THE various hand of Time began now to sheath the Sword of War, An. Reg. 1. that had been long dispu­ting the Controversie, An. Christi 1603 which Religion and Po­licy (that Princes mix together) had for many years so fiercely maintained. The wearing out of that old, but glorious, and most happy Piece of Soveraignty, the late Queen, bating the Spanish Violence, and ending with the Irish-Rebellion, and sub­mission of Tirone, as if the old Genius of Iron-handed-War were departed, and a New one Crowned with a Palm of Peace, had taken possession of the English Nation; Iames the sixth, King of Scotland, was proclaimed King of England. For though Prin­ces that find here a Mortal Felicity, love not the noise of a Suc­cessor in their life-time, yet they are willing (for the Peace of their people) to have One, when they can hear no more of it. That which the Queen could not indure from others, She was well pleased to express her self, and bequeath in her last Will, as a Legacy to this, then Happy Nation. He was thirty six years of Age when he came to the Crown. How dangerous the passage had been from his very Infancy to his Middle Age, is not only written in many Histories, but the untamed and untractable Spirits of most of that Nation, are a sufficient Witness and Record. [Page 2] The wise Queen found many petty Titles, but none of that Power; any other Hand that should have reacht for the Crown, might a caught a Cloud of Confusion; and those Supporters, and Props, that held up her Greatness (loth to submit to Equals) made Scaffolds to his Triumphs. In the Wane, or last Quar­ter of the late Queen, the Court Motions tended (by an Oblique Aspect) towards this Northern Star, and some of her great Council in her Presence, would glance at the King of Scots as her Successor, which would make her break into Passion, saying, Was this imputed to Essex as a Crime, and is it less in you? Yea, Cecil himself, held his Correspondencies, which he was once like to be trapt in. For the Queen taking the Air upon Black-Heath by Greenwich, a Post summoned her to enquire from what Quar­ter his business came, and hearing from Scotland, She staid her Coach to receive the Pacquet; but the Secretary, Sir Robert Cecil, (being in the Coach with Her) fearful, that some of his secret Conveyances might be discovered, having an active Wit, calls for a knife suddainly to open it, lest put offs, and delays, might beget Suspition, and when he came to cut it, he told the Queen, it looked, and smelt ill-favouredly, coming out of ma­ny nasty Budgets, and was fit to be opened, and aired before She saw it; which reason meeting with her disaffection to ill Scents, hindred her smelling out his underhand Contrivan­ces.

Secretary Ce­cil Proclaimed King Iames. But now he may do it openly, for he was the first that pub­lickly read, and proclaimed the late Queens Will; Posts are sent in hast, yet in so calm and quiet a manner, as if the loss of so pretious a Mistriss had stupified the people. And now the Great-ones strive who shall be most Obsequious, and Court their Happy Hopes. That Party that had been Opposite to the late Earl of Essex (whose death as some thought shortned the Queens life) strove to ingratiate themselves, by suppressing them, that had any Relation to him, assuring the King (that always counted him his Martyr) that he aimed at the Crown himself, and Prin­ces apt to be jealous soon take such impressions. And now I have stirr'd the Ashes of great Essex, I must revive his memory with this short Character; for Reports flying upon the Airy wing of the Times, have variously exalted, or depressed him, as the Serene for him, or the cloudy fancy against him, waved up and down. He had a Gallant and Noble Spirit, full of Vrba­nity and innate Courtesie, which too much took the Popular Eye, and being a great ingrosser of Fame, it procured him many Enemies, which made his Spirit boil into passion, and that was more suitable to his Enemies Designs than his own, for they lighted their candle by his fire, and this heat being blown by some fiery Spirits about him, gave to the goodness of his Nature, a tincture of Revenge, which his Enemies made reflect upon the Queen, so

[Page 3] that the Coal he strove to bring to burn his Enemies Nests, kindled his own Funeral Pile.

But our King coming through the North, (Banquetting and Feasting by the way) the applause of the people in so obsequi­ous and submissive a manner (still admiring Change) was checkt by an honest plain Scotsman (unused to hear such humble Ac­clamations) with a Prophetical expression; This people will spoil a gud King. The King as unused, so tired with Multitudes, espe­cially in his Hunting (which he did as he went) caused an in­hibition to be published, to restrain the people from hunting him. Happily being fearful of so great a Concourse, as this Novelty produced, the old Hatred betwixt the Borderers not yet forgot­ten, might make him apprehend it to be of a greater extent: though it was generally imputed to a desire of enjoying his Re­creations without interruption.

At Theobalds, The King comes to Theo­balds. Secretary Cecil's House, the Lord Chancellor Egerton, the Lord Buckhurst Treasurer, the Earl of Notingham Admiral, and others of the Council to the deceased Queen, met him; and they with him found the Duke of Lenox, the Earl of Marr, the Lord Hume, and the Lord Kinloss. These with others were made of his Privy-Council. The Bishops forgot not to strengthen themselves, and their Party, against their op­posites, the Non-Conformists, who had gotten new courage upon their hopes of the Kings compliance with them, and the King to please both sides, went in a smooth way betwixt them, at first, not leaving out the third Party, the Popish, the most dan­gerous, whom he closed with also, by entertaining into his Councils the Lord Thomas Howard, and the Lord Henry Howard, the one Son, the other Brother to the late Duke of Norfolk, who would have been his Father, but became a Sufferer for his Mo­ther: The one a plain-hearted man, the other of a subtile and fine Wit, of great Reading and Knowledg, excellent for out­ward Courtship, famous for secret Insinuation, and cunning Flattery; the first a suspected, (though it was otherwise) the last a known Papist, bred up so from his Infancy, yet then con­verted (as he pretended) by the King, being the closest way to work his own ends. On these he heaped Honours, making the Son Earl of Suffolk, and the Brother Earl of Northampton. And this Gentleness of the King to the Popish party, was so pleasant to them, that they suckt in the sweet hopes of alteration in Religion, and drunk so deep thereof, that they were almost in­toxicated.

Now every man that had but a Spark of Hope, Changes beget hopes. struck fire to light himself in the way to Advancement, though it were to the Consumption both of his Estate and Being. The Court being a kind of Lottery, where men that venture much may draw a Blank, and such as have little may get the Prize. Those whose [Page 4] Hopes were almost quenched, like Water cast upon Lime, burn inward till it breaks out into Flame; so hard it is for uncom­posed Spirits (missing their aims) to settle upon the Basis of solid Reason. The Earl of Southampton, covered long with the Ashes of great Essex his Ruins, was sent for from the Tower, and the King lookt upon him with a smiling countenance, though displeasing happily to the new Baron of Essingden, Sir Robert Cecil; yet it was much more to the Lords, Cobham and Grey, and Sir Walter Rawleigh, who were forbidden their attendance. This damp upon them, being Spirits full of acrimony, made them break into Murmur, A Conspiracy against the King. then into Conspiracy, associating themselves with two Romish Priests (men that could not live upon lingring Hopes) and other discontented persons, which every Change produces. The ground of the Design was to set up the Lady Arabella (a Branch sprung from the same Stem by another Line) and to alter Religion and Government; disposing already to themselves the principal places of Honour and Profit. The Lord Grey should get leave to transport two thousand men into Holland, with whom he should seise upon the King and Prince; Sir Walter Rawleigh was to treat with Count Arembergh for procuring of Moneys, and Cobham to go to the Arch-Duke and the King of Spain, to perswade their Assistance. This Embrion proved abortive, and they brought their Plea to excuse their at­tempting it, as compleat a One; That the King was not yet crowned. The Arraignment was at Winchester, where strong proofs meet­ing weak denyals, they with others were found guilty of High Treason. George Brook, the Lord Cobham's Brother, and the two Priests suffered for it, the rest found Mercy; the King be­ing loth to soil the first steps to his Crown with more blood. But their Pardon carried them to the Tower, where the Lord Grey some years after dyed, and in his Death extinguished his Family. The Lord Cobham, Sir Griffin Markham, and others, discharged of imprisonment, lived miserable and poor, Cobham at home, and the rest abroad. And Rawleigh while he was a Prisoner, having the Idea of the World in his contemplation, brought it to some perfection, in his excellent and incompara­ble History, but when Liberty turned it to Action, it taught him to roam, so, as the event proved fatal to him.

A censure up­on it. This Conspiracy put on such a face, that few or none could discover, or know what to make of it: That the muddy wa­ters were stirr'd, was apparent, but it was with such a mix­ture, that little could be visible in it. The Lord Grey, Cobham, and Sir Walter Rawleigh were Protestants, why should they strive to alter Religion, though the Priests, Markham, Bainham, and others might? But it seems they joyned together in a Poli­tick way, every one intending his own ends; Discontent be­ing the Ground-work, upon which they built this slight Su­perstructure,

[Page 5] that being hudled together, could not stand long. Rawleigh's greatest Accuser was a Letter of Cobhams, which some say after he denyed to be his hand. Some of the Conspi­rators (it may be) desired to seem formidable, venting their Anger so for being slighted; others strove to make themselves so, that they might have the glory of enlarging the Roman Pow­er, and they joyned together, thinking their single strength would not prevail. In this Cloud looking for Iuno, they begot a Monster, which having neither head nor foot, some part lived, the other dyed.

While these were provoked with Neglects, others were in­couraged with Favours: Many of the Gentry that came out of Scotland, with the King, were advanced to Honours, as well as those he found here, to shew the Northern soyl as fruitful that way as the Southern; But Knights swarmed in every corner; the Sword ranged about, and men bowed in obedience to it, more in Peace than in War; this Airy Title blew up many a fair Estate. The Scots naturally, by long converse, affecting the French Vani­ty, drew on a Garb of Gallantry (meeting with a plentiful soyl, and an open-handed Prince) The English, excellent for imita­tion, loth to be exceeded in their own Country, maintained their follies at their own charge. All this came accompanied with a great Plague, which hapned this year in London, whereof above thirty thousand dyed; Yet who will not venture for a Crown? For in the heat of it, on the five and twentieth of Iuly, The King and Queen Crow­ned. being the day dedicated to Saint Iames, the King, with his Wife Queen Anne, were both crowned at Westminster, fulfil­ling that old Prophecy, or rather Fancy, current among the Scots (as they report) before Edward the first brought the Royal Chair out of Scotland, with the Stone in it, and placed it at Westminster to Crown our Kings in. Which Stone some old Saws deliver to be the same that Iacob rested his head on.

Englished.

But how the Stream of Time runs through the Chanel of these Prophetical Fancies, experience shews: For 'tis true, if [Page 6] the Scots came so near the Throne, as to enjoy the Stone, or Chair where the English Kings are Inaugurated, they may hold the Crown. But being only grounded upon Conjecture, these Con­ceits are commonly made up before they are half moulded, or like Abortives, are shaped after they are born.

When these Ceremonies were past, the King retired from this croud of Infection, gave some admission to Ambassadors, that from all the neighbouring Princes and States came to congra­tulate his happy Inauguration: For besides the ordinary Ceremony a­mong Princes, their Reason might tell them, that if his Prede­cessors were able to graple with the growing Monarchy of him that coveted to be Vniversal, and to assist and relieve her Neigh­bours and Confederates from his oppression; He would be much more formidable, bringing with him, if nothing else, Bo­dies of men, Warlike and industrious, hardned with cold and labour, and active in the difficultest attempts (however of late, by what Divine Judgment I know not, utterly disheartned) to be Helpers, who were formerly Hinderers to all the English Expe­ditions; so that in him they courted their own Conveniences: For certainly, if ever the English Monarchy were in its true Glo­ry and Greatness, it was by this Union. But there is a Period set to all Empires.

The Prince, Prince Henry made Knight of the Garter. a little before this, was installed Knight of the Garter, the Earl of Southampton, and the young Earl of Essex, were restored to the right of Blood and Inheritance; and Ho­nours were conferred so thick, as if the King intended a new kind of Conquest, by a proceeding, that tended to their, and his own Ruin: For, to subdue the greatness of the Nobility (who formerly could sweep such a Party of People to them, with their long trains and dependencies, that they were able to graple with Kings) He by a multiplicity of them made them cheap and invalid in the Vulgar opinion; For nothing is more destru­ctive to Monarchy, than lessening the Nobility; upon their decline the Commons rise, and Anarchy increases.

Tirone comes over.And now the old Irish Rebel Tirone coming over (led by his Conqueror the Lord Monjoy) had not only Pardon, but Civi­lities, and all outward expressions to gain him; the edg of the Peoples hatred being abated by a Proclamation, that no man should shew him the least dis-respect. The Lord Monjoy, as a reward for his good service, was created Earl of Devon­shire. And having given way to Creations, they break in upon us like a Deluge. The King being an inexhaustible Fountain of Honour, cannot be drained dry, when other means of grati­fying his servants may fail. Those he brought with him wan­ted means more than Honour, those he found here wanted Ho­nour more than Means; Noblemen created. He could, and did supply both to ex­cess. Sir Robert Cecil, the first English Trumpet that proclaimed

[Page 7] him was made Baron of Essingdon, and soon after Viscount Cranborn, and Earl of Salisbury; Sir Robert Sidnèy Baron of Pens­hurst, and not long after Viscount Lisle; Sir William Knowles Baron of Grayes, Sir Edward Wotton Baron of Morley, Sir Thomas Egerton (Lord Chancellor) Baron of Elsmere, Sir William Russel Baron of Thornaugh, Sir Henry Grey Baron of Grobie, Sir Iohn Pe­tre Baron of Writtle, Sir Iohn Harington Baron of Exton, Sir Henry D'Envers Baron of Dantsey, Sir Thomas Gerrard Baron of Gerrard Bromely, Sir Robert Spencer Baron of Worm-Leighton. The Lord Buckhurst, Lord Treasurer, he made Earl of Dorset, and his old Servant Sir George Hume, Earl of Dunbar. These, with Suffolk and Northampton, were Nobles of the finest metal, and first stamp, and most of them he placed as Iewels about his Throne. But these were but as an Essay; for they after grew to such a Volume, that some unhappy fancy pasted up a Pasquil in Pauls, wherein he pretended an Art to help weak memories to a compe­tent knowledg of the names of the Nobility.

As the Papist was different from the Protestant Religion on one side, Reformation in the Church sought for. so was the Puritan (as they then called pious and good men) on the other; both which were active to attain their own ends; and the King had the command of himself, not bitterly to op­pose, but gently to sweeten their hopes for His: thinking him­self unsecure betwixt them. The latter were now solicitous for a more clear Reformation. This the Bishops opposed, as trenching too much upon them, and the King listen'd to (ha­ving experience of it in Scotland) how much it had incroached upon Him: For He thought their dissenting from the esta­blished Government of the Church, was but to get that Power in­to a great many mens hands, which was now but in one, and that one had dependance upon him, with whom He might better grap­ple. The Prelates distilling this Maxim into the King, No Bishop, no Monarch; so strengthning the Miter by the same Power that upholds the Crown: Yet to satisfie the importunity, a Confe­rence is appointed at Hampton-Court, Conference at Hampton Court. where the Bishops Oppo­nents, Doctor Reynolds, Doctor Sparks, Mr. Knewstubs, and Mr. Chadderton, men eminent in Learning and Piety, in themselves, as well as in the opinion of the people, did desire in the name of the rest of their party, That the Doctrine of the Church might be preser­ved in Purity; That good and faithful Pastors might be planted in all Churches; That Church-Government might be sincerely admini­stred; That the Book of Common-Prayer might be fitted to more in­crease of Godliness. Out of some of these Particulars, they insisted upon the Bishops power of Confirmation, which they would have every Minister capable of in his own Parish. They disputed against the Cross in Baptism, the Ring in Marriage, the Surplice, the Oath ex officio, and other things that stuck with them, which they hoped to get all purged away, because the King was of a [Page 8] Northern constitution, where no such things were practised, not yet having felt the Kings pulse, whom the Southern Air of the Bishops breaths had so wrought upon, that He himself answers most of their Demands: Sometimes gently, applying Lenitives, where he found Ingenuity (for he was Learned and Eloquent) o­ther times Corrosives, telling them these Oppositions proceeded more from stubborness in Opinion, than tenderness of Conscience; and so betwixt his Arguments, and Kingly Authority, menaced them to a Conformity, which proved a way of Silencing them for the present (and some of them were content to acquiesce for the future) and the King managed this Discourse with such pow­er (which they expected not from him, and therefore more danted at) That Whitgift Arch. Bishop of Canterbury (though a holy, grave, and pious man) highly pleased with it, with a sugred bait (which Princes are apt enough to swallow) said, He was verily perswaded, Arch-Bishop Whitgift dies. that the King spake by the Spirit of God. This Confe­rence was on the fourteenth of Ianuary, and this good man expi­red the nine and twentieth of February following, in David's ful­ness of days, leaving a Name like a sweet perfume behind him. And Bancroft, a sturdy piece, succeeded him, but not with the same Spirit; for what Whitgift strove to do by Sweetness and Gentleness, Bancroft did persevere in with Rigour and Severity. Thus the Bishops having gotten the Victory, strove to maintain it, and though not on the suddain, yet by degrees, they press so hard upon the Non-conformists (whom they held under the yoke of a Law) that many of them are forced to seek Foreign Re­fuge. They prevailed not only for themselves here, but by their means (not long after) the King looked back into Scotland, and put the Keys there again into the Bishops hands, unlocking the passage to the enjoyment of their Temporal Estates, which swel'd them so high, that in his Sons time, the Women of Scot­land pulled them out of their tottering seats.

On the other side, the late Conspiracy of Cobham and Grey, had so chilled the Kings blood, that he begins to take notice of the swarms of Priests that flockt into the Kingdom: For though the Conspirators were of several Religions, yet in their correspondence with Foreign Princes, Religion was the pretence. For in every alteration of Kingdoms, few are so modest but they will throw in the Hook of their vain Hopes, thinking to get something in the troubled Stream. The Iesuits were not slack (coming with the Seal of the Fisher) in spreading their Nets; but a Proclama­tion broke through them. The King being contented to let them alone, till they came too near him, willing to comply ra­ther than exasperate; the safety of his own person, made him look to the safety of Religion; and to secure both, He found this the best Remedy, Declaring, to all the World, the cause of this Restriction.

[Page]

This did something allay the heat and hopes of the Iesuits, and their correspondents, but it made way for dark, and more se­cret [Page 11] Contrivances, which afterwards they put in practice.

On the contrary, another Proclamation came out for Vnifor­mity in Religion according to the Law established, to reduce those to Conformity that had not received satisfaction at the last Conference. A Proclama­tion for Uni­formity. The Bishops thought themselves unsecure, while so many opposites (unblameable in their conversations) by their Pens and Preaching gained upon the people, striking at the ve­ry Root of Hierarchy, that it was a hard Question, whether the Iesuits, whose Principles would advance their Greatness, or these that would pluck it down, were most odious to them. And now Proclamations are the activest Agents, some go abroad to please the people, some the King. All Monopolies (like diseases) that crept in, when the good old Queen had not strength enough to keep them out, must be purged away, and such protections as licentious liberty had granted to hinder proceedings in Law, must be taken off: Saltpeter-men, that will dig up any mans house by authority (where they are not well fee'd) must be restrained; and Purveyors, Cart-takers, and such insolent Officers as were grievances to the people, must be cryed down by Proclamati­on. A Prince that is invited, or comes newly to a Kingdom, must have his Chariot wheels smooth shod. And yet the liberty of Hunting must be forbidden, the Kings Game preserved, and a strict Proclamation threatens the disobeyers. Indeed, take this Kings Reign from the beginning to the end, and you shall find Proclamations current Coin, and the people took them for good payment a great while, till the multitude of them lessened their valuation.

The Bishops could not be so wary, A Sermon a­gainst Cere­monies. but some Courtier or other would commend a Preacher to the King, if they knew any of ex­cellent parts, so that some preached before him that were averse to the Bishops ways. Among the rest one Mr. Burges, an excellent Preacher, and a pious man, moderately touching upon the Cere­monies, said, ‘They were like the Roman Senators Glasses, which were not worth a mans life or livelihood: For (saith he) this Senator invited Augustus Caesar to a Dinner, and as he was coming to the Feast, he heard a horrid Out-cry, and saw some company drawing a man after them, that made that noise: the Emperor demanded the cause of that violence; it was answered, their Master had condemned this man to the Fish­ponds for breaking a Glass which he set a high value and esteem upon, Caesar commanded a stay of the Execution, and when he came to the House, he asked the Senator, whether he had Glasses worth a mans life? Who answered (being a great lover of such things) that he had Glasses he valued at the price of a Province. Let me see them (saith Augustus) and he brought him up to a room well furnished. The Emperor saw them beautiful to the eye, but knew withal they might be the cause of much [Page 12] mischief, therefore he broke them all, with this expression, Better all these perish than one man.’ I will leave it (saith he) to your Majesty to apply. But the Bishops, got this and some other things against him, by the end, and silenced him for venting any more such comparisons. So that for many years after he practised Physick, and grew an excellent Physician. Put upon second considerations he was admitted again to Preach, retaining both his Piety and Integrity (though he writ a book for the mode­rate use of the Ceremonies) ending his days in a good old age, at Sutton Cofeld in Warwick-shire, after a journey into the Palatinate, as shall be exprest in its time.

The fifth of August this year had a new title given to it. The fifth of August made Holyday. The Kings Deliveries in the North must resound here. Whether the Gowries attempted upon the Kings person, or the King on theirs, is variously reported. It may be, he retained something of his Predecessor, and great Parent, Henry the seventh, that made Religi­on give way to Policy, oftentimes cursing and thundring out the Churches fulminations against his own Ministers, that they might be received with the more intimate familiarity with his Foreign Enemies, for the better discovery of their designs. I will not say the celebration of this Holy-day had so much Prophaneness, for Fame may be a slanderer. But where there is a strength of Policy, there is often a power of worldly wisdom that manages, and sways it. The King forgot not the services there done him, or the secret contrivances acted for him; for Erskin and Ramsey, two of his then deliverers, were not long after rewarded with wealth and honour, the one made Earl of Kellie, the other Earl of Holderness,; the first, prime Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber to the King; and second got to his Bedfellow one of the prime Beauties of the Kingdom, daughter to Robert Earl of Sussex; and both of them had their Masters purse at command, yet in our time, the one died poor with many children, the other poor and childless.

The Kings first going abroad was privately to visit some of his houses; for naturally he did not love to be looked on, and those formalities of State, which set a lustre upon Princes in the peoples eyes, were but so many burthens to him: for his private recreations at home, and his hunting exercises abroad, both with the least disturbance were his delights. While he remained in the Tower, he took pleasure in baiting Lions, but when he came abroad, he was so troubled with swarms, that he feared to be baited by the people. And the Parliament now drawing on, which was summoned to be the nineteenth of March, The King, The King and Queen ride through the City. with the Queen and Prince, four days before, rode from the Tower to Whitehall; the City and Suburbs being one great Pageant, wherein he must give his ears leave to suck in their gilded Oratory, though never so nauseous to the stomach. He was [Page 13] not like his Predecessor, the late Queen of famous memory, that with a well-pleased affection met her peoples Acclamations, thinking most highly of her self, when she was born up on the wings of their humble supplications. He endured this days brunt with patience, being assured he should never have such another, and his triumphal riding to the Parliament that followed: But afterwards in his publick appearances (especially in his sports) the accesses of the people made him so impatient, that he often dispersed them with frowns, that we may not say with curses. So various are the natures of Princes, and their actions so remarkable, that he may pass for a good man, that will not pass for a good Prince.

The Speech he made to the Parliament, both Houses being met, and the first, cannot be waved, though it be somewhat long, and printed in his own Works; By the crisis and constitution of it, the temper of his mind may be discovered; For if ever he spake really to his Parliament it was then; And I shall not comment upon it: For I know Princes are made of those frail Elements that other men are, but this much I will say; He had strong abilities in some things, that did dignifie the doer of them, and in other things such weaknesses, as would have much advanced his Wisdom to have left undone. But if worldly Greatness, and Glory, may well make Princes more loth to leave them, than they that have less, we must give them some allowance of fear to lose them. The Speech was to this effect.

Thus the Beams of Majesty had an influence upon every branch and leaf of the Kingdom, by reflecting upon the Root, their Representative Body; every particular expecting what fruit this Sun-shine would produce; striving as much to insinuate into him, as he did into the general, so that there was a Reci­procal Harmony between the King and the People, because they courted one another. But when the Kings Bounty contracted it self into private Favourites (as it did afterwards) bestowing the affection he promised the whole people, upon one man; when the golden showers they gaped for, dropt into some few cha­nels, their passions flew higher than their hopes. The Kings aims were, to unite the two Kingdoms, so that the one might cor­roborate the other, to make good that part of his Speech (by this intermixtion) wherein he divides England and Scotland into halves: But the English stumbled at that partition, thinking it an unequal division, and fearing that the Scots (creeping into English Lordships, and English Ladies Beds, in both which alrea­dy they began to be active) might quickly make their least half the predominant part.

But he was Proclaimed King of Great Britain; The King pro­claimed King of great Bri­tain. England must be no more a Name; the Scotish Coyns are made currant, and our Ships must have Saint Georges and Saint Andrews Crosses quartered together in their Flags; all outward Ensigns of Amity. But those English that had suckt in none of the sweets of this pleasant Stream of Bounty, repined to see the Scots advanced from blew Bonnets to costly Beavers, wearing instead of Wad­meal, Velvet and Satin, as divers Pasquils written in that Age Sa­tyrically [Page 26] taunted at. Which is not set down here, to vilifie the Scots (being most of them Gentlemen that had deserved well of their Master) but to shew, how cross to the publick Appetite the Hony-comb is, that another man eats. But the King (like a wise Pilot) guided the Helm with so even an hand, that these small gusts were not felt. It behoved him to play his Master­prize in the Beginning, which he did to the life, for he had di­vers opinions, humours and affections to grapple with, as well as Nations, and 'tis a very calm Sea when no billow rises. The Ro­manists bogled, that he said in his Speech, They were unsuf­ferable in the Kingdom, as long as they maintained the Pope to be their Spiritual Head, and He to have power to dethrone Prin­ces. The Separatists (as the King called them) were offended at that Expression, wherein he professed willingly, if the Papists would lay down King-killing, and some other gross errors, he would be content to meet them half way. So that every one grounded his hopes, or his fears, upon the shallows of his own fancy, not knowng yet what course the King would steer. But these sores being tenderly dealt with, did not suddenly fester, but were skinned over. The King desirous of the Title, Paci­ficus, did not only close with his own Subjects, but healed up also that old wound that had bled long in the sides of England and Spain, both being weary of the pain, both willing to be cured. The King of Spain, sent the Constable of Castile with a mighty Train of smooth-handed Spaniards to close up the wound on this side, where (the old Enmity being well mortifi­ed) they were received with singular Respect and Civility. The King of England sent his High Admiral, the Earl of Notingham, with as splendid a Retinue of English, to close it on that: Who being Personages of Quality, accoutred with all Ornaments sui­table, were the more admired by the Spaniards for beauty and excellency, by how much the Iesuits had made impressions in the vulgar opinion, That since the English left the Roman Religion, they were transformed into strange horrid shapes, with Heads and Tails like Beasts and Monsters. So easie it is for those Iuglers, when they have once bound up the Conscience, to tye up the Vn­derstanding also.

The King and Parliament in good accord. But the Parliament highly admiring the Kings abilities, made a Recognition thereof with many Elogies, as the prime Act of their humble submission to his Government, wherein they yield their most humble thanks to the Divine Majesty for his access to the Crown; and they desire from their Hearts, that as a Me­morial to all Posterity (among the Records of the High Court of Parliament, for ever to endure) it may be published and decla­red, that they acknowledg his Right of Succession to the Crown of England, and the Empire thereof; and thereunto they faith­fully submit, and oblige themselves, their Heirs, and Posteri­ties

[Page 27] for ever, An. Reg. 2. An. Christi 1604. until the last drop of their Bloods be spent. So high mounted was the Affection of the People to the King! And happily might have continued so, if some after Iealousies had not intervened, that like Clouds, hindred the influence of their more intimate Correspondence.

