THE

I F. E

or that GREAT STATESMAN

WILLIAM Cell. Lord BURG HI E v,

SECRETARY of STATE in the Reign of King EDWARD the Sixth, AND

Lozxp Hicn TREASURER of England in the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH.

Publiſh'd from the Original Manuſcript wrote _ after his Lordſhip's Death; now in the Library of the right honorable Brownlow Earl of Exeter,

- To which is added, His CHARACTER by the learned Camden,

AND AN Extract of his laſt WII. L and Tes TamENrT, WITH

MEMOIRS of the Family of CECTL,

Faithfully collected from Records, OY and other Authorities,

By AR THUR COLLINS, Eſq; —

ame.

TO UE I”

LONDON,

Printed for RoBERT GosLinG at the Mitre and 2 inſt Fetter-Lane; and Thomas Worrom, at the

Sue ueen's Head and Three Daggers over againft St. Dun-

Fan's Church, both in Fleet/ireeg, MDCC XXXII.

0 Fo

TO THE RIGHT HoNoURABLE

BROWNLOW CECIL; Earl of EX ETER, ;

AND

Lord ByrGHLEr.

My Lon D,

F it juſtly belongs to any one to

I be number'd among the Patriots of their Countrey, the Lord Burgh-

ley had a deſerv'd right, and undoubt- ed title thereto ; and his ſervices ought to be gratefully remember'd by poſte-

rity. What I now offer to your Lordſhip,

will be a laſting teſtimony, not only A 2 of

DEDICATION. of the wiſdom of that great Stateſman, but alſo of his magnanimity, rare accompliſhments, and other virtues ,

and may incite others to the purſuit of fo laudable an example.

Queen Elizabeth of famous memo-

ry, an excellent judge of men and let- ters, knew. the value of this able Mi-

niſter, and often cauſed him to fit in her preſence, and honoured him with ſeveral viſits to comfort him in his

ſickneſs ; and the deep ſenſe ſhe had- :

of his abilities and ſervices, is well ex- preſs'd in the Preamble to her Patent

creating him Lord Burghley. © Being

moved thereto by certain experience te of his circumſpection, courage, pru- « dence, dexterity, probity of life, « foreſight, care, and faithfulneſs ; ce and in conſideration not only of his c continual ſervices in the time of her

uu predeceſſors, Kings of England, but

« alſo

=

= "IF, * „. I * 1 4

DEDICATION.

« alſo of the faithful and acceptable duty he had from the very begin- ning of her reign always perform d,

cc and continued ſtill to perform, not e only in the great and weighty 5 « fairs of the Council- Board, but in

« general adminiſtration of the Stat

Theſe ſhining qualities deſcended to his ſons; his eldeſt, the Earl of Exeter, early diſtinguiſh'd himſelf in the ſervice. of his Countrey, giving proofs of his valour on ſeveral occa- ſions, and was alſo eminent in Coun- cil. And his youngeſt ſon, the Earl of Salisbury, was the moſt conſum- mate Stateſman of the age.

Your Lordſhip's 5 Grandfather, John Earl of Exeter, was alſo as conſpi- cuous for his virtues and merits: but knowing my own inabilities, and leſt 1 ſhould offend 1 in attempting to

deſcribe

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DEDIGAT 7 0 N. deſcribe thoſe great accompliſhments, love of learning, and learned men, and other afts of honour and virtue,

wherein you ,imitate your great an- ceſtars, I ſhall beg leave to * :

__my ſelf, |

My Lord, e

1 moſt devoted 8

Arthur Collins.

- EL "

r

THE

PREFACE

of ſuch who have deſerved well of their countrey, having in all ages and

T. E tranſinitting to . the Aits

nations been countenanced, I ſhall therefore

only give an account. of the 0 4 the

manuſeri pt now ſet forth,

De work T have for ſeveral years engaged in, of treating f thoſe families that have been

Barons of this kingdom, neceſſarily induced me to apply to our Nobility for ſuch helps, as might

illuſtrate the memory of their anceſtors. And

ſeveral Noblemen having * favour d me with

the peruſal of their family evidentes, and be- ing recommended to the Right Honourable 'the preſent Earl of Exeter, his Lordſhip out of juſt regard to the memory of his great Anceſtor,

was pleaſed to order the manuſeript Life of” the | Lord Burghley to be communicated to me.

Which being very old and decayed, and only legible to ſuch who are verſed in ancient writings, it was with great JatisfaFion that I copied it literatim. And that it may not be loft to the world, I now ww to the view of

the

The PREFACE.

the publick. It fully appears to be wrote in «

the reign of Queen Elizabeth, ſoon after his Lordſbip's death, by one uo was intimate with him, and an eye-witneſs of his actions for the laft twentysfive years. It needs no comment fo

ſet it off, that truth and fincerity whith ſhines

through the whole, will, I don't doubt, have the ſame weight with the Readers as it had with me, aud that they will be of vpinion it's no luable to be buried in oblivion.

character given of his Lordſbip h the learned Camden is added, as alſo an extradt of his laſt Will and Teſtament, which I copied out of” the Prerogative=Office z the preamble thereto being very remarkable. And that his

Lordſhip's deſcent may appear, I ſhall ſhew

what IT have met with from errut and orber

authorities.

* 'S

11 ACCOUNT OF THE

FaniLy of CECIL,

"HE Name of dis Fenty bos bees, £ | 1 like others of long continuance, va-

riouſly written, as Sztfilt, Sicelt, Sey- oil, Seiſel, Cicil, &c. yet it's evident that tho' ,Cimders the Name was ſo differently ſpelled, the per- 1= = ſons ſo wrote were of the fame Lineage. It's 24 14 agreed by Camden, and other Genealogiſts, that Robert Sitſilt v an affiftant to Robert Fitz- > rin. of Hamon, in the conqueſt of Glamorganſbire, p cv in the 4 year of the reign of King William 22 775 Rufus, Anno 1091, was the Anceſtor to this family. Which Robert 'was rewarded with lands by the faid Robert Fitz-Hamon, for his ſervices, and afterwards by © marriage had A e Bre-. rerennis in that part of Herefordſhire called vun 1. Euyas Land, with other lands in Hereford- * 75 Hire and Gloucefterſhire. To whom ſucceeded his fon and heir Sir James Seiſel, Baron of Beauport (now called Beaupere) inGlamorganſhire, *lain at the ſiege a Buca, of Wallingford Caſtle in the 4* of King GT”

A 2 pben,

4

iv An Account of the pben, leaving iſſue 7 Seiſel his ſon and heir. A Which John was taken priſoner at the ſiege of x stem- Lincoln inthe ninth of King *Stephen, and pay- e, ing for his ranſome 400 marks, was obliged to ſell his lordſhip of Beauport, and all his lands in Glouceſterſhire. He had by Maud his wife, daughter of . . . . de Frenes, Euſtace his ſon and heir, who. marrial Elencr daughter of Sir Walter Pembridge K*. and had iflue Sir Baldwin Seiſel, knighted by King Henry II. and ſlain at the ſiege of the Caſtle of Cardiff his father then living. This Sir Baldwin by his firſt wife, 2 Ex eodem- of Maurice de Brampton, had iſſue fix ſons, Gerald, Euſtace, Henry, fohn, and Walter, as alſo two daughters, Catherine wife to Hugh Mureduke, and Eleanor to Walter Wal- lis. And by his ſecond wife, Margaret daugh- ter of Sir Stephen Radnor Kt. had iſſue, Ste- phen, Roger, Hugh, David, Maud a Nun, Joan wife to John de Solers, and Anne to Owen ap Meredith. The eldeſt fon Gerald Seiſſel, married Ma- bel daughter of Sir William Moigne K. and had iflue Robert, Owen a Monk in the Abbey of Dore in Herefordſhire, Catherine wife of Sir Griffin ap Yereford K*. ſecondly to David ap Evan, and thirdly to Geffeery ſon of Sir Walter Bret K*. Anne wife to Robert ſon of Richard

l o 4 8 ? a N = 4 . * 5 4 A . * — — ” as - 9 « oY "=. as 15 i & 7 4 > — 8 w 4 2 * — 8 4 8 8 * 4 P 2 AMIS Ya S =" OR" RO" — : Cs „ 092”. © EET TIE FI % > 7 5 0 : 8 „„ 3 * < 3 * 2 : F 8 0 1 8 * ; ; , _ | ; —- En, : as > 8 5 r as. * — n N ²˙ ma ̃ dw SE” KING W 1 I 2 . S wers and ; * 2 2 ILY 1 P D of SE 2 2 — : N 2 Cage rt d — e : ä r 9 7 . > 20d 4 f I * N — 1 4 3 | f- N 8 N. 1 3 3 — , : N | 8 0 — * . - l wes 2 0 r " p a ro : 6

des * % 8 bay jw” =

”

Family of Cz OI.

Richard Bromwich, Ellen wiſe to Jobn ſon of

Sir Richard Abraball K. | He was ſucceeded by Robert Seiſcel, who married Allice daughter of Sir Robert de Tre- goze K.. and had iſſue, James, Gerald, Tho- mas, Baldwin, Margaret, and Elizabeth. James Cecill eldeſt ſon of Robert, had to wife abel daughter of Sir Jobn Knowle Ke. by whom he had iſſue, Fames who died young, Gerard, Robert, John, Alice wife to Walter Monington, Grace married to Roger ſon of William Blunt, Eleanor wife to Thomas Paine, Margery wedded to Morgan ap Meredith, and Cecilie wife to Howel ap Blethin, ſecond- ly to Sir Hugh Bruge K. Gerard Cecill eldeſt ſon, by his firſt wife Margaret daughter of Stephen de la Bere, had iſſue John. And by his ſecond wife, Brid- get widow of Sir Simon Ward K*. had a fon James. Alſo by his third wife . . . daugh- ter of Martin Hopton, had iſſue, Martin, Henry, David, and Fane. And laſtly by his fourth wife, Joan daughter of Robert Emer- ton, had iſſue, Stigand Seiſſel, ſlain at the ſiege of Strivelin in Scotland. Jobn Cecill the eldeſt ſon by the firſt wife, married Sibi daughter of Robert Ewyas, and had iſſue Sir John, and George Cecill.

Which Sir John Cecil, or Seyſſel, * being at En. the ſiege of Berwick in 7 Ed. III. 1333, there f 2. aroſe a great controyerly > between him and -

* Wales, p · Sir 147.

vi An Account of the Sir William Fakenham, concerning a Banner of Arms, charg'd with this Coat, vis. 4 Feild

Barry, of ten Pieces, Argent and Azure, on

fix Eſcutrbeons, three, two, and one, Sable, as i Joh. Boſ- many Lions Rampant of the Soft i Which cord's of Arms each challeng'd as cheir right, and of-

Armory,

fol. 80. fer d to maintain the ſame by combat in their

proper perſons. But the King was pleas'd to farbid it, and ordering the heralds to decide the affair by law and juſtice, they (olemnly adjudg'd the right of bearing thoſe Arms te Sir Fobn Cecil, as heir of blood, lineally de- ſoended from the body of James Ceo] Baron of Beauport, {lain at the ſiege of Malling ford Caſtle in the fourth af King Stephen. This Sir Jobs married Alice, ſiſter to Sir Robert Baſkerville, and had iſſue Jabn this fon and heir, who died in his life time, having mar- ton K*. by whom he left Thomas Ceiſſel of Alterennes in Herefordfbrre Ki. ho ſuceeed-

ed his grandfather Sir ohn Ceiſſel. EChauncey's Which Thomas * married Margaret daugh- hive 0.308. ter and heir of Bir Gilbert Winſton Knt. and 1 viſit. de had iſſue Richard his fon and heir, IWho had

con 417-80 wife Margaret daughter of Bir Fobn Phi- Hale. bps K*, by whom he hail Philip Sioelt tas the = Ex ftem- name was then wrote) who married Mud Ea daughter and heir of I/ilhem-Philip Vaughan, Loc gr of Ti/liglaſe, by Menlinn his wife, daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Barry, by Effauberb

his

enn RT „ 8 Ry & 8 n _ C ay 4 Ld ws . F

Family of Cn cri. vii his wife, daughter of Richard Lord Talbot. Which Sir Thomas Barry was ſon and heir of Gerald de Barrye, Lord of Caftle Scalt in Herefordſhire. |

Which Philip Sicelt, by the faid Maud, had iſſue Philip his ſon and heir, and Davide n. Sicelt, anceſtor to the yoann Earls of Exeter, and Saliſbur-y. Philip the eldeſt ſon, was father of John Sycill (as he wrote his name) of Alterennes, and of the pariſh of Malter ſtun in Com. Heref. Kala. who by his laſt will and teſtament, bearing m. 16. i in date the 21* Tune 155 1. in 5 Edu. VI. orders G. his body to be buried in the pariſh church of St. Peter's in Walterflon, and leaves to Eliza- beth Weynfton his wife, his manſion houſe of Alterennes, with the lands thereto belonging for life; and after her deceaſe to William his fon and heir, and his heirs for ever. And en- tails his other lands in Herefordſhire, and Monmouthſhire, on the ſaid William his fon, and in default of iſſue on Thomas his ſon, re- mainder to Philip: Syciil his Son, remainder to Ann? and Alice his daughters. But I return to David, younger ſon of Phi. lip Sicelt before mention'd. Which David having purchas d a fair Eſtate in Lincoln- ſhire, in 22 H. VII. » he founded a Chantry : Pu: za. in St. George's Church in Stamford; ane in 3 H. VIII. was conſtituted * Water-baylif Put — of Wittleſey-mere in Com. Hunt. as alſo

keeper

wm An Account of the Keeper 'of the ſwans there, and throughout all the waters and fens in Huntingdon, Cam-

bridge, Lincoln, and Northampton ſhires, for the term of thirty years. Alſo, in 5 H. VIII. Ex Ms. he was made one of the King's Sergeants at

Joe Arms: And having this imployment at Court, Sac g x, Obtained * for Richard his ſon and heir, the of-

VE f. a. fice of a Page of the Crown. Likewiſe in

8 H. VIII. he obtained a grant to himſelf and

ſon, of the Keeperſhip of Cy F- Park, in Com. Northamp. And in 15 H. VIII. (continuing

ſtill Sergeant at Arms) he was conſtituted

pat. if H. Steward of the King's Lordſhip of Coly-Meſton in. f.. in that County. In 23 H. VIII. on the death of Sir William Spencer K*. he was conſtituted Sheriff of Northamptonſhire, for the remaining

« Fuller's part of that year; and was alſo Sheriff the Worhies next enſuing year. And having * been Alder- Naben. man of Stamford three times, departed this

5 Butchers life in the year 1541, 32 H. VIII. as ſhould 1 ſeem by the probate of his laſt Will and Te-

ſtament, which bears date that year. Ex Regi. By which Teſtament, dated on the * feaſt

cu Fre of the Converſion of St. Paul 153 5, being

can. wrote David Cyſſell of Stamford in the coun-

ty of Lincoln Eſq; he orders his Body to be buried in the pariſh church of St. George of Stamford, and that Sir William Huddleſton ſing for his ſon] and all chriſtian ſouls, for the ſpace of a year, in the ſaid church of St. George.

He bequeaths to Jane his wife, all his lands

mn

—

f 4 * 4 1 * = dy; ; * 7 5 ©" Ds 8 2 En 4 4 4 5 * fl * 4 | 27 *4 „ i 54 4 by „* % 9 - - 4 > 22 i * } = * * N 4 = 3 = 4 . 2 7 4 R , 48 #

1 ſwans, and of thoſe waters called Great Crick,

— 12 e ar do Mis. bd 0

Family of CROII. ix in Stamford, Naſſynton, and elſewhere, for term of her life, and after her deceaſe to Ri- chard his ſon and heir, and to his heirs for ever. And to Joan his daughter, one half of his houſehold-ſtuff at Dowſby. He moreover bequeaths to Richard his eldeſt ſon, his beſt ' gown. To Anthony Villers his ſecond beſt | gown, his beſt doublet, and his velvet jacket. ” To David his ſon, his black gown of cloth lined with damaſk, a doublet of ſattin ſtreked,

with a jacket and his green coats. And the

ſidue of his goods he bequeathed to Richard Cyſſel his ſon to the honour of God, and for the health of his foul, after the moſt Iaudable manner that he can do or deviſe ; and ordeins him ſole executor.

This Richard his eldeſt fon, in 8 H. VIII. was ? made one of the Pages of the Crown. v Pat. 8 H. In 12 H. VIII. he * waited on the King at that . 7 famous interview with the King of France gf. 1 between Calais and Guieſnes; and in 22 4s H. VIII. being Groom of the Robes to that King, obtained a' grant of the office of pat. 22 H. Conſtable of Warwick Caſtle, then in the . f.. Crown. In 27 H. VIII. being one of the Grooms of the Wardrobe, he had a grant of the office of Bailiff of the King's Water, b cal- „ p,;.e. Si- led Wittleſey-Mere, and the cuſtody of the FH“ and Merys, in the counties of Cambridge, Lin- coln, Huntington, and Northampton, for term B of

1 An Account of the

of 30 years, after the expiration of the term granted to David Cecyll his father. In 31 * wrieb's H. VIII. he was © Sheriff of Rutlandſbire. In ſhire, P. x2. 32 H. VIII. being wrote Richard Cecyll of Burley in the county of Northampton Eſq; he N had a! grant to him, his heirs and aſſigns for ever, of the ſcite of St. Michael's priory near Stamford, and the church, and 299 acres of arable land, lying in the pariſh of St. Mar- tin's in Stamford, in the county of North- ampton. In 34 H. VIII. being then Yeoman N of the Wardrobe, he was made Steward of the King's manors of Naſſyngton, Yarwell, and | Upton, in Com. Nn for life. In 36 H. ' Pat. 6H. VIII. he purchaſed f the manor of E/yngdon, im. P25. in Com. Rurl. then alſo in the Crown, as par- cel of the Earl of FWarwick's lands. In 37 H. VIII. he ſurrendered his cuſtody of War- wick Caſtle, And departing this life, 22 March 1553, was buried in St. Martin's Church in Stamford, leaving iſſue by Fane his wife, daughter and heir to William Hec- kington of Bourn in Com. Linc. Eſq; Willi- am his ſon and heir, and three daughters, Margaret married to Roger Cave of Stam- ford in Com. Northam. Eſq; Elizabeth to Robert Wing field of Upton in the fame coun- ty Eſq; and ſecondly to Hugh All:ngton Eſq; and Anne to John White of Tuxford in

Com, Nott, Eiq; | Which

Family of Cecil. X1

Which W:/liam his ſon and heir, being (as Sir 8 William Dugdale writes) © a perſon of: Baronage « oreat learning, ſingular judgment, admira- Val . « ble moderation, and comely gravity, came

« to be the chiefeſt Stateſman of the age

„wherein he lived, unto whoſe prudence in

« council much is attributed, for the bleſſing then enjoyed, by that proſperous and happy « government, throughout the long reign. of

Queen Elizabeth of famous memory.”

