farther promotion, however, was still retarded by his old antagonist, sir Robert Cecil, now created earl of Salisbury, and by sir Edward Coke, the attorney-general,
On the accession of king James I. Mr. Bacon appears to have paid court to him, by the intervention of some of his English and some of his Scotch friends, and by drawing up the form of a proclamation, which, though it was not used, was considered as an instance of his duty and attachment. Accordingly, on July 23, 1603, he was introduced to the king at Whitehall, and received the honour of knighthood. He was also continued in the same office he held under the queen, but a representation respecting the grievous exactions of purveyors, which the house of commons employed him to draw up, attracted the king’s more particular attention, and on Aug. 25, 1604, his majesty constituted him, by patent, one of his counsel learned in the law, with a fee of forty pounds a year, which is said to have been the first act of royal power of that nature. He granted him the same day, by another patent, a pension of sixty pounds a year, for special services received from his brother Anthony Bacon and himself. His farther promotion, however, was still retarded by his old antagonist, sir Robert Cecil, now created earl of Salisbury, and by sir Edward Coke, the attorney-general, who affected to undervalue his talents, and who certainly had reason to fear his reputation. To these, however, he contrived to carry himself with decent respect, although not without occasional expostulations with both,
, was the weight of his character, that he stood in no need of support from the king’s ministers the earl of Salisbury was now dead, and it does not appear that he had
Such, indeed, was the weight of his character, that he stood in no need of support from the king’s ministers the earl of Salisbury was now dead, and it does not appear that he had any dependance on the earl of Somerset, the reigning favourite, but kept at a distance from him when he was in his highest power. Matters, however, were so mismanaged by Somerset, that the attorney-general had much difficulty and less success in preserving the king’s interest in the house of commons, where an opposition arose to his majesty’s measures so violent, that the parliament was dissolved, and not called again for a considerable time. Voluntary subscriptions were set on foot to supply the wants of government; and this being in some instances; resisted, the attorney-general had to prosecute a Mr. Oliver St. John, who was among the most refractory. But these are circumstances which properly belong to the history of this reign.
he published the second part of his “Euphormion,” dedicated to that able and unpopular minister, the earl of Salisbury, in a style of gross flattery. The same writer,
In 1604, his father carried him to France, and was himself chosen professor of civil law at Angers. It is said that
John attended his father’s lectures, and indeed it appears
from many passages in his works, that he was conversant
in that science which his father taught. In 1605, allured
by some proffers of countenance and advancement, the sou
returned to England, and remained there about a year.
On his father’s death in 1606, he went to Paris, married
Louisa Debonnaire, and soon after settled with his family
in London. There he published the second part of his
“Euphormion,
” dedicated to that able and unpopular minister, the earl of Salisbury, in a style of gross flattery.
The same writer, adds lord Haiies, who could discover no
faults in Salisbury, aimed the shafts of his ridicule at Sully.
Perhaps it was to conciliate favour with king James, that
in this second part of “Euphormion,
” he satirized tobacco
and the puritans. In this year he also published a brief
narrative of the gunpowder-plot, which he had composed
a few weeks after the dfscovery of that treason, entitled
“Series patefacti divinitus parricidii contra Maximum Regem regnumque Britanniae cogitati et instructi.
” It is hard
to say what could have induced him to withhold this narrative from the public, while the events which it relates
were peculiarly interesting from their strange nature: and
then, after so long an interval, to send it abroad without
the addition of a single circumstance that was not already
known throughout Europe.
volumes of “Sir Ralph Winwood’s Memorials,” published at London, in folio, 1725. 8. A Letter to the earl of Salisbury, printed in “Howard’s Collection.” 9. Memoirs for
With regard to the general abilities and character of
lord Dorchester, it appears from alt his political remains,
that he was a judicious, faithful, and diligent minister, and
better qualified for his department than any who were his
immediate predecessors or successors in the same office.
King Charles himself, who was a good judge of his servants’ abilities, used to say, as sir P. Warwick relates in
his Memoirs, “that he had two secretaries of state, the
lords Dorchester and Falkland; one of whom was a dull
man in comparison of the other, and yet pleased him the
best for he always brought him his own thoughts in his
own woreds: the latter cloathed them in so fine a dress, that
he did not always know them again.
” Allowing for some
defects of stiffness and circumlocution, which are common
to all the writings of that time, lord Dorchester’s dispatches
are drawn up in that plain, perspicuous, and unaffected
stile which was fittest for business. Domestic concerns
were no part of his province, but entirely managed by the
lord treasurer Weston and archbishop Laud. He held the
pen singly in foreign affairs, and was regretted by those
who were used to receive the instructions of government
from a secretary of state, upon whom they could depend
that he would make a just report of their services, and that
he would not mislead or misrepresent the ministers with
whom he corresponded. That he died much lamented by
the public in general, and with the reputation of an honest
and well-deserving statesman, is declared by sir Thomas
Roe, in a manuscript letter to a friend in Holland. The
earl of Clarendon’s assertion, that lord Dorchester was
unacquainted with the government, laws, and customs of
his own country, and the nature of the people, is disputed
by Dr. Birch, in his “Review of the Negociations,
” who
considers it as absolutely incompatible with the experience
which he must have acquired in the house of commons.
But, not to mention that the noble historian, who had no
prejudice against his lordship, could not well be deceived
in the fact, it is, we think, confirmed by the figure he
made in the parliament of 1626, and by his acquiescence
in all the obnoxious measures of Buckingham, Weston,
and Laud. The following articles are attributed to his
pen, by Anthony Wood and lord Orford: 1. “Balance
pour peser en toute equite & droicture la Harangue fait
vagueres en L'Assemblee des illustres & puissans Seignoures
Messeigneurs les Estats generaux des Provinces Unies du
Pais has, &c.
