AS in Nature there is hardly a Poyson growing any where, but in the same place there groweth an Antidote against it; so in Nations, seldome do the loose principles of Licentiousness, Rebelli­on, and Disorder prevail so universally, but that in the same Nation the more excellent prin­ciples of Reason, Religion, Laws, and Alle­giance, bear up against them. Various have been the shapes and pretences, under which the Lusts of men (for all the disorders in the world, are nothing else but Lust, casting off the restraint God hath laid upon it by Government) have indeavoured (since God set up Government to keep men civil and quiet in this world, as he did Religion to prepare them for another world) to shake and inva­lidate the obligations both of Religion and Government in all places of the world (for most pretences last but an Age, in which time they are looked through, exploded, abhorred, and must be shifted.)

How men willing to live at the highest freedom of a loose Na­ture, have in this Nation endeavoured in several generations to overthrow all the Checks, Restraints, Rules, and Disciplines of Religion, is not so properly the business of this place, as it is com­monly the subject of every discourse elswhere.

The pretentions and appearances under which those that have made a pretty good shift to suppress all those Principles of Honesty, Sobriety and Obedience that Religion curbed them withal within, would likewise in this Nation over-rule all Power, Authority, Order and Laws, that keep them within compass from without, when those unruly Lusts, Pride, Ambition, Animosity, Discontent, [Page 2] Popularity, Revenge, &c. would over-run all those Banks that were raised against them; have been

1. The Dubiousness of the Royal Title, the ground of thirty six Rebellions, one hundred forty six Battle since the Conquest: In all which though the Rebels were usually the most, the Loyal­lists were always the best: and when the many followed sometimes a prosperous Villany, the most noble and excellent stood to, or fell with an afflicted right, and bore down all umbrages with this real truth, That the Crown took off all defects, and that any man may pretend arguments to begin a War, when but few can make arguments, when it is begun, to make an end of it.

2. The Liberty of the Subject, forsooth, the old Quarrel for which the Throng and Rabble would venture much, when wiser men maintained, that there was no greater oppression in the world, than a Liberty for men to do what they pleased; and that Govern­ment is the great security of freedome.

3. Religion, for whose sake so many resisted Authority, when one of the Maximes of this Religion is, that none should resist up­on pain of damnation: and albeit the Factious in all Ages have been many, that have taught men for Religions sake to disobey Authority; yet the sober in those Ages have been as many, that taught them, that for Religion-sake they should obey them that have the rule over them.

But when towards the last, that is, the worst Ages of the world, wickedness grows wiser upon the experiences and observations of former times, and twists all these pretensions into one; there have been excellent persons that with their lives and fortunes asserted Government, and have been Confessors and Martyrs to this great truth, That it is upon no pretence law [...]l to resist the Supream Au­thority of a Nation: a truth that keeps up the world, without which it had been long ere this a desolation.

Upon the Reformation in Henry the eighth's time, it fell out in Eng­land, as Luther observes it did in most other reformed Churches, that the Papists finding that their way was so odious, that it was to no purpose for it to appear here with open face to settle it self, there­fore did they under several covert pretexts and cunning scruples, endeavour to unsettle all other ways; and when it could not e­stablish it self, to hinder all other Professions from being establish­ed, that at least they might watch some opportunities, whereof there are many offered in distracted times. For no sooner was our Church setled on the Primitive principles of Religion and Govern­ment, than some of those that fled into the free States, and the places of popular reformation in Germany, returning when most prefer­ments were gone, and living upon the Liberality of well-disposed People, set up some popular scruples against the established Go­vernment: A. E. 6. 4. 1550. and among the rest, Iohn Hooper having been long in Switzerland, upon his election to be Bishop of Gloucester, scrupled several Ornaments and Rights of our Church; the Earl of Warwick, afterwards Duke of Northumberland (having a design to oblige all Parties in order to a project he had set up to convey the Crown [Page 3] to his own family, to preserve the Reformation, though he died a Pa­pist) writes to Arch-Bishop Cranmer to dispence with the publick Laws, to satisfie a private mans humor; and when his Letter would not do, makes the young King write another: and now Cranmer and Ridley stand up for these great Principles of Government: Let private Spirits yeild to publick establishments: there is no end of yeild­ing to scruples, one scruple indulged begetting another, so long, till there be no more Law than pleaseth the humoursome: be well advised in mak­ing Laws, and resolute in keeping them. Notwithstanding that the learned and wise Ridley suffered almost as much for his asserting the Government of our Church at that rate from the Puritans, as he did afterwards for asserting the Doctrine of it, from the Papists: he was Martyr to the Protestant Church, and a Confessor to the Church of England; Hooper not being reconciled to him until the Sun of their lives was going down; and their heart-burning upon this occasion was not quenched, A. Ed. 6. 7. 1553. till the Fire was kindled that burn­ed both their bodies.

The Lord Admiral Seymour was a back-Friend to Common-Pray­er; and old Latimer takes him and others up for it: I have heard say, when that the good Queen that is gone, had ordained in her house daily Prayers, both before noon and afternoon; the Admiral getteth him out of the way, like a mole digging in the earth: he shall be Lots wife to me as long as I live. He was, I heard say, a covetous man, a covetous man indeed: I would there were no more in England. He was I heard say a seditious man, a contemner of Common-Prayer: I would there were no more in England. Well! he is gone, I would he had left none be­hind him.

Yea, when the death of King Edward the sixth put an end to these differences among Protestants, but putting an end to the publick profession of the Protestant Religion it self in this Nati­on; the forementioned scruples accompanied some hot-Spirited men to their exiles under Queen Mary. Q. M. 2. 3. 1557/8. When Master Calvins Au­thority, who forsooth observed some Tolerabiles Ineptiâ in our e­stablishment; and Master Knox, Master Whittingam, Goodman, and Foxes zeal cried down the whole Platform of our English Refor­mation; the judgement and gravity of Master Horn, afterwards Bishop of Winchester, the learning of Bishop Poynet and Iuel, the piety and prudence of Doctor Sands and Doctor Coxe, the mo­deration and calmness of Master (afterwards Archbishop) Grindall, and Chambers, the Reputation of Sir Iohn Cheeke, Sir Anthony Cooke, Francis (afterwards Sir Francis) Knolles, bore it up, until it pleased God that with Queen Elizabeth it was again established and restored by the Law of the Realm.

In the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, Q. El. 1. 1560/1. all persons were so intent upon obviating the Publick Dangers, that they had no leasure to minde particular Animosities (though as the Danow and the Savus in Hungary run with party-colour'd Waters in the same Channel, so the several sorts of Protestants upon that alterati­on, with several Opinions maintained the same Religion) until the year 1563. when the Canons and Articles of the Church being con­firmed, [Page 4] the Governours of the Church began, as it was their duty, to press Conformity; and they whom it concerned to oppose that Establishment refused subscription, Father Foxe (as Queen Eli­zabeth used to call him) pulling out his Greek Testament, and say­ing, He would subscribe to that, and that he had nothing in the Church save a Prebend of Salisbury; and if they would take that away, much good may it do them. Laurence Humphred determining something de Adiaphoris, non juxtà cum Ecclesia Anglicanâ: They are Camdens own words. Nay, Anthony Gibby of Lincolnshire declaring in Print, That the Ceremonies were the known Liveries of Antichrist, ac­cursed Leaven of the blasphemous Popish Priesthood, cursed patches of Popery and Idolatry: they are worse than lousie; for they are Sibbe to the Sarke of Hercules, that made him tear his own bowels asunder. Doctor Samson Dean of Christ-Church being propter Puritanismum Exauctoratus: Whittingam and Goodman backing their Schism with Treason, 1567. in a Book they writ in defence of Wyat: nay, some of them growing so bold, as being convented before Doctor Grindall then Bishop of London, to answer this Question of his; Have not we a godly Prince, speak, is she evil? Thus White; What a Question is that, the fruit doth shew.

Thomas Rowlands, No, but the Servants of God are persecuted under her.

R. Hawkins, Why the Psalmist answereth this Question, How can they have understanding that work wickedness, spoiling my people, and that extol vanity?

Nay, from single Affronts to Government, they proceed to Conventicles in Fields, Woods, and Friends Houses; and not onely so, but Thomas Cartwright the Bell-weather of Non-Con­formity, presents the Parliament 1572. with a Book called Ad­monition, a Title not well resented in Parliament, since Admoni­tion is but the lowest degree of Ecclesiastical Censure, and a Pre­parative, if neglected, to Suspension and Excommunication; wherein were several Grievances represented, with this onely Redress prescribed, viz. The admission of that Platform which the Presbyterians there exhibited. And since one modest Admonition would not do, another more severe followeth, and a Reply to Doctor Whitgift's Answer to the Admonition, with a world of Libels and Pamphlets, which they called, The new way to work, following that Reply; they judging it a good way, to turn serious Books into Satyrical Pamphlets.

Finde they did so many Friends and Patrons within the Parlia­ment and without, that they erected a Presbytery in Wandsworth; sleighted such sober men even of their own Scruples, as Master Fox and Doctor Humphred set up Exercises called Prophesyings, irregularly and dangerously carrying on Meetings of ill conse­quence at Cock field in Suf [...]olk, at Cambridge and London; draw up a Platform of Discipline at London; petition the Privy-Council, and engage several of them in the Quarrel, particularly Leicester, Burleigh ( Traverse his Patron) and Walsingham, as appears by their Letters to Archbishop Whitgift; procure a Conference at [Page 5] Lambeth with the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, before the Lords of the Council; set up an Assembly of Ministers to sit Jigg by Joul with the Convocation in London; engaged so many Lords and Commons, under the pretence of the Liberty of the Subject, the Grievances of Pluralities and Non-residences, Ecclesiastical Courts and Jurisdictions, to shake the Established Government, as forced Archbishop Whitgift to repair with an humble Petition to the Queen to stand by her own Authority as Supream in all Causes and over all Persons, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil, in these her Majesties Realms and Dominions. The Lord Burleigh himself was so importuned by them against our Liturgie, that he desired them to draw up a better; as they had done, but that they could not agree. Nay, some persons private Interests making use of, and closing with these Publick Disturbances, the Commons come up with a sixteen-fold Petition against the Church to the Lords; and many of the Lords were so high, that nothing would satisfie my Lord Grey less than the turning out of all the Bishops by Premu­nire then, as they had been in King Henry the Eighth's time; and that the Queen should not confer with the Bishops but in the pre­sence of the Temporal Lords. A bold Proposal, as an honoura­ble Lord then observed, that the Lords should appoint her Ma­jesty whom she should confer withal.

And no wonder now, that such Pamphlets, as, The Epitome, The Demonstration of Discipline, The Supplication, Diotrephes, The Mi­nerals, Have you any work for the Cooper? Martin Marprelate Senior and Iunior, Have you any more work for Coopers? flew abroad so much, that the Synod at Coventry acted so boldly as they did in their Thirteen Canons, as a man may call them; And that they began to write to one another in this Style, We look for Bickering ere long, and then a Battel which cannot long endure. A boldness excusable, when both the Kings of Scots and Denmark interposed in their behalf: yea, and some of them, as Hacket and Arthington, set up Designes to murder the Queen, and the Privy-Council; Traverse himself, though otherwise reserved and wary, breaking out in his Temple-Lectures, to open opposition against Mr. Hoo­ker the Master of it, and the great Champion of the Church of England. And because they began to be ashamed to make such a stir about Rites, Ceremonies, &c. they added some Sabbatarian Speculations, and bold Controversies of Gods Decrees, to put weight into the Quarrel, and brave that the World might take them not for light Scruplers about indifferent things, but the strong Astertors of the Power of Godliness, viz. in the keeping of the Sabbath, &c. the design of Dr. Bounds Book of the Sabbath.

To this heighth the Impugners of Government and Discipline arrived at in Queen Elizabeth's time, in whose Reign these Cham­pions withstood them, viz.

1. The Queen, true to her Motto, Semper eadem, would not either by their Greatness, Number, or Importunity, that maintain­ed the Faction, be moved to the least diminution of her Autho­rity [Page 6] in Causes Ecclesiastical; yea, and in her latter days, when she observed how the Church and State was overborn by them, she grew very severe towards them, as Vdal, Penry, and Cartwright felt; they at the Assizes, and this in the Star-Chamber, till he saved himself by an humble submission.

2. The Privy-Council always in Church-Affairs (however some Members of it had a kindness for the Faction) went along with the Arch-bishop.

3. The Arch-bishops, Parker and Whitgift, notwithstanding the many and great Difficulties they met with, kept up the Au­thority of the Canons, and required subscription.

4. Fulke, Hooker, and Rogers, kept up the Authority of the Church in Writing.

Although the Queen was often by them in danger of her life, the Arch-bishops made weary of their Lives and Government; Mr. Hooker was heart-broken with Calumnies and Oppositions; all the Bishops and Ministers of the Church rendred as odious and ridiculous as the Wit and Malice of men could make them. The stout Bishop of Exeter went with honourable Scars from the Fa­ctions malicious Tongues and Pens to his Grave.

Arch-bishop Whitgift not onely felt the Fury of this Sect, when Master of Trinity-Colledge in Cambridge, at what time Carwright was also a Member of that House, kept a Fast there in his absence, and perswaded all the Scholars, but two or three, to throw off their Surplices, as they did, till the good Master returned home. Nor did he onely complain of the continual opposition that he met with, when Regius Professor, from Mr. Cartwright, at the same time Margaret Professor in the same University; nor of the Indefa­tigable pains he took to answer Cartwrights Admonitions to the Parliament, and to reply to Cartwrights Answers, till his Anta­gonist laid down the Cudgels.

For these were inconsiderable troubles given him, when we re­flect on the great Oppositions and dangerous Motions in Par­liament, that forced him twice on his knees to the Queen, in­treating the continuance of her Grace and Favour towards him and the Church the first time, and with grief of heart (they are his own words) craving her Majesties protection the second: And add to them the several Contrasts he had with the Lords, by whom in Councel, upon their sending to him the Complaints of the Norfolk-Ministers against Bishop Preake of Norwich, and of the Kentish-Ministers against himself; he was forced to write, that it was Irregular for Ministers to address themselves to the Council-Table, in Affairs of the Church, wherein he alone was Intrusted by God and her Majesty; and to tell them, that it was not for the Queen to sit in her Throne, if such men might so boldly offer themselves to reason and dispute, 1582, 1583, as in their Bill they vaunt, against the state established in matter of Religion; nor for himself to keep his place, if every Curate within his Diocess or Province, may be permitted so to use him; it being impossible, as he saith, for him to perform the Duty which her Majesty looked for at his [Page 7] hands, if he might not without Interruption, proceed in that which her Highness had especially committed unto him. And that the disorderly flocking and gadding from place to place was dangerous; concluding, that the sending for him to appear before the Council-Table as a Party, and to call his doings in question (which from her Majesty were immediately committed unto him, and wherein he supposed he had no other Judge but her self) and this upon the suggestion of unlearned, despicable, and troublesome men (the meanest and fewest of the places where they lived) was a thing unexpected from them, from whom, as their Pastor, he expected all aid and assistance in his Office, for the quietness of the Church and State, the Credit of the established Religion, and the maintenance of the Laws made for the same

Neither was this all; alas, what a sad Complaint doth this Re­verend Person make against one Beal Clerk of the Council, who reviled and threatned him to his face, if he proceeded to put the Ecclesiastical Laws in execution as he had done? telling him boldly, loudly, and bitterly, That he would overthrow the Church, and that his hands should be shortly stopped: His words are, That were it not for his Conscience, and well-grounded perswasion in the things he did, the peace of the Church, her Majesty, and some Noble Lords constancy to him in the Service, he should hardly be able to en­dure so great a Burden.

Nay, writing to my Lord Hatton, the good Arch-bishop saith, That my Lord Hatton's kindness did not a little comfort him, having received ( saith he) not long since, unkinde speeches where I least looked for them, onely for doing my duty in the most necessary Business which I have in hand: disobedient wilful persons, (I will term them no worse) are animated, Laws contemned, her Majesties Will and Pleasure little regarded, and the Executors thereof in word and deed abused: Howbeit these Overthwarts grieve me, yet I thank God, ( so the good Prelate goeth on) I am contented to sustain all these Dis­pleasures, and fully resolved not to depend upon Man, but upon God and her Majesty.

If you ( saith he to my Lord Burleigh) take the part of unlearned, young, ambitious Disturbers of Order, against the established State of Religion, and forsake me, especially in so good a Cause; I shall think my coming to this place to be for my punishment; and my very hard hap, that when I think to deserve best, and in a manner to consume my self, to satisfie that which God, her Majesty, the Church requireth of me, I should be evil rewarded; and having risen early, and sate up late, to give all men satisfaction, have my Labour lost, and called wilful, Papist, Knave, and charged, that I require men to subscribe, onely to maintain my own Book, and so sacrifice the publick to my own private Reputation.

These were the sufferings of Whitgift. Dr. Fulke for writing a­gainst the Brownists, professeth that he had not an hours rest for twelve years together.

And how bold Traverse was set up in the Temple against modest [Page 8] Hooker; How the loud Lectures of the first of these were cried up, against the solid Sermons of the other; What siding and bandying there was in the House; What confuting in the Afternoon of what was proved in the Morning; What Addresses to the Lords of the Council; And how meek Mr. Hooker, weary of the Contrast, was forced to retire, is obvious to all that do but dip into the History of Queen Elizabeth's time; not to mention either Dr. Ba­roe, or Mr. Barrets Sufferings in Cambridge, with Dr. Howson and Mr. Land's at Oxford, for Anti-Calvimsm, which was onely another little occasion found to quarrel with Authority, and to draw in more persons to their Party: many learned men who favoured not the Faction in point of Calvinistical Discipline, yet were very In­dulgent and serviceable to them in respect to their Calvinistical Doctrine.

Well, during Queen Elizabeth's Reign, the Quarrel being confined within the Church and Schools, few acted or suffered thereby besides Church-men and Scholars; the Laity of the Nobi­lity and Commons seldom engaging either way further than by private tampering, encouraging, interceding, motioning, &c. and none of them suffering any further, than that if they stood to the great and generous Principles of Government and Religion, they were censured as Papists, profane Enemies of the Power of Godliness, &c. or so.

But upon the Entrance of King Iames, whom the Factious thought a Presbyterian from his Cradle, as frighted to their way in his Mothers belly; the Laity and Clergy began to side more openly: Dr. Nevil, Dean of Canterbury, was not so soon with that King, from Arch-bishop Whitgift, and the rest of the Clergy, as Mr. Lewis Pickering, a Northamptonshire Gentleman, waited upon him from the Presbyterians; upon whose return, judging by the Kings temper, that they who had most Voices and Friends were likely to carry it, at least, for Liberty and Toleration, (a great Multitude was thought by them a strong Argument with that Prince) they set up the mille-manus Petition, called so, for the thousand hands they pretended were to it: (Mr. Cartwright in the mean time Caressing his Majesty with all the Presbyterian Courtships in the world, in an Epistle Dedicatory to his Latine Commentary on Ecclesiastes) with the Importunity whereof, to­gether with the Mediation of some Lords, especially the Scotch, (for now Presbytery had got a whole Nation, I mean Scotland, of their side) there was a Conference held at Hampton-Court be­fore the King and the Lords of the Council, between eight Bi­shops, eight Deans, and two other Divines, on the one side; Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Sparkes, Mr. Knewstubs, and Mr. Chadderton, on the other: The issue whereof, notwithstanding the Sugge­stions wherewith they had prepossessed his Majesty, and the powerful Intercession of many Grandees, was much beyond their expectation; the King declaring, that if that be all the Presby­terians have to say, which they said there, they should Conform, [Page 9] or he would hurry them out of the Land, or do worse: whereupon another Petition is out of hand carried on, and Hands not so much gathered, as scraped to it; (Mr. George Goring (afterwards Earl of Norwich) being, in the right of his zealous Mother, one of the Subscribers, when he was so young as to know but little, and care less for Church-Government) and the thing not so much to be pre­sented to his Majesty to incline him, as to be scattered up and down the Nation, to Enrage and Engage the People, some great ones con­senting to it, and some potent strangers ( i.e. Scots) undertaking to conduct and manage it. Insomuch that Arch-bishop Whitgift fearing a stronger Assault of Non-Conformists against Church-Disci­pline, than his Age-feebled body should be able to withstand, de­sired that he might not live to see the Parliament that was to be 1603/4; and indeed he did not, for he died before it of a Cold, got by go­ing one cold Morning to Fulham, to consult with the Bishops and other learned men, what was best to be done for the Church in the next Parliament.

And though after his death, wise and resolute Bishop Bancroft se­cured the Church-government by an hundred fourty one Canons, against all Innovations: And the Puritans were grown to such a degree of odiousness with King Iames, and some Courtiers, that the very Family of love made a Petition to King Iames, to be distinguish­ed from them, as either ashamed or afraid to be of their Number. Yea, and though the wise King had silenced all the popular Preten­sions with his wise Maxime, No Bishop, no King, yet Bishop Bancroft suffered so much in Libels (the Squibs and Paper-Guns that made way for the Gunning that followed) that a Gentleman bringing him one of them that he had taken up, was desired to lay it up in such a place, where, he said, there were an hundred more of that nature; and was censured for a Papist while he lived, and had the Brethrens good word when he died, to this purpose;

And upon his altering of his Will:

An Assembly in Aberdeen made a fearful work in Scotland. An Insurrection was made in Warwick-shire, under pretence indeed of throwing down the Inclosures of some Fields, but indeed to over­throw those of the Church and State. There were three days hot Contest, 1607. between the Bishops and Judges, before the King, about the Limitations of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Courts, and about Prohibitions. Then the dangerous Book called, The Interpre­ter, came out: And therewith so much fear, jealousie, and suspition, as caused the Lords and Commons, and the whole Realm, to take anew the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; and so many strange Motions were made in the Parliament, continued for six years together, that the King thought fit by Proclamation to dissolve it. [Page 10] The Faction that would, forsooth, redress Grievances in the Church, to make their Party the more, take in hand all the Grievances in the State. So that no sooner was a man discontented upon any occasion, but he was made a Puritan streight, some of that Party taking his Cause in hand; insomuch, that they were looked upon as the Pa­trons of the Subjects Liberty, and the best Patriots and Common-wealths-men, all others being esteemed Betrayers of their Country, and Court-Parasites. And now they were broke in Parliament, they trouble the Bishops and others in every Court, countenancing Offenders, teaching them to elude the Law, vexing Ecclesiastical Courts with Prohibitions, endeavouring to overthrow his Majesty's Power over the Church, in the Star-Chamber, and High-Commis­sion. Poor Dr. Howson is suspended at Oxford, Propter Conciones mi­nus Orthodoxas, & offensionis plenas: Onely for discovering the danger of admitting the Geneva-Notes. Mr. Lawd censured both for a Sermon and a Position, by the same party: Yea, and learned Selden lets fly upon all the Parsonage-Barns, the dreadfullest storm that they had endured a long time, in a Book called, The History of Tythes. In the Preface to which Book, he lets fly as desperately against the persons of the Orthodox Clergy, as he had done in the body of it, against their Maintenance.

Dr. Mocket no sooner published his Politica Ecclesiae Anglicanae, to satisfie the World, but his Book was burned, and his heart broken, to satisfie a Faction; though very learned and good men were by them set against his Book: They like the Cat, putting others upon that hot service, whereon they would not venture their own paws.

What ill Offices were done Bishop Laud and Bishop Neale, to King Iames, by the Lord Chancellour Elsemere, upon the Instigation of Dr. Abbot the Archbishop of Canterbury: How Bishop Laud was op­posed in the matter of his Election to the Headship of St. Iohn's: What rancounters there were between him and Bishop Williams, whom that Party had incensed against him: The Ratling he had from the Archbishop of Canterbury, for but procuring poor Vicars some ease in the point of Subsidies, the Archbishop pretending that he meddled too much with Publick Affairs; though the Duke of Buckingham, and Bishop Williams himself confessed, that it was the best service that had been done the Church for seven years before.

These, and many more the great sufferings of men well-affected to the Government of the Church, are notorious in King Iames his time, but not so eminent as those in King Charles his days.

When the King being engaged by them in a War and other Trou­bles, (for it was at their request, that Prince Charles moved his Fa­ther to declare a War against the Spaniard) they being curbed all the Reign of King Iames, thought they had the onely opportunity that men could wish in the world: for the King could not go to War without Money and Men; these they had taught the People could not be raised without their Consent in Parliament, where among the discontented and ill-bred Gentlemen (whom the Non-Conformists had bred up; for when you could hear little of them in the Church, in the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, and [Page 13] throughout King Iames, they lurked as Schoolmasters and Chaplains in Gentlemens houses.) They had a great stroke (and so great, that the Duke of Buckingham, by Dr. Preston, did a great while court the Puritan Faction) and nothing would they gra [...]t the King, un­less he would let them do what was good in their own eyes.

King Charles having the Care of three Kingdoms intrusted with him by the Laws of God and the Land, and finding the danger they were brought into, called upon the Parliament to assist him with such Tribute and Contribution as might be proportionable to the greatness of his Affairs: they considering the streight he was reduced into, resolved that they would redress Grievances before they would yield any Subsidies: To that purpose they make bold to question his greatest and dearest Favourites and States-men; and first, the Duke of Buckingham, against whom they set the Earl of Bristol; and when he could make nothing of it, the House of Com­mons its self, with thirteen Articles attaqued that great Person, who had no fault, as it seems by his Replies, but his great Place, and his Princes Favour; that Party designing thereby to make it dangerous for any person to give the King faithful Counsel, or to assist him in keeping up the Government, unless in compliance with them; as they made it more than evident, when they offered the Duke with their Interest upon some Conditions to bring him off. Here is the first blow at the greatest stay of Government, the Kings Majesty's Council. The next thing they do, notwithstanding the great danger of the King­dom, is to declare, That they must clear the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject, that (forsooth they are the Demagog [...]es own words) they might know, whether they could call any thing their own, before they should give the King any thing. And when Nature, Policy, and Re­ligion, taught the World, that his Majesty who had the Care of the Kingdom, must not let it perish for the humour of some people, that would allow nothing towards the maintena [...]ce either of themselves, or it; (choosing, as one Turner said openly in the House, Rather to fall into the hands of Enemies abroad, than to submit to the Government, as then established, at home.) And some Divines preached (what is great reason) That his Majesty being Intrusted by God with a Power to defend his Kingdom, must have a power too by all means to raise Men and Money in spight of any malicious Factions, wherewith he may defend it. For this, Dr. Mainwaring and Dr. Sibthorpe, both, as I take it, his Ma­jesties Chaplains, are questioned, not by the Church, to whose Cog­nizance Errours in Doctrines most properly belong, but by the Lay-Elders of the House of Commons: Yea, and if the Farmers of the Custom-house advance any money upon the Kings ancient Reve­nue of Tonnage and Poundage, they shall be questioned for that; and for Levying any Imposts upon any Commodities whatsoever. That's the second Blow at his Majesties Prerogative and Revenue: wherein I may include the noise they made against Coat and Con­duct-money and Free-quarter.

Having weakned the Civil Power by these Courses, they thought it easie to overthrow the Ecclesiastical; for the Faction grown bold and considerable by the remisness of a great Prelate, and the discon­tent [Page 12] of others, question all Proceedings in Ecclesiastical Courts, open a door to several vexatious Suits against several Officers of that Court; besides that they questioned Mr. Mountague, Mr. Co­zens, and threatned Bishop Laud, Bishop Neile, and others, that were resolved to stand by the Supream Power of the King in Ecclesiastical Affairs, against which they levelled their third Blow.

