The History of the Worthies of England, Part 1 · Chapter 6

The History of the Worthies of England · Part 1 · Chapter 6

p. 16CHAPTER VI. Of such who have been worthy States-Men in our Land.

THe word STATESMEN is of great Latitude, sometimes signifying such who are able to manage Offices of State, though never actually called thereunto. Many of these men concealing themselves in a private condition, have never arrived at publike notice. But we confine the term to such, who by their Princes favour have been preferred to the prime places,

Of 1.

Lord CHANCELLOURS.

Of 2.

Lord TREASURERS of England.

Of 3.

SECRETARIES of State.

To whom we have added some Lord ADMIRALS of England, and some Lord DEPUTIES of Ireland.

Lord Chancellours.

The name is taken from CANCELLI, which signifies a kind of wooden Network, which admitteth the eyes of people to behold, but forbids their feet to press on Persons of Quality, sequestred to sit quietly by themselves for publick imployment. Hence Chancells have their denomination, which by such a fence were formerly divided from the body of the Church; and so the Lord Chancellour had a Seat several to himself, free from popular intrusion.

I find another Notation of this Office, some deducing his name à Cancellando, from Cancelling things amisse, and rectifying them by the Rules of Equity and a good Conscience, and this relateth to no meaner Author then Johannes **In his book called Nugae …, or Polyeraticon.Sarisburiensis.

Hic est qui Leges Regni Cancellat iniquas,

Et mandata pii Principis aequa facit.

Siquid obest populis, aut legibus est inimicum

Quicquid obest, per eum desinit esse nocens.

'Tis he, who cancelleth all cruel Lawes,

And in Kings Mandates Equity doth cause,

If ought to Land or Laws, doth hurtful prove,

His care that hurt doth speedily remove.

He is the highest Officer of the Land, whose principal imployment is to mittigate the rigour of the Common Law with Conscientious qualifications. For as the Prophet complaineth that the Magistrates in Israel had turned **Amos 5. 7.Amos 5:7JUD…MENT into WORMWOOD, the like would dayly come to passe in England, where High Justice would be High injustice, if the bitterness thereof were not sometimes seasonably sweetned with a mixture of Equity.

He also keepeth the Great Seal of the Land, the affixing whereof preferreth what formerly was but a Piece of written Parchment, to be a Patent or Charter. For though it be true what Solomon sayes **Eccles. 8. 4.Eccl 8:4Where the word of a King is, there is power; yet that word doth not act effectually, until it be produced under the publick Seal.

Some difference there is between learned Authours, about the antiquity of this Office, when it first began in Eng…and.

Polydore Virgil, who though an Italian, could (when he would) see well into English Antiquities, makes the Office to begin at the Conquerour. And B. Godwin accounteth them sufficiently ridiculous, who make Swithin Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England under K. Athelwolfe.

Severall persons are alledged **See Master Philpots Catalogue of English Chancellors, p. 1. 2, 3.Chancellours to our English Kings before the Conquest, and King Ethelred appointed the Abbat of Elie, ut in **History of E…ly.Regis Curia Cancellarii ageret dignitatem.

p. 18The Controverfie may easily be compremized by this distinction; Chancellour before the Conquest, imported an Office of credit in the Kings Court (not of Judicature, but) of Residence, much in the nature of a Secretary. Thus lately he was called the Chancellour (understand not of the Diocess, but) of the Cathedral-Church, whose place was to pen the Letters belonging thereunto. Whereas the notion of the Kings Chancellour since the Conquest, is inlarged and advanced to signifie the supreme Judge of the Land.

The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, is in effect the same with the Lord Chancelour of England: save that some will have the Lord Chancellours place ad Terminum Vitae, and the Lord Keepers ad placitum Regis. Sure it is, that because Nicholas Heath late Arch-Bishop of York, and Chancellour of England, was still alive, though outed of his Office, Sir Nicholas Bacon was made Lord Keeper, and in his time the power of the Keeper was made equal with the authority of the Chancellour by Act of Parliament.

We have begun our Catalogue of Chancellours at Sir Thomas More, before whose time that place was generally discharged by Clergy men, entered in our Book under the Title of Eminent Prelates. If any demand, why such Clergy-men, who have been Lord Chancellours, are not rather ranked under the Title of Statesmen, than under the Topick of Prelates? Let such know, that seeing Episcopacy is challenged to be jure Divino, and the Chancellours place confessed to be of Humane Institution, I conceive them most properly placed and to their best advantage.