All which is more particularly maniteſted in his Life.

WILLIAM CECIL Lord BurxGHLEr.

O write the vertuous lives of worthie

Men, hath in all ages and contries

byn'. uſual and commendable, both

for a memorable praiſe of their actions and good examples for others to imytate, wherein ſome for feare, others in flattery have often written many notable” Things of moſt unwor- thy men; but myſelf, reſpecting only truth am the bolder to write this true declaration of the moſt memorable life, and happie death of the right honorable, wiſe, and famous Coun- ſellor William Lord Burghley, late Lord High Treaſorer- of England, -a man juſtly worthy and. worthely juſt, in his religion truly zelous, in his gravitie and integritie moſt commenda- ble, to his Prince loyal, to his Contrie pre- tious, kind to his frendes, and yeldinge to his ennemys,

a Bnet Be $5 4 = < F ö : 2

F 15 8 -84 1 * Fe 2 )

The Life of WiLL1am Cx CLI, &c.

ennemys, charitable to all, envieing no man's fortune, nor proud of his one, alwaies pitti- full to the poor man's petition, and never par- tial to the riche, ever ready to doe good againſt evill, and a man rather to be admired for his wiſdome, then followed in his flowinge ver- tues, which are ever moſt valuable, where theyare moſt plentifull; whoſe fame in all na- tions ſo long and lardgly divulged can never

die, though envy of his foes, or negligence of

his frends, maie in a ſort obſcure or ſeme to

forget the ſame; who being ſo famous in other

contries raiſed only by reports, it weare a

ſhame for his contrie men and frendes, and a wronge to himſelf, to bury his vertues in obli- vion, in his owne native contrie, which thes

forty yeres together hath in experience taſted

the fruites of his wiſdome, travaile and truth, in ſo long tyme of peace and plenty, as hath -

ſeldome bene ſene, or never enjoyed; which though ſome maie ſaie came not by his indu-

ſtrie, but by Godes goodnes; yet may ] juſtlie

aunſwer that next to Godes goodnes, his ſkil- full guydinge the helme as a perfect pilate, and his painefull carefull ſervice as a wiſe

counſellor, have byn a principall and effe-

Etuall cauſe of contynuaunce thereof, as all or moſt good Engliſhmen doe and cannot but

confeſſe, thoug ſome of the worſt and igno-

rant ſort out of envy (which never ſaith truth) with ſhame maie deny it, I have therefore with-

out

2

3

The Life of WILLIAu Cecill

out partiallyty to him, or arrogancy to myſelfe, in the duty of a true Engliſhman preſumed (as an eye witnes of his Life and Actions twenty five yeres together) to ſet downe this teſtimony of the truth, which falſhwood or envy can nei- ther ſuppreſſe nor ſupplant, againſt ſo manie proofes as I am able to produce, and as all the world can witnes, his comendable deedes ap- prove, his whole courſe of lyving, and his godly, criſtian dieing, doe alſo manifeſt to the world, if no man weare ſo thankful, or ſo charitable as to record the ſame, ſo worthely in right and juſtice due unto him. Wherein though in a rude ſimple phraſe I ſhall blemiſh the excellent brightnes of his worthy deedes ; yet have I choſen rather to note ſome fewe in plaine and ſimple truth, then to bury all in oblyvion, which I ſuppoſe maie either pleaſe

his frends, or offend his foes, or at the leaſt be

His Birth.

covered by the honeſt and wiſe with ſome cour- teous excuſe or indifferent interpretation, the beſt ſort will beleve the truth, the worſt can but envye his praiſes, becauſe they cannot followe his vertues.

- William Lord of Burghley, Knight of the Order of the Garter, Lord High Treaſorer of England, and Maſter of her Majeſties Wards and Liveries, was born at Boorn in the Countie of Lincoln, the 130 daie of Septembre 1521. His father Mr. Rychard Cecill of Burghley in the County of Northampton Eſquire, was

| principall

Lord BUrGHLEv.

principall Officer of the Robes in the tyme of King Henry the eight, a place though nowe eſtemed but meane, yet at that tyme of good account, for then the King did ordinaryly make himſelf ready in the Robes; where Mr. Cecil] being cheif, and a wiſe diſcreet man was in greate favoure with the Kinge, who gave him both countenaunce and lyving, as ap- peared by the port Mr. Cecill lived in, not now uſuall by officers in that place, for it was then no ſmall preferment or reputation in the world, to have the favourable countenaunce of ſo bountiful magnificent a Prince as he was.

This Mr. Richard Cecil] was a Gentleman, ye ws a deſcended from the Cecills of Haulterennes in x, :

Wales, a very auncient houſe, myſelf haveing ſeene many auncient authentique writings and evidences proving many lyneall deſcents, evene to himſelf, the copies whereof I have in my cuſtody to ſhewe, and am aſſured fewe men in England can ſhewe more pregnaunt and au- thenticall proofes for derivation of his diſcent, then are extant for approving the truth of his pedegree, by manie ſeverall evidences and re- cords proving every diſcent; a thing not uſuall to be ſeene. But if this weare not ſo, or that his ſaid proofes failed, yet was he a Gentle- man, for beſides that his father was a Squire

by his place, he was a Gentleman by his mo- He was «

ther, a goodly vertuous Gentlewoman who by his m6-

lived to the age of fourſcore and five yeres, her

5

The Life of WiLLtam Cxcilil

her name was Jane Heckington daughter and heire of [ William] Heckington of [Bourn] in

the County of [ Lincoln] by whom came the

inheritaunce of the Lordſhip of Burghley nowe the manſion of his Lordſhipes Barony, and o-

ther landes to the value of twoe hundred

His Lord- ſhip's matches and chil- dren,

pounds yerely. The faid Mr. Richard Cecill had by his wife the ſaid Fane, William Cecill Lord Burghley, Lord Treaſorer of Eng- land, Anne married to Fobn White Eſquire, [Margaret] married to Roger Cave Eſquire, and Elizabeth married to John Wing feld Eſquire [ſecondly to Hugh Allington Eſquire.} His Lordſhip was firſt married to Mary Cheeke ſiſter to Sir Fohn Cheeke Knight, by whome he had Thomas Cecill now Lord Burghley. The ſecond tyme he married Mildred Cooke, one of the daughters of Sir Anthony Cooke Knight, by whom he had Robert Cecill now her Majeſtis Principall Secretary, and Maſter of her Majeſties Wards and Liveries, Anne Cecil] married to Edward nowe Erle of Ox-

ford, Elizabeth Cecill married to William the

heyre of the Lord Wentworth, and three other

Children who all died younge. But I will

here leaye the deſcription of his fruitfull

braunch to the heraulds, only obſerving but

his birth and matches; his Lordſhip's grand- father Mr. David Cecill of Stameford was High Sherife of Northamptonſhire twoe years together, viz, from Michaelmas 234 to 24%,

| ; and

Lord BuxGHLty, 6 and ſecondly from 24 to 2 pu yere of Henry the eight, ſo as it maie be noted he was not meanely borne, for then had not himſelfe and his fiſter matched in ſo good ſort as they did. But fo retorne to my purpoſe, his Lordſhip being in his infancie ſo pregnant in witt, and fo deſirous and apt to lerne as in expectation fore- told his great future fortune, was vertuouſſy His uci- brought up and taught at ſchoole at Grantham and at Stameford in the Countie of Lincoln, and at the age of fourtene yeres, in May 27 Hen. VIII. he went to Cambridge, where He went to he was Student in St. John's Colledge, being ſo func diligent and painefull , as he hired the Bell. ringer to call him up at fonre of the clocke every morninge : With which watching, and contynuall fitting, there fell abundance of hu- mors into his leggs, then very hardly cured, which was thought one of the original cauſes of his Gowt; one Medcalf then Mafter of that Houſe, ſeing his dilligence and towardneſs, wold often give him money to encourage him : He was fo toward, ſtuduous, and ſo earely ca- pable, as he was reader of the Sophiftrie Le- cture, being but fixteen yeres old; and after- wardes he read the Greet Lecture there, as a Gentleman for his exerciſe upon pleaſure with- out penfion, before he was nineteen yeres old, which he performed ſo lernedly as was beyond expectation of a Student of his tyme, or one of his yeres and birth, being not uſuall to ſee a C Gentleman

7 The Life of WILLIAud Cecil

Gentleman ſo lerned, or ſo painefull to per-

forme that place; for at that tyme it was a rare thinge to have any perfection in the Greeke tongue. His diligent ſtudy was ſuch, as be- fide his exquiſite knowledg in the Greeke, he was not meanely ſeene in all other manner of lerning, hable judicially and lernedly to main- taine argument with the beſt lerned of treble his ſtanding, in any manner of lerning or ſci- ence, with extraordinary applauſe of his au- diens, no leſſe admiring his great lerning for ſo little tyme, then the excellency of his witt, and temper of ſpeech, that he was as famous for a Scholar in Cambridge, as afterwards for a grave and great Counſellor,

Hewas Ma- When he had proceeded Maſter of Art, and contynued at the Univerſity about ſix yeres, and that his frendes thought his lerning there ſufficient, unles he ſhold proceed Doctor, and profeſſe ſome one ſtudy or ſcience, as for his gredy deſire of lerninge in ſhort tyme he might; but that God ſeing his towardnes reſerved him for a further inſtrument to ſett forth his glory; he left the Univerſity, and the 6 of May 33 Hen. VIII. being nineteen yeres old, went

to the Inns of Court, and was Student in

He was Stu= Graies Inne, where he proffited as before at

Graies Inne. Cambridge. But as his yeres and company re- quired, he wold manie tymes be merry amonge young Gentlemen, who weare moſt deſirous of his companie, for his wittie mirth and mer-

7 ry

Lord BURGHLEY.

ry temper ; among the reſt T hard him tell this merriment of himſelf, that a mad companion

inticed him to plaie, where in ſhort tyme he vb.

loſt all his money, bedding, and books, to his companion, having never uſed plaie before, and being among his other company, told how ſuch a one had miſled him, faieing he wold preſently have a device to be evne with him, and with a long tronke made a hole in the wall near his plaiefellowes beds head, and in a fearefull voice ſpoke thus thorough the tronke: O mortal man repent, repent of thy horrible ſynne, plaie, coſenage and ſuch lewd- nes, or els thow art damned and canſt not be ſaved, which at midnight all alone ſo amazed him as drive him into a ſweate for feare. Moſt penitent and heavy, the next daie in preſence of the yewthes he told with tremblinge what a fearefull voice ſpake to him at midnight, vow- inge never to plaie againe, and calling for Mr. Cecil! aſked him forgivnes on his knees, and reſtored all his money, bedding and books. So two Gamſters weare both reclaymed with this merry device and never plaid more. Ma- nie other the like merry jeſts I have hard him tell, to long to be here noted.

About the later tyme of King Hen. VIII. Mr. Cecill comeinge from Graies Inn to the Court to ſee his father, it was his chaunce to be in the preſence chambre, where he met two preiſts, chaplaines to O Neale, who was then G2 in

CI

9 . The Life of WII IIA Cece

: Court, and talking long with them in Latin, he fell in diſputation with the preiſts, wherein he ſhewed ſo great lerning and witt, as he proved the poore preiſts to have neither, who weare ſo put downe as they had not a word to ſaie, but flong awaie in chafe, no leſſe diſcon- tented then aſhamed to be foiled in ſuch a place by ſo young a berdles yewth. It was told the Kinge that young Mr. Cecill had confuted both O Neale's chaplaines, the King called for him, and after long talke with him, much | delighted with his aunſweres, the King willed The fr his father to find oute a ſuite for him. Where- upon he became ſuitor for a reverſion of the Cuſtos Brevium Office in the Common Pleas, which the King willingly graunted, being the

firſt ſuite he had in his life. 7 After he had ſpent ſome tyme at the Inns Court, where though he much profited, yet his quicke ſpirit apter to reach at a furder for- tune, framed another courſe in the world, be- takeinge himſelf to mariage, and the 8 of ür Augiiſt 33 Hen. VIII. tooke to wife Mary Cheeze, ſiſter to Sir John Cheeke Knight, who lived with him not above a yere and a quarter, by whome he had his firſt ſonne Thomas as a- foreſaid. Afterwardes the 21* of Decembre 38 Hen. VIII. being twenty foure yeres old, . lera- he married Mildred Cooke, one of the daugh- el. ters of Sir Anthony Cooke Knight, a wile and vertuous Gentlewoman, who lived with him

about

: Lord BURGHLEY, LO

about yeres together, long after he came

to be Treaſorer of England : She was excel-

lently lerned, her perfection in the Greeke ſo

great, as the tranſlated a peece of Chriſoſtome

out of Greeke into Engliſbe. He had by her

Anne, Robert, and Elizabeth as aforeſaid ; and Fraunces Cecill a daughter, and William and William, who all three died younge.

In the firſt yere of King Edward the ſixt,

the Duke of Somerſet then Lord Protector, hearing of Mr. Cecill's towardnes and gifts, ſent for him to be Maſter of his Requeſts, He was Ma- and the ſame yere he went with the Duke of eſs the 'Muſelhborough feld, where he was like to have Somerte. byn flaine, but myraculouſly ſaved by one that putting forth his arme to thruſt Mr. Cecill out

of the level of the canon had his arme ſtriken

of. In the ſecond yere of Kinge Edward the He ws , fixt he was committed to the Tower about the © he. Duke of Somerſett's firſt calling in queſtion, where he remayned a quarter of a yere and

was delivered. The Duke of Somerſet per- ceaving the Kings great likeing of Mr. Cecill,

about the third yere of the Kings Reigne, pre-

fer d him to be Secretarie of Eſtate and a mac a Counſellor to the King, being but twenty five nt Secre- yeres old; and A 5. Ediw. VI. he was made Eben VI. Knight, a rare thing or a ſigne of rare gifts, He was for ſo young a man to be called to ſuch places of honor and eſtimation wherein he contynued

tyll the King's death, The twoe Dukes of

Northum-

II

The Life of WILLIAu Cxcir *

Northumberland and Somerſett ſtrived to wynne the Secretarie ſure to them, both u- ſing him exceeding kindly, tempting him with great offers and gifts. He ſhew'd duty to both but wold take gifts of neither, and ſo, though with difficulty, he carried himſelf even to both all King Edward's tyme. But after the King died he was greatlie threatned and diſgraced by the Duke of Northumberland for miſlykinge or not conſentinge to the Duke's purpoſe, touching the Ladie Fane; yet he car- ried the matter ſo temperatelie as he kept his

conſcience free, his truth to the Crowne, and himſelf from danger.

When Quene Marie came in, the granted Sir William Cecill a generall pardon, and in chooſinge her counſellors, ſhe had ſo good likeing of him, as if he wold chaunge his re- ligion, he ſhold be her Secretarie and Coun- ſellor; and to that purpoſe ſome wiſe men weare under-hand ſett to allure him, and diſ- cover his diſpoſition ; but like himſelf he wiſely and chriſtianly aunſwered he was tought and bound to ferve God firſt and next the Quene; but if her ſervice ſhould put him out of God's ſervice, he hoped her Majeſty wold give him leave to chooſe an everlaſting rather than a momentarie ſervice; and for the Quene ſhe had byn his ſo gracious Ladie as he wold ever ſerve and praie for her in his

hart, and with his body and goodes be as rea- dy

Lord Bu RGHLERv. 12 4 dy to ſerve in her defence, as anie of her loy- Herefuſee

all ſubjects, ſo ſhe wold pleaſe to graunt him Cons: leave to uſe his conſcience to himſelf, and —

ſerve her at lardg as a private man, rather then to be her greateſt counſellor. Here was no tornecoate, nor ſeller of his ſoule, nor re- nouncer of his faith for ambition of a Coun- ſellor's place as many wold doe upon ſo faire an offer. But where the foundation is ſurely laid, the houſe is hardly ſhaken, and God laieing the firſt ſtone the building muſt needes proſper, as is verified in him, to whome God gave the fruits of his faith and the reward of a good ſteward. And though he had ſtill the Quenes favoure he was by ſome not fa- vouring, or fearing him ſought to be brought in danger, urging many heynous crymes a- gainſt him, among the reſt for being retained in ſervice and intelligence with the Lady Eli- zabeth nowe Quene, but neither theire might

nor mallice prevailed, for his temperance

quenched theire fury, and his witt made eſ- cape out of daunger. Yet the Quene till uſed him very graciouſly, and forbore either to hear his accuſors, or to diſgrace himſelf : For in the ſecond yere of her reigne, he was ſent to Bruxells with the Lord Pagett to bring in Cardinall Poole.