And when all this would not do, they examine the whole Go­vernment for divers years together; the disbursment of the Re­venue, the administrations of War and Peace. They rake into Prince Henry and King Iames his death; and this with such a deal of stir and tumult, that some of them lock the Parliament Doors, others make such a noise as rings all over Westminster; others force the Speaker, Sir Iohn Finch, and hold him, whether he would or no, in the Chair, when he would have left the House, when it was become rather a Billingsgate Conventicle, than an House of Parliament.

When the turbulent House of Commons was dissolved, and the Faction having got a new Maxime, That they might say and do what they pleased within the Walls of that House, as publick persons, whereof they were to give no account, as private men, lost the benefit of it by that Dissolution, (the King resolving, that they should not make the Parliament a Conspiracy) they fall to Libelling, Printing, popu­lar Insinuations, Evasions, and Elusions of the Civil and Ecclesiastical Laws, that tended to the securing of the Government; secret and open Oppositions to all the ways the King took to raise money, though never so legally, (the just King always consulting his Judges about the Legality of all Taxes, before he ordered his Officers to gather them.) For the first Question in that Kings Reign was, Is it just? And the next, Is it convenient? And those men that have im­posed Millions on others since, grudged to pay then twenty shil­lings; for it was but twenty shillings Ship-money that Mr. Hamp­den went to Law with the King for, and my Lord Say but for four pounds. And that five pounds was the occasion of all the stir after­wards made about the Ship-money, which cost the Nation fifty seven Millions Sterling since. The untoward Reading in the Innes of Court upon Points most dangerous to Government, possessing the People with strange Fears and Jealousies about Religion, German Horse, a French and Arbitrary Government, and what not? Every publick Action of the King or his Ministers, being mis-interpreted. Combinations were held between the factious English, and discon­tented Scots; whose begging-time being over at Court, they be­think of coming to Plunder the Country. The Faction gives out, that the King had deserted the Protestants of the Palatinate, and France, when the truth is, they had deserted him. The Bishops in their Visitations were every where opposed, and the Troublesom taught how to elude all Church-Obligations by Common Law.

In a word, notwithstanding that the Kingdom injoyed for the first fifteen years of the excellent King Charles I. his Reign; Trade flou­rished, and Gold and Silver in his time was almost as plentiful as in So­lomons: Learning and all Arts were improved to the heighth; and Scholars Encouragements were as great as their Improvements; Re­ligion [Page 13] grew up to its primitive Beauty and Purity; Law and Justice secured all persons in their just Acquisitions: The People had li­berty to do any thing by evil; the Rich durst not wrong the Poor, neither need the Poor envy or fear the Rich.

The Treasure of Spain was coined in our Mint, and exchanged for our Commodities; forreign Nations either feared our Arms, or sought our Friendship: We claimed and enjoyed the Dominion of the Sea; Wars, Plagues and Famines were strangers to our Coasts; and we were, even against our will, the happiest People under Hea­ven: except onely for this, that we were not sensible either of our Happiness, or of the use of it; understanding, it seems, no more im­provement of the great blessing of Peace and good Government, than wantonness and unthankfulness.

Notwithstanding fifteen years of the most blessed effects of Ju­stice, Wisdom, Piety, and Peaceableness of an excellent Prince, of whom the World was not worthy: By the practices of Cardinal Rich­lieu, and others, who envied and feared our happiness; by the In­digence and Schism of the Scots; by the comprehensive Combination in England, that had taken in with the Puritan Factions, all the dis­contented, ambitious, turbulent, innovating, covetous, desperate, and most easily-deluded sort of people: by the wilde courses of such as had offended beyond all security, save in a troublesom time; by a general Odium cast upon all Acts of Government, and a perverse Spirit of dis­content, fears, and jealousies, raised throughout the three Kingdoms, and vehemently possessing all sorts of people; by the necessities of the King, and some forreign troubles; by the treachery of some that had the management of the Affairs of Scotland: That which was at first but an Opinion, after that a Book-controversie, and never durst look beyond a Motion, a Petition, a Supplication, a Confe­rence, a Disputation, and some private murmurings at best, became now a War.

The cause whereof on the one side was an old Schism maintained; mens private Interests promoted; Rebellion, that sin like Witchcraft, the overthrow of all Laws and Government, the ruine of Learning, Religion, and Order; the piecing up of broken Estates by Rapine and Plunder; an ambition to attain to those Honours and Prefer­ments in troublesom times, that they despaired of in those more quiet, as derived on persons of more worth and deserving: A can­ting pretence for Liberty of Conscience and of the Subject, that pro­ved at last nothing but Licentiousness; the Umbrage of the publick good, when it appeared at last but the project of private persons, who no sooner overthrew the Government, but they quarrelled one with another; till at last, instead of one good Government, we had so many, that we had none at all; and instead of an excellent King, all the Bloud, Treasures, and Pretences, ended in a sordid, base, bloudy, tyrannical, and upstart Usurper, raised out of the meanest of the people.

A Revenge of some particular and personal Wrongs, with the ruine of the Publick; the setting up of Sects, Schisms, and Heresies, upon the subversion of the established Doctrine and Discipline: a [Page 12] perpetual disgrace and dishonour to Christianity and the English Nation, occasioning such Burdens and Mischiefs as the Child unborn may rue; Burdens and Mischiefs conveyed from them to late Poste­rity: the desolation of the Country, the ruine of gallant Churches, Castles and Cities; the undoing of some thousands of Families; the bloud of 80000 killed on both sides, and upon all occasions: An unnatural division and animosity begun even among Relations, that is like to last from Generation to Generation; abominable Can­ting, taking of the Name of God in vain; hypocrisie, perjury, against the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, the Protestation, yea, the Covenant which they took themselves, and all the Obligations they owed to God or Man; the mocking of God by Fasts, Prayers, and seeking of his face to wicked and vile purposes; the making of him the Author of the Abominations he abhors; the making of Religion onely a Cloak to Villanies; and all the Ordinances of it, especially Sermons and Sacraments, the Ministeries of horrid undertakings, filling Pulpits with such Non-sence and Lyes, as all Ears that heard tingled. Such encouragement to loose Fancies and vile Opinions, to enlarge and increase their Party, as left not unshaken any Foun­dation in the whole compass of Christian Religion; a Sacriledge unheard-of, that was to swallow up all Bishops and Dean and Chapters Lands, all Tithes and Ministers Maintenance, all Univer­sities and publick Schools, all Hospitals, Colledges, and charitable Foundations: a Rapine that carried away all the Crown-Revenue, and sent a great Royal Family a begging; devoured the Estates of above 12000 Noblemen, Gentlemen, and persons of eminent Qua­lity; and indeed left no man so much propriety as to say, This is mine, there being no other Law or Judicature, than that Arbitrary one of the Sword; carrying on of the publick good, till the Nation was beggered; a crying up of the power of Parliaments, till the House of Lords was laid by, and the House of Commons consisting of al­most five hundred Gentlemen, reduced to fifty or sixty Mechanicks and poor fellows, who are turned out by their own Army, as a pack of Knaves and Fools; a pretence to make the King glorious, till he was murdered; and fighting for him against evil Counsellours, till they cut off his head, the best Counsellour he had. The rendring of a Nation once the Envy and Terrour of the World, now its Scorn and Contempt; and Englishmen once the Glory of Europe, now its Shame, for doing that which Turks and Pagans, and the Bar­barous abhorred, crying out, You fight, and judge your King! Not to say any thing of the general horrour and consternation that seized all the Christian World, upon that horrid Conspiracy. The letting loose of all the Jesuitical Principles that had troubled the World, but were never before owned by things that would be called Protestants.

• 1. As, that Subjects may resist force with force in their own de­fence.
• 2. That the Law of Nature, in case of necessity, teacheth men to take up Arms against their Sovereign.
• 3. That a wicked King may be deposed.
• [Page 15]4. That a Tyrant may be killed by any hand, as a wilde Beast, and an Enemy of Mankind.
• 5. That they do not break their Oaths of Allegiance, that fight against the Kings person, if they pretend his power.
• 6. That the King is accountable to the People, as made by them, in whom resides the Supream Majesty.
• 7. That Success is a signe of Gods blessing and presence with any people in any undertaking.
• 8. That if the King keep not his Oath at the Coronation with the people, they are not to keep their Oaths of Allegiance towards him.
• 9. That Arms may be taken by Subjects to promote true Religion.
• 10. That Liberty is to be allowed to all men under any Govern­ment, to profess what Religion soever they please.
• 11. That nothing is to be established in publick, that goeth against any mans Opinion, Humour or Conscience in private.
• 12. That if any Court, Judicature, Form of Worship, or Law, be abused, then it must be presently laid down, and not used.
• 13. That any thing that hath been used by the Papists, or that is but pretended to be Popish (as what that displeased hath not been so?) must be abrogated: A Principle, that the Jesuits observing our blinde zeal against Popery, have suggested, to overthrow all Religion, under pretence of avoiding Popery.
• 14. That there must be no Kingdom, but that of Christs; and that until he comes in person, the Saints must reign.
• 15. That Dominion is founded upon Grace; and that the wicked have no right to any thing that they enjoy.
• 16. That the Law of the Land was not made for the Righteous, but for Sinners: so they abused a place of Scripture that sounds that way.
• 17. That all the Prophecies and Revolutions forespoken of, con­cern England; and that they may make any stir to fulfil these Pro­phecies: all that they did, being (as they said) nothing but Gods pouring out his Vials on the Beast, &c. the whole Scripture being understood not according to the inward sense, but according to the outward sound; and as the Fool thinketh, so the Bell tinketh. Be­sides principles of Policy as much against all Reason and Laws, as these are against all Religion. As,
  • 1. That the King and the two Houses made up but one Par­liament.
  • 2. And that the King, but a Member, might be overruled by the Head.
  • 3. That the hereditary King of England is accountable to the People.
  • 4. That it might be lawful for the two House to seize the Kings Magazines, Navies, Castles, and Forces, and imploy them against him; the Militia being, they said, in them, not in him, though they begged it of him.
  • 5. That when the King withdrew from the London-Tumults, he deserted his Parliament and People, and therefore might be warred against.
  • [Page 16]6. That the two Houses might impose an Oath upon the King and Kingdom, to subvert the Government and Kingdom; who ne­ver had power to administer an Oath between man and man, except it were their own Members.
  • 7. That an Ordinance of the two Houses should be of force to raise Men and Money, to seize peoples Lands and Goods, to al­ter Religion, without the Kings consent; without which they never signified any thing in England, save within their own Walls.
  • 8. That the two Houses, yea, and some few of those two Houses, should make a new Broad-seal, create new Judges and Officers of State, ordain a new Allegiance, and a new Treason never heard of before, and pronounce their Betters, that is to say, all the Nobility, Clergy, and Gentry, Delinquents against their Blew-apronships.
  • 9. That they who took so much care, that a man should not part with a penny to save the Kingdom unless they had Law for it, should force so many Millions out of the poor people, by a bare piece of paper, called an Ordinance.

This was the Cause, called The good old Cause, on the one side; when on the other, there was,

• 1. The Law of the Land.
• 2. The established Religion.
• 3. The Protestant Cause.
• 4. The Kings Authority.
• 5. The Church of England, and the Catholick Church.
• 6. The Allegiance and Obedience required by the Laws of God and Man, from Subjects to Sovereigns.
• 7. The Peace, Tranquillity, Safety, and Honour of the Nation.
• 8. The many obligations of Conscience, especially the Oaths taken by the Nobility, Clergy, and all the people, several times, (ten times a man at least) and particularly the Oaths taken by every Member of the House of Commons, at their first admission to sit there, when they took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy; and the Protestation they took after they sate.
• 9. The true liberty and property of the Subject.
• 10. The security of Religion and Learning, against the horrid Heresies, Schisms, Libertinism, Sacriledge, and Barbarism, that was ready to overrun the Land.
• 11. All the Principles of Religion, Reason Policy, and Govern­ment, that hitherto have been received in the most civil part of the World, managed against the canting and pious frauds and fallacies of the Conspiracy, with that clearness that became the goodness of the Cause, and the integrity of the persons that managed it.
• 12. The common Cause of all the Kings and Governments of the World.
• 13. The Rights, Priviledges, Prerogatives, and Inheritances of the ancient Kingdom of England.
• 14. The conveyance of their ancient Birth-rights, Liberties, Im­munities, and Inheritances, as English-men, and Christians to Posterity.
• 15. The publick good, against the private lusts, ambition, pride, revenge, covetousness, and humour of any person or persons what­soever.
• [Page 17]16. The opinion of all the learned Divines and Lawyers in the World.
• 17. All the Estates in England made then a prey to the most po­tent and powerful; I mean, the Lands and Revenues of most of the Nobility, Clergy, and Commons of England.
• 18. The sparing of a world of bloud and treasure, that poor mis­guided Souls were like to lavish away upon the juggles of a few Impostors.

This was the Cause on the other hand; and such as the Causes were, were the persons ingaged in them. Against the King, the Law, and Religion, were a company of poor Tradesmen, broken and de­cayed Citizens, deluded and Priest-ridden women, discontented Spirits, creeping, pitiful, and neglected Ministers, and Trencher-Chaplains; Enthusiastical Factions, such as Independents, Ana­baptists, Seekers, Quakers, Levellers, Fifth Monarchy-men, Liber­tines, the rude Rabble that knew not wherefore they were got to­gether; Jesuited Politicians, Taylers, Shoomakers, Linkboys, &c. guilty and notorious Offenders, that had endured or feared the Law: perjured and deceitful Hypocrites and Atheists; mercenary Souldiers, hollow-hearted and ambitious Courtiers, one or two poor and disobliged Lords, cowardly and ignorant Neuters, here and there a Protestant frighted out of his wits. These were the Factions Champions; when on the Kings side, there were all the Bishops of the Land, all the Deans, Prebends, and learned men; both the Universities; all the Princes, Dukes, and Marquesses; all the Earls and Lords, except two or three, that stayed at Westminster to make faces one upon another, and wait on their Masters the Commons, un­til they bid them go about their business, telling them they had no­thing to do for them, and voting them useless: All the Knights and Gentlemen in the three Nations, except a score of Sectaries and Atheists, that kept with their Brethren and Sisters for the Cause: The Judges and best Lawyers in the Land; all the States-men and Counsellours; the Officers and great men of the Kingdoms; all the Princes and States of Europe. Of all which gallant persons, take this Catalogue of Honour, containing the Lives, Actions, and Deaths of those eminent persons of Quality and Honour, that Died, or other­wise Suffered for their Religion and Allegiance, from the year 1637, to this present year 1666. For the lasting honour of their Per­sons and Families, the reward of their eminent Services and Suffer­ings, the perpetual memory of the Testimony they gave to the duty of Subjects towards their Sovereign, the satisfaction of all the World, the Compleating of History, the encouragement of Virtue and Resolution, the instruction of the present Age and Posterity.

The Faction take the same course to ruine a Kingdom, that they said the Gods took to ruine a Man; first, to infatuate, and then overthrow; make the first stroke at the Head and Councel of the Nation; judging, that they must take off and terrifie the Kings Council and Friends, before they could practice on his Majesty, or the Government: (so Tarquin was advised to take off the tallest Poppeys.)

[Page 18]My Lord of Strafford they knew very active, wise, resolved, and serviceable, when he maintained the Liberty of the Subject, against the Prerogatives of the Sovereign; and him they judged most dan­gerous, now he maintained the Rights and Power of his Sovereign, against the Encroachments of their Faction: He leads the Van of this gallant Company of Martyrs, and the first Heroe that sealed his Allegiance with his bloud, and Consecrated the Controversie; a Protomartyr, like St. Stephen, knocked on the head by a Rabble, ra­ther then fairly tried in Courts; condemned with Stones, rather than Arguments; instructing Loyal Subjects, How when they had done great things for their Sovereign, they might suffer greater.

SIR Thomas Wentworth Earl of Strafford, owed his Birth to the best govern'd City Being born (his Mother coming casually to London) in Chance [...] Lane, in the Parish of St. Dunstans in the West, and Christned there, April 22. 1593. London; his Breeding to the best modelled School, York; and a most exact Col­ledge, St. Iohns in Cambr. his Accomplishments to the best Tutors, Travel and Experience; and his Prudence to the best School, a Parliament: whither he came in the most active and knowing times, with a strong Brain, and a large Heart: His Activity was eminent in his Country, and his Interest strong in (King Charles's) Parliament; where he observed much, and pertinently; spake little, but home; contrived effectually [...] but close­ly; carried his Designs successfully, but reservedly. He apprehend­ed the publick Temper as clearly, and managed it to his purposes as orderly as any man. He spoke least but last of all, with the advan­tage of a clear view of others Reasons, and the addition of his own. He, and his leading Confidents moulded that in a private Confe­rence, which was to be managed in a publick Assembly. He made himself so considerable a Patriot, that he was bought over to be a Courtier; so great his Abilities, that he awed a Monarchy when disobliged, and supported it when engaged; the Balance turning thither where this Lord stood.—The North was reduced by his Prudence, and Ireland by his Interest; He did more there in two years, then was done in two hundred before.

• 1. Extinguishing the very Relicks of the War.
• 2. Setting up a standing Army.
• 3. Modelling the Revenue.
• 4. Removing the very Root and Occasions of new Troubles.
• 5. Planting and Building.
• 6. Setling Ecclesiastical and Civil Courts.
• 7. Recovering the hearts of the People by able Pastors and Bi­shops, by prudent and sober Magistrates, by Justice and Protection, by Obligations and Rewards.
• 8. Recovering the Churches Patrimony and Discipline.
• 9. Imploying most able and faithful Ministers and Instruments.
• 10. Taking an exact view of all former Presidents, Rules, and Proceedings.
• [Page 20]11. An exact correspondence with his Majesty, and the Favou­rites of England.

None was more conversant in the Factions, Intrigues, and De­signs than he, when a Common-wealths-man; none abler to meet with them than he, when a States-man; he understood their Me­thods, kenned their Wiles, observed their Designs, looked into their Combinations, comprehended their Interest.

And as King Charles understood best of any Monarch under Hea­ven, what he could do in point of Conscience: So his Strafford ap­prehended best of any Counsellour under the Sun, what he could do in point of Power. He, and my Lord of Canterbury having the most particular account of the State of Great Britain and Ireland, of any persons living. Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished; yet Doctrine and Discourse had much allayed the severity of this Earls Nature, and Custom more: None more austere to see to; none more obliging to speak with: He observed pauses in his discourse, to attend the motion, and draw out the hu­mour of other men; at once commanding his own thoughts, watch­ing others: His passion was rather the vigour, than the disorder of his wel-weighed Soul; which could dispense its anger with as much prudence, as it managed any Act of State. He gave his Majesty safe counsel in the prosperity of his Affairs, and resolute advice in Ex­tremity, as a true Servant of his Interest, rather than of his Power. So eminent was he and my Lord of Canterbury, that Rebellion de­spaired of success, as long as the first lived; and Schism of licentious­ness, as long as the second stood. Take my Lord of Strafford as accu­sed, and you will find his Integrity and Ability, that he managed his whole Government either by the Law, or the Interest of his Country. Take him as dying, and you will see his Parts and Piety; his Resolution for himself, his Self-resignation for the Kingdoms good; his Devotion for the Church, whose Patrimony he forbad his Son upon his Blessing. Take him as dead, you will find him glorious and renowned in these three Characters.

THE fall of the last great Man, so terrified the other Officers of State, that the Lord High-treasurer resign­ed his Staffe to the hands from whence he had it: The Lord Cottington forsook the Master-ship of the Court of Wards; and the The Right Honorable, the then Earl, now the Duke of Newcastle. Guardian of the Prince returned him to the King. These Lords parting with thir Offices, like those that scatter their Jewels and Treasures in the way that they might delude the violence of their greedy pur­suers; a course, that if speedily embraced, had not only saved them, but the Earl's too, so willing was the Earl of B. to have been Lord Treasurer, Master Pym Chancellour of the Exchequer, Earl of Essex Governour to the Prince, Master Hampden Tutor, my Lord Say Master of the Wards, Master H. Principal Secretary, Earl of L. Deputy of Ireland, and the Earl of W. Admiral, that the Historian writes, their Baffle and disappointment in these expectations, rendred them Implacable to the Earl, and Irreconcileable to any methods of peace and composure, Declaration Aug. 10. and the King's Maje­sty Declares it.— What overtures have been made by them, (they are the words of the Declaration) with what importunities for Offices and Preferments? what great Services should have been done for him? and what other undertakings even to have saved the life of the Earl of Strafford! [so Cheap a Rate it seems might have saved that excellent Personage.]

Others quitted their Country, finding the Faction as greedy of bloud as of preferment, & loath to trust themselves in that place, where reason was guided by force, where Votes staid not the ri­pening, and season of Counsel in the order, gravity and delibe­rateness, befitting a Parliament, but were violently ripped up by barbarous cruelty, and forcibly cut out abortive by Popular Riot and Impatience: Esteeming it a hardness beyond true va­lour, for a wise man to set himself against the breaking in of the [Page 53] Sea, and which is as dreadful, the madness of the people; which to resist at present, threatneth imminent danger, but to withdraw, gives it space to spread its fury, and gains a fitter time to repair the breach. Of which honourable number, Sir Iohn Finch was one.

A Person born for Law and Courtship, being a Branch of that Family, which the Spanish Ambassadour, in a discourse with King Iames, stiled the Gentile and Obliging House; Their Ancient Sirname is Herbert. a Family that was inrolled Gentile, by the Commissioners appointed to that pur­pose by King Henry the 6th. and which my Lord Bacon called the Lawer's Race. At the same time, Sir Heneage Finch Recorder of London, Sir Henry Finch Sergeant at Law to King Iames, and his Son Sir Iohn Finch Atturney General to Queen Mary, and Speaker to that curious, knowing, and rich Parliament; wherein some have observed, though wide I suppose, that the House of Commons modestly estimated [consisting of about 500.] could buy the House of Peers consisting of 118.) thrice over. Noremberge in Germany, and Florence in Italy, would not admit any Learned Men into their Counsels; Because Learned Men (saith the Historian of those places) are perplexed to resolve upon Affaires, making many doubts full of respects and imaginations. Semblably, this Parlia­ment was too rich and curious to do any good.

Sir Iohn Finch was born September 6. 1582. about one a clock the same night Plowden died [the setting of great Lights in one place, is their rising in another] an observation as carefully Registred by his Father, as that is superstitiously kept by the Catholicks. That the same day Sir Thomas More died, Thomas Stapleton was born: Mercury and Venus (presaging his two eminent Accomplishments, a brave presence and happy eloquence, that Indeared and Ad­vanced him) being Ascendants in his Horoscope.

It is considerable in Sir Iohn Fineaux, his Country-man, that he was 28. years, before he Studied the Law, that he fol­lowed that profession 28. years, before he was made a Judge; and continued a Judge 28. years before he died. And it is re­markable in Sir Iohn, that he was 12. years before [the sprightli­ness of his temper, and the greatness of his spirit, stooping, with much ado, to the Pedantry of Learning] he would learn to Read, 12. years before he Studied, 12. years more before he either Mind­ed the Law or Practiced it, his Genius leading him to Converse, rather than Study; to Read Men rather than Books, more apt for Business than Arguments; so much the less sollicitous for the learning of the Law, as he was more able to supply the defect of the Pedantick part of it; with his skill in the grounds and design of it, and to set off that skill with a very plausible faculty of Address and Discourse. Those two Endowments, that oblige and command the World, and have had a great stroke, in the erecting and managing all of the Governments in it.

In the 11th year of his age [for men are curious to know even the most minute passages of great and virtuous persons] his Fa­ther observing his make, fitted rather for a Court than a Colledge, brought him, in a Progress the last Queen Elizabeth made that [Page 54] way, to Kiss her Majesties Hand; with some thoughts of Inrol­ling him among the Younger Attendants of her Majesty. The Address and Complement he managed so gracefully above his years, and beyond expectation, that the Gracious Queen (asking him, whether he was willing to wait upon Her, in the capacity those Young Men he saw playing round about him, did? and he replying, that he would never wait on any person, but a Queen; nor, on a Queen onely, to Play about her, but to serve her, that is, (as the Civil Audience, that have always ready a charitable construction for youthful expression, interpreted and raised his words) he would be an Instrument of State for her Affaires, not only one of the number to fill her Retinue) commuted his admissi­on to a present Service, for his Education to future Employment, in words to this effect. I have seen my Gardeners Setting, Water­ing, and Cherishing Young Plants, which possibly may yield fruit and pleasure in the next Age: And I love to cherish young inge­nuity, whose proficiency I shall not live to see, but my Successors shall make use of: Go, go be a man.

With this incouragement, and finding that it was behaviour and discourse that set off all the men in the world, when others conned their Parts, Lessons and Lectures, he acted them, weighing little of any Author, but his Elegancies, and most flouried Periods, and studying not only to observe and know those Elegancies, but to manage them, being much affected with that Orator that pre­scribed (upon a young Students request to know what rendred Men Eloquent) Pronunciatio, Pronunciatio, Pronunciatio, Actio, Actio, Actio.

Two Studies took up most of his time: History, for the best Ex­amples of Actions; Speeches, for the best Patterns of Discourse. To propose to our selves [saith Cicero] the most excellent example in our discourse and life, is a good way to improvement, seeing that if we imitate the best, we shall not be the meanest. Sir Henry Martin had, besides his own Collection weekly, transmitted to him from some Proctors at Lambeth, the brief heads of the most important Causes which were Tried in the High-Commission; which, with some familiar friends in that Faculty, he privately Pleaded, Acting in his Chamber, what was done in the Court, he making it his work, and exceeding the rest in Amplifying and Aggravating any Fault, to move anger and indignation against the Guilt thereof; or else, in extenuating or excusing it to pro­cure pity, obtain pardon, or prevail at least for a lesser punish­ment. Whence no Cause came amiss to him in the High-Com­mission; for (saith my Author) he was not to make now Ar­mor, but to put it on and buckle it; not to invent, but to apply Arguments to his Clients. Sir Iohn Finch, besides his own Ob­servations, had most of the eminent Speeches, Discourses, and Pleadings of the time, which he would perform with friends in his own person; so that, upon all the great occasions he had after­wards to speak, his business was not so much to Compose, as to Re­collect, accommodating, rather than new-making his Harangues.

[Page 55]Thus accomplished for publick Affairs, with a Generous Spirit, an Active Head, a Charming Tongue, a Grave and Awing Aspect, an Obliging Converse, a Serious Temper, a Competent Skill in such soft and severe Arts, as either Furnish and Adorn the Gentry; a Happy Conduct, publick thoughts with the Politure of the Uni­versity, and the Inns of Court. He was after some years pra­ctise and converse, so much in Vogue in the Inns of Court, for his happy way of Managing Business, that he was with the King's Par­ticular Choice preferred the Queens Atturney; and so much in Repute in the Country, that he was chosen Parliament-man in that great Parliament. 1625, 1226, 1627. called, The Parliaments of Kings: And so much in esteem in that Parliament 1627. as by the Unani­mous Vote of it to be chosen Speaker, as his Cozen Sir Heneage Finch the Recorder was 1621. And when Speaker, his Integrity and Ability so Approved, in that he was pitched upon as the great Mediator in most Cases, between the King and his People, ever careful in his Messages of that which King Iames bid Doctor Donne be careful of in his Sermons, never to Exasperate the King against his People, by too Rigid a Representation of their Carriage; nor stirr up the People against the King, by too captious an Account of his Commands: Having what King Iames commended in my Lord Bacon, A peculiar way of handling Matters after a mild and gentle manner. Until the Faction grew so Impudent, as being Lay­men, to question Divines, and state questions in Divinity, without either the assistance or assent of Convocation, as in Doctor Mounta­gue's Case and Doctor Manwaring's. 2. To Limit his Majesty in his Ancient Right to Tonnage and Pondage, so far as to deny it him, unless he would accept of it as their good will, and only as Tenant at Will from Year to Year, by an Annual grant from them. 3. To draw up Seditious Remonstrances of grievances, that they only published to exasperate the People, never intending by redres­sing of them, to ease them; when according to their Promise to Assist him in the War they Engaged the King in, they should have presented him with their Subsidies and Supplies. 4. To offer vio­lence to their own Body, forcing the Sollicitor to keep the Chair one time, the Speaker another. 5. To create and spread fears and jealousies by feigned Letters, and Discoveries. 6. To As one Dr. Tunter, and one Clement Cook did. speak Treason in the very Houses of Parliament. 7. To examine the Secretary of States Letter and the King's, to search the Signet Of­fice, &c. 8. To threaten his Friends, and ruin his Favourites. 9. To Debate whether they should trust the King on his Word, and upon Sir Edward Cook's Motion, to carry it in the Negative. 10. To Condition with the King about Supplies, being resolved not to Relieve his Necessities, unless he gratified their Humor. 11. To question the Farmers of the King's Custome-house, and most of the Officers of the Revenue: This Party having designed that the King should neither Injoy his own Revenue, nor have any Relief from them. 12. To offer such Remonstrances in the House, as nei­ther the Speaker nor Clerks would Read.

