A Memorial Offered to John Williams

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 Andrew's, the Ointment of whose Name is sweeter then all Spices, Cam. 4.10. This is that celebrated Bishop of Winton, whose Learning King James admired above all his Chaplains; and that King, being of most excellent Parts himself, could the better discover what was Eminent in another. Indeed he was the most Apostolical and Primitive-like Divine, in my Opinion, that wore a Rochet in his Age; of a most venerable Gravity, and yet most sweet in all Commerce; the most Devout that ever I saw, when he appeared before God; of such a Growth in all kind of Learning, that very able Clerks were of a low Stature to him: Colossus inter icunculas; full of Alms and Charity; of which none knew but his Father in secret: A certain Patron to Scholars of Fame and Ability, and chiefly to those that never expected it. In the Pulpit an Homer among Preachers, and may fitly be set forth in Quintilian's Judgment of Homer; Nonne humani ingenii modum excessit? Ut magni sit viri virtutes ejus non aemulaticne (quod fieri non potest) sed intellectu sequi. I am transported even as in a Rapture to make this Digression: For who could come near the Shrine of such a Saint, and not offer up a few Grains of Glory upon it? Or how durst I omit it? For he was the first that planted me in my tender Studies, and watered them continually with his Bounty. The Occasion that brings in this, was the new Dean's addition to his Pattern, that looking into such a Mirror, he might keep up the Learning of that happy Plantation, that it might never hear worse, then as Mr. Camden testifies for it, Felix eruditorum in Ecclesiam & Rempublicam proventus. Eliz. p. 61. Fol. In his Zeal to this Work, as soon as he was possessed of the Deanery, he was assiduous in the School, and missed not sometimes every week, if he were resident in the College, both to dictate Lectures to the several Classes, and to take account of them. The choicest Wits had never such Encouragement for Praise, and Reward. He was very Bountiful in both, and they went always together, scattering Money, as if it had been but Dung to manure their Industry. And seldom he did fail, no not when he kept the Great-Seal, to call forth some of them to stand before him at his Table, that in those intervals of best Opportunity he might have account of their Towardliness; which ripen'd them so fast, made them so Prompt and Ingenuous, that the number of the Promoted to the Universities, which swarm'd out of that Stock, was double for the most part to those that were Transplanted in the foregoing Elections.

55. These were the first Fruits of his Care. In tenut labor, at tenuts non glovia: Virg. Georg. 4. The Buildings of Abbot Islip, Monuments of a great worth, were the next Object of his Emulation. That wife and holy Man was the Lord Abbot over the Benedictine Monks, who professed their Vows within those Cloysfers in the Glorious Reign of King Henry the Seventh. The Abbot was a Privy-Counselor, and, for his Fidelity and Prudence, was one of the Executors to the King his Master by his Last Will and Testament. The Structure of the Abby was left imperfect from the Reign of King Henry the Third, who had been very Sumptuous in advancing the Workmanship from the Altar to the lower-end of the Choir: From his Death, that stately Pile of Building had looked for some to help, and there was none that pitied it. This Abbot, a devout Servant of Christ, and of a wakeful Conscience, considered the Office he bore, how he was the Chief who had that House of God in possession. Therefore he enlarged the length of the Church at his own Cost, from the entering in of the Choir, or thereabout, to the West-Gate that looks towards Tuttle-street; and contrived the Lodgings with strength and handsomness at the South-end, which, after the Change made in King Henry the Eighth's Reign, received the Dean and his Retinue. But Eternal Fame doth best shine upon his Memory in the Rising-Sun, or upon the Eastern part. There this Abbot, and John Fisher Bishop of Rochester, (the Executor to King Henry the Seventh joined with him) laid out such Sums of Money, as that King had appointed for the Noble Enterring of his own Body and his Queens, with the Stems of their Royal Line, and none other. These two, like men of faithful and large Minds, built the Chapel, next behind the Chapel of Edward the Confessor, called by King Henry the Seventh's Name, which nothing can surmount for Cost and Curiosity. There they set up his Monument in a Brazen Impalement, which looks like the Work, not of our Moderns, but of Bezaleel. Now, though not the Soul, yet the Piety and Liberality of the Abbot to this Domo, came into Dr. Williams by Transmigration; who, in his entrance to that place, found the Church in such decay, that all that passed by, and loved the Honor of God's House, shook their Heads at the Stones that dropped down from the Pinnacles. Therefore that the Ruines of it might be no more a Reproach, this Godly Jehoiada took care for the Temple of the Lord to repair it, to set it in his state, and to strengthen it, a Chren. 4.3. He began at the South-east part, which looked the more deformed with decay, because it coupled with a latter Building. I mean the Chapel of King Henry the Seventh, which was tight and fresh. The North-west part also, which looks to the great Sanctuary, was far gone in Dilapidations: The great Buttresses were almost crumbled to Dust with the Injuries of the Weather; which he re-edified with durable Materials, and beautified with elegant Statues, (among whom Abbot Islip had a place) so that 4500 Pounds were spent in a trice upon the Workmanship. All this was his own Cost. Neither would he Impatronize his Name to the Credit of that Work, which should be raised up by other men's collatitious Liberality, like Laonicus in Castilio his Courier, Lib. 4. Vide quàm liberalis sit, qui non sua solùm sed etiam aliena largiatur. I do not expect that the Sacrilegious of our Times should commend him for disbursing so much upon a Building of Sacred Use; who either make no difference between Holy and Profane, or Tender Profane, and Common Things before the Holy. Never in the days of old was so much spent in private Buildings: Enough is Erected upon new Foundations in the Skirts of London, to make two large and beautiful Cities: Yet we suffer all our Cathedrals of egregious Piety, and stupendous Bravery, to run to a general Decay, which is all one as to put hands to their Demolishment. What Christians would not tremble to see their Rubbish rise up in Judgment against them? I appeal to found Judgment, whether in an Heathenish, but a Civil Republic, the Aedils of Rome would not have saved such Structures from Ruin at the public Charge? But I am indifferent to appeal to any man, sound or corrupt against Art. Will. in his History, p. 191. who nibbles at the good Name of the magnificent Dean upon his magnificent Church-works, because he could not bite it. For this is his Censure: These Works were Arguments of a great Mind, but how far from Ostentation in this frail body of Flesh, cannot be determined. Such suspicious and ungrounded Glances discover more Rancor then direct Contumelies; for which, Macrobius hath a pretty Simile, Lib. 7. c. 3. Hami angulosi, quam directi mucrones tenacius infiguntur. Ill-favored Suspicion is like a crooked Hook, where it enters it will stick in the Flesh, though it make but a little wound. But thus he serves King James and all his Courtiers, of both Sexes, of all Professions, pelts them all along with rotten Surmises, or palpable Untruths. I will fit him with Spalatensis his Judgment upon Baronius the great Annalist, who was Squint-eyed, Omnia regum facta non rectis sed contortis oculis intuetur, Lib. 7. c. 9. In all his Volumes he squinted at the famous Actions of Kings and Princes.

56. For their further satisfaction, who will judge of good Works by Visions, and not by Dreams, I will cast up in a true Audit other Deeds of no small reckoning, conducing greatly to the Welfare of that College, Church, and Liberty, wherein Piety and Beneficence were Relucent in despite of Jealousies. First, that God might be praised with a cheerful Noise in his Sanctuary, he procured the sweetest Music, both for the Organ, and for the Voices of all Parts, 〈◊〉 was heard in an English Choir. In those days that Abby, and Jerusalem-Chamber where he gave Entertainment to his Friends, were the Volaries of the choicest Singers that the Land had bred. The greatest Masters of that delightful Faculty frequented him above all others, and were never nice to serve him: And some of the most Famous yet living will confess, he was never nice to reward them; a Lover could not court his Mistress with more prodigal effusion of Gifts. With the same Generosity and strong propension of mind to enlarge the Boundaries of Learning, he converted a wast Room, scituate in the East side of the Cloisters into Plato 's Portico, into a goodly Librarary, modeled it into decent Shape, furnished it with Desks and Chains, accoutred it with all Utensils, and slored it with a vast Number of Learned Volumes: For which use he lighted most fortunately upon the Study of that Learned Gentleman Mr. Baker of Highgate, who in a long and industrious Life had Collected into his own possession the best Authors in all Sciences, in their best Editions, which being bought at 500 l. (a cheap Penny worth for such precious War) were removed into this Store-House. When he received Thanks from all the professors of Learning in and about London far beyond his expectation, because they had free admirtance to such Honey from the Flowers of such a Garden, as they wanted before, it compel'd him to unlock his Cabinet of Jewels, and bring forth his choicest Manuscripts. A Right Noble Gift in all the Books he gave to this Serapaeum, but especially the Parchments. Some good Authors were conferred by other Benefactors, but the richest Fruit was shaken from the Boughs of this one Tree, which will keep Green in an unfading Memory in despite of the Tempest of Iniquity. As Pliny the younger wrote in an Epistle upon the Death of his Son, quatenus nobis denegatur diu vivere, relinquamus aliquid quo nos vixisse testemur; so this Work will bear Witness to Posterity, that he lived, and that he lived beneficently. I borrow that assurance from honor'd Mr. Selden in his Epistle before the History of Eadmerus Dedicated to the Founder of this Library, to whom he writes in these Words; Egregius peritissimus{que} literarum censor, & fautor indulgentissimus & audis, & vere es. Quippe qui Doctrinam suo merito indies cupientissimus honestas: Et sumptuosam in struendis publico usui Bibliothecis operam impendis. Praemium ita studiosis & armarium etiam sine exemplo solicitus parandi. Yet what an ill requital did these unthankful times make him, when they removed that worthy Scholar, the Bibliothecary whom he had placed, Mr. Richard Gouland? whom he picked out above all men for that Office, being inferior to none in the knowledge of good Authors, Superior to any for Fidelity and Diligence of so mortified a Life, that he could scandalize none but with Innocency and Piety; nor offend any but by Meekness, and Inoffensiveness. Such times, such Fruits; for as Antoninus the Emperor says, lib. 12. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , He is mad that looks for Figs upon the Tree in Winter. I cannot end with the Erection of this Library. I have but almost done. For this Dean gratified the College with many other Benefits. When he came to look into the State of the House, he found it in a Debt of 300 l. by the Hospitality of the Table. It had then a Brotherhood of most worthy Prebendaries, Moumford, Sutton, Laud, Caesar, Robinson, Dorrel, Fox, King, Newel and the rest; but ancient frugal Diet was laid aside in all places; and the prizes of Provisions in less than fifteen years were doubled in all Markets: By which enhancements the Debt was contracted, and by him discharged. Not long after, to the Number of the forty Scholars, the Alumni of Queen Elizabeth 's Foundation anno 1560. he added four more, distinguished from the rest in their Habit of Violet Colour'd Gowns, for whose maintenance he purchased Lands. These were Adopted Children, and in this divers from the Natural Children, that the place to which they are removed, when they deserve it by their Learning, is St. John 's College in Cambridge, of whom more hereafter. And in those days, when good Turns were received with the Right Hand, it was Esteemed among the praises of a Stout and Vigilant Dean, that whereas a great Limb of the Liberties of the City was threatened to be cut off by the Encroachments of the higher Power of the Lord Steward of the Kings Household, and the Knight Marshal with his Tip-Staves, he stood up against them with a wife and a confident Spirit, and would take no composition to let them share in those Privileges, which by right they never had, but preserved the Charter of his place in its entire Jurisdiction, and laudable Immunities.

57 As the place was most Fortunate in him, so it come now to be shewn that he was most Fortunate in that place. That which was the Lodging of a Dean, became in the current of one year, the House of the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, and the 〈…〉 lace of the Bishop of Lincoln. Ab eo Magistratu alium post alium sibi peperit; semper{que} in potestatibus eo modo agitabat, ut amplioris quàm gerebat dignns haberetur; Words as fit for this Man, as Salust made them for C. Marius. The Occasion of his sudden Rising was wondered at, because known to few. And they that were busy in the search did not find it; albeit it had done him Credit, that received the Honor. Works that deserve well, deserve the better, when they are wrapped up in Silence, till Prudence chooseth the best time to disclose them. When the Apostles had seen the Glory of our Lord Transfigur'd in the Mount. they were commanded Secrecy to Tell the Vision to no Man, till the Son of Man was Risen from the Dead, Math. 17.9. Let discretion then be my Warrant to give some State-Occurrencies liberty to go abroad, which were confined upon good Reason to the Kings Cabinet in their Minority; Nam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ill tempus est ipsum temporis. Jul. Seal. On Jan. 30. 1620. the King met with the Lord's and Commons in the High Court of Parliament: The like Assembly convened anno 1613. had given unkindness to the King, so that Parliaments had been disused for seven years. The unkindness so deeply taken was chiefly from hence, that the greatest part of the House of Commons gave willing Audience to those Zealots, who would admit no business into Treaty, till they had made their passionate Complaints, That Popery was suffered to increase without Care and Controlement, His Majesty knowing it to be a scandalous Untruth, which blemished him in the good Opinion of his People, and the contrary so well known at home and abroad, that himself with his own Pen had cut the Head of that Superstition, to the admiration of all the World. Yet the Clamour being more stoutly than wisely maintained by the Undertakers, it reached to this prejudice, or rather mischief, that the King bethought him that all their Grievances (and they were many) were as groundless as this, and that the Proponents were not to be consulted with for the Public Weal, and so Dissolv'd them. Generally the Grave and Moderate Gentry throughout the Realm dislike those hot Distempers, which wrought so high in the House of Commons: Yet were not satisfied with their abrupt Recess. Such Physic is too Violent for the Body, and naught for the Head. For the Unruly shall less offend in their House, than when they go home, and exaggerate Reports of Misgovernment among their Neighbors. And that Monarch sooths himself in Error, that thinks he will close up the Wound of such a Breach with a Lip-Salve of a Protestation; or by some Declaration that he will Redress Grievances by himself and by his Judges, without troubling his Lord and Commons. For it is engrafted into the people, not to account anything for Reformation, unless the Workmen, whom themselves have chosen, do mend the decays of the great Building.

58 It is much that a King of great Experience, and so full a Soul did discern this no sooner; at last he came to it: And after seven years Pause, he was desirous to try the good Temper of another Parliament. It was high time for many Respects. Let not two among many be forgotten. First he lacked Money, and being so profuse in Gifts, he had lacked sooner, it the Custom-House had not supported the Exchequer. In ten years he had not he Received one Subsidy, a very long time to live like a Shell-Fish upon his own Moisture, without any public Supply; which truly he deserved as much, or above his Predecessors. For the Kingdom, since his Reign began, was Luxuriant in Gold and Silver far above the scant of our Fathers that lived before us. Only the King wanted, who bred all the Plenty: It was dry upon the Fleece only, and there was Dew on all the ground; Jud. 6.40. Besides, those Princes should be cheerfully supplied, whose Wisdom procures us safety and quiet by Treaties, rather than by Effusion of Blood. For as Or sins says well lib. 5. Hist. Tributum pretium pacis est, What is Tribute? but a Debt duly paid to Princes for enjoyment of Peace. Secondly, and far above Money, the King desired to close with his people in such a strain of mutual good liking, as might give him high Reputation in all Countries, wherein he did negotiate by his Ministers. A course that hath a long Span of forecast in it. For a good Correspondence with all the Heads of the people, is a Sign of the general Love of the Realm. And a King that is beloved at home, will be dreaded abroad. The House of Austria, to whom he had sent often for the Restitution of the Palatinat, which they had invaded, was so great in its own Opinion, that where they Treated, nothing came from them, but that which was fastidious and insolent. As at this time the King of Spain would deign to grant Peace to the States of the United Provinces, not unless upon conditions unsupportable; which were these four. First to acknowledge him for their Patron and Protector. Secondly, To recall their Fleets and Merchants out of the East and West Indies, surrendering what they had in either unto him, and to Trade in those Parts no more. Thirdly, To permit the Roman Catholics free use of Religion in all their Provinces, with Churches and maintenance. Fourthly, To open the Channel of free Navigation between Zealand and Antworp. They that would demand no less for their Friendship, where they had not one Foot of possession, were like to vex them with more lofty Bravadoes and Grandiloquence, in whose Territories their Armies had been most prosperous, through breach of Promises. Therefore our King was provident to fill himself with his just dimensions, like the Praepotent Monarch of Great Britain, fortified with the Concord and Affections of his Parliament, that by his Ambassadors employed to prevent the Fears, the Miseries and Oppressions of War, he might not beg but demand: He might not crave but postulate his Children's Inheritance.

59. I could not spare these Premises for the Illustration of the sequel. The Parliament began to sit, whose bearing was dutiful to the King, but quick and minatory against some vile persons, who had spoiled the people by illegal oppressions. These were Canker-worms, Harpies, Projectors, who between the easiness of the Lord Marquess to procure, and the readiness of the Lord Chancellor Bacon to comply, had obtained Patent Commissions for latent Knaveries; which Exorbitancies, being countenanc'd in the Court, were grown too strong for any Justice but the Parliaments to root them up. There the Appeals of the vexed Subject were heard, more like to Out-cries than Complaints; which fell thick upon Sir Giles Mompesson, and Sir Francis Michel, for Fines and Levies raised upon Inns and Ale-houses, Arbitrary impositions, and a President dangerous to spread even to Shops and Ware-houses. Others remonstrated against a pack of Cheaters, who procured the Monopoly of Gold-thread, which with their spinning was palpably corrupted and embased. These Gilt Flies were the bolder, because Sir Edward Villers, half Brother to the Lord Marquess, was in their Indenture of Association, though not Named in their Patent. A Gentleman both Religious and true hearted to good ways, who was ensnared by crafty Merchants; and so far excused, that after strict enquiry, when this Adulterate Ware came to the Test, it appeared that he knew not of the Juggling of the Patentees, who drew on grievances with Threads of Vanity, and Scandal upon the Chief Government with Cords of Iniquity. Together with these Vermin (and much more than these) the Lord Chancellor was questioned, and without pity to his Excellent Parts) the Castle of Munera (as I borrow it from Mr. Spenser 's Divine Wit) must be quite defaced. Monopolies and Briberies were beaten upon the Anvil every Day, almost every Hour. The obnoxious that were brought to the Bar of Justice, with a multitude that feared to be in as ill condition, saw no way for safety, but to Poison the King with an ill Opinion of the Parliament, that it might evaporate into a Nullity. They terrify the Lord Marquess, that the Grants of these things, which are now Bastardized by the Knights and Burgesses; nay, by the Lord's that envy him, were begotten by his Favor and Credit. That the Arrow of Vengeance is grazed near to himself, which is shot at his Brother. That it was time to look about him; for at the opening of that Session it was much Noted, that the King had said before all the Members, Spare none where you find just Cause to punish. And if the two Houses should sit a year, what good could be expected from them, but two or three Subsidies? That it were less danger for the King to gather such a Sum, or greater, by his Prerogative, though it be out of the way; than to wait for the exhibition of a little Money, which will cost Dishonor, and the Ruin of his most Loyal and Faithful Servants.

60. O what a Tempting Fiend is self-preservation? These Mormo's, and ill shap'd Jealousies hatched in Hell, and prompted by the Father of mischief, disquieted the King, but Rob'd my Lord of Buckingham of all peace of Mind; till the Dean of Westminster his good Genius, conjur'd them down; whose Wisdom luckily consulted gave him this Advice, as I find it in a Breviate of his own hand Writing.

61.

These were the Deans Instructions, which the Lord Marquess received with as much Thankfulness as he could express, and requited his Adviser with this Complement, that he would use no other Counselor hereafter to pluck him out of his plunges, for he had delivered him from Fear and Folly; and had Restor'd him both to a light Heart, and a safe Conscience. To the King they go together forthwith with these Notes of honest Settlement, whom they found accompanied in his Chamber with the Prince, and in serious Discourse together upon the same perplexities. Buckingham craves leave, That the Dean might be heard upon those particulars, which he had brought in Writing; which the King Mark'd with Patience and Pleasure. And whatsoever seemed contentious or doubtful to the King's piercing Wit, the Dean improved it to the greater liking by the Solidity of his Answers. Whereupon the King resolved to keep close to every Syllable of those Directions. Sir Edward Villiars was sent abroad, and returned not till September following. Michel and Mompesson received their censure, with a Salvo, that Mompesson 's Lady, not guilty of his Crimes, should be preserved in her Honor. And, before the Month of March expired, Thirty seven Monopolies, with other sharking Prouleries, were decry'd in one Proclamation, which returned a Thousand praises, and Ten Thousand good prayers upon the Sovereign. Out of this Bud the Deans Advancement very shortly spread out into a blown Flower. For the King, upon this Trial of his Wisdom, either called him to him, or called for his Judgment in Writing, in all that he deliberated to Act, or permit, in this Session of Parliament in his most private and closest consultations. The more he founded his Judgment, the deeper it appeared; so that his Worth was Valued at no less, than to be taken nearer to be a Counselor upon all Occasions. The Parliament wearied with long sittings, and great pains, was content against the Feast of Easter to take Relaxation, and was Prorogued from the 27 of March, to the 18 of April. The Marquess had an Eye in it upon the Lord Chancellor, to try if time would mitigate the displeasure, which in both Houses was strong against him. But the leisure of three Weeks multiplied a pile of New Suggestions against him, and nothing was presaged more certain than his downfall; which came to Ripeness on the third of May. On that day the Patent of his Office, with the Great Seal, was taken from him; which Seal was delivered to Four Commissioners, the Lord Treasurer Montague, Duke of Lenox Lord Steward of the King's Household, William Earl of Pembroke Lord Chamberlain to the King, and Thomas Earl of Arundel and Surry; with whom it rested till the 10th of July following. In the mean time Sir James Leigh, Lord Chief Justice of the King's-Bench was Commissioned to be Speaker in the Upper House; and Sir Julius Caesar, Master of the Rolls, was Authorized, with certain Judges in equal power with him, to hear, dispatch, and decree all Causes in the Court of Chancery.