In the Parliament tyme there was a matter in queſtion, for ſomething the Quene wold have paſſe, wherein Sir Anthonie King ſtone, Sir

I The Life of WII LIAu Cecil Sir William Courtney, Sir Fobn Pollard, and many others of value eſpecially weſterne men were oppoſite, Sir William Cecill being their Speaker having that daie told a good tale for them. When the Houſe roſe, they came to him and ſaid they wold dyne with him that daie; he aunſwered, they ſhold be welcome, ſo they did not ſpeake of anie matters of Par- liament, which they promiſed; yet ſome be- ganne to break promiſe, for which he chalen- ged them. This meeting and ſpeech was knowne to the Counſell, and all the Knights and Gentlemen were ſent for and committed; Sir William Cecill was alſo ſent for to my Lord Pagett and Sir William Peeter; he de- ſired they wold not doe by him as by the reſt which he thought ſomewhat hard, that was to committ them firſt and to heare' them af- ter, but praid them firſt to heare him and then to committ him if he weare guilty. You've ſpeake like a man of experience, quoth my Lord Pagett, and upon hearing the cir- cumſtances he clered himſelf and fo eſcaped impriſonment and diſgrace. 3 When Quene Elizabeth beganne her moſt happie reign, Sir William Cecill, for his truth ] and tried fervice to her, was worthely called and honourably advanced by her Majeſtie to He was be her Secretarie and Counſellor, and was tary 0 Qu- firſt ſworne of anie Counſellor ſhe had, at Hatfield, where ſhe laie at her firſt coming

to

Uo

Lord BuxcuLley.

to her Crowne, wherein he then beganne to kindle the light, that ever fince gave light and life to this State. Her Majeſties chriſtian princely care and inclination, concurring with his wiſe and provident counſell, tooke then rooting, to roote out popery and fu pckſtition, and to plant the practiſe and profeſſion of the goſpel in this realme, and the peaceable plat- forme of government we nowe enjoye in this

ſtate, with ſo happie peaceable and plentifull

ſucceſſe as for ſo long a tyme of government, fo famous exploits and ſo manie notable things happeninge in the tyme of her Majeſties reigne, are more admirable in this age then match- able in former in all the nations of Chriſtian- dome; which begonne and contynued firſt by Godes goodnes, and her Majeſties godlie prince- ly care: and providence, was alſo not a little

furdered and perfected by his Lordſhips polli- cie, paines, and contynuall carefull counſell, never ſlackinge the ſervice, nor looſinge the

opportunytie, ever eſteeming his greateſt paines his greateſt pleaſure to pleaſe his Prince and

pleſure his contrie.

At the firſt Parliament holden in the be- gyninge of the Quenes reigne, yowe maie i-

magine what great difficultie aroſe in reforme- ing and altering religion, a worke of greateſt moment; and for the better ſatisfaction of the

State of Parliament, by his Lordſhips advice

there was a conference had in Weſtminſter

D Churche

14

15 The Life of William Cecil

Churche by thei old and newe Biſhops and other learned men upon ſome queſtions and points deviſed principally by himſelf touching the exerciſe of Religion, which was ſo polli- tiquely handled, and by himſelf fo wiſely, learnedly, and temperately governed, that ſuch ſatisfaction was givne, as the Quene and whole State of Parliament with one conſent eſtabliſh-

The altera- ed the forme of Religion now uſed and preach-

lein. ed all this Quenes tyme, to the glory of God,

| the honor of the Quene, the peace of the Realme, the weale of the people, and the per- petuall praiſe of thoſe that weare inſtruments to worke ſo notable a bleſſing for theire Con- trie as to bring it into the bright ſhyning light of the Ghoſpell.

After he had indevoured to bring the health of the ſoule, he next labored for the wealth of the State. For by his pollitique advice the coigne, and monyes of the Realme, weare

Tie zltera- brought to the ſtanderd of fyneſſe now current

cones and in England, from the former baſeneſs, being

919% nowe one of the richeſt coines of the world, to the great inriching of this Realme and Com- monwealth; for he held a poſition (which undoubtedly js true) that Realme cannot be rich whoſe coigne is poore or baſe, and he wold alſo ſaye, Oportet patrem familias ma- gis eſſe vendacem quam tenacem, That Realme muſt nedes be poore that .carrieth not out more then it bringeth in.

7 | In

+4

Lord BuRGHLEY. © 16

In the ſecond yere of the Quene he was ſent Je we. der into Scotland to treate of Peace, which cheife- in cot. ly by his greate travaile and wiſdome was ef- fected and a Peace concluded with ſome ho- nourable conditions for the Quene and Realme as ſeldome or never hath byn ſeene or red of, £ to the greate quiet and honor of this Realme, and no ſmall reputation to himſelf; for as the Scripture faith, Happie are the Peace-makers ; a thing pleaſing to God, and plauſible to men, which afterwards torned to the happines of himſelf and his Contrie, he in bringinge and nouriſhing peace, and his Contrie for enjoyeing it ſo longe. It was ever obſerved as one no- table vertue in his diſpoſition to be defirous to preſerve Peace in the Land, which undoubt- edly is the only blefling can fall upon a na- tion. FRO Which three laſt points, biz. the alteration of Religion, chaunge of our coigne, and torn- ing troubles into peace, if youe enter into the difficulty of effecting, and the vertues of theire effects, they will give youe pregnant proofes of his wiſdome, pollicie and paines; the firſt thought almoſt impoſſible and unlikely to be done ſo quietly and quickely, that Religion for which all the world makes warre, ſhold be ſoone chaunged, reformed and eſtabliſhed with peace; that eur baſe coignes ſhold be torned into rich moneyes; and that our tro- bdles weare nowe pacified and peace perfected, ” D 2 which

17 The Life of Wittiam Ceci

which powred plenty into our land: And ſo by one man's labor all bleſſings to be brought us at once, religion the life of the ſoule, rich moneyes the ſynewes of our ſtrength, and peace the harveſt of our labors, and fountaine of our wealth. Which three greate things to be fo eaſily and ſpeedely compaſſed, as is notably manifeſt, principally by his meanes and indu- ſtry; I leave it to the world to judge, whither working them at the firſt and contynueing them to the laſt (even till his death) doe not prove the author a wiſe and worthy man; for the like to be done in the like manner hath ſel- dome beene ſeene, |

He ws In the third yere of the Quenes Reigne, the

fr of the Toth of January, he was worthely made Ma- ſter of the Wardes after the death of Sir Tho- mas Parry.

— In the 120 yere of her Majeſties Reigne the rebellion of the north beganne; wherein him- ſelf being Sectetarye alone, and thereby all diſ- patches paſſing his handes, he tooke ſo intolle- rable paines and care, and gave ſo provident counſell, as matters weare fo quickly expedited and pollitiquely carried, that the rebells weare ſoone ſuppreſſed without battaile, blood or

1 danger, to the honor of the Quene and weale

bf of the Realme.

1 Thus happiely begynninge he conſtantlie con-

I! tynued his courſe, as hath byn ſeene, to the 4 3 * good of Prince, People and Contrie, to his + | immortal I

Lord BuxcuLsy. immortal praiſe and worthy reputation, with

ſuch wiſdome and moderation as was worthy a His patience man of his place, all the tyme of his ſervice as — —

Secretarie, carrieing himſelf ſo ſtraunglie tem- pered (above the nature of a man) as he was never ſeene to be angrie, moſt patient in hear- ing, and ready in diſpatchinge, ſtill contynue- ing conſtant in his buyſineſs, and withall ſo courteous and affable, as no man went from him diſcontented or diſcoraged, which made him loved, feared and honored.

In the tyme of which fortunate riſinge, youe muſt imagyne the harts of ſome did alſo riſe againſt his fortune, who weare more hott in envieing him, then hable to followe him, de- tracting his praiſes, diſcoraging his ſervices, and plattinge his daunger; as on a tyme I hard him tell that a booke peſtilently and paſſionate» ly penned againſt the Nobility came to his handes, and was ſeene upon his table, by a great noble man a Counſellor, which booke he had read with great diſlike, noting manie notable lies and faultes of the writers; yet there was a formall tale told to the Lords of the Counſell, who then weare moſt of them great noble men, and to divers other of the No- bility, inferring and inforceing it to be done or procured by himſelf to diſgrace the Nobili- tie, Whereupon ſuch a fire was kindled a- gainſt him in the hartes of all the Lords, as a platt was laid to cut him of ; he was thereupon

; called

19 The Life of William CxOIL

called before the Counſell without the Quenes knowledg and charged; which, though he ſuf- ficiently aunſwered, yet was it reſolved what aunſwere ſoever he made, he ſhold be ſent to the Tower, and then they wold find matter He hold enough againſt him. Whereof he haveing ad-

have byn

ſent to the V 1 rote to the uene of . $4 — with - ertiſement, W Que their c pur

out the poſe, who commanded nothing ſhold be done — againſt him without her privity, or els he had byn ſent to the Tower without her knowledg.

Tbegve, So the fire was covered but not quenched; for Kill hin. not long after, a vilaine was hired to kill him, and ſet at a ſtaires foote to diſpatch him as he

came from the Quene, but being warned of it,

he went downe another waie and eſcaped death.

Here maie be noted howe great miſcheifes maie

riſe upon ſmall cauſes; for this was only for haveinge the booke, which he deteſted and condemned as much as they, and ſought to

have the writer apprehended as belonged to his

place, yet his jelous ennemyes torned his ho-

neſt meaninge to a horrible miſcheife.

As he had ſome foes at home, ſo he wanted

He ſhols not ennemyes abroade; for another tyme a po- eum hae piſhe practiſer and traiterous vilaine, was by bene killed: ſome ſemynaries perſwaded to kill him; and being with him alone in his chambre, ſtand-

ing behind him leaning upon his chaire, had

not the power to performe his vilanye, though

when he came in, he tooke his dager ready in

his hand to do it. So here youe ſee, though his wiſdome

— | L S > *

Lord Bux HL EBV.

wiſdome weare a worker, yet only God was his upholder, and the ſtepps to honor are much paines and more daunger, the higheſt riſing ſubject to the loweſt fallinge. But in diſpight of envy, danger and death, he held on his high waie as by a ſtraight lyne, forgetting and forgevinge injuries, trulie performeing his ſer- vice to his Prince and Contrie. And though at that tyme in the begyning of alteration of Religion, and ſetling a newe forme of gover- ment in the State; it maie be imagyned what warrs threatened, and put in execution, what ſecrett plats and practices at home and abroade, what wants to be ſupplied, what di- viſion among the Counſell, and doubts among the people weare then on foote; wherein him- ſelf being the principall actor tooke ſo painefull care, and gave ſo carefull counſell, as with his diſcreet and pollitique temperaunce and provi- dence the goverment was wrought and brought to ſo good ordre and peaceable ſtate, as hath forty yeres byn ſeene and taſted in England, though ſeldome found or read of in other na-

tions, | As he contynued his care in ſervice, ſo he grewe in favour of his Prince and likeing of the people, and having twelve yeres ſerved as Secretary, he was by her Majeſty created Ba- ron of Burghley upon Shrove Sondaie the 2 5 February 1570. contynueing ſtill Secretary, and in June 1572, he was made Knight of the

20

21 The Life of WiLL1am Cecil

the Garter, and the 1 5 of July followinge, he

Hews was made Lord High Treaſurer of England — ot upon the death of the Lord Marques of Vin- cheſter, which place he honored as much as

the place honored him, therein exerciſing his wiſdome and temper in fo good ſort, as ſhew'd

his truth to his ſovereigne, and careful admi- niſtration of juſtice to her ſubjects, juſtice and

peace kiſſing eche other. He grewe now to

ſome greatneſs, carrying a reputation to beare

ſuch ſwaye and rule in the Comonwelth

and State, as it was thought nothing was done arr, without him ; his juſtice with his integrity, of cavics.. and temper with his jpg{tice ſo concurring, as well were they ſaty old bring their cauſe

to this hearing Ve tried before him; fo equal-

ly hearing, juſtly ſenfuring, and carefully dif- patching cauſes, as fewe ſuits weare ſuffered to

linger long before him, but were either ended

by judgment, or ordered by agreament, uſing

one fingular courſe in hearing cauſes, that if he

found them difficult, or rigorouſly to be ſen-

fured, he wold ever make motions for arbitre-

ment, and either by his authoritie or perſua-

1 ſion agree them. So as he ended more cauſes | PH in a terme then weare before in a twelvemoneth, 41 inſomuch as all men had ſuch an opinion of 3 his juſtice and indifference, as they never 14 thought themſelves ſatisfied, nor their ſuits L, it well ended, that either had not theire cauſe ? Wl! brought to his hearing, or his letter in their = 1

Lord BURGHLEY, 22 half, which drue upon him ſuch multitudes of The mutt ſuites as was incredible but to us that ſawe it: to him.

For beſides all buyſines in counſell or other

weighty cauſes, and ſuch as weare aunſwered

by word of mouth, there was not a daie in a

terme wherein he receaved not threeſcore;

foureſcore, and an hundred petitions, which

he commonlie read that night, and gave eve- : ry man aunſwere himſelf the next morninge . . as he went to tlie hall; wherein one notable | thing was obſerved of his excellent memory, that reading thoſe bills over night, there was not one petitioner came to him for aunſwere of his petition the next morninge, but ſo ſoone as they told but theire names, or what con- Hs gre triemen they weare, he wold preſentlie re- member it, tell them the matter, and give them his aunſweare; which was a ſigne of a memorable memorye; among fo manie o- ther great cauſes to hold in mynd ſo manie o⸗ ther ſeverall ſuits; but as his memorie was ex-

= cellent, his paines and induſtrie was inceſſant;

the one mutually aſſiſtinge the other brought

him to that perfection. He uſed alſo to aun- He ai, A | ſpwere the pooreſt ſoule by word of mouth; a- the pooret

pointing tymes and places of purpoſe ſo long ſuitor .

as he was hable ; but after he grewe impotent and weake and cold not goe abroade, as his nature was ever prone to doe good, he neglect- ed no meanes to performe it; for then he de- viſed a newe waie which others maie imytate;

E that

„

*3

His inceſ- ſant dilli- gence and laborious life,

The Life of WII IIA Cx IL that by age and infyrmyties being forced to keepe his chamber and ſomtymes his bed, he tooke ordre that poore ſuitors ſhold ſend in theire petitions ſealed up, whereby the pooreſt man's bill came to him as ſoone as the riche: Upon every petition he cauſed his aunſwere to be written on the back ſyde, and ſubſcribed it with his owne name, or els they had his lettre

or other aunſwere, as the cauſe required; by

which charitable and honorable device there was none ſtaid for aunſwere but was ſpeedely diſpatched, and as manie or more ſuits aun- ſwered as when he went abroade. Thus held he on his courſe like himſelf, praid for of the pore, honored of the riche, feared of the bad, and loved of the good; to his Prince and Con- try loyall, and to the ſubjects moſt pleaſinge, wondering at his great wiſdome and gravitie, and praiſing his juſtice and integritie; moſt men honoring him with the title of Father of the Comonwealth, whereof they ſawe him as tender and carefull as of his owne child; ſhew- ing his care of the ſervice of the State to be ſuch, as I can truely witnes, he never reſpect- ed pleaſure nor proffit, wealth nor health, frends nor foes, nor any thing of his private, neglecting and rejecting them all, when there was anie ſervice of his Prince or cauſes of his Contry to be followed or performed ; wherein his labor and care was fo inceſſant and his ſtu- die ſo greate, as in caſes of neceſſity he cared

2 neither

Lord BURGHLEY.

neither for meate, ſleep or reſt, tyll his buſines weare brought to ſome end: And when he was in never ſo great paine, or ſickley, if he cold but be carried abroad, he wold goe to diſpatch buyſines, though it weare with never ſo greate paine or daunger ; his induſtrie in tymes of ne- ceſſity very greate, and his dilligent and ſtu- dious courſe of life continually no leſſe, as cau- ſed all his frends to pittie him, and his very ſervaunts to admire him, and myſelf as an ey- witnes can teſtifie, I never ſaw him half an hower idle in twenty four yeres together; for if there weare cauſe of buyſines he was occupied tyll that weare done (which comonly was not long in hand;) if he had no buiſines (which was verie ſeldome) he was reading or collectinge; if he ryd abroad he haid ſuitors; when he came in he diſpatched them ; when he went to bed and ſlept not, he was either meditating or read- inge; and I have hard him ale, he did pene- trate farder into the depth of cauſes, and found out more reſolutions in his bed then when he was up: He left ſcarce tyme for ſleepe or meales, or leaſure to goe to bed; yet ſo long as his buyſines went forward, and his Prince and Contry pleaſed, he thought his paines a pleaſure, and all he cold doe too litle; ſo great was his care, and love to his Prince and Con- trie.

24

Nowe was he growne to the haight and per- Hiwwidome

and gravity

fection of a grave and greate Counſellor, by his in Cn

E 2 infinite

23

" is fogtu- nate coun- ſeis.