” Harangue fait au Counseile
de Mess, les Estats generaux des Provinces Unies, touchant le Discord & le Troubles de PEglise & la Police,
causes par la Doctrine d'Arminius,
” 6 Oct. 1617, printed
with the former. 3. Various Letters in the “Cabala, or
Scrinia sacra,
” London, Cabala, or Mysteries of
State,
” London, Ger. Jo. Vossii
& clarorum Virorum ad.eum Epistoiae,
” London, Sir Ralph Winwood’s Memorials,
” published at
London, in folio, Howard’s Collection.
” 9. Memoirs
for Dispatches of political Affairs relating to Holland and
England, arm. 1618; with several Propositions made to the
States. Manuscript. 10. Particular Observations of the
military Affairs in the Palatinate, and the Low Countries,
annis 1621, 1622. Manuscript. 11. Letters relating to
State Affairs, written to the king and viscount Rochester,
from Venice, ann. 1613. Manuscript. The manuscript
pieces here mentioned, are probably no more than parts of
the collections preserved in the Paper office. The letters
from and to sir Dudley Carleton, during his embassy in
Holland, from January 1615-16, to December 1620, properly selected, and as occasion required, abridged, or only
noted, were published by the late earl of Hardwicke, in
1757, in one vol. 4to, with an historical preface. The second edition of the same work, with large additions to the
historical preface, appeared in 1775, and has been twice
reprinted since. These letters, if some allowances be made
for party violences and prejudices, contain more clear,
accurate, and interesting accounts of that remarkable period of Dutch history to which they relate, than are anj
where extant. There are, likewise, discussed in the
course of them, many points of great importance, at that
time, to the English commerce. Lord Hardwicke’s excellent preface has furnished the materials of the present
sketch.
thentic memorials left by lord Burleigh, and now remaining at Hatfield -house, in the library of the earl of Salisbury. Haynes’s collection, which was published in 1740,
Out of the large multitude of lord Burleigh’s letters,
which are extant in various places, many have found their
way to the press. Thirty-three are printed in Peck’s Desiderata Curiosa, and three in Howard’s Collections. Many
more may be met with in Dr. Forbes’s, Haynes’s, and
Murdin’s State Papers. The two last publications are specifically taken from the original letters, and other authentic memorials left by lord Burleigh, and now remaining at
Hatfield -house, in the library of the earl of Salisbury.
Haynes’s collection, which was published in 1740, extends
from 1542 to 1570. Murdin’s, which appeared in 1759,
reaches from 1571 to 1596. Both these publications throw
great light on the period to which they relate, and have
been of eminent service to our recent historians. The
whole course of the proceedings, relative to Mary queen
of Scots, is particularly displayed in these collections; on
which account much use has lately been made of them by
Dr. Gilbert Stuart. In the original papers of Mr. Anthony
Bacon, are several letters of lord Burleigh, from which
various extracts have been given by Dr. Birch, in his “Memoirs of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.
” There is also in
the Nugsc Antiques, a letter of advice, written by his lordship in 1578, to Mr. Harrington (afterwards sir John Harrington), then a student at the university of Cambridge. In
the earl of Hardwicke’s miscellaneous State Papers, besides
a number of letters addressed to Cecil, there are seven of
his own writing, relative to important public concerns.
One of them shews in a striking view, the friendly behaviour of lord Burleigh to the earl of Leicester, when that
nobleman laboured under the queen’s displeasure, and
reflects great honour on the old treasurer’s memory. It is
strange, says the earl of Hardwicke, that Camden passes it
over in silence: but, indeed, adds his lordship, that historian’s omissions are very unpardonable, considering the
lights he had. As to lord Burleigh’s unpublished papers,
they are still exceedingly numerous, and are extant in the
British Museum, in the libraries of the earls of Salisbury
and Hardwicke, and in other places.
, earl of Salisbury, son to the preceding, was born, probably, about
, earl of Salisbury, son to the preceding, was born, probably, about the year 1550, and being of a weakly constitution, was tenderly brought up by his mother, and educated under a careful and excellent tutor till he was sent to St. John’s college, Cambridge. Here he had conferred upon him the degree of M. A. and was afterwards incorporated in the same degree at Oxford. In the parliaments of 1585 and 1586 he served for the city of Westminster; as he did afterwards, in 1588, 1592, 1597, and 1600, for the county of Hertford. In 1588 he was one of the young nobility who went volunteers on board the English fleet sent against the Spanish armada. He was a courtier from his cradle, having the advantage of the instructions and experience of his illustrious father, and living in those times when queen Elizabeth had most need of the ablest persons, was employed by her in affairs of the highest importance, and received the honour of knighthood in the beginning of June 1591, and in August following was sworn of the privy-council. In 1596 he was appointed secretary of state, to the great disgust of the earl of Essex, who was then absent in the expedition against Cadiz, and had been zealous for the promotion of sir Thomas Bodley. Whilst he was in that post he shewed an indefatigable address in procuring foreign intelligence from all parts of the world, holding, at his own charge, a correspondence with all ambassadors and neighbouring states. By this means he discovered queen Elizabeth’s enemies abroad, and private conspiracies at home* and was on this account as highly valued by die queen as he was hated by the popish party, who vented their malice against him in several libels, both printed and manuscript, and threatened to murder him; to some of which he returned an answer, both in Latin and English, declaring that he despised all their threats for the service of so good a cause as he was engaged in, that of religion and his country.
iscount Cranborne, in Dorsetshire (the first of that degree who bore a coronet), and on May 4, 1605, earl of Salisbury.
