Part 5 (1/2)

11.

By WILLIAM RAWLEY.

He was no _Plodder_ upon _Books_; Though he read much; And that, with great Judgement, and Rejection of Impertinences, incident to many _Authours_: For he would ever interlace a _Moderate Relaxation_ of His _Minde_, with his _Studies_; As _Walking_; Or _Taking_ the _Aire abroad_ in his _Coach_; or some other befitting _Recreation_: And yet he would _loose_ no _Time_, In as much as upon his _First_ and _Immediate Return_, he would fall to _Reading_ again: And so suffer no _Moment_ of _Time_ to Slip from him, without some present _Improvement_.

His _Meales_ were _Refections_, of the _Eare_, as well as of the _Stomack_: Like the _Noctes Atticae_; or _Convivia Deipno-Sophistarum_; Wherein a Man might be refreshed, in his _Minde_, and _understanding_, no lesse then in his _Body_. And I have known some, of no mean Parts, that have professed to make use of their _Note-Books_, when they have risen from his _Table_. In which _Conversations_, and otherwise, he was no Das.h.i.+ng Man; As some Men are; But ever, a _Countenancer_, and _Fosterer_, of another Mans _Parts_. Neither was he one, that would _appropriate_ the _Speech_, wholy to Himself; or delight to out-vie others; But leave a Liberty, to the _Co-a.s.sessours_, to take their _Turns_, to Wherein he would draw a _Man_ on, and allure him, to speak upon such a Subject, as wherein he was peculiarly _Skilfull_, and would delight to speak. And, for Himself, he condemned no Mans _Observations_; But would light his _Torch_ at every Mans _Candle_.

His _Opinions_, and _a.s.sertions_, were, for the most part, _Binding_; And not contradicted, by any; Rather like _Oracles_, then _Discourses_.

Which may be imputed, either to the well weighing of his _Sentence_, by the Skales of _Truth_, and _Reason_; Or else, to the _Reverence_, and _Estimation_, wherein he was, commonly, had, that no _Man_ would _contest_ with him. So that, there was no _Argumentation_, or _Pro_ and _Con_, (as they term it,) at his _Table_: Or if there chanced to be any, it was Carried with much _Submission_, and _Moderation_.

I have often observed; And so have other Men, of great Account; That if he had occasion to repeat another Mans _Words_, after him; he had an use, and Faculty, to dresse them in better _Vestments_, and _Apparell_, then they had before: So that, the _Authour_ should finde his own _Speech_ much amended; And yet the _Substance_ of it still _retained_. As if it had been _Naturall_ to him, to use good _Forms_; As _Ovid_ spake, of his _Faculty_ of _Versifying_;

_Et quod tentabam Scribere, Versus erat._

When his _Office_ called him, as he was of the _Kings Counsell Learned_, to charge any _Offenders_, either in _Criminals_, or _Capitals_; He was never of an _Insulting_, or _Domineering Nature_, over them; But alwayes tender Hearted, and carrying himself decently towards the _Parties_; (Though it was his Duty, to charge them home:) But yet, as one, that looked upon the _Example_, with the Eye of _Severity_; But upon the _Person_, with the Eye of _Pitty_, and Compa.s.sion. And in _Civill Businesse_, as he was _Counseller_ of _Estate_, he had the best way of _Advising_; Not engaging his _Master_, in any _Precipitate_, or _grievous_, Courses; But in _Moderate_, and _Fair_, Proceedings: The _King_, whom he served, giving him this _Testimony_; That he ever dealt, in Businesse, Suavibus Modis; _Which was the way, that was most according to his own Heart_.

Neither was He, in his time, lesse Gracious with the _Subject_, then with his _Soveraign_: He was ever Acceptable to the _House of Commons_, when He was a _Member_ thereof. Being the _Kings Atturney_, & chosen to a place, in _Parliament_, He was allowed, and dispensed with, to sit in the _House_; which was not permitted to other _Atturneys_.

And as he was a good _Servant_, to his _Master_; Being never, in 19.

years Service, (as himself averred,) rebuked by the _King_, for any Thing, relating to his _Majesty_; So he was a good _Master_, to his _Servants_; And rewarded their long _Attendance_, with good _Places_, freely, when they fell into his Power. Which was the Cause, that so many young _Gentlemen_, of _Bloud_, and _Quality_, sought to list themselves, in his _Retinew_. And if he were abused, by any of them, in their _Places_; It was onely the _Errour_ of the _Goodnesse_ of his _Nature_; But the Badges of their _Indiscretions_, and _Intemperances_.

12.

BEN JONSON.

_Born 1573. Died 1637._

By CLARENDON.

Ben Johnsons name can never be forgotten, havinge by his very good learninge, and the severity of his nature, and manners, very much reformed the Stage and indeede the English poetry it selfe; his naturall advantages were judgement to order and governe fancy, rather then excesse of fancy, his productions beinge slow and upon deliberation, yett then aboundinge with greate witt and fancy, and will lyve accordingly, and surely as he did exceedingly exalte the English language, in eloquence, propriety, and masculyne exspressions, so he was the best judge of, and fittest to prescribe rules to poetry and poetts, of any man who had lyved with or before him, or since, if M'r Cowly had not made a flight beyounde all men, with that modesty yett to own much of his to the example and learninge of Ben. Johnson: His conversation was very good and with the men of most note, and he had for many yeares an extraordinary kindnesse for M'r Hyde, till he founde he betooke himselfe to businesse, which he believed ought never to be preferred before his company: He lyved to be very old, and till the Palsy made a deepe impression upon his body and his minde.

13.

By JAMES HOWELL.

_To Sir THO. HAWK. Knight_.

Sir,

I was invited yesternight to a solemne supper by _B.I._ wher you were deeply remembred, ther was good company, excellent chear, choice wines, and joviall welcom; one thing interven'd which almost spoyld the relish of the rest, that _B._ began to engross all the discourse, to vapour extremely of himself, and by villifying others to magnifie his owne _muse_; _T. Ca._ buz'd me in the eare, that though _Ben_ had barreld up a great deal of knowledg, yet it seems he had not read the _Ethiques_, which among other precepts of morality forbid self-commendation, declaring it to be an ill favourd solecism in good manners; It made me think upon the Lady (not very young) who having a good while given her guests neat entertainment, a capon being brought upon the table, instead of a spoon she took a mouthfull of claret and spouted it into the p.o.o.pe of the hollow bird; such an accident happend in this entertainment you know--_Proprio laus sordet in ore; be a mans breath never so sweet, yet it makes ones prayses stink, if he makes his owne mouth the conduit pipe of it_; But for my part I am content to dispense with this _Roman_ infirmity of _B._ now that time hath snowed upon his pericranium. You know _Ovid_, and (your) _Horace_ were subject to this humour, the first bursting out into,

_Tamq; opus exegi quod nec Iovis ira, nec ignis_, &c.