Page [unnumbered]
Sir Robert Naunton in his Fragmenta Regalia, p. 41.
VERE.
Sir Francis Vere was of that ancient, and of the most noble extract of the Earls of Oxford, and it may be a question whether the Nobility of his House, or the Honour of his atchievements might most commend him; but that we have an authentick rule:
Nam genus, & proavos, & quae non fecimus ipst, Vix ea nostra voco, &c.For though he was an Honourable slip of that anci∣ent tree of Nobility, which was no disadvantage to his vertue, yet he brought more glory to the name of Vere, then he took bloud from the family.
He was amongst all the Queens Sword-men infe∣riour unto none, but superiour to many; of whom it may be said, To speak much of him were the way to leave out somewhat that might add to his praise, and to forget more that would make to his honour.
I find not that he came much to the Court, for he lived almost perpetually in the Camp; but when he did, none had more of the Queens favour, and none less envied; for he seldome troubled it with the noise and alarms of supplications, his way was another sort of undermining.
They report that the Queen, as she loved Martial men, would court this Gentleman as soon as he ap∣peared in her presence, and surely he was a souldier of great worth and Command, thirty years in the ser∣vice of the States, and twenty years over the English in chief, as the Queens General. And he that had seen the battel at Neuport, might there best have taken him, and his Noble brother, the Lord of Tilbury, to the life.