A Memorial Offered to John Williams

THE PROEM.

Paragr. 1. BOOKS are sown so thick in all Countries of Europe, that a new one, which one adds more to the former Gross, had need of an Apology. The easy Dispatch of so many Sheets in a day, by the readiness of Printing, hath found the World a great deal more Work then needs. Many that love Knowledge, both Industrious, and of sound Judgment, are not nice to say, that Repletion of Authors hath begat Loathing. Which is a Reason likewise, or a Pretence, that divers, who are Learned and full Men, contain their Liquor in their Vessels, and never broach it in the Press to make it Public, because they think it is Folly to contribute to Waste and Excess. I am one of those, I confess, that wish it were possible, that a Moses could be raised up to restrain us, from bringing more either of our Pamphlets, or Volumes, to the Work of the Tabernacle; For the Stuff already is sufficient for all the Work to make it, and too much, Exod. 36.7.

2. How shall I answer it therefore? Or, how shall I defend that I am constant to mine own Judgment in this Design, that I thrust my Labors into the World? What Warrant can I plead, that I build a new Cottage upon the Waste? I conceive that it will stand for satisfaction, that I set forth an History of Things not travers'd before, but of memorable Passages running through the Channel of one Man's Life in our present Age. It is a Debt owed to Posterity, to furnish them with the true Knowledge of sore-gone Occurrences, worthy to be Registred; as, I believe, these ensuing are. A Tradition must be kept of famous Exploits, especially moving upon the Stage of turbulent Times. For when it is skillfully drawn through the Acts of famous Men, it will rouse up our Children by Emulation as much as by Precept, and give them double advantage to seek Virtue and Glory. But better it will be to have it coarse spun, then quite omitted: For such will serve for Cork, to keep a Net from sinking.

3. This Century of our Account from Christ's Birth wherein we live, now wasting beyond the middle, hath been happy in this, That it hath brought forth in our Kingdom of England many of great Renown, Wise and Eloquent, deep in Learning, and sage in Counsels, in a word, to be praised as much as the best of their Forefathers; yet granting to all, both former and latter, an Allowance for some Grains of Frailties. It were pity their Memorial should perish with them. Caesar was a large seeker of Glory; yet grudge no Man a share in Glory, as testifies that little which remains of his Oration for the Bithynians, saying, It is a Duty required from the surviving Generation, to keep them alive in their good Name, who deserved it, and can endure the Censure of the World forever. I listen to his Encouragement; yet measuring my Strength by mine own Meet-wand, I task myself to set up a Pillar but for one Man's Memory. The Event will clear me, that I stint not myself to this one Theme to do but little.

But, First, Because there is so much Kernel in one Shell; I must set forth a great Bishop, a great Judge, a great Counselor, in all these Capacities most active in most active Times. Such a Mill will not go with a little Water. Beside the Turnings and Returnings of his Fortune, multiformous Changeableness, rather Prodigious then Strange, by Honor and Dishonor, by Evil Report and good Report, 2 Cor. 6.8. Which will draw considerate Thoughts for no little time to this one Center. As Pliny writes of the Emperor Augustus his Life, interwoven with much Glory, and much Misfortune, Si diligenter aestimentur sancta, magna sortis humanae reperiantur volumina. So it is highly remarkable, that in this one Piece a diligent Eye may discern all the Colours of human Inconstancy and Instability.

4. Secondly, I spend all my little Skill upon this Subject; for I can draw no Picture so like, because I knew none so well. I noted his Ways and Worth in the University, when I was but young. I observed him in his earliest Preferments, when he came first sledge out of the Nest. I was taken into his Household Service, as soon as he ascended to his highest Office. And commencing from that time till thirty Years expired with his Life, I trespass not against Modesly if I say, I knew his Courses as much, and saw them at as near a distance, as any Man beside. I have as much Intelligence from an Eye-witness Information, and from his familiar Conference with me, as can be expected from any Writer of the Memorials of a great Statist: Qui audiunt audita dicunt, qui vident plane sciunt, says Plautus very well. He that reports but what he hears, must confess he is at uncertainty; he that sees a Thing done, can relate it perfectly. Pliny hath cast down a great deal of that which he built up in the seventh Book of his Natural History, with this Passage in his Proem, Nec in plerísque corum obstringam sidem meam, potiúsque ad autores relegabo. He would make Faith for little of that which he wrote; but turns his Reader over to such Authors, as himself did not trust in. I am far from such Prevarication. I drew the knowledge of those things of most moment which I shall deliver from the Spring-Head. And I trust in God, that I have incorporated them into this Frame with Integrity. This then is my confidence to make this Compilement, that my Tools were whetted at home. I need not repair to the Allophyli, or Philistines, to sharpen my Axe at their Grind-stone.

5. Thirdly, I am full of willingness to be the Father of this Child: And nothing is apter for a Man to undergo, then that which is agreeable to his Delight. I profess it is not the least of my drifts to sweeten my Master's Memory with a strong composed Perfume; and to carve him out in a commendable, but a true Figure. Suffer me to put one Day to his Life after his Decease. When a worthy Man's Fame survives him, through their help, that light a Candle for that use, that others in succession of Ages may perfectly behold him, it is a grateful Service to put one Day more, as it were, to the Life of Nature, but a Day that may be longer, perhaps, then the Mortal preceding Life thrice told over. The Learned Grotius (Who can stop his Conjectures?) thinks it not improbable, but that the Sun went down, Josh. 10.13. when Joshua pursued the Kings of Canaan in the Valley of Ajalon: Sed post Solis occasum speciem ejus in nube supra horizontem extanti per repercussum ostendere: That is, a kind of Sun, that made a great Luster, shined sufficiently to make it Day, not in his Presence, but in the repercussion of his Beams upon a Cloud. I cite it only for Accommodation; that when a renowned Man is departed, his last Sun set, the worthy Deeds of his Life may yet shine in our Horizon, as it were by Repercussion in the memory of after-times; which causeth a longer Day then any, nay then all that went before.

6. Now I fear I am in danger of a stabbing Censure, through the Discovery of some part of my Aim in this last Confession: For I have divulged, that I offer up this Book as a Banner at the Shrine of this Renowned Prelate's Memory. Some will say, What could be uttered more in way of Prejudice, to entangle the Belief of the Reader with Knots of Jealousy? A Master in this Art, Dionysius Halicarnassus gives this for one Rule, to examine prudentially the Truth of an History, by considering, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the Affection of the Writer. For my part, I desire to be tried by such a considerate Overseer. And let him judge uprightly, that I could not but understand, it had been better for me to have smothered my Purpose, which I hold out before the open Light, if I had meant corruptly, and would stain my Paper, and my Conscience, with blots of Falsehood and Flattery. I fear God. And he that feels that Motion within him, will not seek Honor to himself, much less to cast it upon another, by Consenage and Fictions. Or if Religion, carelessly present, did not bind so hard, I think Discretion and Experience should advertise any Man, that he is a Fool that imagines he can poison the whole World with a Lye. Polybius speaks soundly, that Truth will be obscured by no History, by no Conspiracy. Yet although I should gild this common Place with as much Oratory and Flourish as could be laid on, I know yet there is no Historiographer, but must stand to the courtesy of his Judges to think him honest. I am content to stoop to that Necessity. Not that I despair to make it appear, that I play above Board so fairly, that he that is true-hearted himself, will suspect no Juggling. A late Writer, and one of our Country-men, ••• ds me this Passage: That Historical Credit is of three degrees; First, When the Fact was s • en of Thousands, as the Battle fought at Pharsalia. Secondly, When a small Number can attest it, as Tully's Defense for Ligarius before Caesar. Thirdly, When few were present to justify the thing, Sed a sido, occulato, & aurito teste posteris est consignata. Such are many Matters related by Comines concerning his Master Lewis the Eleventh. I am furnished in great part with Materials of the first and second Faith; I will supply the rest from Evidences, though of the third and lowest Credit, yet of the true Sterling value, being the Hand-writings kept in custody, or the very Sayings kept in memory of the chief Actors. The Result is, That I engage unto the World to carve my Mercury out of sound Wood, and then to set it up. As the Roman Senate did the like for the Glory of Cato Major, who s • t up his Statue in their Court, having been the Honor of their Robe: To which Valerius very pertinently, Lib. 16. Com. 4. Gratum ordinem, qui utilissimum Reipub. Senatorem tantùm non semper secum habere voluit. A thankful Bench of Judges, that would never suffer so beneficial a Senator to be out of their sight.

7. In the end of this Preface I protest, that there is nothing troubles me less, then that I expect this my Endeavor may displease some, that will either cavil at my Pen, or at the Arch-Bishop's Praise. I wish the Offence may rather fall upon me: For I am grown rather Impudent, then Bold, from that Defiance which Clem. Alexandrinus gives; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Nothing was ever written so fortunately, that found no Opponents: But that's considerately written, which no Man can considerately oppose. But if any have their Teeth set on edge with a sour Humour, and gnash at the honorable mention of the Dead, it is not to be wondered: For he lived when there was little hope to please all; he died when there was less. I wish well to his Memory. I profess it. And would have him live in Honor, though he be dead, not with me, or a few more only, but with the Succession of Men. Historia praestat, ut qui aevo priore vixerant, vivere adhuc nostrâ videantur aetate, as a mighty Master of Learning says: Salmas. Praefat. in August. Histo. Scriptores. And if this Monument covered no more then one dead Man, it ought to be Intemerate; says as great a Scholar as the former: Grotius, Lib. 3. Cap. 12. Com. 7. de ju. Bell. & pacis. Quae in honorem mortuorum structa sunt, violari non possunt nisi contemtâ humanitate. But my Scope is, (and I am not understood if I be taken otherwise) not to Consecrate this slight Piece to the Fame of one, but to the Benefit of all, that will find leisure to peruse it: That is, I intend in the Narration of one Life, to insert Rules for any. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : Breathing Images of our Divine Conversation. Therefore I repeat it, that my Labors may have a right Construction, that I cast out this Matter into the Figure of a Moral Example; else I had been far more Compendious. Yet it is the true Image of his Life, whom I describe, and not a Cyrus, or feigned Idea of Wit. One of the greatest Knowledge of any in his Age said, Est Historia nihil aliud, nisi Philosophia quaedam exemplis utens. Casaub. Proleg. in Aug. Hist. Scriptores: A right History is a System of Exemplary, or Practick Philosophy. Such I wish this were; though that way will not please all. Not. those who are delighted with Romances, and like to have Shadows commended that were never extant, rather then such as lived among us, did do us good, and deserved Glory; who are no wiser then they, that had rather have Felicity in a Dream, then Waking.

Lastly, That I may not Lavish in Proem, I crave my Due from my Readers and Judges, their good Opinion that I extremely affect Candor; and let them try me by this Mark, That I never (or with little Exception) blame anything with my Pen; but, First, I consider how much I may Excuse it: Or, Secondly, How I may Recompence it with some other Praise.

A MEMORIAL Offer'd to the Great Deservings OF JOHN WILLIAMS, D.D. Who sometimes Held the Places of the LORD-KEEPER of the GREAT-SEAL of England, &c.

PART I.

Paragraph 1. EDMOND WILLIAMS Esq of Aber. Conway in the County of Carnarvan, was the Son of William Williams Esq of Coghwillanne near adjoining, and of Dorothy Daughter to Sir William Griffith Knight, of Penrhyn. This Edmond took to Wife Mary Daughter to Owen Wyn Esq and by her had five Sons and two Daughters. Of the Male Children, John was the youngest; the Womb of his Mother ceasing to bear, when it had done its best. This John, whose Memory deserves to be Dignified in a lasting Story, was born at Aber-Conway, a Sea-Town in Carnarvanshire, about, or upon the Feast-day of our Lady the Blessed Virgin, March 25. 1582. The Shire wherein he drew his first Breath, is notorious for the highest Hills of this Island, Snoden, Penmanmaur, Creig-Eriri, and others. It is not unlikely that it hath much Riches under the Earth, but it is Barren above Ground. As Pliny speaks of the Orobii, certain Mountainers in Italy, Lib. 3. c. 17. Etiam nomine prodentes se all. tius quàm fortunatiùs sitos: Their Situation was rather high than prosperous. But what the Region wants in Fatness of Soil, is requited by the Generous Spirits of the Inhabitants, a far greater Honor than much Clay and Dirt. I light upon it in the Invention of a Masque, Presented before King James at Whitehall, An. 1619. that our Laureat-Poet Ben. Johnson hath let some weighty Words drop from him, to the Honor of that Nation, and I take them as a serious Passage, and will own them, That the Country is a Seed-Plot of honest Minds and Men. What Lights of Learning hath Wales sent forth for our Schools? What Industrious Students of our Laws? What Able Ministers of Justice? Whence hath the Crown in all times better Servitors, more Liberal of their Lives and Fortunes? And I know I have their good Leave to say, That the Honor of Wales shined forth abroad in the Luster of such a Native as this; and I add what Pliny writes to Sabinus of the Firmians, among whom he was born, Credibile est optimos esse inter quos tu talis extiteris, Lib. 6. Epist.

2. For Carnarvanshire in particular, says Reverend Mr. Cambden, the Ordovices lived there of old, who held the Romans Play to preserve their Liberties the longest of all our Britain's: and forced the Roman General Suetonius Paulinus to fix his Head-Quarter there, desiring to keep them his first and surest Friends, who were his last subdued Enemies. Afterward the Saxons had the longest and stoutest Repulses in North-Wales, that they felt in all their Battels; which made them bloody their Swords most barbarously in the Bodies of those resolute Defendants.

3. Among the Champions of greatest Note and Valour, that did the best Feats of Chivalry against the Saxons, was a gallant Commander, the Top of the House of Williams, which is preserved in Memory to this day, because the Family of that Name doth until this time bear in their Coat three Saxons Heads, ( De tree pen Saix, they call it in Welch, I think) a noble Testimony of the Valour of the Chief of that Stock, that sought manfully for his Country, and preserved it from the Invasion of the Saxons, when their Armies had marched over the Ground of England (now so called) with Slaughter and Conquests. And since the best Men of the ancient Houses in Wales did manage War so valiantly in maintenance of Glory and Liberty, it is no marvel if the Inhabitants are noted in the current Ages ever since, to have almost a Religious Care in preserving the Pedigrees of their Gentry. Who could excuse them from Ingratitude, if they should not garnish Heraldry with the Genealogies of such Worthies?

4. Among their copious Stems, and far-fetched Descents, the Pedigree of the House of Williams of Coghwillanne hath as many brave Strings in the Root, and spreads as wide in the Branches, as I have seen produced from the Store-house of their Cambrian Antiquities. It grows up in the top Boughs to the Princes of North-Wales in King Stephen 's days, as it is deducted by Authentic Records which I have seen, and are formalized into a comely shape by Evan Lloyd of Egloyvach in the County of Denbigh, and Jacob Chaloner of London, Gent. Men faithful and expert in such Monuments of elder Years. The same Authors demonstrate, that Williams of Coghwillanne hath continued his Coat of three Saxons Heads constantly, and without any the least alteration, from Edneuet Vychan Lord-Steward of Wales, an. 1240. and of Hen. 3. his Reign, an. 25. to this day. It hit right indeed for a Coat of Arms, says the neat Wit of Mr. Hugh Hotland, when one of that Lineage was advanced to be Lord-Keeper of the Great-Seal, as he couched it in an elegant Distic, engraven on his Lordship's Silver Standish, as I found it there:

Meaning, it was a sign he had the Abilities and Brains of three Heads, whose good Parts lifted him up to that Honor, to set Chief Judge in the highest Court of the Kingdom. But I need neither the light Air of Poetry, much less the empty Wind of Vain-boasting, to blow it about the World, that he was Anciently and Nobly descended, there are so many Proofs for it, as there are Offsprings of Gentry in North-Wales, being all of his Blood and Alliance, to whom a Catalogue might be added of Great and Honorable Persons in England. Which King James was aware of, when he was sworn his Counselor; for He told him pleasantly, that He thought not the worse of him, nor suspected his Fidelity, though He knew well enough, that Sir William Stanley, (then living) a great Traitor to his Prince and Country, was his near Kinsman. I could insist more upon this; but it is the Rule of a wise Author, that whosoever will search into a Man prudently and Philosophically,

I close it up therefore, that his Pedigree of Ancestors gave a good Luster to his Birth, but he gave a greater to them. Howsoever I receive it for a Moral Truth, as well as a Mathematical, that the longest Line is the least of all quantitive Dimensions.

5. Now to begin with my Subject, from the first time that he was able to go without the hand. His Education was like to be Prosperous, for not only his Parents, but his Grandmother the Lady Griffith; his Grandmother Lois, as well as his Mother Eunice, contributed her Care to give him Godly and Learned Breeding. It fell out well for their purpose, that their Pious Country-man Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster, had about that time founded a Public School at Reuthen, and had placed a good Grammarian in it, under whom he was taught his first Rudiments of the Latin and Greek Tongues. I have heard some of his Contemporaries say, that his Master knew not for a while how to manage him, he was of so strange a mixture; for at sometimes he was addicted to loiter and play, and to much exercise of Body: Again, by fits he would ply his Book so industriously, that his Praeceptor thought it a great deal too much for a Child to undergo it. But, like a prudent Man, he quickly consented to leave his Scholar to his own pace; wherein he got ground so fast of all his Fellows. He that raised himself up to that height of Knowledge in his adult Age, had need to lay some part of the Foundation so early: For as Comines observes it, Lib. 1. Hist. Indubitatum est ees qui in ullâ re unquam excelluerunt, maturi puerilibus annis ad cam accessisse.

6. All things fell out happily by Divine Disposition, to bring him up from a towardly Youth, to a worthy Man. For by that time this Bud began to blow, it fortun'd that Dr. Vaughan, afterward the Reverend Lord Bishop of London, came into Wales, and took the School of Reuthen in his way, where he found his young Kinsman John Williams to be the Bell-weather of the little Flock. Dr. Vaughan was exceeding glad to find him in that forwardness, and being not only as Learned as most Men to try a Scholar, but Judicious above most Men to conjecture at a rich Harvest by the green Blade in the Spring, took speedy care to remove his Kinsman to Cambridge, and commended him to the Tuition of Mr. Owen Gum of St. John 's College, well qualified by his Country and Alliance for a Friend, and no indiligent Tutor. The young Youth was now entering into the 16th Year of his Age, an. 1598. much welcomed to Cambridge by the Old Britain's of North-Wales, who praised him mightily in all places of the University, • for they are good at that, to them of their own Lineage,) and made more Eyes be cast upon him, than are usual upon such a Punie. Which took the rather, because of his great Comeliness, I might say Beauty: And it is a great Attractive of common Favor, when virtue takes up a fair Lodging. One thing put him to the blush, and a little Shame, that such as had gigling Spleens would laugh at him for his Welsh Tone. For those who knew him at his Admission into St. John 's Society, would often say, that he brought more Latin and Greek, than good English with him. This also plucked Advantage after it; for it made him a very retired Student, by shunning Company and Conference, as far as he could, till he had lost the Rudeness of his Native Dialect. Which he labor'd and affected, because he gave his Mind to be an Orator; which requires, Decus linguae, regnumque loquendi, as Manlius lays it out, Lib. 4. And all that heard him will subscribe, that when he was put to it to speak publicly, his Gesture and Pronunciation did add much Grace to his Matter, and Invention.

7. He was the Pattern of a most diligent Student to all that did emulate him then, or would imitate him hereafter. He had read over so many Authors in several Sciences, so many Volumes, so many Historians and Poets, Greek and Latin, in four Years, (the Evidence of it was in his Note-Books) that I may say, Aetatem ultra putes; who would have thought it had been the dispatch of an Under-Graduate? He had ransack'd not only the bare Courts, and spacious Lodgings, but the very Closets and Corners of the best Arts and Authors. Nothing so great that exceeded him; nothing so little that escaped him. I will make this Credible to all that are not utter Drones. He plied his Book, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; As much in the Night, as in the Day. Nature contributed to this a strange Assistance, that from his Youth to his old Age he asked but 3 hours Sleep in 24, to keep him in good plight of Health. This we all knew, who lived in his Family. It would not quickly be believed, but that a cloud of Witnesses will avouch it, that it was ordinary with him to begin his Studies at six of the clock, and continue them till three in the morning, and be ready again by seven to walk in the Circle of his indefatigable Labors. Aristo complains thus in Pliny, l. 7. c. 50. Vivendi breve tempus homini datum, quoniam somnus veluti publicanus dimidium aufert. That which makes the Life of Man short is, That Sleep, like an exacting Publican, takes half of it away for Toll and Tribute. But here was one that paid very little Custom to that common Publican of Nature, and kept so much Time continually going in his Stock, that he lived almost twice as much as any Man, that lived no longer. Who will not say now, but so much Toil was plain Drudgery? And I marvel it the more, that so great a Wit could endure to task him to such constant and vexatious Pains. No doubt he looked far afore him, upon the hope of a great Recompence in Church or Commonwealth: that contented him, and confirmed him. Marius speaks gailantly in Salust, Nae illi falsi sunt qui res diversissimas pariter expectant, ignaviae voluptatem, & praemia virtutis. They are much mistaken, that think to piece together two Things so different, the Pleasure of Ease, and the Guerdon of Virtue. Therefore all these concur'd together in him to make up the Master-piece of a Scholar, a rare Wit, a most tenacious and even stupendous Memory, a clear Judgment, a most distinguishing common Sense, called Natural Logic, which is the best, and most vital part of Judgment, and that which hatched all these, that they might not addle, uncessant Industry. Truly he that will build many Stories high, had need of all these Materials. And let those that are happy in great Natural Endowments take Example by him, to join the Felicity of Nature, with such a Mate as Diligence. Gardners give the most attendance to the best Stocks in their Nursery, and the Fruit will quit the Cost, after due time hath matur'd it. It was God above therefore that gave his young Servant so wise a Mind, to fill up the choice Vessels of Nature with Liquors distilled from his own Studies. And herein I may compare him to Messala Corvinus in Tully, as he writes of him to Brutus, Ep. 15. Tanta industria est, tantúmque evigilat in studio, ut non maximo ingenio (quod in e • summum est) gratia habenda videatur. He was so laborious and vigilant about his Studies, that though his Wit were of the best kind, yet he was not most beholding to it.