If any ask, why the Lord Chancellours who meddle so much in matters of Law, are not rather digested under the Title of Lawyers then under that of Statesmen? Let such know, it is done, because some Chancellours were never Lawyers ex professo, studying the Laws of the Land, for their intended Function, taking them only in order to their own private accomplishment. Whereof Sir Christopher Hatton was an eminent instance. As we begin our Catalogue with Sir Thomas More, we close it with Sir Thomas Coventry, it being hard to…ay, whether the Former were more Witty and Facetious, or the Later more Wise and Judicious.

Lord Treasurers.

Kings without Treasure will not be suitably obeyed, and Treasure without a Treasurer will not be safely preserved. Hence it was that the Crowns and Scepters of Kings were made of gold, not only because it is the most pure and precious of metalls, but to show, that wealth doth effectually evidence and maintain the strength and state of Majesty. We may therefore observe, not only in prophane but holy writ; not only in Old, but New Testnment, signal notice taken of those who were **Ezra 1. 8. … Neh. 13. 13.Ezra 1:8Neh 13:13over the Treasury, in which great place of Trust, the Eunuch served Candace Queen **Acts 8. 27.Acts 8:27of Ethiopia.

The Office of Lord Treasurers was ever beheld as a Place of great charge and profit. One well skilled in the Perquisits thereof, being demanded, what he conceived the yearly value of the place was worth? made this Return, That it might be worth some thousands of pounds to him (who after death) would go instantly to Heaven, twice as much to him, who would go to Purgatory, and a Nemo Scit to him who would adventure to go to a worse place. But the plain truth is, He that is a Bad Husband for himself, will never be a good one for his Soveraign, and therefore no wonder if they have advanced fair Estates to themselves, whose Office was so Advantagious, and they so judicious and prudent persons, without any prejudice to their Master, and (for ought I know) Injury to his Subjects.

We have begun our Catalogue at William Lord Powlett Marquess of Winchester. For although before him, here and there Lay-Lords were Intrusted with that Office, Yet generally they were Bishops, and so anticipated under our Topick of Eminent Prelates, and blame me not if in this particular, I have made the Lustrè of the Lords Spiritual, to Eclipse the Lords Temporal, drowning their Civil Office in their Ecclesiastical Employment. We close our Catalogue of Lord Treasurers, with Francis Lord Cottington.

Secretaries of State.

There were but two of these at once in the Kings time, whereof the one was styled the Principal Secretary, the other the Secretary of Estate. Some have said that the first in the Senioritie of Admition, was accounted the Principall, but the Exceptions in this kind, being as many as the Regularities (the Younger being often brought over the head of the elder to be Principal) Their chiefnesse was Penes Regis Arbitrium. Nor was the one confined to Forreign Negotiations, the other to domestick businesse, (as some have believed) but promiscuously ordered all affaires, though the Genius of some Secretaries did incline them most to forreign Transactions. Their Power was on the matter alike, and Petitioners might make their Applications indifferently to either, though most addressed themselves to him, in whom they had the greatest Interest. Their Salaries were some Two hundred pounds a piece, and five hundred pounds a piece more for Intelligence and Secret Service.

Before the Reformation Clergy-men (who almost were all things) were generally Secretaries of Estate, as Oliver King, Secretary to Edward 4. Edward 5. and Henry the 7. and those came under our Pen in the Notion of Eminent Prelates. We therefore begin our Catalogue of Secretaries from Sir Thomas Cromwell, in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, because from him until our Time a continued Series of Laymen ha…e discharged that Office.

We …onclude our Secretaries of State with Sir John Cook, who perceiving his aged body not so fit for such Active times, resigned his Place about the beginning of the Long Parliament, though surviving some years after in a private condition. We will for the more safety follow the Pattern of so wise a States-man, and where he gave over his Office, we will give over writing of those Officers, for fear we tread too neere on the Toes of the Times, and touch too much on our Modern distempers.

Amiralls or Admiralls.

