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travels in england-第19部分

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 were then academies of Art and Cunning。  For such was the Queen's condition; from the tenth or twelfth of her reign; that she had the happiness to stand up; whereof there is a former intimation; environed with many and more enemies; and assaulted with more dangerous practices; than any prince of her times; and of many ages before:  where we must not; in this her preservation; attribute it to human power; for that in his own omnipotent providence God ordained those secondary means; as instruments of the work; by an evident manifestation of the same work; which she acted; and it was a well…pleasing work of his own; out of a peculiar care he had decreed the protection of the work… mistress; and; thereunto; added his abundant blessing upon all and whatsoever she undertook:  which is an observation of satisfaction to myself; that she was in the right; though; to others now breathing under the same form and frame of her government; it may not seem an animadversion of their worth:  but I leave them to the peril of their own folly; and so come again to this great minister of state and the staff of the Queen's declining age; who; though his little crooked person could not promise any great supportation; yet it carried thereon a head and a head…piece of a vast content; and therein; it seems; Nature was so diligent to complete one and the best part about him; as the perfection of his memory and intellectuals; she took care also of his senses; and to put him in LYNCEOS OCULOS; or; to pleasure him the more; borrowed of Argos; so to give unto him a prospective sight; and; for the rest of his sensitive virtues; his predecessor; Walsingham; had left him a receipt to smell out what was done in the conclave。

And his good old father was so well seen in mathematics; that he could tell you; throughout Spain; every part; every port; every ship; with its burden; whither bound; what preparations; what impediments for diversion of enterprises; counsel; and resolution; and; that we may see; as in a little map; how docible this little man was; I will present a taste of his abilities。

My Lord of Devonshire; upon certainty that the Spaniards would invade Ireland with a strong army; had written very earnestly to the Queen and to the Council for such supplies to be timely sent over; that might enable him both to march up to the Spaniard; if he did land; and follow on his prosecution without diverting his intentions against the rebels。  Sir Robert Cecil; besides the general dispatch of the Council (as he often did) writ thus in private; for these two then began to love dearly:

〃My lord; out of the abundance of my affection; and the care I have of your well…doing; I must in private put you out of doubt or fear; for I know you cannot be sensible; otherwise than in the way of honour; that the Spaniards will not come unto you this year; for I have it from my own; what his preparations are in all his parts; and what he can do; for; be confident; he beareth up a reputation; by seeming to embrace more than he can gripe;  but; the next year; be assured; he will cast over to you some forlorn troops; which; how they may be reinforced beyond his present ability; and his first intention; I cannot; as yet; make any certain judgment; but I believe; out of my intelligence; that you may expect the landing in Munster; and; the more to distract you; in several places; as; at Kinsale; Beerhaven; and Baltimore; where; you may be sure; coming from sea; they will first fortify; and learn the strength of the rebels; before they dare take the field。  Howsoever; as I know you will not lessen your care; neither your defences; whatsoever lies in my power to do you and the public service; rest thereof assured。〃

And to this I could add much more; but it may (as it is) suffice to present much of his abilities in the pen; that he was his crafts… master in foreign intelligence; and for domestic affairs。  As he was one of those that sat at the helm to the last of the Queen; so was he none of the least in skill; and in the true use of the compass; and so I shall only vindicate the scandal of his death; and conclude him; for he departed at St。 Margaret's; near Marlborough; at his return from Bath; as my Lord Vice…Chamberlain; my Lord Clifford; and myself; his son; and son…in…law; and many more can witness:  but that the day before; he swooned on the way; and was taken out of his litter; and laid into his coach; was a truth out of which that falsehood concerning the manner of his death had its derivation; though nothing to the purpose; or to the prejudice of his worth。


VERE。


Sir Francis Vere was of that ancient; and of the most noble extract of the earls of Oxford; and it may be a question whether the nobility of his house; or the honour of his achievements; might most commend him; but that we have an authentic rule:

〃Nam genus et proavos et quae nos non fecimus ipsi; Vix ea nostra voco。〃

For though he was an honourable slip of that ancient tree of nobility; which was no disadvantage to his virtue; yet he brought more glory to the name of Vere than he took of blood from the family。