8. I have not added a Grain to the just weight of Truth, that his Sails were filled with prosperous Winds, which blew from the Cape of Nature, yet that he plied the Oar with main might to make a gaining Voyage. Especially the good God was pleased to give a good Rudder to the Vessel to steer it right, both in the Channel of true Religion, and virtuous Practice. For in those Lubric and often failing years, he neither fell upon the Rocks of dangerous Errors in Opinion, nor stuck in the quick Sands of Vice. He was duly present at the Service of Common-Prayer in the College-Chapel: And in his private Prayers, as he began, so he did ever continue to commend himself to God's Mercy and Protection morning and evening, rather with a due Constancy, and, as it were, Canonical, never to be dispensed with, then a long winded Prolixity; it grew up with him by a Catechetical Principle, rather to be, then after a contrivance and fashion, to profess to be a good Christian. I expound him thus: A Face set smooth by the Glass of Hypocrisy, an affected show of holy Simplicity, a dreaming simpering of Words to shuffle into the good Opinion of the World by mere Histrionical Devices, he declined in himself, and dislik'd in others. Though he did not strive to cry up himself for a great-gifted Saint, yet no wholesome Morals, which are commendable in such green and sappy Years, were wanting in him. He was obedient to Superiors, strictly just in his Word, and in all Commerce and Dealing a Faithful Friend, and, as will appear more in the Sequel, no Vindicative Enemy. He was no Loiterer, no Companion for Ruffians and loose Persons, no Tippler, no Wine-bibber. And though the University Discipline began to be more remiss in those days, then in by-gone Ages, yet he consin'd himself most inculpably to Modesty and Sobriety, not so much as leaning towards Youthful Exorbitancies. So far he was a Stranger to wanton Lusts, that his Acquaintance marvelled, that the more the Sin came near to him, so comely a Feature wanting not Enticement, the further he ran from it. Arthur Wilson, in his History of King James, by some secret Whisper came nigh to the Discovery of the Reason. Not that he was an Eunuch ab utero, as he bluntly delivers it; but he had suffered an adventitious Mischance, being about 7 Years old, which compel'd him to actual Chastity. He took a leap, being then in long Coats, from the Walls of Conway Town to the Sea-shore, looking that the Wind, which was then very strong, would fill his Coats like a Sail, and bear him up, as it did with his Play-fellows: But he found it otherwise, for he did light with his Belly upon a big ragged Stone, which caused a secret Infirmity, fitter to be understood, then further described; and want of timely Remedy, the Skill of good Chirurgery being little known in that Climate, continued it to his dying day. They that traduced him when he came to be Lord-Keeper, not only to be Amorous, but to be Incontinent with a great Lady, and taught common Fiddlers to sing it, may blush at this Discovery, if they be alive; but if they died without Repentance, it may be they want the tip of his Finger dipped in Water to cool their Tongues.

9. Though I have not concealed that he was Chast perforce, yet I must witness for him, that in the use of Meats and Drinks he was one of the most temperate Men in the Kingdom of free Election. I think he sucked it in with his Milk, it was so fixed in him. To let pass how well he was satisfied with his short Academical Fare, I will go further, and come to him, when he came to be a great House-keeper. He kept a full Table, elegantly set forth, none of his Rank beyond him. Yet I scarce ever saw him eat a plentiful Meal. He supplied the convival time at his Board with Carving and Discourse, which made his Abstinence less observed by his Guests; but it was most beneficial to him. He that eats sparingly, sacrificeth to Health, and is fit for Labor, and Watchfulness upon all Occasions. What Repugnancy there was in his Concoction to Flesh, I know not; but he fed the least upon it that ever I saw: His Diet upon his own Trencher consisting chiefly out of a Dairy, a Garden, and an Orchard. No Capuchin kept Lent, and Fish-days, as we term them, more strictly. As his Appetite was easily under his Will, so his Will was as much under the Laws of the Realm. It were a rash Censure to count him Superstitious in this Observation of Abstinence, because he would not be a Libertine. Obedience is accountable to the smallest Commandments, and which are customarily broken. I cannot but call to mind upon what is rehearsed before, that what Pythagoras asked of his Disciple, was comprised in this Verse, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; to be unaddicted to Belly-pampering, Sleep, and Carnal Wantonness. Which threefold Rule, this might Moral Man made up into one Practice.

10. Many are happy that they have not Means to be Riotous, though they would; but he was happy that he had Means of large Supply for his Breeding, and would not. His Father was a Gentleman of a bountiful and kind Heart, and spent more upon himself, and upon his Neighbors, then upon his Children. But the numerous Stock of rich Gentry, to which he was Allied, his dear Grandmother especially, made him a great Allowance. But to say the truth, all of them could never fill his Purse. From a Youth, and so upward, he had not a Fist to hold Money, for he did not only lay out, but scatter, spending all that he had, and somewhat for which he could be trusted. By one Instance, which I have heard much quoted in Cambridge, he did discover a most charitable and franc Affection. That unparalleled worthy Man Mr. Edward Liveley, Public-Professor of the Hebrew Tongue, was so unprovided to sustain himself and his Family, that he was put to a sad shift, to sell a part of his Library, which being made known to some by pitiful Rumour, and to young Williams, among others in Cambridge, he got the Sum of three Pounds together, and carried it home to Mr. Liveley, which the Learned Man's Necessity made him accept, and his Thankfulness told it abroad, to bring his pretty benefactor into Estimation, which was much noised, that so little a Hand did open itself, when large ones were shut. Many things concurred to make him talked of, and to be noted out for future Eminency; yet Envy, that loves to crop the Bud of Virtue, had two Things to object against him. First, That he gave Distast to some by his Vehemency of Anger, not seldom flying out. 'It is true, he was obnoxious to Arles 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a sudden eruption of Choler sometimes upon a little stirring; an Infirmity which only bred him Enemies, for his fair Candor could give no other Offence. But as Hippocrates, the chiefest of the Aesculapians, writes, Where Fire abounds in the Mixture, and exceeds the Moisture, such Flashes cannot always be suppressed. And sublime Wits are seldom without the Frailty to bring them to Humility. So Pliny said of them in the Character of Julius Caesar; Acutissimi evadunt, & igneâ celeritate volucres. The second thing called Culpable in him, but was not, was picked at by the cross Humours of some in the end of Q. Elizabeth 's Reign. They were of the old Stock of Non-conformitants, and among the Seniors of his College, who looked four upon him, because he was an Adherent to, and a Stickler for the Discipline and Ceremonies of the Church of England; these laid their Heads together to exclude him from Preferment, but their Plot would not hit. Others that were the most orderly Sons of the Church, were not pleased with him, because he frequented Reverend Mr. Perkins his Congregation. It is true, he was his constant Auditor, while Mr. Perkins lived, so early his well-kneaded Judgment took delight in clear and solid Divinity. And he that is discreet, will make his Profit out of every side, or every Faction, if you like to call it so.

11. At the close of the most happy Reign of Q: Elizabeth, he Commenced Bachelor of Arts. And to make that Degree sit upon him with the better Credit, within a Month he was made Fellow of his College, with the advantage of that Seniority which promised him the Proctorship of the University, if he lived to it, according to the constant Order of that Society. Filii prunae exultant volare, Job 5.7. He was full of warmth, and tended upward. I find in a Letter, which he wrote to King James 22 years after, wherein he remembers the King, That His Majesty's Gracious Letters conferred that Blossom of the first Preferment upon him. He was no heavy Log to be lifted up to a Fellowship with a Court-Leaver. But the Place being extraordinary, (for it was pregnant with the Pretorship) there needed some Engine from above to settle him. Without disparagement to his Merit, it shall not be concealed, that some of the Seniors did make resistance against him, whose Suffrages are requisite by Statute for the Election of Fellows. One or two of them were observed to stop the Advancement of all the most sharp Wits, as far as they could, Men not to be compared with the sweet Philosopher Plato, but like him in this, That Plato would not admit Homer into his Commonwealth, for he was too great a Citizen for his City. This was a Grief apparent, that Mr. Aluy, though himself departed into Ireland, had left of his Spirit among them, a Spirit devious from the Quiet and Happy Way of obeying our Church Discipline. And this did season a few with a wrong Zeal to depress such whose Learning and prudent Behaviour did promise, that they would be Champions for Conformity. But he that was then the Pinacle of the Codege, far higher then the low-roost Building of the rest, was Dr. Playsere, one of the Public Professors of Divinity, and of most celebrated Eloquence, (let me carve a good Figure for his Memory in this Structure,) it was he that opened the stiff Soil, and planted this young Sprig in his Fellowship, and led him in his hand out of the Throng of Contradiction. You may guess, that the young Bachelor did Glory in it, and had the sense of Juily in his mind, when he said, He had rather be Praised by Cato, then have a Triumph voted to him by the Senate.

12. Now our young Graduate began to run the Race of three years Course to the Degree of Master; a time of loitering with too many, but not with him. It was his common Theme, even when he was a Bishop, if young Students were at his Table, to inveigh gravely against Batchelors of Arts, because commonly they mis-spent that Triennial Probation, and left upon that place a Vacuum of doing little or nothing. He that least of all committed that Crime, might best set Judge upon the Guilty. For his own part, now his Clay was upon that Wheel, it turn d about, as Peripateties say of the highest Sphere, with a most rapid Motion. He surrendered up his whole Time to dive into the Immense Well of Knowledge, that hath no bottom. He Read the Best, he Heard the Best, he Conferr'd with the Best, Excrib'd, committed to Memory; Disputed, he had some Work continually upon the Loom. And though he never did so much in this unwearied Industry, as himself desired, he did far more then all that did highly value him could expect. Ingenium caeleste suis v • lecius amns surgit. Ovid. His Equals of the same time began to find his Discourse far above their pitch in weighty Judgment; and what was looked for from him in his Public Exercises, might be perceived by the Throng that come to Hear him, and that none at the parting but Admired him. All perceived that a Fellowship was a Garland too little for his Head, and that he that went his pace, would quickly go further then St. John 's Walks.

13. He that will dig diligently for Wisdom, God will provide a Mine for him to Recompence his Labor; my Proof lies thus: Here was a Student that would take any pains to know much; and God supplied him with as good Men in that Age, as ever Cambridge afforded before or since, that were able to teach him. A Scholar can have no taste of Natural Philosophy, without some conditement of the Mathematics. See the good luck of it, that he had Mr. Edward Briggs within the Walls of the same College for his Master; by whom he was initiated into the Principles of Geometry, which never departed out of his tenacious Memory. Yet he did but kiss the Cup of those Sciences, and drank not deep: Fruit that is next the Sun, may change the color; but unless it hang long on the Tree, it comes not to maturity. He frequented Mr. Lively and Mr. Downes, ( Duo Scipiadae ) the Professors of the Hebrew and Greek Tongues in the Public Schools, from whose full Breasts he sucked most excellent Skill in those Learned Languages. He had also other choice Praeceptors to perfect him in the Sacred Tongue, Mr. Robert Spalden, a modest and no less Learned Divine, Fellow of St. John 's, and Rabbi Jacob a Jew born, whom I remember for a long time a Commorant in the University; with the Instruction of these two, he dived far into the Mystery of that Holy Language. But chiefly he did heartily acknowledge, that the Hand of God did go with him, that Dr. Overal was the King's Professor in the Chair of Divinity in his Years of soft Wax, from whom he took such a right Orthodox Impression of stating Theological Controversies. I asked him on a time, what it was that pleased him in Dr. Overal above all others whom he heard to handle Determinations of Divine Points in a Scholastical Form? He gave me this Answer; because, First, Dr. Overal was used to prove his Conclusion out of two or three Texts of Scripture at the most, and no more, being such Places upon whose right Interpretation the judgment of the Cause did chiefly depend. Secondly, That above all Men that ever he heard, he did most pertinently quote the Fathers, both to the right sense of their Phrase, which few did understand, and out of those their Treatises, wherein especially they handled the Cause, for which he Appealed unto them. And, Thirdly, When he had fixed what was prime and principal Truth in any Debate, with great Meekness and Sweetness he gave copious Latitude to his Auditors, how far they might dissent, keeping the Foundation sure, without breach of Charity. These were the Constellations, whose fortunate Aspect did shine upon this Neophytus in the Orb of Cambridge, and being under the Influence of such Luminaries, a judicious Academian might Prognostic, how much he would prosper without a judicious Astrologer. But for all that he posted so speedily through the broad Way of the best Tracts of Knowledge, yet he found a little leisure to call in as he went, at the attaining of some Skill in Music, Instrumental and Vocal, not as a Siren to catch him, but as a Delight to solace him. Nay, though he set his Face to the end of a great Journey, yet in transi •• he took Acquaintance of the French Tongue, to make himself able to read the choice Pieces of that acute Nation, which flowed in easily and apace into him, having the Pipes of the Latin Tongue ready cast to convey it. What shall we say to him that took in hand such a long Sorites of Sciences and Tongues together? But that such Blood and Spirits did boil in his Veins as Tully felt, when he spake so high; Mihi satis est si omnia consequi possim: Nothing was enough, till he got all.

14. The Gamester was the freer to throw at all, because he was like to draw a good Stake, Preferment already holding its Hand half open. For • f • c • bi 2 ^o his Patron, and tenderly-loving Kinsman, Dr. Vaughan was Removed from the Bishopric of Chester to the See of London. The young Eaglets are quickly taken up upon the Wings of the old one. But the good Bishop, within three Years after he had ascended to that Dignity, ended his days, greatly lamented of all, and lived not till his young Cousin was adult for Promotion. This only was much to his Benefit, that every Year the Bishop sent for him to spend a few Weeks in his Palace of London, a great help to his Breeding, to let him see the course of Church-Government managed by the Piety and Wisdom of so grave a Prelate, who had much of a Gentleman, much of a Scholar, and most of a Christian. During his abode in the Reverend Bishop's Palace, he had the opportunity to tender his Duty to that noble-minded and ancient Baron John Lord Lumley, who received him with equal Courtesie and Bounty as his Kinsman. That Lord having given his Sister in Marriage to Mr. Humphrey Llyd of Nor. h. Wales, a most industrious Antiquary, as appears in Ortelius, and Adjutant to Mr. Cambden in his great Work. This Lord Lumley did pursue Recondite Learning, as much as any of his Honorable Rank in those Times and was owner of a most precious Library, the Search and Collection of Mr. Humsry Llyd. Out of this Magazine, that great Peer bestowed many excellent Pieces printed, and Manuscript, upon Mr. Williams for Alliance sake, a Treasure above all Presents most welcome to him. Yet the noble-hearted Lord, a free Mccaenas, gave with both hands, and never sent his young Kinsman away from him without a Donative of ten Pieces. The first Gift of Books he kept better then Gold; for the Gold went from him again as magnificently, as if he had been no less then the Lord Lumley himself But that he had received those noble Favors, I heard him remember with great and grateful Expressions in the Chancel of the Parish-Church of Cheam near to N • n •• c • in Surrey, (whereof myself have been Rector now above 30 Years) coming on a day to view the Burial-place of the Lord Lumley, where his Body lies under a comely Monument.

15. It fell out luckily to Mr. Williams, to keep him from incurring great Debts, that he had such an Ophir or Golden Trade to drive with the Lord Lumley 's Pu • se, who supplied him with a Bounty that grudge'd him nothing, till the Year 1 •• 9. (for then that aged Baron died.) Four Years before the loss of that dear Friend, An. 1605, he took his Degree of Master of Arts, and he Feasted his Friends at the Commencement as if it had been his Wedding, having more in Cash at command by the full Presents of many Benefactors, then is usual with such young Graduates. His Merits being known, brought him in a great Revenue, long before he had a certain Livelihood. A Master of Arts, is a Title of honest Provocation rightly considered: Nomina insignia onerosa sunt, says the Emperor Alexander Mammaens. But they are scarce so many as a few, that are warmed with the remembrance of that Honor, which the Regent-House confer'd upon them, worthy to be taxed, in parodie, with that Increpation, Heb. 5.12. Cum deberetis Magistri esse propter tempus, rursum indigetis ut vos doceamini. When for the time ye eught to be Masters, you have need one teach you again. Whose Reproach hath this, and no other use, that they are a pitiful Foil to their Betters. I am sure I explain a Man, who added as much Grace to the Name, as any his Ancestors; of those that came after, he that was the best, was but second in the Order. Every day (borrowing much of the Night) advanced his Knowledge. He hired himself to labor under all Arts, and sorts of Learning. The more he toil'd, the more he perceived, that nothing in this Earth had such Amplitude, as the extent of Sciences: He saw it was a Prospect which had no Horizon, a Man can never say, he sees the utmost Bound of the Coast. Therefore he was continually drawing his Bow, because he was sure he could never shoot home. No Man fishes to get all the Fish in the Sea; yet since the Sea contains so much, he is slothful that labors but for a little. Our Student began now to fall close to the deep, and spacious Studies of Divinity. I deliver from his own mouth what he would relate sometimes in his riper Years; That he began to read all the Scriptures with the choicest and most literal, and, as he found it fit, with the briefest Commentators, so that all his Superstructure might knit close to that Foundation. He compared the common places of P. Martyr, Chemnitz and Musculus, Calvin and Zanchi, being in at all, with the Sacred Text, and found that Harmony in them all with the Oracles of God's Word, that he perceived he might with a good Conscience, as he would answer it to Christ Jesus, defend the Integrity of the Reformed Religion, taking it not upon Trust, but upon Judgment and Examination. But an Artist knoweth not what he hath got by all his Diligence till he useth it; neither can a Scholar understand what Taste is in the Waters of his own 〈◊〉 , till he draws some quantity out. Therefore he disclosed himself both in his own Terms, and for his Friends, in common Places and in Problems, sweet as Sampson 's Honey in the one, strong as his Lion in the other. By both he received mighty Praise from his Elders, and great Thanks from the younger Fry, whose Benefit is to be intended in such Exercises. For it is a Duty that sits as close to them, as an Oath can fasten it, who live in such a social Life, to make ready, not wild Gourds, but of their best Preparation, to set before the Sons of the Prophets, that they may eat.

16. Having fetched such a great compass about Theology in less then two years, he began to climb up higher upon the Mountain of God. His Project was to take so much Work in hand, that no Temptation should make him idle. And that he might be to seek in nothing, which might exactly furnish him in the Ministry of Christ, he adventured to read the School-men, Histories Ecclesiastical, and the Fathers all together. Conceive me that this course of Study begun so early, co-extended with all the space of his Life. But was it possible for one Hand, and yet but a tender one, to grasp all this together? Himself knew best how he could weave so many Webs at once.

says he, He was an exact Philosopher, but chiefly in the Metaphysics, whose Utility and Necessity he defended in the Schools, Pro more Academico, when he was Proctor of the University. Having taken such a Preparative of Metaphysical Quidities, the Potions of School-Divinity wrought easily with him, so that he was not lost a whit in their Intricoes, any further then they lose themselves, which is not seldom in more Subtilty then Solidity, being like those Artichokes that have much Core, and little Bottom. He was the first that made me look into them better when I was a Novice, then all the Conference I had had with the greatest Doctors did Premonish me before. He said, The best Thing was, that those Disputative Men crossed and opposed one another eagerly, which was the way to strike out Sparks of Truth between the Flint and the Steel. But the worst was, that such Maxims as passed for common Principles unquestionable on all sides among themselves, were hollow and unsatisfactory. Chiefly herein they do but beat the Air, they never scann the Interpretations of any Scriptures, but take them upon Traditional Trust, which are easily wrung from them by more curious Expositors: So that an hundred Quodlibets all of one Blood, I may say, being not maintainable, but from such sense of Scripture as they offered to derive them, are but so many Bastard-Slips begotten upon vulgar Errors. A young Clerk that reads them, and trusts them, may think they are good Men, and have paid him the whole Sum of Divinity; but let him weigh their Coin, and I am confident he will perceive, that they will owe him above half the Debt. This was a sound Caution from him, to take heed how we Trust: Yet he was not so easily provoked against those Scholastical Plodders as some are, who fault them above all, because they have mixed the Learning of Arle, the Topics of Boethius, and the like, with Conclusions laid down out of the Word of God; for Prophets and Apostles themselves are not without Embellishments of Human Sciences, as well in Argument, as for Ornament: For why may not Sheaves of Wheat be bound about with Wisps of Straw, that they may not shatter? This Brable is put into a true Sea • e by a late Author, and is thus poized; Accedens Philosophia ad Th • ol • gi •• n 〈◊〉 , facit eam 〈◊〉 , s • d facit Sophisticam adversus eam debilior • m. Divinity borrows no Recruit from Philosophy to make itself stronger, but to make Sophistry, or Heresy, which impugns it, weaker.