The Life of William Ceci

infinite contynuall ſtudy, care and practiſe, as drewe unto him ſo reverent reputation and re- ſpect, of the reſt of the Counſellors, as for his great gravitie and depth of his wiſdome they rather admired and applauded his counſells then oppoſed his reſolutions; ſo wiſe and aptly deviſed, and ſo ſpeedely expedited, as no cauſe in counſell of greateſt moment but was with celeritie and facillity diſpatched before it was thought to be begonne. Whereby both mat- ters of State, expeditions of Warre, and ſer- vices of the Realme took good effects and hap-

pie ſucceſſe, never endangered by delaie or

want of providence, as the world was then manifeſt; and when any diviſions in counſel} or devices abroade bred factions or feare of daunger, his temper and wile foreſight ever quallified and reconciled the one, and prevent- ed the other,

And herein was one notable obſervation, that in all his counſells (either by God's good- nes, or his owne wile providence, or rather both) he was very happily fortunate, fewe miſcarrieng, or ſeldome circumvented, which argued God's goodnes concurring with his pro- vident wiſdome, and his wiſdome directed by God's goodnes, torned all to his glory and good of this Realme. Thus both in cauſes of eſtate, in counſell, and all other publique or private, he held one gravity and rule of a wiſe man; all private ſuits quickly diſpatched with ma-

| ny

Lord Bu RORL RV. 26 ny praicis of all ſorts of ſuitors; all publique never foreſlowed as in the Parliament, Starre- chambre, or other publique places, where there was not a ſyttinge, but left ſome note of his wiſ- dome, gravity and juſtice; all which his ſpeeches and deedes ſo expreſſed, that when all men had ſpoken to the purpoſe as was thought moſt excellently, or in caſes of difficulty moſt doubtfully, yet when he came to ſpeake, he ſo farre exceeded, as his gravitie, wiſdome and eloquence ſo weighed and reached to the depth, ſo farre above the reache of the reſt, as was no leſſe admyred then allowed of the hearers; all things perfectlie concluded and all doubts ex- actly clered; and yet which was obſerved a ſtraung thinge in him, that for all his longe and publique ſpeeches, he was never ſeene to ſtudie a quarter of an hower, or to take notes, or torne bookes for anie of his ſpeeches; his long experience and practiſe made him neede no helps. And it was noted, that whereſo- ever he ſate in place of juſtice, there wanted not nombres that came only to heare him ſpeake, praiſing his gifts, and praiſing God for giving this Realme ſo grave, good and wiſe a man, which drewe unto him ſo great eſtima- tion, as all men, even his very ennemyes, His reputa- thought him to be the wiſeſt and graveſt Coun- lan. ſellor of this age, the beſt ſort extolling his R worthynes, the reſt fearing his juſtice and great- ,* nels; For he was nowe thought to carrie the ' ſwaie

27 The Life of WILLIAM Ceci ſwaie of all matters in theRealme, that nothing of importance was done without him, and whatſoever he did was allowed both of Prince and People. The Quene never reſolving any cauſe of eſtate without his counſell, nor ſel- dome paſt any private ſuite from her ſelf, that was not firſt referred to his conſideration, and had his approbation before it paſt ; the people thought nothing well done that went not tho- rough his handes, ſo as he was famous for his wiſdome, gravity, and greatnes thorough out this Realme, as his ſervice, painefull life, and care of his Contrie deſerved. |

His eftima- As his eſtimation was worthely great in his dene ati. Own Contrie, ſo was he greatlie famous in all 12 nations in Chriſtiandome, and other remote partes of the world; for there was no contrie where they held not his gravitie, wiſdome, pollicie and temperaunce in admiration, terme- inge him the wiſeſt and graveſt Counſellor of the world: As on a tyme a great man of Fraunce lyeing in England wrote a letter to the French King, ſaieng, he was the wiſeſt and graveſt Counſellor of Chriſtiandome, that in the Court he was accounted Pater Patriæ, and amonge the comon people guafi Rex, for his great reputation, and the ſwaie he bore in the State, the fame whereof was both a greate terror to the ennemyes of this nation, and no ſmall comfort to our frends; for ſo long as he was hable to ſtowre and manage his buſi- nes,

Lord Bu RGHLE T. 28

nes, what privie practiſe or publique inva- fions or attempts prevailed? what confer- ence in counſell over-reached him? what ſub- tiltie in treaties circumvented him? or what Princes pollicie cold take advantage of his reſolutions? His knowledg in treaties and His great ſharpnes of wit was ſuch, as when anie greate in Trade, Ambaſſador came to treate with him, which weare thought the beſt lerned and wiſeſt men in Chriſtiandome, he wold ſo farre exceed the reach of theire wiſdoms, as they rather reve- renced him, then ſtood in oppoſition with him in any argument; in treaty and warre more glad to goe awaie with reaſonable ſatiſ- faction, then willing to attempt any device of conynge to ſerve theire tornes. There was no forme or manner of treaties that he had not ſene and had ready in his heade;, neither was there ever anie went beyond him in any point of treatye. | :

He was ever more readie to prevent, then our ennemyes to attempt; and more provident to ſecure us, then they weare to offend us; inſomuch as there was no ennemye in Eng- Oure 25 land that feared not the Grand Treaſorer, of him. wiſhed his death, and practiſed to purchaſe it with promiſe of lardge rewards, perſwading men moſt deviliſhly it was meritorious to kill him, and many ſet in hand to attempt it; though God wold never ſuffer them to per- forme it, thinking that if he weare taken a-

waie,

The Life of WILLIAM Cxciti waie, there ſhold then have byn no obſtacle

for them to worke theire wills on this State. S0

famous and fearefull was his wiſdome to our ennemyes abroad, as ſerved us manie tymes for forces at home; for theire knowledg of his providences made them often quayle in theire practices, There was no Prince or Potentate our friends that did not reverence him, ſend to him, and ſemed to hold his friendſhip in eſtimation; and there was no Prince our en- nemye, that feared him not as much as they hated him. And what eſtimation ſoever wee have of him in our owne Contrie; it is eer- taine his fame is ſuch in all other nations as cannot dye with his death, or be obſcured with the fowle breath of envye. There were many demonſtrations of the reputation many Princes had of him; as when his Lordſhip's graundchild Mr. William Cecill travayling in Italie was brought before Cardinall Farneſe, a man of great authority, who finding Mr. Ce- cill to be the ſonne of the graunde Treaſorier of England, he lodged him in his houſe, ap- pointed divers Gentlemen to attend him, and his horſes to beat his commaundment; ſpeake- ing moſt reverently of his graundfather, and never left enquireing of the manner of his life, faſhion, ſtature, ſpeech, recreations, and ſuch like; delighting to here it; and talk of him, and at his departing gave him preſents and money in his purſe, The like did the Duke

Lord BuRGHLEV. 30

Duke of Florence to Mr. Edward Cecill a younger brother, and, which was an extraor- dinary favour, the Duke gave him leave to ride his owne horſe; and at his departure gave him gifts of price. Many other ſuch like to- kens have bene thew'd from many princes; provinge how much they held his Lordſhip in eſtimation.

By his place and greatnes he had daily in- telligence from tnany contries; and beſides forreine letters he receaved not ſo fewe as 20 4 or 30 other letters in a daie, whereby he had ſomtymes good newes and ſometymes bad; if it weare good he wold temperatly ſpeake of it, if yll he kept it to himſelf. He was never He as ne- moved with paſſion in either, neither joyful at d ay the beſt, nor daunted at the worſt; and it was worthely noted in him, that though his body was weake, his courage never failed as in tymes of greateſt daunger he ever ſpake moſt chere- fully, and executed things moſt readyly, when others ſemed doubtfull or dreadfull; and when ſome did often talke fearefully of the greatnes of our ennemyes, and of theire power and poſſibility to harme us, he wold ever aun- | | ſwere, they ſhall doe no more then God will = i ſuffer them ; which argued his whole truſt in

| God, and a courage in himſelf, ” N In Cauſes depending before him in Juſtice, His *pright- } Bf he regarded neither friend nor ennemy, for tic. 5

* he wold be neither partiall to the one, nor an F enclyning

31

The Life of WIIIIAu Ceci,

enclyning to reveng or wrong the other. In caſe of hearing, I had rather of the twoe bee his ennemy; for if he Icaned anie waie (as willingly he never did) it was rather to the foe, leaſt he might be taxed of partiallyry ;

it was alſo booteles for his ſervaunts, yea, his ſiſters ſonns or deereſt frends, preſumeing

of his favoure to labor to move or remove him in any matter before him, either for theire freind or themſelves; for if theire cauſe weare bad, they weare ſure of leaſt favoure, if it weare good they weare not ſure of ſo much as another; and I have hard him often very ſharplie reprehend his men for bringing ſuits before him, when they weare not upon good grounds, and wold force them rather to compound then ſue. In cafes of Juſtice, none cold ever doe him greater de- ſpight then to offer him anie thing, as my- {ſelf can witnes ; for I have ſeene him refuſe a bucke, and many peeces of plate at New- yeres-tyde; and to offer him money was to offend him ſo as they fared the worſe, ever faieing, I will take nothing of you, haveing a cauſe depending before me. And I dare a- vowe it, there was never any man livinge cold

procure him take a penny, cauſe depending

before him in any Court of Juſtice. Here was

juſtice without reward or reſpect, ſtopping his eies and eares, and cloſing his hands, nei- ther ſeing, hearing, feeling, or knoweing the great

Lord BURGHLEY. 32

great rich man. from the pooreſt ſoule; his reward is his praiſe in this world, and glory in the next. God ſend us more ſuch, and that his example maie . others imytate his vertues.

His carefull courſe in * Court of Wardes i one was no leſſe commendable then the reſt, „en howſoever his proceedings be ſcanned or ſcan- daliſed; for he was alwaies moſt carefull both of her Majeſties proffit and prerogatyve, and to maintain the privileges and authoritie of the Court. For about eight yeres paſt, find- ing the revenue of that court to abate, he be- g gan to looke into the cauſe thereof, writing 0 letters to all the Feodaries of England, gi- 1 ving them ſtraight chardg, to looke better to ; the Quenes ſervice, for the increaſing of her | revennue; which letters being ſeene, will prove him carefull for the Quenes proffit. | And where no Maſter of the Wardes ever ; rated male Wardes above one yeres value, and females at two yeres value, according to their lands found by office; his Lordſhip in- 4 creaſed males to a yere and a half, and alſo raiſed muche the rates of females. And where other Maſters of the Wardes before his Lordſhip demyſed Wards lands at the values found by office, and rated the fame at one yeres value, his Lordſhip wold ſuffer no leaſe }

g to paſſe before the landes were ſurveyed by 1 * the Feodaries, and rated the fynes at a yere ; 1 and

2 # ' v 1 il 1 [ : | 7 |

33

The Life of WII IIA Ceci.

and a half, according to the improved values: So as though in all things he obſerved the courſe of the court, and of his predeceſſors; yet in this he increaſed it, for her Majeſties proffit, no furder preſſing the ſubject, then he might well beare, which he thought ſort- ed both with conſcience, honor, and honeſty; though he might have raiſed it to a higher rate if he had not reſpected her Majeſties ho- nor, and regarded the eaſe of the ſubject, ſeeking rather to wynne their loves to theire Prince by indifferent gaine, than by drawing more from them, to procure theire curſe and hatred. His Lordſhip hated fraudulent con- veyances to defeat the Quene of wardſhip, and where he found the fault, he did ſharp- lie punyſhe it. He wold alſo ſeverely pu- nyſhe contemners of the Quenes proceſſe, commonly uſing thes words, Melior eft obedt- entia quam victima. He ever indevoured to comytt Wards to perſons of ſound religion, and preferred naturall mothers before all o- thers to the cuſtodie of theire children, if they weare not to be touched with anie no- table exception. He wold often remember cauſes and orders paſt 20 or 30 yeres before, better then the Counſellors, Clerks, and of- ten then the parties whome it concerned. At the argueing of any great cauſes, he not only obſerved and hard theire arguments, but wold alſo with great judgment plead and

argue

Lord BUrRGHLEy. 34

argue himſelf, and when he did ſet downe N ordres, he wold ever deliver the reaſon of ; his ordre.

1 His commandments weare ſhort, plaine, and full, ſo as a man of very meane capacitie, might both underſtand and effect them. He was 1 ſpareing in commending any, and yet wold . praiſe ſome, but lightlie; yet was he moſt : readye to benefitt and cheriſhe the ſufficient and painefull. He favoured not the graunt- 1 ing of Wardes in the fathers life tyme. He wold never ſuffer Lawyers to wrangle, but ever hold them to the point; which was a b cauſe of great reverence and order in the 1 court. He wold fyne Sherifes deeplie if they

weare found negligent, and wold never ſpare

anie indebted to the Quene : All which doe

prove he did the Quene more ſervice, and

the ſubject more good, then ſuch as went be-

fore him.

It was imagined he made infinite gaine by Thegain he the Wards, which maie eaſyly be examyned; Court of for ſuch Wardes as he kept in his owne 28 handes, it is to be ſeene of record in the office; and for ſuch as he tooke money, the officers can teſtifie what and how many they weare in a yere; and if it be moſt narrowly ſifted, it will appeare that in all the tyme he was Maſter of the Wards, he reſerved to his own uſe but three, whereof he had proffit but of twoe; and where he graunted yerely three-

{core

2 „„ — OI wa * ? * 1 2 * * 46 FLY, XY » F 2 -— 7 * 1 ©

33

The Life of William CxciI

ſcore or threeſcore and tenne, or perhaps ſome yeres foureſcore; I dare be ſworne, becauſe I knewe it and ſawe it, he never tooke benefitt but of twoe or three or perhaps foure in a yere which was in this ſort. If either the

mother, the frends, or anie for them did write

unto him that they wold give 100 J. or 200 l.

or 300 l. and rarely above, to have the pre- ferment of a Wardſhip, they had it without

indenting, bargayninge, or examyning the va-

lue, if it proved worth fyve tymes ſo much as they paid for it. At other tymes, perad- venture once or twice in a yere, a Nobleman, Ladie, or Gentleman that had a Ward for him worth 500 J. or 1000 J. wold fend him ſome 8 J. ſome 100 angels, or a peece of plate at Newyeres-daie. And here is all the proffitt that one yere with another he made of it, unles it weare by a chaunce it might be greater, which happened not once in ſeven or tenne yeres. The reſt he gave freely moſt to Courtyers, ſome to his frends, ſome to his ſervaunts, ſome to the mothers, and ſome to the Wards themſelves. It was found by the books of entries, that in twoe yeres and a half his Lordſhip gave in all about 200 Wardes, whereof he gave 180 to Courtyers; and yet ſome cold ſcarce aford him a good word, but his goodnes was great- er then theire deſertes. Here you ſee the re- maine of 200 was but 20 to give or ſell, whereout he cold not raiſe moch to himſelf.

Nowe

Lord BurGHLEyY.

Nowe let the world judg what cold be raiſed yerely above the ordynary fees, which put to- wether cannot amount to much. But the multitud meaſured his gaine, rather by that he mought then that he made; yet howſoever it be eſtemed, the truth will ever appeare, and is here moſt approved, as before is ſet downe, which can never be impugned. There was never Maſter of the Wardes gave more Wardes freely, nor ſold fewer to his private comodity ; and if he had byn miſerable, covetous, or corrupt, he wold neither have givene ſo ma- ny nor ſolde ſo fewe; he was not bound to give anie man a Ward, worth 500 J. or 1000 l. freely, or to let one have a Ward for 100 J. worth 600 J. without a better recompence to himſelf; but his deedes doe approve him for as honorable and bountiful a Maſter of the Wardes, as anie hath gone before him ; neither can his ta- kinge detract from his honor, though they much dyminiſhe his deſerts; he had nothing ſo much as he ought, nor toke ſo much as he

mought, without touch to honor or honeſty. Now I have ſpoken of his berth, riſing, and ſervices in publique affaires, to prove he was truly honorable, honeſt, and noblie in- clyned, let me diſcrybe unto youe his courſe and condition in his private diſpoſition, and domeſticall life, as truely as I can, though not ſo truely and exquiſitely as he practiſed the ſame, leaving it to the ſenſure of the wiſe | 2 and

|

The Life of WILLIAM Cecil

and judicious, not partiall, or paſhionate, to judge of. his vertues, rather by his deedes, then others reportes.

And firſt to begynne with his houſkeeping ; it is to be noted he kept principally two houſes or families, one at London, the other at The- obaldes, though he was at chardg, both at Burghley, and the Court. At London he kept ordinarily in houſhold, fowerſcore perſons, be- ſides his Lordſhip and ſuch as attended him at the Court, the chardg amounting to thur- tie poundes a week, and the ſome yearly to 1560 J. and in the terme times, or when his Lordſhip laie at London, his chardg increaſed x J. or xiil. a week. At Theobaldes he kept contynually his houſehold lying at London, 26 or 3o perſons, the chardg being weekely X11 J. and alſo releved there daiely 20 and 30 poore people at the gate, and beſides gave weekely in money by Mr. Neale his Lord- ſhips Chaplaine, Vicar of Cheſthunte, twenty ſhillinges to the poore there. The weekely chardg in ſetting poore on work, as Wood- ers, Labourers, &c. came to tenne pounde, and fo his weekely chardg at Theobaldes, his houſehold being at London, was xxii I. and the yerely ſome 1144 /. both ſumed together his yearly chardg was 2704 J. When his Lord- ſhip was continuallie at the Court, which you maie imagine much increaſed at his Lord- ſhips comeing home, for I have hared his of-

| | ficers

Lord BurGHLEyY.

ficers affirme, that at his Lordſhips being at Tbecbaldes, it coſt him fowerſcore pounde in a week. The chardg of his ſtable, not here mentioned, was yearly 1000 markes at the leaſt. Beſides which certeine chardg he bought great quantities of corne in tymes of darth, to furniſhe markets aboute his houſes at un- derprices, to pull downe the price to releive the poor. He gave alſo for releaſing of pri- ſoners in manie of his later yeres 40 J. and 50 J. in a terme; and for twentie yeares toge- ther he gave yerelie in beefe, bread, and mo- ney at Chri/tmas to the poore of Weſtminſter, St. Martins, St. Clementes and at Theobaldes 35 1 and ſometymes 40 J. per Ann. He gave alſo yerely to 20 poore men lodging in the Sa- voy, 20 ſuits of apparell. He gave alſo for three yeres before he died, to poore priſoners, and to poor pariſhes, in money weekely xly s.

ſo as his certeine almes, beſides extraordina- His i ries, was caſt up to be 5001. yerelie, one yere

with another.