62 The Competitors for the Office of the Great Seal were many; Sir James Leigh before mentioned, a Widower, and upon Marriage with a Lady of the Buckingham Family; Sir Henry Hobart Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, Chancellor to the Prince, a Step to the Higher Chancellorship, and as fit as any man for his Learning and Integrity; which of these it was uncertain, but one of these was expected. And verily a fitter Choice could not be made, than out of the pre-eminent Professors of the Common Laws, but that all Kings affect to do somewhat which is extraordinary, to show the liberty of their power. The Earl of Arundel was thought upon, a Master of Reason, and of a great Fortune. For it was remembered upon the Death of Lord Chancellor Bromly anno 1587, That Queen Elizabeth designed a Peer of the Realm for his Successor; Edward Earl of Rutland, whose Merit for such a place is favor'd by Mr. Cambden, because he was Juris scientiâ, & omni politiori literaturâ ornatissimus; and if his Death much bewailed, had not prevented, the Great Seal had been born before him. But the likeliest to get up (and I may say he had his Foot in the Stirrup) was Sir Lionel Cranfield, Married in the kindred that brought Dignity to their Husbands; a man of no vulgar head-piece, yet scarce sprinkled with the Latin Tongue. He was then Master of the Court of Wards, and did speak to the Causes that were brought before him quaintly and evenly. There seemed to be no Let to put him in Possession of the great vacant Office, but that the Lord Marquess, set on by the King, was upon enquiry, how profitable in a just way it might be to the Dignitary, and whether certain Branches of Emolument were natural to it, which by the endeavor of no small ones were near to Lopping: Sir Lionel besought the Marquess to be sudden, and to Advise upon those things with the Dean of Westminster, a found man and a ready, who did not wont to clap the Shackles of delay upon a business. He being spoken to, to draw up in Writing what he thought of those Cases, returned an Answer speedily on the Tenth of May, with the best advantage he could foresee to the promotion of the Master of the Wards: Yet it fell out cross unto him, that the Dean wooing for another, utterly beyond expectation sped for himself. The Paper which he sent to the Marquess hath his own Words, as they follow.

Now I am credibly informed, that the Lord Treasurer begins to Entitle the King to to the casual Fines, and the greater Writs; which is a full Moiety of the profits of the place; not so much to Enrich the King, as to draw Grist to his own Mill; and to wind from the Chancellor the donation of the Cursitors places. The preventing the Lord Treasurers in these Cases, made Queen Elizabeth ever Resolve suddenly upon the disposing of the Great Seal. Likewise they are very busy in the House of Commons (and I saw a Bill which is put up to that Effect) to settle the Custodes Rotulorum, and the Clerks of the Peace for Term of Life upon the Persons, who now possess them; which as it is inconvenient, so it is very prejudicial, and derogating from the next Lord Chancellor. Finally the Under-Officers do also Petition unto the Lord's, not without Encouragement, to have some Collops out of the Lord Chancellors Fees; and New Devices will daily spring up, if the disposing be delayed any longer. Now I hope when your Lordship shall use this Information, to let the King see it, that you will excuse me for the boldness that I am put upon by your great Commands. The Lord Marquess being not a little Ambitious to present the King with Works of the Brain strongly wrought, and well carded, offered this Paper to his Majesty from the Dean of Westminster, when the Ink was scarce dry, which caused this unlook'd for saying from the King, You Name divers to me to be my Chancellor. Queen Elizabeth after the Death of Sir Christopher Hatton was inclined in her own Judgment, that the good man Arch-Bishop Whitgift should take the place, who modestly refused it, because of his great Age, and the whole multitude of Ecclesiastical Affairs lying upon his Shoulders. Yet Whitgift knew not the half that this Man doth in Reference to this Office. The Lord Marquess the less he looked for those Words, the more he liked them, and Replied extempore; Sir I am a Suitor for none, but for him that is so capable of the Place in your great judgment. Be you satisfied then, says the King, I think I shall seek no further. The Lord Marquess, impotent to contain his Gladness, sent a blind Message to the Dean immediately, That the King had a Preferment in the Deck for him. He nothing aware of what the King had spoken in design to the Dignity of keeping the Great-Seal, mistook the Message to be meant of the Bishopric of London, now wanting a sit Prelate, by the Death of him that was most fit while he lived, Dr. King, whose Soul Heaven received Mar. 30. In prospect whereof, the Dean was a Suitor before. But it happened to him as Velleius said of Scipio AEmilianus, AEdilitatem petens, Consul creatus est; He sued for the Edileship, and because that was too little, he was made a Consul. This is the very manner, as faithfully digested as any History can be contexed, how this Preeminency dropt upon him, that never dreamt of it. It is not like to some mistaken Report that then went about, and may yet be believed by some. But thus much is copiously disclosed for their sakes, that had rather be Disciples of Truth, then Masters of Error.

63. Such a Reader is invited to a further Collation; engaging upon peril of offending God, not to clam his Taste with the smallest Collection of Flattery. The Chancellorship, or a Title equivalent to that Office, is a Supreme Dignity in the Empire of Germany, and in all Christian Kingdoms and States, and further then Christendom, executed by the Grand Visier of the Port at Constantinople. Only the Chief Pontiff of the See of Rome styles the Prelate of his Palace, who presides in that Employment, his Vice-Chancellor, and no more. And why? Because, says Gomesius in his Proem to the Rules of that Court, Vices agit Cancellarii Dei, quia Papa est Dei Cancellarius: He can be but a Vice, for the Pope himself is God's Chancellor. Let him be as Liberal as he will to himself by his own Assumption, I am certain he is not such by God's Nomination. Leaving the Pontifical Court to its own Platform, elsewhere the Chancellor is the Chief Magistrate, under the Supreme Power of the King that sets him up. To which purpose, Budaeus in his Notes upon the Pandects, p. 325. Cancellariatus summum est hodie honorum fastigium, & quasi quoddam summa quaeque ambientis animi solstitium. This was it then which was marvel'd, and looked upon as a Rarity, that the King should prefer the Dean of Westminster, though very richly qualified in a Churchman's condition, to the Estival Solstice of Honor, as Budaeus calls it, at one step, who had never passed through the lower Ascendant Signs of the Zodiac of the Law. But that great Master of Wisdom did never repent him, that He had trusted such a Servant so far; never gave the least sign of Displeasure to the day of his Death, that He would Remove him; never tax'd him, that he had gone awry in anything either as a public or private Person. Which good Opinion he kept so constantly, that after two years Probation in his Office, I find these Lines in a Letter which he send to the Lord of Buckingham to Madrid, May 11. 1623. The King's Grace to me is such, that I profess before God I never received ill Word, or clouded Aspect from him, since the first day I served him in this great Place. His Majesty would many times speak of him, that He never met with a better States-man for a clear, and far-reaching Judgment. His Knowledge was a Political Circle, that comprehended all things in it. Bring any Matter unto him, his Reason was never shallow, nor at Low-Water. He studied Foreign Courts, as much as this at home; and cared not what he paid to expert Ministers, Strangers or Native, to be acquainted with the Secrets of their Masters. The best, to whom he may be similized herein, is Frier Paul the Servite, of whom it is written, When any News were bruited, he seldom was mistaken in his Opinion, whether they were true or false; and nothing could be propounded to him, to which he did not suddenly give an Answer, and with that Solidity, as if he had meditated much upon those Answers, which were conceived presently under the Question. Such an Eminency of Intellectual Parts opened the broad Gate for this Dean to enter into the Royal Favor. As among Plants, it is the property of the Palm-Tree, says Philo, lib. 1. de Vit. Mos. that the Vital Virtue thereof is not in the Root, which is under the Earth, but in the top of the Trunk, as in the Head which is next to Heaven: And Pliny, lib. 13. c. 4. accords well unto it, Dulci; medulla earum in cacumine, quod cerebrum vocant: The sweet and succulent Marrow in the top, is the Brain and Life of the Palm. So to them that inquire how Dean Williams shot up so soon to this Palm of Honor, I will point to the top of the Tree, even to the Marrow of his Brain; Dulcis medulla in cacumine, quod cerebrum vocant.

64. Withal he was most Industrious; and that not by fits, but every day did conclude its Work, as if he were not to live till tomorrow. No Cammel did bear more burden then he did, when he first entered to sit in the Seat of Lord-Keeper, or traveled further with so little Food, and less rest; which he suffered the better, because he was weary of Ease, and loved Labor. For confirmation of it I will anticipate, how he was breathed (till he was almost out of breath with a violent, but short Sickness) upon the end of the first Term that he appeared in Chancery. It was the Term of Michaelmas, and in the November of it the Parliament sat again, in which he attended in the Office of Speaker in the Lord's House. With these, concurred a spiny and difficult Treaty between our Merchants, and the Agents of the United-Provinces, for the most savage Insolencies committed at Amboyna, a Treaty wherein he was the Chief Commissioner, and the sharpest against those Thieves and Murderers: Which Treaty took up three Afternoons constantly in every week, while it continued to hear that Cause. In the Court of Chancery, beside the ordinary Work, several Causes, and of a reaching number, were referred in the preceding Session of Parliament to the succeeding Lord Keeper, to review the Orders of the Predecessor displaced. Into this vast Sea of Business he launch'd forth all at once. Hereupon myself, and half an hundred more, have seen his Industry, that he was compelled to sit by Candlelight in the Court two hours before day, and there to remain till between eight and nine, that the Prince being come to the Lord's House, sent for him to take his Place, there to Propound and Report the Questions of that Honorable House, till past twelve every day, not seldom till past one. After a short Repast at home, he returned to hear the Causes in Chancery, which he could not dispatch in the morning. Or if he did attend at Council in Whitehall, he came back toward evening, and followed his Employment in Chancery till eight at night, and later. Then, on the neck of this, when he came home, he perused such Papers as were brought to him by his Secretaries And after that, though far in the night, prepared himself for so much as concerned him to have in readiness for the Lord's House in the morning. In this overwhelming hurry of Troubles, of such divers sorts and compositions, what time come could he borrow for necessary Refreshment, or the Repose of his wearied Body night or day? And as the good King picked him out for this Task, because He foresaw that none would outdo him in Diligence, so He preferred him to be Great in Place, because He knew he was great in Courage. The Supporters on the Steps of Solomon 's Throne were not Sheep, but Lions. The way to be Just, is to be Inflexible; the way to be Inflexible, is to be Stout; casting all thoughts of Fears and Favors under feet. No man by natural complexion could be better engrained for it. I will take it up from one that had no mind to say the best of him; Mr. Art. Will. p. 196. He was of a comely and stately Presence, and that, animated with a great Mind, made him appear very proud to the vulgar Eye. Quaedam videntur, & non sunt: So far was his Heart from Pride, that he never thought himself the finer for the Trappings of Fortune. Yet so far from baseness, that he knew the Bench he sat upon, and would not be made despicable in the Eyes of the World, much less be brought about to serve great Men's turns, and stretch the Causes of the Court, according to the Contents of their Letters and Messages; which were no better, in a rude Phrase, then to be a Pandar to their Lust, to let them deflower Justice. Therefore in the same Leaf, says Ar. Will. again, The height of his Spirit made him odious to them that raised him, happily because they could not attain to those Ends by him, which they required of him. The height of his Spirit made him speak freely, and counsel faithfully, and decree justly, though that Lord, to whom he had espoused his greatest Devotion, were concerned in the Opposition. Which was rectitude and magnitude of Mind, as Tully in his Brutus makes Atticus decipher Caesar, Splendidam minimeque veteratoriam dicendi rationem tenet; voice, motu formâ etiam magnifieâ & generosâ quodammodo. His Person, his Gesture, his Eloquence, were magnificent and generous; whose wont it was to reduce his chief Friends to Reason, not craftily and timidly, but with a noble and sublime Sincerity.

65. Among the Qualities of a good Judge, there is one remaining, and fit to bring up the Rear, which the King looked upon as verily to be presaged in his new Officer, an Hand clean from corruption and taking Gifts, which blind the Eyes of the Wise, and pervert the Words of the Righteous, Deut. 16.19. 'Twas loudly exclaimed, (and the King was ashamed to have so far mistaken the Persons) that there were sucking Horse-Leeches in great places. Things not to be valued at Money were saleable; and what could not Gold procure? As Meander writes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 : That is, Friends, and Judges, and Witnesses, you may have them for a Price; nay, such as sit in the place of God, will serve you for such Wages. The wise King having little prevailed by Monitions and Menaces against this fordid Filthiness, cast his Liking upon a Man whom He might least suspect for Gripleness and Bribery. The likeliest indeed of all others to shake this Viper from his hand, and to be armed with a Breast-plate of Integrity against the Mammon of Iniquity; for he was far more ready to give, then to take; to oblige, then to be beholding: Magis illud laborare ut illi quamplurimi debeant, as Salust of Jugurtha. He was well descended, of a fortunate and ancient Lineage, and had made his progress to Advancements by Steps of Credit; a good Bridle against base Deviations. What then made an an unsavory Historian call him Country Pedant? A Reproach with which H. L. doth flirt at him in his History of King Charles; a scornful Untruth. So I shake off this Bar, and return to the Reverend Dean, who was in a Function of Holy Calling next to God. Among them I know all have not been incorrupt; the Sons of Samuel turned aside after Lucre, and took Bribes, and perverted Judgment, 1 Sam. 8.3. But commonly I trust they do not forget what a Scandal it is, if God's Stewards turn the Devils Rent-Gatherers. He was also unmarried, and so unconcerned in the natural Impulsion of Avarice to provide for Wife and Children. Our old moral Men touched often upon this String, that Justice is a Virgin, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , says Hesiod; and therefore fit to be committed to the trust of a Virgin Magistrate. He was never fullied with Suspicion that he loved Presents, no not so much as Gratuidad di Guantes, as the Spaniards Phrase is; but to go higher, they are living that know, what Sums of Value have been brought to his Secretaries, such as might have swayed a man that was not Impregnable; and with how much Solicitousness they have been requested to throw them at his Feet for Favors already received; which no man durst undertake, as knowing assuredly it would displace the Broker, and be his Ruin. And it was happy for him, when, five years after, Lime-Hounds were laid close to his foot-steps to hunt him, and every corner searched to find a little of that Dust behind his door: Eut it proved a dry scent to the Inquisitors; for, to his Glory and the Shame of his Enemies, it could never appear that the least Bird-lime of Corruption did stick to his Fingers. And now I have shewn what was the rich Portion, which he brought when he was wedded to the Office of the Great-Seal, these are convictive, and day-light Evidences. To one or two Writers of late, that have gone another way, I have nothing to answer, because in those things wherein they calumniate, they address not themselves to prove anything Enough to give them up to the censure of that Infamy which they merit, Qui notitiam viri non ex bonis gestis, dictisque, sed ex minus probabilibus fieri volunt; quo quid nequius? says the Author called Zeno of Verona. When such candid Authors, as Sir T. Moore, Sir J. Hayward, S. Daniel, and Renowned Camden, wrote the Lives of Princes, they drew the Characters of Men by their Actions, and Speeches; not out of Obloquies and Suspicions, the Brats of rotten Fame, that have no Father. But in Sick, or rather Pestilentious Times, when no Wares are set forth so much as Untruths and Malice, too many are not more bold to Lie, then confident to be Believed. Never, with no People under the Sun, did Veracity suffer so much as by the Pen of Sir A. Well. whose Pamphlet is Perpetuus Rhotacismus, one snarling Dogs-Letter all over; which I condemn therefore, as Philoxenus the Poet censured Dionysius the Syracusan 's Tragedy, A front ad calcem unâ liturâ circumduxit, Correct it with one Scratch or Score from the beginning to the end.

66. Such as he are not in my way; why then should I loiter one Line to jostle them out? Yet since discreet Persons, and they that extolled the Dean, and confessed that his Soul carried a great freight of Worth, did think their Exceptions weighty against his undergoing that great Office, I will not dissemble as if I were a Stranger to them. The Words of the Wise are as Nails, fastened by the Masters of Assemblies, Eccles. 12.11. Yet some Nails are not so fast in, but they may be wrench'd out. Many alleged, that he had Dedicated himself to the Church in an holy Calling: Why should he take his hand from his own Plow, to preside in Secular Affairs? Indeed when the Harvest was great, and the Laborers few, it was the Summum bonum of a Labourer to ply that Harvest; for nothing could be better, then to Plant the Gospel among those that had not believed. But where an whole Nation is gained so far as to believe in Christ, and the Message of Salvation known to all; that Church is preserved unto Christ by other means beside Preaching. They that attend their Charge in Prayer, Exhortation, and dispensing the Sacraments in all Quarters of the Land, had need to have some of their own Coat in Places of Power and Dignity, to preserve their Maintenance from Sacrilege, and their Persons from being trodden down with dirty Feet. Such as God hath blessed to go in Rank with the Chiefest to help their Brethren, whether in public Office, or in Attendance on their Sovereign, in his Chapel, Closet, Eleemosynary Trust, or the like, they are as much in the Harvest, as they that labor in the Pulpit. St. Ambrose in his sundry Embassages for his Lord the Emperor; the Father of Gr. Nazianzen a Bishop, of whom his Son says in his Epitaph, that he was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , employed in Pre-eminency, and Honor, and Government. Euseb. de vit. Constanti. l. 4. c. 27. Sozom. l. 1. c. 9. mention the Rescript of Constantine to Ablavius the Praetorian Praefect, Ut pro Sanctis semper & venerabilibus habeatur, quicquid Episcoporum fuerit sententiâ terminatum: idque in cansis omnibus, quae vel Praetorio, vel civili jure tractantur. Which large Concession of Constanstine was restrained indeed by Gratian and Valentiman, an. 376, Ad causas quae ad Religions observantiam pertinebant. All the Prelates to whom the Emp. Constantine the Great referred the Hearing of Causes by Appeals, which they discharged to the gaining of great Love and Praise; these were not out of their Sphere, but served the Church, when they did that which ingratiated the Church, and made the Christian Name to be venerable. Some never speak of Secular Policy, but as of a Profane thing; whereas a worthy Man may manage a Civil Tribunal with that maintenance of Virtue, with that galling of Vice and evil Manners, so as many good Pulpit-Orators put together might give God thanks, if their Success were equal. Councils, it is true, may be produced, as, to be brief, the Quin-Sext in Trullo, can. 11, which forbids Priests and Deacons, (it names not Bishops) 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , to handle worldly Principalities. I am struck with Reverence to the Council, but not Convicted by its Reason, which is fetched out of one Scripture, that no Man can serve two Masters. Tell this to the Ecclesiastics of Rome, who are wholly buried in Things, not only different, but contrary to the Ministry Instituted by Christ. Opposite Masters cannot be served by one faithful Servant, subordinate may; for we may love both, and hate neither. The King's Service in a Righteous way is not opposite to Christ's Evangelical Administrations, but co-incident. And a Supreme Governor doth not lose his Right in a Subject, that is made a Priest or Bishop; but may employ him under him as he pleaseth, since the compacture of the whole Commonwealth together is but one Christian Economy. In the Articles proponed to the Parliament at Sterling by Mr. Andrew Melvin, an. 1578. this is the 17th of the 11th Cap.

A Caution that their own Charges be not neglected, is most Pious; otherwise the Indulgence is very indefinite. Many Zealots are as kind to themselves in England to serve their own turn. I never saw any of our Ministry more abstracted from their Studies, continually progging at the Parliament-Door, and in Westminster-Hall for many years together, having no Calling, but that of an Evil Spirit to raise Sedition, then those that were most offended at a Bishop, for bestowing some part of his Time in a Secular Place: And yet a considerate Judge will not say, that the Lord-Keepership is an Employment merely Secular. To mitigate the strict Cases of the Law with the Conscience of the King, in whose Place he sits, is it not as fully Ecclesiastical, as a Consistory of teaching and ruling Elders? Ulpian did not stick to say of all the grave Senators, that sat upon the Bench to decide Right from Wrong, Nos merito juris sacerdotes à quodam dicti sumus, siquidem sanctissima res est civilis sapientia. This Heathen was pleased to have them styled, Priests of the Law, because the Wisdom of Civil Judicature was an holy Thing. Much more it agrees in a Chancellor, who directs that part which is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as Aristotle says, Eth. 5. the mitigating of public Justice, when it breaths Intemperate Rigour. Happy are the People who are governed by full and exact Laws, which make them liable, as little as may be, to the Errors and Passions of Arbitrary Moderation: Yet because a Law is a General Rule, and that it is not possible that a General Rule should provide sufficiently to satisfy all particular Cases, therefore as the same Philosopher said again, Polit. 3. Let the Laws have the chief Power, yet sometimes let one or more Judges have the Power of the Laws; which in effect is the merciful Voice of God, to mollify the Strictness and Inconveniencies of the Voice of Man. And we living in a Christian State, how can that be incongruous, nay any way unseemly in his Person, that is an Ambassador of Christ?

