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travels in england-第13部分

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ll and dexterously; but his play was chiefly at the fore…game; not that he was a learner at the latter; but he loved not the after…wit; for the report is (and I think not unjustly) that he was seldom behind…hand with his gamesters; and that they always went with the loss。

He was a very goodly person; tall; and singularly well…featured; and all his youth well…favoured; of a sweet aspect; but high…foreheaded; which (as I should take it) was of no discommendation; but towards his latter; and which with old men was but a middle age; he grew high…coloured; so that the Queen had much of her father; for; expecting some of her kindred; and some few that had handsome wits in crooked bodies; she always took personage in the way of election; for the people hath it to this day; KING HENRY LOVED A MAN。

Being thus in her grace; she called to mind the sufferings of HIS ancestors; both in her father's and sister's reigns; and restored his and his brother's blood; creating Ambrose; the elder; Earl of Warwick; and himself Earl of Leicester; and; as he was EX PRIMITIS; or; OF HER FIRST CHOICE; so he rested not there; but long enjoyed her favour; and therewith what he listed; till time and emulation; the companions of greatness; resolved of his period; and to colour him at his setting in a cloud (at Conebury) not by so violent a death; or by the fatal sentence of a judicature; as that of his father and grandfather was; but; as is supposed; by that poison which he had prepared for others; wherein they report him a rare artist。  I am not bound to give credit to all vulgar relations; or the libels of his time; which are commonly forced and falsified suitable to the words and honours {45} of men in passion and discontent; but what blinds me to think him no good man; amongst other things of known truth; is that of my Lord of Essex's {46} death in Ireland and the marriage of his lady; which I forbear to press in regard he is long since dead; and others are living whom it may concern。

To take him in the observation of his letters and writings; which should best set him off; for such as have fallen into my hands; I never yet saw a style or phrase more seemingly religious and fuller of the strains of devotion; and; were they not sincere; I doubt much of his well…being; {47} and; I fear; he was too well seen in the aphorisms and principles of Nicholas the Florentine; and in the reaches {48} of Cesare Borgia。

And hereto I have only touched him in his courtships。  I conclude him in his lance; {49} he was sent Governor by the Queen to the revolted States of Holland; where we read not of his wonders; for they say he had more of Mercury than he had of Mars; and that his device might have been; without prejudice to the great Caesar; VENI; VIDI; REDIVI。


RADCLIFFE; Earl of Sussex。


His {50} co…rival was Thomas Radcliffe; Earl of Sussex; who in his constellation was his direct opposite; for indeed he was one of the Queen's martialists; and did her very good service in Ireland; at her first accession; till she recalled him to the Court; whom she made Lord Chamberlain; but he played not his game with that cunning and dexterity as the Earl of Leicester did; who was much the fairer courtier; though Sussex was thought much the honester man; and far the better soldier; but he lay too open on his guard; he was a godly gentleman; and of a brave and noble nature; true and constant to his friends and servants; he was also of a very ancient and noble lineage; honoured through many descents; through the title of Fitzwalters。  Moreover; there was such an antipathy in his nature to that of Leicester; that; being together in Court; and both in high employments; they grew to a direct frowardness; and were in continual opposition; the one setting the watch; the other the guard; each on the other's actions and motions; for my Lord of Sussex was of so great spirit; which; backed with the Queen's special favour and support; {51} by a great and ancient inheritance; could not brook the other's empire; insomuch as the Queen upon sundry occasions had somewhat to do to appease and atone them; until death parted the competition; and left the place to Leicester; who was not long alone without his rival in grace and command; and; to conclude this favourite; it is confidently affirmed that; lying in his last sickness; he gave this CAVEAT to his friends:…

〃I am now passing into another world; and I must leave you to your fortunes and the Queen's grace and goodness; but beware of gipsy〃 (meaning Leicester); 〃for he will be too hard for you all; you know not the beast so well as I do。〃


SECRETARY WILLIAM CECIL。


I come now to the next; which was Secretary William Cecil; for on the death of the old Marquis of Winchester he came up in his room: a person of a most subtle and active spirit。

He stood not by the way of constellation; but was wholly attentive to the service of his mistress; and his dexterity; experience; and merit therein challenged a room in the Queen's favour which eclipsed the other's over…seeming greatness; and made it appear that there were others steered and stood at the helm besides himself; and more stars in the firmament of grace than Ursa Major。