And to satisfie the Kings desires about an Vnion betwixt Eng­land and Scotland, Commiss. for an Union. the Parliament made an Act to authorise cer­tain Commissioners; viz. Thomas Lord Ellesmere, Lord Chan­cellor of England; Thomas Earl of Dorset, Lord Treasurer of England; Charles Earl of Notingham, Lord High Admiral of England; Henry Earl of Southampton, William Earl of Pembroke, Henry Earl of Northampton, Richard Bishop of London, Tobie Bi­shop of Duresme, Anthony Bishop of Saint Davids; Robert Lord Cecil, Principal Secretary; Edward Lord Zouch, Lord Presi­dent of Wales; William Lord Mounteagle, Ralph Lord Eure; Ed­mund Lord Sheffeild, Lord President of the Council in the North, Lords of the Higher House of Parliament. And Thomas Lord Clinton, Robert Lord Buckhurst; Sir Francis Hastings, Knight; Sir Iohn Stanhope, Knight, Vice-Chamberlain to his Majesty; Sir Iohn Herbert, Knight, second Secretary to his Majesty; Sir George Carew, Knight, Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen; Sir Thomas Strickland, Knight; Sir Edward Stafford, Knight; Sir Henry Nevill of Berk-shire, Knight; Sir Richard Bukley, Knight; Sir Henry Billingsley, Knight; Sir Daniel Dun, Knight, Dean of the Arches; Sir Edward Hobby, Knight; Sir Iohn Savile, Knight; Sir Robert Wroth, Knight; Sir Thomas Cha­loner, Knight; Sir Robert Maunsel, Knight; Sir Thomas Ridge­way, Knight; Sir Thomas Holcroft, Knight; Sir Thomas Hesketh, Knight, Atturney of the Court of Wards; Sir Francis Bacon, Knight; Sir Lawrence Tanfield, Knight, Serjeant at Law; Sir Henry Hubberd, Knight, Serjeant at Law; Sir Iohn Bennet, Doctor of the Laws; Sir Henry Withrington, Sir Ralph Grey, and Sir Thomas Lake, Knights, Robert Askwith, Thomas Iames, and Henry Chapman, Merchants, Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons; or any eight of the said Lords, and twen­ty of the said Commons: Which Commissioners shall have power to assemble, meet, treat, and consult with certain select Com­missioners to be nominated and authorised by Authority of the Parliament of Scotland, concerning such Matters, Causes, and things, as they in their Wisdoms shall think and deem conveni­ent and necessary, for the honour of the King, and common good of both Kingdoms. Yet the good intentions of this Vnion took no effect, as will follow in the sequel of this History. But there were a great many good Laws made, which are too volumi­nous for this place, having a proper Sphere of their own to move in.

Thus the King sate triumphing as it were, upon a Throne [Page 28] of his Peoples Affections; and his beginnings had some settle­ment: for being loth to be troubled, he sought Peace every­where. But our inbred distempers lay upon the Lee, intermixt with other gross dregs, that the Princes lenity, and the Peoples luxury produced. For the King minding his sports, many rio­tous demeanours crept into the Kingdom, the Sun-shine of Peace being apt for such a production, upon the slime of the late War. The Sword and Buckler trade being now out of date, one cor­ruption producing another (the City of London being always a fit Receptacle for such, whose prodigalities and wastes made them Instruments of Debaucheries) divers Sects of vitious Persons, go­ing under the Title of Roaring Boys, Roaring Boys. Bravadoes, Roysters, &c. commit many insolencies; the Streets swarm night and day with bloody quarrels, private Duels fomented, especially be­twixt the English and Scots; many Discontents nourished in the Countries, betwixt the Gentry and Commonalty, about Inclo­sure (the meanest gaping after new hopes) growing in some places to a petty Rebellion. Daily discords (incident to peace and plenty) betwixt private Families, Papist against Protestant, one Friend against another; the Papists being a strong and dan­gerous Faction, missing their hopes, strove to make the Scots more odious than they could make themselves, though some of them went so high as to counterfeit the Kings Privy-Seal, and make Addresses thereby to Foreign Princes, for which one Tho­mas Dowglas, taken in the fact, was executed in Smithfield. Others were so insolent, as to quip and jear the English Nobility; and other misdemeanours, which caused secret heart-burnings, and jealousies betwixt the Nations. But then comes a Proclama­tion, like a strong Pill, and carries away the grossest of these humours.

The Gun-pow­der Treason.Something yet stuck, especially in the Consciences of the Popish Party, that could not be purged away without a Toleration, which they Petition for; but not being granted, they contrived one of the most Horrid and Stupendious Mischiefs, that ever entred into the Hearts of Men: For their heat of malice would not be quen­ched with the Blood Royal, but the Nobility and Gentry, the Repre­sentative Body of the whole Kingdom, United at Westminster, must be shattered in pieces, and dis-membred, by the blast of six and thirty Barrels of Gun-powder, which those dark Contri­vers had hid in a Cellar under the Parliament House, being di­scovered by a light from Heaven, and a Letter from one of the Conspirators, when the fire was already in their hands, as well as rage in their hearts, to put to the Train.

Principal Actors.The principal of these Contrivers, was, Robert Catesbie, a Gentleman of a good plentiful Estate, who first hatched and brooded the Plot, and promised to himself the glory of an Eter­nal Name, by the Propagation of it; making choyce of Thomas

[Page 29] Percy, Robert Winter, Thomas Winter, Iohn Grant, Ambrose Rook­wood, Iohn Wright, Francis Tresham, Sir Everard Digby, and others, Gentlemen of good Estates (for the most part) and spirits as implacable and furious as his own; who like combustible mat­ter took fire at the first motion, their zeal to the Roman cause burning within them, which nothing but the blood of Inno­cents can quench. The design thus set afoot, they bind them­selves to secresie, by those Sacraments which are the greatest ties upon the Soul, and Saint Garnet the Iesuit was their Confessor. The foundation being laid, every man betakes himself to his work, some to provide money, some materials. Percy was to hire the Cellars under the Parliament House, to lay Wood and Coal in, for his Winter-provision: Guido Faux, a desperate Ruffian (who was to give fire to the Train) was appointed to be his man to bring in the Wood and Coal. The Gunpowder provi­ded in Flanders, is brought from Lambeth in the night, and co­vertly laid under the Wood. Thus they prepare all things rea­dy for a Burnt-offering, against the day the Parliament should meet, 1604. which was to be upon the seventh of February. But the King for some Reasons of State (which at that time the dictates of Providence did much approve of) prorogued the Parliament of the fifth of November following, which scattered the Contri­vers at present, and they were at their wits end; and some of them went beyond Seas, because they would not beat too much about the Covert, their materials being fitted; others that staid here persisted with Patience (made a Vice by them) and met of­ten to consult how they should manage their great business, if it took effect. They looked upon the King and Prince, as alrea­dy sacrificed to their Cruelty: And Percy undertook to dispatch the Duke of York. But because they must have one of the Blood Royal, that must serve as a center to adhere to, to keep all from Confusion, they meant to preserve the Lady Elizabeth, and make her Queen, that under her minority and innocency, they might the better establish their bloody Principles of Piety and Policy. They had designed the fatal day to be upon the fifth of November, when the King and both Houses were to meet, and that day they appointed a great Hunting-match at Dunsmore-beach in Warwick-shire, to be nearer the Lord Harington's House, where the Lady Elizabeth was. And they had by their horrid Art, and Experience, so fitted their Matches, that were to convey the fire to the Powder, that they could know a hundred Miles off, to a minute, when that Monstrous Fiery Exhalation would break out.

Solacing themselves in this bloody expectation, and thinking their Conveyances under ground were not seen above by the Divine Discoverer, they stood like Vultures gaping for their Prey; when, behold! one tender-hearted Murderer among the [Page 30] Pack, An. Reg. 3. An. Christi 1605. willing to save the Lord Monteagle, writ this Letter to him.

Here is the Protection of the Holy God desired, a strange ex­pression in so unholy an action, which is like their zeal, that made their children pass through fire to Moloch; what horrid madness kindles such Sacrifices? The Lord Monteagle astonished at the Letter (though he understood it not) thinking there might be something in it of dangerous concernment, commu­nicated the contents of it to the Earl of Salisbury, and some o­thers of the Kings Council. Salisbury could not find out the Riddle, he concluded him either a fool or a mad-man that wrote it, by this expression, The danger is past as soon as the Letter is burnt: If the danger be past when the Letter is burnt, what needeth any warning? But he did not reach the meaning; for the Writers desire was to have the Letter burned, and then the danger would be past both to the Writer and Receiver, if he had grace to make use of the warning. The King was Hunting the fearful Hare at Royston, while they layed this Snare for him at Westminster. As soon as he came to Whitehall, the Earl of Salis­bury being of his intimate Councils, and principal Secretary, shewed him the Letter. The King considering it circumspect­ly (as Cicero said of the Sibyls works, Id majus est attenti animi quam furentis) said, This is no Mad-mans writing. There is a great Blow to be given, they shall not see it that feel it, which is some secret mischief. Many times fear is a profitable and an active servant, if it do not domineer and grow masterly. He was so sensible of a stroak, that he felt it (as it were) coming: There­fore the day before the Parliament should begin, he commanded the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Chamberlain, to make a strict search about the Parliament House, who accompanied with the Lord Monteagle, entred the Cellar under the House, which he found stuffed with Billet, Faggot, and Coal, and asking Whinyard of the Wardrobe (who was House-keeper) what provisions they were, he said, he had let the Cellar to Mr. Thomas Percy (who

[Page 31] was one of the Gentlemen Pensioners to the King) and close by in a corner of the Cellar stood Faux, in a gastly condition (be­ing a raw-bon'd tall man) who being questioned, said, he was Percies servant. The Lord Chamberlain, that would make no noise, and bustle as that time, left both the Engin and Engineer as he found them, taking no further notice, but apprehended Just Cause to have the Cellars further searched; the Lord Mounteagle assuring himself, it was Percie that writ the Letter to him, as soon as he heard him named, for there were little in­timacies betwixt them. The King with his Council advi­sing what to do, resolved of a further search that night, com­mitting the Trust to Sir Thomas Knevet, one of the Gentlemen of his Privy-Chamber, a Man of approved Fidelity; who with a Retinue suitable to such an Enterprise, coming to the Cel­lar about Midnight, he met the watchful Minister of Impiety, Faux, at the door, on whom he presently seized; and making further search, pulled out the core of all that horrid Contri­vance. Faux, his under-ground Works being digged out, and seeing all unkennel'd, confessed the intention, and was only sorry i [...] came not to perfection, saying, God would have concealed it, and the Devil only discovered it. In his pockets they found a Watch (which were not common then) and a Tinder box, the Engines to minute out his time to strike the stroke; so pun­ctual was he in his wickedness! This tough piece, upon exami­nation by the Lords of the Council, could have little drawn from him, only he said again, he was sorry it was not done. But the Conspirators revealed themselves; for finding all discovered, they pack to Dunsmore to the Hunting-meeting, breaking open some Stables in London, and taking out divers Horses of Noble­mens, that were put into Riders hands to manage, thinking to make a great Party: But the High-Sheriffs of Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, hunted these Fire-brand Foxes so, that they were forced (most of them) to Earth themselves in Littletons House at Halbach, and there Piercie and Catesby desperately sallying out, were both slain, so were Iohn Wright, and Christopher Wright: Thomas Winter, Francis Tresham, and the rest, were taken; Tre­sham died of the Strangury in the Tower; Traitors exe­cuted. Thomas Winter, Guido Faux, Robert Keyes, Thomas Bates, Robert Winter, late of Hooding­ton in Worcestershire, Esquire; Iohn Grant of Northbrook in the County of Warwick, Esquire; Ambrose Rookwood, late of Staning­field in the County of Suffolk, Esquire; and Sir Everard Digby of Gothurst in Bucking hamshire, Knight, were executed according to their demerit.

This Prodigious Contrivance did not only stupifie the whole Kingdom with amazement, but Foreign Princes made their Wonderment also; And though, for the Propagation of the Catholick Cause, they might have Conscience enough to [Page 32] with it had taken Effect; yet they had Policy enough to Con­gratulate the Discovery; and some of them, to take off the a­sperity of the Suspect, sweetned their Expressions with many rich Gifts, and Presents, to the King and Queen. But this bloody Design, found in the hand of the Malefactors, grasping the Mischief, and confirmed by their own Confessions (being such Spirits as were fit Boutefeus for so desperate an Enterprize) was notwithstanding father'd upon the Puritans (as Nero did the burning of Rome upon the Christians) by some impudent and cunning Iesuits (whose practice is to deceive) if not quite to clear their party, yet by stirring this muddy water, to make that which is in it to appear the less perspicuous; and it is like the rest of their Figments, fit baits for Ignorance to nibble on: Which some years after I had opportunity at Bruges in Flanders, to make Weston, an old Iesuit, active in the Powder-plot, ingenu­ously to confess.

The Parlia­ment meet the 9. of Novemb.This preceded the second Sessions of the first Parliament, pro­rogued till the fifth of November, and upon the ninth they met; where with Hearts full of Fears and Jealousies, they ripped up the ground of the Machination, for discovery of the Complotters; and laid such a Foundation of good Laws against Papists, as might serve for a Bulwark in the time to come. The King was not unmindful of the Lord Monteagle, the first Discoverer of this Treason, for he gave to him and his Heirs for ever, two hundred pounds a year in Fee-farm Rents, and five hundred pounds a year besides, during his life, as a reward for this good service.

Rumors of the Kings death.In the midst of the Parliaments Activity, a rumour was spread (by what strange means unknown) that the King was stabbed at Okingham (twenty miles from London, where he was Hunting) with a poysoned knife: The Court at Whitehall, the Parliament, and City, took the Alarum, mustering up their Old Fears, every man standing at gaze, as if some new Prodigie had seized them; such a Terror had this late monstrous intended mischief imprinted in the spirits of the People, that they took Fire from every little Train of Rumour, and were ready to grapple with their own Destruction before it came. In the midst of this Agony, there came assurance of the Kings safety, which he was enforced to divulge by Proclamation, to re-establish the People. The Spanish Embassador gave Sir Lewis Lewknor, Master of the Ceremonies, a Chain of Gold of good Value, for bringing him the news of the Kings safety, which presently resounded in the Court; and it was thought, he was so bountiful, either out of Terror, being afraid of the People in this Confusion, because it was rumor'd, that the King of Spain was a Fomenter of the Plot; or out of a desire to vindicate his Masters Honour, and take the Odium from him; for he had been solicited by divers Iesuits, together with [Page] [Page]

[Page 33] these Conspirators, An. Reg. 4. An. Christi 1606. to invade England. The Principal of which Iesuits, called Henry Garnet ( Provincial of the Order in England) was arraigned at Guild-hall, the twentieth of March 1605. and executed at the West end of St. Pauls soon after.

Henry Lord Mordant, and Edward Lord Stu [...]ton, not coming to the Parliament according to their Writ of Summons, were suspe­cted to have knowledg of the Conspiracy, and so was the Earl of Northumberland from some presumptions, and all three were committed to the Tower. The two Barons (after some impri­sonment) were redeemed by Fine in Star-chamber, but the Earl continued a Prisoner there for many years after.

In Iuly this year the King of Denmark (Brother to the Queen) came in Person as a visitor, The King of Denmarks first coming. where he found their Shakings some­what setled, their Terrors abated, and met with not only all those varieties that Riches, Power, and Plenty are capable to produce for satisfaction, where will and affection are the dispensers, but he beheld with admiration the stately Theatre, whereon the Danes for many hundred of years had acted their bloody parts: But how he resented their Exit, or the last Act of that black Tragaedy, wherein his Country lost their interest, some Divine Power, that searches the capacious hearts of Princes can only di­scover. This short Month of his stay carryed with it as pleasing a countenance on every side, and of their Recreations and Pastimes, flew as high a flight, as Love mounted upon the wings of art and fancy, the sutable nature of the season, or Times swift foot could possibly arrive at. The Court, City and some parts of the Coun­try with Banquetings, Masks, Dancings, Tilting, Barriers, and other Gallantry (besides the manly Sports of Wrestling, and the brutish Sports of bayting Wild-beasts) swelled to such a greatness, as if there were an intention in every particular man, this way to have blown up himself.

The seven and twentieth of May last, the Parliament was pro­rogued to the eighteenth of November following; The fifth of Novemb. made Holy-day. but before they parted (having hearts full of affection for Gods great deli­verance of the whole Kingdom from ruin and destruction) they made an Act to have the fifth of November for ever solemnized with publick Thanksgiving: Imputing the Discovery of the Treason to Gods inspiring the King with a Divine Spirit to in­terpret some dark phrases of the Letter, above, and beyond all ordinary construction. They attainted the blood of those Trai­tors that were Executed, as also, those that were slain in the field, or dyed in Prison. They made many good Laws, for the discovering and suppressing of Popish Recusants. And gave the King three intire Subsidies and six Fifteens. Besides four Subsi­dies of four shillings in the pound granted by the Clergy. But they put off the Treaty of Vnion, by an Act that referred it to be done as well any other Session of Parliament, so willing they [Page 34] were to keep close to the Kings affections, and not to start from him. But the next Session (the King being loth to be longer delayed) the business of the Vnion was much pressed again, by some that knew the Kings mind, among whom, Sir Francis Ba­con (now the Kings Solicitor) was a principal Instrument, who came prepared for it, and first moved the House of Commons, that the Scots might be Naturalized by Act of Parliament; which was opposed by divers strong and modest Arguments. Among which they brought in the comparison of Abraham and Lot, Arguments a­bout a Union. whose Families joyning, they grew to difference, and to those words, Vade tu ad dextram, & ego ad sinistram.

It was answered, That Speech brought the captivity of the one, they having dis-joyned their strength.

The Party opposing said, If we admit them into our Liberties, we shall be over-run with them, as Cattle (naturally) pent up by a slight Hedg, will over it into a better soyl, and a Tree ta­ken from a barren place will thrive to excessive, and exuberant Branches in a better, witness the multiplicities of the Scots in Polonia,

To which it was answer'd, That if they had not means, place, custom, and imployment (not like Beasts but Men) they would starve in a plentiful soyl, though they came into it; and what spring-tide and confluence of that Nation have housed and fami­lied themselves among us, these four years of the Kings reign? And they will never live so meanly here as they do in Polonia; for they had rather discover their poverty abroad than at home. Besides, there is a question whether England be fully peopled, witness the drowned Grounds, and Common-wasts; the ruins and decays of ancient Towns in this Realm; Witness how many serve in the Parliament for desolate Burroughs; Witness our Wasts by Sea, as well as by Land, suffering the Flemings to carry away all our Fishing, the sinews of our industry being slackned, we want active spirits to corroborate them by their example: Besides the planting Ireland, fully abounding with Rivers, Havens, Woods, Quarries, good Soyl, and temperate Climate. No surcharge of people hath been prejudicial to Countreys, the worst will be an honourable War, to recover our ancient Rights, or revenge our Injuries, or to attain to the honour of our Ancestors. We should not forget the consideration of Am­plitude and Greatness, and fall at variance about Profit, and Recknings, fitter for private persons than Kingdoms.

The other side objected, That the Fundamental Laws of both Kingdoms are divers, and it is declared, they shall so continue, and therefore it would not be reasonable to proceed to this Na­turalization, whereby to indow them with our Rights, except they should receive, and submit to our Laws.

[Page]

[Page 35] It was answered, That in the Administration of the World under God, the great Monarch, his Laws are divers; one Law in Spirits, another in Bodies, one Law in Regions Celestial, an­other in Elementary, and yet the Creatures are all one mass, or lump. That in the state of the Church, among People of seve­ral languages, and lineages, there is a Communion of Saints, and we are all fellow-Citizens, and Naturalizants of the Heavenly Ierusalem, and yet divers Ecclesiastical Laws, Policies, and Hie­rarchies; for the Laws are rather Figura Republicae, than For­ma; rather bonds of Perfection, than Intireness. That in Ire­land, Iersey, G [...]rnsey, and the Isle of Man, our Common Laws are not in force, and yet they have the benefit of Naturaliza­tion.

To which it was replyed, that these are only Flourishes of Rhetorick; for God (who is the only Disposer of all his Crea­tures) keeps them in Order and Obedience to Him, by a Law which they cannot deviate from, unless he withdraws his pre­serving Hand from them: But betwixt Man and Man, or Realm and Realm, there can be no such Tie, or Obligation, to hold an Vnity, where they have various Laws, and various Priviledges. And for the immunities given to the Irish (for some Ages past) they were English Colonies sent there to plant, being a great part of them Natives with us, of the same blood and stock, with whom we are ingrafted by Time, and made (as it were) one Body, the better to secure their obedience, and hinder any League or Amity with a Foreign Nation. But Scotland hath an in­tire Vnion with the French, continued for some hundreds of years, that is indissolvable, and therefore incompetent, yet to the freedoms of England. When we have had as much experience of the Friendship of Scotland, as of them, we shall incline to a more in­timate Vnion. Besides there is an inequality in the Portunes of the two Nations; and by this Commixture, there may ensue ad­vantage to them, and loss to us.

To the latter part was answered, Beatius est dare quàm acci­pere: And Edward the First, among other Commendations of War, and Policy, none was more celebrated than his purpose and enterprize, for the Conquest of Scotland; as not bending his Designs to glorious Acquests abroad, but solid strength at home; which, if it had succeded, could not but have brought in those inconveniences, of the Commixture of a more opulent Kingdom with a less; for it is not the yoke either of Laws or Arms, that can alter the nature of the Climate, or the nature of the Soil; neither is it the manner of the Commixture, that can alter the nature of the Commixture; and therefore if it were good for us then, it is good for us now; and not to be prized the less, be­cause we paid not so dear for it.

[Page 36]They strive further to prove, That the benefit of Naturaliza­tion is by Law, to as many as have been, or shall be born, since the Kings coming to the Crown; for there is no more than to bring the Ante-nati unto the degree of Post-nati, that Men grown may be in no worse case than Children, and elder Brothers in no worse condition than younger Brothers. That if any ob­ject the Law is not so, but that the Post-nati are Aliens as the rest, it is contrary to the Reason of Law. The Wisdom of the Common Laws of England is admirable, in distribution of the Benefit, and Perfection of the Law, according to the several conditions of Persons, The Degrees are four, two of Aliens, and two of Subjects: The first Degree is of an Alien born under a King or State, that is an Enemy; if such an one come into the Kingdom without safe conduct, it is at his peril, the Law giveth him no protection, neither of Body, Lands, nor Goods; so as if he be slain, there is no remedy by any appeal, at the Parties sute, though she were an English Woman; though at the Kings sute the Case may be otherwise, in regard of the offence to the Peace, and Crown, The second Degree is of an Alien that is born under Faith and Allegiance of a King, or State, that is a Friend; unto such a Person the Law doth impart a greater benefit and protection concerning things personal, transitory, and move­able, as Goods and Chattels, Contracts, and the like, but not concerning Free-hold, and Inheritance; and the Reason is, be­cause he may be an Enemy, though he be not; for the State where he was born, may enter into Hostility; and therefore as the Law hath but a Transitory assurance of him, so it rewards him with Transitory benefits. The third Degree is of a Subject, who having been an Alien, is made free by Charter, and Deni­zation: To such a one the Law doth impart yet a more ample benefit, for it gives him a power to purchase Free-hold, and In­heritance to his own use, and likewise inables his Children (born after his Denization) to inherit: But yet he cannot make Title, or convey any Pedigree from any Ancestour Paramount; for the Law thinks not good to make him in the same Degree with a Subject born, because he was once an Alien, and so might have been an Enemy; and Affections cannot be so setled by any bene­fit, as when from their Nativity they are inbred, and inherent. The fourth Degree, and the perfect Degree, is of such a Person, as neither is Enemy, nor can be Enemy in time to come, nor would have been Enemy at any time past; and therefore the Law gives unto him the full benefit of Naturalization. Now if these be the true steps and paces of the Law, no man can deny, but whosoever is born under the Kings obedience, never could, in aliquo puncto temporis, be an Enemy; and therefore in reason of Law is Naturalized. So though the Scots seem to be in Rea­son, Naturales ipso jure, yet it is not superfluous to have it done [Page 37] by Parliament; for it will shew the World our love to them, and good agreement with them.

Then they shewed by authority of History, and Experience, the Inconveniencies that may grow, if this Vnion of Naturali­zation doth not close, and bind up the Veins, so as to make it one perfect Body; For else it may be apt to open, and break out again upon all occasions, and relapse to the detriment of both: Ripping up ancient Stories of the Romans and Latines, and the Wars they had, meerly for want of this Vnion, and never were at quiet till they injoyed it. Then between the Peloponnesians, and the Spartans the like. And from ancient Stories to the Kingdom of Arragon and Castile, united in the Persons of Ferdinando and Isabella, severed and divided from the rest of Spain in Priviledges, and directly in this point of Naturalization, or capacity of Inhe­ritance. But what came of this? A Rebellion grew among them, which a Royal Army with difficulty suppressed, and (they being made one incorporated Body with the rest of Spain) perpetua­ted Peace to Posterity.

The like example was betwixt Florence and Pisa. And what­soever Kingdoms and States have been United, and that Vnion corroborated by the Bonds of Naturalization, you shall never ob­serve them afterward, upon any occasion to break or sever a­gain: Whereof divers Provinces in France, by time annexed to that Crown, are further witnesses. So that except they proceed to this Naturalization, these Realms will be in continual danger to divide and break again.

Next they shew the Benefits to be Security and Greatness. Surety, by stopping up the Postern-gates of our Enemies, so that we shall not be so much a temptation to the ambition of Foreign­ers, when their Approaches and Avenues are taken away: For having so little success when they had these advantages, they will have less comfort when they want them. And Greatness by this Vnion must needs follow: For having so many Iron-han­ded men in these three Kingdoms, we shall not only pluck Gold from the (once poor) Spaniards Indian-mines, but by our Arms keep in awe the whole Christian World.

These Arguments prest with gilded Oratory by the Solicitor and his partakers, could not prevail, though urged with all the power Wit could invent, or Hope aim at: For being new budded in Court, he was one of those that smoothed his way to a full ripe­ness; by liqu [...]rish and pleasing passages, which he at last attained to, being made Lord Chancellor of England. But such sweets, though delightful at present, breed rottenness in the end: for he withered, and came to nothing, as in due time shall be ex­pressed.

But the King (like a great Sea) being troubled when such cross-winds are boistrous, sent for both Houses of Parliament to White-hall [Page 38] hall the last of March, An. Reg. 5. An. Christi 1607. 1607. to calm them; where betwixt a Sun-shine of fair Words, and a Cloud of Anger, he colours o­ver some of the Arguments that had been used, and urges others for his best advantage, with a plain natural bluntness fit for Kings. He tells them, The Kings Speech to the Parliament a­bout the Uni­on. the Vnion he desires, is of Laws and Persons, such a Naturalizing as may make one Body of both Kingdoms; that as there is but Vnus Rex, so there may be but Vnus Grex, & Vna Lex. His intention is not, as some idly alledg, to give England the labour and sweat, and Scotland the fruit and sweet, vainly talking of transplanting Trees out of barren ground into bet­ter, and lean Cattle out of bad pasture into a more fertile soyl. Can any man displant them unless they will? Or is Scotland so strong, to pull them out of their houses? Whereas the waste grounds in Scotland would rather be planted by Swarms of Peo­ple that cumber the Streets here.

First, He desires that all Hostile Laws should cease, be­ing the King of England cannot make War with the King of Scotland.

Secondly, That there should be Community of Commerce, he being no Stranger, but descended of their ancient Kings: and how can he be Natural Liege-Lord to both, and they Strangers to one another? And shall they that be under the same Allegi­ance be no freer, nor have no better Respect than Frenchmen and Spaniards?

Thirdly, They all agree they are no Aliens, and yet will not allow them to be Natural. That he was informed by their own Iudges and Lawyers, at his first access to the Crown, that there was a difference between the Ante and Post-nati of each Kingdom; which caused him to publish a Proclamation, that the Post-nati were Naturalized by his accession; but he confesses, Iudges may err, so may the Lawyer's on their side: Therefore he admonishes them to beware to disgrace, either his Proclamations, or the Iudg­es, for so they may disgrace both their King and Laws; who have power, when the Parliament is ended, to try them both for Lands and Lives.

And for some of them who with their flattering speeches would have the Ante-nati preferred, alledging their merit in my service, such Discourses have mel in ore, & fel in corde; carrying an outward appearance of love to the Vnion, but a contrary re­solution in their hearts. For the King would have them know, it lies within the compass of his Prerogative to prefer whom he pleases to any Dignity Civil or Ecclesiastical. But he is so far from prejudicing the English, that he is willing to bind himself to reasonable Restrictions. Besides, it is a special Point of the Kings Prerogative, to make Aliens, Citizens; and in any case wherein the Law is thought not to be clear, Rex est Iudex; for he is Lex loquens, supplying the Law where it wants. But this he [Page 39] speaks as knowing what belongs to a King, not intending to press it further than may agree with their loves, and stand with the conveniency of both Nations.

The inconveniences supposed to arise from Scotland, are pre­tended to be,

• 1. An evil affection in the Scots to the Vnion.
• 2. That the Vnion is incompetible.
• 3. That the Gain is small, or none.

