A Memorial Offered to John Williams, Part of biography 1 (2 of 2)

A Memorial Offered to John Williams · Part of biography 1 (2 of 2)

p. 2432. The Vice-Chancellor, with the Sages of the Conſiſtory, concluded there ſhould be a kind of Commencement extraordinary to Congratulate theſe Potentates and their Followers. Dr. Richardſon, the King's Profeſſor in Divinity, to manage the chief Place in the Chair; Dr. Davenant to moderate in the Theological Diſputation; and Mr. Collins to anſwer upon three Queſtions. The next Care was for Opponents. And Mr. Williams was ſo high in the Opinion of all the Learned Doctors, that he was thought upon in his abſence as a moſt Select Antagoniſt for this Conflict, and Letters of Entreaty were directed to him, to p. 25come and fulfil that part, which, upon Aſſurance of his Sufficiency, was impoſed on him. There was no leiſure for a Demur; the ſtraitneſs of Time ſaid, either do it, or deny it. But he ſubmitted; yet humbly proteſting againſt himſelf from one point of Incapacity, that though he had compleat time from the Midſummer elapſed for the Degree of Batchelor of Divinity, yet he had not taken it. And without that Title, it was not uſual or decent to ſhew himſelf in the luſter of ſuch an Auditory. Well, (ſays Dr. Richardſon) you ſpeak Reaſon, yet we will not want you at this needful time; for I will teach you how to fill up that empty Circumſtance It will be a fortnight yet before our Royal Gueſts the Princes will come to us: Prefer your two Queſtions Pro Gradu this night or to morrow to me. I know your readineſs, that you need take no more time. In five days after I will meet you in the Schools. Incontinently your Degree ſhall be confer'd upon you Pro More, or by ſpecial Grace. He obey'd. And the Theſes, which upon allowance of ſuch ſhort time he maintain'd, were theſe: 1. Peccata ſemel remiſſa … redeunt. 2. Qui ſacres ordines ſuſecperunt ſamulari poſſunt magnatious ut fructus Eccleſtaſticos percipiant. Dr. Richardion, who received from him theſe T…ſes, as it were the Chartel of Challenge, met him in the Schools. He was a profound Divine, as famous in the Pulpit as in the Chair, (which is not uſual) a great Linguiſt, noted for a kind of Omniſciency in Church Antiquities, of pure Language, yet uſed not his Pen to Compoſe his Lectures but brought his Memory with him, and dictated his Mind with great Authority. We that frequented at his Polemical Exerciſes obſerv'd, That if the Reſpondent that ſtood before him were not a luſty Game-Cock, but of a Craven kind, he would ſhake him a little, but never caſt him on his back: But if he were one of the right Brood, that would ſtrike Spur for Spur, he would be ſure to make him feel the weight of a Profeſſor's Learning before they parted. Therefore he did not dally with Mr. Williams at this time, but laid at him with all his Puiſſance. Nothing could be more delightful for two long hours and better to us that were the Lookers on. In ventilating the firſt Queſtion, we judged that the Doctor of the Chair had twice duck'd the Reſpondent under Water, but he quickly appeared again at the top. Once was upon the Objection, That Original Sin is remuted in Baptiſm, and yet ſome Baptized become Reprobates, and are for ever Tormented. Even ſo (ſays the Anſwerer) for their Actual Rebellions, but not upon the ſcore of Original, which was wiped out. The ſecond Shock was upon that Scripture, Matth. 18.32. where the Lord tells the Unmerciful Servant, that He had forgiven to him the Debt which he deſired, but ſince he had no compaſſion of his Fellow, he ſhould be kept in Priſon, till he had paid all which was due. Though I might decline the Inſtance (ſays the Reſpondent) becauſe it is Parabolical, yet to encounter the Text more directly, I ſay, that the Debt was not cancell'd to that rigid and hard Servant, for if he had his Ap…cha or Quietance, to ſpeak after the manner of Men, he were free from all inſequent Demands. But, I forgave thee, in that Verſe, is as much as, I forbear thee, I did not proſs thee, or exact upon thee. Though the Tally was not ſtruck, yet no Suit was commenc'd, and a Temporary Forbearance is a kind of Forgiveneſs. The Profeſſor was ſatisfied, and drove his Wedge no further into that Knot. Upon the ſecond Queſtion, I remember the grave Doctor gave the Onſet ſomewhat frowningly. But the Pith of his Obligation was, That the Vocation to Sacred Orders, Miniſterium eſt, non mercatura: Piſcatores ſumus hominum, non venatores munerum; that is, Our holy Profeſſion is a Miniſtry, not a Merchandiſe; that we are made Fiſhers of Men, and not of Livings. The Retorſion to this had Strength and Sweetneſs, like Iron that is gilded; Alius eſt finis artis, alius artificis: The end of Theology is to gain Souls; the end of the Theologue, ſubordinate to the firſt and Architectonical end, is for an honeſt Maintenance and Suſtentation. As the end of Art Medicinal is to cure a Sick Man; but the end of the Phyſician is to live well upon his Profeſſion. This agrees with the mind of Seneca, lib. 3. De Benef. That the end of Phidias his Art was to carve a Statue with likeneſs, concinnity, and due proportion: Finis artificis feciſſe cum ſructu; The Artificer's end was to take Money for his Work. A Diſtinction that cuts by an even Thread; which, with all that was deliver'd beſide, received great Congratulation from the Profeſſor and Auditors.

33. From henceforth he was a Licemiate, as the Tranſmarines call it, as we a Batchelor in Divinity: A Relation to beautifie his Profeſſion, or rather a mere Scabbard to put in the ſharp-edg'd Weapon of his Learning, out of which he drew it forth upon a fair Quarrel, which was decided before a glorious Auditory, Mar. 3. 1612. That was the day wherein the Princes, with the Attendance of mighty Peers, and one Biſhop Dr. James Montagu Lord Biſhop of Bath and Wells, vouchſafed to give a moſt Gracious Hearing to a public Diſputation held between p. 26ſome of our chief Divines. The Place was filled with the moſt Judicious of this whole Iſland; and ſome of the Attendants of the Palſgrave ſo Learned, that One might ſtand for many, Plato alone for Ten Thouſand: One Abraham Scultetus, a Worthy greatly look'd upon, was able to awake the Diligence of them that had been Drowſie. But they that were ſet forth for this Encounter had Metal enough, and needed no Provocation, but their own Virtue. Dr. Richardſon (Agmen agens Lauſus, magnique ipſe agminis inſtar,) began firſt with his grave Neſtorean Eloquence, and having ſaluted Prince Charles, the great expectation of our future Happineſs, foreign, as G. Nyſſen calls Iſaac, the Branch of Succeſſion; and having bleſſed his Serenity the Prince Elector the Bridegroom with Solemn Votes and Wiſhes to be added to his Hymeneal Joys, then he called forth the Son of his right hand, Mr. Samuel Collins, (created Doctor at this Commencement) to ſtand in the gap, and to maintain the Truth in three Theſes againſt all Aſſailants. He was a firm Bank of Earth, able to receive the Shot of the greateſt Artillery. His Works in print againſt Eudaemon and Fitz-Herbert, Sons of Anak among the Jeſuits, do noiſe him far and wide. But they that heard him ſpeak, would moſt admire him. No Flood can be compared to the Spring-Tide of his Language and Eloquence, but the milky River of Nilus, with his ſeven Mouths all at one diſemboguing into the Sea. O how voluble! how quick! how facetious he was! What a Vertumnus, when he pleas'd to Argue, on the right ſide, and on the contrary! Theſe Things will be living in the memory of the longeſt Survivor that ever heard him. In this Trial, wherein he ſtood now to be judged by ſo many Attic and Exquiſite Wits, he ſtriv'd to exceed himſelf, and ſhew'd his Cunning marvelouſly, that he could invalidate every Argument brought againſt him with variety of Anſwers. It was well for all ſides, that the beſt Divine in my Judgment, that ever was in that place, Dr. Davenant held the Rains of the Diſputation; he kept him within the even Boundals of the Cauſe; he charm'd him with the Caducaean Wand of Dialectical Prudence; he order'd him to give juſt Weight and no more. Horat. l. 1. Od. 3. Quo non Arbiter Adriae major tollere, ſeu ponere vult freta. Such an Arbiter as he was now, ſuch he was, and no leſs, year by year, in all Comitial Diſputations; wherein whoſoever did well, yet conſlantly he had the greateſt Acclamation. To the cloſe of all this Exerciſe I come. The grave elder Opponents having had their courſes, Mr. Williams, a new admitted Batchelor of Divinity, came to his Turn laſt of all. Preſently there was a Smile in the Face of every one that knew them both, and a prejudging that between theſe two there would be a Fray indeed. Both jealous of their Credit, both great Maſters of Wit, and as much was expected from the one, as from the other. So they fell to it with all quickneſs and pertinency, yet (thank the Moderator) with all candor; like Fabius and Marcellus, the one was the Buckler, the other the Sword of that Learned Exerciſe. No Greyhound did ever give a Hare more Turns upon Newmarket Heath, then the Replier with his Subtleties gave to the Reſpondent. A Subject fit for the Verſe of Mr. Abraham Hartwel in his Regina Literata, as he extols Dr. Pern's Arguments made before Queen Elizabeth: Quis ſulmine tanto tela jacet? tanto fulmine nemo jacet. But when they had both done their beſt with equal Proweſs, the Marſhal of the Field, Dr. Davenant, caſt down his Warder between them, and parted them. A Fable comes into my Memory, That Vulcan, to deſpite Diana, made a Dog which ſhould catch every thing he hunted, called foreign, and Diana, to deſpite Vulcan, made a Fox which could never be catch'd in Hunting, called foreign: And all the Gods and Goddeſſes could never reconcile the Contradiction, till upon one Chaſe both the Dog and the Fox ran themſelves to death; which Ovid compriſeth in a little, Lib. 3. Metamor.

