of one of them, they fought under the walls of Antwerp, where the lord Bruce fell dead upon the place; and sir Edward Sackville (for so he was then calied) being likewise hurt, retired into the next monastery, which was at hand. Nor did this miserable accident, which he always exceedingly lamented, make that thorough impression upon him, but that he indulged still too much to those importunate and insatiate appetites, even of that individual person, that had so lately embark'd him in that desperate enterprize; being too much tinder not to be inflamed with those sparks. Yet his known great parts, and the very good general reputation he had acquired, notwithstanding his defects, inclined king James to call him to his privy-council before his death. And if he had not too much cherish'd his natural constitution and propensity, and been too much grieved and wrung by an uneasy and streight fortune, he would have been an excellent man of business; for he had a very sharp, discerning spirit, and was a man of an obliging nature, much honour, and great generosity, and of most entire fidelity to the crown 5." His Speeches and Letters of State, or concerning State Affairs, appear to have been his only publications. They consist of "A Speech for Propositions of Peace, delivered to his Majesty at Oxford, on Jan. 18, 1642." Lond. 4to. "A Speech at the Council-table, at Oxon, for a speedy Accommodation between his Majesty and High Court of Parliament." Oxon, 1642. • Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. i. p. 48. "A Speech before his Majesty and Privy Council, at his receiving the Office of Lord Privy-seal." Oxon, 1643-4, 4to. "A Speech before his Majesty and Privy Council, when he was made President of the Privy Council." Oxon, 1643-4, 4to." And there is "A Coppie of Sir Edward Sackvile his Speech, in the Parliament-howse, Feb. 14, 1620:" in Harl. MS. 6021. The second of the above speeches thus opens: "What I shall now speak, is not merely ex animo, sed ex corde: some may haply impute it as proceeding from strength of affection to that place and people from whence I came; but I doe protest, my zeale to your majesty shall at this time suspend the agitation of such principals, and I will set aside all particular relations, and look upon the question as it is, and not as passion and affection may set it forth. "The question is-concerning wars: an unknown subject; sweet to those that have not tryed it, yet the worst of war is usuall in the close: and at the conclusion of the most advantageous war that ever was waged, when all reckonings be cast up, the conquerour hath had little whereof to glory. But this is not a warre between a king and a stranger, but between a soveraigne and his subjects; a neare relation: and they had need to be weighty motives that shall dissolve this knot. Subjects are easily lost, but once lost, are hardly regained. Affections are like to crystall glasses, which broken, are hardly set together againe."] |