If this be so, Why is there talk of an Vnion? For the first, They alledg the averseness of the Scots, from the Preface, and Body of their Act; where they decare, they will remain an ab­solute and free Monarchy, and not alter the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom. And yet in the beginning of this Session of Parliament, the opinion was current, that Scotland was greedy of this Vnion, and pursued it with so much violence, that they cared not for the strictness of the Conditions, so they might attain the substance, and end. And yet they now say, they are backwards, which is a Contradiction; for how can they both beg and deny the same thing, at one and the same time? And by preserving their Fundamental Laws, they mean, those Laws by which Confusion is avoided, and their Kings Succession, and Monarchy maintained. To which he Declares, That he is in de­scent three hundred years before Christ, not meaning (as they do) their Common Law; for the Scots have no Law but that which is Ius Regis. And for their desire of continuing a free Monarchy, he hopes they mean not he should set Garrisons over them, as the Spaniards do over Sicily and Naples.

And then he tells them, That he governs Scotland with his Pen; he writes, and doth more by a Clerk of the Council, than others could do by the Sword. And though he knows there are many seditious Persons in that Kingdom, that may talk lewdly enough, yet none of them ever spake dishonourably of England, as they have done of Scotland: For if any man speaks any thing uncomely there, the Chancellor by his Authority inter­rupts him; but here they have freedom to speak what they list, and as long as they list, without contradiction. Then the King shews what the Laws of Scotland are.

1. Those which concern Tenures, Wards, Liveries, Signiories, and Lands, are drawn out of the Chancery of England, brought by Iames the First (who was bred up here) and differ only in terms.

The second are Statute Laws, to which he hopes they will be no Strangers.

The third is the Civil Law, brought out of France by Iames the Fifth; and serve only to supply in such Cases, where the Municipal Laws are defective: So that he hopes it is no hard matter to unite the People together, who are in effect already [Page 40] subject to the same Law. And whereas it is Objected, that the King of Scotland hath not a Negative Voice in Parliament, but must pass the Laws agreed on by the Lords and Commons: He assures them, that the form of Parliament there, is nothing in­clined to Popularity: For about twenty days before the Par­liament begins, Proclamation is made throughout the Kingdom, that all Bills to be exhibited that Session, be delivered to the Master of the Rolls by a certain day: Then they are brought to the King, perused, and considered by him; and only such as he allows, are put into the Chancellors hand, to be pro­pounded that Parliament, and no other. And if any man speak of any other Matter than is in this Form first allowed by him, the Chancellor tells him, that there is no such Bill allowed by the King: And when they are past for Laws, he ratifies and confirms them, first racing out what he doth not approve of. And if this be to be called a Negative Voice in Parliament, then he hath one.

2 For the Vnion betwixt the French and the Scots, which makes this Vnion so incompetible; he assures them, it was a League only made between the Kings, not the People. For Scotland be­ing solicited by England and France at one Time, for a League Offensive and Defensive, against each others Enemies. There was a great Disputation maintained in favour of England, that they being our Neighbours joyned in one Continent, a strong and Powerful Nation, it would be more Security to the State of Scot­land to joyn in Amity with England, than with France, divided by the Sea, where they must abide the hazard of wind and wea­ther, and other Accidents that might hinder relief.

But on the contrary, it was alledged in the favour of France, That England ever sought to conquer Scotland, and therefore there would never be kept any sound Amity: Whereas France, lying more remote, claimed no interest, and therefore would be found a more constant and faithful Friend; so it was concluded on their Part. But by the Tenour it was ordered to be renewed, and confirmed from King to King successively, by the mediation of their Ambassadors, and therefore merely personal. And so it was renewed in the Queen his Mothers time, but not by assent in Parliament; which it could not have wanted, if it had been a League of the People: And in the Kings Time, when it came to be ratified, because it appeared to be in Odium Tertii, it was by him left un-renewed, in consideration of his Title to the Crown.

3 For the Profit and Commodity that shall arise to England by this Vnion; Who is so ignorant that doth not know the gain will be great? Do they not gain by the Vnion of Wales? And is not Scotland greater than Wales? Shall not Lands, Seas, and Person be added to their Greatness? Two Snow-balls put to­gether

[Page 41] grow greater; two Houses joyned make one the larger; and two Castle-walls made into one, makes one as thick and strong as both. And he professes, he seeks this Vnion only to advance the greatness of their Empire here in England, yet with such caution as may stand with the weal of both States. What is now desired, hath oft been sought, and not obtained, to re­fuse it then now were double iniquity, And for their security in such reasonable points of Restriction, which he shall agree to, they need not doubt his inclination: For he will never say any thing he will not promise, nor promise any thing which he will not swear, nor swear any thing which he will not per­form.

This urged with asseveration might have wrought much with the Parliament, The Parlia­ment declined the Union. but that they apprehended a great incon­venience in such an Vnion, where the Laws and Government are of different natures. All were not Romans that were born subjects to the Roman Empire, though St. Paul was born one, the Centurion was a purchaser. For notwithstanding all the former Arguments by the King, and his Ministers, the Parliament knew that it is true, That if Scotland had been Conquered, the only way to tie them to obedience, were to let them taste the sweets of English Liberties. But to let them sit Triumphing upon their own priviledges, and roam about among the English Freedoms, were to make them straggle too much. The Scots would not lessen, nor in the least derogate from the dignity of their long continued Monarchy, and the English thought they had no rea­son to come to them to derogate from themselves. The Parlia­ment only feared the Kings Power would have such an influence upon the Iudges of the Kingdom; that the Scots would be natu­ralized too soon, they were resolved not to be accessary to it: which indeed some two years after was confirmed in Calvins case of post-nati, reported by the Lord Chief Justice Cook, who was fit metal for any stamp Royal, and adjudged by him, the Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, and most of the Judges of the King­dom in the Exchequer-Chamber, though many strong and valid Arguments were brought against it ( such Power is in the breath of Kings!) and such soft stuff are Judges made of, that they can vary their Precedents, and model them into as many shapes as they please. And thus this Case stood like a Statue cloathed by the Lord Chief Justice in the vulgar Language (when the rest of his Reports spoke an unknown Tongue) that the Kingdom might take more particular notice, that the Scots were as free in England as themselves, yet it fell not out to their wishes. But all that could be gotten from the Parliament, was, That the Laws of hostility that were anciently made betwixt England and Scotland were repealed, that the old grudges which caused the Dis-union (the War in the members) might be taken away. And [Page 42] in the said Act they provided, An. Reg. 6. An. Christi 1608. That if a natural born subject of England did commit any misdemeanour in Scotland, and sly into England, he should be tried where he was taken, and not carri­ed into Scotland to receive his judgment there; Till such time (which are the very words of the Act) as both Kingdoms shall be made one in Laws and Government, which is the thing so much de­sired, as that wherein the full perfection of the blessed Vnion (already begun in the Kings Royal person) consisteth. And further they went not: For they found and feared the old enmity would yet a while continue; for since the Kings coming into England, the loose and uncomposed Borderers, that lived upon rapine and spoil (seeking new benefits from new changes) had broke out and com­mitted many insolencies, who though they were suppressed by the Forces of Barwick and Carlile, and many of them suffered in it, yet custom and habit had bred in them a natural Ferity, which could only be restrained by giving freedom to the Laws, that within a short time gave bound to that barbarous animosity. The Laws made in Scotland to the prejudice of the English were like­wise repealed there, so that all passages were made smooth on both sides. This Session also produced divers good Laws for the benefit of the Common-wealth.

But this Session brought in no money, that is as the blood of the Subject, which He (as a wise Physician) would not strain from them the ordinary way, lest the sense of it should bring the more fears and faintings with it, but by laying on little Burthens at first, he not only inured them to bear greater, but made them sweat out some of that humor insensibly, though they felt it af­terward, when they found the weight laid upon their shoulders, only (as they conceived) to daub other mens with bravery. For the Kings Bounty was seen by the vulgar eye to overflow in many little Rivulets, who knew the golden streams that out-faced the Sun came not from the Norths cold climate, but were drained out of the fountains of their labor. They could not endure to see their fellow Subjects grow fat, by what should be their nourish­ment. Collecting that the King had received three hundred and fifty thousand pounds subsidies, due to the late Queen, besides what the Parliament had given him. And fearing that Proclama­tions (who were indeed very active Ministers) would now be­come Laws, ushering in the Kings will with large strides upon the peoples Liberties, who lay down while they stept over them. The ingenious sort, sensible of this incroaching Monarchy, brake out into private murmur, which by degrees (being of a light nature) carried a Cloud with it, by which the wise Pilots of the State, foreseeing a Storm gathering, strive to dissipate it the next Ses­sion of Parliament, which was held the nineteenth of February, in the seventh year of our Kings Reign.

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[Page 43]Not long after this, An. Reg. 7. An. Christi 1609. the Earl of Dorset, Lord High Treasurer, died suddenly, as he sate at the Council Table; which gave oc­casion to some persons disaffected to him (as what eminent Of­ficer that hath the managing of Moneys can please all?) to speak many things to his Dishonour. The death of the Earl of Dorset sud­denly. But they considered not, that besides the Black worm and the White (day and night, as the Riddle is) that are gnawing constantly at the root of this tree of Life, there are many insensible Diseases, as Apoplexies, whose Vapors suddenly extinguish the Animal Spirits; and Apostems both in the upper, and middle Region of Man, that often drown and suffocate both Animal and Vital; who are like imbodyed Twins, the one cannot live without the other; if the Animal Spirits fail, the Vital cannot subsist, if the Vitals perish, the Animal give over their operations. And He that judges ill of such an Act of Providence, may have the same hand, at the same time, writing within the Palace walls of his own Body, the same Period to his Lives earthly Empire.

The Earl of Salisbury succeeded him, The Earl of Salisbury made Treasurer. a man nourished with the milk of Policy, under his father the Lord Burley (famous for Wisdom in his Generation) a Courtier from his infancy, Batteld by Art, and Industry, under the late Queen, mother of her Coun­try. Though Nature was not propitious to his Outside (being Crooked backt) She supplied that want with admirable indow­ments within. This man the King found Secretary, and Master of the Wards; and to these he added the Treasurers staff, know­ing him to be the staff of his Treasury: For he had knowledg e­nough to pry into other Mens Offices aswell as his own, and knew the ways of disbursing the Kings moneys. The Earl of North­hampton, he made Lord Privy Seal; and these were the two prime wheels of his triumphant Chariot. The Earl of Suffolk was made Lord Chamberlain before, but he came far behind in the management of the Kings affairs, being a Spirit of a more Grosser Temper, fitter to part a fray, and Compose the differences of a disordered Court, than a Kingdom. Upon the Shoulders of the two first the King laid the Burthen of his business: For though he had many Lords his Creatures, some by Creation, and some by insinuation (for Kings will never want supple-hand Courtiers) and the Bishops, being his Dependents, the most of them tending by direct Lines towards him, as the Center of their advance­ment; so that He (like the Supreme Power) moved this upper Region, for the most part, and that had an influence upon the lower, in inferior Orbs; yet these two noble Men were the two great Lights that were to discover the Kings mind to the Parlia­ment, and by whose Heat, and Vigor, the blessed fruits of Peace, and Plenty, Salisbury and Northampton Sticklers for the King. should be produced.

The Lord Treasurer (by a Command from the King) instructs both Houses in their business, and what they shall do well to in­sist [Page 44] upon this Session. First, To supply his Majesties wants. Se­condly, To ease the people of their Grievances. They go com­monly yoakt together; for the peoples Grievances are the Kings Wants, and the Kings Wants are the peoples Grievan­ces, How can they be separated? If the King will always want, the people will always suffer: For Kings when they do want, lay commonly lawless impositions on the people, which they must take off again with a sum of money, and then they want again to a continued vicissitude.

These two Propositions are sweetned by him with a third: Which is to make the Parliament witnesses of those great favours, and honours, that his Majesty intended his Royal Son, Prince Henry, in creating him Prince of Wales: Which though the King might do without a Parliament, and that divers Kings his Predecessors had done so, (as by many precedents was manifested) yet being desirous to have a happy Vnion betwixt him and his People, he would have nothing resound ill in their ears, from so eminent an instrument to the Kingdoms good as his Son. Then they excuse the Kings necessities, proceeding from his great disbursements. For the three hundred and fifty thou­sand pounds Subsidies, due in the late Queens time, he received with one hand, and paid her Debts with another, redeeming the Crown Lands which she had morgaged to the City. He kept an Army of nineteen thousand men in Ireland, for some time a foot; wherein a great many of the Nobility were Comman­ders, and other deserving Soldiers, that would have been ex­posed to want and penury, if not supplied: And it was not safe for the King to trust the inveterate malice of a new recon­ciled Enemy, without the Sword in his hand. The late Queens Funeral Charges were reckon'd up, which they hoped the Parliament would not repine at: Nor was it fit the King should come in as a private Person, bringing in one Crown on his head, and finding another here; or his Royal Consort, with our future Hopes (like so many precious Ienels) exposed to Robbers, with­out a Guard and Retinue? How fit was the Magnificence at the King of Denmarks being here? And how just that Ambassadors from Foreign Princes (more than ever this Crown received) should find those Entertainments and Gratuities, the want whereof would put a dim lustre abroad upon the most sparkling Jewels of the Crown; Besides the necessary Charge of sending Ambassadors to others, being concurrent and mutual Civilities a­mong Princes.

That these are the causes of the Kings wants, and not his ir­regular Bounty, though a magnificent mind is inseparable from the Majesty of a King. If he did not give, his subjects and ser­vants would live in a miserable Climate; And for his Bounty to those that were not born among us, it must be remembred, he [Page 45] was born among them; and not to have them taste of the bles­sing he hath attained, were to have him change his Vertue with his Fortune. Therefore they desire the Kings wants may be supplied; a thing easie to be granted, and not to be valued by Wise-men, nor spoken of without contempt. Philosophy saith, that all Riches are but food and rayment, the rest is nugatorium quiddam: And that it is but purior pars terrae, and therefore but crassior pars aquae, a thing unworthy the denial to such a King who is not only the wisest of Kings, but the very Image of an Angel, that hath brought good tidings, and setled us in the fru­ition of all good things. He whose depth of Knowledge as well as Conscience, deserves the Title of Fidei defensor; whose nu­merous Issue makes Foreign Princes study to keep their own, not look abroad. He that hath shut the back-door of the King­dom, and placed two Lions, a red and a yellow to secure it, who would have us live under our own Olive, that we may laetari & benefacere. That none will wonder at the Want, or startle at the supply, but such as study to serve their own turns, and believe nothing but what they find written in the stories of their own ignorance. Among which those are to be reckon'd, who (hear­ing of an Order to bind up the printed Proclamations in a book, that the better notice may be taken of the things contained in them) have raised a bruit, that it was intended this Parliament to make Proclamations equal to the Laws, which never entred into the Kings heart; who is so far from governing by will and power, that he will yield to any motion from them, where­in they shall hold a just Diameter, and proportion among them­selves, and observe those Duties due to a great and gracious King.

Thus these Lords did please themselves and the King, by striving to keep the people in the milky way of Obedience, which they had long suckt in, and found the sweet of it tend­ing to nourishment, not yet meeting any Callous, or Brawny-constitution (which must harden them by degrees) nor yet finding their own Tempers grown Robust enough, by so harsh a diet as afterwards they met with. They therefore are willing to go on in the way pointed out to them, as Pupils follow their Masters, minding rather the smoothness of the Tract they saw, than the roughness of the end. Yet some of them, whose hopes were not so high mounted, and their spirits more; spoke plainly, That the whole wealth of England would not serve the Kings vast Bounty; therefore it was a vain thing to give him, that would give it away again: That Gold and Silver in Eden­burgh now in our Solomons time are like the stones in the streets, never so much glittering there, like a perpetual spring-time. Besides they look upon the Kings incroachments upon the pub­lick liberty, by undermining the Laws, taking notice of some [Page 46] expressions that fell from him publickly at his dinner, in de­rogation of the Common Law, extolling highly the Civil Law before it; and approving a Book lately written by Doctor Cow­ell, a Civilian, against it: Which netled our great Lawyers, that had not some of them been raised so high, that they could not with that Court-gag look downwards, it had bred a contest.

The High-Commission a grievance.The High-Commission also began now to swell into a Grie­vance, which the Parliament complained of. Seldom is Authori­ty and Power exercised with Moderation: Every man must con­form to the Episcopal way, and quit his hold in Opinion, or safety. That Court was the Touch stone to try whether men were metal for their stamp; and if they were not soft enough to take such impressions as were put upon them, they were made malleable there, or else they could not pass current. This was the be­ginning of that mischief, which when it came to a full ripeness, made such a bloody Tincture in both Kingdoms, as never will be got out of the Bishops Lawn sleeves. And though these Ap­ples of strife thrown in the way did a little retard the course in hand, yet they carried not the prize: For the King according to his old wont (like a cunning Hunter) when they began to run counter, called them off, and at White-hall by one of his Le­ctures he strives to bring them into the way again; By laying himself open as in a Glass, wherein, if they could not see his heart, they might scent out his meaning, and so follow the chace which was to be pursued.

The Kings Speech to both Houses.He tells them, though the Kings heart be in the hands of the Lord, yet he will set it before the eyes of the people: Assuring them that he never meant to govern by any Law, but the Law of the Land; though it be disputed among them, as if he had an intention to alter the Law, and govern by the absolute Power of a King. He knew, said he, the Power of Kings, re­sembling it to the Power Divine: For as God can create and de­stroy, make and unmake at his pleasure, so Kings can give life and death, judg all, and be judged of none. They can exalt low things, and abase high things, making the subjects like men at Chess, a pawn to take a Bishop or a Knight. (But he left out the power of a Pawn to take a Queen, or check a King). And when he had raised the Kings power to the height, with Vos dii estis, he brings them down again, with, They shall die like men: And that all Kings who are not Tyrants or perjur'd, will bound themselves within the limits of their Laws, and they that per­swade them the contrary, are Vipers and Pests both against them and the Common-wealth. Yet as it is Blasphemy to dispute what God may do, so it is Sedition in Subjects to dispute what a King may do in the height of his power. And as he will not have his subjects discourse of what he may do, so he will do no­thing [Page 47] but what shall be consonant to Law and Reason. Then he strives to mitigate the sharpness of the words dropt from him at his Table to the disparagement of the Common Law, and as­sures them, though he likes the Civil Law very well, as being Lex Gentium, which maintains intercourse with foreign Nations, and sitted to the Ecclesiastical Courts, Court of Admiralty, and Courts of Request, yet he is so far from disavowing the Common Law, that he protests, if he were to chuse a new Law for this Kingdom, he would prefer it before any other National Law, yea, the Law of Moses, nay, without blasphemy, the very Law of God. Then he recalls himself, and tells them, That though for this Nation he had preferred the Common Law to the Law of God, yet it is inferiour to the Iudicial Law: For no Book, or Law is free from corruption, but the Book and Law of God.

And therefore he could wish that three things specially were purged out of Common Law.

First, That it were written in the vulgar Tongue, and made plain to the peoples understanding, that they might know what to obey, that the Lawyers in the Law, like the Romish Priests in the Gospel, might not keep the people in ignorance.

Secondly, That the Common Law might have a setled Text in all Cases, for being grounded upon old Customs, Reports, and Cases of former Iudges, called Responsa prudentum, which are not binding (for divers times Iudges disclaim them, and recede from the Iudgment of their Predecessors) it were good upon ma­ture deliberation, that the Exposition of the Law were set down by Act of Parliament, that the people might know what to depend upon.

Thirdly, There is in the Common Laws divers contrary Re­ports and Precedents, and divers Statutes and Acts of Parliament, that do cross one another, being so penned, that they may be taken in divers senses, therefore he could wish, they might be reviewed, and reconciled. And whereas he is thought an Ene­my to Prohibitions, he saith he is not ignorant of the necessity of them, if every stream might run in its own chanel, but the over­flowing, and super-abundance of them, in every Court, stri­ving to bring most grist to their own Mill, was a distemper fit to be cured, therefore he did not disallow the Use but the Abuse.

Then he closes with the House of Commons, and not only thanks them for the Bonefire they made of certain Papers which were presented Grievances from some discontented murmuring spirits, but he instructs them how to receive Grievances here­after: In which he would have them careful to avoid three things.

The first, That they meddle not with the main points of Go­vernment, [Page 48] that is his craft, Tractent fabrilia fabri. To meddle with that were to lessen him, who hath been thirty years at the Trade in Scotland, and served an Apprentiship of seven years here, therefore here needs no Phormios to teach Hanni­bal.

Secondly, He would not have such ancient Rights as he hath received from his Predecessors accounted Grievances, that were to judg him unworthy to injoy what they left him.

And lastly, That they should be careful not to present that for a Grievance, which is established by a Law; for it is very un­dutiful in Subjects to press their King wherein they are sure to be denyed. Complaints may be made unto them of the High-Commissioners, let the abuse appear then, and spare not, there may be errors among them, but to take away the Commission is to derogate from him, and it is now in his thoughts to rectifie it in a good proportion.

Then he shews the emergent cause of his great expences, since his coming to the Crown, which makes him desire a supply from them, confirming what the Lords formerly delivered; wherein he said, when they opened his necessities unto them, his purse only labour'd, now his desires are taken notice of both at home and abroad, his Reputation labours as well as his Purse; for the World will think it want of love in them, or merit in him, that both lessen'd their hearts, and tied up their hands to­wards him.

Thus the King expressed himself to the Parliament, desiring their assistance, assuring them he had no intention to alter the Government, though he wished the Laws might be rectified. But his King-craft (as he calls it) failed in striking at the Common Law, and he was convinced in it, how dangerous it was to give too much knowledg to the people; the two great Hammers of the State, the Church-man and Lawyer, that work the people to obedience, upon the two Anvils of Conscience and Policy, beat him to the understanding of it, so that ever after he joyned with them, and that three-fold Cord was not easily dissolved. But the times not being ripe yet to produce any thing but the fruits of obedience, they after this Lesson setled themselves to make divers good Laws, which they purchased at the rate of a Subsidie and a Fifteen.

A Proclama­tion against new buildings.About this time, the Suburbs betwixt London and Westminster, had many ruinous Piles of Building, which Age had worn out, and Industry, and Riches (the two great supporters of this mo­mentary Eternity) did strive to renew. Among the rest the Lord Treasurer erected out of the rubbish of the old stables of Durham-house, a goodly Fabrick, to be Rival to the Old Exchange, which the King by his presence dignified with the name of Bri­tains Burse. But he took notice of the swelling Buildings upon

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[Page 49] new foundations, which he looked upon as a Rickety constitu­tion in the Head of the Kingdom, being Inviters of a Flux of humours, and diseases, to be near the Court; besides, he feared the Plague would come too near Whitehall, if that Distemper increased. And therefore he carefully, with mature delibera­tion of his Council, forbids all New Buildings to be set up for the future, within two miles of the City; and by Proclamation strictly commands if any be, they shall be pulled down, though not taken notice of till seven years after. Whereby many men that did not so well heed the Proclamation) laid out their whole estates upon little Hovels, and building fair houses upon new foundations (though it were but two yards from the old) they became Trespassers, and must either purchase their houses again at a dear rate, or pull them down, both ways tending to their ruin; thus falling under the stroke of the times rough hand, without a providential care of the danger that would follow: For what was so strictly forbidden then, was permit­ted after; and those reasons that caused the restraint then (the increase of the Plague) were found upon better experience to be a remedy; for there was more room, and better air to pre­vent it, among thin and single families, than full-crouded hou­ses. And this severity had a second consideration, which was, to prevent the greatness of the Body of the Kingdom from swel­ling to be all Head, when the Head it self wanted so much in­crease of Building, as to plump, and make those thin parts ap­pear more round and beautiful, which was then a disgrace, but is now an Ornament to both Cities. So that what the wisdom of one time doth decry, the experience of another may advance: Such is the Worlds career! And they are only miserable, whose imprudence, or ill luck, puts them in the way to be over-run by it.

This year 1609. The Siege of Iuliers. begot a Truce betwixt the King of Spain, and the Low Countries; yet by the death of the Duke of Cleve, the War was like to revive again: For while two petty Princes, Brandenburgh and Newburgh, strove for the inheritance, Spain, like the Vulture in the Fable, attempted to catch it from both, seizing upon Iuliers, one of the chief Strengths of the Country; which the States of the Netherlands, by the help of our King, and Henry the Fourth of France, besieged, and recovered a­gain. Sir Edward Cecil, Brother to the Earl of Salisburg, com­manded four thousand English at that Siege, whose Conduct gave Life to his Soldiers Valour, and that advanced the Glory of his Conduct. But where such fiery Spirits are congregated into a Body, there will be often violent and thundring eruptions. Sir Hatton Cheek was next Commander to Sir Edward Cecil, a Man of a gallant and daring courage in the difficultest enter­prises; who speaking to Sir Thomas Dutton (one of the Cap­tains [Page 50] under his Command) somewhat hastily, An. Reg. 8. An. Christi 1610. Dutton disdain­ing to be snapt up (being a man of a crabbed temper returned as hot an answer, which broke into a flame: But Dutton quen­ched it, by telling Sir Hatton Cheek, He knew he was his Officer, which tied him in the Army to a strict Obedience, but he would break that Bond, and vindicate himself in another place: And instantly quit­ting his Command, he went for England.

A Duel be­twixt Sir Hat­ton Cheek, and Sir Thomas Dutton. Some small time after the taking of Iuliers, Cheek fell sick; and his distemper was the greater, because he had heard Dutton strove to defame him, both in Court and City: for being full with passion, he vented it with freedom enough in every place. Cheek being recovered, and heart-whole, would not give time to his decayed limbs to suck in their old vigor, but sends to Dutton that threatned him, to give an account of the large ex­pence of his tongue against him; Dutton, that waited for such a reckoning, willingly accepted the Summons: Cheek took Pigot, one of his Captains, to be his Second; Dutton took Captain Gosnald, both Men of well-spread fame; and they four met on Calais Sands: On which dreadful Stage, at first meet­ing, Dutton began to expostulate his injuries, as if a Tongue-Combate might decide the Controversie; but Cheek would dis­pute it otherwise. Then their Seconds searching, and stripping them to their Shirts in a cold morning, they ran with that su­ry on each others Sword, as if they did not mean to kill each other, but strive who should first die. Their Weapons were Ra­pier and Dagger, a fit Banquet for Death. At the first course, Cheek ran Dutton into the neck with his Rapier, and stab'd him in the neck backward with his Dagger, miraculously missing his wind­pipe; And at the same instant, like one motion, Dutton ran Cheek through the Body, and stab'd him into the back with his left hand, locking themselves together thus with four bloody keys, which the Seconds fairly opened, and would sain have closed up the bleeding difference: but Cheeks wounds were deadly, which he finding, grew the violenter against his Enemy; and Dutton seeing him begin to stagger, went back from his fury, only defending himself, till the others rage weakned with loss of blood, without any more hurt, fell at his feet. Dutton, with much difficulty recovered his dangerous wounds, but Cheek by his Servants had a sad Funeral, which is the bitter fruit of fiery passions.

Henry the 4. of France stab'd by Raviliac. The next year was fatal to Henry the Great of France, who (in the height of his Glory, when he had impt his Wings with a Mighty Army, and a Mass of Treasure, and none knew which way his towring spirit would fly) was stopt by a horrid hand, that with a poysoned knife cut out his passage to another World: Such poor and penetrable things are Kings, as well as other Men! And when in this Worlds Sea they have toyled their spirits, in a

[Page] [Page 51] continued Tempest of fond Hopes, and built upon the Sand their vast desires, either old Age doth wash them quite away, or else some sudden storm makes them cast Anchor upon the shores of death, and there's an end. But one Act of Providence is very re­markable towards him, as a Fore-runner of this ensuing mis­chief. When he came first to the Crown (which he (as it were) snatched out of the fire, the whole Kingdom being in a flame) he was a professed Protestant, so born, and so bred up: but finding himself in a tottering condition among his Popish Sub­jects, for his better security, he did something comply with them in Ecclesiastical affairs, which gave great scandal to the Reformed, yet did not much advance him in the good opinion of their Opposites. For the Iesuits unconfident of him (inclining more to the hot zeal of Spain) one of their Instruments stab'd him into the mouth with a knife, without much hurt. Which done, an intimate of his, that came to visit him, told him plain­ly, that the Hand of God was much seen in this Action; for he had now denied the Truths of God, and the Religion he suckt in with his milk, but from the teeth outward, and therefore this punishment came to him as a warning: But let him take heed of denying it with his heart, for if he did, (it is to be feared) God would strike him there also: Both which were too much manifested. So suitable often are Gods Iudgments to our Sins!