Scilicet invictos ambo certamine curſus

Eſſe Deus Voluit.

The Moral in a great part may ſuit well with theſe two unvanquiſh'd Diſputants. The Biſhop of Bath and Wells, Dr. Montagu, gave great demonſtration of Affection to Mr. Williams ever after his Negotiation in this Act. As Velleius ſays, Nulla feſtinatio hujus viri mentionem debet tranſgredi: That Biſhop was a Reverend and Learned Father in the Church, a moſt loving Son to his Mother the Univerſity; he was full of good Works, as Bath and Farnham, and Wincheſter-houſe in Southwark, could teſtifie, if theſe impious and overthrowing Times had let them ſtand, and many more recited by Biſhop Godwin in his Catalogue of Biſhops. p. 27This was the good Man, who from henceforth was the trueſt Friend to Mr. Williams of all that did wear a Rochet to his Laſt Day; who, after theſe two ſublime Performances of the Reſponſion for Batchelorſhip of Divinity, and Opponent's Place in the Great-Day before the moſt Illuſtrious Princes, retired to his Home, for ſo I muſt now call the Lord Chancellor's Family.

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

p. 2835. Here I will provide a little to ſet my Shoulder againſt the Juſtle of an Objection. Perhaps ſome will ſay, What did the Study of our Laws belong to him? The Dainties of the Scriptures were his daily Diet preſcrib'd him by his Calling. Why did he ſeed upon thoſe coarſe Coleworts? And who could ſpare any of the Time of this ſhort Life, when the Work of a Divine is more then this Life can diſpatch, ſo that the Remainder muſt be learnt in Life Eternal? Somewhat to that purpoſe is pithily expreſs'd by Seneca; Quae dementia eſt in tantâ temporis egeſtate ſupervacua diſcere? Ep. 48. And what ſay you to the Judgment of Pope Honorius the Third, who ſat, an. 1216. who forbad all Clerks to ſtudy Phyſick, or the Pandects of the Laws? Or to the Emperor Juſtin the elder, who lived 600 years before Honorius, c. leg. 41. Opprobrium eſt ſi Eccleſiaſtici peritos ſe velint oſtendere legum forenſium? I ſay, thoſe Laws muſt be weighed with Grains of Temper and Charity. Whom Nature hath made docile, it is injurious to prohibit him from learning any thing that is docible. Marie he that forſakes his holy Calling, and liſts himſelf in another Warfare, that gives himſelf up wholly to ſcrape a Livelihood from curing Diſeaſes, or fogging in Secular Cauſes, is a Renegado, and muſt be brought back again to his Colours with the Infamy of a Fugitive. But far is he from being guilty of this Fault, who ſerves Chriſt Jeſus faithfully in the Labour of the Goſpel, and can do it the better by poizing Humane Laws, and trying how conſonant they are to God's Juſtice; and by ſearching the Virtue of Plants and other Creatures, can find out how wonderful the Almighty is in all his Works. The Collation between Moſes and the Imperial Laws, which Paulus Modeſtinus, and others of his Robe have made, why may not a Miniſter peruſe it with as much profit as an Advocate? It were a Tyranny, more then barbarous, to confine a Wit, that hath a Plummet to found the depth of every Well that the Arts have digged; or to clip his Wings, that he may not fly into every Buſh as freely as the Fowls of the Air. Padre Paulo the Frier, the brighteſt Star in the Hemiſphere of Italy, was ſecond to none in Divinity while he liv'd; equal with the beſt Doctors in Rome or Siena in explicating Canon or Civil Laws; and above all the Practiſers of Padua, or in the World, in underſtanding the Aeſculapian Art, ſays Fulgentius. Albericus Gentilis ſpoke it, to do Honour to the Induſtry of Dr. Reynolds of Corpus-Chriſti College, that he thought that great … had read as much in the Civil Law as himſelf. Wherein then conſiſts the difference? Why might not Mr. Williams examine the Caſes, Reports, and Maxims, of our Municipal Laws to be expert in them? Both being egg'd on into it by the Happineſs of his Attendance in the Pretorian Court, where he might learn much, and labour little for it; and making it the Recreation, not the Intermiſſion of his proper Studies. Therefore out of Charity give him leave to gather Stubble where he would, ſince he fulfil'd his Task of Brick, Exod. 5.18. The Lord Chancellor did highly countenance him in it, and was ſo taken with his Pregnancy, that at his leiſure-times, both for his own ſolace, and his Chaplain's furtherance, he would impart to him the Narration of ſome famous Cauſes, that had been debated in Chancery, or Star-Chamber. What could not ſuch a Maſter teach? What could not ſuch a Scholar learn? Socrates ſays in Plato of Alcibiades, that he Gloried in nothing ſo much, as that he was Ward to Pericles, and brought up under him. Neither had this Chaplain a more graceful Ornament to ſhew in the Eyes of the World, then that he was Diſciple to the Lord Egerton. That great Senator, the moſt judicious Judge and Counſellor of his Age, would not have diſparaged himſelf to give a young Divine ſo great a Place in his Affections, but that he had founded him, and diſcover'd him to be a perſon of rare Abilities. By this favour to which he had attained, though he was not in the place of one of the Secretaries, yet he became to be like a Maſter of Requeſts; eſpecially in weightier Petitions he could prevail more then any other Miniſter, which was not to be preſiſted by the other Officers. He had a Mind full of worth, and full of warmth, and no place became him ſo well as the foremoſt; as Pliny ſays of Cocks, lib. 10. c. 21. Imperitant ſuo generi, & regnum in quâcunque ſunt domo exercent. None of his Fellows had cauſe to repent, that he rode upon the Fore-Horſe. For he was courteous, and ready to mediate in any Cauſe, and as bountiful as might be wiſh'd; for he left all Fees and Veils of Profit to thoſe to whom they did belong. By this, in a little while, they that would have kept him back at firſt, did their utmoſt to put him forward; which did not need. For the Lookers on did mark, that his Lord did not only uſe him in his moſt principal Employments, but delighted to confer with him; for it is a State-Rule: Raro eminentes viri non magnis adjutoribus ad gubernandam fortunam ſuam uſi ſunt. Yet this latter Favour, the Nature of the Lord Chancellor p. 29conſidered, was greater then the former. For though he was as good a Maſter to his Followers as ever was ſerv'd, yet he was of an auſtere Gravity, and rather Bountiful then Affable. Now though it be as clear as any Ocular Demonſtration, that the Chaplains full and abſolute Parts did introduct him to this Love and Likeing; yet I will not ſay, but that which brought it to this Growth and Exceſs was a ſympathy of Souls, which is a knitting of Souls by ſecret Ligaments that tranſcend Reaſon. Our Genetl…iacal Writers, perhaps, would call it Synaſtrta, which is a wrong Word for a right Meaning.