67. It was said also, that he was illiterate in the knowledge of the Laws, being bred up in other Studies, and very unprepared to discharge this Function. But it was quickly unsaid as soon as the Court had trial of his Abilities. There have been others besides Peter Gallaudes, that have been capacious of all Sciences and Learning, of whom Turnebus Advers. l. 2. c. 1. Omnium rerum capax natura, quam it a facile regebat, & versabat, ut quicquid ageret, unum illud curae habere, tractareque putaretur. So this man had a mind of such a Glebe by the felicity of Nature, and so manured, that it could bring forth a plentiful Crop, whatsoever Seed or Grain was cast into it; and whatsoever he addicted himself to convey into the Store-house of his Brain, he was never long at suck, but had it with much more speed then other men. Though he was never a Practitioner in the course of the Law, yet he had been an hard Student in the Tenures, Reports, and other Compilements of that Profession. But no marvel if others were diffident of him, for he was very diffident of himself. Therefore he humbly besought the King, he might be a Temporary Lord-Keeper, nay a Probationer and no more, as it is divulged in the Cabal, p. 56. and of the rest of that in a sitter place. Nay, he besought that His Majesty's free and unlook'd-for Election might bear the blame of his Infirmities; as Gregory the Great wrote to Maurice the Emperor, when he did in a manner enforce Gregory to be Bishop of Rome, Lib. 1. Ep. 5. Necesse est ut omnes culpas meas & negligentias non mihi, sed tuae pietati populus deputet, qui virtutis Ministerium infirmo commisit. The Chancellorship of England is not a Chariot for every Scholar to get up and ride in it. Saving this one, perhaps it would take a long day to find another. Our Laws are the Wisdom of many Ages, consisting of a world of Customs, Maxims, intricate Decisions, which are Responsa prudentum. Tully could never have boasted, if he had lived among us; Si mihi vehementer occupato stomachum moverint, triduo me jurisconsultum profitebor. Orat. pro Mar. If the Advocates of Rome anger'd him, though he were full of business, he would pass for a Lawyer in 3 days. He is altogether deceived, that thinks he is fit for the Exercise of our Judicature, because he is a great Rabbi in some Academical Authors; for this hath little or no Copulation with our Encyclopaidy of Arts and Sciences. Quintilian might judge right upon the Branches of Oratory and Philosophy, Omnes Disciplinas inter se conjunctionem rerum, & communionem habere. But our Law is a Plant that grows alone, and is not entwined into the Hedge of other Professions; yet the small insight that some have into deep Matters, cause them to think, that it is no insuperable Task for an unexpert man, to be the chief Arbiter in a Court of Equity: Bring Reason and Conscience with you, the good stock of Nature, and the thing is done. Aequitas optimo cuique notissima est, is a trivial Saying, A very good man cannot be ignorant of Equity: And who knows not that extreme Right is extreme Injury? But they that look no further then so, are short-sighted: For there is no strain of Wisdom more sublime, then upon all Complaints to measure the just distance between Law and Equity; because in this high Place, it is not Equity at Lust and Pleasure that is moved for, but Equity according to Decrees and Precedents foregoing, as the Dew-beaters have trod the way for those that come after them. What was more Absolute then the Power of the Pretorian Courts in Rome? Yet they were confined by the Cornelian Law to give Sentence Ex edictis perpetuis; to come as near as might be to the Perpetual Edicts of former Pretors: And wherefore? Of that Budaeus informs us: Ne juris dicendi ratio arburaria praetoribus esset, & pro eorum libidine subinde mutabilis. In Pandec. p. 205. To keep Justice to cert • in and stable Rules; for every man will more readily know how to find his own, when he trusts to that Light, which burns constantly in one Socket. This is to keep the Keeper from Extravagancies of his own Fancies and Affections, and to hold him really to Conscience; and Conscience, as it is in Queen Elizabeth 's Motto, is Semper ead • m, It is ever the same. No all this doth adorn and amplisie the great Wisdom of the Dean, that being made the Pilot in the chief Ship of the Political Navy, a Pilot that had never been a Mariner in any Service of that Vessel before; yet in all Causes that ever he heard, he never made an improsperous Voyage. For from his first setting forth to his last Expedition, the most Envious did never upbraid him with Weakness, or scantiness of Knowledge. Neither King James, King Charles, nor any Parliament, which gave due Hearing to the frowardness of some Complaints, did ever appoint that any of his Orders should be retexed: Which is not a Pillar of Honor, but a Pyramid. Fulgentius hath Recorded the like upon the Wonder of his Age, Father Paul of Venice, that being Provincial of his Order, and hearing many Causes, none of the Judgments that he gave (which were innumerable) were ever Repealed upon Instance made to higher Judgment. Neither do I find that any of his Fraternity did maunder, that the Frier was a Strippling but 28 years old, and therefore but a Novice to make a Provincial, who is a Judge and a Ruler over his Fellows. He had better Luck in that then our Dean, who was 39 years old when he achieved this great Honor, yet some (it is presumed they were nettled with Emulation) utterly disliked his Age, that it was not wrinkled with Gravity. They were but Yonkers themselves that made such Cavils; For he that is stepping into the Fortieth Year of his Life, if he have spent his Time as he ought, is come to adult maturity. Many, as soon as their Spring is over, are in their Autumn. So Nazianzen calls Basil, then but a young man, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; One whose Mind was gray with Senility, before his Head was enriched with Silver Hairs. And how prevailing was Cato in the Senate at the time of the Catilinarian Conspiracy? And yet, in my Collection, at that time he had scarce seen 30 years in the World. I will cite out of many Examples but one more, and that's Lasthenes in Aeschylus his Tragedy, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; He carried an aged Soul in a youthful Body. We learn out of the Typical Lessons of the Old Law, Levite. 2.14. That green Ears of Corn were accepted for an holy Oblation, if Oil and Frankincense were put upon them. Which will bear this Note: That the Gifts of our young and flourishing Age are very sweet, when they are Balsam'd with Discretion.

68. At last I come slowly to a Stone of Offence, that cannot quite be removed; yet I come to it. It were not Ingenuous to deal like Fl. Josephus, that in all his History never mentioned the Trespass of his Fore-fathers in Worshiping the Golden Calf at Horeb. But why should that be covered which the Penitent himself did not conceal? That Eruptions of Anger flash'd from him too often, which he confessed in his Letter to the Lord of Buckingham, printed in the Cabal, p. 78. Heat and Earnestness, I know by looking into myself, are Symptoms of good Nature. It is in a manner a National Cognizance among his Country-men the Welsh, to be quickly stirred, and of an hot Blood; and when they have been very loud in Choler for a trice, after a short fray to be as good Friends as ever. I confess this was a Bird of that Feather. He that will trouble himself with me, to look upon the Disease, and the Sympton's in a moral Landchape, shall not altogether be weary of it. The composition of Fire is great in some men; there is some of it in all men. So says he that wrote the Book of Wisdom, c. 2. v. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; There is a little Spark in the m • ving of our Heart. Some are so still, so happy in Tranquility, that they are little provoked to Hastiness and Heat: The Spark glows not, but lies as if it were covered under the Ashes. Some have more Brimstone in their Complexion, and if they take disrelish, their Spirits are hurried to their Heart swifter then Lightning, which blow the Spark, and the Spark kindling in the Blood makes it boil over, before Reason can be consulted how to cool it. Now as there is no Good in us, but hath much Infirmity; so there is no Infirmity in us out of which God cannot bring much Good: For, in the memory of all Times, those that were of Cholerical Complexions have been the most active, and the most fortunate in bringing great Exploits about. No better Witness can be quoted, then the meekest Writer that the Greek Church enjoyed: Nazian. Orat. 26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . (He writes it for the Defense of St. Peter, of an hasty Nature, and a prompt Speaker.) Do not utterly condemn all angry Heat, without which nothing that is Brave can be brought to pass towards Piety and Virtue. Again, though it be an unruly Passion, it wants not this Apology, That it chafes away Malice, as it were, by imperceptible Perspiration. Usually such as are quickly instigated to Displeasure, and seem to be Foes, of all that we converse with, soonest become Friends. When I instance in Theodosius the Elder, it is to let him stand for the Figure of Ten thousand; of whom says Aurelius Victor, Irasci rebus indignis, sed flecli cito, unde modicâ dilatione emolliebatur: He was quickly angry, and quickly entreated, mollified after his Fit in the turning of an hand. A Weakness that deserves much Indulgence, when it draws such a Virtue after it: Which in the knowledge of all men, that were willing to see the Truth, was the Dispraise and the Praise of our Prelate, who came to such sudden Greatness. He was quickly stirred and provoked, but the Sun never went down upon his Wrath. There did not live that Christian that would put up greater Wrongs, or pass them over with a more slight Contempt. He forgot Injuries as if they had been Dreams; neither could be endure to be told that he had been injured, when fawning Sycophants came to whisper such things in secret. He liked the Informer far worse then the Offender: The first was sure to have no Reward; the other was certain to have no more then a mild Rebuke for his Punishment. Revenge is a kind of Savage Justice, though Wolvish Natures affect it, which he abhorred, first out of Evangelical Charity, next out of the greatness of his Spirit: Wherein, if he had his match, I think upon Earth he had not his Superior, being most exorable to Offenders, facile in taking Satisfaction, faithful after Reconciliation; using his Power too much to Protect some, but never to Ruin any; towards Male-contents that sometimes forgot good Manners, his Heat was so far abated, that he was too cord in Repressing them: As Theophylact said of Joseph his Pacificatory Thoughts toward the Blessed Virgin, That he was willing, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , so he was ever inclined to overshadow a Fault with a gentle Interpretation. Take his Picture in his own words, as he wrote them to the L. Buckingham in behalf of the wise and valiant Earl of Southampton, Of all Actions, forget not those of Mercy and Goodness, wherein Men draw nighest to God himself; Nor of all Persons, Prisoners, and afflicted Josephs. Celerity doth redouble an Act of Mercy; therefore it is no Flattery to contest, that such a proneness to Ebullition of Anger, is much better then a sullen Saturnine Temper, which betrays not itself outwardly in flame, but burns inwardly with implacable Rancour; which Cato of Veica had learnt out of the School of the Stoics: He was not easily incensed, but if he were, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , says Plutarch, being once warmed, he was never cool again. To whom this man was so contrary, that if he had been Transported to Transgress against Civility towards any Man, who in the distraction of much business had rush'd upon him unseasonably, and followed him with Insolency, able to discompose a most Resolved Patience, I would have undertaken, in less than two hours, to present that man's business to him with hope of good success, if the Justice of his Cause would bear it, when I durst not have moved him for another Man.

69. To stoop this Vinacre to the very Lees; some will say, that Eruptions of Anger in a Person of Honor, chiesly if they be fierce, will seem to be compounded with Pride and Haughtiness; the Answer without struggling shall be with yielding, and distinguishing. It is granted that Anger and Pride are seldom parted; Eccles. 7.10. The patient in Spirit, is better than the Proud in Spirit; which infers, that there is some Pride, where there is not patience, there is a Connection between Evil Works; every Offence against God is a Lump of Spawn; a Row that will yield a Fry of Sins; especially by the incubation of Custom and Impenitency. In this knot and coherence of Sins a severe Casuist will tell you, that there is no Sin committed without Pride in the Stomach of the Disobedient. Questionless it putrifies somewhat in every Man's Heart by Original fomentation. But there are Mountains of Pride, and there are Hillocks; no Fragment of so great a Sin is so little as a Mole Hill. There is a proud Man who is a great Oppressor, who would cast down all that are in his way, and Trample upon them to ascend higher and higher upon their Subjection. Pacatus says neatly in his Panegyric to Theod sius, that the people could find no worse Name for Tarquinius the Tyrant, than Tarquinius the Proud. And upon David's prayer to God to deliver him from the Horns of the Unicorn, it is St. Austin 's Note, In Unicornibus superbi intelliguntur, qui soli cupiunt eminere. He is the single Horn of the Unicorn, that in singularity of Pride would excel in Power, and push all others down; from whom, let us all say with David, Good Lord deliver us. Herein he that I write of, is nothing concerned; that Crime hath no similitude with his Mercy and Modesty. There is a proud Man that Values his own Worth, or rather no Worth, in an high Estimation, and above the common Level of Men like Julian, the Renouncer of Christ, that put scorn upon all Worthies, Heathenish as well as Christian, and this Great Idolater Worship'd nothing but himself. This Arrow shoots wide from our present Mark, God's Grace be Thanked; this Pride, which hath the true Taste of Lucifer, is rather begotten by Melancholy, than by Anger. It was not possible that one should be more liberal than Dean Williams was, in Attributing due and down-Weight to every Man's Gifts, his Candor made him praise everyone promiscuously, perhaps beside his Judgment; and I have heard him prefer divers, and very seriously, before himself, who came short a Mile and a way-bit. This, as it ought, let it stand for a Flower of Humility; for his erected Spirit, so free from baseness, would never stoop to Hypocrisy. In fine, there is a Pride, when we Love our own Desires, our own Delight and Satisfaction; not only our Will, but our Starts and Fancies so much in everything, that without open Offence taken we will be crossed in nothing. It spurns at every Rub in the way; it frets against Beasts, nay against things insensible: Now he that is disturbed, if he be not humor'd at every Turn, must take this Rebuke with Patience, that he is a proud Man. This frailty was his blemish: This last kind of Pride and Anger compounded together: Yet I believe he might have been Tempted to be prouder in another kind, if he had not been familiar with this infirmity. But his insight into this defect, begat in him a loathing of himself, and a lowly mind. Neither was he ignorant that some went beyond him in the cunning of getting Affections with a formal patience, who were not his Paragons in Innocency and Cordial Humility. Now let an Upright Moralist be the Judge of this Great Judge; it is not for the satisfaction of a wrangling Mome; for what can be expected from Crabs but Verjuice?

70. The Abilities of the designed Lord Keeper were such, and (be it delivered impartially) greater than are set forth, as in time he made it good. But when it came to be divulged, that this preferment hovered over him, it was much, and dividedly spoken of as a Paradox of Honor. Some could not believe it; some said it was no New way, but an Old one Renewed, and God give him Joy of it. Some did stomach it, I must not say Envy it; for Envy is so low and base a Sin, that every Man, though the most guilty of it, will scorn to confess it. The best Professors of our Laws took it sadly without doubt, that one who did never Run in their Race, had got their Garland. Many others there were, and ever will be, that, like Joseph 's Brethren, hate the very Dream of a Sheaf, to which they must do Obeysance. Therefore it required the Art of a Wise Man to set up the Frame with that skill, that it might be no Eye-sore to the Judicious beholder; which was thus Effected. Though the Grant of the Place was fixed upon this Man, without any likelihood of Revocation; yet he besought the King and obtained, that Ten Weeks should run out before the Seal should be remanded from the Commissioners, and put into his Custody. A Benefit of sundry Advantages. The least was, that popular Discourse, inclining much to descant upon this matter, would spend itself away in two or three Months, and as it were boil from a Pint to a Spoonful. It was further looked into, that he might have respite to study the Weight and Trust of the Office, whereby to supply it with that skill, as might in Candor be expected from a Beginner; which he improved as far as could be done in so short a time; having the assistance of Sir Harry Finch, a most profound Lawyer, whom he kept in his Lodgings from May to October following, for all sorts of Advice, The best Heifer he could have Plowed with, to find out Riddles, Jud. 14.18. What could not his quick capacity draw from such a Master? Or what could not Industry reach to with that Capacity? being of all Men, perhaps above all men, most Laborious; and far from the sheepishness of Sloth, the greatest blemish in our English Nation. He had day enough also to look about him, to inquire for able and honest Servants, to be preferred into the Chief places of Fidelity under him, which succeeded with that praise of Judgment, and Blessing of Success, that certainly God was at his Right hand in it; some of his Followers were as Learned Gentlemen as our Kingdom had. No man that knew them will deny that to be due to Sir William Boswel, and Mr. Edward Palmer. All of them were of Virtuous Conversation, Grave Deportment, greatly experienced in the World, Sober, Civil, Uncorrupt; in a Word it was a Ship of Argonautes; so that I have heard of our Honorable Peerage, and of the worthy Judges then Living not a sew affirm, that an Household so Excellently modeled, was one of the most evident things that discovered the great Wisdom of the Master. Other things likewise in the Interlunium, as I may call it, of that Great Office were spread abroad by Fame, and very justly, which served exceedingly to sweeten the general Opinion. They that could dive furthest into Court secrets had found, that it was a preferment that came to hand of itself, neither lured to, nor whistled to; never sued for, never sought for; but as Mamertinus said of the Consulship which Julian bestowed upon him of his own Grace, and proper Motion, non modo nullum popularium deprecatus sum, sed ne te quidem Imperator, quem orare praeclarum, cui preces adbibere plenissimum dignitatis est. 'It is human to wonder at such a Fortune, 'twere devilish to Envy it. It qualified also, that no detection could be made then, or thereafter, that he bought this Greatness, unless in Claudian 's sense, Emitur solâ virtute potestas. But this Place was pointed out by the King, not for him that would give, but to him that would not take; to one that pretended to make no more requital, than to serve God in his Calling, to be True to the King, and no Exactor upon his people. If a Jearer shall cast in, that no marvel if he paid nothing down to his up-lifter, for he was low in Coffers and Credit, and not worth a Bribe; such a one says the same Truth that I do to the main, but he Collects it falsely. For the Dean was never Richer in present Coin in his Life, than he was at that time, which came to appear upon this Account, that as soon as he was warm in this New Honor, even within two Months after, William Earl of Pembroke his Noble Friend, made the Bargain with him to purchase his Grand-Fathers Lands in Wales, which were slipped aside by ill Husbandry, for which he disbursedten Thousand pounds, not much more being to be added to the Seller, which he borrowed; wherein he Explained two things to the World by this one Act, that such Monies as lay by him he gave not for his Office; and those that he laid out, he got not by his Office. This was not his Forecast, but the Lord's above; who takes care for every Sparrow. He little thought to live upon that pittance in his Old Age. But God provided it, that when the wide Throat of Sacrilege had swallowed down more than ever was devoured at one Gulp, when the pleasant Vine of the Church of England, with all the Fruitful Branches were cut down with the Pruning Hook of an Ordinance, than this little Gourd in Wales should shadow over the head of our Jonah. It was well said of Plato, That a Prudent Man would lay by somewhat in Store to supply him; neither was it superfluous though it did survive him; for, says he, I had rather leave somewhat, though to mine Enemy, when I Die; than stand in need of my Friends, who may prove no Friends, while I live.

71. I am yet in the lingering Season of the Parasceve, or induction preparative, before the Candidate carried the Palm in his hand, wherein he proceeded, as far as the Line of a good Wit would let him run, to gain public Equanimity to the Kings intentions. For he besought His Majesty to clog the Grandeur of that place with such Terms and Conditions in his person, as might comprize it in a less Size, than it was ever before Received by any. All which were his own Invention, and his own seeking, as it is somewhat detected in the Cabal. pag. 56. but more largely drawn out in his own Papers, and offered only to be Engross'd in an Act of Council. First, That the King would continue no Chancellor in that place above three years thenceforth; which should first be put in practice in this Mans person. Secondly, That he should be admitted in the Nature of a Probationer for one year and half; and if it appeared the Charge of the Office to be above his Abilities, yet doing Justice equally to his best power, he should be Rewarded with an Arch-Bishopric, or one of the best Bishoprics at the End of that Term. Thirdly, If upon the expiring of one year and half, it were found that he discharged the Trust to His Majesty's contentment, the Royal Pleasure should be signified to continue him to the Triennial Period. Fourthly, When three years were finished, to have no further expectance to hold that Office, but to give it over with a peremptory Resignation; so I may say, like Saladine the Great, He carried the Winding Sheet of his Honor before him as a Banner. Fifthly, He moved earnestly that the Court of Chancery might have a Master of the Rolls of exact knowledge and judgment to sit with him, Naming Sir Robert Heath the King's Solicitor; but it was hindered by some, that would try how he could Walk on such slippery Ground, without a Staff to lean upon. Sixthly, He Petitioned for some of the principal Judges of the several Benches, whom he Named, that two at least should always assist him, submitting himself humbly as a young Tree to be kept steady with such supporters A Prudent way, to have many Sage Heads concur to produce one Act of Wisdom. To say in the contrary, it is best to leave the entire matter to one, if he be of sound Intelligence, is as gross a Flattery as that of the Orator in the Panegyric to Maximianus, quid opus erat multitudine, cum ipse pugnares? What needed an Army in the Field, when Maximian himself did Fight? Now so many of the Orders forecited as concerned the Mortality of that Office, and set the period of his duration in it, were Mortal Laws, and utterly forgotten; for he continued as he began without interpellation above four years, till he was annihilated by his frown, whose favor had Created him. The Complication of those Restrictions served only for a Method of discretion in a due Season, to keep that Dignity low shorn in appearance, that it might not be blasted with the Lightnings of Envy. Yet these things so dispread were more confirmed in Vogue and Opinion, by a Speech which he made to the King in the Audience of all the Lord's of the Council, when the Great Seal was actual delivered to him at Whitehall, July 10. which followeth Verbatim.

72.

73. The King heard him very Graciously to the end, and used no more then these few Words in Answer,

Neither did the good liking of the most stick at anything, but that the Worthies of the Lay, and chiefly of the Law were pretermitted. But his Majesty rather regarded the fitness of a Man, then the Custom of a Tribe: As he that takes a Lodging in the City, never Examines which are the best Rooms by Squares of Architecture, but likes that for the best Chamber, which hath • the best Furniture. At the same time the Lord Keeper, by super-impregnation of favor, was made a Bishop, and Reap'd no less than two Harvests in one Month. It was K. James his wont to give like a King; for the most part to keep one Act of Liberality warm with the covering of another. A meaner Man then a King could say (it is Pliny lib. 2. Epist.) beneficia mea tueri nullo modo melius possum, quam ut augeam. He that hath placed a benefit well, let him imitate himself, and do another; that's the sure way of obliging. The Bishopric of Lincoln was bestowed on him by the Royal Conge d'Elire, the Largest Diocese in the Land, because this New Elect had the Largest Wisdom to super-intend so great a Circuit. Yet in as much as the Revenue of it was not great, it was well piec'd out with a Grant to hold the Deanery of Westminster, into which he shut himself fast, with as strong Bars and Bolts, as the Law could make: Else when the Changes began to Ring in the Fifth year after, he had been sure to be thrust out of Doors in a storm, when he had most need of a Covering. Yet some Suitors were so importunate to compass this Deanery, upon his expected leaving, that he was put to it to plead hard for that Commenda, before he carried it. The King was in his Progress, and the Lord Marquess with him, to whom he writes to present his Reasons to the King, which were, that the Port of the Lord Keeper's Place, though he would strike Sail more than any that preceded him, must be maintained in some convenient manner. Here he was handsomely housed, which if he quitted, he must trust to the King to provide one for him, as His Majesty, and his Predecessors have ever done to their Chancellors. Here he had some Supplies to his House-keeping from the College in Bread and Beer, Corn and Fuel; of which if he should be deprived, he must be forced to call for a Diet, which would cost the King 1600 l. per annum, or crave for some addition in lieu thereof, out of the King's own means, as all his Foregoers in that Office had done. In that College he needed to entertain no Under-Servants, or Petty-Officers, who were already provided to his Hand. Beside the Very Name and Countenance thereof would take away all expectation of extraordinary Entertainments. And it was but a step from thence into Westminsterhall, where his business lay; and 'twas a Lodging which afforded him marvelous quietness to turn over his Papers, and to serve the King. He might have added (for it was in the bottom of his Breast) he was loath to stir from that Seat, where he had the Command of such exquisite Music. A Request laid out in such Remonstrance was not, nay could not be refused by so Gracious a Prince; who granted twenty Suits to one that he denied, Magnarum largitor opum, largitor honorum pronus, which singularly fits King James, though Claudian made it for Honorius. Likewise by the Indulgence of his Commenda he reserved the Rectory of Walgrave to himself, a Trifle not worthy to be Remembered, but his Reason is not unworthy to be detected. Take it as he Read this Lecture to me upon it. That in the instability of human things, every man must look for a Dissolution of his Fortunes, as well as for the Dissolution of his Body; the latter, of sure Things is most sure; the former, of usual Things is most usual. Common Men are in doubtful Places; great Men in slippery Places; but Sacrilege, being a Raven that continually croaks over the Church-Patrimony, Clergy-men were in most obnoxious Places. Many have paid dear for this Experience, That Fortune will fly quite away, when she is well fledge. Then let such as are upon the highest Stairs of those Preferments, have this Forecast, To keep a little Room behind their Back-door, to which they may retreat. When there was no place for Elijah in Jezreel, he took his Commons in an obscure Village, to which God sent him, with the Widow of Zarephath. Anselm Arch-Bishop of Canterbury kept his Right to a poor Cell which he had in a Monastery called Becc in Normandy, and that Hospitality kept him, when he fled out of England, and all the Revenues of his Mitre failed him. Stephen Gardner Bishop of Winton, and Lord-Chancellor, held the Mastership of Trinity-hall to his Dying-day; and though he gave forty better Preferments to others, he would never leave his Interest in it; and did not conceal the Cause, but said often, If all his Palaces were blown down by Iniquity, he would creep honestly into that Shell. They that will not be wise by these Examples, I will send them to School to a Fable in Plautus, Cogitato mus pusillus quàm sit sapiens bestia, AEtatem qui uni cubili nunquam committit suam, Qui si unum ostium obsideatur aliud perfagium quaerit: So in the upshot he said, He was not the only Prophet of that which is fallen out in these dismal Days; many such Divinations flash'd from others, who saw the Hills of the Robbers afar off, who have now devoured the Heritage of Jacob, and say, they are not Guilty; and they that have sold us, and bought us, say, Blessed be the Lord, for we are rich, Zech. 11.5.