The venom of this blow reached presently into England: and came somewhat near our Kings Heart; therefore he took the best way to prevent his Fears, by striving to prevent his Dan­gers, having no other end but his own. For when he considered the horridness of the Powder Plot, and by it the irreconcileable malice of that Party, he thought it the safest policy, not to stir those Ashes, where so much Fire was covered; which gave way to a flux of that Iesuitical humour to infest the Body of the Kingdom.

But now being startled with this poysoned knife, A Proclamati­on against Je­suits. he ventures upon a Proclamation, strictly commanding all Iesuits and Priests out of the Kingdom, and all Recusants to their own Houses, not to come within ten miles of the Court; and secures all the rest of his Subjects to him, by an universal taking of the Oath of Allegiance; which the Parliament, both Lords and Commons, (then sitting) began, and the rest of the People followed, to the Kings great contentment.

For the last Session the Parliament was prorogued till the six­teenth of October this year; and meeting now, they were wil­ling to secure their Allegiance to the King out of Piety; yet they were so stout (even in those youthful days, which he term'd Obstinacy) that they would not obey him in his incroachments upon the Publick Liberty, which he began then to practise. For [Page 52] being now season'd with seven years knowledg in his professi­on here, he thought he might set up for himself, and not be still journy-man to the lavish tongue of men, that pryed too narrowly into the secrets of his Prerogative, which are mysteries too high for them, being Arcana imperii, fitter to be admired than questioned: But the Parliament were apprehensive e­nough, that those hidden mysteries made many dark steps into the Peoples Liberties, and they were willing by the light of Law and Reason, to discover what was the Kings, what theirs; Which the King unwilling to have searched into (after five Sessions in six years time) dissolved the Parliament by Procla­mation.

Prince Henry created Prince of Wales. Prince Henry, the prime branch of this Royal Cedar, now growing Manly (being the sixteenth year of his Age) put forth himself in a more Heroick manner than was usual with Princes of his Time, by Tiltings, Barriers, and other exercises on horseback, the Martial Discipline of gentle Peace, which caught the peo­ples eyes, and made their tongues the Messengers of their hearts, in daily extolling his hopeful and gallant towardliness to ad­miration. And now the King thought him full of ripeness for the Honour of Knighthood (which admitted of a willing con­tribution from the people, and such old Customs as bring in mo­ney are never out of date) and (to add the more splendor to his sparkling youth) created him Prince of Wales, (as he for­merly intimated to the Parliament) with all the pomp and solem­nity that a great King could express to a hopeful Son, his first born; or the merit of a Prince (that floated in the peoples af­fections) could possibly attain to. For as yet the King could discover nothing in him but that harmless and wanton inno­cency that commonly accompanies youth, being of a light nature, and soon blown away. But how far the Kings fears (like thick clouds) might afterwards blind the eye of his Rea­son, when he saw him (as he thought) too high mounted in the peoples love, and of an alluring spirit, to decline his pater­nal affection to him, and bring him to the low condition he fell in, may be the subject of my fears, not of my pen. With this Ingrandizing Title the King added a great Revenue, establish­ing also a full and splendent Retinue and Family to attend his person at St. Iames, now appointed to be the Princes Court, where this new Star placed in the third House, might be feared to culminate, and become Lord of the Ascendant: His Palace being as gloriously attended with young and sprightly Blossoms, as the Kings was with older, and more sage Plants. And now the King deliberates for a Wife for him, and sends to Sir Charles Cornwallis, his Lieger Ambassador in Spain, to treat with that King for his eldest Daughter. But after some traverses, it was found there was more time lost than ground gotten: For Prin­ces [Page]

[Page 53] in Treaties lie at the snap, and the most backward often gets the better of it. But the King being not so hot then for this, as he was after for the other Son, with another Sister (the eldest being matched into France) made a quicker, and a more honou­rable Retreat.

About this time Richard Bancroft, Bancroft Arch-Bishop of Canterbury dies. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, died; a person severe enough, whose roughness gained little up­on those that deserted the Ceremonies. One work of his shewed his spirit better than the ruggedest Pen can depaint it: For it was he that first brought the King to begin a new Colledg by Chelsey, wherein the choice and abiest Scholars of the Kingdom, and the most pregnant Wits in matters of Controversies, were to be associated under a Provost, with a fair and ample allowance, not exceeding three thousand pounds a year, whose design was to answer all Popish Books, or others, that vented their malignant spirits against the Protestant Religion, either the Heresies of the Pa­pists, or the Errors of those that strook at Hierarchy, so that they should be two-edged Fellows, that would make old cutting and flashing; and this he forwarded with all industry during his time; 7 Regis. and there is yet a formal Act of Parliament in being for the establishment of it. But after his death the King wisely considered, that nothing begets more contention than opposi­tion, and such Fuellers would be apt to inslame, rather than quench the heat that would arise from those embors: For Controversies are often (or for the most part) the exuberancies of Passion; and the Philosopher saith, men are drunk with disputes, and in that inordinateness take the next thing that comes to hand to throw at one anothers faces; so that the design fell to the ground with him; and there is only so much Building standing by the Thames-side, as to shew, that what he intended to Plant, he meant should be well Watered, and yet it withered in the bud. I can lay nothing to the charge of this great man, but from common fame; yet this I may truly say, That for his Predecessor Whitgift, and his Successor Abbot, I never heard nor read any thing tending to their disparagement: But on him, some unhappy Wit vented this Pasquin,

The Queen was Mistress of Somerset-house (as well as the Prince was Master of St. Iames) and she would fain have given it the name of Denmark-house, which name continued her time, among her people, but it was afterwards left out of the common Calender, like the dead Emperors new named Month. She was not without some Grandees to attend her for outward glory: Masks in great esteem. The Court being a continued Maskarado, where she and [Page 54] her Ladies, An. Reg. 9. An. Christi 1611. like so many Sea-Nymphs, or Nereides, appeared often in various dresses to the ravishment of the beholders. The King himself being not a little delighted with such fluent Ele­gancies, as made the nights more glorious than the days. But the latitude that these high-flying fancies, and more speaking Actions, gave to the lower World to judg and censure, even the greatest with reproaches, shall not provoke me so much as to stain the innocent Paper. I shall only say in general, That Princes, by how much they are greater than others, are looked upon with a more severe eye; if their Vertues be not suitable to their Greatness, they lose much of their value: For it is too great an allay to such resinedness to fall under the common cogni­zance.

Pembroke a favourite. Mountgomery a favourite. As she had her Favourites in one place, the King had his in an­other. She loved the elder Brother, the Earl of Pembroke; he the younger, whom he made Earl of Mountgomery, and Knight of the Garter: But either not finding him suitable to his hu­mour, or affections, or seeing another object more delightful, his fancy ran with a violent stream upon a young Gentleman, who had neither Parts nor Birth to entertain such a current. Car a favourite. His name was Robert Car, born about Edenburgh in Scotland, descen­ded from Gentry of that name, a young man about twenty years of Age, a comely personage, mixt with a handsom and Courtly garb, which he had been practising in France, and late­ly came over; Sir Iames Hayes, some say the Lord Dingwell, at a Tilting (among the rest of the Pages and Gentlemen that in their richest ornaments attended him for that days Triumph) made choice of Mr. Car (according to the custom) to present his Shield, and Device to the King; and as he was descending. the Horse full of fire and heat, prevented him, threw him down before the King, and broke his leg. This accident gave the King occasion to take notice of him, and hearing that his name was Car, remembred he had a Page of that name when he came first into England, which this proved to be: For the Pages the King brought first with him, according to the French way to wait upon his Coach, were discharged, and Footmen accor­ding to the English way supplied those places. The King mu­stering up his thoughts fixt them upon this object of pity, gi­ving special order to have him lodged in the Court, and to have his own Physicians and Chyrurgions use their best endeavours for his recovery. The King visited him often during his necessi­tated restraint, sometimes an hour or more discoursing with him, to sound him, and know what he was; and though he found no great depth of Literature or Experience, yet such a smooth and calm outside, made him think there might be good Anchorage, and a fit Harbor for his most retired thoughts. As soon as he recovered (which the King with some impatience at­tended)

[Page 55] he made him Knight, and Gentleman of his Bed-Cham­ber, took the pains himself to teach him the Latin Tongue, and laid a Foundation, by his daily discourses with him, to improve him unto a capability of his more indeared affections.

Now all addresses are made to Sir Robert Car, he is the Fa­vourit in Ordinary; no sute, nor no reward, but comes by him; his hand distributes, and his hand restrains; our Supreme Power works by second Causes; the Lords themselves can scarce have a smile without him. And to give the greater lustre to his power, about this time the Earl of Dunbar, the Kings old trusty Servant (the Cabinet of his secret Counsels) died; so that he solely now took the most intimate of them into his charge, and the Officer of Lord high Treasurer of Scotland, which staff the other left behind him; and though it could be no great Suppor­ter, yet the credit of it carried some reputation in his own Coun­try, where it was his happiness to be magnified, as well as in England; for he had Treasure enough here, where the Fountain was. And to ingrandize all, the King created him Baron of Brandspech, and Viscount Rochester, and soon after Knight of the Garter. 1612. Made Vis­count. Thus was he drawn up by the Beams of Majesty, to shine in the highest Glory, grapling often with the Prince himself in his own Sphear, in divers Conteslations. For the Prince being a high born Spirit, and meeting a young Competitor in his Fathers Affections, that was a Mushrom of yesterday, thought the venom would grow too near him, and therefore he gave no countenance, but opposition to it; which was aggravated by some little scintils of Love, as well as Hatred (Rivals in passion) being both amorous, and in youthful blood, fixing by accident upon one object, who was a third mans; in which the Viscount got the Mastery, but to his ruin. The Prince shewing his affection, by his neglecting of her, to be grounded rather upon envy to the Man, than love to the Woman.

But before this time, The Earl of Essex marries the Lady Fran­ces Howard. the Treasurer Salisbury, that great En­gin of the State, by whom all Wheels moved, held an intimate Correspondence with the House of Suffolk, which he had strengthned with an Alliance; marrying his eldest Son, the Lord Cranborn, to Katharine, the eldest Daughter of that Family. And being mindful of the asperity and sharpness that was be­twixt him, and the late Earl of Essex, he thought it a good Act of Policy, and Piety, not to suffer Malice to become Hereditary; and therefore he was a great means in marrying the young Earl of Essex to the Lady Frances Howard, another of those Sisters, that the Fathers Enmity might be closed up by the Sons Nuptial Fraternity. The Earl of Essex was fourteen years of Age, and she thirteen, when they married; too young to consider, but old enough to consent: Yet by the advice of Friends separated after marriage, she under her Mothers wing, and he visiting [Page 56] France and Germany, till Time should mature, and ripen a happy Co-union. The Court was her Nest, her Father being Lord Chamberlain; and she was hatched up by her Mother, whom the sour breath of that Age (how justly I know not) had already tainted; from whom the young Lady might take such a Tin­cture, that Ease, Greatness, and Court Glories, would more di­stain and impress on her, than any way wear out and diminish. And growing to be a Beauty of the greatest Magnitude in that Ho­rison, was an Object fit for Admirers, and every Tongue grew an Orator at that Shrine.

The Prince of Wales now in his Puberty, sent many loving glan­ces, as Ambassadors of his good respects, and amorous expressions are fit subjects for jealous reproaches to work on. Her Husband ha­ving been now three or four years beyond the Seas, (sick with absence from her whom his desires longed after) came over a­gain, and found that Beauty, which he had left innocent, so far­ded and sophisticated with some Court Drug which had wrought upon her, that he became the greatest Stranger at home. His Patience made way for him a while, and he bore up with a gentle gale against the stream of this Womans affections, which ran alto­gether (unknown to him) into another chanel. Nor was her reputation yet become so rebust (being of a tender growth) to strike his ears with reproaches, and therefore he imputed her sly entertainments to a Maiden bashfulness; till surfeted with that dull Potion (upon better advice) he went to the Earl of Suffolk (her Father) and demanded his Wife, thinking himself capable to enjoy both her and her love. The Father, that thought there had been an intimacy betwixt them, suitable to their Conjugal Knot, made use of his Paternal power, to reduce his Daughter to the obedience of a Wife. But while these things were strugling for, a most violent Disease of a poysonous Nature, imputed to, but far transcending the small Pox, seized on the Earl of Essex; and had not the strength of Youth, and that Almighty Power that orders all things, wrought out the venom of it, the Earth (as probably wished by her) had been his Marriage Bed.

The Countess of Essex in love with Ro­chester.For this Lady being taken with the growing fortunes of the Viscount Rochester, and grounding more hope upon him, than the uncertain and hopeless love of the Prince, she cast her An­chor there; which the Prince soon discovered, and slighted her accordingly. For dancing one time among the Ladies, and her Glove falling down, it was taken up, and presented to him, by one that thought he did him acceptable service; but the Prince refused to receive it, saying publicky, He would not have it, it is stretcht by another, meaning the Viscount: This was an aggravation of hatred betwixt the Kings Son and the Kings Friend.

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[Page] [Page 57]The Countess of Essex having her heart alienated from her Husband, and set upon the Viscount, had a double task to under­go, for accomplishing her ends. One was, to hinder her Hus­band from enjoying her; the other was, to make the Viscount sure unto her: For dishonest Love is most full of jealousie. Her Husband she looked upon as a private person, and to be carried by him into the Country out of her element (being ambitious of glory, and a Beauty covetous of applause) were to close (as she thought) with an insufferable Torment, though he was a man that did not only every way merit her love, but he loved her with an extraordinary affection, having a gentle, mild, and courteous disposition, especially to women, such as might win upon the roughest natures. But this fiery heat of his Wives mounted upon the wings of Lust, or Love, (call it what you will) carryed her after so much mischief, that those that saw her face, might challenge Nature of too much Hypocrisie, for har­bouring so wicked a heart under so sweet and bewitching a coun­tenance.

To strengthen her designs she finds out one of her own stamp, She consults with Mistriss Turner. Mrs. Turner, a Doctor of Physicks Widow, a woman, whom Prodigality and Looseness had brought low, yet her Pride would make her fly any pitch, rather than fall into the jaws of Want. These two consult together how they might stop the current of the Earls affection towards his Wife, and make a clear passage for the Viscount in the place. And Forman about it. To effect which, one Doctor Forman, a reputed Conjurer (living at Lambeth) is found out: The women declare to him their Grievances, he promises sudden help, and to amuse them, frames many little Pictures of Brass, and Wax, some like the Viscount and Coun­tess, whom he must unite and strengthen; others like the Earl of Essex, whom he must debilitate and weaken; and then with Philtrous powders, and such drugs, he works upon their per­sons. And to practise what effects his Art would produce, Mrs. Turner, that loved Sir Arthur Manwaring, (a Gentleman then attending the Prince) and willing to keep him to her, gave him some of the powder, which wrought so violently with him, that through a storm of Rain and Thunder, he rode fif­teen miles one dark night to her House, scarce knowing where he was till he was there. Such is the devillish and mad rage of Lust, heightned with Art and Fancy.

These things matured and ripened by the cunning of this Jugler Forman, gave them assurance of happy hopes. Her Court­ly invitements, that drew the Viscount to observe her, she im­puted to the operation of those drugs he had tasted; and that harshness, and stubborn comportment she expressed to her Hus­band, making him (weary of such entertainments) to absent himself, she thought proceeded from the effects of those un­known [Page 58] known potions and powders, that were administred to him: So apt is the Imagination to take impression of those things we are willing to believe.

The good Earl finding his Wife nousled in the Court, and seeing no possibility to reduce her to reason, The Earl of Essex gets his Wife to Chart­ley. till she were estran­ged from the rellish, and tast of the delights she suckt in there, made his condition again known to her Father. The old man being troubled with his Daughters disobedience, imbitter'd her being near him, with wearisome and continual chidings, to wean her from the sweets she doted on; and with much ado forced her into the Country. But how harsh was the parting, being rent away from the place where she grew and flourished? Yet she left all her Engines and Imps behind her; the old Doctor, and his Confederate Mrs. Turner, must be her two supporters: She blazons all her miseries to them, at her depart, and moy­stens the way with her tears. Chartley was an hundred miles from her happiness and a little time thus lost is her eternity. When she came thither (though in the pleasantest time of Sum­mer) she shut herself up in her Chamber, not suffering a beam of light to peep upon her dark thoughts ▪ If she stirred out of her Chamber, it was in the dead of Night, when sleep had taken possession of all others, but those about her. In this implaca­ble, sad, discontented humour, she continued some moneths, al­ways murmuring against, but never giving the least civil re­spect to her Husband, which the good man suffered patiently, being loth to be the divulger of his own misery: yet having a manly courage, he would sometimes break into a little passion, to see himself sleighted and neglected by himself, but having never found better from her, it was the easier to bear with her.

She writes to Forman. While she was at Chartley she writ to her Confederates, That Her Husband found little operation in their Drugs, complaining of his Lustiness, and her Misery: For (she said) the Viscount would never love her, if her Husband did meddle with her, which with dif­ficulty she yet impeded, but how long she should resist his Violence she knew not, therefore she implored their assistance, if they would not see her the most despicable creature in the world: And for sa­tisfaction they should make their own price. With this kind of stuff she filled her Letters, which were after found in Formans Closet. These instigations made him active, and the man be­ing skilful in natural Magick, did use all the Artifice his subtilty could devise, really to imbecillitate the Earl; for no Linnen came near his body, that was not rinsed with their Camphire Compositions, and other faint and wasting ingredients, and all Inward applications were foisted on him by corrupted servants, to lessen and debilitate the seminal operations. Which Venefi­cium is one great part of Witchcraft, destructive to nature, and

[Page 59] horridly abominable to be practised. And this in time wrought such effects upon his person, that he found himself unable with her, though she permitted him; yet when he had been from her some reasonable Time, to renovate his spirits, by shaking off those artificial applications, then his abilities made her unwilling, and refractory. Though some are of opinion, that he was not much debilitated, but that she got (by her vertuous Agents) an Artifice too immodest to be exprest, to hinder Penetration. And thus she to [...] mented him, till he was contented to let her steer her own course, which after run her on ground.

For coming to London next Winter with this full sail, She comes a­gain to Court. loaden with lust, she found the Viscount much prepared for her; who being at first fastned on the Object, absence, and all those little Artifices, that mischievous Women, and cunning Impostures could devise, had advanced him as much in his desires, as they had hindred the other. We could dispute the Nature of these Ope­rations, how far they are Contingent, and how the fancy works with them, though ignorant of them, making their impulsions more active, being the sparks that kindle this combustible matter; for we will never allow there was any other Diabolical means u­sed, Nature being strong enough for such a production; but being not pertinent to the Story, will leave it, and follow them that found the effects of it, and had affections suitable to it, which they made use of with an unbridled appetite, yet meeting closely in corners ( Sin being at first shamefaced) but afterwards they grew more bold; and every hour that the Viscount could steal from his Royal Master, he dedicated it to his Disloyal Mistris; be­ing caught in this Net of Adulation, he becomes a willing Pri­soner; Lust only getting liberty to all looseness and licentious­ness: Places of frequent Meetings are daily renewed, Persons fitted for such practices are employed; and when Nature was exhausted, Art, her subtil Imitator, brought in her store, to contribute new Spirits, purchased at any rate. All outward Adornment to present Beauty in her full Glory, were not wanting on both sides, being Lusts fuel, which tended to the Consumption of all Reason. And among the rest, yellow starch, the invention and foyl of Iaundice Complexions, with great Cut-work Bands, and Piccadillies (a thing that hath since lost the name) crouded in, and flourished among us, Mrs. Turner, being nominoted to be the first Contriver, happily in England, but the Original came out of France; which fashion and colour did set off their lean sallow countenances. Thus did the Viscount get the Conquest of two, the King, and this Lady, but could not subdue his own lust­ful Appetite.

The Wheel of Fortune running towards the Scots, The Lord San­quir murther­ed a Fencer. turned by the Viscount Rochester, was unhappily diverted upon the Lord Sanquir, a Baron of that Nation, and married to a good Family in [Page 60] England: who some years before meeting with a sturdy Fencer, one Iohn Turner, who was a Master of the Weapon-Trade, in his own School, the young Lord strove to put some affront upon him (making it no little Conquest to disgrace a Master in the Art, as they termed it) and the man apprehensive of the Attempt, with a bold rudeness prest so hard upon him, that he thrust out one of the Barons eyes. This business was much regretted by Turner, and the Baron being conscious to himself that he meant his Adversary some ill, took the Accident with as much patience, as men that lose one eye by their own default, use to do for the preservation of the other. Some time after, being in the Court of the late great Henry of France, and the King (cour­teous to Strangers) entertaining discourse with him, askt him, how he lost his eye; he (cloathing his answer in a better shrowd than a plain Fencers) told him, it was done with a Sword: The King replies, Doth the man live? And that question gave an end to the Discourse, but was the beginner of a strange Confusion in his working Fancy, which neither Time nor Distance could compose; carrying it in his breast some years after, till he came into England, where he hired two of his Country-men, Gray and Carlile (men of low and mercenary spirits) to murther him, which they did with a Case of Pistols in his own House in White-Fryars; many years after the loss of his bodily eye, thus the Ba­ron lost the eye of his Reason. This bold nefarious Act was very deeply resented at Court, and the Kings Commands were so a­ctive for apprehension of the murderers, that they were all three taken; one upon the Borders of Scotland, so far had his fears carried him; another in a Ship bound for Hamburgh, who sca­ping in a Storm, the Seas delivered up; and the Lord himself being obscured (in this Tempest of his Soul) hearing a thou­sand pound was offered to bring his Head (so liberal was the King for Iustice) threw himself into the Arms of his Mercy, by the mediation of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, to whom he presented himself an Object of pity: but no intercession could prevail, Is hanged. their lives satisfied the Law, the Baron not having the honour of a Noble death.

Causes of the Kings severity.The Cause of the Kings severity (if justice may be called se­verity) was contrary to that of the Barons presumption; for he thought the Scots might do any thing, and he suffered because they had done so much. For Ramsey, one of the Kings Servants, not long before had switcht the Earl of Mountgomery, who was the Kings first Favourite, happily because he took it so. Max­well, another of them, had bitten Hawley, a Gentleman of the Temple, by the Ear; which inraged the Templers (in those times Riotous, and subject to Tumults) and brought it almost to a National Quarrel, till the King stept in, and took it up himself. The Lord Bruse had summon'd Sir Edward Sackvill, (who was [Page]

[Page 61] after Earl of Dorset) into France with a fatal complement to take death from his hand, such killing civilities these times produced! And the much lamented Sir Iames Stuart, one of the Kings blood, and Sir George Wharton, the prime branch of that noble Family, for little worthless punctillioes of Honour (being inti­mate friends) took the Field, and fell together by each others hand. These, and many more private differences (though some of them of an ancient date) were bleeding fresh in memory; so that the King, like a wise Physician, opened this vein of blood, hoping by it to stop all other issues.

The Kings affections were not so monopolized, Salisbury not pleased with the Viscounts greatness. but that his crafty Servant the Earl of Salisbury, had a good hole as well in his Councils, as Treasure. And being not well pleased to see him­self bearded by a Youth new started into the affairs of the World, and mounted by the wing of love, not of merit; he cast out many mists before him, to hinder and damp his passage so, that the Viscount could not rise to that pitch (during his life) that he afterwards arrived at. And one thing among the rest he obstructed was five thousand pounds the King had given him to maintain his Riot: Which sum the Treasurer thought too great a bulk to be carried lightly away, and therefore he desired the King might see what he did. And having layd the money in Silver upon Tables in his Gallery at Salisbury-house, he invited the King to dinner, making this the passage to his entertainment. The King strucken suddenly with such heaps, asked the Treasurer what this money was for; who told him, he had received his Majesties Commands to give so much to the Viscount Rochester. The King that either carelesly thought five thousand pound to be no more than the noise so much makes in Scotland (which doth not amount to above five hundred pounds) or, cunningly (if he knew the va­lue, knew also the Treasurers meaning) said it was too much for one man, and made him be contented with less than the half.

And now the King casts his thoughts towards Peterborough, The Queen of Scots transla­ted to Westmin­ster. where his Mother lay, whom he caused to be translated to a Magnificent Tomb, at Westminster. And (somewhat suitable to her mind when she was living) she had a translucent passage in the night, through the City of London, by multitudes of Tor­ches: The Tapers placed by the Tomb and the Altar, in the Cathedral, smoaking with them like an Offertory, with all the Ceremonies, and Voices, their Quires and Copes could express, at­tended by many Prelates and Nobles, who payd this last Tri­bute to her memory. This was accounted a Piaculous action of the Kings by many, though some have not stuck to say, That as Queen Elizabeth was willing to be rid of the Queen of Scots, yet would not have it her action, and being it could not be done [Page 62] without her command, when it was done she renounced her own act. So though the King was angry when he heard his Mother was taken away by a violent death, recalling his Am­bassador, threatning War, and making a great noise (which was after calmed and closed up with a large Pension from the Queen) yet he might well enough be pleased that such a spirit was layd, as might have conjured up three Kingdoms against him: For Patrick Grey that the King sent to disswade Queen Elizabeth from taking away his Mothers life, was the greatest In­strument to perswade her to it; Distilling always into her this Sentence, Mortua non mordet. When she is dead she cannot bite; But the Love that tends to self-preservation, is an ad­junct of Nature, more powerful than Filial duty, and therefore there will be no great strife where there are not adequate ope­rations,

The Palatints arrival 16. Octob. This time was also presented unto us in a various dress, and the event shewed (though some years after) there was more cause of Mourning than Rejoycing, though the latter got the predominance: For the Prince Elector Palatine came over into England to Marry the Kings only Daughter, and Death depri­ved us of the Kings eldest Son. Prince Henry's death 6. Nov. A Prince as eminent in Noble­ness as in Blood, and having a spirit too full of life and splendour to be long shrouded in a cloud of flesh. His gallant spirit. If that which gave life to his life had been less, he might happily have lived longer: Not that there was too much Oyl, or that concur­rent Natural Balsamum in this fair and well-composed Lamp to extinguish it self, but the light that came from it might cast so radiant a lustre, as (by darkning others) it came to lose the be­nefit of its own glory. Iealousie is like fire that burns all before it, and that fire is hot enough to dissolve all Bonds, that tends to the diminution of a Crown. The Prince of Spain (his con­temporary) Son to Philip the second (not long before this) like a young Phaeton, wished himself but one day in his Fathers Throne, and he fell (not long after) into the hard hand of an immature fate, before he could step into the Chariot. So dan­gerous are the paths of Greatness, that the tongue (many times) rouling aside, makes men tread awry. Strange Rumors are rai­sed upon this sudden expiration of our Prince, the disease be­ing so violent, that the combate with Nature in the strength of youth (being almost nineteen years of age) lasted not above five days. Some say he was poysoned with a bunch of Grapes, others attribute it to the venemous scent of a pair of Gloves, presented to him (the distemper lying for the most part in the head.) They that knew neither of these, are strucken with fear and amazement, as if they had tasted, or felt, the effects of those violences: Private whisperings, and suspicions, of some new designs a foot, broaching Prophetical terrors, That a black

[Page] [Page 63] Christmas would produce a bloody Lent. For the Spaniard, who opposed the marriage of the Prince Palatine, and saw their ruin growing up in Prince Henries towardly Spirit, were reputed (vulgarly) the Mint-masters of some horrid practices; and that a Ship of Pocket Pistols was come out of Spain, fit Instruments for a Massacre. And these Trepidations were not only in the lower Region, but wrought upwards, so high, that Proclamati­ons were sent abroad, to forbid the making or carrying of Pi­stols, under a foot long in the Barrel. And all Papists are not only dis-armed (being ever esteemed Vassals to the Catholick King) but their Actions with caution pried into. In such dark clouds as these, the whole Kingdom was at a loss; all ordinary Transitions of Nature, are imputed to prodigious Omens; the greater the fears are, the more blazing is the Meteor that arises from them.

Some that knew the bickerings betwixt the Prince and the Viscount, muttered out dark Sentences, that durst not look into the light; especially Sir Iames Elphington, who (observing the Prince one day to be discontented with the Viscount) offered to kill him: but the Prince reproved him with a gallant Spirit, saying, If there were Cause he would do it himself. Now whe­ther these rumors begot a further scrutiny, or whether it be the Court-trick to daub and slubber over things that may be per­spicuous, I know not: But the Physicians about the Prince gave it under their hands (which was spread abroad in several co­pies) that he died of a strong malignant Feaver (so are all vio­lent dissolutions, where Nature hath power of resistance) that his Liver was pale, and livid, lead-like; the Gall had no Gall, but was full of wind; the Spleen was unnaturally black, and the Lungs in many places spotted with much corruption; the Midriff, or Diaphragma, blackish; and the Head in some places full of blood, and in some places full of clear water. Thus was he Anatomi­zed to amuze the World, and clear the suspicion of poyson, as if no venoms could produce these effects. He died the sixth of No­vember, His Funeral. and was carried on a Hearse ( Triumphing even in Death) to Westminster, the seventh of December following; the pomp of the Funeral being fully compleated, with the People tears and La­mentations.