Having ſet downe his chardg, I will note unto you the ordre and goverment of his houſe. For the officers and their places it is to long here to name them, being ſuch and fo manie, as are uſuallie in the greateſt mens houſes. All places furniſhed with ſufficient and honeſt men, as I am aſſured the world can report. For his nombre of attendaunts he was as ho- norablie and ordrely ſerved, as ſerved with a G man

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The Life of William CROII

man of his Lordſhip's place and degree; and as nere as he could he wold never entertaine, or kepe anie contentious, vitious, or evill diſpoſed perſons, after performaunce of buyſ- neſs (as fewe men about him were idle.) There weare praiers every daie ſaid in his chap- pell at 11 of the clock, where his Lordſhip and all his ſervaunts weare preſent, and ſel- dome or never went to dynner without praiers; and fo likewiſe at 6 of the clock before ſup- per; which courſe was obſerved by his ſteward in his Lordſhip's abſence. When his Lordſhip was able to ſyt abroad, he kept an honorable table for noblemen and others to reſort unto; but when age and infirmittes grew on him, he was forced to kepe his chambre, where he was void neither of company nor meate, having as manie of his frendes and children, as before he had ſtraungers: His diet being then as chargable weekely, as when he came abroade. His Lordſhip's hall was ever well furniſhed with men ſerved with meate, and kept in good ordre ; for his Steward kept a ſtanding table for Gentlemen, beſides two othere long tables many tymes twice ſet out, one for the Clerk of the Kitchin, the other for yeomen. And whither his Lordſhip weare abſent or preſent, all his men, both retayners and others, reſort- ed contynually to meate and meale, at there pleaſures, which I have ſeldome ſeene in anie houſe ; eſpeciallie having ſo manie retayners

| reſorting

Lord Bux GHLEx. 40

reſorting contynuallie either for ſuite or pri- vate buſines. His Lordſhip was ſerved with men of quallity and ſtability, for moſt of the principall Gentlemen in England, ſought to preferre their ſonns and heirs to his ſervice; inſomuch as I have nombred in his houſe at- tending on the table, 20 Gentlemen of his re- tayners, of 1000/. per Ann. a peice, in poſ- ſeſſion and reverſion; and of his ordinary men as manie, ſome worth 1000, ſome 3, 5, 10,

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yea 200001, daily attending his Lordſhip's | 155 ſervice. Nowe looke upon his houſehold, and . caſt all the former charges together, and let = his greateſt ennemyes ſay, whither he kept not 9 10 an honorable, orderlie, and chargable houſe: | bt Naye let them find out ſuch another in our web tyme, to be ſo long contyneally and ordrely aig hr

maintayned, as this proporcion requireth ; but whatſoever fame affordeth hym, truth and tyme will bring to light, his truly honorable, godlie, and charitable diſpoſition. | His Lordſhip's extraordinary charg in en- Hin aw terteynment of the Queene, was greater to . . him then to anie of her ſubjects; for he enter- tayned her at his houſe twelve ſeverall tymes, which coſt him 29000/. or 3000/. every tyme, lyeing there at his Lordſhip's charge, ſome- ork: tymes three weeks, a mounth, yea fix weeks together, But his love to his Soveraigne, and joye to enterteyne her and her traine, was fo . great, as he thought no troble, care, nor coſt G too

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41

Fis build- ings ſetting many poore on werke.

The Life of WILLIAu Cecil

too much, and all too little, ſo it weare boun- tifully performed, ta her Majeſties recreation, and the contentment of her traine. Her Ma- jeſtie ſometymes had Straungers and Ambaſſa- dors came to her at Theobaldes, where ſhe hath byn ſeene in as great royalty, and ſerved as bountifully and magnificently, as at anie other time or place; all at his Lordſhip's charge, with rich ſhowes, pleaſaunte devices, and all manner of ſportes, cold be deviſed, to the great delight of her Majeſtie, and her whole traine, with great thankes from her, and as great comendation abroad.

He built three houſes, one in London for ne- ceſſyty, another at Burghley of computency, for the manſion of his Barony, and another at Waltham, for his younger ſonne ; which at the firſt he ment but for a little pile, as I heard him faie ; but after he came to enterteine the Quene fo often there, he was enforced to in- lardg it, rather for the Quene and her great traine, and to ſett poore on worke, then for pompe or glory; for he ever ſaid, it wold be too bigg for the ſmall living he cold leave his ſonne. The other twoe are but convenient, and no bigger then will ſerve for a Nobleman, all of them perfected, convenient, and to bet- ter purpoſe for habitation, then many others buylt by great Noblemen, being all bewtyfull, uniforme, neceſſary, and well ſeated; which are great arguments of his wiſdome, and judg- ment.

Lord BuxGHLEy. =_

ment. He greatly delighted in making gardens, fountains, and walks, which at Theobalds were perfected, moſt coſtly, bewtyfully, and plea- ſauntly, where one might walk two myle in the walkes, before he came to the endes.

He alſo built an Hoſpytall at Sfameford nere He ile an his houſe of Burghley, all of freeſtone, and gave 100 J. landes to it, for maintenaunce of X11 poor men for ever, eſtabliſhing many good ordinaunces and ſtatutes, for the goverment thereof, in hope to contynue it to the benefitt of the poore.

He gave alſo thirty poundes a yere for ever, t Run.

nn. to

to St. John's Colledge in Cambridge, where he I'D was a Scholler; he gave alſo ſome plate to re- Cambriag. maine to the houſe, for he entirely loved learn-

ing and learned men, whome he ever held in reverence and regard, ever uſing his credit and authority, to releve and advance men of learn-

ing and deſert. All which greate chardges He was ne and expences doe prove he was neither cove- — cove- tous nor miſerable; for to be covetous is to 3

ſire more then he hath, but he might have

had farre more than he had; ergo he was not covetous; for where he had a ſhillinge he

might have had a pound, if that vild humor

had poſſeſſed him. And to be in ſo great fa-

vour of his prince, ſo great a Counſellor in ſo

great offices, ſo long tyme together, carrieing

the whole ſwaie of the State, what wealth

might he not have gathered if he had coveted | to

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The Life of William Cx II. to gather more. Are there not ſome with no office, ſmall favoure of the Prince, no counte- naunce, and no credit in the commonwealth, that have gathered more land, more money, and more welth, than his Lordſhip left ? Yes many. Nay I dare undertake if ſome had his offices, place, and credit but ſevene yeres, they wold gaine more in that tyme, then he did in fourty yeres painefull ſervice : Covet- ouſnes is to deſire all, and he might have had more then he deſired, which proveth he co-

veted not ſo much. But his temperaunce go-

verning all his actions, tempered this humor in him, which tooke rooting in manie others of his predeceſſors in his place. So likewiſe to

be miſerable, is he that can find in his hart

to ſpend nothing; but I can prove he ſpent li- berally, and therefore he cold not be miſera-

ble. Look upon his huge expences, and the

truth will then ſhyne out; he ſpent infinite ſomes in building, hoſpitallity, and in main- tenaunce of his honorable port; he gave 500 /. a yere to the poore; he ſpent more in inter- teynements of his Prince then anie ſubject; he kept as faire a ſtable of horſe as anie Noble- man; he made as coſtlie gardaines, walks, and

places of pleaſure, as are to be ſeene ; Put

thes and the like ſomes together, and you will confeſſe them to be greater then cold pro- ceed from a miſerable man. Neither ſpared he any coſt for the maintenaunce of his honor,

| | pleaſure

Lord BuxGHLEY. 44

pleaſure and reputation; then muſt his enne- myes confeſſe, and his frends approve, he cold arid be miſerable, that could ſpend fo liberal- ; for a miſer will ſpend nothinge. And for a * manifeſtation of his honorable incli- His efate at nation, without gredy griping, or inſatiable ms covetinge, ſee but into his eſtate at the tyme of his death, there ſhall youe find proved that I have alleadged ; for his land was never above 40001. a yere to his purſe, beſide the land he gave to the three young Ladies, wherein he ſhewed his honorable kindneſs; for he bought parte of my Lord of Oxford's landes, to give to my Lord of Oxford's owne daughters : His money was not above elevene thowſand poundes, devided into manie partes, whereof his eldeſt ſonne had not one penny: His plate was not above fowertene or fiftene thouſand poundes, devided into manie partes, whereof a great quantity was gevene aweye in legacies : His houſhold ſtuff was as meane as anie No- bleman's of reaſonable quallity, and this was the great wealth of ſo great a Counſellor, liv- ing 40 yeres together in his Prince's favour, in fo great reputation, fo great offices and fo peaceable a tyme, as if his mynd had ſorted to his power, he might have gathered i in that tyme, tenne tymes the value: And it is well | known there have ſome Barons, neither of great place nor deſert, that have died in this Quenes tyme, left as good an eftate as this, which

45 The Life of WII III Cxcit

which infallibly doth prove, he was neither covetous to gaine, nor myſerable in his expences, though the vulgar ſort maie thinke his wealth greater, meaſuringe his eſtate rather by that he

might have, then by that he had; but his temperate life, his wiſdome, juſtice, integri-

tie, and honeſt ations, doe more lively and

truely diſprove his envious detractors, by his notorious worthy deedes, then can be deviſed

by any wordes or invencion of the moſt elo-

quent writers.

He gently There was never anie man living in his and eftemed Place, did more reſpect and eſteme the Nobi- OY lytie then his Lordſhip; and where he found any towardnes in a Nobleman, it woldas much

rejoice him as if he had byn his owne ſonne,

and wold doe all he could to bring him for-

ward : He cheriſhed and advaunced as manie

as he could, or weare capable; and this one

thing was truly obſerved in him, the wiſeſt

and graveſt counſellors of this Quenes tyme,

both of Noblemen and others of deſert, weare

all placed and preferred by his Lordſhip's means; it was impoſſible to preferre all, for

all weare not worthy ; but when he found de-

ſartes and oportunytie, there was no man more forward to advaunce them. It can never be

truly ſaid, that he ever ſought to reveng an

injurie againſt anie Nobleman, or that he ever incenſed or incited the Queene againſt anie of

them, or ſought to hinder their Preferment ; ; neither

wv P72 * 0 3

=y

Lord BuxGHLty, 46

neither did J ever heare or doe thinke, that anie Nobleman livinge can juſtly faie he wrought him anie wronge or notorious inju- rye, which is a notable obſervation of his love to Nobility, and a vertue ſeldome found in fach as have lived in his place and greatnes, therein expreſſeing his deepe wiſdome, never to doe wronge to Nobilitie, leaving his fonne to enjoye the benefitt of a Nobleman; and I have often hard him in his ſpeech; greatly re- verence and extoll Nobilitie, holding it moſt precious, as the reward of Vertue, and Vertue in Nobilitie cold neither be ſufficiently eſtemed nor rewarded. He was carefull and defirous to furder and e,

advaunce

advaunce men of quallity and defart, to be Ie Counſellors and Officers to her Majeſty, ber. wherein he placed manie, and laboured to bring

in more; for there was never any man in his

place and authority, brought more to be Coun-

ſellors then he did; if fince he came in credit,

youe recount how many Counſellors and great Officers weare placed by his means, ſince the begyninge of her Majeſty's Reigne; and 1

could name youe twenty more whome he la-

boured to preferre, but could not; yet wold

envy with her flaunders report he hindered

men from riſing; but howe true it is wiſe

men maie judge, for it was in the Quene to

take whom ſhe pleaſed, and not in a ſubject to preferre whom he lifted. | | 5 As

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47

He was care- ſull of a Sol- dier.

The Life of WILLIAM Cacil

As his care was great in his Contries ſervice, ſo eſpeciallie for the releif and maintenaunce

of the poore Soldior, which made the rich

Soldior or Captaine to faie he loved not a Sol-

dior. It is true he loved not a bad Captaine that robbed and pilled the poore Soldior ; but he tooke great care and good ordres for the poore Soldiors ; ergo he loved a Soldier, and hated him that loved not a Soldior; for there was never anie care and troble ſo great to him, as to provid money and clothing for poore Sol- diers. His Lordſhip was the firſt deviſed to apparell them, and procured their weekly lend- ings to be paid by pole, not before uſed ; for the Captaine was wont to receive the whole paie for all his Soldiers, who weare then nei- ther ſo well paid nor pleaſed, as by this new courſe, every man to receive it himſelf; and the reaſon whie his Lordſhip miſliked a bad Captaine, was when he gave not the Soldier his due, who ſometymes ſtarved for want, to the loſſe of manie a poore ſoule, and the hin- draunce of her Majeſties ſervice. 'There was no man did ever more eſteme and encorage a good Captaine, then his Lordſhip, as I aſſure my ſelf manie will confeſs, that weare wiſe and ſawe his care and credit ever ſet on work, beth to furder all good ſervices, and to pro- vide for all good Soldiors, ſo as his love to all poore and good Soldiors appeared in that he of all men did moſt for their releif, which juſtly

Ws SS » DAE. cad

Lord BurGur ey.

juſtly deſerved the love of them and all good ſubjects, who ought with praiſes to lend theire praiers for ſo worthie a Counſellor, whoſe wiſdome and care of his Contrye ever moved him to take care of thoſe good ſubjects that ſerved for theire Prince and Contrie.

He was molt patient in hearing, ready in His mit

diſpatching, and myld in aunſweringe ſuitors. When they had his denyall, it was givne'with ſo good words, it pleaſed them as well as his grant; for whither he wold doe, or reject theire requeſtes, his aunſweres were both givne with ſuch myld ſpeeches, as though his de- nyall cauſed diſcontentment, his ready and pleaſing aunſweres gave them ſatisfaction, If the cauſe weare bad, he wold heare it with patience, and reforme it with temperance ; if it weare good, he wold adjudg it fo with

good wordes; the worſt fort and the beſt

weare aunſwered with myldneſs, being nei- ther offended at the one nor partiall in the other, inſomuch as in 30 yeres together he was ſeldome ſeene ayrie, or moved with joye in proſperity, or ſorrowe in adverſitie; his temper ever noted as one of his greateſt ver- tues, untill within 3 or 4 yeres before his death, when age, the mother of moroſity, and eontynuance of ſickneſs altered even the courſe of his nature, with paines in his bo- die, greifes and cares in his mynde, croſſes in counſell, and oppreſſion with multitude of

H 2 buyſines

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all men.

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49 The Life of William Cacil

buyſines for his Contrie, which not ſucceed- ing nor ſorting to his deſires, ſo diſtempered

his mynd, as bereved him of his wonted myld-

nes, altered his natural diſpoſition, and gave

waie to ages imperfections ; but his anger was neither ſuden nor furious; his wordes weare

but wind, no ſooner ſpoken then forgotten,

for he wold preſently fpeake faire again ; as if he had angrely ſpoken to any of his ſervaunts,

he wold imediatly ſpeake faire, and as it weare

| ſeeke to be frends with them; and comonly

he wold ſooneſt do for ſuch as he had falen

out with, Here was a noble nature, by

whoſe anger many found more good, then by

others faire flattering ſpeeches.

22 When anie attemptes or ſervices of impor- ſervices or taunce weare propounded, he wold dilligent- "wr ly conſider of the probability and comoditic of ſucceſſe, which if he found good for the Quene

/ or State, he was never quiet till they weare expedited ; but if there weare found anie ap- parent doubt or daunger, he was ſparing of

his counſell to put ſuch forward; he was ſlowe

0 in reſolving, but ſpeedy to expedite good re- ſolutions; for there was none more forward

in ſervice or action, which in expectation pro-

myſed honor or wealth to his Countrie; yet

wold envy ſaie, he hindered manie ſervices with his ſparing; as though all reſolutions of ſervice and chardg paſſed not from the Quene

and Counſell, as well as from him, or as if | all

amp 0 WT, eo oy Y-

Lord Bux GHLEV. all nombres of men and all ſumes of money

were not levied and paid by the Quenes and

Counſells warraunt. There is no man that knoweth anie thinge but will confeſſe this, then had he wronge of all the Counſell, to be only taxed for all errors, or evil reſoluti- ons (but it was his misfortune to beare the blame of the worſt, and others to have the praiſe of his ſervice and paines) yea, ſaid ſome, but he might have perſwaded the Quene to doe thinges roundly, and then had they ſucceeded happilie; but here is the common error of the popular ignorant ſort, who think

themſelves wiſer then the Quene and all her

Counſell, as though the ſingle imagination of

one ſingle braine, cold reache deeper into the

State, then the grave heades of ſo manie wiſe men laid together. But to the wiſe it doth appeare, that he was neither hable to rule the Quene or Counſell, nor to derect them, and ® therefore not to be blamed for errors in Coun- ſell, reſolved by all, and not by himſelf only. Yet howſoever mallice maie ſuggeſt, his deedes ſhewed his forwardnes, care, and coun- fell, to be redy bent to any good attempt for his Princes and Contries good.

Whoſoever had ſeene his intollerable paines He was op- prefled with.

multitudes

had little reaſon to drawe all buyſines to him- * baer.

and innumerable buiſynes, wold confeſſe he

ſelf, as was ſaid of him; and though all or molt part of the buyſneſs of State, paſſed his hands

10

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The Life of WiLtian Ceci

hands for a longe tyme together, yet am I. aſſured he ſought it not; for it was a thinge he ever complained of, to have ſo many things thrown upon him; and my ſelf can witnes he was commaunded to manie things he was loth to doe, and wold have refuſed, but for offending ; and there was no man converſaunt with him, but did ſee him ſurcharged with buyſineſs, whereof he often complayned, that it was laid on his ſholders againſt his will. Howe could it then be his ſeekinge? And if ſuch as ſaid fo, or thought ſo, had ſeene his inceſſant toilſome life, and contynuall care, wold have rather pittied him, then thinke that any reaſonable wiſe man, cold poſſiblie deſire ſuch a laborious life, ſo out of poſſibilitie of likelyhood in him to ſeeke it, as it is moſt certeine he earneſtlie laboured to ſhune it.

But amidſt theſtreams of his lowinge vertues, the founders of his famous fortune, youe maie imagine there wanted not envy, flaundeth, and ſpight, the companions of proſperitie, to detract, and as farre as they cold to blemiſhe the brightnes of his vertues, but that, as youe knowe, vertue ever vanquiſheth vice. For all envy (rather motives of his ennemyes malice) had theire ſpring rather from his good deſerts

This diflike then anie cauſe of diſlike, and the chefeſt

of his enne- mies was the originall

round of mens grudgings, weare the origi-

of his pri nalls of his praiſes, drawinge enmytie upon 9 him,

Lord BurcuLesy,

him, not for anie private benefitt to himſelf, but for the ſervice of his Prince, the love of his Contrie, and his juſtice to the Subjects; for when courtiers, great men, and many the Quenes ſervaunts, and others, had ſuites to her Majeſty, which ſhe ever referred to his conſideration, he finding them neither reaſon- able nor lawfull, wold ever wiſh them to take honeſt and lawfull ſuits, and then he wold doe his beſt to furder them, as he did many; but otherwiſe he wold plainely tell them, the Quene might doe what ſhe pleaſed, but he wold never recomend their ſuite: As ſome wold fue for monopolies, ſome for conceal- ments, ſome for innovations againſt lawe; all which he proteſted againſt, termeing them Cankers of the Commonwealth ; others to take leaſes and torne out the Quenes auntient tenaunts, others. to have ſuch of the Quenes lands, as weare not fitt to paſſe from the Crowne, and many ſuch like; which when he miſliked or rejected, and that they had not evne what they liſted, then they railed on him, though he had done them never ſo many plea- ſures before. Here was all that bred him fo many ennemyes, for other cauſe gave he none, neither had he any other ennemyes, ſhonyng enmyty with all men, and hating to be ac- counted any man's adverſary. Wherein the wiſe and honeſt doe ſee, that honorable -and honeſt ſervaunts to their Prince and Contrie,

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53 The Life of William Cecit if they doe theire duty, they are ſpighted and envied; if they doe it not, they are ſubject to daunger and diſgrace, and Virtutis comes in- vidia. But his conſcience being clere, his courage never quailed, for he neither failed in his juſtice, nor feared to goe forward in his honorable direct courſes. Oblervat- le cold never like or allowe to put out his honora- any of the Queenes poore tenaunts ; he wold onen never ſpare any man for the Quenes debts, ſaieing they deſerved no favoure; for theire detayning the Quenes money made her aſk \þ more of her Subjects; whereby her Majeſty 4 was deceaved, and the Subject abuſed and op- 9 preſſed. His care and courſe in getting in the Quenes debts was ſuch, as there was ne- ver ſo much brought in, as ſince he came in place. He wold never pay penny of the Quenes money without her warraunt, nor e- ver borrowed or toke anie mony out of the Chequire for his owne uſe, as manie Treſu- rers have done: Neither did he owe the Quene a penny when he died. He never had reſpect of perſons, but of theire cauſes ; for ſones, frends, ſervaunts, and the greateſt ſtraungers, weare to him alike. He wold never hear one ſide alone, nor beleive the firſt tale; but wold ever conclud the complay- | naunce with this ſentence, Audi alteram par- Wl fem, It a poor man brought his Counſell to * 7 | the

4 4. _ "24 << *x —#D.