Much difference there is about the Original of this word, whilst most probable their Opinion who make it of Eastern Extraction, borrowed by the Christians from the Saracens. These derive it from Amir, in Arabick a Prince, and foreign, Belonging to the Sea, in the Greek Language, such mixture being precedented in other words. Besides, seeing the Sultans Dominions in the Time of the Holy War, extended from Sinus Arabius, to the North Eastern part of the Midland-Sea, where a barbarous kind of Greek was spoken by many, Amirall (thus compounded) was significatively comprehensive of his Jurisdiction, Admirall is but a Depraving of Amirall in vulgar mouths. However it will never be beaten out of the Heads of the Common sort, that seeing the Sea is Scene of Wonders, something of Wonderment hath incorporated it self in this Word, and that it hath a Glimps, Cast, or Eye of Admiration therein.

Our English Kings following the Precedent of the Politick Romans, who very seldome entrusted places of great importance (especially during life) in a single person, as also that they might gratifie more and trust less, divided the Over-sight of sea-matters betwixt a Triumvirate of Amiralls, and (like wary Merchants) ventured the charge in several bottoms for the more Safety.

I find that Richard Fitz-alin Earl of Arundell, was by King Richard the second, made the first Amirall of all England, yet so, that if Three Co-Admiralls were restored as formerly, his Charter expired. John Vere Earl of Oxford, was, the sirst of Hen. the seventh, Amirall of England, and kept it until the day of his Death. Afterwards p. 19Men were chequered, at the pleasure of our Princes, and took their turns in that Office. For this cause I can make no certain Catalogue of them, who can take with my most fixed Eye, no steddy aime at them (the same persons being often alternately In, and Out of the Place) whilst Officers protermino vitae, may be with some certainty recounted.

Yet have we sometimes inserted some Memorable Amiralls under the Ti…le of Statesmen; and Vice-Amiralls under the Topick of Seamen, because the former had no great knowledge in Navigation, (I say great) it being improper, they should be seamasters who in no degree were seamen) and were imployed rather for their Trust, then skill, to see others do their Duty, whilst the latter were allwayes persons well experienced in Maritine affairs.

Lord-Deputies of IRELAND.

Ever since King Henry the second conquered Ireland, few of our English Princes went thither in person, and none continued any long time there, save King John, and King Richard the second, neither of them over-fortunate. But that Land was governed by a Substitute, commissioned from our Kings, with the same power though sometimes under several names.

Thus these three Titles are in sense Synonima, to signifie the same power and place. Some erroniously term them Presidents of Ireland, a Title belonging to the particular Governours of Mounster and Connagh.

It is true of Ireland what was once said of * Edom, their Deputies were Kings. No1 King. 22. 47.1 Kgs 22:47 Vice-roy in Christendome (Naples it self not excepted) is observed in more state. He chooseth Sheriffes, and generally all Officers, save Bishops and Judges, and these also, though not made by his commanding, are usually by his commending to the King. He conferreth Knighthood, hath power of life and death, signified, by the Sword carried commonly before him, by a person of Honour. His attendance and House-keeping is magnificent, partly to set a Copy of State to the barbarous Irish, by seeing the difference betwixt the rude rabble routs runing after their native Lords; and the solemnity of a regulated retinue; partly to make in that Rebellious Nation, a reverential impression of Majesty, that by the Shadow they may admire the Substance, and proportionably collect the State of the King himself, who therein is represented. Our English Kings were content with the Title of Lords of Ireland, until King Henry the Eighth, who, partly to shew his own power to assume what style he pleased, without leave or liberty from the Pope (whose Supremity he had suppressed in his Dominions) partly the more to awe the Irish, wrote himself King thereof, Anno Dom. 1541. from which Year we date our Catalogue of Lord Deputies, as then, and not before, Vice-Royes indeed.

Indeed it was no more then needs, for King Henry the Eighth to assume that Title, seeing, quod efficit tale magis est tale, and the Commission whereby King Henry the Second made William-Fitz-Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland, hath this direction; Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Regibus; Comitibus, Baronibus, et omnibus fidelibus suis in Hibernia, salutem.

Now, though by the post-poning of these Kings to Arch-bishops and Bishops, it plainly appears that they were no Canonical Kings, (as I may say) I mean solemnly invested with the Emblems of sovereignty, [the King of **6 Johannis Claus▪ membrani 18Connagh, the King of Thomond] yet were they more then Kings, even Tyrants in the exercise of their **6 Hen▪ 3. Chart. m. 2.Dominions, so that, King Henry was in some sort necessitated to set himself King Paramount above them all.