74. Whom I leave to a Day of Account, having an Account to give myself, how Prosperous the Lord-Keeper was in the King's Affections at this time, to whom His Majesty measured out his accumulated Gifts, not by the Bushel, or by the Coome, but by the Barn-full. It was much he had compacted his own Portion to such advantage, but it was not all, for, being warm in Favor, he got the Royal Grant for the Advancement of four more, who are worthy to be named. He spake and sped for Dr. Davenant to be made Bishop of Salisbury, who had plowed (that I may allude to Elisha, 1 King. 19.19.) with twelve yoke of Oxen, and was now with the twelfth, when this Mantle was cast upon him. Twelve years he had been Public Reader in Divinity in Cambridge, and had adorned the Place with much Learning, as no Professor in Europe did better deserve to receive the Labourer's Penny at the twelfth Hour of the Day. Beside, what a Pillar he was in the Synod of Dort, is to be read in the Judgment of the Britain Divines, inserted among the public Acts, his Part being the best in that Work, and that Work being far the best in the Compilements of that Synod. The Bishopric of Exon being also then void, it came into the Lord-Keeper's head to gratify a brace of worthy Divines, if he could attain it, his old Friends, who had been both bred in the House of Wisdom, with the Lord-Chancellor Egerton, Dr. Carew who had been his Chaplain, a man of great Reason and polished Eloquence, and Dr. Dunn who had been his Secretary, a Laureat Wit; neither was it possible that a vulgar Soul should dwell in such promising Features. The Success was quickly decided, for these two prevailed by the Lord-Keeper's Commendation against all Pretenders; the Bishopric of Exeter was conferred upon Dr. Carew, and Dr. Dunn succeeded him in his Deanery of St. Paul 's. The See of St. David 's did then want a Bishop, but not Competitors: The Principal was Dr. Laud, a Learned Man, and a Lover of Learning. He had fastened on the Lord Marquess to be his Mediator, whom he had made sure by great Observances. But the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had so opposed him, and represented him with suspicion (in my judgment improbably grounded) of Unsoundness in Religion, that the Lord Marquess was at a stand, and could not get the Royal Assent to that Promotion. His Lordship, as his Intimates know, was not wont to let a Suit fall, which he had undertaken; in this he was the stiffer, because the Arch-Bishop's Contest in the King's Presence was sour and supercilious. Therefore he resolved to play his Game in another hand; and conjures the Lord-Keeper to commend Dr. Laud strenuously and importunately to the King's good Opinion, to fear no Offence, neither to desist for a little Storm. Accordingly he watched when the King's Assections were most still and pacisicous; and besought His Majesty to think considerately of his Chaplain the Doctor, who had deserved well when he was a young Man in his Zeal against the Millenary Petition: And for his incorruption in Religion, let his Sermons plead for him in the Royal Hearing, of which no Man could judge better then so great a Scholar as His Majesty.

75. Well, (says the King) I perceive whose Attorney you are, Stenny hath set you on. You have pleaded the Man a good Protestant, and I believe it: Neither did that stick in my Breast, when I stopped his Promotion. But was there not a certain Lady, that forsook her Husband and married a Lord, that was her Paramour? Who knit that Knot? Shall I make a man a Prelate, one of the Angels of my Church, who hath a flagrant Crime upon him.

( says the Lord-Keeper very boldly) You press well, (says the King) and I hear you with patience; neither will I revive a Trespass anymore, which Repentance hath mortified and buried. And because I see I shall not be rid of you, unless I tell you my unpublish'd Cogitations; the plain Truth is, that I keep Laud back from all Place of Rule and Authority, because I find he hath a restless Spirit, and cannot see when Matters are well, but loves to toss and change, and to bring Things to a pitch of Reformation stoating in his own Brain, which may endanger the steadfastness of that which is in a good pass, God be praised. I speak not at random; he hath made himself known to me to be such a one: For when three years since I had obtained of the Assembly of Perth to consent to Five Articles of Order and Decency in correspondence with this Church of England, I gave them Promise by Attestation of Faith made, that I would try their Obedience no further anent Ecclesiastic Affairs, nor put them cut of their own way, which Custom had made pleasing unto them, with any new Encroachments. Spotswood, p. 543. Yet this man h • th pressed me to invite them to a nearer conjunction with the Liturgy and Canons of this •• tion; but I sent him back again with the friv • lous Draught he had drawn. It seems I remembered St. Austin' s Rule better then he, Ipsa mutatio consuetudinis, ctiam quae adjuvat utilitate, novitate perturbat: Ep. 118. For all this he feared not mine Anger, but assaulted me again with another illfangled Platform, to make that slubborn Kirk stoop more to the English Pattern: But I durst not play fast and loose with my Word. He knows not the Stomach of that People, but I ken the Story of my Grandmother the Queen Regent, That after she was inveigled to break her Promise made to some Mutineers at a Perth Meeting, she never saw good day, but 〈◊〉 thence, being much beloved before, was despised of all the People. And now your 〈◊〉 hath compelled me to shrive myself thus unto you, I think you are at your furthest, and have no more to say for your Client. (says the LordKeeper) Some Diseases, which are very acute, are quickly cured. And is there no whee, but you musl carry it (says the King)? Then take him to you, but on my Soul you will repent it: And so went away in Anger, using other fierce and ominous Words, which were divulged in the Court, and are too tart to be repeated. So the Lord-Keeper procured to Dr. Laud his first Rochet, and retained him in his Prebend of 〈◊〉 . a Kindness which then he mightily valued; and gave him about a year after a Living of about 120 l. per annum in the Diocese of St. David 's, to help his Revenue: Which being unsought, and brought to him at Durham-House by Mr. William Winn, his Expression was, But how those Scores were paid, is known at home and abroad: Which he that will excuse, hath no way but to shift it upon an Adagie, Unum arbustum nen capit erithecos duos: He that would be Great alone, cares not whom he depresseth, that would be as Great as himself.

76. More cannot be required, to show how great the Lord-Keeper's Credit was with the King, then that four Bishoprics were bestowed at once to three others with himself, for which he interposed. All three did then observe him with Congratulation as their Raiser. Salisbury and Exeter were Men of faithful Acknowledgment in all their Life. Est tanti ut gratum invenias experiri vel ingratos, says Seneca: He that finds two faithful Men among three, is well requited. Our Savior found but one among Ten, Luke 17.15. This Quaternion making ready for their Consecration, a Calamity fell out, which put them all to their Studies, that they knew not which way to turn. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, making a Summer Journey into Hampshire, was welcomed by the Lord Ze • nch, and invited to some Hunting-Sports in Bramshill-Park about St. James -tide. The Arch-Bishop, pretending to be a Wood-man, took a Cross-bow to make a shot at a Buck. One of the Keepers did his Office to wind-less up the Deer to his stand, who too suddenly shot at a fair-headed Buck in the Herd. But his Arrow meeting with a small Bought in the way, was cast a little from the mark, and by an unhappy Glance, wounded the Keeper in the Arm. It was but a Flesh-wound, and a slight one; yet being under the Cure of an heedless Surgeon, the Fellow died of it the next day. The like had never happened in our Church, nor in any other in the Person of a Bishop and a Metropolitan, which made work for Learned Men to turn over their Books. Councils, and Canon-Laws, and Proviso's of Casuists, were ransack'd, whose Resolutions were unfavourable, and greatly to the prejudice of the Fact. It was clear in our Common-Law, that his Personal Estate was forfeited to the King, though it were Homicidium involuntarium. But he was quickly comforted, that he should not Suffer in that: For, upon the first Tidings, His Majesty, who had the Bowels of a Lamb, censured the Mischance with these words of melting Clemency, That an Angel might have miscarried in that sort. The Arch-Bishop was an happy man in this Unhappiness, that many Hearts condoled with him; and many precious Stones were in the Breast-Plate which he wore, that Pleaded for him. He was Painful, Stout, Severe against bad Manners, of a Grave and a Voluble Eloquence, very Hospital, Fervent against the Roman Church, and no less against the Arminians, (which in those days was very Popular) he had built and endowed a beautiful Eleemosynary Mansion at Guilford, where he was born; he sent all the Succors he could spare to the Queen of Bohemia the King's only Daughter; was a most stirring Counselor for the Defense of the Palatinate; was very acceptable to the Nobility, and to the People both of this Realm, and of Scotland, where he had preached often 14 years before, when he was in the Train of the Earl of Dunbar. All those Flowers in his Garland were considered severally and mixedly, when this gloomy day of Misfortune bedarken'd him. And you may be sure our Sovereign Lord thought it the more Pardonable, because it was an Hunting Casualty, and was very Human to those Harms beyond prevention, which fell out in that Sport wherein he greatly delighted. Therefore His Majesty Resolved, and gave it him in a Consolatory Letter under his Hand, That He would not add Affliction to his Sorrow, nor take one Farthing from his Chattels and Moveables, which were Confiscated by our Civil Penalties.

77. But it cost more Labor to get out of the Ecclesiastical Brias; for many of our best advised Churchmen took it sore to heart, and lamented for it, not without bitter Tears, for the Scandal which was fallen upon our Church in his Person, who in the Eye of General Councils and Canon-Laws was wonderfully Tainted, and made Uncapable to all Sacred Functions performing. Therefore, to come home to the case, they said, God forbid those Hands should Consecrate Biships, and Ordain Priests, or Administer the Sacraments of Christ, which God, out of his secret Judgments, had thus permitted to be embrued in Human Blood. And some of the Prelacy professed, If they had fallen into the like mischance, they would never have despaired of God's Mercy for the other Life, but from this World they would have retired, and besoughts His Majesty for a Pension to support them in their sequestered Sadness, where they might spend their Days in Fasting and Prayer. It was vehemently considered, that our Hierarchy was much quarrelled with and opposed by our own Fugitives to the Church of Rome, who would fasten upon this Scandal, and upon it pretend, against our constant Succession, (hitherto undemolish'd) with all the Malice that Wit could excogitate. And indeed they began already: For the Fact was much discoursed of in Foreign Universities, who were nothing concerned; especially our Neighbors the Sorbonists at Paris, ' 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , 1 Pet. 4.15. over-busy to have an Oar in our Boat, Disputing it three several times in their Schools, and concluded the Accident to amount to a full Irregularity, which is an Incapacity to exercise any Ecclesiastical Act of Order, or Jurisdiction. His Majesty, upon the eruption of these Scruples, was called up to think seriously, that his Sweetness and Compassion did not leave a Slur upon this Church, which himself, under Christ, had made so Glorious. It belonged to the four Bishops Elect to be most Circumspect in this matter, expecting their Consecration shortly, and to be informed, whether they should acknowledge that the Power of an Arch-Bishop was Integral and Unblemish'd in a casual Homicide, and submit to have his Hands laid upon their Heads. Dr. Davenant shown Reason, That it behooved him not to be seen in the Opposition, because the Arch-Bishop had Presented him to the rich Parsonage of Cotnam, not far from Cambridge. It was well taken, for among honest Pagans a Benesiciary would not contend against his Patron. Howsoever such as knew not the wherefore, were the more benevolous to the Arch-Bishop's misfortune, because so great a Clerk stood off, and meddled not. The Rhodian 's Answer in Plutarch was not forgotten, who was baited by his Accusers all the while that the Judge said nothing:

(says the Defendant) The other three, without Davenant, stirred in it the most they could, to decline this Metropolitan's Consecreation; not out of Enmity, or Superstition, but to be wary, that they might not be attainted with the Contagion of his Scandal, and Uncanonical Condition. The Lord-Keeper appearing for the rest, writes thus to the Lord Marquess, as it is extant, Cabal, p. 55.

A gentler Hand could not touch a Sore; yet I think of his Judgment in this Point, as Sealiger did of the sine Poet Fracostorius, Ab suâ ipse magnitudine descendisse credi potest aliquando; He flew lower at this Game, then the pitch of his wonted Wisdom. For the Question did hang yet upon this Pin, Whether there were a Sore to be cured? His Lordship had looked attentively into the Canonists, whom he could cite by rote with his happy Memory. Their Decretals and Extravagants Un-bishop a Man that killed a Man, and meant a Beast; nay further, if the Bishop's Horse did cast the Groom that watered him into a Pond, and drowned him. But if we Appeal from them to higher and better Learning, their Rigour will prove Ridiculous. The Fact is here confessed: But is Sin in the Fact, or in the Mind of the Facient? Omne peccatum in tantum est peccatum, in quantum est voluntarium. This is the Maxim of the Schools upon actual Sins, and a true one; A guilty Mind makes a guilty Action: An unfortunate Hand concurs often with an innocent Heart. Quis nomen unquam sccleris errori indidit? Put the Case that these Writers are very inclinable to have Absolution granted incontinently to such Contingencies; but to keep a bustle, whether Absolution is to be given or not, when there is no fault, is to abuse the Power of the Keys. Irregularities in that Superstitious Latin Church are above Number; what have we to do with them? That we did cut them off, we did not name it indeed in our Reformation under Edward the Sixth, &c. for they were thrown out with Scorn, as not to be mentioned, among ejected Rubbish. For we perceived they were never meant to bind, but to open, I mean the Purse. He that is Suspended, may entangle himself from the Censure with a Bribe. The Canonists are good Bone-letters for a Bone that was never broken; their Rubrics are filled with Punctilio's, not for Consciences, but for Consciuncles; Haberdashers of small Faults, and palpable Brokers for Fees and Mercinary Dispensations. Therefore those plain-dealing, and blunt People among the Helvetians, otherwise Clients of the Roman Party, served them very well, as Simler hath Page 64. of his History, Cum Papa Rom, acceptà pecuniâ Matrimonium contra canones concesserat, populus recognitâ statuit, Si divitious pecunià numeratâ hoc licitum sit, etiam pauperibus absque pecunid fas essc. And a little before, when those poor Cantoners could not enjoy their own in quiet, for the Rent-gatherers of the Court of Rome, they bid them keep off at their own peril, with this popular Edict; Si pergant nundinatores bullarum jus urgere, in vincula conjiciontur; & ni huic renuntient aquis submorgantur, scilicet ut ita bullae bullis eluantur. Such resolute Men as these were too rude to be cozened. So Irregularities should be used, which are invented for the Prosit of Dispensative Graces; having nothing in them to Unsanctisie the Order of a Bishop by Divine Law, or the Law of Nature, because they can be wiped away with a Feather, if it be a Silver Wing, and the Feathers of Gold. But because these double Doctors of Canon and Civil Laws, will pretend to some Reason in their greatest Folly, it is not amiss to repeat the best Objection, with which they stiffen their Opinion. Thus they divide the Hoof: That if one by chance-medley kills a Man, being then employed in nothing that is evil, or improper to him and his Calling, he is to be Acquitted by a formal Pardan as an Innocent; but if he were acting in Indebitâ materia, when he did it, then it is to be gathered, that God did give him up to that mischance, that he might be disciplined for his Extravagancy by the Censure of the Church. Now take the Illation, That the Arch-Bishop fell into this Misfortune being unduly employed, many Synods having prohobited Hunting to all Species of the Ministry. Maldonatus, lib. 2. de Sacr. p. 254. Quod nonnulli dicum irregularom esse Saccrdotom, qui d • ns operam • nationi, juod illi non licebat, homimm intersecit, putans se feram intersicere, falsum esi. Sir H. Martin answered,

not in a thing clearly lawful, if it were not prohibited. Are Clerks restrained from Hunting? No wonder. So they are by some Synodical Rules from playing at Tennis. What mean such austere Coercions? Nothing but to keep them from excess of Pleasure and Idieness, which turn to be Avocations of their Studies, and Attendance on the Church of Christ. That in particular Hunting is no Unpriestly Sport by the Laws of England, may thus be proved: For every Peer in the higher House of Parliament, as well Lord's Spiritual as Temporal, hath Permission by the Charta de Forcstà, when after Sunmons he is in his Journey to the Parliament, and not else, to cause an Horn to be sounded, when he travels through any of the King's Forests, and to kill a brace of Bucks, signification being given of his Intent to the Verdurers.

78. The King had perfect knowledge how these Things were discuss'd. He saw that whether the Person of the Arch-Bishop were tainted by this Fact or not, yet his Metropolitical Function was unsettled in many men's Opinions; he heard, that the Acts of Spiritual Courts were unsped, and came to no end, till Sentence were pronounced one way or other by the Supreme Authority. Therefore a Commission was directed from His Majesty to ten Persons, to meet together for this purpose about the beginning of October. These were the Lord-Keeper; the Bishops of London, Winton, and Rochester; the Elects of Exeter, and St. David's; Sir Harry H • bart, Lord-Chief-Justice of the Common-Pleas; Sir John Dodderidge, one of the Justices of the Kings-Bench; Sir H. Martin, Dean of the Arches; and Dr. Steward, esteemed the Papinian of Doctors-Commons. These began to lay their Heads together upon the Third of October, and then Conser'd upon the manner of their Proceeding: The Lord Hobart, and Sir H. Martin affecting, that his Grace should send Counsel to Plead before them; from which, the rest dissented: First, Because no such Privilege was allowed him in the King's Letters directed to the Commissioners. Secondly, Because the Honor of the King, and the Seandal of the Church, which as yet made the adverse Party have no Counsel on their side. Thirdly, Because His Majesty required Information from those ten upon the nature of this Fact, relying upon their Knowledge, Learning, and Judgments, but not referring the Matter to their final Decision and Determination. Indeed their Work, to prevent Excursions, was laid out in three Questions, which they were commanded to Resolve, and to Act no further. And those were Debated till the 27th of that Month, and in the end Decided with great Disagreement of Opinions. The first Question, Whether the Arch-Bishop were Irregular by the Fact of Involuntary Homicide? The two Judges, and the two Civilians did agree, That he was not Irregular; and the Bishop of Winton, who was a strong Upholder of Incontaminate Antiquity, coming to the same sense, said, He could not conclude him so: The other five held, He was Irregular. The second Question, Whether that Act might tend to a Scandal in a Church-man? The Bishop of Winton, the Lord Hobart, and Dr. Steward, doubted: All the rest Subscribed, That there might arise from such an Accident, Scandalum acceptum, non datum; a Scandal taken, but not given. The third Question, How my Lord's Grace should be restored, in case the King should follow the Decision of those Commissioners, who had found him Irregular? All agreed it could no otherwise be done, then by a Restitution from the King: In the manner they varied. The Bishop of Wi • ch • s • er, Lord Hobart, Dr. Steward, were of one mind to have it done immediately from the King, and from him alone in the same Patent with the Pardon. The Lord-Keeper, Bishops of London, Rochester, Exon, and St. David's, to be directed to some Bishops by a Commission from the King, to be transacted in a fo • mal Absolution Church-wise, Manu Clericali. Judge Dodderidge, and Sir Harry Ma •• in, were willing to have it done both ways for abundant Caution. The whole Business was submitted to His Majesty to determine it, who took the shortest course to show Mercy: Sprevit caelestis animus humana consilia, as Velleius said of C. Cae • ar. So by his Broad-Seal He assoiled the Arch-Bishop from all Irregularity, Scandal, or Infamation, pronouncing him to be capable to use all Metropolitical Authority, as if that sinistrous Contigency in spilling Blood had never been done. A Princely Clemency, and the more to be Extoll'd, because that Arch-Bishop was wont to dissent from the King as often as any man at the Council-Board. It seems he loved him the better for his Courage and Sincerity: For it was he that said to Jo. Spotswood Arch-Bishop of St. Andrew's, telling His Majesty,

Well, (says the King) speak the Truth, and spare not Words, after Solomon's Praise, which are Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver.

79. But because when our Arch-Bishop's Unfortunateness was recent, it appeared far worse to some scrupulous Ecclesiastics, then it did in process of time; therefore the Lord-Keeper, with the two other Elects, cast themselves at His Majesty's Feet, and besought Him,

This was easily granted, and the Lord-Keeper was Consecrated in the Chapel of King Henry the Seventh at Westminster on the 11th day of November following, by the Bishops of London, Worcester, Eli, Oxford, Landaff: And the Elects of Sarum, Exeter, St. David's, in the Chapel of the Bishop of London 's Palace Nov. 18. by the same Reverend Fathers. From hencesorth the suspicion of the Irregularity was brought asleep, and never waken'd more. Mr. H. L. is quite mistaken, pag. 71. of his History: 'It is true, the Arch-Bishop, an. 1627. was Commanded from his Palaces of Lambeth and Croydon, and sent to a Moorish House in Kent called Foord, but not, as he conceives it, that the Impulsive of it was the supposed Irregularity, which was then revived, but because he would not Licence a Sermon of Dr. Sibthorp 's, which the King sent to him by Mr. W. Murry of the Bed-chamber, for his Hand to the Printing, which he denied, saying, There was some Doctrine in the Sermon which was contrary to his Judgment. I write (I confess) by hear-say; but I heard it from his own mouth, and have it in a Manuscript under his own Hand. It had been a wild thing to rake up the Irregularity again out of the Embers, since in the interim he had Consecrated many Prelates; nay since he had Consecrated the Elements of Christ's Supper at the King's Coronation, and set the Crown upon His Majesty's Head. And not long after he returned from Foord to a Parliament Summon'd to begin March 17. 1627. he Consecrated that Learned Divine Mr. Richard Montague, Promoted to the See of Chichester, at Croydon, Aug. 24. 1628. Yet that great Scholar had Presented his studied Papers for the Irregularity to the Lord-Keeper more then any man. But now he was satisfied to be Consecrated by the whilom Irregular supposed. And at the same time Dr. Laud, then Bishop of London, was Assistant with the Arch-Bishop to impose Hands. Such Changes there are in Human Judgments.