I say, until the Conspiracy grew so bold, as to offer such affronts [Page 56] to Majesty and Government, as not only diminished, but endan­gered them; for then indeed he discoursed roundly, That not to Supply the King now Involved in a Forraign War, was the great­est Grievance: A poor King, as Sir Robert Cotton used to say, being the most dangerous thing in the world; This importing a Ruin, Denial of Subsidies is increasing of Necessities, other Miscarriages only an Inconvenience. That to raise Jealousies and Fears about Religion and Government, answered not the end of their Con­vention. which were called to Consult with the King about the great Affairs of the Kingdom, and not to remonstrate Remon­strances, instead of remedying Grievances, do but aggravate them, distracting the People whom they pretend to relieve, being Inve­ctives against Government, rather than any Reformation of it. That Mutual Confidence was the happiest, because the most natu­ral [for trust first made Kings] accommodation between Prince and People.

That it was inhumane to grant a Gracious King Subsidies, at no lower Rate, than the Price of his best Servants bloud.

That the modesty of the Subject should comply with the good­ness of the King, striving to oblige, as the surest way to be obliged.

And when Speeches would not do, this Excellent Person finding the times (as his Gracious Master intimated in the first words of his Speech, at the opening of this Parliament) for actions, and not for words; and the Seditious made all the civilities, and kindnesses shewed them, to draw them off their old dangerous Practises, Ar­guments and Incouragements to attempt new ones. When they inveighed against my Lord Treasurer Weston, as they had done for­merly against the Duke of Buckingham, ( It appearing evident­ly, that not the persons of men, but the King's Trust of them, was the object of their envy; and his Favour, though never so virtuous, marked them out for ruin.) And the Invective raised them to such a degree of heat, that fearing they should be Dis­solved, ere they had time to Vent their Passions, they began a vio­lence upon their own Body [an Example that lasted longer than the Cause, and at last produced the overthrow of all their Privi­ledges] they Locked the Door of the House, kept the Key thereof in one of their own Pockets, held him then Speaker by strong hands in the Chair, till they had thundred out their Votes, like dreadful Anathemaes, against those that should Levy, and (what was an higher Rant) those that should willingly submit to pay it. When they check him for admitting the King's Message, and move him to put it to the Vote, whether their undutiful and ill-natured Declaration about Tunnage and Poundage, and what they called Invasion, should be carried to the King, or no: He craved their Pardon, being Ordered expressely by his Majesty to leave the House, when it was rather a Hubbub than a Parliament, and by the Where­withall West­minster rung. noise they made at the close of each Factious Resolve, you would take it to be a Moor-f [...]elds Tumult at a Wrestling, rather than a Sober Counsel at a Debate; when they kept in the Sergeant of the Mace, locked the Door, shut out the King's Messenger, and [Page 57] made a general Out-cry against the Speaker, who, when the Parlia­ment was Dissolved, drew up such a Declaration, as satisfied the People, that the ground of this Disturbance, was not in this, or that States-man that they complained, but in their own Burgesses, who upon removal of those States-men, as Duke of B. &c. rather increased than abated their Disorders; and such an account of the Seditious Party as vindicated the Honour of the King: The Ring-leaders of the Sedition, Protesting that they came into the House with as much zeal as any others to serve his Majesty; yet finding his Majesty offended, humbly desired, to be the subjects rather of his Majesties mer­cy, than of his power. And the wiser sort of their own side cen­suring them, as Tacitus doth Thraseas Paetus, as having used a need­less, and therefore a foolish Liberty of their Tongues, to no pur­pose: Sibi Periculum, nec aliis Libertatem.

When he had done so much to assist the Government in Publick Counsels, he was not wanting to it in his Private Affairs; so obli­ging he was to the Countrey by an extraordinary Hospitality; so serviceable to King and Countrey, by his quick and expedite way in all the Commissions of the Peace, &c. he was intrusted with: So happy and faithful in the management of the Queens Revenue; so zealous for the promoting of any Design, that advanced either the King's Honour or Service, that with the unanimous Choice of King and Kingdom (then agreeing in few things else) he was pre­ferred Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas, in place, beneath, in profit, above the Chief Justice of the King's Bench, by the same token, that some out of design have quitted that, to accept of this: amongst whom, was Sir Edward Mountague, in the Reign of King Hen. 8. who being demanded of his Friends the reason of his self-degradation? I am now (saith he) an old man, and love the Kitchin above the Hall, the warmest place best suiting my age: His Writ [so much the King confided in him] running not, Durante bene placito, but, Quam diu se bene gesserit; and his Preferment owed to his Merit, not his Purse, being the Iudge [to use King Iames's speech of Judge Nichols] that would give no money, because [they onely buy justice, that intend to sell it] he would take none.

In that Place he had two seemingly inconsistent qualities; a great deal of Patience to attend the opening of a Cause [he would say, He had the most wakening Evidence from the most dreaming speakers] and a quick dispatch of it, when opened: Insomuch that some thought to see in his time in the Common-Pleas, and other Courts where he sate, what was seen in Sir Thomas Moore's in the High-Court of Chancery, That the Courts should rise, be­cause there were no more Causes to be tried in them. He was very careful to declare the true grounds of the Law to the King, and to dispense the exact Justice of it to the People: He observed, that those who made Laws, not onely desperate, but even opposite in terms to Maxims of Government, were true friends neither to the Law nor Government, Rules of State and Law in a well-order­ed Common-wealth mutually supporting each other.

One Palevizine, and Italian Gentleman, and Kinsman to Scaliger, [Page 58] had in one night all his hair changed from black to gray: This Honourable Person immediately upon his Publick Imployment, put on a publick Aspect, such, as he who saw him but once, might think him to be all pride, whilst they that saw him often, knew him to have none.

So great a place must needs raise Envie; but withal, so great a spirit must needs overcome it: Envie and Fame [neither his friend, neither his fear] being compared by him to Scolds, which are si­lenced onely with silence, being out of breath by telling their own tales.

Seriously and studiously to confute Rumors, is to confirm them, and breed that suspition we would avoid, intimating that reality in the story we would deny.

His supposed Crimes when Chief Iustice, as now, and upon my Lord Coventry's death, when Lord Keeper, hear how satisfactorily he answereth in a Speech he made, after leave had to speak in the House of Commons in his own defence, where indeed there is the account of his whole Life.

WHEN neither sincerity in Religion, which he observed severely in private, and practised ex­emplarily in publick, nor good affections to the Liberties of the Subject; in whose behalf he would ever and anon take occasion to Ad­dress himself to his Majesty to this purpose. Your poor Subjects in all humbleness assure your Majesty, In his Spee­ches 4. Car. 1. that their greatest confidence is, and ever must be in your grace and goodness, without which they well know, nothing that they can frame or desire will be of safety or value to them: Therefore are all humble Suiters to your Majesty, that your Royal heart will graciously accept and believe the truth of theirs, which they hum­bly pretend as full of truth, and confidence in your Royal Word and Promise, as ever People reposed in any of their best Kings.

Far from their intentions it is any way to incroach upon your Sove­raignty or Prerogative; nor have they the least thought of stretching or enlarging the former Laws in any sort, by any new interpretations or ad­ditions; The bounds of their desires extend no further than to some ne­cessary explanation of that, which is truly comprehended within the just sence and meaning of those Laws, with some moderate provision for execution and performance, as in times past upon like occasion hath been used.

They humbly assure Your Majesty they will neither loose time, nor seek any thing of your Majesty, but that they hope may be fit for dutyful and Loyal Subjects to ask, and for a Gracious and Iust King to grant. When neither the Services he performed in publick, not the In­tercessions he made in private in behalf of the People of England, could save so well-affected, religious, able, active, publick-spiri­ted, Created [...] April 7. 1640 charitable and munificent a Person as Sir Iohn Finch, Baron Finch of Foreditch.

Its no wonder Sir Francis Windebank was loath to hazzard his life in a scuffle with an undisciplined Rabble, which he freely of­fered to be examined by any free and impartial Courts of Justice, where the multitude should receive Laws, and not give them, and reason should set bounds to passion, truth to pretences, Lawes duly executed to disorders, and charity to fears and jealousies, when the sacredness of some great Personages, and the honour of others, [Page 63] when the best Protestants, and the best Subjects were equally ob­noxious to the undistinguished Tumults, which cried out against Popery and Ill-counsel, but struck at all men in power and favour. Sir Francis rather ashamed than afraid, to see the lives and honours of the most eminent persons in the Nation exposed to those rude Assemblies, where not reason was used as to men, to perswade; but force and terror, as to beasts to drive and compel, to whatso­ever tumultuary Patrons shall project, left the kingdom as unsafe, where Factions were more powerful than Laws, and persons chose rather to hear than to see the miseries and reproaches of their Country, waiting for an Ebbe to follow that dreadful and swelling Tide upon this Maxime, That the first indignation of a mutinous multitude is most fierce, and a small delay breaks their consent, and innocence would have a more candid censure, if at all, at distance. Leave he did his place and preferment, like those that scatter their Treasure and Jewels in the way, that they might de­lude the violence of their greedy pursuers, troubled for nothing more than that the King was the while left naked of the faithful ministry of his dearest Servants, and exposed to the infusions and informations of those, who were either complices or mercenaries to the Faction, to whom they discovered his most Private Coun­sels.

Those aspersions laid upon him, by those that spoke rather what they wished, than what they believed or knew he would say, should like clouds vanish, while his reputation, like the Sun a little muffled at present, recovered by degrees its former and usual lu­ster. Time [his common saying] sets all well again.

And time at last did make it evident to the world, that though he and others might be subject to some miscarriages, yet such as were far more repairable by second and better thoughts, than those enorminous extravagancies, wherewith some men have now even wildred, and almost quite lost both Church and State.

The event of things at last demonstrating, that had the King followed the worst counsels that could have been offered him, Church and State could not have been brought into that condition they were presently, in upon the pretended Reformation.

Among the many ill consequences, whereof this was not the least remarkable, viz. that those very slanderers reputation and credit [I mean, that little they had] with the people, were quite blasted by the breath of that same furnace of popular obloquy and detraction, which they have studied to heat and inflame to the highest degree of infamy, and wherein they thought to cast and consume other mens names and honour.

In the mean time, his paticence better served him to bear, and charity to forgive, than his leasure to answer the many false asper­sions cast upon him, and give the malice of some men the pleasure to see him take notice of, or remember what they so rudely said, or barbarously objected against him.

Being conscious of his own good affections and inclinations for the publick, he could not suspect the affections of the publick to­wards [Page 64] him, never [in Forraign Parts, where the whole Nation lay under the imputation of the miscarriages of the worst part of it] gratifying the sprightfulness of a few, with any sinister thoughts of the civility of all, whereof many might be misled by others that were inclined of themselves: His pity towards the errors of all, being above his anger at the malice of any.

His greatest fault was; Ilis crim [...]s. that he was promoted to that trust and honour he had by Arch-bishop Laud, as the Arch-bishop's great crime was, that he was advanced by the King. It was [saith the Historian] as fatal to be Sejanus friend at last, as it would have been to his foe at first. It was thought offence enough to make up a branch of that excellent person's Charge, as it should seem. p. 122. of the necessary Introduction to his Tryal. That it appeared out of his diary, His good qua­lities [...]or the Secretaries place. that Iune 14. 1632. Master Windebank was made one of the Principal Secretaries of State, by his procurement of these heinous words, being then Printed in capital letters, Iune 15. Ma­ster Francis Windebank my old friend, was sworn Secretary of State, which place I obtained of my Gracious Master King Charles for him. And it would have been Plea enough against that Charge, to have taken the reasons of this favour (a great piece of equity) as ap­pears out of the Bishops own mouth.

1. His Integrity and Faithfulness so singular, that he would lay aside all obligations to please any one, to satisfie the great obliga­tion that was upon him of doing Iustice. He himself having left behind him this Instance of his Impartiallity. In this business [mean­ing the business between the new and old Corporation of Sope-boilers, ☞ Debated at the Council-board at Theobalds, July 12. 1635.] and some other of great concernment, during the Commission for the Treasury, my old friend Sir F. W. forsook me, and joyned with the Lord Cottington, which put me to the exercise of a great deal of patience. The Spaniard (while all other Nations are Mercenary, and for money will serve on any side) will never fight against his own King; nor would this Gentleman for any interest, engage against his two great Soveraigns, as he called them, Conscience and Honesty.

2. His Lenity and Moderation, which was a hapyy mixture of discretion and good nature, like the Silken-string, running through the Pearl-chain of all his transactions, Si virtutum finis ille sit maximus, qui plurimorum spectat profectum, moderatio omnium pulcherrima est, Ambrosius de Paenitent. contra Novat. l. 1. c. 1. It was the honour of the Romane State, as yet being Pagan: In hoc gloriari licet, nulli gentium mitiores placuisse paenas. Having this peculiar commendation, That he punished not only offenders that were discovered, but those that made it their business to lay snares to discover them. It being as dangerous (as he observed) to take no­tice of all faults, as of none at all, that involving the State in end­less troubles and jealousies, while this only made it obnoxious to some bold attempts, which all know it could punish, though some presume, because it doth connive.

Binding some of his own Pursevants ( Grey and Harwood by name) to their Good Behaviour, as well as their Prisoners, being not able [Page 65] to endure those Hell-hounds, Horse-leaches that only sucked the corrupted bloud of the Law. He was very much pleased in apply­ing a French Story to this purpose; Of one so much delighted in troubling men, that when Lewis the French King offered to ease him of a number of Suits, he earnestly besought his Highness to leave him some 20, or 30 behind, whereby he might merrily pass away the time.

3. His Publick Spirit, his friend the Arch-bishop being not readier to propose publick designs to him, than he to close with them; by the same Token, that a D. H. Great Man, upon the Rumor spread of his being a Papist [for all sober men in their Wits were then Branded with the Nick-names of Papists, by those Prote­stants, who King Iames said were frighed out of their wits] repli­ed, That he knew nothing he had of a Papist, but a very great Charity.

4. His Plain Dealing, a great Jewel in the Court of Princes, [ Quid omnia possidentibus deest? [they are the words of the great Courtier Seneca] Ille qui verum dicat.] And a resolution rather to dis­please, than betray his Soveraign. Offering free, but humble Coun­sels, gilding and sweetning his whosesome Pills.

5. His Reservedness not so close, but that he imparted as much as might invite others to open themselves, though so wary, as not to discover so much as might give others a hank over him: his pe­culiar faculty was a vast gift of discerning others, himself all the while unseen, walking as in Gyges his Ring.

But his great Charge urged against him in the House, November 12. 1640. and December 1. was seventy four Letters of Grace to Recusants in four years, sixty four Priests discharged by his War­rants, and twenty nine by his Verbal Order, and twenty three by his Authority, under Master Reads hands. Father Ioseph the Capu­chine of Paris, thanks to him for his Favours and Civilities; to which, though he dyrst not himself, yet ot [...]ers durst for him, offer these satisfactory Answers.

1. That what he did, he did by his Majesties direction, the Kings Majesty declaring, that the favours vouchsafed the Roman Catholicks, had been performed by special Command and Order given to him in that behalf, without any advice or original motion of him, who hath on­ly moved herein, as he hath been from time to time Commanded. [ They are the King's own words.]

2. That that favour which he shewed Catholicks here, was to procure the Protestants favour abroad. Allegations so reasonable, that he desired but the favour to have his Charge set down in Writing, and liberty to answer thereunto, in a Letter sent from Callis, De­cember 6. 1640.

Although yet all his Letters carried that respect to his Majesty, that he declared, He would not alleadge his Majesties authority any further than his Majesty would be pleased to give him leave, being will­ing rather to perish [ they are his own words] than discover any thing to the prejudice of his Majesties affairs.

And besides, none were by him discharged without Bonds & Securi­ty for their behaving themselves according to Law. And this whole [Page 66] affair was no new thing, but the practise of the wise and religious King Iames, who understood the interest of the Protestant Religi­on, as well as any Prince in the world, and promoted the concerns of it, more ways than any man in England, in whose Reign Anno 1622. this Letter was sent to the Judges.

The clearness of this honest, but unfortunate Gentleman's Pro­ceedings, gave so much reputation to him abroad, even in his low­est condition [wherein great men, like Dyals, are not looked on, because the Sun is off of them] as that the Governour of Callice, Le Comte de Charra [...] offered him his Coach to Paris, with many other unusual Civilities, Mounsieur de Chavigny not only commanded Li­cence for his departure from Callice, but expressed great respect to his person, and gave order for his accommodation with any thing that that place could afford; Cardinal Richlieu invited him to his Ballet, with order to Mounsieur Chavigni, to bring him to his Emi­nence, and assurance of welcome, and an exceeding good Recepti­on, as he had March 12. 1640. The Cardinal, after extraordinary Civi­lities, bringing him from his own Chamber into the next, giving him the upper hand, and holding him by the hands. Yea, the King and Queen of France admitted him to a very great motion of familiari­ty with them respectively, and upon Mounsieur Senetens ordered a Priviledge to be drawn up, in as large and as ample manner as he could contrive it, to free him and the other English that were Exiles there, on the account of their Loyalty, from that Confisca­tion of Estates after their deaths, to which other Aliens are ob­noxious by the Laws of that Kingdom. Upon all which favours, he makes this reflection in a letter to his Son. So as though in mine own Country it be accounted a Crime to me, to be her Majesties Servant, yet here I shall have Reputation, and receive much Honour by it. As not only he did in France, but likewise his Son in Rome, where Cardinal Barharino treats him at a very high rate of kindness and civility. [...] remember it was wondered at much by some, that a person ren­dred [Page 67] so odious, should escape so well, as to injoy his life and estate, and more by others, that so worthy a man, that with his Father, [these are his own words] had served the Crown near fourscore years, and had the honour to be employed by the late Queen Elizabeth, King Iames, and his now Majesty, in businesses of great trust, should be outed his Secretaries Place, and Banished his Country for obey­ing his Master's Command, and that sometimes, much against his own mind and opinion, insomuch that Master Read protests he did many of them with a very ill will: His rule was to be constant, but not obstinate in his opinions he was of; and when he had proper and secret motions of his own, yet to yield [as the Orbs do for the order of the Universe] to the way of the first Mover. Espe­cially since he desired that his Secretary Master Read should come over, and give an account of the grounds and reasons of all those transactions wherein he had been ministerial, so confident was he of his integrity. And after such a fair examination of his Services, he requested only the favour of a charitable construction, if his Services, wherein he said he had no ill intention, nor had offended willingly or maliciously; and permission to return in safety to England, to pass that little time which remained of his life privately in peace, and [mark these expressions] in the Church of England, ☜ His Petition to the Parlia­ment. whereof [these are the very syllables of his Petition] he will in Life and Death continue a true Member, and in which he desireth to bestow the rest of his time in de­votion for the prosperity thereof. So modest were his expectations.

It was pity he was forced to live and dye among strangers, more kind to him than his own Nation, who while they perswaded the world he was a Papist, had without God's special grace made him so, by the unkindness of some Protestants, who dressed him and others with Nick-names of Popery, as the Heathens did the Mar­tyrs in Beasts Skins, that they might first expose, and afterwards beat them. Only he was happy in this, that the Faction did not persecute him so rigidly, as all the Court loved him intirely, those very Lords that favoured the Conspiracy, being very careful of him, who lived to see them repent more of their Compliance, than he had occasion to do of his Loyalty, though his little state [the argument of his honesty and generosity] was broken, his Relati­ons distressed, his Son Thomas of the Privy-chamber to the King displaced; and what was sadder then all this, one of his young Sons, commonly called Colonel Windebank, Shot to Death at Ox­ford, for Delivering up Blechingdon-house to Cromwell's Horse (upon first Summons, there being no Foot near, whatever Cromwell threat­ned) so much to the disadvantage of Oxford. A wonderful passage, had it happened in any other age, but that wherein men admired nothing, not so much from any knowledge they attained in the causes of things, as from the multitude of strange effect.

Some Venison there is not fit for food when first killed, till it's a while buried under-ground: Some Mens Memories do not rel­lish so well till a while after their Interment. Of this unfortu­nate States-men, I may say what a wise man said of another.

IT is true, this Excellent Person died just when the Re­bellion began to offer violence to others, yet dying then, he could not escape from the violence of it him­self. Peter Martyrs wife, P. Fagius, and Martin Bu [...]rs are reckoned a sort of Queen Maries Martyrs (though they dyed before) because their bodies were then digged from their Graves, and buried in a Dunghill. And this great man claimes justly a place in the Catalogue of Loyal Martyrs, because though dying Anno 1640. yet was afterwards fetched out of the Bed of Honour, in which the Church had laid him, and his Grave made among Hereticks and Pestilent Fellows.

It was one Branch of Arch-bishop Laud's Charge, that he pre­ferred this Professed Arminian to be President of a Colledge in the University, C. C. Oxon. Peterburgh. Dean of a Cathedral in the Church. And he could not have escaped that accepted these preferments. He was reckoned a good man of old, that new hated. And you shall see from a sober person, to whom we owe this relation, what a good man this is whom the Conspiracy reviled. Reviled indeed, but basely, for when the Arch-bishop answered, That he thought Doctor Jackson Learned, Honest and Orthodox: It was replyed, That though Learned and Honest, he was an Arminian. Bonus vir, Cajus sejus in hoc tan­tum malus quod Christianus. A man you will see, of whom that Age was not worthy.

He was descended from a very worthy Family, in the Bishoprick of Durham, his life seemed to be Consecrated to Vertue and Libe­ral Arts, from his very Child-hood: He had a natural propensity [...]o Learning, from which no other recreation or imployment could [Page 69] divert him, he was first designed (by his Parents) to be a Mer­chant in New-castle, where many of his near Friends and Aliance, lived in great wealth and prosperity; but neither could that tem­ptation lay hold upon him.

Therefore (at the instance of a Noble Lord, the Load Eure) he was sent to the Vniversity of Oxford, for which highly esteemed favours he returns his solemn thanks in the very first words, and entrance of one of his books: He was first planted in Queens Colledge, under the Care and Tuition of the propound Doctor Grakanthorn [...] and from thence removed to Corpus Christi Colledge, who al­though he had no notice of the Vacancy of the Place, till the day before the Election, yet he answered with so much readiness and applause, that he gained the Admiration, as well as the Suffrages of the Electors, and was Chosen with full consent, although they had received Letters of Favour from great Men to another Scholar. A sure and honourable argument of the incorruptedness of that place, when the peremptory Mandamus of the pious Founder, nec prece, nec pretio, presented with the merits of a young man and stranger, shall prevail more then all other solicitations and partialities whatsoever: This resolution hath been often assured unto me from one of the Electors (yet living) Master Iohn Hore of West-hendred, a man of reverend years and goodness. There was now a welcome necessity laid upon him, to preserve the high opi­nion which was conceived of him, which he did in a studious and exemplary life, not subject to the usual intemperance of that age. Certainly the Devil could not find him idle, nor at leisure to have the suggestions of Vice whispered into his Ear. And although many in their youthful times have their deviations and exorbitances, which afterwards prove reformed, and excellent men; yet it pleased God to keep him in a constant path of vertue and piety. He had not been long admitted into this place, but that he was made more precious, and better estimated by all that knew him, by the very danger that they were in suddenly to part with him; For walking out with others of the younger company to wash himself, he was in eminent peril of being drowned. The depth closed him round about, the weeds were wrapt about his Head. He went down to the bottom of the mountains, the Earth with her Bars was about him for ever, yet God brought his soul from corruption, Jonah 2. 5, [...]. That (like Moses from the Flags) for the future good of the Church [...] and government of the Colledge where he lived, there might be preserved the meekest man alive, or (like Ionas) There might be a Prophet revived (as afterwards he proved) to forewarn the people of ensuing destruction, if peradventure they might repent, and God might revoke the judgments pronounced against them, and spare this great and sinful Nation. It was a long (and almost incredible) space of time wherein he lay under water, and before a Boat could be procured, which was sent for, rather to take out his Body (be­fore it floated) for a decent Funeral, then out of hopes of recove­ry of Life. The Boat-man discerning where he was by the Bub­ling of the Water (the last signs of a man expiring) thrust down [Page 70] his hook at that very moment, which by happy providence (at the first essay) lighted under his arm, and brought him up into the Boat. All the parts of his body were swollen to a vast propor­tion; and though by holding his head downward they let forth much water, yet no hopes of life appeared. Therefore they brought him to the land, and lapped him up in the Gowns of his Fellow-Students, the best Shrowd that Love or Necessity could provide.

After some warmth, and former means renewed, they perceiv'd that life was yet within him, conveyed him to the Colledge, and commended him to the skill of Doctor Channel, an eminent Phy­sician of the same House, where, with much care, time, and diffi­culty, he recovered, to the equal joy and wonder of the whole Society. All men concluded him to be reserved for high and ad­mirable purposes. His grateful Acknowledgments towards the Fisher-man and his Servants that took him up, knew no limits, be­ing a constant Revenue to them while he lived. For his thankful­ness to Almighty God, no heart could conceive, nor tongue ex­press it but his own, often commemorating the miracle of Divine Mercy in his deliverances, and resolving hereafter not to live to himself, but to God that raiseth the dead. Neither did he serve God with that which cost him nothing; I must rank his abundant Chari­ty, and riches of his Liberalities amongst the Vertues of his first years, as if he would strive with his Friends, Patron, and Benefa­ctors, Vtruum illi largiendo, an ipse dispergendo vinceret, whether they shall be more bountiful in giving, or he in dispersing; or, that he was resolved to pay the ransome of his life into God's Ex­checquer, which is the bodies of the poor. His heart was so free and enlarged in this kind, that very often his Alms-deed made him more rich that received, than it left him that gave it. His progress in the study of Divinity was something early, because (as he well considered) the journey that he intended was very far, yet not without large and good provisions for the way. No man made bet­ter use of Humane Knowledge, in subserviency to the Eternal Truths of God, produced more testimonies of Heathens to con­vert themselves, and make them submit the rich Presents of their Wise-men, to the Cradle and Cross of Christ. He was furnished with all the learned Languages, Arts, and Sciences, as the praevi­ous dispositions, or beautiful Gate which led him to the Temple; but especially Metaphysicks, as the next in attendance, and most ne­cessary handmaid to Divinity, which was the Mistress where all his thoughts were fixed, being wholly taken up with the love and ad­miration of Jesus Christ, and him crucified. The reading to youn­ger Scholars, and some Employments imposed by the Founder, were rather recreations and assistances, than divertisements from that intended work. The Offices which (out of duty, not desire) were never the most profitable, but the most ingenuous, not such as might fill his purse, but increase his knowledge. It was no small accession of respect unto him (or rather a consequent of the good repute which he had already gained) that those two Noble Hosta­ges [Page 71] (Mr. Edward, and Mr. Richard Spencers, Sons to the Right Honou­rable Robert, Lord Spencer, Baron of Wormleighton) were commend­ed to his charge, whom he restored fully instructed with all good Literature, the glory of learned and religious Nobility, and the very Ornaments of the Countrey where they lived; for which faithful discharge of his great trust, he (and his Memory) were ever in singular veneration with that whole Family, and their Alli­ances. His Discourse was very facetious (without offence) when time and place, and equality of persons permitted it. He was en­tregent (as our neighbours speak it) a man (upon occasions of­fered) of Vniversal Conversation. When he was chosen into Office, the Governour of the Colledge was wont to give this testimony of him, That he was a man most sincere in Elections: and that in a du­bious victory of younger wits, it was the safest experiment for an happy choice, to follow the Omen of his Iudgment. He read a Le­cture of Divinity in the Colledge every Sunday morning, and ano­ther day of the week at Pembroke Colledge (then newly erected) by the instance of the Master, and Fellows there. He was chosen Vice-President for many years together, who by his place was to moderate the Disputations in Divinity. In all these he demeaned himself with great depth of Learning, far from that knowledge which puffeth up, but accompanied with all gentleness, courtesie, humility, and moderation. From the Colledge, he was preferred to a Living in the Bishoprick of Durham (in their Donation) and from thence (with consent from the same Colledge obtained, where no request could be denied him) removed to the Vicarage of Newcastle, a very populous Town, furnished with multitudes of men, and no small variety of opinions. It was a difficult task (and onely worthy of so pious an Undertaker) so to become all things to all men, that by all means he might gain some. This was the place where he was appointed by his Friends to be a Merchant, but he chose rather to be a Factor for Heaven. One precious soul refined, pollished, and fitted for his Masters use, presented by him, was of more value to him, than all other purchases whatsoever. He adorned the Doctrine of the Gospel (which he preached and professed) with a sutable Life and Conversation, manifesting the signes of a true Apostle; in all things shewing himself a pattern of good works; in Doctrine, incorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that they which were of the ‘contrary part might be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of him, Titus 2. 7, 8.’