In 1597 he was constituted cbancellor of the duchy of Lancaster. In February 1597-8 he went to France with Mr. Herbert and sir Thomas Wylkes, to endeavour to divert Henry IV. from the treaty at Vervins; and in May 1599, succeeded his father in the office of master of the court of wards, for which he resigned a better place, that of chancellor of the duchy, being so restrained in the court of wards, by new orders, that he was, as he expressed it, a ward himself. He succeeded his father likewise in the post of principal minister of state, and from that time public affairs seem to have been entirely under his direction. During the last years of his queen, he supported her declining age with such vigour and prudence as at once enabled her to assist her allies the States General, when they were ingloriously abandoned by France, and to defeat a dangerous rebellion in Ireland, which was cherished by powerful assistance from Spain. But though he was a faithful servant to his mistress, yet he kept a secret correspondence with her successor king James, in which he was once in great danger of being discovered by the queen. As her majesty was taking the air upon Blackheath, near her palace at Greenwich, a post riding by, she inquired from whence it came; and being told from Scotland, she stopped her coach to receive the packet. Sir Robert Cecil, who attended her, knowing there were in it some letters from his correspondents, with great presence of mind, called immediately for a knife toopen it, that a delay might not create suspicion. When he came to cut it open, he told the queen that it looked and smelt very ill, and therefore was proper to be opened and aired before she saw what it contained; to which her majesty consented, having an extreme aversion to bad smells. Upon her decease he was the first who publicly read her will, and proclaimed king James; and his former services to that prince, or the interest of sir George Hume, afterwards earl of Dunbar, so effectually recommended him to his majesty, that he took him into the highest degree of favour, and continued him in his office of principal minister; and though in that reign public affairs were not carried on with the same spirit as in the last, the fault cannot justly be charged on this minister, but on the king, whose timid temper induced him to have peace with all the world, and especially with Spain at any rate. But though sir Robert Cecil was far from approving, in his heart, the measures taken for obtaining that inglorious peace, yet he so far ingratiated himself with his sovereign that he was raised to greater honours; being on May 13, 1603, created baron of Essenden, in Rutlandshire; on the 20th of August, 1604, viscount Cranborne, in Dorsetshire (the first of that degree who bore a coronet), and on May 4, 1605, earl of Salisbury.
It will be but justice, says Dr. Birch, to the character of so eminent a person as the earl of Salisbury, to consider him as he now appears to us from fuller
It will be but justice, says Dr. Birch, to the character of
so eminent a person as the earl of Salisbury, to consider
him as he now appears to us from fuller and more impartial lights than the ignorance or envy of his own time
would admit of; and which may be opposed to the general
invectives and unsupported libels of Weldon and Wilson,
the scandalous chroniclers of the last age. He was evidently a man of quicker parts, and a more spirited writer
and speaker than his father, to whose experience he was
at the same time obliged for his education and introduction
into public business, in the management of which he was
accounted, and perhaps justly, more subtle, and less open.
And this opinion of his biass to artifice and dissimulation
was greatly owing to the singular address which he shewed
in penetrating into the secrets and reserved powers of the
foreign ministers with whom he treated; and in evading,
with uncommon dexterity, such points as they pressed, when
it was not convenient to give them too explicit an answer.
His correspondence with king James, during the life of
queen Elizabeth, was so closely and artfully managed,
that he escaped a discovery, which would have ruined his
interest with his royal mistress, though he afterwards justified that correspondence from a regard to her service.
“For what,
” says he, “could more quiet the expectation
of a successor, so many ways invited to jealousy, than
when he saw her ministry, that were most inward with her,
wholly bent to accommodate the present actions of state
for his future safety, when God should see his time!
”
He was properly a sole minister, though not under the
denomination of a favourite, his master having a much
greater awe of than love for him; and he drew all business,
both foreign and domestic, into his own hands, and suffered no ministers to be employed abroad but who were
his dependents, and with whom he kept a most constant
and exact correspondence: but the men whom he preferred to such employments, justified his choice, and did
credit to the use he made of his power. He appears to
have been invariably attached to the true interest of his
country, being above corruption from, or dependence
upon, any foreign courts; which renders it not at all surprising, that he should be abused by them all in their
turns; as his attention to all the motions of the popish
faction made him equally odious to them. He fully understood the English constitution, and the just limits of
the prerogative; and prevented the fatal consequences
which might have arisen from the frequent disputes between
king James I. and his parliaments. In short, he was as
good a minister as that prince would suffer him to be, and
as was consistent with his own security in a factious and
corrupt court; and he was even negligent of his personal
safety, whenever the interest of the public was at stake.
His post of lord treasurer, at a time when the exchequer
was exhausted by the king’s boundless profusion, was attended with infinite trouble to him, in concerting schemes
for raising the supplies; and the manner in which he was
obliged to raise them, with the great fortune which he accumulated to himself, in a measure beyond perhaps the
visible profits of his places, exposed him to much detraction and popular clamour, which followed hi ui to his grave;
though experience shewed 1 that the nation sustained an
important loss by his death since he was the only minister
of state of real abilities during the whole course of that
reign. He has been thought too severe and vindictive in
the treatment of his rivals and enemies: but the part
which he acted towards the earl of Essex, seems entirely
the result of his duty to his mistress and the nation. It
must, however, be confessed, that his behaviour towards
the great but unfortunate sir Walter Raleigh is an imputation upon him, which still remains to be cleared up; and
it probably may be done from the ample memorials of his
administration in the Hatfield library.