17. Let it be no marvel if I stay long to take a right prospect of his Studies: To proceed then, you shall find him, as it follows, it the next Partition. The Jews divide the Months of the Year after their Calculation in plenos & cavos, some filled, of 30 Days, some unfill'd, of 29 Surely they were Menses pleni, solid Months of the longest Measure, wherein this Man p • ied Ecclesiastical History. This one eminent Merit alone, his diligence in reading History is worthy of an History: For I will deliver it confidently, that I took him to be the best Proficient in that spacious Knowledge, that this Age brought forth wherein he lived. His Memory was so trusty, that it made him presume to be very fleet in Reading. Therefore I know nothing which he had not Read, and I could observe nothing he had not remembered. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as the Greeks boast; Let no Man compare with Simonides for a Memory. So without boasting I may say, Who would compare with Mr. Williams but Simonides? He that would try his Cunning in History when he was old, might wager an Oath upon it, that he fell to it very young. He moiled a while in Chronology, especially after the Epocha of Times was meetly well set from the Olympiad of Greece, and Consulships of Rome, yet he stuck not long in the Briars of Chronologers, from which a Man can never pluck out his Feet, but refer'd his own Collections to such Computations of Years as himself liked best, by which he knew well enough in what Rank to find his own Notions. And because Cosmography is like Eyes unto the Blind, to lead a diligent Man in all the Journeys of the Earth, through which divers Authors carry him, he took such Light to walk by as Ortelius held before him; yet he would confess, that ofttimes he was like an Errant-Knight, and knew not in what Desert he was, till he came to live in York-house a Chaplain to the Lord-Chancellor Egerton, and then became a Scholar to Mr. Richard Hacklun, a Prebendary of Westminster, and so his near Neighbor, indeed the most versed Man in that Skill that England bred, and from him his Preceptor, whom he forgot not to mention with much Praise, he got as much Thread from Ariadne 's Quill, as served him never to lose himself in any Region or Sea, whether near or remote.

18. Chronology and Chorography were his Bladders to swim with. Now suppose him launch'd into the Main Ocean for Historical Traffick. The Writers are but few that afford anything to illustrate the Contents of the Old Testament, till the Jews came back to their own Country again from the Babylonish Captivity. From that time whatsoever concerned the Records of the Church under the Persian and Macedonjan Monarchies, together with the Seleuctan and Ptolemae • n Princes, he had it at his Fingers ends. But after that the Barren brought forth more Children then the Fruitful, since the propagation of the Christian Faith among the Nations, the Books are infinite which have compiled Occurrences of Evangelical Memorials; yet our indefatigable Undertaker was not disheartened to read over all that was preserved, but ransack'd Rolls and Libraries for all that was hid or lost. Of such as faithful Custody had brought to light, none escaped him. They are not the Divines of Magdepurg, nor Baronius Annals, (though twice read over by him) which furnished him with the Title of his Skill. He knew more then they had observed, from the Originals out of which they had digged their Ore. Especially he was cunning in all Transactions done in the old Asian Churches, and no less in the Greek, even to the time of their Decay, or Ruin rather under the Turkish Tyranny. And because General and Provincial Councils, the most Pure of them having been Celebrated in the East, were the brightest Lanthorns of this kind of History, he had observed in them as much as his Wit could penetrate into. I say as much as he could; for none was more ingenuous then he to confess his Defects And he did deplore, when discourse of that Learning was on foot, that the meaning of the Greek Canons (nay, nor of the Latin likewise) was not opened to the World by an Artifice that was able to try their Metal. That all Glossators hitherto had mistaken the Phraseologies, and Terms of Imperial Laws, and quaint Words, having allusion to popular Speech in those days, which are couched in them. And since he minded me of such abstruseness in the Contexture of those Canons, I have accused mine own oversight to myself, that I thought I had known more of the true sense of those Canons, then now I perceive I do. There wants a Scholar like an Hound of a sure Nose, that would not miss a true Scent, nor run upon a false one, to trace those old Bishops in their fuse. A Divine, he ought to be of the first Magnitude; a Critic, that should be an Hercules in the Greek Tongue; a rare Canonist, a most Learned Civilian, mightily acquainted with all Pristine Ceremonies, of a strong and inquisitive Judgment. And since the matchless Salmasius is lately dead, the Man whom I would have trusted with such a Work before all others, who is sufficient for such a Task?

19. The Histories of the Occidental Churches of great Bulk, but little Credit, he knew were both Partial and Adulterated, many of them no better Authors then Luit prandus, though it was his ill hap more then his Fellows to confess his Knavery; for he says in his third Book, that he set himself to write. Ut de inimicis sumat vindictam, & landibus extollat eos, qui se multis 〈◊〉 aff • erant. Such as this plain-dealing Fellow, and all after him, that struggled to raise up the Grandeur of the Rom • n Court, Mr. Williams had read them and had hanged them all upon the File of his Memory; and could vouch each or them to King James, when a Question was asked about any of their Contents, as if it had been the freshest thing in his Mind, which he had perused but an hour before. I think bonâ side, there was no Man born more like to Eum • es in our Divine Poet Mr. Spencer 's Description, Recording all Things which this World doth weld, laying them up in his Immortal Scrine, where they forever Incorrupted dwelt. Let the Reader, if he be not struck enough into Wonder already, be advertized further, that he could as readily and as dextrously recite Things which had been done in our British and English Churches, from the first Infancy of them to his own days, as if it had been written in the Palm of his Hand. He carried in his Mind an Universal Idea of all Synods and Convocations that were ever held in our Land, of all our Cathedrals, their Foundations, Conditions of Alteration, Statutes, Revenues, &c. As he had spared for no Travel to purchase this Skill; so, to fill his Vessel brim full, he received all that Sir Harry Spelman, Sir Robert Cotton, and Mr. Selden, his dear Friends could pour into him. Some will say, his Mind was set upon this Church, and every particular of it might in some occasion concern him. I will satisfy him that so proposes it, that there was not a corner of an History, Sacred or Secular, in any Kingdom or State in Europe which he had not pried into, and wherein he could not suddenly enlarge himself, whether they were their Wars, or Leagues of Amity; whether their Laws, Inheritances of their Crowns and Dignities, their Lineages, Marriages, or what not? The Chronicles of the Empire and German Princes, the great Partidas of Spain, all the Pieces of Antiquity he could rake out of French Abbeys, he was expert in them all, as if he had got them by heart. The issue of his Life bewrayed his End therein; for he made this Study pay him Wages for all his Labor: For he discerned his own Abuities to be fit for Public Employment; therefore he searched into the notable Particularities of all Kingdoms, Republics, and their Churches, with all the Importances that hung upon them. And he guessed right, that King James would give all he could ask for such a Minister.

20. The Tertia of his Industry and happy Studies, and the Top-sail of them, was the reading of the Fathers Greek and Latin. Great was his Diligence in them; marvelous was his Devotion to their Volumes. These were the casting Counters, with whom he reckoned all the Items of Christian Truth. The least stood for a Pound, the best for an hundred. These were the Champions, that first took the Field to fight the Lord's Battle, all of them the Worthies of David, whereof the stoutest had lifted up his Spear against 800, and chased them. These were after the Apostles the first-born Sons of the New-Jerusalem, to whom, by the Blessing of Primogeniture, God had given the double Portion of Wisdom, and his Spirit. Mr. Williams remembered, and would remember others of it, when they needed such Advice, that a Disciple of the Church of England must be their Disciple, and would often cite out of the Canons concluded in Convocation, an. 1571.

This is our Directory. Let our Adversaries make the best of it to their advantage, as the Funambulatory Jesuit C • mpian presumes, Ad patres si 〈…〉 ctum est praeliuns. Let him crow over Capons; we have long laughed at his Arrogancy.

21. I have here a Passage to insert, as well for the Good of others, as for the Praise of this Man of God. He was as free as Water that runs from a public Conduit, to lay open his Knowledge to all that would listen to his Discourse. If I must give Precedency to this Charity to any before him, it shall be only to that Glorious Servant of God, the Marrow of Learned Communication, the Lord Primate of Armach. But to our present Matter, thus he would say, as myself and many others have heard it come often from him. That his Contemporaries in Cambridge delivered to him by Tradition, which was given to them in the name of Dr. Whitaker 's Resolved Rule. By Proviso, first of all, sift the Chaff from the Wheat; mark whom Valla, Erasmus, and others, have bored in the Ear for Counterfeit Pieces; and for the rest, acquaint yourselves with the choicest and least corrupted Editions. The Protestants, to their great Commendation, had given no cause to suspect them in either kind. They that had notoriously, more than all others, vented false Wares, were Italian Huckiters; for be • de those good Authors, Coins, Medals, Monumental Inseriptions in Stone and Brass, nay nothing of Archaique Value, had escaped their false Fingers. Having separated the Vi • e from the Precious. expect that all the Leaven of the Fathers is hid, as the Gospel speaks, in three Measures of Meal. They are very witty and exuberant in Allegories, which are the Windows of the House; they serve well for Light, but not a jot for Strength. Another share of their Works is taken up in maintaining Ecclesiastical Decrees grounded upon Canons and prudent Orders for Decency and Discipline. And a good Moiety of their Writings presseth only such Matters, as are settled by no more then Canonical, or Human Authority. No wonder if nowadays we hold such Obligations but in a slip Knot. Variableness of Customs, alternation of Manners, sundry new Products in new Ages gives power to dispense, so we abuse not our Liberty to a scornful Licence. But it is approvable in Music, to set new Tunes, if we keep the old Gammut. The 34th Article of the Church of England decides it gravely,

Now these Canonical and Human Decretals are Butteresses to the House of God, they are raised up without the Walls, but all that is within is the stronger for their Supportance. The third Part of the Heavenly Extraction of the Fathers, the Pearl growing between the two Shells premised, is Dogmatical, their Doctrine of Faith, and Works necessary to Selvation In any of which, when many of them consent we may well presume, that the Spirit of Christ breathed in them. For the Martyrdom of soms, the Humility, Self-denial, and Sanctity of them all will attest, that they intended the Truth; and one Point of Success, that those who gainsaid them, never took Root, or prospered, will persuade you that they found the Truth. Neither is there any Reverence towards them diminish'd by this distinction, that what they sowed in the Field of God, saving here a little, and there a little, was sound Wheat; but all that they mowed down were Weeds, or Heresies without exception. Thus far He, or rather Dr. Whitaker; whose Antagonist Duraeus would seem to ascribe more to the Fathers; indeed it is but a seeming. Says he, A mighty Concession, but his Hand slacks immediately; N • que patres censentur, cum suum aliquid, quod ab Ecclesiâ non accep ••• , vel seribunt, vel docent: For if they write or teach anything, which they have not received of the Church, they are not to be esteemed Fathers. As like to Plato 's Sophister, as one drop of Water to another, who would prove that no Shoe-maker did ever make a bad Shoe; for he that made a bad Shoe, was not Master of his Crast, he was not a Shoe-maker.

22. I will invite the Reader but to the notice of one Thing more upon this Title. This Man was the least Distasted, so far as I have known Men, among all of his Profession, with a Scholar that was divers from him in a Theological Debate. And this, he said, he learned from the moderation of the Fathers, who were zealous Upholders of the Glory of the Blessed Trinity, of Christ, and of his M • diatorship, and of the Covenant of Grace for the Redemption of Penitent • ners; but for differences of Questions which were not so prime and substantial, they caused no angry Contract about them, much less a Separation of Churches. St. Cyprian is praised for this Candor by St. Austin, De Bap. con. Donat. lib. 3. c. 3. in this wise: Cyprian was not to be removed from a darling Opinion of his own, too much his own, about Re-baptizing of those that had been Baptized by Heretics, yet so as, Nominem judicantes, nee à jure communio • s aliquem, si diversum senser • , amov • ntes. I like this Concordance, says Austin, with two Explanations: 1. In iis quaestionibus quae nondum eliquatissimâ perspectione discussae sunt. 2. Exceptis iis quae jam sunt d • sinita in totâ Ecclesiâ. First, Not to think the worse of any, much less to make a Rupture for maintaining Opinions, which were not discuss'd so far to be convincing and conspicuous. Secondly, To be the bolder with them, if they were the Tenets of some Men only, and not the Definitions of the Church Univeral. O that many living Stones, now scattered from one another, were cemented together with this Mortar! O that such as are rigidly addicted to their own Fancies, would design less, and leave more charitable Allowance to their weak, or at least dissenting Brethren! O that there were less Inclosure, and more common Pasturage in the Church for poor Cottagers! And I wish again, that it were wisely considered, that a good Conscience may continue in our Brother, though he be not so found in some lesser Truths. Then you would not deny him your Love, because he submits not his Wit and Reason to all your Perswasions. Many hot Opiniators of our Age are little better then the S • maritans, as described by Epiphanius, Haeres. 61. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : They thought it piaculous to touch a Man, that did not Dogmatize as they did. Therefore how many Slanders must they put up quietly, who were of Mr. Williams his Equanimity, sociable with them that are at point blank contradiction in some Quarrels of Polemical Divinity, n • y as ready to prefer the one side as the other, how sure is this to be called by our F • ri • s • 's lukewarm and undigested Christianity? I have seen the Life 〈◊〉 Renowned Frier Padre P •• lo of Venice, written in Italian by his 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 tersely and faithfully into English by that Gentleman 〈◊〉 great and elegant Parts Mr. 〈…〉 Secretary to this He • oical Prelate, of whom I write, when he was Lord-keep • : Out of that Piece I shall observe many Things as I can overtake them in fitness of Time; this comes to me now under 〈…〉 , that Fulg •• io cannot deny, that Father Paul was Libel'd for a stupid 〈◊〉 Man, 〈◊〉 careless of Religion, because when two perhaps were divided which was the Truth, he made a good Construction of them both. To put this into the Trial of an Instance; it is as recent to me, as if it had been 〈◊〉 done, what befell this prudent Man I write of, for looking upon 〈…〉 of two vehement Factions, and yet laying a Bet on neither 〈◊〉 . He had a mighty Insight into the seventh Volume of St. Austin 's Works, wherein that holy Bishop hath so divinely contended for the Efficacy of Grace against 〈◊〉 , and Semipclagians. For his own part, St. Austin had possessed him, and he was over entirely his Adherent in those Controversies. Many others of exquisite Learning were not convinced with St. Austin 's Judgment. The Schools had many that ventilated those impenetrable Conceptions, pro & con; at first, with sharpness of Learning; at last, with more sharpness of Enmity. The Netherlanders unluckily invented several Names for these Scholastical Skirmishes, Remonstrants, and Contra-Remonstrants. Ate, and the Furies of Contention, came among us out of Belgium with these Names. Reproaches, and all sorts of unkind Discriminations, succeeded. But he, whose Praise is under my Pen, held his Augustinian Conclusions, but never disparaged, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , never condemned the Judgment of them that opponed, but commended both Tribes with this P • acidness, that himself, and those of his Mind went upon this Ground, to be circumspect to ascribe all Good unto God; and that the adverse part were very cautious to state their Cause so, as to ascribe no Evil to God. If the most Learned in the World could not decide how to join both these together, without some jarring Consequences, let us meet together in Peace, till God had decided it. Was not this sweet and candid? Yet it was called in him, and in others of that Moderation, Sluggishness, Craftiness, Neutrality and the like; as if in points unfundamental and unresolv'd, every man must be a Guelph or a Gibelline. Whereas by deep inspection it will appear, that many such Opinions are of as even choice as two Shillings, though not of the same Stamp, yet of the same weight; it is all one which you Receive in Pay.

23. Such a Scheme, as I have drawn forth at large of his profounder Studies, was expedient to be put whole together, to avoid the trouble of broken Interruptions. With the weight of those Plummets, his Wheels began to turn about at the 25 year of his Age: And with the same Plummets the Clock went even Hour from Hour, from Month to Month, to the expiration of his Life. He never changed his fashion. Now let me invite such as may peruse these Papers to go back with me, and to look upon him again in the Spring of his Mastership of Arts. For who hath despised the day of small things? as the Prophet says, Zachar. 4.10. And because he made his first, and most advantageous Sallies into the World about this time, being employed for his College in Civil or Litigious Causes, call them as you will, I will bring him upon that Stage before I go further. Dr. Clayton, the Head of St. Johns College at that time, was a careful and prudent Governor at home, Thrifty for the public Stock, Meek and quiet as any of that Dignity. Yet it is not possible that so numerous a Society should be so fortunate, to dispatch all their business among themselves, what by Suits of Law, which burst in upon them by bad Tenants; what by frivolous complaints often Raised by their own Members, but by these and other sudden Claps, against which there is no prevention, the Governor being very Aged, and wisely contented to dispatch others to struggle in such contestations, he sent forth divers that were Trusty and Judicious to be employed in such designs. But if it were a knot to be cleaved by a strong Wedg, he did always entreat Mr. Williams, either alone, or with colleagues, to manage such an Enterprize. As the Greeks Adagy goes, Nil sine Theseo, Theseus made one in every Master-piece of Chivalry: Such was our Theseus to the Athens where he lived. And he was considerately looked upon for such service, for he well understood anything he went about, he had a fineness to be Gracious with them to whom he was sent, and no man could deliver a Tale more smoothly, or wrinkle it less with digressions, or Parentheses. To say much in brief, he had the Policy and Gravity of a Statesman, before he had a Hair upon his Chin. The Messages of greatest Trust committed to him from the College were to these Eminent persons that follow; To the Earl of Salisbury Chancellor of the University. By the way I can Witness that he much lamented, that he knew that most Wise Lord Cecil no longer, or upon no greater occasions; whom he extolled above all Wits, spying him through the Trial of such petty matters as were brought before his Lordship in his Presence: For, as if the Chancellor had a Spirit of Divination, he would instantly discover, whether the Suit made to him were fit for his serious care, or whether it were but Faction and Envy, the Diseases of Scholars within their own Walls, that made a Clamour for Justice. Upon such like Errands for his Society, he was admitted sometimes to Speak and Argue before the true Pillar of the Church, Arch-Bishop Bancroft. And upon this Reverend Father he gained so far, by his neat Wit and decent behavior, that the Arch-Bishop sent for him two years before he was Bachelor of Divinity, and ex mero motu gave him the Advouzon of an Arch-Deaconry in Wales (Cordigan, if I forget not) which came to the Metropolitan by his customary Prerogative. I am not certain when it fell void, and came to Mr. Williams 's possession. This I am sure of, that he sat in Convocation in the Title of this Arch-Deaconry the year 1613. expiring, when Dr. Lake, Holy and Learned Dr. Lake was Prolocutor. Sometimes also he Petitioned Lord Chancellor Egerton for the same Foundation. And in a Lucky hour. For the Lord Chancellor in those Addresses quickly found him out, that he was a Jewel fit for his own wearing; which broke forth in due time, as shall be comprised in the sequel. And to rise up one step more upon the degrees of God's Providence, the Master and Fellows aforesaid deputed him for their Agent to the Court to Petition the King for a Mort-main, thereby to bring some increment to their maintenance. It is no New thing to say he sped in the Suit • for when did he miscarry? You have him right in that Elogy, which Aurelius gives to Septimius Severus, acer erat ingenio, & ad omnia quae intenderat in finem perseverans: His Wit was sharp, and drew success after it, as the Needle doth the Thred, and his Industry was restless, till he had his End for which he Labor'd. The marvel is that his Worth and Activity should make such impression in the King, that his Majesty upon some occasion told him of it long after, when he was then become His Highness's principal Officer.

24. These were the noted Adventures which our young Academian, by deputation from his College, did make abroad; but his Staple was at his Study at home, where his Light did break out openly in great splendor upon this occasion. On Candlemass-Day Anno 1608. his Reverend Friend Dr. Playfere departed out of this World, in the 46 year of his Life, in his Flower and Prime; whose greatest well-wishers did not wish him alive again, because his rarely beautified Wits, with which he had even enchanted his hearers in so many estivat commencements, were now more and more distempered. Yet Mr. Williams wept over him, and exceeded in Grief, as if a Child had lost his Father. The University making preparation for the Solemn Funeral of so great an Ornament to it, the Vice-Chancellor that then was Dr. Jeggon possessed the Pulpit to Preach, and Mr Williams was required to be the Orator, to give him a farewell of due praise in the Chapel of St. Johns College. He pleaded the Truth, that his sorrow would not grant him such a dispassionate mind, as was fit to compose a Panegyric and that in the space of three days, and for such a man as Dr. Playfere. And with this Excuse he held off, till Dr. Clayton, set upon it to enforce the Tasque on him that could best discharge it, Threatned him with expulsion, if he refused that Service to which his Superiors had allotted him. An hard condition, and such as might have been disputed, as long after I heard him Argue upon it. But then he yielded, whether fair means or foul means overcame him I know not: But I think rather Love than Fear got the upper hand of Grief. And when • his Turn came to speak upon the day of the Obsequies, O what a tunable Musique he made between his Rhetoric and his Tears! for both flowed together. How curious were his Apostrophes! How moving were his Passions? How winning his pronunciation? Many pauses he was compelled to make by the Applause and humming of the Swarms about him in the close of his Periods. When he had done, and the Assembly brake up, it was in every Mouth, that Playferes Eloquence was not dead with him, while this Orator was alive. Let me trouble this Narration with a small interjection. I was myself in the throng among those that heard this Oration, newly admitted into Trinity-College, that being the second day wherein I wore my Purple Gown. This being the First Exercise that I heard in Cambrige in the Latin Tongue, I thought it was a City paved all with Emeraldes, and that such Learning and such Silver Elocution was common to them all. But there is a saying in Macrobius, a great Orator being the Subject, which might have made me Wiser; it is thus, ad notam seculi sui non sufficit Hortensius. All men that lived in that Age were not like Hortensius; and among a bundle of God's, the Poets have feigned but one Mercury; and although the success of this Funeral Encomium was much to the Authors praise, yet I have it from his own Testimony, that he never suspected himself so much as then in all his Life, least he should have shamed his own parts, and Trespast against the Honorable Memory of the Dead, because his Wits were bedarkened with a Cloud of Sadness. But I see that falls out otherwise, with many more than he imagined. The Noble Author of the History of the Council of Trent hath remembered, that the Letters of the Cardinal of Lorain, ween he was struck with horror of Grief for the untimely Loss of his Brother the Duke of Guise; I say, his Letters consolatory written in that plunge and amazement of Sorrow to his Sister the Dutchess, were the most full, the most sententious, the most flourishing in Phrases that ever he wrote. No instance can go higher that that of the Prophet Jeremy, whose Eloquence and curious Figures in his Lamentations were never matched: The mourning of that Dove is sweeter than the warbling of any Nightingale.