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

37. His own Share follows: For by coming to that pitch of Intereſt with ſo great and good a Lord, as he befriended many, ſo in the ſpace of about 5 years that he lived with him, he compaſs'd a plentiful Fortune to himſelf, from that Bounty which denied him nothing, and commonly prevented him before he ask'd. Methinks it was that ſweet Patron's Speech, which Pliny makes the fruitful Earth to ſpeak to us all, Lib. 23. in Prooem. Ex me parata omnia, ſeſe porrigentia ultro, & ſi pigeat attingere, etiam cadentia. I have provided all things for us, I offer them to you voluntarily, if you will not gather them, they ſhall fall down at your Feet of their own accord. To be particular, he confer'd the Parſonage of Walgrave in Northamptonſhire upon him, and no other Cure of Souls by direct Preſentation. For the Lord Chancellor had declar'd in the Conference at Hampton-Court before King James, pag. 58. That he did not diſlike the Liberty of our Church, in granting two Benefices to one Man; But out of his own private Purpoſe and Practiſe, he diſpoſed ſuch Livings as he gave, that ſome might have ſingle Coats that wanted them, before others had Doublets. But by his furtherance, the Chaplain had likewiſe the Rectory of Grafton-Underwood, in the ſame County, lying in a very ſmall diſtance from Walgrave, gratifying the Patron with as good or better in ſome other Shire. Divers Cathedral Churches offered their Preferments to him, becauſe they needed ſuch a Collegue, and ſome to make amends for his former Civilities. In the Church of Lincoln he was a Prebendary and Reſident, with the p. 30Chantorſhip of the ſame. He had a Choral Place in the Minſter of Peterborough, and in the Churches of Hereford and St. David's. Neither the Canons of our Church, nor the Statutes of our Realm, have provided an Incapacity for holding Plurality of Prebends. I find indeed among the Decretals of the Popes, a Conſtitution of Urban the Second, an. 1087. running thus: Licet Epiſcopi diſpoſitione unus diverſis praeeſſe poſſit Eccleſiis, Canonicus tamen Praebendarius niſi unius Eccleſiae in quà conſcriptus eſt, eſſe non debet. An Order which they keep, till any Man, that hath occaſion to tranſgreſs it, brings enough in his hand to pay for a Diſpenſation. Theſe Stalls therefore he poſſeſs'd in Cathedral Foundations, for which the Lord Chancellor was well pleaſed by exchange of ſome of his own Preferments, to make amends to thoſe who had confer'd their Kindneſs upon his faithful Servant. Nay yet further, Mantiſſae loco, he gave him a Donative (called Sine curâ) in Wales, which was equal in Profit to any Endowment that he held. Here was a glut of Preferment indeed, will ſome ſay: Be it ſo; it was the Liberality of a large and a loving-hearted Maſter, that would let him do no leſs; and it is as true, that the Chaplain deſired no leſs. Ariſtotle lived in the moſt flouriſhing times of Greece, and perceiving that the valianteſt Heroes that attended Alexander grew very rich, he framed this Axiom, Lib. 3. ad Nicom. That great Spirits are willing to be wealthy, to reward and gratifie others. Doubtleſs ſuch as are of an high-flown Animoſity, affect Fortunas Lacinioſas, as one calls it; a Fortune that ſits not ſtrait and cloſe to the Body, but like a looſe and a flowing Garment. They would ſpend to be belov'd, and to oblige as far as they can; and that cannot be done out of a narrow Revenue. Salmaſius (O what a Miracle of Judgment and Learning!) wrote bountifully, and liv'd bountifully, as I have heard: Theſe are his words, Lib. de Uſur. p. 392. Quomodo liberalis eſſe poteſt, qui nihil plus acquireret, quàm quod ſibi ad victum neceſſarium ſufficere queat? They that talk of poſſeſſing no more then to content Nature, muſt live with ſuch as know no other People but themſelves, elſe it is impoſſible but they will depart from that Primitive Simplicity. And truly I have known but few, perhaps none, that would not be content to have had all the Chaplain's Portion, or more, if they had liv'd in as good a way of getting. I do not excuſe him therefore, it need not, that he got ſufficient Wealth, and beſtow'd it Charitably, and Honourably, as will be manifeſted. Whither it be Tully or Panaetius that ſays it, or both, it is well ſaid, as I learnt it in my Leſſons of Puerility, Lib. 1. de Off. Neque rei familiaris amplificatio vituperanda eſt, nemine nocens; ſed fugienda ſemper injuria. Riches that are augmented out of Niggardice, or by Cheating, Extortion, or doing unworthy Offices, carry their Curſe along with them; thoſe that are well gotten, are the Bleſſing of God. The Adjection of Wealth then was not to be refus'd, by one that ſerv'd not ſuch an Idol, but made it ſerve him for worthy Purpoſes. Neither did his franc and generous Nature eſteem ſuch Things to be the Recompence of five years Service, but this rather, to be brought up at the Feet of the moſt prudent Counſellor that lived in the King's Service, and that he got his Favour ſo early, and held it ſo ſtrongly till Death, which came on apace. An. 1616. in October, this aged Patriarch began to languiſh and droop. Therefore to recreate him, and to put an after-ſpring into his decaying Spirits, the Prince with due Solemnity being created Prince of Wales, Nov 4. the Lord Chancellor was created Viſcount Brackley on the 7th of the ſame. This Honour was a Token that the King held him Precious, yet it work'd not inward. Who did ever ſee, that the Sand in an Hour-Glaſs did run the flower, becauſe the Caſe in which it was put was guilded? For all this Viſcountſhip his Feebleneſs was more and more ſenſible, the Eyes that look'd out of the Windows were darkned, and he grew thick of Hearing. From thence, that is about January, he delighted not in any Talk, unleſs his Chaplain ſpoke to him. All his Buſineſs with his Great and Royal Maſter the King, he ſent by him to be deliver'd with Truſt and Prudence. Upon which Meſſages the King took great notice, that the Chaplain was Principled by his Maſter to be a Stateſman, and a Pillar of the Kingdom. And even hard upon the day of his Death, which was Mart. 15. the Chancellor call'd him to him, and told him, If he wanted Money, he would leave him ſuch a Legacy in his Will, as ſhould furniſh him to begin the World like a Gentleman. Sir, (ſays the Chaplain) I kiſs your hands, you have fill'd my Cup full, I am far from Want, unleſs it be of your Lordſhips Directions how to live in the World, if I ſurvive you. Well, (ſays the Chancellor) I know you are an expert Workman, take theſe Tools to work with, they are the beſt I have. And he gave him ſome Books and Papers written all with his own hand. Theſe were as Valuable as the Sibylline Propheſies. They were that old Sage's Collections for the well p. 31ordering the High Court of Parliament, the Court of Chancery, the Star-Chamber, and the Council-Board. An ineſtimable Gift, being made over to the true Heir Apparent of his Wiſdom. Let every one wear the Garland he deſerves. For my part, I attribute ſo much to the Lord Egerton, that I believe the Maſter's Papers were the Marrow of Mr. Williams his Prudence, and ſubtle Judgment in all his Negotiations. Theſe Notes I have ſeen, but are loſt, as it is to be feared, in unlucky and devouring Times. So died that Peerleſs Senator, the Mirror of a Lord Chancellor, having left that Bleſſing to his Chaplain and dear Servant, that bewailed him long after with the mourning of a Dove, and attended his Body to Cheſhire, and ſaid the Office of Burial over him in a Chapel, where he was entomb'd with his Anceſtors: Whoſe ſurviving Name a Grave cannot cover, and a Tomb is too little to preſerve it. You may meaſure him in much by theſe two Spans: Queen Elizabeth (ſays Mr. Cambden) was a Lady that never Choſe amiſs in the Preferment of an Officer, when ſhe was left to her own Judgment. She made him her Solicitor, Attorney-General, Maſter of the Rolls, and Lord-Keeper. She tried him in every Place of Truſt, the former meriting the latter, till he poſſeſs'd the higheſt. King James did more, not becauſe he gave him the ſplendid Name of Lord-Chancellor, or enobled him with the Titles of a Baron and a Viſcount, but becauſe in the open Court of Star-Chamber he bleſs'd him with his Prayers, (and the Speech wherein he made the Prayer is Printed with his Works) That as he had long held that Place, ſo God would continue him longer in it. To know him altogether, I will borrow the Character of Aemilianus, and engrave it into the green Saphir of his Memory, which will ever keep green: Qui nihil in vitâ niſi laudandum aut fecit, aut dixit, aut ſenſit.

38. While the Obſequies for the Entertainment of this deceaſed Lord were preparing at London, the Succeſſor unto the Office of the great Seal was Sir Francis Bacon, very Learned in the judgment of all European Scholars, eſpecially beſt known at home, that his Soul was a Cabinet repleniſh'd with the greateſt Jewels of Wit, and in all our Kingdom none did ever ſet them forth with purer Language. He hearing that Mr. Williams had cheſted up his Books, and had furniſh'd himſelf every way for an Houſe-keeper to remove to his Cure of Walgrave, he made him an offer of great Civility, to continue with him in that place, wherein he had ſerv'd the Lord Egerton, which he declined; but with ſo graceful a compliment, that they parted great Friends; and Sir Francis, willing to mark him with ſome cognizance of his Love, of his own accord made him Juſtice of Peace, and of the Quorum in the County of Northampton, an Office fitter for none than a Scholar and a Gentleman. Yet he could hot leave London, ſo God had provided, without a calling into a new Service, but it was in Caeſars houſhold. His faithful and faſt Friend Dr. James Montagu, now Biſhop of Winton, ſent for him, and brought him to the King, who received him with conſolatory Words, and extraordinary Grace, and commanded he ſhould be Sworn his Chaplain forthwith, (whereupon he Attended at the Court yearly in the Month of February) appointed him alſo to wait on him in his great Northern progreſs into Scotland, now hard at hand to begin in April enſuing; and pleaſantly bad him expect the Labourers peny as ſoon as they that had ſerv'd him longer. But the Biſhop of Wincheſter made a propoſition before his Majeſty for another employment, and both could not conſiſt together; that whereas the Arch-Biſhop of Spalato, a Proſelyte much welcom'd at that time, was deſign'd to be preſent at Cambridge commencement in the next July, that he might behold the Univerſity in the faireſt Trim, and hear the diſputation, the beſt being ever provided for that appearance, that Mr. Williams might be reſerv'd unto that time for a double Service, to anſwer publickly in Divinity for the Degree of Doctor, the fitteſt to be the Days-man before that Learned Prelate, and likewiſe give him Hoſpitality, ſuch as a great Gueſt deſerv'd; ſo it was order'd, and ſo it was perform'd. Some men are right Learned, yet with all that worth ſteal out of the World unknown, becauſe it was their ill hap never to be brought upon a Theatre of manifeſtation. And ſome are as Valiant as the beſt, and yet are never praiſed for it, becauſe they were never invited into the Field to ſhew it. So Velleius ſpeaks for Seianus, that he never Triumph'd, nou merito, ſed materiâ adipiſcendi triumphalia defectus eſt, he deſerv'd it, but the matter of a Triumph never fell in his way. There are others, whom not only deliberate Advice, but every caſualty and contingence puts forward to be Aſpectabiles, it conducts them likely where they may beſt be viewed, and their full Stature ſeen upon the advantage of a Riſing. I fall into this contemplation, becauſe an Object is before me, wherein I may aptly Exemplify. p. 32Dr. Williams (his Title for which he ſtood in the Act, an. 1617.) cull'd not out gaudy Seaſons for vain Glory; that cannot be ſuſpected, becauſe he took all his Academical degrees in their juſt year: But he above, that diſpoſeth all things, provided thoſe Co-incidencies of great Reſort and Celebrity, ſuch as Arch-Biſhop Spalato's Preſence at this Commencement, to make his Worthineſs be known the further. The Theſes which he defended in the Veſpers, and were impoſed upon him by the over-ruling Power of the Vice-Chancellor and Heads of the Conſiſtory, (it is their Right and Cuſtom) were theſe: 1. Supremus Magiſtratus nou eſt Excommunicabilis. 2. Subductio calicis eſt mutilatio Sacramenti & Sacerdotii. It was well for the Doctor that he was a right Stag, well breath'd, and had a fair Head with all his Rights; for I never heard a Reſpondent better hunted in all my time that I was a Commorant in Cambridge. The Opponents were the Princes of their Tribes, Men of Renown in their Generation; Dr. Richardſon the firſt, Dr. Branthwait, Dr. Ward, Dr. Collins, Dr. Alabaſter, Dr. Goad, foreign, who did Honour the Univerſity that day, to the admiration of Mr. Antonie de Dominis, with the utmoſt of their Learning. Every Argument they preſſed, was a Ramm to throw down the Bulwarks of the Cauſe, and yet it totter'd not, neither did the Anſwerer give ground. Such a Diſputation was worthy to be heard, which was carried with equal Praiſe of the Aſſailants, and Defendants. As Plutarch, lib. foreign, ſays of Moral Precepts, that they require a good Speaker and a good Hearer with mutual Diligence, as a Game at Tennis is well play'd, foreign; When the Stroke is ſerv'd well, and the Service taken well.