A more elaborate apology for the earl of Salisbury was written soon after his decease, and addressed
A more elaborate apology for the earl of Salisbury was
written soon after his decease, and addressed to king James,
by sir Walter Cope. This may be seen in Gutch’s “Collectanea Curiosa,
” vol. I. from which, as well as from the
account of his death in Peck’s “Desiderata,
” the ambitious may derive a salutary lesson. His “Secret Correspondence
” with king James, was published by lord Hailes
in
her out of curiosity, with a view to preferment, or by the direction of sir Robert Cecil, afterwards earl of Salisbury, who was his great friend, is uncertain; but he
the younger, the son of
the former by his wife Ethelreda, daughter of Mr. Frodsham of Elton in Cheshire, was born in 1559, and being
very young at the time of his father’s decease, and his
mother soon after marrying a second husband, he owed his
education chiefly to the care and protection of the lordtreasurer Burleigh, by whom he was first put under the
care of Dr. Malim, master of St. Paul’s school, and afterwards removed to Magdalen college in Oxford, where he
closely pursued his studies at the time when his father’s
poetical works were published; and as a proof of his veneration for his father’s friend, and gratitude for the many
kindnesses himself had received, he prefixed a dedication
to this work to his patron the lord Burleigh, He left the
college before he took any degree, but not before he had
acquired a great reputation for parts and learning. He
had, like his father, a great talent- for poetry, which he
wrote with much facility both in English and in Latin, but
it does not appear that he published any thing before he
left England, which was probably about the year 1580.
He visited several parts of Europe, but made the longest
stay in Italy, fprmed an acquaintance with the gravest and
wisest men in that country, who very readily imparted to
him their most important discoveries in natural philosophy,
which he had studied with much diligence and attention.,
At his return home, which was some time before 1584, he
appeared very much at court, and was esteemed by the
greatest men there, on account of his great learning
and manners. About this time he married his first
wife, the daughter of his father’s old friend sir William
Fleetwood, recorder of London, by whom he had several
children. In the year 1591 he had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him, as well in regard to his own personal merit“as the great services of his father; and some
years after, the first alum mines that were ever known to
be in this kingdom, were discovered, by his great sagacity,
not far from Gisborough in Yorkshire, where he had an
estate. In the latter end of queen Elizabeth’s reign, sir
Thomas Chaloner made a journey into Scotland, whether
out of curiosity, with a view to preferment, or by the
direction of sir Robert Cecil, afterwards earl of Salisbury,
who was his great friend, is uncertain; but he soon grew
into such credit with king James, that the most considerable persons in England addressed themselves to him for
his favour and recommendation. Amongst the rest, sir
Francis Bacon, afterwards chancellor, wrote him a very
warm letter, which is still extant, which he sent him by his
friend Mr. Matthews, who was also charged with another
to the king; a copy of which was sent to sir Thomas Chaloner, and Mr. Matthews was directed to deliver him the
original, if he would undertake to present it. He
accomparried the king in his journey to England, and by his
learning, conversation, and address, fixed himself so effectually in that monarch’s good graces, that, as one of the
highest marks he could give him of his kindness and confidence, he thought fit to intrust him with the care of
prince Henry’s education, August 17, 1603, not as his
tutor, but rather governor or superintendant of his household and education. He enjoyed this honour, under several
denominations, during the life-time of that excellent
prince, whom he attended in 1605 to Oxford, and upon
that occasion was honoured with the degree of master of
arts, with many other persons of distinction. It does not
appear that he had any grants of lands, or gifts in money,
from the crown, in consideration of his services, though
sir Adam Newton, who was preceptor to prince Henry,
appears to have received at several times the sum of four
thousand pounds by way of free gift. Sir Thomas Chaloner had likewise very great interest with queen Anne,
and appears to have been employed by her in her private
affairs, and in the settlement of that small estate which she
enjoyed. What relation he had to the court after the
death of his gracious master prince Henry, does no where
appear; but it is not at all likely that he was laid aside.
He married some years before his death his second wife
Judith, daughter to Mr. William Biount of London, and
by this lady also he had children, to whom he is said to
have left a considerable estate, which he had at SteepleClaydon in the county of Buckingham. He died November 17, 1615, and was buried in the parish church of Chiswick in the county of Middlesex. His eldest son William.
Chaloner, esq. was by letters patents dated July 20, in
the 18th of James I. in 1620, created a baronet, by the
title of William Chaloner of Gisborough in the county of
York, esq. which title was extinct in 1681. Few or none,
either of our historians or biographers, Anthony Wood
excepted, have taken any notice of him, though he was
so considerable a benefactor to this nation, by discovering
the alum mines, which have produced vast sums of
money, and still continue to be wrought with very great
profit. Dr. Birch, indeed, in his
” Life of Henry Prince
of Wales,“has given a short account of sir Thomas, and
has printed two letters of his, both of which shew him to
have been a man of sagacity and reflection. In the Lambeth library are also some letters of sir Thomas Chaloner’s,
of which there are transcripts by Dr. Birch in the British
Museum. The only publication by sir Thomas Chalouer
is entitled
” The virtue of Nitre, wherein is declared the
sundry cures by the same effected," Lond. 1584, 4to. In
this he discovers very considerable knowledge of chemistry
and mineralogy.
ainst the late most barbarous traitors, Garnet, a Jesuit, and his confederates, &c.“1606, 4to. Cecil earl of Salisbury, observed in his speech upon the latter trial,”
In May 1603, he was knighted by king James; and the
same year managed the trial of sir W. Raleigh, at Winchester, whither the term was adjourned, on account of
the plague being at London; but he lessened himself
greatly in the opinion of the world, by his treatment of
that unfortunate gentleman; as he employed a coarse and
scurrilous language against him hardly to be paralleled.