25. Having bought this Credit so dear, with the loss of his dearest Friend, he grew more considerative to look above him, not about him, to the praise of God, and not of Men. He had labor'd four years strenuously in Theological Studies, and found himself in some Ripeness to do God Service in the Ministry. So surrendering himself in Prayer to him, that alone gives sufficiency, he received the Orders first of Deaconry, then of Priesthood in the 27 year of his Life. And being recommended to the Grace of God by imposition of hands, presently he began to labor in his Masters Harvest, and became a Preacher of more frequency and diligence, than it useth to be with Fellows of houses for the greater part. Who stay too much upon their preparation before they buckle to the work of their calling, like Mowers that are longer in whetting their Sithe, then in cutting down the Grass. And that the Lord when he came might find him careful in tending like a good Steward over the Household, immediately with the Office of his Ministry he took the charge of a Living, the scantling of it very mean, and it could be no better after the Letter of the Local Statutes where he Lived, that he might keep his Fellowship with it. It lay beyond St. Edmunds Bury in the confines of Norfolk, (perhaps Fakenham, or very near to it) it was the flitting Milk of a poor Vicarage, the Parsonage Tithes being scumm'd from it. I know not who presented him to it, but questionless the Benefice sought him, and not he the Benefice. He had a fair Champion Country to Ride over to it from Cambridge, which was Exercise with breathing in sweet Air: But the profits of the living would hardly defray the Costs of his Journeys. The exility of the small Revenue took not off his Edge: For it yielded all out as much as he did drive at, to teach the simple, to attain to a readiness in Preaching, by early and often practice; and to be acquainted with compassion (I use his own words) towards the hard condition, which his poor Brethren did undergo, that had scarce enough to feed them, and keep them Warm for all their Labor. It seems the people of the Parish were good people, or he thought them such; for in his highest Honor I heard him Treating with Sir Lionel Talomach of Fakenham, that Sir Lionel would employ from him an 100 l. to buy Land of five or six pounds per annum Value, for the Relief of the Poor of that Village to the worlds End. I hearkened no more after it: For I reckoned it was done: Because every place wherein he had a Title was the better for his Charity. If further for a deeper Gage to sound his Learning, some expect to know what he performed in St. Mary's in Cambridge, rather than in a sorry Vicarage, I can tell them among others that were present, that he published himself a most rare Preacher in a Sermon made before the University anno 1610. upon this Text, Luc. 16.22. It came to pass, That the Beggar died, and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bosom. He handled the points of the Souls Immortality, of the present Blessed • ss of them that die in God's Mercy, of their Reception into Heaven, of the Ministry of Angels, whether particularly Guardian, or rather in general to all Christians, there he discoursed with that depth of Learning, yet liquidating that depth with such facility of opening it, beside with that Energy and Vigour of Voice and Sides, that his Auditory granted him to be a loud Cymbal, and a well-Tuned Cymbal. About Eight Mouths after, being Listed into the Combination of the choicest Preachers: He was called to do that Duty before K. James and Prince Henry at Royston, whereupon the King spake much good of him, but the Prince taking great notice of him as an Honor to Wales, was not satisfied to give him encouragement of praise, but gave him his Princely Word, that He would Reward him after the weight of his Worth. But the Father bestowed that preferment on him, which the Prince, taken away by early Death for our Sins, intended. I heard of this Sermon Six Weeks after, and by a merry Token; for having occasion to come to that hunting Court at Royston, I received Hospitality at a Table full of good Company, where I was asked over and over, especially by the old Britons, what Place and Dignity Mr. Williams had in Cambridge; everyone of them could tell me he made a most Excellent Sermon before the King, but for their parts they had been such attentive Hearers, that among them all I could not Learn the Text.

The Fame of our accomplisht Preacher, who had taken the University and the Court so far with his Merits, as none more, spread far: And he wanted not Friends in the Lord Chancellor Egertons Family to acquaint his Lordship with it, who instantly prefer'd him before all Competitors, and said no more, but, Send for him, and let me have him. This was at Midsummer anno 16 • 1. That Lord Chancellor was a great Patron to Divines, but then they must be of many degrees above Mediocrity; and those whom he picked out for the Service of his House, were of the first, and as it were, Seraphical Order. And such indeed were Dr. Richard Feild, Dr. King Bishop of London, Dr. Carew Bp. of Exon; and as one of that stamp, he was pleased to entertain Mr. Williams. But when he came to London to be Approved for that Service, after great and humble acknowledgment of his Thankfulness, he prayed the Lord Chancellor he might continue a year, or the greatest part of it at Cambridge, before he came to wait constantly in his Lordships Honorable Family, because at Michaelmass following he was to enter upon the Proctor-ship of his University, a place of Credit and some Emolument. And may you not fulfil that place by a Deputy? says the Chancellor, My Lord, says the Chaplain, I must take an Oath upon my admission into that Office, to oversee the Government entrusted to me, not in general Terms only of Faith and Diligence, but for the due Provision of many particular Branches of the Statutes; and I dare not trust my Oath with another man's Conscience. To so fair a Plea, he got a gentle concession, where I must show him in his Honor of Proctorship, before he return again to my Lord Egerton.

I have more to say, than to tell the World he was Junior Proctor of Cambridge: So have many been, who did nothing, but that which deserves to be forgotten; like Consuls that acted nothing, and were useful for nothing but to have the Fasti known by their Names. His was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , or a a procuration indeed (so it is Translated out of Xenophon ) which he filled up with as much real Worth and Value, with as much Profit and Dignity to the University as could be dispatched in the Orb of that Government. The first place wherein Epaminondas appeared publicly among the Citizens of Thebes, was the Surveyorship of the Highways and no better, Et muneri Dignitatem addidit, says Valerius lib. 3. c. 4. He gave Luster by his management to that petty Function. It holds as right, as possibly an Example can match a thing, in this instance. It is well known our Proctor came into this Magistracy burdened with great expectation, which measure he filled up, and exceeded it. He rose with great Light, and set with more Brightness than he rose. Happy were those times that heard his Plinian Orations (for his Style had that Savour) that heard his Aristotelian disputations, that enjoyed the Fruit to hear him moderate at the Morning Exercises between a Master and a Bachelor. Methinks yet I do hear him inveighing, as I did once, against the Sloth of the Batchelors, for degenerating from themselves and the Ancient Customs of the Schools, as of a fearful Metamorph • is with those Words, Nam vos mutastis & illas. He was an assiduous Overseer and Interlocutor at the Afternoon Disputations of the Under Graduates. Some of the most hopeful he enflamed with his Praise: Not a few Tasted of his Bounty, and in no meaner Mettle than Gold. I know a man whom he took Notice of at those Acts, who is the better for his good liking to this day. It was greatly commendable in him that he disdained not to be President himself at these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , but attended at them, and acted in them vivâ voice, and did not put off the Work to Journey-men. The Night-watches indeed, he committed sometimes to Deputies, as the manner is, to compel the Looser sort from their Haunts of Inns and Taverns, and Houses of ill Fame. But when he held the Staff in his own hand, he perceived he prevailed most. And it was sensible to the Eye, That he reclaimed many from disorder; not that in all the year he damnified any one by censure, that I could hear of: Neither did he use to make a crackling Noise with contumelies and Threatenings. But won Regard to his Place by Sweetness, by Affableness, by Perswasions, as dealing with Scholars, not with Peasants; with Freemen, and not with Servants. This I am sure of, by his Prudence and Vigilancy Scandals of corrupted behavior abated, but increased not. And what any of his Successors of the sourest Rigor could do more, I know not.

27. In this Procuratorian year, it is as due as anything to be Remembered, how he behaved himself in three weighty occurrencies. Soon after Christmas, the Kings Majesty Commanded the Heads of the University, to give entertainment, such as might be prepared of a sudden, to a German Prince, and his Train. It was the Duke of Wittenburg. I cannot err in that I suppose; for we of the younger fort were taught to know him by that Name; and his Style at every Word was his Excellency. The Duke was singularly Learned for one of that Eminency and Illustrious Blood. Therefore it was thought meet to receive him in the Public Schools with a disputation in Philosophy, performed by the most expert Professors of it, who were ready, we were sure, at the shortest warning. I must do him Right to him that was the first Opponent, that he charged the Repondent bravely with Arguments of the best Artillery. It was Mr. Wr • n of Pembroke-Hall, now the Reverend and Afflicted Bishop of Eli whose Enemies God hath punished with such hardness of Heart, that he being never yet brought to Answer to the Objections of his Persecutors after Ejection out of all his Estate, and after Twelve years of Imprisonment in the Tower, he continues still in that cruel Durance. But I look back to my own Matter. Mr. Prectour Williams was the President or Moderator at this Learned Act; who by discretion, as well as other sufficiency, outstripped them all. For, as the Apostle of the Gentiles says, He was made all things to all Men, so the Proctor managed his part before this Prince alla Tudesea, to Dutch-men he became a Dutch Philospher, for all his Conceptions he confirmed by Quotations out of Julius Pacius. G •• l •• ius, Keckerman, and others, that had been Professors within the Districts of the Gorman Principalities, which was so inexpressibly acceptable to the Duke of Wittenburg and his Retinue, that they kept him in their Company so long as they stayed in Cambridge, and would never part with him; and in fine, carried him in their Caroaches to Nowmarket, and acquainted the King what Credit he had done to their Country Philosophers.

28. The next Passage is of another frame; and tried his Judgment, not his Learning. The Earl of Salisbury, that famous Lord-Treasurer, had Govern'd our University as Chancellor from the Year 1600, with good liking to all. Uxit dum vixit been. He lest this World May 24. 1612. In the Election of a Successor, the Regent-House, in whom the Choice was, were improvidently divided. The greater Number gave their Voices for Henry Earl of Northampton, Lord Privy-Seal, sometimes a Gremial of our Body, superlatively Learned, a Writer of Books in Queen Elizabeth 's days, that especially against Judicial Astrology is of as elegant Contexture, as any that are written in more Sunny Climates: Beside, he was very Rich, and a Bachelor; a Founder already of a charitable and handsome Pile of Building at Greenwich. Therefore such as devised all good ways to attract the Benevolence of Liberal and Wealthy Men unto us, hoped he would be very beneficial to Cambridge his Mother, which now cast herself into the Arms of his Governance and Patronage. So far the adverse Part could not dislike him. One and the only thing to them of ill digestion was, that Vox populi, not the Jealousy, but the Clamour of Court and Country was, that he was no better then a Church-Papist: That certainly his Heart was more with the Consistory of Rome, then of Cambridge. These, with whom this Objection stuck, were close Students, plain and honest Men, the least of all others acquainted with the World abroad. Therefore they run blindfold upon a desperate way; and to discountenance or discourage the Lord Privy-Seal, they put one, far better then himself, in balance against him, the King's second Son, Charles Duke of York his Highness, though then but in the 12th Year of his Age. The Lord Privy-Seal had far more Votes in the Scrutiny for his Election, and so it was in all Post-haste signified unto him. But he took on with all Impatience to be so Abus'd, to be made Competitor with the King's Son, and to prevail in the Election. And the King was more Wroth with the Simplicity, or rather Presumption of those silly Clerks, that durst Nominate his Dear and Tender Son the Duke to any Place or Office, before they had begged Leave in all Humility for the Royal Assent. A few of these received a great Check for it at the Council-Table, and were a while under the Custody of Pursuivants. For their Error, the whole University was under as black a Cloud of Displeasure, as ever I knew it in all my time, and floated like a Ship in a great Storm, that knew not where to Anchor. The King exclaimed at them for Heady, Inconsiderate, swayed by Puritanical Factions. The Lord Privy-Seal, the Elect Chancellor, shrunk up his Shoulders, and made an Answer of fine Words, and well set together, 'That he was not worthy to have the Primacy or Pilotship 'over the Argonauts of such an Argosie: But in Rude English it was no better, then that He scorned their Proffer. The Lord's of the Council told them plainly, They deserved no Chancellor among the Peerage, who had so spitefully confronted an Earl of that Eminency. The Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gouch, with the Sophies of the Consistory, Resolved, That this was not a Sore that would heal with delay, therefore they dispatch Proctor Williams with their Letters, to offer himself before the King, though the Storm blew stiff against him. So he came to the Court at Greenwich, and casting himself upon his Knees before the King with his Letters in his hand, the King, with no pleased Countenance, asked him what he would have. Sir, says he, myself, and they who sent me, crave Justice of Your Majesty in the behalf of Your University of Cambridge, which suffers under Your Displeasure in that sort, as I believe never any of Your Subjects did before, that nineteen Parts of a great Incorporation should be Condomn'd, for the Frowardness, and that unpreventable by all the Power we had of the twentieth Part, and they the meanest of us all. We beseech You, Grati • us Sovereign, to Name a Chancellor to preside over us, or suffer us to come to Your Majesty upon all Occasions as unto our Chancellor, not made so by the suffrage of poor Scholars, You are far above that, but in the sublime Title of Your Kingly Office, by which You are obliged to Protect all Your People, that are Unprotected. This confident Speech was enough to hint to so wise a King, that this was not the Style of Guiltiness; so Justice being even the Girdle of his Loins, and Mercy dropping easily from his Lips, like an Honeycomb, without streining, he gave the Petitioner his Hand to kiss, and bad him bid those that sent him, to take Courage in looking well to their Charge in the University. All Errors lately committed were struck off. They should have Power to choose their Chancellor; for he would not take their Right of Free Election from them. His further Pleasure should be declared in his Letters, which would be at Cambridge before him, if he made not haste home. And indeed the Proctor and the Letters came thither both in a day, which being opened, signified to the Vice-Chancellor, and the Heads assisting, That they should forthwith call a Congregation, and resume an Election for a new Chancellor, and that His Majesty would constrain him to hold it, whosoever it were that the Congregation agreed upon. The Heads were yet in a Quandary, and knew not well what to do, because the King was not more Particular, and seemed to be ill pleased with the Proctor, that he had dived no further into His Majesty's Meaning: For they feared to fall upon a new Rock, because His Majesty had pointed at no Person, nor disclosed His Meaning by any Decipher or Intimation. Nay, says the Proctor, I shall help this Mistake before you stir from hence. Certainly there is one Clause in the Royal Letters, which sets up the White at which all our Votes should aim: For none hath declared a flat Refusal of this vacant Place but the Earl of Northampton, therefore none else can be meant in this Passage, "That whomsoever we Choose, the King will constrain him to hold. It were not proper to think, that any Grandee in the Realm, beside that Lord, should need to be constrained by the High Power and Prerogative of our Sovereign to be our Patron. The Riddle being so luckily Unfolded by this Oedipus, the Business was concordiously dispatched; and then the King confessed, that they had hit upon the Interpretation of his secret Meaning. Which abounded to the Praise of Mr. Williams 's Solertiousness; and indeed in an hundred Instances more, he was as dextrous as in this, to hunt upon a Fault, and to recover upon a Loss: But as Cicero says, Orat. pro Cecinnâ, cujus prudentiam pop. Romanus in cavendo, nunquam in decipiendo perspexit. The Lord Privy-Seal soon after took his Oath with due Solemnity to be our Chancellor, and gave civil Entreaty when the Esquire-Beadles, or other Ministers of our Body came to him. And we can boast of no more that came from him; who went out of the World before his Sickness was suspected, Jun. 15.16 14. The Golden Mountains we hoped for, and promised to ourselves from his Liberality came to nothing; and the University was not the better for him by the worth of a Barly-Corn.

29. There remains one Passage more justly devolved to be last and lowest; for it had more of Success, then of good Success in it in my judgment. Dr. Clayton the Master of St. John 's College died, a good old Man, about the beginning of June. His Breath no sooner expired, but the Fellows, who have all Right of Election, first began to Confer, and then to Canvas for a Successor. It was soon discovered that the swaying Men, and that were fit for the bandy of such a Business, meant to set up Mr. Owen Gwin one of the Senior Fellows. Others looked out for one that was Simplicitor optimus, and they hit him. It was the Darling of Divines, Dr. Morton, then Dean of Winton, now Lord Bishop of Durham, the Polycarpus of our Smyrna the Church of England, whose Piety and Humility are Incomparable, his Learning most Admirable, and his long Age most Venerable. Almost all the true Children of the Muses blessed their Endeavors that acted for such a Man, saying with the Psalmist, We wish you good luck in the name of the Lord. But this Patriarch, as I may call him, was not like to carry the day by the Consent of the most. Too few stood up for him, too few by one especially, and that one was Proctor Williams. O how could one of his deep Reach, and passing great Love to his Society prefer an obscure one, scarce to be named before the Man that had all good Men's Applause, Dr. Morton? If there be anything to be said to make it look fair on his part on one side, it is this, Mr. Gwin had been his Tutor. A high Spirit, of which he was guilty, will rather Trespass, then not repay the least Benefit it had received. Nay, a wise Man dare not incur such a Folly as to be Ingrateful. Says Comines, lib. 2. Mihi absurdum quiddam esse videtur hominem prudent em ingratum esse posse. For great Ones, before they will collate a Favor to make a Man, and raise him up, will desire to be satisfied, how he hath carried himself to other Obligations? What Fidelity hath he shewn to former Benefactors? Ecclus. 3.34. He that requiteth good turns, is mindful of that which may come hereafter. The relation of Pupilship pricked on Mr. Williams to do anything that was in his power for him, that had so much Interest in his Breeding. But while he was struggling and wooing his Friends to advance that Choice, he solicited Mr. Sen. house, a very rare Preacher, as Floury as the Spring-Garden, afterward Bishop of Carlisle, who bespake him fairly again. Sir, if you desire my Voice to confer the M • stership upon yourself, I will not deny you. I know you, though a young Man, right worthy of it; but your Tutor shall never have my Suffrage, while I can say No. After he had prevailed to set Mr. Gwin over that great Society, his Fortunes carried him away, but he heard so much, that he quickly dislik'd his own Work. For there was another in that College, whose Name is best concealed, that was a robustious driver of Canvasses, who took the whole Rule from Mr. Gwin, (a soft Man, and given altogether to Ease,) into his own hand, and was like the Major Domo, by whom all Suits passed, and every Student stoop'd to him for his Preferment: To compare great Things with smaller, such another as Victor says Mutianus proved, after he had advanced Vespasian to the Empire by his Cohorts, Fiduciâ meruorum factus insolens, saucy to meddle with all, because he had deserved so much, and nothing would content him, unless nothing were denied him. Mr. Williams heard of these Passages too late, when he could not help the harm he had done. But because he endured much compunction of Mind for it, I will only commit him for this Fault to the castigation of the wise Poet Horace;

30. It was time for him, after the Settlement of these great Places upon others, to look to his own Place in the ensuing Commencement, which was even approaching. The Inceptor-Masters by Prescription have the Right to choose out of the two Proctors whom they please, to be the Father of the Act, as we Cantabrigians call it. It is a strange Aenigma, that the Sons should beget their Father. It lights commonly, as if it were Postulatum Mathematicum, upon the Senior. But because he that now was the Elder, if ever he had Polite Learning fit for such a Performance, had out-grown it, therefore because he was no Elder that could Rule well, the Inceptors gave the Younger the double Honor. This Commencement was as Gay and full of Pomp, by the great Concourse of Nobles and Gentlemen, as ever I saw. The Acquaintance and Fame of the Proctor drew the most. The Welch Gentry were enough to fill the Scaffolds. Beside such as repaired thither at that Season from Lord Chancellor Elsmore 's House, and the very brave Attendance of the Lord Privy-Seal, the lately confirmed Chancellor of the University, divers others attended the Elder Brother of the Act. Sir Charles Stanhop Knight of the Bath, only Son and Heir to John Lord Stanhop of Harington, a comely Gentleman, that took his Degree of Master, and well deserved it, as much by the Proficiency of his Learning, as by the Title of his Blood. These Gallants must be Feasted by the Proctor, and there was no Want, I would there had been no Superfluity. These Costly and Luxurious Meals are the Lard of our Commencements, thrust in among the better Banquets of Scholastical Exercises. The Proctors Table was more Sumptuous (I understand my Comparison) for the time, then useth to be at a Mayoralty in London. I do not reckon it among his clean and unblemished Praises. But if I may presume to sit Judge over his Thoughts, I believe He took Parsimony to be most uncivil Behaviour. The Prevaricator made me smile, when he gave him this Character to his Face, Titus Largius primus Dictator Romanorum. To express myself a little further: These Messes of good Chear ought to be frankly set out at the times of such Genial and Gaudy Days. It were a wise World, if they could be kept within Moderation. The wise and well-governing Heathen Romans had Leges Cibarias, as old thrifty Cato termed them: Leges sumptum comprimentes, in the Style of Tertullian in his Apology. I take it from A. Gellius, lib. 2. c. 24. that the Sum of 300 Sestertii, and no more were permitted to be spent in feriis Solennibus, which comes to about 40 Shillings, or a little under, as I cast it up with my Counters. Yet Liberal Julius Caesar indulged on such Occasions the Expence of 1000; his Nephew Augustus bounded it up to 2000; which comes not altogether to 15 Pounds of our Money, Ut his saltem finibus Luxuriae effervescentis aestus coercerctur. And this was granted only to Senators, the Princes of the World, and not to Scholars, and that neither but, in Nuptiis & Repotiis, at the Feast of the Bride, and the Repotations of the Bridegroom. I want not Commission to spend this little Ink, and it is but very little, upon this Subject. For the Holy Scriptures speak of Solomon 's Feasts, as well as of Solomon 's Wisdom: Howsoever these Junquets, and the mention, are quickly taken away with a Voider. The Feasts of his Learning and Eloquence, demonstrated in the Theatre of the Commencement, (that was the open House-keeping) were far more delicious and sweet to the Ear, then Meats could be to the Belly. All his Speeches were damask'd quite over with most pleasant Allusions out of Greek and Latin Authors. This was the last Scene acted on the Stage of that one Year's Office, and it had the loudest Plaudite. Indeed this was the Vintage, when more then ever before he pressed out the ripe Grapes of his Elegancies: Tumidisbumasta racemis. These were his Olympic Wrestlings, wherein he got the Mastery in all sorts of Exercises. As Laertius says of Democritus, lib. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; So this Champion got the best at all the Weapons of Philosophy. Selected Questions were disputed, and fit for the greatest Celebrity of the Year, extracted out of the Politics, Natural Theorems, and the Metaphysics, he became Victor in every Duel. And so he shut up his Proctorship (as to the Learned Trial of it, here it ended) with that General Testimony of his Praise, Ut puderet virum altius extollere, as Pollio says of Valerianus, that neither we could give, nor he with modesty receive a greater Commendation.