Mourning laid aside. But the King (though he could not but be troubled to lose so near a part of himself) looked over all these Mists and (like the Sun) dispelled all these Clouds and Vapours; commanding, no man should appear in the Court in mourning; he would have nothing in his Eye, to bring so sad a Message to his Heart. The jollity, feasting, and magnificence of Christmas, must not be laid down. There were Princes, and Nobles, that came out of Ger­many with the prince Elector, that must see the Glory of the English Court; which was presented with so much eminency in [Page 64] gorgeous Apparel, that the precedent mourning was but as a sa­ble foyl, the better to illustrute it.

The Prince Elector Palatine, and Maurice Prince of Orange, were made Knights of the Garter, Lodowick Count of Orange be­ing Maurice's Deputy; Knights of the Garter made. and Prince Maurice took it as a great honour to be admitted into the fraternity of that Order, and wore it constantly: Till afterwards, some Villains at the Hague, that met the Reward of their Demerit (one of them a French man, being Groom of the Princes Chamber) robbed a Ieweller of Amsterdam, that brought Iewels to the Prince, this Groom tempting him into his Chamber to see some Iewelr, and there with his Confederates they strangled the man with one of the Princes blew Ribonds; which being after discovered, the Prince would never suffer so fatal an Instrument to come about his Neck.

The Prince Palatine mar­ried to the La­dy Elizabeth.In February following, the Prince Palatine, and that lovely Princess, the Lady Elizabeth, were married, on Bishop Valentines Day, in all the Pomp and Glory that so much Grandure could ex­press. Her Vestments were white, the Emblem of Innocency; her hair dishevil'd, hanging down her back at length, an Orna­ment of Virginity; a Crown of pure Gold upon her head, the Cognizance of Majesty, being all over beset with pretious gems, shining like a Constellation; her Train supported by twelve young Ladies in white Garments, so adorned with Iewels, that her Passage looked like a milky way. She was led to Church by her Brother Prince Charles, and the Earl of Northampton; the Young Batchelor on the right hand, and the Old on the left. And while the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was solemnizing the Marriage, some eruscations and lightnings of joy appeared in her Countenance, that expressed more than an ordinary smile, being almost elated to a laughter; which could not clear the Air of her Fate, but was rather a fore-runner of more sad and dire Events: Which shews how slippery Nature is, to tole us along to those things that bring danger, yea sometimes destru­ction with them.

She returned from the Chappel between the Duke of Lenox, and the Earl of Notingham Lord High Admiral, two married Men. The Feastings, Maskings, and other Royal Formalities, were as troublesome ('tis presum'd) to the Lovers; as the Re­lation of them here may be to the Readers: For such splen­dor and gayety are fitter to appear in Princes Courts, than in Hi­stories.

The City of London (that with high magnificence had feast­ed the Prince Palatine, and his Noble Retinue) presented to the fair Bride a Chain of Oriental Pearl, by the hand of the Lord Mayor, and Aldermen (in their Scarlet and Gold Chain Ac­coutrements) of such a value, as was fit for them to give, and

[Page 65] her to receive. A. Reg. 11. An. Christi 1613. And the people of the Kingdom in general, being summoned to a contribution for the Marriage of the Kings Daughter, did shew their affections by their Bounty. And though it be the custom of our Kings to pay their Daughters Portions with their subjects purses, yet a hundred years being almost past since such a precedent, it might have made them unwilling (if their obedience had not been full ripe) to recall such obsolete things, as are only in practice now by the meanest of the peo­ple.

But, The Prince Palatine re­turns home with the Prin­cess. tired with Feasting and Jollity, about the middle of A­pril, when the beauties of the Spring were enticing enough to beguile the tediousness of the way, the Prince Elector willing to review, and the Princess to see what she was to injoy; After all the caresses, and sweet embraces, that could be between the King, Queen, and Princes, that were to be separated so long, and at such a distance; And after all the Shews, Pastimes, Fire-works, and other Artifices that could be devised, and ma­nifested, they parted at Rochester; The Lord Admiral being ready with a Royal Navy in the Downs for their passage and conduct. The season smiled on them, and they arrived the nine and twentieth of the Moneth in Flushing. The Duke of Lenox, the Earl of Arundel, the Viscount Lisle, and the Lord Haring­ton, with divers Ladies and persons of Quality, attended them to Heydelburgh. Their entertainment was great and magnificent in the Low-Countries, not only suitable to the Persons, but the place from whence they came, (The English having been ever a Bulwark to the Netherlands) and now they were in full peace with Spain, which gave the better rellish to their Banquetings. And in every eminent Town in Germany as they passed, they found that welcom which prolonged their time, but made their travel the less, so that with much ado they reached Heydelburgh. And after some time spent there, to see the beauties and delights of that Court, and Country (which were extended and put forth to the uttermost) the Nobility and Ladies of England re­turned home, only they left the Lord Harington behind them, who dyed by the way: A Gentleman much lamented in his own person, but much more in his Sons (who not long after survived him) with whom were buried, not only those excel­lent indowments that make Noble-men great indeed, but the memory of a noble Posterity, which makes them little, or indeed nothing at all.

The Viscount Rochester all this while (though plunged in Lust) was held up by the chin in the glories of the Court; Rochester rules all. and the Prince (that interposed betwixt him and the beams of Ma­jesty) being removed, the Earl of Salisbury (another obstacle) dying six months after the Prince, in the way from the Bath: he now took full possession of the Kings favours alone. He exe­cutes [Page 66] the place of Principal Secretary, receiving all Pacquets, and dispatching Answers without the knowledg of the King or Council, or if the King did know, his love had hoarded up such a confidence in him, as he laid all out upon that stock. Rochester's greatest assistant was a private Gentleman, one Sir Thomas Over­bury, Assisted by Overbury. by whose Compass he steered his course, who (being a man of parts and abilities) had wrought upon the Viscount so, as not only to keep him in, and close with the King, but to make him capable of managing the highest affairs, if he had kept him­self within the Circle drawn to his head This intimacy be­twixt them, spake Overbury an actor in all his privacies. And when he understood by the Viscount his intention of Marri­age with the Countess of Essex, he opposed it with all the power­ful Arguments he could use: For though he might be so active, in his initiation of favour with the Viscount, to be assistant to his pleasures, and for carrying forward some of his dark con­trivances (those Secretaries being always the greatest favou­rites) yet having now gotten good footing in his affection, and building his fortune thereon, his reason might tell him, there could be nothing more destructive to both their growing hopes, than to lay a foundation upon so much publick Injustice, as to mar­ry another Mans Wife, her Husband living; therefore he passi­onately persuaded him to cast his thoughts upon a more honorable object, and not on one, whose disloyalty (in her present condi­tion) was so much branded with infamy, that the marks of it would be visible on his face. But the Viscount bewitched with the inticements of his soul-ravishing Mistriss, (uncapable of good counsel) doth not only call home his affections from Overbury, that had been long lieger with him (denouncing enmity) But incites his Beloved against him also; who mustering up all her passions, with the greatest acrimony that a feminine malice could devise, she never left, till she had discharged all the vollies of her rage upon him. And the better to do it, she consults with her Uncle the Earl of Northampton, aggravating Overburies of­fence, as tending to the dishonour of their whole Family. That he (a petty fellow) should dare to raise such scandals against her innocency. The Earl of Northampton, that knew of the indear­ments betwixt the Viscount and his Niece (so base and mercena­ry was his spirit) thought it good policy to stop all passages, that it might not come into the publick mouth: For being in a sphere elated above others, it was a sin of a high presumpti­on for any of a inferior orb to move but in its own place, or med­dle with what is above them. Rochester and Northampton plot Overburies death. He therefore closes with the Viscount (whom in his flattering acclamations by Letters he makes a little Deity) and after some dispute of the man­ner how to be revenged of Overbury, they conclude to dispatch him by poyson, which could not be done so well in a publick

[Page 67] way; and therefore they subtilly contrive to exasperate the King against him, that being a Prisoner, and shack'led by them to a place, he might be a more setled mark for their envenomed Arrows.

About the same time, Rochester be­trays Overbury. the King thinking fit to send an Am­bassador into Flanders, to the Arch-Duke (some say, into France) the Viscount recommended Sir Thomas Overbury to the King for that Service (extolling his abilities, and fitness for the same, publickly, that more notice might be taken of the affront) and the King made choice of him for that Imployment. Which done, the Viscount (under the shadow of friendship) imparts to Overbury what intentions the King had towards him; but he thought it would not be so convenient for him to accept of it, because he should not only lose his converse, and company, by such an alienation (which he highly valued) but many a fair opportunity of improving his respects to him, in some better way of advancement. Overbury had not been so little a Courtier, or a man of so mean Reason, but that he was sensible what dis­pleasure he should pull upon himself, by refusing the Kings Com­mands; And therefore he told the Viscount, that betwixt the Kings favours, and his friendship, he had a great conflict in his spi­rit, being willing to retain both; but how he should refuse the Kings commands with safety, he knew not. But the Viscount, with fair promises, prevailed with him to set up his rest at home, upon higher expectations ( such a sweet bait is Ambition!) prote­sting to take off the asperity of the Kings anger from him, and smooth his way so, as should be for his better advantage. When he had wrought Overbury in this forge, he goes to the King, and blows the fire, incensing him with all the aggravati­ons he could; so that the poor Gentleman, for his contempt, was forthwith committed to the Tower. And to prepare all things for his reception there, Sir William Wade, the late Lieutenant, was removed; and Sir Iervis Ellowis, a Person more ambitious, than indigent (having made his way by money, the common merit) was admitted to the place.

Now the Countess, The Countes­ses designs. like another Alecto, drove furiously, her Chariot having two wheels, which ran over all impediments: One was, to sue a Divorce betwixt her and her Husband, that she might marry the Viscount: The other was, to take away O­verbury, the blemish in her Eye, and that laid such a stain upon her, that nothing but his blood could expiate. For these she hath several Engins; the one must be acted Overtly; the other Covertly, in dark Corners; and she and her Agents find fit Mi­nisters for both.

The Earl of Northampton resenting his Nieces grievances, Northampton joyns with her. makes the King acquainted with her Maiden bashfulness, how loth she is to divulge her Husbands infirmities, and how long [Page 68] it is since her Marriage, and yet she hath not enjoyed the hap­piness of a Wife; that her Husbands inability must needs be an unnatural conjunction, such as neither Law nor Reason can ad­mit of; and that there was a great affection betwixt the Viscount and her, so as there seemed to be a more excellent sympathy, and sweet composition of Soul in them, more suitable Reason and Nature, than in the state she was in. Which was seconded by the Vis­counts humble submissions to the Kings great wisdom, who (he ac­knowledged) had not only raised him to what he is, but may yet make him more happy, by uniting him to a Lady of so much honour and vertue.

The King, that took delight to compleat the happiness of them he loved, commanded the Bishops to sue out a Divorce between the Earl of Essex, and his Lady, that the Viscount might marry her: For he had been practised formerly in Scotland, in his mi­nority, with the like experiment. Elizabeth Daughter to the Earl of Athol, Rob. Iohnstons Hist. of Scot­land. being married to the Earl of March, under pretence of impotency, but meerly for lust (as the Author reports) was Di­vorsed from her Husband, and married to the Earl of Arran (the Kings Favourite) who had been before a Partner in her Adulterous Sheets (so current is the Parallel, and so equally are lust and ambition yoked together, that they both (with full violence) draw one and the same way,)

The Bishops, and others, having a Commission under the great Seal of England to convent the Earl of Essex, and his Countess, before them, sent out their Summons, and they made their ap­pearance accordingly. But before they proceeded, they caused a Iury of twelve discreet Matrons to be impannelled, to search the Countess, whether she were (as she pretended to be, and was reputed) a Maid still; for if she were a Maid, they could fasten upon a Nullity, and so separate them, for the more ho­nour of her Virginity. The Countess being ashamed, and bash­ful, to come to such a Tryal, would not expose her face to the light; but being to appear before the Matrons under a Veil, an­other young Gentlewoman, that had less offended, was fob­bed into the place; [...] and she passed, in the opinion, both of Iury and Iudges, to be a Virgin. Then the Articles were drawn up, where she accused her Husband of impotency (and that he was hindred with a perpetual and incurable impediment, whereby he is unable to have carnal copulation with her, with frigiditas quoad h [...]nc, often reiterated, &c.) The good Earl, willing to be rid of so horrid a mischief, did acknowledge he had attempted to en­joy her many times, but he never did, nor could carnally know her, and believed he never should. Upon these Grounds the Iudges proceed to a Divorce.

These Bishops, and the rest of the Judges, could not be igno­rant what scandalous reports of this Ladies actions flew up and down, from lip to lip; which however sweetned by the Parta­kers, carried an ill savour with them in every honest understan­ding, who were not blinded with wilfulness, or deafned with prejudice, which made the Bishops of Canterbury, and London, decline the business, though nominated in the Patent. But Kings will never want fit Ministers in corrupted Times, both in Church and Common-wealth, as long as there are Degrees, and Pla­ces of Ascent to clime to. And though these things floated a­while upon the Stream of Greatness, yet there is One above that moves the Waters, who did not only see what passed in the Bi­shops Palace, but in the closest Prison, which he discovered to the shame and ruin of the Actors.

[Page 70]For while this Wheel was turning at Lambeth, the other Wheel had its motion in the Tower. Mrs. Turner, the Mistriss of the Work, had lost both her supporters: Forman, her first prop, dropt away suddenly by death; and Gresham another rotten En­gin (that succeeded him) did not hold long: Mrs. Turner imployed to poyson Over­bury. She must now bear up all her self. But she wrought in a Mine of inexhaustible Trea­sure, therefore she may buy instruments at any rate. One Weston is thought on for this Vnder-work, who was sometime Doctor Turners (her Husbands) man, and hath a little experience in the nature of poysonous Drugs. This venomous Plant is sent for out of the Country to be transplanted here, and two hun­dred pounds promised to disperse his Venom, so as it may be kil­ling. Sir Thomas Monson is made by the Countess to recommend him to Sir Iervis Ellowis, and he to Sir Thomas Overbury to wait on him; where he goes under the character of a right honest man, making it good with a sober and fair outside, the true vizard of Hypocrisie, a fit Pipe for such corrupted Waters to run through; which must be provided by one Franklin, a swarthy, sallow, crooked-backt fellow, who was to be the Fountain whence these bitter waters came.

The Lieute­nant of the Tower inga­ged in it.But Overburies meat must be dressed in the Lieutenants kit­chen, and therefore it is necessary to make him acquainted with it; which the Earl of Northampton undertook, smoothing him with such language, and promising him such rewards, as he thought fittest to gain upon him; Assuring him that it would be an acceptable service to the King to have him removed, being an inso­lent, and pernicious fellow (as he called him) of a factious and dangerous spirit, and therefore advised him to be cautious in ad­mitting any to see him, lest his passions should vent themselves and become publick. The Lieutenant being a man intelligent enough, could not but apprehend the dangerous path he trod in pursuing this business: For if he should make the King ac­quainted with it, to know more of his mind, before it were done, and he 'disclaim it, Northampton was powerful enough to crush him on the one side; and if it should be discovered af­ter it were done, he might be sure the King would not own it, and it would bring him a certain ruin on the other side: betwixt these two extremes he knew no mean, and therefore he took that which tended (as he thought) to most safety, hoping that the Earl of Northampton had some higher Authority for the same. And now they begin to put their design in practice; Franklin furnishes Weston with materials, compounded to consume Na­ture insensibly; but this was not quick enough, Malice must be as active, as cunning! stronger Ingredients are infused, which Weston having received from the Countess by his Son, he meets the Lieutenant as he carried up Overburies meat, saying to him, Sir, shall I give it him now? The Lieutenant askt him, What?

[Page 71] Weston answered, Sir, you know what is to be done. The Lieute­nant that would not have it known that he knew any thing, gave him a check, and would not understand his meaning, or at least would have him take notice that he understood it; for he thought that this connivance would not bring him within the compass of the fact (and for the guilt he could dispense with it well enough) and therefore his part of Working was only not to seem to know what was done. So subtily sometimes men strive to cousen themselves.

But these lingring operations do not suit with the Countesses implacable humor, Their poysons set a work. Weston is chid by Mrs. Turner for being so slow. But he that knew he might be too active, kept on his old pace, as the only way to have it pass unsuspected, aiming at his own preservation, as well as Overburies destruction. He gets therefore (by the help of Franklin) several sorts of poysons, tempering them with his broaths, and every bit of meat he eat, that he might diminish by degrees; for his very Salt was mixt with white Mercury: And besides these, Sir Thomas Monson sent Tarts and Jellies of the Countesses and Mrs. Turners composi­tion (by some of his servants) to Weston, for the better expediti­on. Thus was the poor Gentleman tortured and rackt in a hor­rid distemper, who being young, and of a strong constitution, was able to grapple a long time with these corroding Tormentors: But his body being not always able to bear it, at length he fell ex­treme sick, and having no friend that could, or durst visit him, none to complain to but the causers of his misery (such strict guards were kept about him) he languished both in body and mind. But some friend by accident taking the advantage for a visit, and finding him very sick, procured him a wholsom Gli­ster, which Weston was willing enough to have administred, be­cause he would not be too quick, and that retarded the work, by carrying away some of the poysonous matter. Which North­hampton hearing, the Lieutenant was checkt for being so care­less, and commanded that none should come near him, being fearful lest the desperateness of his condition should make him re­veal some thing of high concernment, that had been machinated among them. And Mrs. Turner rebuked her Minister Weston, for looking no better to his charge, so that they dealt with him now upon a new account.

The Countess got loose from her Husband grows wanton in her prosperity. Nature is unbounded where neither Law nor Grace doth limit. The good Earl of Essex must repay the Portion, to do which he is forced to sell Benington in Hartford-shire, a very gallant seat, and glad he is rid of a Torment at any rate. She now mounted on her Car drives over all oppositions, her Beauties shine in the Court (as she would have it) she is the Kings Fa­vourite, as well as her Husband; the glories of her Marriage [Page 72] must appear there, and she is a fit gift for the King to bestow, he that took her away from one Husband, can give her to an­other, who must be of equal rank to her, that she may not descend, therefore he is Created Earl of Somer­set; and all the splendid Equipage, Rochester made Earl of Somerset, 4. Nov. married 5 Dec. following. and magnificent Preparation, that can either fill a Court with delight, or People with admiration, are not wanting for the Marriage. She thinking all the World ignorant of her sly practices, hath the impudence to appear in the habit of a Virgin, with her hair pendant almost to her feet; which Ornament of her Body (though a fair one) could not cover the deformities of her Soul: But these, and her high Elations, are Clouds to her Conscience, that (though her Bauds might for her) her indeed lovely Cheeks did not betray themselves to blushes. These glorious Days are seconded with as glorious Nights, where Masks and Dancings had a continued motion; the King naturally affe­cting such high-slying Pastimes, and banquetings, as might wrap up his Spirit, and keep it from descending towards Earthly things.

Feasted in London.The City of London, and the Court at White-hall, like two great Stars in Conjunction, had one and the same influence, and operation; they must do something for the Man whom the King loves: Therefore a great Feast is prepared by them in Merchant-Taylors Hall (and all the Grandees and Ladies are invited) with so much magnificence, as if it had been Com­petitor, and vyed with Whitehall for Glory. They all rod on horseback into the City in the Evening, following their two Leaders; the Men attending the Bridegroom, and the Women the Bride; so mounted, furnished, and adorned with Trap­pings, and so bespangled with Iewels, that the Torches, and Flambeaux (which were numerous) were but little light to the Beholders.

Overbury hears of the Marri­age.The noise of these Triumphs resounding in the closest Corners, brought the news to Sir Thomas Overbury, which was an unfit and comfortless Companion to a Man in misery, conscious to himself, that all his sufferings proceeded from his opposition to that which was now in agitation; so that in his obscure Prison, and darker thoughts, he could not see the least glimps of hope that looked towards liberty, when he considered the implacable nature of the Woman. But yet he was not so guil­ty to his own Reason, and that friendship (as he thought) that was betwixt him and the Earl of Somerset, as utterly to despair, he having so faithfully promised to procure his Re­lease.

Writes to Somerset.Therefore Overbury writes to him in the midst of his glory, to let him know the sad condition wherein he was, and how much his health was impaired, which he imputed to his reclused­ness, [Page 73] and want of Air, humbly imploring his assistance, that he might no longer languish under the burthens of his infirmities. Somerset not willing to have him exclaim made answer, That the King was now full of great business, but he would take the first opportunity to move him for his Release (though he was highly incensed against him) and make his indisposition a ground for the Kings mercy to work upon; Somerset sends poysons in his Answers. including in the Letter a white Powder, which he desired him to take, assuring him, that though it made him a little sick at first, it would do him much good in the end. The poor abused Gentleman took his Pow­der, which having a poysonous Quality, added to his afflicti­on: But there must be something more violent to work the Feat.

The Lieutenant of the Tower (that was his frequent Visitor) opened his Breast to his complaints, The Lieute­nant betrays Overbury. and with an outward pity received them, against those that were Authors of his calami­ties, and discharged them again into their bosoms, against whom they were spoken; so that he could say nothing that came not to their knowledg, his very words being racked, as well as his body tormented. For the Lieutenant confest after, with repenting tears, as one of his great sins, that he was unfaith­ful and treacherous to him, doing things to his disadvantage that he trusted him to do, promising him secrecy, and betray­ing him to satisfie greatness. Thus he continued in this dismal Den above four Months, whipt daily (as it were) with Scorpi­ons, whose venomous stings entred even into his Soul. So that his Enemies, being more impatient for his enduring so long, than he was to endure so much, forced Nature so, Overbury dies. with an impoysoned Glyster, (compounded by Franklin) that within a short time after he died.

And to kill him again after death, Northampton reviles him. they brand him with the scandal of a lascivious life, giving out, that he died of the Pox: Which Northampton expressed to Somerset in a Letter, telling him of strange Sores, and Vlcers found upon his Body, ugly to behold, stinking intolerably, the People forced to throw him in a loose Sheet into a Coffin, and bury him privately on Tower-Hill: Concluding, That God is gracious in cutting off evil Instruments before their time. Which Sentence (while he was writing it) reflected the judgment on himself; For Northampton having a great influence in the Kingdom, being a prime Coun­sellor to the King, and intimate with Somerset, they two grasp­ing all Power, and Northampton having the better head to manage it, the miscarriages were, not without cause, imputed to him. For being a Papist, he did not only work upon Somerset to per­vert him (by letting him see there was a greater latitude for the Conscience in that Religion) but got him to procure many im­munities for the Papists, as the Kings best affected Subjects. And [Page 74] being Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports, A. Reg. 12. An. Christi 1614. he gave free access to Priests and Iesuits, that abundantly flockt again into the King­dom, the operation of the last Proclamation having now lost the vertue: And a Letter being discovered which he had written to Cardinal Bellarmine, wherein he expresses the condition of the Times, and the Kings importunity compelled him to be a Pro­testant in shew, yet nevertheless his heart stood firm with the Papists, and if there were cause he would express it; with much more to this purpose. These things first muttered, then urged against him, touched him to the heart, so that he retired, dis­posed of his Estate, Northampton dies. and dyed. He had a great mind tending towards eminent things, which he was the better able to effect, by living a Batchelor to an old Age, being always attended (and he loved it) with Gentlemen of Quality, to whom he was very bountiful. His affections were also much raised to Cha­rity, as by the Almshouse he erected appears, and his Works shew him to be a great getter. But leaving no Issue to propagate his name, he built a fair House by Charing-cross to continue it, which it lost soon after his death, being called Suffolk-house for a time, and now is Northumberland-house. Such changes there are in the Worlds measures! His Body was carried to be buried at Dover, because he was Warden of the Cinque-Ports, as was reported by some of his Followers, but it was vulgarly rumo­red to be transported to Rome. But these actions of his about Overbury lying dormant, made no great noise at this time against him; but when they broke out, they laid upon his name as great a stench as Infamy or Oaium could produce.

People go to New England 1614. The Bishops that were only to move in their own spheres had an influence over more than their own Seas: For some of them that were never unactive for establishing their Temporal Greatness, were not contented to suppress many Pious and Religious men, but, I know not for what Policy, restrained their going beyond Sea: For there were divers Families about this time shipped for New-England, and were not suffered to go, though after­wards they were upon better thoughts permitted. For in Rea­son (being there was an impossibility to reduce them to their Wills) it had been the best course to have set open the door, that the Enemy might have had a smooth passage. But this malicious proceeding was no hindrance to the establishment of that Colo­ny, nor is the blame to be laid upon the Function (for some of the Bishops in these Times were holy men, and great Lights to the Truths of God) but on such, whose ambition made them in­deavour more after Earthly things than Heavenly, and less to please God than the King (as Cardinal Woolsey long since con­fessed of himself) and the malice of evil men may protract, but it shall never destroy what God intends to build up. A wonder­ful Light breaking forth in the West-part of the World, this latter

[Page 75] Age, discovering the nakedness of the Nations both in body and soul; which carried a resemblance of the Creation of a new World, or at least the imperfection of the old. A vast Territory and few people.

The Spaniards, the first discoverers, being more covetous to grasp, than well able to plant, took possession of the most pre­cious places, so that the English, French, and Dutch, caught but what they left. Sir Walter Rawleigh and others (after Sir Francis Drake) found out that Country now called Virginia, which was long since planted with a Colony. And in that tract of Land more Northerly, New-England described. within the degrees of 40 and 48 of latitude, lies New-England, a Climate temperate and healthful, but not so much as the Old. It is rather a low than a high Land, full of Rocky-Capes or Promontories. The Inmost parts of the Coun­try are Mountainous, intermixt with fruitful Vallies, and large Lakes, which want not store of good Fish. The Hills are no where Barren (though in some places Stony) but fruitful in Trees and Grass. There are many Rivers, fresh Brooks and Springs, that run into the Sea. The Rivers are good Harbors, and abound with plenty of excellent Fish, yet are they full of Falls, which makes them not Navigable far into the Land. The Seas bordering the Shores are studded with Islands, about which great Shoals of Fishes (Cod, Haddock, and such like) do wantonly sport themselves. The main Land doth nourish abundance of Deers, Bears, Wolves, and a beast called Moose, peculiar to those Regions; and the Rivers and Ponds are stored with some Beavers, Otters, and Musquashes. There are also divers kinds of small Beasts, but the most offensive are Foxes; Fowls there are store in their several seasons, as Turkies, Geese, and Ducks; and the soyl naturally produces wild Vines with very large Bunches of Grapes, but the extremity of heat and cold hinder their just temper. There are many other Fruits which are very good, with Plants, whose Rinds or Barks tran­scends our Hemp or Flax; both Air and Earth concurring to bring forth most things that Industry and Art can provide for the use of man.

The first that sent a Colony into this Country, Planted first 1606. was the Lord Chief Justice Popham, in the year 1606. A man highly re­nowned in his time, for persecuting such as transgressed the Laws among Christians, living like Beasts of prey to the prejudice of Travellers. And in this he had a special aim, and hope also, to establish Christian Laws among Infidels; and by domestical, to chace away those ferous, and indomitable Creatures, that infest­ed the Land: Brave and gallant spirits having ever such pub­lick ends. But Planters are like Alchymists, they have something in projection, that many times fails in production. It is concei­ved the Romans were not well advised to settle one of their [Page 76] first Colonies at Maldon in Essex, whose soyl about, is neither yet sound, nor Air salubrious. And the first opening of ground in a Climate not Natural, hath an extraordinary operation upon the Bodies of Men, whose Senses must comply to give entertainment to a Stranger, that often spoils the place where it finds Hospita­lity. For the first Planters of New-England having seated them­selves low, few of them were left, to direct those that succee­ded, in a better way. Yet People, by dear experience, over­came it by degrees, being yearly supplied by men, whose industry and affections taught them, there was more hope to find safety in New-England than in the Old.

Somersets de­vices to get Money. Though these found some stop, yet our great Favourite, the Earl of Somerset, and his business, runs smoothly, without rub, since Overburies death. But he must alter his Bias, and go less, or find some new ways to bring in Monies; the Revenues of the Crown are not competent to maintain such vast Expences, accu­mulated by his Riot, though he had all the Earl of Westmorelands Lands at his Marriage, and Creation, added to his Earldom. There must be therefore a new Order of Baronets made, in num­ber two hundred, that must be next Degree to Barons, and these must pay a thousand pound a piece for their Honour, ha­ving it by Patent under the great Seal, and continued to Posteri­ty with the Title of Knights. Some of these new Honourable men (whose Wives pride, and their own Prodigalities had pumpt up to it) were so drained, that they had not moisture to maintain the radical humour, but wither'd no nothing. This money thus raised, is pretended for planting the North of Ire­land, but it found many other Chanels, before it came to that Sea. And though at our Kings first access to the Crown, there was a glut of Knights made, yet after some time he held his hand, left the Kingdom should be cloyed with them: And the World thriv'd so well with some, that the price was afterwards brought up to three hundred pounds a piece. But now again, the poor Courtiers were so indigent, that sixty pounds would purchase a Knighthood, the King wanting other means to gratifie his Servants.