80. Perhaps I may be thought Irregular myself, that I have knit the Election and Consecration of the Bishop of Lincoln to the long Series, and Discussion of this famous Case I crave Pardon, if I want one. Now I step back to the Lord-Keeper, who before the end of June was a Keeper of more then he desired, the Earl of Southampton, one of his dearest Friends on Earth, being committed a Prisoner to his Custody. A worthy Lord, and of a gallant Freedom, yet such as less then Kings do not like. In the Session of Parliament, which was then newly ended, he was interpreted to exceed in some words against the Royal Prerogative, a Stone of Offence that lay in many men's ways. Beside he had Rebuk'd the Lord Marquess of Buckingham with some Passion and Acrimony for speaking often to the same thing in the House, and out of Order. Therefore he was Confined; but with as much Gentleness as could be devised, rather to a Nurse, then a Jailor. But the Lord-Keeper, though he liked his Guest, yet he preferred his Liberty before that Liking, and never gave over till he had got his Enlargement, discharged him from the Attendance of Sir William Parkhust, (who, as a Spy, was sent to wait upon him at Tichfield ) that he might be lest only to the Custody of his own good Angel, as he writes, Cabal, p. 59. Likewise, in Tenderness to the Earl's Wealth and Honor, he kept him from an Information in Star-chamber, which was threatened; and buoy'd him up at last to the King's Favor, so as he might rather expect new Additions, then suspect the least Diminution from his Gracious Majesty. Though all this came purely from his Love and Industry; yet of all that was obtained, he would take nothing to himself, but directed the Earl to cast his Eye upon my Lord of Buckingham, Of whose extraordinary Goodness, (says he) your Lordship and myself are remarkabe Reflections, the one of his Sweetness in forgetting Wrongs, the other of his Forwardness in conserring Court sies. These Passages occur in the Printed Bundle. But there is a Letter, the Publisher of the former did not meet with it, dated two days before, Jul. 19. written to the Lord Marquess, in behalf of that Honorable Earl, and likewise of Mr. J. Selden, (my great Friend while he lived) who was clap'd up at the same time, because being a Member of the House of Commons in that Parliament, he had preferred the danger of telling Truth, before the safety of Silence. Thus for them both together he Solicites.

These soft words mollified Anger, and Mr. Selden was Released by the next Pacquet that came from the Court in progress. If the Stoics had been wise men, truly the Lord-Keeper had been none, for they pronounced with their Master Zeno in Laertius, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , That wise Men are not Pitiful. But insooth there was never a greater Stickler then he to bring Afflicted Ones out of Durance and Misery, when he could effect it by Power and Favor; none that lent their hand more readily to raise up those that were cast down. But if a Gentleman of Mr. Selden 's merit were under the peril of Vindicative Justice, he would stretch his whole Interest, and cast his own Robe, as it were, to save him. When he had brought him to Liberty, he stayed not there. He perceived his Fortune in those days was not equal to his Learning; therefore he conferred the Registership of the College of Westminster upon him, not meaning to hinder his Growth with a Garment that was too little for him; but he procured a Chapman that gave him 400 l. for his Right in the Place: A Courtesie which Mr. Selden did never expect from the Giver, and was repaid with more Duty and Love, then the Giver could ever have expected from Mr. Selden. And although that singular good Scholar Mr. Montague did never agree with Mr. Selden, as their Adverse and Polemical Writings about the Right of Tithes do evidence; yet the Lord-Keeper made them both agree in his Favor and Patronage: Which Mr. Montague hath proclaimed abroad in his Treatise of Invocation of Saints, Licensed for the Press with his Lordship's own Hand, in Right as he was his Visitor in the Colleges of Windsor and Eaton. His Words may be found in the Epistle Dedicatory to that Treatise, as follow: Let the World take notice, if it may concern any, your Honor is be, unto whom, next unto His most Sacred Majesty, my most Gracious Sovereign and Master, I owe more then to all the World beside: Professing unseignedly in the word of a Priest, F • cisti ut vivam & moriar ingratus.

81. The Lord-Keeper being so great a Dealer in the Golden Trade of Mercy, and so successful, he followed his Fortune, and tried the King and the Lord Marquess further in the behalf of some, whom their dear Friends had given over in Despair to the Destiny of Restraint. And those were of the Nobles: For he carried a great regard to their Birth and Honor; and knew it was good for his own safety to deserve well of those high-born Families. The East of Nerthumberland had been a Prisoner in the Tewer above 15 years. His Confidents had not Considence and a good Heart, I say not to Petition, but to dispute with the King, how ripe the Earl was for Clemency and Liberty. 〈◊〉 Majesty was very merciful, but must be rubbed with a Fomentation of hi • 〈◊〉 Oil, to make him more supple. This dextrous Statesman infuseth into 〈…〉 how to compass the Design, with what Insinuations and Argum • 〈…〉 were improved with the Earl's demulcing, and well-languag'd Phrases. And when it came to strong Debate, the Lord-Keeper got the better of the King in Reason. So the Physic wrought as well as could be wished, and on the 18th of July the Earl of Northumberland came out of the Tower, the Great Ordnance going off to give him a joyful Valediction: Who turned his Thoughts to consider the Work of God, that a Stranger had wrought 〈◊〉 , Comfort for him in his old Age, whose Face he had ne 〈…〉 never purchased by any Benefit, nor courted so much as by the me • age of a Salutation: Which his Lordship compared to St. Peter 's Deliverance by the Angel of God, Acts 12. when Peter knew not who it was that came to help him. Though not in order of Time, yet in likeness of Condition the Earl of Oxford 's Case is to be ranked in the same File. It was in April in the year following that he was sent to the Tower, betrayed by a false Brother for rash Words, which heat of Wine cast up at a merry meeting. His Lordship's Enemies were great and many, whom he had provoked; yet after he had acquainted the Lord-Keeper with the long Sadness of his Restraint in a large Letter, (which is preserved) he wrought the Earl's Peace and Releasment, conducted him to the King's Chamber to spend an hour in Conference with His Majesty, from whence a good Liking was begot on both sides. Whom thereupon that Earl took for his trusty, and wisest Friend, using his Counsel principally how to Husband his Estate, and how to employ his Person in some Honorable Service at Sea, that the Dissoluteness of his Hangers-on in the City might not sink him at Land. The Lord-Keeper did as much for the Earl of Somerset in Christmas -time before, bringing him by his mediation out of the House of Sorrow, wherein he had continued above five years, that he might take fresh Air, and enjoy the comfort of a free Life; which was affected by him to gratisie the splendid and spreading Family of the Howards. And they were all well pleased with him, as were the greatest part of the Grandees, except the Earl of Arundel, for a Distast taken, of which the Lord-Keeper need not be ashamed.

82. Within Six Weeks after he was settled in that Office, the Earls Secretary brought two Patents to be Sealed, the one to bestow a Pension of 2000 l. per annum upon his Lord out of the Exchequer, which was low mow'n, and not sit to bear such a Crop; beside the Parliament, which was to meet again in the Winter, could not choose but take Notice, what over-bountiful Issues were made out of the Royal Revenue to a Lord, that was the best Landed of all his Peers. Yet the Seal was put to, with a dry assent, because there was no stopping of a Free River. With this Patent came another, to confer the Honor of the Great Marshal of England upon the same Noble Personage. The Contents of it had scarce any Limits of Power, much exceeding the streit Boundaries of Law and Custom. The Lord Keeper searching into the Precedents of former Patents, when the same Honor was conser'd, found a great inequality, and doubted for good Cause, that this was a device to lay his unfitness for his great place Naked to the World, if he swallowed this Pill. But nothing tended more to the praise of his great Judgment with His Majesty. He writes to my Lord of Buckingham to acquaint the King, that he thought His Majesty intended to give to greater Power, than the Lord's Commissioners had, who dispatched Affairs belonging to that Office jointly before him; and that all Patents refer to the Copy of the immediate Predecessors, who were the Earls of Essex, Shrewsbury, and Duke of Somerset; but my Lord leap'd them over, and claimed as much as the Howards and Mowbries, Dukes of Norfolk, did hold, which will enlarge his Authority beyond the former by many Dimensions. There is much more than this in the Cabal of Letters p. 63. And much more than I meet there in his own private Papers. The King was much satisfied with the Prudence and Courage of the Man, that he had rather display these Errors, than commit them for fear of a mighty Frown; so the Earls Counsel were appointed to attend the Lord Keeper, who joining their hands together examined the Obliquities of the Patent, and altered them. What would have followed if it had passed entire in the first Draught? For being so much corrected and Castrated, yet the proceedings of the Court of Honor were a Grievance to the People not to be supported: The Decrees of it were most uncertain, most Arbitrary, most Imperious: Nor was there any Seat of Judgment in the Land wherein Justice was brought a bed with such hard Labor: Now I invite the Reader, if he please to turn to the 139 pag. of Sir An. Well. Pamphlet, and let him score a Mark for his Remembrance at these Lines, That Williams was brought in for this Design to clap the Great Seal, through his Ignorance in the Laws, to such things, that none that understood the danger, by knowing the Laws, would venter upon. This Knight when he is in a Course of Malice is never out of his Way; but like an egregious Bugiard here he is quite out of the Truth. For the New Lord Keeper walked so Circumspectly, that he seemed to fear an Ambush from every Grant that was to pass for the use of encroaching Courtiers; if anything were Ambiguous or Dangerous he was not ashamed to call for Counsel: If anything were pressed against Rule he was inexorable. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Eth. He kept constant to Justice in its Flat Square. I could be Luxuriant in instances; nothing is easier then to observe two which are in Print already. But Twelve days after he was sworn Lord Keeper Mr. Secretary Calvert wrote to him, and used the King's Name, and to make all the stronger, the Spanish Ambassadors Mediation was not wanting, to deliver one Rockweed a Papist out of the Fleet. Not a jot the sooner for all this; but he excuseth his Rigor to the Lord Marquess Cabal. p. 62. That he would not insame himself in the beginning to break his Rules so foully; which he was Resolv'd to keep straight against ah Men whatsoever. Another of the same Stamp, pag. 65. One Beeston had been committed from the Power of the High Court of Chancery, loathing this Captivity he besought this New Officer to be Releas'd, and was denied; he Cries out for Mercy to the King, Roars out that the Parliament might hear him, follows the Lord Bucking. with his Clamors, who advised the Keeper to consider upon it. It is a Maxim indeed in Old Colwnella, lib. 6. c. 2. pervicax contumacia plerum{que} saevientem fatigat, &c. Boisterous Importunity thinks to fare better then modest Innocency; but he gave the Lord Marquess this Answer. My Noble Lord. Decrees once made must be put in Execution; Else I will confess this Court to be the greatest Imposture and Grievance in the Kingdom. The Damned in Hell do never cease repining at the Justice of God; Nor the Prisoners in the Fleet at the Decrees in Chancery. In the which Hell of Prisoners this one for Amiquity and Obstinacy may pass for a Lucifer. I neither know him, nor his Cause, but as long as he stands in Contempt, he is not like to have anymore Liberty. A Lion may be judged by these two Claws of his Pounce.

83. And now I have past over these exordial Marks of his Demeanour and sufficiency before the Term began. Upon the first day of it, when he was to take his Place in Court, he declined the Attendance of his great Friends, who offered, as the manner was, to bring him to his first settling with the Pomp of an nauguration. But he set out Early in the Morning with the Company of the Judges, and some few more, and passing through the Cloisters into the Abby, he carried them with him into the Chapel of Henry the Seventh, where he Prayed on his Knees (silently, but very Devoutly, as might be seen by his Gesture) almost a quarter of an hour, then Rising up cheerfully, he was Conducted with no other Train, to a Mighty Confluence that expected him in the Hall, whom from the Bench of the Court of Chancery, he Greeted with this Speech.

84. For my Calling unto this Office, it was (as most here present cannot but know) not the Cause, but the Effect of a Resolution in the State, to Change or Reduce the Governor of this Court from a Professor of our municipal Laws to someone of the Nobility, Gentry, or Clergy of this Kingdom. Of such a Conclusion of State (quae aliquando incognita, semper justa) as I dare not take upon me to discover the Cause, so I hope I shall not endure the Envy. Peradventure the managing of this Court of Equity doth Recipere magis, & minus, and is as soon diverted with too much, as too little Law. Surely those Worthy Lord's, which to their Eternal Fame, for the most part of an hundred years Govern'd and Honor'd this Noble Court, as they Equall'd many of their own Profession in the knowledge of the Laws; so did they excel the most of all other Professions in Learning, Wisdom, Gravity, and mature Experience. In such a Case, it were but Poor Philosophy to restrain those Effects to the former, which were produced and brought forth by those latter Endowments. Examine them all, and you shall find them in their several Ages to have the Commendation of the Compleatest Men, but not of the deepest Lawyers. I except only that mirror of our Age and Glory of his Profession my Reverend Master, who was as Eminent in the Universal, as any other one of them all in his choicest particular. Sparguntur in omnes, Uno hoc mista fluunt, & quae divisa beatos efficiunt, conjuncta tenet. Again, it may be the continual Practice of the strict Law, without a special mixture of other knowledge, makes a Man unapt, and undisposed for a Court of Equity. Juris Consultus ipse per se nihil nisi leguleius quidam cautus & acutus, as M. Crassus was wont to define him. They are (and that cannot be otherwise) of the same Profession with the Rhetories at Rome, as much used to defend the Wrong, as to Protect and Maintain the most upright Cause. And if any of them should prove corrupt he carries about him, armatam nequitiam, that skill and Cunning to palliate the same, that that mis-sentence, which pronounced by a plain and understanding Man, would appear most Gross and Palpable; by their Colours, Quotations and Wrenches of the Law, would be made to pass for Current and Specious. Some will add hereunto the Boldness and Confidence, which their former Clients will take upon them, when, as St. Austin speaks in another Case, They find, That Man to be their Judge, who but the other day was their hired Advocate. Marie that depraedandi Memoria, as St. Jerome calls it, That promness to take Money, as accustomed to Fees, is but a Base and Scandalous Aspersion, and as incident to the Divine, if he want the Fear of God, as to the common Lawyer, or most Sordid Artisan. But that that former Breeding and Education in the strictness of Law, might (without good Care and Integrity) somewhat indispose a Practiser thereof, for the Rule and Government of a Court of Equity; I Learned long ago from Plinius Secundus, a most Excellent Lawyer in his time, and a Man of singular Rank in the Roman Estate; for in his 2, 3, and 6 Epist. Making Comparison between the Scholastici, as he calls them, which were Gentlemen of the better sort, bred up privately in feigned pleadings, and Schools of Eloquence, for the qualifying of themselves for Civil Employments; And another sort of Gentlemen termed Forenses, who were Pleaders at the Bar, and Trained up in real Causes, he makes the former more Innocent and Harmless a great deal then the latter, and yields hereof the principal Reason. Nos enim qui in foro veris{que} litibus terimur, multum malitiae, quamvis nolimus, addiscimus. For we, saith he, That are bred in Real Quirkes, and personal Contentions, cannot but Reserve some Tang thereof, whether we will, or no. These Reasons, though they please some Men, yet, God be Praised, if we do but Right to this Noble Profession, they are in our Common-Wealth no way concluding or Demonstrative. For I make no question, but there are many Scores, which profess our Laws, who, beside their Skill and Practice in this kind, are so Richly enabled in all Moral and Intellectual Endowments, Ut omnia tanquam singula persiciant, that there is no Court of Equity in the World, but might be most safely committed unto them: I leave therefore the Reason of this Alteration as a Reason of State not to be Fathom'd by any Reason of mine, and will say no more of my Calling in the General.

85. Now when I reflect upon myself in particular, Quis sum ego? aut quis Filius Jesse? What am I, or what can there be in me in Regard of Knowledge, Gravity, or Experience, that should afford me the least Qualification in the world, for so weighty a Place? Surely if a Sincere, Upright, and well-meaning Heart doth not cover Thousands of other Imperfections, I am the unfittest Man in the Kingdom to supply the Place. And therefore must say of my Creation, as the Poet said of the Creation of the World, Materiam noli quaerere, nulla fuit. Trouble not your Heads to find out the Cause, I confess there was none at all. It was (without the least Inclination or thought of mine own) the immediate work of God and the King: And their A • ions are no ordinary Effects, but extraordinary Miracles. What then? Should I beyond the Limits and Duty of Obedience despond, and refuse to make some few years Trial in this place? Nor, - Tu • s, O Jacobe, quod optas Explorare labor, mihi jussa capessere fas est. I will therefore conclude this Point with the Excuse of that Poet, whom the Emperor Gratian would needs enforce to set out his Poem, whether he would or no. Non habeo ingenium, Caefar sed jussit, habebo. Cur me posse negem, posse quod ill putet? I am no way fit for this great Place, but because God and the King will have it so, I will endeavor, as much as I can, to make myself fit, and put my whole confidence in his Grace and Mercy, Qui neminem dignum Eligit, sed eligendo dignum facit, as St. Austin speaks. And so much of my Calling, now I come unto my Carriage in this Place.

86 It is an Observation which Tully makes, In causis dicendis effugere solebat Antonius, ne succederet Crasso, Antonius was ever afraid to come after Crassus, a most Eloquent and Powerful Orator. And the greatest discouragement I find in this Place is, that I am to come after (after indeed, nec passibus aequis) my two immediate Predecessors, the one of 〈◊〉 Excellent in most things, the other in all things. But both of them so bred in this Course of Life, Ut illis plurimarum reruni agitatio frequens, nihil esse ignotum patiobatur; as Pliny speaks of the Pleaders of his time. It were too much to expect at my bands, a Man bred in other Studies, that readiness or quickness of dispatch, which was effected by them Lord's, both of them brought up in the King's Courts, and not in the King's Chapel. My Comfort is this, That Arriving here as a Stranger, I may say as Archimedes did, when he found these Geometrical Lines and Angles, drawn everywhere in the Sands of Egypt, Video vestigia humana, I see in this Court the Footsteps of Wise Men, many Excellent Rules and Orders for the managing the same, the which, though I might want Learning and Knowledge to invent, (if they were not thus offered to my hands) yet I hope I shall not want the Honesty to Act and put in Execution. These Rules I will precisely follow, without the least deslexion at all, until Experience shall Teach me better. Every thing by the Course of Nature hath a certain and regular motion. The Air and Fire move still upward, the Earth and Water fall downward: The Celestial Bodies whirl about in one and the self same Course and Circularity, and so should every Court of Justice. Otherwise it grows presently to be had in Jealousy and Suspicion. For as Vel. Paterculus Observes very well, In iis homines extraordinaria reformidant, qui modum in voluntate habent. Men ever suspect the worst of those Rules, which vary; with the Judges Will and Pleasure. I will descend to some few particulars.

87. First, I will never make any Decree, That shall Cross the Grounds of the Common or Statute Laws, for I hold by my Place the Custody not of mine own, but of the King's Conscience; and it were most absurd to let the King's Conscience be at Enmity and Opposition with his Laws and Statutes. This Court (as I conceive it) may be often occasioned to open and confirm, but never to thwart, and oppose the Grounds of the Laws. I will therefore omit no Pains of mine own, nor Conference with the Learned Judges, to furnish myself with competency of Knowledge, to keep my Resolution in this Point Firm and Inviolable. Secondly, I shall never give a willing Ear to any Motion made at this Bar, which shall not apparently tend to further and hasten the bearing of the Cause. The very word Motion, derived a movendo to move, doth teach us that the hearing is, Finis perfectio, & terminus ad quem, the End, Perfection, and proper Home as it were of the matter propounded. If a Counselor therefore will needs endeavor, as Velleius Writes of the Gracchi, Optimo ingenio pessime uti, to make that bad Use of a good Wit, as to justle a Cause out of the King's Highway, which I hold in this Court to be Bill, Answer, Replication, Rejoinder, Examination and Hearing, I will ever Regard it as a Wild Goose Chase, and not a Learned Motion. The further a Man Runs out of his Way, the further he is from home, the End of his Journy, as Seneca speaks; so the more a Man Tattles beside these Points, the further it is from the Nature of a Motion: Such a Motion is a Motion Per Antiphrasin, ut mons a non movendo. It tends to nothing but certamen ingenii, a Combat of Wit, which is Infinite and Endless. For when it once comes to that pass, some will sooner a great deal, loose the Cause then the last Word. Thirdly, I would have no Man to conceive that I come to this Place to overthrow, without special Motives, the Orders and Decrees of my Predecessors. I would be loath to succeed any man, as Metellus did Gaius Verres, Cuius omnia erant ejusmodi ut totam Verris Praeturam retexere videretur. Whose Carriage, saith Tully, was a mere Penclopes Web, and untwisting of all the Acts of Verres' s Pretorship. Upon New matter, I cannot avoid the re-viewing of a Cause, but I will ever expect the forbearing of Persons, so as the Ashes of the Dead may be hereafter spared, and the Dust of the Living no further Raked. Fourthly, I will be as cautelous as I can, in referring of Causes, which I hold of the same Nature of a Byway Motion. For one Reference that Spurs on a Cause, there are ten that bridle it in, and hold it from hearing. This is that which Bias calls the backward forwarding of a Cause; for as the Historian speaks, Quod procedere non potest recedit. Fifthly, I profess before hand, this Court shall be no Sanctuary for Undiscreet and Desperate Sureties. It is a Ground of the Common Law, That a man shall make no Advantage of his own Follies and Laches. When the Money is to be borrowed, the Surety is the first in the Intention, and therefore, if it be not paid, let him a God's Name be the first in Execution. Lastly, I will follow the Rules of this Court in all Circumstances, as near as I can. And considering that, as Pliny speaks, Stultissimum est adimitandum non optima quae{que} proponere, It were a great Folly to make Choice of any other then the very best for Imitation, I will propound my Old Master for my Pattern, and Precedent in all things. Beseeching Almighty God so to direct me, That while I hold this place I may follow him by a True, and Constant imitation. And if I prove Unfit and Unable for the same, That I may not play the Mountebank so in this Place, as to Abuse the King and the State, but follow the same most Worthy Lord in his Chearful and Voluntary Resignation: Sic mihi contingat vivere, sic{que} mori.