31. These Performances being so well over, he left Cambridge, and made a happy Remove, as a Consul, well approved in the Year of his Magistracy, was transposed into a Proconsulat, or Charge of a Province, to testify the good liking of the People to his precedent Office. By this Province, I mean his Chaplain-Attendance in the House of Lord Chancellor Egerton; a Nest for an Eagle. From that Step in the House of Lord Chancellor Hatton, Dr. Bancroft began to rise higher, till he came to be Metropolitan of all England. By the like Service in the House of Lord Keeper Puckering, Dr. Vaughan first made his Abilities known, and afterward got his Prince's Favor to sit in the See of London. Now, the Disciple whom these two great Prelates loved so well, performing that Trust with Lord Egerton, which they had done with his Lordship's Predecessors, was their Match at least in Dispatch and Judgment; and, by God's Providence, their Equal in Prosperity. Yet before I settle him for good and all in this Honorable Family, which will best be done in an whole Piece without disjoining it, I must bring him to Cambridge again by an Act of Revocation. A fond Mother that dotes upon her dear Son, whom she hath sent abroad to be Manner'd and Disciplin'd, will pick many Occasions, after a little absence, to recall him. But the Expedient, and not the Fondness, which made the University borrow him of the Lord Chancellor his Master, after he had been 7 months away, was this: The King's only Daughter, the Glorious Princess Elizabeth, was married at Whitehall to Frederick Prince Palatine, and Chief Elector of the Empire at Shrovetide. Nothing could be devised to Honor a Royal Solemnity with Bravery, Tiltings, Barriers, Masques, and all sorts of Triumphs, which was not used and presented. The Gallantry of the Court having had deservedly the first Place in Celebrating these Nuptials, it was Resolved by the King's Majesty, That His Son-in-Law the Elector, with the Strangers of the Platz, should be received for a Conclusion with an Academical Entertainment at Cambridge. The Warning coming to Dr. Carew the Vice-Chancellor, a Prudent Courtly Man, and very fit for the Service, Matters were put in a short time into Order and Readiness. The Earl of Northampton, our Chancellor, was expected, for Tradition Immemorial required him at such a season; but the frugal old Man appeared not. The Charge of great Fare and Feasting was not more Costly then Welcom to the brave Mind of Dr. Nevile Master of Trinity College; who never had his like in that Orb, I believe, for a splendid, courteous, and bountiful Gentleman. His Table was Graced with the Company of Prince Charles, Prince Elector Frederick the Bridegroom, Count Henry of Nassaw, Lodwick Duke of Lenox, with a most comely Concourse of Nobles and Gentlemen, both of the German and English Nations. In two distinct Nights a Comick and a Pastoral Fable, both in Latin, were Acted before their Highnesses, and other Spectators, by the Students of the same College. This was Play, the rest was Work. The Scholastical Dissertations were the Work of the Day, the Church of St. Mary being Scaffolded for that use.

32. The Vice-Chancellor, with the Sages of the Consistory, concluded there should be a kind of Commencement extraordinary to Congratulate these Potentates and their Followers. Dr. Richardson, the King's Professor in Divinity, to manage the chief Place in the Chair; Dr. Davenant to moderate in the Theological Disputation; and Mr. Collins to answer upon three Questions. The next Care was for Opponents. And Mr. Williams was so high in the Opinion of all the Learned Doctors, that he was thought upon in his absence as a most Select Antagonist for this Conflict, and Letters of Entreaty were directed to him, to come and fulfil that part, which, upon Assurance of his Sufficiency, was imposed on him. There was no leisure for a Demur; the straitness of Time said, either do it, or deny it. But he submitted; yet humbly protesting against himself from one point of Incapacity, that though he had complete time from the Midsummer elapsed for the Degree of Bachelor of Divinity, yet he had not taken it. And without that Title, it was not usual or decent to show himself in the luster of such an Auditory. Well, (says Dr. Richardson ) you speak Reason, yet we will not want you at this needful time; for I will teach you how to fill up that empty Circumstance It will be a fortnight yet before our Royal Guests the Princes will come to us: Prefer your two Questions Pro Gradu this night or tomorrow to me. I know your readiness, that you need take no more time. In five days after I will meet you in the Schools. Incontinently your Degree shall be conferred upon you Pro More, or by special Grace. He obeyed. And the Theses, which upon allowance of such short time he maintained, were these: 1. Peccata semel remissa 〈◊〉 redeunt. 2. Qui sacres ordines susecperunt samulari possunt magnatious ut fructus Ecclestasticos percipiant. Dr. Richardion, who received from him these T •• ses, as it were the Chartel of Challenge, met him in the Schools. He was a profound Divine, as famous in the Pulpit as in the Chair, (which is not usual) a great Linguist, noted for a kind of Omnisciency in Church Antiquities, of pure Language, yet used not his Pen to Compose his Lectures but brought his Memory with him, and dictated his Mind with great Authority. We that frequented at his Polemical Exercises observed, That if the Respondent that stood before him were not a lusty Game-Cock, but of a Craven kind, he would shake him a little, but never cast him on his back: But if he were one of the right Brood, that would strike Spur for Spur, he would be sure to make him feel the weight of a Professor's Learning before they parted. Therefore he did not dally with Mr. Williams at this time, but laid at him with all his Puissance. Nothing could be more delightful for two long hours and better to us that were the Lookers on. In ventilating the first Question, we judged that the Doctor of the Chair had twice duck'd the Respondent under Water, but he quickly appeared again at the top. Once was upon the Objection, That Original Sin is remuted in Baptism, and yet some Baptized become Reprobates, and are forever Tormented. Even so (says the Answerer) for their Actual Rebellions, but not upon the score of Original, which was wiped out. The second Shock was upon that Scripture, Matth. 18.32. where the Lord tells the Unmerciful Servant, that He had forgiven to him the Debt which he desired, but since he had no compassion of his Fellow, he should be kept in Prison, till he had paid all which was due. Though I might decline the Instance (says the Respondent) because it is Parabolical, yet to encounter the Text more directly, I say, that the Debt was not cancel'd to that rigid and hard Servant, for if he had his Ap • cha or Quietance, to speak after the manner of Men, he were free from all insequent Demands. But, I forgave thee, in that Verse, is as much as, I forbear thee, I did not pross thee, or exact upon thee. Though the Tally was not struck, yet no Suit was commenc'd, and a Temporary Forbearance is a kind of Forgiveness. The Professor was satisfied, and drove his Wedge no further into that Knot. Upon the second Question, I remember the grave Doctor gave the Onset somewhat frowningly. But the Pith of his Obligation was, That the Vocation to Sacred Orders, Ministerium est, non mercatura: Piscatores sumus hominum, non venatores munerum; that is, Our holy Profession is a Ministry, not a Merchandise; that we are made Fishers of Men, and not of Livings. The Retorsion to this had Strength and Sweetness, like Iron that is gilded; Alius est finis artis, alius artificis: The end of Theology is to gain Souls; the end of the Theologue, subordinate to the first and Architectonical end, is for an honest Maintenance and Sustentation. As the end of Art Medicinal is to cure a Sick Man; but the end of the Physician is to live well upon his Profession. This agrees with the mind of Seneca, lib. 3. De Benef. That the end of Phidias his Art was to carve a Statue with likeness, concinnity, and due proportion: Finis artificis fecisse cum sructu; The Artificer's end was to take Money for his Work. A Distinction that cuts by an even Thread; which, with all that was delivered beside, received great Congratulation from the Professor and Auditors.

33. From henceforth he was a Licemiate, as the Transmarines call it, as we a Bachelor in Divinity: A Relation to beautify his Profession, or rather a mere Scabbard to put in the sharp-edge'd Weapon of his Learning, out of which he drew it forth upon a fair Quarrel, which was decided before a glorious Auditory, Mar. 3. 1612. That was the day wherein the Princes, with the Attendance of mighty Peers, and one Bishop Dr. James Montague Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, vouchsafed to give a most Gracious Hearing to a public Disputation held between some of our chief Divines. The Place was filled with the most Judicious of this whole Island; and some of the Attendants of the Palsgrave so Learned, that One might stand for many, Plato alone for Ten Thousand: One Abraham Scultetus, a Worthy greatly looked upon, was able to awake the Diligence of them that had been Drowsie. But they that were set forth for this Encounter had Metal enough, and needed no Provocation, but their own Virtue. Dr. Richardson ( Agmen agens Lausus, magnique ipse agminis instar, ) began first with his grave Nestorean Eloquence, and having saluted Prince Charles, the great expectation of our future Happiness, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as G. Nyssen calls Isaac, the Branch of Succession; and having blessed his Serenity the Prince Elector the Bridegroom with Solemn Votes and Wishes to be added to his Hymeneal Joys, then he called forth the Son of his right hand, Mr. Samuel Collins, (created Doctor at this Commencement) to stand in the gap, and to maintain the Truth in three Theses against all Assailants. He was a firm Bank of Earth, able to receive the Shot of the greatest Artillery. His Works in print against Eudaemon and Fitz-Herbert, Sons of Anak among the Jesuits, do noise him far and wide. But they that heard him speak, would most admire him. No Flood can be compared to the Spring-Tide of his Language and Eloquence, but the milky River of Nile, with his seven Mouths all at one disemboguing into the Sea. O how voluble! how quick! how facetious he was! What a Vertumnus, when he pleased to Argue, on the right side, and on the contrary! These Things will be living in the memory of the longest Survivor that ever heard him. In this Trial, wherein he stood now to be judged by so many Attic and Exquisite Wits, he striv'd to exceed himself, and showed his Cunning marvelously, that he could invalidate every Argument brought against him with variety of Answers. It was well for all sides, that the best Divine in my Judgment, that ever was in that place, Dr. Davenant held the Rains of the Disputation; he kept him within the even Boundals of the Cause; he charmed him with the Caducaean Wand of Dialectical Prudence; he ordered him to give just Weight and no more. Horat. l. 1. Od. 3. Quo non Arbiter Adriae major tollere, seu ponere vult freta. Such an Arbiter as he was now, such he was, and no less, year by year, in all Comitial Disputations; wherein whosoever did well, yet conslantly he had the greatest Acclamation. To the close of all this Exercise I come. The grave elder Opponents having had their courses, Mr. Williams, a new admitted Bachelor of Divinity, came to his Turn last of all. Presently there was a Smile in the Face of everyone that knew them both, and a prejudging that between these two there would be a Fray indeed. Both jealous of their Credit, both great Masters of Wit, and as much was expected from the one, as from the other. So they fell to it with all quickness and pertinency, yet (thank the Moderator) with all candor; like Fabius and Marcellus, the one was the Buckler, the other the Sword of that Learned Exercise. No Greyhound did ever give a Hare more Turns upon Newmarket Heath, then the Replier with his Subtleties gave to the Respondent. A Subject fit for the Verse of Mr. Abraham Hartwel in his Regina Literata, as he extols Dr. Pern 's Arguments made before Queen Elizabeth: Quis sulmine tanto tela jacet? tanto fulmine nemo jacet. But when they had both done their best with equal Prowess, the Marshal of the Field, Dr. Davenant, cast down his Warder between them, and parted them. A Fable comes into my Memory, That Vulcan, to despite Diana, made a Dog which should catch everything he hunted, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , and Diana, to despite Vulcan, made a Fox which could never be catched in Hunting, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : And all the God's and Goddesses could never reconcile the Contradiction, till upon one Chase both the Dog and the Fox ran themselves to death; which Ovid compriseth in a little, Lib. 3. Metamor.

The Moral in a great part may suit well with these two unvanquish'd Disputants. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Dr. Montague, gave great demonstration of Affection to Mr. Williams ever after his Negotiation in this Act. As Velleius says, Nulla festinatio hujus viri mentionem debet transgredi: That Bishop was a Reverend and Learned Father in the Church, a most loving Son to his Mother the University; he was full of good Works, as Bath and Farnham, and Winchester-house in Southwark, could testify, if these impious and overthrowing Times had let them stand, and many more recited by Bishop Godwin in his Catalogue of Bishops. This was the good Man, who from henceforth was the truest Friend to Mr. Williams of all that did wear a Rochet to his Last Day; who, after these two sublime Performances of the Responsion for Batchelorship of Divinity, and Opponent's Place in the Great-Day before the most Illustrious Princes, retired to his Home, for so I must now call the Lord Chancellor's Family.

34. He was now in the House of Obed-Edom, where everything prospered, and all that pertain'd to him. The Chaplain understood the Soil on which he had set his Foot, that it was rich and fertile, able with good Tendance to yield a Crop after the largest Dimensions of his Desires. To be well then, was but to be well now. His fore-casting Mind thought of the future, how to stock himself with Experience, with Wisdom, with Friends in greatest Grace, with other Viaticum for the longest Journey of his ensuing Life. Let me use the Phrase correctedly, He lived not for half a Time, but for a Time and Times. He never lived Ex tempore, but upon premeditation today what to do long after. As a wise Man says, Non disponet singula, nisi cui jam vitae summa propesita est; Sen. Ep. 71. Particular Actions will be kept in method, when Providence hath affected the Sum and End of them. As at Chess, the Idea of the Game must be in the Head of the Gamester, then the Remove of every Chess-man promotes it. The Chaplain began his part, as any wise Man would, to demerit his Lord with all due Offices, and prudent bearing, and he got it faster then he fought it. He pleased him with his Sermons: He took him mainly with his sharp and solid Answers, to such Questions as were cast forth at Table to prove his Learning: His Fashion and Garb to the Ladies of the Family, who were of great Blood and many, was more Courtly a great deal then was expected from a Scholar: He received Strangers with courtesy, and labor'd for their satisfaction: He Interposed gravely, as became a Divine, against the Disorders of the lowest Servants: And unto all these plausible Practises, the Back-bone was continual diligence. Other Things that commended him no less, or perhaps more, were these: My Lord Elsmore was at that time Chancellor of the University of Oxford; whose References and Petitions, when they were brought before that great Judge, the Chaplain, newly come from the Sister-Corporation, understood them more suddenly then all that were about his Master; and was cunning at the first Opening to propound, how to bring them into the just Academical way to be determined. And the Opinion which he gave did so constantly Arbitrate all those Complaints, that the truly admired Bishop of London, Dr. King, would sometimes call him pleasantly, The Chancellor of Oxford. The second Part of his Industry, to make his Acceptance so gracious, was, That he was stored with Friends in the Courts of the King and Prince, from whence he gathered Intelligence fit for the Hearing of his Master: Not blind Rumours, or the frothy Talk of the Lobbies; but weighty Passages carried in a Mist before they came to Light: Clouds that at the first rising were scarce so big as an hand, yet portending mighty Tempests when they fell. For he had a Palate to taste their Court-Wine, when it was working in the Must. Every day this Sufficiency grew with him more and more, till he became the only Jewel, which the Lord Chancellor hung in his Ear. Yet in four months after he fell to this Trade, his best Customer failed him; the Court of the Prince being Dissolv'd by the Death of Prince Henry, Nov. 6. 1612. with whom so much Light was extinguished, that a thick Darkness, next to that of Hell, is upon our Land at this day. O matchless Worthy! live in everlasting Fame with the Elogy given by that quaint Historian Velleius to Pub.Rutilius; Non seculi sui, sed omnis aevi optimus. The third Step of Felicity upon which he clim'd, Eis 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as it is Athanasius his Metaphor, into the Bosom of his Master's Soul, was, That he had picked up in a short space some Gleanings, in his own modest words in the knowledge of the Common Laws of the Realm, but indeed full Sheaves, if his Acquaintance may be believed. He remitted not the Studies of his own Science and Profession; but having read the Tenures, the Doctor and Student, and somewhat else like unto them, at hours of Relaxation, he furnished himself with no little quantity of that Learning, by Discourse and Conference, and enquiring after some cases how they sped in the Courts of Justice. When he was at a nonplus, he respited that Difficulty till he met with Sir John Walker, (afterward Lord Chief Baron) whose Judgment was most agreeable to his Genius. This was his Practice, not now, but all along, to gather up more at the Interspaces of Leisure, then others do at their Study. Which was the Contrivance of Scipio Aemilianus, the Sir Philip Sidney of the Old Romans, Neque quisquam Scipione elegantius intervalla negotiorum otio dispunxit, says the Character of the Author lately cited.

35. Here I will provide a little to set my Shoulder against the Justle of an Objection. Perhaps some will say, What did the Study of our Laws belong to him? The Dainties of the Scriptures were his daily Diet prescribed him by his Calling. Why did he seed upon those coarse Coleworts? And who could spare any of the Time of this short Life, when the Work of a Divine is more then this Life can dispatch, so that the Remainder must be learnt in Life Eternal? Somewhat to that purpose is pithily expressed by Seneca; Quae dementia est in tantâ temporis egestate supervacua discere? Ep. 48. And what say you to the Judgment of Pope Honorius the Third, who sat, an. 1216. who forbad all Clerks to study Physic, or the Pandects of the Laws? Or to the Emperor Justin the elder, who lived 600 years before Honorius, c. leg. 41. Opprobrium est si Ecclesiastici peritos se velint ostendere legum forensium? I say, those Laws must be weighed with Grains of Temper and Charity. Whom Nature hath made docile, it is injurious to prohibit him from learning anything that is docible. Marie he that forsakes his holy Calling, and lists himself in another Warfare, that gives himself up wholly to scrape a Livelihood from curing Diseases, or fogging in Secular Causes, is a Renegado, and must be brought back again to his Colours with the Infamy of a Fugitive. But far is he from being guilty of this Fault, who serves Christ Jesus faithfully in the Labor of the Gospel, and can do it the better by poizing Human Laws, and trying how consonant they are to God's Justice; and by searching the Virtue of Plants and other Creatures, can find out how wonderful the Almighty is in all his Works. The Collation between Moses and the Imperial Laws, which Paulus Modestinus, and others of his Robe have made, why may not a Minister peruse it with as much profit as an Advocate? It were a Tyranny, more then barbarous, to confine a Wit, that hath a Plummet to found the depth of every Well that the Arts have digged; or to clip his Wings, that he may not fly into every Bush as freely as the Fowls of the Air. Padre Paulo the Frier, the brightest Star in the Hemisphere of Italy, was second to none in Divinity while he lived; equal with the best Doctors in Rome or Siena in explicating Canon or Civil Laws; and above all the Practisers of Padua, or in the World, in understanding the Aesculapian Art, says Fulgentius. Albericus Gentilis spoke it, to do Honor to the Industry of Dr. Reynolds of Corpus-Christi College, that he thought that great 〈◊〉 had read as much in the Civil Law as himself. Wherein then consists the difference? Why might not Mr. Williams examine the Cases, Reports, and Maxims, of our Municipal Laws to be expert in them? Both being egg'd on into it by the Happiness of his Attendance in the Pretorian Court, where he might learn much, and labor little for it; and making it the Recreation, not the Intermission of his proper Studies. Therefore out of Charity give him leave to gather Stubble where he would, since he fulfilled his Task of Brick, Exod. 5.18. The Lord Chancellor did highly countenance him in it, and was so taken with his Pregnancy, that at his leisure-times, both for his own solace, and his Chaplain's furtherance, he would impart to him the Narration of some famous Causes, that had been debated in Chancery, or Star-Chamber. What could not such a Master teach? What could not such a Scholar learn? Socrates says in Plato of Alcibiades, that he Gloried in nothing so much, as that he was Ward to Pericles, and brought up under him. Neither had this Chaplain a more graceful Ornament to show in the Eyes of the World, then that he was Disciple to the Lord Egerton. That great Senator, the most judicious Judge and Counselor of his Age, would not have disparaged himself to give a young Divine so great a Place in his Affections, but that he had founded him, and discovered him to be a person of rare Abilities. By this favor to which he had attained, though he was not in the place of one of the Secretaries, yet he became to be like a Master of Requests; especially in weightier Petitions he could prevail more then any other Minister, which was not to be presisted by the other Officers. He had a Mind full of worth, and full of warmth, and no place became him so well as the foremost; as Pliny says of Cocks, lib. 10. c. 21. Imperitant suo generi, & regnum in quâcunque sunt domo exercent. None of his Fellows had cause to repent, that he rode upon the Fore-Horse. For he was courteous, and ready to mediate in any Cause, and as bountiful as might be wished; for he left all Fees and Veils of Profit to those to whom they did belong. By this, in a little while, they that would have kept him back at first, did their utmost to put him forward; which did not need. For the Lookers on did mark, that his Lord did not only use him in his most principal Employments, but delighted to confer with him; for it is a State-Rule: Raro eminentes viri non magnis adjutoribus ad gubernandam fortunam suam usi sunt. Yet this latter Favor, the Nature of the Lord Chancellor considered, was greater then the former. For though he was as good a Master to his Followers as ever was served, yet he was of an austere Gravity, and rather Bountiful then Affable. Now though it be as clear as any Ocular Demonstration, that the Chaplains full and absolute Parts did introduct him to this Love and Likeing; yet I will not say, but that which brought it to this Growth and Excess was a sympathy of Souls, which is a knitting of Souls by secret Ligaments that transcend Reason. Our Genetl • iacal Writers, perhaps, would call it Synastrta, which is a wrong Word for a right Meaning.