The resentment of the public was so great upon this occasion, that as has been generally believed, Shakspeare, in
his comedy of the “Twelfth Night,' 7 hints at this strange
behaviour of sir Edward Coke at Raleigh’s trial. He was
likewise reproached with this indecent behaviour in a letter
which sir Francis Bacon wrote to him after his own fall;
wherein we have the following passage:
” As your pleadings
were wont to insult our misery, and inveigh literally
against the person, so are you still careless in this point
to praise and disgrace upon slight grounds, and that suddenly; so that your reproofs or commendations are for the
most part neglected and contemned, when the censure of
a judge, coming slow, but sure, should be a brand to the
guilty, and a crown to the virtuous. You will jest at any
man in public, without any respect to the person’s dignity,
or your own. This disgraces your gravity more than it
can advance the opinion of your wit; and so do all your
actions, which we see you do directly with a touch of vainglory. You make the laws too much lean to your opinion;
whereby you shew yourself to be a legal tyrant, &c.“January 27, 1606, at the trial of the gun-powder conspirators, and March 28 following, at the trial of the Jesuit
Garnet, he made two very elaborate speeches, which were
soon after published in a book entitled
” A true and perfect relation of the whole Proceedings against the late most
barbarous traitors, Garnet, a Jesuit, and his confederates,
&c.“1606, 4to. Cecil earl of Salisbury, observed in his
speech upon the latter trial,
” that the evidence had been
so well distributed and opened by the attorney-general,
that he had never heard such a mass of matter better contracted, nor made more intelligible to the jury.“This
appears to have been really true; so true, that many to
this day esteem this last speech, especially, his masterpiece.
It was probably in reward for this service, that he was
appointee! lord chief justice of the common-pleas the same
year. The motto he gave upon his rings, when he was
called to the degree of serjeant, in order to qualify him for
this promotion, was,
” Lex est tutissima cassis;“that is,
” The law is the safest helmet.“Oct. 25, 1613, he was
made lord chief justice of the kingVbench; and in Nov.
was sworn of his majesty’s privy-council. In 1615 the
king deliberating upon the choice of a lord- chancellor,
when that r-ost should become vacant, by the death or resignation of Egerton lord Ellesmere, sir Francis Bacon
wrote to his majesty a letter upon that subject, wherein
he lias the following passage, relating to the lord chiefjustice:
”If you take my lord Coke, this will follow: First,
your majesty shall put an over-ruling nature into an overruling place, which may breed an extreme. Next, you
shall blunt his industries in matter of finances, which
seemeth to aim at another place. And lastly, popular men
are no sure mounters for your majesty’s saddle." The
disputes and animosities between these two great men are
well known. They seem to have been personal; and they
lasted to the end of their lives. Coke was jealous of Bacon’s reputation in many parts of knowledge; by whom,
again, he was envied for the high reputation he had acquired in one; each aiming to be admired particularly in
that in which the other excelled. Coke was the greatest
lawyer of his time, but could be nothing more. If Bacon
was not so, we can ascribe, it only to his aiming at a more
exalted character; not being able, or at least not willing,
to confine the universality of his genius within one inferior
province of learning.
e opinion, and maintained it with so much warmth, that, together with the duke before mentioned, the earl of Salisbury, and the lord Wharton, he was sent to the Tower,
After he had thus quitted the court, he continued to make a great figure in parliament: his abilities enabled him to shine, and he was not of a nature to rest. In 1675, the treasurer, Danby, introduced the test-bill into the house of lords, which was vigorously opposed by the earl of Shaftesbury; who, if we may believe Burnet, distinguished himself more in this session than ever he had done before. This dispute occasioned a prorogation; and there ensued a recess of fifteen months. When the parliament met again, Feb. 16, 1677, the duke of Buckingham argued, that it ought to be considered as dissolved: the earl of Shaftesbury was of the same opinion, and maintained it with so much warmth, that, together with the duke before mentioned, the earl of Salisbury, and the lord Wharton, he was sent to the Tower, where he continued thirteen, mouths, though the other lords, upon their submission, were immediately discharged. When he was set at liberty he conducted the opposition to the earl of Danby' s administration with such vigour and dexterity, that it was found impossible to do any thing effectually in parliament, without changing the system which then prevailed. The king, who desired nothing so much as to be easy, resolved to make a change; dismissed all the privy-council at once, and formed a new one. This was declared April 21, 1679; and at the same time the earl of Shaftesbury was appointed lord president. He did not hold this employment longer than October the fifth following. He had drawn upon himself the implacable hatred of the duke of York, by steadily promoting, if not originally inventing, the project of an exclusion bill: and therefore the duke’s party was constantly at work against him. Upon the king’s summoning a parliament to meet at Oxford, March 21, 1681, he joined with several lords in a petition to prevent its meeting there, which, however, failed of success. He was present at that parliament, and strenuously supported the exclusion bill: but the duke soon contrived to make him feel the weight of his resentment. For his lordship was apprehended for high treason, July 2, 1681; and, after being examined by his majesty in council, was committed to the Tower, where he remained upwards of four months. He was at length tried, acquitted, and discharged; yet did not think himself safe, as his enemies were now in the zenith of their power. He thought it high time therefore to seek for some place of retirement, where, being out of their reach, he might wear out the small remainder of his life in peace. It was with this view, November 1682, he embarked for Holland; and arriving safely at Amsterdam, after a dangerous voyage, he took a house there, proposing to live in a manner suitable to his quality. He was visited by persons of the first distinction, and treated with all the deference and respect he could desire. But being soon seized by his old distemper, the gout, it immediately flew into his stomach, and became mortal, so that he expired Jan. 22, 1683, in his 62d year. His body was transported to England, and interred with his ancestors at Winbprne; and in 1732, a noble monument, with a large inscription, was erected by Anthony earl of Shaftesbury, his great grandson.
February 1607. His biographer attributes these promotions to the patronage of lord Ellesmere and the earl of Salisbury, with whom he corresponded, and to whom he sent
In 1603 he was sent as solicitor-general to Ireland, and
immediately rose to be attorney-general. Being afterwards appointed one of the judges of assize, he conducted
himself with so much prudence and humanity on the
circuits as greatly to contribute to allay the ferments which
existed in that country, and received the praises of his
superiors, “as a painful and well-deserving servant of his
majesty.
” In Trinity term 1606 he was called to the degree of serjeant-at-law, and received the honour of knighthood on the llth of February 1607. His biographer attributes these promotions to the patronage of lord Ellesmere and the earl of Salisbury, with whom he corresponded, and to whom he sent a very interesting account of
a circuit he performed with the lord-deputy in July 1607.
