_Robert Rich, second Earl of Warwick._
_Born 1587. Died 1658._
By CLARENDON.
The Earle of Warwicke was of the Kings counsell to, but was not
woundred at for leavinge the Kinge, whome he had never served, nor did
he looke upon himselfe as oblieged by that honour, which he knew was
conferred upon him in the crowde of those, whom his Majesty had no
esteeme of, or ever purposed to trust, so his businesse was to joyne
with those, to whome he owed his promotion; he was a man of a pleasant
and companionable witt and conversation, of an universall jollity, and
such a licence in his wordes and in his actions, that a man of lesse
virtue could not be founde out, so that a man might reasonably have
believed, that a man so qualifyed would not have bene able to have
contributed much to the overthrow of a nation, and kingdome; but with
all these faults, he had greate authority and creditt with that people
who in the beginninge of the troubles did all the mischieve; and by
openinge his doores, and makinge his house the Randevooze of all the
silenced Ministers, in the tyme when ther was authority to silence
them, and spendinge a good parte of his estate, of which he was
very prodigall, upon them, and by beinge present with them at ther
devotions, and makinge himselfe merry with them and at them, which
they dispenced with, he became the heade of that party, and gott
the style of a godly man. When the Kinge revoked the Earle of
Northumberlands Commission of Admirall, he presently accepted the
office from the Parliament and never quitted ther service; and
when Crumwell disbanded that Parliament, he betooke himselfe to the
Protection of the Protectour, marryed his Heyre to his daughter, and
lived in so intire a confidence and frendshipp with him, that when he
dyed he had the honour to be exceedingly lamented by him: and left
his estate, which before was subject to a vast debt, more improved and
repayred, then any man, who traffiqued in that desperate commodity of
rebellion.
47.