45, 46. The Duke's Character. His great Buildings. The duke of Somerset was religious himself, a lover of all such as were so, and a great promoter of reformation; valiant, fortunate; witness his victory in Musselburgh-field, when the Scots filled many carts with emptiness, and loaded them with what was lighter than vanity itself,-popish images and other trinkets, wherein they placed the confidence of their conquest. He was generally beloved of martial men; yet no marvel if some did grumble against him, seeing there is no army, save that of the church triumphant, wherein the soldiers at some time or other do not complain against their general. Nor is the wonder great if he sometimes trespassed in matters of state, seeing the most conscientious politician will now and then borrow a point of law, (not to say, take it for their due,) even with an intent never to pay it. He was better to perform than plot, do than design. In a word, his self-hurting innocence declined into guiltiness, whose soul was so far from being open to causeless suspicions, that it was shut against just jealousies of danger.

He built Somerset-house; where many like the workmanship better than either the foundation or materials thereof. For the houses of three bishops,-Landaff, Coventry and Lichfield, and Worcester, with the church of St. Mary-le-Strand, were plucked down to make room for it. The stones and timber were fetched from the hospital of St. John's. This Somerset-house is so tenacious of his name, that it would not change a duchy for a kingdom, when solemnly proclaimed by king James "Denmark-house," from the king of Denmark's lodging therein, and his sister queen Anne's repairing thereof. Surely it argueth, that this duke was wellbeloved, because his name made such an indelible impression on this his House, whereof he was not full five years peaceably possessed.

47. The King's Instructions to Fitzpatrick for his Behaviour in France. A. D. 1552.

We lately made mention of Barnaby Fitzpatrick, to whom the king directed his letter, as who was bred and brought up with him from his infancy, though somewhat the older. He was prince Edward's proxy for correction, though, we may presume, seldom suffering in that kind-such the prince's general innocency and ingenuity to learn his book. Yet when such execution was done, as Fitzpatrick was beaten for the prince, the prince was beaten in Fitzpatrick, so great an affection did he bear to his servant. Towards the end of his reign he maintained him in the court of France, both to learn fashions there and send intelligence thence. And it will not be amiss to insert the king's private instructions unto him how he should be

have himself in the French court, party for the rarity, partly for the certainty thereof, having it transcribed out of the original of the king's own hand, as followeth :

“1. FIRST, he shall go in the lord admiral's company; and, at the same lord's departing, he shall have a letter to the French king, which the lord admiral shall deliver, and present him to the French king; and if it shall chance that the French king will give him any pension, entertainment, or reward at his being there for the time he tarrieth there, he shall receive it, and thank his majesty for it, and shall serve when he shall be appointed. Nevertheless, when he is

out of the court he shall be most conversant with Mr. Pickering.* "2. And at his setting forth shall carry with him four servants, and if the wages amount to any great sum, (more than I give him,) that the French king giveth him, to live there after that proportion advertising me of the same.

"3. Also all this winter he shall study the tongue, and see the manner of the court, and advertise me of the occurrences he shall hear; and if he be desirous to see any place notable, or town, he may go thither, asking leave of the 'king; and shall behave himself honestly, more following the company of gentlemen, than pressing into the company of the ladies there; and his chief pastime shall be hunting and riding.

"4. Also his apparel: he shall wear it so fine as shall be comely, and not much superfluous. And the next summer, when either the king goeth or sendeth any man of name into the wars to be his lieutenant, or to lead an army, he shall desire to go thither; and either himself, or else shall will Mr. Pickering to declare to the French king, how he thinketh not himself to have fully satisfied nor recompensed neither his majesty's good entertainment nor mine expectation who had sent him over, if he should return, having so delicately and idly almost spent the time, without he did at this time of service be desirous to go himself into the wars, by the which thing he might at this time do his majesty service, and also learn to do me service hereafter, yea, and his majesty too, if the case so required. And therefore seeing this nobleman shall now go, that his request isto have leave to go with him.

5. Having said this to the French king, he shall depart into the wars, waiting on this nobleman that shall be sent; and there he shall mark the divers fortifications of places, and advantages that the enemy may take, and the ordering and conduct of the armies: As also the fashion of the skirmishes, battles, and assaults, and the plats of the chief towns where any enterprises of weight have been done, he shall cause to be set out in black and white, or otherwise, as he • Afterwards knighted, and supposed suitor to queen Elizabeth.

may, and shall send them hither to me, with advertisement of such things as have passed.

"6. Furthermore; he shall at all times when he taketh money advertise me of it, and I shall send him. And so, the next year being well spent, upon further advertisement, and taking leave of the French king, he shall return.

"7. And if there arise or grow any doubt in any matter hereafter, in the which he shall need advice, he shall advertise by the post, and shall have answer thereof.”

This Barnaby Fitzpatrick, after his return out of France, was created by the king baron of Upper Ossory in Ireland, and died a most excellent protestant, as hereafter we shall show in the reign of queen Elizabeth.

48. Little Church-work in this Parliament.

On the 15th of April, the parliament ended which had sat three months at Westminster; though therein nothing of church-matters determined, save a penalty imposed on such who should strike or draw weapon in church or church-yard, with the abolishing of the general holy-days of St. Mary Magdalen and St. George: yet so that it should be lawful for the latter to be solemnly celebrated by the knights of the right honourable Order of the Garter; the orders of which Order were about this time reformed and purged from some ancient superstitions.

