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 the Queen's sword-nen, inferior to none, but superior to many, of whom it may be said, to speak much of him, were the way to leave out something that might add to his praise, and to forget more that could add to his honour. I find not that he came much to the court, for he lived almost perpetually in the camp; but when he did, no man had more of the Queen's favour, and none less envied, for he seldom troubled it with the jealousy and alarms of supplantation, 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 commanded 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, my Lord of Tilbury, to the life. * * Sir Horatio Vere, created Lord Tilbury. King James sent him with the scanty auxiliary forces, which he destined to the assistance of his son-in-law, the Elector Palatine; indeed he held him, Sir Horatio, in such high respect, that, forgetting his rank, says Camden, he remained uncovered before him. The battle of Newport was a desperate action, fought in 1600 between Count Maurice, who besieged that place, and the Archduke Albert, who advanced to relieve it. The brunt of the fight fell upon the English, commanded by Sir Francis Vere, who were severely handled. Out of 1500, there were 800 killed and wounded, eight captains were killed, and but two commanders escaped unhurt. Sir Francis Vere, who had a horse shot under him, and his brother Horatio, distinguished themselves in retrieving the day when it was almost lost. 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 Bewfords, and of her grandfather's line, by the mother, which the Queen could never forget, especially where there was a concurrency of old blood with fidelity, a mixture which ever sorted with the Queen's nature; and though there might appear something in this house, which might avert her grace, though not to speak of my Lord himself, but with due reverence and ho * Edward Beaufort, fourth Earl of Worcester. He seems to have been a mere courtier. In 1591, he was sent on an embassy to Scotland, and in the 43d of Queen Elizabeth, was created master of the horse, which office he resigned in the 15th year of her successor's reign; being then made lord privy-seal, an office better suiting his years. This last of the "Queen's old courtiers," died at a good old age, 3d March, 1627-8. nour, I mean contrariety or suspicion in religion; yet the Queen ever respected this house, and principally this noble Lord, whom she first made master of the horse, and then admitted 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 these 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 the servants of her favour, and had the honour to see his renowned mistress, and all of them laid in the places of their rest; and for himself, after a life of a very noble and remarkable reputation, he died rich, and in a peaceable old age; a fate, that I make the last, and none of the slightest observations, which befel not many of the rest; for they expired like unto lights blown out, with the snuff stinking, not commendably extinguished, and with offence to the standers by. And thus have I delivered up this my poor essay, a little draught 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 limbed only in the original nature, not without the active blemishes, and so left it as a task fitter for remote times, and the sallies of some bolder pencil to correct that which is amiss, and draw the rest up to life; as for me to have endeavoured it, I took it to consideration how easily I might have dashed in too much of the strain of pollution, and thereby have defaced that little which is done; for I profess I have taken care so to master my pen, that I might not, ex animo, or of set purpose, discolour truth, or any of the parts thereof, otherwise than in concealment. Happily there are some which will not approve of this modesty, |