I lately received Letters (saith the worthy Compiler of his Life) from a Gentleman, who lived there at the same time with him, who gave this Testimony of him, He was a man very stu­dious, humble, courteous, and charitable. At Newcastle (when he went out) what money he had, he usually gave to the Poor, who at length flocked so unto him, that his Servant took care that he had not too much in his pocket. At a certain time Doctor Hen­derson, the Town's Physician, his neighbour and intimate acquain­tance (having made a Purchase) sitting sad by him, and fetching [Page 72] a sigh, he demanded what was the reason; he said, that he had a payment to make, and wanted Money: Doctor Iackson bade him be of a good chear, for he would furnish him; and calling for his Servant, told him the Physician's need, and asked what money he had. The man stepping back silent, the Doctor bid's him speak; at length the man said, fourty shillings; he bade him fetch it, for Master Henderson should have it all: at which Master Henderson turned his sadness into laughter. Doctor Iackson demanded his reason; he said he had need of 400 or 500 pound. Doctor Iackson answered, that he thought fourty shillings to be a great sum, and that he should have it, and more also if he had had it. Thus in a place of busie Trade and Commerce, his mind was intent upon better things, willing to spend and to be spent for them, not seek­ing theirs, but them. After some years of his continuance in this Town, he was invited back again to the University by the death of the President of the same Colledge, being chosen in his absence at so great a distance, so unexpectedly without any suit or petiti­on upon his part, for he knew nothing of the vacancy of the Place, but by the same Letters that informed him that it was conferred upon himself: A preferment of so good account, that it hath been much desired, and eagerly sought after by many eminent men, but never before went so far to be accepted of. Upon his return to Oxford, and admission to his Government, they found no alteration by his long absence, and more converse with the world, but that he appeared yet more humble in his elder times; and this not out of coldness and admission of spirit, but from a prudent choice and experience of a better way: not without a great ex­ample of Paul the aged, who when he had Authority to command that which is convenient (yet for love's sake) chose rather to be­seech, Epistle to Philemon. He ruled in a most obliging manner, the Fellows, Scholars, Servants, Tenants, Nemo ab eo tristis discessit, no man departed from him with a sad heart, excepting in this parti­cular, that by some misdemeanour, or willing errour, they had created trouble, or given any offence unto him. He used the Friends, as well as the Memory of his Predecessors fairly. He was Presidents pacificus, a lover and maker of peace. He silenced and composed all differences, displeasures, and animosities, by a pru­dent impartiality, and the example of his own sweet disposition. All men taking notice that nothing was more hateful than hatred it self, nothing more offensive to his body and mind, it was a shame and cruelty (as well as presumption) to afflict his peaceable spirit. It is a new and peculiar Art of Discipline, but successfully practised by him, that those under his Authority were kept within bounds and order, not so much out of fear of the penalty, as out of love to the Governour. He took notice of that which was good in the worst men, and made that an occasion to commend them for the good sake; and living himself, tanquam nemini ignosceret, as if he were so severe, that he could forgive no man, yet he re­served large pardons for the imperfections of others. His nature was wholly composed of the properties of Charity it self. Charity [Page 73] suffereth long, and is kinde, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. I can truely avouch this Testimony concerning him, That living in the same Colledge with him more than twenty years (partly when he was Fellow, and partly when he returned President) I never heard (to my best re­membrance) one word of anger, or dislike against him. I have of­ten resembled him in my thoughts (with favour of that Honou­rable Person) to him (whose name sounds very near him) who being placed in the upper part of the World, carried on his Dignity with that justice, modesty, integrity, fidelity, and other gra­cious plausibilities, that in a place of trust, he contented those whom he could not satisfie; and in a place of envie, procured the love of them who emulated his Greatness, and by his example, shewed the preheminence and security of true Christian Wisdom, before all sleights of humane policy, that in a busie time no man was found to accuse him; so this good man (in that inferiour Orb which God had placed him) demeaned himself with that Christi­an clemency, candor, wisdome, and modesty, that malice it self was more wary than to cast any aspersions upon him. I shall wil­lingly associate him to those other Worthies his Predecessors in the same Colledge (all living at the same time) to the invaluable Bi­shop Iewel, Theologorum quas Orbis Christianus per aliquot annorum Centenario produxit maximo, as grave Bishop Goodwin hath descri­bed him, The greatest Divine that for some former Centuries of years the Christian World hath produced. To the famous Master Hooker, who for his solid Writings was surnamed The Iudicious, and entituled by the same, Theologorum Oxonium, the Oxford of Divines, as one calls Athens, The Greece of Greece it self. To the learned Dr. Reynolds, who managed the Government of the same Colledge, with the like care, honour, and integrity, although not with the same austerities. He willingly admitted (and was much delighted in) acquaintance and familiarity of hopeful young Divines, not despising their Youth, but accounting them as Sons and Brethren, encouraging and advising them what Books to read, and with what holy preparations, lending them such Books as they have need of, and hoping withal, that (considering the brevity of his own life) some of them might live to finish that Work upon the Creed, which he had happily begun unto them. This was one of the special Ad­vices and Directions which he commanded to young men, Hear the dictates of your own Conscience; Quod dubitas ne feceris, ma­king this the Comment upon that of Syracides, In all thy matters trust (or believe) thine own soul, and bear it not down by impe­tuous and contradictuous lusts, &c. He was as diffusive of his know­ledge, counsel, and advice, as of any other his works of mercy.

In all the Histories of Learned, Pious and Devout Men, you shall scarcely meet with one that disdained the world more gene­rously; not out of ignorance of it, as one brought up in cells and darkness, for he was known and endeared to men of the most re­splendent fortunes, nor out of melancholy disposition; for he was chearful and content in all estates, but out of a due and de­liberate [Page 74] scorn, knowing the true value, that is, the vanity of it. As preferments were heaped upon him without his suit or know­ledge, so there was nothing in his power to give, which he was not ready and willing to part withal, to the deserving and indi­gent man. His Vicarage of Saint Nicholas Church in New-Castle, he gave to Master Alveye of Trinity Colledge, upon no other relation, but out of the good opinion which he conceived of his merits. The Vicarage of Wetney near Oxford, after he had been at much pains, travail and expence, to clear the Title of the Rectory to all succeeding Ministers, when he had made a portion fitting either to give or keep, he freely bestowed it upon the worthy Master Thomas White, then Proctor of the University, late Chaplain to the Colledge, and now incumbent upon the Rectory. A Colledge Lea [...], of a place called Lye in Gloucestershire, presented to him as a Gratuity by the Fellows, he made over to a third (late Fellow there) meerly upon a plea of poverty, and whereas they that first offered it unto him, were unwilling that he should relinquish it, and held out for a long time in a dutiful opposition, he used all his power, friendship and importunity with them, till at length he prevailed to surrender it.

Many of his necessary friends and attendants have professed, that they have made several journeys, and employed all powerful mediation with the Bishop, that he might not be suffered to re­sign his Prebendship of Winchester to a fourth; and upon acknow­ledge (that by their continuance he was disappointed of his reso­lution herein) he was much offended that the Manus mortua, or Law of Mortmain should be imposed upon him, whereby in former days they restrained the liberality of devout men towards the Col­ledges, and the Clergy. But this was interpreted as a discourtesie and dis-service unto him, who knew it was a more blessed thing to give than to receive. But that which remained unto him, was dis­persed unto the poor, to whom he was faithful dispenser [...] in all places of his abode, distributing unto them with a Free Heart, a Bountiful Hand, a Comfortable Speech, and a Cheerful Eye.

How dis-respectful was he of Mammon, the God of this World, the Golden Image which Kings and Potentates have set up? be­fore whom the Trumpets play for War and Slaughter, and Nati­ons and Languages fall down and worship, besides all other kind of Musick for jollity and delight, to drown (if it were possible) the noise of bloud, which is most audiable, and cries loudest in the ears of the Almighty. How easily could he cast that away, for which others throw away their lives and salvation, running head-long into the place of eternal skreekings, weeping and gnashing of teeth. If it were not for this spirit of covetousness, all the world would be at quiet. Certainly (although the nature of man be an apt soil for sin to flourish in, yet) if the love of money be the root of all evil, it could not grow up in him, because it had no root: And if it be so hard to a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, and the Narrow Gate which leads unto life; then he that stooped so low, by humbleness of mind, and emptied himself so [Page 75] nearly by mercifulness unto the poor, must needs find an easier passage; doubtless, they that say and do these things, shew plain­ly that they seek another Country, that is, an Heavenly; for if they had been mindful of this, they might have taken opportunity to have used it more advantageously.

His devotions towards God were assiduous and exemplary, both in publick and private. He was a diligent frequenter of the publick service in the Chappel, very early in the morning and at even­ing, except some urgent occasions of infirmity did excuse him. His private conferences with God by prayer and meditations, were never omitted upon any occasion whatsoever.

When he went the yearly Progress to view the Colledge Lands, and came into the Tenants houses, it was his constant custome (be­fore any other business, discourse, or care of himself, were he ne­ver so wet or weary) to call for a retire Room to pour out his soul unto God, who led him safely in his journey. And this he did not out of any specious pretence of holiness, to devour a Widows House with more facility, Rack their Rents, or Change their Fines; for excepting the constant Revenue to the Founder (to whom he was a strict accountant) no man ever did more for them, or less for himself. For thirty years together he used this following Anthem, and Confession of the holy and undivided Trinity. Salva nos, libera nos, vivifica nos, Obeat a Trinit as: Save us, deliver us, quicken us, Obles­sed Trinity. Let us praise God the Father, and the Son, with the Ho­ly Spirit; let us praise and super-exalt his name for ever. Al­mighty and everlasting God, which hast given us, thy Servants, grace by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the Holy Tri­nity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Vnity: We beseech thee, that through the stedfastness of this faith, we may ever­more be defended from all adversity, which livest and raignest, &c.

This he did perform, not only as a sacred Injunction of the Founder (upon him and all the Society) but he received a great delight in the performance of it. No man ever wrote more high­ly of the Attributes of God than he, and yet he professes that he always took more comfort in admiring, than in disputing, and in praying to, and acknowledging the Majesty and Glory of the bles­sed [...]rinity, than by too curiously prying into the Mystery. He composed a book of Private Devotions, which some judicious men (having perused the same) much extolled and admired, as being replenished with holy truths and divine meditations, which (if it be not already annexed to this book) I hope the Reader will shortly enjoy in a portable Volumn by it self.

Thus have many Scholars and Polemical men (in their elder times) betaken themselves to Catechizing and Devotion, as Pareus, Bishop Andrews, Bishop Vsher; and Bellarmin himself seems to prefer this Book, De ascensione mentis ad Deum, Of the ascension of the soul to God, before any other parts of his works. Books (saith he) are not to be estimated, Ex multitudine folliorum, sed ex fructi­bus, By the multitudes of the leaves, but the fruit. My other books I read only upon necessity, but this I have willingly read [Page 76] over three or four times, and resolve to read it more often; whe­ther it be (saith he) that the love towards it be greater than the merit, because (like another Benjamin) it was the Son of mine old age.

He seemed to be very Prophetical of the ensuing times of Trou­ble, as may evidently appear by his Sermons before the King, and Appendix about the signs of the times, or divine fore-warnings therewith Printed some years before, touching the great tempest of wind, which fell upon the Eve of the fifth of November 1636. He was much astonished at it, and what apprehension he had of it appears by his words.— This mighty wind was more then a sign of the time; the very time it self was a sign, and portends thus much, that though we of this kingdom were in firm league with all Nations, yet it is still in God's power, we may fear, in his purpose to plague this kingdom, by this or like tempests, more grievcously then he hath done at any time by Famine, Sword or Pestilence, to bury many living souls, as well of su­periour as inferior rank, in the ruine of their stately Houses or meaner Cottages, &c.

Which was observed by many, but signally by the Preface to Master Herberts Remains; I shall not prevent the Reader, or detain him so long from the original of that book, as to repeat Elogies, which are there conferred upon him. I cannot forbear one passage in that Preface, wherein he made this profession; I speak it in the presence of God, I have not read so hearty, vigorous a Champion against Rome (amongst our Writers in this rank) so convincing and demonstra­tive as Dr. Jackson is. I bless God for the confirmation he hath given me in the Christian religion against the Atheist, Iew and Socinian, and in the Protestant, against Rome.

As he was always a reconciler of differences in the private go­vernment, so he seriously lamented the publick breaches of the kingdom: for the divisions of Reuben he had great thoughts of heart. At the first entrance of the Scots into England, he had much compassion for his Country-men, although that were but the be­ginning of their sorrows. He well knew that war was commonly attended with ruin and calamity, especially to Church and Churches, and therefore that prayer was necessary and becoming of them, Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris, &c, Give peace in our time, O Lord, because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. One drop of Christian blood (though never so cheaply spilt by others, like water upon the ground) was a deep corrosive to his tender heart. Like Rachel weeping for her chil­dren, he could not be comforted: his body grew weak, the chear­ful hue of his countenance was empaled and discoloured, and he walked like a dying mourner in the streets. But God took him from the evil to come, it was a sufficient degree of punishment to him to see it; it had been more than a thousand deaths unto him to have beheld it with his eyes.

When his death was now approaching, being in the Chamber with many others, I over-heard him with a soft voice repeating to himself these and the like ejaculations. I wait for the Lord, my soul [Page 77] doth wait, and in his word do I hope; my soul wai [...]eth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. As for me, I will behold thy face in right cousness, I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. And he ended with this Cygnean caution, Psal. 116. 5, 6, 7. Cracious is the Lord and righteous, yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple, I was brought low and he helped me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. And having thus spoken, soon after he surrendred up his spirit to him that gave it.

If you shall enquire what this charitable man left in Legacy at his Death, I must needs answer: That giving all in his life time, as he owed nothing but love, so he left nothing when he dyed. The poor was his heir, and he was the administrator of his own goods; or (to use his own expression in one of his last Dedications) he had little else to leave his Executors, but his Pape [...] only, which the Bishop of Armagh (being at his Funeral) much desired might be carefully preserved. This was that which he left to posterity in pios usus, for the furtherance of piety and godliness, in perpe­tuam Eleemosynam, for a perpetual deed of Charity, which I hope the Reader will advance to the utmost improvement.

He that reads this, will find his learning Christeni [...] him The Divine, and his life witnessing him a man of God, a [...]er of righteousness, and I might add, a Prophet of things to [...] they that read those qualifications which he in his second [...] [...]rd book requires, in them which hope to understand the Scri [...] [...] right, and see how great an insight he had into them, and now many hid mysteries he lately unfolded to this age, will say his life was good, Superlatively good. The Reader may easily perceive, that he had no designs in his opinions, no hopes but that of wealth, nor affection of popularity, should ever draw him from writing this subject, for which no man so fit as he, because (to use his own di­vine and high Apothegm) no man could write of justifying faith, but he that was equally affected to death and honour.

SIR Francis Cottington being bred a youth under un­der Sir Stafford, lived so long in Spain, till he made the garb and gravity of that Nation become his, and become him too. He raised himself by his natural strength, without any artificial advantage; having his parts above his learning, his experience, and (some will say) his success above all; so that at last he became Chancellour of the Exchequer, Baron of Hanworth in Middlesex, Constable of the Tower, 1640: and (upon the resignation of Do­ctor Iuxon) Lord Treasurer of England, gaining also a very great estate.

Very reserved he was in his temper, and very slow in his pro­ceedings, sticking to some private principles in both, and aiming at certain rules in all things: A temper that endeared him as much to his Master, Prince Charles his Person, as his integrity did to his Service; nor to his Service only, but to that of the whole Nation; in the merchandize whereof he was well versed, to the trade whereof he was very serviceable many ways, but eminent­ly, in that he negotiated that the Spanish Treasure, which was used to be sent to Flanders by the way of Genoa, might be sent in English Bottoms, exceedingly enriched England for the time, and had it continued, it had made her the greatest Bank and Mart for Gold and Silver, of any Commonwealth in Europe.

Indeed, the advantage of his Education, the different Nations and Factions that he had to deal with, the direst opposition of ene­mies, the treachery of friends, the contracts of States-men, the variety and force of experience from the chief Ministers of State, with their Intrigues of Government, made him so expert, that the Earl of Bristol and Sir Walter Aston could do nothing without him, and he only could finish the Treaty, which they had for many years spun out.

Men take several ways for the ends they propose themselves, some, that of confidence; others, that of respect and caution, &c. when indeed the main business is, to suit our selves with our own times, which this Lord did, and no man better, until looking into the depths of the late Faction, he declared at the Council-table, [Page 79] 1639. That they aimed at the ruin of Church and State. And viewing the state of the kingdom, he advised; That Leagues might be made abroad; and, that in this inevitable necessity, all ways to raise money should be used that were lawful. Wherefore he was one of those few that excluded the Indempnity by the Faction, and had the honour to dye Banished for the best Cause and Master, in those Forraign Countries; where he suffered as nobly for the Crown of England in his latter days, as he had acted honourably for it in his former. When he never came off better than in satisfying the Spaniards about Tolleration, reducing the whole of that affair to these two Maximes.

1. That Consciences were not to be forced, but to be won and reduced by the evidence of truth, with the aid of Reason, and in the use of all good means of Instruction and Perswasion.

2. That the causes of Conscience, wherein they exceed their bounds, and grow to matter of Faction, lose their nature: and that Sovereign Princes ought diligently to punish those foul pra­ctices, though over-laid with the fairer pretences of Conscience and Religion.

One of his Maximes for Treaty, I think remarkable, viz. That kingdoms are more subject to fear than hope, and that it's safer work­ing upon them by a power that may awe the one, than by advan­tages that may excite the other. Since it's another rule, That States have no affection but interest, and that all kindnesses and civilities in those cases, are but oversights and weakness.

Another of his rules of Life I judge useful, viz. That since no man is absolute in all points, and since men are more naturally in­clined out of envy to observe mens infirmities, than out of inge­nuity to acknowledge their merit; he discovereth his abilities most, that least discovereth himself. To which I may add another, viz. That it is not only our known duty, but our visible advantage, to ascribe our most eminent performances to Providence, since it not only takes off the edge of envy, but improves the reason of admiration. None being less maliced, or more applauded than he, who is thought rather happy, than able; blessed, than active; and fortunate, than cunning.

Though yet all the caution of his life could not avoid the envy of his advancement, from so mean a beginning to so great ho­nours; notwithstanding that it is no disparagement to any to give place to fresh Nobility, who ascend the same steps with those be­fore them. New being only a term, saith one, only respecting us, not the world; for what is, was before us, and will be when we are no more: And indeed this personage considering the vanity and inconstancy of common applause or affronts, improved the one, and checked the other, by a constant neglect of both.

Three things inraged the Faction against him. 1. His atten­dance on his Majesty when Prince, as his Secretary in his Journey to Spain. 2. His activity in promoting the King's Revenue and Trade. And 3. His great insight into the bottome of their Con­federacy. In the first, whereof he acted only as a discreet Mini­ster, [Page 80] observing more Intrigues, and offering several Considerations, especially of address, formality and caution, that escaped greater persons: In the second, as a faithful Counsellor, by the same token, that he had the fairer quarter of some adversaries, because in the management of the Revenue, and the vacancy between the Lord Treasurer Weston's death, and the Lord Treasurer Iuxon's advance­ment to that trust, he had some misunderstanding with my Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury. And the King in an Express to the Queen, Ian. 23. 1642. speaking of competitions for Offices, hath these gracious syllables in behalf of this Lord: Digby and Duns­more look for the Captainship of the Pensioners; Hertford once looked after it, but now I believe he expects either to be Treasurer, or of my Bed-chamber; I incline rather to the later, if thou like it, for I abso­lutely hold Cottington the fittest man for the other. And in a third, as a wise States-man, that was not to be abused with umbrages. When the Rebellion seized on other mens Estates, it looked for a greater Treasure with my Lord Cottington's A B C, and Sir F. W. taking all their Papers.

Indeed this Lord sent such a Reply to some harangues of the House of Commons against him, as could not be Answered, but by suppressing both their Charge and his Answer: an essay of the Spar­tanes valour, who being struck down with a mortal blow, used to stop their mouths with earth, that they might not be heard to quetch or groan, thereby to affright their fellows, or animate their enemies. And to prepare the way for his ruin, the most opprobri­ous parts of his accusation were first whispered among the popula­cy; That by this seeming suppression, men impatient of secrecy, might more eagerly divulge them, & the danger appear greater by an affected silence: Besides, the calumnies, and the suspitions were so contrived, as might force him and others to some course in their own defence, which they hitherto forbore; and by securing themselves to increase the publick fears. For the slanders fixed upon the King's Party, were designed rather to provoke than to amend them, that being provoked, they might think rather to provide for their security, than to adjust their actions, in a time when the most innocent man living was not safe, if either wise or honest.

Indeed he sate among the Faction at Westminster, so long as he had any hope of keeping them within any reasonable terms of mo­deration, untill he and others saw that their longer continuance amongst them, might countenance their confederacy, but neither prevent, nor so much as allay their practises; And therefore among many eminent examples of loyalty and virtue of the noblest ex­tracts and fairest estates in England, of which they could not easi­ly suspect to be divested without an absolute overthrow of all the Laws of right and wrong, which was to be feared only by their Invasion on the Kings most undoubted Rights: (for when Majesty it self is assaulted, there can be no security for private fortunes; and those that decline upon design from the paths of equity, will never rest till they come to the extremity of in­justice.) We find him with the King at York, where the King de­clareth, [Page 81] that he will not require any obedience from them, but by the Law of the Land. That he will Protect them from any illegal Impositions in the profession of the true Protestant Religion, the just Liberty of the Subject, and the undoubted Priviledge of the three Estates of Parliament. That he will not Engage them in any War, except for necessary defence against such as invade him, on them. And he with others subscribing a Protestation to live and dye with the King, according to their Allegiance, in defence of Religion and Laws, together with the prosperity and peace of the kingdom.

But this Resolution without treasure would not take effect, and therefore the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, and both Universities, fur­nished his Majesty with treasure, chusing rather to lay out then estates for the supply of his Majesty, than expose them to the lusts and usurpations of a Conspiracy. And yet treasure without a Treasurer could not at that time be either preserved or managed. and my Lord Cottington had been so good a husband for himself, that he was looked on in a time when his Majesties occasions were so craving, and suppy so uncertain, as the fittest Steward for his So­veraign. Being so rich, that he would not abuse his Majesty himself, and so knowing, that he would not suffer others to do it. The Souldiery would have their flings at him for being so close in his advises, and wary in his place at Oxford: But he understood that in vain do the Brows beat and frown, the Eyes sparkle, the Tongue rant, the Fist bend, and the Arm swing, except care be taken that the Belly be fed. But when it pleased God that the best Cause had the worst success, and his Sacred Majesty more solici­tous for his friends safety than his own, chusing to venture himself upon further hazzards, rather than expose their resolute Loyalty to all extremities, directed his followers to make as good terms of peace as they could, since it was in vain to linger out the war; This Lord, among others (whom when fortune failed, their courage stood to) had the contrivance first, and afterwards the benefit of the Oxford Articles, so far as the forfeiture of all his estate, (most part whereof came to Bradshaw's share) perpetual Banishment, but withal an opportunity to serve his Gracious Master in his old ca­pacity, of Ambassador to the Court of Spain, in Joint Commission with Sir Edward Hyde, since the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon, and Lord High-Chancellor of England. Two per­sons, whose abilities and experience could have done more than they did, had not interest been more with Princes, than honour; and present accommodations beyond future advantages: Consi­derations that made it more adviseable for this ancient Lord, Cum satis naturae, satisque patriae, & gloriae vixisset; to prepare himself rather to dye in peace with God, than to concern himself in the affairs of men; of which he said (as it is reported) when some English Mercuries were offered him, that he would peruse, and re­flect on them, when he could find some of the Rabbines hours which belonged neither to day nor night. So much longed he for the grave, where the weary are at rest, and that world where all are at peace. What point of time, about 165 [...]. he died, in what [Page 82] particular manner he was buried, what suitable Monument and Memory he hath, hath not come to my knowledge, and need not come to the Readers. This Lord himself could not endure a dis­course that ran into frivolous particulars: And it is Lipsius his cen­sure of Francis Guicciardines history; Minutissima quaeque narrat parum ex lege aut dignitate historiae.

SIR Iohn Bramston Knight, was born at Maldon in Essex, bred up in the Middle. Temple, in the Study of the Common-law, wherein he attained to such emi­nency, that he was by King Charles made Lord Chief Justice of the Kings-bench.

One of Deep Learning, Solid Judgement, Inte­grity of Life, Gravity of Behaviour, above the Envy of his own Age, and the [...] candal of Posterity. One instance of his I must not forget, writes the Historian effectually, relating to the Foundati­on wherein I was bred. Serjeant Bruerton by Will bequeathed to Sidney Colledge, well nigh three thousand pounds, but (for haste, or some other accident) it was so imperfectly done, that (as Doctor Samuel VVard informed me) it was invalid in the rigour of the Law. Now Judge Bramston, who married the Serjeant's Widdow, gave himself much trouble (gave himself indeed, doing all things gra­tis) for the speedy payment of the money to a farthing, and the legal settling thereof on the Colledge, according to the true in­tention of the dead. He deserved to live in better times. The delivering his judgement on the King's side, in the case of Ship-money, cost him much trouble, and brought him much honour, as who understood the consequence of that Maxime, Salus populi suprema lex; and that Ship-money was thought legal by the best Lawyers, Voted down Arbitrarily by the worst Parliament, they hearing no Council for it, though the King heard all men willing­ly against it. Yea, that Parliament thought themselves not secure from it, unless the King renounced his right to it by a new Act of his own. Men have a touch-stone to try gold, and gold is the touch-stone to try men. Sir VVilliam Noy's gratuity shewed, that this Judges inclination was as much above corruption, as his fortune; and that he would not, as well he needed not, be base. Equally in­tent was he upon the Interest of State and Maxims of Law, as [Page 83] which mutually supported each other. He would never have a witness interrupted, or helped, but have the patience to hear a naked, though a tedious truth; the best Gold lieth in the most Ore, and the clearest truth in the most simple discourse. When he put on his Robes, he put off respects; his private affections being swallowed up in the publick service. This was the Judge whom Popularity could never flatter to any thing unsafe, nor Favour oblige to any thing unjust. Therefore he died in peace 1645, when all others were engaged in a War, and shall have the reward of his integrity of the Judge of Judges, at the great Assize of the World.