88. This he delivered, thus much; and I took Council with myself not to Abbreviate it. For it is so Compact and Pithy, That he that likes a little must like it all. Plutarch gives a Rule for Sanity to him that Eats a Tortoise, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Eat it up all, or not a whit, for a Modicum will Gripe the Belly: He that fills himself with a great deal shall procure a Cleansing Evacuation. So the Speech of a Great Orator is Instructive, when it is entire: Pinch it in with an Epitome, you mangle the meaning, and avile the Eloquence. From Words he fell to Practice; Industry, I think was his Recreation; for certain he had not a drop of Lazy Blood in his Veins. He filled up every hour of the Day and a good part of the Night, with the dispatch of some public and necessary business. And though as a Counselor of State, and both as a Peer and Speaker in Parliament he had many diversions, yet none of the work in Chancery was diminish'd; which Attendance grew so light and familiar to him, that in a little while it seemed to be no more a burden to him, then the Water is to the Fishes, under which they Swim. He would not excuse himself a day, for any the most lawful pretence; he would not impart himself to the Star-Chamber or Parliament, when it sat, before he had spent two hours, or more, among the Pleaders. Two or three Afternoons he Allotted every Week to hear Peremptories. By which unequal'd diligence, commonly he dispatched five or six Causes in a morning, according to the quality, or measure of the Points that came to be debated. He did not only labor Six Days, but as it follows in the Commandment, He did all that he had to do. For of all the Causes that were usually set down for hearing, he never left any of them unheard at the End of the Term; which was both an especial Ease and Comfort to the Subject; and a full Testimony of his labor and ability, to expedite so many Knotty and Spacious Causes, that came before him, in as little time as the Clients could expect. The Survey of an whole year will give better satisfaction, then every Term a part by itself. Whereupon he Writes thus to the Lord Marquess July 10. 1622. In this Place I have now served His Majesty one whole Year diligently and honestly: But to my Hearts Grief, by Reason of my Rawness and Inexperience very unprofitably. Yet if his Majesty will Examine the Reg • ers, there will be found more Causes finally Ended this one Year, then in all the Seven Years preceding. How well ended I confess ingeniously I know not. His Majesty and your Lordship (who no doubt have Received some Complaints, though in your Love 〈…〉 from me) are in that the most competent Judges. A Testimony of Great Labor; and not more Copious then Clear: For the Registry could not I ye. Thus Joseph in his faithful Service under King Pharaoh, gathered in as much in one Year, as was wont to be Reap'd in Seven. And truly it becomes him that he was not confident, but mistrustful of himself, least some Waspish and Vexatious men had attempted to lay open some Errors to his Superiors, which should escape him in fixing so many Planetary Causes. But there was I had almost said none. Yet then I had forgotten Sir John Bourcher, who complained to both Houses of Parliament; that his matters in debate were forever shut up in a Decree, before his Counsel was ready, having some Allegations which expected more time to be Ripen'd; still more time? The business of this Knight was Arbitrated with consent by the Chief Baron Jac. 7. That Arbitration he would not stand to. It was Decreed in full hearing by the Lord Elsmore, Jac. 10. This did not please him. Yet it was Order'd to the same Effect by the Lord Bacon, Jac. 17. And after this the same Decree was confirmed by the Lord William 's, Jac. 19. Having the consent of Justice Hutton, Justice Chamberlain, and the Master of the Rolls, with an hundred Pounds advantage more, then was given him before. And was not this Suit come to Adultage for Trial after Seventeen Years Vexation in it first and last? If a Suitor shall have Power to define when his Cause is sufficiently heard, a Fidler would not undertake the Office of a Judge; Sir John durst not have presumed to this Boldness, but that he was encouraged by his Father-in-Law the Lord Sheffeild, who was a Scholar, a Judicious Lord, and of great Experience, that knew well enough the Futility of this Appeal (for it was discharged with a general Rebuke.) But the Spirits usually beat with an un even Pulse, when they stir too much in pity to our own Relations.

89. Some others there were; I yet remember it, of the coarsest Retainers to Court, who lived by picking up Crumbs that fell from Stale Bread, these Whisper'd their Discontents, that Causes were cut off too soon, that delay would bring them to a more considerate Ripeness. Sic vero dificiente crimine laidem ipsam in vituperium vertit invidia, says Tully; but he is sufficiently praised, who is disprais'd for nothing but his Virtues. Dispatch was a Virtue in him. And all his Sails were filled with a good Wind, to make riddance in his Voyage. He was no Lingerer by Nature; and kindly warmth is quick in digestion: Our time is but a Span long, but he that doth much in a short Life products his Mortality. To this he had such a Velocity of mind, that out of a few Words discreetly spoken, he could apprehend the Strength and Sirrup of that which would follow. This is that Ingeny which is so much commended 4. Tuseul. Multarum rerum brevi tempore percussio; such a Wit is ever upon an Hill, and fees the Champain round about him. And it was most contrary to his incorruptness to prolong an hearing as Felix did, Act. 24.26. Till Money purchased a convenient Season. He never was Accus'd of it. Quod nemo novit, poene non fit, as Apuleius says 10. Metam. 'Twas never known, therefore 'twas never done, is a Moral and a Charitable inference. Guess his great Spirit from this Essay, and how he Coveted no Man's Silver or Gold, that when he was in his lowest Want and Misery in the Tower, Sequestred of all he had, yet he Refus'd the offers of his Friends with this Reason, that he knew not how to take from any but a King. There is another Rub in the way sometimes, Court Messages, and Potentates Letters; for, alas, in many Causes there are great Betters that are no Gamesters. But he had a Spell against that Inchantment; an invincible Courage against Enmity and Envy. I will truly Translate Mamertinus his Qualities upon him, of which he boasted in the Panegyric for his Consulship, Animi magm adversus pecuniam, liberi adversus offensas, constantis adversus invidiam. Those Magnificoes, that were Undertakers for perdue Causes, gave him over quickly for a stubborn Man, that would go his own Pace, and make no Halt for their sakes, that sat in the Gallery of great ones above him. As Cicarella says of Sixtus Quintus, in his Addition to Platina, In ore omnium erat, nunc tempus Sixti est, it is not as it was, these are Pope Sixtus 's days: No Man now can work a Reprieve for a Malefactor. So this Magistrate was passive to many Solicitations, but strenuously Resolv'd to be Active for none; for whatsoever Cause was brought before him, he could instantly discern the true Face from the Vizard, and whether the Counsel did not endeavor rather to shut it up, then to open it. It asked him a little time to Learn, as it were, the use of the Compass, how to Sail into the Vast Ocean ef Pleadings, and not to creep always by the Shore: To follow the Pleaders in their own method, and to speak to them in their own Dialect, nay to reduce them from starting out, and to Rectifie every Sprain and Dislocation. See what a Globe of Light there is in natural Reason, which is the same in every Man; but when it takes well, and riseth to perfection, it is called Wisdom in a few.

90. The Terms of the Common Law, as in all other Professions and Sciences, seem Barbarous to the Vulgar Ear, and had need to be familiariz'd with pre-acquaintance; which, being the Primar of that Rational Learning, he had inur'd himself to it long before, and was nothing to seek in it. Yet one of the Bar thought to put a Trick upon his Fresh-man-ship, and trouled out a Motion crammed like a Granada with obsolete Words, Coins of far fetched Antiquity; which had been long disus'd, worse then Sir Thomas Mores Averia de Wethernham among the Masters of Paris. In these misty and recondit Phrases, he thought to leave the New Judge feeling after him in the Dark, and to make him blush, that he could not Answer to such mystical Terms, as he had Conjur'd up. But he dealt with a Wit that was never entangl'd in a Bramble Bush; for with a serious Face he Answer'd him in a cluster of most crabbed Notions, picked up out of Metaphysics and Logic, as Categorematical, and Syncategorematical, and a deal of such drumming stuff, that the Motioner being Foil'd at his own Weapon, and well Laugh'd at in the Court, went home with this New Lesson, That he that Tempts a Wise man in Jest, shall make himself a Fool in Earnest. Among many Gown-men at the Bar this was but one, and that one proved a solid Pleader; and sound at the hands of a more reconcilable man, more than common Favor, who procured him Knighthood, and did send him his help in another Capacity Ten Years after, to advance his Fortunes. To proceed; his Judgment could not be dazzled with Dark and Exotic Words; they were proper to the matters in Hand. The difficulty that he did most contend with, was against Intrigues, and immethodical Pleadings; so that he had much to do to force the Council to gather up their Discourses more closely, and to hold them to the Point in Hand, checking Excursions and impertinent Ramblings with the Rebuke of Authority, though it seemed a little Brackish to some Palates. With a little Experience he gathered up such Ripeness of Judgment, and so sharp-sighted a knowledge, that upon the opening of a Bill, he could readily direct the Pleaders, to that which was the Issue between the Plaintiff, and Defendant, and constrein them to speak to nothing, but the very Weight of the Cause, from the Resolution whereof the whole business did attend it's dispatch: So true it is which Nepos delivers in the Life of Atticus, Facile existimari potest Prudentiam esse quandam Divinati nem. Prudence is a kind of Divination; let it Taste a little, and it can guess at all. It needs not to have all the Windows opened, when it can see Light enough through a Chink. On the Judges part it is not Patience but Weakness, not to abridge Prolixity of Words, that he may come the sooner to the Truth. And on the Advocates part 'tis Affectation, to seem more careful of his cause then he is, when he speaks more then he needs. Thus the Lord Keeper behaved himself constantly and indifferently towards every Bill and Answer, using the same method, the same diligence, the same Application of his great Gifts to all Causes, following the Council which Q. Cicero gave to his Brother, de Petiti. Consul. It a paratus ad dicendum venito, quasi in singulis caulis Judicium de omni ingenio futurum sit; so he carried himself, as if he his whole sufficiency were to be Tried, upon every Decree he made. I shall say much, I think enough, to his Approbation, that in the Trial of two Terms, the Councei at the Bar were greatly contented with him. The Primipili or Vantguard of them, were such as filed up their place with great Glory in their Generation. The Chief among them, that did deserve to Fight next the Standard my Memory perhaps is not Trusty enough after the space of 30 years to remember all those Worthies) are filled in the Margent, like a Row of Cedars, and are set down in those Titles which they carried then, which most of them by their Deserts did far out-grow. But these contributed all they could to his Credit, with as much Observance, with as great Reverence, with as full Applause and Praise, as could be required from ingenious Gentlemen, towards one that was a Stranger to their Studies; whose acceptance, no doubt, was a Whetstone to his Industry.

In the first Term that he came abroad into Westminster-Hall, a Parliament sat in it's second Session; wherein by Command from the King, he spake to both Houses. Of which Speech thus my Lord of Buckingham in a Letter to him dated Novemb. 24.

This is laid aside by some negligence, the more is the pity, that it cannot he found. But here are two credible Witnesses, how well he could open the great Affairs of the Kingdom; for the best of Orators gave this Rule to Brutus, N • m disertus esse potest in eo quod nesciat, no man can speak well to that, which he doth not understand. At this time I find in safe Records, how advisedly he carried himself in the House of Peers, upon the starting of two particulars. The Priviledg of the Nobility was discuss'd, and ready to be determined finally by the more Active part, that they should take no Oath, save only by their Honor; which through his Intercession was laid aside for these Reasons. That the Word of God allows of no Swearing for the finding out of Truths and deciding of Controversies, but by an Invocation of the Name of God: Quod confirmatur, per cortius confirmatur; and it is God's Glory that his Name, and no other, should be accounted more certain then anything in the World. In all Controversies, the last Appeal is to him, and to none beside, because there is none above him. The last Appeal is ever to the highest; therefore we make no further Inquisition for Truth; after our furthest provocation to the Lord in Heaven. In Assertory Oaths we Swear, That thereby we may put an End to contentious Causes: And it is not Man's, but God's Honor to end them, who is the God of Peace, and that maketh men to be of one mind. Moreover our best consulting Divines collect, that the Ground of an Oath builds upon his holy Name, because He is most True, and cannot Deceive; likewise because he is Omniscient, and cannot be ignorant; and therefore to be the only due Witness for all contentious matters, where there is no other Witness. The Honor of the Peerage is a very Estimable Prerogative; but a Creature to Swear, is to put our Soul upon a Religious Action: And shall a Creature be the Object of Religious Worship? God forbid: shall a Creature be brought in as the Witness of all Truth? Or shall it be Raised up as the Judge which avengeth all falsehood? There is none but God that is privy to all Truth: And Vengeance belongs to none but him, that can cast both Body and Soul into Everlasting Fire. He added, that singularities are ever to be suspected; and challenged any man to show the contrary, that no other Oath, but In the Name of God was used in Solemn Trials, at that day, in any part of Christendom. And he bad them look to themselves at home, how prejudicial it would prove to all Courts of Justice; and how unwillingly the Gentry and lower condition'd people of the Land would be brought unto it: How loath they would be to refer their Free-hold, their Meum and Tuum to the protestation of Honor; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . If it be stood upon, that in the highest Criminal Causes of Life and Death, their Lordships vouched their Honor only to Guilty or not Guilty, it might receive this Satisfaction. If a Peer be produced as a Witness against another Peer before the Lord High Steward, he lays his hand upon the Book, and takes his Oath. No man can be cast by the deposition of a Witness that is not Sworn. But when the Peers bring their Verdict into the same Court against a Peer, they lay not their Hand upon the Book, but upon their Breast; which is a Sign that their vouchment by their Honor in that Trial is not an Oath. Indeed it is not. For their Lordships utter it not Via juramenti, but Via Comparationis That is, they do not Swear by their Honor, but pronounce comparatively that as sure as they are Honorable, they find the Prisoner Guilty or not Guilty. Like to that frequent expression in Scripture, As thy Soul Liveth, it is thus and thus. The living Soul comes not in as an Oath, but as a Comparison. As who should say, As sure as your Soul lives, or as sure as Pharaoh lives, I affirm the Truth. Thus far he contended, and to general Satisfaction. It was much that in his Novitiatship in that house, he durst contradict such mighty ones in so tender a Cause. But a Wise man commends the Wisest of Heathen men, Socrates for that Gallant Freedom; 1 Tus • ul, adhibuit liberam contumaciam à magnitudine animi inductam, non à Superbiâ 'It is Pride that makes men obstinate in their Errors: But magnanimity makes them confident in the Truth.

91. In the same morning while this Debate continued very long, he had another Pass with a Master-Fencer. For the question being canvas'd thoroughly concerning Oaths, an Aged Bishop, very infirm in health excused himself, if he could not stay so long; whereupon some Lord's, who bore a grudge to that Apostolical Order, cried out, they might all go home if they would; and not contented with that Vilipendency, grew higher in their demand, and would have this contempt against the Prelates inserted in their Journal Book. The Earl of Essex pressed it more passionately then the rest; who wanted Theological Advice about the strict Obligation of Oaths, as much as any Christian, which appeared by his Attempts and Practice about twenty years after. But nothing would now quiet his eager Spirit, but to put it to the question, whether the Lordships were not content to open their Doors wide, and to let all the Bishops out, if they would. The Lord Keeper Replied with a prudent Animosity,

With which Words of irrefragable Wisdom, that Spirit was conjur'd down, as soon as it was raised. But when the House was swept, and made clean, it returned again in our dismal Days, with seven other Spirits worse than itself. The Motion was then in the Infancy, and we heard no more of it, till it was grown to be a Giant, and dispossessed our Reverend Fathers of their ancient Possession, and Primigenious Right by Club-Law. Let my Apostrophe plead with our Nobles in no Man's Words but Cicero 's to Cataline, In vastitate omnium, tuas possessiones sacrosanctas futuras putas? Could your Lordships imagine to limit Gun-Powder and Wild-Fire to blow up one half of the Foundation, and to spair the other half? When the Pillars of the Church were plucked down, could the Pillars of the State be strong enough to support the Roof of their own Dignity? They should have thought upon it, when they pill'd the Bark off the Tree, that the Tree would flourish no more; but quickly come to that Sentence, Cut it down: Why cumbereth it the Ground?

92. Our Forefathers, when they met in Parliament, were wont to auspicate their great Counsels with some remarkable Favor of Privilege or Liberality confer'd upon the Church. And because the Prelates and their Clergy were more concerned than any in the Benefit of the Statutes made; before the Art of Printing was found out, they were committed to the Custody of their Religious Mansions. The Reward of those Patriots was like their Work; and God did show he was in the midst of them: They began in Piety, they proceeded in Prudence, they acted marvelously to the Maintainance of the Public Weal; and they Concluded in Joy and Concord. But since Parliaments, of latter Editions, have gone quite another way, to hearken to Tribunitial Orators that defamed the Ministry, to encourage Projectors, that would disseize them of their Patrimony, when the Nobles (from whom better was expected) wax'd weary of them, who were Twins born in the same Political Administration: Samnium in Samnio: We may look for England in England, and find nothing but New England. How are we fallen from our ancient Happiness? How Diseased are we grown with the Running Gout of Factions? How often have those great Assemblies been cut off (unkindly on both sides) before their Consultations were mellow, and fit for Digestion? We look for much, and it came to little: Was it not because the Lord did blow it away? Hag. 1.9. It is not good to be busy in the Search of Uncertainties that are not pleasing; yet they that will not trouble themselves to consider this Reason, may find divers Irritations to Jars in the Causes below; but I believe they will not reduce them better to the Cause of Causes from above. From hence came Fierceness and Trouble upon this Session, and God sent evil Angels among them, Psal. 78.49. For the House of Commons seemed to the King to step out of their Way, from the Bills they were preparing, into the Closet of his Majesty's Counsels: which put him to make Answer to them in a Style that became his Sovereignty. The King's Son-in-Law taking upon him the Title of King of Bohemia, sore against the Father-in Law's Mind, the Emperor being in lawful Possession of that Kingdom, over-run the greatest part of the Palatinate with some Regiments of Old Soldiers, whereof the most were Spanish, under the Conduct of Marquess Spinola. Our King received the Injury no less than as a deep Wound gash'd into his own Body: And all true English Hearts, which did not smell of the Roman Wash, were greatly provoked with the Indignity. Prince and People were alike affected to maintain the Palsgrave in his Inheritance, but several Ways. They that are of one Mind, are not always of one Passion. The King assay'd to stop the Fury of the Imperialists by Treaty. The Votes of the bigger Number of the House of Commons propounds nothing but War with Spain; and this they could not do, but in Civility they must first break off the Treaty of Marriage, then in Proposition between the King's dearest Son, and the Infanta Maria. Neither of which pleased his Majesty in the Matter, and but little in the Form, that his Subjects should meddle in those high Points, which he esteemed no less than the Jewels of his Crown, before he had commended them to be malleated upon their Anvil. The Matter, that the Match with the Spanish Princess should be intended no more, was dis-relishable, because he esteemed her Nation, above any other, to be full of Honor in their Friendship, and their Friendship very profitable for the enriching of Trade. The Lady herself was highly famed for Virtue, Wisdom, and Beauty. The Noble House, of which she came, had ever afforded fortunate Wives to the Kings of this Land, and gracious with the People. Her Retinue of her own Natives should be small, and her Portion greater than ever was given with a Daughter of Spain. And in the League, that should run along with it, the Redintegration of the Prince Elector in the Emperors Favor, whom he had offended, should be included. Therefore his Majesty wrote thus to the Parliament: We are so far engaged in the Match, that we cannot, in Honor, go back, except the King of Spain perform not such things as we expect at his Hands. Some were not satisfied (of which more in a larger Process) that our Prince should marry a Wise of the Pontifician Religion. For as Man's Soul contracts Sin, as soon as it toucheth the Body, so their severe and suspicious Thoughts were as confident, as if they had been the Luster of Prophetick Light, that a Protestant could not but be corrupted with a Popish Wedlock. Therefore the King took in hand to cure that Melancholy Fit of Superstitious Fear, with this Passage that he sent in his Message at the same time: If the Match shall not prove a Furtherance to Religion, I am not worthy to be your King. A well-spirited Clause, and agreeable to Holy Assurance, that Truth is more like to win, than lose. Could the Light of such a Gospel as we profess, be eclipsed with the Interposition of a single Marriage? A faint hearted Soldier coming near in his March, to an Ambush unawares, Cry'd out to his Leader Pelopidas, Incidimus in hosts, We are fallen among the Enemy. No, Man, (says his Captain) Hosts inciderunt in n • , the Enemy is fallen among us, and into our Power. So to such as talk timorously, We shall fall into the Mis-persuasions of a Catholic Lady, and her Household; It may well be answered, Be not distrustful of a good Cause, they are fallen among us, and, if God love them, they will join with us.