49. An ill Presage.

Six dolphins were taken in the Thames,* (three near Queenborough, and three above Greenwich, where the Thames is scarce tainted with brackishness,) insomuch that many grave men dispensed with their wisdom, and beheld them with wonder, as not seen before on our shores a fish much loving man and music, swifter than all other fishes and birds too; yea, than the swallow itself, (if Pliny say true,)† though all their celerity besteaded them not here to escape the nets of the fishermen. Their coming up so far was beheld by mariners as a presage of foul weather at sea; but by statesmen, as a prodigious omen of some tempestuous mutations in our land. And, particularly, they suspected the king's death, though for the present he was very pleasant and merry in his progress about the country, as by his ensuing letter to his former favourite, written in the next August, doth appear:

"EDWARD.-The cause why we have not hitherto written unto you have partly been the lack of a convenient messenger, partly be↑ Nat. Hist. lib. ix. cap. 8.

BISHOP GODWIN'S "Annals" in this year.

cause we meant to have something worthy writing ere we would write any thing. And therefore being now almost in the midst of our journey, which we have undertaken this summer, we have thought good to advertise now, since our last letters dated at Greenwich, we departed from thence towards a thing far contrary to that wherein, as we perceive by your diligent advertisement, you and all the country you are in are occupied; for whereas you all have been occupied in killing of your enemies, in long marchings, in painful journeys, in extreme heat, in sore skirmishings and divers assaults; we have been occupied in killing of wild beasts, in pleasant journeys, in good fare, in viewing of fair countries, and rather have sought how to fortify our own, than to spoil another man's. And, being this determined, came to Guildford, from thence to Petworth, and so to Cowdrey, a goodly house of Sir Anthony Browne's, where we were marvellously, yea rather, excessively, banqueted; from thence we went to Halvenaker, [Halnaker,] a pretty house beside Chichester. From thence we went to Warblington, a fair house of Sir Richard Cotton's. And so to Whaltan [Walton,] a fair, great, old house, in times past the bishop of Winchester's, and now my lord treasurer's house. In all these places we had both good hunting and good cheer. From thence we went to Portsmouth town, and there viewed, not only the town itself and the haven, but also divers bulwarks, as Chatertons, Wasel ford, with others; in viewing of which we find the bulwarks chargeable, massy, well-ramparted, but ill-fashioned, illflanked, and set in unmeet places; the town weak, in comparison of that it ought to be, too huge great, (for within the walls are fair and large closes, and much vacant room,) the haven notable great, and standing by nature easy to be fortified. And for the more strength thereof we have devised two strong castles on either side of the haven at the mouth thereof. For at the mouth the haven is not past tenscore over, but in the middle almost a mile over, and in length for a mile and a half able to bear the greatest ship in Christendom. From thence we went to Tichfield, the earl of Southampton's house, and so to Southampton town. The citizens had bestowed for our coming great cost in painting, repairing, and rampiring of their walls. The town is handsome, and, for the bigness of it, as fair houses as be at London. The citizens made great cheer, and many of them kept costly tables. From Southampton we came to Bewley, a little village at the middle of the New Forest, and so to Christchurch, another little town in the same Forest, where we now be. And having advertised you of all this, we think it not good to trouble you any farther with the news of this country; but only, that at this time the most part of England (thanks be to God!) is clear of any dangerous or infectious sickness. We have received all your letters of

the 26th of May, of the 19th of June, and the 1st of August. Thus fare you well.

"From Christchurch, the 22nd of August."

50. A threefold Division of Bishops.

But, leaving the king in his progress, we come to behold the bishops in their visitations, and find them divided into three sorts: -1. Zealous Protestants: As archbishop Cranmer, bishop Ridley, Hooper, Farrer. 2. Zealous Papists: As Gardiner, Tunstall, Bonner; which three alone were deprived of their bishoprics, and confined. 3. Papists in heart, but outwardly conforming to the king's laws: As Heath, archbishop of York, and many other bishops. Here it is worthy our inquiry why this latter sort, which so complied under king Edward VI. should be so stubborn and obstinate under queen Elizabeth; whereof I can give but this reason assigned, that, growing older and nearer their graves, they grew more conscientious and faithful to their own (though erroneous) principles, it being in vain to dissemble, now death did approach, though their younger years had been guilty of such prevarications.

SECTION II.

DIGNISSIMO VIRO

CAROLO CHENEY, DE COMITATU BUCK. ARMIGERO, MECENATI SUO MUNIFICENTISSIMO.

ETHELSTANUS, Saxonum monarcha, decreto sanxivit, "si Massere ascenderet, ut ter Magnum Mare transfretaret, per proprium negotium suum, fuit deinde Taini dignus rectitudine."* In quâ lege enucleandâ, mihi aliquantillum immorandum; quùm licet tibi (ut alia omnia) expedita, aliis forsitan aliquid nodi ei subesse videatur.

1. Massere-Mercatorem designari in confesso est. 2. Magnum Mare-Mediterraneum intenditur, quo nomine Sacræ Scripturæ sæpiùs innotescit, Num. xxxiv. 6; Josh. i. 4; xv. 12.

3. Proprium negotium-Quâ clausulâ excluditur ser

Regius Codex, fol. 143, col. 4. SPELMANNI Concilia, page 406.