39. That I may mix ſome Profit to the Reader in this Relation, I will let him know upon what Rules and Reaſons the Reſpondent proceeded in the firſt Cauſe for the Conviction of all Gainſayers, both of the Pontifician part, and of the heady Conſiſtories of ſome Reformed Churches. The Pontifician Rubbiſh he removed away, as a Dunghil of unſavoury Filth fit to be caſt out of the Lord's Vine-yard either becauſe the Popes medled ſo far beyond their own Bounds, attempting to ſend out Effulminations againſt Chriſtian Kings in all Countries, upon Arrogation of an Univerſal biſhoprick, which hath the Plenitude of all Juriſdiction in it ſelf alone, to which they have exalted themſelves without Chriſt's Warrant and Seal; or, becauſe by the Declaratory Sentence of their Excommunications, they inflict the higheſt Temporal Indignities upon Kings that can be imagin'd: As inhibiting their Courts of Juſtice to proceed any further, till he that ſits in the Throne ſhall receive Abſolution from their Grace: Abſolving their Subjects from obligation of all Service and Fidelity: Depoſing them from their Government, and expoſing their Lives to Aſſaſſinate. For though they do not ſay, that ſuch Effects ſhould neceſſarily go along with Excommunication, yet they maintain, That if the Pope ſee cauſe, ſuch Tragical Puniſhments may be annex'd unto it. Far wide from the Truth. For it is evident, that an Excommunicated Perſon can be deprived of nothing by the Church, but that which is enjoyed through the Miniſtry of the Church, and its Priviledges; but how can he be diſpoſſeſs'd of that which he holds by Civil and Natural Right, which are not dependant upon Spiritual Relations? And as it is expedient to chip away theſe hard Cruſts of Error, ſo neither is the Crum to be digeſted, which likes the Palates of ſome who are devoted to the Presbyterian Diſcipline. A King is not obnoxious to be interdicted, or deprived of the Sacraments by their Aldermen, who can ſhew no more for the Proof of ſuch Officers, with whom they Organize a Church, then the Pope can for his unlimited Juriſdiction. Nor is it to be ſuffered, that they ſhould deny a Chriſtian King to be a Church-Officer properly, and by right of his Crown over Chriſtian Subjects as Chriſtians; whoſe Cauſes can never be ſeparated by their Metaphyſical Abſtractions before diſtinct ſupreme Rulers that are co-ordinate; but that there will be endleſs Jarrs in their ſeveral Entrenchments, and God is not the God of Confuſion. Should he that is next under God in all Cauſes be ſubject to the Courts of his Liege-People and Homagers? He is their common Parent; and the only Mandat how to bear our ſelves to our Father, is to Honour him: But what can make him more vile before the People, then to thruſt him out of the Communion of Saints? Moreover the greater Excommunication includes in it the Horror of Anathematizing, or a Curſe; but, Curſe not the King, no not in thy thought, Eccleſ. 10.20. Neither would God give a conſtant Power to any which were in vain, and could not ſting. Vanum eſt quod fine ſuo deſtuuitur. But it is vain to interdict a King, over whom there is no external Power appointed to bring him into order by Violence and Coercion, if he will not be Interdicted. p. 33In every Policy there muſt be a Supreme, that can be Judged of none, for elſe the Proceſs between Party and Party would be Circular, or rather Infinite. Theſe Aphoriſms, and abundance more, flowed from the Doctor Reſpondent in the warmth of Diſputation. Above all, his Anſwer was highly applauded, which he gave to Dr. Richardſon's Argument, taken from the Excommunication or Abſtenſion, which St. Ambroſe exerciſed by his Epiſcopal Power over the Emperor Theodoſius, for commanding a great Slaughter to be made upon the People of Theſſalonica in an haſty diſtemper of Anger, before their Cauſe was heard. To which Dr. Williams ſaid, That what St. Ambroſe ſaid, was neither Juridical Abſtenſion, nor Excommunication: It was a private Act of St. Ambroſe's, directed by the motion of his proper Piety, and not a Cenſure iſſuing from a Court or Authority Eccleſiaſtical. And if at the ſame time another biſhop, is of Rome, Aquileia, or Ravenna, had communicated with the Emperor, and received him to Prayers, and the Holy Sacrament, he might have done it, without the violation of any Canon. A particular Presbyter may do the like at this day, and with a good Conſcience, withdraw himſelf from doing Sacred Offices, if a King, after often and humble Admonition continue Impenitent in great Sins, which the Day light hath detected. Therefore this was no Precedent for the Excommunication of the Supreme Magiſtrate, which was but a particular forbearance of St. Ambroſe's in Sacred Duties, not to impact them for his ſhare to ſo great an Offender, whom he left at liberty to all the World beſide to partake with him. But he that is juſtly Excommunicated from one Congregation in …rict Diſcipline, is excluded from all. This Anſwer was it which afforded moſt Matter of Diſcourſe, and ſpread far, even to King James's Ear, who heard of it, and approved it. Much was not ſaid to the Second Queſtion, a Buſh that had been often beaten. Yet there was ſome grappling about the new Clauſe, That the Subduction or Denial of the Cup to the People, maimed the very Prieſthood. But the Doctor maintain'd it thus: That the Order of Prieſthood is a Sacrament in the Roman Church; the Matter of which Sacrament, by a wretched ſhift, ſome of their Controverſial Writers ſay, is the Bible laid upon the Neck of the Ordain'd, to furniſh him to teach Chriſt's Myſtical Body, together with the Paten and the Chalice put into his hand to authorize him to make Chriſt's Natural Body. If a Prieſt ſo Ordain'd were conſin'd to Pray, and not to Preach to the People, it were a Mutilation of his Office. So if he be ſtinted to diſtribute the Conſecrated Bread, and not the Cup, it is a cutting of one half of his Prieſthood. This was the God-ſpeed and the Good-ſpeed of his Diſputation. It were no Sin to forget the Feaſts he made at this Solemnity. They were bounteous, nay exceſſive, after the uſual Treſpaſs of the ſuperfluity of our Nation: Such as Plutarch ſays Lucullus made in his Dining-Room, which he calls Apollo. One thing deſerves a Smile, That the Doctor was at no little Coſt to ſend to the Italian Ordinaries at London, and to ranſack the Merchants Stores for ſuch Viands as might pleaſe Arch-Biſhop Spalato out of his own Country. To which accates he was obſerv'd, that he never put his Hand towards them, but lik'd our Veniſon and Engliſh Diſhes a great deal better, he Thank'd him. But enough of this; for many do not love the ſmell of a Kitchin.