The Kings Bounty. Yet he was of so free a Nature, and careless of Money, when he had it (though solicitous to get it) that he batled in his own bounty. For being one day in the Gallery at White-hall, and none with him but Sir Henry Rich (who was second Son to the Earl of Warwick) afterwards Earl of Holland, a Gentleman of ex­cellent Natural Parts, but youthfully expensive; and Iames Maxwel, one of his Bed Chamber; some Porters past by them, with three thousand pounds, going to the Privy Purse: Sir Henry Rich whispering Maxwel, the King turned upon them, and asked Maxwel, what says he? what says he? Maxwel told him, he wisht he had so much money; Marry shalt thou Harry, [Page 77] (saith the King) and presently commanded the Porters to carry it to his Lodging, with this Expression, You think now you have a great Purchase; but I am more delighted to think how much I have pleasured you in giving this money, than you can be in receiving it. This Story intervenes, to shew the Temper of his Mind.

About this time also Gold was raised to two shillings in the pound, Gold raised. occasioned from the high value set upon it abroad, which made the Merchant transport it. But the first Inhancers can make their Markets, by ingrossing great Sums; especially the Payments of those times, and all this Kings Reign, being for the most part in Gold so that it might be called the Golden Age; that it is a wonder now, what gulf hath swallowed those great sums, if their golden wings be not flown to the Sun-rising. But these little projects will bring in but small store of money, to maintain the Work; many such Materials must go, to make up a Royal Building, and little Streams will not easily fill a Cistern that hath many Issues. A Parliament can furnish all: but who dare venture on such Refractory Spirits?

Yet there was a generation about the Court, A Parliament undertaken. that to please and humour Greatness, undertook a Parliament; as men presuming to have Friends in every County, and Borough, who (by their Power among the People) would make Election of such Mem­bers for Knights and Burgesses, as should comply solely to the Kings desires; and Somerset is the Head and Chief of these Vn­dertakers. But this was but an Embrion, and became an Abortive. The English Freedom cannot be lost by a few base and tame spi­rits, that would unmake themselves, and their Posterity, to ingrandize one Man. For the Parliament meeting according to their Summons, such Faces appeared there, as made the Court droop; who, instead of Contributing to the Kings wants, lay open his wasts, especially upon the Scots, with whom they de­sire medietatem linguae, a share of favour: The Bread (by our Sa­viours rule) properly belonging to the Children of the Kingdom. And they beseech His Majesty to stop the Current of future ac­cess of that Nation to make residence here, having enough to eat up their own Crums. They enquire into the Causes of the un­expected increase of Popish Recusants, since the Gun-Powder Plot, the detestation whereof (they thought) should have utterly extinguished them; and they find it to the Admission of Po­pish Nobility into his Counsels; the silencing of many watchful, and diligent Ministers; the divers Treaties his Majesty hath en­tertained, not only for the Marriage of the deceased Prince Henry, but for Prince Charles that now liveth, with the Daugh­ters of Popish Princes, which dis-heartneth the Protestant, and encourageth the Recusant; laying open with these, many other miscarriages in Government, which the King willing to have con­cealed, stopt them in their Course, dissolving the Parliament, [Page 78] and committing to the Tower and other Princes (the begin­ning of incroachment upon the publick liberties) such as were most active for the Common good.

These fair Blossoms not producing the hoped-for fruit, they find out new Projects to manure the People; different much in name and nature; A Benevolence required. a Benevolence, extorted; a Free-gift against their wills was urged upon them, and they that did not give in their money, must give in their names, which carried a kind of fright with it. But the most knowing men (like so many Pil­lars to the Kingdoms liberties) supported their Neighbours totter­ing Resolutions, with assuring them, that these kind of Benevo­lences were against Law, Reason and Religion.

First against Law, being prohibited by divers Acts of Par­liament; and a Curse pronounced against the infringers of them.

Secondly, against Reason, that a particular man should oppose his judgment and discretion, to the wisdom and judgment of the King assembled in Parliament, who have there denyed any such aid.

Thirdly against Religion That a King violating his Oath (ta­ken at his Coronation for maintaining the Laws, Liberties, and Customs of the Realm) should be assisted by the people in an Act of so much Injustice and Impiety. These, and many other Ar­guments instilled into the people by some good Patriots, were great impediments to the Benevolence: So that they got but little money, and lost a great deal of love: For no Levies do so much decline, and abase the love and spirits of the people, as un­just Levies. Subsidies get more of their money, but Exactions enslave the mind; for they either raise them above, or depress them beneath their sufferings, which are equally mischievous, and to be avoided.

The King of Denmarks se­cond coming. This Summer the King of Denmark revisited his Sister the Queen of England, with some forty Lords, Gentlemen, and o­thers in his Train; landing at Yarmouth, and passing directly to London, took up his Lodging in our Common Inns, and was not known but for some Outlandish Nobleman, till he came to the Queens Palace in the Strand, where she was surprized with the unexpected joy of a Brothers company, distanced from her by the interest of his people, the great Bar that hinders Princes the common civilities and happiness of their Inferiors. But the joy continued not long; for after some fourteen days inter­view, they parted again. But those days had such a pleni­tude of all those delights that contend to satisfaction, as if a great deal of more time had been involved and contracted in them.

The Queen opposes Somer­set. The Earl of Somerset new made Lord Chamberlain, succeeding his Father-in-law the Earl of Suffolk, and the Lord Treasurer [Page]

[Page] [Page 79] Successor to Salisbury, were not very acceptable to the Queen, having the same spirit and animosity against Somerset that her Son had: But whether from an apprehension that the Kings love and company was alienated from her, by this Masculine conversation and intimacy, or whether the mans insolence, (thus high mounted) had carried him too near the Beams of Majesty (his creature Overbury being a little before his Commitment condemned for presumptuous walking with his hat on in her Palace Garden, she being in the window) or whether from that natural inclination that makes every one oppose Pride in others, though it be more active in themselves, and see it not; or from that Rumor of Prince Henries death, covertly imputed to Somer­set, I know not. But she became the head of a great Faction a­gainst him.

Sir Ralph Winwood, who had been Lieger-Ambassador with the States in the Netherlands, for his abilities and good service had merited so much from the King, that he made him Secreta­ry of State; The Queen closes with him, the better to disco­ver Somersets miscarriages, and he was ready enough to oblige her; for Somerset made him but an Vnderling, grasping all Pub­lick imployments into his own hand, not caring whom he disob­liged, or what Malice he pulled upon himself; for like a Coloss he stood the brunt of all the Tempests of Envy, making those that carried the greatest sail to strike and come under him. Nor would he suffer any place in Court, or dignity in State, to be bestowed; which was not sweetned with his smile that gave it, or their bounty that injoyed it; so that (it was thought) he in­grossed a mass of Coin, as if his soul intended to take her ease. This Pride and Covetousness added to his other miscarriages such a number of Vnderminers, that he stood upon a tottering foun­dation, having no support but the Kings favour, which, whe­ther by Providence from above, or purposes below (both e­ver concurring from the Will to the Means) was soon remo­ved.

For about this time the King cast his eye upon a young Gen­tleman, George Villers a favourite. so rarely moulded, that he meant to make him a Master­piece: His name was George Villers, he was second Son to Sir George Villers, a Knight of Leicester-shire, by a second Venter: For the old man coming to Colehorton in that County, to visit his Kinswoman the Lady Beaumont, found a young Gentlewo­man of that name, allyed, and yet a servant to the Lady, who being of a handsom presence, and countenance, took his affecti­ons, and he married her. This was the soil where the glorious Cedar grew? who having only the breeding and portion of a younger Brother, with the Mothers help and travel, got the ad­dition of a French garb, which brought him to the Court in no greater a condition than fifty pounds a year is able to maintain. [Page 80] The King strucken with this new object, A. Reg. 13. An. Christi 1615. would not expose him to so much hazard as the malice of a jealous Competitor, nor him self to so much censure, as to be thought changeable, and taken again with a sudden affection▪ therefore he instructs some of his Confidents to bring him in by degrees; who intimated the Kings pleasure to him, that he should wait Cup bearer at large, being so, at too strait a distance of place, to have any mark of favour for suspition to level at. And if the King had not received a new Impression thus, the old Character of Somerset that was imprinted in his soul, could not so soon (as many men thought) have been blotted out. But Courts that are the wisest, though not the most vertuous Schools, do teach their Scholars to observe the Seasons, and by the Astronomy of the Princes eye, to calculate what Fortune such Aspects, and such Conjunctions may happi­ly produce: And they found so much as gave them incourage­ment to hear, and boldness to discover, that which pulled down the one, and set up the other.

Somersets de­cline 1615. But Somerset that had the pulse of his Conscience always beat­ing at Overburies door, was as active to preserve himself, as his Enemies were to ruin him: and finding himself shaking (though there was nothing yet laid to his Charge, but the imbe­zelling some of the Crown Iewels) he throws himself at the Kings feet, acknowledging the great Trust his Majesty had re­posed in him, and the weight of business lying on him, might make him incounter him with some miscarriages through youth and ignorance (great imployments often meeting with envy, that jossels them in the way) he therefore humbly besought his Majesty to grant him a general Pardon for what was past, that he might not be exposed to the malice of those that would wrest all his Actions to the worst meaning. The King that raised this fair Edifice, being loth to have it quite pulled down again, gave order for the drawing up of a general Pardon, in so ample and full a manner, that it might rather exceed, than take rise from any former precedent; This the King signed and sent to the Great Seal; But the Queen having notice of it, and using her Power with the Lord Chancellor, gave stop to the Seal till the Kings coming to Town (who was on his Progress in the West) and then what was mutter'd in corners before, rung openly in the Streets: For the Apothecaries boy that gave Sir Thomas Over­bury the Glister, falling sick at Flushing, revealed the whole mat­ter, which Sir Ralph Winwood by his Correspondents had a full Relation of, and a small breach being made, his Enemies, like the noise of many Waters, rise up against him, following the Stream.

The King de­serts him. The King hearing of the business, and what ill sound it car­ried with it (as it was set out to him) that in the face of the Court, and so near his own bosom, such poysonous practices should be perpetrated, and on one that was his Prisoner, he

[Page 81] seemed to be much moved with the Relation; and sending for the Iudges gave them strict Charge to examin the Matter through­ly, imprecating a Curse upon them and their Posterity, if th [...]y did not endeavour to discover it; and if he did spare any guil­ty Person, He wished Gods Curse mi [...]ht light on him, and his Posterity; So violent the King appeared in prosecution of it! And away to Royston he goes, and Somerset with him; thither these ru­mours came buzzing about his ears, like a rising storm upon a well spread Oak; but he thought himself too firmly rooted in the Kings favour to be removed, therefore he went back to London, to still the murmurs vented against him. Some say, the Lord Chief Justice Cook sent for him, upon which he went to the King with a Complaint, as taking it to be a great presump­tion; but the King made answer, Thou must go then, for if Cook sends for me I must go too. Others say, when he came to take his leave of the King, he embraced and kist him often, wisht him to make haste back, shewed an extreme passion to be without him; and his back was no sooner turned, but he said with a smile, I shall never see thy face more. Whether either, or both of these were so, cannot be asserted, but to London he went; his Countess was apprehended (and committed to Custody in Black-Fryars) before he came thither; he was no sooner there, but he was seized on, and commended to the Charge of Do­ctor Mountain, Dean of Westminster; and then they went on roundly with the Business.

For a little before this, Weston and the rest tried. Weston was taken, and examined, but like a stubborn piece (unmoulded for impression) nothing could be drawn from him; but God (by the means and persuasion of the Bishop of London, Doctor King, a man eminent for piety in his time) so wrought upon his heart, that the eye of his soul being opened to the foulness of his sin, he discovered all, so that the whole Confederacy were laid hold on; Who falling into the hands of the Lord Chief Justice Cook (a Spirit of a fiery exha­lation, as subtil as active) he left no stone unturned, till he had ript up the very foundation.

But in the mean time, between Westons standing mute, and his Trial, one Lumsden a Scotchman, took upon him to make a false and libellous Relation of the business, and delivers it to Henry Gib of the Bed-Chamber, to be put into the Kings hand; in which Writing he falsifies and perverts all that was done the first day of Westons Arraignment, turning the edg of his impu­tations upon the Lord Chief Justice Cook: which Bolt was boldly shot by him, but it was thought not to come out of his own Quiver; and it lighted into an ill hand for him, for the King discovered it, and left him an open Mark to that Iustice, he had traduced.

[Page 82] Weston was the first that suffered by the hand of the Law; which Sir Iohn Hollis (after Earl of Clare) out of friendship to Somerset; and Sir Iohn Wentworth, a Person debauched and rio­tous (hoping from the beams of of Somersets favour to increase his wanting fortunes) strove to blast in the spring; Weston execu­ted. for they rod to Tyburn, and urged him at his Execution to deny all, hoping that way to prevent the Autumn that followed: but Westons Soul being prepared for Death, resisted their temptations, sealing pe­nitently the Truth of his Confession with his last. And this at­tempt of Hollu, Wentworth, and Lumsden, to pervert Iustice being aggravated against them in the Star-Chamber by the Kings Atturney, Sir Francis Bacon, they were sentenced there, and found the reward of their Presumption.

Mrs. Turner.Mistris Turner followed next: A Pattern of Pride and Lust; who having always given a loose Rein to her life, she ran this carreer at last into the jaws of death.

Sir Ierv. El­lowis. Sir Iervis Ellowis, Lieutenant of the Tower, was the third, who suffered on Tower Hill; a Man much pitied, being drawn in by the allurements of Northampton to be a Spectator rather than an Actor in this bloody Tragedy; but his Connivence cost him his life. And being a man full of sorrow for his offence, he left two Pillars behind him at his death, for Watch-Towers to all that pass by, in this Bark of frail Mortality, to prevent Ship­wrack. One was, Not to vow any thing to God, but to perform it. The other was, Not to take a pride in any Parts, though never so ex­cellent. For the first, he said he was a great Gamester, and loved it; and having lost one time much money, he seriously and advisedly, between God and his own Soul, clapping his hand on his breast, spake thus (as it were to God) If ever I play again, then let me be hanged! and breaking my Vow (said he) now God hath paid my Imprecation home. The second was, He took a great de­light in his Pen, And that Pen (to use his own words) which I was so proud of, hath struck me dead, and, like Absolons hair, hath hanged me; for there dropt a word or two from my Pen, in a Letter to the Earl of Northampton, which upon my salvation I am not able to answer: At my Arraignment I pleaded hard for my life, and protested mine inno­cency; but when my own Pen came against me, I was not able to speak for my self, but stood as one amazed, or that had no tongue. Such damps doth guiltiness cast upon the Spirit!

The fourth that fell by the stroke of Iustice, was Franklin, a Fellow as sordid in his death, And Franklin. as pernicious in his life, whose name deserves not so much as memory.

The fifth and sixth were Somerset and his Countess. At her Ar­raignment, all the Letters that passed betwixt Forman and she, were read in open Court, and the waxen and brazen Poppets were made visible, dancing up and down from hand to hand, which discovered the folly of her Actions: But the Earl and

[Page] [Page 83] she, being condemned, found the King mercy, and were, after some time of imprisonment in the Tower, set at liberty, holding their lives by a Lease of the Kings Will, living in a private, and almost obscure condition. Shewing in it, That no content or hap­piness can be truly established, but on the foundation of Iustice. For that Love that made them break through all Oppositions (ei­ther by her decling to some new Object (as was the common ru­mour) or his inclining to reluctancy for the Old) grew so weak▪ that it pined away, and they lived long after (though in one House) as Strangers one to another.

She died before him. The Coun­tesses descrip­tion in her death. Her death was infamous, his without fame, the obscurity of the rest of his life darkning the splendor of it. And though she died (as it were) in a corner (in so private a condition) the loathsomeness of her death made it as conspi­cuous as on the house top: For that part of her Body which had been the receptacle of most of her sin, grown rotten (though she never had but one Child) the ligaments failing, it fell down, and was cut away in flakes, with a most nauseous and putrid savour; which to augment, she would roul her self in her own ordure in her bed, took delight in it. Thus her affections varied; For nothing could be found sweet enough to augment her Beauties at first, and nothing stinking enough to decipher her loath­someness at last: Pardon the sharpness of these expressions, for they are for the Glory of God, who often makes his pu­nishments (in the ballance of his Iustice) of equal weight with our sins.

For his Person, Somersets in his life. He was rather well compacted than tall; his features and favour comely, and handsome, rather than beau­tiful; the hair of his head flaxen, that of his face tinctured with yellow, of the Sycambrian colour: In his own nature, of a gentle mind, and affable disposition, having publick affections, till they were all swallowed up in this gulf of beauty, which did precipitate him into these dangerous Contrivances. For that which made his friendship false, diverted his publick affection to his private interest; and when he found himself guilty of what he thought might ruin him, he grew covetous to heap that together, which he thought might preserve him; So that at one breach that our Corruptions make, many mischiefs fol­low in the crowd. And if he had not met with such a Woman, he might have been a good man: but trials, and strong temp­tations, enhanceth the Price of Vertue; the conflict is gallant, but to be overcome debaseth a man the more, by how much his fall is the greater.

I was loth to separate these Delinquents in their Trials (be­ing close woven) by the length of Sir Francis Bacons Speech in the Star-Chamber, against Hollis, Wentworth, and Lumsden. But knowing what an Ornament his Oratory will give to this Story, [Page 84] and how usual it was for ancient Historians to insert their Ha­rangues of State, A. Reg. 14. An. Christi 1616. as well as Military Orations, I could not de­cline this, though it comes almost in the Rere; the rather be­cause it will serve as a Seal and Confirmation of what is for­merly written. And thus it was.

Then the Examinations being read, and further aggravated against these three Gentlemen, there passed Judgment upon them of Fine and lmprisonment.

Sir Thomas Monson, Sir Thomas Monson ar­raigned. another of the Countesses Agents in this poysoning contrivance, had past one days Tryal at Guildhall. But the Lord Chief Justice Cook in his Rhetorical Flourishes at his Arraignment, vented some expressions (which he either de­duced from Northamptons assuring the Lieutenant of the Tower, that the making away of Sir Thomas Overbury would be accep­table to the King, or from some other secret hint received) as if he could discover more than the death of a private person, in­timating, though not plainly, that Overburies untimely remove had something in it of retaliation, as if he had been guilty of the same Crime against Prince Henry, blessing himself with ad­miration at the horror of such actions. In which he flew so high a pitch, that he was taken down by a Court Lure, Sir Tho­mas Monsons Tryal laid aside, and he soon after set at li­berty, and the Lord Chief Justices wings were clipt for it ever after.

And it was rumor'd, that the King (heightned to so much passion by this eruption of Sir Edward Cooks) went to the Coun­cil Table, and kneeling down there, desired God to lay a Curse [Page 90] upon him and his posterity for ever, if he were consenting to Overbu­ries death. But this cannot be asserted, being above our Sphere: yet as Mathematicians do propose to themselves imaginary Cir­cles, for the several motions in the Heavens, and though there be none discovered, yet they find the effects of what they appre­hend: So the sudden stopping of Monsons Tryal, put strange imaginations into mens heads, and those seconded by Reports too high for private discovery, The Lord Chief Justice blamed. their operation only falling un­der the common notion. But the Lord Chief Justice was blamed for flying out of his way; that having enough to prosecute the business, he would grasp after more till he lost all: For this Crime was thought second to none but the Gunpowder-plot; that would have blown up all indeed at a blow (a merciful cruelty) this would have done the same by degrees, a lingring, but as sure a way; one by one might have been culled out, till all opposers had been removed: Besides, the other Plot was scandalous to Rome, making Popery odious, this was scandalous to the Gospel ever since the first Nullity. The Devil could not have invented a more mischievous practice to Church and State.

The Lady A­rabella dies. The Lady Arabella dying about this time in the Tower, set mens tongues and fears a work, that she went the same way. Such mischief doth one evil action introduce, that it makes a great Rode for Jealousie to pursue after it. The Lady was Daughter to Charles Stuart, younger Brother to our Kings Fa­ther, by Elizabeth Cavendish, who was married some years past to Sir William Seymaur, Son to the Lord Beauchamp, and Grand­child to Edward Earl of Hertford; both at some distance allyed to the Crown, therefore such a Conjunction would not be ad­mitted in the Royal Almanack, so dreadful is every apparition that comes near Princes Titles. Sir William Seymaur for the Mar­riage was committed to the Tower, and the Lady Arabella con­fined to her House at High-gate. But after some imprisonment they conclude to escape beyond Sea together, appointing to meet at a certain place upon the Thames: Sir William leaving his man in his bed to act his part with his Keeper, got out of the Tower in a disguise, and came to the place appointed. She drest like a young Gallant in mans attire, followed him from her house, but staying long above the limited time, made him su­spicious of her interception, so that he sent away, leaving no­tice if she came, that he was gone away, before to Dunkirk. She, good Lady fraught with more fears, and lagging in her flights was apprehended, brought back to the Tower, and there fini­shed her earthly pilgrimage. She being dead, Sir William Seymaur got leave to return home, and married since to the Lady Fran­ces, Daughter to the late noble Earl of Essex, a Lady in whose breast dwells as much Honor as can be derived from noble Pro­genitors,

[Page] [Page 91] by whom he hath a very hopeful Issue, and by the death of his Grandfather was Earl, and now is Marquess of Hertford.

And now the Temples of Ianus being shut, Warlike Abillia­ments grew rusty, and Bellona put on Masking-attire; for Scot­land bought her Peace at a good rate, Peace every where. and Ireland found the fruits of hers growing up to her hand. Those Irish that had great E­states (though rude enough) the King suppled and tamed with Honours, and they that had little were content calmly to suck in what they had, and battel'd by it, so that they wanted no­thing but moderation to make them happy. These Halcion days shined round about us. The influence of our Kings peaceable mind; had almost an universal operation Spains ambition was contented to be bounded by the Pirene Hills, and the Atlantick Ocean, sucking in the fruits of Italy and Sicily, and hoarding up the Treasures of the Indies, willingly singing a Requiem to the Netherlands, France wanting Exercise surfeited with diseases at home, which by fits broke out into Tumors among them­selves. The Germans swelled into a Dropsie of Voluptuousness, by Plenty, and the sweets of Peace, Politick Bodies are like Na­tural; Full feeding contracts, gross humors, which will have vent. Only such Exercise as may refine, and keep the spirits active, and digest the grosser and fulginous matter, strengthens the Nerves of a Kingdom, or Republick. Nothing now but bra­very and feasting, the Parents of Debauchery and Riot, flourish­ed among us. There is no Theam for History when men spill more drink than blood; when plots and contrivances for Lust, act­ed in dark corners, are more practised than Stratagems in War; and when the Stages with silken Pageants and Poppets, that slack­en the sinews, are more frequented than those Theaters of Honor, where Industry brawns and hardens the Arms: Peace is a great Blessing, if it bring not a Curse with it; but War is more happy in its effects than it, especially if it takes away the distemper that grows by long surfets, without destroying the Body. But since these buskind ornaments are wanting, we must imbellish our Discourses with such passages as paced up and down in the sock of Peace.

There had been in Prince Henries time a Treaty of Marriage betwixt him and a Daughter of Spain, The King think of a match for his Son Prince Charles. which took no effect. Our King was real in his intentions, not willing to have his Sons Beams to display themselves but in a Royal Horizon. The Spanish policy clouded the business with delays, whether from the old grudg that was betwixt Queen Katharine and Henry the eighth, or the difference between the Nations in Religion? But the Spanish Courtesie being loth directly and point blank to tell our King, he liked not the Conjunction, went with a slow-pa­ced Gravity, such as he thought befitted the Civility of Prin­ces, [Page 92] and gave a little light to hope that it might be accomplish­ed. But Salisbury and others that managed those great affairs then, did at this chink discover, that their formalities were but Spanish Complements, which like the air that gave them being, soon vanished away. After this our Kings thoughts cast about, how he might provide a fit match for Prince Charles, who shined in the same sphere of Honor (that his Brother left for a better) but not so much inlightned with the peoples love, being less active and splendid, and (that I may not call it sullenness) more reserved. The German Dames were discoursed on (where his Sister shined in her Glory) as being of the same Religion, and more suitable in Christian Policy; but they were (in a manner) Subjects to the Emperor, and that would give an allay to the Super-elementary extraction of Kings, which should be of a high­er Origine, to amuse, and that they might be the more admired by their people, and therefore not so fitting in State-Policy. And seeing there were small hopes expected from Spain, a Daugh­ter to Henry the great, late King of France, was aimed at, and Sir Thomas Edmonds, our Kings Lieger Ambassador, had (long before this time) made his little addresses, superficially, and founded the Chanel, but he met some Rocks and Remoras in the way, so that he could not discover clearly their intentions; and the King was loth to express himself plainly, lest he should receive an affront. And now sending (as he thought it ci­villy necessary) an Extraordinary Ambassador to congratulate the King of France his Marriage with Anna the Infanta of Spain, he thought it good policy to take this occasion to make a stricter scrutiny whether there were any ground to rest upon for match­ing his Son.

The Lord Hays sent in­to France. And who is fitter for that employment, being only for Court­ship and Bravery, than the Lord Hayes, a Gentleman whose Composition of mind tended that way? He was born in Scotland, where bravery was in no superfluity, bred up in France, where he could not have it in extravagancy, but he found it in Eng­land, and made it his vanity. The King had a large hand, and he had a large heart, and though he were no great Favourite e­ver, yet he was never but in favour. He with a great Train of young Noblemen, and other Courtiers of eminency, suited themselves with all those ornaments that could give lustre to so dazelling an appearance as Love, and the Congratulation of it car­ried with it. All the study was, who should be most glorious, and he had the happiest fancy, whose invention could express something Novel, neat and unusual, that others might admire. So that Huntingtons Prophecy was fulfilled here, 6 lib. H. Hunt. when speaking of the time of the Scots Conquest of England, he said, Multimo­da variatione vestium & indumentorum designaretur. I remem­ber I saw one of the Lord Ambassadors Suits (and pardon me [Page 93] that I take notice of such petty things) the Cloak and Hose were made of very fine white Beaver, imbroidered richly all over with Gold and Silver; the Cloak, almost to the Cape, within and without, having no lining but imbroidery, The Doublet was Cloth of Gold, The Lord Hayes rides in state to the Court. imbroidered so thick, that it could not be discerned, and a white Beaver-hat suitable, Brim­full of imbroidery, both above and below. This is presented as an Essay, for one of the meanest he wore, so that if this Rela­tion should last longer than his old cloaths, the Reader might well think it a Romance, favouring rather of Fancy than Re­ality.

But this kind of Vanity had been long active in England: For the last Parliament it was moved by some well-affected to Re­formation of the Abuses of excess in Apparel, that there might be a Regulation of this kind of Gallantry, to the distinguishing of men one from another; For (it was said) some of means Fortunes wore Garments fitter for Princes than Subjects; and many Gentry of antient descent had wasted, and impoverished themselves and their Posterities with this extravagancy, so that it was very requisite to give some stop to this redundant humor. To which was answered, That if those of mean Fortunes went so richly attired, and came not honestly by their ornaments, they would be quickly found out, and there were good Laws enough for such Transgressors. But as there is no perpetuity of Being on Earth, so there is a continual vicissitude and revolution in all sub­lunary things, some are advanced, and some decline, God pulleth down one, and setteth up another. If any Noble, or antiently de­scended Family will be so mad and foolish to beggar themselves and their Posterities with this, or any other excess, 'tis very probable that some man of more wisdom and merit will injoy that which the other hath so idlely and prodigally mispent; for to set such limitations will damp the spirits of Industry. So the motion was declined.

