Tobie Mathew

the eldest Son of Dr. Tob. Math. Archb. of York, by Frances his Wife Daugh. of Will. Barlow sometimes Bishop of Chichester, was born, as it seems, in Oxon. while his Father was Dean of Ch. Church, matriculated as a member of that house in the beginning of March 1589, being then eleven years of age, and the year following had a Students place conferred on him. By the benefit of a good Tutor and pregnant parts, he became a noted Orator and Disputant, and taking the degrees in Arts, he afterwards travelled into various Countries beyond the Seas. At his return he was esteem’d a well qualified Gentleman, and to be one well vers’d in the affairs of other Nations. At length leaving the Church of England by the perswasions of Fath. Parsons the Jesuit, to the great grief of his Father, he entred himself into the Society of Jesus, but whether he took holy Orders is yet to me uncertain. Afterwards growing famous for his eminency in the Politicks, he came into England upon invitation, in January 1621, to the end that the King might ((a))((a)) Camd. in Annal. Reg. Jac. 1. MS. sub an. 1622. make use of his assistance in certain matters of State. On the 10. of Octob. 1623 he received the honor of Knighthood from his Maj. then at Royston, for his great zeal in carrying on the Spanish match to be had with Prince Charles; at which time, not only the King, but the chief of the Nobility, and others at Court, had a high value for him, and so continued for several years after. He was highly valued by the most noble Tho. Earl of Strafford, with whom he went into Ireland and continued there for some time, to the end, that his advice and counsel might be used; which, tho advantageous in several respects to that generous Count, yet it was disliked by many, especially those of the precise party, after they had understood Tob. Mathew’s character from one Andr. ab Habernfield in a pretended discovery ((b))((b)) See in Romes Master-peece, &c. publish’d by W. Prynne, 1643. p. 19.20. of a plot of treason against the King, sent in a Letter from Sir Will. Boswell his Majesties Agent at the Hague to Dr. Laud Archb. of Canterbury, in the month of Octob. 1640, which runs thus, “Sir Tob. Mathew a Jesuited Priest, of the order of Politicians, a most vigilant man of the chief Heads, to whom a bed was never so dear that he would rest his head thereon, refreshing his body with sleep in a chair for an hour or two; neither day nor night, spared he his machinations, a man principally noxious, and himself the plague of the King and Kingdom of England; a most impudent man, who flies to all banquets and feasts, called or not called; never quiet, always in action and perpetual motion, thrusting himself into all conversations of superiors. He urgeth conferences familiarly, that he might fish out the minds of men. Whatever he observeth thence, which may bring any commodity or discommodity to the part of the conspirators, he communicates to the Popes Legat, and the more secret things he himself writes to the Pope, or to Cardinal Barbarino. In sum he adjoins himself to any mans company, no word can be spoken, that he will not lay hold on, and communicate to his Party. In the mean time whatever he hath fished out, he reduceth into a Catalogue, and every Summer carrieth it to the general consistory of the Politician Jesuits, which secretly meet together in Wales, where he is an acceptable guest.” &c. He was a Person extremely hated by the Presbyterians, and more especially by Prynne, who spared not to say, because he was acquainted with Dr. Laud Archb. of Cant. that he was sent into England by the Pope (Urban the 8. with whom he was in great esteem) to reconcile England to the Church of Rome; in which work also, he (as they further say) received a Pension from the said Card. Barbarino the Protector of the English Nation at Rome. But letting these bare reports pass, I shall only tell you that he had all his Fathers name, and many of his natural parts; was also one of considerable learning, good memory and sharp wit, mixed with a pleasant affability in behaviour, and a seeming sweetness of mind, though sometimes, according to the company he was in, pragmatical and a little too forward. He hath written and translated several things, but all that I have yet either seen or heard of, are only these.

A rich Cabinet of precious Jewells.—When printed (unless in 1623) or where, I know not.

A collection of Letters. Lond. 1660. oct.

Character of the most excellent Lady, Lucy Countess of Carlile—Printed with the collection: She being the Goddess that he adored, was the reason why Sir John Suckling brought him into the Poem called The Session (or Court) of Poets, thus.

Toby Mathews (Pox ((c))((c)) ’Twas the word that he often used in company. on him) what made him there?

Was whispering ((d))((d)) ’Twas his custome always to be whispering in company. something in some-bodies eare

When he had the honor to be named in court,

But Sir you may thank my Lady Carleil for’t.

The said Lucy was Daughter of Hen. Percy Earl of Northumberland, who dying issuless in Nov. 1660, was buried in the Church at Petworth in Sussex by her Ancestors.

Letters to several Persons. Lond. 1660. oct. printed with the collection and character, with his picture before them. Among which letters, are perhaps those of his writing in the Cabala, Mysteries of state, published in 1654, and in the Cabala or Scrinia Sacra, printed at Lond. 1663. He also wrot a book to shew the benefit that proceeds from washing the head every morning in cold water; which I have not yet seen, and had gone far in the History of the late times, but leaving it imperfect, it never yet saw light. He translated into English (1) S. Austins confessions, printed in oct. sold in 1624 (about which time it was printed) for sixteen shillings a Copy, tho as one ((e))((e)) Joh. Gee, in a Cat. of Popish Books, at the end of his Book called The foot out of the snare. saith it might have been afforded for 2 s. 6 d. (2) The Life of S. Teresa pr. about 1623. in oct. (3) The penitent Bandito: or, the history of the conversion and death of the most illustrious Lord Signor Troilo Savelli a Baron of Rome. printed about the same time. The second edit. of it came forth in 1663 in oct. He also translated into the Italian tongue, The Essaies of Francis Lord Bacon, printed at Lond. in oct. He concluded his last day at Gaunt in Flanders on the 13. of Octob. in sixteen hundred fifty and five, (according to the accompt they there follow) in the house of the third probation of the English FF of the society of Jesus, 1655. and was buried in a Vault under the Church belonging to them, without any kind of pomp or splendor in funeral, according to his will. On his Coffin of wood, was a leaden plate fastned, with this written thereon, Hic jacet D. Tobias Matthaei.