93. The other thing in debate seemed very harsh and boisterous to his Majesty, that sundry Leaders in the House of Commons would provoke him to proclaim open War with Spain. To which he replied, in a long Letter to the Speaker, That he had sent some Forces to keep the strong Towns of his Son-in-Law from the Imperialists. That he had sent 30000 l. to those Princes of Germany that promised to assist him, in Jealousy of their own Territories; and had they done their Part, that handful of Men which he sent, had sufficiently done theirs. He told them, that he treated sedulously, at that time, for Peace; but it would be a very Contradiction, at the same Instant, to be a Party in an open War. And he gravely minded them, that he rather expected Thanks for a long Peace, the great Blessing of God, than to stir him up to one of the greatest Plagues, which the Lord threatens to a sinful Kingdom. That many of his Subjects, wanton with Ease and Plenty, and pampered with Rest, desired a Change, though they knew not what they would have. But did these Words, so wise and melting, compose the Humors of the Passionate? No, The Stoics said well, that from all Words and Actions, there were two Handles to be catched hold of, a Good and a Bad. The Virtuous interpret all to the best, and lay hold on the Good: The Quarrelsome apply all to the worst, and lay hold of the Bad. Some that were Christianly Principled, and were desirous to contrive every way how to spare the Effusion of so much Human Blood, admired the Lenity and Moderation of the King, and looked up to God, that he would bring this Work to pass by other Means, than unruly and unsatiate Armies. But some cried out in Ar. W. Language, That the King's Heart was not advanced to glorious Atchievements, P. 172. Or as another of the same Tribe, That howsoever the World did believe, that he was unwilling to fight it out, from a Religious Ground, yet it was no other but a cowardly Disposition, that durst not adventure. Others would find a Knot in a Rush, and laid the Blame upon his Learning, that did intenerate his Heart too much, and make him a Dastard. These, belike, were not acquainted with the Exploits of the Graecian Xenophon, the Roman Caesar, the English Sidney, Montjoy and Raleigh, Gentlemen that were renowned both in Arms and Letters. Yet such as were transported with Warmth to be a sighting, prevailed in Number, before the Pacificous. Well hath Pliny noted, Epist. Lib. 2. In publico concilio nihil est tam inaequale quàm aequali as ipsa: nam cum sit impar prudentia, par omnium jus est. 'It is the Inequality of that equal Right which all have in public Councils, that every Puny hath a decisive Voice as much as Nestor. But for all the Sword-men were so forward, the King's Head was in Travel with Hopes of Peace. He considered that even just Wars could not be prosperous, unless they were begun with Unwillingness; for they are the first Felicity of bad Men, and the last Necessity of good Men. Macrobius observes in Bacchus, the great Invader of India, That he carried his Spear with a Trail of Ivy twin'd about it, Quod vinculo patientiae obligandi sunt impetui Belle: Because the Fierceness of Fighting should be rained in with the Bridle of Patience. Lofty Spirits, more Heathenish than Evangelical, account one Victory worth ten thousand Lives. But he that looks for the true Life above, is sure, that Mercy and Tenderness of Heart are better than a thousand Victories. E • saws indeed was not the Soldiers Friend; but thus far he may be heard in this Cause, Epist. Aute. August. Hist. Idem omnes pariter adnitantur ne Bellum sit, po • iùs quàm ut bello vincant: 'It is glorious before Men to fight well: 'tis blessed before God not to sight at all. Warlike Motions are a Trial of Gallantry for a time; but all the Pages of Horror, Calamity, and Desolation attend them upon the Place, where the Camp continues. And why may not that continue till an Infant come to gray Hairs? 'It is easy to set the Day when Wars shall begin, but none can tell the Year, nor the Age when they will end. Metellus had been brought up in such Service, none could tell Bacchus better than himself, Bellum sumi facile, ceterum aegerime dirimi, non in ejusdem potestate initium ejus & sinem esse. And if War last long, Who can feed that Cormorant with so much as it will devour? What Millions and Millions of Coin have been exhausted to maintain this great Curse of God in our Land? 'tis thrice as chargeable to transport an Army. If great Contributions be exacted Year by Year, What Outcries will the People make? And if we be not shorn to the Quick, nay, if we be not flay'd to advance Payments, What Out-cries will the Soldiers make? 'It is remarkable, that the Commons in this Parliament voted to give one entire Subsidy to the King, to begin the War. They were not ignorant that five times that Money was not enough to Rig a Navy, and to receive a good Army in it at the Sea-Side. What a poor Stock was this to set up such a Trade? a Sign they were neither able nor willing to maintain a War, but at the Tongues end. Finally, The King having deliberated upon this Hurry to Battle, opened the very Oracle of his Heart in this manner to some that were near him: That a King of England had no reason, but to seek always to decline a War, though he carried his Forces abroad; for the Array, or Sword was in his Hand, and the Purse in the Peoples. His Sword could not fight without their Purse to maintain it. Suppose a Supply were levied to begin the Fray; What Certainty could He have, that He should not want enough to make an honorable End? If he called for Subsidies, and did not obtain, he must retreat ingloriously, to the Wounding of his own Honor, and the Nations. If he were instant to have Succor, and were resolved never to give over till he had it, after he had craved it, as if he had begged an Alms, he must take it with such Conditions, as would break the Heart of Majesty, through Capitulations that some Members would make, who desire to improve the Reputation of their Wisdom, by retrenching the Dignity of the Crown in Popular Declamations. For 'twas likely they would ask the Change of the Church, of the Laws, of the Court Royal, the Displacing of his Officers, the Casheiring of his Servants. Either at this Rate he must buy the Soldiers Pay, or be Scandaliz'd in the Army, to the endangering of a Mutiny, that he would yield nothing to save them from Starving, who had jeoparded their Lives for him and his Children. All this praemised, I cannot dive into his Nature as some do, that knew no more than I, to say he was no Man of Courage; but out of the Pith of his Arguments, I can collect, he was a Commander of Reason. Happy those that lived under his Scepter, who could say, Hujus pacificis debemus moribus omnes—Quod cuncti gens una sumus. Plutarch compares Romulus and Numa, that the former did all he could to train the People to Fight, Numa did his best to suppress Wars: Non ob ignavia sed innocentiae causa: not out of Timorousness, but of Harmlesness. (This is he that they say had the Goddess Aegeria to his Dry-Nurse, whereas Romulus had a Wolf to his Wet-Nurse.) So I will define it in the Peroration, that it was Harmlesness and Innocency that taught King James not to leave his Kingdom naked to the Storms of War, and disrobed of the Mantle of Peace.

94. Now to go on. If the Matter debated about breaking of the Match, and Proclaiming War with Spain had not disgusted, the Modus Procedendi, or Form how the Commons took in hand, would have given less Displeasure. But to keep them from hunting after such Royal Game, his Majesty confines them into their own Purlues: Not to meddle (says he) with anything concerning our Government, or deep Matters of State; and namely, not to deal with our dearest Son's Match with the Daughter of Spain; nor to touch the Honor of that King, or any other our Friends and Confederates. And also not to meddle with any man's Particulars, which have their due Motion in any Our Courts of Justice. To which they Answer, That they acknowledge it belonged to his Majesty alone to resolve of Peace and War, and of the Marriage of the most Noble Prince, his Son. Nor did they assume to themselves any Power to determine of any Part thereof, but to demonstrate those things to his Majesty, which they were not assured could otherwise come so fully and clearly to his Knowledge (which are mannerly, but plain Shifts. ) In the L'enocoy they rise higher, That his Majesty did seem to abridge them of the ancient Liberty of Parliament, for Freedom of Speech, an Inheritance received from their Ancestors. The Apple of Contention at last grew only upon the Stalk of those Words. The King rejoyns unto it thus: Although We cannot allow of the Style, calling it your ancient and undoubted Inheritance; but could rather have wished that ye had said, that your Privileges were derived from the Grace and Permission of our Ancestors and Us (for most of them grew from Precedents, which shows rather a Toleration than inheritance:) Yet We are pleased to give you Our Royal Assurance, that as long as you shall continue yourselves within the Limits of your Duty, We shall be as careful to maintain and preserve your Lawful Liberties and Privileges, as ever any of Our Predecessors were; nay, as to preserve Our own Royal Prerogative. Had Queen Elizabeth sent such Lines to any of the Parliaments called in her Blessed Reign, her Name had been advanced for a gracious and a renowned Lady. It was this, if not alone, yet chiefly, that made her Government more Popular at Home, and Glorious Abroad, than the Kings her Successors (for they wanted nothing of Piety, Wisdom and Justice;) that she never encountered with Harsh, Gainsaying, Tumultuous Parliaments. But what Requital had King James sot his gentle Words, perfumed with sweet Gums? Why, they begat another Remonstrance, full of strong Contestation, That the Liberties, Franchizes, Privileges and Jurisdictions of Parliament are the ancient and undoubted Birth-right and Inheritance of the Subjects of England, and so forth along with every Note above Ela. Yet that no Diversion might be made, nor Cessation of weightier Business for this, the Lord Keeper writes to the Lord Marquess, Decemb. 16. in these Words.

This wise Letter cuts the Controversy by a Thred. And this Office, to mitigate that Passage, Sir Humphry May performed singularly to his Praise, yet nothing to Success. Hereupon, on the 21st of December, this Session was Prorogued till February the 8th, but utterly Dissolved by Proclamation Jan. 7. Surely every good man wished that the King and they had embraced at Parting. Plutarch, in the Life of Dion, tells of a small Error in Nature, which happened in Syracusa, That a Sow Farrow'd, and her Pigs had no Ears. That the Sooth-Sayers portended to Dionysius the Governor, a great Mischief upon it, that the People would be Disobedient, and hear nothing that was Commanded. There cannot be a more ominous Presage of Evil to come, than when the Magistrate hath lost the Happiness of a persuasive Tongue, and the People of a listening and obedient Ear.

95. An Evil befall that Archimago, that Fiend of Mischief, that set Variance between the Head and the Body: The Lord Keeper, who saw about him, and before him, understood who would have the worst of it in the End. For the next Parliament is not weakened in its Power or Privileges by the Dissolution of the Former; but a King grows-less than himself, if he depart asunder, from that public Assembly in a Paroxism, or sharp Fit, as Paul and Barnabas went one from another, Acts 15.39. Therefore he read nothing so much to his Majesty, as to study it, next to his Faith in Christ, how to close with the Desires of that High Court, when it assembled again, that it might be like a Mixture of Roses and Wood-binds in a sweet Entwinement. And for his Part, he was willing to serve him in it, rather than in anything, to be unto him as the Black Palmer was to the Fairy Knight in Mr. Spencer 's Moral Poem, to guide his Adventure from all distemperate Eruptions: Which was put home: And let it rest a while, till time brought it on, that he was the Days-man of Success. For now I remove him into his Place in Star-Chamber; a Court, though buried now, yet not to be forgotten. Cambden, who kept the Nobleness of his Country from Oblivion, says of it, Curia cam • rae s • llatae, si vetustatem spectemus, est antiquiss • ma: Si dignitatem, honoratissima. For the Antiquity, the Lord Cook, in his Jurisdiction of Courts, looks no higher than 28. of Edw. 3. This Lord Keeper cites a Precedent out of his own Search of Records, of a Baron Fin'd and Imprison'd by it, in the 16th of Edw. 2. as it is quoted, Cabal. P. 58. Of what standing it was before (for the Evidence doth not run as if then it were newly born) to me is uncertain. For the Dignity, that famous Judge I mentioned, lifts up his Style, that it is the most honorable Court (our Parliament excepted) that is in the Christian World. Jurisdic. P. 65. The Citations of it are to cause to appear Coram Rege & Concilio; for the King, in Judgment of Law, is always in the Court when it fits, and King James did twice in Person give Sentence in it. The Lord's, and others of the Privy Council, with the two Chief Justices, or two other Justices, or Barons of the Exchequer in their Absence, are standing Judges of that Court. For in Matters of Right and Law, some of the Judges are always presumed to be of the King's Counsel. The other Lord's of Parliament, who are properly De magno Concilio Regis, are only in Proximâ poteentiâ, of this Council, and are actually Assessors, when they are specially called. These Grandees of the Realm (who cannot fit to hear a Cause under the Number of Eight at the least) ennoble this Court with their Presence and Wisdom, to the Admiration of Foreign Nations, and to the great Satisfaction of ourselves; for none can think himself too great to be Try'd for his Misdemeanors, before a Convention of such Illustrious Senators. And, as Livy says, Nihil tam aequandae libertati prodest, quàm potentissimum quemque posse causam dicere. As touching the Benefit that the Star-Chamber did bring, thus that Atlas of the Law, the Lord Cook (Et cujus pars magna fuit) says in the same Place, That the right Institution, and ancient Orders thereof being observed, it keepeth all England in Quiet. Which he maintains by two Reasons. First, Seeing the Proceeding according to the Laws and Customs of this Realm, cannot, by one Rule of Law, suffice to punish, in every Case, the Enormity of some great and horrible Crimes; this Court dealeth with them, to the end the Medicine may be according to the Disease, and the Punishment according to the Offence. Secondly, To curb Oppression and Exorbitancies of great Men; whom inferior Judges and Jurors (though they should not) would, in respect of their Greatness, be afraid to offend. Indeed in every Society of Men, there will be some Bashawes, who presume that there are many Rules of Law, from which they should be exempted. Aristotle writes it as it were by Feeling, not by Guess; Polit. 4. c. 11. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . They that were at the Top among the Greeks, nor would be ruled, nor would be taught to be ruled. Therefore this Court professed the right Art of Justice, to teach the Greatest, as well as the Meanest, the due Construction of Good Behaviour. I may justly say, that it was a Sea most proper for Whale-Fishing; little Busses might cast out Nets for Smelts and Herring. So says the great Lawyer, Ordinary Offences, which may sufficiently be punished by the Proceeding of the Common Laws, this Court leaveth to the ordinary Courts of Justice; Ne dignitas hujus Curiae vilesceret.

96. Accordingly the Lord Keeper Williams having Ascended by his Office to be the first Star in the Constellation, to illuminate that Court, he was very Nice, I might say prudent, to measure the Size of Complaints that were preferred to it, whether they were knots, fit for such Axes. A number of contentious Squabbles he made the Attorney's Pocket up again, which might better be compounded at home by Country Justices. It was not meet that the Flower of the Nobility should be called together to determine upon Trifles. Such long Wing'd Hawks were not to be cast off, to fly after Field-Fares. The Causes which he designed to hear, were Grave and Weighty, wherein it concerned some to be made Examples for Grievous Defamations, Perjuries, Riots, Extortions, and the like. Upon which Occasions his Speeches were much heeded, and taken by divers in Ciphers, which are extent to this day in their Paper Cabinets. To which I Appeal, that they were neither long nor Virulent. For though he had Scope on those Ocasions to give his Auditors more then a Taste of his Eloquence, which was clear, sententious, fraught with Sacred and Moral Allusions, yet he detested nothing more, then to insult upon the Offendor with girds of Wit. He foresaw that Insolencies and Oppressions are public provocations to bury a Court in it's own Shame. And what could exasperate more, then when an unfortunate man hath run into a Fault, to show him no human Respect? Nay, to make him pass through the two malignant Signs of the Zodiaque, Sagitary and Scorpio? That is, to wound him first with Arrows of sharp-pointed Words, and then to Sting him with a Scorpiack censure. Indeed, if there be an extreme in showing too much mercy, I cannot Absolve the Lord Keeper. For many, I confess, censured him for want of deeper censures; said he was a Friend to Publicans and Sinners, to all delinquents, and rather their Patron then their Judge. 〈◊〉 was so oftentimes, when he scented Malice in the Prosecution. It was so sometimes, when he laid his Finger upon the Pulse of human Frailty. Brethren, if a Man be overtaken in a Fault, we which are Spiritual Restore such a one in the Spirit of meekness, considering thyself, least thou also be Tempted, Galat. 6.1. Pliny the younger had been faulted, that he had excused some, more then they deserved: Whereupon he Writes to Septitius lib. 7. Ep. Quid mihi invident felicissimum Errorem? Ut enim non sint tales quales à me praedicantur, ego tamen Beatus, quod mihi videntur; Which is to this meaning; Why do you grudge me this Error? they are not so good as I accounted them; but I am happy in my Candor, that I account them better then they are. But first he never condemned an Offender to be Branded, to be Scourg'd, to have his Ears cut. Though that Court hath proceeded to such censure, in time old enough to make Prescription, yet my Lörd Cook adviseth it should be done sparingly upon this Reason, Quod Arbitrio judicis relinquitur, non facile trahit ad effusionem Sanguinis. They that judge by the light of Arbitrary Wisdom should seldom give their sentence to spill Blood. He would never do it; and declined it with this plausible avoidance, as the Arch-Bishop Whitgift and Bancroft, and the Bishop of Winton, the Learned Andrew's, had done before him, that the Canons of Councils had forbidden Bishops to Act anything, to the drawing of blood in a judicial Form. Once, I call to mind, he dispensed with himself; and the manner was pretty. One Flood a Railing Libelling Varlet, bred in the Seminaries beyond Seas, had vented Contumelies bitterer then Gall against many Excellent persons. Among other passages of his Reviling Throat, it was proved against him, that he had said, that our Bishops were no Bishops, but were Lay-men, and Usurpers of that Title. Flood, says the Lord Keeper, Since I am no Bishop in your Opinion, I will be no Bishop to you. I concur with my Lord's (the like I never did before) in your Corporal punishment. Secondly in inflicting pecuniary Mulcts upon him that was found Guilty, he was almost never heard but to concur with the smallest Sum. I would this had been imitated, chiefly by them of the Hierarchy, who managed the judgments of that Court after he retired, I would that favor, which was wont never to be denied to any, had not been forgotten, to take away such a part of an Offenders Estate by Fine, that still he might have Honestum Continementum, an Honest Provision to live upon according to his Place and Dignity. It was never intended to prune away the Loppings, and to cut down the Trunk too. Nothing could be more harsh to tender Ears and Hearts, then such a Torrent of censure as came from Q. Furius against Dolabella 11. Philip. of Tully, he had loaded him with all the severity he could think of, Dixit tamen, si quis eorum qui post se rogati essent graviorem sententiam dixisset, in eam se iturum. But he may get a fall himself, that in the undoing of a Man Gallops to Ride as fast as the Fore-Horse. Thirdly the Lord Keeper's Indulgence was not satisfied to set the lowest Fine, but labor'd for as much mitigation, as could be granted, at the end of the Term. The Officers that are yet alive will say as much, and make me a true Man, that the Fines of the Court were never shorn down so near before: And after the Period of his Presidency, it is too well known how far the Enhancements were stretched. But the wringing of the Nose hringeth forth Blood, Prov. 30.33. The Lord Treasurer Cranfeild, a good Husband for the Entrates of the Exchequer, complained against him to the King, how Delinquents by his Abatements were so slightly punished in their Purse, that the Fees, that came to His Majesty's Enrichment, would not give the Lord's a Dinner once a Week, as the Custom had been, nay, hardly once a Term. Behold now a Man that was Lenissimus sine dispendio Disciplinae, as Ausonius says of Gratian, as full of Lenity as could be, saving the Correction of evil Manners. But it will be said, he was liberal to spare men out of the King's Stock. And no whit less, as I will show it, out of his own. Sir Francis Inglefeild, a prisoner in the Fleet, upon a contempt of a Decree in Chancery, was much overseen, not once nor twice, in bitter Words against the Lord Keeper, which he vented so rashly, that they were certified home. Well says the Lord Keeper, Let him Bark on, but he shall never bite his Chain asunder, till he submit to mine Order. But there came a Complaint, by the Information of Sir J. Bennet, that Sir Francis had not spared to say, before sufficient Witness That he could prove this Holy Bishop Judge had been Bribed by some that far'd well in their Causes. As the Old Adagy goes, he might as easily have proved that Hercules was a Coward. But this contumely could not be passed over: There was a necessity to purge it, or to fall under it in a public hearing. After time given to Sir Francis to make good his Words in Star-Chamber (the Lord Keeper withdrawing himself for that day) he could prove nothing of Corruption against him, no not to the Value of a Doit. So a Large Fine of many thousand pounds was inflicted on Sir Francis to be paid to the King, and to his Minister, whom he had Slander'd. The Lord Keeper in a few days following, sent for the woeful Gentleman, and told him, he would refute his soul Aspersions, and prove upon him, that he scorned the Pelf of the World, or to exact, or make lucre of any man. For, for his own part he forgave him every penny of his Fine, and would crave the same Mercy towards him from the King. Sir Francis blessed himself, to find such Mercy from one, whom he had so grievously provoked, acknowledged the Crime of his Defamation; and was received afterward into some Degree of Acquaintance and Friendship. Many have been undone by those, whom they took to be their Friends: But it is a rare chance to be seen, as in this instance, for a man to be preserved by him, whom he had made his Enemy: Let this suffice to declare, that the Star-Chamber by this Lord's Prudence was the Court of Astraea.

97. Being to take his Picture from Head to Foot, it is pertinent to consider him in the Office of a Privy-Counselor. It was his first Honor, wherein the King called him to serve the Crown, being Sworn to sit at that Board, Three Weeks before he was entrusted with the Great Seal. Many things, and the best of his Abilities in that place, I believe, are un-publishable; for the most of that Work is secret, and done behind the Curtain. He that sits in that Employment, had need to have the whole Common-Wealth in his Head. So says an exact Senator, 2 De Orato: Ad Consilum de Repub. dandum caput est nosse Rempublicam. Many may spit Sentences upon such great matters, and speak little, as worthy Doctor Gauden says, like sealed Pigeons, The less they see, the higher they Fly. But blessed be his Name that gives all good Gifts, he was furnished with strong intellectuals to discern into the means, that concern the Honor, Safety, Defense and Profit of the Realm. Yet it is not enough to have a piercing Eye, unless there be an Heart to affect the public good. Tully began well, but Pontanus makes up the rest in Extolling the Venetian Government. Senatoribus mira in consentiendo integritas, at{que} erga patriam amor incredibilis. And his Lordship was as true an Englishman, as ever gave Counsel in the Royal Palace. Therefore he was more employed by his Majesty then all the rest, to negotiate with Ambassadors; being most Circumspect and tender to yield to nothing, that was not advantageous to our own common Welfare. Neither did the Courts of France and Spain, and the States of Holland, with whom we Acted most, upon Trial how he sisted their Leagues, expect any other from him, He had the most sudden Representation of Reason, to confirm that which he defended of any Man alive. None could abound above him in that Faculty, which made his great Master value him at that weight, that the thrice Noble Lodwick, Duke of Richmond, told him in my hearing, That the King listened to his Judgment, rather than to any Minister of State. Which took the oftener, because if his Majesty were moody, and not inclined to his Propositions, he would fetch him out of that Sullen with a pleasant Je • t, and turn him about with a Trick of Facetiousness.