Lord BuxHLRV. 54 the barre, and the other ſide failed, he wold ever award the poore man his coſte. He wold never ſuffer Lawyers to wrangle or di- greſſe in pleadinge, adviſing Counſellors to deale truly and plainly with their clients, that if their matter weare nought, to tell them ſo, and not to ſooth them; and where he found ſuch a Lawyer, he wold never think him honeſt, nor recomend him to any prefer- ment, as not fit to be a judge that wold before give falſe counſell. He ever greatly comend- ed the ſtudy of the Comon Lawe, above all other lerninge, ſaieing, that if he ſhold be- gynne againe, he wold follow that ſtudy. When he found any obſtinately bent to take advauntage in extremity of Lawe, he wold with not to fall into ſuch a tyraunts hands, willing them remember the ſayeing of the Scripture, to doe as they wold be done unto. He was ſo carefull in adminiſtration of juſtice, as many tymes he favoured the Subject in cauſes of the Prince; as when one Mr. Throgmorton had a caſe in the Excheguir, which was hardly recovered for the Quene upon a nyce point, he wold not ſuffer the judgement be entered, but with this condition, to enter the reaſons, and that it was a caſe of the Quenes prerogative, and not of lawe.

He did never raiſe his owne rents, nor diſ- R. „e place his tenaunts, but as the rents went when dns he bought the landes, ſo the tenaunts {till

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55 The Life of WiLL1am Cecil

held them; and I knowe ſome of his tenaunts paid him but 20 J. per Ann. for a thing worth 2007. which he enjoyed duringe his Lord- ſhip's life. | Ficarees His care was not leaſt, as nere as poſſiblie Judges. he could, in preferring learned and good men to the Quene, to be Judges and Officers of the Realme; for he wold often faie, that ho- neſt Counſellors to the Quene, and good Judges and Officers in Courtes of Juſtice, weare the pillers of the State, and that the Quene and Realme were happie in this age, to have ſuch and ſo manie good Judges in moſt Courts, as have ſeldome for nomber and quallity byn ſeen in former tymes, therein much and often rejoycing, as in one of God's bleſſings on this Land, He was d- Ag he was hable, he was defiroys to pre-

firous to pre-

ferre good ferre good and learned Men into the Myni- the — ſtery, to be Biſhops, Deanes, and Myniſters, *affirmeing it to be the only Foundation of the good and peaceable Eſtate of a Comon- wealth, faieing, that where the people weare well tought, the King had ever good obedi- ence of his Subjects; and where there wanted a good Miniſtery, there weare ever bad Peo- ple; for they that knewe not howe to ſerve God, wold never obey the Kinge. He wold ſaie there cold be no firme nor ſetled courſe in Religion, without ordre and government;

for without a head, theire cold be no _ and

Lord BuxGutsy.

and if all weare heades, there ſhold be no bo- dies to ſet the heades upon; all muſt not be like, ſom muſt rule, ſome obey, and all doe theire duties to God and the Church, like good Paſtors and Teachers in every Function; he held there cold be no goverment where there was diviſion; and that State cold never be in ſafety, whefe there was tolleration of two Religions; for there is no enmytie ſo greate as that for Religion, and they that differ in the ſervice of God, can never agtee in the ſetvice of theire Contrie.

His honeſt and vettuous courſe of life, wag Hs de-

tion and ob-

an infallible ſigne of his chriſtian godly mynd, ration of

verified and expreſſed in the Preface of his Will, fo wiſely and devynely, as ſeemed rather to proceed from the mynd of a depe Devyne, then of a great Counſellor profeflinge matters of pollicye. His piety and great devotion (the foundation of all his actions) was ſuch as he never failed to ſerve his God, before he ſerved his Contrie; for he moſt preciſely duly obſerved his exerciſe of praier, morning atid eveninge, all the tyme he was Secretary, ne- ver failing to be at the Chappell in the Quenes houſe evety Morning, fo long as he cold goe; afterwards by his infirmytie, not hable to goe abroade, he uſed every morning and even- inge to have a quiſhinge laid by his bed-ſyde, whete he praid daily on his knees, without faile, what haſt or buyſines ſoever he had;

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The Life of Wit11am Cecil,

when he cold kneele no more, he had then his book in his bed, and when himſelf cold not ſo well hold his booke, he had one to read to him, ſo as one waie or other he failed not his praiers. He wold never miſſe ſermon if he weare hable but to be carried out, though to his greate paine and daunger, nor ever failed the communion daie every firſt daie of the moneth, and comonly in his later tyme,

there was never a Sondaie when he had byn at a Sermon, but he gave xx g. to his Chap- laine, to be beſtowed on the poore, beſides all his other daily almes which weare greate. Be- ſides his owne devotion, his care was like for his ſervaunts and houſhold, taking ordre for praiers morning and evening in his chappell, and ſermons every Sondai by his Chaplaines ; and if he found any negligent or abſent from praiers, as manie tymes he wold purpoſely enquire, he wold more ſharplie reprehend them for that then for anie thinge. This was a true ſigne of a true Chriſtian, a godlie ex- ample of a great Counſellor, the happines of his ſowle, the ſure foundation of his worthy fortunes, the fountaines of his vertues, the badg of a loyall ſervaunt to his Prince, and the primum mobile of the good ſucceſſe of his

labors for his Contry, and the happie eſtate

of himſelf. Happie in all things, but mot bleſſed in this, that in ſeeking the world, he firſt ſought and ſerved his God, who gave him

Lord BuxGHLey,

him his greatnes in this world, and no doubt the glory of all greatnes in eternyty.

As he was by Nature very kind and courte- His »

ous, ſo was he to his frends affable and tempe- ratlie kind, readie to doe them good when he might do it of himſelf without prejudice to o- thers, and that not frequentlie ; for where he ſawe any preſume of his favoure, he was ſure to have the leſſe; fo as his frends could never prevaile with him too farre, nor had cauſe to complaine of his hard nature. There was nei- ther frend nor familiar, nor any living, cold move him doe any thing in favoure or hin- draunce of a cauſe in any Court of Juſtice be- fore him, or in any other ſaite; but as the cauſe fell out upon hearing, ſo it went, nei- ther remembring ſuiter nor ſolicitor. And

this was ever found in him, that though he

had byn never ſo famyliar or merry with any his frendes, if preſently they had moved a ſuite to him, he wold look more ſtraungly on them and give but a cold aunſwere, tyll he ſawe it weare fitt for them to have and him to graunt, at laſt they had it ſometymes hardly, and ſometymes with good wordes; yet ever ſo as they had ſmall cauſe to preſume of his familia- rity or courteous ſpeech; inſomuch as they that weare moſt famyliar with him, weare moſt a- fraid to move him in any ſuites; which rule

he obſerved to uphold his Integrity, that nei- ther favoure nor frendſhip, ſhold drawe him to

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59 The Life of WILLIAu CROIIL

to parciallity, to the wrong of others, or touch to himſelf. 10 b ne- To his ennemys he was rather remyſſe then "3% rigourous, apt to forgett and forgive injuries, and to be ſoone reconciled, inſomuch as he was noted for a better ennemy then a frend; for he wold ſooner forgive his ennemy and doe him a pleaſure, then ſtifly ſtand to his frend; and yet he wold doe for them too, ſo it might be done without much oppoſition. It was e- ver found in him, to be of ſo myld yelding and charitable diſpoſition, as he cold never beare mallice in his hart, no not to his greateſt ennemyes, who though they ſought to diſgrace, defame and diſcredit him, yea if it were poſſi- ble to cut him of; yet was he fo farre from revendg, as he rather endeavoured to wynne them with good deeds, then to right his great wronges ; and ſuch as fought to doe him moſt harme, he was ever ready to doe moſt good, faieing, he wold leave his revenge to God, who ever rewarded all men accor. ding to theire deedes. I have often hard him faie, I knowe I have ſome ennemyes who doe mallice me, but ſo doe not I them; God forgive them, and I thank God I never went to bed out of charity with any man. Which appeared ; true, for there was never a firſt Sondaie in the month, but he received the Communion, ſhewing both his love towards God and Man. By obſervation of his good nature, manie wold fall out with him of purpoſe; for they knewe he

3

5

Lord BuxGHLEy.,

he wold then doe moſt for them. Here was a noble diſpoſition, neither fierce nor furious, nor deſirous of revendg, ſhewing mildnes in ſpirit, and temperaunce in paſſion; for when his mighty ennemyes weare moſt violent, then was he ever moſt calme; and I have often hard him ſaye, he had gotten more by temperance and bearing, then ever he did by his witt. Thys made his very ennemyes to wiſh him a- live againe, his worth was never knowne till himſelf was wanting.

60

| He was of the ſweeteſt, kinde, and moſt His kinae

tractable nature that ever I found in any man, gentle and courteous in ſpeeche, ſweete in countenaunce, and pleaſinglie ſociable with ſuch as he converſed; his kindnes moſt ex- preſſed to his children, to whome there was never man more lovinge nor tender harted, and yet with ſo wiſe moderation and temper, as he was inwardly more kinde, then out- wardly fond of them; and which is ever a note of good nature, if he could gett his table ſer round with his young little children, he was then in his kingdome; it was exceeding pleafure to heare what ſport he wold make with them, and how aptlie and merelie he wold talk with them, with ſuch prettie que- ſtions and wittie allurements, as much delight- ed himſelf, the children, and the hearers.

He was happie in moſt worldly things, but moſt happie in his children and childrens chil- dren ; he had his owne children, graundchil- dren,

4+

and tracta- ble nature to all men.

G1 | The Life of WILLIAM Cecit

dren, and great graundchildren ordinaryly at his table, ſetting about him, like the olive braunches; and there was no degree in blood or conſanguynytie but was to be found fitting at his table, wherein he wold manie tymes re- He had ma- joice as in one of God's great bleſſings. There ing from bis WEATE proceeding from his owne Bodie, and „ebe nis mother might ſee the fift diſcent from her ſelf, a happie mother, and a bleſſed ſonne; for, as the Scripture ſaith, he had ſeene his chil-

drens children, and peace upon the land. His tempe- His temperate mynd ever tempered all his el pome or actions, Which with his wiſdome governed the blood. whole courſe of his life, in ſuch moderate ca- riage of his greate fortune, as he liked beſt and deſired meane and private things, hating all pompe and glorious ſhowes ; for if he might ride privatlie in his garden upon his little moile, or lye a daie or two at his litle lodge at Theobaldes retyred from buyſines or too much companie, he thought it his greateſt greatnes, and only happines, ſhewing he was not high mynded with his high fortune; or if he cold get any of his old acquaintaunce who cold diſ- courſe of theire yewth, or of things paſt in old tyme, it was notable to heare what merry ſtories he wold tell. It was ſaid of him, that he cold call to mynd anie thing he had done, ſene, or redd. For when officers and lerned men often talked with him, either in lerninge or Cauſes paſt, he wold ſo readyly remember

and

Tord Bu RGRHLEV. 62

and repeat, either that he hard or redd twenty, yea forty yeres before, as cauſed many to won- der at his greate memory, having ſo infinite o- ther things in his head.

He was of ſpare and temperate diet, and the . fyneſt feeder of anie man that ever I ſawe, eating never but of two or three diſhes, drink- ing never above thrice at a meale, and very ſeldome wine. He wold many tymes forbeare ſuppers if he found his ſtomacke offended.

And above all things, what buyſines ſoever fu was in his head, it was never perceaved at his table, where he wold be ſo merry as one wold imagine he had nothing els to doe; directing

his ſpeeche to all men according to theire qual-

lityes and capacities, as he raifed mirth out of

all mens ſpeeches, augmenting it with his owne, ; whereby he wanted noe companie fo long as

he was hable to kepe companie ; his ſpeeches though they weare merrie, yet fo full of wil- dome, as manie came rather to heare his ſpeeches then to cate his meate; for even in his ordinary talke he uttered ſo many notable things, as one might learne more in one howers hearing him, then a moneths readinge. He loved to be merry himſelf, and lyked and comended all others that weare of pleafaunt Natures, being diſcreet withall.

His fpeech in ordinary talk was familiar, l manner more plain and compendious then often or *. much, but in ſpeech and aunſweres wiſely and to purpoſe, ſeldome uſing a word in vaine ;

| K his

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63

The Life of Wiliiam Cecit,

his eloquence was his playneſſe in familiar

comon wordes, without Affectation, wherein it was obſerved in him a thinge ſtraunge, that

in ſo plaine termes as comonly he uſed, his eloquence was ſo excellent, as that he ſpake was impoſſible to be delivered more rhetorical- lie, clerely, and ſignificantlie, eaſye to be un- derſtood, and remembred, and yet beyond the

eloquence of others, thought to be moſt elo-

quent. He liked not an indirect or frivolous

aunſwere, nor a tedious tale, yet wold he heare all, though ſometymes tell them theire faulte. His ordinarie ſpeeches weare comonly chere- full, merry, and familiar, but witty, ſharpe,

and pithy, without dulnes or ſowrenes; and whatſoever company he came into, either old, younge, men or women, greate or meane, he could talke aptlie and delightfully, and withall ſo merrely, as was much pleaſing to all hearers, and yet not without gravytie, nor

unfitt for a greate Counſellor.

His recrea® His Recreation was cheifly in his books,

tions.

where if he had tyme he was more delighted then others with plaie at cardes; or if he could

get a learned man to talke withall, he was much pleaſed. It was notable to heare howe lernedly he could diſpute, or rather confute lerned men of any profeſſion, nothing came amiſſe-to him wherein he cold not ſaie ſom- thing: Bookes weare ſo pleaſing to him, as when he gott libertie to goe unto his houſe to

| takeayre, if he found a book worth the openinge,

he

| Lord BurGuLlsy. 64

he wold rather looſe his ridinge then his read- inge; and yet ryding in his garden walks upon

his litle moile was his greateſt Diſport: But fo ſoone as he came in he fell to his reading againe,

or els to diſpatchinge buiſines, and this was all

his recreation and courſe of his life, his plea-

ſure was others labor and ſtudy, and his labor was his owne pleaſure. He ſeldome or never plaid at anie game, for he cold plaie at none,

he wold ſometymes looke a while on ſhooters

or bowlers as he rid abroad. He was delighted

to talk and be merry with his frends only at meales, for he had no more leaſure; but he never had anie favourits (as they are termed)

nor anie inward companion, as great men comonly have. Neither made he anie man of 4 his counſell, nor anie ever knewe his ſecretts ſome noting it a fault, but moſt thinking it a praiſe of his wiſdome; for by truſting none with

his ſecrets, none cold reveale them; nor opening himſelf to none, there was none cold looke farre

into him; yet was there ſome two or three who frequented his companie at meals more than

the reſt, with whome he wold be moſt famy-

lar and merry, uſing them exceeding kindly,

yet they neither knewe his ſecrets, nor could - by theire credite or familiarity with them drawe him to doe ani thing in furdering or hindraunce of anie ſuite, or any perſon, i theire cauſe deſerved it not,

He hated idlenes, and loved no idle per- He hates ſons, but ever encouraged and favoured the

e K 2 indu-

The Life of William Ceci, induſtrious; it was notable to ſee his conty- nuall agitation both of bodie and mynde, he was ever more weary of a litle idlenes then of greate labor. His idlenes was not as that of Cipio and Lælius, to caſt ſtones into the Sea, nor of Charles the Emperoure, to take aſonder his Clocke, but if he had nothing of neceſſity to doe, he wold yet buyſy himſelf, either in reading, writinge, or meditation, and never leſſe idle, then when he had moſt lea- ſure to be idle.