Such was Ireland then, that a guard of “six or seven score
foot and fifty or three score horse
” was thought a necessary protection against a peasantry recovering from their
wildness.
ridge, where he took his degrees of A. B in 1723, A. M. 1727, and D. D. in 1748. He was tutor to the earl of Salisbury, with whom he travelled, and who, in 1737, presented
, a strenuous advocate for Socinianism, was born in 1672, and became assay-master of the
mint, and principal tally-writer of the exchequer. In
defence of the independence and prerogatives of his office,
he printed and privately dispersed a tract entitled “A
hriel enquiry relating to the right of his majesty’s Chapel
Royal, and the privileges of his servants within the Tower,
in a Memorial addressed to the rignt hon. the lord viscount
Lonsdale, constable of his majesty’s Tower of London,
”
The Scripture account of the attributes and
worship of God, and of the character and offices of Jesus
Christ, by a candid Enquirer after Truth.
” This he left
for the press, and it was accordingly printed by his son, in
obedience to his father’s injunctions, but probably against
his own inclinations, nor was it generally known as a publication until reprinted in 1790 by the late rev. Theophilus
Lindsey. Mr. Haynesdied November 19, 1749. His son
Samuel Haynes was educated at King’s college, Cambridge, where he took his degrees of A. B in 1723, A. M.
1727, and D. D. in 1748. He was tutor to the earl of
Salisbury, with whom he travelled, and who, in 1737,
presented him to the valuable rectory of Hatfield in Hertfordshire. In March 1743, he succeeded to a canonry of
Windsor; and in May 1747, he was presented by his
noble patron to the rectory of Clothal, which he held by
dispensation with Hatfield. He died June 9, 1752. He
published “A Collection of State-papers, relating to affairs in the reigns of Henry VIII. Edward VI. Mary and
Elizabeth, from 1542 to 1570,
” transcribed from the Cecil
Mss. in Hatfield-house, 1740, fol.
the garter. In 1609, he succeeded John lord Lumley, as high steward of Oxford; and in 1612, Robert, earl of Salisbury, as chancellor of Cambridge. Soon after he became
, earl of Northampton, second
son of the preceding, but unworthy of such a father, was
born at Shottisham in Norfolk about 1539. He was educated at King’s college, and afterwards at Trinity-hall,
Cambridge, where he took the degree of A. M. to which
he was also admitted at Oxford, in 1568. Bishop Godwin
says, his reputation for literature was so great in the unU
versity, that he was esteemed“the learnedest among the
nobility; and the most noble among the learned.
” He
was at first, probably, very slenderly provided for, being
often obliged, as Lloyd records, “to dine with the chair
of duke Humphrey.
” He contrived, however, to spend
some years in travel; but on his return could obtain no
favour at court, at least till the latter end of queen Elizabeth’s reign, which was probably owing to his connections.
In 1597, it seems as if he was in some power (perhaps, however, only through the influence of his friend lord Essex), because Rowland White applied to him concerning
sir Robert Sydney’s suits at court. He was the grossest of
flatterers, as appears by his letters to his patron and friend
lord Essex; but while he professed the most unbounded
friendship for Essex, he yet paid his suit to the lord treasurer Burleigh. On the fall of Essex, he insinuated himself so far into the confidence of his mortal enemy, secretary Cecil, as to become the instrument of the secretary’s
correspondence with the king of Scotland, which passed
through his hands, and has been since published by sit
David Dalrymple. It is not wonderful, therefore, that a
man of his intriguing spirit, was immediately on king
James’s accession, received into favour. In May 1603,
he was made a privy-counsellor; in January following,
lord warden of the Cinque Ports; in March, baron of
Marnhill, and earl of Northampton; in April 1608, lord
privy seal; and honoured with the garter. In 1609, he
succeeded John lord Lumley, as high steward of Oxford;
and in 1612, Robert, earl of Salisbury, as chancellor of
Cambridge. Soon after he became the principal instrument in the infamous intrigue of his great niece the countess of Essex with Carr viscount Rochester. The wretch
acted as pander to the countess, for the purpose of conciliating die rising favourite and it is impossible to doubt
his deep criminality in the murder of Overbury. About
nine months afterwards, June 15, 1614, he died, luckily
for himself, before this atrocious affair became the subject
of public investigation. He was a learned man, but a
pedant dark and mysterious, and far from possessing masterly abilities. It causes astonishment, says the elegant
writer to whom we are indebted for this article, “when
we reflect that this despicable and wicked wretch was the
sou of the generous and accomplished earl of Surrey.
”
One of his biographers remarks, that “his lordship very
prudently died a papist; he stood no chance for heaven in
any other religion.
”
also of some other things, which the papists had fathered upon him. The work is dedicated to Robert earl of Salisbury, chancellor of the university, and both were reprinted
The next year he published “The Picture of a Papist,
”
in the same style, deducing the superstitions of the Romish
church from the rites of paganism. In this work he denies himself to be the author of a book called “The double
Pp. or the picture of a traiterous Jesuit:
” as also of some
other things, which the papists had fathered upon him.