He was born; as they say; in Lincolnshire; but; as some aver upon knowledge; of a younger brother of the Cecils of Hertfordshire; a family of my own knowledge; though now private; yet of no mean antiquity; who; being exposed; and sent to the City; as poor gentlemen used to do their sons; became to be a rich man on London Bridge; and purchased {52} in Lincolnshire; where this man was born。

He was sent to Cambridge; and then to the Inns of Court; and so came to serve the Duke of Somerset in the time of his Protectorship as Secretary; and having a pregnancy to high inclinations; he came by degrees to a higher conversation with the chiefest affairs of State and Councils; but; on the fall of the duke; he stood some years in umbrage and without employment; till the State found they needed his abilities; and although we find not that he was taken into any place during Mary's reign; unless (as some say) towards the last; yet the Council several times made use of him; and in the Queen's {53} entrance he was admitted Secretary of State; afterwards he was made Master of the Court of Wards; then Lord Treasurer; for he was a person of most excellent abilities; and; indeed; the Queen began to need and seek out men of both guards; and so I conclude to rank this {54} great instrument amongst the TOGATI; for he had not to do with the sword; more than as the great paymaster and contriver of the war which shortly followed; wherein he accomplished much; through his theoretical knowledge at home and his intelligence abroad; by unlocking of the counsels of the Queen's enemies。

We must now take it; and that of truth; into observation that; until the tenth of her reign; the times were calm and serene; though sometimes overcast; as the most glorious sun…rising is subject to shadowings and droppings; for the clouds of Spain; and the vapours of the Holy League; began to disperse and threaten her felicity。 Moreover; she was then to provide for some intestine strangers; which began to gather in the heart of her kingdom; all which had relation and correspondency; each one to the other; to dethrone her and to disturb the public tranquillity; and therewithal; as a principal mark; the Established religion; for the name of Recusant then began first to be known to the world; until then the Catholics were no more than Church…Papists; {55} but now; commanded by the Pope's express Catholic Church; their mother; they separate themselves; so it seems the Pope had then his aims to take a true number of his children; but the Queen had the greater advantage; for she likewise took tale of her opposite subjects; their strength and how many they were; that had given their names to Baal; who {56} then by the hands of some of his proselytes fixed his bulls on the gates of St。 Paul's; which discharged her subjects of all fidelity and received faith; and so; under the veil of the next successor; to replant the Catholic religion。  So that the Queen had then a new task and work in hand that might well awake her best providence; and required a muster of new arms; as well as courtships and counsels; for the time then began to grow quick and active; fitter for stronger motions than them of the carpet and measure; and it will be a true note of her magnanimity that she loved a soldier; and had a propensity in her nature to regard and always to grace them; which the Court; taking it into their consideration; took it as an inviting to win honour; together with Her Majesty's favour; by exposing themselves to the wars; especially when the Queen and the affairs of the kingdom stood in some necessity of the soldiers; for we have many instances of the sallies of the nobility and gentry; yea; and of the Court and her privy favourites; that had any touch or tincture of Mars in their inclinations; to steal away without licence and the Queen's privity; which had like to cost some of them dear; so predominant were their thoughts and hopes of honour grown in them; as we may truly observe in the exposition of Sir Philip Sidney; my Lord of Essex and Mountjoy; and divers others; whose absence; and the manner of their eruptions; was very distasteful unto her; whereof I can hereunto add a true and no impertinent story; and that of the last:  Mountjoy; who; having twice or thrice stole away into Brittany; where; under Sit John Norris; he had then a company; without the Queen's leave and privity; she sent a message unto him with a strict charge to the general to see him sent home。

When he came into the Queen's presence; she fell into a kind railing; demanding of him how he durst go over without her leave。 〃Serve me so;〃 quoth she; 〃once more; and I will lay you fast enough for running; you will never leave till you are knocked on the head; as that inconsiderate fellow Sidney was; you shall go when I send。 In the meantime; see that you lodge in the Court〃 (which was then at Whitehall); 〃where you may follow your book; read; and discourse of the wars。〃  But to our purpose。  It fell out happily to those; and; as I may say; to these times; that the Queen during the calm time of her re
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