I find by his own Confession remaining in some Schedules, that he was beholding to Lord Egerton 's Directions, to fill up the Worth of that Place; which were these. First, To open his sincere and intimate Mind in all Advice; which is indeed to give Counsel, and not Words. For he that speaks against his Conscience, to please the King, gives him a dry Flower to smell to. Secondly, Whatsoever was proposed, to examine primarily, if it were just: For he that dare make bold with God for Reasons of State, is not to be trusted by Man. There can be no Reason against Right: Velleius says, that Cato the Heathen was of that Opinion; Cui id solum visum est rationem habere, quod haberet justitiam. 2. If it were for the Honor of the King, for Crown-wisdom must not be soil'd with the Dust of Baseness, but aim at Glory. 3. If it were profitable, as well for the Ages to come, as for the present Use; for present Occasions are mortal, but a Kingdom is immortal. If it hit not every Joynt of Just, Honorable, and Profitable, he voted to lay it aside. He kept other Rules at the Table, but more dispensable. As to mature great Matters, with slow Deliberation, at least to give them a second Hearing, after himself and his Colleagues had laid their Heads upon their Pillows. Next he called upon the King, to follow the beaten Tract of former Precedents: For new ways are visibly the Reproach of ancient Wisdom, and run the Hazard of Repentance. New Stars have appeared and vanished; the ancient Asterisms remain, there's not an old Star missing. Likewise it was his modest, but frequent Motion, that Counsels should not be whispered by one or two in a Corner but delivered openly at the Board by the sworn Ministers. For what avails it, when a Globe of Senators have pressed sound Judgment, if some, for their own Ends, shall overthrow it, who have made Blastus their Friend in Agrippa 's Chamber? Act. 12. The Lord Cook 's Jurisdiction of Courts, Pag. 57. gives it for a special Note of his own Observation, when he was a Privy Counselsellor, that when a thing upon Debate and Deliberation is well resolved at the Council-Table, the Change thereof, upon some private Information, is neither safe nor honorable. As Seneca says, Lib. 2. de Benif. Vota homines parciùs faccrent, si palam facienda essint. If all Prayers were made in the Hearing of a public Assembly, many that are mumbled in Private, would be omitted for Shame. So if all Counsels, offered to Princes, were spread out before many Witnesses. Ear-Wiggs that buzz what they think fit in the retired Closet, durst not infect the Royal Audience with pernicious Glozing, for fear of Scandal or Punishment. Well did the Best of our Poets, of this Century, decipher a Corrupt Court, in his Under-woods, Pag. 227,

Lastly, He deprecated continually, and obtained that private Causes should be distinguished from Public; that Actions of Meum and Tuum should be repulsed from the Council-Board, and kept within the Channel of the Common-Law. But to run along with the Complacemia of the Multitude, with that which was most cried up in the Town by our Gallants at Taverns and Ordinaries, he defy'd it utterly. Populo super • canea est calliditas, says Salust. The Peoples Heads are not lined with the Knowledge of the Kingdoms Government, 'tis above their Perimeter. When they obey, they are in their Wits; when they prescribe, they are mad. Excellently, King James, in one of his Speeches, Who can have Wisdom to judge of things of that Nature (arcana imperii) but such as are daily acquainted with the Particulars of Treaties, and the variable and fixed Connection of Affairs of State; together with the Knowledge of the secret Ways, Ends, and Intention of Princes in their several Negotiations? Otherwise small Mistakings, in Matters of this Nature, may produce worse Effects than can be imagined. He gave this Warning very sagely to his People: what Warning he received from his faithful Servant, the Lord Keeper, shall be the Close of this Subject. His Majesty being careful to set his House within himself in good Order, against he came to the Holy Communion, on the Eve before, he sent for this Bishop as his Chaplain, to confer with him about Sacred Preparation for that Heavenly Feast; who took Opportunity, when the King's Conscience was most tender and humble, to show him the way of a good King, as well as of a good Christian, in these Points. First, To call Parliaments often, to affect them, to accord with them. To which Proposal he fully won his Majesty's Heart. Secondly, To allow his Subjects the Liberty and Right of the Laws, without entrenching by his Prerogative; which he attended to with much Patience, and repented he had not looked into that Counsel sooner. Thirdly, To contract his great Expences,, and to give with that Moderation, that the Prince his Son, and his succeeding Posterity, might give as well as He. In short, to contrive how to live upon his own Revenue, or very near it, that he might ask but little by way of Subsidy, and he should be sure to have the more given him. But of all the three Motions, there was the least Hope to make him hear of that Ear. For though he would talk of Parsimony as much as any, yet he was lavish, and could keep no Bounds in Spending. As Paterculus observes of an Emperor that wrote to the Senate, Triumphum appararent quàm minimo sumtu, sed quantus alias nunquam fuisset. To be a great Saver, and a great Spender, is hard to be reconciled, for it toucheth the Hem of a Contradiction. But since the Benefit of that Counsel would not rest upon the Head of the King, the Honesty of it returned again to him that gave it,

98. Who had the Abilities of two Men in one Breast, and filled up the Industry of two Persons in one Body. He satisfied the King's Affairs in the Civil Theatre, and performed the Bishops Part in the Church of Christ: As 〈◊〉 and Jehoiada were great Judges in the Land, and ministered before the Lord to their Linnen Ephods. The Custody of the Great Seal would not admit him, so long as he kept it, to visit his Diocese himself; but though he was not upon the Soil of the Vineyard, he was in the Tower of it, to overlook the Vine-Dressors. Though he was absent in his Body, he was present in the Care and Watchfulness of his Spirit, and as our Savior said of the Woman that poured her precious Spikenard upon him, Quod potuit, fecit, Marc. 14.8. So I doubt not but God did accept it from him, that he did what he could. He heard often from those whom he had surrogated, and appointed in Office to give him Information; and was so assiduous to inquire after all Occurrences in those many Parochial Towns, that were under his Pastoral Power, that he would be very angry at the least Slackness of his Ministers, and was used to say, They might provoke him with Negligence, but never molest him with double Diligence; for he could read as much in an Hour, as they would write to him in a Week. Mr. W. Boswel his Secretary, and Custos of his Spirituality, and chief Servant under him in this Work, was all in all sufficient for it, eximious in Religion, Wisdom, Integrity, Learning, (as the Netherlands know, where he was long time Agent and Embassador for King Charles. ) Through Mr. Boswell 's Collection, and narrow Search, the Diocesan of so large a Precinct, together with the Names of every Parson and Vicar, was able to speak of their Abilities, and manner of Life, which I think no Memory could carry away; but that it is credible he had some Notes affixed to everyone of their Persons. For he could decipher the Learning of each Incumbent, his Attendance on his Cure, his Conformity, his Behaviour, as well as most men knew them in their respective Proximities. I do not say he had a passive Infallibility, but that he might be abused with untrue Relations. But for the most part a good Head-piece will discover a counterfeit Suggestion, and crush the Truth out of Circumstances. The Sum is, He did as much as a Bishop could do, while, for the space of four Years and a half, Necessity would not suffer him to reside with his Clergy: whom they knew not that they mist him, till he removed from London to live among them, and made a large Amends for his Absence, when he settled at Bugden. In the mean time his Apocrisarii, they, to whom he had committed his Trust and Authority, were among them, to hear their Complaints, and to Judge Right. Now it is a good Rule in St. Cyprian, to a laudable Purpose, though the Father applies it for once to a Bad, Epist. 61. Non potest videri certasse qui vicarios substitute; & qui pro se uno plures succidaneos suggerit. He that fills his Office with a good Co-adjutor, his Absence may be dispenc'd with for a time upon reasonable Cause: For a good Substitute is not a Shadow, but a Substance. Howsoever, whether his Abode were within his Diocese, or without it, he knew that the Calling of a Bishop went along with him in every Place. And whatsoever the standing Weight of his Business was that lay upon him, he remembered to stir up the Gift of God that was in him, by the Putting on of Hands. He Preached constantly in the Abby of Westminster, at the great Festivals of our Savior's Nativity, Resurrection, and Whit-Sunday: On which high Days, he sung the Common Prayers, Consecrated and Administred the Sacrament, the Great Seal of the Righteousness of Faith; besides the Sermon which he Preach'd every Lent in the King's Royal Chapel: Which was Work indeed, being so learnedly performed. For when he put his Hand to that Plough, no man cut up a deeper Furrow, that came into the Pulpit.

99. Such Examples of Preaching were necessary for this time; but very ill followed. For there were Divines more Satyrical than Gospel-spirited, chiefly some among the Lecturers in populous Auditories, that were much overseen. Banding their Discourses either under the Line, or above the Line, against the quiet Settlement of present Government. Some carried their Fire in Dark-Lanthorns, and deplor'd the Dangers that hung over us. Some rail'd out-right, and carried the Brands end openly in their Mouth to kindle Combustion. Both did marvelously precipitate slippery Dispositions into Discontents and Murmurings. The Treatise about the Spanish Match was the Breize that bit them, and made them wild. That was such a Bugbear, that at the Motion of it, some that were conscientious, and some that seemed so, thought that the true Worship of God was a Ship-board, and Sailing out of the Realm. True Religion is the Soul of our Soul, and ought to be more tender to us than the Apple of our Eye. But we all know what will grow out of that Religion, when it is marked with Charity. It is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, 1 Cor. 13. It is not distrustful of it own fastness, as if so good a Fortress could be push'd down with a bruised Reed. It will not raise Tumults and Tragedies from Misapprehensions, that float upon the idle Lake of Suspicion. That the Orthodox Church of England should totter upon this Occasion, God be thanked it was not in proof, nor could be made evident. Sometimes Jealousy is too watchful; sometimes it is fast asleep. When the French Marriage was in Treaty, when it was concluded, when the Navy was under Sail to Land the Royal Bride, the Preachers were modest, and made no stir, not one Zealot complained of for jerking at it with unadvis'd passion. And yet the Daughter of France was a Daughter of the Roman Chair, no less then Donna Maria. She never had Commerce, nor ever like to have, with the Huguenots. The Swarms of her own Train, all Papists by Profession, were ready to abound in our Land far more than from the Spanish Coast. Because of the short and easy passage from Calis to Dover, their Shavelings would fly over as thick as Wasps about a Honey-Pot. This was mightily dreaded, when the Marriage was in some forwardness between Queen Elizabeth, and the Duke of Anjoy, and opposed strongly by some that were hot in the Mouth to their cost. But now no Leprosy was suspected, but from Spanish Popery. Which was aggravated with such Insolencies by some Ecclesiastical Fencers against the King's Honor; and the Sincerity of his Oath which he had taken, to maintain true Religion, that they were at the height of Rage to profess, Come, and let us smite him with the Tongue, Jerem. 18. Vers. 18. So that his Majesty roused up like a Lyon silenced some of the Offenders, imprisoned some, threatened to arraign some for their Lives. Yet after he was come to more Serenity of Passion, the Lord Keeper, who thought as hardly of their Indiscretion as the King himself did, was Advocate for them all, undertook to settle their Brains, and procured them their Liberty and their Livings. Among the rest, he invented a merry Contrivance in the behalf of a very learned and misguided Scholar, a Prisoner upon that score. He told the King that he had heard, that some idle Gossips complained of him grievously, and did not stick to curse him. Why? What Evil have I done to them? says the King. Sir, says the Lord-Keeper, Such a Man's Wife, upon Tidings of her Husband's Imprisonment, fell presently in Labor, and the Midwifes can do her no good to deliver her, but say it will not be effected till she be comforted to see her Husband again: For which the Women that assist her revile you, that her Pains should stick at such a Difficulty. Now Weal away, says the King, send a Warrant presently to release him, lest the Woman perish. There was none that was worse to be tamed than the Lecturer of St. Martins in the Fields, a great Opiniator, who was committed to the Gate-House; and having scarce kissed the Jail, was restored to go abroad, and to Preach again at the Lord Keeper's humble Suit. Who gave him grave Advice, to take some other Theme to treat of before his Auditors, than the King's Counsels and Intentions. And what doth your Lordship prescribe me to Preach upon? says this Frampul Man. What else? (and that you know yourself, says he,) But Jesus Christ, and him Crucified. The next Sunday the Lecturer restored to his Place, takes for his Text 1 Cor. 2. V. 2. I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him Crucified. And withal told the People, That a Bishop and a great Statesman, had restrained him to Preach of that only, and no other Scripture. Of which Indignity when Sir George Calvert, the Principal Secretary, had brought him News, he laughed heartily, and said no more, But let him alone, Sir George, he hath vented his Crotchet: His Notes will not let him continue long on that Subject. He delights in Quarrels, but he shall never be questioned for my sake, if he will not trouble the King. So he dealt with him as Leo says he used Anatasius, Ep. 57. Benigniores circa ipsum, quam justiores esse volumus. A Magistrate is in a great strait, that deals with such a Head-strong Piece. Whether he be summoned to answer before Authority, or passed over in Connivence, his Heart is as fat as Brawn, and hath no feeling of the Public Peace: Dicere si tents aliquid, tacitus ve recedas, Tantundem est, feriunt pariter, Juven. Sat. 3. Yet perhaps when they are left to themselves, they will be soonest weary of themselves. And every Dunghil smells ill, but worst when it is stir'd.

100. A few things more, subjunctive to the former, were thought meet to be Castigated in Preachers at that time. It jarr'd in the Ears of the Discreet to hear some, that exercised in the Church, battle out they knew not what about Regal Authority, and limit which were the Enclosures of Subjection, and which were not. To Be subject to the Higher Powers, is a constant and a general Rule; and Reason can discern, that the Supreme Majesty, which unquestionably is in our King, is inviolable. For omnis motus est super quietem. That all Penalties against them that offend may move orderly, there must be a Power Quiescent, and exempted from that Motion, not subject to Penalty by Man. He that maintains not this Principle, leaps willfully into Confusion, and will never get out of it. But for Active Obedience to Laws and Edicts, 'tis local, and therefore various. Every Nation know their own way best, to what they are tied, as we know ours. He is a Busie-body that trasheth this in a Pulpit. A Minister is pur-blind of that side; and cannot tell how far the Eagle may fly: For it comes not under the Divine's Cap, but under the Judges Coif. A Scholar of Broad-Gates in Oxford, Mr. Knight, that had newly taken Orders, broke a Sermon against this Rock, in April 1022. out of Pareus his Aphorisms on the 13th Chap. ad Rom. (how far forth he understood him I contend not,) he delivered that which derogated much from the safety of Regal Majesty. Dr. Pierce the Vicechancellor, a Learned Governor, found the Crime too great for the Cognizance of his Consistory: But informed Bishop Laud of all Passages, and the Bishop the King. Presently the Floods lift up their Voice: Ruin is thundered against Knight, who had set such a Beacon on Fire in the Face of the University. To the Gate-House he was committed a close Prisoner, till a Charge were drawn up against him, to Impeach him of Treasonable Doctrine. All other Passages I pretermit: And how the Charge came not in, shall be told by and by. But this weak Predicant, that run blindfold into Error and Destruction, lay in Limbo a great while macerated with fear, and want, and hard Lodging. Dr. White, he who purchased Zion-College for the Clergy of London, and confer'd other Beneficence on the place, had like to have kept Knight Company. He Preach'd a Sermon at St. Paul 's Church London, in his Residentiaries Course, though very Aged, and was better able to discharge it Forty Years before. There were among those that heard him some that wrested his Words to a bad meaning, as if he had pricked the Court in the Basilick, or Liver-Vein. Though his Doctrine was harmless in good Construction, yet a Tale was told to the King to the contrary, for he was very Rich. That was the Carrion after which the Crows cawed. Though he was Orthodox, his Money was Heterodox; and the Informers looked to part it among them. To avoid this Peril, Dr. White fled to the Lord Keeper's Sweetness and Civility, who assured him he would do him the best Office he could. He thought upon the Doctor, and forgot not Mr. Knight, but rubbed his Fore-head to find a Stratagem how to hunt two Hares at one Course. The next time he came into the King's Presence he fell upon it, how to amaze his Majesty with a Paradox. Some Instructions were appointed to be drawn up by his Discretion and Style for the Performance of useful and Orderly Preaching. Which being under his Hand to dispatch, he besought his Majesty that one Proviso might pass among the rest, that none of Holy Calling might Preach before the Age of thirty years complete, nor after threescore. On my Soul, says the King, the Devil, or some Fit of Madness is in the Motion; For I have many great Wits, and of clear Distillation, that have Preach'd before me at Royston and New-Market to my great Liking, that are under Thirty. And my Prelates and Chaplains, that are far stricken in Age, are the best Masters, in that Faculty that Europe affords. I agree to all this, says the Lord Keeper, and since Your Majesty will allow both Young and Old to go up into the Pulpit, it is but Justice that you show Indulgence to the Young Ones, if they run into Errors before their Wits be settled (for every Apprentice is allowed to mar some Work, before he be cunning in the Mystery of his Trade); and Pity to the Old Ones, if some of them fall into Dotage, when their Brains grow dry. Will Your Majesty conceive Displeasure, and not lay it down; if the former set your Teeth on edge sometimes, before they are mellow-wise; and if the Doctrine of the latter be touched with a Blemish, when they begin to be rotten, and to drop from the Tree? This is not unfit for Consideration, says the King, But what do you drive at? Sir, says he, First, to beg your Pardon for mine own Boldness: Then to remember you that Knight is a Beardless Boy, from whom Exactness of Judgment could not be expected. And that White is a decrepit spent Man, who had not a Fee-Simple, but a Lease of Reason, and it is expired. Both these, that have been foolish in their several Extreams of Years, I prostrate at the Feet of your Princely Clemency. Which was granted, as soon as the Paradox was unridled to pitch upon them. Another Gust, that blew from the same Cape, I mean from the Pulpit, began to be so boisterous, that it came very cross to his Majesty's Content. Our Unity among ourselves was troubled in Point of Doctrine; which was not wont. The Synod of Dort in the Netherlands having lately determined some great Controversies, awakened the Opposition of divers Scholars in our Kingdom, who lay still before. Learned and Unlearned did begin to conflict every Sunday about God's Eternal Election, Efficacy of Grace in our Conversion, and Perseverance in it, with much Noise, and little Profit to the People. The King, who loved not to have these Dogmatizers at Variance, used all speed to take up the Quarrel early, that our Variances might not reproach us to them that were without. For there was that in him, which Pope Leo applauded in Marcian the Emperor, Ep. 70. In Christianissimo Principe sacerdotalis affectus. He was a mixed Person indeed, a King in Civil Power, a Bishop in Ecclesiastical Affections. After he had struggled with the Contentious Parties a while, and interposed like Moses, Sirs, ye are Brethren, Acts 7.26. and that this rebated not the keen Edge of Discord, he commanded Silence to both Sides, or such a Moderation as was next to Silence. First, Because of the Sublimity of the Points. The most of Men and Women are but Children in Knowledge; and strong Meat belongs to them only that are of full Age, Hebr. 5.14. St. Austin subscribed to that Prudence, Lib. 2. de porsev. c. 16. Unile est ut taceatur aliquod verum propter incapaces. Secondly, Because the ticklish Doctrine of Predestination is frequently mar'd in the handling; either by such as press the naked Decree of Election standing alone by itself, and do not couple the Means unto it, without which, Salvation can never be attained; or by those that hold out God's peremptory Decrees concerning those, whom especially he hath given to Christ, and do not as much, or more, enforce the Truth of Evangelical Promises made to all, and to every Man, that whosoever believeth in the Son of God, shall not be confounded. Now let the Reader consider all the Premises, and he shall find how the Instructions that follow, depend upon them: Which in Form and Style were the Lord Keepers, in the Matter his Majesty's Command, and were called Directions concerning Preachers

101. Forasmuch as the Abuses and Extravagancies of Preachers in the Pulpit have been in all Ages repressed in this Realm by some Act of Council or State, with the Advice and Resolution of Grave and Learned Prelates; insomuch as the very Licencing of Preachers had his Beginning by an Order of the Star-Chamber, 〈◊〉 July 〈◊〉 Hen. 8. And that at this present. young Students, by Reading of late Writers, and ungrounded Divines, do broach Doctrines many times unprofitable, unfound, Seditious and Dangerous, to the Scandal of this Church, and Disquieting of the State and present Government. His Majesty hath been humbly entreated to settle for the present, either by Proclamation. Act of Council, or Command, the several Diocesans of the Kingdom, these Limitations, and Cautions following, until by a general Convocation, or otherwise, some more mature Injunctions might be prepared and enacted in that behalf. First, That no Preacher (under the Degree and Calling of a Bishop, or Dean of a Cathedral or Collegiate Church) do take occasion, by the Expounding of any Text of Scripture whatsoever, to fall into any Discourse or common Place (otherwise than by opening the Coherence and Division of his Text) which shall not be comprehended and warranted in Essence, Substance, Effect, or natural Inference, within someone of the Articles of Religion set forth 1562; or in someone of the Homilies set forth by Authority in the Church of England, not only for a Help to the Non-preaching, but withal, for a Pattern, and a Boundary (as it were) for the Preaching Ministers. And for their further Instruction for the Performance hereof, that they forthwith read over and peruse diligently the said Book of Articles, and the two Books of Homilies. Secondly, That no Parson, Vicar, Curate or Lecturer, shall Preach any Sermon or Collation upon Sundays and Holy Days hereafter in the Afternoon, in any Cathedral or Parish Church throughout the Kingdom, but upon some Part of the Catechism, or some Text taken out of the Ten Commandments, or the Lord's Prayer (Funeral Sermons only excepted.) And that those Preachers be most encouraged and approved of, who spend this Afternoon's Exercise in the Examining of the Children in their Catechisms, and in the Expounding the several Heads and Substance of the same, which is the most ancient, and laudable Custom of Teaching in the Church of England. Thirdly, That no Preacher, of what Title soever, under the Degree of a Bachelor of Divinity, at the least, do henceforth presume to Preach in any Popular Auditory, the deep Points of Predestination, Election, Reprobation, or of the Universality, Efficacy, Resistibility, or Irresistibility of God's Grace, but leave those Themes to be handled by Learned Men, and that moderately and modestly, by way of Use and Application, rather than by way of positive Docttine, as being Points fitter for the Schools and Universitles, than for simple Auditories. Fourthly, That no Preacher, of what Title or Denomination soever, under the Degree and Calling of a Bishop, shall presume from henceforth, in any Auditory within this Kingdom, to Declare, Limit, or bound out, by way of positive Doctrine, in any Sermon or Lecture, the Power, Prerogative, Jurisdiction, Authority, or Duty of Sovereign Princes, or to meddle with Matters of State, and the References between Princes and the People, otherwise than as they are Instructed and Precedented in the Homily of Obedience, and in the rest of the Homilies and Articles of Religion, set forth (as before is mentioned) by Public Authority; but rather confine themselves wholly to those two Heads of Faith and good Life, which are all the Subject of the ancient Sermons and Homilies. Fifthly, That no Preacher, of what Title or Denomination soever, shall causelessly, and without any Invitation from the Text, fall into any bitter Invectives, and undecent raising Speeches or Scoslings against the Persons of either Papists or Puritans; but modestly, and gravely, when they are occasioned thereunto by the Texts of Scripture, free both the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church of