The work is dedicated to Robert earl of Salisbury, chancellor of the university, and both were reprinted together in
1606, 8vo.
ins.“There is likewise ascribed to him a satirical Elegy upon the death of the lord treasurer Cecil, earl of Salisbury, printed by Osborne in his Memoirs of king James,
His works may be divided into classes, according to
Oldys’s arrangement, 1. “Poetical: including his poems
on Gascoigne’s Steel-Glass; The Excuse; The silent Lover; the Answer to Marloe’s Pastoral; with his poems of
Cynthia, and two more on Spenser’s Fairy-Queen; The
Lover’s Maze; a Farewei to Court; The Advice; which
last three are printed in an old
” Collection of several ingenious Poems and Songs by the wits of the age,“1660,
in 8vo; another little poem, printed in the London Magazine for August 1734; several in the Ashmolean library at
Oxford, namely,
” Erroris Responsio,“and his
” Answer,
to the Lie,“&c. three pieces written just before his death,
viz. his Pilgrim; his
” Epigram in allusion to the Snuff' of
a Candle,“and his Epitaph, printed in his
” Remains.“There is likewise ascribed to him a satirical Elegy upon
the death of the lord treasurer Cecil, earl of Salisbury,
printed by Osborne in his Memoirs of king James, and
said to be our author’s by Shirley in his Life of Ralegh,
p. 179. Of his poems, a beautiful and correct, but limited
edition, has lately been published by sir E. JBrydges, with
a memoir of his life, written with the taste and feeling
which distinguish all the productions of that gentleman’s
pen. 2. Epistolary: viz. Letters, eight-and-twenty of which
Mr. Oldys tells us he has seen in print and manuscript.
3. Military: these discourses relate either to the defence
of England in particular, or contain general arguments
and examples of the causes of war among mankind. On
the former subject he seems to have drawn up several remonstrances, which have but sparingly and slowly come
to light. However, as he had a principal hand in the determinations of the council of war for arming the nation
when it was under immediate apprehensions of the Spanish
invasion, there is reason to believe that he was the author
of a treatise concerning
” Notes of Direction“for such
” Defence of the Kingdom,“written three years before
that invasion. To this treatise was also joined a cc Direction for the best and most orderly retreat of an army,
whether in campaign or straits.
” And these were then
presented in manuscript to the privy-council. One advice
is, that since frontier forces are unlikely to prevent an
enemy from landing, if they should land through the deficiency or absence of our shipping (for this is the force which Ralegh was ever for having first used against such foreign invasions) it were better by driving or clearing the
country of provisions, and temporizing, to endeavour at
growing stronger, and rendering the enemy weaker, than
to hazard all by a confused and disorderly descent of the
populace to oppose the first landing, as their custom was
formerly. But this was one of the chief points, which a
little before the approach of the Spanish armada was opposed by Thomas Digges, esq. muster-master-general of
the queen’s forces in the Low Countries, in a “Discourse
of the best order for repulsing a foreign Force,
” &c. which
he then published. This occasioned an Answer, which
having been found in an old manuscript copy among others
of sir Walter Ralegh’s discourses, and several circumstances agreeing with the orders in the council of war, as
well as some passages in his “History of the World,
” and
his other writings, it was published by Nathaniel Booth, of
Gray’s Inn, esq. at London, 1734, in 8vo, under this title:
“A Military Discourse, whether it be better for England
to give an invader present battle, or to temporize and
defer the same,
” &c. But Ralegh’s opinion upon this
subject is more fully given in his Discourses of the original
and fundamental cause of natural and necessary, arbitrary
and customary, holy and civil wars; which, though published several years after his death, have sufficient marks
of authenticity. 4. Maritimal: viz. his “Discourse of the
invention of shipping,
” &c. printed among his essays in
Observations and Notes concerning
the Royal Navy and Sea-service,
” dedicated to prince
Henry, printed likewise among his essays; his Letter to
that prince concerning the model of a ship, printed among
his Remains; his “Report of the truth of the Fight about
the isles of Azores,
” printed in Memorial touching Dover
Port,
” printed in a pamphlet, entitled “An Essay on
ways and means to maintain the Honour and Safety of
England,
” published by sir Henry Sheers in Observations and
Notes concerningthe Royal Navy and Sea-service,
” men*
tions a “Discourse of a maritimal voyage, with the passages and incidents therein,
” which he bad formerly
written to prince Henry; and in his “History of the World
”
he takes notice of another treatise, written to the same
prince, “Of the art of War by Sea;
” “a subject to my
knowledge,
” says he, “never handled by any man, ancient
or modern; but God has spared me the labour of finishing
it, by the loss of that brave prince; of which, like an
eclipse of the sun, we shall find the effects hereafter.
” 5.
Geographical; viz. several discourses and papers of his
concerning the discovery, planting, and settlement of Virginia, which were formerly in the hands of sir Francis Walsingham “A treatise of the West Indies;
” “Considerations on the Voyage for Guiana,
” a manuscript containing
leaves in 4to, in the library of sir Hans Sloane, bart. and
now in the British Museum “Discovery of the large, rich,
and beautiful empire of Guiana,
” pqblished by himself,
and mentioned above. His “Journal of his second Voyage to Guiana,
” which remains still in manuscript; and his
“Apology
” for the said voyage. 6. Political viz. “The
Seat of Government,
” shewing it to be upheld by the two
great pillars of civil justice and martial policy; “Observations concerning the causes of the magnificency and
o'pulency;
” “The Prince; or Maxims of State,
” printed at
London, Aphorisms of State,
” published by John Milton at London, in The Cabinet-Council, containing the chief arts of Empire, and mysteries of State discabineted,
” &c. published by John Milton, esq. London,
The Arts of Empire and mysteries of State discabineted,
” &c. “The Spaniard’s Cruelties to the English in Havanria
” his “Consultation about the Peace with
Spain
” and our protecting the Netherlands, in manuscript.