40. Preſently after he had ſhewn himſelf ſuch a Man in this Field of Honour, Veianius armis Herculis ad poſtem fixis latet abditus agro: Horat. Ep. 1. He never went more chearful to any place then to his private Home, the Rectory of Walgrave, as if then he had been call'd from the Cuſtom-houſe of the World to follow Chriſt; or as if he had been one of David's Mariners landed at a quiet Shore: Pſal. 107.30. Then they are glad becauſe they be at reſt, ſo he bringeth to the Haven of their deſire. His Coſt was over before he came thither; For there he had built, and garden'd, and planted, and made it a Dwelling ſit for all the changeable Seaſons of the Year, as much when Warmth, as when Pleaſure was intended. Here he became his own Maſter for a while; here he could ſolace himſelf in private Retirements; here he was attended by Mutes like the Monarchs of the Eaſt, by ſo many Volumes of a well repleniſh'd Library. As Vatia ſaid in Seneca, when he went out of Rome to live in his little Villa three Year before he died, Fuit Vatia multos annos, vixit tantùra tres; So this Doctor might have written, that in three Years, or not fully four, that he kept for the moſt part in this Bower of Tranquility, he lived the Comforts of twenty. The harmleſs Country Cottages bred more Saints, who are only ſeen unto the Eyes of God, then would fill a thouſand Calenders. Why may not the Speech of Chriſt to his Church look this way, Cant. 7.11. Come my Beloved, let us go forth into the Field, let us lodge in the Village… p. 34To track him a little in this ſhady Life; He hazarded to loſe his Health by exceſſive Study at all the Hours of the Clock, but preſerv'd it by Temperance. For though he were greatly Hoſpital, the Cloth that cover'd his Table being always cover'd with Diſhes, yet with Carving and Diſcourſing he gave his own Appetite but a ſhort Bait. Velleius ſays, that great Caeſar diſcern'd, that none but a temperate Man could do mighty things, Qui ſomno & cibo in vitam, non in voluptatem uteretur: Through Temperance he had ſtrength to be Induſtrious, and gave a good Example to the Divines his Neighbours, who had need to have ſuch prick'd in here and there among them. For a Country Miniſter hath maſter'd a great Tentation, that hath overcome Sloth, a Miſchief that will fear upon the Soul with too much craft and ſweetneſs. Idleneſs is commonly the Engliſh Gentleman's Diſeaſe, and the Rural Curate's Scandal. Let the firſt learn from as good a Gentleman, as the beſt of them, Marc. Antoninus the Emperor, lib. 9. who writes thus: Riſe early; leave the Bed of Sluggiſhneſs to them that are ſick in Body or Mind. And being up, it were as good you were laid down again, as not to be guilty of ſo much Reaſon to know, you roſe to do the Work of a Man, (which is, not to waſte all the day in ſporting with Beaſts:) foreign: That is, Why ſhould I be loth to be put to the Employment of ſome Work, for I was made for that uſe; and I came for that end into the World. Let others learn from a greater then Antoninus, that Labour and Watching, Pureneſs and Knowledge, are the Gifts that commend them to be the Miniſters of God, 2 Cor. 6.4. They are Maſter-Builders, and muſt not loiter, who ſhould ſet all to work. Or, to paſs a ſharper Sentence, It is certain, that the worſt of Superſtition is an Idol, and the worſt of Idols is an Idle Shepheard, (that is, Who hath a Mouth, and ſpeaks not?) Zech. 11.17. This Doctor, that walk'd as a burning Light before his Brethren, did the whole Office that belong'd unto him, as Reading the Liturgy of Divine Service Wednneſdays and Fridays before ſuch as would attend Prayer, Expounding the Catechiſm to the ſimple Ones in Lent, and upon all Holy-Days, Preaching conſtantly twice every Lords-Day at Walgrave, or at Grafton, and performing his Turn at Kettering, a Market-Town not much remote, in a Lecture ſupplied by a Combination of the Learned'ſt Divines of the Vicinage. Who hath not heard him ſay that knew him, it was ſo often in his mouth, that the way to get the Credit from the Non-Conformitants was to out-preach them? Who in great part were Covetous, Croſs-grain'd, Half-witted, and Diſtractious, and had nothing but much Preaching to make them plauſible and popular. No marvel if ſuch had crept into the good Opinion of weak Judges, who reſided much, and taught their Charge themſelves; and that others ſuffered hard Conſtruction, who ſeldom ſpake to their Congregation, but through the hollow Trunk of their Curates and Hirelings. It was a witty Scorn which Dicaerchus put upon the Husband-men of Tanagra, a Town in Baeotia, foreign; That they all liv'd upon Farms, yet they Plowed not themſelves, but their Drudges for them. If this were unthriftily done in Humane Tillage, how much worſe is it in God's Husbandry, which is a Culture of Souls? No Man will be ſo groſs to endite himſelf, that he loves to hide his Talent in a Napkin, and to do nothing. I will prae-occupate what he will rather ſay, That other Affairs of Weight do take him up. But Conſcientious Gerſon will not allow him that Excuſe, as I find it in him, Lib. de Vit. Spirit. Sanctius eſt Eccleſiaſticum per ſeſe Deo ſervire, ac mundo per Vicarium, quàm ordine inverſo, imò perverſo. If an Eccleſiaſtic have other Irons in the Fire, beſide his Paſtoral Charge, let him ſerve the World by his Deputy, and God in his own Perſon.

41. But this Diligence of often Preaching were but ſorrily commended in the Doctor, unleſs the Weight go along with the Meaſure. If any man ſpeak, let him ſpeak as the Oracles of God, ſays St. Peter, … Ep. c. 4. v. 11. This was the Canon by which he did adorn his Pulpit, he deliver'd that which was Oraculous, wel… Studied, premeditated with Care, able to draw the Conſciences of his Hearers into his Drag-Net, yet not with the enticing words of Man's Wiſdom, but in the demonſtration of the Spirit, and of Power, 1 Cor. 2.4. … mean, that always he laid his Principles out of the Doctrine of Chriſt, yet he burniſh'd them brighter with all ſort of comely Literature, as well what the Doctors of the Church afforded, as thoſe that are without. For Human Literature is made Sacred, when it is well inoculated into Divinity; which is willing to entertain the Aſſiſtance of every Art, not as a Corrival, but as an Handmaid. It was his Judgment, That rude unordain'd Dunces would in the Licentiouſneſs of ſome Tumults thruſt into our Pulpits, (and is it not come to paſs to the very pricking of our Hearts?) if the true Poſſeſſors did teach p. 35them by their Negligence, to fill up the Time with Babling and vacuity of Matter, like them that jangle the Bells to no Tune, and are never out, becauſe they were never in. Therefore for his part he never ſet Husks or Orts, but his Dainties before the People. Which Expectation likewiſe did promote, for his Church was throng'd every Sunday, with the Gentry eſpecially, of all the Neighbouring Pariſhes. We have extant but one touch and no more of his Skill, according to the elevation of his Learning in thoſe days, a Sermon preached before K. James at Theobalds, Febr. 22. 1619. upon this Text, Matth. 11.8. What went you out for to ſee? A man clothed in ſoft Raiment? Behold they that wear ſoft Clothing are in Kings houſes. A Sermon like one of Ph…cion's Orations, which Plut…rch compares to the Cretick Wine, which was, foreign, an Aromatick Liquor, which was ſweet, and yet had a quick auſterity upon the Palate. So this Piece of his is very ſweet in the Compoſure, and yet very tart againſt the ſinfulneſs of vain Attire; wherein wanton Quaedams in thoſe days came to that exceſs, that they delighted altogether in the Garb, and Habit, and roiſterly Faſhions of Men: This Sermon the King did greatly approve, as a fit Antidote againſt ſuch corrupt Manners, and commanded it to be Printed. For the Doctor himſelf never wrote any thing, with intention to let the World ſee it in the Preſs, unleſs neceſſity conſtrain'd him.

42. The next thing of Laudable Account in his Deportment at Walgrave, but in a long Interval after the former, was his liberal Houſe-keeping: For he liv'd like a Magnifico at home. His Brethren the Clergy, both of the better and of the lower Fortune, viſited him much; whoſe Love he repaid with Courteſie, Conference, and Hoſpitality. He had mightily won the Friendſhip of all the Gentry in the whole Diſtrict about him, and had ſuch favour and countenance from the Nobility likewiſe, that they vouchſafed their Preſence at his Feaſts, but chiefly for his Muſick-ſake, which was the Banquet they came for; and he was furniſh'd very well both for Voices and Inſtruments in his own Family. It was Sumptuous, I confeſs, for one of his Level in thoſe days. But allow him this for the Recreation of his Spirit, the rather becauſe I never knew him ſo much as dip his Senſes in any other Pleaſure. I paſs by theſe Grandees, the Flower of the County, whoſe Hearts he ſtole with theſe Obligements. But they were the Poor and Needy, for whom he brake his Bread eſpecially, and repleniſh'd their hungry Souls with Goodneſs. Give a Portion to ſeven, and alſo to eight, ſays Salomon, Eccleſ. 11.2. So he never murmur'd that their Number was too great that came to his Door for Charity. It follows in the ſame Scripture, If the Clouds be full of Rain, they empty themſelves upon the Earth: So out of his fulneſs he drop'd fatneſs upon the Indigent without making diſtinction, becauſe the ſame Earth is the Parent unto all. The Town of Walgrave indeed, where he abode, had ſome right to ſhare in his Beneficence above others: And ſo it did. The Labourer, that was ſo near a Neighbour, knew often where to fill his empty Stomach, and the Thirſty where to drink that which would cheriſh him. The Decrepit, the Widow, and the Fatherleſs, reſorted when they pleaſed to the common Refectory of them all. The Sick, who of the Comfortleſs are moſt to be compaſſionated, he came to them to their … Bed to pray for them, and to bleſs them, gave them largely from his Purſe to ſuccour them, not ſeldom paid the Fees of their Phyſicians, and always cheriſh'd them from his own Kitchin with Broths and Cordial Decoctions. Theſe were the Iſſues of a plentiful Eſtate, a ſingle Life, and a merciful Heart. This was the Oyl of a wiſe Virgin's Lamp. I follow St. Chryſoſtom, who was my Leader in that Expoſition of our Saviour's Parable, Mat. 25. on this wiſe: You that are unmarried, and live chaſtly, you have conquer'd the Love of the Fleſh; but if you will be wiſe Virgins, you muſt conquer Covetouſneſs, and the Love of the World. Will you know the way to it? Fill your Veſſels with Oyl: That's your Wiſdom. foreign. And what Veſſels are ſo fit to receive your Oyl, as the Bellies of the Poor? Many of theſe dry Lamps he ſuccour'd; and the Lord anointed him again with freſh Oyl, and made his Olive-yard encreaſe. He that hath pity on the Poor lendeth unto God, and what he hath given he will pay him again, Prov. 19.17. For at this time one rich Sheaf was added to his Store by a valuable Legacy bequeathed to him, a great Wind-fall (as we commonly ſay) from his Kinſman Mr. John Panton, Servant with him to the Lord Chancellor Egerton, who by his Laſt Will appointed him to be Guardian to his Children, and with due diſcharge of that great Truſt he bred them virtuouſly, and beſtow'd them happily. No ſooner had he gather'd up this Income, but another Dole of Fortune fell into his Lap, and much more unlook'd for then the p. 36other. While the King was in his Summer-Progreſs in the Weſt, the Deanery of Salisbury became void by the Death of Dr. Gordon; ſtraightway many Eagles were about that Carcaſs, and the Marqueſs of Buckingham ſtruck in for one of the Competitors, a deſerving Scholar: But the King gave him a Denial, and ſent for Dr. Williams, a Man that could not be heard of in a fortnight, as it fell out, till he was found at Lincoln, moſt remote from the Court, upon the Duty of his Reſidency. This was the firſt Step of his Dignity, to which no Hand help'd to raiſe him but the King's. He was bereft of his dear Friend Dr. James Moutagu Biſhop of Winton, who died on the 19th of July in the ſame Summer, if my Notes do not err. Beſide him, he had dependance on none about His Majeſty. Yet God moved the King's Heart to confer this Favour upon him, when he did not ſo much as ſtand in His Gracious Sight: But it was better that he was in His Heart. The old Romans were churliſh, or rather unjuſt, in beſtowing their Honours, becauſe none in their Republic might be advanced to an Office, but ſuch as courted the People, and fauned on them for their Suffrages. Their Decree runs thus: In honoribus conferendis nullius abſentis habeatur ratio. Alex. ab Alexandro, lib. 8. c. 3. Whereas Baſeneſs and Ambition are better prevented, when Places of Pre-eminence are caſt upon them, that ſtir not in the Suit, neither aſpire to Promotion. Being ſo ſuddenly admitted into this Deanery, which is as rich as any in the Land, except four, yet he lived not much in that Place. His Predeceſſor Dr. Gordon, a Stranger, and unacquainted with our Cuſtoms, remitted the Care of the Church wholly to the management of the Reſidentiaries, grave Men, but ſubtle and attentive to their own Emolument, who contended to keep up the Power they had long enjoyed, when one more knowing and active came into Dr. Gordon's room. Though their Claim were wrong, yet the new Dean, to ſtep out of the way of Contention, appear'd but ſeldom in their Chapter, but repoſed himſelf in the Tranquility of Northamptonſhire, till a better Advancement within the ſpace of two Years releaſed him from thoſe Wranglers.