Having lived, Admin. Card. de Rich. P. 283. as well as read Iustinian 's Maxim to the Praetor of Laconia; All things which appertain to the well-government of a State, are ordered by the Constitution of Kings, that give life and vigour to the Law; Whereupon who so would walk wisely, shall never fail, if he pro­pose them both for the rule of his actions; For, a King is the living Law of his Countrey.

Nothing troubled him so much as (shall I call it) the shame, or the fear of the consequence of the unhappy Contest between His Excellent Majesty and his meaner Subjects in the foresaid case of Ship-money; No enemy being contemptible enough to be despi­sed, since the most despicable command greater strength, wisdom, and interest, than their own, to the designs of malice, or mischief. A great man managed a quarrel with Archee the King's Fool; but by endeavouring to explode him the Court, rendred him at last so considerable, by calling the enemies of that person (who were not a few) to his rescue, as the fellow was not onely able to conti­nue the dispute for divers years, but received such encouragement from standers by (the instrument of whose malice he was) as he oft broke out into such reproaches, as neither the Dignity of that excellent person's Calling, nor the greatness of his Parts, could in reason or manners admit. F. O. p. 12. But that the wise man discerned, that all the Fool did, was but a symptome of the strong and in­veterate distemper raised long since in the hearts of his Coun­treymen against the great man's Person and Function.

This Reverend Judge, who when Reader of the Temple, carri­ed away the title of the best Lawyer of his time in England, and when made Serjeant with fifteen more (of whom the Lord Keeper Williams said, That he reckoned it one of the Honours of his time, that he had passed Writs for the advancement of so many excel­lent persons.) Anno 29. Iac. Termino Michaelii, had the character of The fairest pleader in England. Westminster-Hall was much envied by the Faction upon the same ground that Scaevola was quarrelled with by Fimbria, even because totum telum in se recipere, he did not give malice a free scope and advantage against him; who when the Writ for Ship-money (grounded upon unquestionable Presi­dents and Records for levying Naval Aids by the King's sole Au­thority) were put in execution, and Hambden and Say went to Law with the King, the one for four pound two shillings, the other for three pound five shilling: The inconsiderable summes they [Page 84] were assessed at to the Aid aforesaid, went no further than upon this Case put by the King.

And afterwards in the Lord Says Case, Ter. Hil. Anno 14. Car. Re­gis in Banco regis, with Iones and Berkley, to declare, That [the fore­said Writ being allowed legal] the judgment of the Judges upon it consisting of four branches. First, That the Writ was legal by the King's Prerogative or at leastwise by his Regal power. Secondly, That the Sheriff by himself, without any Jury, may make the Assessement. Thirdly, That the Inland Counties ought to do it at their own Charge, and to find Men, and Victualls out of their Counties for the time in the Writ mentioned. Fourthly, That the sum Assessed was a Duty, and (ought to be Assessed, and may be Levied) ought to stand, until it were reversed in Parliament, [Page 85] and until then, none ought to dispute against it. And when the Parliament afterwards declared themselves, Hil. Term Anno 16. C. R. in B. R. he was of opinion [in Chambers his Case against Sir Edward Brumfield, late Lord Mayor of London] that the Court ought no longer to dispute of it. And yet in Iuly 1641. there was a Charge brought against him for his Extra-judicial opinion for Le­vying of Ship-money; to which he made such a Rejoynder, as though for malice they could not acquit, yet for shame they did not condemn him, especially, since there were but few injured, as they pretended, by that his opinion, and the whole kingdom the better for his exact Justice; which was so effectual, that had he lived a few years longer, there would have been not a Robber from one end of the kingdom to the other, but such as took the High-way by authority.

Large were the Harangues made against him and his brethren. But as Bees are sometimes drowned in their Honey, so were their Logick in their Rhetorick; the body of their proofs brings as poor and lean, as the garnish of their words gaudy; the stuff as mean as the dressing rich. After the affront of an Arrest, the trouble and disgrace of an Imprisonment, and the charge of a Fine, or at least a Gratuity, they thought it enough to have terrified, and so proceed­ed no farther to ruin this good man, that was the honour, and would have been, if ill treated, the disgrace of his Nation. Eccius is much censured by Divines, because he said in his Chrysopas that he intreated of Reprobation as a fit subject, In quo Iuveniles Ca­lores exerceret. Young Lawyers were much blamed by our an­cient Judge, for chusing the deep and intricate points of Preroga­tive and Liberty, to be the matter of their young and undigested Discourses; who while they engage against the old Laws and Ma­ximes of Government, notwithstanding all their bustle and ra­tlings, yet are discerned by impartial and judicious men, like that Goth in Procopius, who though he fought fiercely, had the mortal Arrows sticking in his Helmet, whereof he soon after fell.

He died, as a Bishop of Oxford is said to do, at a time when he had rather give an account of his Judges-place at the Tribunal of God, than exercise it on a Bench awed by men. Since he could not keep on the Robes of his Office with comfort, he put off those of his Mortality with peace; being ashamed to live, as he would say, when it was not safe to speak either law or reason, and reck­oning it seasonable to dye when all things perished by him, and he had nothing left him to do honestly, but to dye.

IT is not the least argument that we are Immortal, that we naturally desire to be so; and that there is in every man implanted with his soul a generous ambition of Conveighing his being to a fair Eternity, eithey by a Ae [...]erni­tas nodosa puster [...]ta successive Posterity as Ara [...]c. C [...]t. Bodl. [...]. 24 25. Noah, or by a lasting Mo­nument as 2 Sam. 18. 18. Absalom, or by an universal Fame as Plutarch. Cato, or by Heroick undertakings as this Gentleman, the Astonishment of his own Age, and the Wonder of the next, for a capacious Nature and a vast Industry.

His Birth. An Industry, that finding little advantage in his Parentage, whose character amounts to no more than that they were mean and honest, less in the place of his Birth [Agmondsham in Buckingham­shire] ennobled only with his single worth, least of all in the time of it [ Novemb. 10. 1607.] when learning was at its fatal heighth, and the ordinary methods of it but a meaness; when great souls must trace untrodden paths for Eminence and a Name.

His Educa­tion. In this Age he was very happy in Doctor Crooke the Rector of Agmondsham's Neighbourhood, who respecting his Parents Piety and Poverty, and observing his Hopefulness, admitted him to his Family, among those noble and excellent Personages then under his Care; upon two whereof, Sir William Drake and Sir Robert Crooke, he waited to Christ-Church in Oxford; where he was more happy in the excellent Doctor Morley (since successively Dean of that place, Lord Bishop of Worcester and Winchester) his exact dire­ctions, [Page 87] and impressive incouragements, that quickly advanced his Studies above a Tutor's care, and most of all in the Learned Exer­cises, the Ingenious Converse, the Exquisite Parts, which in that renowned Colledge awaked his large Faculties to sixteen hours Stu­dy every day for many years together, until his indefatigable way attained a learned elegance in English, Latine and Greek, an exact skill in Hebrew, Syriack, Chaldee, Arabick, Aethiopick, &c. an useful com­mand of Saxon, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch; a deep insight to Philosophy, a curious faculty in Astronomy, Geometry and A­rithmetick, a familiar acquaintance with the Jewish Rabbines, the Ancient Fathers, the Modern Criticks and Commentators, a general History and Chronology, and indeed an Universal Learning.

His Works. His smart Sermons (whereof that of the Resurrection is a Specimen) speak his Rhetorick, his Translation of M. S. in Arch. Baror. Bibl. Bod l. 12. [...]. Io. Antiochenus his Melala Chronography, his Latine; his Notes upon the same Author, his Greek; his Aki [...]la or Discourse of Eastward Adoration, his Church History; his excellent Comment upon Doctor Ridleyes ex­cellent book (the first testimony of his pregnancy, when but twen­ty six) his Civil, Historical, Ritual, Ecclesiastical and Oriental Learning; his Observation on P [...]olomy and Euclid, with his King Henries Scheme and Discourse against Cardan of our Saviours Nativity, his Ancient and Modern Astrology; his Epochae, his Globe, his His Ac­count of the 70 Translation. Seventy, his His dis­course of the [...]lonument at Salisbury of a little Boy ha­bited in Epis­copal Robes. Episcopus puerorum, his Assyrian Monarchy, his Chronology, his Optick History, Geography and Policy, and his [...] with his other un­usual observations on the [...] and hard places of Scripture (wherein he mentioneth no Modern Authors [and none of note escaped him] but with design to enlarge, clear up, or correct their Annotations) twice Printed in English, and now Translated to La­tine, to be a noble part of that grand Collection, called Critica Sa­cra, the depth of his Rabbinical and Talmudical reading, the breadth of his Eastern and Western Antiquities, his perusal of all Councils, his command of all Scholiasts, his comprehension of all Architecture, Ma­gick, Chimistry, Modes, Coins, Measures, Weights, Customes, Proverbs, &c. and whatever else can properly come under a great Schollar's cognizance, that aimed not at the empty and floating notions of Surface-learning, but at Omne Scibile, A compleat Scheme, Frame, and Idea within himself, proportionable in all things to the order and method of being without him, drawing his Intellectual Circle of Arts and Sciences in no narrower compass, than that real one of things in the Universe. Insomuch, that I cannot believe (as one suggesteth) he lived to the twenty fourth year of his age, be­fore he could buy Books, and but to the thirty ninth of it to read them; unless I admit what is more strange, but affirmed by ano­ther, That his Candle was not out one night for eleven of those years.

His Prefer­ment. This industry, this Proficiency escaped not the observation of the Reverend Doctor Duppa, then Dean of Christ-Church, since suc­cessively Lord Bishop of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester, as great a Patron of ingenuity in others, as Master of it in himself; who admitted him first to his favour, next to his service, wherein he was first Chaplain of Christ-Church, and next to that Prebendary [Page 88] of Chichester and Sarum, no Preferment compatible with his Age, being above his Deserts. His Desigr, and the disposal of his Study. For which Preferment in gratitude to his Master and the Church, he dedicated Ridleyes View of the Civil Law to him, and his life in clearing up the Scripture difficulties in that method he had begun to it: For when his Lord called upon him to Preach and exercise his Ministerial Function; He said, The Harvest is confessedly great, Epist. Dedit. to the Bishop of Salisbury. but then the Labourers are not few; and if while so many are thus excellently imployed about the rest of the Build­ing, some one or other do, as well as he can, towards the making good of the Ground-work; I think he may be let alone at least. The hopes of the Superstruction, dependeth upon the assurance of the Foundation. I shall give them leave to be Pillars, this I am sure is the Corner-stone, and I need not not tell you how rejected, I mean, not of all, but of the Common Builders. And in this course of Study, he intended to spend the rest of his life.

His Patrons and Acquain­tance. Neither did the vigilant Doctor Duppa alone take notice of this deserving Person. For, 1. The blessed Arch-bishop Laud, now intent upon the Recovery of Primitive Christianity, the Re­stauration of Ancient Learning, and the Settlement of a Flourish­ing Church, In his Re­view of his M. SS. employed and encouraged this great Master of the two first, and as great ornament of the third. 2. The publick spi­rited Bishop Linsey, designing his excellent Edition of Theodoret, repaired to this great Transcript of that and all other Fathers. 3. Great Selden [...] confessed this Gentleman a con­futation of his opprobrious Preface against the Clergy in his Book of Tythes, sending no less than eighty seven doubts, in several sorts of learning, to be resolved by him. 4. The learned Bishop Moun­tague meditating a Church History, equal to, if not above that of Ba­ronius, consulted this great Antiquary; the familiarity between them, when Master Gregory was but thirty years old, you have in his own words, about the occasion of his Tract called, Episcopus puerorum in die Innocentium. Having Consulted with the most likely men I knew (where about I then was) to what Moment of Antiquity this (speaking of the Monument afore mentioned in the Margin at Sa­lisbury) could refer: The Answer was, They could not tell; so, the late learned Bishop Mountague, who also earnestly appointed me to make fur­ther enquiry after the thing, not doubting but that there would be some­thing in the matter, at least of curious, if not substantial observation. 5. There was a Club of great wits at Oxford, that met twice a week to consult this Oracle, than whom none communicated his Noti­ons more readily, none expressed himself more satisfactorily; wherefore the most learned Jews and Christians, Protestants and Papists, kept correspondence with him, and an Armenian Priest lodged with him some time at the Colledge, by the same Token that he saith himself, He had occasion to shew this Priest the Chappel, and perceiving him to cast his Eye upon the Organ, he asked whether there were any such sight to be seen in their Churches? he answered, No such matter, neither did he know, till it was told him, what to call them; yet this man had lived fourteen years under two Patriarchs, Constantino­ple and Alexandria. And in the Greek Liturgy we read of Musick [Page 89] enough. And to close this Album Amicorum, he travelled through twelve Languages without any guide, except Mr. Dod the Deca­logist, whose Society and Directions for the Hebrew Tongue he enjoyed one Vacation near Banbury; for which Courtesie he gratefull [...] remembred him, as a man of great Piety, Learning, Gravity and Modesty: of which Graces also this Personage was as great a pos­sessor as admirer.

His Death. But this heighth of worth and honour must, by the method of sublunary things, be attended with its fall. This great height of our Church is now in its meridian, and it must Set. One dismal cloud overwhelming Religion, Learning, and his great Spirit, the Reposi­tory of both: for immoderate study, an hereditary Gout of twenty years continuance (which his poor Parents were rich enough to bequeath him) and heart-sorrow, brings him to his Grave, Marck 13. 1646. with Ichabod in his mouth, Ah, the glory is departed! yet not as one without; hope for he concludes a Dedication to the Lord Bishop of Salisbury, His Prophecy. and his life with these words, The great Genius of this place must now burn a while, like those subterraneous Olibian Lamps under the Earth, we shall behold it, but not now; we shall behold it, but not nigh. Which those about him heard not uttered then with more grief, than we after him see now fulfilled with joy.

His Chara­cter. By this time your expectation is raised concerning the great particulars that made up this Eminent Person. In a word, a Me­mory Strong and Active, containing not a confused Heap, but a ra­tional Coherence of Notions, an Imagination Quick and Regular, a Judgment Deep and Searching, an Apprehension Ready and Na­tural Bacon Aug Scient. p. 2. (such a readiness to take flame and blaze from the least occasion presented, or the least Sparks of anothers knowledge deli­vered, as is very discernable to those that intently observe the little occasions he takes from one observation to make another) a Patience Invincible, that never rested in its unconfined enquiries of any difficulty, but at the bottome of it; a Good Nature Com­posed and Settled, a Communicativeness that Exercised and Im­proved him, an Obliging Carriage, that gave Access to the meanest Scholar, and had it of the greatest; a Distinct Understanding, that could as well Touch and Apprehend the least matters, as Com­pass and Comprehend the greatest; a Down-right, Plain and Ho­nest Temper, and what crowned all, a Serious and Holy Frame of Spirit, discovering its self in his Life and his Writing, where you will meet with such expressions as these. 1. His sayings of Preaching. When I am indeed able for these things [speaking of Preaching] I doubt not to have him with my mouth, because I mean to leave my self out. I have thus much left to wish [and I hope I do it well] to his Book [meaning the Scripture] that it might be read (as far as this is possible) in a full and fixed Translation, 2. Of the In­terpretation of Scripture. and upon that, a clear and disingaged Commentary: The way to do this, will not be to do the work a great, and undertake the whole, or any considerable part of the Book by one man, if he could live one Age. He that goeth upon this with any interest about him, let him do otherwise never so admirably, he doth indeed but Translate an Angel of Light into the Devil: I would not Render or Interpret one parcel of [Page 90] Scripture to an end of my own, though it were to please my whole Nation by it, Of the Alco­ran. to gain the World. One asked him, whether the Alcoran had any thing in it that could work upon a Rational Belief? He an­swered, That that which is every where called Religion, hath more of Interest, and the strong impressions of Education, than perhaps we consi­der of.

His Burial. There is no Scholar that would not know where lies the Re­mains of this great man.

Christ-Church hath his Body, He died at Kidlington, and was bu­ried at Christ-Church. the Church of England his Heart, whose Religion he designed to clear up in life, and sealed with his death; a death that was so much more a Martyrdom in his Bed, than others were upon the Scaffold; as it is a more exquisite mi­sery to dye daily with grief, than once by an Executioner. His ho­nest Epitaph is this.

THE greatest parts was not protection enough, you ob­serve in the last Instance, against the Barbarism of that Age, nor yet the best nature any security, as you may perceive by this, against the inhumanity of it; For there was one Iohn Barnston D. D. born of an ancient Family in Cheshire, his birth deserved civility, bred Fellow of Brazen-Nose Colledge in Oxford, his education pleaded for favour, Chaplain to Chancellor Egerton, and Residentiary of Salisbury; his preferments should have gained him respect, a peace­able and good Disposition, whereof take this eminent instance.

He sat Judge in the Consistory, when a Church-warden, out of whose house a Chalice was stolen, was Sued by the Parish to make it good to them, because not taken out of the Church­chest (where it ought to be reposited) but out of his private house. The Church-warden Pleaded, That he took it home on­ly to Scoure it; which proving in-effectual, he retained it till next morning, to Boil out the in-laid Rust thereof.

Well (said the Doctor) I am sorry that the Cup of Union and Communion should be the cause of difference and discord be­tween you. Go home, and live lovingly together, and I doubt not, but that either the Thief out of remorse will restore the same, or some charity come to pass accordingly. He Founded an Hebrew Lecture in Brazen-Nose Colledge, a piece of charity this, that should have covered a multitude of offences!

Hospitality, they say, hath slept since 1572. in the Grave of Ed­ward Earl of Derby, this Gentlemans Father's Master, and was a little awaked by this Gentleman, his Sons Chaplain and Friend from the year 1620. to the year 1640. carrying with him that ge­nius of Cheshire Hospitality, and free to his own Family, which is Generosity; to Strangers, which is Courtesie; and to the Poor, which is Charity.

A Native of Northampton-shire observeth, that all the Rivers of that County are bred in it, besides those [Ouse and Charwell] it lend­eth unto other Shires: So this good House-keeper had provisions [Page 92] arising from his own grounds, both to serve himself and to supply others, who, if poor, were in his house, as in their own.

The peculiar grace of his charity, was that with the good man in Plutarch, he would sometimes steal Largesses under the Pillows of Ingenious Men, who otherwise might refuse them, relieving so at once as well the modesty as the poverty of his Clients; not ex­pecting, but preventing their request. ‘God forbid the Heavens should never Rain, till the Earth first openeth her Mouth, seeing some grounds will sooner burn than chap.’

It was the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon's observati­on, in his excellent Speech Octob. 13. 1660. before the King's Ma­jesty and both Houses of Parliament. ‘That good Nature was a virtue so peculiar unto us, and so appropriated by Almighty God to this Nation, that it can be translated into no other Language, and hardly practised by any other People.’ This good nature was the praedominant temper of this good man, appearing in the chearfulness of his spirit, the openness and freedom of his converse, and his right English inclination, so that the spirit of fears and jea­lousies [that spiritus Calvinianus, spiritus Melancholicus] that prevail­ed in the beginning of these times [like the louring of the Sky be­fore a Storm] was as inconsistent with his temper and spirit, as it was contrary to other sober persons opinion and interest. His first disturbance was by some Croaking Lectures [the Product of the extraordinary heat of that time out of the mud of Mankind] who vied with him in long and thin discourses, in reference to whom he would apply a Story he took much pleasure in.

When a Noble-man of this Nation, had a controversie in, Law with a Brewer, ☞ A comparison between the despised pains of worthy men, and the admired no­thing of the unworthy. who had a Garden and a Dwelling-house bordering upon his: The Brewer gave it in charge to his Ser­vant, to put in so many Hogsheads of Water more into all his Brewings than he was wont to do, telling him, that such a sup­ply would bear the charge of his Suit with his Adversary; which being over-heard by the Noble-man, he sent presently to the Brewer, resolving he would no longer go to Law with him, who upon such easie and cheap terms could manage his part of the Suit. And when some ill-minded people thought to disturb the peace of his soul, by the confluence that attended his Neighbour's Ministry, and the solitude of his, he would at once please himself and displease them with this Repartee, That to one Customer you will see in a substantial Whole-saleman's Ware-house, ☞ you will meet with twenty in a pedling Retailer of Small-wares Shop.

A man would wonder how so good a nature could have an ene­my, but that, as Culpitius Severus noteth of Ithacius, that he so ha­ted Priscillian, that the very Habit which good men used, if it were such as Priscillian had used, made him hate them also; so it was observed in those times, that any thing that was Episcopal was so odious, that some men, whose Callings were much indeared by the excellent endowments of their persons, had yet their persons much disrespected by the common prejudices against their Cal­lings. Ah, shall I be so happy, as to be taken away from the evil to come! [Page 93] [They are his dying words] as Augustine before the taking of Hip­popareus before the Siege of Heidelbergh, and the good Christians before the Siege of Ierusalem! Shall I go [as old Gryneus said] ubi Lutherus cum Zwinglio optime jam convenit. ‘If they knew what it was to dye, they would not live so! When Bees Swarm, a little dust thrown in the Air setleth them, and when People are out of order, a little thought of their mortality would compose them: And since they are mortal, their hatred would not be immortal.’ O set bounds to our zeal, by discretion; to tumults, by law; to errours, by truth; to passion, by reason; and to di­visions, by charity. And so this good man went up to that place that is made up of his Temper: Mirth and peace.

THE two great Boundaries that stood in the way of the late Sedition, were Religion and Law, which guide and regulate the main Springs that move and govern the affections of reclaimed nature, Conscience and Fear; by the first of which, we are obliged as we live in the com­munion of those that hope for another world; And by the second, as we live in society with those that keep in order this. Ministers and Lawyers are the Oracles we depend upon for Counsel and Instruction in both those Grand Con­cerns, so far as that we think it our duty to submit to the rea­son of the one, and to believe the doctrine of the other, without scruple or argument, unless in matters most notoriously repug­nant to the Elements of Policy and Religion. These two profes­sions the Conspiracy endeavoured to make sure of, either by cajo­ling or persecuting, drawing the one half of them to sin with them, [oh what a case the Nation was in, when Juglers and Impostors took up its Benches and Pulpits] and marking out the other half for persecution by them: [miserable kingdom, where the Law is Treason, and Gospel a Misdemeanor!] One of those that could better endure the Injuries, than the Ways of the Faction, was Sir Robert Berkley, a person whose worth was set in his Pedigree, as a [Page 94] rich diamond in a fair Ring; his extraction not so much honouring his parts, as his parts did illustrate his extraction. When a Pippin is planted on a Pippin-stock, there groweth a delicious fruit upon it, called a Renate. When eminent abilities meet with an eminent person, the product of that happy concurrence is noble and gene­rous. The Heveninghams of Suffolk reckon twenty five Knights of their Family; the Tilneys of Norfolk are not a little famous for sixteen Knights successively in that House, and the Nauntons have made a great noise in history; seven hundred pounds a year they have injoyed ever since, or even before the Conquest. And this person took a great pleasure in reflecting on the eight Lords, forty two Knights, besides a great number of Gentlemen, that amongst them, possess nine thousand pounds a year, for five hundred years together. When he came to Study the Law, he knew that though to have an Estate be a sure First, yet to have Learning is a sure Se­cond, skill being no burthen to the greatest men; that being often in his mouth in effect, which I find in another Judges Book in ex­press terms: Haec studia adolescentiam alunt, senectutem oblectunt, secundas res ornant, adversis persugium praebent, delectant domi, non impediunt foris: pernoctant nobiscum, Peregrinantur, Rusticantur. He observed it a great happiness that he fixed on a profession, that was as Aristotle saith among the [...] suited to his genius and in­clination.

The reason of his considerable proficiency in his Profession, being judged the greatest Master of Maximes in his time, and therefore his only fault was, that being made Serjeant 3. Caroli with great Solemnity, and at the same Term sworn the King's Ma­jesties Serjeant at Law, he argued against the factious Members of the Parliament 4. Caroli, Sir Iohn Aliot, &c. so shrewdly, that Sir G. C. said of him, Prerogative and Law will not be over-run while Serjeant Berkley lives. A testimony of him suitable to the inscrip­tion on his ring when made Serjeant, Lege Deus, & Rex. Two things he abhorred. 1. The impudence of those men that by miscon­struction of Laws, misapplying of Presidents, torturing or embez­zeling of Records, turn the point of the Law upon its self; Wounding the Eagle with a feather from his own wing, and over­throwing the power of Princes by their authority. 2. The un­charitableness of others void of the ingenuity, either of Scholars, or indeed of men, who charged him and others with opinions which they heartily disclaimed, meerly because they think such an opinion flowed from his Principles; an uncharitableness that hath widened the breach irreconcilably among both Lawyers and Divines in this Nation. This was the reason, why when the other Judges were Charged with Misdeamenors [when the Parliament was upon the business of Ship-money] this Judge was Accused of Treason; and why when his fellows got off with a check and a small Fine, he suffered three years Imprisonment, and afterwards was released upon no lower terms, than a Fine of two thousand pounds, an incapacity of any Dignity or Office in the Common [...] wealth, and to be a Prisoner at large during pleasure.

[Page 95] After having been eleven years a good Justice in the Kings bench, he died heart-broken with grief Anno 1649. Aetatis 63.

Hard indeed were this Gentleman's Arguments against the times, but soft his words, often relating, and its seems always reflecting on Mnemon's discipline, who hearing a mercenary Souldier with many bold and impure reports exclaiming against Alexander, lent him a blow with his Launce, saying, That he had hired him to Fight against Alexander, and not to Rail. Only he would innocent­ly say sometimes, that he would make bold to deal with the wild and skittish multitude, that would not indure their Riders, but rushed like the horse to the battel, as Alexander did with his Buc [...] ­phalus, take them a little by the Bridle, and turn them to the Sun and light. Two things rendred his enemies willing, if it had been possible, to oblige him, Cum talis sit, utinam noster esset, and when that would not be, resolved to ruin him. [For it was a Maxime then, a godly and good Malignant, was the most dangerous Malignant. I remember the Waldenses are set for the greatest enemies to Rome, upon three accounts. 1. Because they were ancient. 2. Because they were Scripture-skilled. 3. Because they were very godly.] 1. His Religion practised to as great a height by him, as it was pre­tended by them. 2. His Charity (his Hands being every day his Executors, and his Eyes his Overseers) that relieved poor people as fast, as the Conspiracy made them so: his goodness finding as many ways to exercise his charity, as the men [who destroyed Ho­spitals, and made men poor] had to make objects of it, they not undoing men as fast as he succoured them; especially, with his counsel to poor Loyalty, which carried Fee enough in its very looks to him, who thought it honour enough to be Advocate to the King of Heaven, as he had been to his dread Soveraign, and so bound ex officio to be of Counsel. Whence (besides the common blessing of good Lawyers, That they seldome dye without an Heir, or making a Will) there accrewed, I cannot tell whether more comfort to himself, more honour to his afflicted cause, or more shame to his malicious adversaries; who to use Gregory Nazianzen's words when they persecuted him, persecuted virtue it self, which with his un­confined Soul making the man, he might be Imprisoned, but not Restrained; or if Restrained, Cloistered rather than Imprisoned; as an holy Anchorite, rather than an Offendor, retiring from a sad world, and not forced from it; where when alone, never less alone, not the suffering, but the cause making the punishment, as well as the Martyr; he thought his body always a streighter pri­son to his soul, than any prison could be to his body. In fine, he commended his prison for the same reason that Sir Iohn Fortescue commended the Inns of Court, Quod confluentium turba [studentis, meditantis] quietem perturbare non possit.