But to return to the Lord Hayes. Thus accoutred and accom­plished, he went into France, and a day for Audience being pre­fixed, all the argument and dispute betwixt him and his gal­lant Train (which took up some time) was, how they should go to the Court, Coaches, like Curtains, would eclipse their splen­dor; riding on horsback in Boots, would make them look like Travellers, not Courtiers; and not having all Foot-cloaths it would be an unsuitable mixture: Those that brought rich trap­pings for their Horses, were willing to have them seen, so it was concluded for the Foot-cloth, and those that have none (to their bitter cost) must furnish themselves. This prepara­tion begot expectation, and that filled all the Windows, Bal­cones, and Streets of Paris as they passed with a multitude of Spectators, Six Trumpeters, and two Marshals (in Tawny [Page 94] Velvet Liveries, compleatly Suited, laced all over with Gold, richly, and closely laid) led the way; the Ambassador follow­ed with a great Train of Pages and Footmen in the same rich Livery, incircling his Horse, and the rest of his Retinue accor­ding to their Qualities and Degrees, in as much bravery as they could devise, or procure, followed in couples, to the wonder­ment of the beholders. And some said (how truly I cannot assert) the Ambassadors Horse was shod with Silver-shooes, lightly tackt on; and when he came to a place where Persons, or Beauties of eminency were, his very Horse prancing, and curveting, in humble reverence flung his shooes away, which the greedy understanders scrambled for, and he was content to be gazed on, and admired, till a Farrier, or rather the Argentier in one of his rich Liveries, among his train of Footmen, out of a Tawny Velvet bag took others, and tackt them on, which lasted till he came to the next troop of Grandies: And thus with much ado he reached the Louure.

All Complements and outward Ceremonies of State being performed, the Lord Ambassador made his business known by more private addresses, which in appearance was well resented, but indeed not intended, and came to no effect: For the Duke of Savoy had anticipated the young Ladies affection for the Prince of P [...]emont his Son. The Savoyan Agents bringing more Gold in their hands than on their backs, had so smoothed the way, that not only those about the Princess, but the great ones themselves were made workers for him. After the Am­bassador had been feasted magnificently, with all his gallant Train, in several places, to shew the Grandure of France, he came over into England, and practised it here, making many times upon several occasions such stupendious Feasts, and heaped Banquets, as if all the Creatures had contributed to his excess. I know not what limits or bounds are set to the glories of Princes Courts, or Nobles minds. We see the Sea it self, and all his tributary Rivers, do ebb and flow, but if they swell so high, to overflow that Bank, that Reason hath prescribed to keep them in, what Inundations of sad mischief follow, Experience shews.

A Breach be­twixt the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice.A little before this time there was a breach between the Lord Chief Justice Cook, and the Lord Chancellor Ellesmer, which made a passage to both their declines. Sir Edward Cook had heard and determined a Cause at the Common Law, and some report there was jugling in the business. The Witness that knew, and should have related the Truth, was wrought upon to be absent, if any man would undertake to excuse his non appea­rance, A pragmatical fellow of the party undertook it, went with the Witness to a Tavern, called for a Gallon pot full of Sack, bid him drink, and so leaving him went into the Court.

[Page 95] This Witness is called for as the prop of the Cause, the Under­taker answers upon Oath, He left him in such a condition, that if he continues in it but a quarter of an hour, he is a dead man. This evidencing the mans incapability to come, deaded the mat­ter so, that it lost the Cause. The Plantiffs that had the Injury bring the business about in Chancery: The Defendants (having had Judgment at Common Law) refuse to obey the Orders of that Court, whereupon the Lord Chancellor for contempt of the Court commits them to prison. They petition against him in the Star-Chamber, the Lord Chief Justice joyns with them, foments the difference, threatning the Lord Chancellor with a Premunire. The Chancellor makes the King acquainted with the business, who sent to Sir Francis Bacon his Attorny General, Sir Henry Montague, and Sir Randolph Crew his Serjeants at Law, and Sir Henry Yelverton his Sollicitor, commanding them to search what Presidents there have been of late years, wherein such as complained in Chancery were relieved according to Equi­ty and Conscience, after judgment at Common Law. These being men well versed in their Profession (after canvassing the matter throughly) returned answer to the King, That there hath been a strong current of Practice and proceeding in Chancery, after Iudgment at Common Law, and many times after Executi­on, continued since Henry the sevenths time, to the Lord Chan­cellor that now is, both in the Reigns ( seriatim) of the several Kings, and the times of the several Chancellors, whereof di­vers were great learned men in the Law; It being in Cases where there is no Remedy for the Subject by the strict course of the Common Law unto which the Iudges are sworn. This satisfied the King, justified the Lord Chancellor, and the Chief Justice received the foil: Which was a bitter potion to his spirit, but not strong enough to work on him as his Enemies wished.

Therefore to humble him more, The Chief Ju­stice is hum­bled. he is brought on his knees at the Council Table, and three other Ingredients added to the Dose, of a more active operation.

First, He is charged, That when he was the Kings Attor­ney, in the beginning of his Reign, he concealed a Statute of twelve thousand pounds, due to the King from the late Lord Chancellor Hatton, wherein he deceived the trust reposed in him.

Secondly, That he uttered words of very high contempt as he sate in the seat of Iustice, saying the Common Law of England would be overthrown, and the light of it obscured, reflecting upon the King. And thirdly, His uncivil and indiscreet carriage before His Majesty (being assisted by his Privy Council and Judges) in the Case of Commendams.

[Page 96]The last he contest, and humbly craved his Majesties Pardon. The other two he palliated with some colourable excuses, which were not so well set off, but they left such a tincture be­hind that he was commanded to a private life. And to expiate the Kings anger, he was injoyned in that leisurely retirement to review his Books of Reports, which the King was informed had many extravagant opinions, published for positive and good Law, which must be corrected, and brought to his Majesty to be perused. But the Title of the Books wherein he stiles him­self Lord Chief Iustice of England, was to be expunged, being but Lord Chief Iustice of the Kings Bench. And at his departure from the Council Table (where he humbly acknowledged his Maje­sties mercy, and their Lordships justice) the Lord Treasurer gave him a wipe, for suffering his Coachman to ride bare before him in the streets; which fault he strove to cover, by telling his Lordship, his Coachman did it for his own ease. But not long after the Lord Treasurer came under his lash in the Star-Chamber, and he requited him for it.

His Faults.While he was under this Clond, all his faults were ripped up, either by his Enemies, or his Well-wishers, who advise him to be humbled for this Visitation. That Affliction only levels the mole-hils of pride in us, plows up the heart, and makes it fit for Wisdom to sow her seed, and Grace to bring forth her in­crease. That he delighted to speak much, which becomes a Pleader, and not a Iudg; for so his affections were entangled with a liking of his own arguments, and an undervaluing of others; when having a large and fruitful mind, he should not labour so much what to speak, as what to leave unspoken. Such lusty soyls are often to be weeded! That he was wont to praise, and dispraise, upon slight grounds, the same man, and that sometimes suddenly, so that his reproofs, or commendati­ons, are neglected and contemned; when as the censure of a Iudg (coming slowly, but surely) should be a brand to the guilty, and a crown to the vertuous. That he will jest at any man in publick, without respect of the Persons dignity, or his own; which disgraceth his gravity, more than it can ad­vance the opinion of his wit. That he makes the Law to lean a little too much to his own opinion, whereby he shews himself a legal Tyrant, striking with that Weapon whom he pleases, being able to turn the edg any way. That having the living of a thousand, he hath no bowels of compassion to men in want; the hand that hath taken so much, can give little, but gets, gets still, as if he did try how much he could gather to account for at the great and general Audit day. That in the Case of Overbury, he used too many delays, till Delinquents hands were loose, and his bound; in which slowness he was a Fa­bins, but the humour of Marcellus would have done better; [Page]

for he stopt the Confessions and Accusations of some, that would have spoken enough to remove more stumbling blocks out of his way; and yet he did not this in favour of any, but out of present unadvised humour, supposing enough behind to discover all; which fell not out so: And therefore, though he were to be commended for what he did, yet he is to be re­prehended for many Circumstances in the doing; and these are now briers in his sides, and thorns in his eyes. Much more, to this purpose, was written to him, and vented against him.

Truly he was a Man of excellent parts, And short Character. but not without his frailties: for as he was a Storehouse and Magazine of the Common Law, for the present times; and laid such Foundation for the future, that Posterity may for ever build on; So his passions and pride so were predominant, that boyling over, he lost (by them) much of his own fulness, which extinguished not only the valuation, but respect to his merit: So often is that heat, that gives life to noble Parts, by a circular motion, the ruin of them! Yet to cool his distemper, and to bring him to himself, he is within a short time called to the Council Table, the King being loth to lose his abilities.

The Lord Chancellor Ellesmer also about this time, The Lord Chancellor retires. weary of his publick imployment, and weakned with age, desired the Kings leave to retire, that he might make use of the short time left him, to cast up his accounts for another World: The King gave the Seal, and the place of Lord Chancellor, to Sir Francis Bacon, his Attorney Ceneral; and the old Lord Ellesmer wore out the remnant of his life in quiet, dying in a good old age. and full of virtuous fame, leaving a Noble Posterity, who enjoy a great Estate with the Title of Earl of Bridgwater.

Time and Age had also worn out Sir Ralph Winwood, Sir Ralph Win­wood dies. the Kings able, faithful, and honest Servant, and Secretary; who dying, Sir Robert Nanton, and Sir George Calvert, were made Secretaries; men of contrary Religions, and Factions (as they were then sti­led) Calvert being an Hispaniolized Papist: the King matching them together, like contrary Elements, to find a medium betwixt them.

But the greatest remove was the Lord Treasurers staff, The Lord Treasurer questioned in Star-Cham­ber. which was broken by Somersets fall, the way being now made plain, and laid open, that discovered the Treasurers imperfecti­ons, and his Wives corruptions: The Lady keeping the Shop, and Sir Iohn Binglie, her Officer, crying, What d'ye lack? as the new Lord Chancellor Bacon was pleased to express himself in the Star-Chamber; whither the business being brought, the sore was open'd, and all the bad humours flow to the ill-affected part. Bribery and Extortion is the matter that appears, which is squeez'd out, and aggravated by Sir Edward Cook, (newly [Page 98] perkt up, such is the Worlds bucket!) who very learnedly ci­ted many Precedents of Treasurers in former Kings Reigns, that miscarried, and their several punishments.

He begins with Randulphus de Britton, Treasurer to King Hen­ry the third, who had mis-imployed the Kings Treasure, decei­ved the King in his Office, for which he was questioned, his Lands and Goods seized into the Kings hands, and sent prisoner to the Tower, where he submitted himself to the King, confest his fault, gave up his place, & pro Gratia habenda (saith the Re­cord) obtained Restitution of his Goods and Lands, paying only three thousand pounds Fine. This was a piece of Wisdom (saith he) as well as Humility; alluding to the present Lord Treasu­rers stout heart that would not submit.

The second was Petrus de Rivallis, who was Treasurer of Ire­land, and Chamberlain of England in Edward the firsts time, who had taken Bribes in his Office, Tam de Religiosis, quam de Laicis. Of which being convicted, he lost his place, and was put to his Fine and Ransom.

And in the same Kings Reign, The Abbot of Westminster, and his virtuous Monks, took out of the Kings Treasure at Westmin­ster many thousand pounds, Ad inastimabile damnum Regis & Reg­ni. The Abbot being sent to the Tower, and the Monks disposed to several prisons, and notwithstanding they pleaded Priviledg of Clergy-men for their Tryal, yet in the Case of imbezelling the Kings Treasure, they had no Priviledg, but the Temporalities of the Abby were seized for satisfaction.

Cov. & Lichf. In King Edward the seconds time, Walter de Langton, a Bishop, was Treasurer to the King; He did take of the Earl of Montealto to be a friend to him ( in agendis negotiis versus dominum Regem) a hundred pounds (the said Earl being a prisoner) to let him go free to do his business. And this was given, as the Record speaks, De spontanea voluntate, for a Gratuity, & ex curialitate sua, for his courtesie, yet this was adjudged Extortion and Bribe­ry. Again, Iohn de Engam was indicted of Trespass by this Bi­shop for the Mannor of Fisbie, whereunto the King pretended Title, and was by the Bishop imprisoned for the Trespass. But afterwards another Mannor was conveyed to this Bishop, ob diversas curialitates, for courtesies that he had done, and so En­gam was discharged of his Indictment, and though that the Bi­shop pleaded, that Voluntas Regis potius ad imprisonamentam quam ad sinem, because it was the Kings pleasure rather to pu­nish by Imprisonment than Fine, yet this was adjudged Bribe­ry. Again, the Bayliff of Oxford was committed for Arrera­ges of a hundred pounds in his Account, and thereupon the Mannor of Calcot was conveyed unto the Bishop, and the Bishop of his pure devotion did discharge him of that Imprisonment. But these were Pleas and Flourishes of guilty men, as the Re­cord [Page 99] saith, but they were all three judged Extortion and Bribery; and for these the Bishop was put from his place, fined, and committed to the Tower.

William Lord Latimer, in Edward the thirds time, being ap­pointed to pay the Kings debts, did buy in some of them at lower rates than was due, as eighty pounds for a hundred, and thirty pounds for forty; By which course he made the King a Bankrupt Compounder, and for this he was fined, and lost all his Offices.

In like case was the Lord Nevil, who was trusted to pay the Army, but he bought the debt of them, and justified, that they gave him the remainder of their free gift, but for this he was fined, and committed to the Tower.

These, and many other precedents and examples, armed with Authority and Antiquity, were mustered up, and the Lord Treasurers miscarriages exasperated, especially for embezelling those Moneys the King lately received of the State of the Ne­therlands for the redemption of the cautionary Towns, Flushing, and Brill, which the King was forced to relinquish again to the States, because he had no money to pay the Soldiers there; and that money being designed for the lrish Army (which was also in great Want) it was thought the more heinous, and a double miscarriage, being it was so dearly bought, and so unduly spent. But the Earl himself being a man of a noble disposition (though too indulgent to his too active Wife) had retained the Kings favour, if he had taken Sir Edward Cooks counsel, and submitted and not strove to justifie his own integrity, which he maintain­ed with a great deal of confidence, till it was too late, for then his submission did him little good. But his Wives faults being imputed to him, he was fined thirty thousand pounds, and im­prisonment in the Tower; Sir Iohn Bingly fined two thousand pounds, and imprisonment in the Fleet: For it was thought the Lord and Lady could not have found the way into these ob­scure, low, and dark contrivances, without the light of his help. Which Sentence was pronounced by the Lord Chancellor Bacon, who though he were of transcendent parts, yet was he tainted with the same infection, and not many years after perished in his own corruption; which shews, That neither Example nor Pre­cept (he having seen so many, and been made capable of so much) can be a Pilot sufficient to any Port of Happiness (though Reason be never so able to direct) if Grace doth not give the gate.

But the King, The King comes to the Star-Cham­ber. more to exalt Iustice, and to shew the people, his high abilities, came in Iune this year to the Star-Chamber, where in a long, and well-weighed Discourse, he turns over the volume of his mind, that the World might read his excellent parts in lively characters.

[Page 100]He told the Lords he came thither in imitation of Henry the seventh his great Predecessor, and the reason he came no sooner was, that he resolved with Pythagoras, for seven years to keep silence, and learn the Laws of the Kingdom, before he would teach others, and the other seven years he was studying to find an occasion to come, that might not be with prejudice: For in his own cause he could not come; in a great cause betwixt man and man, it might be thought some particular favour brought him thither; and in a small Cause it was not fit for him to come; but now he had so much to say in relation to good Government, that he could no longer forbear.

• First, He charges himself.
• Secondly, The judges.
• Thirdly, The Auditory in general.

In his own Charge he lays a foundation for raising a most ex­cellent structure in Government, wherein he was a Master-work­man, and had a most admirable Theory, and full abilities to put it in practice, and happily the bent of his intentions tended that way, though it had for the most part a loose strong.

And to that which concerned the Judges, he not only reckons up their Duties in their publick Relation, but shews them the Iu­risdiction and power of their several Courts, how far every one did extend, to which he would have them limited, that they might not clash and contest one against another, to shake the Basis on which they were built, but that there might be a har­mony and sweet concordance among them, Expressing himself with such Elegance and Prudence, that the most studious Lawyer (whose design had been to imbellish a Discourse fitting for the ears of his Prince) could not have gone beyond what he exprest to his People; so strong and retentive was his judgment, and memo­ry, so natural, and genuine that which came from them, that it did emanare, flow from him to the admiration of the hearers.

To the people in general, and under-Officers, he gave an ad­monition to submit to the Law, and Justice of the Land, and not to go upon new Puritan strains (such was his expression) to make all things popular, but to keep themselves within the an­tient limits of Obedience: For he feared Innovation as a Monster got loose, which should be always kept in such a Labyrinth, as none should come at, but by the Clew of Reason.

Then he commands the Judges in their Circuits to take no­tice of those Justices of the Peace, that were most active for the good of the Country, that they might have incouragement from him. For (to use his own words) I value them that serve me faithfully there, equally with those that attend my person. Therefore let none be ashamed of this Office, or be discouraged in being a Justice of the Peace, if he serve worthily in it.

[Page 101]The Chancellor under me makes Justices, and puts them out; but neither I, nor he, can tell what they are: therefore we must be informed by you, Judges, who can only tell, who do well, and who do ill, without which how can the good be cherished, and the rest put out? the good Justices are careful to attend the service of the King and Country; the bad are idle slow-bellies, that abide always at home, given to a life of ease and delight, liker Ladies than Men; and think it is enough to contemplate Justice, when as, Virtusin actione consistet; con­templative Justice is no Justice, and contemplative Justices are fit to be put out.

Another sort of Justices, are Busie-bodies, and will have all men dance after their Pipe, and follow their Greatness, or else will not be content: A sort of men, Qui se primos omnium esse putant, nec sunt tamen: These proud spirits must know that the Country is ordained to follow God, and the King, and not them.

Another sort are they that go seldom to the Kings service, but when it is to help some of their Kindred or Alliance; so they come to help ther Friends, or hurt their Enemies, making Jugice serve for a shadow to Faction, and tumultuating the Country.

Another sort are Gentlemen of great worth in their own con­ceit, and cannot be content with the present form of Govern­ment, but must have a kind of liberty in the people, and must be gracious Lords, and Redeemers of their Liberty; and in every cause that concerns Prerogative give a snatch against Monarchy, through their Puritanical itching after Popularity, some of them have shewed themselves too bold of late in the lower House of Par­liament; And when all is done, if there were not a King, they would be less cared for than other men. So wise the Kings fears made him, and so wary to prevent the popular violence! And even in these Infant-times, the contention doth appear, which afterward got more strength, when by his power he had gained in every County such as he made subservient to his will: For as the King strove to loosen the Piles and Banks of the peoples liberties, so the people strove to bound, and keep off the Inun­dation of his Prerogative.

Then he takes notice of the swarms of Gentry, that through the instigation of their Wives, or to new model and fashion their Daughters (who if they were unmarried mar'd their Marriages, if married, lost their Reputations, and rob their husbands pur­ses) did neglect their Country Hospitality, and cumber the City, a general Nuisance to the Kingdom, being as the spleen to the Body, which as in measure it over-grows, the Body wasts; and seeing a Proclamation will not keep them at home, he requires that the power of the Star-chamber may not only regulate them, [Page] but the exorbitancy of the new buildings about the City (which he still much repined at) being a shelter for them; A. Reg. 15. An. Christi 1617. where they spent their Estates in Coaches, Lacquies, and fine Cloaths, like French-men; living miserably in their houses, like Italians; becoming Apes to other Nations: Whereas it was the honour of the English Nobility and Gentry (above all Countries in the World) to be hospitable among their Tenants; Which they may the better do, by the fertility and abundance of all things. Thus the King pried into every miscarriage, being willing to re­form these (then growing) abuses.

Unstable spi­rits mutable.But among all the heights of Reason that the spirit of man doth actuate, and give life to, the highest and most transcen­dent is that of Religion, which as it partakes more or less of Faith, so it inclines more or less to Fancy: Wavering and un­stable minds are not only blown about with the wind of every opinion, but pride and discontent (conjoyned often, though of different operations) are engins sufficient to shake the foundation, though never so firmly setled. Some men turn over the leaf of Conscience, and change a good Religion for a worse; some the leaf of Policy, leaving an evil Religion for a better: but these kind of spirits will not be brought under by fasting and prayer, unless it be by him that can discover the heart of hypocrisie, though in as variable a capacity as the countenance.

The Arch-Bishop of Spa­lato comes in­to England. These times gave examples of both these humours, some that went from us to Rome, and some that came from Rome to us. Among the rest, one of eminency, Marcus Antonius de Dominis, Arch-Bishop of Spalato, a man old and corpulent, unfit for Tra­vel, being almost at his journies end by Nature, came into Eng­land with as little Grace. Here he preaches, rails, and writes against Rome, (extolling the Protestant Religion) till he came to be Dean of Windsor, and Master of the Savoy, which some few years he enjoyed; Then, whether he had higher hopes home­wards, or the humour and fancy altering, like a wandring Star, he goes Retrograde, placing himself again in the Roman Calendar: but he is made to reckon at Rome by the Gregorian account; And though he thought himself in a full Conjunction with the Stars there of the greatest Magnitude (having publickly recan­ted, and as bitterly reproached the Protestant Doctrine there, as he had exalted it here) yet the Inquisition had so strong an influ­ence upon him, that it hindred the operation of it, for he died in Prison, Dies at Rome. and they buried him both like a new Heretick, and an old Emperor, committing his Body to the Flames. Such honour have all such Saints! For they hold it as a Maxim, That that founda­tion is never again to be built upon, that was once of a tottering tem­per.

France in com­bustion. About this time, France raging with passion, plaid her bloody pranks. There is in that Kingdom a mad Genius domineering,

[Page 103] which like Climaterical Diseases, take rest, and after some inter­mission break out again. The very same Tragedy acted at this time, was newly revived there three and thirty years after, as is now in the year 1650. perspicuous to every eye of Reason; the Persons in power the same, running all in one parallel. The Queen-Mother and the Marquess D' Ancre then, the Queen-Mo­ther and the Cardinal Mazarino now; both Aliens, both Fa­vourites. The Prince of Conde (the Head, and prime of the Nobility) imprisoned then, for opposing the swelling greatness of that Favourite; The Prince of Conde, and the other Princes, Conti and Longuevil, imprisoned now (though since set at liber­ty, having a powerful Army afoot) for opposing this. The Nobility rise in Arms against the young King, and his Mother, to assist the Princes; so they do now. The Complaints and Grievances are the same; The Princes repined that such an Upstart should manage all the great Affairs with so much licen­tiousness, and they sit still as lookers on, and have nothing to do; All Offices, both Civil and Military, bringing their Gar­lands, and strowing their choisest flowers at Marshal D' Ancre's feet, which stunk in their Nostrils, and they infected the People, who are there but what the great Ones will make them; so that the Kingdom groaned under the insolencies of an insulting Mushroom, bred from the excrescency of Royal humours, as it doth now. Lewis the 14. fights with his Subjects now upon the same account that Lewis the 13. did then. But I can only give a Ca­tastrophe to one of these Tragedies; the last Act of this now a play­ing wants its Exit.

And to conclude the first, Lewis the 13. finding his Mothers power swell so high, as to threaten a deluge of Noble Blood, for the preservation of a Mechanick Florentine, and willing to be rid of a Governess, who eclips'd his Glory, commanded Mon­sieur De Vitry, Captain of his Guard, to seize on the Marquess at his first access to Court. The Marquess (being then in his Government in Normandy, placing and displacing Officers, for his greater security) hearing there were new Whisperers admit­ted to the King, came to the Court in a full career, with a ruf­fling Retinue at his heels, thinking to remove all Obstacles in his way; but there he met the great One, Death, waiting for him, that his policy and high-flying thoughts never minded: For he had no sooner entred the Gates of the Louure, but De Vitry arrested him; and seeing him step back upon his arrest, as it were to lay hold on his Sword: he kill'd him instantly with a Pistol; The noise whereof put the whole Court into an up­roar. The King approved the Fact, the Queen lamented it; but she must mourn no longer in the Court, therefore removed thence with a small Train, to practice her Italian Artifices, as she afterwards did, to the disturbance of most parts of Christen­dom [Page 104] The poor Marquess rested not in death; for though he was privately buried that night, yet the rage and malice of the People lighted them to his Grave the next day, and tearing him thence, and tying his naked body to an Asses tail, drew him through the Streets of Paris, and hanged him by the heels upon a Gibbet on the new Bridg; where they cut off flakes of his Body, to send as Presents to their Friends. And when they had satiated themselves thus, they took down the mangled Carcass, and made another Progress through the City, till wearied with their Delight, they strove [...]o burn the Body, to be rid of it: but the fire being not so active as their malice, they threw the tattered bones into the River; so that their Rage pulled him out of the Earth, hung him in the Air, burnt him in the Fire, and left him in the Water. And (as they thought) to leave no memory of him, pulled down his house to the ground; which was afterwards ratified by publick justice, and his Wife was condemned by the same, and burned for a Witch. And to make their names the more odious, their very birth­places were ripped up, and they were both found to proceed from the dunghils of Florence. Thus ended this sad Tragedy; which serves as Lights and Sea-marks of Mortality, to teach us how to steer our brittle Bark in this Worlds Tempest, that we bear not too much sail, but keep a moderate and even course, be­twixt the rocks of pride, and shallows of contempt; both which are equally dangerous.

The King goes into Scotland. Our King dedicated this Summer to the Northern Climate; it is now fourteen years Revolution, since the beams of Majesty appeared in Scotland. He begins his Journey with the Spring, warming the Country as he went, with the Glories of the Court: Taking such Recreations by the way, as might best beguile the days, and cut them shorter; but lengthen the nights (con­trary to the Seasons) For what with Hawking, Hunting, and Horse-racing, the days quickly ran away; and the nights with Feasting, Masking and Dancing, were the more extended. And the King had fit Instruments for these Sports about his Per­son, as Sir George Goring, Sir Edward Zouch, Sir Iohn Finnit, and others, that could fit and obtemperate the Kings Humour: For he loved such Representations, and Disguises in their Maskara­doe [...], as were witty, and sudden; the more ridiculous, the more pleasant.

His new Fa­vourite And his new Favourite, being an excellent Dancer, brought that Pastime into the greater Request. To speak of his Advance­ment by Degrees, were to lessen the Kings Love; for Titles were heaped upon him, they came rather like showers than drops. For as soon as Somerset declined he mounted. Such is the Court motion! Knighthood, and Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, were the first sprinklings: and then the old Earl

[Page 105] of Worcester (who had been long Master of the Horse to the late Queen, and continued it to this time) was made Lord Pri­vy Seal, in exchange of his place, and a good sum of money put into the Scale: And Sir George Villers (Baron of Whaddon, Vis­count Villers, Made Earl of Buckingham. and Earl of Buckingham, also of the Privy Coun­cil) is made Master of the Horse. In this glory he visits Scot­land with the King, and is made a Privy Counsellor there. Fa­vourites are not compleat Figures, if the Princes Bounty be not circular, as well in his Northerly motion as his Southerly. He now reigns sole Monarch in the Kings affection, every thing he doth is admired for the doers sake. No man dances better, no man runs, or jumps better; and indeed he jumpt higher than ever Englishman did in so short a time, from a private Gentleman to a Dukedom. But the King is not well without him, his company is his solace, and the Court Grandees cannot be well but by him, so that all addresses are made to him, either for place, or office in Court or Commonwealth. The Bishops Seas did also ebb and slow, from the Wane or Fulness of his Influence upon them; and having a numerous kindred of the rank of Gentry, which he planted about him, as a Nursery in the Court, to make them virescere, and Spring up the better, the Dew of these Of­fices, and the fresh Springs that came from those Seas must be contributed. It cannot with modesty be expressed how greedily some of our Prelates would clear all the passages of a bad Con­science, to bring in such Waters of comfort, lest it should be­spatter the more worthy, and brand them all with Simony, which dares not be done. But where God hath his Church, the Devil many times will have his Chappel: It was ever his Ambition to be like unto him.

But among all the Dances that these Times were guilty of, The Book of Sports obtru­ded. none of the Maskaradoes presented so horrid a Vizard as the Churchmans: For some of the Bishops, pretending Recreations, and liberty to servants and the common people (of which they carved to themselves too much already) procured the King to put out a Book to permit dancing about May-poles, Church-ales, and such debauched Exercises upon the Sabbath day after Eve­ning Prayer (being a specious way to make the King, and them, acceptable to the Rout) which Book came out with a command, injoyning all Ministers to read it to their Parishioners, and to ap­prove of it, and those that did not, were brought into the High Commission, imprisoned, and suspended. This Book being only a trap to catch some conscientious men, that they could not other­wise with all their cunning insnare: For they would preach the Gospel in a Fools-coat (as some of them exprest) rather than be si­lenced for a Surplis. And their Conjuring of them with the Cross in Baptism, and the Circle of the Ring in Marriage, could not make a well-composed Reason, and a sound Conscience then start [Page 106] at it: But when so frightful an Apparition as the dancing Book ap­peared, some of the Ministers left all for fear, others by force, they were so terrified with it. These, and such like Machina­tions of the Bishops, to maintain their Temporal Greatness, Ease, and Plenty, made the stones in the Walls of their Palaces, and the beam in the timber, afterwards cry out, moulder away, and come to nothing: Whereas if those in most Authority had not been so pragmatical, but holy, prudent, and godly men (as some others of the Function were) their light might have shined still upon the Mount, and not have gone out as it did, offensive to the nostrils of the rubbish of the people.