43. As yet then he made his Abode moſt commonly at Walgrave: The place was healthful; for no Air is ſo wholſom to a Man, as where he is generally beloved. Of which Love, his ſhare was the greater, by his Place which he held among them of a Juſtice of the Peace. He was as expert in weilding that Office as any that ſate upon the Bench, not excepting thoſe that wore the Coif. For vouching of Statutes, he needed no Man to prompt him, or to compare Old and New, or to interpret them to their fair meaning. He loved his Country, and was the forwardeſt of any Patriot to defend the public againſt private Engroſments. He was ſtout, and never turn'd his back to oppoſition, chiefly when the Oppreſſions of the poor Clergy did modeſtly call upon him to maintain them in their juſt Rights. It is their hard hap in every place to be trampled upon, not only by ſuch as Gallio, that care not for the Things of Chriſt, but by ſuch whoſe Zeal is compounded of contrary Elements, they love the Harveſt of the Goſpel, if you will believe them, and hate the Labourers. But in that County, while Dean Williams was preſent, they did eluctate out of their Injuries with credit to themſelves, and damage to their Adverſaries: So much did his Countenance conduce to their Profit, and their Peace. If private Wranglings were brought before him, he ſeldom granted to thoſe Parties his Warrant to proceed, but counſel'd them, and preach'd them out of their Litigious Humours, ſaying, That it was for Chriſt's Servant to Suffer twice, before he Complain'd once; that Religion was unſpirited without Love; and that Love was a blank without Forgiveneſs; that Variances, when all Charges are caſt up, make the Purſe light, and the Soul heavy. With theſe, and ſuch words, ſome did melt into meekneſs, and ſhook hands, the rather being Reconciled in his Buttry, or his Cellar. But if they did not Edifie with ſuch Homilies, many times he took another, and a ſurer courſe, to pay the Damages all, or in part, which one Neighbour alledged for the matter of his Quarrel againſt the other; till after Experience dear bought, he perceived he was cheated, and that ſome would ſeem to be Foes, becauſe he uſed to be at coſt to make them friends.

44. I would he had done himſelf no greater wrong as a Juſticiary: But there was a Miſcarriage, which I cannot paſs over; a great deal of it was Error, but ſomewhat in it hath the wilfulneſs of a Fault. I am not wanton, like the Ladies that lodge about the Piazza in Covent-Garden, to lay a black Patch upon a fair Cheek, where it need not. No; my ſcope is to make his Over-ſight a caution to others. For I intend in all that I write, (I appeal to God; who knows it) rather to Profit many, then to Praiſe him. Plainly thus it was: Mr. Lamb, whom p. 37ſucceeding times knew to be Dean of the Arches, came, by holding faſt to Fortune's middle Finger, from a School-maſter that taught Petties, to a Proctor in Chriſtian Courts, and ſo to an Official. An Official, as Petrus Blaſenſis ſays of ſuch another, not from the Noun Oſſicium, but from Officio the Verb. The Dean of Salisbury had occaſion to employ him thrice, or oftner, in thoſe Spiritual Courts, to untangle ſome diſtreſſed Miniſters that ſought unto him, who were catch'd by the Horns in thoſe Thickets. The Official did his work truſtily, and pleas'd the Dean with as great obſequiouſneſs as could be expreſs'd, knowing that he had many long Feathers in his Wing, and was like to fly high. I do not accuſe the Dean, that this Inſtrument was not yet detected to him. For read him what he was indeed out of the Deſcription, which Tacitus gives, lib. 16. Annal. circa finem, to P. Egnatius, Client to Soranus the famous Senator; Cliens hic Sorani autoritatem Stoicae ſectae praeferebat, habitu & ore ad exprimendam imaginem honeſti exercitus, caeterùm animo perfidioſus, & ſubdolus. Yet this Stoical Gravity did not long conceal him, but that his needleſs Vexations of harmleſs People, his cutting Fees, his Briberies, and other Muck of the ſame Dunghil made an out-cry, and put the King's good People to ſeek a Remedy, by preferring Articles againſt him at the Aſſizes, where he was charg'd home with an Alphabet of Miſdemeanors. He pleaded to the general, that he was ſo much deſpited, becauſe he had look'd more narrowly into the Diſobedience of the Paritans, then formerly had been uſed. My Opinion is, that ſuch Phyſicians of no value, Job 13.4. may caſt the Water of ſuch ſick Diſtempers, but will never heal them: Infamous Judges may correct them, they will never rectifie them. For he that is fallen into a Moral Turpitude, is ſoon convinc'd in his own Mind; but he that is miſguided by darkneſs of Underſtanding, thinks that he doth right to his own Conſcience by going wrong, and is never ſo well reclaim'd, as when he is mildly rebuk'd by them, whoſe open Integrity and Pity juſtifie them, that they walk as Children of the Light. But for the Particulars, which laid down ſo many Oppreſſions at the Official's door, they were not Duſt which would be bruſh'd away with the Fox Tail, but Dirt that ſtuck to him, till the Dean, his Mediator, obtain'd from the Judges a Reference to himſelf, and ſome others, for further Examination. By which ſly Diverſion, ſome of his Charges were laid aſide by Compoſition, all of them by delay, and deluſion. After this, (what ſhould be the End of it I know not, without it were to make him look big, and ſuperciliouſly, upon his Proſecutors) the Dean engaged his Friends at Cambridge, my ſelf was one that was ſolicited from him, to ſublimate the Official with the Degree of a Doctor, wherein he had one Repulſe in the Regent-Houſe, ſuch an ill reliſh his Name had; but he was carried out in a ſecond day's Scrutiny. But for all his Doctorſhip he was not out of the Brakes, he was but Tapiſht, as Hunters call it. The ſtirring Spirits of the the ſubtle Air of Northamptonſhire prefer'd their Articles afreſh againſt him to the Houſe of Commons aſſembled in Parliament, an. 1620. Wedges enough to cleave a bigger Log then Dr. Lamb, and yet he was no little one, but Saginati corporis bellua, as Curtius ſays of Dioxippus the Pugil. Well, (nay indeed ill) his Friend that was too ſure to ſuch a branded Man, now become the Dean of a College near to the Parliament, finds the Articles in the hand of the Chair-man of the Committee, appointed to ſift the Complaints, (it was Sir Edward Sackvil, afterward the brave-ſpoken Earl of Dorſet) with whom he wrought to abortive the Bill before it came to the Birth, and ſo he ſet Dagon upon his Feet again, who was fallen with his face upon the ground, 1 Sam. 5.4. but the palms of his Hands were never cut off, for ſo long as he lived he could take a Bribe. I bluſh to remember, that the Dean did not only ſet him up again as well as ever he ſtood before, but raiſed him higher: For he wrote to a great Lord in Court (the Letter is among my Papers) to procure him the Honour of Knighthood, which was obtained: And when his Enemies laboured to cut his Comb, he got the Spurs. 'Twas pleaſantly ſpoken by Sir Ed. Montagu, (ſince that Pious and Loyal Lord Montagu of Boughton) when a cluſter came about him to ask Counſel and Aſſiſtance for a third Petition againſt Sir John Lamb, ſays Sir Edward, If we tamper the third time, his great Friend that hath already made him a Doctor and a Knight, I fear will make him a Baron. I have thus much to ſay for the Dean his friend, whoſe very Entrails I knew, that he was ſtrongly eſpouſed to love where he had loved, and 'twas hard to remove his Affections when good Pretences had gained them. Chiefly he was of a moſt compaſſionate Tenderneſs, and could not endure to ſee any Man's Ruine, if he could help it. And though Offences were as legible as a Dominical Letter, he would excuſe any thing that was capable of an Excuſe, as far as Wit and Mercy could contrive it. But p. 38if a little Confeſſion were wrung out, it cut down many Faults to make him ſee as it were a Glade of Repentance in a Grove of Sins; and did ever hope for better Fruits upon eaſie and formal Promiſes. Let Quintilian help me out a little more in his ſixth Declam. Si anguſtus ſaltem detur acceſſus, per quem intrare humanit as poſſit, vera clementia occaſione contenta eſt. Yet David's Rule is better then all this, Be not merciful to them that offend of malicious wickedneſs, Pſal. 59.5. And our God is ſo merciful, that whoſoever adds a dram beyond his Pattern, it muſt be reckoned for fooliſh and hurtful Lenity. Certainly God was not pleaſed, that the Dean would ſave a Man whom He meant to deſtroy, 1 King, 20.42. And though it ſlept Unpuniſhed about 12 Years, yet in the end the Lord awaken'd it with a Miſchief, through the treachery of that Man, whom himſelf had protected.