But I will cloath his free thoughts in the closest restraint, with the generous Expressions of a worthy Personage that suffered deeply in those times, and injoys only the conscience of having so suffered in these.

AFTER so many honorable persons that could do so much for his Majesty, here's a Reverend Person that could suffer for him; one that was not over-fond of the Government when it prospered, but faithful to it when it suffered, declaring as zealously against the scandalous Rebellion of the Puritans, as he had done for their pre­tended Religion, the Non-conformist Cavalier. One that bewailed his own scruples, and perswaded all men to have a care of them. In­somuch, as that when Bishop Brownrigge in his younger days went to him for his advice, he wished him, and other hopeful men, not to ensnare themselves into uselesseness.

In the midst of troublesome times, he quietly withdrew himself to heaven. He was born at Shotledge in Cheshire (the youngest of se­venteen Children) bred in Westchester, and Iesus Colledge in Cam­bridge. At a Disputation at one Commencement he was so faceti­ously solid (wild, yet sweet fruits which the stock brought forth before grafted with grace) that Oxford-men there present, courted [Page 130] him home with them, and would have planted him in their Uni­versity, save that he declined it.

He was a Passive Non-conformist, not loving any one the worse for difference in judgment about Ceremonies, the better for their unity of affections in Grace and Goodness: He used to retrench some hot spirits when envying against Bishops, telling them how God under that government had given a marvellous increase to the Gospel, and that godly men might comfortably comport therewith, under which Learning and Religion had so manifest an improvement. He was a good Decalogist, and to his dying day (how roughly soever used) stuck to his own judgment, of what he had written on the fifth Commandment, of obedience to lawful Authority.

Some riotous Gentlemen, casually coming to the Table of Sir Anthony Cope in Hanwell, were half-starved in the midst of a Feast, because refraining from Swearing (meat and drink to them) in the presence of Master Dod; of these, one after din­ner ingeniously professed, that he thought it had been impossi­ble for himself to forbear Oaths so long a time. Here at Mr. Dod (the stame of whose zeal turned all accidents into fuel) fell into a per­tinent and seasonable discourse (as more better at occasionals) of what power men have more than they know of themselves to refrain from sin, and how active Gods restraining grace would be in us to bridle us from wickedness, were we not wanting to our selves.

Being stricken in years, he used to compare himself to Samp­son when his hair was cut off. I rise, saith he, in the morning as Sampson did, and think, I will go out as at other times, Go, Watch, Walk, Work, Study, Ride, as when a young man; but alas! he quick­ly found an alteration, and so do I, who must stoop to age, which hath clip't my hair, and taken my strength away.

Being at Holdenby, and invited by an honorable Person to see that stately house, built by Sir Christopher Hatton (the Master-piece of English Architecture in that age) he desired to be excused, and to sit still, looking on a flower which he had in his hand. In this flower (saith he) I can see more of God, than in all the beautiful build­ings in the word. And at this day, as his flower is long since withered, that magnificent pile (that fair flower of art) is altogether blasted and destroyed.

It is reported, he was but coursly used by the Souldiers, who (they say) plundered him of his Linnen and Houshold-stuff, (though as some tell me) if so disposed, he might have redeemed all for a very small matter. However the good man still remem­bred his old Maxime, Sanctified afflictions are good promotions. And I have been credibly informed, that when the Souldiers brought down his Sheets out of the Chamber, into the Room where Mr. Dod sat by the fire-side, he (in their absence to search after more) took one pair, and clapt them under his Cushion whereon he sat, much pleasing himself after their departure that he had (as he said) Plundered the Plunderers, and by a lawful felony saved so much of his own to himself.

[Page 131] This good man, whom Nature made a witty, Industry a learned, and Grace a godly Divine, was first wrought to a seriousness, by a false charge upon him by the Colledg Bowcer, that [...]e owed for some of his Pupils Quarteridge, what he had truly paid; a charge that put him to a Feaver (and with the consideration of that passage Rom. 7. the Law is spiritual, and I am carnal, sold under sin; and that (as he said) he neither did, nor knew how to pray) brought him to a sense of his sin and state, and after much humiliation, to a comfortable adherence to God in the Lord Jesus, according to the sure mercies of the Covenant of grace: And when his ways pleased the Lord, this adversary desired to be admitted to peace with him, recollecting the payment of the money, and proving ever after the most faithful friend he had in all the Colledge. And afterwards improved to an Eminence, by assisting Dr. Fulke, Dr. Whitacre, and Mr. Chadderton in an Analysis and Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and other the hardest portions of Scrip­ture; and after a nonplus in his first Sermon at St. Maries, by tying himself to Words and Phrases, by observing this Method, viz.

I. Analizing his Text, and observing, 1. The Author. 2. The occasion. 3. The Coherence. 4. The Scope, Design and Circum­stances; which he said was a great help to avoid confusion, to pre­vent impertinence, and to remedy the weakness of capacity and memory in Preachers and Hearers, provided the division of the words were according to his direction. 1. Agreeable to the main drift of the words. 2. Into but three or four parts at the most. 3. Yet taking in the whole Text. 4. And that so, that each part may depend upon, be linked to another. 5. Avoiding subdivisi­ons. And 6. Expressing the parts more or less in clear and po­pular terms.

II. Opening it with these rules. 1. That there is but one litte­ral sence of the Scripture. 2. That if there were no peculiarity in the Phrase, a short Paraphrase was best. 3. That the Text is to be first accurately divided, and then clearly explicated. 4. That the Doctrine should be raised from each head as it was explained. And that either, 1. Grammatically, by either having recourse to the Originals, or observing the Synonimous expressions: Or, 2. Rhetorical, by reducing improper expressions to a proper signification: Or 3. Logical, by distinguishing doubtful ex­pressions, and defining the obscure. And all, 1. With a respect to the Analogy of faith in the Lords Prayer, the Decalogue, the Apostles Creed, and the Doctrine of the Sacraments. 2. Reduce­ing each observation to a certain head or common place of Divi­nity. 3. Keeping to the primary scope and mind of the spirit in the place. 4. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and one place of Scripture with another, like or unlike it; but always the more obscure by the more perspicuous. 5. Keeping an eye upon the context and the circumstances thereof. And taking in 6. The consentient Interpretation of the Catholick Church, and the most eminent men that were acquainted with Gods wil in it, seldom per­plexing the people with variety of Expositions of the same Text.

[Page 132] III. Drawing out the several Doctrines of the Text, either di­rectly from the express words of the Text, or indirectly, 1. From the Coherence. 2. The Occasion. 3. The Principal Scope. 4. The Form. 5. The Order. 6. The Connexion. 7. The Variety of the words signification. 8. The Matter, whether Ecclesiastical, Aecono­mical, or Political. 9. The Similitute, Gal. 4. 12. 10. From Allego­rical Proportions which are to be used. 1. Soberly and sparing­ly. 2. Not far fetched, but proper. 3. Briefly. 4. Rather for the reforming of the life, than the proving of any Article of Faith. 5. And after the genuine sence of the word be first sincerely given. 11. From the Circumstance of Time, Person, Place. 12. From Ex­amples wherein it must be observed.

• 1. That Examples are in their kinds, Rules, 1 Cor. 10. 11. Rom. 4. 18, 23.
• 2. That whatever good men did as Christians, or Saints, we are bound to do.
• 3. That whatever they did, as endued with a special calling or a peculiar gift, all persons called to the same calling, and blessed with the same gift, are bound to do.
• 4. That whatever good men did ordinarily, must be imitated or­dinarily, and what upon especial occasions must be followed upon those special occasions.

IV. Handling the Doctrines so drawn out. 1. By way of proba­tion; and that,

1. By testimonies of Scripture and other Authors; in reference to which he practised these Rules:

• 1. Each Doctrine was grounded on two Scripture testimo­nies at least, which he opened and applied.
• 2. Each Quotation was well studied.
• 3. And produced in the Scripture phrase, and therefore read out of the Bible.
• 4. Choice, and clear.
• 5. One out of the Old Testament, another out of the New, seldom out of the Apocrypha, unless for institution of manners.
• 6. With a Preface, shewing the end of each Quotation.
• 7. The Quotation of Fathers, Philosophers, School-men, Historians, was choice and sparing, only when there might be such an Emphasis in the place, as might touch and work upon the conscience, by reasons which he ur­ged (not in respect of the matter to be proved, for that stood firm enough upon Gods testimony, but of the Au­ditors weakness, whose faith was to be established) some concluding, others only illustrating, all grounded on the Scripture, and applied distinctly to the respective mem­bers of the Doctrine.

V. How artificially would he intimate his Observations in his Expositions! How orderly would he dispose of them according to the respective Members of his Divisions! How pithily would he dispatch his less principal Points; which he shewed his people he [Page 133] observed, but could not handle; discoursing his more Principal ones in the order he raised them, and dispatching one before he medled with the other! How solidly, pithily, and prudently, he deduced his Proposition (waving all vain, tedious, or controvert­ed subjects) in clear Scripture-expression! How sweetly would he paraphrase, and insinuate them to the Auditors! How seasona­bly would he insist upon the Points most agreeable to the present time and place! Being thus furnished, this excellent Person first bestowed his pains weekly among the good People of Ely; then, upon his great success there, he was recommended by Mr. Chad­derton (who kept an Office as it were for the supply of Patrons, Schools, and other places with hopeful young men) to Mr. Cope, afterwards Sir Anthony, at Hanwell in Oxfordshire; and after twenty years continuance there (where, upon his seven first Sermons, he was with the joint consent of Bishop, Patron, and People, legally established) preaching constantly every Lords day in the morning, catechizing in the afternoon, keeping hospitality Sundays and Wednesdays, giving himself much to fasting and prayer; and up­on his Father-in-law Greenham's advice to him (when he went to complain of the opposition he met with) viz. Queting for it 1 Pet 1. 7. [...] which he c [...]nceived to signifie af­fliction that trieth saith; saying, that the word espe­cially should be rendred ex­ploratorum rather th [...] explora [...], Son, Son, when af­fliction lieth heavie, sin lieth light; a saying Mr. Dod made use of to his dying day, professing that it did him a great deal of good, bear­ing afflictions patiently; being wont to say, that sanctified afflicti­ons are great promotions. He removed to Fenny-Compton in War­wick-shire; and thence, upon some discontent between him and Bishop Neal, to Cannons-Ashbie in Northampton-shire, where he obli­ged most of the Gentry of that greatest County of Gentlemen in England; and thence he was invited by Mr. Richard Knightley to Tansley in the same County, where his Hospitality and Charity grew so with his Estate, that there was not a poor body left in his Neighbourhood, he having set them all in a way to live.

A Father (who shall pass nameless) is censured by some for his over-curiosity in his conceit, rather than Comment, Matth. 5. 2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them; for Christ (saith he) taught them often when he opened not his mouth, by his example, miracles, &c. Here I am sure, according to Mr. Dod, when his mouth was shut (prohibited preaching) instructed almost as much as before, by his holy demeanour, and pious discourse. A good Chimist, who could extract Gold out of other mens lead; and how loose soever the promises of other mens discourse, piety was always his natural and unforced conclusion inferred thereupon. He had much imployment in comforting such as were wounded in their spirits; being sent for not onely nigh at home, but also into remote Countries.

There was a Gentlewoman who had a great worldly Estate, and a loving Husband, but she was so sadly assaulted with tentations, that she often attempted to make away her self. Mr. Dod was sent for to come to her, and the Lord so blessed his Counsels, Exhorta­tions, and Prayers, that she did not onely recover out of her an­guish of spirit, but she was afterwards taken notice of for her sin­gular [Page 134] piety; and the Lord so ordered, that this affliction was not onely the means of her conversion, but also of her Husbands; so that both of them were a great mercy in the Countrey where they lived, promoting Religion according to their power, and enter­taining and cherishing godly people: She lived divers years quiet­ed in her heart, and being rich in good works; and when she lay on her death-bed, Mr. Dod was sent for to her again, who spake of Heaven, and to fit her for that Glory: She told him, that she felt the comforts of God, and that she could as hardly at that time for­bear singing, as formerly in child-bearing she could forbear crying; and shortly after she died.

There was a Gentleman related to a Noble Family, so perplexed in his mind, that he hath been known in hard frosts to go bare­footed, that the pain of his feet might divert his thoughts. Master Dod was sent for to him, who was his spiritual Physician to heal him.

He always expected troubles, and prepared himself for them; and put this difference between the affliction for which we are provided, and others; that the one are but blows on the harness, but the other are blows on the flesh.

Upon a time when an affliction was upon him, which went to his very heart, and in the expectation whereof he wept; yet when he saw that it was the will of God that it should be so, he said to one whom he loved, I will go and bless God, for I believe this shall be for my good.

He gave himself much to fasting and prayer; and when he fast­ed, his custome was to abstain from the dinner of the day before, to the supper of the day after, his diseases being mostly Feavers; in one of which, when his Physician Dr. Oxenbridge said to him, Well, now I have hope of your recovery; he answered, You think to comfort me by this, but you make my heart sad; it is, as you should tell one who had been sore weather-beaten on the Sea, and conceiving that he was arrived at the Haven where his soul longed to be, that he must come back again to be tossed with new winds and waves. In his greater health and prosperity, he would speak how he desired to be dissolved: Upon a time a Gentleman blamed him for it; saying, He liked not servants who would have their wages before they had done their work; But he seemed to be constant in this desire, alledging these reasons among others, That God had given him a setled assurance of Hea­ven, and a sight of the excellency of Heaven; and that the Earth was but a prison, and Heaven the Palace; and there was perfect holiness and happiness.

He took all occasions to do good when he was in company, by godly speeches seasoning those which came to him, that unless it were their own fault, they might be the better for him.

Being invited to a great Feast, where there were sundry Gen­tlemen, and some of them began to swear, he stopt them by dis­coursing of the greatness of that sin; and that he might not bur­then their memories, he quoted three Chapters, every one was the first; as, the first of Zachary, the first of Matthew, and the first [Page 135] of Iames; and he opened those Scriptures in such sort, that they were all hushed, and did not again offend in that kind while he was present amongst them.

The Word of God was his great delight, his meditation was of it in the night, and his discourse in the day. When those that were with him were speaking of earthly things, he would finde out some way to bring in Heavenly. When he could not sleep in the night, he would say, That the meditation of the Word was sweeter to him than sleep. When he had preached twice on the Sabbath, and was a weary, yet to those that came to him, he would go on afresh in holy Discourses; and the comforts which he found in his soul, made him sometimes forget his body, that he hath been speaking till he was ready to faint.

His eminency was in frequency, aptness, freeness, and largeness of godly discourse; in which respect it may be said of him, that in the Countrey where he lived, none were known who therein were equal to him. But he was, Mi cans inter omnes, velut inter ignes luna minores.

He was very merciful himself, and to move Parents that were rich to mercy, he would say thus: You are caring and contriving to lay up for your children; but lay up for your selves a good foundation a­gainst the time to come, being rich in good works; you will lay up trea­sure in the earth, which is an unsafe place, lay up treasure in Heaven, that is the sure and safe place.

Master Throgmorton, an approved good man, dying the same year of a Consumption, came to Asby, not far from Tansley, to have the help of Master Dod's comforts and counsels; he was oppressed with melancholy, and a little before he gave up his soul to Christ, What can ye say of him that is going out of the world, and can finde no comfort? To whom he answered, What will you say of our Saviour Christ, who when he was going out of the world found no comfort, but cried out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? This speech refreshed Master Throgmorton, and within a little space of time af­ter this, he went to his heavenly Inheritance.

Master Dod, as he was of a weaned disposition from the World himself: so he laboured to wean others. He put this difference be­tween rich Christians and poor, That for poor Christians their Father kept the purse; but the rich Christians keep the purse in their own hands: But it might oftner fall out, and did, and there­fore the purse was better in the Fathers hand than in the Christi­ans. He was wont to compare wicked men to waves of the Sea; those which were of a great Estate, were great waves; those which were of small estate, were small waves; but all were restless as waves.

To a friend of his, that raised from a mean estate to worldly greatness, he sent word, That this was but as if he should go out of a Boat into a Barge or Ship, but there ought to be a serious and godly remembrance, that while we are in this world we are upon the sea. He often repeated this, That nothing could hurt us but our own sins, and they should not hurt us, if we truly re­pented [Page 136] for them; and nothing could do us good but Gods favour, and that we should be sure of, if we unfeignedly sought it. Speak­ing of Davids penning the 51. Psalm, after his murther and adulte­ry, put this gloss upon it, That hearty and true repentance shall have cause to praise the Lord for his pardoning mercy.

He said, Afflictions were Gods Potions, he might sweeten by faith and faithful prayer; but we for the most part made them bitter, puting into Gods cup the ill ingredients of our own impatience and unbelief. He gave this reason why many of Gods people liv­ed uncomfortably, for that they shut their ear against what God said, where they should open it; and they opened their ear to what their carnal reason, and Satan, and the world said, where they should shut it: but (said he) the Psalmist was wiser, Psal. 85. 8. he would hear none of them all, I will hear what the Lord God will speak.

His Preaching was searching, and when some did suppose that he had Informers and Spies, because he came so close to them; he answered, That the Word of God was searching, and that if he was shut up in a dark Vault, where none could come at him; yet allow him but a Bible and a Candle, and he should Preach as he did.

He had an excellent gift in similitudes, which did flow freely and frequently from him, as all those knew, who either heard him Preach publickly, or discourse privately. He called Death the friend of Grace, though it were the enemy of Nature, and where­as the Word, and Sacraments, and Prayer, do but weaken sin, death builds it. Speaking of prayer, he said, a man was never in a hard condition, unless he had a hard heart, and could not pray.

Having Preached out of that Text, O woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee even as thou wilt. He invited some women to Dinner, and told them it was a usual saying, Let a Woman have her will, and then she shall be quiet. Now the way for a woman to have her will, is to have a strong faith, and to pray as that woman in the Gospel did.

Upon a time, when he had Preached long, so that it was some­what late before he went to dinner, he said, You shall have some Gentlemen will follow Hounds from seven in the morning, till four or five in the afternoon, because they love the cry of Dogs, which to me was unpleasant hearing. So if we love the Word, we should be content, though the Minister stood above his hour. And he added, me thinks it much better to hear a Minister preach, than a Kennel of Hounds to bark. Speaking of recreation, he said, he marvelled what the vocation of many was, who were so eager for recreation. And if we should come into a house, and see many Physick-boxes and Glasses, we would conclude some body is sick. So when we see Hounds, and Hawks, and Cards, and Dice, we may fear there is some sick soul in that Family. He told some friends, that if he were to pass sentence who was a rich man, he would not look into his Purse or Chest, how much gold he had laid up, but look into his heart, what promises were treasured up there. [Page 137] For we count him rich that is rich in bonds, and the pleading of the promises in prayer, is suing of the bonds.

Speaking to a Minister, who was to go to a place where there was but small means, he told him, That his care was to Preach, and do God service, and then God would provide for him. When he preached at Fausley, & was much resorted unto, he told a godly man of his acquaintance, that if the Country knew so much by him, as he knew by himself, they would not have him in so much admiration.

Speaking about going to Law, his opinion was, that it was bet­ter to buy Love than Law; for one might have a great deal of Love for a little, whereas he could have but a little Law for a great deal. He would frequently say, that was not well, which ended ever­lastingly ill, and that a man was never undone till he was in hell.

This was a Speech which he often used, that if it were lawful to envy any, he would envy those that turned to God in youth, whereby they escape much sin and sorrow, and were like unto Ia­cob, that stole the blessing betimes. He died (praying heartily for the King, and declaiming as heartily against the Rebellion, that would make such a breach in this State; and be such a scandal to this Church, as the Child unborn should rue and bewail.

Anno Christi 1645. Aetat. suae 96.

WE remember, when Oratory and Faction had attained here the same heighth that a Learned Man observeth, they had attained at Rome together, (for Speeches and Sedition are inseparable companions.) It was reckoned a quaint strain upon Mr. Prynne, Bastwick, and Burtons sufferings to say, History of Par­liament. p. 79. ‘That it seemed to many Gentlemen, a spectacle no less strange than sad, to see three of several professions, the noblest in the kingdom, Divinity, Law, and Physick, exposed at one time to such ignominious punishment,’ forsooth: And truly we are at present under a great doubt, whether it was a more sad, or a more pleasant sight, to see so many eminent men, of all [Page 138] these and other ingenious professions, act so chearfully, and suffer so patiently for that Government, which those before-mentioned, endeavoured first to disgrace, and at last to overthrow. First, de­bauching men from their love and reverence to Superiors, by ex­posing them to scorn and contempt; and next, from their duty to them, by opposing and fighting them.

There went immediately before, a very Reverend Divine, that in the midst of many discouragements, zealously discried the re­sistance of the Supream and Lawful power, as against Conscience: And now he is followed by a worthy Lawyer, that eagerly opposed any thing that tended to it, as against Law.

Sir Thomas Trevor was born Iuly the 6. 1586. (a day memorable in that Family for the birth of six successives principal branches of it, born upon it) with this remarkable occurrence, That whereas most other Children are born to this sad world crying, he was ob­served to smile almost as soon as born, an argument of the chear­ful temper he was of, until he died. His Temper lead him to the active ways of a Souldier, or a Courtier, but his judgment carried him to the more studious employment of a Lawyer, wherein he promised great proficiency from that towardliness at School, that never deserved correction, and success in the University, that ne­ver failed of applause; in both such strong parts, that his Master would say of him, This Boy hath not the patience to stay at the words in Authors, he is so inquisitive after the thing. And his Tutor, That he had a strange Natural Logick.

Saint Rumbald [I write what I read, not what I believe] as soon as he came out of his Mothers womb falling into the Churches bo­some, cried three times the first minute of his life, I am a Christian; made a confession of his Faith, desired to be Baptized, chose his God-fathers, his Name, and his Font. This the fable, the moral shall be the early seriousness of this person; seriousness and devo­tion, being of Vives his opinion, that a pious Youth resisting its own temptations, and allaying its own heat, makes a comfortable and a serviceable Age, neither sad with a mans own remembrances of younger follies, nor useless by the disgrace of others observing of them.

Many men are lost in their more reduced years, by reason of the scandal of their younger ones. Though the light when grown, pours fuller streams, its yet more precious in its virgin beams; and though the third and fourth may do the cure, the eldest tear of the Balsome is most pure. One of Seneca's few men you have here, Qui consilio se suaque disponunt, caeteri eorum more qui fluminibus in­natant, non eunt, sed feruntur. And the rather was he pious, be­cause he would say often that sentence of Cicero, Pietas justitia quaedam est adversus deos, pietate sublata, fides etiam, societas humani generis, & una excellentissima virtus justitia imo omnis probitas tolli­tur. And because he observed that the difficulties of this study was not to be overcome without the quietness of heart, and com­posedness and calmness of mind, that all men aim at, and good men only injoy.

[Page 139] Happy was the mixture of heat and moisture in his head; the la­ter serving his memory and judgment, and the former his appre­hension and fancy, that at once pierced into the depth, and look round all the little circumstance of Cases; to which his wary di­strust, patient consideration, and slow conclusion and determina­tion, contributed much; being used to say, That we could not have too little faith as to any thing proposed to us in this world, nor too much for the things offered us in reference to another World: Comparing the failures of his memory to the fluxes of his body, both arguing the weakness of the retentive faculty; there being seldom a discourse wherein, with Curio the Orator in Tully, he either added not some head he had not thought on, or omitted a point he had: he finding true that passage of Seneca; Res est ex omnibus partibus maxime de­licata memoria in quam primum senectus incurrit, frigido jam incales­cente, & exarescente cerebro. His smooth contexture of Discourse and flowing speech; his command of himself and temper, seldom either disordering himself, or disturbing his Argument with per­turbation of mind, although disturbance would heat him some­times to an improvement of his Eloquence; insomuch, that (as it was reported of Severus Cassius, that would do best ex tempore) his Antagonists were afraid to anger him who had most wit in his anger, as much as Aristotle observeth, others designed to provoke their Adversaries, that they might interrupt them. So weighty, though not bold, his Assertions; so choice, though not nice, his Speech; for the niceness of words breaks the weight of Verborum minutiae rerum frangunt pen­dera. A. Gel. Argu­ments; so plain his dealing; so becoming and grave his Carriage and Address, and so intire his Reputation, that besides several re­posed in him by several Noblemen, he was made Solicitor to King Charles the I. when King; by the wise King Iames, upon the Earl of Pembroke and Bishop Williams recommendation, and in the first year of the said King, made Serjeant, and preferred Kings Serje­ant (Sir Iohn Walter then and he giving Rings with this Inscripti­on, Regi Legi servire Libertas;) and the same year one of the Ba­rons of the Exchequer; in which place he was tender of two things, the Churches, and the Kings Rights; having never (as we heard) taken Fee, when a Pleader either of an Orthodox Minister, or of a Kings Servant. The first Books of the Law he would recommend to young Students, was the Historical, as the years and tearms of Common-law, permitting Finch, Dodderidge, Fortescue, Fulbeck and others, that writ of the nature of the Law; among which Books, the Called Re­gistrum Can­cellariae. Register is authentique, Speculum Iustitiariorum is full and satisfactory, Glanvill de Legibus & consuetudinibus Regni Angliae, is useful and practical, the Old Tenures tried and appro­ved, Bracton methodical, rational and compleat; Britton learned and exact, though his Law in some cases be obsolete and out of date; Fleta, deep and comprehensive; Fortescue, sinewy and curi­ous; Stuthams Abridgement, well contrived, and of ready use; Littletons Tenures, sound, exact, and the same thing to us Common Lawyers, that Iustinians Institutes is to Civil Lawyers (Littleton being deservedly said not to be the name of a Lawyer, but of the Law it [Page 140] self;) Fitz-Herberts Abridgement, and Natum brevium, Vide Epist. Coci. & Com­meatar, in Littlen on, Ploydens Comment. 5. 8. 6 elaborate and well-digested Collections; Doctor and Student: A good account of the nature, grounds, and variety of Laws; Stamfords Pleas of the Crown and Prerogative, weighty smart, and methodical: Rastals Book of Entries, and the Lord Brooks's Abridgement, commended by my Lord Cook as good repertories of the year-books of the Law; Theobalds Book of Writs, sound and full; the next explanatory Books were the next; in which kind, Institutes, Exposition of Magna Char­ta, and other Ancient Sta­tutes, Pleas of the Crown, Iu­risdiction of Courts, Books of Entry and Reports Books of which it might be said, [...]s it was said of Plutarch in another re­spect, that if all Law were lost, it might be found in him. Cooks Works, and Ploy­dens Commentaries pass for Oracles, and Mr. Lambards Books for the most exquisite Antiquities; and in the third place, Reports; among which, those of Cook and Crook, are profound, fundamental, and material; those of Popham, Hobart, Owen, Hutton, Winch, Lea, Het­ley, Leonard Brownlow, Bulstrode, Yelverton, Bridgeman, are sinewy, clear, pertinent, useful and approved; and especially a man must have the Year-books and Statutes. His Counsel to the King was with the like freedom as these directions to the young Gentlemen; and his Judgment on the Bench, with as much faithfulness as either.