His great paines got him great knowledge, and his contynuall practiſe, deep experience; as what was to others moſt difficult, he could diſpatch with greateſt facilitie ; for beſides his dexterity in executing whatſoever was to be done, his' generall knowledg in all things of action or experience, in all lerning or read- inge, was ſuch, as he carried that in his head as others ſought in books, preſidents, and records. His beſt record was his experience, memory, and notable invention, even to that haithe of perfection could be in a man. In what lerninge was he ignofaunt? What State, Prince, or Counſellors oa there he knew not? What Office was there wherein he had not experience? What Court of Juſtice where- of he knew not the courſe? What province, county, cittie, or notable place in England, could he not deſcribe? Naie, what Noble- man or Gentleman and theire dwellings, matches,

Lord BuRGHLEVY.

matches, and pedegrees, did he not knowe ? and could manie tymes diſcrybe every perti- culergplace, perſon, river, haven, parke, and lordſhip, himſe t dwelt there? In what ſervice a- broade or at home was he ignoraunt, or not perfectlie practiſed? He knewe and had ſeen all maner of treaties with all nations; he knewe the courſe and k indes of all Ambaſſa- ges, and cold dire& all Ambaſſadors. He knewe the ſtate of all contries, the nature of all Princes, theire frendes, foes, alliances, matches, and pedegrees. He was previe to theire pollicies, and practiſes, and often pre- vented theire purpoſes. In weighty affairs of counſell, he was moſt expert; in pollicie of peace, in directions of warre, in proviſions for ſoldiors, and ſhips, in proceedings of Parlia- ment, in all Courts of Juſtice, in publique ſpeeches, or private conference, and all gifts of a great Counſellor and wiſe man, rather hable to direct all, then to be amended by any. His long experience, great age, and greye hares, his painefull ſervice, ſo long in ſuch a place, his inceſſant ſtuddy and labor, and the great delight he tooke in reading, medi- tation, practice, and the agitation of mynd, joyned with his great witt, lerninge, and me- mory, as it weare with one conſent and true harmony, all made there rendevous, or recep- tacle of all the perfections of wiſdome and

vertue

near anie Gentleman, better then

66

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67 The Life of WILLIAM Cg vertue in him, frameing in him all the partes of a wiſe, godlie, worthy, and perfect Coun- ſellor, ſuch as maie long be ſought, but ſel- dome ſeene; and for all-reſpets ſo worthy and notable a man, as neither experience of this age, nor writers of former can deſcribe or produce,

He 4:lighe- He tooke great paines and delight in pede-- ne. grees, wherein he had greate knowledge, and wrote whole books of them with his owne hand, which greatly augmented his knowledg both abroad and at home. He obſerved all daiely accidents, writing whatſoever paſſed, which he contynued from the tyme he was 19 yeres old even till he died, and if his notes and writings weare well peruſed and recon- ciled, there wold be found notable matter for a good writer to ground an excellent Story of this tyme, which writings doe better deſcribe his worthies then words can affoord, Hi bappij- His happines in all worldly fortune, was den greate, but greateſt in this, that God bleſſing Pe him with fo long daies in fo happie eſtate, took him to his mercy in ſo happie a tyme, that after forty yeres ſervice to his Prince and Contry, in favoure with God and men, with ſo greate fame of his wiſdome, vertue, and worthines, in tyme of truth of the Ghoſpell, and in peace of. conſcience and contry, he. li- ved and died in tyme of peace, without alter- ation of his preſent fortune, or feare of fu- ture

Lord BuxctLEy.,

ture daunger, leaving behind him a competent eſtate for maintenaunce of an honorable houſe, good children to enjoye it, and fo great an yſ- ſue of his bodie, matched and allied into fo manie honorable howſes, to the great ad- vauncement of his name and honor, which is an infallible argument of Godes bleſſings, and a deſerved reward of his painefull fervice.

His death was not ſodaine, nor his paine Themanner of his death.

in ſicknes greate, for he contynued languiſh- ing two or three moneths, yet went abroad to take ayre in his coche all that tyme, re- tyring himſelf from the Court, ſometymes to his houſe at Theobalds, and ſometymes at Lon- don; his greateſt infirmity appearing, was the weaknes of his ſtomack; it was alſo thought his mynd was trobled that he cold not worke

a peace for his Contrie, which he earneſtlie

laboured and deſyred of any thing, ſeeking to leave it as had long kept it: For there was no other worldly thing to give him cauſe of greif; he had the favoure of his Prince, the love of che people, great offices, honors, livings, good children, and all bleſſings the world cold af- ford him; yet he contemned the world and them all, and deſired nothing but death, ei- ther becauſe he had lived long enough, and deſired to be in Heaven, or els becauſe he cold not live to doe that for his Contrie he wold, or rather, as is moſt likely, both; for he had ſeen and taſted ſo much both of the | | | ſweete

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He con- temned the world.

Noe ſignes of death in

The Life of William Cxcir

ſweete and ſower of the world, as made him

weary to live, and knew ſo much of the joyes of his falvation, wherein was his onely com- fort, as gave him good cauſe to deſire death

when it was Godes good pleaſure, as he often faid; but how or whatſoever it was, the figne

was. infalliblie good, he contemned this life, and expected the next; for there was no earth- lie thing wherein he tooke comfort, but in

contemplation, reading, or hearing the Scrip-

tures, Pſalmes, and Praiers. About tenne or twelve daies before he died he grewe weake, and ſo dryvne to kepe his bed, complayning only of a paine in his breſt, which was thought to be the humor of the Goute (where- with he was ſo long poſſeſſed) falling to that place without any ague, fever, or ſign of di- ſtemper or daunger, and that paine not great nor contynuall, but by fitts, and ſo contynued till within one night before his death. At fix of the clock at nyght, the phiſitions finding no diſtemper in his pulſe or bodie, but aſſu- ring his life, affirming it was impoſſible he ſhold be hart ſicke, that had ſo good temper and ſo perfect pulſe and ſenſes; yet at ſeven a. Of the clock following, he fell into a convul- tion like to the ſhaking of a cold ague. Nowe, quoth he, The Lord be praiſed the tyme is come; and calling for his children, bleſſed them and tok his leave, comaunding them to ſerve and feare God, and love one another,

He

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Lord BuxGHLey.

He alſo praid for the Quene, that ſhe might live longe and die in peace. Then he called for Thomas Bellot his Steward, one of his Ex- ecutors, and delivered him his Will, ſaieing, I bave ever found the true to me, and I nowe truft the with all. Who like a godlie honeſt man, praied his Lordſhip as he had lived re- ligiouſly, ſo nowe to remember his, Savioure Chrift, by whoſe blood he was to have for- givenes of his ſynnes; with manie the like ſpeeches uſed by his Chaplaines, to whome he aunſwered, it was done already, for he was aſſured God had forgivne his ſynnes, and wold

ſave his ſoule. Then he called his Chaplaines

with all the companie to faie praiers for him,

himſelf faieing after them all the tyme they praied. He contynued languiſhing thus moſt pacientlie, ſtill haveing memory perfect till twelve of the clock, lyeinge pracinge to him- ſelf, facing the Lord's Praier in Latin; where- upon ſome inferred he was popiſhe, but God knoweth the contrary, for it was not ſtraunge to hear him praie in Latin, becauſe he never read any books or praiers, but in Latin, French, or Italian, very ſeldome in Engliſbe. At twelve of the clocke his ſpeeche beganne to faile him, then ſaid he, O Lord have mer- cie on me, my ſpeeche faileth me; and ſo lan- guiſhing till fowre of the clocke, ſometymes wanting, and ſometymes haveing ſpeech ; he often ſaid, O what a hart is this that will not L let

62

63 The Life of William Cecil,

let me die] come Lord Feſu, one dropp of death,

Lord Jeſu? and ſo lai praieing to himſelf, as

we might heare him ſpeake ſoftlie, in which

extremity, youe mult imagine, the wailing:of

his children, frends, and ſervants, being 20

in the chamber, every one prayeing and devi-

ſing what to give him, to hold life in him,

if it weare poſſible: But when they ſtrived to

give him anie thinge, he came to himyelf,

facing, O ye torment me, for God's ſake let

me die quietlie; then lyeing ſtill, the ſtanders

by might hear him ſaie ſoftlie to himſelf,

Lord receave my ſpirite, Lord have mercy on

me; which weare the laſt wordes he was hard

His memo- to ſpeake. Here was a happie memory, to ry tothe laſt -

hower. Call for all happines when he cold remember

to alke nothing els but that. So he contynued

ſpecheles, and ſenſles, lyeing ſtill as it weare

in a ſleepe without paine, tyll it was eight of

the clocke in the morning, and then died;

wherein one thing was obſerved moſt ſtraunge,

that though manie watched to ſee when he

ſhold die, he lai looking ſo ſweetlie, and went

His myld awaie ſo myldlie, as in a ſleep, that it cold

kene ſcarce be perceaved when the breath went out

of his body. This was the inevitable tyme of

mans deſtiny, the death of his body, the waie

of all fleſh, but the waie of his ſoules life,

the end of his miſeries and entraunce to his

joyes. And thus was all loſt in a night, that

Was

Lord BURGHIL Ev,

was breeding and lerning threeſcore and ſeven-

teen yeres before.

This was a happie daie to himſelf, though dolefull to his Contrie. Nowe might one ſee all the world mourninge, the Quene for an old true and loyall ſervaunt; the Counſell for a wiſe and grave Counſellor; the Court for theire honorable benefactor; his Contrie and Comonwealth, trembling as it weare at one blowe, to have theire head ſtricken of; the people, widowes, and wardes, lamenting to loſe theire protector; Religion her patron; Juſtice her true miniſter; and Peace her up- holder. His children bewailing the loſſe ot ſuch a father, his frends of ſuch a frend, and his ſervants of ſuch a maſter; all men rather bewailinge his loſſe, then hopinge ever to find ſuch another. Vea, his very ennemyes, who in his life tyme could not abyd him, doe nowe both ſorrowe for his death, and wiſhe him alive againe. But alas! let no man greve at his deathe; for it was greater happines to himſelf, then loſſe to others; for his life was contynually in care of mynd, labor, and paines of bodie, and vexation of ſpirit; but nowe is his mynd at quiet, his body at reſt, and his ſpirit in joye; let not his frends then bewaile his loſſe, but rather rejoice at his happines, the worſt of him is buried, but the beſt re- maineth, his ſoule in eternall bliſſe in Hea- vene, and his fame on the Earth, which can

L 2 never

65 The Life of Witiiam Ceci, never die, ſo longe memorye of anie thinge is left on the earth. Doe youe remember what youe loſt? Thinke of his fortunate life and happie end, and of that is left, which is more precious then that is gone, thinke of his reli- gion, vertues, wiſdome, and worthines, his juſtice, charity, and temperaunce, all which will live ever; the remembraunce whereof be- ing his beſt and inward gifts, muſt be to us more comfortable, then it can be grevous to loſe byt his outſide. Let him die in peace, that liveth in eternall joye; that was to bee loved and admired in him, remaineth, and fo ſhall worthely to the contynuall ſucceſſion of ages, to his great renowne, and be recomend- ed to poſterity, to the honor of his name, the comfort of his frends, the good of his Contry, and the good example of manie, to the worldes end, and his owne endles praiſe.

Hm. He was the youngeſt, the oldeſt, the graveſt, . greateſt Counſellor of Chriſtiandome; for d.. there was before his death never a Counſellor left alive in Europe, that weare Counſellors

when he was firſt made; he was made a Counſellor at twenty five yeres of age, and ſo continued four yeres in Kinge Edwardes tyme;

and was the firſt Counſellor Quene Elizabeth

had, and ſo contynued to the fortieth yere of

her Reigne; a long and happie tyme to live in

fuch place in fo great account and reputation;

and in the end having lived ſo honorablie,

| vertu-

Lord BuxGHLEY, 66

vertuouſly, and peacablie, ſeldome found in men of his eftate and employment.

He was borne the 1 5 of Septembre 1521, and died the 4* of Auguft 1598, and fo if he had lived but tyll the 13* of Septembre follow- Hs x inge, he ſhold have byn threeſcore and ſeven- dia. tene yeres old, whereof he lacked but a moneth, and five or fix daies; a long tyme for a man of his place and paines, his mynd broken with care, and his bodie with ficknes, yet his great ſpirite, and great temper, drewe out his thred the longer.

He was rather meanely ſtatured, and well — rt proportion'd then tall, being of the middle ſyſe and favoure. of making, very ftraight and upright of body and leggs, and (untill age and his infirmity of the goute ſurpriſed him) very active and nym- ble of body, notablie induring travaile and la- bor, whereunto he uſed his body. He was of viſage very well favoured, and of an excellent complexion, infomuch as even in his later daies, when he was well and warme, or had newe dyned or ſupped, he had as good coloure in his face as moſt faire women. His ſtate of body neither fat nor leane, but well fleſht; his heare and beard was all white, which heretofore as ſeemed was of a browne couloure, his beard of reaſonable length, rather well proportion-

ed then too long or too bigg, faire, white and comly ; and all parts reſpected together, I thinks there weary fewe that knewe. him but

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His nature and diſpoſi- tion.

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.

The Life of WiLitam Cacii,

will ſaie, he was one of the ſweeteſt and moſt well favoured, well mannered old men that hath beene ſeene.

His naturall diſpoſition was ever gentle, tem- perate, merry, courteous, affable, and flowe to anger, ever ſhonnynge revenge, and never doeing anie thing in fury or color, neither yelding to paſſion, but alwaies tempering his affections; infomuch as moſt part of his tyme he was noted to be moſt patient in hearing, ſo myld and readie in aunſwering, as no man went awaie diſcontent or without a reaſonable aunſwere and quick diſpatch, untill two or three yeres before his death, ſurpriſed with ages imperfections, he was a litle ſharp in words ſometymes, but vaniſhed with the wind. He was noted for a better ennemy then a frend, becauſe he wold ſooner forgive and pleaſure an ennemy, then leane or be partiall to his frend, as manie are apt to doe, yet had his frends no cauſe to complaine. He was ever ready to doe good, and loth to hinder any ; and yet had he yll fortune, for he ſeldome advaun- ced any, but they proved his ennemyes. He was naturally merry, and ſeldome ſadd, never moved with joyfull or ill newes. He cold better cover his greifs then help it, and what- ſoever was in his mynd wold never appeare in his countenaunce or ſpeech; he wold of all things make great account of a litle kindnes, a ſigne of good nature. He was neither pompous

nor

Lord Bu RGHLEV. 68

nor proud, and yet loved to live honorably; he was ever moſt charitable to the poore, whome he wold better releve in theire pariſhes, then in high wales or ſtreetes. He loved manie tymes to be retyred, to take aire and recreation, and wold then be as merry with his men as a- mong his equalls. In his buyſines he was moſt painefull, carefull, and watchfull, never well tyll it was done. He liked not to heare Kings and Princes evyll ſpoken of, but wold ſharp- lie rebuke ſuch as uſed it; for he ſaid they weare the Lords anointed, whoſe faults muſt be amended by others good praiers, not by evill ſpeeches. He was ever carefull to pre- ferre learned and ſufficient men. He wold never deliver his opinion in matters of coun- ſell, but where he might debate it, and give the reaſons of his opinion. He wold often faie he was a good Counſellor, wold adviſe his Prince to honeſt and lawfull things. When 7 he hard any ſpeake yll of him, he wold faie, Bene facere & male audire regium eſt; his good deeds weare the bulwarks of his quiet conſcience, which was ever defended againſt envies, aſſaults, with innocency and true pra- ctiſe of vertue.

He wold uſually faie, in all things, primum lis fiene. querite Regnum celorum.

That he wold never truft anie man not of ſound Religion, for he that was falſe to God cold never be true to man.

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The Life of WILLIAM Cx of.

That honeſtie and religion weare the grounds and ends of good men's actions, which * wold never proſper.

That he built more upon an honeſt man's word, then a bud man's bond.

That counſell without reſolution and execu- tion was but wind.

| That divifion in counſell was daungerous, if not a ſubverfion of a State,

That taking or neglecting opportunyty, was the gaineing or loſing of great fortune.

That Nation was bappie, where the King wold take counſell and followe it.

That King is happie that lov'd the people, and they lov'd the Kinge.

The ftrength of a Kinge, is the love of bis ſubjefts. x Princes ought to be better then other men, becauſe they comaund and rule all others.

A good Prince muſt beare all, but ſtriue to follow the beſt counſell.

He is a happie King can governe and mode- rate bis affections.

Noe wiſe Prince can be a tyraunt.

A good Prince 1s flowe to anger, and will never revenge.

Princes have manie eyes and ears, and very long arms; for they beare and ſee all, reach farre, and gripe much,

Attempts are moſt probable, being wiſely _ ſecretly carried, and ſpedely —_—

| Goo

Lord BuxcnLey.

Good Princes ought firſt to preferre the ſer- vice of God and his Church, and next of the Comonwealth, before theire own pleaſure or profit.

He ever ſaid in tymes of daunger, our enne-

myes ſhall doe no more then God will ſuffer |

them.

Warre is ſoon kindled, but peace N bard- lie procured.

Warre is the curſe, and peace the bleſng of God upon a Nation.

A Realme gaineth more by one yeres peace, then by tenne yeres warre.

A Realme can never be rich, that hath not entercourſe and trade of marchaundiſe with o- ther Nations.

Unitye is the ſtrength, and diviſion the ruyne of any bodie pollitique.

Private gaine is the perverting of juſtice, and peſtilence of a Comonwealth,

He can never be a good Stateſman, who re- fpecteth not the publique more than his owne pri vate.

No man can be counted happie in this world that is not wiſe, and he that is wiſeth ſeeth moſt ef his owne unhappines.

Honor is the reward of vertue, but it is got- ten with labor, and held with daunger.

All things of this world arebut in eſtimation; for a litle to him that thinketh it enough, is great riches,

M That

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The Life of WILLIAM CxCII

That he ſeldome ſaw? goods yll gotten, but weare quickhie ill ſpent.

Me unthrifty looſenes of youth in this age, was the parents faults, who made them men ſe- ven yeres too ſoone, havinge but childrens judg- mente.

Riches weare God's bleſſings to ſuch as uſe them well, and bis curſe to ſuch as did not.

No man can get riches of himſelf alone, but by meanes of another.

All things, it is aid, are written for our in- Hruction, and yet manie torne to our diſtruction.