“The present state of Spain, with a most accurate account
of his catholic majesty’s power and rights also the names
and worth of the most considerable persons in that kingdom,
” in manuscript; which seems to be a different piece
from “The present state of Things, as they now stand
between the three kingdoms, France, England, and Spain,
”
also in manuscript; “A Discourse on the Match propounded by the Savoyan between the lady Elizabeth and
the prince of Piedmont,
” and another on that “between,
prince Henry of England and a daughter of Savoy,
” both
in manuscript “A Dialogue between a Jesuit and a i\ecusarit shewing how claugv rous their principles are to
Christian Princes,
” published by Philip Ralegh, esq. among
jour author’s genuine Remains, at the end of an Abridgment
of his History of the World, London, 1700, in 8vo; “A
Dialogue between a counsellor of state and a justice of
peace,
” better known in the printed copies by the title of
the “Prerogative of Parliaments,
” dedicated to king James,
and printed at Midelburge, 1628, in 4to, and reprinted in
1643 in 4to A “Discourse of the words Law and Right,
”
jn manuscript in the, Ashmolean library “Observations
touching Trade and Commerce with the Hollander and other
nations, as it was presented to king James; wherein is
prqve.d, that our sea and land commodities serve to enrich
and strengthen other countries against our own
” printed in
A treatise
of the Soul
” in manuscript in the Ashmolean library,
His “Sceptic,
” or Speculations printed among his Remains. “Instructions to his Son and Posterity,
” The dutiful Advice of a
Joving Son to his aged Father:
”. a treatise of “Mines, and
the trial of Minerals;
” and a “Collection of chymical and
medicinal Receipts;
” both which are in manuscript, 8.
Jiistorical: viz. his “History of the World,
” the best edition of which is that by Oldys, Miscellaneous Works,
”
including most of the above,
cturer of St. George, Hanover-square, London. In his younger days he had travelled with James, fifth earl of Salisbury, who gave him the great living of Clothall, where
the only clergyman belonging to it. In lain, and a well-stored wine-cellar
clergyman ever admitted into it, was a member of Emanuel college, Cambridge, where he took his degrees, and
was D. D. of both universities. He was rector, first of
Bygrave, then of Clottiall, Herts, and lecturer of St. George,
Hanover-square, London. In his younger days he had
travelled with James, fifth earl of Salisbury, who gave him
the great living of Clothall, where Dr. Savage rebuilt the
rectory-house. In his more advanced years he was so
lively, pleasant, and facetious, that he was called the
“Aristippus
” of the age. One day, at the levee, George I.
asked him, “How long he had stayed at Rome with lord
Salisbury
” Upon his answering how long, “Why,
” said
the king, “you stayed long enough, why did you not
convert the Pope
” “Because, sir,
” replied he, “I had
nothing better to offer him.
” Having been bred at Westminster, he had always Jl great fondness for the school, attended at all their plays and elections, assisted in all their
public exercises, grew young again, and, among boys,
was a great boy himself. He used to attend the schools,
to furnish the lads with extempore epigrams at the elections.
He died March 24, 1747, by a fall down the stairs belonging to the scaffolding for lord Lovat’s trial; and the king’s
scholars had so great a regard for him, that, after his decease, they made a collection among themselves, and, at
their own charge, erected a small tablet of white marble to
his memory in the East cloister, with a Latin inscription.
Besides a visitation and an assize sermon, Mr. Cole attributes the following works to him: 1. “The Turkish History by Mr. Knolles and sir Paul Rycaut abridged,
” A Collection of
Letters of the Ancients, whereby is discovered the morality,
gallantry, wit, humour, manner of arguing, and in a word
the genius of the Greeks and Romans,
”
idge, and in the beginning of November was admitted a scholar of the house, on the nomination of the earl of Salisbury. It may readily be believed that his application
Having succeeded in this, he was entered in Michaelmas
1648, of St. John’s college, Cambridge, and in the beginning of November was admitted a scholar of the house,
on the nomination of the earl of Salisbury. It may readily
be believed that his application and progress in his studies
were of no common kind, as he was so soon to give public
proofs of both. He took his bachelor’s degree in 1652,
and was now so much esteemed by his society, that at the
very next election he was chosen into a fellowship, and
admitted March 31, lf-53. While bachelor, he was appointed tripos, and was much applauded for his speech on
that occasion, which was “witty and inoffensive,
” a character not often given to those compositions.
k having returned to England, on being appointed governor to the young king Henry, Thomas Montacute, earl of Salisbury, arrived in France, and, accompanied by lord Talbot,
In 1428, the earl of Warwick having returned to England, on being appointed governor to the young king Henry, Thomas Montacute, earl of Salisbury, arrived in France, and, accompanied by lord Talbot, sir John Fastolf (See Fastolf) and others, undertook the memorable siege of Orleans, in the course of which lord Talbot exhibited such striking proofs of uncommon valour, that his very name would strike terror into the French troops. The siege was long carried on with great valour on the part of the French, and the English had much reason to think that even if it concluded in their favour, the victory would be dearly purchased. They continued however to be apparently advancing towards the accomplishment of this important object, when the relative positions of the besiegers and the besieged began to assume a new appearance, in consequence of one of the most singular occurrences that is to be met with in history, namely the intervention of the celebrated maid of Orleans, Joan of Arc, whose actions have been already detailed. (See Joan.) It may suffice here to add, that when this heroine, whose valour was attributed to supernatural agency, had spread dejection throughout the English army, the earl of Suffolk raised the siege, and retreated with all imaginable precaution. He afterwards retired with a detachment of his army to Jergeau, where he was besieged by the French, attended by Joan of Arc, and, the place being taken, his lordship was made prisoner.
e was naturally of a warm temper, which however he learned to correct as he advanced in years. Cecil earl of Salisbury said of him, after his death, that “there was nothing
He was naturally of a warm temper, which however he
learned to correct as he advanced in years. Cecil earl of
Salisbury said of him, after his death, that “there was nothing more to be feared in his government, especially towards his latter time, than his. mildness and clemency.
”
The judicious Hooker confirms this opinion, by averring
that “He always governed with that moderation, which
useth by patience to suppress boldness.
” It does not appear that he printed any thing except what we have mentioned in the controversy with Cartwright, but in Strype’s
Life of him, are many of his letters, papers, declarations,
&c. the whole, like all Strype’s lives, forming an excellent
history of the times in which he lived.