The English in a year of great mortality amongst them, had their children born without their cheek-teeth: This Judge especially in sad times, and in a sad case, would have all Pleadings without bi­ting; his Nature was pitiful and ingenuous; insomuch, that he might be called, as Tostanus was, The Patron of Infirmities. His Dis­course was always charitable, either to excuse their failings, or mitigate their punishments. The favour he shewed others, he found not himself: His concurring with his Brethren about Ship­money, being aggravated with the most odious circumstances, and punished with the severe usage of a Prison, a Fine, and the loosing of his Place; a great argument certainly of his Integrity, that in a searching Age, he that had been Judge near upon twenty years, could be found guilty of no fault, but avowing the Law according to his Judgement, and being of opinion, That the King, in case of danger, whereof he was Iudge, might tax the Nation to secure its self. An opinion so innocent, that Justice Hutton himself, who went to his grave with the reputation of an honest Judge, would protest he could heartily wish true, it being as much for the Interest of the Nation, as it seemed to him against the Law of it: So legal, that Baron Denham, though he was sick and could not debate it with his Brethren, and something scrupulous that if he had been there, he could not have agreed with them: yet it appears his dissent was not from his apprehension of the injustice of the Tax, called Ship­money, in general, but from some particular irregularity in the proceeding with Mr. Hampden in particular; as appears from this Certificate, dated May 26. 1638. directed to the Lord Chief Justice Brampston.

And this Gracious Answer of his Majesty to him.

THIS Gentleman might say as one of the fore-going Judges did, That he had been a very happy man, had it not been for that he was born in that age, wherein it was fatal to give good counsel. He was Born Anno 1587. at ... in York-shire, most of his relation taking to the Sword that gives laws (whereof 3. slain at Musele­burgh-field, 2. died in the suppression of the Northern Rebellion 63 in 88. and 2. (whereof that excellent person Sir Iohn Ratcliffe, who when with Sir Charles Rich being sick, and desired by the Duke of Buckingham to retire into the Ships, returned, No, they came to [Page 149] fight; and leaning on their Pikes challenged death its self) at the Isle of Rhee. He was bred to the Laws that were made by the Sword, so earnest was he in the behalf of those laws, when there was a suspicion that they should be made void by an Arbitrary power and Prerogative, that I find Sir Thomas Wentworth removed from York-shire to Essex, and Sir George Ratcliffe to Hertford-shire, to be confined for stickling in the Parliaments, Anno 1625, 1626. and yet so zealous he was for the Kings Prerogative and just Power, when it was in a real hazard to be over-born with tumults and combina­tions, in the behalf of pretended Laws, that I find Sir George Rat­cliffe involved in all the Earl of Straffords troubles. None will question his worth, that considereth him as the great Consident of that Earl in his affairs; and all persons must needs confess his faith­fulness that observeth him that excellent persons companion in all his sufferings. The Lord Viscount Wentworth understood men and therefore when he was advanced President in the North, he made him Atturney General at York, and he was so sensible of serviceableness there, that when he was called to the Leiutenan­cy of Ireland, he carried him as his chief favourite over thither. Where his contrivance was so good, that Cardinal Mazarine gave 10000. Pistols for a Copy of a model, pretended to be Sir George Ratcliffes, Intituled A model for the improvement and safeguard of Ire­land. So happy his faculty of perswading, that it was said of his Speeches, as it was of Ciceroes, That the longest was the best. And so nimble his activity, that (though sometimes he permitted a design to be matter of discourse before it was finished, to see how it re­lished with the vulgar, and try how it appeared to the wise) gene­rally he thought not an affair well done, unless it was done before others thought of it. So subtile his wit, that a Reverend Judge upon his proceeding Barrister in the Inns of Court, Pronounced, Likely to prove either the best or the worst Instrument in the Common­wealth. And that he would see through and unravil the intrigues of the most intangled business, or the most reserved man that he had to do with. And of so comprehensive a brain, that besides the Customs, the Manufactue, the Products, and the Trade of Ire­land, wherein he had a great share. He managed 4. of the 25 Cole-mines, 6. of the 86. Mills, and had in his hand 12. of the 275. Woods in York-shire (that Country of which Hoornuis reports its bigger than his Masters seven Provinces, and as much under Gods blessing, though not so much under the warm Sun, as other parts of England; by the same token, that when the Earl of Crawford looked upon it as the Garden of Brittain, the Earl of Traquaire answered, It might be a Garden, but that it was too far from the House, meaning London.) The Gagites is a precious stone to be found only in the Eagles nest, and this Gentleman was a man of such choice parts, as could be expected only in the sharp-sighted Earl of Straffords Cabinet; who would not entertain your fine, but useless wits, which he compared to Jet, the Northern Com­modity, that could draw straw to it only, having no power over more weighty bodies. But liked this person the better for ano­ther [Page 150] quality; It is remarkable, that hardships raised his spirit, as water inflames Jet; and easiness allayed it, as oil quenches that. When Sir Thomas Challoner (Tutor to Prince Henry) had found Alum near Gesburgh in this County; On this occasion, they are the words of an eye-witness, transcribed by my worthy friend, ‘he observed the leaves of trees thereabouts more deeply green, than elsewhere, the Oakes broad-spreading, but not deep rooted, with much strength, but little sap; the earth clayish, variously coloured; here white, there yellow, there blew, and the ways therein, in a clear night, glistering like glass; symptomes which first suggested unto him the presumption of Minerals, and of Alum most properly.’ Some Gentlemen of the neighbour-hood burying their estates under the earth before they could get any Alum above ground, until Sir George contrived the bringing over of forraign Work-men (in Hogsheads, to prevent discovery) from Rochel in France, which advanced the discovery to a Mine Royal, Rented by Sir Paul Pinder, who paid yearly

Besides a constant salary to 800 Men at a time, until the good people at Westminster, that were designing one Monopoly of three kingdoms to themselves, were pleased to Vote this, and above 40. more of this Gentlemans pulblick discoveries, Monopolies to the respective Proprietors.

As he noted of his beloved Horses (for plenty and excellency of which he and his Country were both very eminent) that they had a mediocrity of necessary properties, being neither so Slight as the Barbe, nor so Slovenly as the Flemming, nor so Fiery as the Hungarian, nor so Aeiry as the Spanish Gennets, nor so Earthy and heavy as the German-horse, (these are his words transcribed by ano­ther Author without any thanks to him) so I may character him, not so Nimble as a French-man, not so Slow as a Spaniard, not so Reserved and Observant as the Italian, not so Fierce as a German, not so Patient as a Dutch-man, but a collection of all indowments into one man, like that of all the beauties of Greece to form one Venus.

Sir George was hugely pleased to reflect, that as those (they are Melchior Canus his words) who out of curiosity and novelty op­pose antiquity, teach posterity how they may contradict them: So those that were so perverse in disparaging the actions of their Su­periors, did but chalk out the way for their inferiors to disparage theirs; especially, since it was too obvious, how easily the people might be exasperated against them whom they had raised against others. The [...], the many running into opinions of men and things, as Calderinus in Lud. Vives did to Masse, Eamus ergo (said he) quia sic placet in communes errores. And that he thought it not more unpardonable in him to dissent from them, than it was in [Page 151] them to differ from their Superiors and Ancestors. [...], Arist. Eth. 1. 6.) The one rendring him only [...] ingeniously bold, the other them [...] audaciously pre­sumptuous: Refreshing himself with that of Mimnermus,

In that time which he might call infoelix seculum, as well as Bel­larmine calleth that Age between 900, and 1100. when men of the same character that Vives gives Iames Arch-bishop of Genoa, com­monly called Iames de Voragine, for devouring books as these peo­ple did men; Homines ferres oris & plumbis cordis of three Nati­ons, conspired the ruin of one man, of whom we may say as Clau­dian did of Ruffinus (offensis Ruffinus divide terris) though all that they could do was to charge him home, and Calumniari fortiter, that something might stick, though his Litchfield Adversary, like a Coventry-man, did his best (worst) at first, for the Earl of Strafford his Patron, since he setled a perplexed conveiance for him at Lon­don, acquainted him with so many serviceable men that were at his devotion in the North; (for the observing of and acquainting himself with choice men was his peculiar faculty) and was so active both on the Popular and the Royal account, being Charged November 13.

Sir George Ratcliffe was sent for the same day by a Serjeant at Arms dispatched into Ireland, who accordingly December 4. came in, and yielded himself to the Speaker, from whence he was Com­mitted to Custody, and an Impeachment drawn up against him, consisting of these Articles:

First, That he had conspired and joyned with the Earl of Strafford, to bring into Ireland an Arbitrary Government, and to subvert the Fundamental Laws.

Secondly, That he had indeavoured to bring in an Army from Ireland, to subdue the Subjects of England.

Thirdly, That he joyned with the Earl to use Regal Power, and to deprive Subjects of their Liberty and Property.

Fourthly, That he joyned with him to take out forty thou­sand pounds out of the Exchequer of Ireland, and bought To­bacco therewith, and converted the profit thereof to their own uses.

Fifthly, That he hath traiterously Confederated with the Earl to countenance Papists, and built Monasteries, to alienate the af­fections of the Irish Subjects from the subjection of England.

Sixthly, That they had agreed together to draw away the Subjects of Scotland from the King.

Seventhly, That to preserve himself, and the said Earl, he had laboured to subvert the Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament in Ireland.

An Impeachment they drew, that they might confine him; but prosecuted not, lest they should shame themselves, but permitting him to go whither he would; they waited the event of things, and when that fell out much beyond their expectation, they ad­ventured [Page 152] to condemn him unheard: In all their Treaties with his Majesty, inserting Sir George Ratcliffe (that Mr. Hampden said, was one of the most dangerous men that adhered to the King) for one that they would have utterly excluded Pardon. The main instance where­by they intended to render him odious, was doubtless his severity to the Children and Relations of those that came under the lash, as disaffected to the Government; but since Proles est pars parentis, and one part of the body suffereth for the offences of the other, (the hand steals, the feet are stocked; the tongue forswears, the ears are cut off) it is thought con [...]istent with Divine Justice, and necessary for humane prudence, to correct the Children with the Parents, that those people that are so hardy as to adventure their own Concerns for the disturbance of the Publick, may yet be fear­ful of troublesome practises, with regard to the Interest of their Innocent Children; those Pledges Common-wealths have that men will be quiet. When he had privately detected the Conspi­racious, laid open the Plots, and taken off many Instruments of the Faction, he died Anno 165. ... Leaving these remarques behinde him, 1. That with Tamerlain, he never bestowed place on a man that was over-ambitious for it. 2. That he feared more the com­mitting, than the discovery of an Irregularity; That he gave away to Charitable Uses a tenth of what he got, that he loved a Grave rather than a gawdy Religion; often using Tully's saying of the Roman Lady, (in reference some practices of the Roman Church) that she danced better than became a modest Woman: Being dead in the lower part of his body of a Palsie, as we are informed, his Soul retired to the [...], the Upper-room of his Clay Cottage, as much employed in Contemplation the latter end of his Life, as he had been in action in the beginning.

IN a time when this Kingdom flourished with Magnifi­cent Edifices, the Trade of the Nation had brought the Wealth of the Indies to our doors; Learning and all good Sciences were so cherished, that they grew to Ad­miration, and many Arts of the Ancients buried and forgotten by time, were revived again; no Subjects happier, though none less sensible of their Happiness. Security increasing the Husband mans stock, and Justice preserved his Life; the poor might Reverence, but needed not fear the Great; and the Great though he might despise, yet could not injure his more obscure Neighbor; and all things were so administred, that they seemed to conspire to the Publick good; except that they made our Hap­piness too much the cause of our Civil Commotions, and brought our Felicity to that height, that by the necessity of humane Affairs, that hath placed all things in motion, it must necessarily de­cline. At this happy time, thus happily expressed by Dr. Perrin­chiefe, and Dr. Bates, it was that I will not say the City of Lon­don, for the better part of it abhorred it, but to phrase the Men the Lord Digby's way, I know not what, 15000 Londoners, all that could be got to subscribe, complained in a Petition that Trade was obstructed, Grievances increased, Patents and Monopolies multi­plied meerly because of the Bishops, who were looked up­on as the Great Grievance of the Kingdom; in somuch that this Do­ctor who was born in a Puritane place at Westmester within the Barony of Kendal in Westmerland, in Puritane times, when that par­ty guided Affairs 1578. Bred under a Puritane School-Master, one Mr. Maxwell at School in the place where he was born, and un­der a Puritane Tutor in Queens Colledge in Oxford; and looked upon as so great a Puritane in King Iames his time, that they would say in jest, that the noise of an Organ would blow him out the Church; and therefore he was called tho Puritanical Bishop, (though his love to Musick no doubt was as great as his Skill, and his Skill so good that he could bear a part in it) yet because he was a Bishop, he was slighted when he came to London as Iuke warm, and forsaken as Popish, that had been so followed formerly as the most godly and powerful Preacher: He had been a great Tutor at [Page 154] Queens, where he had learned to train others by the Discipline he had undergone himself; insomuch that when Bishop, 33 Emi­nent Divines, Lawyers, Physicians and Statesmen, formerly his Pu­pils, waited on him together for his blessing: He managed prudent­ly (as he was chosen into it unexpectedly and unanimously when an hundred miles off) the Government and Provostship of that Col­ledge, Vbi se ferebat Patrem-familia providum, [...], nec Collegio gravis fuit aut onerosus.

He resigned it self-denyingly, judging that his Northern charge had more need of him as an able and skilful Minister, than Queens Colledge as a Provost.

The meek and humble man looked not for Preferment, yea, a­voided it with an hearty, nolo Episcopari: And his gracious Master King Charles unexpectedly when he was buried in his Living, and resolvedly when there was a considerable Competition, and not an inconsiderable opposition, saying, He And when others pressed for the place, the King said Perempt [...]rily that Potte [...] should have it, this was 1628 would consider his old Ser­vant, and the good man, whom he liked the better for being a man of few words, but a sweet Preacher, called at Court The Ponetenti­al Preacher; for being peaceable in his practice, though singular in his Opinion; and being not humorsome, though precise, having the severe strictness, though not the sower leaven of the Pharisees: His gracious Master not so much honoring him, as he did the Fun­ction, and that age in the freedom of his Noble and unsought for choice. The man being so exemplary in his carriage, that several Recusants that could not go with him to Church, yet conversed much with him, Because said they, they would go with him to Heaven: So good a Master of his Family, that his House was a Church, where Family-duties, (constant Prayers, Catechizing, reading Scriptures, Expounding, godly Conference, speaking to one ano­ther in Psalms and Spiritual Hymns) were performed so regular­ly and so constantly, that hundreds left their distant Habitations to be near him, though all accommodations about him were so much the dearer, as his Neighborhood was the more precious. It was as great a happiness to be his Servant, as his Neighbour: Eng­land, they say, is a Purgatory of Servants, but his House was a Hea­ven for them, where their particular Calling helped forward their general one, and the subjection to their Master occasioned their freedom from sin; the condition of their persons breaking off the slavery of their Souls, his service as well as Gods, his Ma­sters, (who might, he said often, have set him in the Stable, and his Servant in the Pallace) being perfect freedom; neither did they thrive in their Estates under him less than they did in their Souls, many able men in that Country owing their plentiful Estates to Gods blessing upon that Praying Family, as it was called, and his sa­ving rule, that grace was thrifty and Christianity the best Hus­bandry; for Godliness and Religion have no idle expences; So use­ful a Member of Parliament, that as he spoke not much himself, so he was the cause others spoke not so much as they intended, aw­ing the zeal of the most unruly to a moderation, by the discretion, good advice, and excellent management of his own.

[Page 155] King Charles, I. knew well the Import of that passage in Seneca, (when with a design to heal the Distempers of those times, he re­stored the grave Arch-bishop, and raised this moderate Bishop to Supream Council.) Lib. Epist. 1. Ep. 11. Aliquis vir bonus nobis eligen­dus est, & semper ante oculos habendus ut sic tanquam illo spect ante viva­mus, & omnia tanquum illo vidento faciamus. Elige ita (que) Catonem; si hic videtur tibi nimis rigidus Elige Remissioris animi virum La­lium, &c.

And in the same moderate way did he guide the Clergy, both of his acquaintance and Diocess, insisting much upon this sad obser­vation, that Jealousies and Animosities were easier raised than al­layed, and that it was not so obvious a matter to retreat from vio­lent Engagements, as to Engage in them; that which hath in it a­ny thing of Equity, being not to be disparaged by mannaging it with undutifulness and pertinacy.

Though his Complexion was melancholy, he loved not a morose Religion; and though he was lean with study, he would chide men that were so with Envy; his constitution indeed was weak, but his Spirit vigorous, and good natur'd; he that had been the support of moderate and sober Preachers, lived to see himself de­spised by those he had countenanced: He that was so indulgent to tender-consciences, was hardly suffered to enjoy his own: But seeing pretences of Conscience end in unconscionable practices, scruples turned into tumults, and Liberty prove Licentiousness, heart-broken with the consequences of these sad premises, he died 1642. and was buried by a great Man of the other side, who brag­ed that he had buried a Bishop, and was answered, That it was ho­ped that he buried him in sure and certain hope of the Resur­rection.

There need no more added to his Life, or written on his Grave, than that this was the man, 1. That had been a constant Preacher, and repented at his Death that he had not been a more constant Catechist. 2. That interceded for Liberty of Conscience so long for Non-conformists with the King, till he saw neither the King nor himself could enjoy their own Consciences; that feared the pretence of Religion would overthrow the reality of it, and that the Divisions in his age, would breed Atheism in the next.

How this Person in so great Esteem with that party, when he was able to protect them, could do so little to suppress them, is not to be expressed any other way than King Iames in the Con­ference at Hampton-Court, upon occasion of a needless excep­tion taken by Dr. Reynolds, at a passage in Ecclesiasticus, ex­pressed himself; What trow ye make these men (said the King) so angry with Ecclesiasticus: By my sal I think he was a Bishop, or else they would never use him so.

One that a great while followed him, but afterwards unwor­thily set up a Gallery in Mr. C. Church (demonstrating that he at­tended not the Preacher but Interest, for he was, he said, the same man still, but they had not the same design; and Young men were fittest to make use of to trouble or over-turn a State, as Old [Page 156] men were fittest to settle it) complained that once he personally inveighed against him, whereunto a grave Gentleman, not so Great, but more Honorable than he, returned: Truly, I thought it meant me, for it touched my heart; Good men make Sermons, it is guilty hearts make Invectives. When the Whirl-pool of the giddy times drew in those that went with the stream, it could not swallow him that kept above it; Long did he strive to bring off Stroud and o­thers his Hearers to him and reason. In vain did they strive with him to bring him to them and Faction: as long as it was to any purpose, he Preached to them their duty, and when that would not succeed, he constantly avoided their sins; neither reading their Declarati­ons, nor observing their Fasts, nor complying with their Festi­vals; Insomuch that a leading man that had been of his Congrega­tion upon a long Letter, he sent to him containing an account of himself and his proceedings since the troublesome times, expres­sed himself in the House to this purpose, That he could not tell what they should do with the good old Puritans; whose misguided zeal should do the Cause more harm, than all their Young Friends pains could do it good.

He preached for the King as long as he could, and when he could not, by reason of infirmities and grief, he prayed for him as long as he lived; keeping honest men, that were turned out of their own Churches, to preach in his, until he went out of the world. Al­ledging to those that liked not that way, that in times of persecu­tion, the Council of Carthage injoyned all Clergy-men that had Churches, to offer their Desks and their Altars to them that had none. As he preached not common-places of things to which he wrested the Scripture, but went through the Scriptures (as Gen. 12, 13, 14, 15, Whereof the 16th is in Print. 16, 17, 18, &c. Chapters, the Plagues of Egypt in Exodus, the 16. of St. Luke, the Beatitudes, &c.) drawing from them genuinely Divine Truths; so advised those about him not to follow men that set up notions of their own, and then serve some Scriptures to make Affidavit for them; but those that opened the Scriptures most skilfully, and deduced obvious, proper, and clear conclusions out of them most faithfully. This Primitive Mans gifts, were like the Primitive Christians goods, in common: Being above others alone, and above himself in company; as Ambergreece is sweet in its self, but incomparable when compounded. He was a good Pastor himself (most of the eminent, both Christians and Ministers in London, having profited by his Ministry) and not jealous that his memory might be out-shined by a brighter succes­sor; nor willing that his people should finde his worth by the un­worthiness of him that came after him, prayed for a better. His Estate was more in blessing than in bulk, his richest Legacies were his Precepts and his Example, and his best Monument the hearts of his people, that will be his joy and crown of rejoycing in the day of the Lord Jesus.

THE last Bishop we mentioned, was the last that died with the honor of Voting in Parliament, (that was not speechless before he departed.) This Gentleman was the last Courtier that died at Court: Dying as he was born a Courtier, heir to Sir Iohn Suckling the Comptrollers estate, but not his temper, being as aiery as the other was solid; this grave Family, like heavy bodies evaporating into more aieral parts towards its dissolution.

There was an extraordinary Circumstance in his birth, that raised an unusual expectation of his life, being born, as his Mother reckoned, the beginning of the eleventh month. Now [...]. Hypocrates allows, that the child born in the seventh month, if well looked too, may live. Laurentius Professor of Montpellier, in an admirable Treatise of Anatomy asserteth, that a child of nine or ten months, which he calleth Terminus Inter me­dius, seldom miscarrieth. And Avicen, as he is quoted by Lauren­tius averreth, that a child born in the eleventh month, which he expresseth, Terminus ultimus quando nihil additur ad perfectionem partis, sed ad perfectionem roboris; is vigorous and Athletique. As Sir Iohn Suckling, who did as Tiberius, vultu Principem (generosum) praeferre, had a sprightly mind, that was an argument of a more sprightly soul, which took in improvement faster than Tutors could suggest; speaking Latine as early as Drusius his Son did He­brew, that is, at five years of age; and composing both in Latine and English for Princes, as soon as Grotius did, that is, at nine years: being so soon a man, that like Who is sup­posed created, as if he had been so. Adam, we would think he was born so. The Arts were as closely united in him, as they are in themselves, being competently seen in all of them, and yet emi­nent in many, being able to look in the whole circle without a giddiness. He had tongues enough to renew that good understand­ing among men, that was lost at Babel; desiring not only to live in [Page 158] the world, but to understand it; and as great reason (which we call Logick) to comprehend and discourse his notions, as he had charms, which we call Rhetorick, to insinuate them; and what was more, it was a question, whether he was more skilled in the Philosophy of the two Globes, or in the History and Chronology of all times, he shooting through any subject from one end of the world to the other, with the same activity that spirits do, who do not discourse, but see. His soul almost as large as that which some call (under the first being) the soul of the world. He died un­der thirty, and was as old as the world, being able to treat of all those things from books, which in twelve years time, that all the wisdom of the world could insist on from experience in 5000 years; suffering himself to be no stranger to Cosmography, or the account of the world in general, for his own satisfaction as a Gentleman; to Choroghaphy, or the particularnature of each Pro­vince of the world, for the service of his Country as an English­man; to Topography, or an inspection into the circumstances of each place, to qualifie him for noble employments and commands as a Souldier. And all these sweetned with the softness of Poe­try, that Musick and Charm of the world in words, and with Mu­sick, that Poetry in sound. Fancy being his predominant faculty, as the sanguine complexion was his controlling temperament, was as restless and ubiquitary in him, as it is defined in its self; creat­ing and tempering the Images and Ideas of things, with the same ease that the things themselves were first made with. To lift too high is no fault in a young Nagg, and to fancy too high was the greatest defect of this young Gentleman. Nimbleness is the per­fection of fancy, and levity the bane of it; when it whisks up and down to so many objects, that it throughly understands or con­ceives none, unless hard and knotty studies, such as Philosophy and Mathematicks, that fix and settle the soul.

Sir Iohn Suckling, that was Knighted 1630. was Comptroller of the Kings-house, and told this Gentleman, That he had no more to do but to comptrol and govern himself, be being born before him. The heighth of his parts, he acknowledged the effect of the discretion of his Tutor (of whom he would seldom speak without this Note, That it was one thing to be discreet, and another thing to be learn­ed, the management and use of a mans notions being hardly con­sistent with a heap and croud of them, as a midling state makes a good Husband,) who humored his disposition as much as some Boys are forced to humor their Masters; and made as many Rules of his temper, as he found in his Grammar, being at once so ingenuous and so plyable, that a frown was severe correction to him, and shame whipped him more smartly than the Rod. He as solemnly honor­ed his Masters of all ingenuity, as Dr. Whitacre did his Tutor West; when being Regius Professor, at his Tutors Commencing Doctor, publickly gave him thanks before the University, for giving him correction when his young Scholar. But had most regard to his Father, for he best bowls at the mark of perfection, who besides the aim of his own eye, is directed by his Father, who is to give [Page 159] him the ground; according to whose advice he travelled his own Country well first, and then (in my Lord Burleighs method, who seldom licensed a man to travel abroad, until he could give him a good account of the remarkables at home) went over beyond Sea, to see how mankind managed those principles in their practise, that they had drawn up in their writings; and observe how they lived and conversed, as well as how they thought; making an honorable collection of the virtues of each Nation, without any tincture of theirs, unless it were a little too much of the French Air, which was indeed the fault of his complexion, rather than his person. Though to correct it, he travelled from the softer dalliances of that Nation, to the Wars and hardships, to knit as well as inlarge his soul, and gain an Empire over his frailer self, with the same severi­ty and discipline, that Gustavus was like to gain one over Europe. With whom he run the hazard of three battels, five sieges, and as many skirmishes, wherein he saw much design and contrivance, so much conduct and manage, such activity and industry in six months, as was not to be seen elsewhere in so many ages; there being a concurrence of the excellencies, as well as of the men, of all Nations. Insomuch, that though my Lord Goring would not admit Sir Iohn Suckling into the Secret Councils they held in the North, because he was too free and open-hearted, yet the King gave him a Command there, because he was valiant and experienced.

He raised a Troop of Horse, so richly accoutred, that it stood him in 12000 l. bestowing the Horses, Armes and Cloaths, upon each person that was Listed under him; which puts me in mind of the Duke of Burgundy's rich preparations against Swisse, of which Ex­pedition it was said, The Enemy were not worth the Spurrs they wore. And of his late Majesties report, upon the bravery of his Northern Army, That the Scots would sight stoutly, if it were but for the Eng­lish- mens fine cloaths. And of another passage at Oxford, where the King in some discourse of the Earl of Holland, and other Com­manders in the first Expedition against the Scots, was pleased to ex­press himself to this purpose, That the Army was not in earnest, which made him chuse such Commanders in Chief.

But indeed it became him better to sit among a Club of Wits, or a Company of Scholars, than to appear in an Army; for though he was active, he was soft and sweet withal; insomuch, that Selden went away with the character of Deep and Learned, Hillingworth was reckoned Rational and Solid, Digby Reaching and Vigorous Sands and Townsend Smooth and Delicate, Vaughan and Porter Pious and Extatical, Ben. Iohnson Commanding and Full, Carew Elaborate and Accurate, Davenant High and Stately, Toby Whispering nothing in some [...]dies ear. Mathewes Re­served and Politick, Walter Mountague Cohaerent and Strong, Faulk­land Grave, Flowing, and Steddy, Hales Judicious and Severe; but Sir Iohn Suckling had the strange happiness (that another Great Man is eminent for) to make whatsoever he did become him. His Poems being Clean, Sprightly, and Natural; his Discourses, Full and Convincing; his Plays, Well-humored and Taking; his Let­ters, Fragrant and Sparkling; only his Thoughts were not so loose [Page 160] as his Expression (witness his excellent Discourse to my L. of Dorset about Religion, that by the freedom of it, He might, as he writes to my Lord, put the Lady into a cold sweat, and make him be thought an Atheist; yet he hath put wiser heads into a better temper, and procured him the reputation of one that understood the Religion that he Professed among all persons, except those that were rid by that fear of Socinianism, so that they suspected every man that of­fered to give an account of his Religion, by reason, to have none at all) nor his Life so Vain as his Thoughts, though we must allow to his sanguine composition and young years, dying at 28. some thing that the thoughts and discipline of time, experience, and se­verer years, might have corrected and reduced, Amo in juvene quod amputem.

