

no mingle Interests with great men made desperate by debts or Court-injuries, whose falls hath been ruinons to their wisest followers; nor pry any fur∣ther into secrecy, than rather to secure, than she•• himself; nor impart that to a friend, that may Im∣power him to be an enemy. Besides that his yea•• excused in him that caution some obstinate me•• want that are broken with vicissitudes, because they consider not that the forwardest in turmoyls a••¦least regarded when things return to a calm.

He served the time out of Christian discretion, in finding out the seasons of things commendably. He complyed out of some infirmity in particular accommodations pardonably; but neither of igno∣rance or design, in pursuance of his own, or any o∣ther mans plot unfaithfully. Indeed he must have wrenched and sprained his grave soul with the short turnings in those dayes, if it had been true, that he should shuffle a Scots Paper (instead of the genuine Articles of Pacification at York) which the Earls of Holland, Pembrook, &c. disavowed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Northern Commissioners faces (my Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pembrook saying, That indeed as he took Horse, and his Friends being busie about him, such a Paper was put into his hand, but he opened it not untill he came to his Majestie) and his Majestie burned in the face of both Kingdoms; whereupon they say he was dismissed, which I am not willing to believe: one∣ly I finde him hereafter bringing Propositions from the Parliament (as they called it) to the King, as actively as formerly he had carried Messages from the King to the Parliament:—Indeed he had an•• happy mixture of Discretion and Charity, whereby

he could allow to things and persons more than men of streighter apprehensions, or narrower affections were able to do. Indeed, though as I told you o∣therwise wary, he broke an Affair to a Partizan that kept him under all his days: & he that enter∣tains a dangerous design, puts his head into an ••••alter, and the halter into his hand to whom he first imparts it.—Sir Francis Windebanke and he fell into extreams; which balanced, might have supported the Government, if they had directed their particular inclinations and indulgences by the measures of the general interest and temper.