He was; amongst all the Queen's swordsmen; inferior to none; but superior to many; of whom it may be said; to speak much of him were the way to leave out somewhat that might add to his praise; and to forget more than would make to his honour。

I find not that he came much to the court; for he lived almost perpetually in the camp; but; when he died; no man had more of the Queen's favour; and none less envied; for he seldom troubled it with the noise and alarms of supplications; his way was another sort of undermining。

They report that the Queen; as she loved martial men; would court this gentleman; as soon as he appeared in her presence; and surely he was a soldier of great worth and command; thirty years in the service of the States; and twenty years over the English in chief; as the Queen's general:  and he; that had seen the battle of Newport; might there best have taken him and his noble brother; {67} the Lord of Tilbury; to the life。


WORCESTER。


My Lord of Worcester I have here put last; but not least in the Queen's favour; he was of the ancient and noble blood of the Beauforts; and of her {68} grandfather's kin by the mother; which the Queen could never forget; especially where there was an incurrence of old blood with fidelity; a mixture which ever sorted with the Queen's nature; and though there might hap somewhat in this house; which might invert her grace; though not to speak of my lord himself but in due reverence and honour; I mean contrariety or suspicion in religion; yet the Queen ever respected his house; and principally his noble blood; whom she first made Master of her Horse; and then admitted him of her Council of State。

In his youth; part whereof he spent before he came to reside at court; he was a very fine gentleman; and the best horseman and tilter of the times; which were then the manlike and noble recreations of the court; and such as took up the applause of men; as well as the praise and commendation of ladies; and when years had abated those exercises of honour; he grew then to be a faithful and profound counsellor; and as I have placed him last; so was he the last liver of all her servants of her favour; and had the honour to see his renowned mistress; and all of them; laid in the places of their rests; and for himself; after a life of very noble and remarkable reputation; and in a peaceable old age; a fate that I make the last; and none of my slightest observations; which befell not many of the rest; for they expired like unto a light blown out with the snuff stinking; not commendably extinguished; and with an offence to the standers…by。  And thus I have delivered up my poor essay; or little draft of this great princess and her times; with the servants of her state and favour。  I cannot say I have finished it; for I know how defective and imperfect it is; as limned only in the original nature; not without the active blessings; and so left it as a task fitter for remoter times; and the sallies of some bolder pencil to correct that which is amiss; and draw the rest up to life; than for me to have endeavoured it。  I took it in consideration; how I might have dashed into it much of the stain of pollution; and thereby have defaced that little which is done; for I profess I have taken care to master my pen; that I might not err ANIMO; {69} or of set purpose discolour each or any of the parts thereof; otherwise than in concealment。  Haply there are some who will not approve of this modesty; but will censure it for pusillanimity; and; with the cunning artist; attempt to draw their line further out at length; and upon this of mine; which way (with somewhat more ease) it may be effected; for that the frame is ready made to their hands; and then haply I could draw one in the midst of theirs; but that modesty in me forbids the defacements in men departed; their posterity yet remaining; enjoying the merit of their virtues; and do still live in their honour。  And I had rather incur the censure of abruption; than to be conscious and taken in the manner; sinning by eruption; or trampling on the graves of persons at rest; which living we durst not look in the face; nor make our addresses unto them; otherwise than with due regard to their honours; and reverence to their virtues。


LORD HERBERT。


The accomplished; the brave; and romantic Lord Herbert of Cherbury was born in this reign; and laid the foundation of that admirable learning of which he was afterwards a complete master。



Footnotes:


{1}  His name was Sir Thomas Falconer。

{2}  This is not true; for her legitimacy was with good reason contested。

{3}  This is a mistake; her epitaph says stipendia constituit tribus hoc coenobio monachis et doctori grammatices apud Wynbourne。

{4}  Sir Giles Dawbney; he was not Earl of Bridgewater; not a Lord。

{5}  This romantic inscription probably alluded to Philip II。; who wooed the Queen after her sister's death; and to the destruction of his Armada。

{6}  This probably alluded to the woollen manufacture; Stow mentions his riding through the Cloth Fair on the Eve of St。 Bartholomew。

{7}  The collar of SS。

{8}  He probably means rushes。

{9}  Her
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