But his immature death by a Feavor, after a miscarriage in his Majesties service, which he laid to heart, may be a warning to young men of his quality and condition, whose youth is vigorous, pleasures fresh, joynts nimble, bodies healthful, enjoyments great, to look on his ghastly face, his hollow eyes, his mouldring body, his noisom dust, and to entertain but this one thought, that what he was, they are, and what he is, they shall be; that they stand on his Grave, as the Romans did on their Friends, with these words, Go, we shall follow thee every one in his own order.

Rejoyce, O young man, in the days of thy youth, but know that for all these things God will bring thee to judgment. A Gallant would do well with the Noble Ioseph of The Earls are called [...] because they carry on their heads a Corc­ [...]t, the Em­blem of Nobi­lity; in the fashion of a Tombe, the Emblem of Mortality. Arimathea in their Gardens, and among their pleasures.

He died Anno 164 ... leaving behind him these thoughts of those times, to his dear friend Mr. Iermin, since the Right Honorable Earl of St. Albans.

• 1. That it is fit the King should do something extraordinary at this present, is not only the opinion of the wise, but their expecta­tion.
• 2. Majesty in an Eclips, is like the Sun most looked upon.
• 3. To lye still in times of danger, is a calmness of mind, not a mag­nanimity; when to think well, is only to dream well.
• 4. The King should do, before the People desire.
• 5. The Kings friends have so much to do to consult their own safety, that they cannot advise his, the most able being most ob­noxious; and the rest give the King council by his desires, and set the Sun, or interest that cannot err, by passions which may.
• 6. The Kings interest, is union with his People.
• 7. The People are not to be satisfied by little Acts, but by Royal Resolutions.
• 9. There's no dividing of a Faction by particular obligations, when it is general; for you no sooner take off one, but they set up another to guide them.
• 10. Commineus observes, That it is fit Princes should make Acts of Grace peculiarly their own, because they that have the art to please the people, have commonly the power to raise them.
• [Page 161] 11. The King must not only remove grievances by doing what is desired, but even jealousies by doing something that is not ex­pected; for when a King doth more than his people look for, he gives them reason to believe, that he is not sorry for doing what they desired; otherwise a jealous people may not think it safe enough only to limit the Kings power, unless they overthrow it.
• 12. The Queen would do well to joyn with the King, not only to remove fears, especially since she is generally believed to have a great interest in the Kings affection; but to arrive beyond a pri­vate esteem and value, to an universal honor and love.
• 13. The conservation of the general should guide and command the particulars, especially since the preferment of one suspected person is such a dash to all obliging acts.
• 14. Q. Whether the Kings way to preserve his obnoxious friends, is not to be right with his distempered people?
• 15. Q. Whether the way to preserve power be not to part with it? the people of England, like wantons, not knowing what to do with it, have pulled with some Princes, as Henry the Third, King Iohn, Edward the Second, for that power which they have thrown into the hands of others, as Q. Elizabeth.
• 16. Q. Whether it be not dangerous to be insensible of what is without, or too resolved from what is within?

And these Advises to his friends about him, at that time when he best understood himself.

• 1. Do not ill for Company,
  Mr. Savage a person that was with him in his sickness.
  or good only for Company.
• 2. Shun jests in Holy things, and words in jest which you must give an account of in earnest.
• 3. Detract from none but your self, and when you cannot speak well of a man, say nothing.
• 4. Measure life not by the hopes and injoyments of this world, but by the preparation it makes for another; looking forward what you shall be, rather than backward what you have been.
• 5. Be readier to give, than to take applause; and neither to give, nor to take exceptions.
• 6. Its as much more to forgive one injury, than to do many cour­tesies, as it is to suffer once, than to do many times for a friend; he may do what he will, that will do but what they may.
• 7. Its the ruin of many men, that because they cannot be best, they will be none; and if they may not do as well as they would, they will not do as well as they may.
• 9 Whiles wisdom makes art the ape of nature, pride makes nature the ape of art. The proud man shapes his body to his apparel, the wise man his apparel to his body; there is great reason that we should be ashamed of our pride, no reason to be proud of that which is only the covering of our shame.
• 10. Entertain no thoughts that will blush in words.
• 11. Be in the company of those among whom thou mayst be wise, rather than with those among whom thou mayst be accounted so.
• [Page 162] 12. In things necessary go along with the ancient Church, in things indifferent with the present.
• 13. Neither upbraid men with your own kindness, nor forget theirs.
• 14. Be not constant against reason, nor change your mind without it.
• 15. Believe not all you hear, nor speak all you believe.
• 16. Acknowledge ignorance, and learn rather than pretend know­legde, and be ignorant.
• 17. Do well to satisfie a good Conscience, and you shall hear well by a good report.
• 18. Measure not your self by other mens reports, nor others by your own thoughts.
• 19. Live as men that shall dye, and prepare to dye as men that shall live for ever.

PASS now from a pretty Gentleman, that was all wit and festivity (time and place making the con­nexion) to a Reverend person, that was all gravity and judgment; and sad certainly the Cause of the Faction, when the wittiest part of mankind laughed at it, and the most judicious declined it, among whom, as none more solid, so none more zealous than Dr. Samuel Ward, born at Bishops-Middleham in the Bishoprick of Durham, being a Gentleman of more ancientry than estate; bred first Scholar of Christs, then Fellow of Emanuel, and afterwards Master of Sidney-Colledge in Cambridge, and Margaret Professor therein for above twenty years. His character, which one, who knew him as well as most men, and could judge of him as well as any man, doth bestow upon him, is this:

He turned with the times, as a Rock riseth with the Tide, and for his uncomplying there with, was imprisoned in St. Iohns Col­ledge. He was counted a Puritane before these times, and Papish in these times; and yet being alwayes the same, was a true Prote­stant at all times. How many men suffered in this one, 1. First, an exact Linguist, by the same token, that when towards the most ex­cellent and last Translation of the Bible in King Iames his time, the Prayer of Manasseh, and the rest of the Apocrypha was committed to his trust among Eight other Cambridge Men, when he was but Ma­ster of Arts of Emanuel Colledge, the Revisers never reviewed his performance, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Reynolds, who were Intrusted with the last Revises, saying, We have heard of second thoughts Cor­recting the first, but thought shall Correct the twentieth: And not ma­ny passages cost him fewer; for he would say had never been a Scholar, but for a habit of exactness which he got under an accu­rate Master; and there is no other advantage in either going to good Schools, or continue in Universities, than to keep the Soul from being unravelled and loose, by a constant acting of thoughts, and expressions to the Rule of accuracy taught in those Schools, and practiced in those Universities; whence by never missing ex­actness of thoughts, seldom failed of hitting things; and his steady words seldom fell either beyond, besides, or short of his thoughts.

2. A sound Scholar, and therefore by an Excellent Scholar as well as good man, Bishop Iames Mountague, chosen Chaplain for his Family, and Assistant for his Study.

3. A discreet man, and upon that score by the same Bishop cho­sen by him his Notery; that is, his Eye and his Ear: For when Mr. Thrash the violent Sabbatarian came to be Ordained, and it was a Question whether he had ever sucked of the Breast of the Univer­sities, or brought up by hand in some petty School, Mr. Ward refu­sed him, as altogether insufficient; however afterwards he crept into Christian Orders to broach Judaizing Doctrines by some rash hands, which might wish with Martianus, a Bishop of Constantinople, who made Sabbatius a Jew, and turbulent man Priest, they had been laid on Thorns and Briars, than on such a mans head; upon a Certificate, which was then matter of Courtesie, and not matter of Conscience, the good Bishop trusting to his own Eye for the sufficiency, and to other mens hands for the carriage of the Man; an error in the first concoction, is seldom corrected in the second, an unworthy, and therefore turbulent man, (for worthless men must make up that in trouble, which they lack in worth: Dwarfs are troublesome and peevish, and Children clamber where they cannot reach) being not so easily got out of the Church by suspension and deprivation, as might be kept out without Ordination, which doth perpetuate the Faction, and make the Party Immortal.

[Page 165] 4. A grave governor and successeful, and therefore by the Ho­norable H. Lord Grey, Earl of Kent, who hath this Character in all the Cambd [...]ns Britannia's, which escaped the Index Expurgatorius, that (for what reasons the Inquisitors knew best) blotted these words out, Verae Nobilitalis Ornamentis vir longe Honoratissimus; and Iohn Lord Harrington Executor to the Lady Francis Sidney, Daughter of Sir Henry, Aunt of Sir Philip Sidney, Relict of Thomas Ratcliffe the third Earl of Sussex, and Foundress of Sidney-Sussex Colledge in Cambridge, the third Master of that House, 1609. and by his Patron and Predecessor Bishop Mountague, Arch-Deacon of Taunton, where so moderate and milde his Government, that there was not in the first eight years of his Government a Negative voice in any affair of the House; he taking care to beget a general under­standing about any matter in debate in private, before they sate upon it in publick, tuning each string before they set to a Con­sort; his Discipline so becoming and exemplary, that Sir Francis Clerk of East-Soton in Bedfordshire coming privately to Cambridge to see, unseen took notice of Dr. Wards daily Presence in the Hall, with the Scholars Conformity in Caps, and diligent performance of Exercises to so good purpose, (the careful observation of old Statutes, is the best Loadstone to attract new Benefactors) that he augmented all the Scholarships in the Foundation, Erected a new fair and firm Range of Building, and Founded four new Fellow­ships; discovering by the way such skill in Architecture and Arithmetick, that staying at home he did provide to a Brick what was necessary for the finishing of the aforesaid Building.

5. Such his Reputation for deep skill in Divinity, that he with the Reverend Dr. Davenant of Queens, Dr. Carleton Bishop of Chiche­ster, Dr. Hall Dean of Worcester, was sent from the Church of Eng­land by King Iames to the Synod at Dort, to assist the Dutch Chur­ches in the five Controversies of Predestination and Reprobation, of the extent of Christs death; of the power of mans free will both before and after his Conversion, and of the Elects perseve­rance; and to that purpose with Dr. Davenant, sent for by that Learned and deep-sighted Prince to Royston, October. 8. 1618. where His Majesty vouchsafed his familiar Discourse with them for two hours together, commanding them to sit down by him till he dis­mised them with this solemn Prayer (which the good man would recollect with pleasure) That God would bless their endeavours.

At that Synod, besides the common Applause, he had with his Brethren testified by the 10 l. a day allowed them there; the en­tertainments given them at the Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Vtrecht and Which said Sir Dudley Carleton in his Spe [...]ch to the States, they saw only, being not much made of there. Leiden, by the 200 l. the Meddals, and the Commen­datory Letter sent with them at parting; thence had they this pe­culiar Character, that he was slow but sure, recompensing in the exactness of his notion, what he wanted in the quickness of it, be­ing but once contradicted, and that at the first opening of that middle way, he and his good Friend Davenant opened to them, which surprized some in the Synod at first, but reconciled the Sy­nod to them, and to its self at last; the moderate that cut the hair [Page 166] in a Controversie, like those that part a Fray, meet with blows on both sides at first; but embraced by those very arms that were lift upon them at last: Bishop Carleton came home with this Com­mendation in the States publick Letter to King Iames.

Dominus G. Landavensis Episcopus imago, & expressa virtutis Ef­figies; Dr. Ward returned with these Testimonies from the most Eminent Scholars in those Parts: Modestia ipsa quae plus celavit e­ruditionis quam alii habent Literarum Abyssus taciturnus & profundus, qui quot verba tot expressit e sulco pectoris or acula, &c. and among the rest, in iis eam eruditionem, pietatem, pacis studium, eum (que) zelum deprehen­dimus, ut cum ipsius beneficii causa Majestatituae multum debeamus, (they are the States expressions to the King in their foresaid Letter of thanks) Magna pars ipsius beneficii nobis videatur, quod ipsi ad nos missi sun [...]; with which testimonial Letters they came over and presen­ted themselves to King Iames, who seeing them out at a window when first entring the Court: Here comes, said he, my good Mour­ners, alluding to their black habit, and the late death of Queen Anne. When he was to perform any exercise as the part assigned him in the For our Di­ [...]ines managed th [...]ir business privately a­mong them­selves before they deba [...]d it at the Synod. English Colledge, which was generally to oppose, because of his acuteness and variety of reading; or to give his weekly account to the King, as they all did by turns, the expecta­tion was great, especially in one respect, as King Iames would say, that he would set down no idle or impertinent word.

6. So good a man that he was Tutor as well as Master to the whole Colledge; yea, kept almost as big a Colledge by his good­ness, as he governed by his place; more depending upon him there and abroad as a Benefactor, than did as a Governor. Being a great recommender as well as incourager of Worth, he used to say that he knew nothing that Church and State suffered more by, than the want of a due knowledg of those Worthy men that were peculiar­ly enabled and designed to serve both: And, as another Argument of his goodness, he went alwayes along with the moderate in the censures of Preachers in the University, practices in the Courts that were under his Jurisdiction: And in Opinions in the Convocati­on, whereof he was a Member, much pleased with a modest soft way, that might win the persons and smoother their errors, being much pleased with his Friend Mr. Dods saying, that men should use soft words, and hard Arguments.

And this so much known to others, (though so little observed by him, this meek and slow speeched Moses his face shining to all men but himself) that it procured six or 7000 l. Improvement in his time to the Colledge, besides the Building of that Chappel which he Dedicated by his own burial, being the first that was bu­ried there: His Virgin body injoying a Virgin grave, like that of the Lord, wherein never man lay.

Sleeping there where the Franciscans had a dormitory. The best Disputant having his Grave where the best Philosophers and So they were accounted anciently. School-Divines had their Beds; and the modest man resting where that modest order slept, who called themselves Minorites, from Iacobs words, Gen. 32. 10. Sum minor omnibus beneficiis suis.

[Page 167] Yea his Adversaries themselves admiring him so far, that he was named one of the Committee for Religion in the Ierusalem Cham­ber, 1642. whither he came with hope that moderation and mu­tual compliance might finde expedients to prevent, if not the sha­king, yet the overturning of Church and State; so the wary Merchants throws somethings over-board to save the Ship, which escapes not by struggling with the storm, but by yielding to it. And inserted one of their Assembly, whither he came not, being not called by the King (one of the flowers of whose Crown it is to call Assemblies, as appears by Bishop Andrews his Learned Ser­mon of the Right of calling Assemblies on Numbers 10. 12.) nor chosen by the Clergy; and because there was a legal Convocati­on in being, that superseded this Illegal Assembly wherein it was in vain for few Oxthodox men to appear, being overvoted by their numerous Antagonists.

But since he could not serve the King and Church with his parts, he did with his Interest, chearfully sending the Colledge Plate to the King, and zealously (when the Committee of the Ea­stern Association was setled there) protesting against any Contri­bution to the Parliament, as against true Religion and a good Conscience, for which he was At St. Johns, and in his own Col­ledge till he dyed. Imprisoned, Plundered, and tor­mented; and as high winds bring some men to sleep, so these storms brought this good Doctor to rest, whose dying words, (as if the cause of his Martyrdom had been Ingraven on his heart) breathed up with his Divine Soul, Now God bless the King, though the worst word that came out of his mouth was to Cromwell, That when they destroyed the Church Windows, you might be better Im­ployed.

A Pupil of his compares him and Dr. Collings Professor, to Peter and Iohn running to our Saviors Grave, in which race Iohn came first, as the youngest and swiftest, and Peter entred into the Grave. Dr. Collings had much the speed of him in quickness of parts, the other pierceth the deeper into under-ground, and deep points of Divinity; neither was the Influence either of Loyalty or Suffer­ings confined to his own Person, but was effectual upon all his Re­lations; for we finde Richard Ward of London Gentleman Compoun­ding for 0234 l. 00 00 And Henry Ward, for 0105 l. 00 00 Besides Mr. Seth Ward, the Ornament not only of his Family, but of his Countrey, expelled Sidney Colledge for his Loyalty, tossed up and down for his Allegiance, till his incomparable temper and carriage recommended him to the Family of my Lord Weinman at Thame-Parke in Oxfordshire: his great skill in Mathematicks, open­ed his way in those sad times, to the Astronomy Professorship in Oxford, (they thought there would be no danger in his abstracted and unconcerned discourses of the Mathematicks) his extraordi­nary worth commanded Respect and Incouragement from Wor­thy men of all perswasions, excepting O. C. who told him when he stood for the Principality of Iesus Colledge in Oxford, That he heard he was a deserving Person, but withall a Malignant; his [Page 168] great Ability, especially for Discourse and Business, commended him to the Deanery first, and afterwards to the Bishoprick of Exe­ter; no Imployment a Clergy-man ever was capable of, being a­bove his capacity, who writes to the eternal honor of this Doctor his Unkle, in the Preface to his Lectures, set out with Bishop Brownrigg's his Overseers consent, and Dr. Ward, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Mathewes, and Mr. Gibsons pains, thus: Ille me puerum quandecon­nem a Schola privata (ubi me tune aegre habui) ad Academiam vocavit, ille me valetudinarium recreare solitus est, & omni modo refocillore, ille mihi animum ad studia (ad motis lenitur Calcáribus, praemiis (que) ante ocu­los positis) accendere solebat, ille mihi Librorum usum suppeditavit, ille me in Collegii Societatem (quam primum Licebat) cooplavit, ille mihi Magister unicus erat, & Patronus, & Spes, & Ratio studiorum. With whole words we will finish this poor account of him (whose worth might be guessed, by the method of his Study, the exactness of his Diary, the excellency of his Lectures.) Novit haec omnia Collegium Sidneianum, cui plus quam 30 annorum spatio summa cum prudentiae, In­tegritatis & sanctitatis Laude praefuit: novit at (que) admirata est Acade­mia Cantabrigientis ubi Cathedram Professoram. D. Margarete tot an­nos summo cum honore tenuit, errorum malleus at (que) h [...]resum, norunt Ex­teri, testantur haec opera quae nunc Edimus; ista certe ut non nescires, tui mei (que) interesse existam abam, caetera norunt.

Et Tagu, & Ganges, forsan & Antipodes.

Here after these Noble and Loval Ushers, comes in the King himself, not the exact time he was beheaded on, but yet the very minute he suffered; for though Charles was Martyred 1648. the King was killed 1644. For it is not the last blow that fells the Oak; besides, that the lifting up of some hands in the Covenant now in­forced, was to strike at his life, according to the most refined sense of that solemn snare declared by Sir Henry Vane, who best understood it; having been in Scotland at the contrivance of it, at his death, Iune 14. when he was most likely to speak sincerely what he under­stood. His Person was in danger when they aimed at his Preroga­tive; The Conclusion is to a discerning person wrapped up in the premises, for I reckon his life was in danger when their was no­thing left him but his life to lose.

I May Praeface this sad Solemnity, as the Romans did their more joyful ones, that were to be seen but once in an hundred years; Come and see what none that is alive ever saw, none that is alive is ever like to see again.

See a King, and all Government, falling at one stroke. A Prince once wished, that his People had but one Neck, that he might cut them off at one blow; here the People saw all Princes with one Neck, which they cut at one attempt: a stroke levelled not at one King, but Monarchy; not at one Royal Person, but Government.

See England, that boasted of the first Christian King, Lucius; the first Christian Emperour, Constantine; the first Protestant Prince, Edw. 6. glorieth now in the first Martyr'd King, Charles I. A Martyr to Religion and Government: The Primitive Institutes of the first of which, and the generally owned Principles of the second of which, other Princes have maintained with their Subjects blood, he with his own: Others by Laws and Power kept up both these, while they were able; he with his Life, when he was not able; supporting that very Authority it self, that supports other Princes; throwing himself the great Sacrifice into the breach made upon Power, to stop popular fury; and choosing rather not to be himself in the World, than to yield that that World by his consent should be Lawless or Prophane.

A Martyr, who stood to the Peoples Liberty, though with his own Captivity: that held up their Rights, with the loss of his own; had a care of their Posterity, with the ruine of his own Family: that main­tained the Law that secures their lives, with his own: that could suffer others to distress him, but not to oppress his People: that could yield to dye, but not to betray his Subjects, either as Christians, or as Englishmen.

See the last Effort of Virtue, Reason, Discipline, Order, bearing up against that of Villany, Disorder, Licenciousness, and things not to be named among men.

See a King, that had deserved a Crown, in all mens judgement, had he not worn one; that other Nations wished theirs before his death, and we wanted since. A King, in whom it is one of the least things, that he hath been a King, The glory and amazement of Mankind, for an Innocence that was most prudent, and a Prudence that was most innocent. A King, that when most conquered, was more than Conquerour over himself.

His Extra­ction & Birth. A King, deriving more honour to, than he received from his Brittish and Norman Auncestours. Whose Daugh­ter Ma [...]gare [...] married J. 4 of Scotland. H. 7. whose Great Great-Grand-child he was; his Saxon Predecessors, Edgar, Aethaling, &c. from whom he Aethaling 's Daughter married Malcolme Conmor K. of Scots. [Page 168] [...] [Page 169] [...] [Page 170] descended, and other the most Royal Families of Europe, by Iames 6. of Scotland, and Anne of Denmark, to whom he was born Nov. 19. 1600. at Dunfermeling; so weak, that he was Dr. P. in his life. Christened privately. Providence (saith the excellent Writer) seeming to consecrate him to suf­ferings from the Womb, and to accustome him to exchange the strictures of greatness, for clouds of tears. Though yet of such hopes, that an old Scotchman, taking his leave of King Iames, upon his departure for England, waving Prince Henry, after some sage advice to the King, hugg'd our Martyr, than three years old, telling King Iames, who thought he mistook him for the Prince, That it was this Child who should convey his memory to succeeding Ages.

His Educa­tion and Hopes. A King, that under the tuition of Sir Robert Caryes Lady, the first Messenger of Q. Elizabeths death; when the Scots thought the Q. would never dye, as long as there was a majestick and well-habited old Woman left in England: And under the Paedagogy of Mr. Thomas Murray, and the Lectures of King Iames himself, (when Bishop An­drewes addressed himself to that King, being sick, and shewed him the danger of the young Princes being under Scotch Tutors) was such a Profi­cient, that being created D. of York, 1606. that to make up the weakness of his body, by the abilities of his mind; and to adorn the rough greatness of his fortune, with the politeness of learning; he was so studious, that P. Henry took Arch-bishop Abbot's Cap one day, and clapp'd it on his head, saying, That if he followed his book well, he would [...]eupon he in disdain threw the Cap down, and trampled it un­der f [...]e [...]: An Omen, said some, what an enemy be would he to the Arch-bishops O der, which had ne­ver since it needed such a better friend, though he sus­pended the Arch-bishop. make him Arch-bishop of Canterbury. And [...] [...]eft a world of good Books, marked with his own hand through [...], and in some places made more expressive than the Authors had done; and his learned Father said When the Chaplains re­ceived directi­on from the King, not to dispute with­out great ne­cessity; but if they did, George should hold the Co [...] ­clusien, and Charles, &c. at his going to Spain, That he was able to manage an Argument with the best studied Divine of them all. That besides many other accurate Discourses he had, he disputed one whole day alone with fifteen Commissioners, and four Divines, to all their Mr. Vines saying, That he was the best Divine in England. admiration, convincing them out of their own mouths; insomuch that some thought him inspired, or much improved in his afflictions; and others, that know him better, averred, that he never was less, though he appeared so. To say no­thing of his great skill in the Law, as much as any Gentleman (as he said once) in England, that was not a professed Lawyer; his skill in men and things, in Meddals, Antiquities, Rarities, Pictures, For­tifications, Gunnery, Shipping, Clocks, Watches. and any My­stery that it became him to know: For he said once, that if necessitated, he could get his Living by any Trade, but making of Hangings. Nor to mention his 28. excellent Meditations, equally majestick, learned, prudent and pious; 59. incomparable Speeches, besides several De­clarations and Letters, writ with his hand; and to be indited only by his spirit.

His Carri­age while Prince. A King, that being made Knight of the Garter, 1611. and D. of Cornwall, 1607. P. of Wales, and E. of Chester, 1616. managed his fortune (upon his Brother and To whom he was very dear. Mothers death, at whose Funerals being chief Mourner, he expressed a just measure of grief, without any affected sorrow) with so much gallantry, at his The Q of Bohemia, whose Bride­man he was. Sisters Wedding, and other great Solemnities, especially at Justs and Turnaments, being the best Marks-man, and the most graceful manager of the great Horse [Page 171] in England; as taught the World, that his privacy and retirements were not his necessity, but his choice; and with so much wariness and temper, that he waved all affairs of State, not so much out of consci­ence of the narrowness of his own spirit, or fear of the jealousie of his Father, to which they said his Brother was subject; as out of the peace­fulness of his soul, and the prudence of his design, to learn to command by obedience, and to come free and untainted (as he did, notwith­standing the curiosity of people to observe Princes faults, and their con­spicuousness to be observed) to his Fathers Throne. Who might [...] pla [...] uites [...]b [...] [...] b­ [...]cts of the peoples discon­ [...]nt. And so admirable his conduct in such affairs as were imposed upon him, especially the journey to Spain, where how did he discover their Intrigues! How commanded he his passion, and concealed his discontents! How he managed the Contracts of Olivarez, Buckingham, and Bristow, that might have amazed an ordinary prudence, especially in a young States­man! How caressed he his Mistress, the Court, the Country, the Pope, not disobliging the most Jesuited Clergy! How kept he his Faith, and secured his Person! How enthralled he the Infanta by his Meine, and the whole Country by his Carriage! How he honoured our Religion there, by a Spanish Liturgy; and how he escaped theirs, by a Spanish Reservedness! How he brought his affairs there, notwith­standing difficulties and oppositions, to a closure; and yet reserved a power to revoke all, in case he had not the Paelatinate restored; being resolved (with his Father) Not to marry himself with a portion of his only Sisters tears! How As his own Grandmother, the Q of [...] to England. he, the Heir apparent of the Crown, (consider­ing the fatal examples of those Princes, that ventured out of their own, to travel their Neighbour This K. James was not sinsi­ble of, [...]ill Ar­ [...]hec Clapped his Cap on his head, for [...] ­ting the Prince goe to Spain; and saying, That if he returned, he would take off [...]he Cap from [...]he King of England 's head, and set [...] [...]n the K. of Spain's Which [...]ad the King melanch [...]lly [...] heard h [...] P [...]nce was at Sea. Dominions) got through France. in spight of the Posts that followed him, to Spain; and from Spain, in spight of the malice that might have kept him there! How friendly he parted with the K. and Court of Spain, notwithstanding, that the first obser­vation that he made, when he was on Shipboard, was, that he disco­vered two Errours in those Masters of Policy; the one, That they should use him so ill there; and the other, That after such usage, they should let him come home! What an Instrument of love he was between the King his Father, and the Parliament; and what a Mediator of service between them and the King! He, in the Kings name, disposed them to seasonable supplyes of his Majesty; and he, in the Parliaments name, disposed him to a necessary War with Spain. How tender were they of his honour, and how careful he of their Privileges! In a word, when but young, he understood the Intrigues, Reserves, and Maximes that make up what we call Reason of State, and when King, he tem­pered them with Justice and Piety; none seeing further into the In­trigues of Enemies, none grasping more surely the difficulties and ex­pedients for his own design, none apprehending more clearly the events of things, none dispatching more effectually any business; insomuch, that when his Council and Secretaries had done, he would take the Pen, and give more lustre and advantage to VVritings, (saying, Come, I am a good Cobler) wherein he would strangely meet with all difficulties imaginable; so that it was truly said of him, That had he been Privy Counsellour to any other Prince, he had been an Oracle; carrying, with H. 4. all his best Counsel on one Horse.