The King in his return from Scotland made his Progress through the Hunting-countries (his Hounds and Hunters meeting him) Sherwood-Forrest, Need wood, and all the Parks and Forrests in his way, were ransacked for his Recreation. And every night begat a new day of delight, till he brought Holyrood-day (not His House in Edenburg so called. Piety of the Lord Mayor of London. Holyrood-house) to White-hall.

This new incroachment upon the Sabbath gave both King and people more liberty to prophane the day with authority: For if the Court were to remove on Monday, the Kings Carriages must go out the day before. All times were alike; and the Court being to remove to Theobalds the next day, the Carriages went through the City of London on the Sabbath, with a great deal of clatter and noise in the time of Divine service. The Lord Mayor hearing of it, commanded them to be stopt, and this carried the Officers of the Carriages with a great deal of violence to the Court, and the business being presented to the King with as much asperity as men in authority (crossed in their humors) could express it; It put the King into a great Rage, Swearing, he thought there had been no more Kings in England but himself; yet after he was a little cooled, he sent a Warrant to the Lord May­or, commanding him to let them pass, which he obeyed, with this Answer, while it was in my power I did my duty, but that be­ing taken away by a higher power, it is my duty to obey. Which the King upon second thoughts took well, and thanked him for it.

Juggling of the Jesuits. As Prophaneness crept in on one side, so did Idolatry and Supersti­tion on the other; for there was more enmity against Ministers of the Gospel than Popish Priests; they swarmed over the King­dom, working miraculous Projects in every corner. One pack of them got into Stafford-shire, among some of the Giffords in that County, Gentlemen of good Estates, where they practised their Artifices to seduce the people. There must be a Ground-work, Estates to keep them (being like the Gout, never troubling the poor) and then there must be materials, Correspondents to act for them. Holiness and Piety must be confirmed by Miracle, and these Miracles must be visible to the Peoples eyes, that they [Page 107] may convey belief better to the heart. If the Priests be holy, and can subdue Satan, the Religion they profess must be heavenly, that triumphs over principalities, and powers, and spiritual wickedness, bringing all to obedience. These are finesses and subtilties of Mastring Wits (calling them Piae Fraudes, godly deceits, Worms to bring Fish to the Net) and this kind of frippery they are e­ver fraught with.

For about this time there was a Boy born at Bilson in that County, The Boy of Bilson. whose father, mother, neighbours, and many other people, with admiration, did absolutely think possest with a Devil; for he had strange, sudden, violent, distorting fits, that appeared to all the beholders contrary to Nature, and being not full fifteen years old, it could not be imagined that any thing of Impostory could result from him, and therefore the same of it was the more remarkable.

The Iesuits (that are the best Physicians in such Distempers) hearing of it, visited the Boy, prayed by him, and used such other Charms and Exorcisms, as are fit to make them to be ad­mired; giving his Parents good hope of dispossessing him of that foul spirit, by which might palpably be discerned, how much Gods power was exprest in their weakness, and difference the truth, and holiness, betwixt the Catholick Religion, and the Heresie professed among Protestants. So that they that heard them (as many resorted to the place) must needs take them for very holy men, by whom such Wonders were to be accom­plished. The Iesuits visited him often, sometimes in private. sometimes in Company; but this kind of Spirit would not be commanded by them, so that they grew almost desperate of the Cure.

The Boy in his fits would rave against an old woman dwel­ling near to his Father, Accuses a Wo­man to be a Witch. intimating by signs, and ghastly beha­viour, that she had sent a Spirit to torment him; and in plain terms (when he was out of his fits) accused her to be a Witch, and the Author of all his misery. This old woman is sent to the Bishops Chancellor at Lichfield to be examined; the Boy is brought thither to confront her, and having his back towards her, at her coming into the Room, where the Chancellor was, before she yet entred or appeared, he falls into a most bitter Agony, crying out, Now she comes, now my Tormentor comes! wreathing and tea­ring himself in so horrid a manner, that it did not only breed amazement, but pity in the Spectators, there being many with expectation attending the issue: Which, with some other pro­babilities, were an inducement to the Chancellor to send the wo­man to Stafford Goal.

At the next Assizes for that County, the Boy and his Parents appear as Witnesses against the Witch; the Boy was placed in a conspicuous part of the Court, with his face to the Bench, ey­ing [Page 108] the Judg continually, in a very peaceable and quiet po­sture; and as the woman was coming in (when the Court thought it impossible the Boy should be sensible of her appea­rance) he fell into a more raging fit than ever he was possest with before: So stupendiously unnatural, that it was deemed by all that saw it, that nothing but a Diabolical Spirit could work such horrid effects. This, thus openly acted, and the Relation of what was done at Lichfield, and other probabilities evidencing, the old woman (that had no good Reputation among her Neighbours, being of a tetrical and froward temper, incident to old age) found few Friends to plead her Cause; so that be­ing indicted for Witchcraft, She is con­demned. she was found guilty by the Iury, and Condemned to die.

Bishop Morton gets her Re­prieve. Doctor Morton Bishop of that Diocess, a great Father of the Anglicane Church (and happily then on the Bench about Secular Affairs) hearing that some Romish Priests had been tampering with their Exorcisms, to the undevilling of the Boy, and find­ing little reason produced, why, or for what cause, the Witch should use the Child so ill, was perswaded, this might be some jugling trick in them, for effecting their miraculous ends. He therefore besought the Iudg to reprieve the woman till the next Assizes, and he would take the Boy home with him, have him carefully and strictly looked to, and doubted not before than time to find out the Bottom of some secret and hidden [...]rivance. The Iudg assented to the Bishop's request, and so the Boy was carried to Eccleshal Castle, the Bishops House, whi­ther his fits followed him with a great deal of violence: For being put out of his r [...]ad (having formerly all sorts of people come to admire him, and now being more carefully looked to) he grew s [...]llen, and would not eat sometimes in two or three days, so that his belly was almost clung, and grown to his back, and he had a new swelling about his throat, which never appeared before; lay in his Bed, sometimes as it were senseless, sometimes st [...]ring with his eyes, and foaming at the mouth, sometimes striking those that stood near him (his own careful mother be­ing one, whom he made all black about the arms and breasts) never spoke but in his fits, and then a strange gibbrish, at other [...] he only muttered and made signs. The Bishop visited him often, striving sometimes to soften him with gentleness, at other times he handled him roughly, with objurgations, and threatnings; but his ill Spirit is capable of neither. He spoke to him one time some of the Greek Testament, to see how that would work, and it brought him into his fit. At another time, he uttered some Verses out of the Greek Poets, which his Devil was not so learned as to distinguish, for that put him into a fit again; so that the Bishop was confirmed, that he was an Im­postor of a most pernicious, and pernicious Spirit; but how [Page 109] to Conjure it out of him was the difficulty. And finding words and menaces made no impression in him, he fell to blows; for ta­king him out of his Bed, and having one to hold him, the Bi­shop gave him six very smart lashes with a Rod, which moved the Boy no more than if he had been an insensible stock. They also thrust needles into his toes and fingers, betwixt the nails, clapt burning candles to his eye-lids, till they sing ed the hair off, to divert him when he was in his fits; but with all their persecutions he neither winch'd nor stirred, so that the Actors were more troubled to execute than he to suffer.

And in this condition growing almost desperate, he would make signs for knives or any other instrument to do himself a mis­chief, therefore strict care was taken, and many watchful eyes set over him to prevent any such danger. Thus he continued almost a quarter of a year, at last his Vrine grew so black, that the Physicians thought Nature had left her usual operations, ha­ving never found in any Human Body so much Adust matter, to give so deep and deadly a tincture.

This struck the good Bishop very near: The Bishop troubled for the Boy. For he was certain the Priests had been Hammering about him, and now, if he should miscarry under his hand, those Mini-masters of mischief would in their dark shops coin such scandals against him, as might pass current in the Worlds opinion; therefore he used all the means he could possible, as well to preserve him, as to discover him: But finding the Boy indure so many Trials with patience, so much tough hardship, and robustness, in tender years, he resol­ved if his water continued black, to sit [...] the matter no further. To find out which he set a trusty servant to watch him through a hole that looked into the Chamber upon the Bed, which the Boy knew not of. The Bishop going that morning with his Fa­mily to a Lecture, all things were very still in the house, and the Boy finding all quiet, no noise about him, he lifts himself up, stares, and listens, and at length gets out of his Bed, and in the straw or mat under it, takes out an Ink-horn, and makes water in the Chamber-pot through a piece of the Cotton, in his hand, another little piece of the Cotton he puts into his Prepuce, cove­ring it with the skin, and that was for a Reserve, if he should be forced to make water when company is by. Thus having cun­ningly put himself in order, he hides the Ink-horn again, and re­turns to his Bed.

The man that was appointed to watch him seeing all this, The Impostor discovered. discovered it to the Bishop at his coming home, who came to him presently, and askt him how he did? He according to his usual manner pointed to his water, looked ghastly on it, and mutter'd out his old howling tone. The Bishop that meant now to deal roundly with him, said, Sirrah, you have Ink in your bed-straw, which you make use of to black your water, and your [Page 110] knavery is found out; and calling in his man, he took out the Ink-horn where the Boy had hid it, and the man justified, that he saw him make water through the Cotton. Which (with the Bishops threatning to send him to the house of Correction) struck the Boy with such a sudden terror, that he rose from his Bed, fell upon his knees, and humbly besought the Bishop to pardon him, and he would discover to him the whole Truth. And as he put on his cloaths, the Bishop laid open the grievousness of his sin, which wrought so upon his spirit, that he melted into tears, crying to God for mercy. A very strange alteration! That, what he did but counterfeit, the Devil had so hardned in him, that all the Torments and Pains, inflicted by man could not produce a tear, till God that melted the Rock, had first touched the heart.

His Confession. Then he confest a Pedler with a pack on his back met him when he was going to School, and with many inticing words perswaded him to go to Mr. Giffords house, assuring him of good entertainment, and by his allurements he went thither with him. There he found four Romish Priests, who gave him mony and many fair words, promising him great matters, if he would be conformable to their instructions. They were three days teaching him how to demean himself, and after he was well tu­tor'd, and had practised his tricks there privately, then they sent him home to his father (who thought he had been lost, and was much troubled for him) to exercise them in a more publick way. He came home in a very distracted manner, to the amaze­ment of his parents, and in short time drew much company to visit him, and his parents being poor got money from many cha­ritable people, which did incourage him to persist in that way. But when the fame of his being possessed with an evil Spirit was sufficiently bruited abroad, the Priests came to dispossess him, but he found so much sweetness in the ease, and profit of that life, that he would not be dis-inchanted by them, though they charmed never so cruelly; for they beat him, and pincht him, and used him bitterly ill, to make him desist. Thus were the de­ceivers deceived! The Bishop askt him why he accused the poor old woman of Witchcraft? He answered, the Priests told him he must lay the cause of his being possest upon some old woman, and she being known to him, and of a scolding humour, he fixt it on her. Then the Bishop askt him how he came to fall into his fits a little before the woman appeared in the room, both at her Examination and Arraignment, his back being to­wards her? for the first, at Lichfield, he said, he heard some about him mutter, She is here, which made him cry out, she comes, she comes: And for the second, at Stafford, he heard the people remove, and her chains gingle as she came, which gave him the sign. Lastly, he was asked how he made his throat

[Page 111] swell, and he shewed, it was by thrusting his tongue (being very long) down his throat, which trick he found out himself; the rest were taught him by the Priests. Thus did the Bishop pre­serve an innocent old woman condemned by the Law to die, discover the abhominable forgeries of the Priests, and convert a wicked Boy, whom afterwards he bound Apprentice, and proved a good man. This Story I heard from the Bishop's own mouth, almost thirty years before it was inserted here. And the Result of all is, That Falshood with her painted countenance appears often as beautiful as Truth it self, deceiving many, speci­ally in this point of Witchcraft, which is a structure established in the vulgar fancy, that hath many odd passages and ways opening to it, and is many Airy-stories high; but being well examined, it will not prove (for the most part, I will not say always) paper-proof, as there may be occasion to express in another place.

The King took delight by the line of his Reason to sound the depth of such brutish Impostors, The King dis­covers many Impostors. and he discovered many: For in the Beginning of his Reign, Richard Haydock of New-Colledg in Oxford, practised Physick in the day, and Preached in the night in his Bed. His Practice came by his Profession, and his Preaching (as he pretended) by Revelation: For he would take a Text in his sleep, and deliver a good Sermon upon it, and though his Au­ditory were willing to silence him, by pulling, haling, and pinch­ing, yet would he pertinaciously persist to the end, and sleep still. The fame of this sleeping Preacher flies abroad with a light Wing, which coming to the Kings knowledg, he commanded him to the Court, where he sate up one night to hear him: And when the time came that the Preacher thought it was fit for him to be asleep, he began with a Prayer, then took a Text of Scrip­ture, which he significantly enough insisted on a while, but after made an excursion against the Pope, the Cross in Baptism, and the last Canons of the Church of England, and so concluded sleep­ing. The King would not trouble him that night, letting him rest after his labours, but sent for him the next morning, and in private handled him so like a cunning Chirurgion, that he found out the sore; making him confess not only his sin and error in the act, but the cause that urged him to it, which was, That he apprehended himself as a buried man in the Vniversity, being of a low condition, and if something eminent and remarkable did not spring from him, to give life to his Reputation, he should never appear any Body, which made him attempt this Novelty to be taken notice of. The King finding him ingenuous in his Confessi­on, pardoned him, and (after his Recantation publickly) gave him preferment in the Church. Some others, both men and women, inspired with such Enthusiasms, and fanatick fancies, he reduced to their right senses, applying his Remedies suitable to the Distem­per, [Page 112] wherein he made himself often very merry (being happily practised, to be taken notice of by him) but some of their Sto­ries being a little coarse, are not so fit to be here related. And truly the loosness and carelesness of publick Iustice, sets open a door to such slagitious and nefarious actions, as severer times would never have perpetrated.

Sir Walter Rawleighs West-Indian Voyage. About this time, that gallant Spirit, Sir Walter Rawleigh, (who in his Recesses in the Tower, had presented in lively Cha­racters, the true Image of the Old World) made Accesses to the King, whereby he got leave to visit the New-World in America. Captain Kemish (one of his old Seamen and Servants) shewing him a piece of Ore in the Tower, of a golden complexion, (a glittering temptation to begin the work) assuring him, he could bring him to a Mine in Guiana of the same metal: which (toge­ther with Freedom, the Crown of Life and Being) gave rise to this enterprise.

The King looking on Rawleigh as a man whose abilities might better the Nation, if improved the right way, gave him Liber­ty, and a Commission under the great Seal, to equip and set forth Ships, and Men for that service. His Reputation, and me­rit, brought many Gentlemen of Quality to venture their E­states, and Persons, upon the Design; and being gallantly fur­nished with all things necessary, either for Peace or War, they set out; and met no difficulties, till they came to Cape Vert in Afri­ca; and then they found the Winds averse to them, (contrary to the usual nature of it) with many violent Storms, which much impeded their Voyage: For they that usually navigate be­twixt Cape Vert, and America, run it in less than twenty days, but it took them double the time. And being driven from the Isle of Bravo by a Tempest, their left their Cables, Anchors, and Water-Cask behind them; so that by the length of the Time, heat of the Climate, and their want of Water, great sickness fell among them, and swept away many of their ablest men, both for Sea and Land.

But with much patience and hardship, getting sight of the Coast of Guiana, they came to an Anchor in five Degrees, at the River Caliana, where they landed their sick men, set up Bar­ges, and Shallops, which were brought out of England in Quar­ters, washed their Ships, and took in fresh Water, being fed and assisted by the Indians, that Sir Walter Rawleigh had former­ly known. Who (in this general contagion, having grappled long with sickness, and not yet able to move, otherwise than he was carried in a Chair) gave order to five small Ships to sail into the River Orenoque (having Captain Kemish for their Con­ductor) towards the Mine, the Star that directed them thither. And in these five Ships were five Foot-Companies, under the Command of Captain Parker, and Captain North, Brothers to [Page 113] the Lord Monteagle, and the Lord North; Captain Walter Ra­leigh, the General's eldest Son; Captain Thornhurst, and Captain Chidley, Gentlemen of great Valour, and infinite Patience, in suffering hunger, heat and labour. Major Pigot died in the mi­serable Passage, and Sir Warham Santleger (who was Lieutenant Colonel) lay sick, without hope of life; so that the Command of the five Companies being conferred upon George Raleigh, the General's Nephew (made Major, in Pigot's room) he was not so well obeyed, as the Enterprise required. As they past up the River, the Spaniards began the War, and shot at the Ships, both with their Ordnance, and Musket: but they landed their For­ces, without any great loss, near unto a Town upon the Ri­ver, called Saint Thome, and gallantly charged the Enemy to the very Ports; where finding some little opposition, they at last forced a passage, and made themselves Masters of the Town. In the Assault, Captain Walter Raleigh, the General's Son (a Man of fire and courage, fitter to execute, than to order his Valour) was slain, to the great grief of the Con­querours.

The other five Ships staid with the General at Trinidado, having no other Port capable of them near Guiana. The first was commanded by the General himself; the second by Cap­tain Iohn Pennington, Vice-Admiral; the third by Sir Warham Santleger; the fourth by Sir Iohn Fern; the fifth by Captain Chidley of Devonshire. The General had twelve Ships in all, set out with him; But Captain Whitney and Captain Wolleston mutined against him, and run home again from the Granadoes. With these five Ships they daily attended the Armada of Spain, and had they set upon them, their Force divided (one half be­ing in Orinoque, a hundred and fifty miles from them) they in Trinidado had not only been indangered, but all those in the River had also perished. And though these five Ships with the General were but of little Defence against so strong a power as the King of Spain's Gallions, yet they would have given them their hands full, for they were all resolved to have burned, and died by their sides. But the Armada staid for them at Mar­garita, by which Island they expected them to pass towards the Indies.

For the King, The Design discovered to Gondemar. unwilling to displease his Brother of Spain, commanded Sir Walter Raleigh upon his Allegiance, before he went out, to set down under his hand, the Country, and the River, which he was to enter, the compleat number of his Men, the burthen of his Ships, and what Ordnance every Ship car­ried; which being made known to the Count Gondemar, the Spanish Ambassador here, and by him in Post to the King of Spain, A Dispatch was made by that King to the Indies, and his Letters sent from Madrid, before Sir Walter Raleigh with his [Page 114] Fleet departed out of the River Thames. For the first Letter sent by a Bark of Advice, was dated the 19th of March, 1617. at Madrid. The second Letter was sent by a Carvell to Diego de Palomeque, at Trinidado. The third Letter by the Bishop of Puerto Rico; and the fourth was sent by the Farmer and Secre­tary of the Customs, at the same time. By that of the King's hand there was also a Commission, for the speedy leavying of three thousand men, and ten pieces of Ordnance, to be sent from Puerto Rico, for the defence of Guiana. These Provisions were made to entertain the English, and had they met them, they would have found a harsh Banquet.

But the Spaniards at Saint Thome (their Supplies being not come) were not so numerous as to defend both the Town, and the Passages to the Mines; therefore they quitted the Town, and fortified the way to the Mines near the Town. But the Passages leading to the Mine that Kemish had in his Eye, were Aspera & fragosa, as Sir Walter Raleigh exprest them; and Ke­mish found the River so low, that he could not approach the banks, in most places near the Mine, by a mile; and where he found an ascent, a Volley of Musquets came from the Woods, and at one time slew two of the Rowers, hurt six others, and shot a valiant Gentleman, Captain Thornhurst, in the head, of which he with great difficulty recovered. Kemish seeing so much hazard in attempting to find the Mine, the Passage to it being full of thick and impassable Woods, and thinking the English that were left in the Town of Saint Thome, would not be able to defend it, especially if the Enemy should be recruit­ed, the Country being all in Alarum, he gave over the Enter­prise, and returned. For if he should have discovered the Mine, he had no men (as he pretended) to work in it; and be­ing a great way up into the Land, men would have been got thither with much danger, and difficulty. And that was true. The Spaniards themselves complain for want of Negroes to work in their Mines; for the Indians cannot be constrained, by a Law of Charles the Fifth; and the Spaniards will not, neither can they endure the labour. But this was ill advised, to take so much pains, and run so much hazard, to get and possess that, which when they had it, they could not make use of it; so that which Kemish pleaded (when he returned) for an excuse, reflected up­on him as a great miscarriage. As soon as he came to Saint Thome, the English pillaged the Town, carried away the best, and most portable things, and the Enemy not daring to ap­pear for the Redemption of it, they set it a-fire, leaving behind them an infinite masse of Treasure, which either for want of knowledge, or power, they could not attain to. For there were two Gold Mines near the Town, the one possessed by Roderigo de Parama, the other by Herman Frontino, and a Silver Mine by [Page 115] Francisco Fashardo: to preserve and fortifie which, they imploy­ed all their strength and industry; so that they needed not have gone so far up the River to find a new Mine, when they had so many nearer them, that either ignorance or want of strength made them neglect.

The General, Raleigh trou­bled. with the news of the death of his Son, and Ke­mishe's return without effecting his work, was perplexed to the very soul, telling Kemish he had undone him, and wounded his credit with the King, past recovery; but he must think (he told him) to bear the weight of the King's anger as well as him­self; for he must a vow that Kemish knew the Mine, and that with little loss he might have possessed it. Kemish much troubled in his mind, Kemish kills himself. retires to his Cabin, which he had in the General s Ship, and presently after his being there, he shot himself with a Pistol; the General hearing the noise, askt what Pistol it was? Answer was made, that Captain Kemish shot it off in his Cabin to cleanse it; but Kemishe's man going into the Cabin, found his Master lying in his own blood: the Pistol having a little bullet did only crack the rib, which being too slow for his fury, he desperately thrust a knife in after it up to the haft; and with him the Glory of the Voyage expired. For the Design being thus broken, the Ships leaky, Victuals failing, and missing of those golden showers they gaped after (that Radical moisture which fills the veins of the affections, and gives life and vigor to all actions) some of the men began to mutiny against the General, others were for him; some would have him go home, others would have him stay; the major part forced him to swear not to go home but by their allowance; and yet his Ships dwindled a­way one after another (his strength was best discovered by his weakness) ten Ships being reduced to four, and those would do what they list. Some would go for Italy, some for France, few for England, fearing the Spanish Power there more than they did in the Indies. Thus they were shatter'd in judgment, with a greater Tempest than the Seas or Winds could produce. Misera­ble is that Government where the Multitude is Master! At last he is brought to Kinsale in Ireland.

The news of taking and burning St. Thome coming to Gonde­mar, Gondemar in­censes the King against Raleigh. 1618. he besieges, and (as it were) assaults the King with impor­tunity for Reparation: For he was a man not only of an insinua­ting and glosing spirit, but of a violent and fiery temper, when any cross accident blew up the humor. The matter is aggra­vated with the highest circumstances by those of the Spanish Fa­ction, as if this irruption of Raleigh's, not only tended to the breach of the Treaty of Marriage betwixt Prince Charles, and the Infanta of Spain (that was then in motion) but to the in­fringement of the Peace and Amity, established betwixt the two Crowns. The King's fears being heightned to Anger, he dis­avows [Page 116] the Action, and lest others of his Subjects should by this example take the boldness to attempt the like Hostility against the King of Spain, he puts out a Proclamation, wherein he shews his detestation of such proceedings, and threatens severe punishment to the enterprisers, thereby to deter them. Which gave Gon­demar some satisfaction, whose design being only to get Sir Walter Raleigh home (after this brush) vented little passion, but so cunningly skinned over his malice, that when Raleigh was in Ireland, he found, nor heard of no such great difficulties ( Dan­gers often flying upon the wings of rumor) but that he might appear in England, and the men not willing to be banished their own Country (though some of them had France in their eye) put in at Plimouth Raleigh was no sooner ashore, but he had private intimation, which gave him cause to suspect, the smoothness of this beginning would have a rough end; therefore he attempt­ed an escape from [...]hence in a bark of Rochel: But being appre­hended by Sir Lewis Stukly (his Kinsman) who had private war­rant and instructions to that purpose (so unnatural and servile is the spirit, when it hath an allay of baseness, there being many others sitter for that employment) he is brought to London, and recommitted to the Tower.

He is commit­ted to the Tower. He was no sooner in the Tower, but all his Transactions in this business are put to the Rack, and tenter'd by his Adversa­ries. They say he knew of no Mine, nor did Kemish know that the Mine he aimed at was Gold; but Kemish bringing him a piece of Ore into the Tower, he fobb'd a piece of Gold into it in dissolving, making the poor man believe the Ore was right, that by these golden degrees, he might ascend to Liberty, promising the King to fetch it where never Spaniard had been. But when Kemish found by better experience he was couzen'd by Ra­leigh, he came back from the Mine: And Raleigh knowing that none but Kemish could accuse him, made him away. This Vi­zard was put upon the face of the Action, and all the weight of the Miscarriage was laid upon Raleigh's shoulders.

Gonaemar that looked upon him as a man that had not only high Abilities, but Animosity enough to do his Master mischief (being one of those Scourges, which that old Virago, (the late Queen) as he called her, used to afflict the Spaniards with) ha­ving gotten him into this Trap, laid now his baits about the King. There is a strange virtue in this spirit of Sol! the intense­ness makes men firm, the ductilness brings them to be active. French Crowns are not so pure, not so piercing as Spanish Pistols. Auri sacra fames! quid non mortalia pectora cogis? The King that loved his Peace, is incensed by them that loved their Profit, and the poor Gentleman must lay down the price of his life upon the old Reckoning.

In October this year he is brought to the King's-bench Bar at

[Page 117] Westminster, where the Records of his Arraignment at Winche­ster were opened, and he demanded why Execution should not be done upon him, according to the Iudgment therein pro­nounced against him? To which in way of answer he began to justifie himself in the proceedings of the late Voyage; but the Lord Chief Justice wished him to spare that trouble; for there was no other matter in question but the former Iudgment, which the King would have executed upon him, for some occasions best known to himself, unless he could shew good cause to the contrary.

Raleigh answered, That he was told by his Council, that Iudgment was void, by the Commission his Majesty was plea­sed to give him since under the Great Seal for his last Employ­ment, which did give him a new vigour and life to that service. The Lord chief Justice replyed that he was deceived, and that the opinion of the Court was to the contrary. Then he desired that some reasonable time might be allowed him to prepare for Death; but it was answered, That the time appointed was the next morning, and it was not to be doubted, but he had prepa­red himself for death long since. Raleigh having a courageous spirit (finding the bent of the King's mind, and knowing Disputes to be in vain, where Controversies are determined) acquiesc'd, was conveyed to the Gatehouse, and the day following was brought to the Old Palace yard at Westminster, And Beheaded. and upon a Scaffold there erected, lost his head.

He had in the outward man a good presence, His character, and descrip­tion. in a handsom and well-compacted person, a strong natural wit, and a better judg­ment, with a bold and plausible tongue, whereby he could set off his parts to the best advantage. And to these he had the Adjuncts of general Learning, which (by Diligence and Experi­ence (those two great Tutors) being now threescore years of age) was augmented to a great perfection, being an indefatigable Reader, and having a very retentive memory. At his Arraign­ment at Winchester, his carriage to his Judges was with great dis­cretion; humble, yet not prostrate; dutiful, yet not dejected: Towards the Iury affable, but not fawning; not in despair, nor believing, but hoping in them; carefully perswading them with Reasons, not distemperately importuning them with Conjura­tions; rather shewing love of life than fear of death. Towards the King's Council patient, but not insensible neglecting, nor yielding to Imputations laid against him in words (which Sir Edward Cook, then the King's Attorney, belched out freely) and it was wondred a man of his high spirit could be so humble in suffering, not being much overtaken in passion. And now at his last, when Deeth was presented before him, he looked upon it without affrightment, striving to vindicate his Actions, by taking off the veil that false Reports had cast upon them (especially the [Page 118] Imputation of his glorying, and rejoycing in the fall, & at the death of the la [...]e E. of Essex, w ^ch had stuck so many years in his breast; & this new miscarriage of Kemish's of a later date imputed to him) for having provided himself privately for heaven, clearing his Ac­counts with God before he came to the Scaffold, He publickly at last reckon'd with man (being to quit all soores) and so made an end.