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

46. Now he, whom I inſiſt upon, being a Subject thus fit for Impreſſion, his good Maſter King James was as ready to put the Stamp upon him. He never met with any before, no not the Lord Egerton, much leſs with any after, that loved him like King James at the full rate of his worth. That King's Table was a trial of Wits. The reading of ſome Books before him was very frequent, while he was at his Repaſt. Otherwiſe he collected Knowledge by variety of Queſtions, which he carved out to the capacity of his underſtanding Writers. Methought his hunting Humour was not off ſo long as his Courtiers, I mean the Learned, ſtood about him at his Board. He was ever in chaſe after ſome diſputable Doubts; which he would wind and turn about with the moſt ſtabbing Objections that ever I heard. And was as pleaſant, and fellow-like in all thoſe Diſcourſes, as with his Huntſmen in the Field. They that in many ſuch genial and convival Conferences were ripe and weighty in their Anſwers, were indubiouſly deſigned to ſome Place of Credit and Profit. Wherein he followed the Emperor Adrian, as Spartianus remembers it; Omnes profeſſores & honoravit, & divites fecit, licet eos quaeſtionibus ſemper agitaverit. But among them all, with whom King James communed, was found none like Daniel, c. 1. v. 19. His Majeſty gave his Ear more Graciouſly to this Chaplain, p. 39and directed his Speech to him, when he was at hand, oftner then to any, that crowded near to harken to the Wiſdom of that Salomon. He had all thoſe Endowments mightily at command, which are behoved in a Scholar, foreign, as Ariſtotle, 3^o Top. terms them, unto Extemporary Colloquies. Ingenium in numerato habuit, as Quintil. l. 6. ſaid of a ready Man, he had all his Learning in ready Money, and could ſpend it at an hour, as well as at a day's warning. There was not a greater Maſter of Perſpicuity, and elucidate Diſtinctions; which look'd the better in his Engliſh, that ran ſweet upon his Tongue, eſpecially being ſet out with a graceful Facetiouſneſs, that hit the joint of the Matter: For his Wit, and his Judgment, never parted. If the King lead him quite out of the rode of Verbal Learning, and talk'd to him of real and gobernative Wiſdom, he pleas'd his Majeſty moſt of all, becauſe his Anſwers diſcover'd, that he loved to ſee through the preſent to the future. Chiefly ſince he would be bold, not only to argue, but to quarrel againſt Innovations. For though he was never addicted to his own Opinions, no not among his Inferiors, with that pertinacious Obligation, for better for worſe; yet neither his beſt Friends, nor the higher Powers, could ever get him pleas'd with new Crotchets, either in Church or State. His conſtant Rule was, That old Imperfections were ſafer then new Experiments. To which purpoſe, a Saying of his was famous in Court. The manner how it came in, was thus: A great Servant to the King preſs'd for a change of that, which was well enough already, and commended his Deſign by this Note, That it would be an eaſier way for the People. Sir, (ſays Dr. Williams) a Bed is an eaſie Repoſe, but it is not wholſom to lie upon a new Tick, and new-driven Feathers. All theſe Paſſages the King conſider'd from time to time; Multa viri virtus animo, &c. And was glad he had a Servant to be raiſed up, of whom He thought as Cicero did of Demetrius Valerius, lib. 3. de Leg. Et doctrinae ſtudus & regendà civitate Princeps; That he was a full Scholar fit for the Sacred, and for the Civil Gown: In a word, one of the ſtronger Cattle, Gen. 30.41. and deſigned for a Bell-weather in Jacob's Flock.

47. The King was the Fountain of Honour indeed, but there was a pre-eminent Pipe, through which all Graces flowing from him were derived. I pray the Reader to conſider the ſweetneſs of this King's Nature, (for I aſcribe it to that cauſe) that from the time he was 14 Years old and no more, that is, when the Lord Aubigny came into Scotland out of France to viſit him, even then he began, and with that Noble Perſonage, to claſp ſome one Gratioſo in the Embraces of his great Love, above all others, who was unto him as a Parelius; that is, when the Sun finds a Cloud ſo fit to be illuſtrated by his Beams, that it looks almoſt like another Sun. At this time, upon which my Pen drops, the Marqueſs of Buckingham was the Parelius. He could open the Sluce of Honour to whom, and ſhut it againſt whom he pleaſed. This Lord was our Engliſh Alcibtades for Beauty, Civility, Bounty, and for Fortitude wanted nothing of Man enough, ſays Art. Wilſ. p. 223. who favours all Republicans, and never ſpeaks well of Regians, (it is his own diſtinctions) if he can poſſibly avoid it. The Marqueſs by Sweetneſs as much as by Greatneſs, by Courteſie as well as by Power, pluck'd a world of Suitors to him, eſpecially by his generous and franc Uſage: For he did as many Favours to the King's Servants and Subjects freely and nobly, that is, without the ſordid Fee of Gifts and Preſents, as ever any did that ruled the King's Affections. Some of the moſt honoured Ladies of his Blood have told me, That there was a Chopping-taker in his Family, that was leaſt ſuſpected; but his Lordſhip's Hands were clean, and his Eyes could not look into every dark corner. Dr. William, was aware, that this was the Man, by whom the King delighted to impart his Bounties. Aemilio dabitur quicquid petit: Juv. Sat. 7. The Doctor had crept far, as I may ſay, for Ground-Ivy, he had a plentiful Fortune. But he muſt claſp upon this Tree, or none, to trail and climb: Yet hitherto he had not come forward one ſtep to gain him. One time he made a Repetition of his former Life unto me, being under a great Sickneſs at Buckden, when he taught me two Reaſons, why he moved ſo ſlowly to the Protection of that great Lord, with this ſolid and ingenious Confeſſion. Firſt, To whom a Man is obliged for his Raiſing, it is expected he ſhould run the ſame hazard with him: Which is ſo far from Slavery or Weakneſs, that it may well be called, The height of Magnanimity; no Virtue being more truly Heroical then Thankfulneſs, by which the Spirit of a Man advances it ſelf with confidence of Acceptation to the Love of God and Man. This Conſideration ſeriouſly taken, he was afraid of that Lord's continuance, the Title of a Favourite being ſo Inauſpicious in almoſt all Examples. For what is p. 40more likely, but that a Sail will break, when it is too much ſtretch'd with the ſore Wind? And whoſoever builds unto a lofty height upon a new Foundation, Envy will pull him down by inſenſible Demoliſhments. For new Men, when they become Plenipotentiaries, all Suits at Court paſſing by their Aſſiſtance, they pleaſe few, (who are the Gratified) in compariſon of the Swarms that muſt be repulſed; ſo that if an Eddie and Mutation fall heavy, they are loſt without much Pity; not becauſe they were bad, but becauſe they were great. And take all others into this Moral Compaſs, who were unconcerned; who is ſo upright in his Candor, that gapes not for the removal of the greateſt Actors in Promotion, upon a Dream of better days to follow the Alteration? And commonly they that are born to waft over the Sea of this Life in a Cock-boat, are glad to ſee their Shipwreck that ſail in the Argoſie.

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

49. Now the ſecond Reaſon ſaid this wiſe Man, which kept him ſuſpenſive, whether he ſhould ſeek a Lift higher in the World by the courteſie of that Lord's Power, was, That he ſaw his Lordſhip was bred in a great Error, he was ſo ready to caſt a Cloud ſuddenly upon his Creatures, and with much inconſtancy to root up that which he had planted. A fault too patent againſt all Apology. He had chang'd the White Staves of the King's Houſhold, the Secretaries, the Maſters of the Court of Wards, the Chancellors of the Exchequer, and many others. Partly it happen'd, becauſe freſh Undertakers came with Proffers and Forecaſts, which had not been made before. Preſently ſome muſt be diſcarded, to make room for thoſe, who albeit in their Diſcharge they did leſs then their Predeceſſors, yet they outbid them in Promiſes. And partly, which goes together, his Lordſhip was of very deſultorious Affections, quickly weary of thoſe whom he had gratified, and apt to reſume his Favours to make Trial upon others, if they would obey his Commands upon undiſcourſed Obedience. A Prognoſticator might have gueſs'd upon every Day of the Year, while he was glorified in his Greatneſs, ſomewhat variable Weather. From whence it came to paſs, that his Lordſhip was often ſerved by bad Inſtruments; for they made too much haſte to Rich, becauſe they knew their Turn was quickly coming to be ſhifted. And it is a weak part to blaſt the good Turns which a Man hath done, to loſe his Thanks, and the Fidelity of his Clients. Mark what Sylla ſaid to Bacchus, In Saluſt, amicorum ne…ue nobis, neque cuiquam hominum ſatis fuit. Bel. Jugur. No Man can have too many Friends; but he that loſes his Friends, will have too many Enemies. p. 41Such inconſtant Revocations are prettily called, Praefloratae Liberalitates, Mildew'd Liberalities: Or like a Tree that hath a cankerous Malignity, to dry up, and caſt its own Bloſſoms. And it is a weak part to think it a gawdy thing, to be cringed unto with new Acquaintance. Green Heads know not the Utility of old Friendſhips. But none are ſo uneſtimable, be they never ſo Potent, as thoſe ſickle-fancy'd Men, whoſe Friendſhips will hold no longer then Pliny's Peaches, after they are gathered, Longiſſima decerpto bidui mora eſt; After they have been pluck'd, and laid by two days, they are rotten.

