_William Seymour, second Earl of Hertford 1621, created Marquis of
Hertford 1641, and Duke of Somerset 1660._
_Born 1588. Died 1660_.
By CLARENDON.
The Marquis of Hartforde was a man of greate honour, greate interest
in fortune and estate, and of a universall esteeme over the kingdome;
and though he had receaved many and continued disobligations from the
Courte, from the tyme of this Kings comminge to the Crowne as well
as duringe the rainge of Kinge James, in both which seasons more
then ordinary care had bene taken to discountenance and lessen his
interest, yett he had carryed himselfe with notable steddinesse from
the beginninge of the Parliament in the supporte and defence of the
Kings power and dignity, notwithstandinge all his Allyes, and those
with whome he had the greatest familiarity and frendshipp were of
the opposite party, and never concurred with them against the Earle
of Straforde (whome he was knowne not to love) nor in any other
extravagancy: and then he was not to be shaken in his affection to
the goverment of the church, though it was enough knowne that he was
in no degree byassed by any greate inclination to the person of any
Church-man: and with all this, that party carryed themselves towards
him with profounde respecte, not præsuminge to venture ther owne
creditt in endeavoringe to lessen his.
It is very true, in many respects he wanted those qualityes, which
might have bene wished to be in a person to be trusted in the
education of a greate and a hopefull Prince, and in the forminge his
minde and manners in so tender an age: he was of an age not fitt for
much activity and fatigue, and loved and was even wedded so much to
his ease, that he loved his booke above all exercizes, and had even
contracted such a lazinesse of minde, that he had no delight in an
open and liberall conversation, and cared not to discource and argue
in those points which he understoode very well, only for the trouble
of contendinge, and could never impose upon himselfe the payne that
was necessary to be undergone in such a perpetuall attendance. But
then those lesser dutyes might be otherwise provided for, and he could
well supporte the dignity of a Governour, and exacte that diligence
from others, which he could not exercize himselfe, and his honour
was so unblemished, that none durst murmure against the designation,
and therfore his Majesty thought him very worthy of the high trust,
against which ther was no other exception, but that he was not
ambitious of it, nor in truth willinge to receave and undergo the
charge, so contrary to his naturall constitution; but [in] his pure
zeale and affection for the Crowne, and the conscience that in this
conjuncture his submission might ad[v]ance the Kings service, and that
the refusinge it might proove disadvantagious to his Majesty, he very
cheerefully undertooke the Province, to the generall satisfaction and
publique joy of the whole kingdome, and to the no little honour and
creditt of the Courte, that so important and beloved a person would
attacque himselfe to it, under such a relation, when so many who had
scarce ever eaten any breade, but the Kings, detached themselves
from ther dependance, that they might without him, and against him,
præserve and improove those fortunes which they had procured and
gotten under him, and by his bounty.
29.