WILLIAM NOY, ATTORNEY-GENERAL-DIRD

MDCXXXIV.

HE was by much industry and importunity from court, persuaded to accept that place, for which all other men laboured (being the best for profit that profession is capable of), and so he suffered himself to be made the king's attorney-general. The court made no impression upon his manners; upon his mind it did : and though he wore about him an affected morosity, which made him unapt to flatter other men, yet even that morosity and pride rendered him the most liable to be grossly flattered himself, that can be imagined. And by this means the great persons, who steered the public affairs, by admiring his parts, and extolling his judgment, as well to his face, as behind his back, wrought upon him by degrees, for the eminency of the service, to be an instrument in all their designs; thinking that he could not give a clearer testimony, that his knowledge in the law was greater than all other men's, than by making that law, which all other men believed not to be so. So he moulded, framed, and pursued, the odious

project of soap; and with his own hand drew, and prepared the writ for ship-money; both which will be the lasting monuments of his fame. In a word, he was an unanswerable instance, how necessary a good education, and a knowledge of men, are, to make a wise man, at least, a man fit for business. I. 73.

SIR JOHN FINCH, LORD CH. JUST. COMMON PLEAS; CR. LORD FINCH OF FORDWICH, LORD KEEPER -DIED IN EXILE MDCLX.

HE had much that the other + wanted, but nothing that the other had. Having led a free life, in a restrained fortune, and having set up upon the

It was directed to the sheriff of every county in England "to provide a ship of war for the king's service, and to send "it amply provided and fitted, by such a day, to such a "place (and with that writ were sent to each sheriff instruc"tions) that, instead of a ship, he should levy upon his county "such a sum of money, and return the same to the treasurer "of the navy, for his majesty's use." Hence the denomi nation of ship-money. I. 68.

+ Noy;

D

!

stock of a good wit, and natural parts, without the superstructure of much knowledge in the profession by which he was to grow; he was willing to use those weapons in which he had most skill, and so (being not unseen in the affections of the court, but not having reputation enough to guide, or reform them) he took up ship-money where Mr. Noy left it; and, being a judge, carried it up to that pinnacle, from whence he almost broke his own neck; having, in his journey thither, had too much influence on his brethren to induce them to concur in a judgment they had all cause to repent. To which, his declaration after he was

"These men (said our author, in a speech to the lords) have, upon vulgar fears, delivered up the precious forts they were trusted with, almost without assault; and in a tame, easy trance of flattery and servitude, lost and forfeited (shamefully forfeited) that reputation, awe, and reverence, which the wisdom, courage, and gravity, of their venerable predecessors, had contracted and fastened to their places; and have even rendered that study and profession, which in all ages hath been, and I hope now shall be, of honourable estimation, so contemptible and vile, that had not this blessed day come (the day of impeachment of the six judges) all men would have had that quarrel to the law itself, which

keeper of the great seal of England, must be added, upon a demurrer put in to a bill before him, which had no other equity in it, than an order of the lords of the council; "that whilst he "was keeper, no man should be so saucy as to

dispute those orders, but that the wisdom of that "board should be always ground enough for him "to make a decree in chancery:" which was so great an aggravation of the excess of that table, that it received more prejudice from that act of unreasonable countenance and respect, than from all the contempt that could possibly have been of. fered to it. I. 73.

GEORGE ABBOT, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY;

-DIED MDCXXXIII.

HE considered the christian religion no otherwise, than as it abhorred and reviled popery, and valued those men most, who did that the most furiously. Marcius Porcius had to the Greek tongue, who thought it a mockery to learn that language, the masters whereof lived in bondage under others." State Trials, I. 709. VII. 309.

For the strict observation of the discipline of the church, or the conformity to the articles, or canons established, he made little inquiry, and took less care; and having himself made a very little progress in the ancient and solid study of divinity, he adhered only to the doctrine of Calvin; and for his sake, did not think so ill of the discipline as he ought to have done. But if man prudently forbore a public reviling, and railing at the hierarchy, and ecclesiastical government, let their opinions and private practice be what they would, they were not only secure from any inquisition of his, but acceptable to him, and, at least, equally preferred by him. And though many other bishops plainly discerned the mischiefs, which daily broke in to the prejudice of religion, by his defects and remissness, and prevented it in their own diocesses as much as they could, and gave all their countenance to men of other parts, and other principles; and though the bishop of London, Dr. Laud, from the time of his authority and credit with the king, had applied all the remedies he could to those defections, and from the time of his being chancellor of Oxford, had much discountenanced, and almost suppressed that spirit, by encouraging another