50. Theſe two, ſo related to me, were his intimate Conſultations with himſelf; A great Fruit of Philoſophy, ſays Antiſthenes in Laertius, foreign, to confer much with a Man's own Mind. From both thoſe Reaſons he concluded, to give way to others to ſeek the Lord Marqueſs, who were bolder then himſelf. For why ſhould he render himſelf as an Hoſtage to Fortune, when he needed not? Or what could mend his preſent Condition but a contented Mind? Pol ſi eſt animus aequus tibi, ſatis habes qui vitam colas. Plaut. Aul. He that hath much, and wants nothing, hath yet as little as comes to nothing, if he wants Equanimity. It was generouſly ſpoken of Eſau, Gen. 33.9. I have enough my Brother. And they that loſe a good Portion which they had before, becauſe their Appetite did over-drive them, let them look upon Children playing at a petty Game, they will not ſtand, but ask for another Card, which puts them out. Though theſe things were ſo maturely conſidered, an Occaſion came about, which did lead him quite aſide; yet it was in the King's High-way. He was at Royſton in Attendance on the King, and in the Marqueſs his Abſence. The King abruptly, without dependance upon the Diſcourſe on foot, asked him, When he was with Buckingham? Sir, (ſays the Doctor) I have had no buſineſs to reſort to his Lordſhip. But whereſoe'er he is, you muſt preſently go to him upon my Meſſage, ſays the King. So he did that Errand, and was welcom'd with the Countenance and Compliments of the Marqueſs, and invited with all ſweetneſs to come freely to him upon his own Addreſſes. Who mark'd rather from whom he came, then to whom he was ſent: And gather'd from the King's Diſpatch, That His Majeſty intended that he ſhould ſeek the Marqueſs, and deſerve him with Obſervance. From henceforth he reſolved it; yet not to contaminate his Lordſhip with Bribery, or baſe Obſequiouſneſs, but to ſhew himſelf in ſome Act of Truſt and Moment, that he was as ſufficient to bring his Lordſhip's good Ends to paſs, as any whom he employed, both with readineſs to do, and with judgment to do well. Which thus ſucceeded to his great Commendation. My Lord Marqueſs was a Batchelor, and ripe for a gallant Wedlock His Youth, his comely Perſon, his Fortunes plentiful and encreaſing, his Favour he held with the King, being as much, or more, then the Cardinal-Nephews in the Pope's Conclave: What Graces could be ſweeter in the Girdle of Venus that the Poets ſpeak of, Ceſtum de Veneris ſinu calentem? Martial. He could not ſeek long to be entertained, who was ſo furniſhed for a Suitor. The Lady with whom he deſired to match, was Lady Katherine Manners, Daughter, and only Child ſurviving, to Francis Earl of Rutland. Hereby he ſhould marry with a Perſon of Honour, her Family being very anciently Noble, and draw to his Line an acceſs of Wealth and Revenue, as the like not to be expected from the Daughter of any Subject in this Realm. The Motion was ſet on foot in the beginning of the Year 1520, which ſtuck at two Objections. The Earl of Rutland was ſlow, or rather fullen, in giving way to this luſty Woer; who came on the faſter, directed it ſeems by Proverbial Wiſdom, That faint Heart never won fair Lady. Certain it is, that he kept not ſuch diſtance in his Viſits, as was required. Which put the Earl into ſo ſtrong a Paſſion, that he could not be mitigated, though great Ones had attempted the Pacification. In this diſtraction Dr. Williams took the opportunity to go between the great Men, and to Umpire the Controverſie. He had often in former times made Journeys from Lincoln to viſit the Earl at his Caſtle of Belvoir, who was Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Lincoln, and held ſome Leaſes of that Church, whereof the Doctor was a Reſidentiary, and Precentor. The Earl had found him ſo true and fortunate in many Offices of Service, which he had manag'd for his Lordſhip's ſake, that he prefer'd him before all his Neighbours for Wiſdom and Fidelity. Therefore he gave him very patient Hearing to his Propoſitions about the Lord Marqueſs his Amours, and took down the heat of Inflammation with cool Advice. All youthful Dalliances were clear'd from ſiniſter Jealouſie, and had Allowance to be inoffenſively continued. To ſpeak all together: The Doctor brought the Earl about ſo dextrouſly with his Art and pleaſant Wit, that his Lordſhip put it into his hands to draw up p. 42all Contracts and Conditions for Portion and Joynture; which he did to the fair ſatisfaction of both ſides, the noble Earl being ſo glad of a good Underſtanding between him and the Lord Marqueſs, that the Counſellor at his Elbow induced him to ſettle more upon the Marriage, then the Marqueſs and his Mother had demanded. The firſt Door that was ſhut againſt the young Lord in Cupid's Court was thus opened to him. Nothing is ſo good to ſoften that which is hard, as the Language of a diſcreet Man. Therefore the old Gauls did carve the God of Eloquence, not after the ſhape of Mercury, but of Hercules, ſays Lucian, carrying his Club in one hand, his Bow and Shafts in the other: But innumerous ſmall Rings were drawn through his Tongue, to which a multitude of Chains were faſten'd, that reach'd to the Ears of Men and Women, to which they were tied; meaning by this Picture, that he performed all his hard Labours by his Tongue, and not by his Club: foreign. And that which the Doctor brought to paſs in the preceding Matter, is fit for the Application of the Apologue. Of whoſe Performance, the Mother-Counteſs, her Noble Son, with the Ladies of the Kindred, gave the beſt Account to the King that Thankfulneſs could make.

51. The King commended it; and was right glad that they were well out of the Mire, where they all ſtuck before. And now the Progreſs of the Suit ſeemed ſo eaſie, as if a pair of Doves might draw the Chariot of Love; when His Majeſty put a ſtrong Spoke into the Wheel, which I may call The Second Obſtruction. For the Lady Katherine, though ſhe and her Family were not rigid forbearers of our Church, yet ſhe was bred a Papiſt. This was no Straw at which the King ſtumbled: For he knew it would ſad the Spirit of ſome good People, moſt tender of the Religion eſtabliſhed, when they ſhould hear, that the Noble-man in whom His Majeſty did moſt delight, was wedded to a Lady of that diſaffected Superſtition. Therefore he liked not that the Marqueſs ſhould proceed in that Marriage, till the Lady were tried with ſweet Perſwaſions to ſerve God, together with her Husband, conſtantly, and without Hypocriſie, after the Confeſſion of the Reformed Church of England. So His Majeſty called for Dr. Williams, and laid his ſtrict and higheſt Commands upon him, to uſe his beſt Skill upon the Conſcience of that tender Lady, miſled by Education, to make her a true Proſelyte: Before that was done, He would be loth to give his Bleſſing to the Nuptials. This He required of him, before all his other Chaplains, as well becauſe he had the Ear of the Family more then any Man of his Coat, whereof Proof was made in his late Actions; as becauſe he knew he had the Gift of Wiſdom, mixed with Learning, to cure a Corruption in Opinion. Sir, (ſays the Doctor) I obey Your Commands with all my heart, and with belief of ſome Succeſs. But in caſe upon the firſt or ſecond Conference I bring the young Madam to ſome Acceſs towards the Church of England, without a total Receſs from the Church of Rome, will Your Majeſhy diſcomſit a good Beginning, and ſtay the Marriage, whoſe Conſummation is every day deſired, becauſe the Party is not brought to the perfection of an abſolute Convert? To which the King anſwered, I know that commonly Grace proceeds by degrees in conception, and building up its Features, as well as Nature; but though you walk ſlow, walk ſure. I cannot abide to be cozen'd with a Church-Papiſt. So the Doctor received his Commiſſion chearfully from His Majeſty; the rather, becauſe though he cunningly concealed how far he had entred, yet he had aſſayed before, to bring the Lady Katherine into a good liking of our Church with many ſtrong and plauſible Arguments, and found her Tractable and Attentive. She eaſily perceived, that Conjugal Love would be firmeſt and ſweeteſt, when Man and Wife ſerved God with one Heart, and in one way, and were like the two Trumpets of Silver made of an whole Piece, Num. 10.12. And quickly ſhe was confirmed by divers and ſolid Repreſentations, to confeſs that our Cathechiſm was a plain Model of Saving Truth; and the Form of Matrimony in our Liturgy pleaſed her abundantly, being as pious and forcible as any Church could make, to bind up a ſanctified and indiſſoluble Union. And after ſome Prayers made to God for his ſecret Breathings into her, ſuch eaſie Demonſtrations were ſpread before her, that ſhe confeſs'd our Miniſters were fit Diſpenſers of the Ordinances of God, and all Goſpel-Bleſſings from Chriſt Jeſus. So the ſecond Obſtruction was maſter'd by the good Spirit of God, and this Doctor's Induſtry. The Remotion of two ſuch Impediments is not commonly accompaſs'd by one Head-piece. Sometimes it is ſeen, as Macrobius ſays, yet very ſeldom, Ut idem pectus & agendi, & diſputandi facultate ſublime ſit. Lib. 2. de Som-Scrip. c. 17. Now all things being made ſmooth for Love and Concord, on the 16th day of May, 1620. the Nuptials were celebrated between the Lord Marqueſs p. 43and his Bride, the Lady Katherine Manners, at Lumly-Houſe on Tower-Hill, where the Earl of Rutland lay, Dr. Williams joyned them together with the Office of our Liturgy; all Things being tranſacted more like to Privacy, then Solemnity, to avoid the Envy of Pomp and Magnificence. I have been no larger then there was cauſe in this Report; for the Negotiation in this Marriage, ſaid the Negotiator often unto me, was the laſt Key-Stone that made the Arch in his Preferment.

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