36. By this opportunity he interceded, that divers Benefices, which fell to the Lord Chancellor's Presentation, should be devolved upon deserving Scholars, and quickly became a great Patron before he was a Bishop. They were Godly Men whom he obliged, and such as had waited long in the Universities, and fit to be called forth to use their Talents. If he displeased any in the use of this Power, they wey were such as presumed upon ancient Acquaintance, more then upon their Merit. Pity and Power meeting equally in him, swarms of Scholars flocked about him. Those whose Backs were bowed down with tedious and chargeable Suits, he was the Sanctuary to which they sled; and he refused none. This diffused Humanity to so many that stood in need of help, is that which Marc. Antonius the Emperor calls Natural Duty: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . It suits with the Nature of a Man to take all Men into their Compassion and Care. I have heard some of those distressed ones, that were Strangers to him before, with whom he had never changed a word, when they returned back to Cambridge with Peace and quiet Possession of their own, speak of his Goodness to Admiration, that he would teach them either the validity or weakness of their Cause, commend them to faithful Attorneys and able Counsel, work the Officers and Clerks of the Courts to abatement of Fees, thrust Money into their hands that wanted it, the Nerves of Law as well as of War. Especially if the Cause concerned the Title of their Living, or the Right of their Tithes, he would sweat and bestir him for his poor Brethren, and never forsake them, till Sacrilege and Oppression were charmed with the golden Meet wand of Justice. The way that some use in the manner of their doing a thing, makes them to be rumour'd for their Courtesie above many others, though they do not affect it. So the Chaplain's readiness and Felicity in assisting the Clergy, was in a little while • lked among Church-men in all places; so that not a few of the Bishops, and Chapters of Cathedral Churches, who were encumbered about their Leases and Privileges, In foro Litigioso, thought it their best way to send their Messengers, and to show their Condition to him, who was easily entreated to be their Servant and Solicitor; and he was like one that lay Lieger at London for their Dispatches. But being of a most tender and dutiful Regard to such Reverend Persons, he did always acquaint his Lord and Master with a Breviate of their Grievances, and humbly besought his Judgment for Support and Remedy; and steering by that Oraculous Wisdom, he never put forth into the troubled Waters for those Dignities and Foundations, but they came merrily to the Haven with Bon-adventure.

37. His own Share follows: For by coming to that pitch of Interest with so great and good a Lord, as he befriended many, so in the space of about 5 years that he lived with him, he compassed a plentiful Fortune to himself, from that Bounty which denied him nothing, and commonly prevented him before he asked. Methinks it was that sweet Patron's Speech, which Pliny makes the fruitful Earth to speak to us all, Lib. 23. in Prooem. Ex me parata omnia, sese porrigentia ultro, & si pigeat attingere, etiam cadentia. I have provided all things for us, I offer them to you voluntarily, if you will not gather them, they shall fall down at your Feet of their own accord. To be particular, he conferred the Parsonage of Walgrave in Northamptonshire upon him, and no other Cure of Souls by direct Presentation. For the Lord Chancellor had declared in the Conference at Hampton-Court before King James, pag. 58. That he did not dislike the Liberty of our Church, in granting two Benefices to one Man; But out of his own private Purpose and Practice, he disposed such Livings as he gave, that some might have single Coats that wanted them, before others had Doublets. But by his furtherance, the Chaplain had likewise the Rectory of Grafton-Underwood, in the same County, lying in a very small distance from Walgrave, gratifying the Patron with as good or better in some other Shire. Divers Cathedral Churches offered their Preferments to him, because they needed such a Colleague, and some to make amends for his former Civilities. In the Church of Lincoln he was a Prebendary and Resident, with the Chantorship of the same. He had a Choral Place in the Minster of Peterborough, and in the Churches of Hereford and St. David 's. Neither the Canons of our Church, nor the Statutes of our Realm, have provided an Incapacity for holding Plurality of Prebends. I find indeed among the Decretals of the Popes, a Constitution of Urban the Second, an. 1087. running thus: Licet Episcopy dispositione unus diversis praeesse possit Ecclesiis, Canonicus tamen Praebendarius nisi unius Ecclesiae in quà conscriptus est, esse non debet. An Order which they keep, till any Man, that hath occasion to transgress it, brings enough in his hand to pay for a Dispensation. These Stalls therefore he possessed in Cathedral Foundations, for which the Lord Chancellor was well pleased by exchange of some of his own Preferments, to make amends to those who had conferred their Kindness upon his faithful Servant. Nay yet further, Mantissae loco, he gave him a Donative (called Sine curâ ) in Wales, which was equal in Profit to any Endowment that he held. Here was a glut of Preferment indeed, will some say: Be it so; it was the Liberality of a large and a loving-hearted Master, that would let him do no less; and it is as true, that the Chaplain desired no less. Aristotle lived in the most flourishing times of Greece, and perceiving that the valiantest Heroes that attended Alexander grew very rich, he framed this Axiom, Lib. 3. ad Nicom. That great Spirits are willing to be wealthy, to reward and gratify others. Doubtless such as are of an high-flown Animosity, affect Fortunas Laciniosas, as one calls it; a Fortune that sits not strait and close to the Body, but like a loose and a flowing Garment. They would spend to be beloved, and to oblige as far as they can; and that cannot be done out of a narrow Revenue. Salmasius (O what a Miracle of Judgment and Learning!) wrote bountifully, and lived bountifully, as I have heard: These are his words, Lib. de Usur. p. 392. Quomodo liberalis esse potest, qui nihil plus acquireret, quàm quod sibi ad victum necessarium sufficere queat? They that talk of possessing no more then to content Nature, must live with such as know no other People but themselves, else it is impossible but they will depart from that Primitive Simplicity. And truly I have known but few, perhaps none, that would not be content to have had all the Chaplain's Portion, or more, if they had lived in as good a way of getting. I do not excuse him therefore, it need not, that he got sufficient Wealth, and bestowed it Charitably, and Honourably, as will be manifested. Whither it be Tully or Panaetius that says it, or both, it is well said, as I learnt it in my Lessons of Puerility, Lib. 1. de Off. Neque rei familiaris amplificatio vituperanda est, nemine nocens; sed fugienda semper injuria. Riches that are augmented out of Niggardice, or by Cheating, Extortion, or doing unworthy Offices, carry their Curse along with them; those that are well gotten, are the Blessing of God. The Adjection of Wealth then was not to be refused, by one that served not such an Idol, but made it serve him for worthy Purposes. Neither did his franc and generous Nature esteem such Things to be the Recompence of five years Service, but this rather, to be brought up at the Feet of the most prudent Counselor that lived in the King's Service, and that he got his Favor so early, and held it so strongly till Death, which came on apace. An. 1616. in October, this aged Patriarch began to languish and droop. Therefore to recreate him, and to put an after-spring into his decaying Spirits, the Prince with due Solemnity being created Prince of Wales, Nov 4. the Lord Chancellor was created Viscount Brackley on the 7th of the same. This Honor was a Token that the King held him Precious, yet it work'd not inward. Who did ever see, that the Sand in an Hour-Glass did run the flower, because the Case in which it was put was guilded? For all this Viscountship his Feebleness was more and more sensible, the Eyes that looked out of the Windows were darkened, and he grew thick of Hearing. From thence, that is about January, he delighted not in any Talk, unless his Chaplain spoke to him. All his Business with his Great and Royal Master the King, he sent by him to be delivered with Trust and Prudence. Upon which Messages the King took great notice, that the Chaplain was Principled by his Master to be a Statesman, and a Pillar of the Kingdom. And even hard upon the day of his Death, which was Mart. 15. the Chancellor called him to him, and told him, If he wanted Money, he would leave him such a Legacy in his Will, as should furnish him to begin the World like a Gentleman. Sir, (says the Chaplain) I kiss your hands, you have filled my Cup full, I am far from Want, unless it be of your Lordships Directions how to live in the World, if I survive you. Well, (says the Chancellor) I know you are an expert Workman, take these Tools to work with, they are the best I have. And he gave him some Books and Papers written all with his own hand. These were as Valuable as the Sibylline Prophesies. They were that old Sage's Collections for the well ordering the High Court of Parliament, the Court of Chancery, the Star-Chamber, and the Council-Board. An inestimable Gift, being made over to the true Heir Apparent of his Wisdom. Let everyone wear the Garland he deserves. For my part, I attribute so much to the Lord Egerton, that I believe the Master's Papers were the Marrow of Mr. Williams his Prudence, and subtle Judgment in all his Negotiations. These Notes I have seen, but are lost, as it is to be feared, in unlucky and devouring Times. So died that Peerless Senator, the Mirror of a Lord Chancellor, having left that Blessing to his Chaplain and dear Servant, that bewailed him long after with the mourning of a Dove, and attended his Body to Cheshire, and said the Office of Burial over him in a Chapel, where he was entomb'd with his Ancestors: Whose surviving Name a Grave cannot cover, and a Tomb is too little to preserve it. You may measure him in much by these two Spans:

(says Mr. Cambden ) To know him altogether, I will borrow the Character of Aemilianus, and engrave it into the green Sapphire of his Memory, which will ever keep green: Qui nihil in vitâ nisi laudandum aut fecit, aut dixit, aut sensit.

38. While the Obsequies for the Entertainment of this deceased Lord were preparing at London, the Successor unto the Office of the great Seal was Sir Francis Bacon, very Learned in the judgment of all European Scholars, especially best known at home, that his Soul was a Cabinet replenished with the greatest Jewels of Wit, and in all our Kingdom none did ever set them forth with purer Language. He hearing that Mr. Williams had chested up his Books, and had furnished himself every way for an House-keeper to remove to his Cure of Walgrave, he made him an offer of great Civility, to continue with him in that place, wherein he had served the Lord Egerton, which he declined; but with so graceful a compliment, that they parted great Friends; and Sir Francis, willing to mark him with some cognizance of his Love, of his own accord made him Justice of Peace, and of the Quorum in the County of Northampton, an Office fitter for none than a Scholar and a Gentleman. Yet he could hot leave London, so God had provided, without a calling into a new Service, but it was in Caesar's household. His faithful and fast Friend Dr. James Montague, now Bishop of Winton, sent for him, and brought him to the King, who received him with consolatory Words, and extraordinary Grace, and commanded he should be Sworn his Chaplain forthwith, (whereupon he Attended at the Court yearly in the Month of February ) appointed him also to wait on him in his great Northern progress into Scotland, now hard at hand to begin in April ensuing; and pleasantly bad him expect the Laborers penny as soon as they that had served him longer. But the Bishop of Winchester made a proposition before his Majesty for another employment, and both could not consist together; that whereas the Arch-Bishop of Split, a Proselyte much welcomed at that time, was designed to be present at Cambridge commencement in the next July, that he might behold the University in the fairest Trim, and hear the disputation, the best being ever provided for that appearance, that Mr. Williams might be reserved unto that time for a double Service, to answer publicly in Divinity for the Degree of Doctor, the fittest to be the Days-man before that Learned Prelate, and likewise give him Hospitality, such as a great Guest deserved; so it was ordered, and so it was performed. Some men are right Learned, yet with all that worth steal out of the World unknown, because it was their ill hap never to be brought upon a Theatre of manifestation. And some are as Valiant as the best, and yet are never praised for it, because they were never invited into the Field to show it. So Velleius speaks for Seianus, that he never Triumph'd, nou merito, sed materiâ adipiscendi triumphalia defectus est, he deserved it, but the matter of a Triumph never fell in his way. There are others, whom not only deliberate Advice, but every casualty and contingence puts forward to be Aspectabiles, it conducts them likely where they may best be viewed, and their full Stature seen upon the advantage of a Rising. I fall into this contemplation, because an Object is before me, wherein I may aptly Exemplify. Dr. Williams (his Title for which he stood in the Act, an. 1617.) culled not out gaudy Seasons for vain Glory; that cannot be suspected, because he took all his Academical degrees in their just year: But he above, that disposeth all things, provided those Co-incidencies of great Resort and Celebrity, such as Arch-Bishop Split 's Presence at this Commencement, to make his Worthiness be known the further. The Theses which he defended in the Vespers, and were imposed upon him by the over-ruling Power of the Vice-Chancellor and Heads of the Consistory, (it is their Right and Custom) were these: 1. Supremus Magistratus nou est Excommunicabilis. 2. Subductio calicis est mutilatio Sacramenti & Sacerdotii. It was well for the Doctor that he was a right Stag, well breathed, and had a fair Head with all his Rights; for I never heard a Respondent better hunted in all my time that I was a Commorant in Cambridge. The Opponents were the Princes of their Tribes, Men of Renown in their Generation; Dr. Richardson the first, Dr. Branthwait, Dr. Ward, Dr. Collins, Dr. Alabaster, Dr. Goad, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , who did Honor the University that day, to the admiration of Mr. Antony de Dominis, with the utmost of their Learning. Every Argument they pressed, was a Ramm to throw down the Bulwarks of the Cause, and yet it totter'd not, neither did the Answerer give ground. Such a Disputation was worthy to be heard, which was carried with equal Praise of the Assailants, and Defendants. As Plutarch, lib. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , says of Moral Precepts, that they require a good Speaker and a good Hearer with mutual Diligence, as a Game at Tennis is well played, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; When the Stroke is served well, and the Service taken well.

39. That I may mix some Profit to the Reader in this Relation, I will let him know upon what Rules and Reasons the Respondent proceeded in the first Cause for the Conviction of all Gainsayers, both of the Pontifician part, and of the heady Consistories of some Reformed Churches. The Pontifician Rubbish he removed away, as a Dunghil of unsavory Filth fit to be cast out of the Lord's Vine-yard either because the Popes meddled so far beyond their own Bounds, attempting to send out Effulminations against Christian Kings in all Countries, upon Arrogation of an Universal bishopric, which hath the Plenitude of all Jurisdiction in itself alone, to which they have exalted themselves without Christ's Warrant and Seal; or, because by the Declaratory Sentence of their Excommunications, they inflict the highest Temporal Indignities upon Kings that can be imagined: As inhibiting their Courts of Justice to proceed any further, till he that sits in the Throne shall receive Absolution from their Grace: Absolving their Subjects from obligation of all Service and Fidelity: Deposing them from their Government, and exposing their Lives to Assassinate. For though they do not say, that such Effects should necessarily go along with Excommunication, yet they maintain, That if the Pope see cause, such Tragical Punishments may be annexed unto it. Far wide from the Truth. For it is evident, that an Excommunicated Person can be deprived of nothing by the Church, but that which is enjoyed through the Ministry of the Church, and its Privileges; but how can he be dispossess'd of that which he holds by Civil and Natural Right, which are not dependant upon Spiritual Relations? And as it is expedient to chip away these hard Crusts of Error, so neither is the Crum to be digested, which likes the Palates of some who are devoted to the Presbyterian Discipline. A King is not obnoxious to be interdicted, or deprived of the Sacraments by their Aldermen, who can show no more for the Proof of such Officers, with whom they Organize a Church, then the Pope can for his unlimited Jurisdiction. Nor is it to be suffered, that they should deny a Christian King to be a Church-Officer properly, and by right of his Crown over Christian Subjects as Christians; whose Causes can never be separated by their Metaphysical Abstractions before distinct supreme Rulers that are co-ordinate; but that there will be endless Jarrs in their several Entrenchments, and God is not the God of Confusion. Should he that is next under God in all Causes be subject to the Courts of his Liege-People and Homagers? He is their common Parent; and the only Mandat how to bear ourselves to our Father, is to Honor him: But what can make him more vile before the People, then to thrust him out of the Communion of Saints? Moreover the greater Excommunication includes in it the Horror of Anathematizing, or a Curse; but, Curse not the King, no not in thy thought, Eccles. 10.20. Neither would God give a constant Power to any which were in vain, and could not sting. Vanum est quod fine suo destuuitur. But it is vain to interdict a King, over whom there is no external Power appointed to bring him into order by Violence and Coercion, if he will not be Interdicted. In every Policy there must be a Supreme, that can be Judged of none, for else the Process between Party and Party would be Circular, or rather Infinite. These Aphorisms, and abundance more, flowed from the Doctor Respondent in the warmth of Disputation. Above all, his Answer was highly applauded, which he gave to Dr. Richardson 's Argument, taken from the Excommunication or Abstension, which St. Ambrose exercised by his Episcopal Power over the Emperor Theodosius, for commanding a great Slaughter to be made upon the People of Thessalonica in an hasty distemper of Anger, before their Cause was heard. To which Dr. Williams said,

This Answer was it which afforded most Matter of Discourse, and spread far, even to King James 's Ear, who heard of it, and approved it. Much was not said to the Second Question, a Bush that had been often beaten. Yet there was some grappling about the new Clause, That the Subduction or Denial of the Cup to the People, maimed the very Priesthood. But the Doctor maintained it thus: This was the God-speed and the Good-speed of his Disputation. It were no Sin to forget the Feasts he made at this Solemnity. They were bounteous, nay excessive, after the usual Trespass of the superfluity of our Nation: Such as Plutarch says Lucullus made in his Dining-Room, which he calls Apollo. One thing deserves a Smile, That the Doctor was at no little Cost to send to the Italian Ordinaries at London, and to ransack the Merchants Stores for such Viands as might please Arch-Bishop Split out of his own Country. To which accates he was observed, that he never put his Hand towards them, but liked our Venison and English Dishes a great deal better, he Thank'd him. But enough of this; for many do not love the smell of a Kitchen.

40. Presently after he had shewn himself such a Man in this Field of Honor, Veianius armis Herculis ad postem fixis latet abditus agro: Horat. Ep. 1. He never went more cheerful to any place then to his private Home, the Rectory of Walgrave, as if then he had been called from the Custom-house of the World to follow Christ; or as if he had been one of David 's Mariners landed at a quiet Shore: Psal. 107.30. Then they are glad because they be at rest, so he bringeth to the Haven of their desire. His Cost was over before he came thither; For there he had built, and garden'd, and planted, and made it a Dwelling sit for all the changeable Seasons of the Year, as much when Warmth, as when Pleasure was intended. Here he became his own Master for a while; here he could solace himself in private Retirements; here he was attended by Mutes like the Monarchs of the East, by so many Volumes of a well replenished Library. As Vatia said in Seneca, when he went out of Rome to live in his little Villa three Year before he died, Fuit Vatia multos annos, vixit tantùra tres; So this Doctor might have written, that in three Years, or not fully four, that he kept for the most part in this Bower of Tranquility, he lived the Comforts of twenty. The harmless Country Cottages bred more Saints, who are only seen unto the Eyes of God, then would fill a thousand Calenders. Why may not the Speech of Christ to his Church look this way, Cant. 7.11. Come my Beloved, let us go forth into the Field, let us lodge in the Village • To track him a little in this shady Life; He hazarded to lose his Health by excessive Study at all the Hours of the Clock, but preserved it by Temperance. For though he were greatly Hospital, the Cloth that covered his Table being always covered with Dishes, yet with Carving and Discoursing he gave his own Appetite but a short Bait. Velleius says, that great Caesar discerned, that none but a temperate Man could do mighty things, Qui somno & cibo in vitam, non in voluptatem uteretur: Through Temperance he had strength to be Industrious, and gave a good Example to the Divines his Neighbors, who had need to have such pricked in here and there among them. For a Country Minister hath master'd a great Tentation, that hath overcome Sloth, a Mischief that will fear upon the Soul with too much craft and sweetness. Idleness is commonly the English Gentleman's Disease, and the Rural Curate's Scandal. Let the first learn from as good a Gentleman, as the best of them, Marc. Antoninus the Emperor, lib. 9. who writes thus:

That is, Let others learn from a greater then Antoninus, that Labor and Watching, Pureness and Knowledge, are the Gifts that commend them to be the Ministers of God, 2 Cor. 6.4. They are Master-Builders, and must not loiter, who should set all to work. Or, to pass a sharper Sentence, It is certain, that the worst of Superstition is an Idol, and the worst of Idols is an Idle Shepherd, (that is, Who hath a Mouth, and speaks not?) Zech. 11.17. This Doctor, that walked as a burning Light before his Brethren, did the whole Office that belonged unto him, as Reading the Liturgy of Divine Service Wednnesdays and Fridays before such as would attend Prayer, Expounding the Catechism to the simple Ones in Lent, and upon all Holy-Days, Preaching constantly twice every Lord's-Day at Walgrave, or at Grafton, and performing his Turn at Kettering, a Market-Town not much remote, in a Lecture supplied by a Combination of the Learned'st Divines of the Vicinage. Who hath not heard him say that knew him, it was so often in his mouth, that the way to get the Credit from the Non-Conformitants was to out-preach them? Who in great part were Covetous, Cross-grain'd, Half-witted, and Distractious, and had nothing but much Preaching to make them plausible and popular. No marvel if such had crept into the good Opinion of weak Judges, who resided much, and taught their Charge themselves; and that others suffered hard Construction, who seldom spake to their Congregation, but through the hollow Trunk of their Curates and Hirelings. It was a witty Scorn which Dicaerchus put upon the Husband-men of Tanagra, a Town in Baeotia, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; That they all lived upon Farms, yet they Plowed not themselves, but their Drudges for them. If this were unthriftily done in Human Tillage, how much worse is it in God's Husbandry, which is a Culture of Souls? No Man will be so gross to endite himself, that he loves to hide his Talent in a Napkin, and to do nothing. I will prae-occupate what he will rather say, That other Affairs of Weight do take him up. But Conscientious Gerson will not allow him that Excuse, as I find it in him, Lib. de Vit. Spirit. Sanctius est Ecclesiasticum per sese Deo servire, ac mundo per Vicarium, quàm ordine inverso, imo perverso. If an Ecclesiastic have other Irons in the Fire, beside his Pastoral Charge, let him serve the World by his Deputy, and God in his own Person.

