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 {189b} 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_,
{191} 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.