He wold often ſaie, He thought there was ne- ver ſo wiſe a woman borne for all reſpects, as Quene Elizabeth; for ſhe ſpake and underſtood all languages, knewe all eſtates and diſpoſitions of all Princes; and ſo expert in her owne, as noe Counſellor ſhe had cold tell her that ſhe knewe nor. She had ſo rare gifts, as when her Counſell had ſaid all they cold, ſhe wold find out a wiſe Counſell beyond all theires, and that ſhe ſhew'd her wiſdome and care of her Contrie for there was never anie great conſultation, but ſhe Wold be preſent herſelf, to her great profit and praiſe,

Here have you, Chriſtian reader, the de- ſcription of a perfect, wiſe, grave and great Counſellor, ſuch as tyme maie rather hereaf- ter, then as yet hath brought foorth, more to be noted for an example to frame the like, then hoped to be found or rightly followed ;

yet

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Lord BurcGnLsy,

yet have I, in a certein knowledge of the truth of ſo much as is here written, adventured to deſcribe his life and death, truly and plainely, though to the great blemiſh of his perfection, and worthines ; which, I aſſure my ſelf, was farre greater then any memory or witt of man can diſcribe or record ſo exactlie in paper as he daily practiſed the ſame. And though I can- not note all, yet leaſt all ſhold be forgotten, ſo manie notable things buried in oblivion, and ſo worthy a man ſo greatly wronged, as to be remembred by none, I have thought it a cha- ritable duty to ſo noble a Counſellor, to co- mitt the truth to memorie of poſteryty, which is ſo certeine and well knowne to the world, as fame will ever remembre though all the world ſtrive to ſuppreſſe it. And ſo leaving his ſoule with God, his fame to the world, and the truth to all charitable mynds, I leave the ſen- {ure to all judicious Chriſtians, who truly pra- ctiſing that they profeſſe, will better approve, and more indifferentlie interpret it, then envie or mallice can diſprove it. The beſt fort will ever doe right, the worſt can but imagine miſ- cheif and doe wrong; yet this is a comfort, the more his vertues are troden downe, the more will theire brightnes appeare, Virtus vulne- rata vireſcit.

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FI. — in Hiſt. of England, p. 608.

The Life of WII IAM CxOII

Rom what has been ſaid, it's left to the reader's judgment, whether England ever produc'd a more able Stateſman, or greater Patriot; and yet in thoſe times (ſuch is the fate of Miniſters in power) there were ſome, who from their own ambitious deſigns, envied him the favour of his royal Miſtreſs, which he acquir'd by his profound knowledge, inviola- ble integrity, and ſuperior merits. Not long before his death, his Lordſhip was deſirous of leaving his Queen and Coun- trey in perfect peace and tranquillity, to which

end he endeavour'd to bring about an accom-

modation with the King of Spain; but in this he was oppos'd by the Earl of Eſſex, and the ſwordſmen his adherents, who (as * Cam- den has obſerv'd) labour d hard againſt any motions for peace, and fliffly urg d the impoſji- bility of making any honourable treaty with Spain, or indeed any terms, but what they would break, upon theſe and the hike ſuggeſtions. That the Spaniards were a ſubtle and enter- «/prizing people, and very ambitious of ex- « tending their Empire; that they bore a & moſt inveterate averſion to England, and “ profeſs d a Religion quite contrary to it; « that the Pope's diſpenſing power was unli « mited, and that Axiom generally eſpous d, e Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks.

« Theſe

ſe

Lord Bu RGHLEv. | « Theſe arguments, and the apprehenſion

tc of future dangers and inconveniencies, he

« much inſiſted on, inſomuch that the Lord « Treaſurer was provok d to ſay, That he « ſeemed intent upon nothing but blood and te ſlaughter. And after a very warm debate “upon this point, he took out a prayer book, te and without uſing any words, pointed to te this paſſage, Men of blood ſhall not Irve out te half their days.

Some however there were who approy 'd Eſſex's meaſures, as conceiving he was princi- pally concern'd for the honour and welfare of his countrey. His Lordſhip therefore to filence

theſe men®, wrote a formal kind of defence, b Cornden

wherein he exhibited ſuch weighty arguments to ſupport his opinion for a peace, as convinc'd all diſpaſſionate men. And tho” they pro-

duc'd not the defir'd effect, yet whilſt his Lordſhip lay ſick ©, by his provident conduct, <nid.p46:6;

a treaty was ſet on foot with the States of Hol- land, whereby the Queen was eaſed of a year- ly expence, no leſs than 120,000 J. Engliſh. But in the midſt of theſe diſcontents (to uſe Camden's words) died William Cecil, Lord Burleigh, Lord-high-treaſurer of England, having exhauſted himſelf with ſtudy, and the neceſſary fatigue of his imployment, ſo that growing old, and being troubled with the Gout, he requeſted the Queen's leave to lay down his place, Upon the receipt of his lettgr, ſhe | was

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The Life of WILLIAM Cx

was pleas'd to. pay him ſome viſits, and ſup- port him with the moſt kind and encouraging expreſſions. However he reſign'd his ſoul to Godin a very few days, after he had lived long enough to anſwer the demands of nature, and reputation, and every thing but the expectation of his countrey. He left the world fo fairly, that the greateſt enemy he had, freely declar'd he envy'd him nothing, but that his Sun went down with ſo much luſtre ; whereas general- ly, publick Miniſters are not bleſſed with fach calm and fortunate periods. He was, with- out doubt, an extraordinary perſon, ſo libe- rally furniſh'd by nature, (to ſay nothing of his preſence and aſpect, which had a commanding ſweetneſs in them) and ſo handſomely improved by learning and education, that he had few or no ſuperiors as to the ſeyeral qualifications of probity and prudence, induſtry, temperance and juſtice, He had beſides theſe accompliſh- ments, an eaſy and flowing eloquence, which conſiſted not in a pomp and oftentation of

| Fus but in a maſculine plainneſs and ſigni-

cancy of ſenſe. He was maſter of a prudence form'd upon experience, and regulated by tem- per and moderation ; then for his loyalty, *twas true and would endure the touch, and was only exceeded by his piety, which indeed was eminently great, To ſum up his cha- racer in little; the Queen was bleſſed in fo worthy a Miniſter ; and the Kingdom _—_—

Lord Buzcrey,

ed to his memory for the happy influence of his miniſtry. Perhaps future ages may be cu- rious to know the place of his nativity, which was at Bourn in Lincolnſhire, Ann. 1 52 1. His father was Richard Cecil of the family of A.- terynnis, which belong'd to King Henry the Eighth's Wardrobe. His Mother's name was Fane; ſhe was an heireſs of the honourable family of Ekinton, and of the Walcots.

In his younger days he was a ftudent at St, Jabn's College in Cambridge, where at twen- ty years of age he married Mary, the Siſter of Sir John Cheek, a Gentleman of known learn- ing, and buried her in a year or two; after which having ſtudied the law for a year or two at Grays-Inn in London, he married Mildred the Daughter of Sir Anthony Cook, who was preceptor to Edward VI. She was a woman very well verſed in the Latin and Greek tongues. Being admitted into the Duke of Somerſet's family, who was Protector of Eng- land, he was made his Maſter of Requeſts, being the firſt, as himſelf told me, who wore that title in England : Shortly after he was Secretary to King Edward VI. and received from him the honour of Knighthood. Upon his oppoſing the pretended conveyance of the Crown from the Ladies Mary and Elizabeth, he got into favour with the former, though he was in the number of thoſe that ſubſcribed it; and his dextrous management preferred

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The Life of WIL IIA CCI

him to a perfect intimacy with Cardinal Pool, Tonſtall, and Sir William Peter. But where- as he had a real and hearty veneration for the Proteſtant Religion, (however he might hu- mour the preſent occaſions) and finding the road to preferment lay quite another way, he made his court to the Lady Elizabeth, who made uſe of him as a neceſſary Inſtrument, whilſt ſhe was a private perſon, and when ſhe came to the throne, advanced him to be her Secreta- ry, and a Privy Counſellor, and after the death of Sir Thomas Parry, made him maſter of the Wards in the third year of her reign ; which office he diſcharged, as he did all others, like a good huſband for the Queen and the Wards, very modeſtly in reſpect to his private advan- tages, and not -unprofitably for his followers and dependants, though without the leaſt ble- miſh upon his integrity; ſo that the Queen did ſo far rely upon the prudence of his con- duct, as in a manner to lay the whole weight of the Government upon his ſhoulders. His great intereſt with the Queen, and a plentiful

eſtate beſide, drew upon him the envy of ſome

of the Nobility, which, he uſed to ſay, was ſooner overcome by giving way, than making oppoſition againſt it. The Queen having had a thirteen years experience of his prudence and loyalty was pleaſed to honour him with the title of Baron Burleigh, and then to make him Lord-high-treaſurer of England: in _ po

Lord BurxGaLey.

poſt he conſiderably augmented the publick purſe, and his dn private eftate, though he abhorred the baſe and cortupt methods of ſcra- ping tp meney; for indeed he feldom or ne- ver ſuffet d thy thing to be expended, but for het Majeſty's honour; the ſecurity of the Na- tion, or the fapport of ſome neighbouring Allies.

He had a ſtrict eye upon the A of the cuſtoms, but without harſhnefs or pedantry. He nfed to fay; That he never cared to ſee the treaſury fevell like a diſerder'd ſpleen, uben be other parts of the common-wealth were in a conſumption. And he uſed all poſſible means (and with good ſucceſs) to enrich the Queen and the Kingdom by his adminiſtration, it be- ing a common expreſſion with him, That no- thing tould be for the advantage of a Prince, which makes any way againſt his reputation, Wherefore he would never ſuffer the rents of lands to be raiſed, nor the old tenants to be put out. The fame method he obſerved as to his own private eſtate, which he managed with that diſcretion and probity, that he ne- ver ſued any man, nor was ſued himſelf, I ſhall forbear too laviſh a commendation of him ; but this I may venture to affirm with trath, that he was one of thoſe few who lived and died with a ſound and large reputation. Indeed he was in all reſpects fo conſiderable a perſon, that I agree with the opinion of the

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79

The Life of William Ceci,

ancients, and conceive a filent, admiration of

him to be the handſomeſt character.

He had by his firſt wife Mary Cheek, Tho- mas Earl of Exeter, a perſon remarkably bleſ- ſed in a numerous iſſue. By his laſt wife, Mildred Coke, he had Robert Earl of Salisbu- ry who ſucceeded him in his moſt honourable employments, (an happineſs which is very rare and unuſual) beſides two daughters, both of which he out-lived, viz. Anne Counteſs of Oxford, who had three daughters, Elixa- beth wife to William Earl of Darby, Bridget married to the Lord Norris, and Suſan wife to Philip Earl of Montgomery, as likewiſe Eli- zabeth married to William Wentworth, who had no children. He made his Executors Ga- briel Goodman Dean of Wincheſter, a very re- verend and worthy perſon ; and Thomas Bel- lot, his domeſtick ſteward, to whom he left a large ſum to be diſtributed in charitable uſes which was very faithfully performed. The preamble of his laſt Will, Sc. is as follows. |

The

Lord BuxcnuLsy.

The Teſtament of me William Cecil!, Knighte of the Order of the Garter, Lord Burleigbe, &c. begonne in anno milleſi- mo quingenteſimo & ſeptuugeſimo nono, and reviſited manie tymes after; and nowe perfected for this tyme the 2 5% of July 1583, and newhie reviſited 26 of July 1586, and newe revewed 28 of Octo- ber 1588, the thirteth yeare of Queene Elizabeth. And now reformed 20 of Februarie 1 589, 32 Elizabeth. And now reviewed the firſte of November 1591, and the 324 yeare of Queene Elizabeth. And now reviewed the firſte of November 1591, and the 324 yeare of Queene Eli- 2abeth, And now reviewed the 20 of November 1593, the 36 yeare of the ſaide Queenes raigne, and now reviewed and altered menſe Auguſti 1595; anno re- gine 37. And nowe renewed primo Mar- rij milleſimo quingenteſimo nonageſimo ſepti- mo. Anno quadringeſimo regine Elizabethe.

Onſidering I have bene by the goodnes of almighty God created and made a rea- ſonable creature of bodie, and ſoule, and thereby ordained to ſerve him as my creator and maker, and borne alſo of chriſtian parents, and chriſtened in the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghoſt, in the moneth N 2 of

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The Life of Wiil1am Ci

of September the year of our Lord one thou- ſand five hundred twentie, in the church of Bourne in the countie of Lincolne; and conſe- quentlie by order of my good parentes broughte up and inſtructed in my younge yeares; af- ter that I did come to the yeares of difcretion to have knowledge of the Goſpel of our Savi- our Jeſus Chriſte, the knowledge whereof begonne aboute that tyme to be more clearelie revealed here in Englande then it had bene manie yeares before, beinge thereby taughte that there was no other meanes of falvation of my ſoule, but by the paſſion, death and re- ſurrection of Chriſte Jefus the ſonne of God, in whom I as oughte ſo I doe put my whole

confidence and truſt, and do defier the aſ-

ſiſtance of his holie ſpiritte to have grace dureinge this fraile liefe to continue in that minde, and to have a deſier to obey his will and commaundementes in liveing religiouſlie and vertuouſlie as farre forth as the infirmitie of my fleſhe will ſuffer ; whereunto addinge the conſideration of the certainetie of the world- lie death of my bodie, which is inevitable though I am uncertaine of the manner, hower and place, and yet beinge by increaſe of yeares, and of other infirmities of my body growen for a great parte by continuall publique ſer- vices thereby neceſſarilie induced to looke ſhortlie by order of nature for my worldlie ende; and knoweing alſo that whatſoever

worldlie

Lord BuxGHLRV.

worldlie and earthlie giftes it hath pleaſed al- mightie God to have given or rather lente un- to me, I muſt- by death leave them all to the worlde ; and whatſoever godlie and ſpirituall graces hath bene by God's favour beſtowed uppon me I hope certainelie by his goodnes and mereies (though my bodie ſhall be com- mitted to earthe) to enjoy the fruits thereof in Heaven by the meare goodnes of almightie God after this mortal liefe, if I ſhall uſe and diſpoſe them in this liefe to God's glorie, ac- knowledging them to have proceded onelie of his meere goodnes, and that more plentifully beſtowed uppon me then upon manie others: Uppon all theſe and manie other like conſide- rations, beinge at this time occupied with the cogitation of my mortallitie, and yet of whole minde and memorie for the which I humblie thancke almightie God; I doe determine, and manie heretofore I have done, to declare my laſt Will and Teſtament in wrightinge concerninge the diſpoſition of my landes and

which are worldlie; what my minde is therein, and to whome I will and deſier that the fame maie remaine after my deceaſe, in fuch forte as by the lawes of this Realme, I maye doe, and as I hope ſhall not oftende God the giver of them all to me, conſideringe as it is in the Palme, Cælum cœli domino, terram dedit ſiliis hominum. And therefore this pre- ſeat firſt of Marche one thouſand five hundred ninetie

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83

The Life of WII LIAM Cxoit

ninetie ſeaven, and in the yeare of Queen Eli⸗ zabeth my dear ſovereigne Ladie the forteth, I dorevoke all my former Willes in wrighting, which have been manie, and have been altered as occaſions have moved me from the year one thouſand five hundred ſeaventy nine; or from anie tyme before, and do meane, that none ſhall from this daie forwarde be of anie force but this now written; and that which ſhall from tyme to tyme hereafter be added hereun- to. In the name therefore of almighty God, I William Cecill, Knighte of the Order of the Garter, Baron of Burleighe, and Treaſorer of England, doe moſt humblie commend my ſoule both nowe preſentlie (and fo I pray God that I may doe the ſame when God ſhall ſepa- rate it from my bodie) into the handes and protection of the ſonne of God Jeſus Chriſte, the onelie mediator betwixt God and Man; to be preſentd and placed in Heaven by the ſame Chriſte my onlie ſaviour and redeem- er, there to have the fruition of the joye there- fore prepared, till the laſt daie that my bodie ſhall be raiſed from-the earthe to be joyned with my ſoule; and from thenceforth to en- Joye ſuch immortall bleſſednes as no earthlie tounge or harte can expreſſe or containe. And my bodie I leave to the worlde to be buried in comelie ſorte in reſpe& of the firme hope I have of the reſurrection thereof at the laſt

daie. And for that I truſt God hath of his mercie

—

Lord BURGHLEyY,

mercie permitted it tobe here in earthe a liveinge temple for the ſervice of him; I doe aſk mer- cie of God for that I have not had due reguarde in the keepeinge of it as a cleane veſſell for the Holie Ghoſte, which mercie J firmelie hope God will for his Sonne's ſake Jeſus Chriſte graunte to me as he hath promiſed. And for the buriall of my bodie ; becauſe before the tymes of the wrightinge hereof, I have al- readie cauſed a place in St, Martin's church in Stamford Barone in the countie of Nor- thampton, wherein my houſe of Burleigh is {cituated, to be made fitt for a buriall place for the bodies of my grandfather, father and mother and myſelfe, and others that maie ſucceede me: I doe deſier my Executors, or

ſuch as I ſhall in this my Will name, to take the charge of my buriall, to cauſe my bodie to be buried there; otherwiſe I will have it to be buried by their diſcretion with the licence of the Deane and Chapter in the collegiat church of Weſtminſter neare where the bodies of my wife and my daughter of Oxford are buried. And I will if my bodie ſhalbe car- ried to be buried at Stamford Baron, that it be carried without anie pompe to my houſe of Burleigh in ſome coache covered with blacke, accompanied onelie with twelve per- ſonnes and noe mare, whereof fouer to be gentlemen and the reſt yeomen and groomes, tor JE of an unneceſlary charge in a

longe

wats

85

The Life of WiLtiam Cacir

longe carriage of a deade carcaſſe. And that there be given fortie ſhillinges to everie pariſhe church for the poore where my corps ſhall re- maine everie night, untill it ſhalbe brought to my houſe of Burleigbe, from whence it ſhalbe decentlie carried to St. Martin's church” in

' Stamforde. And yet in hope of affured reſur-

rection I will that ſuch as I ſhall hereafter name ſhall burie it with convenient comelines according to the degree of a Baron and a Lord of parliament, and that the coſts all manner of waies exceede not one thouſande poundes,

whereof one hundred poundes to be diſpoſed

at the tymes of the funerall to charitable uſes; which thouſand poundes ſhall be delivered by Thomas Bellott to ſuch perſoties as my ſonnes ſhall name and authorize therewith to defraie che charges. I deſier to be buried by the direction of my two ſonnes. Item, For diſcharginge of my debts that male be de- maunded of my Executors; I doe will and deviſe, that to my Executors my mannor of Newtonkine in the countie of Yorke to be ſold by them, if otherwiſe the value of my goodes will not ſuffice to the paymettt of my debtes. And if the monie thereof groweinige ſhall not Gatisfie the ſame; then to ſupplie the wante thereof, I will that my fide Executors ſhall have and take the yearelie profiits of all my mannors, lands, tenements, and hereditametits,