41. But this Diligence of often Preaching were but sorrily commended in the Doctor, unless the Weight go along with the Measure. If any man speak, let him speak as the Oracles of God, says St. Peter, • Ep. c. 4. v. 11. This was the Canon by which he did adorn his Pulpit, he delivered that which was Oraculous, well • Studied, premeditated with Care, able to draw the Consciences of his Hearers into his Drag-Net, yet not with the enticing words of Man's Wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit, and of Power, 1 Cor. 2.4. • mean, that always he laid his Principles out of the Doctrine of Christ, yet he burnish'd them brighter with all sort of comely Literature, as well what the Doctors of the Church afforded, as those that are without. For Human Literature is made Sacred, when it is well inoculated into Divinity; which is willing to entertain the Assistance of every Art, not as a Corrival, but as an Handmaid. It was his Judgment, That rude unordain'd Dunces would in the Licentiousness of some Tumults thrust into our Pulpits, (and is it not come to pass to the very pricking of our Hearts?) if the true Possessors did teach them by their Negligence, to fill up the Time with Babling and vacuity of Matter, like them that jangle the Bells to no Tune, and are never out, because they were never in. Therefore for his part he never set Husks or Orts, but his Dainties before the People. Which Expectation likewise did promote, for his Church was thronged every Sunday, with the Gentry especially, of all the Neighbouring Parishes. We have extant but one touch and no more of his Skill, according to the elevation of his Learning in those days, a Sermon preached before K. James at Theobalds, Febr. 22. 1619. upon this Text, Matth. 11.8. What went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft Raiment? Behold they that wear soft Clothing are in Kings houses. A Sermon like one of Ph • cion 's Orations, which Plut • rch compares to the Cretick Wine, which was, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , an Aromatick Liquor, which was sweet, and yet had a quick austerity upon the Palate. So this Piece of his is very sweet in the Composure, and yet very tart against the sinfulness of vain Attire; wherein wanton Quaedams in those days came to that excess, that they delighted altogether in the Garb, and Habit, and roisterly Fashions of Men: This Sermon the King did greatly approve, as a fit Antidote against such corrupt Manners, and commanded it to be Printed. For the Doctor himself never wrote anything, with intention to let the World see it in the Press, unless necessity constrained him.

42. The next thing of Laudable Account in his Deportment at Walgrave, but in a long Interval after the former, was his liberal House-keeping: For he lived like a Magnifico at home. His Brethren the Clergy, both of the better and of the lower Fortune, visited him much; whose Love he repaid with Courtesie, Conference, and Hospitality. He had mightily won the Friendship of all the Gentry in the whole District about him, and had such favor and countenance from the Nobility likewise, that they vouchsafed their Presence at his Feasts, but chiefly for his Music-sake, which was the Banquet they came for; and he was furnished very well both for Voices and Instruments in his own Family. It was Sumptuous, I confess, for one of his Level in those days. But allow him this for the Recreation of his Spirit, the rather because I never knew him so much as dip his Senses in any other Pleasure. I pass by these Grandees, the Flower of the County, whose Hearts he stole with these Obligements. But they were the Poor and Needy, for whom he brake his Bread especially, and replenished their hungry Souls with Goodness. Give a Portion to seven, and also to eight, says Solomon, Eccles. 11.2. So he never murmur'd that their Number was too great that came to his Door for Charity. It follows in the same Scripture, If the Clouds be full of Rain, they empty themselves upon the Earth: So out of his fullness he dropped fatness upon the Indigent without making distinction, because the same Earth is the Parent unto all. The Town of Walgrave indeed, where he abode, had some right to share in his Beneficence above others: And so it did. The Labourer, that was so near a Neighbor, knew often where to fill his empty Stomach, and the Thirsty where to drink that which would cherish him. The Decrepit, the Widow, and the Fatherless, resorted when they pleased to the common Refectory of them all. The Sick, who of the Comfortless are most to be compassionated, he came to them to their 〈◊〉 Bed to pray for them, and to bless them, gave them largely from his Purse to succor them, not seldom paid the Fees of their Physicians, and always cherished them from his own Kitchen with Broths and Cordial Decoctions. These were the Issues of a plentiful Estate, a single Life, and a merciful Heart. This was the Oil of a wise Virgin's Lamp. I follow St. Chrysostom, who was my Leader in that Exposition of our Savior's Parable, Mat. 25. on this wise: You that are unmarried, and live chastely, you have conquered the Love of the Flesh; but if you will be wise Virgins, you must conquer Covetousness, and the Love of the World. Will you know the way to it? Fill your Vessels with Oil: That's your Wisdom. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . And what Vessels are so fit to receive your Oil, as the Bellies of the Poor? Many of these dry Lamps he succor'd; and the Lord anointed him again with fresh Oil, and made his Olive-yard increase. He that hath pity on the Poor lendeth unto God, and what he hath given he will pay him again, Prov. 19.17. For at this time one rich Sheaf was added to his Store by a valuable Legacy bequeathed to him, a great Wind-fall (as we commonly say) from his Kinsman Mr. John Panton, Servant with him to the Lord Chancellor Egerton, who by his Last Will appointed him to be Guardian to his Children, and with due discharge of that great Trust he bred them virtuously, and bestowed them happily. No sooner had he gathered up this Income, but another Dole of Fortune fell into his Lap, and much more unlook'd for then the other. While the King was in his Summer-Progress in the West, the Deanery of Salisbury became void by the Death of Dr. Gordon; straightway many Eagles were about that Carcass, and the Marquess of Buckingham struck in for one of the Competitors, a deserving Scholar: But the King gave him a Denial, and sent for Dr. Williams, a Man that could not be heard of in a fortnight, as it fell out, till he was found at Lincoln, most remote from the Court, upon the Duty of his Residency. This was the first Step of his Dignity, to which no Hand helped to raise him but the King's. He was bereft of his dear Friend Dr. James Moutagu Bishop of Winton, who died on the 19th of July in the same Summer, if my Notes do not err. Beside him, he had dependence on none about His Majesty. Yet God moved the King's Heart to confer this Favor upon him, when he did not so much as stand in His Gracious Sight: But it was better that he was in His Heart. The old Romans were churlish, or rather unjust, in bestowing their Honors, because none in their Republic might be advanced to an Office, but such as courted the People, and fauned on them for their Suffrages. Their Decree runs thus: In honoribus conferendis nullius absentis habeatur ratio. Alex. ab Alexandro, lib. 8. c. 3. Whereas Baseness and Ambition are better prevented, when Places of Pre-eminence are cast upon them, that stir not in the Suit, neither aspire to Promotion. Being so suddenly admitted into this Deanery, which is as rich as any in the Land, except four, yet he lived not much in that Place. His Predecessor Dr. Gordon, a Stranger, and unacquainted with our Customs, remitted the Care of the Church wholly to the management of the Residentiaries, grave Men, but subtle and attentive to their own Emolument, who contended to keep up the Power they had long enjoyed, when one more knowing and active came into Dr. Gordon 's room. Though their Claim were wrong, yet the new Dean, to step out of the way of Contention, appeared but seldom in their Chapter, but reposed himself in the Tranquility of Northamptonshire, till a better Advancement within the space of two Years released him from those Wranglers.

43. As yet then he made his Abode most commonly at Walgrave: The place was healthful; for no Air is so wholesome to a Man, as where he is generally beloved. Of which Love, his share was the greater, by his Place which he held among them of a Justice of the Peace. He was as expert in weilding that Office as any that sat upon the Bench, not excepting those that wore the Coif. For vouching of Statutes, he needed no Man to prompt him, or to compare Old and New, or to interpret them to their fair meaning. He loved his Country, and was the forwardest of any Patriot to defend the public against private Engrosments. He was stout, and never turned his back to opposition, chiefly when the Oppressions of the poor Clergy did modestly call upon him to maintain them in their just Rights. It is their hard hap in every place to be trampled upon, not only by such as Gallio, that care not for the Things of Christ, but by such whose Zeal is compounded of contrary Elements, they love the Harvest of the Gospel, if you will believe them, and hate the Laborers. But in that County, while Dean Williams was present, they did eluctate out of their Injuries with credit to themselves, and damage to their Adversaries: So much did his Countenance conduce to their Profit, and their Peace. If private Wranglings were brought before him, he seldom granted to those Parties his Warrant to proceed, but counseled them, and preached them out of their Litigious Humours, saying,

With these, and such words, some did melt into meekness, and shook hands, the rather being Reconciled in his Buttry, or his Cellar. But if they did not Edify with such Homilies, many times he took another, and a surer course, to pay the Damages all, or in part, which one Neighbor alleged for the matter of his Quarrel against the other; till after Experience dear bought, he perceived he was cheated, and that some would seem to be Foes, because he used to be at cost to make them friends.

44. I would he had done himself no greater wrong as a Justiciary: But there was a Miscarriage, which I cannot pass over; a great deal of it was Error, but somewhat in it hath the willfulness of a Fault. I am not wanton, like the Ladies that lodge about the Piazza in Covent-Garden, to lay a black Patch upon a fair Cheek, where it need not. No; my scope is to make his Over-sight a caution to others. For I intend in all that I write, (I appeal to God; who knows it) rather to Profit many, then to Praise him. Plainly thus it was: Mr. Lamb, whom succeeding times knew to be Dean of the Arches, came, by holding fast to Fortune's middle Finger, from a School-master that taught Petties, to a Proctor in Christian Courts, and so to an Official. An Official, as Petrus Blasensis says of such another, not from the Noun Ossicium, but from Officio the Verb. The Dean of Salisbury had occasion to employ him thrice, or oftener, in those Spiritual Courts, to untangle some distressed Ministers that sought unto him, who were catched by the Horns in those Thickets. The Official did his work trustily, and pleased the Dean with as great obsequiousness as could be expressed, knowing that he had many long Feathers in his Wing, and was like to fly high. I do not accuse the Dean, that this Instrument was not yet detected to him. For read him what he was indeed out of the Description, which Tacitus gives, lib. 16. Annal. circa finem, to P. Egnatius, Client to Soranus the famous Senator; Cliens hic Sorani autoritatem Stoicae sectae praeferebat, habitu & ore ad exprimendam imaginem honesti exercitus, caeterùm animo perfidiosus, & subdolus. Yet this Stoical Gravity did not long conceal him, but that his needless Vexations of harmless People, his cutting Fees, his Briberies, and other Muck of the same Dunghil made an out-cry, and put the King's good People to seek a Remedy, by preferring Articles against him at the Assizes, where he was charged home with an Alphabet of Misdemeanors. He pleaded to the general, that he was so much despited, because he had looked more narrowly into the Disobedience of the Paritans, then formerly had been used. My Opinion is, that such Physicians of no value, Job 13.4. may cast the Water of such sick Distempers, but will never heal them: Infamous Judges may correct them, they will never rectify them. For he that is fallen into a Moral Turpitude, is soon convinced in his own Mind; but he that is misguided by darkness of Understanding, thinks that he doth right to his own Conscience by going wrong, and is never so well reclaim'd, as when he is mildly rebuked by them, whose open Integrity and Pity justify them, that they walk as Children of the Light. But for the Particulars, which laid down so many Oppressions at the Official's door, they were not Dust which would be brushed away with the Fox Tail, but Dirt that stuck to him, till the Dean, his Mediator, obtained from the Judges a Reference to himself, and some others, for further Examination. By which sly Diversion, some of his Charges were laid aside by Composition, all of them by delay, and delusion. After this, (what should be the End of it I know not, without it were to make him look big, and superciliously, upon his Prosecutors) the Dean engaged his Friends at Cambridge, myself was one that was solicited from him, to sublimate the Official with the Degree of a Doctor, wherein he had one Repulse in the Regent-House, such an ill relish his Name had; but he was carried out in a second day's Scrutiny. But for all his Doctorship he was not out of the Brakes, he was but Tapisht, as Hunters call it. The stirring Spirits of the the subtle Air of Northamptonshire preferred their Articles afresh against him to the House of Commons assembled in Parliament, an. 1620. Wedges enough to cleave a bigger Log then Dr. Lamb, and yet he was no little one, but Saginati corporis bellua, as Curtius says of Dioxippus the Pugil. Well, (nay indeed ill) his Friend that was too sure to such a branded Man, now become the Dean of a College near to the Parliament, finds the Articles in the hand of the Chair-man of the Committee, appointed to sift the Complaints, (it was Sir Edward Sackvil, afterward the brave-spoken Earl of Dorset ) with whom he wrought to abortive the Bill before it came to the Birth, and so he set Dagon upon his Feet again, who was fallen with his face upon the ground, 1 Sam. 5.4. but the palms of his Hands were never cut off, for so long as he lived he could take a Bribe. I blush to remember, that the Dean did not only set him up again as well as ever he stood before, but raised him higher: For he wrote to a great Lord in Court (the Letter is among my Papers) to procure him the Honor of Knighthood, which was obtained: And when his Enemies labored to cut his Comb, he got the Spurs. 'Twas pleasantly spoken by Sir Ed. Montague, (since that Pious and Loyal Lord Montague of Boughton ) when a cluster came about him to ask Counsel and Assistance for a third Petition against Sir John Lamb, says Sir Edward, If we tamper the third time, his great Friend that hath already made him a Doctor and a Knight, I fear will make him a Baron. I have thus much to say for the Dean his friend, whose very Entrails I knew, that he was strongly espoused to love where he had loved, and 'twas hard to remove his Affections when good Pretences had gained them. Chiefly he was of a most compassionate Tenderness, and could not endure to see any Man's Ruin, if he could help it. And though Offences were as legible as a Dominical Letter, he would excuse anything that was capable of an Excuse, as far as Wit and Mercy could contrive it. But if a little Confession were wrung out, it cut down many Faults to make him see as it were a Glade of Repentance in a Grove of Sins; and did ever hope for better Fruits upon easy and formal Promises. Let Quintilian help me out a little more in his sixth Declam. Si angustus saltem detur accessus, per quem intrare humanit as possit, vera clementia occasion contenta est. Yet David 's Rule is better then all this, Be not merciful to them that offend of malicious wickedness, Psal. 59.5. And our God is so merciful, that whosoever adds a dram beyond his Pattern, it must be reckoned for foolish and hurtful Lenity. Certainly God was not pleased, that the Dean would save a Man whom He meant to destroy, 1 King, 20.42. And though it slept Unpunished about 12 Years, yet in the end the Lord awakened it with a Mischief, through the treachery of that Man, whom himself had protected.

45. That which I have hitherto passed over, was but his low and shrubbish Fortune, compared with that Access, which the Providence of God in short time after did cast upon him. Which Providence is Religiously appealed to in all things; yet without any check to Reason and Experience, to trace it in its Manifestations. The Omni-regency of Divine Providence is the Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden of the World; the Strings of whose Root are secretly interwoven with all Works and Motions. But the Sons of Adam are not content, unless they taste of the Tree of Knowledge, and have a Lust, as far as Curiosity can pry, to learn how God doth put the Issue of his Wisdom into outward, and Instrumental Causes. I am ready therefore to show what Men will seek, the Occasions which were in the way, and who was Lord of the Ascendant, when God did raise up this his Servant, that he might set him with Princes, even with the Princes of his People, Psal. 113.8. His Abilities were worthy of a great Place; none so Emulous, or so Envious that denied it. Neither was there any Church-man in his time so likely to purchase a great Place with those Abilities. He that will will read Budaeus his Epistle to his Notations upon the Pandects, shall find this Character of Mons. Peganay Chancellor of France, Cujus ea vis fuisse ingenii at que animi cernitur, ut quocunque loco natus esset, in quodcunque tempus incidisset, fortunam ipse sibi facturus videretur. A Word as fit for him that kept the Seal of England, as for him that kept the Seal of France: In what Kingdom soever he had been born, in what Age soever he had lived, he would have shared with them, that had a considerable part of Honor and Dignity. Certainly he was embued with that Wit, and Spirit, that he need not lag after the Train of Preferment, unless he would. And I dare not say, he would. For they that are sanguine, and of a stirring temper, which was his Complexion, love to take the right hand. I must be thus far bold, because I write not of an Angel, or a Soul among the Beati, but of a Man, consisting of Human Desires and Passions. And he that describes an ingenious active Man, without some addition to Honor and Greatness, makes him not Laudable, but Prodigious. And I will as soon believe it, as I will the Alcoran, that the Angel Gabriel took out all the black Core of Original Frailty from the Heart of Mahomet. Experience teacheth us more then strict Rules, that Virtue, which is forward to thrust itself into practice, nay into danger, for the public Good, will never discharge it cheerfully without a Ticket from hope of some Amplification. Salust, in the Oration De republicâ ordinandâ, spake pleasingly and truly to Caesar; Ubi gloriam dempseris, ipsa per se virtus amara atque aspera est.

46. Now he, whom I insist upon, being a Subject thus fit for Impression, his good Master King James was as ready to put the Stamp upon him. He never met with any before, no not the Lord Egerton, much less with any after, that loved him like King James at the full rate of his worth. That King's Table was a trial of Wits. The reading of some Books before him was very frequent, while he was at his Repast. Otherwise he collected Knowledge by variety of Questions, which he carved out to the capacity of his understanding Writers. Methought his hunting Humour was not off so long as his Courtiers, I mean the Learned, stood about him at his Board. He was ever in chase after some disputable Doubts; which he would wind and turn about with the most stabbing Objections that ever I heard. And was as pleasant, and fellow-like in all those Discourses, as with his Huntsmen in the Field. They that in many such genial and convival Conferences were ripe and weighty in their Answers, were indubiously designed to some Place of Credit and Profit. Wherein he followed the Emperor Adrian, as Spartianus remembers it; Omnes professores & honoravit, & divites fecit, licet eos quaestionibus semper agitaverit. But among them all, with whom King James communed, was found none like Daniel, c. 1. v. 19. His Majesty gave his Ear more Graciously to this Chaplain, and directed his Speech to him, when he was at hand, oftener then to any, that crowded near to hearken to the Wisdom of that Solomon. He had all those Endowments mightily at command, which are behooved in a Scholar, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as Aristotle, 3 ^o Top. terms them, unto Extemporary Colloquies. Ingenium in numerato habuit, as Quintil. l. 6. said of a ready Man, he had all his Learning in ready Money, and could spend it at an hour, as well as at a day's warning. There was not a greater Master of Perspicuity, and elucidate Distinctions; which looked the better in his English, that ran sweet upon his Tongue, especially being set out with a graceful Facetiousness, that hit the joint of the Matter: For his Wit, and his Judgment, never parted. If the King lead him quite out of the rode of Verbal Learning, and talked to him of real and gobernative Wisdom, he pleased his Majesty most of all, because his Answers discovered, that he loved to see through the present to the future. Chiefly since he would be bold, not only to argue, but to quarrel against Innovations. For though he was never addicted to his own Opinions, no not among his Inferiors, with that pertinacious Obligation, for better for worse; yet neither his best Friends, nor the higher Powers, could ever get him pleased with new Crotchets, either in Church or State. His constant Rule was, That old Imperfections were safer then new Experiments. To which purpose, a Saying of his was famous in Court. The manner how it came in, was thus: A great Servant to the King pressed for a change of that, which was well enough already, and commended his Design by this Note, That it would be an easier way for the People. Sir, (says Dr. Williams ) a Bed is an easy Repose, but it is not wholesome to lie upon a new Tick, and new-driven Feathers. All these Passages the King considered from time to time; Multa viri virtus animo, &c. And was glad he had a Servant to be raised up, of whom He thought as Cicero did of Demetrius Valerius, lib. 3. de Leg. Et doctrinae studus & regendà civitate Princeps; That he was a full Scholar fit for the Sacred, and for the Civil Gown: In a word, one of the stronger Cattle, Gen. 30.41. and designed for a Bell-weather in Jacob 's Flock.

47. The King was the Fountain of Honor indeed, but there was a pre-eminent Pipe, through which all Graces flowing from him were derived. I pray the Reader to consider the sweetness of this King's Nature, (for I ascribe it to that cause) that from the time he was 14 Years old and no more, that is, when the Lord Aubigny came into Scotland out of France to visit him, even then he began, and with that Noble Personage, to clasp someone Gratioso in the Embraces of his great Love, above all others, who was unto him as a Parelius; that is, when the Sun finds a Cloud so fit to be illustrated by his Beams, that it looks almost like another Sun. At this time, upon which my Pen drops, the Marquess of Buckingham was the Parelius. He could open the Sluce of Honor to whom, and shut it against whom he pleased. This Lord was our English Alcibtades for Beauty, Civility, Bounty, and for Fortitude wanted nothing of Man enough, says Art. Wills. p. 223. who favors all Republicans, and never speaks well of Regians, (it is his own distinctions) if he can possibly avoid it. The Marquess by Sweetness as much as by Greatness, by Courtesie as well as by Power, plucked a world of Suitors to him, especially by his generous and franc Usage: For he did as many Favors to the King's Servants and Subjects freely and nobly, that is, without the sordid Fee of Gifts and Presents, as ever any did that ruled the King's Affections. Some of the most honored Ladies of his Blood have told me, That there was a Chopping-taker in his Family, that was least suspected; but his Lordship's Hands were clean, and his Eyes could not look into every dark corner. Dr. William, was aware, that this was the Man, by whom the King delighted to impart his Bounties. Aemilio dabitur quicquid petit: Juv. Sat. 7. The Doctor had crept far, as I may say, for Ground-Ivy, he had a plentiful Fortune. But he must clasp upon this Tree, or none, to trail and climb: Yet hitherto he had not come forward one step to gain him. One time he made a Repetition of his former Life unto me, being under a great Sickness at Buckden, when he taught me two Reasons, why he moved so slowly to the Protection of that great Lord, with this solid and ingenious Confession. First, To whom a Man is obliged for his Raising, it is expected he should run the same hazard with him: Which is so far from Slavery or Weakness, that it may well be called, The height of Magnanimity; no Virtue being more truly Heroical then Thankfulness, by which the Spirit of a Man advances itself with confidence of Acceptation to the Love of God and Man. This Consideration seriously taken, he was afraid of that Lord's continuance, the Title of a Favorite being so Inauspicious in almost all Examples. For what is more likely, but that a Sail will break, when it is too much stretched with the sore Wind? And whosoever builds unto a lofty height upon a new Foundation, Envy will pull him down by insensible Demolishments. For new Men, when they become Plenipotentiaries, all Suits at Court passing by their Assistance, they please few, (who are the Gratified) in comparison of the Swarms that must be repulsed; so that if an Eddie and Mutation fall heavy, they are lost without much Pity; not because they were bad, but because they were great. And take all others into this Moral Compass, who were unconcerned; who is so upright in his Candor, that gapes not for the removal of the greatest Actors in Promotion, upon a Dream of better days to follow the Alteration? And commonly they that are born to waft over the Sea of this Life in a Cock-boat, are glad to see their Shipwreck that sail in the Argosie.

48. Though he that did run this Descant was sick, as I said, when he uttered it; yet certainly there was no Sickness in his judgment when he first conceived it. I will produce a pair of the best Scholars that revived Learning in our Grandfather's days, who foretell, that Court-Minions are like to have no Favor, but the King's. Thus Erasmus in his Epistle, Ante scriptores Angustae historiae, published by him. An parum est suam quamque regionem habere Dominum, nisi singulae rursus alium haberent Dominum conduplicatâ servitute? As if he thought it no better then a doubling of Servitude, to have a Privado, like a Lord-Lieutenant, under the sepreme Lord, to ride upon the Backs of the People. Budaeus is more churlish upon the Pandects, p. 61. Howsoever (says he) the King gives Honors, patient Spirits will accept it; but when they are conferred by one, Qui majoribus fatis sub-princeps est, they will be ill looked upon. And all, whom he prefers, are esteemed no better then Janizaries, to be his Guard to protect him in violent Courses, or rather suspected to debase Virtue under the power of Fortune. He proceeds further, That whosoever oversways in Favor with his Sovereign, in effect doth all, and yet is like to give no account of his Actions, which is the worst mortifying of Justice. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , says Plato: Let no Man be a Judge, unless he may be judged for his Judicature. Let no Man bear an Office, that grows too formidable to them that call his Behaviour to a Trial. These Fleeces plucked from the Judgments of such great Clerks assure us, that not only Ahasuerus his Haman, Tiberius his Seianus, Edward the Second his Gaveston, and such corrupt ones, must needs decline faster then they got up, but the most circumspect that possess such a Room, as they did, will prove to be May-Lord's in Fortune's Enterlude: For though their Honor be not swelled with Pride, yet their Balast will certainly be Envy. It would be a wonder therefore, if a great Favorite could act his part to come off the Stage with Applause, in whom this double Misery concurs, the Favor that he takes from his Chief is odious, the Favor that he gives to his Confidents is dangerous. Hereupon some that had the estimation of discreet Men, conceived of the Crimes and Clamours objected to the Lord of Buckingham, that his Place was more guilty of them, then his Person.

49. Now the second Reason said this wise Man, which kept him suspensive, whether he should seek a Lift higher in the World by the courtesy of that Lord's Power, was, That he saw his Lordship was bred in a great Error, he was so ready to cast a Cloud suddenly upon his Creatures, and with much inconstancy to root up that which he had planted. A fault too patent against all Apology. He had changed the White Staves of the King's Household, the Secretaries, the Masters of the Court of Wards, the Chancellors of the Exchequer, and many others. Partly it happened, because fresh Undertakers came with Proffers and Forecasts, which had not been made before. Presently some must be discarded, to make room for those, who albeit in their Discharge they did less then their Predecessors, yet they outbid them in Promises. And partly, which goes together, his Lordship was of very desultorious Affections, quickly weary of those whom he had gratified, and apt to resume his Favors to make Trial upon others, if they would obey his Commands upon undiscoursed Obedience. A Prognosticator might have guessed upon every Day of the Year, while he was glorified in his Greatness, somewhat variable Weather. From whence it came to pass, that his Lordship was often served by bad Instruments; for they made too much haste to Rich, because they knew their Turn was quickly coming to be shifted. And it is a weak part to blast the good Turns which a Man hath done, to lose his Thanks, and the Fidelity of his Clients. Mark what Sylla said to Bacchus, In Salust, amicorum ne • ue nobis, neque cuiquam hominum satis fuit. Bel. Jugur. No Man can have too many Friends; but he that loses his Friends, will have too many Enemies. Such inconstant Revocations are prettily called, Praefloratae Liberalitates, Mildew'd Liberalities: Or like a Tree that hath a cankerous Malignity, to dry up, and cast its own Blossoms. And it is a weak part to think it a gaudy thing, to be cringed unto with new Acquaintance. Green Heads know not the Utility of old Friendships. But none are so unestimable, be they never so Potent, as those sickle-fancy'd Men, whose Friendships will hold no longer then Pliny 's Peaches, after they are gathered, Longissima decerpto bidui mora est; After they have been plucked, and laid by two days, they are rotten.

50. These two, so related to me, were his intimate Consultations with himself; A great Fruit of Philosophy, says Antisthenes in Laertius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , to confer much with a Man's own Mind. From both those Reasons he concluded, to give way to others to seek the Lord Marquess, who were bolder then himself. For why should he render himself as an Hostage to Fortune, when he needed not? Or what could mend his present Condition but a contented Mind? Pol si est animus aequus tibi, satis habes qui vitam colas. Plaut. Aul. He that hath much, and wants nothing, hath yet as little as comes to nothing, if he wants Equanimity. It was generously spoken of Esau, Gen. 33.9. I have enough my Brother. And they that lose a good Portion which they had before, because their Appetite did over-drive them, let them look upon Children playing at a petty Game, they will not stand, but ask for another Card, which puts them out. Though these things were so maturely considered, an Occasion came about, which did lead him quite aside; yet it was in the King's Highway. He was at Royston in Attendance on the King, and in the Marquess his Absence. The King abruptly, without dependence upon the Discourse on foot, asked him, When he was with Buckingham? Sir, (says the Doctor) I have had no business to resort to his Lordship. But wheresoe'er he is, you must presently go to him upon my Message, says the King. So he did that Errand, and was welcomed with the Countenance and Compliments of the Marquess, and invited with all sweetness to come freely to him upon his own Addresses. Who marked rather from whom he came, then to whom he was sent: And gathered from the King's Dispatch, That His Majesty intended that he should seek the Marquess, and deserve him with Observance. From henceforth he resolved it; yet not to contaminate his Lordship with Bribery, or base Obsequiousness, but to show himself in some Act of Trust and Moment, that he was as sufficient to bring his Lordship's good Ends to pass, as any whom he employed, both with readiness to do, and with judgment to do well. Which thus succeeded to his great Commendation. My Lord Marquess was a Bachelor, and ripe for a gallant Wedlock His Youth, his comely Person, his Fortunes plentiful and increasing, his Favor he held with the King, being as much, or more, then the Cardinal-Nephews in the Pope's Conclave: What Graces could be sweeter in the Girdle of Venus that the Poets speak of, Cestum de Veneris sinu calentem? Martial. He could not seek long to be entertained, who was so furnished for a Suitor. The Lady with whom he desired to match, was Lady Katherine Manners, Daughter, and only Child surviving, to Francis Earl of Rutland. Hereby he should marry with a Person of Honor, her Family being very anciently Noble, and draw to his Line an access of Wealth and Revenue, as the like not to be expected from the Daughter of any Subject in this Realm. The Motion was set on foot in the beginning of the Year 1520, which stuck at two Objections. The Earl of Rutland was slow, or rather fullen, in giving way to this lusty Woer; who came on the faster, directed it seems by Proverbial Wisdom, That faint Heart never won fair Lady. Certain it is, that he kept not such distance in his Visits, as was required. Which put the Earl into so strong a Passion, that he could not be mitigated, though great Ones had attempted the Pacification. In this distraction Dr. Williams took the opportunity to go between the great Men, and to Umpire the Controversy. He had often in former times made Journeys from Lincoln to visit the Earl at his Castle of Belvoir, who was Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Lincoln, and held some Leases of that Church, whereof the Doctor was a Residentiary, and Precentor. The Earl had found him so true and fortunate in many Offices of Service, which he had managed for his Lordship's sake, that he preferred him before all his Neighbors for Wisdom and Fidelity. Therefore he gave him very patient Hearing to his Propositions about the Lord Marquess his Amours, and took down the heat of Inflammation with cool Advice. All youthful Dalliances were cleared from sinister Jealousy, and had Allowance to be inoffensively continued. To speak all together: The Doctor brought the Earl about so dextrously with his Art and pleasant Wit, that his Lordship put it into his hands to draw up all Contracts and Conditions for Portion and Jointure; which he did to the fair satisfaction of both sides, the noble Earl being so glad of a good Understanding between him and the Lord Marquess, that the Counselor at his Elbow induced him to settle more upon the Marriage, then the Marquess and his Mother had demanded. The first Door that was shut against the young Lord in Cupid 's Court was thus opened to him. Nothing is so good to soften that which is hard, as the Language of a discreet Man. Therefore the old Gauls did carve the God of Eloquence, not after the shape of Mercury, but of Hercules, says Lucian, carrying his Club in one hand, his Bow and Shafts in the other: But innumerous small Rings were drawn through his Tongue, to which a multitude of Chains were fastened, that reached to the Ears of Men and Women, to which they were tied; meaning by this Picture, that he performed all his hard Labors by his Tongue, and not by his Club: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . And that which the Doctor brought to pass in the preceding Matter, is fit for the Application of the Apologue. Of whose Performance, the Mother-Countess, her Noble Son, with the Ladies of the Kindred, gave the best Account to the King that Thankfulness could make.

51. The King commended it; and was right glad that they were well out of the Mire, where they all stuck before. And now the Progress of the Suit seemed so easy, as if a pair of Doves might draw the Chariot of Love; when His Majesty put a strong Spoke into the Wheel, which I may call The Second Obstruction. For the Lady Katherine, though she and her Family were not rigid forbearers of our Church, yet she was bred a Papist. This was no Straw at which the King stumbled: For he knew it would sad the Spirit of some good People, most tender of the Religion established, when they should hear, that the Noble-man in whom His Majesty did most delight, was wedded to a Lady of that disaffected Superstition. Therefore he liked not that the Marquess should proceed in that Marriage, till the Lady were tried with sweet Perswasions to serve God, together with her Husband, constantly, and without Hypocrisy, after the Confession of the Reformed Church of England. So His Majesty called for Dr. Williams, and laid his strict and highest Commands upon him, to use his best Skill upon the Conscience of that tender Lady, misled by Education, to make her a true Proselyte: Before that was done, He would be loath to give his Blessing to the Nuptials. This He required of him, before all his other Chaplains, as well because he had the Ear of the Family more then any Man of his Coat, whereof Proof was made in his late Actions; as because he knew he had the Gift of Wisdom, mixed with Learning, to cure a Corruption in Opinion. Sir, (says the Doctor) I obey Your Commands with all my heart, and with belief of some Success. But in case upon the first or second Conference I bring the young Madam to some Access towards the Church of England, without a total Recess from the Church of Rome, will Your Majeshy discomsit a good Beginning, and stay the Marriage, whose Consummation is every day desired, because the Party is not brought to the perfection of an absolute Convert? To which the King answered, I know that commonly Grace proceeds by degrees in conception, and building up its Features, as well as Nature; but though you walk slow, walk sure. I cannot abide to be cozened with a Church-Papist. So the Doctor received his Commission cheerfully from His Majesty; the rather, because though he cunningly concealed how far he had entered, yet he had assayed before, to bring the Lady Katherine into a good liking of our Church with many strong and plausible Arguments, and found her Tractable and Attentive. She easily perceived, that Conjugal Love would be firmest and sweetest, when Man and Wife served God with one Heart, and in one way, and were like the two Trumpets of Silver made of an whole Piece, Num. 10.12. And quickly she was confirmed by divers and solid Representations, to confess that our Cathechism was a plain Model of Saving Truth; and the Form of Matrimony in our Liturgy pleased her abundantly, being as pious and forcible as any Church could make, to bind up a sanctified and indissoluble Union. And after some Prayers made to God for his secret Breathings into her, such easy Demonstrations were spread before her, that she confessed our Ministers were fit Dispensers of the Ordinances of God, and all Gospel-Blessings from Christ Jesus. So the second Obstruction was master'd by the good Spirit of God, and this Doctor's Industry. The Remotion of two such Impediments is not commonly accompass'd by one Head-piece. Sometimes it is seen, as Macrobius says, yet very seldom, Ut idem pectus & agendi, & disputandi facultate sublime sit. Lib. 2. de Som-Scrip. c. 17. Now all things being made smooth for Love and Concord, on the 16th day of May, 1620. the Nuptials were celebrated between the Lord Marquess and his Bride, the Lady Katherine Manners, at Lumly-House on Tower-Hill, where the Earl of Rutland lay, Dr. Williams joined them together with the Office of our Liturgy; all Things being transacted more like to Privacy, then Solemnity, to avoid the Envy of Pomp and Magnificence. I have been no larger then there was cause in this Report; for the Negotiation in this Marriage, said the Negotiator often unto me, was the last Key-Stone that made the Arch in his Preferment.

52. It behooved him therefore to spare no Pains, nor Study, to season the new Marchioness with such a measure of Knowledge, as might keep her found in the Integrity of Truth. He needed not a Remembrancer to keep his Diligence waking. Yet the King was so intent, that the Lady should become an upright and sincere Protestant, that he proposed to his Chaplain, now her Ghostly Father, to draw up a pretty Manual of the Elements of the Orthodox Religion, with which she might every day consult in her Closet-Retirements, for her better confirmation. A Book was Compiled accordingly, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , put forth, and not put forth. Twenty Copies were printed and no more, and without the Author's Name, (in a Notion common to many) By an old Prebendary of the Church of Lincoln. The Copies were sent to the Lord Marquess, and being no more, are no more to be found; for I have searched for one, but with lost Labor. I can truly say I have seen one, and read it about 30 Years since, which being in a negligent Custody, is miscarried. It contents me better, that I have a written Copy, out of which it was printed; by which the Author could set it in order for the Press, surer then I can now. If I should miss to digest the Expunctions, Interlinings, and Marginal References, as they were intended, I should make the Work differ from itself, though quite against my will. But because it is a Golden Medal, and sit to be worn like an Amulet against Seducers, when this Web is spun and woven, which I have in hand, I will try my best Skill, though a weak Aristarchus, to fashion it into Native Contexture. And if I can truly affirm it to be the very Mantle which fell from Elijah, it shall be forth-coming in a Wardrode in the end of the Book. If I fail in that, (I do not despair) let this Letter, sent with the 20 Copies to the Lord Marquess, discover what sappy Kernels were in that Pomegranate.

53. I perceive by the Date of this Letter, that the Book was printed six months after it was bespoken, which could not be helped, because the Author was taken up almost all that Summer in making a progress to survey the Lands of the College of Westminster, whereof he was become Dean by the Lord Marquess's Favor, and Installed July 12. 1620. Dr. Tolson, who preceded, a man of singular Piety, Eloquence, and Humility, in the March before had the Approbation of the King, and the Congratulation of good Men for the Bishopric of Salisbury. The Deanery to be vacated, had many that longed for it; a fortunate Seat, and near the Court: Like the Office over the King of Persia 's Garden at Babylon, which was stored with his most delicious Fruits; Hortus ill nunquam nisi dominantis in Aulâ fuit, says Pliny, lib. 1 • . c. 4. He that was trusted with that Garden, was the Lord of the Palace. This Preferment had ever been conferred by the nomination of him that was Steward of the College and City of Westminster. The Lord Treasurer Burleigh, the Earl of Salisbury his Son, the Earl of Somerset, and the Lord Marquess, bearing the Office at the present, had been the constant Patrons of it. Therefore it was requisite, it being now to be conferred, to take it from his Lordship's hand. Whom the Doctor solicited with no more then this short Letter, Dated March 12. 1619.

I observe, out of these Lines, a Precedent for Suitors and Candidates of Ecclesiastical Promotions, that he neither extorted his Place by Importunity, nor invaded it by Impudency, nor licked it out of the Dust by Flattery, nor bargain'd for it by Simony, or the mollifying Term of Gratuity; in a word, he did not dishonest himself for it with any Indignity. He carried it as he wished, not being griple of Profit, as he confessed, but fond of Convenience. He was Vir palmavius: And Pliny says of the Palm-Trees, Gaudent mutatione sedis, they take Liking to be removed from Soil to Soil. The Righteous carry branches of Palm before the Lamb, Rev. 7.9. And their good Works do follow them, Rev. 14.13. I trust, and do verily believe, that he is among those Palmers now in the Church Triumphant, who did so many worthy Things for that Religious Foundation precious in the Eyes of the Lord. For my own part, I take no little Joy to recount, that this College was so happy in such a Man, and the Liberty of that City in such a Governor. It was the Soil of my Birth, and my Breeding. There I served this good Master, when I came out of the University first into the World, there he paid me my Wages, my Livelihood, which, with God's Blessing, I owe to him alone. A lucky spot of Ground to me. I crave leave to set up this little Pillar in the place, where God appeared so Gracious to me, and to pour Oil of Benediction on the top of it, as Jacob did at Rethel, Gen. 28.18. I do not aim at all to crowd in a Legend of myself, as Phidias did insert his own Picture in the Shield which he made for the Statue of Minerva. But I will speak of him, whose Memory deserves to be refreshed, for the imprints of his Goodness in all sorts, and for the Braveries of his Mind, which he left behind him in that Orb.

54. His Predecessors (whose Names and Actions are not forgotten) were Men of good Report. Two above all, because none were comparable to them, he cast in his Head to imitate, Abbot Islip, and Dr. Andrew's Dr. Andrew's for advancing Learning in the School, Abbot Islip for his Cost expended upon the Fabric of the Minster, and the Dean's place. I dispose it so, to mention first what a Foster-Father he was to the Scholars, because himself proceeded to greater Designments by that Order. He had heard much what Pains Dr. Andrew's did take both day and night to train up the Youth bred in the public School, chiefly the Alumni of the College so called. For more certain Information, he called me from Cambridge in the May before he was Installed, to the House of his dear Cousin Mr. Elwis Winn in Chancery-Lane, a Clerk of the Petty-Bag, a Man of the most general and gracious Acquaintance with all the great Ones of the Land that ever I knew. There he moved his Questions to me about the Discipline of Dr. Andrew's. I told him how strict that excellent Man was, to charge our Masters, that they should give us Lessons out of none but the most Classical Authors; that he did often supply the Place both of Head School-master and Usher for the space of an whole week together, and gave us not an hour of Loitering time from morning to night. How he caused our Exercises in Prose and Verse to be brought to him, to examine our Style and Proficiency. That he never walked to Cheswick for his Recreation, without a brace of this young Fry; and in that way-faring Leisure, had a singular dexterity to fill those narrow Vessels with a Funnel. And, which was the greatest burden of his Toil, sometimes thrice in a week, sometimes oftener, he sent for the uppermost Scholars to his Lodgings at night, and kept them with him from eight till eleven, unfolding to them the best Rudiments of the Greek Tongue, and the Elements of the Hebrew Grammar, and all this he did to Boys without any compulsion of Correction; nay, I never heard him utter so much as a word of Austerity among us. Alas! this is but an Ivy-Leaf crept into the Laurel of his Immortal Garland. This is that